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IMaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure ara filmad beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams iiluatrata the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmfo A des taux da r6duction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film* A partir da Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. an pranant le nombre d'images n^cessaira. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 t \- DUB THE THE MILITARY AND NAVAL OPE IPt THE CAN AD AS, DURING THE LATE WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES. IHCLCDING ALSO, THE POLITICAti HISTORY OF LOWER CANADA, DURIKO THE ADMINISTRATION OP SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG, AND .,»^. :, SIR, GEORGE PREVOST, JTROM THE TEAR 1807 DNTII. THE YEAR 1816, BY ROBERT CHRISTIE, ESQ. tlVEBEC—PRmTED : NEW-YOR^/rE-PRINTED:— By Oram awd Mott^ 1818. r ^— ^ ' ' \' -iX sjii ii> viil^dWi .iij»;0 rsu'j'f K?JiHi:l 'i;< • '' • r\ li. «(\v(j i>)(3 — .HoUliStOl*'-!' ■ •> *■ •■■• ■ . '.' •!■■'-■• A ^d?\o •:;>ftO.... .*,",•■ M ro. . . •..•: "i'Mi'' 111 fr"^"/. a .aa''. ' • if./ liBvi'n 'RS=4 . ' •' • C, ■ .' ,.:> 1 , J , ". , }, f,,. • . ■ ' ■ ■ ! nUi :■ . ;. ■> 'Hi -' .i . ;8 lii >!•;*■ i- CONTENTS. ,?!.« * u.<- ItiWf.'' ■ -■ ' * : U'f^l ' r>i inaU '■UV fl'! '! l> mi ' • , ' '■■ •)n ' . ,.; -,. CHAP. I. Arrival of Sir James Heniy Craig. Meeting of the Provincial Parlia- ment. Discussions in the Assembly relating to the Election of Judges and Jews.—Prorogatlon.— Elections and Meetings of the New Pro- vincial Parliament.— Further discussions on the EleclJon of Judges and Jews— The Assembly is dissolved.- Elections.- Meeting of the New Parliament.— Ofter of the Assembly to pay the Civil List— "P^t appointment of an Agent in England considered. — Measures respect- ing a Judge.— Second dissolution. CHAP. n. feasures of the administration and imprisonment of several persons. The Governor's Proclamation. Proceedings of the Court of King's Bench at Quebec. The Judge (De Bonne) declines his election. Prisoners at Montreal released. Meeting of the New Pmvincial Parliament. The Governor's Speech. Answer of the Assembly. IhG Governors reply. BUI rendering Judges ineligible to a seat Ja the Assembly. Prorogation of Parliament. The Governor's Depar- ture for England. His Character. CHAP. iri. lvJ™mL?nf?r'*^r?^T*- J?"^""^ ^^""^^^ B«>«^ as'uraes the go- IZ Si/ SF^'^^^^^Al- P* Governor makes the toui of the Dp, lE"?^* 1', ^i«t"'go^tt»e Provincial Parliament. Proceedings & DecwSf W^T^f '°"- "J^"'^'^ ^««'°"- Militia EmbXd Armv^ Hn* ^ ^7 ^r'l!-*- Governor Assembles the Legislature vS^fn*' 5'°*aJLac^me. Capture of Michillimackfnac. In- vasion of Upper-Canada. Retreat of the Enemy. Battle of Mafma- !Govemtem."^'^'~"- ^'""*^''^- Its rejecuiu by the ATerSan CHAP. IV. ^ H?s"?'hJ2!ir"*'®.S ^**,"* *»f Queenstown. Dfeath'of Gen. Brock "da^ Sck at al'T*.^'^"".^" assumes the Command in Upp^Jia: General Dearhn.^^ Advance of the American army under CHAP. V. ^^ GHAP VL ^^yal Engagement on Lake Erie. Evacuation of Detroit by the British. Battle at the Moravian Village and defeat of General Proctor. The British raleetbe investment of Fort George. Inv^ion of Lower-Ca- nada by Gen. Hampton, and the defeat ofthe enemy at Chateauguay Iw Lieut. Col. De Salaberry. Wilkinson's Expedition. Battle of| Chrystler's Farm. Retreat of the Americans to Salmon River. Gen. Drummond assumes the Command in Upper-Canada. Americans I evacuate Fort George. British surprise and capture Fort HiA- gara. ' CHAP. vn. Meeting of the Provincial Parliament. Parliamentary proceedings.— I Chief Justices Impeached. Proceedings of the British and American | Governments concerning Hostages for certain Traitors, taken by the i British at the Battle of Queenstown. Indian Embassy to Quebec. — Attack of the Americans under General Wilkinson upon the La Cote \ mm. ' ' CHAP. vm. Occurrences during^the winter 1813-14. Attack upon Oswego. Inva- , 9M)n of Upper-Canada by the American forces under General Brown. * Captijir.9 of Fort llrie. Battle of Chippawa. Battle ot Lundy's ■^"Xane. Aswiilt Upon Fort Erie. Capture of Prairie du Cbien. Ex- pedition against Michillimackinac by the Americans, Operations by Sir John C. Sherbrooke. Expedition to Plattsburgh. Sortie from Fort Erie, Evacuation of Fort Erie by the American Forces^ Mis- 1 cellaneous occurrences. Meeting of the Provincial Parliament, Recall of Sir George Prevost. His departure from Quebec. POSTSCRIPT. f rpceecliog* rejatiye tp Sir Georgo Prevost, after his return to Englan-i APPENDIX. I ERRATA. ' pa*e 166.— Mr. M'tfe'An, ttHo wds tilled at the battle of York, wo' .Cti^kofthe Bou$e ofJimmhlyt not Bptak^r oF the House of Asfcmbly MEMOIRS of the Administration of Sir James Henry Craig, and Sir George Prevost, in the Province of Lower-Canada^ from the Autumn of 1807, until the Spring of 1815; comprehending the Military and \aval ope- rations in the Canadas, during the late War with the United States of America. CHAPTER I. Arrival of Sir James Henry Craig. Meeting of the Provincial Parlia* ment. Discussions in the Assembly relating to the Election of Judges and Jews.—Prorogation.— Elections and Meeting of the New Pro- vincial Parliaraent.—Fiirther discussions on the Elections of Judges and Jews.— The Assembly is dissolved.— Elections.— Meeting of the New Parliament.— Offer of the Assembly to pay the Civil List.— Th« appointment of an Agent in England con8idered.-rMea«ures respect- ing a Judge.— Second dissolution. turtttoEngIanyahy of the >f the Cana- edge of their ng to avoid puiting to ^ouse of As- nuary;i808. he two pre- ?d the atten- ig, and ulti- embittered >»}i Hi i or Quebec, ner Parlia- the County loftheeli- ^arliament, maintained ge, to can- n the daily )f the Elec- tors overawed with the apprehension of incurring tJbe displeasure of the Judge, who in his judicial capacity might pervert the ends of Justice to gratify personal pique, could not be presumed to be free, and uninflu- enced by such a candidate. That in England the Judges were ineligible to a seat in the House of Com- nions, and in fine, tliat the artifices and intrigues inci- dental to popular elections, were unbecoming in a Judge and a mere prostitution of the judicial dignity. These and similar arguments were industriously pro- pagated, and gained ground rapidly in the public opin- ion. The opposite party contended that no such dis- qualification existed in virtue of the constitutioi^al, act* by which alone the Colonial Legislature was to be guided, and that to create such, would be an int^f^neh- ment upon the rights and privileges of the Iniperial Parliament of Great-Britain, which, it would not fail to resent. That it would be absurd as well as.fiaager- ous to admit the right in a constituted body, to amend or modify in the smallest degree the act of the consti- tuting power, upon which the very existence of the forJKier depended, and therefore, that the Provincial Legislature was incompetent to disqualify any descript- ion of His Majesty's subjects from being eligible to a seat iij the House of Assembly. The former opinion prevailed in the Lower House, but was discountenanc- ed in the Legislative Council. ^^> '^'^ «^i^^«^' ^ Another question somewhat similar to this was a^- tated .during the present Session. A Jew of reputable character having been elected and returne'dfor the Town of Th^ee-Rivers, it was cbnterided that his reli- ■ ^id»l(i«.|n.O•...^ E S0 Oi * The Act of the Brltbh J^rliaitjent 31, Geo. 3, chap. 3J, which gave to the Canadas their present Constitution , . . 9 ABMTNI8TIUTI0II OF [1808 ous persuasion created an inability to sit and vote as a Member of the House of Assembly. The leading Members exerted themselves in support of the compe- tence of the House to exclude him by raolutiony or at least of the undeniable right of tlie Legislature to sup- ply by enactment, such provisions in matters affecting their privileges as might have been improvidently omit- ted in the constitutional act. After some animated de- bate, rather relating to the mode of expelling or dis- qualifying the Member for Three-Rivers, than to the propriety of the measure, the party for expelling him by resolution prevailed, and it was resolved ' that being * of the Jewish persuasion he could not take a seat, nor « sit, nor vote in the House of Assembly.' The House granted a sum for repairing the ancient Castle of St. Lewis (the residence of the Governor) and the business of the Session being brought to a close, the Governor with some encomiums on the diligence and liberality of the Assembly, prorogued the Session, whicli terminat- ed the fourth Provincial Parliament. ■iti .gfj »rti; tfnhappily for the tranquillity of this administration la party spirit had gained ground, and was irritated by the odious and reiterated reflections of an eminent journalist in the metropolis of the colony, upon the manners and customs of the Canadian population^ as well as upon their religious and political opinions. His sentiments in the minds of those who were, or rather, who conceived themselves essentially injured by them, were considered as of a party Anti- Canadian, nay, even of the Government itself. A few individuals, indignant at the affront, incurred the espenc^e of procuring a press, with a view of counteracting the influence which the lal^ors of the Editor might produce, to the political [1608 and vote as riie leading * the compe- ^luHoHf or at ^ture to sup- ers affecting dently omit- nimated de- lling or dis- than to the Uiog him by *■ that being i a seat, nor The House astle of St. the business e Governor liberality of Ji teroiinat* ninistration irritated by m eminent , upon the lulation^ as aions. His , or rather, d by them, I, nay, even I, indignant rocuring a ence which \ie political SIU JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 9 1808] detriment of the Provinc e. From this Press a weekly Paper, called Le Canadian, issued iu the French lan- guage, which soon acquired popularity with tlie deno- mination of an opposition paper. A newspaper strife far from harmonising parties, by reciprocally enquir- ing into the causes of their misunderstanding, iuaamed the growing evil, and the odious sense appUed to the terms Canadian and Anti-Canadian^ Choyen and Demo- &at, distinctive of parties, gave uneasiness to all who earnestly cultivated a good understanding with their fellow citizens. From the novel and hardy spirit of this publication, many who were connected with the administration of the Colonial Government, or depen- dant upon it, affected to suspect a conspiracy on foot, and that secret funds were furnished from abroad for the purpose of alienating the minds of the people from their allegiance, and to revolutionize the Province. Some ancient and respectable citizens, known to have contributed towards the purchase of the press, were dismissed from their rank in the Sedentary Militia; among them Mr. Panet, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, a gentleman of the most unimpeachable in- tegrity. This measure, although of little importance in itself, created from its harshness, an interest in the. public, which strengthened the party already formed in; opposition to the measures of the administration, .," In June, the elections for the ensuing Parliament took place, and were conducted in most counties with unanimity. The late Speaker presented himself for the Upper Town of Quebec, but the resident Military, and dependants on the several Military Departments in Quebec, entitled to vote, influenced by the example of their Chiefs, turned tlie scale against him. He was however, elected in the mean time for another County. 1* 10 -*JBMlNISTRATIOir OF [1809 extraordinary „a.e' TJ^^Tf '"" '""• ^''^ with the American Fm\„ "'''''"'• combined o.- commerce too"hfcaS' ""]"f "" """^'■'" "^e utility to the motherctnml ' ""' "'*" '•^'""'-^^^ »"•« yo-d the expec^Jfon X^ ^r. ^:^'^'' ^^ "- .'«ent cpecuiator. iangume and intel- On the loth of 4DriI iftno ♦! tt ™e. pursuant to the Gov'e S ^om""?''^'"'^"^ people were on the tiptoe rfanxlTv""' ""'' *''* Sone abroad that H-sE^TJ ^' ^ ''^P''" *'^'''">S 'vitbtheHouseThouidfh.t".^ "'""''' ""• *«»"="* Spealcerof the :,e te ;*ftr\^ '"5"""- "'■•''<' some.imebeforedisSrdrSa%; °™ l';'"'''^ was, however alm.»«f »„o • ^^ -^ he gentleman ^h.Governo:;:;;:::z"ri:s^^^^^ fairs vith America? ".' unfavorable posture of af- BnUm; the emigration of the Royal FamilTnf P F..h;a„^doo:i^7cir,rsi^^^^^ the Legislature against jealousies amoPg them' Xr o! .iti?r!r--'f -'« "ave fo 5::' s »aid"hff-"thanT"T ''"""'"• ' * "'ff^** gentlem'en,' • to cJl you tomher a? """"'"*" "^ "rcn^stances w «aii you together at a season of the year which I [1809 I 1809] SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. n ons of Quebec oundatlons of nding ground •e laid. The e, combined unusual tide esources and ified, far be- ne and intel- of Assembly ion, and the 5ort havings not concur lavor of the lom he had gentleman weaker, and Jfj the Go- tut e of af- i; and th3 S>y Great- ly of Por- British at i from the ambers of iselves, or er object utiemen,* stances, • which I am well aware, must be highly inconvenient to many of you : this consideration dwelt so stronglv upon my mind, that not seeing any particular object of public service that indispensably required your immediate attention, I had it in contemplation to defer your meeting 'till a period of less prejudicial consequence to your private accommodation, but, on referring to the Act of the British Parliament on v/hich the Con- stitution of this Province is founded, I felt reaJ?on of hesitation, at least as to the grounds on which I sup- posed myself able to do so ; I havfe therefore been in- duced to rely on your cheerful acquiescence in the inconvenience under which your may labolfljirather than give rise to a possible doubt as to myinf^ntion ^ of infringing on a right so valuable to you as that of your annual Assembly. And this I have done under the circumstance of being precluded from giving quite that notice which has been in some degree sanctioned by custom, and which, although not called for by any express law, is, nevertheless a precaution for the pre- servation of that mutual confidence which is so desir- able, by guarding against the possibility of any sus- picion, as to the intention or circumstances under which you may be assembled^ The House, after an address in answer to His Excel- lency's Speech, into which it was endeavored to intro- duce an indirect reproof for the hints which had fallen from him, resumed with warmth, the question concern- ing the Judge and the Jew.* The more determined Members were .for expelling them by resolution, but a motion for the expulsion of the Judt,e in this mode, was negatived by a considerable majo/ity, part of ^ These Gentl«men had been re-elected at tbe late £lec^ss« 12 ADMINISTRATION OF [180^ M^hom though disposed to disqualify Judges from being eligible to a seat i» the House, were averse to the means proposed, insisting that nothing less than an Act of the Legislature could operate such a disqualification. Others strongly urged that tlie Electors were, and of nght ought to be, the sole constitutional judges of the competence of their delegate, and that his expulsion under any form, would amount to a gross violation of the most sacred rights of the people, and be an act of arbitrary power, incompatible with the freedom of the Constitution. This effort having failed, a committee was appointed to enquire into, and report to the House, the inconvenience resulting from the election of Judges to sit in the House of Assembly, and in the meantime, a disqualifying Bill was introduced and read for the first time. The enquiry was carried on with persever- ance, and proved rather to the disadvantage of the in- dividual concerned, for which reason we refrain from any reflection on the subject. The exclusion of the Jew was more closely prosecuted. The House renew- ed the resolution which had been taken against his ad- mittance to sit and vote in the last Session of the pre- ceding Parliament, and a Bill to disqualify Jews from being eligible to a seat in the House of Assembly was introduced, and underwent two readings. The lapse of five weeks in the prosecution of these measures ex- hausted the patience of tlie Governor, whose Military education and habits, may on this occasion have influ- enced his better judgment. The spirited perseverance of a deliberate body in a favorite measure, appeared to him like the refractory spirit of a body of soldiers, muvii IXC acciuvu ucriCliliiUCU lU Cl'USIi. On the 15th of May, he went down in state from the 1809] Castle cd intc giving (five if] dissolv the ser * at th( ' reaso * and ] * guidi * manl 'dual * cerns *^thee ' spate * the f. ' absti I * to di ^ * tenil * for p * in wl ' fare < * beca * such * as it * gove * have * to p *forb * ciall ^ stoo< * to ac * pecti [180^ s from being Lverse to the than an Act lualification. vere, and of jdges of the lis expulsion violation of be an act of edom of the I committee 3 the House, >n of Judges mean time, ead for the th persever- ^e of the in- efrain from ision of the )use renew- inst his ad- of the pre- Jevvs from sembly was The lapse easures ex- se Military have influ- rseverance , appeared )f soldiers, SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. la 1809} Castle to the Legislative r:ouncil,where having summon- ed into his presence^ the House of Assembly, and after giving the Royal Assent to such Bills as were ready, (five in number) he informed them of his intention of dissolving the present Parliament, and of recurring to the sense of the people. * When I met you, (said he,) at the commencement of the present Session, I had na reason to doubt your moderation or your prudence, and I therefore willingly relied upon both : under th^ guidance of these principles I expected from you a manly sacrifice of all personal animosities, and indivi'*' " dual dissatisfaction, a watchful solicitude for the con* cerns of your country, and a steady perseverance id the executing of your public duty, with zeal and de- spatch. I looked for earnest endeavors to promote the general harmony of the province, and a careful abstinence from whatsoever might have a tendency to disturb it ; for due and therefore indispensable at- tention to the other branches of the Legislature, and for prompt and cheerful co-operation and assistance in whatever might conduce to the happiness and wel- fare of the Colony. All this I had a right to expect, because such was your constitutional duty ; because such a conduct would have been a lasting testimony, as it was the only one sought for by His Majesty's government, of that loyalty and affection which you have so warmly professed, and which I believe you to possess ; and because it was particularly called for by the critical conjuncture of the times, and espe- cially by the precarious situation in which we then stood with respect to the American States I am sorry to add, that I have been disaonointed in ail these ex- pectations, and in every hope on which I relied. 14 ADMINISTRATION Or i [1809 * You have wasted (continued he) in fruitless debates, excited by private and personal animosity, or by fri- volous contests upon trivial matters of form, that time and those talents, to which within your walls, the public have an exclusive title. This abuse of your functions you have preferred to the high and import- ant duties which you owe to your Sovereign and to 3 o ir constituents, and you have thereby been forced to neglect the consideration of matters of moment and necessity which were before you, while you have at the same time virtually prevented the introduction of such others as may have been in contemplation. If any proof of this misuse of your time were necessary, I have just presented it in having been called on after a session of five weeks, to exercise his Majesty's pre- rogative of assent, to only the same number of bills, three of which were the mere renewal of acts to which you stood pledged, and which required no discus- sion. So much of intemperate heat has been mani- fested in all your proceedings, and you have shewn such a prolonged and disrespectful attention to mat- ters submitted to your consideration by the other branches of the Legislature, that whatever might be the moderation and forbearance exercised on their parts, a general good understanding is scarcely to be looked for without a new Assembly.' * I shall not (he added,) particularly advert to other * acts which appear to be unconstitutional infringe- * ments of the rights of the subject repugnant to the * very letter of the statute of the Imperial Parliament, — * under which vou hold vour seats : and to have been * matured by proceedings, which amount to a derelic- * tion ofthefirst principles of natural justice.' He cor- 1809] [1809 less debates, y, or by fri- m, that time ir walls, the use of your and import- eign and to been forced of moment lie you have utroduction nplation. If e necessary, led on after jesty's pre- )er of bills, cts to which ; no discus- been mani- have shewn ion to mat- y the other ?r might be ;ed on their arcely tobe ert to other i\ infringe- uant to the Parliament, > have been o a derelic- ?.' He COR- 1809] SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 15 eluded ibis speech with his acknowledgments to the Le- gislative Council for the unanimity, zeal, and unremit- ting attention, they had shewn in their proceedings. To a portion of the House of Assembly, he also ex- pressed his thanks, and trusted they would believe he did them the justice of a proper discrimination in the sense he entertained of their efforts, to avert that con- duct of which he had so much reason to complain. ' By this, gentlemen,' (said he, addres^ng himself to the minority who had purposely assembled together on one side of the room) * You have truly manifested your * affection to His Majesty's government, and your just * estimation of the real and permanent interests of* the ' Province.' This hardy and decisive measure astonished the lead- ing members, who, at the utmost, anticipated no more than a prorogation. A dissolution attended with such pointed and almost personal censure, far exceeded their expectation, and they returned to their constituents covered with the opprobrium of having incurred the Governor's displeasure ; a matter of no little moment in the eyes of the multitude, as yet unaccustomed to the freedom of the constitution. The country people who were at first disposed to think favorably of the recent measures of the Executive, gradually altered their opinions, and were finally persuaded that the House of Assembly had been dissolved for having espoused their interests, in opposition to the encroach- ments of the Crown. The press r/as put into violent action, and the Canadian teemed nih able but sarcas- i;_ _i„:-i iK_ r^ >,. ..^. «->u ^* *U^ A'^t.^\.,^ IIU SU'ieiUrCS Uil liiC VJUVUIUUi" a 3p^.C*^U ai \ll^ ciiOBvrm- tion, and with strong animadversions upon the public measures. The preamble to the Bill of Rights, iii 11 la ADMINISTRATION OF 1809] allusion to the Governor's measures with respect to the Assembly, was inserted as a motto at the head of that paper, which was industriously circulated through- out the province. Among other reports, it was said, and at length currently believed, that the Governor had been influenced and deceived by the intrigues of a favorite judge, whom, having discovered the crafti- ness and duplicity of his character, he now intended to discard. This belief materially contributed to re- instate and confirm the credit of the late members in the minds of the people. In the middle of June, the Governor left Quebec on a tour through the Province, attended with a numer- ous suite, and travelled in magnificent style. Several of the citizens of Three-Rivers, Montreal, Saint Johns, and William Henry, successively received him with Addresses of applause and thanks, for the interposition of the royal prerogative in dissolving the House of Assembly. These addresses being inserted in the pub- lic prints, were criticised in the Canadian with much asperity and abuse.* In the month of October the election for the ensu- ing Parliament took place, and the people having had ample time to reflect upon affairs, re-elected, contrary to the expectation of government, most of the late re- presentatives ; removing some who were supposed to have been too passive, and substituting others of a less flexible temper in their stead. * Among the arbitrary measures which characterise the times» the ■wwb*MM«kl .«^* 4l«^k G^vl««»«4yxii» /^^^»««k«Mk1 tt\tiv\^k** Gbtiva**^ - nant at the late dissolution. The first measure of the House was to pass a resolution : — * That every attempt [1810 upon my- 11 e, the re- to theput- ny class oC :h it is im- ed by any nee of the he channel , should be amination, •pie, not to solely that iry to that le minds of latter view, \y disposal erefore, in deration, I esty's plea- d in giving idering His Bench, in 'Assembly, I to inflame wal of pre- *arliament, vernor bad exercise of Assembly. iSlO] SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 19 * of the executive government and of the other branches ' of the legislature against this House, whether in dic- ' tating or censuring its proceedings, or in approving * the conduct of o le part of its merabers,and disapprov- ' ing the conduct of the others, is a violation of the sta- ' tute by which this House is constituted ; a breach of ' the privileges of this House against which it cannot ' forbear objecting : and a dangerous attack upon the ' rights and liberties of His Majesty's subjects in this ' province.' This resolution was aimed at the conclu- sion of the Governor's speech at the late dissolution. The discussion of the civil list was taken up by the House, and it was maintained that the province was now capable of relieving the mother country of this burthen, which the majority plausibly urged, would inevitably, at no very remote period, devolve upon the province with accumulated weight. To anticipate the charge would therefore prove a saving to the pro- vince. The minority affected to discover a deep de- sign in the measure, and opposed it with some warintb. The idea of levying additional revenues to the amount of fifty thousand pounds (as it was reported with a view of marring the measure) startled the country people, who, on the other hand, were instructed that the House of Assembly having the provincial revenues at their disposition, would, in the event, retrench a number of pensions, and by that means considerably diminish the public expence. A resolution was passed by the House, that the province was able to supply funds for the payment of the civil list, and loyal addresses were drawn up to the King, Lords, and Commons of Great- BrUain. in these, the riouse expressed a sense of the many favours!, the colony had experienced from the vy>nNi«ttt\uof< 01' (IMio mill |M.^v|HiHv »>niu^ |\hu(ut.\ Iv ul>l. Ii U u.».'iM»h J^M,v\ mS^^iMois \\>v \y |mi|M»M' »»r Mn>iulHlntt tlu in h> iIh^ Kit^jn. l.ohl5 i\\\x\ eomnjous oKiumH MiHulii. HKMjiniMHl l>v fhf^ \NiMlomor tlu^ Hon-e or CoiniHons t>rth<(^ l"*MiuM Ki»^iloMU lo»l>ml «\U M. p« oh (tic )utH t>i\\\t |>vv>|>l«> to>\rtinls *iT»M\ls o( moHi^v whirl) wvvv nt»l m^vmmtMu^^a in tho ri-own ; m\x\ Mihm^U by tlu« mm^ }>A\\\AW\i^wu\\y wstvfxw t\\\ ^\m\^ lUy oi|aimUt> in (he Ijo>^w Hivusip; yH, ^ inrtVotitml \\\{\m\\ tlw^ wmMoivmvot^thf^ l^P'V llouso : (hi\( ho \mvo- ^\\% t\\ii\i\\ lo his KnoxvUnlgv olotlilwsst^s U\ th(' Hjmim' «Nl'l«mJs. or IhmM^ oiH\>»o«o«s, srpar«(ol,v by « nin- gU^ branch oC ;i iolo\u«| h ^isl«tuiv : (ha( (i»c (hear reasons, h'f in>iu^iv%Hi (ho «uUl«vssrs (o ho unpiooodnit- <^J, iwi>t^*i\vt m R>rm» a>uI (omuhHl ujon a icsohitloii <^l tb^ ao«s<^ of Assomh^v, whivh, un(il saiu tlonctl hy tJh^ cow\nix>«oc ot^ \{w lrt>gis!ativt^ f ouuoil, nu'st he UH^^Kt«i\l ; cxi'^pi rts rt Kpout«not)us odii^oii (he part ol^«he CottnnoMs oin'^mula : That ho it (akf^ upon himsoir to (mismh (hoso athhos s«s t« his Miijost^'s nuHistcrs, hupi^ossoU as ho wm {'\\\\ V\\\v\\ < l« \\\V\ llttll li«' lon^ mill I Ix'i'H, lUh) t>M iM'i'Voi V M' (H AiirlliMiu>nt, ♦n (hr \nn\ li Ut'lr iu»i \v iIh» roiih* iiati' III (he Kll \^iHltMlt I Mo piVl'O- > tilt' Houfto y l\v « rIu- I tol' tlK*8f? pi'tHMMlrnt- ir8«>lutloii I, innst he » HHMH/HIHo i\u^ IvIiiH lliit (fNllHMiity Hi' (lie ^mi\ lihfutnWUt^i^ lt;i'M\Huk iHhI f|»'llrl'»»iN IiiIj'IiIImih or hU kMIiJ^'Mpi IM IIm^ jiNivltlM i»r hiMVi'i Cniiiulii. Ml' "iHlil, li»' iImmi^'M )t tl^h( rif^O^ (lull lih IMM)(")(y l).V tt>«'l«' tiWh i«( (, hIihhM l^f* rorm^illy n|«|»rlMMl n{' (lilt nlillHy. rtnn lihn iit ♦xf/f-Mi/l lilinsr'H on iIm* iniiliJfMl In a wny {\m\ ifil^lif (nrty ¥/\\h i^, on H(i}i«*ftl'ttlir^, liowfvr'f liillc }Mlf'M(l(»((, h{^ op|t/»«hfg niiv lilH li lo llifi iiiHHlfcMnlion of llif s<'fH)mf/ifX Iffk 0«M* wlik'li he s\M p(M*8Uad('(l Hay had \nm\ miani^ih Thn n|>poltilmriil of n rolonlMJ agrnt in Vti\^\nt\i\i Imd hpen conlPinplnt^Hl by (he Infr* Womt'tA' Kmm\f\y, ninl tln^ Rubjcul ^ns again tafum hito conjiJdl'fafJon J^ lhppi(^fl(yit Rr»slon, lait without f/Tc^ct, The advanfft- p,r» pioposod by thift tticafiiir*', were a ri'K^dar «rid dl- rott biler(!our8C' l»ftw«*cn the nouwr* of Assernldy and Ihe Ooniinonfl of Orrat Miitaht, and a chr?ck rtponthiy oxocutivp of the tohniy. A bill to this intent was frntmA but did not arrive at maturity. Tfje cxpedJenee of of the Wouso of AfiRembly during their attendance at I ADMINISTRATION Ot [1810 the Sessions was also discussed, but tliis measure, which witii certain modifications might have been judicious, was however, successfully opposed. In the mean time a bill for rendering Judires ineli- gible to seats in the House of Assembly was drawn up, and having passed below, was transmitted to the Up- per House. Here the bill was amended by the intro- duction of a clause postponing the period at which it should take effect, until the expiration of the present Parliament, the Judge whom we have already had oc- casion to mention, having been returned as a member at the late elections. The House, indignant at tiie amendment, and resolved at all hazards to expel the Judge before the amendment was disposed of, passed a resolution " That P. A. De Bonne, being one of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, could not sit nor vote in that House," and declaretl his seat vacant. This measure brought things to a crisis and placed the Governor in a dilemma. To acquiesce with the House in this instance, would have been a relinquishment of the principles which the Governor had hitherto main- tained and published at the opening of the session, at once inconsistent with himself and with the dignity of his post. On the other hand, a second dissolution of the House, he was sensible, must be attended with much public inconvenience and engender disco*^^! nt. He however determined on the latter, and (on n of another ned by me. emphasis) I r in the vio- nent, and I i becoming" the conscl- ought most d do away seemed to ?ntire con- think exist ligibility of hat may be der, of so- grounded the House, leir talents lighJy use- highly de- ly lament, cial to the tie ptople, pectations the cause the cause dame/ bIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 25 iSlC] On his entrance and departure from the Council Chamber, the Governor was cheered by the populace friendly to his measures, with loud and repeated accla- mations, wliile vhe crest-fallen Members and tlieir friends retired with sijent indignation. The Governor's military promptitude, which they considered in civil affairs as verging upon despotism, again ever-reached their expectations and the Canadian public (a very great majority of the population) universally expres- sed their resolution of re-electing the late Members, with injunctions to persevere in the same measures. So strongly were they prepossesed of the opinion, that the Governor, influenced by his favorite, only wished to screen him from the ignominy of an expulsion. Upon a cool survey of the questions that led to the misunderstanding between the Governor and the House of Assembly, we may at this late period be indulged in the assertion that the situation of the Governor was critical and trying in the extreme ; and it is difficult to conceive, how he could otherwise have consistently extricated himself from the embarrassing dilemma, in- to which he had been urged. After the dissolution, studied addresses prepared by agents of the administration, flowed in upon the Go- vernor from all quarters. The city and couniy of Quebec, the city of Montreal, the tow it of TIirce-Riv- ers, and the Borough of William Henry, and the coun- ties of. Warwick and Orleans, were conspicuous on the occasion. The late Members assisted by their friends, in the mean time, exerted themselves diligent- ly to secure their eU ctions. Songs adapted io tlic vul- gar taste, and calculated to rouse tlic public spirit 26 ADMlxVISTRATIOJ; OP [1810 were composed and circulated, the Canadian teemed with harangues, addresses and observations on the oc- currences of the day, and the measures of the execu- tive ;* while on the other hand, the discovery of ca- bals and plans of insurrection and rebellion, were mys- teriously whispered among the minions of the adminis- tration. At one moment it was rumoured that the French minister in America had supplied large sums in gold, to promote the views of the seditious in Cana- da ; at another, that the whole of his correspondence had been intercepted by some confidential agents of our government. These reports,though utterly ground- less, and held in contempt by the adverse party as the fabrications of intriguing sycophants, were neverthe- less, evidently intended to prepare the public mind for some eventful crisis. *» Of the many anonymous productions published at the period, one addressed to the public in a flying sheet of the Canarfkn, signed /'^t Stmere, excited much attention, and created uneasiness in the mind of the Governor, who it seems made up his mind, from the moment of it« appearance to seiae th« Canadian Press.—Sce Appendix Letter A. '« r. 1310] SIK JAMES HENRY GRaIG. 27 CHAPTER II. Bench at Quebec. l^rX (rBtZ/^'r "^T l'^'"^"^ Prisoners at Montreal released MeefCrof th x' "i"'""'""- Parliament. Tl.e Governors Sn.f T f ^ ^"'^ Provincial The Governor's r.olv R"^ f "^""'^^ ^^ *^^ A.sse,„b!v. the Assembly P^^Lt 'ZT "^'"' '""'^"'^'' *' ' ^'^'^ ''" "^y E approach a period in the annals of the co- Iony,upon which, from the contrariety of pub- tensed we enter with diffidence and respect The 'tl ™?«'^*::"'* «»d two constables, proceeded to aLt^Tofr ^""""S-Offi- i" Quebec, under the Ruards in . .'' ""' <=°"'»i«ed to prison. The guards m the mean time were strengthened, and pa! I 28 '«f' i* ADMINISTHATION OP 1810] Holes were sent in all directions through the city, as if an immediate and universal insurrection of the peo- ple had been expected. The public, struck at these appearances of unusual precaution, remained in silence and suspence ; while the discovery of plots, cabals and conspiracies, was confidently asserted j and an official promulgation of some deep la«l conspiracy was anxiously expected. The Montreal Courier was de- tained beyond the usual time, with a view, as it was pretended, of preventing any report of the measures resorted to, until the expected discoveries were made. Three successive days were occupied by the magis- trates and crown officers in examining the old papers ^_ seized at the Canadian Printing-Office. On the 1 9th of March, three Canad'an gentlemen of distinction* were apprehended by a warrant, signed by three Meinbers of th^^^.xecutive Council and cast iqto prison. Tl^ree pth^A'Sj^ii?. the district of Montreal f, shared the ^}^^j^% ""*^^^ *''->. but they weXa^i'e^'; The «ealof, took umbrage at the seeming indLence sLdl 7u^^- ^'■"''•"- '^'" C^'hedral was on th" wasi aTd'T T'". r""^"^ = *"« Proclamatit was read, and his Lordship delivered to some thou !:." di; Thrr^r""'^""" -p-ssive d^ur: : sutedto the complexion of the times : he adverted with becoming spirit, to the hasty zeal, whkh had „ duced some to condemn the supiness'ofLe Clergy' stiucted m. their duty towards their Soverei«n than at the period of the revolution of the nei^hbof "^ 't" !.' -ts, wnen the fidelity of tte Canadian CathoJic Clei^gy [1810 I 1810] SIB JAMES U£NRY CRAIG. 31 5h this produc- ch he intended were evidently on his mind of igers were dis- le Province to and the sound went abroad, period, which ce of a trial, vidualin the clergy were on the pre- abedience to I in some in- ice, in others It was confi- ^ordship the Sunday) the tion, give a er multitude isappointed. indifference was on the I'oclamatioii some thou- i discourse, e adverted ich had in- he Clergy, )us and in- ?n, tJban at irino" rnlrt- 'lie Clergy had been irrefragably established. He expounded with clearness and precision, tlie duties of a subject and a christian, in the salutary submission to tlie laws, and to the constitued authorities of the land. From the state of the public mind at this juncture, the diffi- culty of reconciling parties, heated by a series of elec- tions into that political animosity incidental to free governments, is easily conceived. •.',,./,»,••' The Chief Justice at the opening of the Criminal Sessions in March, in delivering his chaige to the Grand Jury, called their attention to the tendency of the occurrences, that had given room to the proclamation, which he read on the occasion. The Grand Jury, in answer to his speech, drew up an address to the Court, in which they animadverted strongly upon certain numbers of the Canadian, and other productions is- suing from that press, as dangerous to the peace and security of the colony. They in like manner expressed their displeasure at divers productions in the (Quebec Mercury calculated to excite jealousy and distrpst in the minds of his Majesty*s Canadian subjects, leaving it to the wisdom of the court to adopt such measures thereupon, as might be found expedient ; and concluded by disclaiming a wish to encroach upon the genuine freedom of the press, but that the abuse of this inestim- able privilege, which could only tend to a subversion, of order, was the subject of their animadversi^^ii^* In April, an ineffectual effort was made ip theCpurt of King's Bench to obtain a Habeas Corj^yts for one of the gentlemen detained in prison, ij^ndj^^ suspicion of " Th5spresentraeAt'iia^'(pWKapruijVi{l'y^H)'feeW!4^ of cowardly cdmplianee with power. ' V^U^I)/ . „j jo,.|v; ^ aft APMJSTJIATION or [I8i0 treasonable practices Tk^ c •^ left no alternative to the n ^"'' ^^ ^*"^ ^PP^^^tion pine in solitary co„VnUtr~^ ^^^^ ^^ be pleased to brinff them m *^ i ^^^^rnor should July following, oneof tlei'"^;''''^''^^^^^^'"- J« Jail at Q«ebef becL?es If? nT" '""^"^^ "' ^^^^ ^nernenl: and wa^a Jd^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^-^th of con- was also shortly aft^r r!i "^ i . ^"""""^'^ • another out of prison. They hotZr It^"''"'^""""'"^ largemedt, gave securi v I P"*"""* «» «heir cn- WH of indictment as St boT"" 'r'"'^*'- '» ^"<^'' •hem . aprecautioStb5,iXtt^^^ against ances, no bill having ever af erl, !, '° '*^« appear, by the crown officers^ Z7 •.'■''' ^*'" presented vernor at any time er^ f"-' " ^earthat the Go- event of an acquiUa fa t '*"'"' '''"''' '" "■« •ration with ignomby. '""''■''' ""^ '•<^"'^"- witlo^ttfaSfntrpto^r ^ --' «'«•'-'' finement*who solicitou"for a ,r l^K /"""""'"^ '» ^"n- ed. with manly resl,i„n '"""^ repeatedly refus- «ithoutthe opp^ortul?^?' -T'''"""* «"'argement, the verdict of^a jirv He "^""*.'^''*'"S ^'^ '"eputation by ^.i oi a jury.He maintained with inflPTJKi^ severance, the integrity of his conduct and , 'l r^ opmions and disclaimed the imputation of tJ ' Mr, Be?— d. [1810 tliis application ho were left to 'overnor should iease them. Jn confined in the ' length of con- mcil ; another le same cause; ist, also turned us to their en- mswer to such found against > save appear- een presented •that the Go- • risk the test which in the the admiuig, ourt elapsed ining in con- atedljrefus- nlargement, eputation by flexible per- icJ political treason or f his Sove- >een heard consistency •en sarcas- 1810] SIR JAATES H^NRY CRAIG. 33 tlcally termed the reign of terror. The peremptory measures of the Governor struck the opposition with dismay ; but though he had suppressed, yet he had not effectually subdued the spirit of the peopie. The elections for the new Parliament took place in April, and the late members again prevailed, almost univer- sally throughout the province. ■ '■ '*iin The Judge upon whose account the present difficul- ties had originated, under the prospect of being called to the Legislative Council, did not present himself as a candidate in the county he had recently represent- ed. H% however was not afterwards called to the Legislative Council as he expected ; and we are left to conjecture, whether he declined his re-election througlr afallaciouspromise from the administration to that pur- pose, in order to induce him to retire, and by that means put an end to all strife with the Assembly on his account, or whether disgusted, with the intrigues and animosity of the times, he consulted his tranquillity by a voluntary retirement. A pause ensued, in which all parties seemed desirous* of repose from the fruitless contest in which they had been engaged. The prisoners confined at Montreal; where they had suflered all the inconveniencies and discomforts of a damp and unhealthy prison, and the severity of a surly janitor, were successively released. One of them* is said to have died of illness contracted during his imprisonment. The Governor in the mean time turned his attention to the improvement of the in- terior of the province, as well as to the cities of Que- bec and Montreal J to which he appointed chainneii * Mr.CorbeiU r ' 34 ADMINISTRATION OF [1810 I '] mmi Sbip.o„, near .he WcTa.b^^^dt/ir ••."'' tance of upwards of sixty miles bvri.t' * ''"" -i.b .he tltta'rr *^" - "- -'^ -— 'P». The new Parliament met at Quebec on the 12tU r.f • an^e^^ r .. '' ""^ ■""' "*^«'- '•""•'ted tl,e loyalty 'cLiont ' r '.^^^^IP-lia^ems which he hado": t^ " • ""? '" '^'"'""^ «•■« administration of dressing • «nT.uT- V *"*='' ''* «■*' *•>«'> ad" oressing , and that in the confident expectation that iTe .r- r™'"%' "^ *"'' best inteLion to ^ro rVetfoTr' "^M^J-'^'^ government, Ind hl„ r . ' P^^P'* ' ''^ ^^wx-W look for the tbeKelf / '"'"J" "''P"^'""- '» •"e tenor of ^ blsLif "^"°"'' '"" *''^ '''^P'"'^'' "^ •'- public ' pllatv actVr^i' r*"" ""'"*'"" ^''^^ ■'«) *«> •he tem- porary act for the better preservation of his Majesty's government as by law happily established it L • spX;' al '° ""* '•"• ""''"^"'"^ regulationst pm«e «• the state of the public aflairsthat-canwTrr [1810 I 1810] SIR JAMES HENRY CRIIG. 