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 .■»«■■■ 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 f 
 
 ov 
 
 THE WAR, 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES AND THE BRITISH ISLES: 
 
 INTENDED AS 
 
 A FAITHFUL HISTORY 
 
 3F ALL THE MATERIAL EVENTS FROM THE TIME OF THE DECLIIRATION IN U12 , 
 
 TO AND INCLUmNO XIIB TRBATT 0» PEACE IN ISM: 
 INTBRSPBRSED WITH 
 
 GEOGRAHPICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PLACES, 
 
 AND 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF DISTINGUISHED MILI- 
 TARY AND NAVAL COMMANDERS. 
 
 VOLUMES L AND II. 
 
 RUTLAND, Vt. 
 
 PUBLISHED BT FAT AND DAVISON. 
 1815. 
 
Fs'oTS 
 
 2 » 4 6 i 
 
 I 
 
 Oist) tct of ycnnont, to init : 
 
 2 «£ IT REMEMBIiHED. that on the twepiietb d«y of January, in the thirty 
 fa ninth year ol' the iiiUepeiideiice of the United Stfttei of America, Meisn* 
 (L. S.) Fay and Davison, or the said district. Iiave df |>osited in thii office the title of a ' 
 
 book, tiie right wliereot' tliey claim a» proprietor), in tlie wordi following, to 
 wit: 
 
 " Sketches of tlie War between the United States and tbe British Islet intended as a Taithrul 
 '* history ot all the ranterial events from the time or the declaration in 1812, to and iiicludioK the 
 ' treaty of praci' in t8l>; iiitersperied with geoi^raphical descriptions of places, and biograpbical 
 " notices ol' distinguished military and naval cummanden." 
 
 In conformity to the act of the cunfpress of the United States, entitled " an •t^t for the encourage" 
 mtnt of learning, by securing the copies ot maps, charts and books, to the authors and pioprietars of 
 such copies during the times tlierein mentioned." 
 
 JESSE GOVE. Clerk 
 of the District »f Fiermont. 
 A true ctfiy, 
 Examined and sealed bv 
 
 J. GOVE, Cierk. 
 
 ♦*« HEADERS, 
 
 Who may not have perused this work, as it progressed from 
 the press, will perceive, that these numbers were commenced, 
 and that part of them were written for a family record, while 
 the war was continually proclaiming its events from the embat- 
 tied field. Hence, the work, from a seeming necessity, and from 
 the then unknown duration of the war, assumed its present form. 
 Had ail the events herein registered in our numbers been matter of 
 history, before tbe first was printed, they would have enabled us 
 to ii»ve given to this work a more dignified character. Perhaps, 
 liowever, what we may lose in respect, the reader may gain in 
 information. The simple *< unvarnished tale»» often more instructs 
 than the leisurely composed and rounded periods of some better 
 writer, but semi-romantic historian* 
 
 m 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER T — The pre«ulent's manifVttto— Act of congreM declarinff witr— Vresideut** pw>. 
 cla nation— Gviieral Bloomfield iuiiet Ui oidtci— Cuininodore Kodgcn lails— First priwner 
 aiKl first prize— Naval ibrce of the United StatM— Sehedule ol the apyortioninent of 100,000 
 militia by act oi' eongreu oT the iztli A prii, tSlt— Instnietioiu I'or private armed vessels, a 
 
 CMAP TER II — tfarthweitera army— General Hull— hi* march and advance into Canada— 
 His retreat, capitulation, surrender and trtal, 11 
 
 CHAPTER III.— Capture of Michillimackinae tod geosraphical description of the upper 
 lakes, i9 
 
 CH/^lTEH IV —Operations of the army oT the centre— Battle uf Queenstown— Bombanl- 
 ment of t'nrt Niagara-^- Attack on the British lines opposite and below Black Rock— Geogra' 
 phical ilescription of the Niagara frontier, 97 
 
 CHAPTER V — Maoacri! at fort Dearborn— Gallant deflenee of Torts *larrison and Bellevue— 
 Forsyth's expedition— Defeat of the enemy at Ogdensbnrgh— Observationt on the campaign 
 of iSli, 73 
 
 CHAP PER VI.— Naval operations on lakes Oiitirio and Erie— Attack on Sacket's Harbour— 
 The Julia— Capuiii Chauncey's croiw— Battle in Kingston harbour- Capture uf the Detroit 
 and Ciilednnia— Biography ol Captain Elliot, 80 
 
 CHAP TBR VII —Naval operations on the ocean— Commodore Rodgen' cruise— Chase o«' the 
 Conrtituiion- Capture of thf Guerriere— Cumparison of American and British frigates— Bio- 
 graphy of Captain dull, OC 
 
 CHAPTER VIII— Cruiwof the Esses— Cruise of the Wasp— Capture of the Frolic— Loss of 
 the Wasp aud Frolic— Biugraphv of Captain lones, 10^ 
 
 CHAPl'ER IX — ttomjuudote Rodgers' second cruise— Capture of the Swallow— Capmre of 
 the Micedonian— Chase oi' tlie Areiis— BioKntphv of Commodore Decatur. us 
 
 CHAPTER X.— Cruise of the Constitution and tlomet— Capture of the Java— Biography of 
 Captain Buinbridge, m 
 
 CHAP TEH XI —Private armed vessels— The Atlas— Highflyer-Rossie— Young Eaglo— Mont- 
 gomery— Dolphin— British vessels capturtxl in 18 11. X42 
 
 CHAPTER Xll.-Official despatches— Observations on Hull's capture— Organization of the 
 IKW army— »<eliet' of Ibrt iVayne— General Payne's expedition- Colonel Wells' expedition— 
 Colonei Campbell't expedition— Oeteat of General Winchester, 149 
 
 CHAPTER XIII —Retreat of General Harrison—Fort Meigs-^ Expedition to Presque Isle- 
 Attempt upon the Queen Charlotte— Preparations for a fleet upaa lake Erie— Detieat of the 
 enemy at tort Meigs— Gallantdefenceof fort iiiepheiison. m 
 
 CHAPTER XIV.— Preparations for the invasion ot' Canada— Capiturc of Maiden— furiuit ant 
 capture of the British army— Return of the army to Detroit, and emiiarkaiiun ior Buffalo 169 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— Army of the centre— Capture of York— Biography of General Pike. i7» 
 
 CHAPTER XVI.— Captue of forts George and Erie-. Battle at Stony Creek— Defeat of Col. 
 Boentler— Defeat of the enemy at Jacket's Harbour. 20O 
 
 CHAPTER XVII.— Expeditkm down the St Lawrence— iu progress- Battle of William*- 
 bttcgh— Abandunmenr of the expulition. 309 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII —Northern army— Colonel Clark's expedition— Battle of Chataugay— Re- 
 lusal of General Hampton to join General Wilkinson at St Regis— Close of the campaign, 229 
 
 CHAPTER XIX.— Fort George— Burning of Newark— Capture of fort Niagara— Burnint of 
 of Buffaki. «c'. OB r t, 2J» 
 
 CHAPTER XX.— Creek war— Preliinitiavv observations— Massacre at fort Mims— Battle at 
 Tallushatches— Battle,at Talledega— Baitle at Hillibee-towus, 2.73 
 
 CH\PTER XXL— Creek war continued— Battle at Autossc— Attack upon camp Defiance — 
 Expeditio.i to the bend of the Tallnpoosa. t«t 
 
 CHAP'TEH XXII —Conclusion of the Creek war— Brilliant and decisive victory at the bend 
 of the lallaiNMua— Draft of the scene ot action— Termination of hostilities with the Creeks 
 —Geographical dcscriprion of the Creek country, 25 5 
 
 CHAP TER XXiil— Naval— Lake Erie— Battle wltli and capture of the British fleet»-Inte- 
 retting wiecdotei of the Iwttle— Biography of Commodore Perry, zr: 
 
IV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 !' S 
 
 m \ 
 
 CIIA1>TEH JCXlV.—iAke OnUrio— Comparative view ol' tbc American and Britiib rortet in 
 18:3— C<M)peration of thu American fleet in the capturei of York anil Tort Georife— Commo- 
 dore Chauncey'i flrtt cruite— Lou of thu Growler uid Julia— Chauncey'i lecond and third 
 criiiiei— Hit louKh cruiie— Capture of five llriti«h traniport*— Lake Charoplain— Lou of the 
 Growler and Eagle— Descent of the enemy on Plattiburgh— American naval force on the 
 lake. See. SSi 
 
 CHAPTER XXV.— Naval event* on the ocean— Cruiie of the Hornet and eapture of the Pea- 
 cock—Return of the Hornet to the United States— Appointnent of Captain Lawwnce to 
 ihe command of the Chesapeake- Action with the Shannon and Iom or the Chesapeake- 
 Biography of Captain Lawrence— Funeral obsequies of Lawrence and Ludlow, aiO 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI.— Cruise of the Entcrprize— Capture of the Boxet^Biograpiiy of Lieutob 
 ant Bumws, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII —Cruise of Commodore Rodgers-Cruise of the Congress— Cruise and hws 
 of the Argus— Biography of Capuin Allen, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVtII — Bktekade of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays— Loss of the schooner 
 Lottery— Loss of the privateer Dolphin— Burning of Frenehtown, Havre-de-Graee, Sec- 
 Commodore Cauin's expeditkin— Outrages at Hampton— Attack on the schooner Asp— At- 
 tempt to blow up a British 74— Attaek on Lewistown— Blockade of Commodore Deoitnr't 
 squadron— Capture of the Eagle— Private armed vessels— List of British vessels captured 
 during the year 1813. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX —Northern army— Battle at La Cole— Atuek on Oswego— Geographical 
 description ol Oswego fort and village— Capture of a British force at Sandy creek-3}«ath of 
 Colonel Forsyth. &c> 
 
 CHAPTER XXX —Capture of fort Erie— Battle at Chippewa— Draft of the scene of action 
 —Death of General Swift'-Army movements and battle at Bridgewater— Biography of Ge* 
 neral Scott. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX.— Point-Petre and .^t. Mary's— Lon of the U S. frigate President— Cap- 
 ture of the Cyane and Levant— List of British vessels captnied in I8i4-15— Close of the war 
 and txeaty of peace, 
 
 SOS 
 
 su 
 
 3S« 
 
 337 
 
 34S 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI— Repulse of the enemy at Conioeketa ereek,&c.— Bomfaaidment and ba^ 
 tie at fort Erie— Splendid sortie against the enemy's batteries— Arrival of General Iiard on 
 the Niaffuni frontier— Action at Lyon's creek— Evacuation of fort Erie— Biography of Gen. 
 
 BiDwn, W 
 
 CHAPl'ER XXXII —Lake Oiiunu— Michiran Territory— Captain Holmes' expedition- Mi- 
 chillimacklnac— Lake Huron— General M^rthur't expedition, |9S 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII.— Lake Champlain— Repulse of the enemy at the mouth of Otter Creek 
 —Gallant expkiit- Siege of Pbtuburgh— Capture of the British fleets &c. 30^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV —Depredations of the enemy in Connecticut. Massaehosetts and the Dis- 
 trict of Maine— Burning of veuels at Petipaug Wareham and Scituate— Attack upon Ston- 
 ington— Capture of Eastport— Capture o' Castine tScc. and Iom of the U. S. frinte AdaoM 
 —Chesapeake bay— Battle at Bfaklensburgh, and capture of Washington city— Sonender of 
 Alexandria— Repulse of the enemy at Baltimore and in the Rappahannock, 401 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV.— Naval— Cruise of the Essex— Action at Valparaiso and ktss of the Ei- 
 tex- The Alligator— Cruise o<' Commodore Rodger*— Capture of tiK British brig Epervier— 
 Cruise of the Wasp— Capture of the Reindeer and Avon— Cruise til' the Heacock— Ouaboat 
 action— Private armed vessels— Destruction of the General Annstiong— Listof Brftiili vet- 
 sels captured during the year 1814, 430 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI.— Arrival of General Jackson at Mobile— S^lendkl defence of fort Bow- 
 yer^Destruction ot the pirates of Barataria-Entnnee of General Jackson into Pensacola— 
 His arrival at Neworleans-~Arrival of the enemy off Ship Island— Capture of the Americas 
 gunboau near the bay of St. Louis— Landing of the enemy below Neworleana— Actions of 
 the 33d and of the 28th December, 450 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII —Action of the 1st January- Burning of a British transport. Sec— Aiv 
 rival of the British reinforcements— Great battle of the 8th of January— Retreat of the Bri- 
 tish-Parser Shields' expeditfon, 8ie. 4tt 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII— Address and general orders of General Jackson to the troops under 
 his command, after the retreat of the enemy— Apostolic mandate— Addren of the ailminis- 
 trator of the dk>cese of Louisiana to General Jacluon, and the general's answer— Capture of 
 fort Bowyi'i^Cessaiion of hostilities— Biographical tketcdhof GenosI Jackson— Description 
 of Neworleaus and the surrounding country. 
 
 ■4«» 
 
 487 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 To our fellow citizens we do not promise a perfect and an im* 
 partial history of this war. To depict with perfect accuracy the 
 embattled plain^ while the roar of cannon yet lives in our ears^ and 
 the dust, excited by the conflict, yet obscures the contending le« 
 gions, is more than the discerning public will demand or we can 
 perform. The agitations of the flood may distort and render in- 
 distinct the images which the sun has painted on its bosom. We 
 profess to love our country, feel for its honour and hope for its glo- 
 ry. With this partiality, though we would, we may not always 
 be just. We may also be embarrassed by the necessary policy of 
 war, which conceals as much as possible, that the enemy hy no 
 chance of information may profit. Any occasional o^>.^essof feel* 
 ing in us may usually be either restrained or rendered harmless to 
 others, as we shall endeavor to collate official or other accredited 
 public documents, to present rather faithful sketches of the war, 
 [than ourselves as historians, imposing upon the world the hasty 
 deductions of our own mind, perhaps often partial and incorrect. 
 In the compilation of this work, in which genius can take no part, 
 we would labor to exhibit concisely and truly this war to our citi- 
 zens. By the method attempted to be pursued, the illusions of fan> 
 cy, and the vagaries of a distorted ima(;iaation will Iw excluded 
 from our pages. - 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I I 
 
 h ii 
 
 v\ 
 
 Ii! I 
 
 The present is a nameless moment. Political partizans, like 
 
 prophecy, effect not the past ; they operate only on the future 
 
 In this presage, even honest men have differed, may now differ, 
 and will hereafter differ : but the evidence of the past is testimony 
 growing into historic fact. The curses of the law are against 
 him who perverts it. This is a hallowed ark, which no roan may 
 touch. 
 
 One, whose political sentiments differ from those of the pub- 
 lishers, being associated with this press, for the sole purpose of 
 compiling these sketches of the war, opposite politics will balance 
 in even scales, and our patrons may less apprehend any of the 
 excesses of party. 
 
 The work shall be for our country, truth shall be our aim, and 
 we hope a general patronage our reward. Surely no good citi- 
 zen would be regardless, and no proud one ignorant of the mar- 
 tial achievements of our country. Useful to ourselves and to pos- 
 terity may be the knowledge of the causes, which have occasion- 
 ally operated victory or disgrace to our arms. It is profitable to 
 be taught, even by the enemy, and to learn from defeat to achieve 
 victories. 
 
 When believed to be necessary for understanding the subject, 
 geographical descriptions and biographical sketches will be inter- 
 spersed, and every elucidation, which we may be enabled to give, 
 shall appear on our pages. With the generous patronage of our 
 fellow citizens, our mountains may echo the storm of battle, and 
 the gleam of the sword of out warriors be seen afar. 
 
 /H'?i>i?4fti;f)ii{i.4.'jw >!.. 
 
 ■30 #!..> : 
 
SKETCHES 
 
 Of 
 
 THE WA 
 
 Volume I Number ]. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The PresidenVs Manifesto ^ct of Congress declaring xvar 
 
 President's proclamation General Bloornfield issues his or- 
 
 ders Commodore Rogers sails First prisoner, and Jirst 
 
 prize Naval force of the United States Schedule of the 
 
 apportionment of 100,000 militia, by act of Congress of 12th 
 April, 1812 Instructions for private armed vessels. 
 
 On the first day of June, 1812, President Madison sent into 
 Congress his manifesto, in the following words : 
 
 " I communicate to Congress certain documents, being a contin- 
 uation of those heretofore laid before them, on the subject of our 
 affairs with Great Britain. 
 
 " Without going back beyond the renewal in 1803, of the war 
 in which Great Britain is engaged, and omitting unrepaired 
 wrongs of inferior magnitude, the conduct of her government 
 presents a series of acts hostile to the United States as an indpen< 
 dent and neutral nation. 
 
 •* British cruisers have been in the continual practice of violating 
 the American flag on the great highway uf nations, and of seiz- 
 ing and carrying off persons sailing under it; not in the exercise 
 of a belligerent right founded on the law of nations against an 
 enemy, but of a municipal prerogative over British subjects. Brit- 
 ish jurisdiction is thus extended to neutral vessels in a situation 
 where no laws can operate but the law of nations and the laws 
 of the country to which the vessels belong: and a self redress is 
 assumed, which, if British subject were wrongfully detain'^d and 
 alone concerned, is that substitution of force, for a resort to the 
 responsible sovereign, which falls within the definition of war. 
 Could the seizure of British subjects in such casts be regarded as 
 
4 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 within the exercise of a belligerent right, the acknowledged Uwa 
 of war, which forbid an article of captured property to be adjudge 
 ed without a regular investigation before a competent tribunal, 
 would imperiously demand the fairest trial, where the sacred 
 rights of persons were at issue. In place of such o trial, these 
 fights are subjected to the will of every petty commander. 
 
 ** The practice, hence, is so far from afTccting British subjects 
 alone, that, under the pretext of searching for these, thousands of 
 American citizens, under the safeguard of public law, and of their 
 national flag, have been torn from their country and every thing 
 dear to them ; have been dragged on board ships of war of a for- 
 eign nation, and exposed, under the severities of their discipline, 
 to be exiled to the most distant and deadly climes, to risk their 
 lives in the battles of their oppressors, and to be the melancholy 
 instruments of taking away those of their own brethren. 
 
 " Againit this crying enormity, which Great Britain would be 
 80 prompt to avenge if committed against herself, the United States 
 have in vain exhausted remonstrances and expostulations. And 
 that no proof might be wanting of their conciliatory dispositions, 
 and no pretext left for a continuance of the practice, the British 
 government was formally assured of the readiness of the United 
 States to enter into arrangements, such as could not be rejected, 
 if the recovery of British subjects were the real and sole object. 
 The communication passed without effect. 
 
 ** British cruizers have been in the practice also, of violating the 
 rights, and the peace of our coasts. They hover over and har- 
 rass our departing commerce. To the most insulting pretensions 
 they have added the most lawless proceedings in our very har- 
 bors ; and have wantonly spilt American blood within the sanctu- 
 ary of our territorial jurisdiction. The principles and rules en< 
 forced by that nation, when a neutral nation, against armed vessels 
 or belligerents hovering near her coasts, and disturbing her com> 
 merce, are well known. When called on, nevertheless, by the 
 United States, to punish the greater offences committed by her 
 own vessels, her government has bestowed on their commanders 
 additional marks of honour and confidence. 
 
 " Under pretended blockades, without the presence of an ade- 
 quate force, and sometimes without the practicability of applying 
 one, our commerce has been plundered in every sea : the great 
 staples of our country have been cut off from their legitimate mar- 
 kets ; and a destructive blow aimed at our agricultural and mari- 
 time interests. In aggravation of these predatory measures, they 
 have been considered as in force from the dates of their notifica- 
 tion ; a retrospective effect being thus add^d, as has been done 
 in other important cases, to the unlawfulness of the course pursu- 
 ed. And to render the outrage the more signal, these mock 
 blockades have been reiterated and enforced in the faceofof^cial 
 
 :ii'! 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 communications from the Britinh government, declaring, as the 
 true definition of a legal blockade, " that particular ports must be 
 actually invested, and previous warning giveu to vessels bound to 
 them not to.enter." 
 
 <* Not content with these occasional ex|)t>dierit8 for bying waste 
 our neutral trade, the cabinet ot Great Britain resorted, at length, 
 to the sweeping system of blockades, under the name of Orders ia 
 Council, which has been moulded and managed ns might best suit 
 its political views, its commercial jealou!<ies, or the avidity of Brit- 
 ish cruisers. 
 
 ** To our remonstrances against this complicated and transcend- 
 ant injustice of this innovation, the first reply was, that the orders 
 were reluctantly adopted by Great Britain as a necessary ret^tlia- 
 tion on the decrees of her enemy proclaiming a general blockade 
 of the British isles, at a time when the naval force of that enerny 
 dared not to issue from his own ports. She was reminded with- 
 out effect, that her own prior blockades, unsupported by an ade- 
 quate naval force, actually applied and continued, were a bar to 
 this plea : that executed edicts against millions of our property 
 could not be retaliation on edicts, confessedly impossible to be ex- 
 ecuted : that retaliation, to be just, should fall on the party set- 
 ting the guilty example, not on an innocent, party, which was 
 not even chargeable with an acquiescence in it. 
 
 " When deprived of this slimsy veil for a prohibition of our trade 
 with her enemy, by the repeal of his prohibition of our trade with 
 Great Britain, her cabinet, instead of a corresponding repeal, or 
 practical discontinuance of its orders, formally avovi'ed a deter- 
 mination to persist in them against the United States, until the 
 markets of her enemy should be laid open to British products : thus 
 asserting an obligation on a neutral power to require one belliger- 
 ent to encourage, by its internal regulations, the trade of another 
 helligerent : contradicting her own practice towards all nations, 
 in peace as well as in war ; and betraying the insincerity of those 
 professions which inculcated a belief that, having resorted to her 
 orders with regret, she was anxious to find an occasion for putting 
 an end to them. 
 
 ** Abandoning still more all respect for the neutral rights of the 
 United States, and for its own consistency, the British government 
 now demands as prerequisites to a repeal of its orders, as they re- 
 late to the United States, that a formality should be observed in 
 the repeal of the French decrees nowise necessary to their termi- 
 nation, nor exemplified by British usage ; and that the French re- 
 peal, besides including that portion of the decrees which operates 
 within a territorial jurisdiction, as well as that which operates on 
 the high seas against the commerce of the United States, should 
 not be a single special repeal in relation to the United States, but 
 should be extended to whatever other neutral nations, unconnect- 
 
•'I . 
 
 « 
 
 It 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 ed with them, maybe aifected by those decrees. And as an ad-^ 
 ditional insult, they are called on for a formal disavowal of condi. 
 tions and pretensions advanced by the French government, for 
 which the United States are so far from having made- themselves 
 responsible, that, in official explanations, which have been publish* 
 ed to the world, and in a correspondence of the American minis- 
 ter at London with the British minister for foreign affairs, such a 
 responsibility was explicitly and emphatically disclaimed. 
 
 « It has become indeed sufficiently certain, that the commerce of 
 the United States is to be sacrificed, not as interfering with the 
 
 belligerent rights of Great Britain not as supplying the wants of 
 
 her enemies, which she herself supplies ; but as interfering with 
 the monopoly which she covets for her own commerce and navi- 
 gatibn. She carrier on a war against the lawful commerce of a 
 friend, that she may the better carry on a commerce with an en- 
 emy a commerce, pollrled by the forgeries and perjuries which 
 
 are for the most part the only passports by which it can succeed. 
 
 " Anxious to make ev^ry experiment short of the last, resort of 
 injured nations, the United States have withheld from Great Brit, 
 ain, under successive modifications, the benefits of a free inter- 
 course with their market, the loss of which could not but out- 
 weigh the profits accruing from her restrictions of our commerce 
 with other nations. And to entitle these experiments to the more 
 favorable consideration, they were so framed as to enable her to 
 place her adversary under the exclusive operation of them. To 
 these appeals her government has been equally inflexible, as if 
 willing to make sacrifices of every sort, rather than yield to the 
 claims of justice, or renounce the errors of a false pride. Nay, 
 so far were the attempts carried to overcome the attachment of 
 the British cabinet to its unjust edicts, that it received every en- 
 couragement within the competency of the executive branch of 
 our government, to expect that a repeal of them would be follow- 
 ed by a war between the United States and France, unless the 
 French edicts should also be repealed. Even this communication, 
 although silencing forever the plea of a disposition in the United 
 States to acquiesce in those edicts, originally the sole plea of them, 
 received no attention. 
 
 " If no other proof existed of a predetermination of the British 
 government against a repeal of its orders, it might be found in the 
 correspondence of the minister plenipotentiary of the United 
 States at London, and the British secretary for foreign affairs, in 
 1810, on the question whether the blockade of May, 1806, was 
 considered as in force, or as not in force. It had been ascertain- 
 ed that the French government, which urged this blockade as the 
 ground of its Berlin decree, was willing, in the event of its remov- 
 al, to repeal that decree ; which being followed by alternate re- 
 peals of the other offensive edicts, might abolisii the whole system 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 on both sides. This inviting opportunity for accumplishing an ob- 
 ject so important to the United States, and professed so often to 
 be the desire of both the belligerents, was made known to the 
 British government. As that government admits that an actual 
 application of an adequate force is necessary to the existence of a le- 
 gal blockade,and it was notorious, that, if sucha force had ever been 
 applied, its long discontinuance bad annulled the blockade in ques- 
 tion, there could be no sufficient objection on the part of Great 
 Britain to a formal revocation of it ; and no imaginable objection 
 to a declaration of the fact that the blockade did not exist. The 
 declaration would have been consistent with her avowed princi- 
 ples of blockade, and would have enabled the United States to de- 
 mand from France the pledged repeal of her decrees ; either with 
 success, in which case the way would have been opened for a gen- 
 eral repeal of the belligerent edicts; or without success, in which 
 case the United States would be justified in turning their meas- 
 ures exclusively' against France. The British government would, 
 however, neither rescind the blockade, nor declare its non-exist- 
 ence : nor permit its non-existence to be inferted and affirmed 
 by the American plenipotentiary. On the <;ontrary, by represent- 
 ing the blockade to be comprehended in the orders in council, the 
 •United States were compelled eo to regard it in their subsequent 
 proce^edings. 
 
 "There was aperiod when a favorable change in the policy of the 
 British cabinet was justly considered as established. The minister 
 plenipotentiary of his Britannic majesty here proposed an adjustment 
 of the differences more immediately endangering the harmony of 
 the two countries. The proposition was accepted with a promp- 
 titude and cordiality corresponding with the invariable professions 
 of this government. A foundation appeared to be laid for a sin- 
 cere and lasting reconciliation. The prospect, however, quickly 
 vanished. The whole proceeding was disavowed by the British 
 government, without any explanations which could at that^ime 
 repress the belief, that the disavowal proceeded from a spirit of 
 hostility to the commercial rights and prosperity of the United 
 States. And it has since come into proof, that at the very mo- 
 ment when the public minister was holding the language of friend- 
 ship and inspiring confidence in the sincerity of the negociation 
 with which he was charged, a secret agent of his government 
 was employed in intrigues, having for their object, a subversion of 
 our government, and a dismemberment of our happy union. 
 
 " Iq reviewing the conduct of Great Britain towards the United 
 States, our attention is necessarily drawn to the warfare just re- 
 newed by the savages on one of our extensive frontiers ; a war- 
 fare which is known to spare neither age nor sex, and to be dis- 
 tinguished by features peculiarly shocking to humanity. It is diffi- 
 cult to account for the activity and combiuations which have foi" 
 
8 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 ll * 
 
 some time been developing themselves among tribes in coA« 
 slant intercourse with British traders and garrisons, without con- 
 necting their hostility with that influence ; and without recollect- 
 ing the authenticated examples of such interpositions heretofore 
 furnished by the officers and agents of that government. 
 
 " Such is the spectacle of injuries and indignities which have been 
 heaped on our country ; and such the crisis which its unexampled 
 forbearance and conciliatory eiforts have not been able to avert* 
 It might at least have been expected, that an enlightened nation, 
 if less urged by moral obligations, or invited by friendly dispositions ~ 
 on the part of the United States, would have found in its true in- 
 terest alone a sufficient motive to respect their rights and their 
 tranquility on the high seas ; that an enlarged policy would have 
 favoured that free and general circulation of commerce, in which 
 the British nation is at all times interested, and which in times of 
 war is the best alleviation of its calamities to herself, as well as the 
 other belligerents ; and more especially that the British cabinet 
 would not, for the sake of a precarious and surreptitious intercourse 
 with hostile markets, have persevered in a course of measures 
 which necessarily put at hazard the invaluable market of a great 
 and growing country, disposed to cultivate the mutual advantages 
 of an active commerce. 
 
 *' Other councils have prevailed. Our moderation and concilia- 
 tion have had no other effect than to encourage perseverance, and 
 to enlarge pretentions. We behold our seafaring citizens still the 
 daily victims of lawless violence committed on the great common 
 and highway of nations, even within sight of the country which 
 owes them protection. We behold our vessels, freighted with the 
 products of our soil and industry, or returning with the honest pro- 
 ceeds of them, wrested from their lawful destinations, confiscated 
 by prize courts, no longer the organs of public law, but the instru- 
 ments of arbitrary edicts ; and their unfortunate crews dispersed 
 and lost, or forced or inveigled in British ports into British fleets ; 
 whilst arguments are employed, in support of these aggressions, 
 which have no foundation but in a principle equally supporting a 
 claim to regulate our external commerce in all cases whatsoever. 
 
 '* We behold, in fine, on the side of Great Britain, a state of 
 war against the United States ; on the side of the United States 
 a state of peace towards Great Britain. 
 
 " Whether the United States shall continue passive under these 
 progressive usurpations, and these accumulating wrongs ; or, op-^ 
 posing force to force in defence of their natural rights, shall com- 
 mit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty disposer bf events; 
 avoiding all connections which might entangle it in the contests or 
 views of other powers, and preserving a constant readiness to con- 
 cur in an honorable re-establishment of peace and friendship, is a 
 solemn question, which the constitution wisely confides to the le- 
 
TBK WAll. 
 
 »^ 
 
 e, in which 
 
 gislative ^Department of the government. In recommending it to 
 their early deliberations, I am happy in the assurance that the de* 
 cision will be worthy the enlightened and patriotic councils of a 
 virtuous, a free and a powerful nation. . 
 
 <* Having presented this view of the relations of the United States 
 with Great Britain, and of the solemn alternative growing out of 
 them, I proceed to remark, that the communications last made to 
 Congress on the subject ot our relations with France will have 
 shown that since the revocation of her decrees as they violated 
 the neutral rights of the United States, her government has author- 
 ised illegal captures, by its privateers and public ships, and that 
 other outrages have been practised on our vessels and our citizens. 
 It will have been seen also, that no indemnity had been provided, 
 or satisfactorily pledged, for the extensive spoliations committed 
 under the violent and retrospective orders of the French govern- . 
 ment against the property of our citizens seized within the juris- 
 diction of France. I abstain at this time from recommending to 
 the consideration of Congress defiaitive measures with respect to 
 that nation, in the expectation, that the result of unclosed discus- 
 sions between our Minister Plenipotentiary at Paris and the French 
 government will speedly enable Congress to decide, with greater 
 advantage, on the course due to the rights, the interests, and the 
 honour of our country. JAMES MADISON." 
 
 On the 18th of June it was enacted by Congress, ** That 
 WAR be, and the same is hereby declared to exist between the 
 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependen- 
 ces thereof, and the United States of America and their territories; 
 and that the President of the United States be and is hereby au- 
 thorised to use the whole land and naval force of the United States 
 to carry the same into effect, and to issue to private armed vessels 
 of the United States commissions or letters of marqne and gener- 
 al reprisal, in such form as he shall think proper, and under the 
 seal of the United States, against the vessels, goods, and eflfects of 
 the government of the same United Kingdoms of Great Britain 
 and Ireland, and the subjects thereof." 
 
 The declaration of war was announced on the day after its par- 
 sage by Proclamation, of which the following is a copy : 
 
 By the President of the United States of America, 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 Whereas the Congress of the United States, by virtue of the 
 oonstituted authorities vested in them, have decided by their act, 
 bearing date the eighteenth day of the present month, that War 
 exist between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 
 and the dependences thereof, and the United States of America 
 and their territories ; Now, therefore, I James Madison, Prefi- 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 ''il 
 
 dent of tbc Tanked States of America, do hereby proclaini the saih^ 
 to all whom it may concern ; and I do specially enjoin on all pef 
 sons holding ofiicesj civil or military, under the authority of the 
 United States, that they be vigilant and zealous, in discharging the- 
 duties respectively incident thereto : And I do moreover exhort lYre 
 good people of the United States,- as they love their country ; ar 
 they value the precious heritagf derived from the virtue and val*' 
 or of their fathers : as they feel the wrongs which have forced oft 
 them the last resort of injured nations ; and as they consult the 
 best means, under the blessing of Divine Providence, of abridging 
 its calamities ; that they exert themselves in preserving order, in 
 promoting concord, in maintaining the authority and the efficacy 
 of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the measures 
 which may be adopted by the constituted authorities, for obtaining 
 a speedy, a just, and an honorable peace. 
 
 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused 
 (L. s.) the seal of the United States to be affixed to these 
 
 presents. 
 Done at the city of Washington, the nineteeth day of June^ 
 ■ one thousand eight hundred and twelve, and of the 
 Independence of the United States the thirty-sixth. 
 {Signed) JAMES MADISON. 
 
 By the President, 
 James Monroe, Secretary of State, 
 
 General Bloomfield, in bis orders of the 20th June, as com- 
 mander of the forts in the harbor of New-York, announced the/ 
 declaration of war. 
 
 Commodore Rodgers immediately got under way, having un- 
 der his command the frigates President, the United States, and 
 Congress, ihejdbops Hornet and Argus. He was over the bar 
 before S o'clock in the afternoon, and proceeded to sea in quests 
 as was supposed, of the British frigate Belvidera, and sloop of war 
 Tartarus, which were, for some days, blockading that port and 
 capturing our shipping. It is however probable that the enemy 
 received such early notice of his intended fate as enabled him 
 to effect a timely escape. 
 
 The Commodore, in an address to his crew, told them, the 
 time had arrived when the country required their services— " If 
 (said he) there are any of you unwilling to risk your lives with 
 me, say so, and you shall be paid off and discharged." Every 
 man huzza'd, and said they would stand or fall with their commO' 
 dore. 
 
 First prisoner. — Before the declaration of war was known at 
 Norfolk, in Virginia, a stranger, by the name of Wilkinson, had 
 arrived in that town, and lodged at the British Consul's. He waft 
 understood to be a British officer, though habited as a private gen- 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 M 
 
 le ineasuret 
 
 f1«man. This circumstance was not noticed till the declaration 
 oi vvar was received, a few days after ; when, as the mail-boat 
 was about to depart for Hampton, he was observed making his 
 way with uncommon speed and circumspection along the back 
 street, which leads from the British Consul's to the wharf where 
 the mail-boat lay, when he sprang ' n board, darted into the ca^ 
 bin, and in a few seconds the boat was under way. From his pre* 
 cipitate retreat some cf the leading citizens were apprehensive he 
 intended to communicate, without delay, the news of the war to 
 a British man of war, known to be hovering on that coast. Two 
 boats, one from the navy-yard, the other from fort Nelson, were 
 immediately dispatched in pursuit of the mail-boat, which they 
 overtook, and re-conducted Mr. Wilkinson to the navy-yard, 
 as a prisoner of war. He was supposed to be a captain in the 
 Royal Marines. 
 
 First prize. — On the 25th June arrived at Norfolk, the schoon* 
 er Patriot, J. A. Brown, master, from Gnadaloup, bound to Hali* 
 fax with a valuable cargo of sugar, as prize to the revenue cut' 
 ter Jefferson, Wm. Ham, master. 
 
 Naval force. — ^The following, at the commencement tff th* 
 war, was a list of the naval force of the United States : 
 
 
 Rated, 
 
 Mounting. 
 
 
 Constitution, 
 
 44 
 
 08 
 
 Capt. Hull. 
 
 United States, 
 
 44 
 
 58 
 
 Decatur. 
 
 President, 
 
 44 
 
 58 
 
 Com. Rodger^. 
 
 Chesapeake, 
 
 36 
 
 44 
 
 Ordinary. 
 
 New York, 
 
 36 
 
 44 
 
 do. 
 
 Constellation, 
 
 36 
 
 44 
 
 do. 
 
 Congress, 
 
 36 
 
 44 
 
 Capt. Smith. 
 
 Boston, 
 
 32 
 
 
 Ordinary. 
 
 Essex, 
 
 32 
 
 
 Capt. Porter. 
 
 Adams, 
 
 32 
 
 
 Ordinary. 
 
 
 CORVETTE. 
 
 
 John Adams, 
 
 26 
 
 
 Capt. Ludlow. 
 
 
 SHIPS OF 
 
 WAR. 
 
 
 Wasp, 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 Capt. Jones. 
 
 Hornet, 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 Lawrence. 
 
 
 BRIGS. 
 
 
 Siren, 
 
 16 
 
 
 Lieut. Carol]. 
 
 Argus, 
 
 16 
 
 
 Crane. 
 
 Oneida, 
 
 i6 
 
 
 Com. Woolsey, 
 
 
 SCHOONERS^, 
 
 
 Vixen, 
 
 12 
 
 
 Lieut. Gadsden. 
 
 Nautilus, 
 
 12 
 
 
 Sinclair. 
 
 Enterprise, 
 
 12 
 
 
 Blakeley. 
 
 Viper, 
 
 12 
 
 
 Bainbridg9« 
 
 170 GUN^B0AT5 
 
 , 20 at New-Orleans, 
 
 Captt Shaw. 
 
J 
 
 i\\ 
 
 if! 
 
 U 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 BOMBS. 
 
 Vengeance, 7 o.,i:«««, C ^*na» 
 Spitfire, i ^"^^'""y- i Vesuvius. 
 Military jfbrce,'-^A& preparatory to a state of war, Coagresg, by 
 their act of the 10th of April, 1812, had authorized a detachment 
 from the militia of the United States of 100,000 meo^ apportioned 
 98 follows : 
 
 New-Hampshire, 
 
 3,500 
 
 Maryland, 
 
 6,000 
 
 Massachusetts, 
 
 10,000 
 
 Virginia 
 
 12,000 
 
 Connecticut, 
 
 3,000 
 
 North Carolina 
 
 , 7,0C0 
 
 Rhode Island, 
 
 500 
 
 SouthCarolinaj 
 
 . 5,000 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 8,000 
 
 Georgia, 
 
 3,600 
 
 New- York, 
 
 13,500 
 
 Kentucky, 
 
 5,500 
 
 New-Jersey, 
 
 5,000 
 
 Ohio, 
 
 5,000 
 
 Pennsylvania, 
 
 14,000 
 
 Tennessee, 
 
 2,500 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 1,000 
 
 
 
 100,000 
 
 Instructions for private armed vessels, — Mr. Munroe, as Sec* 
 retary of State, by command of the President, issued the following 
 instructions to the captains and commanders of private armed ves- 
 sels. 
 
 « 1. The tenure ofyour commission under the act of Congress, 
 entitled *' an act concerning letters of marque, prizes, and prize 
 goods, a copy of which is hereto annexed, will be kept constantly 
 in your view. The high seas referred to in your commission, 
 you will understand, generally, to extend to low water mark ; 
 but with the exception of the space within one league, or three 
 miles, from the shore of countries at peace both with Great Brit> 
 ain and with the United States. You may nevertheless execute 
 your commission within that distance of the shore of a nation at 
 war with Great Britain, and even on the waters within the juris- 
 diction of such nation, if permitted so to do. 
 
 ** 2. You are to pay the strictest regard to the rights of neutral 
 powers, and the usages of civilized nations ; and in all your pro> 
 ceedings towards neutral vessels, you are to give them as little 
 molestation or interruption as will consist with the right of ascer- 
 taining their neutral character, and of detaining and bringing 
 them in for regular adjudication, in the proper case. You are 
 particularly to avoid even the appearance of using force or seduc- 
 tion, with a view to deprive such vessels of their crews, or of 
 their passengers, other than persons in the military service of the 
 enemy. 
 
 " 3. Towards enemy's vessels and their crews, you are to pro- 
 ceed in exercising the rights of war, with all the justice and hu- 
 manity which characterize the nation of which you are members. 
 
 " 4. The master and one or more of the principal persons belong* 
 ]Qg to captured vessels, are to be sentji as soon after the cap- 
 
I^HK WAJEk* 
 
 13 
 
 iure ai may be, to the Judge or judges of the proper eourt in the 
 United States, to be examined upon oath, touching the interest or 
 property of the captured vessel, and her lading; and at the 
 lame time are to be delivered to the judge or judges, all passes, 
 charter parties, bills of lading, invoices, letters and other docu« 
 ments, and writings found on board ; the said paper;? to be proved, 
 by the affidavit of the commandjer of the capturing vessels, or 
 some other person present at the capture, to be produced as they 
 were received, without fraud, addition, subduction or embezzle- 
 ment." 
 
 h Great Brit- 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Northxvestem army General Hull his march..,.,advance intd 
 
 Canada his retreat, capitulation, surrender and trial. 
 
 In April, 1812, by virtue of a requisition from the Presi- 
 dent of the United States, Governor Meigs, of the state of Ohio, 
 very promptly raised the 1200 men, required, and upon his own 
 responsibility 300 more, all volunteers, and organized them into 
 three regiments. Colonels M'Arthur, Cass, and Fiiidly, by the 
 election of the volunteers, received the command of them. The 
 zeal of Gov. Meigs, and the ardor of his people, in a great meas- 
 ure supplied the deficiency of public arsenals. Dayton, on 
 Mad river, one of the waters of the great Miami, 60 miles by 
 land, and about 75 by water from its mouth, was the place of 
 rendezvous of the volunteers. Here Gov. Meigs surrendered hif 
 command of them to Brigadier General Hull, appointed by the 
 President to command them. Gov. MeigF, before be left the 
 troops, in the name of the president, thanked them for their patri« 
 otism, encouraged their ardor, and gave them his own benedic- 
 tions. Gen. Hull, among other things, observed to them, *' In 
 marching through a wilderness, memorable for savage barbarity^ 
 you will remember the causes by which that barbarity has been 
 heretofore excited. In viewing the ground stained with the 
 blood of your fellow citizens, it will be impossible to suppress thtf 
 feelings of indignation. Passing by the ruins of a Fortress* erect- 
 ed in our territory in times of profound peace, and for the express 
 purpose of exciting the savages to hostility and supplying them 
 with the means of conducting a barbarous war, must remiiid you 
 «f that system of oppression and injustice, which that nation has 
 
 •Fort Miami, erected b^ the Brit;ih. in !70» iuruini are to bo seen rn tlie left baukofthe Miami 
 «rtl)elaki^ a httle below Fort Meigs, w.'iichw lituate on tbe right bark of the mme riTer neaitv 
 Apposite On lapids, and eighteen inilei a'mre ito mouth. 
 
14 
 
 SRETCHES OF 
 
 
 ■ i 
 
 constanti/pr act iced, and which the spirit of an indignant people 
 can no longer endure." 
 
 At the close of the General's speech the troops uncovered and 
 gave six cheers, as a testimonial of respect for their beloved chief 
 magistrate, and new commander. 
 
 On the 27th of May, Gen. Hull pitched his tent in camp Meigs, 
 on the western bank of the river, when the United States flag 
 was hoisted in a hollow square formed by the troops. Upon this 
 occasion Col. Cass said, 
 
 " Fellow-Citizens the standard of your country is displayed. 
 
 You have rallied around it to defend her rights and avepge her in* 
 juries. May it wave protection to our friends, and defiance to our 
 
 enemies and, should it ever meet in the hostile field, 1 doubt not 
 
 that the eagle of liberty which it bears will be found more than a 
 match for the lion of England." 
 
 On the first of June, the fourth regiment, commanded by Col. 
 Miller, having joined Gen. Hull, the army resumed its march for 
 Detroit. 
 
 Governor Meigs had accompanied the army a few miles from 
 Dayton to Urbana for the purpose of holding a council with 
 twelve Indian chiefs, of the lake tribes. It was agreed to renew 
 the treaty of Greenville. After smoking the caimut of peace, 
 both parties called on the Great Spirit to witness the sincerity of 
 their professions. The Indians appeared unusually friendly, and 
 gave Gen. Hull permission to march through their country, and 
 to erect block-houses every twenty miles, which he did. 
 
 From Urbana to the rapids of the Miami of the lakes is a dis* 
 tance of one hnndred and fifty miles. The route of the army was 
 through a thick and almost trackless forest. As there was a great 
 number of baggage waggons attached to the army, it became ne- 
 cessary to open a new road the whole distance. The soil of the 
 land was moist, being in many places a perfect swamp. The 
 "weather was rainy, and man and horse were compelled to travel 
 mid leg deep in mud. Frequently the van had to halt for the 
 rear, which was as often detained in its march, in relieving wag- 
 gons and horses from the mire. Almost every officer and soldier 
 have concurred in stating, that the march of the army from Day- 
 ton to Detroit was as rapid as was practicable, considering the 
 natural obstacles to be overcome. Most of them, however, charge 
 the General with a vain show of military parade, in passing small riv^ 
 ers. His plan of encampment,at night, was a hollow sqiiare, defend- 
 ed always by a temporary breast-work of felled trees. The troops 
 received no annoyance from the enemy, on the march, if we ex-^ 
 cept the wounding of a centinel, who was shot through the 
 thighs. The army arrived at the rapids of the Miami of the lakes, 
 18 miles above the movith of the river, on or about the 30th .df 
 June. * 
 
THirWAR. 
 
 IB 
 
 The Miami of the lake is described as a fine river^ navigable 
 ifdr light vessels as far as the rapids. It is formed by the union of 
 If he St. Mary's and the St. Joseph^ at fort Wayne ; thence it 
 [meanders through a rich level country, to fort Winchester, (lately 
 fort Defiance) where it receives the Au Glaize from the south- 
 east. Its general course is northeast : its banks are regular, higb^ 
 l>ut not abrupt ; sloping gradually to the waters' edge, and cover-' 
 id with a beautiful, luxuriant verdure. The channel of the river i 
 trom the rapids to within three miles of the bay, is composed of 
 iimestone rock, formed into regular strata, by parallel fissures^: 
 rhich sink perpendicularly into the rock, and run trausversly.' 
 [across the river. The face of the bank, for ten or twelve feet 
 I above the water, is also composed of solid rock, and from its ap- 
 pearance, it is evident that the current has worn the channel- 
 [many feet deeper than it was in former ages. The rich open in-n 
 tervale, extending to the right and left as far as the eye can 
 reach ; the elevation of the bank ; the beautiful Miami flowing 
 rapidly through the centre of the valley, the declivities of the sur-; 
 rounding hills, here and there adorned with clusters of honey lo-' 
 oust, plum trees, and hathorn, clad with the wide spreading 
 grape vine, present at once a romantic and interesting scenery. 
 The quantity of fish, of an excellent quality, at the head of the' 
 rapids, is almost incredible. So numerous are they at this place, 
 that a spear thrown into the water at random will rarely misi 
 one. Several hundreds of them have been taken in a few hours. 
 The soldiers of the Fort used to kill then) in great quantities, with 
 clubs and stones. The river, swan creek, and the shoals of the 
 bay swarm with ducks, geese, and other water fowl. The wood* 
 are filled with deer, elk, and wild turkies. 
 
 The whole length of the rapids, on both sides of the river, will 
 unquestionably, at no remote period, be lined with mills and vari- 
 ous manufactories. The fa vcN*able circumstances of the situation^ 
 [the water, and a very extensive navigation will invite the enter* 
 prizing. Cotton, in any quantity, may be procured from Tennes- 
 jsee, subject to a land carriage of not more than twenty miles^ 
 [This place affords a beautiful scite for a town, and there is little 
 jdoubt, but that in a short time there will be a flourishing village 
 ■where fort Meigs now stands. Before the war there was a flour- 
 dishing French settlement on the river, extending for several milea 
 above and below the town. The usual yield of corn is 80 bush- 
 els to the acre. There was also a small settlement on Swan 
 Creek, on the Michigan side, which falls into the Miami, seven 
 miles below the fort. Within three miles, below the fort, are 
 several beautiful islands ; the largest of which contains 600 acres, 
 and has been cultivated. The river Raisin is by land 34 miles 
 northwardly, from fort Meigt. 
 
li^ 
 
 ^KTCHSS OV 
 
 The Miami river falls into Miami bay, which, like that of San- 
 dbihy il about 15 miles long, and 12 wide. Vessels of 70 tons 
 burthen can pass the bar, at its intervale. Within the bason of 
 the bay grow several thousand acres of foUe avoine, (wild oats.) 
 It grows in about 7 feet water ; the stalks near the roots, are 
 •bout an inch in diameter, and grow to the height often feet ; its 
 leaves above the surface of the water are like the reed cane. 
 In other respects it resembles the coinmon oat stalks, excepting its 
 •ize and kernel, which is of the nature of rice, and of which the 
 French people make free use in their favorite soup. Its yield is 
 very abundant, being half a pint at least from every stalk. This 
 valuable aquatic grain is found at the mouths of all the rivers 
 which fall into the lakes west of Sandusky, as far as the south end 
 of lake Michigan, and is the chief subsistence of the prodigious 
 Dumber of water-foul, which are found on these waters. 
 
 On the 1st July Gen. Hull dispatched from fort Meigs, at the 
 foot of the rapids of the Miami of the lake, a schooner and a boat, 
 to convey to Detroit the sick and the baggage of the army. On 
 ■ board the schooner were 30 persons, among whom were pay mas- 
 ter Lewis Dent, Capt. Short of Marietta, a Lieut, of the 4th reg- 
 iment, and three of the officers' wives, the General's baggage, 
 flnd that of most of the officers of the army, all the hospital stores, 
 and a trunk containing the official and confidential papers of the 
 General. The boat was laden with sick. The schooner and 
 boat were ordered to sail in company, but the schooner passed the 
 boat the first night, and by some untoward fatality, which seemt 
 constantly to have attended this army, the schooner sailed on the 
 British side of the Bois-blanc island. The enemy's armed brig 
 Hunter bore down upon her, and she was also pursued by a bat<^ 
 teau from Maiden, filled with armed men. Uni jnscious of the 
 war, opposite fort Maiden, at 10 o'clock the next day, the schoon- 
 er became an easy prize. Two of the ladies were sent to De- 
 troit, the other remained with her husband, at Maiden. 
 
 The same day, in the evening, the boat passed Maiden up a 
 tlilTerent channel, unmolested by the British, but harra^sed by 
 the Indians that night. On the 3d, at three o'clock in the after- 
 Soon, the boat arrived at Detroit, and its crew first knew that 
 war was declared. 
 
 The town of Detroit has been thus described : " It is situated 
 on the western bank of the strait, nine miles below lake St. Clair 
 and eighteen above Brownstown. The town contains about two 
 hundred houses, which are inhabited by more than one thousand 
 two hundred souls : under one roof are often crowded several 
 families. The town stands contiguous to the river, on the top of 
 the bank. Which is here about twenty feet high. There are sev- 
 eral wooden wharves extending into the river upwards of one 
 hundred feet, for the accommodation of the shipping : the largest 
 
t'HK WAR. 
 
 17 
 
 WHS built by the United States, and is found \ety convenient foi' 
 the unloading of vessels. The principal streets run parallel with 
 the river, and are intersected by cross streets at right angles, 
 ["hey are wide, but not being |>aved, are extremely muddy in wet 
 /eather ; but for the accommodation of passengers, there are 
 }ot ways in most of them, formed of square logs. Every house 
 las a garden attached to it ; the buildings are mostly framed, 
 lough there are several elegant stone and brick buildings. Be< 
 >re the great fire in 1806, the town was surrounded by a strong 
 ftockade, through which there were four gates ; two of them 
 >pen to the wharves, the others to the land : this defence was in-* 
 tended to repel the attacks of the Indians. 
 
 ** The fort stands on a rise of ground two hundred yards in the 
 Irear of the town ; the fortifications consist of a stockade of cedar 
 [pickets, with bastions of earth ; near the foot Qf the ditch is a row 
 of short sharp pickets, innllning outwards thirty pieces of can- 
 non can be mounted on the ramparts ; the fort covers about an 
 acre and an half of ground. 
 
 " The proximity of one house to another, from lake St. Clair to 
 the river Rouge, gives the street the resemblance of the suburbs 
 of a great town. The farms are only twenty rods wide on the 
 river, and extend back one mile and a quarter : the same of those 
 on the other rivers, as well as those on the British side. The 
 country round Detroit is very much cleared. The inhabitants 
 have to draw their wood a mile and a half, from the United 
 States' lands, in the rear of the town. It sells in market for three 
 dollars a cord : almost every farm has an orchard : apples, pears^ 
 and peaches do well several hundred barrels of cider are annu- 
 ally made, and sell as high as six dollars a barrel. The land 
 rises gradually from the river to the distance of three hundred 
 yards : then it recedes, till the country becomes low and level, 
 and continues so for four or five miles, when it rises by degrees, 
 and at this distance is represented as first rate land. 
 
 ** The United States have a long elegant brick store at the 
 water's edge, near the public warf.....this is completely filled with 
 the spoils of the enemy taken on the Thames, and the arms of the 
 volunteers. This building is 80 feet long, and 30 wide, and 
 three stories high, 
 
 " The streets of Detroit are generally crowded with Indians 
 of various tribes, who collect here to sell their skins. 
 
 " The inhabitantii are plentifully supplied with many kinds of 
 
 excellent fish the white bass, nearly as large as a shad, are 
 
 caught with seins, and in great quantities. The population is 
 three-fourths of French extraction, and very few understand any 
 other language. They are excessively fond of music and danc- 
 ing. There is a kind of nunnery, a Roman chapel for devotion 
 
 C 
 
19 
 
 SKLTCHtiS OF 
 
 I 
 
 !l 
 
 1 
 
 4> 
 
 and liuging : n wretched printing office, in whiuh religioui Frencli 
 books are printed in a rude style. Learning is almost wholly neg- 
 lected." 
 
 «• The villnmo of Sondwich lie« opposite Detroit, about one and 
 a half miles below Detroit garrison, and is situated on the bank of 
 Detroit river. The country is settled alonjf the rive r from lake 
 St. Clair (ten miles above Sandwich) to Maiden or Amhcrstburg, 
 sixteen miles below. This part of the country is handsomely situ- 
 ated : the land good and unbroken, with excellent roads. Fort 
 Maiden is situated on a point of land at the mouth of Detroit liver, 
 and commands a view of lake Erie and the main channel of the 
 river. (Hero were built most of the king's armed vessels for 
 lakes Erie and Huron.) It is a port of considerable importance, and 
 it is believed the only fortification place between fort St. Joseph's, 
 near the mouth of St. Mary's river, (outlet of lake Superior) and 
 fort Erie. There is also a considerable settlement on the river of 
 Thames, which empties into lake St. Clair, from the northenst, 
 about 30 or 30 miles above Sandwich, composed principally of 
 persons who have fled from the United States to escape justice. 
 There are several settlements on the north side of lake Erie, but 
 none of any importance except those about Long Point. 
 
 ** The land from Detroit to lake Erie, (on the American side) 
 along Detroit river, is low and marshy, and mostly uninhabited. 
 There are several islands in Detroit river, some of which are in- 
 habited. 
 
 « The distance from Detroit through Canada (from Sandwich to 
 fort Erie) must be about 300 miles. The roads arc tolerable, 
 though the country is new. Formerly people travelling from De- 
 troit to the eastern states, went this route in preference to going 
 on the south side of lake Erie. 
 
 " A considerable proportion of the inhabitants opposite Detroit 
 are French, with some English, Scotch, Irish, &c." 
 
 The army had arrived at Springwells, otherwise Bellefontaine, 
 3 miles below Detroit, on the 5th of July. On the 6th or 7th 
 the whole army marched through Detroit in the morning, and re- 
 turned in the afternoon on the same day marched from 
 
 Springwells — on the 8th or 9th marched with baggage and camp 
 equippage, and encamped in the rear of the town of Detroit, and 
 there remained until the 12th, when the whole army crossed in- 
 to Canada. As it approached Sandwich, the peasantry there fled, 
 and General Hull here erected the standard of the United States 
 amid his troops of more than 2000 men, and issued the following 
 proclamation : 
 
 " Inhabitants of Canada ! Afker thirty years of peace and 
 
 prosperity, the United States have been driven to arms. The in- 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 10 
 
 Juriei and agfjressions, the iniultv and indignities of Great Uritaiii 
 Riav? once more left them no alternative but manly reiiitance, or 
 lunconditional Bubniixion. The army under my command hai in- 
 Ivaded your country . the standard of the Union now waves over 
 ■the territory of Canada. To the peaceable unoiTendinp; inhabit* 
 lanti, it brings urither dangci nor ditliculty. I come to find cnt- 
 liea, not to make thern. i come f > protect, not tn injure you. 
 ** Separated by an immense ocean and an extensive wilderness 
 ^rom Great Britain, } u have no participation in her councils, no 
 Interest in her conduct. You have felt her tyranny, you have 
 leen her injustice. But I do not ask you to avenge the one, or to 
 [rcdrtss the other. The United States are suliiciently powerful to 
 'afTord every security consistent with their rights, and your ex- 
 pectations. I tender you the invaluable blessings of civil, pelitical, 
 and religious liberty, and their necessary result, individual and 
 general prosperity ; that liberty which gave decision to our coun- 
 
 oils and energy to our conduct in a struggle for independence 
 
 whicli conducted us safely and triumphantly through the stormy 
 
 period of the revolution the liberty which raised us to an 
 
 elevated rank among the nations of the world ; and which afford- 
 ed us a greater measure of peace and security, of wealth and im- 
 provement, than ever fell to the lot of any people. In the name 
 of my country, and the authority of government, I promise you 
 protection to your persons, property and rights : remain at your 
 homes ; pursue your peaceful and accustomary avocations ; raise 
 net your hands against your brethren. Many of your fathers 
 fought for the freedom and independence we now enjoy. Being 
 children, therefore, of the same family with us, and heirs to the 
 same heritage, the arrival of an army of friends must be hailed 
 by you with a cordial welcome. You will be emancipated from 
 tyranny and oppression, and restored to the dignified station of 
 freedom. Had I any doubt of eventual success, I might ask your 
 assistance ; but I do not. I come prepared for every contingen- 
 cy. I have a force which will break down all opposition, and that 
 
 force is but the vanguard of a much greater If, contrary to your 
 
 own interest, and the just expectation of my country, you should 
 take part in the approaching contest, you will be considered as 
 enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk before 
 you. If the barbarous and savage policy of Great Britain be pur- 
 sued, and the savages let loose to murder our citizens, and 
 butcher our women and children, this war will be a war of ex- 
 termination. The first stroke of the tomahawk the first at- 
 tempt with the scalping knife, will be the signul of one indiscrim- 
 inate scene of desolation. No white man found fighting by the 
 
 side of an Indian will be taken prisoner instant death will be 
 
 his lot. If the dictates of reason, duty, justice and humanity 
 cannot prevent the employment of a force wbich respects no 
 
80 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 ^i 
 
 m' 
 
 rights, and knows ap wrong, it will be prevented by a severe and 
 relentless system of retaliation. I doubt not your courage 
 
 and firmness I will not doubt your attachment to liberty. If 
 
 you tender your services voluntarily, they will be accepted read- 
 ily. The United States offer you peace, liberty, and security. 
 Your choice lies between these, and war, slavery and destruction. 
 Choose then, but choose wisely; and may he who knows the 
 Juiitice of our cause, and who holds in his hand the fate of nations, 
 guide you to the result the most compatible with your rights and 
 interests, your peace and happiness." 
 
 Such, however, was the eventual influence of Gen. Hull's 
 proclamation, that the greater part of the Canadian militia, in 
 that vicinity, having at his approach fled to swamps, morasses, 
 and forests, yet afterwards having acquired confidence that they 
 were to enjoy protection, deserted their allegiance and many of 
 them united under the American standard. The Indians there 
 seemed, as usual, to await the display, rfnd the certainty of supe- 
 rior power, that at last they might be found with the conquer- 
 ors. 
 
 The American troops, impatient to march into Maiden, and ir- 
 ritated from delay, soon cea«ed to conceal their ardor from their 
 general he was insulted to his face. 
 
 Col. M'Arthur was detached with about 150 men lo the river 
 Thames,* otherwise La Trenche, which discharges its waters in- 
 to lake St. Clair, about 9 miles above, and £. N. £. from Detroit, 
 where, unopposed, he captured a considerable quantity of provi- 
 sion, blankets, arms, and ammunition. Another detachment, 
 without obstruction, captured some hundreds of merino sheep, re- 
 puted to be of the property of the Earl of Selkirk. 
 
 Col. Cass was, on the 15th of July, detached with 280 men to 
 reconnoitre the enemy*s advanced posts. A bridge over Aux 
 Canards, otherwise duck river, 5 miles above Amherstburg, was 
 found occupied by the enemy. The colonel having examined the 
 enemy's position, ascended the river five miles to a ford, thence 
 descended on the south side of the river, and on the 17th attack- 
 ed and drove him. This is recorded as- the first time since the 
 revolutionary war, that American militia had fought British regu- 
 lars. Our men attacked with great spirit. Three times the en- 
 emy formed, and as often retreated. Night compelled our troops 
 to relinquish the pursuit. They encamped, during the night, on 
 the ground where they had fought. Col. Cass, the next day, led 
 them unmolested, to the American camp. The enemy must have 
 feared to renew the conflict. Ke could not have confided in 
 his force, or fort Maiden, a principal depository, in this quarter, of 
 
 • Thi* river, in Canatia, in n fine «tream, navignUlc. for vrjsel* ol' ooiiiiucraWe burden, nfirr >he 
 passHgc ol'the iMir nt i's mouth, nvor \v!iii'l) there is [jciierally 6t\'.ii I'eti of water. Tkt gun bonh 
 fi!cenilid ri milts triim its mqudi. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 21 
 
 men and munitions of war, and within five miles, as Col. Caes 
 would have disturbed his repose. Col. Cass, as a luminous body, 
 shone from behind the cloud which hung in the west. He mark- 
 ed its confines, while his brightness displayed the adjacent dark- 
 ness with greater horrors. Other snr>all detachmeuts were after- 
 wards occasionally sent to the river Aux Canards, further to dis- 
 cover the force of the enemy, and the position and strength of his 
 works. Hence there was frequent skirmishing in the vicinity of fort 
 Maiden. The Americans at one time had seven menkiUed, and ten 
 wounded. A horse of Col. M'Arthur was shot under him. The 
 Queen Charlotte, at anchor off the mouth of Aux Canards, fired 
 several broadsides at our troops. On one of these reconnoiteriiig 
 excursions Col. M'Arthur and Capt. Puthoff very narrowly escaped 
 an ambush of the Indians. 
 
 On the 4th of Aug. Maj. Van Home, with 200 men, principally 
 riflemen, was detached to march to the river Rasin, to escort a 
 convoy of provisions to the array. At Brownstown, nearly oppo- 
 site fort Maiden, and near the mouth of the river Rasin, a large 
 body of Indians had ambushed, and, at the short distance of fifty 
 yards, fired upon this detachn^ent, which was thrown into disor- 
 der, and thus retreated. Major Van Home attempted, but in 
 vain, to rally them. He lost seventeen of his party, of whom 
 four were captains, and three lieutenants. 
 
 This attempt having been unfortunate in its result. Col. Miller, 
 on the 8th of Aug. with 600 men, was sent to protect the same 
 provisions in transportation, under the insufficient escort of Capt. 
 Brush. This detachment was composed of regular troops, and of 
 volunteer militia from Ohio and Michigan. 
 
 On the 9th, about 4 o'clock, P. M. the vanguard, commanded 
 by Capt. Snelling, was fired upon by an extensive line of British 
 troops and Indians, at the lower end of the village of Magaugo, 
 14 miles from Detroit. At this time the main body were march- 
 ing in two columns, at the distance of half a mile. Capt. Snelling 
 maintained his position in a most gallant manner, under a very 
 heavy fire, until the line was formed and advanced to his relief, 
 when the whole, except the rear guard, was brought into action. 
 The enemy were formed behind a brest-work of felled trees, 
 which they had been, during several days preparing. The mo- 
 ment Col. Miller had brought up his troops iu line, the enemy 
 sprung from their hiding places, and formed in line of battle. A 
 scene that would appal the stoutest heart now presented itself. 
 The Americans had to contend with a force one third greater 
 than their own. Five hundred Indians almost entirely naked, 
 were fighting on almost every side, led on and encouraged by 
 British officers and savage chiefs. 
 
 But American valour rose superior to every thing. Our troops 
 charged and drove the enemy inch by inch,two miles, to the village 
 of Browjistown, where the British took to their boats, and the In- 
 
 '-B«^*"~ 
 
22 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 ■ i 
 
 diaD« to the woodi. When the eneniy were in full rout, Co!. | 
 Miller directed a troop of cavalry to charge and cut them up... 
 but they could not be made to advance, although Capt. Snelling I 
 ofiered to bead them in person. This cowardice of the cavalry 
 alone saved the enemy from total destruction, for the British were 
 in complete disorder, and their guns unloaded. 
 
 Col. Miller having thus opened the way, was determined to 
 push on to the river Rasin, but received a preremptory order from 
 Gen. Hull to return to Detroit, which he obeyed the day after the 
 battle. On their return towards Detroit, our troops were frequent- 
 ly fired upon from the brig Hunter, which took several positions 
 for that puroose ; even the wounded who were conveyed in wag- 
 gons, were inhumanely fired upon. 
 
 The allies lost in the battle of Magaugo, about 100 killed and 
 twice that number wounded. They were commanded by Maj. 
 Muir of the British regulars, who was wounded. Tecuraseh, 
 Marpot, and Walk-inthe-water, directed the Indians. 
 
 The Americans had 18 killed, and 58 wounded : thus was 
 much blood spilt without achievinj; the object of the detachment. 
 Too much praise cannot be bestowed on the ofBcers and men gen- 
 erally, engaged in that conflict. Col. Miller proved himself by 
 his courage and judicious arrangements, equal to a more responsi- 
 ble command. Capt. Baker was wounded in the leg. Lieut. Lar- 
 abee lost an arm. These officers distinguished themselves. Capts. 
 Delandre and Brevoort, of the Michigan volunteers conducted in< 
 a brave and soldier-like manner. 
 
 On the 8th of Aug. Gen. Hull retreated from Canada to De- 
 troit : on the 15th he was challenged by Gen. Brock to surren- 
 der, and on the 16th he surrendered himself, his army, fort De- 
 troit, and the Michigan Territory, according to the articles of 
 
 capitulation and under the circumstances detailed in his letters, 
 
 and that of Col. (now Gen.) Cass, all which, as public dopuments, 
 are here subjoined. 
 
 CAPITULATION. 
 
 j^rticle 1st. Fort Detroit, with all the troops, regulars as well 
 as militia, will be immediately surrendered to the British forces 
 under the command of Maj. Gen. Brock, and will be considered 
 prisoners of war, with the exception of such of the militia of the 
 Michigan territory, as have not joined the army. 
 
 jirticle 2d. All public stores, arms and public documents, in- 
 cluding every thing also of a public nature, will be immediately 
 given up. 
 
 Article 3d. Private property and private persons of every de- 
 scription will be respected. 
 
 jrticle 4th. His excellency Brig. Gen. Hull having expressed 
 ^ desire that a detachment from the state of Ohio on its way to 
 
 ui 
 
THE WAM 
 
 as 
 
 nada to De- 
 
 loin his army, as well as one sent from fort Detroit, under the 
 Command of Col. M'Arthur, should be included in the above stip- 
 blation, it is accordingly agreed to. It is however to be under- 
 itood, that such parts of the Ohio militia as have not joined the 
 jrmy, will be permitted to return home, on condition that they 
 ;ill not serve during the war their arms, however, will be de- 
 livered up, if belonging to the public. 
 
 Jrticle 5th. The garrison will march out at the hour of 12 
 'clock this day, and the British forces take immediate possession 
 ^f the fort. J. M'DOWELL, Lt. Col. Militia B. A. D. C. 
 
 J. B. CRAIG, Maj. A. D. C. 
 Approved. WILLIAM HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 
 Commanding the N. W. army. 
 JAMES MILLERj Lt. Col. 
 5th U. S. Infantry. 
 E. BRUSH, Col. 1st Reg. 
 Michigan Militia. 
 Approved. ISAAC BROCK, Maj. Gen. 
 
 The army at 12 o'clock this day will march out of the east 
 [gate, where they will stack their arms and will be then subject 
 |to the articles of capitulation. WM. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 
 Commanding N. W. army. 
 (Capitulation herewith published,) 
 An article supplementary to the articles of capitulation con> 
 [eluded at Detroit, 16th August, 1812. 
 
 It is agreed that the officers and soldiers of the Ohio militid^ 
 land volunteers shall be permitted to proceed to their respective 
 Ihomes, on this condition, that they are not to serve during the 
 jpresent war, unless they are exchanged. 
 
 (Sig^ed) W. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 
 Commanding N. W. army. 
 ISAAC BROCK, Maj Gen. 
 An article in addition to the supplementary article of the c&pit- 
 jlation concluded at Detroit, 16th Aug. 1812. 
 
 It is further agreed that the officers and soldiers of the Michi- 
 ;an militia and volunteers, under the command of Major Weth- 
 ;rell, shall be placed on the same principles as the Ohio volun- 
 teers and militia are placed by the supplementary article of the 
 fieth inst. 
 
 (Signed) W. HULL, B.ig. Gen. 
 
 Commanding N. W. army U. S. 
 ISAAC BROCK, Maj. Gen. 
 
 GEN. HULL'S LETTERS. 
 
 Fort George, Jug, 26, 1812. 
 
 Sir Enclosed are the articles of capitulation, by which the fbrt 
 
 lof Detroit has been surrendered to Major Gen. Brock, command- 
 
24 
 
 SK£TCU£S GF 
 
 , ; 
 
 i'i ' 
 
 • : ■':l 
 
 lit EH' 
 
 iog his Britannic majesty^s forces in Upper Canada, and by which 
 the trooDS have become prisoners of war. My situation at pres- 
 ent forbids me from detailing the particular causes which have 
 led to this unfortunate event. I will, however, generally observe, 
 that after the surrender of Michillimachinac, almost every tribe and 
 nation of Indians, excepting a part of the Miamies and Dela- 
 wares, north from beyond lake Superior, west from beyond the 
 Mississippi, south from the Ohio and Wabash, and east from every 
 part of Upper Canada, and from all the intermediate country, 
 joined in open hostility under the British standard, against the ar- 
 my I commanded, contrary to the most solemn assurances of a 
 large portion of them to remain neutral ; even the Ottawa chiefs 
 from Arbecrotch, who formed the delegation to Washington the 
 last summer, in whose friendship I know you had great confi- 
 dence, are among the hostile tribes, and several of them distin- 
 guished leaders. Among the vast number of chiefs who led the 
 hostile bands, Tecumseh, Marpot, Logan, Walk-in-the-water, 
 Split-log, &c. are considered the principals. This numerous as- 
 semblage of savages, under the entire influence and direction of 
 the British commander, enabled him totally to obstruct the only 
 communication which I had with my country. This communica" 
 tion had been opened from the settlements in the state of Ohio, 
 two hundred miles through a wilderness, by the fatigues of the 
 army which I marched to the frontier on the river Detroit. The 
 body of the lake being commanded by the British armed ships, 
 and the shores and rivers by gun-boats, the army was totally de- 
 prived of all communication by water. On this extensive road is 
 depended for transportation of provisions, military stores, medi- 
 cine, clothing, and every other supply, on pack horses All its 
 
 operations were successful until its arrival at Detroit, and in a few 
 days it passed into the enemy's country, and all opposition seem- 
 ed to fall before it. One mouth it remained in possession of this 
 country, and was fed from its resou: ces. In different directions 
 detachments penetrated sixty miles in the settled part of the prov- 
 ince, and the inhabitants seemed satisfied with the change of situ- 
 ation, which appeared to be taking place the militia from Am- 
 
 herstburg were daily deserting, and the whole country, then un- 
 der the controul of the army, was asking for protection. The In- 
 dians generally, in the first instance, appeared to be neutralized, 
 and determined to take no part in the contest. The fort of Am- 
 ber stburg was eighteen miles below my encampment.. Not a 
 single cannon or mortar was on wheels suitable to carry before 
 that place. I consulted my officers, whether it was expedient to 
 make an attempt on it with the bayonet alone, without cannon 
 to make a breach in the first instance. The council I called was 
 
 of the opinion it was not The greatest industry was exerted in 
 
 making preparation, and it was not until the 7th of Aug, that two 
 
TOIE WAR. 
 
 Ilti 
 
 24 jioundersi and three hovvitzera were prepared. It was then 
 my intention' td have proceeded on the enterprize. While the 
 operations of the arnly were delayed by these preparations, the 
 clouds of adversity had been for some time, and seemed still 
 thickly to be gathering around me. The surrender of Michilli- 
 mackinac opened the northern hive of Indians, and they were 
 swarming down in every direction. Reinforcements from Niaga* 
 ra had arrived at Amherstburg under the command of Colonel 
 Proctor. The desertion of the militia ceased. Besides the rein- 
 forcements that came by water, I received information of a very 
 considerable force under the command of Maj. Chambers, on the 
 river Le French, with four field-pieces, and collecting the militia 
 on his route, evidently designed for Amherstburg ; and in addi- 
 tion to this combination, and increase of force, contrary to all 
 my expectations, the Wyandots, Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawata- 
 mies, Munsees, Delawares, &c. wit hwhom I had the most friend' 
 ly intercourse, at once passed over to Amherstburg, and accepted 
 the tomahawk and scalping knife. There being now a vast num- 
 ber of Indians at the British post, they were sent to the river Hu- 
 ron, Brownstown, and Magaugo, to intercept my communication. 
 To open this communication, 1 detached Maj. Vanhorne, of the 
 Ohio volunteers, with two hundred men to proceed as far as the 
 river Rasin, under an expectation he would meet Captain Brush, 
 with one hundred and fifty men, volunteers from the state of Ohio, 
 and a quantity of provision for the army. An ambuscade was 
 formed at Brownstown, and Maj. Vanhorne's detachment defeat- 
 ed, and returned to camp without efTecting the object of the expe- 
 dition. 
 
 In my letter of the 7th inst. you have the particulars of that 
 transaction with a return of the killed and wounded. Under this 
 sudden and unexpected change of things, and having received an 
 express from Gen. Hall, commanding opposite the British shore 
 on the Niagara river, by which it appeared that there was no 
 prospect of any co-operation from that quarter, and the two senior 
 officers of the artillery having stated to me an opinion that it 
 would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to pass the Turkey 
 river and river Aux Cannard, with the 24 pounders, and that they 
 could not be transported by water, as the Queen Charlotte, which 
 carried eighteen 24 pounders, lay in the river Detroit above the 
 mouth of the river Aux Cannard : and as it appeared indispensa- 
 bly necessary to open the communication to the river Rasin and 
 the Miami, I found myself compelled to suspend the operation 
 against Amherstburg, and concentrate the main force of the army 
 at Detroit. Fully intending at that time, after the communica- 
 tion was opened, to re-cross the river, and pursue the object at 
 Amherstburg, and strongly desirous of continuing protection to a 
 
 D 
 
 
n r ■», 
 
 20 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 rU 
 
 ;> ;! 
 
 .■',l'MV 
 
 IV. 
 
 I'] 
 
 11 
 
 ,|3|i 
 
 
 ■ I- 
 
 . 1,11 
 
 ■ » 
 
 I 
 
 very large number of the inhabitants of Upper Canada, who had| 
 voluntarily accepted it under my proclamation, 1 established a for- 
 tress on the bank? of the river, a little below Detroit, calculated! 
 for a garrison of three hundred men. 
 
 On the evening of the 7th, and morning of the 8th inst. tbe| 
 army, excepting the garrison of 250 infantry, and a corps of ar^ 
 tillerists, all under the command of Maj. Denney, of the Ohio I 
 volunteers, recrossed the river, and encamped at Detroit. In 
 pursuance of the object of opening the cumnnunication, on which 
 I considered the existence of the army depending, a detachment 
 of 600 men, under the command ol Lieut. Col. Miller, was] 
 immediately ordered. 
 
 For a particular account of the proceedings of this detachment,! 
 and the memorable battle which was fought at Magaugo, which! 
 reflects the highest honour on the American arms, 1 refer you to I 
 my letter of the 13th ot Aug. inst. a duplicate of which is enclosed, 
 marked G. Nothing, however, but honour was acquired by this 
 victory ; and it is a painful consideration, that the blood of 7fi 
 gallant men could only open the communication, as far as the 
 points of their bayonets extended. The necessary care of the 
 sick and wounded, and a very severe storm of rain, rendered their 
 return to camp indispensably necessary for their own comfort. 
 Captain Brush, with his small detachment, and the provisions be- 
 ing still at the river Rasin, and in a situation to be destroyed by 
 the savages, on the 13th inst. in the evening, I permitted Cols. 
 M'Arthur and Cass to select from their regiment 400 of their 
 most effective men, and proceed on an upper route through the 
 woods, which I had sent an express to Capt. Brush to take, and 
 had directed the militia of the river Rasin to accompany him as a 
 reinforcement. The force of the enemy continually increas'ng, 
 And the necessity of opening the communication, and acting on 
 the defensive becoming more apparent, I had, previous to detach- 
 ing Cols. M'Arthur and Cass on the 11th inst. evacuated and de- 
 stroyed the fort on the opposite bank. On the 13tb, ii. he even- 
 ing. Gen. Brock arrived at Amber stburg, about the hour Colt. 
 M'Arthur and Cass marched, of which, at that time, I had re- 
 ceived no information. 
 
 On the 15th I eceived a summons from him to surrender 
 fort Detroit, of which the paper marked A is a copy. My answer 
 is marked B, At this time I had received no information from 
 Cols. M' Arthur and Cass. An express was immediately sent, 
 strongly escorted, with orders for them to return. On the 15th, 
 as soon as Gen. Brock received my letter, his b^^t^ries opened on 
 the town and fort, and continued until evenit4g In the evening 
 all the British ships of war came nearly as far up the river as 
 Sandwich, thr^q miles below Detroit. At day light, on the 16tb, 
 (at which time I had received no information from Cols. M'Arthur 
 
 i.;,>' 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 27 
 
 ind Cass, my exprenes sent the evening before, and in the night, 
 laving been prevented from passing by numerous bodies of In- 
 lians) the cannonade recommenced, and in a short time I teceiv- 
 ^d information that the British army and Indians were landing be- 
 low the Spring-wells, under the cover of their ships of war. At 
 ]hi* time the whole efTective force at my disposal at Detroit, did 
 lot exceed eight hundred men. Being new troops, and unaccus* 
 fomed to a camp life : having performed a laborious march ; hav- 
 11^ bfen engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes, in which 
 lony had fallen, and more had received wounds, in addition to 
 ;hich a large number being sick and unprovided with medicine, 
 md the comforts necessary for their situation ; are the general 
 [causes by which the strength of the army was thus reduced. The 
 (fort at this time was filled with women,children,andthe old and de- 
 Icrepid people of the town and country ; they were unsafe in the 
 town, as it was entirely open and exposed to the enemy's batte- 
 ries. Back of the fort, above oi below it, there was no safety for 
 I them on account of the Indians. In the first instance the enemy's 
 fire was principally directed against our batteries ; towards the 
 •lose, it was directed against the fort alone, and almost every shot 
 and shell had their effect. 
 
 It now became necessary either to fight the enemy in the field; 
 collect the whole force in the fort ; or propose terms of capitula- 
 tion. I could not have carried into the field more than six hun- 
 dred men, and left any adequate force in the fort. There were 
 landed at that time of the enemy a regular force of much more 
 than that number, and twice the number of Indians. Considering^ 
 this great inequality of force, I did not think it expedient to ad- 
 qit the first measure. The second must have been attended with 
 a great sacrifice of blood, and no possible advantage, because the 
 contest could not have been sustained more than a day for the want 
 of powder, and but a very few days for the want of provisions. In 
 addition to this. Cols. M'Arthur and Cass would have been in a 
 most hazardous situation. I feared nothing but the last alterna-. 
 
 tive. I have dared to adopt it I well know the high responsi* 
 
 bility of the measure, and I take the whole of it on myself. It 
 was dictated by a sense of duty, and a full conviction of its ex- 
 pediency. The bands of savages which had then joined the Brit- 
 ish force were numerous beyond any former example. Their 
 numbers have since increased, and the history of the barbarians of 
 the north of Europe does not furnish examples of more greedy vi- 
 olence than these savages have exhibited. A large portion of the 
 brave and gallant officers and men I commanded would cheerfully 
 have contested until the last cartridge had been expended, and the 
 bayonets worn to the sockets. I could not consent to the useless 
 sacrifice of such brave men, when I knew it was impossible for 
 
'^-I 
 
 t28 
 
 ijKETCHES OF 
 
 ine to sustain my situation. It was impossible in the nature oil 
 things that an army could have been furnished with the necessaf 
 ry supplies of provision, military stores, clothing, and comforts fori 
 the sick, on pack-horses, through a wilderness of two hundredl 
 miles, filled with hostile savages. It was impossible, sir, that tbiil 
 little army, worn down by fatigue, by sickness, by wounds, and! 
 deaths, could have supported itself, not only against the collectedl 
 force of all the northern nations of Indians ; but against the unitedl 
 strength of Upper Canada, whose population consists of more thani 
 twenty times the number contained in the territory of MichiganJ 
 aided by the principal part of the regular forces of the provincesl 
 and the wealth and influence of the North West and other trad-" 
 ing establishments among the Indians, which have in their em- 
 ployment and under their entire controul more than two thousand! 
 white men. Before I close this despatch, it is a duty I owe myl 
 respectable associate? in command. Cols. M'Arthur, Findly, Cass,! 
 and Lt. Col.Miller,to express my obligations to them for the prompt 
 «nd judicious manner in which they have performed their respective 
 duties, if ought has taken place during the campaign, which is 
 honourable to the army, these of!icers are entitled to a large share 
 of it. If the last act should be disapproved, no part of the censure 
 belongs to them. I have likewise to express my obligations to 
 Gen. Taylor, who has performed the duty of quarter-master-gen- ' 
 eral, for his great exertions in procuring every thing in his depart- 
 ment which it was possible to furnish for the convenience of the 
 army ; likewise to brigade major Jessup, for the correct and punc- 
 tual manner in which he has discharged his duty ; and to the army | 
 generally for their exertion, and the zeal they have manifested 
 for the public interest. The death of Dr. Foster, soon after he ar- 
 rived at Detroit, was a severe misfortune to the army ; it was in- 
 creased by the capture of the Chachaga packet, by which the 
 medicine and hospital stores were lost. He was commencing 
 the best arrangements in the department of which he was the 
 principal, with the very small means which he possessed. I was like- 
 wise deprived of the necessary services of Capt. Partridge by sick- 
 ness, the only officer of the corps of engineers attached to the ar- 
 my. 
 
 All the ofKcers and men have gone to their respective homes, 
 except the fourth United States' regiment, and a small part of the 
 first, and Capt. Dyson's company of artillery. Capt. D's compa- 
 ny was left at Amherstburg, and the others are with me prison- 
 ers they amount to about 340. 
 
 I have only to solicit an investigation of my conduct, as early 
 as my situation, and the state of things will admit ; and to add the 
 further request, that the government will not be unmindful of my 
 associates in captivity, and of the families of those brave men who 
 have fallen in the contest. 
 
fHE WAR. 
 
 uy 
 
 I have the honour to be very respectfully, your most obedient 
 
 servant. 
 
 W. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 commanding the North Western army of the U. Staters. 
 Hon. W. EUSTIS, Secretary of the Department of war. 
 
 The following are the letters alluded to in the preceding dis- 
 patch. 
 
 Sandwich, ^th Aug, 1812. 
 
 Sir On the 4th inst. Maj. Van Home, of Col. Findley's Reg- 
 iment of Ohio Volunteers was detached from this army, with the 
 command of 200 men, principally riflemen, to proceed to the riv* 
 er Rasin, and further, if necessary, to meet and reinforce Capt. 
 Brush, of the state of Ohio, commanding a company of volun- 
 teers, and escorting provisions for this army. At Brownstown a 
 large body of Indians had formed an ambuscade, and the Major's 
 detachment received a heavy fire, at a distance of fifty yards from 
 the enemy. The whole detachment retreated in disorder. Maj. 
 Van Home made every exertion to form, and prevent the retreat, 
 that was possible for a brave and gallant officer, but without suc- 
 cess. By the return of killed and wounded it will be perceived 
 that the loss of officers was uncommonly great. Their elTorts to 
 r^lly their companies was the occasion of it. 
 
 I am very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 
 
 W. HULL. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Eustis, Sec. &c. &c. &c. 
 
 Report of killed in Maj. Van Hom^s defeat. 
 Captains....Gilchrist, UUery, MCallough, of the spies, Boerstler 
 severely wounded, and not expected to recover (since dead) 4 
 Lieutenant Pentz, 1 
 
 Ensigns Roby and Alliston, 2 
 
 Ten privates 10 
 
 Number of wounded as yet unknown. Total loss 17 
 
 Detroit, 13th Aug, 1812. 
 
 Sir The main body of the army having re-crossed the rivet 
 
 Detroit, on the night and morning of the 8th inst. six hundred 
 men were immediately detached under the command of Lieut. 
 Col. Miller, to open the communication to the river Rasing and 
 protect the provisions, which were under the escort of Capt. Brush. 
 This detachment consisted of the 4th United States' regiment, 
 and two small detachments under the command of Lieut. Stansbu- 
 ry and Ensign M'Labe of the Ist regiment : detachments from 
 the Ohio and Michigan volunteers, a corps of artillerists, with one 
 six pounder and a howitzer, under the command of Lietit, East^ 
 
SKETCHES OF 
 
 4 
 til" 
 
 
 I !■ 
 
 ' iM'ii* 
 
 illii: 
 i:iit,f 
 
 i^ 
 
 man, and a part of Captaini Smith and Sloan'i cavalry, oom- 
 manded by Capt. Sloan, of the Ohio volunteeri. 
 
 Lieutenant Col. Miller marched from Detroit on the afternoon 
 of the 8th instant, and on the 9th, about four o'clock, P. M. 
 the van guard commanded by Capt. Snelling of the 4th United 
 States' regiment, was fired on by an extensive line of British 
 troops and Indians at the lower part of the Maguago, about four- 
 teen miles from Detroit. At this time the main body was march* 
 ing in two columns^ and Capt. Snelling maintained his position in 
 a most gallant manner, under a very heavy fire, until the line 
 was formed and advanced to the ground he occupied, when the 
 whole, excepting the rear guard, was brought into action. The 
 enemy were formed behind a temporary breast-work of logs, the 
 Indians extending in (?. thick wood on their left. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Miller ordered his whole line to advance, 
 and when within a small distance of the enemy made a general 
 discharge, and proceeded with charged bayonets, when the British 
 line and Indians commenced a retreat. They were pursued in 
 a most vigorous manner about two miles, ^nd pursuit discontinu- 
 ed only on account of the fatigue of the troops, the approach of 
 evening, and the necessity of returning to tahe care of the wound- 
 ed. The judicious arrangements made by Lieut. Col. Miller, and 
 the gallant manner in which they were executed, justly entitle 
 him to the highest honour. From the moment (he line com- 
 menced the fire, it continually moved on, and the enemy main- 
 tained their position until forced at the point of the bayonet 
 
 The Indians on the left, under the command of Tecumseh, fought 
 with great obstinacy, bat were ^untinually forced and compelled 
 to retreat. The victory was complete in every part of the line, 
 and the success would have been more brilliant had the cavalry 
 charged the enemy on the retreat, when a most favourable oppor- 
 tunity presented. Although orders were given for the purpose, 
 unfortunately they were not executed. Majors Van Home and 
 Morrison, of the Ohio volunteers, were associated with Lieut. 
 Col. Miller, as field officers in this command, and were highly 
 distinguished by their exertions in forming the line, and the firm 
 and intrepid manner they led their respective commands to ac- 
 tion. 
 
 Captain Baker of the first United States' regiment, Capt. Bre- 
 vort of the 2d, and Capt. Hull of the 13th, my aid-de-camp, and 
 Lieut. Whistler of the Ist, requested permission to join the detach- 
 ment as vohtnteers. Lieut. Col. Miller assigned commands to 
 Capt. Baker and Lieut. Whistler : Capts. Brevort and Hull, at his 
 request, attended his person and aided him in the general engage- 
 ments. Lieut. Col. Miller has mentioned the conduct of these of- 
 ficers in terms of high approbation. In addition to the captains 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 •1 
 
 t>, about four- 
 
 yho have been named, Lieut. CoL Miller hai mei mtm 
 lurton and Fuller of the 4th regiment, Cuptain Saunders nd 
 irown of the Obb volunteers, and Capt. Delancl. of the M hi- 
 ran volunteers, who were attached to his command — and distin- 
 ruisbed by their valour. It is impossible for me, in this commu- 
 lication, to do justice to the officers and soldiers, who gained the 
 ;ictory which I have described. They have acquired high hon* 
 >ur to themselves and are justly entitled to the gratitude of their 
 
 Country. 
 
 Maj. Muir, of the 4l8t British regiment, commanded the Brit. 
 
 Jsh in this action. The regulars and volunteers consisted of about 
 
 [four hundred, and a larger number of Indians. Maj. Muir and 
 
 |tW0 subalterns were wounded, one of them since dead. About 
 
 ■forty Indians were found dead on the field, and Tecumseh their 
 
 [leader was slightly wounded. The number of wounded Indians 
 
 who escaped has not been ascertained. Four of Maj. Muir's de* 
 
 tachment have been made prisoners, and 15 of the 4l8t regi- 
 
 Iment killed and wounded. The militia and volunteers attached 
 
 to his command were in the severest part of the action, and then- 
 
 ! lots must have been great.....it has not yet been ascertained* 
 
 I have the honour to be, ^our most dbedient servant, 
 
 W. HULL, Brig. Gen. 
 Commanding N. W. army. 
 Hon. Wm. EirsTis, Secretary of War. 
 
 Return of killed and xvoi^nded in the action fought near Ma- 
 
 guago, Aug* 9th, 1812. 
 
 4th United States' regiment 10 non-commissioned o66cers 
 
 and privates killed, and 45 wounded : Capt. Baker of the Ist regr 
 iment of infantry : Lieut. Larabee of the 4th ; Lieut. Peters of 
 the 4th : Ensign Whistler of the 17th, doing duty in the 4th i 
 Lieut. Silly, and an Ensign, whose name has not been returned 
 to me, were wounded. 
 
 In the Ohio and Michigan volunteers 8 were killed, and 12 
 wou.nded. 
 
 WM. HULL> 
 
 COLONEL CASS» LETTER. 
 
 Washington, Sept. 10th, 1812. 
 SlR.....Having been ordered on to this place b^ Col.M'Arthur,for 
 the purpose of communicating to the government such particulars 
 respecting the expedition lately commanded by Brigadier Gen. 
 Hull, and its disastrous result, as might enable them correctly to 
 appreciate the conduct of the officers and men ; and to dev elope 
 the causes which produced so foul a stain upon xhe national char- 
 acter, I have the honour to submit for your consideration the fol- 
 lowing statement : -^^r^-^mi^ 
 
^n 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 When th« foroei landed in Canada, they landed with an a^ 
 dent zeal, and stimulated with the hope of conquest. No ^nem}' 
 appeared within view of ui, and had an immediate and vigorous 
 attack been made upon Maiden, it would doubtless have fallen 
 an easy victory. I know Gen. Hull afterwards declared he re* 
 gretted this attack had not been made, and he had every 
 
 reason to believe success would have crowned his efforts 
 
 The reason given for delaying our operations were to mount our 
 heavy cannon, and to afford the Canadian militia time and op- 
 portunity to quit an obnoxious service. In the course of two 
 weeks the number of their militia, who were embodied, had de« 
 creased by desertion from six hundred to one hundred men ; and, 
 in the course of three weeks, the cannon were mounted, the am> 
 munition fixed, and every preparation made for an immediate in- 
 vestment of the fort. At a council, at which were present all 
 the field officers, and which was held two days before our prep- 
 arations were completed, it was unanimously agreed to make an 
 immediate attempt to accomplish the object of the expedition. If 
 by waiting two days we could have the service of our heavy ar- 
 tillery, it was agreed to wait ; if not, it was determined to go 
 without U* and to attempt the place by storm. This opinion appear- 
 ed to correspond with the views of the General, and the day was 
 appointed for commencing our march. He declared to me, that 
 he considered himself pledged to lead the army to Maiden. The 
 ammunition was placed in the waggons ; the cannon were em- 
 barked on board the floating batteries, and every requisite article 
 was prepared. The spirit and zeal, the ardour and animation dis- 
 played by the officers and men, on learning the near accomplish- 
 ment of their wishes, was a sure and sacred pledge, that in the 
 hour of trial they would not be wanting in their duty to their 
 country and to themselves. But a change of measures, in op- 
 position to the wishes and opinions of all the officers was ad- 
 opted by the General. The plan of attacking Maiden was aban- 
 doned, and instead of acting offensively, we broke up our camp, 
 evacuated Canada, and re-crossed the river in the night, without 
 even the shadow of an enemy to injure us. We left to the ten- 
 der mercy of the enemy the miserable Canadians who had joined 
 us, and the protection we afforded them was but a passport to 
 vengeance. This fatal and unaccountable step dispirited the 
 troops, and destroyed the little confidence which a series of timid, 
 irresolute, and indecisive measures had left in the commanding 
 officer. 
 
 About the tenth of August, the enemy received a reinforcement 
 of four hundred men. On the 12th the commanding officers of 
 three regiments (?he fourth was abbcnt) were informed through a 
 medium which admitted of no doubt, that the General had stated 
 that a capitulation would be necessary. They on the same day 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 w 
 
 iddrelsed to Gov. Melgi of Obio^ a letter, of which the foUowiof 
 
 nn extract : 
 
 " Believe all the bearer will tell you. Believe it, however it 
 
 lay aitoniih you, as much aa if it had been told by one of ui 
 
 ily^p a e ii talked of by the 
 
 :he bearer will fill the vacancy.»» 
 
 The doubtful fate of thit letter rendered it neceiiary to uie cir- 
 bumspectioo in its details, and therefore these blauks were left. 
 The word « capitulation" will fill the flmt, end " commanding 
 [eueral/' the other. As oo enemy was near us, and as the supe- 
 fiority of our force was manifest, we could see no necessity for 
 Capitulating, nor any propriety in alluding to it. We therefore 
 letermined in the last resort, to incur the responsibiKty of divest- 
 ing the general of his command. This plan was eventually pre- 
 sented by two of the commanding officers of regiments being or- 
 [dered upon detachments. 
 
 On the 13th the British took a position opposite to Detroit, and 
 [began to throw up works. During that and the two following 
 days, they pursued their object jvithout interruption and establish- 
 ed a battery for two 18 pounders and an 8 inch howitzer.....* 
 About sunset on the evening of the 14th, a detachment of 350 
 men from the regiments commanded byCol.M'Arthur and myself, 
 was ordered to march to the river Rasin, to escort some provi- 
 sions, which had some time remained there protected by a par- 
 ty under the command of Capt. Brush. 
 
 On Saturday, the ISth, about 1 o'clock, a flag of truce arrived 
 from Sandwich, bearing a summons from Gen. Brock tor the su»* 
 render of the town and fort of Detroit, stating he could no longer 
 restrain the fury of the savages. To this an immediate and spir- 
 ited refusal was returned. About four o'clock their batteries be- 
 gan to play upon the town. The fire was returned and continu- 
 ed without interruption, and with little effect till dark. Their 
 shells were thrown till eleven o'clock. 
 
 At day light firing on both sides recommenced ; about the 
 same time the enemy began to land troops at the Springwells, 
 three miles below Detroit, protected by two of their armed ves- 
 sels. Between 6 and 7 o'clock they effected their landing, and 
 \ immediately took up their line of march. They moved in a close 
 column of platoons, twelve in front, upon the bank of the river. 
 
 The fourth regiment was stationed in the fort ; the Ohio vol- 
 unteers and a part of the Michigan militia, behind some pickets, in 
 a situation in which the whole flank of the enemy would have 
 been exposed. The residue of the Michigan militia were in the up- 
 per part of the town to x?:ft\>:<t the incursions of the savages. Two 
 24 pounders, loaded with grape shot, were posted on a com- 
 manding eminence, ready to sweep the advancing column. In 
 this situation, the superiority of our position was apparent, and 
 
 E 
 
34 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 W . V 
 
 i; 
 
 our troops, in the eager expectation of victory, awaited the af>- 
 proach of the enemy. Not a discontent broke upon the ear : not 
 a look of cowardice met the eye. Every man expected a proud 
 day for his country, and each was anxious that his individual ex> 
 ertion should contribute to the general result. 
 
 When the head of their column arHved within about five hun- 
 dred yards of our line, orders were received from Gen. Hull for 
 the whole to retreat to the fort, and for the twenty-four pounders 
 not to open upon the enemy. One universal burst of indignation 
 was apparent upon the receipt of this order. Those, whose con- 
 vir:tion was the deliberate result of a dispassionate examination of 
 passing events, saw the folly and impropriety of crowding 1100 
 men into a little work which 300 men could fully man, and into 
 which the shot and shells of the enemy were falling. The fort 
 was in this manner filled ; the men were directed to stack their 
 
 arms, and scarcely was an opportunity afforded of moving 
 
 Shortly a white flag was hung out upon the walls. A British of- 
 ficer rode up to inquire the cause. A communication passed be- 
 tween the commanding Generals, which ended in the capitula- 
 tion submitted to you. In entering into this capitulation the Gen- 
 eral took counsel from his own feelings only. Not an officer was 
 consulted. Not one anticipated a surrender till he saw the white 
 flag displayed. Even the women were indignant at so shameful 
 a degradation of the American character, and all felt as they 
 should have felt, but he who held in his hands the reins of author- 
 
 Our morning report had that morning made our efiective men 
 present fit for duty 1060, without including the detachment be- 
 fore alluded to, and without including 300 of the Michigan mili- 
 tia on duty. About dark on Saturday evening the detachment 
 sent to escort the provisions, received several orders from Gen. 
 Hull to return with as much expedition as possible. About ten 
 o'clock the next day they arrived within sight of Detroit. Had a 
 firing been heard, or any resistance visible, they would have im- 
 mediately advanced and attacked the rear of the enemy. The 
 situation in which this detachment was placed, although the re- 
 sult of accident, was the best for annoying the enemy and cutting 
 off his retreat that could have been selected. With his raw troops 
 enclosed between two fires, and no hopes of succor, it is hazard< 
 ing little to say, that very few would have escaped. 
 
 I have been informed by Col. Findley, who saw the return of 
 their quarter-master-general the day hfter the surrender, that their 
 whole force of every description, white, red, and black, was 1030. 
 They had twenty-nine platoons, twelve in a platoon, of men 
 drt^ssed in uniform. Many of these were evidently Canadian mi- 
 litia. The rest of the militia increased their white force to about 
 seven hundred men. The number of their Indians could not be 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 35 
 
 the a{>- 
 !ar : not 
 a proud 
 iual ex- 
 
 ive hun- 
 Hull for 
 )eunder8 
 lignation 
 io«e con- 
 nation of 
 ing 1100 
 and into 
 The fort 
 ack their 
 
 oving 
 
 British of- 
 )assed be- 
 I capitula- 
 1 the Gen- 
 fficer was 
 the white 
 I shameful 
 t as they 
 of author- 
 
 jtive men 
 iment be- 
 igan mili- 
 [tachment 
 from Gen. 
 Lbout ten 
 Had a 
 have im- 
 ly. The 
 rhthe re- 
 id cutting 
 law troops 
 is hazard- 
 
 Ireturn of 
 I that their 
 ;as 1030. 
 of men 
 idian mi- 
 to about 
 Lid not be 
 
 asertained with any degree of precision ; not many were visible. 
 And in tiie event of an attack upon the town and fort, it was a 
 species of force which could have afforded no material advantage 
 to the enemy. 
 
 In endeavouring to appreciate the motives and to investigate 
 the causes which led to an event so unexpected and dishonoura- 
 ble, it is impossible to find any solution in the relative strength of 
 the contending parties, or in the measures of resistance in our 
 po\Ver. That we were far superior to the enemy ; that upon 
 any ordinary principles of calculation we would have defeated 
 them, the wounded and indignant feelings of every man there 
 will testify. 
 
 A few days before the surrender, I was Informed by Gen. Hull 
 that we ha^l 400 rounds of 24 pound shot fixed, and about 100,000 
 cartridges made. We surrendered with the fort 40 barrels of 
 powder and 2500 stand of arms. 
 
 The state of our provisions has not been generally understood. 
 On the day of the surrender we had fifteen days' provisions of 
 every kind on hand. Of meat there was plenty in the country, 
 and arrangements had been made for purchasing grain and grind- 
 ing it to flour. It was calculated we could readily procure three 
 months' provisions, independent of 150 barrels flour, and 1300 
 head of cattle, which had been forwarded from the state of Ohio, 
 and which remained at the river Raisin, under Capt. Brush, with- 
 in reach of the army. 
 
 But had we been totally destitute of provisions, our duty and 
 our interest undoubtedly was to fight. The enemy invited us to 
 meet him in the field. 
 
 By defeating him the whole country would have been open to 
 us, and the object of our expedition gloriously and successfully ob- 
 tained. If we had been defeated we had nothing to do but re- 
 treat to thefort^ and make the best defence which circumstances 
 and our situation rendered practicable. But basely to surrender 
 without firing a gun tamely to submit without raising a bayo- 
 net disgracefully to pass in review before an enemy as inferior 
 
 in the quality as in the number of his forces, were circumstances 
 which excited feelings of indignation more easily felt than de- 
 scribed. To see the whole of our men flushed with th^ hope of 
 victory, eagerly awaiting the approaching contest ; to see them 
 afterwards dispirited, hopeless, and desponding, dt least 500 shed- 
 ding tears because they were not allowed to meet their country's 
 foe, and to fight their country's battles, excited sensations, which 
 no American has ever before had cause to feel, and which, I trust 
 in God, will never again be felt, while one man remains to de- 
 fend the standard of the Union. 
 
 I am expressly authorized to state, that Col. M'Arthur and 
 Go). Findley and Lieut, Col. Miller viewed this transaQtion in the 
 
mi 
 
 30 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 •li 
 
 I , 
 
 r <■ 
 
 light which I do. They know and feel, that no circumtitance in 
 our situation, none in that of the enemy, can excuse a capituU' 
 tion so dishonourable and unjustifiable. This too is the universal 
 sentiment among the troops ; and I shall be surpised to learn, 
 that there is one man who thinks it was necessary to sheath 
 his sword, or lay down his musket. 
 
 I was informed by Gen. Hull the morning after the capitula* 
 tion, that the British forces consisted of 1800 regulars, and that 
 he surrendered to prevent the eflTusion of human blood. That he 
 magnified their regular force nearly five fold, there can be no 
 doubt. Whether the philanthropic reason assigned by him is a 
 sufficient justification foi surrendering a fortified town, an army 
 and a territory, is for the government to determine. Confident 
 I am, that had the courage and conduct of the General been equal 
 to the spirit and zeal of the troops, the event would have been 
 as brilliant and successful as it now is disastrous and dishonoura- 
 ble. 
 
 Very respectfully. Sir, I have the honour to be. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, LEWIS CASS, 
 
 Col. 3d reg, Ohio volunteers. 
 
 The Hon. William Eustis, Sec. of War. 
 
 GENERAL HULL'S TRIAL. 
 
 On the 3d January, 1814, the members detailed by general 
 orders, to constitute the court for the trial of Brig. Gen. HuU^ as- 
 sembled at Albany, and were as follows, viz. 
 
 Maj. Gen. Henry Dearborn, President, 
 
 Brig. Gen. Joseph Bloomfieid, 
 Col. Peter Little 38th reg. 
 
 Wm. N. Irvine, 42d 
 
 Lt. Col. James House, artl. 
 _ — Wm. Scott, 36th. 
 
 Wm. Stewart, 88th, 
 
 
 'Col. J. K. Fenwick, artl. 
 
 Robert Bogardus, 4l8t, 
 
 Lt.CoI. Richard Dennis 16th, 
 
 S. R. Conner, 13th, 
 
 J. B. Davis, 32d, 
 
 J. W. Levingston, 4lst. 
 
 Lt. Col. J. G. Forbes, 42d reg. Supernumerary. 
 
 Judge Advocate (special) Martin Van Buren, Esq. "^ 
 
 Army Judge Advocate, Philip S Parker, Esq. 
 
 Charges exhibited by order of the Secretary of War, 
 
 Charge 1 Treason against the United States, between the 
 
 ninth of April and the seventeenth of August, 1812. 
 
 The specifications under this charge were, in substance, as fol* 
 lows : 
 
 First Specification, in this That the said Brig. Gen. Wm. 
 
 Hull did traitorously hire, or caiisp to be hired, at the rapids of the 
 river Miami of the lake, on the Ist day of July, 1812, an unarm- 
 
fHB wAft. 
 
 3f 
 
 ed vessel, and did then and there traitorously put on board said 
 vessel a trunk containing the official correspondence of the Sec- 
 retary of war, with the said Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull, touching the 
 expedition of the north-western army, under the said Hull's com- 
 jmand ; also, the declaration of war by the United States against 
 ) Great Britain ; and also, certain official muster-rolls, reports, and 
 'returns of the numbers, state, and condition of the said north- 
 western army....and dispatched the same from the said rapids, 
 I with intent that the same should tall into the hands of the said 
 enemy : and that afterwards, on the 2d day of July aforesaid, 
 the said unarmed vessel was captured by the enemy, by means 
 whereof, and in fulfilment of the said traitorous design of the 
 said Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull, the said correspondence, and the said 
 muster-rolls, reports, and returns came to the possession, knowl- 
 edge, and use of the enemies of the United States : whereby the 
 said Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull, at the rapids of the river of the Miami 
 of the lake aforesaid, did then and there traitorously hold corres- 
 pondence with, and give intelligence to the enemy ; and did then 
 and there traitorousl)', by the means aforesaid, adhere to the en- 
 emies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort. 
 
 Second specification. Alsoin this. ...That afterwards, to wit, on 
 the 8th Aug- 1812, at Sandwich, in the province of Upper Canada, 
 the said Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull did traitorously conspire with the 
 enemies of the United States, to quit and abandon a military post 
 established by the north-western army of the United States, at or 
 near Sandwich aforesaid, with intent to prevent a certain fort 
 called Maiden, belonging to the enemy, from being attacked and 
 reduced by the 6aid north-western army of the United States, un- 
 der the command of the said Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull : and that in 
 pursuance of the said traitorous intention, the said Brig. Gen. 
 Wm. Hull did quit and abandon, and did cause to be quitted and 
 abandoned, the said military post, and did traitorously omit and 
 neglect to make the necessary preparations for attacking and re- 
 ducing the said enemy's fort called Maiden : and did traitorously 
 inarch, withdraw, and remove the said north-western army of the 
 United States from the said military post at Sandwich aforesaid, 
 to Detroit, in the territory of Michigan : whereby the said Brig. 
 Gen. Hull, on the 8th day of Aug. aforesaid, did traitorously hold 
 correspondence with the enemy, quit, and abandon the said mili- 
 tary post at Sandwich aforesaid, omit and neglect the necessary 
 preparations for the reduction of Maiden aforesaid, and adhere to 
 the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort. 
 
 Third specification. Also in this That afterward, to wit, at 
 
 Detroit aforesaid, on the 16th Aug. 1812, the said Brig. Gen. Hull 
 was then and there commander of a certain fort belonging to the 
 United States, called Fort Detroit, and did traitorously conspire 
 with the enemy to surrender and abandon to them the said fort^ 
 
38 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 called fort Detroit, with all the troops, regulars and militia, then 
 and there under his command, and all the public stores, arm!!(, and 
 every thing else of a public nature, appertaining to said fort and 
 army : and in prosecution of his said traitorous intentions, did then 
 and there traitorously omit and neglect to repair and strengthen 
 the works of said fort, and put the same in a proper condition for 
 resistance and defence against the approaches and attacks of 
 said enemy.; and did traitorously neglect and omit to fortify the 
 places and passes at and near said fort, by and through which the 
 enemy might reasonably have been expected to approach, and 
 did approach said fort ; and did traitorously omit and neglect to 
 resist, repel and defeat the enemy in their approaches to and to- 
 wards said fort, for the purpose of attacking and reducing the 
 same : and in further prosecution of said traitorous intentions, 
 did treacherously surrender the said fort, with all the troop, reg. 
 ulars and militia, under his command ; and all the public stores, 
 arms and documents, including every thing else of a public 
 nature, appertaining to said fort and army, unto the said enemy 
 of the United States, under the command of Major Gen. Brock : 
 whereby the said Brig. Gen. Hull, on the 16th of Aug. aforesaid, 
 at Detroit aforesaid, did traitorously surrender the said fort to 
 the said enemy, and adhere to said enemy, giving them aid and 
 comfort. 
 
 Charge 2 Cowardice at and in the neighborhood of Detroit, 
 
 between the first day of July and the seventeenth day of Aug. 
 in the year 1812. 
 
 Substance of the specifications to this charge. 
 
 First specification. In this That the said Brig. Gen. Wm. 
 
 Hull, having command of the north-western army of the United 
 States, and having therev/ith entered the British province of 
 Upper Canada, with the avowed object of attacking and re- 
 ducing the British fort called Maiden, at Sandwich, in said prov- 
 ince, on the 8th Aug. 1812, did misbehave himself before the en- 
 emy, and manifest undue fear and apprehension of danger, by 
 conduct and conversation evincing personal alarm, agitation of 
 mind, and privation of judgment, by abandonig said object and 
 intention, by quitting the position by him taken at said Sand- 
 wich, and by retreating abruptly out of said province to Detroit, 
 in the territory of Michigan, without any cause for so doing, ar- 
 ising firom the number, state, or condition of the enemy opposed 'il 
 to him : whereby the officers and soldiers of the army of the United 
 States, under his command as aforesaid, lost all confidence 
 in his personal courage and military capacity ; the inhabitants 
 of saidprovi. ce were taught to distrust his power and professions; 
 a shade was cast upon the American arms, and the cause of the 
 United States suffered great detriment and disadvantage. 
 
 ■ ; "HK--5 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 39 
 
 ons, did then 
 
 Second specification. Also in th5s....That afterwards,to wit, on 
 tthe 15th Aug. 1812, at Detroit aforesaid, the enenny having raised 
 certain batteries on the bank of the river opposite the United 
 States* fort Detroit, and having commenced a cannonade against 
 ^aid fort, the said Brig. Gen. Hull then and there having com- 
 ijnand of the north-western army of the United States, and the 
 laid fort, during the continuance of said cannonade did shameful- 
 ly misbehave himself before the enemy, and manifest great fear 
 ,^f personal danger, by a course of conduct evincing personal 
 
 tiarm, agitation of mind, and privation of judgment, by timid and 
 owardly expressions and actions, then and there uttered and used 
 |in the presence of the officers and soldiers of said army ; where- 
 ^bv a fatal encouragement was afTcrded the hostile enterprizes of 
 [the enemy, a pernicious example given the American troop, and 
 [the service of the United States exposed to hazard, shame and dis- 
 ' appointment. 
 
 Third specification. Also in this,...That afterwards, to wit,on the 
 16th Aug. 1812, at Detroit, in the territory of Michigan, the said 
 Brig. Gen. Wm. Hull, having command of the United States* 
 fort Detroit, and the northwestern army of the United States, (the 
 British forces having crossed the liver, and landed at Spring- 
 wells, and marched towards the said fort Detroit, with design to 
 attack the same) did, during the crossing of the river, the landing 
 and march by the enemy as aforesaid, shamefully misbehave 
 himself before the enemy, and manliest great fear and apprehen- 
 sion of personal danger, by various timid and cowardly actions 
 and expressions, then and there used and uttered in the presence 
 of the officers and soldiers of said army, by avoiding all personal 
 danger, making no attempt to prevent the crossing and landing of 
 the enemy as aforesaid, avoiding all personal danger in reconnoi- 
 tering or encountering the enemy in battle, in their approaches 
 to said fort ; hastily sending flags of truce to them with overtures 
 for capitulation; W'ihdrawing his person from the American 
 troop in the open field to the said fort Detroit ; giving irresolute 
 and fluctuating orders ; forbidding the American artillery to fire 
 I on the enemy ; calling the American troop from the open field, 
 I and crowding them into said fort ; precipitately declaring to the 
 I enemy that he surrendered said fort and army, before terms of 
 capitulation were considered or suggested ; and generally by a 
 course of conduct and conversation evincing personal fear, ag- 
 itation of mind, and privation of judgment : whereby the said 
 fort and army were rendered then and there an easy and certain 
 conquest to the enemy ; the officers and soldiers of a gallant army 
 exposed to unmerited mortification and reproach, and the service 
 of the United States suffered great detriment and discredit. 
 
 Fourth specification. And also in this....That the said Brig. Gen. 
 Wm. Hull, on the 16th Aug. aforesaid, at Detroit aforesaid, having 
 
40 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 
 
 command of the United States' fort Detroit, well garrisoned, and 
 supplied with cannon, ammunition and provisions, and the north- 
 western army of the United States, then and there being in fine 
 spirits, and eager to meet the approaching enemy in battle, act- 
 ing from personal fear and apprehension, and contemplating a 
 shameful abandonment and surrender of said fort and army, did 
 shamefully misbehave himself before the enemy, and enter into a 
 shameful capitulation, containing no consolatory stipulations for 
 the security of such of the inhabitants of Canada as bad joined the 
 American standard, nor any reasonable stipulation for an opportu- 
 nity of reporting to his government th« circumstances of so unex- 
 pected and important an event : and did shamefully abandon, sur- 
 render and give up said fort and army, and all the public stores, 
 arms and documents, including every thing else of a public nature 
 belonging to said fort and army, to the approaching enemy under 
 the command of Maj. Gen. Brock, without any cause therefor, 
 arising from the superior number, state, and condition of the said 
 enemy, or from the actual want, or Just expuftation oi suddeoi 
 want of arms, ammunition, or provisions for said fort and army,l 
 and without any other adequate cause whatever : whereby the! 
 territorial sovereignty, rights, and property of the Ignited Stateil 
 were shamefully ceded to the enemy ; a brave army wantonljl 
 sacrificed by the personal fears of its commander, and the service] 
 oi the United States suiTeiing a £reat and afflicting loss. 
 
 Charge 3 Neglect of duty, and unofiicer-like conduct whikj 
 
 commanding a separate army between the ninth of April and| 
 the seventeenth Aug. in the year 1812. ' ■ .« • - . 
 
 Substance of the specifications to this charge. 
 
 First specification, in this That the said Brig. Gen. Wm. Huli|| 
 
 having command of the north-western army of the United States,! 
 from the 25th May, to the 16th Aug. 1812, unmindful of thel 
 trust reposed in him during all the time aforesaid, as well on the! 
 march of the said army from Dayton to Detroit, and at Detroit,! 
 as in the province of Upper Canada, was guilty of neglect of du-f 
 ty, and unofficer-like conduct, in negltcting to inspect, train, ex- 
 ercise, review, and order said army, with sufficient care and fre-| 
 quency, or to cause the same to be done ; and also by neglecting! 
 in due time and form, to prepare and make known to said armyl 
 an order of battle on its march from Dayton to Detroit aforesaid: 
 whereby the discipline of said army was in danger of being re- 
 laxed ; its comfort liable to be impaired ; its confidence in the mili- 
 tary skill and dispositions of its commander diminished, and th(| 
 said army exposed to the hazard of disorder and defeat, in the] 
 event of an attack thereon by the enemy. 
 
 Second specification. Alsointhis....That the said Brig. Gen. Wn).| 
 flal)^ having command of the north-western army of the Unitedl 
 
garrisoned, and 
 and the north- 
 re being in fine 
 r in battle, net- 
 antemplating a 
 and army, did 
 nd enter into a 
 stipulations for 
 had joined the 
 for an opportU' 
 ices of so unex* 
 y abandon, sur- 
 le public stores, 
 a public nature: 
 g enemy under 
 cause therefbrJ 
 tion of the saidj 
 ation 01 suddenj 
 fort and army, 
 whereby the 
 e United States 
 army wantonlj 
 and the service 
 
 1 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 41 
 
 lates, and having cause to know or believe that war existed 
 ;tvveen the United States and Great Britain, on the 1st July, 
 1812, at the rapids of the river Miami of the lake, was guilty of 
 ?glect of duty and unofficer-like conduct, by hiring or causing to 
 hired, an unarmed vessel, and putting on board thereof, to be 
 [ansported to Detroit, (having cause to know or believe the im- 
 ;nt danger of its capture by the enemy) certain sick soldiers, a 
 feat part of the ho{>pital stores of said army, and a trunk con- 
 Ining the official correspondence of the at cretary of war, touch- 
 the expedition on which said army was employed, and touch* 
 [g a declaration of war by the United States against Great Brw 
 [in ; and also the ofRciai muster-rolls, reports, and returns of the 
 lumber, state, and condition of said army : and the said vessel 
 terwards, on the 2d July aforesaid, on its passage from said rap- 
 is to Detroit, was captured by the enemy, having on boarJ there- 
 of, at the said capture, the said soldiers, hospital stores, and said 
 [runk, containing the said correspondence, muster-rolls, reports, 
 bd returns : whereby the said soldiers were made prisoners, the 
 |aid stores lost, and the said correspondence, muster-rolls, reports 
 knd returns came to the possession, knowledge, and use of the en- 
 fmy, to the great injury of the United States. 
 
 Third specification. Also in this That the said Brig. Gen. 
 
 ''m. Hull, having Command of the north-western army of the 
 fnited States, and the United States' fort Detroit, from the 7th 
 of July to the Ifith Aug. 1812, the said fort being greatly dam- 
 iged and dilapidated, and the guns and gun carnages thereof 
 lamaged and out of repair, and well knowing their importance 
 ko the service of the United States, was guilty of neglect of duty 
 in omitting, during all the time aforesaid, to repair and strengthen 
 laid fort, omitting to repair the said guns and gun carriages, and 
 renerally, by neglecting to put said fort in a proper state for re- 
 Mstance and defence : whereby the said fort was an easy con- 
 luesttothe enemy. The said guns and gun carriages afterwards 
 required for service, in the province of Upper Canada, were unfit 
 lor transportation and use, great time consumed in fitting them 
 ifterwards for service, and the operations of the war fatally sus- 
 pended. 
 
 Fourth specification. Also in this That the said Brig. Gen. 
 
 ^m. Hull, having command of the north-western army of the 
 Jnited States, and having avowed the intention with said army 
 \o invade the province of Upper Canada, to invest and reduce the 
 |rort of the enemy called Maiden, and to maintain and enlarge his 
 }osition8 therein, and having on the 7th July, 1812, arrived at 
 Detroit, and having on the 12th July aforesaid, invaded said prov- 
 ince, and having on the 8th of Aug. following evacuated said 
 )rovince, well knowing that resolution and energy were neces- 
 iry in the prosecution of his said intention, was guilty of neglect 
 
 F 
 
49 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 J\ ii 
 
 
 iAl 
 
 I. -'^ 
 
 j|4 
 
 
 of doty, and unofficcr-like- conduct, by not seasonably repairing, 
 fitting, and tranpsporting the guns and gun carriages necessary in 
 the prosecution of said intention, by an useless waste of tinne at 
 Sandwich, in said province, without attempting the reduction of 
 Maiden, and in projects to conciliate the inhabitants of said prov- 
 nice and neighbouring Indians, without resorting to the nnore 
 effectual display of military power and capacity, to maintain his 
 acquisitions, and perform his promises of protection, by postponing 
 in the first instance, and abandoning in the next an attack of fort 
 Maiden, and finall}', by evacuating said province without pro- 
 viding for the safety of such of the inhabitants thereof as had ac- 
 cepted his invitation to join the American standard, and without 
 accomplishing in any degree his said avowed intention : whereby 
 the enemy were enabled to bring his power and conduct into 
 suspicion and contempt, to reinforce fort Maiden, and to prepare 
 for the investment of the United States' fort Detroit : while on the 
 other hand, the said United States' army was diminished in numbers 
 by sickness and casualties ; the officers and soldiers dissatisfied and 
 disgusted by a scene of inactivity, irresolution, and procrastina- 
 tion ; the hope of support and co-operation from the inhabitants 
 of said province and the Indians destroyed ; and, the general ardor 
 of the army insensibly abated. 
 
 Fifth specification. Also in this That the said Brig. Gen. 
 
 Wm. Hull, having command of the north-western army of the 
 United States, arrived with said army at Detroit, on or about the 
 7th July, 1812; invadtd the province of Upper Canada, on or 
 about the 12th July aforesaid ; evacuated said province on or about 
 the 8th Aug. following, and returned to Detroit, and abandoned 
 and surrendered the said United States' fort Detroit, and said ar- 
 my, on the ]i6th Aug. aforesaid, to the enemy under the command 
 of Maj. Gen. Brock. And that during all the movements afore- 
 said it was of high inaportance to the supply of said fort and army, 
 that a free and open communication by and between the said fort 
 and army and a certain United States' military post at the river 
 Rasin should be preserved : and the said Hull, well knowing the 
 premises, was guilty of neglect of duty and unoflicer-Iike con- 
 duct, by suffering the enemy to interrupt said communication, viz. 
 on or about the 1st Aug. 1812 ; also by detaching, on the 4th 
 Aug. aforesaid, Maj. Thomas B. Van Home to open or attempt 
 to open said communication, with an inadequate force, having 
 cause to know or believe the same inadequate : also by after- 
 wards, on the 8th Aug. aforesaid, detaching Col. James Miller, 
 with about 500 men, to open or attempt to open said communica- 
 tion, and neglecting to furnish and forward to said detachment 
 an adequate supply of provisions, having cause to know or believe 
 said detachment to be in want thereof, and unable to proceed 
 without the same : and also by afterwards, on the 14th day of 
 
 t 
 
 Aug. afores 
 Cass, with 
 ind forwar 
 ment, havi 
 want there( 
 Home was 
 defeated 
 a signal vl 
 provisions, 
 ployed, and 
 for want of 
 on which it 
 by reason o 
 terrupted ai 
 1st Aug. afc 
 
 Sixth spe 
 Hull, having 
 States, and 
 ada, with ai 
 emy's fort, < 
 Cols. Cass ai 
 a bridge ovei 
 to said fort, 
 ment and re 
 the premises 
 ince, was gi 
 neglecting i 
 said bridge, 
 bridge was i 
 pect of a su( 
 
 Seventh s 
 Gen. Hull, 1 
 United State 
 having erect 
 river Detroit 
 Michigan, ar 
 said intentio 
 yet the said 
 and includiuj 
 and unotfice 
 the erection 
 fy the said 1: 
 and omitting 
 Springwells, 
 curely to ere 
 tition or loss, 
 of triumph. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 43 
 
 Aug. aforesaid, detaching Coi. Duncan M'Arthur and Col. Lewis 
 Ca88, with about 400 men on the same service, without issuing 
 •nd forwarding an adequate supply of provisions for said detach> 
 ment, having cause to know or believe said detachment to be in 
 want thereof: whereby the said detachment under MaJ. Van 
 Home was encountered by a superior force of the enemy, aiid 
 defeated ; the said detachment under Col. Miller having achieved 
 a signal victory over the enemy, were compelled for want of 
 provisions, to abandon the expedition on which they were em- 
 ployed, and the said detachment under Cols. M'Arthur and Cass, 
 for want of provisions, was compelled to abandon the expedition 
 on which it was employed : and finally, the said comtnunication, 
 by reason of the said neglect and omission, was and remained in- 
 terrupted and wholly cut off by the enemy, from on or about the 
 Ist Aug. aforesaid, to and including the 16th Aug. aforesaid. 
 
 Sixth specification. Also in this That the said Brig. Gen. 
 
 Hull, having command of the north-western army of the United 
 States, and having therewith invaded the province of Upper Can- 
 ada, with an avowed intention of attacking and reducing the en- 
 emy's fort, called Maiden, and a detachment of said army under 
 Cols. Cass and Miller having repulsed the enemy, and seized upon 
 a bridge over the river Aux Canards, on the proper route of said army 
 to said fort, whereby an opportunity was afforded for the invest- 
 ment and reduction of said fort : yet the said Hull, well knowing 
 the premises, on the 17th July, 1812, at Sandwich, in said prov- 
 ince, was guilty of neglect of duty, and unofficer-like conduct, by 
 neglecting and omitting to advance with said army to maintain 
 said bridge, and to invest and reduce said fort : whereby said 
 bridge was improvidently lost to the United States and the pros- 
 pect of a successful investment of said fort speedily vanished. 
 
 Seventh specification. And also in this That the said Brig. 
 
 Gen. Hull, having command of the north-western army of the 
 United States, and the United States' fort Detroit, and the enemy 
 having erected batteries opposite said fort, on the bank of the 
 river Detroit, with a manifest design of invading the territory of 
 Michigan, and reducing said fort ; and afterwards, in pursuance of 
 said intention, having landed at Springwells, in said territory : 
 yet the said Hull, well knowing the premises, from the 11th, to 
 and including the 16th Aug. 1812, was guilty of neglect of duty, 
 and unotficer-like conduct, by neglecting and omitting to prevent 
 the erection of said batteries, by neglecting and omitting to forti- 
 fy the said landing place, called Springwells, and by neglecting 
 and omitting to annoy and attack said enemy after their landing at 
 Springwells, as aforesaid : whereby the enemy were enabled se- 
 curely to erect said batteries, to invade said territory without oppo- 
 sition or loss, and to approach said foit with the air and confidence 
 of triumph. 
 
 
 r.r 
 
 M^ 
 
 :/fll 
 
 f:l 
 
44 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 I'-l 
 
 ■ i t 
 
 1 '' .» 
 
 IJ'i 
 
 liL 
 
 !i .( 
 
 
 Historical recitation of the principal facts disclosed by the wit* 
 nesses adduced by the judgf advocate. 
 
 Gen. Hull took command of the north-western army of the 
 United States on the 27th May, 1812, with orders from the sec- 
 retary of war to proceed therewith to Detroit. 
 
 The army took up its line of march on or about the first of June 
 following, for Detroit, in two columns, with Irorit and rear guards, 
 the baggage in the centre. 
 
 On the 26th June an express brought a letter to Gen. Hull, 
 from the secretary of war, bearing date 18th June, indicating 
 in rather obscure terms, a declaration of war : the same express 
 conveyed a letter to Col. M'Authur, from a fr)-;i'A in Chilicothe, 
 containing the copy of a postcript of a letter froj. senator Wor- 
 thington to one of his friends, in these words : ** Before this 
 reaches you war will be declared," which was shown by the Co- 
 lonel to Gen. Hull. 
 
 On the Ist July Gen. Hull despatched an unarmed vessel from 
 the rapids of the river Miami of the lake to Detroit, with the sick 
 of the army, the hospital stores, a trunk containing the cor- 
 respondence of the secretary' of war with him, and many of his 
 oflicipl papers, which was captured by the enemy on the 2d, ami 
 taken to Maiden. 
 
 On the 2d July Gen. Hull received a letter from the secretary 
 of war, bearing date 1 8th June, announcing the declaration of 
 ■war, and repeating his previous orders, to repair with all possible 
 «xp<dition to Detroit. 
 
 On the 5th July the army arrived at Springwells, and on the 
 6th Col. Cass was despatched with a flag of truce to Maiden, and 
 returned on the 7th in a boat, accompanied with a British officer 
 and six men, who were permitted to inspect the army. Gen. 
 Hull was afterwards informed thereof, and replied careK'Ssly, 
 that the more they saw of it the less they would like it. 
 
 On the 8th or 9t\\ the army encamped in rear of Detroit, and 
 in the evening the General received a letter from the secretary 
 of war, authorizing him to act ofTensively, if consistent with the 
 security of his own posts. 
 
 On the 12th Gen. Hull, with about 18 or 1900 effectives, 
 crossed the Detroit river, encamped at Sandwich, issued bis proc- 
 lamation, and entrenched himself there. 
 
 On the 14th despatched Col. M' Arthur, with a detachment of 
 100 or 120 men, up the river Thames after a quantity of flour, 
 which was captured and brought to camp. During the absence 
 of Col. M'Arthur, Cols. Cass and Miller solicited and obtained 
 from the General a detachment of about 280 men, to reconnoitre 
 the enemy at or near Maiden, and proceeded to the bridge over 
 the Aux Canards, v.'here they encountered the enemy, routed 
 them> occupied the bridge, and gave ioformatioa to the Genera-l 
 
 ut their s 
 Miller jo 
 tance ot 
 dissatisfie 
 Col. Fine 
 tions to t 
 Upon thi 
 return, u 
 should ha 
 
 On the 
 tachment 
 Several o 
 objects of 
 
 On or 
 of Michill 
 formed ai 
 reinforce r 
 
 Repeat( 
 was in Ca 
 nearly om 
 cided, by s 
 then prept 
 The Genei 
 on the 8t 
 batti ' : bu 
 treat to Di 
 the wishes 
 
 The en« 
 about 100 
 from 50 tc 
 or 30 duri 
 duced to a 
 serters too 
 was unde 
 and also b 
 
 From tl 
 the river 
 many yeai 
 but deep s 
 den, a di 
 near the f< 
 
 The fori 
 defensible, 
 and the w 
 distant abo 
 may be se 
 den freque 
 
THE WAR. ,■ 
 
 a 
 
 J' 
 
 tit their success^ who ordered them to return. CoU. Cats and 
 Miller joined in a letter to the Genera), representing the impor* 
 tance ol maintaining their position. The General was evidently 
 dissatisfied with the officers ; but, at the earnest solicitation of 
 Col. Findley, returned a written answer, stating several objec- ' 
 tions to the measure, but finally, leaving it with their discretion. 
 Upon this a council of the officers was held, who resolved to 
 return, upon the ground that the responsibility of the measure 
 should have been taken by the General, and not by themselves. 
 
 On the succeeding day Col. Findley was sent with another de* 
 tachment to the bridge, and found it unoccupied by the enemy. 
 Several other detachments were afterwards sent, the particular 
 objects of which are not disclosed one of these was defeated. 
 
 On or about the 30th July, Gen. Hull was informed of the fall 
 of Michillimackinack, and from this moment he seems to hav« 
 formed an entirely new scheme of returning to Detroit, to await 
 reinforcements. 
 
 Repeated councils of the ofllicers were held while the army 
 was in Canada, who were unanimous for attacking Maiden, and 
 nearly one half of them for an immediate attack ; but finally de- 
 cided, by a majority of one, to wait for heavy ordnance which was ^ 
 then preparing, and which was made ready about the 6tb August* 
 The General then pledged himself to march the army to the attack 
 on the 8th, and accordingly made out and published an order of 
 batti ' : but on the evening of that day he abruptly ordered a re- 
 treat to Detroit, without counselling his officers, and contrary to 
 the wishes and expectations of the whole army. 
 
 The enemy ^s force at Maiden, on the 12th July, consisted of 
 about 100 regulars, between three and four hundred militia, and 
 from 50 to 150 Indiana. The regular force was increased to 220 
 or 30 during the month of July, but that of the militia was re- 
 duced to about 100 by desertion, and the greater part of the de- 
 serters took protections from Gen. Hull. The amount of this force 
 was understood by the General, by information from deserters^ 
 and also by letters received from American prisoners there. 
 
 From the American encampment at Sandwich, to the bridge at 
 the river Aux Canards is an open level country, cultivated for 
 many years, distance about twelve miles. The •-'ver is a small 
 but deep stream, about three rods wide. From the bridge to Mai- 
 den, a distance of one and a half mile, is an open prairie, and 
 near the fort bad for marching troops. 
 
 The fort was merely an outline the east side was rendered 
 
 defensible, but the north and west sides could never be made so ; . 
 and the whole works could be commanded from an eminence 
 distant about one fourth of a mile, as a person walking in the fort 
 may be seen from that place.- Gen. Hull had been iu fort Mai- 
 den frequently^ and must have known its situation. 
 
 m 
 
 -!< 
 
 .A 
 
 
 
 r^ 
 
 
 iri^ 
 
 ^4^ 
 
 
 
Mi 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 On the 4th Aug. Maj. Van Home wai deapatched with a de. 
 tachment of 150 riflemen (with liberty to take 60 of the Ohio 
 militia, who were at Detroit, if he chose) to open the communica- 
 tion with the river Raisin. Previous to the departure of this de. 
 tachment, Cols. M'Arthur and Cass represented in the strongest 
 terms the inadequacy of this force, to effect the object, and that 
 it would be defeated. These admonitions were disregarded by 
 the General the detachment proceeded to or near Browns- 
 town, where it was attacked and defeated by the enemy, as had 
 been predicted. 
 
 On the day that the army retreated from Canada, Col. Miller 
 was despatched with a detachment of 600 men, also to open the 
 communication to the river Raisin, who met the enemy's whole 
 force at Brownstown, and defeated them. 700 regulars, militia, 
 and Indians crossed from Maiden to Brownstown, previous to the 
 battle, and at that time there were but 13 men left in the fort at Mai- 
 den. AAer the battle Col. Miller was ordered to return to Detroit, 
 without effecting his object, and returned accordingly. 
 
 On the 14th Aug. the enemy were discovered on the bank of 
 the river opposite Detroit, digging and planting batteries, and the 
 General was informed of it, but declined taking any measures to 
 dislodge them ; which, in the opinion of his officers, might have 
 been done at that time : but on the contrary despatched Cols. 
 M'Auther and Cass the same day,with a detachment of 300 men, 
 to meet Capt. Brush, who was convoying provisions from the river 
 
 Raisin to Detroit, who did not return till after the surrender 
 
 No attempt was made to dislodge the enemy at Sandwich, till 
 they commenced their fire on the 15th. In the evening of that 
 day Capt. Snelling was posted with a picket guard, at Spring- 
 wells, and found, in the opinion of himself and other officers, an 
 advantageous site for artillery to dislodge the Queen Char* 
 lotte, then laying opposite in the channel of the Detriot. He 
 lequested that a 24 pounder might be furnished him, but the 
 General refused it. 
 
 At day light on the 16th the cannonade and bombardment was 
 renewed by the enemy, and answered from batteries on the riv- 
 er, but not from the fort. At seven o'clock the enemy com- 
 menced crossing the river to Springwells. It was observed, and 
 information thereof given the General, who took no measures 
 whatever to prevent their landing or advance to the fort. Two 
 shots from the enemy took effect in the fort, and killed two offi- 
 cers, a surgeon, and two soldiers; immediately upon which. Gen. 
 Hull despatched a flag of truce, and ordered Col. Findley, who 
 was advantageously posted in advance of the foit towards Spring- 
 wells, to retreat to the fort. The Colonel hesitated, but finally 
 obeyed the or^er, and retired. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 47 
 
 Oen. Hull, about this time, despatched a letter to Gen Brock, 
 in nearly these words : " Sir....I agree to surrender the fort and 
 town of Dftroit.'* The articles of capitulation were then diC' 
 tated by Col. Dowell and Maj. Glegg, approved by the General, 
 and the fort was given up. The two additional articles form no 
 part of the conditions of the surrender, but were the gratuities of 
 Gen. Brock. 
 
 The force of the enenny was 760 whites, and from 190 to 200 
 
 Indians the American force more than 1000 at Detroit, beside 
 
 the detachment under Cols. M'Arthur and Cass, who were within 
 a few miles. 
 
 Fort Detroit is situatea on the highest ground within the cir- 
 cumference of three miles , was at the time of surrender a rcgu< 
 lar half bastion fort, comp< 'ed of four curtains and four iialf bas- 
 tions, about 100 yards on each face, not including the half bas- 
 tions ; about 75 yards being the extreme length of the curtains. 
 The fort is composed in part of earth, the parapet 1 1 feet in eleva- 
 tion, 12 feet thick at top : the banquet for infantry about 6 feet 
 from the level of the fort, and 5 from the parapet ; the whole 
 width of the rampart at its base 26 feet : the ditch 6 feet in 
 depth and 12 in width at the bottom, with a row of pickets there- 
 in of cedar, 12 feet in height : the gate strong, and the fort gen- 
 erally in good repair, with the following ordnance well mounted, 
 viz. seven 24 pounders, four 12s. four tfs. three 6s. two 4s. and 
 one 3.,..one 8 1-2 inch howitzer, one 5 1-2 inch do. two 3 1-4 
 do. three 6 inch do....two thousand five hundred stand of arms, 
 1400 twenty-four pound balls, 1700 twelve lb. do. 1400 nine lb. 
 do. 4000 four and six lb. do. 4800 three lb. do. 290 ten inch 
 shells, 500 eight inch do. 800 five and half inch do. 4000 two and 
 three fourths inch do. 3 1-2 tons led, principally in balls ; a 
 large supply of musket cartridges, and a present supply for the 
 
 artillery about 10,000 pounds of powder in all, and a present 
 
 supply of provisions. 
 
 The General manifested, in the opinion of a large majority of 
 his officers, great concern and anxiety after he was made ac- 
 «|uainted with the fall of Mackana, and on the 15th, and more 
 especially on the 16th Aug. manifested, by words and actions, 
 great personal fear and agitation of mind, till after the surrender, 
 when he appeared composed. 
 
 The testimony adduced by Gen. Hull consisted of several let- 
 ters and affidavits from some of the most respectable gentlemen 
 in the United States, who knew him as an officer in the revolu- 
 tion, which fully established his claim at that time to courage and 
 conduct. 
 
 He also introduced several officers of the north-western army, 
 who thought that the appearances which led most of his officers 
 to think him under the infiuence of personal fear, on the 15th and 
 
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 V 
 
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48 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 16th Aug. might have arisen from great fatigue and anxiety.....* 
 The testimony of Capt. Hull also proved that the trunk containing 
 the General's official paper was sent on board the unarmed ves« 
 ael at the rapids by accident, and contrary td the General's ex- 
 pectation and wish. 
 
 The decision of the court was pronounced as follows All the 
 
 evidence being read (whether on the part of the prosecution or 
 fhe defence) applicable to the first charge, and the specifications 
 attached to that charge, and after due deliberation had thereon, 
 the court express the following opinion: c^ ?v •, 
 
 The accused having in his final defence protested against the 
 jurisdiction of the court to tty the charge of treason, and the opin- 
 ion of the court being that the objection would have been tenable 
 if the same had been pleaded by the accused on his arraignment 
 
 and believing also that the court cannot acquire jurisdiction of 
 
 Ihe ofifence by the waver or consent of the accused, they decline 
 making any formal decision on that charge. 
 
 The evidence on the subject having however been public^ giv- 
 en, the court deem it proper, in justice to the accused to say, that 
 they do nol believe from any thing that has appeared before them, 
 that Brigadier General William Hull has committed treason 
 against the United States. 
 
 On the second charge, and the specifications attachpJ to that 
 charge, after hearing all the evidence, and defence, a;id after due 
 deliberation thereon) the court find Brigadier General William Hull 
 guilty ot the first, second, and fourth specifications under that 
 charge, except that part which charges the said Brigadier Wil- 
 liam Hull with « forbidding the American artillery to fire on tlie 
 enemy, on their march towards said fort Detroit." 
 
 The court find the said Brigadier General William Hull guilty 
 of the second charge. 
 
 On the third charge the court, after having heard the evidence 
 (as well as the defence) and after due deliberation, find the iiaid 
 Brigadier William Hull guilty of neglect of duty and un officer- 
 like conduct, as charged in the first specification under this 
 charge, in omitting with sufficient care and frequency to inspect, 
 train, exercise and order, and to cause to be trained, inspected, 
 exercised and ordered, the troops under his command, from the 
 6th day of July until the 17th day of August, 1812 ; and acquit 
 him of the residue of the charge contained in that specification. 
 
 The court acquit the said Brigadier General William Hull of the 
 second and third specifications of the same charge. 
 
 The court find the said Brigadier General William Hull guilty 
 of the whole of the fourth specification of that charge, except that 
 part which chnrges him with not seasonably repairing, fitting and 
 transporting or causing to be fitted, repaired and transported. 
 
KHB WAH. 
 
 49 
 
 the glinf, add gun-carriaget which were neceMary to the opera- 
 tions of the war in the said British province of Upper Canada. 
 
 The court find the said Brigadier General William Hull guilty 
 of so nnuch of the fifth specification to that charge as relates to 
 neglect of duty and unofficer-like conduct in suffering his commu* 
 nication with the River Rasin and the state of Ohio to be cut off...* 
 and sending Major Van Home to attempt to open the same, with 
 an inadequate force ; he, the said Brigadier Gen. William Hull 
 having reason to know or believe the same was in8ufficient....and 
 the court acquit him of the residue •f that specification. 
 
 The court find the said Brigadier General William Hull guilty 
 ef the sixth and seventh specifications of that charge. 
 
 The court find the said Brigadier General William Hull guilty 
 of the third charge. , 
 
 The court, in consequence of their determination respecting the 
 second end third charges, and the specifications under those 
 charges, exhibited against the said Brigadier General William 
 Hull....and after due consideration, do sentence him to be shot to 
 debth, two thirds of the court concurring in the sentence. 
 
 The court, in consideration of Brigadier General Hull's revolu- 
 tionary services, and his advanced age, earnestly recommend him 
 to the mercy of the President of the Uaitt- d States. 
 
 The court then adjourned to meet on Monday morning, March 
 28 1814, at 10 o'clock when 
 
 The proceedings having been read once^ approved and signed 
 by the president, the court adjourned sine die. 
 
 H. Dearborn, major general, president of the courU 
 ;. J, M. Van SUREN, special judge advocate. 
 Philip S. Parker, army judge advocate. 
 
 April 25, 1814.....The sentence of the court is approved, and 
 the execution of it remitted. 
 
 (Signed) . JAMES MADISON* 
 
 
 
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 , CHAPTER III. 
 
 Capture of Michillimackinac, and geographical description of 
 
 the upper lakes. 
 
 The capture of Michillimackinac had, without doubt, been con- 
 templated by the enemy, previous to the declaration of war...«« 
 
 I The Indians in the vicinity of lakes Superior, Michigan, and Hu- 
 ron, had been stimulated to hostilities as early as May, 1812 ; 
 sod were doubtless collecting for this very enterprise at St. Jo* 
 sephs) ia the early part of July. On the ^6th new* of |b« dec- 
 
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 SO 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 laration of war reached St. Josephs, and each was the preparation 
 of the enemy, that they were enabled to embark the next day for 
 Mackana, with a force consisting of 40 regulars, 260 militia, made 
 up principally of the engagees of the north-west company, and 
 500 Indians. With so formidable a force, our garrison, consist] 
 ing of 57 effectives^ was unable to contend, and accordingly sur- 
 rendered the fort and island, on the 17th. Subjoined is an offi- 
 cial account of the capture, in a letter from Lieut. Hanks to Gen. 
 Hull, accompanied with a copy of the articles of capitulation. 
 
 Detroit, 4th Aug. 1812. 
 Sir I take the earliest oppportunity to acquaint your excel- 
 lency of the surrender of Michillimackinac, tinder my command 
 to his Britannic majesty's forces under the command of Captain 
 Charles Roberts, on the 17th ult. the particulars of which are as 
 follows : On the 16th I was informed by the Indian interpreter, 
 that he had discovered from an Indian that the several nations of 
 Indians then at St. Josephs, (a British garrison, distant forty-five 
 miles) intended to make an immediate attack on Michillimackinac. 
 I was inclined, from the coolness I had discovered in some of the 
 principal chiefs of the Ottawa and Chippawa nations, who had but 
 a few days before professed the greatest friendship for the United 
 States, to place confidence in this report. I immediately called a 
 meeting of the American gentlemen at that time on the Island, 
 in which it was thought proper to despatch a confidential person 
 to St. Josephs, to watch the motions of the Indians. Capt. Daur- 
 man, of the militia, was thought the most suitable for this service. 
 He embarked about sunset, and met the British forces within ten 
 or fifteen miles of the island, by whom he was made prisoner and 
 put on his parole of honour. He was landed on the island at day- 
 break, with positive directions to give me no intelligence whatev- 
 er. He was also instructed to take the inhabitants of the village 
 indiscriminately to a place on the west side of the island, where 
 their persons and property should be protected by a British guard : 
 but should they go to the fort, they would be subject to a general 
 massacre by the savages, which would be inevitable if the garri- 
 son fired a gun. This information I received from Doctor Day, 
 who was passing through the village when every person wai 
 flying for refuge to the enemy. Immediately on being inform- 
 ed of the approach of the enemy, I placed ammunition, &c. in 
 the blockhouses : ordered every gun charged, and made every 
 preparation for action. About o'clock I could discover that the 
 enemy were in possession of the heights that commanded the fort, 
 and one piece of their artillery directed to the most defenceless 
 part of the garrison. The Indians at this time were to be seen in 
 great numbers in the edge of the woods. At half past 11 o'clock, 
 the enemy sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender of the fort 
 
1 m 
 
 Q 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 61 
 
 ,/ 
 
 .1 tj% 
 
 and island, to his Britannic majest^^'s forces. This, sir, was the 
 fir-ot information I had of the declaration of war ; I, however, had 
 anticipated it, and was as well, prepared to meet such an event as 
 I possibly could have been with the force under my command, 
 amounting to fifty-seven effective men, including officers. Three 
 American gentlemen, who were prisoners, were permitted to ac- 
 company the flag : from them I ascertained the strength of the 
 enemy to be from nine hundred to one thousand strong, consist- 
 ing of regular troops, Canadians, and savages : that they had two 
 pieces of artillery, and were provided with ladders and ropes for 
 the purpose of scaling the works if necessary. After I had ob- 
 tained this information, 1 consulted my officers and also the Amer- 
 ican gentlemen present, who were very intelligent men : the re- 
 sult of which was, that it was impossible for the garrison to hold 
 out against such a superior force. Id this opinion I fully concur- 
 red, from a conviction that it was the only measure that could 
 prevent a general massacre. The fort and garrison were accord- 
 ingly surrendered. 
 
 The enclosed papers exhibit copies of the correspondence be- 
 tween the officer commanding the British forces and myself, and 
 oft'ic rticles of capitulation. This subject involved questions of 
 a pec'i lature ; and I hope, sir, that my demands and pro- 
 tests .'> ; meet the approbation of my government. 1 cannot al- 
 low this opportunity to escape without expressing my obligations 
 to Doct. Day for the service he rendered me in conducting this 
 correspondence. 
 
 In consequence of this unfortunate affair, I beg leave, sir, to de- 
 mand that a court of enquiry may be ordered to investigate all 
 the facts connected with it ; and I do further request, that the 
 court may be speedil}' directed to express their opinion on the 
 merits of the case. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. P. HANKS, 
 
 His Excellency Gen. Hull, Lieut, of artillery. 
 
 Commanding N. W. army. 
 
 '* P. S. The foUowmg particulars relative to the British force 
 were obtained after the capitulation, from a source that admits of 
 no doubt :....3egu.lar troops 46 (including 4 officers,) Canadian 
 militia 260 Tatal 306. 
 
 Savages Sioux 56 ; Winnebagoes 48 ; Talleswain 39 ; 
 
 Chippawas and Ottawas 572 savages 715, whites S06 Total 
 
 1024. 
 
 It mfay also be remarked, that one hundred and fifty Chippe- 
 was and Ottawas joined the British, two days after the capitula- 
 tion. P. H. 
 
 Heights above Michillimackinac, 
 17th July, 1812. 
 
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 CAPITULATION 
 Agreed upon between Capt. Charles Roberts, commanding his 
 Britannic majesty's forces, on the one part, and Lieut. Porter 
 Hanks, commanding the forces of the United States, on the other 
 part. 
 
 Iti. The fort of Michillimackinac shall immediately be surren* 
 dered to the British forces. 
 
 2d. The garrison shall march out with the honours of war, lay 
 down their arms, and become prisoners ; and shall be sent to the 
 United States of America by bis Britannic majesty, not to serve 
 this war until regularly exchanged : and for the performance of 
 this article, the officers pledge their word and honour. 
 
 3d. All the merchant vessels in the harbour, with their cargoes, 
 shall be in possession of their respective owners. 
 
 4th. Private property shall be held sacred as far as it is in my 
 power. 
 
 Sth. All the citizens of the United States, who shall not take 
 the oath of allegiance to his Britannic majesty, shall depart with 
 their property from the island, in one month from the date hereof. 
 
 (Signed) CHARLES ROBERTS, 
 
 I' Captain, commanding his Britannic 
 
 .... ^ majesty's forces. 
 
 P HANKS, Lieut. 
 Commanding the U. States' troops. 
 Supplement to the articles of capitulation signed on the 7th July. 
 The Captains and crews of the vessels Erie and Freegoodwill, 
 shall be included under the second article, not to serve until regu- 
 larly exchanged, for which the officers shall pledge their word of 
 honour. CilARLES ROBERTS, Captain, 
 
 Fort Michillimackinac, ) commanding the forces of his 
 
 23d July, 1812. > Britannic majesty. 
 
 GRANTCOt P. HANKS, Lieut. 
 
 tommanding the U. States' troops. 
 
 Geographical.....'We give the following extracts of an able 
 geographical sketch of the three upper lakes, from Niles' Reg- 
 ister, (with some little alteration,) by which our readers will be 
 enabled to form a more correct idea of the relative situation of 
 some of the most important places alluded to in this and the suc- 
 ceeding number. 
 
 ** The position of the great lakes is so well known to the peo- 
 ple of the United States, from the common use of the map, that 
 we shall waste no time in describing them; but proceed immediate- 
 ly to the main objects of enquiry. 
 
 « Lake Erie is of an eliptical form, three hundred miles long 
 from east to west, and ninety broad at its widest part, from north 
 fo south* The depth is rated at twenty fathoms ; but there are 
 
m 
 
 te surren- 
 
 ^VHE WAR. ^ 
 
 many shoals. The bottom is generally of a light yellowish sand ; 
 which being disturbed by storms, tinges the waters of the lake, at 
 other times clear, and of a greenish colour. The nothern shore 
 is rude and rocky, but has several harbours for small vessels, and 
 at fort Erie and Maiden, or (as the British call it) Amherstburg, 
 large ships may ride safely. Long point, running from the north 
 shore, is a narrow peninsula of sand, piled with mighty rocks, to- 
 
 wards the north ; but on the other sides presents a fine beach 
 
 i« very convenient to haul the boats out of the surf upon it, when 
 the lake is too rough for sailing and rowing.'* The south side of 
 Erie is generally a sand beach, and the harbours are all income 
 moded with bars at their entrance. But in some places, at Caya- 
 hoga particularly, there are immense ranges of rocks, rising per- 
 pendicularly out of the waters of the lake forty or fifty feet high^ 
 and several miles in length. The danger of passing these is so 
 great in the time of a storm, that the Indians always offer a sac- 
 rifice of tobacco to the water, as they approach them. The har- 
 bours on this side of the lake, best known to us, are Black Rock 
 opposite fort Erie; Erie, at which is the United States' navy-yardj 
 &c. here the water on the bar is not more than seven or eight 
 feet, though there is depth enough within it : Cleveland, with 
 six or seven feet water ; Sandusky and Put in-bay, which last is 
 spoken of as one of the ** finest harbours in America." This bay 
 Is not laid down in the maps, nor is it mentioned in any of the 
 books or papers we have : but we apprehend it is near the head 
 of the lake, about forty miles above Sandusky, and from twenty 
 to thirty from Maiden. Passing Maiden, where the Detroit river 
 is about three miles wide, (though the channel is within the rauge 
 of a musket shot from the fort, which is therefore the key of the 
 higher lakes) with a fine navigation of eighteen miles, you arrive 
 at the town of Detroit, famous for Hull's capitulation, and the 
 river here is only half a mile wide. Passing Detroit, the river 
 again expands, and receives the waters of lake St. Clair by a 
 mouth a mile and a half wide. This lake is about ninety miles 
 in circumference. It is said to have a bar across the middle, run- 
 ning east and west, to pass which, vessels proceeding to or from 
 lake Huron, must he unladen. We do not credit this assertion^ 
 but believe it may be navigated by any of the vessels we have on 
 lake Erie, with safety. The river St. Clair, which unites the lake 
 of that name with lake Huron, presents an easy entrance for ves- 
 sels into the latter, and is about eighteen miles long. 
 
 " Lake Huron is of a triangular shape, about one thousand miles 
 in circumference^ and navigable for large ships, though some 
 say it is not safe for vessels drawing more than nine or ten feet, on 
 account of the shoals ; perhaps chiefly becaur^ they are yet little 
 known. The shores of this lake are represented as generally 
 iteiUe, being composed of sand and small stones : but at some 
 
 I • 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 vi 
 
 I'i 
 
 
 •■rJ 
 
I* 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 31: 
 
 distance back the soil is pretty good. On the northern parti ars 
 many valuable establishments for carrying on the fur trade, of 
 great importance to the enemy. From the northern extremity 
 of this lake there is a back passage to Montreal. It is by the Ot» 
 tawas river, which has its source in the lake Timiskimaing, north 
 •f lake Huron, but the passage from which into lake Huron is by 
 a portage of two miles to the navigable head of French river, 
 which falls into lake Huron The Outawas river falls into the 
 Cadaraqui from the north-west about ten miles above Montreal, 
 and presents in the passage upwards from Montreal numerous 
 rapids, the waters passable with difficulty by canoes, and port- 
 ages over which every thing must be transported by human la- 
 bour only : circumstances which render it inefficient for military 
 uses, since a force passing upward must not only transport its nnil< 
 itary stores and provisions over these portages, but the supply and 
 difficulty must be encreased with numbers. These facts, in the 
 present posture ot affairs, are very important, because they de- 
 monstrate, that with the command of the lakes, which the 
 United States can always possess when they determine to employ 
 the ample and facile means they possess, the whole of the Indian 
 trade of the British must fall, and their garrisons must surrender, 
 or descend the Otawa river from mere necessity : we shall there- 
 fore give a short sketch of the passage up this river as it is pursued 
 by the traders, whose commodities for transport are much more 
 manageable than military apparatus. 
 
 *< The navigation is conducted in canoes of birch, which car< 
 ry about eight or ten men, and from forty to sixty packages of 
 merchandize ; besides their provision, biscuit, pork, pease and In> 
 dian corn. In May they leave La Chine, about a mile below the 
 entrance of the river Otawa, and proceed to St. Anne, about two 
 miles from the western end of the island upon which stands Mon- 
 treal, the two mountains being on the opposite side of the lake, 
 here formed by the confluence of the Otawa with the Cadaraqui, 
 and taking the name of the lake of the two mountains : at St. 
 Ann's there is a rapid, where they are obliged to unlade part of 
 their cargoes. This lake of the two mountains is twenty miles 
 long, and about two miles wide, and cultivation is seen on both 
 its sides : at its end the water contracts and assumes the name of 
 Otawa river. Here the inland voyage is considered as begin- 
 ning : and after a course of fifteen miles, the current is interrupt- 
 ed by currents and cascades for a succession of ten miles, gener- 
 ally denominated rapids ; here the travellers are obliged to un- 
 load and bear their burdens on slings or on their backs ; whilst 
 the canoes are towed up against the current with immense la- 
 bour and patience. < There are places where the ground will not 
 admit of the carriage of large loads, and they are therefor^ ca'c- 
 tied at several iKiies. «'^' « " ,. *^ , • -* » t* 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 •i 
 
 • i* After about sixty miles of smooth current, where the river it 
 generally more than a mile wide, they reach the portage of the 
 lake Claudiere, where there is a cascade of twenty feet. The 
 portage here is about half a mile, and canoes and all their lading 
 are carried upon men's shoulders. Thence to the next portage 
 desChenes, is short, but the land, carriage is about a third longer 
 than the preceding, and is called portage du Chat ; there are two 
 smaller portages called des Sables and de la Montague, in 
 eighteen miles to the grand Calumet, where the current is again 
 tranquil ; next the portage Dufort, which is two hundred forty- 
 five yards, over which canoes and cargoes must be all carried..... 
 then the porta^fe of the mountain, the Derige, where the loads 
 roust be carried three hundred eighty-five yards over one, and 
 two hundred fifty over the other. The last portage of this river 
 is a long one between Les Alumettes, Deux Joachins and Roche 
 Captaine, and the discharge De Trou. The '"itance of the port- 
 ages nearly two miles, and others over loh^ and difficult rocks.... 
 when at about four hundred miles from Montreal, Petit Reviere 
 falls into the Otawa from the south westward; here the voyagers 
 inust turn off* to the heft, and pass this river of about sixty five 
 miles length, interrupted by rocks and cataracts to the number 
 of thirteen to the high lands ; when after the greatest difficulties^ 
 and a course of land carriage of about six milesj they reach lake 
 Nipising, which is about thirty-six miles long, and about fifteen 
 wide ; but the track of the canoes is much longer, as they must 
 follow the coast. 
 
 ** Out of this lake flows French river before mentioned, precip- 
 itating its flood over rocks of considerable height, called the Ket- 
 tle falls, which necessarily infers another portage, of which thtre 
 are not less than five more in a distance of about eighty miles to 
 the entrance of lake Huron." 
 
 " Lake Michigan communicates with Huron by the straits of 
 Michillimackinac, which are about six miles long. This lake is 
 entirely embosomed within the United States, which are separat- 
 ed from the British possesions by an imaginary line drawn through 
 the middle of lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior, &c. The 
 length of Michigan, from north to south, is estimated at two hund- 
 red eighty miles, and the breadth between sixty and seventy, and 
 it has about the same depth of water as Huron. The island of 
 Michillimackinac, on which stands the village and fort of that 
 name, is situate near the entrance of the strait from Huron, be- 
 ing about seven miles in circumference, and four miles distant 
 from the nearest land. It abounds with excellent water, and is 
 high and healthy ; rising to the centre " as to resemble when you 
 approach it, a turtU's back from whence it derived its name, Mich- 
 illimackinac, or the turtle." 
 
 ** The fort, which stands on the S. E. side, is handsomely situ- 
 ated on a bluflfrock, rising from one to two hundred feet from the 
 
 
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 water, alhnost perpend''" !.ir in many places, extending about hali" 
 yfBy round the island. It overlook*, and of course commands the 
 harbour, a beautiful semicircular basin of about one mile in ex« 
 tent, and from one to five or six fathoms in depth, and sheltered 
 from lake Huron by two islands stretching across its mouth, and 
 leaving only a narrov/ ship channel, by which to enter the har- 
 bour. From the fort you have an uninterrupted view into lake 
 Huron to the north east, and into lake Michigan on the west. It 
 is entirely commanded by the high ground in its rear, where is 
 only a stockade dt;fcnd?d by two block-houses, with a brass six 
 pounder in each. There are also t^o long nines on a battery in 
 front, besides two howitz, and a brass three pounder, which oom- 
 inands the approach to the front gate. 
 
 " The first growth of timber has been principally cut off, and 
 the under-brush grown up, so that an invading enemy might ap« 
 proach within cannon shot ^as was the case at its capture by the 
 enemy) without being discovered by. the centinels at the fort." 
 
 *' The village contained about three hundred inhabitants in 
 1810, chiefly French Canadians ; and a very brisk trade was car- 
 ried on with the neighbouring Indians. The expoit of furs in 
 1804 was valued at D. 238,Oi0, and the duties received on 
 goods imported from the British possessions were D. 60,000. It 
 was in a very flourishing situation when the enemy possessed 
 themselves of it in 1812, before the declaration of war was 
 known to our commandant. The hostile force came from St. 
 Joseph's, a post about forty miles north, situate at the foot of the 
 straits of St. Maiie, through which the waters of lake Superior 
 are discharged into Huron. St. Josephs was held chiefly as a 
 place of observation on \f ichillimackinac : which latter the British 
 gave up with great reluctance by Ja^^'s treaty, in 1794, thougit 
 they had conditioned to do it, immediately, in 1 783, ten years be-^ 
 fore. Chicago, or fort Dearborn, famous for the murder of its 
 garrison, [an account of which will be given in a future number] 
 by the allies, is near the foot, or south end of Michigan, nearly 
 two hundred .fifty miles from Michillimackinac, and was the only 
 post or settlenient we had on the shores of the lake. 
 
 '* St. Josephs wgs garrisoned by two companies of Canadians^ 
 and a few regulars. It is assailable by water. The straits of St. 
 Marie are forty miles long, and so rapid that they cannot be as- 
 cended even by canoes, though the decent is safe, if the pilots are 
 good," 
 
,, ^ 
 
 \ , 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 V,? ' 'i 
 
 THE WAR, 
 
 VoLUMK I Number 2. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Operations of the army of the centre Battle of Q,ueenstoxvn 
 
 Bombardment of fort Niagara Attack on the British 
 
 lines opposite and below Black Rock Geographical descrip' 
 
 Hon of the Niagara frontier. 
 
 It was late in the season before a sufficient force was collect- 
 ed upon the Niagara frontier to attempt offensive operations; 
 In October, however. Gen. Van Rensselaer, of the New York 
 militia, had his head-quarters at Lewistown, with a force under 
 his command of four thousand men, consisting of about fifteen 
 hundred regulars, and the remainder militia. They were dis- 
 tributed along the river from fort Niagara to Buffalo. Nothing 
 of importance occurred till the 12th, when the militia at Lewis- 
 town became impatient to attack the enemy's works opposite, at 
 Queenstown. The attack was accordingly made on the 13th, 
 the result of which, with the previous arrangements, and many 
 Important particulars, will be found in the following letter from 
 Gen, Van Renwelaer to Maj. Gen. Dearborn, dated v 
 
 * Head-quarters, Lewistown, Oct. 14f 1812. 
 
 Sir As the movements of the army unfter my command, 
 
 since I had last the honour to address you on the 8th inst. have 
 been of a very important character, producing consequences seri- 
 ous to many individuals ; establishing facts actually connected 
 with the interest of the service and the safety of the army ; aud 
 as I stand prominently responsible for some of these consequences, 
 I beg leave to explain to you sir, and through you, to my coun- 
 try, the situation and circumstances in which I have had to act, 
 and the reasons and motives which have governed me : and if 
 the result is not all that might have been wished, it is such that 
 when the whole ground shall be viewed, I shall cheerfully submit 
 myself to the judgment of my country. 
 
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 58 
 
 SKETCHKS Of 
 
 III my letter of the 8th inst. I apprised you that a crisis in thia 
 campaign wa« rapidly advancing ; and that, (to repeat the same 
 vvoids) " the blow must be soon struck, or all the toil and ex- 
 pense of the campaign go for nothing, and worse than nothing, 
 for the whole would be tuiged with dishonour." 
 
 Under such impressions, I had, on the 15th inst. written to 
 Brig. Gen. Smyth, of the United States* forces, requesting an in- 
 terview with him, Maj. Gen. Half, and the commandants of the 
 United States' regiments, for the purpose of conferring upon the 
 subject of future operations. I wrote Maj. Gen. Hall to the same 
 purport. On the 1 1th I had received no answer from Gen. 
 Smyth ; but in a note to me of the 10th Gen. Hall mentioned that 
 Gen. Smyth had noi yet then agreed upon any day for the con- 
 sultation. ^ 
 
 In the mean time, the pnrtial success of Lieut. Elliott, at Black 
 R J -k (of which, however, I have received no official information') 
 began to excite a strong disposition in the troops to act. This 
 was expressed to me through various channels, in the shape of an 
 
 alternative ; that they most have orders to act or, at all haz- 
 
 zards they would go home. I forbear here commenting upon the 
 obvious consequences, to me, personally, of longer withholding 
 my orders under such circumstances. 
 
 I had a conference with , as to the possibility of getting 
 
 some person to pass over to Canada, and obtain correct informa- 
 tion. On the morning of the 4th, he wrote to roe that he had 
 procured the man, who bore his letter to go over. Instructions 
 
 were given him ; he passed over obtained such information as 
 
 warranted an immediate attack. This was confidi ntially commu- 
 nicated to several of my first officers, and produced great zeal to 
 act ; more especially as it might have a controlling » ifect upon 
 the movements at Detroit, where it was supposed that Gen. Brock 
 had gone with all the force he dared to spare from the Niagara 
 frontier. The best preparations in m> power were, thert-fore, 
 made to dislodge the enemy from the heights of Queenstown, and 
 possess ourselves of the village, where the troops might be shel- 
 tered from the distressing inclemency of the weather. 
 
 Lieut. Col. Fenwick's flying artillery, and a detachment of reg 
 ular troops, under his command, were ordered to be up in season 
 irom fort Niagara. Orders were also sent Gen. Smyth, to send 
 down from Buffalo such detachment of his brigade as existing cir- 
 cumi<tances in that vicinity might warrant. The attack was to 
 have been made at 3 o'clock, on the morning of the 1 1th, by cross- 
 ing over in boats from the old ferry opposite the heights. To 
 avoid any embarrassment in crossing the river (which is here a 
 shtet of violent eddies; experienced boatmen were procured to 
 take the boats from the landing below, to the place of embarka- 
 tion. Lieut. Sim v.as considered the man of greatest skill for 
 
TH£ WAR. 
 
 5tf 
 
 thid service he went ahead, and in the extreme darkness, passed 
 
 the intended place far up the river ; and there, in a most extraor- 
 dinary manner, fastened his boat to the shore, and abandoned the 
 detachment. In the front boat he had carried nearly every oar 
 which was prepared for all the boats. In this agonizing dilemma 
 stood otliceri and men, whose ardor had not been cooled by ex- 
 posure through the night to one of the nioft tremendous north> 
 east storms, which continued unabated for twenty-eight hours, and 
 deluged the whole camp. The approach of day light extinguish- 
 ed every prospect of ouccess, and the detachment retuined to 
 camp. Col. Van Rensselaer was to have commanded the detach- 
 ment. 
 
 After this result I had hoped the patience of the troops would 
 have contniued until I could submit the plan suggcfited in my let- 
 ter of the 8th, that I might act under and in conformity to the 
 opinion which might be then expressed. But my hope was idle : 
 the previously excited ardor seemed to have gained new heat 
 from the late miscarriage....the brave were mortified to stop short 
 of their object, and the timid thought laurels half won by an at- 
 tempt. 
 
 On the morning of the 12th, such was the pressure upon mc 
 from all quarters, that I became satisfied that my refusal to act 
 might involve me in suspicion, and the service in disgrace. 
 
 Viewing affairs at Buffalo as yet unsettled, I had immediately 
 sountermanded the march of Gen. Smyth's brigade, upon the fail- 
 ure of the first expedition : but having now determined to attack 
 Queenstown, I sent new orders to Gen. Smyth to march ; not 
 with the view of his aid in the attack, for I considered the force 
 detached sufficient, but to support the detachment should the con- 
 flict be obstinate and long continued. 
 
 Lieut. Col. Christie, who had just arrived at the Four Mile 
 Creek, had late in the night of the first contemplated attack, gal- 
 lantly offered me his own and his men's services : but he got my 
 permission too late. He now again came forward, had a confer- 
 ence with Col. Van Rensselaer, and begged that he might have 
 the honour of a command in the expedition. The arrangement 
 was made. Colonel Van Rensselaer was to command one column 
 of 300 militia ; and Lieut. Col. Christie a column of the same num- 
 ber of regular troops. 
 
 Every precaution was now adopted as to boats, and the most 
 confidential and experienced men to manage them. At an early 
 hour in the night, Lieut. Col. Christie marched his detachment, by 
 the rear road, from Niagara to camp. At 7 in the evening 
 
 fiieut. Col. Stranahan's regiment moved from Niagara Falls at 
 
 8 o'clock. Mead's.. ..and at 9, Lieut. Col. Blan's regiment marched 
 from the same place. All were in camp in good season. Agree- 
 ably to my orders issued upon this occasion, the two columns 
 were to pass over together ; as soon as the heights should be 
 
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60 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 u!l ,1 
 
 carried, Lieut. Col. FenwickU flying artillery wat to past over ; 
 then Mnj. Mullany't detachment of regulars ; and the other troops 
 to follow in order. 
 
 At dawn of day the boats were in readiness, and the troops 
 co/nmenced embarking, under the cover of a commanding batte- 
 ry mounting two eighteen pounders and two sixes. The move- 
 ments were soon discovered, and a brisk fire of musquetry poured 
 from the whole line of the Canada shore. Our battery then 
 opened to sweep the shore ; but it was, for some minutes, too 
 dark to direct much fire with safety. A brisk cannonade was 
 now opened upon the boats from three different batteries ....our 
 battery returned their fire, and occasionally threw grape upon the 
 «bore, and was itself served with shells from a small mortar of 
 the enemy's. Col. Scott, of the artillery, by hastening his march 
 from Niagara Falls in the night, arrived in season to return the 
 enemy's fire with two six pounders. 
 
 The boats were somewhat embarrassed with the eddies, as 
 well as with a shower of shot : but Col. Van Rensrelaer, with 
 about one hundred men, soon effected his landing, amidst a tre- 
 mendous fire directed upon him Irom every point ; but to the as- 
 tonishment of all who witnessed the scene, this van of the col- 
 umn advanced but slowly against the fire. It was a serisous misfor- 
 tune to the van, and indeed to the whole expedition, that in a few 
 minutes after landing. Col. Van Rensselaer received four wounds 
 ....a ball passed through his right thigh, entering just below the 
 hip-boue.... another shot passed through the same thigh, a lit- 
 tle below a third through the calf of his leg. ...and a fourth 
 
 cartused his heel. Th*s was quite a crisis in the expedition. 
 Under so severe a fire it was difficult to form raw troops. By 
 some mismanagement of the boat-men, Lieut. Col Christie did not 
 arrive until some time after this, and was wounded in the hand 
 in passing the river. Col. Van Rensselaer was still able to stand ; 
 and with great presence of mind ordered his officers to proceed 
 Tvith rapidity and storm the fort. This service was gallantly per- 
 formed, and the enemy driven down the hill in every direction. 
 Soon after this both parties were considerably reinforced, and the 
 conflict was renewed in several places. ...many of the enemy took 
 shelter behind a stone guard-house, where a piece of ordnance 
 Mras now briskly served. I ordered the fire of our battery direct- 
 ed upon the guard house ; and it was so effectually done, that 
 with eight or ten shot the fire was silenced. The enemy then 
 retreated behind a large store house ; but in a short time the 
 route became general, and the enemy's fire was silenced, except 
 from a one gun battery, so far down the river as to be out of the 
 reach of heavy ordnance, and our light pieces could not si- 
 lence it. A number of boats now passed over unannoyed, except 
 from one unsilcnced gun. For some time after I had passed over 
 the victory appeared complete : but in the expectation of further 
 
'Il 
 
 VHE WAR, 
 
 0(1 
 
 attacki, I wai tahing meaiurei Tor rortifying my camp immediate. 
 ly....the direction of this nervicc I committed to Lieut. Totten, of 
 the engineers. But very soon the enemy were reinforced by a 
 detachment of leveral hundred Indiana irom Chippewa. They 
 commenced a furious attacli ; but were promptly met and routed 
 by the rifle and bayonet. By this time I perceived my troopt 
 were embarking very slowly. I passed inuiiidiately over to nc- 
 celerate their movements ; but to my utter astonishment I found 
 at the very moment when complete victory was in our hands, 
 the ardour of the unengaged troops had entirely subsided. I rode 
 in all directions, urged the men by every consideration to pats 
 over, but in vain. Lieut. Col. Bloom, who had been wounded in 
 the action, returned, mounted his horse and rode through the 
 camp ; as did also Judge Peck, who happened to be here, exhort- 
 ing the companies to proceed, but all in vain- 
 
 At this time a large reinforcement from Fort George were dis- 
 covered coming up the river. As the batery on the hill was con- 
 sidered an important check against Ihtic ascending the heights, 
 measures were immediately taken to send them a fresh supply of 
 ammunition, as 1 had learnt there were left oiiiy tv>enty shot fc 
 the eighteen pounders. The reinforce mtnts, ho .ever, c .'iqued 
 to the right from the road, and formed a junction with :'ie In* 
 dians in the rear of the heights. Finding to my inh i*v3 mor* 
 tiiication, that no reinforcement would pass ov . • seeing that, 
 another severe conflict must soon commenc ; ; nd knowing 
 that the brave men on the heights were quite CAiiausted and near- 
 ly out of ammunition, all I could do was to send them a fresh 
 supply of cartridges. At this critical moment I despatched a note 
 to Gen. Wadsworth, acquainting him with our 8ituation....leaving 
 the course to be pursued much to his own judgment....with as- 
 surance that if he thought best to retreat, I would endeavour to 
 send as many boats as I could command, and cover his retreat by 
 
 every fire 1 could safely make. But the boats were dispersed 
 
 many of the boatmen had fled panic struck and but few got off. 
 
 But my note could but little more than have reached Gen. Wads- 
 worth about 4 o'clock, when a most t. . -re and obstinate conflict 
 commenced and continued about haii an hour, with a trenoend- 
 dous fire of cannon, flying artillery, and musketry. The enemy 
 succeeded in repossessing their battery ; and, gaining advantage 
 on every side, the brave men who had gained the victory, ex- 
 hausted of strength and auanunition, and grieved at the unpar- 
 donable neglect of their fellow-soldiers, gave 'jp the conflict. 
 
 I can only add that the victory v/as really won ; but lost for 
 the want of a small reinforcement. One third part of the idle 
 men might have saved all. 
 
 I have been so pressed with the various duties of burying the 
 dead, providing for the wounded, collecting the public property, 
 Regociatiog an exchange of prisooer!), and all the concerns conser 
 
 
 ■■I 
 
 
 'V 
 
 ■ ■■ i 
 
 
 
92 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 P'i ;r 
 
 quent of such a battle, that I hare not been able to for-ward this 
 despatch at as early an hour ns I could have wished. I shall 
 soon forward you another despatch in which I shall endeavour to 
 to point out to you the conduct of some most gallant and deserv* 
 ing officers. But I cannot in justice close this without expressing 
 the very great obligation 1 am under to Brig. Gen. Wads worth, 
 Col. Van Rensselaer, Col. Scott, Lieut. Cols. Christie and Fenwick, 
 and Capt. Gibson. Many others have also behaved most gallant- 
 ly. I have reason to believe that many of our troops fled to the 
 woods, with the hope of crossing the river. 1 have not been able 
 to learn the probable number of killed, wounded, or prisoners. 
 The slaughter of our troops must have been very considerable, 
 and the enemy have suffered severely. 
 
 Gen. Brock is among the slain, and his aid-de camp mortally 
 wounded. 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir, with great respect and considera- 
 tion, your most obedient servant, 
 
 (Signed) STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER, 
 
 Maj. Gen. DfiARBORN. Maj. Gen. 
 
 The following additional interesting particulars of the battle 
 of Queenstown, arc derived from a source which may be deemed 
 authentic. 
 
 On the 12th Oct. Gen. Van Rensselaer had under his com- 
 mand about 5800 men, thus disposed : 2000 militia at or near 
 Lewistown : 1300 regular troops, under Gen. Smyth, near Black 
 Rock, 28 miles from Lewistown : 500 militia and volunteers at 
 Black Rock and Schlosser; about 300 men in six companies of 
 field and light artillery ; about 500 men of the 6th and 13th reg- 
 iments, at fort Niagara; about 300 regulars of the 23d regiment, 
 under Maj. Mullany, at the same place. 
 
 On the same day Maj. Gen. Brock had under his command 
 and under arms, at different posts, from and including fort George 
 and fort Erie, 2800 men, of whom 2400 were disciplined troops 
 of the 41st and 49th British regiments and Canadian flank com- 
 panies, and 400 were Indians. j - . , 
 
 Gen. Van Rensselaer decided to attempt to cross the river and 
 
 attack the enemy's batteries at Queenstown, on the night of the 
 
 12th. The regular troops at Niagara, under Lieut. Col. Fenwick, 
 
 and Maj. Mullany, were ordered up to Lewistovirn, and 13 boats 
 
 vere provided to effect the crossing. 
 
 The detachment that was to make the attack, consisted of 
 tome militia under the command of Col. Van Rensselaer, the 
 General's aid-de-camp; a part of the 13th infantry, under Lieut. 
 Col. Christie ; and detachments of the 6th and 23d, under Maj. 
 Mullany ; and Col. Van Rensse'iaer was to command the whole. 
 
 At 3 o'clock, in the morninr; of the 1 3th of Oct. the detach* 
 ment^ about 400 men, mBrched from the camp near Lewistown. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 63 
 
 Col. Van Rensselaer crossed over. A grape shot from a bat- 
 tery below Queenstown, which enfiladed the crossing place, 
 wounded Lieut. Col. Christie slightly in the hand ; his pilot becanne 
 confused, the boatmen frightened, and hi? boat returned. The 
 boats with Maj. Mullany fell below the landing, two of them were 
 taken, and the Major returned. 
 
 Litut. Vallt^au was killed in crossing ;* and in ascending the 
 bank or on a small low flat at the water^s edge. Col. Van Rensse- 
 laer, Capt. Armstrong, Capt. Malcom, and Capt. Wool, were 
 wounded ; and £ns. Morris killed.f 
 
 A party of British troops issued from an old fort below Q.ueens>- 
 tovvn : they were fired on by the Americans, and retreated. 
 The firing from battery, soon afterwards compelled the Amer- 
 icans to retreat under the bank. 
 
 To Col. Van Rensselaer, who lay there wounded, application 
 was made by the officers for orders. He said that if the battery 
 on the heights of Qucenstown was taken possession of, the British 
 must retrtat or surrender. The men were rallied, and about 
 160 under the command of Capt. Wool, Capt. Ogilvie, Lieut. 
 Gansevoort, Lieut. Randolph,;}; Lieut. Carr, and Lieut. Huginin, all 
 of the regular troops, and Lieut. Lush, (brigade major) of militia, 
 mounted the rocks on the right of the battery, and carried it. 
 Captain Wool ordered the artillery-men to take possession of the 
 guns and turn them on the enemy : but it was found that Lieut. 
 Gansevoort had hastily spiked the cannon. The remainder of the 
 detachment joined those who carried the battery. 
 
 Capt. Wool discovered the British troops forming at Queens- 
 town, and formed the troops under his command in line. Gen. 
 Brock was at the head of the British troops, and led them round 
 about to the heights in the rear of the battery, Capt. Wool de- 
 tached 160 men to meet the British ; this detachment was driv- 
 en back, reinforced, and the whole driven to the brink of the pre- 
 eipice forming the bank of the Niagara river, above Queenstown. 
 
 At this moment some of the officers put a white handkerchief 
 on a bayonet to hoist as a flag, with intention to surrender. Capt. 
 Wool en(iuned the object. It was answered that the party were 
 nearly without ammunition, and that it was useless to sacrifice 
 the lives of brave men. Capt. Wool tore oflf the flag ; ordered 
 the officers to rally the men, and bring them to the charge. The 
 order was executed, but in some confusion. The boasted 49tli 
 could not stand the American bayonet. The British troops were 
 routed ; and Maj. Gen. Brock, in gallantly exerting himself to 
 rally them, w;is struck by three balls, and killed. His aid, Col. 
 M'Donald, fell mortally wounded, at the same time. 
 
 
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 * Capt. NVIion wni killetl by a a^raoe shut when pivparing; to embark. 
 
 t Brutlicr to Capt Murrii oi the U.S. iiav) 
 
 i 'I lie Uritiib olfictri tpeak bishl; oftkc valor ot Ueat. Kandolph. 
 
I.v'. i 
 
 64 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 in 
 
 The British being completely driven from the heights about ten 
 o'clock, the line was re formed, and flanking parties sent out. 
 
 After this brilliant success, reinforcements continued to arrive 
 under Capt. Gibson of the light artillery, Capt. Mackesney of the 
 6th, Capt. Lawrence of the 13th infantry ; and of Cols. Allen, 
 Mead, Stranahan, and other militia officers. 
 
 About 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Brig. Gen. Wads worth of militin^ 
 Lieut. Col. Scott of artillery, Lieut. Col. Christie and Maj. Mullany 
 crossed the river, and took the command of the American troops. 
 Lieut. Col. Christie ordered Capt. Wool to leave the field and have 
 his wounds dressed. He obeyed, crossed the river, had hig 
 wounds dressed, and re crossed to the Canadian side, but acted 
 DO more during the day. 
 
 About 3 o'clock a party of Indians appeared in the direction of 
 the village of Chippewa, and commenced an attack. As they 
 approached through a wood and orchard, the American troops not 
 knowing their numbers, at first gave way. Lieut. Col. Scott 
 m- de great exertions. He was in full dress ; and his tall stature 
 rendered him a conspicuous mark. Several Indians say they shot 
 at him ; but he remained unhurt. Lieut. Col. Christie was re* 
 marked for his perfect composure and coolness. The Indiana 
 were soon defeated anxl fled to the woods, leaving several dead, 
 and one of their chiefs a prisoner. 
 
 As soon as this engagement was over, a body of British troops 
 with some light artillery, approached from Fort George. Exer- 
 tions were made by Gen. Van Rensselaer* to send over the mill- 
 tia. Two thousand of them remained on the American bank ct 
 the river, to which they had not been marched in any order, but 
 had ran as a mob. Not one of them would cross. The numbci 
 of boats were at first insufficient ; some of those had been lost or 
 destroyed, and only three or four were left. And a great error 
 had been committed in leaving undisturbed a battery below 
 Queenstown, which enfiladed the ferry. The militia had seen 
 the wounded, they had seen the Indians, and were panic strucli. 
 There were wretches who, at this critic<)l moment, could talk ol| 
 the constitution, and the right of the militia to refuse to cross tb^ 
 line ! j 
 
 The i'^merican troops had been scattered in pursuit of the In 
 dians, and were somewhat surprised. They lost the precious time | 
 and opportunity of attacking the British as they ascended the 
 heights. So soon as the British force, estimated at 800 menJ 
 was formed in line, flanked by some pieces of light artillery and| 
 Indians, the event was no longer doubtful. 
 
 The American troops formed in line to the number of 125 reg- 
 ulars, and 117 militia, with one piece of light artillery. This lit- 
 tle band would have made a gallant resistance ; but at that nio-| 
 
 • The Gciiti-al at one tinn- crostLtl ihe tiTcr, but lu-vtr ascciidcil tlit laigliu. 
 
If 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 65 
 
 
 ment an order was received from Gen. Van Rensselaer to retreat 
 with an assurance that boats wouM be ready to receive the troops. 
 They retreated in disorder down the hill to the bank, but there 
 were no boats there. The Americans then surrendered. 383 
 regulars and 378 rniljtia were reported prisoners, 62 of the regu- 
 lars and 20 of th>' hd? 4ia being wounded. 
 
 The number oi either killed or wounded in this battle has 
 never been very accurately ascertained. The highest estimate 
 of the killed is 80. The loss of the British in killed was probably 
 considerably less. 
 
 Our whole loss may be estimated at 1000 men. And the de- 
 sertion and discharges from our militia corps had diminished that 
 force one thousand more. 
 
 Captain Wool, the hero of the heights of Queenstown, was 
 at that time 26 years of age. He has since been promoted. 
 
 List of officers taken prisoners in the battle of Queenstovvn 
 
 Lieut. Cols. Fen wick, Scott, and Christie; Capt$.Ogilvie,Machesney 
 and Gibson; Lieuts. Turner, Clarke, Bayley, Kearney, Randolph, 
 M'Cartey, Phelps, Totten, Carr, Sammons, Fink, and Hugin- 
 nin, and Enssign Reab.* 
 
 Shortly after the battle of Queenstovvn, Gen. Van. Rensselaer 
 resigned the command of the army to Gen. Alexander Smyth, 
 who excited high expectations in many, by his gasconading proc- 
 lamations ; but finally disgraced himself by a series of measures 
 of an indecisive, peurile, and cowardly character. We shall not 
 fatigue our readers with these proclamations, promises of attack 
 upon Canada, repeated embarkations and re-embarkations of the 
 troops, and final abandonment of the threatened expedition, 
 nor with Gen. Smyth's long and awkward apology for such 
 abandonment, but select from this mass of trash and disgrace such 
 incidents as may develope the spirit of our troops. 
 
 On the 21st of Nov. the British batteries at and near fort 
 George opened a tremendous fire upon fort Niagara, which was re- 
 turned with great eiTect ; the particulars of which are disclosed 
 in the following official letter of Col. M'Feeley to Gen. Smyth : 
 
 Sir I beg leave to inform you that on the morning of the 
 
 2l8t of Nov. at 6 oclock, a heavy cannonading opened upon this 
 garrison from all the batteries at and in the neighborhood of fort 
 George, which lasted without intermission until after sun-down. 
 They had five detached batteries, two mounting 24 pounders, one 
 mounting a 9, and two mortar batteries, one 10 1-2, the other 
 5 1-2 inch. The batteries firing hot shot, which set some of our 
 buildings on fire, but from the extraordinary vigilance of the offi- 
 cers and men, particularly Maj. Armistead of the United States' 
 
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 * Cupu Ciltim :\M y\athttney, Lirni* Totten uid lUodolpli wer« Hbi— latdy e»iilwiiigi<. 
 
SKETCHES OF 
 
 '.r: 
 
 
 corps of engineers, whose indefatigable exertions were extended 
 to all parts of the garrison, the fires were got under without being 
 observed by the enemy. 
 
 Our gairison was not as well provided with artillery and am- 
 munition as I could have wished ; however the batteries open- 
 ed a tremendous fire upon them, in return, with hot shot, admir- 
 ably well diiected. 
 
 Several times during the cannonading, the town of Newark 
 was in flames, but was extiuguished by their engines....as also 
 the centre building in fort George. Their me^s house and all the 
 buildings near it were consumed. Capt. M'Keen commanded a 
 12 pounder in the S. £. block-house, and distinguished himself b} 
 his usual gallantry and skill. Capt. Jacks, of the 7th regiment 
 militia artillery, commanded a 6 pounder on the N. block house, 
 and together with a part of his own company, though placed in a 
 situation most exposed to the fire cf the enemy, maintained their 
 position like veterans. .,.(< 
 
 Lieut. Rees, of the 3d regiment of artillery, had the command 
 of an 18 pounder on the £. E. batter}', which was pointed at the 
 battery en barbette, mounting a 24 pounder, and also at fort 
 George ; several Well-directed shot were made from this gun, 
 which proved the skill of its commander. About ten o'clock 
 Lieut. Rees had his left shoulder bruised by a part of the parapet 
 falling on him ; which, though it did not materially injure him, 
 obliged him to retire, and Capt. Leonard of the 1st regiment 
 United States' artillery, at that moment arriving, took the 
 command of this battery for the remainder of the day. Lieut. 
 Wendel, of the 3d regiment of artillery, had the command of an 
 18 and 4 pounders on the W. battery....and Doct. Hooper of Capt. 
 Jack's company militia artillery, had the command of a 6 pound 
 cr on the mess-house. Of these gentlemen and their commands, 
 I cannot speak with too much praise ; they distinguished them- 
 selves highly, and from their shot, all of which was hot, the town 
 of Newark was repeatedly fired, and one of the enemy's batter- 
 ies silenced for a time. 
 
 An instance of extraordinary bravery in a female, (the wife of 
 one Doyle, a private of the U. States' artillery, made a prisoner at 
 Queenstown) I cannot pass over. During the most tremendous | 
 cannonading I have ever seen, she attended the 6 pounder on the 
 old mess-house with the red hot shot, and shewed fortitude equnl- 
 ing the maid of Orleans. Lieuts. Ganesvoort and Harris of the 
 Ist regiment United States' artillery, had the command of the 
 Salt battery at Youngstown, mounting one 18 and a 4 pounder. 
 These two guns played upon the garrison of fort George, and die 
 buildings near it : from evt ry ubstrvation I could make duiing 
 their fire, 1 am happy to say they merited my warmest thanks for 
 their skill in the service of these guns. Lieut. Harri»i, from hi: 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 67 
 
 4 pounder, sunk a schooner which lay at their wharf: she was 
 «ne of those taken by the enemy at the mouth of the Genesee riv- 
 er a short time since. He also assiMted in burning and destroying 
 the buildings near the wharf. These two officers and their men, 
 ia the tvarmest part of the cannonading, having fired away all 
 their cartridges, cut up their flannel waist-coats and shirts, and 
 the soldiers their trowsers, to supply their gimp. 
 
 I cannot say too much in praise of all the ot^ceis and soldiers 
 •f the artillery immediately under my observation ii) this garrison; 
 they merit the thanks and esteem of their country for the defence 
 of it, and I believe it never sustained so sharp and continued a 
 bombardment. 
 
 The enemy threw more than two thousand red hot balls into 
 it, and a number of shell, amounting to more than one hundred 
 and eighty, only one of which did injury to our men. 
 
 Lieut. Col. Gray commanded the artillery ; the unremitting at- 
 tention paid to his duty, proves him an officer whose zeal and 
 science do honour to himself and country ; to this gentlemen I 
 feel much indebted for the manner he acquitted himself. 
 
 To the officers of my regiment, (particularly Capt. Mulligan) 
 and the soldiers who assisted the artillery, and those employed 
 in extinguishing the fires, and carrying off the killed and wound- 
 ed, i am also much indebted : they merit my warmest thanks. 
 To Doct. West of the garrison, Doct. Hugan of the 14th regi- 
 ment United States* infantry, and Doct. Craige of the 22d regi- 
 ment United States* infantry, I offer my thanks. They were 
 employed during the entire day, in the most critical duties of their 
 profession. Our killed and wounded amount to eleven. 
 
 Killed Serjeants, Jones, 1st regiment of United States' artil- 
 lery ; Salisbury, 3d do. do. do. : privates, Stewart, 22d do. United 
 States' infantry ; Lewis, 1st do. do. artillery. 
 
 Wounded Officers, Lieut. Thomas, 22d regiment of United 
 
 States' infantry : privates, Boman, 14th do. do. ; M'Evoy, 1st 
 do. do. ; Campbell, 1st do. do. ; Welsh, 1st do. do.: Ray, 3d do. 
 do. ; Woodworth, 7th do. militia artillery. 
 
 From the numbers we saw carried offfronr the enemy's batter- 
 iv 1, I presume many more were killed and wounded on their side. 
 
 Only two of the above men were killed by the enemy's shot, 
 the rest by the bursting of a 12 pounder in the S. £. block-house, 
 and by the spunges of the guns on the north block house, and at 
 the salt battery. GEO. M'FEELEY, Lieut. Col. 
 
 commanding fort Niagara. 
 
 On the 27th November Gen. Smyth ordered the enemy's bat- 
 teries opposite Black Rock to be stormed, as a precautionary 
 measure previous to the crossing of the army into Canada, which 
 was to take place agreeably to orders the next day. The partic 
 
 
 &: 
 
 ■ii 
 
 ■■A 
 
 •I 
 
08 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 'AH 
 
 i!( 
 
 ulars of this affair will be found in the following oflficial letter of 
 Col. Winder to Gen. Smyth : 
 
 Black Rock, Dec. 7, 1812. 
 
 Sir I should before this have communicatt- d the circumstances 
 
 relative to the two enterprises of the night of the 28th, had not 
 your presence enabled you at once to learn the general result, so 
 far as was necessary, to predicate other movements on ; and had 
 not my incessant occupation since rendered it almost impossible 
 to find the requisite time. I deem it, however, my duty, injus- 
 tice to the gallant officers and men who formed a part of that ex- 
 pt dition, to present to you such particulars as I have obtained 
 from those engaged in it, and which have been confirmed by the 
 prisoners who were taken. 
 
 Agreeably to your order of the 27th, Lieut. Col. Boersfler em- 
 barked with about 200 of the 4th in boats; and Capt. King of the 
 army, and Lieut. Angus of the navy, embaiked with 150 soldiers 
 and 70 sailors, in ten boats ; between 12 and 1 o'clock of the 
 morning of the 28th. The embarkation of both detachments was 
 made with exemplary silence, order and promptitude. 
 
 The detachment of Captain King having to ascend the river 
 against the current, to arrive at the point of attack, I directed 
 bim to move off first, so that the detachment under Lieut. Col. 
 Boerstler having in some degree the advantage of the current, 
 each party might arrive as nearly as possible at its point of attack 
 at the same time. 
 
 The detachment of King and Angus was discovered by the 
 centinels some time before it landed, and was assailed by a dis- 
 charge of small arms from the centinels, and one or two dis- 
 cnarges from a field piece at the Red House. Four boats out of 
 the ten nevertheless resolutely landed. The sailors under Lieut. 
 Angus, with their characteristic impetuosity, rushed into the hot- 
 test fire, before the infantry could be formed after landing, and 
 sustamed considerable injury. Capt. King, however, seconded by 
 Capts. Morgan and Sprole, formed the infantry, which did land as 
 expeditiously as pos8ible....and in conjunction with Lieut. Angus, 
 volunteer Swartwout, and the brave naval officers, soon overcame 
 all resistance there. He then turned to tne left, and proceeded 
 to storm the enemy's lower battery, which was vigorously assail- 
 ed, and soon carried, and the cannon spiked. He then proceeded 
 to the next battery above, which theenemy,intheirtrepidation, had 
 by this time abandoned..,.and spiked the cannon there and broke 
 the carriage. In the mean time Lieut. Angus and volunteer 
 Swartwout, and their party of sailors, had spiked the field pieces at 
 the Red House, and had thrown them, together with two cais- 
 sons, into the liver.... which having accomplished, he retired to 
 the place of lauding, where, finding only four boats, and being .^- 
 
..^ 
 
 TIIKWAR. ii 
 
 norant that the others had not landed, and seeing nothing of the 
 iiirantry, he concluded that either they had b( en made prisone rs, 
 or had deserted him ; and in consequence immediately embarked 
 his men with his wounded prisoner, Lieut. King of the Royal ar- 
 tillery, and returned round the lower end of Squaw Island again 
 to the navy yard. In consequence of this unfortunate mistake^ 
 which arose from the lailure of ^ix of the boats to make their 
 landing, Capt. King with Capts. Sproie and Morgan, and about 60 
 men, were left on the other shore. 
 
 Lieut. Col. Boerstler with his detachment had in the mean 
 time proceeded down the river to attack and destroy the party 
 stationed at Frenchman's creek, and the bridge over it. 
 