3& ons, with annu- peiied from St. e township of y line; a dis- detachment of y comnmnica- ew townships, n the 12th of smbly having- avernor after led thlpm by d the loyalty ;h he had oc- linistration of e relied with o experience vas then ad- Jctation that ions to pro- •nment, and ook for the he tenor of the public to the tem- is Majesty's ^ed in this Illations re- is Majesty t can war- rant a departure from those precaution»,and that vigi- lance which have hitherto induced all the brancheii of the Legislature to consider these acts as necessary. In saying that they are important to the interests of his Majesty's government, you will not, I am confi-^ dent, for a moment suppose, that I mean to divide these from the interests of the public : they are \a^ separable. Tliepreservation of his Majesty's govern^ ment is the safety of the province and its security, ij tlie only safeguard to the public tranquility. Und^r these considerations 1 cannot therefore hut recom- mend them, together with the act making temporary provisions for the regulation of trade between this pro* vince and the United States, to your first and imme- diate consideration.' ' He intreated them to believe, * that he should have * * great satisfaction in cultivating that harmony and ' good understandingwhich must be so conducive to the * prosperity and happiness of the colony, and that he ' should most readily and cheerfully concur in eVery * measure which they might propose, tending to pro- ' mote those important objects.' He concluded by observing ' that the rule of his conduct was to dis- * charge his duty to his sovereign by a constant atten- * tion to the welfare of his subjects which were com- ' mitted to his charge, and that he felt these objects * to be promoted by a strict adherence to the laws, and * to the principles of the constitutiou, and by main- * taining in their just balance the rights and privileges * of every branch of the legislature.' Immediately after delivering his speech, he sent a taessage to the House by a inember of the executive 3d ACMINI3T1UTI0H Or [1810 CouncJ, .„t,matms tlm. Mr. Be.Iar.l, returned to serv,. :» a member for ,hc county of Surrey, «as cletaine 1 wanan o( three me.nbe,, of his Majesty's Exeeutive Couue, by virtue of , the aet • f„r the better preserve' t o„ o his Majesty's government as by la,v happilv estabbshcJ in this provinee,' for treasonaWe prSc s It was evKlent from the tenor of the Governor'; ZT "T' ''•'.»"'''*1"*''« m^^sage to the House, that ,v the"r7 "" ""''"P"'"" "'' " ""'" ""^ -»■■"*'' •po- ky he adn„n,strat,o„ at all hazards. The sentiments o< the majority of the House were without doubt, en .re y averse to the recent measures of the administra- tion, a o renew the obnoxious act would be at once an unequivocal admission on their part, of its expedience, and of the propriety of its recent operation. On the other hand, a refusal might embroil them more then ever with the executive, and result in consequence fatal ,o the tranquillity of the colony. The example of the two preceding parliaments was still fresh in their memory, and the inflexible consistency of the Gov- ernors character had overco.-ne the firmness of the House. They observed in their address to the Gover- nor, in answer to hi, speech 'that they concurred with h.s ExceHency, that no change had taken place in the public afiairs abroad, that would warrant an altera- tion of the provisions of the provincial temperary act, which provided for the better preservation of his Ma- jesty 8 government; yet that they thought it their du- ty to inform his Excellency, that the fears and appre- hensions which prevaile.l among a great number of his Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects in conse- quence of the execution of this act, would demand .u«r scnous consiaeraUon before Ihey could determine [181g|i610] SIR JAMES HENIIY CRAlO. 3t if Its continuation in the whole of its present form and tenor, would insure that confidence between his Majes- Ity's government and his subjects in Canada, which is Ithe safeguard of the former, and of tlie interests of the Ipublic, in themselves inseparable.' They however [pledged themselves that the present act and that re- specting aliens, would become the object of their most serious consideration * fully convinced (said they) that it is the most serious wi^ll of your Excellency to cul- tivate that harmony and good understanding which is so conducive to the prosperity and happiness of the colony, we shall cheerfully concur in any measure tending to promote those important objects ; objects i (they observed) more difiicult to be obtained in this province than in any other of his Majesty's colonies, from the difference in opinions, customs and prejudi" ces of his Majesty's subjects residing therein. We re- flect with pain on the efforts w hich are made to repre- sent in false colours, and in a measure wide of truth, the opinions aud sentiments o£ the different classes of his Majesty's subjects in Canada. Following your Excellency's example, let every one fulfil his duty to our august Sovereign by an unremitting attention to the interests and happiness of his subjects in this col- ony, and he will feel that a strict adherence to the laws and principles of the constitution, and a firm support of the equal rights and principles of every branch of the legislature, are the means of securing to his Majes- ty's subjects, the full and entire enjoyment of their li- berty ,religiousopinions,and property,and which cannot be more perfectly confirmed to them than by the free constitution, which it has pleased his most gracious Majesty aud his Parliament to grant to this province.' Words can scarcely imply a mo. e direct disanproval iiappr 38 jiDMINlSTRATION OS" ii 1*1 ■•S 1810]|l810] of the recent measures of the Governor, vvho felt the force of iheir reflections, and replied in a way which left no room in their mJnds to doubt of his earnest re- solution to prosecute the renewal of the act in question. He returned them his acknowledgements for the senti- meats of loyalty, and the good intentions to promote the mterests of his Majesty's government, and the wel- fare of taeir fellow subjects, expressed in their address. 1 shall at all times (said he) receive with attention any information or advice that the House of Assembly may tbmk proper to convey to me : in the present instance however, I feel myself called on to observe, that m^ information of the state of the province doe« not war- * rant that which you say you think it your du. .o ^ive me, of the existence of fears and apprehensions, with relation to the execution of the act for the better pre- servation of his Majesty's government, at least as ap^ plied to the peopk in general. U such fears and ap- prehensions exist, are they not confined to those who are aware of the possibility of themselves becoming obnoxious to the operation of the act; the voice of such will be always loud ; and may not their cla- * mor have misled you to suppose them more numerous than I suppose they really are ? But with regard to the ^^good peopleof the Province, I am so far from think- * mg that they feel any apprehensions on the subject ' that I date the subsiding of the ferment that then * existed, and the restoration of the calm that has since « prevailed among them, precisely from the moment ' at which the execution of that act took place. Sim- *ilar means to those formerly employed might again * revive the one, and disturb the other, anrl nnno 'perhaps would be more effectual for the purpose Mhen infusing auiongst them, the fears and appre^ 1810]|l810] SIB JAMES IIENIIY CRATG. n hensions to which you have alluded. Simple and uninstructed as they are however, I shall trust to their good sense for its being found difficult to shake their confidence in His Majesty's Govern- ment, because they find it exercising for their protec- tion, the means with which it is intrusted by Law, or because they see that Government armed with the power, and ready to step forward should it be neces- sary to crush the arts of faction, or to meet the ma- chination of treason. Viewing your Address in the light of an answer to my speech, I must remark that 1 have been misunderstood in it. * The harmony and good understanding which I ex- pressed myself desirous of cultivating, was that har- mony and good understanding between me and the other branches of the Legislature which must be so con- ducive to the prosperity and happiness of the Colony. Whereas I perceive you have applied the expression more generally to the existence of these principles in the community at large. This would be no otherwise of consequence than as it has furnished you with the op- portunity nof bringing forward a sentiment in which I desire most cordially and truly to express my entire concurrence. I shall join with you in feeling pain in every instance in which the passions of any one part of His Majesty's subjects shall lead them to repre- sent in false colours, and in a manner wide of truth, the opinions and sentiments of any part of their fel- low subjects. Without any reference to example, let every one as you say do his duty to the King and to the Public, and as you express yourselves aware of the gieater difficulty that exists in this Province in the attainment of the important object in question, so 4 ( ( { ( ( ( < ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( i 40 ■^ ADMINISTRATIOllS.Or [1810 * I confidently trust I shall find you on all occasions * exerting with advantage the superior opportunity * vviiioh is afforded you by your situation as repi^esen- * tatives of the people for promoting and cultivating * those true principles of affection and attachment that ,1 niay unite us as a free and happy people.' This sarcastic reply of the Governor nettled the House but they were too well acquainted with his firm- ness to proceed to extremes on so nice a point. The acts recommended by the Governor were first intro- duced and passed in the Legislative Council, from whence they were sent down to the Lower House where they passed with unusual speed, although the detention of one of their members in Prison was the cause of much murmur and disgust. This obnoxious act was therefore reluctantly continued with a salvo (an amendment introduced into the Bill by the Lower House) of the Rights and Privileges of either House, and of the Members of the Provincial Legislature; it being thereby provided that no Member of either House should be imprisoned or detained during the sitting of Parliament, until the matter of which he stood suspected were first communicated to the House of which he might be a member, and the consent of tha* House obtained for his commitment or detention. It was obvious that the Assembly in this instance yielded to the menacing tone of the Administration who must have been conscious from the recent exercise of this act for the " better preservation of His Majes- ty's Government" and the reluctance with which it was mntiniif>/1 fVtt> an^^Ki^n <.^^»~ xu„a ij.. ^.x.i .• .• could not be a remote occurrence. The Government notwithstanding this clause in the act, still persisted in r„ii [1810 I 1811] ^IR Hl^RX M^SS. (nuiG* 41 1 occasions (pportunity s repi*esen- cultivating bment that lettled the th his firm- oint. The first intro- incil, from er House, hough the on was the obnoxious ith a salvo the Lower ler House, slature; it of either luring the f which he the House consent of detention. s instance inistration lit exercise lis Majes- i which it extinction )vernment ersisted in detaining the members in confinement difring the Ses- sion without affording him the means of justifying him- self by a trial. '• / 4>;»l A bill to disqualify Judges from being elected and taking a seat in the House of Assembly was introdiuied, and having met the concurrence of both Houses re- ceived the Royal Sanction. This subject of strife be- ing disposed of, business was carried on with diligence and dispatch, and some very useful laws were enacted in the course of the Session. The Governor was in the mean time notified of his removal from the colonial Govel-nment in pursuance (it was said) of his own re- quest. On the 21 st March, 181 1 , he progued the Parlia- ment, and as his speech on the occasion, is the best testimony to which we can resort for his own opinion on the character of the times, and of his administra- tion, we insert a part of it in his own words. ' Among the acts to which I have declared his Ma- jesty Assent, there is one which I have seen with pe- culiar satisfaction. I mean the act for disqualifying the judges from holding a seat in the House of As- sembly. It is not only that I think the measure right in itself, but that I consider the passing an act for the purpose, as a complete renunciation of the erro- neous principle, the acting upon which, put me under the necessity of dissolving the last Parliament. * Gentlemen, you are now about to return to your homes, and to mix again in the common mass of your arise from your efforts to inculcate id submission -lil . l_j. those true principles of regularity '^- 4fi ADMINISTRATION OF [18U lim the laws, that can alone give stability to that degree of happiness, which is attainable in the present state of society. Your province js in an unexampled pro- * gress of prosperity : riches are pouring in upon the people, but their attendant evils, luxury and dissipa- tion, will inevitably accompany them : the^ danger of these is too well known to require that I should detain you by enlarging upon it : it will demand all the efforts of religion, and of the magistracy, with the scarcely less powerful influence of example and of ad- vice in the well disposed and better informed, to coun- teract their effects, to preserve the public morals from sudden relaxation, and, finally, to bar the entry to crime and depravity. « A large tract of country, hitherto little known, has been opened to you ; its inhabitants areUndustrious and intelligent, and they cultivate their lands with a pro- ductive energy, well calculated to encrease the resour- ces of the colony. Let them not on these grounds be objects of envy, or of jealousy ; rather let them be ex- amples, to be carefully watched and imitated, 'till, in the whole province, no other difference of fertility shall appear, but what may arise from variety of soil, or difference of climate. ' And now gentlemen, I have only further to recom- mend, that as, in an early part of the session, you your- selves took occasion to observe on the difficulty of the task, you will proportionally exert your best endeavours to do away all mistrust and animosity from among yourselves :— while these are suffered to reipain, all ex- ertion for the public crood miiRt h^ naUSo/i Tvr« Uo« can exist to a cordial union— religious differences pre- Bvnt none— intolerance is not the disposition of the [18U I I81I1 SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 4B present times — and, living under one government, en- joying equally its protection and its fostering care, in the mutual intercourse of kindness and benevolence, all others will be found to be ideal. I am earnest in this advice, gentlemen. It is proba*>ly the last legacy of a very sincere well-wisher, wlo, if he lives to reach the presence of his Sovereign, would indeed present him- self with the proud certainty of obtaining his appro- bation, if he could conclude Iris report of his adminis- tration, with saying — I found. Sire, the portion of your subjects that you committed to my charge, divided among themselves, viewing each other with mistrust and jealousy, and animated, as they supposed, by se* parate interests. I left them. Sire, cordially united in the bonds of reciprocal esteem and confidence, and rivalling each other only in affectionate attachment to vour majesty's government, and in generous exertions for the public goodJ In this, as well as in his former speeches to the le- gislature, we find the sentiments of a man of frankness and of character. Although he is thought by many to have been under the influence of party, he was cer- tainly unconscious of it, as nothing appears to have been more despicable in his mind than party intrigue. Shortly after the prorogation of Parliament the pri- son door was left open to the member in confinement, without any explanation of the cause of his imprison- ment, or of the motives of his enlargement. By some, his release was attributed to orders from his Majesty's ministers to that effect ; by others to a conviction in the mind of the Governor of his innocence, or at least, of his having made ample atonement for his errors (if any) by the length and duresse of his confinement. u ADMINISTRATION OP [1811 On the 19th of June 1811, he embarked on board His Majesty's Ship Amelia, for England ; leaving Mr. Dunn in charge of the Government of the colony, and Lieutenant-General Drummond in command of the forces in the Canadas, consisting of 445 artillery, 3,783 regular troops, and 1,226 Fencibles, in all 5,454 men. He seemed disgusted with the cares of a government, in which he had experienced but crosses and mortifi- cation. He is said to have expressed at the moment of his departure, an ambiguous reflection on the decep- tion, and ingratitude of mankind : whether his obser- vation were intended to be general, or aimed at some of those immediately concerned with him in the con- duct of public affairs, we are left to imagine. Hi& health had long been wasting away with a dropsy and other infirmities contracted in the service of his coun- try, and he doubted whether he should live to see the end of his voyage, which he however survived some months.. The feelings of the public were, upon his departure for England, variously expressed, according to the opinions and prejudices of parties, which, under his administration had been inflamed to a greater pitch than at any former period since the conquest. His ad- ministration was certainly unpopular among the great mass of the people ; and although tenacious of and consistent in his measures, he was evidently influenced by the councils originating in timid and vissionary ap- prehensions of danger. The severity of his measures gave just grounds to expect some conducive evidence of the guilt of those who had concurred his displea- sure, but we have not even seen an attempt to palli- ate that exeiX'isc oi power, wiiicii in tne totai ausence of any vindication of its expedience, we must attribute to the fervour of party heat. Rigorous as they were 1811] SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG. 45 they might have been rendered still more so, had the Governor been less sensible of the general good^ disposition of the colony, or listened more to the sug- gestions of those who had involved him imperceptibly in their quarrel with the people. The Proclamation issued at the period alluded to, shews the conviction under which we may fairly believe him to have acted ; but when we reflect upon the animosity of the times, we have cause to suspect, that the sources from whence his information was derived, are liable to some objec- tions, which however, it must have been difficult, nay, ahiiost impossible for him to have discriminated until it was too late. On the eve of his departure, an action of damages was instituted on the part of several of the proprietors of the Canadian press, against the magis- trate who had seized it. This action proved abortive. The fact is mentioned, as it must have caused the Go- vernor to reflect, that although he had put down with force, the animosities which agitated his administration, he had struck a blow, probably more important in its results, than the most hostile adversaries of his admin- istration could have wished. Sir James Henry Craig had been from his youth in the service of his country, and owed to merit alone, his rank and consideration in the army. He had upon several occasions distinguished himself as an able ge- neral. He was corpulent in person, and rather below the middle stature : his features were strong and regu- lar, his aspect severe and imposing : his deportment was manly and dignified : in society he was polite, in his opinions, and therefore prompt and decisive In, his measures. To a clear and comprehensive judgment, he united the best qualities of the heart ; and though f 46 A»MINISTRATION OF [1811 hasty in temper, he was easily reconciled to those who miglit have involuntarily incurred his displeasure. In line, he seems to have possessed all the sterling and un- disguised virtues that distinguish the soldier, and some of the qualities that constitute an able statesman. Men differ widely in opinion with respect to his administra- tion, yet few will deny him the merit of disinterested- Be^s and integrity in the discharge of his public duties j and although in the performance of the important and complicated functions of his post, he may have erred, we cannot but do his memory the justice to believe, that he was guided by sincerity; and that the objects of his administration, however fallaciops the means he pursued for their attainment, were the concord, the prosperity and the happiness of the people intrusted to his care. 1811] SUl. GEORGE PREVOST. 4p CHAPTER Iir. Anivnl of Sir George Prevost. Major General Brock assumes the go- vernment of Upper-Canada. The Governor makes the tour of the Up- per-District. Meeting of the Provincial Parliament. Proceedings of the Assembly. Prorogation. Henry's Mission. Militia Embodied Declaration of War by America; GovemorAssembles the Legislature. Army Bill Act. Riot at Lachine. Capture of Michillimackinac. In- vasion of Upper-Canada. Retreat of the Enemy. Battle of Magua- go. Capture of Detroit. Armistice. Its rejection by the Americau Government. AFTER an interregnum of nearly three montlis, Sir George Prevost arrived at Quebec, and assumed the Government of Lower-Canada, having succeeded Sir James H. Craig in the chief command of the Bri- tish North American Provinces. The known mildness of his character, and the popularity ef his administra- tion in Nova-Scotia, from which he had been just pro- moted, afforded a hope that the present administration of the government in Lower-Canada would prove more auspicious to the internal union of the people than the preceding. The trying juncture into which the policy of America hurried these provinces, impres- sed the peoJ3le with serious apprehensions, and all par- ties seemed to concur in a desire for unanimity, as the chief barrier of the public security. To succeed in abolishing the strife which had so Jfapidly gained ground durii:^ the late administration could scarcely have been deemed attainable ; but an indifference and disregard for party Janimosity, and 4Q ADMINISTRATION OF [1811 a fair, Inipartial distribution of the royal confidence, might in a moment of common danger, reconcile and unite parties in the common defence. Such seems to have been the policy studied by the present adminis- tration. A war with Great Britain had been long contemplated by the rulers in America, and a seasona- ble moment only was sought for, to grasp at these pro- vinces which they had fallaciously been induced to believe were ripe for revolt, and would therefore fall a willing conquest to America. The peninsular war had engrossed the attention and iSKsources of the mother country, and the Canadas were necessarily the less amply provided with means to encounter the struggle in which they were likely soon to be engaged. The coffers were exhausted, nor were hopes entertained of their being speedily replenished from home: the regu- lar forces were too thin to preserve an extensive fron- tier of some hundred miles against the pressure of aa enemy, which, if united, must become irresistable, and the Canadians though naturally brave and hardy, and attached to their constitution, might from recent oc- currences be fairly presumed to have been so far dis- gusted, as to leavQ a doubt of their hearty co-opera- tion and zeal in the cause. Such was the gloomy pros- pect of affairs at the outset of the present administra- tion, and the Governor must ha^ foreseen that his re- sources in the event of a rupture with America, lay more in the loyalty and patriotism of the Canadian population, than in the hope of early reinforcements from home. To develope the resources and combine the Jarring energies of the country, required the efforts flf sonrif thina* m/^r^ fUnn rx^A:^^,^.. ?_._ — . _ ,„^iv> iiiuzi viviiriaiV g'vUlUiijr ^oon after the Governor's arrival, General Brock 1812] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 4» was appointed President and Administrator of the Go- vernment in Upper-Canada, instead of Lieutenant- Governor Gore, had wlio retired from the Govern- ment of that Province, by permission. To obtain a local knowledge of the frontiers of the low er province which were likely soon to be the theatre of war, Sir George on the 26th September set out with his suit and visited the District of Montreal, and the forts of St. John's, Chambly, William Henry and the military positions in their neighbourhood. From the period of his arrival until the opening of Parliament, we meet with no extraordinary occurrence* The Parliament met on the 21st February, 1812. The, Governor in his speech informed the legislature^ that having been appointed by the Prince Regent to the Chief Command of the British American Provinces, he had hastened in obedience to his orders to assume the Administration of Lower-Canada, but that his Commission not having arrived, he continued to admi- nister the Government under a provincial authority to that effect. He congratulated them on the brilliant achievements which had attended the British arms in the deliverance of Portugal, and for the rescue of Spain from the tyranny of the Ruler of France. ' Notwith- * standing (said he) the astonishing changes that marli * the age in which we live, the inhabitants of this pd¥- ' tion of the Empire have witnessed, but as remote 'spectators the awful scenes which desolate Europe; ' and while Britain ' built by nature for herself against ' infection and the hand of war,' has had htr political ' existence involved in the fate of surrounding nations, ' you have hitherto, undisturbed in the habitations of * your fathers^ viewed without alarm, the distant storm 'which now se«ms bending its course towards this peace-^ «0 ADMfNISTRATION OP [1S12 • ful &i happy region.' He recommended an increased and unremitted care and vigilance in securing the col- ony from either open invasion or insidious aggression, and he hoped the Parhanient would testify its loyalty by an early attention to those acts, which experience had proved essential for the preservation of his Majes- ty's government, as also by its readiness in supplying goverumtnt with such aid as should be suitable to the exigence of the times, by enabling the loyal Canadian subjects to assist in repelling any sudden attack made by a tun»ultuary force, and effectually to participate in the defence of their country, against a regular invasion at any future period. The Assembly in answer, assur- ed the Governor that they would give their attention to those acts, which he regarded as esiential to His Majesty's government, notwithstanding the repugnance they might feel from an improper use of one ofthem^* and the bad effects which might have resulted there- from to his Majesty's government, had it not been for the unshaken fidehty of his Majesty's loyal Canadian subjects, and their conviction of the goodness of his go- vernment, and the transient inconveniencies which from the common fate of human things were inevitable; assuring him however, that the confidence they placed in his Excellency, considerably diminished their fears of the use, which might thereafter be made of this act. In reply to this, the Governor briefly expressed his re- gret, that they should have thought it expedient to re- vert to any proceedings which had taken place under any one of these acts, and earnestly recommended to them as the most effectual means of ensuring tranquil- lity to the Province, and of evincing their zeal for the * Meaning the " / f©r Uie better prcservatipn of His Majesty & GovernraeatJ' [1S12 I IS 12] SIR GEOROC rREVOST. €1 public good, to direct their attention solely to the pre- sent situation of aflairs. Although the meaning of the Governor's reply could not be misunderstood by the Assembly, they were too deeply concerned in the events of the last administration to leave thein at rest, and at an advanced period of the Session, they came to the resolution, * that it was a justice due to the good cha- ' racter of his Majesty's Canadian subjects, that some ' measure should be adopted by the House, to acquaint 'his Majesty of the events that took place in the Pro- 'vince'under the administration of Sir James Henry 'Craig, its late Governor, and the causes which gave ' rise to the same, in order that his Majesty, in his patci'- I nal goodness, might take such steps as would prevent * a recurrence of a similar administration, which tend- ' ed to misrepresent the good and faithful people of the * Province, and to deprive them of the confidence and * affection of his Majesty, and from feeling the good ef- 'fects of his government in the ample manner that the * law provided.' This resolution was not carried into effect owing to the intervention of more urgent con- cerns, in the mean time a bill, * for the better preser- vation of his Majesty's government' was drawn up, and sent down from the Legislative Council to the Lower House. Here several amendments were proposed, the principal etf wfakb was, to transfer the power formerly vested in the Executive Council, of imprisoning persons suspected of treasonable practices, to the Governor, or person administering the government, alone. The Xiegislative Council disapproving of the amendments, a conference ensued; but both branches persevering in their opinions, the bill miscarried to the satisfaction of lae i^ower House, who were glad of a pretext to allow this odious law to expire. The consideration of appoint- as, ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 ing an agent in England was resumed by the House in the present session, and the expedience of providing.a fund for the payment of the Members of the House of Assembly was also discussed, and a Bill was introduced to that effect, which however failed. The Militia Bill passed after much debate in tlie Lower House. The Governor was authorised by it to embody two thou- sand Bachelors between the age of eighteen and twen- ty-five years for three months in the year ; and in case of invasion or imminent danger thereof, to retain them for one year, relieving one balfofthe number eiflbodi- ed, by fresh drafts at the expiration of that period. In the event of war, invasion, insurrection, or imminent danger tliereof, he was empowered to embody the whole militia of the province, should it become ne- cessary. No substitutes were allowed, nor were com- missioned officers permitted to take any militiamen as servants, under a penalty of ten pounds for every offence of that nature. These provisions from their harshness and inconsistency were however winked at in actual service. It was made penal to inlist any mili- tiamen into the regular forces, and such enlistments were declared null. Twelve thousand pounds were granted by the Legislature, one moiety thereof for drilling and training the local militia, the other moiety for other purposes of the militia act. Twenty thousand pounds were granted, to be employed for such servi- ces as the safety of the province, and the exigence of the times might require, and the further Sum of thirty thousand pounds currency, to be at the Governor's disposal in case of war between Great Britainj and ^America^ These libera! su^Dlies enabled the Govern- ment to meet the approaching contest with confidence in the patriotism and support of the provincial Legis- 1812J SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 5S lature, and of the whole mass of the Canadian popula- tion. On the nineteenth of May the Governor proro- gued the House of Assembly. In his Speech he thanked the House for the labour they had bestowed upon the improvement of the mili- tia system, and for the increased means they had thereby afforded him for the defence of the Province: He also expressed hi.; best thanks for the proofs he had received of their confidence in his Administration, by the very liberal provision they had made for the exigencies of the public service. About this time a ferment existed in America, excit- ed by the discovery of the Henry Plot^ which the Gov- ernment of that Country exaggerated into an attempt on the part of this Government to bring about a revo- lution among the eastern states, and to dissolve the union. John Henry, a needy adventurer, though a mian of some talents and address, is said to have been by birth an Irishman, and to have emigrated i^ hen a } outh to America, where, through the interest of friends he was appointed a Captain in the militia, and from thence bore the name of Captain Henry. Not suc- ceeding in America to the extent of his wishes, he mi- grated to Montreal, where he found means to ingrati- ate himself with some of the principal personages of this Province, and commenced his studies at law, witli a view of qualifying himself for a seat in the judiciary of Upper Canada, to which, he was already ambitious enough to aspire. He easily worked himself by in- trigue into the Governors notice, who, froiii the pro- ceedings of the Federal Faction in the eastern states, liad room to suspect the existence of a desire on their 6 54 ADMiNISTRATION OF 181^3 part, to ibrm a political connection with Great Britain. In order therefore to ascertain the state of parties and their views, Henry, being acquainted with the country, and considered a man accomplished for political in- trigue, was selected, who, with a view of turning it to his advantage, readily accepted of the mission, and proceeded to Boston, where he sauntered away his time in the public houses and brothels of that city, writing from time to time to Canada * His studied and ostentatious epistles, must rather have amused than instructed the Governor, who indeed, derived less information from them, than from the public journals of the times. Henry, however estimated his services much beyond any thing his employer was disposed to admit of, and therefore resorted for a compensation to the Government at home. In a Memorial to Lord Liverpool, stating his services, he suggested that the appointment of Judge Advocate General of Lower Canada, with the salary of five hundred pounds per annum, or a Consulate in the United States sine cura, would be considered by him as a liberal discharge of any obligation that Government entertained in rela- tion, to his services. The prudent Minister held the royal favors in too high estimation to prostitute them upon a mercenary and intriguing vagrant, and coolly referred him to the colonial Government, then in chargci of Sir George Prevost. The proud spirit, or perhaps the indigence of the adventurer, could nat brook the delay and indifference of the Minister, who, he clearly, saw, by referring him to the colonial gov- ernment, only wished to evade a direct refusal to his ap- plication. Chargrined with disappointment, he made Jb^s way to America, where (as it u confidentially said) * This happened in the coarse of the winter of 1809. 181^3 at Britain, •arties and e country, tlitical in- rning it to 3sion, and ! away his that city, [is studied re amused srived less c journals is services isposed to nsation to I to Lord that the of Lower Dunds per sine cura, icharge of I in reJa- • held the prostitute rant, and lent, then >ud spirit, could not 5ter, who, mial gov- tohisap- he made iaUysaid) 1612] Sm GEORGE PREVOST. I»d upon receiving a stipulated sum, he, in resentment to the British, delivered up his correspondence to the American Government. The Henry Plot (it was so de- nominated) was clamoured through America, as a crime of the deepest dye on the part of Great Britain, tending to disorganise the Government, to dismember the union, and to destroy the independence of the States. The fictious and exaggerated importance which the American Government affected to attach to this trivial matter, had however, some influence in confirming the spirit of hostility towards Great Bri- tain which, at that time pervaded America, and short- ly after broke out in open war. This self-sufficient miscreant having as he fancied, taken ample vengeance upon the government of his native country, could not with any degree of decency remain in the States, from whence he sailed for France in an American sloop of war, carrying with him the reward of his treason, and the universal contempt of mankind. The Governor by a General Order of the 28th May organized four battalions of embodied militia, in vir- tue of the late Act. The first Battalion rendezvous'd at Point aux Trembles near Quebec, under the Com- mand of Colonel De Salaberry, the second, at Lapra- irie near Montreal, commanded by Colonel De j?-ou- ville, the third, at Berthier in the District of Montreal, Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Cuthbert, and the fourth, at St. Thomas near Quebec, commanded by Lieutenant Colonal Taschereau. The alacrity with which thev were filled, and the cheerfulness with which the young men submitted to the restraints of discipline, reflected credit upon the military character of the Can- adians. This proof of the zeal and the loyalty of the 56 ADMINISTRATION OP [1812 people must have inspired Government with hopes of a successful resistance against the approaching war, and a reciprocal confidence between the Governor and the people seems to have resulted as much from the the danger of the moment, as from any studied policy on the part of the present administration. They who had incurred the displeasure of the late Governor were treated with confidence, and gradually appoint- ed to situations of trust. A Regiment of Canadian Vol- tjgeurs was recruited, and placed under the command of Major De Salaberry of the 60th regiment of foot, which in the course of the war became eminent for discipline, and its steadiness in action, as well as for the fatiguing duties on which it was unremittingly em- ployed. Declaration ^" ♦^^^ * ^th June, the American Govern - of War by A- ment declared War against Great Britain, and on the 24th, the event was known at Quebec, where it caused an immediate stagnation in business. The Province was however now in some measure prepared for defence : yet so bold a measure on the part of America necessarily created a belief that the cabinet of Washington must have relied upon some unknown resources, which when developed for action, would secure the conquest ofthese colonies. A notifica- tion was immediately made by the police, that all Ame- rican citizens must leave Quebec by the first of July, and be out of that district on the third of the same month. On the last day of June, the period was ex- tended by the Governor's proclamation : fourteen days were allowed to such Americans as were in the pro- vince, they being principally persons who had entered the same in good fiiith, and iii the prosecution of com- ■% [1812 ith hopes of icbing war, vernor and h from the died policy They who ; Governor , y appoint- ladian Vol- commaud nt of foot, minent for well as for ttingly em- in Govern - It Britain, known at gnation in * in some a measure belief that ipon some or action, \ notifica- LtallAme- t of July, the same d was ex- teen days the pro- d entered n of com- 1812] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 57 mercial pursuits. On the same day, proclamations is- sued imposing an embargo upon the shipping in the port, and convoking the House of Assembly on the 16th of July. ' • At the opening of the Session, the Governor, after briefly informing the Parliament of the recent declar- ation of war by America, said, he relied upon the spirit of his Majesty's subjects in the province, their attach- ment and zeal for the religion of their forefathers, their loyalty to their Sovereign, and their ardent love for the true interests of their country ; and that he should depend implicitly under divine providence, upon their best exertions, aided by the courage and loyalty of the militia, and by the valour, skill, and discipline of His Majesty's regular forces, for repelling every hostile at- tempt that might be made upon the colony. He ob- served with concern that the necessary establishment of the Militia Forces, together with the various servi- ces and operations of the approaching campaign, would be attended with considerable expence, but that he relied upon their wisdom and public spirit, for such supplies as the exigencies of affairs might be found to require : he at the same time expressed his approba- tion of the embodied militia, and his confidence in their increasing discipline, which encouraged an expectation that they would materially contribute to the defence of their country. The public coffers being entirely drained, the Gb^- vernor, to obviate the deficiency, resolved to issue Ai^- .7 |---j i^r.'^i'vy i.zmx,!. sii t SAOir, V7i Hi ■WIVf VClUiilCill iJii'.S of Exchange on London, but the concurrence of the Legislature in this measure was iudispeassible, as W^lJ 58 ADMINISTRATION OF [1812 to insure their currency, as to provide funds for the payment oC the interest that might become due upon them. Two private and confidential Messages were sent to the House of Assembly by the Governor ; one, submitting to its consideration the necessity of immedi- ately strengthening the hands of government, by arm- ing him with autliority to suppress any attempt to pro- duce disorder or insubordination, and for immediate punishment of any oflences which might interrupt or endanger the public tranquillity, which he trusted the Legislature would have the less hesitation in doing, from its conviction that he could at all times, by virtue of his commission, avail himself of the power of declar- ing martial law to its fullest extent ; and from the per- suasion which he trusted was entertained by the House, that in seeking from them a partial exercise of it, he could have no other object in v^iew than the preserva- tion of the tranquillity and welfare of the province, with the least possible injury to the public convenience. The other represented the want of specie to satisfy the demands of the increasing militia and military establishments, and the impossibility of procuring mo ney to the extent required for government bills of exchange. He at the same time laid before the House, an opinion and advice of the Executive Council, as to the most effectual mode of resource from which a de- ficiency in the circulating medium might be supplied, recommending the issue of Army Bills under certain conditions to the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds currency. He therefore called upon the House of Assembly for such aid as might be deem- ed expedient for the accomplishment of an object, rea- dered more peculiarly important by the present extra- ordinary crisiiS of public affairs, and strongly recoija- 1812] Sill G£OHG£ PJEl£VU&T. 50 mended to them the adoption of such measuies as should mspire confidence in the persons taking these bills, and guard both the public and individuals against the possibility of any loss to arise from them. < ; The House of Assembly appears from its silence on the subject of the former message, to have cautiously declined any measure tending to sanction a recurrence to martial law, or at least, to have left the responsi- bility with the Governor, of exercising in the event of need, those powers with which he thought himself vest- ed in virtue of his commission : the same House how- ever in the following session resolved that martial law could not be legally resorted to, unless with the au^- thority of the Provincial Parliament. A Bill to facilitate the circulation of Army Bills was introduced, and the liberality of the House of Assembly surpassed the hopes of the Executive. Fifteen thoi>- sand pounds were granted to pay the interest that might become due upon Army Bills, of which two hui*- dred and fifty thousand pounds were authorized to be put in circulation, (large Bills of twenty-five dollars, and upwards, bearing interest at the rate of four pence per day for every one hundred pounds.) They were made current in the Revenue, were to have the effect of a legal tender, and were redeemable at the Army Bill Office, either in cash, or Government Bills of Ex- change on London, at the option of the commander of the forces. Small bills of four dollars were at all times payable in cash at the Army Bill Office. All contracts in which any distinction should be made between Ar- my Bills and cash, were to be void ; and at the expirar tion of five years, all those who might thea be holderi; 00 ADMINISTRATION OF [1812 of such Army Bills, were entitled to receive tiie amount of the same with interest due upon them, out of the Provincial Treasury. To defray the expence of the Army Bill Oliice in issuing,, circulating and conceal- ing the Army Bills, tlie Legislature also granted the further sum of two thousand five hundred pounds per annum. On the first day of August 1812, this Bill re- ceived tiie Royal Sanction, and the Governor proro- gued the Parliament, with acknowledgements for the liberal aid they had granted him, to meet the exigencies of the public service. This seasonable provision of the Legislature, at once enabled government to meet the demands of the public service, and revived the pub- lic spirit. A want of means at so uigent a crisis must have paralysed the energies of government, and this circumstance alone, might have created a doubt in the minds of the Canadians, of the indifference of the mo- ther country towards the colony, that would have in- duced a despondency fatal to these provinces. In the mean time the cities of Quebec and Montreal assumed a military aspect. The sedentary militia re- gularly attended drill and exercise ; and all classes manifested an ardent zeal for the public service, verg- ing upon enthusiasm. On the 5th of July, (the re- gular troops having previously left Quebec for the dis- trict of Montreal) the sedentary militia of Quebec commenced garrison duty, and the Montreal militia soon followed the example. On the 6th, the whole mili- tia of the province, were, by a general order, com- manded to hold themselves in readiness to be embodi- ed, and mai'ch to such points as might be requisite for the defence of the province; and the flank companies t>f the Montreal militia, were formed into a battalion 'md armed. [1812 I 181^] SIR GEIORGE PIIEVOST. 61 Riots at La- A riot which occurred in the neighbour- hood of Montreal at this time, the pro- gress whereof, was however promptly checked by the interposition of the military, deserves to be mentioned. Some young men who had been drafted into the em- bodied militia from the parish of Point Claire, refused to join the battalion into which they were drafted : four of the delinquents were apprehended after some opposition by their adherents, who having rescued one, threatened to assemble and proceed to Laprairie, and bring away such of their friends as had already joined the embodied militia at that depot. On the ensuing day, a mob assembled at Lachine, to the number of between three and four hundred (some estimate them at a greater number,) of whom, nearly eighty were armed with fusils and fowling pieces : being deaf to remonstrance, it was judged expedient to call out the military, and accordingly the light company of the 49th regiment, and a detachment of artillery with two field pieces, under the command of Major Plenderleath, proceeded from Montreal, accompanied with a magis- trate ; who upon arriving at Lachine, remonstrated with the rioters upon tlieir misconduct. They, in an- swer, gave him to understand, that they were informed the militia bill had not been sanctioned by the Gover- nor and Legislative Council, and that necessarily, the militia law was not in force. They, however, witli re- peated shouts of Vive le Roi, declared they were rea- dy, one and all, to serve the King against the common euemv, should the Governor call for their services. — The ferment w as already too high, to hope for any ad- vantage from argument. The Riot Act being there- fore read, the magistrate ordered them to disperse, and upon their refusing to comply, a round shot was. 62 ADMINISTRATION OP [1812 fired by the artillery, too hi^h to do injury, in order to intimidate tliem. This was instantly returned by the mob in a spirited manner, with small arms : a volley was tlien fired by the troops witii grape and small arms, but still purposely too elevated to do any harm ; this was also returned by the mob. From this determin- ed resistance, decision became absolutely necessary, and the troops were ordered to direct their fire against the rioters who almost immediately dispersed, keeping up a straggling fire from the bushes, and concealed by the darkness, which began to set in. One man was found dead, and another dangerously wounded. A few prisoners were taken and sent to Montreal. On tjie following day a detachment of the Montreal militia, consisting of four hundred and fifty men, marched for Point Claire, and from thence to St. Lawrent, in the rear of the Island of Montreal, and brought into town, twenty-four of the delinquents, who, with thirteen al- ready in custody, made thirty-seven in all. Many others came into Montreal to crave the Governor's par- don, which, after reproving their misconduct and point- ing out the danger wherein they had placed themselves, he granted, upon condition of their giving up the de- serters of the embodied militia, and declaring the ring- leaders of the riot. Twelve or fourteen of these delu- ded men were afterwards brought to trial and convict- ed of rioting, and were condemned to fines and impri- sonment. Hostilities had in the mean time commenced in Up- per Canada, and the most brilliant success dawned upon the British arms in that quarter. Captain Rob- erts who was statioued at the small post or block hf >use «f St. Joseph's, situated on an Island in Lake Huron, 1812] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 63 to the north west of Mackinac, and at about forty-five miles distant, on the eighth of July received from Gen. Brock, commanding in Upper Canada, a notification dated on the 26th June, of the declaration of war, with orders to make an immediate attack upon Mackinac ^f practicable; or, in the event of an attack by the Ame- ricans upon St Joseph's, to defend it to the utmost, or retreat upon St. Mary's, a post belonging to the North- West Company at no great distance, and to make the best possible defence. He at the same time received from that officer, another letter dated the 27th June, suspending the orders given in the former letter, from • his uncertainty of the declaration of war. On the 1 1 th of July, he again received despatches from Sir George Prevo..t, dated at Quebec on the 25th June, and from General Brock dated at Fort George in Upper Cana- da, on the 28th June ; the former of these notifying the war, and directing him to take every precaution to se- cure his post against any attempt by the enemy, and to render every assistance in his power consistent with the service, to secure the interests of the North West Company, and in case of necessity to effect his re- treat. By the latter. General Brock, being sufficiently informed of the declaration of war by America against Great Britain, desired Captain Roberts to adopt the most prompt and effectual measures to possess himself of Mackinac, and directed him, in order to effect his purpose, to call to his assistance the Indians within his influence, as well as the gentlemen and dependants of the North West and South West Companies, who might be at, or near his post. The contrariety of instruction^ from the two General Officers, with the great hazard in . attempting to seize upon a post of the strength and im- portance, of Mackinac to the United States, which there 64 ADMINISTRATION ,T307:jai SUDHO Ws^i rim^ was reason to presumGi had preoarQ^ th^t post lurainst ^'as also,, at too great a distwre .itt«ft*+n*'A^.>^*^fl ♦A V«W!.uo:„ -tMi iiis ------- • • rWWiitatea'MiS' itrt^fitiOns( to Mr. PothicT, a gerftleman Mux^mm'WM v^^p:iq^ tH^mxtfit, j^c^^m wrf*<'6^YifihnW ihhisre^rtliifion,'1)y Itie amirobution and ^m-^m^r^eiicycouW]^ of much service.: wJjwi an l!^i^^fe^at¥ived«KV4pspa^f ^^ pel^Sl ol'tfie^fourth of the satn^ 'fefojiiii; leaving' iteiitiSS^ ^t C9ipt.<^beKt? 4*eit ttialot^e»«h0le3Pobplftii9b«liy,^^e '3 >erts in resolving upon an attack against Mackinac, had imposed an embargo upon all boats and canoes at St. Joseph's, by which means all communi- cation was cut off, nor had the American officer any certain intelligence of the declaration of war previous to the arrival of the British before Mackinac* A quantity of military stores of every description suit- able for the Indian trade was found in the fort. Two Vessels, loaded with furs, not aware of the capture were decoyed into Mackinac, but the property was re-' stored to the proprietors, by order of a board of claims afterwards held at Montreal, at which Miijor Genera! De Rottenburgh presided. This achievement, effected by the promptitude and judicious arrangements of capt. R. not only inspired the people with confidence, and gave a turn to the present campaign fatal to the views of America, by enabling us to maintain our in- fluence among the Indian nations of the West, which otherwise must have been lost, which essentiallv r«n- * The garrisoii at Mackinac (correctly called Michilimackinac) con- asted of a Captain's Command of about 76 man. 6 m ,iAJ9H?»I.STRATiPff 0*' tlSi^ ti?ibutetn>r- government, and having, a« he Ihonght, a iMcient force* tb Isfetiure an easy iuid victorious pro- gress In thte Upper Province, i^oSsed 'without opposi- tibri from Detroit to Sandwith on the British side. With an^'sfrmyof ab6ut fifteetaf htjiid^^tnert. Here he esta- liflishedi his Hyatt- tf uaf f^sttrtri'g;tJj«i in ^^bif^^ of Lieut. Col. St. George if^ibnamm 'y grl ^i tg ^dt eneral Hull remamed for some fime inactive^ u^^^^ pretext of mailing preparation to 'pro^ui^^tiiec^ paign with vigour; but it Was tlieialla^oiishope of an early ii^surrection in his faybiir tfet fulled* hian into ^^upjness J^af to the;siafetv oi" fes armry^:^ ■:^^ ^^& % ^i^V ^igM^i^'nil^s^ beiow^liitf^^nd the miid an^!j?icKete(J foTtii&c^i^ Was noV m a condition to make resistance against a regular stege. 1 he American^ Gonfi^dent pfan eas;^ conquest, had n6t, as yet a single cannon' or moriaiMT^bunttiTl/Bn^ deavour to ^aji^ if at the . point, pf the bayonet, he thouglit inexpedient.. During this dej^ay his sHimifon became more and more pt-ecaripus : three detachments fromi^is army were^.on three successive, d^ys, h^^i^ix back by a, haiidfuJ of the 41st regiment and: a few la- dians, from the bridge over the river Canard, thre^^^'SM^i^m^\m^^t^m0^ ;!.f mifj* ^p^^AppRWdf* c; t«Tsril ^Upj, i) •'•: .r...i« nff I I I'-i ADsriiJlgf liAtlON OF [i8l2 tw ^ r J?'?^^^' |^«?f^"s mcr Uy cohcealed in the grass. The ^^iw^fttjP^^"^'^!*'"^^^ sudden and hideou^yell, >iM ^?P J*;^"^^^^^9^'^^^^a^^^^^ their arms, accoutre- -^^^^ 5?V£^¥^^%^^^^^^^ sloop of war u B'^^P/j^lfif fT^pJ^^^ eighteen twenty-four poun- iii!PA,r^7feMf -Petroilt River; opposite the mouth of JH "r?,fi 9^?^nara, §6 that it was impossible for the ^iI^,W''^ans: W.convey by water to Amherstburgh any ^uM^^^P^'^f;^'^^^^ «^"<^l» labour they had at last c9!fe)-?*M *^P:*vventy-four pounders. Lieutenant Rol- ^^"^^i^?^'^?^"— ^ ^^^ ^^"^^^ Brig Hunter, had on the iMi^Si-^l—^^^^^ *^"^'^^^*^^^ ^" *^^ forenoon, by a jrmj l.i^P^^P^^ only six men, succeed- .ifflo'ii^ifi*"""^ ^he %«%«* Packet bound from clf?u? P^f?:)^ ^^^^"^ ^'»th troops, an(J loaded with Da ' -"• ■ '^- - - 'll^.^t?,?^^^^?^ *^^ Hospital Stores of the American ar^ y-^^l^ '?^^ 6f which Was now severely felt. Michili- »ac ih^is rear, had b^enlakeri since the com- ' mdciii' ■ i-myo i>li5o^"55"'^'?* of the- invasion, while Che Indians frOfti that i S"*^'^'^^^^^^ Our ^,: * The merit of this gallant action which greatly contributed-to mar the f)lan's of General Hull, by the total loss of all his hospital stores, has fee«H inore thatv >d»*e linde^rvedly attribated to a person who never %:iSAW tl)Q,(?f»y<4pg^ uqt41 LicHt^nant RoUette had brought her safe info i > f i!i"'"!^P"J' f P f^^ ,s"rppze and admiration of every one present. It is no more than justice, to wriicli Lieut.' kollette is strictly entitled, to assert " tbrfthis servfces^opon Lake Erie, while he commanded the Huntet, and ;:te»Ul he was compell^ ai a Proviscial Officer to fall in the rear of :f!»e ^utenants of thQ RQ.y4L Navv, were uniformly successful, and h^yono^been excelled by anything performed on the Lakes' by the officers of the navy, whd'superseded the provincial officers. The for- m*^ w^ere perhaps superior in Mot-ics, -and cherished a hearty though imjstakeacptttemptifp;- the.Aiperipans, In which they have been since Wpfulljf undecpiv^d. Tla^.provincial officers were surely not less brave, ; S?"l^ ?°^® P"*!^^.^"* tHkn 'the former, and' as things haVe turned out, '' cicii- ileets oii Lalcis Eric and' Ohamplain might as well have been en- 4ttut«d diversion in his fWoK! ;'^atg!^^*the hopeless state of things when the Amerii>^ ^^nej-al began to be sensible of his danger. ^ His army hem- mec) in on every 6ide„ ^iit: off from its^ tefeburces, and hourly wasting away with defoat, death; s&^&ss and fatigue, unsupported by aniii«iirreelioiiof4he.r^uatry people in his favor, and unaided by? Atiyeo-dp^Vatin^ army, and above all dismayed at, the Vqjor^^f^Otn Brock's resolotioii to.adv»nce;ag^nst hiifl; his^dj^ipes of conqui(?st vanishe«d, awdi m/tb« BJnhmg.statcf of :his -- •- L_-* affairs. IV^''in4i^''H'0^'W|liU'.-i^r-*/iwi'jj4iji-y.!:ijiriKI»TRA7I>09} ■ Of opemog bis commuhication with the River Raisin and Miamii through which he received the whole of bi» sup- plies^ to resume offensive operations against Upper- Canada* Accordingly on the evenincj of the seventh^ aiid<9n>the raorningof the eighth of August, the whole of Jwsi army except a garrison of two hundred and fifty men, and a few artillery left in charge of a small for- txess they hc«l thrown up on the Britisi^ side, a little below Detroit, re-crossed the river. General Hull now detached a body of six hundred men under Lieutenant Qol. Miller to dislodge the British from Brownstownv and opeti the coinmunication with the rivers Raisin and Miami, upon which the existence of the army depended^ BbttieofMa-^"^he ninth, this detachment was met by g«fgo> the British and Indians under Major Muir, at Maguago, between Brownstown and Detroit, who, after a desperate battle, in which the Americans lost seventy-five men, were obliged to retreat with inconsi- derable loss compared with that of the Americans. On the i>eventh Lieutenant Rolefete with the boats of the Que en, Charlotte and Hunter, ufider cover of the guns of thtviatter, attaipked and captured a c0nv0y of eleven battejBUx and bpftts, having on board fifty-six of theiif wounded, and two English prisoners, on their way froiii MagOiigo to Detroit, escofted by tSyq. teidrediaudt fifty;Ai?>erican troops <. ,. ; ,^^,, f Amidsjt these reverses offortujie,5the American Geri- eral was startled at a summons to surrender ■ the Fort of Detroit, by Qeneral JS^ock, wJbo, afteis baviog clos*» €dith« pMblic business prorogued the Parliament, and collecting a few regulars and militi^ with ihcredible ci'voRtiAn.. liarl. fei'%r'\\t\A A.i^U^««a1 1. ■ m\ •/-..» a '-- T-7-rnj . r"*" »;^"r;^«v>t «m"«it^i^iwiMi"gt| on liie iiiift OI AwB"s*» j?o resolute a dfjnand, istruck tbe Anwrwoo [1812. I leiSjl s IB. «»Mcifc,iriiBn)«a'ii n Coffltnaodieriwitihidistoaijr^vwiio^iat.the.inwstc^^ contemplated^^ ^«*6u8t» /uato-jhii «!wilr/pffl$kfcye ir^iaip upon receipt of whitJi,.itiitei,B»itish^ sjfho idow «ICGupied ; the gboundiatdryf m possession, ;9i*tll^)ea©nvjmiiBfiiDJidx> of Detroit, wliere tkey^ne^ «p'^tbAttej^,uW«r,tl«Bi directions of CJapt^, Dixon WtheIl6yiiErygibe«fry^t commenced at about four in 'the aliteraooli oft'tlie/ifltMl teentli, a brisk eannonade upoii'.Detrcri!t/) inch mortars, one eighteen, and twoUw^Jvte p^UiydebP under the management of Captain iJaHp ©ft fhefPto**. vii»eial Navy, with a party of sailors, WWcJh>\jW«wil/ tmidedfor upwards of a«ihmir,uitb great .^ffe.vf^^^^^^ ly on the moraing of the sixteentlW thei cdilnonade^ >l?ei coiinmeiieed, while General Brock with i 9kmA!^^% huodVed regulars fend militb, atitl'" ^i^thMndre^iMW; diansi crossed th4? riVei> without^ «ppo&itio^-,^t. »he^^ Spinng* sWellsf three miUsi ibeiwv Dettioit^ ^wK^erifeM^eif of the Queea ehaiJlot4e'.^Awd>aunt«iQi 'iMistigfflttif bw* > resolute ifoi^cev' after iWrningi /a pbni^hfe U^h^i ^ vaticp ed m colwmti, flanfceid'6(frlh6 lefc by yi^irnd$dlt4'*#ltli(v the river of I^eta-oit <«» tbei|s rigliit^ Itmii iotdti^^«i^ir*,tVhd a messenger advancing with propc^sals 'from tlie=Atnfei^ lean General to capitulate; liieik. Colonel M^Pdnell of the Militiif*, and M«Joi^Hvoit.,,,,, ,,^ gg^.Qj.j the provisions in charge of Cap- tain Brush from thence to Detroit, became prisoners of war; and Detroit, with the Michigan territory, were surrendered to the British arms, without the effusion of a sirtj^le drop of British blood. The American statements of their own strength, nearly coincide with the British reports, which make it two thousand live hundred men regulars and militia. The militia were paroled and permitted to return home, on condition of not serving during the present war. The regulars were sent down to Quebec. The British force, includ- ing Indians, is acknowledged by the enemy to have consisted of only one thousand and thirty men or thereabout; Our own, and perhaps the more correct reportsj state it to have consisted of three hundi-ed and thirty regular ti^oops, four hundred militia, and six huhdi-ed Iwdiahs, \vlmv upon the present occasion, are said not to Jiave sullied the glory of the day by any wanton acts of savage barbarity incident to the Indian mode df warfare. Twenty-five pieces of iron and eight pi^Ci6s''6fbra)5S ordnance, (the latter chiefly of those tdkeii fi^m us in the revolution) with an immense quantity of stores of every description, and one arm- ed brig, called the John Adams (afterwards named Detroit) fell into the hands of the British. Thus ended this rash and imbecile attempt at the coiiqa^st of Upper Canada. The loss pf Mackinac ix^A j^-tiGti, vTit;; the liowtT oi incir 311 5 y at the out- let bfth« war, wa^,a disgrace (hat filled .he American iiif ■Vlin lu'M MfiOSl^f? .':" 1812] sin GEORGE PREVOST. 73 government with consternation and alarm, as their plans of aggrandisement were not only totally defeated, but their whole western frontier laid open to the inroads of hostile Indians, and at the mercy of a people still warm with indignation at the late invasion. . i ,«. General Brock having issued a proclamation, ad- dressed to the inhabitants of the Michigan Territory " confirming them in the full enjoyment of their property! laws and religion, left Colonel Proctor in Command of Detroit, and returned to York, where he arrived on the 27th of August, amidst the heartfelt acclamations of a grateful people, rescued by his promptitude from the Ignominy of submitting to a conqueror. In the short space of nineteen days, he had with the assistance of his Parliament, settled the public business of the Pro- vince, under the most trying circumstances that a com- mander could encounter, and having united and pre- pared his little army, had effected a long and fatiguing march of some hundred miles ; and with means incredi- bly limited, had repelled an invading enemy of double his force, pursued him into his own territory,and finally compelled him to surrender his whok army; thus ex- tending the British dominion without bloodshed, over an extent of territory almost equal to Upper Canada. The humbled, the fallen General Hull, with the officers and men of his army, were introduced into Montreal, on the evening of the 6th September, in a triumphal though mock procession, amidst the shouts of a scorn- ful multitude, indignant at the savage threat of exter- mination he had breathed in his proclamation at the outset of his invasion. Thp CntnmnnA^t^ /^r*i.« ^^..^^^ however, received him with^ every mark of attention due to his rank, and unsolicited, allowed him to return n ADMINISTRATION OP [1812 to the States upon hk parole ; but his officers with few exceptions, were sent to t^uebeci ' Owr little navy on lake Erie, and on lake Ontario, though the enemy were making the most active exer- fioris; still maintained a decided ascendency, and upon it depended the suft?ty of Upper Canada, and the fu- . ture fate of the British Provinces. General Brock in- tended to have followed Up his first success by an at- tempt on Niagara, ^ fort nearly opposite to Fort George ; which in all probability, as weU as Oswego and Sackett's Harbor, the nursery of the enemy's fleet and forces, would have yielded to the terror of his name and the tide of success that attended his arms ; but controuled by his instructions, he was prevented from adopting measures, which probably, might have for ever blasted the liopes of America in the Upper Province. The Commainder of the British forces, conscious of the inferiority of his strength, and uncertain of rein- forcements from hpme, seemed to have adopted a de- fensive system, rather than incur the risk of wasting bisi army in haxardous enterpris! s, which in case of faJtare might lea v!f|i.ii'>iriO' ''■sf{,W 'th'^'^ Pnc*ri iml'f^ i« ifiiii ^3^^^ Various occurrences. Battle of Queenstown. Death of Gen. Br»ck ' His Character. General Sheaffe assumesthe Command in Upper-Ca- 2" nadft. Attack at St. Regis. Advance of the American array under .'/Gdneral Dearborn. Incursion of the enemy at i>i Cole. General Sm3rth's attempt to invade Upper-Canada. Meeting of the Provin- cial Parliament. Proceedings of the Assembly. Prorogation. ••>0r.':'Sl03 ■J'-'^ " 7 u»i' *HE American government, chagrined with disap- pointment and the disgrace of the late campaign, ■which, even in their own estimation, had obliterated the glories of the revolutionary war, resolved to strain every sinew (o retrieve the faded lustre of their arms. The capture of the Guerrier by the United States fri- gate Constitution, a ship far superior to the former^ in tonnage) wejg^it of metal, and the number qfher men, aflorded some solace to their wouoded nrida. The American forces on the confines of Lower Canada, un> [1312 oit before I the United by a general 8 foil M J guiU ucount of his 10 President SI* OEOiwsg i»ttfr^s^. ii ldi.ii'>iriO' Gen. Brock in Upper-Ca- artuy under )le. General the Provin- igation. /ith disap- campalgn, obliterated d to strain heir arms. States fri' former, in f her men, ide. The loada, u»> 1812] Otr thie iramediaite command of General DetiVbortlW^^g increasing rapidly, and threatened Montreal Avith irtP vasJon by St. John's and the Odletown road. Their force aV Niagara, and om the Niagara frontier undw Brigadier General Van Reacslaer, was ab-eady for- mWable, and iaflbrded ^ood ^airtids of appreheteb to Oeheral Brock of a speedy irruption froui that quar- ter; while General Harrison was actively employed in collecting an army at the River Raisin near Detroit, from the Ohio, and ne State of Kentucky. The na- val establishment at Sacket*s Harbour in the mean time increased with prodigious celerity, and the ascenden- cy of their fleet on lake Ontario was, by the indefatiga- ble exertions of Commodore Chauncey, now almost in- contestibly established. iliO It was, as yet uncertain at what point their main fbrc^wot|ld be directed ; or whether ihelr object was hS <^^P^mAmynmmo overwhelw both provinces at.tfUe same instaijt»5,TlK?slieweyIegiwis they bad as- sembled, ^te howevfer^ father aisdaift^d thaii Srea^ed by the British forces, who were supported by a Wave and loyal militia, animated to enthusiasm in the cause in which they were engaged, while the Americans,averse '^y -Education, and their independent habits of life, to the.*Wholesom^ cdostraints of J^ and t|ie sub- ordinatwji of ^ ^amp, <^M Jjar^fe^l^e (^ tHe semblance of ar army, which rtpthing, b^t ih? aj- rev( " A<^©di»^d!i \<^as Ibrmed aloii^^e MiiUW^itoWtr CMnam\ froi«r Yamask^tb St. ReM: wM^^lim^'^ s^paratlbh b^rw^en theVtnt^ Sm^ M%(i^v^liM, rm^\6mih$^^e St; l^^Wffeneei'cdnsiitl^o? tiffi^. 7 u ADM11I16TAAT10N OF [1812 m nadian Voltigeurs, and part of the embodied militia. Aligliit brigade of the elite of tiie forces, regular and militia*,, was. formed at Blairfinde, under the command of Lieut. CoL young, of the 8th regt. consisting of the flank companies of the 8th, 100th, 103d Regiments, with the Canadian Fencibles, the flank companies of the 1st battalion of embodied militia, and a small bri- gade of the Royal Artillery, with six field pieces. The road to the United States, from the camp of Blairfinde (or I'Acadie) through Burtonville and Odle- town, was cut up, and rendered impracticable by ab- batis, and every precaution was taken to prevent a sudden irruption oi^the enemy from that quarter. The Voltigeurs, with cxtroardinary perseverance, effected this fatiguing duty in the course of a very short time, under the superintendance of their commanding officer Major De Salaberry. .: . . The slender reinforcements thajt arfW^^ tJ^^s summer, were barely swffici^o;^t9 r^liyes(p ^e ,^ti?i^^ ^'^^VJ^.W for a short time from garriso^^x fjuty;., They consisted of the 103d Regiment from ^gland, and a battalion of the 1st (or Royal Scots) from thp West-Indies, with a few recruits for other regiments ; an|d it was evident that the mother country, unable at the present 9ipwif^,»t to supply the necessary aid for the defence (^fjhese provinces, committed their destiny to the ioys^Ity^.^ibd patriotism of the Canadian population^ -hi In September, fuiotlier battalion of tbe ipilitia was embodie4 ,pripiqip4^] fippjqj th^ Montreal m^ilitiar ^"^ placed unde^ !tlj^,i:;QmpanflH[>f. lleut.^cpj^, ^fp^rra^^a^^ called, tU^, ?Viiv*?^^"^M%?^^^ suers.) The North-West Company' raised a corps of 1 militia, ular and ommand ng of the igiments, panics of mall bri- :es. camp of md Odle- le by ab- )revent a ter. The , effected lort time, ng officer s summer, )f Qijebec consisted battalion idies, with as evident it nipment yajUy,.^d ' ii'ji ■ liOitia was ilitia, and rray, and a corps 01 1812] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. Voyageurs, which was disbanded in the ensuing spring, while the merchants and tradesmen of the Ist battalion of Montreal sedentary mllhia, in order to avoid the rigour of the militia laws, which admitted of no sub- stitutes, organized themselves into four companies of volunteers for garrison duty and field service in case of emergency. mUiu ^ ij/kUhI ^iIj From the capture of Detroit and the American army under General Hull, we have nothing of any import- ance to relate until the battle of Queenstown. The predatory incursions of the enemy io the mean timej deserve to be noticed. '» "-» ,cu»it On the sixteenth of September, a brigade of bat- leaux loaded with stores, and about one huad,red and tliirty eight troops, under the command of Major Heathcoat of the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, wei^ surprized and nearly taken by a partj?^ of five hun- dred Americans, at Matilda, hi their route to Upper Canada. The enemy having crossed over before day light in the morning frohi (fhe American side, effected a landing unperceived tipoii a small island at a little distance from tlie British slrore. They concealed themselves in the bushes, and sent a party to Secure a man by the name of Totissaint, the oinly itih^bPtant upon thelslatid. Early in the morning, the batteaux were seen advancing, and in the eagerness of t!te A- mericans to obset^e them, through a^rdkert glass in his hut, Toussaint stole out and reaching the shore got into his cailoe unobserved: ^^ The Atnei'fcatis tipon discovering his escape /fired' up6'n'him/'wl^le 'h^, ^bjr shouting and making sigHal^i apprfSed'thfe tifteaJtliJ-b their dangtr, whidi then jprrecipqtatePy ma(?e 1br ttie u-^i 80 ADMINISTRATION OF [1812 shore. A gun boat which escorted this party, imme- .;4i^e})^ dropped dowii from behind the Island and fl|)^)|e4 a Jam t upon tb«i49atteaux, while two large bp^S; loaded with troops were seen crossing from the VVfP^i^AP shore, amd making ^or the upper end of the CJhlinp^i between the Island and the British shore, \vj^h a, view of taking the British batteaux in flank, yb^y proceeded without interruption until upom enter- ing tli^ <(;haanelf when a body of militia under Captain Ault, opened a most destructive fire upon them. One fled for shelter behind the Island, while the other made for its shore, and abandoned the boat with pre- cipitancy leaving a number of killed and wounded. They kept up a brisk fire from the Island under cover of the bushes, but upon the arrival of a reinforcement of militia from a neighbouring township, under captain Munroe, they retired from the Island with considera- ble loss, (exaggerated by some statements to fifty seven killed) and returned to their own shore, having com- pletely failed in their enterprise. 'c-'i'jbiii' A party of one hundred and fifty Americans under Captain Forsyth, near the same time crossed over from Gravelly Point to Gananoque, some miles below Kingston, from whence they dislodged a party of fifty militia, and took possession of a quantify of arms and ammunition, which they carried away after burning the Store and a small quantity of provisions. Their con- duct is represented to have been disgraceful towards the defenceless inhabitants, whom they were prevented by the officers from plundering, after some difliculty. Four men found in the hospital, and a Dragoon inter- cepted by them on his way to Kingston to give notice of their approach, were made prisoners and carried away by this party. [1812 •ty, imme- sland and two large ^ from the end of the ;ish shore, I in flank, pom enter- ir Captain lem. One the other with pre- woundec). ider cover iforcement kr captain considera- fifty seven \'mg com- :ans under )ssed over liles below rty of fifty f arms and >urning the rheir con- iil towards prevented I difliculty. foon inter- ^ive notice nd carried •hiiTSrAihUU SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 1812J SIR GEORGE PREVOST. ftj From the frequent interruption of the cdftVo'yVfi-btn Montreal, or rather Lachine, to Kingston^ iA- tJ)*per Canada, by the Americans at Ogdensbur^h, 6pj>ddite Prescot ; Col. Lcthbridge commanding' the 4tttt^, formed the design of dislodging the enem]^and pd^ies^ ing himself of Ogdensburgh. With ai'vie^ to effect his purpose, he assembled a force of seven' hundred and fifty men, regulars and militia, and having collected a sufficient number of batteaux, he pushed ofl^ in the fore- noon of the 4th of October, under cover of a cannon- ade from Prescot, with twenty-five batteaux escorted by two gun boats. They advanced without opposi- tion, until mid-chaanel, when the enemy opened a tre- mendous discharge of artillery, wliich checked their progress. A confusion immediately ensued, and they were compelled to make a precipitate retreat, with the loss of three men killed and four wounded. The Ame- ricans were commanded by Brigadier General Brown, and are said to have behaved with much coolness and intrepidity. This enterprise, undertaken without the sanction of the commander of the forces, was censured: by him ; and the public opinion condemned it as rash: and premature. Gn the 9th of October, the armed brig Detroit, re- cently taken at Detroit, and the brig Caledonia with a quantity of Furs belonging to the North-West Com- pany, having arrived the preceding day from De- troit with prisoners, were boarded opposite Fort Erie before tlie dawn of day by a party of upwards of two hunp-ed Americans in boats nianned T?y seamen. They succeeded in cu'tting th'e cable's, and 'the vessels drifted towards ffie'lnrerican' Shore. The Cale^6niai 7 ^ m 82 ADMINISTRATION OP [1812 ft* f ',.,! Island a small distance from the American side. The crew after a severe contest being made prisoners, a pa» tv of men from Fort Erie succeeded in boarding and dismantling her in a fog, under a warm fire of the enemy, and at about ten at night she was blown up. Some lives were lost upon this occasion ; among the Americans a Major Cuyler, who was killed by a shot from Fort Erie, as he was riding along the beach on the opposite side of the river. General Brock, who, with unwearied diligence had watched the motions of the American army upon the Niagara frontier, commanded by Major General Van Rensselaer, was convinced from the movements he had observed on tlie American shore, that an invasion was preiBeditated, and kept his little army upon the alert. On the fourth of October an American spy was sent orer to the British side, who returned with information to thv American General, that General Brock had moved on to Detroit with all the force that could be spared. Encouraged by this false news, every pre- paration was taken for a descent upon Queenstown, on the morning of the eleventh '. their forces were con- centrated at licwistown, opposite Queenstown, with a view of making a» immediate attack upon the latter ; but through the neglect or cowardice of the officer entrusted with preparing and conducting the boats to the place of embarkation, the attack miscar- ried. Early in the morning of the 13th, their forces ■were again concentrated at Lewistown, and the troops embarked under cover of a commanding battery of two eighteen and two six pounders. This movement being soo!i diticovered, a brisk fire was opened upon them from the British shore, bv the troops, and from three leiarj Sm GH0B6E FBETDST. BSi batteries. The Americans commenccfl 1^ 'cann6ttaj|^ to sweep the shore, but with little effeeti The tfirstdii^ vision under Colonel Van Rensselaer^ effected their landing unobserved under the heights a Jittle abbve Battle of Qoeenstown, and mounting the ^cen* iwitk Queenatown. firmness aad alacrity, att^clccd and carried an eighteen pounder battery, and dislodged the Bght company of the 49th regiment. The enemy were in the mean time pushing over in boats, and notvrithstand- ing the current and eddies, which in this part of the river are numerous and rapid, and a tremendous dis- charge of artillery, which shatteredmany of tj^eir boats, persevered with dauntless resolution, and efiected a landing close upon Queenstown, where they w^re c^ posed by the grenadiers of the 49th regiraenl, and the York Volunteer Militia^ with a determinatian verging upon desperation. The carnage became terrible, iTbe British being overwhelmed with numbers, were com-r pelled to retire some distance, into a hollow. General Brock having heard the cannonade, arrived at that moment, with his Provincial Aide-de-camp Lieut. Col. M'Donell from Niagara (at the grey of the morning,) and having rallied the grenadiers of his favorite 49th, Death of Ge- was leading them on to the charge, when he neral Brock, ^ec si ved a musket bait in his breast, which almost immediately terminated his existence. The on- ly words he uttered were " push on the brave York Volunteers^'* when he fell from his horse, and his corpse remained for some time in the power of the enemy. In the interim, the light company supported by a party of the Yorkers rallied, and re-ascended to dislodge the enemy from the heights. They formed and advanc- ed to the charge exposed to a smart fire, but finding the enemy posted behind trees, so that a chare-O: tf-i- ADMINISTRATION OP [1812 ■ ; i" could have little effect, they desisted, and separating, posted themselves in like maimer, and kept up a smart fire for some time. Lieut. Colonel M'Donell who Lad joined them w hile forming for the charge, and was encouraging tlie men, received a ball in his back, as his horse, which had been wounded, was in the act of wheeling. He survived his wound twenty four hours in the most excruciating pain. The Americans hav- ing effected their landing with an overwhelming force, the British were obliged to give way, and suspend the fight until the arrival of reinforcements, leaving the Americans in possession of the heights. General Sheaffe soon came up with a reinforcement of three hundred men of the 41st regiment, two companies of Militia, and two hundred and fifty Indians. Rein- forcements having also arrived from Chippawa,the Bri- tish General collected his whole force amounting to upwards of eight hundred men, and leaving two field pieces with about thirty men under Lieut. Holcroft of the Royal Artillery in front of Queenstown, as a check to prevent the enemy from occupying the village, pro- ceeded by a circuitous route to gain the rear of the heights upon vvliich the enemy were posted. The In- dians being more alertjthan the troops, first surmount- ed the hill, and commenced the attack, but were repuls- ed and fell back on the main body, who formed with celerity, and upon the word, advanced to the charge under a heavy shower of musketry. The British sat up a shout, accompanied with the war-whoop of the Indians, and advanced at the double quick or running pace, when the Americans, struck with terror, gave way and fled in all directions, some concealing them- selves in the bushes, others precipitating themselves down the orecipice v/ere killed by the fall, or drowned ana 812 separating, up a smart •onell who e, and was is back, as the act of four hours •icans hav- iiing force, uspend the eaving the General it of three iipanies of ns. Rein- va,the Bri- lounting to g two field [iolcroft of as a check ill age, pro- ear of the . The In- surmount- 'ere repuls* )rmed with the charge British sat Dop of the or running Tror, gave iling them- themselves dv drowned 1812] Sm GEORGE PREVOST. 85 in the attempt to swim the river. A terrible slaughter ensued, by the Indians, whose vengeance it was impos- sible to restrain, until a white flag was observed as- cending the hill with offers of an unconditional surren- der which were accepted. An armistice of three days was proposed by the American and granted by the British General, in order to take care of their wounded and bury their dead, on condition of destroying their bat- teaux, which was immediately complied with. One General Officer (Wadsworth) two L'-euh Colonels, fiv€ Majors, a multitude of Captains and Subalterns, with nine hundred men, one field piece, and a stand of Cq- lours, were the fruits of this important victory; and it is computed that the enemy must have lost in killed, wounded, missing and prisoners, upwards of fifteen hundred men. The action lasted from four in the morning until near four o'clock in the afternoon, and though vanquished,- the obstinacy with which they con- tested the honor of the day, reflects credit upon the enemy. General Van Rensselaer, before the arrival of the reinforcements from Niagara- under General Sheafle, finding the fate of the day still undetermined, his troops almost exhausted with fatigue, and falling short of ammunition, had returned to the American shore, to urge across a reinforcement from the embodied militia, but they, notwithstanding every menace, and entreaty on his part, unanimously refused. In this di- lemma he wrote a note to General Wadsworth, v%ho remained with the Am» r= ans on the Queenstown heights, informing h\ni of ihe situation of things, and leaving the course to ^»« pursued, much to his own judgment ; assuring him if he thought best to retreat, iie would send as many boats as he could command, and cover iim retreat by every fire he could make. 86 ADMINISTRATION OP [1813 ^X '* But before the latter had time to resolve upon any mode of security or retreat, the spirited advance of the British had decided the fate of the day. The British at Fort Erie under the command of Lieut. Col. Myers, silenced the enemy's fire at Black Rock, and blew up a barrack with a con5iderable depot of ammunition. The Caledonia lately captured by the enemy was al- mpst destroyed at her moorings. A well directed fire from Fort George also silenced the enemy's Batteries on the otlier side of the river, from whence they fired red hot shot upon the wooden buildings in the neigh- borhood of Fort George. CMliS'- "TjT \ /•; r :*Thus ended, in their total discomfiture, the second ttempt of the Americans to invade Upper-Canada. The loss of the British 4s said to have been about twenty killed including Indians, and between fifty and sixty wounded. The fall of General Brock the idol of the army, and of the people of Upper-Canada, was an^irreparable loss, and cast a shade over the glory of this dear-bought victory. He was a native of Guern- sey of an ancient and reputable family distinguished in the profession of arms. He had served for many years in Canada, and in some of the principal cam- paigns in Europe. He commanded a detachment of his favourite 49th Regiment, on the expedition to Co- penhagen with Lord Nelson, where he distinguished himself. He was one of those extraordinary men who seem born to influence mankind, and mark the age in which they live. Corscious of the ascendency of liis genius over those who surrounded him, he blended the mildest of manners, with the severity and discipline of a camp, and though his deportment was somewhat [1813 I 1S12] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 9T re upon any Ivaiice of the The British Col. Myers, and blew up ammunition, lemy was al- directed fire ^^'s Batteries ce they fired in the neigh- , the second per-Canada. been about een fifty and k the idol of IJanada, was :r the glory /e of Guern- listinguished d for many ncipal cam- :achment of ition to Co- istinguished try men who k the age in Icncy of Ills blended the discipline of IS somewhat ter imparted at once confidence and respect to tho^e vvho had occasion to approach his person. As a sol., dierhe was brave to a fault, and not less judicious than decisive in his measures. The energy of his character was strongly expressed in his countenance, and in the robust and manly symmetry of his frame. As a Civil Governor he was firm, prudent and equitable. In fine, whether we view him as a Man, a Statesman or a i5oIdier, he equally deserves the esteem and respect of his contemporaries and of posterity. The Indians, who flocked to his standard, were attached to him with almost enthusiastic affection, and the enemy even ex^ pressed an involuntary regret at his untimely fall. His prodigality of life, bereft the country of his services at the early age of forty-two years. The remains of this gallant Qfiicer, were, during the funeral service, hon- ored with a discharge of minute guns from the Ameri- can as well as British batteries, and with those of his faithful Aid-de-Camp Lieut. Col. M'Donell, were in- terred ia„tbe.ame grave at Fort George, on the IBt-h October, amidsl the tears of an affectionate soldiery and a grateful people, who will, dierish his memory with veneration, and hand to their posterity the imner- isliable name of BROCK. .gj^.,^ The civil dfid mlKtaFy commands fn Upper-Canada now devolved upon Major General Sheaffe, a friend and fellow soldier of his illustrious predecessor. He paroled General Wadsworth and some of the princi- pal ofiicers^j the remainder were sent to Quebec. Among the American prisoners, twenty-three men were found, who having declared themselves British horn subjects were sent to England for trial ay traitors. ' tiis Qttvc uccusiou lu tP^rtiittie lipoii liriiish prisoners "«V i m 9$ r^^Jk^P^l^mhl^lOfi OOP itl8i2 i^,Apieric5i, and a, lik« wiimber <>i:.tb« latter wei^ put int^^c^pge cpttftneinettt.as jtipp^es fori the safety of the traitors, by Qrder of the Aroerijcaa Government. This circumstance led to discussion* that shall be noticed in their proper place. -m Hi , On t,he J8tb of Octo|?er,(Gen)E^^l ^r.ytl? ^»s«w4 ^^ 'Sc^^raaiid at Niagara, ^dappli7/(Kno aarinno- *f, On the 23d ofOctobn> aparty of ne;3i^foji?