 The discovery of the party under Capt. King and Lieut. Angus at 
 •0 early a period, and the consequent firing, had alarmed the ceiitin- 
 elsaodpartynear Frenchman'i!creek,and Lit ut.Col. Boerstler imme- 
 diately pushed to strike the shore at the nearest point, which, with 
 a want of the knowledge of the localities of the place and the 
 darkness of the night, occasioned him to land from a quarter to 
 half a mile above the bridge.... not without having received the 
 fire of the centinels and a small party, and having a picket guard 
 of iibout thirty men of the 49th drawn up and advancing upon 
 them at the moment of landing. Four of his boats, misled by the 
 darkness of the night, or the inexperienced rowers, being unable 
 to force them across the current, fell below near the bridge, and 
 were forced to retire by a party of the enemy stationed there. 
 
 The companies of Capts. Montgomery and Lane, and a part of 
 Sullivan's company under Lieut. Kearney, however, effected their 
 landing with Lieut. Col. Boerstler. The boat in which Lieut. Col. 
 Boerstler was, with Capt. Lane and twenty men, first reached the 
 shore. These were formed as well, and as quickly as possible, and 
 ordered to fire on the enemy, which was done with much gal- 
 lantry, but not without some confusion, inseparable from dark- 
 ness, in the face of an enemy ready to receive them, of whose 
 numbers they were ignorant, and by men and officers for the first 
 time engaged in a contest. The exertions of Lieut. Col. Boerst- 
 ler to keep his party in order, threw him somewhat in advance, 
 and he was saved from the bayonet of one of the enemy by his 
 presence of mind and promptitude in shooting him down with 
 bis pistol. An encouraging command at that moment brought 
 the bayonets of his party in contact with those of the enemy, and 
 they fled with precipitation, leaving several dead, and two pris- 
 oners. The pursuit was pressed to the bridge. Several of the 
 axes were in the boats which had not landed, and the necessity 
 of encountering the enemy at the moment of landing occasioned 
 those that were in the boats that had reached the shore, to be 
 left. A party however was detached under Lieut. Waring, to 
 break up the bridge by any means which they could find ; and 
 about one third of the planks were actually removed. 
 
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 '41 
 
 
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 1^ SKETCHES OK 
 
 At this time all was silent with the parhes under Capt. King 
 and Lieut. Angiis....and Lieut. Col. Boerstler supposed them either 
 repulsed or successful. At this moment Lieut. Woodward, com- 
 manding the boat guard, made a corporal and a private of the 
 49th, prisoners, and learned that the whole force from fort Erie 
 were coming down upon them, and that two hundred were with- 
 in a few minutes' march of the boats. He immediately dispatch- 
 ed a messenger to inform Lieut. Col. Boerstler, who formed his 
 party, hastened up to the boats, and a small distance above the 
 boats discovered a considerable party of the enemy formed..,. 
 Lieut. Col. Boerstler, by a feint in giving the title of field officers 
 to captains, and battalions to companies, in loud orders, endeav- 
 ored to alarm the enemy by the apprehension of being out num- 
 bered, ordered a fire and then a charge....the enemy fled without 
 giving a chance to reach him. 
 
 The order being not to attempt to hold possession, Lieut. Col. 
 Boerstier deemed it advisable to embark his troops to return ; 
 judging, as has since been ascertained, that the whole force from 
 fort Erie was approaching. 
 
 The success of Capt. King and Lieut. Angus had led the ene- 
 my to suppose that a large force had landed with them, and in- 
 stead, therefore, of coming down the river, they passed through 
 th« fields between the batteries and the woods, and came into 
 the river road between the batteries and Frenchman's creek; 
 probably without knowing that Lieut. Col. Boerstler's detachment 
 had landed below.. ..and -when they found their advance dispersed 
 by what, from Lieut. Col. Boerstler's feint, they had supposed a 
 a large party, they again turned off to the left through the fields, 
 passed round the bridge, and concentrated their force below. 
 
 Had Lieut. Col. Boerstler known that the party of Capt King 
 had been succesfiful, a junction might have been made, and every 
 thing accomplished. But he was justified in supposing that as 
 the enemy's force had passed down by the point of Capt. King's 
 attack, he had been beaten off or taken ; and that under that sup- 
 position it therefore -became necessary for him immediately to em- 
 bark. 
 
 Capt. King with Morgan and Sprole, after accomplishing their 
 object, and finding the boats gone, proceeded down the river ; 
 and near Frenchman's creek found two of the enemy's boats, in 
 which Morgan and Sprole, with about half the detachment, and 
 their prisoners embarked about day, and returned to our shore.... 
 Capt. King gallantly refusing to leave the shore unless all his men 
 Gould accompany him. 
 
 Lieut. Warring, with eight men employed in breaking up the 
 bridge, were left, notwithstanding Lieut. Col. Boerstler, in the 
 most pointed manner, enquired several times after the party were 
 -on board, and before they put off, whether every one was on 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 71 
 
 board. It was too dark to see, and he was left. You know the 
 manner in which I saved him the next morning ; and of the 
 manner in which my attempt to land with the 14th and part of 
 the 23d was frustrated. 
 
 I cannot close this communication, without expressing my high 
 sense of tlie cool, intrepid, and collected manner in which Lieut. 
 Col. Boerstler, and the otHcers and men under him, conducted 
 themselves in this their first essay in practical war, under circum- 
 stances well calculated to have confused, distracted, and intimi- 
 dated veteran soldiers. 
 
 Captain King has placed his gallantry and magnanimity r:. a 
 conspicuous point of view, by his storming the enemy's batteries, 
 <tnd refusing to desert his men. 
 
 Lieut. Angus and such of his men as landed, maintained the 
 high character of American tars. He was unfortunately and ne- 
 cessarily misled by the absence of so many boats.. ..and from this 
 cause it arose, that we remained ignorant of the actual state 
 of the enemy *8 shore, until it was too late to profit by it. I think 
 however, there is no man who would not have acted, under simi- 
 lar circumiitances, as Lieut. Angus did. 
 
 Lieut Col. Boerstler has shewn by this night, that he is ade- 
 quate to command in very trying and peiplexing circumstances; 
 and Capt. King has manifested most fully his character for gallant- 
 ry and courage. 
 
 I cannot pretend to particularize the merits of others, where all 
 who landed under the nspective commands of these gentlemen, 
 conducted themselves in the handsomest manner. 
 
 I am with great respect, sir, your obedient servant. 
 (Signed) W. H WINDER, 
 
 Brig. Gen. Alexander Smyth,) Col. 14th Inf. T. S. Army* 
 
 Commanding Centre Army. jT 
 
 Geographical description of the Niagara frontier The vil- 
 lage of Buffalo >s situated at the lower end of lake Erie, between 
 a quarter and a half mile back from the margin of the lake. Fort 
 Erie is nearly opposite, and at the distance of between two and 
 three miles, part of which is woods. Immediately below this the 
 river Niagara forms itself, and a very considerable rapid continues 
 for about two miles, the main channel being on the British side of 
 the river. Black Rock is at the foot of these rapids, near three 
 miles from Buffalo ; here the river is about half a mile wide : a 
 flat bottomed boat or scow is said to cross in two nainutes. The 
 opposite shore makes a handsome appearance, the buildings being 
 all on the bank of the river, and the farms appear to be cleared 
 back about half a mile. 
 
 The navy-yard is a short distance below Black Rock, covered 
 from the enemy by Squaw Island. About three miles below this 
 
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 ■,i 
 
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 js 
 
72 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 I ti, I 
 
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 M ; 
 
 h the head of Grand IsUnd, which continups for twelve mHe«, 
 immediately below v.hich is a small island called Navy IsIhikI. 
 Schiosser, a place so called from the old French fort which for- 
 merly stood there, is 12 miles from Buffalo, and opposite Chippe* 
 wa, a small village and creek of that name un the Canada »ide, 
 and half a mile below the point of Navy Island. The river it 
 between two and three miles wide , and a feriy has usually been 
 kept, but great caution has to be used by the ferry-men to keep 
 clear of the rapids below, which are so conriderable as to render 
 navie;ation impracticable. This is also a landing place for boats, 
 and all kinds of merchandize which is carried round the falls. 
 
 The great falls of Niagara are one mile below Schlosser, half a 
 wile above which the river begins to descend with great rapidity; 
 its bottom is very rocky, with sundry small perpendicular pitches; 
 the stream is divided by Goat Island, which runs down to the 
 main pitch. This pitch is t^aid to be 137 feet perpendicular, and is 
 in a circular form. ...on the top of the fall the river is about three 
 fourths of a mile in width, but becomes considerably narrower im- 
 mediately below, and continues a very wild current, from a quar- 
 ter to a half mile in width,to Lewistown,a distance of seven miles; 
 being conaned by perpendicular banks of about 200 feet in height, 
 generally covered with cedar. 
 
 The face of the country continues perfectly level on each side 
 as far as Lewistown, without any descent, as might be expected 
 from so great a fall in the river. The descent from fort Schlosser 
 to Devil's Hole, or Whirlpool, a distance of four miles including 
 the perpendicular falls and rapids, has, agreeably to an official re- 
 port made to Congress in April, i808, been by correct measure* 
 ment ascertained to be 375 feet, and the whole fall from Lake 
 Erie to Lake Ontario is estimated at 450 feet. From the outlet 
 of Lake Ontario, which forms the St. Lawrence, to Montreal, the 
 descent is estimated at 200 feet, making the elevation of Lake 
 Erie above the surface of the river at Montreal 650 feet. 
 
 On the hill above Lewistown a delightful prospect presents itself 
 
 ....a commanding view of the adjacent country. Lake Ontario, 
 
 fort Niagara, at a distance of seven mile ; Newark, fort George, 
 
 Q,ueenstown,Lewi8town,&c. From Lewistown the river continues 
 
 about half a mile wide, with a deep but moderate current 
 
 Fort Niagara is i^ituated on a delightful plain, its walls on the 
 very margin of the lake, and bank of the river ; Newark is situ- 
 ated directly opposite the fort, immediately above which stands 
 fort George. Queenstown, a handsome village, is on the oppo- 
 site shore from Lewistown. It is at the head of navigation lor 
 ships. 
 
 Youngstown is one mile above fort Nia'!;ara, on the river, and 
 lialf a mile above tort George. A battery was here erected, 
 
 1,1' ■ 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 n 
 
 jiled the anie battery, mounting one 18 nnd a 4 pounder : this 
 (battery and those on Niagara fort, owing to a bend in the river, 
 iormed a cross Are on fort George togrrat advantage, which was 
 [seventeen times set in flames by our batteries on the 2iSt Nov. 
 I18I2. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ^ 
 
 '^■■ 
 
 n 
 
 'i 
 
 il 
 
 Massacre at fort Dearborn Gallant defence efforts Harrison 
 
 and Belle-xme Forsyth*s expedition Defeat of the en- 
 emy at Ogdensburgh Observations on the campaign of 
 
 1812. 
 
 In the following chapter are collected, in the order of time, 
 ^uch incidents of the war during the campaign of 1812, as are 
 inconnected with the operations of the armies. Some important 
 lovements of the north-western army under Gen. Harrison, to- 
 jivards the close of this year, remain unspoken of ; but as the 
 chief operations of that army were in the succeeding campaign^ 
 fhey will be deferred for the present. 
 
 Massacre at fort Dearbom....Gen. Hull, immediately upon 
 learning of the fall of Mackana was sensible that fort Dearborn,* 
 ^ould not be maintained, and accordingly gave orders for its evac- 
 uation : but the allies of the enemy had assembled in season to 
 prevent the escape of the garrison, and to effect their devtruction. 
 The following extract of a letter from Capt. HealJ, the then com- 
 manding officer at the fort, contains a relation of the bloody trans* 
 Action : 
 
 " On the 9th of Aug. I received orders from Gen. Hull to evac* 
 
 jiate the post, and proceed with my command to Detroit by land, 
 
 leaving it at my discretion to dispose of the public property as I 
 
 Ihought proper. The neighboring Indians got the information as 
 
 )arly as 1 did, and came in from all quarters in order to receive 
 
 the goods in the factory store, which they understood were to be 
 
 iiven them. On the I3ih, Capt. Wells, of fort Wayne, arrived 
 
 nth about 30 Miamies, for the purpose of escorting us in, by the 
 
 [equest of Gen. Hull. On the 14th, I delivered the Indians all 
 
 [he goods in the factory store, and a considerable quantity of pro> 
 
 nsions which we could not take away with us. The surplus 
 
 miis nnd ammunition I thought proper to destroy, fearing they 
 
 koiild make bad use of it, if put in their possession. I also destroy. 
 
 |d nil the liquor on hand, soon after they began to collect. The 
 
 pliection was unusually large for that place, but they conducted 
 
 • Sec pnire 59. 
 
 K 
 
 ^1 
 
 i 
 
 ■■,'-.q 
 
M 
 
 iyKKTCllkS OV 
 
 I 
 
 witli the strictf'Rl proprifty, till after I left tlir fort. On flu* I Sib 
 at {) A. M. we cominmced our march ; a part of tin- Mianiifjl 
 well' dotaclied in front, the rcmaindt r in our riar :ij» f{uard», un 
 der tilt' direction of Capt. W'l'lh The Kituation of the countr\| 
 rcndori'd it necfRsary fi)r u« io Jmu t!)e beach, A-ith the Ink** on 
 our left, and a high xaiid baiifc ^ )•': "ifi't, at about 100 yiirdJ 
 distance. We had prot« eded ,, vmii a mile and a half, when ill 
 was discovered the Indians were prfpartd t attack U3 from behind 
 the bank: limmediately marched up with the company to the topcfl 
 the bank, when the action commenced ; after firing one round, wA 
 charged, and the Indians gave way in front, and joined those oJ 
 our Hanks. lii about fifteen minutis they got possession of all oi:tl 
 horses, provision and baggage of every description, and, findinJ 
 the Miamies did not assijit us, I drew oflTthe few men I had lifij 
 and took possession of a small elevation in the open prairie, out o;[ 
 shot of the bank or any other cover. The Indians did not folioHi 
 me, but assembled in a body on the top of the bank, and, aftej 
 some consultation among themselves, made signs for nae to apl 
 proach them. I advanced towards them alone, and was met b*l 
 one uf the Potawatamie chiefs, called the black bird, with an k\ 
 terpretcr. After shaking hands he requested me to surrenderJ 
 promising to spare the lives of all the prisoners. On a few mol 
 ments consideration, I concluded it would be most prudent tcl 
 comply witli his request^ although I did not put entire confidencti 
 in his promise. After delivering up our arms, we were taktiT 
 back to their encampment near the fort, and distributed amoDo 
 the different tribes. The next morning they set fire to the fort] 
 and left the place, taking the prisoners with them. Their nun 
 her of warriors was between four and five hundred, mostly of tbij 
 Potawatamie nation, and their loss, from the best information ( 
 could get, was about 15. Our strength was 54 regulars, and 
 militia, out of which 26 regulars and all the militia were kilUdii 
 the action, with two women and 12 children. Ensign Georg 
 Ronan and Doct. Isaac V. Van Voorhis, of my company, wit; 
 Capt. Wells of fort Wayne, are, to my great sorrow, numbcreij 
 among the dead. Lieut. Lina T. Helm, with 25 noncommissioij 
 ed olTicers and privates, and II women and children, were pm 
 oners when we separated. Mrs. Ilcald and myself were tafcd 
 to the mouth of the river St. Joseph, and being both badly wouiidj 
 cd, were permitted to veside with Mr. Burnet, an Indian tradtrl 
 In a few days after our arrival there, the Indians all went olfti 
 take fort Wayne, and in tUeir absence I engaged a Frenchman tij 
 take us to Michillimackinac, by water, where I gave myself 
 as a prisoner of war, with one of my Serjeants. The commanJj 
 ing otTicer, Capt. Roberts, offered rre every assistance in his po«j 
 er, to render our situation comfortable while we remaintd therJ 
 and to enable us to proceed on our journey. To him 1 gave my p\ 
 
 li ■ 
 
TH8 WAR. 
 
 
 role of honour, and reported myi«lf to Col, Proctor^ who gave ui 
 a pa«8»tne to Buffalo." 
 
 Drfffnce of fort Harrison On the 3d September, 1812, fort 
 
 Harrinnii waa invested by the InriianR ; but the garrinon, under 
 Capt Taylor, made a mo?t gallant re?ijitance. The pnrticul'irs 
 will be f>iund in the following extract of a letter from Capt. Tay- 
 lor to (jov. Harrison : 
 
 "On Tuesday evening the 3d init. after retreat beating, four 
 juns were heard to fire in the direction vvIkti; two young men 
 (citizens who resided here) were making hay, about 4C0yardiJ dis- 
 tant from the fort I was immediately impressed with an idea, 
 that they were killed by the Indiaiis, as I had that day been in- 
 formed that the prophtt's party would soon be here for the pur- 
 pose of commencing hostilities. Prudence induced me to wait un- 
 til 8 o^clock the ntxt morning, when I sent a corporal with a 
 small party to find them, which he ►oon did : they had been each 
 shot with two ball.o, and fcalped and cut in the most shocking 
 manner. I had them brought in and buried. In the evening of 
 the 4th inst. old Jos( ph Lenar, and between 30 and 40 Indians 
 arrived frotn the Prophet's Town, with a white flag; among 
 whom were about ten women, and the men were composed of 
 the different tribes that compose the Prophet's party. A Shawa- 
 noe man, that spoke good English, informed me that old Lenar 
 intended to speak to me next morning, and try to get something 
 to tat. At retreat beating I examined the men's arms and found 
 them all in good order, and completed tlieir cartridges to 16 
 rounds per man. As 1 had not been able to mount a guard of 
 more than six privates and two non-commissioned ollicers, for some 
 time past, and sometimes only a part of them every other diiy, 
 from the unhealthiness of the company ; 1 had not conceived my 
 force adequate for the defence of this post, should it be vigorously 
 attacked. 1 had just recovered from a very severe attack of the 
 fever, and was not able to be up much through the night. After 
 tatoo I cautioned the guard to be vigilant, and ordered one of the 
 non-commissioned oflicers, as the centinels could not see every 
 part of the garrison, to walk around on the inside during the 
 whole night, to prevent the Indians taking any advantage of us, 
 provided they had any intention of attacking us. About 11 o'clock 
 I was awakened by the firing of one of the centinels ; I sprung 
 up ran out, and ordered the men to their posts ; when my order- 
 ly sergeant (who had charge of the upper block house) called out 
 that the Indians had fired the lower block house (which contained 
 the property of the contractor, which was deposited in the lower 
 part, the upper post having been assigned to a corporal and ten 
 privates as an alarm post). The guns had begun to fire pretty 
 smartly from both sides. I directed the buckets to be got ready 
 iad water brought from the well, and the fire extinguished im 
 
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70 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 
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 Hi 
 
 mediately, as it was hardly preceivable at 'hat time ; but from ac 
 bility or some other cause, the men were very slow in expcuiiiiw 
 
 my orders the word^re appeared to throw the whole of thtm 
 
 into confusion ; and by the time they had got the water and broken 
 open the door, the fire had unfortunately commutucated to a 
 quantity of whisky (the stock having leaked several holes through 
 the lower part of the building, after the salt that was stored there, 
 through which they had introduced the fire without being discc 
 ered, as the night was very dark,) and in spite of every exeitioD 
 we could make use of, in less than a moment it ascended to the 
 roof, and baiHed all our efforts to extinguish it. As that block 
 house adjoined the barracks that make part of the fortifications, 
 mnst of the men immediately gave themselves up for lost, and I 
 had the greatest difficulty iu getting any of my orders executed 
 
 and, sir, from the raging of the fire; the yelling and howling 
 
 of 8ever-!l hundred Indians ; the cries of nine women and chil- 
 dren (a part soldiers' and a part citizens' wives, who had taken shel* 
 ter in the fort) ; and the desponding of so many of the men, 
 which was worse than all ; 1 can assure you that my feelings 
 
 were very unpleasant and indeed there were not more than 10 
 
 or 15 men able to do a great deal, the others being either sick or 
 convalescent ; and to add to our oth?r misfortunes, two of the 
 stoutest men in the fort, and whom f had every confidence in, 
 jumped the picket and left us. But my presence of mind did not 
 for a moment forsake me. I saw, by throwing off part of the 
 roof that joined the block house that was on fire, and keeping the 
 end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might be saved, 
 and leave only an entrance of 18 or 20 feet for the Indians to en- 
 ter, after .Se house was consumed; and that a temporary breast- 
 work might be erected to prevent their even entering there T 
 
 convinced the men that this could be accomplished, and it appear- 
 ed to inspire them with new life, and never did men act with 
 more tirnnesa and desperation. Those that were able (while the 
 others kept up a constant fire from the other block house and the 
 two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses, with Doct. Clark 
 at their head, who acted with the greatest firmness and presence 
 of mind, the whole time the attack lasted, which was seven hours, 
 under a shower of bullets, and in a moment threw off as much of 
 the roof as was necessary. This was done only with the loss of 
 one man and two wounded, and I am in hopes neither of thena 
 dangerously. The man that was killed was a little deranged, and 
 did not get off the house as soon as directed, or he would not 
 have been hurt ; and although the barracks were several times 
 in a blaze, and au immense quantity of fire against them, the 
 men used such exertions that they kept it under, and before doy 
 raised a temporary breast-work as high as a man's head, although 
 the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of ball, and an innu- 
 
 merable q 
 
 ed, I had 
 
 life by bei 
 
 bastions, 
 
 rades that 
 
 in an instt 
 
 the picket: 
 
 the gate, b 
 
 it to be a 
 
 the voice.. 
 
 to be, to s 
 
 fired at hir 
 
 they knew 
 
 close to th 
 
 there, and 
 
 a most shot 
 
 and which 
 
 probable ths 
 
 130 yards f 
 
 keeping up 
 
 ing, which 
 
 removed ou 
 
 up the horse 
 
 not catch th 
 
 as well as a 
 
 the cattle w 
 
 lie oxen. 
 
 made by the 
 
 ets which I , 
 
 whole of on 
 
 corn until w 
 
 long. 1 beli 
 
 the Prophet'i 
 
 which reseni 
 
 was there lil 
 
 numerous as 
 
 Defence i 
 garrison at i 
 near St. Loui 
 M one of the 
 sippi. The 
 that complete 
 a fiijv paces < 
 iVom ,vhich t 
 burning timb« 
 Slant sheet of 
 
Qi 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 77 
 
 
 of the 
 nee in, 
 did not 
 t of the 
 ling the 
 saved, 
 Is to en- 
 breast- 
 
 lere I 
 
 jappear- 
 
 It with 
 
 lile the 
 
 Lnd the 
 
 Clark 
 
 Iresencc 
 
 hours, 
 
 luch of 
 
 loss ol 
 
 thorn 
 
 id, and 
 
 lid not 
 
 times 
 
 I, the 
 
 re dcy 
 
 [hough 
 
 innu- 
 
 merable quantity of arrows during the whole time the attack last- 
 ed, I had but one other man killed inside the fort, and he lost his 
 
 life by being too anxious he got into one of the gallies of the 
 
 ba8tion8, and fired over the pickets, and called out to his com* 
 rades that he had killed an Indian, and neglecting to stoop down^ 
 in an instant he was shot dead. One of the men that jumped 
 the pickets, returned an hour before day, and running up towaids 
 the gate, begped for God's sake that it might be opened. I tiUMpected 
 it to be a stratagem of the Indians to get in, as 1 did not recollect 
 
 the voice I directed the men in the bastion, where 1 happened 
 
 to be, to shoot him let him be who he would, and one of them 
 fired at him, but fortunately he ran up to the other bastion, where 
 they knew his voice, and Doct. Clark directed him to lie down 
 close to the pickets behind an empty barrel that happened to be 
 there, and at day light I had him let in. His arm was broken io 
 a most shocking manner, which he says was done by the Indians, 
 and which I suppose was the cause of his returning. I think it 
 probable that he will not recover. The other, they caught about 
 130 yards from the garrison, and cut him all to pieces. After 
 keeping up a constant tire until about sy. o'clock the next morn- 
 ing, which we returned with some effect ; at day-light, they 
 removed out of the reach of our guns. A party of them drove 
 up the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and as they could 
 not catch them very readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, 
 as well as a number of their hogs. They drove off the whole of 
 the cattle which amounted to sixty-five head, as well as the pub- 
 lic oxen. I had the vacany filled up before night, (which was 
 made by the burning of the block house) with a strong row of pick- 
 ets which i got by pulling down the guard house. We lost the 
 whole of our provisions, but must make out to live upon green 
 corn until we can get a supply, which [ am in hopes wiji not be 
 long. 1 believe the whole of thf Miamies or Weas were among 
 the Prophet's party, as one chief gave his orders in that language, 
 which resembled Stone Eater's voice, and I believe Negro Lf gs 
 was there likewise. The Indians suffered severely, but were so 
 numerous as to take off all that were shot." 
 
 Offence of fort Bellevue On the 5th September, 1812, the 
 
 garrison at iort fielle-vue, an American post on the Missisi^ippi, 
 near St. Louis, was attacked by upwards of 200 Winabagoes. It 
 H one of the most ineligible positions for defence upon the Missis- 
 sippi. The parade ground is within musket shot of an eminence: 
 that completely commands the fort, and is surrounded to within 
 a fe A' paces of the pickets and block-hcises, by hollows or chasms, 
 I'rorD <vhich the Indians threw upwards of five hundred pieces of 
 burning timber on the roofs of che block houses, and emitted a con- 
 stant sheet of fire onevery side, from^uns, fiery arrows and brands,. 
 
 
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 I 
 
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 ) 
 
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78 
 
 .SKETCHES OF 
 
 
 which aiforded the garrison little opportunity of annoying theH), 
 except such as had the impudence to peep over the banks. To 
 counteract the effects of the fiie-brands and arrows with matches, 
 which were thrown upon the block houses, surringes were made 
 of gun barrels and the roofs kept wet : by these means all the at- 
 tempts of the Indians to fire the block-houses were defeated. 
 They however continued to invest the fort for several days, wait- 
 ing a favourable wind to set fire to a factory near the garrison, 
 hoping thereby to effect their object. But Lieut. Hamilton antici- 
 pated their designs, and took a favorable opportunity to fire the 
 factory when it would not endanger the garrison. 
 
 The Indians, being thus baffled in all their attempts to fire the 
 works, withdrew from the fort on the 9th. No lives were lost at 
 the garrison, and but one wounded. The Indians had many kill 
 ed, as they were seen to fall from the garrison. Lieuts. Hamilton 
 and Vasques did themselves great honour in so ably defending 
 this fort. 
 
 Forsyth^s expedition...,On thp20th Sept. Capt. Forsyth, with 70of 
 his rifle company, and 34 militia men, embarked on board a num- 
 ber of boats, at Cape Vincent, and went over to a small vilUge 
 called Gananoquc, in the town of Leeds, for the purpose ot de- 
 stroying the king's store-house at that place. They landed unob- 
 served, a f.hort distance from the village, a little before sunrise 
 on the morning of the yjst, but were soon after discovered and 
 fired upon by a party of the British, consisting of about 125 regu- 
 lars and militia. The Americans returned the fire with so much 
 effect, that the British retreated in disorder, and were pursued to 
 the village, where they again rallied, but soon finding the eonttst 
 too warm for them, they fled over a bridge and made their es- 
 ctipe, leavin:^ behind ten of thi'ir number killed, (bcsicle* several 
 who were se<;n to M\ into the stream as they were fired upon 
 when passing the bridge) and 8 regulars and a number of miliiia 
 privsoners. Capt Forsyth hid only one man killed and one slight- 
 ly wounded The number of wounded on the part of th« eneniy> 
 
 was not ascertained. Tlie militia prisoners were discharged on 
 parole. Capt. Forsyth ;>.nd his party, with 8 prisoners and (JO 
 stands of arms, two barrels of fixed ammunition, one barrel of 
 powder, one barrel of Hints, and some other articles of public prop- 
 erty, which they h.jd taken from the enemy, then returned to Cape 
 Vincent ; not however, till they had set fire to his majesty's .vtorc- 
 house, which was consumed, tog»ilher with a quantity of floui 
 and pork. 
 
 Defeat of the enemy at Ogdensburir On the fourth ot 
 
 October the British made an attack upon the village o! 
 Ojudensburg. The Friday and Saturday prtcedin^r, thry cannon 
 aded the town for several hours each day, from the fort at Pre? 
 cot I and on Sunday, having prepared 40 boats, with from 10 to 
 
THE WAR. IP 
 
 15 armed men in each, and eix pieces of artillery, they advanced 
 to storm the town. When tli< y advanced within a short dis- 
 tance, the American troops, nnder Gen. Brown,* commenci'd a 
 warm fire upon them, which continued, on both sides, for about 
 two hours, at wliich time the British, having two of their boats 
 so knocked to pieces as to render it necessary to abandon tht- m, 
 and one taken, on board of wliich was six i.ien, were compelled 
 to relinquish the unproftt«bk rontest, and fled pricipitately to Pres- 
 cot. No damage was )i«>«taii)«-d on our tiik-^ i*xcept the injury of 
 some bufldings by theii c<tnnonad ng, 
 
 Observatiome on the canif^ign of 1812 The army of th(.' 
 
 ir»ited Stat^P, upon the declaration of war, consisted of eleven 
 reginaents, of the old peace e»t»blishment. We arc not precise- 
 ly informed how full tht-se regiments wt-rf, but believ*' they ought 
 not to be estimated at more than five hundred men <'ach. 
 
 In 1811, congress passed an act for raising te!) additional regi- 
 ments of 2000 men each, to be enlisted for five years. By subse- 
 quent acts, however, these regiments were divided into twenty, 
 to con.sist of 1000 men tach, and enlistments authorized for eigh- 
 teen months. Little progress had been made in enlistments for 
 the new regiments, at the time of the declaration of war. It was, 
 however, immediately undertaken, and with considerable success ; 
 but it could hardly be expected to add much to the real iorce of 
 this campaign. 
 
 In addition to this force, congress had put at the controul of the 
 presidtn*, upon the hdpp< ning ol either of the exigencies pointrd 
 out in the constitution, 100,000 militia, apportioned among thj 
 several states as stattd, p. 12 ; and also authoriz* d him to accept 
 the st-rvices of such vohinlnr companies as rnip;ht tender their 
 services, not exceeding 50,000 men. Such portion of this force 
 as was in actual service, was divide d iistv) tliree armies, e:s!I d 
 the north-wi stern, centre, and northern. The fir.vt, under the 
 inimedinte command of (Jen. Hull, ri.i.si'ii '* of '.*;cyt 500 reg)i- 
 lars, and 2000 inilitia from the state of O • •, tnd V. " lenil )ry of 
 Michigan. This ariry eomnienced r'^bnsive o| . jaiions in Up- 
 per Canada, opposite Detioit, as eaily ms the 12tb of July; but 
 I'.iially retreated to Drtroit, and siiris-ixi', -ed Aug. KM!'. The 
 second, under the immediate comniaiid, t'rs. of Gen. \'nu llenssc- 
 laer of the New- York militia, and after ards of Gen. Smyth, con- 
 sisted of near 2000 regulars, and 3000 New York militia. This 
 army was distributed along the Niagara .iver, from fort Niagara 
 to Buffalo. The third, under the immedi>ite comniuiQ, first of 
 (len. Bloomfield, and afterwards of Gen. Dearb' »; . consisted of 
 about ,'SOOO men, regulars, and \'ermoni and Niw \ork militia. 
 Thiu army was not actively employed (Iniiiig the car "i-ign. 
 
 ''M 
 
 '■iM 
 
 •At ll »t linn- o!' llii- X'W T^Knilit;*. 
 
f"*' 
 
 80 
 
 SKETCHES 09 
 
 The following is a list of the general officers of the United 
 States* army for the year 1812 : 
 
 Major General8....Henry Dearborn and Thomas Pinckney. 
 
 Brigadier General8....Jame8 Wilkinson, Wade Hampton, James 
 Winchester, William Hull, John Chandler, Joseph Bloomfield, 
 Thomas Flournoy, John Aru'^strong, William H. Harrison, and 
 Jfphn P. Boyd. 
 
 Q,uarter-Ma8ter-Genera]....Morgan Lewis. 
 
 Adjutant General....Thoma8 Gushing. 
 
 Inspector Genfral....Alexander Smyth. 
 
 To forr.^ a just estimate of the merits of the American armies 
 for the campaign of 1812 is indeed a difficult task. We ought 
 to reflect that the nation had been in profound peace for four and 
 twenty years, and that consequently the art of war had been al- 
 most wholly lost. We had not remaining any officers of experi* 
 ence to conduct our armies, and- not a single company that had 
 seen service. In addition to thif, the whole system for the re- 
 cruiting, feeding, clothing, and maintaing an army, was, as it 
 ■were, to be created. Many of the necessary munitions of war 
 were to be provided. Platoon, staff, and many of the general 
 officers were to be selected from the body of the American 
 people, upon conjecture merely as to their merits. It was there- 
 fore to be expected, that many of them would be found incompe* 
 tent, and undeserving. The campaign has therefore proved, that 
 our generals needed, at least, experience, and our officers and 
 soldiers discipline. It was indeed disastrous, but it was not with- 
 out its consolations. The great body of the army was found to 
 be brave to a fault ; and many officers gave earnest of their fu- 
 ture glory. A Miller, a Snelling, a Van Rensselaer, a Scott, a 
 Christie, a Wadsworth, and a Wool have done immortal honour 
 to themselves and country ; and Maguago and Uueenstown will 
 be lasting monuments of their fame. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Naval operations on lakes Ontario and Erie.,..Mtack on Sacket's 
 
 Hnrbour,...Thf' Julia Capt. Chauncey....His cruize. ...Batth in 
 
 Kingston harbour Capture of the Detroit and Caledonia 
 
 Biography of Capt, Elliot, 
 
 The reader will no doubt rejoice with us, that we have at 
 length passL'd the most bairt^n and uninteresting part of tlie cam- 
 paiiri), and have arrived af d field of incidents and achifvemtfnts 
 most intercating in the mst.' Ives, and honourable to our country....' 
 
'SilE WAH* 
 
 81 
 
 acJiievemcnls that have filled our enemy, the world, and even our- 
 selves with astonishment and admiration. But we will not de- 
 tain our readers upon achievements that need onlj' be faithlully 
 related to be duly appreciated. 
 
 Operations on lake Ontario When war was declared the 
 
 American f rce upon lake Ontario consisted only of the Oneida of 
 16 guns, under the command of Lieut. Woolsey. The British had 
 been for a considerable time previous actively employed in equip- 
 ping vessels of war on that lake. Their force C(^nsi8ted of five 
 tail, viz. the Royal George, of !22 guns, the Piince Regent, of 16, 
 the Eail Mr.ira, of 12, the Seneca, of 8 and the other unkown. 
 On the 1 9th July Lieut. Woolse), of the Oneida, lying in Sackets' 
 Harbour, discovered from the mast-head of his brig, the whole 
 British force about five leagues distance, beating up for the Har- 
 boui with the wind ahead. The troops were immed ately called 
 to arms, and expresses sent to call in the neighboring detach- 
 ments and volunteers, who arrival in the course of the day, to the 
 amount of nearly 3000. Soon aft^ r sunrise, the Prince Kegent 
 brought to and captured the custom boat, about seven miles trom 
 the harbour, on her return from Gravelly Point. The boat's crew 
 were liberated and set on shore, with a message to Col. Bellenger, 
 the commandant at the harbour, demanding the surrender of the 
 Oneida, and the late British schooner Nelson, siez'-d for a breach 
 of the revenue laws, and fitting for a privateer ; and declaring, 
 that in case of a refusal to surrender tiie vessels the squadron 
 would burn the village, or lay the inhabitants under contribution. 
 Soon after this, Capt. Woolsey left the harbour in the Oneida, and 
 ran down within a league of the squadron ; when he returned and 
 moored his vessel on a line with a battery, with springs on his 
 cables. Capt. Woolsey being tlie most experienced engineer pres- 
 ent, left the Oneida under the command of a Lieutenant, and went 
 on shore and took the commant' of a S2 pounder on the battery, 
 the ot' < r guns of which consiste<i of nine pounders. 
 
 B^ ihis time the enemy had arrived w .thin gunshot, the Royal 
 George, as flag ship, ahead, and firing was commenced from the 
 32 pounder. This >vas returned by the squadmn, which stood (^ff 
 and on. ...and a brisk cannorading was reciprocally continued for 
 more than two hours, all our guns being well manned and served 
 ....and it was plainly discovered that the Royal George and Prince 
 Regent were much injured. At this time, as the flng ship w as 
 wearing to give anoth**r broadside, a ball from the 32 pounder was 
 seen to strike her and rake her completely ; after which tlie squad- 
 ron fi»-'?d but a few guns and bore awny for Kingston, not a man 
 being hurt on our side. 
 
 The action was maintain«?d within point blank shot. Most of 
 the ene ny's balls struck dv2 rocks below the battery, and one 32 
 
 
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 SKETCHES OP 
 
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 pound sliot was piclced up by our citizens, it having lodged near 
 tile brcatit worlt. 
 
 The Julia On tlie 31pt of July, !lie sclionner Julia, /late the 
 
 Loid Ni'Ison) ot about 60 tons, carrying; three guns, one a 32 
 poiuider, and 40 men, was put under the command ofCwpt Dick- 
 son, and dryp.itchtd to Ogdensburgh, to convoy seven schooners 
 to Sackcts' Harbour. As «he arrived at the narrows, about elev- 
 en miles from Ogdensburg, she anchored and hailed a >ntiacK, 
 with six men on board. They gave no answer, but pulled '>ft'...,. 
 The Julia *ired a shot ahead of Ihem, but they continued their 
 course. Capt. Dickson ordered his crew to fire on them ; and so 
 eflVctually was his order executed, that four were killed, and two 
 leaped from the smack and swam ashore. 
 
 The KatI Moria and Duke of Gloucester, then lying at Eliza- 
 bethtown, came out, and after firing a broadside at the Julia, 
 which did no injury, for some unknown reason, retreated under 
 the fort. Capt. Dickson pursued ♦lie.m, and fired his 32 pounder 
 about one hundred tinus, with ,',reat effect. Screeches were dis- 
 tinctly heard on board the enemy, and the splinters were seen to fly 
 mast high almost every shot. 
 
 Capt. Chauncy In the month of Sept. Capt. Isaac Chauncy 
 
 was appointed to si*.:>erintend the building and command of the 
 Anurican fleet on 'ake Ontario. He arrived at Sackets' Harbnur 
 in the month of Ortober ; and so great were his exertions, that ou 
 the 8th of Nov. iollowing lie wns enabled to sail with an aggre- 
 gate force of 40 guns, and 430 men. Having learned that the 
 British fleet, then consisting of an aggregate force of 108 guns, 
 and 896 men, were separated, he di-ter mined to take an advan- 
 tagt ous position near the False Ducks, (a number of small islands, 
 so ealied, on the Canada shore, near which the enemy must pass 
 to ,^et into Kingston,) aud attack and defeat either purtiou of this 
 scjundi on, it possible. 
 
 The following is an extrnc* cf Capt. Chauncy*s oflficial letter to 
 the Secretary of the Navy, dated Nov. 13, 1812, detailing the 
 events of the cruise : 
 
 " On the 8tl' J fell in with the Royal George and chased her 
 into the bay of C^uanti, where I lost sight of her in the night In 
 the mormnp^ of the 9th %\e again got sight of he--, l>ing in King- 
 ston channt 1. VVe gave chase and followed he*- in the harbour 
 of Kingston, where we engaged her and the batteries for one 
 hour and forty minutes. I had made up my mind to board her, 
 but slie was! so well protected by the batteries and tlie wind blow- 
 ing directly in, it was deemed iniprudent to make the attempt at 
 
 that time the pilots also rcfusi d to ^^]^t cliaig«r of the v< >\«;els. 
 
 tender tijcse circumstances, and it being after sundown, I deter 
 
 m 
 
i ,1 
 
 THU WAR. 
 
 83 
 
 mined to hnul off and renew the attack next mornin(|r. We beat 
 up in gooil ordtT, uiKJcr a licavy fire from tin- KmniiI (Itorgc nnd 
 batttrits, to Four Vlile Point, where we anchored. U blew heavy 
 in Kqu?'l8 from the westward during the night, and there was c - 
 cry appearance of a gale of wind. The pilots became alarmed, 
 and I thought it most prudnit to get into a place of mort- safi-ty. 
 I therefore (very reluctantly) dcHT'cd renew iiio; the attack upon 
 the ship and forts until a more favourable opportunity. 
 
 At 7 A. M. on the 10th, I made the signal to weigh, and we 
 beat out ol a very narrow channti, under a very h^avy ptei's of 
 sail to the open lake. At 10 we fell in with the Guvernor Sim- 
 coe, running for Kingston, and chased her in the harbour. She 
 escaptd by running over a reef of rocks, under a heavy fire from 
 the Governor Tompkins, the Hamilton, and the Julia, which cut 
 liet very much. All her people ran below while undc the fire of 
 these vessels. The Hamilton chased her into i:ine feet water be- 
 fore she hauled off We tacked to the southward with an inten- 
 tion of running to our station nt the Ducks, but it coming on to 
 blow very heavy, the pilots told me it would be unsafe to keep 
 the lake. 
 
 " In '^ur passage through the Bay of Quanti, I discoveied a 
 schooner at the village of Armingstown, which we took posses- 
 sion of, but finding she would detain us, (being then in ch'jse of 
 the Royal Genrge) 1 ordered Lieut. Macpherson to take ou» her 
 sails and rigging and burn her, which he did. WV also took the 
 ^cliooner Mary Hall from NiHgara, at the muuth of Kingston har- 
 bour, qnd took her with us to our anchorage. The next moriiing, 
 finding that she could not beat through the channel with us, J 
 ordered the sailing master in the Growler to take her under con- 
 voy and run down past Kingston, anchor on the east end of L'lig 
 Island and wait for a wind to con4e up on the east side. 1 v\as 
 also in hopes that the Royal George might be induced to follow 
 her for the purpose of re taking our prize, but her com-Tiaiider 
 was too well aware of the const quences to leave his ntooriogs. 
 
 " We lost in this afi'air, one man killed and three ."lightly 
 wounded, with a few shofxhrough our sails. The othf r verseU 
 lost no men, and received but littU injury in their hull and sails, 
 with the exception of the Pert, whose gun bwrsted in the early 
 pan of the action, and wounded her commander, (sailing master 
 Arundel; badly, and a midshipman and three men slighllv. Mr. 
 Aruudal, who refused to quit the deck although wounded, was 
 knocked overboard in beating up to our anchorage, and 1 urn ai>i- 
 ry to say was drowned. 
 
 " The Royal George must have received very considerable in- 
 jury in he hull nnd in men, as the gufi v.ssels with a lonjj i'^ 
 pounder, weie saeu to strilie her almoit every shot, ;^4id it was 
 
 
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 SKETCHES OF 
 
 is 
 
 observed that she wrs reinforced with troops four different timet 
 durin|2^ the action 
 
 ** I have great pleasure in saying, that the officers and men on 
 board every vessel bt liaved with the utmost coohiess, and are vx- 
 trennely anxious to meet the enemy on the open lake ; and as 
 lon^ as I have the honour to command such officers and such 
 men, 1 have no doubt of the result." 
 
 The following, a more detailed account of the action in Kings- 
 ton harbour, u taken from the notes of an officer on board the 
 fleet during the action : 
 
 " At 50 minutes after 2, set top gallant sails ; 5 minutes after 
 3, the batteries on India and Navy points opened their fire on the 
 leading vesseli. Lieut. Elliot of the Conquest pushed forward, and 
 went in the handsomest style : he was followed by the Julia, 
 Frant....Pert, Aurundle.... Growler, Mix ; next came the brig 
 bearing the commodore's broad pendant.... then the Hamilton, 
 Lieut M'Pl.erson, and Governor Tompkins, Lieut. Brown, who 
 was far astern, having been despatched in the early part "f the 
 day on particular business. 12 minutes after 3, Lieut. Elliot open- 
 ed his fire ; i5 minutes after 3, the Pert, Growler, and Julia com- 
 menced Iheir's ; 20 minutes after 3, batteries opened on the brig, 
 and she sustained the principal part of the fire during the remain- 
 der of the action ; 22 minutes after 3, signal, " engage closer," 
 thrown out, and answered by all ; 25 minutes after 3, the Pert's 
 gun burst ; Aurundel wounded badly. ...(he vvasafterwards knocked 
 over by the boom, and drowned !) ; 30 minutes after 3, Garnet 
 killed aboard the brig; 40 minutes after 3, brig opened her fire 
 on the ship, and the ship on the Hamilton ; fire continued with 
 ustonishing alacrity. 
 
 ** 4 o'clock, ship George cut her cables and run away further up 
 the bay. The squadron is now exposed to the cross fire ot five 
 batteries, of flying artillery, of ihe ship with springs on her ca- 
 bles so as to enable her to bring her guns to bear. The Govern- 
 or Tompkins now bears up in the bay and opens her fire ! and the 
 firiug bt comes general and very warm ! Showers of round and 
 grape fall around us. 
 
 ** Half past 4, hauled by the wind, and began to beat out of the 
 bay, as night was closing in, and the prospect, blowing weather 
 
 ....anchored two miles out in tull sight heavy gales all night 
 
 continued in sight next day....the Royal George was too prudent 
 to vejiture out. 
 
 " Our sailors had no grog : they need no stimulous of that 
 kind ; they seem to have no fear of death. I was by the side of 
 Garnet a few moments before he fell. He was laughing heartily, 
 and in that act was cut in two by a nine pound shot. I after- 
 wards saw hi< countenance ; it seemed as if the smile had not yet 
 
THE WAE. 
 
 85 
 
 J 
 
 lf;ft it. Tiiis disaster only exaRperated our leamen ; they prayed 
 and rntrcatod to be laid cIojg aboard the Royal George only 5 
 minutes, " just to revenge Garnet's death." 
 
 One incident deserves notice, which does great honour to Capt. 
 Chauncy When going into the harbour, he directed the squad- 
 ron to level their fire as much as possible against tin* Koval Geoigc 
 And batteries, as it was not his wish to do injury to i:iUiviJunb, by 
 beating down the houses at Kingston. 
 
 Opfrations on lake Erie On the morning of the 8th October, 
 
 two British vessels, the Detroit and Cal< donia, came dovvn the 
 lake and anchored under the guns of fort Erie Lieut. Elliot, 
 then at Black Rock, had the superintendance of our naval ai^'iirs 
 on that lake. He immediately conceived a project for their cnp- 
 tare, though hit seamen had not then arrived : and in the moin- 
 ing of the succeeding day most gallantly eflVcted his object, as re- 
 lated in the following extract from his olllcial lettei to the Secre- 
 tary of the Navy : . 
 
 " On the morning of the 8th Oct. two British vessels, which I 
 was informed were his Britannic majesty's brigs Detroit, late the 
 United States' brig Adams, and the brig Hunter, mounting M 
 guns, but which afterwards proved to be the brig Caledonia, both 
 said to be well armed and manned, came down the lake and an- 
 chored under the protection of fort Eiie. Having beei. on the 
 lines for some time, and in a measure inactively employed, I de- 
 termined to make an attack, and if possible get possession of them. 
 A strong inducement to this attempt arost^ from a conviction that 
 with these two vessels, added to those which I have purchased and 
 am fitting out, I should be able to meet the remainder of the Brit- 
 ish force on the upper lakes, and save an incalculable expence and 
 labour to the government. On the morning of their arrival I 
 heard that our seamen were but a short distance from this place, 
 and immediately despatched an express to the officers directing 
 them to use all possible dispatch in getting their men to this place, 
 as I had important service to perform. On their arrival, which 
 was about 12 o'clock, 1 discovered that they had only 20 pis- 
 tols, and neither cutlasses or battle axes. But on application to 
 Gens. Smith and Hall, of the regulars and militia, 1 was supplied 
 with a few arms, and Gen. Smith was so good on my request, as 
 immediately to detach fifty men from the regulars, armed with 
 muskets. 
 
 " By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I had my men selected and 
 stationed in two boats, which 1 had previously prepared for the 
 purpose. With these boats, fifty men in each, and under circum- 
 stancf^s very disadvant^igeous, my men having scarcely had time 
 to refresh theintielves after a fatiguing march of 500 miles, I put 
 
 
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 olFfrom the mouth of Buffrtlc' crefK Mt t o'clock the following 
 morning, and at 3 I vas alon^ side the vi'sjel". In lh»- spare of 
 ab(>ut 10 tninntps 1 had thf prisonerfi all secnnd, the topitiiiU ^l1((t■ 
 ed home, and the vt-sjels under way. Unf'ntunately tin- wind 
 was not suiricienti" strong to get np a rapid current into the lake, 
 wficre 1 had understood another armed veB."<el lay at atichor, and 
 I was obliged to run down the rivtr by iht: fort», under a heavy 
 fire of round, grape, and cani«M r, from a number of piecisof 
 heavy ordnance and several pi» cep of flving artillery, was com- 
 pi 1!' d to anchor at a distance of about 400 yaro^ from two of their 
 biitteries. After the dischiuge of the fntit »{uii, which was ff( m 
 th« ilying artillery, 1 hailed the shore, and i)b«erved to the f Hi. 
 ccr, that if another gun was fired I would bring the priconerti oil 
 
 dick, and expose them to the same fate we should all sharr- 
 
 but notwithi^tanding they dix.i garded the caution, and continut-d 
 a constant and distinctive fire. One single moment's reflection 
 determined me not to commit an act that would >ubject me to 
 the imputation of barbarity The Caledonia had been hi ached in 
 as safe a position as the circumstances would admit of, under one 
 of our batteries at Black Rock. I now brought all the guns of the 
 Detroit on one side next the enemy, stationed the men at them, 
 and directed a fire which was continued as long as our ammuni- 
 tion lasted, and circumstances permitted. During the contest I 
 end« avored to get the Detroit on our side, by sounding a line, 
 there being no wind on shore, with all the line I could muster; 
 but the current being so strong the boat could not reach the shore. 
 1 then hailed our shore, and riquested that warps would be made 
 fa>.t on land, and sent on bo<ird ; the attempt to all which again 
 proved useless. As the fire was such ua would in all probability, 
 ^iiik the vessel in a short time, I deti't mined to drift down the riv- 
 er out of reach of the batteries, and make a stand against the fly- 
 incj artillery. I accordingly cut the cable, made sail with very 
 li;:r|)t airs, and at that instant discovered that the pilot had aban- 
 doned me. I dropped astern for about ten minutes, when I was 
 brought up on our shore on Squaw Island. ...got the boarding bjat 
 ready, had the prisoners put in and sent on shore, with directions 
 for the ofiicer to return for me and what property we could get 
 from the hr'tfr. He did not return, owing to the difficulty in the 
 boat's getting on shore. Discovering a skiff under the counter, 
 I put the four remaining prisoners in a boat, and with my officers 
 I went on shore to bring the boat off. 1 asked for protection to 
 the brig, of Lieut. Col. Scott, who readily gave it. At this nio 
 iTient I discovered a boat with about 40 soldiers from the British 
 side, making for the brig. They got on board, but were soon 
 coiTipelled to abandon her, with the loss of nearh' all their men. 
 During the whole of this motniiijj, both sid'^s of the river U' pt up 
 alternately a contiiioed fire on the brig, and so much injured her 
 
XllK WAR. 
 
 87 
 
 tb.it it wat impoMible to hnvc floated her. Before I left her, she 
 hid .Hcvi-rul lii'iv. xlii.t (if lurge vize in hvr bi-iKii*, h* r sails in rib- 
 boiiii, 'Old ri^»;iiii; all cut to pieuis. 
 
 « To my ollicers and mrn I feel under great obligation. To 
 C;n)t. T nvjion and Lit-ut. Roach of the Wd rtniment of artilK ry, 
 E:i'ii;n PreRtman, of the iiiftintry, Capt. Cliapin, Mr. John 
 M'''<>mb, Mes8-««. John Town, Thomas Dain, Prter Ov«rsti'ch.«, 
 an I James Sloan, resident gentlemen of Ruflalo, for thvir Holdier 
 anr* .^aiioi like conduct. In a word, sir, every man fought u* if 
 wiM) tiit'ir hearts animated only by the interest and honour of 
 ihpir country. 
 
 « The prixonerg f have turned over to the military. The De- 
 troit mounted six 6 pound long guns, commanding Lieut, marine?, 
 
 fi horitswain and gunntr, and 50 men about 30 Americini pris- 
 
 |eners on board, muskets, pistol*, cutlasses and battle-axes. In 
 boHrding her I lo«t one majj, oni 'Vicer wounded, Mr. John C. 
 I Ciimniings, acting midi'liipniar), .yonet through the leg. ..his 
 
 conduct was conect, and deserves the notice of the departmiiit. 
 The Caledonia mounted two small guns, blunderbusses, pistols, 
 Imiiskett*, cutlasses and bo.trding pikes, 12 men including ollict rs, 
 10 prisoners on board. The boat boarding her, commandf d by 
 sailing master George Watts, performed hi.-* duty in a masterly 
 style. But one man killed, and four wounded badly, I am afraid 
 [mortally." 
 
 About three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the Prit- 
 
 lish boarded the Detroit the second time, and were again dii^lodged, 
 
 with the loss of three prisoners, and sev«ral wounded She waa 
 
 afterwards burned by the Americans, after having secured her 
 
 [stores and armament. The Caledonia, having on board a cargo 
 
 of fur, valued at 150,000 dollars, was safely moored under the 
 
 |batierie.'> at Black Kock. 
 
 Biography of Capt. Elliot The following biographical no- 
 
 Itirt of Lieut, now Capt Elliot, is from the Port Folio, and we 
 [think cannot fail of being interesting : 
 
 Jkssk Duncan Elliot was born in Maryland, on the 14th of 
 
 Ju V, 1780. His futher, Robert Elliot, was unfortunately slain by 
 
 t!i' Indians in the year 1794, mar the Muskingum river, while 
 
 triDjMcti ig business for the armv of the United States. The par- 
 
 Iticihr natur- of this business may be known by the resolution of 
 
 ICO" vvp^^y^ passed on this melancholy event: " Be it enacted, &c. 
 
 IthHt the Mitn of tvvo thou>and dollars be allowed to the widow of 
 
 jRobort Klliot, who was killed by a party of hostile Indians while 
 
 ht vvim condiirtine the necess iry !»upplie.s for the army command- 
 
 1*'^ ' '*^M • ^' '•^' ^'1^ "> »ii'' >eai 17{>4, nnd that the sun) be 
 
 [paid to her, to and lor the use of herself and the childicn of the 
 
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 said Robert, out of aoy monies in the treasury, not otherwi«e ap- 
 proptiated." 
 
 Until the year 1804, Jesse Elliot was engaged in prosecuting 
 his regular studies in a school in Pennsylvania, when he was ap- 
 pointed a nnidshipman in the navy, and ordered on board the U. S. 
 frigate Essex. The United States being engaged in a war with 
 the Barbary powers, the above mentioned frigate was ordered to 
 cruise in the Mediterranean. 
 
 The little forci that congress were enabled to detach for that 
 service....their limited means of annoyance... .the treachery and fe- 
 rocity of their barbarous antagonists, created a deep responsibility 
 in the officers, and conspired to introduce a system of masculine 
 intrepidity, severity of discipline, and promptitude of obedience, I 
 of which, even to the present hour, we reap the beaefits. The 
 treachery of our opponents taught our men to be fver on the alert, { 
 and their cruelty made them bold and rasolute to rashness. Know- 
 ing how much was expected, and how scanty were their means, I 
 they supplied every deficiency by skill and courage. Contempt of | 
 danger was so rigidly enforced, that when one of our subordinate 
 officers showed symptoms of fear in an engagement, and was I 
 tried by a court-martial, the commodore assigned for his acquittal, 
 a reason no less curious than just, (v'z.) that the bare suppositioD 
 that one coward existed on board of the American flt^et, was of 
 itself a greater injury than the condemnation of this man could 
 possibly be a benefit, as it ivould establish the fact. The British 
 squadron in the Mediterranean minutely watched the movements! 
 of our little fleet for the purpose of sarcasm and jest. Their sar- 
 casms were however soon converted into expressions of wanitj 
 admiration. 
 
 < . . . Thus does the sturdy son of Vulcan deal, 
 
 Oh the hard anvil he tomu- uti his titetrl. 
 -' Drawn riom the forgfe. it g:l'jws with angry lights, 
 
 • , And sparkles indignation while he smitn 
 "' *" ■* Fast fall the Wows, but thty new strength afford, 
 
 < .. « . U -« - Till chang'd at last. ifiAinejfAfW'or'ier'snfwrf. , 
 
 h 
 
 Amidst such a band of kindred spirits, our young midshipmaR 
 learned to smile at danger while he grew familiar with it, and 
 felt his ideas expanded and enlarged. Returning to the United 
 States in July 1807, and desirous of obtaining a lieutenancy io 
 the navy, he solicited the kind offices of Mr. Robert Serrit Smith, 
 in whose charge he had been placed as well privately as officiall}',| 
 to obtain a station on board the frigate Chesap'-ake. He remain- 
 ed in this station until June 1810, when he was appointed actingl 
 lieutenant on board the schooner Enterprize. This vessel wasor[ 
 dered to cruise on the coast, and to enforce the embargo laws. 
 Lieut. Elliot remained in this service until tht \ear 1810, and vvajj 
 then appointed to carry a despatch to Mr. Pinkney our minister atj 
 the court of Great Britain. 
 
 !■>? 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 88 
 
 rwise &p' 
 
 osecuting 
 B was ap- 
 the U. S. 
 war with 
 )rdered to 
 
 \i for that 
 ;ry and fe- 
 iponsibility 
 masculine 
 obedience, I 
 its. The 
 ) the alert, I 
 «8S. Know-] 
 eir means, 
 lontempt of I 
 tubordinate 
 t, and was 
 is acquittal,! 
 supposition 
 et, was of 
 man could 
 The British 
 move ments | 
 Their sar- 
 8 of war!!) I 
 
 ndshipmai 
 [ith it, and 
 Ithe United 
 litenancv in 
 trrit Smi»b, 
 is official!}') I 
 [e re main- 1 
 ited acting I 
 jsel was or- 
 |argo lawi.1 
 ), ai)d vvaJl 
 I minister at 
 
 #n his return to the United States he served in the John Adams 
 tintil September 1811. From the Adams he was transferred to 
 the Argus, on board of which he acted as first lieutenant, and in 
 which he remained until the following year. He was all this 
 time preparing his mintl for the severe duties of his profession ; 
 for to shine in gold lace and epaulets, to talk of his own intrepi- 
 dity, to become the petty hero of a drawing-room, constituted no 
 part of his ambition. He left that grovelKng pride to those who 
 can condescend to become the heroes of their own fame, and who 
 wear the badges of their country's honour to show how little they 
 deserve them. 
 
 The probability that an opportunity would be soon afforded of 
 distinguishirig himself in the service of his country, was, in his es- 
 timation, becoming every hour more and more remote. He saw- 
 no prospect of war, and, fatigued in the chace of glory's brilliant 
 visions that still sparkled over his head, and still eluded his grasp, 
 he resigned his mind to the sway of the more endearing passions* 
 Onttie 5th of April 1812,he was married to Miss Frances Vaughan, 
 daughter of Mr. Williai.i Vaughan, of Norfolk county, Virginia. 
 Fortune, that capricious goddess, as if to try the strength of his 
 attachment to arms, immediately compelled him to relinquish the 
 sweets of domestic intercourse, and the calm delights of conjugal 
 afiTection, for the hardier scenes of danger and battle : war was 
 declared against England. He immediately and with all speed 
 repaired to New York, to rejoin the vessel whence he had been 
 furloughed, and found, to his mortification, that she had already 
 sailed upon a cruize. 
 
 He was nevertheless solicited by Commodore Chauncey to em- 
 bark with him on a secret and novel expedition, to which he cor- 
 dially assented, and the commodore applied to the proper depart- 
 ment to reeeive his instrfictions. Lieutenant Elliot was honoured 
 by an appointment to the command on Lake Erie, and received 
 orders to repair to that place with all possible despatch, purchase 
 what private vessels he could, build two ships of twenty guns^ 
 and as early as possible have his fleet in readiness to meet that of 
 the enemy. 
 
 Lieutenant Elliot knew the vast importance of the commaLd of 
 the lakes in our war against Canada and the difficulty and delay 
 which would attend the building of the vessels, to say nothing of 
 the expense. He had indeed, in pursuance of his instructions, 
 purchased some vessels ; but here again he was much embarrass- 
 ed with the difficulty of getting up the Niagara and into the lake. 
 After revolving in his mind all these obstacles, he formed the re- 
 solution of boarding and capturing two British brigs of war, called 
 the Detroit and Caledonia, lying under the protection of the bat- 
 teries on . Fort Erie. He accordingly embarked in two boats, 
 ^ith fifty men in each, and put off from the mouth of Buffalo 
 
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 SKETCHES or 
 
 creek, and at one o'clock in the morning came along side of the 
 enemy. He boarded and captured the two vessels, and secured 
 all the prisoners in ten minutes. Unfortunately the wind was not 
 stroMg t-noufirh to enable Lieutenant Elliot to make head against 
 the rapid current in the lake, and he was compelled to anchor op- 
 posite the enemy's forts, within about four hundred and fifty yards 
 of their batteries, exposed to a heavy and incessant fire of round, 
 grape, and cannister shot from a number of pieces of heavy ordi- 
 nance and their flying artillery. The Caledonia was however be- 
 yond the reach of the enemy's guns, under one of our batteries 
 at Black Rock. Lieut. Elliot ordered all the guns of the Detroit 
 to be mounted on one side, whence he kept up a constant fire 
 again9t the enemy's batteries as long as his ammunition lasted. 
 He determined then to drop down the river out of reach of their 
 cannon, and make a stand agamst the flying artillery. At this in- 
 stant he discovered, for the first time, that his pilot ^had deserted 
 him. He however, cut the cable and falling astern, made good 
 his way to Square Island. He sent the boarding boat on shore 
 with the prisoners, himself and four others only remaining in the 
 Detroit, directing the officer to return for him and what property 
 they might be able to save from the brig. The officer was unable 
 to return on account of the strength of the current. At length 
 discovering a skiff under the stern, he made for the shore in her 
 with the remaining part of the crew. 
 
 During all this time an incessant fire was kept up from both 
 sides of the river on the brig. She received twelve shot of large 
 size in her bends, her sails were reduced to ribbands, and her rig- 
 ging cut to pieces. Finding that all attempts to carry off the De- 
 troit was unavailing, he dismantled her of all her ordinance and 
 stores and set her on fir4>. The Caledonia was found to be a ves- 
 sel belonging to the north-west company, loaded with peltry. 
 Lieutenant Elliot's party consisted of one hundred men. He was 
 fortunate enough to capture one hundred and thirty prisoners with 
 their officers, and to release from captivity forty of his own coun- 
 trymen, belonging to the fourth (J. S. regiment. Lieut. Elliot on 
 boarding opposed three of the enemy with no other weapon than 
 his cutlass. During the hottest of the fire from the batteries, a 
 cannon shot passed through, and striking a large silver wedge de- 
 posited in a trunk belonging to one of the officers, bent it double. 
 This wedge is still preserved as a curiosity. 
 
 So sensible were congress of the gallantry and skill of this 
 young officer, a« displayed in this exploit, that they passed the fol- 
 lowing resolution : " Be it enacted, &c. that the president of the 
 United States be, and he is hereby authorized to have distributed 
 as prize money to Lit-ut. Elliot, his officers and companions, or to 
 their widows and children, the sum of twelve thousand dollars, 
 for the capture and destruction of the British brig Detroit." ** Re- 
 
XHE WAR, 
 
 mi 
 
 dollars, 
 (t Re- 
 
 loived, that the president of the United States be, aild he is here- 
 by requested to present to Lieut. Elliot of the navy of the United 
 States, an elegant sword with suitable emblems and devices, in 
 testimony of the just sense entertained by congress of his gallant* 
 ry and good conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs 
 Detroit and Caledonia, while anchored under the protection of 
 Fort Erie.»» 
 
 Shortly after this brilliant exploit, Lieut. Elliot left Erie and ar- 
 rived at Sachet's Harbour, where he joined Commodore Chauncey. 
 The commodore sailed on the 8th cf November with six schoo- 
 ners in quest of the enemy's fleet, and on the same day fell in 
 with the Royal George. Losing sight of her in the night, he 
 discovered her the next morning riding in Kingston channel, un- 
 der the protection of the batteries. He immediately followed her 
 into the channel where he engaged her and the batteries for an 
 hour and three quarters, and determined to board her in the night. 
 But as the wind blew directly on shore, and the pilot refused to 
 take charge of the vessels, the commodore was reluctantly com- 
 pelled to forego his determination. Lieut. Elliot commanded the 
 leading vessel in this engagement. 
 
 On the 24th of July Lieut. Elliot was promoted over thirty lieu- 
 tenants, to the rank of master commandant. Being appointed to 
 commant) the Madison in Commodore Chauncey's fleet, when that ' 
 officer sailed for York, on his arrival he discovered that he could 
 
 not bring his ship into action from the shoaliness of the water 
 
 He then volunteered his services, and asked and obtained the 
 commodore's permission to kad the small vessels employed in co- 
 vering the troops while they were landing and attacking the bat- 
 teries. Gen. Dearborn embarked his troops, amounting to seven- 
 teen hundred men, on board Com. Chauncey's fleet, and arrived 
 at York, the capital of Upper Canada. The squadron taking a 
 position to the westward and southward of the fort, covered the 
 debarkation of the troops. The riflemen under Major Forsyth 
 landed under a heavy fire, and seven hundred regulars with one 
 hundred Indians marched to oppose the landing of the American 
 army. Gen. Pike with seven hundred men having eflfected a land- 
 ing, routed the enemy and pushed direct for the principal batteries. 
 At this time the enemy blew up his magazine, and precipitately 
 retreated. Thirty-eight of our men were killed by this explosion, 
 amongst whom we have to lament the gallant Pike, and two hun- 
 dred and thirty-eight were wounded. The town surrendered by 
 capitulation, and Capt. Elliot was appointed by Com. Chauncey to 
 see that the articles were carried into execution on the part of 
 the navy. 
 
 After his return to Sacket's Harbour, he found an oflicer of 
 usual rank in waiting for the Madison, while he himself was or- 
 dered by the secretary of the navy to take the command of one 
 
 '■'" ''1 
 
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 Krh. 
 
 92 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 of the brigs on Lake Erie. He complied with this order, not 
 without regret, desiring as he did to be with Com. Chauncey in 
 the action hourly expected to be fought on Lake Ontario. He vo- 
 lunteered until after the contemplated action to serve on board the 
 General Pike as acttng first lieutenant. He made this proposition 
 however with reluctance, as he thought that his rank and services 
 entitled hira to a more conspicuous command. 
 
 When the squadron was ready for sea and had proceeded to 
 the head of the lake, information was received that the American 
 fleet was blockaded at Erie, that the siege of Fort Meigs was 
 raised, and that the troops were waiting for the navy to cover 
 their crossing to Maiden. The commodore communicated this in- 
 telligence to Capt. Elliot. He Xwas then under a belief that Sir 
 James Yeo would not venture out of Kingston and give battle to 
 Com. Chauncey for some time, and agreed to leave Ontario for 
 Lake Erie. He accordingly set out with one hundred volunteers, 
 arrived at Erie in five days, and on the sixth sailed for Maiden in 
 pur9Ciit of the enemy. On the 10th of September the enemy's 
 fleet were discovered at sun rise from Put-in-bay, where the Ame- 
 rican squadron, commanded by Commodore Perry, were riding at 
 anchor. 
 
 The American commander immediately prepared for action, 
 and gave chase to the enemy. On the flag of the com^uodore's 
 vessel were inscribed the dying words of the gallant Lawrence.... 
 « Dont give up the ship." 
 
 Perry having formed his line, bore down for the enemy's fleet, 
 in order of battle, and outsailing his squadron, pursued his course^ 
 with an intention to come to close quarters, ^nd thus received th« 
 whole file of the enemy's line. Being much annoyed by the lone 
 guns of the enemy, with all his rigging shot away, and his guns 
 all dismounted, the Lawrence became unmanageable, having 
 sustained the enemy's fire for two hours within cannister distance. 
 At this moment Com. Perry formed the resolution of shifting his 
 fiag and abandoning the ship to the care of Lieut. Yarnali. He 
 repaired in an open boat, exposed to the whole range of the ene- 
 my's fire, from his broad-side and small arms, on board the Niaga- 
 ra commanded by Capt. Elliot. He determined now on breaking 
 the enemy's line, and bearing up passed ahead of their two ships, 
 giving them a raking fire from the right and left. While this 
 bold manoeuvre was performing, some circumstances occurred that 
 induced Capt. Elliot to quit his station and proceed to the head of 
 the line. 
 
 Here unfortunately rests the difference between these two gal- 
 lant officers. Com. Perry states in his official apcount of this bat- 
 tle, that he made sail and directed the other vessels to follow him, 
 for the purpose of closing with the enemy. He further states, 
 that at half-past two Capt. Elliot was enabled^ by the wind spring- 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 03 
 
 )ur8e. 
 
 ene- 
 jaga- 
 
 |king 
 
 iip«, 
 
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 [that 
 
 Id of 
 
 |gal' 
 
 )at'> 
 lim, 
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 ]£ up, to bring his vessel gallantly into close action, Capt. Elliot 
 
 Uledges that at the time the commodore relinquished the Law- 
 
 ence and came on board the Niagara, he went to the head of the 
 
 |nei unauthorised and on his own responsibility. He apprehended 
 
 lat the commodore was dead, and was preparing to change the 
 
 jne of battle when that officer came on board the Niagara. Capt. 
 
 PUiot discovering an important part of the fleet improperly placed^ 
 
 Diunteered his services to pass the whole of the enemy's line, 
 
 ring up these vessels and place them in a position more capable 
 
 annoying the enemy. To this proposition the commodore cor- 
 
 ially assented. Accerdingly Capt. £Uiot passed in a small boat 
 
 }wn the whole line, during which time the fire of the enemy 
 
 fas so incessant, that his clothes were wet from the water thrown 
 
 |l around him by the balls. The gun -boats were at that time 
 
 IrowiBg random and ineffectual shot at a distance, when Capt. 
 
 |liot commanded them to cease their firing, and to make sail and 
 
 ijlow him. This was accordingly done, and he placed theni un- 
 
 \t the stern of the two heaviest ships of the enemy. In thii 
 
 lanner were the gun-boats all brought up and disposed by Capt. 
 
 lliot, when, after some considerable fire, the enemy's fleet struck 
 
 leir colours. The guns not having been fired from the Somers 
 
 I he wished, be repaired on board that vessel and fired the thirty 
 
 |ro pounder three times himself, while Commodore Perry gallant- 
 
 I broke the line of the enemy, and bringing both sides of the Ni- 
 
 iara into action at ooce,^ the fire from the gun-boats raking them 
 
 janother direction from their sterns, soon decided the fate of the 
 
 It is singular in such contests to observe the accordance 
 
 IV. 
 
 il sometimes happen in the chances of war. Com. Perry, by 
 
 eaking the enemy's line, passed ahead of his two heaviest ships^ 
 
 d, as before stated, poured in a raking fire from his starboard 
 
 Ins, while the gun-boats so disposed by Capt. Elliot, saluted them 
 
 Ithe same manner from their sterns. The larboard guns at the 
 
 ne time gave a raking fire to a targe schooner and sloop that 
 
 passed at half pistol shot distance. 
 
 |We know not whether another instance can be produced in the 
 
 I of naval history, of bringing all the guns of a single ship to 
 
 |r, and so effectually upon the enemy as was done by his bold 
 
 bject of breaking their line. It is no less astonishing that Capt. 
 
 |iot, without knowing how the senior ofRcer proposed to manage 
 
 Niagara, should on his own responsibility, at such a time have 
 
 Iced the gun boats under the sterns of the enemy's largest ships. 
 
 lesee two great and gallant minds, maintaining an immoveable 
 
 |enety in the midst of danger, and occupied solely by one great 
 
 ect, the destruction of the enemy's fleet, and acting strictly in 
 
 kcert, although unconscious of it themselves. It proves bow 
 
 ply this etherial spirit is the same on whatever portion of ha- 
 
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 inanity it acts, and that it is always consistent in the display of jtil ver raedal, \ 
 proper character. I missioned o 
 
 We all can admire the courage and skill of a successful wnrriorfl each of the 
 "Wherever victory impresses her dazzling stamp, we dare not calll guished ther 
 in question the act that passes her consecrated seal. And yetil Capt. Elli 
 we soberly investigate the matter, how nearly is even this wondef arrangement 
 of the million allied to glorious rashness. We will suppose thai 
 the light breeze which favoured Perry when he went on board thi 
 Niagara, and enabled him to pass triumphantly through the em 
 my's line, had settled to a dead calm when, he had reached tbi 
 head of the hostile ships. They would have wore round, and hi 
 exposed to two full broadsides, and incapable of extricating hi 
 
 barkation of 
 fleet, and w( 
 vanced, he s< 
 for the purpo; 
 taid to have 
 \y fell into t1 
 
 self, must have surrendered. But his raking fire threw every thmfl before they v 
 
 Capt. £lliol 
 
 {the fleet on It 
 
 fort MackinM< 
 
 mittee of Pen 
 
 into the navy 
 
 Capt. Ellio 
 Com. Chaunc 
 liuch a manm 
 
 into confusion, and while he was rounding to, to pass the defili 
 again, the thunders of the gun-boats were breaking on thei 
 sterns. On such nice and delicate points rests the reputation of 
 hero. That successful breath of wind consecrated to fame tbj 
 character of the American navy. 
 
 We hope it may not be deemed altogether unappropriate, 
 we have traced the character of this great spirit when surroundi 
 by the lustre of victory, to observe its complexion under tl 
 shade of misfortune. Commodore Barclay, the British commanledgements fro 
 er had participated in Nelson's lustre. Wounded and faint frol The private 
 the loss of blood, he was carried below ; he beheld his fleet dj 
 persed and captured with all that mortification felt by a generoi 
 and ardent mind, compelled to submit, but not conquered or ei 
 slaved by misfortune. He is sent home a prisoner on parole, ai 
 a festival is given by his countrymen to his honour. At that tii 
 and at that place, the toast of that gallant and heroic officer 
 Commodore Perry, the brave and generous enemy. NothingBfor support, by 
 all that has been said to Perry's honour equals this, and it may|ger could movi 
 generously retorted by every high minded American, that the gi 
 lant soul who could indulge in such a sentiment, has achiever 
 victory over misfortune more glorious than even the triumph 
 £rie. To Capt. Elliot belongs, beyond all dispute, an import 
 share in the lustre of this memorable day. The moment he p| 
 ceives the commodore's flag shifted on board his own ship, heci 
 siders what service he can now render, what newllangers he 
 encounter with a prospect of advantage. He assumes the ci 
 mand of the gun-boats wHh the same promptitude that he re 
 quished his own vessel, intent only on serving his country, 
 giving lustre to her name. Let the highest authority known 
 our laws speak for themselves on this occasion. Congress 
 the following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved, that the president of the United States be requi 
 ed to cause gold medals to be struck, emblematic of the action 
 tween the two squadrons, and to be presented to Capt. Perry 
 
 contrast to th 
 invested. Th 
 companion, an 
 that-remain of 
 istence. He t 
 life, and veils 1 
 
 Thus tt 
 Sliakes 
 But \vh 
 The tre 
 
THEWAft, 
 
 ^wp^ 
 
 to Capt. Jesse Elliot, in such manner as will be most agreeable to 
 them, and that the pTesident be further requested to present a sil- 
 ver medal, with suitable emblems and devices, to each of the com- 
 missioned of¥icers either of the navy or army, and a sword to 
 each of the midshipmen and sailing-masters who so nobly distin- 
 guished themselves on that day." 
 
 Capt. Elliot, after the action on Erie, was entrusted with the 
 arrangement of Gen. Harrison^s boats in the embarkation and de- 
 barkation of his troops, when he assumed the command of the 
 fleet, and went up the lake. When Gen. Harrison's army ad- 
 
 Ivanced, be selected some of his best men to man three gun-boats, 
 for the purpose of boarding a force of gun boats the enemy were 
 laid to have collected in the Thames. These vessels unfortunate- 
 ly fell into the hands of the British, who destroyed them by fire 
 
 [before they were ready for action. 
 
 Capt. Elliot afterwards received orders to take the command of 
 
 I the fleet on lake Erie, and make preparations for the reduction of 
 fort Mackinac in the spring. He received the thanks of the com- 
 mittee of Pennsylvania, the state from which he was introduced . 
 
 I into the navy, accompanied by a gold medal. 
 
 Capt. Elliot is now attached to the squadron commanded by 
 
 I Com. Chauncey on lake Ontario, and has signalized himself in 
 luch a manner, as to have received the most marked acknowl- 
 
 jedgements from that gallant and intrepid officer. 
 
 The private life of Capt. Elliot affords a delightful and reposing 
 
 I contrast to that character in which we have all along seen him 
 invested. The warm and generous friend, the kind and hospitable 
 
 Icompanion, and the affectionate hu8band, are, at such seasons, all 
 
 |tbat.remain of him who in the chase of fame is so prodigal of ex- 
 
 listence. He then cultivates assiduously all the tender charities of 
 life, and veils from sight the noble stock round which they twine 
 for support, by the intervening blossoms. The heart that no dan- 
 
 ||er could move, yields to the slightest touch of compassion. 
 
 11 
 
 .»■■«■ 
 
 Thus tht ptoud nak, when tempests raga on high. 
 Shakes his ^iren bi-ad agaiiiit 'lie 'towuing sky ; 
 lint when liis bifath the gcnileZLiihyrhfavcs, 
 Hie trembliflff t'ew^drups trickk trom bhkavi:*. ^^ 
 
 
 
 
 *<M'V 't-iK ■ ''%'Cfj'iH.sy f^ 
 
 •• • <^'_ ■ ■-" ? 
 
 '*m 
 
 Jii: h.^ 
 
 'W't-.^-. ■:. 
 
 
 ■ i '•:5 •W'ij^tii^i 
 
 ' .- <>;■:■■ ,^-n-4. i ♦.!■■■, 
 
)•! 
 
 99 
 
 9KITCHE6 OF 
 
 », ' t* i'} t ■'»•• 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Iv 
 
 IM 
 
 r -ti . 
 
 J^aval operatioru on the ocean Com. Rodgers* cruise Chase 
 
 of the Constitution Capture of the Guerriere Comparison 
 
 of American and British frigates Biography ofCapt, Hull, 
 
 Com. Rodgers^ cruize Com. Rodgers, on the 2l8t of June, 
 
 having received instructions from the navy department, and offj. 
 cial information of the declaration of war, sailed from New- York, 
 on board the President, having under his command, also, the 
 United States, Congress, Argus, and Hornet. Previous to leav- 
 ing New- York, he had learned that the homeward bound Jamai- 
 ca fleet had sailed under convoy, on the 20th of the preceding 
 month. He shaped his course eastwardly, in expectation of fall- 
 ing in with vessels which had seen the convoy ; and the follow, 
 ing evening fell in with an American brig, which gave him such 
 information as he desired. He now crowded all sail in pursuit ; 
 but the next morning was taken out of his CQurse, by chasing the 
 British frigate Belvidere. 
 
 The Belvidere was discovered on the 23d, at 6 A. M. when 
 the squadron gave chase. The superiority of the President's sail- 
 ihg, while the breeze continued fresh, enabled her to get within 
 gun shot between 4 and 5 P. M. when it had moderated so much 
 as to give very faint hopes of getting along side. At this time, 
 perceiving she was training her guns to bear upon the President, 
 the latter commenced a fire at her spars and rigging, with a 
 view to cripple and get abreast of her. A fire was kept up about 
 two hours. The President gave her two or three broad-sides, 
 and kept up a well directed fire from the chase guns, which cut | 
 her sails and rigging very much, but did not succeed in destroying 
 any of her spars, although some of them were much wounded. 
 The President all this time was exposed to a running fire from 
 her 4 stern chasers ; and once the British frigate commenced a 
 fire from her main deck, with an intention of raking the Presi* 
 dent with a broadside, but at that moment receiving one from the 
 President, continued her course under a press of sail, and used 
 only her stern guns. All sail was crowded in pursuit, but in vain. 
 The chase was now throwing overboard, every thing that could 
 
 y be spared, to increase her sailing, and escaped by the lightness of 
 the wind. Four of her boats were seen tleating by the President 
 
 . completely knocked to pieces, together with a great number of 
 cask», spars, &c. 
 
 The President received a considerable number of shot in her 
 
 « sails and rigging, but was not materially injured. The chase was 
 continued till about midnight, when it was relinquished as hope- 
 less, and the President hove too for the squadron to come up 
 
THE W^R. 
 
 
 
 ..,Chase 
 
 iparison 
 pU Hvl 
 
 )f June, 
 knd offi. 
 w-York, 
 ilso, the 
 to leav* 
 I Jamai- 
 receding 
 n of fall- 
 e follow, 
 lim such 
 pursuit ; 
 ising the 
 
 H, when 
 >nt*8 sail* 
 et within 
 I so much 
 his time, 
 resident, 
 with a 
 up about 
 lad-sides, 
 hich cut 
 straying 
 ounded. 
 ire from 
 lenced a 
 le Presi- 
 Tom the 1 
 id used 
 in vain. 
 it could 
 Itness of 
 esident 
 ber of 
 
 in her 
 
 lise was 
 
 hope- 
 
 up.i>« 
 
 Early in the cha8«^ one of the President's chase gum, on the gun 
 deck, burst, and injured the upper deck so much, as to prevent 
 the use of the cha^e guns on that side for a considerable time. 
 The Prerident had three killed and nineteen wounded, most of the 
 latter slightly ; of the wounded 16 were by the bursting of a gun. 
 By the same gun Com. Rodgers had his leg fractured. 
 
 On board the Belvidere two were killed and seven wounded ; 
 among the latter, her captain and one lieutenant. 
 
 The squadron then resumed its course in pursuit of the Jamai- 
 ca fleet, but received no further intelligence of it until the 29th 
 of June ; when on the western banks of Newfoundland, an Amer- 
 ican schooner was spoken, the master of which gave information 
 that he had passed the fleet two days before. On the 1st of July, 
 a little to the eastward of Newfoundland bank, the squadron fell 
 in with quantities of cocoa nut shells, orange peals, &c. which in* 
 dicated that the fleet was not far distant. The pursuit was now 
 continued with great spirit, though frequent interruptions were 
 occasioned by vessels it was necessary to pursue. No more in* 
 telligence was obtained until the 9th of July, when a British pri- 
 vate armed brig was captured. She had seen the fleet the pre- 
 ceding evening, and had counted eighty-five sail. The convoy 
 consisted of a two decker, a frigate, a sloop of war, and a brig. 
 
 This was the last intelligence the commodore received of the 
 fleet. He continued the pursuit until the 13th of -July. He was 
 then within eighteen or twenty hours' sail of the British channel.. 
 The Commodore now directed the squadron to steer for Madeira. 
 It passed close by that island on the 21st of July ; thence near 
 the Azores ; returned by the banks of Newfoundland, and enter- 
 ed the port of Boston, after a cruize of upwards of two months. 
 
 During the cruize seven merchant vessels were captured, and 
 one American re-captured. 
 
 Though this cruize was not attended with any success of a 
 brilliant nature, yet it was productive of considerable advantage^ 
 by the American squadron being thus united, and cruizing for 
 such a length of time, the attention of the British vessels was 
 drawn from the harbours of the United States, while thipy went 
 in quest of it. Thus an almost incalculable amount of American 
 property, that would otherwise have been captured, was brought 
 safe into port. 
 
 Chase of the Constitution On the 12th of July, the United 
 
 States' frigate Constitution, Capt. Hull, sailed from Chesapeake 
 bay. On the 16th Capt. Hull saw and gave chase to a frigate^ 
 but was unable, the wind being light, to come up with hei before 
 night. It continued calm during the night. In the morning. 
 Captain Hull found himself near an enemy's squadron, cob- 
 
 Hi*' I 
 
 a 
 
 vm 
 
«3 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 ii,:ir. 
 
 i! "■ ■ 
 
 p\ 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i:-:! 
 
 lilting of one iliip of the line, four frigateSi a br'tg and « 
 ichooner. The nearest frigate wai within gun-shot. It was a 
 dead calm. The British immediately put all the boats of the 
 squadron to two frigates, and thereby gained on the Conititution, 
 and brought some of their bow guns to bear. The Constitution 
 occasionally fired her stern chasers. In this state the vessels con- 
 tinued all that day. On the following morning a light breeze 
 sprang up, which enabled the Constitution to escape, after a chasn 
 of sixty-four hours. During the whole of this time, her gallant 
 crew remained at their quarters without a murmur. So ably and 
 successfully did Capt. Hull manoeuvre his vessel on this occasion, 
 that it excited admiration even in the British admir<«I. The Con- 
 stitution arrived safe in Boston. 
 
 On the 2d of Aug. she again sailed from Boston. Capt. Hull 
 8tood to the eastward, along the coast, in hopes of falling in with 
 one of the British frigates, reported to be cruizing in that direc- 
 tion. He passed near the coast, as far as the bay of Fundy, with- 
 out seeing any vessel whatever. He then ran off Halifax and 
 cape Sables. Seeing no vessel for three or four days, he deter- 
 mined to steer eastward, toward Newfoundland. He passed 
 near the isle of Sables ; and took a station off the Gulph of St. 
 Lawrence^ near cape Race, to intercept vessels bound either to 
 or from Canada. While cruizing off this station he captured two 
 merchant vessels. On the Ifith he discovered a convoy of five 
 sail, to which he gave chase. He captured one of them, and pre- 
 vented the prize ship of an American privateer from being taken. 
 
 Having received information, that the British squadron were 
 off the Grand Bank, and not far distant, he determined to change 
 
 his cruizing ground. He accordingly stood to the southward 
 
 On the 18th he was informed by the commander of an American 
 privateer, that a British ship of war had been seen the day before 
 standing to the southward, and could not be far oflT. It was then 
 about 12 o'clock at night. Hull immediately made sail to the 
 southward, intending, if possible, to fall in with her. 
 
 On the lOlh of Aug. at 2 o'clock, P. M. the Constitution being 
 in latitude 41 degrees and 42 minutes north, and 55 degrees 3^ 
 minutes west longitude, a vessel was discovered to the south- 
 ward. The Constitution instantly made all sail in chase, and 
 soon gained on her. At 3 P. M. it could plainly be perceived she 
 was a ship on the starboard tack, under easy sail, close hauled to 
 the wind. At half past 3 ^he was ascertained to be a frigate. 
 The Constitution continued the chase. At about three miles dis- 
 tance Capt. Hull ordered the light sails ttf^ 'be taken in, the cours- 
 ers to be hauled up, and the ship to be cleared for action. The 
 chase now bncked her main-top sail, and waited for the Constitu- 
 tion to come down As soon as the Constitution was ready for 
 aetion, she bore down, intending to brmg immediately to close 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 'rtCtioiii the Britiih frigate, which had about this time hointed tlirec 
 Eiiglisli ensigns in token of defiance. As soon as the Constitu- 
 tion came within gun-shot, the British frigate fiied her broadside ; 
 then filled away, wore, and gave a broadi^ide on the other tack. 
 They, however, produced no effect ; her phot fell short. The 
 British frigate manoeuvred and wore several times for nbout 
 three quarters of an hour, in order to obtain a raking position. 
 But not succeeding in this, she bure up under her topsails and 
 jib with the wind on the quarter. Capt. Hull immediately made 
 sail to bring his ship up with her. At 5 minutes before six, P. M. 
 the Constitution being along side, within pistol shot, he ordered 
 a brisk firing to be commenced from all her gun?, which were 
 double-shotted with round and grape shot, and so well directed, 
 and so warmly kept up that, in fifteen minutes, the mizen mast 
 of the British frigate went by the board, and her main yard in her 
 slings. Her hull was much injured ; and her rigging and sails 
 torn to pieces. The fire was kept up, in the same spirited man* 
 ner, for fifteen minutes longer by the Constitution. She had now 
 taken a position for raking, on the bows of the British frigate ; 
 when the latter could only bring her bow guns to bear on the 
 Constitution. The grape shot and small arms of the Constitution 
 completely swept the decks of the British frigate. Thirty min- 
 utes after the commencement of the action by the Constitution, 
 the mainmast and foremast of the British frigate went by th« 
 board, taking with them every spar except the bowsprit. She 
 then struck her colours, which had been fastened to th£ stump of 
 the mizen-mast. The Constitution then sat fore and main sails^ 
 and hauled to the eastward to repair damages. All her braces, a 
 great part of her standing and running rigging, and some of her 
 tp'ATH were shot away. At 7 P. M. she stood under the lee 
 of the prize and sent a boat on board, which returned at 8, 
 with Capt. Dacres, commander of the frigate. She was the Guer- 
 riere, rating 38 and mounting 40 guns. The hull of the Guer- 
 riere was so much shattered, that a few more broadsides would 
 have sunk her. She had fifteen men killed, sixty-one wounded, 
 and twenty-four missing, who, it is presumed, were sv%ept over- 
 board by the falling masts. The Constitution had only seven kill- 
 ed and seven wounded. 
 
 The boats were immediately employed in bringing the wound- 
 ed and prisoners on board the Constitution. About two A. iVl. a 
 sail was discovered off the larboard beam, standing to the south. 
 The ship was instantly cleared for action. At three the vessel 
 iitood away. At day-break, information was received from the 
 Lieut, on board the prize, that the ship was in a sinking condition^ 
 and had four feet water in the hold. As soon as all her crew 
 were removed from on board of her, she was set on fire, and blew 
 up a quarter past three* 
 
 •a 
 
 il»'T:--Ji',f"-'«W 
 
 i*f* 
 
100 
 
 .*f3 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 ■,■•* 
 
 mi->^ 
 
 t" ■! 
 
 \A-' 
 
 Capt. Hull, in his letter to the secretary of the navy, says : 
 ** that from the smallest boy in the ship, to the oldest seaman, 
 not a look of fear was seen. They all went into action giving 
 three cheers, and requesting to be laid along side the enemy." 
 
 An instance of heroism may be here given, which fully shows 
 with what spirit the American sailors entered into the action, and 
 the noble enthusiasm and bravery that animated thenr. In the 
 heat of the engagement, one of the crew of the Constitution, per- 
 ceiving that the flag at the fore top-mast head had been shot 
 away, went up with it, and lashed it so securely, as to render it 
 impossible to shoot it away, unless the mast went with it. 
 
 Few events ever excited greater sensations of joy throughout 
 the United States, than the capture of the Guerriere. All the 
 principal towns through which Capt. Hull passed, after his return 
 to Boston welcomed him with every dr'monstration of joy. At 
 Boston a splendid entertainment was given to him and his offi- 
 cers. The citizens of Philadelphia subscribed for the purchase of 
 two elegant pieces of plate.....one to be presented to Capt. Hull; 
 and the other to Charles Morris, his first lieutenant. 
 
 The legislatui e of Ne w-York....th^ council of the city of Albany and 
 Savannah the congress of the U. S the house of representa- 
 tives of Massachusetts, and other public bodies, voted their thanks 
 to Capt. Hull, his officers and crew. The order of Cincinnati ad- 
 mitted the Captain as an honourary member. And congress voted 
 50^000 dollars as an indemnification to the captain, his officers 
 and crew, for the loss sustained by the destruction of the Guer- 
 riere. ' 
 
 Much having been said on the disparity of force between the 
 American 44 gun frigates and the British 38, the rates of the 
 Constitution and Guerriere, it will, perhap.<«, not be out of place 
 here to give a comparative view of the force of each. Both the 
 American 44 gun ships, and the British 38 gun ships are con- 
 structed on the same principles ; and their guns are placed in the 
 same relative position, forming batteries of a similar nature. The 
 guns in each ship are placed on the main or gun deck, the quarter 
 deck, and the forecastle. The gun deck, which may be consider- 
 ed as the line of defence, is about 1 76 feet long in the American 
 44 gun ships, and about ISO feet in the English 38 gun ships. 
 The line of defence, therefore, in the American 44 gun ships ex- 
 ceeds the English by about 16 feet. But it is to be observ«d that 
 the length of line of defence by no mens implies strength. This 
 essentially consists in the number of guns that can be placed in 
 battery, with advantage, in a given line, and the strength of the 
 ramparts and parapets ; in which light the sides of the ship may 
 be considered. A line of defence of 200 feet, mounting 30 guns 
 in battery, would be about one fourth weaker, and produce an ef- 
 fect one-fourth less than a line of defence 150 feet long, mounting 
 
 lis; 
 
* ^ 
 
 icon* 
 the 
 
 Th<! 
 
 irter 
 |ider> 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 10,1 
 
 [e same uumber of gunt. The American 44 gun ships mount 
 I twsnty-four pounders on the gun deck, 24 thirty two pound 
 Irronades, and two eighteen pounders on the quarter deek and 
 \ecastle or upper decks.* The British 38 gun ships mount 28 
 thteen pounders on their gun deck, 18 thirty-two pound car- 
 Qades, and two eighteen pounders, on their quarter deck and 
 tecastle, besides a 24 pounder shifting gun. In an engagement 
 jtween ship and ship, the eifect produced is by the broadside or 
 
 number of guns placed in battery on one side of the ship 
 
 I that only half the number of guns in a ship can be considered 
 
 [placed in battery in its length or line of defence. The num- 
 
 of guns, therefore, of the American 44 gun ships, placed in 
 
 ^tery in its line of defence of 176 feet, will be 28. The num- 
 
 of guns in the English 38 gun ships, placed in battery in its 
 
 of defence of 160 feet, will be 24 ; but as they carry a shift- 
 
 [gun, which may be placed in battery on either side, the num- 
 
 will actually be 25. So that the number of guns in battery 
 
 {the American 44 gun ships, will exceed those in the English 
 
 gun ships, only one-tenth. But the American line of defence 
 
 bae tenth longer, and consequently would be one-tenth weaker 
 
 |n the English, if it had only the same number of guns in bat> 
 
 consequently, the force of each, when the line of defence 
 
 number of guns placed in battery are considered, is very near* 
 
 leqiial. 
 
 The American 44 gun ships carry twenty-four poQnders on their 
 I decks ; the English eighteen pounders. But are not eigh- 
 pounders of sufficient weight of metal for the service of large 
 [ates, and fully calculated to produce every effect that may be 
 uired in an engagement between frigates ? It has, moreover, 
 asserted by the officers of the Constitution, that the shot of 
 |Java*s eighteen pounders were only three pounds lighter than 
 Ise 9f the American twenty-four pounders, after accurately 
 liiag them both. So that consequently the difference in 
 ^t of metal was only one-eighth. 
 |t has been often asserted in the British newspapers, that the 
 erican frigates were 74's in disguise. It has also been assert- 
 by an English naval commander, in his official letter, that the 
 jerican 44 gun ships were built with the scantling of a 74. If 
 lis assertion he meant to insinuate, that the American 44 gun 
 I were of the same nature with a 74, or a ship of the line, he 
 Imanifested an extreme want of candour or want of profession- 
 inowledge. 74 gun ships are all of the line, that is, they have 
 p mounted on two gun decks, extending the whole length of 
 or its line of defence, besides those on the quater deck 
 
 
 
 
 'I I "^ T. 
 
 i 
 
 forecastle ; and in addition to these, there are guns on the 
 
 Mn« 
 
 I The reader will plane cont«c « iniit«ke in page I), ttnting the ntnnkn: of pun on board 
 
 l<s-tliere are but *«. 
 
11Q2 
 
 SKETCHES QF 
 
 m ; 
 
 poop. The length of the line of defence of a 74 is about the shr 
 as that of the American 44 gun chips. A 74 gun ship moun 
 about 88 guns ; therefoie, the number of guns placed in battenl 
 in her line of defence, will be 44 guns ; and in the American fnj 
 gate of 44 guns, only 28 in the same line of defence. Cons 
 quently, the strength of the line of defence of a 74, is not veiJ 
 far from double that of an American 44 gun ship, considered J 
 respect of the number of guns : without taking into consideratii 
 the difference in weight of metal, and the compactness ^ 
 strength of sides. 
 
 This, we believe, sufficiently demonstrates the illiberality \ 
 absurdity of comparing the American 44 gun frigates to Briti 
 74'8 with a view to disparage the rising glory of the AmericJ 
 Navy, and to depreciate the noble exploits of her gallant tars, 
 
 Biography of Capt, Hull The following biographical notlti 
 
 of Capt. Hull is taken, with some alterations, from the Analecl 
 Magazine. 
 
 " Capt. Isaac Hull was born at Derby, a small town in i 
 state of Connecticut, about ten miles from New- Haven. He iil 
 son of the gentleman who distinguished himself in the capturei 
 some whale boats in the Sound during the late war. Choosii( 
 the sea for the exercise of his profession, he entered, soon aili 
 leaving school, on board a merchant vessel, and in due course t 
 came master of a ship. He was in this situation at the first eit 
 blishment of the navy, and, at that time, received the appoii 
 ment of a lieutenant. In this capacity he always ranked highj 
 an excellent seaman, an attentive and vigilant officer. The iil 
 ation of the United States for some years past, it is well knov 
 afforded little opportunity for the acquisition of either naval on 
 Htary reputation ; or to obtain any other distinction than till 
 which arises from an attentive discharge of an officer's daily d 
 ties." Upon a certain occasion, however, during this period, Cti 
 tain Hull gave evidence of the spirit he has since so abundanlj 
 manifested. While the Constitution was lying at Spithead,] 
 1811, one of her seamen deserted to the Havana, a British frig 
 then lying in the harbour. Capt. Hull made demand of hiin,li 
 was referred to the port admiral at Portsmouth, and by him 
 formed that the seaman could not be restored until he was 
 structed by the admiralty board on the subject. In a day or tij 
 afterwards, an American seaman swam from the Havana tot 
 Constitution; and being demanded by the British commaiiii 
 Capt. Hull refused to deliver him until he had received jnstructiij 
 from his government, taking for the basis of his refusal, the | 
 cedent which the British officer had furnished him in the first | 
 «tance. 
 
 ^ince the declaration of war, he has excited the public attd 
 
// 
 
 XHEWAA. 
 
 103 
 
 90 by the two brilliant exploits before related. The one exhi> 
 Iting an instance of consummate skill as a seaman, and the other 
 
 his gallantry as an officer. 
 
 Upon his arrival in Boston, after his successful escape from the 
 Iritish squadron, he found the public ascribing the whole merit to 
 Jim : he therefore inserted the following card in the books of the 
 ixchange Coffee house. 
 
 » Capt. Hull finding that his friends in Boston are correctly in- 
 Lrmed of his situation when chased by the British squadron off 
 Bew-York, and that they are good enough to give him more cre- 
 Itfor having escaped it than he ought to claim, takes this oppor- 
 [inity of requesting them to transfer their good wishes to Lieut. 
 lorriSf an'l the other brave officers, and the crew under his corn- 
 Land, for their very great exertions and prompt attention to his 
 ^ders while the enemy were in chase. Capt. Hull bas great ple- 
 iire in saying, that notwithstanding the length of the chase, and 
 lie officers and crew being deprived of sleep, and allowed but lit* 
 |e refreshment during the time, not a murmur was heard to escape 
 hem." 
 
 It was naturally to be expected that a man, who had the hon- 
 kt pride to decline monopolizing that praise, which he was con- 
 clous ought to be shared with others, would, when opportunity 
 lifered, distinguish himself in the most honourable manner. Those 
 rho are themselves conscious of desert, are the last to claim 
 |iat praise which belongs to others ; and those who feel a capa- 
 tty to acquire reputation, are ever the most liberal in awarding it 
 
 others. It is only little stinted minds that are anxious to 
 |laim that glory, winch they can only gain by defrauding their as- 
 ociates : liberal hearts are not afraid even to resign what they 
 |an so easily acquire. 
 
 Acccordingly, we have found Capt. Hull, on the nineteenth of 
 
 lie ensuing Aug. with the same vessel, the same officers, and 
 
 Ihe same crew, falling in with a large frigate, which struck to 
 
 )im after a close action of thirty minutes. She proved to be his 
 
 Mjesty's ship the Guerriere, rated at thirty-eight guns, and car- 
 
 ying fifty ; commanded by Capt. J. R. Dacres, who some time 
 
 efore had politely endorsed on the register of a merchant ship, 
 
 |q invitation to Capt. Hull to give him a meeting of this kind. 
 
 In this action, where there was a vast disparity of loss on the 
 jiart of the enemy, we think we can trace some of the effects of 
 papt. Hull's generous self denial, on bis officers and crew 
 
 Hiatever may be the fashion of considering soldiers and sailors 
 M mere machines, without capacity of being operated upon by 
 
 ny excitement but that of the fear of punishment, we are con- 
 [iiiced that all men, high or low, are fond of glory, and that this 
 ondnes is one of the strongest incitements to brave actions, even 
 
 > the most common minds. Mere discipline, however indispen- 
 
 ■w$ 
 
 
 V.-M 
 
 v.. At- '•■a 
 
104 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 V'l'i>.' ) 
 
 1.: 
 
 ;'l -i 
 
 sable it may be to constitute a soldier or sailor, is but a tame n 
 spirer, when compared with the impulse given by the hope 
 expectation of renown. It was from this conviction^ that alltl 
 distinguished commanders we ever read or heard of, were can 
 ful to celebrate the valour of their officers and soldiers, and to 
 stow on them the glory of every action. Men, let them 
 what they may, will assuredly make greater sacrifices and exti 
 tions in an engagement, where, if they conquer, they share tl 
 glory, than if it is all to be given to their commander, let thei 
 love him ever so well. Small as may be the portion of this gloi 
 which falls to the share of each man, still we are to considi 
 that though he is not individually named in the records ofti 
 times, or trasmitted to future periods in the page of history ; yi 
 in that little circle by which every being, however insigni 
 cant, is surrounded, he moves an object of wonder : and is a hei 
 among the little men of his little world. In our minds, therefori 
 that commander not only displays his magnanimity, but his kiio' 
 edge of mankind, who assigns a large portion of his fame to 
 followers. They will fight the better for it, and the world wi 
 make him ample amends for his generosity, inasmuch as this libei 
 al self-denial is a much more rare and heroic quality, than mei 
 personal courage-or military skill. 
 
 Captain Hull has not been at sea since bis return from the crui 
 Mrhich terminated in the capture of the Guerriere, having beei 
 we understand, employed a time in settling the aflfairs of a decei 
 ed brother. It was reported, but without foundation, that hew 
 under some disgust at the command of the Constitution being a| 
 signed to Capt. Bainbridge, who, as his seniour officer had 
 doubtedly a right to claim it according to the etiquette of the sej 
 vice. Capt. Hull, we are confident, knows too well the dul 
 which he owes to his country in this period of danger, to desei 
 his colours. The sailor as well as the soldier is a man who 
 war, by defending his country, makes her amends for the care si 
 extends to him in the time of peace. Their duties are reciproci 
 and we think the officer who in time of war retires premature 
 from a station where he has been placed in the time of peac 
 ought to have the strongest motives for such a desertion. 
 
 This gallant officer is still in the vigour of life ; of pleasing, u 
 aflfected manners, and of unblemished reputation -in all therel 
 tions of social life. 
 
 •*fTi 'n'*f->^-vit^i' 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 I 105 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Cruize of the Essex Cruize of the Wasp...>»Capture of the 
 
 Frolic Loss of the Wasp and Frolic Biography of Capt. 
 
 Jones. 
 
 Cruize of the Essex Capt. Porter of the Essex, sailed from 
 
 New- York on the Sd July, shaping his course to the southward, in 
 pursuit of the Thetis frigate, which he had learned from a captur- 
 ed vessel, was to sail from Jamaica on the 26th June, with a 
 large convoy for England : he therefore made every exertion to 
 get oif St. Augustine in time to fall in with theno, but without ef- 
 fect, as fresh gales prevailed from the S. W. JSaffled in his at- 
 tempt to meet them there, he resolved, if possible, to intercept 
 them on the banks of Newfoundland, and made sail for that pur- 
 pose : but in this he was also disappointed. 
 
 On the 13th August, the British sloop of war Alert of 20 guns, 
 ran down on the weather quarter of the Essex. Her crew 
 gave three cheers and immediately commenced an engagement ; 
 but the Essex poured in such a tremendous fire that in eight mi- 
 nutes the Alert was forced to strike her colours. She had seven 
 feet water in her hold, was much cut to pieces, and had three of 
 her crew wounded. The Essex did not receive the slightest in- 
 jury. 
 
 Capt. Porter being now much embarrassed with the number of 
 prisoners on board his ship, amounting to about five hundred, re- 
 solved to send them to a British port, in the Alert as a cartel. He 
 accordingly threw her guns overboard, withdrew from her all the 
 Essex's men, put the prisoners on board, and despatched her as a 
 cartel to St. Johns, under the command of Lieut. Wilmer, with 
 orders to proceed from thence to New- York, with such Amerir 
 cans as he should receive in exchange. The Alert, upon her re- 
 turn to the United States, was fitted out as a government ves- 
 sel. 
 
 On the 30th of August, the Essex being in latitude 36 N. long. 
 €2 W. a British frigate was discovered standing towards her, un- 
 der a press of sail. Porter stood for her under easy sail, with his 
 3hip prepared for action ; and apprehensive that she might not 
 find the Essex during the night, he hoisted a light. At nine the 
 British vessel made a signal. It consisted of two flashes and a 
 blue light. She was then apparently about four miles distant. 
 Porter stood for the point where she was seen, until midnight, 
 when perceiving nothing of her, he concluded it would be best to 
 heave to for her until morning, concluding she had done the same. 
 But to his great surprise, and the mortification of his officers and 
 f^rew, she was no longer in sight. 
 
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 SKETCHKS 09 
 
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 On the 4th of September, the Essex being off the tail of S{. 
 George's Bank, two ships of war were discovered to the south- 
 ward, and a brig to the northward, The brig was in chase of an 
 American merchant ship. Porter immediately chased the brig, 
 which attempted to pass, and join the rest of the squadron. This 
 he prevented, and compelled her to stand to the northward. He 
 continued in chase of her, until abreast of the American ship, 
 when the wind becoming light, she escaped by means of her 
 sweeps.. On showing American colours, several signal guns were 
 Urcd by the ships to the southward. All sail was made by them 
 in chase. At 4 P. M. they had gained the wake of the Essex, 
 and were coming up with her very fast. Calculating on making 
 his escape by some manoeuvre during the night, he fired a gun to 
 windward. The two ships still continued to gain on the Essex. 
 The largest was considerably to windward of the other, and about 
 five miles astern of the Essex. Capt. Porter determined to heave 
 about as soon as it grew dark, and in case he should not be able to 
 pass her, he determined to fire a broadside into her, and lay her 
 on board. Every preparation was made for this purpose. The 
 crew, as soon as the plan was proposed to them,gave three cheers, 
 and were in high spirits. At 20 minutes after seven, the Essex 
 hove about, and stood S. E. by S. until 30 minutes after eight, 
 when she bore away S. W. without seeing any thing more of 
 them. This was the more extraordinary, as a pistol was fired on 
 board the Essex, when nearest to them. 
 
 The Essex arrived safe in the Delaware a few days after* 
 wards. 
 
 li; i:' 
 
 m' 
 
 ll" >. , 
 
 
 m:'i 
 
 Cruize of the Wasp The Wasp, Capt. Jones, sailed from the 
 
 Delaware on a cruize, the 13th Oct. and on the 16th, it came on 
 to Wow a heavy gale, which carried away her jib boom and two 
 men. On the 17th, at 11 P. M. in lat. 37 N. Ion. 65 W. (the 
 track of vessels passing from Bermuda to HalifaXji) she found her- 
 self near five strange sail, steering westward. 
 
 As some of them seemed to be ships of war, it was thought 
 better to get farther from them. The Wasp therefore hauled her 
 wind, sind having reached a .ew miles to windward, so as to es- 
 cape or fight as the occasion might require, followed the strange 
 sail through the night. At daybreak on Sunday morning, Capt. 
 Jones found that they were she large merchant ships, under con- 
 voy of a sloop of war, which proved to be the Frolic, Captain 
 Whinyates, from |Ionduras to England, with a convoy, strongly 
 armed and manned, having all forty or fifty men, and two of 
 them mounting sixteen gwns each. He determined, however, to 
 attack them, and as there was a heavy swell and the wea> 
 ther boisterous, got down his top-gallant yards, close- reefed the 
 topsails, and prepared for action. About eleven o'clock, the Fro^ 
 
 i,!ii! ' 
 
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 tttE WAR. 
 
 107 
 
 il of SJ, 
 
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 se of an 
 he brig, 
 1. This 
 rd. He 
 an ship, 
 3 of her 
 ins were 
 by them 
 B Essex, 
 making 
 a gun to 
 e Essex, 
 nd about 
 to heave 
 e able to 
 i lay her 
 f. The 
 e cheers, 
 he Essex 
 er eight, 
 more of 
 fired on 
 
 /s after* 
 
 from the 
 Icame on 
 land two 
 W. (the 
 lund her- 
 
 thought 
 iuled her 
 ^s to es- 
 
 strange 
 |g, Capt. 
 
 Jer con- 
 I Captain 
 
 ^trongly 
 
 two of 
 
 |ever, to 
 
 le wea- 
 
 kfed the 
 
 me Fro' 
 
 iio showed Spanish colours, and the Wasp immediately displayed 
 the American ensign and pendant. At 32 minutes past eleveil^ 
 the Wasp came down to windward, on her larboard side, within 
 about 60 yards, arid hailed. The enemy hauled down the Spanish 
 colours, hoisted the British ensign, and opened a fire of cannon 
 and musketry. This the Wasp instantly returned, and coming 
 nearer to the enemy, the action became close, and without inter- 
 mission. In four or five minutes the maintopmast of the WasJ) 
 was shot away, and falling down with the maintopsail yard, 
 across the larboard fore and foretopsail braces, rendered her head 
 yards unmanageable during the rest of the action. In two or 
 three minutes more her gaft and mizen-topgallantsail were shot 
 away. Still she continued a close and constant fire. The sea 
 Was so rough that the muzzle of the Wasp's guns were frequently 
 in the water. The Americans fired as the ship's side was 
 going down, so that their shot struck on the enemy's deck or 
 below it, while the English fired as the vessel rose, and thus her 
 balls chiefly pierced the rigging, or were thrown away. The 
 Wasp now shot ahead of the Frolic, raked her, and then resumed 
 her position on her larboard bow. Her fire was now obviously 
 attended with such success, and that of the Frolic so slackened, 
 that Capt. Jones did not wish to board her, lest the roughness of 
 the sea might endanger both vessels ; but in the course of a few 
 minutes more, ever}' brace of the Wasp was shot away, and her 
 rigging so much torn to pieces, that he was afraid that his masts, 
 being unsupported, would go by the board, and the Frolic be able 
 to escape. He thought, therefore, the best chance of securing 
 her was to board, and decide the contest at once. With this 
 view he wore ship, and running down upon the enemy, the ves- 
 sels struck each other, the Wasp's side rubbing along the Frolic's 
 bow, so that her jibbootn Oame in betweeh the main and mizzen 
 rigging of the Wasp, directly ovet- the heads of Capt. Jones and 
 the first lieutenant, Mr. fiiddle, who were at that moment stand- 
 ing together near the capstan. The Frolic lay so fair for raking^ 
 that they decided not to board until they had given a closing 
 broadside. Whilst they were loadiiig for this, so near were the 
 two vessels, that the rammers of the Wasf) were pushed against 
 the Frolic's sides, and two of her guns went through the bov¥ 
 ports of the Frolic, and swept the whole length of her deck. At 
 this moment, Jack Lang,* a seaman of the Wasp, a gallant felt 
 low, who had been once impressed by a British man of war, 
 jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was springing on board 
 the Frolic : Capt. Jones, wishing to fire again before boarding. 
 Called him down ; but his impetuosity could not be restrained, and 
 
 • John Lanp U a native of Newbrunwitk, iu Newjctsey. We mention >vith great pleaiure the 
 name ut' this b.ave AniericM iMimn. av a proof that tonipicmiu valouc to wiBMiri vu o« nak ia 
 
 ' be naval ifTTiv^t, 
 
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 106 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 he was already on the bowsprit of the Frolic ; when, seeing the 
 ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp's crew, Lieut. Biddle mount 
 ed on the hammock cloth to board. At this signal the crew fol- 
 lowed : but Lieut. Biddle's feet got entangled in the rigging of 
 the enemy's bowsprit, and midshipman Baker, in his ardour to 
 get on board, laying hold of his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's 
 deck. He sprang up, and as the next swell of the sea brought 
 the Frolic nearer, he got on her bowsprit, where Lang and anoth 
 er seaman were already. He passed them on the forecastle, and 
 was surprised at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's 
 deck, except the seaman at the wheel, and three officers. The 
 deck was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the 
 dead. As he went forward, the captain of the Frolic, with two 
 other officers, who were standing on the quarter-deck, threw 
 down their swords, and made an inclination of their bodies, de- 
 noting that they had surrendered. At this moment the colours 
 were still flying, as, probably, none of the seamen of the Frolic, 
 would dare to go into the rigging for fear of the musketry of the 
 Wasp. Lieut. Biddle, therefore, jumped into the rigging himself 
 and hauled down the British ensign, and possession was taken of 
 the Frolic, in forty-three minutes after the first fire. She was in 
 a shocking condition : the birth-deck, particularly, was crowded 
 with dead, and wounded, and dying ; there being but a small 
 portion of the Frolic's crew who had escaped. Capt. Jones in- 
 stantly sent on board his surgeon's mate, and all the blankets of 
 the Frolic were brought from her slop- room for the comfort of the 
 wounded. To increase this confusion, both the Frolic's masts 
 soon fell, covering the dead and every thing on deck, and she lay 
 a complete wreck. 
 
 It now appeared that the Frolic mounted 16 thirty-two pound 
 carronades, 4 twelve pounders on the main-deck, and 2 twelve 
 pound carronades. She was, therefore, superior to the Wasp, by 
 exactly four twelve pounders. The number of men on board, as 
 
 stated by the officers of the Frolic, was one hundred and ten 
 
 the number of seamen on board the Wasp was one hundred and 
 two ; but it could not be ascertained, whether in this one hun- 
 dred and ten were included marines and officers ; for the Wasp 
 bad, besides her one hundred and two men, officers and marines, 
 making the whole crew about one hundred and thirty-five. What 
 is, however, decicive, as to their comparative force is, that the of- 
 ficers of the Frolic acknowledge that they had as many men as 
 they knew what to do with, and, in fact the Wasp could have 
 spaied fifteen men. There was, therefore,^ on the most favoura- 
 ble view, at least an equality of men, and an inequality of four 
 guns. The disparity of loss was much greater. The exact num- 
 bee of killed and wounded on board the Frolic could not be pre^ 
 cisely determined ; but from the observations of our officers, and 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 loa 
 
 the declarations of those or the Frolic, the number could not be 
 Ies5 than aboui thirty killed, including two officers, and of the 
 wounded between forty and fifty ; the captain and second lieuten- 
 ant being of the number. The Wasp had five men killed and five 
 slightly wounded. 
 
 All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, burying the 
 dead, and taking care of the wounded, when Capt. Jones sent 
 orders to Lieut. Biddle to proceed to Charleston, or any southern 
 port of the United States : and, as there was a suspicious sail to 
 windward, the Wasp would continue her cruise. The ships then 
 parted. The suspicious sail was now coming down very fast. At 
 first it was supposed that she was one of the convoy, who had 
 all fled during the engagement, and who now camr for the pur- 
 pose of attacking the prize. The guns of the Frolic were, there- 
 fore, loaded, and the ship cleared for action ; but the enemy, as 
 
 she advanced, proved to be a seventy-four the Poictiers, Capt. 
 
 I Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frolic ; passed her ; over- 
 took the Wasp, the disabled state of whose rigging prevented 
 hpr from escaping ; and then returned to the Frolic, who could, 
 of course, make no resistance. The Wasp and Frolic were carri- 
 ed into Bermuda.* 
 
 Biography of Capt. Jones Jacob Jones, Esq. of the United 
 
 Sfttes' navy, was born about the year 1770, near the village of 
 Smyrna, in the county of Kent, state of Delaware. His father 
 was an independent and respectable farmer, of excellent moral 
 and religious character. His mother was of a good family, of the 
 name of Jones ; an amiable and interesting woman ; she died 
 when the subject of this memoir was yet an infant. Between 
 two and three years afterwards his father married again, with a 
 Miss Holt, grand-daughter of the honourable Ry vez Holt, former- 
 ly chief justice of the supreme court of Delaware ; or, as it wa» 
 then deponAinated, " the lower counties on Delaware." Shortly 
 after this second marriage his father died, when this his only 
 child was scarcely four years of age. It was the good fortune of 
 our hero to be left under the care of a step-mother, who had all 
 I the kind feelings of a natural parent. The aiTection which this ex- 
 cellent woman had borne towards the father, was, on his death, 
 transferred to the child. By her he was nurtured from infancy 
 to manhood, with a truly maternal care and tenderness. At an 
 early age he was placed at a school, and his proficiency in learn- 
 ing was equal to her most anxious wishes. After becoming well 
 acquainted with the general branches of an English education, he 
 was transferred to a grammar school at Lewes in Sussex cotinty, 
 conducted by the learned and pious Dr Matthew Wilson. Un- 
 der his direction he read the classics with much assiduity, and be- 
 came well acquainted with the Latin and Greek languages. Tiie 
 
 '!>• 
 
 ■^'^ 
 
 ■'r:"s?i 
 
 ^Vtf arc indebted t'» the T'ort Folio for the forci^imf ueeou;it oT'\\f ojfiirc t.'.'tli' FioV.r. 
 
 -W.*. 
 
UO 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 
 'm 
 
 writer of this memoir distinctly remembers also, that in the gef 
 graphical lessons he continually bore off the palm, and received, 
 beyond all others, repeated proofs of approbation from his precep. 
 tor. At the age of eighteen he left Lewes Academy, and enter, 
 ed on the study of physic and surgery, under Dr. Sykes, an emi- 
 nent physician and surgeon of Dover in the county of Kent. M^ith 
 him he diligently prosecuted his studies for four years, after which 
 he attended the usual courses of medical lectures of the Universi 
 ty of Pennsylvania, and tnen returned to Dover to commence the 
 exercise of his profession. 
 
 He did not, however, continue long in the practice. He found 
 the field already engrossed by a number of able and exptrieuced 
 gentlemen of the faculty, among whom was the late lamented Dr. 
 Miller of New York. Discouraged by the scanty employment 
 that is commonly the lot of the young physician, and impatient of | 
 an inactive life, he determined to abandon the profession for the 
 present, and seek some more productive occupation. This reso 
 lution was a matter of much regret among the elder physicians. 
 They entertained a high opinion of his medical acquirements, and 
 considered him as promising to become a distinguished and skilful 
 memberof their body. Gov. Clayton, (who was himself an emi* 
 nent physician) seeing that he was fixed in his determination, con- 
 ferred upon him the clerkship of the supreme court of the state cf 
 Delaware, for the county of Kent. 
 
 In this office he continued for some time, but the sedentaiy na* 
 ture of its duties was uncongenial with his health and habits ; he 
 longed to mingle in more active scenes, and possessed that ardent 
 spirit of enterprise that can never rest contented with the tranquil 
 ease of common life. With a certain bravery of resolution, theie- 
 ibre, or rather a noble unconcern, he turned his back upon the 
 comforts and emoluments of office ; and resolved upon a meas- 
 ure as indicative of the force of his character, as it was decisive 
 of his future fortunes. This was to enter as a midshipm'an into 
 the service of his country, in the year« 1799, when menaced with 
 a war with France. 
 
 He was at this time almost twenty-nine years of age, highly re- 
 spected for the solidity of his understanding and his varied ac 
 quirements ; it may readily be imagined, therefore, how greatly 
 his friends were dissatisfied at seeing him in a manner taking a 
 retrograde step in life, entering upon that tedious probation which 
 the naval service peculiarly requires, end accepting a grade 
 which is generally allotted to boys and stripplings. It was in vain} 
 however, to remonstrate against a resolution, which, once form- 
 ed, never vibrated. Jones had determined on embracing the 
 profession ; he had weighed all the peculiar inconveniences and 
 sacrifices incident to his determination, and had made up his mind 
 to encounter and surmount them all. His friends could only cod- 
 
THI WAR. 
 
 Ill 
 
 lole themielveg with the reflection, that if ooura|g;e, activity, and 
 hardihood could ensure naval success, Jones was peculiarly fitted 
 for the life he had adopted ; and it is probable they felt some de- 
 gree of admiration for that decision of character, which, in the 
 pursuit of what he conceived a laudable object, could enable him 
 I to make such large sacrifices of peisoDal pride and convenience. 
 
 The first cruises which he made in his new capacity were un- 
 [der the father of our infant navy, the late Com. Barry, from 
 I whom he derived great instruction in the theory and practice of 
 
 profession, and experienced the utmost kindness and civility. 
 I He was a midshipman on board the frigate United States, when 
 she bore to France Chief Justice Ellsworth and Gen. Davie, as en- 
 voys extraordinary to the French Republic. He was next on 
 board of the Ganges, as midshipman, and during the whole in- 
 tervening period between his appointment, and the war with Tri- 
 poli, he was sedulously employed in obtaining that nautical skill for 
 1 which he is at present celebrated. - ♦ 
 
 On the breaking out of the war with Tripoli, he was stationed 
 
 loa board of the frigate Philadelphia, under the command of the 
 
 gallant Bainbridge. The disaster which befel that ship and her 
 
 crew before Tripoli, forms a solemn page in our naval history ; 
 
 attoned for, however, by the brilliant achievements to which it 
 
 {gave rise. Twenty months of severe captivity among a barba- 
 
 Irous people, and in a warm climate, neither broke the spirit nor 
 
 liaapaired the constitution of our hero. Blest by nature with vig- 
 
 jorous health and an invincible resolution, when relieved from bon- 
 
 re by the bravery of his countrymen, he returned home full of 
 liife and ardour. He was soon after promoted to a lieutenancy. 
 iThis grade he had merited before his confinement in Tripoli, but 
 [oider warrant officers had stood in the way of his preferment. 
 
 He was now for some time employed on the Orleans station, 
 Iwhere he conducted himself with his usual judgment and propriety, 
 land was a favorite in the polite circles of the Orleans and Missis- 
 Itippi territories. He was shortly after appointed to the command 
 ■of the brig Argus, stationed for the protection of our commerce on 
 ■the southern maritime frontier. In this situation he acted with 
 vigilance and fidelity, and though there were at one time insidious 
 Isuggestions to the contrary, it has appeared that he conformed to 
 Ihis instructions, promoted the public interest, and gave entire sat- 
 |islaction to the government. 
 
 In 1811, Capt. Jones was transferred by the secretary of the 
 I navy to the command of the slsop of war the Wasp, mounting 
 Icighteen twenty-four pound carronades, and was despatched, in 
 Ithe spring of 1812, with communications from our government 
 jto its functionaries at the courts of St. Cloud and St. James. Be- 
 Ifore he returned from this voyage, war had been declared by the 
 lUQited States ajB;ainst Great Britain. Capt. Jonei refitted his ship 
 
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 bKkTCHES Ikc. 
 
 with rII possible dispntcli, und repaired to sen on a cruise, in vvhicn 
 he met with no other luck than the capture of an inconridi ruble 
 prize. He again put to sea on the 13th of October lost, and on 
 the 18th of the month, after a long and heavy gale, he fell in with 
 a number of strongly armed merchantmen under convoy of his 
 Britannic majesty's sloop of war the Frolic, Capt. Winyates. 
 
 Capt. Jones bore down upon the Frolic, nnd a bloody action I 
 was commenced which ended in the capture of the Frolic, though 
 unfortunately both vessels were captured by the Poictiers 74, with. 
 in an hour or two after, and carried to Bermuda, as more partic- 
 ularly and minutely related before. 
 
 On the return of Capt. Jones to the United States, he was ev> I 
 ery where received with the utmost demonstrations of gratitude 
 and admiration. Brilliant entertainments were given him in the 
 cities through which he passed. The legislature of his native 
 state appointed a committee to wait on him with their thaDki, 
 and to express the " pride and pleasure" they felt in recognizing 
 him as a native of their state ; in the same resolution they vottd 
 him an elegant piece of plate, with appropriate engravings. The 
 congress of the United States, on motion of Mr. J. A. Bayard, ot 
 Delaware, appropriated 25,000 dollars, as a compensation to Capt, 
 Jones and his crew, for the loss they sustained by the re capture 
 of the Frolic. They also ordered a gold medal to be presented to | 
 the captain, and a silver one to each of his otHcers. 
 
 Various other marks of honour have been paid by the legisia- 1 
 tures, and the citizens of different states, which it would be super 
 Jluous to enumerate ; but the most substantial testimony of appro- 1 
 bation which he has received, is the appointment to the command [ 
 of the frigate Macedonian. 
 
 Capt. Jones is about the middle size, of an active mind and vig- 
 orous make, and an excellent constitution, capable of the utmost | 
 vigilance and fatigue. Naturally and habitually temperate him- 
 self, he is a great promoter of temperance among his crew ; and I 
 has been successful in reclaiming many a valuable seaman from 
 'he pernicious habits of intoxication. 
 
 [j4naleGtie Magazine.] 
 
 ■■ r ] 
 
 * 
 * # 
 
 TO READERS. 
 
 Oiir vout'irt will picaic to recollect, that thii publication claims no other merit than that ot'a jml - 
 riunt selection. In most initancei credit faai tK-eii girt-n ; in some, however, it lias been omiitiit. 
 We have already been, and shall probably herealter be indcixtd to the Naval Histnrj' u!' thr 
 United States, the Port Folio, Analectio Magazine, and Nile's Hrgister, lor much or the ninttei, u>'l 
 even the language ol' this work. We have uiiil the language where it uoiild answer eur piirp"v. 
 with more or lew alteration, as necessity or propriety dlitat«^l. 
 
 ■r-»'t^Y tt^^'ir 
 
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 SKETCHES 
 
 or 
 
 THE WAR 
 
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 he was ev- 
 
 VoLVMK I Number 3 
 
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 CHAPTER IX. . 
 
 Com. Rodgers* second cruize Capture of the Siva/Zotv..... Cap- 
 ture of the Macedonian Chase of the Jrgus Biography 
 
 of Capt, Decatur, 
 
 ,%->, 
 
 On the 8th Oct. the President, Com. Rodgers, United States, 
 Capt. Decatur, Congress, Capt. Smith, and Argus, Capt. Sinclair, 
 tailed from Boston, on n cruize. In a day or two afterwards, 
 however, the United States and Argus parted company from the 
 pther vessels. Com. Rodgers, with the President and Congress, 
 traversed about 8000 miles upon the atlantic without falling in 
 with any of the enemy's frigates : he however captured two val< 
 uable prizes, the Swallow, having on board 168,000 dollars in 
 specie, and a south-sea vessel, the Argo, of great value, and re- 
 turned into the harbour of Boston the latter part of December..... 
 his prizes had previously arrived in safety. 
 
 Capture of the Macedonian Capt. Decatur, after leaving 
 
 the squadron, bore south-east. Nothing of moment occurred un- 
 til the 23th, when, being in latitude 20 d. N. long. 20 d. 30 m. 
 W. he fell in with the British frigate Macedonian, commanded 
 by Capt. John S. Carden. 
 
 The Macedonian being to windward, had the advantage of en- 
 gaging at her own distance. This was so great, that for the first 
 half hour the United States did not use her carronades. At no 
 time was the Macedonian within such distance as to admit of 
 musketry and grape being used with good effect. Owing to this 
 circumstance, and a heavy swell of the sea, the action lasted an 
 hour and a half. So brisk and spirited was the fire kept up from 
 the United States, that the crew of the British ship supposed she 
 was on fire ; and it was so well directed that the Ma«edonian>8 
 
 P 
 
 ..i.'i 
 
114 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 li :/ 
 
 
 
 roizen-mast was shot away by the board. Her fore and main- 
 top-masts were shot away by the caps. Her main yard wae 
 shot in pieces. Her lower masts were badly wounded. Her 
 lower rigging was all cut to pieces. Only a small portion of the 
 foresail was left to the foreyard. All her guns on the quarter- 
 deck and forecastle were disabled but two, and filled with wreck. 
 Two also of her guns on the main-deck were disabled. She had 
 received several shot between wind and water. A very great 
 portion of her crew were killed or wounded. So much disabled 
 \vas she, that she lay a perfect wreck and unmanageable log. 
 At this time the United States shot ahead, and was about placing 
 herself in a position to rake, when the British vessel struck her 
 colours. 
 
 The Macedonian rated in Steel's List a 38 gun ship, but mount- 
 ed 49 guns. She was only two years old ; and had been but 
 four months out of dock. She was reputed one of the best sailers 
 in the British navy. The killed on board of her amounted to 36 
 
 the wounded to 68. She has since been fitted out as a 38 gun 
 
 ship in the American navy. 
 
 The damage sustained by the United States was very trifling. 
 She had only 5 men killed and 7 wounded. 
 
 All the private property of the officers and men on board the 
 Macedonian was given up to them. The private property claim- 
 ed by Capt. Garden, valued at about 800 dollars, Capt. Decatur 
 paid him for. 
 
 Capt. Decatur arrived at New York with his prize on the 1st 
 Jan. He arrived some time previous off New London, but con- 
 tinued in the sound for several weeks, doubtless, to present his 
 prize to the citizens of New York on that day. 
 
 John Archibald, one of the crew of the United States, received 
 a mortal wound, of which he soon aAer died. He left three chil- 
 dren to the mercy of the world, with a mother who had deserted 
 them. When the father of the deceased seaman went on board 
 the frigate to claim the wages and property of his son, an in 
 quiry was made into the circumstances of the family. A plan 
 was immediately agreed upon by the seamen, for the relief of the 
 orphans. Two dollars was subscribed by each of them. A sum 
 of *iOQ dollars was made up, and placed in the hands of suitable- 
 trustees, for the maintenance and education of the children. 
 
 Capt. Decatur, on his return to the United States, received 
 from all quarters the grateful congratulations of his countrymen. 
 
 Chase of the Jrgus...„Tiie Argus parted company from the 
 United States previous to the capture of the Macedonian by that 
 vessel, and proceeded to the coast of Brazil, down the north coast 
 of the country from St. Roquo to Surinam, thence she passed to 
 the windward of the islands, and in every direction between th( 
 
 Bermudas, 
 she returne 
 200,000 do 
 of the ener 
 line, one of 
 moon enabl 
 chase was < 
 der various 
 officers and 
 all sides by 
 tied state o 
 ket shot of 
 gilancc of C 
 They had 
 doubt of dis 
 being disco* 
 clear the w 
 sailing of th 
 so closely 
 throwing 
 starting the 
 the fresh ha 
 ting his sail 
 ing the chai 
 So close we 
 two of the i 
 
 Biograpl 
 Decatur i 
 ther was a i 
 of Rhode-Is 
 port, (Rhod 
 Philadelphif 
 man by the 
 roanded a i 
 the establisi 
 mand the I 
 frigate Phil 
 was given 
 had built he 
 peace was 
 and retired 
 he resided \ 
 
 His son, 
 the 5th Jai 
 ther his pai 
 of Philadel^ 
 months old 
 
* THE WAR. 
 
 115 
 
 nd main- 
 ard wa? 
 ed. Her 
 on of the 
 
 quarter- 
 h wreck. 
 
 She had 
 ry great 
 I disabled 
 able log. 
 It placing 
 ruck her 
 
 It mount- 
 been but 
 ;st sailers 
 ted to 36 
 a 38 gun 
 
 f trifling. 
 
 loard the 
 
 ty claim- 
 
 Decatur 
 
 n the 1st 
 
 but con- 
 esent his 
 
 received 
 iree chil- 
 deserted 
 on board 
 an in- 
 A plan 
 ief of the 
 A sum 
 suitable 
 n. 
 
 received 
 rymen. 
 
 rom the 
 by that 
 th coast 
 tassed to 
 veen th( 
 
 Bermudas, Halifax^ and the continent. After a lapse of 96 days, 
 she returned into port, having made five prizes, valued at about 
 200,000 dollars. During her cruize she fill in with a squudroa 
 of the enemy, consisting of six sail, two of which were of the 
 line, one of them a remarkable fast sailer. The favour of the 
 moon enabling them to chase as well at night, as in the day, the 
 chase was continued for three days, without intermission, and un< 
 der various circumstances, but the unremitted exertions of their 
 officers and crew enabled her to elude the pursuit. Pressed on 
 all sides by the number of the enemy, and the baffling and unset- 
 tled state of the weather, the Argus was at one time within mus> 
 ket shot of a 74, and at another surrounded ; the determined vi< 
 gilancc of Capt. Sinclair rescued her however from the difficulty. 
 
 They had joined in the chase an armed transport, with a view no 
 doubt of distracting the attention, and deceiving the chase, which 
 being discovered, he bore down upon her and compelled her to 
 clear the way. Such was the confidence of Capt. Sinclair in the 
 sailing of the Argus, that during the chase, although at one time 
 so closely pressed as to be compelled to lighten his vessel by 
 throwing over his spare anchors and spars and deck boats, and 
 starting the salt water with which his casks had been filled, as 
 the fresh had been used, and reduced to the last necessity of wet- 
 ting his sails ; yet did he preserve all his guns, and one night dur- 
 ing the chase he found time to capture, man and despatch a prize. 
 So close were they upon his heels that when he again made sail, 
 two of the ships opened their batteries upon him. 
 
 Biography of Commodore Decatur Commodore Stephen 
 
 Decatur is of French descent by the male line. His grandfa- 
 ther was a native of La Rochelle, in France, and married a lady 
 of Rhode-Island. His father, Stephen Decatur, was born in New- 
 port, (Rhode-Island) and, when a very young man, removed to 
 Philadelphia, where he married the daughter of an Irish gentle- 
 man by the name of Pine. He was bred to the sea, and com- 
 manded a merchant vessel out of the port of Philadelphia, until 
 the establishment of the navy, when he was appointed to com- 
 mand the Delaware sloop of war. He continued in her until the 
 frigate Philadelphia was built, when the command of that ship 
 was given to him, at the particular request of the merchants, who 
 had built her by subscription. In this situation he remained until 
 peace was made with France, when he resigned his commission, 
 and retired to his residence a few miles from Philadelphia, where 
 he resided until his death, which happened in November, 1808. 
 
 His son, Stephen Decatur, the present commodore, was born on 
 the 5th January, 1779, on the eastern shore of Maryland, whi- 
 ther his parents had retired, whilst the British were in posset-sion 
 of Philadelf hia. They returned to that city when he was a few 
 months old, and he was there educated and brought up. 
 
 '^ im 
 
 %:'; 
 
Il' ji • 
 
 yU, \. 
 
 110 
 
 SKETCHES U» 
 
 He entered the navy in March, 1798> as midshipman, andjoiiK 
 ed the frigate United States, under the command of Commodore 
 Barry, who had obtained the warrant for him. He continued for 
 some time with that officer, and was promoted to the rank of 
 lieutenant. The United States at that time required some repairs 
 and, not wishing to remain in port, he requested an order to join 
 the brig Norfolk, then bound to the Spanish Main. He performed 
 one cruise in her, as first lieutenant, and on his return to port, re* 
 sumed his station on board of the United States, where he re- 
 mained until peace was concluded with France. 
 
 He was then ordered to the Essex, as first lieutenant, and sail- 
 ed with Commodore Dale's squadron to the Mediterranean. On 
 the return of that squadron he was ordered to the New-York, one 
 of the second Mediterranean squadron, under the Command of 
 Commodore Morris. 
 
 When he returned to the United States he was ordered to take 
 command of the Argus, and proceed in her to join Commodore 
 Preble's squadron, then in the Mediterranean, and on his arrival 
 there to resign the command of the Argus to Lieutenant Hull, and 
 take the schooner Enterprize, then commanded by that officer. 
 After making that exchange, he proceeded to Syracuse, where the 
 squadron was to rendezvous. On his arrival at that port he 
 was informed of the fate of the frigate Philadelphia, which had 
 ran aground on the Barbary coast, and fallen into the hands of 
 the Tripolitans. The idea immediately presented itself to his 
 mind of attempting her recapture or destruction. On.Commo- 
 dore Preble's arrival, a few days afterwards, he proposed to him 
 a plan for the purpose, and volunteered his services to execute it. 
 The wary mind of that veteran officer at first disapproved of an 
 enterprse so full of peril ; but the risks and difficulties that sur- 
 rounded it only stimulated the ardour of Decatur, and imparted 
 to it an air of adventure, fascinating to his youthful imagination. 
 
 The consent of the commodore having been obtained. Lieute- 
 nant Decatur selected for the expedition a ketch (the Intrepid) 
 which he had captured a few weeks before from the enemy, and 
 manned her with seventy volunteers, chiefly from his own crew. 
 He sailed irom Syracuse on the 3d February, 1804, accompanied 
 by the United States' brig Syren, Lieut. Stewart, who was to aid 
 with his boats, and to receive the crew of the ketch, in case it 
 should be found expedient to use her as a fire-ship. 
 
 After fifteen days of very tempestuous weather, they arrived at 
 the harbour of Tripoli a little before sunset. It had been arrang- 
 ed between Lieutenants Decatur and Stewart, that the ketch 
 should enter the harbour about ten o'clock that night, attended by 
 the boats of the Syren. On arriving ofF the harbour, the Syren, 
 in consequence of a change of wind, had been thrown six or 
 eight miles without the latrepid. The wind at this time wa$ 
 
 jt;3. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 kW 
 
 
 , and joiiK 
 }mmodore 
 itioued for 
 le rank of 
 ne repairs 
 ler to join 
 performed 
 
 port, re* 
 jre he re- 
 
 , and sail- 
 lean. On 
 York, one 
 mmand of 
 
 ed to take 
 
 smmodore 
 
 his arrival 
 
 Hull, and 
 
 at ofl^cer. 
 
 where the 
 
 t port he 
 
 rhich had 
 
 hands of 
 
 elf to his 
 
 Commo- 
 
 to him 
 
 xecute it. 
 
 ^ed of an 
 
 that sur- 
 
 imparted 
 
 inatioD. 
 
 .^ Lieute- 
 
 1 Intrepid) 
 \my, and 
 rn crew, 
 [mpanied 
 
 18 to aid 
 case it 
 
 rrived at 
 arrang- 
 
 le ketch 
 
 |nded by 
 
 Syren, 
 
 six or 
 
 Ime was 
 
 fair, but fast declining, and Lieutenant Decatur apprehended that^ 
 ihould he wait for the Syren»s boats to come up, it might be too 
 late to make the attack that night. Such delay might be fatal to * 
 the enterprise, as they could not remain longer on the coast, their 
 provisions being nearly exhausted. For these reasons he deter- 
 mined to adventure into the harbour alone, which he did about 8 ' 
 1 o'clock. r -*• *^ 'r 
 
 An idea may be formed of the extreme hazard of this enter- 
 I prise, from the situation of the frigate. She was moored within ' 
 ■half gun shot of the bashaw's castle, and of the principal battery. - 
 (Two of the enemy's cruisers lay within two cables' length, on the 
 Istarboard quarter, and their gun-boats within half gun shot, on 
 jthe starboard bow. All the guns of the frigate were mounted and 
 (loaded. Such were the immediate perils that our hero veiituif^d 
 \o encounter with a single ketch, beside the other dangers that 
 ibound in a strongly fortified harbour. i? ., ' ., ,<' . '-' 
 
 Although from the entrance to the place where the frigate lay 
 iras only three miles, yet, in consequence of the liglitntss ct the 
 
 kind, they did not get within had of her until eleven o'clock 
 
 Then they had approached within two hundred yards, they were 
 Sailed and ordered to anchor, or they would be fired into. Lieut. 
 )ecatur ordered a Maltese pilot, who was on board the ketch, to • 
 mswer that they had lost their anchors in a gale of wind on the 
 poast, and therefore could not comply with their request. By this 
 [ime it had become perfectly calm, and they were about fifty 
 yards from the frigate. Lieutenant Decatur ordered a small boat 
 jhat was alongside of the ketch, to take a rope and make it fast 
 |o the frigate's fore chains. This being done they began to warp 
 jhe ketch alongside. It was not until this moment that the ene- 
 Iny suspected the character of their visitor, and great confusion 
 Imintidiately ensued. This enabled our adventurers to get along- 
 jide of the frigate, when Decatur immediately sprang aboard, fol- 
 Dwed by Mr. Charles Morris,* midshipman. These two were 
 kearly a minute on the deck, before their companions could suc- 
 ceed in mounting the side. Fortunately, the Turks had not sufii- 
 [iently recovered from their surprise to take advantage of this 
 helay. They were crowded together on the quarter deck, per- 
 fectly astonished and aghast, without making any attempt to op- 
 pe the assailing party. As soon as a sutficient number of our 
 nen had gained the deck, to form a front equal to that of the 
 bemy, they rushed in upon them. The Turks stood the assault 
 p a short time, and were completely overpowered. About twenty 
 irere killed on the spot, many jumped overboard, and the rest fled 
 |o the main deck, whither they were pursued and driven to the 
 Vld. '•.•■; ^ ' • -» ■ i 
 
 * Koxv CapiBin Mnriii, lateof the A«ljim». ,; ^ ^ 
 
 
 m 
 
 yj!.; 
 
lis 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 After entire possession had been gained of the ship, and every 
 thing prepared to set fire to her, a number of launches were seen 
 rowing about the harbour. This determined Lieutenant Decatur] 
 to remain in the frigate, from whence a better defence could be 
 made than from on board the ketch. The enemy had alieady 
 commenced firing upon them from their batteries and castle, aod 
 from two corsairs that were laying near. Perceiving that the 
 launches did not attempt to approach, he ordered that the ship 
 should be set on fire, which was done, at the same time, in difieJ 
 rent parts. As soon as this was completely effected they left herJ 
 and such was the rapidity of the flames, that it was with the ut* 
 most dif!icu]ty they preserved the ketch. At this critical moment I 
 a most propitious breeze sprang up, blowing directly out of the 
 harbour, which, in a few minutes, carried them beyond the reach 
 of the enemy's guns, and they made good their retreat without I 
 the loss of a single man, and with but four wounded. 
 
 For this gallant and romantic achievement. Lieutenant Decaturl 
 was promoted to the rank of post captain, there being at that time 
 no intermediate grade. This promotion was particularly gratifyingi 
 to him, inasmuch as it was done with the consent of the ofKceril 
 over whose heads he was raised. 
 
 In the ensuing spring, it being determined to make an attack | 
 upon Tripoli, Commodore Preble obtained from the king of Na- 
 ples the loan of six gun-boats and two bombards, which he form- 
 ed into two divisions, and gave the command of one of them \o\ 
 Captain Decatur, the other to Lieutenant Somers. The squad- 
 ron sailed from Syracuse, consisting of the frigate Constitution, 
 the brig S^^ren, the schooners Nautilus and Vixen, and the guu-[ 
 boats. 
 
 Having arrived on the coast of Barbary, they were for some I 
 days prevented from making the attack, by adverse wind and 
 weather ; at length, on the morning of the 3d of August, thel 
 weather being favourable, the signal was made from the commo-l 
 dore's ship, to prepare for action, the light vessels towing tbel 
 gun-boats to windward. At 9 o'clock the signal was made for 
 bombarding the town and the enemy's vessels. The gun-boatil 
 were cast oflT, and advanced in a line ahead, led on by Captaio 
 Decatur, and covered by the frigate Constitution, and the brigil 
 and schooners. The enemy's gun-boats were moored along thel 
 mouth of the harbour under the batteries, and within musket 
 shot. Their sails had been taken from them, and they were or- 
 dered to sink, rather than abandon their position. They werej 
 aided and covered likewise by a brig of sixteen, and a schooQerj 
 of ten guns. 
 
 Before entering into close action. Captain Decatur went along- 1 
 side each of his boats, and ordered them to unship their bowspritil 
 and follow him^ as it was his intention to board the enemy's boattJ 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 no 
 
 Lieutenant James Decatur commandad one of the boats belonging 
 I to Lieutenant Somers' division, but being further to windward 
 than the rest of his division, he joined and took orders from hia 
 brother. 
 
 When Captain Decatur, who was in the leading boat, came 
 within range of the fire from the batteries, a heavy fire was open- 
 ed upon him from them and from the gun-boats. He returned 
 their fire, and continued advancing until he came in contact with 
 the boats. At this time. Commodore Preble, seeing Decatur ap- 
 proaching nearer than he thought prudent, ordered the signal to 
 be made for a retreat ; but it was found that in making out the 
 
 signals for the boats, the one for a retreat had been omitted 
 
 The enemy's boats had about forty men each ; ours an equal 
 number, twenty-seven of whom were Americans, and thirteen 
 Neapolitans. Decatur, on boarding the enemy, was instantly 
 followed by his countrymen, but the Neapolitans remained be- 
 hiod. The Turks did not sustain the combat, hand to hand, 
 with that firmness they had obtained a reputation for : in ten 
 minutes the deck was cleared ; eight of them sought refuge in 
 the hold ; and the rest, some fell on the deck, and others 
 jumped into the sea. Only three of the Americans were 
 wounded. 
 
 As Decatur was about to proceed out with his prize, the boat 
 which had been commanded by his brother, came under his stern 
 and informed him that they had engaged and captured one of the 
 enemy ; but that her commander, after surrendering, had trea- 
 cherously shot Lieut. James Decatur, and pushed off with the 
 boat, and was then making for the harbour. 
 
 The feelings of the gallant Decatur, on receiving this intelli- 
 gence, may rpore easily be imagined than described. Every con- 
 sideration of prudence and safety was lost in his eagerness to pu- 
 nish so dastardly an act, and to revenge the death of a brother so 
 basely murdered. He pushed within the enemy's line with his 
 single boat, and having succeeded in getting alongside of the re- 
 treating foe, boarded her at the head of eleven men, who were 
 all the Americans he had left. 
 
 The fate of this contest was extremely doubtful for twenty 
 minutes. All the Americans except four were now severely 
 wounded. Decatur singled out the commander as the peculiar 
 object of his vengeance. The Turk was armed with an espon- 
 toon, and Decatur with a cutlass ; in attempting to cut off the 
 head of the weapon, his sword struck on the iron and broke 
 close to the hilt. The Turk at this moment made a push, which 
 slightly wounded him in the right arm and breast. He imme- 
 diately seized the spear and closed with him. A fierce struggle 
 ensued, and both fell, Decatur uppermost. By this time the 
 Turk had drawn a dagger from his belt, and was about to 
 
 <idii 
 
 
 .l.-y^a 
 
ifl^i. 
 
 120 
 
 SKETCHES Olr 
 
 ;< ;J!* 
 
 M 
 
 j;h 
 
 mi 
 
 Mi.'v: 
 
 plunge it in the body of his foe, when Decatur caught bis arm, 
 and shot him with a pistol which he had taken from his pocket. 
 During the time they were struggling on the deck, the crewt 
 rushed to the aid of their commanders, and a most sanguinary 
 conflict took place, insomuch, that when Decatur had despatch- 
 ed his adversary, it was with the greatest difficulty he could ex- 
 tricate himself from the killed and wounded that had fallen around 
 him. 
 
 It is with no common feeling of admiration that we record an 
 instance of heroic courage, and loyal self devotion, on the part of 
 a common sailor. During the early part of Decatur's struggle 
 with the Turk, he was assailed in rear by one of the enemy, who 
 had just aimed a blow at his head with his sabre, that must have 
 been fatal; at this fearful juncture, a noble hearted tar, who had 
 been so badly wounded as to lose the use of his hands, seeing no 
 other means of saving his commander, rushed between him and 
 the uplifted sabre, and received the blow on his own head, which 
 fractured his skull. We love to pause and honour great actioni 
 in humble life, because they speak well for human nature. Men 
 of rank and station in society often do gallant deeds, in a manner 
 from necessity. Their conspicuous station obliges them to do so, 
 or their eagesness for glory urges them on ; but an act like this 
 we have mentioned, so desperate, yet so disinterested ; done by 
 an obscure, unambitious individual, a poor sailor, can spring from 
 nothing but innate nobleness of soul. We are happy to add that 
 this generous fellow survived, and now receives a pension from 
 government. 
 
 Decatur succeeded in getting with both of his prizes to the 
 squadron, and the next day received the highest commendation, 
 in a general order from Commodore Preble. When that able of- 
 iicer was superseded in the command of the squadron, he gave 
 the Constitution to Captain Decatur, who had, some time before, 
 received his commission.* From that ship he was removed to 
 the Congress, and returned home in her when peace was con- 
 cluded with Tripoli. On his return to the United States, he was 
 employed in superintending gun boats, until the afTair of the Che- 
 sapeake, when he was ordereci to supersede Commodore Barron 
 in the command of that ship, since which period he has had the 
 command of the southern squadron. When the Unked States 
 was again put in commission, he was removed from the Chesa- 
 peake to that frigate. :., . 
 
 The present war with Great Britain has given Corr-mocore 
 Decatur another opportunity uf adding to the laurels he had al- 
 ready won. On the 25th October 1812, in lat. 29 N. bng. 29 
 3Q W« he fell in with his Britannic majesty's ship Macedonian, 
 
 * It was dated the 1 6th February, 1804, tlie day on vihkb he dtstrornl the PbiladelpluKi H: alt* 
 rl■o^•^v«d a vo»e of tlinnks ami a Tword for that aebievcmeut. 
 
 i;*-,,: 
 
' THE WAR. 
 
 121 
 
 mounting 49 carriage guns. This was one of the finest frigates 
 io the British navy, and commanded by Captain John S. Garden, 
 one of the ablest officers. She was in prime oTder, two 
 years old, and but four months out of dock. The enemy being 
 to windward, had the advantage of choosing his own distance ; 
 and, supposing the United States to be the Essex, (which only 
 mounts carronades) kept at first at long shot, and did not at any 
 moment come within the complete effect of the musketry and 
 grape. After the frigates had come to close action, the battle 
 was terminated in a very short period, by the enemy's surrender. 
 
 The whole engagement lasted for an hour and a half, being 
 prolonged by the distance at which the early part of it was fought, 
 and by a heavy swell of the sea. The superior gunnery of the Ame- 
 ricans was apparent in this, as in all our other actions. The Ma- 
 cedonian lost her mizen-mast, fore and main top-masts and main . 
 yard, and was much cut up in the hull Her loss was thirty six 
 killed, and sixty-eight wounded. The damage of the United 
 States was comparatively trivial, four killed and seven wounded ; 
 and she suffered so little in her hull and rigging, that she might 
 liave continued her cruise, had not Commodore Decatur thought 
 it important to convoy his prize into port. His reception of 
 Captain Carden on board of the United States, was truly charac- 
 teristic. On presenting his sword, Decatur observed that he 
 could not think of taking the sword of an officer who had de- 
 fended his ship so gallantly, but he should be happy to take him 
 by the hand. 
 
 We are sori'y to observe that Captain Carden has not been in- 
 genuous in his account of this affair. He mentions that, ** after 
 an hour's action^^ the enemy backed and came to the wind, and 
 I'tvas then enabled to bring her to close action." Now, on the 
 contrary, we have it from the very best authority, ihat the United 
 States was close haled to the wind, and her commander was ex- 
 tremely anxious to come to close quartets. There are other 
 parts of Captain Garden's official letter that are exceptionable, 
 but we shall pass them over without comment. It is natural for 
 a proud and gallant mind to writhe under humilation, and to en- 
 deavour to palliate the disgrace of defeat ; but a truly magnani- 
 mous spirit would scorn to do it at the expense of a brave and 
 generous foe. Captain Carden must know that he had it in his 
 power to close with the United States whenever he pleased, and 
 that there was no movement on the part of Commodore Decatur 
 to prevent it. We again repeat, that it is with regret we notice 
 any instance of disingenuousness in an officer whose general cha- 
 racter we admire, and whose deportment at all times to our 
 countrymen has been such as to entitle him to their highest good 
 
 win. 
 
 
 
 .t.M':S 
 
 ft 
 
 •' .,ir<^ JtJ 
 
122 
 
 :3X.ETCH]i3 UF 
 
 ! *■ 
 
 "■ 'lAl' 
 
 il 
 
 - It is not one of the least circumstances of Coniniudoie Deca 
 tur's good fortune, or rather good management, that he con- 
 voyed his prize, in her shattered condition, across a vast extent 
 of ocean, swarming with foes, and conducted' her triumphant- 
 ly into port ; thus placing immediately before the eyes of 
 his countrymen, a noble trophy of his own shill, and of national 
 prowess. 
 
 Such has been the brilliant career of this naval hero. In pri- 
 vate life his fortune has been equally propitious. Honoured by 
 his country, beloved by his friend?, and blessed by *he aftectionf 
 of an amiable and elegant woman.* He is now in the very 
 prime of life, pleasing, in his person, of an intelligent and inte 
 re.stiiig countenance, and an eye in whose mild and brilliant lustre, 
 spirit, enterprise and urbanity are happily blended. His deport 
 ment is manly and unassuming, and his manners peculiarly gentle 
 and engaging; uniting the polish of the gentleman with the frank 
 simplicity of the sailor. It is with the most perfect delight that 
 we have noticed our naval officers, on returning from the gallant 
 achievements which are the universal topics of national pride and 
 exultation, sinking at once into unostentatious and quiet citizens: 
 No vainglorious boastings, no puerile gasconades, are ever heard 
 from their lips; of their enemy they always speak with courtesy 
 and respect ; of their own exploits, with unaffected modesty and 
 frankness. With the aspiring ardour of truly brave spirits, they 
 pay but little regard to the past ; their whole souls seem stretch- 
 ed towards the future. Into such hands we confide, without 
 apprehension or reserve, our national interest and honour ; to 
 this handful of gallant worthies is allotted the proud destiny 
 of founding the naval fame of the nation, and of thus having 
 their names inseparably connected with the glory of their coun- 
 try .f [/Inalectic Magazine.] 
 
 
 * iiome yean since. Commodore Deeatnr was married to Miss Wheeler of Norfolk, a lady 
 ated lor uetr accompUtlimenti, and at that time a reigning belle in Virginia. 
 
 bra ted 
 
 cele 
 
 t The (Vigates Vnited Sutet and Macedonian have been measured, and the following are the 
 results : 
 
 length of deck breadth of beam tonnage 
 
 Unitol States irsfeet 48 feet um 
 
 Macedonian 16ft 48 8 inches I32i 
 
 Each vessel has fil'teen ports on a side on the main deck : the first carries 24 and the latti r I8 
 poundei-s thereon The carronades ol each, on the c|uarter deck and lorecastie are of the like cali' 
 biv ; and ilie only (urtiier diffennce is, that the United ^tate4 had five more of them. It it ialse 
 that our trigates carry i Jb. eHrroiiades . they bnve only ii'a- 
 
 The ital'ant conduct of Commodore Decatur, in capturing the Macedonian, has been rewarded b; 
 numerous tokens o: public grai tude. He has i-eceivcd a vote of timnks and roeJal from congresi; 
 a vote of iliankD and sword froiu the state ol Virginia ; a vote of thanks fmrn Maryland ; a vott ci 
 thanks and swoni from I'eniisylvai-.ia : a sword from the city ol fhilade'phia a vott of iliaiiki 
 from Massni'hust'lts ; a vote oi ii ank from the state of Ntw-Vork ; the fttidom of the city of Ni»- 
 Tork ; and has been elected an lonori'ry u)embcr of the Cincinnati Society of that state. Pub'if 
 (iitmtrs have been given him, and various othtr cutcrtainmentt. 
 
 !:«>« K? 
 
 
 'tis; -■:. 
 
 < 
 
 '<<fi 
 
 t <ti^\ ^_W.•^V#-■-f -P K-^';r^ ,^..i.»H 
 
THEWAIU ^'- 
 
 1«S 
 
 V 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 
 |rfolk, a lady «Ie 
 kullowing are tbc 
 
 Cruize of the Constitution and Hornet Capture of the Java 
 
 Biography of Capt. Bainbriige. ' | ;•; 
 
 After the capture of the Guerriere by the Constitution, the 
 latter required repairs, which vvere made at Boston with all possi- 
 ble despatch. Capt. Hull asked leave to remain on shore to trans> 
 act some private business of importance which was granted by the 
 navy department, and Capt. William Bainbridge was appointed 
 to the command of the Constitution. 
 
 In the latter part of Oct. she sailed in company with the Hor- 
 net, Capt. Lawrence, on a cruize to the East-Indies. They made 
 the coast of South America, and found the Bonne Citoyenne, of 
 22 guns,, having on board a million and half of specie, lying at 
 St. Salvador. Capt. Lawrence was desirous to engage her, tho* 
 superior to his own vessel by four guds; and accordingly sent a 
 challenge to her commander, Capt. Green, who declined meeting 
 him, on account of the danger he should be in from the Constitu- 
 tiou, though Capt. Bainbridge had given an assurance that he 
 would not interfere. To remove all suspicion, however, upon 
 this point, Capt. Bainbridge parted company from the Hornet, and 
 made northward along the Brazil coast. 
 
 Capture of the Java On the 29th of December, Capt. Bain- 
 bridge discovered, about nine in the morning, two sail, one of 
 which was standing oif shore towaids him. He immediately 
 made sail to meet the strange ship, and finding, as he approach- 
 ed her, that she did not answer his private signals, proceeded out 
 to sea in order to separate her from her companion, and draw her 
 oif the neutral coast. About one o'clock, having reached what 
 he considered a proper distance from the shore, he hoisted his en- 
 sign and pendant, which was answered by English colours, and 
 perceiving she was an English frigate (the Java, Capt. Lambert) 
 he took in his royals, tacked, and stood for the enen)y. The Ja- 
 va immediately bore down, intending to rake, which the Consti- 
 tution avoided by wearing. The enemy being now within ^half 
 a mile to windward, and having hauled down his flag, the Con- 
 stitution fired a gun ahead to make him show his colours, and im- 
 mediately poured in her whole broadside, on which English col- 
 ours were immediately hoisted, and the fire returned. On this 
 I the action became general, within grape and cannister dis- 
 tance. In a few minutes the wheel of the Constitution was shot 
 away ; and in about half an hour. Com. Bainbridge finding that 
 his adversary kept too far off, determined to close with him at the 
 Hsk of being raked. He therefore iufTed up so close to the Jav^j 
 
 
 
 ilM 
 
 ■':M 
 
 m 
 
 
124 
 
 IKBTCltgS OV 
 
 
 1} ' 
 
 ;■)' I 
 
 
 
 
 'Jj 1 
 
 iiWI 
 
 that in paisinj^, lier jibboom got foul of the Constitutional mizzea 
 rigf^ing ; and having now gained a nearer position, he poured io 
 80 well directed a fire, that in ten minutes he shot away the Ja- 
 va's jibboom and part ot the bowsprit ; in five minutes more her 
 
 foremast went by the board....her maintopmnst followed then 
 
 the gaft and spanker boom, and lastly the mizzenmast went near- 
 ly by the board. At five minutes past four, one hour and fifty 
 minutes from the commencement of the action, the Java's fire 
 was completely silenced, and her colours being down, Capt. 
 Bainbridge supposed that she had struck : he therefore shot ahead 
 to repair his rigging ; but while hove to for that purpose, discov- 
 ered that her colours were still flying, although her mainmast had 
 just gone by the board. He therefore bore down again upon her, 
 and having got close athwart her hows, was on the point of rak- 
 ing her with a broadside, when she hauled down her colours, be- 
 ing a completely unmanageable wreck, entirely dismasted, with- 
 out a spar of any kind standing. On boarding her it was found 
 that Capt. Lambert had been mortally wounded, and th(>t the Ja- 
 va was so much injured, that it would be impossible to bring her 
 to the United States. All the prisoners and the bagi^^ge were 
 therefore brought on hoard the Constitution, a service which it re- 
 quired two days to perform, there being but a single boi«t left be- 
 tween the two frigates. On the 31st she was blown up, and the 
 Constitution put into St. Salvador. The Java carried forty-nine 
 gims, and upwards of four hundred men ; she was bound to the 
 Enst-Indies, and had, in addition to her own crew, upwards of one 
 hundred supernumerary officers and seamen, for different ships on 
 the East-India station among whom wat Ji master and com- 
 mander in the navy, and also Lieut. Gen. Hislop and bis two aids, | 
 of the British army. 
 
 Her loss was sixty killed ; and among these Capt. Lambert 
 
 Of the wounded, the accounts varied from one hundred and one { 
 (which were ascertained positively) to one hundred and seventy. 
 
 On board the Constitution nine were killed, and twenty-five | 
 wounded ; among whom was the commodore himself. 
 
 This victory vas scarcely less honourable to Com. Bainbridge, | 
 than the generosity with which he exercised the rights of a con- 
 queror. While on board, the prisoners were treated with the I 
 md^t respectful attention. Immediately on their landing at St. 
 Salvador, they were set at liberty on parole, and received every | 
 article of their baggage : and particularly a service of plate be- 
 longing to Gen. Hislop, was carefully preserved and restored to I 
 him. These proofs of honourable courtesy were not lost on the 
 prisoners, who expressed their gratitude iu a manner as creditable | 
 to themselves as to the victors. 
 
 The decayed state of the Constitution and other circumstancei I 
 c/jmbining to interfere with the original plan of the cruize, Coini 
 
41 
 
 XHS WAR. 
 
 Buinbridge now left the Hornet to blockade a superior British foi ■-% 
 at St. Salvador, and returned to the United State*. 
 
 Capt. Bainbridge arrived at Bolton about the middle of Februa- 
 ry, in lafety. i ,. • 
 
 Biography of Capt. Bainbridge.>»»^iLLi AM Bainbridge^ 
 aon of Dr. Absalom Bainbridge, a respectable physician of Prince- 
 ton, New-Jersey, was born at that place on the 7th of May, 1774. 
 While yet a child his parents removed to New-York, and he was 
 left under the care of his grandfather, John Taylor, Esq. of Mon- 
 mouth county, where he received his education, which, as he was 
 originally destined to mercantile pursuits, was confined to the or- 
 dinary branches of English instruction, and the rudiments of the 
 French language. At sixteen he was placed in a counting-house 
 at New York, but was soon removed by his grand-father to Phi- 
 ladelphia, and placed as an apprentice to the sea service, in the 
 employ of Messrs. Miller and Murray, merchants, whom he was 
 to serve for a certain time without indentures, and free of ex- 
 pense. In their employ he made many voyages, and soon rose 
 to command. At eighteen years of age, while mate of the ship 
 Hope, on her way to Holland, the crew, taking advantage of a 
 violent gale of wind, rose upon the officers, seized the captain, 
 and had nearly succeeded in throwing him overboard, when young 
 Bainbridge, hearing the alarm, ran on deck with an old pistol 
 without a lock, and being assisted by an apprentice boy and an 
 Irish sailor, who was attached to him from being an old ship- 
 mate, rescued the captain, seized the ringleaders, and quelled the 
 mutiny. So satisfied were his employers with this as well as his 
 general conduct, that before his term of service expired, he re- 
 ceived the command of a ship in the Dutch trade when only nine- 
 teen years of age. From this time, 1793, till the year 1798, he 
 commanded merchant ships in the trade from Philadelphia to Eu- 
 rope. In one sf these voyages, in the year 1796, on his way 
 from Bourdeax to St. Thomas, in the small ship Hope, with four 
 small carriage guns and nine men, he had an engagement with 
 a British schooner of eight guns and thirty-five men, commanded 
 by a sailing master in the navy, and after a smart action compel- 
 led her to strike her colours. As, however, the two countries 
 were at peace, and he of course was acting only on the defen- 
 sive, he could not take possession of her ; but sent her off con- 
 temptuously to make a repoit of her action. The Hope lost no 
 men, but the enemy had many killed and wounded. 
 
 In the month of July, 1798, while preparing to sail for Spain, 
 he received, unexpectedly, and without any application on his 
 part, an offer of the command of the United States' schooner Re- 
 taliation, of fourteei} guns, to be employed against France, be- 
 tween which power and the United States hostilities. had recent- 
 
 *■ I"', 
 
 ■1 
 
 
120 
 
 SiKKTCHIS OF, 
 
 11 •/ I 
 
 w-^y\ 
 
 JHltl 
 
 ly ccmiTirnced. He accepted the appointment, on condition Um 
 hi* should have a coniiiiission ai lieutenant and commander in the 
 navy, and be placed first of that grade on the list of promotion. 
 Having received this he sailed in the Retaliation, and after cruiz- 
 ing during the summer, along the coast of the United States, ac- 
 companied the squadron, under Com. Murray, on a cruize in the 
 West-Indies. While cruizing to the windward of Guadaloupe, 
 the Retaliation was captured, in the month of November, by two 
 French frigates and a lugger, and taken into that island, whtre 
 the remained three months. On board the frigate which captured 
 her wasGen. Desfourneaux, on hit way t«Gaudaloupe,to supercede 
 Victor Hughes in the command of the island. This officer, desir- 
 ous, as it would appear from his conduct, of seeming to be the 
 fiiend of the United States, and from political motives, to soothe 
 the irritation of the American people at the outrages oi the French 
 government, proposed to Lieut. Bainbridge to resume the com* 
 oiand of his vessel, and return to the United States. This offer 
 was accompanied by assurances of the refpect and regard in 
 which he held the American people. His conduct, however, ren- 
 dered these plausible appearances but too suspicious. Whilst afiect- 
 ing an ostentatious generosity in giving up the Retaliation, other 
 American ships, of far more value, were retained, and bis assur- 
 ances of respect were contradicted by the harsh and rigorous treat« 
 ment of many Americans whom he refused to regard as prison- 
 ers, but who were confined and treated with as much severity as 
 criminals. Perceiving the scheme which was laid for him, Lieut. 
 Bainbridge replied, that he knew of no other light in which he 
 could be regarded, than either as a prisoner, or as entirely free 
 that if Gen. Desfourneaux returned him his ship and his com- 
 mission, that commission required him to cruize against the com- 
 merce of France, tin injunction which be dared not disobey. 
 On the other hand, if he were a prisoner, the proper course 
 would be to make his ship a cartel, and send her home in that way. 
 He remonstrated, at the same time, with great firmness against 
 the treatment which his countrymen were daily receiving. Gen. 
 Desfourneaux insisted on his resuming his command, threatened 
 him with imprisonment if he refused, and declared, that if, on re- 
 ceiving the Retaliation he should cruize against the French, every 
 American would be put to the sword. Lieut. Bainbridjge replied, 
 that no threats should induce him to act unworthy of his charac- 
 ter as an American officer ; till at last, finding that he was not 
 to be won over into this plan of dissembled friendship. Gen. Des- 
 fourneaux gave him a declaration, that he had been obliged by 
 force to resume the command of hi.s vessel, with her crew re- 
 duced to forty men ; and with this justification for his govern- 
 ment, Lieut. Bainbridge sailed, in company with two flags of truci;. 
 for the United States. ,. . ^ 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 1«# 
 
 He reached home in February, 1700, and his exchniige being 
 joon effected, he received a commission of miister cominAiidant, 
 (ind sailed in the brip; Norfolk, of eighteen guns, on a second 
 cruize to the West liidifs. Here he remained, convoying the 
 trade of the United Stntes, for some months, during which time 
 he captured a French privateer, ran ashore another of sixteen 
 guns, destroyed a number of barges, besides taking several of the 
 enemy's merchant vessels. On his return to the United States in 
 August of the same .V(>ar, bo found that durmg his absence, con- 
 trary to the assurani ls he had received, as well as to the tenure 
 of his commissions (both of which were higher than that of any 
 lieutenant; that five lieutenants had been promoted over him to 
 the rank of captain. As his conduct had uniformly received the 
 approbation of the government, and as none of those who were 
 promoted had had any opportunity of distinguishing themselves 
 particularly, he remonstrated, of course, against such a violation 
 of his rights. He received, however, no other satisfaction than a. 
 promise that no such appointment should take place for the future. 
 Were it not for this irregularity he would now have ranked as 
 second captain in the navy. Although mortified and disappointed, 
 bis attachment to the service induced him still to remain in it ; 
 and he again sailed with a squadron of four brigs and a ship, des> 
 tined to protect the trade of the United States to Cuba a ser- 
 vice which he performed so much to the satisfaction of all who 
 were interested in it, that on his leaving the station in April^ 
 1800, an address was presented to him from the American mer- 
 chants and others concerned in the United States' trade, express- 
 ive of their regret at his approaching absence, and their testimo- 
 ny "of the vigilance, perseverance, and urbanity which had 
 marked his conduct during his arduous command on this station," 
 end the ''essential services vviiich he had rendered to his coun- 
 try." 
 
 When he returned to the United States he received a captain's 
 commission, and was appointed to the command of the frigate 
 George Washington, in which he shortly afterwards sailed for 
 Algiers, with the presents which the United States were by treaty 
 bound to make to that regency. He arrived in safety at Algiers 
 on the 17th of September, 180D, and proceeded to land the pres- 
 ents, which were well received, and every attention paid to Capt. 
 Bainbridge, to wham the dey presented an elegant Turkish sword. 
 In a few days, however, these friendly appearances vanished, and 
 the dey made a most unexpected and extraordinary demand,^that 
 the George Washington should carry hii; ambassador with pres- 
 sents to the grand seignior at Constantinople. This demand was 
 made under pretence of one of the stipulations in our treaty with 
 Algiers, by which it is declared, that " should the dey want to 
 'reight any American vessel that may be in the regency of Tur- 
 
 t 
 
 •' -'M 
 
ihpC 
 
 ]■'■ h: • ' -S 'I 
 
 III ^:'.y ■ 4 ' 
 
 '■. U :!'■ J « 
 
 
 '. 1 
 
 1.28 
 
 SKETCHES Oy 
 
 key, said vesael not being engaged, in consequence of the friend- 
 ship subsisting between the two nations, he expects to have the 
 preference given hinj, on his paying the same freight offered by 
 any other nation.'' Against this requisition Capt. Bainbridgc and 
 the American consul, Mr. O'Brien, remonxtrated warmly and 
 strenuously. It was evident, they said, that this stipulation could 
 apply only to merchant ships, not to national vessels, chargi d by 
 their own government with specific employment8....that Capt. 
 Bainbridge had received positive instructions for his voyage, from 
 which he dared not, and would not deviate, and that there were 
 other ships in the harbour which would answer the purpose equal- 
 ly well. The dey, however, persisted in his demand ; and left 
 Capt. Bainbiidge only a choice of great difficulties and embarrass, 
 nients. On the one hand, an ambassador, with a retinue of two 
 hundred Turks as passengers, and presents to the amount of five 
 or six hundred thousand dollars, were to be forced on board the 
 frigate, and carried to Constantinople, at the entire risk of the 
 United States. If in the new and dangerous navigation to that] 
 place accidents happened to the dey's property, the United Stales 
 would be held responsible to indemnify him ; if any cruizers of I 
 the Portuguese, Neapolitans, or other powers at war with Algiers 
 should meet the George Washington and capture her, still the 
 United States would be bound to reimburse the loss ; and the 
 American vessels in the Mediterranean would be instantly seized 
 by the Algerines as a security for it. Should he be more fortu- 
 nate and beat off these enemies, they might consider this cover of | 
 Algerine property as a violation of neutrality, and think them- 
 selves justified in retaliating on the defenceless commerce of the I 
 United States in the Mediterranean. Besides which, he would 
 deviate from his orders by undertaking, for six months, a voyage 
 not sanctioned by his government. On the other hand, a refusal 
 to comply would occasion the detention of the frigate, which was 
 now in the power of the dey, and be followed by an immediate 
 declaration of war against the United States, for this alledged 
 breach of the treaty, and a seizure of all American vessels in the 
 Mediterranean. In this situation Capt. Bainbridge opposed the 
 dey aa long and as vigorously as possible. The dey promised that 
 if a Sweedish frigate, which was then expected, arrived, he [ 
 would take her in place of the George Washington. But she ( 
 not come. A British twenty-four gun ship arrived jtnd offered to I 
 carry the presents. This, however, the dey refused, because he 
 would not be under obligations to England ; and at last, exasper 
 ated by opposition he sent for Capt. Bainbridge and the coiml,\ 
 and peremptorily demanded that the frigate should go to Cou- 
 stantinople, threatening, in case of refusal, to make slaves of all i 
 the Americans in Algiers, to detain the frigate, and send out hii 
 cruizers against the defenceless trade of the United State?. The I 
 
 1 
 
v-'n 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 120 
 
 liberty of his countrymen, and the safety of the American com- 
 merce, decided Capt. Bainbridge at last to smother his indigna* 
 tion at this unpleasant and humiliating service, and he consented 
 to receive the Algerine ambassador. 
 
 Another difference arose about the flag : Capt. Bainbridge de- 
 Glared that the frigate should carry her own colours ; but the 
 dev insisted that the flag of Algiers should be worn during the 
 voyage. It was vain to resist, however mottifying to obey. 
 
 They sailed from Algiers on the 10th of October. The winds 
 were unfavourable, the weather bad, and the socifty of the Turks 
 not calculated to console the officers for these inconveniences ; but 
 they submitted with as good grace att possible to a humiliation 
 which they deemed necessary for their country's service. The 
 frigate anchored at the lower end of Constantinople in twenty- 
 three days from her departure, and the next morning, the 12th 
 of Nov .mber, the American flag was hoisted at the mizen, the 
 Algerine at the main. Soon afterwards three officers in succes- 
 sion were sent on board by the grand seignior, to inquire what 
 ship that was, and what colours she had hoisted. They were 
 told that it was an American frigate and an American flag. They 
 said they did not know any such country. Capt. Bainbridge then 
 explained that America was the New World.... by which name 
 they had some idea of the country. After these inquiries the 
 frigate came into the harbour, saluted the grand seignior's palace 
 with twenty-one guns, and proceeded to unload the Algerine car- 
 go. The ambassador was not permitted to have his audience be- 
 fore the arrival of the capudan pacha, or high admiral from Egypt, 
 and it was necessary for the frigate to wait the result. Capt. 
 Bainbridge endeavoured to employ the interval in giving to the 
 Turkish government a favourable impression of a country, of which 
 his ship and crew were the only specimens they had ever had an 
 opportunity of seeing. At this time an embassy to Constantinople 
 was projected, and William L. Smith, Esq then minister of the 
 United States in Portugal, was designated as our ambassador. 
 It was therefore desirable that his arrival should be preceded by 
 as advantageous an opinion as possible of his country. How well 
 Capt. Bainbridge succeeded in making these impressions we may 
 learn from the unsuspicious testimony of a distinguished traveller, 
 Mr. Clarke, who was then at Constantinople, and with whom 
 Capt. Bainbridge contracted a friendly intimacy.* , 
 
 
 'The aiTivalofan Americaa frigate." says Mr. Clarke " for the fir«t titnc at Cotutantinopte, 
 fAUsed coiMidtrable sen^mtioii. not only amoni; the Turks, but al>o tliruii(;hout the whole dit)|a^ 
 inatic corps Jtatioiicd in Pen*. This ship. ciiiiiiimnde<l by Capt. Baiiibriilge. caim: from Algiers, 
 ^"'•* I'^tter and presents from the dey in tht sUllan and cai>u<lai' pacha. I'he preients consist- 
 <a ot lygers and other nninuils stnt \vith a view to conciliate, the I urkish government, whom the 
 'ley had offeiideil. When she came to an anchor and a message went t« the porte that an 'tmeti- 
 <aii tnijate was in the harbour, thr lurks were altogtthcr unable to compteliend where the eouni 
 tjy was situated whose flag they had to salute. A great deal Oi lime x as there ore lost in seltlinf 
 <iiii impartant point, and cuntideriiig how to receive the Strang' r. In the mca>ilime wr weni oa 
 knaid to visit ihu captain ; and were sittintr with him if th<- eabiii, wl^en a mcsse iger came from 
 ^it Inikiih giiveriimvnt to ask whetlier America was not otherwiw rallMt the ^ew Warii; iM, 
 
 R 
 
 
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 Hi 
 
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 I Hi 
 Pi' 
 
 
 ii - 
 
 130 
 
 bKETCHJiS OP 
 
 On the arrival of the capudan pacha, the unfortunate Algerm? 
 ambassador was denied an audience, and both his letters and pres- 
 ents refused, on acccount of the many depredations committed by 
 Algiers on the commerce of Austria and other nations friendly to 
 the porte, and also for having made peace with France without 
 consulting the grand seignior. The ambassador and his suite 
 were not suffered to leave their houses, the dey of Algiers was or- 
 dered to declare war against France, and sixty days allowed to 
 receive in Constantinople the account of his compliance, on pain 
 of immediate war. 
 
 Capt. Bainbridge was, however, received by the capudan pacha 
 with distinguished politeness. He took the frigate under his im- 
 mediate protection ; requested Capt. Bainbridge to haul down the 
 Algerine flag and carry the American ; and being fond of ship 
 building and naval affairs, conceived, from the seaman like con- 
 duct of the officers and the state of the frigate, a high idea of out 
 marine character, These attentions were peculiarly grateful, a? 
 this officer was related by marriage to the grand seignior, and 
 supposed to possess great influence in public affairs. He after, 
 wards addressed a friendly letter to Mr. Smith, the expected am- 
 bassador, and the two countries might have formed a commercia! 
 tieaty under very favourable auspices : but the mission to Con- 
 stantinople was afterwards discountenanced by our government. 
 The different diplomatic characters at Constantinople paid to 
 
 Capt. Bainbridge very marked civilities more particularly lord 
 
 Elgin, the British, and baron de Hubsch, the Danish ambassador. 
 Every thing being at length arranged, the George Washington 
 sailed from Constantinople in the month of December, carrying 
 the Turkish ambassador's secretary back to Algiers, with an ac- 
 count of the unfortunate result of his embassy. 
 
 This voyage to Constantinople, though irksome to the officers, 
 was ultimately the' means of acquiring much honour to the United 
 States, and might have been rendered highly serviceable. For- 
 tunately for us, the George Washington arrived suddenly before 
 Constantinople, which no Christian vessel was permitted to do 
 
 being antwcietl in the affirmative, assured the captain that he was welcome, and wouhl be trcateA 
 with lie lit > o«t cordiality ai>d re'pect. t'he messongers from the dey vert- then urilered on Iju.trd 
 the caimdaii |iaclia°» ship ; wlio. rt-ceivnig: tlie Utter tVoni their tover<.-iiie; with tcreat rage, first i>|iBt. 
 and t)ieii stamptd upon it ; telliii>>: tbiiin tog;o back lo their master, and inform dim tliat lie wouU 
 be si.'rvtd after tlie ante inann. r. w.'u never the I'ui'kisii admiral met him. Capt. Bainbrid.'e wai, 
 however, received with every in.irk of attention, and rewarded with niap:nificeii< presents * I'tit 
 fin^- ii'derof the slop and the healthy state ol her crew became topics oi genei'ai conversation in 
 i'era and the diffi i-cnt miniiters strove who should receive him in their palaces. We accompani- 
 ed h ni in liis loii^' boat to the Uluck -tea as lie was de>ii'cius o: boislinic there, for the firs) tiiiiL- tin- 
 American Aug ; and, upon his return were amused with a very singular entertainment at his lubk 
 during dinner. Upon the fuui' contei's were as many decanters containing fresh water from a« 
 many quarters of the globe. 'I'lie natives of Kuripe Asia. AlVica, and America ^at down logttlur 
 at the same table and wei-e regaled with flesh fi uit, bread, anil other viands while, of every uriiclo. 
 a sample Irom eaeh q<iarter of the globe was p evented at the same time. The means of acioin 
 
 plisiting this are easily explaineii, by bis having toucliiil at Algiers in his passage from 
 aud being at auclior so near the shores both ut Europe and Asia. 
 
 Amcric;! 
 
 * This is incon-i cth stated. The only preseutt iceeircd Wcr6 t «lAwl and a TUt: cl<»k,'.vl)ich tr 
 tether wtrc worth about 400 dolhin. .. ^^ ..,,,: ^ 
 
 hi 
 
 iiiW 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 IrS.l 
 
 the iaw8 of ihc porte requiring that all foreign vessels should wait 
 one hundred and twenty miles belov the city, in order to obtain 
 leave to conae up ; and as the American flag and nation were 
 then unknown, and the ministers of foreign powers would of 
 course have been unwilling to see a young adventurous people ad- 
 mitted to share the advantages of a trade, which they were enjoy- 
 ing exclusively, the probability is that the frigate never would 
 have reached Constantinople. Arriving, however, as she did, a 
 fine ship, with an excellent crew in the best discipline, she gave 
 the Turks a high idea of the naval character of the United States 
 .....a character which they have since seen us sustain with so much 
 glory in the war with Tripoli. After landing some Turks at Mal- 
 ta, as a favour to the capudan pacha, Capt. Bainbridge arrived off 
 Algiers on the twenty-first of January. Warned by his past mis- 
 fortune, he did not venture his frigate within reach of the fort, but 
 sent the ambassador's secretary on shore in a boat, although the 
 dey desired that he would come into port to discharge some guns 
 belonging to Algiers, which he had taken in there as ballast for 
 the voyage to Constantinople. The dey, however, insisted, and 
 Capt. Bainbridge, fearful of the consequences to the unprotected 
 commerce of the United States, again ventured within the dey*8 
 power, delivered the old guns, and took other ballast. The ty- 
 rant was now so effectually humbled by the orders of the grand 
 seignior, that he instantly released four hundred prisoners, who 
 had been taken with British and Austrian passports, and declared 
 war against France. Finding too, that Capt. Bainbridge was on 
 friendly terms with the capudan pacha, his menaces softened into 
 great mildness. After having been thus instrumental in the re- 
 lease of so many prisoners, Capt. Bainbridge was now enabled 
 to serve the interests of humanity in another way. On the de- 
 claration of wai" with France, the consul and all the French sub- 
 jects, then in Algiers, were ordered to leave the country in forty- 
 eight hours, and as their longer stay would have exposed them 
 to captivity, they were all taken on board the George Washing- 
 ton. 
 
 He sailed from Algiers about the last of January, and after land- 
 ing the French passengers at Alicant, arrived at Philadelphia in 
 the month of April, 180i, and received the marked approbation 
 of the government for his conduct during this long^, unpleasant, 
 Bnd delicate service. Before his return, the cessation of hostilities 
 with France had caused a reduction of the navy, and there were 
 retained only nine captains, of whom he had the satisfation of 
 finding himself one. In the following June he received the com- 
 mand of the frigate Essex. About this time the regency of Tri- 
 poli, emboldened by the success of the Algerines, commenced hos- 
 tilities against the United States : to oppose which a squadron of 
 frigates, among which was the Essex, was sent to tin* Mediterra- 
 
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 I 
 
 M 
 
 ■:i 
 
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132 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
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 Ry" ' 'i 
 
 im 
 
 |i;:i 
 
 nean. Here he continued for thirteen or fou.teon months engag- 
 ed in convoying American ships and other neutrals in the Mediter- 
 ranean, and cruizing against the Tripolitan ships of war, with 
 none of which, however he had the good fortune to engage. He 
 returned to New-York in July, 1802, and remained on shore for 
 about nine months, engaged in superintending the building of the 
 U. States' briffs Syren and Vixen. 
 
 In May, 1803, he was appointed to command the Philadelphia, 
 a frigate built by the merchants of Philadelphia, and presented to 
 the government of the United States. He sailed in her from the 
 port of Philadelphia, in July, 1803, for the Mediterranean, to join 
 the squadron then under Com. Preble. On reaching Gibraltar, 
 he heard of two Tripolitan cruizers off Cape de Gatt, and immedi- 
 diately shaped his course after them. On the 26th of August he 
 discovered a ship wTth a brig in company, both under a foresail 
 only. As it was night, the wind blowing very fresh, and the ship's 
 guns housed, it was not till the Philadelphia hailed her that she 
 proved to be a vessel of war from the coast of Barbary. On or- 
 dering her boat on board with the ship's passports, she was found 
 to be the Mirboha, a cruizer of 22 guns and one hundred and ten 
 men, from Morocco, and by concealing from the Moorish officer 
 who came on board, the nation to which the Essex belonged, he 
 was led to mention that the brig was an American going to Spain, 
 whom they had boarded, but not detained. The low sail under 
 which the brig wa?, however, exciting some suspicion, Capt. 
 Bainbridge sent his first lieutenant to examine if the ship had any 
 American prisoners ; but he was prevented by the captain of the 
 ship. A boat well manned and armed was sent to enforce a com- 
 pliance, and they found on board the American captain of the brig, 
 who, with his crew, were all confined below, the brig having 
 been captured by the Moorish cruizer nine days before. After 
 this act of hostility, Capt. Bainbridge had no hesitation in making 
 prize of the ship, which was immediately manned from the Phila- 
 delphia, and the two ships proceeded to cruize for the brig, which 
 had made off during this examination. It was not till after a 
 search among a fleet of vessels, all the next day, that she was 
 discovered, pursued, and taken, and bdth vessels carried into Gib- 
 raltar. . •-!, 
 
 On board the Mirboha were found cruizing orderg from the 
 governor ofTangiers, which proved the hostile dispositions of the 
 emperor of Morocco, who was about letting loose his forces 
 against the American commerce. The capture of oneof his finest 
 ships, at the very commencement of this scheme, convinced him 
 of the folly of it, and afforded Com. Preble, on his arrival at Gib- 
 raltar, the means or bringing the emperor to a speedy and perroa' 
 neqt peace with the United States. 
 
 M: 
 
 'l;i! 
 
''***.■£ ■I' 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 13^ 
 
 Mediter- 
 ar, with 
 ge. He 
 shore for 
 ig of the 
 
 adelphia, 
 ?enttd to 
 from the 
 I, to join 
 Gibraltar, 
 immedi- 
 LUgust he 
 t foresail 
 the ship's 
 that she 
 On or- 
 i;as found 
 1 and ten 
 sh officer 
 nged, he 
 I to Spain, 
 ail under 
 m, Capt. 
 had any 
 lin of the 
 ;e a com- 
 the brig, 
 g having 
 After 
 making 
 he Phila- 
 J, which 
 ll after a 
 she was 
 nto Gib- 
 
 Trom the 
 
 18 of the 
 
 Is forces 
 
 liis finest 
 Iced him 
 at Gib- 
 perroa' 
 
 \N'hile he was detained by this negocintion, Capt. Bainbridge, 
 11 company with the Vixen, Capt. Smith, had proceeded to block- 
 ade the harbour of Tripoli. Here he soon received information 
 (hat a Tripolitan cruizer had escaped from the port, and he des- 
 patched the Vixen to cruize off Cape Bon in quest of her. After 
 her departure the Philadelphia was driven from her cruizing ground 
 for several days, by the prevalence of strong svesterly gales ; but 
 the wind Having changed to the eastward, she was returning to 
 her station when, on the 31st of October, not many leagues to 
 the east of the town, at about nine o'clock in the morning, a 
 strange ship was seen in shore, to which chase was immediately 
 given. The chase kept as close in shore as she dared, and ran 
 for the harbour of Tripoli. The Philadelphia continued to chase 
 along the land, not venturing into shoaler water than seven fath- 
 oms, and keeping up a constant fire ; but finding she could not 
 cut the chase off from the harbour, gave up the pursuit, and lialed 
 her wind to the northward, which waf directly from off the land ; 
 when, about half after eleven o'clock, as she was going at the 
 rate of six or seven knots, she ran upon rocks about four mile§ 
 and a half from the town. These rocks are a continuation of 
 a reef which directly opposite the town are above water, and 
 extend a long distance to the eastward. They were not laid 
 down in any charts on board, nor had they been discovered by 
 our public ships, which had before cruized on this coast ; nor, al- 
 though three leads were l.ept heaving, were they perceived till 
 she struck. Great exertions were instantly made to float the 
 
 * 
 
 siiip. A part of the guns were thrown overboard ; the anchors 
 cut away from the bows ; the water started ; the foremast cut 
 away ; but all to no purpose. As soon as she had grounded the 
 gunboats came out to attack her. They took a position on her 
 quarters : but her stern chasers compelled them to change their 
 station ; and while the ship continued upright, with the few guns 
 that could be brought to bear, she could keep the enemy at dis- 
 tance ; but she soon lay over so much on one side, that she could 
 not use her guns. At length, after sustaining the enemy's fire 
 for between five and six hours, and seeing no chance of getting 
 the ship off, a council of war was called of all the officers, who 
 gave an unanimous opinion, that, as it was impossible to defend 
 themselves, or to annoy the enemy, any further show of resistance 
 would only expoi^e the lives of the crew, and that the painful al- 
 ternative of surrendering was all that remained for them. The 
 magazine was therefore drowned ; the arms and every article 
 of value thrown overboard ; the ship scuttled ; the pumps choak- 
 «c), and the colours were then hauled down at five o'clock. One 
 of the boats was sent to acquaint the enemy that the ship would 
 make no further resistance. ** On approaching the enemy," says 
 ^Nie of the officers employed on this occasion, '* we were hailed 
 
 
 t'.'.f.. 
 
 I'. 
 
sit i 
 
 134 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
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 'I . iW 
 fj: ■ '■■■: f m 
 
 IN:. 
 
 by almost every one, and each ordered us along side of his boas. 
 One, however, fired a shot, which struck near us, and presuming 
 him to be the commodore, we rowed towards him, when one of 
 the near gun-boats, perceiving we were not coming to him, man- 
 ned his boat and came after us. There were about fifteen men in 
 this boat, ail armed with pistols, with sabres, and a long musket 
 suspended over their backs. They were a ferocious and savage 
 set. They sprung intoour boat, and immediately two seized Litut. 
 Porter, and two others seized me. My coat was soon off, my 
 vest unbottoned, and my cravat torn from my neck. I thought, I 
 for my own part, I should not have time to coun^i my beads ; but 
 we soon perceived that their violence was only with a view of I 
 getting from us whatever money or valuables we might have con- 
 cealed about our persons. We now proceeded towards the shore, I 
 the gun-boat men continuing in our boat. It was just dark whenj 
 we approached the beach, which was covered with people, arm- 
 ed and shouting most hideously, and landed amid the shouts of the I 
 populace, by whom we were pushed about rudely. We were 
 conducted to the gate of the pacha's castle, followed by the 
 crowd. Here we were detained some minutes, his majest} not I 
 being ready to receive us. We were, however, at length usher- 
 ed into his presence. We now felt ourselves safe. The, pacha I 
 was seated in state, with his ministers and principal officers about 
 him, and surrounded by a numerous guard. We were desired to 
 be seated, while the boat's crew stood fit some distance back. 
 A variety of questions were put to us : how many men were in 
 the Philadelphia? how many guns had she ? were any of the gum 
 of brass ? how much powder was there ? was there any money 
 in the ship ? where was Com. Morris ? where was the schooner 
 Enterprise ? &c. Three glasses of sherbert were brought, one for 
 each of us, of which we drank." 
 
 The same scene of plunder was renewed when the Tripolitaoi 
 came on board. They took from Capt. Bainbridge his watch, | 
 and epaulets, and the cravat from his neck : but with much strug- 
 gling and difficulty he saved the miniature of his wife. When 
 he vi'as brought into the castle the same set of questions were re- 
 peated by the pacha, who observed, among other things, that the 
 fortune of war had placed Capt. Bainbridge in his present situa- 
 tion. They were'then sent to another apartment, where a sup*] 
 per was provided for the officers ; after which they were brought 
 in a body before the pacha, who gratified himself by taking a view j 
 of them collectively. The complacency with which he surveyed 
 ihem, his cheerful and animated countenance, sufficiently denoted 
 his satisfaction at seeing them. His reception of them, however, 
 made favourable impressions of his character. He presented them 
 to his minister of foreign affairs, Sidi Muhamed Dghies, who \va« 
 to have charge of them, and who, the bashaw^ ohserved, wouH 
 
THE WAR, 
 
 13» 
 
 take good care of them. This indeed they found to be strictly 
 true ; for they were now conducted to the house of the late Anner- 
 ican consul, and although it was by this time one o'clock in the 
 morning, the minister sent for the Danish consul, Mr. Nissen, 
 whom he introduced to Capt. Bainbridgc as his particular friend, 
 and one who would render the oiiicers every service in his pow- 
 er. This estimable man immediately brou|?ht refreshments, and 
 all the bedding which he could collect at that hour ; and about 
 two o'clock the officers lay down to sleep as well as their new 
 and terrible misfortune would permit them. The next day, the 
 minister of foreign affairs requested Cypt. Bainbridge and his offi- 
 cers to give their parole, in order that he might in turn, pledge his 
 I word to the pacha for their safety. This was complied with. 
 JThe officers also presented an unanimous addrt^ss to the captain, 
 Jin which they stated their belief that the charts and soundings jus- 
 tified as near an approach to the shore as they had made ; and. 
 declaring, that on this as on every other occasion, his conduct 
 had been correct and honourable. Soothed by this proof of confi- 
 dence and attachment, Capt. Bainbridge endeavoured to render 
 ithe situation of his officers and crew as comfot table as pos:sible. 
 JThe consular house was commodious, and although not large 
 lenough for the accommodation of so many persons, was at leasj 
 jairy, and the atmosphere they breathed was pur*. About a fort- 
 Iniglit after this, however, the pacha's minister acquainted Capt. 
 Ifiainbridge that letters had been received from the Tripolitan» 
 jwho had been taken by Capt. Rodgers, in the John Adams, com- 
 plaining of being ill-treated by him, and Capt. Baiubridge was re- 
 fquested to sign an order upon Com. Preble to give up these Tripo- 
 llitan prisoners, with a declaration, that if he refused, the ill-treat- 
 Iment shown to the Tripolitan prisoners should be retaliated upon 
 Itfie officers of the Philadelphia. Capt. Bainbridge peremptorily 
 liefused to sign this order, and accordingly, by way of punish- 
 jment, they were conducted by the slave driver to the prison^ 
 Iwliere the crew were confined at work. Here they remained 
 lone day, when the Tripolitan government finding Capt. Bain- 
 Jbridge's firmness not to be shaken, they were re-couducted in the 
 levening to the consular house, and an apology received from the 
 Iminister for the indignity they had suffered. Here they continu- 
 led, and were permitted occasionally to walk out to the country 
 |iu small parties, accompanied by a guard. 
 