|j b,und- red Americans from Plattsburgh under^^ajo^, jj^p^^g, Wrprised the piquet at the Indian Yijl^ag;^ of §J.J^egis. ll'wenty three men were made pris^^ners.by dm.efl^fny, and Lieut. Rottotte and a i^er^eftnt M'^illiyray sind six fnen were left dead, 'the pi«met^ consisted , of a (Efetachment of C anadian, , Vf^yge^i-f . The Arn^rjcans wpUinderin^ the Village found an Ensig/a or Union Jack, in the house of the jresident Interpi^e^r, qsually hoisted upon a flag stafl" at i.he door of the CJjief on Sundays or Holy-days, which, said the Apoerican Ma- jor in an order issue^ upon the occasion, {n9t a Ijttle proud of the achievement) iwere iht jir^t colpurs ,tok^v, during the war. This occurrence was jboweyer ^^yn- terpoised by an attack upon ,?,,jgarty of JVn*f:,?ticiins at Salmon river near St. Regis-'^: tfie.^d Noyen^ber, by detachments of the Royal jAriillery, 49th regiment and Glengary Light Infantry^ amounting to seventy men, with detachmeots^from the Cornwall aR^ Glen- gai*y Milhia of r«ear ^<^ same number, the yftK>le wn- der ^he command ot I^eut. Qol, M'l^Uan, In this af- air, the enemy took to a block house, but finding I tt812 er wei^ put safety of the (nient. This be noticed $^ssupi{e4 the British Cj^ii- its f^ifflaina- 1o 8onilno ni nvjib Oi 5illi>^rAy) aind )]jsisted of a ara or Union r^e^er, qsually the C^ief on meyicjin ^la- . CW9^^ Jjttle colours , t,o>k0 >wer^r ^^yn- 4m^j[iciins at d November, ■ '■(■■■' I9th regiment ig to seventy ill s^x\l«n' ed the frontier of Lower Canada, and fairly on the morning of the 17tfc of November 1812, MnQot (now Lieut. Colonel) De Salaberry, Supbrin- -^tendant of the Canadian Voltigeurs, commanding the .cordon and advanced: posts 6n the linei, received iu- ibrmation at St. Philips, that the enemy to the num- berof ten thousand were advancing to Odletown. He •^immediately despatched two companies of the Volti- iigeurs under the command of capt. Perrault of the same ci»e^i«n.ent, with three hundred Indians under captain iiHttcbarne of the Indian Departracjnt, to reinforee.ina- i Jor Laforce of the 1st battalion Embodied Mihtia,. who brsra^ posted with the two flank companies, ctf, that bat- sftalion at tlie river La Cole*. This detachment, aftj^r a -jfatiguing march of thirtyj-flix miles, chitifly through «ao- ,».«*asseB and aA6«ft>,iarri«edfiarly in the «fternooii«ofthe same day at BuHoiiwUby lii>dl ibo^kiaifpcdsitionvifcitbin the riverfLa Cole, a mile distant from it, in conjunction -fmth a party ofiaboiit thirty Algonquin and At>€Daki £1, _ -_j _ ■ — " miiana, uuu a 1 _ r IT* J..^^ ~ i^^JL^« Mr.n*^ln IV/filtTatr [1812 it by vun- fire froui d Juliana, becoming s Harbor, looners, in 49th r€gt. ondinodare Plate and to hi»€Daki ►>iIm TVfXfofr I8I23 Stn etOttGB PRTSVOST. n a geutlemfth of the Norttr^West Company* rrt\h<»Voy^l genrs corps. Major de Salaberry arrived on the day following with the remainder oftlie Voltigoiirs and the Voyageurs, commanded by Heut. col. ^r•Gfllivray, and four companies of th^ Volunteer Chasseurs from the parishes of €hateauguay, St. Constant, St. Philip and TAcadie. In the n^^un time the enen^y occupied Cham- plain Town, two or three miles from the lines, and an earnest invasion was momently expected. Nothing 00- ourred of any consequence until the 250th in the morn- ing, when capt, M'Kay, visiting the piquet betwecu three and four o'clock, perceived the enemy fording the river La Cole, and at the same instant heard them cock their firelocks in the surrounding bushes. He had scarcely time to apprise the picquet under capt. Bernard Panot, of their danger, when the enemy, who had surrounded the guard-hut on all sides, discharged a volley ofmusketry so close that their wads sat fire to the roof and consumed llie hut. The MiJitia andln- dians discharged jtheir pieces, and dashing thi-ou^h the ranks of the enemy, escaped unhurt, while the Ameri- cans who had forded the river in two places, mistaUing eacli other in the darkness and confusion of' Uie night for the enemy, kept up a brisk fire^ for near half an hour, in which ti»ey killed and wounded several of their own people. After discovering tJluir error tt)ey retired to Ghairtplain Town, leaving five men- wounded, and three or four killed, who were found by. the Indians on =the. 6^ .^^J^ o- ,^ %v-. %^ >^ \JLlS ^ ''^^mi&h^^ma^Tifiit/if w^ I ^^im^m^BMttMmH^^^&M¥iea\ mifkia, the flartk^om- panics of the second and thii^d'batt^i^^; e(tid'#>il*^^ of militia dr.a^ooijjs crossed ^he qver ,to Longueil and ^^ap^'^iiue, arid the vv^iole tti^l^bfjpbjjt^atiop j^.t^ei4b- nrf^rbf ]tfon<^eall4ia^^ rt\ov- ^kss^tf in any age or cdunti'y.; General Dearborn, who, no doabt tvas well Infoi-inecfbf ^^/Walfe b^^fee public mind ia^ Lavv^r- Canada. at this crisis, for^aw Irom the mu|tituqe a^se^m^ed t^^ and'rt^ hostile spirit rof thej Canadians, ihe 'iriirtljess- jie^ of ai\ att^npjt to U|v^de Lower-Cai^a^a,,beg^^ withdravy h^s^i^ckly aiid alrcf^dy e'tiireebl^l4^ into ip^int^r.^uarter ^ jaj; Plattsbwrg and Buriingtori. Whether *e ey^c ea^e^ C9nten^>l^ted;a^;inj^^ intended this mdv;ement as,a4ei- earborn, , for^aw iiuilttess- began to ost, into Whether -pr only % CUV£f - tokon the pprel frffr henr ; present faiDodied nto wm- ntnns Jtermin- ^1^ ^%fi>l¥)^^^99f^ST. 4^^n,f|jier^hiJ?^^bei^f|j^#?f(^a^rt7;^ on l^e Eri£|. T]^ Anijerks^Sf )4ti^I^}4(}9na^Y#|{tf SQjfe^/or^leian i^ceasioii m^t^ismi^^itMm^^^i^ HftmQl^Med frO«(ifBl««k B4>ck^(i^J»*efqi|e,Jp^rlf55M|tfir, «?hicto»he3ro€0»l4,not^o*fefr^il^th»veraflfe^ rfeptv wW» i^infm^e ffoijilale mA eTH^wmh'y Iwdi? a^|i;ft<]^ij:^pH?4 ajk^lei6^re the i|«ff( whicb:#|IJerwa«4«(fWI»$}ejEJl?fr^«l^'li^ '«;he'COinm&|id-oC;^atil^^j»4t h^a bno-^^oa ?»rfrto gsirfr.q attempt to i^.,b»d during,, the ,ar|»isjtice j?;^^?;^ l^^j^r '^Ir^^^^Mhl^^rP^rfrll^^P^ J^^l5> on M^f tarly btt.tlie mofning '^f,^^^^^^ if oy. fte , enemy eliected, a landing: on the Briiish. side with a division ing oi innt and Barttey. with detaciini^tr o!C'%?rl:y a«a th|rty-$ye mea each, of the 49th regiment. . Iiieteu« ants King f^ijd L«amont were* wounded,. and.iheir men being dVerwh^lined with numbers gaye way ailer ;«pik- inkihp guns; these iwo^oMcers with aboiii iinny thrj» men were made pris€^ers>na,se;^t oiYer to the Ai&eri- can side. Lieutenant Bartley m the mean time alter a determined resistance by which his force was redtici^ / 9 / / 9t4 .TADHINISTBirriON OF ihi^tt}|reatenedWRtif A^Boericwuks las jcoukl crowd int^ them, returh- iiigva«ft Oaptitin »K!ii|g Aid-de^Camp to the American ,(jicu[i6ralnvitii!k ffiw officer^ and about fi>rty men^ wb6 oa&ved iii^h thisi shore #ithe river; but being pursued ^yiM^bl' <)viii8by'£rbin F<>rt Ericvu^h&se raadie|»nsfiMs- ^iiiBaAfid atftebloTesistaiiicei.) At! about sev^n p'clodk •hu 'i&fe;gmonDttng, (ainiOther ; division of eight^n boat«, jwferst fieob^tadvaaciltiigi itQ efiecta landing two niile^ilow*- 4ii ^oomAhaXk) thft IbrMien. s i i jQoiomai .Bisiiop ihdviugluj*- (mika iirjt alarms atoved £tom Chippawa, bad riow formed a junction with Major Ormsbylfi-onL Fort Erie, and commanding a force of nearly eleven hundred men, ^tinsiirting.ra^fktachMienl* of the 41st, 4»fcli and Ko^^al tNejB^iovn^land Regiments^^ a body ofuMilirih uhd^ JtikMi,QnU^istk afid >MafDr Hal^;:an^ sqme Indiaris, W^t#^ foff i Ibeueneniy .on .the sbdm ; ( Theii-. appFciach IpliwfeleoaJdclwitbitbfieechefciJff/ »ij^^; steady? kndi(ef- ^eetuabfii?*! opMieH lupon- theftif from; «iu^etry ««d a dx po»Bfder'(i^di^.t6©jooirfAiaiirf*of Gaptaih fiirby 6f the {Bs)tj!aJ'4^ii'^')yO ■ w^hicib} t debtroyed stfko of> then* boats, >^'h»fi liieorciiMifiideii intd) confusion v and- compdied •thfifirlio §?eki.«iSifeW Id flightw >We>»iaeifnyi'fcma.upiaLn «rfWibfria^ B»ad€i7aMi4p%i3*rorthe^r»jfotecei;oti tbeitr own i^i^g^AhBii-fewer^slbufcipfeMeiving ihosBritisl* ihhdr»o- lfr>ibeU/aii4Ji«iipH]nti3d>thei^n boat^, idviugup- • bad riow Fort Erie, idred men, lud Bo^al [flit uhd^ ? lodiaris, /appFciaoh ^^ knditef- rby 6{the leir boats, compdled fcma^jpajM; t!bm ami lih^dfAKl- aUisH iiltb Utle %iBi«, IS troo|^8 werei od- dered to ref land iwid hiit tfafemseWesifdrj .tft0lWii?;t«». Murmur tanddisteoiitent creptiiito to Aniierfcdirieamp, and (General Smyth was obliged to! takSa drgUt t»ga«e bmself from the indignation of Ms /ak^aKjr^ VJiigH fri^rfi deatiH'^ickness and defectio», soon cerised to bet^sob- ject of apprfehenSion to tbti >Driti&I* in t^i^ ndghbbup- hood. This was the teniiiftatiotn:0f the 4bird.«tt«mirt t^finvadeTJppfer-Canada, and tbeip^sult of/JtljefiforMh^ «ble pcelp^ationjibf theAraemaogoveimnteiit tvtmh queirl-h^'i€affad^s*:.ariO ■ioisMi'na iiorpiii.;^:. b'jimol t'^.ynilnnh.ufl *?»ua|-, Yh.jyy'toaytol a -gsiiUnnrnf^rn but- > ^TheiLegislatui-e of Lower*eanai[fai^seHibled tkeiibfttnthencfffisidtJraiiAoaj .^^.ife ub&d (hevj6bsermi>/acc8Hr^ngqta*llie pd^«^ vb«te4in,.Jiim by^theiij^^ijj0ijiHC3ilksitibithilfao(Jk^^ m 'l4»f|Nl9T|UTI9N ^ I l^ie/dbfedc^ ofvVm Fnovinee, wfd, jw-^h* the fn«^ cluee^- i&g^/saUfaotioniiadbteA 91 witiiess t»f that!paM Uiat jitea(^; order .«nd| Ibat lovpi <«Cfrndm«ght h^vj^; ii^uU?.4 iWtebtfceideiiy i«^wred?ilt»t|»f p^b^Ucation ^f lie^iifi^? fSitim ^Brov\mi§\'iPsiV^^mm^L passed i^o mi^.ml9k . eatiihg.. n iTiiiw Jme^si|i*riyi(psc fqfo W^p^,ti^; |)er^e>¥r§d A8flo*lfer;th^(*Hl|)^M«flfi^rt^^.^^^^^^J^^p^/^^ 1^^ l)al^dfiah^,H^S?{'JPf MmM^aym^. ^e^,C;W*M «n<* othefri4^c^l^|^othebvbeg^i)|^^til*^/4;:)^^WJ^ci|,^^)^^^ ^% lijmi>j9(tofiehj^rteviQ«%fwft|ui|ej^j?y ^^^ l<(m»««5 m>4p^i^»mi?ftij^^0t)yeiyf|w^8BHfigi9^ta,^t1f^'Ithe^ ^a^|j^i«^sttofbioCbfte?^ t^Mm^ )^,r^i^^^\. resliiiK p<>stpo ineoHK ed ill ' per^c p^f at wards, pet'^^^e that efl rejectee The* b^^his5 noinlna pr6|gres we^ shlj HdiiWP tial Lai tb' a rec wad *ei i«'6i*dei pdjhtea^ ofiljEch upoti^p menti-^ S«HYd^f>b< and-jtw€ the m.ti was'grcH pm« I igjsrfi snt (6lii&itiotiptrtSfi)%T, cd. The sstpoiiedi? ; T^^8ti^ifl0rt fhd W{ietfte^fi'th^)firnte, iodi income* taK upon ««tlarid6 (Viom gtmrrim^iil Mias pi^^ ed iii the LcB^^i^Hbufie,- iW thfe.v jimporticwiyo^ M^Ht wards, «esokrtibiiei»frongtyiad.w^ tb a recdui-se^o ^^ha fm^tmpi, ^ThbtAi^«iyuBiU>Acti wad renewed' tttid^xt^^diedi|V^fi?ver'!huildred>^usaii4 pmtm^ miMsht^AV^e^khJp ^md^ittt*»ituw%i^^a(»i of BxchftWg^, b^ Bills%{i6rf Mittfottj #hi^ith^febIdfeKS/i ment. ; Fm^^^th^stthii^^fw»%rtafe'^l»ef <^Wr4tiiJ(k^d |«jd*^ifel was- ^i^teddo' Iwfftf^M e ai^^ » .>4O¥IHS#TltAVI0l7 dF ftM8 tion between Lower and Upper Canada. But no amendment was made to the Militia Laws, owing to a disagreement on the subject between the Lower and Upper Houses. A ilnt^r «^ two itnd a half percent upon all Merchandise (provisions excepted) imported into the Province, and two and a half per cent more, tffibiil^Mei^*rtdIS^'irtii^4 JtiW ^6^^f^Qij^(^^^a\iy uieren|,.i'ljsD Tdi Battle o£ Fort (J bpur. J at.Ston Attack Officer. Eagle r Swantt •ccurre n'?' rM ';<^? to -f^bf i' tx;} HO boi^vor^ Hi)?. no^rrcuH ^- ' "i ^n'tr -'•■ iisffliolni j^':'jJuiR*> "to •?I6I '^f''' .:l I >^ ^f'fonv ' 'i'.^ •K.lUJlil; .,<',.1'/,' chigan ! Proctor ter the r the 19ti] Battle c Frenchto underB Frenchti from Dc Indians tia, who hack up determii reinforc< pM8 But no owing to a Lower and f per cent imported cent more, isi pirevaous snpporf ^ ol' ilattir^ wai 'iBftfl sIgAS ,noJna7/8 18fS] SlA CieoiNhS' ¥ll£¥Cf8T. 98 ' ot Qiwffo ,awF.J iutiliM 9iif o» i»b«t!t aaw tainuhfrjtm Moqr.i; (h(»lq^'>xj* 8Mui>j/oif falling being re- a speedy set on lire r the con- > his men, )n condi- the Sava- property. een three General, ubalterns !rs. The eniy-four ded. This Isconcert- rrison for i secured recording it the un- ho on the itered in soners as ^%«. ^^h^ml^ ^.^^u^m wfi^nor;h«vi„g.qlpsea.thft Se^ag^ of the Le^^ ^»fi^P.pW'iiA;?W»pdft as i;« W^,n»»i^tJMk- ^n.O^ post at Oir. den«}wf^M9j,^taM^aon.|^,^,e,cur8ioft L the ^t my^f^ .ti»«|.ce^^n,^ BracfevUle so«,e day. previous. The q^v^rup^ d,d. «Qt d^em^it. wpedieat to ^der ^ attafte.«(M?n ,t^at poM^bm,^ two JBe^ had deserted on 102 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 I who miglit, upon ascertaining the arrival of the Gover- nor, way-lay him on his route, it was determined that Lieut. Col. Pearson should proceed on the ensuing morning with his Excellency to Kingston, while Lt. Col. M*Donnel, second in command at Prescot, should make a demonstration on the ice in front of Ogdens- burgh, as welf with a view of engaging the attention of the enemy, as by drawing out their forces, to ascer- tain the strength of the garrison. On the ensuing morn- ing (22d February) as the Governor departed, Lieut. Col. M'Donnel moved with his party across the river on the ice, towards Ogdensburgh ; the enemy perceiv- ing the movement, were prepared to receive him, and Aitauku on *^»®"*- ^^^- M'Donnell impelled by that OgdlwbS" spirit characteristic of British Soldiers, turned the demonstration into a real attack. The enemy was driven from the village after a short contest, leaving about twenty killed, and a consider- able number wounded. Four brass field pieces, seven pieces of iron ordnance complete, with several hun- dred stand of arms, and a considerable quantity of stores fell into the hands of the victors, who lost seven killed, and seven officers (including Lieut. Col. M'Don- nell) and forty-one men wounded. After having de- stroyed two small schooners and two gun boats left there to winter, they returned to their quarters at Prescot. During the winter the greatest exertions were made to be in a state of preparation for the ensuing cam- paign. In March a draught of militia took place, to fill up the militia Battalions. A Battalion (the 6th) was embodied at Quebec from the city Militia for gar- [1613 e Gover- ined that ensuing while Lt. A, should Ogdens- attentioR to ascer- ng morn- id, Lieut, the river / perceiv- him, and I by that Soldiers, :er a short consider- ces, seven vend hun- lantity of lost seven ►1. M'Don- laving de- boats left quarters at vere made uing cam- L place, to (tlie 6th) la for gar- 1813] SUl OEOROE PREVOST. 103 nson duty. The Canadian Regiment of Fenclbles, the Clengaries and the Voltigoiirs recruited with diligence and success; and the 404th (or New-Brunswick Reffi- ment) marched through from Fredericton for Upper- (.'anada^ some hundreds of miles, with extraordinary rolerlty ni the month of March, though their route from 1 redericton to the river St. Lawrence, lay through an uiuuhabited wilderness buried in snow, and never be- fore practised by troops. The American forces in the mean time augmented daily at Sacket's Harbour, and their fleet being supe- rior to that of the British, a descent upon Kingston or Its neighbourhood was confidently expected ; the Ame- rican government however, deemed it too hazardous a game to stake the fate of their Lake armament upon an enterprize against the principal f/epo/ of the British in the Upper Province, where they must expect a des- perate resistance, and resolved to direct their eflbrts against the more distant and vulnerable parts on the Lake. Commodore Chauncey having accordingly equipped his fleet for an expedition, and received on board upwards of seventeen hundred troops under the command of Generals Dearborn and Pike, sailed from Sacket's Harbour on the 25th April, and on the follow- ing evening appeared ofl" York with fourteen sail of armed vessels. On the ensuing morning (27th) the ene- my commenced a debarkation about three miles to the west of the town, but the wind blowing fresh from the eastward, they fell considerably to leeward of the po- sition fixed upon for landing (the site of the old French Fort Toronto) while they suffered much from agalling fire of the British troops posted in a wood. They liow- ever accomplished their landing and compelled the X04 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 Battle & Cap. I^ritish to retire with loss. The Grena- ttsH-eofYork. diers of the 8th Regiment, who lost their Captain M'Neal, were, after a desperate contest alrtiost annihilated by the overwhelming numbers of the ene- my. The latter having made ('heir landings formed upon the beach under the immediate orders of General Pike, while the schooners worked up to the Forts un- der a heavy cannonade, and assuming a position at ihe distance of six hunHved yards from the batteries in cder to make a simultaneous impression upon the works by water and by land, opened a heavy fire upon them, which did great execution. The land forces undet* General Pike advanced through a little wood to the main works, when, at the distance of sixty rods from them, a tremendous explosion took place from a magazine previously prepared, which discharging an im*nense quantity of rubbish, spread havock among their troops and killed a number of their officers and men. General Pike, an officer much esteemed in the American army, and who seems to have been a gen- tleman of an amiable character in private life, received 1 contusion from a large stoiie while leading on his men, which in a few hours put a period to his existence. General Sheaffe finding his small force unable tc re- sist that of the enemy, retreated at two o'clock in the afternoon, leaving Lieut. Colonel Chewit of the militia to treat with the enemj- ; and a capitulation immedi- ately ensued, by which York was surrendered to the American forces, and the miFitia, to the amount of more than two hundred men with their officers, surrendered prisoners of war, on condition that all private proper- ■Aw* mX-^^^u^I^ Vv#^ M^nb^^^^f-^H ^ \\^^ irw%t\itr* c4ir\ik«Ac r\t £^\7iMr*t7 description fell into the hands of the enemy, with the armed schooner Duke cf Gloucester undergoing re- [1813 le Grena- losi their est aliliost if the ene- ^j formed >f General Forts un- osition at batteries upon the r fire upon nd forces ittle wood sixty rods ce from a arging an :k among fficers and ned in the en a gcn- ?, received m his men. existence, ible tc re- 3ck in the the militia n immedi- red to the nt of more irrendered te proper- 3 vrt V T V » 7 V f, with the rgoing re- 1813J SIR GEORGE PRlP^VOST. 105 pairs. A new ship which had injudiciously been laid down at this open and defenceless Post, the preceding: wmter, and now almost completely planked, was, with he naval stores set on fire by the British previous to iheir retreat. The loss of the British was severe amounting to about one hundred and thirty men inkill^ ed and wounded, among the former Mr. M'Lean, the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, who had volunteered his services with a musker. The loss of the enemy, though not correctly ascertained, must have been proportionally heavier than that of the iinUsh. The enemy having secured their booty, re- embarked aad sailed on the 2d of May for Niagara. The people, hitherto unaccustomed to hear of re- verses, were irritated at this success of the enemy, and as usual upon such occasions, clamoured against the General commanding, who a few weeks afterwards was succeeded in the Administration of the Civil Govern- ment of Upper Canada by Major General De Rotten- burg, and on his return to the Lower Province assum- ed the command of the force.^ in the District of Mon- treal. It IS not ascertained whether his removal was he result of the displeasure of the Commander of the orces but upon a cool survey of the event of the bat- tle 01 York, It must be owned that the honor of the Bri- tish arms was strenuously and ably maintained by the jmali party of men under his command, who, includine- Regulai's, Militia and Indians, did not exceed six hunt Ured, Tlie Amorio.qn Niagara incuts s«i_'Uj, Iiavii. g iuiiuca tiie troops at ned to Sacket's Harbour for reinforce- aud Qu the 25th May, their whgle fleet having; im ADMINISTRATION OP [1813 proceeded by detachments, were again assembled at Niagara, and General Vincent commanding at Fort George, foresaw that an attack was intended shortly Attack and *** ^® made upon his Post. Commodore reduction of Chauncey despatched two of his vessels Fort George. ^^ ^^^.^^ vigilantly off Kingston, and concerted his arrangements with Gen. Dearborn for a combined attack upon Fort George. Early in the morning of the 27tli May the enemy commenced a combined attack upon that Fort, having previously, on the 24th and 25th, materially injured the works by a warm cannonade from their ships and batteries. A body of about eight hundred riflemen under Colonel Scott landed near the two Mile Creek, while the fleet ranged up in the form of a crescent, extending from the Norlh.of the light house to the two Mile Creek, so as to enfilade the British batteries by a cross fire. The riflemen, after forming and ascending the bank, were met by the British, and compelled to give way in disorder and return to the beach, from whence the}^ kept up a smart fire under cover of the bank. In the mean time, another body of upwards of two thousand men, under the direction of General Lewis, made a landing,and formed on the beach under cover of a tre- mendous cannonade of round shot, and showers of grape and canister from the fleet, that swept the adja- cent plain, and compelled the British to retire. Gen* Vincent finding the works torn to pieces by the enemy's artillery, and no longer tenable against so overwhelm- ing a force, caused the Fort to be dismantled, and the magazines to be blown up, and retreated to Queens- *^xvn lonvmo* fhp Amf^rirans in t»kp nnssessinn nf the ruins of the Fort. The British loss consisted of fifty- two killed^ and upwards of three hundred woimded and 1813] missing thirty-i Gene ed the Erie, ai stores a wards I The i Quebec, Royal r the droc Pring ai Navy hi fax, wit! putting I enemy, treal to 1 at the lat his emba Thetv public w; sive dash Expeditioi against Sac Jket's Harbor body of ( barked oi tillaatKi George i bparinnr 4\ "S *s number o were off g 1813] SIR GEORGE PReVost. bled at at Fort shortly [Bodore vessels n, and iarborn larJy in jnced a viously, orks by ies. A Colonel ;he fleet ig trom reek, so oss fire. e bank, way in ice the}^ In the bousand made a )f a tre- wers of* tie adja- . Gen* enemy's rwhelm- and the Queens- n of the offifty- dedand lOT missing. The American accounts state their loss at thirty-ninekilled and one hundred and eleven wounded. General Vincent on the ensuing day having collect- ed the whole of the forces from Chippawa Ld C h.ne, and destroyed or rendered useless the posts and stores along that frontier, commenced his retreat to- wards Burhngton Heights at the head of Ontario. The arrival of Sir James L. Yeo from England at Quebec on the 5th May, with several Officers of the Roya, Navy, and 450 seamen for the Lakes, cheered the drooping sp rits of the public. Captains Barclay Pnng aad Fmnis, with five Lieutenants of the Royal Navy having previously arrived over land from Hali- uunirr^hrT ?'™'"' ""''^ ^'^'""^^ "* ^'"^^*«»' ^^^ eneml^ S r '"^ ' T' «^ P^'^P-'-^tion to meet the Z r IT ' "''"^' ^''^'''' P«'<^<^««ded from Mon- treal to Kingston with Sir James L. Yeo, who arrived at the latter place in the short term orsix weeks from his embarking at Portsmouth. The two Commanders being now at Kings^ton, the public was OR the tip^toeof expectation for some deci- sive dash upon the enemy's flotilla. An attack uoon Expedition Sarkpt's Ho..L« • .u i «^"^*'K upon against Sac- ^^^^^^^ s Harbor in the absence of their kefs Harbor, fleet at Niagara was resolved upon A body of eight hundred or a thousand men were em- barked on the 27th May, on board of the British flo- tilla at Kingston, consisting of the Wolf 24 guns, Royal George 24, Earl of Moira 18, and four schooner . .^ „„,„ ,^„ ,„ -,,.gj^.^g-^jj. ^^^^^ with a sufficient number of batteaux, and at noon on the next day thev were off Sacket's Harbor. The w..ther was /rof^il ^m ADMINl&TnATION OW [18J3 I 1813] ous, and the troops were transferred to the batteaux to make then- landing under an escort of two gun- boats, commanded by Captain Mulcaster, the whole under the immediate direction of the land and naval CommandeFS in Chief. They had proceeded but a short distance when a convoy of American boats load- ed with troops were descried doubling Stoney Point, on their way from Oswego to SacUet's Harbor. The Indians, who had previously landed on an Island, fired upon them as they passed and threw them into confu- sion, while the boats and batteaux bore down and cap- tured twelve of them with about 150 men : the remaia- der escaped into Sacket's Harbour. The landing was then deferred until the next morning, while the Ameri- cans raised the alarm, and withdrew a detachment of their troops posted upon Horse Island at the mouth of the Harbour, and assumed a position on the main, op- posite a ford leading from the Island to the main land, where they were reinforced by a body of militia under General Brown, and prepared for a vigorous defence. The night was dark and rainy, and at day break next morning the boats were so scattered that they were unable to effect a landing as intended, before the ene- my should have time to line the woods. They first at- tempted to land on the main, in a cove formed by Horse Island, but on approaching it they found the enemy prepared for them by a heavy fire of musketry from the surrounding woods supported by a field piece. They then pulled round and landed on the outside of the Island, with little or no loss, ^nd pushed forward to the ford, in the face of a hot fire of musketry and the field piece, which they carried in a few moments after landing, with a tumbrel and a few rounds of am munition. The enemy retreated, and posting them selves fire uf as weli ed to 1 of the a long was in and C( in Brit vice, o scour t opposit dislodg fled to pursued At this officer, battery the assii The flee ance in the fire" signal o assailant ment wh cisive v'u to their racks, by and the i had also covering SUDnrpssi immedial The loss, [18S3 I 1813] sin GEOHGE PREVOST. 109 batteaux two gun- he whole nd naval led but a oats load^ ey Point, ►or. The and, fired ito confu- and cap- 16 reniaia- nding was he Ameri- chment of 3 mouth of main, op- (nain land, itia under IS defence, jreak next they were •e the ene- ey first at- ormed by found the ' musketry field piece, outside of id forward ketry and / moments nds of am- ing them^ selves securely behind lai-ge trees, kept up a smart- fire upon the British. The fleet iu the mean time, as as well as a small vessel with two six pounders, intend- ed to have been landed in time to support the advance of the troops, were, through light and adverse wind, a long way in the rear. Under these circumstances it was impossible to wait for the arrival of the artillery, and Col. Baynes, the Adjutant General of the Forces in British N. America, who was charged with this ser- vice, ordered the detachment to divide, in order to scour the woods by pursuing two paths which led in opposite directions round a rising ground. The enemy dislodged from the woods at the point of the bayonet, fled to their fort and blockhouses, whither they were pursued by the British, who set fire to their barracks. At this juncture it was thought by the commanding officer, that the enemy's block^ houses and stockaded battery could not be carried by assault, even with the assistance of field pieces had they been landed. Ihe fleet were still out of reach to render any assist- ance in battering them, while his men were exposed to the fire of the enemy secure within their works. The signal of retreat was therefore given to the indignant assailants, and the enterprise was abandoned at a mo- ment when the enemy had so far calculated upon a de- cisive victoity on the part of the British, as to set fire to their naval store houses, hospital and marine bar- racks, by which all the booty previously taken at York, and the stores for their new ship were consumed. They had also set fire to a frigate on the cocks, but on dis- covering the retreat of the British, Uey succeeded in SUDnrPssinrr tho dwa nr%A c^.. — ^l i mi ,, _. .,,. ,„^ „j,„ oavcu uvr, xiiG iroops were immediately re-embarked and returned to Kingston. •The loss, though heavy on both sides is not correctlv 110 ADMINISTRATION OJ* ascertained ; among the British, Capt. Gray, Acting Depy. Q. M. General, was much regretted. He fell while reconuoitering the enemy's works in the hope of discovering some opening ta favor an assault. Tlius terminated this expedition to the disappointment of the public, who, from the presence and co-operation of the two Commanders in Chief, fondly flattered them- selves with a far more brilliant result. This miscarriage with other reverses at the commencement of the pre- sent campaign, destroyed in the opinion of the enemy, the invincibility our arms had acquired the preceding lautumn. Battle at From these humiliating occurrences, we Fort Meigs. ^u,.y ^jjjj pride to more cheering scenes of action, which effectually retrieved the honor of the British arms in Upper-Canada. General Harrison, notwithstanding the defeat of a division of his army under General Winchester at Frenchtown in February, still persevered in his preparations to recover the Michigan territoiy, and in pursuance of his views had towards the spring, taken post near the foot of the ra[)ids of the Miami, where he only waited for rein- forcements to commence active operations against the British. General Proctor aware of his views, deter- mined to dislodge him before the arrival of his rein- forcements, and proceeded for the Miami. He arrived at the neighbourhood of the enemy's position on the 26th of April. The Americans had however, secured themselves by block houses and batteries so as to ren- der every elTort of U^e small artillery of the besiegers lanavailing;, [1813 I 1813] SIR GEOnOE PM>!.«'odf . itt y, Acting . He fell e hope uf t. >oIntmetit operation red thein- iscarriage the pre- le enemy, >receding jnces, we ig scenes lor of the Harrison, his army ?^ebruary, :over the views had )0t of the for rein- gainst the /s, deter- his rein- [e arrived on on the I*, secured as to reu- besiegers In the morning of the 6th of May, a reinforcement. co»s„t,„g of two regiments amounting to about twelve hundred men under Brigadier General Clay, having rapidly descended the river from Fort Defianie, somf distance above Fort Meigs (the American posiZI made a sudden attack, and surprised the British bat- teries on the West side of the river, seconded by a re- solute and simultaneous sally from the garrisonf Hav- ing earned the British batteries, the/unwarily pur- sued the Indians, who fell back skirmishing with the enemy while the main force coming up, by a hasty and judicious movement, circumvented the Americans and intercepted their retreat to the river. After a des perate contest, the enemy surrendered, and upwards of 500 men were made prisoners. They who bad sal- hed from the Fort alone effected their escape, and be- took themselves to their fortification. The Indians although disposed to sacrifice the prisoners according ,uJ-J'°f" "*■ "^'^'"■'' ""*"■ """" «^<^^»«. were with difficulty restrained from slaughter by the Bri- tish two or three of whom fell victims to the fury of he Savages, in their endeavors to protect the defence- less prisoners. By this partial success the enemy be- came so crippled, as to be unable to prosecute the campaigii with any prospect of recovering Detroit and General Proctor drew ofl" his forces and returned to Sandwich, under the apprehension of being aban- doned by the Indians, who after a battle, according to heir custom, retire to the enjoyment of tkeir booty n this affair, the British loss amounted to one officer (01 the militia) and fourteen men killed, and one offi cer and forty-five men wounded. Immediately after the capture of Fort George by m Mmwwsim «ij |M«§ I leid] lodgmgfGeneral Vincf5tet«oat dAft'*^ G^erai; ' i^%^^ ai^lf moved^for^afd With ^ef?ght KXJiw|^ltfr^ft«tM to'anb^fe^h^^R^gltri'^ftt^,"^ fc^ifg^Arft5rtt*W«(rt^* ^^V*s'aB^tibh,^'p^di^«^df ta*«efeVhl ^Wi^At HvJftW^ turnal aWack up^^^im^hmp^^^m^m ^t¥^^. ihB^igtk .iRegittieut, and %>gai*«rf the «lMi#»fc*Wi4^ effective force onljf 704 firelocks)rtow«pe*hfe*Afflii9Hcaii cattip^n the enemy, whonithey surii^inoned to sinTendrir'pifid<«iers of war. This ^ai refused by the Aroericatt Officer, who however, deemed it expedient td'ftill bfecl^^jpon Fort George, mhile the ^ritish^; afe ihey retii*«J, ^re«s«ed upon their rear and ticciip]ed the grotwrt^llhey aband<>ned. Twelve ftf their ))fatteaux M^hich atcbinpatil^d the arjnyoii its retreat, '<^6fatairiiinl^ principally ^ffi^eri^feaggage^i fell into the iidii^i of the B^i^ fl^t^^whkh occasidncd th« enemy i(ii*'the present, hb other inconvenience than by 'enabling tiie Britisl#troopd to advance with security and ta urge tliei'etFeatof (hIHfe4nft^>!'feel .fWlUfti- li»rt3^*ia4wiB«l^ hy^ Wl|i*hHth« Wotiird»d*Aisr«icetvf dlsv^^ttf R^*p, > if T«!OttW be aft act of . injustice,. .w«re I to omjt^suryig your E5t- ilh:- ow ♦ bac •.'^or 9in OSOMB PI||SV08T. n^ Ie9t hove Mhed the ho«n they This yfM >, deemed AihiLe the rear and e 4f thehr !P retreat, 1 'into the \iti enemy renabiing td ta urge indred of who had [iearborn, l&a our Qlld- , ->:• • r Glegg, Bri- pMis ^Cap- Tip, who ar- tncfe]«ftoapt. 9th, y/ho as- leel if&lAx^' Ijtig your Fx- ittiefwfipB in liesiy > Mffl^i by way ^fr^Hfe^nstcHviH witii a iiftw.^j disbdgiog a d^tacbiwai.oiAmeri«»i^ smne^^ved IbemselvteiprMoaers^ .ailtd^Fr iieg^ i|ar^«^,by,?yio«i be« induced thfr«waiijjr'to-MU«^ tbiejpjf^ily^^^l^ ed with considerable forc%h not immediately on the ground, was however in the Tif <^'ti\erBtli^Re^nitewf)laiAj|.l*i». twolftank compaaies oft^t^i^ih/^iij^ «'B»nallflMM*jifpf Ptfovinciftt cavalry mider Capt. Halt. The prisoners taken, were five officers, with two field piece% aiitla staiid of <;.;3 ^,it ftwffw' BrilSsli, Gebri^e »»«^n^ v^inajiu, acruss lo v(ue?n«Town,«n tn^'INfagai'a ' A^«¥k;aiivf!or|rt I )Sebkwse^Of>. theiopposit^! flidfe^f-the l^^-rf'llw liiilitia^wl^QraurpriBei a ^i8aiiy^iiSlr'& t|i^i' po^t, .us: HI- boat ajid two batteauz Lieut. Cq)^ J^ii^liop Ift^ftl^ccomBiantJiug %i Foitt ;Erie, t''i*jimi*rtfair''»^*n«iiilltaii^fd.|Jwt approbation .QC^the ■i 3iff K;ipok. ■ GQneraJil^(Hmaai«Jiiig ft)f tlmjen^cjyrtioii of m eot^prislPtwbWh fi(*)badfpirt*viawsly pjt«(pt)s«d) crois- oiJk^v^ )Witli 24Q inelp^Ottfiigtlttg of airmail party ofafili- I t}a,lh«i?en«i»tyf'«p^ti at Black ^Bof^:?*l^orfl ytUeyr bwnt.iIiM .l)l<>fiki houwa< itore^^fciar- fiAclwi. dock-yavdx^^A Vewel^ JbUt tthil^fOpcu|>i6dMii s0C(i«it^f»tJpi& rtoKCis lo earthy litem M«1fiiyj|ii/iiii^ir .l,))a,(|eaus,i.tl^ eoowy* tl^th 4i ufinfOrcenw^itO^ iMTiiia .^u^ld i^orj^e Indians in *he«ri*|ore^t»rU«defio«v«iiiofittfie i>|if il^ujjdiflg woods, Opene^KB j8maW>',fiirc p.i^^. >c*>hi- fi>ellfd ^he British to ^teOtli^ir iretieat^fwitbitlieioss otf 4iMrt€Q» raeli. kilted, a»4 a MMiiideoaWdiJiptwber wo*nd«4 ^ ^woiig jibie; I Im^tf) Papti Sawmd oiU) I'bfi I Mie 41st regiment severely, and Lieutenant Colonel JMiX^. tmritAUr.rrtmnl oBcen '<»{ dwtif»«ttiilit;d;)ttierit, ,mhm^'i\o9B was rowi) regretted by thcfn^ditJarof. Upper Canada^ with whom he seems/ iohbr^l>tidn a fkwwrite Inspecting Field Officet-.Bevi^* pieces «%« J v • of Fort; George was confidently expected. ^''! ' ,Uc MernQni to ascertain the extent of the enemy's wWrks, jjKRd the m^aos he possessed: of defuUding the pg^^n which he occupied, det^mi^d t<»^,mftke a fuliiieB^oin- stration m^ r§j!t George; and, on»tiie jmorriingdoftthe ,24th of /jjy^iFl ^h«b ariwy. wa3 put in movemoikti as if upon -that Fort was imnnediatetly to take le British drove in the picquets, several of ass&! ^vhicjh Upon '^slioi% into ti doetn within ti^Dj') the Ic ' assaul Ftirt i on an Georg own r cbmpe tile fro * Gen '? risftr,li vigHHW ifittin^i fiwhoi;^ Ohaun - ficivnf t loGcfatfCj > Alnefiii 00. Low thoQsai •'Iiidiaji' iht SfeC ';i mp] ^ ffl* «n«W&U f»HteV08T. ©Iftr •#*«»-. rf vtO,t /^m-ikof the eiwiny, y4ha, afrtWrtj-h si^f^^d by d ftre Uponuhe Brttbl¥froih th«W batt^^ries dR U,« .opposite '-'sl/tw^, d«clirt;gd JeavIhg'lJje^irfciiii^rtchtftfentB to Vetttttre into the field. Th^ Comiiiarider oT^h* Fbweg did not d«*n itiadvUeable to risk a trtel for th*Wc«very^#f that post, ^icJh, by tlie'rmlfutMhyiiheenerrty'€io(>edup within the limit of^ the fort, dpi»i ted ft^oni ftg oMpa^ ti^o, '^ag rtot of aufficlem* moment to comfiensAte Ifor the loss, ttty»iBihi»hiifett8t have ^xperi^c^dfroW' ten assault. V Tile mhtAe f&rce hi th» *«ighbourhd^d>ot exceed, fm(fyi4n, on an extended iinfr, while that ofihe en^my in- Fort George, exceoded 40001^ totally Spending uj^WHtheir own reswirceg for tlie 6ubt)i«(eiice of their ariiiy^i and c6ropellc»d4o fcct'solely ow ihri^d^fengive^ (^wl the hds- Wle front assumed by ihe Brttifeh ik their fWigirtwkrttood: t ' 'Geh.jHar?iso»ln the meoiMiiiwwa^bffitlla SfmlS^ii^y -? n^^r,'^inak^ipr^p^ailioliYito tpnhMecHto tft» Hvar w*tb ii^tfur) ki dhnat j£hfi^ (Pre»qu^idtt;i)!iij|idi^iOap|f^^ • iwhoi/jkad) i |>«efa»' «l^iiatcfc««t iatftfthei».»b^ >C«itiifa©dtfi e Chauncey towards the fiiK*/offi^,n*i5ltottM^toe>ttt'^f- ' ficiTO iiifr'purjioie» andr immeaiatNdy inves'tfedi^e Ataeitffcan fFo»t<|at Lbw^ Sandtfgkyidien'utidei'ltfhe of LoweT *°^"*^^** ^i»^j0b eirogtowi^ W|tlr<3i foiice 4n^4e^)!m^dM tun'Mn, awd^1ifet#WH"ifit^e4^ttfUr ithoosandif ftdiaiifer uiide>(Mn msm^ aftld' to* rli 'm 4hfc ^iiemjifaiivoEWsjJtJi^ilJIvkifil} (thte Indiana > Jiaving'fceTi- vaiiaed(aiiper«eiww*'fc|y» tlKt ^ettiy rtincieir: ociveiT v^fifa •iloudidf smoke idnheodistatiioe' of)«igh(e«a onttw^y idbtoljBo^wiitcJ^'TOiilcfe IJit ^slbtbrifiwi libe a^lailjinlslirltD iii^s»dl\^aaicecNXo-.the KJtkterii wovks^ i begi^bijtotJccip^i&lo tiiei^iUdi^uv^eii *a££rUo(f/gva{MiUugfe ^ascfipe^jiedjfrwiii a as tbdarakie ^)Uievditoki)liSkort/ntlik> ())aJvei^iQffie«x^ '6hA lift^i^ wd' tneHoktJibd ond I wissingiii j tke >lkt!iifi^Ai imaeeu^oaned it&iilUb . I«fgit9e^.i|Ue iiiegeaod feUr« tof! Afttberstiffurgjtt^ajq^ ^ ijvt^y/uii egw .JuaL .'u.'jgiv b'itjfi'jii* 4fai; Ujia b /vl;> tvi no';;)j5 <>rfi iiMil'.s: ^^'Captwe of ^'^^^^^^'^^^^ |n?tfie^L€we|f Fitoviilpe ^sfeyve }l^e" ^^imW'Otit Qitm^iMi'iWbk old fortifwatioius al'^M^e *Ea«te 9|»njg]|^.;;|^„^ N^iS^inf^Iiaficalfy fernaed tbe fey '^i^¥^^^xi€' LoiiFer-OanaiAa^thftd beew repaired, and ^li^^gun-bbats(%^ni tbither fti^ni^i Qo^bec. Noma- ^eridl'bi^ciirreiMetrans^i'ediiflfhyiidghbdrbobd until ^W^tRird day *)6f Jiifli^''\^6n «ady in the morfting^ ef laad f(»*m«cir kboarBinj 4ng:|hex i^l..Al 1 SUUUIUiFi Jed tfcie b ch 'miht iver*«ftfa fiAi mhnae- edifreoua rftn'i <3iftft- ns jaJ4ijje ired, and Na' ma- odd until lorAing '» teiB] SIStJGSaDiRGA;' FR£V0S3?. »l» Id^giiesrabore ttlije.fttLBftd. ItoThis . vtipsti^l appearance cre»«|e# aa »al«rti!ml tUtf) ^ahridbriiiiit.tWatvtiBi^icoiii- ^aiidedjfcf^'UoiiteiiBmbHColoh«rfu€tearffe .T«j^ ^lpe<;ting^ield lOfficBrri(ti»en (Ma|i«r iK tW lOOtbOE^egii. mewt), jvbo ap^rahendkig firbinvpr^jiiciiis'p^vatfeiofoav Fhs^mti, « ctMRiibwed > attack ^ihMoi ttbe tikvai ibrfce; .dn Lafce Champiaia^ ufad the- thaopsr Itt tlwjnei^KbophocM^ etfiilHfc.|j6stf cafanianded byithi.Bb'igd^^ Sinithi 1 «pd C^rk*y)deteriiiuied > by>,a!id^oitive. ryin^«iadh ai carronade (oiic »fthfi|B/ a* eighteen, Uhietwi)! ©thi^rs twejiwe poundtEsJ add-havio^ aBajiaed^ itliftBi ^itI?:«>Wkrj8Reglr mf^t;^iikithf>eomM\^ffime^>^i€Mh boa^, proceeded t!>^ eit^age^tb^ enemy roiiH doubling tiw p^tfabprv^tfee ^a^ieen, juinioth^ vessel / was^>dfe8tiover«d>a slwkft diist- mek fr^i» tlil[ifa«m*r,?^hi«helrtoi©fl^ l^ing land. r/Ehii diis9f)nflSj^y did fsdti IjaweyeH dtet«r fcteWt^'iG&l. aiAytdr from fferseKearingari hislfo^me^^>»fi&o- Jatisn^ aw^ th?5 b©atj Si spiittt^^^r gag«itfentc<*OTi ensiiiedywhach^iirten »i6fc €a»tini*atkm, '^ksmspeaded inxm A deflti/eaMj; iofi^mmui^t ion, , thait was however, speedHyisiippiitd/fr^rnk the garrison^ when, the action revived with augmented vigour. Lieut. Gol^s/I'sytorr.hadjjoii leaiiintihe garrisoii,^ taken the ^iteteu*ioif lanttad two bateaux >M^iih & ^eiachmeat.of ^Idktr^foi^^hiBiiiiiaiibk purpose ofrendvrifig assist- lanc^ ta iihe^guft boats, in #e evjntof their beitig^&itfe suok^or di»»bled> iifeiihe engagement, or to assist in 'boarfluiglif itt8l«nddibQiif<]^at^;necessary ; bu^on see- angthe^-enefciy maiKDeuvring.uptthe ri,yei^, v-ith a light -goutiieyiy breei^jihy jwuiiQfi t'nfyrjil|eyBat€5y approach Jsd tfcte banks of the fiver, (here m<^re than a mile wide) 1 120 .TaAvsaTTiaDXirEXDxieF [fl8!3 I 1913] ! fae)(oii^mpt^Ts6neHoihoJ^(|«aiiliil^ mdi^dinefitadilbe t<<^ fthe!of>itiemu!WyiiaiBB}^ tiittf^thebien « the; W©ait>si(ir>tif /Ibd trivfe»i) ranite ntbal ofjQcaptaid 'Ow- 6 don, ^wBdhrfeDcterfl ttt^rQcced)Uf»^e 'iiTcar^>uiitilofi|}06iite •^4lifd>vbsaB4)S^ 9tuisU»4>^ ftbeifik iwitkitn^liU a^ras. ironii el- ,''lhefi^{Wu^>dO »>[/iw i ! o vrnon^ f)dl 'Jo ojiol! l/;vr£a eri'^ afiiiw ,b'>).i>,Ii.'finnjj taorrf|ji,2lD>!H')7 sasrlt'io 'nfitqc) arfJ vc e'lfid^EliiscideltocbisftntB^diBAheir fbTmlil ab tiie^p^Bt^of d^feiiEatioQ^ pwK[ir>cki)afid€ntri»t4>f6>fe^oo6ii!«Miietry'>bn » tHib en«tDi^(a#Uiicy <evilateiy>idp{iroticliiedi 'thei6tei#e. 0[^9 guoliekiiia iaaw} meW I tii|^viHfe fi^iith 2 a wdiridirectedtfive^fi'aBir'tiha^a'tbdatSfoF round and 2 gt-j^pr/^ GOibpktdy ckcideel iate» of thtbafftmn, 8 '^hifib I rothe ' h fjneihy 'mosi i ^al)ai|t9|^ o Icontestedi -> fpora z^halfio^EastoYiua^, votitil balf 'p^«l itight^ i»i tile- iBomiag, ^iarid^'4isliA>iiot^ ^?i^'fth : ■ Iftntry Bfte ♦u- _»i ^ t:rc UVMCr J .longing to oapture'd I [fl8!3 I 1913] ' isiKicorciaaB iRiKvasT* eUJ8l Jinedtixiilfae aptaid 'G«i'> \iit\ ofipositte ijnis>iroiBiel- qo 9rfJ V IJievpdiQtJof nbiiied'f^iih ?^rou»d and the 2Cti»n, «9ted»'jfpora le-iBomiitg, nee bdcame :un agvoimd /falt^iFtirds ii) fitted out 1th ,,cy)iipii- company of km vm\H pdi^it^vCthe uti G(^d#), sail ilXMiJ-9it) ' a' ;iiiri(iol. .Occasion, were highly r.a{)pIaudea-iibPliyti|i €bio»e] T^lar?s«fficial d«8patck^£hfiJbss.€»^^ siderabl©: htiBd»dd men »f M'hom)inany wierei Woundedv:; tbrikilJeil we*e ihroifn »veT<^oani,-diiriiig tliefflctioD. tlwJxiapl^ffs, 4ioi a /man was. ^killfed, aw* 'Wily 4bre^< peverrfy w<>»nded.1<*- The naval for^e of the enemy on Lake ChampWa was, by the capture of these ves8els,almost annihilated, while Jta«»rded thelBritish imtBediat&;a me bi»«?«%WV«a?jptwh6rfi,i^e>,ttver. beoaftifes isoihaifiwv (as ffioaocelyfito taffocdtraoiii «». manteitv^Lj^jtiii safeljf^, ijas :«evei|jijc«ft.e(J«cilig tbe}pott that a reg«lart«egi?i38(jaa bas ,9^010 boB noHn/idr. boni^ "'. *ftg^6^i^ir < ?^**^3Amem^ftp^el|jai> to dl«<«v^ ^iMmskitfkh(^}A^ft»^y iV^)fattiie>mp|tei»'4FitV! fikik'SP'^etB^H^ ^it q)03d^ta<^im^tl/i«t«Blerith»iMl Smelt, commandiitg'Hife'ri^iiti^Jand l«ft win^t^tiies'.cd-i pedition, with some artilli^ry under Capt. GordoB, and a >(^ 6f^'^lfl^i|eltilk>mi>C^ Mltiflr^ 7^fiitteajQQinifieiij''lhe s^^ftj^ t'fefe Office, moVed^llrten Isle-^x^oM for l^fm^ikmon ^'mn ^«tfdHl %k%bui ^oi^^U^ «t #ide*hbfe%ody (rf'WeW/ifi^rted^iVlalltotit fittSen teW- ilJiki ill. -'tAltJ-i... i^^aJLl:ta^t .tJJiJL '^tlji -uA^mk I -^j^^^^ LfA - Li- r^ A . -,f J-j« i ^Itislhl ' Hwe^i*' Cdlcb^l IVftjiray ;havi% pifevbusl^ | Al'Jal^, ei to«U)dCk tachmeat thf Bian «MMO iM £xteeile]| Champla ments of W»»iQg 4e- ca|»bl»,of,fftaci^i*0ti4lt«pg ^WwiflPWd^a jSjV#iAbfidlwi«li Sonxi^hmmn^imm^m^ikmw M»i platoe into tbe iHn^st ,wn5t«fln^ift|fl . ^!