 On the Idth of February, 1804, the Philadelphia was burnt by 
 iDecatur. This mortified the pacha exceedingly ; though he af- 
 ffected to consider it as a fortune of war. Some of the bodies of 
 [persons who were known to have been on board the Philadelphia, 
 Bloated ashore, from which the pacha pretended to believe, that 
 ID ca'ur, after getting clear of the harbour, had, in cold blood, 
 pilled the prisoners. This was the pretext for iocrcasiBg the sie- 
 
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 1 
 
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 1 
 
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 136 
 
 JjK ETCHES OF 
 
 verity of fheir confinement. Accordingly they were removed (c| 
 appartmcnts in the paclia's castle, exceedingly small, and but 
 adapted to accommodate so many. They were without windovvJ 
 and all the light, as well as fresh air, was admitted through a 
 small opening at the top, grated over with iron railing. The I 
 atmosphere they breathed, while thus closely confined, soon be 
 came unhealthy, and Capt. Bainbridgc repeatedly representtcl tol 
 the minister, that they could not exist so crowded together, oiid 
 with such confined air. After much delay, and when the warml 
 weHther came on, and they were all getting sick, these accommo 
 dations were enlarged by the addition of other rooms. Still the) I 
 were much crowded, and they could not have sustained such cod 
 finoment, but that the climate of Tripoli is the mildest and moill 
 delightful in the world. While in this confinement they were 
 fomelimes, when none of the American cruizers were ofl^", per 
 mitted to walk into the country ; but there was one period oi 
 nearly eight months, that they were not allowed this indulgence, 
 and these eight months included one whole 8ummer,a season when 
 the weather was warm, and consequently they most needed ex 
 ercise and fresh air. They continued in this confinement until the 
 peace of June, 1805. ', ' v. 
 
 The conduct of the pacha and his officers was, however, far I 
 more mild than they had been led to anticipate, and even this ri- 
 gorous confinement was imposed, not so much with a view to 
 make them suffer, as because the pacha thought it the only mode 
 by which he could secure them. He was very apprehensive on | 
 this point. The Danish consul endeavoured to explain to the Tri- 
 politan government the nature of a parole among £uropeans,and| 
 assured the government that by getting them to pledge their hon- 
 our, they would make no attempt to escape, and should be morel 
 safe than by all his guards, his bolts and his bars; but this the 
 pacha could not understand, and he could not be made to believe | 
 that nny prisoner who had the chance to escape, would be deter 
 red from doing so merely because he had passed his word, it I 
 was once debated in the divan, whether it would not be advisal 
 to put the officers to hard labour, under the idea that Com. Preble, | 
 as soon as he heard of it, would, on their account, be more soli 
 citous for peace. But it was justly concluded that it would havei 
 a contrary tendency ; that it would irritate and exasperate their | 
 countrymen, and induce a more vigorous presecution of the war 
 The project was theiefore abandoned. 
 
 When the news was received that Gen. Eaton had taken I 
 Derne, and in conjunction with the dethroned pacha, was ad 
 vancing towards Tripoli, Eaton's force was greatly exaggerated. 
 and the pacha became alarmed. He sent word to Capt. Bain- 
 bridge, that heretofore he considered the war as one of interes!] 
 only : that the United States prosecuted it in order to get away 
 
THI WAA. 
 
 w 
 
 diair eoontrymen ibr is tmall a turn of money as potaible^ and 
 that he continued it to get as much as possible for his prisoners ; 
 but that now the Americans had made common cause with hit 
 exiled brother, and that consequently, he must succeed against 
 £aton or lose his kingdom j that he had the means of injuring 
 the feelings of the American people in a most delicate point (mean- 
 teg> by putting the prisoners to death) and that in a case of ex- 
 tremity he should enforce these means. Ttic pacha thought to 
 alarm Capt. Bainbridge, and induce him to write to the commo- 
 dore, or to Eaton. Capt. Bainbridge> however, replied, that he 
 ADd his officers were in the power of the pachaj and that he 
 might do with them as he pleased ; that the United States had 
 many officers and seamen, and that consequently they should 
 be no loss to their country. This spirited reply saved him from 
 any more such messages. It is impossible to say whether the pa- 
 sha would or would not have gone to this extremity. He is a 
 man of strong passions, and ambitious ; and had he been driven 
 from bis kingdom, he might have been urged to this violence ; at 
 it cannot be supposed that he should enteitain the same sentiments 
 of abhorrence at the atrocity of sacrificing his prisoners, as would 
 be felt by an European. A place in the interior had certainly 
 been fixed on an as -a place of security for them, in case it became 
 necessary to remove- them from the capital. 
 
 While thus confined, without exercise or change of scene, their 
 time, it may be easily imagined, passed heavily. But their youth 
 and the hardy frame of mind, created by their profession, were 
 qualified to resist for a long time the depressing effects of misfor- 
 tune. After the short interval of unavailing regret had passed, 
 they collected their spirits and resources, and endeavoured to de- 
 rive amusement and occupation from every quarter. 
 
 When they were taken they lost all their clothes. The officero 
 of the Vixen, as soon as they heard of this circumstance, sent a 
 part of their clothes, which came very seasonably. Soon after, 
 some of their own was brought to the prison for sale, and each of- 
 ficer, having thus an opportunity of purchasing some of his former 
 wardrobe, they had a sufficient supply. Some of their books 
 were also taken to them to be sold, and were purchased from 
 the Tripolitans, to whom they were entirely useless, at a price 
 generally much below their value. 
 
 These furnished the means of constant employment, as their 
 (^cers were enabled to pursue the studies to which they were at- 
 tached, and the prison became a sort of academy, in which na- 
 vigation, the French language, and other instructive studies were 
 cultivated. Occasionally too they found some relief against ennui, 
 I • in theatrical performances. Among the books purchased was ^n 
 odd volume of plays, ' containing the Castle Spectre, the Heir at 
 iJiw, the Stranger, and. Scents Wortb Knowing. These, werr 
 
 
]«•. 
 
 SKKTCHbS 09 
 
 
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 ■l\ I ■■. U .< 
 
 In 
 
 W n.. 
 
 F> 
 
 )i 
 
 i:^ 
 
 lucccssiveiy got up and performed. This resourct- was hubband 
 ed very carefully. Thus they were busily occupied for some time 
 in preparing the scejiery, then the dresses, then in rehearsing, 
 and finally, after great exertions for three or four weeks, the the- 
 atre was opened. The scenery was painted in such colours as 
 could be piocured ; the gayer dresses of the ladies were formed 
 of sheets, while black silk handkerchiefs sewed together furnished 
 suits of wo ; and leaves and paper completed the materials of the 
 female toilet. After this, criticism upon the performance and dres- 
 ses of the several actors and actresses kept them alive, and some- 
 times cheerful for a fortnight ; and now again they began to pre 
 pare for another play. 
 
 Another great resource was, that sometimes they r ■ t'ved let- 
 ters from their friends in America. This indeed was rai , but it 
 always had a most lively and permanent effect upon them. Their 
 greatest comfort, however, certainly was that they were all kept 
 together. Had they been separated, and deprived of the support 
 of each other's company, they could not have survived so long a 
 captivity. 
 
 Among their comforts too we should not omit the active and 
 
 friendly humanity of Mr. Nissen, the Danish consul a gentleman 
 
 whose generous, manly, and honourable conduct should be con- 
 nected with every mention of the Tripolitan war. While tht 
 other agents of foreign countries, the French, English, and Span- 
 ish consuls kept aloof from some paltry consideration of timidity, or 
 commercial jealousy, or wrote to the captives a cold and forma! 
 and complimentary and unmeaning offer of service, Mr. Nisseo 
 came forward at once, and from the first to the last hour of their 
 captivity was a constant,, unremitting, anxious, and affectionate 
 firiend. Money, clothes, books, and e»'ery thing which could con- 
 tribute to render the situation of the captives less irksome, was 
 lavished 'bv the friendly zeal of Mr. Nissen. When the period 
 of their captivity was about expiring, they addressed to that esti- 
 mable man a letter of thanks for hi? disinterested friendship ; and 
 as soon as they were released, presented to him an urn, as a last- 
 ing monument of his benevolence and their gratitude. 
 
 Besides other modes of occupying their time, their minds were 
 frequently excited by hopes and efforts to escape. An attempt 
 was made in the latter end of April, 1804, to undermine the cas- 
 tle ard es.cape under the wall. They commenced digging in the 
 room of the warrant oflicers ; .but after working for four days 
 they reached, at the depth of twenty-five feet, a loose sand and 
 water, and found, that the foundation of the castle was built up- 
 on made ground, of so loose a texture, that it was impracticable 
 to undermine it horizontally the requisite distance, which was one 
 hundred and fifty yards, without boards td prop it and prevent 
 itg. failing in I as tbe;r.had mne of these they were obliged to looV 
 
i'KK WAR. 
 
 l^g 
 
 :o some other menns of escape. In the folloviing May they adopt- 
 ed another scheme. One of the inner walls of the prison com- 
 municated with a subterraneous passage, which they hoped would 
 lead to the outward walls of the castle, and by perforating thic 
 they expected to find a passage into the town. Accordingly they 
 began to take out one by one the stones of this wall, which were 
 carefully replaced to avoid 8u.«picion. For this labour they had 
 nothing but their oase knives, a dull axe, and an iron bolt ; but 
 they at last got into a long, dark, subterraneous passage, which 
 they followed for some time, till their progress was stopped by 
 another wall. This they perforated.; but their surprise and mor- 
 tification, found a space of made earth or terrace, on which the 
 top of the castle rested. They were not, however, disheartened;, 
 but began to excavate a space large enough for a man to crawl 
 in upon his hands and knees, carefully removing the earth to a 
 distance, and scattering it through the subterranean passage ; but 
 they had not made much progress before the movements of the 
 soldiers and the great weight on the top of the terrace made it 
 cave in, and destroyed the whole enterprise. Fortunately the 
 suspicions of the guard were not excited, and the plan remained 
 undiscovered. 
 
 Another and more bold attempt had no better successt It was 
 intended to reach, by a ditficult and dangerous way, to the win- 
 dow at the tcp of the prison, through which they were to get on 
 the terrace, and taking advantage of some moment when the 
 guards were asleep or inattentive, cross the terrace, a distance of 
 fifty or sixty yards, to the parapet of the wall. In one of the 
 embrasures of this they were to make fast a rope formed of all the 
 sheets tied together, and descend a height of ninety feet to the 
 beach. The first who got down were to swim to a Spanish ves- 
 sel about half a mile o^, cut her boat adrift and bring it ashore, 
 and the whole party were then to embark and endeavour to gain 
 the American squadron. This plan was confined to Capt. Bain- 
 bridge and a few of the original projectors of it. On the eve of 
 its execution, Capt. Bainbridge wrote to the Tripolitan minister to 
 inform him, that as no regard had been paid to their parole, he 
 deemed himself justified in attempting to re^in his liberty, and 
 recommending the officers who should be left behind to his partic- 
 ular care and attention. To those officers themselves he addres- 
 sed a note, stating, that as all could not make the attempt, it was 
 necessarily confined to its projectors ;. that the escape of himself 
 and so many officers would enable them to render the greatest 
 services to those who remained, and hasten the period of their lib- 
 eration, by lessening the sura to be demanded by the Tiipolitans. 
 
 When these arrangements were concluded, the party reach- 
 ed the window, but it blew so violent a gale of wind, that 
 ^hey^ were obUged to postpone the project ; and Captain Bain- 
 
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 K ' 
 
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 HO 
 
 8KErCHK9 OV 
 
 bridge, finding that hit departure excited lome uuearineti in th« 
 mindi of nome of the ofTiceri, abandoned the expedition, and de- 
 termined to fhare their fate. The attempt wat then made by 
 three lieutenants and as many midshipmen. At midnight, on the 
 aist of May, they reached the terrace^ and remained there for 
 nearly two hours, endeavouring to seek a moment to crofs to 
 the parapet ; but the terrace was covered with guards, and they 
 found no opportunity of getting off. The failure of this scheme 
 put an end to all plans of escape, and they patiently waited their 
 liberation from the hands of their countrymen. 
 
 During the bombardment of the town, they were the -melan- 
 choly and inactive witnesses of the efforts of their countrymen. 
 The burning of the Philadelphia, the explosion of the fire-ship com* 
 manded by Capt. Somers, and the various attacks made on the 
 town, all passed before their eyes. Sometimes, too, they were 
 exposed from their situation to great danger. On one occasion, 
 a twenty-four pound shot came into Capt* Bainbridge's bedroom, 
 and passed within six inches of his head. 
 
 While the officers were confined, the men were kept at work 
 during the day and locked up at night. The work, however, 
 which was required of them was always light, and nothing more 
 than wholesome exercise. It was scarcely as severe as the ordi- 
 nary duty which is exacted from them on board ship. The Tri* 
 politans are, generally speaking, and excepting the people employ- 
 ed in the gun-boats, of a mild and humane character. The prison- 
 ert were often obstinate, uncomplying, and mischievous ; yet 
 the Tripolitans who had cnarge of them were rarely provoked to 
 punish them. They used often to say, that the Americans were 
 the most difficult to manage of any people they had ever seen. 
 Several of the crew turned Mahometans, and thus gained their 
 freedom ; but the rest remained faithful to their country and their 
 religion.* 
 
 At last Col. Lear appeared off the harbour to negociate peace 
 with Tripoli. The first overtures were embarrassed by the em> 
 ployment of the Spanish Consul, who was at length put aside, 
 and Capt. Bainbridge proposed, as the shortest mode of pacifica- 
 tion, that he should be permitted to visit the squadron. This re- 
 quest was so new in Barbary, that the officers of the Philadelphia 
 were obliged to give a written declaration, that in case be did 
 not return they would submit to any punishment the pacha might 
 inflict. Under this guaranty he had an interview with the Amer* 
 icap officers, and a treaty was at last concluded between the two 
 
 « It woidd be uniart not to fcconl an inatance of the generoiity of tkew w wi en Among: the 
 diiTen w)io luperfuturiM them while at work wai a Neapolitan, himielt'a captive, who had otien 
 lelciited intoptty fbr them and 4odp them aeu of kindneu. louched by thii. treatment, tbe cie« 
 ai they wew about to leave Tripoli, made « inbteripiion out ol* their wages ol between three and 
 four toodicd dollan, with which dieypurehated the liberty of the tfcspomot wfeo was tbtti festoRC 
 »t«bei»HM t4pe fttkUcMlivei tsffiBcdantad aiicOUUVk 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 tu 
 
 Icuuntrici ; by «vhicli the American nnd Tripolitan prisoners were 
 Lxchangcd, and the num of nixty thousand dollars given to the 
 pacha. On the 3d of June, 1805, the nfficeri were liticrated, af- 
 Iter a conAncmeot of nineteen months and three days, and on th« 
 Ifourtb they, as well as the erew, embarked on board the squad* 
 Iron) and soon after sailed for America. 
 
 Captain Bainbridge reachi'd the United States in the autumn of 
 1805, and the reception which he met from his country was such 
 |hi to satisfy completely the feelings of a meritorious but unfortu- 
 loate officer. He was received rather . .< a returning conqueror 
 Itbitn as a vanquished prisoner— a mostui* quivocal proof of publio 
 I confidence, since that merit muiit indeed v sterling which could 
 Jitaad the test of such misfortunes. Nor were the opinions of l\\a 
 ■brother officers less honourable and liberal. At his request a court 
 lof inquiry had been held en the loss of the frigate, and the judg- 
 Iment of the court was, that it ** was decidedly of opinion thajt 
 ICapt. Bainbridge acted with fortitude and good conduct in the 
 llosi of the United States' frigate Philadelphia ; and that no de- 
 Igree of censure should attach itself to him from that event." 
 
 Early in 1800 he was ordered to take the command of the nv- 
 Ival station at New-York : but soon after obtained a furlough to 
 ■perform a voyage in the merchant service ; which, from the re- 
 Iduced state of hiti funds, had become necessary to make some 
 Iprovision for his family. He relumed in 1807, and was employ- 
 jed in various naval duties until March, l€Od, when he was ap- 
 Ipointed to the Portland station, which liad become vacant by the 
 Ideath of Com. Preble. In December following, he was called to 
 [Washington, to superintend the repairs of the frigate President, 
 [whifih he was appointed to command. Having completed the 
 
 ip, he sailed in July, 1800, from Washington, and cruized on 
 lour coast 'till the next spring, when he again obtained permis- 
 liion from the navy department to engage in the merchant sex- 
 hice. 
 
 Having returned from bis mercantile pursuits in February, 
 11812, he was appointed to the command of the navy-yard at 
 ICharlestown, Massachusetts, and the public vessels on the eastern 
 Ittation. 
 
 On the declaration of war against Great Britain, it was submit' 
 Ited by the government to his own inclination, either to retain hit 
 post at the navy-yard, or to cruize against the enemy on the ocean. 
 lAccustomed to a life* of actual service, and preferring the hazzard 
 jof warfare and the chance of victory, to the security of inaction^ 
 Ihe did not hesitate to choose the former, and was accordingly ap- 
 Ipointed to command the frigate Constellation ; but on the arrival 
 ut Boston of Capt. Hull, after his victory over the British frigate 
 Guerriere, he applied for a furlough to attend to his private con- 
 jcerps, and Com* BaiDl).ridge was permitted to take command ^ 
 
 
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 ■11 
 
 m 
 
 f 
 
 
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 'f » 
 
 ■i^i 
 
 SKETCIIKS OF 
 
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 '! % 
 
 •the Constitution. In a few weeks he sailed in company witluliel 
 sloop of war Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, on a cruize to the East in. 
 diet. 
 
 After parting company with the Hornet while running down I 
 the coast of Brazil, on the 2»th of December, he fell iu with, and 
 captured the Java, after an engagement of fifty-five minutes, ai| 
 l>efore related. 
 
 \ On his arrival at Boston, he was received with an enthusiastic! 
 welcome by his countrymen, who felt peculiar pleasure in steing 
 that fortune had at last relented, and given him an opporfumtj 
 ©f adding success to merit. Fifty thousand dollars prize-monej, 
 as a compensation for the loss of the Java, were given by con- 
 gress tnthe officers and crew, and a gold medal presented totbel 
 commodore himself. These were followed by votes of thanktl 
 and testimonials of reepect from several state-legislatures, and ab 
 from various co^rporate bodies and meetings of the citizens genet' 
 ally. 
 
 Since bis return he has been appointed to command the statioDl 
 from Portsmouth to Connecticut, within which limits he has had I 
 charge of the Constitution and two brigs ; and the construction oil 
 two sloops of war .; but his'chief employment is the building m 
 Charlestown of a seventy four, which he is appointed to command, 
 
 Of the private character of an individual still living, and knowD 
 30 extensively, it is neither necessary nor proper to sreak. Hit 
 domestic life is singularly fortunate. In the year 1798 he marri-l 
 ed, at St. Bartholomews, Miss Heylegir, an amiable and respect- 
 able lady of St. Eustatia, by whom he has three children. 
 
 What new adventures await him when afloat in the first Amerl 
 4can ship of the line, must be left to time and fortune. His coun 
 try may, however, confidently indulge in all the anticipation! I 
 which great professional skill, determined spirit, and a high senje 
 ^ national and personal honour are "calculated to inspire. 
 
 P. Folio, 
 
 i ' I' 
 
 iVi 
 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Private armed vesssels The Atlas.,..the Higk-Fly€r,..,the Ros- 
 
 sic....the Young Eagle.,..the Montgomery. ...the Dolphin. 
 
 Immediately after the declaration of war, a great number of 
 privateers were fitted out in the ports and harbours of the United 
 States, to cruize against the enemy's vessels, and the expectations 
 of the most sanguine have heen answered in their success. 
 
 f^t . 
 
THE WAR; 
 
 14^' 
 
 The enterprize and bravery of our seamen has been unexam 
 Ipled ; and to these qualities they have added these admirable one» 
 
 ..humanity and genero:>ity to the enemy. 
 
 We lament that the limits of this publication will not admit of 
 |of our doing justice to the merits of this valuable elates of citizens, 
 Lrere we competent to the tstsk. Rut they will not be forgotten 
 |bv thf ir countrymen. Their names... .theit deeds of courage and 
 Ihumanity, will embellish the fairest page in the history of their 
 [country. 
 
 Our object will be to select the most prominent instances of 
 lenterprize and courage in our privateers-men. 
 
 ♦ - 
 
 Thf Atlas,..,The privateer schooner Atlas, Capt. MofTat, saile* 
 Ifrom Philadelphia immediately after the declaration of war. On 
 
 the 3d August, in latitude 37 north, longitude 46 west, at half: 
 Lasts A. M. she discovered two sail to the westward, standing 
 
 to the N. E. At 10, A. M» she beat to quarters, and cleared for 
 ■action. At half past 10 she bore away for both ships, and hoist- 
 
 ed the American ensign and pendant. At three quarters past IQr 
 Itbe smallest ship fired a shot at the Atlas. Both ships at this time 
 [had English colours flying. 
 
 At 11, A. M, the action was commenced by the Atlas with &■ 
 [broadside and musketry. She continued engaged with both shipis 
 
 until noon, when the fmall one struck her colours. The Atla&->^ 
 [then directed the whole of her fire against the large ship. But 
 [the small ship, though her colours were still down, immediately 
 Irenewed her fire on the Atlas, which had to re-commence firing;. 
 Irj her. But in a few minutes shi drove every man off her decks. 
 [At twenty minutes past meridian the large ship struck. Posses- 
 Isioc was immediately taken of both. One of them proved to be 
 
 the ship Pursuit, Capt. Ghivers, of 450 tons, 16 guns, and 35 men. 
 
 The other was the ship Planter, Capt. Frith, of 280 tons, 12 
 |gUDs, and 15 men. The cargoes of both were very valuable. 
 
 The Atlas had two men killed and five wounded. All her- 
 Idirouds on the larboard side were shot away ; her running rig- 
 ging and sails were much injured. 
 
 The Atlas and the Pursuit arrived safe in port. The Planter 
 I was re-captured off the capes of Delaware. 
 
 The Highflyer The privateer Highflyer, Capt. Gavett, of 
 
 IsTNen guns, sailed from Baltimore on a cruize. She discovered 
 a fleet of merchantmen on the 19th of Aug. in latitude 9 d. 20 m. 
 oortii, under convoy of a frigate, which gave her chase. Stit 
 steered various courses, avoided the frigate, and pursued the fleet. 
 On the 21st she captured the British ship Diama, one of the fleet, 
 of 333 tons, laden with sugar, rum, coffee, &c. and dispatched her 
 ho tbe first port, in charge of a prize-master, and ten men. On 
 
 
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 ii 
 
 IM 
 
 144 
 
 8KETCHSS Of 
 
 the 22d she engaged two ether vesselit of the oonvoyj M the sanul 
 time, who returned the fire with great spirit and resolution., 
 The engagement had lasted about twenty minutes when she car- 1 
 ricd the largest vessel by boarding ; the other striking at the sanw 
 time. They proved to be the Jamaica of 7 guns, 21 men, and 
 365 tons, and the Mary and Ann, of 12 guns, 18 men, and 320 1 
 tonr, having valuable cargoes of West-India produce. 
 
 The Ho55t>.....The privateer Rossie, of 13 guns, Capt. Barn«yJ 
 •ailed from Baltimore July 12tb, on a cruize off the banks of New- 
 fbundland, St. John's and St. George's banks, thence through tbt 
 islands of the West-Indies, and returned into port the latter part I 
 of October, having captured on the cruize 3698 tons of shippii 
 >'alued at a million and a half of dollars, and taken 217 prisoner I 
 
 Tke Young Eagle The privateer Young Eagle, of one gun^ 
 
 on a cruize fell in with and engaged the British armed ship Gre- 
 nada, of 11 guns, and another armed vessel in company with her. 
 After a desperate action of an hour and a half the Young Eagle 
 succeeded in capturing both vessels. 
 
 •it 
 
 The Montgomery The privateer brig Montgomery, of Bos- 
 ton, Capt. Upton, mounting 12 guns, on the 6th of December, off | 
 Surinam, fell in with a British vessel of war, the Surinam, rating in 
 Steel's List, 18 guns,but carrying 20. They lay board and board for 
 half an hour. Some of the privateer's people lashed the bobstay of 
 the British vessel to the Montgomery's main-mast. So spirited and 
 brave was the resistance on both sides, that neither could sue* 
 •eed in boarding. One of the Montgomery's 18 pounders wai 
 repeatedly discharged into the bows of the British vessel, between 
 wind and water, and very much injured her. As soon as the 
 two vessels parted the Surinam made sail from the Montgomery, 
 The foremast of the Surinam was shot away. She was so much 
 disabled as to be obliged to put into an out-port to refit, instead of 
 proceeding to the common place of rendezvous at Barbadoes. 
 
 The Dolphin The privateer Dolphin, of 10 guns and 60 men, 
 
 engaged ofTSt. Vincent a ship of 16 guns and 40 men, and a brig 
 of 10 guns and 25 men, at the same time, and after a severe strug- 
 gle succeeded in capturing them both. 
 
 The most correct information' of the enterprize of our priva 
 teeri-nen may be gathered from the following list of prizes. 
 
 1 'ii ' 
 
 ^l : 
 
¥<|.||lQIWMaf^- 
 
 •^ 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 140 
 
 Litf'tf BrUUAiffneU q^ured during tDt year iil2—txtracled JYtm HUea' }l^eekly Rtguter. t 
 
 Sliip Cooeenl. 300 torn 4 giini . ladrn with Urn- 
 ker capiuKil by Um Fume ut Salcni. 
 
 ririir Elbe. <00 totu, by ditto 
 
 Brii; Ulv<*<-t by the Paul Joiies of N York. 
 
 ^hjr, — '-, iaileii with (ice. Ituur. etc by the 
 y allium ol Salcitt . . ■, 
 
 Bri< i-tfrmiiii with rice, fluur aiul naval storet 
 bftlK IVjJphin oldiito 
 
 \ brig aiid icliooitcr, witli uuiber, i*r. etc* by 
 
 ditto 
 
 jliip __!., 4 (;i|ni by the ^fadilon• 
 
 Six ihi|M anil briR), ainonK them the tbipi Em- 
 peror aiMl BxiR-riineat, by the gun-boat* at Hu 
 
 Scliooner Wade, with iO.OOO dollars in ipecie, 
 bra revenue cutter. 
 
 Govcrnnif nt tran»port No. 50, with miliury 
 it«i«i. 2 fj;uni and U iiien, by the Madilun. 
 
 urii; Elixa. of n gunt, by ihe Madison of one 
 euii.al'ier a imart riiKagi-meut. 
 
 Thix-e Nova-Scotia shallops, with Engliih and 
 West Lulia good* aiid specie by the tion of 
 Warljkhwul. 
 
 Orii; — • uf guns by the Lirai and Snow^ 
 bini ul ilitto. 
 
 Sloop EndtmToor. with sugar, by the Polly of 
 Sal''ni. 
 
 Brig — — , with fluur, umbtir etc. by the Ma- 
 (Tismi. 
 
 Ship — -. 300 tons, with luval stores, by do 
 
 Brij;— — .^300 tons, witlt guuiiowder, dry 
 (^udsaiid inililary scutvs. by du. 
 
 Xbree schsoners, with iiaral ttures and pro- 
 '.himii, by tlie Jeffenon ul' !>al|«ni , 
 
 Brig tvabiseh, with timber, liy die Dolphin. 
 
 Svhr. Anu.bv rl>c Nonpareil u: Charlestan. 
 
 ^Khooner f ida. -^tii. 2.(H)0 dollars iu spe- 
 Llf.bythegui lnw" •Si. Mary's. 
 
 » ■rid 18 men, by the 
 
 men, oT Uak-m. 
 . ,1'k, winur furi, cord- 
 
 biiin Jarreit, 4iH t 
 Kuir Tnulcr of i k' 
 
 Three schooners 
 age etc. by diltu- 
 
 bcboonvr — , by the Dolp'iin— relfSK-d aj'tcr 
 'aking from on bosnl uf her iOOO dollars In tiie- 
 i'ie iml a quantity uf bcavef skips- . 
 
 Schooner 4uu, with an a«iorted<Gargo. by do. 
 
 Kuur schooners with naval storey imm| .ciiru, by 
 hr Uolpbiii and JefiefHin. 
 
 Brig — . b) the_ t{u|phi'i. 
 
 Sdioouer— — . with lumber ami naval stores, 
 hy the Lion. 
 
 'Schooner——, with sugar and indigo, by the 
 Vcfpu of Boston. 
 
 ^loop — — . with fiigar, hy the folly. 
 
 iichuuner FaiiHy.in balla<t. by the Dolphin. 
 
 Two tcbouners. by the Uuclttkin ut baleiii. 
 
 Bri^ Liiuprey, with rua, by the V. &. frigate; 
 
 Brig — , a transport with tv? solditrt. by do. 
 uiuoineU lor a bill uu JLondoii lur uOUUdul- 
 ttfi—tlie vessel iind troops were disarmed, the 
 'iK'ii and officers were ideated uu an '. xcliaii;;u 
 .'rct'ipt and swearing nut lo sci-ve until iu pru- 
 
 iiioiu nrrc eomplitd with 
 
 iclMwiiir Mary-Aiin. with mili'ary stiiieg. by 
 *lio Bu>:kikin. On board uf her wai Cut Pear- 
 .«! a Britiih ofBvcr. 
 
 Stii]> Niaiy, of 14 heavy guns, Iiaving onboard 
 i({uaiiiity o: arms and amiuuiiiUou, captuivU by 
 ■.'.I'- Utiiihiii. 
 
 Scli'r— — , with provitiolls, bj'}be Fair Trudtr. 
 
 cliuouor Diligent with n piiies ui braiuly 
 Will' Folly 
 
 Two ichouiieis with pruvis.oas, by the Suow- 
 iiitiloi .')aiem 
 
 iitkiti — . mounting <* heavy gun*, witli a 
 Hu^iiiity of inmll arm> amd ammunttiun, by the 
 liVbiiuecuttiT Jai>i('» Maili'.oii. 
 
 Scliuouu Jam. . Ijy Uu: Dolphin 
 
 Ship .Vim CSroeii.4'0 tnii,. eight 12 pounders 
 
 Slid * liihi; ft i— with a cargo w' rum, etc. by 
 
 wfr Uuuanier uf Uuttbu. 
 
 Barque St. Andrews, of ( gun% by the Bapii) 
 of Boston. 
 
 Brig Shamrock. 300 tons A guns and i6 mtm, 
 by the revenue cutter Madison. 
 
 dcliooner Sally, eapuued by the Teazcr of 
 New- York, and gi\-en up for the purpose of dis- 
 posing of prituners. ^ 
 
 achuoner Nvlsou, with oil* fun, fish, etc. by 
 the Buekskiii. 
 
 :ieliooner -^— >)y the Fame. 
 
 hchooner rhnte llrathert, by the Wily Reyn- 
 ard of Boston. 
 
 Barque —^, by the Catharine of Boston. 
 
 Brig . in ballast, by tlie Polly— ransomail 
 
 after lekiflguut a tew bales of dry goods 
 
 'ihip ili-iury. 400 tons, 10 guns. -with sugatt 
 oMwiiie etc by tlie Comet ofBaltiiiMtre. 
 
 SclHMner Atttcil with an aswrtetl «argo.' ^ 
 the Spencer of Philadelphia 
 
 Schooner Elixa. by the Polly. 
 
 Brig Lady Sherbrook. i5« tons, 4 sIk pounders, 
 with lumber and fish, by the Marengo of New- 
 
 Yorit 
 
 Brig Eliaabeth and Ksther.with fiish, porkajJMl 
 dry gotids. by the Ouv.^t'Keaii ot I'hsladelphia. 
 
 ■>hip Boyd, of 10 gdna, with cotton logwofd 
 and coftin:. capiuretl by the Gtobr of Ilaltimoatk 
 ai ter a running fight of an hour and aihalf 
 
 Brig Uuiigi r. of 6 giins, with roifee and l«p 
 wuotl— captured by the Matilda of PhiUHelphk, 
 alter a »liurt engagement, in wlii«)| the .Qritiph 
 captain was mortally wounded. . . 
 
 Sdiooner Polly, by the >ViIy Keyiiaid. . 
 
 A ship and two brills tent into Wifeasset- 
 
 SInop Mary Ann, %|»itb s<lt, by tha Paul Jonaa. 
 . .Ship Hassan, of.l4, gtuis ai>a ao inen, with 
 wines, dry goods etcwoi'tbWW.iKMdolbU'*— eap> 
 tURd alter an huiur^ wm.bat, yith tiKiloM other 
 cuptaiii killed and a boy wounded, by the Paul 
 JonesLthen of 3 giias. . The gu^sof the Hassan 
 were transferred to the privateer and t|M: vessel 
 mrieredfor yavaiHiah- 
 
 Brig Harmony, i50 tons. * gti a. with dqr 
 gou'hi. eto. by the Yankee of Bristol H. J. 
 ' 3rig — — I Capi!iiv4 Py the nankee.and given 
 Up for the pu!riMMc,«kt disposing of li^ prisua^rs. 
 
 jhip Bragai^, ot \* gans, 400 tons, ^tli 
 oaiTee'anu kigVoQ-,! rMf tured by th<i I'om ef 
 Baltimore, after a tunning fight of sC minutes. 
 
 Brig Peter \VaM« .w Uh British maitulactttre*, 
 by thtt Teazar, . , , , 
 
 Schooner Ann, of 4 guna, with logwood ami 
 nahngjaiiy:, by the Glo e. 
 
 Ship Prince Adolpbus,. S guns and S4 men. 
 among whqm wei^i the governor, ci^lfcwiri ana 
 
 Susi-niaster of .. liemanura, by tlw U<tvaru«>r 
 TKeaUr 
 
 Ship .with dry goods, glass and ironmon* 
 
 gcry. by the 'I'eazer. • 
 
 Schooner Harriet, .with 8000 dollan in specie 
 by the Hi);h Vlyi-ref Baltimore. 
 
 Brig Ccix's, by the John of .salem 
 
 Urig — . with timber, taken by a ^alem pri* 
 rateer recaptured by the £uglish aiu) tahen^ 
 a i.yiin privateer. 
 
 Brig William, witli coal, butter and lundr^ 
 by the Kosiie of Baltimore , 
 
 One thip, live brigs and a schooner, all M4** 
 Willi ^shand timber, burnt by tiie Hossic. 
 
 One btig and a scheoiier, sent into NewIbuQ^' 
 htiid with .Cjl priioaers on parole and reesipit- 
 for exvhang.-. 
 
 >cIiount:r liidustry,by the Bei^iamia Fnmklin 
 of Ne»-"ork. , 
 
 hjchuoiier Perseverance, by tbii Neusueli o9 
 Baltimore u ■, , ., 
 
 Shii^ Sir simbn Clark, is pufn, $» rneo, wUb 
 Migar. ruro.«ojfr«M, uU by theOWM> -She wfct 
 guiianily cariii;d,i>y boarding aitmabridt .cisi|- 
 rxinaile uf a' lew minutes 1 he Bfit^h ship 'lOd 
 4.|i)iu killed and the captain aud-i) «tl)txs s^ 
 wn.Ijr weuada^ lli* seeandUM 
 
 .< .M'J 
 
 i'\ 
 
11: 
 
 I 
 
 ■I '. • 
 ff;.i. 
 
 1. , 
 
 pi.' 
 
 I- 
 
 '1 - 
 .1 
 
 ■■! ;. 
 
 W ■■' 
 
 ,i r 
 
 m 
 
 
 SKETCHS5 09 
 
 Ii:t^! 
 
 fbe dnimmcr were ktllnl aa-boavd the Globe, 
 yhr had only une woiindtd. 
 
 . Uriit 'Oiiriunia Pavket, i gum nnti It mt'ii. 
 «it! rum aiiil dry g<uodt by i\\v Mar}' Aim of 
 ClMrletloR. 
 
 I rig \ineUa, 10 eiiiis and 17 roen. witli «ino, 
 ottiik; MMjt aiKi oil. by die Mary Aiiu oi 1 guu 
 twl 80 mvn,- 
 
 bchoonrr .>tary with cotton, by the AtaryAnn 
 
 Schoouer — — C^'iiied) after a siiurt briiuli, ta- 
 ken by the iMHr]- Mm imil burnt. 
 
 itchoQiier Union, with mm b> the John. 
 
 BriR KKtabetb. >00 tont. 4 gum and ti men, 
 hjr the John. 
 
 riinw brigf with lumber lakin by tlic Joliu 
 •ad i«lea!ic<l 
 
 \ ichoMierand a aloop with lamtler, by the 
 Orlando of Gtuutr iter 
 
 11% UcMftuI Ulak< (andrr lipaniih colnunV 
 ignd to lutve Brititti i>ainirs,. by the rvveniw 
 rutter Gallatin 
 
 lliig by the Bunker Hillol' New- York. 
 
 • Brig J«nici, by the Bunker Mill 
 
 *■ Sbi|y Apullu, t'giinf 400 «(>n!u by tho iilm>- 
 
 Sliip Koittt Itoiiiay o guiw, /On tons— cap- 
 kutci l)y the tankee aftt^ra siunrt action oi ^0 
 jtiimitt's. in which the captain the two .-nates 
 nnti twi) Sfaiiii-n oi the Rnyul liounty were 
 .\irn*ii<dttl ami a boy killed— two men w«i« 
 wouihU'iI on board the Vaiikee- I'he veuel be- 
 Shg^uld wa» «iettro>ed. 
 
 Biig Mary by the ^nkee— released to dta^ 
 pose «M her arisbners 
 
 >cli(ioiier Venust with rtun, sugar and fntits, 
 5y the ''eaaer 
 
 Ship Osbwme. le eighteen ponmlers, and aO 
 Meh. buvUen mo tooa - aaptwred by the I'la- 
 ier al^er a wih; fi);ht in which no ptinon ou 
 cMiefsidewaa injimil. 
 
 Brig £iiza witti mm and sugar by the Mar 
 itngo 
 
 Krig Richard, 300 tons, with timber by the 
 Itidmtry of Lynn. 
 
 Brig Nancy mth pnvisloM, by the Fair 
 
 Brig — with iour by the Bunker • lill. 
 
 Schooner^— by the Heandev of Pruviden^ 
 
 Brif; Leonidas of I4 gum with sugar, r'dBt 
 oolK-o and pimento, by the luan ol .xoriblb. 
 
 Schooner Skylark with provisions^ by the 
 Ounka^r Hill. 
 <' J Brig Laily Prenwt by tha Marengo- 
 
 BriK Friends, by the Benjamin Fmiiklin. 
 ' ' BrtgMar^-.bydiltOk 
 
 Ship J^nny ot t^ guns and tS meu, with salV 
 fty the la<nsie of BahimoM;. 
 
 Ship John ot' la guns and 30 men, by the V. 
 8. sqiAUnia under Con . Hodeers- 
 
 Stliooiier •^— iio tons, wiui sugar and rtim, 
 by the Teaaer. 
 
 Ship Grenada of 11 guns ami .to men, TOO 
 tons burtlMVi, with sugar, cotton and coffee, by 
 (he Young J^leof Mew>York 
 
 Scho.uner Shwdock (arnifil) with molasses itt 
 company with the Gn^nada The ISagle ear- 
 tied Mt I guu ami *t men. She engaged the 
 Grenada and shaddock at the same Oine. and 
 iB an hour ami a haU' eapiured them botii 
 
 Baiwic Uiaoa with rum and augar. by the 
 <Bigk flyer. 
 
 Brig Hoebuck with rum. by the Rosamond 
 jjf New-Yoifc. 
 
 Ship Gtierrierr of 49 gims and.303 inun, by 
 •be uTs. fiigi»teCoiistaiitiun , 
 •Bi* taily^aiTKin. bjrttitto. ' 
 
 111 <g Abona, by ditto •*"■ 
 
 ■ naittne HMffet, by ditto. "''-^ * ' ' 
 
 Brig Dutchess of i'ori4au<|< by i|tc siuatkou 
 lOMlerCom liodgen. 
 - Brig Tiawnrr with siiaia, by ditto 
 ' iirig — ~< with 10,000 dollars in specie, by do. 
 ' "^ Brig Henry by tlie Yankee 
 
 bhip Hifnemm ol t^ guns and ii>' mm 400 
 Tttfu ^wW'^ngalr, ttohi»Ms, cnmit, ct<fl!(* Md 
 .'a««Tt— i:»r'^'Ji'Cd I'y tb • Co«i»t. 
 
 Qrigl<azai4oragum,IS8 toovb^ the £; 
 ^hiii— rcHiapturul l)> tlib iBolui I' ' 
 taken ag.>in by tlie U S ship Was; 
 
 phin— rcHiapturul l)> tlib iBolui t>)gate flF 
 
 ken ag.iin by tlie U S. ship Wasp. 
 
 Sclioomr Fontbe anil Ph4Uw»by tne •fuadis 
 of l*(irisinouih 
 
 Brig ilMtis.by the Nankce. 
 
 Urii; All'rul. by ditto 
 
 Utig A metope, by liie Dolpkin. 
 
 Ship Kilt) , by the Hottie. 
 
 tH'liooner apuiik by the FairTmdrr. 
 
 Schooner Hrovidrtiee, by iIk; Wily Remri. 
 
 Ship Guayaiia oi A gtms. >00 tons, with iilt 
 and i-ratcs. by the roraoof Bottoii- 
 
 Ji:ii qHc Duke of Savuy of t> guns, by the Dc 
 catiir u, N wliwryport 
 
 Siiip Pursuit witi sugar. Iiy the Atlas 
 
 hhip F.\erKi«t-n, by tbi' Dolphin. 
 
 Brig New Liverpool rt* < guns, with wiae If 
 th»- Yuiikiv 
 
 Ship. Mary Ann of U guns aiMl i> men witk 
 sugHr by tlu High Flyer ' 
 
 Ship ElizaliLti. ol 'O gunt, with sugar. cnlTw 
 and ginger— cai-tured by the 2sarah .\tm of Bsl- 
 timore ttfter a iinart action in which 4 mci 
 Were wounded on board the ship and vho oi 
 boani the privatter 
 
 Scliouiiei James, by the Dolphin, 
 
 Brig t^rsuit, liy the Rapid. 
 
 Brig I 'ay. by dhto 
 
 Ship Britannia of 4 guns, 350 tons by tbc 
 Thra!>litr. 
 
 Brig I lowe ofS guns, by die Dart 6f I'ortlairf. 
 
 Bi g Elizabeth, its tuns, with coal and stit. 
 by the lleiatur 
 
 Sliip Jamaica of 1 gtms and 21 men, 30s toc' 
 with sugar, etc liy the < ligh Flyer 
 
 Brig Alert of 20 gMn. by the Esmb frigatt. 
 
 Ship—— sent intu Cane Ann 
 
 Brig King George with salt, by the Eius ft» 
 gatt- 
 
 Ship-^— of Ugons and 5 men 450 torn 
 with sugar and rum, by the Revenge. 
 
 Brig ' 'eean of 7 guns aati 30 men, with su{s- 
 aiid ram bv the Saratoga of New>'York. 
 
 Ship Bstlier of i i gtms and 35 men, by tlx 
 Montgomery of Salem, 
 
 SclKWUer Venua with a vahiable cargo fno 
 the West Indies, liy the 'I'eaaer. 
 
 Ship Quebte of A guns and n men, 40o toss 
 whh (ugHr. etc by the Saratoga 
 
 Ship UichmoMloC ■4>guiis and 35 men beii^ 
 nfllcer*. 100- tons, with West India produce, b; 
 the 'rfemmas '^ 
 
 SMp Adonis' of 3 guns and 85 meD.byik 
 Houifeomery. 
 
 SiiLii nilinouth oC 4 gun* and 30 raen, bf j 
 tile 'Vnomas | 
 
 Bi<e I'wu Friends, by the Benj. Fnuklin. 
 
 Brif; WiHiam, by the Hossie, 
 
 Snow Z^Weuds oi'A guns, 290 toiu, widiliB 
 Ber, etc. by Uic Dart 
 
 Schooner 1 rial, by the Leander 
 
 Schooner Jiihn ami George, by the Regultt*- 
 
 Ship — with rum, by the Poor aaikr <> | 
 Charleston. 
 
 Brig — witli-rara, by the Dart. 
 
 Schooner Mary Ann with rum and coffee, t| 
 the Ulack-joke of Ae«'-York 
 
 Prig >aiinali with rare and flruit, bj tkt | 
 MuniKomery 
 
 Sihouucr Mary with specie by ditto. 
 
 Brig i>y Uii Darv 
 
 Brig ' orooiia of t giuit—«aptun:d by the Dr- 
 eatur und sent 4o Halifax as a cartel widi pi 
 sniiers 
 
 Brig D* vonshire with fish, by do, 
 
 Urig Coiicunl, by do. l 
 
 Riig Hope by do. and sent to Halifax viii | 
 ynionert 
 
 behuouer Minorca by the Wa^p of Baltimoi^' I 
 
 Barque >» illiaiu and Charlotte by the Bt 
 catur 
 
 S!itp .Mariana 600 tons, wiiii kUgar etc rosw I 
 destrteil itt seu and towed iuta Norfolk iiy '^ \ 
 OoTt^rO'jr M'Kean. 
 
\^ 
 
 •asu wAft. 
 
 I«7 
 
 Dd IS men witk 
 
 ari»._«r(th ialt,br the Trnzer. 
 
 Brjv —. captnml bv a wlialt boat privMefr. 
 The veiti I u* ^"V ^'** oniught into port on the 
 Jffk of the prixe. 
 
 Brig lialiella. *0f tens with crockery ware^ 
 i4ni,t'ie by the Teller 
 
 Ship .-~ with timber, tqr the Decatur. 
 
 Bri»; Diana bythe Dart. 
 
 rhne ^(^ilelt D) the Oolpbin 
 
 Ship John uF 1 4 gvna and a men, 400 tont, 
 with cotton lugar, rani, etc by the Cunitt 
 
 Mo Cnmmeroa oi 14 gunt, tVera * lo 500 
 tonv with Mgar rum, eta by tin- Decatur Thu 
 (Mutai.i ami ttveral ol* the ciew were Ulicd by 
 the fine bniudiide fhun the privateer 
 
 B>ic lailustry oi lO khbi, with iui>ar cottaii 
 and euffce. by the Coin<>t. 
 
 Privaueer ichooncr France* of 4 guni and 30 
 nen. by the Ddphin 
 
 PrivatMr •— by the Rapid 
 
 Bri; < '<r Abbry with flth. by the Thraiher. 
 
 BriK Muy with timber by the Benj Franklin. 
 
 Ahip PriiKCM Amelia of 6 guu«and JO men—* 
 with <h« mail and patiengtn ; captured after a 
 rery obttinate and nUant defence by the .tot- 
 IK the captain of the packet and one man 
 wen- killed and 7 woundea On buaid tUe Roi- 
 lie ilii: fint officer and 7 mun wi^re wounded — 
 The paMcngura in the packet <peak in the most 
 hv4ioiiie tetau of the polite t»atin« nt they re- 
 «eiial from Com. Barney 
 
 Sohooner — ~ with tttgar snd flour, liy the 
 Teazer 
 
 Brig CoiKord wjih wine, by tlie Maivngo. 
 
 Brig Orient witn tiiitber, by the Teaser. 
 
 Sciiuoner Jenny with rum aiul sugar by the 
 Teaser. 
 
 buhooner Adela with sugart, by the Roifr 
 
 Brig PointpShatei with fish, by the letter of 
 maraue schooner BaliiaMxeof Baltimore 
 
 Brig San AntuNiio (under Spanish cokiuri)lqr 
 tke Marengo 
 
 arig Deuroit (formerly the Adams surrendered 
 b; (.ieneral Hull) of 18 gun* by two boau fmm 
 fluffahte. 
 
 ScJHiMiir Caledonia with fur*, by do. 
 
 Schoow:! Single-Cap, by tlie MatiMa of PhS- 
 iulflphia. 
 
 Scbooner Fame wHh dry gbods and oil, by the 
 Nonsuch. 
 
 bhip fhcenir of 12 gun* and 17 men, wtth 
 Fayat wine, by tlie Mary Ann- 
 Brig Favoiite of 3 gum, zli tons, by the la- 
 (iuitry. 
 
 Brig Sir John Moore, 177 tons by do 
 
 JBrii; Lord Sheffield, by the Marengo. 
 
 bchoouer Betsey Ann with sugar— ciyiMired 
 iaiiglitor tlalifaK harbour by the Fame- 
 Brig MTilliam and Charlotte, by the Montge- 
 nery 
 
 Brig Henry with crates, salt and coal, by the 
 .Tohn 
 
 Schixmer Four Brotiierv by the Fame. 
 
 Scbooner Four Sons with fish and t^rs, by the 
 Fame 
 
 Two scbooncrs-^Hte in ballast, the otlier with 
 lire stock, by the Dart. 
 
 Schooner Antelope. I >y the Rosamond. 
 
 beliooner Uawson witli sugar, ruiu andcolTee, 
 by the Wasp 
 
 Brig Diamond ot 13 guns. HO ton*, with cot- 
 tm and logwood, and S.aoo dollars in gold, 1^ 
 the Alfred «> -» 
 
 Brig George, 370 tons, with sugar and cotton, 
 by ditto. 
 
 Brig Neptune, by the John. 
 
 Ship Jane, by ditto. 
 
 Schooner —— with timber, by the Saucy Jack 
 «f Charlestonx'givcn up to release tlie prisoners 
 the had made 
 
 Sloop Louisa Ann with molasses— captured by 
 iboatiVomthe Benjamin Franklin with 7 :nen, 
 in I'rinitv harbour. Martini<iu«, under a battery 
 «< U eii^tecn poundttn. 
 
 bhiop VcnU', by the Two Bnthen of New- 
 Orleans 
 
 lirig Jane aiMl Cliarlotte with salt, dry good*) 
 etc. by the Amen.'a. 
 
 Orig t>anei« with biilkicks, by the Nonsuch. 
 
 Government brig and |>aeket Swaltow ut° 14 
 gun* and JO men— i-Kptnred after a chase of 8 
 liotin b) thr sqiiailreii uml<;r Commodore Hod- 
 geri, llie swallow had un board the mail and 
 200, 00 dollars in specie, which last was tnfns* 
 lerred to tlie lYesidcnt irigate. 
 
 Brig Porgie witli blackstrap, by the tli^ 
 Flyn- 
 
 iHu\> V|.|1 of 10u;uim(9 pouriden)and i-> men, 
 vAih timber— cap* UKd by the John aadCieurge 
 of Suleiii alter a smart action Hie John aiw 
 Grur*;,- carried Imt 3 guns and 81 men incluA* 
 ingoflicirs. 
 
 >cliuoiH.r •>— with oil, seal skins, etc. by tkt 
 Fame 
 
 hcbuoner Robin, by the Revenge 
 
 Schooner Fame with dry goods, by the Nos- 
 such 
 
 SclKxmer Sally, by tlie Black Joke o> Neif- 
 York and George 'Wathiagtan of Norfolk- 
 Sloop by the Saucy Jack. 
 
 firig .lohn ol lO Kuni, with coffee and eocofti 
 Jiy tlie Briijaniin Franklin. 
 
 Schooner ( hree Sisters. 130 tons, with pbistec, 
 •by the Fame. 
 
 Schooner Cosnet. 8 g^uns and jnaall arms. With 
 sugar, bees-wwt. tobacco and diy goods, by tt* 
 HapM 
 
 Schooner Searcher of 1 gun and 30 oen. bg^ 
 the Rapid 
 
 Schouiiqr Mary, by ditto— ransomed, not har'- 
 ing men to spare to semi her home 
 
 Scliooner Mary Hall, by the squadron undec 
 Captain Chauncty on lake Ontario. 
 
 iiloop Elizabeth, by ditto. On boasd this vei- 
 st'l was Captain Brock (brother of the bte Gca> 
 BtnclOof the tvth British regiment. 
 
 Schooner — by ditto 
 
 Brig Union oi' guns, by the Geoend Aob- 
 ■strong of New- York. 
 
 ScJiooner Ne^une with fish, salt and oil, by 
 the Revenge. 
 
 Barque Fisher with a very valuable eafgo and 
 specie by the Fox 
 
 Brig James Biay with rum and pimento, by 
 the Bunker Hill 
 
 Brig Union, by the General Armstrong. 
 
 Brig Lady Harriot with wine* by the Oidtf* 
 in Council of New- York. 
 
 Three vessels, bjr ditto— ransomed. 
 
 Brig Freedom with salt, by tlie Thorn. 
 
 bchooner \inetiea with salt, by the Fame, In- 
 dustry and Dromo. 
 
 Brig — By the .Fael Baclow. 
 
 Schoom r .lohn Bull, a lung's packet, chasci 
 on shore by the Raver. 
 
 Ship Argo, carrying 10 guns, < swivel*, a Urge 
 number ol small arms and 30 men, nitli oil anf 
 whale-bone, l|y the United States' frigates Pre- 
 sident and Congress. 
 
 Frigate Macetionian, 40 guns and 309 men, 19 
 the fngate t nited States- 
 Ship .'ohn I iamilton, 550 tuns 1 i gans and 30 
 men. with raahogauy— captnreii by the Dolphin 
 after a smart action, but witliout tbe loss of 
 lives on either side, though several were womf- 
 dud 
 
 Brig — with cotton, by the United Sutes' 
 •brig Agus 
 
 Schooner Loreen with sugar and coffse. by the 
 Reveille 
 
 Brig Bacchus by ditto 
 
 Ilrig Venus of 10 guns, with cotton and fustic 
 by ilie Polly. 
 
 Nine vessels, rink, burnt and destroyed by the 
 I'atriiit o; New-Vork 
 
 i'acket ruwntend heavily araesl— captured 
 hy the I'om m' Baltimore alter a severe engage- 
 ment, in which the cuptain ol' the I'on'ntctti 
 .itid f'Hir vV his men nrx |;3'i^ aiH «"rfi« 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 ■: ,f; 
 
 i>!i'. 
 
 '■^ .M 
 
'If 
 
 
 \\\; 
 
 
 
 
 .^i: > 
 
 149 
 
 SKUTGHK8 Of 
 
 J •;')(' 
 
 WAundid. The Tom wm Imt lltU« iiiiarcd and 
 had only two mm wnniiileil The mail wai 
 thrown orerboard. but rrcovered by tiie Bona 
 and brought to BahiniorL* 
 
 Brig Burvhall. a p.icket with an Bn|>li«heon> 
 rniunirjr and his lady on board -raptured by the 
 High Klyer. The Hig;h Flyer had captured a 
 number of droggen plying brtween tfi • iilandt 
 -^he releaied one of them with the cummiNary 
 and ts prifonert and lent her a* a flac o4' truce 
 into l)rmar:ira Governor Carmicheefrt-tiiriiHl 
 ft complimentary letter to hur captain tiir hii 
 kind treatmi nt of them 
 Brig Criterion lent into New- York. 
 Schooner Neptune, by the Revenge— given 
 lip to release her prisoners, after the proper lbr> 
 malities. 
 
 bchdoner Neptune, with salt, oil and fi«h, by 
 the Kt'veiige. 
 
 Schooner —driven ashore and burnt by the 
 Revenge- 
 Brig Faney, by the Jo<'l Darlow. 
 Ship Nt lly and Pamela, by the Revenue. 
 Brig Devonshire with oodnsh, by th« Deca- 
 tur. 
 Schooner — bv the Retaliation- 
 Schooner or »* guns and full or men, af- 
 ter an engagement of 35 minutes, driven on 
 shore at the mouth of the Demarara river, by 
 the Central Armstrong- 
 Brig Two Brothen, by the Bei^amin Frank- 
 lin. 
 Brig Active. 10 guns, by the High FIjji" 
 Brig '— by a letter of marque nvm Portland 
 for Franci; 
 
 Brig fomona. 8 guni by the letter of marque 
 Leo 
 
 Ship Bettey. with a (quantity of specie, by the 
 Revenge 
 
 Brig Dart 8 gum. with rum, cotton and ttf 
 cpa, by the America 
 
 Ship Queen of iQ guns and 40 men, with a 
 cargo iiivoiced at from 70 to '00,0'iO pounds 
 atcAng— captured by the General Armitroiig, 
 but ttiuortunati'Iy wrecked off Nantucket She 
 was perluip* the most valuable prix<' yet made* 
 This ship was hravelv dei'endi d th<; caiitain, his 
 first officer and -' of his crew being killed belbre 
 she was surrendered, llie General Armstrong 
 was not much injured by the contest. 
 
 Brig James ai|d Charkitte, with cosl. dry 
 goo4s, etc by the America- 
 Schooner —•— 10 guns and 10 men, with dry 
 goods, etc- by tlir Liberty of Baltimore 
 
 Brig Recovery with fish, staves, etc by the U. 
 S. brig Argus 
 
 Brig Lucy and Alida with dry goods, by the 
 Revenge. 
 
 Three vessels captured and destroyed by the 
 Jack's Favorite ot New*York 
 Schooner Swift, by the Roliaof Baltimore. 
 Shwp Reasonable. chaKd on shore and dik> 
 nroy«d by the Uberty. 
 
 Schooner Maria, by the LiberJ)-»-miil rjj, 
 somrd 
 ScliooncrCatharina.3 guns and it men, wit), 
 
 Srovisioiis and ilry i;oo<1s by the Ea^le and 1^- 
 y Madison of Charleston. 
 
 Schocner Mai'ia with dry goods— capturttl br 
 ditto and releascil to discharge their ptiMtntii 
 after reinuving Iter cargo 
 
 Ship Rio Nuuva. l> gun* and 35 rorn. with 
 drv Roods by the Rolhi- 
 
 Scliooncr Itelwcca with sugar and molasK;, 
 by the Jack's Favoriltf. 
 
 Ship Hope of VI guns. 400 tons, with rum, 
 sugar and cotton, by the Anieriea- 
 
 sliip Rni|ih with timber, by ditto. 
 
 Brig Euphemia 10 guns with eofTee by diibi, 
 
 A brig and a.srho<>iu-r, by the Decatur 
 
 Schooner Meadow raptured by the bpnrrow 
 of Baltimore— releitsvd altir divesting lii;r uf t 
 quantity of dry gooils. 
 
 iihip Mar>' uf 14 guns, with hard ware, by the 
 Bolla- 
 
 Schooncr Erin with dry goods, by the Eagle 
 of CharleMon 
 
 The British king's packet Townsend. pmn 
 and 28 men. besidts several assisting pa^wiiiri-n, 
 taken by the Toiii after a hani liglit in wliich 
 7 or 8 were kllhd and woiintled on board the 
 paaket— none hurt in the Tom The Town- 
 send being torn almost to pieces, wa< mnioinnl 
 for 900 pounds sterling. The captain uiihe 
 packet made very honorable mention oi the 
 conduct of Captain 'tt'ilson and the ct« w i>f the 
 Tom, as w» II diiriiiK the light as for their gru- 
 tlemanfy behaviour after it was endtd 
 
 The British king's packet Norton, with 7O,0QD 
 dollars in s|iecie oi< huani, captured by the V. S. 
 iHgatc \'tw:\ The packet has been letakin 
 ami sent ta Bermuda— out the cash was put oo 
 board the Esses. 
 
 Brig Barossa. six guns, with an assorted cargo 
 by the Rolla. 
 
 Brig Recovery, by the United Sutes' brig Ai- 
 gus. 
 
 Schooner Mary, with an assortrtl cargn, by 
 the Eagle. 
 
 Biig r'eggr. taken from under the convoy o| 
 two British sloops ol war, by the Hunter of Boi 
 ton- 
 Ship Arabella, of >00 tons. 8 guns, with coil, 
 K' tntation utensils, etc by the Growler of New 
 ndon. 
 
 Brig Andalusia, of StO tons 10 guns, captnr- 
 cd on the coast ot Africa by the Yankee 'I'hr 
 brig luul "-O slaves on board, who were relandrd 
 on that coast. 
 
 A schooner and a sloop, taken on the roast cf 
 Africa by the Yiinkce and released after diipoi- 
 sessiiig tliem pf four hundred and fifty-two oim. 
 ces or gold dusu 
 
 The frigate Java of 4ii jnuis taken by tk»' 
 United States' flrigate CooMitutioa. 
 
 *-T 
 
 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 ■.fw: 
 
 
 ■-■ ■ 
 
 ri.;,' 
 
 
 k%» v*i. - . • 
 
 . ? '' 
 
 t . 
 
 • ^ '«---,■' 
 
 ■ ,1 tff \ 
 
 ' 
 
 
 Jft?s 
 
 «• i 
 
 .. ;.. 
 
 .Ir • 
 
 ^..fc**. 
 
 t* f ' 
 
 * **»'■ 
 
 
 
 .*^* 
 
 V}^ \ 
 
../..-f 
 
 r and molasv:, 
 
 ardwarc, by the 
 
 i, by the Eagle 
 
 • the convnT ol 
 
 CIJAFTER Xll. 
 
 
 149 
 
 - i 1 .;> 
 
 official despatches Observations on Halt's capturc....Organ' 
 
 ization of the new army.. ..Relief of fort lVayne.,..Gen.Payne*s 
 
 expedition Col. Wells'' Pxpedition....Col. CamphelVs expedi- 
 
 iion,„.Defeat of Gen. Winchester. 
 
 Before we proceed to detail the events of the campaign of 
 1813, it will be expected that we notice such correspondence be- 
 tween the Annerican and British governments as may have varied 
 the original ground upon which the war had been declared : we 
 therefore subjoin an abstract^ containing only such facts es ar1e> 
 deemed important, ,s , , 
 
 Official despatches,...Mr. Monroe, secretary of state, iistructcd 
 Mr. Russell, our charge des affairs at the court of St. James, by 
 letter of the 26th June, 1812, that the war had been resorted to 
 from necessity, and of course with reluctance ; that the Ameri- 
 can government looked forward to the restoration of peace with 
 much interest, and a sincere desire to promote it, on conditions 
 just, equal, and honourable to both parties : that it was in the pow- 
 er of Great Britain to terminate the war on such conditions, and 
 that it would be very satisfactory to the President of the United 
 Statett, to meet it in an arrangement to that effect. 
 
 That there were many just and weighty causes of complaint 
 against Great Britain : that the orders in council, and other block- 
 ades, illegal according to the principle of the law of nations, were 
 however considered of the highest importance ; and that therefore 
 Mr. Russell was authorized, if the orders in council were repeal- 
 ed, and no illegal blockades substituted, and orders given to dis- 
 continue the impressment of seamen from our vessels, and to re- 
 store those already impressed, to stipulate an armistice, to com- , 
 mence from the signature of the instrument providing for it, or 
 at the end of fifty or sixty days, or otherwise the shortest term that 
 the British government would assent to. 
 
 As an inducement to the British government to discontinue the 
 practice of impressment, he was further instructed togive assurances , 
 that a law would be passed, (to be reciprocal) to prohibit the em- 
 ployment of British seamen in the public or commercial service of 
 the United States. 
 
 That indemnity for injuries received under the orders in council 
 and other edicts violating our rights, seemed incident to their re- 
 peal ; but that the president was willing that the consideration of 
 that claim should not be pressed at that time, so as to interfere . 
 '^vith the preliminary arrangement alluded to. 
 
 ■ =^:H 
 
 ;■■■;■• 'i 
 
 i>J 
 
 '% 
 
 . \ ' 
 
 
 ■' % 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 '. '.'' 
 
 i«uK 
 
 
 
 ii 
 
I5i) 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 ! 
 
 0;f 
 
 'I.: 
 
 On the 27th of the same m'^* '.\ Mr. Monroe, after repeatin| 
 the substance of his'first letter, further instructed Mr. Ilussell, that 
 by authorising him to secure these objects as the ^lounds of an ar- 
 mistice, it was not intended to restrict him to any precise form io 
 which it should be done, ft was not particularly necessary that 
 the several points should be specially provided for in the conven- 
 tion stipulating the armistice. A clear and distinct understanding 
 with the British government on the subject of impressment, con)> 
 prising in it the discharge of men already impressed, and on future 
 blockades, if the orders in council were revoked, was all that was in> 
 dispensable. The orders in council being revoked, and the proposed 
 understanding on the other points, that is, on blockades and im* 
 pressment being first obtained, in a manner, though informal, to 
 admit of no mistake or disagreement thereafter, the instrunneirt 
 providing for the armistice might assume a general form, especial- 
 ly if more agreeable to the British government. It might for ex- 
 ample be said in general terms, " that both powers being sincere, 
 ly desirous to terminate the difTf^rences which unhappily subsist 
 between them, and equally so, that full time should be given for 
 the adjustment thereof, agree, 
 
 ** 1st. That an armistice shall take place for tint purpose, to 
 commence on the — ■■■ day of — — . 
 
 ** 2d. That they will forthwith appoint oo each side commit- 
 sioners with full power to form a treaty, which shall provide, Ly 
 reciprocal arrangements, for the security of their seamen from be. 
 ing taken or employed in the service of the other power, for the 
 regulation of their commerce^ aad all other interesting questiont 
 now depending between them. 
 
 *' 3d. The armistice shall not cease without a previous notice 
 by one to the other party of ■ days, and shall not be under* 
 stood as having other effect than merely to suspend military oper- 
 ations by land and by sea.'* 
 
 By this he would perceive that the president was desirous of 
 temoving every obstacle to an accommodation which consisted 
 nerely of form, securing in a safe and satisfactory manner the 
 vights and interests of the United States in these two great and 
 essential circumstances, as it was presumed might be accomplished 
 by the proposed understanding ; he was willing that it should be 
 done in a manner the most satisfactory and honourable to Great Bri 
 tain, as well as to the United States. 
 
 On the 28th of the same June, Lord Castlereagh,. the British 
 secretary of state, transmitted to Mr. Russell in London, an order 
 in council issued on that day,4br the repeal of the orders in coun- 
 cil so far as they related to American vessels. 
 
 On the 24th of Aug. 1812, Mr. Russell proposed an armistice 
 between the United States and Great Britain, in a letter to Imi 
 
 ♦=4i';.«fc •'iltH'V^J^ h 
 
.» »-, 
 
 %HL WAIU 
 
 ' w 
 
 Caitlereagb, upon the terms authorized by his foregoing instruc-. 
 
 tioiw. • 
 
 Lord Cftstlereagh, in bis answer bearing date the 29th August, 
 ^formed Mr. Russell that the prince regent felt himself under 
 the necessity of declining to accede to the propositions contained 
 in his letter of the 24th as being on various grounds absolute* 
 ]y inadmissible. There seemed, from the purport of the letter, to 
 be an exception to the powers of Mr. Russell to negociate. He 
 therefore declined discussing the piopositions brought forward by 
 bim. Upon the proposition, however, relating to impressment, he 
 remarked, that he was surprised that the government of the United 
 States should have thought fit to demand that the British govern- 
 meut should desist from its ancient and accustomed practice ot 
 impressing British seaman from the merchant ships of a (breign 
 state, as a condition preliminary even to a suspension of hostili- 
 ties, simply on the assurance that a law should thereafter be passed 
 to prohibit the employment of British seamen in the public or com- 
 mercial service of the United Sfates. And he further remarked, 
 that the British government was ready, as before, to receive 
 from the United States, and amicably discuss any propositions 
 which professed tO' have in view, either to cheek abuse in the exer- 
 cise of the practice of impressment, or to accomplish, by means 
 lera liable to revocation, the object for which impressment had 
 heretofore been found neceessary. Z*^ ^^t x 
 
 Several letters afterwards passed, not materially varying the 
 propositions heretofore passed between the governments, whicd 
 ire here omitted. 
 
 The following letters discuss the subject more fully, and are in- 
 serted at length. '»"? ^:'*3^^"'f ^r» 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SIR J. B. WARREN AND THK 
 
 SECRETARY OF STATE. 
 
 HHilifaXf Nova Scotia, Nov. 30. ' 
 SlR.....The departure of Mr. Foster from America has devolv' 
 ed upon rae the charge of making known to you, for the infor- 
 mation of the government of the United States, the sentiments 
 entertained by his royal highness the prince regent, upon the eX" 
 nting relations of the two countries. '■'- 
 
 Tott will observe, from the enclosed copy of an order in coun- 
 cil, bearing date the 2dd of June, 1812, that the orderain coun- 
 cil of the 7th of January, ld07, and the 25th of April, 1800, ceas- 
 ed to exist nearly at the same time that the government of th^ 
 United States declared war against his majesty. 
 
 Immediately ott the receipt of this declaration in London, the 
 order in council, of which a copy is herewith enclosed to you> 
 was issued on the 31st day of Julyj for the embargo and deten- 
 tion of all American ships. 
 
 ■V >;' 
 
jl, 
 
 i ■ ■ 
 
 h - ■ 
 
 ri 
 
 
 OL', 
 
 15U 
 
 SKETCUHS OP 
 
 Undtr these circunistancef, I am commanded to propose lo 
 your government the immediate cessation of hoiiilitiei between 
 the two countries, and 1 shall be most happy to be the instrument 
 of bringing about a reconcihation^ so interesting and beneficial to 
 America Hnd Great Britain. 
 
 I therefore propose to you, that the government of the United 
 States of America shall instantly recall their letters of marque 
 and reprisal against British ships, together with all orders and in- 
 structiuna for any acts of hostility whatever against the territory 
 of his majei^ty, or the persons or property of his subjects ; with 
 the understanding, that immediately on my receiving from you 
 an official assurance to that effect, 1 shall instruct all the officers 
 under my command to desist from corresponding measures of war, 
 against the ships and property of the United States, and thatl 
 shall transmit, without delay, corresponding intelligence to the 
 several parts of the world where hostilities may have com- 
 menced. The British commanders in which will be required to 
 discontinue hostilities from the ifceipt of such notice. 
 
 Should the American government accede to the above proposal 
 for terminating hostilities, lam authorized to arrange with youai 
 to the revocation of the laws which interdict the commerce and 
 ships of war of Great Britain from the h^irbours and waters of the 
 United States ; in the default of which revocation, within such 
 reasonable period as may be agreed upon, you wyirobserve by the 
 order of the 23d June, the orders in council of January, 1807, 
 and April, 1809, are to be revived. ,■ .^^ 
 
 The officer who conveys this letter to the American, coast hat 
 received my orders to put to sea immediately upon the .delivering 
 of the despatch to the competent authority; and I earnestly re- 
 commend that no time be lost in communicating to me the deci- 
 sion of your government, persuaded as I feel that it cannot but be 
 of a nature to lead to a speedy termination of the present differ- 
 ences. 
 
 tit The flag of truce which you may ^charge with your reply will 
 find one of my cruizers at Sandy Hook, ten days after the land- 
 ing of this despatch, which 1 have directed to call there with a 
 flag of truce for that purpose. ,,, 
 
 1 have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, tir* 
 yK>ur most obedient and most faithful humble servant^ 
 
 JOHN BORLASE WARREN, 
 Admiral of the Blue, and commander in chief, &c. &c. &0i 
 
 MR. MONROE TO SIR J. B. WARREN. .#,*P ^ . >/; 
 
 m i\ Department of State, Oct. 27, 1812. 
 
 Sir I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 30th 
 
 ult. and to submit it to the consideration of the president. 
 
 It appears that you are authorized to propose a cessation of hoir 
 tilitrcs between the United States and Great Britain, on the grouni 
 
TWF. WAR. 
 
 153 
 
 of the repeal of the orders in council, and in case the proposition 
 it Mccedfd to, to take measures in concert with this government^ 
 to carry it into complete effi ct on both sides. 
 
 Vou state, also, that you have it in charge, in that event, to 
 enter into an arran/jrcment with the government of the United 
 StHteJ> for the repeal of the laws which interdict the shipx of ^ar 
 and the commerce of Great Britain from the harbours and waters 
 of the United States. And yon intimate that if the proposition it 
 not acceded to, the orders in roi.ncil (repealed conditionally by 
 that of the 23d of Juuelast) will be revived against the commerce 
 of the U. States. 
 
 I am instructed to inform you that it will be very satisfactory 
 to the president to meet the British governmint in such arrange- 
 miDtii as may terminate, without d'.'lay, the hostilities which now 
 exK^t between the United States and Great Britain, on conditions 
 honourable to both nations. 
 
 At the moment of the declaration of war, the president gave a 
 signal proof of the attachment nf the United States to peace. In- 
 strtictions were given at that early period to the late charge des 
 afTiirs of the United States at London, to propose to the British 
 government an armistice on conditions which it was presumed 
 w'luld have been satisfactory. It has been seen with regret that 
 the propositions made by Mr. Monroe, particularly in regard to 
 the important interest of impressment, was rejected, and that 
 jtone was offered through that channel, as a basis on which hcfS- 
 tilities mi^ht cvase. " 
 
 As your government has authorised you to propose a cessation 
 of hostilities, and is doubtless aware of the important and salutary 
 eflfect which a statii^factory adjustment of this difference cannot 
 fail to have on the future relations between the two countries, I 
 ini'ulge the hope that it has, ere this, given you full power for the 
 purpose. Experience haf sufficiently evinced, that no peace can 
 be durable unless this object is provided for. It is presumed, 
 therefore, that it is equally the interest of both countries, to adjust 
 it at this time. 
 
 Without further discussing questions of tight, the President is 
 desirous to provide a remedy for the evils complained of on both 
 sides. The claim of the British government is to take from the 
 merchant vessels of other countries, British subjects. In the prac- 
 tice, the commanders of British ships of war often take from the 
 merchant vessels of the United States, American citizens. If the 
 United States prohibit the employment of British subjects in their 
 service, and enforce the prohibition by suitable regulations and 
 penalties, the motive for the practice is taken away. It is in this 
 mode that the President is willing to accommodate this important 
 controvesy with the British government, and it cannot be cor.t 
 ?eived on what ground the arrangement can be refused. 
 
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 ** A •usprnsion of the practice c)f iniprcssmtnt, pending the arm;v 
 tlce, setms to be a iifcessary con.M-qm iici-. It camioi l»e pii>um 
 ed, while the partit s are engaged in a negociatioit to adjust nnii- 
 cably this important difference, tiiat the Unit» d States would ad- 
 mit the right, or acquiesce in the practice of the Gppo^ite partv; 
 or that Great Britain would be unwilling to restrain her cruiziri 
 from a practice which would have the strcnpest tendency to dc 
 feat the negnciation. It is presumable that both parties would cu- 
 ter into the negociation with a sincere desire to give it tiTtct. 
 For this purpose it iit necessary that u clear and distinct undertand- 
 ing be firitt obtained between them, of the accommodation which 
 each is prepared to nnake. If the liritixh government is willinj; 
 to suspend the practice of impressment from American vessel,*, on 
 consideration that the United States will exclude British seamen 
 from their service, the regulations by which this compromise 
 should be carried into effect would he solely the object of negoci 
 ation. The armistice would be of short duration. Ifthepartic 
 agreed, peace would be the result. If the negociation failed, (-ach 
 would be restored to its former state, and to all its pretensions, by 
 recurring to war. 
 
 Lord Castlereagh, in his note to Mr. Russell, seems to havr 
 supposed, that, had the British government accepted the propoei 
 tions made to it. Great Britain would have suspended immediatt 
 ly the exercise of a right, on the mere assurance of this govtru 
 ment that a law would be afterwards passed to prohibit the cm 
 ployment of British seamen in the service of the United States, ana 
 that Great Britain would have no agency in the regulatit.n tc 
 give effect to that proposition. Such an idea was not in the c«n 
 temptation of this government, nor is to be reasonably inferred 
 from Mr. Russell's note ; lest, however, by possibility such an in 
 ference might be drawn from the instructions to Mr. Russell, and 
 Anxious th^t there should be no misunderstanding in the case, sub 
 sequent intitiuctions were given to Mr. Russell, with a view toob 
 viate every objection of the kind alluded to. As they bear date 
 on the 27th July, and were forwarded by the British packet Al- 
 thr-\, it is more than probable that they may have been received 
 and acted on. 
 
 I am happy to explain to you thus fully the views of my gov 
 em ment on this important subject. The president desires that 
 the war which exists between our countries should be terminated 
 on such conditions as may secure a solid and durable peace. To 
 accomplish this great object, it is necessary that th'e interest of 
 impressment be satisfactorily arrranged. He is willing that Great 
 Britain should be secured against the evils of which she complains. 
 He seeks, on the other hand, that the citizens of the United States 
 should be protected against a practice which, while it degrades the 
 natioDy deprives them of their rights as freemen, takes them by 
 
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 $1 
 
I J 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 169 
 
 force from their families nnd tlu'ir country, into a foreign iervice> 
 to flfifht the battles of a foreign power, perhaps against their own 
 hindred nnd country. 
 
 i Hb^^tain from entering in thi« communication, into other gounda 
 of diflftTt lice. The orders in council having been repealed, (with 
 a reservation not impairing a corresponding right on the part of 
 the United States) and ho ilk'gal block.ide8 revived or instituted in 
 their stead, and an understanding being obtained on the subject of 
 impreiisment, in the mode herein proposed, tlie president is willing 
 to agree to a cessation of hostilities, with n view to arrange by 
 treaty, in a more distinct and ample manner, and to the satisfae^ 
 tion of both parties, every other subject of controversy. 
 
 I will only add, that if there be no objection to an accommoda 
 tion of the difference relating to impressment, in the mode pro- 
 posed, other than the suspension of the British claim to impress- 
 ment during the armistice, there can be none to p; >ceeding, with' 
 cut the armistice, to an immediate discussion and rran;;ement of 
 an article on that subject. This great question bemg ratisfactori* 
 ly adjusted, the way will be open, i ither for an armistic:^ or iny 
 other course leading most conveniently and expeditiously tor: gen- 
 eral pacification. I have the honour, ccc. 
 
 JAMES MO NROE. 
 
 Observations on HuWs capture The surrender of tb no^'th- 
 
 western army, by Gen. Hull was followed by consequen s more 
 easily imagined than described. The whole N. \V. frontier was 
 in an unexpected moment, thrown open to the incursions of an 
 enemy, whose rule of warfare is an indiscriminate massacre of all 
 ages and sexes. Imagine, then, a thinly settled frontier of many 
 hundred miles in extent, unexpectedly deprived of all protection^ 
 but the mercy of infuriated savages, and you will form but an in> 
 adequate idea of a scene of distress, of flight, of cruel apprehen- 
 jioD, and more cruel death, the necessary result of the surrender. 
 
 Such a scene, however, could not fail to arouse the whole 
 American people. Volunteers in the states of Pennsylvania, Vir- 
 ginia, Kentucky, and Ohio every where pr» ; -'jd themselves, 
 and among them some of the most distinguished citizens, and an 
 army was shortly on the march to retrieve cur misfortunes. 
 
 At the very moment of the surrender, -i brigade of Kentucky 
 volunteers, and a few regulars under Ge.u Pajne, were fortunate- 
 ly on the march to reinforce the N. W. army : but for some rea- 
 son unknown their movements were extremely tardy. If they 
 could not have prevented the fall of Detroit, as many have sup- 
 posed, they could at least have prev.ented in some good measure 
 the incursions of the enemy into Ohio. 
 
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 SKETCHKS OF 
 
 On the 4th of September Gtii. Harrison having been brevetted 
 a-Maj. Geu. by the governor of Kentucky, arrived at Urbana and 
 assumed the command of the north-western army, then concen 
 trating at the rapids of the Miami of the lalifs. The several corps 
 were to take the following routes :. 2000 Pennsylvania volun- 
 teers, under Brig. Gen. Crooks, were to move from Pittsburgh, 
 along the shores of lake Erie. Gen. Tupper's brigade of Ohio 
 volunteers were to take Hull's route from Urbana to the rapids. 
 1500 Virginians, under Brig. Gen Leftwieh, were to take the same 
 route. Gen. Payne's brigade of Kentucky volunteers, with the 
 17th United States' regiment, under Col. Wells, were to advance 
 to fort Wayae and descend the Miami. Such was the disposi- 
 tion of the forces which were to constitute the new norlh-west- 
 em army. ; , • 
 
 Relief of fort Wayne Early in September a large British , 
 
 and Indian force ii^suf d fiom fort Maiden to lay waste the fron- 
 tiers of Ohio. The capture of fort Wayne was one principal object 
 of the expedition. On the 5th they made their appearance before 
 the fort, and immediately invested it. They burnt the United 
 States factory, and many other valuable buildings, and killed & 
 brother of governor Meigs, and two soldiers near the fort. 
 
 Gen. Harrison, being apprised of the situation of fort Wayne, 
 inarched with the brigade of Gen. Payne and the regulars for its 
 relief, and the enemy, aware of his approach abandoned the ex- 
 pedition and fled. 
 
 ¥M 
 
 ; i:i ! 
 
 
 Oen. Payne^s and Col. Wells* expeditions There was now 
 
 a favourable moment for making the Indians feel the effecti 
 of the war. An expedition was accordingly projected against sev* 
 eral towns within two days' march of that place. The whole force 
 was divided and placed under the command of Gen. Payne and 
 'Col. Wells. The former was directed to destroy the Miami 
 towns at the forks of the Wabash ; and the latter to go against 
 the Potawatamie villages at Elk Hart. 
 
 The commander in chief accompanied Gen. Payne on the expt- 
 dition; four of the Miamai villages were burnt, three of which Wf-re 
 remarkably flourishing. All the corn was cut up and piled, in or^ 
 der that it might rot before the enemy could return to prevent it. 
 Col. Wells was equally successful : he destroyed several villages, 
 and returned to camp without loss. 
 
 At tins time Gen. Winchester arrived at fort Wayne, and Gen. 
 Harrison resigned the command of the detachment under Gen. 
 Payne and Col. Wells, to him, in obedience to the arrangments 
 of the war department. Considerable di>content and murmuring 
 \vas observable among the troops when they were informed of the 
 
. ' 
 
 TH£WAR. 
 
 15;r 
 
 Ljange ; but on being addressed by Gen. Harrison they appeared 
 Ibetfer satisfied. He assured them that if any thing cuuld soften the 
 Iregret which he felt at parting with men who had so entirely won 
 Ihis confidence and affection, it was the circumstance of his com- 
 Imitting them to the charge of one of the heroes of the revolution, 
 |a man distinguished as well for the services he had rendered his 
 icountiyy as for the possession of every qualification which con>-ti- 
 Itutes the gentleman. 
 
 The conduct of the troops was highly honourable to their char- 
 lacter as soldiers ; for ten days, while on active and severe duty, 
 Ithev had scarcely a sufficiency of food to sustain them, and on'ire< 
 Ijy without some articles of the ration. But such was their person ril 
 Lttachment to Gen. Harrison, that they would have suffered almost 
 ■any fatigue or privation without a murmur. 
 
 An order of the secretary of war invested Gen. Harrison with 
 Itbe command of all the troops, excepting the corps of Gen. Win- 
 Ichester. This equality in the authority of the two generals was 
 [liable to much colhssion, and mii^ht have produced, between tw9 
 lotficers of co-equal powers, and possessing less magnanimity, se- 
 [rious consequences to the nation. The rank of major general 
 Iwas confirmed to Gen. Harrison by the president ; still that of 
 ISen. Winchester possessed prirorily of date, and Gen. Harrison 
 mas to command the largest force. The troops considered Gen. 
 IHarrison commi^nder in chief. 
 
 The war department, on this occasion at least, performed its 
 jduty to the full extent of its ability : every thing requisite for the 
 iiupply of the army was forwarded with all practicable expedition. 
 
 One circumstance, above all, must not be overlooked The 
 Igreater part of the volunteers now concentrating under Gen. Har- 
 liisoo, consisted of men whose families and property were not 
 jexposed to danger, and who consequently were mfluenced by the 
 Imost disinterested patriotism. Col. R. IVI. Johnson, a member of 
 Icoagress, from Kentucky, who has since so nobly distinguished 
 Ihimself, was among the foremost. Gen. Harrison fixed his head- 
 [quarters at St. Marys ; Gen. Winchester advanced to fort Defi- 
 lance. He found the enemy in possession of the ground, and to» 
 Istrong for his force ; he despatched an express to Gen. Harrison, 
 ■who immediately marched to his assistance with 2000 mounted 
 IriflemeQ and musketeers, all furnished with three days provisions. 
 In the mean time, however, the enemy had suddenly decamped 
 and descended the Miami. Our troops went in pursuit, but could 
 not overtake them. This was the expedition from Maiden ; they 
 {had several field pieces. Tecumseh commanded the Indians. 
 
 The attention of the commanding general was now for some- 
 Itime confined to arranging depots of provisions, ammunition, and 
 ciethiug, in opening roads, building boats and erecting block hous- 
 
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 Ui SKETCH lis OK 
 
 es, preparatory to tlie march of the army to tlie object clthe cam 
 paigii. His t'xerli'Mis were indefatigable. 
 
 On the 4th of October, Brig. Gen. Tupper received orders ic| 
 proceed to the rapids with the whole of the mounted force, jo 
 condition of jervic** ; hut in consequence of the counter orderjof 
 Gen. Wirichtster, tin.' movement was not executed. Gen. TuJ 
 per made an expo ition of the causes which produced the failure! 
 of the expedition. Th's exposition very clearly proved that boll' 
 Winchester and Tupper were incapable of command. 
 
 Colcnel CampheWs exp(>dition....On the 8th of November 
 ri detachment of siK hundred men, commanded by Colonel CamJ 
 he !!, left Kranklinton on an expedition against the Miami In-I 
 dian?, living on the head waters of the Wabash. On the l/tfel 
 of December tliey arrived at one of the Missassinway village},! 
 surprised, killed five warriors, and lock tiiiity-seven prisonert, 
 'J'liey burnt three other villages, thief iiiilf > tijrther down the rive:, 
 and then returned to the firsi town destroy^'d, nid encamped.„„| 
 About an hour before the dawn of day, they were attacked in tbel 
 oarnp. The fire commenced on the right line commanded b?l 
 Maj. Ball, who sustained and returned it till day light, when tb«| 
 Indians were charged and di.<spersed with the loss of 30 killed. 
 Our loss was 8 killed, and 25 wounded. ...several mortally. A 
 great number of horses were killed, and several officers wen 
 wounded : lieutenant Waltz, of the Pennsylvania troops, was shol 
 through the arm, but not satisfied, he again attempted to nioun!l 
 his horse, and in making the eflbrt was shot through the head! 
 Tile prisoners were treated with humanity, even the vvarrioij 
 who ceased to resit, were spared, which is not the usual custonl 
 in expeditions against the Indians. The sufTerings of the rntal 
 from cold, hunger and fatigue,on their retreat from Misi<as6inN^'a}'J 
 were beyond measure. They were in the centre of an IiidiaD 
 country. The terrible Tecumseh was known to be within a few 
 hour.* march. The sick and wounded were to be carried on lit I 
 ters ; their march was slow, tedious, and circumspect. At nig 
 only half of the men could sleep, while the other were on guard. 
 They suffered greatly from the inclemency of the weather ; imm' 
 bers were frost bitten. Pleurisy and bad colds afflicted alniol 
 tiie whole corps. Why the Indians suffered them to escape tola!| 
 dtstructicn, is i.uaccountablc. Perhaps the death of their cele- 
 briitcd Prophtf, who is supposed to have been killed in this aitair, 
 vvati the cause of tlitir not harrassing our men in their retreat. 
 
 The oftict-rs of Maj. Ball's squadion, who sustained tlie brua' 
 tf the action, and who wei».' complimented by Gen. Hanijioi), in I 
 H general order, for tht.ii valour and good conduct, were Maji 
 [{all, C'iipts. Hopkins and Ciirr.trd, v( Kentucky; Opts. Maikl«| 
 ^1)') M't'!' Ihiii'l, '.rP* nnsylvaiiia. 
 
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 THE WAR. 
 
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 oi'the cam 
 
 ?d orders icl 
 ;d force, in 
 ler orders oi 
 Gen. Tup. 
 d the failure 
 «d that bollJ 
 
 November, L 
 Monel CamM 
 le Miami In- 
 On the 1/tli 
 vay village!, 
 en prisoner}, f 
 vvn the rivei.l 
 encamped.H., 
 tacked in thtl 
 mnianded bjl 
 It, when thn 
 of 30 killed. 
 ortally. A I 
 officers wen I 
 )ps, was shol 
 ted to (pount 
 igh the heal 
 Itbe warriort 
 lusual custoa 
 of the rneo 
 [issasfiinwayJ 
 )f an Indiao 
 ithin a few] 
 larried on lit 
 It. At Digiiil 
 |re on guard. 
 ather ; rmm* 
 licted aInu'M 
 I escape toul 
 their cele| 
 li this aHair, 
 Ir retreat. 
 ?d llie bruB' 
 klanijioii, in 
 |w(-rc' Mail] 
 lotr.. Maikk 
 
 On the 14th of Utcember the left wing of the army moved 
 irom fort Wincliesttr to the rapid.s. At tiiis time thu •-'oio 
 troi'|)8 were at fort M'Arthur the Pennsylvani^n^ at Man; tkld, 
 
 land the Virginians at Delaware. General Hariison tixid his 
 hciid qiia'^'^'''* ^^ L'pper Sandiu^ky. The provisions and military 
 stores, and the trains of artilKi y having reached the diftVrent de- 
 pots, thi; hopes of th" nation t!iat victory would soon crown the ef- 
 forts of the nortli vvi;t«rn ^t ,:. were cherished in confidence. 
 On the 1-lth of Januarv, <\>i. Lew i.s advanced tovvaids the river 
 
 iRaifin. Oji the 18th ht found the enemy in force, and divSposed 
 to dispute the possession of the place. He attacked them in the 
 town; on the iirst onstttlJf savages raised their accustonu;d yell. 
 But the noise was drowi^ d in the returning shouts of the assail- 
 ants. They advanced boldly to the charge and drove them in 
 all directions. On tlie first fire sixtirn of the Indians fell, about 
 40 were killed. Col. Lewis' patty lost 12 killed and 62 wound- 
 led, , • 
 
 Defeat of General jyinchestrr...,On the eighteenth General 
 [Winchester followed with a reinforcement and concentrated 
 his troops, amounting to eight hundred men, at the village of 
 
 Frenchtown six hundred of vviiich wtTe posted behind a picket 
 
 hence, liOO which composed the right wing were encamped in aa 
 open field, entirely uncovered. 
 
 On the 22d they were attacked by a combined British force 
 Kinder Tecumseh and Proctor. The attack commenced on the 
 fight wing, at beating of reveille. Our troops were immediately 
 ready for the reception of the enemy. The right wing sustained 
 the shock for about 20 minutes, when, overpowered by numbers, 
 they retreated over the river, and were met by a large body of 
 ludianr, who had been stationed in their rear. This party, find- 
 ing ttieir retreat cut oif, resolved to sell their lives as dear as pos- 
 sible, and fought desperately few of these escaped. The left 
 
 wing, with Spartan valour, maintained their ground within their 
 pickets. The enemy's regulars made three different charges up- 
 on them ; they advanced in platoons to charge the pickets, keep- 
 ing up a brisk fire. Our men within the pickets, with the most 
 determined bravery and presence of mind, reserved their fire un- 
 til the enemy advanced within point blank shot. They then open 
 \(i a cross fire upon them ; their pieces were leveled, and in this 
 manner mowed down his ranks till he retreated in confu.Mon. 
 
 Gen. Winchester and Col. Lewis bad been taken prisoners iR 
 Ian early part of the battle, in attempting to rally the right wing. 
 jAt 11 o'clock a flag arrived from Gen. Winche.-ter to Maj. Madi- 
 Iton, who commanded in the pickets, informing our n)ep he had 
 Uuriendered them prisoners of '.var, and requested their compli- 
 
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 tnce ; whereMpon a capitulation took place, and they were li;. 
 m* diately marched off for Maiden. The Americans lost ntarlvl 
 400 men in killed, wounded and roissiijg. Among the ofiictri 
 Col. Allen, and Captains Hickman, Simpson, (a member of con. 
 gr( ss; Mead, Edward, Price and M'Cracken. 
 
 During the whole of the action a heavy cannonade was h^\ 
 up by six piect:s of artillery. The courage of men was mvji 
 more severely tested. The party that retreated at the commence, 
 ment of the battle, were pursued, surrounded, and literally cut to 
 pieces. Some succeeded in getting three miles from the scene o( 
 action, but were overtaken and massacred. The snow wascrim.! 
 soned the whole distance with the blood of the fugitives. 
 
 After the capitulation, the American commanding officer re- 
 monstrated with Gen. Proctor, on the necessity of protecting the| 
 wounded prisoners from the fury of the savages; that officer pledg- 
 ed himself to attend to it, but he torgot to keep his word ; thejl 
 WW*' left without the promised protection, and on the morninjioij 
 the '23d, horrible to relate, the allies of a christian king stripped, f 
 scalped, tomahawked and burnt all of them who were unable to| 
 walk. 
 
 The dead vvere denied the rites of sepulture ; the living were! 
 treated with the greatest indignity. The prisoners were general- 
 ly (Stripped of their clothing, rifled of their cash, and the swordi 
 of the officers given to the savages. Men, whose education, ta- 
 lents and character, ought to have entitled them to respect, had | 
 their feeiings grossly outraged. 
 
 The advance of Gen. Winchester to the river Raisin was not I 
 authorized by the orders of Gen. Harrison: the motives of the 
 general were no doubt good, but to his imprudence is attribute! 
 the failure of the campaign. He was induced to make the roove< 
 ment in consequence of the earnest solicitude of the inhabitaDti 
 of that place, who were threatened with a general massacre by| 
 the Indians. 
 
 As soon as Gen- Harrison learnt the exposed situation of Gen.! 
 Winchester's corps, he ordered a detachment from Gen. Perhioi' 
 brigade, under Col. Cofgreaves, to march with all possible exp^ 
 dition to his relief: but so much time was lost in preparationf\ 
 that it only arrived within hearing distance, at the commence- 
 ment of the battle, and then suddenly retraced its steps. ' 
 
 Why a commanding officer, situated as Gen. Winchester wau 
 within a few hours march of Maiden, and liable every moneot 
 to be surprised, should suffer his men to be encamped in detached 
 and exposed situations, in the manner they were, is a question not 
 yet explained. 
 
 The night before the battle, a Frenchman arrived from Mai- 
 de!i, and informed that the enemy had commenced their marcb.| 
 This information, which was made known to Gen. Wtnchestei; 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 161 
 
 ^a« disregarded. His quarters were 3 or 400 yards from camp. 
 He did not arrive at the scene of action till the right wing had be- 
 gun to give way. -/ 
 
 We cannot forbear to notice in this place, a circumstance that 
 reflects the greatest lustre on the military character of the Ken- 
 tuckians. On their march from fort Defiance to the rapids, the 
 
 horses were worn out and nearly famished for want of forage 
 
 Tbe men themselves were destitute of many articles of the first 
 necessity. Yet these circumstances did not in the least dampen 
 their ardour. When the horses were no longer able to draw« 
 these gallant sons of Mars harnessed themselves to the sleighs^ 
 and in this manner^ with cheerfulness and alacrity, conveyed their 
 Viggage «xty miles through frost and snow ; thus manifesting 
 an intrepidity of character which rivals that of Greece or 
 Rome. 
 
 Yet these were men, whose homes, for the most part, were 
 seats of elegance and wealth ; but their spirits were not to be 
 broken by adversity. Notwithstanding they were compelled to 
 travel on foot, and with scarcely a covering for their backs, io 
 the dead of winter, from Maiden to Buffalo, ana from thence to 
 Kentucky, a distance of 800 miles, still not a murmur escaped 
 their lips f Their honest hearts sprung forward with the elastic 
 hope, that their wrongs would be avenged and the day of retri- 
 liulion arrive. 
 
 ■■•:t. 
 
 , f 
 
 sss* 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Hetreat of Cfen. liarri5on,.»Fort Meigs,».Expediti(m to Presque 
 Isle....Attempt upon the Queen Charlotte.,..Preparations for a 
 fleet on lake Erie...,Defeat of the enemy at fort Meigs»*.f 
 Gallant defence of fort Stephenson, 
 
 Aftbr t' e defeat of Gen Winchester, Qen. Harrison tetreated 
 iVom the rapids, eighteen miles, and took a position at Portage 
 river. It being found impracticable to remove all the provisions^ 
 I considerable quantity was destroyed. 
 
 On the 30th of January General Harrison despatched Captain 
 Lsmon, Doctor M'Keehan and a Frenchman with a flag of truce 
 to Maiden. They encamped the first night near the rapids, and 
 hoisted the white flag; but this v^as not re8pected....the Indians 
 fired upon them while asleep, killed Lamon, wounde4 Doctor 
 VI'Keehan and took him and the Frenchman prisonertt 
 
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 ^ETCHKS d> 
 
 lit! • 
 
 
 Fort yfeigs..,. Governor Meig8 having promptly ordered ou| 
 two regiments of Ohio militia, to reinforce Gen. Harrison, tlit 
 army again advanced to the rapids and commenced buildmg fort 
 Meigs. Gen. Crooks' brifirade, in the mean time^ were busily em 
 ployed in fortifying at Upper Sandustky. 
 
 Expedition to Presque Isle Gf neral Harrison having le«rnt 
 
 fhnt a body of Indians were collected at Pre?quf Isle near the 
 mouth of the Miami, marched from his camp at the rapids on the 
 0th of February, at the head of a detachment of his army, to at- 
 tack them. 
 
 The enemy fled, and our troops pursued almost to the river 
 HniKin; but finding it impossible to ovfrtake them, the troops re 
 turned to camp much exhaui<ted with fatigue. Such was their 
 detiire to come up with the foe that they marched sixty miles in 
 21 hours. 
 
 >*-.:'- 
 
 Attempt upon the Queen Charlotte On the 27tb of February 
 
 ii detachment of 150 men under Capt. Langham, left the rapids 
 for the purpose of destroying the duecn Charlotte, near Maiden ; 
 but the ice was found to be too far decayed to accomplish tbt 
 object of the expedition. 
 
 The army were now engaged incessantly in strengthening the 
 posts of fort Meigs, Upper Sandusky and fort Stephenson. Gen 
 Harrison left the army for the purpose of consulting with Gov 
 Meigs, and for expediting the march of the reinforcements. No 
 event of moment occurred during the remainder of the wia 
 ter. 
 
 Prepar tions for ajteet on lake Erie In March, workmen 
 
 began to cut timber at Erie, for the purpose of building two 20 
 gun brigs ; the requisite number of ship carpenters having arrived 
 at that place. 
 
 The term of service of the greater part of the militia composing 
 the northwestern army having expired, new levies from Ohio and 
 Kentucky were ordered on to supply their places. But these not 
 arriving in ssason, the Pennsylvania brigade generously volun- 
 teered their services for another month to defend fort Mf^igs, 
 which was menaced with an attack. This conduct was the 
 more honourable, as this corps had undergone incredible hard- 
 ships during the winter, in dragging the artillery and stores from 
 Sandusky to the rapids. 
 
 Defeat of the enemy at fort Meigs On the 20th of April, 
 
 Gen. Harrison returned to fort Meig8, and ht .tui tt nrtpHrt for 
 f\\fi approaching storm. Patruliug parties were frtquently sent 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 i^'i 
 
 jut to observe the movements of the cnemy« who had been d\p 
 covt^red on the margin of the lake. 
 
 Oi the 26th the advance of the enemy made its appearance on 
 the opposite shore, and after reconnoitering a few minutes, with- 
 drew. On the 27th they returned, but were soon made to retire 
 by the balls from the fort. From the time of the general's arriving 
 in camp* the greatest diligence was displayed by the otiicers siud 
 soldiers. Fortifications of various descriptions were carried oo 
 with unparalleled exertions, ^very moment of the general was 
 occupied in directing the works. He addressed the men in a most 
 masterly and eloquent manner, on the situation in which the for^ 
 tune of war had placed them, and on the importance of every 
 man's being vigilant and industrious at his post. This addrest 
 eonrerted every man into a hero ; it inspired them with a zeal, 
 courage and patriotism never surpassed. 
 
 Oa the 28th the enemy commenced a very brisk fire of small 
 arms; in the evening the Indians were conveyed over the river 
 in boats, and surrounded the garrison in every direction. Several 
 of Col. Ball's dragoons volunteered to reconnoitre the enemy's 
 camp, but before they had got far from the fort they were tired 
 on by the Indians and compelled to return. 
 
 On the 29th the siege began in earnest, all communication 
 with tl)« other posts was cut off. The firing was kept up tbe 
 whole day. The enemy had progressed so far in the construction 
 of their batteries during the night, that they afforded them sutfi* 
 cient protection to work by daylight. A man was this day mor- 
 tally wounded bs he was standing near the general. 
 
 April 30....the besieged kept up a well directed itre against the 
 enemies' batteries, which considerably impeded their progress* 
 Boats filled with men were seen to pass to the foit Meigs side of 
 the river....this induced the general to believe that their motive 
 was to draw his attention to their batteries, and to surprize and 
 storm the camp in the rear. Orders were therefore given for 
 one-third of the men to be constantly on guard, and the remaining 
 two-thirds to sleep with their muskets in their arms, and to be 
 constantly prepared to fly to their post at a moment's warning* 
 These orders were strictly obeyed, and every d'iiy performed with 
 cheerfulness. Notwithstanding the incessant fire of the enemy, 
 the men were obliged to go to the river for water every night, 
 the well not being finished. Several of the men were this day 
 wounded, and the general being continually exposed, had several 
 narrow escapes. During the night the enemy towed up a gun- 
 boat near the fort, and fired at point blank shot for some time, 
 but without effect. They retired from this portion as soon as it 
 was light enough for our gunners to discover them. 
 
 The grand traverse was now completed, as well as several 
 email ones in various directions. The fire from the garriscm crtm- 
 
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 ■..V. 
 
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 S<i: '. 
 
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 104 
 
 SKETCHKb OlT 
 
 inenced with effect. On the first of May the enemy tired *i5| 
 liinps from their gun batteries. Their 24 pound shot passed thro* I 
 t!ie pickets without cutting them down. Our gunners silenced! 
 one of their pieces several times. They did not fire to rapidly at 
 the enemy, but with a better aim. Eight of the Americans were 
 wounded this day ; a bullet struck the seat on which the«gcneril 
 was sitting, and a volunteer was at the same time wounded as he | 
 •tood directly opposite to him. 
 
 On the 2d of May both parties commenced firing very early 
 with bombs and balls, and continued it very briskly all day. Ouri 
 troops had 1 killed and 10 wounded, besides several others slightly 
 touched with Indian bullets. The enemy this day fired 457 can 
 iion shot. 
 
 The next day commenced with a very brisk and fierce firing I 
 of bombs and cannon balls, which continued at intervals all day. 
 They opened two batteries upon the fort, which they had establish- 
 ed on this side of the river, within 250 yards of the lear right I 
 angle of the camp, one of which was a bomb battery. An in 
 dian who had ascended a tree, shot one of our men through the I 
 head, and six were killed by the enemy's bombs. They fired 
 five hundred and sixteen times during the day, and forty-sevec 
 times during the night. I 
 
 It rained very hard on the 4th, which retarded the fire of the 
 besiegers. A new battery was discovered erecting on this sidr 
 of the river, in the same direction with the others, and traverse: 
 were commenced to guard against them. Several were killed 
 and wounded*...Liput. Gwynn killed a Briitsh officer on this side 
 the river with a rifle. Two hundred and twenty-three shot wm 
 fired this day. * 
 
 Gen. Clay was now at fort Winchester with 1200 men, on h,; 
 way to relieve the garrison. 
 
 On the 5th the enemy kept up but a feeble fire, but they killed 
 three men with bombs. An officer arrived with a detachment o! 
 Gen. Clay's men, bringing the welcome news that the genera! 
 was but a few miles up the river, descending in boats. An offi 
 cer was sent to him with directions for him to land one half o! 
 his force on the opposite side of the river, for the purpose of fore 
 ing the enemies' batteries and spiking their cannon. Col. Dudley, 
 who was charged with the execution of this movement, perform- 
 ed it in fine style ; but his men, elated with their success, conti 
 nued to pursue the retreating enemy till they were finally drawn 
 into an ambush and overwhelmed by superior numbers; the 
 greater part of this detachment were killed or taken prisoners.... 
 Some few effected their escape to the garrison. About forty oi 
 these unfortunate men were tomahawked by the Indians, several 
 hours after their surrender. Thu killed on the field of battle were 
 horribly mutilated. Col. Dudley was among the killed. He i\^ 
 
 U ''i 
 
i U£ WAR. 
 
 165 
 
 played, ill his last moment*, the most heroic firmness, and actu- 
 ally killed one Indian after he was mortally wounded. 
 
 The other moiety of Gen. Clay's force, if not less prudent, were 
 more fortunate. When they landed, a little above the fort, they 
 could easily have reached it without loss ; but instead of 
 doing this, or securinv their sick and baggage, they marched di- 
 rectly into the woods in pursuit of a few Indians that were pur- 
 posely leading them to their de&truction. Gen. Harrison, per- 
 ceiving their folly, caused Col. Ball to sally out with the cavalry 
 and protect their retreat to the fort. He sjcceeded in bringing 
 them in ; but, in the mean time, a pf rty of Indians had 
 tomahawked their sick, left In the boats, and plundered their bag- 
 gage. 
 
 While Col. Dudley's party were engaged with the enemy on 
 the left bank of the river, several brilliant and successful charges 
 were made on the right. In these charges. Col. Miller, Major 
 Alexander, and Captains Croghan, Longham, Bendford and Neve 
 log, were conspicuous. Our troops conducted with the most dc 
 termined bravery ; all the enemy's batteries on this side were car 
 lied, and many prisoners taken. 
 
 From the 6th to the 0th, there was no firing. Flags of truce 
 passed and repassed between the two armies. An exchange ol 
 prisoners took piece. The Kentucky militia, taken at Dudley's do 
 feat, were to be sent to Harrison, in order to rcfturn home by that 
 route. 
 
 On the moring of the 9th the enemy commenced their retreat 
 down the river, after having been before the place 13 days, during 
 whicli time he had fired at our works 1800 shells and cannon 
 balls, besides keeping up an almost continual discharge of small 
 arms. The American loss during the siege in the fort and in the 
 
 iiiferent sorties on this side, was 72 killed and 196 wounded 
 
 The loss of Col. Dudley's detachment, was about 200 killed and 
 missing. That of the enemy was about equal. 
 
 One reason why our men did not sustain a greater loss in the 
 lort, was because they had contrived a kind of bomb-proof retreat 
 Al along the ditch immediately behind the pickets. By this 
 means many valuable lives were saved. 
 
 Vast quantities of rain fell during the siege, and the soil within 
 the pickets being clayey, the constant treading of the men and 
 horses caused the whole area of the fort to become a perfect bed 
 of mortar, half leg deep, and the frequent bursting of shells 
 caused it to ily in every direction, covering officers and men with 
 
 OBUd. 
 
 The army not being sufRciently strong for cfTensive operationf, 
 it became necessary to wait for reinforcements, and for the com- 
 pletion of the veiseU of war buildiog at Erie. 
 
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 t>KKlCiiIt> 09 
 
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 The head quarters of Gen. Harrison were traniferred to Scti^ 
 ca town on the Sandusky. Gen. Clay was charged with th« de- 
 fence of fort Meigs. Generals M'Arthui and Cass were actively 
 «;mpIoyed in recruiting two regiments of the 12 months regu< 
 )ars in the state of Ohio. 
 
 In June the general held a council with a number of Indian 
 chiefs, who had hitherto profeo^ed neutral sentiments, to whom 
 he made three propositions :....To take up arms in behalf of tht 
 United StRte8....To remove within our settlements and remain 
 neutral....Or, to go to the enemy Hnd seek his protection. After 
 a short consultation among themselves, they accepted the 
 first, and prepared to accompany him in the invasion of Ca- 
 nada. 
 
 The hostile Indians continued to make inroads into the settle 
 mentu and committed frequent murders. A party from Mnlden 
 '.coasted down the lake a^ far as Cold Creek, where they killed, 
 scalped and made pi isoners, one man, three women and jiint 
 children. 
 
 An event took place, however, that had a salutary influence in 
 repressing the audacity of the Indians. As Col. Ball, with 22 ot 
 his squadron, were descending the Sandusky, the foremost of hi; 
 party were fired upon from a thicket by a band of 18 Indian;, 
 who had placed themselves in ambush for the purpose of killing 
 the mail carrier. Col. Ball instantly charged upon them and 
 drove them from their hiding place. The ground was favourable 
 for cavalry, and the Indians finding neither mercy nor the posgi 
 bility of escape, gave a whoop, and fought desperately till the 
 whole party was cut to pieces. Col. Ball was at one time dis- 
 mounted, opposed in personal contest to an Indian of gigantic 
 stature ; it was a desperate and doubtful struggle, life was at 
 stake, both exerted to the utnio8t....an officer rode up and rescu- 
 ed the colonel by shooting the Indian through the head. After 
 this terrible example, not an Indian ventured to cross the San- 
 dusky in quest of plunder and blood • ,,v , <t ^ 
 
 ?^'i 
 
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 li'ii ■ 
 
 Gallant defence of fort Stephenson On the first of August 
 
 Gen. Proctor made his appearance before fort Stephenson, 20 
 miles above the mouth of the river Sandusky. His troops con- 
 sisted of 500 regulars and about 700 Indians of the most fero- 
 cious kind. There were but 133 effective men in the garrison, 
 and the works covered one acre of ground. Maj. George Crc 
 ghan commanded the place. The pickets were about ten feet 
 high, surrounded by a ditch with a block house at each angle of 
 rhe fort, one of which contained a six pounder. This was the ex- 
 act state of the post at the time the enemy appeared. The first 
 movement made by the enemy, was to make such a disposition 
 3f hi$ forces, as to prevent the escape of the garrison, if they 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 1«7 
 
 I to bctl^ 
 h thi de- 
 e actively 
 thi regu. 
 
 of Indiaa 
 to whom 
 ftlf of the 
 (id remain 
 1. After 
 epted the 
 m of Ca- 
 
 the settle 
 m Mnlden 
 ley killed, 
 and nint 
 
 nfluence iii 
 with 22 ot 
 no8t of hit 
 8 Indians, 
 i of killing 
 them and 
 favourable 
 the possi 
 ly till the 
 time di8- 
 |f gigantic 
 fe was at 
 nd rescu- 
 After 
 the SaD* 
 
 jf August 
 i8on, 20 
 loops con* 
 D08t fere- 
 I garrison, 
 prge Cre- 
 te n feet 
 I angle of 
 |s the ex- 
 iThe first 
 spositioD 
 if they 
 
 siiould be disposed to attempt it. He then sent Col. Elliot with a 
 flasi to demand the surrender of the fort. He was met by Kn- 
 siffii Shipp. The British officer observed that General Proctor 
 bad a number of cannon, a large body of regular troops, and so 
 many Indians, whom it was impoMsibte to controul, and if the fort 
 wai taken, as it must be, the whole of the garrison would be 
 massacred. Shipp answered, that it was the determination of 
 Major Croghan, his officers and men, to defend the garrison or 
 be buried in it, and that they might do their best. Col. Elliot ad- 
 dressed Mr. Shipp again...." You are a fine young man, I pity 
 vour situation, for God^s sake surrender, and prevent the dreadful 
 slaughter which must follow resistance." Shipp turned from him 
 with indignation, and was immediately taken hold of by an In- 
 dian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him. Major Cro- 
 ghan observing what passed, called to Shipp to come into the 
 fort, which was instantly obeyed, and the tragedy commenced. 
 The firing began from the gun bouts in the rear, and was kept up 
 during the night. 
 
 At an early hour the next morning three 6 pounders, which 
 had been planted during the night, within 250 yards of the pick- 
 ets, began to play upon the fort, but with little effect. About 4, 
 P. M. all the enemy's guns were concentrated against the north- 
 wi-stern angle of the fort, for the purpose of making a breach. 
 To counteract the eflfect of their fire. Major Croghan caused that 
 |ioint to be strengthened by means ot bags of flour, sand and 
 other materials, in such a manner that the picketing sustained lit- 
 I tie or no injury. But the enemy, supposing that their fire had 
 I sufficiently shattered the pickets, advanced, to the number of 500., 
 I to stem the place, at the same time making two feints on differ 
 lot points. 
 
 The column which advanced against the northwestern anglc^ 
 I was 80 completely enveloped in smoke^ as not to be discovered 
 ttotil it had approached within eighteen or twenty paces of the 
 lines, but the men being all at their posts, and ready to receive it, 
 commenced so heavy and gallant a fire as to throw the column 
 into confusion ; but being quickly rallied, Lieut. Col. Short, the 
 leader of the column exclaimed, ** come on my brave felloes, 
 we will give the dam'd yankee rascals no quarters,*' and imm€di-> 
 ately leapt into the ditch, followed by his troops ; as soon as the 
 diicb was entirely filled by the assailants. Major Croghan ordered 
 the six pounder, which had been masked in the block house, to 
 be fired. It had been loaded with a double charge of musket 
 IbalU and slugs. This piece completely raked the ditch from end 
 ttoend. The first fir« levelled the one half in death ; the second 
 or third either killed or woundid every one except eleven, who 
 Uere coTered by the dead bodiei. At tb« same time, the fire di 
 
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 bKETCHIS, &C. 
 
 the fmall arms whs to inceisant and deilructiv*, that it u/ai iu 
 vain the '^ri'i^h officer* exerted themivlves to Ie9<> on the unlance 
 of the culuinn ; it retired in disorder undi; w:?Aver of ihfit. 
 and gouglit safety in an adjoining wood. The : . ofrV'^ enem) in 
 killed was ahout 150, beaidei a coosiderableiiui,.'.'rof their allies, 
 The Americans had but one killed and seven slightly ^ ounded. 
 Barly in the morning of the 3d, the enemy retreated down th^ 
 river, after having abandoned considerable baggage. 
 
 The garrison was composed of regulars, all Kentuckiani; : 
 finer company of men was not to be found in the United State!, 
 perhaps not in the world. They were as humane as courageous 
 This is proved by their unceasing attention to the wounded eae 
 my after their discomfiture ; during the night they kindly received 
 into the fort, through the fatal port hole of the block house, ilt 
 those who were able to crawl to it ; to those unable to move, 
 they threw canteens filled with water. They even parted with 
 their clothes to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded. 
 
 Gen. Harrison had ordered Maj. Croghan to destroy the storet 
 
 and abandon the fort, in case the enemy made his appearance 
 
 He found it expedient to disobey this order, and has thereby im 
 nortalized himself. 
 
 While Proctor and Dixon were investing fort Stephenson, It 
 cumseh with a band of 2000 warriors and some British troopi, 
 approached fort Meigs. They hovered round the place for seve- 
 ral days and then withdrew, without doing any material injury to 
 the garrison. 
 
 When the news of the attack on fort Stephenson reached Gov. 
 Meigs, he made a spirited call to the patriotism of Ohio. Suck I 
 was its effect, that 16>000 men were immediately in motion to | 
 repel the invaders. Fortunately their services were not rf 
 •yiired. 
 
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 Volume I Nvmdku 4. 
 
 UU M l l U 
 
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 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 preparations for the invasion of Canada....Capture of Maiden.,, . 
 Pursuit and capture of the British army..,. Return of the ar 
 my to Detroit, and embarkation for Buffalo. 
 
 The tide of victory, at this period, bej^an to set with a strong 
 current in favor of the American arms. On the 10th of Septem- 
 ber, com. Perry captured the whole British force on lake Erie. 
 This victory removed the principal barrier to the conquest of Mai- 
 den and the recovery of Detroit ; of which we shall give a more 
 detailed account hereafter. 
 
 At this time gen. Harrison began to concentrate his forces at 
 the mouth of Portage river. The greatest activity was visible io 
 camp, in preparing for the descent on Canada. Boats were col- 
 lected— >beef jerked — the superfluous baggage secured in block 
 houses and a substantial log fence two miles long, extending 
 from Portage river to Sandusky bay, was built to secure the hors- 
 es during the operations of the army. 
 
 On the 17th gov. Shelby with 4000 volunteers, arrived at 
 head quarters. This formidable corps were all mounted ; but it 
 was deemed best for them to act as infantry, and leave their hors- 
 es on the peninsula. On the 20th gen. M' Arthur's brigade, from 
 fort Meigs, joined the main body, after a very fatiguing march 
 of three days down the lake coast. 
 
 Col. Johnson's mounted regiment remained at fort Meigs, but 
 had orders to approach Detroit by land and to advance pari pas- 
 su wuh the commander in chiet, who was to giove in boats thro' 
 the islands to Maiden, and of whose progress, the colonel was to 
 ^ daily informed by a special express. 
 
 The British prisoners, taken in the naval action of the 10th, 
 Were gt nt to Chilicothe, guarded by a part of col. Hill's regiment 
 "^ Pennsylvania detached militia. The different posts on th« 
 
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 270 
 
 SKETCHES 00 
 
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 Aixtericnn side of the lake, were left in charge of the Ohio mii;- 
 tia. Fort Meigs, which till now had covered eight acres of laud, 
 was reduced in its dimensions to one acre. About 500 Kentuck- 
 ians were to remain at Portage to guard the horses* and stores. 
 livery thing being now ready, the embarkation of the troops 
 commenci'd at the dawn of day, on the 2 let For the want ol a 
 sufficit nt number of boats, not more than one third of the army 
 could embiuk at once. 
 
 There is a range of islands extending from the head of the 
 peninsula, to Maiden. These islands render the navigation safe, 
 und afford ttie army convenient depots for baggage and stotet, 
 as w'eil as halting places. 
 
 Put-in bay island, sixteen miles from Portage, was selected by 
 the general as the first point of rend€zvou8...4he first stage in his 
 pa. sage across the lake. The weather was favorable. As ?oo& 
 as the first division of boats reached the island, men were immedi- 
 Htfly detached to take back the boats for a fresh load. Such was 
 the eagerness of the men to accelerate the embarkation of the 
 whole army, that they, in most cqjes, anticipated this regulation 
 by volunteering their services to return with boats. Every one 
 courted fatigue. 
 
 The fleet of commodore Perry, was busily engaged in traus- 
 porting the baggage of the array. In the course of the 22d the 
 whole army had gained the island, and encamped on the margin 
 of the bay, which forms nearly a semicircle. 
 
 The Lawrence, and the six prize ships, captured from the ene- 
 my, were at anchor in the centre of the bay, and in full view, 
 With what ineffable delight did the troops contemplate this inter 
 esling spectacle ! Their curiosity was amply indulged : every one 
 was permitted to go on board the prizes to view the effects of the 
 battle. The men vere highly pleased with this indulgence of 
 the general and the commodore. The scene was calculated tc 
 inflame their military ardor, which was visible in every counte 
 nance. 
 
 The army was detained at Put-in-bay during the 23d and 24tf 
 by unfavorable winds. 
 
 On the 25th the army again embarked, partly in boats and 
 partly on board the fleet, to takt a nearer position to the Canadian 
 shore. The flotilla arrived a little before sunset at a small island 
 called the Eastern Si^tlr, eighteen miles from Maiden, and seven 
 from the coast. This island does not contain more that 3 acres, 
 and the men had scarcely room to sit down. 
 
 On the 'ifith, the wind blowing fresh, it became necessary tc 
 haul up the boats to prevent their staving. The general and 
 commodore, in the Ariel, made a reconnoisancc of the tneAnV 
 
 yi: 
 
 • rill- iiUiii'ii.i (ifiorst's |i li on lite iVnitiitild. iliirinf^^ the nliicntc olilic army i;i ("anuH-i " 
 »ui- !s «'( fiw ti>iju>«i»il i thr ilic nioM |iart, of -.lit fini »izi' 01.O i <,i ;li'iri> 
 
'>M 
 
 THS WAR. 
 
 Iv 1 
 
 eoatti and approached within a short distance of Maiden. Capt. 
 Johnny was despatched to apprize Col. Johnson of the progrc8^ of 
 our army. Gen. Cass, Col. Ball and Capt. M'Clelland were busy 
 in arranging and numbering the boats. At sunset the lake had 
 risen several feet ; indeed, such was the violence of the .surf, 
 that many entertained serious fears that the greater part of tlii' 
 island would be innundated before innrniiigf. However, the wind 
 subsided at 12 o'clock, and relieved their apprehensions. 
 
 ■ ' 'i ■ ■■ ;;' :,. . • ■. ! ,,: 
 
 Capture of Maiden On the 27th, at 9 in the morning, the 
 
 trmy made its final embarkation. 
 
 They landed, in perfect order of battle, at 4 P. M. three miles 
 below Maiden. The Kentucky voluntet-rs formed the right wiigr. 
 Ball's legion and the friendly Indians the centre, and the regm-^rs 
 on the left. The troop.4 were almost instantly in line, and eliortly 
 eommenced their march, en echelons, for Maiden. The troops 
 hii<i been drilled to marching in and out of boats, and to forming 
 on the beach. £very man knew his place, and so well were they 
 masters of this very necessary piece of service, that a company 
 would march mto a boat, debark and form on the beach in less 
 than one minute, and that too without the least confusion. 
 
 As they approached Matdcii, instead of the led coatj, and the 
 war whoop of the Indians, a group of well-dressed ladies advanc- 
 ed to meet them, and to implore mercy and protection. They 
 were met by Gov. Shelby, who soon quieted their fears by assur- 
 jig them that the army came not to make war on women and 
 children, but to protect them. 
 
 The arniy entered Maiden by several parallel streets. The ru- 
 ins of the fott and naval buildings, which the enemy had evacu 
 ated and burnt, were still smoking. All the loyal inhabitants fol 
 lowed the British army in its retreat. The fortifications at Mai- 
 den must have cost the British government a vast (.um. The furt 
 was surrounded by a deep ditch and two rows of heavy pickets ; 
 the walls were high and the adjacent country very level. 
 What cannon and small arms the enemy had been unable to car- 
 ry away were sunk in the river. 
 
 Opposite the place lies the island of Bois Blanc, on the lower 
 end of which was a heavy battery, which defended the entrance 
 to the harbour. The enemy in their haste had left an 18 pounder 
 on this battery. 
 
 Perhaps there is not a place in America that possesses so great 
 convenience for ship building as Maiden. The descent of the 
 shore is in proper angle for launching ; besides, the water is deep, 
 and the timber can be floated to the spot in any quantity, and at 
 a thort distance, except pin?, which is found on the Thames, on 
 'he St, Clair river, and on the shores of the lakes. They had 
 
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 179 
 
 &&ETCHBS OV 
 
 ox)lloeted a considerable quanty of timber, which they attempted 
 to burn, but without succeis. 
 
 The country is settled to the distance of 20 noilet below Maiden, 
 Three miles above the fort is an Indian village, which had been 
 abandoned so suddenly that many essential articles of Indian fur- 
 niture, such as brass bettles, were left in the houxes. 
 
 In the evening aft«r the arrival of the army at Maiden, CoL 
 Ball dispatched an officer and twenty men to prevent the ene- 
 my's destroying the bridge across the Aux Canards. The enemy 
 tvere found on the bridge having just set fire to it : Our party 
 fired on them-*-they dispersed, and the bridge was saved. 
 
 On the 28th the aimy passed the Aux Canards, and encamped 
 two miles beyond the river, in a neat Fiench settlement. A 8mall 
 party of British horse sho\ved themselves at the bridge and thci 
 retired. 
 
 The next day the army reached Sandwich at 2 o'clock, P. M. 
 At the same time the fleet came up the river to Detroit. The 
 general made dispositionis for patsiDg t^e river. Gov. Shelby'i 
 cotps remained at Sandwich, while Col. Ball's legion and the bri- 
 gades of Oenerals M'Arthur and Cuss passed over to Detroit. 
 
 The Indians appeared in groupt- s, on the bank of the river be- 
 low Detroit ; a few shots from the gun bouts caused them to dit 
 perse. 
 
 The Indians did not leave Detroit till the boats containing the 
 troops were half way across the river. Just before the army landed 
 on the Ame'ican side, the inhabitants hoisted the U. S. flag, amids! 
 the acclamations of thousands. They were received by the in 
 habitants with demonstrations of unfeigned joy. They had i^uf 
 fered all that civilized and savage tyranny could inflict, save 
 death. The Indians had lived at free quarters for several montht. 
 It was natural for them to hail the American army as their deli- 
 verers. 
 
 The enemy had set fire to the fort, but the walls and picketing 
 remained entire. Thr public store, a long brick building near the 
 wharf, was injured only in the roof, which our men soon repaired 
 In the course of the night there was an alarm in camp.. .the (ires 
 were extinguished, and the men ordered to lie on their arms- 
 
 On the 30th Col. Johnson's regiment arrived from fort Meigi, 
 
 and immediately commenced ihe passage of the river in boats 
 
 Gen. M'Arthur, with the matis of the regular troops, .was charged 
 with the defence of Detroit. It was the general opinion of tiie 
 inhabitants, that there wi^na 1000 Indian warriors, under Marpo* 
 and Split-log, lurking in the woods between the rivers Rouge and 
 Huron of Lake St. Clair. The friendly Indians had taken scvc 
 ral prisoners in the immediate vicinity of Detroit. 
 
 Pursuit and capture of the British army On the 2d of Oc 
 
 tQber every arr4i:genaeot was completed for pursuing the retrcqir- 
 
?l;| 
 
 THK WAM. 
 
 17'S 
 
 ipg Briti»h army up the Thames. The force selected for this set 
 vice vvere the mounted regiment of Col. Jolin^oi), three c^nipa- 
 niei of Col. Ball's legion, and the principal part of Gov. .Shtlby'K 
 volunteers. 
 
 From Sandwich to the Moravian Towns is 84 miles. The 
 roads, for the most part, bfnii^ good, and the country perfectly 
 level, the advance of the troops vy4% yj rapid that they rtached 
 the river Riscum, which is atmut 25 miles from Sandwich, in tlie 
 evening of the same day. The tmtmy bad uej^locted to de;itroy 
 the bridge. 
 
 Early oo the moriUng of (tie Jd, tlie geamat proceeded ^vit1^ 
 Johnson's regiment, to prevent the destruction of the bridges dver 
 the ditferent ittreains th»t fall into lake St. Ciair and the Thames. 
 Tliese streams are deep and muddy, and ar^- unfordable for a con- 
 siderable distance into the country. A lieutenant of dragoons 
 and 30 privates, who had been sent back by Gen Proctor, to de- 
 stroy the bridges, were made prisoners near the mouth of the 
 Thames ; from them the general learnt that the enemy had uo 
 certain information of their advance. 
 
 The baggage of the army was brought from Detroit in boats, 
 protected by a part of Commodoie Perry's tqiiadron. in the eve- 
 ning the army arrived at Drake's farm, eight uriles from the 
 mouth of the Thanes, and encamped. This river is a fine, deep 
 stream, navigable for vessels of considerable burthen, afttr the 
 passage of the bar at its mouth, over which there is generally 7 
 feet water. The gun boats could ascend as far as Dalsun'.s, be- 
 low which the country is one continued prarie, and at once favor- 
 able for cavalry movements, and for the co operation of the gun- 
 boats. Above Dalson's the aspect of the country changes ; the 
 river, though still deep, .3 not more than 70 yards wide, and its 
 banks high and wood}'. 
 
 At Chatham, 4 miles from Dalson's,and 16 from lake '-A. Clair, is 
 a small deep creek, where the army found the bridge tp.k»j: up, f>riQ 
 the enemy disposed to dispute their passage, and upoi iv^; arrival 
 of the advanced guard, commenced a heavy fir^ froai the rppc 
 iite bank, as well as a flank tire from the right ■■^lui ot the ri^er. 
 File army halted and formed in order of battle. \-\r bridge was 
 repaired under the cover of a fire from two C pcui.d^;i The In- 
 dians did not relish the fire of our cannon, and rcf. r^d. Colonel 
 Jnhnion, being on the right, had seized the remair>>< of a bridge 
 at McGregor's mills, under a heavy fire from the Indians, tie 
 lost on this occasion two killed and four wounded. The enemy 
 Mt fire to a house near the bridge, containing a considerable ona k- 
 tity oi muskets ; ihe flames were extinguished and th? arms si V4.d. 
 At the first farm above the bridge they tbund ooe of the enemy'> 
 vessels on Are, loaded with arms and ordnance stoKs. Four miU*- 
 hj^her up, the army took a poiitioa tor the nigbt. Here they found 
 
 '''I- 'I 
 
 m 
 
174 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 I! i-i ' 
 
 ih \ !• 
 
 '. ) 
 
 SI: ■ 
 
 
 f 
 
 two nt!rcr vessels, and a large distillery filled with ordnance and 
 stores t;) an iajmriii^f afnount, in flame». Two 24 pounders, with 
 tlieir carria^esj were taken, and a bige quantity of balls and 
 shells of various sizes. 
 
 The army was put in motion early on the morning of the 5lh, 
 The general accompanied Col. Johnson, and Gov. Shelby followed 
 with tlie infantry. This morning the army captured two gun- 
 boats and several batteuax loaded with provisions and ammuni- 
 tion. At 9 they had reached Arnold's mills, where there was a 
 fording place', and the only one for a considerable distance. Here 
 the army crossed to the right bank,the mounted regiment fording, 
 and the infantry in the captured boats. The passage, though re- 
 tarded for want of a sufficient number of boats, was completed 
 by Vi o'clock. 
 
 Eight miles above the ford, they passed the ground where the 
 British force had encamped the night before. The general di- 
 rected the advance of Col. Johnson's regiment to accelerate their 
 march, for the purpose of ascertaining the distance of the enemy. 
 The cllicer commanding it, shortly after sent word back that his 
 progress was stopped by the enemy, who were formed across 
 our line of march. 
 
 The army was now within three miles of the Moravian town, 
 and vi^ithin one mile of the enemy. The road passes through a 
 beech forest without any clearing, and for tlu- first two miles, near 
 to the bank of the river. At the distance of 50 rods from tiie 
 viver, is a swamp running parallel to it, and extending all the way 
 to the Indian village. The intermediate ground is dry, the sur- 
 face level, th€ trees lofty and thick, with very little underwood 
 fo impede the progress of man or horse, if we except that part 
 which borders on the swamp. ^ • - 
 
 Across this narrow strip of land, the British force was drawn 
 tip in a line of battle, to prevent the advance of our army. Their 
 Ictt, resting on the river, was defended by four piece? of cannon; 
 near the centre were two other pieces. Near the swamp, the 
 British line was covered by a large Indi>in force, who also lined 
 the naaigin of the swamp to a considerable distance. The Bri- 
 tish troops amounted to 600; the Indians probably to 1200. 
 
 As it was not practicable to turn the enemy in flank, it becarrc 
 necessary to attack them in front. Gen. Harrison did not long 
 hesitate in his choice of the mode of attack. Jt was as novel as 
 it was successful. 
 
 The troops at his disposal might amount to 3000 men; yet, 
 from the peculiar nature of the ground, one half of this force 
 could not advantageously engage the enemy. 
 
 About J 50 regulars, under Col. Ball, occupied the narrow 
 space between the road and river; they were ordered to advance 
 and amuse the enemy; and if an opportunity offered, to seize hif 
 
 Ud 
 
 ijt 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 175 
 
 cannon. A small party of friendly Indians were directed to move 
 under the bank. Col. Johnson's regiment was drawn up in close 
 column, with its right a few yards distant from the road, with or- 
 ders to charge at full speed as soon as the enemy delivered his 
 fire. The Kentucky volunteers, under Major Gen. Henny, were 
 formed in the rear of the mounted regiment, in three lines ex- 
 tending from the road to the swamp. Gen. Desha's division co- 
 vered the left of Johnson's regiment. Gov. Shelby was at the 
 
 crotchet, formed by the front line and Gen. Desha's division 
 
 This was an important point. Gen. Cass and Commodore Perry, 
 volunteered as aids to Gen. Harrison, who placed himself at th( 
 head of the front line of infantry, to direct the movements of th<- 
 cavalry, and to give them the necessary support. Such was the 
 ordtr of battle. 
 
 The army mo\%d in this order till the mounted men received 
 ihe fire of the enemy, at the distance of 200 >ards. The charge 
 was beat, and in an instant tOOO horse were in motion at fiill 
 speed; the right, led on by Col. Johnson, broke through the Briiisli 
 lines and formed in their rear. The enemy's pieces wore no^ 
 loaded ; their bayonets were not fixed, and they surrendered at 
 discretion. The whole was the work of a minute. In breaking 
 through their ranks, our men killed 12 and wounded 37 of tire 
 British regulars. The shock was unexpected. They were not 
 prepared to resist it ; some were trampled under the feet of oui 
 horses; others were cut down by the soldiers; very few were 
 shot, for the fire was not general. Had the enemy shown tl>e 
 least symptoms of resistance, after their lines were broken tbrough, 
 (he greater part would have been destroyed ; but they werr 
 passive. Never was terror more strongly depicted on the coun- 
 tenances of men. Even the otficers were seen with uplifted 
 hands, exclaiming " quarter?!" There \» no doubt that they ex- 
 pected to be massacred, believing that the Kentuckians would re 
 taliate the bloody scenes of Raisin and Miami ; but nothing wa5 
 farther from thfir intentions. 
 
 On the Icf! ihe contest was more serious; Col. Johnson, who 
 commanded on that tlank of his regiment, received a terrible fire 
 from the Indians, which war kept up for some time. The colo 
 ncl most gallantly led the head of his column into the hottest cl" 
 the enemy's fire, and was personally opposed to Tecumseli. At 
 this point a condensed mass of savages had collected. Yet, re 
 gardlessof danger, he rushed into the midst of them; so thick 
 were the Indians, at this moment, that several might have reach 
 td him with their rifles^ He rode a white horse, and was knn\v« 
 to be an otticer of rank ; a shower of balls was discharged at him, 
 ;ome of which took effect. His horse was shot under him, and 
 
 bis clothes, his saddh', and his person wa.« pierced with buileiy 
 
 ^t the moment hie horse fell, Tecums»ii rushed towards him witl-. 
 
 t-'l 
 
 
 ■V V ■ ;.> 
 
); : 
 
 i-^'ik 
 
 ':^ I 
 
 It 
 
 ri « 
 
 tf 
 
 
 i 1 
 
 mm 
 
 11 
 
 
 ira 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 «n uplifted tomahnwk, to give the fatal stroke ; but hit pteaeiiO( 
 of mind did not forsake him in this perilous predicament ; he I 
 drew a pistol from his holster^ and laid his daring opponent deadi 
 at his feet. He was unable to do more, the loss of blood deprivtd 
 him of strength to stand. Fortunately, at the moment of Te 
 cumseh's fall, the enemy gave way, which secitred him from the I 
 reach of their tomahawks. He received five shots....three in the I 
 right thigh, and two \r\ the left arm. Six Americans and twfmty. 
 two Indians fell within 20 yards of the spot where Teciim!)e!<| 
 was killed, and the trains of blood almost covered the ground. 
 
 The Indians continued a brisk fire from the margin of th^ | 
 swamp, whitfh made some impression on a line of L«?ntucky \c 
 luntec-r^; but Gov. Shelby brought up a regiment to its support, I 
 and their fire soon became too warm for the enemy. A partoi 
 Coi. Johnson's men having gained the rear of a part of the Indiarl 
 line, the rout became general. A small party of Indians atteiUjit 
 ed to gain the village by running up the narrow strip of dry land 
 but they were soon overtaken and cut down. The Indians fougji' 
 brnvfly, and sustained a severe loss ir: killed and wounded 
 The death of Tecumseh was to them 2,<\ irreparable loss.* 
 
 The American army had 16 killed and 30 wounded. Amonjrl 
 the slain was Col. Whitley, of the Kentucky vol'^inteers, a niarj 
 70 years of age, and a soldier of the revolution. He was it 
 easy citcumstaoced at home, and possessed an excellent character 
 
 • I hrct It hnttil aboriginal wirrior, r«vumMh, wai ir the 44th year ofhii oec when hr frll » 
 thf battle (if'thc lliainos. Hcwai o'lhe Shawaiincvr trihi' five fvt't trn inehn biKn, wtll lotmfdfi; 
 •cuvit) am^ thci-ndiirancFofratiK'.A which ht- ^a\ vapabtf oi lustainiiiy in a tiry txirauiduuii; 
 «l«-(fixt I tin carriage ua« ert-tt hikI 'ol'ly— liii niutiont quick— hii « yf» penrtnuiiig— hii visa^i ttnt. 
 .'With an air orbaiitiiir in hit roiKift'iiancL-, w hicli arouMnmi an i k-vated pride ot Mmi— it did not kM 
 hini fviii iiiiicatli. Hit < lo<iucni'e was ik»rvaiii coiicisi.- iniprt-^tive fi^raiive ami Mrcaitio imit 
 ol'it lacituni babit ortitt-trh, hit wonU wvrt- Ti-w but alwayi to the puipoir. His drvts was pitin- 
 hi- wai tuvfr known tu indulgv iit nudy dtHioritioii o' hit }itTioii Hhich it the ;;(<neral practii-r ol Ui 
 ItMliani. H<^ wore on the sjay of bit death a dntinl divrtkin roat and pantaluon*' Itiiiaidlir 
 couiil ri ml and writ* < 'oi"'.-vtly -, nl thit howrvpr ii it doulili'ul, at ho wa« thi^ im>oiicilablc rrx-myM 
 civilizutinii, orcuunt' wuiiM I'.ut h*.- aut to relitb the fine arti. He wat in rveiy rrtpect a <aMipr, tbt 
 gr(".iic«i perhaps linre the il-yt I' rontaic Mi« rulii>K niaitim in war. wa> to laki: nu piitomn, 
 nii^l III tirii-il) adl'trrd tu thi- tanipiinar)' purpoie* o> hit inul— -hu neither gave iMir acccptiH q^ai 
 tei'». Yii. paradukiral tu ii niai term, to the pritonrn madt by the other tribet, he »ui mttniin 
 ami liuinani-. N'av,in nnu inttance he itiaid to have Juried hit tomahawk in ibe head or a lhi|l(l^ 
 way chill' wliimi he found ariivilr enraged in matsacning tome oi Uiidley't mm, altirthe> m 
 been inutit' ; , itoiu is by the Brilith antTlndiani. It had lung beenarator!tepr<>|trt orihiiti|iiii% 
 Dhiet'loo" «' the nortliem w<.-tteniaii.; lotithem Indiana fur the purpoteti. renaming tin ircuiinii| 
 uliirat .11' t^iiio Whether ihi< Ri-uni' Ui« original I'din hit own, ur his liiuihi r't mind, ci »■/ 
 iiiKRe>'e<l by thr British, it not knuwn—bo .hie r.iMcfa it certain, he cherithe«l (he plan wiihtiiUiU' 
 tiaii ' ui<d iiritiully visiiid the Cr>i k Indi,uis to prevail on ti.«m tu Join m the nndurtakmfi^. He 
 w,<i'. r)\vavt o(<|io-itl tu the tale ol' the India.' laiuli.— Ina otnncilat Vincenih't, In 18 10, he waitnuivt 
 • Vital to ill*' iniididii^ urtt oi a diplonmiiil la uai; o( hit npt^echt i he pronounced general ilarran 
 >i< na<'> ' e \\a\ hieii in alinoit every baitti with the Aiticricant frutn ihc time ul' ilanner'a ih'tiM ii 
 that of the Tliami s. lie lint beei. teviral timet wmiiuiid, and alw4)« touKbt the boltrttotrtiifiK- 
 A i<\> minuter bifmi h< reeeiv:'' t'<e tntal ftiv of col .lnhnson, he had receivul it mutket htilinki) 
 left arm. ><'t hi» iHVrti io Jonqi / i.tii<ed only with lite. Wlien « youth, aiul bijbre the irttty of 
 Oi^enxille he h il hi t/l'ti tiKi>al>Xed him«eU tliHt he wat ttpulnl one of the Itoklett oftlie liuluu 
 warriors In the Kvni f • 'i nu-nt fKentiiek: he vat peciiliarl) active in teiziiig iMiutt ijniiii; Hott^ 
 (lie Ohfo, i.illitiK ihi- jih-.m ngrit and carrying (<:•' ih> iv L<ru|ieny Hi made fre<|Ueni inciiiHn in M" 
 Kcfi""hy wheie h. » .mh' intariab!y ninrdi r tone lu the lettlen and e»eap«- with »tvt ral Uotwt U 
 den w th pliK'di r Mr iiUkxyi eluded pnrtnit. and v heti too rluiel) printed, v. iiuM t tire in the IW 
 ba«l\ III), rnlii'i: ra^vioti ueijit to have hcii xlor)— •:•' ivat eared it of wealth Hiid alihouf(h ju^ 
 
 Jiunili riti'{'> HI >i «ii!Miili< t mutt have amounted toa great tuni, be pvtrti rvni htile ttir imnsi li AlU' 
 it fill on tl.i- Mh (.•'Oiuilnr hU pertmi wa» vkwed with great inten "^i b> the oftleer* iiiiU ^Mvn 
 <il'Hiirii«in'« mti.y ft wat nome time lHti)ri- the idnitit) oi hit SKrtiiii «a> iiiffliieiitlj rieciptilM'' 
 to remote all '' i.''< it« to thi ceit;tint\ ol hit de;>»h I liete watitkilid ol ferfu'ioUl plca.iin , i l6< 
 expr- 1 ion loiy henll-'we i. in cooieiuijlatioi,- On- contour ol lii« t. atunt whieh wat ini^jeiticivinii' 
 dmili ■■'o" •■ 'Il Iv. I nieUi.iii .i')<r»eiU ihetnrflvm hv comMiitliiijj Midigriljc* oi« hit Jr«il M' 
 l?B watto^lprtl anil otliirwin; dijflgnn d. 
 
Iiii pteaeno( 
 cament ; he 
 iponent deti I 
 ood deptivtil 
 ment of Tt 
 im from the I 
 .three in tht I 
 and tw(:nty. 
 re Tecumff!; | 
 ? ground, 
 argin of the I 
 ik«?ntuckv \o 
 its Mipport, 
 •• A part Oil 
 of the Indiarl 
 lians attempi 
 I of dry land 
 ndians fough' 
 id wounded 
 
 l088.* 
 
 >d. Amon;: I 
 iteers, u man | 
 He wasiE 
 nt character 
 
 S-, when he Ml ii 
 , will torniftlii; 
 'ivtry «xtraoi(1umj 
 Ik— nii tit«Kt <(m. 
 )Ui— it did not ktn 
 inil sarcaitic h\-tv% 
 I druti WHS pltin- 
 leral practii-r ot tkt 
 |ooi>*' It ittaidU 
 loiicilablcriirinfN 
 [ipei't in«»ii)rf,lkt 
 taku iiu piiwikn, 
 ur acccptid q.iti 
 \, he Mui xittiiiiit 
 ■ head ol k t hii)|»- 
 
 Icct orthii*i|iii% 
 |niiiK tluir coiinin 
 it's mind, I'r »ii 
 plan wi(l\iniiii> 
 luiMlertalimi?. Ht 
 ]8tO,hc wtjlfluiv* 
 Rem-nil itarraoa 
 i1arm««'> A-Uai w 
 Ihottritut'ihiriK- 
 Iniuiktt bftlUnlii) 
 bre thir ireitjof 
 Lk-rtortlii; litituii 
 I iKiutH i;>iiiiK ii"*'' 
 liil inciii''i •" ""'' 
 M vtral Im'Wi Ii 
 jr tiff 10 the Hi 
 
 Lr iimiM li A'''' 
 
 lifinlj r.ti>Cii'MJ 
 1» pli-a.i.r. , 1 It* 
 I nMijr>'iC tvi'tf 
 In m» d'-»i> ^' 
 
 lyiR WAR. 
 
 177 
 
 Among the trophies of the day, were six brass field pieces that 
 ttad been surrendered by Hull, on two of which was this motto: 
 <f Surrmdffrfd by Burgoyne at Saratoga I" 
 
 Thf day afttr the battle, a part of the arnfiy took possession of 
 the Moravian town, where they found most kinds of vegetables 
 in abundance ; i.,€tt were acceptable to men who had for seve- 
 ral days subsisted on fresii berf, without bread or salt. 
 
 The town was found deserted, and so panic struck were some 
 of the women in their flight, that they are jiaid to have thrown 
 their children into the Thames, to prevent their being butchered 
 by the Americans! 
 
 This village is situated on the right bank of the Thames, about 
 40 miles from its entrance into lake St. Clair. The town wait 
 built by emigrants from Muskingum, and contained at the time of 
 the battle nearly 100 houses, mostly well built. Thi^ Rev. John 
 Scoll, from Bethlehem, (Pa.) was established here as a missionary. 
 Here is a school house and a chapel, and many of the inhabitants 
 tpehk English. Their gardens were luxurious and cultivated with 
 taste. 
 
 The Indians who inhabited this town had been among the fore- 
 most in mHSRacreing the Americans at the river Raisin ; and the 
 town, if spared, would afford a convenient shelter for the British 
 allies durmg the winter, from which they could easily pass nito 
 the Michigan territory to rob and murder the inhabitants. For 
 these reasons the town was destroyed by the troops previous to 
 their kn. . ing it. 
 
 Gen. Proctor abandoned his army at the very moment John- 
 son's regiment beat the charge. About 40 dragoons accompanied 
 him as a guard. In 24 hours he was 65 miles from the Moraviaa 
 town. A few of the mounted men pursued him, and at one time 
 were within 100 yards of him ; but they were too weak to at- 
 tack hi8 guard. His carriage and papers were taken. 
 
 Three waggons, loaded witjj specie, escaped, but might have 
 been overtaken if proper means had been used to pursue the fu- 
 gitives. A depot of 300 barrels of ttour was within a day's 
 march oi the Moravian town. 
 
 Return of the army The army returned to Detroit. C'apt. 
 
 Elliot, of the Niagara, volunteered his services to command a na- 
 val expedition against Michillimuckinac and fort St Joseph ; but 
 the weather proving unfavouri<ble for a number of days, the sea- 
 son became loo far advanced to risk the squadron on lake Huron, 
 till spring. 
 
 While Gen. Harrison was pursuing Proctor up the Thames, the 
 
 Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottowattomies, Miamies and Kikupoos, 
 
 proposed to Gen. M'Arthur, a suspeiitiion of hostilities, and agreed 
 
 '^ " take hold of the same tomahawk with the Ariierican.s, and 
 
 -r i-i..i 
 
 ^ •■ m 
 
 
 t :^ 
 
 .^■■^.^ ¥,V> ':f>.^ 
 
^t, ^' ; 
 
 1!..:'! ' 
 
 ,, • < 
 
 M 
 
 11 ^'' 
 
 1 
 
 17B 
 
 SKETCHES •» 
 
 (0 Mriko all who were or might be enemies of the United btattf, 
 whether British or Indians." They brought in their women and 
 children and offV red them as hostages for their good bthavior. 
 
 Lieut. Le Breton arrived at Detroit on the 16th, bearing a flag 
 and a letter from Gen. Proctor to Gen. Harrison. This letter re- 
 qiientrd humane treatment to the prisoners, and a restoration of 
 certain property and papers taken on the 6th. As the letter was 
 addressed to ** the general at Moravian towns," he saw no rea 
 son for Le Breton's journey to Detroit, and ordered him to join 
 O.en. Proctor by the way of Buffalo and fort George. 
 
 After t!ie return of the commander in chief to Detroit, Walk- 
 iin•th^ -Water, who had been in the battle of the Thames, came 
 in to implore peace. When he crossed from Sandwich, the white 
 flag which he bore in his hand had attracted a great crowd to 
 the wharf, who were all anxious to get a near view of the 
 distinguished chief, and were struck with admiration at the firm- 
 ness and apparent nonchalance with which he ascended the bank 
 and passed through the ranks of the Kentucky volunteers, whom 
 he had so gallantly opposed in battle but a few days before. More 
 real dignity of carriage, or a more striking Nfirmness of countc- 
 nanee has' seldom been seen. Yet his situation was calculated tc 
 depress his spirits and produce humility. His town was in the 
 power of the Americans; the British had all been taken, and the 
 Indians had just suffered a signal defeat. Almost all the other 
 chiefs had submitted, and he was without the means of living oi 
 resisting ; still his manner was that of a conqueror. 
 
 Gov. Shelby's corps and the 12 months volunteers were all ho- 
 nourably discharged. Travelling became safe, and business at 
 Detroit began to assume its wonted course ; but the price current 
 of the territory was exorbitant for every thing to eat, drink or 
 wear. Whiskey sold at 4 dollars a gallon ; beef at 24 cents a 
 pound; cheese 60 do. ; butter 75 do.; potatoes 2 dollars a bushel. 
 The army was well supplied with rations, as were also about 
 three hundred of the inhabitants of Michigan, and about two 
 ttiousand Indians, men, women and children, who had no other 
 means of subsistence. Adventurers soon came on with a sufHcieur 
 supply of dry goods. 
 
 Embarkation for Buffalo On the 23d of October, General 
 
 Harrison, with all his disposable regular troops, embarked on 
 board the fleet and sailed for Buffalo, in obedience to orders from 
 the secretary of war. Previous to his departure, he appointed 
 Gen. Cass provisional governor of Michigan territory, and the ci- 
 vil ordinances, as they stood at Hull's surrender, were proclaimed 
 in force. Gen. Cass was left with about 1000 men, not more 
 than 700 of whom were effective. The men were Jndustriousiv 
 
TUB WAR. 
 
 179 
 
 ^ployed in preparing winter quarters at the fort. The schooners 
 Scorpion and Ohio were engaged in transporting tupphos from 
 £rie and Cleveland for the troops during the winter. Troops 
 were stationed at Maiden and Sandwich ; and the campaign 
 cloaed.* 
 
 j(» 
 
 iU i' 
 
 .1, 
 
 * CriAPTKfi \V. 
 
 4myof the centrc..,.Capture of York.,..Biography of General 
 
 Pike. 
 
 The army of the centre for the campaign '-^f 1813, consisted 
 of about 7000 men ; 4U00 at Saoket's Harbour, and 3000 at 
 Buffalo. The original objects of the campaign were... Ist, the cap- 
 ture of Kingston and destruction of the British ileet in that har- 
 bour; 2d J the capture of York and destruction of the vessels there 
 building; and 3d, the capture of forts George and Erie. The 
 lirst object was, however, ofterwards waved, in consequence of 
 the large reinforcements that were sent into Kingston, till the 
 other two should be etfected. 
 
 Capture ef York....On the 22d of April, IGOO of the best 
 troops were embarked on board the fleet at Sackct's Harbour, de- 
 stined for York, The following is Gen. Dearborn's otficial let- 
 ter to the secretary of war, detailing the events of the expedi* 
 tion: 
 
 H. Q. York, Upper Canada, April 28, 1813. 
 
 SlR....After a detention of some days, by adverse winds, we 
 arrived here yesterday morning, and at 8 o'clock commenced 
 landing our troops about three miles westward of the town, and 
 one and a half from the enemy's works. The wind was higb 
 and in an unfavourable direction for our boats, which prevented 
 the troops landing at a clear field, (the ancient scite of the French 
 fort Tarento.) The unfavourable wind prevented a& many of the 
 armed vessels from taking such positions as would a? effectually 
 cover our landing as they otherwise would have done ; but every 
 thing that could be done was eff«fCted. Our riflemen, under Ma- 
 jor Forsyth, first landed, under a heavy fire from Indians and 
 other troops. Gen. Sheafte commanded in person. He had col- 
 lected his whole forCe in the woods, near where the wind obliged 
 our troops to land, consisting of about 700 regulars and militia^ 
 and 100 Indian!*. Major Forsyth was supported, as pr ^mptly ar> 
 Bossible^ with other troops; but the contest was sharp and severe 
 
 :9m 
 
 I : 
 
 I *>^. 
 
 f>r>^'lt •:'' '>ir y. /K fr.,17. 
 
' Ij 
 
 
 ^.ItfO 
 
 FETCHES OF 
 
 n 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 m 
 
 ■i . ; 
 
 Iffr. 
 
 !i. 
 
 .; 
 
 i 
 
 
 "< 
 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 ||j 
 
 
 illlija 
 
 "' 1 
 
 for near hulf an hour. The enemy was repulsed by a fur icti 
 nuirbi i tlinn his own, riiJ ns soon as Gvu lc^\'^o landed with 7 o. 
 800 UK n, and tho remainder of tli<; troops wtic puohing for tlw 
 shore, ih<' cMitmy rctriatcd to their works; and as soon as the 
 whole of our troops had landed and formed on the clear ground 
 intended for the first landing, they advanced through a thick 
 wood to the open ground near the enem^.'s works, and after car 
 rying one battery by assault, were moving on in columns towardi 
 the main works ; when the h« ad of the columns was withio 
 about tiO rods of the enemy, u trcmend a,^ explosion occurred 
 from a large magazine prepared for the purpo.-e, which discharg- 
 ed such immense quantities of stone as to produce a most uiitor 
 tunate effect on our troops. 
 
 I have not yet been able to collect the returns of our kilJed end 
 wounded, but our loss by the explosion must, I fear, exceed 100; 
 and among them I have to lament th*? loss of the brave and ex- 
 cellent otVicer Urigadier General Pike, who received such a con- 
 tusion from n large stone as terminated his vahrable life within a 
 few hours. His loss will be severely felt. Previous to the ex 
 plosion the enemy had retired into the town, excepting n party ot 
 regular troops, which did not retire early enough to avoid the 
 shock : it is said that upwards of forty of them were destroyed. 
 Gen. Sheafff moved oflT with the regular troops, and left direc 
 tions with the commanding oHIicer of the militia to make the best 
 terms he could. In the mean time, all further resistance on the 
 part of the enemy ceased, and the outlines of a capitulation were 
 agreed on. As soon as I was informed of Gen. Pike's being 
 wounded, I went on shore. i had beeu induced to confide the 
 immediaie command of the troops in action to Gen. Pike, from a 
 conviction that he fully expected it, and would be much morti 
 fied at bein/; deprived of the honour, which he highly appreciated. 
 £vf?ry movement Was under my view. Our troops behaved with 
 great Hrmi'ess, and deserve much applause, especially those who 
 were first engaged, under circumstances that would have tried 
 the firmness of veterans. Our loss in the action in the moriimg 
 and in carrying the first battery, was not great, probably about 
 50 killed and wounded; among them were a full proportion of 
 otlicers ; and although the enemy had a decided advantage ia 
 point of numbers ai^d position at the commencement^ their lou 
 waj« greater than ours, particularly in officers. 
 
 It was with the greatest exertion that the small vessels of the 
 fleet could work into the harbour against a gale of wind directly 
 ahead ; but, as 80on as they got in contact with the batteries, a 
 trtmendciis cannonade commenced from 24 and 32 pounders, and 
 was kept up without intermission, under a heavy fire from two 
 liattericii, until the eiscmy's batteries were carried ur blown up by 
 
; I, 
 
 Itcd by a fur itti 
 landed with 7 o. 
 > puvhing tor tlw 
 i as 8uun at the 
 the cltar groiin4 
 
 through u thick 
 kSf and after car- 
 columns toward! 
 nn« was within 
 iplosion occurred 
 
 which 'Itschart- 
 cc a most uiitor 
 
 of our kilied piid 
 •ar, exceed 100; 
 he hrave and ex- 
 'jved such a coo- 
 able life within a 
 evious to the ex 
 epting n party ot 
 rh to avoid the 
 were destroyed, 
 and left direc 
 to make the br»t 
 esistance on the 
 apitulation were 
 n. Pike's being 
 to confide the 
 n. Pike, from a 
 |be much morti 
 hly appreciated. 
 s behaved with 
 ally those vi'ho 
 uld have tried 
 ill the moriiing 
 robably about 
 I proportion of 
 advantage in 
 enX, their lost 
 
 vessels of the 
 wind directly 
 lie batteries, g 
 jpounderi!, and 
 Ire from two 
 blown up by 
 
 THK WAH. 
 
 Hfil 
 
 the explosioD, which undoubtedly had a powerful effect upon the 
 
 fpemy. 
 
 I nm under the grentost obligations to Commodore Chauncey, 
 for his able and iiidefaligable exertions in every possible manner 
 that could give facility and efTt it to the expedition. He is tqual- 
 Iv estimable for delibei ate, sound judgment, bravery and industry. 
 the (government could not have made a more fortunate selection 
 for the impoitant tiuvt he holds. Unfortunately, the enemy's 
 armed ship, the Prince Regent, left this place for Kingston, four 
 davi* l>efore we arrived. A large ship on the stocks, and nearly 
 planked up, with a large quantity of naval stores, were set on 
 fire by the enemy soon after the explosion of the magazine. There 
 are no vessels fit for use in the harbour. A considerable quantity 
 of military stores and provisions remain. We shall not possesR 
 the means of transporting the prisoners from this place, and must 
 of course leave them on parole. I hope we shall so far complete 
 the necessary measures at this place in the ci urse of this day as 
 to be able to sail to-morrow for Niagara, l>v 'lich route I send 
 this by a small vesrel, with notice to Gii Lewis of our ap- 
 
 proach. ' ' ' ■ ' • 
 
 1 am, sir, your obedient servant, '**• 
 
 H. DEARBORN. - 
 Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. 
 
 lu a letter dated May 3, 1813, the general further remarks:..,. 
 
 I "1 enclose a return of the killed and wounded. You will observe 
 the loss was very small, excepting that produced by the explosion. 
 .4s nearly as 1 have been able tn ascertain, the loss of the enemy 
 imounted to from 00 to 100 killed, 200 wounded, and upwards 
 of 300 prisoners. 1 have not been able to ascertain precisely the 
 number of the militia put on their parole ; I presume it could not 
 be less than 500. There was an immense depot of naval and mi- 
 litary stores. York was the principal depot for Niagara and De- 
 troit; and notwithstanding the immense amount which was de- 
 itroyed by them, we found more than we could bring ofT. Gen. 
 Sheatfe's baggage and papers fell into my hands. These papers 
 are a valuable acquisition; I have not had time for a full exami- 
 nation of them. A scalp was found in the executive and legisla- 
 tive chamber, suspended near the speaker's chair, in company 
 with the mace and other emblems of royalty." 
 
 The following is an extract of a letter from an officer present 
 at the capture, and is considered interesting. 
 "We embarked the 22d and 23d of April, but the weather being 
 
 j stormy we returned into port, and sailed again on the 25th, and 
 arrived at York, in Upper Canada, the 27th, about 7 o'clock A. 
 M. and immediately prepared to land opposite the old scite of fort 
 Torento. A body of British grenadiers were paraded ou the shore. 
 
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 and the Glemgary lencibles, a corps which has beta disciplinen 
 with great painn for six months past, appeared at another poiot, 
 Bodies of Indians were perceived in large groups iu different di- 
 rections; and a considerable number in ^qme wppds and und<;r 
 woods on our leeward flank, t siiH . Iti^ - '«^" ">* <*»; 
 
 About the scite of the old French fort of Torento, of whickl 
 scarcely any vestiges at present remain, we could discers 
 a few horsemen, who we perceived afterwards moving into the 
 town, where strong field works had been thrown up to oppose our | 
 l)anding. . . v«,3,> ^ru !>; -.3? ., v>^.- , ;f «•/**•»-) r;,'^- 
 
 As soon as the horsemen fiad entered the town, we saw the I 
 Indians moving in gangs along the skirts of the woods, under the 
 dhectiou of British officers, taking post at stations pointed out to I 
 them ; apparently calculated with some skill as to the point whicii| 
 the water and the weather imust compel us to land, acii-^i' 
 
 After these Indians, acting as tirrailleurs, were thus disposed, 
 we perceived very > distinctly the regulars moving out of their I 
 works in open columns of platoons, and marching along the banii 
 za that order; when they reached the plain o^ the old fortToreB- 
 to, they were wheeled off by heads of platoons into the woods, 
 and soon appeared in the same order below the plaio, just at the| 
 position at which our troops were under the necessity of land- 
 ing. 
 
 Major Forsyth, and his excellent and gallant rifle corps, who I 
 had been placed in two large batteaux, pulled undauntedly to 
 wards the cjear ground, where he h^d been ordered to land: but| 
 he was forced, by the strength of the wijgydj a coi)8ide.rak>le d 
 tance below his destined point. 4i.'v,<^ -;:.-; ^.-"^ f ^.^wrii:.* 
 
 The fire of musketry and rifles here commenced from the shore,! 
 the enemy being within a few feet of the water, and in a coDsi-[ 
 derable degree masked by the wood and copse. 
 
 Here Major Forsyth ordered his men to rest for a few moments | 
 upon their oars, and soon opened a galling fire upon the enemy. 
 In the moment when Forsyth's corps were lying on their oars I 
 and primiRg, Gen. Pike was standing on the deck, and impatient | 
 at the apparent pause of an instant, and seeing that the rifle corp^ 
 had been driven by the wind beyond the point at which they I 
 were to have disembarked, exclaimed, "By —— I can't stay 
 here any longer!" and addressing himself to his staff, ** come, 
 jump into the boat," which we immediately did ; the commodore 
 having reserved a boat specially for him and his suite ; the little 
 coxswain was ordered immediately to steer for the middle of the 
 fray, and the balls whistled gloriously around ; probably their 
 number was owing to seeing so many officers in the same boat; 
 but we laughed at their clumsy efforts, as we pressed forward | 
 xvith well pulled oars. 
 
 l^WiH i •<{ 
 
 -' . » 'flwi.: h 
 
'rU£ WAS. 
 
 IB& 
 
 te: the little 
 
 the tnlauU-y had^ according to orders, embarked at the same 
 lume, and formed platoons as soon as they reached the shore. The 
 Leneral took command of the first platoon he reached, and form- 
 led it below, and ordered the whole to prepare for a charge ac 
 Isoon as sve reached the top of the bank. We proceeded in high 
 Ispirits, and mounted the bank under a volley of their musketry 
 land rifle shot; but we had not time to form our platoon com- 
 Ipletely, when the British grenadiers shewed us their backs. At 
 Ithe very moment of their turning tail upon us, the sound of For- 
 jtyth's bugles was heard, with peculiar delight, as it was the in- 
 Idication of his success. The effect of the bugle upon the nerves 
 |of the British ladian allies was electric ; for they no sooner heard 
 jitthan they gave a diabolical yell, and fled in all directions. :. ,.' 
 The Glengary corps skirmished with Forsyth's while the in- 
 Ifantry were landing; and Brigade Major Hunter formed the 
 [troops for action as they landed and reached the plain. 
 
 The volunteer corps commanded by Col. Maclure flanked the ' 
 Ireserve, and the light artillery commanded by Major £u8tis, act* 
 iitg as infantry, covered the left. 
 
 It is proper to state, in this place, the gallant and masterly co- 
 loperation of Commodore Chauncey, and the naval squadron un* 
 Ider bis command. He sent his schooners, moimting heavy metal, 
 to cover the landing, and kept up so well directed and incessant 
 afire of grape on the woods, as to effectually cover our right 
 flank, and afforded us great facility in forming our platoons; be- 
 sides producing the utmost consternation among the Indians. A 
 shot from one of the schooners killed a horse under the aid of the 
 British general; but owing to the shallowness of the water, nei- 
 tber the ship nor brig could be brought in to participate in the ac- 
 tion; but the commodore himself was through the whole of the 
 action, in his boat, encouraging and giving orders to the different 
 schooners. The navy lost two gallant midshipmen, and about 
 20 seamen were killed and wounded in the service of landing 
 lus. 
 The tro(^s ordered to land by Gen. Pike when he went on 
 lore, were the three companies of Capt. Hupsock, (who was 
 liBortally wounded in the boat) Capt. Scott and Capt. Young, of 
 the 15th regiment U. S. infantry, all under the command of MaJ. 
 King of the same regiment, (the same who gallantly distinguished 
 Ininself at Queenstown); theur orders were^to reinforce Maj. For- 
 syth, and effect a landing...;aud they were forbidden to load or 
 me powder. The riflemen of Forsyth, as the mfantry came up, 
 opened a heavy and effective fire upon the enemy, and the three 
 companies landed in the most complete style ; the enemy ga>ve 
 way before our troops could come to the bayonet's point, and 
 were pursued up the bank. At the top of the bank, a ffcdi 
 
 '■ ' 'MM* 
 
181 
 
 5KBTCHES OF 
 
 
 ^•i& 
 
 i'^ 
 
 body of British grenadiers (said to be the 8th, or king's greua 
 diers) made a formidable charge upon this column of ours 
 and compelled us for an instant to retire ; but our troops instantly 
 rallied and returned to the charge, and with the most complete 
 success ; not a man of the grenadiers escaped our fire or charge 
 and our troops, just reinforced by the remainder of the 15th, re- 
 mained undisputed masters of the bank. This reinforcement 
 brought the colours of the 15th, which accompanied the piatooD 
 of Capt. Steel. The enemy presenting a fresh front, the troopi 
 were instantly formed for the charge by Maj. King, who gave 
 them Yankee Doodle ; but the enemy did not like our music, nor 
 our pikes, any better than our rifles; they gave way and fled in 
 the utmost disorder. 
 
 As soon as our force was all landed and colliected, we were 
 formed into platoons, and marched in that order towards the ene- 
 my's works, flanked by the rifle corps. 
 
 Our march was by the lake road, in sections ; but the route was 
 so much intersected by streams and rivulets, the bridges over 
 which had been destroyed by the enemy as they retreated, that 
 we were considerably retarded in our progress; we collected logs, 
 and by severe efforts, at length contrived to pass over one field 
 piece and a howitzer, which were placed at the head of our co 
 lumn, in charge of Capt. Fanning, of the 3d artillery; and thus 
 we proceeded through a spacious wood, as we merged from which 
 -we were saluted by a battery of 24 pounders, but excepting some 
 pikes broken and some bayonets bent, these guns gave us no an- 
 noyance. 
 
 The general then ordered one of his aids (Eraser) and a ser- 
 geant to proceed to the right of the battery, in order to discover 
 how many men were in the works ; they did se, and reported to 
 him the number, and that they .were spiking their own guns to- 
 wards the shipping. 
 
 The general immediately ordered Capt. Walworth, of the 16th, 
 with his company of grenadiers, to make the assault. Walworth 
 gallantly ordered his men to trail arms and advance at the acce- 
 lerated pace, but at the moment when they were ordered to reco- 
 ver and charge the enemy, the enemy broke in the utmost con- 
 fusion, leaving several men wounded on the ground which they 
 abandoned. ii>Y)f '. ,:*isj.r.ii';; 
 
 We then piToceeded in admirable order on a gradual ascent, 
 when a fire was opened upon us of round and cannister, from the 
 quarters of the British governor. The general here ordered the 
 troops to lie close, while the artillery battery under Maj. Eustis 
 was brought to the front, and silenced the enemy's battery. The 
 iSring very soon ceased altogether, and we were expecting a fl&g 
 oC surrender, at the very moment when a terrible explosion eft 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 W 
 
 r music, nor 
 
 Oie British magazine took place. The explosion wat itupendoifs 
 (gd awful, and at the instant the common supposition was a sub- 
 terraneous mine; The general had just aided in removing a 
 •pounded man with his own hands, and sat down on a stump with 
 a. British sergeant we had taken prisoner, whom the general, 
 with Capt. Nicholson and myself, were examining, when the ex- 
 plosion took place. The general. Captain Nicholson, and the Brt- 
 tith sergeant, were all mortally vvounded, and I was so much 
 bruised in the general crash, that it is surprising how I survived^; 
 probably I owe my escape to the corpulency of the British sefr« 
 geant, whose body was thrown upon mine by the concussion. 
 
 Brigade Major Hunt, assisted by Lieutenant Col. Mitchell of the 
 3d artillery, who acted as a volunteer on the expedition, formed 
 the troops, and we were ready to give or receive a charge in five 
 joinutes after the explosion. 
 
 The wounds of Gen. Pike were ^f such a nature as to disable 
 bim from ail further service, and the command devolved on Col. 
 Pearce of the 16th infantry, as the senior officer, who sent a flag 
 demanding an immediate surrender at discretion ; they made on- 
 ly one stipulation, which was granted without hesitation....that is, 
 that private property should he respected. 
 
 The British general made his escape^ and a body of regular 
 troops with him. 
 
 When the surgeons were carrying their wounded general and 
 bis aids from the field, our troops, which had just formed, gave a 
 tremendous huzza. The general turned his head, anxiously, to 
 enquire what that was for; a sergeant who accompanied him 
 said....*< The British union jack is coming down, general, the 
 stars are going up", ..he heaved a heavy sigh of extacy, and 
 nailed, even amidst the anguish which must have been insepara- 
 ble from the state of his wounds. He was carried on board the 
 Pert schooner, together with his aidnle-camp, Fraser, and from 
 theace on board the commodore's ship, accompanied by the com-. 
 modore, who came to attend him. On board the commodore's 
 ship, his gallant spirit fled, another Montgomery in fate ; not, inr- 
 deed, perishing by the valour of a gallant foe in noble combat, 
 but falling, even in the arms of victory, by the barbarian revenge 
 of a baffled and defeated enemy, .v . ns 
 
 Gen. Dearborn, Commodore Cbauncey, and indeed every oflS- 
 cer and soldier, sees, in the loss of our friend, the loss of one of 
 our country's proudest ornaments^ and the military profession, it^ 
 brightest example and model." 
 
 I K 
 
 :><) 
 
 The following is the most eorrect list of the killed and woVnded 
 in tljiis expedition : 
 
 ' ^ •III 
 
 , ,''l.;li,.i?i 
 
 . mm 
 
 ■ ■ ■ ■- •^''' '"■' M, 
 
 ■1 'ri^M: 
 
fM^B 
 
 |yi -■<!■, 
 
 m 1 
 
 IH" 
 
 J • 
 
 pli'^' 
 
 |l|i 
 
 iJ!) 
 
 1 
 
 r;4 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ll'i^fe 
 
 ■m 
 
 m 
 
 SKETCHES 0]P 
 
 "'•' Killed in battle....! subaltern^ 2 sergeants, 1 cotfdrkl, 
 2 musicians, 8 privates. ' ' i!. ,' ... .^y 
 
 * Killed by the explosion*...! captain^ 4' fiietgeant^i^ oois 
 
 ^ poralg, 29 private!. i n i. 3g 
 
 ,'r,i ■.■■•-■J .luflCJi;:] fi'Wviil bjSfl ow '..•/■.ir;i98 ilHiiir^ 
 
 -19 »i' Total killedJ'*"^*^^''- ""^ <U>87ft> .l/Ci-i ao«u mji/T .tqr/3 ;; ,«, 
 
 V: ; •• - ■ ^ r ■ ■ '^^ ..■;-;>n-, ■ ^ 
 
 '' "Wounded in battl€....2 captains, (one since dead)-!' 8(ub- 
 flkern, 3 sergeants, 4 corporals, 22 privates. ' 32 
 
 ."f J Wounded by the Explosion.;.. 1 brig. gen. (since d«ad) 
 1 aid-de-camp, 1 acting aid, 1 volunteer aid, 6 captains, 
 6 subalterns, 11 sergeants, 9 corporals, 1 musician, 185 
 
 ■ privates. ' - , / " 222 
 
 Total wounded, -uoiaalqx » ; viiU 8%'.. 254 
 
 •i't Killed, • ' - - "" -^--J ' ' 'ru.v/^.,; 52 
 
 Of the navy....2 midshipmen and! seanAaH, killedili.tl ' 
 
 aeamen wounded. ' ' 14 
 
 ■.Icr'jls;]^ v'^T;.' ;' ;;^.iy^•ivfei^ -♦■» j-it.miij-'. -r.."f.ih'j;'nnii as ^nl' , 
 
 u Ji;r.', Total killed and wounded, i -' ^^' /'.^idv, ^coUi^lucji.-^ i' 320 
 
 ■y Biography of Gen, Pike Zebulon MONTGOMERY Pike 
 
 was born at Lamberton, in the state of Newjersey, January 5th, 
 1779. His father was a respectable officer in the army of 
 the United States. His family had, for several generations re- 
 sided in Newjersey, and were descended from a capt. John Pike, 
 whose name is preserved by tradition as having been a galJaot 
 and distinguished soldier in the early Indian wars of the colony. 
 JHe entered the army while yet a boy, and served for some time 
 as a cadet in his father's company, which was then stationed oq 
 the western frontiers of the United States. 
 
 At an «arly age he obtained the commission of ensign, and 
 soi^ie time after, that of lieutenant in the 1st regiment of Infant- 
 
 &tyt,' :He was thus almost from his cradle trained to the habits of 
 ft military life ; but) he did not, like most of the peaceful veterans 
 of the batraoks and the parade, while away his days io inactivity, 
 contented with the mechanical routine of military duty, ^y a 
 life of constant activity and exposure, he invigorated his constitu- 
 tion, and prepared himself for deeds of hardihood and adventure. 
 At the same time, he endeavoured to supply the deficiency of bis 
 
 * early education by most ardeut« though, probkbly, often desultory 
 and ill regulated application to every branch of usettil knowledge. 
 He had entered the army with no other education than such as is 
 afforded by the most or dinalry village 8chobl....reading, writing, 
 and a little arithmetic. By his own solitary exertions h|9' aoquiredi 
 almost without the aid of a master, the French and Latin Ian- 
 guagesj the former of whicb^ it appears from his journal, be was 
 
i^bie to writs and speak with sufficient accufitcy for all the purpo- 
 ses of business; to these he afterwards added^a oopnpetent know- 
 ledge of the Spanish. He also studied tht^^ejementary branches 
 of matiiematics, and, became very conversant and ev^n skilful ia 
 till the ordinary practi9al applications of that ;^cience. Heseeips,',: 
 besides, to have had a general curiosity, ,t9, which no kind of,." 
 knowledge was without interest ; he read ^with avidity every 
 book which fell in his way, and thus, without, any regular plan of 
 study, acquired a considerable stock of various information, and 
 some tincture of popular English literature. In most of these li- 
 terary acquirements, Pike scarcely attained to the accuracy of the 
 scholar, but they were such as became the gentleman, and ele- 
 vated and adorned the character of the soldier. Nor were these 
 studies directed solely to the improvement of the mind ; he en- 
 deavoured to make them subservient to a much higher end. From 
 his youth he seduously cultivated in himself a generous spirit of 
 chivalry ; not that punctilious and barren honour which cheaply 
 satisfies itself With the reputation of personal courage and free- 
 dom from disreputable vice, but the chivalry of the ancient 
 school of European honour....that habit of manly and virtuous 
 sentiment, that, spirit of patriotism and self devotion, which, while 
 it roots out; from the heart every other weakness of our nature^ 
 spares and cherishes. " that last infirmity of noble minds," the 
 !ove of glory^andijn every great emergency in which maa may' 
 be called upoa to. act> sends him forth into the service of his - 
 country or his kin(;l, at once obeying the commands of duty, 
 and elevated ai^d animated by the warm impulse of enthusiastic^ 
 
 feeling. ;> ...v^ ■•,.>ij,,r? v>- .. ■ !. ^ , , . - •■-^•** 
 
 Among other halnts of mental disciphne by which Pike was 
 accustomed to cherish these principles and feelings, was a con- 
 stant practice of inserting upon the blank pages of some favourits 
 vplume,. syc^ striking maxims of ■morality, or sentiments of ho- 
 nour, as occurred in, his reading, or were sitggestdd by his own 
 reflections. , He had bec!Q in the practice of making use of a small 
 edition of Dbd8ley»s"Econoray of Human Life,'* for (his purpose. 
 Soon after his marriage, he presented (iiis volume to his wife, 
 who still preserves it as one ojf the most' precious memorials 
 of her husband's virtues. Aa extract from orie of the manii- 
 script pages of this volume was pul;>Iished in ia peifiodical Work' 
 soon after his death. It was vyriuen as a continiiatibnof the* 
 article . ** ^jcerity," and is stronmy ^ha'ralcteriSti'c 6f llie' ^13^ 
 
 n 
 
 ■.s'«v;* ; 
 
 ♦ij', ^dj-xrii 
 
 ,M»1 
 
 >^jShould my country call for the sacrifice of that life whicn 
 iiWiS J}eei^de;i[ot{jd to her servipe from early youth, most willingly, 
 sl^ll shejjrjeVeiYe it. . The sod wliich covers the brave shall be' 
 "^sljeoi^' ^^^(he ;teiaijii9f love and frientlibip ; but if I fall fat 
 
 
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 from my friendi andf firoiil you, my Clara, remember th'at ' \l^ 
 choice&t tears wl^ioh' are «ver shed, are those vvhicb bedew tbe 
 uiiburied bead of a soldier,* and when these lines shall meet the 
 eyes of our young — — , let the pages of this little book be 
 impressed on his mind as the gift of a father who had nothing \^ 
 b^^ueath but his honour, and let these maxims be ever present tb 
 his mind as he rises from youth to manhood : 
 
 ** 1. Preserve your honour free from blemish. n 
 
 ** 2. Be always ready to die for your country. 
 
 " Z. M. Pike. 
 
 '' Kaskaskias, Indiana Territory .>^ ••' ■ 
 
 Thus gifted with a lofty spirit of honour, tod an iron eonstitu 
 tton. Pike presents to the imagination no imperfect resemblance of 
 one of the cavaliers of the sixteenth century, thcf hardy, steel-clid 
 companions of Bayard and Sidney. 
 
 In March, 1801, he married Miss Clarissa Brown, of Cincinna- 
 ti, in the state of Kentucky. By this marriage he had severJI 
 children, only one of whom, a daughter, survives him. 
 
 On the old peace establishment of our army, then composed onljr 
 of a few regiments, and employed altogether in garrisoning a 
 few frontier posts, promotion ^as slow, and tbe field of action 
 limited and obscure. For several years Lieutenant Pike 
 panted in vain for an opportunity of gratifying that « all-rul- 
 ing passion," which, to use his own words, '* swayed him ir- 
 resistibly to the profession of arms, and the pursuits of military 
 glory." 
 
 At length, in 1805, a new career of honourable distinction 
 was opened to this active and aspiring youth. Soon after tbe 
 purchase of Louisiana, the government of the United! States d^ 
 termined upon taking measures to explore their new territory, 
 and that immense tract of wilderness included within its limiti. 
 Besides ascertaining its geogra(ihieal boundaries, it was wished to 
 acquire some kdowledge of its soil ktd natural productions, of 
 the course of its rivers, and their fitness for the purposes of 
 navigation and other uses of civilized life, and also to gain 
 particular mformation of the numbers, character, and power jof 
 ttte tribes of Indians who inhabited this territory, and their seve^ 
 ral dispositions towards the United States. With these views,, 
 virhile Captains Lewis andyO^r&e were sent to explore the aor 
 known sources of the Mistouri, Pike was despatched on a li- 
 milar expedition for the purpose of tracing the Mississippi to itK 
 head. 
 
 On the 8th of August, 1805, Pike aecordingly embarked at St 
 Louis, and proceeded up the Mississippi, with 20 men, in a stout 
 hoat, provisioned for four months, but they were sooii Obliged, to 
 le^e Xbeir boats and jn-oceed on their joofney by laftd, t>irm ca* 
 
•JCUIWAH. 
 
 W 
 
 fht^ which they built after leaving their large b6at, and carried 
 ^ith them on their march. For eight months and twenty days 
 this adventuroui noldier and his faithful band were almost conti- 
 anally exposed to hardship and peril, depending for provisions u|k 
 on the precarious fortunes of the chase, enduring the mott pierd* 
 teg cold, and cheerftilly submitting to the most constant and 
 harassing toils. They were sometimes for days together without 
 {podf and they frequently slept without cover upon the bare 
 earth, or the szu}w, during the bitterest inclemency of a aorthern 
 winter. ' ''•' **• ****'**' loi if^- .q^b •'to -; 
 
 During this voyage. Pike bad no Intelligent ootopanion upon 
 whom he could rely for any sort of advice or aid, and he literally 
 performed the duties of astronomer, surveyor, commanding offi- 
 cer, clerk, spy, guide, and hunter, frequently preceding the party 
 for many miles in order to reconnoitre, or rambling whole days 
 in search of deer or other game for provision, and then re- 
 tMrning to bis men id the evening, hungry and fatigued, he 
 would sit down in the o)>en air, to copy by the light of a tire, 
 the notes of his journey, and to plot out the courses of the next 
 
 ^»/* k ' ' ' ' 
 
 His conduct towerdslhe Indrahs was marked with equal good 
 seme, firmness and humaftity ; he every where, without violence 
 or fraud, induced them to submit to the governnaeat of the 
 United States, and he made use of the authority of his country 
 to put an end to a savage warfare which bad for many years 
 been carried on with the utmost cruelty and rancour between the 
 Sioux and the Chippeways, two of the most powerful nations of 
 Aborigines remaining on the North American continent. He 
 slio every where enforced with eflfect the laws of the United 
 States against supplying the savages with spirituous liquors. Tbusj, 
 while he wrested their tomahawks from their hands, and coropeh- 
 N them to bury the hatchet, he defended them from their own 
 vices, and in the true spirit of humanity and '^ : r.our, reject- 
 ,d with disdain that cruel and dastardly policy whic'i seeks the 
 security of the civilized man in the debasement of the savage. 
 
 In addition to the ether objects oT Pike's mission, as specifi- 
 cally detailed in his instructions, he conceived that his duty as a 
 soldier required of him an investigation of the views and conduct 
 of the British traders, within the limits of our jurisdiction, and 
 •n inquiry into the exact limits of the territories of the United 
 States and Great Britani. This duty he performed with the bold- 
 ness of a soldier and the politeness of a gentleman; add it may 
 jiistly be added, with the disinterestedness of a man of honour, 
 «Dd the ability and discretion of an enlightened poiitiisian. - He 
 found that the North-west Cota^tdlfy, by extending their establish^ 
 ■eots and commerce far within the bounds of the United Slate5^ 
 •ad eten in the very centre of l^gftihieoa, were tbus enaWpd tc 
 
 
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 SIIETCUKS 0# 
 
 intrcxHic^ tlicir goads \tithotrt duty or licence into our territories 
 tp the very great injury of the revenue, as well as to the com- 
 plete exclusion of our own countrymen frpm all competition in 
 this trade. ; He perceived, besides, that thene establiahmcnti 
 wer« made subservient to the purposes of obtaining an influence 
 over the savages, dangeroas to the peace and injurious to the 
 honour Add icb^rjcter. of our g9y.en>ment, and he thought it evi< 
 dent that; in. icaee of a rupture betyvecn the two powers, all tliiiie 
 posts. wi0.iiJd;.b«^u?9d. As, rallyipg: .points for the enemy, and as 
 places of deposit for arms to be distributed to the Indians, to 
 the infinit.<i aunQyanoe^ if not tQtal ri^in^ of all the adjoining ter- 
 ritories. i ;. . ., . ■;,- "L* j 
 
 AaQPfJortunity- vyw nowipr.esfinted to him of enriching him' 
 self for Ufo> by mere IjT'wping, the power ve»;ted in him by law, and 
 seizing;(Upoiv,t|i«3, immense prpp<?rty of^ the. connpany which he 
 found illegally introduced vyithiupur territory^, But having been 
 hospitably i;eceived at oqe oftJiQir priopip^l iposts, his high sense 
 of houpur wpuld npt permit; himtp-ri^quite tlicir hpspitality by a 
 rigprpu^ ex^putipn of the 1a>v8. It.i; prp^iiible, tPP^ that he tbpught 
 sp violent a measure might lead tp coliisipns between the twpgo- 
 yernments, yoithput tending tapro^q;c§,^i^perj[peneut beneficia) 
 effect, ^ud;J)e cheerfully sacrificed. a)^;[f',j^8 of perspnal interest 
 to wl;iat ;^e.,qpi>^,^,ived to be thejtx^epin)<|i^&t and.l^qnour^of hit 
 country. vi;| '^(j„y«r,,,j;,j,,T .., J 'ip ^o^, «ft,>jr, ^^{ <.i|g ,v*;firt ' r!rV' 
 ■ By mefii^s of reprimands and threats to the, Jn^riof .trad^r^ and 
 a frank and spirited remonstrance to the director of the Fond(lu 
 Lac depaiftment^ he succeeded in prpcuring a stipulatipn^ that.in 
 future no attempt shquld be made tp influence any Indian on poli- 
 tical aifairsjiPr any subjects fprqigu tp trade, and that measqreg 
 should be immejdiately taken to prevent the display . of the Bri- 
 tish flag, or any pthe|^^^lark of power, within our dpminion; 
 together with a prpmise that such representatipns shpuld be 
 immediately made tp the cpojipany, anjd &uch an arrangement ef- 
 fected with regard to duties, as wpuldyhjexeafter set that question 
 at rest. •; ..,,,/ j^._- 
 
 His cpnduct with regard tp-tl^is. subject was^ at the time, 
 viewed with cpld apprpbatipn, but, the pvents of the pre- 
 sent war have bprne ample tetttimpny to |iis< sagacity and fore- 
 sight. , ' 
 
 Within two mpnths after his return from this expeditipn, Pik^; 
 was selected, by Gen. Wilkinspn for a secpnd perilpus journey of 
 harclship and adventure. The j)rincipal purpose of this expedition 
 was, like that of the former, to explore the interior of Louisiana.; 
 He was directed to embark, at §t. Louis with the Osage captiveS|, 
 (about forty in number,) who h^4,rbeeii rescued from their eue«; 
 naies, the Potowatpmies, by th^i interference of our government 
 and tp transport them to-ihte p/itt9ipal village of their n»tioni, 
 
>«/iHlS WAK. 
 
 m 
 
 terntorle^i 
 » the com- 
 iputition in 
 Lblishmcnti 
 n iuflucnce 
 rious to the 
 jght it evi- 
 Sf all ttiesie 
 ny, and as 
 Indians, to 
 joining ter- 
 
 ching him* 
 iy law, and 
 
 which he 
 taving bi'cn 
 
 high sense 
 itality by a 
 
 he thought 
 the two go- 
 At beneficial 
 va9\ interest 
 
 rad^r^ and 
 
 e Fond |lu 
 
 |on, that, in 
 
 an on poli- 
 
 t measiires 
 
 f the Bri- 
 
 dominiou; 
 
 should be 
 
 gement ef- 
 
 ,t question 
 
 the time, 
 the pr?" 
 and fore- 
 
 |tion, FM, 
 
 jom-ney oi 
 
 jxpedilioa. 
 
 iouisiaoa^ 
 
 captiveS|, 
 
 their eue* 
 
 rernmeiit^ 
 
 n*tioni, 
 
 ^jdhe wa« iuBlmcttd^ti taWtkii opporUilrfiy t6 brinjg bbiiuf idf 
 tervipws between "•rt'Jd^ilerent^WvSgV naltonr^ end to «i»ldif avour 
 to assuage aiiimositl'e^l iiii vilttbHsh ''a fcrhifiheut pettdie >6in»iijS 
 them.' ' " ■''"' '*•' V J ■••'•• <-''-^'' • uiov !)iiu'..| .1 .,..'r.T ..,.a 
 He was, after Acdomtiiishing! tHe«e 4&je^t9, t& toominu^ hit 
 r61jte Into ^he irtttVid^ ftfn'rt fof'e*plore'"t^eMi«8lWippi and itti 
 tribnt*i'y iftreiartif, i(*»peyilrtJIy 111* lAWdnsat^^' 'fend th*' litd River, 
 ind thus to ocquii*t 4uoh" gdo^riipWcai iirtfdrinat'Sbn''«9 "might 
 enable govbrrimthttb ljtttfr>^Mo' 'definitiv4> srrHhgemems for 
 'aboundaVy line belwefeiV liUr tievHJy accjuiriU tl^rrltofy'aild .North 
 
 In the course of this Ji^bnd journey, oUr ftdventu'rius^o^dier^ 
 after leaving the Osage village, encountered Hardshijife', iM C(ympa- 
 tison of which. the s*^veritie8 of his for merjdurndy scented to him 
 ^ie and luxury. ..:•.• >,(:i; j.:rnjb 
 
 Win4t*r overtook the party unprovided with any 6ldtM^ it t» 
 protect thent'from cold and storms. Their horses dled>and'fOf 
 weeks they we^-e ©W^g*d to explore their way on IbOt thrAiigtt 
 the wilderness, carrying packs of sixty or seventy pounds weight, 
 beside their arms, «xj^d to the 'bitterest severity of th(^ cidld, 
 relying «b1&iy'^ on thfe p|i6duee of ^the ohase for stibsistence, fltid 
 often for two 6r threie Aaf^s altogether without food. This 'part 
 of his journal contains '^'narrative' of a steries of iuife rings nuflS' 
 cient -to make the '^Isuperfluobl and •lust-dieted*' atm of tukoiry 
 shudder at thei bare rc^tfititK Several of the( men had ihtlir f<i8f 
 frozen> aiid all, except Pifte;andi-one dthtr^ wer^ in sdnk« d^^etf 
 injured by thre intenisity of the' o«td. lie thiis relates the hiaMOtV 
 of'two dftheifedrfeiaifj' rf^iC' -sLiOjiit't sn! Ibmix b.sit iBcjiiuuili Ir 
 , 'ti , rTtxi.i ..il ,/.-.•; r:.T in hi. iiifu *> '■■ 'to : nr\\r"j-> r. Ic) ha^il 
 
 ('18VAJ(ZtAiiif9,$ii»Mtt^u..i'FtR' doctor' atiid myself; who, fbW 
 nately, were untouHihETdb^ the fi^t»t, went out t6 hHrit^hmethtflg 
 to preserve existertc^J; near evetiiifig we Wdunded a buffalo with 
 three balls,, but biad ttie nnortifiicatbtt to sed him run off liotv^ith- 
 standing. We concladed it ^K'a8 useless to go home to add to the 
 general glootn, and w^t amongst some rooks, where we encamp» 
 ed, and sat up all night; from the intense cold it was impossible 
 to sleep. Hungry and without coyer. > ' i'b'nni io'^bti'ic} l;;ic rnili 
 
 " I9th January, Mmdiay..,„We again took the field, and aftet' 
 crawling about one mile in the snow, got near enough to shoot 
 eight times among a gang of buffaloes^ and cnuld plainly perceive 
 two or three to be badly wounded, but by accident they took the 
 wind of us, and to our great mortification, all were able to run 
 off. By this time I had become extrennely weak and faint, it be- 
 ing the fourth day since we had received sustenance, all of which 
 ^e were marching hard, and the last night had scarcely closed 
 our eyes to sleep. We were inclining our course to a point of 
 woods, determined t^ remain absent and die by ourselves, rathtf 
 
 i: a 
 
 
 
> 1 !i 
 
 ; , 
 
 w 
 
 a&ITCHU Qf 
 
 XhM to return to our oamp and behold the ta\tery of our pu^i 
 hdff when we ditooycred a gang of bufiiloei coining along it 
 aome ;diatanoe. With great t aertiom 1 made out to run and 
 place myieir behind some cedart, and by the greatest good luck 
 the first shot stopped one, which we killed in three more shoti^ 
 and by the dusk bad nut each of us a heavy load, with which wt 
 determined immediately to proceed to the camp, in order to relieve 
 the anxiety of our men, and carry the poor feUowa some food. 
 We arrived there about 12 o*clock, and when I threw my load 
 down, it was with difficulty I prevented myself from falling ; I 
 was attacked with a giddiness of the head, which lasted for some 
 minutes. On the countenances of the men was not a frown, not 
 a desponding eye, but all seemed happy to hail their officer and 
 companions, yet not a mouthful had they eat for four days. On 
 demanding what were their thoughts, the sergeant replied, the 
 most robust had determined to set out in search of us on the nor- 
 now, and not return unless they found us, or had killed iomethio| 
 t|>pr9«f rye. |he lives of their starving coowAQiopit? 
 
 , In the course of this long, toilaome and perilcruf march, Pili* 
 displayed a degree of personal heroism and hardihood, united 
 with a prudence and sagacity which, bad they been everted od 
 some wider theatre of action, would have done honour to tbe 
 niost renowned general. The reader may^ perhaps, smile at this 
 wmark, as one of the wild exaggerations of a biographer anxious 
 %% dignify the character of his hero; but the truth is, that great 
 i^ji owe much of their splendour to external circumstances, and 
 if Hannibal had made his famous march jaoross t.ho Alps at the 
 head of a company of foot, instead of an army, his name, if it 
 haid reached us, wooM have come down^lo, posterity with much 
 less dignity than that of our hardy countryman. 
 
 There are passages in Pike's journal of his second expedition, 
 which, had they been found, with proper alterations of place and 
 oircumstance, related by Plutarch or Livy of one of their heroet, 
 would have been cited by every school-boy, as examples of mili- 
 tary and heroic virtue. Take, for instance, the account of Pike'i 
 firm and prudent conduct in repressing the first symptoms of dii- 
 oontent in his little band, and his address upon this occasion to the 
 mutineer, and they will be found to need but little of tbe uiua! 
 embellishments of an eloquent historian, to be made worthy qf 
 Hannibal himself. 
 ''* . 
 
 << 2Ath January, 5attir(iay....;We callied out in the morniof> 
 Und shortly after perceived our little band marching through the 
 snow, (about two and a half feet deep,) silent, and with down* 
 vast countenances. We Joined them, and learnt that they, find' 
 i$g the snow to feU so fhickly tbtrt it was impolsible to proce^, 
 
 rii 
 
THE WAK. 
 
 Wi 
 
 t&'i rriCnpiped about one o'clock the preceding day. As 1 found 
 jll the hutViiloei had quitted thepliiint, I dttui mined to attempt 
 •he tinvurseof the mountain^ in which we piri»evi'red until tlie 
 ' ^now became so deep it wan impossible to proceed, when I again 
 tiirnefl my face to the plain, and for the first time in the voyage 
 louiid mvHelf discouraged, and for the flrst time I heard a man 
 express hnnself in a seditious manner ; he exclaimed, * that it 
 was more than human nature could bear, to march three days 
 without sustenance, through snows three feet deep, and carry 
 burdens only fit for horsej?,* &c. &c. 
 
 « As I knew very well the fidelity and attachment of the ma- 
 jority of the men, and even of this poor fellow, and that it was 
 in my power to chastise him when I thought proper, I passed it by 
 for the moment, determined to notice it at a more auspicious time. 
 We dragged our weary and emaciated limbs along until about 10 
 o'clock. The doctor and myself, who were in advance, disco- 
 vere^d some buffaloes on the plain, when wc It ft our Iqad:*, and or- 
 der?, written on the snow, to proceed to the nearest woods to 
 encamp. We went in pursuit of the buffaloes, which were ou 
 the nnve. 
 