^YmB ^3f^^i and awtroiyied^ yimJ9^mj^t,Q^:thfii^^mg^49y9^, f4iff^c|ionsij«o|waHg^ ^„p^^ ^l,^^y.p^ 124 MmmmmATtim ov Srom whence the whole tuppUes for the Upper Pro- vince, were, by that geotleiiMui, forwarded to Kingtton, with the moft iadefatifdfole diltgenee. To intercept the coDvoyi of batte«ux with provitiottt from that post to KtngitoR) the Anerieaai bad lent several croiiers and privateen firom Sacket'i Harbour to the vicinity of Prefcot, and among tlie Thousen4 J»land$, Ou the dOth Jiriy, the enemy having succeeded in turpriting and capturing at da^ break, a brigade of batteaux loaded with provisions under convoy of a gun-boat, with which they retired several miles up Goose Creeli, on the South of the St. Lawrence, below Gananoque, three gun- boats under the command of Lieut. Scott of the Royal Navy, were despatched from Kingston witii a detachment of the 100th regt. under capt. Martin, with a view of intercepting^ them on their return to Sachet's Harbour. The proceeded to the lower end o( Long Aftiir at Island, where, having ascertained the re- GoMe Cwek. ^f^f^^ of the enemy, they inomediately posh- ed for that place, but before they came in sight of the American vessels, the evening was too far advanced to make an attack with any prospect of success ; it was ^lerelbre determined to defer the attack until the next morning. Another gun boat arriving in the course of the evening with a detachment of the 41st Regiment, un- der Major Frend, ^Mrt Officer assumed the command, aiid at three o'clock the next morning, proceeded up the Creek with tiie gun boats, in the h^pes of gaining tile enemy's position at the dawn of day. They pro- jceeded until the channel became so narrow that the gon boats could neither use tbev oars nor turn, so as fi8i3 I im\ o|?§tru9 *M l>kt«ll «Im^ ifk Vk^i #luk l^nnlrtf an^ a* «Bi!ti%^o«Jnded,^ .SFWfegaJiant, youiig?««cer, W B4i^hf^lyi^f^^m$ior^ Fiiesd in.|mrsoit of.W teeiW ;lii»c»iM|p.Tf|p^,to asskt in acco«i|>li8itt8g fak p^j^ 0««^|fl?be *ifwi)i^ EBifc^Wei^ |,y .tb« mmeut^ neigibii-bwod io atlie «M9|^aiicei of th«i€oBip||SiirMt '^isc^^js .^'l r ■*■." IVw^^iwrncci aito|cliil?% p^ifco. m i-*'' h'f 126 ADMINISTRATION OV [1813 I J913J 4P tary opportunity of checking their temerity. Seven Companies of the 100th Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, on their route from Islie-aux-Noix, to Upper Canada, arriving in the mid- dle of August at Prescot, Lieutenant Colonel Pearson in command at that post, had previous orders to form an expedition in conjunction with the detachment un- der that Officer, and about eighty seamen that were to have been there at the same time,, (on their route from Quebec to. Lake Erie, to man the fleet on that Lake under Captain Barclay,)* in order to dislodge the enemy from Goose Creek, and to scour the Thou- sand Islands infested by his Privateers. The seamen not arriving so soon as expected, and the urgency of the service in the Upper Province, requiring the imme- diate advance of this reinforcement of troops, there was no time for delay, and the expedition consisting of five gun boats, with upwards of 400 men under the command of Lieutenant Colonels Pearson and Taylor, immediately^ sat out for Goos Creek, which the ene- my precipitately abandoned upon their approach. From thence they cruised for some time among the Thousand Islands^ and visited Gravelly Point in the vicinity of Sacket's Harbor. This excursion proved of material importance to the security of -the transport of provision and stores destined fRiy08T. 120 bour : early in the morning of the seventh of Septem- ber, when the American fleet again weighed and bore down upon the British, with which they manceuvred until the twelfth, when the latter returned into Am- herst Bay near Kingston. During these five days, but few shots were exchanged between the larger ships, without any injury to either side. The Americans^ however, had much the advantage in weight of met^ and Jong guns. The fleets again met, on the 28th of September off* York, when an engagement ensued fop near two hours, in which the Wolfe, commanded by bir James L. Yeo, lost her main and mizen topmasts, and would probably have been captured, had not the Koyal George, commanded by captain Mulcaster, run m between the Wolfe and the Pike, taking the latter m a raking position, so as to afibrd the Wolfe an op- portunity of hauling off- and dealing away the wreck. 1 his affair terminated in the retreat of the British fleet under Buriington Heights, whither the enemy did not thmk proper to. pursue it : a resolution, which if adopted by the American Commander might proba- bly have been fetal to the British fleet on Lake Onta- rio. On the 1 st of October, the American fleet set sail from Fort George with a convoy of troops for Sacket's Harbour, where an expedition was preparing, whose destination was as yet unknown. The British fleet left their anchorage under Buriington Heights on the next day, and came in sight of the enemy, but no attempt Was made to bring on a general engagement. The American fleet in their w^y to Saeket's Harbour fell ia With, and captured five small vessels out of seven, with upwards of 250 men of De Watte ville's Regiment from iork, bound for Kingston, where aa attack was appre- 11* 130 ADMINISTRATION OV [1813- I 18ia] / hended. This loss, though apparently trifling in itself, was severely felt, by reason of the few forces in the Up- per-Province. For the remainder of the season noth- ing of moment occurred on this Lake ; and indeed the Naval Commanders appear to have considered the question of too great importance to their respective Governments to stake the fate of war in Upper-Canada, upon a decisive naval engagement. CHAPTER VJ. JNsval Engagement on lake Erie. Evacuation of Detroit by the BritislT, Battle at the Moravian Village and defeat of General Proctor. The British raise the investment of Fort George. Invasion of Lower-Ca- * liada by Gen. Hampton, and the defeat of the enemy at Chateauguay • by Lieut. Col. De Salaberry. Wilkinson's Expedition. Battle of . Chrystler's Farm. Retreat of the Americans to Salmon River. Gen. Prummond assumes the Command in Upper-Canada. Americans evacuate Fort George. British surprise and capture Fort JNi&> ^ara. THE campaign towards the autumn assumed a mart systematic and menacing character. At the be- ginning of September, the forces at Burlington (Vei> fiiont) under General Hampton, moved across Lake Champlain to Plattsburgh, with a view of penetrating .__ . .. J. >_«_^ ^f mir^ -A.._^_i __i-!i^ r;i___ i iXTnt-i » with ] ing un strong teau ai to be Generj on the the An ry, at and to in the clay, w mand o the Am Bar at without August, Point, \ and crc my rea< squadrc the equi modore the Lak tember, burgh, i every e^ British i bourhoc pended other al With thi VtS iii\i iff-: [1813- I 1819] ■IX OCORQE PBEVOST. tSi ; in itself, m the Up- son notl>- ndeed the Jered the •espective -Canada, jrtheBritislr, roctor. Tlie f Lower-Ca- :)hateauguay • ,. Battle of River. Gen. Americans e Fort Wia- led a mort At the be- ton (V€i> TOSS Lake enetrating iimi-i - 7? HjkiHiVif With 10,000 men at Sacket's Harbour, was prepar- ing under the immediate direction of General Ann- strong the Secretary of War, a numerous flotilla of bat- teau and Durham boats, for an expedition supposed to be destioed either against Kingston or Montreal Oeneral Harrison tvith an army of eight tlwusand men on the Miami river, only waited for the equipment of the American fleet fittiiig out under Commodore Pep. ry, at Presqu'Isle, to move his forces against Detroit, and to carry on offensive operations against the British in the neighbourhood of Lake Erie. Captain Bar- clay who had early in the summer, assumed the com. mandofthe British squadron on Lake Erie, blockaded the American fleet, so as to prevent their crossing anNISTIUTION OF seamen^ (including a small reinforcement of thirty-six men from Lake Ontario) and Detachments from the Naval action 41stj and Royal Newfoundland Regiments, on Lake Erie, as marinesi On the tenth in the morning the enemy's fleet were descried at anchor in Put-in- Bay^i which immediately weighed and bore down up- on the British squadron, while the wind blowing a gentle breeze from the South West, veering round to the South East, gave the enemy the weather-gage. At a quarter before twelve, the British commenced firing, which was in ten minutes afterwards returned by the enemy who bore up for close action. The engage^ ment continued with unabated fury until half ^ ttwo, when the enemy's principal ship, the Lawrence, being rendered unmanageable, Commodore Perry left her in charge of his first Lieut. Yarnal, and hoisted his Pen- dant on board the Niagara. Soon after this officer had left the Lawrence her colours were struck, but the Bri- tish from the weakness of their crews and destruction ol their boats, were unable to take possession of her. II was at this anxious and interestingjuncture, that the fate of the day seemed to poise in favor of the British ; and Commodore Perry even despaired of the victory, when a sudden breeze revived his hopes, and turned the scale in his favor. This fortunate Commander find- ing the Niagara had sufiered lightly in the engage- ment, made a desperate eflfort toretreivethe fortune of the day, and taking advantage of the breeze, shot ahead of the Lady Prevost, Queen Charlotte and Hunter, raking them with her starboard guns, and engaged the Detriot, which being raked in all directions soon be- came unmana«yeable. The Niagara then bore round »head of the Queen Charlotte, and hauling up on the [1813 I 18131 SIR GEOKGB PRETOST. 133; Starboard tack, engaged that Ship, giving at the same .time a raking fire with her larboard guns to the Chip- pawa and Little Belt, while the smaller vessels closing to grape and canister distance, maintained a tremend- ous and most destructive fire. This masterly, and but ^o successful manoeuvre decided the contest. Capt Barclay, being severely and dangerously wounded^ Captain Finnis of the Queen Charlotte, killed, and I'^u^ ^TT^'t'' ^"^ ^^"^" ^^^^"*^ »» command, either killed or disabled, the Detriot and Queen Charl k>tte, perfect wrecks, after a desperate engagement of upwards of three hours, were compelled to surrender, «y this decisive action, the whole of the British squad- ron on Lake Erie was captured by the enemy, who now became uncontrollable masters of the Lake. The enemy lost in this action twenty-seven men in kil- led and ninety-six men wounded. The British lost three officers and thirty-eight men killed, and nine offi- cers and eighty.five men wounded. The Prisoners were landed at Sandusky and treated with the greatest humanity by the American I ommo- dore, who paroled Captain Barclay, and treated that ^gallant officer with all the kindness and attention which his unsuccessful bravery deserved. The army in possession of the Michigan Territory and the neighbourhood of Detroit, by this disastrous defeat, were deprived of every prospect of obtaining future supplies from Kingston by way of Lake Onta- rio, and a speedy evacuation of Detroit and a retreat towards the head of that r.nl.*. l.^^o :„...:._,... 'commodore Perry, as soon after the engagement as. 134 UDMINISTBATION OF [1813 circumstances would admit, transported the American forces under the command of General Harrison, from Portage River and Fort Meigs, to Put-in-Bay, from whence they were conveyed to the neighbourhood of Amherstburgb, which they occupied on the evening of the 23d of September, General Proctor having pre- viously fallen back upon Sandwich, after setting fire to the Navy Yard, Barracks and Public Stores, at the for- mer place. General Proctor seeing the enemy deter- mined to follow up his first success, by an immediate inarch upon Detroit, found his troops void of resour- ces, too reduced in numbers to make a stand and dis- pute occupancy of that Post against the overwhelming force of the enemy. He therefore determined to re- treat along the river Thames toward the head of Lake Evacuation Chitariov Ott September 26th he evacuated of Detriotby Detroit and Fort Sandwich, and com- menced his retreat toward the Thames, hav- ing entirely destroyed the pubHc stores at those posts. In this reverse of fortune the Indians under Colonel Elliot of the Indian Department, with Tecumseh, still adhered to his standard with unshaken fidelity, and co- vered his retreat. Harrison occupied Sandwich on the following day (the 27th Sept.) and on the second of October marched in quest of the shattered remains of the Bi-itisb Forces under General Proctor, escort- ed by a number ©rbatteaux, and three guurboats, un^ der the immediate direction of Commodore Perry. On the 4th of October, he came up with the rear guard of the British, and succeeded in capturing the whole of their ammunition and stores. General Proctor, «nder this second reverse of fortune, by which he was k£t destitute of the means of subsistence ajud defence, 1813; found nant < accor< the T] lage,) ported distan< by th< The in dry an ed the ingof miles fa three b and by men, cj ingloric in two J posed t tence^ ai try, on from th< ty throi at full ed befoi Battle at Moravian 'age, and feat of Ge ral Proctoi ly routei selves pr Staff, SOI mean tin 1813] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. American on, from iay, from irhood of veiling of nng pre- ingfire to tthe for- ny deter- nmediate f resour- [ and dis- kvhelming^ ed to re- i of Lake vacuated nd com- mes, hav- ose posts. r Colonel nseh, still ^i and co- idwich on lie second i remains r, escort- )oats, un^ e Perry, ear guard the whole Proctor, :h he was d defence, found himself compelled to stake the fate of the rem nant of h.s small army on a general engagement He acxordmgly assumed a position on thf ^ b-^^f age?tr^^^^^ f ^^^'«° '^-'^ (an'indian vi^. pTtibJf^^^ sup- ported by a field piece, his right on a swamo atthT b; T:hon^^^^^^^ r ^ '"^^^^ Hver,7n7L"M by the whole Indian force attached to ^he division The intermediate ground covered with lofty trees Z dry _a„d somewhat elevated. In this posit 1^;^ three W..„, ^^17:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and by crossing a number of infantry behi nd fhTi, ^ ' -en, came up with the British in thTaf e noo„ o^^^^^^^^^^^ inglorious day. General Harrison drew «p his 1' in two lines, and secured his left d.nh Jl ° ed before the latter had time to discharge their S Battle at the fire. By this cavalrv ch^vJ^ J\u Moravian Vii. ^„ ., / tavairy charge of the ene- Jagc, and de- f^^' ^he troops, worn down with fatigue and wound- ieven kil- : In()ians them the less cele- 'n among ^, his elo- Hies. Up- g twenty- rhey who (f the On- 3 raise the and con- it General Harrison, by a bold and rapid march, or by a sudden descent in the fleet from Amherstburgh, should pre-oc cupy that important position, which if eflected by the enemy, would plaCe him between th^' two hostile armies* • « To retire with order and safety, at a moment when the enemy emboldened by recent triumphs, and the advantage of superior numbers, might by a decisive strolie, have dispersed our forces on the Niagara fron- . tier, was a movement of the utmost consequence to the security of Upper-Canada. The British line, extending in front of Fort George from the Four-Mile Creek on Lake Ontario, to the cross roads and St. Davids, was so extremely weaken- ed by sickness as to be scarcely able from three or four thousand men to exhibit one third of that number of effective firelocks in case of emergency : but the superior advantages of decision and method in effect- ing the retreat, amply provided for the safety of the movement. Early in the morning of the 9th of Oc- tober, the main body with the baggage fell back in si- lence and with good order, while the picquets remain- ed at their Posts in front of Fort George, in order to engage the attention of the enemy, who were not aware BriiJsli raise ^^ the retreat until the evening, when the of F^Geol^r' P^"^"^^^ ^^" b^^^k upon seven companies of the 100th Regiment under the com- mand of Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, which were se- lected for the occasion, and with the light company ot the 8th Regiment and a ie\v Indians, the whole at. tacfaed to the command of Colo^el Murray, constitute ■* 140 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 ed the rear guard, and covered the retreat of the main body. This small but effective force, and which dur- ing the investment had participated in all the fatigues and privations incident to that service, proceeded in the rear of the army by slow and deliberate marches, and though closely pressed for several days by a Brigade of 1500 men under Brigadiers General M*Clure and Porter, from Fort George, so effectually checked their pursuit as to afford time to Gen. Vincent to collect the remains of the right division under Gene- ral Proctor, and to prepare himself against an attach at Burlington Heights. Aflter a few days march and constant manoeuvring with M'Clure's division, the rear guard finally assum- ed a position at the already celebrated Stony Creek, from which the enemy did not think it prudent to at- tempt to dislodge them. The Commander of the Forces having left Major General De Rottenburgh in charge of the civil and military commands in Upper-Canada,returned to Mon- treal towards the end of September, to meet the inva- sion with which the enemy threatened the Lower Pro- vince. Gen. Hampton, after having transported his force across Lake Champlain, lay encamped for some days at Cumberland Head, near Plattsburgh. On the 20th of September, he entered Lower-Canada, (his ad- vanced guard having surprised a small picquet early in the morning) at Odletown, at the lower extremity of Lake Champlain, with upwards of five thousand men. The road leading from thence to I'Acadie, and the open country in the neighbourhood of Montreal, lies thro' 1813] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 141 a swampy wood of upwards of five leagues wMch had been cut up and rendered impracticable by abbatis since the preceding campaign, by the Voltigeurs under Lieut. Col. De Salaberry, and was now guarded by a few of the Frontier Light Infantry, and some Indians under the direction of capt. Mailloux. These were immediately reinforced by the flank companies of the 4th battalion of the embodied militia under Major Per- rault, and the Canadian Voltigeurs under Lieut. Col. De Salaberry who commanded the advance. Had Hampton immediately sent forward a body of riflemen through the woods, he might, without much diflSculty, have obtained a footing in the open country near St. John's ; which, if he could have succeeded in occupy- ing,must have led to the sun-ender of the Isle-aux-Noix. He however seems not to havebeenaware of our weak- ness, or to have placed little relianoe in the discipline a«d perseverance of his troops. On the 22d September, he evacuated Odletown, and moved with his whole force westward, toward the head of Chateauguay River, un- der pretext of the impracticability of advancing thro' the Odletown road for want of water for his cavalry and cattle, owing to the extraordinary drought of the season.. At thfs momentous crisis, the Commander of the Forces issued an animating Proclamation, calling for the exertions of the people in repelling the thfeatenw invasion; and the militia in the district of Montreal, turned out with the same ardour and alacrity as in the preceding campaign. x.u 142 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 Lifiut. Col. Lieut. Col. De Salaberry, with the Ca- De Salaberry nadiai) Voltigeurs,on ascertaining the route attackstheen- .. , , j j • im cmy's camp at ^"e enemy had pursued, moved in nke man- Four Comers. Qer to Chateauguay, where he was ordered by the Commander of the Forces, to proceed to the enemy's camp at Four Corners^ at the h^ad of the Chateauguay, in order to create an alarm, and if pos- sible dislodge him by a surprise. To effect this ser- vice (the accomplishment of which appeared quite im- practicable to Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry, with the very limited force under his command) he proceeded through the woods along the Chateauguay, with one hundred and fifty of his Voltigeurs, the Light Company of Canadian Fencibles, and about one hundred Indians under the direction of capt. Gaucher ; and on the after- noon of the first of October, arrived, unobserved, at the vicinity of the.et)emy's camp. By the indiscretion of one of his Indians, who had discharged his piece, an alarm was created, when Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry finding himself discovered, immediately collected fifty of his Voltigeurs, with which, and his Indians, he push- ed into the enemy's advanced camp, consisting of two light Battalions of about 400 men each, and drove them for a considerable distance, until perceiving the main body of the enemy making movements to circum- vent him, he fell back, and took up his former position at the skirt of the woods. From this point Lieut. CoL De Salaberry again made another charge, but the alarm being now universal in the camp, and the In- dians having ^fallen to the rear, his men were obliged to retire, leaving him and Captains Chevalier Duches- ney and Gaucher, with a few trusty Voltigeurs, who skirmished with the enemy until after dark. Of the 1813] Amerii only CI more p killed momen sion tc Voltigc gave hi men, w plified After tl ing the and ac€ Hampt< vince, a wood, < the distj ence of threw u] front an> was seci Here his grou whole st; was a sn he cover keeping i harnois : river, les forest, mi ground. iustlv rnn SIR GEORGG PREVOST. 143 the Ca- he route ike man- ordered d to the i of the i if pos- this ser- (uite im- tvith the oceeded vith one ompany [ Indians le after- ved, at scretion iece, an daberry ted fifty be push- 5 of two d drove ving the circum- position ut. CoL but the [ the In- obliged Duches- rs, who Of the 1813] Americans, one officer and one man were killed, and only one wounded, by their own statement ; tho' other more probable accounts, state their loss at twenty-five killed and wounded. This affair, though of inferior moment, deserves our attention, as it afibrded an occa- sion to Lieut. Colonel De Salabcrry, of leading his Voltigeursforthe first time into action, and probably gave him a just confidence in the valor of his country- men, which a few days afterwards they so nobly exem- plified under their gallant leader at Chateauguay. After this rencounter he retui-ned to Chateauguay, tak- ing the precaution of breaking up the road in his'rear, and acquainting himself with the ground over which, Hampton was expected to make his way into the pro- vince, and finally assumed a judicious position in a thick wood, on the left bank of the Chateauguay river, at the distance of two leagues above the Fork or conflu- ence of the English and Chateaguay rivers, where he- " threw up temporary breast works of logs, covering his front and right ftank by extended abbatis, while his left was secured by the river. Here he resolved to await the enemy and maintain^ his ground with a handful of Canadians, against the whole strength of the invading army. In his rear there was a small rapid where the river was fordable : thia he covered with a strong breast work and a guard • keeping at the same time a strong picquet of the Beau- harnois militia 'm advance on the right bank of the river, lest the enemy approaching under cover of the forest, might cross the Ford, and dislodge him from his ground. The occupancy of this position, Hampton ^ ^ -^^. vwi v£ iMv uisi iusj^ibiuice lotae ulterioir ^ f^ ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 object of the campaign, as the country from thence to the mouth of the Chateauguay, being principally open and cultivated, afforded no strong points to check his progress to the St. Lawrence, and prevent his junction with Gen. Wilkinson's Division, which iu fact was not yet in readiness to move. General Hampton in the mean time, to distract and divide the attention of the British, directed Col. Clark to carry on a petty warfare on the Eastern side of Lake Champlain, and that ruthless Depredator accord- ingly infested the settlements in Missiskoui Bay, where he plundered the inhabitants in the most wanton man- ner, i On the 21st of October, Gen. Hampton again en- tered Lower-Canada, having early in the morning of that day dispatched his light troops and a regiment of the line, under Brigadier General Izard, to dislodge a small picquet of sedentary militia, and a few Indian warriors, at the junction of the Outarde and Chateau- guay rivers, where the main body arrived on the 22di On the 24th, having opened and completed a large and practicable road from his position at Four Corners, (a distance of 24 miles) through wood's and morasses, which Lieut. Col. De Salaberry on returning from Four Corners, had broken up and embarrassed with abbatis, the whole of his artillery (10 field pieces) and Stores were brought forward' to His new position, about seven miles from Lieut. Col. De Balaberry's post. Battle of ^Jfom this point he despatched Colonel Chateauguay. Pur^v with a light Brigade, and a strong KftA\T rtf T*iA»n*fv wif tViA linii ai an parlv hour in ihft hie f\ir\w^t [181 1813] SIB GEORGE PREV03T. UB thence to ally open check his i junction t was not tract and !ol. Clark rn side of »r accord- ay, where itou mau- again en- orning of giment of iislodge a !w Indian Chateau- 1 the 22d; large and Corners, morasses, ling from ssed with eces) and on, about post. 1 Colonel 1 a strong iir in thft night of the 25th, with orders to gain the Ford, and fall on the rear of Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry*s po- sition ; while the main body were to commen':e the at- tack in front. Purdy's brigade proceeded, but were misled and bewildered in the woods, either through the ignorance or treachery of the guides, and did not gain the point of attack as directed by the commanding offi- cer. General Hampton however advanced next morn- ing (26th Oct.) under the expectation of hearing the intended attack at the Ford, and at ten o'clock made his appearance with about three thousand five hundred men, under General hard on the high road, leading to the abbatis, and drove in a small picquet of twenty- five men, who falling back upon a second picqutt made resolute stand, and maintained a smart fire upon the enemy. Lieut. Col. Dt 'alaberry, upon hearing the niusketry, promptly adva» ed with the light company of the Canadian Fencibles, commanded by captain Ferguson, and two companies of his Voltigeurs com- manded by captains Chevalier and L. Juchereau Duch- esnay. The first of these companies he posted on the right, in front of the abbatis, in extended order, its right skirting on the adjoinhig woods and abbatis, among which were distributed a (ew Abenaqui Indians. Capt. Chevalier Duchesnay's company of Voltigeurs in extended order, occupied the ground from the left of this company to the river Cheteauguay, and the third company under captain L. Juchereau Duches- nay, with about thirty-five sedentary militia, under capt. Longtain, were thrown back en Potence along the margin of the river, for the purpose of flanking, or preventing a flank fire from the enemy in the event of 146 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 1813] enemy in the mean time advanced with steadiness in open column of sections to within musliet shot, m hen Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry discharged his rifle as a signal to commence firing, at which a mounted officer was seen to ialL The Bugles sounded and a quick fire was iipmediately opened upon the enemy whq^ wheeled up into' line, and commenced a fire in Battalion vol- lies, which from the position of their line, was almost totally thrown to the right of the Canadians, and of no effect whatever. They however soon changed their front parallel to their adversaries, by facing to the right, and fileing up with speed, when the engagement became general. The retreat of a few skirmishers, rather ad- vanced in the centre of the line, being mistaken by tht enemy for a flight, an universal shout ensued, whici was re-echoed by the Canadians, and the reinforce ments in reserve under Lieutenant Colonel M'Don nell, while Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry as a ruse at Guerre ordered the bugles placed at intervals, in the abhatis, to soH«d an advance : this had tht desired ef- fect and checked the ardour of the enemy, who suS' pected that the Canadians were advancing in great numbers to circumvent them. The noise of the en- gagement brought on Colonel Purdy's division on the opposite side of the river, which having driven in the picquet of the sedentary militia under Captain Bru- guier, were pressing on for the Ford, at which Lieut. Colonel De Salabersy ordered the light company of the 3d Battalion Embodied Militia, under Captain Daly, to cross and take up the ground abandoned by the Picquet. Captain Daly with his company crossed at the Ford, and having advanced fell in with, and drove back the advanced guard of the Ameri<;ans up- on the compel] ed Cap overwh< on the I Juchere conceal Lieut. ( effectual the utm( precipiti Genei certed b bank, w two in t effort to point of 1 with scai field of a Sir Geor arrived < dicious a Colonel countryn the wan Forces, a and imp; Capt. ] severe w I werd foui [1813 idiness in ot, M'hen rifle as a ed officer quick fire t wheeled ilion vol- as almost s, and of ged their the right, it became ather ad- en by tht id, whicl einforce I M'Don a ruse at lis, in th£ esired ef- who suS' in great f the en- >n on the en in the ain Bru- :h Lieut, npany of Captain ioned by y crossed vith, and i<;ans up- 1813] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 147 on the main body, which still pressed forward and compelled him in his turn *o fall back. Having repuls- ed Captain Daly's Company, they were moving on in overwhelming numbers with eagerness and speed close on the bank of the river, until opposite to Captain L. Juchereau Duchesnay's Company, which hitherto lay concealed, and now at the word of command from Lieut. Col. De Salaberry opened so unexpected and effectual a fire upon the enemy, as to throw him into the utmost disorder, and to occasion a tumultuous and precipitate retreat. General Hampton finding his arrangements discon- certed by the total route of the division on the right bank, withdrew his forces in good order at half past two in the afternoon, without having made a single effort to carry the abbatis and entrenchments at the point of the bayonet, leaving Lieut. Col. De Salaberry wHh scarely three hundred Canadians, masters of the field of action. Towards the ia. Pur- to Four- rear and ;d by this imency of d the na- >re capa- m in the J shortly to winter A.merican the pub- to Con- Body of swledge the experienced ladian Fen- Duchesnay, motte of the >atch on this his gracious MAM!*!. £... 1813] SIR eeORGE PREVOST. 149 the 3l8t December, i813, tending to explain the causes of the failure of the American arms on the 'Northern Frontier," was, by hpstily withdrawing their forces from Fort Geoige to Sacket's Harbour, to make a sudden descent upon Kingston, before the British forces could be called in from the Niagara fron- tier; while Hampton was to make a simultaneous move- ment on Lake Champlain, indicating an intention of attacking Montreal and its dependencies, and really to attack them if to reinforce the Upper Provmce, these posts should be materially weakened. The lin- gering progress of the armament at Sacket's Harbour afforded time to call in reinforcements to Kingston, and after some discussion between General Wilkinson and the Secretary of War, it was determined, at the in- stance of the latter, to leave that post in the rear and proceed down the St. Lawrence for Montreal. The American forces to about ten thousand men according- ly rendezvoused towards the end of October on Grena- dier Island, in the neighbourhood of Kingston, where General De Rottenburgh confidently expecting an at- tack, was prepared for the event. From thisjpoint, af- ter experiencing much foul weather, Wilkinson com- menced his movement under cover of the American fleet, and on the 3d November slipt into the St. Law, rence with a flotilla of upwards of three hundred boats of various sizes, escorted by a division of gun-boats. He proceeded to within three mUes of Prescot and land- ed his troops on the American shore, who proceeded downwards by land to a Bay or Cove, two miles below* that post, in order to avoid the British batteries, while the flotilla passed them in the night of the sixth, with- out sustaining any material injuiy in their passage by the cannonade. 13 i ido ADMINISTRATION Of 11813 The movement of the flotilla down the St. Lawrence being ascertained at Kingston, General De Rotten- burgh detached a small force fix>,m that post, consist- ing of the 49th Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Plenderleath, the 89th Regiment and some Voltigeurs, which when reinforced by Lieut. Colonel Pearson with a party of the Canadiaa Fencibles from Prescot, amounted to about 800 rank and file, the whole coin- ihanded by Lieut. Colonel Morrison of the 89th Regi- ment, and accompanied by the Deputy Adjutant-Gene- raL This corps of observation proceeded under the escort of a small division of gun-boats, commanded by Captaiu Mulcaster, R. N. in pursuit of the enemy, and on the 8th came up with them at Point Iroquois. Ge- neral Wilkinson had on the preceding day directed Colonel Macomb to land on the British shore with 1200 IBCB, in order to clear the coast down to the head of the Long Sault, of the militia collecting along the shore from various parts of the Country . On the 18th this ^livision was reinforced by Brigadier General Brown's Brigade, with a body of Dragoons from the American shore. On arriving at the head of the Long Sault, the whole of the effective men, except such a« were required for navigating the boats down the rapid, were landed under the orders of Brigadier General Boyd, who was to proceed down by land in the rear of General Brown^s division to the foot of the Long Sauk. On the tenth, Lieut. Col. Moi^rison with the gun-boats visit- ed the American post at Hamilton, where he, landed and took possessioji of a considerable quantity of pro- visions and stores, belonging to the American army with two Dieces of ordnance. Lieut. Col. Harvey in the mean time followed up the enemy, who in the 11813 awrence Rotten- consist- !ut. Col. Itigeurs, son with Prescot, )le com- th Regi- it-Gene- nder the inded by imy, and lois. Ge- directed i^ith 1200 ad of the he shore 18th this Brown's Lmerican )ault, the required e landed who was General t. On the >ats visit- le, landed y of pro- an army [arvey in 10 in the 1813]; SIR GS0R6E PREVOST, 151 evening were observed advancing from the woods in considerable numbers with a body of cavalry, but, up- on receiving a few rounds from three field pieces, and probably finding their pursuers better prepared than they expected, fell back for the night * On the ensu- Battle of J"g <^ayj Lieut. Colonel Morrison pressed Chrystier'8 go closely upon the rear of General Boyd's division, as to compel him to concentrate his forces and give battle, a description of which can- not be more accurately conveyed than by quoting Lc. Colonel Morrison's official despatch on the occasion. * The enemy's force, consisting of two brigades of In- fantry, and a Regiment of cavalry, amounting to be- tween three and four thousand men, moved forward about two o'clock in the afternoon from CjirystlerV Point, and a tacked our advance, which gradually fell back to the position selected for the detachment to oc- cupy, the right resting on the river, and the left on a pine-wood, exhibiting about seven hundred yards. The ground being open, the troops were thus disposed^ The Flank Companies of the 49th Regiment, the de- tachment of the Canadian Regiment, with one field piece, under Lieut. Colonel Pearson, on the right ; a little advanced on the road—Three companies of the 89t!i Regiment, under Captain Barnes, with a gun formed in echellon with the advance on its left sup- porting it. The 49th and the 89th thrown more to t'le rear, with a gun, formed the main body and re- serve, extending to the woock on the left ; which were occupied by the Voltigeurs, under Major Her- J Some smarf cannonading iu the mean time took place between the gun-lioats. 152 ADMINISTRATION OrF [181 riot, and the Indians under Lieutenant Anderson — At about half past two the action became general, when the enemy endeavored by moving forward a Brigade from his right, to turn our left, but was repulsed by the 89th Regiment forming en potence with the 49th Regiment, and by moving forward, occasionally firing iby platoons ; his efforts were next directed against our right, and to repulse this movement, the 49th •Regiment took ground in that direction, in Echellon, followed by the 89th. When within half musket shot, the line was formed under a heavy but irregular fire from the enemy — The 49th was directed to cliarge their guns pobted opposite to ours, but it became ne- cessary when within a short distance of them, to check this forward movement, in consequence of a charge from their cavalry on the right, lest they should wheel about, and fall upon the rear, but they were received in so gallant a manner by the companies of the 89th under Captain Barnes, and the well directed fire of the Artillery, that they quickly retreated, and by a charge from those companies, one gun was gained. — The enemy immediately concentrated their force to check our advance, but such was the steady countenance and well directed fire of the troops and artillery, that about half past four, they gave way at all points from an exceeding strong position, endeavouring by their light infantry to cover their retreat, who were soon driven away by a Judicious movement made by Lieut, Colonel Pearson. The detachment for the night oc- cupied the ground fwoni which the enemy had been driven." ThiSj (called the battle of Chrystler's Farm fvoip. [181 lerson — al, when Brigade ulsed by he 49th ly firing against he 49th Ichellon, let shot, ular fire cliarge aroe ne- [o check I charge Id wheel received he 89th re of the I charge d.—The o check ince and ry, that ats from by their re soon y Lieut, [Ight oc- ad been m fvom ^°^^] SIB GEORGE PREVOST. '153 the ground on which it occurred,) is in the estimation of military men, considered the handsomest affair dur- ing the late war, from the professional science display, ed m the course of the action, by the adverse com- manders; and when we consider the pi^odlgious pre- paratives of the American government for that expedi. tion, with the failure of which their hopes of conquest vanished, the battle of Chrystler's Farm may be class- ed as an event of the first importance in the defence of these provinces * The American division after leaving the field, re- embarked m haste, while the dragoons, with five field pieces of light artillery proceeded down towards Corn- wall, m the rear of General Brown's division, who unaware of the battle, had continued his march for that * Lieut. Colonel Morrison concludes his despatch by the following tesumony, of the ^eal and bravery manifested by the officers andmef under bis command. " Jt is now my grateful duty to point out to your Honor, the benefit rUon's Wr'^/^T'^'! ^-™^^-^'"ty, ju^ent and LtLe f ertions, of Lieut Colonel Karvey, the Deputy Adjutant General, fo^ spanng whom to accompany the detachment, I must again p^bnl express my acknowledgements. To the cordial co-oper!tion and ex^ p'i^Zt kT Colonel Pearson, commanding the detachment fro^ ^escot, Lieut. jEolonelPlenderleath, 49th Regiment, Major Clifford -the RorAH^r' "'■'t'' V""' ^«'«g«"".-d Captain Jackson « the Royal Artillery, combined with the gallantry of the troops, ouJ great success may be^attributed ; eve^rman did hiTduty, andTbd e^ cannot mom strongly speak their merit, than in mentioning that o^ small force did not exceed eight hundred rank and file Denl^nfenf i"*^"''". and Skinner, of the Quarter Master General's hlrir- 'A u^"' the greatest obKgatibns for the assistance I ?„"!.^'r^*l"*"*«!™^'» °^*h« ^Wilitia, and Lieut. Anderson of the -j;;-^^--^ nave also ibr tfaeir service, deserved my jMibli* w 154 ADMINISTRATION OF [1813 place. The enemy lost an able officer in the person ofBrigadier General Covington, who, while animating his men to the charge, received a mortal wound, which he survived only two days. The loss of the enemy, by their own official statements, amounted to three officers and ninety-nine men killed, and sixteen offi- cers ^nd one hundred and twenty-one men wounded. The loss of the British amounted to three officers (Captain Nairne of the 49th Regiment and Lieuten- ants Lorimier and Armstrong,) and twenty-one men killed, and eight officers and one hundred and thirty- seven wouilded, and twelve missing. General Wilkinson, who, during the action, lay confined to his barge, from a protracted illness, in his official despatch to his government, bears faithful tes- timony of the loyalty of the inhabitants on the Canada side of the Saint Lawrence, and of the bravery and discipline of the troops he had to contend with at Cbrystler's Farm, The day after the -engagement, the American flo- tilla proceeded down the Long Sault and joined near CornwaH the division which had moved on under Gen. Brown, towards that place, where General Wilkinson confidently expected to hear of the arrival of General Hampton on the opposite shore, to whom he had writ- ten on the 6th, to that effect, not being then acquaint- ed with his late defeat. Here> to his unspeakable mor- tification and sur{Mjise, he received a letter from Gen. Hampton, informing him that the division under his command was falling back upon Lake Champlain.— This information, with the countkss difficulties mo- 1813] menth blastei stance a cour ed " '1 " onec *' Con " ricai on the by thei boats i racks I dinary so as U Wilk Perrot, by asm bridge the Cit^ ft Ever Comma Militia, with ac which tl alty anc encouuti Wkh 1813, ir awaited Canada. [1813 ; person li mating ij which enemy, to three een offi- ounded. officers Lieuten- »ne men d thirty- ion, lay s, in his [hful tes- Canada ^ery and with at ican flo- led near der Gen. t/^ilkinson General had writ- Lcquaint- ble mpr- om Ge». mder his oplain. — ties mg- 1813] SIR G£ORQ|^ JPHEVOST. US mently crowding upon the American army, effectually blasted every prospect of further success. So circum- stanced the American Commander immediately held a council of war, in which it was unanimously resolv- ed " That the attack upon Montreal should be aband- " oned for the present season, and that the army near I' Cornwall should immediately be crossed to the Amc- " rican shore, for taking up winter quarters," whifch, on the ensuing day, was accordingly carried into effect, by their proceeding for Salmon River, where their bo^ts and batteaux were scuttled, and extensive bar- racks for the whole army were erected with extraor- dmary celerity, and surrounded on all sides by abbaiis, so as to render a surprise impracticable. ■ Wilkinson's intention was to have landed on the Isle Perrot, which is separated from the Island of Montreal/ by a small channel, over which he intended to throw a bridge of boats, and from thence to fight his wayfm^ the City of Montreal. ' Every appearance of danger having subsided, the Commander of the Forces dismissed the Sedentary Militia, by a General Order of the 17th Novembeiv with acknowledgments of the cheerful alacrity, wHh which they had repaired to their Posts, and the loyr alty and leal they had manifested at the prospect oX encountering the enemyi, Wkh these operations terminated the Campaign of 1813, in the Lower Province, but new triumphs still awaited the British arms in the Province, of Upnef Canada. '" 156 ADMINiaTRATION OF L^^^*' Major General De Rottenburgh was relieved in tlie command of Upper-Canada, early in December, by- Lieut. General Drummond, who proceeded from King- ston to York, and from thence to the head of the Lake, where the army again resumed an offensive posture, mth a view to regain possession of Fort George. Gen. M^Clure, who on the breaking up of the investment of Fort George, had issued a Proclamation, in which he affected to consider Upper-Canada as abandoned by the British army, and offered the friendship and pro- tection of his Government to the People of that Pro- vince, on the approach of the British under Colonel Americans Murray, precipitately evacuated that Post evacuate Fort on the 12th December, and retreated across George. ^^^ Niagara, having, pursuant to the di- rections of the American Secretary of War, most inhu- manly on the 10th of December, set fire to the flourish- ing Village of Newark, containing about one hundred and fifty houses ; which were reduced to ashes, leaving the wretched and forlorn inhabitants with upwards of four hundred women and ci^ildren exposed to the ac- cumulated horrors of famine, and the inclemency of a Canadian winter. The British under the command of Colonel Murray, scarcely amounting to five hundred men, including Indians and Militia immediately occu- pied Fort George. The barbarous policy of the Ame- rican Government in destroying Newark, exasperated the army as well as the inhabitants on the Frontier, of whose impatience for retaliation, General Drummond promptly availed himself after the occupation of Fort George, by adopting the resolution of tarrying the American Fort Niagara by surprise. 