 <'The doctor, who was then less reduced than myself, ran and 
 got behind a hill, and shot one down, which stopped the remain- 
 der. We crawled up to the dead one, and shot from him as ma- 
 ny as twelve or fourteen times among the gang, when they re- 
 moved out of sight. We then proceeded to cut up the one we 
 had shot, and after procuring each of us a load of the meat, vvc 
 Dircbed f )r the camp, the smoke of which was in view. We 
 Rrrived at the camp to the great joy of our brave lads, who im- 
 mediately feasted sumptuously. After our repast, I sent for the 
 hd whj had presuTied to speak discoDtentedlyr in the course of 
 the day, and addressed him to the following effect : ' Brown, you 
 this day presumed to make use of language which was seditious 
 and mutinous; 1 then passed it over, pitying your situation, and 
 attributing it to your distress, rather than to your inclination to 
 low discontent amongst the party. Had 1 reserved provisions for 
 ourselves, whilst you were starving; had we been marching 
 along light and at our ease, whilst you were weighed down with 
 I your burden, then you would have had some pretext for your ob- 
 servations ; but when we were equally hungry, weary, emaciated 
 and charged with burden, which I believe my natural strength is 
 le^s able to bear than any man's in the party ; when we are al- 
 ways foremost in breaking the road, reconnoitering, and the fa- 
 tigues of the chase, it was the height of ingratitude in you to let 
 an expression escape which was indicative of discontent ; your 
 [ready compliance and firm perseverance I had reason to expect, 
 ?Ube leader of men, and iriy companions in miseries and dan- 
 
 . - ■ • - - . 2 B , . ., ■ 
 
 ; , 5>v '",i? 
 
 .^,m 
 
y^ 
 
 SKLTCIIES OF 
 
 ,f :i , 
 
 
 \i: 
 
 ;M*,' 
 
 g€r8. But your duty aa a soldier demanded your obcchcnctu 
 your oflficer, and a prohibition of such language, which, for thi; 
 time, I will pardon, but assure you, should it ever be repeated, \ 
 will revenge your ingratitude and punish your disobedience by in- 
 stant death. I take this opportunity, likewise, to assure you, so! 
 diers, of my thanks for the obedience, peiseverance and rtady 
 contempt of every danger which you have generally evinced ; [ 
 assure you, nothing shall be \vanting on my part to procure yoL 
 the rewards of our government, and the gratitude of your couti 
 trynien.' 
 
 "They all appeared very much afTectcd, and retired wjth rs 
 surances of perseverance ip duty." 
 
 Amidst these distresses, after a three months winter's marcl. 
 they explored their way to what they supposed to be the Red 
 River. Here they were met by a party of Spanish cavalry, b} 
 whom Pike was informed, to his great astonishment, that they 
 were not on the Bed River, but on the Rio del Norte, and in the 
 Spanish territory. All opposition to this force would have been 
 idle, and he reluctantly submitted to accompany the Spaniards to 
 Santo Fe, to appear before the governor. Though, to his great 
 mortification, h>s expedition was thus broken off, all hardship was 
 now at an end. He was treated on the road with great re- 
 spect and hospitality, though watched and guarded with 
 much jealousy ; but he still insisted on wearing his swoid, and 
 that his men should retain their arms. Indeed, it was his resolu- 
 tion, had he or any of his people been ill used, to surprise tlie 
 guard, carry off their horses, and make the^^ best of their way to 
 Apaches. 
 
 When he arriveci at Santa Fe, his whole dress was a blanl^et 
 coat, blue trowsers, mocasons, and a scarlet cloth cap lined witb 
 sl fox skin ; his men were in leather coats, with leggings, &c 
 and not a hat in the whole party. But he appeared before the 
 governor with his usual spirit, and insisted on being treated with 
 the respect due to an American officer. From Santa Fe he \nt 
 sent to the capital of the province of Biscay, to be examined bj 
 the commandant general, where he was well received and en- 
 tertained for some time, after which he was sent on his waj 
 home, under the escort of a strong party of horse. He ar 
 rived with his little band at Natchitoches on the Ist day of July, 
 1807. 
 
 The most vexatious circumstance attending this unexpected 
 sequel to his expedition was the seizure of all his papers, except 
 his private journal, by the Spanish government. He had been 
 fitted out with a complete set of mathematical and astronomical 
 instruments, and had made frequent and accurate observations; 
 he had thus ascertained the geoirraphir-al jutuation of the iiios' 
 
IHE WAK. 
 
 Itit 
 
 mportant points with much precision, and had collected mate- 
 rials for an accurate map of a great part of the country which 
 he traversed. The seizure of these papers is a real loss to 
 the cause of science. It is, however, in perfect conformity 
 to that narrow and purblind policy which the old Spanish 
 <rovernment uniformly manifested in the administration of its co> 
 'onies. • • 
 
 Pike, upon his return, received the thanks of the government ; 
 ri committee of the house of representatives expressed their high 
 :en3e of his " zeal, perseverance and intelligence," and the ad- 
 ministration, much t6 its honour, bestowed upon him a more solid 
 testimony of approbation, by a rapid promotion in the army. He 
 .vas immediately appointed captain, shortly after a major, and, 
 upon the further enlargement of the army in 1810, a colonel of 
 infantry. 
 
 During the intervals of his military duties, he prepared for the 
 press a narrative of his two expeditions, accompanied by several 
 valuable original maps and charts. This was published in 8vo. in 
 1810. The work is rather overloaded with imnecessary detail> 
 and the language is careless and often inaccurate ; the last fault 
 is, however, in a great measure to be attributed to several disad- 
 vantageous circumstances under which the work went to press, 
 A'hile the author was at a distance, engaged in public service..... 
 Still it is sufficiently evident that the volume is not the composi- 
 tion of a scholar. But it bears the strongest marks of an acute, 
 active, busy mind, unaccustomed to scientific arrangement or spe- 
 culation, but filled with a variety of knowledge, all of a useful, 
 practical kind. 
 
 Though entirely unacquainted with botany, zoology and mi- 
 neralogy, as sciences. Pike had a liberal curiosity, which taught 
 him to look upon every object with the eye of an observer, and 
 to despise no sort of knowledge, though he might not himself per- 
 ceive its imYnediate utility. Above all, the narrative has that un- 
 studied air of truth, which is so apt to evaporate away in the pro- 
 cesses of the book making traveller; it retains all the clearness 
 and freshness of first impressions, and we are never for a moment 
 left in doubt whether or no the writer and the traveller are the 
 same person. 
 
 Immediately alfter the declaration of war. Pike was stationed 
 with his regiment upon the northern frontier ; and upon the com- 
 mencement of the campaign of 1813, was appointed a brigadier 
 general. 
 
 There was a tincture of enthusiasm in Pike's character which 
 communicated itself to his whole conduct ; in whatsoever pursuit 
 he engaged, he entered upon it with his whole soul. But the 
 profession of arms had been always his favourite 8tudy....hi8 "life's 
 «mployment, and his leisure's chajm." Having served througk 
 
 .' .V S'l 
 
 
 
1^6 
 
 {jKETCHEd OF 
 
 W'^3 
 
 
 every gradation of rank, almost from a private, up to a genera; 
 and very often tmployed in separate and independent coin 
 mands; he was intimately acquainted with all the minutiae of dk 
 cipline. -- ' * ' 
 
 The veteran of a peace establishment is too apt, from the want 
 of greater objects, to narrow his mind down to the little details o* 
 a military life, until, at length, every trifle swells up into idta! 
 importance, arid the cut of a coat, or the tying of a neckcloth, 
 stt mi big with the fate of nations. Pike was extremely atten 
 live to all the particulars, even to tiie most minute points, of dis 
 cipline and dress, yet he gave them their dufe importance, and no 
 more. 
 
 He did not wish to degrade the soldier into a mere living ma- 
 chine, and while he kept up the strictest discipline, he laboured to 
 make his men feel that this severity arose not from caprice or 111 
 temper, but from principle, and that it had for itit sole object their 
 own glory, ibeir ease, their health and safety. Careless of 
 popularity, and negligent of the arts by which good will is 
 often conciliated v^here there is no real esteem, by the un- 
 a.ssuming simplicity and frankness of his manners, and the 
 undeviating honour of his conduct, he bound to hitrs*lf 
 the hearts of all around^ with the strong ties of respect and af- 
 fection. 
 
 Thus self formed, and thus situated, the eyes of the army were 
 anxiously cast towards him, as the chosen champion who was to 
 riedeem their reputation from that disgrace with which it nad 
 been stained by a long series of disasters. The day for which 
 his heart had long panted at length arrived....a bright day of glory 
 for the hero, of gloom and sorrow to his country. He was select- 
 ed for the con>mand of the land forces in an expedition agaiust 
 York, the capital of Upper Canada, and on the 25th of April sail- 
 ed from Sacket's Harbour in the squadron commanded by Comma 
 dore Chauncey. 
 
 The day before the expedition sailed, he wrote a letter to his 
 father, which contains thes& prophetic vrordt: 
 
 ;,J 
 
 \ ■ 
 
 IwHi 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 |H 
 
 ¥' 
 
 m 
 
 iH 
 
 "I embark tomorrow in the fleet at Siacket's Harbour, at the 
 head of a column of 1500 choice troops, on a secret expedition. 
 If success attends my steps, honour and glory await my name; it 
 defeat, still shall it be said that we died like brave men, and con- 
 ferred honour', even in death, on the American name. 
 
 " Should I be the happy mortal destined to turn the scale oi 
 war, will yoii not rejoice, my father ? May heaven be propi- 
 tious, and smile on the cause of my country ! But if we ar& des- 
 tined to fall, may my fall be like Wolfe'8....to sleep in the arms cf 
 victory," ' ' ■ . , 
 
'J*HE WAIt. 
 
 107 
 
 
 
 Oh the 27th of April General Pike arrived at York^ with about 
 leventeen huitdred chosen men, and immediately prepared to 
 land. The spot which was selected for landing, was the scite of 
 an old French fort called Torento, of which scarcely any ves- 
 tiges now remain. The plan of attack was formed by Gen. Pike 
 himself, and clearly and minutely detailed in his general orders, 
 which were directed' to be read at the head of every corps; every 
 geld officer wai* al8o directed to carry a copy of them, in order 
 that he might at any moment refer to them, and give explana* 
 tioi)!! to his subordinates. Every thing was arranged, and ev«ry 
 probable exigency provided for, with admirable method and pre- 
 cision. 
 
 There is one paragraph of these orderar which breathes 
 so much of its own spirit, that we cannot forbear from ex- 
 tracting it. It is deeply stamped with that unity of cha- 
 racter which was visible throughout all his actions, and which is, 
 ill truth, one of the strongest marks of a powerful and origina: 
 mind. 
 
 « No man will load until ordered, except the light troops iu 
 front, until within a short distance of the enemy, and then charge 
 bayonets; thus letting the enemy see that we can meet them 
 with their own weapons. Any man firing or quitting his post 
 without orders must be put to instant death, as an example may 
 be necessary. Platoon officers will pay the greatest attention tc 
 the coolness and aim of their men in the fire ; their regularity 
 and dressing in the charge The field-officers will watch over 
 the conduct of the whole. Courage and bravery in the field do- 
 not more distinguish the soldier than humanity after victory ; and 
 whatever examples the savage allies of our enemies may have 
 given us, the general confidently hopes, that the blood of an un- 
 resisting or yielding enemy will never stain the weapons of the 
 soldiers of his column. Property roust be held sacred ; and any 
 soldier who shall so far neglect the honour of his profession as to 
 be guilty of plundering the inhabitants, shall, if convicted, be pu- 
 nished with death. But the commanding general assures the- 
 troops, that should they capture a large quantity of public stores, 
 he will use his best endeavours to prqcure them a reward from 
 Ills government." 
 
 As soon is the debarkation commenced, a body of British 
 grenadiers was paraded on the shore, and the Glengary fencibles, 
 a local force which had been disciplined with great care, and 
 has repeatedly proved itself fully equal to any regular force ap- 
 peared at another point. Large bodies of Indians were also 
 'tea in different directions, while others filled the woods- 
 
 
 'ftii 
 
 
!»■ ' 
 
 
 ill .■'M- 
 
 iyh 
 
 h'iCK'VCHES 01? 
 
 iJvhich skirled the shore. General Slieaflfe commanded in pc, 
 eon. 
 
 Forsyth's riflemen were the first to land, which they effected 
 under a heavy tire of musketry and rifles from the Indians and 
 British. As soon as the fire from the shore had commenced, 
 Major Forsyth had ordered his men to rest a few monienis 
 upon theij oars, and return the fire. At this moment Gen. Pik 
 was standing upon the deck of his ship. He saw the pause oi 
 his first division, and, impatient at the delay, exclaimed, ** 1 can 
 stay here no longer, come, jump into the boat;" and, springing 
 into it, followed by his staff, was immediately rowed into th? 
 thickest of the fire. 
 
 The infantry had followed the riflemen, and formed in platoo;:- 
 as soon as they reached the shore. Gen. Pike took the command 
 of the first platoon which he reached, and ordered the whole to 
 prepare for a charge. They mounted the bank, and the enemv, 
 after a short conflict, broke at once, and fled in disorder tovvart'r 
 the works. 
 
 At that moment the sound of Forsyth's Ibugles was heard, an 
 nouncing his success at another point. Its effect upon the Indian: 
 was almost electrical ; they gave a horrible yell, and fled in everv 
 direction. 
 
 The whole force, being now landed and collected, was again 
 formed and led on by Gen. Pike in person to attack the enem}'; 
 Works. They advanced through the woods, and after carrying 
 one battery by assault, in the most gallant manner, moved on in 
 columns towards the main work. The fire of the enemy \fzi 
 soon silenced by cur artillery, and a flag of surrender was ex- 
 'pected, when a terrible explosion suddenly took place from the 
 British magazine, which had been previously prepared for thir 
 purpose. 
 
 Pike, after aiding in removing a wounded man with his owu 
 hands, had sat down on the stump of a tree with a British ser 
 geant, who had been taken, and was employed with Captain 
 Nicholson and one of his aids, in examining the prisoner. The 
 explosion was tremendous ; an immense quantity of large stonei 
 were thrown in every direction with terrible force, aud scattered 
 destruction and confusion around among our troops. The gene- 
 ral, his aid. Captain Nicholson, and tiie prisoner, fell together, ail 
 except the aid mortally wounded. General Pike had been struck 
 on the breast by a heavy stone. Shortly after he received the 
 ^low, he said to his wounded aid, '' I am mortally wounded...' 
 
 write to my friend D , and tell him what you know of the 
 
 battle, and to comfort my ." In the same bmken manner 
 
 he afterwards added several other requests relating to his private 
 affairs. 
 
THE VVAU. 
 
 i&», 
 
 the troojjs were instantly formed again; as a body of theni 
 passed their wounded general, he said, " Push on, brave fellowa,. 
 and avenge your general." While the surgeons were carrying 
 him out of the field, a tumultuous huzza was heard from our 
 troops; Pike turned his head with an anxious look of inquiry; 
 he was told by a sergeant, *' The British union jack is coming 
 down, general. ...the stars are going up." He heaved a heavy 
 sigh, and smiled. He was then carried on board the comn^j- 
 dole's ship, where he lingered for a few hours. Just before ae 
 breathed his last, the British standard was brought to him ; he 
 made a sign to have it placed under his head, and expired with* 
 out a groan. 
 
 The death of General Pike, at such a period, was a great pub- 
 lic misfortune ; his countrymen did not know half the extent of 
 their loss. Pike was plain and unimposing in his appearance and 
 manners, ^nd to the world seemed little more than an active and 
 intelligent soldier; but it is not easy to say what height of mili- 
 tary excellence may not have been reached by a mind like his, 
 stimulated by high-soaring ambition, braced up by principle to ha- 
 bitual dignity of thought, and constantly expanding its views, en- 
 larging its resources, and unfolding its powers, by its own native 
 and unwearied energy. 
 
 Gallant spirit ! It was thine to wash out with thy life-blood the 
 foul remembrance of our country's shame....of those disgraces 
 which had blasted her honour, and tarnished the ancient glories 
 of her arms. It was thine, in life, in death, to give to your com- 
 panions in arms a great example of chivalrous honour and heroic 
 courage ; it was thine to lead them to the threshold Of the tem- 
 ple of fame, and bid them enter on a long career of glory. W" 
 
 Gallant spirit ! Thy country will not forget thee....thou shalt 
 have a noble memory. When a grateful nation confers upon the 
 heroes of Niagara and Erie the laurels they have so nobly earned, 
 she will bid them remember that those laurels were first gather- 
 ed on the shores of York, and were watered by the blood of a 
 hero ; and hereafter, when our children and our children's chil- 
 dren shall read the story of patriots and heroes who have greatly 
 fallen in the arms of victory, when their eyes glisten and their 
 young hearts throb wildly at the kindling theme, they will close 
 the volume which tells of Epaminondas, of Sidney, or of Wolfe^^ 
 and proudly exclaim, " And we, too, had our Montgomery and 
 'JitrPike." . 
 
 q ' ' \Analectio Magazine. 
 
 
 ' \: !^,i 
 
 
 
 ■f,-\ 
 
 KM 
 

 2(70 
 
 SKETCHES iJiig 
 
 
 
 ^■'- 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Capture of forts G'>orge and Erie....Battle at Stoney Creek.., 
 Defeat of Col. Boerstler,.,.Defrat of the enemy at SackeVs 
 Harbour. * - •' ' • «. 
 
 Capture of forts George and Eri>....The nrmy re*embarkedflt 
 Sfork, and proceeded to Nia|»ara to effect th€ third object of the 
 expedition, where they arrived on the .8th of May. Some little 
 time was necessary to put the army in condition for the attack of 
 fort George, and also to bring on reinforcements from Sacket'g 
 Harbour and other places On the 27th tlie attack was made and 
 succeeded most gloriously. The following is an extract from th? 
 oAicial account : . ' . 
 
 « Head-Quarters, Fort George, "i 
 ' ' «« Upper Canada, May 27, 1813 > 
 
 ^<The light troops under the command of Colonel Scott and 
 Major Forsyth landed this morning at 9 o'clock. Major General 
 Lewis's division, with Colonel Porter's command of light artille- 
 ry, supported them. General Boyd's brigade landed immediately 
 after the light troops, and Generals Winder and Chandler follow- 
 ed in quick suficession. The landing was warmly and obstinately 
 disputed by the British forces; but the coolness and intrepidity of 
 our troops soon compelled them to give ground in every direciion. 
 /general Chandler wHh the reserve (composed of his brigade and 
 Chi. Macomb's artillery) covered the whole. Commodore Chaun- 
 cey had made the most judicious arrangements for silencing the 
 enemy's batteries near the landing. The army is under the great* 
 est obligations, to that able naval commander, for his indefatiga- 
 ble exertions, in co-operation in all its important movements, and 
 especially in its operations this day. Our batteries succeeded in 
 rendering fort George untenable ; and when the enemy had been 
 beaten from his position, and found it necessary to re-enter it, after 
 firing a few guns, and setting fire to the magazines, which soon 
 exploded, moved off ra{>idly by different routes. Our light troopi 
 pursued them several miles. The troops having been under arms 
 from one o'clock in the morning, were too much exhausted for 
 any further pursuit. We are now in possession of fort George 
 and its immediate dependencies ; to-morrow we shall proceed fur- 
 ther on. The behavior of our troops, both officers and men, en- 
 titles them to the highest praise ; and the difference in our loss 
 n-ith that of ♦'..? enemy, when we cons^ider the advantages his po- 
 sitions afforded him, is astonishing. We had seventeen killed and 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 801 
 
 ijrty ftve woiuided. The enemy had ninety killed and one hun- 
 difd and «ixty wounded, of the reG;ular Iroops. We have takfa 
 on-' hu idred prUoiiers, exclusive of the wmnded. Colonel Mey- 
 ixs, of the 49th, vva.« wounded and takf n prisoner. Of ours, only 
 one coramis^iont d oQicer vim killed. Lieutenant Hobart, of this 
 light artillery " 
 
 Return of the loss of the army 6T the United States, in the aC- 
 . tion of the 27th May, ldl3« 
 The liftht troops under the command of Lieut. Col. Scott-^ 
 Capt. Roach of the '23d infantry wounded,; Lieut. Swearingen,ao.; 
 23 non coipmissioned officers ^and privates killed ; D4 do. wound- 
 ed—total 89 
 
 Gen. Lewises division—iltt. or -Boyd's brigade, Lieut. H. A. Ho- 
 bart killed ; rank and file, 1 wounded. 
 
 Of) regt. of ioftntry, Capt. Arrowsaiith, wounded ; rank and 
 file, 6 killed, 16 wounded. 
 
 15th regt. inf. Mdjur King, wounded ; rank and file, 1 killed, 6 
 wounded. 
 
 16th r^gt., inf. Capt. Steel, wounded ; rank and file, 8 killed, 
 9 wounded. 
 
 N»'W-yo«-k volunteers, rank and file, 4 wounded. 
 2d, or IVinder^s brisade — Rank. and file, 6 wounded. 
 3d, or Chandler''s brigadf-r-^one, " > 
 
 Of the wonodedt but 61 have been sept to the hospitaL The 
 wounds, of- the others vvere very slight. n^,i§i *;. «* 
 
 Reuturn of the loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, and taken, 
 in the action of the 27th May, 1813. 
 Killed^lOB. 
 
 Prisoners. — Wounded, 1 colonel, 3 subalterns, 7 sergeants 
 and 152 rank and file — 163. Not wounded, 1 captain, 1 subat 
 tero, 1 surgeon, 8 sergeants and 102 rank and file — 1 15. 
 Loss ofthe enemy in killed and wounded 380 
 Militia paroled . - - - 507 
 
 -!■ i 
 
 y^,v:-■ 
 
 i 
 
 Total lo98 
 
 893 
 
 »f ODD after the capture of fort Georgc,-the enemy evacuated fott 
 Erie, (which was immediately occupied by the American army) and 
 retired to a place called the Beaver Dams, where they had large 
 stores of provisions and ammunition. They however, in a few 
 days, retired to the head of the lake, and were pursued by Gens. 
 Chandler and Winder. ^On the 5th of June they took a positiom 
 for the night beyond €tony Creek, near the retreating British ar- 
 ny. >^n this position they were attacked about 2 o'clK^k the next 
 
 Vi V t; fjjrt 
 
 s c 
 
 m 
 
 ^tm 
 
 
 
 'i 
 
 
 J ' 
 
 

 8|D9 
 
 SKETCHES 09 
 
 fnorning, and succeeded in repulsing the enemy, but with the jou 
 of Gens. Chandler and Winder. 
 
 The particulars of this affair will be found in the following ex- 
 tract of a letter from Col. Burn : ...1- • ii! v,r , 
 
 "In the afternoon of the 5th our advance guard, consisting of | 
 the light infantry, under the command of Captains Hindman, Bid- 
 <|le and Nicholas, a part of the rifle corps under Captain Lytic, and 
 a detachment of the 2d dragoons under Captain Selden, com- 
 menced a sharp skirmish with the advance of the enemy, said to 
 be a detachment of the 49th regiment, which soon retreated, cot> | 
 •red by a thick woods, having, however, several wounded on 
 both sides, and one dragoon horse killed. In the evening our ad- 1 
 vance returned behind Stony creek, where the army took a peti- 
 tion for the night. The light infantry, and part of the rifle corpi I 
 on the right of the !{5th regiment, formed the right wing. The 
 artillery, under Captains Towson and L. Leonard, the centre. Th( 
 9th, 16th, 83d, and some riflemen, the left w)ng,and the cavalry 
 ]n the rear. A. strong picket guard was posted some distance ig [ 
 front, also strong flank and rear guards in such manner as to sur- 
 round the whole encampment with sentinels— ^the troops lay un- 
 der arms without any covering. Our numbers in the field did I 
 not exceed one thousand. Three hundred effectives of the 13th 
 and 14th reginaents having encamped on the borders of the lake, 
 about three miles distant, for the protection of the boats. The en- 
 emy forced our picket and attacked us about two o'clock in the 
 morning (which was very dark) with their army and Indians, ex- 
 pecting, no doubt, to throw us into confusion. Their views were, I 
 in this instance, however, completely frustrated, and when the day 
 dawned, none were to be seen except their killed and wounded, 
 who covered the field of battle. The attack began on our right, 
 and was gallantly repelled by the fire of the light troops aod 
 25th regiment, commanded by Major Smith. In a few minutet 
 it became general along the whole line, and was nobly returned 
 by the artillery of the centre, oommi^nded by Captains Towson aod 
 L. Leonard, and again by the troops of the left wing, viz. the Sth, 
 under Lieutenant Colonel Milton, the 23d, commanded by Major 
 Armstrong, and the 16th. The fire continued with little interllli^ 
 sion for one hour, during which time the enemy attempted by fre 
 quent charges, to break our line, but without effect, being obliged 
 to give way by the well directed fire of our brave troops. 
 ^■' ** The 13th and 14th regiments (which had been detached the I 
 preceding evening) were active in making prisoners, and advao-[ 
 ced with much ardor to the field in hopes of sharing with the gal>| 
 lant 5th and 25th, 23d and light troops, the glory of another con-f 
 bat. Butc^he unfortunate captureof Brigadier Generals Chandler | 
 iQd Winder^ who were taken is the action unknown to any 
 
XHB WAR. 
 
 2QS 
 
 (if the army, and hurried into the enemy's lines, prevented the fu» 
 ture operations from being carried into efTect with the promptitude 
 which would assuredly have taken place had either of those offi- 
 cers been present to command. 
 
 « You will be surprized to find our loss so small....that of the ene- 
 ny exceeds ours much; they lost in killed about sixty, many 
 wonnded, and upwards of seventy prisoners, all regulars and priii» 
 cipally of the 49th regiment. Several of their officers were kil- 
 I ledy wounded and missing. A flag was sent by Col. Hervey, ask- 
 ing permission to make enquiries for them ; also to be allowed td 
 send a surgeon to attend their own wounded^ which 1 readily 
 granted. On the return of day-light, I found the command oC 
 the army had devolved on me, and being at a loss what steps to 
 I pursue in the unpleasant dilemma, occasioned by the capture of 
 our generals i finding the ammunition of many of the troiips near- 
 \y expended, I had recourse to a council of the field officers pres- 
 ent, of whom a majority coincided in opinion with me that we 
 ought to retire to our former position at the Forty-mile Creek> 
 where we could be s'ipplied with ammunition and provisions, and 
 either advance or remain until further orders. 
 
 "Every aid was afforded by the stafil The assistant adjutant 
 I general, Major Johnson^and Brigade Majors Jones and Wartenby 
 I exerted themselves in rendering all the assistance in their power* 
 
 "The army, on this occasion, has proved its firmness and brave* 
 lry,by keeping its position in a night attack, in which the yells of 
 the Indians, mingled with the roar of cannon and musketry, were 
 calculated to intimidate. The enemy charged repeatedly, and 
 10 dark was the night that our army could not distinguish friend 
 from foe; in one of those they succeeded in carrying off a six 
 ^under, a howitzer and a caisson, to the great mortification of 
 our brave artillery. I presume it was on that occasion also that 
 we lost our generals, who were distinctly heard encouraging our 
 nen to fight. The squadron of dragoons remained formed and 
 steady at their post, but could not act on account of the darkness 
 of the night and the thickness of the adjacent woods. Much 
 credit is due to the troops generally, but too much praise cannot 
 be said of the conduct of the 5th and 25th regiments.'* 
 
 :■;'*' \i 
 
 '■ 'III 
 
 ■'Mm 
 
 .' •' -,'.)• 
 
 m 
 
 . ■•! '■ )■■' 
 
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 \-:'\:h 
 
 About this time the British fleet on lake Ontario having been ia- 
 I creased by the addition of a new vessel, appeared on the lake, and 
 cutoff the water communication of that part of the army with fort 
 I George. The situation of the army was therefore critical, and it 
 ' ecame necessary that it should retreat to fort George. This was 
 I conducted by General Lewis, who was about this time invested 
 with the command of the army in consequence of the ill health 
 h>f General Dearborn, not however without some small loss is 
 I ^ggage and prigoaers . 
 
 
 ;l 
 
 /• 
 
 
264 
 
 SKiriTHKfl Of 
 
 ' ¥ ' 
 
 t'l i 
 
 Dflfrat of Colonel Bo-rstier ....Oti the 23d, Colonel Boerstl^r^ 
 ifvith abuut (»00 mt-ii, wm oid< rid to it arch \o a place catl<-d tht 
 BtHvet Dams, t< attack and (tii>p» riie a bod) of the enemy colhel. 
 ti' thire. The t'olloxviiig in au extiuct from tiie official account, 
 daud June 25th : ... 
 
 o..t 
 
 • **0n the 23d, at « vening, Lieut. CMonel Bner»tler^ with 670 
 ■nin, ii'fantry, artillei), cstvulr}', and ritli ii « ii, ui due pr(ipoiti<n, 
 WH8 ordered to march, by th«' vva} of Uutenstown, to a plHce 
 calitd the Beaver DHnt>, un the high grouod, about ejcht or nine 
 miles from Ciiiceittitovvn, to attack and rlit^per^e a bod) of the (ne- 
 m} collected there for the purpose of procurint^ provisions, nnd 
 bairassing those inhabitants vvhu are considered friendly to the 
 United i^tates: their force was, from the most direct inforrrg. 
 tiou, ct^mposed of one company of the 104th regiment, above 80 1 
 strong; from 150 to 2 militia, and fiom 40 to 00 Indians. Atj 
 ei^tit o'clock the next ntorning;, when within about two miles of 
 the Beaver Danis, our detachnient was attacked from an ambui- 
 Cftile, but soon drove the enemy some distance into the wood!, | 
 and then retired to a clear fit Id, and sent an express for a rrio- 
 forcement, .«aying,he would maintain his position until reinforcd. | 
 A Jeinforcement of 300 men marched immtdiately under the com* 
 n>Hnd of Colonel Chr}stie,but on arriving at Q,ueenstown, Colonel 
 Chrystie received authentic information that Lieutenant Colonel I 
 Boerstler with his command had cnrrendired to the enemy, and 
 tht reinforcement returned to camp. A man who belonged toi 
 8n»all corps of mounted volunteer riflemen, came in on the 25tb, 
 who stated, that the enemy surrounded our detachment in the 
 woods, and towards 12 o'clock commenctd a general attack; 
 that our troops fought more than tw* hours, until the artiller\ Ld 
 expended the whole of its amn<unition, and then surrendered, and [ 
 at the time of the surrender the mformaut'-made hisi escape.'* 
 
 Subjoined is an account, taken from an authentic source, co>-| 
 taiuiug many additional particulars of Col. Boerstler'ft defeat : 
 
 "On the 23d of June, a party of the regular troops (consist 
 in^ of 500 infantry and 20 lij^ht dragoons,; under the conmiand 
 of Lieut. Col. Boerstler, together with 44 mounted riflemen, com- 
 posed of militia from the country, uud^r Major Chapin, were de- 
 tached from the American encampnunt at Foit George, forihe 
 purpose of cutting ofT the supplies* of the eneni}, and breakiigupj 
 the xmall encampments they were forming thfougb the couuiij' 
 0;i the 24th,about 9 miles west of Queenstimn, they were atiack- 
 ed by a body of above 500 Indians end nearly a hundred regu- 
 lars, who lay concealed m the woods near the road they wefU 
 passing. The attack commenced on the diaaoon^, wlio wtfj 
 placed in the rtar. The infantry was soon brought mto a posiiw** 
 
THI WAft. 
 
 20&V 
 
 :t)'return the enemy's fire to advaiitagey and succeeded' in drivrn|} 
 tbt^m forne dUtuoce into the woods, lit a shott time the Indians 
 having taken a circuitouH route, appeared in front and opened a 
 Are upon the mounted riflemen, who were stationed there. Here 
 thfy met wi'h so warm a reception, that they were compelled a 
 second time to retreat in much haste. After this every exertion 
 was made to draw the IndiauH from the woods,to the open ground, 
 but Arithout much effVot. The few who were bold enough to 
 tenture, were handled so roughly that they soon returned to their 
 lurking place;*. In the mean. wiu\e the enemy were receiving 
 considerable reinforcements, which at length gave them a superi- 
 ority. A retreat for a shurt distance was ordered, and eflfected 
 with very little loss. The Indians soon made their appearance up- 
 on our right and left, and the regular^ and some militia in front : 
 «ur troops were formed into close columns for the purpose of 
 opening themstelves a way through the enemy, with their bayonets. 
 At this juncture a British olficer rode up- and demanded the sur- 
 render of the American party. The demand was- made,, he said, 
 to prevent theelFusion of blood. He asserted upon his honor, and 
 declared in the most solemn manner, that the British re^/ular force 
 WHS double that of the American, and that the Indians were 700 
 in number. Lieut. Col. Bjerstler under a belief of these facts, and 
 thinking it impracticable to get olf the wounded, whom he wat 
 unwilling to abandon to the mercy of the savages, and deeming it 
 txtremt^ly uncertain whether a retreat could be eflfected, thought 
 proper to agree to terms of capitulation, which were at length 
 tigiud by himself on the one part, and Lieut. Col. Bishop on the 
 other. 
 
 ** By these it was stipulated that the wounded should be taken 
 good care of, the ottict rs permitted to retain their side arms, pri- 
 vate property to be respected, and militia to be paroled and per- 
 mitted to return home immediately. The articles of capitulatiofi 
 were no sooner signed than they w«re violated. The Indians Urxr 
 mediately commeiiced their depredations and plundered the otficers 
 of their side arms. The soldiers too were stripped of every arti- 
 cle of clothing, to which the Indians took a fancy, such as hats,, 
 suats, shoes, &c. It is impossible to give any correct account of 
 the killed and wounded, as tne enem> did not furnish a list. The 
 ioiis of thie eneniy is supposed to be much greater than ours. Be- 
 tween 30 and 40 Indians were counted that lay dead on the field. 
 From their known practice of carrying olT their killed and wound- 
 ed, it is believed they must have suffered severely. The regular 
 Uuups were in a few days sent to Kingston. 
 
 " Major Chapin and his corps were detained under guard at the 
 head of Liike Ontario, and no attention paid to that article which 
 provided for their being paroled. On the l^th July they were 
 ordered down the Lake to Kingston ; for which place ttiey vvenei. 
 
 i' L 
 
 :;."#!■! 
 
 r ?;fii>, 
 
 
 SSif 
 
 
 •; a 
 
 
 
(IliiiTi; ■ ' 
 
 !200 
 
 SXVTCHK8 Of 
 
 f mbtrked in two boats accompanied by a guard of men under the 
 command of a lieutenant. Thirteen of the men with the lieuten- 
 ant were itationed in the forward boat with Major Chapin, and 
 the other officeri, while the remaining two (a seijeant and one 
 man) took the direction of the other boat, which contained the 
 loldiert. An agreement had been entered into previous to their 
 tfeparture, of seizing the first opportunity that oflfered, to regain 
 their liberty, which they determined to eflfect or die in the attempt. 
 When they were within about 12 miles of York, the boat which 
 was filled with the prisoners, was rowed by them along side the 
 other, under the pretence of taking something to drink. The tig. 
 nal being giren, they sprang upon the guard, who little expected 
 luch a manoeuvre, and in a short time disarmed thttm, and 
 gained possession of the boats. They immediately altered their 
 course from Kingston to fort Niagara, and' after rowing hard for 
 most of the night, and escaping with difficulty from one of the en- 
 emy's schooners which gave them chase, arrived in safety, with 
 their prisoners.'* 
 
 
 
 t'^' i- 
 
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 1. 
 
 it. ; 
 
 
 m4< 
 
 m-i 
 
 Pi' 
 
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 Defeat of the enemy at Sackei*s Harbor While the Amer- 
 ican army and fleet were employed in the expedition againtt 
 Vork and fort George, the enemy fitted out an expedition 
 Ugainst Sacket's Harbor, hoping, at this moment, from the 
 treduced state of the garrison at that place, to carry it : but 
 Ihey were gallantly met by General Brown, and repulsed* The 
 following is the official account of the battle : 
 
 } 
 
 ' Head Quarters, Sacket's Harbor,' 
 ^ ' June I, 1813. 
 
 $IR— You will have received my despatch of the 20th ult. 
 ^written from the field of battle, and stating generally, that this 
 |)08t had been attacked by Sir George Prevost, and that we had 
 tucceeded in repulsing him, principally owing to the gallantry of 
 Colt Backus and the regular troops under his command. Now I 
 beg leave to offer to you the evedts of that day more in detail. 
 
 On the 25th ultimo, 1 received a letter from General Dearborn, 
 requesting me to repair to this post for the purpose of taking com* 
 mand. Knowing that Lieut. Col. Backus, an officer of the first re« 
 giment of dragoons, and of experience, was here, I hesitated, as I 
 would do no aot which might wound his feelings. In the night 
 of the 27th I received a note from this officer, by Major Swan, 
 deputy-quarter-master-general, joining in the request already made 
 by Major- General Dearborn. I could no longer hesitate, and ac- 
 cordingly arrived at this post early in the morning of the 28tb. 
 These circumstances will explain how I came to be in command 
 upon this occasion. Knowing well the ground, my arrangements 
 for defence^ in the event of an attack, were soon made. •' 
 
 m 
 

 THK WAR. 
 
 807 
 
 lu the oourie of tbt morning of the 28th, Lieut. Chtunoey, of 
 the navy, came in fiom the Uke, firing; gum of alarm. Thoie of 
 the lame chHraot^r, intended to biing in the militia, were fired 
 from the postt. The enemy** fleet loon after appeared accompa- 
 nied by a large number of boati. Believing that he would lan4 
 on the peninsula, commonly called Hone Inland, I determined to 
 meet him at tlw water's e*lge with nuch militia a« I could collect 
 and the Albany volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant Col. 
 Mill* ; Lieut, '^ol. Backus, with the regulare, formed a second lioe| 
 the c<ire of Fort Tompkins was committed to the regular artille- 
 riils and some volunteers, and that of Navy Point to Lieut. Chaun- 
 oey of the navy. It driven from my pocition, Lieut. Col. Backut 
 was ordered to advance and meet the head of the enemy's col-- 
 umn, while rallying my corps. 1 was to fall on its flanks. If un- 
 able here to resist the enemy's attack, Lieut. Chauncey was in 
 that case to destroy the stores, &c. and retire to the south shore 
 of the bay, east of Fort Volunteer, while I proceeded to occupy 
 that fort as our dernier resort. 
 
 In the course of tiie 27th and during the nights of the 28th and 
 20th ultimo, a considerable militia force came in, and were order- 
 ed to the water side near Horse Island, on which was Lieut. Col, 
 Mills and his volunteers. Our strength at this point was novr 
 500 men....all anxious for battle, as far at profession would go. 
 The moment it was light enough to discover the approach of the 
 enemy, we found his ships in line between Horse Island and Stony 
 Point, and in a few minutes afterwards 33 large boats filled witl^ 
 troops, came off to the Larger Indian or Garden Island, undercov- 
 er of the fire of his gun boats. My orders were, that the troopi 
 should lie close and reserve their fire till the enemy had approach-^ 
 ed so near that every shot might hit its object. It is, however^ 
 impossible to execute such orders with raw troops unaccustomed 
 to subordination. My orders were in this case disobeyed. The 
 whole line fired, and not without effect....but in the moment while 
 I was contemplating thie, to my utter astonishment, they rose 
 from their cover and fled. Col. Mills fell gallantly in brave but 
 in vain endeavors to stop his men. I was personally more fortu- 
 nate. Gathering together about 100 militia, under the immedi- 
 ate command of Capt. M'Nitt of that corps, we threw ourselves 
 on the rear of the enemy's flank, and I trust, did some execution. 
 It was during this last movement that the regulars under Col. 
 Backus first engaged the enemy, nor was it long before .they de- 
 feated him. .* >; 
 
 Hurrying to this point of action, I found the battle still raging, 
 but with obvious advantage on our side. The result of the action, 
 io glorious for the officers and soldiers of the regular army, has al- 
 ^y been communicated in my letter of the 2&th. Hod Qot Gen, 
 
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 1 . 
 
 
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 ■ ■ fkm 
 
JScO% 
 
 SKBTCHESOP 
 
 'is 
 
 •♦<«,? 
 
 l^revoit retreatpd most rapidly under the guns of his vessels, [,^ 
 would never have returned to Kingston. 
 
 One thing in this business is to be seriously regretted. In the 
 midst of the conflict, fire was ordered to be set to the navy bar- 
 racks and stores. This was owing to the infamous conduct of 
 -those who brought information to Lieut. Ch'4uncey, that the battle 
 'Was lost, and that to prevent the stores from falling into the ene* 
 :iny*s hands, they must be destroyed. 
 
 The enemy's force consisted of ICOO picked men, led by Sk* 
 XSeorge Prevost in person. Their fleet consisted ot the new ship 
 Wolfe, the Royal George, the Prince Regent, Earl of Moira, two 
 armed schooners, and thi'ir gun and other boats. 
 
 Of the officers who distinguished -themselves, I cannot but re- 
 peat the name of Lieut. Col. Backus, vvho, praised be^God ! vet 
 lives. Capt. M'Nitt's conduct was noble; he well de«er-ves Xv, be 
 placed in the regular army. Maj. Swann, of the army, served as 
 my adjutant general, and was highly useful. -Lieut. Chaunccv is 
 a brave and honourable man. To him no blame can attach for 
 •what happened at the NaA'y Point. He was deceived. Lt. Col. 
 buttle was in march for this post, but with every exertion v^ai 
 '^unable to reach it in time to take part in the action. This \s fek 
 ^} the colonel and every officer of his detachment, as a misfor* 
 >tune. 
 
 At the moment I am closing this communication. Com. Chaun- 
 xey has arrived with his sqiiadron. Thib renders my longer slay 
 4iere unnecessary. 1 shall therefore immediately return to my 
 !iiome. 
 
 .1 am, air^ with the highest respect, &c. 
 
 JACOB BROWN, " 
 'Brig. Gen. of the N. York Militia. 
 
 Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. 
 
 '•«- 
 
 . ■'•fit 
 
 m ■ 
 
 M 
 
 
 'iReport of the killed, wounded and missing in the action of the 29tl 
 
 May, 1 8 1 3, at Sacket»« Harbor. 
 ; Killed 20 privates, regulars, and 1 volunteer. 
 
 Wounded 1 lieut. colonel, ^ second lieutenants, 1 ensign, 7 
 
 non-commissioned officers, 1 musician and 68 privates, rtguiarsi 
 and 1 musician and 2 privates volunteers. 
 
 Missing 2 non commissioned officers, 7 privates, regulars; 
 
 1 noncommissioned officer, i musician and 45 privates, volun- 
 'teers. 
 
 jiggregate loss,... 110 regulars and 21 volunteers-; number 
 not known, but notto exceed 25 militia. Total 156. 
 
 About 400 of the regular troops sustained the heat orAe ac* 
 
 ^on; these consisted chitfly of the 1st regiment of light dragooni, 
 
 some of the Otb, 21st, and a few of the 23d inf«Dtry, 3<i and hgkt ^| 
 
 srrtillery. 
 
 i ; J^ 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 S09 
 
 ^Report of the enemv^^ loss in the action of the 29lh May, 18 1 3, 
 . . at Sackt'l's Hurbor ■ ,,.«>.-.•.» 
 
 Adjutant-General Gray, Col. Moodx, NJaj. Edward?, 1 captain 
 and 25 rank and file found dead in the lield. 
 2 captains and 20 rank nnd file found wounded in the field. ' 
 2 captains, 1 ensign and i2 rank and file made prisoners, ^' 
 III addition to the above, man} were killed and wuunded in 
 their boats bv the militia and Albany volunteers while effecting a 
 landing: ; a number were likewitte carried offihe field by the en 
 ea)|, pteviou« to the commencement of his retreat. 
 
 M>. 
 
 
 V'^iiK 
 
 ^■^ 
 
 )nofthe29tli 
 
 Expedition dovm the St. Lawrence its pro^ress.„.,Battle of 
 
 Williamsburg Abandonntpnt of the expfdition. 
 
 From the latter part of June to the first of October, the army 
 lay at Fort Georg*-, and the two rival fleets on Lake Ontario were 
 so nearly equal that neither felt itself able to assume the superiori- 
 ty. In the mean time. General Wilkinson arrived and took the 
 command of the army. After considerable discussion between the 
 secreta/y of war and the commanding general, it was decided 
 that the army should move down the St. Lawrence, form a junc- 
 tion with General Hampton, and attack Montreal. 
 
 The army left Fort George the fore part of October, and in a 
 few days after arrived at Grenadier Island, where it continued till 
 the 3d of November. 
 
 The following extract from Gen. Wilkinson's journal, gives a 
 history oi the progress and termination of the expedition : 
 
 " October 2dth Measures were taken to seize every 
 
 pause of the prevailiug storms to slip the flotilla into the dt. 
 Lawrence by small detachments. In these deceitful momentary 
 calms we found it impossible to traverse in safety the arm of the 
 lake to Gravelly Point, though distant only nine miles. In the 
 several attempts made, many boats were driven ashore, and much 
 provision and clothing lost. French C.-eek, nearly opposite the 
 point where the enemy expected we should land to attack Kings- 
 ton, was made the general rendezvous of the troops, and Briga* 
 dier General Brown ordered on to take the chief command On 
 (the 2d November Commodore Chauncey, by concert, entered the 
 St. Lawrence, fell down nearly to French Creek, and took a po- 
 sition to command the north and south channels. In the evening 
 of the U\ November our vigilant enem^r having observed, eves 
 
 2 D 
 
 '^\ 
 
 ' , mm 
 
jii ; 1 
 
 
 
 n.' 
 
 Pn" 
 
 
 '■>}J 
 
 910 
 
 SKETCHES O? 
 
 amid the storms, our movement and position at French Creek, at- 
 tacked the detachment at that place under Gcueral cirowii, aocut 
 sunset, with a squadron of two brigs and two schooners, with ma- 
 ny boats loaded with infantry for landing, should their cannonade 
 make a sufficient impression. Very soon Captain M'Pnerson of 
 the light artillery erected a battery of three 18 pounders, and re- 
 turned their fire with such spirit and effect, that they fell down 
 to a harbor below, beyond its range. Next morning the attack 
 was renewed and repelled, and one of the biigs was with great 
 difficulty towed off by the squadron, which put into Kingston 
 Channel behind Gr^nd island. We lost two killed and four 
 wounded. The enemy were supposed to have suffered severely, 
 from the evident disabled state of their brig, and the deliberate aud 
 well directed fire of the gallant Captain M^Pherson. 
 
 •* November 6t/i....The flotilla got under way, and without acci- 
 dent fell down and landed early in the night below Morrisviite. 
 The general suspecting he would be followed by the enemy, as in 
 the morning his course had been discovered by three of their look- 
 out gun boats and a gig, and knowing that two of their arri (d 
 schooners could jeopardize his movement, gave orders for the flo- 
 tilla to pass Prescott, then seven miles below hin', in the course 
 of the night. But some confusion occurred arising from the nov- 
 elty of the movement, and the order was countermanded. 
 
 ** Novembfr 6tft....The general ordered the flotilla to descend to 
 a point within three miles of Prescott ; and the day being fine, 
 gnt into his gig, and proceeded to reconnoitre the place. In the 
 mean time the powder and fixed ammunition were debarked and 
 placed in carts, to be transported by land, under cover of the 
 night, beyond the enemy's battecies. As soon as the general re- 
 turned, orders were issued for the debarkation of every man (ex- 
 cept so many as were necessary to navigate the boats) who were 
 directed to march under cover of the night, to save useless expo- 
 sure to the enemy's cannon, to a bay two miles below Prescott; 
 and arrangements were made at the same time for the passage 
 of the flotdla by that place, the superintcndency of which devolv- 
 ed on Brigadier General Brown, the general officer of the day. 
 About 8 o'clock P. M. we had a heavy fog, and it was believed 
 ive could pass the British fortress unobserved. Orders were ac- 
 cordingly given for the army to march^ and the flotilla to get un- 
 der way. The general in his gig proceeded ahead, followed by 
 his passage boat and family ; but a sudden change of the atmo- 
 sphere exposed his passage boat to the garrison of the enemy, and 
 near 50 twenty four pound shot were fired at her without effect) 
 while the column on land, discoverd by the gleam of their arms, 
 vrere assailed with shot and shells without injury. Gen. Browo^ 
 on hearing the firing, judicially halted the flotilla until the moon 
 lutd set^ when it got iu motion^ but was perceived by the ene- 
 
■«■ 
 
 
 THB WAR. 
 
 211 
 
 ■'■i 
 
 uiv, who bpened upon it, and continued their fire from front to 
 rear for the space of three hours ; and yet^out of njore than three 
 hundred boat8, no^ one was touched, and only one nnan was kil- 
 led, and two were wounded; and before 10 next morning the 
 whole of the flotilla (except two vessels) reached the place of renr 
 dezvous. About noc:i this day Colonel King, adjurant general of 
 the army of General Hampton, arrived and waited on the com- 
 in»nder in chief, whom he informed that he had been to Sacket's 
 Hurbor with a despatch from General Hampton to the secretary 
 of war ; that he had no communication, written or verbal, from 
 MajorGeneral Hampton to him (the commander in chief,) but 
 that not finding the secretary of war at Sacl'^t's Harbor, he had 
 thought proper, on his return, to call for any communication he 
 (General Wilkinson) might have to make to General Hampton. 
 The general had intended, in the course of this day, to send an 
 express to General Hampton, with an order to him to form a juuc- 
 tion of his division with the corps descending the St. Lawrence^ 
 aiid availed himself of the opportunity, presented by Col. King^ 
 to send the order. 
 
 " Novmber 1th In passing Prescott, two of our largest ves- 
 sels, loaded with provisions, artillery and ordnance stores, either 
 through cowardice or treachery, had been run into the river near 
 Ogdensburgh, and opposite Prescott. The enemy kept up so con- 
 stant a cannonade on them, that we found it difficult, and lost 
 half a day, to get them out. We perceived the militia in arms 
 at Johnson, directly opposite us, and several pieces of Held artille- 
 ry in motion. Understanding that the coast below was lined 
 with posts of musquetry and artillery at every narrow pass of the 
 river. Colonel Macomb was detached about one o'clock with the 
 elite corps of about 1200 men, to remove these obstructions, and 
 the general got under way abnut half past three o'clock. Four 
 or five miles below we entered the first rapids of the river, and 
 soon after passing them, two pieces of light artillery, which had 
 not been observed by Colonel Macomb, opened a sharp fire upon 
 the general's passage boat, but without any further effect than 
 cutting away some of the rigging. Lieutenant Colonel Eustis^ 
 with a part of our light gun barg^-s, came within shot of the pieces 
 of the enemy, and a cannonade ensued, without injury on either 
 side. In the mean tinole Major Forsythe, who was in the rear of 
 the ehte of Colonel Macomb, landed his riflemen, advanced upon 
 the enemy's guna, and had his fire drawn by a couple of videttes^ 
 posted in his route, on which their pieces were precipitately car- 
 ried off. The general came to at dusk about six miles below the 
 tOA-n of Hamilton, where he received a report from Col. Macomb, 
 \who had roiitfcd a party at. a block-house about two miles belofr 
 ind captured an officer. ?; v *•'.; =.. , r-^ ., » < . .,^ 
 
 'i ^J: '-* 
 
 ii^^rlfr r-.l 1' 
 
 
 
 .-■<!■ 
 
 .^■ii^ 
 
 .:^; fulfil 
 
 ■ ' ■•?lll. 
 
 ' vm 
 
 '''t.m 
 
 
 
 \ ' 
 
 M 
 
 A 
 
 i 
 

 iB'' 
 
 !li:'il 
 
 
 ^'i* 
 
 bJifeTCUES OF 
 
 " Novpmb^r 8f*....TIii8 morning the flotilla fell down to a cuii; 
 Unction oi the river at a point called the " V\ liite house," win re 
 the dragoons weie assembled to bi cropped. Brijr Gen. Brovn 
 w;)8 ordered this morning to reinforce Col. Mucomb with his bri- 
 gade, and to take t^ie command ; and the whole da^ nnd follow- 
 ing night were devoted to transporting tin dragoons. About 
 noon this day we received atlvice that two armed schooners nnd 
 a budy of the enemy in batteaux, estimated at lOGO or 1500 rttn, 
 had descended the river from Kingston and landed at Prescott; 
 that they had immediatl'ly sent a flag across the river to Ogdens- 
 bijrgh, and demanded the delivery of all public property there un- 
 der the penalty of bwrningthe town. Not long aff^r, information 
 was received that the enemy had re-embarked at Prt scolt in their 
 batteaux, and were following us with sev^n gun-boats. 
 
 ** hoi'ember 9f/i....Thi8 morning very early the enemy mena 
 ced our rear, and a slight skirmish took place between cur iifle- 
 men and a party of their militia and Indians, in which we had 
 one nan killed and the enemy were driven back. The cavalry, 
 with four pieces of light artillery, under the command of Captain 
 M'Pherson, were attached to the command of Biigadier Genera! 
 Brown, and he was ordered to march "to clear the coast below us 
 as tar as a point near the head of the long saut. The rapidity 
 of the current (obliged us to halt the flotilla several hours, to ena- 
 ble General Brown to make good his march in time to cover our 
 movement. During this period the enemy frequently threatened 
 our rear, but never indicated an intention to make a serious at- 
 tack. About three o'clock P. M. the flotilla got under way and 
 came to, about five o'clock, at the yellow house, having floated 
 IK ar eleven miles in two hours, where we encamped for the 
 night. 
 
 *' November IQth This morBing the following order was ij- 
 
 ?ued : :.t • - ■■*': i ■■ 5. 
 
 .. . . «* MORNING GENERAL ORDERS. 
 
 " Hpad-Quarters, Tuttle's Bay, Nov. 10, 1813. 
 
 *« General Brown will prosecute his march with the troops yes- 
 terday under his command, excepting two pieces of artillery and 
 the 2d dragoons, who with all the well men of the other brigades, 
 except a sufficient number to navigate the boats, are to march 
 under the orders of Brigadier General Boyd. This precaution is 
 enjoined by regard to the safety of the men in passing the long 
 saut ; and as this rapid is long and dangerous, the general earnest* 
 ly requests the commanding officers of regiments and corps to 
 examine the boats and see them properly fitted, in order to avoid 
 accidents as much as possible. Brigadier General Boyd will take 
 the necessary precaution to prevent the enemy, who hangs on our 
 rear, from making an advantageous attack, ai d if attacked, is to 
 turn about and beat them. The boats are to resume the station 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 aii 
 
 ajislfjned tliem in the original order respectinsj the flotilla, and for 
 tfiis the coiiinmndiiig officers of regiments and brigades will be 
 held as responsible. Tfie movement of yesterdav was a reproach' 
 tp the service. The flotilla will come to day at Baruharts, near 
 Crab Island, and two guns from the front will be the signal for 
 landing. In case of an attack in force beyond all expectation, the 
 corps under Brigadier Generals Boyd and- Brown are to co-ope- 
 pjt" with each <ither promptly and with decision. The general 
 offiiM.r of the da} will strictly attend and see that the flotilla pi.!* 
 cif and moves in the prescribed order, and will arrest any officer 
 who preHimes to deviate therefrom." 
 
 "Brigadier General Brown marched, and about noon was en- 
 gaged by a partx of the enemy near a block house on the saut, 
 erected to harrass on-- flntilla in its descent. About the sam^ 
 time the enemy were observed to be advancing on our rear, and 
 their galley and gun boat<« hove in sight, approached our flotill* 
 then at shore and- bejran to cannonade it. Tht slender structure 
 of our gun barges made it impossible for them to resist the long 
 twenty four pounder of the enemy's galley ; this obliged the gen- 
 eral to order two eighteen pounders to be run on shore and form- 
 ed ill battery, a single shot from which gave such an alarm to the 
 enemy's vessels that they retired up the river accompanied by 
 their troops. But these slight operations so wasted the day that 
 our pilots were afraid to enter the saut (a continued rapid of eight 
 miles) with the flotilla; we therefore fell down within tA*o or 
 three miles of the head of it and came to for the night. By this' 
 time the general had become so extremely ill as to be unable t(y 
 set up, and was confined to his bed in a small birth under the 
 I quarter deck of his passage boat. 
 
 " Sovembrr nth Having heard the firing of the cannon 
 
 yesterday between General Brown and the enemy, being still un- 
 apprised of the result, it became necessary that we should hear 
 I from him before we committed ourselves to the saut, which al- 
 lows no retreat, no landing, no turning to the right or left but 
 where the impetuosity of the current impels. About 10 or 11 
 o'clock, A. M. the commander in chief received advice from Gen- 
 eral Brown that he had forced the enemy to retire before him, 
 andhad arrived near the foot of the saut. Orders were imme- 
 diately given for the flotilla to prepare to sail, and for Gei eral 
 Boyd and his command to commence their march, when some* 
 firing took place fnim the gun boats, and a re-port was brought to 
 Ihe commander in chief that the enemy was advancing in coV- 
 umn; on this he ordered GeiMral Boyd to attack them, and the 
 flotilla was directed not to leave the shoie. Bui the report was 
 hoon after contradicted. A variety of reports respecting their 
 movements and countermovements were, after this, successively 
 "^ought to the general, which impressed him with the convicti )n 
 'hal the enemy had determined to attack his rear a*; soon as tha: 
 
 ■r.t!';- 
 
 :mm 
 
 V; M 
 
2214 
 
 sRetchksuI^ 
 
 
 i .Ell'!; . 
 
 mwm 
 
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 f: 
 
 
 flotilla should put off and the troops commence their march ; hj 
 resolved to nnticipnte them. He therefore sent Colonel Swift of 
 the engineers, with instructions to Brigadier General Bo>d, who 
 had been directed by the order of the preceding day to take com- 
 mand of the detachment on shore, to form that detachment int(i 
 three columns, to advance upon the enemy, to endeavor to out 
 flank them, and to take their artillery. Soon after this the action 
 commenced, and for the numbers engaged was extremely warm 
 and bloody for upwards of two hours, during which time, in opeu 
 space and fair combat, the raw undisciplined troops of the Unittd 
 States braved, and frt^quently drove the best troops of the British 
 army. Desciiptions of battles have become too suUscrvient to tlie 
 gratiflcation of personal vanity and the acquisition of populnr ap- 
 p!ause; yet every man who has taken part in a great action nnuxt 
 know th'it there is liotiiing more difficult than to do justice to the 
 merits of a battle in all its parts, where it is hard to find two of!i- 
 eers, unless fighting side by side, who agree in opinion as to the 
 propriety of measures and the conduct of men. The fortunes of 
 this day were various ; sometimes one line, sometimes the other 
 giving way. Unfortunately, during ihe shiftings of the action, bji 
 the death of Lieutenant Smith, a young officer of the hightst 
 promise, the enemy got possession of a field piece, the only tro- 
 phy they obtained. It is difficult to speak of the precise numbm 
 engaged on either side, because the detachment under General 
 Boyd consisted of an indefinite number of his own, Covington'i 
 and Swartwout's brigades, ordered from on board the boats to 
 lighten them, and save the hazard of the men's lives in descending 
 the saut. Neither Covington nor Swartwout were obliged to 
 have taken part in the action, with this detachment ; yet they 
 both entered the field, taking command of that part oi it which 
 belonged to their respective brigades, where they exhibited the 
 same courageous conduct which distinguished General Boyd on the 
 field ; and to the great loss of the service Brigadier General 
 Covington received a mortal wound when icouraging and had- 
 ing on his detachment. The numbers engs^ed on our sidt could 
 not have exceeded sixteen or seventeen hundred men, while those 
 of the enemy are reckoned, by spectators, at from one to two 
 thousanc* ; but 'tis probable did not exceed 1,500, consisting, iii 
 we are informed, of detachments of the 49th, 8'ith, and 104th, 
 the voltigeurs, and Glengarian regiment. 
 
 « With respect to the courage displayed by our officers, it 
 would be useless to enter into details, since they all manifested in 
 their respective stations equal intrepidity. The names of the mer* 
 itorious dead and wounded will be =-' corded in another place. The 
 firing ceased by common consent about 4 o'clock P. M. our troops 
 were formed in battalia in front of the enemy, who were also in 
 line, and they separated, the enemy to their camp, and we to w\ 
 
i'He wAa. 
 
 ^{& 
 
 ir march ; I.^ 
 (lone I Swift of 
 al Bo) d, who 
 ' to take com- 
 tachment into 
 deavor to out 
 this the action 
 remely warm 
 time, in open 
 of the Uniitd 
 ! of the British 
 u^rvieiit to the 
 of popular ap- 
 at action n1u^t 
 justice to the 
 > find two offi. 
 linion as to the 
 he fortunes of 
 imes the other 
 the action, bj 
 of the hight'st 
 the only tro- 
 rtcise nunr>bm 
 under General 
 , Covington'i 
 the boats to 
 in descending 
 ere obliged to 
 ent ; yet they 
 t ot it which 
 exhibited the 
 I Boyd on the 
 adier Gentral 
 ing and I* ad- 
 our side could 
 , while those 
 one to two 
 onsisting, iit 
 , and 104lh, 
 
 Lur officers, it 
 manifestKiin 
 
 ^8 of the mer- 
 
 »r place. The 
 
 our troops 
 
 I were aI»o Id 
 
 Ind we to w\ 
 
 'g(^\a. The troops being much exhausted, it was considered most 
 (Oiivenient that tiiey should embark, and that tiit diagjons with 
 tht artillery should proceed by land. The embarkation took place 
 wittx'Ut the smallest molestation fk-om the enemy, and the flotillt^ 
 trade a hatbor near the head of the saut, on the oppoiiite shuie. 
 Thf views of the American and British commanders were, on this 
 occasion, precisely opposed. The first being bound by the instruc- 
 tions of his government, and the most solemn obligations of duty 
 to precipitate his descent ol the St. Lawrence by every practica- 
 ble means, and the last by duties equally imperious to retard, and 
 I if possible to prevent such descent, if then he found himself vic- 
 torious on this day, it was certainly in his power to have effected- 
 on' or the ether object; aad as he made no attempt to effect ei- 
 fhtr, it follows mcontestibly that he had no fair ground on which 
 ! to claim a victory. 
 
 "November 12r/t The flotilla sailed early this morning, and 
 
 pasiied down the saut without dittcovering either the boats or troops 
 ol the enemy, and arrived, in the course of the forenoon, at Barn- 
 1 harts, where the commanding general received a letter from Ma- 
 Joi General Hampton, by the hands of Colonel Atkinson, his in- 
 spector general, which blasted all his hopes and destroyed every 
 prospect ol the campaign. A council of war was called upon the 
 receipt of this communication, which was submitted to their con- 
 sideration, whereupon the council determined that the- conduct of 
 Major General Hampton, in refusing to join his division to the 
 troops descending the St. Lawrence to carry an attack against 
 Montreal, rendered it expedient to leave the left bank of the St. 
 Lawrence, and to remove the troops to French Mills, on Salmon 
 river; and on the 13th of November this recommendation was ac- 
 cctdingly carried into effect ; ample time having been given to the 
 enemy to have tried a second action, if they had dared to run 
 |the hazard." . . , • 
 
 Battle of lVUliamsburg.,..We subjoin the official account of the 
 I battle of the 11th November: 
 
 Head-quarters, French Mills, adjoining the Province of) 
 Lower Canada, November 16, 1813. jT 
 
 SIR I beg leave to refer you to the journal* which accompa- 
 
 I nies this letter, for the particulars of the movement of the corps 
 
 under my command down the St- Lawrence, and will endeavour 
 
 to exert my enfeebled mind to detail to you the more striking and 
 
 important incidents which have ensued my departure from Grena- 
 
 jdier island, at the foot of lake Ontario on the 3d instant. 
 
 The corps of the enemy from Kingston, which followed me, 
 ^UDg on my re«r ; and in concert with a heavy galley and a few 
 
 ■* »« t»«ir« iram«H«trIyiTrec«llBgthi* 
 
 1* , It'*.' C ti 
 
 ■ ,c, i Mm 
 
 
 > '. ■' i, /' ,5.; 
 
 
 ■-'■fe 
 
 
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 m^i 
 
'21 e 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 ,V 
 
 :■< i' 
 
 l'\ 
 
 t»Mq ■ -if r 
 
 iM,< 
 
 gun-boat?, scctncd dcternnined to retard my progresit. I w^ 
 strongly tempted to halt, turn about a!id put au < nc) lo his ttn;. 
 ings; but, alas, 1 was confined to my bed. Maj. Gen. Lewis uaj 
 too ill for any active exertion ; and, above all, i did not dire yuf. 
 fer myself to be diverted a single moment from the prosecution of 
 the views of government. I had written Maj. General Hampton 
 on the.6th iniitant, by his adjutant general, Col. King, and hai: or- 
 dered him to form a junction with me on the bt. Lawrence, 
 >which I expected would takt* placf on the 9th or 10th. It 
 would have been unpardonable had 1 lost sight of this otiject a 
 moment, as I deemed it of vita! importance to the issue ot the 
 campaign. -'; '^^ ■■'>'' ♦*•¥'■►« ' *'*•*«' .,*.■■'»/ ;-«vju-j, ,;■*;'•, . 
 
 . The enemy deserve credit for their Zf-al and intelligence, whicli 
 -the active universal hostility of the male inhabitants of the couq. 
 try enabled them to employ to the greatest advantage. Thus, 
 -while menaced by a respectable force in the rear, the coast was 
 lined with musketry in front, at <'very critical pass in the river, 
 which obliged me to march a detachment, and this impeded my 
 progress. 
 
 On the evening of the 0th inst. the army halted a few milei 
 from the head of the long iiaut. In the morning of the 10th, 
 the inclosed order* was issued. General Brown marched agree- 
 ably to order, and about noon we were apprized, by the report of 
 his artillery; that he was engaged some distance below us. At 
 the same time the enemy were observed in our rear, and their 
 galley and gun-boats approached our flotilla, and opened a fire up 
 on us, wh^ch obliged me to order a battery of 18 pounders to be 
 planted, and a shot from tt compelled the vessels of the enemy to 
 retire, together with their troops, after some firing between the 
 advanced parties. But by this time, in consequence of disembark- 
 iog and re-embarking the heavy guns, the day was so far spent 
 that dur pilots did not dare to enter the saut, (eight miles a coo- 
 tinued rapid) and therefore we fell down about two miles and 
 ceme to for the night. Early the next morning, every thing was 
 in readiness for motion ; but having received no intelligence from 
 Gen. Brovn, i was still delayed, as sound caution prescribed! 
 should learn the result of this affair, before I committed the flotil- 
 la to the saut. At half past 10 o'clock A. M. an officer of dra- 
 goons arrived with a letter in which the general informed me he 
 had forced the enemy, and would reach the foot of the saut early 
 in the day. Orders were immediately given for the flotillit to 
 sail, at which instant the enemy's gun boats appeared, and began 
 to throw shot among us. Information was brought me at the same 
 time, from Brigadier General Boyd, that the enemy's troops were 
 advancing in column. I immediately sent orders to him to attack 
 *h- m. This report was soon contradicted ; Their gun boats hovr- 
 
 • Sec page Hi 
 
'•H- 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 217 
 
 -III 
 
 (vrr continued to watch us, and a variety of report* of th«>ir 
 moveinvnts «nd counter-movements were brou)j;ht to me in sue* 
 cecsion, which convinced me of their deteimination to hazard an 
 attick when it could be done to the greatest advantage, and 
 th' refore I determined to anticipate them. P'-ections were ac- 
 cordingly sent by that distinguished otlicer, Co. iel Switt, of the 
 engineers, to Brigadier General Boyd to throw the detachment 
 oi his command, assigned to him in the order of the preceding 
 day, and composed of men from his own, Covington's and Swart- 
 wont's brigades, into three columns, to march upon the enemy^ 
 ou;-flank them if possible, and take their artillery. The action 
 soon after commenced with the advanced body of the enemy, 
 and became extremdy sharp snd galling ; and with occasional 
 pauses, was sustained with great vivacity in open space and fair 
 combat, for upwards of two and a half hours^ the adverse lines 
 alternately yielding and advancing. It is impossible to say with 
 accuracy what was our number on the field, because it consisted 
 of indefinite detachments taken from the boats to render safer the 
 passage of the saut. Brigadier Generalr Covington and Swart- 
 w9Ut voluntarily took part in the action at the head of the de- 
 lachmeots from their respective brigades, and exhibited the same 
 courage that was displayed by Brigadier General Boyd, who hap« 
 pened to be the senior officer on the ground. Our force engaged 
 might have reached sixteen or seventeen hundred men, but cer- 
 tainly did not exceed eighteen hundred. That of the enemy 
 was estimated at from twelve hundred to two thousand, but did 
 not probably amount to more than fifteen or sixteen hundred, 
 consisting, as I am informed, of detachments from the 4@th, 84tli 
 and 104th regiments of the line, with three companies of the 
 vottigeur and Glengary corps and the militia of the country, 
 who are not included in the estimare. 
 
 It would be presumptuous in me to attempt to give you a de- 
 tailed account of this affair, which certainly reflects high honour 
 on the valour of the American soldier, as no example can be pro- 
 duced of undiciplined men, with inexperienced officers, braving a 
 fire of two hours and a half, without quitting the fit Id, or yield- 
 int; to their antagonists. But, sir, the information I now give 
 you is derived from officers of my confidence, who took active 
 parts in the confiict ; for, though I was enabled to order the at- 
 tack, it was my hard fortune not to be able to lead the troops I 
 commanded. The disease with which 1 was attacked on the 2d 
 of September, on my journey to fort George, having, with a few 
 «hort intervals of convalescence, preyed on me ever since ; and 
 at the moment of this action, I was confined to my bed, and 
 emaciated almost to a skeleton, unable to set on my horse, or to 
 move ten paces without assistance. 
 
 2 E 
 
 VO 'J 
 
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 I .ir'M 
 
 5' If I 
 
 •■I'M 
 
 ■■^L 
 
 hi 
 
»1» 
 
 ttKBTCHES OV 
 
 i::*i 
 
 V.'i 
 
 M% 
 
 fl ''•I 
 
 I mu«>t, however, be pardoned for trespassing on 3 our time » 
 few remarks in rtlatiou to the affair. Ihe objecth of the firi!i«h 
 and American connandirx >\c-ri precisely oppootd; the last be> 
 in^ bound by the instructions of his gevernnitiitj and the most ^q. 
 lemn obligations of dut}, to piccipitHte his descent of the bt. Law* 
 rence by every practicabh nieauti ; because^ this being effecttd 
 one of the greatt Kt dithcultits oppo^* d to the American army 
 would be surmounted. And the first, by duties equally imperioui 
 to retard, and, if possible, prevent fuch di scent : He is to be ac> 
 CKunted victorious who effecttd bi» purpose. I he British ccni' 
 maoder, having failed to gam i ither of his objects, can lay no 
 claim to the honourt* of the day. Tht buttle fluctuated, and tri- 
 umph seemed at different times inclined, to the contending corps, 
 The front of t tie enemy was at fir^t forced back more than a 
 n^ilc, and, though they never regaint d the ground thus lost, thtir 
 stand was permanent and their charges resolute. Amidst these 
 charges^ and near the close of the contest, we lost a fit- Id-piece bv 
 the fall of the officer who was serving it with the same cooineM 
 as if he had been at a parade cf review : This was Lieut. Snitii, 
 of the light artillery, who in point of merit stood at the head of 
 his grade. 
 
 The enemy having halted, and our troops being again formed 
 in battalia front to front, and the firing ceased on both sides, we 
 resumed our position on the bank of the river, and the infantry 
 being much fatigued, the whole were re-embarked, and proceeded 
 down the river without further annoyance from the enemy or 
 their gun-boats, while the dragoons, with five pieces of light ar- 
 tillery, marched dviwn the Canada shore without molestitioo. 
 
 It is doe to his *ank, to his worth and services, that I should 
 make particular mention of Brigadier General Covington, who re- 
 ceived a mortal wound directly through the body, while aoi- 
 mating his men and leading them to the charge. He fell where 
 he fought, at the head of hit men, and survived but two days. 
 
 The next morning the flotilla passed through the saut and join* 
 ed that excellent officer. Brigadier General Brown, at Barnliartt, 
 near Cornwall, where he had been instructed to take post and 
 wait my arrival, and where I > confidently expected to hear of | 
 Major General Hampton's arrival on the opposite shore. But 
 immediately after 1 halted. Col* Atkinson, the inspector general 
 of the division, under Major General Hampton, waited on me 
 with a letter from that ofHct-r, in which, to my unspeakable mor- 
 tification and surprise, he declined the junction ordered, and in- 
 formed me he was marching towards lake Cbamplain, by way of I 
 CO operating in the proposed attack on Montreal. 
 
 This letter, together with a copy of that to which it is an an* 
 swtr, were immediately submitted to a council of war, composed] 
 i^<9f my general officers, and the colonel commanding the elite;^! 
 
•»* 
 
 THE WA ^iy 
 
 ■<'.V 
 ^jt^e chief engineer, and the adjutant •*»n(fr-«!, \v^- nnanimoiixly 
 £,,ve it as their opinion, that ** the Mtt k on Moi < al should be 
 ibnndoned for the present 8f-ason, and i- army t n ntar orO' 
 Will ohoiiid be immediately crossed to the American thon ta- 
 
 king up wmter qnarters, find that this place afforded an igible 
 position for such quarters." 
 
 1 acquiesced in these opinions, not from the vhortnes». >f *H« 
 tf^ck of provi.Mons (whieh had been reduced by the acts of God) 
 {)iC)«u8e that of our meat had been increased five days, and our 
 brt-ad had been reduced only two d^ys, and because \v« could« 
 in case of extremity, have lived on the enemy ; but because th« 
 lust of the division under Major General Hampton, weakened my 
 force too sensibly to justify the attempt. In all my measures and 
 mnvennents of moment, I have taken the opinions of my general 
 officer*, which have been in accord with mv own. 
 
 I remained on the Canada shore until the next day, without 
 seeing or hearing from the ** powerful force'* of the enemy in our 
 neighborhood, and the same day reached this position with the ar- 
 tillery and infantry. The dragoons have been ordered to Utica 
 and its vicinity, and I expect are fifty or sixty miles on the 
 march. 
 
 You have under cover a summary abstract of the killed and 
 wounded in the affair of the 11th instant. The dead rest in 
 honour, and the wounded bled for their countr), and deserve its 
 gratitude. 
 
 With perfect respect, I have the honour to be^ sir, your obedi- 
 dient humble servant, '' / ^ 
 
 JA. WILKINSON. 
 
 Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. 
 
 Jletum of the killed and wounded oj a detachment of the U. S, 
 army, in an action fought at fftUiamsburg, in Upper Canada^ 
 mthe nth Nov, 18lJ. 
 
 Killed...^ subalterns^ 7 sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 n»usician, 89 
 private8....Total, 102. 
 
 lV(yunded...A brigadier general, 1 assistant adjutant general, 1 
 sid de camp, 1 colonel, 1 major, 5 captains, 6 subalterns, 9 ser." 
 gcaots, 13 corporals, 1 musician, 198 private8....Total, 2^7. 
 Total killed au4 wounded, 339. 
 
 Names of the commissioned officers killed and 'W0unde4* 
 
 KILLED. . / 
 
 Lieutenant William W. Smith, of the light artillery. • 
 
 - David Hunter, of the 12th regiment infantry. '* '; 
 
 £dA!VBr4 Olmstead, of the 16th (1». ' 
 
 
a«o 
 
 liKiiTCHliS OV 
 
 .lilt''' t; 
 
 i^iii^' 
 
 :r , 
 
 WOUNDKH. 
 Brifl;a(li<'i' Orncra' Lcoiinrcl Covington, morlnlly, (»incc (lead.; 
 Mnjor Tqlbot Ch.imbi<r.«, n«siiitii:it tidjiitHnt gt'ni'ial, niigiitly. 
 Mujnr Darby Noon, aid dc camp to Brigudiur (jtneral Swurtwout, 
 
 slightly. 
 Colont-I Jamt's P Preston, of the 23d rigiiiient infantry, «evertlv, 
 
 his right thigh fractured. 
 Mijdr William Ciimming?, Kth ditto, severely. 
 Captain Edmund Poxtcr, 0th ditto, hlightly. 
 
 David S. Townst nd, 9th ditto, severely, (taken priioiicr.V 
 
 Mordecai Myers, 1 3th ditto, severely, 
 
 John Campbell, 13th ditto, olightly. 
 
 John B. Murdoch, 25th dUiO, slightly. 
 
 Lieut. William S. Heaton, lith ditto, severely. 
 
 — John Williams, 13th ditto, slightly. 
 
 — .'ohn Lynch, I4th ditto, severely, (taken prisoner ; 
 
 .1 P»'t^•r P« Iham, 2l8t ditto, severely, (taken prisoner.) 
 
 — James D. Brown, 95\h ditto, slightly. 
 
 Archibald C. Crary, 26th ditto, severely, in the skirniiiit 
 
 the day before the action. 
 
 Colonel Preston commanded the 13th regiment of infantry 
 during the action ; and Major Cummings did duty with the lOlli 
 regiment of infantry in the action. 
 
 .^^'-I ..,•:.•■ 
 
 CHAPTFFi XVIH. 
 
 Korihern armi/.,..Col. Clark^s expedition... .Battle of Chaiaugaij 
 ,...RcJusal of Gen. Hampton to join Gen. I'Vtlkinson at St. Ht- 
 gts„..Close of the campaign. . .v... 
 
 The northern army, for the campaign of 1813, consisted of 
 about 4000 men, principall} new recruits and volunteers, under 
 the command ©♦ Gen. Hampton, assembled at Burlington, (Vt.) 
 and in its vicinity. The whole summer was spent in enlisting and 
 collecting the recruits and in disciplining them. 
 
 In the fore part of September they embarked at Burlington and 
 took a position at Cumberland Head, near Plattsburgh, where 
 they remained some days, collecting the necessary ^plies for a 
 inarch into Canada. 
 
 On the 19th September the army moved to Chazy and attack 
 ed the enemy's advanced posts at Odletown, with a view of I 
 pushing into Canada by that route ; but this was found impracti- 
 cable for want of supplies of water. The army accordingly fell 
 back on Champlain and took the route by Chataugay, at wbifb 
 glace tbby arrived and took a poiition on the 25\ii* 
 
 j*^ 
 
m 
 
 Tin. WAU. 
 
 321 
 
 Cnl. Clark-^s ^xn^'dition Gen, Hampton, in order to cover hU 
 
 inovfiit-otK iiiiJ iiiti nlioui, and to disitract the en< inyN Httontioiif 
 J, .')Htched Col. CUrU, an ixcellrnt partizan otlicer, to Miisii' 
 QUI bxy» vvith a detacliment of titlemen, to nttaok a small British 
 force at St. Armand. Tli(> following; is a fhort though interest- 
 hni; account of the colonel's sticoeii!', taken from his otTicial Letter, 
 Idalt'd Oct. 16. 
 
 (( It \«> with fl;reat pleafinre I can inform you of a successful at* 
 jtAck upon the enemy at Missisque bay on the morning of ihe 
 12tli inst. (After detailing his approach to the enemy, which 
 evinces an excellent knowledt^e of the country, the colonel 
 gtates:) At this time 1 had only the riflemen with me, the artille* 
 ry moving slow, and the militia protecting their rear. We pro- 
 cod <J to the village, (Vlissisqiie) and arrived within fifuen 
 rnd>( of the enemy before we were discovered. We found them 
 dravvd up under Nl^jor Powell, in a manner that would have an- 
 Qoyi'd lis much had we attacked them by water, but wholly un« 
 prt oared to defend themselves on the land side; they commeneed 
 L fire on the left flank, but in ten minutes after the first attack 
 thiy laid down their arms and surrendered themselves prisoners 
 lof war. 
 
 "Understanding that a force of 200 men under Col. Lock was 
 {marching to attack us, I despatched Capt. Finch with his compa- 
 Dv to reconnoitre them and ascertain their course. He proceed- 
 ed with such promptness and ability as to surprise and capture the 
 advitnced guard, consisting of cavalry, excepting one man, who 
 jescaped, and, giving information, the enemy ret'-eated. 
 
 " The prisoners were then put on board our boats and sent to 
 {Burlington. Our whole force engaged was one hundred and two ; 
 thf number of prisoners taken is one hundred and one, their killed 
 I uine and wounded fourteen." 
 
 Battlf of Chataugay....Ahout this time the attack on Montreal 
 I was determined on, and the army of Gen. Hampton was ordered 
 {toco-operate in the expedition. 
 
 The army, however, continued in its pesition at Chataugay 
 {for near a month in daily expectation of orders to join General 
 Wilkinson, whose movements down the St. Lawrence were 
 more tardy than had been contemplated. From this circum- 
 stance, and probably from the severity of the season, the troops 
 {beramein some measure dispirited, and seemed also not to have 
 had the necessary confidence in their commander. 
 
 On the 21st cf October, however, without any information or 
 
 I instructions from General Wilkinson, the army moved down the 
 
 Ch.)taugay river, for the purpose of placing itself in a situation 
 
 to form a junction with hirn^ But, from some mismanagttinent, 
 
 ■I 
 
 ■ t 
 
 's; 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 i 'ft-' vnJ 
 
 ■■■::■%% Jl 
 
 Ui^ 
 
 Ml 
 
en ^ 
 
 '2^2 
 
 SKETCHES QF 
 
 I'l' vi-' 
 
 ■i>:- 
 
 
 '(• • 
 
 i|.. 
 
 the army was met by the enemy, and driven back with cob. 
 8i."i<-rable Ions. We subjoin an extract frtrn Gent-ralHamptyn'j 
 otticial account of tbi« aifair, to the secretary of war* 
 
 " // Q. Four Corners, Nov. 1, 1813. 
 
 ** On the inorning of the 21st ultimo the army commenctd itj 
 movement down th*- Chatau^ny, lor the purpose of placing it>t(f 
 in a situation which would enable it to fuihl its parts of th«- pro. 
 posfd combined operations on tlie St Lawrence. 
 
 "An extensive wood of 1 1 or 12, miles in front, blorked im 
 
 with felled tin her, and covered by iht- Indians and light troops of 
 
 the enemy, wa^ a serious impediment to the arduous ta:»k ot opMi- 
 
 ing a road for the artillery and stores. Brigadier General Izard 
 
 with the light troops and one regiment of the line, was detached 
 
 ^eariy in the morning to turn these impediments in flank, and tg 
 
 •seize on the more open countr;y below, while the aimy, prect-ded 
 
 by a strong working party, advanced on a more circuitcjt but 
 
 ^practicable route foi a road. The measure completely succeeded, 
 
 «nd the main body of the army reached the advanced poi>itioii 
 
 on the evening of the 22d. The 23d and w4th were employed io 
 
 completing the road and getting up the artillery and stores. 
 
 "I had arranged, at my departure, under the direction of Major 
 Parker, a line of communication as far up the St. Law rence aj 
 Ogdensburgh, for the purpose of hastening to me the earliest no* 
 tice of the progress of our army down. 1 had surmounted 24 
 miles of the most difficult part of the route, and had in advance 
 of me seven miles of open .country, but at the end of that dis- 
 tance commenced a wood of seme miles in extent, which had I 
 been formed into an entire abatis and /filled by a succession of | 
 wooden breastworks, the rearmost of .which were supplied with 
 ordnance. In front of these defences were placed the Indian 
 force and light corps of the enemy, and in the rear all of his dii- 
 posable force. As the extent of this force depended upon hit 
 fense of danger on the St. Lawrence, it was a cause of regret 
 that all communication from yourself or Major Parker stemea to 
 be at an end. As it was, however, believed that the enemy waj 
 hourly adding to his strength in this position^ if free from tht ap* 
 prehension of danger from above, an effort was judg* d necessary 
 to dislodge him, and if it succeeded we should be in possession of 
 a position which we could hold as long a^ any doubts renaintd 
 of what was passing above, and of the real part to be assigbtd us. 
 
 *' Our guides assured us of a shoal and practicable fording place 
 opposite the lower flank of the enemy's defences, and that the 
 wood on the opposite side of the river, a dictance of seven or 
 eight miles, was practicable for the passage of the troops. Col. 
 ;Purdy with the light corps, and a strong body of infantry of the 
 fine, was detached at an early hour of the night of the 25tb; tt 
 
THE WAH. 
 
 »2# 
 
 •nil) this ford by the morning, and to commence bis attack in 
 rear, and that ^as to be the signal for the army to fail on in 
 fr )iit, and it was believed the pass might be carried btfore the 
 onemy's djstant troops could be brought forward to its support. 
 
 «i had returned to -my quarters from Purdy's column about y 
 o'clock at night, when f found a Mr. Baldwin, of the quarter 
 master general's department, who put into my hands an open* 
 pa)er containing instructions to him from the quarter matster ge- 
 Dtral, respecting the building of huts for the army in the Chatau- 
 gay, below the line. This paper sunk mv hopes, and raised seri* 
 0U8 doubts of receiving that efficacious support which had been 
 anticipated. I would have recalled the column, but it was in 
 motion, and the darkness of the night rendered . it impracticable. 
 I could only go forward. The army was put in motion on the 
 morning of the 2dth, leaving its baggage, &c. on the ground of 
 encampment. 
 
 "On advancing near the enemy, it was found that the column- 
 en the opposite side was not as far advanced as had been antici- 
 pated. The guides had misled it, and finally failed in finding the 
 fbril. We could not communicate with it, but only awaited the 
 attack below. About two o'clock the firing commenced, and our 
 troops advanced rapidly to the attack. The enemy's light troopr 
 commenced a sharp fire, but Brigadier General Izard advanced' 
 with h«s brigade, drove him every where behind his defences and 
 gileocud the fire in his front This brigade w^ould have pushed 
 forward as far as courage, skill and perseverance could have car- 
 ried it ; but on advancing, it was found that the firing had com- 
 nenced on the opposite side, and the ford had not been gained. 
 , "The enemy retired behind his defences, but a renewal of his' 
 attack was expected, and the troops remained some time in ttieir 
 position to meet it. The troops on the opposite side were exces- 
 sively fatigued. The enterprise had failed in its main point, aud' 
 Col. Purdy was^ ordered to withdraw his coinmu to a shoal four 
 or five miles above, and cross over. The day was spent, and 
 Gen. Izard was ordered to withdraw his brigade to a position 
 three miles in the rear, to which place the baggage had been or- 
 dered forward. 
 
 " The slowness and order with which Gen. Izard retired with 
 hif brigade, could but have inspired the enemy with resp< ct...« 
 They presumed not to venture a shot at him during his move- 
 ment ; but the unguardedness of some part of Purdy's command, 
 exposed him to a rear attack from the Indians, which was repeat- 
 ed after dark, and exposed bim to some loss. These attacks 
 were always repelled, and must have cost the enemy as many 
 lives as we lost. Our entire loss of killed, wounded and ni.ssiu^ 
 does not i xceed 50. In its new position within three uii.- if 
 ^e enemy's post, the army encamped on the. night of the 26thj, 
 
 
 
 'i>i.'^^ i 
 
 
 
 
 '■^ms 
 
 
 ' n^ 
 
WW' 
 
 224 
 
 tjKtLreHKs, &c. 
 
 'M\' ■■ 
 
 -^1 
 
 :p 
 
 and remained until 12 o'clock on the 28th. All llie dpsettfrs, of 
 whom there wt-re lour, having concurred in the intormaticii iliat 
 Sir George Prevost, with three other general officers, had arti^d 
 with the whole of his disposable force, and la> in the rear cf ttu^i. 
 defences, and a letter from Major Parker (by express received on 
 the evening of the 26th) having informed me that no movemtMs 
 of our army down the St. Lawrence had been heard of at (;g. 
 densburgh, and for some distance above ; )he following que^tjul8 
 were submitted to the commanding oflicersof brigades, reginitit! 
 and corps, and the heads of the general staff, in a council con- 
 vened for the purpose : * Is it advisable, under existing circi,m 
 stances, to renew the attack on the enemy's position, and, if not, 
 what position is it advisable for the army to take, until it can iec«ive 
 advices of the advance of the grand army down the St. Law- 
 rence ?' The opinion of the council was expressed in the follow- 
 ing words : 
 
 " It is the unanimous opinion of this council, that it is necessa- 
 ry, for the preservation of this army, and the fulfilment of the ot- 
 tenstble views of the government, that we immediately return by 
 orderly marches to such a position (Chataugay) as will secure our 
 communications with the United States, either to retire into uiu- 
 ter quarters, or to be ready to strike below." 
 
 " In pursuance of this opinion, the army has returned by slow 
 marches to this place, and now awaits the orders of the goverl^ 
 ment." 
 
 Refusal of Gen. Hampton to join Gen. Wilhinson On tlie 
 
 8th November Gen. Hampton received a letter from Gen. Wil- 
 kinson requesting him to join him at St. Regis. This Gen. Hamp- 
 ton declined on account of his own and Gen Wilkinson's limited 
 supplies of provisions, and retired to Platt.vburgh with mtentiousofl 
 opening a communication with Gen. Wilkinson and forming a 
 junction lower down the river, where he might push forward the 
 necessary supplies. But Gen. Wilkinson considered this a refusal 
 on the part of Gen. Hampton to co-operate, and accordingly aban- 
 doned the expedition. 
 
 We shall not attempt to enter into the merits of the contro- 
 versy between these two generals, not having that minute and 
 particular knowledge upon the subject which is necessary to foim a 
 correct judgment ; we may, however, venture to conjecture, that 
 the battles at Williamsburg and Chataugay had greatly abated 
 the ardour of both generals, and that possibly this controversy 
 was produced from that cause. Be this as it may, the expedition 
 was leally or pretendedly abandoned for this cause, and the arnry 
 went into winter quarters at Plattsburgh. » . . 
 

 •i. '■' 
 
 (IpseTtfr?, of 
 >rniaticii tlibt 
 , had artiMd 
 rtai cf tluii; 
 J rectivtd on 
 move mt 1,18 
 ird of at (;g. 
 iiig que^liul! 
 le», regin<ti.t! 
 couiiCil con- 
 isting circum- 
 ), and, if not, 
 it can lective 
 the St. Law. 
 in the follow- 
 
 t it is necesfa- 
 lent of the oj- 
 itely return by 
 ,vill secure our 
 t'tire into wia- 
 
 jurned by slow 
 )f the govern- 
 
 ison On tlie 
 
 >m Gen. Wil- 
 is Gen. Han'p- 
 uson's limited 
 intentious of I 
 |nd forming a I 
 forward the 
 this a refusal 
 rdingl.Y aban- 
 
 the contro- 
 
 minute and 
 
 jary tofoima 
 
 Dji^cture, that 
 
 ftatly abated 
 
 controversy 
 
 he expedttioD 
 
 Ind the army 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 ■y ?■;-■- 
 
 OF 
 
 Volume I Number 5. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Fort George Burning of Newark Capture of fort Niaga- 
 ra Burning of Buffalo, ^c. 
 
 Such part of the army of the centre as was left by General 
 Wilkinson at fort Georgt^, was placed under the Cdmmand of Col. 
 now General Scott, who continued in the command of that post 
 until the 12th of October, when he left it with all the regular 
 troops for Sacket's Harbour....the enemy having previously retir- 
 ed to BuilingtoD heights. 
 
 General George M'Clure, with a body of New-York militia and 
 volunteers, occupied fort George after the departure of Colonel 
 Scott ; but nothing occurred worthy of notice during their contin- 
 I uaiice at that post. But upon the term of service of the militia 
 expiring. General M'Clure evacuated fort George after burning 
 the flourishing village of Newark, under a pretence that it was 
 [ necessary to the security of the frontier. 
 
 Ill the mean time, however. General Harrison arrived at fort 
 George with the north western army, but continued there a few 
 1^8 only, when the regular army was ordered to Sacket's Har- 
 1 bour for the defence of the fleet there moored. 
 
 The British army were in full march for fort George when it 
 I was evacuated by General M'Clure, and immediately after arrived 
 and took a position at Queenstown, where they prepared for a 
 descent upon the Niagara frontier. They effected their landing 
 at the Five-Mile Meadows, on the 19th of December, from whence 
 Colonel Murray, with a detachment consisting of the 100th regi- 
 ment, the grenadier companies of the Royals, and the flank com- 
 panies of the 41st regiment, proceeded to fort Niagara, which they 
 surprised and captured before day light, making a most dreadtu), 
 land It is believed unnecessary slaughter among the garrison. Gen- 
 eral M'Clure's official account of the capture of this fort seems to 
 
 2 F 
 
 . • '.:^ « ^\^^4l lis 
 
 V-:' fMr- 
 
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 ■ '>•' ml 
 
226 
 
 SKETCHES Ofc" 
 
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 have been most of it conjecture. We aball tbcrefoie collect sutn 
 of the facts rtlatiig tluri'ti),as peem to ht- will auliiri.tiiiitul. 
 
 The garrisoii, on the day of its captun, oontsi-tt'il ol aboiii 350 
 men uncli-r tht' com Band ofCapt. I.eoi-ani of the arliilerv. H( I ^.^ 
 been ordered by Gt-iiiral M'Cliire on t'.n 12tii to have every ar- 
 rangement made as if he expecit'd an iirnneriiate Htcich. But % 
 some reason not yet explained, Cspt. f.eonard Itlt the gavnscn 
 about 11 o'clock in the evennig previous to its capture, for his 
 family, resident about two mile.' from tiie f rt. Cjeiural M'C'luie 
 says, in an official letter to the secretary ot \\nr, thut Capt. Lton- 
 ard was intoxicated J and other accouiits agree with tl'e gemral 
 in attributing the conciucl vi Capt. L» "isard to treasoniibie ino- 
 tives; but we deem it inip'oper to condemn until the accused has 
 been heard, though we are free to say, that the capiau)'s conduct 
 needs explanativn, -.wul till then wf are compelled to believe him 
 most negligently or treasonably guilty in leaving the fort at >such 
 a time. The pickci guards and the centuries at the glacis and at 
 the gate were surprized and taken by the enemy, from whom 
 they obtained the watch word, by means whereof they gaiiicd 
 entrance into the fort. 
 
 The f^arrison was not alarmed when the enemy entered the 
 fort, but some firing took place immediately after between the 
 guard at the south east block house, and the sick at the red bar- 
 racks, and the principal resistance was made at these points. But 
 their resistance was vain : they were soon overpowered, and a 
 royal salute announced to the surrounding country the capture of 
 the fort. The British official report of the capture states the 
 American loss in killed at riS, and wounded 15, all with the bay- 
 onet ; but this is said upon good authority not to include many 
 who were after the issuing of the order, found ba>onetted in the 
 cellars of the house?, so that the killed may be estimated at 80. 
 On the part of the enemy, 5 killed and 3 wounded. A few ol the 
 gat I -son escaped by crossing the pickets, but the remainder were 
 made prisoners. 
 
 The enemy having learned the success of the detachment un- 
 der Colonel Murray, proceeded to burn, plunder and destroy the 
 whole fro:'tier from Niagara fort to the falls, which includes the 
 villages of Youngstown, Lewi.stown, Manchester, and the Indian 
 village of Tuscarora. The inoffensive and unarmed inlabifaats 
 who could not escape, were many of them most inhumanly butch- 
 ered. 
 
 These measures and proceedings of the enemy were attempted to 
 be justified by our previous example in the burning of Newark, and 
 we should have been ready to conclude that their vengeance had 
 been satiated, but events proved that nothing within their powtr 
 was to escape. They accordingly re-crossed the river, leading a 
 garrison in fort Niagara, and proceeded up the river opposite Black 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 227 
 
 Rock, wherp thpy immpdiately made dispositions f'^r ac^ain cross- 
 ji,^. (n the mcrtn tun*' GcntTal Kill ..f thf New York miliiia had 
 arrived at Sluck i^nck wuh about 1000 volimtecrs and J 000 nili- 
 tia afhis own brigade. But the ent-my iffi-oted their lai:ai. g on 
 the 30th a»id acconipii.^hfd their diribohC'il purposes. The f >l!>)vv- 
 ijior Itttt^r from G' nera! Hall to G:v. Tompkins gives a leugihy 
 and minute account of their proceedings : 
 
 «'The confusion into which every thing was thrown by the 
 events of the 30th December, and the imperious necessity of ta- 
 king precautionary measures against the advances of the enemy, 
 nut it out of my power to furnish, at an earlier period, a detailed 
 account of the operations on this frontier, during my hitherto un* 
 [fortunate and embarrassmg command; add to this, the extreme 
 diificulty of collecting authentic facts, relative to our loss, since 
 the forces under my command were of that multiform descrip- 
 tion, which they nec;ssarily were, being composed almost wholly 
 of volunteer militia and exempts, hastily and confusedly assem- 
 bled in the moment of alarm^ and dissipated by the events of a 
 I battle. 
 
 "The storming of fort Niagara and the burning of Lewistown, 
 presaging further devastation, threw this whole country into the 
 I most violent agitation: on the moment, and without any previ- 
 ous preparation, I hastened to Batavia, with a view to take such 
 measures as might be within my power, to repel the enemy and 
 protect t'le frontier. I hastily collected from the militia and vo- 
 lunteers of Gennessee county and the brigade of General Wads- 
 worth, in Ontario, a considerable force, but generally deficient in 
 arms and ammunition, and the necessary conveniences of a camp. 
 In the evening of the 22d December, Gen. M'Clure, with the re- 
 
 ilars under command of Major Riddle, arrived in Batavia, and 
 I on the morning of the 23d, signified by a letter, his desire that I 
 would take tl?e command, during this moment of general alarm, 
 laccordinly proceeded to organize in the best manner in my power 
 the forces then at Batavia, and with the arms and ammunition 
 collected from different sections of the country, and what little 
 could be procured from the arsenals at Canandaigua and Batavia, 
 I was enabled to get under march on the 25th for Lewistown, a 
 body of infantry about 150 strong, under Lieut. Col. Lawrence, 
 supported by one company of cavalry under command of Cnpt. 
 Marvin, with orders to proceed and join a corps of militia, said to 
 be 200 strong, under command of Lieut. Col. Atchinson, which 
 was stationed at Forsyth's, on the ridge road, fifteen miles east 
 from Lewistown, to collect and save all the ammunition in his 
 power, which had been removed from the arsenal at Lewistown, 
 «nd was then dispersed on the read and different parts of the 
 country, and with inetrnctions to act as circumstances and thie 
 
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 SKETCHES OF 
 
 nature of his force would permit against the enemy ; and if prac 
 ticable to effect a junction with the main force at Buffalo, by the 
 way of Manchester, Schlosser, and thence up the river to Black 
 Rock; leaving as a reserve the corps under Col. Atchinson, at 
 their station near Lewistown. 1 then ordered the remainder of 
 the troops to Buffalo, with the exception of the regular forces, 
 over whom I assumed no command. 
 
 " On the morning of the 25th I proceeded to Buffalo, leaving 
 Gen. M'Clure at Batavia with instructions to organize such de- 
 tachments of volunteers as might arrive, and direct their march 
 for Buffalo. I ariived in Buffalo on the morning of the 2eth, 
 and there found a considerable body of irregular troops of various 
 descriptions, disorganized and confused. ...every thing wore the ap 
 pearance of coniiternation and dismay. On the same day 1 is 
 sued an order to the several commandants of corps, for a reJurn 
 of the number of effective men under their command ; and an 
 order to Capt. Camp, A. D. Q,. M. general for the return of the 
 ordnance and ordnance stores, in the quarter- master's depart 
 ment ; a copy of which I have heretofore had the honour to for 
 ward to your excellency, and which sufficiently exhibits the des- 
 titute condition of that department. On the 27th, I ordered a 
 review of all the troops under my command at Buffalo and the 
 Rock, when I found my numerical force to be as follows : 
 
 ** At Buffalo under Lieut. Col. Boughton, of the cavalry and 
 mounted volunteers, 129; Lieut. Col. Blackslee, of Ontario ex- 
 empts and volunteers, 433 ; Lieut. Col. Chapin, of t'r.e Buifalo 
 militia, 1 36 ; Lieut. Col. Mallory, of the Canadian volunteers, 97; 
 Major Adams, of the Gennessee militia, 332. At the Rock were 
 stationed under the command of Brigadier General Hopkins, 382 
 effective men, composed of the corps commanded by Lieut. Col. 
 Warren and Lieut. Col. Churchill, exclusive of a body of 37 
 mounted infantry under command of Capt. Ransom ; 83 Indians 
 under command of Lieut. Col Granger, and one piece of field ar- 
 tillery, a 6 pounder, and 25 men commanded by Lieut. Seely.... 
 making my aggregate nominal force on the 27th, to be 1711 
 men : add to this a regiment of Chatauque militia, under com- 
 mand of Lieut. Col. M'Mahan, which arrived at Buffalo on the 
 29th, about 300 men, which swells my force to 2011, vi'hich was 
 reduced on the morning of the alarm, by desertions, to less than 
 1200; and so deficient were my supplies of ammunition, that a 
 greater part of the cartridges for Col. M'Mahan*s regiment were 
 made and distributed after they were paraded on the morning of 
 the battle. 
 
 " The movements of the enemy already indicated their inten- 
 tion of attacking the village of Buffalo or Black Rock, which left 
 me not a moment's repose from the arduous duty of preparing the 
 most effective means in my power for meeting the enemy with 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 229 
 
 land : and an 
 
 liie crude force under my command. On the 28th, I was so for- 
 tunate as to proeuro such information as to the c'npm)'s niove- 
 ments, from a citizcMi wlio made his eticape from Canada, ;js to 
 leavf me no doubt as to their intention. 
 
 "In tlie evening of the 2«»th, at about 12 o'clock, I received 
 information that our horse patrnle had been fired on a short disf- 
 tanco below Canjokaties Crt-»k, and one mile below liiack Reck, 
 Lieut. Boughton, an enterprising and brave ollicer, who com- 
 manded tht patrole, had his horse shct under him. The enemy 
 advanced and took possession of the sailors' battery near Canjoka- 
 ties creek. The troops were immediately paraded and stoc^d by 
 their arms. I was y»^t uncertain at what point the enemy would 
 attack me : the darkness of ihe night was not favourable for 
 mnki»g observation?. I was apprehensive the enemy designed to 
 make a feigned attack below Hlack Kock, for the purpose ofdraw- 
 idg off my foice from the village of Buffalo, preparatory to a 
 landing above the village, intending thereby to ta'ce it by sur- 
 prise... .at the same time being anxious to anticipate the enemy's 
 landing, and meet them at the water's edge, I gave orders that 
 the troops at the Roek, commanded by Colonels Warren and 
 Churchill, (Gen. Hopkins being at that time absent from camp) to 
 attack the enemy and endeavour to dislodge them from the batte 
 ry and drive them to their boats. The attempt failed through 
 the confusion into which the militia were thrown, on the first 
 fire of the enemy and the darkness of the night : they were dis- 
 persed and not again embodied under their proper officers through 
 the day. I then ordered the corps under Major Adams and the 
 corps under Col. Chapin to make the attack. This was attended 
 with no better eff* ct. The men were thrown into confusion by 
 the enemy's fire, and after fkirmij-hing a short time, fled, and 
 were not again embodied through the day. I then ordered the 
 corps under Col. Blakeslie to advance to the attack; and at the 
 same time I put the remainder of my troops in motion for the 
 same point and proc< eded by the h'ti\ road to Black Rock. On ap- 
 proaching the village at Black Rock, J discovered a detachment 
 of the enemy's boats crossinij to our shore and bending their 
 course towards the rear of Cen. Porter's house. The day was 
 now beginning to dawn. I immediately counteimanded the or- 
 der given to Col. Blakeslie to attack the enemy's left, and direct- 
 ed him to form and attack the enemy's centre at the water';? 
 edge. 
 
 "I now became satisfied as to the disposition and object of the 
 enemy, which I ascertained to be as followf! : 
 
 "Their left wing composed of about 800 regular troops and in- 
 corporated militia, and 150 or 200 Indians, were disposed below 
 Canjokaties creek, and had beoi landed under cover of the night. 
 With this force the enemy designed to cover their left, out-flank 
 
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 iSKETCHtS OP 
 
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 our right anil cut olF our retreat by the woods. With their fcen. 
 tre, consisting of about 400 of the royal Scots commanded by 
 Colonel Gordon, the battle was commenced. Their right, v\l)ich 
 was purposely weak, was landed near our main battery, under 
 cover of a high hank, and was merely calculated to divert our 
 force from the principal attack; the whole under the command of 
 Lieut. General Drunimond, conducted to the attack by Major 
 General Riall. I thereupon ordered the enemy's left wing, which 
 was discovered to be wheeling upon our right, to be attacked by 
 the Indians under command of Lieutenant Colonel Granger and 
 the Canadian volunteers under command of Colonel Mallory. At 
 the same time I posted the legiment under command of Colonel 
 M'Mahan at the battery, as a reserve, to act as emergenciea 
 should require. The attack was commenced by a fire from our 6 
 pounder under Lieutenant Seely, below General Porter's house, and 
 one 24 and two twelve pounders at the battery under command 
 of Lieutenant Farnum, of the 21i)t U. S. infantry, acting as a vol- 
 unteer. At the same time the enemy opened a heavy fire from 
 their batteries on the opposite side of the river, of shells, spherical 
 and hot shot, and ball. The regiment under command of Colonel 
 Blakeslie, about 400 strong, were regularly in a line, together 
 with detached bodies from other corps, amounting, according to 
 the best estimate I can make, in all about 600 men. These few 
 but brave men, commenced the attack with musketry upon the 
 enemy in their boats and poured upon them a most destructive 
 fire. Every inch of ground was disputed with the steady coolnesj 
 of veterans, add at the expense of many valuable lives. Their 
 braver}', at the same time that it casts a lustre over their nameg; 
 reflects equal disgrace on those who fled at the first appearance 
 of danger, and whom neither intreaties nor threats could turn back 
 to the support of their comrades. Perceiving that the Indians on 
 whom I had relied for attacking the enemy's flank, were offering 
 us no assistance, and that our right was endangered by the ene- 
 my's left, I gave directions for the n serve, under command of 
 Colonel M'Mahan, to attack the enemy in flank on our right. 
 But terror had dissipated this corps, and but few of them could be 
 rallied by their officers and brought to the attack. Of this corps 
 there were some who merit well of their country, but more who 
 covered themselves with disgrace. The defection of the Indians 
 and of my reserve, and the loss of the services of the cavalry and 
 mounted men, by reason of the nature of the ground on which 
 they must act, left the forces engaged, exposed to the enemy's fire 
 in front and flank. 
 
 •* After standing their ground for one half hour, opposed to vete- 
 ran and highly disciplined troops, overwhelmed by numbers and 
 nearly surrounded, a retreat became necessary to their safety, 
 •vhirh was accordingly made. I thf^n inade every effort to rally 
 
TliE WAR. 
 
 231 
 
 M 
 
 ■,,•!■ t < 
 
 uie troops, vvitli a view to renew tlie attack en the enemy's coN 
 tiiniis on tlieir approach to the village of Buffalo. But every ef- 
 fort proved ineffectual.... and experience proves, that with militia^ 
 a retreat becomes a (light, and a hattle once ended, the army is 
 disisipated. Deserted by my principal force, I fell back that night 
 to tlie Eleven Mile Creek, and was forced to leave the flourishing 
 villaijes of Black Rock and Buffalo a prey to the enemy, whicU 
 tilt y have pillaged and laid in ashes. At the Eleven Mile Creek 
 I cull 'Cted between two and three hundred men who remained 
 faithful to their country. With those I preserved the best show of 
 defence in my power, to cover the fleeing inhabitants and check 
 the advances of the enemy. The enemy have gained but little 
 plunder from the public stores. The chief loss has fallen upon the 
 individual sufferers. Eight pieces of artillery fell into the hands 
 of the enemy, of which but one was mounted on a travelling car- 
 riage. What little remained of the public stores, capable of being 
 moved, is preserved through the exertions of Capt. Camp, of the 
 quarter master's department, whose bravery is only equalled by 
 his active zeal for the public service. It is not in my power to 
 give a particular account of our loss in killed and wounded, as the 
 wounded were generally got off by their friends and taken to their 
 homes, and our dead were mostly buried by the enemy. But 
 from the best information I can collect, our loss is about 30 killed 
 and perhaps 40 wounded. In prisoners our loss is ascertained to 
 be 69....twelve of whom are wounded. The enemy's loss must 
 be much greater, as many were killed in their boats before land- 
 ing. Their loss may reasonably be presumed in killed and wound- 
 ed, at not less than 200. Lieutenant Colonel Boughton, of the 
 liglit dragoons, is among our slain. He was a good officer and a 
 valuable citizen. I regret that it is not in my power to do jus- 
 tice to all those who were engaged on this day. The veteran 
 Blakeslie and his corps were pre-eminently distinguished. There 
 were of the broken remains of other corps many officers and sol- 
 diers whose bravery and conduct merits ray warmest praise ; but 
 iiaving fought irregularly and in detachments, I cannot designate 
 to do them that justice they deserve. The good conduct of Lieu- 
 tenant Seely and Lieutenant Farnum, who had charge of the ar- 
 tillery, was particularly noticed. The cavalry under Col. Bough- 
 ton, and mounted volunteers under Major Warner, receive my 
 thanks for their prompt obedience of orders, and the valuable ser- 
 vices rendered in the fatiguing duties of patroling : And, it is a 
 matter of regret, that the nature of the ground on which we con- 
 tended, deprived mc of that support which I might confidently ex- 
 pf-ct from their bravery. To Lieutenant Frasier, of the U. S. in- 
 fantry, I tender my thanks for the voluntary services which he 
 rendered me as one of my staff. To my two aids-de-camps. Ma- 
 jors Hosmer and Norton, I cannot withhold my warmest thanks 
 
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 bKETCHKS t)W 
 
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 for their cool dfliborate bravery, and the alacrity with which tht) 
 exi'cutod my ordirs from tl)e first niovtmt'nts of the troops m thf 
 morjiing to the close of the day." 
 
 The events which have been delineated in this chapter are of a 
 nature to call torth the indignation of every Annerican, nay, of 
 ev»'ry christian. It is in vain that the enemy endeavour to justi- 
 fy these barbarities an retaliatory measures for the burning of 
 Neu'ark, They are not defensible upon any such ground either 
 in their extent or in the manner of their accomplishment. 
 
 We are not about to justify the burning of Newark,. ..on the 
 contrary, wo feel as the whole of the American people felt and 
 expressed themselves upon that occasion. We condemn the 
 act as burbaious aud s.ivage. Vet we would, at the same time, 
 conipaie it with the conduct of the enemy, and frankly state the 
 result of the comparison. Newark was burnt by Gen. M'Clun 
 about the time of the evacuation of fort George, after 24 hours' 
 notice being given to the inhabitants* then there, that the tovn 
 would be burned, and that they niu>.t rrmove with their tifjcts 
 elsewhere. The object in burning the town was to deprive the 
 enemy of a cover for their troops on that river through the win- 
 ter, and to protect the Niagara frontier, (hen in a defenceless si- 
 tuation, from the inroads of the enemy. However unjustifiable 
 the nnasure upon these grounds, let u? for a moment compare it 
 with the ravages of the enemy; and first the deliberate butchery 
 of the garrison at Niagara is not only substantiated by the oaths 
 of persons present, but the enemy's otficial report of the capture 
 contains irresistible evidence that no quarters were given. Who 
 before ever heard of a battle where the list of the killed bore a 
 four fold proportion to the wounded ? And that the massacre was 
 pursued after ill resistance had ceased is also proved by the same 
 report : how else can we account for the c'lsproportion in the loss 
 of the garrison and the enemy. There wa^ no advantage in the 
 position of tl e enemy to which such a result is attributable; ou 
 the other hand the walls of the barracks, we should have suppo- 
 sed, would have been a breastwork for the garrison. 
 
 Can this measure be justified as a measure of retaliation?.... 
 "Where can the enemy point to a like measure in the American 
 troops r It may, we think, be boldly asserted that it is not to bt 
 found. 
 
 What previous notice had the inhabitants of Lewistown, 
 Youngstown, Manchester and Buffalo to secure themselves and 
 their tran.«portabIe effecty from the general conflagration of that 
 frontier.'^ None. How er-n it be justified, then, as a retaliator} 
 measure for llie burning of Newark ? 
 
 * Till' ii.iiiilii!uii'« <:i \L'.\i;rlv !i.,il most I'l i' ' m ulaiuioiuii iht- tuwn iiiion thi- M|'tiir>-' oftiii' 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 233 
 
 Agfliiu* many of the unarmed inhabitants were most barbarous* 
 iy niurdertd; and will this be justiAt'd as a retaliatory measure? 
 Surely not. In vain will they seek for a previous example, unlesff 
 it be found in the hiMory of the British army. 
 
 We must here claim the indulgence of the reader, while we 
 compare the retaliation which a distinguished otficer of the Ame- 
 rican army deemed proper to tEike for that inhuman warfare which 
 Qnw Proctor, with his Indian allies, had exercised at the river Rai- 
 till, at Freiichtown, at fort Meigs, and upon many other occa- 
 jjoiis. That officer, instead of leaving the prisoners and wounded 
 of that very army who had either partook in the scenes above al- 
 luded to, or coldly witnessed them, and whu fell into his hands 
 upon the Thames, and whose fears upon that occasion show how 
 little they were conscious to themselves of deserving quarters, to 
 the fate they so justly merited, treated them with the greatest 
 humanity and tenderness ; and upon his arrival at Krie, commu* 
 oicated to a British officer, who was afterwards one who deso- 
 lated the Niagara frontier, the ground he had taken, and solicited 
 a return On the part of the British army to the known rules of 
 civilized warfare. . ' 
 
 Had the British army adopted the example given them by Gen; 
 Harrison, how difTerently would they have appeared to the world^ 
 and even to themselves. Instead, however, of placing them- 
 selves on that proud eminence, they have confirmed all in ttie be> 
 lief of their inhumanity and barbarity, and shown themselves 
 ^vorthy of the alliance they had formed with the savages. 
 
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 I.- Wl'lllff Ot'lill'. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 9reek war Preliminary bhservations Massacre at fort Mims. 
 
 Battle at Tallushatches Battle at Talledega Battle at 
 
 Hillibee-towns, 
 
 ■ • ' • I. • -',■.;.., 
 
 Thk enemy pursuing the system uf enlisting the savages in 
 the war, as early as 1812, dispatched emissaries to several of 
 the Indian tribes in the Mississippi territory, generally known by 
 the names of Creeks, Choctaws and Chickesaws, to hurry them 
 onto hostilities against the United States. These tribes are almost 
 wholly surrounded by the populous states of Georgia and Tennes- 
 «ee and by the American settlements in the Mississippi territory. 
 The most friendly relations had subsisted between these tribes and 
 the U. States for many years ; and the latter, by a most bt- 
 
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 fiKETCHKS 09 
 
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 nevolent nnd generous policy, had succeeded in introducint 
 among them many of the improvemt nts of civilized ■ocifty.,,,, 
 But such is unfortunately the stronj; propensity of the Indian r|||. 
 racter for war, that many were bj Xhitu' emigsanes induced to 
 commit the most wanton arti* of barbarity nnd murder upun their 
 American neighbours and friends. 
 
 Yet the more experienced chiefs were so well aware of the 
 evils such a vvar must produce upon the tribes, that they niHdt 
 use of their best endeavours to suppress and punish these hostile 
 {|cti>, and fur a time succeeded. But many of the Cteeks would 
 not listen to the dictates of discretion or wisdom, and a moit 
 bloody civil vvar broke out amoiii; them, which ended in the en 
 tire deiitriiction and dL^persion of the American or pence pnrfy..„. 
 The Creeks now received of their allies the necessary arms and 
 munitions of vvar, and commenced open and avowed hostilitiei 
 against the United States, by one of the most horrid massacrei 
 recorded in the history of Indian warfare. The following ac- 
 count of it is extracted from a letter of Judge Toulmin, dated 
 September 7th, 18i3. 
 
 ** The dreadful catastrophe which we have been some time ao* 
 ticipating has at length taken place. The Indians have broken 
 in upon us, in numbers and fury unexampled. Our settlement b 
 overrun, and our country, I fear, is on the eve of being depopula- 
 ted. The accounts which we received led us to expect an at- 
 tack about the full moon of August ; and it was known at Pensa- 
 cola, when the ammunition was given to the Indians who were 
 to be the leaders of the respective parties destined to attack the 
 different parts of our settlement. The attempt was made to de- 
 prive them of their ammunition (issued by the Spaniards on the re- 
 commendation of a British general) on their way from Pensacola 
 (and in which it was said the Indians lost more than 20 men, al- 
 though only one third of our people stood their ground; it is high- 
 ly probable in some measure retarded their operations ; and the 
 Steady success'ton of rain contributed to produce the same eifect. 
 Had their attempt been conducted with more judgment and sup- 
 ported with more vigor, there would have been an end, for a 
 time of Indian warfare. In consequence of the delay, our citizeoi 
 began to grow careless and confident ; and several families who 
 had removed from Tensaw to fort Stoddert, returned again pd 
 fell a sacrifice to the merciless savages. 
 
 ** Our whole plan of defence was erroneous. It was adopted 
 by the citizens under an imperfect view of their danger. From 
 the best accounts which I can obtain, I suppose that there must 
 have been twenty forts erected on the two sides of the river be- 
 tween Fort Stoddert and the upper settlements, a distance of about, 
 76 miles, which in a country so thinly settled as ours, could noj 
 
VHK WAR. 
 
 »35 
 
 te maintained, even if tliey had been better constructed. About 
 the 20tli of August, intelligence wai communicHted to us by the 
 Choctaw Indians, that in eight or ten days an attack would be 
 made by distinct bodies of Creeks on Mim*s Fort, in the Tensaw 
 lettlement, which is on the east side of Alabama, nearly opposite 
 to Fort Stoddert....ori tht> forts in the forks of Tombigby and Ala- 
 bama....on Ca«ely's fort, near the Choctaw line on the Tombigby, 
 and finally on the Fort and United States* trading house at H. 
 Hopkins. A very valuable olficer. Major Beasely of the Missisip« 
 pi Territory volunteers, commanded at Port Mimt. About a mile 
 or two from (t was another fort, at Pierce's mills ; and a few 
 miles bt'low '. at pl.ice, at another mill a small party of soldiers 
 was also sta(kO>ied. Mims, however, where were the greatest 
 Dumber of familieH and property collected, seems to have been the 
 lole object of attack in that quarter. 
 
 « A few days b»-fore the attack, some negroes of Mr. M»Girt»§, 
 who lived in that part of the Creek territory which is inhabited by 
 half breed!), had been sent up the Alabama to his plantation for corn; 
 three of them were taken by a party of Indians. One escaped 
 and brought down news of the approach of the Indians. The of- 
 ficer gave but little credit to him ; but they made some further 
 preparation to receive the enemy. On the next day Mr. James 
 Cornels, a half breed, and some white men, who had been out on 
 the late battle ground, and discovered the trail of a considerable 
 body of Indians going towards Mr. M'Girt's, came to the fort atd 
 informed the commanding officer of the discovery. Though 
 their report did not appear to receive full credit, it occasioned 
 great exertions ; and Saturday and Sunday, considerable work 
 was done to put the fort in a state of defence. Sunday mornii.g 
 three negroes were sent out to attend the cattle, who soon return- 
 •d with an account that they had seen 20 Indians. Scouts were 
 tent out to ascertain the truth of the report. They returned and 
 declared that they could see no signs of Indians. One of the ne- 
 groes belonging to Mr. Randon was whipped for bringing what 
 they deemed a false report....He was sent out again on Monday, 
 and !!aw a body of Indians approaching ; but afraid of being whip- 
 I ped he did not return to Mim's, but to Pierce's fort ; but before 
 his story could be communicated, the attack was made. The com- 
 manding officer called upon Mr. Fletcher,who owned another of 
 the negroes, to whip him also....He believed the boy and resisted 
 two or three applications ; but at length they had him actually- 
 brought out for the purpose, when the Indians appeared in view 
 'of the fort. The gate was open. The Indians had to come thro* 
 an open field 150 yards wide, before they could reach the fort, 
 and yet they were within thirty steps of the fort, at 1 1 in the 
 morning, before they were noticed. The sentry then gave the 
 cry of ( Indians !' and they immediately set up a most terrible 
 
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 SKETCHES OV 
 
 war-whoop and rushed into the gate with inconceivable rapidity 
 and got within it before the people of the fort had any opportuui 
 ty of shutting it. This decided their fate. Major Bearely was 
 shot through the belly near the gate. He called to the men to 
 take care of the ammunition and to retreat to the house. He 
 vi'ent himseli to a kitchen where it is supposed he must have been 
 burnt. 
 
 « The fort was originally square. Major Beasely had it en- 
 larged, by extending the lines of two sides about SO feet, Hud 
 putting up a new side into which the gate was removed. The 
 old line of pickets stood : and the Indians upon rushing into the 
 gate, obtained possession of this additional part, and through the 
 port holes of the old line of pickets fired on the people w ho held 
 the interior. On the opposite side of th^ fort, an offset or bastion 
 was made round the back gate, which being open on the outiide 
 was also taken possession of by the Indians, who with the axes 
 that lay scattered about immediately began to cut down the gate. 
 There was a large body of Indians, though they probably did uot 
 exceed 400. Our people seemed to sustain the attack with un- 
 daunted spirit. They took possession of the port holes in tLe oth- 
 er lines of the fort, and fired on the Indians who remained in the 
 field. Some of the Indians got on the block h('use, at one of the 
 corners : but alter firing a good deal down upon the people *hey 
 were dislodged. They succeeded hov ever in setting fire to a 
 house near the pickets from which it was communicated to the 
 kitchen and from thence to the main dwelling house. They at- 
 tempted to do it by burning arrows, but failed. When the peo- 
 ple in the fort saw the Indians retained full possession of the outer 
 eourt, that the gate contmued open, that their men fell ver} fast^ 
 and that their houses were in flames, they began to de^poud. 
 Some determined to cut their way through the pickets and escape. 
 Of the whol? number of white men and half-breeds in the fort, it 
 is supposed that not more than 25 or 30 escaped, and of these 
 many were wounded. The rest and almost all the women and 
 children fell a sacrifice either to the arms of the Indians or to the 
 flames. The battle terminated about an hour or an hour and a 
 half before sunset. ' , i- 
 
 " The information thus far, was given to me by a person of 
 character and credibility, who \aas present during the whole 
 scene, and who escaped through the opening made in the pick- 
 ets. The women and children took refuge in an upper story of 
 the dwelling house : and it is said that the Indians when the 
 buildings were in flames, danced round them with savage delight. 
 The helpless victims perished in the flames. It is also reported) 
 that when the buildings were burning and the few who remained 
 were exposed to the heavy fire of the enemy, they collected as 
 rpany as they could of the guns of (>he deceased, and threw botf* 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 837 
 
 tbein and the remainini; stock of ammunition into the flames, to 
 prevent their becoming subservient in ti.e hands of the Indians, 
 to the destruction of their fellow citizens. Surely this was an in* 
 stance of determined resolution and benevolent foresight of which 
 there are not many examples, 
 
 « But notwithstanding the bravery of our fellow citizens, the 
 Indians carried all before them, and murdered the armed and the 
 helpless without discrimination. Our loss is 7 commissioned offi- 
 cers and about 100 non commissioned officers and privates, of the 
 I first reginient of Mississippi Territory volunteers. There were 
 about 24 families of men, women and children in the fort, of whom 
 almost all have perished, amounting to about 1 60 souls, f reckon, 
 I however, among them about six families of half breeds, and seven 
 Indians. There were also about 100 negroes, of whom a large 
 proportion were killed. The half breeds have uniformly done 
 themselves honor, and those who survive will afford great assist* 
 ance in the prosecution of the war. Some of the most respecta- 
 ble among them were at Pierce's fort, and are ready with all their 
 dexterity and all their courage, to avenge the death of their 
 friends, and the destruction of their property. It was principally 
 through them that we learnt that the real object of the Indians, in 
 obtaining ammunition at Pensacola, was to make immediate war 
 on the white people, and that the idea e.itertained in the eastern 
 part of the Creek Nation, that this was only a secondary and re- 
 mote object, was not founded in fact, and was probably suggest- 
 ed for the purpose of putting us off our guard, and keeping out of 
 sight the real i;itention of their revolt against the constituted au> 
 thorities of their nation*" 
 
 i;'fe 
 
 
 •:;|:^;^:^:' 
 
 > ''■■ • IT 
 
 r:l] 
 
 
 Other accounts state the Indian force employed upon this occa- 
 3100 at 700 warriors, and the whole number of soul;! in the garri- 
 son at 308, of whom only 18 escaped, and that all the adjacent 
 country was burned and plundered. 
 
 The hostility of the Creeks had been anticipated by the United 
 States and the governments of Georgia and Tennessee, and mea- 
 sures weie taken to have forces prepared for any event. As ear- 
 ly as July, a brigade of Georgia militia were detached and put in 
 readiness for the expected attack, under the command of Brig. 
 Gen. Floyd ; but from some defect or omission in the commissary 
 department, this force was unable to act efficiently until the latter 
 part of the season. The militia and volunteers from Tennessee, 
 under Gen. Jackson, were ready immediately to take vengeance 
 for the massacre at fort Mims. 
 
 We have no authentic account of the amount of the force un- 
 der Gen. Jackson, but it may be estimated at between three and 
 four thousand men. They were assembled at the ten islands m 
 tlje river Coosey in the latter part of September. 
 
 ■'"'nil 
 
 '■ '■ hM^ 
 
 Pi 
 
 .a; 
 
 
238 
 
 yXETCHBS OF 
 
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 m 
 
 : 
 
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 II' 
 
 i;:^ 
 
 i'^ 
 
 Battle at Tallushatches On the 2d of November, Generil 
 
 Jackson learned that a considerable force of hostile Creeks were 
 concentrated at Tallushatches He immediately detached Geo, 
 John Coifee with a part of his brigade to attack and destroy the 
 place, which was most completfrly efTrcted on the 3d. 
 
 The following account off the expedition is from Gen. Coffee'i 
 official report to Gen. Jackson : 
 
 « Pursuant to your order of the 2d, I detailed from my brigade 
 of cavalry and mounted riflemen, 900 men and officers, and pro. 
 ceeded directly to the Tallushatches towns, crossed Goosey river 
 at the Fish-Dam ford, three or four miles above this place. I ar- 
 rived within one and a half miles of the town on the morning of 
 the 3d, at which place I divided my detachment into two co- 
 lumns, the right composed of the cavalry commanded b^t CoL 
 AUcorn, to cross over a large creek that lay between us and the 
 towns, the left column vvas of the mounted riflemen under the 
 command of Col. Cannon, with whom I marched myself. CoL 
 Allcorn was oVdered to march up on the right and encircle one 
 half of the town, and at the same time the left would form a 
 half circle on the left, and unite the head of the columns in front 
 of the town ; all of which was performed as I could wish. When 
 I arrived in half a mile of the town, the drums of the ene pv 
 began to beat, mingled with their savage yell», preparing for ac- 
 tion. It was after sun-ri^e an hour, when the action was brought 
 on by Capt. Hammond's and Lieut. Patterson's companies, who 
 who had gone on within the circle of alignment for the purpose 
 of drawing out the enemy from their buildings, which had the 
 most happy effects. As soon as Capt. Hammond exhibited bis 
 front in view of the town (which stood in open woodland) and 
 gave a few scattering shot, the enemy formed and made a vio- 
 lent charge on him ; he gave way as they advanced, until they 
 met our right column, which gave them a general fire and then 
 charged ; this changed the direction of the charge completely...» 
 The enemy retreated, firing, until they got around and in their 
 buildings, where they made all the resistance that an overpower- 
 ed soldiery could do ; they fought as long as one existed,but their 
 destruction was very soon completed ; our men rushed up to the 
 doors of the houses, and in a few minutes killed the last warrior 
 of them. The enemy fought with savage fury, and met death 
 with all its horrors, without shrinking or complaining, not one 
 asked to be spared, but fought so long as they could stand or sit. 
 In consequence of their flying to their houses and mixing with 
 the families, our men, in killing the males, without intention killed 
 and wounded a few of the squaws and children, which w2li re* 
 gretted by every officer and soldier of the de|achmeDt, but which 
 could not be avoided. - > - . 
 
 u' 
 
 »i% thJ 
 in the 
 one, t< 
 sonersj 
 riors e| 
 fore. 
 
 «I 
 the gr«| 
 killed 
 part 01 
 with a I 
 the guij 
 
 «It 
 and fir 
 that oft 
 parade 
 equals 
 any; 1 
 no doufc 
 her, the 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 239 
 
 "The number of the enemy killed was one hundred and eighty 
 lix that were counted, and a number of others that were killed 
 in the weeds and not found. I think the calculation a reasonable 
 one, to say two hundred of them were killed, and eighty-four pri- 
 joners of women and children were taken. Not one of the war- 
 riors escaped to carry the news, a circumstance unknown hereto- 
 fore. . 
 
 *t I lost five men killed and forty one wounded, none mortally, 
 the greater part slightly, a number with arrows; two of the men 
 killed was with arrows ; this appears to form a very principal 
 part of the enemy's arms for warfare ; every man having a bow 
 with a bundle of arrows, which is used after the first fire with 
 the gun, until a leisure time for loading offers. 
 
 « It is with pleasure I say that our men acted with deliberation 
 and firmness ; notwithstanding our numbers were far superior to 
 tbatof the enemy, it was a circumstance to us unknow,and from the 
 parade of the enemy we had every reason to suppose them our 
 equals in number, but there appeared no visible traces of alarm in 
 any ; but, on the contrary, all appeared cool and determined, and 
 no doubt when they face a foe of their own or of a superior num- 
 ber, they will show the same courage as on this occasion." 
 
 Battle at TaUedega..,.On the 7th November General Jackson 
 'earned that a friendly part of the Creeks, at the fort at Tallede- 
 ,f (about thirty miles distant) were threatened with an attack 
 ..uffi a large force of hostile Creeks ; he accordingly marched to 
 their relief in the evening, and arrived within six miles of the 
 fort the next day, where he encamped for the night, and the 
 next morning at 4 o'clock resumed his march to attack the ene- 
 my, who were encamped within a quarter of a mile from the 
 fort, and succeeded in dispersing them with great slaughter. 
 
 The following is an extract from the general's official letter, 
 giving the particulars of the. battle: 
 
 <*At sun-rise we came within half a mile of them, and having 
 formed my men, I moved on in battle order. The infantry were 
 in three lines....the militia on the It-ft and the volunteers on the 
 right. The cavalry formed the extreme wings; and were or- 
 dered to advance in a curve, keeping their rear connected with 
 the advance of iheir infantry lines, and euclo&e the enemy in a 
 circle. The advanced guard whom I seqt forward to bring on 
 the engagement, met the attack of the enemy with great intre- 
 pidity; and having poured upon them four or five very gallant 
 rounds, fell back as they had been previously ordered, to the main 
 army. The enemy pursued, and the front line was now ordered 
 to advance and meet him ; but owing to some misunderstanding, 
 * few companies of militia, who composed a part of it, commen- 
 
 
 '• :,'■,! 
 
 
 :.. &■ 
 
 
 m 
 
 vi 
 
240 
 
 S|^ElX:Mt£S ot 
 
 iiji'-i" * 
 W '*i i. 
 
 *«..- 
 
 k \ 
 
 
 
 <^d a retreat. At this moinent a corps of cavalry command^eiif 
 by Lit ut. Col. Dyer, which I had kept as a rt'serve, was ordered 
 to dismount and fill up the vacancy occasioned by the retreat .... 
 This order was executed with a great deal of promptitude and 
 effect. 
 
 " The militia, seeing this, speedily I'allied, and the fire became 
 general along the first line, and on that part of the wings which 
 was contiguoiis. The eiiemy, unable to stand it, bt^gan to retreat, 
 but were met at every turn and pursued in every direction. The 
 right wing chased then^ with a most destructive fire to the moun- 
 tains, a distance of about three miles ; and had 1 not been com- 
 pelled by the faux pas of the militia in the onset of the battle, to 
 dismount my reserve, 1 believe not a man of them would have es- 
 caped. The victory however was very decisive....290 of the ene- 
 my were left dead ; and there can be no doubt but many more 
 were killed who were not found. Wherever they ran, they left 
 behind traces of blood ; and it is believed that very few will re- 
 turn to their villages in as sound a condition as they left them. I 
 was compelled to return to this place to protect the sick and 
 wounded, and get my baggage. In the engagement we lost 15 
 killed and 15 wounded, two of whom have since died. All the 
 officers acted with the utmost bravery, and so did all the privates, 
 except that part of the militia who retreated it the commenc^ 
 ment of the battle ; and they hastened to atone for their error.... 
 Tiking the whole together, they have realizt d the high expecta- 
 tions I had formed of them, and have fairly entitled themselver 
 to the graiitude of their country." 
 
 Battle c.t Hillibee-towns Another detachment of Tennessee 
 
 militia wes assembleu at fort Armstrong under Maj. Gen. John 
 Cocke early in November. On the 11th, Gen. White was de- 
 tached and sei^t against the Hillibee towns, with a view of pU' 
 oishing the hostile Creeks in that quarter. 
 
 The following is fren. White's official letter to Gen. Cocke,gi* 
 ving a detailed account of the expedition : 
 
 "Under your order of the 11th November, 1 immediately 
 marched with the mounted infantry under the immediate com- 
 mand of Col. Burcb, the cavalry under the command of Major 
 Porter, and a few of the Cherokee Indians under the command 
 of Col. Morgan, with very short rations for four dayj» only. We 
 continued our march to Little Oakfuskie, when we fell in with 
 and captured five hostile Creek warriors, supposed to be spies..... 
 Finding no other Indians at that place, we burned the town, 
 which consisted of 30 houses. We then proceeded to a town 
 called Genalga, and burned the same, consistii g of P3 hcuMs; 
 thence we proceeded to Nitty Chaptoa^ consisting of about 25 
 
; I, 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 24) 
 
 jiouseSf which I considered it most prudent not to destroy, ns it 
 niight possibly be of use at some future period. From thence we 
 inarched to the Hillibee town, consisting of about 20 houses, ad- 
 I ioiiiing which was Grayson*s farm. Previous to our arrival at 
 IthHt place, I was advised that a part of the hostile Creeks were 
 gjigembled there. Having marched within six or seven miles cf 
 it on the 17th, I dismounted a part of the force under my com- 
 mand, and sent them under the command of Col. Burch, with 
 the Cherokees under the command of Col. Morgan, in advance^ 
 to surround the town in the night, and make the attack at day- 
 iigiit on the l8th. Owing to the darkness of the night, the town 
 was not feiiched until after daylight; but so complete was the 
 surprise, that we succeeded in surrounding the town, and killing 
 and capturing almost (if not entirely) the whole of the hostile 
 Creeks assembled there, consistmg of about 3 Id, of which num- 
 ber about sixty warriors were killed on the xpot, and the remain* 
 dfr made prisoners. Before the close of the engagement, my 
 whole force was up and ready for action, had it become necessa- 
 ry; hut owing to the want of knowledge, on the part of the In- 
 diana, of our approach, they were entirely killed and taken before 
 thev could prepare for any effectual defence. We lost not one 
 drop of blood m accomplishing this enterprize. We destroyed 
 this village, and in obedience to your orders, commenced our 
 march for this post, which we were unable to reach until yester- 
 day. I estimate the distance from this to Grayson's farm, at about 
 100 miles. The ground over which we travelled, is ^o r ugh 
 aud hilly as to render a passage very difficult. Many defiles it 
 was impossible to pass in safety, without the greatest precaution. 
 For a part of the time, the weather was so veiy wet, being en- 
 cumbered with prisoners, and the troops and their horses having 
 to subsist in a very great degree upon such supplies as we could 
 procure in the nation, rendered our march more tardy than it 
 otherwise would have been. 
 
 **The troops under my command have visited the heart of 
 that section of the Creek nation where the red sticks wete first 
 distributed. 
 
 " in justice to this gallant band, I am proud to state, that the 
 whole of the officers and men under the command of Col. Burch 
 performed their duty cheerfully and without complaint ; that 
 Irom the cool, orderly and prompt manner in which Major Potter 
 and the cavalry under his commaiid, formed and conducted them- 
 selves in every case of alarm, 1 had the highest confidence in 
 them. Col. Morgan and the Cherokees under his command, gave 
 undeniable evidence that they merit the employ of their govern- 
 ment. In short, the whole detachment u"der my oomoiand, 
 conducted in such a manner as to enable me to assure vou tha'. 
 
 2 H 
 
 
 'U: 
 
 
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 t* 
 
 
 f, \ 
 
 '% 
 
 
 
 
 ' ^iifil 
 
 i.m\ 
 
242 
 
 SKETCHKa Oif 
 
 they arc capable of performing any thing to which the njtA 
 number of men are equal. 
 
 ** It gives me pleasure to add, that Mr. M'Corry, who acted m 
 my aid in this expedition, rendered gcrvices that to me were Iq. 
 dispensable, to his country very useful, and to himself high!) he 
 nourable.'^ 
 
 =. y,, 
 
 
 Cri AFTER XXI. 
 
 i':i'''( 
 
 Creek war continued Battle at Autosse Attack upon camU 
 
 Defiance Expedition to the bend of the Tallapoosa* 
 
 In the latter part of November, the Georgia militia under Gen, 
 Flo}d, had surmounted the ditliculties attending their first efforts, I 
 and on the 29th succeeded in defeating a large body of hostile 
 Creeks at Autosse. The following is Gen. Floyd's official letter to | 
 Gen. Pinckney, detailing the particulars of the battle. ,. ^. 
 
 " Har\'ing received information that numbers of the hostile In- 
 dians were assembled at Autosse, a town on the southern bank of 
 the Tallapoosa, about eighteen miles from the hickory ground, and 
 twenty above the Junction of that river with the Coosa, I pro- 
 ceeded to it with 950 of the Georgia militia, accompanied bj be- 
 tween 3 and 40U friendly Indians. Having encamped witliiuO 
 or 10 miles of the point of destination the preceding evening, wt 
 rei^umt'd the march a few minutes before one, on the morniug of 
 the 29th, and at half past 6 were formed for action in front of 
 the town. 
 
 ** Booth's battalion composed the right column, and marched 
 from its centre. Watson's battalion composed the left, and 
 marched from its right ; Adams' rifle company, and Mertiwe* 
 ther's, under Lieut, iiendon, were on the flanks; Capt. ThomaB' 
 artillery marched in front of the right column in the road. 
 
 ** It was m} intention to have completely surrounded the ene- 
 my, by appuying the right wing of my force on Canlebee creek, 
 at the mouth of which I was informed the town stood, and rest- 
 iji^ the left on the river bank below the town ; but to our sur- 
 prise, as day dawned we perceived a second town, about 500 
 yards bflow thgt which we had first viewed, and were preparing 
 to attack. The plan was immediately changed ; three companies 
 of ii)f!»i)try on the left, were .wheeled to the left, into echellofif 
 rtjid were advanced to the low town, accompanied by Merriwe- 
 
,1"", ff'-'Vi 
 
 'J}HE WAR. 
 
 243 
 
 llier'8 riflo company, and two troops of light dragoons under the 
 lommand of Captains Irwin and Steele. 
 «The residue of the force approached the upper town, and the 
 dttle soon became i^eneral. The Indians presented themselves 
 [t every point, and fought with the desperate bravery of rtal 
 knatics. The well directed fire, however, of the artillery, add- 
 to the charge of the bayonet, soon forced them to take 
 efuge in the out-houi^es, thickets and copses in the rear of the 
 o\vn ; many, it is believed, concealed themselves in caves, pre- 
 liou!<ly formed for the purpose of secure retreat, in the high biufT 
 If the river which wax thickly covered with reed and brushwood. 
 Jhe Indians of the friendly party, who accompanied us on the 
 [xpeditioD, were divided into four companies, and placed under 
 he command of leaders of their owr sv'. Jtion. They were, by 
 Dgagement entered into the day previous, to have crossed the 
 tver above the town, and been posted on the opposite shore dur- 
 Lthe action, for the purpose of firing upon such of the enemy 
 I might attempt to escape, or keep in check any reinforcements 
 Ifhich might probably be thrown in from the neighbouring towns, 
 lit owing to the difficulty of the ford, and coldness of the wea- 
 ker, and the lateness of the hour, this arrangement failed, and 
 Mir leaders were directed to cross Canlebee creek and occupy 
 |iat flank^ to prevent escapes from the Tallisee town. Some time 
 Her the action commenced, our red friends thronged in disorder 
 I the rear of our lines. The Coweta ws, under MMntosh, and 
 |ieTookabatchians, under Mad Dog'si-Son, fell in our flanks, and 
 ught with an intrepidity worthy of any troops. 
 J "At nine o'clock the enemy was completely driven from the 
 laJD, and the houses of both towns wrapped in flames. As we 
 rere then 60 miles from any depot of provisions, and our 5 days' 
 pions pretty much reduced, in the heart of the enemy's country, 
 hich in a few moments could have poured from its numerous 
 bwDs hosts of the fiercest warriors ; as soon as the dead and 
 rounded were disposed of, I ordered the place to be abandoned 
 pd the troops to commence their march to Chatahouche. 
 " It is difficult to determine the strength of the enemy, but 
 om the information of some of the chiefs, which it is s^tid can 
 ! relied on, there were assembled at Autosse, warriors fro**! eight 
 bwos for ifs defence, it being their beloved ground, on which 
 m proclaimed no white man could approach without inevitable 
 pitmction. It is difficult to give a precise account of the loss of 
 enemy; but from the number which were lying scattered 
 ferthe field, together with those destroyed in the towns, and 
 temany slain on the banks of the river, which respectable offi- 
 Jtrj affirm they saw lying in heaps at the water's edge, where 
 py had been precipitat^d by their surviving friends, their loss in 
 filed, independent of their wounded, must have been at least 
 
 
 1 •-:l 
 
 - i -1 
 
 
 '^'M 
 
 ■■ i: 
 
 
 
 
f it 
 
 •I 
 
 UA4 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 200, (among whom ar the Autosse and Tallioee khi^ti) and from 
 the circunnstance of their making no elforts to moltst our reiuruj 
 probably greater. The number of buildings burnt, some of a 
 pt rior order for the dwelling of savages, and filled with valuable I 
 articles, is supposed to be 400. 
 
 •' Adjutant General Newman rendered important services dur. 
 ing the action, by his cool and deliberate courage. My aid, \laj,| 
 Crawford, discharged with promptitude the duties of a brave andl 
 meritorious officer. Maj. Pace, who acted as field aid, al80(iii.| 
 tinguished himself; both these gentlemen had their hor8C8 i 
 under them, and the latter lost his. Dr. Williamson, ho;pita|| 
 surgeon, and Dr. Clopton, were prompt and attentive in diycbargt[ 
 of their duty towards the wounded during the action. 
 
 " Maj. Freeman, at the head of Irwin's troop of cavalry' amjl 
 part of ^Steele's, made a furious and succtrssful charge upon a body! 
 of Indians, sabred several, and completely defeated them. CapJ 
 Thomas and his company, Capt. Adams, and Lieut. Hendon's rifltl 
 companies killed a great many Indian^, and deserve particulitl 
 praise Capt. Barton's company were in the hottest of the battleJ 
 and fought like soldiers. Cuptains Myrick, Little, King, Broad-I 
 HRX, Cleveland, Cunningham auct Lee, with their compauie.-, dJ 
 tinguished themselves. Brigade Mejor Sharklt^ford was of grutl 
 service in bringing the troops into action, and Adjutant Broadu 
 and Major Montgomery, who acted as assistant adjutant, showell 
 gr( at activity and courage. Major Booth used his best endeavori 
 in bringing his battalion to action, and Major Watson's battalioa 
 acted with con^derable spirit. Irwin's, Patterson's, and Steeki 
 troops of cavalry, whenever an opportunity presented, chaigd 
 -with success. Lieut Strong had his horse shot and narrowly eil 
 caped, and quarter master Tennal displayed the greatest heroisnj 
 and miraculously escaped, though badly wounded, after havini 
 his horse shot from under him. The topographical engineer m 
 vigilant in his endeavours to render service. 
 
 " The troops deserve the highest praise for their fortitude in en 
 during hunger, cold and fatigue without a murmur, having marcU 
 ed 120 miles in seven days. 
 
 " The friendly In^iians lost several killed and wounded, thl 
 number not exactly known." . * - # -^ . -n.^- *-^v? • > • 
 
 Attack upon camp Defiance On the 27th January, GenerJ 
 
 Floyd was attacked by a large body of hostile Creeks in his en 
 campment 48 miles west of Colahoochie ; but succeeded in reptfl 
 ling them after a very bloody conflict ; the detail of whic| 
 will be found in the following letter of the general to 1 
 General Pinckney, dated on the day of the engagement .*' 
 
wounded, tin 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 245 
 
 « This morninflf at 20 minutes past 5 o'clock, a very large body 
 of hos'ile Indiana made a d< speratt attack upon tlit army under 
 my command. They stolt^ upon our centinels, fired on them, and 
 with great impetuosity ru)*h(d upon our line. In twenty minutes 
 the action became general, and our front, right and left flxiiks 
 were closely pressed, but the brave and gallant conduct of the 
 field and line officers, and the flrmuess of the men, repelled them 
 at every point. 
 
 **The stt'ady firmness and incessant fire of Capt. Thomas' ar- 
 tillpry, and Capt. Adams' nflt^men, preserved our front lines ; both 
 of these companieis suffered greatly. The enemy rushed within 
 30 yards of the artillery, and Capt. Broadnax, who commanded 
 one of the piqu«'t guards, maintained his post with great bravery, 
 until the enemy gaint-d his rear, and then cut his way through 
 them to the army. On this occaoion, Timpooche Barnard, a half 
 breed, at the head of thi Uchies, distinguished himself, and contri- 
 butt d to the retreat of the piquet guard : the other friendly In: 
 dians took refuge within our lines, and remained inactive, with 
 the exception of a few who joined our ranks. As soor. as it be- 
 came light enough to distinguish objects, I ordered Majors Wat- 
 ton'4 and Freeman's battalions to wheel up at right angles with 
 M>ij >r8 Booth's and Cleveland's battalions, (who formed the right 
 wing,) to prepare for the charge. Capt. Duke Hamilton's cavalry 
 (who had rvach< d me but the day before) was ordered to form in 
 the rear of the right wing, to act as circumstances should dictate. 
 The order for the charge was promptly obeyed, and the enemy 
 fled in every direction before the bayonet. The signal was given 
 for the charge of the cavalry, who pursued and sabred fifteen of 
 the enemy, who left i7 dead on the field. From the effusion of 
 blood, and the number of head dresses and war clubs found in va- 
 rious directions, their loss must have been considerable, independ- 
 ent of their wounded. 
 
 " I directed the friendly Indians, with Merriwether's and Ford's 
 rifle companies, accompanied by Capt. Hamilton's troop, to pursue 
 them through Canlebee swamp, where they were trailed by their 
 bloody but they succeeded in overtaking but one of the wound' 
 ed. V i^it. ji ;ija Jh jf f - '■ =1 " ■ I. I. 
 
 "Col. Newman received three balls in the commencement of the 
 action, which deprived me of the services of that gallant and 
 useful officer. The Assistant Adjutant General Hardin was inde- 
 fatigable in the discharge of his duty, and rendered impoi tant 
 services ; his horse was wounded under him. The whole of the 
 stair were prompt, and discharged their duty with courage and 
 fidelity. Their vigilance, the intrepidity of the officers, and the 
 firmness of the men, meet my approbation, and deserve the praise 
 of their country. 
 
 ■< . ; 
 
 
 
 ]hil. 
 
 f )..'m'-M,a 
 
 
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 249 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
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 •1 
 
 '* I have to regret the death of many of my brave fellows, who 
 have found honourable graves, iu the voluntary support of their 
 eountry. 
 
 '* My aid-de-camp, in executing my orders, had his horse hill. 
 cd under him ; Gen. Lee and MaJ. Pace, who acted as additionaj 
 aids, rendered me essential services, with honour to themselves, 
 and usefulness to the cause in which they have embarked. Four 
 waggon horses, and several others, were killed, and two of the 
 artillery horses wounded. While 1 deplore the loss sustained (>n 
 this occasion, I have the consolation to know, that the men whom 
 I have the honour to command have done their duty." 
 
 Expedition to the bend of the Tallapoosa Gen. Jackson had 
 
 been prevented from carrying on oftVosive measures for a con?i- 
 derable time, in consequence of the term of service of the militia 
 and volunteers having expired ; but on the 14th of January he was 
 reinforced by about 800 voluL'teers, when le immediately commen* 
 ced his march in search of the enemy ipon the Tallapoosa river, 
 with a view of making a divtiaion in Cen. Floyd's favour. 
 
 The objects and particulars are full> disclofied in the following 
 letter from Gen. Jackson to Maj. Gen. Pinckney, who was the 
 commander in chief of the forces engaged against the Creeks. 
 
 " Head Q,uarterSf Fort Strother, Jan. 29. 
 
 « SIR — I had the honor of inlorming you in a kttei of the 31st 
 
 ult. forwarded by Mr. M'Candles [express] of an excursion 1 con- 
 
 templatcd making still further into the enemy's country, with the 
 
 new raised voluiiteers from Tennessee. 1 had ordered those 
 
 troops to form a junction with me on the 10th inst. but they did 
 
 iiot arrive until the 14th. Their number, including officers, was 
 
 about 800; and on the 15th I marched them across the river to 
 
 graze their horses. On tlie next day I followed with the remain* 
 
 der X)f my force, consisting of the artillery company, with one 6 
 
 pounder, one company of infantry of 48 men, two companies of 
 
 spies, commanded by Captains Gordon and Russel, of about 30 
 
 3Tien each, and a company of volubteer officers, headed by Gen* 
 
 eral CoiTee, who had been abandoned by his men, and who still 
 
 remained in the field awaiting the order of the government; 
 
 making my force exclusive of Indians, 930. 
 
 " The motives which influenced me to penetrate still further in- 
 to the enemy's country, with this force, were many and urgent. 
 The term of service of the new raised volunteers was short, and a 
 considerable part of it was expired; they were expensive to the 
 government, and were full of ardor to meet the enemy. The ill 
 effects of keeping soldiers of this description long stationary and 
 idle, I had been made to feel but too sensibly already....other cause? 
 
TUK WAR. 
 
 247 
 
 concurred lo make such q movement not only justifiable but abso 
 lulely ntct'Hsary. I Imd received n letter from Captain M'Alpin 
 of the 5th instant, who commanded at Fort Armstrong in the ab- 
 sence of Colonel Siiodgrasii, informing mc that 14 or 15 towns of 
 the enemy, situated on the Tallapoosa, were about uniting their 
 forces and attacking that place, which had been left in a very 
 feeble state of defence. You had in your better of the 24th ult. 
 informed me that General Floyd was about to make a movement 
 to the Tallapoosa near its junction with the Coosco ; and in the 
 same letter had recommended temporary excJirsions against such 
 of the enemy's towns or settlements as might be within striking 
 distance, as well to prevent my men from becoming discontented 
 as to harrass the enemy. Your ideas corresponded exactly with 
 my own, and I was happy in the opportunity of keeping my men 
 engaged, distresfing the enemy, and at the same time making a 
 diversion to facilitate the operations of General Floyd. 
 
 ** Determined by these and other considerations, I took up the 
 line of march on the 17th instant, and on the night of the 1 8th en- 
 camped at Talledega fort, where 1 was joined by between 2 and 
 300 friendly Indians : 65 of whom were Cherokees, the balance 
 Creeks. Here I received your letter of the 9th inst. stating that 
 General Floyd was expected to make a movement from Cowetau 
 the next day, and that in 18 days thereafter he would establish a 
 firm position at Tuckabotchee ; and also a letter from Colonel 
 Snodgrass, who had returned to Fort Armstrong, informing me 
 tliat an attack was intended soon to be made on that fort by 000 
 of the enemy. If I could have hesitated before, I could now he«- 
 itate no longer. I resolved to lose no time in meeting this force, 
 which was understood to have been collected from New Yorcau, 
 Oakfuskee and Ufauley towns, and were concentrat»=d in the bend 
 of the Tallapoosa, near the mouth ot the creek called Emucfau, 
 on an island below New Yorcau. 
 
 "On the morning of the 29th your letter of the 10th instant, 
 forwarded by Mr. M'Candles, reached me at the Hillabee Creek, 
 and that night 1 encamptd at Entochapco, a simall Hillabee village 
 about twelve miles from Emuckfau. Here 1 began to perceive 
 very plainly how little knowledge my spies had of the country, of 
 I the situation of the enemy, or of the distance I was from them. 
 The insubordination of the new troops and the want of skill in 
 most of their officers, also became more and more apparent. But 
 their ardor to meet the enemy was not diminished; and I had a 
 sure reliance upon the guards : and a company of old volunteer 
 officers, and upon the spies, in all about 125. My wishes and my 
 <luty remained united, and 1 wa.s determined to «ffVct, if possible, 
 the objects for which the excursion had been principally under- 
 taken. 
 
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 ('Oil (he moniHiK of tlic 21M, I marched from KiiotHcho|i(.c, 
 a> direct sin I copld for the bend of the Tallapoosa, and about 2 
 o'clock, P. M. my spies havinf; discovered two of the t-iit-m)', rn- 
 dt'Hvored to catch them but failed. In the evening 1 ft II in unon 
 a large trail, which led to a new road, much beaten and lutdy 
 travellid. Knowing that I mwt have arrived within the n< i^h- 
 borhood of a Htrong force, and it being late in the day, I d(t<r 
 mined to encamp, and reconnoitre the country in the night. I 
 choxe the best scite the countiy would admit, encamped in a liol. 
 low square, sent out my npieK and piquets, doubled my centmeli 
 and made the necessary arrangements before dark, fer a night at- 
 tack. About 10 o'clock at night, one of the pickets fired at three 
 of the enemy and killed one, but he v%as not found until the n«xt 
 day. At 11 o'clock^ the spies whom 1 had sent out returned ujth 
 the information, that there was a large encampment of Indian! 
 at the distance of about three miles, who from their whooping niid 
 dancing seemed to be apprized of our approach. One of thisie 
 spies, an Indian in whom 1 had great confidence, assured me tl at 
 they were carrying off their women and children, and that the 
 warriors would either make their escape, or attack me before diy, 
 Being prepared at all pointy nothing remained to be done hut 
 twait their approach, if they meditated an attack, or to be in rea- 
 diness, if they did not, to pursue and attack them at day ligl t. 
 "While we were in this state of readiness, the enemy about 6 
 o'clock in the morning commenced a vigorous attack on my Itft 
 fl^nk, which was vigorously met ; the action continued to rage on 
 mv left flank, and on the left of my rear for about half an hour. 
 The brave General Coffee, with Colonel Sittler, the adjutant grn- 
 eral, and Colonel Carroll, the inspector-general, the momtnt the 
 firing commenced, mounted their horses and repaired to the liiip, 
 encouraging and animating the men to the performance ot their 
 duty. So soon as it because liglit enough to pursue, the left wing 
 having sustained the heat of the action and being somewhat vviak- 
 ened, was reinforcect by Captain Ferrill's company of infantry, 
 and was ordered and led on to the charge by General Coffie, who 
 was well supported by Colonel Higgint* and the inspec tor-gent lal, 
 and by all the officers and privates who composed that line. The 
 enemy was compktely routed at every point, and the triendly In- 
 dians joining in the pursuit, they were chased about two inilcs 
 wit!) great slaughter. 
 
 " The chase being over, I immediately detached General Cof- 
 fee with 400 men and all the Indian force to burn their encatnp- 
 nicnt ; but it was said by some to be fortified. I ordered him, m 
 that event, not to attack it, until the artillery could be sent for- 
 ward to reduce if. On viewing the encampment and its strength, 
 x\\t' general thought it most prudent to return to my encampriitnt 
 aiKl i^uard the artillery thither. The wisdom of this step was 
 
'k'HV, WARk 
 
 a4v 
 
 }ooii discovered.. ..ill hnlf an Imur after his return to camp, a con* 
 sideiable force of the cntniy made its »pp»'Hr.mce on my right 
 flank, Hiid comnuMiced n brisit fire on a party of men \vh«. !ind 
 been on picket guard the night before, and were then in 8<>a''ch 
 of the Indians they had find upon, jome of whom tht-y btlifvtd 
 bad been killed. General CofTie immediately ri quested me to let 
 bim take !^00 men and turn their left flank, which I accordinj;ly 
 ordered; but, through Home mi.^take, which I did not then ob> 
 jervp, not more than 34 followed him, among whom were the 
 old volunteer otticers. With thest , however, he immedi;)tt!v 
 commenced ai.- attack on the left fldiik of the enemy; at whicli 
 time 1 ordered 200 of the fri(Midly Indians to fail in upon the right 
 flank of the enemy, and co-operate with the general. Th'a order 
 wad promptly obeyed, and in the moment of its execution, what 
 I expected was realized. The enemy had intended the attack 
 on the right as a fcmt, and, «xpccting vc* to direct all my atten- 
 tion thither, i«>^Hnt to at \ck me again, and with their main force 
 on the It'ft flank, whick • ley iioped to find weakened and in dis- 
 order.. ..but they wt-re disappointed. 1 had ordered the left flank 
 to remain fir'n »o its placf, an ; the miraent the alarm gun was 
 heard in thnt q tartar I repnrej tiiiiher, aiic* ordej d Capt. Ferril, 
 vfitli part ol' my reserve to support it. T whole line met the 
 appr)ach.?f the en-.-m/ with astonishing srtr' pidity, and having 
 
 given a few fires, they forthwith "ha'ijej witti ^ at vigour 
 
 Tiie eflf.'ct was immediate and \r .vii. hie. The 'riemy fled with 
 pr'cipitalion, and vere pursued .> a considi.rable distance, hy the 
 left tlank and the friendly Indians, with a galling and destri ctive 
 fire. Col. Carroll, who ordered the charge, led on the pursuit, 
 and Colonel Higgtns and his regiment again distioguislied them- 
 selves. 
 
 " In the mean time Gen. Coffee was contending with a supe- 
 rior force of the enemy. The Indians whom I had ordered to 
 his support, and who had set out for the purpose, bearing the firing 
 on the left had returned to that quarter, and when the enemy 
 Mete routed there entered into the chase. That being now over, 
 I forthwith ordered Ji 7 Fife, who was one of the principal com- 
 manders of the frien«i!; reeks, with 100 of his warriors, to exe- 
 cute my first order; so soon as he reached Gen. Coffee, the ciiarge 
 was made and the enemy routed ; they were pursued about three 
 miles, and 45 of tliem slain, who were found. Gen. Coffee was 
 wounded in the body, and his aid-de-camp, A. Donaldson, killed, 
 together with three others. Having brought in and buried the 
 dead, and dressed the wounded, I ordered my camp to be forti- 
 fied, to b^ the better prepared to repel any attack which might be 
 made in the ni:;ht ; determined to commence a return march to 
 fort Strother the following day. Many causes concurred to make 
 3uph a measure necessary, a« I had not ?et out prepared, or with 
 
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 a view to make n permanent c«t;ihlislimcnt, I considertd itwois? 
 than useless to advance und destroy an empty encampment. 
 
 " I had indeed hoped to !iave met the enemy there, but having 
 met and beaten them a little sooner, 1 did not think it neceiipHrj 
 or prudetit to proceed any further : not necessary, because 1 hmi 
 accomplished all I could expt-ct to effrct by marching to their en- 
 campment ; and because if it was necessary to contend with and 
 weaken their forces still farther, this object would be more cer- 
 tainly attained by commencing a return, which, having to th(;m 
 
 the appearance of a retreat, would inspire them to pursue me 
 
 Not prudent, because of the number of my wounded; of the re- 
 inforcements from below, which the ent.'my might be expected to 
 receive ; of the starving condition of my horses, they having had 
 neither corn nor cane for two days and nights ; of the scarcity of 
 supplies for my men, the Indians who joined me at Talledaga ha- 
 ving drawn none, and bemg wholly destitute; and because, if the 
 enemy pursued me, as it was likt-ly they would, the diversion in 
 favour of Gen. Floyd would be the more complete and efft ";tual. 
 Influenced by these considerations, I commenced my return mtuch 
 at half after ten on the 23d, and was fortunate enough to reach 
 Eootachopco before nigiit, haviiicj passed without interruption a 
 dangerous defile, occasioned by a hurricane. I again fortifie-d ray 
 camp, and having another dehie to pass in the morning, across a 
 deep creek, and between two hills, which I had viewed with at- 
 tention as 1 passed on, and where 1 expected I might be attacked, 
 1 determined to pass it at another point, and gave directions to my 
 guide and fatigue mt-ii accordingly. My expectation of an attack 
 in the morning was iucreascd by the signs of the night, and wilb 
 it my caution. Before J moved the wounded from the interior 
 of my camp, I had my iVont and roar guards formed, as well as 
 my right and lef: column?, and moved off my centre in regular 
 order, leading down a handsome ridge to Enotachopco creek, at 
 a point where it was clc ar of reed, except immediately on its 
 margin. I had previously issued a general order, pointing out 
 the manner in which the men should be formed in the event of 
 an attack on the front or rear, or on the flanks, and had particu- 
 larly cautioned the otHcers to halt and fori*' accordingly, the in- 
 stant the word should be given. 
 
 " The front guard had passed with part of the flank columns, 
 the wounded were over, and the artillery in the act of entering 
 the creek, when an alarm gun was heard in the rear. I heard it 
 without surprise, and even with pleasure, calculating with the ut- 
 most confidence on the firmness of my troops, from the manner 
 in which 1 had seen them act on the 22d. I had placed Colonel 
 Carroll at the heai! of the centre column of the rear guard; its 
 right column wis commanded by Colonel Perkins, and its left by 
 Colonel Stump. Moving chosen the ground, I expected thereto 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 '261 
 
 ijiive entirely cut off fhe enemy by whceliiig tlie riglit and left 
 ^columns on their pivots, recrossing the creek above and below, 
 and falling in upon their flfinks and rear. But to my astonish- 
 ment and mortification, when the word was given by Col. Carrol 
 to halt and form, and a few guns had been fired, 1 beheld the 
 right and left columns of the rear guard precipitately give way. 
 This shameful retreat was disas^trous in the extreme ; it drew 
 along with it the greater part of the centre column, leaving not 
 more than 25 men, who being formed by Col. Carroll, maintained 
 their ground as long as it was possible to maintain it, and it 
 brought consternation and confusion into the centre of the army, 
 a cjiisternation which was not easily removed, and a confusion 
 which could not soon be restored to order. There was then left 
 to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the rear guard, 
 
 the artillery company, and Capt. Russell's company of spies 
 
 They however realized and exceeded my highest expectations. 
 Lieut. Armstrong, who commanded the artillery company in the 
 absence of Capt. Deadrick, (confined by sickness,) ordered them 
 to form and advance to the top of the hill, while he and a few 
 others dragged up the 6 pounder. Never was more bravery dis- 
 played than on this occasion. Amid the most galling fire from 
 the enemy, more than ten times their number, they ascended the 
 hill and maintained their position until their piece was hauled up, 
 when, having levelled it, they poured upon the enemy a fire of 
 grap&, reloaded and fired again, charged and repulsed them. 
 
 ** The most deliberate bravery was displayed by C^nstantinc 
 I^erkins and Craven Jackson of the artillery, acting as gunners.... 
 In the hurry of the moment, in separating the gun from the lim- 
 bers, the rammer and picker of the cannon were left tied to the 
 limber. No sooner was this discovered, than Jackson, amidst the 
 galling fire of the enemy, pulled out the ramrod of his musket 
 and used it as a picker, primed with a cartridge and fited the can- 
 non. Perkins, having pulled off his bayonet, used his musket as 
 a rammer, drove down the cartridge ; and Jackson, using hisfoi- 
 mer plan, again discharged her. The brave Lieut. Armstrong, 
 just after the first fire of the cannon, with Capt. Hamilton, of E. 
 Tennev<^see, Bradford and M'Govock, all fell, the lieutenant ex- 
 claiming as he lay, " my brave Jrlloivs, some of you may fall, 
 but you must save the cannon.^* About this tmie, a number 
 crossed the creek and entered into the chace. The brave Capt. 
 Gordon, of the spies, who had rushed from the front, endeavour- 
 ed to turn the left flank of the enemy, in which he partially suc- 
 ceeded, and Col. Carroll, Col. Higgins, and Captains Elliot and 
 »?ipkin? pursued the enemy for more than two miles, who fled in 
 consternation, throwing away their packs and leaving 26 of their 
 warriors dead on the field. This last deft^at was decisive, and we 
 were no more disturbed by their yells. I should do injustice to 
 
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 my ftclings if I omitlcd (o mention that, the vfiicrabie Judg» 
 Cock«', at the age of 65, entered into the engagimc-nt, continued 
 the persuit of the enenriy with youthful ardour, and saved the life 
 of a ft How soldier by killing his savage antagonist. 
 
 " Our loss in this affair was — killed and wounded ; among 
 tho" former wa? the brave Capt. Hamilton, from East Tennessee, 
 who had, with his aged father and two others of his coinpany, 
 afu r the period of his engagement had expired, volunteered his 
 sor\ices for this excursion, and attached himself to the artillery 
 company. No man ever fought more bravc^ly, or died more glo- 
 Tiously; and by his side fell with equal bravery and glory. Bird 
 Kvans, of the same company. Cfipt. Quarles, viho commanded 
 tb« centie column of the rear guard, preferring death to the 
 abandonment of his po?t, having taken a firm stand in which he 
 was followed by 25 of his men, received a wound in his head of 
 which he has since died. 
 
 «« lii thej-e sevt^ral engagements our loss was 20 killed and 75 
 wounded, 4 of whom have since died. The loss of the enemy 
 cannot be accurately ascertained ; 189 of their warriors were 
 found dead ; but this must fall considerably short of the number 
 really killed. Their wounded can only be guessed at. 
 
 ** Had it not been for the unfortunate retreat of the rear guard 
 in the aflfair of the 24th inst. I think I could safely have said that 
 no army of militia ever acted with more cool and deliberate bra> 
 very ; undisciplined and inexperienced as they were, their con- 
 duct in the several engagements of the 22d, could not have been 
 surpassed' by regulars. No men ever met the approach of an 
 enemy with mi re intrepidity, or repulsed them with more ener- 
 gy. On the 24th, after the retreat of the rear guard, they seem- 
 ed to iiave lusi all their collectedness, and were more difficult to 
 be restored to order than any troops I have ever seen. But this 
 was no doubt owing in a great measure, f^r altogether, to that ve- 
 ry retreat, and ought rather to be ascribed to the wan; of con- 
 duct in many of their ofticers, than to any cowardice in the men, 
 who, on every occasion, have manifested a willingness to per- 
 form their duty so far as they knew it. 
 
 " All the effects which were designed to be produced by this 
 excurj-ion, it is believed have been produced. Jf an attack was 
 meditated against fort Armstrong, that has been pi evented, if 
 Gi I). Floyd is operating on the east »ide of the Tallapoosa, as I 
 suppose him to be, a most fortunate diversion has been made in 
 his favour. The number of the enemy has been diminished, and 
 the confidence they may have derived from the delays 1 have 
 been made to experience, has been destroyed. Discontejit has 
 been kept out of n y army, while the troops who would have 
 been exposed to it have been beneficially employed. The ene- 
 my's country has been explored, anii a road cut to the point 
 
i i:" 
 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 25* 
 
 
 able Judj^o 
 f continued 
 ved the life 
 
 ?d ; among 
 Tennessee, 
 coiDpan3r, 
 nteered his 
 18 artillery 
 I more glo- 
 glorj'. Bird 
 omrranded 
 ath to the 
 I) which he 
 his head of 
 
 led and 75 
 the enemy 
 riors were 
 he number 
 
 rear guard 
 te said that 
 berate bra* 
 their con- 
 have been 
 ach of an 
 nore ener- 
 hey seem- 
 iiticuit to 
 But this 
 to that ve- 
 :^ of ccn« 
 the men, 
 |8 to per- 
 
 by this 
 Itack was 
 iited. If 
 )sa, as I 
 made in 
 Ihed, and 
 I's 1 have 
 tent lias 
 lid lmv(^ 
 fhe ene- 
 le point 
 
 Lvbere their fbrce will probably be concentrated when they shall 
 |be driven from the country below. But in a report of this kind, 
 land to you who will immediately perceive them, it is not necer 
 Lf}' to state the happy consequences which may be expected to 
 Lsult from this excursion. Unless I am greatly mistaken, it will 
 |be found t: v^ave hastened the termination of the Creek war^ 
 Inore than ^r>j measure I could have taken with the troops under 
 nycoramand." , *r 
 
 CIJAPTEil XXlf. 
 
 \siiclusion of the Creek War,„.,BriUtant and decisive victory ap 
 tk bend of the Tallapoosa.,.. Draft of the scene of action .... 
 
 Tfrmination oj hostilities with the Creeks Geographical 
 
 description of the Creek country. 
 
 General Jackson being determined to pursue the work of 
 itermination among the Creeks, as a just vengeance for their 
 itrocioiis conduct at Fort Mims, penetrated into their country, in 
 larch, 1814, as far as the bend of the Tallapoosa ; where a most 
 llendid and successful attack was made on the 27th, in which a 
 ]tal destruction of the nation was nearly accomplished. While 
 
 I sigh of humanity will escape for this profuse effusion of hu~ 
 blood, which resulted from the savage principle of out enemy, 
 kither to give nor accept quarter ; yet justice will point to the 
 |f(Dt, 08 a necessary retaliation for the indiscriminate murder of 
 
 citizens, and as a precursor of the future repose of our fron- 
 kr settlements. Subjoined is General Jackson^s official occount 
 [the brilliant achievement, in a letter to bis £xcellency Govern- 
 IBlount: ' • ' 
 
 Fort JVilliams, March 31 flBli. 
 
 |SIR....I have just returned from the expedition which I advised 
 
 liumy last 1 was about to make to the Tallapoosa ; and 
 
 kten to acquaint you with the good fortune which attended it. 
 
 [Itook up the line of march from this place on the morning of 
 
 i'iltl inst. and having opened a passage of fifty two and a half 
 
 Mover the ridges which divide th*:^ waters of the two rivers, 1 
 
 [ched the bend of the Tallapoosa three miles beyond where 1 
 
 the engagement of the 2Jid of January, and at the southern 
 
 Temity of New-Youka, on the morning cf the 27th. Thit 
 
 resembles in its curvature that of a horse-shoe, and is thenc* 
 
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 called by that iiame anioijg tlic wliiics. Naluio funiisln-i; few 
 uatlons so eligible for defence, and barbarians have never rcndtrfr' | 
 one more secure by art. Across the neck of the bend which Itad. 
 into it from tlie north they had erected a bteastwork of the grpai 
 est compactness and strength, from five to eight feet high, and I 
 prepared with double port-holes, very artfully .arranged. TlictL-r 
 ure of this wall manifested no less skill in the projection of it 
 than its construction ; an army could not approach it without !>«. 
 ing exposed to a double and cross fire from the enemy, who laj in 
 perfect security behind it. The area of this peninsuh, thus bound [ 
 ed by the breastwork, includes I conjecture, eighty or an huii| 
 dred acres. 
 
 In this bend the warriors from Oakfuska, Oakehagu, Nevv-Youl 
 ka, Hillabeea, the Fish Ponds, and Eufatua towns, apprised olourl 
 approach, had collected their strength. Their exact number canj 
 not be ascertained; but it is said by the prisoners we have takeQl 
 to have been a thousand. It is certain they were very numerousJ 
 and that relying with the utmost confidence upon their strength] 
 their situation and the assurances of their prophets, they conclu] 
 ded on repulsing us with great ease. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 27th, having encamped theprece] 
 ding night at the distance of five miles from tbem....l detaile 
 General Coffee with the mounted men and nearly the whole ol 
 the Indian force, to cross the river at a ford about three miles b;] 
 low their encampment, and to surround the bend in such a roan 
 ner that none of them should escape by attempting to cross tb^ 
 river. With the remainder of the forces f proceeded along ihJ 
 point of land which leads to the front of their breastwork ; andal 
 half past ten o'clock A. M. I had planted my artillery on a snial 
 eminence, distant from its nearest point about 80 yards, and froi| 
 its farthest about two hundred and fifty ; from whence 1 iinmrdl 
 ately opened a brisk fire upon its centre. With the musketrl 
 and rifles I kept up a galling fire wherever the enemy sliewt 
 themselves behind their works, or ventured to approach then 
 This was continued with occasional intermissions for about u\ 
 hours, when Captain Russell's company of spies, and a part} 
 the Cherokee force, headed by their gallant chieftaii Coloiii 
 Richard Brown, and conducted by the brave Colonel MorgaJ 
 crossed over to the peninsula in canoes, and set fire to a few( 
 tlieir buildings there situated. They then advanced with gri 
 gallantry towards the breastwork, and commenced firiugu[': 
 the enemy who lay behind it. 
 
 Finding that this force, notwithstanding the determinatioii tM 
 displayed, was wholly insufficient to dislodge the enemy, and thj 
 General Coffee had secured the op[>o»'ite banks of the river, I noj 
 determined on taking possession of ^heir works by storm. Nei 
 wTre men better disposed for surh an undertaking than tho'e! 
 
XHK WAR. 
 
 255 
 
 ' r < 
 
 v.iiom it was to be effected. They had entreated to be led to the 
 charge with the most pressing importunity, and received the or* 
 jer which was* now given with the strongest demonstrations of 
 QV. The effect was such as this temper of mind foretold. The 
 Iregular troops, led on by their intrepid and skilful commander. 
 Colonel Williams, and by the gallant Major Montgomery, were 
 prcjently in possession of the nearer side of the breastwork; and 
 the militia accompanied them in the charge with a vivacity and 
 firmiitss which could not have been exceeded, and has seldom 
 been equalled by troops of any description. A few companies of 
 General Doherty's brigade on the right, were led on with gallant- 
 ry by Colonel Russell... .the advance guard, by the adjutant-gene- 
 ral,Colonel Sisler, and the left extremity of the line by Captain 
 Gordon of the spies, and Captain M'Murry of General Johnson's 
 brigaflt' of Weil Teiin.'ssce militia. 
 
 Having maintained for a few minutes a very obstinate contest, 
 [musket to musktt, through the port holes, in which many of the 
 enemy's balls were welded to the bayonets of our musR^ts, our 
 troops succt^eded in gaining p')sse$sion of the opposite side of the 
 works. The event could no longer be doubtful. The enemy, al- 
 though many of them fought to the last, with that kind of brave- 
 ry which desperation inspires, were at length entirely routed and, 
 cut to pieces. The whole margin of the river which surround? 
 the peninsula was strewed with the slain. Five hundred and iif- 
 t} seven were found by officers of great respectability, whom I 
 had ordered to count them; besides a great number who were 
 thrown into the river by their surviving friends, and killed in at- 
 tempiiog to pass it, by General Coffee's men, stationed on the op- 
 Iposite banks. Captain Hammond!), who with his company of 
 [spies occupied a favorable position opposite the upper extremity of 
 the briastwork, did gr^at execution. ...and so did Lieutenant Bean, 
 who had been ordered by General Coffee to take possession of a 
 I small island pointinj; to the lower extremity. 
 
 Both officers and men, who had the best opportunities of judg- 
 ling, believe the loss of the enemy in killed, not to fall short of 
 eight hundred; and if their number was as great as it is represent- 
 ed to have been, by the prisoners, and as it is believed to have 
 been by Colonel Carroll and others, who had a fair view of them, 
 as they advanced to the breastworks, their loss must even have 
 been more considerable... .as it is quite certain that not more than 
 twenty can have escaped. Among the dead was found their fa- 
 mous Prophet, Monahell....shot in the mouth by a grape shot, as 
 if heaven designed to chastise his impostures by an appropriate 
 punishment. Two other prophets were also killed.... leaving no 
 others, as I can learn, on the Tallapoosa. I lament that two or 
 I three women and children were killed by accident, T do not 
 
 
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 know the exact number of prisoners tahen, but it must cxcecc 
 three hundred....all women and children except three. 
 
 The battle may be said to have continued with severity for I 
 about five hours ; but the firing and slaughter continued uutil it 
 was suspended by the darkness of the night. The next morninJ 
 it was resumed, and sixteen of the enemy slain, who had conceal- 1 
 ed themselves under the banks. Our loss was twenty-six white | 
 men killed, and one hundred and seven wouoded. Cherokee: 
 eighteen killed, and thirty six wounded....triendly Creeks, five kilj 
 led and eleven wounded. 
 
 The loss of Colonel Williams' regiment of regulars, is seventeeQl 
 killed, fifty-five wounded, three of whom have since died. Among 
 the former were Major Montgomery, Lieutenant Sommervilje and 
 Lieutenant Moulton, who fell in the charge which was madton 
 the works. No men ever acted more gallantly, or fell morej 
 gloriously. 
 
 Of t^e artillery commanded by Captain Parish, 1 1 were wound. I 
 «d ; one of whom, Samuel Garner, has smce died. Lieutenaoti | 
 ^lien and Ridley were both wounded. The whole company act- 
 «d with its usual gallantry. Captain Bradford of the 39th U.S. I 
 mfantry, who acted as chief engineer, and superintended the fir- 
 ing of the cannon, has entitled himself, by his good conduct, to tn; 
 warmest thanks. To say all in a word, the whole army who hat | 
 achieved this fortunate victory, have merited by their good con- 
 duct the gratitude of their country.' So far as I can, or could I 
 learn, there was not an oiHcer or soldier who did not perform hit 
 duty with the utmost fidelity. The conduct of the militia, on tbit 
 occasion, has gone far towards rtdceniing the character of thai | 
 description of troop«. They have been as orderly in their encamp- 
 ment, and on their line of march, as they have been signally brave | 
 In the day of battle. 
 
 In a few days I shall take up the line of march for the Hickory I 
 ground, and have every thing to hope from such troops. 
 Enclosed I send you General Coffee's original report. 
 I have the hoitpr to be, with great respect, your obedient hum- 
 ble servant, ' ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. 
 
 Report from General Coffee, to GeneralJackson, dated Jprill 
 
 SIR... .Agreeably to your order of the 27th ult. I took up the I 
 line of march at half past 6 o'clock A. M. of the same day with a 
 detachment of seven hundred cavalry and mounted gunmen, and 
 about six hundred Indians, five hundred of which were Cherokees 
 and the balance friendly Creeks. I crossed the Tallapoosa river 
 at the little island ford, about three miles below the bend, in which 
 the enemy had concentrated, and then turned up the river bear- 
 ing away from its cliir8....vvhen within half a mile of the village 
 -<he savage yell was raised by the encmy^ and ' supposed he ha^ 
 
 '■(', 
 
t ' 
 
 eUg WAR* 
 
 259 
 
 uncovered aud was about to attack me. I immediAtely drew up 
 joy forces in line of battle in an open hilly woodland, and in that 
 poiition moved on towards the yelling of the enemy ....previous to 
 this had ordered the Indian*, on our approach to the bend of the 
 river, to advance secretly and take possession of the bank of the 
 riv«>r, and prevent the enemy from crossing on the approach of 
 your army in his front....when within a quarter of a mile of the 
 river, the firing of your cannon commenced, when the Indians 
 with me immediately rushed forward with great impetuosity to 
 the river bank .. my line was halted and put in order of battle, 
 expecting an attack on our rear from Oakfuskee village, which 
 lav down the river about eight miles below us.. ..the firing of your 
 cannon and nmall arms in a short time became general and hea- 
 ry, which animated our Indians, and seeing about one hundred of 
 the warriors and all the squaws and children of the enemy run^ 
 oiug about among the huts of the village, which was open to our 
 view, they could no longer remain silent spectators, while some 
 k<pt up a fire ncross the river (which is about I'iO yards wide) to 
 prevent the enemy'.* approach to the bank, others plunged uito 
 the water and swam the river for canoes that lay at the other 
 thore iu considerable numbers, and brought them over, in which 
 crafts a number of them embarked, and landed on the bend with 
 the enemy. Colonel Gideon Morgan who commanded the Cher* 
 okees, Captain Keer, and Captain William Russell with a part of 
 hi> company of spies was among the first that crossed the river; 
 they advanced into the village and very soon drove the enemy 
 from the huts up the river bank to the fortified works from which 
 they were fighting you....they pursued and continued to annoy 
 during your whole action. This movement of my Indian forces 
 left the river bank unguarded and made it necessary that I should 
 lend a part of my line to take possession ot the river bank : I ac- 
 eordingly ordered about one third of the men to be posted around 
 the bend on the river bank, while the balance remained in line to 
 protect our rear. Captain Hammond's company of rangers look 
 pott on the river bank on my right, and during the whole engage* 
 meDt kept up a continued and destructive fire on those of the en- 
 emy that attempted to escape into the river, and killed a very 
 large proportion of those that were found dead under the bank ns 
 well as many others sunk under water. I ordered Lieutenant 
 Bean to take possession of the island below with forty men, to 
 prevent the enemy's taking refuge there, which was executed 
 with promptitude and which had a very happy eflfect, as many of 
 the enemy did attempt their escape to the island, but not one ev- 
 er landed....they were sunk by Lieutenant Bean's command ere 
 they reached the bank. Attempts to crosA the liver at all points 
 of the bend was made by the enemy, but not one ever escaped, 
 fery few ever reached the bank and that few was killed the in 
 
 2 K . 
 
 «:iV 
 
 f « 
 
 r 
 
 if- 
 
 
 :i . 
 
 :"i7:V 
 
25B 
 
 oJiKTCHBS OC 
 
 Stunt they landed. From the report of my ofPiccrs as well ai 
 from my own observation, 1 feel warranted in saying that from 
 two hundred and fifty to three hundred of the enemy was buried 
 under water and was not numbered with the dead that wen 
 found." 
 
 f^\' 
 
 A 
 
 K'f'] 
 
 • The following letter from Colonel Morgan to Goveriiftr Blount, 
 dated at Fort Williamo, contains many incidents of an interestiur 
 nature, in addition to the toregoing : 
 
 ** Ycu have been informed of our departure from fort Strothfr, 
 and ariival at this place on the ?l8t March. On the 24th Gene- 
 ral Jackson took up his line of march for Tohopiska, or fortified 
 town oa the Tallapoosa, commonly called the Horse Shoe. On 
 the evening of the 28th, he encamped about six miles ncrth-west 
 of it....the army next morning was divided into two divisions. 
 The horse and Indians commanded by General CoflTee, crossed the 
 river two miles below the town, with directions to line the bank in 
 the whole extent of the bend, by the Cherokees and friendly 
 Creeks, while the horse ncted as a guard upon the high ground, to 
 defend our rear from an attack from the Oakfuskee Indians, who 
 were expected from below. This precaution was, however, unne- 
 cessary, as their whole force had been concentrated the day h. 
 fore. General Coffee had arrived on the opposite shore, about half 
 a mile below the town, when General Jackson's approach bcturc 
 the fortification was announced by the discharge of artillery, and 
 in quick succession that of a brigade of infantry. The Cherokees 
 immediately rushed to the point assigned them, which they did in 
 regular order, and in n ni.inncr honorable to themselves, that is, 
 the bank was in no place lett vacant, and those fugitives who had 
 taken to flight, fell an easy prey to their vengeance. 
 
 "The breastwork was composed of five large logs, with t^vo 
 ranges of port-holes well put together ; artillery had no efTect, 
 more than to bore it wherever it struck ; nature had done much; 
 but when completed by art, the place was formidable indeed : the 
 high ground which extended about mid way from the breast-work 
 to the river, was in some manner open, but the declivity and flat 
 which surrounded it, was filled with fallen timber, the growth of 
 which was very heavy, and had been so arranged, that every 
 tree afforded them a breast-work, forming a communication or 
 cover to the uext,and so on to the river bank, in which cavernshad 
 been dug for their security, and our annoyance. The breast work 
 in its whole extent was lined by savages, made desperate from 
 their situation. The 3&th was drawn up on the left, in a line ex 
 tending from the centre to the river bank, the right was occupied 
 b> the militia. The artillery on an eminence two hundred yards 
 5q rear of the breast-work, on which it kept up a steady and well 
 
V » 
 
 TilJi WAR. 
 
 S59 
 
 directed fire, though without efiect. In this inanuer the battle 
 bfcame stationary for some time, say one hour, when the Cher> 
 okei> crossed the river by swimming, and brought from the oppo* 
 site shore n nuniDer of canoes, in which they crossed under cover 
 of the towH, and their own guns; they halted under cover of the 
 bauk, and the canoes were st'nt back for a reinforcement. Under* 
 stflnding General Jarkaon was about charging the breast workv in 
 its whole extent, I rode with all possible dispatch to inforno Major 
 Montgomery who commanded the left of the 30th, on the river 
 above. On my return, about 150 or 200 Cherokees had crowed^ 
 and were then warmly engaged with the hostile Creeks. I theu 
 ciomd with Major Walker and 30 others, and asctnded the high 
 ground, which the Cherukees were then in possession of....we 
 were warmly assailed on every quarter, except our rear, where 
 we only kept open by the dint of hard fighting. The Cherokees 
 were continually crossing, and our number increased in about the 
 I proportion in which the Creeks were diminished, who laid prostrate 
 in in every quarter....their numbers were vastly superior to ours, 
 I but were occupied in maintaining their breast work, which they 
 appeared dt-termined never to surrender ; about one hour after my 
 arrival on the aummit, I received a wound in the right side of my 
 head, which had like to have terminated my existence....! howev- 
 er io a short time recovered, and heard the heavenly intelligence 
 Itbat the 30th had charged, and were then in possession of the 
 Ibreait works. This was an arduous undertaking, and the cool de- 
 liiberate manner in which it was effected, reflects the highest 
 [tredit on this bulwark of our army. < ^ « 
 
 "The fight commenced 17 minutes after 10,and continued with* 
 lout intermission until dark ; the next morning some were hilled, 
 Iwbo it appears were determined never to quit their enchanted 
 ||round. On counting their dead, 557 were found on the fields 
 |iiaoy I know perished in crossing, and numbers were sunk in the 
 river. The whole loss in killed could not be less than 7 or 800. 
 he lost of the 3eth, 72 killed and wounded. Major Montgome- 
 y, Lieutenant Somerville, and Lieutenant Moulton were among 
 former. The loss of the Cherokees, 18 killed and 35 wound- 
 many badly. The Cherokees have been permitted to return 
 I their homes.** ^ 't> ■> • . . - - 
 
 Drqft of the scene of action The following draft of the 
 
 me of action at the bend of the Tallapoosa, was taken by an 
 
 Hcer on the spot. We copy it with as much accuracy as the 
 
 jiature of letter press printing will admit. It will be found to 
 
 flow considerable light on the official details. The bend of the 
 
 jiver at this place is circular, resembling the form of a horse-shoe, 
 
 id the breastwork was thrown across the mouth or entrance ef 
 
 peniiMula. . . 
 
 '!« 
 
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 iiil 
 
 ?:'■ 
 
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 ■' Ul 
 
 
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 ^^^^^^^1 * 
 
 
 Jll 
 
 
 PLAN OF A BATTLE 
 
 Jt the Bend of the Tallapoosa, March U7th, 1814. 
 GROUND. 
 
 Col. CopeUntf. Col. Cheatham. 
 Rear guard. 
 
 . ? K ;,r itiM if^'U^t' %r^ f ;.> ij '.I?.; 
 
 C'o7w/i OM Satvrdatf n»V/i(i| 
 C mUeaJrum Jouofaekc 
 
 nK)<EUKMC2S. 
 
 *Mou1tou, "J 
 t'\-onigomerjr, i Killed. 
 iSomervillc, J 
 — Kiver Tallapoosa. 
 1 2 Brusli I'ences. 
 
 ^Rjfi{ High ground and trees above llic liver hauU. 
 
. ., ,i.l ' ' '. 
 
 T(trmination of hostilities with the Creeilf....'.Tbe dreadful 
 oliastitemeiit inflicted by Geo. Jacktoo, and lii< brave followeri^ 
 upon the Creeks, induced many of the survivors of the war party 
 to surrender themselves and sue for peace > A few, however, just 
 befc:e the arrival of the general at Tallapoosa, made their escape 
 across the river, and fled in consternntiou towards Pensacola ; aa 
 likewise a small number, after the battle of the 27th March, who 
 fled in various directions. Many of the negroes, who were taken 
 at fort Mims, were delivered up, and one white woman (Polly 
 Jones) with her two children. The Tallapoosa king was arrested 
 and put in confinement ; and the Tostahatchee king of the Hick- 
 ory ground surrendered himself a prisoner. Peter M'Quin, a dis- 
 tinguished chief, was taken, but escaped ; and Hillinbagee, their 
 gieat prophet, absconded. Wetherford, their speaker, had been, 
 through the war, one of the most active and entt^rprising chiefs. 
 Ai a partizan leader, he had frequently opposed his enemy where 
 he was little expected. Seeing that it was in vain any longer to 
 resist, he voluntarily came in and delivered himself up ; but Gen. 
 Jackson declined confining him. In a private interview with the 
 general, he made the following short though forcible and bold ad- 
 dress: 
 
 " 1 fought at fort Mims....! fought the Georgia army....I did 
 you »ll the injury I oould....had I been supported, as 1 was pro- 
 ini«ed, I would have done you more. But my warriors are all 
 ' killed....! can fight you no longer. I look back with sorrow that I 
 have brought destruction on my nation. 1 am now in your pow- 
 er, do with me as you please....! am a soldier.'* 
 
 Wetherford, although bold and intrepid, had previously been de- 
 feated. In December, 1813, General Claiborne, having under 
 hit command a considerable force, consisting of volunteers from 
 the southern part of the Missisiiippi Territory, which had been rais- 
 ed for the purpose of resisting any attack which might be made 
 by the enemy upon the coast, and also for cutting off all commu- 
 aicHtion between the Creeks and Spaniards in the Floridas, march- 
 ed against the inimical Creek towns on the Alabama river. On 
 the 23d of December, a detachment of his troops commanded by 
 Colonel Carson came in view cf a town called Eccanachaca (or 
 holy ground) which was immc'diately and vigorously attacked by 
 the enemy, who had been apprized of its approach, and had chos- 
 en their field of action accordingly. Wetherford commanded 
 the Indians, and fought with bravery. Colonel Carson, however, 
 succeeded in defeating him, before the remainder of out troops, 
 who had been ordered to the charge, could have time to ariive. 
 The enemy fled in every direction, many of them casting away 
 their arms. Thirty were killed and mauy wounded. The loss on 
 
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202 
 
 »KE'ICHK5 OF 
 
 
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 our part waa oue coiporal killed, and oue «nrif(ii, two fergoantt, 
 one corporal and two privates wounded. A pumuit was immedi- 
 ately ordered; but H :rn llic nature of the country, nothing was 
 eifcctcd. The r/ u was nearly turroundfd with swanipK itnei 
 deep ravines, whkh iv!)Oi..ed the approach of our troops ditrictilt, 
 and facilitated the v cipe of the enemy. In the town was found 
 a larg« quantity of p]Ovi8ion]> and immense property of variou? 
 hinds, which the enemy, flying precipitately, were obliged to leave 
 behind, and which, together with 200 houses, were destroved, 
 They had barely time to remove their women and children across 
 the Alabama, upon which the town stood. The next day wns 
 occupied in destroying a town consisting of sixty liouseH, eight 
 miles higher up the river, and in taking and destroying the ene- 
 my's boats. At the town last described,three Indians of some dis- 
 tinctlou were killed. The town first destroyed was built after the 
 commencement of hostilities, and was established as a place of ie> 
 curityfor the inhabitants of several villages. The leader Wether* 
 ford, and two others, who were principal prophets, resided here. 
 Three Shawnese were among the slain. A letter from the Gov- 
 ernor of Pensacola to the Creek Indians, was found in the houie 
 of Wetherford by General Claiborne, showing the friendship that 
 existed between the Creeks and Spaniards^ and the hostility of the 
 hitter towardi the Americans. 
 
 In the latter part of April General Jackson withdrew his forces 
 from the Creek country, after having made known to the nation 
 the terms upon which he would make peace, and appointing com- 
 missioners therefor. In these terms, the United States were to 
 retain as much of the conquered territory as might appear to the 
 government to be a just indemnity for the expences of the war, 
 and as a retribution for the injuries sustained by its citizens and 
 the friendly Creek Indians. The United States were likewise to 
 retain the right of establishing military posts and trading houstt, 
 and to make and use such roads as they might think necessary, 
 and freely to navigat? all the rivers and water courses in the 
 Creek country. The Creeks, on their part, were to surrender 
 their prophets, and such other instigatoia of the war as might be 
 designated by the government of the United States ; and were 
 to agree to such restrictions upon their trade with foreign nations, 
 as should be established by the American government. 
 
 The TalHssee king, who was reported to have been killed in 
 one of Gen. Floyd's battles with the Creeks, was afterwards ta- 
 ken prisoner. He remained, for a time, with a detachment cf 
 our army stationed at fort Jackson, (on the scito of old fort Tou- 
 louse.) He had been regarded as a great prophet, and was up- 
 wards of a hundred years of age when taken, with a head as 
 white as s.now. He was nn object of peculiar vengeance among 
 
. i 
 
 THk WAR. 
 
 »Q3 
 
 lergcantj, 
 I iitiniedi- 
 thing waj 
 'anipK :t:i«i 
 s ditTictilt, 
 VM fuuiid 
 of variou; 
 -d to Itavo 
 destrovtd. 
 Inn acr(i» 
 
 day wiis 
 uses, eight 
 g the ene- 
 r sonic dii- 
 It after the 
 )lace of le- 
 ir Wether- 
 tided here. 
 m the Gov- 
 
 the houte 
 udihip that 
 tility of the 
 
 his forces 
 the uatioD 
 nting com* 
 B8 were to 
 lear to the 
 the war, 
 tizens and 
 likewise to 
 g houses, 
 necessary, 
 ies in the 
 Ifiurrender 
 might bt 
 land were 
 |i nations, 
 
 killed in 
 kvards ta- 
 li me nt cf 
 Ifort Tou- 
 was up- 
 head as 
 be among 
 
 jie tricndly Creeks ; and although he was nearly bent double 
 with age, yet were they anxious to destroy him; but Wether- 
 ibrd moved unmolested among them, and they trembled in his 
 pretence. . , < 
 
 Geographical description q/* the Creeic country The follow- 
 
 I'og is copied, with some varintione, from Morse's Gazeteer : 
 
 <<The Muskogulgc, or, as they are more commonly called, Creek 
 lodians, inhabit the eastern parts of the MiHsissippi Tf rritory. The 
 Creek, or Muskogulge language, which is »oft and musical,is spoken 
 throughout the cunfederncy, (although consisting of many na- 
 tions, who have a speech peculiar to thvmsrlvcs) as also by then 
 fritfiids and allies the Natchez. The Chicasaw and Chactaw lao- 
 gi.sgp, the Muskogulges say, is a dialict of theirs. The Musko- 
 guij^es eminently deserve the encomium of all uatiouf, for their 
 wisdom and virtue, in expelling the greatest, and even the com- 
 Dion enemy of mankind, viz. spirituous liquors. The first and 
 most cogent article in all their treaties with the white people is, ' 
 that " there shall not be any kind of spirituous liquors sold or . 
 I brought into their towns." Instances have frequently occur- 
 I red, on the discovery of attempts to run kegs of spirits into their 
 I country, of the Indians striking thrm with their tomahawks, and i, 
 
 giving the liquor to thirsty sand, not tasting a drop themselves 
 
 It is difficult to account for their excellent policy in civil govern- 
 I mcDt ; it cannot derive its efficacy from coercive laws, for they n 
 bve no such artificial system. Some of their most favourite 
 MDgs and dances they have from their enemies, the Chactaws; 
 
 for it seems that nation is very eminent for poetry and music 
 
 [The Musk Jgulges allow of polygamy in the utmost latitude ; every i^ 
 man takes as many wives as he pleases, but the first is queen^ 
 and the others her handmaids and associates. The Creek or • 
 Muskogulge confederacy have 55 towns, besides many villages, ^r 
 iThe powerful empire of the Muskogulges established itself upon u 
 Ithe ruin of that of the Natchez. The Oakmulge Fields was the nr 
 m\ settlement they sat down upon, after their einigratk>n from 
 jliie west, beyond the Mississippi, their original native country. 
 [They gradually subdued their surrounding enemies, strengthening 
 Ithemselves by taking into confederacy the vanquished tribes. Their ,^t 
 mole number, some years since, was 17,280, of which, 6860 _> 
 here fighting men. Later accounts say 6000 fighting men, and 
 |260OO souls in all. Every town and village has one established 
 ^hite trader in it, and generally a family of whites, who have 
 'fd from some part of the frontiers. They often, to have re- ^^^ 
 l^enge, and to obtain plunder that may be taken, use their influ- ^ ., 
 nee to send out predatory parties against the settlements in their 
 pciuity. The Creeks were formerly very badly armed, having a 
 
 '|<1»', 
 
 f 
 
 M, 
 
 ;i 
 
 
&04 
 
 SiXETCUES OV 
 
 11. ■ ■ •■.' 
 
 few rifles, but mostly trmed with muskets. For near iifty y»att 
 past, the Creek Indians have had little intercourse with any other 
 foreigners but those of the English nation. Their prejudice in fa. 
 vour of every thing English has been carefully kept alive. Most 
 of their towns have kept in their possession British drums with 
 the arms of the nation and other emblems painted on them; 
 and some of their squaws preserve the remnants of British flags. 
 They still believe that " the great king over the water" is able 
 to keep the whole world in tiubjection. The laud of thi: country 
 is a common stock ; any individual may remove from one part of 
 it to another, and occupy vacant ground where he can find it. 
 The country is naturally divided into three districts, viz. the Up. 
 per Creeks, Low r and Middle Creeks, and Seminoles. The up- 
 per district includes all the waters of the Tallapoosa, Coosahat- 
 chee, and Alabama rivers, and is called the Abbacoes, The 
 lower or middle district includes all the waters of the Chattahoo 
 see and Flint rivers, down to their junction, and although occu- 
 pied by a great number of different tribes, the whole are called 
 Oowi'taulgas, or Coweta people, from the Cowetan town and 
 tribe, the most warlike and ancient of any in the whole nation. 
 The lower or southern district takes in the river Apalachicola, and 
 extends to the point of £. Fbrida, and is called the country of 
 the Seminoles. Agriculture » as far advanced with the Indians, 
 as it can well be, without the proper implements of husbandry.... 
 A very large majority of the nation being devoted to hunting in 
 the winter, and to war or idleness in summer, cultivate but small 
 parcels of ground, barely sufficient for subsistence. But many 
 individuals (particularly on Flint river, and among the Chehs.v<r}, 
 who possess numbers of negroes) have fenced fields, tcierably 
 well cultivated; having no ploughs, they break up the ground 
 with hoes, and scatter the seed promiscuously over the ground, 
 iii hills but not in roivs. They raise horses, cattle, fowli; and 
 hogs. The only articles they manufacture are eartbern pots and 
 pan?, baskets, horse-ropes or halters, smoaked leather, black mar- 
 ble pipes, wooden spoons, and oil fVom acrons, hickory nuts and 
 cht'snuts. They consist of the Appalachies, Alabamies, Abecai, I 
 Cawittaws, Coosas, Conshacks, Coosactees, Chacsihoomas, Nat- 
 chez, Oconies, Oakmulgies, Okohoys, Pakanas,'Taer)sa8;, Taila- 
 pookas, Weetumkas, and some others. Their union has rendered 
 ihenr victorious over the Chactaws, and formidable to all the na- 
 tions around them. They are a well made, expert, hardy, saga' 
 cious, politic people, extremely jealous of their rights, and averse j 
 to patting with their lands. They have abundance of tame cat 
 tie and swine, turkies, ducks and other poultry ; they cultivate to- 1 
 bacco, rice, Indian corn, potatoes, beans, peas, cabbage, melons,! 
 and have plenty of peaches, plums, grapes, strawberries, andj 
 other fruit?. They are faitlrful friends, but ipveterate euetriCv 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 t06 
 
 lospitable to 8tran&;er8, and honest und fair iq their rieah'ng?. 
 The countr}' which they claim ix bounded northward by about 
 the 34th degree of latitude ; and extends from the Tombeckbve^ 
 or Mobile river, to the Atlantic ocean, though they have ceded a 
 part of this tract on the sea coa<it, by different treaties, to the state 
 of Georgia. Their principal towns lie in lat. 32 and long. 11 20 
 from Philadelpha. They are settled in a hilly but not mountain* 
 «ug country. The soil ii fruitful in a high degree, and well wa- 
 tered, abounding in creik.s and rivulets, from whence they are 
 called the Creet /ndian^." 
 
 In addition to the foregoing, the following is from the MS. 
 lourual of an intelligent traveller : 
 
 « Coosa river, and its many branches, form the western line 
 of settlements or villages of the Creeks, but their huntirijr grounds 
 extend 200 miles beyond, to the Tombigbee, which is iht? di- 
 viding line between their country and that of the Chactaw? 
 
 The smallest of their towns have from twenty to thirty houses in 
 then, and some of theai contain from 150 to 200, that are whol- 
 \\ compact. The houses stand in clustf-rs of four, five, .«ix, eeven 
 a.d eight together, irregularly distributed up and down the banks 
 of the rivers or i-mall streams. Each cluster of houses contain a 
 jia!), or family of relations, who eat and live in common. Each 
 toAii has a public square, hot house and yard near the centre of 
 it, appropriated to various public uses. The following are the 
 names of ti>e principal towns of the Upper and Lower Cre- ks, 
 that have public squares ; beginning at tht head of the Coora or 
 Coosahatcha river, viz. Upper Ufatas, Abbacoochees, Natchez, 
 CoojaSj Oteetoocheenas, Pine, Catchas, Pocuntullahases, Weeo- 
 kee8, Little Tailas«ie, Tuskeegees, Coosadas, Alabamas, Tawasas, 
 Pawactas, Autobas, Auhoba, Weelumpkees Big, Weelumpkees 
 Little, Wacac6}s, Wecksny, Ocliees. The following towns pre 
 in the central, inland and high country, between the Coosa and 
 Tallapoosa rivers, in the district called the .Hitlabees, viz. Hilla- 
 beet, Killeegko, Oakchoys, Slak^gulgas, and Wacacoys. On the 
 waters of the Tallapoosa, from the head of the river downward, 
 the following, viz. Tuckabatchee, Tehassa,Totacaga, New Youka, 
 Chnlancpauley, Loguspogiis, Oakfuskee, Ufala Little, Ufala Big, 
 Sogahatches, Tuokaabatchees, Big Tallassec, or half-way-house, 
 Cle.vaieys, Coosahatches, Coolamies, Shawanese or Savanas, 
 Keiihulka, and Muckeleses. The towns of the Lower Creeks, 
 brginning on the head waters of the Chattahoosee, and so on 
 downwards, are Chelu Ninny, Chattahoosee, Hohtatoga, Cowetas, 
 Cuasitas, Chalagatscor, Broken Arrow, Euchees several, Hitcha- 
 teeg several, Palachuolo, Chewackala. Beside *wenty towns and 
 villages of the Little and Big Chehaus, low down ort Flint and 
 
 2 L 
 
 fm 
 
 ft. 
 
 j, , -' I" 
 
 
U06 
 
 SKETCHES nv 
 
 i,: ^ 
 
 < 
 
 I? 
 
 .' ■■% 
 
 
 U '. 
 
 Chattaiiuoiiec rivers. From their roving and unsteady niaiiiict oi 
 living, it is inipostiible to determine with mucli pn ci.siun, the nutn. 
 ber of Indians that compose the Creek nation. Gin. ^]'Ulllivr^y 
 estimates the number of gun men to be between 5 and tiOOO, i y;. 
 elusive of the Seminoles, who are of little or no account in w^r 
 except as small parties of marauders, acting independent oi' the 
 general interest of the others. The whole number of inclividuals 
 may be about 25 oi 26000 souls." ^ -^ . 
 
 Of the manners and customs of the Creeks, in addition to th: 
 foregoing, the following extract, written by Benj. Hawkins, tit^. 
 may not be unamusing : . " * 
 
 « There is a practice called HoithlfikillissowaUt (or war phypir,, 
 whicii is described in the lollowing terms ;. ..When young intn 
 arc going to war, they go into the " hot house" of the town, 
 This is called T/i/wcco, (or the rotunda.) It is near the gnat I 
 square, is of an octagonp.l shape, 30 iert wide and 12 Oet high. 
 In the middle, on a i^niall elevation, Kre is kindled It iv tl)e as- 
 sembly-room, where the men, wi men and children gather toge- 
 ther every evening to recn ate themselvi s with singing, aancing 
 and conversation; and in it, sonietime.s in ver) cold \\t atht r, tue 
 old and naked sleep. It is walled and clayed up on the out>!df, I 
 and the entrance is through a small door. In the hot house the 
 warriors remain four days. They drink the Micco hoyotiijuv,ii)i 
 the possau, and they eat the souwatchevf a very bittei root, 
 which has the power of intoxicating or maddening. On the 
 fourth day they conu- out, have their knapsack r( ady, and march, 
 This knapsack is an old blanket, containing some parched corn, 
 flour, and leather to patch moccasins. They carry in their yhot- 
 bags a charm, like Ohi, a protection against all ills, called " war- 
 physic," composed of Chitto-Yabby and Istepeupau, or the bones 
 of the snake and of the lion. 
 
 *' The tradition of this physic is, that in old times th(; lion [u- 
 tppaupru] devoured the people. The} dug a pu, and caught him 
 in it just as he had killed one of them. They covered him with 
 light wood hnots, and burued him, but preserved his bones. The 
 snake was in the water. The old people sang, and he showed 
 himself. They sang again, and he showed himself a little out of 
 the water. The third time he showed his horns, and they cut off 
 one. Again he showed himself a fourth time^ and they cut uff 
 the oiiicr horn. 
 
 " A piece of these horns, and thd; bones of the lioDj, is the grtat 
 tvar phasic of the Creeks." 
 
 
 4 
 

 THK WAR. 
 
 267 
 
 CHAPTER XX rn. 
 
 II' 
 
 iiavnl..»Lai-(^ Eric. .^.Battle with and capture of thf British 
 
 fifet ,...lntprf§Hnfr anecdotes of the batttle Biography of 
 
 Commodore Herry, 
 
 Previous to a detail of the aifaird on th« ocean in 1813, we 
 iitnli ikotice 8uch event* as fran»(Mred on the respective lakes dur- 
 m^ that year, an t>^in^ more immediately connected with the ope- 
 ,Mtiiii>s of the land forces. 
 
 Towaid? the jatter end of Msirch, Csipt. P^rry arrived at the 
 |,;)rt of Erie, to talte command of the fleet there fitting out. The 
 Anerican force at that time on the lake consiisted but of several 
 -mall vessels; two of the best of which had recently been cap- 
 tared from the enemy in a 8;allant style by Capt. Elliot, from un- 
 dir the very batteries of fort Erie. The British force was greatly 
 tuperior, and commanded by Commodore Barclay, an able and 
 well-tried officer. Commodore Perry immediately applied him- 
 lelf to increase his armament, and having ship canictuers from 
 th»' Atlantic coast, and using extraordinary exertions, iwo brigs of 
 2()i;uns each were soon launched at Erie, the American port on 
 I \k lake. 
 
 While the vessels were constructing, the British squadron ho- 
 Iwed off the harbour, but offered no molestaticii. At '.^ngth, 
 hit vestsel!* being equipped and manned, on tlie 4th of August, 
 Commodore Perry succeeded in getting his squadron over the bar 
 at the (Ti^uth of the harbour. The water ou the bar was but five 
 frrt deep, and the large vessels had tc be buoyed over : this wa« 
 accomplished in the face of the Britiv:'!. who fortunately did not 
 thiuk proper to make an attack. Th ne.<\ Hfv tie fsiled m pur- 
 niit of the enemy, but returned on ie 8th, ^> ithout having en- 
 countered him. Being reinforcd 'k *»he arr ' >i oJ the brave El- 
 lint, accompanied by several o-i3iis and 89 -tailor?, he was ena- 
 bled completely to man his aqun ;irrn> and agaiu "^t sail on the 
 I2th, in quest of the enemy. Gn xw 15th he arrved at San- 
 dtwky Ba^, where the American -. f»iy, undtr Gen. Harrison, lay 
 tncamped. From thence he cruwed off Maiden, where the Bri- 
 
 tiih .-^quadron remained at anchor, rnder the guns of the fort 
 
 The appearance of Perry's j<quadron spread great alarm on 
 jliore ; the women and children ran shrieki»g about the place, 
 oxpeciing un immediate attack. T'le Indiai ^^, wl are told, looked 
 oil *vith dfitonishment, and urged the British to fjo out and fight. 
 Finding the enemy not diHpo««4t to vewtMre a t»* ti^'p, C«sr>nDO(i«re 
 
 "'Try r"tMrne*t to ;saHdM»tkv. 
 
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 ^ibTCiiki; o« 
 
 Mothwig of momeut happened until the morninj^ of the loth oi 
 S«^ptember. The Americai) squadron were, at that tinif, l}inj?a; 
 anchor in Put-in Bay, and consisted of brigs La-wrence, Commo 
 d re Porry, 20 guns ; Niagara, Capt. Elliot, 20 do.; Caledonia 
 Purser M»Grath, 3 do. ; schooners ^-^riel, Lieut. Packet, 4 do • 
 Scorpion, Sailing Master Champlin, 2 do. ; Somcr.s, Almy,. 2 do! 
 ai]d 2 swivels ; Tigress, Lieut. Conklin, 1 do. ; Porcupine, Mij. 
 shipmnn G. Seuat, 1 do.; sloop Trippe, Liiut. Smith, 1 do; jq 
 all 54 guns. 
 
 At sunrise they discovered the enemy, and immediately got un- 
 der way and stood for him with a light wind at southwest. The 
 British force consisted of ship Detroit, i9 guns, 1 on pirot, and 2 
 hovvifzers; Queen Charlotte, 17 do. I on pivot; schooner Lady 
 Prevost, Id do. 1 on piv-t ; brig Hunter, 10 do. ; sloop Little 
 Betr, 3 do; sctiuoner Chippeway, 1 do. 2 swivels; in all 03 
 guns. 
 
 At 10 A. M. the wind haled to the southeast ?.nd brought our 
 squadron to windward. Commodore Perry then hoisted his iinion 
 j»( k, having for a motto, the dying words of the valiant Law- 
 rence, " Don't give up the ship!" It was received with repeatfd 
 choc rings by the officers and crews. And now having fcrmvd 
 hi« line he bore for the enemy ; who likewise cleared for action, 
 and haled up his courses. It is deeply interesting to picture t» 
 ourielves the advances of these gallant and well-matched squad- 
 rons to a contest, wh« re the strife must be obstinate and «an 
 giiinary, aud the event decisive of the fate of almost an em- 
 pire. 
 
 The lii^htness of the wind occasioned them to approach each 
 other but slowly, aud prolonged the awful interval of suspeote 
 and anxiety tliar precedes a battle. Thio is the time when the 
 stoute.«t heait beats quick, "and the boldest holds his breath;" it 
 if the still moment of direful expectation ; of fearful looking out 
 for slaughter and drstruction ; when even the glow of pride and 
 ambition is chilled fur a while, and nature shudders at the awful 
 jeopardy of existence. The very order and regularity of naval 
 discipline heijj^hteti the dreadful quiet of the momeut. No bu»t 
 no noise prevails to distract the mind, except at intervals, the 
 shrill piping of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring whifiper 
 among the men, who, grouped around their guns, earnestly re- 
 gard the moveme-jts of the foe, now and then stealing a wi.xtfu) 
 glance at the countenances of their commanders, in this maii- 
 Der did the hostile squadrons approach each other, in mute watch- 
 fulness aud terrible tranquility ; when suddenly a bugle was sound- 
 ed from on board the enemy's ship Detroit, and loud huzzas' im- 
 mediately burst fortii from all their crews. 
 
 No sooner did the Lawrence come within reach of the cnemv'i 
 i^nnr ijuns, than they opened a heavy tire upon her, which, from. 
 
mn WAA« 
 
 2tf9 
 
 Is ; in all 03 
 
 \ta »hoituci8 ot* her f^uns, she was -unable to returu. Commo- 
 dore Perry, without waiting for his schooners, kept on his course 
 iu such gallant and determined style that the enemy supposed it 
 was his intention to board. In a lew minutes, having gained a 
 nearer position, he opened his fire. The length of the enemietP 
 guns, however, gave them vastly the advantage, and the Law- 
 rence was excessively cut up without being able to do any great 
 dimage in return. Their shot pierced her sides in all derectioos, 
 killing our men on the birth deck and in the steerage, where they 
 had been taken down to be dressed. One sliot had nearly produ- 
 efd a fatal ex^iuNion ; passing through the light room it knocked 
 the snuff of the caudle into the magazine ; fortunately the gun- 
 ner happened to see it, and had the presence of mind to extin- 
 guish it immediately with his hand. 
 
 ludeed, it seemed to be the enemy's plan to de^.troy the com- 
 nodore's ship, and thus throw the squadron into confusion. For 
 this purpose tneir heaviest fire was directed at the Lawrence, and 
 kidztd incessantly upon it from their largest vessels. Finding the 
 hazard of his situation. Perry made sail, and directed the other 
 vessels to follow for the purpose of closing with the foe. Tiie 
 tremendous fire, how^-ver, to which he was exposed, soon cut 
 sway every brace and bowline^ and the Lawrence became ua 
 manageable. , „ 
 
 £ven in this disastrous plight, she sustained the action for up- 
 wards of two hours, within canister distance, though for a great 
 part of the time he could not get more than three guns to bear 
 upon her antagonists. It was admirable to behold the perfect or- 
 der and regularity that prevailed among her valiant and devoted 
 crew, thioughout this scone of horror. No tripidation, no cow- 
 iufion occurred, even for ai) instant ; as fast as the men wero 
 wounded they were carried below and others stept into their pla 
 
 ces; the dead remuinrd where they ffll until after the action 
 
 At this juncture the fortune of the battle trembled on a point, and 
 {he < Derny believed the day thei» own. The Lawrence was re- 
 duced to a mere wrtck; her decks were strtaming with bloody 
 and covered with m;<njjled Jiiiiba and the bodies of the slain i 
 nearly the whole of her crew was either killed or wounded; her 
 guns were dismounted, and the commodore and his ollicers help- 
 ed to Work the last that was capable of service. 
 
 Amidst all this peril and disaster, the y >uthful commander is 
 iaid to iiave remained perfectly composed, maintaining u serene 
 and cheerful countenance, uttering no paf.sionate or agitated ex- 
 pression, giving out hi.s orders with calmness and deliberation, 
 aud inspiriting every one around him by his magnanimous de- 
 meanour. 
 
 At this crisis, finding the Lawrence was incapable of further 
 tfltvicc, and seeing the hazardons sittiatioii of tnc conflict, htr 
 
 ■M ^^ 
 
 'y% 
 
270 
 
 jaih'rcHKs o» 
 
 -i 
 
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 '^iH 
 
 
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 f 
 
 formed ihe lioiu rcSoiuiion of shifting his Hag. Giving the sinp 
 therefore, in chargr to Lieut. Varnall, who had nlread} dLstin- 
 guUhed hin)Krlt by his bravery, hf hnled down his union, bearing 
 the motto of Lawrence, and taking it under his arm, ordered to 
 be put on board of the Niaj^ara, which was then in close engage- 
 ment. In leaving the Lawrence he gave his pilot choice eitiier 
 to remain on board, or accompany him ; the faithful lellow told 
 him " he'd stick by him to the last," and jumped into the boat. 
 He went off from the sMp in his uxual gallant manner, standing 
 up in the stern of the boat, until tlie crew absolutely pulled him 
 down among them. Broadsidt s were levelled at him, and annH 
 arms discharged by the enemy, two of whose vessels were with 
 in musket shot, and a third one nearer. His brave shipmates who 
 remained behind, stood watching him, in bf^-athlcss anxiety ; the 
 balls struck a»nund him and flew over his head in every direction; 
 but the same special providince that seems to have watched over 
 the youthful hero throughout this desperate battle, conducted hitn 
 safely through a shower of shot, and they beheld with transport 
 his inspiring flag hoisted at the mast head of the Niagara. No 
 sooner was he on bo'ird, than Capt. Elliot volunteered to put off 
 in a boat and brin^i; into action the schooners which had bt(n 
 kept astern by the lightne^j: of the wind ; the gallant offer war 
 accepted, and Elliot left the Niagara to put it in execution. 
 
 About this time the commodore saw, with infinite regret, the 
 flag ol the Lawrence conie down. The event was unavoidable ; 
 she hf*.! sustained :iie whole fury of the enemy, and wr^ render- 
 ed ir-.capable o'i defejicc ; any further ?how of resistance would 
 but have been most uselessly and cuelly to have provoked car- 
 nage among the relics of her brave and mangled crew. The 
 enemy, however, were Jiot able to take possession of her, aiid 
 subsequent circumytances enabled her again to hoist her flag. 
 
 Commodore Perry now made signal for close action, and the 
 small vessels got out their sweeps and made all sail. Finding 
 that the Niagara was but little injured, he determined, it possi- 
 ble, to break the enemy's line. He accordingly bore up and pass 
 ed aliead of the two ships and l>rig, giving them a raking fire 
 from his starboard gui.s, and also to a large schooner and sloop 
 from his larboard side at half pistol shot. Having passed the 
 whole squndror, he luffed up and laid his ship along side the Bri 
 tiph commodore. The smaller vessels under the direction of Capt 
 Eiii'.ot, liaving, in the mean time, got within grape and cannisttr 
 distance, x\v.' keeping up a well-directed fire, the whole of the 
 enemy .'Struck cxcopting two small vessels which attempted toe? 
 cape, hut were taken. 
 
 The engagement lasted about three hours, and never was vie 
 tory more docitivc and complete. The c;iptutod .squadron, as liaj 
 ^nn "I'own, «'\-cocded otirs in weight of metal and number o' 
 

 TUK WAU. 
 
 271 
 
 i« the sliip, 
 fHd} dLsiin. 
 ion, bearing 
 , ordered to 
 ose engage- 
 hoice eitiier 
 fellow told 
 ito the boat, 
 er, standing 
 y pulled him 
 n, uiid 8ITHI1 
 1 were witli 
 ip mates who 
 inxiety ; the 
 \y direction; 
 atched over 
 nducted him 
 ith transport 
 iagara. No 
 cd to put off 
 h had bicn 
 knt offer war 
 cution. 
 ? regret, the 
 inavoidablc ; 
 wr* render- 
 ancc would 
 (evoked car- 
 crew. The 
 of licr, and 
 er flag. 
 Ion, and the 
 III. Finding 
 led, it possi- 
 I up and pass 
 raking fire 
 and sluop 
 passed the 
 lide the Bri 
 ion of Capt 
 pel cannisltr 
 lliole of the 
 mpttd to e} 
 
 |cr was vie 
 Iron, as has 
 number o' 
 
 /uas. Their crews were also more numerous ; ours were a mot- 
 ley collection, where there were some good seamen, but eked out 
 with soldiers, volunteers and bo^8,and many were on the sick list. 
 More prisoners were taken than we had men to guard. ^\e lost 
 on both sides was severe. Scarcely any ol the Lawre. rew 
 
 escaped unhurt. Amor^g those slain was Lieut. Brooks ot the ma* 
 rinei, a gay and elegant . young ullicer, full of spirit, of amiable 
 manners, and remarkable for his personal beauty. Lieut. Yarnali, 
 tbuuj(h repeatedly wounded, refused to quit the deck during the 
 whole of the action. Commodore Perry, notwithxtanding that 
 he was continually in the most exposed situations of the battle, es- 
 caped uninjured ; he wore an orclinnr) sea man'ti dress, which, per- 
 haps, prevented hjni from being picked off by the enemy's sharp 
 shooters. He had a youne;er broth* r with him on board the Law- 
 rence, as midshipman, who was equally fortunate in receiving no 
 injury, though his shipmates fell all round him. Two Indian 
 chiefs had been ^jtationed in the lops »f the Detroit, to shoot down 
 our orticers, but when the action became warm, so panic struck 
 were they with the terrors of the scene, and the strange perils 
 thit surrounded them, that they fled precipitately to the hold of 
 tlie ship, uh«re they were found after the brittle in a state of ut- 
 trr con.<ternation. The bodies of sev« ral other Indians are said 
 :o have been found tin* next day on the shares ot the lake, sup- 
 posed to have been slain during the cngngement and thrown over' 
 board. 
 
 The loss of the British, in hilled and wounded, is estimated at 
 160, «nd that of the Americans at 1?3. Onboard the British 
 tliet, the captain and first lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte 
 were killed. Com. Barclay, of the Lady Prevost, was severely 
 wounded and lost his hand. He, however, did himself honour by 
 ibf brave and obstinate resi.^tance which he made. He is a fine 
 looking oAicer, of about 36 years of age. He has seen much 
 service, having been desperately wounded in the battle of Trafal- 
 gar, and afterwards losing an arm in another engagement with 
 the Freuch. In the present battle he was twice carried below, 
 on account of his wounds, and had the misfortune to have bis re* 
 maioing hand shot jway. While belo«v the second time, his of- 
 ficer came down and told him that they must strike, as the ships 
 were cut to pieces, and the men could not be kept to their gun?. 
 Com. Barclay vvas then carried on deck, and after taking a view 
 of their situation, and finding all chance of success was over, re- 
 luctantly gave orders to strike. 
 
 Interesting anecdotes of the battle an lake S^rie.....It is a trite 
 remark, that general descriptions of battles present no images t« 
 the mind. We read with little emotion of broadsides discharged, 
 %« cut to pieces^ and number^ kiUvd and wounded ; hut when 
 
 mm. 
 
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 >1 
 
 i 
 
 
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z^ 
 
 HKETCHEiJ OV 
 
 1 i 
 
 It: Si J 
 
 particulflri ate given us, when (he imminent risks, 9r pWetut in 
 asters of individiials are detailed, we fancy ourselves in their si- 
 tuation, and in a manner mingle personally in the conflict. Iq 
 addition to the account before given of the engagement on lakr 
 Erie, several circumstances have reached us, which give a moro 
 vivid idea of the nature of the fight, and ehov^ the incessant and 
 thickening perils with which the gallant Perry was surrounded. 
 
 It was his lot repeatedly to see men swept away from his side- 
 some even while conversing with him. One of these insiancci 
 displays the coolness and presence of mind that prevailed amoiii 
 the officers, and indeed throughout the «<hip, ciiMblnii; them even 
 to jest with present dangers. The second lieutenant of the Law- 
 rence, while standing beside Commodore Perry, was rtruck ii 
 the breast by a chain shot. The shot having passed througii the 
 bulwark, had no other effect than to knock him down, and Iddge 
 in the bosom of his waistcoat. He All with an exclriination^aiid 
 
 remained for a moment stunned by the violence of the blow 
 
 Perry raised him up, and seeing no marks of a wound, gave him 
 some cheering words, and told him he could not be hurt. The 
 lieutenant coming to himself, put his hand into his bosom, pulkd 
 out the shot and exclaiming, ** No, no, but this is my shot,'* thrust 
 it, with great sang froid, into his pocket. 
 
 In the course of the action Perry noticed a prime and favorite 
 sailor, who was captain of one of the guns, very much embarraii. 
 ed with his piece, which in coniequence of the firelock being 
 broken was rather unmanageable and rebounded. Perry ap- 
 proached him, and in his usual encouraging manner, asked him 
 what was the matter. The honest tar, who had been showing 
 signs of infinite vexation, turned round, and as if speaking of a 
 mistress, exclaimed reproachfully, "sir, my gun behaves shame- 
 fully — ahamefully !" He then levelled, and having taken aim, rais- 
 ed up and squared himself in a fine martial style, when suddenly 
 a cannon ball struck him in the breast, passed through him, and 
 he fell dead without a groan ! 
 
 Lieutenant Yarnail, of the Lawrence, behavbd throughout with 
 great bravery and coolness. He was dressed as a common sea- 
 man, a red bandana handherchief was tied round his neck, and 
 another round his head, to stanch two wounds which he had re- 
 ceived. From these the blood trickled down his face, and a splin- 
 ter having passed through his nose it had swelled to a hideous 
 magnitude. In this frightful plight, looking like the very genius 
 of carnage and ill luck, he came up to Perry, in the hottest and 
 bloodiest of the fight, and announced to him that all the officers of 
 his division werr- killed. Perry ordered others in their place. 
 Shortly aftor, Y.irnalt relu Tied with a repetition of the dismal ti- 
 dings that an thf rflRrrrt wern shot down ? Then sir, said Pert}^ 
 
THE WAIU 
 
 873 
 
 ( 
 
 Wi 
 
 ,ou must endeavor to make out by yourself, I have no more to 
 fuinisli you. 
 
 Oii« circumstance which Pt-rry relates, destrves particular nieu- 
 tioti. It has in it tJomething of sentiment timt is ab-jve cocmnun 
 life, and absolutely bjfjongs to potiry. Wlien in the sweeping 
 havoc that was sometimes made, a number of men were sliot 
 away from around a gun, th" survivo.s looked silmtly round to 
 P/'rry.... and then stepped into their places. Whenever he hoked 
 at the poor fellows that lay wouniud and weltering on tin* derk, 
 he always found th'ir faces turned towards him, and their ryes 
 fixed on his count nance. It is itnposMble for words to ht-ighten 
 the simple and HUVctinp; elocjinnce of this anecdote. It rpeuks 
 volumes in praise of the heroism of the coninuinder, and the loyal 
 affection of his fullowt-rs. 
 
 When Perry went off from the Lawrence to sh'ft his flag to 
 the Niagara, he stood up in the boat galianlly waving his sword, 
 and was heard cheeringly to exclaim, *pult nxvay my brave boys!* 
 Sj earnest was he, that though tin balls whistled around him, he 
 could scarcely be made to take a seat, and au old »a<lor, who had 
 been in both battles of the Constitiiti n, absjlutel\ held him down. 
 
 Just after he had got ot\ bonid Vv Niagara, and was on the 
 quarter deck, a j-ailor who cominimdtd one of the guns, seeing 
 all his men shot down, turned with tagtrnt ss to Perry, and lay- 
 ing both hands upon his shoulders, extiaimid, * for God's saki ,sir, 
 gii/e me some more men !' Such v\;is the vivid animation tliit pre- 
 vailed among all ranks, they had lost nil sense ofptrsonal danger, 
 and thought of nothing but vict >ry. 
 
 When the Niagara dashed thnnigh the enemy's line, as she 
 passed the Lady Prcvost, Lieutminit Buchan, the omnnnder of 
 that vessel, was shot through tUe lace b} a mu«ket ball.. .The ves- 
 jeU were then within half pstol shot so that every tiling could be 
 jeen distinctly from one f) the other. Tne crew of the Lady 
 Prcvost, unable in their cripplid state to stand thf fire of the Nia- 
 gara, ran below ; but th» ir unfortunate commander remained on 
 deck, and Perry saw him leaning on the companion way, with 
 his face on his hand, looking xvith tixeJ stare at his enemies. Per- 
 ry immediately silenct d the marines on the qu;iiter deck, Hud 
 running forward ordered the ni' ii to ctast fiiin«{. He afterwards 
 learnt that the strange conduct of Lieutt naut Uuchan was owmg 
 to sudden derangement, caused by his wvjuiid. He was a brave 
 jfliccr, and had distinguished himself in the battle of the Nile. 
 While Perry was engaged at close quarters iu t'lC Niagara, 
 Lieutenant Turner, a tine brave young !-ailor, who co.ninanded 
 the brig Caledonia of three guns, spreading every sail, endeavor- 
 ed to get into the action. His foresail interfered between him 
 and the enemy, but ratiier than t.^ke in an uich of canvass, he 
 sri'^red his mm tn fire through it. Seeing th»^ «»'#tum')(loic enga- 
 
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 ?'ll|l 
 
 >S 
 

 ..»»' 
 
 V M 
 
 274 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 
 ged in the thickcRl of the tiglit, he propose 'I to tlif connnandor oi 
 aiiotlier nmall vr* vl, to board the Dt-ttoit ; the other hov\tvtr 
 pru<l« ntly decliniO tho 'ash, hut galluiii proposal. 
 
 It lias hPt'ii mentioned that two Indians were on board the Dt 
 troit, stationed in the topx, to pick oft' our ollicir« with their riflij. 
 No 80(<n«r however did the ship« come into close HCtioii, than tliey 
 were dismayed by this new and trcnu jidous bpecies ol buttle, and 
 slunk into the hold. When the chip was taken they nnticipaud 
 cruel treatment, if their ftation was discovered, and •'borrowtd 
 «Bilor8 clothes that th*f\ might pafs fur KngliMimen. Thu« disguij. 
 ed, they lay in chm- ''onct aline it fv)r two c'ay?, when word wai 
 brought to commodore Perry, tli.it two Indians were concealed 
 below who had not taatt d food for eight and forty hours. He hiid 
 them brought up on deck, v\here tht y made a most uncouth and 
 ludicrous appearance, with their borrowed garments bigfi[ing 
 about thf m They expected nothing less than to be butchered and 
 scalped; but notwithstanding, preserved the most taciturn inf)»x- 
 ibility of muscle. Perry however after putting a few good hu- 
 mored questions to them, ordered them to bt taken aw a) and 
 fed; a degree of lenity which seemed to strike them with more 
 8ui prise than their stoic natures are apt to evince. 
 
 The only time that the coolness and sell command of Perry ex- 
 perienced any thing of a shock, was on seeing his young bn ther 
 knocked down by a hammock, which had been driven in by a 
 ball. In the momentary agony of mind he gave him lip as slain, 
 but had the delight to see him rise up perfectly unhurt. 
 
 We shall close these few particulars of this gallant and roman* 
 tic affair, with the affecting fate of Lieutenant Brookes of the 
 jPiirines. H present* an awful picture of the scenes which the 
 vanior witnesses in battle....his favorite companions suddenly cut 
 dryxn before his eyes... .those dreadful transitions from the flush of 
 health and the vivacity of youth, to the ghastliness of agonizing 
 death.. ..from the cheering and the smile, to the shriek and the 
 convulsion. " 
 
 Brookes was a gay, animated young officer, remarkable for 
 h's p' rsonal bj^auty. In the midst of the engagement he accosted 
 Perry in a spirit* d tone with a smile on his countenance, and wai 
 making s«ime observations about the enemy, when a cannon ball 
 striiek tum in the thigh, and dashed him to the opposite side of 
 ihe deck. The blow shattered him dreadfully, and the sudden 
 aneuish, forced from him the most thrilling exclamations. He 
 implored P( r»y to shoot him and put an end to his torture....the 
 latter directed some of the mariners to carry him below and con- 
 sign him to the surgeon. The scene was rendered more affect- 
 ing, by the conduct of a little mulatto boy of twtlve years of age, 
 a favorite of Brooke.*. ...He carried cartridges to one of the guns, 
 but on scehig his matter fallj he threw bimself upou the deck. 
 
 ■: ■ ii 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 275 
 
 ■i nS 
 
 With the mofit frantic gesticulations and piercing cries, exclaiming 
 tiiat his miiMter was killed ; nor could he be uppia^t d until orotis 
 wi'D given to t iko him below ; when he inunediately returutd 
 to cairvmg ca'tridges. 
 
 Mr. Hanilton, the pur:>er, who had worked at a gun like « 
 sonmon sailor, being woiuidid, w.m cairicd below and iHid on 
 the oame mrftrHSs, with Bi cites. The wound of the latter wai 
 jt;<nched, and he lay coinposid, calmly awaitui^ his approitclniig 
 diuth. Hamilton obmrves, ihat he n^-ver looked so perfectly 
 beHUtiful as at this moment, when the anc;iiiiih of his wound had 
 impart) d a feverish fluKh over his usually blooniing countenance. 
 He -tsked with great solicitude after Perry, andr hosv the battle 
 went. He gHve a fi'W directions about his own aiTairs, and 
 while his voice was growing weaker and wi-aker, recommended 
 his little mulatto to kindness aiiJ protection, directing iuto \> hni'c« 
 huudi* he «houid be piaoed. While he was yet talking^ il<tm l> 
 ton's attention wii- suddenly attracted by some circumstance 
 which occasioned ' to look anotlu r way for a moment ; the 
 voice of his coni^ ,11011 died away upon his ear, and when he 
 turned his I'lce again, poor Brookes had expired. 
 
 Biography of Commodore Perry Olivkr Hazard Ph-RRY 
 
 utile eldest son if Christopher Raymond P« rry, E^q of the U. 
 Sti>'8' navv. H'' wh» bom at N'wport, (l\. 1.) in August, 1785, 
 an I t)i illy early destined for the navy, he entered the service in 
 17 )S, as inidiihipman, o ; board the sloop of war Ueiieral Gieen, 
 t'ltn commanded by his fathtr. When that ship went out of 
 commission he was transferred to a squadron destined to the Me- 
 diterranean, where he st'rved during tl»e Tripolitan war. His ex- 
 treme youth prevented his having an opportunity of distinguishing 
 hinself; but the faithfulness and intelligence with which he dis- 
 charged the duties of his station, recommended him greatly to 
 the favour of his superior officers ; while his private virtues, and 
 the manly dignity of his deportment, commanded the fiiendship 
 and respect of his associates. 
 
 On returning from the Mediterranean he conthmed seduously 
 attentive to his profession, and though the reduction of the navy, 
 and the neglect iuto which it fell during an interval oi peacf , dis- 
 heartened many of the otlicers, and occasioned several to resi^^n, 
 yet he determined to adhere to its fortunes, confident that it must 
 at some future period rise to importance. It would be little inte* 
 resting to enumerate the different vessels in which he served, or 
 to trace his advances through the regular grades. In 1810, we 
 find he was ordered to the U. S. schooner Revenge, as lieutenant 
 commandant. This vessel was attached to the squadron of Com- 
 modore Rodgcrs, at Newlondon, and employed in cruising iu the 
 Sound, to enforce the embargo act. In the following spring he 
 
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 SKETCHES OF 
 
 bad the misfortune to lose the Revenge on Wafch Hill Reef, of». 
 posite Stoney Town. He had sailed from Newport, late in the 
 evening, for Newlondon, with an «asterly wind, accoonppnitd by 
 a fog. In the morning he found himself envvloped in a thick 
 mii^t, with a coniderable swell going, la this, situation, without 
 any possibility of ascertaining where he was, or of guarding 
 against surrounding danger?, the vessel was carried on the reef, 
 and soon went to pieces. On this occasion Perry gave proofs of 
 that admirable coolness and presence of mind for which he is re- 
 markable. He used every piecaution to save the guns and prO' 
 perty, and was in a great measure successful. He got off all the 
 crew in perfect satet\,and was himself the last to leave the 
 wreck. His conduct in respect to this disaster underwent exami- 
 nation by a court of inquiry, at his own n quest, and he was not 
 merely acquitted of all blame, but highly applauded for the judg- 
 ment, intrepidity and perseverance he had displayed. The secre- 
 tary of the navy, Mr. Hamilton, also wiote him a very compii- 
 roentarv letter on the occasion. 
 
 Shortly after this event he returned to Newport, being pecu- 
 liarly attracted thither by a tender attachment for Miss Mason, 
 daughter of Dr. Mason, and niece of the Honourable Christopher 
 Chainpiin of the United States' senate ; a lovely and interesting 
 young lady, whom he soon after married. 
 
 At the beginning of 1812 he was promot^ to the rank of mas- 
 ter and commander, and ordered to the command of the flotilla 
 of gun-boats stationed at the harbour of Newyork. He remained 
 on this station about a year ; during which time he employed 
 himself diligently in disciplining his crew to serve either as lauds- 
 men or mariners ; atd brought his flotilla into ao admirable state 
 of preparation for active operations. 
 
 The gun-boat service, however, is at best but an irksome em- 
 ploy. Nothing can be more dispiriting for ardent and daring 
 minds than to be obliged to skulk about harbours and rivers, 
 cramped up in these diminutive vessels, without the hope of ex- 
 ploit to atone for present inconvenience. Perry soon grew tired 
 of this inglorious service, and applied to the secretary of the navy 
 to be ordered to a more active station, and mentioned the lakes 
 as the one he should prefer. His request was immediately com- 
 plied with, and he received orders to repair to Sacket's Hnrbour, 
 lake Ontario, with a body of mariners to reinforce the squadron 
 under Commodore Chauncey. So popular was he among the 
 honest tars under his command, that no sooner was the order 
 known than nearly the whole gf the crews volunteered to ac- 
 company him. 
 
 In a few days he was ready to depart, and tearing himself 
 fromthe comforts of home, and the endearments of a young and 
 beautiful wife and blooming child^ he set off at the h«ad of fi 
 
 *i 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 877 
 
 large number of chosen seamen, on his expedition to the wilder^ 
 ne«8. The rivers being completely frozen over, they were oblig- 
 ed to perform the journey by land, in the depth of winter. The 
 greatest order and good humour, however, prevailed throughout 
 the little band of adventurers, to whom the whole expedition 
 
 'seemed a kind of frolic, and who were delighted with what they 
 termed a land cruise. 
 
 Not long after the arrival of Perry at Sacket's Harbour, Com* 
 nodore Chauncey, who entertained a proper opinion of his me- 
 rits, detached him to lake Erie, to take command of the squadron 
 00 that station, and to superintend the building of additional ves* 
 teis. 
 
 The manner of his executing this trust, and the distinguished 
 part he took in the battle of the 1 0th of September, 1813, will 
 be found in the preceding pages. 
 
 Id this battle, we trust, incontrovertible proof is given, if such 
 proof were really wanted, that the success of our navy does not 
 arise from chance, or superijrity of force; but from the cool, de- 
 liberate courage, the intelligent minds and naval skill of our offi- 
 cers, the spirit of our seamen, and the excellent discipline of our 
 ships; from principles, in short, which must insure a frequency of 
 prosperous results, and give permanency to the reputation we 
 have acquired. We have been rapidly adding trophy to trophy^ 
 and successively driving the enemy from every excuse in which 
 besought to shelter himself from the humiliation of defeat; and 
 after having perfectly established our capability of fighting and 
 conquering in single ships, we have now gone further and shown 
 that it is possible for us to face the foe in squadron, and vanquish 
 him even though superior in force. 
 
 In casting our eye over the details of this engagement, we are 
 itruck with the prominent part which the commander takes.in the 
 contest. We realize in his dauntless exposure and individual 
 prowess, what we have read in heroic story, of the warrior^ 
 streaming like a meteor through the fight, and working wonders 
 with his single arm. The fate of the combat seemed to rest upon 
 his sword; he was the master spirit that directed the storm of 
 battle, moving amid flames, and smoke, and death, and mingling 
 wherever the struggle was most desperate and deadly. After 
 suitaining in the Lawrence the whole blaze of the enemy's can* 
 Donry; after fighting until all around him was wreck and car- 
 
 I nage ; we behold him looking forth from his shattered deck, with 
 unniffled countenance, on the direful perils that environed him, ' 
 calculating with wary eye the chances of the battle, and suddenly ^ 
 
 I launching forth on the bosom of Ihe deep, to shift his flag on ' 
 >§rd another ship, then in the hottest of the action. This was 
 
 JQ&e of those master strokes by which great events are achieved, ' 
 ind great characters stamped, as it were, at a single blow.,.. which 
 
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 bespeak the rare combination of the genius to conceive, the 
 promptness to decide, and the boldness to execute. Most com^ 
 mandera have such glorious chance» for renown, some time or 
 .another, within their reach ; but it requires the nerve of a hero 
 to grasp the perilous opportunity. We behold Perry following up 
 bis daring movement with sustained energy....dashing into the ' 
 squadron of the enemy....breaking their line....raking Htarboard 
 ^nd larboard....and in this brilliant style achieving a consummate 
 victory. 
 
 But if we admire his presence of mind and dauntless valour io 
 the hour of danger, we are no less delighted with his modesty 
 and self command amidst the flush of triumph. A courageous 
 heart may carry a man stoutly through the battle, but it arguej 
 some strong qnalities of head, to drain unmoved the intoxicating 
 cup of victory. The first care of Perry was to attend to the 
 oomfort of the suffering crews of both squadrons. The sick and 
 wounded were landed as scon as possible, and every means taken 
 to alleviate the miseries of their situation. The officers who had 
 fallen, on both sides, were buried on Sunday morning, on an island 
 In the lake, with the honours of war. To the surviving officers 
 he advanced a loan of one thousand dollars, out of his own limit* 
 ed purse.-.buf^ in short, his behaviour in this respect is b<st ex- 
 pressed in the words of Commodore Barclay, who, with generous 
 warmth and frankness, has declared, that ** the conduct of Perry 
 towards the captive officers and men, was sufficient^ of itself, to 
 immortalize him !^ 
 
 The letters which he wrote, announcing the intelligence, were 
 remarkably simple and laconic. To the secretary of the navy he 
 observes, " It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the 
 
 United States a signal victory over their enemies on this lake 
 
 The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two brigs, one 
 schooner, and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the 
 force under my command, after a sharp conflict.*' This has been 
 called an imitation of Nelson's letter after the battle of the Nile; 
 but it was choosing a noble precedent, and the important national 
 results of the victory justified the language. Independent of the 
 vast accession of glory to our flag, this conquest insured the cap- 
 ture of Detroit and the British army upon the Thames. Well 
 might he say, " it had pleased the Almighty," when, by this 
 achievement, he beheld immediate tranquillity restored to an im- 
 mense extent of country. Mothers no longer shrunk aghast, and 
 clasped their infants to their breasts, when they heard the shaking 
 of the forest or the howling of the blast ; the aged sire no 
 longer dreaded the shades of night, lest ruin should burst upon 
 him in the hour of repose, and his cottage be laid desolate by 
 the fire-brand and the scalping knife ; Michigan was rescued frooi 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 27» 
 
 iceive, \ht 
 Most coil), 
 ne time or 
 J of a hero 
 bllowingup I 
 ig into the^ 
 g iitarboard 
 :oDSummate 
 
 ess valour is 
 his modesty 
 i courageous 
 but it argueg 
 
 intoxicating 
 ittend to the 
 fhe sick and 
 means taken 
 :ers who had 
 y on an island 
 iving officers 
 lis own limit' 
 :t is b( St tx« 
 [vitb generous 
 iuct of Perry 
 
 , of itself| to 
 
 the dominion of the sword, and quiet and security once raiorc set- 
 tled on the harassfd frontiers, from Huron to Niagara. 
 
 But we are particularly pleased with his subsequent letter, giv- 
 ing the particulars of the battle. It is to chasttf, so moderate and 
 perspicuous ; equally free from vaunting exultation and affected 
 modesty ; neither obtruding himself upon notice, nor pretending 
 to keep out of sight. His own individual services may be gath- 
 ered from the letter, though not exprcaely mentioned ; indeed, ; 
 where the fortune of the day depended so materially upon him- 
 self, it was impossible to give a faithful narrative without render- 
 ing himself conspicuous. 
 
 We are led to notice these letters thus particularly, becauw 
 that we find the art of letter writing is an accomplishment a» 
 rare as it is important among our military gentlemen. We are 
 tired of the valour of the pen and the victories of the inkhorn.... 
 There is a common French proverb, ** Grand parleur, mauvais 
 combatant," which we could wish to see introduced into our 
 eouQtry, and engraven on the swords of our officers. We wish ^ 
 1 to see them confine themselves, in their letters, to simple facts,^ 
 jDeither swaggering before battle, nor vaunting afterwards. It is 
 unwise to boast before, for the event may prove disastrQus....and 
 it is superfluous to boast afterwards, for the event speaks for it- 
 self. He who promises nothing, may with safety perform no- 
 thing, and will receive praise if he perform but little; but he 
 who promises much will receive small credit unless he perform 
 miracles. If a commander have done well, he may be sure the 
 public will find it out, and their gratitude will be in proportion to 
 Ills modesty. Admiration is a coin, which, if left to ourselves,, 
 we lavish profusely, but we always close the hand when dunned 
 I for it. 
 
 Commodore Perry, lite most of oar naval officers, is yet in the 
 [prime of youth. He is of a manly and prepossessing appearance;.: 
 mild and unassuming in his address, amiable in his disposition, 
 and of great firmness and decision. ThougTi early launched 
 among the familiar scenes of naval life, (and nowhere is fami- 
 liarity more apt to be licentious and encroaching,) yet the native 
 gentility and sober dignity of his deportment, always chastened,^ 
 without restraining the freedom of intimacy. It is pleasing thus 
 to find public services accompanied by private virtues; to dis- 
 eover no drawbacks on our esteem; no base alloy in the man 
 we are disposed to admire ; but a character full of moral excel- 
 lence, of high-minded courtesy, and pure unsullied honour. '^ 
 
 Were any thing wanting to perpetuate the fame of this victory, 
 
 lit would be sufficiently memorable from the scene where it was 
 
 ibught. This war has been distinguished by new and peculiar 
 
 characteristics. Naval warfare has been carried into the interior 
 
 of a continent, and navies^ as if by magic, launched from among 
 
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200 
 
 ^KETCKKS, kii. 
 
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 the depths of the forest. The bosoms of peaceful lakes, whicii 
 but a short time since, were scarcely navigated by man, except 
 to be shimmed by the light canoe of the savage, have all at once 
 been ploughed by hostile ships. The vast silence that had reign. 
 ed for ages on those mighty waters, was broken ii>y the thunder 
 of artillery, and the affiighttd savage stared with amazennent 
 from his covert, at the sudden apparition of a sea fight amid the 
 solitudes of the wilderness. 
 
 The peal of war has once sounded on that lake, but probably 
 will never sound again. The last roar of cannonry that dieid 
 along her shores, was the expiring note of British domination .... 
 Those vast internal seas will, perhaps, never again be the sepa- 
 rating space between contending nations ; but will be embosomed 
 within a mighty empire ; and this victory, which decided their 
 fate, will stand unrivalled and alone, deriving lustre and petpe^ 
 tuity from its singleness. 
 
 In future times, when the shores of Erie shall hum with busy 
 population ; when towns and cities shall brighten where now ex- 
 tend the dark and tangled forest ; when ports shall spread their 
 arms, and lofty barks shall ride where now the canoe is fa>tene(l 
 to the stake ; when the present age shall have grown into vene- 
 rable antiquity, and the mists of fable begin to gather round its 
 history ; then will the inhabitants of Canada look back to this 
 battle we record, as one of the romantic achievements of the 
 days of yore. It will stand first on the page of their local le- 
 gends, and in the marvellous tales of the borders. The fisiher-' 
 man, as he loiters along the beach, will point to some half buried 
 cannon, corroded with the rust of time, and will speak of ocean 
 warriors that came from the shores of the Atlantic... whik the 
 boatman, as he trims his sail to the breeze, will chaunt in rude 
 ditties the name of Perry....the early hero of lake Erie.* 
 
 • For tlie rorsgoing chapter wc are indebted, cbielly, to the Auultvtie Magazine. 
 
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 SKETCHES 
 
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 im with busy 
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 spread their 
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 rie.* 
 
 viAgazine. 
 
 a> 
 
 if 
 
 CHVPTER XXIV. 
 
 kakp Ontario,. .Comparative vi^w of the American and British 
 forces in IHY'^ ...Co-op'^ ration of the Am"rican fleet in the 
 captures of York and fort George....Commodore Chauncey*^ 
 first cruise.. .Loss of the Growler and Julia....i hauncey*s se- 
 cond and third cruise.... His fourth cruise,. ..Capture of Jive 
 British transports. ...Lake Champlain....Loss of the Growler 
 and Eagle....D*'scent of the enemy on Plattsburgh....Ameri- 
 can naval Jorce on the lake, ^c. 
 
 Lake Ontario lo the spring of the year 1813, the Ameri- 
 cans had the foUowina^ vessels equipped on lake Ontario. Ship 
 Madison, 24 guns; Brig Oneida, 18 do.; schooner Governor 
 Tompkins, 6 do.; Hamilton, 9 do.: Julia, '2 do. ; Elizr«beth, 2 
 do. ; Lady of the Lake, 3 do. ; Conquest, •» do, ; Growit r, 5 do. ; 
 Pert, 3 do. ; Fair American, 4 do. ; Ontario, 1 do.; Scourge, 8 
 do. ; in all 93 guns....Also, the Mary, bomb vessel. During the 
 summer, the General Pike^ of thirty-two guns, was added to the 
 fleet. 
 
 The British fleet in the spring consisted of the following ves- 
 sels. Frigate General Wolfe, 36 guns ; ship Royal George, 22 
 do.; Prince Regent, i6 do.; brig Earl Moira, 12 do.; sevcB 
 schooners of from four to eight guns each. 
 
 Co-operof ton of the fleet in the captures of York and fort 
 
 (ireor^e On the 2Sth of April the Amfricai? fleet under Con »•. 
 
 Chauncey, left Sacket's Harbour for the purpose of convey- 
 ing the troops under the of command Gen. Dearborn, against the 
 British post at York. At this pi .le the flt'et arrived ou the 27th, 
 Th^ landing ef the troops was covered ia a nm8terlj,r mauaer by 
 
 rr., . .V : - 2 N ■ -\. 
 
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282 
 
 SKETCHES 0» 
 
 y. 
 
 
 
 the commodore. The Americans xuccerded in their aHacit upon 
 the town. A midshipman and some seamen of the fleet v.ere 
 killed. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey, after having returned to Saclu t's Har- 
 bour from York, again sailed, on the 22d of May, for tiie pur- 
 pose of cooperating in the reduction of the Britisli fort CJitorge. 
 This place was attacked on the 28th. The vessels of the Ain»ri- 
 can squadron were judiciously stationed to cover the landing of 
 the troops, and to silence the land batterifs of the Britich ; ii) the 
 latter they soon succeeded ; when a landing was efftcted, and 
 tht' fort taken by the Americans. 
 
 Capt. Perry had come down from lake Erie, and was in this 
 engagement. He rendered particular service to the comrnodorp, 
 by assisting in arranging and superintending the debarkatiou of 
 the troops. On board the fleet only one man was killed and U\o 
 wounded. 
 
 On the 2Sth of May, during th(i absence of the American fleet, 
 the British fleet, consisting of the General Wolfe, Royal Gtorge, 
 Prince Regent, Earl Moira, two armed schooners, aud a nuoiber 
 of gun boats, with a detachment of the British arm}, from King- 
 ston, attacked Sacket's Harbour ; the} were, however, gallauily 
 repulsed by the troops under the command of Brigadier General 
 Blown. A few days after this affair the American fleet returned 
 to Sacket's Harbour. 
 
 IV irm 
 
 Commodore Chavncey^s Jirst cruise In the latter part of 
 
 July, Commodore Chauncey left Sacket's Harbour with his fleet, 
 and on the 27th of the same month arrived off Niagara. Hav- 
 uig there taken about 250 infantry on board, he set sail. It had 
 been resolved to attack an encampment of the British ; but tne 
 latter being in greater force than had been supposed, the attempt 
 was abandoned ; and the fleet proceeded to York, where the ma- 
 rines and soldiers were landed under Col. Scott. ' A very conside- 
 rable quantity of British stores were either destroyed or conveyed 
 on board the fleet. The barracks and public store houses were 
 burnt. The fleet then returned to Niagara- 
 
 On the 7th of August, at daylight, the British fleet, consisting 
 of two 8hip8, two brigs, and two large schooners, were discover- 
 ed bearing W. N. W. They were about 5 or 6 miles distant, 
 and the wind at west. Commodore Chauncey, having passed the 
 leeward of the British line, and abreast of their van ship, the 
 Wolfe, hoi&ted American coloursj and fired aifew guns to ascer-l 
 tain whether the British vessels could be reached by his shot... 
 But discovering that they fell short, he wore and haled upon a I 
 wind on the starboard tack. The rearmpit of the American 
 schooners was then about six miles astern. The British wore in 
 
IV< 
 
 'SHE WAR. 
 
 28d 
 
 sut^Cftfiion, and haled upon a wind on the same tack ; but per- 
 ceivi'ig tilt Americans would be enabl' d to weather them upon 
 tht' next tack, they tacked and made all sail to the northward. 
 A"* soon as the rt-ar vessels of tht- American squadron could reach 
 the wake of the British, they tacked and made all sail in chuce. 
 Iij the afternoon the wind became very light, and towards night 
 a falm succeeded. The American schooners used their swetps 
 all the afternoon, in endeavours to close with the British, but 
 without success. Late in the afternoon Commodore Chauncey 
 made the sijjnal of recall, and formtd in closie order. During; the 
 ni^ht the wind was from ?he we8t>#.ard, and after midnight squal- 
 ly. All hands in the American squadron were kept at quarters, 
 and the vessels b^at to wmdwarfl, in expectation of gaining the 
 wnd of the Uritish, During; the iiijjht the two best American 
 sc't mn-^rs were upser, tn a htavy squall of wind, and sunk. Only 
 Id p< r^ons wfre saved from them; all the r^st perished. The 
 nnrii-'s of the schoou'TS were the Hamilton and Scourge, mount- 
 iiij; together 19 i?uos. This accident gave the British a decided 
 superiority. Comiuodoie Chauncey expected the British would 
 take the advant^jjt of this superiority; and the more so, as by a 
 change of wind they vv*re brought to windward of him. 
 He ace >rdingly fanued his line upon the larboard tack, and hove 
 to. Soon after, the British bore up and set studding sails, appa- 
 rently with the intention of bringing the Americans to action. 
 When they had approached within four miles, they brought to on 
 the starboard tack. The Americans then wore and brought to 
 on the sane tack Commodore Chauncey, perceiving the British 
 did not intend bringinj^ htm to action, edged away towards the 
 shore, in order to take advantage of the land breeze in the after- 
 noon It soon after became calm, when the commodore direct<^d 
 his schooners to sweep up and engage the British. About noon a 
 light breeze blew from the eastward. The commodore then took 
 the Oneida in tow, and made sail towards the British. When 
 the van of the American schooners was within one and a half or 
 two miles of the rear of the British, the wind shifted to the west- 
 ward, which again brought the latter to windward ; when they 
 bare up to the American schooners, in order to cut them off be- 
 fore they could be rejoined by Commodore Chauncey. But the 
 schooners succeeded in returning to their station. The British be- 
 ing thus foiled in their attempt upon the schooners, haled their 
 wind and hove to. The weather becoming very squally^ Chaun- 
 cey resolved to run in towards Niagara. The crews of the squad- 
 ron were nearly forty-eight hours at quarters. A detachment of 
 UO soldiers were received on board the American fleet, from 
 Niagara, to act as marines. 
 
 ' On the following morning the British fleet was discovered 
 bearing north. The American commodore immediately weighed 
 
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 anchor ond utood for tlipm The winds were lifl;ht und vHriablc, 
 and by 12 o'clock aere quite cairt). At 5 a frfgh breez*- bl. w 
 frorn the north, the Britisi) fleet then bearing north, about 4 <.r $ 
 Itai^uea distant. The vessels of the American fleet wore in sue- 
 c< 8»ion, and hah d upon a wind on the larboard tack. At sunset 
 the British bore N. W. by N. on the starboaVd tack. The 'vind 
 changing towards the westward, the American commodore stood 
 to the northward all night, in order to gain the north shore. At 
 daybreak he tacked to the wt-stward, the wind having then chan- 
 ged to N. N. W, ; soon after which he discovered the British 
 fleet, bearing S. W. The commodore made all sail in chase, 
 with the Asp, Madison and Fair American in tow. To his great 
 di.<Hppointmtnt, the wind, about 12 o'clock changed to W. S. W. 
 which again brought the British to windward. The commodore 
 forked to the northward ; but at 3 o'clock, the wind inclining to 
 the north, he wore to south and west, and made signal for ttie 
 fleet to make all sail. At 4 the British bore S. S. W. ; the Ame- 
 ricans steered after them. At 5 the former were becalmed un- 
 der the land, while the latter neared them very fast, with a fine 
 brf Hze from N. N. W. At 6 the Americans formed in line with- 
 in 4 miles of the British, the wind being then very light. At 7 
 the wind changed to S. W. and blew a fresh bieeze. This pla- 
 ced the British to windward. The American commodore then 
 tacked and haled upon a wind on the larboard tack, under easy 
 sail, the British standing after him. At 9 in the evening the Bri- 
 tish were within double gun shot of the rear of the Americans. 
 They then wore to the southward. The American commodore 
 stood to the north under easy sail, with his fleet formed in two 
 lines ; a part of the schooners formed the weather line. They 
 were ordered to commence the fire upon the British, as soon as 
 the shot of the latter should take effect ; and, as they approach- 
 ed, to edge down upon the American line to leeward, pass thro' 
 the intervals and form to leeward. At half past 10 the British 
 tacked and stood for the Americans. At 1 1 o'clock the rear of 
 the American line opened a brisk fire upon the British, and in the 
 course of fifteen minutes, the fire became general along the wea- 
 ther line of the Americans. At half past 1 1 this line bore up, 
 and passed to leeward, except the Growler and Julia. These two 
 vessels tacked to the south, which brought the British between 
 them and their commodore. The latter filled his main-topsail, 
 and edged away two points, to lead the British down ; this he 
 did in order to engage them to greater advantage, and to lead 
 them from the Growler and Julia. They however kept their 
 wind until they separated these two last mentioned vessels from 
 the rest of the American squadron. As they passed the General 
 
 Pike a few shots were exchanged without doing any injury 
 
 While the British were in chase of the two scboooers^i the com* 
 
VHE WAE. 
 
 88S 
 
 ao^'^r^ tnehed and stood aftei them until mid'^ight, when he wai 
 tofCfd to give over the pursuit to rejoin his squndrou, then to lee- 
 vi^rd. Their line was now formed on the starb ard tacit. The 
 fi inj» continued between the two American schooners anJ the 
 B tish fit et until one o'clock, when the former were captured. 
 Sdvin after this, the American fleet, being neaily destitute ot pro- 
 vuions, returned to Sacket's Hnrbour. 
 
 Commodore Chauno^y^s second cruise During a cruise in the 
 
 [early part of Septembei, Commodore Chauncey fell in with the 
 
 B'itish fl( et, and chased them all round the lake, when they put 
 
 into Amherst bay, after having received considerable injury from 
 
 tht fire of the Americans. This bay wns so litcle known to the 
 
 |a 'crican pilots, that they were unwilling to take the fleet in. 
 
 Sir James Yeo, commander of the British fleet, h-id a superiority 
 
 liver the American commodore, both in guujn and men. His ves> 
 
 Isdsalso sailed better than the American. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey blockaded the British fleet in Am- 
 hrrsl bay for 4 days, wnen the wind Rowing heavy from the 
 |wt!itvvard, the^ succeeded in gettinfi; into Kingston; upon which 
 
 commodore returned t > Sacket's Harbour, where he remained 
 Itiiy a few hours, and on the 18th of ^September sailed for Nia-> 
 bn M, where he arrived on the 24th. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey*s third cruise Commodore Chauncey 
 
 having ascertained that the British squadron was in York bay, 
 
 Iniled from Niagara. On the 27tl), in the evening, owing to the 
 
 Itxtreme darkness of the night, a part of his .squadron separated, 
 
 [and did not join him until next morning. On the same day, the 
 
 British flfct was discovered under way in York bay. The Ame- 
 
 ^can squadron sailed for them, with three schooners in tow* 
 
 But on the British perceiving the design of the Americans to en* 
 
 nge them, they tacked and stood out of the bay, the wind be* 
 
 Dg then at east. The American commodore formed his line, and 
 
 an down for their centre. As soon, however, as he had ap* 
 
 |iroached within 3 miles, they made alt sail to the southward. 
 
 he vessels of the American squadron wore in succession, and 
 
 |tood on the same tack with the British, and edged down gradu* 
 
 i in order to close. At 10, P. M. the British perceiving the 
 jiinericans closing fast with them, and that they must either risk 
 |n action, or suffer their two rear vessels to be cut off, they tack- 
 
 lin succession, beginning at the van, hoisted their colours, and 
 ominenced a well directed fire at the Pike. This they did with 
 I view to cover their rear : and, while passing to leeward, to at- 
 pck the rear of the Americans. This commodore Chauncey 
 wtrated, by bearing up in succession, with the line preserved, 
 
 the centre of the British, as soon as their leading ship, the 
 
 
 's '• 
 
 i:^< 
 
 \ h<'^''^^1 
 
 

 
 28G 
 
 SKKTCHK8 OP 
 
 Wolfe, had paused the centre of her line, and w«« abeam of tlit 
 American. This manaMivri' not only covered the American nar 
 but alxo threw the British into confusion. They immediHtcl) b;)re 
 away ; but the Americana had cloved so near as tu be en.ibkd to 
 bring their guns to bear with t-fTect, and in '20 minutes aH( r, tnc 
 main and mizen topmnsts and the main yard of the British fiiga'u 
 "^'olff were shot away. This vestiei immedintoiy put biforo ilic 
 wind, with all jiail pet upon her foremast. The American cam 
 modore made signal for the fleet to crowd all sail in purnuit : but 
 as the Wolfe kept before the wind, she was enabled to out- 
 •ail the American squadron, and experienced no retardment fruir 
 the losp of her main and miztn topmasts. The y^mericans conti- 
 nued the chase until near 3 o'clock. The Pike, with the Afp ;n 
 tow, kept within point blank shot of the British duiing the chaM, I 
 and sustained the whole of their fire. Prudence forbade arij Hr- 
 ther pursuit on the part of the Americans. The Pike was much I 
 injured, owing to her being so long exposed to the fireofihej 
 whole British fleet. The most serious injury, however, *lie re- 
 ceived from the bursting of a gun, v hich killed and wounded 22 1 
 men. The Governor Tompkins lost her foremast. The Ameri- 
 can fleet returned to Niagara. ■, 
 
 11 ;:•! 
 
 Commodore Chauncey^s fourth cruisp On the 2d of OctobfrJ 
 
 Commodore Chauncey again proceeded in quest of the Briinili[ 
 fleet. He discovered them steering a course for Niagara, withl 
 studding sails, and all sails set, the wind being from the south and! 
 westward. The commodore made all sail in chase, but as soonj 
 as his vessels were discovered by the British, they took in s 
 ding sails and haled upon a wind to the westward, and madt^ alll 
 sail from the Americans. The wind being light all day, little prO'| 
 gress was made against the curre.nt. B} sundown the British 
 were off Twenty Mile Creek, and had ^ot considerable distancel 
 from the Americans. At da} light the British weie perceived atl 
 anchor ; but as soon as they saw the American squadron, then 
 weighed and made all sail to the west. The wind was fron 
 south to southwest and squally. The American commodore mad^ 
 all sail in chase, and continued it the whole day. At sundown 
 the British could scarcely be perceived from the mast head of thd 
 American vessels, ^ ^ . ► . 
 
 On the following morning the British fleet was out of sightl 
 Commodore Chauncey then steered for the Ducks, with a view 
 of intercepting the British fleet on its return, should it have goiij 
 down the lake. The wind increased to a strong gale fron 
 the northward and westward, and continued during the wholj 
 dav. 
 
 .»■■ 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 267 
 
 b<'am of \\\i 
 nerican uar, 
 ediatcly bnre 
 oe t'DiibU'd to 
 itcs Hlttr, tiic 
 rtritisii fi'.giiti: 
 jut b»-forc' the 
 mericati com 
 I purnuit : but 
 nnbled to out- 
 ardimnt from 
 ntricans coiiti- 
 ith thf A^p in 
 ling the chase, I 
 iirbadt- an} fct- 
 ?ikc was much 
 the firt of ihej 
 wever, fbe ro- 
 id wounded m 
 t. The Amtri- 
 
 c 2d of Octobrr, 
 of the Britisli 
 Niagara, with 
 m the south and' 
 ase, but as soon 
 y took in stud' 
 d, and mad»^ all 
 I day, little pro- 
 iwn the BritisI 
 [derable distant 
 16 perceived al 
 squadron, thejj 
 [wind was fror 
 mmodore madi 
 At sundow 
 last head ofthi 
 
 |a> out of sight] 
 
 8, with a viev'j 
 
 iild it have gon^ 
 
 rong gale fror 
 
 iring the wholj 
 
 Capturf ofjivt trnnsports At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of 
 
 the Sth Oct. i^-vcn iiail were di»covtT«d near the False Ducki, 
 S^jl was immediately made in chase by the American commodon-, 
 who took them fur the British fleet. But in the course of an 
 hour he ascertained them to be sloupii and schooners. Signal was 
 made by the commodore for the S}lph and Lady of the Ijake to 
 cawt ofT the veaselsi they had in tow, and chase N. K. Soon after 
 ihij, the British were perceived «» parating on difftrent tackt. 
 The (Jovernor Tompkins was now cast ofF by the Pike, and the 
 commodore made all xail in chase with her, having left the Ame- 
 ileal) squadron in charge of Capf. Crane. At 5 o'clock in the af- 
 ttriiooo, the British set Hre to one of their gun vessels that did 
 not sail well, after having taken out her crew. At sundown, 
 and opposite the Keal Duckit, the Hamilton, Conflance,* and Ma« 
 ryAiui, struck to the Americans. The Sylph soon after captured 
 the Drummond. The Lady Gore ran into the Ducks, but the 
 Sviph being left to watch her, she was captured early the next 
 morning. The only British vessel that escaped, was the Knter- 
 prize, a small schooner. The British vessels captured were gun 
 vewels, mounting from one to three guns earh. They were 
 tiaiisporting troops to Kingston. The number of prisoners amount- 
 ed to to 264, of whom ?22 were soldiers. The American fleet, 
 innnediately after this affair, returned to Sacket's Harbour. 
 
 Lake Champlain During the summer of the year 1812, pre- 
 
 Iparations were made on lake Champlain, to oppose the naval 
 force that might be sent by the British from Isle au Noix. No> 
 thing very interesting occuried, however, until the 3d of June^ 
 
 11813. 
 
 Loss of the Groivlcr and Eagle In consequence of some 
 
 [British gun boats having appeared on the American sidt of tiie 
 line, the Growler and Eagle sailed from Plattsburgh on the 2d of 
 IJune, under the command of Lieutenant Smith, with the inteu- 
 Itioi) of attacking them. At dark on the same day, they arrived 
 Iwithin a mile of the boundary liiie. On the following morniner, 
 lat daybreak, three British gun boats vvere discovered, to which 
 Ithe American vessels immediatel) gave chase. Hut the wind be- 
 liflg south, they unfortunately ran so tar into the narrow channel, 
 Ithat they found it difficult to return. The Eagle not being sutli* 
 Iclently strong for her weight of metal, became unmanageable, 
 land sunk in shoal water : her crew, however, vvere saved. The 
 IGrowler continued engaged with a number of British gun boats 
 Inntil the Eagle went down, when she was compelled to yield to 
 
 _ * I'lj; Hamilton and Coiil'wncr had not l(>n)» lioeii caiitiircd iVoin iln' Aintricani, u alrcaily it- 
 lUeil, aikl liaii Imcii, in the American tei'vkb,«:allL-«l the Gnjwieraiul .liiliu. 
 
 
 ;UI 
 
268 
 
 SKETCHES 09 
 
 Mm 
 
 If/ Id iSti .«ViLif5 t"; 
 
 '■f'P 
 Mm 
 
 
 
 'f:' ^f 
 
 a superior force ; the action coDtiuued above four hours. The 
 shoTes were lined with British kolditrM, who, froiii the nariovvuttf 
 of the channel, were enabled to do constderablv execution. 
 
 Descent on Plattslmi'gh..,.On the 30th of July, the Biitish, In 
 two large sloops of war, three gun boats, and about 40 batttaux 
 loaded with troops, sailors and marines, about 1400 in all, croxad 
 the line at Chanr^plain, and on the day tollowing landed at Plattt* 
 burijh ; where they ininpiediasel^ begun the work of desiruction. 
 On the first information of the approach of the enemy, an or- 
 der was issued by General Mooers, for calling cut the militia; 
 and when the enemy arrived, about 3uO from Plattsbuigh and the 
 neighboring towns had collected. This force, however, bf\ug 
 considered incompetent to oppose the enemy, retired a few n.ii.s 
 from the town, where it was afterwards" joined by the residue of 
 the regiment to which it belonged, and a regiment from the coun- 
 ty of Essex ; but at too late a period to prevent the depredatiom 
 committed by the invader. 
 
 Although the oflker who had command of the expedition^ as- 
 sured the civil authority of Plattsburgh, that private property 
 should be respected, and that citizens not found in aims should 
 remain unmolested; yet these pnmises were no sooner niaje 
 than violated. The enemy not beuig satisfied with destroying 
 the public building?, such as the block house, arsenal, armoiy, iios- 
 pital, and military cantonment, wantonly burnt two store houses, 
 belonging to Peter Sailly, Et^q, and one belonging to Major Z. N. 
 Piatt; and took and carried off several thousand dollars wortli of| 
 hard ware, which had been stored with Mr. Saill>. The destruC' 
 tion of private property was not limited to such as they could eatj 
 drink, or carry away; but furniture, which could have beenof no 
 use to the plunderers, was wantonly destroyed. 
 
 The dwelling houses of Peter SaiUy, Henry Delord, and Johnj 
 Palmer, Doctors Miller and Davidson, Henry Powers, and Mr!.j 
 Peabody, a poor woman, with a large family of children, and im 
 ny others, were stripped of every thing valuable, which could be| 
 carried away or destroyed. A gentleman .J. Griffith, esq.) re 
 moved hi.« furnituri. about a mile out of the village to his iatm 
 house ; where the enem} sent a piquet guard, and conipelie 
 him, with his two children, to take refuge in the woods....8catter' 
 cd his property about in different directions, and committed mat 
 other atrocious acts. The citizens of Plattsburgh were conip* 
 led to procure horses, carts, &c. to carry off the spoil of the inva 
 der, uud to suffer other indignities alike humiliating. The Mason 
 ic hall was robbed of its records, refreshments, and jewels, (thi 
 latter of which were returned.) 
 
 i>recij 
 
 iiind t 
 
 their i 
 
 but re 
 
 The 
 
 burgh 
 
 barracl 
 
 and ha 
 
 Nav 
 
 pirn'n c( 
 
 Com. P 
 
 gun boa 
 
 pounder 
 
 III the 
 
 Buriingt 
 
 rpfused. 
 
 On th 
 
 the lakcj 
 
 of 400 n 
 
 bringing 
 
 ken in | 
 
 of his apn 
 
 ant Cassi 
 
 were dire 
 
 l)le the 
 
 out effect 
 
 I gone into 
 
 I nis visit. 
 
 ^aval eve 
 of the [ 
 -'Appoint 
 Chesapi 
 psahe..., 
 o/ Lttiv) 
 
 M K not 
 !3in Bainbr 
 and oi' the 
 
 '-Witutioi 
 
 The foregoing, together with many other outrages having beeiB^^f H day 
 perpetrated, the enem^ embarkeu on the Ist of August; and •^^i 
 
 itojenjio, 
 %fho 2-1 1 1 
 
iiariowuttf 
 
 THE WAll. 
 
 289 
 
 wecipitate was their retreat, that they left their picket guards be- 
 iiind them, twenty one of whom were made prisoners. After 
 their retreat, they proceeded to Burlington, and fired a few shot ; 
 but retired as soon as our cannon began to play upon them. 
 
 The whole of the public stores had been removed from Platts- 
 burgh to Burlington previous to the descent of the enemy. The 
 barracks destroyed were computed to be worth 28,000 dollars, 
 and had been built by the soldiers. , . , 
 
 Naval forccy ^c The American naval force on Lake Cham- 
 plain consisted, on the 20th of August, of the President, 12 guns ; 
 Com. Preble, 11 do; Montgomery, 11 do; Frances, 6 do; two 
 gunboats, of one 18 pounder each ; and six scows of one 12 
 pounder each ; amounting in all to 48 guns. 
 
 hi the month of September, Captain Macdonough sailed from 
 Burlington to the lines, and offered the British battle ; this they 
 refused, and sailed out of the lake to the northward. 
 
 On the 4th of December, the enemy made his appearance ou 
 the lake, with six heavy gallies, manned apparently with upwards 
 of 400 men, following close after our look out boat, which was 
 bringing the intelligence. He set fire to a small shed which had 
 been in public use, the smoke of which gave the first intimation 
 of his approach. It being calm, four of our gallies, under Lieuten- 
 ant Cassin, weighed, and were ordered in pursuit of him. They 
 were directed to bring him to action if possible, and thereby ena- 
 ble the sloops to get up. The chase continued three hours with- 
 out effect. It is presumed the enemy expected our forces had 
 gone into winter quarters, and that Plattsburgh was the object of 
 nis visit. -, ,,.,„' ,-, ■ i ■..,•' ?.,' ,. 
 
 CIIAPTESI XXV* /-•■r.^ ,; '. 
 
 l^aval events on the Ocean....Cruise of the Hornet and capture 
 of the Peacock.,..Keturn of the Hornet to the United States.... 
 Appointment of Captain Laurence to the command of the 
 Chesapeake.,.. Action with the Shannon and loss of the Chesa- 
 peake...,Biography of Captain Lawrence*,. .Funeral obsequies 
 of Latvrence and Ludlow. 
 
 We noticed in page 123, the sailing of the Constitution, Cap- 
 llain Bainbridgc, accompanied by the Hornet, Captain Lawrence, 
 land of the cruise of the former along the Brazil coast. After the 
 IConstitution parted with the Hornet, Captain Lawrence continued 
 |for 14 dnys otf the harbour of St. Salvadore, blockading the Bonne 
 jCiloyenne, without being able to bring her to an engagement. 
 |Onthe 21th Januarv, he was obliged to shift his cruising ground. 
 
 
 ;■ / .'4 
 
 
 '^\-' ^ 
 
 '■$■#' 
 
 
 m 
 
 M-aiil 
 
 

 :i9i) 
 
 a' 
 
 SKETCllKS OH 
 
 h'-'y 
 
 by thf aiiival of the Montague 74, wliicli had sailtfd from KioJa 
 jiciro for the express purpose of reheving the Bonne Cituyenne, 
 and a 35rltish packet of 12 guns, which likewise lay at St. Saiva- 
 (lore. He therefore haled by the s\ ind to the westward, with the 
 intention of cruising olf Pcrnambuco. 
 
 On the lOlh of February he captured the English brig Resolu- 
 tion, of 10 gun?, bound to Maranham, from Rio Janeiro, laden 
 with colTee, jerked beef, flour, fustic, butter, and about 25,000 
 dollars in specie. As this vessel sailed dull, and as Capt. Lawrence 
 ro\ild not spare hands to man her, he took out the money and set 
 licr en fire. ■■- ' = •• : , - 
 
 He then ran down the coast for Maranham, and cruised there 
 ior a t-hort time. Thence he ran off Surinam. After cruizing 
 yif that coast from the 16th to the 23d of February, without 
 meeting with a vessel, he stood for Demarara ; and intended^ 
 iiiould he not be fortunate on that station, to run through the 
 West Indies on his way to the United States. 
 
 Capture of the Peacock On the 24th of Oct. in the morning, 
 
 t'aptain Lavi-rence discovered a brig to leeward ; to which he 
 immediately gave chase. Not having a pilot on board, he was 
 obliged to h^ul oflf The fort at the entrance of Demarara river 
 bore southwest, distant about two and a half leagues. Previous 
 to giving up the chase, Capt. Lawrence' discovered a vessel at 
 anchor without the bar, with Eiiglish colours flying. She appear- 
 ed to be a brig of war. In beating round Carobana bank, in or- 
 der to get to her, at half past 3, P. M. he discovered anothei 
 sail on his weather quarter, edging down for him. At 20 minutes 
 jjast 4, she hoisted English colours. She was now discovered to 
 be a large man of war brig. '. . 
 
 Capt. Lawrence immediately ordered his men to quarters, and 
 !iad the ship cleared for action. He kept close by the vvhid, in 
 order, if possible, to get the weather gage of the approaching 
 vessel. At 10 minutes past 5, finding he could weather the 
 enemy, he hoisted Ameiican colours and tackjed. About a quar- 
 ter of an hour after this, the ships passed each other, and ex- 
 changed broadsides within half pistol shot. Captain Lawrence, 
 observijig the enemy in the act of wearing, bore up, received 
 his starboard broadside, and ran him close on board on the star- 
 board quarter. From that position he kept up a most severe and 
 well directed fire. So great was its effect, that, in less than 15 
 minutes, the British vessel struck. She was almost cut to pieces, 
 and hoisted ^n ensign, union down, from her fore rigging as a 
 .signal of distress. Shortly after, her mainmast went by the| 
 board. 
 
 Lieutenant Shubrick was despatched on board. He soon re- 
 turned with her first lieutenant, who leported her to be hi? l^t'-j 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 291 
 
 (aiiiiic majesty's brig Peacock, commanded by Captain William 
 Peake, vviio fell in the action ; that a number of her crew were 
 killed and wounded ; and that she was sinking very fast, having 
 then six feet water in her hold. The boats of the Hornet were 
 immediately despatched for the wounded. Both vessels were 
 brought to anchor. The shot holes in the Peacock, that could be 
 got at, were then plugged, and her guns thrown overboard. Ev- 
 ery exertion was used to keep her afloat, until the prisoners could 
 be removed, by pumping and bailing, but without effect. She 
 unfortunately sunk in five and a half fathoms water, with thirteen 
 of her own crew and three of the Hornet's. Lieutenant Connor, 
 Midshipman Cooper, anJ the remainder of the men employed in 
 removing the prisoners, with difficulty saved themselves by jump- 
 ing into a boat that was lying on the booms, as the vessel went 
 down. Four men, of the Peacock's crew, who were on board 
 when she went down, and were so fortunate as to gain the fore- 
 top, were afterwards taken off by the Hornet's boats. Previous 
 to the Peacock's sinking, four of her men took to her stern boat, 
 which had been much damaged during the action. There was 
 little or no prospect of their reaching the land. They, however, 
 arrived safe at Demarara. " ' 
 
 Captain Lawrence could not ascertain from the officers of the 
 Peacock, the exact number of killed. Captain Peake and four 
 men were found dead on board. The master, one midshipman, 
 carpenter, captain's clerk, and twenty nine seamen of the Pea' 
 cock, were wounded ; most of them severely... .three'died after 
 being removed....nine were drowned. 
 
 The Hornet had only one man killed, and two slightly wound- 
 ed. Two men were also severely burnt by the explosion of a 
 cartridge, one of whom died a few days after. The rigging and 
 sails of the Hornet were much cut. A shot passed through the 
 foremast j the bowsprit was slightly injured ; but her hull receiv- 
 ed very little injury. 
 
 At the time Captain Lawrence brought the Peacock to action, 
 the Espiegle, the brig mentioned as being at anchor, lay within 
 six miles of the Hornet, between her and the shore, and could 
 plainly see the whole of the action. She mounted eighteen guns. 
 Supposing that she would beat out to the assistance of her con- 
 sort, great exertions were used by the officers and crew of the 
 Hornet, to repair her damages. By 9 o'clock her boats were 
 stowed, a new set of sails bent, and the ship completely ready 
 for action. 
 
 At 2 o'clock, A. M. the Hornet got under way, and stood by 
 the wind to the northward and westward, under easy sail. On 
 mustering, next morning, 270 souls were found to be on board 
 Jthe Hornet. As the crew of the latter had been for some time 
 
 
 
 >,» ,t ' .-'"tf• 
 --t. ' ^ .■■■ ' Vt. 
 
 ■- 111 
 
 •fit 
 
 ■MM 
 
Ui)2 
 
 SKETCHES Oy 
 
 Ill' 11 /■•?•*] {"• 
 
 ♦?■! ■ f 
 
 
 i<'t;t 
 
 on short allowance. Captain Lawrence resolved to make the beiit 
 of his way to the United States. 
 
 The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels 
 of her class in the British navy. She was about the tonnage of 
 the Hornet. Her beam was greater by five inches : but her ex- 
 treme length not so great by four feet. She mounted sixteen 24 
 pound carronades, 2 long nines, a 12 pound carronade on her top 
 gallant forecastle as a shifting gun, and a four or six pounder, 
 and two swivels aft. By her quarter-bill, her crew consisted of 
 134 men, four of whom were absent in a prize, besides four men 
 and a boy, who were not on her quarter bill. 
 
 Of the Hornet's crew, the sailing-master and seven men 
 were absent in a prize; and Lieut. Stewart and six men on the 
 sick list. 
 
 The conduct of Captain Lawrence towards his prisoners, was 
 such as deserved the highest applause. So sensibly affected were 
 the officers of the Peacock by the treatment they rectived, that 
 on their arrival at Newyork, they made a grateful acknowledg- 
 ment in the public papers. To use their own expressive phrase, 
 " they ceased to consider themselves prisoners." Nor must we 
 omit to mention a circumstance highly to the honour of the 
 brave tars of the Hornet. Finding that the crew of the Peacock 
 had lost all their clothing, by the sudden sinking of the vessel, 
 they made a subscription, and from their own wardrobes supplied 
 each man with two shirts and a blue jacket and trowsers. Such 
 may rough sailors be made, when they have before them the ex 
 ample of high-minded men. They are beings of but little reflec- 
 tion, open to the impulse and excitement of the moment ; and it 
 depends, in a great measure, upon their officers, whether, under 
 a Lawrence, they shall ennoble themselves by generous actions; 
 or, under a Cockburn, be hurried away into scenes of unpreme- 
 ditated atrocity. -[t, ••,; 
 
 On the return of Captain Lawrence to the United States, he 
 was received with great distinction and applause; and various 
 public bodies conferred on him peculiar tokens of approba- 
 tion. . ^.^. 
 
 n; 
 
 ■vrviiKJ%i >i'»rjt**4fe.*i^U »Ui o*f ^^ri :-9S"i .jOmS ' 
 
 Appointment of Captain Laxvrence to the command of the 
 Chesapeake...Short\y after he arrived at Newyork, Captain Law- 
 rence was appointed to command the Chesapeake frigate. It 
 was with reluctance he accepted the command of this vessel, for 
 she was considered the worst ship in the navy. The Chesapeake 
 then lay at Boston, whither Captain Lawrence repaired. When 
 nearly ready for sea, the British frigate Shannon appeared 
 off the harbour, and made signals expressive of a challenge. 
 A written challenge is also stated to have been sent by Cap 
 
'. ■■ (.hi i 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 uy5 
 
 .. •■ /i- ■-■ ' 
 
 ke the betit 
 
 lest vess(;ls 
 tonnage of 
 but her ex- 
 sixteen 24 
 f on her top 
 K. pounder, 
 consisted of 
 L's four mtj) 
 
 seven men 
 nen on the 
 
 soncrs, was 
 Fected were 
 ;tived, that 
 icknow'ledg- 
 ssive phrase, 
 or must we 
 nour of the 
 the Peacock 
 the vessel, 
 bes supplied 
 'sers. Such 
 em the ex 
 little reflec- 
 ent ; and it 
 ther, under 
 us actions; 
 f unpremc- 
 
 States, he 
 Ind various 
 k approba- 
 
 ind of the 
 
 Iptain Law- 
 
 Trigate. It 
 
 vessel, for 
 
 'hesapeake 
 
 When 
 
 appeared 
 
 challenge. 
 
 It by Cap 
 
 1^,0 Broke, the comu, iider of the Shannon, but which Cap- 
 Ijin Lawrence never received. Favourable circumslancejt, 
 and superiority of force, were on the side of the Shannon. The 
 Chesapeake, on the contrary, laboured under particular dis.idvan- 
 Itage*. Her commander was very slightly acquainted v ith his 
 Iciew; the greater part of whom were new recruits. She, as 
 been already observed, was but an indifferent vessel ; and, at 
 Ithe moment the Shannon appeared, was not in complete ordei 
 |ior an engagement. But Lawrence had himself challenged a 
 iBritish vessel ; the sight of one riding in defiance before him, 
 Iwastoo much for his pride to bear. He, in consequence, put to 
 Lea on the first of June, having hoisted a white flag with " Free 
 mie and sailor^s right.** He addressed his men in a short dis- 
 Itourse, but it was received with no marks of approbation. Dis- 
 Icouteiit was apparent among a part of the crew, and complaints 
 Lere muttered of not having received their prize money. Tlie 
 leoittswain, a Portuguese, was the principal instigator of this dis- 
 iifection. Lawrence, unacquainted with his crew, resolved to 
 Move the cause of their complaint. He ordered the purser to 
 live prize checks to those who had received none. On perceiv- 
 ing the Chesapeake coming out, the Shannon bore away. The 
 piiesapeake followed until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when she 
 lauled up and fired a gun. On this the Shannon hove to. The 
 m vessels continued manoeuvring in silence until 6, when they 
 |«ere within pistol shot of each other. The action then com- 
 snced by a tremendous and destructive broadside from each 
 [esse!, which, on board the Chesapeake, killed the sailing master, 
 llr. White, and mortally wounded the fourth lieutenant, Mr. 
 illard. A. musket ball struck Captain Lawrence in his leg, and 
 Joflicted a painful wound. He, however, leaned on the compa- 
 lioa way, and continued to command and encourage*his crew. 
 [second and third destructive broadside was discharged from 
 kchship, in which the Chesapeake had evidently the advantage ; 
 nt unfortunately her first lieutenant, Ludlow, was severely 
 lounded and carried below. Three men, in the course of 12 
 fiflutes, had been successively shot down from her helm. A shot 
 b disabled her foresail, and she could no longer answer her 
 lelm. In this state, her anchor caught in one of the after ports 
 [the Shannon. Thus was the Chesapeake thrown into a posi- 
 JOD in which her guns could not be brought to bear, while the 
 annou vyas enabled to rake her upper decks, by which numbers 
 'the crew of the Chesapeake were killed and wounded, A 
 lind grenade, thrown on the quarter deck, caused a great explo- 
 pa, and set fire to some musket cartridges, but did no other in- 
 jry. ^As soon as Captain Lawrence perceived that the Chesa- 
 was falling to leeward, and that by the Shannon's filling 
 
 
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 mi 
 
 
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 im ■ 
 
mmm 
 
 
 
 
 
 >l 
 
 il^' 
 
 2P4 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 ¥*'■ 
 
 ■ '.'J 
 
 she would fall on board, he called to the boarders, aud wag ,„ 
 the act of giving orders respecting the foresail, when he received 
 a nnusket ball in his body. At the call for boarders. Lieutenant 
 Coxe, who commanded the second division, ran on deck ; but ar 
 rived just in time to receive his falling commander, whom he jm 
 mediately carried below. 
 
 The bugleman, who should have called the boardess, as order 
 cd by Captain Lawrence, did not do his duty. The Shannon liai 
 sustained so much injury that her commander. Commodore Broke 
 was preparing to repel any attempt of boarding from the Chesa 
 peake. But at this moment. Broke, perceiving the havoc his fir 
 had occasioned on the deck of the Chesapeake, jumped on boar 
 her with about 20 men. They would «oon have been drivei 
 back, but ail the officers on deck were either killed or woiindei 
 The second lieutenant, Budd, who commanded Uie first dlvisjoi 
 below, led up the boarders ; but only fifteen or twenty men fo| 
 lowed him. With these he defended the ship until diMabkd b) 
 wound. Lieutenant Ludlow, though wounded, hurried on dec 
 where he soon received a mortal sabre wound. Sixty additiooi 
 men being thrown on board from the Shannon, the crew of thi 
 Chesapeake, who now had no officer to direct and rally the 
 were overpowered. The Chesapeake, however, was not surrei 
 dered by an act of submission, but was taken possession of by 
 force that overwhelmed all opposition. 
 
 As Captain Lawrence was conveyed below, he perceived f 
 disabled state of the Chesapeake ; but exclaimed, ** Don't gi 
 up the ship." He lay in the ward room in the most excruciatii 
 pain. When the noise and bustle of combat ceased above, 
 ordered the surgeon to go on deck and tell the officers to iigj 
 on to the last, and never to strike the colours. " They shal 
 said he, f* wave as long as I live." But the struggle had cease 
 and the British were in possession of the ship. Captain La 
 rence lingered in great pain for four days, when he expired. 
 ^ The Chesapeake had 47 men killed and 93 wounded. Tl 
 British acknowledged that the killed and wounded of the Sii 
 non amounted to 88 men, among the latter of whom was Coi 
 modore Broke. The greater part of the Americans were itillj 
 and wounded by the British boarders. The loss of the Shannj 
 was principally occasioned by the cannon of the Chesapeai 
 The latter received little injury in her hull ; whereas the fori 
 had several shots between wind and water ; and had her cri 
 been repelled in the attempt to board, she would in all probal 
 ty have been captured. 
 
 The Shannon mounted fifty-three guns ; the Chesapeake fo 
 nine. 
 
 The treatment of the Americans, ih the present instance, M 
 nearly the reverse of that humanity and generosity they had 
 
 Biogr 
 
 temperat 
 gloriouslj 
 difficult t 
 valour, ai 
 gratitude 
 thing but 
 into a dej 
 edged at 
 siouate ej 
 We fe( 
 the memo 
 are still v 
 cited, in < 
 men. In 
 iotiansiei 
 Scarce hi 
 called to < 
 |Uar,just 
 'tifhis brig 
 Captair 
 178 i, at 
 jouugest 
 law of thi 
 died, and 
 ever shov\ 
 ofhis infai 
 which he 
 alTectiona 
 and enga 
 when he 
 his father 
 profession 
 fjuiesce. 
 a gramnii 
 and'satisf^ 
 'ather pre' 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 29? 
 
 }11 simitar occasions shown to the British. Even the private 
 I stores of Captain Lavirrence were taken from him. 
 
 His remains were interred at Halifax, with great solemnity. 
 Iltfr. Crowinshield, of Salem, some time after, obtained a flag of 
 I truce for the purpose of conveying to the United States the bo- 
 
 ?8 of Lawrence and Ludlow, which he perfomed. They were 
 liflterred m Newyork with all the honours due to brave men, sa- 
 crificed in the heroic defence of their country. 
 
 Biography of Captain Laxvrence.,..To speak feelingly, yet 
 I temperately, of the merits of those who have bravely fought and 
 gloriously fallen in the service of their country, is one of the most 
 difficult tasks of the biographer. Filled with admiration of their 
 valour, and sorrow for their fate, we feel the impotency of our 
 gratitude, in being able to reward such great sacrifices with no- 
 thing but empty applause. We are .apt, therefore, to be hurried 
 into a degree of eulogium, which, however sincere and acknowl- 
 edged at the time, may be regarded as extravagant by the dispas- 
 I siojiate eye of after years. 
 
 We feel more particularly this difficulty, in undertaking to give 
 [the memoirs of one, whose excellent qualities and gallant deeds 
 ]are still vivid in our recollection, and whose untimely end has ex- 
 cited, in an extraordinary degree, the sympathies of his country- 
 loien. Indeed, the popular career of this youthful hero has been 
 |iotiansient,yet dazzling, as almost to prevent sober investigation. 
 I Scarce had we ceased to rejoice in his victory, before we were 
 Icalled to deplore his loss. He passed before the public eye like a 
 htarjust beaming on it for a moment, and falling in the midst 
 [tfbis brightness. 
 
 Captain James Lawrence was born on the 1st of October^ 
 
 1 1781, at Burlington, in the state of New- Jersey. He was the 
 
 youngest son of John Lawrence, Esq. an eminent counsellor at 
 
 Maw of that place. Within a few weeks after his birth his mother 
 
 died, and the charge of him devolved on his sisters, to whom he 
 
 ever showed the warmest gratitude for the tender care they took 
 
 [of his infant years. He early evinced that excellence of heart by 
 
 which he was characterized through life ; he was a dutiful and 
 
 affectionate child, mild in his disposition, and of the most gentle 
 
 and engaging manners. He was scarce twelve years of age 
 
 I when he expressed a decided partiality for a seafaring life ; but 
 
 his father disapproving of it, and wishing him \o prepare for the 
 
 [profession of the law, his strong sense of duty induced him to ac- 
 
 huiesce. He went through the common branches of education, at 
 
 a grammar school, at Burlington, with much credit to himself^ 
 
 and'satisfaction to his tutors. The pecuniary misfortunes of his 
 
 Kather prevented his receiving a finished education, and between 
 
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 1206 
 
 .SKETCHES OF 
 
 the age of lliirttcn and foiirtetn he conimcnctj the hliid)i ofu, 
 
 law with his brother, the late John Lawrence, Eif|. who then rt 
 
 sided !it Woodbury. He remsiined for two years in this situation 
 
 vainly striving to nccommodatc liimself to;,iirsiiit3 wholly rtpuir 
 
 ijiint to his taste and inclinations. The dry studies of statutes am! 
 
 reporter?, the technical rubbish, and dull routine of a lawyer's of 
 
 fice, were little calculated to please an imagination teeming wiili 
 
 the adventures, the wonders, and variety of the seas. At lenelh 
 
 his father being dead, and his strong predilection for the roviuf; 
 
 life of a sailor being increased by every attempt to curb it, lijj 
 
 brother yielded to his solicitations, and placed him under the cart 
 
 of Mr. Griscomb, at Burlin?,ton, to acquiie the principles ofnavl- 
 
 Ration and naval tactics. lie remained with him for three month? 
 
 when, his intention of applying for .a situation in the navy beiii'' 
 
 geneially I<nown, se;4'eral of the most distinguished gentlemen oi 
 
 the state interested themselves in his behalf, and wrote to the naw 
 
 department. The succeeding mail brought him a midshipman's 
 
 warrant ; and between the age of sixteen and seventeen he enter 
 
 ed the service of his country. 
 
 His first cruise was to the West Indies in t!ie ship Ganges, 
 commanded by Captain Thomas Tingey. In tliis and several sub- 
 sequent cruises, no opportunity occurred to ea!) forth particular 
 services; but the attention and intelligence which he uniformly 
 displayed in the discharge of his duties, the correctness of his de- 
 portment, and the suavity of his manners, gained him the appro- 
 bation of his commanders, and rendered him a favourite with his 
 associates and inferiors. 
 
 W^hen the war was declared against Tripoli, he was promoted 
 to a lieutenancy, and appointed to the command of the schooner 
 Enterprise. "W^hile in this command he volunteered his services 
 in the hazardous exploit of destroying the frigate PhiladeJphiti, 
 and accompanied Decatur as his first lieutenant. The brilliant 
 success of that enterprise is well known ; and for the gallantry 
 and skill displayed on the occasion, Decatur was made post cap- 
 tain, while Lawrence, in common with the other officers and 
 crew, were voted by congress two months' extra pay... .a sordid 
 and paltry reward, which he imntediately declined. 
 
 The harbour of Tripoli appears to have been the school of cir 
 naval heroes. In tracing the histories of those who have lately 
 distinguished themselves, we are always led to the coast of Barb?' 
 ry as the field of Iheir first experience and young achievement. 
 The concentration of our little navy at this point, soon after iu 
 formation, has had a happy eifect upon its character and fortune?. 
 The officers were most of them young in years, and young iu 
 arms, full of life, and spirits, and enthusiasm. Such is the time to 
 form gencroi'? in'pressions and strong attachmrnts. It wastlxt^re 
 
 taot, to lei 
 ! The rep 
 ing>thatif 
 there wou 
 of the flag 
 to cut a mi 
 l>een prove 
 
 Where 
 
 mosUdelica 
 
 "^^ose com 
 

 %'IIE WAK. 
 
 297 
 
 e slud)/ of It, 
 who then It 
 this situation, 
 .vhollj' rt'putf 
 f statutes and 
 i lawyer's ol 
 teeming wiihl 
 8. At length, 
 for the roving 
 :) curb it, his | 
 nd( r the can 
 iciples of iiavi- 
 three month?, I 
 iie nav}' bcin;; ! 
 
 gentlemen oi 
 le to the navy 
 
 midshipman's] 
 itecii he enter 
 
 ship Ganges, I 
 id several sub- 
 jrlh particular] 
 1 he uniformly 
 less of his de- 
 lim the appro- 
 ourite with his ] 
 
 was promoted I 
 the schooner 
 
 d his services 
 Philadelphio,] 
 The brilliant 
 the gallantry] 
 
 ade post cap- 
 oflficers and 
 jay.. ..a sordid] 
 
 1 school ofo'ir] 
 10 have lately 
 )ast of Barb?- 
 I achievement. 
 loon after its ] 
 and fortune;-. 
 hd \cung in 
 [is the time to | 
 It wnstiurc 
 
 iticy grew together in habits of mutual confidence and friendship ; 
 and to the noble enulation of so many young minds newly en- 
 tering upon an adver.'iurous profession, may he attributed that en- 
 terprising spirit and defiance of danger that has ever since distin- 
 giii^hed our navy. 
 
 After continuing in the Mediterranean about three years and a 
 half, Lawrence returned to the United States with Commodore 
 Preble, and was again sent out on that station, as commander of 
 Gun boat No. 0, in which he remained for sixteen months. Since 
 that time he has acted as first lieutenant of the Constitution, and 
 as commander of the Vixen, Wasp, Argus and Hornet. In 1808 
 hp was married to a daughter of Mr. Montaudevert, a respectable 
 merchant of New- York, to whom he made one of the kindest and 
 most a^ectionate of husbands. 
 
 At the commencement of the present war he sailed in the Hor- 
 net sloop of war, as part of the squadron that cruised under Com- 
 modore Rodgers. While absent on this cruise Lieutenant Morris 
 was promoted to the rank of post captain, for his bravery and 
 ikill as first lieutenant of the Constitution in her action with the 
 Guerriere. This appointment, as it raised him two grades, and 
 placed him over the heads of older officers, gave great ofTence to 
 many of the navy, who could not brook that the regular rules of 
 the service should be infringed. It was thought particularly un- 
 
 I jiut, as giving him rank above Lawrence, who had equally distin- 
 guished himself as first lieutenant of Decatur, in the destruction 
 fif the frigate Philadelphia, and who, at present, was but master 
 and commander. 
 On returning from his cruise. Captain Lawrence, after consult- 
 
 ]iDg with Commodores Rodgers and Bainbridge, and with other 
 experienced gentlemen of the navy, addressed a memorial to the 
 senate, and a letter to the secretary of the navy, wherein, after 
 thp fullest acknowledgments of the great merits and services of 
 Captain Morris, he remonstrated in the most temperate and re- 
 ipectful, but firm and manly language, on the impropriety of his 
 promotion, as being contrary to the rules of naval precedence,and 
 particularly bard as it respected himself. At the same time, he 
 frankly mentioned that he should be compelled, however reluc- 
 
 |tant, to leave the service, if thus improperly outranked. 
 The reply of the secretary was singularly brief; barely observ- 
 
 jing,that if he thought proper to leave the service without a cause, 
 there would still remain heroes and patriots to support the honour 
 
 I of the flag. There w as a laconic severity in this reply calculated 
 
 I to cut a man of feeling to the heart, and which ought not to have 
 
 |l)een provoked by the fair and candid remonstrance of Lawrence. 
 Where men are fighting for honour rather than profit, the ut- 
 
 |inost»deIicacy should be observed towards their high-toned feelings. 
 
 IThose complaints which {spring from wounded pride, and the jeal-' 
 
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 2U.8 
 
 lU(Ki'CHE8 OV 
 
 
 ousy of station, should never be regarded lightly. The best so,- 
 diers are ever most tenacious of their rank ; for it cannot be ex- 
 pected that he who hazards every thing for distinction, will be 
 careless of it after it is attained. Fortunately, Lawrence had 
 again departed on a cruise before this letter arrived, which oth- 
 erwise mi(;ht have driven from the service one of our most mer- 
 itorious officers. 
 
 This second cruise was iii company with Captain Bainbridge, 
 who commanded the Constitution ; and terminated in the capture 
 of the Peacock, by Lawrencc....which is detailed in the preceding 
 pages. 
 
 On the return of Captain Lawrence to his native country, eve- 
 ry mark of attention and applause which a grateful people could 
 bestow, were conferred on him. While absent, the rank ct 
 post captain had been given him, and shortly after his return lie 
 received a letter from the secretary of the navy, offering him the 
 command of the frigate Constitution, provided neither Captaias 
 Porter or Evans applied for it, they being older officers. Captain 
 Lawrence respectfully declined this conditional appointment, for 
 satisfactory reasons which he stated to the secretary. He then 
 received an unconditional appointment to that frigate, and direc- 
 tions to superintend the navy yard in New York in the absence 
 of Captain Ludlow. The next day to his great surprise and cha- 
 grin, he received counter-orders, with instructions to take com- 
 mand of the frigate Chesapeake, then lying in Bosto;), nearly 
 ready for sea. This appointment was particularly disagreeable to 
 him. He was prejudiced against the Chesapeake, both from her 
 being considered the worst ship in our navy, and from having 
 been in a manner disgraced in the affair with the Leopard. The 
 last circumstance had acquired her the character of an unlucky { 
 ship....the worst of stigmas among sailors, who are devout belie- 
 vers in good and bad luck; and so detrimental was it to this ves- 
 sel, that it has been found difficult to recruit crews for her. 
 
 The extreme repugnance Captain Lawrence felt at this appoint- 
 ment, induced him to write to the secretary of the navy, request! 
 ing to be continued in the command t)f the Hornet. Besides it 
 was his wish to remain some short time in port, and enjoy a littlel 
 repose in the bosom of his family ; particularly as his wife was inl 
 that d^icate situation that most calls forth the tenderness and toF 
 licitude of an aflfectionate husband. But though he wrote four! 
 letters to the secretary, he never received an answer, and was| 
 obliged reluctantly to acquiesce. 
 
 While laying in Boston roads, nearly ready for sea, the Britislil 
 
 frigate Shannon appeared off the harbour, and made signals exj 
 
 / pressive of a challenge. The brave Lawrence immediately deter-l 
 
 mined on accepting it, though conscious at the time of the great| 
 
 disparity of the two ships. 
 
i I 
 
 1 ' ' 
 
 I'HI WAR. 
 
 UQ9 
 
 The mofit earnest endeavours were used by Commodore Bain* 
 bridge and otiter gentlemen of nice honour and sound experience, 
 to dissuade Captain Lawrence from what was considered a rash 
 and unnecessary exposure. He felt and acknowledged the force 
 of their reasons, but persisted in his determination. He was pe- 
 culiarly situated : he had formerly challenged the Bonne Citoyen- 
 ue, and should he decline a similar challenge, it might subject 
 him to sneers and misrepresentations. Among the other unfortu- 
 nate circumstances that attended this ill-starred battle, was the 
 delay of a written challenge from Captain Broke, which did not 
 arrive until after Captain Lawrence had sailed. It was couched 
 in the most frank and courteous language ; minutely delineating 
 the force of his ship ; and offermg, if the Chesapeake should not 
 be completely prepared, to cruise off and on, until such time as 
 she made a specified signal of being ready for the conflict. It is 
 to be deeply regretted that Captain Lawrence did not receive this 
 gallant challenge, as it would have given him time to put his 
 ship in proper order, and spared him the necessity of hurrying out 
 jQ his unprepared condition, to so formidable and momentous an 
 encounetr. 
 
 It was on the morning of the first of June that the Chesapeake 
 put to sea. The Shannon on seeing her came out, bore away, 
 and the other followed. Shortly after an engagement of the 
 most destructive nature took place ; which ended in the loss of 
 the Chesapeake and the death of her gallant commander, as more 
 minutely given in the preceding pages. 
 
 Thus terminated one of the most remarkable combats on naval 
 record. From the peculiar accidents that attended it, the battle 
 was short, desperate and bloody. So long as the cannonading 
 continued, the Chesapeake is said to. have clearly had the advan- 
 tage ; and had the ships not ran foul, it is probable she would 
 have captured the Shannon. Though considerably damaged in 
 her upper works, and pierced with some shot-holes in her hull, yet 
 .she had sustained no injury to affect her safety ; whereas the 
 Shannon had received several shots between wind and water^ 
 and, consequently, could not have sustained the action long. The 
 havoc on both sides was dreadful ; but to the singular circum- 
 titance of having every officer on the upper deck either killed or 
 wounded, early in the action, may chiefly be attributed the loss 
 of the Chesapeake. 
 
 The two ships presented dismal spectacles after the battle. 
 Crowded with the wounded and the dying, they resembled float- 
 ing hospitals sending forth groans at every roll. The brave Broke 
 lay delirious from a wound in the head, which he is said lo have 
 received while endeavouring to prevent the slaughter of some of 
 our men who had surrendered. In his rational intervals he al- 
 ways spoke in the highest terms of the courage and skill of Llw- 
 
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 V. mm 
 
 Vkfk 
 
300 
 
 iKKicuEs oy 
 
 .'n'' 
 
 rencc, and of " tlie gallant and musterly st^le*' in vvUicIi he brougli'. 
 the Chesaptfukc into action. 
 
 The wounds of Captain Lawrence rendered it iniputsiblc to re 
 move him after the battle, and hi« cabin being \ery much .shat- 
 tered, he remained in the waidroom. Here he la^', attendtU by 
 his own turgeon, and surrounded by his brave and suiTeriug oth'- 
 ccm. He made no comment on the battle, nur indeed wa« iuHrd 
 iM utter n word, except to make 8uch simple request* ai hid mcei- 
 sities required. In this \Kay he lingered through four days, imx- 
 treme bodily pain, and the silent melancholy of a proud and noble 
 heart, and then expired. His body was wrapped in the coluui;, ol 
 Ills ship and laid on the quarter-deck of the Chtsapeake, to be 
 conveyed to Halifax, for internniit. 
 
 At the time of his death he was but thirty-two years of age, 
 nearly sixteen of which had bteii honourabi} expended in the ser- 
 vice of his country. He was a disciplinarian of the highest order, 
 producing perfect obedience and subordination without sevi nty. 
 llis nten became zealously devoted to him, and ready to do tluo* 
 aftection what severity would never have compt lied. He was 
 scrupulously correct in his principles, delicate in his sense of liun- 
 our ; and to his extreme jealousy of reputation he fell a victim, 
 in daring and ill-matched encounter, which prudence would have 
 justified him in declining. In battle, where his lofty and com- 
 manding person made him conspicuous, the calm collected cour- 
 age, and elevated tranquility, which he maintained in the midst of 
 peril, imparted a confidence to every bosom. In the hour of vic- 
 tory he was moderate and unassuming ; towards the vanquished he 
 was gentle, generous and humane. But it is on the amiable qual- 
 ities that adorned his private character, that his friends will hang 
 with the fondest remembrance....that bland philanthropy that ema- 
 nated from every look, that breathed forth in every accent, that 
 gave u grace to every action. His was 'a general benevolence, 
 that, like a lambent flame, shed its cheering rays through the 
 sphere of his influence, warming and gladdening every heart, and 
 lighting up every countenance into smiles. But there is one lit- 
 tle circle on whose sacred sorrows even the eye of sympathy dares 
 not intrude. His brother being dead, he was the last male branch 
 of a family, who looked up to him as its ornament and pride. 
 His fraternal tenderness was the prop and consolation of two wid- 
 owed sisters, and in him their helpless offspring found a father. 
 He left, also, a wife and two young childaen to whom he was 
 fervently attached. The critical situation of the former was one 
 of those cares which preyed upon his mind at the time he went 
 forth to battle. The utmost precautions had been taken by her 
 relatives, to keep from her the knowledge of her husband's fate. 
 Their anxiety has been relieved by the birth of a son, who, wc 
 trust,, will inherit the virtues, and emulate the actions of his father. 
 
 * 
 
 ^x-. 
 
ars of ugc, 
 i in the ser- 
 jrliesl order, 
 ut sevi niy. 
 to do tliro' 
 . He was 
 ?nse oi liun- 
 U a victim, 
 would iiuve 
 and com- 
 lected cour- 
 he midst of 
 Ihour of vic- 
 nquished he 
 liable qual- 
 s will hang 
 that ema- 
 cceDtj that 
 levolencey 
 rough the 
 heart, and 
 is one lit- 
 lathy dares 
 lale brancb 
 ,nd pride. 
 two wid- 
 a father, 
 he was 
 Ir was one- 
 he went 
 en by her 
 nd's fate, 
 who, we 
 is father. 
 
 •VHU, \VA«. 
 
 JO I 
 
 Th«re !« a touching pathos about the death of this eatinroblo of- 
 iccTt that endf an him more to us than if he had been Ducceisful. 
 fhi* prosperous conqueror is an object of iidmiration, but in some 
 Ltaiure of envy : whatever gratitude we il I for his services, we 
 jre apt to think them repaid by the plaudits hu enjoys. But he 
 I who f<<il* a martyr to his country's cauRc excites tlir fulness of 
 lie sympathy. Envy cannot repine at i'luu Is so deatiy pur- 
 Ichised, and gratitude feels that he is be vend the rea t) of it.s le- 
 wards. The lust sad scene of his life liaUuvvs his memory ; it 
 remain!) Kjcrcd by misfortune, and honoured, not by the acclama- 
 tioiin, but the tears of his countrymen. The idea of Lawrence, 
 hutdown in the prime of his days, stretched upon his deck, vvr:ip- 
 Ld il) the flag of his country....that flag which he hnd contribut- 
 ledto ennoble, and had died to defend, is a picture that will re- 
 Lain treasured up in the dearest recollections of every American. 
 JHii will form one of those talismanic names which every nation 
 iTdcrves as watchwords for patriotism and valour. 
 Detply, therefore, as every bosom must lament the fall of so 
 Hunt and amiable an officer, there are some reflections consol- 
 11} 10 the pride of friendship, and which may sooth, though they 
 jcaiiiiot prevent, the bitter tear of aifection. He fell before hi.s 
 iigwas struck. His fall was the cause, not the consequence, of 
 Keat. He fell covered with glory, in the flower of his days, in 
 jjie perfection of mental and personal endowment, and the fresh- 
 Kss of reputation ; thus leaving in every mind the full and per- 
 |itt image of a hero. However we may deplore the stroke oi 
 Mil, his visits are occasionally well timed for his victim : he 
 ttsa seal upon the fame of the illustrious, fixing it beyond thf- 
 hcii of accident or change. And where is the son of honour, 
 inting for distinction, who would not rather, like Lawrence, be 
 katched away in the brightness of youth and glory, than to dvvin^ 
 !(lown to what is termed a good old age, wear his reputation 
 tik: shreds, and leave behind him nothing but the remem- 
 
 »nce of decripitude and imbecility. t , 
 
 I With feelings that swell our hearts do we notice the honours 
 Mto the remains of the brav« Lawrence at Halifax. Whei; 
 ships arrived in port, a generous concern was expressed foi 
 ifate. The recollection of his humanity towards the crew oi 
 Peacock was still fresh in every mind. His funeral obsequies 
 |tre celebrated with appropriate ceremoniab, and an ailVcting 
 lemnity. His pall was supported by the oldest captains in the 
 litish service that were in Halifax; and the naval oiliccrs crowd 
 |to yield the last sad honours to a ninii who was late their foe. 
 Inow their foe no longer. There is a syaipalhy between gal- 
 |t soi^ls that knows no distinction oi' clime or nation. They 
 
 flour iu each other what they feel proud of i:i themsL-lves 
 
 igrcup that gj^tbered round the grave cf Lawrence presfnl- 
 
 ■ i ^1»' 
 
 4ri 
 
 '. f 
 
 I: 
 
 ' / 
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 vH 
 

 3Q2 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 
 
 
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 I 
 
 
 ed a scene worthy of the heroic days of chivalry. It was ^ 
 complete' ti iumph of the nobler feelings over the savage passions 
 of war. We know not where most to bestow our admiraiion.... 
 on the living, who showed such generous sensibility to departed 
 virtue, or on the dead, in being worthy of such obsequies from 
 such spirits. It is by deeds Jike these that we really feel our- 
 selves subdued. The conflict of arms is ferocious, and ti iumph 
 does but engender more deadly hostility ; but the contest of mag. 
 nanimity calls forth the better feelings, and the comjuest is over 
 the affections. ♦■.?*>.»,'•...., 
 
 As to the event of this battle, deeply as we mourn the lost of 
 so many valuable lives, we feel no further cause of lamentation, 
 Brilliant as the victory undoubtedly was to the conquerors, our 
 nation lost nothing of honour in the conflict. The ship was gal 
 lantly and bloodily defended to the last; and was lost, not thro 
 want of good conduct or. determined bravery, but from the una! 
 voidable chances of battle. It was a victory " over which the 
 conqueror mourned....80 many suffered."* 
 
 Funeral obsequies.,..A short time after the. interment of Capf, 
 Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlow in Halifax, Captain Crownin 
 shield, of Salem, originated the idea of bringing their bodies t 
 their own country. He obtained a cartel of the president of thi 
 United States, fitted out a vessel for the purpose, and proceede 
 to Halifax at his own expense. He was politely treated b)' tin 
 British, and had no difSculty in eflTecting the object of his vo}| 
 age.^ On his return to Salem, the remains of the departed he 
 roes were conveyed, with the most impressive ceremonies, fro 
 the cartel to the shore. 
 
 From the time the boats left the brig, until the bodies werj 
 landed, minute guns were fired from vessels in the harbour. Oi 
 their being placed upon the hearses, they were covered with tl 
 colours which they had so lately and so signally honoured, ani 
 conveyed at a suitable distance for the procession to form ; whicj 
 moved to slow and solemn music to the Rev. Mr. Spaulding' 
 meeting-house ; where the corpses were taken from the funeri 
 cars, and placed in the centre of the church, by the seamen w 
 rowed them on shore, and who stood, during the whole of tli 
 performance, leaning upon them in an attitude of mouniiiii 
 The church was most tastefully hung with cypress and evergrec 
 The names of ** Lawrence" and " Ludloxv" appeared in letfe 
 of gold, encircled by festoons of evergreen, immediately on t 
 front of the desk. The rites of sepulchre were performed wi 
 great solemnity. An eulogy, pronounced by the Hon. Jud 
 Story, was such an one as made veterans weep. After the 
 formanccs were concluded in the meeting-house, tlu' f.iithinl 
 
 On 
 
 prize, 
 
 from Po] 
 
 a brig w 
 
 tenant 
 
 ensigns, 
 
 diately 
 
 prepared 
 
 log up fr 
 
 latter, 
 
 der to tr 
 
 shortenec 
 
 then ran 
 
 When th 
 
 the Briti! 
 
 ky a disc 
 
 the. like 
 
 neral. 
 
 * Anal-r'ii- M»«ra7.<in'. 
 
 ■■-•'!■ I 
 
mV. WAR. 
 
 SOiJ 
 
 v' . . ■ f 
 
 
 men conveyed the remains into the quiet tomb, and the masonic 
 locieties and military corps paid the last ritual homage to the im- 
 mortal Lawrence and Ludlow. 
 
 The bodies of the decea^sed, at the request of their relatives, 
 were afterwards carried to Newyork by land, (the commander 
 of the British squadron oiT Newtondon having hesitated to grant 
 theo) a/passage by water from Salero,y and there finally interred 
 with all the honours due to valiant countrymen. On no similar 
 occasion had been vvitnes^sed a testimonial of respect so universal 
 and sincere. It was indeed a day of mourning. The hearts of 
 hoary patriots and youthful heroes, beat in solemn unison, and 
 the bright eye of beauty glistened with a tributary tear. 
 
 It would fill a volume to insert an account of all the civic, mi- 
 litary and masonic honours in memory ot Lawrence and Ludlow. 
 Tbey extended from Maine to Georgia. An universal sympathy 
 I for the fate of the youthful warriors, appeared manifest in the 
 conduct of every citizen. Short, indeed, was their career of 
 
 glory ; but while it existed it shone with unrivalled splendour 
 
 [Their memories will long be cherished; and when the present 
 generation shall have passed away, posterity will delight to read 
 Ihe story of their valiant deeds. * ., > ^' , , -, ,..'5 
 
 :) ■:. 
 
 -lip' 
 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 
 *- ^^. ^ , 
 
 Cruise of the Enterprise Capture of the Boxer. ^...Biography 
 
 of Lieutenant Burrows, 
 
 •>*,:■>■ :il-t>' 
 
 On the 1st of September, 1813, the U. S. schooner Enter- 
 prize, of 12 guns, commanded by Lieutenant Burrows, sailed 
 from Portsmouth on a cruise. Early in the morning of the 5th, 
 a brig was discovered in shore getting under way. While Lieu- 
 tenant Burrows was reconnoitring her, she hoisted three British 
 ensigns, and fired a shot as a challenge. The Enterprize imme- 
 I diately haled upon a wind, stood out of the bay she was in, and 
 prepared for action. A calm then prevailed ; but a breeze spring- 
 ing up from S. W. gave the Enterprize the weather gage. The 
 latter, after manoeuvring for some time to windward, in or« 
 der to try her sailing with the enemy, and to ascertain her firce, 
 shortened sail and hoisted three ensigns, fired a gun, tacked, and 
 then ran down, with the design of closing with her antagonist. 
 When the Enterprize had got within half pistol shot, the crew of 
 the British vessel gave three cheers, and commenced the action 
 by a discharge of her starboard broadside, which was returned in 
 the. like manner by the Enterprize. The action then became ge- 
 neral. About five roinutes after its commencement, the gallant 
 
 . * I'" 
 
 
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 I > ■. ■■■ ♦ 
 
 if* 
 
 
 
 -]:^ 
 
 ■ iilili 
 
' ', * ■ 
 
 ¥■: ' 
 
 \0A 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 
 '-•■v. 
 
 Burrows received a tnu«ket ball in his body, and fcii : l)ut hr 
 refused to be carried below. The active part of the command 
 then devolved upon Lieutenant M'Call, who conducted himself | 
 with great skill and self-possession. The British vessel was out- 
 iTianflcuuredj and cut up ; her main topmast and topsail yarii 
 were cut away. The Enterprize having gained a position on the 
 starboard bow of the British vessel, kept up a raking fire on her, 
 until her guns were silenced, and her crew cried for quarters, 
 saying, that their colours being nailed to the mast, could not be 
 hauled down. The vessel proved to be his Britannic majesty's 
 brig Boxer, of 14 guns. 
 
 The Enter prize was much injured in her spars and rigging 
 
 She had 1 man killed and 13 wounded ; among the latter was 
 her gallant commander. Burrows, who expired a few hours af. 
 ter the engagement. While lying on the deck, previous to the 
 .capture of the Boxer, he raised his head and desired that his flag 
 might never be struck. When the sword of his vanquished ene- 
 my was presented to him, he clasped his hands, and exclaimed, 
 ** 1 die contented.'* 
 
 The Boxer was very much damaged in her spars and rigging, 
 and received several shot between wind and water. The crew 
 of this vessel could not be exactly ascertained, but is supposed to 
 have been nearly 100. The killed were thrown overboard. Six- 1 
 <ly-four persons were on board when she was taken possession of, | 
 17 of whom were wounded. The commander. Captain Blithe, 
 was killed early in the action. The Boxer was in every respect 
 ■superior to the Enterprize. 
 
 Biography of Lieutenant Burrows There are few event* 
 
 more calculated to raise the mingled sensations of admiration and 
 sorrow, than the death of a victor in the moment of his glory. 
 When defeat is attended with death, the bereaved mourners 
 have at least one consolation. The grave covers, with its sable 
 pall, the fame of the unfortunate man, and protects his moulder- 
 ing remains from persecuting envy. He who, while living, might 
 have been doomed to encounter the assault of detraction and in- 
 sult, acquires a sort of sanctity from the shadows of the tomb, 
 where even malice does not penetrate. But how interesting is 
 the character which dies in the moment of his fame ! Death, 
 which wa?, in the former instance, a protection, now robs the 
 victor of his glory; and of all mankind, the conqueror himself is 
 the only party cold and insensible to the history of his fame. 
 When every eye sparkles, and every cheek is flushed with de- 
 light ; when we anticipate the warrior's return with kind greet- 
 ings and cordial salutations; when we are preparing the laurels, 
 and every social feeling i;? kindled into action, we find all the 
 rays of his glory are gleaming on the temples of a cold and In- 
 
1 -^I'l 
 
 rviU 
 
 THBWAr* 
 
 305 
 
 .; i 
 
 sensible Corpse. Death obtrudes his obnoxious front in the midst 
 of these gay and exhiiirating images, and this union presents a 
 chastened feelingj a temperate sobriety of joy. 
 
 William Burrows was born at Kenderson, near Philadel> 
 phia, on the 6th day df October, in the year 1 785. His father, 
 then in possession of a large property, d/ci not wish to confine 
 the genius of his son to any particular pursuit, apprehending that 
 the paternal estate would be amply sufficient to his support in the 
 style and character of a gentleman. Accordingly, at the age of 
 thirteen, a season too early for any decided indications of charac- 
 ter to present themselves, his youthful curiosity was left to its 
 own guidance ; and he dallied with books as he would with other 
 toys, regarding them rather as matters of amusement than as ob- 
 jects of serious concern. In one respect only did his parent in- 
 terfere with these pleasures. Knowing how essential to the 
 character of a gentleman it was to become familiar with the liv- 
 iog languages, he warmly exhorted his son to turn his attention 
 to these, and in this he but partially succeeded. 
 
 To the French, for which the father was more than usually so- 
 licitous for his success, knowing how indispensable that accom- 
 plishment was, the son, at that time, betrayed an insurmountable 
 reluctance. In the acquisition of the German, which was, with 
 hif parent, a secondary object only> Burrows was more success- 
 ful; and at the age of thirteen, he would converse in that lan- 
 guage as fluently as in his native tongue. t 
 
 This may be considered as the broad outlines of his early years, 
 so far as regards those pursuits which often have an important 
 bearing in the formation of the future character of the man. 
 Certain traits now began to present themselves that distinguished 
 his future life ; a warm and benevolent heart was concealed be- 
 hind a cold and repulsive exterior, and a cautious guardedness of 
 leierve. On the subject of his own merits he maintained a se- 
 vere and inflexible silence, while he conversed freely and fluently 
 00 the merits of his youthful comrades and associates. 
 
 In a boy so amiable, and withal so retired and reserved, little 
 did his parents believe that the flame of ambition was burning 
 ttrong and intense. He would be often found musing and solita- 
 ry, as if in the act of conversing with his own thoughts ; but so 
 ignorant was his parent of his predominant passion, that he la- 
 boured tot arouse him from what be spprehended was lethargy 
 
 This passion, guarded by such jealous and scrupulous reserve, at 
 length developed itself by an accident that fortune threw in hi) 
 way. He ha(| undertaken to learn the art of drawing; but 
 amidst all the instructions of his preceptor, none seemed to 
 arrest the attention of his pupil in that science but thedelinea^ 
 tio8 of a ship of ivar. His constitutional reserve availed 
 biin no longer, this incident afforded an outlet to those passions 
 
 2 a 
 
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iwiii 
 
 !0 
 
 306 
 
 SKETCHKS 09 
 
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 which had so long occupied hi; musing and sclitaiy hours. Wjtij 
 astonivhofx nt nnd rcgiei his father disco\tT« d the cau8t <'t his 
 coptemplaticn in letirement, and of that indifFt-iencf whict; he 
 discovert d to hist slotted i^tudies ai.d puibuii.-'. Ht- laboured to 
 give his airbition another turn; but the (jai^ion of ocean chivalry 
 was now too deeply rooted, and all lli^: tfT'nrts were unaxm'i g. 
 He Ciuld now do nothing but to lend liis iid to the gratifitjitiou 
 of H pHv-sion he was incapable of repre.-sine ; and he accoidirgly 
 seCiMided his application to the secri-tar\ of the nav\ fur ai; of- 
 fice. and Burrows was appoujttd a nudilrpman in November, 
 
 He now eagerly embraced every opportunity to qualify himfelf 
 for the service, and devoted his hours exclusively to the ftudy cf 
 navigation. But the time was too short for him tc make the re- 
 qui.'ite prcficitncy in such studies. He was speedily summoned 
 to more active duty; for in January, 1600, less than 3 moiitlij 
 after his appointment, he received orders to repair on board the 
 sloop of war Port.«-mouth, under the command of Captain M'Ndl, 
 wl>ich was then bound to France. At this lime it was with great 
 diflicuity that he could be pursuadcd to wear the uniform of the 
 navy. He said, that he was as ye* a raw and inexperienced 
 hand, a mere novice in the naval service, and that he had done 
 nothing to entitle him to such honour. His conception was, that 
 the badges of his country's honour should be worn only by those 
 who had signalized themselves in her service. He prcfej-sed hit 
 utter contempt for those whose ambition extended to nothing 
 more than an uniform, and was fearful if he adopted it, that his 
 own pretensions would be measured by that standard. Never- 
 theless, the injunctions wire too imperative to be disregarded 
 
 The anecdote may be thought incompatible with the gravity of 
 biography ; but let it be remembered, that no anecd< te which 
 pourtrays character can possibly be unimportant ; and in this we 
 see indications of a future hero, at a period before be himself was 
 conscious of tht- fact. 
 
 The Portsmouth did not return to the United Stales until De- 
 cember, 1800. Burrows now became sensible of the nccessit} 
 of becoming better acquainted with his preparatory studies. He 
 applied for a furlough, and devoted himself, with renewed ardor, 
 to the study of navigation. In this short interval allowed him, 
 he was eminently successful ; for he had, in his first cruise, amass- 
 ed much practical skill and knowledge, which he was able to 
 systematize when he became more familiar with the rudinnnts 
 and elements of his art. This cruise was attended with another 
 benefit : A residence in France had conquered his own antipathy, 
 and convinced him of the necessity of the repeated injunctions 
 of his parent, to become master of that language. He now avail- 
 ed himself of such opportunities as he had formerly slighted ; and 
 
 ^5"l.v.f 
 
 14^ s. 
 
ty 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 307 
 
 J ?; 
 
 t 1, 
 
 1l|j 
 
 m tbe cud, he wa« able to converse in that tongue with fluency 
 and gract. 
 
 From the year 1800 to 1803 he served on board difft^rcnt 
 ships of war, in cruises some of a long and $:ome of a siiortt^r 
 date, unimportant so far as regards the glory of the nav). This 
 was, notwithstanding, a necessary school, which prepared him for 
 more important services. During these periods, when no occa- 
 sion was presented for the exercise of the high and heroic quali- 
 ties, his habits of con^-titutional reserve were his prcdotiiiiiiint 
 characteristics. It was a reserve not cold and repulsive. He 
 mingled in all the mirth, conviviality, and good humour of his 
 comrades, and wa- the deiigrht and charm of their society. Still 
 his heart, in the midst ')f such indulgencies, remained as locked 
 and guarded as ever, atiH thnse with whom he associated could 
 boast no ;Tiore of his con fid nee than those who wire strsngfrs 
 to hi? company, li at len^'l* b' came a proverb among hiit. asso- 
 ciates, that of a petson whose character was inscrutable, as little 
 could be known as of the ch lr^^crt r of Burrows. — 
 
 In tile year IBOci he wa* ord-. red to go on board the frigate , 
 Constitution, bound to th<- Mediterranean, commanded by Com- 
 modore Preble. This gallant Dtlicet was allowed to pos.«e>s an 
 almost intuitive sagacity in the discf rumeiit of character. Under 
 this cold and repellant exterior, his penetrating eye discerned 
 higher qualities. He saw in that rt serve a character of noble 
 and intrepid danng, which was only waiting a proper season to 
 break forth in all its respiendance. Under these impressions. Bur- 
 rows was appointed an acting lieutenant, in which character he 
 served during the Tripoline war. This period was an important 
 era in our naval service, (u proportion to the smallness of the 
 force we employed, the exercise of personal skill and bravery be- 
 came more indispensable. We have to regret that the particu- 
 lat part acted by Lieutenant Burrows in this warfare is not 
 known: but even this deficiency of information forms another 
 trait in the character of this otlicer. He maintained, on the sub- 
 ject of his personal exploits, a silence the most guarded and per- 
 tinacious. He never could condescend to become the herald of 
 his own fame. While he was just to the merits of his brother 
 officers, he was unjust to his own ; and very rarely, indeed, could 
 he be induced to open his lips upon the subject. 
 
 As every thing connected with the Tripoline war has now be- 
 come interesting, the following anecdote may be pardoned, al- 
 though not immediately pertinent to the subject of the present bi- 
 ography. 
 
 After the burning of the United States' frigate Philadelphia, by 
 our brave conntrymen, the cannon belonging to her were after- 
 wards weighed y\p by the Tripolitans, and planted on their batte- 
 
 ies. After three or four times firing, they split asunder, directly 
 
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 ■:i'Vi 
 
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 3A8 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 in the breecb, leaving part of the pan belonging to the touch-iiole, 
 on each side, and were thus rendered perfectly useless ever atter. 
 The following anecdotes are not destitute of amusement : 
 White our countrymen were prisoners at Tripoli, an Americati 
 sailor, who waited on the Bashaw, took a peculiar fancy to a gold 
 cup^ from whence that officer drank his sherbert. He watchtd 
 the first favourable moment, seized the cup, secreted it in his bo- 
 som, and, as he was departing, he was detected in the theft... , 
 When he was examined in the presence of the bashaw, he cool- 
 ly replied, " Your excellency must know that I have sworn, tn 
 every possible manner to distress the enemies of my country.^> 
 The bashaw was so struck with his cold intrepidity, that he suf- 
 fered him to depart without punishment. Another of the American 
 tar.<? having done some slight service for a Jew, received a draught 
 of wine from a large jug, by way of compensation. Honest Jack 
 was so enamoured with the wine, that he seized the first favour- 
 able moment to carry oiT the jug. He related the adventure to 
 Hassan, the commander ot the guard, who, for a stipend, as usu- 
 al, (which was nothing more than the empty jug,) agiecd to pro< 
 tect him. The Jew discovered the theft, applied to Hassan, with 
 a description of the person on whom his suspicion alighted. The 
 officer swore by the beard of Mahomet to punish the felon, and or- 
 dered all the American slaves to pass in review before the Jew. 
 Jack, meanwhile, had shifted his hat and jacket with a messmate, 
 and partly shutting one eye, turned the back part of the iris un- 
 der his lid. With the greatest unconcern of physiognomy he 
 passed the Jevv, who seized him, examined him cautiously, turn- 
 ing him round several times, and finally dismissed him ; saying 
 that this was not the culprit, as he only had one eye : but the 
 Jew >|vas ready to swear, upon the Pentateuch, that the real cul- 
 prit was the brother of this sailor. No such perspn was found 
 notwithstanding, and the righteous judge ordered three hundred 
 lashes to be inflicted on the Jew, forfthus daring to inculpate the 
 character of an innocent man. 
 
 Qne of the crew of the Philadelphia having obtained a piece 
 of Tripolitan money, made a mould, into which copper was cast, 
 taken frona the bottom of that frif ite. This was rubbed over 
 with quicksilver, and coin to the amount of three or four hundred 
 dollars was cast before the deception was discovered. One of 
 the pieces was brought to the bashaw, who declared that he 
 could do nothing with the Americans, and that he verily believed 
 them to be devils ! 
 
 It is a remarkable truth, that whatever was known of Burro^'\s 
 was known from other sources than himself ; in confirmation ot 
 which remark, we will mention the striking fact, that none are 
 more ignorant of the personal exploits of this officer, than his 
 o;>vn immediate relatives. He professed, on all occasions, his con- 
 
!l 
 
 '1 HIi WAKf 
 
 spp 
 
 ( touch- hole, 
 s ever alter, 
 ■ment : 
 in American 
 cy to a gold 
 ie watched 
 i it in hiii bo- 
 the theft.., . 
 aw, he cool- 
 ve sworn, tn 
 ny countryJ>* 
 , that he suf- 
 he American 
 ed a draught 
 Honest Jack 
 first favour' 
 adventure to 
 }end, as usu- 
 gieed to pro- 
 [iassan, with 
 ghted. The 
 felon, and or- 
 bre the Jew. 
 a messmate, 
 f the iris un- 
 iognoroy he 
 iously, turn- 
 
 im ; saying 
 
 but the 
 
 Ithe real cul- 
 
 was found 
 
 Iree hundred 
 
 culpate the 
 
 ined a piece 
 |r was cast, 
 {rubbed over 
 )ur hundred 
 Id. One of 
 Ted that he 
 [ily believed 
 
 )f Burro*'- jj 
 
 Irmation ot 
 
 it none are 
 
 |r, than his 
 
 |n6) his con- 
 
 a-flipt ^f i^osQ officers who embraced every opportunity to pro- 
 claim their own merits, and fearing, lest he shouhJ be guilty him- 
 jelf of the vice he so severely reprobated in others, he renounced 
 conversation on such subjects, altogether. 
 
 In 1807, Lieutenant Burrows returned from Tripoli to his na- 
 tive country; and in the following year he was attached to the 
 Philadelphia station, and employed in the bay and river Delaware, 
 aud commander of gun boat No. 119. It became then his duty 
 10 enforce a rigid observance of the emba'^go law. In a service 
 at once so delicate and invidious, he exhibited traits of character, 
 I which insured him universal applause. 
 
 In 1809 he was ordered to join the frigate President, under 
 
 I Captain Bainbridge. From this ship he was transferred to the 
 
 iloop of war Hornet as first lieutenant, under Captain Hunt. lu 
 
 « dangerous and heavy gale, his brother officers have reported, 
 
 that by his superior skill and intrepidity, as an officer, the ship and 
 
 Icrew were both preserved from what they deemed inevitable de- 
 
 litruction. 
 
 In his promotion to a lieutenancy, he had the mortification to 
 ISDd himself out ranked by his junior officers. This was so se- 
 Irerely wounding to his pride, that he remonstrated to the proper 
 Ijepartment in very feeling terms. He stated that he was now 
 Icsmmanded by lieutenants who had served under him in the Tri- 
 Ipoline war. Errors of this kind it is exceedingly difficult to re- 
 liliess, however just may be the subject of complaint. To with- 
 llraw a commission from an individual on whom it is conferred, 
 |to declare an officer unworthy of the honour thus bestowed, is an 
 mirage of the same character as to wantonly place a junior over 
 uenior officer. Whethc objections of this nature w«'ighed with 
 |he government we know not ; but certain it is, the remonstran- 
 1 of Lieutenant Burrows for redress proved ineflfectual. Find- 
 It^ that there was no prospect of having his complaints listened 
 p, v»ith a favourable ear, he was induced to tender his resigna- 
 loQ i Mr. Secretary Hamilton, at the time of that gentleman^s 
 ping out of office. This resignation was not accepted by go- 
 [ernment, and Lieutenant Burrows had now no other resource 
 ft) than to bear with fortitude what he was unable to remedy, 
 le applied to the government, in March 1812, for the purpose of 
 [rosecuting a voyage to India, which was granted. He found 
 jbij indispensable, as his circumstances were, at this time, some- 
 mt embarrassed ; and he accordirigly went on board the ship 
 ooinas Penrose, bound to Canton from Philadelphia, under the 
 bimnand of Captain Ansley of that city. On the return passage 
 ship was captured and carried into Barbadoes. Lieutenant 
 Arrows arrived in the United States on his parole, in June 1813, 
 N in'the succeeding month wn? rtgularly exchanged. 
 
 H'-'ft^J's'^-'- 
 
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 SKETCHKS OV 
 
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 Shortly after this exchange. Lieutenant Burrows was orderec 
 by government to repair to Portsmouth, Nt whanipshire, and to 
 take the command of the United States* ^ioop of war Enterprjze 
 then in a state of readiness for sea. His mnid was still sore wjthj 
 a sense of his unredressed grievance, on the subject of his i! 
 But the prospect of active service gratifitd hi» master pasMon I 
 the love of glory, which suspended, for a stason, all other couiij 
 -derations. 
 
 The Enterprize left the harbour of Portsmouth on the 5th ofl 
 September. On the next day she fell in vvitii and captured hiil 
 Britannic majesty*s brig Boxer, commanded by Captain Bl^th J 
 and the action terminated in the dt^ath of the commanders Qf| 
 both vessels, as detailed in the precednjg pages. 
 
 Soon after the arrival of the Jllnttrpnze a<>d Boxer at Portland,! 
 the bodies of the two commanding othcci». Lieutenant Burrowil 
 and Captain Blyth, were brought on shore in bargts, rowed atl 
 minute strokes by masters of shipji, accompanied by most of thel 
 barges and boats in the harbour, whiU nnnute guns were firedl 
 from the two vessels. A grand procession was then formed, thel 
 corpse of Burrows preceding ; and ihe interment took place witliT 
 all the honours that the civil and military authorities of the placej 
 and the great body of the people could bestow. The crew of the 
 Bo>:cr were permitted to march in the procession. 
 
 This pride of loity courtesy, between nations at war, served 
 ?ome measure to abate the miseries with which it was attended] 
 it produced an elevation of feeling, and every American particij 
 pated in such dignity,' when he contemplate d tht spectacle. 
 
 Republics have been reproached with ingratitude. Let usfolld^ 
 ly cherish the hope that such an imputation will not alight upon 
 us. The following resolution was unanimously passed by botlj 
 houses of congress : -■.■m ;.-.- 
 
 " Resolvedy by the senate and house of representatives of m 
 United States of America, in congress assembled. That the presil 
 dent of the Ujiiled States be requested to present to the nearej[ 
 male relation of liieutenant William Burrows, and to Lieuteiian 
 Edwin R. M'Call, of the brig Enterprize, a gold medaly will 
 suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal, with like en 
 blems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers of thJ 
 aforesaid vessel ; in testimony of the high sense entertained hi 
 congress, of the gallantry and good conduct'of the officers anj 
 crew, in the conflict with the British sloop Boxer, on the 4tlii 
 September, 1813, And the president is also requested to commi| 
 nicate to the nearest male relation of Lieutenant Burrows, tli 
 deep regret which congress feel for the loss of that valuable cfl 
 cer, who died in the arms of victory, nobly contending for h| 
 country's right?? and fiinic." 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 Sti 
 
 ' It is rare to find a character irore dl«tii.clly Uciined. iligli- 
 aiiidfd men usually belra> tlit^ir pri'dodiiuaut pat>sioii by a proud 
 lud repellant dignity rl dt'portiucnt. They manircst, by » cold 
 ind di<taiit reserve, that they aic not, as bhake^peare says, enu' 
 merated in the list of ordinary nt'U. A certain jtalous sense of this 
 dignity prevents colloquial freedom, and rendirs their characters 
 inaccessible to all but those who aspire to their friendship. Lleii- 
 Itfimiit Burrows, with all his habits of reserve, appears to have 
 bad uothiiig of this, lie could accommodate himself to the cir- 
 cuniittances in which he was placed, and suspend the exercise of 
 bis darling passion, when the season would admit of its iudul- 
 •eoce. At such times, by a happy mixture of humour and whim, 
 be was able to extract amusement from the mrst painful and re- 
 luctant duty. This was manifest by his conduct while enfotcing 
 the provisions of the embaigo act. His higher qualities then 
 availed him nothing, and he laid them aside. Those who frc- 
 quruted his society at that time, beheld in him nothing but the 
 amiable and facetious companion, abounding with original humour 
 aod wit. As the hour of danger approximated, all these kvities 
 Iwere thrown aside, and the hero was left in his proper colours, 
 liparhling and luminous. His orb, emerging from the light and spor- 
 Itive clouds that fitted over his disk, acquired, from the surrounding 
 Ithadows of death, more majesty and grandeur of lustre. His he- 
 Iroism maintained a long and obstinate contest with the king of 
 lienors; and he was only cold and insensible to the cha.''ms of 
 jglory, when he was invested with the coldness and insensibility* 
 I of death. [Port FoLio. 
 
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 .;■ .. I, <' 
 
 CHAPTER XX\1I. "■ 
 
 iCruwe of Commodore Rodgers Cruise of the Congress... 
 
 Cruise and loss of the Argus....Biography of Captain Allen, 
 
 
 On thf 23d of April, Commodore Rodger? put to sea from Bos- 
 on, ill the President fiigatc, with the Congress in company. It 
 Iwas the 3d of Ma^ before he got clear of the bay. In the after- 
 laoon of that day, while in chase of a British brig of war, near the 
 llhodl of George's Bank, he passed to vvindwarii oi* three sail, one 
 |of which was supposed to be the La Hogue 74, the other the 
 I'j'mphe frigate, and the third, a merchant brig. He continued 
 |io the direction of the southern edge of the Gulph stream until 
 llhe oth of May, in long. 60, \V. lat. 39 deg. 30 min. N. when 
 p parted from the Congress. After which he shaped hisjcourse 
 l«8ne«rly as the wind would permit, to intercept the British West 
 jindia vessels, passing to the southward of the Grand Bank. Not 
 
 ' I- •■' 
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 i 
 
 
if 
 
 
 
 K"" ' 
 
 ■; :. * 
 
 El' ■■M 
 
 312 
 
 fcKEVOHLs iJt 
 
 meeting uilh an)' thing, he changed hi* course to the norliiwaro. 
 Having reached the 4ath degree of N. lat. he steered for the A- 
 7,orcs, oir which he continued in diflTererf directionB till the (Jthof 
 June, without meeting any British vesjrL,. Being informed by 
 :in Americnn vessel, that four days previous she had passed a Bri- 
 tish convoy from the West Indies, the commodore crowded all 
 «ail in chase to N. K. Though disappointed in iulling iii with the 
 convoy, he nevertheless captured four vessels. 
 
 Beini: then in lat. 46 N. long. 28 W. he determined to proceed 
 to the North Sea. He however did not meet with a single ves- 
 sel until off* the Shetland Islands, and those he there met with 
 were Danish, under British licence. His water and provisionjj 
 being now nearly exhausted, he put into North Bergen, in Nor 
 way, on the 27th of June. A scarcity in the country preventedl 
 his obtaining provisions. After having tilled his casks with wafer 
 . he departed on the 2d of July, towards the Orkney Islands, and 
 thence toward the North Cape, for the purpose of intercepting a 
 convoy of 25 or 30 sail, which, it was said, would leave Archan 
 gel about the middle of July, under the protection of two sloopsi 
 of war. This was confirmed by two vessels he captured on tht 
 18th of the same month. In this, however, the commodore was] 
 disappointed by a 74 and frigate making their appearaiict off 
 North Cape on the 19th of July, just as he was in momentqr 
 expectation of meeting the convoy. On first discovering thes 
 two vessels, ow'ing to the haziness of the weather, he could not as 
 certain their character with precision. He accordingly stood to 
 wards them until he discovered their strength, when he haled bj 
 the wind on the oppofitc tack to avoid them. 3ut owing to fain 
 variable winds, and light for an entire day, for in that latitud 
 and season the sun appeared above the horizon at midnight, tli 
 British vessels were enabled to continue the cha«e upwards ofSi 
 hours. At times, owing to changes of the wind in favour of th 
 British vessel?, they were brought near to the President. Whcii 
 these vessels gave chase to the President, the privateer Scour^ 
 of New- York was in company, but so intent were the British iiB liaving on 
 their chase of the former, that the latter escaped. m^t arrivec 
 
 Having but a very small quantity of provisidns on board bifllie capture 
 vessel. Commodore Rodgers determined to proceed to a moreH After 
 westerly station after having escaped from the superior BritishBw a cruis 
 force that so long chased him. He accordingly steered to inter 
 cept the trade passing out of and into the Irish channel, where otH»nd gener 
 ihc 25th of July and 2d of August he made three captures; buBlS inin. n 
 receiving information that the British had a superior force in th«M. a larg 
 vicinity, he deemed it expedient to change his cruizing groundBthe weath 
 After having made a circuit rouftd Ireland, and having come inf(B»ad the A 
 the latitude of Cape Clear, he steered for the Banks of NewfoundB immediate 
 land^ near to which he captured two more vessels r from one oB the weath 
 
 'f closing. 
 
 these 1 
 
 llyperi 
 
 few mi 
 
 with tl 
 
 10 the I 
 
 of Septt 
 
 met wi 
 
 provisio 
 
 were sc 
 
 ly for t 
 
 obtainin 
 
 he obtKJ 
 
 High Fl, 
 
 Newpor 
 
 Durin 
 
 of ^vhich 
 
 effectual 
 
 and forci 
 
 war in a 
 
 parting v 
 Id a circ^ 
 parsing i 
 During 
 and exan 
 ed; two 
 liable par 
 Jer«, who 
 I harbour 
 
 Cruise 
 I of the Uni 
 
 h 
 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 913 
 
 ti.i'se he obtliined information that the Bellerophoiij a 74, and the 
 Hyperion frigate, were on the eastern part of the bank, only a 
 few miles to the westward of him. He however did not {»\l iit 
 with them. From this phice thf Commodore directed his rruize 
 to the United States, without seeinar a single vessel until the 22d 
 of September, when, being near the south ahoal of Nantucket, he 
 met with a Swedish brig, and American cartel. By this time the 
 provisions, and particularly the bread on board the Presif int, 
 were so nearly expended, that it became indij-pensobly necessa- 
 ry for the commodore to put into the first convenient port, after 
 obtaining information of the position of the British cruisers. This 
 be obtained by the capture of his Britannic Majesty's schooner 
 High Flyer, on the 23d, with which vessel he arrived safe at 
 Newport. 
 
 During this cruize Commodore Rndgers captured 12 vessels, 
 of^vhich the crews amounted to 271 persons. He rendered \•^ry 
 elfectual service to his country by harr-iising the British commerce, 
 and forcing them to detach a great number of their vessels of 
 war in an unsuccessful pursuit. 
 
 . - Ir- 
 t A * ? 
 
 Ciuis' of th<^ Cow^re5s....Captain Smith, of the Congress, after 
 parting with Commodore Rodgers, on the 8th of May, proceeded 
 ia a circuitous direction, to the south-east, crossing the equator, 
 
 I passing the north ^'ast coast of Brazil, and thence homeward. 
 During his cruise, a number of neutral vessels were brought to 
 
 land examined, and three valuable vessels of the enemy captur- 
 ed; two of which were destroyed, after taking out the most val- 
 uable part of their cargoes ; and the other given up to the prison- 
 ers, who were paroled. Captain Smith arrived in Portsmoufh 
 harbour on the I4th December. 
 
 Cruise and loss of the Argus.L.An May, 1813, Captain Allen 
 I of the United States' brig Argus sailed from this country for France, 
 having on board Mr. Crawford, our minister to that court ; where 
 
 he arrived in the short passage of 23 days during which time 
 
 he captured and destroyed a valuable British schooner of 6 guns. 
 
 After having remained at L'Orient a few days, he proceeded 
 Ion a cruise in the British channel, where he captured 20 English 
 mselsj the crews of which, Capt. Allen treated with humanity 
 and generosity. On the I4th of August, being in lat. 52 deg. 
 15 inin. north, long 5. 50. west, he discovered at 4 o'clock A. 
 M. a large brig of war standing down under a press of sail upon 
 the weather quarter of the argus, the wind being at the south,, 
 and the Argus close haled on the starboard tack. Captain Alien- 
 immediately prepared to receive her; and being unable to getj 
 the weathergage, he shortened sail and gave her an opportunitf 
 K^f closing. At 6 o'clock, the brig having disolaved English c(.> 
 
 2 R 
 
 i... 1 
 
 '.i 
 
 ■ ( 
 
 r 
 » 
 
 r H' 
 
 \ ■' : f 
 
 
 

 ■ ; i 
 
 ; , i , 
 ■■( ■ . 
 
 914 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 ours, the Argut Iioiitcd the American flag, uut t ruuiid, iind gav^ 
 her the larboard broadside, (beiog at thit time within grape dii 
 tancr) which was returned, an<f the action commenced within 
 the range of musketry. At a few minutes past 6, Captain Allen 
 was wounded, and being much exhausted by the loss of blood, 
 was taken below ; at which time, the Argus had lost her inaiii 
 braces, main spring stay, gaff, and try-sail-mast, and shortly nftr. 
 her sprit-saiNyard and the principal part of the rigging on the lar- 
 board side of the foremast. At this time, Lieut. Watson, iipou 
 whom the command of the Argus then devolved, nfttr Captain 
 Allen was carried below, received a wound on the head from a 
 grape shot, which for a time rendered him incapable of attending 
 to duty, and he was also carried beJow. The command, at this 
 time, devolved on Lieut. Allen ; and the enemy being oij thi 
 weather quarter of the Argu8, edged oiT for the piirpo«e of git 
 ting under her stern ; but the Argvis frustrated his uttcnipt, Im, 
 giving him a broad-fide. At about imif past 0, the Argiis havin-r 
 lost the use of her after-sails, fi.ll before the wind, when llie ene- 
 my succeeded in passing her stern, and ranged up on tlie starboard 
 side. At this time, the wheel-ropes and rigging of every de- 
 scription, beign shot away, the Argus became unmanageable ; and 
 the e.iemy not having sustained any apparent damage, had it 
 completely in his power to choose a position. By this advantagr 
 he profited, and continued to play upon her starboard quarter, oc- 
 £-asionally shifting his situation, when Lieut. Watson returned to 
 the deck, and prepared to board the enemy : but, in consequence 
 of the shattered condition of the Argus, was unable to effect it. 
 After this, the enemy continued a raking fire,, which the Argus 
 could but faintly oppose; her guns being much disabled, and 
 seldom brought to bear; and having suffered much in hull 
 and rigging, as also in killed and wounded ; and being exposed to 
 a galling fire, which from the enemy's ability to manage, she could 
 not avoid, Lieut. Watson deemed it necessary to surrender : and 
 was taken possession of by the British sloop Pelican, of 21 car- 
 liage guns, viz. sixteen 32 pound carronades, four long 6's, and 
 one 12 pound carronade, commanded by Capt. Maples TheAr 
 gus carried eighteen 24 pounders, and two long 12's. 
 
 The loss on board the Argus was 6 hilled and 12 wounded.... 
 5 of whom have since died, including her brave commander, who 
 lost his leg at the second broadside, and died the next day. 
 
 The loss on board the Pelican, as stated in the British onkiai 
 account, was eight, in killed and wounded. 
 
 The Pelican was, in eveiy respect, a superior vessel to the Ai 
 gus : she was of 485 toras burden. Her shot in pounds was 66C(. 
 The burden of the Argusf was 298 tons ; her shot in pound!' 
 402. ^. , 
 
 
 ^1^ 
 
'a,- 
 
 THK WAR. 
 
 215 
 
 Biography of Captain Allen WlLLlAM IIknry Allkn, 
 
 whom it has become our painful duty to notice, was born at 
 Providence, Khodelilancl, on the 21«t day of October, 1784. 
 \\\i father, William Allen, on the breaking out of the revolu- 
 tiunary troubles, was appointed n lieutenant in the army. lie 
 continued in the army until the restoration of peace, and 
 commanded the Rhode-island line of troops at the battle of 
 Saratoga, when he was adviinccd to the rank of major. He 
 wus present and actively engaged in most of the battles which 
 were fought during our re< olutionary war; and, in 1786, was 
 appointed by congress, senior officer of the legionary corps raised 
 in Rhode-Island. In the year 1700, he was appointed, by the le- 
 gislature of that state, brigadier-general of militia. 
 
 Although it is not n subject immediately connected with the 
 present biographical sketch, it may not be improper to state, 
 that Mujor Allen had, for a short time, the charge of the unfor- 
 tunate Andre. He sat up with him the whole night previous to 
 his execution. ^ Andre conversed with him on a variety of sub* 
 jects, in which he uniformly spoke of the American character in 
 tsrms of the strongest respect, and expressed his gratitude for 
 the kindness and delicacy with which he was treated during his 
 confinement. So affecting was the interview to Major Allen, 
 that to this day, he cannot relate the circumstances without great 
 emotion. 
 
 The mother of William Henry Allen was the sister of the pre- 
 sent governor of Rhode Island. It was the intention of his pa- 
 rents, that Henry should have received a liberal education ; and 
 he went through the preparatory studios. He panted, however, 
 for more active life; and, notwith.sfanding the pressing remon- 
 strances of his parents, he entered the navy, as n midshipman, in 
 May, 1800. 
 
 In three months after his appointment, he was ordered on 
 board the frigate George Washington, commanded by Captain 
 Bainbridge, to carry presents to the dey of Algiers. On his de- 
 parture he writes to his father, " I now bid you a short adieu ; 
 but should it be the last, you shall have the satisfaction to hear 
 of my good conduct in my station as an officer and as a gentle- 
 man." This cruise was attended with peculiarity of incident. 
 The demand of the dey of Algeirs, that the frigate should be em- 
 ployed in carrying his presents to the grand geignior of Constan- 
 tinople, and the unavailing reluctance and remonstrances of Cap- 
 tain Bainbridge, are circumstances generally known. It was the 
 first time that the flag of an American frigate had waved in the 
 harbour of Constantinople. The fine order of the ship, and the 
 excellent discipline observed among the of^cers and men, tended 
 to impress very high ideas of the American character, in a quarter 
 of the world where, before, it wa? unknown. 
 
 m 
 
 
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 ■a 
 
 -t;f^i 
 
Mmkm > 
 
 
 
 li'iJ 
 
 316 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 1 f^y'M:^ 
 
 Com. Bainbiidge returned to America on the li>th of Apm, 
 1801, when a rtduction of the navy ensued. In eight days after 
 the return of the subject of the present memoir, and while he 
 was solnciug himself in the hope of once more visiting his family 
 and friends, he was ordered on board the Philadelphia, und( r tlie 
 comniaiid of Captain Barron, to scour the Mediterranean sta 
 again. Ho bade to his friends a cordial adieu, and entered on the 
 service with that promptitude that ever distinguished him. No 
 thing material transpired during the cruise. The ship returnd 
 to the United States on the 27th of June, 1802. For the first 
 time, aftwT his entry into the service of his country, was he now 
 enabled to enjoy the society of his friends, and to visit his pater- 
 nal abode. This, however, was but a short repose allowed him 
 for the fatigues and naval service, for in October, 1802, he sailed 
 in the frigate John Adams, commanded by Capiain Rodgers, to 
 visit, for the third time, the shores of the Mediterranean. From 
 bis letters, during this period, we shall make only two extracts: 
 
 , :; ^«' 
 
 fi\ 
 
 " During our stay at Malta, we had an opportunity of visiting 
 most of the public buildings ; and amongst the rest, the superb 
 church of St. John. The floor is laid in different coloured mar- 
 ble, in Mosaic, representing tomb-stones of the different knights, 
 who distinguished themselves in fighting and in falling In defence 
 of Christianity, against the infidels. On every side there is a 
 Latin inscription, describing his death. The walls are hung with 
 the most superbly embroidered tapestry, representing the birth, 
 crucifixion and ascension of our Saviour. The death of the saints 
 is likewise represented in the same manner, and they appear like 
 the most beautiful paintings. The wings are divided into chapels, 
 and here they show us crosses and saints in abundance,, and the 
 rich attire of the bishops and clergy, embroidered with gold. In 
 an inner chapel we were shown a number of relics, one of 
 which they declared was a fragment of the cross on which our 
 Saviour was crucified ; another was the palm of the hand of St. 
 
 John. The body of St. Clement was exposed, lying in state 
 
 This was a room that the French soldiers did not penetrate : it 
 is said that they robbed this church of half a million." 
 
 .i 
 
 During this voyage, he was informed, by his correspondent, 
 of a report, which afterwards proved unfounded, that a younger 
 officer was advanced over his head. This was the manly reply 
 of a boy of seventeen : " I am too well grounded in old princi- 
 ples to mind such assaults now. If the government decide thus, 
 1 can say ameu, with all my heart." 
 
 Commodore Rodgers returned from his cruise in December. 
 1803. 
 
^y. 
 
 TJIK WAR. 
 
 347 
 
 Kariy in tlie year 1804, Allen was ordered on boaid the frigate 
 Congress, lying at Washington, of which he was appointed sail- 
 ing master. This frigate aaiied on the first of July, under the 
 command of Captain Rodgers, for the Mediterranean. On the 
 outward bound passage, while the ship was lying to, in a violent 
 ;ale, Allen was on the foreyard assisting the sailors in taking in 
 a reef. Letting fall that part of the sail on which he had hold, 
 be was precipitated head long into the sea, to the depth of twenty 
 feet, passing in his fall very near the anchor on the bow. Fortu- 
 oately he arose near the mizen chains, and by taking hold of 
 Item, narrowly escaped inevitable death, as the ship was then 
 Wling very fast. While cruising off the coast of Tripoli, Capt. 
 Rodgers intended, if the command should have devolved on him, 
 io consequence of the illness of Commodore Barron, an attack 
 oa that place. He took Allen with him in the schooner to take 
 the soundings, preparatory to the anticipated assault. They en* 
 tered the harbour with muMed oars ; and, after taking a sound- 
 iDg, and complete survey, they passed so near the Tripoline gun- 
 lioats, that they distinctly heard the men conversing below. They 
 also heard the sentinels on the walls of the battery conversing to- 
 ptlier. As they were returning from the harbour, a heavy gale 
 iprang up, and they had a narrow escape to the Nautilus, which 
 ressel was then in the very act of leaving her position. During 
 
 is cruise, which extended from 1804 to 1806, Allen thus writes 
 
 bis correspondent : 
 
 "I was, while at Lisbon, witness to a very ludicrous ceremo- 
 
 py. My ears were saluted by the hoarse chaunting of some Por- 
 
 pguese sailors, and I perceived about twenty in number approach- 
 
 ig, bearing a large topsail, barefoot, with their hats in their 
 
 8, into which the multitude would, now and then, drop a six 
 
 nee, to save their souls from purgatory. On inquiry, I was in- 
 
 rmed, that it was a custom amongst them, when overtaken by 
 
 violent gale at sea, instead of trusting to their own exertions^ 
 
 offer up their prayers to their guardian saint, and to promise 
 
 ID the best sail in the ship, if he would condescend to protect 
 
 em from the dangers of the element. The topsail was theji 
 
 iken to the church, in the manner described, laid at the foot of 
 
 e altar, and dedicated to the saint. It was then appraised by 
 
 old friar, whoj unwilling to distress the votaries of old mother 
 
 'hurch, accepted, as an equivalent, in money, one half of its no- 
 
 inal value. The saint has, by this time become perfectly weli 
 
 icquainted with the value of sail cloth." 
 
 ^■■i 
 
 
 
 "lilt 
 
 
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 • 
 
 r- 
 
 
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 ■y 
 
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 In the month of October, 1805, Captain Rodgers removed to 
 N frtgate Constitution, and assumed the command of the squad- 
 Inn, in consequence of the return of Captain Barron to the IT. 
 
 
 l-^'- 
 

 ^18 
 
 SKfcTCHliS OF 
 
 
 \i:i 
 
 
 ^^''If?^:!<l 
 
 i 
 
 
 p:- 1^ 
 
 States. Mr. Allen also removed to the Constitution, and \\.,_ 
 {jrotnoted to a lieutenancy. In a cruise off Capanea, Lieutenari 
 Allen, in company with Commodore Rodgcrs, visited Mount tlit- 
 na. Ascending the south side of the mountain, the wind, \vhi{J 
 blowing from the north, covered that side of their bodies exposed 
 to its violence, with frost, while the other remained perfecthf 
 free. Descending, the}' lost their way amongst fields of lavaj 
 but were found by the monks in the convents below. Lieutenant 
 Allen likewise visited Mount Vesuvius, and the cities of Herculal 
 neum and Pompeia. He served as third lieutenant on board thrj 
 Constitution, and returned in that frigate to the United States i!i| 
 the year 1806. 
 
 During these several cruises to the Mediterranean, althoughl 
 nothing transpired on board the frigates where Lieutenant Allenl 
 was stationed, that might fairly be denominated naval glorv, sfillf 
 a peculiarity of circumstances gave a lolty and elevated tone to 
 the feelings of all the officers. An American squadron in the 
 waters of the Mediterranean, was itself a novelty. That squad-l 
 ton was small, and it was destined to pass under the riview and 
 strict scrutiny of English ships of war, occasionally stationed in 
 those seas, and passing the straits of Gibraltar. Personal couragej 
 skill and correctness of discipline, could alone ensure them re] 
 spect in a company so illustrious ; and to these points all their efj 
 forts were directed. They felt the high responsibility attached id 
 their station ; and knowing how important the first impression oj 
 a national character was, the}' acted up to that dignity whiclj 
 the occasion required. 
 
 After this long and fatigu'ng cruise, he was permitted, for al 
 short time, to visit his friends and relations in Providence. iJ^ 
 February, 1807, he received orders from government to join M 
 frigate Chesapeake, commanded by Captam Barron, then fitting 
 out for the straits. He remained at Philadelphia while the 
 was preparing for sea, during which time he was busily employj 
 ed in recruiting men for the service, and then entered as thir( 
 lieutenant. m 
 
 The circumstances preceding and succeeding the attack ontlij 
 Chesapeake, by the Leopard, were handsomely delineated bj 
 Lieutenant Allen, in a letter to a correspondent. In this lettej 
 he expressed his abhorrence at the conduct of the officer havin( 
 command of the Chesapeake, irt tamely submitting to the iadig 
 nitics offered by the Leopard. He drew up a letter to the secrd 
 tary of the navy, demanding a court of inquiry to be called iipol 
 the captain ; which was jigned by four other lieutenants ?nd'th| 
 sailing-master. The secretary replied, " that their conirnuuic;[ 
 lion did them honour, and their request should be proptrl} atleij 
 de<l to." It is difficult to cenceive of the cxcoriutto sliite 
 Lieutenant Allen's mind at this time. Words seemed hardlvaf'tj 
 
 
 
.^:'m ' ; 
 
 THE WAR, 
 
 319 
 
 anean, allhoughl 
 lieutenant Alien! 
 naval glory, 
 ilevated tone to 
 squadron in the 
 y. That squad] 
 the riview and 
 ally stationed in 
 'erional courage] 
 ensure them n\ 
 )int8 all their efj 
 )ility attached td 
 rst impresjion ol 
 It dignity whidl 
 
 le attack ontlij 
 delineattd bj 
 In this lettel 
 officer havinj 
 ing to the iadig 
 ter to the secre 
 o be called upol 
 utenants nnd'tbl 
 K'ir conirnunie.1 
 e proptrly atteij 
 co»iat((i statf 
 ?nncd hardivaf'tj 
 
 euale to express the indignation he felt at the scenes he had wit- 
 nessed. To have the flag of his nation disgraced ; and to suffer 
 (he wrongs of his bleeding countrymen to „o unavenged, was 
 ;oo humiliating for his noble spirit to brook. In a letter to his fa- 
 ther, he says, " If I am acquitted honourably, (in other words, if 
 Commodore Barron is condemned,) you may see me again ; if 
 not, never." ** We lay here," says he, in another letter, ** ready^, 
 jt a moment's warning, to wipe from our tlag that disgrace that 
 has been detailed upon it by our blood. When I suffer my me- 
 mory to dwell oji tliis, I feel that I can trifle with my existence 
 jt pleasure." At length this question was put to rest by the con- 
 demnation of Barron, on which Lieutenant Allen makes this dry 
 remark: ** How the court can reconcile some of the passages of 
 iheir opinion with others, I know not, unless cowardice can be 
 jivided into two kinds, personal and official." 
 
 Intrepidity, however, exposes only a part of the character of 
 lieutenant Allen ; his private affections were as warm as his 
 pablic. While his mind was inflamed by a sense of indignant sen- 
 •ibility, he was pouring into the ear of masculine confidence the 
 complaints of his lacerated mind ; letters of the same date, to a 
 female friend, are replete with domestic tenderness and affection. 
 With this correspondence all is quiet and serenity ; he enters in- 
 to all the levity of ordinary converse, and seems as anxious to 
 veil his heroic and indignant passions, as if this indulgence was 
 criminal in such intercourse. 
 
 Not one of the subordinate officers was more decidedly oppos- 
 ed to the conduct of Commodore Barron, than Lieutenant Allen ; 
 yet such was the uniform correctness, propriety and delicacy of 
 his conduct, that he commanded the esteem of that officer's most 
 nnguine adherents. With the officers on board the Chesapeake, 
 lie was a peculiar favourite. 
 
 During the time of the embargo, the Chesapeake, to which he 
 was still attached, cruised off Block Island, and captured several 
 vessels violating that law. From motives of delicacy he desired 
 to be excused, and was excused from boarding any vessel belong- 
 ing to his native state. In a letter on this subject, he says, " I 
 hew that I should be compelled to detain such vessels for the 
 
 most trivial article, and this would have wounded my feelings 
 
 I Even had I met those which I could have suffered to pass, I 
 might have laboured under unjust suspicions, when other officers 
 might be equally just without such imputations." 
 
 Lieutenant Allen remained in the Chesapeake, in this service. 
 
 Until February, 1809, when he was ordered, by the government, 
 
 iojoin the frigate United States, while lying at Washington, un- 
 
 Mer Jhe command of Commodore Decatur. The commodore was. 
 
 Mmself absent, and the equipping of the frigate was a duty that 
 
 nevolved ou the first lieutenant, who was not, for the space of 
 
 ^1 
 
 K 
 : ?, 
 
 i 
 
 
 

 21? •■-:S.li*l< 
 
 
 if 'f : , 
 
 
 
 320 
 
 SKiLTCUES UF 
 
 two montliFf absent from the navy yard. This ship lay a pari i ;' 
 the time at Norfolk, and the remainder of the time was engaged 
 in short cruises on the coast, until the declaration of war against 
 Glreat Britain in 1812. " - 
 
 Shortly after, the frigate United States sailed upon a cruise, 
 which resulted in the capture of the Macedonian. In the action 
 between the two vessels. Lieutenant Allen bore a conspicuous 
 part. His share in the glorious conflict cannot be better express- 
 ed than in the words of Commodure Decatur himself. «\i 
 would be unjust in me, (says this gallant odicer,) to discriminate 
 where all met my fullest expectations. Pormii me, however, to 
 recommend to the particular notice of the secretary, my first I 
 lieutenant, William H. Allen, who has served with me upwards 
 of five years ; and to his unremitted exertions, in disciplining the 
 crew, is to be imputed the obvious superiority of our gunnery, ex- 
 hibited in this contest." 
 
 To Lieutenant Allen was entrusted the honourable charge of I 
 bringing the prize into port, and she safely arrived in the harbour 
 of Newyork, amid the enthusiastic gratulations of our couutry* I 
 men. The corporation and citizens of the city honoured him 
 and his commander with a splendid and superb festival ; and the 
 legislatures of Rhode-Island and Virginia presented him with a 
 sword, as a testimonial of their sense, in commemoration of his j 
 gallant services. 
 
 After this. Lieutenant Allen was allowed some little respite 
 from the naval service ; he visited his native land, and received 
 the kind congratulations of his relatives and friends, in the bosom 
 of his paternal abode. This report was, however, but of short | 
 duration ; the strong and imperious calls of his country once 
 more summoned him to active duty. 
 
 Shortly after the arrival of the Macedonian at Newyork, the 
 Argus returned to that port commanded by Captain Sinclair. He 
 obtained leave to visit his friends ; and by order of Com. De- 1 
 catur. Lieutenant Allen took the command. He thoroughl}' re- 
 paired the vessel, and received an order from the commodore to | 
 go in quest of a British brig of war, reported to be in the sound. 
 The whole crew of the Hornet, commanded by Lieutenant Shu- 
 brick, volunteered their services. He remained in the sound for 
 the space of a week, without meeting with the enemy, when he 
 received the orders of the commodore to return. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Barlow, our minister to the court of! 
 France, our government deemed it expedient to renew the nego- 
 uiation. ' Mr. Crawford was appointed as his successor ; and the 
 subject of the present memoir, now advanced to the rank of mas- j 
 ter and commander, was directed to take command of the Ar- 
 gus, and to conduct our minister to his place of destination. He 
 ?>ccppted the appointment with hi? usual promptitude, and sailet^ 
 
TH£ VVAU. 
 
 321 
 
 wilb oup new minister for France. He was so fortunate as to 
 flurip ^he vigilar)ce of tlie blockading squadron, and arrived at 
 the port of L'Orient in twenty-three days. He intbriDs the sec- 
 retary of the navy, in his letter bearing date June 12, 1813, that 
 «he shall immediately proceed to put in execution his orders as 
 to the ulterior purposes of his destination." 
 
 The business here, which, from prudential motives, is so darkl\' 
 hinted at, was un(*oubtedly, as appears from the sequel, to sail in 
 the Irish channil, and annoy the £nglish commerce. This ser- 
 vict was extremely perilous ; and there seemed scarcely a possi- 
 bility of escape. It was a service to a man fond of glory, pecu- 
 ijarlv invidious. Such conquests were attended with no houuur; 
 and Captain Allen, in compliance with his orders, seemed pecu- 
 liarly solicitous, in the discharge of this unthankful office, to 
 make the enemy feel and confess the motives by which he 
 was guided. The injury which he did to the British . commerce 
 is, in some of their papets, estimated to the amount of two mil- 
 lions. While thus employed in burning, sinking and destroying 
 the enemy's property. Captain Allen was peculiarly careful to dis- 
 tiflj»ui.*h his character from those who depredated for selfish pur- 
 pocf s only. The property of the passengers was sacred from ho£« 
 tiliry ; not an article of that kind would he suffer to be touched. 
 The passengers were allowed to go below, and to take what they 
 claimed as their own, and no hands belonging to the Argus were 
 permitted to inspect them while they were employed in so<loing. 
 
 On one occasion, when a passenger had left his surtout behind 
 bin), it was sent after him in the boat : on another occasion. Cap- 
 tain Allen ordered one of his hands, who was detected in the act 
 of some petty plunder of thij kind, to be flogged at the gangway. 
 The English papers, while they were writhing under the severe 
 injuries thus inflicted, were unanimous in their testimonials of re- 
 spect to the conduct of this gallant officer, for the humauity and 
 delicacy with which he performed a ser Mce so invidious. Proba- 
 j bly no action of his life could more plainly distinguish his charac- 
 ter than this: he loved danger as much as he abhorred to plun- 
 der the defenceless. 
 
 I It appeared very evident, that if prudence was consulted, it 
 was his imperious duty to avoid an engagement. The damage 
 which he might have done the enemy, by another species of war- 
 fare, was beyond all comparison greater than by risking a battle, 
 even if fortune had decided the controversy in his favour. Even 
 I a victory ensured capture; for alone and unsupported as he was, 
 
 i own ship would, in all human probability, suffer material in- 
 
 Ijury, and both the captured and the captor become the prize of 
 
 one^f the many frigates then swarming in the English channel. 
 
 I These considerations, however, would have but little weight with 
 
 aim. He declared, previous to his setting out, that he would tup 
 
 2 S 
 
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 ■fill 
 
 t 1 
 
 r ■ 
 
 i 
 
 ■ ':^'i.! 
 
ft ". 
 
 32« 
 
 SKBTCHKS OV 
 
 from no two-masted vessel. Anxious to quit himself of a busi- 
 ness which he so much disliked, he sought an opportunity to act 
 in a situation more congenial to his feelings. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 14th of August, he fell in with his Britan- 
 nic majesty's sloop of war Pelican : and, after a severely couten- 
 ed action, the Argus was compelled to surrender ; her comman- 
 der having received a severe wound, in the early part of the en- 
 gagement, which finally terminated his valuable life. 
 
 The following letter from John Hawker, esq. cidevant Ameri- 
 can vice-consul, will speak for itself: 
 
 '■« 
 
 
 
 - ^ " Plymouth, August IQth, 1813. 
 
 SlR....The station I have had the honour to hold for many 
 years past, of American vice-consul, calls forth my poignant ft tl- 
 ings in the communication 1 have to make to you of the death of 
 your son. Captain Allen, late commander of the United States' 
 brig of v.ar Argus, which vessel was captured on Saturday last, 
 in the Irish channel, after a very sharp action of three quarters of 
 an hour, by his Britannic majesty's ship Pelican. 
 
 Early in the action he \o$X his left leg, but refused to be carried 
 below, till from loss of blood he fainted. Messrs. Edwards and 
 Deiphy, midshipmen, and four seamen were killed ; and Lieut. 
 Watson, the carpenter, boatswain, boatswain's mate, and seven 
 men wounded. Captain Allen submitted to amputation above 
 the knee, while at sea. He was yesterday morning attended 
 by very eminent surgical gentlemen, and removed from the 
 Argus to the hospital, where every possible attention and assist- 
 ance would have been afTorded him had he survived ; but which 
 was not, from the first moment, expected, from the shattered 
 state of his thigh. At eleven, last night, he breathed his last ! 
 He was sensible, at intervals, until within ten minutes of his dis- 
 solution, when he sunk exhausted, and expired without a strug- 
 gle ! His lucid intervals were very cheerful, and he was satisfied 
 and fully sensible that no advice or assistance would be wanting. 
 A detached room was prepared by the commissary and chief sur- 
 geon, and temale attendants engaged, that every tenderness and 
 respect might be experienced. The roaster, purser, surgeon, and 
 one midshipman, accompanied Captain Allen, who was also at- j 
 tended by his two servants. 
 
 i have communicated and arranged with the officers respecting 
 the funeral, which will be in the most respectful, and at the same 
 time economical manner. The port admiral has signified that it I 
 is the intention of his Britannic majesty's government, that it be j 
 "publicly attended by officers of rank, and with military honours. 
 The time fixed for procession is on Saturday, at 1 1, A. M. A lieu- 
 tenant-colonel's guard of the royal marines is also appointed. A 
 Avainscoat coffin has been ordered ; on the breast plate of which j 
 
K. 
 
 TUK WAR. 
 
 32S 
 
 will be inscribed as below.* Mr. Delphy, one of the midsiiipmen, 
 who ioJt both legs, Hiiddied at sea, was buried yesterday in St. 
 Andrew's churchyard. I have requested that Captain Allen may 
 be buried as near him, on the right (in the same vault, if practica- 
 ble,) as possible. 
 
 I remain, lespectfully, sir, your most obedient, humble ser- 
 vant. 
 
 (Signed) . ., ... JOHN HAWKER, , 
 
 Cidevant American vice-consul. 
 To Gen. Allen, &c. &c. &c. Providence, R. I. , . 
 
 ■ t| j 
 
 ;< 
 
 u 
 
 o was also at- 
 
 Agreeably to previous arrangement, the remains of the depart- 
 ed Allen were interred at Plymouth, on the 2l8t of August, with 
 military honours, and every ntark of respect due to his rank. The 
 fla^ of his country, under which he fought, was placed on his cof- 
 fin, as a testimonial of the valour with which he had so nobly 
 strove to defend it ; and his body was deposited at the right of 
 the gallant Delphy, who had bled and suffered with him. 
 
 Thus lived and thus died William Henry Allen. 
 
 By the company and conversation of the elegant and polite, 
 the hard and severe duties of the sailor acquired a sort of polish, 
 and his character presented that combination of gallantry, grace 
 aad intrepidity, that so irresistably attracts. In the hour of dan- 
 ger, he was calm, intrepid and persevering ; in private intercourse, 
 guarded, affable and delicate. Entering into the navy with 
 large and expanded ideas of honour, the perils he encountered^ 
 and the hard services he endured, consolidated his romantic and 
 floating visions into rules and principles of action. By never 
 lowering his lofty standard amidst the justle of contending diffi- 
 culties, he at length arrived at it; and new trials served only to 
 call into exercise new and unexplored resources of fortitude. He 
 had so long forsaken every other consideration for glory, that he 
 finally measured his life by this standard, and felt a repulsive an- 
 tipathy to whatever fell short of that measure. 
 
 There has seemed a sort of compact among our naval command 
 ers, never to quit their station on deck. Allen, in his mutilated 
 state, refused to be carried below, and fainted on the deck from 
 loss of blood. Lawrence showed the same determined spirit, and 
 never left his station until he was too far exhausted by his wounds 
 to animate his men by hi« example. Burrows, although mortally 
 wounded at his quarters, still remained at his post, survived the 
 action, and there received the sword of his gallant and intrepid 
 
 autagOniSl* 'iftT^i -• ".'J * TJ«f'« I. n-n •^fjt II i( - I,. f' f i ' .i,,- :»i(|' R' 
 
 • Tal>!. t. MTliei-eon will be recorded the nii.ne. muli, ago and character of the deceased, and aim 
 nl'tlx! inidthipman. Nvili b- placed (hit an b' eoi» i ved< at I h«?f «n|f{^tt«ri; hatti li»\ine 1d« 
 'lu'ir riv'K* in Agbiing lor tliv hoiioi of rlitir mnntry. 
 
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 SKETCHES Ol 
 
 The following extract from Captain Allen's letter^ addrcs&cu 
 to his sister, will show the character of this intrepid oflicer in an 
 amiable light : . 4 f. ,*«{» .1 •> ju.u -f*i t 
 
 " When 3'ou shall hear that I have ended my earthly career, 
 that I only exist in the kind remembrance of my friends, 30U 
 will forget my follies, forgive my faults, call to mind some little 
 instances dear to reflection, to excuse your love for mt, and shed 
 one tear to the memDry of 
 
 [Port Folio.] i ,^:r. f ..a. i . HENRY." 
 
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 Uf. ':. t : 
 
 
 
 Ill 
 
 I 
 
 IT/ 
 
 CHAPTE51 XXVIII." "' n'i'' .'T 
 
 Blockade of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays Loss of the 
 
 schooner Lottery Loss of the privateer Dolphin Burning 
 
 of Frenchtoxvn, Havre-de-Grace, §rc Com* Cassiii's Expedi- 
 tion Outrages at Hampton Jttack on the schooner Asp.,,, 
 
 Attt-^mpt to bloxv up a British l^.,„Attack on Lewistoxvn..,, 
 Blockade of Com. Decatur^s squadron Capture of the Ea- 
 gle Private armed vessels List of British vessels captur- 
 ed during the year 1813, -..,. 
 
 In the early part of 1813, the British government declared the 
 Chf sapeake and Delaware Bays to be in a state of blockade ; and 
 a squadron under the command of Admiral Warren, was 
 accordingly sent to the entrance of the Chesapeake, to enforce 
 this blockade. 
 
 Loss of the schooner Lottery The first interesting event 
 
 which arose from the blockade, was the aflair of the letter of 
 marque schooner Lottery, of Baltimore. This vessel mounted 
 6 guns, and had a crew of 35 men. In sailing out of the Chesa- 
 peake in the month of February, she was attacked by nine large 
 British boats, having on board 240 well armed men. She sustain- 
 ed their united attack upwards of an hour and an half ; when the 
 British succeeded in boarding her, and pulled down her colours, 
 the British in this affair, lost more men than the whole crew of 
 
 the Lottery. 
 
 » \ v" /tUtik ,j::i •i<)t .wt-J!ftr>«B*:.4.4K^it '<PW" 
 
 Low of the privateer Dolphin On the 3d of April, the priva- 
 teer Dolphin, of Baltimore, Captain Stafford, of 10 guns, was at- 
 tacked bv 17 tenders and launches from the British squadron, 
 manned with from 40 to 50 men each. The contest continued 
 two hours, when the enemy succeeded in boarding. They were 
 gallantly met by the crew of the Dolphin, and an action of 15 
 

 T^E WAR. 
 
 Xit 
 
 .-nbiules efisued on her deck ; when her crew was overpowered, 
 and she coirpelled to suriender. 
 
 Abuut the middle of May, a party of th<- British blockading 
 quaiiron sailed up to the head of the Chesapeake bay, where* 
 they captured and destroyed a number of small vessels. 
 
 Burning of Frenchtoxvu, Havre'de-GracCf ^c About thecom 
 
 meiiccment of May, a large party of British marines and sailors, 
 uuder the command of Rear Admiral Cockburn, successliilly at- 
 I tacked the villages of Frenchtown, Havre-de-grace, Georgetown 
 : indFredericktown. These places were situated near the hcadof the 
 Chesapeake, and contained but few inhabitants. They of course 
 could make but little resistance against a luiMerous body of assail- 
 ants. The destruction committed by the British in these places 
 vras wanton in the extreme. The houses were set on fire. The 
 I furniture and other property of the inhabitants were either destroy- 
 ed or conveyed on board their vessels. The squadron soon af- 
 |ter returned down the Chesapeake. •, •?» • 
 
 On the 20th of June, Commodore Cassin fitted out an cxpedi- 
 Ition against some of the blockading frigates then in the vicinity 
 ofCrany Island. Fifteen gun boats were selected for this pur- 
 pose, and put under the command of Captain TarbelK The at- 
 tack was commenced from the gun-boats upon a frigate about 
 Ithree quarters of a mile distant. Two other British frigates were 
 lia sight. The frigate sustained considerable injury, and would 
 Ibave been captured by the gun boats had not a breeze sprung up 
 Iffhich enabled the other two vessels to come to her assistance. 
 JThe action however continued an hour and an half with the three 
 frigates. Only one American was killed, and some others slight- 
 |ly wounded. 
 
 On the 22d of June, about three thousand British attempted to 
 I land on Crany Island, but were repulsed. Three of their barges 
 Iwere sunk : one of them, belonging to Admiral Warren's ship 
 pd 75 men in her, the greater part of whom were drowned ; a 
 Inumber of prisoners were taken. Many of the enemy also desert- 
 led. The American troops on the island consisted of about 500 
 pd troops under the command of Lieut. Colont! Beaty ; and 150 
 Emarines and sailors, under the command of Lieutenants Neale, 
 [Shubrick, Saunders and Brackenridge. 
 
 On the 25th of June, about 2500 British attacked the town of. 
 
 ampton. The Americau force stationed there amounted to 
 labout 400, under the command of Major Crutchfield. This small 
 lyy of Americans opposed the very superior British force, with 
 liie utmost gallantry for a considerable time, when, overcome by 
 lumbers, they retreated, and the British took possession of Hamp- 
 loD, where the most inhuman and shocking acts were committed 
 lythenii Several o^ the defenceless and unfortmialo female? 
 
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326 
 
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 lliat remained in Ibo place suffered every indcceijcy dJid violcjitf 
 Property to a large amount was most wantonly destroyed. , 
 
 Oil the 14th of July t'-e U. S. schooner Asp, of three guns am 
 21 men, in the Chesapeake bay, being attacked by several British 
 vessel?, run up a creek, whither she was pursued by three boats 
 well manned and armed ; but the assailants were soon compi lied 
 to retreat. After the lapse of an hour, the Asp was again attach 
 ed by five boats, <.he crews of which succeeded in boarding lier, 
 The crew of the Asp retreated on shore. The British set fire to 
 the vessel and left her. The fire however was extinguished bv 
 the Americans. The loss of the latter in killed and woundeli 
 amounted to ten. 
 
 On the ISth of July, an attempt was made in the Chesapr;^^. 
 bay, to blow up the Plantagenet, a 74, by means of a torpedo, 
 Mr. Mix, the projector of the scheme, had approached within 40 
 fathoms of her, and dropped the torpedo ; when he was hailed by 
 one of the British guard boats. He instantly drew his machiae 
 into the boat and escaped. On the following night he made a 
 second attempt, but was again discovered. In the night of the 
 20th, he made a third attempt, and got within 15 yards of tht 
 ship's bow, and directly under her jib boom, where he continued 
 15 minutes making preparations, when a sentinel from the fore- 
 castle hailed "boat ahoy!" The sentinel not being answered,! 
 fired his musket at the now retreating adventurer, to which a | 
 rapid discharge of small arms succeeded. Blue lights were re- 
 sorted to in order to find out the position of the boat, but failed. 
 Rockets were then thrown which illumined the water to a con- 
 siderable extent, and discovered the boat. A heavy discharge otl 
 cannon immediately commenced. The Plantagenet flipped her| 
 cable, and made some sail, while her boats "'ere sent in pursuit. 
 But the daring American escaped unhurt. L'nsuccessful attempts 
 were made the three following, nights. But on the 24th iVIr.l 
 Mix took his position within 100 yards of the Plantagenet, and inl 
 a direction with her larboard bow. The machine was dropped! 
 into the water, and the same moment the sentinel cried " all'sl 
 well :" the tide $wept it towards the vessel, but it exploded a fevrj 
 seconds too soon. A column of water 50 feet in circumferencel 
 was thrown up 30 or 40 feet. Its appearance was a vivid redJ 
 tinged with purple at the sides. The summit of the column burstl 
 ■with a tren.endous explosion, and fell on the deck of the Plantage-I 
 net in torrents, while she rolled into the yawning cha»m below,} 
 and nearly upset. She however received but little injury. 
 
 In the month of July, the blockading squadron again sailed up 
 the Chesapeake and entered the Potomac : they however effect] 
 ed nothing. Suon alter returning out of the river they sailed 
 toward '.he head of the Chesaoeake. Thev landed on Kent Island! 
 
 '■■5 '. 
 
■iHE WAR. 
 
 327 
 
 iiU vioienct 
 0}ed. , 
 ce guns nni< 
 vera! British 
 three boat?, 
 Ill comptlled 
 igaiii Httach 
 marking tier. 
 :h set fire to 
 tinguished by 
 and wounded 
 
 c Chesapr? V. 
 of a torpedv,, 
 led vvitliin 40 
 was hailed by 
 f his machioe 
 t he made a 
 ! night of the 
 yards of the 
 ? he continued | 
 from the forc- 
 ing answered. 
 T, to which !t 
 ghts were re- 
 loat, but failed, 
 I'ater to a con- 
 y discharge ot 
 net ?lipped her 
 ent in pursuit. 
 Bssful attempts 
 the 24th Mr. 
 ;agenet,andin 
 was droppedl 
 1 cried «* all's! 
 xploded a few 
 circumference 
 s a vivid red; 
 le column burst] 
 If the Plantage 
 chaim belowji 
 injury, 
 lagain sailed u 
 owever effect 
 ei they sailer 
 on Kent Island 
 
 .viierc they remained for some time, when they rij^.iin returned 
 down the bay. 
 
 On ihe 6th of April the blockading squadron in the Delaware 
 bay commenced a cannonade on Lewistown, tho inhabitants of 
 which liad refused complying with an order of tlu Kii^Iish com- 
 iDodorc, to supply the squadron with provision;}. The cannonade 
 lasted bbout twenty two hours; a number of 13 anJ 32 pound 
 shot vvere fired, likewise shells and Congreve rockcta ; but pro- 
 duced little or no effect. ...not a life was lost. The inhabitant:! of 
 the place were prompt in rtpelling every attempt to land. 
 
 On the 27th of July, one oi the U. S. gun boats was captured 
 ill the Delaware by a superior force, after a very gallant defence, 
 in which the British had 7 men killed and 12 wounded. 
 
 Blockade of Commodore Decatur^s squadron....\n the early 
 part of the .summer of 1813, CouMiodore Decatur, in the frigate 
 United States, accompanied by the Macedonian, Captain Jones, 
 ind the sloop of war Hornet, put to sea from New York But a 
 vtry superior force, consisting of line of battle ships and frigates, 
 hove in sight and gave chase immediately after he left port. The 
 Ami rican squadron was fortunate enough to reach the harbour of 
 JJew-London, where, for the remainder of the summer, they were 
 blockaded, without any thing interesting occurring except ao at- 
 tempt made to blow up some of the English vessels by a fireship. 
 The fireship was callec; the liagle, and fitted out for the purpose 
 by Joh)] Scudder. It was suppo.sed that on her being captured, 
 I ihe would be taken alongside one of the vessels of war, when, 
 in attempting to unlade her, a considerable quantity of powder 
 and other combustibles would have been set on fire. The attempt 
 was made in the month of June. She was taken possession of by 
 [the Bri*ish; but blew up before she got along side any of their 
 large ve;8els. At the time of explosion, four boats were seen 
 along side, which were all, with the men on board them, dc- 
 |itroyed. It is supposed that upwards of 100 of the British per- 
 ished. . . . - . ' . 
 
 Capture of the Eagle In the month of July a fishing smack 
 
 I was sent by Commodore Lewis of New- York, for the purpose of 
 capturing by stratagem the sloop Eagle, a tender of the Poictiers, 
 a British vessel of 74 guns. The smack was borrowed of some 
 fishermen. A calf, a sheep and a goose, were put on board. Be- 
 tween 30 and 40 men well armed with muskets were secreted in 
 the cabin and forepeake of the smack. Thus prepared she stood 
 out to sea as if going on a fishing voyage to the banks. Only 
 Ihree men appeared on deck, dressed as fishermen. The Eagle, 
 on perceiving the smack, gave chase. After coming along side, 
 ind discovering live stock on board, she ordered the smack down 
 
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 TO th'e coniiTiodore, then about five miles ofT. The liclin.sniaii oi 
 tlic smack answerod, ** aye, aye, sir ;" and apparently put up tlie 
 helm for that purpose, which brought the smack alon|Cj aide the 
 Kagle, not moiu linn three yards divtant. The watch-word Laxv- 
 rencc, was then ;^ivcn, and the armed men rushed on deck from 
 helow ; and poured a volley of musketry into the tender : w'lich 
 drove her crew below with so much precipitancy, thpt they had 
 not time to strike her colours. As soon as sailing master Pt rcival 
 who commanded the smack, perceived the deck of the Bntish 
 vespel cleared, he ordered his men to cease firing. Upon winch 
 one of the Eagle's crow appeared on deck, and struck her col- 
 ours. Tl»e Eagle was safely taken into New-York. 
 
 Private armed vessels "We notice the following, a» some of 
 
 the most prominent features of enterprise and gallantry maiilfest- 
 cd by our privateers during 1813 : 
 
 The Hazard, of Charleston, of 57 tons, 3 guns, and 38 men, 
 commanded by Placide le Chartier, while at anchor off the Island 
 of Davie, discovered a man of war brig convoking five merchant- 
 men. One of these last, having lost her mizen mast, could not 
 keep up with the rest of the convoy. As soon as they werp out 
 of sight, the Hazard pursued her, to which, after some resistance, 
 she struck. She proved to bo the Albion, of London, copptr-bot- 
 tomed, and of 300 tons burden, navigated by 15 men, and mount- 
 ing 12 guns. 
 