1813] Ilavi gara r\\ ber of I miles, fi was effc British prise and lure Fort agura. 18th De Royal 1 Scots, tl giment, fifty mei Murray. assisted with the Mile Me Fort. I wards th vance of Dawson the ordei enemy's Glacis an Was obta; greatly d the main alarm. [ the works distance, valour of Uny of ti [i8k; ;d in tlie iber, by •m King- lie Lake, posture, ge. Gen. tment of vhich he loned by and pro- hat Pro- Colonel that Post ?d across » the di- ost inhu- flourish- hundred ;, leaving wards of ) the ac- )ncy of a imand of hundred ;ly occu- ihe Ame- isperated jntier, of ummond 1 of Fort rying the 1813] SIR GEORGE PRfiVOST. 157 Having only two batteaux at his disposal in the Nia- gara river, he deferred the attack until a sufficient num- ber of batteaux could be conveyed over land, several miles, from Burlington at the head of the Lake, which was effected by the exertions of Captain Elliot, oCthe British sur- Q"^''*^** ^^stcr General's Department. prise and cap* Having made every necessary arrange- lgara^°''* ^'" ™«"*» ^^e batteaux were launched, and tlie troops were embarked on the night of the 18th December, consisting of a small detachment of Royal Artillery, the grenadier company of the Royal Scots, the flank companies of the 41st and 100th re- giment, amounting in the whole to five hundred and fifty men, under the immediate command &f Colonel Murray. This small force having crossed the river assisted by the Provincial Corps, as boatmen, landed with the utmost silence and good order at the Fiw Mile Meadows, distant four and a half miles from the Fort. From this point, Colonel Murray moved to- wards the Fort, having previously detached the ad- vance of his division, under Captain Fawcett and Lt. Dawson of the 100th regiment, who gallantly e»«cuted tlie orders entrusted to them, by cutting off two of the enemy's picquets, and surprising the centinels on the Glacis and at the Gate, from whom tlie watch word was obtained, and the entrance into the Fort, thereby greatly facilitated, which was rapidly effected through the main gate, before tlie enemy had time to sound the alarm. The assailants having obtained possession of the works, the enemy made for some time a feeble re- sistance, but finally surrendered at discretion. The valour of the troops engaged on this service, particu- iaijy of the iOOth regiment, under Lieut. Col. HamiU 1^8 ADMIN X3TBATICN OP [1813 ton was liiglily conspicuous. The loss of the British amounted to only one officer (Lieut. Nolan,) and five men killed, and two officers (one of them Colonel Mur- ^•ay, by a musket shot tlirough che wrist,) and three men wounded. The loss of the enemy in slain amount- ed to sixty-five men, (all with the bayonet,) and two officers and twelve rank and file wounded* The pri- soners amounted to more than three hundred efi'ective men of the regular army of the United States. An im- mense quantity of Commissariat Stores, with upwards of three thousand stand of arms, a great number of rifles and several pieces of ordnance, of which twenty- seven ofdiflerent calibres were mounted on the works, fell into the hands of the victors. Major General Uiall, who had Crossed over immediately after Col. Murray, with the whole body of Western Indians, and the 1st Battalion of Royal Scots, and 41st Regiment, in order to support the attack, upon ascertaining its success, immediately marched along the river upon Lewistown, where the enemy had established a force, and had erected batteries with the avowed purpose of destroy- ing the Townof Queenstown situated directly opposite. The enemy, upon the approach of this division, aban- doned their position, leaving two guns, a twelve and a six pounder, which fell into the hands of the British, with a considerable quantity of smalt arms and Stores. In retaliation for the conflagration of Newark, the in- dignant troops and auxiliary Indians were let loose upon the enemy's frontier, and Lewistown, Manches- ter, and the circumjacent country were laid in ruins. General Drummond determined to follow up these suc- cesses, which he could not deem complete until he had chased the enemy from the whole frontier, and taken 1813] ample ^ tants of to Chipi 28th De to withii noitred i mined tc cordingl four con companj hundred of the IC with abo dian wai about mi vanced g or part c bridge o enemy in boats an( were trac Fort Eri( Colonel I Black Ri position, troops wh by the gr until mon the enem^ ed them f fully acco Major Ge and the Jig [181 le British I and five mel Mur- iiul tiirce 1 ainount- ) ami two The pri- 1 eilective . An im- I upwards luuibcr of h twenty- lie works, eral Rial I, . Murray, [)d the 1st t, in order is success, lewistown, and had if destroy- r opposite, on, aban- elve and a le British, ind Stores, k, the in- ? let loose Manches- i in ruins. these suc- itil he had and taken lJil3] 81a OEOROE PRE?0S r. 159 ample vengeance for his cruelties toward the inhabi- ants of Newark He therefore moved his forces up to Ch.ppawa, where he ^xed his Head Quarters on the 28th December and on the following day approached to wahin two milesofFort Erie, where haviTg recon- noitred the enemy's position .it Black Rork, he deter- mined to attack him in the course of the ni^ht. He ac- cordingly directed Gen. Riall to cross the river with lour companies of the King'.*Regi„.ent and the light company of the 89th under Lieut. Col. Ogilvv ' two ofthe 100th Regiment, under Major Frend, together with about fifty Militia Volunteers and a body of In- dian warriors This division completed its landing about midnight, two miles below Black Rock, its ad- vanced guard having surprised and captured the creat- or part of a picquet of the enemy, and secured the bridge over the Conguichity Creek, from which the enemy made several attempts to dislodge them. The boats and batteaux after having crossed his division, were tracked up as high as the foot of the rapids below Fort Erie, m order to cross the Royals under Lieut, tolonel Gordon, who were destined to land above Jiiack Rock, for the purpose of turning the enemy's position, while he should be attacked in front, by the troops who had landed below. The delay occasioned by the grounding of the boats, which detained them until morning, and exposed them to th« open fire of the enemy, caused the Royals some loss, and prevent- ed them from effecting a landing in sufficient time to my accomplish the object intended At day break Major General Riall moved forward ; the Kind's rps+ and the light company of the 89th leading, andihe 4rst 160 ADMINISTKATION OP [1813 and Grenadiers of tie lOOCh forming the reserve. On gaining the town, a very spirited attack was made tip- on the enemy, who were in great force and strongly posted, and on the arrival of the reserve, the action became general. The ei^emjr triaintained his position with obstinacy for some time, but upon the advance of the British he was compelled to give way, and was driven through his batteries, in which were a twfeii- ] ty-four pouiider, three twelves and a nine pounder. From Black Rock, the fugitives were pui^ued to the town of Buffaloe, about two miles distant^ where they i-allied and shewed a large body of infantry and ear valry, and attempted to oppose the advance of the British by the fire of a field piece, posted on a height commanding the road; finding this ineffectual, they retreated in all directions, leaving a six-pounder brass field piece, one iron eighteen, and one iron six-poi^nd- er, and betook themselves to the woods. General Rial having dispersed this force, irankidiate- ly detached Captain Robinson of the King's Regiment, with two companies, to destroy three vessels of the enemy's Lake squadron, a short distance below the town, wkh their stores, which be effectually accom- plished. The Americans in this affair, were not less in number than 2,500, and are supposed to have lost in killed and wounded, from three to four hundred men. Only one hundred and tiiirty men were made prisoners, and among them Colonel Chapin. The British lost 31 #en killed, and four officers, and sixty-eight men wounded, and.nine men missing. The small towns of 1813] Baffalo< inhabits ing con flour, wl set on fii These tirely cr of the e victims heads bj wretchec the justi< neraL Suchi ish arms people a previous] province! Ample and judi niond, uj flagratior defencele tlie Fore Proclamj vage moc parture fi pelled hi cision anc progress [1813 ■vc. On oadetip* strongly le action position advance myt and a twfeii- ; pounder. ed to the let^ they and car je- of the a height iial, they der brass x^po^nd- wmidiate- legiment, bIs of the ►elow the T accom- in number killed and Only one ners, and ;h lost 31 tight men I towns of 1813] SIR CTEOBGE PBEFOBT. 161 Boffaloe and Black Rock having been deserted by the nrhabitants, were, with all the public stores, contain- ing considerable quantities of doathing, spirits and flour, which could not be conveniently brought away set on fire and entirely consumed. These decisive and retaliatory measures'almost en- tirely crushed the power, and destroyed the resources of the enemy on the Niagara frontier, and although victims of the retributive vengeance brought on their heads by the barbarity of their own Commanders, the wretched inhabitants are said to have acquis ed in the justice of the measures pursued by the British Ge- neral* Such were the rapid successes that attendad the Brit- ish arms in the Canadas, and cheered the hopes of the people at the close of the campaign, which a few weeks previously, threatened the total subjugation of these provinces. Ample vengeance having been taken by the spirited and judicious promptitude of Lieut. General Drum- mond, upon the Niagara frontier, for the wanton con- flagration and the cruel outrages committed upon the defenceless inhabitants of Newark, the Commander of the Forces, on the 12th of January, 1814, issued a Proclamation, in which be strongly deprecated the sa- vage mode of warfare to which the enemy, by a de- parture from the established usages of war, had com- pelled him to resort. He traced with faithful pre- cision and correctness, the conduct that had marked the progress of the war on the part of the enemy, and con- 14 ie# ADSnNISTa^TION OF [1*814 eluded by lameating ihe necessity imposed upon him of retaliating upon the subjects of America, the mise- ries inflicted upon the inhabitants of Newark, but at the game time declared it not to be his intention fur- ther to pursue a 8ysten\ of warfare so revolting to his own feelings and so little cogenial to the British cha- racter, unless he should be so compelled by the fiitur* measures of the enemy.] »*ii CHAPTER VIL Meefittg of the Provincial Parliament. Parliamentary Proceedings. Cliief Justices Impeached. Proceedings of the British and America Governments concerning Hostagbs for certain Traitors tajcen by the British at the Battle of Queenstawn. Indian Embassy to Quebec. Attack of the Americans under General Wilkinson upon the La CoU Mill. ON the thirteenth of January, the Legislature met for the dispatch of public business. The Go- vernor congratulated the Parliament on the defeat of the enemy at Chateauguay, by a handful of brave Ca- nadians ; and on the brilliant victory obtained by the small Corps of observation on the banks of the St. T.nnr«./^n/.A /\irot< i\\a formidable armament command- ed by Major General Wilkinson. [1*814 on him e mise- but at ion fur- ^ to his sh cha- e&ture 1814] SIR GEORGE PAeVOST. 163 oceedings. i America cen by the to Quebec. >n the La ure met 'he Go- defeat of [•ave Ca- i by the f the St. )mmand- The Governor, in a secret and confidential message to the House of Assembly informed that body, that in order to carry on the public services he had found it indispensably necessary to direct an issue of Army Bills to a greater amount than five hundred thousand pounds (the sum authorized by the late Army Bill Act) and recommended to the immediate and serious consideration of the House, the expedience of extend- ing the provisions of the Army Bill Act. The House accordingly took the subject into consideration, and passed a Bill extending the issue of Army Bills to fif- teen hundred thousand pounds. The Militia Laws underwent some discussion but were not altered, the Legislative Council not concurring with some clauses which it had been found expedient to introduce into the Bill, sent up for their concurrence. A Bill to dis- q.ualify the Chief Justices and the Judges ol the Courts of King's Bench in the Province from being summon- ed to the Legislative Council or sitting or voting there- in, was introduced, and having passed the Lower House, was sent up to the Legislative Council for their concurrence. Here it was unanimously resolved that the matters contained in the Bill, were unparlia- mentary and unprecedented, and intrenched upon the prerogative of the Crown and the rights and priviL edges of the House ; and it was therefore also unani- mously resolved to proceed no further in the consider- ation of the Bill. The House of Assembly upon find- ing it to have been laid aside, appointed a Committee to search the Journals of the Legislative Council, to ascertain ofiicially what proceedings had been taken with respect to the Bill in question. The Committee having taken information on the subject, reported the 184 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 fate of the Bill as collected from the Journals of the Legislative Council, and the House among other coun- ter resolutions, indignantly resolved " that the Legis- lative Council by their refusal to proceed on that Bill had excluded from their consideration a measure high- ly meriting the attention of the Legislature of the Pro- vince and had therefore afforded additional evidence of its expedience." A Bill was also introduced as in the preceding Session " to grant to his Majesty [a duty on the Income arising from Civil Offices, and on Pensions, to be applied for the defence of the Pro- vince in the present war with the United States of Ame- rica." This bill was rejected by the Legislative Coun- cil. The Bill for tha appointment of an Agent in Great Britain was also sent up to the Legislative Coun- cil, where it was laid aside. The House of Assembly unanimously passed a vote of thanks to Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry, and the officers under his commaiid for their distinguished exer- tions on the 26th of October 1813, in the action on the Chateaoguay river, and directed the Speaker to signi- fy the same to Lieut. Colonel Salaberry and the offi- cers present on that occasion, and that the House high- ly felt and acknowledged the distinguished valour and discipline conspicuously displayed by the non-commis- sioned officers and private soldiers and militia-men of the little band under his immediate command in the signal defeat of the American army under General Hampton at Chateauguay. To Lieut. Colonel Mor- rison of the 89th Regiment and to the officers and men under his command a similar vote of thanks was pas- sed lor their exertions on the Uth November iblSj [1814 Is of the er coun- e Legis- that Bill we high- the Pro- svidence :ed as in ajesty [a , and on the Pro- of Ame- e Coun- Lgent in e Coua- d a vote and the led exer- )n on the to signi- the offi- ise high- lour and commis- i-men of id in the General lel Mor- and men ivas pas- er 1813, 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 165 at Chrystler's Farm in the defeat of the American ar- my under General Wilkinson. . The House of Assembly at an early period of the Session, on motion of Mr. J. Stuart, resolved that it would take into consideration the power and authority exercised by the Courts of Justice, in this Province, under the denomination of rules of practice, and the Clerk of the Court of Appeals, as well as the Prothon- otaries of the Courts itof King's Bench for the Dis- tricts of Quebec and Montreal, were respectively or- dered to lay before the House, certified copies of the Rules of Practice of those Courts. On the 4th of February, the subject having been previously discus- sed in Committee, the House adopted several resolu- tions concerning those Rules oC Practice, which it considered rather in the sense of Legislative enact- ments, and therefore an encroachment on the privil- eges of the Legislature, than as simple rules or regular tions for the guidance of judicial proceedings. The rules in question had first been framed and introduced into the Provincial Court of Appeals (where the Chief Justice of the Province, and the Chief Justice of Mon- treal, alternately preside) in January, 1809, and in the same year, the Courts of King's Bench at Quebec anfi Montreal, followed the example of the Courts of Ap- peals, under the sanction of an Act of the Provincial Legislature, giving the different " Courts of Judicature " in the Province, power and authority to make and " establish Orders and Rules of Practice in the said " Courts in all civil matters, touching all services of. " process, executions and returns of all writs, proceed- ^' ings for bringing causes to issue as vveU in, term time sis 14* w ADMINISTRATION OP [1814 \ " out of term, and other matters of regulation within •* the said courts." It was, however, now maintained in the House of Assembly, that these rules aflfected the civil rights of His Majesty's subjects, and were contrary to and subversive of the laws of the province : that they rendered the enjoyment of liberty and property alto- gether insecure and precarious, and gave to the Judges an arbitrary authority over the persons and property of His Majesty's Subjects in the province. For these, and other specific political high crimes and misdemean- ors, alledged to have been committed in the course of the late administration of the Colonial Government by Sir J. H. Craig, tending to mislead and deceive that officer in the exercise of his authority, to oppress the people and alienate their minds from His Majesty's Government, in order (as it was contended) to favor the progress of American influence in the Province, the two Chief Justices were formerly impeached by the Commons of Lower-Canada, Mr. J. Stuart was appointed Agent for the purpose of prosecuting the Impeachments with efiect, on behalf of the Commons of Lower-Canada, who, in a money Bill, appropriated the sum of two thousand pounds, in order to enable him to proceed to England, in conse- quence of which the Bill was rejected by the Legisla- tive Council.* The Impeachments havingbcen digest- ed into seventeen different heads against the Chief Justice of the Province, and into eight heads against the Chief Justice of Montreal, charged among other things, with promoting and advising certain criminal * This, Bill contained p grant of j6 20,000, for the IVi litia, and a Jike dum fu the support oltti« Wac. 1814] proscci them ; pus to p sembly their S| vernor, an Add occasio the Prii ed the | their pu sure sh< The- opportu cles of s jesty's IV to suspe Address ture alo the Legi which tl brage t Castle, Excellei Address rights a March, 1 justice U recently again re " perver ''jectof [1814 I within lined in :ted the ontrary lat they ty alto- Judges roperty •r these, iemean- >urse of nent by ive that ress thie [ajesty's to favor rovince, ched by purpose n behalf \ money )unds, in n conse- Legisla- n digest- le Chief ; against )g other criminal and a like 1814] SIR GEORGG PRE70ST. 167 prosecutions at Montreal, and sitting in judgment upon them ; and with having refused a Writ of Habeas Cor- pus to persons legally entitled thereto, the House of As- sembly on the 3d of March, went up to the Castle with their Speaker, and presented an Address to the Go- vernor, praying him to transmit the impeachment, with an Address to the Prince Regent drawn up for the occasion, to His Majesty's Ministers, to be laid before the Prince Regent. They at J be same time suggest- ed the propriety of suspending the Chief Justices from their public functions, urtil the Prince Regent's plea- sure should be known. The Governor replied that he would take an early opportunity of transmitting the Address, with the arti- cles of accusation against the Chief Justices, to His Ma- jesty's Ministers ; but hat the did not think it expedient to suspend the Chief Justices from their offices, upon an Address to that effect from one branch of the Legisla- ture alone, founded on articles of accusation, on which the Legislative Council had not been consulted, and in which they bad not concurred. This answer gave um- brage to the House, which, upon returning from the Castle, among other resolutions, resolved " that His Excellency the Governor in Chief, by his answer to the Address of the House, had violated the Constitutional rights and privileges thereof." On the seventh of March, the House, probably influenced by a sense of justice towards the Governor, whose conduct it had so recently censured, in mitigation of its late resolution, again resolved, " that notwithstanding the wicked and " perverse advice given to His Excellency on the sub- " ject of the Coustitutionai rights and privileges of that 168 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 " House, and the endeavours of evil disposed advisers ** to lead him into error,and to embroil him with his Ma- " jesty's faithful Commons of this Province, the House ** had not in any respect altered the opiirion it had -" ever entertained of the wisdom of his Excellency's " Administration,^ and that it was determined to adopt " the measures it had deemed necessary for the sup- " port of the Government and the defence of the Pro- " vincfc." The House also drew up an Address to the Prince Regent on the state of the Province, and the progress of the war with the United States, in which the exer- tions of the people and the urgency of early assistance were briefly expressed.* Suchwere the principal affairs that occupied the at- tention of the House of Assembly during the present Session which on the seventeenth of jVHrch was pro- rogued by the Governor. It has been already mentioned that among t^.e pri- soners taken at the battle of Queenstown in the au- tumn of 1812, twenty-three men were recognized as deserters, and British born subjects. As traitors to their country, the commander of the forces had sent them to England for legal trial. This circumstance being made known to the American government by the American Commissary of prisoners at London, General * The strength of the six battalions of Canadian Embodied Militia amounted in the month of December, 1814, according to a return sub- mitted to the House of Assembly, to 3893 men, exclusive of the Vol- *;„.,«ra fV,P Frontier Licht Infantry, and other Militia and Provincial Corps^ 1814] Dearbc equal i ment as this me; ral ord( that he gent to mission! for the 1 govern r vernmei suffer c of the f who bac instruct< Non-coi ble the so unwa retaliati^ ting this comman commani coast of cute the 1 towns an against 1 tion shot they shoi of the sol On the forces re< *T uKinsoi [1814 advisers ii his Ma- le House 1 it had ellency's to adopt the sup- the Pro- le Prince progress the exer- Lssistance d the at- i present was pro- 5 ih.e pri- ni the au- ;nized as raitors to had sent umstance nt by the , General died Militia return sub- of the Vol- i Provincial 1814] 51R GEORGE PREVOST. 169 Dearborn was ordered by his government to put an equal number of British soldiers into close confine- ment as hostages, for the former. In consequence of this measure, the commander of the forces, by a gene- ral order of the 27th of October, 1813, made it known that he had received the commands of the Prince Re- gent to put forty-six American officers and Non-Com- missioned Officers, into close confinement as hostages, for the twenty-three soldiers confined by the American government. He at the same time apprised that go- vernment, that if any of the British soldiers should sufler death by reason of the guilt and execution of the traitors found in arms against their country, who bad been sent to England for legal trial, he was instructed to select out of the American officers and Non-commissioned officers detained as hostages, dou- ble the number of the British soldiers who might he so unwarrantably put to death, and to cause them ia retaliation, to sufler death immediately. In transmit- ting this information to the American government, the commander of the forces alsp notified them, that the commanders of His Majesty's armies and fleets on the coast of America, had received instructions to prose- cute the war with unmitigated severity against all cities, towns and villages belonging to the United States, and against the inhabitants thereof, if after that informa- tion should have reached the American government, they should not be deterred from putting to death any of the soldiers detained as hostages. On the tenth of December, the commander of the Jjrces received a communication from Major General Wilkinsoii by Colonel Macomb, of hte United States 170 ADMINISTRATION OF [leii I 1814] army, bearing a flag of truce, stating, " that the go- vernment of the U '^ ^ States, adhering unalterably to the principle :imi < -.apose declared in the commu- nication of Geueral Dearborn, on the subject of the 23 American prisoners of war, sent to England to be tried as criminals, and the confinement of a like number of British soldier?, prisoners selected to abide the fate of the former, had, in consequence of the step taken by the British government, ordered forty- six British officers into close confinement, and that they should not be discharged therefrom until it should be known that the forty-six American officers and non- commissioned officers in question, were no longer con- fined." In consequence of this, the Governor order- ed all the American officers, prisoners of war, without exception of rank, to be immediately placed in close confinement as hostages, until- tiie number of forty- six were completed over and above those already in confinement. In pursuance of this order. Generals Winder, Chandler and Winchester, were conveyed from their quarters in the country at Beauport, to a private house in Quebec, where their confinement was rendered as little inconvenient as their situation could admit of. On the fifteenth of April following, after some ne- gociation between Colonel Bayiies the adjutant-gene- ral, and brigadier-general Winder, on the part of the American government, a convention was entered into at Montreal, by which it was mutually agreed, to re- lease the hostages and make an exchange of prisoners, the American government relinquishing its pretensions la retaliate for the prisoners sent to Kngland, for legal [ISM I 1814] SIR GEORGE PBEVOST* iU (rial as traitors to their country. This convention was ratified in July at Champlain, near tlie lines, by Col. Lear, deputed for that purpose by the American go- vernment, and by Colonel Baynes and Mr. Brenton, on the part of the British government.* The most active exertions were made during the win* ter to be prepared for the ensuing campaign. Stores of all descriptions w-re forwarded to Kingston, from Quebec and Montreal on sleighs at prodigious expenre. The second battalion of the 8th regiment, command- ed by Lieut. Colonel Robertson, marched through the woods from Fredericton to the St. Lawrence in the month of February. A reinforcement of two hundred and twenty seamen for the Lakes came by the same route. To expedite the progress of these reinforce- ments, the Legislature of New-Brunswick voted three hundred pounds, and the City of St. John gave a simi- lar sum to defray the expence of conveying them on sleighs, as far the nature of the roads would permit. In the month of March an Embassy of Chiefs and Warriors from the Ottawas, Chippawas, Shawnees, Delawares, Mohawks, Saiks, Foxes, Kickapoos, and Winabagoes, arrived at Quebec to visit and to hold a Council with the Commander of the Forces. His Ex- cellency on the fiftef th of that month gave them an audience, and held a Talk or conference with them at the Castle of Saint Lewis. Their speeches were prin- * The negoGiation was opened at the solicitations of the Amer< can. government in a letter from the Secretary of State, to Sir George Pre- vost, who consented to the exchange of Brieadier-General Winder for the purpose of nego«iating. 172 ADMINISTRATION Of [Veu I 1814] cipally complimentary and expressive of their joy on beholding their Father, and meeting hira in Council. They expressed their poverty, and requested that peace might not be concluded with the American go- vernment, until tJiey recover the ancient bounds of tbelr territories of which the enemy had deprived them by fraud and by violence. They represented the loss they had experienced of their young men in the war, but expressed their determination to persevere, and so- licited arms for their Warriors, and clothing for their women and children. " The Americans (said one of " the Chiefs) are taking our lands from us every day, ** 4hey have no hearts, father, they have no pity for " iis, they want to drive us beyond the setting Sun ; ** but we hope, although we are few, and are here as it " were upon a little Island, our great and mighty fatlier " who lives beyond the great Lake, will not forsake " us in our distress, but will continue to remember his " faithful red children." The Governor in answer, strongly exhorted tliem to persevere in the contest against the common enemy, in order to regain the ter- ritory Josft in the last campaign. He expressed his sorrow for the loss -of one of their Warriors (Tescum- seh) and for that of many other valiant Chiefs during the war. He charged them upon all occasions, to spare and shew mercy to all women, children and pri- soners that should fall within their power, an injunction to which the listening Chiefs unanimously murmured approbation. After some days residence at Quebec they were loaded with presents, and despatched for the Upper-Province in their way homewards, to prepare their tribes for the approaching campaign. [Veu I 1614] Sia eEORGB PREVOtoT. ITS . On the twenty-sixth of March, His Excellency issued a General Order expressing the approbation of the Prince Regent of the affair of Chateauguay, and his " peculiar pleasure at finding that His Majesty's Ca- nadian Subjects had at length the opportunity of refuting by their own brilliant exertions in defence of their Country, the calumnious charge of disafiectioji and disloyalty, with which the enemy had prefaced his first invasion of the Province." To Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry in particular, ^nd to all the officers and naea under his command, the sense entertained by His Royal Highness of their meritorious and distinguished ser- vices was made known. The Commander of the Forces at the same time acquainted the militia of the determination of His Royal Highness to forward Co« lours for the five Battalions of Embodied Militia, feel- ing that they had evinced an ability and disposition to secure them from insult which gave them the best title to such a mark of distinction. So flattering a testimony of the Royal approbation could not fail to raise the honest pride of the Provincial Militia, but they were disappointed in their hopes, and the promise &tiU re- mains to be accomplished. ^ ^i A movement of the American forces in the neigh- bourhood of Lake Champlain towards the conclusion of March, gave room to expect an invasion of the Dis- trict of Montreal. Brigadier General Macomb with a division of the American forces from Plattsburgh cros« sed Lake Champlain upon the ice, and entered St. Arraands, where he remained some days without mo- lestation, while General Wilkinson prepared for an at- 4.i I «4« «r f\^,.u. r,w^^ AI^^ • w wUkUUSiS Vi %.rU7SK<^7T*a, filUU «uv IB 174 ADMINISTRATION 0*" [1814 Mill, a stone building which had been converted into a Block House. On the morning of the thirteenth of March, (General Macomb having suddenly withdrawn his division from St. Armands, and rejoined the main body) the American forces consisting of five thousand reen, commanded by General Wilkinson in person, en- tered Odeltown. Major Handcock, commanding at the Mill, received intelligence at eight o'clock in the morning of the approach of the enemy, and immedi- ately sent off a despatch to the Isle-aux-Noix for a reinforcement, from whence a picquet of the 13th regt. under the command of Captain Blake, marchtd towards Odeltown, and took post about two miles from the Mill. The enemy halted for a short time at the village, and then made a demonstration upon Burtonville with a part of their force. Their advance in that directf-itt tvas checked by part of the grenadiers of the Canadian Fencibles under Captain Cartwright, and a few oT the Frontier Light Infantry under Captain Barker. Capt. Blake's picquet hearing the firing, concluded that the tvhole of the enemy's force had taken that road, and in consequence retreated to the Mill, from whence they Rgain advanced and took post in advance. The ene- my shortly after appeared in considerable^ force ; the fjicquet fired three vollies and retreated to the Mill. At one o'clock the enemy was seen deploying in the Attack upon wood, with the intention of surrounding Xa Cole mi the Mill ; a fire wals immediately commenc- ed which they did not return for some time, but ap- ]f)eared determined to carry the place by assault, as they advanced cheering one another : the heavy fire obliged them to relinquish their plan and retreat to the ^ood, tvhere thev were comDleteLv sheltered. A twelve [1814 ed into ?enth of hdrai^vn he main lousand son, en- ding at i. in the immedi- ix for a Ith regt. towards 'om the village, ille v^ith lirectfnia anadian 6v oTthe . Capt. that the »ad, and ice they ^he ene- 'ce; the he Mill. ^ in the ounding •mmenc- but ap- sault, as javy fire at to the A twelve SIR GEORGE PREVOST^ t15 1814] pounder was brought to bear upon the mill, but so bad- ly served, that during a cannonade of two hours and a half, only four shots struck the building, the gun being within the range of musketry the artHIery suffer- ed severely, and in fact were unable to take aim with any degree, of precision. A gun-boat from the Isle- aux-Noix, commanded by Lieut. Hicks, R. N. kept up an incessant fire upon the spot where the American army was posted, but from the distance and the height of the intervening woods little or no execution was done. The two flank companies of the 1 3th Regiment arrived from the Isle-aux-Noix at half past two o'clock, and were immediately ordered to charge the enemy in front—they advanced as far as the wood in line, but the difficulty of marching through the snow with a galling fire in front, and on the Mt flank, checked the rapidity of their progress, and soon compelled them to retire to the Block House. The grenadiers of the Canadian Fencibles and a company of the Vol- tiguers just now arriving from Burtonville, Major Handcock ordered them to support the flank companies of the 13th Regiment in a second charge, to which they advanced in column of sections.* The Americans had now concentrated their whole force close to the gun, but did not attempt to fire till the British had ad- vanced to within twenty-five yards of their centre, and were completely flanked on both sides ; the first discharge of the enemy was so eflfectually destructive that these companies were entirely broken, and com- * The force in the Mill when attacked, was 160 men. The rein* forccments which arrived during the action, amounted to about two hundred men. Some accounts (which have been considered probable) state the American Insa «t 13 tillorl. nnrl IOM ninnnAi^A o^ J on „.:._:__ • 170 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 pelled to retreat from the woods in the greatest dis- order. All attempts to rally them were ineffectual, and they were recalled by the bugle to the Block House. It is conjectured that the gun was spiked by the enemy during the first charge, as it was not made any use of afterwards. The Americans exhausted with cold and fatigue, and finding it impossible to car- ry the place without heavy artillery, which from the state of the roads, could not be brought forward, with- drew their forces in good order from the contest, at five o'clock in the afternoon, without being pursued in the retreat — The British loss amounted to ten men hilled and four men missing, and two officers and forty- four men wounded. The American loss, though con- siderable, has not been precisely ascertained. Having failed in the attempt to carry a Block House scarcely deserving the appellation of a military post, the enemy fell bji:k upon Champlain town, from whence they soon retired to Plattsburgh. General Wilkinson after this abortive attempt to retrieve his military fame, seems to have been removed from his command, or to have sought a voluntary retirement, from a service in which he had experienced nothing but disappointment and reverses. CCS [1814 1814] filll GEOKGE PREYOST. J 77 test dis- ffectual, ? Block liked by ot made :hausted s to car- from the 'd, with- ntest, at pursued ten men id forty- gh con- HaviDg scarcely } enemy ce they on after y fame, d, or to rvice in •intment CHAPTER VIIL Occurrences during the winter 1813-M. Attack upon Oswego. Inva» sion of Upper-Canada by the American forces under General Brown. Capture of Fort Erie. Battle of Chippawa. Battle of Lundy's Lane. Assault upon Fort Erie. Capture of Prairie du Chien. Ex- pedition against Michillimackinac by the Americans. Operationg by Sir John C. Sherbiooke. Expedition to Plattsburgh. Sortie from Fort Erie. Evacuation of Fort Erie by the American Forces. Mis- cellaneous occurrences. Meeting of the Provincial Parliament, Kecall of Sir George Prevost. His departure from Quebec, IN Upper-Canada the occurrences during the win- ter were of small importance, being principally confined to incursions reciprocally practised by the troops in advance along the frontiers with various suc- cess. One of the most successful enterprises effected ia the course of the present season, was planned and execu- ted by Captai'i Sherwood, of the Quarter-Master-Gen- eral's Department. That officer with a subaltern, and a small detachment of twenty rank and file of the Ma- pines and ten men of the embodied militia, under Cap- tain Kerr, proceeded over the St. Lawrence, on the night of the 6th of February, from Cornwall in Up- per-Canada, to Madrid, on Grass River, fourteen miles beyond the village of Hamilton, and brought away a considerable quantity of merchandise (having pressed all the horses and sleighs he could find, for that pur- pose) plundered from British merchants near Cornwall i^in October preceding, when on their route to Upper- 15* 178 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 Canada. These effects were to have been sold on ac- count of the United States government, notwithstand- ing an agreement for their restitution entered into on the 10th of November, by Judge Ogden and Mr. Rich- ardson on the part of the United States, and Lieut. Colonel Morrison and Captain Mulcaster, (Royal Na- vy,) on the part of the British Government. The In- habitants made i)o opposition to the seizure and trans- portation of these effects, nor did they experience any molestation from the party, who, at two o'clock on the ensuing day retured to their quarters with the most va- luable of the Merchandise for which they proceeded to Madrid. A slight loss was experienced in an unsuccessful ef- fort made by a detachment consisting of the flank companies of the Royal Scots and the light company of the 89th Regiment, under the command of Captain Barsden of the 89th, for the purpose of dislodging a strong party of the enemy who had taken post at liongwood in the advance at Delaware town. Tlje enemy had secured themselves on a commanding emi- nence behind log entrenchments, and were attacked at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 4th of March by this force, support* d by a flank movement to the right of a company of militia Rangers under Captain Caldwell, with a detachment of the Kent Mi- litia, and a similar movement by a party of Indians to the left. After several repeated but unsuccessful efforts to dislodge the enemy in a spirited contest of an hour and a half, the troops having suffered severely, were withdrawn. The enemy soon afterwards aban- doned the position* Xh^ Utitkh lo&t^ two officers ?ind [1814 [ on ac- hstand- into on r. Rich- Lieut, yal Na- riie In- d trans- nce any k on the nost va- )ceeded ssful ef- le flank ampany Captain dging a post at 1. Tlje ng erai- ittacked f March ment to 5 under ;ent Mi- Indians iccessful est of an everely. Is aban- ;€rs ?ind 1814] SIR GEORGE PRETOST. 