 While the Hazard was lying off Charleston, in a fog, her prize 
 was separated from her, and recaptured by a British cutter, the 
 Caledonia, of 8 guns and 38 meji. Three days after, on the 22d 
 of February, the Hazard discovered her prize in company with 
 the above .mentioned British cutter. The Hazard commenced a 
 pursuit of them both. As soon as the Hazard came within mus- 1 
 ket shot, she commenced firing at the ship and cutter, which was 
 returned by them with spirit, and apparent determination. At 3 
 o'clock, the second lieutenant, carpenter, and five men of the 
 Hazard, were severely wounded. At 5, the cutter hauled ofrto| 
 repair the damages she had sustained. At half past five, the Haz- 
 ard came close to the cutter, the crew of the former having de- 
 termined to lose their lives sooner than give up so valuable a prize. 
 At half past six the British cutter again hauled off, and contmued 
 to fire at a distance. Taking advantage of this, the Hazard bore I 
 down on the prize, and after a brisk fire caused her to strike her [ 
 colours. She was then ordered to lie to. 
 
 The Bntish cutter having «hot ahead, Le Chartier instantly gavei 
 chase, keeping up a brisk fire. He pursued her until 8 o'clock. 
 The cutter then ceased firing, and hailed, saying she had struck, 
 and signified the same by hoisting and lowering a lantern three! 
 ti.me?. The Hazard having th(;n but 21 men, including the capl 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 S29 
 
 instantly gave 
 btil 8 o'clock. 
 [he had struck, 
 lantern three | 
 luding the cap- 
 
 uiii, on board, it was not thought advisable to take poe«cision of 
 her. She bore down for the prize, of which she took potsetHion, 
 leaving n prize master and six men on board of her, so that there 
 only remaiiied 14 men on board of the Hazaid. Both the Haz- 
 ard and her prize arrived safe at St. Mary's. 
 
 The Comet, of Baltimore, Captain Boyle, of 12 guns and 120 
 rofn, being on a cruise, discovered, on the 14th of January, 1813, 
 four sail stHnding rjtit of Pornambuco. She lay by to give them 
 an opportunity of i^elting off shore, with a view of then cutting 
 llicm off. At 3 P. M. they were upon a wind standing S. K. and 
 about six leagues from land. The Comet bo ? up, and made «ail 
 in chase. At 6, one of them was discovered t be a large man of 
 war brig. All hands were immediately call d to quarters on 
 board the Comet ; the guns were loaded with round and grape 
 shot ; and the ship cleared for action. At 7, being close to the 
 chase, she hoisted her colours, and came close to the man of war 
 brig, which had hoisted Portuguese colours. The commander 
 hailed, and sent an officer on board the Comet, who informed 
 Captain Boyle, that the brig was a Portuguese national vessel, 
 mounting twenty 32 pounders and 165 men; that the three oth- 
 ers were strongly armed English vessels ; and that he must not 
 molest them. Capt- Boyle informed him that he certainly should 
 make use of every exertion to capture them. The Portuguese said 
 he was ordered to protect them, and certainly should. 
 
 The English vessels were ahead of the C.>met. They consist* 
 »d of a ship of 14 guns, and two brigs of 10 guns each. So that 
 including the Portuguese vessel, the Comet had a force of 54 
 guns to oppose. Captain Boyle immediately made sail for them ; 
 came up with the ship, hailed her, and ordered the captain to have 
 the mainsail backed. He gave little or no answer. The Comet 
 having shot ahead. Captain Boyle informed him, that he should 
 be along in a few minutes, when if he did not obey his orderi^, he 
 would pour a broadside into the ship. In a few minutes the Com- 
 et tacked, the Portuguese sloop of war being close after her, and 
 ran along side of the ship, one of the brigs being close to her. The 
 Comet opened a broadside on them both. It was now about half 
 past 8 P. M. All the vessels were carrying a press of sail. The 
 Comet, from her superior sailing, was frequently obliged to tack. 
 From this she would have profited very much, had not the Portu- 
 guese sloop of war been so close. The latter now opened a heavy 
 fire on the Comet, with round and grape shot, which she returned. 
 The Comet had now the whole force of the 4 vessels to contend 
 with. She, however, kept as closely as possible to the English ves- 
 lels. They frequently separated, to give the sloop of war an oppor- 
 tunity of firing into the Comet. The latter as frequently poured 
 whole broadsides into them ; at times also into the sloop of war. 
 
 About 11 P*M. the ship 8urrendeted....she was cut to pieces, 
 
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 SKETCHES OP 
 
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 and rendered unmanageable. Soon after the brig Bowes struct.. . 
 she also was much injured. A boat was sent to take possesvjcn of 
 her ; as it passed the sloop of war, a broadside was iired b^ her, 
 which nearly sunk it, and obliged it to return. The Comet then 
 commenced a brisk fire at the sloop of war, which sheered off to 
 some distance. After following her a short distance, she obliged 
 the third English vessel to strike. The latter was very much cuJ 
 to pieces. The Comet now again proceeded to take possession ol' 
 the Bowes, when she spoke the ship that had first surrendered..,, 
 her captain being ordered to follow, informed Captain Boyle that 
 his ship was in a sinking condition, having many shot-holes be- 
 tween wind and water, and every rope on board of her being cut 
 away. At half past 1, A. M. the Bowes was taken possession of 
 and manned. The sloop of war then fired a broadside into the 
 prize, and passed her. The moon was now down, and it became 
 quite dark and squally. This caused the Comet to separate from 
 the other vessels, excepting the sloop of war, with which broad- 
 sides wfre frequently exchanged. At 2, she stood to the south. 
 Captain Boyle now thought it most prudent to take care of one 
 of the prizes until day-light, the other two being out of sight. At 
 day-break, the sloop of war, and the two other prizes, a ship and 
 brig, were discovered. The Comet immediately hove about, aud 
 stood for them. The sloop tacked, and made signals for her con- 
 voy to make for the first port. Capt. Boyle, knowing the situation 
 of the ship and brig, determined not to take possession of thenr, 
 but to watch their manoeuvres. Great exertions appeared to bi; 
 made to keep them from sinking. 
 
 Captain Boyle was afterwards informed that the sloop of war 
 was much injured.. ..she had five men killed, and a number wound- 
 ed. The ship's mast scarcely lasted to carry her into Pernambu- 
 CO. Her cargo was nearly all damaged. It was with difficulty 
 the brig was kept from sinking before she reached Pernambuco 
 harbour. 
 
 After capturing the Aberdeen, of 8 guns, two vessels of 10 gwm 
 each, »n sight of a sloop of war,and a schooner, Capt. Boyle return- 
 ed to the United State?. He passed the blockading squadron in 
 the Chesapeake, and arrived safe at Baltimore. 
 
 77/ e General Armstrong, a schooner of 18 guns, commanded 
 by Captain Charnplain, was cruising off Surinam, on the 11th 
 March, 1813. At 7 A. M. shj discovered a sail, which at half 
 past eight, fired three guns, and hoisted English colours. About 
 9, the Armstrong fired a gun, and hoisted American colours. At 
 half after 9, the British vessel tacked, and stood as near the Arm 
 strong as the wind would permit, keeping up a brisk fire from her 
 main-deck guns. At half past 10, the Armstrong bore down, in- 
 tending to pour her starboard broadside into her, then wear ship, 
 disciiarge the larboard broadside, and then board This was done, 
 except the boarding. The English vessel was now discovered to 
 
' V. 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 331 
 
 ?S StiUOK.. . 
 
 asses^icn of 
 red b^ her, 
 hornet then 
 jered oif to 
 she obliged 
 y much cut 
 )os8ession of 
 rendered.... 
 I Boylt- that 
 ot-hole» be- 
 er being cut 
 possession of 
 side into the 
 nd it became 
 cparate from 
 ,vhich broad- 
 to the south, 
 care of oni 
 of sight. At 
 38, a ship and 
 <,'e about, aud 
 i for her con- 
 the situation 
 ion of thenfj 
 leared to bi; 
 
 commanded 
 
 on the nth 
 kvhich at hall 
 llours. About 
 
 colours. At 
 lear the Arm 
 
 fire from he. 
 ])ore down, in- 
 [en wear ship, | 
 'his was done, i 
 
 discovered t) 
 
 be a frigate, pierced for 24 guns. She kept up a constant fire on 
 the Armstrong, which lay for ten minutes like a log. The fore- 
 top-sail and mizen-gaff halyards of the frigate were shot away. 
 This brought down her colours. The crew of the Armstrong, 
 thinking she had struck, ceased firing. But they were soon again 
 seen flying, and the action was renewed. The frigate lay for a 
 few minutes apparently unmanageable. She soon, however, re- 
 covered, and opened a heavy fire from her starboard broadside and 
 main top; apparently with the intention of sinking the Armstrong. 
 The latter lay for the space of forty-five minutes within pistol-shot 
 of the frigate. Captain Champlin was standing by the centre 
 gun, in the act of firing his pistol, when he was wounded by a 
 musket ball from the main-top of the frigate. The Armstrong 
 luffed to windward, and fore-reached the frigate. 
 
 The Armstrong had six men killed, and sixteen wounded, and 
 was very much injured in her rigging, masts, and hull....she, how- 
 ever, succeeded io escaping from the frigate. 
 
 The Young Teazer, Captain Dobson, of New- York, was chas 
 ed into Halifax by the Sir John Sherbroke, a vessel of superior 
 force. When within the Light House she hoisted English colours 
 over ihe American, and was chased nearly up to the forts, wheri 
 the Sir John Sherbroke supposing her to be a prize, hove about, 
 and put to sea. As soon as the latter was out of sight, the Young 
 Teazer hauled down her English colours, and effected her es- 
 cape. 
 
 The Decatur, of Charleston, mouniing 7 guns, with a crew 
 of lOS men, and commanded by Captain Diron, being on a cruisie 
 in the month of August, discovered a ship and schooner. She im- 
 mediately stood towards them to reconnoitre. At half past 12, 
 the Decatur was abreast of the schooner, which hoisted English 
 colours. At one the Decatur wore round ; and half an hour af- 
 ter the schooner fired a shot without effect. The captain of the 
 Decatur immediately gave orders to prepare for action. At 2 
 o'clock the schooner fired another shot, which passed over the 
 Decatur. At a quarter past 2, the latter fired her large gun, and 
 hoisted American colours at the peak : two more discharges were 
 made from the same piece, which were answered by two guns 
 from the British schooner. The two vessels were now within 
 half gun shot distance. Captain Diron, observing that the schoon- 
 er was preparing to bear away, haled upon the larboard tack, in 
 order to present the bow of his vessel to his antagonist. Soon af- 
 terwards the latter fired her whole broadside, which only slightly 
 damaged the Decatur's rigging. This was returned from the 18 
 pounder of the Decatur. Iler captain, at the same time, orderect 
 «v^ry one of the crew to his post, in order to carry the British 
 vessel by boarding, as soon as tht necessary preparations for the 
 purpose should be made. It was now three quarters of an hour 
 pa?t two, and the vessel* were within pistol shot of each other. A 
 
 1 
 
 I. 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 
 
332 
 
 .SKETCHES OF 
 
 
 llHl 
 
 
 
 i i -If* 
 
 M 
 
 
 severe fire of musketry commenced from the Decatur. The Bri- 
 tish schooner bore away to prevent being boarded ; and fired » 
 brnadside into the Decatur, which lulled two of her men, and in- 
 jured her rigging and sails. The Decatur closely followed her 
 antagonist in her manoeuvies, and again endeavoured to board, 
 which the schooner once more avoided, and fired another broad 
 side. A third attempt was made by the captain of the Decatur 
 to board. The jib boom of the Decatur was run into the main- 
 sail of the schooner, and the latter not being able to disengage 
 herself, dropped along side. During this manoeuvre the fire from 
 the cannon and musketry on both sides was extremely severe and 
 destructive* While the two vessels lay in this position Captain 
 Diron ordered his whole crew, armed with pistols, sabres, &c to 
 board, which was performed with the greatest promptness. The 
 resistance of the £uglish was desperate. Fire arms scon became 
 useless, and the contest was carried on with the cutlass. The 
 captain and principal officers of the British vessel being killed, and 
 her deck covered with dead and wounded, her colours were haul- 
 ed down by the crew of the Decatur, when the two vessels were 
 separated, having their rigging and sails cut to pieces. 
 
 Thr English vessel was his Britannic Majesty's schooner Domi- 
 nica, of 15 guns, with a crew of 88 men. The Decatur had 4 
 men killed and 16 wounded; the Dominica 13 killed, and 47 
 wnundtd. Among the killed of the Dominica was her brave 
 comniander, who, as long as he lived, refused to surrender his 
 vessel, and declared his determination not to survive her loss. 
 
 Th(f King's packet Princess Charlotte, remained an inactive 
 spectator of this bloody contest, which lasted an hour. As soon 
 as the vessely were disengaged, she tacked Jibout and stood to the 
 southward. She had sailed from St Thomas, under convoy of the 
 Dominica. The Decatur and her prize arrived safe in port. 
 
 The Saratoga, of 4 guns and 116 men, belonging to New- York, 
 while cruising off Surinam river, in the month of September, dis 
 covered the British Packet, brig Morgiana, of 18 guns, with a 
 crew of about 50 men, commanded by James Cunningham. Capt. 
 Aderton, the commander of the Saratoga, immediately gave 
 chase : when within musket shot, the Morgiana hoisted English 
 colours, and the action commenced: part of the time the ves^itels 
 were within pistol shot : the remainder, they were close along 
 side of each otlu r. After an action of an hour and a quarter the 
 Saratoga succeeded in capturing the British vessel by boarding. 
 The aetion was extremely severe. Both vessels were almost re- 
 duced to wrecks. The Saratoga had almost all her stays, shrouds, 
 &c. cut away. In her main-sail there were upwards of a hun- 
 dred ;jhot holes. A number of shot also struck her masts, ipnrs, 
 and liull. The crew of the Morgiana fought with desperation. 
 She Imd 2 men killed, and 8 wounded. The Saratoga had U men 
 killed and 5 wounded. Both arrived safe in port. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 aj3 
 
 
 ['m 
 
 ^st of SiUith veisels aiptured during the year lSl$—extracteilfrom 2iilei^ lUcklj Registtr. 
 
 Brijf — — , e;ipturftl by the Growler, and re- 
 L|it(| ar(ci-ili]|MitseiuiiiC hvrol many valunblts. 
 Ship llili^cove, 12 ci1iii,a K^ovcriiineiir ti'dns- 
 Kiri with vuliiablu military slori's. wn'oUeil mar 
 I juchias, and let on tiro by the Briiii>li- r<il. 
 Clmcr commanding ihc U. S. voluntef'rs on th« 
 ,i,ter 1 A-onfie'. recovered from the wreck ii> 
 DKi'isStlh. vaHiioH. 15 of 12. i ot* 9, with the 
 ■dirriaR'"-»'or thi lar^e pieces &c 
 xhuouer — by the Gallinipper— ransomed. 
 Ship N'<ptuiie, 10 f:Hus, with brandy, wine, 
 I fA dry Roods, by the Decatur 
 jhip ■— . with tiinlKT, cuniiiriiini; the whole 
 ijine Hi' a 74 g;uii ship by the ^ merica of Salem, 
 '.ihip Volunteer U guni 400 tuns with di7 
 I nods Hnd copper by the U S. irigste Cliesa- 
 mU, said to l>e worth iSO 000/. steriinfj 
 ■^Ship — , burnt by the ChesapeaUe after ta- 
 king uul oilier i;uoda worth iOo.i.Oo doIUtrt 
 .itliiioiier Ell< n. with dry (footUfvoitli 2JO,000 
 Uillau. hy the U S sloop oi' war Hornet. 
 bhip.Jane. lO guHi. wiih mahogauy and log- 
 iDod.by the Spy o( New Orleans. 
 sciiooner I'ierce of Wales, by llie Growler, re- 
 liiifd after taking out a few pipes of » ladeli-a,&c 
 ihip Aurora i3 guns with dry Rood* wurth 
 I !l»,100 dollars, by the Holkar of New-Vork 
 
 I ,vu vessels, by the iMars and sent to £ug> 
 I Isiid a« cartels. 
 Bri); Pelican, with iron and fish, by do. 
 
 blaop . witli hides, by the — of Newberi!. 
 
 Brii; Kinu, 10 guns, with 49 iemale convicti>, 
 I if the Holkar 
 
 Brii; ^iin. lo ^uns, with dry good', and crate* 
 Innli '00,000 dollars, by the Growler 
 
 grij , 10 guns, with a valuable cnrgo of 
 
 Ijrrb'oodi. by the " United we stand" aitJ ■•i>i- 
 li^uefali" 
 
 TniiJlioil ship Lord Keitb 'i »,' '*• ^V ^^^ 
 |]lirs 
 
 Sthiioiier Saline, with valuabl' ' ^: /.en 
 lip ill lake Erie, oil her way to Mail >. I' was 
 I Inr discovered and taken poisessio.. ■' . u lew 
 IfiTiuiis troin the town of Kiie. 
 I I'tansport ship tTauada t i guns. lOO soldiers, 
 Iikl42 luirses, by liie Caul Jones, and raiisonied 
 Iw^ouo/ sterhn^. after disarming the men. 
 
 Brig John and Istaliella, by ditto, and given 
 liptoiUschargt her pnsoners. 
 I Biiic riiiveUroiUtrs >t i;uns, with sumac, 
 lalphur. oil, f<c. by the Dolphin 
 I bUip .Mar)-anit. with geld dust, (^c worth 
 13,000 ilollarj— cnr^o taken out and vessel burnt 
 lailie coast of .VIrica, by the Vuiikeo 
 I Ship Andelusia, 10 guns, luo men, (81 free 
 lilKks) wortli 31.000 dollars, by ditto. 
 I Schooner Gi.irgL, by ditto, part of her cariro 
 Inkiii uiii, and (jiven up to discliur;j;e hir imi- 
 |«ir*. 
 
 ship Alliion, li i;«ns, ii men, with sugar, 
 Imn.toUDii aial cottiv, bv the Hazard of J guns. 
 Biis I'arriotand Matilda of eiglii U a\\\ i» 
 llcuiHltrs— i!i2 tons, nithaii aHontd caigu, and 
 iMnit'ilrr goods, by the \aiiUee 
 I ^hi|i Niltuii, a large lliree deck vnsel, of 600 
 Itni, with an imiiietisely valuable cargo, by the 
 iDmiiir 
 Ship .Ni'jiluiie of like biinleii, by the Sjiaiogv* 
 
 Ship , '» guns by privateer -^— . 
 
 Bri< , u guns, with an assorted cargo, by 
 
 |lkc l)ul|iliin 
 
 Schouiier , by the Lovely Lass of Wiliniiig- 
 
 >.n. ^, 
 
 Bri< — . by the l*ani .tones. 
 Britj Slianiioii, : I guns, liy the Vankee 
 ^hip Meiilor Hiih a ear|;ii invoiced at (io,000/« 
 Ik'fiiiig, I), tlie Saiijy Jatk 
 
 Vhoimr Hii<.>uv with tuktie, etc. by the Lib- 
 ia.) ul ll.illiiiiori 
 
 J Uris" Uisoluiioii, gnn». with coBif, etc burnt 
 
 l^ilie U. ^. tiiHip oi war iloriiet, after lakinij' 
 
 «' .'la'O duilars 111 specie. 
 
 ^p of war I'eacuck, t% guns, 1 14 nu'i<, nt- 
 
 HtJ ai'd Icii, ti jiir-n !iv ih" Ilr.r!!''. Ill <i!- 
 
 teen minutes— sunk before all tin; )iritoneii could 
 be l'emu^ed. 
 
 Brig Antrim, with dry gnodi, etc. by the Sau- 
 cy Jack. 
 
 Hrig FIv— valuable, by the Yankee. 
 
 Schooner — — , 100 tons, with bees-wax and 
 rctl-wo<id. by the Yankee. 
 
 ;JriR Earl IVicey. with thy goods and salt, by 
 the C'lietupeake frigate. 
 
 Urig Liverpool Hero, with dry go'id^, hard- 
 ware and jewi Iry, by tlie Chesapeake frigate.and 
 burnt afcur removing the cargo. 
 
 Brig Rover, 8 guns, with rum, by the Alfred. 
 
 Schuoiu r Alder,(i guns, witti an assorted earg^ 
 taktit un the cost of Attica by the Yankee. 
 
 Brig Ketiirn, by the I'aiil .ioiies 
 
 Brig Thainti, 8 guns. v,iili redwood, ttc. by 
 Uie Yankee 
 
 Three vessels, by the Sn.iii.Dra.i;on oi' Vcw- 
 berii, divested of their valuables and burnt* 
 
 1'hree vessels taken by ditto and given up to 
 reltase prisoners 
 
 Sloop by ditto, aiul litied out as a teiidre. 
 
 1 wo vessels, by the Uiviikd we Fall— ran- 
 tomed. 
 
 Uiif ilo by do and sunk. 
 
 riirec do. by do. and given up. 
 
 Caledonia. 8 guns by tiie U S. schooner Aou 
 such, atter 7 minutes battle 
 Brig 1'art.tr, with rum by tlieGtn Armstrong. 
 
 Sell .•oner Fox i guns by the Hero 
 
 Brig London I'ackct, by the Paul Jones. 
 
 Sehooiier Fanner with cotton, by the SpaN 
 row ot' Ball imort— given up 
 
 Seliooiicr .by thi Wasp of Salem. 
 
 Schooner Cruwii. by a sloop. 
 
 Ship , by tlie ' riu,; bloudnl Yankee.'' 
 
 Brig Mahiiin, 10 guns, with wine, etc. by tls* 
 Ned of II .llimiir>.>. 
 
 Brig Charlotte, with dye-wood, etc. by tJi». 
 Moiitgomety of Salem. 
 
 Brig Duke of liloiieester, lO guiis. taken txT 
 Voik, by tbe squadron under Com. Clmunciy. 
 
 Scliooiitr Itieliaiid, Runs, by the Holl, >'-. 
 
 l^loup Dorcas, by do.— givi-n up. 
 
 Brig Edwaul. 8 giins with ISO tons of erilton, 
 etc. by tlie Aie.<kander of Salem. 
 
 Scliouiier . by the ■Alexander— given ui'. 
 
 Bri.;' , with ruin, by the Va\. 
 
 Ship i\ancy, by the York- low n,ot New- York. 
 
 Stlicoiier i oi 8 guns, by the s(|ua(li'oii un- 
 der Ctim Cbaiincey. 
 
 Schooner Delight, with wine bii;1 silks, by tli 
 I'ume 
 
 Kings packet M.«ry Ann, 12 guns, by the G iv. 
 Tompkins of .sew-\ork. 
 
 bliip IJioiuo. liguiis, by the Ihomas of Poris- 
 nixiiili 
 
 lin^ by do. 
 
 Coiveitesh.p Inviiicibte N'niioleoii, 16 guns, bv 
 ilic \ oniig I'luZer. This shi|i was nri^'itialij u 
 _ Fiviicb privaiier; eapiiiiL-d by the Brilisli sinop 
 OI war Aluime . re laptiiitxl by the /\Kxamlei- 
 ulSaUiii: ic-eapiurtil by the British iriKtte« 
 Shannon and teredos ; aud a ttiind time rc-vap- 
 turiil b\ ihu lia'/.. r 
 
 I'aekttAiin 10 guns, by do. 
 
 Sebiiuiier Grf)liouiul wiili fish aud oil. by do. 
 
 Hi ig — by ihe Governor rlumer of I'orts 
 month. 
 
 I'ack t with 80.00J dollars in »iiecie, bj 
 
 the \iia"oiidaoi New-\oi'k 
 
 Ship .M.irv Willi wiiio by ditto. | 
 
 bhip \kiiiiam 10 guns, with dry giXHlt, crates 
 wine I to b> 111' lir.ijid I ink ol ''Ult m. 
 
 Iliig arriot »iili bides aiul tallow, by the 
 Aiiatoiida 
 
 Hrig .Mur> Willi hides and mm, by the Vox, 
 
 Sebuiiiirr I'earl wi.li corn lueal, etc by the 
 Lib rij i>\ Baltimoi'.-. 
 
 A priv.ti . 1- Kloup by do. 
 
 Brin' — - by the Gu^ernor liiimer 
 Hd^-— W't'l Ojti*'!. by f'ln ^:liJi^^■• n.'' p.'j 
 
 'i:.mr. 
 
 '^. ^Iti 
 
 ■|| 
 
 
 
 i> '■ .. 
 
 If 
 
 -:$. ' I h 
 
,i. 
 
 P^'«! 
 
 
 
 3i34 
 
 ^KETCHES OF 
 
 Brip Kintr^ton I'ackct wiili imh, liy the Ololic 
 Oi' Biiltimoi'c-. 
 
 Schooner Uiitnnrviaby tlic nrand Turk. 
 
 Ship Lujal Sam with i|u-cic ami iiidigo, by 
 tlie Siro III' Ilaltiinoit;. 
 
 Shi|> Vviiui, 14 KUin, bv tlie Ololu; 
 
 Ship Uuviil, Mith pruxhioas, by the CJovi-moi- 
 fluinrr 
 
 Btig Ajax, 'i Rimj )>y the Gov. Toin|ikint. 
 Jliig HartK-y. 2 %nns. b) «h>. ami burnt 
 
 'riaii'iport ship — by the lU-llitna o," I'hil-i- 
 (ii'lphlR -priMiners parolul. ami vnsi^l ntln-ninl. 
 
 Bl-JK Cii II t'revosl. by thi- Holla of lialtiiiiorc. 
 
 Schoor.iT ISrown.by the Bellona— ramumttl. 
 
 BriK Ihaints, 3iii toiH Mith cotton, by the 
 Yaukee. 
 
 Schooiur Liverpool Tackct, b) tl« Tliomas 
 urPorismoiitb. 
 
 Bv if; with hides, tallow i tic. by t!ie \ork- 
 
 tuwii 
 
 Ship Su«an, byan American Kttrr olmarqui.-. 
 
 Ship Seatoii, by the I'aul Iu'h-s— burnt 
 
 Schooner llizabelh. by the Glob<— burnt. 
 
 Sliip Pelhaiii. with rtim. by ilo — himit. 
 
 Brig .^av^ivt, t20 ions. 10 Runs, with salt, 
 by the American. 
 
 Schooner Lady N'tirray. ll men, «ith military 
 store .by the I^i'dy of the Lake on Ontiirio. 
 
 Brij; <!urton, tif^iins. b) the Yorktowii. 
 
 'I'hive ncbminers, one with salt— ilit- othirs 
 uith mm and mahogany by the Youufr 'JVaier. 
 
 Brij; Sally 4 guns, in ballast, bv the Benjamin 
 Franklin. 
 
 BriR by the 'leader. 
 
 Brif; Hero, by do 
 
 BriR Besoliiiion with flour, by the Nancy. 
 
 Bi ig Hero, in balla&t by the Isiis— biiiiit. 
 
 Bri^ James and Sarah by do — ransoiued 
 
 Biig — — with wine. *-y the ""arenK'i. 
 
 Brig 6 guns, with \\ est-India pfeditcc, by 
 
 the Gen. rmstrong. 
 
 Brig with salt. 
 
 Brig —— by the John. 
 
 Biig .Villi by th<' Teazer. 
 
 Btig Thomas. 2 guns, in ballast, by the Deca- 
 tnr. 
 
 Brig lulip British properly urder American 
 colours, by the Atlus. 
 
 Brig 1« gims by the Holkor 
 
 Butiiue by the Dolphin— hiivnt. 
 
 hliip — ■ in baiiu^t, with specie, by the Be- 
 VHIgC. 
 
 Ship Fliza Ann, by the Vai;I,»>e. 
 Svhooiur huciess. with s;<!iiiuii by tlie BenJ. 
 Franklin. 
 Schooner Lady Clark, by the Bniikir Hill. 
 ^«!lloonlr Sally, by the ■ iiey Ileyiianl. 
 Schuoner Blonde by the .loliii. 
 
 Schooner with rum, by do, 
 
 Arnxd schooner Dorrai lythe Liberty. 
 Shiop Kajjie. bv n lisliius >,iiuick. 
 Brig I'luoii, with provijioiu, by the Ti-ue 
 Bleoiieil Vaiikee. 
 Ship Aurora, by do 
 
 Shii> ^0 guns, by the Hanibler. 
 
 Shiplntegiii), l.y tlip I rue UlooiKd Yaiikie 
 Bng Av»r>. i2 guns with gums, almonds, 
 bets\vii\ skiiis.etc by the YorktuMii. 
 Ship hUHiit by -—^. 
 
 S>!;u» Ko.\, by - — ; sunk alter a running fight 
 ol about an hour. 
 
 Schooner Leonard. Slink by the Tim- l:leod»l 
 Yankee. 
 
 Brig Betsey, with wiiR-, raisins etc. by the 
 Jack's laviMirite 
 
 '1 hree VI ssels, by the America-, given up to 
 discharge iiribuniia. 
 
 Schooni r -— with skins, by the Fos. 
 
 Brig lij the Yankee. 
 
 A gun beat mouniing a 24 pounder with 14 
 Mtteixix L,iid 4 officers and 64 men ; captured 
 on l.-ike Oniurici 
 
 .Mliuuner I htfe S)sttrt, with ficur, bv the 
 Saucy Jack. 
 
 Sfhnonrr General llonctittd, of 2sd loii; :,. 
 the D. catiir ' 
 
 Brig Betsey, with wine, bv the Jack*! Favoh'- 
 Brig Nelly, by the Fox— bnciit. 
 Sloop t'epgy. by do — ransomed. 
 
 Schooner Brother and Sister, by do burnt. 
 
 Brig Louisa by do— ransomed. 
 ShHtp F<ix._by do. 
 ^liNip YVilliam and Ann, by do. 
 ShKip James and Klizabeth, by ilo.— ransomc(' 
 Brig Chance, bv do. 
 Hiii: Mary by do —burnt. 
 bhi>s Venus— an \mericaii s'essel, witheiieniV. 
 pm|M'rty, by the Dolphin. 
 
 Brig Morton with dry goods, hardware ain' 
 bar iitiii. by the orktow'ii. 
 
 Schooner Dominica, IJ guns and 83 mtn, h\ 
 thi* Decatur oi' 7 gum and 101 nieu, alter a tin 
 perate action 
 
 Ship LoihIoii i'railer. 2 guns, with sugar, inr.- 
 lusses rum cuiTtv. cation etc. l»y do. 
 
 Brigs Good Intent, Venus, Happy, harqite Kf 
 prisal ami ichoouer Elizalietli by the Snap-On 
 goii 
 
 Hri«ateer Fly. by the U. S. .irig Enterprize. 
 Scliooner Ct-ivs. I>y the Yankee. 
 Bai'quc.- Henrietta, by the '>uap- Dragon 
 lliig Vnn, will dry goods worth SOO.ooOiIoI . 
 by do 
 Schooner Flying Fish, by the Saucy Jack. 
 Sloop Catherine with salt, by du 
 Vehotiiier Kate with iisli by do. 
 Ship l.ouisa 10 gtuis with coll'ee liy do— burnt, 
 Bng I'hrte Brothers, lO guns, with colTec.bv 
 ditto. 
 Brig F.arl of Moira, by the Industry 
 Stfliooner^— with riiiii by the boat I'erriblt. 
 Two vessels Uy the Uuikur and Swit't sure. 
 Schuoner Louisa 202 tons gun and in men, 
 with rum and sugar, by the Kvpcditioii ut'liti 
 thiiori. 
 
 Privateer King ol Uume by the U. S. brig Ar- 
 gus— destroyed 
 A ship with fish by Uie U. S. frigate Pa«ilnil. 
 A schooner by do 
 
 Thnv »-esscls by thtr Tnie Bloodi d Yaiikte. 
 ■|'wo v.-ssils by the Lio. — carriid into Fraiici-. I 
 A II Iiiiiiuninn b, ilu worth 500 000/ — retaktii 
 but the specie she had on board, to the amuuiii | 
 Of nuO 000 wa- Curried into Fiance 
 
 Brig — I)) the Brutus- ransomed Th' 
 Bruius also laptuird .iiiiiiher vessel 
 SchuoiMT — — by the G. ii '\rnistioHg— liiin''. 
 ■lis nmjesiy's fine brig i., war Boxer 'Sgiiih, | 
 by the U S. itrig Enterprize of Iti gunt, 
 
 ScliiKiiii r — with >Mgar and colfee. by llii 
 mate (an .Vniirricau^ and some ol the crew. 
 ^chioiiLT — with sail, by the i errible 
 Brig —— with ilry goois worth Jo9,SiU iliil-| 
 lais. li) he Snap Dragon 
 Ship B« prital by the Frolic ot Salem— burri 
 Bng Frienos by" ;lo —burnt. 
 Bri^ Bet^t.) b) ilo. 
 
 Brig with fish, by the Pilot. 
 
 Four sessels by tlie Lovely Cordelia of Cliai'ii. 
 ton— l>unit 
 
 > clii'onei by a privateer boat 
 
 Cialiiot Gutci- hollnuiig. by diu Frolic- burij 
 Biig ui.e Gordon 8 guns and 2U men Uydi 
 —burnt. 
 
 Silieoitr Hunter byduaud converted iDt(ij| 
 eariel. 
 
 Ship Clroriiii by do 
 
 .--.chooiier^ Vigilant an4 Susan liydo— givoi up I 
 
 Sloop — With dry gtlllis. by a privatur l^natl 
 
 His ilntaiuiic iiiigesiy's >hi]> Uilniit -isumr 
 
 and ' howitzers, capiurcd on i^ake Krie by Cniii.r 
 
 Perry, I 
 
 Slip Quiu, Charlotte 17 guns and i liovinii'l 
 
 captiir. d iiii (io b\ do 
 
 .SthiHtiev Laily t r< vo^l by do on (!o. 
 
 lirig !,untei li> tloondo 
 
 Stoop Little Ht il by do on do. 
 
 SchootiirClii|ipL\v ly hydo on Jo 
 
' * •: 
 
 •JCHE WAR. 
 
 335 
 
 lid, of 21 tout, ;.' 
 
 the Jack's Favari>- 
 
 iit'iit. 
 
 nnutl. 
 
 rr, by do.— burnt. 
 
 inittl. 
 
 jy do. 
 
 h, by do.— ransomcr 
 
 I vessel, with ciieni]'. 
 
 ;oods, hardware aiti' 
 
 mis and 83 men, h\ 
 lOi nicu, al'ttr a dn 
 
 un«. with iu);ar, mt^ 
 tc. l»y do. 
 
 s, Happy, harqoe Hf- 
 :lh by the iiiiap-Dni 
 
 S. orif; Enterprize. 
 
 I'aiiki'e. 
 
 L- '>uap- Dragon 
 
 ids worth SOO.OOO i!o'i . 
 
 : the Saucy Jack. 
 
 It, by do 
 
 by ilo. 
 
 Ii coHee liy do— burnt. 
 
 I guns, with coR'ec, by 
 
 the Industry 
 by ilie boat I'trriblt. 
 kur and Swil't surt;. 
 ins gun and li men, { 
 thu Kvpedition ut'lUi 
 
 e by the U. S. brig At 
 
 U. S. frigate I'rcsiilint. 
 
 lie DIoodi d Yaiikie. 
 
 . — carriid into Kraiicr. I 
 
 irihiOOOOO/— rcl»kni 
 |i board, to the ainuuiit { 
 
 Fiance 
 
 HIS— ransomed Th' | 
 |ilur \tssel , 
 
 ■ 11 Annstiong— burr'. 
 
 .,, war Boxer •Sgiins, 
 
 •ize of Ifi siini. 
 
 ;ar and colJcf. by ilii | 
 
 lOint. Ill the trew. 
 
 ., by the lerrible 
 i-. worth Jt>9,Siu ilul- 
 
 jolie ot Salem— bum 
 litriit. 
 
 ke Pilot. 
 
 cly Cordelia of Chaili. 
 
 lati'tr boat 
 '. b) the Frolic— burii 
 fuiii and iiy null by ili 
 
 lo and couvcrtutl inuil 
 
 Istisiin byi'.o— Kiv"'"P 
 ids. by aprvaliirhiit 
 fs-hip Uitroit -J g'"" 
 I Oil i^U- lirie by Cora. 
 
 Irguiu and i howitt"' 
 
 by do on do. 
 Ilti 
 I) on do. 
 
 Ii>' do un Oo 
 
 jiig'— — ^''*t'> ^vA' >i<<> uxl cotton by the 
 j^jinpiis— burnt 
 
 Two i-nall !• ■•« la by tiio Tirrible 
 Sell, (111 •■ Lilly, with *ugar etc by the Pilot. 
 Srif; .^l'.iry- Inn, with ruin and molasses by do 
 ;iiil wi'iiiin-d 
 
 * Brig — — by the Gen. Armstrong— burnt. 
 A brig anti a sloop, by the IndiKlry. 
 I^ckt't lApwiii);, liv the Katilt-snake. 
 Two ships by thi' 'I'rtie Blooded \ankcp. 
 Ijloop I'ravi'Ikr with dry goods, wiiii*. enicke. 
 I'.coppi'ras. alluin and sugar, by the I>irU. 
 p cket Duke of Montro e by the .'resident 
 Hpte and sent to Kngland as a earti'l. 
 3ri< .lane anu Ann. by do and sunk. 
 Brig Uapline by do ami sunk. 
 Ship ' liza 8 guns by do and ransomed 
 ilrig .VIert. by do —burnt. 
 Uarqiie Lion, ti ifunt, by do — ninsoined. 
 Scliooner Highllytr, 5 gnns, by dn. 
 Ship Indiifiry, by the I'riic ItloiMk'd Yankee, 
 bhip London Packet, i guns, with hides, etc 
 :,v the letter of marque brig Argus. 
 Ilrig Atlantic, with sugar indigo, etc. by do. 
 Brig .lane, by do— ransomed, to dispose of jiri. 
 iioers. 
 
 Brig Jane in liallast. by the Snap Dragoti— g^- 
 ill up to dis|Hise o!' prisoners. 
 Brig Venus, by do 
 
 Schooner ElizalK-th, by do —given up. 
 Biig Hapjiy and naiqne Henrisal by do 
 I'rivateir scliuontr Dart <,i\ h pouiul cnrron- 
 .Aland six swiveH by thf V S. ivveniie cutter 
 ,i;'.la«t cnplaiii Calinone. She bad eommittut 
 Miiy deprinlalions olV Newport. 
 
 Sciiooiier iaianianca by and destroyed 
 
 UrigSiisiinnah by cargo di»troye<l, vessel 
 
 (•HI tu Kngland with prisoner* 
 Schooner Matilda by the Lian- since rc-caii- 
 1111111 
 
 Btig RIcbanI, by and destroyed. 
 
 Brig Kowcy, with lu-ovisions, by and de- 
 
 sriiyi'd. 
 
 sloop lady Francis, with provisions— destroyed. 
 Ship Barbadues, a tiitnsiiort, in ballast— de- 
 i'raytd 
 
 Brig Alliance, transport in ballast destrayed. 
 Schiioner Coiilelia— destroyed 
 Ship Betsey— iv-eaptured. 
 Shiji Mariner— iltsiroyrd. 
 
 Sloop with chiy, destroyed. 
 
 Brig Kelcna, with clay— sent to Englauj wiili 
 intoiiers. 
 
 Brig, ^— with slates -dt St royid. 
 Cutter Diana and lUtty with bullocks— de> 
 ilroy.il 
 
 Ship Defianci — ilestroyid. 
 Brig Baltic— dcstitiyetl. 
 
 Sloop — — with slates iron etc — car^fo de- 
 •roj-ed- \es5el sent as a cartel. 
 Hii^ Bellbnl with linen— destroyed. 
 A pilot boat— liberattd 
 Another veiiel— destroyed 
 TheSi Vessels last tnentioiiid were captured 
 )f the Argus. 
 
 Schooner Julia by Com. Chauncey on Lake 
 OliUrio 
 
 Scliooner Growler by do. 
 Thne gun vessels on I^ike Ontario. 
 Gim vessel— burnt on do. 
 Hii niajesiy's packet Morgianv, 18 guns, 9 
 xumlers, two ol thcni long brasi pieces. »0 men, 
 i'XJions burden, by the Saratoga of * suns and 
 liinifii by lioanling 
 Ship — by do— burnt. 
 Brig — by do— burnt. 
 Schooner -— 1.10 tons by the Oen Stark. 
 Twenty-two ships to wit the Gconoiuy. fax 
 Dilii;enci'. Libirty, Betsey, Hope. Jolly Jtauh. 
 iHor ExiHi-inu'iit, Ilnby, Britannia, I*nis|>erous, 
 Uuttoii^^I.atona. Fiieiids Advtnture, Nottingham, 
 I Vdtinorclaiid, Uixiilurs I'ersi-veranre, Harfonl, 
 ilktis, Lynn and Brunswick, with grain and 
 ■■i'iti stores, by the Rattleinake and i^cuurge. 
 
 rhirteen merchant vessels on the cu«it o 
 Spain by the Leo- burnt. 
 
 Gun-boat carrying i long .12 pniindrr and 10 
 men driven near the shore bv a stnriii on Lake 
 OiitHi-io, and captured by Capt. Morgan'i rifle 
 corps 
 
 Ship Biutus hy the Scourge and Rattltsnake 
 —given up to dispose or prisoners. 
 
 SvluNiiu s- Fame with wine by tlie Saratoga— 
 wrecketl on Long Island— crew anil cargo saved. 
 
 Ship St. Lawrence with valuajle British 
 !7ooils worth fniiii i to 400,000 dollars, by an 
 Eastern privateer 
 
 Two vessels by the Yankee and given up to 
 discharge prisoners. 
 
 Fifttvii vessels by the Lovely Cordelia— gutted 
 and destroyed 
 
 Ilrig by do and manm d for the United States- 
 wrecked on the coast ol t< lorida. 
 
 Brig President with sugar, molasses aiul rum 
 by the Polly 
 
 Brig Mary with salt, eoal and crockery by the 
 Yonki e 
 
 Two siiips by the .Scniirge. 
 
 Schooner Katy with 'vine dry goods, eta. by 
 the Yankee. 
 
 An .Vinerican schooner witli flour, hound (or 
 H;ililax by the Wat<-r Witi-h o. Bristol, K. I. 
 
 Schouiii r — hy the Gen. Stark. 
 
 SItwp ICIiza Anu 
 .rig Dart 
 
 A sloop richly laden with dry goods, by tlie 
 garri&on ol"tlie Ibrt at Kast |>crt 
 
 ijldop GtU > lodgkiiison, w ith s»U and some 
 specie by the Saratoga. 
 
 .^eveii small craft, with ineivhandi/c worth 
 JOOO louiiils sterling 
 
 Brig Kdward, witli oil and fish by the Fox. 
 
 SwLilis;, biig Janstotl'with dry g ods by the 
 U'ashington 
 
 Brig Llo)d with camwood, muskets and pistols 
 taken out and burnt by the Saratoga 
 
 Ship Vista, guns, bj the Saratiigi divested 
 of her guns and all her valuables, and suffered 
 to pnicetd with a little ■friendly advice," not 
 being worth sending in. 
 
 Sihoonir Fame with th^ mail and a qiianty of 
 government stores, hj the Saratoga. 
 
 SelioonLr .loseph wiili guvrrnineiit stores by 
 the Saratoga— cargo taken out uud vessel ran* 
 tomeil. 
 
 Spbooner Lady Cockbiini, with indigo and 
 cofl'et — took out thecargii anil let her pass. 
 
 Brig with lish and oil li> tbe ^a'lcy Jack. 
 
 This brig is the Sir John Sherbrokeo> Oguns 
 niid 40 men taken after aHght of iO ni,iiu(es.in 
 which she had i men killtil and j wounded. 
 'I'lie Saucy Jack sustaini-d but little injury, and 
 had three men slightly wouiidul 
 
 Ship Manly, s guns w illi wine, o,l, etc. by tbn 
 Kevengi! 
 
 Brig with sugar anJ molasses, by the Curolinu 
 — retaken and burnt. 
 
 Schooner Messenger, with rum and molasses 
 by the Comet. 
 
 Ship 'lontexiiniu, 270 tons, t guns, il men, 
 by the Rs.se\ frigate in the south ^ea 
 
 Ship Pohey, 27i tons, iO guns, itimeti. by do. 
 
 Ship Geu.'giana. i80 tuns. 6 guns 28 men, by 
 do. 
 
 Ship Atlantic. iiTtons 8 gnns. 24 men, by do. 
 
 Ship Greenwich. 3J8 tons, 10 guns, 21 mtii, by 
 do 
 
 Ship lector, 170 tons. U guns 25 men, by the 
 Essex Junior. 
 
 Ship <'atharine .'70 tons 8 guns i't men, by do. 
 
 Ship Hose. 220 tuns 8 guns '21 men. by do. 
 tTj' I nese vessi Is areestimatid as worth to tbt 
 enemy two millions o: dollars 
 
 Ung.lean to guns 17 nun with hides, tallow 
 and copper by t'l .• (7.>iigri ss irigate— eoppei ta- 
 ken out and vessi I desirovi it 
 
 Brig Diana 10 guns t4 men with hidis. I.illnw 
 
 itc. br lid— V essi. I and earg'j destroyed as sifcu 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 ;'i 
 
 
 '■ ■ f 
 
 i- 1 
 
 ':■ , ■ f .! 
 
 ■A ■•■ 
 
 .. '. h 
 
 .''rlP'-'Vl 
 
 if -tlL.'iJ^S'-. 
 
Hid 
 
 JMKETCHESy &0. 
 
 
 ?!''' i M.. 
 
 
 woiilJ pemiU. and Uicn cuuti-rtcd into a cartel 
 fo IN li'anf Uiu i>riioiuT«. 
 
 S|ii|i Hote liydo with wine— cargo token out 
 and vi'UL'l ilcttmycd 
 
 Huff —— with rum by the Eliza* 
 
 Ori); Akho in ballast by the Saucy lack- 
 burnt 
 
 Sloiip .lohn with dry froods and proviiions by 
 «lo. (livestrtl of her cargo ami iriven up. 
 
 Sev< ral small vessels by do— B'*eii up- 
 
 Brig AIk I witJi nun aiul sugar I'y the Caiw- 
 line. 
 
 1 he \Hliiable brig Atlantic with (Ugiir and 
 cotton, by tlie Congress I'rii^ale- 
 
 Scliooiitr witli molasses by the Caroline 
 
 Brig Silena by the Reveng«— burnt 
 
 bcbounur — - with sugar ami molasses, by the 
 Caroline. 
 
 Brig with sugar, by do. 
 
 Sloop Resolntioitwi.h linen and paper, by the 
 Oen ArniMrong— <li«posse8$cd of cargo and giv 
 en up. 
 
 Brig rhcrbe whh butter and potatoes, by do. 
 atal scuttled 
 
 Br'g Commerce with rum and molasses, by the 
 Flirt of New-York— burnt. 
 
 Schuunei' Fanny i»itl' sugar, by the Revenge. 
 
 Brig \ icturiH with rum sugar and cuRee, by 
 tlic Rapid K' Charleston. 
 
 Tr>al, iOO tons, by the Grand Turk— burnt 
 
 Brig —^ by do. and ransomed 
 
 Brig — with lumber by do— burnt Besides 
 the atiove vessels the Graud Turk captured and 
 manned i valuable ships 1 bng and i schooner. 
 
 bchoouer —wiih sugar coffee, etc by the 
 Fatap^co of Ballimuie 
 
 Pink 'tern lioat with English goods wortli 
 SO.OOO dollars, by a ntw-hoat pri\ateer 
 
 British packet Lapwing. 10 guns and 40 men, 
 by the Fox of 7 guns and 70 men after a despe- 
 rate resistance, by boarding, in which 14 of the 
 enemy wen; killed and a or B wounded. On 
 board the Fus one man killed and three slightly 
 wounded. The Packet has since been recaptur- 
 ed, but she had been divested ot lier valuables. 
 
 Ten enemy's vessels by the C:uroUn« — divetted 
 of their valuable articles, and burnt, sunk. etc. 
 
 Sloop Osiri* with molanes, having a Britiih li- 
 cense, by the Caroline 
 
 Hermaphrodite brig Cossack with sugar, by 
 the letter oi° niartiue schooner G«»cral :>tark -i 
 pins and 13meii,o<'Salem, The letter of marque 
 tiad pieviousFy recaptured an American ve«)el> 
 
 Schooner Jaspci' with eoffipr, tugat anj i^j,, 
 by the Caroline. It is stated that tlil« v„^ 
 would have been wrecked Mnd lost im t|„. J:' i 
 hut (or the meritorious exertions of l.iiutcniiK' I 
 Mork ol the navy '"■ ' 
 
 Schooner Ri becca with live stock ami pro.; 
 sioui. by the Grand Turk. 
 
 Schoi'ner Allies with Hsh 
 
 Brig Criterion, a traitor vessi I with rum bv I 
 the t'ltniline. this vessel has bteii tritxt iiikll 
 condemni'd lor the use of the captors ' 
 
 i^chooner Fanny with sugar, by the Revtnirr 
 
 Vchoooer Henry with fish, by the Roger ' 
 
 .Vehooner Maria by dhto— burnt 
 
 Ship Nereid with an assorted cargo worthl 
 seventy live thousand pouiuli sterling, b) Uitl 
 Governor I'umpkiiis. I 
 
 Eighteen vessels by the True Blooded Yaii.| 
 ket— burnt I 
 
 I he Cantor by do— divested of her valu(ble| 
 articles and given up 
 
 The Active, Watson, Cora and Eliza hyJo. 
 
 .Schooner Traveller with sugar and coflcf.U 
 the Friilic T 
 
 S'cliooner George with dry goods, etc. by ihel 
 
 Fi> r 
 
 .S°l(Mip Experiment with dry goods, banl «|J 
 and hiiiiber by do 1 
 
 Jeveral vcsh'Is with dry goods, etc hj ihe FciJ 
 
 Tlie Vigilant, a tender, by the Comet. _ 1 
 
 'S'choouer ^— with sugar and eoffie. by thel 
 i'aiapsco 
 
 The valuable brig Young i Insband with in 
 good« aiul hard ware, by the Goveriiur Toisn 
 kins. 
 
 Nine vessels by the Comet— divested of thfir| 
 valuable articles and sunk. Bcsid. s these 
 >ai>ture<l and manned tour prizes .Yhibailii 
 terrible battle with the ship Hibemia oi mo 
 tons, ti guns and a large complement of men, 
 btit was beaten off 
 
 Brig I'lillock, MO toiii, 10 guns, with an at. 
 sorted cargo by the Fox. 
 
 '1 he rich ship Minerva with dry (^s, binl'l 
 ware.etc by do. 
 
 5'hip — a whaleman, by the Gov. Tod)iJ 
 kins— given up to release prisoner* 
 
 Brig Isabella by the U. S brig Rattleinake. 
 
 Sloop — — by the Gen. Stark— east away uii| 
 Capo Coil. 
 
 Schooner Harmony, with rum, by the 1'erribVJ 
 
 Boat 'iumbird, with crockery, riim, sog«r,e'f^ 
 hy the 6'urpfiz«. 
 
 *?■■.*!' 
 
 lL'i*i- 
 
' > 
 
 ^i 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 THE WA 
 
 Vol li No. 1. 
 
 Whole Numubu 7. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 ^orth^m army....Battle at La Cole,.,.Attack on Oswego....Geo- 
 graphical description of Osivego fort and village. ...Capture 
 of a British force at Sandy Creek Death of Colonel For- 
 syth, ire. 
 
 In the latter part of March, 1814, the army of the north, un- 
 der the command of General Wilkinson, was in motion on vari- 
 ous parts of the frontier. Nothing, however, of consequence 
 took place until the 29th ; when the army having concen(r:ited 
 at Champlain, General Wilkinson determined upon attempting a 
 diversion in favour of the corps under Major General Brown, who 
 had marched for the Niagara frontier. He accordingly moved 
 with his whole force, amounting to between 3 and 4000 men, on 
 the Odletown road, with a view of attacking a body of the ene- 
 my at La Cole Mills. The army unfortunately missed the road^ 
 and proceeded about two miles beyond the small passage that led 
 to the mills ; but after a trifling skirmish with the enemy beyond 
 Odletown, the army entered the proper route, drove the e:f.?my's 
 light troops before them, and reached the mills Sibout 3 o'clock, 
 P. M. The enemy's force at this place consisted of about 1500 
 regulars, which was increased during the action, by reinforce- 
 ments from the Isle-aux Noix. Many were posted in the miU> 
 the walls of which were impregnable to every thing but the hea- 
 viest artillery ; others in a block-house and surrounding buildings, 
 which served to protect them, for a time, from the impression of 
 our musquetry. General Wilkinson so disposed his troops at 
 nesrrly to encircle the mill, and brought up a howitzer and one 12 
 pounder to batter the walls ; but afler firing a considerable time, 
 it was found little effect was produced. The eneoiy kept Up a 
 
 2tf 
 
 
 
 It, 
 
 ■. i 
 
 
 
 
 
* " ;. 
 
 w 
 
 '•? 
 
 ■'i i 
 
 
 S sii 
 
 338 
 
 SKKTCUKS O' 
 
 galling fire during the whole time our troops lay before the place 
 from the loop holes cut in the mill, and directed a great portion 
 of it on the two pieces of artillery : our troops returned the fire 
 with great coolnevs and deliberate aim. The enemy made two 
 sallies, and charged the left, commanded by Brigadier Geutral 
 Snnth ; but weie repulsed with considerable Ioms. Towards eve- 
 niiig a British regiment arrived, and made a charge on part of a 
 brigade commanded by Brigadier General Bissel ; but they were 
 so warmly received, that they instantly fell back, leaving fifteen 
 men dead on the field, besides a number wounded. 
 
 The advantageous position of the enemy in their strong holds, 
 the inefficacy of 12 and 6 pounders on a stone building whose 
 walls were between 3 and 4 feet thick, and the utter impossibility 
 of bringing up an 18 pounder through obstructed roads, swamps 
 and forests, induced General Wilkinson to order the return of 
 the troops to Odietown ; which order was executed without mo 
 lestation from the enemy. 
 
 Our loss was 8 men killed, and 66 wounded, among the latter 
 were 6 officer8...ithat of the enemy, if general opinion is a test 
 of truth, must have been more. The whole of Brigadier Gene- 
 ral Macomb's command was in the reserve, and not at all en- 
 gaged. Maj. Forsyth's riflemen. Col. Clark's detachments, and 
 Generals Smith and Bissel's brigades, with their detachmeuts, 
 formed a line round the mill. 
 
 The American troops fought with braver}', and many individu- 
 als particularly distuiguished themselves. We notice the follow- 
 ing acts of heroism : 
 
 Captain M'Pheison, who was military fecretary to General 
 Wilkinson, asked permission to take part in the operations of the 
 day. His request was granted ; and the command of the artille- 
 ry, which followed the advance and formed the battery, was gi- 
 ven him. Captain M'Pherson stood by his pieces with firmness, 
 until a second shot from the enemy laid him low. The first shot 
 passed through the fleshy part of his neck ; with the intrepidity of 
 a veteran, he tore ofiThis^ handkerchief, bound it round his wound 
 and went on with his work of duty: but the second passed thro' 
 the upper part of his thigh bone, fractured it, and he was borne 
 from the field, exhorting his* remaining officer and men to sup- 
 port the honour of the command and persevere. This battery 
 was placed in a strong and commaHding position, within about 
 250 yardr of the stone building of the enemy, against which its 
 strong fire was levelled* Lieutenant Larrabee, an officer of real 
 merit, attached to this battery, had received a ball through his 
 breast, and was taken from the field before the wounded M'Pher- 
 son. While passing some persons who pitied his misfortune, he 
 asked, ** have you never seen a man die (*" and meeting some of 
 lii3 brother officers, he addressed tbem with ''good bye, my 
 
 U i 
 
'JIHB WAR. 
 
 53a 
 
 friends, they have hit me." He, however, soon after recovered. 
 While the soldiers were bearing Captain M'Pherson from the 
 field, some of the officers of the army offered their personal ser- 
 vices to carry him to Plattsburgh, distant 21 miles. He paused 
 a few moments, and then replied, '' I thank the gentlemen for 
 (be interest and regard they have manifested in this kind offer, 
 but I shall be sufficiently honoured when they bear me to my 
 nave." His recovery since, has relieved the anxious solicitude 
 of his friends. 
 
 After Captain M'Pherson and Lieutenant Larrabee were wound- 
 led, the command of the battery devolved on Lieutenant Sheldon, 
 who, in the early part of the action, manifested the greatest firm- 
 ness ; but afterwards, being reduced to only one or two men to 
 lid him, his valour and activity were strikingly €onspicuous....he 
 ffas compelled to assist in loading and discharging his pieces with 
 |bii own hands, which he performed until ordered to retire. 
 
 Lieutenant Parker was wounded by a random shot ; he fell, 
 I and the sword dropped from his grasp : he desired that it might 
 be given him, for he would defend himself. He survived his 
 wounds for several days, and expressed a most sincere and heart- 
 felt regret that he had not fallen in close action. " Hard is my 
 It," he exclaimed, " that I should have received this wound at 
 Inch a distance from the enemy, and where I was wholly inac- 
 
 tive J 
 
 n 
 
 Attack on Oswego.,.,.0a the 5th of May, the enemy, to the 
 tmount of 3000 men, attacked fort Oswego, at the mouth of 
 Ossvego river, which empties into lake Ontario, with a view of 
 removing obstacles which existed to the attainment of our naval 
 tod military stores at the falls, 13 miles in the rear of the fort. 
 This force was gallantly met, however, by a small band of heroes 
 under the command of Colonel Mitchell, who maintained an un- 
 equal contest, against ten times their number, for nearly two 
 days; when the enemy succeeded in destroying the old barracks 
 ind a small amount of other public property ; after which he re- 
 treated. The following report, from Colonel Mitchell to General 
 |BrowD, gives a more minute detail of this affair : 
 
 "I informed you of my arrival at fort Oswego on the 30th A- 
 »ril. This post being but occasionally and not recently occupied 
 
 y regular troops, was in a bad state of defence. Of cannon we 
 
 ad but five old guns, three of which had lost their trunnions. 
 
 li^hat could be done in the way of repair was effected ; new 
 jlatforms were laid, the gun carriages put in order, and decayed 
 licket^ replaced. On the 5th instant, the British naval force, 
 insisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a number of guu 
 
 Hd other boats were descried at reveille-beating, about seven 
 
 
 fc| 
 
V4P 
 
 iUi£TCHK8 OV 
 
 
 I';:.. '•■ :|' 
 
 §>■■ IS\ '■ 
 
 miles from liic fort, information was immediately given toCa|>. 
 tain V/ooIsey, of the navy, (who was at Oswego villagt-,) and to 
 the neighbouring roihtia. It being doubtful on what side of the 
 river the enemy would attempt to land, and my force (290 effec- 
 tive) being too small to bear division, I ordered the tents in store 
 to be pitched on the village side, while I occupied the other with 
 my whole force. It is probable that this artifice had its efftct, 
 and determined the enemy to attack where, from appearance;, 
 they expected the least opposition. About one o'clock the fleet 
 approached. Fifteen boats, large and crowded with troops, at a 
 given signal, moved slowly to the shore. These were preceded 
 by gun-boats sent to rake the woods and cover the landing, while 
 the larger vessels opened a fire upon the fort. Captain Boyle 
 and Lieutenant Legate, (as soon as the debarking boats got with- 
 in range of our shot) opened upon them a very successful f.rc 
 from the shore battery, and compelled them twice to retire. They 
 at length returned to the ship8, and the whole stood off from the 
 shore for better anchorage. One of the enemy's boats, which 
 bad been deserted, was taken up by us, and some others by the I 
 militia. The first mentioned was 60 feet long, carried 36 oars 
 and three sails, and codid accommodate 150 men. She had re- 
 ceived a ball through her bow, and was nearly filled with wa- 
 ter. 
 
 Piquet guards were stntioned at different points, and we lay on | 
 our arms during the night. 
 
 At daybreak, on the 6th, the fleet appeared bearing up under I 
 easy sail. The Wolfe, &c. took a position directly against the| 
 fort and batteries, and for three hours kept up a heavy fire of 
 grape, &c. Finding that the enemy had effected a landing, II 
 withdrew my small disposable force into the rear of the fort, aDd| 
 with two companies (Romayne's and Melvin's) met their advanc 
 ing columns, while the other companies engaged the flanks of thri 
 enemy. Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, and some seamen, joi J 
 ed in the attack, and fought with their characteristic brav< ;yJ 
 We maintained our ground about 30 minutes, and as long as con4 
 srlstent with my further duty of defending the public stores depoj 
 .sited at the falls, which no doubt formed the principal object ol 
 the expedition on the part of the enemy. Nor was this movej 
 mcnt made precipitately. I halted within 400 yards of the fcrtJ 
 Captain Romayne's company formed the rear guard, and, remainj 
 ing with it, I marched to this place in good order, destroying ths 
 bridges in my rear. The enemy landed 600 of De Watteville'| 
 regiment, 600 marines, two companies of the Glengary corp!| 
 and 3S0 seamen. 
 
 General Drummond and Commodore Yeo were the land and 
 naval commanders. Thev burned the old barracks and evacuate^ 
 the fort about 3 o'clock in the morning of the 7th. ,.,; 
 
Vm, WA&. 
 
 341 
 
 Our loss was, in killed, 6 ; wounded, 38 ; and in miising, 25. 
 j'bat of the enemv, according to their own statementj was 10 
 killed and 75 wounded. 
 
 1 cannot conclude thiii despatch without speaking of the dead 
 and the living of. my detachment. Lieutenant Blaney, a young 
 man of much promise, was unfortunately killed. His conduct, in 
 tbe action, was highly meritorious. Captain Boyle and Lieuten- 
 tot Legate merit my highest approbation ; and, indeed, I want 
 languafi^e to express my admiration of their gallant conduct. The 
 lubalterns, M'Cumb, Ansart, Ring, Robb, Earle, M'Clintock and 
 Newkirk, performed well their several parts. 
 
 It would be injustice were I not to acknowledge and report the 
 zeal and patriotism evinced by the militia, who arrived at a short 
 notice, and were anxious to be useful.'* 
 
 Geographical.,..Oswego fort and village stand in the township 
 of Scriba, a post-town of Oneida county, 178 miles from Albany. 
 The fort is an ancient fortress, and was of much importance in 
 the early wars. It was one of the military posts surrendered by 
 the British in 1796, conformable to the conditions of Jay's treaty. 
 The fort is a three-sided figure, with bastions, &c. and contains 3 
 or 4 acres of ground within the ditches. The scite is elevated 
 about 50 feet above the level of the lake and Oswego river, and 
 lituated just at the mouth of the river. The history of this fort- 
 ress ii) intimately connected with that of the early settlements and 
 wars of the colony now state of Newyork. A trading house was 
 erected here by the governor of Newyork in 1722, and a fort 
 erertfd in 1727, rebuilt and enlarged in 175£. This, together 
 with fort Ontario, erected on an adjoining eminence in 1755, was 
 invested by the French under Montcalm in 1756, with 3000 men, 
 aided by two armed vessels. Fort Ontario was abandoned after 
 the first day of assault, on the .13th day of August; and on the 
 14th, Oswego CRpitulated, with a garrison of 1600 men. It had 
 then 21 pieces of cannon, fourteen mortars, and great stores of 
 
 munitions of war; besides two armed sloops and 200 boats 
 
 These forts were immediately dismantled, and the French retired 
 with their booty within their own lines ; and the settlements on 
 the Mohawk were soon left entirely exposed. Oswego is in lat. 
 43 28, N. and long. 2 34, W. from Newyork. The Oswego ri- 
 ver has a strong rapid one mile from its mouth, where the waters 
 may be taken out, at a moderate expense, for mills. The village 
 of Oswego contains about 30 houses, and the trade of this port is 
 very considerable and increasing. There are 15 schooners, from 
 15 to 80 tons burthen, and a great number of batteaux of from 5 
 to )2 tons. In 1809, the whole amount of property shipped here 
 was 5^5,000 dollars. A village it also laid out on the south shore 
 
 [imm 
 
 t '.'. 
 
 ■ M ! 
 
 '>^' 
 
 ^■| 
 
 * 
 
 }*' 
 
 
 /;. 
 
 i^'^ri^Kitl 
 
54;^ 
 
 iiKKTCHKS 09 
 
 SA*^- i • 
 
 of Odwcgo river, opposite this pincc, which is known by the i«raf 
 pnTnCf though in Hannibal, Onondaga county. 
 
 [SppJford*s N. y. Gaz, 
 
 Capture of a liritish force at Sandy Crre*./...On the 30th of 
 May, Major Appling, of the first U. S. rifle regiment, with 120 
 riflemen and a few Oneida warriors, was detached to protect the 
 cannon and naval stores at Oswcg;o, destined for Commodore 
 Chaiincey'8 fleet. They were embarked on board a flotilla of 
 boats, in charge of Captain Woolsey of the navy, and arrived 
 safely in Sandy Creek, 10 aniles south-west of Sacket's Harbour, 
 when Maj. Appling, apprehending an attack fronn the enemy, ve. 
 ly judiciously placed the riflemen and Indians in the woods, on 
 each side of the creek, a short distance below Captain Woolse)''! 
 bents, at a place where it was narrow and shoal. He then sent 
 a few raw militia with a show of opposing the enemy's landing. 
 The plan succeeded. The militia retreated on the first fire, pur- 
 sued by the enemy ; but as soon as the latter had passed the In- 
 dians and riflemen, who were in ambush, these last attacked 
 them in rear, while a battery of four field pieces opened upon 
 them in front. Thus cut off in their retreat, after a smart action 
 of 20 minutes, in which they had 13 men ifilled, and 2 officers 
 and 28 men wounded, the residue, consisting of 10 officers and 
 133 men, surrendered and were taken prisoners; together with 
 their boats and barges, consisting of two of the former, and five 
 of the latter ; some of which carried heavy pieces of ordnance. 
 Not one of the American party was wounded. 
 
 Major Appling speaks in the highest termii of the courage and 
 good conduct of his otficers and men. The officers were Lieu- 
 tenants M'Intosh, Colhoun, M'Fariand, Armstrong, and Smithy 
 and Ensign Austin. • r 
 
 Death of Colonel Forsyth On the 28th of June a skirmish 
 
 fook place near Odietown, Upper Canada, between a small body 
 of troops under Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, of the rifle corps, an 
 officer of distinguished merit, and a detachment of the enemy; 
 which resulted! in the death of the colonel. 
 
 He had been ordered by General Smith to attempt to draw thf 
 enemy into an ambuscade, by oflfering him battle, and keeping up 
 a retreating fire, until this object should be effected. In pursu- 
 ance of this order the colonel detached a lieutenant and 18 men, 
 who proceeded sufficiently far to discover the enemy. The rifle- 
 men fired a few shot at them, and commenced their retreat. The 
 enemy pursued, and were decoyed along as far as the line, where 
 Colonel Forsyth with the residue of his detachment had remain- 
 ed. At this time, when the plan was nearly consummated, the 
 i'i}Qi)e], instead of failing back agreeably to orders, directed hi? 
 
THE WAA. 
 
 by the i«nvf 
 
 . y, Gfl». 
 
 I the 30th of 
 It, with 120 
 ) protect the 
 Commodore 
 I a flotilla of 
 , and arrived 
 et»8 Harbour, 
 e enemy, ve. 
 le woods, on 
 in Woolsey'j 
 He then sent 
 my^i landing, 
 irst fire, pur- 
 lassed the In- 
 last attacked 
 opened upon 
 smart action 
 nd 2 officers 
 ) ofiicers and 
 bother with 
 
 »4# 
 
 five 
 of ordnance. 
 
 er, and 
 
 courage and 
 
 were Lieu- 
 
 and Smithy 
 
 le a skirmish 
 a small body 
 fie corps, an 
 the enemy; 
 
 men to make a stand. Totally regardless of all personal danger, 
 he remained within 10 rods of the enemy, and being distinguished 
 by his uniform coat, was a conspicuous mark for them to shoot at. 
 IHr received a ball near the collar bone, which brought him to the 
 ground. He immediately expressed a conviction that he must 
 dif, and exclaimed, ** Buys, rush on !" The colonel was the only 
 person killed on our side... .two were slightly wounded. The loss 
 |of the enemy in killed was supposed to be 17. 
 
 On the day following, the remains of Colonel Forsyth w^re 
 ijoterred at Champlain, with all the solemnities nnd honours of 
 war. On the 30th June^ the following regimental order was is- 
 Iwed: 
 
 « Colonel Clark having received inttlligence of the death of 
 JLieutenant Colonel Benjamin Forsyth, of the 26tii infantry, v. ho 
 lively fell at Odietown on the 28tli instnnt, fighting in defer :;e 
 lof the rights and liberties ot his country : The olTicerii of the rc- 
 Ipment will wear crape on the left arm 30 days, in testimony of 
 jtheir regret for the loss of that valuable and distinguished off: 
 leer." 
 
 Coionel Forsyth was succeeded in command by Major Appling^ 
 iiinous for his brilliant achievement at Sandy Creek. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 h'r 
 
 ppture of fort Erie.,..Battle at Chippeiva....Draft of the scene 
 of action... » Death of General Sxvift....Army movements and 
 battle at Bridgeveater..»Biography qf General Scott. 
 
 In the month of June, Major General Brown, who had prevl- 
 iiisly been ordered to Sacket's Harbour, returned to BuiTalc >^'i^h 
 leinforcements, and assumed the command of the army, the. ui- 
 ler Brigadier General Scott. Early in the morning of the 3d of 
 ily, the army, amounting to about 3000, crossed the Niai^ara ri- 
 «r, and landed on the Canada shore. The brigade of General 
 ott, and the aftillery corps of Major Hindman, litn-ied nearly a 
 ille below fort £rie, between 2 and 3 o'clock, while General 
 |Upley, with his brigade, made the shore abnut the same distance 
 Dve. The enemy was perfectly unapprised of these move- 
 ents. General Scott led the van and was on shore before the 
 etny^s piquet, which was stationed at this point, had fired a gun ; 
 guard discharged their guns and retreated. 
 A small Indian force was also crossed over, and the fort was 
 Toached on the right and left, the Indians skirting the wooda 
 
 ¥i£i 
 
l"^ 
 
 WJ. ■' 
 
 t, 
 
 
 
 3|^ 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 in the rear. General Brown now demanded a surrender of the 
 garrison^ and gave the commander two hours for conaidpration. 
 In the mean time, a battery of long 18's was planted in a posi- 
 tion which commanded the fort. Shortly after the enenn sur- 
 rendered prisoners of war, marched out of the fort, stacked their 
 arms, and were immediately set across the river to the Amtrican 
 shore. The prisoners amounted to 137; among whom were) 
 major, (Burke,) 1 captain, and 3 lieutenants. 
 
 During the morning, the enemy fired two or three cannon from 
 the fort, which wounded four of the 25th regiment. 
 
 Battle at Chippewa On the evening of the 4th of July, the 
 
 army proceeded to the plains one and a half miles west of Chip- 
 pesva, when arrangements were made to move against Chippe-j 
 wa on the morning of the 6th ; but in the afternoon of the 5tb, 
 the enemy, under command of Major General Riall, having con 
 centrated his forces in the peninsula, came from his works east I 
 of the creek* and offered battle. He was gallantly met by Gen. | 
 Scott, with his brigade and corps of artillery, and a most sangui- 
 nary conflict ensued, which terminated in the defeat of the ene-l 
 my. The following extracts from the official account of General 
 Brown, dated on the plains of Chippewa, the 7th of July, detail | 
 the events of the battle : 
 
 
 •1 
 
 
 4 
 
 w.. 
 
 i 
 
 Ill; 
 
 ! 
 
 *« On the morning of the 4th, Brigadier General Scott, vvithj 
 his brigade and corps of artillery, was ordered to advance towards! 
 Chippewa, and be governed by circumstances ; taking care to se{ 
 cure a good mililar}' position for the night. After some skirmishj 
 ing he selected this plain with the eye of a soldier, his right resH 
 ing on the river, and a ravine being in front. At 11 at night, l| 
 joined him with the reserve under General Ripley, our field and 
 battering train, and corps of artillery under Major HinOmanJ 
 General Porter arrived the next morning with a part of the New! 
 York and Pennsylvania volunteers, and some of the warriors of 
 the Six Nations. 
 
 *' £arly in the morning of the 5lh, the enemy commenced 
 petty war upon the pickets, and, as he was indulged, his presumj 
 tion increased : by noon he showed himself on the left of oiirexj 
 terior li.ie, and attacked one of our pickets as it was returning t| 
 camp. 
 
 ''Captain Treat, who commanded it, retired disgracefully, lea\j 
 ing a wounded man on the ground. Captain Biddle, of the artif 
 lery, who was near the scene, impelled by feelings highly honouTJ 
 able to him as a soldier and officer, promptly assumed the cor 
 mand oi this picket, led it back to the wounded man, and broiigh| 
 
 • Sw draft of Uif si'cne «r action, in a ^nl « «i«fPi |>aj;e. 
 
'1:HE WAll. 
 
 345 
 
 him off the field. I ordered Captain Treat, on the spot, to retire 
 from the army; and as I am anxious no officer shall remain under 
 my command who can be suspected of cowardice, I advise that 
 
 Captain Treat and Lieutenant • , who was also with the 
 
 picket, be struck from the rolls of the army. 
 
 " At 4 in the afternoon, agreeably to a plan I had given Gen. 
 Porter, he advanced from the rear of our camp, with the vo- 
 lunteers and Indians (taking the woods in order to keep out of 
 vievv of the enemy,) with the hope of bringing his pickets and 
 scouting parties between his [Potter's] line of march, and our 
 camp. As General Porter moved, I ordered the parties advanced 
 in front of our camp to fall back gradually under the enemy's 
 fire, in order to draw him, if possible, up to our line. About 
 half past 4, the advance of General Porter's command met the 
 light parties of the enemy in the woods, upon our extreme left; 
 The enemy were driven, and Porter, advancing near Chippewa, 
 met rheir whole column in order of battle. From the cloud of 
 dust rising, and the heavy firing, I was led to conclude that the 
 entire force of the enemy was in march, and prepared for action. 
 I immediately ordered General Scott to advance with his brigade 
 and Towson's artillery, and meet them upon the plain in front of 
 our camp. The general did not expect to be gratified so soon 
 with a field engagement. He advanced in the most prompt and 
 officer-like style, and in a few minutes was in close action upon' 
 the plain, with a superior force of British regular troops. By 
 this time, General Porter's command had given way, and fled in 
 every direction, notwithstanding his personal gallantry, and great 
 exertions to stay their flight. The retreat of the volunteers and 
 Indians caused the left flank of General Scott's brigade to be great- 
 !y exposed. 
 
 " Captain Harris, with his dragoons, was directed to stop the 
 fugitives, behind the ravine fronting our camp; and 1 sent Col. 
 Gardner to order General Ripley to advance with the 21st regi- 
 ment, which formed part of the reserve, pass to the left of our 
 'imp, skirt the woods so as to keep out of view, and fall upon 
 the rear of the enemy's right flank. This order was promptly 
 obeyed, and the greatest exertions were made by the 21st regi- 
 ment to gain their position and close with the enemy, but in vain 
 ....for «uch was the zeal a);d gallantry of the line commanded by 
 General Scott, that its advance upon the enemy was not to b« 
 checked. Major Jessup, commanding the left flank battalion, 
 finding himself pressed in front and in flank, and his men falling 
 fast around him, ordered W\t battalion to " support arms and ad- 
 vapce ;" the order was promptly obeyed, amidst the most deadly 
 and destrnctlve fire. He gained u more secure position, and rt- 
 
 • The ntmr- cmitttd in the Irttef. 
 
 2X 
 
 ^••■i' 
 
 4 
 

 44JC> 
 
 ^K£TCH£S OF 
 
 ftf-v 
 
 turned upon the ei)«my so galling a discharge^ as caused theui to 
 retire. By this time their whole line was falling back, and our 
 gallant soldiers pressing upon them as fast as posisible. As soon as 
 the enemy had gained the sloping ground descending towards 
 Chippewa, and distant a quarter of a mile, he broke and ran to 
 regain his vvnrks. In this effort he was too successful, and the 
 guns from his batteries opening immediately upon our line, check- 
 ed in some degree th'- pursuit At this moment I resolved to 
 bring up all my ordnance, aud force the place by a direct attack, 
 and t»ave the order accordingly. Major Wood, of the curps a' 
 engineers and my aid, Captain Austin, rode to the bank of the 
 creek tovvards the right of their line of works, and examinea 
 them. I was induced by their report, the lateness of the hour, 
 and the advice of General Scott and Major Wood to order tht 
 forces to retire to camp. 
 
 « My most difficult duty remains to be performed....! am de- 
 pressed with the fear of not being able to do justice to my brave 
 companions in arms ; and apprehensive that some who had an op> 
 portunity of distingjishing themselves, and promptly embraced it, 
 will escape my notice. 
 
 " Brigadier General Scott is entitled to the highest praise our 
 country can bestow : to him, mure than any other man, am 1 in- 
 debted for the victory of the 5th July. His brigade covered it- 
 self with glory. Every officer and every man of the 9th and 
 .22d, nth and 25th regiments did his duty, with a zeal and ener- 
 gy worthy of the American character. When every officer 
 stands so pre-eminently high in the path of duty and honour, it is 
 impossible to discriminate ; but I cannot deprive myself of the 
 pleasure of saying that Major Leavenworth commanded the 9th 
 
 and 22d, Major Jessup the 25th, and Major M*Neil the 11th 
 
 Colonel Campbell was wounded early in the action, gallantly 
 leading on his regiment. 
 
 ** The family of General Scott were conspicuous in the field ; 
 Lieutenant Smith of the 6th infantry, major of brigade, and Lieu- 
 tenants Worth and Watts, his aids. 
 
 ** From General Ripley and his brigade, I received every as- 
 sistance that I gave them an opportunity of rendering. I did not 
 order any part of the reserve into action, until General Porter's 
 command had given v,-, , and then General Scott's movemeuti 
 were so rapid and decisive, that General Ripley could not get up 
 io time with the 2l8t, to th<- position av directed. 
 
 " The corps of artiller v under Major Hindman, were not gene- 
 rally in action ; this was not their fault. ..Captam Towson's com- 
 pany was the only one that had a full opportunity of diftinguish- 
 ing, itself, and it is believed that no company ever embraced tft 
 portunity with more zeal> or more success. 
 
 f 
 
V. •: t 
 
 XHB WAH* 
 
 ^4^ 
 
 «< A detachmeut from the 2d brigade^ under the command of 
 liieutenant M*Donald, penetrated the woods with the Indians and 
 volunteers, and for their oupport. The conduct of M'Donald and 
 i)is command reflects high honour upon the brigade to which they 
 belong. 
 
 " The conduct of General Port?' has been conspicuously gal- 
 lant. Every asnistance in his pov.er io afTord, with the descrip- 
 tion of force under his command, has been rendered We could 
 not expect him to contend with the British column of regulars 
 which appeared upon the plains of Chippewa. It was no caus^ 
 of surprize to me, to see his command retire before this column. 
 
 '* Justice forbids that I should omit to name my own family 
 
 They yield to none in honourable zeal, intelligence and attention 
 (0 duty. Colonel Gardner, Major Jones, and my aids. Captains 
 Austin and Spencer, have been as active and as much devoted to 
 the cause, as any otlicers of the army Their conduct merits my 
 warmest acknowledgments.. 
 
 "Major Camp, deputy quarter-master general, deserves my 
 partxular notice and approbation. By his great exertion I was 
 enabled to find the means of crossing. Captain Deliza, of the 
 ordnance department, has rendered every service in his power." 
 
 The regular troops of the enemy greatly exceeded ours in num> 
 bers,* and his loss according to h:« own statement, amounted to 
 148 killed, (among whom were 3 captainsi 320 wounded, and 44 
 inissing....total 514. 
 
 The American loss was 60 killed, 316 wounded, and 10 mi«- 
 siog....total 328.t 
 
 Two day, after the action of the 5th July, the army took a po* 
 sition on Ciueonston heights, with a view of reducing the enemy's 
 force in that quarter. The following reports from Gen. Scott and 
 Maj. [lindman, dated at the heights, designating the individuals 
 who mostly distinguished themselves in the battle of Chippewa, 
 were made by order of General Brown : i ,.,<*. 
 
 Q,ueenston, U, C. July 15, 1814. 
 Sir — By the general order of the 13th inst. a methodical and 
 detailed report is called for, designating the names of such pert 
 
 * M.ijor Rencnl Hiall liad in bit Iroiit lint! 1,700 men. «ll n-f>ii1ar troopi tniiponed by the 8tli 
 RIOnii'iit tSO ifnine. Tltr lOOth ntdmcnt wiiirh wai nn the It-I'i iil'tlie Brit itli line, tonimaiidetl 
 by ill' mirquit of T wei-dale, Ute aid-tle-camp to ^mvA v^'rUin|;tun, bruuglit iiito action 700 men. and 
 
 girailii tlif iifxt day but Mi The otlit-r rt-piiintnta eiif^affcd lulfereti pni|iortioiuibly. Gcik-mI 
 ruW'iliiikad in bii (i.im ition the mmt iiiiii|uivocttl eviUi-nco ut' thoo I'aru. 
 UfiK-ial rortcr'i ciim:natid was never euffaKt-il al^ter tln-ir tint n treat i-onir«)tientlv the whole 
 anion wat >iiitaitipd by Seott'i -brifcade . which, ineludinir 'lawion't artillery, coiiiittnl oi but 
 1400 iiv^ntit turdiity: iSOwere on ilu' iliflTiirent (i^nanlsiiml |iiqiii'ii aiMl thenTure not in the action, 
 Mth-i' the Aineriran liirec ai'tually en|;tgL>d, diil not (!(«:etd l.iOO nicn. 
 
 iKimetand rnnktf'Ami'.rlcaninfflrrrswowul'-d—ViA. Canipbetl. ' ith infantry, icvenl) ; kner 
 fnct^iritl (uneedead.) Capt King, iM dn icTcrcly : (hut wound in the abdomrn. Capt. U-ad, 
 SSth do. badly . flcili h-ou'uI in t)ie thiKh Capt Harriion, 4iA doing diiiv in the 9th do. severely , 
 ilioi iti the ihonUler I.kin. Darron >ith do tcvcrely . thnt below tlie knee, and bone li«duitd. 
 lAfui De Witt, iSih do icvi-r^fv Li' nt l'jtc!iln> itlU '<r> hsillv ; H'-ih wnmd 'fi\ the tliiirh. V'nt' 
 v^A-nlulligthdo i^'gVI.-. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 a 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 Y 
 
 t 
 
 
 i 
 
 ■ I. 
 
 ,r ( 
 
 r^:'i.| 
 
 ..i •.Jfcj. 
 

 mm ^ • 
 
 ■;r 
 
 ;■;.. r 
 
 4" ■ [ 
 
 
 348 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 sons, whether commissioiied otficers or others, who iu the actloj, 
 of the 5th, contributed iu a particular manner to the succpssfuj 
 result of that day. 
 
 I am not asked for an account of the dispositions made of the 
 troops under my command, during the action ; I will, therefore 
 con^ne myself strictly to the general order. 
 
 A severe action has been fought, and n signal victory gained. 
 The general order of the 0*th inst. attributes that victory to the 
 1st brigade of infantry, and Capt. Towson's company of arti|. 
 lery under my command. It was believed at the time, and has 
 :jince been clearly ascertained, that of the forces engaged, the en* 
 emy were greatly superior in numbers. Under such circumstan- 
 ce?, victory could not have been obtained, without a very genera! 
 participation of all ranks and grades io the event. 
 
 1 have the satisfaction of being assured by every commanding 
 officer, (which is confirmed by my own personal observation) that 
 every man and of every grade in action, evinced an ability to 
 meet even a greater shock than that encountered, with like sue 
 cess. 
 
 The truth of this observation was most conspicuous in the very 
 crisis of the action. Conduct, universally good, leaves but little 
 room for discrimination. Accordingly, but few names are report 
 ed to me by the several commandants of battalion, as entitled to a 
 select mention, (in respect to their gallant comrades) and those 
 cases are noticed principally from accidental circumstances oi 
 good ni bad fortune.... As in the instance of Captain Ketchum ol' 
 the 25th infantry, whose good fortune it was to be detached witli 
 his company, by urder of Major Jessup, to attack a much superior 
 force whilst the battalion was engaged with another body of the 
 enemy. Captain Ketchum gallantly sustained himself in the ex- 
 ecution of his orders, t.il the battalion had cleared its own front in 
 order to march to his support. ^ « * 
 
 The good conduct of Captain Harrison, commanded by Major 
 Leavenworth, and observed by myself, war of another kind. A 
 cannon hall shattered ami carried away part of his leg. The cap- 
 tain preserved a perfect serenity under the tortures of his wound, 
 and utterly refused any assistance from the ranks until the enemy 
 should be beaten. So glorious a display of fortitude had the hap- 
 piest effect. 
 
 or the three battalions of infantry composing the Ut brigf.de, 
 the first consisted of the 9th and a detachment of the *22d regt. 
 under command of Major Lcavenwortii. The 2d battalion, or the 
 11th regt. was gallantly conducted towards its place, iu order of 
 battle, by Col. Campbell, who being early wounded, was succeeded 
 by Major M'Neil. Major Jessup commanded the 25tli regiment, 
 or the reniaining battalion of tht* brigade. Of these tdree cxcel- 
 f'Jnf office! J', it wfMild be difficult to say which was the most mpri 
 

 YU£ WAR. 
 
 S^ 
 
 oriousy or most compicuously eiivageJ. Tire 2oth rr:giincnt hav- 
 iOg been detached to my left, to turn the entniy'a right wing* 
 was' rested in a wood, Major Jt-ssup was less luidir tnv ptrsonai 
 observation than the other commanders ; but i had cveiy evid( no 
 I of ttje able dispositions he made of liis corps, as well by thi repor* 
 if my aids, as by tlie cfTcct he produced on that p:irt of tht enc- 
 Ly's line, immediately opposed to him ; and which contributed 
 very much to the general success of tiie day. Major Jtssup nad 
 I hi* horse shot under him. ^t.. 
 
 The other two battalions, with an enlarged interval between 
 llhem, received the enemy in open plain. ...that under Major Leav- 
 enworth, parallel to the attack... .that under Major M'Neil, with 
 its left wing thrown forward to take the entuny in front, and 
 flank at the same time. Captain Towson, who commenced tho 
 5re before the troops were in the order of battle, immediately af' 
 ler advanced to the front of the extreme right with 3 piece-* of 
 artillery, and took post on the river. Mjjjors Leavenworth and 
 M'Neil made prompt dispositions to reci'ive the charge... .The firr 
 lof these corps, (including the artillery) produced a prodigious effect 
 linthe enemy's ranks. That of Major M'Neil was the most effec- 
 llire, from the oblique position which his corps judiciously occupi- 
 led. The enemy's batteries were also admirably served ; to the 
 lire of which all the corps were exposed... .that of Major Leaven- 
 Iworth more particularly. This cannonade, however, did not pre- 
 JTentthe latter from preserving his corps in the most excellent or- 
 Ijer, at all times prepared, to advance or to fire, to give, or to 
 lieceive the charge. 
 
 Captain Towson finally silenced the enemy's most eftective 
 Ibttery, by blowing up an ammunition waggon, which produced 
 l;reat confusion. Turning next a heavy discharge of cannister on 
 llhe enemy's infantry, now nea.My u\ contact with our line, ad- 
 jrincing to tht charge ...the enemy could not long sustain this ac- 
 jwmulation of fire.. ..he broke, and fled to his strong works beyond 
 ICbippewa. All the corps pursued with promptitude. 
 
 To .mention them in order of their rank, (I know of no othc^ 
 lip this case; Majors Jessup, Leavenworth, and M'Neil, and Capt. 
 towson, deserve, , ^ my humble opinion, every thing which con 
 fiicuous skill and gallantry can wish from a grateful country. 
 1 cannot close this account of meritorious coidect, withou: 
 wntioning the great services rendered me by those two gallant 
 ^ouag soldier., Lleuts. Worth and Watts, my aids. 
 
 There was no danger they did not cheerfully encounter, iu 
 |:ommunicating mv orders ; and by their zeal and intrepidity,. 
 »on the admiration, as they had before the esteem, of the vvhol" 
 irigadi. They botlj rendered e,*scntial service at critical mom« nt.*, 
 assisting the commandants of corps in forming the troopt, un 
 wcircuTOStaTices which precludea the voice from being heard. 
 
 l!. 
 

 950 
 
 SKETCHES OP 
 
 ' f'ij., '1., •■, Jy 
 
 4^- 
 If 
 
 i: ff 
 
 ■•^; 
 
 This conduct has been handsomely acknowledged by the ofl^. 
 cers of the line, who have joined in requesting that it might be 
 particularly noticed. 
 
 My brigade major, Lieut. Smith, rendered me every assistance 
 which his accidental situation on foot permitted ; he is entitled to 
 my thanks. 
 
 During the action. Major Wood, of the engineers, and Captain 
 Harris of the dragoons, whose troop could not act, came up, and 
 very handsomely tendered their services. The latter had hit 
 horse shol under him. It is proper that I should take this oppor- 
 tunity to mention the case of Captain Crooker, of the 0th regiJ 
 mfcnt of infantry, in the a^air of the 4th of July, on the same I 
 ground on which the action of the 5th was fought. 
 
 I have already had the honor of mentionmg this verbally to the] 
 commanding general. 
 
 It is due to the gallant individual more particularly concernedJ 
 that his conduct should be formally noticed. 
 
 My brigade constituted the advance of the army....in descend-l 
 Ing on the left bank of the Niagara, from Fort Erie, we met tinf 
 advanced corps of the enemy at Black Creek, strongly posted beJ 
 hind that stream. Captain Towson, who was with the advance,! 
 obliged the enemy to fall back, who, on retreating, took up thel 
 bridge over the creek. Captain Crooker, who flanked out to thel 
 Teft of our march, bad crossed this stream some distance above the) 
 bridge, and was pursuing the enemy, just as the head of ths brig{ 
 sde column arrived at the bridge, which could not be passed untifl 
 the pioneers had replaced the boards which the enemy uad hastij 
 ly removed. Whilst this operation was going on, Captain Crook] 
 er immediately within my view, was suddenly enveloped by 
 troop of the Idth light dragoons, composing a part of the enemy'^ 
 rear guard. He fought his way to a house, then near to himJ 
 turned upon the enemy, and put them to flight. Captains Hull 
 and Harrison, and Lieutenant Randolph, with a small party, were 
 at the same time marching to the support of Captain Crooker, and 
 arrived just as the enemy were put to flight. I have witneg$e(| 
 nothing more gallant in partizan war, than was the conduct 
 Captain Crooker and his company. 
 
 I am, sir, respectfully^ your most obedient servant, 
 
 W. SCOTT, Gen. 1st brigade. 
 
 Agreeably to general crdtr.«, I transmit the following report: I 
 At the commencement of the act ion of the 5th July, Captaii 
 Towson's company of artiilery, wit!) the first brigade, was soleij 
 engaged with the enemy.... lie maintained his position on therigh 
 and kept up a spirited and destructive fire during the ndvancec 
 the enemy. Amidst the fire Hnd ch«tge of the enemy, the cnf 
 lam and his subnitern?, Lieut!*ii«ints CamnbHl and Schmuck ar 
 
 t'.kJLi 
 

 ,f^ 
 
 'm^ WAR. 
 
 
 kientenant Randolph of the infantry, commanding the reserve of 
 irtillery, behaved with great gallantry ....and I am proud to tay^ 
 I tended greatly to check the impetuosity of the enemy. 
 
 At an early part of the battle, the captain's piece was thrown 
 
 lout of action by a twenty*four pound shot from the enemy; yet 
 
 liu zeal and exertions were given with his characteristic spirit to 
 
 remaining pieces, and he reports handsomely of the conduct of 
 
 |ki8 officers, non-commissioned officers and men. 
 
 About the time the enemy commenced their charge, and at the 
 laoment they broke. Captain Ritchie's company of artillery, and 
 Imie piece (a twelve pounder) of Captain Biddtll's company of ar- 
 llillery under Lieutenant Hall, participated in the action. The 
 leaptains, officers, non-commissioned officers and men, conducted 
 |ihemselves as brave and faithful soldiers, and the whole artillery 
 lien on the field pursued, under the fire of the enemy's batteries, 
 Iffith rapidity, and saw thera precipitate themselves within their 
 [works. At this period of the action two eighteen pounders un- 
 Ijer Captain Williams, and the remainder of Captain Biddell's ar- 
 Itillery were brought upon the field; but those officers reluctantly 
 Ifiitted the ground without being permitted to open battery upon 
 ]lhe enemy's works. 
 
 To particularize, if all had been engaged from first to last, 
 kould be invidious, but in this case. Captain Towson and compa- 
 liy deserve particular mention. The captaiL being so fortunate 
 
 I to be ordered in advance with his company of artillery, only, 
 
 an opportunite of shewing his gallantry and distinguitihing 
 
 Ikimielf, officers and soldiers, above others. With due respect, 
 
 )our8, &c. J. lUNDMAN, MdJ. Com. Bat. Art. 
 
 C. K. Gardner, Adj. Gen. 
 
 Orqft of the sctne of action The following additional par- 
 
 ulars, together with the draft of the scene of action at Chippe* 
 la, will throw considerable light on the official detailR. 
 On the 3d of July, Gen. Scott advanced upon Chippewa, and 
 rithCapt. Towson's division of artillery drove the enemy's pick- 
 Hi across the bridge. In the afternoon, General Ripley with the 
 tld and park artillery under Major Hindman, took the same 
 Dute and encamped on the ground with General Scott's advance, 
 he subjoined sketch shews the order of encampment, and will ih 
 trale t4ie events which 6ubse<juently occoTreri. 
 
 
 
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 Kn'-iny't line* flanked by « bluck-liouso and batterica. 
 
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 Gpn. Stnlt''< Pi-igadf. 
 
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 ■)l|AUldUJB3U'> ■,JI<11.I0J 'll<<0 
 
 Hjnos 
 
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 01; Enemy's batteries. \\\ Enemy's block- 
 ;'' houses. I! II Bridges. O White House. 
 
 On the morning of the 4th of July, the Britiiih Indians had iiii 
 led the woods contiguous to the American encampment, and cornj 
 menced firing at our pinMets. Reconnoitering parties from Chippej 
 vva were frequently observed during the day, along the river roadf 
 and information was received that reinforcements had arrived. 
 
 On the 5th, the same course was pursued. The Indians werj 
 discovered almost in the rear of our camp. At this moment Get 
 Porter arrived with his volunteers and Indians. General Browi 
 immediately directed them to enter the woods and eifectuallj 
 scour them. Gens. Brown, Scott, and Ripley were at the whit] 
 house marked O, reconnoitering. General Porter'a corps seemej 
 sweeping like a torrent every thing before them until they almosi 
 debouched from the woods opposite Chippewa. At a moment 
 volley of musquKtry convinced Gentral Brown that the wh.olj 
 British force had crossed the Chippewa bridge, and that the aa 
 tion must become general. He gave immediate orders to Gene 
 ral Scott to advance and feel the enemy, and to General Rip!e| 
 to be in readiness to support. In a few minutes the Britisi iinj 
 was discovered formed and rapidly advancing.... their n^Kt (thj 
 Rcyal Scots) upon the woods, and tlu^ left ;the prince regf m'-v o| 
 the river, with the king's own for their reserve. TIm d iJ 
 Was to gain the bridge across the creek in front of our encamp 
 
YHB ^AE;i 
 
 •a4S 
 
 '* /) i 
 
 nienty which if done, would have compelled us to retire. Gen. 
 Brown fearing a flank movement of the enemy through the woods 
 OD the left of our earop> and with a view to seize our reserve of 
 artillery, directed Gen. Ripley not to advance until he gave him 
 orders. At the same time he rode to the first line with his staff 
 and an escort of 30 dragoons, in order to direct the whole move* 
 nents of the field, and animate the troops by his presence. Mean- 
 while General Scott, under a most tremendous fire of the enrmy^ 
 artiileiy crossed the bridge which the enemy had endeavored to 
 gain, and formed his line. The enemy's orders were to give one 
 volley at a distance, and immediately charge. But such wa" the 
 war rath of our musketry that they could not withstand it. At this 
 moment General Brown sent orders to General Ripley to make a 
 movement through the woods upon the enemy's right flank....^ 
 IVith the t2ist regiment he passed a ravine in hi» front where the 
 men bad to wade up to their chins, and advanced as rapidly as 
 possible. But before he commenced filing from the woods into 
 the open land under the enemy's batteries, they had been com- 
 pletely broken by the cool bravery and discipline of Gen. Scott's 
 brigade, and precipitated themselves across the Chippewa bridge, 
 vrhich they broke down on their retreat. 
 
 Death of General Swift..»,Oa the 12th of July, Brigadier 
 Seneral Swift (late of Palmyra, Ontario county, N. T.) volun* 
 teered his services to General Brown, to reconnoitre the enemy's 
 position and works at fort George, accompanied by a party of 120 
 volunteers ; and having, by the most judicious arrangements, sue- 
 eeeded in capturing, without the discharge of a gun, an outposty 
 api(]piet with a corporal, and 5 men, from whom he expected to 
 ibtain important information, he was assassinated by one of the 
 prisoners, who, after begging for and receiving quarters, shot tht 
 general through the breast. 
 
 The alarm occasioned by the discharge of the gun, immediater 
 ly brought towards the ground a patroling party of the enemy, 
 tbout 50 or 60 strong ; Gen. Swift immediately formed his men« 
 •dvaneed at their head upon the patrole, and commenced a suc- 
 cessful engagement, when he fell exhausted by his wounds. The 
 other officers of his command, animated by the example of hero- 
 ism and fortitude which had been set them, fought, beat, and 
 drove the enemy into fort George, from which they were not 
 more than half a mile distant, and then returned, hearing their 
 wounded and expiring general with them. 
 
 The loss sustained in the fall of this excellent officer was se- 
 verely felt. After serving his country for seven years in the war 
 of the revolution, he again stepped forward as a volunteer, to 
 five the aid of his experience in support of the violated rights et 
 
 2 Y . 
 
 
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 a II 
 
 \ 
 
 M^i'U. 
 
 
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'i54 
 
 SKKTCHK6 OV 
 
 
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 It 
 
 hit country; and never was that country called upon to lament 
 the toss of a firmer patriot or a braver man. 
 
 He was interred on the American side of the Niagara river^ on 
 the 13th of July, with military honours. 
 
 • , Army movements and battle at Bridgewater On the 20th o) 
 
 July the army under General Brown moved from UuecnHtoii 
 Heights, and encamped in the rear of fort George. Befoie the 
 main body of the army came up. General Scott, with the van, 
 had some skirmishing; but as the enemy kept close to their 
 works, nothing important occurred. General Brown bad deter- 
 mined upon this movement with a view of inducing the enemy 
 to re-occupy the heights, or close in nearer, so as to bring on an 
 engagement out of his works. After remaining encamped foi 
 two days, and finding no prospect of eflTecting his object. General 
 Brown returned, and found a body of militia and a few regul-trg 
 in and about the heights. General Porter pursued them with 
 his command and a few regulars, and was so fortunate as to 
 come up with and capture 7 officers and 10 privates. 
 
 On the 23d of July, General Brown received information by 
 express, that a number of heavy guns which he had previously or- 
 dered from Sacket's Harbour, to enable him to operate against 
 forts George and Niagara were blockaded in that port, together 
 with a rifle regiment that had been ordered up with them ; and 
 that no prospect then remained of effecting their conveyance to 
 him. In consequence of this disappointment, he deemed it expe- 
 dient to change his position, with a view to other objects. He 
 accordingly, on the 25th of July, moved and encamped above 
 Chippewa, near the battle ground of the 5th. 
 
 The followuig extracts from a letter to the secretary of war, 
 written by the general, give a detailed account of subsequent 
 events : 
 
 *' You are already apprised that the army bad, on the 26th July 
 taken a position at Chippewa. About noon of that day. Colonel 
 Swift, who was posted at Lewiston, advised me by express, that 
 the enemy appeared in considerable force in Uueenstown, aud on 
 its heights ; that four of the enemy's fleet bad arrived during the 
 preceding night, and were then lying near fort Niagara, and that 
 a number of boaits were in view, moving up the streight. With- 
 in a few minutes after this intelligence had been received, i v\-a 
 further informed by Capt. Demon of the quarter- master's departmen. 
 that the enemy was landing at Lewistown, and that our baggage 
 and stores at Schlosser, and on their way thither, were in dangei 
 of immediate capture. It is proper here to mention, that having 
 received advices as late as the 20th from General Gaines that < m 
 
 ij:: 
 

 THE WAR. 
 
 3cr> 
 
 ileet wa> then in port, and the commodore sick, we ceated to 
 look for co-operation from that quarter, and determined to disen- 
 cumber ourselves of baggage, and march direcily far Burlington 
 Heights. To mask this intention, and to draw from Schlosier a 
 imail supply of provisions, I fell back upon Chippewa. As this 
 Arrangement, under the increased force of the enemy, left much 
 at hazard on our own side of the Niagara, and as it appeared by 
 the before stated information, that the enemy was about to avail 
 himself of it, I conceived that the most effectual method of re- 
 callitig him from this object, was to put myself in motion towards 
 (^ueonstown. General Scott, with the first brigade, Towson's ar- 
 tillery, and all the dragoons and mounted men,* were according. 
 \y put in march on the road leading thither, with orders to report 
 if the enemy appeared, and to call for assistance if that was ne- 
 cessary. 
 
 ** On the general's arrival at the falls, he learned that the ene- 
 my was in force directly in front....a narrow piece of woods alone 
 intercepting his view of them. Waiting only to give this infor- 
 mation, he advanced upon them. By the time the assistant adju- 
 unt general [Jones] had delivered his message, the action began, 
 and before the remaining part of the division had crossed the Chip- 
 pewa, it became close and general between the advanced corps. 
 Though General Ripley, with the second brigade. Major Hind- 
 man with the corps of artillery, and General Porter at the head 
 of his command, had respectively pressed forward with ardour, it 
 was not less than an hour before they were brought to sustain Ge- 
 neral Scott, during which time his command most skilfully and 
 ^llantly maintained the conflict. Upon my arrival I found that 
 the general had passed the wood and engaged the enemy on the 
 ^ueenstown road and on the ground to the left of it, with the 
 9th, 11th and 22d regiments, and Towson»8 artillery. The 25th 
 had been thrown to the right to be governed by circumstances. 
 Apprehending that these corps were much exhausted, and know- 
 ing that they had suffered severely, I determined to interpose a 
 new line with the advancing troops, and thus disengage General 
 Scott, and hold his brigade in reserve. Orders were accordingly 
 given to General Ripley. The enemy's artillery at this moment 
 occupied a hill which gave him great advantages, and was the 
 '^ey of the whole position. It was supported by a line of infantry. 
 To secure the victory, it was necessary to carry this artillery and 
 seize the height. This duty was assigned to Colonel iXTiller, while, 
 to favour its execution, the 1st regiment under the command of 
 Colonel Nicholas, was directed to menace and amuac the infantry. 
 To my great mortification this regiment, after a discharge or two, 
 Z^y(' way and retreated some distance beiore it could be rallied 
 
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 I* 
 
 ^'«i>i 
 
 'l"liis force nmomiiol to lOJO ma». 
 

 r" *:.. 
 
 I " **■*», 
 
 S^ 
 
 aKE'l'CHMd Of 
 
 though it is believed the officers of the regiment exerted theoi' 
 •elvei to thorten thii distance. In the mean time, Colonri Mil- 
 ler, without regard to this occurrence, advanceu iteadiiv .<r,u gal- 
 lantly to hi« bbject, and carried the height and the canm . P. v 
 Ripley brought up the 23d (which had alio faultered) tc ,:>» knp- 
 poit, and the enemy disappeared from before them. The Ist regt. 
 was now brought into lint* on the left of the 2l8t, and the de- 
 tachments of the 17th and 10th, General Porter occupying with 
 his command, the extreme left. About the time Colonel Miller 
 carried the enemy's cannon, the 26th regiment, under Major 
 Jestup, was engaged in a more obstinate conflict with all that re< 
 mained to dispute with us the field of battle. The Major, as has 
 been already stated, had been ordered by General Scott, at the 
 commencement of the action, to take ground to his right. He 
 had succeeded in turning the enemy's left flank....had captured 
 (by a detachment under Captain Ketchum) General Riall andsuo- 
 dry other officers, and showed himself again to his own army in a 
 blaze of fire, which defeated or destroyed a very superior force 
 of the enemy. 
 
 ** He was ordered to form on the right of the 2d regiment 
 
 The enemy rallying his forces, and as it is believed, having re- 
 ceived reinforcements, now attempte'' to drive us from our posi- 
 tion, and regain his artillery. Our line was unshaken and the ene- 
 my repulsed. Two other attemps having the same object had the 
 Same issue. General Scott was again engaged in repelling the 
 former of these ; and the last I saw of him on the field of battle, 
 he was near the head of his column, and giving to its march a 
 direction that would have placed him on the enemy's right. It 
 was with great pleasure I saw the good order and intrepidity of 
 General Porter's volunteers from the moment of their arrival, 
 but during the last charge of the enemy, those qualities were con* 
 spicuous. Stimulated by the examples set them by their gallant 
 leader, by Major Wood of the Pennsylvania corps, by Colonel 
 Dobbin of Newyork, and by the officers generally, they precipi- 
 tated themselves upon the enemy's line, and made all the prisoned 
 which were ;aken at this point of the action* 
 
 ** Having been for some time wounded, and being a good deal 
 exhausted by loss of blood, it became my wish to devolve the 
 command on General Scott, and retire from the field ; but on en- 
 quiry, I had the misfortune to learn, that he was disabled by 
 wounds. I therefore kept my post, and had the satisfaction to see 
 the enemy's last effort repulsed. I now consigned the command 
 to General Ripley. 
 
 « While retiring from the field, I saw and felt that the victory 
 was complete on our part, if proper measures were promptly 
 adopted to secure it. The exhaustion of the men, was however I 
 si^qh as made some refre«hment necessary. They particularly re* 
 
 i. i.i 
 
 l^^ 
 
TUI WAA. 
 
 317 
 
 Larcd witer. I wii mytelf extremely feniible of the want of 
 
 |(tiii neceuary article. 1 therefore believed it proper that Qeneral 
 \vphy and the troopi should return to camp, after bringing off* 
 
 jibe dead, the wounded and the artillery; and in thii 1 taw no 
 
 Uifficulty, at the enemy had entirely ceased to act. Within au 
 hour after my arrival in camp, 1 was informed that General Rip- 
 Ity had returned without annoyance and in good order. 
 ** I feel most sensibly how inadequate are my powers in speak- 
 
 Ijog of the troops, to do justice either to their merits or to my own 
 
 liense of them. 
 " From the preceding detail you have new evidence of the dis- 
 
 jliDguished gallantry of Generals Soott and Porter, of CoL Miller 
 
 |ind Major Jessup. 
 «0f the Ist brigade, the chief, with his aid-de-oamp. Worthy 
 
 |Ui major of brigade. Smith, and every commander of battalion, 
 
 |«rere wounded. 
 *^ The 2d brigade suffered less ; but as a brigade, their conduct 
 
 Itntitled them to the applause of their country. After the enemy'» 
 itrong position had been carried by the 2l8t, and the detachments 
 of the 17th and 19th, the Ist and 23d assumed a new churacter. 
 They could not again be shaken or dismayed. Major M'Farlaud^ 
 
 I of the latter, fell nobly at the head of his battalion. 
 *' Under the command of General Porter, the militia volun- 
 
 I leers of Pennsylvania and Newyork stood undismayed amidst the 
 hottest fire, and repulsed the veterans opposed to them. The Ca- 
 Bsdian volunteers, commanded by Colonel Wilcox, are reported 
 by General Porter as having merited and received his approba* 
 
 Ition. 
 "The corps of artillery commanded by Major Hindman, behav« 
 
 I ed with its usual gallantry. Captain Towson's company, attach 
 
 lid to the 1st brigade, was the first and the last engaged; and, 
 during the whole conflict, maintained that high character which 
 
 I they had previously won by their skill and their valour. Captain* 
 Biddle and Ritchie were both wounded early in the action, but re* 
 fused to quit the field. The latter declared that he never would 
 leave his piece ; and, true to his engagement, fell by its side, co 
 vered with wounds. 
 
 ** The staff of the army had its peculiar merit and distinctioiu 
 Colonel Gardner, adjutant general, though ill, was on horseback^ 
 ind did all in his power : his assistant. Major Jones, was very ac- 
 tive and useful. My gallant aids-de-camp, Austin and Spencer, 
 had many and critical duties to perform, in the discharge of which 
 the latter fell ; I shall ever think of this young man with pride 
 and regret ; regret, that his career has been so short ; pride, that 
 it has been so noble and distinguished. The engineers, Majou 
 M'Ree and Wood, were greatly diMtinguished on this day, and 
 %ir high military talents exerted with great effe.ct....tfacy were 
 
 '* ^f 
 
■frfr 
 
 tit w •jjr 1) . ,. -^ 
 
 F . ;' ;'■. ■■ 
 
 
 
 
 368 
 
 SKETCHKS OV 
 
 much under my ''ye, and near my person, and to their assislancc 
 a great deal is fairly to be ascribed ; I most earnestly recommend 
 them as worthy of the highest trust and coniiJcncc. The staff 
 of General" Ripley and Porter discovered great zeal and attention 
 to duty. Lieutenant E. B. Randolph, of the 2Glh regiment, is 
 entitled to notice; his courage was conspicuous." 
 
 The force of the British engaged, according to their own ae- 
 count, amounted to nearly 4500 regulars, besides Indians, &c. com- 
 manded by Lieutenant General Drummond and Major General 
 Riall. The American force did not exceed 2800 ; no Indians be- 
 ing employed. The loss of the enemy, according to his official 
 statement, was 84 hilled, 55W wounded, 193 missing, and 42 pri- 
 soners.. ..toi •'I, 878.* The American loss was 171 killed, 572 
 wounded, snd 177 missing ...total 860.f 
 
 The following letter from a surgeon of the 21st regiment, 
 written the day after the engag(?ment, will be found to contain 
 ixiany interesting^articulars : 
 
 * Other tiecoiinti utatp the Iom of the pneniy to cxretil 1000. From the ofltcial •ccouiit of tiie 
 Amcrifaii iiMpetlor gf in ral. it muH-ari th»l wi' uml. "e** |>rifiiiipr<i : amonf; whnn, wciv Maj (ifn. 
 Kiall. wlir> was %> verely woiinilf^ in the nnn, ' akl to Gcii Drumnioiid A captmiiit, a)id 1 1 iiibiiltmi. 
 t Imrric/w iifflirr) kiUnl.—MH}. M'Karlaiiil, t3il iiiliintr)' - fnpt. Hitchi<',('iirii< oCartillcr}' , t'jpt. 
 Hull «ih inriiiiiry : Cupt KmiHy, tMh do . Capt Oondrivh. tithdth; First lituunant Bii^hw, 
 aiitdi) Ftr^t-lieiltt^iiaiit Tiiriii'r, 9th tlit. SccoiMllituiiiiiini i)ur);lianl. Uth do ; KiuiKii liiinttr, 
 a»th do. • r;.p)aiii ''ooper. r:»-w-\ork voliimiin Adjutant For. ft-iiiivyh-ania viiliiiitctri. 
 
 Offlitr* uiauncA't/— Ma jortieiicnti Brown, nvi-nly wounded through thi; tliiK' aial intheijde; 
 Captain Swiiur. aid to the miijor-|f<-nfr«l, ttirouKh the hinly mortal Artillery— Captain Hiddpl!, 
 tliKhtly. (hot wonndt inthfnt-cK and arm; Si-cuiMllH'Uit>nant Campbell, badly. throUKh the lei;; 
 Scrond'lii'UUiiant Schmuck st'vtnly. fert' BW^'flifr— HriKiiilier-tipniral .M'ott. i<'«frely Wii.iilder 
 f rartiin-d and wouihI in the tide ' LiL-utrnant .1. li. amith, 6th iiitaniry. Iirindc migor. Iwdly throu||li 
 the lc.< : l/iciit Worth, 2^d iitl'antry. aiddf-canip. trvcrely gmpi liiot in tht- thigh. Qlh mfantry- 
 Mnior I.i'iivt'nwortli. ili^htly, roniuiinn in thi-iide; Caut W. I. FiMter, tlif^htly. inttie shuuMer: 
 Liiiit niKl iiiiy-niaHttr Kowli , iliKhily' 'hul in the loot Liiut and qnarttrntatiir llrownint,' ilifrhi- 
 ly.vliot in (Ik fitce : Seroml-I.tiiit Fiiher. xvert-ly. shot in the heail and wris' i'hinl-I.icui. Cud)- 
 niali tlJKhlly in Uii thit-li and nhouldcr £■»)£*■ (• Jh'oIm seveni) , khol uoiiml in thi knit En- 
 si^ J. I' Jarnht, uliRhiTy. in tin- shooldcr I'.riiiKn Blake, iliirliilv in the knee i th intamry- 
 Major McNeil, M'vrrely canniiter klioi in th< thiKh' Capi. BIim, tiadi) , shot in the li.i>; : Fini-Lieut. 
 Haie, slii^hily ihoi in (he th';;h . .Sic l-Lirut Cixiiu r. kliplitly, roniutlon in ih<> hr<^iiti ; I'hInI 
 Lirut. Sh'phenion. sli^htlj.in the'tiieh; Ivmign Kedl'onl. tliyblly hurt ii) the abiluincn hy a tplin- 
 ter KmiKii Thompton. (:6ili,doiiiKdu)y in tlii- Ith} si reri'ly. (hot woinid in ihi- «i(l<> '^2d inrin. 
 try—Colonel Brady severelv- shot wound in the liilc and hip : Capt IVntlami, severely woiiikM 
 iind a priionir. Capt Foulk. leven-ly, shut wound in the «idr . Fir«t-Lieut. CiillM'r'iiHi, scmcvIv, 
 shot wound in the liT : Fint-Licut FerKUran, wvcrely shot in the hand rrom • eaiiniiter ^ Sirotiit 
 JUii-ut Arniitroiifr dMnKtniu«l),abot wound in the iJioidder. I'hird' Lieut Hean >lii;htly shot in th'- 
 liiot. 75ih infantry— >ajor .)< ssiip. k'vi riiy shot woiiimU in the hand and thoulder : Lit utf nam and 
 Aiuutant hhay'iir. st-vtrHy, thot wound* in the ami and sidt . Litut and quartrr-masit r .M'Ulasiin, 
 >'Uil} titot wtiunils in iht-'shouhhr ; Thinl-Lhut GiafTord severely, shot wounits in the hip. Se- 
 MR// £ri^'a>/r— <'i intat'try- Kirsi-l.ieut Vas^iMZ, tliKhtlv shot in theiliift! and baymit:' in tlk- lir ; 
 Fint l.iiut |ii«u'| li|^hlly in the h^ '2Ut iiilantr) — Cap! Hurhank, «■ verely tbuiiltl rljaciiin^; 
 First LieHt. ('illi y, ■•'verely. thigii I'raltund: •'it'toiiilLit'Ut Kisk (t4° the '>-th attaelMtl) slighU) in 
 the hrea^t Kn^ijcn Jones. OiKhil llesh wound in the v ri«t Kiisif^n Camp (mI rifl ; ref^iint-m icr- 
 vinic with the rivinuiit atlarmil) flesh wound in t'le ancle ; Eniifpi ihoinat, slightly, eontiiiion in 
 the iMck 2Jd in'antry— Call' Otieil, sevi rel) i'A>t wound in the arm ; First- Lieut '1 >'< hitiiiLMis 
 verely in tht- tit ik; Steond-Litnt iii|^-r>ol. slif^.'-ily, inthr tntit aecttnd-Lieut rappatLth^hlly. in 
 Ihehtad IhiidLiitit. ^iK-al, Siirhtly in the U% I Inrd Lieut Uititnich. tli)>hliy in tht' urm : 
 1 bird Lii'Ut Laiiih. 'i vertly in the li-ir Bngwnri-Crneral forifr* ct)mmanriS{.-yf\ork\n\m- 
 tien>— Lieiilenant'Cidont'l Uolihiu. slightJ) thut in the hrtatt: Liiui O Fling >ii)j;hll}, >iK.iit t'om- 
 nion shot in ihe sliiiiililrr. ■ cnicylvania vnluktt.ert— MnJoi vVikkI, kvi nly inusUi ( shoii in thr 
 arm and loot, and bruised by hit hotii- biiiii;: shut ainl t'ltiliiir on him Quarter-Master Macla), k- 
 >eiTly iiiiiiki'l sho's ill the head and wice thniiif^lt tht h-g : Lit ut Vick, H'Verely shot in thr 
 liaiid iinf^ (iin Porter was slightly wounded, but deelineil beinrrepnrted. 
 
 Offii ert muiihn — Fiist-Lii ut iVrry, Uth iinantr)— a |iriH>iier : i'hirl-Lii iit. Wdister. I llh inriiii- 
 try s.'Vtri ly •.hoi iiith' In ad and laki^n prisontr . Lieuit. »iturgi< Keu* and DavidMiu. liA intamry— 
 tuppuiid to be kdhil. VolViiletrs- itriKade Maj :ilantuii o: New-Vork taken wriioner Csptiii^ 
 Soberti oX t'euQsvlviuiiiit taken priwner; Lkut. Hunt ot Mew- York, tuppoted to b« hjlh-i' 
 
 v\>* p. It 
 
 ,^4 
 
 h.i throuj 
 
 I which wai 
 
 irge of 
 
 I'lieir rock< 
 
 I'lDmunitio 
 
 liwd with 
 
 "This ir 
 
 |"e groundj 
 
 phe etiemj 
 
 Ion tile groi 
 
 ' posed to 
 
THK WAk. 
 
 J&l> 
 
 eir assistance 
 y recommend 
 e. The staff 
 and attention 
 regiment, is 
 
 heir own ae- 
 lans, &c. com- 
 lajor General 
 no Indians be- 
 to hia official 
 g, and 42 pri- 
 1 killed, 572 
 
 1st regiment, 
 nd to contain 
 
 >cial account nf tiie 
 him, wen? Maj (loi. 
 ill*, and 1 1 siilMltttiu. 
 in of artillt-ry , C»pt. 
 It lit'uunant Bigrltw, 
 do ; KluiKtt litmttr, 
 
 I VIlllllltCtTS. 
 
 iliiR. and in the tide; 
 Icrv— Captain Bkldfl', 
 ly. tlirougli tlie leg; 
 tt. «,«treljr »lii iiwer 
 iniyor, Iwdly throudii 
 ligli. 9lh mfantiy— 
 lUv. in the itiuuliler: 
 ili-r IJrowiiing Oi|?hi 
 rhinl-l.iiHt.Cuih- 
 liiwl In tht knu En- 
 ure 1 th Inlkmry- 
 he li B : Kini-Lieut. 
 [in till- hvMi ; •hW 
 abiioincn hy a ^plio- 
 ih. M(lt' ^Jdinftn- 
 1, severely wouikW 
 CiillnT'imi, «'*<rely, 
 canniiter • Si cond 
 I >lit;litly shot in th- 
 tier : Lii ut' iiant and 
 1«-Mna»itr M'Olasnn, 
 id* 111 «li»" I'iP *• 
 I biiyi>iit-.i ill till' Itg; 
 [«hi)iilil ifiai-iiiM'. 
 ktuclitil) tligliL*} in 
 a nft- rt-Bi.i»nl!ii 
 VliKhtly, iwiti.iioii i^ 
 luut '1 >\ liitiiig x^ 
 1 rappa'i.sliBhily. 1" 
 IllKhiiy "' tlirurm: 
 lrf_N,,».York soliiii 
 
 IjiiKliib.M'^"^'"?^'- 
 huiki t "hull III U"~ 
 Jr.Mait«r M«cU). « 
 [R-vecely ih"! '" ''"" 
 
 Ivvlwter. Utiiinrttii- 
 Jmiii. iid inlaiiin- 
 li uriioiici C»ptJii: 
 In b^ hill*-!*- 
 
 <' Last jjjght wds fought the most sanguinary action the annals 
 al this country record. 
 
 « In the aiternoon the enemy advanced towards Cliippewa 
 with a powerful force. At 6 o'clock General Scott was ordered 
 ;o advance with his brigade and attack thcin. lie was soon re- 
 inforced by (leneral Kiplty^s brigade ; they met the enemy in 
 j jrreat force below the falls. They had selected tiieir ground lor 
 tbp ni(;ht, intending to attack our camp before daylight. The ac- 
 tion began just before 7, and an uninterrupted stream of musket- 
 ry continued till half past 8, when there was some cessation^ the 
 British falling back. It soon began again with some artillery, 
 which, with slight interruptions, continued till half past 10, when 
 there was a charge, and a tremendous slrea. i of fire closed the 
 I conflict. Both armies fought with a desperation bordering on 
 
 iness; neither would yield the palm, but each retired a short 
 Idiitance, wearied out with fatig^ie. Si\ch a con&tant and destruc- 
 tive fire was never before sustained by American troops without 
 I falling back. « 
 
 "The enemy had collected their whole force in the peninsula, 
 Itod were reinforced by troops from Lord Wellington's army, just 
 liaded from Kingston. For two hours the two hostile lines were 
 within 20 yards of each other, and so frequently intermingled, 
 llhat often an otlicer would order an enemy's platoon. The moon 
 lihone bright ; but part of out men being dressed like the Glenga>> 
 Irian regiment caused the deception. They frequently charged, 
 lind were as often driven back. Our regiment, under Colonel 
 iMilier, was ordered to storm the British batteriy. We charged, 
 lind took every piece of the enemy's cannon. We kept posses- 
 liicn of the ground and cannon until 12 o'clock at night, when 
 Iwe all fell back to camp, distant more than two miles. This was 
 Idone to secure our camp, which might otherwise have been at- 
 tacked in the rear. Our horses being most of them killed, and 
 there being no ropes to the pieces, we got off but two or three. 
 The men were so excessively fatigued they could not drag them. 
 IWe lost one howitzer, the horses being on full gallop toward the 
 ItDetny, to attack them, the riders were shot off and the horses 
 ran through the enemy's line. We lost one piece of cannon, 
 Iwbicb was too much advanced, every man being shot that had 
 itbarge of it, but two. Several of our caissons were blown up by 
 Itheir rockets, which did some injury, and deprived our cannon of 
 liiDmunition. The lines were so near that cannon could not be 
 |ii!ed with advantage. 
 
 "This morning Gen. Ripley marched our whole force to the bat- 
 Itle ground, to bury our dead and secure what wounded were left. 
 IThe etiemy had gottei many who were badly wounded and left 
 Ion the ground. He 'narched near their army, but neither were 
 Idispoged to engage. We took about 200 uon-commissloued offi 
 
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 SKETCHES OV 
 
 cers and privates prtffoueri, and 21 officeis, including Major (S«q, 
 Riall, who was wounded in the shoulder. The)* acknowledge 
 Colonel Gordon> of the 100th, and many other British olBceiY 
 killed." 
 
 B'Jigraphy of General Scott Winfield Scott was bom 
 
 June 13th, 1785«near Petersburg, Din widdie county, Virginia. 
 He was early intended for the bar, and went through the uiuit | 
 course of classical and other preparatory studies, which he con- 
 cluded at William and Mary College. He soon after stttied at I 
 Petersburg, and, in 1 806, commenced the practice of the law, 
 with flattering indications of future success. The attack upon 
 the frigate Chesapeake, which kindled into a flame every youns 
 and active spirit in the nation, roused him from the calm purauitn 
 of peace ; and the measures taken by congress at their next tvA 
 sion, making it probable that a w;ir with Great Britain would enJ 
 sue, he accepted, in 1808, a captaincy in the regiment of light! 
 , artillery, which was raised on the first enlargement of our milita- 
 ry establishment. In this situation he continued to serve, until the] 
 declaration of war in 1812, a period of about four years, some- 
 times ardently prosecuting military, sometimes legal studies, ac- 
 cording as the probabilities of war or peace seemed to predomr*| 
 nate. 
 
 In March, 1B12, he acted as judge advocate upon the trial oil 
 Col. Cushing, a report of which he afterwards published. Hi»| 
 able management of this interesting cause, and his eloquent aadf 
 well-argued replication to the prisoner's defence, afford honoura { 
 ble proofs of his legal acquirements and talents. 
 
 About this period, considering himself injured by General Wil-I 
 kinson. Captain Scott expressed himself upon the subject with 
 freedom and boldness. The commanding general did not thinfa 
 proper to overlook this oflence, and Captain Scott was arreitedJ 
 on the Mississippi, svhere he was then stationed, and brought to| 
 trial. We have repeatedly heard his defence spoken of as admi 
 rable^ both for its eloquence and its biting sarcasm. But the 
 court would not travel out of the record to take cognizance olj 
 the original wrong, nor admit his plea of justification. The lav 
 was considered as imperative ; Cvptain Scott was accordingM 
 fpund guilty (under the 5th article of the Rules and Articles oi 
 War) of speaking with conten?ut and disrespect of his command^ 
 ing officer, 8nd was suspenled for twelve months. He iefl the 
 camp, fo!!ovvcd by the good wishes of every officer to whom hej 
 was personally known ; every one saw that the sedition, if any^ 
 had been committed by the Senate, and not by the Gracchi, 
 
 In 1812 Captain Scott was promoted to the rank of lieutenantj 
 i;olonel in the 2d, or I'.ard's regimeiit of nrtillery. Early in the 
 aiTtginn of that >iur he tfrrived on the Niagara, with two com\ 
 
TilE WAU. 
 
 itl 
 
 >]40ie8 of his tegimsnt, and took post at Btack-rock, to protect 
 the navy yard. On the 8th of October, Captain Elliot, of the 
 navy, made an application to Colonel Scott for assiataoce in men, 
 to execute an enterprize which he had projected against two Bri- 
 tish brigs, then lying at anchor under the funs of fort Erie. On 
 the morning of the 8th, both vessel* were curried in a most gal- 
 lant manner... .the Adams by Captain £iiiot in person, the Cale- 
 donia by Captain Towton, of the artillery, who ha4 been dt* tach- 
 cd with H part of his compaiM^ to the assistaoce 4if £tliot In 
 dropping the Adams down the Niagara, 8b« became unmanagea- 
 ble by reason of a calm, took the wrong channel, and drifted 
 aground immedrnteiy under the guiw of the Bntittti batteries..... 
 Finding it impossible to get the vessel off. Captain £lliot reluc> 
 tantly abandoned her, under a most heavy fire from the British 
 ihore, having previously secured the prisoners. An active scene 
 aow ensued. The enemy sent off his boats to the brig, hoping to 
 fecure her by the next change of wind. Colonel Scott, on his 
 side, was as active and eager to dispossess them of the contestetf 
 prize, in which he finally succeeded, and held her until she was 
 tubsequently burut by order of an otYicer of superior rank, who 
 had now arrived ; the Caledonia was preserved. 
 
 In this spirited little affair Scott first <* fleshed his maiden 
 sword.** Like the hero of Sweden, he had heard the bullets 
 whistle around him, and had determined that from thenceforth 
 that should be his music. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 13th October, Colonel Scott ar< 
 rived, by forced marches, through mud, rain and sleet, at Lewis- 
 town, to join in the attack conte'^.plated by Major General Van 
 Rensselaer, of the Newyork militia, against Queeuston Heights. 
 In the action which ensued. Colonel Scott bore a conspicbc^ut 
 part, and exposed his person in the most fearless manner. /nS;* 
 obstinately fighting, he was however compelled to survtnd?) ui4 
 was sent a prisoner to Quebec ; thence, about " month afv ^Jr * 
 embarked for Boston, and was exchanged in January tVU t'V'.ig. 
 
 The campaign of 1813 opened with the capture of York, ft. 
 victory which was dearly purchased by the loss of Gentira^ -'iire. 
 Shortly after. Colonel Scott joined General Dearborn at .;;» Nia- 
 gara, in the capacity of adjutant general to the northeru army. 
 This office was then new to our service, and it devolved m; Col. 
 Scott to regulate its details, and to establish its importance to the 
 drmy. He succeeded to the full satisfaction of the commanding ge- 
 neral and the troops, and to the incalculable future benefit of the 
 servce. 
 
 Ill the lednctioi) of fort George, (May 27th,) Colo nel Scott par- 
 ticularly tli9ting;ul.shed liiins^tlf. He was 8ol'<cted to take com 
 mnud of tho advanced gu«rfl of the army, in its embarkation on 
 
 xkr Ontario, followed hv Colonel Porter, of the field train, the 
 
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 SKETCHES OF 
 
 brigades of Boyd^ Winder and Chandler, and a reserve unde. 
 Colonel Macomb. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey was present with his squadron, and fa- 
 \oured his descent by the fire of his small achooners; and Capt. 
 Perry, who was then serving under Commodore Chauncey, vo- 
 lunteered to conduct the division*, which waR an operation ol' 
 some nicety, in consequence of the winds and a strong current, 
 together with the early roused fire of the t:nemy. In the dii- 
 charge of this duty, ht was present at every point where he 
 could be useful, under showers of musketry, and rendered vi ry 
 essential services to thi advance guard, which he accompanied 
 nenrly to its point of attack. General Scott has since spoken iu 
 high terms of his skill and conduct on that occasion. This was, 
 indeed, comparatively, but a ttmall afl'air, and its little lu^tre has 
 been completely lost in the broad blaze of glory which has since 
 surrounded the name of the Nelson of lalw Kile ; yet there \s to 
 us something extremely gratifying in being able to trace the pro- 
 gref s of a favourite hero, and to see those talents first exerted ou 
 a smaller scale, which were so soon to shine forth, the pride and 
 the bulwark of his native' land. 
 
 At nine in the morning. Colonel Scott effected his landing, in 
 good order, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, about a 
 mite and a quarter from the village of Newark, and the same 
 distance west of the mouth of the Niagara. He formed his line 
 on the beach of the lake, covered by a bank of 12 or 15 feet in 
 height, which served as a parapet against the enemy's fire. This 
 bank was to be scaled against the bayonets of ths enemy, who 
 had now drawn up his force 1500 strong, in^iried lately on its 
 brow. They were soon driven from their ground by a brisk and 
 vigorous charge, but rallied, and took a second position behind a 
 ravine, at a little distance. An action, of some 20 minutes en- 
 sued ; it was short and desperate, and ended in the total rout of 
 thf enemy at every point. During the last five minutes, Boyd 
 uad landed in the rear of the advance guard, and a part of his 
 brii^ade participated in the action. Colonel Scott pursued the 
 rout as far as the village, where he was joined by the 6th regi- 
 ment, under Colonel Miller ; from thence the enemy was closely 
 pressed at a distance of five miles up the river, until Scott was 
 recalled from the pursuit by order of General Lewis. As our 
 troops approached towards fort George, it was perceived that the 
 garrison were in the act of abandoning the work. Two compa- 
 nies were instantly detached from the head of the pursuing co- 
 lumn, to prevent this movement, and some prisoners were made. 
 They were at the distance of about 80 paceK from the fort, when 
 one of its magazines blew up with a tremendous explosion. The 
 front gate was instantly forced by our men; Scjtt was the first 
 to enter, and took with his own hands the British flag yet waving 
 
:IIUK WAR. 
 
 stt^ 
 
 M 5 . 
 
 ierv« undfe. 
 
 ^^r tku works. At the same time Captains Hindsman and 
 Stockton snatched away the matches which had been applied by 
 the retrtMting garrison to three otiier initgazmes. 
 
 In these several aifairs, the total loss of the Anrierican army, 
 in killed and wounded, amouDted to 120, of which 80 were of 
 Colon I Scott*8 command ; 107 of the enemy were killed at the 
 point of a«c<*nt from the bank, and the whole number of prison- 
 ers wa? 264. 
 
 Colonel Scott was not present at the affair of ilie 6th of June, 
 at Stony Creek, in which Brii'adier Geneials Chandler and Win- 
 der were taken prisoners. The aimy remained inactive at fort 
 George for the remaindt- r of thf campaign, under Generals Dear- 
 born, Lewis, Bovd and Wilkinson, who >ucce88ively commanded. 
 Nt verthfless. Colonel Scott was frequently engaged in skirmishes 
 ind other sinaii affairs, in all of which he displaced his usual gal- 
 lantry, though none of them afforded any particular opportunity 
 of distinction. During the summer of thi.<* year, he volunteered 
 hi!« services, in an expedition under Commodore Chauncey, against 
 Burlington Heights, where a large deposite of provisions and 
 ttores had been made. The enemy having received considerable 
 reinforcements, the expedition failed, as to the principal object; 
 but upon his return, Chauncey landed the marines and soldiers^ 
 under the command of Colonel Scott, at York, where the new 
 barracks and public storehouses were burnt, and some pieces of 
 cannon, eleven armed boats, a quantity of a,mmunition, and a 
 large magazine of flour were taken. 
 
 On being promoted to a regiment. Colonel Scott resigned th^ 
 I office of adjutant general, in the month of July, 18 i 3. 
 
 It had been determined, as all our readers well remember, to 
 collect a large force at Sacket's Harbour, with a vitw to an en- 
 terprize against Kingston or MontrtrJ, towards the close of the 
 campaign. The fotce under Geutral Wilkinsoii accordingly em- 
 barked at fort George on the ad of October, and proceed«fd down 
 the lake. Colonel Scot^ was left in command of a garri^^cn of 
 tome 7 or 800 men, regulars and militia, for the defence ai fort 
 George. The British army, in the mean while, remained inac- 
 tive in the position which it had held for some time, at the dis* 
 lance of four miles from the fort, until October i»th, when Ge- 
 neral De Rottenburgh suddenly broke up his encampment, and re^ 
 treated to Burlington Heights, a distance of 53 miles, abandoning 
 the whole Niagara frontier. During the sev< n days in which he 
 wai kept in suspense by the threatening acprct of De Rottenburg, 
 Colonel Scott made the greatest exertions to strengthen his de- 
 fences, which were very incomplete at the time he was left in 
 'omroand. The enemy, however, did not think it prudejit to at- 
 ack him. 
 
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 JKETCUES Ob 
 
 Colonel Scott had ioitructions which provided foi liiu coiitii. 
 gency that now occurred. He was accordingly relieved in the 
 command of fort George by Brigadier General M'Clure, of the 
 Nex^york militia, and marched hie garrison towards Sacket't 
 Harbour, to join th« expedition under General Wilkin^'-on, v;iuch 
 was then preparing to descend the St. Lawrence. After a forced 
 march of 19 days, through rain and mud, during the whole oi 
 which time the tun was not visible for 12 hours, he learned, lo 
 his great mortification, upon his arrival in the neighbourhood of 
 Sacket's Harbour, that the expedition had already taken its de- 
 parture. He therefore left his column, and by a forced effort of 
 two days and one night, came up with the army, and joined it 
 just above Ogdensburg and Prescott. He was immediately ai- 
 signed to the command of a handsome battalion in the corp.<r 
 dVh'tc, under Colonel Macomb. In the subsequent descent of 
 Ihe St. Lawrence, he commanded the van of the army, and was 
 therefore not present at the action of the 11th of November, 
 wSt h took place 15 miles m the rear. How this ccmpaign ter 
 jrrtiieted. is yet fresh in the recollection of all. 
 
 Colonel Scot; spent a great part of the follo^^ aig winter ni Al 
 Oany. £arly in March, he was promoted to the rank of brfga* 
 di V general, and joined Major General Brown there, on his rout 
 to the Niagara frontier, eaily in April. Soon after. General 
 B (Vvu waB recalled to Sacket's Harbour, and the command, iu 
 io.stequeuce, devolved on Brigadier General Scott, who immedi- 
 ately assembled the army, and '.^tablished a camp of instruction 
 at Buffalo. In this camp were taught those tactics which f^avc 
 to our army an accuracy and celerity of movement, which bad 
 never been displayed on thi.^ continent, either by British or Amc 
 rican troops. The French tactiqun of the battalion and the line 
 was adopted. Without regard to rank, all the oflKcers were ri 
 gourously drilled by the commanding general in person ; theif 
 then instructed the rank and file ; companies were then formvil 
 and subjected to the same process ; next battalions, which were 
 aUo instructed 'oy General Scott in person i and finally, the tronpe 
 were carrietl ihrough tbe evolutions of the brigade and the line, 
 with the ' ;me strict attention to science and method. For two 
 months aud a half, these exeicines were continued from 7 to 9 
 hours -a day. The effer; -.vas astonishing. Four full battalioii.s 
 were brought to advance i'« brigade line 1000 paces in quick time, 
 in accurate alUgnment. Tht same liue was made to change 
 firoiit perpendicular, on a cex^tral point, in three minutes and t. 
 half. During this period of discipline and instruction, tiie army 
 waf* perfectly organized ; and, by the unwearied exertions and 
 example of the commanding general, the strictest routine sn^' 
 1isciplio<" wr re established througliont the wholp. .„ 
 
THE WA&- 
 
 dOtf 
 
 tilC COlitit. 
 
 eved in the 
 lure, of the 
 rds Sacket'i 
 iin'on, ^viiich 
 Liter p. forced 
 the whole oi 
 e learned, to 
 hbourhood of 
 taken its de* 
 ced effort of 
 jid joined it 
 mediately ai- 
 in the corps 
 nt descent of 
 my, and was 
 )f November, 
 ^cmpaign ter 
 
 winter »t Al 
 ank of brrgA- 
 e, on his rout 
 ifter, Generm 
 coin maud, iu 
 who imniedi- 
 of inetruction 
 :8 which fravc 
 It, which had 
 ritish or Amc 
 D and the liae 
 icer» were ri 
 perion ; theic 
 then formeU 
 I, which were 
 ly, thetronpe 
 and the line, 
 od. For two 
 d from 7 to 9 
 full battalions 
 in quick time, 
 de to change 
 tinutes and i< 
 ioujt tiie army 
 exertions and 
 routine w'. 
 
 In June, Major General Brown returned to Buffalo with rein- 
 arcements, and assumed the command of the army. The bat> 
 lies of Chippewa and Bridgewater succeeded ; and the result of 
 either wa8 itutiicient to immortalize the valiant Scott. 
 
 The battle of Chippewa ! s been described as one of the moct 
 irilliant spectacles which could well be conceived. The day was 
 clear and bright ; the sun still high in the heavens. The plain 
 was such as might have been selected for a parade or a tourua- 
 meut ; the troops on both sides, though not numerous, admirably 
 disciplined ; the generals leading on their columns in person ; the 
 fitter of the arms in the sun, and the precision and distinctness 
 of every movement, were all calculated to carry the mind back 
 to the scenes of ancient story or poetry ....to the plains of Latium 
 or of Troy, and all those recollections which fill the imaginatioB 
 vith images of personal heroism and romantic valour. 
 
 This victory, slight as were its immediate results, was yet at- 
 .ended by the most important consequences. It gave to the army 
 a confidence in their own skill and prowess, and dissipated at oner 
 the dread or doubts which had been inspired by the military repu- 
 tstion of their veteran antagonists, it was to the army, what 
 the victory of Captain Hull had been to the navy ; and the confi- 
 dence which it thus inspired, was surely most justly founded, for 
 6ver3' man felt that the victory had been gained by superior skill 
 and discipline : it was not the fruit of any accidental mistake or 
 confusion in the "jemy's army; or of one of those moments of 
 temporary panic on one side, or excitement on the other, which 
 sometines give a victory to irregular courage over veteran and 
 disciplined valour. 
 
 No higher praise could be given to General Soott, than that 
 which he has unintentionally bestowed upon himself, when, in his 
 report to General Brown, he says, ** 1 have the satisfaction of be- 
 ing assured by every commanding officer, (which is confirmed by 
 my own personal observation) that every man, and of every 
 grade, evinced an ability to meet even a greater shock than that 
 encountered, whh like success. Thi.<i was must conspicuous in 
 the very crisis of the action. Conduct, universally good, leaves 
 hut little room for discrimination. To mention them in tht: ordtr 
 of rank, (i know of no other in this case,) Majors Jessup, Leaven 
 worth, and M'Neil, and Captain Towson, deserve every thing; 
 which conspicuous skill and gallantry can hope from a grateful 
 country," Itc. 
 
 The battle of Bridgewater, which was fought near the mightj 
 cataract of Niagara, and within the sound of its thunders, v^gs, 
 ill proportion to the numbers engaged, the most sanguinary, and 
 ileodedly the best fought, of any action which ever took placr on 
 :he American continent. " We had no such fighting in our vvai," 
 has one cf thr bravest soldiers of the revolution often said to the 
 
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 •t. 
 
366 
 
 SKETCHES 0» 
 
 
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 <i- 
 
 
 
 
 'if.. 
 
 writer of this article. The repeated charges and actual contest 
 with the bayonet, arc alone sufficient to render this Imttlc re< 
 markable. The actual fight with the bayonet is, in fact, a thing 
 of very rare occurrence. We have heard, on good authority 
 that General Moreau has said, that he never saw it to any ex. 
 tent more than twice, one side or the other almoi't always breaking 
 before the bayonets crossed. Some of the captive otficers ot ttic 
 enemy have dpclared, that there our troops exhibited, not only 
 the most undnunted bravery, but a proficiency in tactics aisd nii< 
 litary skill which would have done honour to veterans. In par- 
 ticular, the charge of Colonel Miller has been represented by one 
 of these gentlemen, who had served in Spain, as having 8urpft8^ 
 ed any thing of the kind he ever saw, exci pt the storming of St. 
 Sebastians. 
 
 On the very day in which this action took place, by a singular 
 coincidence, Brigadier General Scott was appointed, by the presi- 
 dent, a major>general by brevet. His wounds were for some 
 time exceedingly dangerous and painful, and obliged him to re- 
 tire for a time from active service. As soon as he was convalet- 
 cent, he was appointed to the command of the 10th military dii. 
 trict. Beside his military rank, he has received every trxtimonial 
 of respect and gratitmie which his country could bestow ; among 
 these are a vote of thnnks, and a medal, from congiess ; a sword 
 presented by the citizens of his native place, Petersburg ; a sword 
 and vote of thanks from the legislature of Virginia, and his name 
 has been given to a new county of that state. In addition to 
 these civil honours, he has lately received a literary one from 
 Princeton College, which was conferred in a manner equally flat- 
 tering to himself, and honourable to the institution. 
 c^At a commencement of that college, held in September, 1814) 
 whilst the customary collegiate exercises were performing, the 
 trustees were accidentally informed that General Scott had that 
 moment alighted at the opposite tavern, on his way to Baltimore. 
 It was instantly proposed to invite him to the commencement; 
 a deputation of the trustees was accordingly sent over, who .«oon 
 returned with the general. He was respectfully received by the 
 trustees, and seated among them on the stage ; the audieo::e ex- 
 pressed the strongest symptons of a disposition to break forth into 
 tumultuous applause, which was wth difficulty restrained, b) a 
 sense of the decorum due to the plav>e and the occasion. The 
 valedictory orator now ascended the stage ; it happened the sub- 
 ject of his oration was the character of a patriotic and heroic 
 soldier^ in which he had introduced an apostrophe to an imagi- 
 nary personagr, whom he depicted as a bright example of mil" 
 tary virtue. With admirable presence of mind, and grtfat ele- 
 gance of manner, the young orator suddenly tnrned and address 
 ed this to Soft; 
 
•£HB WAR. 
 
 367 
 
 tuai contest 
 in battle re< 
 lactj a thing 
 1 authority, 
 to any tx- 
 Eiys breakinup 
 ficers ot tnc 
 :dy not only 
 :tiC8 and mi- 
 mt. in par- 
 jnted by one 
 vxng HU^pa8^ 
 irnoing of St. 
 
 )y a lingular 
 by the pre si- 
 re for some 
 1 bim to re- 
 fM convales* 
 
 nnilitary dii« 
 y testimonial 
 tow ; among 
 >is ; a sword 
 rg ; a aword 
 ind his name 
 addition to 
 ry one from 
 
 equally flat- 
 
 The effect was electrical ; bursts of long, reitorated, and unre- 
 lirainable applause, broke forth on all aides. Even grave and 
 tearued divintSt men vihose studies and habits of mind were little 
 in unison with feelings of this nature, were hurried away and 
 I overcome by the animating and kindling sympathy which cur< 
 rounded them. With some ditficulty the tumult of applause was 
 husned, and the president rose to confer the doctorates in law 
 |iad divinity, and other honorary degrees. 
 
 In the mean while, one of the trustees had propcsed to the rest 
 libat an honorary degree should be conftrred on their iliustrioua 
 TJiitant. It was asked whether General Scott's literary acquire- 
 ments were such as to render this compliment appropriate. A 
 gentleman from Virginia, to whom he was personally known, re- 
 plied, (as is the fact,) that beside possessing the general informa- 
 tion of a well educated man, he was remarkable for accurate and 
 extensive acquaintance with English literature. The prupusal 
 Iwas instantly aasented to, and communicated to the prekident, 
 who concluded the list of literary honours, by announcing that 
 Ithe honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon Maj. 
 ISeneral Winfield Scott. It is unnecessary to add that the build- 
 
 liig again rang with the enthusiastic applause of the audience 
 
 jn^s compliment, so spontaoeuus, so appropriate, so w<t 11-timed, 
 Ivas worthy of a college which can boast of numbermg in the 
 lioog list of her eons, many of the most brilliant and distinguished 
 iBen of their country, in every walk of public life.* 
 
 I «» 
 
 ','• u^ ,-• 
 
 |Br]Mi/5e of the ewmy at Conjocketa cr^ek, ^c Bombardment 
 
 and battle at fort Erie Splendid sortie aifainat the enemy*s 
 
 batteries j4rrival of General Izard on the Niagara Jron 
 
 lMr...»^etton at Lyon*s creek Bvaouation of fort Erie, 
 
 Afi'ER the action of the 25th July, Generals Brown and Scott 
 |iere conveyed to BulTulo, in consequence of their vvuuuds, and 
 ccmmaod of the army devolved on General Kipley, who soon 
 fter retired to fort Erie. Nothinp^ of importance occurred until 
 3d of August, when Maior Morgan, with n small detachment 
 riQeroen, gallantly repuloed the enemy at Conjocketa creek, 
 given in the following report to Gen. Brown : 
 
 Fort Erie, August 5y \814. 
 Sir — Having been stationed, svith the 1st battalion uf the 1st 
 igiment of riflemen, at Black Rock, oa the evening of the 2d 
 
 *2*\e lorvKuimg UM^r4)>kical tkptch Im. li-'iii ukrti, with ^ute vHihUum, (roM ihe Aialccti<- 
 
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 tnitnnt, f obMrved the Brilivh army moving up the river on W. 
 opposite there, and luipeoted they might make n feint on foe 
 Er\ff with nn intention of n real attack on the Buffalo side, f 
 immediately moved and took a potition on the upper tide of Con 
 iocketn creek, and thnt night threw up a battery of tome log% 
 whirh I found on the ground, nnd had the bridge torn awny. 
 
 About 2 o'elouk the next morning, my piquets from helow gavr 
 me informMtion of the landing of 9 boats full of trooo, half a 
 ■lilc below. I immediately got my men (240 in number) to their 
 quarters, and patiently waited their approach. At n quarter pai: 
 4 they advanced upon us, and commenced the attack ; sending » 
 party before to repair the bridge, under the cover of their 6r(, 
 When they had got ot good rifle distance, I opened a hea\y fi:» 
 on them, which laid a number of them on the ground, and corr 
 pelled them to retire. They then formed in the skirt of thp wood, ] 
 and kept up the fight at long shot, continually reinforcing from 
 the Canada shore, until they had 23 boat loads, and then at 
 iempted to flank us, by sending a large body up the creek to ford 
 St; when I detached Lieutenants Ryan, Smith and Armstrong,! 
 with about 60 men, to oppose their left wing, where they werf 
 again repulsed with considerable los8....after which they appeareti 
 disposed to give up their object, and retreated by throwing six 
 boat loads of troops on Squaw Island, which enfiladed the RreekJ 
 and prevented me from harrassing their rear. Their superiornum- 
 bers enabled them to take their killed and wounded off the field,! 
 which wc plainly saw, and observed they suffered severely. Wi I 
 found some of theis dead thrown into the river, and covered witii 
 logs and utoae^f nnd some on the field. We also collected a num 
 ber of muskets and accoutrements, with clothing that appcarei'l 
 to have been torn to bind their wounds. We took prisoners J 
 who stated the British force opposed to us to consist of from 12| 
 to 1500 men, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tucker, of thr 
 41st regiment. They also state that their object was to re-csp 
 tureGen. Riall, with the other British prisoners, and destroy thel 
 public stores deposited at Buffalo. The action contmued about two 
 hours .^nd a half. I am happy to state they were completeiv 
 foiled in their attempts. Our io^is is trifling compared with theirs. 
 We had 2 killed and 8 wounded. I am sorry ta inform you thai 
 Captain Hamilton, and Lieutenants Wadsworth and M'Intosh, ar^l 
 among the latter. Their gallantry, in exposing themselves tociij 
 courage their men, I think entitles them to the notice of thei: 
 country. My whole command behaved in a manner that merited 
 my w,..rmef:l approbation ; and, in justice to them I cannot avoid 
 mentioning the names uf the officers, which are as follows :...J 
 Captain Hamilton, Lieutenants Wadsworth, Ryan, CalhounJ 
 MMntosh, Arnold, Shortridge, M'Kaiiand, Tipton, Arrostrongij 
 Smitb, Cobbs.. Hiividjon and Austin, with Ensign Pflge* 
 
 Hf' ■ f 
 
.'i'lIE WAn. 
 
 a6U 
 
 U, air, you believe we have doire our duty, we shall feci highly 
 ^riitified. 
 I am, lir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 L. MORGAN, Maj. lit rifle regt. 
 
 The loss of the enemy in thin affair was supposed to excc«d 50 
 111 kilted, wounded and miisiog. Our loss was two killed and 
 ;o;lit woundoc!. 
 
 On the 'Itli of August Brigadier General Gainet arrived frona 
 i.ickct'ti flarliciir, and a8;>iimed the command at fort Erie. The 
 Intisli army, at thiii time amounting to between 4 and 3000, un> 
 Ur (iic'uteuiiiit General Drummond, was <<trong'y posted opposite 
 !]liU'l( Kuck, two miles east of the fort, a skirt of thick woods in- 
 •ervening. 
 
 On the 5th, General Gaines attempted to draw out the enemy's 
 o.-ccji, by sending the rifle corps through the woods, vith orders 
 M amuse tiic euemy-j light troops, until his strong c^' ns should 
 jtt in motion ; and then to retire slowly to the plaiii ^a the Ame- 
 •icin side, where a strong line wn« posted rendy to receive him. 
 Our riflemen met and drove the enemy's light troops into theii 
 ines, where tluy remained. After keeping their position in the 
 woods for nearly two hours, the riflemen were ordered in, not 
 oeing able to eftVct the object of their expedition. 
 
 Major Morgan, who had command of the corps, reports that 
 hi$ otHcers and men acted with their jsual gallantry. The ene 
 iny left 1 1 dead and 3 prisoners in oi^ hands ; au:! deserters have 
 itated their loss to be much more, /mong their killed were 5 In 
 dians. Our loss was 5 killed and 4 wounded. 
 
 On the 11th of August the enemy had constructed two batte- 
 ries with two embrasures each, and had erected a wooden breast- 
 work, from 12 to 1400 yards in rear of the American army. In 
 examining their works on the lOtli, Captain Birdsall of the 4th 
 '.ifle regiment, with a detachment of the 1st, and his company, 
 amounting in all to 160 men, beat in two of their strong piquets, 
 with a loss on their part of 10 killed. Cape. B. had 1 killed and 
 3 wounded. 
 
 On the 12th, Major Morgan, of the Ist rifle regiment, fell, at 
 the head of bis corps, in an affair with the enemy, after a display 
 of gallrntry worthy of the corps and meriting the gratitude of 
 his country. General Gaiues had desired him to send a detach- 
 ment of from 80 to 100 men to cut oflT a working party, sup- 
 ported by a guard of the enemy's light troops, engaged in open- 
 'Og an avenue for a battery in rear ot our army, and directed him 
 to have his corps ready to support in case the enemy should be < e- 
 nforced. The detachment was commanded by Captain Birds- 
 ail, who attacked and drove the enemy; but when about to re- 
 'iiu to camp, be discovered a large force approaching. The firing 
 
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 having coatinued Longer than the major had expected, he moved 
 up the moment the enemy's reinforcement made their appear* 
 ance. A warm conflict ensued, in which they were forced bach ; 
 but discovering additional reinforcements, and having received 
 orders to fall back on the appearance of a large force, the major 
 gave the signal with his bugle to retire. At this moment he re- 
 ceived a ball in the head ; and was brought from the field, toge- 
 ther with his men who were killed and wounded. Of the for- 
 mer were 2 riflemen and 1 Newyork volunteer, who, unsolicited 
 accompanied the riflemen, with a small party of his corps, under 
 the command of Lieutenant Goodfellow, who had distinguished 
 himself on several similar occasions. 
 
 On the 13th, the remains of Major Morgan were conveyed to 
 Buffalo, and interred with military honours. 
 
 Battle of fort Erie On the 16th of August the enemy made 
 
 a descent upon fort Erie ; and, after a most sanguinary confiictj 
 were defeated with great loss, by the American troops under 
 General Gaines. The following official report of the general to 
 the secretary of war, gives the particulars of the engagement : 
 
 Fort Erie, U, C. August 23, 1816. 
 
 Sir — I have the honour to communicate for the information of 
 the department of war, the particulars of the battle fought at 
 this place- on the 15th inst. between the left wing of the 2d di- 
 vision of the northern army, under my command, and the British 
 forces in the peninsula of Upper Canada, commanded by Lieuten- 
 ant General Drummond, which terminated in a signal victory in 
 favour of the United American arms. 
 
 Our position on the margin of the lake at the entrance of the 
 Niagara river, being nearly a horizontal plain, 12 to 16 feet 
 above the surface of the water, possessing few natural advanta- 
 ges, had been strengthened in front by temporary parapet breast- 
 works, entrenchments and abbattis, with two batteries and six 
 field pieces. The small, unfinished fort, Erie, with a 24, 18 and 
 12 pounders, forms the north-east ; and the Douglass battery^ 
 M^ith an 18 and 6 pounder near the edge of the lake, the south- 
 east angle of our right. The left is defended by a redoubt batte- 
 ry, with 6 field pieces thrown up on a small ridge. Our reai was 
 left open to the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. 
 The battery on the left was defended by Captain Towson ; fort 
 Erie by Captain Williams, with Major Trimble's command of^he 
 19th infantry ; the batteries on the front by Captains BiddJe and 
 Fanning ; the whole of the artillery commanded by Major Hind- 
 xnan. Parts of the 11th, 9th and 22d infantry (of the late vete- 
 ran brigade of Major General Scott) were posted on the right, 
 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Aspinwall. Genera) 
 
THE WAR, 
 
 ^71 
 
 Ripley's brigade, consisting or the 2l8t and 23d, defended the 
 left. General Porter's brigade of Newjork and Pennsylvania 
 fOlunteers, with our distinguished riflemen, occupied the centre. 
 
 I have heretofore omitted stating to you, that during the 13th 
 and 14th. the enemy had kept up a briiik cannonade, which was 
 sharply returned from our batteries, without any considerable loss 
 OQ our part. At 6, P. M. one of their shells lodged in a small 
 magazine in foit Erie, which was fortunately almost empty. It 
 blew up with an explosion more awful in appearance than inju- 
 rious in its effects, as it did not disable a man or derange a gun. 
 It occasioned but a momentary cessation of the thunders of the 
 artillery on both sidt's : it was followed by a loud and joyous shout 
 by tho British army, which was instantly returned on our part, 
 and Captain Williams, amidst the smoke of the explosion, renew- 
 ed the contest by an animated roar of his heavy cannon. 
 
 From the supposed loss of our ammunition, and the consequent 
 depression such an event was likely to produce upon the minds 
 of our men, I felt persuaded that this explosion would lead the 
 enemy to assault, and made my arrangements accordingly. 
 
 The night was dark, and the early part of it rainy, but the 
 faithful c^ntinel slept not ; one third of the troops were up at 
 their posts. At half past 2 o'clock the right column of the ene- 
 my approached, and though enveloped in darkness ^black as his 
 designs and principles,, was distinctly heard on our left, and promt- 
 ly marked by our rousquetry under Major Wood, and cannon un« 
 der Captain Towson. Being mounted at the moment, I repaired 
 to the point of attack, where the sheet of lire rolling from Tow- 
 son's battery and the musquetry of the left wing of the 21st in- 
 fantry, under Major Wood, enabled me to see the enemy's co- 
 lumn of about 1500 men approaching on that point; bis advance 
 was not checked until it had approached within 10 feet of our in- 
 fantry. A line of loose brush, representing an abbattis, only in- 
 tervened ; a column of the enemy attempted to pass round the 
 abbattis through the water, where it was nearly breast deep..... 
 Apprehending that this point would be carried, I ordered a de- 
 tachment of riflemen and infantry to its support ; but, having 
 met with the gallant commander. Major Wood, was assured by 
 him that he could defend his position without reinforcements; At 
 this moment the enemy were repulsed, but instantly renewed thje 
 charge and were again repulsed^ 
 
 My attention was now called to the right, where our batteries 
 and lines were soon lighted by a nliost brilliant fire of cannon and 
 musquetry ; it announced the approach of the centre and left co- 
 lumns of the enemy, under Colonels Drummond and Scott ; the 
 
 * I KTcnl times hranl, uhI many of our ofllcers heard, onIi-r> giron * to give thf dttmntd yankes 
 t^\cttU no qumitn.'" 
 
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 latter was received by the veteran 9th, under the command ai 
 Captain Foster, and Captains Boughton and Harding's companies 
 of Newyork and Pennsylvania volunteers, aided by a 6 pounder, 
 judiciously posted by Major M'Kee, chief engineer, who was 
 most active and useful at this point ; they were repulsed. That 
 of the centre, led by Colonel Drummond, was not long kept in 
 check ; it approached at once every assailable point of the fort, 
 and with scaling ladders ascended the parapet, but was repulsed 
 with dreadful carnage. The assault was twice repeated, and as 
 often checked; but the enemy having moved round in the ditch 
 covered by darkness added to the heavy cloud of smoke which 
 had rolled from our cannon and musquetry, enveloping surround- 
 ing objects, repeated the charge, re*a8cended the ladders ; their 
 pikes, bayonets and spears fell upon our gnllant artillerists. The 
 gallant spirits of our favourite Capt. Williams and Lieuts. Macdo- 
 nuugh and Watmough, with their brave men, were overcome.... 
 The two former, and several of their men, received deadly 
 wounds. Our bastion was lost. Lieutenant Macdonough, being 
 severely wounded, demanded quarter. It was refused by Co!. 
 Drummond. The lieutenant then seized a handspike, and nobly 
 defended himself until he was shot down with a pistol ^by the 
 monster who had refused him quarter, who often reiterated the 
 order, ** give the damned Yankees no quarter." This officer, 
 whose bravery, if it had been seasoned with virtue, would have 
 entitled him to the admiration of every 8oldier....thi8 hardened 
 murderer soon met his fate. He was shot through the breast, 
 while repeating the order to " give no quarter." 
 
 The battle now raged with increased fury on the right, but on 
 the left the enemy was repulsed and put to flight. Thence, and 
 from the centre, I ordered reinforcements. They were promptly 
 sent by Brigadier General Ripley and Brigadier General Porter. 
 Captain Fanning, of the corps of artillery, kept up a spirited and 
 destructive fire, with his field pieces, on the enemy attempting 
 to approach the fort. Major Hindman's gallant efforts, aided by 
 Major Trimble, having failed to drive the enemy from the bas- 
 tion with the remaining artiUerists and infantry in the fort, Capt. 
 Birdsall, of the 4th rifie regiment, with a detachment of rifle- 
 men, gallantly rushed in through the gateway to their assistance, 
 and with some infantry charged the enemy ; but was repulsed, 
 and the captain severely wounded. A detachment from the 1 1th, 
 19th and 22d infantry, under Captain Foster of the 11th, was 
 ibtroduced over the interior bastion, for the purpose of charging 
 the enemy. Major Hall, assistant inspector general, very hand- 
 somely tendered his services to lead the charge. The charge 
 was gallantly made by Captain Foster and Major Hall, but owing 
 to the narrowness of the passage up to the bastion admitting only 
 two or three men abreast^ it failed. It was often repeated, an^ 
 
■Vim WAR. 
 
 37 
 
 iS often checked. The ciiem>*s force ia the bastion, was, how- 
 ever, much cut to pieces and diminished, by our artillery and 
 small arms. At this moment, every operation was arrested by ' 
 ibe explosion of some cartridges deposited in the end of the stone 
 building adjoining the contested bastion. The explosion was tre- 
 mendous... .it was decisive ; the bastion was restored. At this 
 moment Captain Biddle was ordered to cause a field piece to be 
 posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis. The v 
 captain, though not recovered from a severe contusion in the 
 shoulder, received from one of the enemy's shells, promptly took 
 
 his position, and served bis field piece with vivacity and effect 
 
 I Captain Tanning's battery likewise played upon them at this time 
 with great effect. The enemy were in a few moments entirely 
 defeated, taken or put to flight, leaving on the field 221 killed, 
 174 wounded,. and 186 prisoners, including 14 officers killed, and 
 7 wounded and prisoners. A large portion are so severely woun- 
 I ded that they cannot survive ; the slightly wounded, it is pre- . 
 sumed, were carried off. 
 
 To Brigadier General Ripley much credit is due for the judi- 
 cious disposition of the left wing previous to the action, and for 
 the steady disciplined courage manifested by him and his imme- 
 diate command, and for the promptnes with which he complied 
 I with my orders for reinforcement during the action. Brigadier 
 I General Porter, commanding the Newyork and Pennsylvania vo- 
 I iunteers, manifested a degree of vigilance and judgment in his 
 preparatory arrangements, as well as military skill and courage 
 I Id action, which proves him to be worthy the confidence of his 
 country, and the brave volunt«;ers who fought under him. Of 
 the volunteers. Captains Boughton and Harding, with their de- 
 I tachments, posted on the right and attached to the line, com- 
 manded by Ca|»tain E. Foster of the veteran 9th infantry, hand^ 
 somely contributed to the repulse of the left column of the ene-' 
 my under Col. Scott. 
 
 The judicious preparations and steady conduct of Lieutenant' 
 Colonel Aspinwall, commanding the first brigade, merit approba^ 
 tion. ' • 
 
 To Major M'Kee, chief engineer the greatest credit is due for 
 the excellent arrangement and skilful execution of his plans for 
 fortifying and defending the right, and for his correct and season- 
 able suggestions to regain the bastion. Major Wood, of the en- 
 gineers, also greatly contributed to the previous measures of de<^' 
 fence. He had accepted the command of a regiment of infantry, 
 (the 21st.) for which he has often proved himself well qualified, 
 but never so conspicuously as on this occasion. 
 
 Towson's battery emitted a constant sheet of fire. Wood's 
 small arms lighted up the space, and repulsed five terrible charges 
 made between the battery and the lake. 
 
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 ymm 
 
 
 

 a74 
 
 SKSTCH£S OV 
 
 Brigadier General Ripley speaks in high terms of the otKceru 
 and men engaged, particularly Captains Marston and Ropes; 
 Lieutenants Riddle (of the 15th, doing duty with the 21st,) and 
 Hall ; Ensigns Benn, Jones, Cummings and Thomas, of the Ust 
 and Keally and Green of the 10th. 
 
 Major Hindman, and the whde of the artillery under the com- 
 mand of that excellent officer, displayed a degree of gallantry 
 and good conduct not to be surpassed. The particular situation 
 of Captain Towson, and the much lamented Captain Williams 
 and Lieutenant Macdonough, and that of Lieutenant Watmougb, 
 as already described, with their respective commands, rendered 
 them most conspicuous. The courage and good conduct of Lieu- 
 tienants Zantzinger and Childs, is spoken of in high terms by Ma* 
 jor Hjndman and Captain Towson, as also that of Serjeant-Major 
 Denhon. Captains Biddle and Fanning, on the centre and right 
 of their entrenchments, threw their shot to the right, left and 
 front, and annoyed the Indians and light troops of the enemy ap^ 
 proaching from the woods. Lieutenant Fontaine, in his zeal tq 
 meet the enemy, was unfortunately wounded and made prisoner. 
 Lieutenant Bird was active and useful ; and, in fact, every indi- 
 vidual of the corps did their duty. 
 
 The detachment of Scott's gallant brigade, consisting of part; 
 of the 9th, nth and 22d infantry, did its duty in a manner wor- 
 thy the high reputation the brigade had acquired at Chippewa and 
 at the falls of Niagara. The 9th, under the command of Capt. 
 Edmund Foster, was actively engaged against the left of the ene- 
 my, and with the aid of Lieutenant Douglass' corps of bombard- 
 iers, commanding the water battery, and of that of the volun- 
 teers, under Captains Boughton and Harding, eifected their re- 
 pulse. The good conduct of Lieutenants Childs, Cushman and 
 Foot, and Ensign Blake, deserves commendationi 
 
 The officers killed are Captain Williams and Lieutenant Mac- 
 donough of the artillery ; wounded. Lieutenant Watmough of 
 the artillery; Ensign Cisna, 10th; Lieutenant Bushnell, 2J8t; 
 Lieutenants Brown and Belknap, 23d ; and Captain Birdsall, 4thi 
 rifle regiment....all severely. 
 
 Lieutenant Fontaine, of the artillery, writes from the British 
 camp, that be fortunately fell into the hands of the Indians, who, 
 after taking his money, treated him kindly. It would seem then, 
 that these savages had not Joined in the resolution to give no 
 quarter. 
 
 To Major Jones, assistant adjutant-general ; Major Hall, assis- 
 tant inspector-general;' Captain Harris, of the dragoons, volunteer 
 aid-de-camp ; and Lieutenant Belton, aid-de-camp, much credit is 
 due for their constfint vigilance and strict attention to every duty 
 previous to the action, and the steady courage, zeal and activity 
 which they manifested during the action. 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 8/5 
 
 The surgeons, Doctors Fuller, 23d, and Troubridge, 21st, with 
 
 I their mates. Doctors Gale of the 23d, and Everitt and Allen of 
 
 the 2l8t, deserve the warmest approbation for their indefatigable 
 
 exertions and humane attention to the wounded of our army, as 
 
 well as to the prisoners who fell into their hands. 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir, your very obedient servant, 
 
 £• P. GAINES, Brig. gen. commanding. 
 
 The American Loss in this affair was 17 killed, 56 wounded, 
 \ini 11 missing..». total 84.* 
 
 The British loss, according to their official statement, was 51 
 I killed, (among whom were Colonel Scott and Lieutenant Colonel 
 iDrummond,) 262 wounded, and 468 mi88ingu.*total, 799.f 
 
 General Gaines, in a letter to the secreary of war, dated the 
 |20th of August, states, that in the battle of the 15th he inadver- 
 luDtly omitted the names of Captain Chunn, of the 19th, Lieuts. 
 JBowman and Lamed, of the 21st, and Lieutenant Jewett, of the 
 lllth infantry; as also his brigade Major, Lieutenant Gleason.... 
 leach of whom bore a conspicuous part in the. action, and were 
 Irecommended to the secretary's, notice. Lieutenants Bowman 
 lind Lamed commanded companies in the 2l8t, which so gallant- 
 lly beat the enemy's right column. Captain Chunn, with his com> 
 Ipany, was doing duty in the same regiment. This regiment pur- 
 jiued the enemy's right upwards of a mile, and took nearly 100 
 kisoners; his left was likewise pursued, and more than a hundred 
 jprisoners were taken beyond our works. 
 
 During the cannonade and bombardment of the fort by the en- 
 Itmy, on the 13th and 14th of August, the American loss was 9 
 Ilnlled and 36 wounded. The bombardment commenced at sun- 
 Ime on the morning of the 13th, and continued until 8 o'clock in 
 pe evening. At daylight, on the 14th, it re-commenced with 
 [ioereased warmth, and continued until within one hour of the 
 {commencement of the action of the 15th. 
 
 Splendid sortie against the enemies batteries On the 2d of 
 
 [September, General Brown having, recovered from his wounds. 
 Ire-assumed the command of the army at fort Erie. From the 2d, 
 Idntil the 16th, skirmishes frequently took place between the con- 
 I tending troops, in which the losses of both were trifling. 
 
 *yom««o/°f^r«AH7fodanr/Tooun(M->AniUery— C>pt. tTillMmi and Lieut. Maedonougb. kil- 
 m Oeiending the battioii; Lieut. Watmogh, wounded dd. leverely; Lieut. Fcmuine niitdng, 
 I ihrown from the bastion. 
 
 1 M/an/ru— Eosigu Ci$na, i9threg;iment,dani«Tonsly in defence of the fort: Lieut. Buihnell. letk 
 I id leverely do. : Lieot. Uniwn, 23d do- leveRly do. ; Ueut. Belknap, 23d do. teverely in deiendins 
 Itliepiuuetguard, which he commanded. 
 
 I ith Rife Hegitnentm'Ciipu Oiidsall, accidenully wouaded, whilst defending the (brt, by one of hia 
 ■ •vatoldien. 
 
 tThe American Inspector General reports, that the enemy lift on the fiflil 3t2 killSl, ai0 IT* 
 'Ounded; 'Ike pi-isonet» taken amounted to about 400. 
 
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 On the 17 th, a spleridid tprtie was made against the eocm)' ^ .i 
 batteries, (which he had been busily employed in erecting for a 
 number of days, within a short distance of fort Erie,) and which 
 eventuated in a great slaughter of his troops, and almost tota^ 
 destruction of his works. General Brown, in a letter to the se- 
 cretary of war, dated the 18th, gives a hasty sketch of this bril- 
 liant achievement ; but in a subsequent letter, of which the fol- 
 lowing is a copy, he enters more minutely into a detailed ac 
 count : . . 
 
 Fort Erie;, September 20, 18M. 
 
 Sir — In my letter of the 18th instant, I briefly informed you I 
 of the fortunate issue of the sortie which took place the day pre- 
 ceding. But it is due to the gallant officers and men, to whose 
 bravery we are indebted for our success on this occasion, that } 
 should give you a more circumstantial and detailed account Ci| 
 this affair. 
 
 r The enemy's camp I had ascertained to be situated in a field 
 surrounded by woods, nearly two miles distant from their battt-i 
 ries and entrenchments, the object of which was to keep the parts 
 of the force which was not upon duty, out of the range of our 
 fire from fort Erie and Black Roqk. Their infantry was foiinedl 
 into three brigades, estimated at 12 or 1500 men each. ,One oi 
 these brigades, with a detail from their artillery, was stationed at 
 their works, (these being about 600 yards distant from old for; I 
 £rie, and the right of our line*) We had already sufTered mucl. 
 from the fire of two of their batteries, and were aware that a 
 third was about to open upon us* Under these circumstances, 1 1 
 resolved to storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughlj f 
 handle the brigade upon duty, before those in ictsrve could bi I 
 brought into action. 
 
 On the morning of the 1 7th, the infantry and riflemen, regu-l 
 lars and militia, were ordered to be paraded and put in readiness 
 to march precisely at 11^ o'clock. General Porter, with the vol 
 lunteers. Colonel Gibson with the riflemen, and Major Brookf 
 with the 23d and 1st infantry, and a few dragoons acting as iu- 
 fantry, were ordered to move from the extreme left of our posi-| 
 tiou; upon the enemy's right, by a passage opened through the! 
 woods, for the occasion. General Miller was directed to stationi 
 Ins command in the ravine which lies between fort Erie and thcl 
 enemy's batteries, by passing them by detachments through thcl 
 fikirts of the wood ; and the 2l8t infantry, under General RipIeyJ 
 was posted as a corps of reserve between the new bastions ot| 
 fort Erie ; all under cover, and out of the view of the enemy. 
 
 About 20 minutes before 3, P. M. I found the left oolumns^uii 
 der the command of General Porter, which were destined to tuni| 
 the enemy's right, within a few rods of the British entrench 
 raents. They were ordered to advance apd commence the f'c 
 
Tax WAR. 
 
 37; 
 
 mmence the r'c 
 
 ijDB. t'atdiiig down the ravine^ I judged from the report of mus- 
 quetry, that the action bad commenced on our left ; 1 now has- 
 tened to General Miller^ and directed him to seize the moment, 
 and pierce the enemy's entrenchments between batteries No. 2 
 aiid 3. My orders were promptly and ably executed. Within 
 30 minutes after the first gun was fired, batteries No. 2 and 3, 
 the enemy's line of entrenchments, and his two block houses were 
 hi our possession. 
 
 Soon after, battery No. 1 was abandoned by the British. The 
 guns in each were spiked by us, or otherwise destroyed, and the 
 nuigazine of No. 3 was blown up. 
 
 A few minutes before the explosion, I had ordered up a reserve 
 ODder General Ripley. As he passed me, at the head of his cq* 
 lumn, I desired him, as he would be the senior in advance, to as- 
 certain, as -neat as possible, the situation of the troops in general, 
 and to have a care that not more was hazarded than the occa- 
 sion required : that, the object of the sortie efTected, the troop& 
 would retire in good order, &c. General Ripley passed rapidly 
 on....80on after, I became alarmed for General Miller, and sent 
 an order for the 21st to hasten to his support, towards battery 
 No. 1. Col. Upham received the order, and advanced to the aid of 
 Gen.Miller. Gen.RipIeyhad inclinedtothe left, where Maj. Brooks' 
 command was engaged, with a view of making some necessary 
 enquiries of that officer, and, in the act of doing so, was unfor- 
 tunately wounded. By this time the object of the sortie was ac- 
 complished beyond my most sanguine expectations* General 
 Miller bad consequently ordered the troops on the right to fall 
 back ; observing this movement, 1 sent my staff along the line, 
 to call in the other corps. Within a few minutes they retired 
 from the ravine, and from thence to camp. 
 
 Thus 1000 regulars, and an equal portion of militia, in ore 
 hour of close action, blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed 
 the fruits of 5Q days labour, and diminished his effective force 
 1000 men at least, i am af a loss how toexpress my satisfaction at the 
 gallanteonduct of the officers and men of this division, whose valour 
 has shone superior to every trial. Gen. Porter, in his official re- 
 port, herein enclosed, has very properly noticed those patriotic citi- 
 zens who have done so much honour to themselves, by freely and 
 v(4untarily tenderilig 'their services at a dangerous and critical pe- 
 riod. 
 
 As the scene of action was in a wood, in advance c^ the posl; 
 tton I had chosen for directing the movements of the whole, se- 
 veral reports of the commandants of corps must guide me in no 
 ticing individuals. , 
 
 Gen. Miller mentions Lieut. Cols. Aspinwall and Beedle, Maj. 
 Trimble, Captain Hull, Captain IngeraoU, Lieutenant Crawford, 
 
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 SKETCHES OV 
 
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 Lieutenant Lee, and particularly Ensign O'Fliag, at entitled ic 
 distinction. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel M'Donald, upon whom the command of the 
 rifle corps devolved^ upon the fall of the brave and generous Gib- 
 son, names Adjutants Shortridge of the 1st, and Ballard of the 
 4th regiment, as deserving the highest applause for their prompt- 
 ness and gallantry in communicating orders. Of the other ofi]. 
 cers of the corps, he reports generally, that the bravery and good 
 conduct of all was so conspicuous as to render it impossible to 
 discriminate. 
 
 Major Brookf, to whom much credit is due for the distinguisl^ 
 ed manitcr iA which he executed the orders he received, speaki 
 in, high terms of Lieutenants GoodelJ^ Ingersolt and Livingston, 
 and Ensigns Brant and O'Fling, of the 23d....particularly of the 
 latter. Also of Captain Simms, Lieutenants Bi8seU,.Shore and 
 Bridn6t, of the Ist inlantryy and Lieutenant Watts, of the dra> 
 goons. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel' Upham,- who took command of the reserve 
 after General Ripley was disabled, bestows great praise upon Ma* 
 Jor Chambers of the 4th regiment of riflemen, attached to the 
 2l8t infantiy, as also upon Capt. Bradford and Lieut. Holding of 
 that regiment. 
 
 ^ My staff. Colonel Snelling, Colonel Gardner, Major Jones, and 
 my aids-de-eamp. Major Austin and LieMtenant Armstrong, were, 
 as usual, zealous, intelligent and active ; ihey performed every 
 duty required of them, to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 Major Hall, assistant inspector-general^ led a battalion of mili- 
 tia, and conducted with skill and gallantry. Lieutenant Kirby, 
 aid-de-camp to General Ripley, wai extremely active and useful 
 during the.tipie he was in action.. 
 
 Lieutenants Frazer and Riddie were in General Porter's staff; 
 their bravery was conspicuous, and no ofScers of their grade were 
 more useful. 
 
 The corps of artillery^ commanded by Major Hindman, which 
 hflft been so eminently distinguished throughout this campaign, 
 had DO opportunity of taking a part in the sortie. The 25th io' 
 fantry, under Colonel Jessup, was stationed in fort Erie« to hold 
 the key of our position. 
 
 Colonel Brady, on whose firmness and goou conduct every re- 
 liance could be placed, was on command at Buffalo, with the le- 
 mains of the 22d infantry. Lieutenant Colonel M-'Bee and Lieu- 
 tenant Cbionel Wood of the corps'of engineers, having rendered 
 to this army servicetl the most important, I must seize the oppor* 
 tunity of again mentioning them particularly. On every trying 
 oceasioh I have reaped much 4)enefit fronci their sound and excel- 
 lent advice. No two other officers of their grade could have con- 
 
. : . i. f 
 
 THB WAR. 
 
 i79 
 
 at entitled tc 
 
 ^nbuted more to the safety and bono of thii army. Wood,brave« 
 generoui and enterprising, died as he had lived, without a feeling 
 
 but for the honour of his country and the glory of her arms , 
 
 His name and example will live to guide the soldier in the path 
 of duty,, so long as true heroism is held in estimation. M'Bee 
 lives to enjoy the approbation of every virtuous and generous 
 mind, and to receive the reward due to his services and high mi* 
 litary talents. 
 
 It is proper here to notice, that although but one third of the 
 enemy's force was on duty when his works were carried, the 
 whole wrere brought into action while we were employed in de- 
 jitroyittg his cannon* We secured prisoners from seven regi- 
 ments, and know that the 6th and 82d suffered severely in killed 
 I and wounded ; yet these regiments were not upon duty. 
 
 Lieutenant General Drummond broke up his camp during the 
 I night of the 21st, and retired to his entrenchments behind Chip- 
 pewa. A party of our men came up with the rear of his army 
 It Frenchman's creek; the enemy destroyed part of their stores^ 
 m setting fire to the buildings from which they w^re employed 
 ia conveying them. We found in and about their camp, a con- 
 liderable quantity of- cannon baU# and upwardis of 100 stand of 
 I arms. 
 
 I send you, enclosed herein, a return of our loss. The return 
 |«f piisoners enclosed, does not include the straggler.s that came 
 |ia after the action. 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir^ very respectfully, your most obe- 
 |dient humble servant, 
 
 JACOB BROWR 
 
 The following is the report from Brigadier General Porter to 
 Major General Browo^ alluded to in the. foregoing letter : 
 
 Fort Erie, September 22, 1814. ' 
 Sir — In executing the duty you have imposed on. me, of re^ 
 porting the conduct of the officers and men composing the left 
 tolumn, which you^was pleased to place under my command in 
 the sortie of the 1 7th instant, the pleasure I derive in represent- 
 ing to you the admirable conduct of the whole, is deeply chasten- 
 |((1 by sorrow for the loss of many brave and distinguished men. 
 
 Being obliged, from the nature of the ground, to act on foot, 
 it was impossible that my own personal observation should reach 
 to every officer. Some part of this report must therefore resj; 
 ttpon the information of others. 
 
 It is the business of this communication, to speak of the con- 
 duct of individuals.; yet you. Will permit me to premise, although 
 well knpiwn to yourself already, that the object of the left C0|- 
 
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880 
 
 SKSrCHI^S 0> 
 
 lumn wai to penetrate, by r oireuitout rout, bet wet u the cut -j 
 iny*t batteriee, where one third of hit force wai alwayi kept on 
 duty, and hii main camp, and that it wai subdivided into 3 divi- 
 sioni....the advance of 200 riflemen and a few Indiana, commaQ- 
 ded by Colonel Oibaoo« and two columns, moving parallel to, and 
 80 yards distant from each other. The right column was com- 
 manded by Lieutenant Colonel Wood, headed by 400 infantry 
 under Mnjor Brook of the 23d, and followed by 500 .volunteers 
 and militia, being parts of Lieutenant Colonel Dobbin's, M'Bur- 
 ney*s and Flemming*s regiments, and was intended to attack the 
 batteries. The left column, of 500 militia^ was commanded by I 
 Brigadier General Davis, and comprised the commands of Lieu* 
 tenant Colonels Hopkins, Churchill and Crosby, and was intend- 1 
 cd to hold in check any reinforcements from the enemy's camp; 
 or both columns (circumstances requiring it^ which frequently 
 happened) to co-operate in the lame object. 
 
 After carrying by storm, in the handsomest style, a strong! 
 block house in the rear of the third battery, making its garriflon} 
 prisoners, destroying the three 24 pounders and their carriages 
 in the third battery, and blowing up the enemy's magazine, and I 
 after co-operating with General Miller in taking the secondl 
 battery^ the gallant leaders of the three divisions all fell nearly stl 
 the same time...,Colonel Gibson at the second battery, and Gene-I 
 ral Davis aqd Lieutenant Colonel Wood in an assault upon tl(e| 
 first. 
 
 Brigadier General Davis, although a militia officer of little ex-l 
 pei'ience, conducted on this occasion with all the coolness aod| 
 bravery of a veteran, and fell while advancing upon the enemy'^ 
 ^'^^ entrenchments. His loss, as a citizen as well as a soldier, Mrilll 
 be seveiely felt in the patriotic county of Gennessee. Colonelf 
 Gibson fully sustained the high military reputation which he had 
 ".'^ before so justly acquired. You know how exalted an opinion 
 '^ ''have always entertained of Lieutenant Colonel Wood of the enj 
 ^gineers. His conduct on this day wfas, what it uniformly ha^ 
 been on every similar occasion, an exhibitbn of military skill, acute 
 judgment and heroic valour. Of the other regular officers, Lieu^ 
 tenant Colonel M'Donald and Major Brooks, senior in commandJ 
 will report to you in relation to their respective divisions. Pern 
 init mef, however, to say of these two officers, that much as wa^ 
 left to them by the fall of their distinguished leaders, they were 
 
 ,' . tble to sustain their parts in the most admirable manner, and 
 
 ' "''they richly deserve the notice of the government. 
 
 ^f Of the militia, I regret that the limits of a report will not perj 
 **^mlt me even to name all of those who on this occasion establish] 
 
 ^ ed claims to the gratitude of their fellow citizens ; much less to 
 particularize individual merit. Lieut. Coloniela Ifopkins, M'Burj 
 ney, Churchill and Crosby, and Majors Lee,Marcle, WiltooJ 
 
 i 
 
'-,4i 
 
 THE WAR, 
 
 3tl 
 
 't' 
 
 liftwrcooe. Burr, Uunham, Kellogg, and Gauiouj art entitled to 
 the higbeit praiie for their gallant oonduct, their iteady and per* 
 •evering exertiom. Lieutenant Colonel Dobbin being prevented 
 by severe indisposition from taking the field. Major Hall, assist- 
 ant inspector general, volunteered bis services to join Major Lee 
 in the command of the volunteer regiment ; and Major Lee and 
 every other officer speaks in the highest terms of the gallant and 
 good conduct of this young ofticer. 
 
 Captain Fleming who commanded the Indians, was as he al- 
 ways is, in the front of the battle. There is not a more intrepid 
 soldier in the army. 1 should be ungrateful were I to omit the 
 namM of Captains Knapp and Hull of the volunteers, and Capt- 
 ain Parker and Lieutenant Chatfield of the militia, by whose in- 
 trepidity I wAs, during the action, extricated from the most un- 
 pleasant situation. Captains Richardson, Buel and Kennedy, 
 Lieutenants Parkhurst and Brown, and Adjutants Dobbin, Bates 
 and Robinson, particularly distingi^ished thenyelves. The patri- 
 otic conduct of Captain Elliot with twenty young gentlemen, who 
 volunteered from Batavia, and of Major Hubbard with fourteen 
 men exempted by age from military duty, should not be omitted.—- 
 They were conspicuous during the action. 
 
 You will excuse me, if I am partial in speaking of my own 
 iiamily consisting of my brigade Major Frazer, my volunteer aid- 
 de-camp Riddle, (both lieutenants in the 13th infantry.) Captain 
 Bigger, of the Canadian volunteers. Messrs. Williams and Del- 
 apierre, volunteer aids for the day, all of whom except Mr. Wil- 
 liams were wounded. 
 
 Lieutenants Frazer and Riddle were engaged for most of the 
 preceding day with fatigue parties ; cutting roads for the advance 
 of the column through the swamp, and falling timber to the rear, 
 and within 150 yards of the enemy's right ; which service they 
 performed with so much address as to avoid Miscovery ; and on 
 the succeeding day they conducted the two columns to the attack 
 Frazer was severely wounded by a musket ball, whilst spiking a 
 gun on the 2d battery. Riddle, (with quarter master Greene, of 
 the volunteers, whose good conduct deserves much praise,) after 
 the first battery ^m carried, descended into the enemy's maga- 
 zine, and after securing a quantity of fixed amunition, blew 
 up the maga2:ine, and suffered severely from the explosion. I 
 must solicit, thro^h you, sir, the attention of the general gov- 
 ernment to these meritorious young men. Captain Bigger is an 
 excellent officer, and has rendered me much assistance, but was 
 dangerously wounded. The other young gentlemen are citizens, 
 and deserve much credit for their activity, and for having volun- 
 tarily encountered danger. My aid-de-camp Major Dox, was 
 con^aed at Buifalo by siftkaessi 
 
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 SKETCHES OF 
 
 On the whoie^sir^ I can say of the regubr troops attached to 
 the leftcolumn^ and oftbe veteran volunteers of Lieutenajit Co- 
 lonel Dobbin's regiment, that every man did his duty, and their 
 conduct on this occasion reflects a new lustre on their former 
 brilliant achievements. To the militia the compliment is justly 
 due, and I could pay them no greater compliment than to say that 
 they were not surpassed by the heroes of Chippewa and Niagara 
 in steadiness and bravery. 
 
 The studied intricacy of the enemy's defences, consisting not 
 only of the breast-works connecting their batteries, but of succes- 
 sive lines of entrenchments for a hundred yards in the rear, cover* 
 lag the batteries and enfilading each other, and the whole ob* 
 structedby abattis, brush and felled timber, was calculated to pro< 
 duce confusion among the assailanv;?, and led to several contests 
 at the point of the bayonet. But by our double columns any tem- 
 porary irregularity in the one was always corrected by the other. 
 Our success would probably ha,ve been more complete, but for the 
 rain which unfortunately s^t in tx)on after we commenced our 
 march, rendering the fire of many of our muskets useless, and by 
 obscuring the sun, led to several unlucky mistakes. As an instance 
 of this, a body of 50 prisoners who had surrendered, were order- 
 ed to the fort in charge of a subaltern and fourteen volunteers ; 
 (he officer mistaking the. direction, conducted them towards the 
 British camp in the rout by which we had advanced, and they were 
 retaken with the whole of the guard, excepting the officer and 
 one man, who fought their way back. Several of our stragglers 
 were made prisoners by the same mistake. But, sir, notwith- 
 standing these accidents, we have reason to rejoice, at our signal 
 success in inflicting a vastly disproportionate injury on the enemy, 
 and in wholly defeating all his pUns of operation against this army. 
 # I have the honor to be, with very great respeet, your obedient 
 servant. , » P. B. PORTER, Brig. Gen. 
 
 Commanding volunteers and militia^ 
 
 ■ • 
 
 The following particulars of an extraordinary adventure and 
 escape of Major General Porter, in the sortie of the 17th Sep- 
 tember, are derived from an authentic source, and are deemed in? 
 teresting: 
 
 "General Porter's command, on that day, consisted of two co*. 
 lumns. The right column was to attack the batteries in the rear. 
 The left, which was stationed directly back of it, was kept in re- 
 serve to meet the reinforcements which were expected from the 
 enemy's main army. General Porter was with the right column 
 until the block-house and third battery were carried ; he then 
 set out, accompanied by two or three persons, to go to the left 
 column, where some jrkirmishHig had already commenced with 
 
Tfil WAK. 
 
 ^».'f 
 
 saa 
 
 the reiiiforcements. He had proceeded but a short distance in 
 the woods, when he found himself within a few yards of a party 
 of 60 or 80 of the enemy, who had just emerged from a ditch^ 
 and who, discovering probably that our troops were in their rear, 
 stood formed in two lines, with their arms at rest, apparently he' 
 litating which way to go, or how to act. General Porter finding 
 himself within their power, and seeing that the occasion required 
 resolution and decision, instantly left his company, and running 
 to them with the greatest boldness, exclaimed, " that's right, my 
 good fellows, surrender, and we will take care of you" — and 
 coming up to the man on the left, he took his musket out of his 
 hand and threw it on the ground, at the same time pushing him 
 forward towards the fort. In this way he proceeded nearly 
 
 I through the first line, most of the men voluntarily throwing down 
 their arms and advancing to the front ; when, on a sudden, a 
 loldier, whose musket he was about to take, stepped back, and 
 
 I presenting his bayonet to General Porter's breast, demanded his 
 luirender. The general seized the musket and was wresting it 
 from him, when he was assaulted by an officer who stood next in 
 the ranks, and three or four soldiers, who, after a short scuffle^ 
 brought him to the ground. He however soon recovered his feet, 
 when he found himself surrounded by 15 or 20 men with their 
 guns presented to him, demanding his surrender. By this time 
 
 I several of our officers were advanaiog with some of their men 
 the scene of action, and General Porter assuming an air 
 
 I of composure and decision, told the enemy that they were sur- 
 rounded and prisoners, and that if they fired a gun they should 
 ill be put to the sword. Without venturing to fire, they still 
 continued to vociferate, ''surrender, you are my prisoner,'* when 
 Lieutenant Chylfield,of the Cayuga riflemen, who had got near 
 the spot, ordered his men to fire. This drew their attention from 
 the general, and after a momentary scene of confusion and car- 
 
 hage, the enemy were all either killed or taken prisoners. In this 
 iffair Captain Knapp, of the Newyork volunteers, was badl^ 
 wounded by a musket ball in the side, and General Porter in the 
 
 I hand by the cut of a sword.***' 
 
 The loss of the enemy, on the 17th September, was computed 
 ht lOOOmen; 385 were taken prisoners, and the remainder ei- 
 ther killed or wounded. Among the prisoners were 2 majors, 4 
 jcaptains, 4 lieutenants, 1 ensign and 1 assistant surgeon. 
 
 The American loss was 70 killed, 216 wounded, and 216 mis- 
 |liDg....total,611.« >**" 
 
 * tfanui and nmk ^ iifflcaa. kUM, w§Hnded, and mittingi 
 KHed—Ueat, Col. E. D. Wood, captain and brevet iKUtenant-culiNicI ofengineen ; Capt. L> 
 |Bndii»d» 2ttt inOuitrjr ; Oapu H- Hale, ath inbutry ; Capt. L. U. A. Armistead, itt riflemen. 
 I "'tundM.— Staif. Btig. Oeii. Mipley.Sd brifCiide ilani;en>u«l^, (hot tlirouKh the neck; Itt. Ueut. 
 ICnwfani, ttUi inOwtry, tariff, nuu- lit brigade, ilightty, slivt m the arm ; Mb uititntty, 14eu|. C«U 
 
 
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 flkSTCHBS OS' 
 
 
 On the 2l8l of Sq>teinber« the British forces under General 
 Drummond retreated from their encampment near fort Erie, and 
 fell back on fort George. They were pressed in the retreat by 
 troops from the fort, and were obliged to destrt^ a bridge at 
 Frenchman's creek, and burn wbfiit stores they had at that place. 
 
 Jrrival of General Izard on th9 Niagara ffontier.,.,.On the 
 16th of September, General Izard, who bad previously been sta- 
 tioned at Plattsburgh, arrived at Sachet's Harbour, at the head of | 
 his army ; about the Ist of October he proceeded up the take, and 
 landed at Batavia ; on the 3d he had a conference with General 
 Brown ; and on the 11th he crossed the Niagara at Black Rock. 
 He was soon afterwards joined by the army at fort Erie ; Gen. 
 Brown having gone to Sachet's Harbour to assume the command | 
 of the land forces in that quarter. 
 
 On the 14th of October, General Izard advanced with his ar- j 
 my as far as Chippewa plains, having to replace the brid/^es j 
 which the enemy had destroyed, and succeeded in driving on his | 
 out-posts, after some sharp skirmishing with our light corps. 
 
 On the 15th, the enemy appeared in force at the village of I 
 Chippewa, but showed no disposition to give battle. A bridge,! 
 ^vhich had been destroyed, left no means of annoying him except I 
 by artillery. The guns under command of Captains Towson and 
 Archer were accordingly brought up ; and being well directed soon I 
 disabled his batteries and nearly silenced his artillery ; after which | 
 the army returned to its encampment. 
 
 On the 16th our army again showed the enemy its front, inl 
 order of battle ; and although he had been reinforced, he wai| 
 not disposed to hazard a contest. 
 
 ~ On the 17th the enemy changed his position, and retired seveo] 
 TTJIes up the Niagara. 
 
 j4ction at Lyon's creek On the 18th of October, Generail 
 
 Bisscll was ordered, with a detachment of his brigade, encamped| 
 at Black Rock, to attempt the seizure of some provisions intended 
 
 A<pintm)1. scTerelf. left arm amputated; Capt. Increnon. tlightly, in Um head ; lit Lieut. E. Chilili,| 
 M-vpKly, bayonet wound through the thigh : Utli ini'antrj. 1st Lieut. W. F. Hale, dangerouily. iIukI 
 in the body: 2d Lieut. I. Clark, seveKiy, in the body ; 3d Lieut Meirenaoa, wveidf , thmugb thef 
 ihight 3d Lieut Davit, dangerously, through the body. 1 9th Infantry, Mi^. Trimble, jdangerouiljrJ 
 «hot tUrough the body ; Kniign Neclj-. slightly, diot in the thigb. Sist iolantry, KnrigaCuouningiJ 
 m^vcnly, in the arm. 33d intantry, ipt Lieut. Brown, slightly, in the arm : Ensign CFnag, mon«l-l 
 ly, since dead. Ist Riflemen, Capt. Harasey, severely, in the groin : 3d Lieut. Cobb,Mt«niiy, in iM 
 NMly . 4th RiHcmen. Cohiael Jane* Gibson, mortally, since dead ; 1st Lieut Gfluit, ievera wounds iB| 
 vhe arm and side. 
 
 Mining —Ist Lieut. Ballard, adjutant 4th Riflemen, frboner. 
 
 Of the mUUitt—KiUcd—Htig. Oen Davit, ot'voluntecr brigade ; Capt Duel, of Lieut CoL Cn 
 by^ regt. ; Ueut Broirn. of Lieut. Col M*Biuniey'a regt. ; Lieub W. U«Uuiai>, ^i^' Lieut. CoM 
 J-lrming'sregt : Ensign Rhkesley, of Lt Col. M'Uurney's rtgt- I 
 
 IfQundid-^uA'. MtX. Gen. f . B. I^>rter, sword wound in the band ; Itt Uent. Franr, ilth inrj 
 brig, mai- severely ia the kg t Itt Ueut. Riddle, itth iat acting at aid dtr-«an»i>, slight contusion f 
 Capt, Bigger, N. V. vol. weSng aid, severely throu^ the breast and thaulder. Lt Col. Dolmn^ 
 regt— Cut Knanp, in tlie hip ; Lt, Bailey, in the tide. Lieut CoL Mmuroey't regt— Capt. iiv^ 
 wounded and pntoncr. Lt Col. Hopkint'^regt— Lt Gillet, through the thigh. 
 
 Mitting—i't. Col. W. L. ChurehiU. M^). E. Wilson, Qr. Mast O. Wilcoii, Capt. Crouch, CaprS'' 
 Cate, Lt Case, Ent. Chambers,Ens. Clark, £m. Cbur(lt,inisuiKX». 
 
■?!■ 
 
 lUB WAR, 
 
 385 
 
 1 retired seveDi 
 
 :L of Lient. Col Ci 
 |UH)P^ gf LiCUt. Com 
 
 Cnpt. Crottch, Captsii 
 
 for the British troopi. He marched with parti of the 0tl|, 14th4 
 15th and 16th infantry, a small party of dragoons and a company 
 riflemen, the whole about OQO raen....after driving before him the 
 piquet, of which they made the commanding officer prisoner, 
 they encamped for the night, after throwing heyond Lyon's creek 
 two infantry companies under the eommaod of Captain Dorman 
 of the 5th, Lieutenant Horreil of the 16th infantry, and the rifle< 
 men under Captain Irvine. A piquet on the Chippewa road, 
 commanded by Lieutenant GassawAy, was attacked by two com- 
 panics ^f Glengary light infantry, which were beaten back wU|i 
 
 loss. • ' " . . '. . -y- 
 
 On the morning of the 10th, the detachment was attacked by 
 select corps of the enemy, not less than 1200 strong. The light 
 infantry, under Captain Dorman, and Irvine's riflemep, sustained 
 the whole of the fire of the enemy for fifteen minutes, during 
 which time, the 5th and 14tb were formed. 
 
 The 5th was ordered to turn the enemy's left flank while the 
 14th charged him in front. This was executed in a most gallant 
 manner by Colonel Pinkney of the 5th and Major Barnard of the 
 14th infantry, who greatly distinguished himself in the officer like 
 style in which he conducted hie battalion. The enemy were 
 compelled to a precipitate retreat and hid themselves once more 
 behind their fortifications. Brigadier General Bissell particularly 
 mentions the skill and intrepidity of Colonel Snelling, inspector 
 general ; Colonel Pinkney, commanding the 5th ; Major Barnard, 
 14th; Major Barker, 45th, acting with the 5th ; Captain Irvine 
 |«f the riflemen; Captain Dorman ; Captain Allison whose horse 
 , was shot under him ; and Brigade Major Lieut. Prestman, 5th 
 infantry. v > 
 
 Lieutenant Anspack of the light dragoona was conspicuous fcii* 
 hif alertness in communicating the brigadier general's orders dur- 
 ing the action. 
 
 I A number of prisoners was taken among whom a piquet of 
 dragoons with their horses. A large quantity of grain also fell 
 into our hands. The brigadier, after completing the orders he 
 had received, and burying the few of our brave soldiers who fell 
 in the action, and the dead of the enemy who were left on the 
 ground by the latter, returned to the camp on Black Creek. 
 
 The.American loss in this afl&ir, was \2 killed, and 55 woun* 
 ded and missing— total €7. That of the British, in killed, woun- 
 ded and prisoners, was estimated at nea/ly* 200. 
 
 Nothing of importance occuired on the Niagara frontier, after 
 this action, until the 5th of November ; when fort Erie, according 
 to previous arrangements, was blown up, and the whole Americdn 
 A)rce recrossed the Niagara, for winter quarters. 
 
 a-c 
 
 '.,-^i: 
 
 
 
 iltli 
 
 
 !»;#« 
 
'JSP 
 
 SKVTCH«» 09 
 
 ■Ut^i-'^^ 
 
 '■■(i 
 
 Biographf <if Qfneral ffroowi.... Jacob Brown l« by birtU % 
 PenDsylvaniaOk He was born ia BmcMi county, a few inU«i bviow 
 tttnifmf where hit father was for many >eari a respectable far- 
 mer* Hit ancettort both pateriial and maternaly had been for ler 
 verak geperatkmt of the toeiety of Quakerti tome pf them copsjr^icih 
 out in the circle wherein' they moved for good tente^ piety, an^ 
 moral worth : the former were amo^g the earliett scttlert of the 
 ccrfooy, having emigrated from England with William Penn, and 
 followed bit fortunes to his infant estaUithment planted amidst 
 the wildt and sayaget of the new world. Like Washingtoo, 
 therefore, and Green, Wayne and Putmaq, and the other distin- 
 guished heroes of the revolution, the subject of this meiacHr is pure- 
 ly American. 
 
 'Of the early years of young Brown we know but little, j^l 
 ' ve are given to understand is, that, considering his opportunities^ 
 vhich were very limited, be pursued learning with zeal and per- 
 ^ severance, and acquired it with facility. 
 
 < At the age of 23, he removed tqNewrYork, where he casually 
 became acquainted with a land agent, whose concern lay on the 
 waters and in the vicinity of Lake Ontario. Having negociated 
 * "with that gentleman a pcmtract for a few thousand acres of whit 
 ^ was then a wilderness, he set put in the year 179£> to form a set- 
 ^ tiemenf on his new purchase. By this arrangement a foundation 
 ' was laid (or the eminence and honours he hat since attained^ ] 
 |tnd the substantial benefits be hat conferred on hit country. 
 
 Among many acquirements, and having distingMished.himself as I 
 an enlightened and practical farmer, Mr. Brown was elected in 
 the year 1808, a member of the Agricultural and Philosophical 
 society of the state of New-York. From about this period may 
 be dated the commencement of his public character. . In the 
 course of the succeeding year, he was appointed to the command I 
 of a regiment pf militia, the ftrtt military station he had ever fill- 1 
 ed. Applying himself now to the study of armt with the samel 
 ardour which had hitherto marked hit peaceful pursuittj, he soon I 
 ^^ manifested talents conclusive of the fact, that he yta caleulatedl 
 ^ for an officer of no ordinary standing. He wat, accordingly, iD| 
 ^^ the ipring of 1811, promoted to the rank of brigadier generaL 
 The present war having com inenced in the year 1812, thcj 
 country around lake Ontario being a frontier and important situ-l 
 ation, wat necessarily destined to become a theatre of ^arly aodj 
 active mHitary operations. Arrangementt ytrere consequently! 
 made by government to meet the prettuve pf expected events.. 
 Of the first detachment of New- York militia called into the se^| 
 ^ce of the United States, General Brown had the command of 
 brigade. It is but juttice to him to ttate, that he wat selected tc 
 thit arduous and responsible situation, from the well known firm-j 
 nets and efficiency of bis character, connected with bis accural^ 
 
 •r ■ 
 « • 
 -.3 
 •♦ 
 
 53* 
 
 
tut War, 
 
 38^ 
 
 
 leraoir u pure* 
 
 jtdowledge of the country that was likely to become in a iehort 
 dme the theatre of war. He was not regarded as a iitn'shine 
 pitriot, a mere parade^lay officer^ whose ruling passion was tlie 
 vanity of being gazed at in military dress. He w's considered 
 II one qualified to meet the shock of battle, with the inteliigenoe 
 of a commander and the gallantry of a soldier. Nor was it long 
 till events occurred to prove the correctness of public opinion. 
 
 The general's first command, being i^ far too extensive for the 
 number of his troops, was, in aa eminent degree, laborious and 
 embarrassing. It embraced the whole Ime of frontier from Oswe- 
 go to St. Regis, a distance of more than three hundred mile8.M«. 
 Within this line was included the tra|)ortant post of Sackett's Har* 
 bor, the security ctf which, being essential to the success of ulteri* 
 or operations, constituted the first object of his attention. Having 
 fortified this in the best manner his time and scanty means would 
 allow, he reconnoitered in person the shores of the St. Lawrence^ 
 and, with equal promptness and skill, provided as far as practica- 
 blie, for the defence of the country. His transportation, a short 
 time afterwards, of A party of four hundred men front Sackett^s 
 Harbor to Ogdensburgh, manifested a firmness of purpose and aa 
 intrepidity of spirit, which but few even of the hardiest soldiers 
 possess. The roads were ioifMssible for baggage and artiilery, 
 and the enemy wete in undisputed possession of the lake and ri* 
 ver. On the subject of a passage by water, there existed but one 
 opinion ; an atteaopt at it was considered as fraught with destruc- 
 tion. The general^ however, having been ordered to proceed^ 
 was beat on obedience^ and neither the front of danger, nor the 
 voice of renionstfance could shake his resolution. He, accord- 
 mgly, enfbarfced with his troops in the best flotilla be could pro- 
 vide for the purpose, and determined to fight his way through 
 whatever might oppose him, arrived in safety at his place of des- 
 tination. In this darmg enterprize he actually achieved what the 
 boldest might well have hesitated to attempt. While stationed 
 at Ogdensburgh, he sO galled and harassed the enemy, in their 
 ilBvlgatioa of the St. Lawrence, that, impatient of further an- 
 BOjrence, they fitted out a formidable expedition for his capture 
 or destrnetfon. The number of men they despatched on this en- 
 terprise was upwards of 800, commanded by some of their best 
 officers, and provided with every thing deemed necessary to in- 
 sure success. The American force opposed to them was less than 
 400. Notwithstanding this V9M nameri^al difference, so judicioua 
 wl»re the arrangements of General Brown, and so deadly the fire 
 with which he received the enemy, that he forced him to retreat 
 precifNtately with considerable loss in boats and men, not one of 
 his iMfty having received even a wound. No ftirther attempts 
 were made to dislodge him during his continuance at that post. 
 
 Hit term of service having soon ailterwards expired, the gene- 
 ral returned to bis family at Browtoville, and resumed, as hereto^ 
 
 
 ■<:ial!StJ 
 
 i 
 
 
 m-!i 
 
 ■■•it '^i'B^- 
 
 ,S ii„ 
 
 I' 
 
 •t.i. 
 
dBr 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 iwt 
 
 fi)re« hit agricultural puriuiti. But with the talent! and qualiffca^ 
 tioni for war which be had recently exhibited, it was not to be 
 expected that, in a time of danger, and on a frontier eafablish* 
 inent, he would be suffered to remain in the enjoyment of repose. 
 He waa oftentimes consulted on military matters by the officers 
 commanding in the distriet wherein he resided, to whom his ad- 
 vice was essentially serviceable, and who never failed to regard 
 it with respect and deference. But on occasions of emergency, 
 warriors must act as well as counseh We accordingly, in the 
 spring of 181S,find General Brown again in the field, and once 
 more entrusted with the defence of Sachet's Harbour, which was 
 menaced by a serious attack from the enemy. 
 
 All the regular troops, except about 400, who, from their re- 
 cent arrival on the spot, were but IHtlff better than fresh recruits, 
 had been removed from the harbour, to co-operate in the medi- 
 tated reduction of fort George. The furniture of the cannon hav* 
 ing been carried off to complete the outfit for the same service, 
 the batteries were nearly in a dismantled state.- Nor could any 
 efficient aid be derived from the co-operation of the fleet, in as 
 much as that, with the exception of two small schooners, was all 
 employed in the expedition up the lake. la fact, considering its 
 exposed situation, and the vital importaBce of the post, Sacket*f 
 Harbour had been, to the astonishment of all military men, left in 
 a most unprotected and periloos condition. To aid in its defence. 
 General Brown embodied, with all practicable promptitude, a few 
 hundred militia from the adjacent distiict, who had scarcely arri- 
 ved when the enemy made his appearance. The general's situa- 
 tion was critical in itself, and to the heart of a soldier trying in 
 the extreme, h was his duty to meet the fire,, perhaps the bayo- 
 nets, of veterans, with a handful of raw, undisciplined troops, 
 many of them bu^ a few days from the bosom of their families, 
 their domestic feelings still awake....and their habits of civil life 
 perfectly unbroken, and none of whom had ever before faced an 
 enemy in the field. But his own activity, valour and skill, aided 
 by the determined bravery of Lieutenant Colonel Backus, of the 
 regular army, supplied all deficiencies. Arrangements were 
 made to receive the enemy with a warm and galling fire at' his 
 place of landing, and to contest the ground with him in- hit ad- 
 vance towards the fort. 
 
 The regiment of United States* troopi were stationed in the 
 rear, while General Brown, at the head of his new levies, occu- 
 pied in person the first post of danger On the second fire the 
 militia broke and flld in disorder, but were rallied again by the 
 exertions of their commander. During the remainder of the con- 
 flict, which was warm, and continued some time with- varying 
 success, the presence of the general was every where felt> ap^ 
 plauding the brave^ encouraging the timid and rallying the flyiog. 
 
■ i 
 
 TAB WiUl. 
 
 SS^ 
 
 d qualificft*- 
 not to be 
 r eatablish* 
 t of repose. 
 he officers 
 lom his ad- 
 I to regard 
 rmergeney, 
 gly, in the 
 l> and once 
 which was 
 
 tn their re- 
 
 sh recriiitSy 
 
 a the medi- 
 
 annon hav- 
 
 me service, 
 
 r could any 
 
 fleet, in as 
 
 er«, was all 
 
 sidering its 
 
 )8t, Sacket*f 
 
 men, leflin 
 
 its defence, 
 
 tude, a few 
 
 arcely arri- 
 
 eral's situa* 
 
 r trying in 
 
 8 the bayo- 
 
 led troops, 
 
 ir families, 
 
 !>f civil life 
 
 e faced an 
 
 skill, aided 
 
 us, of the 
 
 nta were 
 
 fire at his 
 
 ia hit ad- 
 
 led in the 
 fiea, occu* 
 ^d fire the 
 lin by the 
 )f the con- 
 varying 
 felt^ ap» 
 [be fiying» 
 
 I bis efforts weref ultimately crowned with victory. In conse^ 
 
 |ience of the firm front presented by the regulars, and the judi- 
 
 disposition of a body of militia threatening his rear, the ene^ 
 
 ijr without aocomplishing- hit object, was compelled to relinquish 
 
 contest, and retreat in great haste, and in some disorder, to hir 
 
 lee of embarkation. 
 
 The annals of warfare afford but few intsancei where the success 
 fa battle was more justly attributed to the talents and conduct of 
 commander in chief, than on the present oceasion. To Gen- 
 Brown, in person, did the whole arn^ concur in ascribing 
 > merit and honor of the victory. His valor, activity, and skill, 
 ring the action had rendered him conspicuous in every eye....* 
 affair, although diminutive in itself, when compared with 
 'gigantic battles of Europe, was, notwithstanding, important in- 
 I consequences, inasmuch as it saved from destruction our great 
 ival depot on the lakes, and compelled the enemy to respect 
 nr arms. 
 
 General Brown, returning once more to private life, amidst 
 plaudits and congratulations of his fellow citizens, and accom- 
 lied by a pleasing consciousness of having contributed, not inef- 
 etually, «o the interests of his country, was offered, in reward 
 [his services,- and as an acknowledgment of his worth, the com- 
 ind of a regiment in the regular army. This offer, the gener- 
 I unhesitatingly declined, from motives which were perfectly 
 rrect and t^nounnble. The acceptance of it would have necea- 
 ily contracted his sphere of action, placed him below officers 
 )m he might then comflnand, and, as the regiment in his offer 
 u yet ta be raised, a considerable time must have elapsed be« 
 ire he could possibly hate taken the field. In plain terms, he- 
 possessed of the pride and ambition of a soldier, he felt him- 
 ilf entitled to a higher rank. Nor was it long till the govern- 
 ent of his country concurred with him. ih opinion, and appoint- 
 I him a brigadier general in the army of the United States. 
 The first service in which General Brown was engaged under 
 I new appointment, was novel and arduous, and required for 
 I aceompHshment the exertions of not only a man of ample re- 
 urces of mindf but of one accustomed to the management of 
 portant concerns. It was the superintendance and direction 
 I the arrangements for transporting, from Sackett*s Harbour, 
 m the St. Lawrence, the army commanded by General Wil- 
 m, in the autumn of the year 1813, in the abortive expedi- 
 for the reduction of Montreal. For the completion of these 
 angements from the time of their commencement, only three 
 eks were allowed ; a space which would seem utterly insuffi^- 
 at for the performance of a service so complicated and exten- 
 But talents, system and industry combined, are competent 
 I every tiling ihost of a miracle : and it was such a combination 
 
 ii 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 
 I ■ 
 
300 
 
 SJLXTCHBSOf 
 
 "^i 
 
 that eaabled General Brown to peribrn satttiactoriljr tliii m^i 
 ncnily difflciilt and respcMitible duty^ in even lets than ^e aliottc 
 time; 
 
 In the expedhioo dow« the St. Lawrence, and during 
 course of the winfer that sacoeeded, the duties and servicea u 
 which General Brown wa« engaged were of the utmost imporJ 
 tance to the operalloas and well-being of the arasy, and in i]} 
 of them he acquitted himself with distinguished reputation. 
 
 In the winter of 1613-4, the enemy having gained possenit 
 of fort Niagara, and being in considerable fcNTce on the oppotitq 
 shore, a determinatioh was formed to remove once more xbi 
 teat of war to that frontier. Perceiving that the conflict wot 
 be arduous and sanguinary, and that the master ^irits of the 
 my alone could encounter it wifli any reaaonable proepect of 
 oess, the executive appointed General Brown to lead the expedij 
 tion, associating with him, Scott, Gaineq^ Miller and others, who 
 names had become conspicuous for all that is noble in the prof 
 Mon of arms. 
 
 The precedmg campaign being darkened by disasters, aa^ 
 having failed, as many supposed, from the inability of thoie 
 whom it bad been conducted, Gcberal Brown and his ofBoti 
 were fully sensible of the deep stake which both themselves an 
 their country held on the issue of the present. Their hearts an^ 
 minds were prepared, accordingly, to meet wiUi firmness lN 
 force of the crisis. They went resolved to conquer or fell, tl 
 glory or the grave might cover them from cenaure. 
 
 This campaign being destined to form a fresh epoch in fbe iii^ 
 tory of the war, presented from its eommenoement a new at 
 The movements of the army were conducted with a celerity, 
 silence, and a vigour, which had not been observed on any 
 raer ooca8k>n. Accordii^ly, General Brown had advanced on I 
 march almost to Buffalo, before it was generally known that 
 had left his encampment at Sackefls Harbour. 
 
 The first achievement of General Brovm, on entering the en^ 
 my's territory, was the rednetion of fort £rie, the garrison 
 which surrendered with but little resistance. He Aen deelare| 
 martial law, and made known his views in a proclamation e< 
 tially different from those that had been issued by some of h| 
 predecessors. Instead of being mariced with empty boastioj 
 and threats whieh he was utterly unable to execute, it breathe 
 the principles tod sentiments of an upright man and an honour 
 ble warrior. 
 
 No sooner had the general made the necessary arrangement 
 in relation to the occupancy and security of fort Brie, than ' 
 marched to attack the enemy, who lay entrenched in his wor^ 
 at Chippewa. This was by every one considered as a daring, \ 
 many, as a rash and hazardous measure. But something npt 
 being necessary to redeem the reputation which had been Icy '. 
 
'*' ;, ■■■• 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 f ui|^ 
 
 Stl 
 
 .'v 
 
 lilie event! of foriiMr canaipaigQs, difficultiei and dangers and re- 
 InoMtrances were disregarded. They even increased the anxiety 
 
 action^ inasmuch as they would add to the glory of victory 
 
 be general's plans and determinations were formed, and nothing 
 IjlMt hHman re8olution> aided by all the means in his power, was * 
 Iftpable of surmounting, could restrain him from boldly attempting 
 llheir exjecution. The wished-for moment at length arrived..... 
 enemy venturing from behind his entrenchments, the battle 
 II fought on an opeq plain, and, though not of long duration. 
 It severe and sanguinary. The result is known. The soldiers 
 officers of Wellington, who had wrested the laurels from 
 ke veterans of France, were defeated by a detachment from the 
 lerican army. The only troops engaged, on the part of Gener. 
 Brown, were General Scott's brigade, and a corps of volunteers 
 imanded by General Porter. The remainder of the army, al- 
 ough burning ibr combat, had no opportunity of coming into ac* 
 llion. 
 From dueenston where he bad been for a short time afterwards 
 tioned. Gen. Brown marched with a part of his army down to* 
 lards fort George. His object in this movement, besides recon* 
 3ring the enemy, was to be near to the shores of lake Onta- 
 hoping that he might there receive some intelligence respect- 
 |ii Commodore Chauncey and the fleet. Being disappointed in 
 btB expectation, he returned after a few days to his statbn at 
 |(lueenstown. The enemy, in the mean timie, were not inactive, 
 iviftg received large supplies and no inconsiderable addition to 
 heir numbers, they concentrated their forces in the peninsula be- 
 reen Burlington and ^rie, and felt themselves in a condition to 
 it battle. The proposal was eagerly accepted by the Ameri- 
 an general and his brave associates. The battle of Bridgewater 
 |ncceeded.....the xesult of which is already known. 
 General Brown having been severely wounded in the engage* 
 
 Dent, was compelled to a temporary retirement from service 
 
 lit in the space of a few \veeks, we find him agaia at the head 
 'h|s army> no longer mdeed iq the field, but within the walls of 
 Erie. In the interim our troops in that fortress had been 
 Ducfa harrassed and pressed by the enemy, now become superior 
 a still higher degree by reinforcements, and exasperated to 
 lliadness by their late defeats. An assault of the works had 
 [keen attempted^! but was gallantly repelled i>y the American for- 
 |«es then under the command of General Gaines. Not long af- 
 Brward^, that excellent officer received a serious wound from 
 [the bursting of a shell, which (;^liged Isim to retire, for a time, 
 [from the service of bis country. 
 
 Menaced in front by a powerful enemy, and having a river of 
 l^cult passage |n their rear, the troqis in fort Erie began to be 
 ||(9nsidered in a yery perilous situation ; but while General Drum* 
 
 ! *. 
 
 *m 
 
 
 ■ !■ >:f 
 
 ',t )'. 
 
 -■ V, 
 
 i* ^"i 
 
 ■'^iAM 
 
 I', ;?. « ( 
 
Sf2 
 
 flKITCHES or 
 
 
 mond was engaged in fomidable irranfementt intended for the 
 destruction of the American forces. General Brown was still more I 
 actively and sagaciously employed in divising means for their saft.l 
 ty and glory. 
 
 » By the middle of September, the enemy had seaily completed I 
 a line of batteries to command the fort, which, when in full operJ 
 «tion, would have rendered the position of the Americans at leaitf 
 unsafe, if not untenable. But General Drummond, while erect<l 
 ing this extensive work of annoyance, was little aware of tbel 
 disaster and mortification, he was preparing for himself and thel 
 ilaurels he was cultivating for the brow of his adversary. On thsl 
 17th of September, the day before the fire from the batteries Mvail 
 to commence, another scene of glory opened on the Americanl 
 commander and his brave associates. His plan being matured,! 
 and his troops in readiness, their spirits wound up to the hardiettl 
 «nterprize. General Brown made a sortie, not in the form of al 
 *' night attack," of which a distinguished British officer had io| 
 bitterly complained, but in the face of day, drove the enemy froml 
 Ilia strong hold with the loss of more than eight hundred inea,| 
 spiked his cannon, and destroyed his works. Thus was the la- 
 tior of thousands, continued unintermitingly for many weeks, fn 
 trated in an hour by the skilful and well timed enterprise of al 
 commander, and the valour and heroism of a few gallant tolij 
 4iers. . . ^ 
 
 For brilliancy and eflUbct, this eortie challenges a eomparitonl 
 with any thing recorded in the annals of wan It is of itself nif'f 
 ficient to gain for a commander a name in arms. 
 
 Shortly after the destruction of his works. General Drummoodl 
 retreated from before fort Erie, and fell back on fort George, leavj 
 ing the American army in the enjoyment of security and repowJ 
 as the reward of their valor. The conflict 'in that quarter beingj 
 now apparrently at an end. General Brown was transferred fromj 
 the Niagara frontier to the command of Sacket's Harbor. 
 
 The achdevements of the American army during the campaigi 
 of 1814, in Upper Canada, considering the circumstances uj)der| 
 which they were effected, need no comment. They are theirl 
 own best interpreters, speaking in a language which cannot bel 
 misunderstood. They announce in the commander, talents, pertej 
 verance and daring enter|»^ize, and in hie brave associates, pa-l 
 ttence and gallantry, invincible firmness and military discipline iBj 
 Its highest style. They will be selected hereafter by the hand oi] 
 history, to enrich and emblazon some of her choisest pages. To 
 triumph with inferior numbers, and in open conflict, over troop 
 that had defeated the veteran legions of France, is of itself suf 
 ■cient to consummate the glory of any commander; and suchhii 
 heea the fortune of General .Brovvn.,...[Pore Folio.] 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 
 CHAPTER XXXH. 
 
 \ljake Ontario Michigan Territory Captain Hoimes^ expedi- 
 tion MiohiUimaokinac Lake Huron General M*Arthur^s 
 
 expedition. 
 
 On the 24th of April, the Lady of the Lake, which had been 
 kept cruising by Commodore Chauncey as a look-out vessel, run 
 [dote into Kingston harbour and showed her colours, which were 
 Liwered by the enemy's fleet and batteries ; and after taking a 
 iTJew of his naval force, stood for Sacket's Harbour. 
 
 On the night of the 25th two American guard boats fell in 
 with three of the enemy's boats in the bay. Lieutenant Dudley, 
 (tbe officer of the guard,) hailed and was answered " guard 
 loats ;" this, however, not being satisfactory, he repeated the 
 iuil, but was not answered. Finding that the strange boats were 
 llttempting to cut him off from the shore, he fired upon them ; 
 |Ae enemy laying upon their oars a. short time, pulled in towards 
 lull Rock Point, without returning the fire. Lieutenant Dudley 
 leturned to the fleet, and got a reinforcement of boats ; but no- 
 
 Ing more was seen of the enemy that night. On the morning 
 of the 26th, Commodore Chauncey directed both shores of Sher- 
 BODt bay to be examined, to see whether the enemy had not se- 
 creted himself in some of the small creeks. Nothing, however, 
 was discovered, but six barrels of powder, found in the water 
 war the shore, where our guard-boats fired upon the enemy. 
 These barrels were all slung in such a manner that one man could 
 take two across his shoulders and carry them« Each barrel had a 
 hole bored in the head of about an inch in diameter, with a 
 wooden plug in it. These barrels of powder were evidently fitted 
 ibr the purpose of blowing up our large ship, if the enemy could 
 have got m undiscovered, by placing them under the ship's bottom, 
 and putting a piece of slow match or short fire in the hole in the 
 head, which would burn a sufficient time to allow the party to 
 Uioape before the fire could communicate to the powder. This 
 also accounts for the enemy not returning the fire of our boats ; 
 ibr, having so much powder in, he was apprehensive of accidents, 
 which no doubt induced him to heave it overboard, to be prepare : 
 I ed to return the fire if he was pursued., 
 
 On the evening of the 12th of May, a part of the British fleet - 
 I was discovered standing towards Charlotte, near the mouth of ' 
 the Gennessee river, where about 160 volunteers were stationed, 
 with one piece of artillery. Captain Stone, the commanding offi- ^ 
 c(r, immediately despatched expresses with the information to 
 Colonel Hopkins at Boyle, to General Hall at Bloomfield, and to ' 
 General Porter at Canandaigua. On the I3tb, at 12 o'clock, the 
 
 3D 
 
 .^1(1 ;i 
 
 i! 
 
 ■ifj 
 
 '%■ 
 
 
304 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 commodore*! new thip came to anchor ofTthe mouth of the rivfrl 
 and sent an officer aihore with a flag, demanding a lurrendtr of| 
 the place : and promising to respect private property in caie no re- 
 siitance should be made, and all public property faithfully difcloi.| 
 ed and given up. General Porter (who left Canandaigua, 38 1 
 miles distant, at 7 o'clock in the morning, with Major Noon,) ar- 
 rived while the flag was on shore, and returned for answer to I 
 this disgraceful proposal, that the place would be defended to the 
 last extremity. On the return of the flag, two gun-boats with 
 from two to three hundred men on board, advanced to the 
 mouth of the river, which is about a mile frcm the town andbat< 
 tery, and commenced a heavy cannonade directed partly totb(| 
 town, and partly to bodies of troops who had been placed in ra< 
 vines near the mouth of the river, to intercept the retreat of the | 
 gun-boats in case they should enter. 
 
 At the expiration of an hour and a half, during which time I 
 they threw a great number of rockets, shells, and shot of variout 
 descriptions from grape to 66 pounds, a second flag was sent from 
 the commodore's ship, requiring, in the name of the conimander 
 of the forces, an immediate surrender, and threatening, that if 
 the demand was not complied with, he would land 1200 regular 
 troops and 400 Indians.... that if he should lose a single man, he 
 would raze the town, and destroy «very vestige of property.,., 
 and that it was his request .that the women and children might 
 be immediately removed, as he could not be accountable for tbe| 
 conduct of the Indians. He was told that the answer to this de- 
 mand had already been explicitly given....that we were prepared! 
 to meet him, our women and children having been disposed of.... | 
 and that if another flag should be sent on the subject of a surren- 
 der, it would not be protected. The flag returned with the gun- 
 boats to the fleet, the \yhole of which came to anchor about a 1 
 mile from shore, where they lay until 8 o'clock on the morning 
 of the 14th, and then left the place. 
 
 General Porter speaks in the highest terms of the good con- 
 duct of the ofRcers and men composing the volunteer corps, and of I 
 Colonel Hopkins, and the militia who had rallied for the occasion, 
 and vvere placed under his command. The American force at 12 
 o'clock on the 14th, was 300, and was increased to 500 during 
 the night. Dispositions were go made, that if the gun-boats had 
 entered the river as was expected, they must have been cut off { 
 before they could have been reinforced^ Every man was at his 
 post during the night, in constant expectation of an attack. The 
 British squadron consisted of four ships, two brigs, and five -gun- 
 boats. 
 
 About the middle of June, Commodore Chauncey dispatched 
 Lieutenant Gregory, with three gigs, having only their crew and 
 one settee in each boat, with orders to proceed down the St. Law* 
 
'H 
 
 THI WAR. 
 
 305 } 
 
 timet, lecrete himself in aome of the ialandf, and watch • fa* 
 vourable opportunity to lurprlze a brigade of store- boati belong- 
 ing to the enemy, and either bring ^hem off or destroy them. In 
 complying with these orders, the lieutenant saw two brigades of 
 koats, one up the river with troops, of course too strong for hit 
 little party ....the other down the rivfr, empty, and not worth 
 tiking. 
 
 On the 10th of June, Lieutenant Gregory found he had been 
 jiicovered by the enemy's look out boats, and that a gun-boat had 
 been tent in pursuit, which was then close upon him. He instant- 
 ly formed the bold design to board her, which he did, and carried 
 ber without losing a man, one of the enemy being badly wound- 
 id. She proved to be a fine gun-boat, mounting one 18 pounder, 
 ind manned with 18 men, chiefly royal marines. Lieutenant 
 Gregory manned his prize and proceeded up the St. Lawrence, 
 but wai toon discovered and pursued by a very large gun-boat, 
 mounting two heavy guns, and rowed with upwards of 40 oars, 
 which overhauled him fast. He kept possession of his prize until 
 the enemy threw their shot over him : he then very reluctantly 
 took all his prisoners out, and scuttled the gun-boat, which sunk 
 
 ioitamly, and escaped the enemy, although so heavily loaded 
 
 The lieutenant arrived safe at Sacket'i Harbour, with all hit pri- 
 soners, on the day following. 
 
 On the 28th of June, Lieutenant Gregory again performed a 
 brilliant exploit. Having under his command, two large gigs, 
 with their crewt, he succeeded in destroying, by stratagem, the 
 frame of a large schooner on the ttocks at Presque-Isle, belonging 
 to the enemy. She was a stout, well-built vessel, to mount 14 
 guns, and would, probably have been launched in ten days. Lieu* 
 tenant Gregory afterwards arrived safely in port. 
 
 On the 7th of August, Commodore Chauncey gave chase to, 
 ind ran one of the enemy's vessels ashore, about 4 miles from 
 Niagara. The wind being freth, the fleet lay off with the inten- 
 tion of getting her when the wind lulled. The enemy probably 
 anticipating the design, set fire to her, and in^a little time the 
 blew up. She wai a brig formerly called the Prince Regent, 
 carrying 14 guns, and laden with lupplies for the garrison of Ni- 
 agara. 
 
 On the 98th of September, Commodore Chauncey discovered 
 two of the enemy's ships standing out of Kingston under a great 
 press of tail. He immediately stood for them; when the enemy 
 discovering that Chauncey neared him, nfade all tail, and beat in' 
 to his anchorage. 
 
 On the 30th of September, a gig belonging to the American 
 squadron, with an officer and 4 men, captured near the mouth of 
 the St. Lawreoce, 6 boats, manned with 35 men, (armed) and )a- 
 
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 den with wide, brandy, crates 6nd dry goods, bound to King»tonj, 
 and brought them safe into port. The boats and their cargoei 
 were estimated at 12,000 dollars. 
 
 Michigan Territory. ...Captain Holmes* pxpedition On the 
 
 21st of February, General Harrison dispatched Captain Holmes^ 
 of the 24th regiment of United States' infantry, with a detach- 
 ment of troops, to pursue the enemy on his retreat up the river 
 Thames. Tbey were overtaken on- the 4th of March, about 20 
 pniles from the Delaware towns ; when an engagement ensued, 
 which terminated in their total defeat. Captain Holmes* force 
 consisted of 160 rangers and mounted infantry. The enemy, 
 iVoni his own acknowledgment, had 236. His fine light compa- 
 ny of royal Scotts was totally destroyed ; they led the attack 
 most gallantly, and their commander fell within ten paces of our 
 fVont line. In killed, wounded and prisoners, the enemy lost up- 
 wards of 80. The American loss in killed and wounded was 7. 
 This great disparity in the loss on each side, is to be attributed to 
 the very judicious position occupied by Captain Holmes, who com- 
 pelled the enemy to attack him at great disadvantage. Captain 
 Holmes was afterwards brevelted a major. 
 
 Michillitnackinac..,»Ahoui the commencement of July, an ex- 
 pedition was fitted out from Detroit, under the command of Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel Croghan and Major Holmes, with a view of re- 
 capturing Michillimackinac. On the 20th of July, the troops 
 were landed at St. Joseph's and the fort, which had been evacu- 
 ated, set on fire. Major Holmes was then ordered to the Sault 
 St. Mary's, for the purpose of breaking up the enemy's establish- 
 ment at that place. He arrived the day after ; but the. North- 
 west agent bad received notice of his approach, and succeeded in 
 escaping with a considerable amouof of goods, after setting fire 
 to a vessel above the falls : the design of this latter measure was 
 frustrated. The vessel was brought down the falls on the 25th, 
 but having bilged^ was destroyed. Considerable property belong- 
 ing to the enemy was taken. 
 
 On the 4th of August, a landing of the troops under Croghan 
 and Morgan was effected at Mackinac ; but the strength of the 
 enemy's works rendered it impossible to carry the place, with a 
 small number of troops only, by storm ; and after a severe con* 
 fiict, a retreat became indispensable, and waa accordingly ef- 
 fected. 
 
 This affair, which cost many valuable lives, leaves us to lament 
 the fall of that gallant officer. Major Morgan. Captain Van- 
 horn of the 19th, and Lieutenant Jackson of the 24th infantry,, 
 both brave, intrepid young men, fell mortally wounded at the 
 head of their respective commands. v-^r 
 
< YH£ WAlfc. 
 
 3fr? 
 
 ; ti- 
 
 iccordiDgly ef- 
 
 Although this expedition proved unsuccessful in its issuey it» 
 Allure was not ascribabie to any misconduct on the part of the 
 commanding officer. Every thing was done that vigilance, bra^ 
 fery and perseverance could achieve. 
 
 The American loss was 13 killed, 51 wounded, and 2 missing 
 ••"loss of the enemy not known. 
 
 After this affair. Colonel Croghan determined to remain on lake 
 Huron for a time, with three companies, for the purpose of break- 
 ing up any depots which the enemy might have on the east side 
 of the lake. 
 
 He was fortunate enough to learn, that the only line of com- 
 nunication from York to Mackinac, &c. was by the way of lake 
 Sitnieoe and Nautauwasaga river, which empties into lake Huron 
 about 100 miles S. £. of Cabot's Head. 
 
 On the 13th of August, the fleet anchored off* the mouth of 
 that river, and the troops were quickly disembarked on tHe penin- 
 sula formed between the river and lake, for the purpose of fixing 
 I camp. 
 
 On reconnoitering the position thus taken, it was discovered 
 that the enemy's schooner Nancy was drawn up in the river a 
 few hundred yards above, under cover of a block-house, erected 
 on a commanding situation on the opposite shore. 
 
 On the following morning, a firer for a few minutes was kept 
 
 up by the shipping upon the block-house, but with little effect 
 
 At 12 o'clock two howitzers being placed within a few hundred 
 yards, commenced a fire, which lasted but a few minutes, when 
 the block house blew up ; at the same time fire was communica- 
 ted to the Nancy, (by the bursting of one of our shells,) which 
 was so quickly enveloped in flames as to render any attempts 
 which might have been made to save her, unavailing, giving the 
 enemy barely time to make his escape, before an explosion took 
 place. 
 
 The loss of the Nancy was severely felt by the enemy ; her 
 cargo consisting (at the time of her being on fire) of several hun- 
 dred barrels of provisions, intended as a six months' supply for the 
 garrison at Mackinac. 
 
 Colonel Croghan afterwards returned to Detroit. 
 
 During the month of August, Captain Sinclair had succeeded in 
 destroying the whole of the enemy's naval force on lake Huron ; 
 but owing to the negligence of the officer who was entrusted with 
 the command of the fleet in the absence of the captain, the ene- 
 my succeeded in capturing, in the month 'of October, with their 
 boats, two small American vessels, (the Tygress and Scorpion) af- 
 ter a warmly contested action. 
 
 General M*Arthur^s expedition,„..On the 22d of October, Ge- 
 neral M'Arthur, with 600 voluateers>30 rangers and 70 Indians, 
 
 (I 
 
 
 w if: 
 
 
 • ,• ! 
 
dod 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 mm 
 
 left Detroit and proceeded on n secret expedition agajost the ene^ 
 my. The troops crossed the St. Clair river, and proceeded dowir 
 the Scotch settlement on the Beldoon, up Bear creek about thirtv 
 miles, and crossed to the Moravian towns, a few miles above the 
 lower settlement on the Thames, where they arrived on the 30th 
 of October. 
 
 On General M*Arthur'« arrival at this place, he was fortunate 
 iu taking a British sergeant, who was proceeding to Burlingtoo 
 Heights with the information that the detachment had passed into 
 the enemy's territory. This enabled our troops to reach Dels- 1 
 ware undiscovered. On approaching the Thames, the rangers 
 were detached to move across below the settlement, pass in the 
 rear of it, and guard the diflferent roads leading into the interior, 
 while the troops were engaged in swimming their horses and ] 
 transporting their baggage. on lafts. They were thus enabled to 
 arrive at the town of Oxford, 150 miles distant from Detroit, be- 
 fore the inhabitants knew that a force was approaching. 
 
 On the succeeding day, (the 5th November,) the d6tachmeot 
 proceeded to Burford. A few hours before its arrival, the enemy 
 had retreated to Malcom*s mills, ten miles distant. It was the 
 intention of General M' Arthur to have crossed Grand river, with- 
 out regarding the force at the mills, and attack Burlington : but 
 upon arriving at that river, it. was found impossible to ford it. It 
 was therefore determined to attack and disperse the militia at 
 Malcolm's mills. 
 
 The enemy was found to consist of 4 or 500 militia and a few 
 Indians, fortified on a commanding gro.und beyond a creek, deep 
 and difficult of passage, except at a bridge immediately m their 
 rear The Ohio troops, with the advance guard of Indians, were I 
 accordingly throWn across the creek, under cover of a tbitk wood, 
 to approach the enemy in rear, while the Kentucky troops were 
 to attack iu front as soon as the attention of the enemy was en- 
 gaged by the attack in the rear. The enemy would probably 
 have been completely surprized and captured, had not an unfortu- 
 nate yell b}^ one of our Indians, announced the approach Of the 
 detachment destined to attack their rear : they were, however, 
 defeated and dispersed with the loss of 1 captain and 17 privates 
 killed, 9 privates wounded,' and three captains, 5 subalterns, and 
 103 privates made prisoners ; while our loss was only 1 killed and 
 6 wounded. After this, a number of the enemy were made pri- 
 soners in the march of our army on the road to Dover, and five 
 valuable mills, employed for the use of their army in the peninsula, 
 destroyed. 
 
 On the 8th of November the army commenced its return, and 
 arrived without accident at Detroit on the 1 7th, 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 309 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIU. 
 
 f^ake Champlain»»Repulse of the ene^r^y at the mouth of Otter 
 Creek..„Gallant exploit.,..Siege of Plattsburgh...,Capture of 
 the Britishjieet, ^c. 
 
 On the 10th of May, 1814, the British flotilla, consisting of 
 five sail and eight row gallies, manned with about 1000 sailors 
 and marines, passed Cumberland head. On the 14th, they ap- 
 peared off the mouth of Otter Creek, and commenced a cannon* 
 ade. The .fire was returned with great bravery and skill, by 
 I Captain Thornton of the artillery, and Lieutenant Cassin of the 
 gavy ; and after a cannonade of two hours and a half, during 
 I which time their gallies suffered very considerably, the enemy 
 retired from their position, and returned to their own posts. 
 
 The American force consisted of 140 infantry and 50 artille> 
 
 riits, placed in a position surrounded by water, and assailable by 
 
 aoy part of the enemy's fleet, at till points except at the battery. 
 
 I Commodore Macdonough's fleet could not be got in readiness in 
 
 time to aid the battery. 
 
 No damage was done on our side, except the dismounting of 
 I one gun in the battery, by which two men were slightly woun< 
 
 Gallant exploit On the 18th of July, at 2 o'clock in the mor- 
 
 aing, one of the piquet guards of the army at Plattsburgh, under 
 I the command of Lieutenant Shelburne, consisting of 20 men^ 
 I was attacked by about 70 voltigeurs and Indians. The latter 
 commenced th'* attack by surprsing and shooting a centinel ; up- 
 on w hich Lieutenant Shelburne pardded his guard and received 
 the fire of the whole Bri|ish force, and returned it with great bra 
 very. . On the first fire, two Americans were killed, and Lieut. S. 
 received a wound in the hip ; he nevertheless kept up a well di- 
 rected .fire, and stood his ground until he received two other 
 wounds, one in the neck and the other in the right breast ; he 
 I then made a retrogade movement, but continued his fire on the 
 enemy until a reinforcement arrived to his assistance from camp : 
 when a charge was made. Lieutenant S. still accompanying his 
 men, until, being faint with the loss of blood, he. fell. The ene- 
 my were driven from their position, and two prisoners taken, 
 from whom it was learnt that Lieut. ^ had killed 20 of their 
 number, and wounded 6, including one lieutenant : 15 were af- 
 terwards found dead on the field, and 3 wounded. Our loss was 
 3 killed and 4 wounded, including Lieutenant Shelburne. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that while Lieutenant Shelburne was 
 ih pursuit of the enemy, and after he bad received his three 
 
 
400 
 
 ;:»KETCHEb OV 
 
 vTouflds, he was attacked by an Indian, who sprung upon him froic 
 the bushel, and gave him a slight cut with his tomahawk, upon 
 the head. After a skirmish. Lieutenant S. succeeded in dispatch- 
 ing him with his sword, by a thrust through the body. He then 
 fell for want of blood, and was carried from the field. He has 
 since, we understand, recovered. 
 
 Siege of Plattsburgh Nothing of importance occurred^, 
 
 after this, either with the land or naval forces in the vicinity of 
 Champlaiuy until the latter part of August ; when the advance 
 of the British army, under General Bridl)ane, entered Champlaio 
 and encamped on the north side of the Great Chazy, where he 
 soon began offensive operations. 
 * The following letter from General Macomb, commanding the 
 American force at Plattsburgh, to the secretary of war, details 
 the events which transpired subsequent to the enemy^s invasion : 
 
 H. Q. Plattsburgh, Sept. 16, 1814. 
 SIR....I have the honor to communicate for the information of | 
 the war department, the particulars jf the advance of the enemy 
 into the territory of the United States, the circumstances attend- 
 ing the siege of Plattsburgh^ and the defence of the posts entrusted 
 to my charge. . 
 
 The Governor General of the Canadas, Sir George Prevost, 
 having collected all the disposable force in Lower Canada, with a 
 view of conquering the country as far as Crown Point and Ticoa- 
 deroga, entered the territory of the United States on the first of | 
 the month, and occupied the village of Champlain ; there avowed 
 his intentions, and issued orders and proclamations tending to dis* 
 suade the people from their allegiance and inviting them to fur- 
 nish his army with provisions. He immediately began to impress 
 the waggons and teams in the vicinity, and loaded them with his 
 heavy baggage and stores. From this Fwas persuaded he inten* 
 ded to attack this place. I bad but just returned from the lines, 
 where I had commanded a fine brigade, which was broken up to 
 form the division under Major Generel Izard, ordered to the west- 
 ward. Being senior officer he left me in command, except the 
 four companies of the 6th regiment, I had not an organized bat- 
 tallion among those remaining. The garrison was composed of 
 convalescents and recruits of the new regiment«....all in the great- 
 est confusion, as well as the ordnance and stores^ and the works 
 in no state of defence. 
 
 To create an emulation and zeal among the officers and men 
 in completing the works, I divided them into detachments, and 
 placed them near the several forts ; declaring in orders, that each 
 detachment was the garrison of its own work, and bound to de- 
 fend it to the last extremity, . 
 
THK WAR. 
 
 401 
 
 f war, details 
 ny*8 invasion : 
 
 The eneihy advanced cautiously and by short marches, and our 
 loldiers worked day and night ; so that by the time he made hi» 
 appearance before the place, we were prepared to receive him. 
 
 General Izard named the principal work fort Moreau, and to 
 remind the troops of the actions of their brave countrymen, I call- 
 ed the redoubt on the right fort Brown, and that on the left fort 
 Scott. Besides these three works, we have two block houses 
 strongly fortified. 
 
 Finding, on examining the returns of the garrison^ that our 
 force did ijot exceed fifteen hundred effective men for duty, and 
 well informed that the enemy had as many thousands, I called oa 
 General Mooers, of the New York militia, and arranged with him 
 plans for bringing forth the militia en masse. The inhabitants of 
 the village fled with their families and effects, except a 
 few worthy citizens and some boys, who formed themselves into 
 a party, received rifles, and were exceedingly useful. By the 
 fourth of the month. Gen. Mooers cc^^cted about 700 militia, and 
 advanced seven miles on the Beekmanto^vn road, to watch the 
 motions of the enemy, and to skirmish with him as he advanced ; 
 also to obstruct the roads with {&\iin trees, and to break up the. 
 bridges. 
 
 On the lake road at Dead Creek bridge, I posted 200 men un- 
 der Captain Sproul of the 13th regiment, with orders to abbatis 
 the woods, to place obstructions in the road, and to fortify himself; 
 to this party I added two field-pieces. In advance of this position, 
 was Lieut. Col. Appling with 110 riflemen, watching the move- 
 ments of the enemy, and procuring intelligence. It was ascer- 
 tained that before day-light on the 6th, the enemy would'advance 
 in two columns on the two roads before- mentioned, dividing at 
 Sampson's, a little below Chazy village. The column of the Beek- 
 mantown road proceeded most rapidly ; the militia sVirmished with 
 bis advanced parties, and, except a few brave men, fell back 
 most precipitately in the greatest disorder, notwithstanding the 
 British troops did not deign to fire on them, except by their flank- 
 ers and advanced patroles. The night previous I ordered Major 
 Wool to advance with a detachment of ^50 men to support the 
 militia, and set them an example of firmness. Also Capt. Leon- 
 ard, of the light artillery, was directed to proceed with two pieces, 
 to be on the ground before day, yet he did not make his appear- 
 ance until 8 o'clock, when the enemy had approached within two 
 miles of the village ; with his conduct, therefore, I am not well 
 pleased. Major Wool, with his party ,^ disputed the road with 
 great ol»tinacy, but the militia coula not be prevailed on to stand, 
 notwithstanding the exertions of their general and staff oflScers ; 
 although the fields were divided by strong stone walls, and they 
 were told that the tnemy could not possibly cut them off. The 
 state dragoons of New- York wear red coats, and thfy being on 
 
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 ll:'!'S' 
 
 '^11 
 
 
402 
 
 SK&TCUfiS 0» 
 
 the heights to watch the enemy, gave coostant alarm to the mWl 
 tia, who mistook them for the enemy, and feared his getting in 
 their rear. 
 
 Finding the. enemy's columns hail penetrated within ft mile of 
 Plattsburgh, I dispatched my aid-de-camp, Lieut. Root, to bring 
 off the detachment at Dead Creek, ond to inform Lieut. Applinf; 
 that I wished him to fall on the enemy's right flank. The colo« 
 nel fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat and to fall 
 in with the head of a column debouching from the woods. Here 
 he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen at rest, and con- 
 tinued to annoy the column until he formed a junction with Ma- 
 jor Wool. The field pieces did considerable execution among the 
 enemy's columns. So undaunted, however, was the enemy, that 
 he never deployed in his whole march, always pressing on in col- 
 umn. Finding that every road was full of troops crowding on us 
 on all sides, I ordered the field pieces to retire across the bridge 
 and form a battery for its protection, and to cover the retreat of 
 the infantry, which was accordin^y done, and the parties of Ap- 
 pling and Wool, as well as that of Sproul, retired alternately^ 
 keeping up a brisk fire until they got under cover of the works. 
 The enemy's light troops occupied the houses near the bridge, and 
 kept up a constant firing from the windows and balconies, and 
 annoyed us much. I ordered them to be driven out with hot shot, 
 which soon put the houses in flames, and obliged these sharp shoot- 
 ers to retire. The whole day, until it was too late to see, the 
 enemy's light troops endeavoured to drive our guards from the 
 bridge ; but they suffered dearly for their perseverance. An at- 
 tempt was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the militia 
 handsomely drove them back. 
 
 The column which marched by the lake road was much impe- 
 ded by the obstructions, and the removal of the bridge at Dead 
 Creek, and,, as it passed the creek and beach, the galltes kept up a 
 lively and/ galling fire- 
 
 Our troops being now on the south side of the Saranac, I direct- 
 ed the planks to be taken off the bridges, and piled up in the form 
 of breastworks, to eover our parties intended for - disputing the 
 passage, which afterwards ena jled us to hold the bridges against 
 very superior numbers. *. 
 
 - From the 7th to the l-lth, the enemy was employed in getting 
 on his battering train, and erecting his batteries and approaches, 
 and const^antly skirmishing at the bridges and fords. By this time 
 the militia of New- York, and the volunteers of Vermont, -yvere 
 pouring in from all quarters. I advised General Mooeu to keep 
 his force along the Saranac to prevent the enemy's crossing the 
 river, and to send a strong body in his rear to harraas him day 
 and night, and keep him in continual alarm. 
 
I 
 
 n ft mile of 
 ty to bring 
 ;ut. AppUnp; 
 The colo- 
 t and to fall 
 lods. Here 
 8t, and con- 
 >n with Ma- 
 I among the 
 enenny, that 
 ig on in col- 
 I w ding on ub 
 B8 the bridge 
 [le retreat of 
 )artie8 of Ap- 
 l alternately^ 
 f the works, 
 e bridge, and 
 alconies, and 
 vith hot shot, 
 e sharp shoot- 
 te to see, the 
 irds from the 
 nee. An at- 
 re the militia 
 
 much knpe- 
 dge at Dead 
 ies kept up a 
 
 ,nac, I direct- 
 in the form 
 [isputing the 
 [idges againsf 
 
 U in getting 
 
 1 approaches, 
 By this time 
 
 |rmont, -veK 
 361 « ts keep 
 crossing the 
 
 Irass him day 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 40!i 
 
 The militia behaved with gi-eat spirit after the first day, and 
 :he volunteers of Vermont were exceedingly serviceable. Our 
 regular troops, notwithstanding the skirmishing and repeated en- 
 deavours of the enemy to cross the river, kept at their work day 
 aud night, strengthening the defences, and evinced a determina^ 
 tion to hold out to the last extremity. 
 
 It was reported that the enemy only waited the arrival of his 
 flotilla to make a general attack. About eight in* the morning of 
 the 11th, as was expected, the flotilla appeared in sight round 
 Cumberland Head, and at nine bore down and engaged our ilotiU 
 la at anchor in the bay off the town. At the same instant the 
 batteries were opened on us, and continued throwing bomb-shells, 
 sbrapnells, balls and congieve rockets until sun-set, when the 
 bombardment ceased ; every battery of the enemy being silenced 
 by the superiority of our fire. The naval engagement lasted but 
 two hours, in full view of both armies. Three efforts were made 
 by the enemy to pass the river at the commencement of the can- 
 nonade and bombardment, with a vievyr of assaulting the works, 
 and had prepared for that purpose an immense number of scaling 
 ladders. One attempt to cross was made at the village bridge, 
 and another at the upper bridge, and a third at a ford about three 
 miles from the works. At the two first he was repulsed by the 
 I regular8....at the ford by the brave volunteers and militia, where 
 he suffered severely in kille4j| wounded and prisoners ; a consider- 
 able body having crossed the stream, but were either killed, taken, 
 I or driven back. The woods at this place were very favourable to 
 the operations of the militia. A whole company of the 76th regt. 
 was here destroyed....the three lieutenants and twenty seven men 
 I prisoners, the captain and the rest killed. 
 
 I cannot forego the pleasure of here stating the gallant conduct 
 I of Captain M'Glassio, of the 15th regiment, who was ordered to 
 I ford the river, and attack a party constructing a battery on the 
 right of the enemy's line, within 500 yards of Fort Brown, which 
 he handsomely executed at midnight, with SO men ; drove off 
 the working party, consisting of 150, and defeated a covering 
 party of the same number....killing one ofiiQer and six men in the 
 {charge, and wounding many. 
 
 At dusk the enemy withdrew his artillery from the batteries, 
 I and raised the aiege....and at 9, under cover of the night, sent off 
 in a great hurry all the baggage he could find transport Jbr, and 
 all his artillery. At 2 the. next morning the army precipitately 
 retreated, leaving the sick and wounded to our generosity ; and 
 the governor left a note with a surgeon, requesting the humane 
 |attentionof the commanding general. 
 
 Vast quantities of provisions were left behind and destroyed, 
 UUo an immense quantity of bombshells, cannon balls, grape shot, 
 ammunition, flints, &c. &c. intrenching tools of all sorts^ also tents 
 
 
 "iim 
 
 
404 
 
 SKKTCHKS OV 
 
 and marquees. A great deal has been found concealed in the 
 ponds and creeks, and buried in the ground, and a vast quantity 
 carried off by the inhabitants. Such was the precipitancy of his 
 retreat, that be arrived at Chazy,a distance of eight miles, before 
 we discovered he had gone. The light troops, volunteers and mi- 
 litia pursued immediately on learning of his flight ; and some of 
 the mounted m^ made prisoners five dragoons of the 19th regt. 
 and several others of the rear guard. A continual Ml of rain, 
 and a violent storm prevented further pursuit. Upwards of three 
 hundred deserters have come in, and many are hourly arriving. 
 
 We have buried the British officers of the army and navy with 
 the honors of war, and shown every attention and kindness to 
 those who have fallen into our hands. 
 
 The conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and 
 soldiers of my command, during this trying occasion, cannot be 
 represented in too high terms, and I feel it my duty to recommend 
 to the particular notice of government, Lieut. Col. Appling of the 
 Ist rifle corps ; Maj. Wool, of the 29th ; Maj. Totten of the 
 corps of engineers ; Capt. Brooks of the airtillery; Capt. M*G las- 
 sin of the 15th ; Lieiits. De Russy and Trescott of the corps of en- 
 gineers ; Lieuts. Smythj Mountfbrd, and Cromwell, of the artille- 
 ry ; also my aid-de-camp, Lieut. Root, who have all distinguished 
 themselves by their uncommon zeal and activity, and have been 
 greatly instrumental in producing the happy and glorious result of 
 the siege. 
 
 I have the honor to be, with sentiments of profound respect, 
 sirj, your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 ALEXANDER MACOMB. 
 
 The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, prisoners and desert- 
 ers, since his first appearance, cannot fall short of 2500....including 
 many officers, among whom is Col. Wellington of the BuflTs. 
 
 The American loss, from the 6th to the 11th of September, 
 was 37 killed, 62 wounded, and 20 missing....total9 119.* 
 
 By an official statement given, it appears that the enemy 
 
 brought into the field, at the siege of Plattsburgh, 14,000 men, 
 
 commanded by Sir George Prevost, and seconded in command 
 
 4by Lieutenant General De Rottenburgh. The commanders of 
 
 I/brigades consisted of Major Generals Robertson, Powers and Bris 
 
 bane. 
 
 The following interesting particulars of the movements of the I 
 British army, and the American measures of defence, from the 
 
 listioneil Ogktr*.—lMat G. W. Runk or the 6th regt. wounded on the 7th and died on 
 L>)>teinbcr ; Lt R. M. Hanri$on, of the iSth rpgiment, wounded in the abopMer ; Lieut> H I 
 'ilw 3itli t«iFiinL-nt. wounded iu the knee. I 
 
 * Coinm 
 
 the 8th St'pteinbcr i a>( n. m. mwnum, iH UK ■«[! 
 
 Taylor of tlie 34th Kguni-nt, wounded iu the knee 
 
 • ■^••t™ 4CiuW-^ ■•-■> 
 
i 
 
 THti WAR. 
 
 405 
 
 Wtt iavasloii to the retreat of the enemy^ are derived from an 
 I authentic source : 
 
 On the 31 St of August the advance of the British army under 
 ISeneral Brisbane, entered Champlain, and encamped on the north 
 hide of the Great Chazy river, and on the same day Maj. Gen. 
 Mooers ordered out the militia of the counties of Clinton and Es- 
 sex. The regiment from Clinton county, under Lieut. Col Miller, 
 immediately assembled, and on the 2d Sept. took a position on 
 the west road near the village of Chazy ; and on the 3d General 
 Wright with such of hi» brigade as had arrived, occupied a poii- ' 
 tion on the same road about eight miles in advance of Plattsburgh. 
 I Oq the 4th the enemy having brought up his main body to Cham- 
 
 ain, took up his line of march for that place. The rifle corps 
 I under Lieut. Col. Appling, on the lake road, fell back as far as 
 Dead Creek, blocking up the road in such manner as to impede the 
 advance of the enemy as much as possible. The enemy advan- 
 ced on the Sth within a few miles of Lieut. Col. Appling's positioi, 
 aod finding it too strong to attack, halted and caused a road to 
 be made west into the Beekmantown road, in which the light 
 brigade under Gen. Powers advanced, and on the morning of the 
 6th, about 7 o'clock, attacked the militia, which had at this time 
 iocreascd to nearly 700, under Gen. Mooers, and a small detach* 
 ment of regulars under Maj. Wool, about 7 miles from Plattsburgh. 
 After the first fire, a considerable part of the militia broke and fled 
 ia every direction. Many, however, manfully stood their ground, 
 and, with the small corps of Major Wool, bravely contested the 
 ground, against five times their number, falling back gradually 
 and occupying the fences on each side the road, till they arrived 
 within a mile of the town, when they were reinforced by two 
 pieces of artillery under Captain Leonard, and our troops occupy- 
 ing a strong position behind a stone wall, for some time stopped 
 the progress of the enemy : being at length compelled to retire, 
 they contested every inch of ground until they reached the south 
 bank of the Saranac, where the enemy attempted to pursue them 
 but was repulsed with loss. The loss of the British in this skir- 
 mish was Colonel Wellington and a Lieutenant of the 3d BufTs, 
 and two lieuts. of the 58tb killed, and one captain and one lieut. 
 of the 58th light company wounded, together with about 100 pri- 
 vates killed and wounded ; while that on our part did not exceed 
 twenty-five. The corps of riflemen undjer Colonel Appling, and 
 detachment under Captain Sproul, fell back from their position at 
 Dead Creek in time to join the militia, &c. just before they enter* 
 ed the village, and fought with their accustomed bravery. Th^ 
 British got possession of that part of the village north of the Sara- 
 nac about 1 1 o'clock, but the incessant and well directed fire of 
 our artillery and musketry from the forts and opposite bank com- 
 
 •m 
 
 %-,i>. 
 
 ,.:l:rr^ 
 
 ,..::M 
 
406 
 
 SKKTCHCS Of 
 
 pelled them to retire before night beyond the reach of our gant. 
 The enemy arrived towards night with his heavy artillery an4 
 baggage on the lake road and crossed the beachj where he met 
 with a warm reception fiom our row-gallies, and it is believed 
 suffered a heavy lots in killed and wounded. On our side. Lieu- 
 tenant Duncan, of the navy, lost an arm by a rocket and ^ or 4 
 men were killed by the enemy's artillery. The enemy encamped 
 on the ridge west of the town, his right near the river, and occu- 
 pying an extent of nearly three miles, his left resting on the lake 
 about a mile north of the village. From the 6th, until the room- 
 ing of the 11th, an almost continual skirmishing was kept up be- 
 tween the enemy's pickts and our militia stationed on the river; 
 and in the mean time both armies were busily engaged....ours in 
 strengthening the works of the forts, and that of the^ enemy iq 
 erecting batteries, collecting ladders, bringing up his heavy ord- 
 nance, and making other preparations for attacking the fort. On 
 the morning of the 7th, a body of the enemy under Captain Noa- 
 die, attempted to cross at the upper bridge, about 7 miles west of j 
 Plattsburgh, but were met by Captain Vaughan's company of about 
 25 men, and compelled to retire with the loss of two kUled and 
 several wounded, (one officer shot in the ancle.) On the morn- 
 ing of the 11th, the enemy's fleet came round the bead with a 
 light breeze from the noith, and attacked ours, which lay at an- 
 chor in Cumberland bay, two miles from the shore, east of the 
 fort. The action was long and bloody, but decisive ; and the 
 event such as we believe it will always be (except by accident) 
 when our navy contends with any thing I?\^ an equal force. The 
 enemy commenced a simultaneous boml>i*rdment of our works 
 from seven batteries, from which several hundred shells and rock- 
 ets were discharged, which did us very little injury, and our artil- 
 lery had nearly succeeded in silencing all before the contest on the 
 lake Was decided. The enemy attempted at the same time to 
 throw his main body in rear of the fort, by crossing the river S 
 miles west of the town, near the scite of Pike's cantonment. He 
 succeeded in crossing, after a brave resistance by the Essex mili- 
 tia and a few of the Vermont volunteers, in all about 35Q, sta* 
 tioned at that place, who retired back a mile and a half from the 
 river, continually pouring in upon them an incessant fire from be- 
 hind every tree, until Lieutenant Sumpter brought up a piece of 
 artillery to their support, when the enemy commenced a precipi< 
 ttLie retreat. The Vermont volunteers, whoi,had hastened to the 
 scene of action on the first alarm, fell upon the enemy's left flank 
 and lucceeded in making many prisoners, including three officers. 
 Had the British remained on the south side of the river 30 minutes 
 longer^ they must have lost nearly the whole detachment that 
 crossed. Our loss in this affair was 5 killed and 8 or 10 wound- 
 edf some mortally. Immediately on ascertaining the loss of the 
 

 THE WAA. 
 
 i; 
 
 h of our guDi. 
 r aitillery and 
 where he met 
 it is believed 
 our side, Lieu' 
 (et and 2i or 4 
 >niy encamped 
 iver, and occu- 
 ng on the lake 
 mtil the morn- 
 vas kept up be- 
 1 on the river; 
 ;aged....our8 in 
 ' the^ enemy iq 
 his heavy ord- 
 j; the fort. On 
 >r Captain Noa- 
 7 miles west of 
 )mpany of about 
 two killed and 
 On the morn- 
 ae head with a i 
 rhich lay at an- ' 
 )re, east of the 
 cisive ; and the 
 spt by accident) 
 qual force. The 
 t of our works 
 shells and rock- 
 and our arlil- 
 contest on the 
 same time to 
 ing the river a 
 ntonment. He 
 the Essex mill- 
 about 350, sta- 
 half from the 
 t fire from be- 
 
 feet, Sif George ordered preparations to be made for the retreat 
 if the army, and set off himself with a small escort, for Canada^ 
 I little after noon. The maiu body of the enemy, with the artil- 
 liry and baggage, were taken off in the afternoon and night, and 
 the rear guard, consisting of the light brigade, started at daybreak, 
 lod made a precipitate retreat, leaving their wounded and a large 
 fiantity of provision, fixed ammunition, shot, shells and other 
 public stores in the different places of deposit about their camp. 
 jThey were pursued tome distance by our troops, and many pri« 
 ijoners taken ; but owing to the very heavy and incenant rain, 
 Le were compelled to return. The enemy hav.e lost, upon land. 
 Lore than 2000 n^en in killed, wounded, prisoners and desert- 
 Itrs; while our aggregate loss does not exceed ISO. 
 Among the many acts of valour performed by the Vermont 
 olunteers, we notice the following brave exploit : 
 The inhabitants of Orwell, to the amount of 240, had march- 
 I, on the first report of approaching danger, to Plattsburgh, 
 d tendered their services to the commanding general. Among 
 lis number was a small but brave corps of cavalry of about 20 
 len, raised principally through the exertions of Captain A. Sco- 
 11 of Orwell, and Captain Ketchum of Sudbury, in which many 
 tinguished citizens were enrolled. The corps selected for their 
 immander. Captain Scovell ; and on their arrival at Plattsburgh, 
 iding the enemy had decamped, they did not wait for general 
 decs, or to be joined by other forces, but pursued the enemy, 
 irprised his rear guard at Chazy, captured 7 dragoons with their 
 irses and equipments, took the contents of two baggage wag- 
 IDS, and returned with the loss of only one horse killed. 
 
 Capture of the British Jteet.,.,Jihe following letter from Com* 
 lore Macdonough to the secretary of the navy, contains the 
 irticulars of the capture of the British fleet on lake Champlainr 
 
 U. S. Ship Saratoga, Plattsburgh Bay, Sept, 13, 1814. 
 S1R....I have the honour to give you the particulars of the ac> 
 
 bo.which took place on the 1 1th inst. on this lake. 
 
 I For several days the enemy were on their way to Plattsburgh 
 ' land and water ; and it being well understood that an Attack 
 lid be made at the same time by their land and naval forces, I 
 
 up a piece of Wermined to await at anchor the approach of the latter. 
 
 ^nced a precipi 
 fastened to the 
 ^my's left flank 
 
 three officers. 
 Ever 30 minutes 
 Itachment that 
 
 or 10 wound- 
 Ithe loss of the 
 
 At 8, A. M. the look-out boat announced thel approach of the 
 emy. At 9 he anchored in a line ahead, at about 300 yards 
 
 mce from my line ; his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his brig 
 [the Eagle, Captain Robert Henly, his gallies (13 in number) to 
 
 schooner, sloop, and a division of our gallies. Our remaiii- 
 
 gallies with the Saratoga and Eagle. 
 
 -^i^'- 
 
 J! 
 
 
 '•«, 
 
 .', 1^ 
 
 ,l^tJ 
 
408 
 
 SK£'rCH18 Of 
 
 hi 
 
 COj*] 
 
 lod 
 T 
 
 my\ 
 1 
 
 tbei 
 
 t9thi 
 
 djeat 
 Hq 
 
 Th. 
 
 th«B, 
 
 In tliis aituatiuu, the whole force on both sides bccnime 6ti' 
 gaged ; the Saratoga suffered much fiom the heavy fire of the 
 C6nfiance : I could perceive, at the same time, however, thai 
 our fire was very destructive to her. The Ticoiideroga, Lieutc 
 nant CommaDdaut Cassin, gallantly sustained her full share of tht 
 action. At half past 10 o'clock, the Eagle, not being able to 
 bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and anchored in a more eli 
 gible position, between my ship and the Ticonderoga, where the 
 very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately leaving me ex- 
 posed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. Our guns, on the 
 starboard side, being nearly all dismounted^ or not manageable, s| 
 stern anchor was let go, the bower cable cut, and the ship wind 
 ed with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon alilt; 
 surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung to bear on thebrigj 
 which surrendered in about 15 minutes after. 
 
 The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle, had struck some timi 
 before, and drifted down the line ; the sloop which was with thei 
 gallies having struck also. Three of their gallies are said to 
 sunk, and the others pulled oflT. Our gallies were about obc)riD^. 
 with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels wcvl[''^t 
 reported to me to be in a sinking state : it then became necesiarwf"^ ^ 
 to annul the signal to the gallies, and order their men to tbK^P' 
 
 I could only look at the enemy's gallies going oflT in a shattef^ T 
 ed condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron t 
 could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging, being nearl 
 all shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed ovi 
 the ma»t heads. 
 
 The Saratoga had 55 round shot in her hull ; the Confiai 
 105. The enemy's shot passed principally just over our heads, 
 there were not 20 whole hammocks in the nettings at the cli 
 of the action, which lasted, without intermission, 2 hours and 
 minutes. _ - 
 
 The absence and sickness of Lieutenant Raymond Perry, 1^'' **•*'* 
 me without the services of that excellent officer ; much ought^fi 
 ly to be attributed to him for his great care and attention in 
 ciplinmg the ship's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place 
 filled' by a gallant young officer. Lieutenant Peter Gamble, wl 
 I regret to inform you, was killed early in the action. Aci 
 Lieutenant Valette worked the Ist and 2d divisions of guns 
 able effect. Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, 
 in the execution of the order to wind the ship, and occasionil t*)ie 
 at the guns, meets my entire approbation ; also Captain Yoifaantg. 
 commanding the acting marines, who took his men to the gi 
 Mr. Beale, purser, was of great service at the guns, and in 
 rying my orders throughout the ship, with Midshipman ModI 
 mery. Master's Mate Joshua Justin, had command of the 
 
 icoadfl 
 reble. 
 
 pe-aux.; 
 
 Hhit b • I 
 
 Nuring 
 
I „ 
 
 Tkl WAR. 
 
 400 
 
 II becrtme tt* 
 ivy fire of the 
 however, th»! 
 deroga, Lieute 
 uU »haie ofthtl 
 t being able to] 
 d in a more eVi 
 ■oga, vvheie ihe| 
 r leaving me ex 
 lur guns, on thel 
 )t manageable, al 
 id the «hip windj 
 which soon afte^ 
 , bearonthebiigJ 
 
 gliuck some tima 
 ch was with theiil 
 ies are said to I 
 ere about obeying 
 U the vessels wet^ 
 became necesiar 
 their men to th 
 
 ,g off in a shattej 
 
 ther squadron lb" 
 
 ing, being nean 
 
 n just placed ov« 
 
 ill ; the Confian 
 over our heads,, 
 ttings at the do 
 )n, 2 hours and I 
 
 yihond Perry, 
 ; muchought/« 
 id attention in 
 nt. His place 
 eter Gamble, wl 
 
 ivldon ; hii conducr, duriog the actioii, wti that of a brav^ and 
 correct officer. Midshipmen Monteatb| Oiaham, Winiaiiifon« 
 I^ttt, Thwiof , and acting midihipman Baldwin, all behaved well, 
 •ad gave evidence of their making valuable offioera. 
 
 The Saratoga was twice aet on lire by hot abot from the cn6- 
 oy'i abip. 
 
 1 close, sir, thia communication with feelinga of gratitude for 
 I ibe able aupport I received from every officer and man attiiched 
 I to the squadron which I fiave the honour to boAmand. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obe- 
 dient servant, T. MACDONOUOH. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Jonei, secretary of the navy. 
 
 The following is a comparative view of the force and loss of 
 I the British and American fleets : 
 
 BRITISH. 
 
 ILirge ship, 
 
 [Brig Linnet, 
 loop, formerly Growler, 
 ^oop, do. Eagle, 
 
 [Is Oun-boats, 
 
 Total, 
 
 ratogft, ship, 
 
 Igle^ brig, 
 
 ticoaderoga, schooner, 
 Preble, sloop, 
 K 6un«boats, 
 
 Ouns, Men, 
 
 Killed,^ 
 
 Winmded, 
 
 30 300 
 
 50 
 
 00 
 
 le 120 
 
 80 
 
 30 
 
 11 40 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 U 40 
 
 8 
 
 i6 
 
 18 5S0 
 
 8 
 
 probably sunk 
 
 85 1060 
 
 84 
 
 110 
 
 AMERICAN. 
 
 
 
 Ouns* Men, 
 
 icaied. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 80 2ld 
 
 88 
 
 88 
 
 80 180 
 
 13 
 
 80 
 
 17 110 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 7 30 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 16 850 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Total, 80 880 
 
 58 
 
 88 
 
 the action. 
 
 Act! 
 
 lisions of guns 
 ]to the springs, 
 lip, and occasioni 
 
 ilso Captain Ycv 
 lis mento the g« 
 
 le guns, and in 
 iidshipman Mod< 
 
 lommand of the] 
 
 The British officers killed, we^e Comndodoi^e Downey, and 3 
 
 itenants. The Anaerican officers killed, were Lieutenants Qam- 
 
 and Stansbury ; the latter of whom was knocked overboard 
 
 not (bond. Commodore Macdonough escaped without in- 
 
 The Brifish officers taken were Captain ip'iing nnd 6or 8 lieu- 
 lants. The wounded were paroled and sent by a flag to the 
 -aux'Noix. 
 
 Thii i* a ttMameat of wtet vera found on boftrd tbe Brkbh veuelt. Mut wete thrown over< 
 ni during the ketiua} and it W41 luppotcd th* whole Dumber of killed mh wouoM •mounted 
 
 S P 
 
 ^'#lll 
 
 mil 
 
 
 infflfflOFK 
 
 • " ,.'■' I 
 
410 
 
 SKETCHIS, ftc. 
 
 m 
 
 W^'- "1 
 
 f;^- 
 
 The British large ship proved to be a fine vessel of her cfmy 
 having two gun-decks in her bow and stern, and mounting, among 
 her guns, 28 long 24 pounders, a battery which few fiigatvg of 
 tiie British navy can boast. 
 
 On the 13th of September, the interment of the American and 
 British officers, who fell in the memorable battle of the lith 
 took place at Plattsburgh, in a manner to do honour to the brave- 
 ry with which they defended their respective flags. The coffini 
 of the American oiHcersr, covered with the iiags of their vessels 
 were taken on board a boat from the commodore's ship, and fol. 
 lowed by him and his officer*, in another boat, to the British ship^ 
 where they took on board the deceased British officers, covered 
 with the flags of their own vessels, and proceeded to the shore, 
 followed by their surviving officers. During the procession, mi- 
 nute guns were fired from the commodore's ship. 
 
 At the land they were received by an escort of infantry and ar' 
 tillery, and Joined by a large number of the officers of the army ; 
 and while they proceeded to the public burying ground, minute 
 guns were also fired from the fort. At the grave, a discharge ol 
 musquetry and artillery closed the scene. 
 
 Commodore Macdonough is the son of Doctor Macdonougb, oL 
 Newcastle countv, state of Delaware. He was a midshipman oo-| 
 der Decatur at Tripoli^ and one of the gallant band that destroye 
 the Philadelphia fi-igatie. At the time of the engagement on laki 
 Charaplain, h« wa« about 28 years of age. In this action he ba 
 frequently to work his own guns, when his men at them wen 
 shot ; and three times he was driven across the deck by splinters. 
 At one time all the guns, excepting two, on one side of his shipi 
 were, dismounted, when he wore ship; the enemy endeavoriiij 
 to do the same, failed, and gave Macdonough an opportunity t 
 rake him. 
 
 The following amount of property was said to have been takei 
 from on board theenemyl fleet, at the time of, and subsequei 
 to its capture :....! 7,000 wt; of powder, exclusive of fixed ami 
 munition for the ships ; between 80 and ttO,000 wt. of balls, &c. 
 600 muskets ; 600 suits of sailor*8 clothing ; and the winter clot! 
 ing for the whole oif the land army. 
 
 In the beginning of Novembei, six tons of 8 inch tbelU wei 
 taken out of the lake at Chazy by the Americans, which had beei 
 secreted by the enemy in his incursion. A transport sloop wi 
 also raised at Isle la Mott, which had been sunk by the eneni; 
 loaded with naval stores and various instruments of war. 
 
 Deprt 
 Dis 
 han 
 port 
 ams. 
 fFoi 
 tnet 
 
 f/*iV 
 
 
 On 
 
 etrryin 
 tod 4 I 
 ding sqi 
 on the 
 miles at 
 ced the 
 tants ha 
 of the V 
 to previ 
 in destn 
 at 130,C 
 other ac 
 proceed( 
 On th 
 S20, Ian 
 ^bout 00 
 they pro 
 cotton fa 
 but the fi 
 tiogttishe 
 
*^i^R?«f*^h» 
 
 SKETCHES 
 
 fjti^ 
 
 o* 
 
 THE WA 
 
 Vol 1 1 No. 2. 
 
 VVuoLK Number 8. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Depredations of the enemy m Cotmectieut, Massaehusetts and tht 
 District of Maine,.,.Buming <f vessels at Pettipaug, fVare* 
 ham and Scituate..,.Attaek upon Stonington,.».Capture of East- 
 port..,.Capture of Castine,ire, and loss of the U, S. frigate Ad- 
 ams,...Chesapeake bay»^,Battle at Bladensburgh^and capture qf 
 Washington City,».Surrender qf Alesandria„^Repulse of thw 
 enemy at Baltimore, 
 
 On the 7th of April, 1814, a force consisting of two launches, 
 
 letrrying 9 or 12 pound carronades, and about 50 or 60 men each, 
 
 and 4 barges with about 25 men each, from the enemy's block(^ 
 
 mng squadron, entered the mouth of Connecticut river, and early 
 
 on the morning of the 8th, arrived at Pettipaug point, about 
 
 miles above Saybrook, (Con.) where they immediately commeo- 
 
 [ced the burning of a number of merchant vessels. The inhabi> 
 
 tants had no knowledge that the enemy were near before some 
 
 of the vessels were on fire; and before a force could be collected 
 
 to prevent the destruction of property, the enemy had succeeded 
 
 in destroying 4 ships, 4 brigs, 4 achooners, and 9 sloops, valued 
 
 at 150,000 dollars. Having accomplished this, and committed 
 
 other acts of outrage, they left the place at 10 o'clock A. M. and 
 
 [proceeded down the river. 
 
 On the 13th of June, the enemy, in barges, to the number of 
 [220, landed with a flag at Warebam, in Plymouth county. Maw. 
 jbout 00 miles from ^Mton ; but without respecting the flag, 
 they proceeded to destroy the vessels in the harbour, as also a 
 cotton factory. They succeeded in burning 5 merchant vessels; 
 but the fire which had been communicated to the factory was ex* 
 tiogttished, after the departure of the enemy, by the inhabitants. 
 
 
 :{ 
 
 Ik '■ 
 
 B- ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 i 
 
412 
 
 8K£TCHG8 Of 
 
 About this time the euemy entered the harbour of Scitu^te, ^f^ 
 miles S. £. of Boston, and burnt small vessels. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 0th of August, a British ship of 74 
 guns, a frigate, a sloop of war, and an armed brig, arrived off 
 Stonnington harbour, (Con.) and soon commenced bombarding tin 
 town. 
 
 The means of defence at Stonnington >yere small ; but such 
 as could be had were employed to the best advantage. A battery 
 which consisted of two 18 pounders and a 4 pounder,, with a 
 elight breast wor|c four feet high, was manned by volunteers, and 
 returned the fire of the epemy occasionally, which lasted u|i;i) 
 midnight. 
 
 On the morning of the 10th, the approach of the enemy was 
 announced, by a discharge of congreve rockets from several bar* 
 ges and a launch, which had taken their station at the east side 
 of the town, and put of reach of the battery. Several volunteers 
 with small arms and the 4 pounder, hastened across the point, 
 supposing the enemy were attempting a l^ndjqg; Col. Randall, 
 who at the time was moving towards the battery with a detach- 
 ment of militia, ordered them to assist the volunteers in drawing 
 over one of the 18 pounders tp the extreme end of the point; 
 the iire of which, in a few minutes, compelled the barges to seek 
 safety in flight. During this time, the brig was working up to- 
 wards the point, and soon came to anchor^ short of half a mile 
 from the battery ; but our ammunition being soon exhausted, the 
 guns were spiked, and the men who fought them being only 15 
 or 20, retired, leaving them behind, for want of strength to drag 
 them off. 
 
 The brig now continued to pour her 32^pound shot and grape 
 into the village for an hour ; vvhen a fresh supply of anomunition 
 havmg been obtained, the 18 pounder was withdrawn from the 
 
 breast-work, the vent drilled, and the piece taken back again 
 
 A well directed fire being now kept up, the brig was compelled 
 to slip her cable and haul off, with her pumps going, havmg re- 
 ceived several shots below her water Ime^ and considerable dam- 
 age in her spars. 
 
 The enemy after this, continued the bombardment from their 
 . other vessels, occasionally, until the 13th; when they relinquish- 
 ed the hope of burning the town, weighed anchor, and stood offt 
 
 During this time, |^ or 6 of the militia were slightly wounded, 
 and a few buildings injured. The Iqm of the enemy was suppos- 
 ed to have been 8 or 10 killed^ 
 
 Capture of Bastport On the evening of the lltb of July, 
 
 the enemy succeeded in capturing Eastport, in the District of 
 Maine, by surprise. His force consisted of 8 sail, having on boarc) 
 2.000 land troops. The fort at Eastport contained six 24 pounderr 
 
■ • ' V- 
 
 1*' 
 
 IHE WAR. 
 
 4it3 
 
 citu^te, T^h 
 
 ship of 74 
 
 arrived off 
 
 obarding tin 
 
 ] ; but such 
 >. A battery 
 iDder^ with a 
 iunteers, and 
 lasted upti) 
 
 e enemy >ya8 
 several bar- 
 : the east side 
 al volunteers 
 rost the point, 
 Col. Randall, 
 with a detach- 
 rs ia drawing 
 of the point; 
 barges to seek 
 working up to- 
 of half a mile 
 xhausted, the 
 being only 15 
 engtb to drag 
 
 ^hot and grape 
 
 )f anomuaitioD 
 
 lawn from the 
 
 [back again 
 
 ras compelled 
 |g, having re- 
 liderable dara- 
 
 ient from their 
 ley relinquish - 
 
 and stoQd off. 
 
 itly wounded, 
 ly was suppos- 
 
 iud about 40 men, under the command of Major Putman, of the 
 48th regimentj and was surrendered without firing a gun, whicfi 
 might be justified from the overwhelming force sent against it, 
 particularly as it was situate on an island, and surroundi'd by the 
 enemy. The vessels in the harbour were immediately confis- 
 cated ; and the inhabitants allowed 4 days either to take the oath 
 of allegiance to the king of England, or remove from the island* 
 The British soon after commenced fortifying the place. 
 
 Bastport is on an island (called Mjose Island) five miles lone 
 and one mile broad, containing about 1 000 inhabitants, is situated 
 on the western side of the Passamaquoddy bay, and is the most re* 
 mote town on the eastern territory of the United States, opposite 
 the province of Newbrunswich. The principal ship channel is be- 
 tween Moose Island and the Indian Island, (the latter is in the Bri- 
 tish territory) about half a mile wide. The water, on the west- 
 ern side is nbt sufficient for the passage of large vessels at low 
 tide. 
 
 Toward the latter part of August, the enemy, in several bar- 
 ges, attacked ^ewharbour, (Maine,) but were b^eaten o^ with 
 pon side r able loss. 
 
 Capture of Castine, §-c.,...Oa the 1st of September, between 
 20 and 30 sail of the enemy's vessels, having on board between 
 1 2 and 3000 troops entered the Penobscot river. The small garri- 
 son in the fort at Castine dischafged their guns, blew up the fore 
 ind retired. The enemy then took possession without opposition. 
 They next sent 600 men to Belfast, which place submitted. The 
 following day they proceeded up the river to Hampden, where 
 the U. S. frigate Adams Jay, distant 35 miles. Captain Morris pre* 
 [pared himself ta receive them as well as he could, by landing his 
 
 guns aiid erecting batteries. A considerable militia force had by 
 [ this time assembled ; but they disgracefully fled on the approach 
 
 of the enemy. He, therefore, after a few fires, spiked his guns, 
 
 barnt his 'stores and prize goods, and blew up the ship. He for? 
 
 tunately succeeded in effecting the escape of himself and crew,' 
 
 without loss. 
 The British afterwards took possession of a number of other 
 
 townis in tho District of Maine, without much opposition ; and 
 
 remained in quiet possession of all until after the treaty of peace. 
 
 Chesapeake bay During the spring and sunimer of 1814, the 
 
 enemy, who had constantly kept a blockading squadron in the 
 Chesapeake bay, committed many depredations on the shores of 
 
 11th of Julyil the bay and the numerous rivers and creeks which empty into it ; 
 
 he District of I often plundering inofiensive inhabitants of the necessaries of life, 
 
 ving on boarfl I destroying private property, and comnaittiog other acts of aggres- 
 
 lix 24pounderfr • 
 
 'V, «■ 
 
 •I .!;: . IWiBV 
 
 Ipilill 
 
 IS;- 
 
 
414 SWITCHES 09 
 
 tion, of a wanton and barbarous nature. Tbesn proceedings wer« 
 sanctioned by the British commander, Cockburn, and he was often 
 found at the head of parlies entering the country for plunder and 
 rapine. 
 
 -S. Attempts were repeatedly made by British vessels to captures 
 flotilla of gun-boats^ &<:. under Commodore Qarney ; and altho' 
 engagements fequently took place, yet the efforts of the enemy 
 proved unsucces8ful....the flotilla at times running up small creekt, 
 out of the reach of the enemy's guns, and at other times com- 
 pelling him to abandon his object, by its superior gunnery. 
 
 
 siiiim- 
 
 ^1 
 
 
 
 J^ 
 
 Battle at Bladensburg and capture of JVaskington On the 
 
 16th and 17th of August, the British fleet in the Chesapeake wai 
 reinforced by a formidable squadron of ships and vessels of vari- 
 ous sizes. A large portion of these entered the Patuxent river, 
 and landed their troops and marines chiefly about Benedict (the 
 head of navigation for frigates) about 40 miles . southeast ofi 
 Washington city. Others entered the Potomac, on the banks of I 
 which Georgetown, Alexandria, Washington, &c. stand. Itg 
 mouth is from 15 to 20 miles distant from that of the Patuxent. 
 Brigadier General Winder, who had been appointed to the com- 
 mand of the 10th military district, and of the respective quotas , 
 of militia which had been ordered to be held in readiness in the 
 states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, immediately made requiti- 
 tions on the governors of these states, on various oflficerc of the I 
 militia ; and the militia of the District of Columbia were ordered 
 out en masse. On the 19th, Colonel Monroe, with Colonel Thorn- 
 ton's troop of horse, proceeded to find and reconnoitre the eo» 
 my ; on the same day the militia of Georgetown and the city of 
 Washington were mustered. On the 20th, about 1 o'clock, P. [ 
 M. this and some other forces commenced their line of march to- 
 vwards Benedict, and encamped that night about 4 miles from the 
 eastern branch bridge of the Potomac, on the road to Upper 
 'Marlborough. On this day. Colonel Monroe communicated the] 
 ^ intelligence of the arrival of the enemy at Benedict in force. 
 ''Same day. Captain Tilgbman and Captain Caldwell, with tbeirl 
 commands of horse, were ordered and despatched to annoy thef 
 ^«nemy, to impede his march, to remove and destroy forage andj 
 provisions before him* 
 
 On the morning of the 2l8t, the troops under General Win- 
 der were mustered. At 12 o'clock, a body of marines under] 
 Captain Miller joined the army; the regulars of the 30th and 
 38tb regiments also joined at the Wood Yard, 7 miles in advance 
 (and 13 miles from Washington) to which the main body of our J 
 troops were marched and encamped at night. Two letters fronif 
 Colonel Monroe, on the 2l8t, one stating that he had viewed the! time, 
 enemy near Benedict, enumerating 27 square-rigged vessels, some! Wing 
 
'' c 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 415 
 
 iay craft and barges ; and the other dated from Nottingham (on 
 the Patuxent, 20 miles south-east from Washingtoa) stating the 
 advance of the enemy upon that place by land and water^ and 
 recooMnending the commanding general to dispatch 5 or 600 
 men to fall upon the enemy. Colonel Monroe and Colonel BeaU 
 both joined the army at night, and gave an account that the ene- 
 my had been viewed by them. Early on the morning of the 22d 
 a light detachment, composed of regulars, cavalry and militia, un- 
 der Lieutenant Colonel Scotland Major Peter, was ordered to meet 
 the enemy. This detachment marched on the road to Notting- 
 ham about 9 o'clock ; the remainder of the army marched about 
 a mile in advance to an elevated position : the commanding gen- 
 eral, with hi| staff, accompanied by Colonel Monroe, proceeded in 
 advance to reconnoitre the advance of the enemy. Commodore 
 Barney had joined the army with his fiotilla men, besides the ma- 
 rines under Captain Miller ; the horse preceded the advance of a 
 detachment of our forces, met the enemy and retired before them. 
 This induced the advance corps to take a position to impede the 
 march of the enemy; but the advance detachment was ordered 
 to retrograde and join the mfain body of the army that had re- 
 mained some hours in line of battle, expecting the enemy to come 
 that rout to the city ; but who took the road to Upper Marlbo- 
 rough, turning to his right, after having come within a few roilea 
 of our forces; upon which the commanding general fell back 
 with his whole forces to ihe Battalion Old Fields, about 8 milet 
 f^om Marlborough, and the same distance from the city of Wash- 
 ington. At this time, heavy explosions in the direction of Marl* 
 borough announced the destruction of the flotilla under command 
 •f Commodore Barney. The enemy arrived at Upper Marlbo- 
 Irough about 2 o'clock^ and remained there until late next day, to 
 be joined,, it is presumed, by a detachment .which had been sent 
 against the flotilla. i 
 
 The commanding general proceeded to Marlborough and found 
 the enemy encamp«d; and, after making observations till 
 the close of the day, he returned to the army. Late in 
 the evening of this day, the president^ with the secretaries of 
 war and navy, and attorney-general, joined General Winder at 
 the Battalion Old Fields, and remained with him till the evening 
 of the 23d. In the morning the troops were drawn up and re- 
 viewed by Ihe president. The most contradictory reports pre- 
 vailed as to the movements and force of the enemy, and it was 
 doubtful in camp whether Annapolis, fd'rl Washington, (with a 
 view to CO operate with his naval forces) or the city of Washing- 
 ton was his object. As to numbers, rumours vibrated- from 4 to 
 12,000; the best opinion was fVom 5 to 7000i Our forces at thit 
 time, at the Old Fields, were upwards of 3000 men, in the fol* 
 lowing corps : 400 horse under the tommand of Lieutenant Col. 
 
 S|» 
 
 >:: ?!!,!ll»;i 
 
 ifff ' 
 
 •■.If 
 
 m 
 
 '\ 
 
 
 
4tff 
 
 #KKT6U£8 Of 
 
 Lavol, Colonel Tiigliman, Captains Caldwell, Thornton, Hubert, 
 Williams, &c. ; 400 regular troops under the command of Lieut' 
 Colonel Scott, viz. the 96tb, 38th, and Captain Morgan's compa- 
 ny of the 12th infantry; 600 marines and flotilla men, under 
 Commodore Barney and CaptaiA Miller, with five pieces of heavy 
 artillery (two 18 pounders and three 12 pounders;) 18Q0 militia 
 and volunteers, consisting of General Smith's brigade of George- 
 town and city mMitia, and Maryland militia under Colonel Kra- 
 mer, of which there were two companies of artillery under Cap- 
 tain Burch and Major Peter, with six 6 pounders each, mahing 
 an aggregate of 3,200, with 17 piecrs of artillery. The enemy 
 was without cavalry, and had two smalt field pieces and one ho- 
 witzer, drawn by men ; and the whole country well calculated 
 for defence, skirmishing} and to impede the march or an enemy.; 
 The enemy remained at Upper Marlborough tfll after 12 o'clock, 
 about which time General Winder again ordered the detachment 
 under Lieutenant Colonel Scott and Major Peter to advance and 
 meet the enemy, if he should be found advancing, or to attack his 
 positions. About this time^^f 12 o*cloqk,j tome prisoners were ta- 
 ken, anti from information given by them ?ind the observations of 
 the videts. General Winder was induced , to believe that the ene- 
 my intended to remain stationary for the day, which induced him 
 to think of uniting with the forces at Bladensburg, and despatched 
 others to General Stansbury, and other corps at Bladensburg, to 
 n<We direct for Upper Marlborough, and proceeded himself to- 
 wards Bladensburg, to meet and hurry on the forces to form a 
 junction. When General Winder left the command with Gene- 
 ral Smith, and proceeded towards Bladensburg, with several troops 
 of cavalry^ he left orders that the advanced, corps «houl4 march 
 upon the enemy,, and annoy him by every possible me^ns if if 
 march, or if not, then in his position*;; and if he advanced upon 
 Bladensburg, General Smith, with the main body^ should fall up- 
 on his flank, or be governed by ciroiimstances in' other movements. 
 r Captain Cadwell joined the advaqped corps at. 2 o'docllj P- M. 
 An express brought intelligence that the enemy had le|^ Uppe;r 
 Marlborough; that our advance had met the enemy about six 
 miles in advance of our Torces, and after a skirn^ish, in which 
 Captain StoU^s company had about 4 or 5 rounds, was compelled 
 to retreat, and that the enemy w$s advancing. One of the aids 
 of General Smith was despatched for General Winder : the whole 
 army was placed in a favorable attitude of defence, in which po- 
 sition it continued until about sunset, when General Winder, who 
 bid arrived some time previous, ordered the army to march to 
 the C4ly «f Washington. The enemy were about three miles dis- 
 tant, and r^teaTned Itiere that night. Having remained till the 
 going down of the sun, the retreat to the city was induced by se- 
 veral considerations, stated by the commanding general. 1st, To 
 
-•» 
 
 TRB VfAtL, 
 
 417 
 
 n, HMbert., 
 1 of Lieut. 
 D*8 coinpa- 
 nen, under 
 >8 of heavy 
 8Q0 militia 
 of George- 
 lolonel Kra- 
 under Cap- 
 ich, making 
 The enemy 
 and one ho: 
 I calculated 
 an enemy., 
 r 12 o'clock, 
 detachment 
 advance and 
 to attack his 
 lers wereta- 
 >8ervation8 of 
 that the ene' 
 i induced him 
 id despatched 
 idensburg, to 
 himself to- 
 s to form a 
 ytxth Gene- 
 jeveral troops 
 |»hQul4 march 
 lie nir^ns if i» 
 ivanced upon 
 ihould fall up- 
 |r movements* 
 >'olo<*, P. M. 
 left Upper 
 jy aJjtout six 
 |h^ in which 
 [as compelled 
 te of the aids 
 X : the whole 
 ID which po* 
 indery who 
 to march to 
 Iree miles dis- 
 aioed tUl the 
 Iduced by se- 
 rai. l«t,To 
 
 effect an union of of hisjwhole forces. 2d, The fear of a night at- 
 tack, from the superiority of the enemy, and want of discipline in 
 his troops. And 3d, In a night attack his superiority in artillery 
 could not be used. The march of our army to the city was ex- 
 tremely rapid and precipitate, and orders occasionally given to 
 the captains of companies to hurry on the men, who were extreme- 
 ly fatigued and exhausted before the camping ground was reach- 
 edjt near the Eastern branch bridge, within the District of Co' 
 lumbia. 
 
 General Stansbury had arrived at Bladensburg on the 22d, and 
 the 5th Baltimore regiment, including the artillery and rifle corps, 
 on the evening of the 23d; and at 12 o'clock at night. Colonel 
 Monroe, in passing through Bladensburg to the city of Washing- 
 ton, advised General Stansbury to fall upon the rear of the enemy 
 forthwith, as it was understood that he was in motion for the city. 
 General Stansbury having been ordered to take post at Bladens- 
 burg, did not think he was at liberty to leave it ; but, independent 
 of this consideration, the fatigue of the troops under Colonel Sterret 
 made it impracticable. 
 
 On the morning of the 24th, General Winder established his 
 bead quarters near the Eastern Branch bridge ; detachments of 
 horse were out in various directions as videttes and reconnoiter' 
 ing parties, and arrangements made to destroy the Eastern Branch 
 bridge. In the. mean time various reports were brought into head 
 quarters, as to the n^ovements and intentions of the enemy ; and 
 the president and heads of departments had collected at head- 
 quarters. Colonel Monroe had left there upon a rumour that 
 gained ground, that the enemy was marching upon the city by 
 the way of Bladensburg, with a view of joining General Stansbu- 
 7, advising him of the rumour, and to add him in the formation 
 of a line of battle to meet the enemy. 
 
 General Stansbury, as a' precautionary measure, had marched 
 from his position in advance of Bladensburg, and occupied the 
 ground west of that village, on the banks of the eastern branclf 
 of the Potomac. Here the front line of battle was formed by 
 General Stansbury and his officers, with the aid of Colonel Mon- 
 roe, which consisted of Stansbury's brigade, and the command of 
 Colonel Sterret, including the command of Major Pinkney and 
 Baltimore artillery. 
 
 There is a bridge oter the Eastern branch at Bladensburgh, 
 and a large turnpike road leading direct to the city of Washing- 
 ton. About 400 yards from this bridge, some small distance to 
 the left of the road, the Baltimore artillery, six pieces of six poun- 
 ders, occupied a temporary breast-work of earth, well calculated 
 to command the pass over the bridge. Part of the battalion of ri- 
 Semen, under Maior William Piukiiey, and one other company, 
 
 3G 
 
 • t' 
 
 ti. ''/;••; !'■ 
 
 
 .ir ,..:'. '■■■:■ 
 
 1 . 
 
 I.I' ,, ; 
 
 
 r 
 
 WW 
 
 . ;, , ! 
 
 •'■^ ■A 
 
 

 418 
 
 SKETCHES Otf 
 
 took position on the right of the artillery, partly protected by a, 
 fence and brush ; and on the left of the battery, leading to the rear 
 of a barn, two companies, from the regiment under Col. Shutz, and 
 the other part of the riflemen from Baltimore. Col. Regan was 
 posted in the rear of Major Pinkne}', his right resting on the road; 
 Col. Shutz continuing the line on the left, with a small vacancy 
 in the centre of the two regiments; an/d Col. Sterret formed the 
 extreme left flank of the infantry. At this moment. Cols. BeaU 
 and Hood entered Bladensburg, with the Maryland militia from 
 Annapolis, crossed the bridge and took a position on a most com-^ 
 manding height, on the right of the turnpike, about three hundred 
 yards from the road, to secure the right flank. In the mean time, 
 (about 11 o'clock) certain intelligence was received at head quar- 
 ters, that the enemy was in full march towards Bladensburg, which 
 induced General Winder to put in motion his whole force, except 
 a few men and a piece of artillery left at the Eastern branch 
 bridge to destroy it. The day was hot, and the road dusty... .the 
 march was rapid to Bladensburg. The cavalry and mounted men 
 arrived, and were placed on the left flank, and some small distance 
 in its rear. General Winder now arrived, and told Gen. Stans^ 
 bury and Colonel Monroe, that his whole force was marching for 
 Bladensburg, and approved the dispositions which had been made 
 of the troops ; at which moment, it Had become impracticable in 
 the opinion of the officers, to make any essential change ; for the 
 two armies were now coming to the battle ground in opposite di- 
 rections ; and the enemy appeared on the opposite heights of 
 Bladensburg, about a mile distant, and halted 15 or 20 minutes. 
 This was about 12 o'clock. The troops from the city were dis- 
 posed of as they arrived. Captain Burch, with three pieces of ar- 
 tillery, was stationed on the extreme left of the infantry of the 
 first line; and'a rifle company, armed with muskets,, near the 
 battery to support it. About this time the secratary of war ar- 
 rived, and in a few minutes after the president and the attorney 
 general, and proceeded to examine the disposition of the troops. 
 In the mean time, as the enemy advanced into Bladensburg, the 
 officers were forming rapidly the second line. The command of 
 Commodore Barney came up in a trot ; and formed his men on 
 the right of the main road, in a line with the command under 
 Cols. BeaU and Hood, with a considerable vacancy, owing to the 
 ground. The heavy artillery Commodore Barney planted in the 
 road; the three 12 pounders to the right under Captain Miller, 
 who commanded the flotilla men and marines, as infantry to sup" 
 port the artillery. Lieut. Col. Kramer, with a battalion of Ma- 
 ryland militia, was posted in a wood, in advance of the marines 
 and Cols. BeaU and Hood's command. The regiment under the 
 command of Col. Magrader, was stationed on the left of Ccmmo 
 
TUB WAR. 
 
 419 
 
 cted by ft, 
 
 the rear 
 ihutz, and 
 Ugau was 
 
 1 the road ; 
 U vacancy 
 brmed the 
 Cols. BeaU 
 niliiia from 
 
 most com- 
 •ee hundred 
 mean time, 
 ; head quar- 
 burgi which 
 )rce, except 
 tern branch 
 dusty ....the 
 lounted men 
 nail distance 
 Gen. Stans- 
 narching for 
 1 been made 
 )racticable in 
 uge ; for the 
 1 opposite di- 
 heights of 
 20 minutes, 
 lity vwere dis- 
 pieces of ar- 
 antry of the 
 ts,. near the 
 of war ar- 
 the attorney 
 of the troops, 
 ^ensburg, the 
 I command of 
 |d his men on 
 jmand under 
 owing to the 
 ilanted ifl the 
 iptain Miller, 
 Ifantrytosup' 
 talion of Ma- 
 ihe marines 
 Dt under the 
 ft of Commo 
 
 dore Barney, in a line with him and Col. Beall. The regiment 
 under command of Col. Brent, and Major Waring's battalion, and 
 some other «mall detachments, formed the left flank of this se* 
 tiond line, and in the rear of Major Peter's battery ; and Lieut, 
 Col. Scott, with the regulars, was placed in advance of Col. Ma- 
 gruder, and to the left, forming a line towards Major Peter's bat- 
 tery^ but in such a manner as not to mask it ; other small detach- 
 ments in various diiections. 
 
 About half past 12 o'clock, while the second line was forming, 
 the enemy approached, and the battle commenced : the Baltimore 
 artillery opened a "fire and dispersed the enemiy's light troops now 
 advancing along the street of the village, who took a temporary 
 cover behind the houses and trees, in loose oider, and presented 
 objects only occasionally for the fire of the cannon. The enemy 
 commenced throwing his rockets, and his light troops began to 
 concentrate near the bridge, and to press across it and the river 
 which was fordable above. The battalion of riflemen under Maj. 
 Pinkney, now united gallantly with the fire from the battery. 
 For some minutes the fire was continued with considerable ef- 
 fect ; the enemy's column was not only dispersed while in the 
 street, but while approaching the bridge they were thrown into 
 some confusion, and the British officers were seen exerting them- 
 selves to press the soldiers on. Having no\y gained the bridge, 
 it was passed rapidly, and as the enemy crossed, flaipked, formed 
 the line and advanced steadily on, which compelled the artillery, 
 and battalion of riflemen to give way, after which Major Pinkney 
 was severely wounded. He exerted himself to rally his men, and 
 succeeded at a small distance in the rear of his first position, and 
 united with the 5th Baltimore regiment. 
 
 It appears from reports of several officers, Stansbury, Pinkney, 
 Law, Sterret, <9ic. that the command of General Stansbury was 
 3 or 400 yards in the rear of the battery, and Major Pinkney's 
 riflemen and some other small corps to the left of the battery ; of 
 course this small party had to fight with the whole force of the 
 enemy until they retired, and the enemy occupied the ground 
 they left without any considerable resistance, as the enemy march- 
 ed on without halting after the bridge was passed. Capt. Burch 
 and Col. Sterret were about the same distance, when Col. Ster- 
 ret was ordered to advance to support the first line. One of the 
 pieces of artillery was abandoned, but spiked previously. The en- 
 emy soon took advantage of the trees 'of an orchard which was 
 occupied or held by the force which had just retreated, and kept 
 up a galling fire on part of our line. Captain Burch's artillery 
 and a small detachment near it now opened a cross fire upon the 
 enemy. Col. Sterret, with the 5th Baltimore regiment, was or- 
 dered to advance, and made a prompt movement until ordered to 
 
 r 
 
420 
 
 SKETCHES OI 
 
 H>^] 
 
 halt, as at this movement the roekett assuming a more horizontal 
 direction and pasain;; near the heads of Cols. Schultz and Ragan'o 
 regiments, the right gave way, which was followed in a few 
 minutes by a general flight of the two regiment?, in defiance of 
 all the exertions of Generals Winder, Stansbury and other officers. 
 Burch's artillery and the 5th regiment remained with firmness : 
 the orchard obstructed their fire ; but qotwithstandiog, the ene- 
 my*8 light troops were^ for a moment, driven back by them, the 
 enemy having gained the right flank of the 5tb, which exposed it, 
 Burch's artillery and Col. Sterret, who commanded the 5th, were 
 ordered by Gen. Winder to retreat, with a view of forming at a 
 small distance in the rear; but^ instead of retiring in ordt^r, the 
 5tli, like the other Jfwo regiments under Gen. Stansbury, ir ;} ve* 
 ry few minutes were retreating in disorder and confusion, not- 
 withstanding the exertions of Colonel Stei^ret to prevent it. From 
 reports of various officers, exertions were made to rally the men 
 and to bring them again to the battle, which partly succeeded in 
 the first instance, but ultimately, and in a short time, all attemps 
 were vain, and the forces routed ; and the first line, together with 
 the horse, were totally routed, and recreated in a road which fork- 
 ed in three directions ; one branch led by Rock Creek Church, to 
 Tanleytown and Montgomery court house, another led to George- 
 town, and a third to the city of Washington. It does not appear 
 that any movement was made or attempted by the cavalry or 
 horsemen, afthough the enemy to the left were in open and scat- 
 tered order, as they pursued or pressed upon our lines, and a most 
 fortunate moment presented itself for a charge of cavalry and 
 horsemen. 
 
 it may be proper h^re to observe, that General Winder states 
 his exertions to direct the retreating line to the capitol, with a 
 view of rallying. This intention is corroborated by Colonel Ster- 
 ret ; but it appears that this determination was nof generally un^ 
 derstood by the officers or men. Colonel Kramer, posted on the 
 right of the road and in advance of Commodore Barney, was next 
 drawn from his position after having maintained his ground vvith 
 considerable injury tp the enemy, and retreated upon the com- 
 mand of Colonels Beall and Hood, on a commanding eminence to 
 the right. After the retreat of the militia under Colonel Kramer 
 from hie first position, the enemy's column in the road was expo- 
 sed to an animated discharge from Major Peter's artillery, which 
 continued until they came in contact with Commodore Barney : 
 here the enemy met the greatest resistance and sustained the 
 greatest loss, advancing upon our retreating line. When the en- 
 emy came in full view, and in a heavy column in thie main road. 
 Commodore Barney ordered an 18 pounder to be opened upon 
 them, which completely^ cleared the road, scattered and repulsed 
 
horizontal 
 id Ragan'd 
 in a few 
 leflance of 
 ler ofRceri. 
 \ firmness : 
 J, the enc- 
 thero, the 
 L exposed it, 
 B 5th, were 
 rming at a 
 I oTdf*T, the 
 iry, ir a ve« 
 ifution, not- 
 ;nt it. From 
 tlly the men 
 succeeded in 
 , all attemps 
 ogether with 
 i which fork- 
 k Church, to 
 id to George- 
 ?s not appear 
 ^ cavalry or 
 ten and scat- 
 g, and a most 
 cavalry and 
 
 Vinder states 
 )itol, with a 
 Colonel Ster- 
 ;enerally un< 
 ited on the 
 jy, was next 
 ground with 
 ion the com- 
 eminence to 
 jonel Kramer 
 id was expo- 
 illery, which 
 jre Barney : 
 lustained the 
 hen the en- 
 main road, 
 [opened upon 
 ind repulsed 
 
 THli WAR. 
 
 421 
 
 tue enemy for a moment. In several attempts to rally and ad* 
 vance, the enemy was repulsed, which induced him to flank to 
 I (he right of our lines in an open field. — Here Captain Miller open- 
 ed upon him vrith the three 12 pounders, and the flotilla men 
 acting as infantry, with considerable effect. The enomy contin- 
 ued flanking to the right and pressed upon the command of Ccls. 
 Beall and Hoo(|, which gave way after three or four rounds of in* 
 effectual fire, at a considerable distance from the enemy, while 
 Colonel iBeall and other officers attempted to rally the men on 
 this high position. The enemy very soon gained the flank and 
 even the rear of the right of t(ie second line. Commodore Bar- 
 ney, Captain Miller and some other officers of his command be- 
 ling wounded, his ammunition .waggons having gone off in the dis- 
 lorder, and that which the marines and flotilla men had being ejc- 
 Ibausted ; in this situation a retreat was ordered by Com. Barney, 
 [who fell himself into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 The second line was not exactly connected, but posted in ad- 
 vantageous positions in connection with and supporting each oth- 
 ler. The command of General Smith, including the Georgetown 
 land city militia, still remained in order and firm without any part 
 ■having given away, as well as the command of Lieut. Col. Scott 
 lof the regulars, and some other corps. The enemy's light troops 
 Ibad in the mean time advanced on the left of the road, and had 
 Lained a line parallel with Smith's cornmand, and in endeavour- 
 Jkg to turn the flank. Colonel Brent was placed in a position cal- 
 [eulated to prevent it ; the enemy also advanced and came witb- 
 long shot of part of Colonel Magruder's command, which open- 
 led a partial fire, but without much effect ; and at this moment 
 ^od in this situation General Winder ordered the whole of the 
 Iroops, then stationary, to retreat, \vhich vvat effected with as 
 Luch order as the nature of the ground and the occasion would 
 ivait : these troops after retreating 5 or QOO paces, were halt- 
 and formed, but were again ordered to retreat b}' Gen. Win- 
 ner. General Winder then gave order* to collect and form the 
 Iroops on the heights west of the turnpike gate, about one mile 
 nd a half from the capitol, which order was in part executecj, 
 id the forces formed by General Smith and the other officer^^ 
 *ben Colonel George Minor came up with his regiment of Vir- 
 ginia volunteers, and united his forces with General Smithes 
 ommand, having been detained, in obtaining arms, ammu- 
 lition, &c. ; but, while in the act of forming. Gen. Winder 
 ave orders to retire to the capitol, with an expectation of being 
 lited with the troops of the first line. Colonel Minor was or- 
 ered to take a certain position and disposition, and cover the re- 
 jreat of all the forces by remaining until all had marched for the 
 [apitol. The troops were again halted at the capitol whi|e Gen* 
 
4S2 
 
 sxRtCHKs or 
 
 I .(BE I 
 
 Winder wat ki conference with Colonel Monroe and Genenii 
 Armstrong. 
 
 The first line and the cavalry, except one troop of Col. LavaW, 
 had taken a route which did not bring them to the capitol ; the 
 most of them had proceeded north of the district of Columbia, 
 and others dispersed and returned home, and sought' refreshmeot 
 in the country. The commanding general represented the dimj. 
 nution of his force, the ditipersion of a large proportion of it, the| 
 want of discipline, the great fatigue of the troops, and believed that 
 it would be impossible to make eflfectual resistance to the invasion 
 of the city : nor did he think it would be proper to attempt to de- 
 fend the capitol, the troops being without provisions, and which 
 would leave every other part of the city to the mercy of the en 
 emy, and the prospect of losing his army. In this consultation] 
 the secretaries of state and war, it appears, concurred in theii 
 views with General Winder, and advised hira to retire and rall^ 
 the troops upon the heights of Georgetown ; this produced an or 
 der for the whole forces to retreat from capitol hill thro* George 
 town. On receiving this order the troops evinced the deepen 
 anguish, and that order which had be«n previously maintaine 
 was destroyed. General Smith in his report uses this language... 
 ** When the order for a retreat from capitol hill was received 
 the troops evinced an anguish beyond the power of language to 
 express." The troops were halted at Tenleytown, and an attempt 
 was made to collect them together, which only partially succeed 
 ed. Some returned home ; some went in pursuit of refreshments 
 and those that halted gave themselves up to the uncontrolled feel 
 ings which fatigue, exhaustion, privation and disappointment pro 
 duced. 
 
 A small party of the enemy, with Admiral Cockburn and 6e 
 neral Ross, entered the city. The male population was chieflj 
 in arms under General Winder, and many of the women an 
 children had left it. The navy-yard, with all its shipping and 
 stores, and the nnagtaine at Greenleaf 's Point* had been destroy 
 ed by our own people. The capitol, and president's house, witi 
 all the public offices except the post-office, (which they thought i 
 •private building) with several private buildings, were fired by thi 
 enemy .f Cockburn personally went to have the office of the Na 
 tional Intelligencer burnt ; but was prevailed*upon by sonie ladie 
 
 ofti 
 accoi 
 Mr. ( 
 neral 
 
 Af 
 and 
 ried 8 
 thefi 
 men 
 tnd ( 
 ny w 
 conve 
 Itc. 
 
 The 
 loss in 
 both p 
 
 The 
 (inolud 
 4ensbu 
 treat,) 
 Our lo 
 180. 
 
 Surr 
 (rict of 
 
 ve mil 
 the cap 
 Alexani 
 considei 
 (he def( 
 poratioi 
 mander 
 pected I 
 ihlly op< 
 Cockbui 
 respectc 
 be wani 
 
 'Outt 
 in sight 
 Washin 
 Dyson, 
 dismisse 
 
 * Thit magacine wai but partiaUjr destroyed by our people - tbe British loMteri afterwanli nor 
 tifieGtually rornpleted iti iltitniction. In a dry well beluneine tu the barraeki. our loldini hi 
 thrown many barrels of powder for concealment ; and the British soldiers, ait'er exploding tlir msti 
 cinerasually tlirew hito it one or two of llieir lighted matches, which cominunicatrd to tbe powderd i COUrt' 
 posited there. The effect was terrific Kvery one of the soldiers near, wa* blown into etertiitii 
 many at a great diitance wounded, and the excavation remains an evidence of the great Ibrce of th 
 explotioD. 
 
 t All the public papers, with the specie of the bunks, &c had been previotn?y removed by 
 inhabitants. t 
 
 Oatfa 
 
 poration 
 tain Gor 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 42;i 
 
 }c and Otneni 
 
 liovsty remoTed by " 
 
 of the adjoining houMi to abandon his design. A number of his 
 
 accomplices, however, entered and destroyed every thing in it 
 
 Mr. Gallatin's house was burnt, some person having fired on Ge- 
 neral Ross from the windows, by which his horse was killed. 
 
 After committing numerous depredations, the enemy privately 
 tnd prcipitately retired on the night of the 25th. They had bu- 
 ried some of their killed in the morning ; but left many lying on 
 the field, and also nearly 100 wounded at Bladensburg, with 30 
 men to take care of them. Among the former were two colonels 
 lod one major : the latter died soon af^er. They took off as roa- 
 oy wounded as could be made to walk and all that the^ could 
 convey on about 40 horses, and in a nu ober of carts, waggons^ 
 kc. 
 
 The force of the enemy landed, was estimated at 6000 ; his 
 bss in killed, at Bladensburg and in the city, 180; wounded at 
 Doth places, 300; prisoners and deserters, 40a... total, 880. 
 
 The American force, under Winder, amounted to about 5000> 
 (including several hundreds that arrived just as the battle of Bla- 
 densburg commenced, and joined the army after the general's re- 
 treat,) but only about 1500 of this number were actually engaged. 
 
 Our loss was 20 killed, 40 wounded, and 120 prisoners total, 
 
 ISO. 
 
 Surrender of Alfxandria The city of Alexandria, in the dis- 
 
 I frict of Columbia, lies on the southern bank of the Potomac, and 
 five miles S. W. from the city of W^ohington. At the time of 
 the capture of the latter place, the channel of the Potomac, near 
 Alexandria, was commanded by Fort Washington, and it was 
 considered the British vessels would not attempt to pass it. After 
 (he defeat of General Winder at Bladensburg, howev«>r, the cor- 
 poration of Alexandria, by committee, waited on the British com- 
 mander at Washington, to know what treatment was to be ex- 
 pected provided Alexandi-ia should fall into his hands, thus shame- 
 folly opening the way fur the disgrace which followed. Admiral 
 Cockburn assured the deputation that private property would be 
 respected; that probably some fresh provisions and flour might 
 [be wanted, but for which they should be paid. 
 
 *0u the 27th of August, several of the enemy's vessels appeared 
 
 I io sight of Alexandria down the river, and towards evening fort 
 
 Washington was blown up by the commanding officer. Captain 
 
 Dyson, without firing* a gun, and abandoned. He has since been 
 
 dismissed from the service of the United States, by sentence of 
 
 I a court-martial. 
 
 On the 28th, the enemy's squadron passed the fort, and the cor- 
 Iporation, by deputation, proceeded to the commander's ship, (Cap- 
 tain Gordon,) and requested to know bis intentions in reg'ard t» 
 
 ^ff 
 
 * d 
 
 % 
 
m 
 
 SKETCtiES of 
 
 Alexandria ; which he proposed to communicate when he should 
 come opposite the town, but promised that the persons, houses, 
 and furniture of the citizens should be unmolested, \f he met with 
 no opposition. Next day (the 29th) the British squadron wad 
 
 drawn up in line of battle so as to command the whole town 
 
 The commander then sent tht following articles of capitulation to 
 the corporation of the city : 
 
 H. M. Ship Sea-Horse, off Atexandria, Aug, 29th, 1814. 
 
 GENTLEMEN....In Consequence of a deputation yesterday re- 
 ceived from the city of Alexandria, requesting favourable terms 
 for the safety of the city, the undernamed are the only conditions 
 in my power to offer. 
 
 The town of Alexandria, with the exception of public worbgy 
 shall not be destroyed, unless hostilities are commenced on the 
 part of the Americans ; nor shall the inhabitants be molested in 
 any manner whatever, or their dwelling houses entered, if the^ 
 following articles be complied with : 
 
 Article 1. All naval and ordnance stores, (public or private,) 
 must be immediately delivered up. 
 
 2. Possession will be immediately taken of all the shipping, aad 
 their furniture must be sent on board by the owners without do* 
 Fay. 
 
 3. The vessls that have been sunk must be delivered up ia the 
 state they were on the 19th of August, the day of the squadron 
 passing the Kettle Bottoms. 
 
 4. Merchandize of every description must be instantly deliver- 
 ed up, and to prevent any irregularity that might be committed 
 in its embarkation, the merchants have it at their option to load 
 the vessels generally employed for that purpose, when they will 
 be towed off by us. 
 
 5. All merchandize that has been removed from Alexandria 
 since the 1 9th inst. is to be included in the above articles. 
 
 6. Refreshments of every description to be supplied the ships, 
 and paid for at the market price, by bills on the British govern* 
 ment. 
 
 7. Officers will be appointed to see that articles No. 2, 3, 4 and 
 3, are strictly complied with ; and any deviation or non-compli- 
 ance on the part of the inhabitants of Alexandria, will render the 
 treaty null and void. 
 
 JOHN A. GORDON, Capt<iin 
 *of his majesty's ship Sea-Horse, and 
 senior officer of his majesty's ships oft 
 Alexandria. 
 ; To the common council of the town of Alexandria. 
 

 THS WAR. 
 
 4^1^ 
 
 fn he should 
 Ions, houses, 
 he met with 
 {uadrbn was 
 
 ale town 
 
 apitulation to 
 
 >9th, 1814. 
 ^resterday re^ 
 turable terms 
 ily conditions 
 
 tublic worksy 
 enced on the 
 > molested in 
 atered, if th^ 
 
 c or private,) 
 
 shipping, and 
 rs without do* 
 
 ;red tip va the 
 the squadron 
 
 ;antly deliver- 
 
 Ibe committed 
 
 tption to load 
 
 |hen they will 
 
 Alexandria 
 Iticles. 
 
 ]ied the ships, 
 ritish govern- 
 
 Jo. 2, 3, 4 and 
 ir non-compli- 
 lill rendtr the 
 
 Capt<iin 
 »a-Hor8e, and 
 [sty's ships off 
 
 One hour was allowed the corporation to decide whether they 
 would accede to the ternoui of surrender or not. It was stated to 
 the British officer^ that the common council had no power to 
 compel the return of merchandize carried into the country, nor 
 to compel the citizens to aid in raising the sunken vessels : these 
 two points were yielded by the enemy. The terms being thus 
 modified, the enemy commenced their work of plunder, which 
 was indiscriminate, and not confined to any particular class of 
 individuals ; non-residents and inhabitants being alike included. 
 
 The vessels taken from Alexandria by the enemy, were 14, 
 laden with from 15 to 18,000 bbls. flour, 800 hhds. tobacco, 150 
 bales cotton, some small quantities of sugar, and a medley of oth- 
 er articles. 
 
 While the enemy were employed in loading a vessel. Captains 
 Porter and Creighton, of the United States' navy, made a dash in- 
 to Alexandria on horseback, rode up to a midshipman who was su- 
 perintending the loading of a boat, and Captain C. seized him by 
 the cravat and endeavoured to take him off; but his cravat gave 
 way and he escaped. The officers immediately galloped off, lea- 
 ding the iuhahitaiits in great consternation. 
 
 The signal of aiarm was immediately given on shore to all (hose 
 employed ou the wharves, who promptly embarked, and all handc 
 were ordered to prepare; for action. The inhabitants apprehended 
 an immediate destruction of the town ; but, a deputation being 
 sent from the corporation to state that the act was unauthorised 
 by t!iem, nor done by any inhabit^uit of the place, and promising 
 that they would place guards at the intersection of each street 
 leading to the water, to prevent a similar occurrence, the com* 
 manding officer said he would averlook it, and the town was again 
 quieted. 
 
 We have been thus minute in stating the particulars of the siir* 
 render of Alexandria, that the present and future generations may 
 forever behold a monument of the eternal disgrace, infamy and hu* 
 miliation of its inhabitants in thus inviting and quietly submitting 
 to the degrading terms and insults of an enemy. Nothing but 
 the most Sunken depravity or cowardly disposition could have in- 
 duced the government of the city to have thus debased it- 
 self. 
 
 A series of desperately (faring exertions were made by Com* 
 iqodores Rodgers, Porter and Perry, with the men of the two 
 former, and some of the Virginia militia, to prevent the escape 
 of the frigates from Alexandria with their great booty. All that 
 nen could do, with the means they had, by fire ships, barges, an<' 
 hastily erected batteries was done....but the enemy got off, w\*'k 
 lome loss, taking all the property with him. About 12 men were 
 killed and several wounded at Porter's batterv,...at Perry's only 
 
 3H 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 ~ r- -r^. 
 
4J26 
 
 SKKTCH£S OF 
 
 I &■ 
 
 ope was wounded : Rodgers sufTeied no loss. A great mislibi- 
 tune was that all the artillery that could be collected for the sud- 
 den occasion were too light. 
 
 ^ Repulse of the enemy at Ba/temore..... After the affair at Bla< 
 densburg and capture of Washington, an attack upon Baltimore 
 was confidently expected, and considerable additions were accor- 
 dingly made to the defences of the place. Some of the troops of 
 General Winder's command had repaired to the*place,and a con- 
 siderable number of volunteers from the adjacent towns had 
 flocked in ; the Baltimore brigade wa^. taken en masse into the 
 service of the United States ; and the whole submitted to the di- 
 rection of Major General Smith of the Maryland militia. 
 
 On Saturday the 10th of September, information was received 
 that the enemy was ascending the bay, and on Sunday morning 
 his- ships were seen at the mouth of the Patapvco river, (which 
 communicates with the basin on which Baltimore stands) in num- 
 ber from 40 to 50; Some of his vessels entered the river, while 
 others proceeded to North Point, ''at the mouth of the Patapsco,) 
 14 miles from Baltimore, and commenced the debarkation of their 
 troops in the night, which was finished early next morning. The 
 following extracts of a letter from General Smith to the secretary 
 of war, give an account of the events which followed : 
 
 * <* Baltimore, September 1 9, 1 8 1 4. 
 
 '* I have the honour of stating, that the enemy landed between 
 7 and 8000 men on Monday the 10th instant, at North Point, 14 
 miles distant from this town. Anticipating this debarkation. Gen. I 
 Striker had been detached on Sunday evening with a portion ofl 
 hh brigade on the North Point road. Major Randal, of the Bal-I 
 timore county militia, having under his command a light corps off 
 riflemen and rousquetry taken from General Stanbury's brigadej 
 and Pennsylvania volunteers, was detached to the mouth of Be&r 
 Creek, with orders to co-operate with General Strieker, and tol 
 check any 'landing which the enemy might attempt in that quar<[ 
 ter. On Monday, Brig. Gen. Strieker took a good pmition at the 
 junction of the two roads leading from this place to North PointJ 
 having his right flanked by Bear Creek, and his left by a marsbj 
 He here awaited the approach of the enemy, having sent on an 
 advance corps under the command of Major Heath of the 5tU 
 regiment. This advance was met by that of the enemy, and ai^ 
 ter some skirmishing it returned to the line, the mam body of tbd^ 
 enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. Bel 
 tween two and three o'clock, the enemy's whole force cameuf 
 and commenced battle by some discharges of rockets, which v/en 
 suciseeded by the oanaon from both sides, and soon after the actioa 
 
THE ^AR. 
 
 427 
 
 became general along the line. General Strieker gallantly maia- 
 tained his ground against a great superiority of numbers during 
 the space of an hour and 20 minutes, when the regiment on his 
 left (the 5l8t) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring 
 to the ground in his rear, where he had stationed one regiment 
 as a reserve. He here formed his brigade ; but the enemy not 
 thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous 
 arrangements, fell back and took post on the left of my entrench* 
 ments, and a half mile in advance of them. 
 
 ** In this affair the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the ex- 
 ception of the 51st regiment, have maintained the reputation 
 they so deservedly acquired at Bladensburg, and have given their 
 country and their city an assurance of what may be expected 
 from them when their services are again required. I cannot dis^ 
 miss the subject without expressing the heartfelt satisfaction I ex- 
 perience in thus bearing testimony to the courage and good con* 
 duct of my tellow townsmen. About the time General Strieker 
 had taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined by Brigadier 
 General Winder, who had been stationed on the west side of the 
 city, but was now ordered to march with General Douglass' bri- 
 gade of Virg:/)i£ ' il^tia and the U. S. dragoons under Capt. Bird, 
 and take post . > e left of General Strieker. During these 
 movements, the L.i^ades of Generals Stansbury and Foreman, the 
 seamen and marines under Commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylva- 
 nia volunteers under Colonels Cobeau and Findley, the Baltimore 
 artillery under Colonel Harris, and the marine artillery under 
 
 Captain Stiles, manned the trenches and the batteries all 
 
 prepared to receive the enemy. We remained in this situa- 
 tion during the night. 
 
 « On Tuesday, the enemy appeared in front of my entrench- 
 ments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road, 
 I from whence he had a full view of our position. He manoeuvred 
 during the morning towards our left, as if with the intention of 
 making a circuitous march, and coming down on the Hartford 
 and York roadi. Generals Winder and Strieker were ordered to 
 adapt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to baffle this 
 supposed intention. They executed this order with great skill and 
 Judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching from 
 my left acrots the country, when the enemy was likely to ap- 
 proach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement in- 
 duced the enemy to concentrate hi!* forces (between one and two 
 o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile of us, 
 driving in our videttes, and shewing an intention of attacking us 
 that evening. I immediately drew Generals Winder and Strieker 
 nearer to the left of my entrenchments, and to the right of the 
 •nemy, with the intention of their falling on his right or rear. 
 
 3 
 
 H.' 
 
429 
 
 SKElfCHES Ot 
 
 should he attack me ; or if he declined it, of attaeliing him in the 
 morning. To this movement and to the strength of my defences^ 
 which the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observing, 1 am 
 induced to attribute his retreat, which commenced at half past 
 one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he was so favoured 
 by the extreme darkness and a continued rain, that we did not 
 discover it until daylight. I consented to General Winder's pur< 
 suing with the Virginia brigade and the U. S. dragoons ; at the 
 same time Major Randal was dispatched with his light corps in 
 pursuit of the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia cav- 
 alry was put in motion for the same object. All the troops were, 
 however, so worn out with continued watchiug, and with being 
 under arms during three days and nights, exposed the great- 
 er part of the time to very inclement weather, that it was 
 found impracticable to do any thing more than pick up a few strag- 
 glers. The enemy commenced his embarkation that evening, and 
 completed it the next day at one o'clock. It would have been 
 impossible, even had our troops been in a condition to act offen- 
 sively, to have cut off any part of the enemy's rear guard during 
 the embark::;ion, as the point where it was effected was defended 
 from onr approach by a line of defences extending from Back Ri- 
 ver to Humphrey's Cre(rk on the Pa tapsco^ thrown up by ourselves 
 previous to their arrival. 
 
 ** I have now the pleasure of calling your attention to the 
 brave commander of fort M'Henry,* Major Armstead, and to the 
 operations confined to that quarter. The enemy made bis ap- 
 proach by water at the same time that his army was advancing 
 on the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rockets 
 at the fort as soon as he got within range of it. The situation of 
 Major Armstead waff peculiarly trying....the enemy having takeo 
 his position at such a distance as to render oftinslve operations on 
 the part of the fort entirely fruitless, while their bombs and rock- 
 ets were every moment falling in and about it....the officers and 
 men being at the same time entirely exposed. The vessels, how- 
 ever, had the temerity to approach somewhat neftrer....tbey were 
 as soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the 
 c.nemy on land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was 
 the most severe, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeed- 
 ed in getting up the Feiry Branch ; but they were soon compel- 
 led to retire, by the forts in that quarter, commanded by Lieuten- 
 ant Newcomb of the navy, and Lieutenant Webster of the flotil- 
 la. These forts also destroyed one of the barges, with all on 
 board. The barges and battery at the Lazaretto, under the com- 
 mand of Lieutenant Rutter of the flotilla, kept up a brisk and it is 
 
 * ITsrt M'llenry it aboQt S ntMei from the Ufj of ftaldcnmi 
 
. i i i; ■ w 
 
 I r 
 
 TUK WAfi.. 
 
 4ifl> 
 
 believed a afuccessful fire during the hottest petiod of the bombard«> 
 meot. The loss in fort M'Henry was 4 killed and 24 wounded^ 
 amongst the former I have to lament the fail of Lieutenants Cla- 
 gett and Clamm> who were both estimable citizens and useful of- 
 ficers. 
 
 *'0f General Strieker's brigade, the number of killed and 
 wounded amounts to about 150....among the former this city has 
 to regret the loss of its representative in the state legislature, 
 James Lowry Donaldsv'^n, esquire, adjutant of the 27th regiment. 
 I This gentleman will ever be remembered by his constituents for 
 bis zeal and talents, and by his corps for his bravery and militar}' 
 knowledge.' 
 
 '* I cannot conclude this report without informing you of the 
 
 I great aid I have derived from Commodore Rodgers. He was ev • 
 
 I er present and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to ren- 
 
 der his important services. His presence, with that of his gal- 
 
 laot officers and seamen, gave confidence to every one. 
 
 " The enemy's loss, in his attempt on Baltimore, amounts, at 
 near as we can ascertain, to between 6 and 700 killed, wounded 
 and mis8ing....6en. Ross is certainly killed." 
 
 Soon after his repulse at Baltimore, the enemy withdrew the 
 greater part of his squadron from the Chesapeake, leaving how- 
 ever a sufficient number of vessels to maraud and harrass the in- 
 habitants contiguous to the shores of the bay and rivers which 
 empty into it. In the depredations of the enemy, (although 
 not so numerous as formerly) a degree of brutality was oftentimes 
 exhibited, wholly unworthy the character of civilized beings. Per- 
 haps a great share of this conduct was attributable to the com- 
 mander of the squadron, Cockburn. From various sources, we 
 have observed statements of the unprincipled trctions of this man. 
 He has appeared, in ever}- situation in which our countrymen have 
 seen him, totally devoid of honour or honesty ; and as one posset- 
 sing a savage and ferocious disposition, more fit to be ranked 
 with beasts of prey, than with human beings. 
 
 Etumy in the Rappahann6ek,„..Ahout the 1st of December^ 
 1814, a British 74 and 5 frigates appeared off the mouth of the 
 Rappahannock, a large navigable river in Virginia, which enters 
 into the Chesapeake bay. They manned^a number of barges and 
 other small vessels, and proceeded up the river with all their dis- 
 posable force, consisting of about 2000. The next day they took 
 possession of the village of Tappahannock, without much opposi- 
 tion, the militia coming in too slowly for the rapid movements of 
 the enemy. At this village the enemy burnt the courthouse, 
 jail, collector's office, clerk's office, a large ware house, and 
 
 ill:lt'.'lli 
 
 f 
 
 km 
 
430 
 
 SK&TCHKS 0» 
 
 ,miu ift -tk.'W^ A. iir^viM 
 
 destroyed a large amount of private property ; they alio com- 
 mitted many acts of barbarism and violence upon the holy sanctu^ 
 ary and the depository of the dead. On the 4th they returned 
 down the river, and had several brushes with the militia in ths 
 passage, in one of which, near Franham Church, they acknowl- 
 edged a loss of 16 killed and 31 wounded. The militia had only 
 two killed.....In another, it was supposed that every man in one of 
 their barges, except two, were killed. Ten or twelve prisoners 
 also were taken, and several of their men deserted. Captain 
 Shackleford, then of the house of delegates of Virginia, with 
 about 60 of his artillerists^ encountered 400 of the enemy, with 
 the utmost intrepidity. He gave them several fires v^ith his two 
 pieces of ordnance, and drove them from the plain. Eventually 
 Captain Shackleford was wounded and taken prisoner. The en* 
 emy paroled him, with compliments on his conduct. 
 
 The whole loss of the enemy in this excursion was upwards o{ 
 100 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Our loss was 5 or 6 killed 
 and wounded. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 i<Javal.,».Cruise of the Essex„»»jiction at Valparaiso, and less 
 
 T of the Essex..„The j4Uigator.,»,Cruise of Com. Rodgers,». 
 Capture of the Britith brig Epervier.„.Crmse of the Wasp*,,, 
 
 ■ Capture of the Reindeer and Avon„„Cruise of the Peacock,.,. 
 Gun-boat action,...Private armed vessels....Destruetion of the 
 General Armstrong..,.British vessels captured daring the year 
 
 r 1814. 
 
 The £s5e«....Capt. Porter of the U. S. frigate Essex, proceeded 
 to sea from the Delaware, on the 27th of October, 1812, and re* 
 paired, agreeably to instructions from Commodore B^inbridge, to I 
 the coast of Brazil, where different places of rendezvous had been | 
 arranged between them. In the course of his cruise on this coast 
 he captured his Britannic majesty's packet Nocton, and after 
 taking out of her about 11,000 pounds sterling in specie, ordered 
 her for America. Hearing of Commodore Bainbridge's victorious 
 action with the Java, which would oblige him to return to port, 
 and of the capture of the Hornet by the Montague, and learning 
 that there was a considerable augmentation of British force on 
 the coast, and several ships m pursuit of him, he abandoned bis 
 hazardous cruising ground^ and stretched away to the southward, 
 scouring the coast as far as Rio de la Plata. From thence be 
 shaped h\^ cotirse for ;he Pacific Ocean, and, after suffering great- 
 
li •>■ 
 
 ^*, VHS WAR. 
 
 ■4v ■ 
 
 43i 
 
 I; for want of provisions and heavy gales off Cape Horn, arrived 
 at Valparaiso, CD the 1 4th of March, 1819. Having victualled 
 bis ship, he ran down the coast of Chili and Peru, and fell in with 
 a Peruvian corsair, having on board twenty-four Americans, as 
 prisoners, the crews of two whaling ships, which she had taken 
 on the coast of Chili. The Peruvian captain justified his conduct 
 on the plea of being an ally of Great Britahi, and the expectation 
 likewise of a speedy war between Spain and the United Statear. 
 Finding him resolved to persist in similar aggressions. Captain 
 Porter threw all his guns and ammunition into the sea, liberated 
 the Americans, and wrote a respectful letter to the viceroy ex- 
 plaining his reasons for so doing, which he delivered to the cap- 
 tain. He then proceeded to Lima, and luckily recaptu""'* ~ne of 
 the American .vessel as she was entering the port. 
 
 After^his he cruised for several months in the Pacific, inflicting; 
 immense injury on the British commerce in those waters. He 
 was particularly destructive to the shipping employed in the sper- 
 maceti whale fishery. A great number with valuable cargoes 
 were captured; two were given up to the prisoners; three sent 
 to Valparaiso and laid up ; three sent to America ; one of them 
 he retained as a storeship, and another he Equipped with twenty 
 guns, called the Essex junior, and gave the command of her to 
 Lieutenant Downes. Most of these ships mounted several guns, 
 and had numerous crews ; and as several of them were captured 
 by boats or by prizes, the officers and men of the Essex had 
 frequent opportunities of showing their skill and courage, and of 
 acquiring experience and confidence in naval conflict. 
 
 Having now a little squadron under his command. Captain Por- 
 ter became a complete terror in those seas. As his numerous 
 prizes supplied him abundantly with provisions, clothing, medicine, 
 and naval stores of every description, he was enabled for a long 
 time to keep the sea, without sickness or inconvenience to his 
 crew ; living entirely on the enemy, and being enabled to make 
 considerable advances of pay to his officers and crew without 
 drawing on government. The unexampled devastation achieved 
 by his daring enterprizes, not only spread alarm throughout the 
 ports of the Pacific, but even occasioned great uneasiness in Great 
 Britain. . -S 
 
 Numerous ships were sent out to the Pacific in pursuit of him ; 
 others were ordered to cruise in the China seas, off New Zealand, 
 Timor and New Holland, and a frigate sent to the river La Plata. 
 The manner in which Captain Porter cruised, however, complete- 
 ly baffled pursuit. Keeping in the open seas, or lurking among 
 the numerous barren and desolate islands that form the Gallipagoc 
 groupe, and never touching on the American coast, he left ne 
 traces by which he could be followed ;rttoiour, while it niagnifi- 
 
 '? riii. 
 
4:32 
 
 SKK'icHKS OP 
 
 
 
 ed his exploits, threw his pursuers at fault ; they were distracted 
 by vague accounts of captures made at different places, and of 
 frigates supposed to be the Essex hovering at the same time off 
 diff«r«nt coasts and haunting different islands. 
 
 In the mean while Porter, though wrapped in mystery and un> 
 certainty himself, yet received frequent and accurate accounts of 
 his enemies, from the various prizes which he had taken. Lieut. 
 Downesj also, who bad convoyed the prizes to Valparaiso, on hit 
 return, brought advices of the expected arrival of Commodore 
 Hillyar in the Phoebe frigate rating tbirty«six guns accompanied 
 .by two sloops of war. Glutted with spoil and havoc, and sated 
 with the easy and inglorious captures of merchantmen, Captain 
 Porter now felt eager for an opportunity to meet the enemy on 
 equal terms, and to signalize his cruise by some brilliant achieve- 
 ment. Having been nearly a year at sea, he found that his ship 
 would require some repairs, to enable her to face the foe ; he re- 
 paired, therefore, aocompanied by several of his prizes, to the Ul^ 
 and of Nooaheev&h, one of the Washington groupe, discovered by 
 a Captain Ingraham of Boston. Here he landed, took formal pot- 
 session of the island in the name of the government of the Uni- 
 ted States, and gave it the name of Madison's Island. He found 
 rt large, populous and fertile, abounding with the necessaries of 
 life ; the natives in the vicinity of the harbour which he had cho- 
 sen received him in the moat friendly manner, and supplied him 
 with abundance of provisions. During his stay at this place he 
 had several encounters with some hostile tribes on the island, 
 whom he succeeded in reducing to subjection. Having calked 
 
 ■i- and completely overhaled the ship, made for her a . new set of 
 
 |> water casks, and taken on board from the prizes provisions and 
 stores for upwards of four months, he sailed for the coast of Chili 
 on the 12th December, 1813. FVeviods to sailing he secured the 
 
 'tiithree prizes which had accompanied him, under the guns of a bat- 
 tery erected for their protection, and left them in charge of Lieut. 
 
 ;. Gamble of the marines and twenty*one men, with orders to pro- 
 
 |ceed to Valparaiso after a certain period. 
 
 # After cruising on the coast of Chili without success, he proceed 
 4 ed to Valparaiso, in hopes of falling in with Commodore Hillyar, 
 
 or, if disappointed in this wish, of capturing some merchant ships 
 
 * said to be expected from England. While at anchor at this port 
 , Comnnodore Hillyar arrived, having long been searching in vain 
 ^foT the Essex, and almost despairing of ever meeting with her. 
 .^iiContrary to the expectationd of Capt. Porter, however, Commo- 
 ^•dore Hillyar, beside his own frigate, superior in itself to the Essex, 
 twas accompanied by the Cherub sloop of War, strongly armed and 
 t manned. These ships, having been sent out expressly to seek for 
 
 •J he Essex, were in prime order and equipment, with picked crewe, 
 
 m:h- 
 
t i' 
 
 ' i^' i 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 43i 
 
 e diitracted 
 ices, and of 
 ame time off 
 
 ttery and un- 
 
 e accounts of 
 
 ftken. Lieut. 
 
 >araitO| on bit 
 
 ' Commodore 
 
 accompanied 
 
 roc, and sated 
 
 tmen, Captain 
 
 the enemy on 
 
 Uiant achieve- 1 
 
 1 that his ship 
 
 he foe ; he re- 1 
 
 izes, to the hwl 
 
 , discovered by 
 
 >ok formal pot- 
 
 »nt of the Uni-I 
 
 nd. He found 
 
 ; necessaries of I 
 
 ch he had cho- 
 
 i supplied him 
 
 t this place he 
 
 I on the island,! 
 
 laving calMl 
 
 a new set of I 
 
 provisions and I 
 
 > coast of Chilli 
 
 le secured the I 
 
 guns of a ba}* 
 
 large of Lieut. 
 
 orders to pro- 1 
 
 M,he proceed ! 
 lodore HillyaTil 
 lerchant ships! 
 lor at this porti 
 rching in vainl 
 ling with her.l 
 |ever, Comnw-r 
 [f to the EssexJ 
 
 rly armed and! 
 Ely to seek fori 
 
 picked creweJ 
 
 and hoisted flags bearing the motto " God and country, British 
 sailors' best rights : traitors offend both.** This was in opposition 
 to Porter's motto of " Free trade and sailors* rights/' and the 
 latter part of it suggested doubtless, by error industriously cher- 
 ished, that our crews are chiefly composed of English seamen. In 
 reply to this motto Porter hoisted at his mizen, " God, our country, 
 and liberty : tyrants offend them." On entering the harbour the 
 Phoebe fell foul of the Essex in such manner as to lay her at the 
 mercy of Captain Porter ; out of respect, however, to the neu- 
 trality of the port, he did not take advantage of her exposed sit* 
 nation. This forbearance was afterwards acknowledged by Com- 
 modore Hillyar, and he passed his word of honour to ubtterve 
 like conduct while they remained in port. They continued there- 
 fore, while in harbour end on shore, in the mutual exchange of 
 courtesies and kind offices that should characterise the private in- 
 tercourse between civilized and generous enemiesw And the 
 crews of the respective ships often mingled together and passed 
 nautical jokes and pleasantries from one to the other. 
 
 On getting their provisions on board, the Phoebe and Cherub 
 went ofT the port, where they cruised for six weeks, rigorously 
 blockading Captain Porter. Their united force amounted to 81 
 guns and 500 men, in addition to which they took on board the 
 crew of an English letter of marqu» lyirfg in port. The force of 
 the Essex consisted of but 46 guns, all of which, excepting six long 
 twelves, were 22 pound carronades, only serviceable in close 
 fighting. Her crew, having been much reduced by the manning 
 of prizes, amounted to but 255 men. The Essex junior being only 
 intended as a storeship, mounted ten 18 pound carronades and 
 ten short sixes with a complement of only 60 men. 
 
 This vast superiority of force on the part of the enemy prevent- 
 ed all chance of encounter, on any thing like equal terms, unless 
 by express covenant between the commanders. Captain Porter, 
 therefore, endeavoured repeatedly to provoke a challenge, (the 
 inferiority of his frigate to the Phoebe not justifying him in making 
 the challenge himself,) but without effect. He tried frequently 
 also to bring the Phoebe into single action ; but this Commodore 
 Hillyar warily avoided, and always kept his ships so close togeth- 
 er as to frustrate Captain Porter's attempts. 
 
 Finding it impossible to bring the enemy to equal combat ; and 
 fearing the arrival of additional force, whioh he understood was on 
 the way. Captain Porter determined to put to sea the first oppor- 
 tunity that should present. A rendezvous was accordingly ap- 
 pointed for the Essex junior, and having ascertained by repeated 
 trials that the Essex was a superior sailer to either of the block- 
 ading ships, it was agreed that she should let the enemy chase 
 her off; thereby giving the Esses junior an opportiinity of es- 
 oaping. 
 
 3 1 
 
 ■•w. 
 
 C 
 
 1,1 ,. 
 I i 
 
 
434 
 
 SKhTCUKS OB 
 
 On the uext day, the 28th March, the wiod came on to blovy 
 {resh from the southward, and the Esiex parted her larboard ca 
 ble and dragged her starboard anchor directly out to sea. Not a 
 moment wai lost in getting sail on the ship ; but perceiving that 
 the enemy was close in with the point forming the west side of 
 the bay, and that there was a possibility of passing to windward, 
 and escaping to sea by superior sailing. Captain Porter resolved 
 to hazard the attempt. He accordingly took in his top-gallant- 
 sails and braced up for the purpose, but most unfortunately on 
 rounding the point a heavy squall struck the ship and carried 
 away her main top*mast, precipitating the men who were aloft 
 into the sea, .who were drowned. Both ships now gave chase, 
 and the crippled state of his ship left Porter no alternative but to 
 endeavour to regain the port. Finding it impossible to get back 
 to the common anchorage, he ran close into a small bay about 
 three quarters of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east of 
 the harbour, and let go his anchor within pistol shot of the shore. 
 Supposing the enemy would, as formerly, respect the neutrality 
 of the place, he considered himself secure, and thought only of 
 repairing the damages he had sustained. The wary and mena- 
 cing approach of the hostile ships, however, displaying their motto 
 flags and having jacks at all their masts' heads, soon showed him 
 the real danger of his situation. With all possible despatch he 
 got his ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get a spring on 
 his cable, but had not succeeded, when^ at 64 minutes past 3 P. 
 M. the enemy commenced an attack. 
 
 At first the Phoebe lay herself under his stern and the Cherub 
 on his starboard bow ; but the latter soon finding herself exposed 
 to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stern also, where both 
 ships kept up a severe and laking fire. Captain Porter succeeded 
 three different times in getting springs on his cables, for the pur- 
 pose of bringing his broadside to bear on the enemy, bit they 
 were as often shot away by the excessive fire to which he was 
 exposed. He was obliged, therefore, to rely, for defence against 
 this tremendous attack merely on three long 12 pounders, which 
 he had run out of the stern ports ; and which were worked with 
 such bravery and skill, as in half an hour to do great injury to 
 both the enemy's ships, and induce them to hale off and repair 
 damages. It was evidently the intention of Commodore Hillyar 
 to risk nothing from the daring courage of his antagonist, but to 
 take the Eatex at as cheap a rate as possible. Ail bis manoeu- 
 vres were deliberate and wary ; be saw his antagonist completely 
 at bis mercy, and prepared to cut him up in the safest and surest 
 manner, in the mean time the situation of the Essex was galting 
 and provoking in the extreme ; crippled and shattered, with ma* 
 ny killed and wounded, she lay awaiting the convenience of the 
 ?iemy, to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope of I 
 
* TUk WAR. 
 
 496 
 
 to blow 
 >oar(!l CQ 
 . Not* 
 ring that 
 It aide of 
 nndward, 
 r reaolved 
 >p-gallant- 
 
 natel> on 
 id carried 
 were aloft 
 «vc chasCi 
 itive but to 
 to get back 
 I bay about 
 
 the ea»t of 
 ►f the shore. 
 e neutrality 
 ght only of 
 t and meoa- 
 
 their motto 
 showed him 
 despatch he 
 
 a tpring on 
 ies past 3i P* 
 
 eiOBpe or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of being 
 disheartened, were aroused to d(>8peration, and by hoisting en- 
 signs in their rigging, and jacks in different parts of the ship,evin' 
 ced their defiance and determination to hold out to the last. 
 
 The enemy having repaired his damages, now placed himself, 
 with both his ships, on the starboard quarter of the Essex, out Of 
 reach of her oarronadcs, and where her stern guns could not be 
 brought to bear. Here he kept up a most destructive fire, which 
 it was not in Captain Porter's power to return ; the latter, there* 
 fore, saw no hope of injuring him vvithout geUing under way and 
 becoming the assailant. From the mangled state of his rigging, 
 he could set no other sail than the flying jib ; this he caused to be 
 hoisted, out his cable, and ran down on both ships, with an inten- 
 tion of laying the Phoebe on board. 
 
 For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy, and 
 the firing on both sides was tremendous. The decks of the Es- 
 sex were strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled with wound* 
 ed ; she had been several times on fire, and was in fact a perfect 
 wreck ; itiU a feebje hope sprung up that she might be saved, in 
 consequence of the Cherub being compelled to hale off by her 
 crippled state; she did not return to close action again, but kept 
 up a distant firing with her long guns. The disabled state of the 
 Essex, however, did not permit her to take advantage of this cir> 
 cumstance ; for want of sail she was unable to keep at close 
 quarters with the Phoebe, who, edging off*, chose the distance 
 which best suited her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire^ 
 which made dreadfiil havoc among our crew. Many of the guns 
 of the Essex were rendered useless, and many had their whole 
 crews destroyed....they were manned from those that were disa- 
 bled, and one gnn in particular was three times manned; 15 men 
 were slain at it in the course of the action, though the captain of 
 it escaped with only a slight wound. Captain Porter now gave 
 up all hope of dosing with the enemy, but finding the wind fa- 
 vouraUe, determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and 
 destroy her. He had approached within musket shot ot the shore, 
 and had every prospect of succeeding, when, in an instant, the 
 wind shiAed from the land and drove her down upon the Phoebe, 
 exposing her again to a dreadful raking fire. The ship was now 
 totally unmanageable ; yet as her head was toward the enemy, 
 and he to leeward. Captain Porter again perceived a faint hope of 
 boarding. At this moment Lieutenant I^ownes, of the Essex jun- 
 nr, came on board to receive orders, expecting that Captain Por 
 ter would soon be a prisoner. His services could be of no avail 
 u the deplorable state of the Essex, and finding from the enemy'js 
 putting his helm up, that the last attempt at boarding would not 
 succeed. Captain Porter directed him, after he had been ten min- 
 utes on board, to return to his own shiD» to be prepan^d for di»- 
 
 .ii* 
 
436 
 
 .NKkTCHfcS on 
 
 fending and destroying her in care of attnck. He tooi< with him 
 feveral of the wounded, leaving three of his boat^s crew on board 
 to makr room for them. The Cheiub kept up a hot fire on him 
 during hit return. The slaughter on board of the Essex now be- 
 came horrible ; the enemy continued to rake her, while she was 
 unable to bring a gun to bear in return. Still her commander, 
 with an obstinacy that bordered on desperation, persisted in tht 
 unequal and almost hopfcless conflict. Every expedient that a 
 fertile and inventive mind could suggest was resorted to, in the 
 forlorn hope that they might yet be enabled by some lucky chance 
 to escape irom the grasp of the foe. A halser was bent to the 
 sheet anchor, and the Huchor cut from the bows, to bring the ship's 
 head round. This succeeded ; the broadside of the Essex was 
 again brought to bear ; and as the enemy was much crippled and 
 unable to aold his own. Captain Porter thought she might drift 
 out of guut;hot before she discovered that he had anchored. The 
 halser, however, unfortunately paited, and with it failed the last 
 Ijngeriaig hope of the Essex. The ship had taken fire several times 
 diiriDg the action, but at this moment her situation was awful. 
 She was on fire both forward and aft ; the flames were bursting 
 up each hatchway ; a large quantity of powder below exploded, 
 and word was given that the fire was near the magazine. Thus 
 surrounded by horrors, without any chance of saving the ship, 
 CaptHin Porter turned his attention to rescuing as many of his 
 brnve companions as possible. Finding his distance from the 
 shore, did not exceed three quarters of a mile, he hoped many 
 would be able to save themselves should the ship blow up. His 
 boats had been cut to pieces by the enemy's shot, but he advised 
 such as could swim to jump overboard and make for shore. Some 
 reached it.. ..some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in 
 thf attempt; but most of this loyal 'and gallant crew preferred 
 sharing the fate of their ship and their commander. 
 
 Those who remained on board now endeavoured to extinguish 
 thd flames, and having succeeded, went again to the guns and 
 kept up a firing for a few minutes ;. but the crew had by this time 
 become so weakened that all further resistance was in vain. Cap- 
 tain Porter summoned a consultation of the officers of divisions, 
 but was surprised to find only acting Lieutenant Stephen Decatur 
 M'Kiiight remaining ; of the others some had been killed, others 
 knockedi overboard, and others carried below disabled by severe 
 wounds. The accounts from every part of tne ship were deplo- 
 rable in the extreme ; representing her in the most shattered and 
 crippled condition, in immment danger of sinking, and socrowded 
 with the wounded that even the birth deck could^cootain no more, 
 and many wert^ killed while under the surgeon's hands* In the 
 mean while the enemy, in consequence of the smoothness of the 
 water and his secure distance, wai enabled to keep up a delibe- 
 
THE WAA. 
 
 437 
 
 tate and comtant lire, aimiog with coolneii and certainty as if 
 firing at a target, and hitting the hull at every ahot. At length, 
 utterly deapairing of saving the ship. Captain Porter was com* 
 pelled, at 20 minutes past P. M. to give the painful order to 
 itrike the colours. It is probable the enemy did not perceive that 
 the ship had surrendered, for he continued firing ; several men 
 were killed and wounded in different parts of the ship, and Cap- 
 tain Porter thinking he intended to show no quarter, was about to 
 rehoist his flag and to fight until he sunk, when the enemy de- 
 listed his attack ten minutes after the surrender. 
 
 The foregoing account of this battle is taken almost verbatim 
 from the letter of Captain Porter to the secretary of the navy. 
 Making every allowance for its being a partial statement, this 
 mutt certainly have been one of the most sanguinary and obsti* 
 nately contested actions on naval record. The loss of the Essex 
 is a sufficient testimony of the desperate bravery with which she 
 was defended. Out of 256 men whieh comprised h r crew, fifty 
 eight were killed ; thirty-nine wounded severely ; twenty-seven 
 slightly; and thirty-one missing, making in all 154. She war 
 completely cut to pieces, and so covered with the dead arvJ dyii g, 
 with mangled limbs, with brains and blood, and all the gh < tly 
 images of pain and death, that the officer who came on board to 
 take possession of her, though accustomed to scenes of slaughter, 
 was struck with sickening horror, and fainted at the sho-^Virg 
 spectacle. 
 
 Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were spect tiOra of 
 the battle, covering the neighbouring heights : for it was fought 
 so near the shore that some of the shot even struck among the cit- 
 izens, who, in the eagerness of their curiosity, had ventured 
 down upon the beach. Touched by the forlorn situation of the 
 Essex, and filled with admiration at the unflagging spirit and per- 
 severing bravery of her commander and crew, a generous anxiety 
 ran throughout the multitude for their fate : bursts of delight arose 
 when, by any vicissitude of battle, or prompt expedient, a chance 
 seemed to turn up in their favour ; and the eager spectators were 
 seen to wring their hands, and uttered groans c." ?y'mpathy, when 
 the transient hope was defeated, and the gallani 1 Ue frigate once 
 more became an unresisting object of deliberate slaughter. 
 
 Though, from the distance and positions which the enemy 
 chose, this battle was chiefly fought on onr part by six tvi'elve 
 pounders only, yet great damage was done to the assailing ships. 
 Theic masts and yards were badly crippled, their hulls much cut 
 up; the Phoebe, especially, reciuved 18 twelve pound shot below 
 her water line, some three feet under water. Their loss in killed 
 and wounded was not ascertained, but must have been severe ; 
 the first lieutenant of the Phoebe was killed, and Captain Tuuher, 
 of the Cherub, was severely wounded. It was with some dlffi- 
 
 #: 
 
 • 
 
 '; .'f 
 
 , ,fc ,. 
 
410 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 culty that the Pho»bc and the Essex could be kept afloat until they 
 anchored the next morning in the port of Valparaiso. 
 
 Much indignation has been expressed against Commodore Hill- 
 yar for hit violation of the laws of nations, and of his private 
 agreement with Captain Porter, by attacking him in the neutral 
 vi'aters of Valparaiso ; waving all discussion of these points, it 
 may barely be observed, that his cautious attack with a vastly su 
 perior force, on a crippled ship, which, relying on his forbearance, 
 had placed herself in a most defenceless situation, and which for 
 six weeks previous had offered him fair fight, on advantageous 
 tetmt, though it may reflect great credit on hit prudence, yet 
 certainly furnishes no triumph to a brave and generout mind. 
 
 CaptaCin Porter and his crew were paroled, ^nd permitted to re- 
 turn to the United States in the Essex junior, her armament being 
 previously taken out. On arriving off" the port of New-Yoik, 
 they were overhaled by the Saturn razee, the authority of Com- 
 modore Hilly»r to grant a passport was questioned, and the Es- 
 sex junior detained. Captain Porter then told the boarding offi- 
 cer that he gave up his parole, and considered himself a priioner 
 of war, and at such thould use all means of escape. In conse* 
 quence of this threat the Eseex junior was ordered to remain all 
 night under the lee of the Saturn, but the next morning Captain 
 Porter put off* in his boat, though thirty miles from shore ; and, 
 notwithstanding he was pursued by the Saturn, effected bis escape, 
 and landed safely on Long Island. His reception in the United 
 States has been such as hit great services and distinguished vak)ur 
 deterved. The various interesting and romantic rumouri that 
 had reached thi,^ country concerning him, during hie cruise inthej 
 Pacific, had exc led the curiosity of the public to see this modern 
 -Sinbad ; on arriving in New- York his carriage was turrounded 
 by the populace, who took out the horses, and dragged him, with 
 shouts and acclamations, to his lodgings. 
 
 The ^//tgator.....Toward8 the latter part of January, 1814, the 
 &. S. schooner Alligator, mounting 8 or 10 gunt, with a comple- 
 ment of 40 men. was attacked in Stono river (tix miles couth o> 
 the channel cf Charleston, S. C.) by 6 boatt irom the enemy's 
 squadron off the mouth of the river, having on board 140 men, 
 and succeeded in beating them off, after a warm actk>n of 90 mi- 
 nutes, in which the enemy suffered very severely. The joss on 
 board tk'.e Alligator wat 2 killed and 2 wounded. Great credit is 
 due to her commander, Sailing-Master Dent, and crew, for defeat* 
 ing a force so greatly superior in numbers.* 
 
 The Ain{f«tor w»' af'crwnrtf Icxit in • ipvcw g«Ie, and II of ^u^r ntn drawocd. 
 
THS WAR. 
 
 43tf 
 
 
 E until they 
 
 lodoie Hill- 
 his private 
 the neutral 
 te points, it 
 a vaatly su 
 brbearance, 
 
 which for 
 Ivantageoui 
 idence, yet 
 I nsind. 
 onitted to re- 
 ament being 
 
 New*Yotk, 
 rity of Com- 
 , and the £i- 
 toarding offi- 
 >lf a prisoner 
 >. In come* 
 
 Cruise qf Commodort R9dgers.,.,.0B the l^tb of February^ 
 
 I Commodore Rodgers arrived at Sandy Hook, off Newyork, after 
 
 |i oruiae of 75 days, during which he captured a number of British 
 
 I merchant vessels, and narrowly escaped at different times, a vevj 
 
 mperior force of the enemy. 
 
 Capture of the £pervter.....On the 20th of April, in lat, 27 47, 
 loog. 80 0, the U. S. sloop of war Peacock, Captain Warrington, 
 of 20>gun8 and 160 men, captured, after an action of 42 minutes, 
 {the British brig Epervier of 18 guos and 128 men, having on board 
 120,000 dollars in specie. The loss on board the Epervier wat 
 |8 killed and 13 wounded ; among the latter was her 1st lieuten- 
 t, who lost an arm and received a severe splinter wound on 
 lie htp. Not a man in the Peacock was killed, and only two 
 aded ; and the injury sustained by the vessel was so trifling 
 it in 15 minutes after the Epervier struck, she was ready tm 
 iBotner action. 
 When the enemy struck, he had five feet of water in his hold, 
 ii main topmast was over the side, his main boom shot away, his 
 iremas; cut nearly in two and tottering, Kis bowsprit badly woun- 
 to remain all Bled, and 45 shot holes in his hull, 20 of which were within a footk» 
 ling Captain |tf his water line. By great exertions, the Epervier was got in 
 iling order in the course of the day. 
 
 On the Istof May, the Epervier arrived at Savannah; and oa 
 4th, the Peacock reached the same place, after having been 
 parated from her prize and chased for four or five days by a su- 
 rior force of enemy';; vessels. 
 
 shore ; and, 
 
 d bis escape, 
 n the United 
 
 lished valour 
 Irumours that 
 
 IS cruise inthe 
 this modern 
 
 s surrounded 
 
 Cruise of the 1Vasp,^.X)n die 1st of May, the U. S. sloop of 
 r Wasp, of 18 guns and 173 men. Captain Blakely command 
 ed him, with |tr, sailed from Portsmouth, N. H. on a cruise, and on the 28th of 
 me, in lat. 48 36, long. 11 19, after havuig made several cap* 
 ires, she fell in with, engaged, and after an action of 10 minutes, 
 ptured his Britannic majesty's sloop of war Reindeer, William 
 anners, esquire, commander. The Reindeer mounted sixteen 
 pound carronades, two long 6 or pounders, and a shifting 12 
 lod oarronade, with a complement on board of 118 men. She 
 IS literally cut to pieces in a line with her ports ; her upper 
 rks, boats and spare spars were one complete wreck, and a 
 ireeze springing up the day &fter the actioni her foremast went by 
 the board ; when the prisoners having been taken on board the 
 Mp, she was set on fire and soonl>lew u^. 
 The loss on board the Reindeer was 23 killed and 42 wounded, 
 r captain being among the former. On board the Wasp 9 were 
 ed and 21 wounded. More than one half of the wounded en- 
 my were, in consequence of the severity and extent of their 
 •unds, put on board a Portuguese brig and sent to England • 
 
 y, 1814, the 
 
 Itb a comple- 
 
 liles couth o> 
 
 |the enemy's 
 
 rd 140 men, 
 
 >n of 30 mi- 
 
 The )oss on 
 
 ^eat credit is 
 
 for defeat' 
 
 IdrowiMd. 
 
 - k 
 
 
 
 I, i. 
 
 
 
 l/- 
 
 i 
 
 
 .f 
 
 
 
440 
 
 SKBTCmS OV 
 
 The Ion of the Americans, although not as severe as that of the 
 British, was owing, in a degree, to the proximity of the two 
 vessels during the action, and the extreme smoothness of the sea, 
 but chiefly in repelling boarders. 
 
 On the 8th of July, the Wasp put into L'Orient, France, after 
 capturing an additional number of prizes, where she remained uq. 
 til the 27th of August, when she again sailed on a cruise. On 
 the 1st of September she fell in with the British sloop of war 
 Avon, of 20 guns, commanded by Captain Abuthnot, and after an 
 action of 45 minutes, compelled her to surrender, her crew being 
 nearly all killed or wounded. The guns were then ordered to be 
 secured, and a boat lowered from the Wasp in order to take po& j 
 session of the prize. In the act of lowering the boat, a second 
 enemy's vessel was discovered astern and standing towards the 
 Wasp. Captain Blakely immediately ordered his crew to their | 
 quarters, prepared every thing for action, and awaited her coming 
 up. In a few minutes after, two additional sail were discovered j 
 bearing do'vn upon the Wasp. Captain Blakely stood off with 
 the expectation of dra\ving the flrst from its companions ; but in . 
 this he was disappointed. She continued to approach until she 
 came close to the stern of the Wasp, when she haled by the 
 wiad, fired her broadside, (which injured the Wasp but trifling,) 
 and retraced her steps to join her consorts. Captain Blakely was 
 now necessitated to abandon the Avon, which had by this time 
 become a total wreck, and which soon after sunk, the surviving 
 part of her crew having barely time to escape to the other ene- 
 my's vessels. 
 
 On board the Avon 40 were killed and 60 wounded. The lots] 
 sustained by the Wasp was 2 killed and 1 wounded. 
 
 The Wasp afterwards continued her cruise, making great ha 
 voc among English merchant vessels and privateers, destroying anl 
 immense amount of the enemy's property. From the 1st of Ma^f 
 until the 20th of September, she had captured IS vessels, most of| 
 which she destroyed. 
 
 The Peacock, Captain Warrington, arrived at Newyork to- 
 'vVard the latter part of October, from a cruise of 147 days, hav- 
 ing made 14 prizes, valued at 484,222 dollars ; 12 of which 
 were burnt or suiik, and 2 made cartels for prisoners. 
 
 Sir. 
 
 Gun-boat action On the 19th of May, Commodore LewitJ 
 
 commanding the U. S. flotilla on the Newyork station, disooveredl 
 the enemy in pursuit of a brig under American colours, itandingj 
 for Sandy Hook; when he ordered a detachment of 11 gun-boat^ 
 to proceed to sea and pass between the chase and the enemy, bjf 
 which means to bring him to actioi^ and give opportunity to the 
 
 violation 
 iaws of 
 the comi 
 (a and 
 «ral An 
 satisfacti 
 in one _ 
 his brave 
 
 The 
 »f the 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 4C1 
 
 that of the 
 of the two 
 I of the sea, 
 
 ^ance, after 
 emainedim- 
 cruise. On 
 iloop of war 
 and after an 
 r crew being ' 
 ordered to be 
 
 to take posr 
 »at, a second | 
 
 towards the 
 ;iew to their 
 d her coining 
 tre discovered | 
 tood ofT with 
 nions ; but in 
 ach until she 
 
 haled by the! 
 
 p but triaing,) 
 
 Blakely was 
 
 by this time 
 
 the surviving 
 
 the other en^ 
 
 Jed. The lou 
 
 ling great ha 
 1 destroying an 
 he 1st of May I 
 lessels^mostofl 
 
 mewyork to- 
 147 days, hav-l 
 12 of whichi 
 
 fiodore LcwisJ 
 Jon, discoveredl 
 [ours, itaodingj 
 f 11 gun-boair 
 [he enemy» *>y 
 brtunity to the 
 
 (ihase to escape....aU which was elTected ; and the enemy, alit«i 
 Kceiving the fire of the boats bore away. 
 
 On the 23d, Commodore Lewis engaged the enemy before 
 Newlondon, and opened a p^.ssage for 40 sail of coasting vessels : 
 the action lasted 3 hours, *n -vhich the flotilla suffered very little, 
 and night coming on, the action ceased. The enemy's force con- 
 sisted of two ships and a sloop of war, and from appearance suf- 
 fered severely, as be was unwilling to renew the action next 
 morning. 
 
 The sohooner Santee, Captain Leavens, on her way to Amelia 
 Island, with cotton, was captured by the boats of the British fri- 
 gate Lacedemonian, on the 8th of August, and ordered for Ber- 
 muda. On the 10th, at 10 o'clock at night, while under way. 
 Captain Leavens conceived the bold idea of re-capturing his ves- 
 sel alone. He accordingly took the precaution to put out of thie 
 way the axe and wliatever else there was at hand that could be 
 made use of against him. He then armed himself with a.brtce 
 of pistols and sword which weie concealed on board, and com- 
 menced the daring enterprise, by wounding two of the crew, one 
 severely in the leg, when the other three surren4ered to that va- 
 lour which they dare not withstand. Having secured bit prison- 
 ers. Captain Leavens put about bis vessel and stood for Charleston, 
 which (with the assistance of his prisoners, whom he obliged to 
 assist him one at a time,) he reached on the 12th of August, amid 
 the cheerings and acclamations of the citizens. 
 
 The General Jrmstrong,t»»The following letter from John D. 
 Dabuey, esquire, American consul at Fayal, (Portugal,) gives the 
 particulars of a flagrant violation of the neutrality of that 
 port, in an attack upon the privateer General Armstrong, by the 
 enemy. The Armstrong belonged to Nevvyork, and mounted 8 
 long 0*8 and a 24 pounder. 
 
 Fayal, October 0, 1814. 
 
 S1R....I have the honour to state to you that a most outrageous 
 violation of the neutrality of this port, in utter contempt of the 
 laws of civilized nations, has recently been committed here, by 
 the commanders of his Britannic majesty's ships Plantagenet, Ro- 
 ta and Carnation, against the American private armed brig Gen<- 
 eral Armstrong, Samuel C. Reid, commander ; but I have great 
 satisfaction in being able to add, that this occurrence terminated 
 in one of the most brilliant actions on the part of Captain Reid, 
 his brave officers and crew, that can be found on naval record. 
 
 The American brig- came to anchor in this port in the afternoon 
 af the 26th of September, and at sunset of the same day, th« 
 
 3 K 
 
 ', .'I 
 
442 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 above Danied shipt suddenly appeared in tbete roadi ; it beito^ 
 nearly calm in the port, was rather doubtful if the privateer could 
 escape if she got under way, and relying on the justice and good 
 faith of the British captains, it was deemed most prudent to re- 
 main at anchor. A little after dusk Captain Reid seeing some sus- 
 picious movements on the part of the British, began to warp his 
 vessel close under the guns of the castle, and while doing so, he 
 was at sibout 8 o'clock, P. M. approached by four boats froni the 
 ships filled with armed men. After hailing them repeatedly and 
 warning them to keep off, he ordered his men to fire upon them 
 and killed and wounded several men. ' The boats returned the 
 fire and killed one man and wounded the first lieutenant of the 
 privateer, and returned tb their ships ; and, as it was now light 
 moovilight, it waar plainly perceived from the brig as well as from 
 the shore, that a formidable attack was premeditating. Soon ar- 
 tier midnight, 12 or more large boats, crowded with men from 
 the ships, and armed with carronades, swivels and blunderbusses, 
 small arms, &c. attacked the brig ; a severe contest ensued which 
 lasted about 40 minutes and eudjci in the total defeat and partial 
 destruction of the boats, with a most unparalleled carnage on the 
 part of the British. It is estimated by good judges that near four 
 hundred men wefre in the boats when the attack commenced, an^ 
 no doubt exists in the minds of the numerous spectators of the 
 scene, that more fhan one half of theni were killed or wounded; 
 several boats were destroyed ;' two of them remained along side 
 of the bi'ig literally loaded with theic.own dead. From these two 
 boats only seventeen reached the shore alive ; most of them were 
 severely wounded. The whole of the following day the British 
 '* were occupied in burying their dead ; among them were two 
 lieutenants and one midshipman of the Rota....the first iieut. 
 of the Plantagenet, it is said, cannot survive his wounds, and ma- 
 ^' ny of the seamen who reached their ships were mortally wound- 
 ied and have been dying daily. The British, mortified at this sig- 
 nal and unexpected defeat, endeavoured to conceal thle extent of 
 the loss; they admit however that they lost in killed and who 
 have died since the engagement, upwards of 120 of the flower of 
 their officers and men. The captain of the Rota told me he lost 
 70 men from his ship. Two days after this affair took place the 
 British sloops of war Thais and Calypso came into port, when 
 Capt. Lloyd immediately took them into requisition to carry home 
 the wounded officers and seamen. They have sailed for England, 
 one OD the 2d and the other on the 4th inst. each carried 25 \ 
 *' badly wounded. Those who were slightly wounded, to the nuni 
 ber,as I am informed, of about iO, remained on board of their re- 
 spective ships, and sailed last evening for Jamaica. Strict orders j 
 
Tkk WAR. 
 
 443 
 
 were given that the sloops of war should take no letters whatev- 
 cr to England, and those orders were rigidly adhered to. 
 
 In face of the testimony of all ii'ayal, and a number of respecta- 
 ble strangers, who happened to be in this place at the moment, 
 the British commander endeavors to throw the odium of this trans- 
 action on the American captain, Reid, alleclging that he sent the 
 boats merely to reconnoitre the brig, and without any hostile in- 
 tentions ; the pilots of the port did inform them of the privateer 
 the moment they entered the port. To reconnoitre an enemy's 
 vessel in a friendly port, at night, with four boats, carrying, by 
 the best accounts, 120 me% is certainly a strange proceeding ! 
 The fact is, they expected, as the brig Was warping in, that the 
 Americans would not be prepared to receive them, and they had 
 hopes of carrying her by a ** coup de main.'' If any thing could 
 aidd to the baseness of this transaction on the part of the British 
 commander, it is the want of candour openly and boldly to avow 
 the facts. In vain can he expect by such subterfuge to shield him- 
 self from the indigqation of the world,and the merited resentment 
 of bis own government and nation for thus trampling on the sove- 
 reignty of their most ancient and. faithful dlly^ and for the wanton 
 sacrifice of British lives., 
 
 On the part of the Americans the loss was comparatively no- 
 thing ; 2 killed and 7 wounded : of the slain we have to lament 
 the loss of the 2d lieutenant, Mr. Alexander 0. Williams, o^ 
 Newyork, a br^ve and meritorious officer. 
 
 Among the wounded are Messrs. Worth and Johnson, 1st and 
 3d lieutenants ; Captain Reid was thus deprived, eai^ in the ac- 
 tion, of the services of all his lieutenants; but his cool and intre- 
 pid conduct secured him the victory. 
 
 On the morning of the 27th ult. one of the British ships placed 
 herself near the shore and commenced a heavy cannonade on the 
 privateer. Finding further resistance unavailing. Captain Ried 
 ordered her to be abandoned after being partially destroyed, 
 to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemyf who toon af- 
 ter sent their boats and set her on fire. 
 
 At fi> o'clock in the evening (soon a/ter the first attack) I aj)pli* 
 ed to the governor, requesting his excellency to protect the priva- 
 teer, either by.force or by such remonstrance to the commander of 
 the squadron as would cause him to desist from a(ny further at- 
 tempt. The governor indignant at what had passed, but feeling 
 himself totally unable with the slender means he possessed, to resist 
 such a force, took the part of remonstrating, which he did in for- 
 cible but respectful terms. His letter to Captain Lloyd had no 
 other efTect than to produce a menacing reply msulting in the 
 highest degree. Nothing can exceed the indignation of the pub- 
 lic authoritjpit, as well as of all ranks and descriptions of persons 
 
 ,1 -/ 
 
 'H 
 
4i4L 
 
 SKETCHES OV 
 
 
 
 hercj, at this uuprovoked enormity. Such wat the rage of th« 
 British to destroy thiti vessel, that no regard was paid to the safely 
 of the town ; some of the inhabitants were wounded, and a num* 
 ber of houses were much damaged. The strongest representa- 
 tions on this subject are prepared by the governor for his court. 
 
 Since this affair the commander, Lloyd, threatened to send on 
 shore an armed force, and arrest the privateer's crew ; saying, 
 there were many Englishmen among them ; and our poor fellows, 
 afraid of his vengeance, have fled to the mountains several times, 
 and have been harassed extremely. At length. Captain Lloyd, 
 fearful of losing more men if he put bis threats in execution, 
 adopted, this stratagem : he addressed an official letter to the gov- 
 ernor, stating that in the American crew were two men who de- 
 serted from his squadron iq America, and as they were guilty of 
 high treason, he required them to be found and' given up. Ac- 
 cordingly a force was sent int« the country, and the American 
 seamen were arrested and brought to town, and as they could 
 not designate the said pretended deserters, all the seamea hare 
 passed an examination of the British officers, Kut no such persons 
 were to be found among them. I was requested by the governor 
 and' British consul to attend this humiliating examination, as was 
 iilso Captain Reid ;. but we declined to sanction by our presence 
 any such proceedings.. 
 
 Captain Reid has protested against the British commanders of 
 the squadron for the unwarrantable destruction of his vessel in a 
 neutral and friendly port, as also against the government of Por- 
 tugal for their inability to protect him. 
 
 No doubt^his government will feel themselves bocnd to make 
 ample indemnification to the owners, officers and crew of this 
 vessel, for the great loss they have severally sustained. 
 
 i shall, as early as possible, transmit a statement of this trans- 
 action to our minister at Rio Janeiro, for his government. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obe» 
 dieot servant. 
 
 JOHN B. DABNE7. 
 To the. secretary of state of the U. S. Washington. 
 
 LitI V" BritM xtt«U ct^uttd during <*' »««r l»l*-fxiracled/r»m Nib*" mtkty Mgitter. 
 
 Ilrif — ~ whh pravhiom, by th« Fox. 
 
 bcbouacr >«iiry bf tbe Macedunian— ramom* 
 u). 
 
 SIfwp — • br the Hape-^ivettt:d of a quan- 
 tiiy at' dry Koon and Kiven up. 
 
 Sbi|i Wandeter, 7 yuiw, with pbntation 
 «tarti,by the Pniidant tViffate, dtfprived of her 
 light aniHei and iiink 
 
 61iip Kdwaid by do—iiink. 
 
 Sehooni-r Jdnatban .« ith dry Koods and rum 
 liy du. iliriittMl of her cariu aod luitk 
 
 llriK Britannia wiUi •pint.cte. by the Man 
 
 Kehnoncr Cuitisw wiilj fiih and oil, by the 
 Alfiwl. 
 
 Brif Teieilhi with fith, by do-and bunt. 
 
 ahtp— 'oTfOO torn, t^the ChafwuroTBal- 
 timorv. with a lull carpi of croekery. Iiardw-are, 
 while fend, dry lood*, etc. ihe wm under Swediih 
 coloun, but the property was uaauatiaiiBhly 
 Britiib. 
 
 Ship — 40O torn. I lon^ twclre pounder*, 
 with an immi^nwly valuable carco of Turkiih 
 goodf, by the 1 ru ; Ulouded Yaaiifv. 
 
 Ship — — 400ion(, KUttt nine pounders 
 with bide* latkiw. cu. by do 
 
 •|>»i» vcMi I by the Frulic—one di-*tro)-«d, the 
 otbrt nude a cartel of. 
 
 Armed ichoooer, ibnnerly the Amcilean p(k 
 
THS WAR. 
 
 446- 
 
 fiUia BlbrUftt Omjr, with riihand oil, by a 
 niltimore letter of marque 
 
 Skip with dff iCMdi. etc by the letter of 
 
 narque Khooiier Oelille of Baltimore, ami lunk- 
 Hm Uelille hail previouily eaptored ami man' 
 I «d a very valuable vn«el, ami eould mt ipare 
 ludt to man the leroml price. 
 
 Ship — with a Ml canto or druRi, oil, painu, 
 Me. by the V 8 brig Knterpriie 
 
 Brif ^iuperiK wcth lal), by the Mart. 
 
 Uriaih priTaterr Man, i4Kun«,by the U.S. 
 biwi RattlMMke ami Koterprlse. 
 
 Brie Junoi with «U, flth, eto. by the Grand 
 Turk 
 
 Brig VHend* ofHalKkx, with rum, by the Di- 
 nnede of Salem. 
 
 Schooner Sea Flower, by the Taekahoe of 
 Baitt m of c — burn t . 
 
 Schooner Haiard by do. and given up. 
 
 Brig Koveneign, '3'<0 ton* «lth an aiiortcd 
 au|o,by the America- 
 ship INana with qiart, by do. and burnt. 
 
 Schooner nmiiam with tugar, eoflTee and mo- 
 JtnecbytheDiomede. 
 
 Schocnor Mary and Jotepta with ram and to* 
 pr, by do 
 
 Brig Bykar with earthen wwe, hollow ware, 
 rte. by the Foa. 
 
 Schooner Hope with rum, nigarand lime- 
 juice, by the Diomede. 
 
 Brig Rambler with eoflbe, by the Rattletnake 
 •nd ttntfrprtae— burnt- 
 Schooner Elixa with lalt by do. 
 
 Ship Lady Prevott In balUtt, by the Invind- 
 Ue oTialem 
 
 Schooner Swan and Clica, with eaffee, by the 
 Man< 
 
 Schooner — called a Spaniard, bat with a 
 Br'tidi Ueitice and'good piiie, by the Viper 
 
 SdMMner , valuable with dry goods and 
 
 praviiiont. by the Fairy of Baltimore. 
 
 Brig Falcon, aOO tone lO gunt, with dry goodt 
 worth MjMH. (terUng, by the America. 
 
 Brig Huperbby the Man. 
 
 Schooner — with rum and lugar, hgr the 
 Viper. 
 
 bhip -— umlor Ru> ian eotoun, with eotton, 
 by the Saucy Jack— eaigv tuppowd to be Bri- 
 tiih. 
 
 Brig Brothen by the America 
 
 Ship victory, l« gum. by the Viper, with 
 cotton. eoSke,in<iiKO nieaiaguaand bgwood— 
 immentely valuable 
 
 Four valuable ihipc by the Rattlesnake* 
 
 Ship wortha million of iVanca, bf do. 
 
 Urig RIteabeth in baltait. wiA tome valuable 
 dry gfwdt which the waadirctted oC by the Car* 
 oliiie 
 
 Ship Annette Catharine, ealled a Swede, by 
 the Saucy Jack, lliit vetiel wat from Botton 
 with a cleaance for the Writ Ihdiet. in ballatt, 
 but appMra to hava had on board a cargo of 
 Pmititn*. 
 
 Schooner Mimh|a with logwood, by do- 
 
 Schooner Jaaoo With dry K<*odt, by the Caro' 
 lige— divetted ol her cargo uid burnt. 
 
 Stbooncr -— with dry goodt and otiier vain. 
 able aitictea, by the Kemp nf Baltimore. 
 
 Sdiooner Trtnitaria,- by the Saucy Jack. 
 
 Nine vataaMe Briti<ih vettelt, by tne Nifuibhat- 
 iti (bcionging to Mew-York) on the enemyt 
 cpatt, and t«nt into Franee or dettroyed. 
 
 Nine veiielt by the Comet->dive*tcd ol° their 
 talaablea and destroyed 
 
 Four veaielt by do. and rantomed-^noney 
 paid 
 
 Two vettelt by do. 
 
 Brig Apollo, S*0 tons. 9 gani with talt, by 
 the Amvnea. 
 
 Brig Ann by do and given tip to nlMN the 
 |Nriton<jn. 
 
 Cutter Phtty by do — tunk. , 
 
 Uf.— 'bydo-««Ut. 
 
 Rriclfenrr, A gunt, 3oa torn, whU dry mode 
 and other valnable articirt w.)rth 40,000/ iter, 
 ling by the Oovemor 1 ompkint. 
 
 Brig Abel with auipir, etc. 
 
 Ship ——in halhMt. by the Invincible. 
 
 Schooner Encouragement with lUgar, roola»' 
 tea and nint. by the Frolie— <le«tn>yed^ 
 
 Brig Two Siitcn with wine, llruitt, ete. bv the 
 wa«p. ' 
 
 Schooner frope w|ih lumber, beef, oil. ete. 
 by the Ameriea-Mramt. 
 
 Schooner Sylph with fiib, oil, etc. by do. ant' 
 burnt 
 
 Schooner Eelime with talt by tho Waip. 
 
 Schooner Cobham liy the Jonquilla of N. Y. 
 
 Brig Loniia with oU aial flth, by the Kemp. 
 
 Ship Helie with coal, lumber, etc. by the Sur.> 
 prise. 
 
 Hit maietty'i iclioaner Picton, by the frirate 
 Conttitui ion— dfttroywl . 
 
 ship Lovely Ann by do. and given up to dit- 
 eharn priionen. 
 
 Schooner Pheenix by do cargo removed and 
 vetiel dettroyed. 
 
 Brig Nimble with WeaMndia-praduee, by the' 
 Invincible. 
 
 Brig Ceret in ballatt, by the Gramput-bnmt. 
 
 Schooner-— with sugar, by tlie Saratoga. 
 
 Schooner Friendt' Adventure with rum, nio. 
 lasiet, tugar, etc by the Fos. 
 
 Brig Fanny with fith. by the (3alhiway of 
 New-York. 
 
 Brig — with Inniber by the Fo<(— burnt. 
 
 Schooner — — with mahogany, by the Snajr 
 DnfTon 
 
 Schooner Kentith with tugar, by the Sara- 
 toga. 
 
 Schmner Prince Regent 10 gnnt, by the In- 
 vincible— divetted of her armament, etc ami. 
 given up. 
 
 Cutter Lyon with dry goodt, hardware, etc. 
 by do— divested- of the raott valuable of her 
 goo^t and given up. 
 
 Brig Poruea, « gunt, by do— divetted etc. and 
 given up. 
 
 Bfj Conway, 10 gunt with dry gwxli, by do. 
 — nuumrd ami ordt^red for the VmtMl States. 
 
 Schooner Franrii and Lucy with flth nil and 
 lumber by do and giren np to the pritonert. 
 
 Brig MargarKtw w^th wine by do— given op 
 at having been taken within the Spanlth Juris- 
 diction. 
 
 Brig Jamet by the Voung M'asp— divested of 
 part of her cargo, maaned and ordeml into port. 
 
 Two veaselt by do— on<> dettroyed, the otiier 
 given up to roleaae pr it one w - *-' 
 
 A vessel with fun, on Lake Champlain, by 
 the Alert of Buriington 
 
 Ship Union with tunr and eolTee, by tbo 
 Rambler— re-eaptured. but lo>t. 
 
 Brig Fair Stranger with Ath, oil, ete. by (he 
 Fox. 
 
 11m Mary, a Briiith trantport with 03 French' 
 pritonen to England from Sicdy. by ilie Hat* 
 tietiiake. The enemy made battle but wat 
 soon compelled to haul down his coloim. the 
 eapuin and twOM-amrn being killed, and tliref 
 wounded The ofllcen who have arrivul in* 
 Enjriand grtatlv eatol the gentlemanly comlucr 
 of capuin Morati He gave them their penoti- 
 alpn^erty. 
 
 Brig — with provisions, by the Expedition 
 — ilestroytd 
 
 Schooner Miranda, by the Cbatteur, divested, 
 of soaae in giwdt and burnt. 
 
 Shwp Manha, with government storei. by da 
 divested of the valuable part of her cargo, thu 
 other being destroyed— then made a cartel of to 
 relcase FrMoneia. 
 
 Two other votieli by do, and deitrofed ; ofie° 
 of the* had on boari a quantity «('. raonay iu 
 gjM. 
 
446 
 
 BKITCH^Of 
 
 Vrif Eipeiricuce by ibo CaraliM, tat krt— 
 eitw wved 
 
 Miip KipericBoa, wHk ft full earfo of dry 
 nud«,|rlaM wan, cm. wortli tMMMO dollBn 
 SyUitf Rapid. 
 
 Schooner •— wiili rum, coeaa, ete. bjr the 
 Vnry of tialtUBOfi; 
 
 SclMMtiKr ftatMU with bulkwh*. by tiic Midat 
 M Baltimorc-bunit 
 
 Scbuoner AppaUadora with tiruit, by da. and 
 rank 
 
 SchfMMter WilHam and (loop Irwin, by da. 
 and tent in a» caruel* with priiMcr* 
 
 Biig Betlona, with wine and fruit, by the 
 aiobe. 
 
 Schooner I'rkwf nemt with fruit, wine and 
 oil by the V, H ibip Adaim. and burnt— worth 
 17,000 dulUn. 
 
 Seboonei Industry worth 13.000 doUan, by 
 do. and bunt 
 
 Sloop with rice by do-divettcd of her 
 
 canoandKiveawp. 
 
 Brig Hoemiek b" do. worth t» OOO dollar* ; a 
 i|ttanuty at ivory 4iii!n out and the iMtofher 
 cargo dcitroycd—ttten (iven up to panilc pti^ 
 oiicn. 
 
 Ship Enuity by the Ratilcnake-bunt- 
 
 Ship Adfton by do — ciBik. 
 
 Schooner — by the Saniaga 
 
 Sloop •» by th« baatt of the Santoga-tank* 
 
 Scliooner •— by do. and niitomcd 
 
 BritidnlaopofwarEpctvier. IB gum. by the 
 V. S ikiop ol war t^oockoftlK lame rate. 
 
 Sloop Cygnet with rum. by the ifamioga. 
 
 KchooaerDUigaMieby the Yorkorfialiimore, 
 and dettroycd 
 
 Sktof Bmiiia, by the OeUtie— dcttrayul 
 
 Brir Robert with flih and lumber, by the Xe- 
 bec Ultor of Baltimow. 
 
 Brig Favorite by the David Porter of Hew- 
 York-divcsted of her vahuble article* and giv- 
 en up. 
 
 A ibip under PwtugucM coloun with Bn. 
 gliih k'UMli British property, by do and given ap 
 
 A bvir under Swedhb cohtun with do. ^ 
 do. and du 
 
 Ship Uorit. do.dp. do 
 
 BriK CuriewfuU of wine, by do. digested, ate. 
 and burnt. 
 
 Brie with rum and sugar, by the Bat- 
 
 tksBake 
 
 Ship James by the Younrr Watp-divcatcd of 
 S4 000 dollars iu iptcie, Uii alterwanis iccai^ 
 (ured "^ 
 
 Brig SwMft 4 guns and 1* men, with noriries, 
 by the Xtbee Vltor. ^ 
 
 Brig Canieliuni with rtua and irw^aiicf. br the 
 Mammoth ol Baltimon; 
 
 Tv^o *<.«uels by the Caioline-diwctcd of 
 their vttluabks and deitroyed. The Caroline 
 etptunil three other vessels which wcro nwu- 
 aed aiul oidcn-d into port. 
 
 Ten valuable vesseU by semal privatecn, 
 lent ui. sunh or divested- 
 
 Si'booner Moue with fish, by the Pike. 
 J.ehi.oiKr PicktrBWitb dry goods, u«s,ete. 
 by on diVL'stcd and destroyed* 
 
 Shjp Askew by the True Blooded Yankee. 
 
 Ship i-Wbani, *«o toits, iS guns, with an ai- 
 ■ortttT c»rKo ot India and BriSth goods, cantor. 
 cdaCu'ru smart actiun by boanting, by the asui- 
 
 Ship Fortuna. Russian cohiufs, with sum*, 
 g^iUe Roger of Norlblk-cargo enemy rpiip. 
 
 ^&;hooner i'hcabe with itmi and nwlasiea bv 
 the Hawk of Wasbiiigtuu »««»». by 
 
 -.5lr.i^'"T"' "* Kun^withaoHee. eocoa 
 
 nrf^by boarding, by ih«. Surpriae-worth So.000 
 
 Jkhwnpv Yfcung Faniict with {Qlip>, «««!» 
 
 40.000 doBan, by tha Hcaiy •oiMar of Kcv.' 
 
 ^SS^^'Sffndtll? '^^^ 
 
 Shm ttertha with lOTemmaDt stam, by do. 
 
 divested gf some ot t& aaifo, the restdestTM: 
 
 cd— vessel made a cartel tor the cschang* af 
 
 pVliOliCTB' * 
 
 -J^'fc:^'^" Mariawlthpre»lUoDi,bydo. 
 
 Amerkan sehooBcr WiUam with • nuaath* 
 ofeash injMld by Hu. divested oi her niectou 
 landnanr* 
 
 folaero ship Joanna with wheat and barle* 
 worth 30.000 doUan by do and sunk ^ 
 
 ^■j**oi*'h »qrthe James Monroe-borat 
 
 ^BrMliant.0 guns l»r tons, with oil 
 
 cotton and higwoud.by the ScoumcT^ ^ 
 
 Ship SymmrtryotSM tons, wfihmtt. cnta 
 andhaidwan^bydo.— burnt. 
 
 mp ' . inchoMer of aeb tons, with a IhU car- 
 go of crates, porter, ete by do.— bunt. 
 
 Brig UnkMi of (00 tons, with tobaaeo. h* do.>- 
 burnt 
 
 A new ship in ballast, by do.— bamt. 
 