1T9 twelve men killed, and three officers and forty-nine men v ounded, including an officer and six men of the Kent Militia Volunteers, who distinguished themselves on the occasion. The campaign was opened in Upper Canada by Sir Gordon Drummond and Sir James L. Yeo, under the most cheering auspices. The American forces, along the Lake Champlain, after leavinp^ 3.null garrisons at Plattsburgb, Burlington and Vergennes, moved early in the spring towards Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier, with a view of resuming offensive operations against the Upper Province, as soon as the fleet at Sachet's Harbour (considerably augmented during the winter) should be in a state to co-operate with tlie land forces. The principal Naval Stores for the equip- ment of the fleet were forwarded to Sacket's Harbour by the way of Oswego, and as the British Naval force at Kingston, strengthened by two additional ships, the Prince Regent and Princess CharlottCj were ready to appear on the Lake early in the season, it became an object ofimportance to intercept the enemy's supplies, and by that means retard his preparations for invasion! An expedition against Oswego was therefore deter- mined upon, and Gen. Drummond having embarked a considerable force, consisting of six companies of De Attack upon VVatteville's regiment, the light comp,- ny of Oswego. , jhe Glengaries the second Battalion of the Royal Marines, with a detachment of Royai Artille- ry and two field prcces, a detachment of a Rocket company, with a few Sappers and Miners, set sail from Kingston on the fourth of May, and at noon on tbe following day, mad« the port of Oswego, when a bea- 180 iOMimiSTRATtON OF [1814 vy gale from the North West sprung up, and obliged tiie squadron to gain the offing. On the morning of the sixth, a landing was effected by about o.ie hundred and forty of the troops under Lieut. Col. Fischer ; and two hundred seamen, armed with pikes, under the command of Captain Mulcaster, R. N. in front of a heavy discharge of round and grape from the battery, and of musketry from a detachment of about three hundred men of the American army, posted on the brow of the bill, and in the skirts of the neiglibouring wood. The British, on landing, pressed up the hill to- wards the enemy's battery, which the Americans (up- on finding the British determined to carry it by storm) relinquished, leaving about sixty men, principally wounded. The Land and Naval commanders having taken pos- session of the stores found in the Fort and in its neigh- bourhood, and having dismantled the fortifications, and destroyed the barracks, re-embarked on the se- venth of May, and returned to Kingston. The loss of the British troops amounted to one cap- tain (Holtaway of the Marines) and eighteen men kil- led, and two Officers and sixty men wounded. That of the Navy amounted to three men killed, and four Officers and seven men wounded. Captain Mulcaster, while entering the Fort at the head of his men, receiv- ed a very severe and dangerous wound. Captain Popham was also severely wounded. Although tlie service derived much benefit from this Expedition, the main object in contemplation was not accomplish- ed, the principal part of the Naval jstores being .slaved [1814 obliged riling of liundred er; and ider the )nt of a battery, it three 1 on the ibouring e hill to- aiis (up- y storm) ncipally ken pos- ts neigh- icatious, the se- one cap^ men kil- I. That and four ulcaster, I, receiv- Captain 3ugh tlie tion, the omplish- iig smed 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 181 by»the enemy, who had taken the precaution of deposit- ing them at the Falls, some miles from Oswego, up the river. * The flotilla at the Isle-aux-Noix, under the com- mand of Captain Pring, proceeded up the Lake Cham- plain, on the ninth of May with a detachment of Ma- rines, for the purpose of capturing or destroying the new vessels recently launched at Vergennes, or of in- tercepting the stores and supplies intended for their armament and equipment. On the 14th, Captain Pring reached his destination at Otter Creek, but find- ing the enemy prepared for his reception, he judged it expedient to abandon his intended plan of attack, and returned to the Isle-aux-Noix. The British squadron having for the present a decid- ed ascendency on Lake Ontario, blockaded Sacket's Harbour, in order to intercept the supplies which might, from time to time, be forwarded from Oswego, for the equipment of the American fleet. On the morning of the 29th of May, a boat laden with two 24 pounders and a large cable for one of the American sh'ips of war, was captured on the way to Sacket's Harbour from Oswego, from whence it had sailed in company with fifteen other boats loaded with naval and military stores. This intelligence induced the Naval Conynander to dispatch Captains Popham and Spilsburj^, with two gun-boats and five barges, in quest of the enemy's boats, which, these officers ascer- tained to have taken shelter in Sandy Creek, whither they proceeded with the resolution of capturing or destroying them if the attempt should be found practi- 182 ADMINISTRATION OP [1814 cable. On the morning of t|ie 31st of May, the bsats from the British squadron entered the Creek, anS Cap- tains Pophara and Spilsbury, having reconnoitred the enemy's position, determined on an immediate at- tack, which although aware of the hazard of the enter- prise they determined to risk, as the stores in posses- sion of the enemy were of tlie utmost importance to the armament of their squadron. The boats advanced cautiously up the Creek to within half a mile of the enemy, when parties were landed on either bank, who advanced on the flanks of the gun-boats, to a turning which opened the enemy's boats full to their view. It was at this juncture, when, by some accident, a sixty- eight pounder carronade in the bow of the foremost gun-boat being disabled, it became necessary to puU her round to bring the 24 pounder in her stern to bear upon the enemy. The Americans mistaking this move- jiient for the commencement of a retreat advanced with their whole force, consisting of one hundred and fifty riflemen, near two hundred Indians, and a strong body of militia and cavalry; who after a shoit though des- perate contest, from which it was impossible to efiect a •etreat, overpowered the British party, consisting of about two hundred men, of which, it is said, eighteen were killed and fifty wounded. Captain Popham in his ofiicial despatch to Sir James L. Yeo, on this afiair, acknowledged with the warmest gratitude, the humane exertions of the American Officers of the Rifle Corps commanded by Major Appling, in saving the lives of many of the ofiicers and men, whom the Americaa soldiers and fndians were devoting to slaughter. The American forces concentrated at Buflfaloe, 1814] Invasioi Upper Cai da. ation oi Ontario. per-Can enemy c landings sitrong bi two poii each ab( the comr Officer h of defen( venty m( of causir than for siege, w|] been imp of time a my, but been of i ral Riall The able ces under direction ticipated ced, were gi'ess of th to have a disperse t Capture c Fort Erie. [1814 le b*ats im Cap- nnoitred iiate at- le enter- i posses- ce to the dvanced e of the ink, who L turning ^iew. It a sixty- foremoBt ^ to puU 1 to bear lis move- ced with and fifty ng body ugh des- o effect a sisting of eighteen )pham in his affair, J humane fle Corps e lives of \mericaa hter. Buffaloe, 1814] SIR 6L0RGE PREVOST. ^3 Invasion of ^Jack Rock and other places pn the Nia- Upper cana- gara frontier, under the comnmnd of Ma- jor General Brown, in momentary expect- ation of the co-operation of the squadron on Lake Ontario, were ready at the end of June to invade Up-, per-Canada. On the morning of the third of July the enemy embarked in boats and batteaux and effected a and.ng on the Canada side without opposition, with two trong brigades under Brigadiers Scch and Ripley, at two points on the shore above and below Fo/t Erie each about a mile distant from that post, th.n under he commandWMaj. Buck of the 8th Regiment. T^^It Officer had been active in putting Fort Erfe into a sta^e of defence, and with a small detachment of about se- venty men was left in charge of it, more with a view thanT"!? ' *^^P^^'^'>' ^I^-^k to an invading force Se wh oh '"'"' '' clefendingit against a regular been i^n m'' "'' "'*'"^'^' '* ^'^"'^ indeed have been,niposs,bleto maintain Fort Erie for any length of time against the overwhelming strength of the ene- bee'n of "" 7-T"" ^^ '"'" ^ ^'^ ^•^"^^ "^^^^^^ have vTmlTT''^ consequence and have enabfe Gene- The A ';^^^?/^P^"-^ the invasion at the outset. The able dispositions which had been made of the for- ces under that Officer, along the Niagara line by the direction of Lieut. General Drummond, who had an! icipated an invasion at the point where it commen- c d, were such, that the least impediment to the pro- gi ess ofthemvaders would have enabled General Riall to have concentrated his troops, and to fall upon and disperse the enemy before they could have time to be Fort'Erie. °^ ^''^P^'*^^ ^o** '^" effectual resistance. Un< 1DMINI3TRATI0N Of [1814 184 rcciettcd, that Tort Erie was tamely surrendwed to the enemy without firing a shot or making even 1 show of resistance. The American, after the acquisition of this important post advanced wUh confidence in the afternoon of the ensuing day to the Plains adjacent to Chippawa, and were mak- ■ i„r preparations to carry that post, when General RU.li: to anticipate their design, havmg collect- ed his forces, marched on the evening of the fifth from his lines and gave them battle. The enemy had , much advantage in numbers and fought fh!n«w,";'or with determined bravery. His right rest- streets creek ^j J,,, so,„(. buildings and orchards on the brink of the Niagara, and was strongly supported by artillery. His left was skirted by a wood with a con- siderable body of Indians and Riflemen in front. The Militia and Indians engaged the enemy's riflemen, « ho at first checked their advance, but being ^"PP^Ij'ed by the arrival' of the light troops consisting of the light tmP.es of the Royal Scots aiul 100th Regimen , with the 2d Lincoln militia, under Lieut. Colonel Pear ,on they were dislodged after a very -sharp contest. Two light twe„ty-t.,ur pounders and a howi.xer were broughfinto action against the enemy's "St-*. ^^Kh was also engaged by the K.ng's Regiment, while the RovaY Scot? and lOO.h Regiment, after deploying with the utmost steadiness, opened a heavy fire upou II left and advanced to the charge, with the »os ,«. trepid gallantry, under a destructive fire. In this a iempt they suff'ered so severely that it was found nece - sary toMthdraw thftn and desist from a contest, winch from the great superiority of the enemy's numlxrs, ^™" ha^e beea -..availing. General Riall accorduig- %Jta^ — 1814] \y Idl I vent tl by a fo inforcei gara a tJreek, for a vi to that ever ra currenci their a army, f biy to 1 Niagarj (who wj tish lost men kill Colonel hundred cer and loss at s hundred ing. The < along th whence and Mis who hac alert, ai desisted Gener [1814 endeted g even ter the d with ng day re mak- General coUect- the filth ?my had d fought ^ht rest- ds on the orted by th a con- ont. The nen, who, lorted by the light legiment, nel Pear- p contest, itzer were ht, which while the deploying fire upon e niost in- In this at- iind neces- test, which 5 numbers, according- 1814] SIB GEORGE FREVOST. 185 Jy Ic'Jl back upon Chippawa in the evening, and to pre- vent the enemy from occupying Burlington Heights by a forced march (as he intended) he tln-ew such re- inforcements as he coald spare into Forts George, Nia- gara and Mississaga, and retirfed to Twenly-Mile Creek, on the route to Burlington, where he prepared for a vigorous stan against tlie progress of the enemy to that post. The American scjuadron was not how- ever ready to appear upon the Lake during these oc- currences; a circumstance peculiarly fortunate as their appearance would have so emboldened their army, far superior in numbers to the British, as proba- bly to have led to the reduction of Forts George and Niagara. The militia under Lieut. Colonel Dickson, (who was wounded) behaved with gallantry. The Bri- tish lost six Officers and one hundred and forty-two men killed, and twenty-six Officers (among them Lieut. Colonel the Marquis of Tweedle, severely) and two hundred and ninety^fiye men wounded, and one Offi- cer and forty-five men piissing. The enemy state their loss at seventy men killed, and nine Officers and two hundred and forty men wounded, and nineteen mis- ing. The enemy after this affair, gradually advanced along the Niagara, and occupied Queenstown, from whence he made demonstrations upon Forts George and Mississaga, but finding Lieut. Colonel Tucker, who had been left in comma d of those posts, on the alert, and determined to make a resolute delence he desisted from further attempts to carry them. General Brown finding a stouter resistance than he IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I 11.25 HIM m ■^ 1^ III 2.2 1.8 U III 1.6 my m ^ /2 % 7 <% o^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^\?^ tf % !>■ * O > 186 ADMINISTRATION OT [1814 expected, fell back upon Queenstown,* from whence on the 25lh of July, he retreated with his whole force up- on Qhippawa, having previously set fire to the village pf Saint David's. General Rial! immediately put his advance in motion, and was moving on to support the advance of his division, when the enemy wheeled about with a view of overpowering his forces before they could be assisted by the reinforcements which were expected to join them. General Drummond, with liieut. Colonel Harvey, had that morning arrived at Fort George, from York. The proceedings whicli immediately succeeded his arrival cannot be more concisely and clearly explained than in his own official despatch, after the battle of Lundy's Lane, which is quoted as the best relation .to be found, of that hard fought action« Battle of *1 embarked on board His Majesty's Xundy'sLane « schooner Netley, at York, on Sunday * evening the 24th instant, and reached Niagara at * day-break the following morning. Finding from Lt. •Colonel Tucker that Major General Riall was un- * derstood to be moving towards the falls of Niagara * to support the advance of his division, which he had * pushed on 'to that place on the preceding evening, I * ordered liieut. Colonel Morrison, with the 89th regt. ** and a detachment of the Royals and King's, drawn * This it would seem however, was contrary to the orders and in- struction of the General Commanding, who in general orders, express- ed his displeasure at the circumstance, and desired Lieut. Col. Stone, Commanding at that village, to retire from the army in consequence of his conduct. This officer was afterwards dismissed the service l.^ account of this business, without a hearing. — The village at Long jp;oiot} was also reduced to oahes by theso inceadiaries. [1814 hence on brce up- e village y put his )port the wheeled s before ts which )nd, with 'rived at js whicli be more n offiiial which is hat hard MTajesty's Sunday agara at from Lt. was un- Niagara h he had irening, I JQthregt. 's, drawn lers and in- irs, express- Col. Stone, onsequencc 5 service i:.* e at Long 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 18t from Forts George and Mississaga, to proceed to the same point, in order that, with the united force, I might act against the enemy (posted at Street's Creek, with his advance at Chippawa) on my arrival, if it should be found expedient. I ordered Lieut. Colonel Tucker, at the same time, to proceed : on the right bank of the river, with three hundred of the 41 st, and about two hundred of the Royal Scots, and a body of Indian Warriors, supported (on the river) by a party of armed seamen, under Captain Dobbs, Royal Navy. The object of this movement wa^to disperse or capture a body of the enemy which was encamp- ed at Lewistown. Some unavoidable delay having occurred in the march of the troops up the right bank, the enemy had moved oiT previous to Lieut. Colonel Tucker's arrivaL. I have to express myself satisfied with the exertions, of that officer*. * Having refreshed the troops at Queenstown, and * having brought across the 41st, Royals and Indians, * I sent back the 41st and 100th regiments to form the * garrisons of; the Forts George, Mississaga, and Ni- * agara, under Lieut. Colonel Tucker, and moved, with * the 89th, and detachments of the Royals and King's, * and light company of the 41st, in all about 800 men, * to join Major General Riall's division at the Falls. ^ When arrived within a (ew miles of that position, * I met a report from Major General Riall, that the * enemy was advancing in great force. I immediate- * ly pushed on, and joined the head of Lieut. Colonel * Morrison's column, just as it reached the road leading * towards the Beaver Dam over the summit of the hill APMINISTRATIOK OF [1814 I at Lund/s Lane. Instead of the whole of Major I Qeneral WaWs division, which 1 expected to have * found occupying' this position,! found it almostwthe * occupation of the enemy, whose columns were within * 600 yards of the top of the hill, and the surrounding * woods filled with his light troops. The advance of * Major General Riall's division, consisting of the « Glengary Light Infantry, and Incorporated Militia, * having commenced their retreat upon Fort George, * I countermanded these corps, and formed the 89th * Regiment and the Royal Scots detachments, and * 41st light companies, in the rear of the hill, tlieir left * resting on the great road; my two twenty-four pound- * er brass field guns a little advanced in front of the * centre on the summit of the hill; the Glengary Light * Infantry on the right, the battalion of Incorporated * Militia, and the detachment of the King's Regiment * on the left of the great road ; the squadron, 19th Light * Dragoons in the rear oft he left, on the road. I had * scarcely completed ihh formation, when the whole * front wag warmly and closely engaged. The ene- ' my's principal efforts were directed against our left * and centre. After repeated attacks, the troops on * the left were partially forced back, and the enemy * gained a momentary possession of the road. This * gave him, however, no material advantage, as the ' troops which had been forced back formed in the rear * of the 89th regiment, fronting the road, and securing * the flank. It was during this short interval that ' Major General Riall, having received a severe wound, * was intercepted as he was passii.g to the rear, by a ' party of the enemy's cavalry, and made prisoner. * In the centre, the repeated and determined attacks 181^ 'of *det * cor ' stej * con * terr * our 'the * the *ofo * trao * inci( *edl * utes * only * poui * the < * geth * our I * ders * one < * whici * ihou{ * taine 'Ah *ed at * durin ' in bri 'he sh< * troop: * lantrj 'of Ml [1814 >f Major to llave >stift>the PC within 'ounding vahce of of the I Militia, George, the 89th nts, and Iieir left p pound- It of the y Light •porated egiment th Light I had le whole 'he ene- our left oops on enemy . This f as the the rear ecu ring al that wound, r, by a risoner. attacks 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 189 of the enemy were met by the 89th Regiment, the detachment of the Royals and King's, and the light company of the 4l8t regiment, with the most perfect steadiness and intrepid gallantry, and the enemy was constantly repulsed with very heavy loss. In so de- termined a manner were these attacks directed against our guns, that our artillery-men were bayoneted by be enemy in the act of loading, and the muzzles of the enemy s guns were advanced within a few yards ol ours. The darkness of the night, during this ex- traordinary conflict, occasioned several uncommon incidents : our troops having for a moment been push^ ed back, some of our guns remained for a few min- utes m the enemy's hands ; they were however, not only quickly recovered, but the two pieces, a six pounder and a five and a half inch howitzer, which the enemy had brought up, were captured by us, to- gether with several tumbrils; and in limbering up our guns at one period, one of the enemy's six poun- ders was put, by mistake, upon a limber of our's, and one of our six pounders limbered on one of his: bv which^means the pieces were exchanged ; and thu.^ though we captured fwo of his guns, yet, as he obi tamed one of our's, we have gained only one gun. ^ 'About nine o'clock (the action having commeuc- ed at six) there was a short intermission of firing ^ during which it appears the enemy was employed ^ m bringing up the whole of his remaining force, and he shortly afterwards renewed his attack with fresh ^ troops, but was every where repulsed with equal iral- lantry and success. About this period the remainda-^^ of Major General Riall's division, which had been 16^ ( t t t ( I t 't < t- t t t. ido ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 f ( I « I ( i t i t ( ( t ( t ( ( c t « c t 4 ordered to retire on the advance of the enemy, con- sisting of the 103d Regiment, under Colonel Scott : the head-quarter division of the Royal Scots ; the head-quarter division of the 8th (or King's :) flank companies 104th; some detachments of militia, un- der Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Inspecting Field-Ofli- cer, joined the troops engaged; and I placed thena ia a second line, with the exception of the Royal Scots, and flank companies 104th, with which I pro- longed my front line on the right, where I was appre- hensive of the enemy's out-flanking me. The ene- my's eflorts to carry the hill were continued until about midiiight,wheahe had sufiered so severely from the superior steadiness and discipline of his Majesty's^ troops, that he gave up the contest, and retreated with great precipitation to his camp beyond the Chip- pawa. Oa the following day he abandoned his camp, threw the greatest part of his baggage, camp- equipage, and provisions into the Rapids ; and hav- ing set fire to Street's Mills and destroyed the bridge at Chippawa, continued, his retreat in great disorder towards Fort Erie. My light troops, cavalry, and Indians, are detached in pursuit, and to harrass his retreat, which 1 doubt not he will, continue until he reaches his own shore. ' The loss sustained by the enemy in this severe ac- ' tion cannot be estimated at less than fifteen hundred * men, iacluding several hundreds of prisoners left in *^ our hands; his two commanding Generals, Brown * and Scott, are said to be wounded ; his whole force, 5 which has never been rated at less than five thous- * attd, hsiving ]}€€n engaged, 3Encbs«d, I have th« [1814 ly, cpn- I Scott : )ts; the :) flank tia, un- jld-Offi- d them 3 Royal b I pro- s appre- he e ne- ed until Dly from [ajesty's^ etreated le Chip- ned hig 2, camp- nd hav- B bridge disorder ry, and rass his until he ivere ac- hundred *s left in I, Brown le force, ,^e thous- have th« 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. m * honour to transmit a return of our loss, which has * been very considerable. T^ • number of troops un- * der my command, did not for the first three hours, ex- * ceed sixteen hundred men ; the addition of the troops » under Colonel Scott "did not increase it to more than * two thousand eight hundred of every description.? In this action Major Gen. Riall having been severed ly wounded, was, while retiring, intercepted, and made prisoner by a party of the enemy's cavalry, who had obtamed a momentary possession of the road on the left of, the British Une, by which the General was re- tiring. Genera! Drummond received a severe wound in his neck, from a musket ball. He however, concealed the circumstance from the troops, and remained on the ground, cheering on his men until the close of the ac* tion. Lieut. Colonel Morrison of the 89th Regiment Lieut. Colonel Pearson, Capt. Robinson, of the King's Regiment, (commanding the militia) with several other officers of merit were severely wounded. The bravery of the Militia on this occasion, could not have been ex^. celled by the most resolute Veterans. General Drum- mond, and other Officers of rank, have been known to express their astonishment and admiration, at the determined resistance which they for some time main- tained, against the overwhelming force of the enemy Nothing could have been more awful and impressive than this mid-night contest. The desperate charges of the enemy were succeeded by a dead silence, inter- rupted only by the groans of the dying, and the dull sounds of (he stupendous Falls of J^^iagara, while the W2 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 adverse lines were now and then dimly discerned through the moonlight, by the dismal gleam of their arma. These anxious pauses were succeeded by a blaze of musketry along the lines and by a repetition of the most desperate charges from the enemy, which the British received with the most unshaken firmness. The American loss, by their own statement, amounted to one hundred and sixty rank and file killed, including twelve officers ; and five hundred and seventeen wound- ed, including fifty officers, and among them Generals Brown and Scott. The command of the American forces in the absence of Generals Brown and Scott, who retired for the recovery of their wounds, devolv- ed upon General Ripley : the enemy retreated on the 27th, with his whole force to Fort Erie, and threw up intrenchraents in the neighbourhood of that Fort to secure himself against the British, who immediately in- vested their works : General Gaines, in the mean time, proceeded from Sacket's Harbour, and assumed the command at Fort Erie. On the 1st of August the American fleet sailed from Sacket*s Harbour, and after looking into Kingston, sailed for the head of the Lake; fronl whence he soon returned to port, upon finding the army far from be- ing in a state to co-operate, cooped up at Erie, and in- capable of holding any direct communication 'wjith the naval force on Lake Ontario. The successful result of an enterprise by Captain Assauitiipon Dobbs, of the Royal Navy, in capturing in Fort Erie. the night of the 12th of August, with his gig and some batteaux, (conveyed over land from the^ 1814] Niagai Ohio a pose < mounti ty-five niond, determ He ace the thir materia he mac Three « in move lonel Fi of the £ compan detachn Drumm< flank CO a body (R. N.) Regimei by two < columns onemy's the two < right of umn had day-Iighl gained pi umn of i tangled t and were [1814 scerned of their d by a petition ', which irmness. nount«d eluding wound- lenerals merican a Scott, devolv- I on the irew up Fort to itely in- sin time, ned the led from ingston, he soon i:oni be- , and in- wiXh the Captain uring in with his rom the^ 1814] sin GEORGE PBEVOST. 193 Niagara r.ver,) two of the enemy's schooners, the Uhio and Somers, lying close to Fort Erie, for the pur- pose of flanking the approaches to the Fort, eaclj mounting three long twelves, with complements of thir- ty-fave men, gave spirit to the army. General Drum- niond, after having reconnoitred the enemy's position, determined to storm the American entrenchments. He accordingly opened a battery on the morning of. the thirteenth, and on the ensuing day, finding tl»at a material eflect had been produced upon their works, he made the necessary preparations for an assault. Three columns were in the night of the fourteenth put m movement : one under the command of Lieut. Co- lonel Fischer of De Watteville's Regiment, cor, ting of the 8th and De Watteville's Regiments, the flank companies of the 89th and 100th Regiments, with a detachment of artillery. Another under Lieut. Colonel Drummond, of the 104th Regiment, consisting of the ftank companies of the 41st and 104th Regiments, and a body of seamen and marines, under capt. Dobb's, (R.N.) and the third under Colonel Scott of the 103d Regiment, consisting of his own Regiment, supported by two companies of the Royals. The first of these columns was ordered to attack and turn the left of the onemy's intrenchment on the side of Snake Hill, while the two other columns were to attack the Fort and the right of their intrenchments. Colonel Fischer's col- umn had gained the point of attack two hours before day-light, and the head of the column had actually gained possession of the enemy's batteries, but the col- umn of support in marching too near the Lake, en- tangled themselves between the rocks and the water, and were, by the repulse of the flank companies of ■i 194 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 the King's Regiment, (which, for want of timely sup- port werfr compelleil to retire upon them,) thrown into utter confusion, and suffered most severely by the fire of the enemy. The two other columns advanced as soon as the firing upon Lieut. Colonel Fischer'* column was heard, and at tlie same moment stormed the Fort and intrenchments on tlie right, and after a desperate resistance succeeded in making a lodgment in the Fort, through the embrasures of the Demi-Bastion. The enemy took to a stone building which they maintained with determination for upwarjls of an hour and a half, against the guns of the Demi-Bastion, which the Bri- tish had turned against them, until some ammunition under the platform on which the guns were placed, taking fire (whether accidentally or by design, is not well understood) a most tremendous explosion ensued, by which, almost all the troops who had entered the Fort, were dreadfully mangled. An immediate panic was communicated among the troops who could neither be rallied by the surviving officers, nor be persuaded that the explosion was accidental. The enemy after having repulsed Lieut. Col. Fischer's column had or- dered reinforcements from the left and centre of their lines, to the assistance of the Fort, who taking advan- tage of the darkness and confusion of the moment, pressed forward with a heavy and destructive fire, and compelled the assailants to retire from the works they had so gallantly carried. In this assault the loss of the British was most se- verely felt. Colonels Scott and Druramond, fell, while storming the works, at the head of their respective col* umiu. Four, Officers and fifty-four' men were returned 1814^ as kil and ei ported men, , killed, makes Gen ter thii ments, howevi recent the sm; to hazj by con tion wi enemy dered t the can Mich enemy a detac M'Doui tavvasag struggU which a his dest noes lof of the g From [1814 ely sup- *own into y the fire anced as 'S column the Fort desperate the Fort, on. The aiutained nd a half, 1 the Bri- imunition e placed, ign, is not )n ensued, itered the late panic lid neither persuaded emy after in had or* re of their ng advan- B moment, le fire, and vorks they IS most se- , fell, while jective col- re returned 1814] SIR GEORGE PREV08T. 195 as kdled and twenty-four Officers and two hundred and cghty-hve men wounded. The missing were re- per ed at nine Officers and five hundred Ld thi'y killed. The American statement of their own loss, i«akes It e.ghty.four in killed, wounded and missing. General Drummond was reinforced a day or two af- ter this assault, by the arrival of the 6th and 82d KetrU nients, from Lower-Canada. This reinforcement was however no more than barely sufficient to supplv the recent casualties, and General Drunm.ond did not* with he small force under his command, deem it expedient to hazard a second attempt to recover Fort Erie, but by continuing its investment he cut off all communira- tion with the adjacent Country, and in compellinK the enemy to draw his resources from his own countryfren- dered the occupation of that Post /or the remainder of the campaign, of no service to the invaders. Michillimakinac, contrary to the expectation of the enemy had, early in the Sprin^^, been reinforced with a detachment of troops and seamen, under Lieut. ( ol. M Douall. This Officer proceeded by way of the Not- - , , tawasaga River, and after having for several days.?l<^| struggled against the ice, and tempestuous weather which at this season agitates Lake Huron, arrived at^^***' his destination on the )8th of May, whb his open ca- noes loaded with Provisions and Stores for the relief of the garrison. From Michillimakinac, Lieut. Col. M'Douall dii- H)6 Aaiini|i»TRi^ioii 09 vn [1814 r. ^ « .r patched Lieut. Col. M'Kay of the Indian rrttkte 4tt Uepartment at the cominwiceniem oi Jul>, ^^'f,?' with a force of six hundred *nd fifty men (pf which 120 were Michigan Fencibles, Canadian Voluntem-s and Officers of ^he Indian Department, the retnaindtt, ludiaos) to reduce ,Uje Post of rraim du CMen oiv th€s Mi^iMippi. Lieut. Col. M'Kay arrived at tjliat pla«eon the I7th July. Here he found the ene- ^y ia occupation of i^ small Fort situated on a height, withitwo Qlock-Houses mounting six pieces of cani^n, anUJn tl|e ipiddle of the Mississippi immediately in fr^nt^oCth^ Fort, alargegunrboat, mounting fourteen pieaes of ^mall drtillery. Lieut. Col. M'Kay sent a flagi of truce, denmnding an immediate surrender.— This being refused, he opened a iire from one gun up- on the enemy's gun-boat with such effect after an ac- tion of three hours, as to compel her to cut her cable and run down the stream, where she took shelter under an Island In the evening of the 19th, Lieut. Colonel M'Kay having thrown up his breast works at the dis- tance of four hundred and fifty yards, was prepared to open a cannonade upon the enemy, with a single gun vvhich he had mounted for the purpose, when the enemy hoisted a white flag and sent an Officer to acquaint the besiegers of their surrender, who immediately took possession of the garrison. The enemy's ftwce con- sisted of three Officers and 7 1 men. The reduction of this Post which was effected without the loss of a tangle man, was of^heutmostimportance to the British Tra- dersand effectually secured the British influence over the Indian tribes of the West. -^ ' ,TJte enemy upon ascert^uoing that Michillimakinac 1814] had hi was pi !Expe< •flffiinst ] ilTitnuck by the A leans. Compj duced joined dred r Fort o forenoi enced ] M'Dou leaving Major 1 Thou Michillii neigh be for the and Sec of the 3 Septemj Worslej Bulger < carried plementi iilimakii] Durini ral Sir J in Nova- 11814 I Indian of July, ifty men 'anadiaii newt, the rairie du ' arrived the ene- a height, cani^n, lately, in (burteen ly sent a ender. — gun up- »r an ac- ler cable ter under . Colonel I the dis- epared to ingle gun he enemy [uatnt the iely took wee con- luGtion of fa tangle itish Tra- ence over limakinac 1814] 8IB GEORGE PBEV08T. 197 had been reinforced, fitted out an Expedition which was put under the command of Lieut. Col. Croghan-- F.xpeilition A detachment of this force under the com- riCackC' jn/nd of Major Holmes proceeded to Saint bytheAmer- Maries, where, after plundering the whole «•«•• 1^ ' of the stores belonging to the North West Company, he wantonly ordered the buildings to be re- duced to ashes. The main body after it had been joined by this detachment consisted of about nine hun- Fort of MichiUimakinac on the 4th of August in the forenoon, but the spirited opposition which It experi- enced from the handful of men under Lieut. Colonel M Douall was such as to compel them to re-embark mT'uZT '"^ '"' ^'^ ''' ''""''^ ^"-^ ^'^- Though the enemy had failed in this attempt to carry Michillimackinac. they kept their small cruisers in the neighbourhood so as to intercept all supplies destined for the garrison. Two of these vessels, the Tigress and Scorpion were carried (the former on the evening of the 3d, and the latter, on the morning of the 5th of Septemoer) byasmall party of Seamen under Lieut. Worsley, (R.N.)and a party of Soldiers under Lieut Bulger of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Thev carried each a long 24 pounder on a Pivot, with com- plements of thirty-two men. After their capture, Mich- lUimakiuac was left unmolested. ♦ # During these events in Upper Canada, Lieut. Gene- al Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, then Lieut. Governor in Wova-Scot.a, was successfully engaged in reducing 4- ADMIIIISTIIATION OS {1814 « very populous and extensive portion of the enemy's "territories adjacent to the Province of xNew-Branswick. He detaclied ix small force from Halifax, under Lieut. Colonel Pilkington which, with tlie Ramjiies, com- manded by Sir Thomas Hardy, took possession, on the J 1th July, of Moose Island in P^ssamaqiioddy Bay : the carrison at Fori Sullivan cousisting of six Officers and eighty men under the covrimand of Major Putnam sur- . renderinp- themselves prisoiiei^s of war.— n/'St". On the 26lh of August, Sir John C. Sher- Sherbrooke. j^j^^ji^g haviag embai'ked at Hahlax, the whole of bis disposeable forces on board of ten tran- sports, set sail accompanied by a small squadron, un- der Rear Admiral Griffiths, lor Castine on the Penob- scot River^ where he arrived on the Ut September, and took possession of the Batteries at that place ; the co& of ordnance and three stands of colours fell into the hands of the British, who.e loss amounted 1814] to no ! seven Afte ton wa chias, by tha ing on treated ordnaii Lieut. into ^li commu ing the ihe cou ser%-e a This, S and pr a cessa populoi miles a] of cour Lower-* British J o-f treasi Amon the Mon ftier, the meniber* ably vig connoitr enemy's uQSwkk. er Lieut. es, CO ra- il, on the Bay : the icers and nam sur- if war. — C. Sher- iifax, the ten tran- Jron, un- e Penob- jpteniber, >lace ; the ;t, having ated with e Adams, le British r security guns had ;w of pro- n, with a under the nent, were lining pos- oy, who at ing fire to inding the positions, of colours amounted 1814] SIR GEORGE 7»RErOST. 199 to no more than one man killed, and one officer and seven men wounded* After the capture of Castine, Lieut Cofonel Piftinir- ton was despatched with a brigade of troops for Ma- chias, which was taken possession of on the Tlth Sept by that officer; the detachment in Fort O^Brien hav-' i»g on tlie approach of the British, precipitately re- treated /ron, the Fort, leaving twenty-six pieces of ordnance with a quantity of small anns and ammunition. Lieut. Col. Pilkington was on the point oi^ marching nito ^he interioF of the country whenhe received I communication from Lieut. General Brewer, command- ing the District, engaging that thfe militia forces within iiie county of Washington' should not bear arms or • ^rve against His Britannic Majesty during the war. Ihis, with a similar offer made by the Civi* Officers and principal inhtibitants of the county, brought on a cessation of arms. By these judicious measures a populous extent of territory, stretching one hundred miles along the sea coast, including a valuable tract of coutrtry, partly separating New-Brunswick from Lower-Canada, passed under the dominion of the British arms without effusion of blood or the least waste cf treasure. Among the casualties in advance along the Lines on the Montreal frontier in the course of the present Sum- mer, the death of captain Mailloux deserves to be re- membered. This brave Canadian had been remark- ably vigilant, and was of essential service in watching ... „,.„., ^,„^„,- „, j.^„ ciiciny. ne ieii while on a re- connoitriiig party, into the hands- of the enemy, who 200 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 had laid in ambush for him— H*? received several balls through the body, of which he languished some days, receiving however the greatest attention from the Ame- rican Surgeons, as well as from those of the British, who were allowed by the enemy to cross the lines to attend him. The body, after his decease, was sent to the lines escorted by a party of the American Military with the iionors of war, and every mark of respect for the memory of the deceased. The arrival of a strong reinforcement of near sijt- teen thousand men from the Garonne, of the Duke of Wellington's army in July and August, determined Sir George Prevost to invade the state of New-Yerk by way of Lake Champlain. The flotilla at hh-mx-Koix was necessary to co-operate with the land forces, and the Commissary General and Quarter-Master General, in order to expedite the new Frigate (the Confiance) were directed to suspend every other branch of the public Service which interfered with its equipment. Sir James L. Yeo was urged by the Commander of the Forces, (early in August) to put this division of his command into an effective state, for the contemplated Service. In answer to this, he was acquainted by the Commodore, that the squadron on Lake Champlain was already ninety men over complete, and immedi- * ately superceded Captain Fisher, who with much exer- tion had almost prepared the flotilla for active service, appointing Captain Downie from the Lake Ontario squadron in his stead. The Commander of the Forces, disappointed in not receiving a reinforcement of Sea- «v.on fx/Mn T.nlfP Ontnrio. anolied to Admiral Otwav and Captain Lord James O'Brien then at Quebec, u [1814 'al balls le days, he Ame- British, lines to ; sent to Military pect for lear six- Duke of lined Sir fork by 'ces, and Geneial, >nfiance) h of the uiptnent. mder of on of his emplated id by the [lamplain im medi- ae h exer- e service, Ontario e Forces, t of Sea- »1 Otway Quebec, 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 20t whoAirnished a strong reinforcement from their r<^ ofTn^l ^''"^^''^ ^"' ^^"^^^^^ '^^ ^*^r--- Sir George Prevost having sent to UppeivCanada^. a brigade of troops under Major-^General Kempt, whc^ was authorized to make a descent upon Sacket^ Har- bour before the close of the Season, if such a measure- shoyid be thought practicable, concentrated his army betiveen Laprairie and fort Chambly, under the imme- diate command of Major General De Rottenbur^h. AJtho the flotilla was scarcely ready to co-operate, finding that a strong division of the enemy's forces unl der Generallzard, bad marched from Plattsbur^h to reinlorce the troops at Fort Erie, he, in order to check the advance of tbis division, put his army in inovement and crossed the lines at Odeltown, on the^' first of September.- 0ir the third, he advanced and- occupied Champlain Town, which. the enemy abaa^ doned upon his approach.. J: «*" From this point the whole British force marched on - ttie 4th in two columns, by parallel roads upon PJatts- burgh through a woody country. The column ad- vancing by the western road, (more elevated and on- drier ground than the road next the lake, which was- low and swampy,) commanded by Major General*, l^owerand Robinson, was smartly opposed bv the enemy^s. militia. It however, drove the enemy back upon Plattsburgh on the sixth, and opened the way lor the left brigade, commanded by Major GenP,i. iii'i.foane by Dead Ci eek, a strong position upon the> fcorder of Lake Champlain, which the enemy had oc- 202 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 copied in force, after destroying a bridge over the stream, wliich in this place was not fordable, having so ■ distributed their gun-boats, (ten in number,8ix of which carried each one long twenty-four, and an eighteen pounder carronade, the others a long twelve each,) as to take the British in flank on their approach. The American squadron, consisting of the Saratoga of 26 guns, Brig Eagle, 20 guns, Schooner Ticonderoga, 17 guns, and the Cutter Preble of 7 guns, lay anchored in the Bay, then within reach of the protection of three batteries and redoubts, on a ridge of land on the south of the Saranac River. This position being turned, the enemy fell back upon their redoubts beyond the Saranac, keeping a vigilant outlook upon the Fords of the river with strong picquets of light troops. On the seventh the heavy artillery being brought forward^ eligible situations were chosen to place them in battery,, when it was observed that the squadron had changed their position from that of the preceding day, and. were anchored out of reach of their own, as well as- of the British batteried. The commander of the for- ces had previously acquainted Captain Downie, (wha was moving gradually up the Lake, with his flotilla, him- self in the Confiance rather unprepared for action, with a crew entirely strangers to her ofiicers) of the posi- tion of the American squadron ; and that the attack bv land and water might be stimultaneous, he deferred an attack upon their works until the arrival of the squadron. This resolution (it is said) was adopted with the unanimous concurrence of the General Offi- cers present. The escape of the enemy's fleet to the narrow channels at the head of the Lake might reader it impracUcabk to engage them with, any prospect of 1814J success the Lai utmost my, an< sally a< fidence Sels, the perienc mander Staff, w that he se] alon riran s< ber, Sir from Cj for serv squadro intentioi trance c gagingt jutisfy SI under a at the ex George him tha morning hopes th the squ£ and mai united tl fired wit was^hovi [1814 ;r the ing so whicli jhteen h,) a» The of 26 ?a, n chored f three ! south urned, ud the ords of On the >rward,i ►attery,. hanged Ly, and well as the for- le, (who ila,hin)- on, with he posi- attack leferred I of the adopted -al Offi- jt to the (Spect of 1814] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 203 success ; a final decision of the naval ascendency, oa the Lake at the present juncture, was therefore of the utmost importance to the uherior operations of the ar-^ my, and the expediency of such a measure was univer- sally acknowledged, particularly as the strongest con- fidence prevailed in the superiorly of the British ves* Sels, their weight of metal, and in the capacity and ex- perience of their oiBcers and crews ; and as the Com- mander of the Forces was informed by an officer of hi* Staff, who had been dispatched to Captain Downie^ that he (capt. D.) considered himself, with his own ves- sel alone (the Confiauce,) a match for the whole Ame- rican squadron. At midnight on the 9th of Septem- ber, Sir George Prevost received a communication from Captain Downie, stating that he was prepared for service, and proposed getting under weigh with hi*, squadron the same night at twelve o'clock, with the intention of doubling Cumberland Head (at the en- trance of Plattsburgh Bay,) sAyout day break and en- , gaglngthe enemy's squadron if anchored in a position ta jutisfy such a measure. The troops at dawn of day were under arms, but there being no appearance of the fleet at the expected hour, they were sent into quarters. Sip George wrote a note to Captain Downie, acquainting him that the army had been held in readiness that morning for the expected arrival, and expressing his hopes that the wind only had delayed the approach of the squadron. The brave Downie, who to the noble and manly virtues characteristic of his profession united the nicest sense of hono-. is said to have bee» fired with indignation at the refltdon conveyed in the note, i^o cOiHuiunication subsequent to that of the Otii, was7 however, received from him at Head Quarters*. fi04 ADMINISTRATION OF [1814 At the dawn of day on the 11th, the wind being observ- ed to be favorable for the advance of the squadron, the troops were put under arms, and at seven o'clock its approach was announced by the scaling of the guns of the Confianee, which rounded Cumberland Head, with a leading breeze, leaving the other vessels and gun- boats far in her wake. As 8 o'clock the whole fire of the enemy's squadron, moored in Jine, was directed upon the Confianee, which moved gallantly into action with- out returning a shot, (Captain Downie intending ta lay his ship athwart hause of the enemy's largest ship) until within two cable lengths of the American Kne, when, having two anchors shot away, and the wind baffling, she came to anchor, and opened a destructive -fire upon the enemy. The Linnet and Chub, some time after, took their stations at a short distance, but the Chub having had her cables, bowsprit, and main boom shot away, became unmanageablcj and drifting within the enemy's line was obliged to surrender. Shortly after the commencement of the fire from the Confianee, her gallant commander fell, and the com- mand of the squadron devolved upon Captain Priing of the Linnet. The Confianee, after the fall of Capt. Bownie foflght for some time most gallantly under the command of Lieut. Robertson, but was compelled ta strike her colours to the enemy's ship, the Saratoga, which at one moment had slackened her fire, several of her guns being dismounted ; she however, cut her ca- ble, winded her larboard broadside so as to bear on the Confianee, which, being much shattered in her hull and injured in her rigging, endeavoured in vain to ef- The Finch struck on a ree^ urgh, or liose mis- prudence lently as- himself, I for the ert to the ingly into the Gun- . tVw»re is 1814] SIR GEORCB PSEVOST. 