 Sloop — by do. and ntade a cartel oC 
 
 Miip Cakdouia ei 300 torn, by do . and dor 
 Brig bydo-sunk- •"»■» 
 
 Brig Oo«e wiih Inmhnr, by the Fos-biimt . 
 
 to^ai7iliS"''**'''-«-«''«''P 
 Brig-BaUe with dry goods, hard and giaK 
 
 waro, worth »O,O0O< stedngTSy do. 
 Sh^ Mermaid with salt and coal, by the Oca. 
 
 Pike 
 
 Ship Commerce with barley and oats, b« the' 
 Ijiwicnce ofBaltimoie. > * — » 
 
 Ship Uptun, «r» tani^ JO gun*. 104 men, vrith 
 
 a valuable cugw, alter a nrettr warm acihtn, 
 
 » ^i»^^ }^ ote kUkaamfonewwndcd 
 by theOiomede 
 
 Letter m marstie ship Hero, by the nrine ship 
 SO minutas,anil given up 
 
 l^on. alter a tight ot ^ „„..^.,» „»,. „- 
 afWr being divuicd, etc. llw Hero hid many 
 more men than the Ujyton. 
 
 Brig mvklence by the Diomede— rank. 
 
 brift '^vnsony by do. and kunk. 
 
 Bng Recovery drives ashore by do. aid de 
 stnyed. 
 
 Brig Melpomene, gtms, with wme, by the 
 Chassenr. ' 
 
 Brig BritBimia with wine, by do. 
 
 Brig with rum aiul sugar, by the Bogtur 
 
 Schooner — by a Baliimoni privateer 
 
 Ship Henry Oundat by the Rattlesnake, and 
 released 
 
 Brig Indian Lass by the Onnd Tnrk-«vcs^ 
 ed ot «lry good* worth o>,ooo dollars and 30 ptl* 
 ooert— «|net«d in. 
 
 Brir Catharine by do— necaptwed by the 
 Bri'jih, and again captured by the Oraad roifc 
 and burnt. 
 
 Skiop Caroline with dry fpods, ete- by dO' 
 diveskd and given up- TJH^nmd Turk cap- 
 tured stvcml other vessels. 
 
 Tliiee heavy gun^Mais, one carrying a long 
 M aiid a Mlb. carrouade— eaek of the otJiOrs two 
 lieavy guns .—and two cutters, with about IW 
 men in all, and some «maller beats, by ilie riiu- 
 men under ■;iijor AppUugat Sandy Creek. 
 
 2»cbooner 'Iravvller with rum, ete by the 
 THomt-Ji" 
 
 Brig Ceres with 400 toiuot hidOsand taUow , 
 iiy the Lawroiiee. 
 
 ^p Cod book With salt, dry goods, crates, 
 fluur Imad and iron, by the Diomede 
 
 Seboott* Vittoria ' y th* Hero of l*ew.Yark. 
 
 Valuable cargo of the Russian ship JoaeUm, 
 by the Carolmt^-cuademnul a* British prop- 
 erty. 
 
 s^ooncr Hobeit Hartwell with tugar and 
 n.Lli»«., tttiib 2c/Cfc i|o|h l.y t|i« Mtlfll, 
 
 Brir' 
 flTBaitii 
 
 Brig 
 
iuj •uiUer of »««. 
 
 lb dry good*, br th* 
 ant. — ' / "w 
 
 «nifflMit Mom. by do. 
 
 aifo, tho reit detuor. 
 
 lor the cxcImiiiv «r 
 
 rtth proTliioiM, by do. 
 
 Uam witk % mmmkr 
 rostedoi iier rmioiu 
 
 ith «^t and buie* 
 
 «• Monroe— bamt 
 
 inrmuMu,witlioiI, 
 
 leScoanc. 
 
 toiw.withMtt. entd 
 
 > torn, with a ftdi ear- 
 ly do.— bunt, 
 wiih tobaoeok by do- 
 lly do.— bomt. 
 nadeaeartoloC 
 >>».i>ydo.aiiddor 
 
 rUfi WAR. 
 
 44> 
 
 I by tbe Foa- 
 
 vetiad and given up 
 
 and coal, by the Ocn. 
 
 irieyandoati, by the 
 
 BguM,i04nien, with 
 i pmttf warn action, 
 lira and one wounded, 
 
 l«n>,bythepriaeiU|i 
 
 minute*, ana give* up 
 
 llie Hero hM many 
 
 Dianiede— rank. 
 
 id»unk. 
 
 Mhon by do. and de 
 
 «> Hith wue, bf the 
 
 lie, by do. 
 
 lUgar. by the Rogtr 
 imore pnvatcer 
 the RattkuMke, and 
 
 Omnd Tnrk-Hii«at- 
 oodollanandsoprl* 
 
 — tecaptured by the 
 d by tbe dnuad Taifc 
 
 yJSS^' etc. by do. 
 i;|pGnu)d Turii cap- 
 
 ■ 
 
 one carrying a km; 
 each olthe otuert twu 
 Iter*, with uboat IW 
 ler boats, by tlie riik- 
 at Sandy Creek. 
 th rum, ete by the 
 
 KoihidatandtaUow, 
 
 t, dry Roodt, cratei, 
 
 leDiomcde 
 
 » Hf ro of New.yorfc. 
 
 Mtian (hip Joaehiu, 
 
 Hxl u Bntiah pi«|f 
 
 rcll with wgar aiid 
 
 BhgUhfeUewith«4it, b« Uw AmuiM) «r OdV 
 iMiMirr, and made a cartel ur 
 
 Briff ieiMc. n guu with bread, porter, ete. 
 jydo and burnt 
 
 Hchooner Ann with dry Koodi, by do divcii- 
 j| of her aflbctf, and lent eta cartel to Halilax 
 
 Two MMcel* by the Hero, ami rantomcd. 
 
 fIchaoaerCHura by the HanriMM orOaiiimore 
 
 Brig little Pox and a Mhooner by the U S* 
 iloop of war Frolie. and dcttniyed. 
 
 Schooner Funchall with rum an] sugar, by 
 the Hero. 
 
 Ship Loudon '*aeket,li guns, with btandy 
 sad wine, by the Chaiaaur. 
 
 Brir Astrra, U guns, with lUh, by (be Midat 
 tfBatthnow. 
 
 Privateer schooner Oath, i kmg and sevvral 
 unall guns and «o nMsn, by do. 
 
 Schoonrr Unioot with fish oil. by tlie Ame- 
 lia ol' HaltinMNv. 
 
 Oun boat hlaiak ^nake. on the >'t- Uwivnce. 
 ky licut. Oatgory of tbe U S- na 7— destro}- 
 
 Sloop Friendship, with dry goods and specie 
 '700O dollars) by the Heveuge-divei tul and 
 
 HMttOTQfl* 
 
 Schooner Alert by do and do. 
 
 Schooner Mary Ani^ by do-di vested and giv- 
 en up . 
 
 Sloop Aetiw. with lumber b; tbe Fairy, aiu| 
 bomt. 
 
 Brig Lord Nelson, with Beef, by the Xebec 
 UMoc— burnt 
 
 Schooner Naney. in halbMt, by ia. and do. 
 
 SohooMr — with sugar, by do. divested in 
 part and b«mt. « 
 
 Hchooner — with ssH(pr,by do. and burnt. 
 
 Schooner -^^ in halbwt. by do. and made a 
 liartelof 
 
 Twomnll VMielibydo. andhumt. The Ul- 
 !or nanped a brig of I4 guns and oidowd Out 
 France; and two othente the U.S. , 
 
 Portugoese ship St. Jose with dry goods. Iwrd 
 ware, etc worth t or 000,000 dollars, under, 
 stood to be British pnq^arty. by the Yankee. 
 
 Privateer tchooner Amnesty, t gon, M men, 
 by the Xefaee mtor-bnim. 
 
 Sloop Ttekfcr. by do 
 
 Schooner lUuBMcr with diy goods, by tb^ 
 PeiiT. 
 
 . Schooiwr Fairy. S goni mounted and 6 in the 
 hoM, with flour, by do. 
 
 Schooner Balahoo, guns and 30 men. by do. 
 
 Kighteen small vesseto by do-di««sted of their 
 valuables and dettraycd. 
 
 Ship Friendship under Swedish eokmrv-car- 
 (o worth loo^pooi. sterling, suppos(4 to be Bri- 
 riih property, by the Heriiik oFn T 
 
 Bomb vessel, burnt at Pmqne Isle by two 
 boau from Sachet's Harbour 
 
 Skip anA Jones, by the Yankee— divested 
 of many bale* of valuable goods. 
 
 Schooner Fox by the Suq^e, and ninde a 
 cartel of. 
 
 Brig Jame* and >'avid in ballast by do-cut 
 awayner masts and let her go. 
 
 Brig Fidelity by do- and burnt. 
 
 A tender of the British i'rigate Tencdo* 1 
 brass gnn,>t oAccr* and 10 men by gunboat Mo 
 
 boliooner Blkn with beef, pork and lani by 
 the Herald. 
 
 Brig Duke of York by the General Armstrong, 
 and burnt. 
 . Sloop Ocovre with pork, by do— sunk. 
 
 Brier Swht in ballast, by do- and made a car* 
 (elot 
 
 Brig Defianee with widikey, butter and bread, 
 by do and burnt. 
 . Brig Friendship with do. by do. and do. 
 
 Brig Stag witli a fUU cargo of dry goodi , bv 
 
 J«Hi 
 
 rig Stag 
 ■4iveit«a 
 
 in part aoit liumt. 
 
 Ship Dorcas by tlieboau odro. undtuiik. 
 
 ahuip HenriHta with itorvs, hy do. 
 
 Ship Berry Cast I.-, giin«, with barilla aMI 
 
 jij^boom 1 Linnet with fltb aod oil, by the Snap 
 
 Sehoonrr by do-divcsted and burnt. 
 
 Silk VI s«^ls captured in the Kngl„|, chaiinel 
 aiHtsmt into H«vre.di.Oniee(Piinci) iT iI.p 
 i'rinceut Nrurcliatiil ^ ' ' ""' 
 
 Brig — -by ih« Hainblcr of Bosiou-diveited 
 ol a quantity wiiie aiid given up. 
 
 n«.i *f :"* ' •^«'»^* by the late U. S bris 
 Rattleuiakc— «unk. • 
 
 Hrig Portitude with hides, com*, ifye-wood. 
 etc. by the tiitrpriae. j^ "w^, 
 
 SchtMUMrrCkurgc Canning with Merino wo-* 
 and frnit, by ili« Ocheral Armitmnr. ^ 
 
 Ship Puiarrp with dry goods, cni.ei, cmipn 
 and wit, by the MWas o* ftiltimore. ^"^ 
 
 HrigKtpuansa with cotton, rice and flour, by 
 
 Brig Elsinore with salt, by do. 
 
 .1 *''*V!/S'*''i* •••^ »»n(nu ..f Hahimore- 
 divested oi gootb to the »alu«rcf i8.ooo< sterltai* 
 aiMl given lip ur destroyed. " 
 
 ne^ru:^""''**"''^''*'"^"-"- 
 
 : Brig Betsey with Ash, by the York of Baltic 
 
 more. 
 
 , Ship AHircd in balbut, by tbe Harpy. 
 
 Ship Antonia »kb dry goods brandy and 
 hardware by do. 
 , Two brigs in balfaut by ditto-burnt. 
 
 Sebooner ticury wiihiish by the oeratosa. 
 
 PaclM-t t-riiiceu Eiinbetli. a guns (t«5 long 
 brass V^aadsut la lb gunnade.f and J8 men * 
 captured by theHarpcy altera warm delknct^ 
 in which she had some kiUedand wounded and 
 was much cm up> She had on board a Turirish 
 ambMsadoir tbr Engtand : an aid to a British ge- 
 neral ; and the second ofllcer ol a 74. She was 
 tanmned for 3000 dollars, al>cr being divested 
 or 10,000 dollars in specie, her two beau and twq. 
 Other guns, (the rest being thrown overboaid) 
 Ave pipes 01 wine, etc. The privateer had one 
 muiiciipd* 
 , Ship Hera with codfish by tbe Ida. 
 
 Cast India Comimny^ship Countess of fiar- 
 jouft. »<0 toiw, « h«ravy guns and fcO men, with 
 dry goods and liquors, by the i>afain«. 
 
 I'acket, the cutler Landnilei— K«int,J3 men, 
 after a bard battle in the J£ngUsh channel, br 
 theSyran-divested.etcand prisoners brouebt 
 to New-York * 
 
 I'wo briga by do. one burnt, the other diveir- 
 ed and releastd. 
 
 Fourteen vessels in the English channel by 
 the Oovenior I'onipkiiu— divested ot their valu- 
 abkis and burnt 
 
 iirig Betsey and Mary with wool, etc by the 
 Kemp— divested 01 10» bait s luermu wool, and 
 burnt. 
 
 ahip Calypso under Su-tdish colours, wit!: 
 DuicJt pap«rrs, by do— divettetl of some of her 
 cargo and permitted to proceed. 
 
 Biig Caledonia under SweUiih colour*, but 
 witli Briiisb paper* by do— ilivettrd ut some dry 
 goods and .lOOO dollars in ipecie, ami permittee;, 
 topniceed. 
 
 Urig New* Frederick by do— permitted to pro' 
 ceed out of humamty to an Italian lady 
 
 Schooner Contract witk uiU, hy the Rogtrr. 
 
 I'raiupart brig Uorit. by the Orampui. 
 
 Ship Hoppet. and brig Eliza, with coUon, by 
 the Saucy Jack 
 
 Two merehantmen by the U- S brig Syren 
 and burnt. 
 
 Brig Melville I4gans, with valuable stocr* 
 citaied ashore on Uke Ontario and destrrtyril • 
 
 iff 
 
 • * 
 
 
 ;a 
 
 mn 
 
M6 
 
 «&STCuits or 
 
 Hchooiwr Man «hii dry guitlt wwth Moot 
 ■l«rUi>g, by dm Mttrk of l««w>Yurk 
 
 IM« HunMMT 10 pum and W mm w4ih 0^ 
 bjr Um U. at. torviittt: AUwut unl dctuoycd. 
 
 bAJi Marfjir in. Mi49 
 
 MclneiMr n««itte wklh wit by do. 
 
 hhiu I'arU wMi lumbar and kkim br do. and 
 do-tklnt worth M ooo dullar* taluiu out. 
 
 Sciuwiitr Maria wich iuwbtr, bjr du. and du. 
 
 Urii; Maria Winuau wiib Migar, by the Yau- 
 
 klNi. 
 
 Cuuer Wmd by the RaiUeduke— buinu 
 
 Btig OiMrcr by dw aad do- 
 Brig ficUa by the If Out. aad bamt. 
 
 bduMiw r —— by d»-diveitea aad nude a 
 aarirloiv 
 
 M«;booiM.-r IndttatriwM Bar by do— bonit. 
 
 ttdmouer Vattu b* do and ao, 
 
 hchoower Lurd N«liun by do. and do. 
 
 HcboMwr Hape by do aad do. 
 
 Brig Jane ^ah pntvl«Mmi and dry K«adi| by 
 ^O-Oivotcd in part aad atad* a cartel oT. 
 
 Brig Orient with dry gMidt, by du— dimtui 
 ^ndMUUM. 
 
 Brig Jutui by do aad burnt wiiitiu gan that 
 i>r a BrHMi awn ot' war brig- 
 Brig Kingatuw l*acket wllb oil and fiih, by 
 ilie Vox. 
 
 A brig and a Kbooocr wiik flih, by the Her 
 ^Id. 
 
 SbipSaiuuti Cummingt, 400 torn, with sugar 
 and eoKix by ihe I'ikt;— wtvcked ua tlie luuih. 
 vni MMit, but iNurt of the eargo lavcd- 
 
 bkip Five litiert, by the letter ui' uiarque whr. 
 Daik. diveued oT au« punchraiu of Janaiea rum 
 and pvnnitit'd to pruwed- 
 
 Svtui vctMsli. via. bark Neptune, to; tuns; 
 Urig WdUam with batlry brig I'allu, t guut. 
 Ill toM. richly laden with ilJui, etc. ; galliot 
 Hennetto with pcoviiiout . ibip OraiUM Uuven 
 « guiii, 41) toiii, with lugar aiid coSl'e ; brig 
 Uegulaior IIS toni, with pun wiue lehauiicr 
 J«uuy, l«l torn, with tweet oil— all captured by 
 the U. ii. tkiiip ul' war Waip. on the Briti Ji 
 eoMt«. and burnt or NUttlcd, except the lleuri- 
 Lita iiumIc a cartel ol°. 
 
 Sloop or war Hcindccr. tl guns, lit men, by 
 do. after a (hen bat ihatp action, and burnt- 
 
 achuou e r by the teach u. iiak lu, and 
 
 iAiikonMl- 
 
 Brig — of too toiu with rum, lugar, mo- 
 la»v». link.--iuiee and liguuut-tiia, worth 30,000 
 dollars, by the Hero. 
 
 Brig Man by the David PorLcr-diTeitad iii 
 |iaru 
 
 Brig Comwallit with barilla, by do-diTe«ted 
 and nude a cartel. 
 
 Sliiu Vuter, 6 guni, by 2do-sIiveitul of her 
 valuable*. 
 
 Bng lloratia with hide* aud tallow- ramom- 
 ed Itjr a bill of SO, AO dollan. 
 
 Ship Uddle by tiie Amelia— ilirerted and riv- 
 f & up to reWaae pri oiitrt. 
 
 bbip Je*ie by do. and burnt. 
 
 bckoooer Mtnk with 11 jur, on lake Huron, by 
 the tquMlroo aialer Com. Sinclair 
 
 Schuuuer Pertcverance with prevition*, on 
 Ufce!iu|ieriarbydo andduiiroyeiC 
 
 bchouner .Nancy. 3 guu. with valuable *toiv« 
 fey du 4iU lake Huron— dettniyed 
 
 htig £naeavor with mill, auchor*. anny *toie« 
 aiat Cual, by tiie Sitrprizc. 
 
 Cutter Jubilee witb wine, by the Whir-di- 
 vctud m part aud made a caitel of. 
 bcbuunvr skxaiidria in baliatt, by do— burnt 
 
 itrig Irith Miuer with co4i, by du. and nude 
 a cartel ot 
 
 Brig t'riiicesi Mary w;th pnviiioiu, and dc- 
 ^roytd. 
 
 Brig Elixi witb do. by do— cargo thrown 
 4Mterb»ani aiid ve«i«r| made a cartel of. 
 AtJiuoLcr K.fctancc by do. auldvttroyec! 
 
 •with pravitiou, by the Pani- 
 
 ahip London with timber, by do- and bniiit 
 
 bhiii foctethweHin baUaK, by do. aad bunt 
 
 Brig Naney with dry aoud*, by the c'ertimouth 
 of I'orttmouth-divcttcd el good* wonli ST 0001 
 ■tMUag. 
 
 Hioup — by do-divetted of her valuabh*. 
 aiMl given ap. 
 
 HcCounat Columbia with flih and Iw^ber, bf 
 da 
 
 Brig rire Vly with dnigi, winea and tUk*. by 
 the aabine. 
 
 Brig Mary and Xlisa with htmber, by the 
 Argo. 
 
 Mhotmer 
 month. 
 
 Brig Argo with Iriih whiafcey port wine and 
 pioviiiom, by the Mrprias 
 
 Brig — with molai*e« & rum by the Grampui . 
 
 Vrigaie La CMiflanee^ SO gunt, captured oo 
 lake Cbaraplain by Commodore Maedonoogh. 
 
 BrigXinnet lO gnn* on do by do. 
 
 bloop Chub. 1 1 gUM, oil do by do. 
 
 bloop Fineh. i guna,on do. by do, 
 
 fhnv row gaUil-*, i great gun* eaeh, on do. 
 by do.— (unk. 
 
 Sloop Farmer with prariiion*, by the Mam- 
 moth M Bal^mon^-tunk. 
 
 Brif Bniamiia with iMmbcr.by do— btunt. 
 
 I biree brig* in balhui. by do. uai Jo. 
 
 Priva'eer ronaiic vt War, t gum, 40 men, bt 
 two U. H gun-boau. 
 
 Eatt India companv'i thip Coromandel, I 
 guiM, Ot men, with cone tu|^, lilk*. etc.— di> 
 vetted ol'her rich goadi, by Uw^ tork 
 
 Brif t^ere* aith brandy, ete. by do— JivMtcd 
 and given up to releaie priioacr*. 
 
 Four ve*(eb nchly laden, by do 
 
 Brig Oueen Charlotte— divvtted in part, and 
 destroyed, by the Surpriie* 
 
 Miip Milnct, s guu*. i f men, in baliatt, by dp. 
 and burnt. 
 
 Brig Lively with lumber, by do. and do. 
 
 Scliuoner I'riiKe Hegcut with lumber, by d«> 
 and do 
 
 Ship Doritiu ballait,bydo and do 
 
 Brig Willing Maid by (io and do. 
 
 Brig I'olly, 4 gun*, I* men. by do and do. 
 
 bebuoik-r !>ally, by do and do. 
 
 I'rivaierr Lively, : awn, !7 men, by do. 
 
 tthipCaledonia with ary goodt.rum, ete. wortli 
 SM.OUO UuUar. , by do-dl vevted. 
 
 Four brig* by aa. and made cartel* of or giv« 
 en up to rekate pritonen- 
 
 Irumport ihip stiaager with 00 piece* of 
 caiuiun, 300 boxe* amawnition, and a gtt«t 
 quantity of bbuikct*. e'e. derigned fbr theene- 
 luy** lltet on lake Ontario, by the Fox. 
 
 Three vet*eU by the Spark «r New-Tork- 
 givt^n up. 1 wo othcrt were mauned and onkr 
 ed lor the U.S. 
 
 Kctth F^pedition with wine and barilla, by 
 the Orampui. 
 
 Schooner Charlotte Aim with sugar, wine, etc 
 by the Surprise. 
 
 Schooner — vrith dry good^«te. fey the Vi- 
 
 Vt 
 
 BrigBcbpie • 4 gunt, with hide*, nateiikbw, 
 iron, EiMrnH and ipeeie, by the CluMceur. 
 
 Urig Catharine aial V^ilHam with dry goo^i, 
 by the Grampu*- lo*t 
 
 •Vchooiier Httrieve with fUi, by the Fok, and 
 burnt. 
 
 i hree vetiels by the V. S. stoop Pcacock,and 
 sunk. 
 
 Cutter Flyuig Fish, with tweet oil, ete. by the 
 •Sabiiie 
 
 Urig Aaron with wine and fitli, by do. 
 
 Urig tittrvest with fivh, oil. ete. by the Yankee 
 
 I'wo sliips by the Syren— deatruycd. 
 
 Two VMids by the f riuce or Ncu'^Mtd* •»! 
 bnrof 
 
A 'E 
 
 THI WAR. 
 
 449 
 
 itiont, by ilM Mam> 
 
 ihip Cotomamkl. I 
 
 len, Id tallMi, b]r 4p> 
 
 iltlc'CMlkii HrMt*provbiuni, by tbe Anulia, 
 tut burnt . 
 
 Briit IHutnwny wiilt mU and titma winr, liy 
 lU ibvMtnl m ibc latu-r ami mait« a cartel u4 
 
 .Rrig Kliaabeih by do aii<l burnt. 
 
 Jhip — . H Runi with dry ifundt, foul ar-* 
 »liie, by do. div<-Mcri ol' b«r dry kouI* ai d n>aii- 
 Did. Sho aim raptiiml iwa oibvr v«Mf It. wiil| 
 (XH- oi° which (tliip NfUiiiM) iht! had • iinart 
 ronirt-nii'iit h«it nobody hurt' 
 
 Priiicixi Mary bjf tiMf Wfcif , and bunit. 
 
 —— Rliu, by do— aargn thrown ovi-rboard, 
 «IH vnx'l miid<! a cartrl ol° 
 
 Drtr *traiig;er fay ilie IT. 8. iloop l>raaock, 
 tnd hunit 
 
 MHMbcr — — by the f.i-acli-^ifeit«-4 and 
 I'lvtn up. 
 
 BniUli ihlp Ilermfi, 31 ||;iin«, blown up in 
 M<il)d. bay 
 
 •*lo<ip uw, 70 ton*, with luub«r, by the 
 Niiilieliaifl, aiid burnt 
 
 IWk triton, \ZT umi. » nunt, witli coffiw and 
 wine, hydo-divetttd in part and rank 
 
 IraiiMMtrt briir Aaron, l«ltoiM, 4 run*, in 
 ballait, bv do and burnt. 
 
 Brig \polk>, 135 ront.with lalt by do. and do 
 
 Cui»»>r Qrneral Uoyle. •» ton^ with oH, by 
 t)n. and do. 
 
 •Sloop Ovorgt, 40 tout, with coal, by do-Mink. 
 
 ttng Bart^wlck Paekrt, in balkitl, witli pai- 
 icufin,by do and niadr a cart«J of. 
 
 brift Mbrtai too toni, 4 guoa, in ballait, by 
 i|o~iuiik. 
 
 Brig Mymph, 1M toiu, with dry nodi ric— 
 •livnttil or the dry Koodi. the p maind^r of the 
 argo thrown overboard, and giv(.n up to prison* 
 irt. 
 
 Brig Alhion, IS5 torn 4 fptm, with dry good*, 
 rte. by do. divestrd of bur {ichett article* and 
 Iiumt. 
 
 ■Mdp Harmony. S90 tout, « ■ guns, with dry 
 gtMNii, etc. by do. and diveitrd. 
 
 Brig Charlotte ion tout, 8 gunt, with kidea, 
 by do. and burnt 
 
 Brig Mary Ann, 101 toni, with lumber, by do. 
 and do. 
 
 Ship Douglai. lO gunt. with tngar, rum, mo- 
 latwa, coitou, coff«;e, ginger, and mahogany by 
 do. 
 
 Brig Steady. 107 tons, 4 gtmt, with provnions 
 and bale goodi, by do. divrtietl and burnt. 
 
 Ship Neptune, 4M> tons. > guns, wirh lea-coal, 
 dry goodt.gin, wiiw, pork, brct, rope, and flour, 
 by tbe Amelia. 
 
 Sis boatt. with 37 armed men, by a gig of the 
 U. S. ihip Su|teriur with u\ men, un iaCc On- 
 tftkn with wine, braiidy, cr.iu«, cte. worth 
 ia,000 dollars. 
 
 bckuoner Ann, with ingar and mnlaises. by 4 
 American seantea which the had on board. 
 
 Orig Susan anA Jane, by tbe So*, and burnt. 
 
 Ship James, with dry goods, etc by the Poru- 
 moutn-ditrestcd of goods wirth 1 or 300,000 
 dpikurs. 
 
 Brig ~ with mm. by the Daih—direstctl 
 and gireu up. 
 
 Scliaoner — - with fish, by t letter oTmanjue 
 uboooet of Wilmington, N. C. 
 
 Brig Coucoid, by lio^livested and made a 
 cartel of. 
 
 Urig Speculatiott, by the Gkmmptu— direst- 
 ed aM given up to the prisoners. 
 
 Brig Sir John Sberbrooke, I* gtnii, with fish 
 and oil, by tlie Hyren— btunt. 
 
 Ship Adventttte, by the U. S. brig Syren. 
 
 Ship Fanner, by the Mammoth— oestioyeil. 
 
 Ann and EKxa, by do. and do. 
 
 Ship Uiania, by do- and do. 
 
 hhip Aaisby, by do. and do. 
 
 Kliaa, bv do. and given up. 
 
 Shin OoMOB, by do. and bunit. 
 
 Rallust.by do. and made a cartel of. 
 
 SkHip ChltotiaiiB, by tbe Chasseur an* laadc a 
 titttetof. 
 
 Brig Prudenee with barilla and wine, bp dc. 
 and burnt 
 
 Sloop Fatroritr. with do by do- and do. 
 
 RriR Mstqiitt Cuniwalllaby do anJ made a 
 lartfl of. 
 
 Ilrig Alerv with limbrr by do. and burnt. 
 
 Brig Harmony by ib>. and made a cartel of. 
 
 Hbip t'arlbur) with an immrusa cargo olrof 
 ton. coooa, bidet indigo, eta. by do. dVvrstr d o4' 
 indigo worth .fO.OOO iMlars. 
 
 Fourtren vessels by the U. 8. skiop of war 
 fraeock— all luitk or burnt racept two ot Utile 
 value that wt- n- made cartrls of. 
 
 I'rivatver Thinks-t-lo.myseli; S guns, 40 men, 
 by the Dash- 
 Schooner Briunnia in ballast, by tlie Maau) , 
 and burnt. 
 
 ling llalllbx Packet with dry goods, baol- 
 wart-,«tc by d«»— divested 
 
 Brig Harvest with fish. furs. cte. )>y tbe York 
 
 hclmoner Prince lUgtm with flsh, by tbe 
 Dash 
 
 Privateer Retaliation. A gtuu SO men, by tbe 
 Two Friends. 
 
 Brig Commerci' with flsh and oil, by tiie 
 CbatsKur- 
 
 Skwp Farmer with flour and wheat, by tbe 
 Mammoth, and sunk. 
 
 llrig (liltannia with tambrr. by do— burnt. 
 
 Sclwoner I wo Brothers, with nsh, by do. and 
 madr a cartel oi'. 
 
 Brig AiiH Kliia in ballast. I>y iki. and bum;, 
 
 Brig Unisa, In do. by do. and do. 
 
 Brig Ansley with horses and lumber, by do. 
 and tvuttkrd- 
 
 Hrig Harah with flour by do. and burnt- 
 Brig Sir Home Popham, with fruit, by ilo- and 
 do- 
 
 fHtooner Rapid with flsh, by do and do. 
 
 Hhip Champion with dry goods, by do— tUvctt- 
 ed aiiu natde a cartel oi 
 
 Two other vessels by do. and d« strayed. 
 
 Schooner -^ from Halifax, with dry goodI, 
 by a custom-house barge. 
 
 British shwp of war Avon, i8 guns, sunk by 
 the tl. s. sloop or war Wasp of tlie same rate. 
 
 Brig Aialanta, t<0 tons, with wines, brandy, 
 silks, eambricks, and dry goods, by ih>. 
 
 'f he valuable bng Eiimw, eignt 18 poumt 
 MrToiiad«t,t long 9^, and it uten. with 173 tons 
 of swift t nil, by the Paupsco. 
 
 Urig Canada, 10 gtuis, with rum. by the Law- 
 reiMso. 
 
 hchonner Fos,— a tender of the Ramilies. 
 
 Brig William with gum worth 10 or eO,<XIO 
 dollat s. by the -^— id' UaltirooK. 
 
 Brit Lulice. 7 men, to tons, with pork, by tlie 
 U. S. sloop Wa^— burnt. 
 
 Brig Bon Accord, U> tons. 7 men, with me- 
 rino » onl, flruits and wine, by do. and sunk. 
 
 Transport brig Mary, lO men, 8 guns, lit 
 ton*, with onlnanee and military stons. by do. 
 
 Brig Three Brothers, 7 nn'O, 114 tons, with 
 lime, by do and burnt. 
 
 Brig Bacchus, 1 1 men, 3 guna, i AS tons, with 
 fiib, 1^ do. and destroyed. 
 
 Ship Ann Doroiky, with hides, tulbw, etc. 
 by tbe Saratoga— valuable. 
 
 Brig Hiram with dry goods, cmckery, cord- 
 age, etc by the David- Porter— divi-itul or goods 
 worth tOO,t)00 dolten and given tip. 
 
 Brig Nancy with siUu, oil, sulphur, marble, 
 cte by the Scourge. 
 
 Ship Lord Hood by do- and burnt. 
 
 Br% Ttylent, by do. and do. 
 
 Brig HMldoek by do. and do. 
 
 Brig. BelfleU by do. and do. 
 
 Urig Susan ami James, by the Fox, and bura:. 
 bhcooner Retrieve by do. and do. 
 a Brig Concord by do- and made a cartel att 
 Urig Cossack, with wine,by tbe Surprize. 
 Schooner Pink, by the Grand Turk— sunk. 
 
 Brig Brotlien, wiib iunber, by do and (!ih > 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 3L 
 
4fip 
 
 fiUiJki'ciijt:^ uv 
 
 CHAPTtVK XXXVI 
 
 Irrival of General Jackson at Mobile..,.Spi€ • ''J d'fcnue oj fou 
 Bowyer.,.. Destruction q/' the pirates of B , ,ai ia...,Entranci- 
 of Gen. Jackson into Pnt8acola...»His arrival at Nexvcrieans.,.. 
 .Irrival of the enemy off Ship Island.»,Capture qf the ./American 
 gun-boats near the bay of St. Louis. ...Landing of the ewmy 
 beloxv Seworleans.... Actions of the 23(i and of the 2Bth Dc 
 r ember. 
 
 In the early part of August, 1814^ General Jackson (who had 
 {)ern stationed at fort Jackson, upon the lower part of the Alaba^ 
 inn river, aHcr the conclusion of the Creek war) dispatched u cou- 
 tier to the governor of Pcntacola, demanding the nurrendtr ui 
 the Creek chiefs M'Queen and Francis, [who, it was stated, had 
 sought shelter under Spanivh authority] and the reason why they 
 and their adherents had received ouccour and assistance from tlic 
 subjcctR of his Catholic majesty, between whose government am! 
 that of the United States, he conceived there were existing rela 
 tions of amity and good will. The governor, on receiving thi«,it 
 if stated, became highly exasperated at the pesemptory manner ut 
 the deinand....rcturned an ini>ulting and ambiguous answer.... said 
 that he knew nothing' of Francis and M'Cj,ueen....and that Jack 
 son nhould hear from him shortly. 
 
 Tpon the receipt of this answer, delivered verbally, and which 
 General Jackson no doubt supposed to bear something of a threat 
 ening appearance, he immediately left fort Jackson, for the pur 
 pose of occupying Mobile, at which place he shortly arrived and 
 established his head quarters, where he soon bad under his com- 
 mand 1500 regulars and some militia. 
 
 On the 27th of August, General Jackson received information 
 by express, that three British vessels (the Hermes, Orpheus and 
 Charon,) had arrived at Pensacoln on the 25tb, ^ud disembarked 
 on the following day an immense quantity of arms, ammunition, 
 munitions of war and provisions ; and that between 2 and 300 
 iroops of the enemy landed from the vessels, had marched into 
 the Spanish fort. The express also brought information that 13 
 sail of the line, v^ith a large number of transports, having on bnarc 
 10,000 tioops, were daily expected at that place. 
 
 General Jackson immediately addressed a letter to the governor 
 of Tennessee, requesting him, without delay, to organize, equip 
 and bring into the field, the whole of the quota of the militia o< 
 that state, agreeably to the requisition of the war department oi 
 the preceding July, amounting to 2500 infantry. This lequest 
 was promptly complied with ; and in a short time the state's quo 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 4M 
 
 idftEntranci' 
 Wexvo} leans... 
 ' the Amerivan 
 of the cwinij 
 thc2Bth Dc 
 
 son (who had 
 of tht> AUba- 
 patched a cou- 
 
 surrender ui 
 as etatedj had 
 ton why they 
 ancc from tlv: 
 /eroment anO. 
 
 existing rda 
 ceiving thi«,it 
 ory maimer ut 
 un8w«r....8aiu 
 nd that Jack 
 
 \y, and whicli 
 g of a threat 
 , for the pur 
 f arrived and 
 ndcr his com- 
 
 d information 
 Orpheus and 
 disembarked 
 ammunitioxi, 
 n 2 and 300 
 marched into 
 ition that 13 
 'ing on boara 
 
 the governor 
 aniz<:^« equip 
 th« militia ot 
 'partment o\ 
 This lequest 
 } state's quo 
 
 ,1, And innny vuluntec>s from Tennessee and Kentuclcy, were(fai- 
 j arriving at the encampment of the commanding general. 
 
 Propanitions were also mnlcin^t at the same time, for the de 
 fence of Neworleans. 
 
 Fort /9owyer....This small fort was erected io 1812, by Lieuten- 
 ant Colonel Bowyer, and consists only of common logs ftllcd in 
 with sand. It stands on the eastern point, forming the Mobile 
 bay, 3S miles nearly south from the city of Mobile, and at the 
 time of General Jackson's encampment at Mobile, was command- 
 ed by Major William La\«rence, of the 2d infantry. 
 
 On the 15th of September, at 4 o'clock, P. M. the fort was at^ 
 tacked by a superior naval and land force. The naval force con« 
 ciited of two ships from 34 to 28 guuF, mounting 32 pound car- 
 
 ooades, two brigs from 10 to 18 guns, mounting 24 pound car* 
 
 onades, with three tenders, all under the command of Commo- 
 Jore Sir W. H. Percy. The land forces of the enemy consisted 
 of 100 marines, under the command of Colonel Nichollx ; 300 
 Indians, under the command of Captain Woodbine of tht* British 
 trmy ; and a battery ot a 12 pounder and a howitzer, under the 
 direction of a British captain of the royal artillery. Our effective 
 force opposed to the enemy was about 120 men, of whom not 
 more than 00 were engaged. 
 
 The leading ship, called the Hermes, Commodore Percy, having 
 approached within reach of the guns, Major Lawrence opened his 
 battery upon her tirom the fort, the guns of which were fired in 
 succession as they could be brought to bear ; and at 20 minutes 
 past 4, P. M. the other vessels having come up, the engagement 
 beqame general. About this time the enemy's land forces, with 
 his battery, were put to flight, by two discharges of grape and 
 cannister from a 9 pounder. At »e\en o'clock, one ship and 
 two brigs were compelled to retire. The Hermes, having 
 nchored nearest our guns, was so much disabled, her cable being 
 cut by our shot, that she drifted on shore, within 600 yards of the 
 battery, and the other vessels having got out of reach, a tremen- 
 dous fire was kept upon her. In a short time she was enveloped 
 ia flames, and abandoned by the few of her crew who survived ; 
 and at 10, P. M. she exploded. The loss of lives on board must 
 lave been immense, as no boats left her, excepting three which 
 had priviously gone to her assistance, and one of these was after- 
 wards sunk. Her original crew was said ta have been 1 70 ; of 
 this number, 20 only escaped. ' 
 
 The other vessels suffered grtatly. On board of one, (the Cha- 
 lou,) 85 werQ killed and wounded....the loss of the other two was 
 lot ascertained, but must have been very severe, from the circum- 
 ^aace of one ofthem being iofinitely moreexposed than tkeCharon. 
 
 The American lo?s wa? 4 IriHed and 5 wounded. 
 
 1% 
 
 
 
 
^ii 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 •f 
 
 During the hoUeit part of the aetion^ the flag staff of the fori 
 was shot away ; but the flag was immediately regained under h 
 heavy fire of grape and cannister^ hoisted c:: a sponge staff, and 
 planted on the parapet. 
 
 Between 4 and 500 guns were fired from the fort during the 
 engagement, most of them double-shotted, and after the first half 
 hour but few missed effect. 
 
 On the 16th of September, the enemy's fleet made sail and 
 stood to sea. 
 
 Pirates of Barataria..:Oa the 1 1th of September, Commo- 
 dore Patterson, commanding the American flotilla, &o. on the 
 Neworleans station, sailed from Neworleans with 3 barges, and 
 was joined at the Balize (mouth of the Mississippi river) by 6 gun 
 boats and the schooner Carolina ; from whence he proceeded by 
 sea, while a detachment from the 44th regiment under Colonel 
 Ross^ of about 80 men, went down by land, to attack a gang of 
 pirates on an island in lake Barataria, (about 30 miles S. W. from 
 Neworleans) who had long committed great depredations on the 
 ooavt. 
 
 On the 1st of October, Commodore Patterson returned to New- 
 orleans, haviujf succeeded, without much resistance, in capturing 
 the pirates, to the number of 1000 of all nations, and their vet 
 sels, consisting of 7 schooners and feluccas, armed and unarmed. 
 The land forces under Colonel Ross, also succeeded in destroying 
 their establishments on the islands of Grand Terre, Grand Isle, 
 and Cheniere Caminada, in the lake. 
 
 The capture of these pirates and their vessels was doubtless 
 considered by tbe enemy as disastrous to himself, having calcu- 
 lated on their aasiittuiice in his attempt upon Neworleans. 
 
 Pensacola, which itad, for some time bien notoriously a har- 
 bour for the enemy, British as well as Indians, had, in the opinion 
 of the American people, thus forfeited its neutral character. It had 
 becpme, to all intents and pui poses, an enemy's post. Indeed, 
 the ^nemy had been found and driven on the Spanish soil. Gene- 
 ral Jackson, indignant at the conduct thus pursued by a nation pro- 
 fessing neutrality, determined to enter the place and seize upon 
 the enemy and his works. He accordingly marched with about 
 3000. troops, the beginning of November,, and arrived in Pensaco- 
 la on the evening of the 6th. The following letter of the gene- 
 ral to tbe gpvernor of Tennessee, particularizes subsequent events ■ 
 
 H. Q. 7th Military District, Tensaw, Nov. 14, 1814. 
 
 SlR....On last evening I returned from Pensacola to this place : 
 
 I re«iChed that post on the evening of the 6tb. On 'my approach 
 
 I sent Major Pierre with a flttg to communicate the object of my, 
 
 "viiit to the governor of Pensacola. He approached fort St. George 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 453 
 
 ir of the for; 
 ined under h 
 Dge staff, and 
 
 rt during the 
 the first half 
 
 lade sail and 
 
 iber. Comma- 
 ttf &o. on the 
 
 3 barges, and 
 iver) by 6 gun 
 proceeded by 
 under Colonel 
 tack a gang of 
 les S. W. from 
 dations on the 
 
 urned to New- 
 e, in capturing 
 and their vet 
 I and unarmed. 
 1 in destroying 
 e. Grand Isle, 
 
 was doubtless 
 having calcu 
 leans. 
 
 |oriously a bar- 
 in the opinion 
 Iracter. It had 
 post. Indeed, 
 Ish soil. Gene- 
 ty a nation pro- 
 land seize upon 
 led with about 
 ed in Pensuco- 
 r of the gene- 
 lequent events • 
 
 ov. 14, 1814. 
 
 i to this place : 
 
 [I'my approach 
 
 h object of my. 
 
 nbrt St. George! 
 
 with his flag displayed, and was fired on by the cannon from the 
 fbrt....he returned and made report thereof to me. I immediately 
 wient with the adjutttnt general and the major, with a small es- 
 cort, and viewed the fort and found it defended by British and 
 Spanish troops. I immediately determined to storm the town, re> 
 tired and encamped my troops for the night, and made the ne- 
 cessary arrangements for carrying my determination into effect 
 the next day. 
 
 On the mominif of the 7th^ I marched with the effective regu* 
 lars of the 3d, 30th and 44th infantry, part of General Coffee's 
 4)rigade, the Mississipi dragoons, and part of the West Tennessee 
 regiment, commanded by Lieutenan! Colonel Hammonds (Colonel 
 Lowry having deserted and gone he ne) and part of the Chactawt 
 led by Major Blue of the 30tb and Major Kennedy of the Missis- 
 sippi territory. Being encamped on the west of the town, I cal- 
 culated they would expect the assault from that quarter, and be 
 prepared to rake me from the fort, and the British armed vessels, 
 7 in number, that lay in the bay. To cherish this idea I sent out 
 part of the mounted men to show themselves on the west, whilst 
 I passed in rear of the fort undiscovered to the east of the town. 
 When 1 appeared within a mile 1 was in full view. My pride 
 was never more heightened than viewing the uniform firmness of 
 my troops, and with what undaunted courage they advanced, with 
 a strong fort ready to a«sail them on the right, 7 British armed 
 vessels on the left, strong block-houses and batteries of cannon in 
 their front ; but they still advanced with unshaken firmuers, en^ 
 tered the town, when a battery of two cannon was opened .pon 
 the centre column composed of the regulars, with ball and grape, 
 and a shower of musketry from the houses and gardens. The 
 battery was immediately stormed by Captain Levall and company^ 
 and carried^ and the musketry was soon silenced by the steady and 
 w^ll-direeted fire of the regulars. 
 
 The governor met Colonels WiUiamson and Smith, vi*ho led tho 
 dismounted volunteers, with a flag, begged for mercy, and surren* 
 dered the town and fort unconditionally ; mercy was granted aud 
 protection given to the citizens and their property ; and still Spa- 
 nish treachery kept us out of possession of the fort until 12 o'clock 
 at night. 
 
 Never was more cool, determined bravery displayed by any 
 troops; and the Ch^ctaws advanced to the charge with equal 
 bravery. On the morning of the 8th I prepared to march and 
 storm the Barancas; but before I codld move, tremendou't explo- 
 sions told me that the Barancas, with all its appendages, was 
 blown up. I dispatched a detachment of 200 men to explore it^ 
 who returne'i with the information that it was blown up, all Xlm 
 combustible narts burnt, the cannon spiked and dismounted, ex.- 
 sept two : this being tbe case, I determined to withdraw mj 
 
 I' 
 
 r - 1 
 
 } 
 
 n 
 
 
 J5f 
 
 ^ \h 
 
4.46 
 
 SKE'iX'HES Ob' 
 
 troops; but befoic 1 ditl f had the pleasiire to see the B^ttsh dt 
 part. Col. NicholD abamloned the fort on the night of the 0tb, and 
 betook himself to his shipping, with his friend, Captain Woodbine 
 and his red friends. 
 
 The steady firmness of my troops has drawn a just respect from 
 our enemie8....it has convinced the Red Sticks that they have no 
 strong hold or protection, only in the friendship of the United 
 States. Tiie good order and conduct of my troops whilst in Pen- 
 sacoln, has convinced the Spaniards of our friendship, and our 
 prowess, and has drawn from the citizens an expression, that 0!v 
 Cbactaws are more civilised than the British. 
 
 In great haste, I am respectfully, sir, 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON, 
 Maj. Gen. commanding 
 
 On the 27lh of December, General Jackson arrived at Newor 
 ieans with his army, where he immediately began the inspection 
 of the different forts and works down the Mississippi river. Ex- 
 pecting the daily arrival of a powerful enemy's force in tha*^ 
 quarter, the militia and volunteers from Tennessco, Kentucky, &c. 
 were hourly pouring into the head-quarters of the commanding 
 general. 
 
 On the 12th of December, intelligence reached Neworleans, 
 that a very formidable force of enemy's vessels, consisting of from 
 35 to 40 sail, having on board a large body of troops, had ap^ 
 peared ofT 9hip Island} near the bay of St. Louis, in the Gulf of 
 Mexico, and about 70 miles N. E. of Neworleaus. On the 13th^ 
 The enemy landed at Pn^s Christianne (a channel 8 feet deep^ 
 leading from the h.}y ol St. Louis to Mobile bay) with 100 barge;: 
 from the squadron; and in a few hours got under weigh, direct- 
 rug their course towards the United States*s gun vessels, comman- 
 ded by Lieutenant Jones, then lying at anchor off the bay of St. 
 Louis. The following extracts of a letter from the htrutenant to 
 Commodore Patterson, give an interesting account of events 
 which followed : 
 
 «' On the 12th of Decemhcr, 18M, the enemy's fleet off Ship 
 fsland had increased to such a forc^ a« to render it no longt r safe 
 or prudent for me to continue in that pa»t of the laki-s with the 
 small force which I commandec: I therefore deterniiiiPfJ to gain 
 A station' near the Malhe reux Islands as koou as pusiible, which 
 silUHtior would better enable me to oppose a further pt netration 
 of the enemy up the lakes, and at the same time aflTurd me an 
 opportunity of retreating to the Petite Coquilles if neceptiary. 
 
 ** At 10 A. M. on the 13th, I discovered a large flotilla of bar 
 ges had left the Qttt, (phkjjiug their course towards the Pass Cliris- 
 linn) which I supposed to be a disemlwrkation of troopi intending 
 
-i'Hi!; WAH. 
 
 46ft 
 
 itish dc 
 0th, ant^ 
 ^oodbinc 
 
 ect from 
 have no 
 ? United 
 I in Pen- 
 and out 
 that oiv 
 
 ION, 
 
 landing 
 
 t Newor 
 nspection 
 rer. Ex • 
 > in tha*^ 
 ucky, &c. 
 nmanding 
 
 worleans, 
 
 ig of from 
 
 had ap- 
 
 le Gulf of 
 
 the I3tb, 
 
 eet deep. 
 
 barger, 
 
 h, direct 
 
 comman- 
 
 fty of St- 
 
 tenant to 
 
 f events 
 
 It off Shir 
 
 ]iigt r safe 
 with the 
 
 i\ to gaiiJ 
 le, whlcli 
 
 Iriftration 
 me an 
 iry. 
 
 la of bar 
 |i88 Ciiris- 
 Intending 
 
 uiiand at that place. About 2 P. V[. the encin^'d flotilla having 
 gained the Pass Christian, and continuing their course to the west- 
 ward, convinced me that nn nttack on thr gun-boatu vva: thtir 
 design. At this time thi' W4itr in the Iake9 was* unroibuuniy 
 low, owing to the westerly wind which had prevailed lor a num- 
 ber of days previous, and wliith still continued from the same 
 quarter. Nos 156, ld2, and 1(13, although m the b^ft channel, 
 were in 12 or Id niches lesn wat. r thaR their draught. Every 
 effort wat made i« f^:* them afloat by ihrcwing overheard all the 
 articles of vm i^ht that c Mtid be duipensed with. At 'd 30 the flood 
 tide had commenced ; ^jot under weigh, making the best of my 
 way towards the Petite Coquille. At i 45, the eiieniy dispatched 
 three boats to cut out the sciioonet Sea Horoe, which had beeu 
 oent into the bay of St. Louis that morning to Hfmt in the remov- 
 al of the public stores, which I had previously ordered. There 
 finding a removal imprncticible, 1 ordered preparations to be 
 made for their destruction, least they should fall into the enemy's 
 hands. A few discharges of ;/iape shot from the Sea-Horse com 
 pelled the three br-ats which liud attacked her to retire out of the 
 reach of her guo, until they were joined by four others, when the 
 attack was recommenced by the seven boats. Mr. Johnson (com 
 mander of the Sea.Horse) having chosen nn advantogeous posi- 
 tion near the two 6 pounders mounted on the bpnk, maintained » 
 sharp action for near 30 minutes, when the enemy hauled off, ha- 
 ving one boat apparently much injured, and with the lost of seve- 
 ral mei< killed and wounded. At 7 30, an explosion at the bay, 
 and soon after a large lire, induced me to believe the Sea-Horse 
 was blown up and the publ-'^ store house set on fire, which hai; 
 proved to be the fact. 
 
 ''About 1 A. M. on the I4th, the wind having enUrely died 
 iway, and our vcstufls become unmanageable, came to /\ *:' .^r in 
 (he west end of Malhcreux Island's passage. ' t tla -u^rht n\.'%>. 
 iiiorning, still a perfect calm, the enemy's flotilla wni' cbcut x.vm 
 niies from us at anchor, but soon got in motioi an^ aptdiy ;jd>«> 
 vanced towards us. The want of wind, and thi 7*^0^1^ ebb tiu ; 
 vhich was setting through the Pass, left me but uu Jv?t vnai-ve, 
 .vhich was to put my vessels in the most advant ;; >us position, 
 to give the enemy as warm a reception as prseibk. The com 
 manders were all called on board and made acquaia (.d with my 
 utentions, and the position which each veji^el Wao tot.ik(,the 
 whole to form a close line abieuitt across the channel, anchui«i 
 by the ttern with springs on the cables, itc. &c. Thus we teinfiir 
 •fd, anxiously awaiting an attack from the advancing fee, a hose 
 force I now clearly distinguished to be con posed of 42 heavy 
 lanchesi and gun barges, with 3 light gigs, manned with upwards' 
 of 1000 men and officers. About 9 30, the Alligator ^teriUer) 
 which was to the southward and eastward, Hiid endeavouring tr 
 
 'fijf 
 
 :, H 
 
 jji 
 
4»6 
 
 SKETCHES Oi 
 
 
 join the divisioOi was captured by several of the enemy'i bargei, 
 when the whole flotilla came too, with their prapples, a littlf out 
 of reach of our ahot, apparently makiog arrangements for the at- 
 tack. At 10 39, the enemy weighed, forming a line abreast in 
 open order, and steering direct for our line, which was uufortu* 
 nately in some degree broken by the force of the current driving 
 Nos. 156 and 163 about 100 yards in advance. As soon as the 
 enemy came withir^ reaeh of our shot, a deliberate fire from our 
 long guns was opened upon him, but without nnich effect, the ob- 
 jects being of so small a size. At 10 minutes befor*^^ 11 the ene- 
 my opened a fire from the whole of his line, when the action be- 
 came general and destructive on both ^ides. About ll 41), the 
 advance boats of the enemy, three in number, attempted, to board 
 No. 169, but were repulsed with the lotis of nearly every officer 
 killed or wounded, and two boats sunk. A second attempt to 
 board was then made by four other boats, which shared almost a 
 similar fai'e. At this moment 1 received a severe wound in my 
 left shoulder, which compelled me to quit the deck, leaving it in 
 charge of Mr. George Parker, master's mate, who gallantly de- 
 fended the vessel until he was severely wounded, when the ene- 
 my, by his sup^ rior numbers, succeeded in gaining possession off 
 the deck, aboui 10 minutes past 12 o'clock. The enemy imme- 
 diately tunx'ii the guns of his prize on the other gun-boa t«, and 
 fired severvt! shot previous to striking the American colours. The 
 action continued with unabating seventy until 40 minutes past 12 
 o'clock, when it terminated with the surrender of No. 23, all the 
 Mher vessels having previously fallen into tht: hands of the enemy. 
 " In this unequel contest our loss in hlWed and wounded has 
 6een trifling, compared to that of the enemy, which amounts tp 
 nearly 400." 
 
 The British force, in the above engagement, consisted of 42 
 launches and barges mounting one heavy gun each, and 3 gigs 
 with small arms ; the whole manned with 1200 men and officers, 
 commanded by Capt. Lockyer, who received three severe wounds 
 in the action. 
 
 The American force engaged with the British flotilla, consisted 
 of 5 gun boats, mounting 23 guns, manced with 182 men. The 
 schoont- r Sea-Horse (in the bay of St. Louis) had one 6 pounder 
 and 14 men, none of which were killed or vvounded. The sloop 
 Alligator (tendei) Had one 4- pounder and 8 men. 
 
 On the 16th of December General Jackson declared the city 
 of Neworleans and its environs under strict martial law. 
 
 On the 18th, the general reviewed the militia of the city, a 
 battalion commanded by Major Blanche, and part of a regiment 
 of men of colour. Being drawn up or. their respective parades, 
 «he general caused to be read to them addresses containing the 
 
 
!•' 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 457 "* 
 
 bargei, 
 Uttlr out 
 \r the at- 
 breast in 
 \ uijfortu* 
 It driving 
 on ai the 
 
 from our 
 It, the ob- 
 
 I the ene- 
 actioD be- 
 
 II 4», the 
 d to board 
 fry officer 
 ittempt to 
 d almost a 
 und in my 
 saving it in 
 lUantly de- 
 len the ene- 
 )08se88ion (tf 
 lemy imme- 
 n*boat«, and 
 ►lours. The 
 lutes past 12 
 f. 23, all the 
 
 the enemy, 
 ounded has 
 amounts to 
 
 Uted of 42 
 L and 3 gigs 
 land officers, 
 Ivere wounds 
 
 [la, consisted 
 Imen. The 
 6 pounder 
 The sloop 
 
 tred the city 
 iw. 
 
 the city, 8 
 
 a regiroent 
 
 live parades, 
 
 Lntaining the 
 
 .Host patriotic sentiments, and well calculated to inspire them 
 with zeal^ courage, and military ardour. 
 
 On the 23'*, Generals Coffee and Carroll, with between 3 and 
 
 4000 T'-'iinessee and Kentucky troops, arrived at NeWorleans 
 
 Detachments of these troops were immediately posted in different 
 directions to guard the defences of the city. 
 
 On the 23d, the enemy having entered la! : Bourgne, surprized ' 
 a piquet at the mouth of the bayou Bienvenu, discharging it8 '] 
 waters into the lake, and immediately commenced ascending the 
 creek in boats, directing his course towards the Mississippi. For 
 an account of this movement, aud events immediately subsequent, 
 n'e give the following official and other accredited documents : 
 
 Camp belofi) Netuorleans, Dec. 27, in the morning. ^ 
 SlR....The loss of our gun-boats near the pass of the Rigolets, '^ 
 having given the enemy command of lake Bourgne, he was ena- 
 bled to choose his point of attack. It became therefore an object 
 of importan<ie to obstruct the numerous bayous and canals leading 
 from that lake to the highlands of the Mississippi. This important 
 service was committed in the first instance, to a detachment of 
 the 7th regiment, aAerwards to Colonel De Laronde, of the Loui- 
 siana militia, and lastly, to make all sure, to Major Genaral Vil- 
 lere, commanding the district between the river and the lakes, 
 and who, being a native of the country, was presumed to be best 
 acquainted with all those passes. Unfortunately, however, a pi- 
 quet which the general had established at the mouth of the bayou 
 Bienvenu, and which, notwithstanding my orders, had been left 
 unobstructed, was completely surprized, and the enemy pene- 
 trated through a canal leading to his farm, about two leagues be- 
 low the city, and succeeded in cutting cif a company of militia 
 i^tationed there. This intelligence was eotnmuniciiktcd to me about 
 12 o'clock of the 23d. My force consisted of part« of the 7th 
 and 44th regim .s, not exceeding 600 togeiiisr, th? city militia, 
 a part of General Coffee's brigade of mounted gunme::, and the 
 detached militia from the western division of Teaetsee under the 
 command of Major General Carroll : these two last corps were 
 stationed 4 miles above the city. Apprehending a double attack 
 by way of Chief Menteur, I left General Carroll's force, and the 
 militia of the city, posted on the Gentilly road ; and at 5 o'clock, 
 P. M. marched to meet the enemy, whom I was resolved to attack 
 in his first position, with Major Hind's' dragoons. General Cof 
 fee's brigade, parts of the 7th and 44th regiments, the uniform 
 companies of m *'tia under the command of Major Planche^ 200 
 men of colour^ chiefiy from St. Domingo, raised by Colonel Sa- 
 vary, and acting under the commavid .A' Mujor Dagwin, and a de- 
 tnchment of artillt rv und«'r the direction of Colonel M'Rea, with 
 
 '*• M 
 
 iii'U 
 
4^8 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 
 two pounderi under the eomnand of Lieutenaot Spoti; not ex- 
 oeeding in all 1500 men. I arrived near the enemy't encamp 
 ment about 7, and immediately made my diipositiont for the attack^ 
 Hii forcei, amounting at that time on land to About 3000, exten 
 ded half a mile on the river, and in the rear nearly to the wood. 
 Ct^neral Coffee was ordered to turn their right, while with the re- 
 sidue of the force I attacked his strongest position on the left; 
 near the river. Commddore Patterson having dropped down the 
 liver in the schooner Carolina, was directed to qseo a fire upon 
 their camp, which he executed at about half past 7. This being 
 the signal to attack. General Coffee's men, with their usual impe- 
 tuosity, rushed on the enemy's right, and entered their camp, 
 while our right advanced with equal ardour. There can be but 
 little doubt, that we should have succeeded en that occasion with 
 our inferior force in destroying or capturing the enemy, h«d not a 
 thick fog, which arose obout 8 o'clock, occasioned some confusion 
 rmiong the diflTerent corps. Fearing the const^qufnces, under this 
 circumstance, of further prosecution of a right attack, with men 
 acting together for the ifrst time, I contested myself with lying on 
 the field that night ; and at 4 in the morning assumed >$ stronger 
 position, about two miles nearer the city. At this position I re- 
 main encaiiiped, waiting the arrival of the Kentucky militia and 
 other reinforcements. As the safety of the city will depend on 
 the fate of this army, it mxai not be iocaatiously exposed. 
 
 In this aflair the whole <.-orps under my command deserve the 
 greatest credit. The best compliment I can pay to General Cof- 
 fee and his brigade, is to say they behaved as they always have 
 done when under my command. The 7th, led by Major Pierre, 
 and the 44th, comriinnded by Colonel Ross, distinguished them- 
 selves. The battalion uf city militia, commanded by Maj. Plache 
 realized my aiiticiptitions, and behaved like veterans. Sava- 
 ry's volunteers nianifevted great bravery ; and the company of 
 city rinen^en, having penetrated into the midst of the enemy's 
 camp, V/'iTC surrounded, and fought their way out with the great- 
 est hr roism, bririging with them a Dumber of prisoners. The 
 tw( field pieces wert> well served by the ofilicer commanding 
 »hi"m. 
 
 All my officers h) the une did their duty, and I have every rea- 
 son to be satisfiea with my field and staff. Colonels Butler and 
 Piatt, and Major Cotard, by then i.-vtrepidity, saved the artillery. 
 Colonel Haynes wai. every where thai duty or danger ceUed. I 
 was deprived of the services of one of my aids, Captain Sutler, 
 whom 1 was obliged to station, to his great regret, in town. Cap- 
 tain Reid, my other aid, and Messrs. Livingston, Duplissis and 
 Davizac, who had volunteered their services and fitced dangej 
 
 --■ ^f y-'-h: 
 
1 - ii ': 
 
 thi war. 
 
 4611 
 
 ; not ex- 
 encamp- 
 lip attack 
 O, exten- 
 be wood, 
 ith the re- 
 I the left; 
 down the 
 fire upon 
 rhii being 
 lual impe- 
 eir camp, 
 in be but 
 asion with 
 , h«d not a 
 ; confution 
 under this 
 , with men 
 th lying on 
 4 stronger 
 itition 1 re- 
 roilitia and 
 depend on 
 led. 
 
 deserve the 
 eoeral Cof- 
 ways have 
 yor Pierre, 
 ihed them* 
 laj. Plache 
 nt. Sava- 
 ;ompany of 
 J enemy's 
 the great- 
 rs. The 
 mmanding 
 
 every rea- 
 
 Butler and 
 
 artillery. 
 
 celled. I 
 lain Sutler, 
 )wn. Cap- 
 Iplissis and 
 led danger 
 
 wherever it wai to he met, and carried my orderi wif^^ the utmoit 
 promptitude. 
 
 We made 1 major, 2 subalterns and 03 privates, prisoners ; and 
 the enemy's loss in killed and wounded must have been at least 
 -r-x— >-.* My ^wn loss I have not as ytt been able to Htcertain^ 
 with exactness, but suppose it to amount to 100 in killed, wound* 
 •d and missing. Among the former I have to lament th« lost olT 
 Colonel Lauderdale, of General Cofee's brigade, who fetl whjJ^ 
 hravely fighting. Colonels Dyer and Gibson of the same^o'rpi 
 were wounded, and Major Kevenaugh taken prisoner. 
 
 Colonel D& Laronde,Major Villere, of the Louisiana mifitiayM^r [ 
 jor Latour, of the engineers, having no command, volunteered . 
 their services, as did Doctors Kerr and Hood, and were of great 
 assistance to ine.. 
 
 I have the honour to be« with great respect, your obedient sei-- ' 
 vant, ANDREW JACKSON, 
 
 Major General commanding. 
 Hon. James Monroe, secretary of war. 
 
 After the enemy had landed on the 23d December from the ca- 
 nal, they were in General Villere*s yard, above and near the ca- 
 nal, before any one knew that they had even attempted to laud. 
 Villere's son was a prisoner by them in his father's house ; but 
 under some pretence, he got leave to go into the yarrd, made hilr^ 
 escape, "nd was the first to give the news in Neworleans, at about*" 
 2 o'clock, P. M. Our videttes at the mouth of the bayou BieO' 
 venu, had been before made prisoners, supposed to have been be- 
 trayed by some fishermen, who were in the habit of 'transporting ' 
 fish from the lake through the bayou to the Neworleans market.... 
 !n the action which ijucceeded on this day, young Villere, the for- 
 tunate herald of the enemy's approach, had been placed at the 
 head of a company of Creolef volunteers, formed on the spur of 
 occasion, and was again made a prisoner. All the American pri< 
 ironers were sent on board the enemy's fleet. The Cieo!*?s were 
 first ordered to be released, on condition of their takinii; with 
 vhem a proclamation from the British commanding general to the 
 inhabitants of Louisiana : this they every one refused to do....they 
 were, nevertheless, released on parole. 
 
 A letter entitled to authority, mentions, that when the British 
 were attacked, on the evening of the 23d, they were leisurely pre- 
 paring to cook their suppers, but that they got much hotter CoFFiifi 
 than they expected ; and that though the capture of the enemy 
 
 II 
 
 If ► 
 
 'I 
 
 * Tliii wai left blank by Oenenl Jacluon t the enemy i 
 bern upirardi of itM). 
 
 M wti tfterwiHt •«'fnii5n;«| to ii,T( 
 
 t;Crc«le« are those born In the eonntir, oi" Eujr.ipf«n ancc«tpr« 
 
 M 
 
460 
 
 8KETCUKi> Of 
 
 was desiral^f tke protection of the city wai iofiuitciy to be pre- 
 ferredj anr'i gives the opinion that Jackson would not risque its 
 safety. ^*be writer observes, that the stores were all shut up^ 
 and that^an idler was not permitted tq walk in the streets of the 
 city. ^ 
 
 On tl^ 24th of December* Commodore Patterson and Captain 
 Henjey. commanding the U. S. vessels Louisiana and Cardina, in 
 Ihe Mursiisippi, kept up a brisk fire on the enemy, ^d compelled 
 hiiMfO retire one mile from the embankment of the river into the 
 ' Cypress Swamp. But afterwards tlie enemy erected a battery of 
 5 guns .pn the shore,,when Commodore Patterson, commanding 
 the Louisiana, ascended the river on the 26th ; and Captain Hen- 
 ley, in pursuance of orders, used every possible exertion to move 
 ,' the schooner Carolina higher up, and nearer General Jackson's 
 ^ camp, but without success....the wind being at N. N. W. and 
 1^ blowing fresh, but too scant to get under way, and the current too 
 " rapid to move her by warping, which was in vain attempted by 
 the whole crew. 
 
 At daylight, on the morning of the 27th, the enemy opened 
 upon the Carolina their battery, from which they threw shells and 
 hot shot. The Carolina returned the fire with a long 12 pounder, 
 the only gun on board which could reach a mile and a quarter, 
 the distance across the river, the remainder of her battery being 
 Ug/it 12 pound carronades. The second shot fired by the enemy 
 :1o(,lgcd in the schooner's main hold, under her cables, in such a si- 
 tuation as not to be approached. This shot set fire to the vessel ; 
 the fire rapidly progressed, and hot shot were passing through her 
 cabin and filling room, which contained a considerable quantity of 
 powder. The bulwarks being all knocked down by the enemy's 
 8hot,the vessel in a sinking; condition, the fire increasing, and Capt. 
 Henley, expecting every moment that she would blow up, at a 
 little after sunrise reluctantly gave orders for the crew to aban- 
 don her, which was effected, with the loss of one man killed and 
 six wounded. Soon after the crew were on shore, the Carolina 
 blew up. 
 
 Emboldened by this event, the enemy, on the 28th, mardied 
 his whole force up the level (behind the embankment of the river) 
 in the hope of driving our army, under General Jackson, from 
 their position. With this view, the enemy opened, at the distance 
 of about half a mile, his bombs and rockets. He was repulsed, 
 however, with considerable loss, not less, as is believed, than 120 
 killed. Ours was inconsiderable, not exceeduig 7 killed and 8 
 wounded. 
 
 Commodore Patterson dcscrftes, cffieially, th<» naval part of thir 
 battle, in the following tcrm^ 
 
1-Uk WAR. 
 
 461 
 
 \y to be pre- 
 ot riique iti 
 all shut up, 
 treets of tb« 
 
 and Captain 
 Cardina, in 
 kd compelled 
 river into the 
 a battery of 
 commanding 
 Captain Hen- 
 tion to move 
 ral Jackion'8 
 N. W. and 
 c current too 
 attempted by 
 
 nemy opened 
 ew shells and 
 ; 12 pounder, 
 jad a quarter, 
 battery being 
 )y the enemy 
 u in such a si- 
 \o the voisel ; 
 
 through her 
 >le quantity of 
 
 the enemy's 
 ling, and Capt. 
 
 >low up, at a 
 crew to aban- 
 lan killed and 
 
 the Carolina 
 
 8th, mardied 
 t of the river) 
 Jackson, from 
 It the distance 
 was repulsed, 
 kred, tbaa 120 
 killed and 8 
 
 iral part of thir 
 
 (/. .Si. Sh^) Louisiana, four miles below 'i 
 Ne^orleaas, December 20, 1814. } 
 
 SiA..mI have the honour to inform yo*i, that on the morning of 
 the 28th instant, at aboiit half past 7, I perceived our advanced 
 guard retreating towards our lines, the enemy pursuing ; fired 
 shot, shells and rookets, from field artillery, with which they ad- 
 vanced on the road behind the levee ; sprung si;ip to bring the 
 starboard guns to bear upon the enemy. At 25 minutes past 8, 
 A. M. the enemy opened their fire upon the ship with shells, hot 
 shot and rockets, which was incessantly returned with great spi- 
 rit and much apparent effect^ and continued without intermission, 
 till 1, P. M. when the enemy slackened their fire, and retreated 
 with a part of their artillery from each of their battcricy, evident- 
 ly with great loss. Two attempts were made to screen one hea- 
 vy piece of ordnance, mounted behind the levee» with which they 
 threw hot shot at the ship, and which had been a long time aban- 
 doned before they succeeded in lecovering It, and then it must 
 have been with very great loss, as I distinctly saw, with the aid of 
 my glass, several shot strike in the midst of the men (scariien) who 
 were employed in dragging it away. At 3, P. M. the enemy 
 were silenced ; at 4, P. M. ceased firing from the ship, the ene- 
 my having retired beyond the range of her guns. Many of their 
 shot passed over the ship, and their shells burst over her decks, 
 which were strewed with their fragments; yet after an incessant 
 cannonading of upwards of 7 hours, during which 800 shot were 
 fired from the ship^ one man only was wounded slightly, by th> 
 piece of a shell, and one shot passed between the bowsprit and 
 heel of the jib boom. 
 
 The enemy drew up his whole force, evidently with an inten- 
 tion of assaulting General Jackson's lines under cover of his heavy 
 cannon, but his cannonading being so warmly returned from the 
 lines (Mid ship Louisiana, caused him, I presume, to abandon hit 
 project, as be retired without making the attempt. You will have 
 learned by my former letters, that the crew of the Louisiana it 
 composed of men of all nations, (English excepted) taken from 
 the streets of Neworleans not a fortnight before the battle ; yet I 
 never knew guns better served^ or a roor^ animated fire than w»i 
 supported from her. 
 
 Lieutenant C. C. B. Thompson deserves great credit for the dix- 
 cipline to which in so short a time, he had brought such men, two 
 thirds of whom do not understand English. 
 
 General Jackson having applied for officers and men to work 
 the heavy cannon on his lines, furnished by me. Lieutenants Nor- 
 ris and Crowley, of the late schooner Carolina, instantly volun- 
 fcered, and with the greater part of her crew, >^'ere sent to nn«n 
 
 I 
 
 ^■iir 
 
 *r' 
 
m 
 
 8KSTCHU Of 
 
 thoie cannon^ which they lervtd during th^ action herein det«it- 
 ed. The enemy mutt have auflfered a great lo9« in that day'i aa- 
 tk>n, by the heavy fire from the ship and General Jackton** linei, 
 where the cannon wai of heavy calibre, and served with great 
 fpirit. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with great consideration and retpect, 
 your obedient lervanti 
 
 DANIEL T. PATTERSON. 
 
 Hon. Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 jfetion cfthe Ut of January*.,.,Buming of a British transport, 
 
 {jrc Arrival qf British reit^foreements Great battle of the 
 
 9th of January»,„Retreat ((f the British»»,J^rser Shield*^ 
 expedition, ^a. 
 
 After the battle of the 28th of December, the main body of 
 Gen. Jaclcaon's army remained quiet until the morning of the Itt 
 of January, when the enemy had advanced within 600 yardi of 
 our brea«t-worki, under cover of night and a tieavy fog, and 
 erected three different batteries, mounting in all 16 gunt, from 
 6*8 to 32*8. About 8 o'clock, when the fog cleared off, they 
 commenced a moat tremendous ire, which was amply reti rned 
 by our men, and a heavy cannonading wat kept up, without the 
 leaat interval on either aide, except that occasioned by the explo> 
 sion of too smnll magatines, owing to their oongreve rockets. At 
 4 o'clc^'k P. M. we had dismounted all their guns but two. Du- 
 ring the night the enemy retreated to their strong holds, about a 
 mile and a quarter from our lines. Our loss was 11 killed and 
 23 wounded : thai of the enemy must have been much more. A 
 32 pounder from a battery commanded by Com. Patterson, killed 
 15 at one shot. The Louisiaoa this day fired 700 «hot. 
 
 On the 2d of January, Gen. Jackson received at Neworleani 
 and its vicinity, reinforcements from Kentucky and Tennessee, 
 amounting to 3 or 4000, which, with his foimer force, gave him 
 an army of between 7 and 8000, of whom not more however, 
 than one half were armed. In consequence of the great number 
 of men arriving with their arms in bad order, and of the scarcity 
 of good muskets with bayonets, four companies of U. S. troops, gave 
 up theirs, amounting to about 500, to arm the men at the camp> 
 nnd armed themselves with fowling pieces and piker, 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 4«» 
 
 on herein dtitik- 
 m that day'* ae • 
 I Jackion'R linei, 
 rved with great 
 
 tion and reipeet, 
 
 (TSaSON. 
 
 iritish trnnsport, 
 0at battle of the 
 .Purser Shield*s 
 
 the main body oT 
 orning of the lit 
 thin <K>0 yard! of 
 heavy fog, and 
 ill 15 guni, from 
 cleared off, they 
 ii amply retimed 
 up, without the 
 led by the explo* 
 reve rockett. At 
 I but two. Du- 
 ig holdt, about t 
 IS 11 killed and 
 much more. A 
 *atterson, killed 
 »hot. 
 
 at Neworleana 
 
 and Tennessee, 
 
 force, gave him 
 
 more however, 
 
 e great number 
 
 of the scarcity 
 
 . S. troops, gave 
 
 n at the oamp^ 
 
 iiker« 
 
 On the 0th of January, Sailing-master Johnson of the U. States , 
 Aavy, with a launch and three small boats, manned with 38 men, . 
 succeeded in burning a British transport brig on Lake Borgne, and 
 in capturing a number of prisoneri. The brig was laden with 
 provisions and clothing. On the same day, 21 sail of British ves* 
 sels arrived off Cat Island, upon the coast opposite the bay of St. 
 Louis, with large reinforcements of troops, commanded by Gen. 
 Lambert. On the 7th, these troops were disembarked at the bay* 
 ou Bienvenu : and Lieut. Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham, (brother 
 ln*law of Lord Wellington) assumed command of the whole Bri- 
 tish army, amounting to 12,000 men. 
 
 For two or three days previous to this, part of the forces of the 
 enemy bad been employed in preparing scaling ladders and col- 
 lecting faoines (made of sugar canes) for their intended atsault 
 upon our lines ; while others were widening and deepening the ca- 
 nal which leads from the bayou Bienvenu toward the Mississippi, 
 and which, on the evening of the 7th, '' ut through to admit 
 the river. Through this canal they float r dragged twenty-four 
 of their smaller kwats, containing 25 men each, ai^ thus transpor- 
 ted about 000 men to the opposite side of the river. Some dis- 
 tance above the spot where they landed, two batteries had been 
 constructed and placed under the direction of Com. Patterson. 
 The eneafiy's troops which had thus crossed, were intended to at- 
 tack the commodore's batteries and create a diversion on that side 
 of the river, while the main attack was carried on on the other 
 side. Accordingly on the morning of the 8th, they silently drew 
 out a large force to storm our lines, their columns advancing un- 
 perceived in the obscurity of the morning, to within about half a 
 mile of our camp, where they met and drove in our piquet guard. 
 About day break they advanced with great vivacity to the en- 
 trenchment, led gallantly on by their officers ; when the intrepid 
 Jackson and his brave men opened a most tremendous and deadly 
 lire upon them from our works, which ended in a dreadful slaugh- 
 ter and total defeat of the enemy. Gen Jackson officially reports 
 to the secretary at war an account of this battle in the following 
 words : 
 
 Camp, four miles below Orleans, January 0th, 1815. 
 SIR— During the days of the 0th and 7th, the enemy had been 
 actively employed in making preparations for an attack on my 
 lines. With infinite labour they had succeeded on the night of 
 the 7tk in getting their boats across from the lake to the river, by 
 widening and deepening the canal on which they had effected their 
 disembarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these op- 
 erations by a general attack ; added to other reAsons, the nature 
 of the troops under my comnmnd, mostly militia, rendered it too 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 HiotDgraphic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 CorpOTation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716)S73-4S03 
 
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 ^^' 
 
4«4 
 
 SKETCHES 0¥ 
 
 hazardous to attempt extensive offensive movements in an open 
 country, against a numerous and well disciplined army. Altho' my 
 forces, as to number, had been increased by the arrival of the Ken- 
 lucky division, my strength had received very little addition ; a 
 small portion otAy of that detachment being provided vt^ith arms. 
 Compelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, I todic every 
 measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the ob- 
 ject he had in view. Gen. Morgan with the Orleans contingent, 
 the Louisiana militia and a strong detachment of the Kentucky 
 troops, occupied an entrenched camp on the opposite side of the 
 river, protected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and su 
 perintended by commodore Patterson. 
 
 In my encampment every thing was ready for action^ when, 
 early on the morning of the 8tb, the enemy after throwing a 
 heavy shower of bombs and congfeve rockets^ advanced their ool' 
 umns on my right and left, to storiii my entrenchments. I cannot 
 speak sufficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation with 
 which the whole line received their approacb....more could not 
 have been expected from veterans inured to war.....For an hour, 
 the fire of the small arms was as incessant and severe as can be 
 imagined. The artillery, too, directed by officers who displayed 
 'equal skill and courage, did great execution. Tet the columtts 
 of the enemy continued to advanee with a firmness which re-< 
 fleets the greatest credit. Twice the column which afiij^roached me 
 on my left, was repulsed by the troops of Gen. Carroll, those of 
 Gen. Coffee, and a division of ti>e Kentucky ^uilitia^ and twice they 
 formed again and renewed the assault At leikgth, however, cut 
 tt> pieces, they fled in confusion from the field heaving it covered 
 with their dead and wounded. 
 
 The loss which the enemy sustained on this occasion, cannot 
 be estimated at less than 1500 m killed, wounded aiid prisoners. 
 Upwards of three hundred have already been delivered over for 
 burial ; and my men are still engaged in picking them up within 
 my lines and carrying them to the point where the enemy are -to 
 
 receive tbem This is an addition to the dead and wounded wbom 
 
 the enemy have been enabled to carry froiiri' the field, during, and 
 since the action, and to those who hav^ since died of the vvounds 
 they received. We have taken about 500 prisoners, upwards of 
 300 of whom are wounded, and a great part of them naortally. 
 My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to. ten 
 killed and as many wounded. The entire destructton of the ene- 
 my's army was now inevitable, had it not been for an mfortcinafe 
 occurrence which at this moment took pla6e on the ot^er side of 
 the river. Simultaneously with his advance upon my liner, he 
 had thrown over in his boats a considerable force to the other ndt 
 ntf" the river. This having landed, was hardly enough to ad- 
 
 11 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 465 
 
 J! 
 
 n as open 
 Altho» my 
 f the Ken- 
 Idition; it 
 ivith arms. 
 t66k every 
 eat the ob- 
 sontittgent, 
 Kentucky 
 side of the 
 ed and su 
 
 ion^ when^ 
 throwing a 
 d their col- 
 I. I cannot 
 >raf ion with 
 e could not 
 or an hour, 
 e as can be 
 ho displayed 
 the columiis 
 I which re- 
 )roached mti 
 roll, those of 
 d twice they 
 owever> cut 
 it covered 
 
 ^sion> cannot 
 prisoners. 
 Ired over for 
 Im up within 
 jemy are to 
 linded whomi 
 during, and 
 the wounds 
 upwards of 
 W mortally, 
 [untedto ten 
 of the ene- 
 unfortnnate 
 ter side of 
 ny lines, hel 
 \e other side 
 Lugh to ad- 
 
 yance against the works of Gen. Morgan ; and^ what is strange 
 and difficult to account for, at the very moment when its en- 
 tire discomfiture was looked for with a confidence approaching 
 to certainty, the Kentucky reinforcements, in whom so much reli- 
 ance had been placed, ingloriously fled, drawing after them by 
 their example, the remainder of the forces ; and thus yielded to 
 the enemy that most fortunate position. The batteries which 
 had rendered me^ for many days; the most important service, 
 though bravely defended, were of course now abandoned ; not 
 however until the guns had been spiked. 
 
 This unfortunate route had totally changed the aspect of affairs. 
 The enemy now occupied a position from which they might annoy 
 us without hazard, and by means of which they might have been 
 enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of our success 
 on this side the river. It became therefore an object of the first 
 consequence to dislodge him as soon as ppssible. For this object, . 
 all the means in my power, which I could with any safety use, 
 were immediately put in preparation. Perhaps, however, it was 
 owing somewhat to another cause that I succeeded even beyond 
 my expectations. In negociating the terms of a temporary siis* 
 pension of hostilities to enable the enemy to bury their dead and 
 provide 'for their wounded, I had required certain propositions te 
 be acceded to as a basis ; among which this was one— >that al* 
 though hostilities should cease on this side the river until 12 
 o'clock of this day, yet it was not to be understood that the}^ 
 should cease on the other side ; biit that no reinforcements should 
 be sent across by either army until the expiration of that day. 
 His excellency Maj. Gen. Lambert begged time to consi4er of 
 these propositions until 10 o'clock of to day, and in the meantime 
 recrossed his troops. I need not tell you with how much eager- 
 ness I immediately regained possession of the position he had thus 
 hastily quitted. 
 
 The enemy having concentrated bis forces, may again attempt 
 io drive me from my position by storm. Whenever he does, I 
 have no doubt my men will act with their usual firmness, and 
 sustain a character now become dear to them. 
 
 I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient ser. 
 Vant. 
 
 ANEiREW JACKSON, 
 Maj. Gen. comman.iing. 
 * 
 In a subsequent letter. Gen. iacksoti states tlie loss of the ene* 
 my to have been much greater than what he had at first compu- 
 ted. Upon information which was believed to be correct. Col. 
 Haynes, reported it to have been in total 2600, viz. 700 killed, 
 1400 wounded, and 500 prisoners, including 1 major, 4 captains, 
 1.1 lieutenants and 1 ensign, who were among the lfltter« The 
 
 3N ■ : 
 
 !■ 
 
 h 
 
 ir « 
 
 
 i-! 
 
 : 
 
 I 
 r 
 
 m 
 
 J 
 
 ''ii 
 
40j[r 
 
 SKKl'CHES 09 
 
 Jimerican loss, on both sides of the Mississippi was 13 killed, ^h 
 woiiuded, and 19 missing — total 71. Of this number 6 were 
 hilled and 7 wounded in the action on the eastern bank of the river^ 
 and the residue in a oortie after the action and in the action on 
 the westtrn bank. Among the British officers killed were Sir Ed- 
 \vnrd Pakenham, Iteuterant-general and commander in chief, (cut 
 a?Onder by a cannon ball) Maj. Gen. Gibbs, Col. Reyner, Majors 
 Pringle, Whitaher and Wilkinson, Among their wounded was 
 Maj. Gen. Keane, severely. 
 
 Numerous accounts official as well as unofficial, represent this 
 battle to have been the greatest ever fought on the American con- 
 tinent. For disparity of loss a parallel can scarcely be found in an- 
 cient or modern history. So determined were the enemy to car- 
 \ ty our works, that many came up to the %'ery muzzles of our guns, 
 and some 'pienetrated into oar lines, where they were either killed 
 or taken prisoners. Many fell nnounting the breast-works ; others 
 were i»I<tin upon the works ^ and the ditch in front was, in many 
 places, literally filled with dead and wounded. The roar of artil- 
 lery from our lines vva^ incessant, while an uuintermitted rolling 
 fire was kept up from our tnuskets. The atmosphere was filled 
 with sheets of fire and volumes of smoke. For an hour and a 
 (Quarter the en«nny obstinately contini^ed the assault ; fresh men 
 <^ CMistanfly aftiving to fill up their lines thinned by our fire. Their 
 cfdermlned perseverance and steady valour, were worthy of a 
 L( Iter cause ; nor did their troops faulter,. until almost all the offi- 
 ctrs who bad led them to the attack had fallen. At one time, a 
 body c^ the enemy succeeded in gahiiog possession of a bastion 
 on our right with 3 pieces of cannon in it ; but so destructive was 
 our fire,tbat every Man who entered was either killed by our rifie- 
 linen or disabled before they could spike the guns. Our men soon 
 returned to the eharge and regained the bastion. So intent were 
 the enemy in getting over our works,, that they pulled off their 
 ^oesYor thepurpose of dindtbing them; but nettrly all who made 
 ^ attempt were either killed or taken prisonei^ 
 
 The guns of Commodo're Patterson's batteries, on the opposite 
 sid^ of the river, did great execution, until the retreat of the Ken- 
 tucky troops,, wtu) had been posted near them. The commodore,, 
 finding himself thus deserted, was compelled, with a handfitl of 
 brave 'men, to retire, alter spiking his guns. The British after- 
 wards burnt the gun carriages, being foiled in their expectations 
 of using the guns to annoy our troops on the opposite shore.^ -^ 
 
 ''Previous to the battle of the 8th of January, the piratet^of Ba- 
 rSttaria, who had been held in custody, were released by order of 
 General Jackson, upon condition that they would assist in defend- 
 ing the city of Neworleans. In the battle of that day they prov- 
 ed themselves excellent artillerists,' and were, together with a fkw 
 Frenchmen, successfully employed in serving the pieces. They 
 
i'UE WAR. 
 
 m 
 
 kilted, S&» 
 er 6 were 
 if the liver, 
 action on 
 ere Sir Ed- 
 chief, (cut 
 er. Majors 
 unded was 
 
 present this 
 terican con- 
 found in an- 
 emy to car- 
 jf our guns, 
 either killed 
 •rks; others 
 18, in many 
 oar of aitrl- 
 itted rolling 
 e was filled 
 hour and o. 
 ; fresh men 
 fire. Their 
 worthy of a 
 all the offi- 
 one time, a 
 )f a bastion 
 luctive was 
 Iby our rifle - 
 ir men soon 
 lintient were 
 ed off their 
 who made 
 
 the opposite 
 lof the Ken- 
 fommodore,. 
 handful df 
 Iritish after- 
 jxpectations 
 
 Ihore.^-t 
 late/of Ba- 
 py order tif 
 in defend- 
 they prov- 
 Iwithaftw 
 ces. They 
 
 x^ere ai^tervvards released from any further confinement, having 
 received (at the request of the general assembly of Louisiana) a 
 full pardon from the president of the United States. 
 
 Soon after the battle, the enemy sent in a flag of truce, and 24 
 hours were allowed them to remove arid, bury their dead, fn one 
 small spot alone, on the left of our lines, they found 368 dead bo- 
 -dies. In the course of the day 40 carts aud 10 boats arrived at 
 Neworleans, loaded with wounded prisone**s, who were put into 
 the barracks, which were converted into temporary hospitals ^ 
 about 150 unwounded prisoners were also put iu confinement..... 
 To the wounded every attention was paid by the citizens ; the 
 puns of the convent took the glorious lead. They, under the im« 
 mediate superintendance of the Abbe Douburg, threw open their 
 doors and converted all their houses, separated from their maiti 
 building, into a hospital, where they themselves, at their own ex- 
 pense, and with their own hands, took care of the sick and woun'\ 
 ded. The ladies of Neworleans were also employed in the same 
 charitable acts of benevolence, as likewise in making clothes for 
 our soldiers. The future historian will delight to contrast the de- 
 stroying and brilliant virtues of the pne sex, with the preserving 
 and not less attracting virtues of the other. 
 
 Immediately after their. repulse, the enemy commenced active 
 operations for a re-embarkation of their troops. Nearly the whole 
 of the sick and wounded were sent on board their vessels, toge- 
 ;i^er with such baggage and munitions of war as could be safely 
 reared. During these operations, the enemy kept up a menacing 
 attttude....frequent indications were given of an intention to renew 
 the attack on our hues, and vigorous works of defence were 
 thrown up in front of our camp. The rear of their army retired 
 first, while they displayed a numerous body of men to the view 
 of our troops, and at night their fires seemed rather to increase 
 than diminish. They had erected batteries to cover their retreat, 
 in advantageous positions, from their original encampment, to th^ 
 bayou through which they entered lake Bourgne. The cannoii 
 placed on these batteries could have raked a pursuing army in 
 every direction, and any attetnpt to storm them would have been 
 attended with very great slaughter. Having made the necessary 
 arrangements, the whole British army precipitately retreated on 
 the night cf the 18th of January ; an account of which was ofR- 
 cially given by General Jackson to the secretary of war, as fol* 
 Ipws : 
 
 Camp, fourmileshelow Neworleans, Jan, Id, 1815. 
 
 Last night at f2 o'clock, the enemy precipitately decamped, 
 
 and returned to |iis boats, leaving behind him, under medical at- 
 
 tendance^ 80 of his wounded, includiiig two oncers, 14 pieces of 
 
 his h^avy artillery, and a quantity of shot^ having destroyed mucli 
 
 
 
 ii '; 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 i:i UK* 
 
 ti 
 
46h 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 of his povyder. Such was the situation of the groqpd which he 
 abandoned, and of that through which he retired, protected by ca- 
 nals, redoubts, entrenchinents and swamps on his right, and the 
 river on his left, that I could not, without encountering a Hik« 
 which true policy did not seem to require or to authorise, attempt 
 to an^oy him much pn his retreat. We took only eight prison* 
 ers. 
 
 V Whether it is the purpose of the eneiny to abandon the expedi* 
 tion altogether, or renew his efforts at some other points, I do not 
 pretend to determine with positiveness. In my own mind, how. 
 ever, there is but little doub^ that his last exertions have been 
 made in this quarter, at any rate for the present season, and by 
 the nej^t I hope we shall be fully prepared to meet him. In this 
 belief I am strengthened not only by the prodigious loss he has 
 sustained at the position he has just quitted, but by the failure of 
 bis fleet to pass fort St. Philip. 
 
 His loss op this ground, since the debarkation of his troops, as 
 stated by all the last prisoners and deserters* and as confirmed by 
 mtaty additional circumstttnces^ must have exceeded 40G0, and 
 was^reater in the action of the 8th, than was estimated from the 
 roost correct data then in his possession^ by the inspector general, 
 whose report has been forwarded to you. 
 
 Since the action of the dth, the enemy have been allowed very 
 little re8pite....my artillery from both sides of the river being con- 
 stantly employed till the night, and indeed until the hour of their 
 retieat, in annoying thein. No doubt they thought it quite time 
 to quit a position in which soMittle rest could be found. 
 
 I am f^dvi^ed by Major Overton, who commands at fort St. 
 Philip, in a letter of the 18th, that the enemy having bombarded 
 the fort for 8 or days from 13 inch n^ortars, without effect, 
 had, on the morning of that day, retired. I have little doubt that 
 we vvrould have been abl^ to have sunk their vessels had they at- 
 tempted to run by. 
 
 Qiying the proper weight to all these considerations, I belie ve- 
 you will not think me too sanguine in the belief that Louisiana is 
 now clear of its enemy. 1 hope, however, I need not assure you 
 that wherever I command, such a belief shall never occasion any 
 relaxation in the measures for resistance. I am but too sensible 
 that the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most 
 proper to provide for them. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c* 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON. 
 
 P. S. On the 18th our prisoners pn shore were delivered to us, 
 an exchange having been previously agreed to. Those who are 
 pn board the fleet will be delivered at Petit CoquUle ; after which j 
 
 s^pll^tiU have in my hands an excess of several hundreds. 
 
 A. J 
 
which lie 
 cted by ca- 
 lit, and the 
 -ing a rlikf^ 
 ise^ attempt 
 ight prison- 
 
 the expedi' 
 Its, I do not 
 mind, how- 
 
 have been 
 ison, and by 
 im. In this 
 
 loss he has 
 :he failure of 
 
 lis troops, as 
 onftrmed by 
 1 40G0, and 
 ited from the 
 itor general, 
 
 illowed very 
 [r being oon> 
 hour of their 
 it quite time 
 d. • 
 
 at fort St. 
 
 bombarded 
 bout effect, 
 tie doubt that 
 had they at- 
 
 ons, I believe' 
 Louisiana is 
 
 ot assure you 
 
 occasion any 
 too sensible 
 
 not the most 
 
 ICKSON. 
 iivered to us, 
 hose who are 
 after which 
 undreds. 
 A. J 
 
 rUA W^R. 
 
 •loa 
 
 On the 24th of January, Mr. Shields, purser in the navy return- 
 fsd from an expedition which had been fitted out to annoy the en- 
 emy in their embarkation on lake Bourgne, having burnt one 
 transport, captured two large boats, (one of which he sunk) and 
 taken 78 prisoners, together with three slaves, which had been 
 stolen by the' enemy. Owing to the violence of the wind and 
 tide, two prizes which had been taken from the enemy, in addi- 
 tion to the above, (having on bo^rd 20 prisoners and 3 of our own 
 men) were driven from their anchorage and re-captured by the 
 prisoners. This was the only loss Mr. Shields met with. 
 
 It will have been seen by General Jackson's official account, 
 bearing date the ipth of January, in a preceding page, that the 
 whole loss of the enemy from the time of their landing on the 
 island of Orleans until their (lecampment, was rising of 4000 in 
 killed, wounded and prisoners. Add to this, enemy's loss after 
 decampment, and on ship-board, (including about 300 drowned 
 while passing to and from their shipping,) 400, and the whole num- 
 ber will probably amount to 4800.* 
 
 The American loss in the several engagements, was 55 killed, 
 185 woundecf, and 93 mis8ing....total, 333. Of our forces actual- 
 ly engaged (including marines as well as land troops) the follow- 
 ing is a correct statement :....In the action of the 28th of Decem- 
 ber, 3282; 1st' of January, 3061 ; 8th of January, 4698. The 
 enemy's force previous to the 6th of January, was 9000 ; after 
 that time it was increased to 12,000. 
 
 CaAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Address and general orders of General Jackson to the troops 
 under his command, after the retreat of the enemy. ...Ajposto- 
 lie mandate..».Address of the administrator of the diocese qf 
 Louisiana to General Jackson, and the generaVs answer..,. 
 ....Capture of fort Bovuyer....Cessation qf hostiltties....Biogra' 
 phical sketch of General Jackson.„»Description of Nexvor 
 leans andthe surrounding country. 
 
 On the 21st of January, General Jackson directed the follow- 
 ing address to be read at the head of each of the corps, compos 
 ing the lines below Neworleans : 
 
 * A number of British deaertew and pTiwnert have itatrd tUetr loi« to have exceeded SOOO ; and it 
 ;t votthy of remark, that the Biitish oiBcial account oC the action of the «th of Jutuary tepmeno 
 it It ntf caoMemMr surpaiiinf the ftateme(it giren by General Jaclkson. 
 
 Im 
 
4% 
 
 ;>KETCH1£S 0» 
 
 Citizens and FlIllowSoldiers^ 
 
 The enemy has retreated^ and your general has now leisure to 
 proclaim to the world what he has noticed with admiration and 
 pride....your undaunted courage^ your patriotism and patience, un- 
 der hardships and fatigue. Natives of different states, acting to- 
 gether for the first time in this -camp : different in habits and in 
 language, instead of viewing in these circumstances, the germ of 
 distrust and division, you have made them the source of an ho» 
 flourable emulation, and from the seeds of discord itself have 
 reaped the fruits of an honourable union. 
 
 This day completes the fourth week since fifteen hundred of 
 you attacked treble your number of men who had boasted of their 
 discipline, and their services under a celebrated leader, in a long 
 -and eventful war, attacked them in their camp, the moment they 
 had profaned the soil of freedom with their hostile tread, and in- 
 fiicted a blow which was a prelude to the final result of their at- 
 tempt to conquer, or the poor contrivance to divide us. A few 
 hours was sufficient to unite the gallant band, though at the mo- 
 ment they received the welcome order to march they were sepa- 
 rated many leagues in different directions from the city ; the gay 
 rapidity of the march, the cheerful countenances of the officers 
 and men, would have induced a belief that some festive enter- 
 4aiament, not the strife of battle, was the object to which they 
 hastened with so much eagerness and alacrity. In the conflict 
 that ensued, the same spirit was supported, and my commu- 
 nications to the executive of the United States have testified the 
 sense I entertained of the merits of the corps and officers that 
 were engaged. Resting on the field of battle, they retired in per- 
 fect order on the next inorning to these lines, destined to become 
 the scene of future victories, which they were to share with the 
 rest of you, my brave companions in arms. Scarcely were your 
 lines a protection against musket shot, when, on the 2dth, a dis- 
 position was made to attack them with all the pomp and parade 
 of military tactics, as improved by 4hose veterans of the Spanish 
 war. * 
 
 Their batteries of heavy cannon kept up an incessant fire ; their 
 rockets illuminated the air, and under their cover two strong co- 
 lumns threatened our fianks. The foe insolently thought this 
 spectacle was too imposing to be resisted, and in the intoxication 
 of his pride he already saw our lines abandoned without a contest 
 ....how were these menacing appearances met ? 
 
 By shouts of defiance, by a manly countenance, not to be tfaa* 
 ken by the roar of his cannon, by the glare of his fire-work rock- 
 ets ; by an artillery served with superior 8k\li and with deadly ef- 
 fect. Never, my brave friends, can your general forget the testi- 
 monials of attachment to our glorious cause, of indignant hatred 
 to our foe, of affectionate confidence in your chief, that resound- 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 tH 
 
 leisure to 
 ition and 
 ence, un- 
 kcting tO' 
 its and iu 
 ( germ of 
 )f an ho* 
 self have 
 
 jndred of 
 d of their 
 in a long 
 iient they 
 i, and in- 
 r their al- 
 t. A few 
 t the mo< 
 /ere sepa- 
 ; the gay 
 le officers 
 ive enter- 
 ;hich they 
 le conflict 
 ' commu- 
 stiBed the 
 cers that 
 ed in per- 
 o become 
 with the 
 'ere your 
 )th, a dis- 
 id parade 
 > Spanish 
 
 ire ; their 
 jtrong CO- 
 
 ight this 
 joxication 
 la contest 
 
 |o be sha« 
 [ork rock^ 
 jeadly ef- 
 [the testi- 
 it hatred 
 I resound- 
 
 e(t in every rank as he passed along your hoe. This animating 
 and unexpected scene damped the courage of the enemy ; be" 
 dropped his scaling ladders and fascines, and the threatened at- 
 tack dwindled into a demonstratioftf which served only to show 
 the emptiness of his parade, and inspire you with a just cenfidence 
 in yourselves. 
 
 The new year was ushered in with the most tremendous fire 
 his whole artillery could produce ; a few hours only, however,. . 
 wf>re necessary for the brave and skilful men who directed our 
 own, to dismount his cannon, destroy his batteries, and effectually 
 silence bis fire. Hitherto, my brave friends, in the contest on the 
 lines, your courage has been passive only ; you stood, with calm- 
 ness, a fire that would have tried the firmness of veterans, and 
 you anticipated a nearer contest with an eagerness which was 
 soon to be gratified. 
 
 On the 8th of January the final effort was made. At the dawn 
 of day the batteries opened and the columns advanced. Knowing 
 that the volunteers from Tennessee and militia from Kentucky 
 were stationed on your left, it was there they directed their chief 
 attack. 
 
 Reasoning always from false principles, they expected little op'* 
 position from men whose officers even were not iu uniform, who 
 were ignorant of the rules of dress, and who had never been caned 
 into discipline.M.fatal mistake ! a fire incessantly kept up, directed 
 with calmness and with unerring aim, strewed the field with the- 
 brave officers and men of the column, which slowly advanced, 
 according to the nciost approved rules of European tactics, and was 
 cut down by the untutored courage of the American militia. Un- 
 able to sustain this galling and unceasing fire, some hundred» - 
 nearest the entrenchments called for quarters, which was granted 
 ....the rest, retreating, were rallied at some distance], but only to 
 make them a surer mark for the grape and canniste^ <uot of our 
 artillery, which, without exaggeration, mowed down whole ranks 
 at every discharge ; and at length they precipitately retired from 
 the field. 
 
 Our right had only a short contest to sustain with a few rash 
 (Aen, who, fatally for themselves, forced their entrance, into the 
 unfinished redoubt on the river. They were quickly dispossessed, 
 •nd this glorious day terminated with the loss to the enemy of 
 their commander in chief, and one major general killed, another 
 major general wounded, the most experienced and bravest of 
 their officers, and more than three thousand men killed, wounded 
 and missing; while our ranks, my friends, were thinned only by 
 the loss of six of our brave companions killed, and seren disabled 
 by virounds.... wonderful interposition of Heaven ? unexampled. event 
 m>the history of wac f 
 
 
 
 ' I 
 
.4*2 
 
 SKETCHES Ot 
 
 Let ua be grateful to the God of battles who hai directed the 
 arrows of indignation against our invaders^ while he covered 
 with the protecting shield the brave defenders of their country. 
 
 After this unsuccessful and disastrous attempt, their spirits were 
 broken, their force was destroyed, and their whole attention wag 
 employed in providing means of e8ca|fe. This they have effected ; 
 leaving their heavy artillery in our power, and many of their 
 wounded to our clemency. The consequences of this short but 
 decisive campaign, are incalculable important. The pride of our 
 arrogant enemy humbled, his forces broken, his leaders killed, his 
 insolent hopies of our disunion frustrated, his expectations of riot* 
 ing in our spoils, and wasting our country, ctianged into ignomi- 
 nious defeat, shameful flight, and a reluctant acknowledgment oi 
 the humanity and kindness of those whom he had doomed to aP 
 the horrors and humiliations of a conquered state. 
 
 On the other side, unanimity established, disaffection crushed^ 
 confidence restored, your country saved from conquest, your pro- 
 perty from pillage, your wives and daughters from insult and vio 
 iation, the union preserved from dismemberment, and perhaps a 
 period put, by this decisive stroke, to a barbarous and sa- 
 vage war. These, my brave friends, are the consequences of thr 
 efforts you have made, and the successes with which they have 
 been crowned by heaven. 
 
 These important results have been effected by the united courage 
 :ind perseverance of the army ; but which the different corps, as 
 tvell as the individuals that compose it, have vied with each other 
 hi their exertions to produce. The share they have respiectively 
 had will be poiqted out in the general order accompanying this ad- 
 dress. But the gratitude, the admiration of their country, offers 
 a fairer reward than that which any general can bjestow, and the 
 best is that of which they can never be deprived, the conscious* 
 uess of having done their duty, and of meriting the applause thejf 
 will receive, 
 
 GENERAL ORDERS. 
 
 H, Q,, 7th Military District, Camp below JNeworleam, 
 Adjutant Generals office, Jan, 12, Id 15. 
 Before the camp at these memorable lines shall be broken up, 
 the general thinks it a duty to the brave army which has defend- 
 ed them, publicly to notice the conduct of the different corps which 
 compose it...The behaviour of the regular troops, consisting of parts 
 of the 7th and 44th regiments of infantry, and the corps of marines, 
 all commanded by Col.* Ross, has been such as to merit his warm 
 approbation. The 7th regiment was led by Major Peyre, and the 
 44th by Captain Baker, in the action of the 23d, in a manner that 
 does thosse officers the highest honour. They have continued 
 through the campaign to do their duty with the same 2eal and abi- 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 473 
 
 irty with which it w»« commenced. On that occasion the couu- 
 try loit a valuable othcer in the death of Lieutenant M'Clellen of 
 
 the 7th infantry, who fell while bravely leading his company 
 
 Lieutenant Dupy of the 44th, 4tthough severely wounded in thit 
 action, returned in time to take a share in all subsequent attacks. 
 
 To the Tennessee mounted riflemen, to their gallant leader. 
 Brigadier General Coffee, the general presents his warmest thanks, 
 not only for their uniform good conduct in action, but for the won- 
 derful patience with vvhich they have borne the fatigue, and the 
 perseverance with which they have surmounted the difficulties of 
 a most painful march in order to meet the enemy ; a diligence 
 and zeal to which we probably owe the salvation of the country. 
 Ordinary activity would have brought them too late to act the 
 t>rilliant part they have performed in the defeat of our invaders. 
 All t'llie officers of that corps have distinguished themselves ; but 
 the gene/al cannot avoid mentioning the name of Lieutenant 
 Colonel Lairderdale, who fell on the night of the 23d ; and those 
 of Colonels Dj'er, Gibson and Elliot, who were wounded, but dis- 
 daining personal considerations, remained firm to their duty. 
 
 The cavalry from the Missisiippi territory, under their enter- 
 prizing leader. Major Hinds, was always ready to perform every 
 service which the nature of the country enabled them to execute. 
 The daring manner in which they reconnoitred the enemy on his 
 lines excited the admiration of one army, and the astonishment 
 of the other. 
 
 Major General Carroll, commanding (he detachment of West 
 Tennessee militia, has shown the greatest zeal for the service, a 
 strict attention to duty, and' an ability and courage that will al- 
 way* recommend him to the gratitude of his country. His troops 
 bave, since the lines were formed, occupied and defended the weak- 
 est part . of them, and borne without a murmur, an encampment 
 on a marshy and unhealthy soil. In the memorable action of the 
 8th January, the chief effort of the enemy was directed against 
 them ; but their valour, and that of the brave men who support- 
 ed them, (General Cof&e's brigade on the lef;, and a part of the 
 Kentucky troops on the right) soon made it clear that a rampart 
 of high minded men is a better defence than the most regular for- 
 tification. General Adair, who, owing to the indisposition of Ge- 
 neral Thomas, brought up the Kentucky militia, has shown that 
 troops will always be vaiiaiit when their leaders are so. No men 
 ever displayed a more gallant spirit than these did under that 
 most ^luable of?^''er. His country is jmder obligations to him. 
 
 The'^general wc -d be ungratefUl or insensible to merit, if he 
 did not particularly ./itice the conduct of the officers and men 
 who so bravely supported, and so skilfully directed his artillery..... 
 Colonel M'Rea, in the action of the 23d, showed, as be always 
 
 3 
 
 1 1 
 
 ill 
 
 m 
 
 § 
 
 fi' 
 
 I In 
 
474 
 
 aKKTCHIS Of 
 
 doei> great courage. Lieutenant Spotti, under whoie immediate 
 direction our artillery had been«placed, led it to action with a dar- 
 ing courage worthy of admiration.' Captain Humphrey command- 
 ed the firit battery on our right ; the service it greatly indebted 
 to.that officer, not only for the able and gallant manner io which 
 he directed hit fire, but for the general activity he displayed in 
 his department. 
 
 Lieutenant Norris of the navy, with Mr. Walkers Martin, and 
 a detachment of seamen, were stationed at the second battery ; 
 and Lieutenant Grawley, with Mr. W. Livingston (master's mate) 
 with a similar detachment, were stationed at a 32 pounder, which 
 was remarkably well directed ; they performed their duty with 
 the zeal and bravery which have always characterized the na*'.. 
 of the United States. Captains Dominique and Bellucbe'utfly 
 commanding privateers at Barataria, with part of tbc^c iorr„f^r 
 crews, and many brave citizens of Neworleans, wer*;- vatvoiufd ,*- 
 Nos. 3 and 4. The general cannot avoid giving * w -^ifnti- 
 probation of the manner in which these gentle < in hai\*e un ! i^. 
 ly conducted themselves while under his r jjr'napfl, txiK- of the 
 gallantry with which they have redeem«<i ;' pi^d^j^ ..ley gave 
 at the opening of the campaign to defetid v. rov.ut. ■, The bro- 
 thers of Lafttte* have exhibited the sar .- courage .' ri fidelity ; and 
 the general promises that the govC' nmciu sha) je duly apprized 
 of their conduct. Colonel Perr . lin^tty qua uer master-general, 
 volunteered his services at No a f, he w.-s itiy aided by Lieuten- 
 ant Kerr, of the artillery ? his l-atlt ; y ■ ."i well served, bravely 
 supported, and greatly an j)'«'d tttc eijcn y. Nos. 8 and Q were 
 directed by Lieutenant r,K>tt8» vv-th } isual skill and bravery, as- 
 sistfd by Mr. Cheanvr.: t 
 
 The general taker he bjgli -gk easure in noticing the conduct 
 of General De Fla- uc, com inrr mg one of the brigades of mili- 
 tia of this state, ' nd member . the senate. His brigade not be- 
 ing in the field, soon as invasion was known, he repaired to 
 the camp and Vr -.' v jf as a volunteer for the service of a 
 piece of artihv e directed with tl^e skill which was to 
 
 be expected froiu ^erienced artillery oBScer; disdaining the 
 
 exemption afforded ^^ his seat in the senate, he continued in his 
 subordinate but honourable station, and by his example, as well 
 as his exertion, has rendered essential service to his country- * 
 Sebastian Hiriart, of the same body, set the same expr, ,„>, «> 
 ed a considerable time in the ranks of the volunt»f' ■ aitaiieni^ac 
 afterwards as adjutant of coloured troops. ' Piaucha's bat 
 
 talion of volunteers, though deprive^ . ^.u; li.'n se j\c< ■:^ 
 Major Carmac, who commands' ai, I y a ^'ouncl iv! . a that 
 
 1; 
 
mroediate 
 Wh ftdar- 
 sommand- 
 f indebted 
 in which 
 splayed in 
 
 [artin, and 
 d battery ; 
 ter'i loate) 
 der, wbioh 
 duty with 
 d the ns** 
 iche, >..- , 
 
 tatvonxd .'* 
 
 ; ' of the 
 ' xuey gave 
 . The bro- 
 delity ; and 
 Illy apprized 
 ster-general, 
 by Lteuten- 
 red, bravely 
 ind 9 were 
 bravery, as- 
 
 the conduct 
 ide8 of mili* 
 ade not be- 
 : repaired to 
 service of a 
 iich was to 
 idaining the 
 :inued in his 
 Iple, as well 
 luntry- 
 •n-ipie, «'■-'' 
 li'iche** bat 
 wluvii that 
 
 THBWAIl. 
 
 478 
 
 oAicer received in the attack of the 28th December, have real- 
 ized all the anticipations which the general had formed of their 
 conduct. Major Planche and Major St. Qeme, of that corps, have 
 distinguished themselves by their activity, their courage and their 
 zeal ; and the whole corps 4iave greatly contributed to enable the 
 geii<^>!)l to redeem the pledge he gave, when at the opening of 
 the campaign he promised the country not only safety, but a splen* 
 did triumph over an insolent invader. The two corps of coloured 
 volunteers have not disappointed the hopes that were formed of 
 their couragc^ And perseverance in the performance of their duty. 
 Majors Lacoste and Daquin who commanded them, have deserv- 
 ' well of their country. Captain Savary's conduct has been not 
 t '- '-> the account rendered of the battle of the 23d, and that 
 o;!^. since continued to merit the highest praise. Captaio 
 
 ^ il. CO J ly of the city riflemen has sustained by its subsequent 
 cc'»^ rj, tU" J t,! station it acquired in the action of the 23d. Col. 
 de lb i^ni", xf !j^ Louisiana militia, has been extremely ser- 
 viceabk / h'9 tf\\ >os, and has shown great courage, and uni- 
 form attav' -cuiro nause of the country. General Humbert, 
 who offered * "f^i^ ''<"->< a volunteer, has continually exposed 
 
 ■J-\u!y;(r» with his characteristic bravery, as 
 ui iM^jii* V] .fshal Don Juan de Anavar, who 
 
 himself to the «. 
 has also the Me. 
 i< -•• in the same v 
 . i.. 'r^imoe he 
 
 "•It, 
 
 ,ii. recniv,--d 
 
 \[n (general acknowledges the im- 
 
 A-? 
 
 
 m Commodore Patterson as 
 thft zealous oo<operation of 
 
 bisd'^-partaiKiVi '1'.umg I"- "hole ^oursfl ^f the campaign. Cap- 
 itt. ■ '"y .Ml t?t>ar'i ^^•'^ c';^iyl'Uo^ arid .v^<?rwarde in directing 
 the erectiJ. ' ' ^ ^ .*r :x at je H i> oi. -ind on the right 
 
 bank of the river, . gret n^^y '- ♦>«« ar. • Lieut. Alexia 
 
 of the army, stationed in the vavr m^u^. i mdefatigablc fot 
 exertions to forward to the arm^ ry thio^ that could facilitate 
 its operations ; his z^al and activit> - . the notice of the gov- 
 eminent. Major Nicks, who, by an cidental wound was de- 
 prived of the pleasure 6f commanding the 7th regiment during the 
 campaign, was continually employed in the fort, and furnflihed 
 the ammunition and irtiUery that were wanted, with the great- 
 est activity and promptitude. . 
 
 To the volunteers of the Mississippi Territory, and to the militaa 
 of the remoter part of this state, who have arrived since the deci- 
 sive actidtt of the 8th, the general tenders his thanks, and is con- 
 vinced that nothing but opportunity was' wanting to entitle them 
 to the praise that have been merited by the rest of the army. Cap- 
 tain Ogden»s troop of horse was peculiarly useful by their local 
 knowledge of the ground on which they acted, and the small de- 
 tachment of Attakapas dragoons, stationed near head-quarters, 
 were indefatigable in performing all the duties which devolved 
 on theoK 
 
 I 
 
 I ■ 
 
476 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 The general would uot do justice to his staff if he did not bestow 
 deserved praise on the adjutant general^ Colonel Butler, and his 
 assistant Major Cbotard, for the zeal and activity in the important 
 department of service coniiDed on them, and for the bravery which 
 led them wherever danger or duty rM)uired their presence. The 
 vigilance, courage and attention to duty exhibited during the 
 campaign by Colonel Hayues, and his two assistants. Majors Da- 
 vis and Hampton have been appreciated as they deserve to be by 
 the general. 
 
 The general's aids-de-camp, Thomas D. Butler and Captain 
 :.'; John Reed, as well as his volunteer aids, Messrs. Livingston, Dun- 
 can, Grymcs, Duplessis and Major Davezac de Castera, the judge 
 advocate, have merited the thanks of the general by the calm and 
 deliberate courage they h&ve displayed on every occasion, andu 
 '; in every situation that called it forth. The topographical 'vngi- 
 neer, Maj. Tatum, exhibited all the ardour of youth in tine hour of 
 peril, united to the experience acquired by his long; service. The 
 chief engineer. Major Lacarriere de la^ Tour, b<as been useful to 
 the army by his talents and bravery. The same- praises are due to 
 his assistants. Captain Lewis Liv ingston andi Mr. Latrobe. The 
 medical staff has merited well of the c6u)iitry, and the general 
 would not do justice to his own feelings v^ere he to withhold from 
 Doctor Kerr, hospital surgeon, who volunteered his services, and 
 Doctor Flood, the just tribute of afplause deserved by them ior 
 their medical skill and personal b*avery. The quarter iuaster's 
 department tho» deprived of the personal exertioi:& of Col. Piatt, 
 who was wounded in the night action of the 23d, performed well 
 all their duties. Major Geneva' Vlllefe and Brigadier General 
 * Morgan have merited the apr^ohation of the general by their un- 
 wearied attention since they took the field. 
 
 Tlie large mortar was ably directed by Captain Lefebvre and 
 by Mr. Gilbert. Captain Plauchard was very useful as an en- 
 gineer, and merits the general's praise for the celerity and skill 
 with vvhich he erected the battery whifih now commands the 
 river, on the right of the camp. Mr. Bosquet and Mr. Decoiu, 
 of Major St. Geme's company displayed great knowledge and dex- 
 terity as artillerists. To the whole army the general presents the 
 assurance of his official approbation, and of his individual regard. 
 This splendid campaign will be consi|iered as entitling every man 
 .who has served in it to the salutation of his brother in artes. 
 
 By command. ROB£RT «UTL£R, 
 Adjutant General. 
 
 jidjittant General's office, Neworleanig Jan. 31, 1815. 
 The major general in justice to his own feelings, and as a tri- 
 bute to merit, takes this opportunity of meutioniog a few officerij 
 omitted in the general order. 
 
»t bcitow 
 , and hit 
 importftDt 
 >ry v;hich 
 ice. The 
 uriDg the 
 BJdrs Da- 
 j to be by 
 
 d Captain 
 8ton, Dun- 
 the judge 
 ; calm and 
 asioHt andu 
 aical tngi- 
 titie hour of 
 rvice. The 
 ten useful to 
 •8 are due to 
 trobe. The 
 the general 
 thhold from 
 ervices, and 
 by themior 
 er iuaster's 
 Col. Piatt, 
 formed well 
 ier General 
 by their un- 
 
 jefebvre and 
 
 il as an en- 
 
 ty and skill 
 
 mmands the 
 
 Sir. DecoiDj 
 
 ge and dex- 
 presents the 
 [dual regard. 
 
 every, man 
 
 arttis* 
 lUTLER, 
 
 reneral. 
 
 SI, 1815. 
 and as a tri- 
 few ofiiceri) 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 471 
 
 Captains M*Mahan and Pace, and Lieutenant Cromford, of 
 General Coffee's brigade, in the action of the 23d December, 
 fell like freemen, worthy the name, nobly contending with the 
 enemy. Colonel Anderson of Major General Carroll's division, 
 fell in a sortie on the i29th at the head of iiia command. The army 
 were witnesses to, and admirers of his bravery. 
 
 Lieutenant Leach of the 7th U. S. infantry, was severely woun- 
 ded in the side on the 23d, and refused to leave the ground until 
 compelled the nfcxt day from extreme pain ; but returned in time 
 to perform his duty in the subse^^uent engagements. 
 
 Captain Smith and his brave troops from bayou Sarah, were 
 believed to be part of the Mississippi dragoons, and were included 
 as such in the mention made of that corps. The major general 
 tenders to him and his brave troops, an expression of entire appro- 
 bation of their conduct. Captain Griffia, and that part of his com- 
 pany of mounted gunmen with him in the action of the 23d, did 
 their duty. 
 
 Midshipman Erasmus Watkins of the U. S. navy, from mistake 
 is given as Mr. W. Martin in the general orders ; to him therefore 
 is meritedly due the mention made of said Martin. 
 
 Judge Lewis, who disdained to shield himself under his judicial 
 cloak,, volunteered his services in Captain Beal's rifle company, 
 and performed his duty in a manner highly honourable to him- 
 self. By command, 
 
 R. BUTLER, Adj»t. Gen. 
 
 General Jackson afterwards addressed letters to Commodore 
 Patterson and other officers of the navy, as well as to the mayor 
 and citizens of Neworleans, in which he acknowledged their val- 
 our and bravery in greatly assisting towards the defence ofj^tbe 
 city. 
 
 Jpostolic Mandate, ^c....On the 18th of December, the Rev. 
 William Dubourg, apostolicftl administrator of the diocese of Lou- 
 isiana, issued a mandate to tht; clergy, &c. of Neworleans, order- 
 ing prayers to be said in the churches of that city, on the 19tb, 
 20th, and 21st of that month, together with the administration of 
 the blessed sacrament and the psalm Misrere, to implore divine 
 protection on the arms of their brave defenders. This instrument 
 was submitted to General Jackson, received his warmest approba- 
 tion, and was printed andcirculated'at his request: thus showing 
 that he was not insensible of a proper reli&nce on Providence for 
 the success of his undertakings. 
 
 After the retreat of the enemy, a day of thanksgiving and praise 
 to Almighty Gipd was observed at Neworleans. During the solem- 
 lyty of the ceremonies, the Rev. William Dubourg delivered thf 
 
 i 
 
478 
 
 SKETCHES or 
 
 Si 
 
 follow'*^^ tilegant and highly finished address to Major General 
 Jackson^ accompaDied with a wreath of laurel : 
 
 "General While the state of Louisiana, in the joyful trans> 
 
 ports of her gratitude, hails you as her deliverer, and the asserter 
 of her menaced liberties; while grateful America, as lately wrapt 
 up in anxious suspense, on the fate of this important city, the em* 
 porium of Che «vealth of one half of her territory, and the tru« 
 bulwark of its independence, is now re-echoing from shore to 
 shore your splendid achievements, and preparing to inscribe your 
 name on her immortal rolls among those of her Washingtons ; 
 while history, poetry, and the monumental arts will vie in con- 
 signing to the admiration of the latest posterity, a triumph perhaps 
 unparalleled in their. records ; while thus raised by universal ac- 
 clamation to the very pinnacle of fame, and ascending clouds of 
 incense, how easy it had been for you. Genera], to forget the prime 
 mover of your wonderful successes, and to assume to yourself a 
 praise which must essentially return to that exalted source whence 
 every sort of merit is derived !....But, better acquainted with the 
 nature of true glory, and justly placing the summit of youir ambi- 
 tion in proving yourself the wprthy instrument of Heaven's mer- 
 ciful designs, the first impulse of your religious heart was to ac- 
 knowledge the signal interposition of Providence; your first step 
 is a solemn display of your humble sense of his favours. Still agi- 
 tated at the remembrance of these dreadful agonies from -which 
 we have been so miraculously rescued, it is our pride also to ac- 
 knowledge that the Almighty has only had the principal hand in 
 our deliverance, and to follow you, general, in attributing to his 
 iiifinite goodness the homage of our unfeigned gratitude. Let the 
 infatuated votary of a blind chance deride our credulous simplicity; 
 let the cold-heaited Atheist look-up for your explanation of such 
 important events to the mere concatenation of human causes; to 
 us, the whole universe is loud in proclaiming a Supreme Ruler, 
 who, as he holds the hearts of men 'in his hands, holds also the 
 thread of all contingent occurences. 
 
 " Whatever be his intermediate agent (says an illustrious pre- 
 late) still on the secret orders of his all-ruling providence depend 
 the rise and prosperity, as well as the decline and downfall of 
 empires. From his lofty throne above, he moves every stene be- 
 low, now curbing, now letting loose the passions of men: now 
 infusing his own wisdom into the leaders of nations, now^bnfoun- 
 ding their boasted prudence and spreading upon their touncils a 
 spirit of intoxication, and thus executing his uncontroulable judg- 
 ments on the sons of men, according to the dictates of his own un- 
 erring justice. 
 
 " To him, therefore, our most fervent thanks are due for our 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 479 
 
 General 
 
 ful trans- 
 • asserter 
 ly wrapt 
 , the em* 
 the true 
 
 shore to 
 ribe your 
 lingtons ; 
 e in con- 
 h perhaps 
 ersal ac- 
 
 clouds of 
 the prime 
 ourself a 
 e whence 
 
 with the 
 ouir ambi* 
 en*s mer- 
 as to ac> 
 
 irst step 
 
 Still agt- 
 m ■ which 
 [so to ac- 
 
 1 hand in 
 
 ig to his 
 Let the 
 
 jinplicity; 
 of such 
 
 [uses ; 10 
 le Ruler, 
 also the 
 
 |-iou8 pre- 
 depend 
 rnfall of 
 jtene be- 
 |n: now 
 Uonfoun- 
 j)uncils a 
 |le judg- 
 lown UQ- 
 
 for our 
 
 late unexpected rescue ; and it is him we chiefly intend to praise, 
 when, considering you, general, as the man of his right hand, 
 whom he has taken pains to fit out for the important commission 
 of our defence, we extol that fecundity of genius, by which, in 
 an instant of the most discouraging distress, you created unfore- 
 seen resource8....raised, as it were, from the ground, hosts of intre- 
 pid warriors, and provided every vulnerable point with ample 
 means of defence. To him we trace that instinctive superiority 
 of your mind, which at once raUied around you universal confi- 
 dence, impressed one irresistible movement to all the jarring ele- 
 ments of which this political machine is composed, aroused their 
 slumbering spirits, and diffused through every rank that noble ar- 
 dour which glowed in your own bosom. To him, in fine, we ad- 
 dress our acknov/ledgments for that consummate prudence which 
 defeated all the combinations of a sagacious enemy, entangled 
 him in the very snares which he had spread before us, and suc- 
 ceeded in effecting bis utter destruction, without once exposing the 
 lives of citizens. Immortal thanks be to his Supreme Majesty, for 
 sending us such an instrument of his bountiful designs ! A gift of 
 that value is the best token of the continuance of his protection.... 
 the most solid encouragement to us to sue for new favours. The 
 first which it emboldens us humbly to supplicate, as it is the near- 
 er to our throbbing hearts, is, that you may long enjoy, general,- 
 the honours of your grateful country, of which you will permit us 
 to present you a pledge in this wreath of laurel, the prize of vic- 
 tory, the symbol of immortality. The next is a speedy and hon- 
 ourable termination of the bloody contest in which we are engag- 
 ed. No one has so efficaciously laboured as you, general, for the 
 acceleration of that blissful period ; may we soon reap that sweet- 
 est fruit of your splendid and uninterrupted victories." 
 
 GENERAL JACKSON'S ANSWER. 
 *f Reverend Sir, 
 
 '* I receive with gratitude and pleasure the symbolical crbwn 
 which piety has prepared. I receive it in the name of the brave 
 men who have so effectually seconded my exertions for the pre- 
 servation of their country....they well deserve the laurels which 
 their country will bestow. 
 
 ''For myself, to have been instrumental in the deliverance of 
 such a ^country, is the greatest blessing that Heaven could confer. 
 That it has been effected with so little loss....that so few tears 
 should cloud the smiles of our triumpK, and not a cypress leaf be 
 interwoven in the wreath \iliich you present, is a source of the 
 most exquisite enjoyment. ^ 
 
 *' I thank you,revercnd sir, most sincerely, for the prayers which 
 you offer up for my happiness. May those your patriotism dictates 
 
 I . 
 
 I 
 
 ir 
 
 
 I 
 
**(^r I 
 
 480 
 
 SKETCHES Of 
 
 for our beloved country be first heard. And may mine for 
 ^our individual prosperity, as well as that of the congregations 
 committed to your care, be favourably received ; the prosperity^ 
 the wealth, the happiness of this city will then be commensurate 
 with the courage and other great qualities of its inhabitants.** 
 
 Notwithstanding the departure of the enemy from the island of 
 
 Orleans, General Jackson, having in view the possibility of their 
 
 again appearing to invade the city, particularly it its defences 
 
 were left unguarded, still continued martial law, and enjoined a 
 
 ' strict military discipline upon the troops. 
 
 Capture effort Boxvyer Chagrined and disappointed at their 
 
 1 repulse at Orleans, the enemy seemed determined not to leave the 
 Gulf of Mexico until they had accomplished something. They 
 accordingly sailed for Mobile Point, 150 miles east ol Neworleans, 
 and on the 6th of February arrived oiT that place in great force. 
 On the 7th they commenced landing their troops between the 
 Point and the river Perdido, as also on Dauphine island, opposite 
 the point, and distant 3 miles. On the 8tb, the enemy commen- 
 ced bombarding the fort, both by land and water, which they 
 continued without much intermission until the 12th, when Lt. Col. 
 (formerly Major) Lawrence, commander of the fort, finding him- 
 self suriounded by thousands, and nearly reduced of provisions, 
 was compelled to capitulate. General Winchester, who was sta- 
 tioned at Mobile, had ordered a detachment over the bay, with a 
 
 ; view to divert the enemy from his object; but it arrived about 
 
 , 24 hours too late, though in time to capture one of the enemy's 
 
 , barges with 17 seamen. 
 
 t The enemy took immediate possession of the fort and garrison, 
 which consisted of 366 men, including officers, but these were 
 soon afterwards exchanged. The British loss during the bom- 
 bardment was between 30 and 40 killed and wounded.....The 
 Americans had 2 or 3 wounded. 
 
 On the 18th of February, General M'lntosh arrived at Mobile, 
 at the head of a considerable body of Georgia troops, and wat 
 momently expecting an attack from the enemy until the morning 
 of the 22d, when a flag boat was sent from the British fleet 
 to get some prisoners exchanged, which brought a copy of a letter 
 from Lord fiathurst to the lord mayor of London, informing him 
 of a treaty of peace having been sent to the United States from 
 our ministers at Ghent for laafication. The major (Todd) char- 
 ged with the flag, also brought a v*Mrbal communication to Gen. 
 M'Intosh from Gen. Lambert, con||aanding the British army on 
 that station, saymg that all offensive operations on their part 
 should cease until the pleasure of their government should be 
 known. 
 
nioe for 
 egations 
 osperity^ 
 lensurate 
 
 It8.»' 
 
 island of 
 
 of their 
 
 defences 
 
 njoined a 
 
 id at their 
 leave the 
 g. They 
 iworleans> 
 eat force, 
 ween the 
 1, opposite 
 y coinmen- 
 which they 
 en Lt. Colt 
 nding him- 
 provisionSy 
 10 was sta* 
 )ay, with a 
 ived about 
 le enemy's 
 
 garrison, 
 these were 
 
 the bom- 
 ided.....The 
 
 at Mobile, 
 f, and was 
 [le morning 
 
 Jritish fleet 
 
 of a letter 
 Lrming him 
 Etates from 
 Vodd) char- 
 lion to Gen. 
 
 «h army on 
 their part 
 should be 
 
 TH£ WAa. 
 
 4^1 
 
 It • was not until the 15(b of March that Qeneral Jackson re- 
 ceived official information at Neworleans of the ratification of the 
 treaty by our government ; when he immediately revoked the 
 order proclaiming martial law, having deemed it essential to the 
 safety of the city to continue it in force until that time. He then 
 discharged tbe volunteers and militia remaining on duty. 
 
 Biographical sketch q/ Gen, Jackson,».After the recent succes- 
 sion of great events, now seen by all to have been externally con- 
 troled by the mighty powers of one man, our solicitude is impatient 
 to know the materials of which this extraordinary character is 
 composed.... who and what were his parents to produce such an off- 
 spring ? What incidents of his boyish years foretold the brilliancy 
 and tbe energy of a mind, now perfected for the most daring ex- 
 ploits and creative for his wants even when all around was a cha- 
 os without form and void ? Had the subject of our enquiries beea 
 the vain, and blustering herald of himself, we should have wanted 
 inducements to explore a dark mine wheie no precious material, 
 where no diamond blazed in the dust. He is not his own bio. 
 gi^apher to tell us what '' our GENERAL " has done, nor has he 
 threatened to " look down opposition." He has trusted his fame 
 to his own exploits. We know little more of this luminary than 
 by what we can behold while dazzled with its effulgence pouring 
 from its excentric orbit. The familiar friends of §en. Jackson 
 permit us to know but little of his early life and by no means have 
 we enough to pourtray the nuin. We have however gleaned 
 something. The little which we posses is, that Gen. Jackson was 
 born in Lancaster ia South-Carolina, in what is there denominated 
 the Waxhaw settlement. Having, at an early age, lost his pa- 
 rents, he was brought up by Messrs. Thomas and James Crawford, 
 his uncles, iq the same settlement. He was, for some time, a stu- 
 dent in an academy, in what is now called York district, then 
 within the Waxhaw. Mr. Humphrey's deserves the honor of 
 being named as the then, preceptor of this academy. Young Jack- 
 son afterwards studied the profession of law.... was admitted to the 
 bar, and three or four years after the war of the revolution, he 
 emigrated to the now state of Tennessee, where he commenced 
 the practice and soon became emiaent in his profession. His 
 speeches at the bar were always considered to be nervous and he 
 was admired for the perspicuity of his styk. He was, says a wri- 
 ter, pointed out to me in Knoxville (Tennessee) as an elegant scol- 
 ar. la early life he was poor ; his industry soon made him rich. 
 Generous and briive in his disposition, he was esteemed by all, 
 who knew him. IQs influence soon became extensive. He was 
 elected a member of the Tennessee convention, and had a large 
 share in the formation of the constitution of that state. After the 
 admission of tbe state of Tennessee into the union, he was elected 
 
 3 P 
 
 I 
 
 ■ 
 
 |5i ' 
 
 I 
 
482 
 
 SKKTGHKS OV 
 
 to the houac of repreientativet from which he wai trantfeif cd by 
 
 the Tennessee legislature to the senate of the United States. This 
 
 Last station he occupied with known celeBrity till he was appointed 
 
 a judge of the supreme court of law and equity of Tennessee. 
 
 Having held tiiis office, for several years, with honor to him- 
 
 ' self and with the reputation of impartial justice to the state, he 
 
 surrendered the scales of justice and soon accepted the sword of 
 
 a major general in the state militia. The (desolate villages of the 
 
 formerly haughty and powerAil Creeks^ evince at once the discern* 
 
 ' ment of his state and the extraordinary talents and bravery ofthrs 
 
 chieftain. 
 
 We hazard the opinion, that it is not only necessary that a mil- 
 itary commander have a mind prepared for any event, learned in 
 arm's ami prophetic of the future, but that he have an external ap- 
 pearance suited to the toils of the field, inspring confidence and 
 overawing insubordination. 
 
 Of Gen. Jackson after his destruction of the Cre'eks, and before 
 phis defence of Neworleans, a writer of no common merit ob<> 
 serves, ** He is tall, thin and spare ; but muscular and hardy, with 
 an eye quick and penetrating. I have frequently seen him, and 
 ruch was the impression his appearance made on my mind, that I 
 have said to myself he is a man of iron. Adversity can make no 
 impression on a bosom braced by such decision and firmness as 
 are visible in his face and manners. Let not the reader conclude 
 from this, that he is haughty, distant and imperioU8,...he is quite 
 the contrary. True, he sports not with thfe feelings of others^ 
 and no one is permitted to wound his with impunity. He is gay, 
 communicative and liberal. The more you know him, the more 
 you admire, and indeed love him. To be a patriot, a soldier and 
 a gentleman, is sufficient to secure the inviolable friendship of this 
 ^distinguished citizen. To the poor he is liberal; to the unfortu- 
 nate, charitable. To the humblest private he is mild and tender : 
 to the base and disaffected to his country he is stem and unbend- 
 ing, and yet just. He is above fifty-five years of age ; but he has 
 a juvenility of appearance, which would make him ten years 
 younger. He is married; but has no children. If in the field, 
 and at the head of armies in battle, we admire the dauntless sol- 
 dier ; we love the man, who at home and in retirement is hospi- 
 table and friendly. In this particular the general is pre-eminent' 
 ly conspicuous.*' 
 
 Thus far only is pourtrayed to us the very distinguished person^ 
 who jseems to have been divinely commissioned successfully to 
 protect our country, as well against the best disciplined armiesj 
 and the most scientific and experienced generals of Europe, as 
 against the most formidable nation of savages which have ever 
 incumbered our soil. Called to Neworleans for its defence by the 
 imperious occasion, and by the command of his government, he 
 
THft WAR. 
 
 483 
 
 tranifeitcd by 
 State*. This 
 ivas appointed 
 rennessee. 
 honor to him- 
 » the state, he 
 the sword of 
 illages of the 
 :e thedisoern* 
 bravery ofthh 
 
 iry that a mil- 
 nt, learned in 
 n external ap- 
 mftdence and 
 
 k», and before 
 non merit ob<- 
 id hardy, with 
 leen him, and 
 f mind, that I 
 can make no 
 >d firmness as 
 ader conclude 
 t....he is quite 
 ngs of others^ 
 ", -He is gay, 
 titn, the more 
 
 a soldier and 
 indship of this 
 » the unfortu- 
 d and tender : 
 B and unbend- 
 [ ; but he has 
 lim ten years 
 ' in the field, 
 
 dauntless sol- 
 nent is hospi- 
 I pre-eminent* 
 
 uished person, 
 uccessfully to 
 lined armies^ 
 of Europe, as 
 ich have ever 
 lefence by the 
 vernment, he 
 
 iJiere had scope for all the veisatility of his talents, and for all th6 
 promptitude and decision of his mind. A city without any ade- 
 quate fortifications, upon an island, approachable in a hundred av- 
 enues, peopled from all nations, a Babel with a confusion of lan- 
 guages, recently admitted to, and little understanding the mild in- 
 stitutibns of our government, was supposed to contain materials 
 fitted for treason and to be readily induced to submit to a formida- 
 ble invading enemy. 
 
 Soon after the arrival at T^worleans of General Jackson, a 
 oonsultatioo for the safety of the city wks had, at which his Ex- 
 <^llency Governor Claiborne and the honourable the Judges of tlie 
 Sbpreme Court attended as advisory to General Jackson. In this 
 council it was thought to be necessary, and the opinion was not 
 oppose^, that martial law should be proclaimed. The safety of 
 . the people was considered as the supreme law of the land. The 
 emergency did not permit the delay necessary for the act of other 
 legitimate and higher authorities. There was a spirit which dar> 
 ed to execute, and General Jackson proclaimed martial law. tjp> 
 on the approach of the enemy, a portion of the fickle and vibra- 
 ting French population, obtained from the resident French consul^ 
 certifica^s of French citizenship. , The general allowed their va- 
 lidity ; but sent these alien exempts from military duty, under a 
 military guard, 120 miles from his camp and besieged city, to Ba- 
 ton Rouge, in the interior. 
 
 A printer had misrepresented that General Jacksoh'f order of 
 removal applied indiscriminately to the whole French population. 
 The French consul a second time resisted the martial law by claim- 
 ipg for his king individuals of the city militia. He even erected a 
 standard, and under pretext of the violations of the liberty of the 
 French citizens, invited them to revolt. General Jack«on consid- 
 ering further forbearance as criminally endangering the live! of 
 even these mongrel citizens, and as calculated to betray the city 
 to the enemy, arrested this consul; and a Judge (Hall) of the su-. 
 preme eourt issued a writ of habeas corpus to compel the enlarge* 
 ment of the prisoner. The general still determined to maintain 
 his martial law, and thereby bind together this heterogenous popu* 
 lation to the defence of the city, ordered the judge into confine- 
 ment, and to be removed without the lines of defence. Boldly 
 indeed, and with an unyiekling spirit, the general conopelled and 
 eontrouled the public safety. 
 
 After the peace was officially known at Nevyorleans to have 
 been ratified, and when the martial^ law had ceased to operate. 
 General Jackson was cited to answer before the judge, whom hf 
 had arrested, to show cause why an attachment sbecdd not issuf 
 against the general for a contempt of the court in sundry particur 
 lars relating to the writ of habeas corpus. The general disdaior 
 ing to evade a requisition tff the . law, stibmitted h.tnlsetf to tht 
 
 ij' 
 
 
 r 
 
'194 
 
 SKETCHES OF 
 
 conrt, and by bis council, offered to present to it hi» defence ia 
 writing, but which wat contumelioutiy rejected without being 
 read. This trial which precluded also a jury, was continued from 
 day to day for several days, when on the last day. General Jaclf> 
 son walked into the court hoase with admirable composure, and 
 exemplary respect for the high authority which called him thither. 
 He approached the judf[e with a paper in bis hand> having dispen- 
 aed with the friendly offices of the professional gentleman who had 
 managed his case before. The jtldge informed the general that 
 there were interrogatories to be pronounced to him, to which he 
 was desired to respond : the general replied he wouM not answer 
 them, saying, *' sir, my defence in this accusation has been offer- 
 ed, and you have denied its admission, you have refused me an 
 opportunity of explaining my motives, and the necessity for the 
 adoption of the martial law in repelling an invading foe,** pointing 
 out at the same moment his objections tp that mode of proceed* 
 ing under which the enquiry was had, ta know whether or not 
 the attachment should issue. '* f was then with these brave fel- 
 lotvs in arms," (alluding to the surroujftding crowd.) " You were 
 not, sir."* The judge went on to read his opinion^ The gene • 
 ral interrupted hira with much apparent deliberation, saying, •• sir, 
 state facts, and confine yourself to them. Since my defence is, 
 and has been precluded, let not censure constitute a part of this 
 sought for punishment." To which the jud^ replied.../* It is 
 with delicacy, general, that I speak of your name or character.... 
 I consider you the saviour of the country ; but fbt your contempt 
 of authority, or that elTect, you will pay a ilne of 1600 dollars." 
 Here the general interrupted' by filling s check for that sum, on the- 
 b^nk, and presenting it to the marshal, which was received in dis- 
 charge. The general then retired, observing, on his passage to 
 the door, «« it will be my turn next." ^*'»w ^ 
 
 At the door he was received amid the afcblamations of the ex- 
 elaiming populace, with which the streetr and avenues were fill* 
 ed, of all nations and eotours. A coach awaited him ai the door 
 of the court-house, into which he was carried and seated^ the 
 shafts and handles of which were eagerly seized by the peopIe...„ 
 In this way he was precipitated through the streeit to the French 
 cofTee-house, amid the shouts of vive le General Jkekisdn, and de- 
 nouncing his prosecutors, thence to the American cofl^-hotise, 
 where the general addressed the crowd as fbAoWs: 
 
 Felto!W-Citizens and Soldfers».»BehoM your geaera};^ under 
 ^homf but a flew days ago, you occupied the tented field, braving 
 att the privations and dangers in repellio| and defeating your 
 
 ! ' ^ Let it be mnenibered. ihat oh tlie S4^ ot Uecember Judjsje H«U taiiSvtgt **•* oblaiTC4 scHMt 
 n} ferqa'uv'MiM to nm thM suards to and fro, and let out on foot, jMMrd the upper gnara above idnt'.* 
 "iff, au8 went tow inteiivr, whence they dU not NtucDuatU^afiwUievictoiv. 
 
'l|i»/WAll. 
 
 4a» 
 
 nee m 
 t being 
 id from 
 tl Jack- 
 re, and 
 thither. 
 > diapen- 
 who had 
 >ral that 
 vhtch he 
 t answer 
 en offisr- 
 d me an 
 y for the 
 ' pointing 
 procieed* 
 er or not 
 brave fel- 
 iFou were 
 ?he gene- 
 mg,«*»ir, 
 lefence is, 
 iFt of this 
 (d...;««ltis 
 araeter.... 
 contempt 
 ) dollars.*' 
 im> on tibe- 
 ^ed in dis- 
 lassitge to 
 
 >f the ex- 
 fere fill" 
 the door 
 *ated^ the 
 Ipeople...** 
 \e French 
 I, and de* 
 •house^. 
 
 il, under 
 braving 
 your 
 
 Kinc4 grmt 
 
 ) Above tbe"- 
 
 6ouAtry*s exterior enemies^ uuder the rules and disciplioe of tht 
 camp, so indispensable to the hope of victory ; rules which were 
 predicated upon necessity, and which met the approbation of every 
 patriot. Behold him now, bending under a specious pretext of re* 
 drening your country's civil authority, which, though wrought ' 
 through prejudice, he scorns to deny or oppose, but cheerfully sub* 
 mits to- what is influenced upon him, now that the difficulties nn- - 
 der which we groaned are removed, and the discipline of the camp 
 summons you no more to arms. It is the highest duty and pride 
 of all good men to pay their tribute of respeet to the gumrdian of 
 our civil liberties. Remember this last charge, as in- a few days I 
 expect to leave you : it may serve as a lesson to yourselves and 
 posterity.*' 
 
 Mr. Davezac gave the substance of the preceding remarks from 
 the general in French ; after which the general was conducted to < 
 the coach, and drawn to his quarters in Fauxbourg Marigny, fol- ' 
 lowed by the multitude, eolioing, vive le General Jaekson. 
 
 The fine was afterwards paid by a voluntary subscription of one 
 dollar each, by 1000 citizens. 
 
 In addition to the addresses to General Jackson^ published in 
 preceding pages of this work, numeioua other addresses, which 
 seem necessarily to comprise the mass of the eHy population of 
 Neworleans, were also presented to the general, not only approv- 
 ing, but extdling, in the most grateful language^ hir military con- 
 duct. Congress has also passed, unanimously, resolutions of thank» 
 to the general, for the defence which he made, and an emblema- 
 tical gold medal, with devices of his splendid achievements, has 
 been ordered to be presented to him. Addresses and resolutione 
 of thanks fVom other and miner bodies from various parts of the 
 Union, also evince the gi;9*tt;^de of this numerous people to the 
 general, for his almost unequalled victories. 
 
 The stars of our country have splendidly shone; and may they^ 
 long shine over the head of our Jackson. Our late enemies have 
 Mi ftom his hand our arrows. The oUve now sm'rounde his 
 brows. "In peace, he is the gentle brealh of spring; in war, 
 the mountftia storm." He has appeared, and yet appears, cover- 
 ed with g^ory. The laurels with which he has decked his coun- 
 try's standard, will bloom for ages. 
 
 GeograpkicaL„;Tbe island of Otieans is a tract of land lying;, 
 between the Mississippi on the S. W. and the Ibberville and lakes 
 Maurepas and Ponchartrain on the N^ E. The Ibberville is a ba- 
 ytni, or arm of the Mississippi> which leaves it on the east 208 
 miles from its mouth, acoording^ to the course of the river, aud 
 flows through lakes Maurepas and Ponehartrain, to the Gulph of 
 Mexreo. The island stretches from E. S. B. to W. N. W. in a 
 
 W 
 
 J 
 
*«. 
 
 409 
 
 SKETCHK6 0» 
 
 Straight line, about 160 miles. Its breadth varies from o lo HB 
 miles. 
 
 Neworlrans city is the only town of any considerable conie- 
 quenee in tae whole of Louisiana. It was founded in 1717, and 
 Hands on the east bank of the Mississippi, 87 miles from its mouth, 
 1308 below that of the Missouri, and 1115 below that of the 
 Ohio. It is on the S. W. side of the Island of Orleans, and 9 
 miles west of lake Ponchartrain, with which it is connected by 
 the canal Carondolet, 2 miles in lengthy leading to the bayou St. 
 Jean, which empties into the lake. The town is regularly laid 
 out, the streets cross each other at right angles, and 9re generally 
 about 40 feet broad. The houses of the principal streets near the 
 river are built of brick, and are covered with slate tiles. Those 
 in the back part of the town are chiefly of wood. The length of 
 the town along the river is upwards of a mile, and its breadth 
 more than half a mile. In the centre of the town stands the ca- 
 thedral and town-house, and in front« of them an open square co- 
 vered with grass. The Levee is an embankment of earth, about 
 feet high, commencing at fort St. Philip, or Plaquemine, 43 
 miles below, and reaching the Ibberville at the head of the island, 
 
 121 miles above the city, according to the course of the river 
 
 This artificial embankment is i^ecessary in fr.eshes to prevent the 
 waters of the Mississippi from inundating the whole island. . It 
 makes an exoelleDt road, about 20 feet wide, which is dry at all 
 seasons of the year, and passes directly in front of the town along 
 the margin of the river, afibrding a very pleasant evening w41k. 
 In the evening, after sunset it is crowded with company. All the 
 markets are on the Levee. At the S. K. end of, the town stands 
 a building lately occupied as a convent by a numbfsr of Urseiine. 
 nuns. The city^ suburbs and preeints of Neworleans contained, 
 at the last census, 24,552 inhabitants, of whom 13,728 were 
 whites, and 10,824 slaves. There area number of Indians in 
 ' the city, and itore than one half of the whites are French. The 
 different grades have each thev different amusements. 
 
 Lak« Ponchartrain is variously stated to be from .40 to ,60 miles 
 in length, and from 24 to 30 miles widci apd has a channel course 
 through it about 18 feet deep^ The bayou St. Jean, vyhich leads 
 from the lake to the canal Carondolet, is navigable for small craft 
 only, having from 4 to 5 leet water in depth. At the moiitb of 
 the bayou is fort St. Jean. Lake Ponchartrain communicates with 
 tlie Gulph of Mexico by a passage called the Rigblets.. This pas- 
 sage is 10 mi/es long, between 3 and 400 yards wide, with 6 or 
 7 feet of water in depth. By tfan passage from the 6ulp|i, is ad- 
 mitted throQ^jb lakes Ponchartrain and Maurepas, a ^d^of from 
 1 to 6 feet, varied accordipg to .the, course of ^h^ vyinds. . As 
 these waters pass through the. Rigolets, they mingle with the wa- 
 ters of Pearl river, and togethM-flow in|t|)^,^iUph. . Oa^.tbe, 
 
 tac 
 
 nio 
 
 car 
 
 effc 
 
 the 
 
to 
 
 i6 
 
 ■>«: -rt '* »?■'?"■'■ 
 
 ,f.r 
 
 THE WAR. 
 
 4tr 
 
 conie- 
 
 l7, an* 
 mouth, 
 
 of the 
 I, and 9 
 cted by 
 tyou St. 
 irly laid 
 enerally 
 near the 
 
 Thoie 
 ength of 
 breadth 
 i the ca* 
 ]ttare co- 
 th, about 
 mine, 43 
 lie island^ 
 
 river 
 
 event the 
 ind. It 
 dry at all 
 wn along 
 ing walk. 
 * Ail the 
 wn stands 
 
 Urseline. 
 lontain^d, 
 f28 were 
 [tidians ior 
 
 ich. The 
 
 ,60 miles 
 
 Inel course 
 
 Ihich leads 
 
 linall craft 
 
 mouth of 
 
 jates with 
 
 Thi3 pas- 
 
 withOor 
 
 [iph, is ad- 
 je. of frov 
 /iiids. As 
 
 tb the wa- 
 VQo.lbe 
 
 #outh side of the Rigolets, and near to th« cntrince from the 
 Gulph, there is a large passage into lake Bourgne (or Blind Lake.) 
 There is also a passage or 7 feet deep between lakes Bourgne 
 and Pnnchartrain, called the bayou Chef Menteur. Near the en- 
 trance into Ponchartrain, at the east end of the Rigolets, tod on 
 the north side, are the principal mouths of Pearl river. Upon the 
 foiith side of the Rigolets, and commanding them, as well as some 
 of the mouths of Pearl river, is the fort Petit Coquilles. 
 
 Lake Bourgne lies eastwardly of Neworleans about 20 miles. 
 From the head of this lake, 6 miles from the Mississippi, is a Cy- 
 press swamp, whieh extends 4 mites from the lake, and within 1 
 mile of the Mississippi. This distance of one mile from the rivet 
 toward the lake is firm ground ; which extent of fit m ground, 
 skirted with the swamp, reaches above the city. Hence General 
 Jackson, by erecting a breast-work of one mile in length, eflTectu- 
 ally fortified all the ground between him and the city upon whioli 
 the eneihy could march. C 
 
 Prom the head qf lake Bourgne, the bayou, or creek, Bienve* 
 nue extends to within 4 miles of the Mississippi ; which bayou, 
 with the addition of a canal, continued a water communication 
 for small craft to the Levee. Hence, by opening a passage a few 
 feet through the Levee, and deepening the canal, the enemy was 
 enabled, in boats, to send a force across the Mississippi, to Mor- 
 gan's entrenched camp, and to Patterson's batteries. A small 
 distance below this canal, is the Detow Anglois, or English Turn^ 
 in the Mississippi. Upon this Turn, and on each side of the river, 
 is a battery vvhibh commands the approach to Neworleans. No 
 wind which caq bring a vessel from the mouth of the river to this 
 Turn, can carry her by it, without coming in stays;, and eve- 
 ry ship at this place must be as a raft, an object of deliberate fire 
 batteries. t 
 
 from 
 
 A 
 
 IU-- .y^'\' 
 
 m 
 
 tts^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 Point'Petre and St, Miiry''s».»Loss of the U. S, frigate Presi- 
 dent„»*Captttre of the Cyane and Levant*.».List of British 
 vessels edpturedin 1814-15...*.C/ose ofthewar, and treaty 
 
 ' (if Peace, " ■ 
 
 Otf the 13th of January, l&ld^ about IfiOO of the enemy at- 
 tacked by land and water, a small fort at Point-Petre, at the 
 niouth of St. Mary's rlver^ in Georgia, which they succeeded in 
 carrying ; the garrison (consilting of S6 men) having previously 
 effected its retreat after a few* fires. During the movements of 
 the land troops of the enemy against the Point, they were severe- 
 ly harrassed by a small but brave corps, consisting of 60 riflemen 
 
 
 4^ 
 
 
^Am'CHKS 0« 
 
 and iufaolrya under oommaod of CapC. Mttiiaf or the lit U. h, 
 rl0e coipt. The eneny's low wm ooniiderAble, while oure wm 
 bur trMing. 
 
 Tb« «netny aftcrwardi entered the town of St. M^ry% about 
 6 SNlea up the river, where they coromHted nany aeti of plunder. 
 AAer continuing there for 8 or 10 days, they retired to Cumber- 
 land Island, having burnt the barracks and blown ip the fort at 
 Point-Petre. 
 
 On the 84th of February, lix of the enemyl bargee, containing 
 250 men, attempted to ascend the St. Mary '(.fiver, with the 
 Tiew, as was supposed, of burning mills lying on the river. Th«y 
 were attacked by a party of 20 men under Capt. Miokler, akied 
 by SO of the Patriots of Florida under Cok Dill, and were compel- 
 led to retire with great loss, being so completely out up as not to 
 be able to work their barges with the usual complement of oart...,. 
 Their loss in killed and wounded wae stated to have be«n from 
 100 to 160. Our loss was only 1 man severely wounded, our 
 men having been aided by a cover of woods, which aoreened 
 them from the sight of the enemy. 
 
 « 
 
 Loss of the frigate Pre8idene.....0a the 14th of January the 
 United States frigate President, Com. Decatur, sailed from New- 
 York on a cruise ; and on the day following was captured, after 
 a tevere engagement, by a squadron of British vessels, as given 
 is the following oflScial letter : 
 
 H. B. M. ship Endymion, at sea, Jan. 16, 1815. 
 Sir-- The painful duty of detailing to you the particular causes 
 which preceded and led to the capture of the late U. S. frigate 
 Ptesident, by a squadron of bis Britannic majesty's ships, (as per 
 margin) has devolved upon me. In my communicatk>n of the 
 14tb, I made known to you my intention of proceeding to sea 
 on that evening. Owing to mistake of the pilots, the' ship, in go- 
 ing out, grounded on the bar, where she continued to strike heav- 
 ily for an hour and a half. Although she had broken several of 
 her rudder braces, and received such other material injury as to 
 render her return into port desirable, I wis unable to do so from 
 the strong westerly wind which was then blowing. It being noW 
 high water, it became necessary to force her over the bar before 
 the tide fell; in this we succeeded by 10 o'clock, when we shaped 
 our course along the shore of Long Island for SO miles, and then 
 steered S. £. by E. At 3 o'clock three ships were discovered 
 ahead ; We immediately hauled up the ship and passed two milea 
 fo the northward of them. At day-light we discovered four ships 
 in chase, one on each quarter and two astern, the leading ship of 
 the enemy a razee.....8he commenced a fire upon us, but without 
 effect. At meridian, the wind became light and baffling ; we had, 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 46t> 
 
 ngnow 
 before 
 thaped 
 id then 
 iorered 
 Ofnile« 
 r ships 
 ship of 
 vithout 
 wehad^ 
 
 ificreued our distance from the razee, but the next ship astern/ 
 which was also a Iftrge ship, had gained and continued to gaia 
 upon us consid'Tably. We immediately occupied all hands to 
 lighten ship, by starting water, cutting away the anchors, throw- 
 ing overboard provUions, cables, spare spars, boats, and every ar« 
 tide that could bi' got at, keeping the sails wet from the royals 
 down. At 3 we had the wind quite light ; the enemy, who had 
 now been joined by a brig, had a strong breeze and were coming 
 up with us rapidly. The Endymlon (mounting 50 guns, 24 poun* 
 ders on the m^in deck) had now approached us within gunshot, 
 and had comm<mced a fire with her bow guns, which we return- 
 ed (rom our ste^. At 5 o'clock she had obtained a position on 
 our starboard quarter, within half point blank shot, on which nei* 
 ther our stern nor quarter guns would bear. We were now steer- 
 ing E. by N. the wind N. W. I remained with her in this posi- 
 tion for half an hour, in the hope that she would close with us on 
 our broadside, in which case I had prepared my crew to board ; 
 but from his continuing to yaw his ship, to maintain his position, 
 it became evident that to close was not his intention. Every lire 
 now cut some of our sails and rigging. To have continued our 
 course under these circumstances, would have been placing it in 
 bis power to cripple us, without being subject to injury himself; 
 and to have hauled up more to the northward to bring our stern 
 guns to bear, would have exposed us to his raking fire. It was 
 now dusk, when I determined to alter my course south, for the 
 purpose of bringing the enemy abeam ; and although their ships 
 astern were drawing up fast, I felt satisfied I should be enabled to 
 throw him out of the combat before they could come up, and was 
 not without hopes, if the night proved dark, (of which there was 
 every appearance,) that I might still be enabled to effect my es> 
 cape. Our opponent kept on at the same instant we did, and our 
 fire commenced at the same time. We continued engaged, steer- 
 ing south with steering sails set, two hours and a half, when we 
 completely succeeded in dismantling her. Previous to her drop* 
 ing entirely out of the action, there were intervals of minutes, 
 when the ships were broadside, in which she did not fire a gun. 
 At this period, (half past 8 o'clock) although dark, the other ships 
 of the squadron were in sight, and almost within gun-shot. We 
 were of coivse compelled to abandon her. In resuming our for- 
 mer course for thje purpose of avoiding the squadron, we were 
 compelled to present our stern to our antagonist ; but such was 
 his state, though we were thus exposed, and within range of hit 
 guns for half an hour, that he did, not avail himself of this oppor- 
 tunity of raking us. We continued this course! until 1 1 o'clock, 
 when two fresh ships of the enemy (the Pomone and Tenedos) 
 hftd com? up. The Pomone had opened her fire on the larboard 
 
 
 
 vl 
 
 ' --^ T-' c- «- * 
 
 
 ♦ ■'■^la**" 
 
4»0 
 
 iJKGTCHES OF 
 
 bo\v, within musket shot; the other« about two cables lengtt^ 
 astern, taking a raking position on our quarter ; and the rest, with 
 the exeeption of the'End^fmron, within gun-shot. Thus situated, 
 with about one-fifth of my crew killed and wounded, my ship 
 crippled, and a more than fourfold force opposed to me^ without 
 ^ chance of escape left, I deemed it my duty to surrender. 
 
 It is with emotions of pride I bear testimony to the gaUantry 
 and steadiness of every officer and man I had the honour to com- 
 mand on this occasion ; and I feel satisfied that the fact of their 
 having beaten a force equal to themselves, in the presence and 
 almost under the guns of so vastly siiperior a for^e, when, too, it 
 was almost selfevident, that whatever their exertions might be,i 
 they must ultimately be captured, will be taken as evidence of 
 what they would have performed, had the force opposed to thjem 
 been in any degree equal. 
 
 It is with extreme pain I have to inform you that Lieutenants 
 Babbit, Hamilton and Howell fell in the action. They have left 
 |io officers of 5uperior merit behind them. 
 
 If, sir, the issue of this affair had been fortunate, I should hav^ 
 felt it my duty to have recommended to your attention Lieutenants 
 Sbubricl^ and Gallagher. They maintained, throughout the day, 
 the reputation they had acquired in former actions. 
 
 Lieutenant Twiggs, of the marines, displayed great zeal ; his 
 men were well supplied, and their fire incomparable so long as 
 the enemy continued within musket range. 
 
 Midshipman Randolph, who had charge of the forecastle divi- 
 sion, managed it to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 From Mr, Robinson who was serving as a volunteer, I received 
 essential aid, particularly after I was deprived of the services of 
 the master, and the severe loss 1 had sustained in nby officers on 
 my quarter-deck. 
 
 Of our loss in killed and wounded, I am unable at present to give 
 you a correct statement ; the attention of the surgeon being so en- 
 tirely occupied with the wounded, that he vyas unable to make out a 
 correct return when I left the President, nor shall I be able to make 
 it until our arrival in port, we having parted company with the 
 squadron yesterday. The enclosed list, with the exception, I fear^ 
 of its being short of the number, will be found correct. 
 
 For 24 hours after the action, it was nearly calm, and the 
 squadron were occupied in repairing the crippled ships. Such of 
 the crew of the President as were not badly wounded, were put 
 on board the different ships ; myself an^ a part of my crew were 
 put on board this ship. On the 17th Ave had a gale from the 
 eastward, when this ship lost her bowsprit, fore and main-masts, 
 ^nd mizen top-mast, all of which were badly wounded, and was, 
 in consequence of her disabled condition, obliged ^to throw over- 
 Iroaid all ber upper-deck guns; her loss in ^led and wou^d^4 
 
 nnes. 
 
THE WAR. 
 
 491 
 
 lengtu 
 t, with 
 tuati;d^ 
 ay ship 
 without 
 
 !i\lantry 
 to com- 
 of their 
 nee and 
 I, too, it 
 lighl be„ 
 len«« of 
 to thjem 
 
 >utenants 
 have left 
 
 )uld havf 
 
 eutenants 
 
 the day, 
 
 zeal; his 
 o long as 
 
 astle divi- 
 
 receivcd 
 [ervices of 
 pfficers on 
 
 Int to give 
 )ing 80 en- 
 lake out a 
 lie to make 
 with the 
 Ion, I fear, 
 
 I, and the 
 Such of 
 were put 
 Irew were 
 from the 
 Iain-masts, 
 and was, 
 Irow over- 
 wounde^ 
 
 must have been very great. I have not been able to ascertain 
 the extent. Ten were buried after I came on board (26 hours af- 
 ter the action ;) the badly wounded, such as were obliged to keep 
 their cots, occupy the starboard side of the gun-deck, from the 
 cabin bulk-head to the main-mast. From the crippled state of the 
 President's spars, I feel satisfied she could not have saved her 
 masts, and I feel serious apprehensions for the safety of our wouii> 
 ded left on board. 
 
 It is due to Captain Hope to state, that every attention has been 
 paid by him to myself and officers that have been placed on board 
 his ship, that delicacy and humanity could dictate. I have the 
 honour to be, &c. STEPHEN DECATUR. 
 
 The British vessels referred to in the dbove letter^ were the Ma- 
 jestic, Endyipion, Pomouie, Tenedos, and Dispatch ; and the loss 
 on board of the President, was 24 killed and 55 wouMed. 
 
 In the gale, mentioned by Commodore Decatur, in which the 
 Endymion was so much injured, the President also suffered se- 
 verely. She afterwards, however, arrived at Bermuda, where 
 she found the Pomone and Endymion. Commodore Dpcatiir, af- 
 ter remaining on the island for a few days, was paroled aud sail- 
 ed for the United States in the British frigate Narcissus. 
 
 In a letter to the secretary of the navy, under date of the 6th 
 of March, Commodore Decatur mentions, that " a considerable 
 number of his killed aind wounded was from the fire of the Po- 
 mone, and that the Endymion had on board, in addition to her 
 own crew, 1 lieuteMant, 1 master's mate and 50 seamen, belong- 
 ing to the Saturn ; and when the action ceased, was left motion- 
 less and unmanageable, until she bent new sails, rove new rig- 
 ging, and fished her spars; nor did she join the squadron until 6 
 hours after the action, and 3 hours after the surrender of the Pre- 
 sident." 
 
 Capture of the Cyarie and Levant...».On the evening of the 
 20th February, Captain Stewart, of the U. S. frigate Constitution, 
 off the island of Madeira, fell in with his Britannic majesty's ship^ 
 
 of war Cyane and Levant, when a spirited action commenced 
 
 In 40 minutes the Cyane struck her coleurs, being much cut up, 
 and the Levant endeavoured to escape. The Constitution, after 
 manning the prize, pursued the Levant ; and in half an hour 
 Came up with her, when she soon surrendered. 
 
 The Levant mounted 21 guns, 18 of 'which were 32 pound car- 
 ronades, and her crew consisted of 160 officers, seamen and ma- 
 rines, commandied b}' Captain Douglass. Her loss in killed was 
 23, and wounded 16. 
 
 The Cyane mounted 34 guns, (22 thirty-two pound carronades, 
 10 eighteen pound do. and 2 long nine pounders,) and her crew 
 iipnsisted of 168 officers, seamen and marines, commanded by 
 Captain Falcon. Her loss in killed was 12, and wounded '2Q. 
 
 I'!: 
 
492 
 
 tfKfcTCU£S OV 
 
 The Constitution received but little injury ; her loss in killed 
 was 3, and wounded 12. 
 
 On the 9th of March the Constitution with her two prizes an- 
 chored off the Isle of May, (one of the Cape-de-Verd islands.)***** 
 On the 10th she got under way, and made sail for St. JagOj 
 where she anbhored. On the 12th, Captain Stewart discovered 
 3 British frigates standing for Port Praya ; and considering the 
 little respect heretofore paid by British vessels to neutral waters, 
 he deemed it expedient to get under way. Signals were accord- 
 ingly made for this purpose, when the Portuguese opened a fire 
 upon Captain Stewart from several of their batteries, and the Bri- 
 tish frigates discovering the movements of our vessels, gave im* 
 mediate chase. After continuing the chase for 3 or 4 hours, they 
 succeeded in separating the Levant from the other vessels, when 
 she tacked dnd stbod for the harbour, her commanding officer. 
 Lieutenant Ballard, hoping the neutrality of the port might pro- 
 tect him : but in this he was disappointed. For after anchoring 
 in 4 fathom water, and within 150 yards of the. shore, he was 
 wantonly attacked by th^ British frigates, (which had chased him 
 in) when, finding all further resistance vaiuy he was compelled to 
 strike his colours. 
 
 On the 8th of April, the Cyane, commanded by Lieutenant 
 Hoffman, arrived in safety at Newyork; and on the 15th of May 
 Captain Stewart arrived at the same place in the Constitu- 
 tion, aiter a cruise of about 5 month8.**.faaving heard of the ra- 
 tification of a treaty of peace between Great Britain and America 
 about a fortnight previous to bis arrivaL 
 
 List of BritUhvetstU cdjriiiredin 1814 and UlB—extractedfrom tfilft' ivieekly BegMer. 
 
 Two brig* and • ichooner by the O. Tuik. 
 
 Schooner Abury by the Surprize. 
 
 A transport iloop laden with naval itore* and 
 impleraentt of war,, sunk by the eiiemy and af> 
 tcrwards raised by Coinmqdore JM'Dbnoaehi 
 
 Schooner Bird witli fish, by .the Grand Tinfc. 
 
 Ship Ocean, wiih a targo of mast*, Sec for 
 Bien of war, by the General Putmait. 
 
 Schooner Georgiana, with rum and sugar, by 
 the Grand Turk. 
 
 .Sdwoner — — by the Scorpian. , 
 
 Schooner — by do aiid bilged. 
 
 Schooners Su^eue and Stinger bjr the Midat 
 —divested and destroyed, 
 
 Sehooner Betsey i|nd Jane, with dry good^ va- 
 lued at 150,000 dollars, by the Cadet of Salem. 
 Brig—— with fish by the JOiiquillfr 
 
 Ship Amelia, mounting 4 long guns and 8 
 twelve pound carronades, irichly ladeu with dry 
 HOods, altera close engagement, by the Saucy 
 
 Four scliooners and three sloops by do. 
 
 Brig Louisa by the Macedonian, burnt. 
 
 Brig Britannia by do do 
 
 Ship Sir Kdwanl Pellew, 907 tons, t guns and 
 1 9 men, by do— suuIm 
 
 Sehooner Mariner by do— made a cartel. 
 
 Schooner — with fish, by Ihe Resolution. 
 
 Btig S. U 2 Runs 12 men. by the Kemp. 
 I Ship KusbU'IIh, iO guns, it men. an elegant 
 vessel ui 351 tons burthtn and coppered, with 
 a full cargo af sugar, captured by the Kemp.— 
 
 The Rosabella, in going intaCharieston, Ub for 
 tunately gnmnded on the barand waaloat.— 
 This vessel was ahMtothe Britisli of ikon S to 
 300,000 doUan. 
 
 Brig i'ortsea, 8 guqa, SS met, ne«vily laden 
 witb sugar, by the same. 
 
 Ship frincess » Rnn% 14 men, widia neat 
 cargo of suguar. by do 
 
 Schooner -— with sal^ by the Toong Was p. 
 ' Sehooner HaMicd, with&;vidaable cargo, by 
 the Surprise— divested and biunt. 
 
 Two small vessels by ditto-one given up, die 
 other biiHit. 
 
 Brig Courtney, with a cargo worth 36o,000 
 dolhin, by the lankeb ^^t 
 
 Schooner Folly with fish, by the Dash.^ 
 
 SchouierSwittbjrtheExpeditiui. ^ 
 
 sbip^ X>'Ainiable, with augar, by the Roger. 
 
 Sehooner — with a vduable cargo, by the 
 Hero. 
 
 Ship —laden with provinoDa and stotu fbr 
 theauiird forces in FUrida, entetipg Mobile in 
 mistake fur Fensacohi bay, and there capiuitd 
 by our troops. 
 
 Schuoiier Mary, with a valuahk cargo of dry 
 goods, by the Cadet. 
 
 Scbooiivr St. John by the Jonquil. 
 
 ^honniT — bv the «ame. made a cartel. 
 
 Kiig Qyn Maitland, with rum, by the Da^. 
 
 Sloop Marv by ditto— divested of goodi ■id' 
 made a cartel. 
 
 Schooner — — by the Fame. 
 
'PHE WAR. 
 
 ■iy'6 
 
 in killed 
 
 Drizes an- 
 ands.)..*.. 
 St. JagO;i 
 iscovered 
 ering the 
 il waters, 
 re accord- 
 ned a fire 
 the Bri- 
 t gave im- 
 oursj they 
 els, when 
 ig' officer, 
 night pro> 
 anchoriog 
 re, he was 
 ihased him 
 npelled to 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
 Ith of May 
 
 Constitu- 
 
 of the ra- 
 
 i America 
 
 y BegUter, 
 
 iarleitaD,OBror 
 and wathMt.— 
 iih of flron t to 
 
 Bilieiivily laden 
 
 1, wi^ a ipnat 
 
 eToangWatp. 
 
 liable aago, by 
 
 at. 
 
 K given ap, the 
 
 wortli 360,000 
 
 the Dath. 
 
 itiMi. 
 
 ly the Roger. 
 
 le caigo, Dythe 
 
 Dsand (tore* fbr 
 iteriog Blobile in 
 d there capluttil 
 
 able cargo ofdtf 
 
 jquil. 
 
 made a cartel. 
 jn, by the Da^|. 
 !d of goodf Mid' 
 
 r<fa tchosnen and a tloop by the Caroline. 
 
 lirig Stephen of (« Runt and io men. with a 
 rich carip oF dry floods, by the sanne aflur a 
 short action— diveited ol her eargu and given up 
 to thi: pritonert. 
 
 Sloop I'rinidad. with eoflee. bide^ and log- 
 tntoA, by the Jonquil—diveited and burnt. 
 
 Brig >{quity. with a valuable cargo, by the 
 Orbmlo 
 
 Brig Loid Wellington, valuable, by the letter 
 of marque Dlanumr 
 
 Brig Margitret with a full cargo of wine, by 
 the Young Waip 
 
 Ship Hera of 410 tons. M guns and t7 men, 
 ladenwithfiih,8ce. valued at iOOflOOl iterling, 
 capMrtd by the ino. 
 
 Four brigs and athooner.rich, by the Amelia. 
 
 Schooner Neptune of 8 goni, it men and 450 
 ton* burthen, wit*! a valuaUf! carga by ditto. 
 
 Ketch Caroline, under Danish colours, over- 
 hauled by the 'Amelia and divested of ' pack- 
 ages of dry goods. a> British property. 
 
 Schooner Mary, formerly the Climax of Ralti- 
 m'«re. of 4 guns and u men by do 
 
 Rtig Pallas of <• goni and xo men, after an ac- 
 tion ot iO minutes by do S7 fhe Amelia 
 mounted only fpint. 
 
 Eait India ship Oeneral Wellesley, A guns. 8$ 
 men. 500 torn, with a valuable cargo, by the 
 Yankee, alter a running fight. The General 
 Welleiley was afterwards lost on Charleston bar, 
 and 7 of her cn^w only saved. 
 
 Brig — — valuable, by the Paul Jones. 
 
 The Lawrence, during a short cruise, took 13 
 prizes, some of them very valuable. 
 
 Brig LM Wellington by the Expedition, burnt. 
 
 Ketch Kxpedition by the — cast away- 
 
 Schooner Ooldfiuder by the Young Wasp. 
 
 A transport, with SiO troops, chased ashore by 
 three privateers and lost near Castine. The 
 UWops, however, escaped. 
 
 Sloop Governor Hodgdon by the Dash, divest- 
 ed of her carg^ and given up. 
 
 Brig Only Son by ditto and ditto. 
 
 Schooner .— , tender to the British frigate 
 Heihus. I gun. 30 men, captured near Charles- 
 ton by the U S. barges under Lt. Kearney 
 
 Brig —— , laden with provisions for the army 
 of Neworleans, where he had grounded and was 
 burnt 
 
 Three ships, two brigs snd a schooner, by the 
 Kar^v. 
 
 Bng Courtney, valuable, by the Yankee. 
 
 Ship St. Andrew of 8 guns, by do 
 
 Brig Speculator by do matle a cartel. 
 
 Brig Patriot by the Brutus 
 
 Brig Dantzic by the Paul Jones. 
 
 A tender to the British ship Dauntles, with 1 9 
 armed men,comniaiided by a lieoteuaniof the na- 
 vy, captured by a small party of militia near 
 St. James' Ishind, in the Chesapeake bay 
 
 Transport Inrig Cyrus 4 guns with provisions 
 and clothing, captured on Lake Bourgue. burnt. 
 
 Transport brig — — captured un do. and do. 
 
 Brig Peter, valuable, by the Lawrence. 
 
 Btjg John by the Perry or Baltimore 
 
 Brig Mancybv ihe same— made a cartel. 
 
 Three n^itea schooner — by tlie Warrior 
 of Newyork— lost 
 
 9iip wilKam by the Charles Stewart. 
 
 A brig and a schooner by the Harrison. 
 
 Ship Mary, 6 guns, valuable by the Little 
 GeorKe of Boston. 
 
 Schooner Bnnt, tender to the Severn frigate, 
 captured by a few boats of Com. Dent's flotilla, 
 •rCharieston. 
 
 Brig —— • by the Kemp. 
 ., A vessel by the Avon, ransomed. 
 
 Ship —— , captiin d by the Jacob Jones. 
 
 His majesty's sloaps of war Cyane and Le- 
 vant, by the U ^. trigate Consiitutiou. IHet 
 page 4W1 1 
 
 Brig Baltle by the Grand Turk— lost. 
 
 A schooner and two sloops by the America. 
 
 Packet ship Elizabeth, in ballast, 8 guns and 
 3 i men. captured by the same, alter a short bat- 
 tle. The Elizabeth had * killed and 13 wound- 
 ed, and was litterally torn to pieces she was 
 divested of her armament and given to the pris - 
 oners. The America suflfered no injury. 
 
 A ship and a brig,l7 the Young VVasp. 
 
 Two brigs by the Morgiana. 
 
 A schooner, sloop and ship (the latter with a 
 rich cargo) by tlie Kemp. 
 
 Brig — of 18 guns and 42 men, by the same 
 after a smart action of 40 minutes, but after- 
 wards abandoned, the prize crew being witli- 
 drawn and some articles taken out, on account 
 of the near approach of British vessels of war. 
 
 Brig Alexander by the Leo— lost. 
 
 Brig Elagle by the Lawrence— recaptured 
 
 Two brigs by the U. S frigate Coiutitution. 
 
 A ship and a brig by the Rambler. 
 
 A valiuble ship, threo brigs, one schooner, and 
 three sloops, by the Xebec Ultor of Baltimore. 
 
 Shooner Arrow by the America- 
 Ship Adventure by the Chasseur— afterwards 
 reeaptured. 
 
 Two schooners and a sloop by the America. 
 
 Ship Emulation by the Syren. 
 
 Schooner — — by the Macuonough— burnt. 
 
 I'wo schooners, a sloop and a brig, by tbj 
 Reindeer 
 
 Four brigs by the Portsmouth— one valued at 
 300,080 lioflars. 
 
 Brig Adeona, valuable, by the America. 
 
 Schooner Sultan by the Morgiana. 
 
 Brig Sarah by the W^arrior- 
 
 Brig Legal Tender, by the David Porter. 
 
 Brig sunk by ilie Prince of Neufchatel. 
 
 Ship Antigua, vei7 valuable, by the Kox. 
 
 A ship and a brig, valuable, by the Morgianu. 
 
 Two brigs, a schooner and a sloop, by the; 
 Whig. 
 
 Six schooners and one brig, captured , by the 
 Surprize— hve destroyed and one made a cartel. 
 
 East India ship Surnf 8 guns and 3« meu, 
 with a cargo worth 300,000 dollars, captured bv 
 the Surprize, after a severe engagement. 
 
 Two vessels by the Ranger, burnt. 
 
 Ship ——. a collier, by the Ranger. 
 
 Brig Athill, U guns, by the Lawrence. 
 
 Schooner Cieorge by the David Porter, f^'"^ 
 
 Brig William by the Lawrence. 
 
 Brig— — bythe Cbamplain. 
 
 Brig Susanna, valuable, by the Sine-qua-noa. 
 
 Brig Flying Fish, valuable, by the D. Porter 
 
 Ship Corona of 8 g^ns and a valuable care \ 
 by the Chatseur. 
 
 Packet (brig) Lady Mary Pelham of 10 guns , 
 by the K^-mp. 
 Brig Sarah by the Warrior, sunk. 
 
 Brig Lady I'roubridge of 8 guas, by the Ino, 
 burnt 
 
 Ship Mary and Susan, 470 tons, with an im- 
 mense Uklg^. by the Ctws;eur. 
 
 His nuyesty's shooner St. Lawrence of lour- 
 teen 1 <lb carroiuMlts, one long gun and 75 men, 
 besides a nimiber of soldiers and passengers, 
 captured by the Chasseur of Baltimoiv, Captain 
 BoyletaftL-r a very severe action of iS minutes. 
 ThelAwrencchaJ 40 men killed and wounded ; 
 the Chasseur 5 killed and 8 wounded, rhe lat- 
 ter mounted six .31b. carronnades, and eight 
 short wlb earronades. 
 
 The number of British vessels captured during the war, as pub- 
 iished in this work, is 1551. 
 
 *•» 
 
■ Ife.; 
 
 4011 
 
 SKETCHES Oi 
 
 TREATY OF PEACE.- 
 
 JAMES MADISON, / 
 
 PUE^SIDENT OF THE U^flTEO STATES OF AMEUICA, 
 
 To all and singular to whom these pi esents shall com«,— GREETING : „j ' , 
 
 \VHI''.IIEAS n treaty of pence and amiiy between the United States of America, and hit Brltaft' •' 
 tiic majesty was sigiici) at Glieiit, vn the tweiity-fourth ilay of December, one tbousand eight hmiv 
 (!i-i.-d aiid fourteen, by the v'*^"il'***^^"ti<*<^it''* >'e«pectivcly appoittted for that purpose ; and the said 
 ux'nty having; been, by and with the advice and consent of the senate of the United States, duly ac- 
 repted, raiiiled. and contirmed. ou tlie seventeeuih day of Kel)ruary.one thousaml eight hundred and 
 tiitccn ; and ratified copii'S thereof having been exchanged agreeably to the tenor of tliesaid treaty 
 « hich is in the words following, to wit : 
 
 Trea'ij of/ieace and amity between hit Si'itannic majcsly ami ilie Vnltcd Stales of America. 
 
 His Uritannie majesiy and the United Stales of America, detiroiis of terminating the war which 
 iias »nhnpiiy subsisted between the two countries, and of resioi-iiig. u|ion principles of perteet feci-. 
 iirocity, peace, friendship und i;ood understanding between <hein, have. Sir that purpose, appointeaT 
 their respective plenipotentiaries, that is to say ' his Oritanuic majesty, on bis part, has appointed the 
 night Honourable James lurd Gambler, late admiral ut the white, now admiral of the Kd squadron 
 of his majesty's fleet, Henry Guuldburn, esquire, a member of the imperial parliament and tutder 
 secretary of state, and \\ illiara Adanis. esquire, doctor uf civii laws : And the president of the Uni- 
 ted States, by and with the advice and c disent of the senate thereof, has appointed John Quincey Ail •' 
 itms. James A. Oayard, Henry Clay, Jo lathan Riissel and Albert Gallatin, citizens of the United 
 States, who. after a reciprocal communication of their retpeclive full powers, have agreed upon the 
 iiillowing articles ; 
 
 AR'l'ICLE 1 —There shall be a finn and unirersal peace between his Britannie majeaty and the 
 Vnited Statcs.and between their respective cuuiitries, territories, cities, towns and people, ^ every 
 degree, without exception of places or jtersons All hostilities, both by tea and land uull cease as 
 fmn as this treaty shall havebeeit ratified by both parties, as hereinaftte mentioned. All territory. 
 places and possessions whatsoever, taken from either party by the other, during the war, or which' 
 may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only Ute islands heieinaiter mentioned, thaU 
 be restored without delay, and without caushig any destruction, or carrying away any of the artil 
 lery or other public property uriginallv captured in the said fortt or places, and which shall remaiij 
 I herein upon the escnange of the ratiAcationt of this treaty, or any slaves or other private property. 
 /Vnd all archives, records, dt:eds and papers.eitherof a public nature, or btjlonging to private per- 
 tons, which in the course of the war mav have iallen into tlie hands of the ofliccn of either pkrty. 
 shall be, as far at may be practicablt*. torthwith restored and delivered to the proper authorities ain - 
 persons to whom they respectively belong. Such of the islands in the bay of Passamoquoddy as are ^ 
 v'laimed bv both pavties, shall remain in the jmssesaiun of the party in whose occupatian they may 
 he at the time of tlie exohaiigu of the ratifications of this treaty, until the decision respecting the ti- 
 • te to the said islands shall h.ivo been made in conformity with the f()U[th uriiele of this treaty. No 
 disposition made by this treaty, as to such possession of the islands and teiTiixrics claimed by both 
 nariies. shall, in any manner whatever, he construed to aifect tiie right ot' eitber- 
 
 ARTICLR IL— Immediately sifter the ratifications of tliis treaty by both parties, as hereinafter 
 mentioned, orders shall be sent to the armies, squadrons, officers, subjects and citizens,of the two' 
 powers, to cease from all hostilities And to prevent all lauset of complaint which might arise 
 on account of the prizes which may be taken at sea after the said ratifications of this treaty, it is re- 
 oiprocally ai!;reed, that all vessels and effects whivh inav be taken after tlie space f>f it days fton^ 
 tin: said ratifications, upon all parts or the coast of Noith America, from the latittule of 33 decreet 
 nurlh, to tlie latitude ot 50 degrees north, and as far castwaril in tlw Atlantic ocean as the 30th de- 
 >rit;e uf west longitude t'rom the meridian of Greenwich, shall be reiton.'d to i>ach side : That the 
 lime shall be 30 days in all other parts of the Atlantic ocean, north of the equinoctial line or equa- 
 tor, and the same time tor the British and Irish channels, for the Gulf of Mexico and allparuof 
 the West Indies ; 40 days tor the Noillt seas, fur the Baltic, and for all parts of the Meditetnuiean ; 
 fSO days for the Atlantic ocean south or' the equator, as far as the latitude of the Cape of Good Hope : 
 QO days tur every part of the world south of the equator ; and liO days for all other patti of the 
 world without eJtCeptioii. 
 
 ARTICLE III.— All prisoners of war taken on ^ther side, as well by land as \ty sea, shall be re- 
 stored as so«n as practicable after the ratification of this treaty, a» liereuiafter meiiiioned, on their 
 paying the debts which they niay have contracted during their captivity The two contracting 
 parties respectively engage to discbarge in specie, the advances which may liaVe btec made by th« 
 uthei' for the sustenance and maintenance of such piisuiicrs. 
 
 AH I'ICLE IV.— Whereus it was stipulated by the second article in the treaty of peace of 178$ , 
 between liis Uhtanntc majesty and the United States of America, that the boundary of the United' 
 States should comprehend all islands within 20 leagues of any part of the khoret of the U- States, 
 and lying between lines tu be drawn due east from the points where tli* atbrtsaid boundaries bt^ 
 (ween Nova-Scotia on the uiu- part, and East Tlorida on tlie other shall rcspixtively touch the bai 
 of Kundy and the Atlantic ocean, excepting such islands at now are or heretotuir have been, withtt 
 the limits ot' Xova-bi'otia ; and whereas tlK: ieveral islands in the bay of assaiiiaqvuddy. which it. 
 Bart of the Imy of Finid^, and the island of Grand Meiian in tbt said bay of Fundy. an: cla.ined 1^ [ 
 tae X/iiited -fates as being cumpreliended within their albre'^aid boundaries, which sail island* aije 
 i-laimid as belonging to his lliitannic nujesty. as having' b:«n at the time «t', and previous to, tiw 
 •'o.i^aH tP'Vty of i7l.l, within the limiu of the province of Mova-Scotia: fa order, tantfoFC finallf 
 
IS hereinafter 
 
 ii,ot°thetwo 
 
 1 might arise 
 
 teaty. it it re- 
 
 I* days fVoni 
 
 of 33 degrees 
 
 the 30tii de- 
 
 : That the 
 
 line or eqaa- 
 
 id all parts or 
 
 xlitemmean 
 
 Qood Hope : 
 
 parttofthe 
 
 »eace of 178S ^ 
 Bf the United' 
 ite V. SUtet, 
 oundaries bD- 
 ouch the (m|: 
 been. witIA 
 My. which is . 
 H: claimed b]r, 
 li'i Ulaiidi Uf! ' 
 evious «>, tiler 
 !T«fore finallr 
 
 I 
 
 I'Hli 
 
 -" "'/lit. /v-^ 
 
mfi 
 
 SlUiTCUK^ lie. 
 
 «rthff Uro putlet the «e*cti 
 tiM mM booadanr, da leti 
 powe ofono thonnBd wW 
 r«, u icavin it, tu be rar* 
 
 . J their hands 
 
 thui refened to them, wid 
 ^the Lake of the Wood^ 
 bodi pank* agree to « 
 of tiw uiA tw» eoaunii 
 fiw tofct luAnpoct*. 
 sonrewmteetoatr 
 thefiwnhartideiic 
 
 ARTICLBVUI.^- 
 ihall icepeetiT^r have 
 
 dcoimiMv aMd ollheir 
 Um agents ot* his BiHai 
 
 The saweay tfwl w ec s shajl 
 twoeontractMiCpwiies. sueh 
 •catiMi«rd^|Naty. .And 
 equally hf the rm partiei. 
 .the piMe of every s«eh eomi 
 ■mmillitoiiiir was ae first — 
 iiaa,aBddadieian»datl 
 aay of the idaads meatieiied ia 
 the parties prierto.the 
 thedMWonoraByord 
 tot a« in thefimr MS* pieeediac 
 events cl* land made Mwkm to 
 Son. shall he a« TaHAM (TmicIi ' 
 he within the don^nlons 
 ARTICLB IX-The 
 flntien oTthe presenttteaty 
 way be at war atthewae of 
 
 .«esMetinly>aU m 
 
 «,{none dMNWand __, 
 
 .soeh tribe* w natiaqs, shall i«ree to 
 jiheir eiUfMwil^ eiweets, 
 
 :)ligai«f Indians «W^ whooa he may 
 etore to sueh tribes or Mtioas 
 We ei^M^d or hMn^p«M 
 
 iIWuigl5l«|y.#irf 
 , to sMh «tihM.«r aatiMi, fii, 
 
 AUTIOUB X^WheiCM the t 
 jutiee,aadwli3wMjitti.Maj 
 to piNMioi^ iu entfan aMim>it 
 jheft eiMlearonnto ae wwpBfl i m 
 ;VAIinCt3n^Thla«eMx,when . 
 
 iWhMMONi' 
 
 untoaftMdotir 
 ^DiHW, iiii|i4|di;Me, at iUe^t, the tweal 
 
 ind* If !ng in the lakes, water communications, and rivers ttumiuK 
 - .. sly belong, in cou'ormity with the true intent of the saM treaty oT 
 hoMKd and eighty-three ; and to cause sueh parts oT the sfcid bound»- 
 ~ id marlied. rhe said commissioners shall, by a report or deelam- 
 designato the bonndary afinesaid. state their decision on the points 
 ilarize the fanitede and longitude of the most nonh-westem point 
 other part of the said lioaiidarf as they may deem proper And 
 designation and decision Anal and eonelutive And in the evci.t. 
 
 :, or both or either o>' th .-m retVising. declining, or wilfully ondt- 
 
 or ttotements. shall be made by them, or eiuer of them, ahd 
 
 qr state, shall be autle in all respeeu, as in the latter part of 
 
 as fall a nunner as if the same was herein repeated' 
 
 boards oT two eommlssioners mentioned in the preceding articles 
 
 appoint a secretary, and to employ sueh surveyors or other penons 
 
 iipheate* of all their respective rejMnts, declaraiiMW, siatemmts and 
 
 Its and of the .journal oftbeir proceedings shall be delivered by tliem to 
 
 and to the agents of the UniMi States, who may be respect- 
 
 ige the business on behalf oi° their respttetire govemmenti. 
 
 Bveiy paid in sueh manner as shall be agreed between the 
 
 It betag to be settled at the timeoi the exchange of the rati- 
 
 eipenses attending the said commissioiiers iliall be defrayed 
 
 the e«se ofd^th, slekaess. resignation, or necenary absence, 
 
 i r esp e cti v el y shall be supplied in the tame manner a« such 
 
 and the new eomminioner shili uke the same oath or afflrma- 
 
 her agreed betifeen the two contractihr parties, that in case 
 
 the preeedinig artieles which were in ta« ppsscMion of one of 
 
 tofthepresinu war between the two countries, should by. 
 
 ' mere aforesaid, or of the sovereign or stato so (Nlfcrrea 
 
 itainad,wll within the dominions of titeothrr party, all 
 
 eeauDtorutn war by the party having had such ncMses- 
 
 islands,hadbysi>ehd«cHionordedtions,been adjudged to 
 
 iiig had such postessiqn> 
 
 Ameiiea ei%aire to pi|t an en^ immediately i|fter the rati- 
 
 with all tjto tnbee or uatkms of Indians, with whom they 
 
 ,ai|il ^ffthwitii to restore to s«eh ttibes or itafions , 
 
 wb^ ihw nay have enjoyed or been entitled 
 
 MIS lb s«oh Kosdlities : frnUkd almayt. that 
 
 ,. hos0itses amintt the United S^te* qf America, 
 
 « die present treaty lieing notifled \o shch tribes or 
 
 Aadhii 
 
 oiljeet. 
 
 shaU have been catified on 
 die ntiiieatiens mntually 
 
 'whlii^tBd at WiMhington,indiiqii^^ibtirlnbiiittN 
 
 efltdiiiei have signet' ttdt ticafyi hi4lMfisMieR 
 
 day of Oee^nlM:. «!Qe tl^lMPd dght hud' 
 
 AMBIEA. 
 
 raraovtsuRv, 
 Ml 40AI0. ' 
 
 Is 
 
 ADAMS,' 
 
 'SsjS^c^sSl^.!^'^'''^ 
 
 
 ..w Mtannie Majesty engages, on his part, to put an 
 
 ptcsemtreaty tolMMtd'tfb with all the tribes or na- 
 
 te time of sim|i ranflcation, an^ forthwith }o re- 
 
 po s sess ions , lighuand privilege*,, whieh they may 
 
 ,, eight handredaiid eleveii. previoqi to sttbii^hos- 
 
 natmniAaU'agtee to desist fiaomUIhaafiiitiee anmit 
 
 ' ratpeation of tl^ present tKtt^.]g||i| -^tifled 
 
 is jraeaneilaMeiriili 4e pri^M^esoiltimlanity and 
 '-'ted.SMlto w* desirous of flpndigniiict^ ""^ 
 
 ith the eqntiaeting par^ shad use their 
 sides! without tUter- 
 
 aad «mity^ip^be^ observed w^A j^ojljjltll 
 
 (SEAL) 
 
 ,. he mtide m^ . a^d X dph^riin ^ria^llpOTM^ 
 »iMep,«Mlair9ter ei^ti»eM wr hiiMs^^keqBf^ ifiihin the lifne. &idin% to obtme 
 
 ^(SUUtliefWttea^ande^jiy^^ ^^ ^' 
 
 rawAV.t .mtONuiohtirikataif.IhaveclHi^ 
 
 ^liiheats. M< shM tk same n^^binylkand. 
 »( die City at tf^Uagtan, this tighteenth day of FdwiHiy, in die year of onr 
 Hd, oi» do^mnd ePt hnadned and fiOvu; « 4 «^ a* soveieigaty and iBdepca' 
 4««earthe«Mtc4^totoithetfcktyidi|U *— w— 
 
 BythePrerthmt, MMBSM^BO^. 
 
 .tAMSS MOKRQE, Acting Seerttmy tf State, 
 
 /^lA'IA. 
 
f 
 
 the laMtwatyoT 
 ' the tkid bounds, 
 cport or deelan- 
 lioa on the point* 
 nh-weitem point 
 m proper And 
 Ana in the ereti '■"*i/ < 
 '.orwIiniUjromit- "» 
 her ot Umiq, aM 
 the latter part of 
 ^ted. 
 
 Hieceding; articlet 
 lor dtberpenont 
 ■> ■latemrnt* and 
 veicd liy tlKm to 
 ) Aajr be rctpect- 
 lire gDvemnwnti. 
 »4 betWMii th« 
 nge of the mi- 
 iliall be deftsayeil 
 iceuary absence, 
 ■nanner a* such 
 oath or afflrma- 
 iet, thatintiaie 
 MeMionofoneof 
 ciet, thonid by. 
 •tate «D r^fcrred 
 oth^r party, all 
 lad sttcb poue*- 
 «>> aiyttdgtd to 
 
 y a(ler tbe nil. 
 'ith whom they 
 ribe* or nations, 
 tr been entitled 
 'id atwayt, that 
 icey vf AUMflca, 
 9ntlf tribe* or 
 part, to put an 
 e tribe* or na> 
 bithwith lore- 
 fbieh they may 
 
 ^S% 
 
 L'^wdanlty and 
 irttJj^ effort* 
 naniuetteir 
 
 without aVeeiv 
 
 ^ibiur ttMiraw- 
 
 ind tiglif liud- 
 
 llfylnobitrve 
 
 fflkcdtotheie 
 
 » year of onr 
 aiid|adfipea<