200 room tobelieve ihmhh gallant officer fell a victim to a fallacious confidence of success, which, after coasecra- tmg^ his life to it, we cannot but respect. // The decease of Sir George Prevos^ before « Milita- ry Court Martial could Investigate the charges pre- ferred against hini, renders k impossible to speak with any degree t)f certainty on the general propriety of his conduct on that expedHion : but it seems to beffc^ nerally admitted, by those who are supposed most ca- pable of forming a Correct opinion on the subject, that after the loss o^f the'sqiiadron his situation in the ene- my's country, must have been extremely precarious • and that; although he might without any great exer- tion h^ve carried all the enemy's wctfks at Plattsburgh their momentary occupation, which would have cost him some blood, would have been utterly useless. F^rt Erie ** '^^^ ^"^"^ ^* ^^''* ^''^^ «^ bearing tW result of the expedition to Plattsburgh, and aware that the British in their neighbourhood had not been recently reinforced, made a sortie in the afteiv- noon of the seventeenth of September, and attacked the British lines, extending through a thick wood, with their whole force, consisting of up wards of five thou- sand men. At the onset they gained some advanta^ having from the thickness of the weather, (the ntin pour-' ing^ in torrents) succeeded in turning the right of the British line of picquets without being perceived, and af- ter a warm cotitest, obtained possession of two batte- ries. As soon as the alarm was given, reinforcements were sent forward, wfio drove the enemy from the works of which they had gained possession, and pur- 18 ^ 210 ADMIN ISTBATION 4>r [1614 sued them to the glacis of FortEriit, whilher they re- tired with precipitation, with the lo8S (hy their own ac- counts) in kUled, wounded and mining, of five hu n- dred and nine men, including eleven otiicers killed and twenty-three wounded. The British loss amounted to three officers and one hundred and twelve men kdled, seventeen officers and one hundred and sixty-one men wounded, and tlurteen officers and three hundred and three men missing; making a total of 609 officers and men. General Dramraona, after tWa affair, finding lii. troops encamped in alow situation, now rendered very unhealthy by the late constant rains, growing sickly, raised the investme« of Fort Erie, and fell back upon Cliippawa, on the evening of the 21st of September, without molestation by the «aemy. Sir James L. Teo, after much exertion, completed the Saint Lawrence, a new ship of 100 guns, and on the 16th October, saUed from Kingston for the head of the lake with a reinforcement of troops and supphes for the army ; Commodore Chauncey ''«""g P;*"^ f retired to Sacket's Harbour, on liearmg that the Br.- tUh squadrpn was prepared for the lake Gen-Brow., finding the American squadron incapable o*-- o- ■pera- ting with him, came to the resolution of evMnr^t ,«; i ort Erk, which he accordingly did on the Stl. '-«'";^'% after calling in his out-posts and destroymg the whole works at that post, and retired across the Niagara to his c* . ^ritory, leaving the wearied Inhabitants of the Upp« 1 iV JviB'ce once more to their repose. [1814 5y re- ^n at- hii n- id and ted to killed, e men id and rs and Qg his d very sickly, k upon ember, [ipleted and on tiead of applies viously he 6ri- . Brown -opera- ftg >''or.t iCUijer, e whole garai to ts of the ^^^^1 SIR OKORCE PBEVOST. 211 The American^ffmy throughout the present cam- paign evinced a character and an improved stat^ of disciphne far beydTid wimt might have been expected Iron, such raw materials. The bm barous conckjct of a few desperadoes wIk, occasionally made incursions into the western parts of Upper Canada di»graeed however the reputation which their regular army had acquired in the eshn tionof the British, ever ready to acknow- lo.gc mei'it in a virtuous enemy. The Villages of Do- ver aud Port Talbot were destroyed by these ruthless barbarians in the course of tJfe summer: but the de- vastation 3vhich marked the course of a horde of mount- ed men from Kentucky, under Brigadier General M Arthur, m the month of November, exceeded every thing.. The Country through which they passed was given up^to indiscriminate plunder: the settlements were reduced to ashes, and the miserable inhabitants were left to perish with cold and hunger. This band of ruffians was arrested in its progress, on attempting to cross the GrandRiver, by.a party of the 103d Reai- ment and a few Indian Warriors, and their speedy re- treat before aparty of the 19th Light Dragoons saved hem from exemplary chastisement. They made good their retreat to Detroit from whence they had set out on this excursion. Tho troops and embodied militia in the Lower Pro- vince were sent into winter quarters on the tenth of December. General Diummond and Sir James L. yeo, aftGi'the campaign had ended in Upper Canada came down to Montreal to concert measures with the commander of the forces for the ensuing campaign, in the event that the nearociations thpn ^a....,; . 1 i 2n ADMINISTKATIOH QF llBli Ghent should not terminate in a Peace. Th€ creation of a naval force on Lake Huron \n the ensuing season was detci-miued upon by these officer!?, as a place af- fording much greater security for the construction of vessels than Lake Erie, where the enemy possessing ihe dominion of the Lake could at any time destroy thera* The House of Assembly met on the 21st January^ Mr. Panet having been called up to the Legislati\;e Council, Joseph L. Papineau, Esquire, was electeil Speaker of the Assembly. The militia Act was revised and amended by admitting substitutes. A Grant of new Duties upon Tea, strong Spirits, and on Goods sold at Auction was made to His Majesty to supply the wants of the Province. One thousand pounds were granted for the encouragement of vaccine inoculation j upwards of eighty thousand pounds were appropriated for the improvement of the Internal Communications of the Province, and a further Sum of twenty-five thousand pounds for the purpose of opening a Canal from Montreal to Lachine. A Bill was also introdu- ced to make a provision for the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and to grant him a thousand pounds per annum, to enable him to support the dignity of his Of- fice, This Bill being reserved for the Royal Sanction was confirmed during a subsequent Administration. The Assembly among other things came to a reso- lution that it was expedient to appoint an Agent in Great Britain for tlie purpose of soliciting the enact- ment of Laws, and for transacting such public matters as might from time to time be committed to his care for 181 5] the gi Jnunic Fition nor of chann< nada £ they th sembly The dissent solutioi the subj Prince ! as an a< at a for which n Go verm gislatun Treaty ( the 1st o The! and as a pay to tl vided foi rendered livel;hoo< dows and the war j Rec-ent. r made to s Uefence o 1815] SIR GEORCE FnErOST. 213 I'e good of the Province. This resolution was com Zn 1'" "" ^«''""'^'' ^<»"'-'. -herejn opZ: o of the P '"'^"•"■''''* "'' --°'ved,tha, the Gove^- channe h.r '"? T' "'"""'^ <" '"«' <^o»'«itutionaI cuannel between (he Legislative Bodies of Lower c7 nada and His Majesty, Government in GreattS i.aVn .l.ey therefore did not concur in the Message of thlTs: diJem of diri"° • ?' "'^Z '■''"'""^ '"formation ofW sZi n ^ Leg,slat.ye Council, persisted in their re- solution, and presented a» addre.. to the Governor on he subject, requesting his Excellency.to transmit to the 1 . '2« Rwt certain addresses in tlieir behalf, as well as an address relating to the Impeachments prefeired a a former Session against the Chief Justices, and o" winch nonot.ce had as yet been taken by the Britist Government. Whilst the attention of the colonial Le- gislature w^as engaged in these concerns, news of the tttf " -r*"? ""^ "^'""^ announced to them oa. the 1st oi March. The Embodied Militia were immediately disbanded and as a gratuity, the Legislature granted eighty days' pay to the officers. An annuity of six pounds was pro- vided for such Voltigeurs andMilitii^men as had beea rendered, during their service, incapable of earning a hvebhood. A small gratuity was also made to the wi- dows and children of those who had been killed during the war j and the Assembly in an Address to the Prince made to such Voltigeurs and Miliiia, as had served iu defence of the Province during the late war. 18* 214 ADMINISTRATION OP {181i The Assembly, as a mark of respect for the charac- ter of the Governor in Chief, voted him the sum of five thousand pounds sterling for the purchase of a Service of Plate. This measure met with the approbation of the Prince Regent, but was not carried into effect *, the legislative Council h ving refused their assent to a bill for that purpose, which was sent up for their concur- I'ence in the course of the ensuing Session. ' The business of the Session being concluded, the Governor prorogued the Parliament on the 25th March. He informed the Assembly that he had- received the commands of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to return to England for the purpose of repelling accusa- tions affecting his military character, which had been preferred by the late Naval Commander in Chief on the Lakes in Canada — an opportunity which he em- braced with eagerness tojustify his military reputation. « However intent (said he) on the subject which so * unexpectedly thus summons my attention, be assured * I shall bear with me a lively recollection of the firm * support I have derived from you, and I shall be gra- * tified at an early period in representing personally to * His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, the zeal and * loyalty evinced by every class of His Majesty's Sub- * jects in British North America daring my Adminis- * tration, their attachment to his August Person and to * his Goverimient, and most particularly the spirit and * devotion manifested by the People of the Canadas, in * the late contest with the United States of America.* {1815 harac- of five Jervice tion of :t *, the o a bill ;oncur- jd, the March. ;red the 5ent, to accusa- id been Jhief on he em- utation. 1815] SIR GEORGE PREVOST. 2t& Sir George Prevost accordingly departed from Que. bee on the third of April, for England by way of St John's (New.Brunswick) over the wild "Lnd uninht b.ted country between the Saint I.awrence and the Ri> ver St. John s On the day of his departure he receiv- ed farewell addresses from, the citizens of Quebec and Montreal, expressive of their satisfaction with his Ad- ministration. He was succeeded by Sir Gordon Drum- mond m the Government of Lower-Canada, as Ad- ministrator in Chief, who arrived at Quebec on ihe same day, a few hours after the Governor's departure and assumed the Command. "epartute, THE £NZ>. hlch SO assured the firm be gra~ in ally to ^eal and ^'s Sub- l^minis- 1 and to )irit and ladas, in lerica/ an opj bis cha POSTSCRIPT. Tt is due t?o the public, and to the memory of Sii* Creorge Prevost, to give some statement of the pro- ceedings, with respect to that officer, after his return to England, to account for his military conduct at Plattsburgh, in September 1814, at the instance of Sir James L. Yeo, commander of the Naval Forces on the Lakes in Canada. Some time after his arrival at home, he was induced, by the promulgation of the sentence of a Naval Court Martial, assembled for tlie trial of Gapt. Pring and the officers under his command, for the loss of the British Squadron on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh Bay, reflecting upon the conduct of the Commander of the Land ForceSj to address a letter on the subject to His Royal Highness the Duke of York. In this letter he strongly protested against the decision of that Court Martial so far as it related to himself, as premature and unjust ; his conduct, and that of the army under his command, not being properly the sub- ject of their enquiry; and because their opinion must have principally relied upon the bare statement and assertions of the parties whose conduct was in question, without any other than ea: ^«r^e testimony. He com- plained of the peculiar injustice of this prejudication of his conduct, aggravated by the delay of his accuser to bring forward his accusations ; and solicited the interposition of His Royal Highness with His Majesty's Government, to compel him to produce his charges in due legal form, and proceed upon them, in order that A CO Sir Jan was, by ted froi Sir Gee val of tl ing of tl 12th of of Sir G impairet fected fr experien country, Lawrenc uary, he to regret reflection not havir at PlattsI Colone opportuni brother, i tigation o Prevost, p his memoi iifss the ( strongest family and quested tb JOSTSCBIJBT. 217 «tt opportumty might be afforded him of vindicating liis character and conduct. A copy of (he charges (fonr in number) given in by oir James L Yeo^ in consequence of tliis remonstrance. t d from the Horse-Guards, on the I3th September, to Sir George Prevost; and to afford time for the an-i- IZln,' "^""^.'•^[."'i'nes^esfrom Canada, the meet- of Sn George Prevost, naturally of a delicate cast, a.ul .mpa^red .n the course of service, became seriously a^ experienced ■„ hisjourney on foot over the uninhabited country, covered with snow, between the Rivers Saint ua'rTrn ^"- ?«">•.•'»•>"''' -d on the 5th of Jan uary. he d.ed.n London, leaving a disconsolate family to regret his loss, rendered doubly grievous by tlie- reflec^ons to which his memory was efposed, from hL TJSJX " ""-'--^ «='-'"« "Phis cond.ce ''i"*>»;' -i^?..- Colonel William Augustus Prevost, anxious for an oppor,u„ny to retrieve the injured reputation of Z pl ' °^"'? '-■'""•S-^^ P'-«f«'-'-ed against Sir George Prevost, previous to his decease, m,^t have cast uZ ■s memoiy, in a letter addressed to His Roya flfgr. »ss the Commander in Chief, after stating in fhe S"' %ht. the distressing situation in w!.i:h 21 (amily and relations of the deceased were olaceH .... ■J««»leu that an investigation of his conduct might "he 218 POSTSCRIPT. ordered before a Court of Enquiry. A reference to the Judge Advocate was niadc on the subject, who was of ophiion^that such an enquiry, could not be pro- perly made ; and indeed the objections to an investi- gation after the death of a party, in such an instance as the present, appear to be insurmountable; the evi- dence before a Court of Enquiry, not being taken on oath, nor could any proceedings with a view to afford public satisfaction, have had the desired effect, unless the Prosecutors (whose characters must also have been eonsidered to acertain degree at stake) were allowed to come forward with the whole weight of their evidence. In consequence of this determination, Lady Prevost addressed a letter to the Commander in Chief, repre- senting to His Royal Highness in tlie most forcible terms, the painful dilemma in which she was placed.— She dwelt strongly upon the injustice sustained by the memory of an injured officer, whose life had been devo- ted to the service of his country, and whose exertions in that service had been honoured with the frequent and unqualified approbation of his Sovereign and his Country.— Honors, which, though the fruit of long and acknowledged services, were now in danger of be- ing blasted by unproven and calumnious accusations. She therefore solicited His Royal Highness to extend his favour and protection to herself and family, and im- plored him to commiserate theiF multiplied afflictions, and to endeavour to obtain from His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, a gracious consideration of their claims for such marks of distinction as might be thought due to the memory of the deceased. Hjs Royal High- aess acknowledged the receipt of her i ladyship's let- ter and thing ca interferi fore wh( larly sul Lady which, w PJattsbu through taken the gracious! lie enter George I mark of 1 to the Ar The k Lower-Ci equitable, tire mass < from ^he c confidenc( conciliatin indebted f ably left d hostilities mandsof t The Pre Army Bills factually r in the finai The organ i>lilitia, am POSTSCRIPT." 219 ence to ct, who be pro- investi- instance the evi- aken on to afford t, unless ave been lowed to tvidence» Prevost f, repre- forcible »laced. — jd by the 3endevo- exertions frequent \ and his ; of long ;er of be- msations. to extend /, and hn- ifflictions, Highness, I of their e thought yal High- ship's let- tcr and assured l.er that he should be glad to do any thing calculated to alleviate her distrefs. but dediLd interfenng with the Pcince RegeM on the subject be- fore who™ he was of opinion, it could oni; be "el larly submitted by His Majesty's Ministers. ^ Lady Prevost accordingly drew „p a memorial, P . 'h" . " ?*""*"* *^ "'* "•'"'"y occurrences at Plattsburgb, she submitted to tl^ Prince Regent LTnl^ ' """l^"" .f' «<^«' Highness hafing It!" ^t ""?' '"? '""^"'^'•^ti"''. was soon afterwards giacously pleased, publicly to express the high sense he entertained of the distinguished services of S^ George Prevost, conferring at the same time, as a mark f the present Go- vernor, and spared no pains to represent in England the affairs of the colony in the falsest colours. The disappointments experienced at Sacket'^ Harbour and Piattsburgh, gave occasion to his enemres to discredit his military character : but whatever may have been his capacity as a general, (which we leave to the judg- iiwnt of military men) it must be adnvitted that as a Civil Governor, at the head of a people irritated by arbitrary measures under the preceding administration he judiciously explored his way through a period oi unprecedented embarrassments and danger, without a recurrence to Martial Law, or the least exertion of ar- bitrary power. His manners are represented by those who were familiarly acquainted with him as unassum- ing and social. His public speeches or addresses par- took of even classical elegance. His smooth and easy temper placed him beyond the ordinary passions of m«n in power, and though aware of the intr.gups of unprincipled and implacable euemies labouring at his destruction, and loaded with the ^bliquy of the press be is known to have harboured no resentment against he former, and to have reasoned with that coolness „j „..rn with respect to the latter, which can only spring from a virtuous and mgeuuous mind. Of this remai suppr ATOU Mes lESefl iiiutiles., "i Li Chaj jamais eii. siiccea. I ct voiis al pour fairo Tout ?a 6i Qu6!)ec, s< €n Frangoi avoir scut Tent senti fiisseut, qm ReprSsent Oil croit la Liste Cii Elections, i VoUS D'i vite a ceuj 1' affaire. On va vo %)))( taxes. ulatioR I him to in^ two sources lio had nd who •bitraiy s might mi Go- England 3. The 3ur and liscredit ve been liejudg- lat as a ted by stration, eriod of Without a m of ar- by those inassum- sses par- md easy ssions of 'igups of ig at his he press, t against coolness hich can nd. APPENDIX. A. Of this production we insert the following e.viract : the remainder of it, being directed against individuals, is suppressed : A TOUS LES ELECTEUllS DU BAS-CANADA. Met Compat doles, ES efforts ojie voiis dvez fails a la deruiere Election i.'ont pas etc IIIMtllcS. • *^ Li Chainbre d'Assemblee a en p?(is de force q.|'eHe n'en avoit jamais e.i. Ls payeinant ,le ia L.ste Civile y a et6 proposg avec sncces. Mais I'effet en a ele terrii.le ; ear le Parlement a gte cassT et VO..S allez voir des eff.rts incroyaf)les a la procfiajne ElHctio.*. pour lairc aba,.d.,n,ier les Represeotaas en qni vous aviez confiaucc. Ton va6irem.sen oenvro; toutes Ics Gazettes j..squ'aeejfc do Qug!)ec, sont employees ; el on a encore mis une uouvelle sur pied en Fransois. Tons les gcQs en places et tons cenx qni veulent en avoir sont en raouveraent. Le coup a ete terrible pour eux iis I ont senti jnsque dans la moele des os: mais qnelqne chose qu'il RrrgsertanT^ '^""^ ^"'^ ''*'"' '''^^*' ^''""^ ^*"''"^' ""^ soutenez vos On croit le moment favorable. On espere rons-eponvanter par la Liste Cvile. et que la prompt! tnte avec laqnelle vont sc faire les I^lections, oe vous laissera pas le terns de la reflexion. Vous D'avez pas de terns i perdre. allez roits informer ati plus I'affairr^"*" **"' '''*"' *''^'' «onfiance, et faites vous expliquer On va vous prficlier le management de voire bourse, nn ranrSn. aux taxes. Remarqnez bien qui sont ceux qni prichentet qui ^2 APPENDIX. rrlent aliisi : si cr sont coiix qui out cou'umc de pailcr de ui(!n»gc- iiu i)t ct cic ciler coiitre Ick taxes. Ccs pcrsnniics nc se sruit pan r^cri^es de voir angmentcr les D6- IxnsesCivilcs tous Ics aiis ; tulles iic tie soiiv pax rcori^eH lorsqu*on a propo!;^ de mettre des taxes siir le» tenes it j a qmlqiiex anii6r!>i. ICIIe«(se soiit toiijotirt! gard^es jii!!qii*ici dc voiisparlfrdc ccs rhosus ; riles jcttoient les hauts rria ccs dernidrcs aimles lorsqu'oii pii- blia ini compte pour vous doiiner connolssaiice des Oepeuscs de la Province. Croyez que cc ii'est pasle desir de menager voire bourse qui Ics agitc »i fort, aiais que e*est bien phitdt le d6>ir d'cn avoir le manage* ment etixniSines, et d*6tre les uiaitres d'augineuter la d^peose taut qu'ils voudrout. En tr.il sept cent quatre-vingt quinze la premiere fois que Irs comptcs ont el^ cnvoy^s a la Chanibre, la Depcnse de la Province ne montoit qu'adix neufmille louis; en mil bitit cent, eile montoit a treute-deux inillc louis; et en mil bnit cent sept, qui est la d«r> iiiei e annee dont on ait les coniptes publics, elle uaoutoit a qua* raute-trois uaille loiiis. lis vous dirout: que vnus iinporte que la dcpensc augraente, ce n'l'st pas vous qui la pay(z toate. • II est vrai quMI y a une petite partie que nous ne payon^i pns, et qu'on se garde bien dc nous faire payer, afin de pouvoir dire que nous Q*avons pas le droit dc se mSier de la depense. Mais quand la depcnse sera une fois angmentee autnnt qu'il aura pIQ aux gfns en place, il faudra que quelqu*un soil charge de la payer. Qu'est ce qui doit en ^tre charge a la fiu ? — La niere-patiie n'a point eta!.-!i de fond pour la payer ; on tire «e qu*clle en paye actuellcnient, de la caissc militairc; cela ne pourra continuer tant B. II sera terns alops, disent \en gens en pluces. de rfglcr la dcpeme et on aura le ni^iue droit q.i'a present.-Mals qu;\!iich it is intended that these purposes should be pur- sued ; and whereas, consistently with that duty, whicli I owe to his Majesty, and that aflcction and regard with which 1 view the welfare and prosperity of the Inhabitant^ of this Colony, it was inipossible for nie i\ny longer to disregard or suiTer practices so directly tending to subvert the Government of the former, and to destroy the happiness of the latter, 1 do therefore, hereby announce, with the advice and concurrence of His Majesty's Executive Council, that with the same advice and concurrence measures have been adopted, and that due information having been given to Three of llis Majesty's said Executive Counsellors, Warrants as by Law authorised, have been issued under which some of the authors, printers and publishers of the writings aforesaid have been apprehended and secured. Deeply impressed with a desire to promote, in all respects, the welfare and happiness of the most bene- volent and best of Sovereigns, whose faithful servant 1 have been for nearly as long a^period as the oldest inhabitant has been his sulyect, and whose highest displeasure I should incur, if I made any otlier than that happintss and welfare the rule of wy conduct, it APPENDIX. 2.2o ice, Old Drtns, ill 3US pur- scruplctl daring 1 ployed, "y great strong- ly witii be pur- r, which regard of tlje for Hie directly ler, and erefbre, •ence of le same dopted, ) Three arrant s r which of the ccurcd. , In all It bene- Tvant I I oldest highest ?r than duct, it would indeed be with a very sincere concern^ that 1 sliould find reason to believe that the arts of these fac- tious and designing men had produced any effect, and that doubts and jealousies should have found their way, and have established themselves in tlie miijds of delu- ded Persons. To these, if~any such there be, and indeed to tiio public in general, I would recall the history of the whole period during which they have been under His Majesty's Government. Let them remember the state they were in when they became British Subjects ; and let them bear in their recollection the progressive ad- vances they have made to the wealth, happiness, secu- rity and unbounded liberty which th^y now enjoy.— During fifty years that they have been under the En- glish dominion, has one act of oppression— has one in- btance of arbitrary imprisonment — op of violation of property, occurred ? Have you in any one instance, or under any one circumstance, been disturbed in tlie fvee and uncontroulled enjoyme»t-of your Religion— and lastly, whileall Europe has been deluged in blood, and while various of his Majesty's othe- colonies and possessions have at times experienced the horrors of V. ar, and some even under the vicissitudes of that state, have undergone a deprivation of the inestimable hap- piness of living under British Laws and British Go- vernment, by becoming a prey to temporary conquest, have you not enjoyed the most perfect security and tranquility under the powerful protection of thatsaiike government, whose fostering and paternal care has been equally employed in promoting your internal . welfurtj, - 19* I 22Q APi'tlNDlX. What then can be tlie means used ly these evil dis- posed and wicked persons by which they ran hope to bring about their traitorous and ambitious designs — by what arguments can they expect that a people, in tlie enjoyment of every blessing that can contribute to happiness in tliis world, shall renounce that happiness, to embrace their views ? By what argument can they expect that a brave and loyal people, hitherto impres- sed with the warmest and sincerest attachment to the best of Kings, w hose whole reign has been one series of benefits bestowed on them, shall abandon that loy- alty and become monsters of ingratitude, fit to be heUl up to the detestation of the world, to pro» te their projects f it is true, the most base and diabolical false- s hoods are industriously promulgated and disseminat- ed. In one part, it is announced as my intention to embody and make soldiers of you, and that having • applied to the late House of Representatives to ena- ble me to assemble twelve thousand of you for that purpose, and they having declined to do so, I had therefore dissolved them. This is not only direct- ly false, such an idea never having entered into .my raind, nor the slightest mention having ever been made of it ; but it is doubly wicked and atrocious, because it has been advanced by persons, who must have been supposed to speak with certainty on the subject, and was therefore the more calculated to impose upon you. In another part you are told that I wanted to tax your lands, and that the late House of Assembly would con- sent only to tax wine, and upon that account, I had dissolved the House. Inhabitants of St. Denis ! this is also directly false; I never had the most distant idea of taxing you at all 5 such had never even been for a APPENDIX. 2^ evil dls- liope to (signs — ople, in ibute to ppiness, an they impres- t to the e series hat loy- bc held te their al faUe- lemi nat- ation to having to ena- for that I, I had ' direct- into .my en rcade because Lve been ect, and 3on you. tax your uld con- t, I had nis! this tant idea ;en for a moment the subject of my deliberations, and when the late House offered to pay the Civil Listj I could not have taken any step in a matter of such importance without the King's instructions, and therefore it was still long before we came to the consideration of how U was to be paid. In truth not one word was ever to my kr.Dwiedge mentioned on the subject. In other parts, despairing of producing instances from what I have done, recourse is had to what I intend to do, and it is boldly told you, that I mean to oppress you. Base ai]d daring fabricators of falsehood, on vk hat part or what act of my life, do you found such an assertion ? What do you know of me or of my in- tentions ? Canadians, ask of those to whom you former- ly looked with attention and respect, ask the heads of your church w ho have opportunities of knowing me ;. tliese are men of honor and knowledge, these are men from whom you ought to seek for information and ad- vice ; the leaders of faction, the demagogues of a par- ty, associate not with me ; they cannot know me. For what purpose should I oppress you ? Is it to serve the King? Will that Monarch, who during fifty years has never issued one order that bad you for its object, that was not for your benefit and happiness- will he now, beloved, honored, adored by his subjects, covered with glory, descending into the vale of years, accompanied with the prayers and blessings of a grate- ful people, will he, contrary to the tenor of a whole life of honor and virtue, now give orders to his Servants to oppress his Canadians Subjects ? It is impossible that you can for a moment believe it. You will spurn frotp : 1 .* ( 11 228. APPENDIX. you with just indignation, the miscreant who will sug- gest such a thought to you. Is it for myself, then, that I should oppress you r For what sliould I oppress you ^ Is it from ambition ? What can you give me.'' Is it for power.'' Alas! my good friends ! with a life ebbing not slowly to its period, under the pressure of disease acquired in the service of my country, I look only to pass, what it may please God to suffer to remain of it, in the comfort of retire- ment,among my friends. I remain among you only in obedience to the commands of my King. What power can I wish for ? Is it then lor wealth that I would oppress you .'' Enquire of those who know me, whe- ther I regard wealth : I never did, when I could enjoy it : it is BOW of no use to mej to the value of your Country laid at my feet, I would prefer the conscious- ness of having, in a single instance, contributed to your happiness and prosperity. These personal allusions to myself— These det^ife, in any other case, might be unbecoming, and beneath me ; but nothing can be unbecoming or beneath me, that can tend to save you from the gulf of Crime and Calamity, into which guilty men would plunge you. It is now my duty more particularly to advert to the intent and purpose for which this Proclamation is is- sued ; I do, therefore, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Executive. Council, hereby warn, and ear- nestly exhort all his Majesty's Subjects, to be on their guard against, and to be cautious how they listen to tlie artful suggestions of designing and wicked men, who, L and tr vernmi thereb to acts dispose and IVJ best ci cendiai right, s inculca King ai And mand a all Cap Majesty diligent thors as traitoroi any way in any n to distur that by in the pr may det< uhutcvei r happi jocts in ia the this 21 FifUetl <) ^P' will sug- ;ss you r nbition ? las ! my s period, » service ly please f retire- ou only What 1 1 would rie, uphe- ld enjoy of your mscious- I to your details, beneath eath me, ime and •you. )rt to the on is is- e of His and ear- on their listen to ed men, APPENDIX. 229 who, by the spreading of false reports, and by seditious and traitorous writings, ascribe to His Majesty's Go- vernment evil and malevolent purposes, seeking only thereby to alienate their affections, and lead them in- to acts of Treason and Rebellion, calling upon all well disposed Persons, and particularly upon all Curates and Mnibters of God's Holy Religion, to use their best endeavors to prevent the evil effects of such in- cendiary and traitorous designs, to undeceive, to set right, such as may have been misled by them, and ta inculcate in all, the true principles of loyalty to the King and obedience to the Laws. And I do hereby further strictly charge and com. inand all Magistrates, in and throughout this Province aU Captains of Militia, Peace Officers and others. His Mcyesty s good Subjects, that they do severally make - diligent enquiry and search, to discover as well the au- iioi's as the publishers of all such wicked, seditious and traitorous writings as aforesaid, and of false ne#s k any way derogatory to his Majesty's Government, or in any manner tending to inflame the Public Mind, an^ o disturb the public peace and tranquility ; to the e. J, tha by a vigorous execution of the laws, all offenders m the premises maybe brought to such punishment as nay deter all persons from the practice of any acts u hutcver which may in any way affect the safety, peace :>r happmess of his Majesty's Loyal and faithful Sub- K'cts in this province. .T. T? rmin /-!«..«._-,.' <) •It 230 AfP£NDI^ General HULL'S Invading PROCLAMATION, Inhabitants of Canada ! After thirty years of peace and prosperity the Uni- ted States have been driven to arms. The injuries and aggravations, the insults and indignities of Great- Britain, have once more left them no alternative but manly resistance or unconditional submission. The army under my command, has invaded your country, a^nd the standard of Union now waves over the Territory of Canada. To the peace:»ble un offend- ing inhabitant, it brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies not to make them. I come to protect, not to injure you. Separated by an immense Oceart, and an extensive Wilderness from Great-Britain, you have no partici- pation in her councils, nor in her conduct. You have felt her tyranny, you have seen her injustice, but 1 do- not ask you to avenge the one or redress the other. The United States are sufficiently powerful to afford you every security, consistent with their rights, and your expectations. I tender you the invaluable bless- ings of Civil, Political, and Religious Liberty, and their necessary result, individual and general prospe- nty — that Liberty which gave decision to our coun- cils and energy to our conduct in our struggle for in- dependence, and which conducted us safely and trium- phantly througli the stormy period of the Revolution. That Liberty which has raised us to an elevated rank among ed us i Wealth any pec In tin my Gov propert your p€ your h^ thers (o enjoy, with us, an arm^ dial wel and opp free mei Had your asi every c< all opjiOi much gi the just dered ai ties of w If the be pursi) citizens, will be i The fi with the APPEJJDIX. 231 r/OA; the Uni- iries and Great- itive but ed your ves over n offend- lifficulty. come to xtensive I partici- fouhave but 1 do- lie other, to afford hts, and ale bless- rty, and 1 prospe- ur coun- le for in- nd trium- jvolution. xted rank among tlte Nations of the world, and which has afford- ed us a greater measure of Peace and Security, of Wealth and Improvenieut, than ever fell to the lot of any people. In the name of my Country, and by the authority of my Government, 1 promise protection to your persons, property and rights. Remain at your homes— Pursue your peaceful and customaiy avocations—Raise not your hands against your brethren— Many of your fa- thers 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 ixmst be hailed by you with a cor* dial welcome. You will be emancipated from tyranny and oppression, and restored to the dignified station 6f free men. Had I any doubt of eventual success, I might ask your assistance, but I do not. I come prepared for every contmgency. / have a force which will look down all op2)OiUton, and that force is but the vanguard of a much greater. If, contrary to your own interest, and the ,ust expectation of my country, you will be cons;- dered and treated as enemies, the horrors and calami- ties of war will stalk before you.j If the barbarous and savage policy of Grea^-Britaui be pursued, and the savages are let loose to murder our citizens, and butcher our women and children, this war will be a war of extermination. The first stroke of the tomahawk, the first attempt with the scalping knife, will be the signal of one in- I i* 232 APPENDIX. discTiiHinate scene of desolatloi). wVo whtie man found fighting by the side of an Indian will be taken prisoner ! Instant destruction will be his lot. If the dictates of rea- son, duty, justice and humanity cannot prevent the employment of a force which respects no rights, and knows no 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 readily. The United States offer you peace, liberty and se- curity. Your choice lies between these and war, sla- very and destruction. Choose then, but choose wisely ; and may he, who knows the justice of our cause, and who holds in his hands the fate of nations, guide you to a result the most compatible with your rights and interest, your peace and prosperity. W. HULL. By the General, A.F.HULL, Capt. 13th Regt U. S. Infantry, and Aid-de-Camp. licad-Quarters, Sandwich,. July 12, 1812. r nanfound prisoner ! 3s of rea- jveiit the ^hts, and jvere and will not der your adily. y and se- war, sla- e wisely ; use, and aide you ights and [JLL, l-de-Camp. APPENDIX. D. 233 General SMYTH's PROCLAMATION^, Previous to his intended invasion, will givt the reader some idea of this gasconading General, • GENERAL SMYTH To the Soldiers of the Army of the Centre. Companions in Arms ! The time is at hand when you will cross the streams of Niagara to conquer Canada, and to secure the peace of the American Frontier. You will enter a country that is to be one of the United States. You will arrive among a people who aie to become your fellow citizens. It is not against thm that we come to make war. It is against that Government which holds them as vassals. You will make this war as little as possible distressful to the Canadian population. If they are peaceable, they are to be secure in their persons ; and in their property, as far as our imperious necessities will allow. Private plundering is absolutely forbidden. Any soldier who qui.s his rank to plunder on the field ot' battle, will be punished in the most exemplary manner. But your just rights as soldiers will be maintained ; whatever is booty by the usages of war, you shall have. All horses belonging to the artillery and cavalry ; all waggons and teams in public service, will be sold for tire benefit of the captors. Public stores will be 20 :4) H: 934 A|tP£NDIX. secure for the service of the United States. Tiie Go- veroment will, with justice, pay you the value. The horses drawing the Light Artillery of the ene- my, are wanted for the service of the United States. I will order TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for each, to be paid the party who may take them. I wiM also order FORTY DOLLARS to be paid for the arms and spoils of each savage warrior, who shall be killed. Soldiers ! You are amply provided for war. You are superior in number to the enemy. Your personal strength and activity are greater. Your weapons are longer. The regular soldiers of the enemy are gene- rally old men, whose best years have been spent in the sickly cljmate of the West-Indies. "They will not be able to stand before you — you, who charge with the bayonet. You have seen Indians, such as those hired by the British to murder women and children, and kill and scalp the wounded. You have seen their dances and grimaces, and heard their yells. Can you fear thewl ? No, You hold them in the utmost contempt. Volunteer?, Disloyal and traitorous men have endeavoured 4o dissuade you from your duty. Some times they say, if you enter Canada, you will be held to service for five years. At others, they say, that you will not be fur- nished with supplies. At other times, they say, that if you are wounded, the Government will not provide for you by pensions. The just and generous course pursued by ffovernment towards the Volunteers who APPENDIX. 235 Tlie Go- the ene- l States, for each, w'lU also the arms be killed. ir. You personal pons are re gene- mt in the Inot be with the hired by kill and nces and r THE3ML ? >ured .to ley say, 5 for five t be fur- r, that if provide 5 course fought at Tippecanoe, furnishes an answer to the last objection. The others are too absurd to deserve any. Volunteers! I esteem your generous and {^triotic motives. You have made saciifices on the altar of your country. You will not suffer the enemies of your fame to mislead you from the path of duty and honor, and deprive you of the esteem of a grateful country. You will shun the eternal infamy that awaits the man, who having come within sight of the enemy, basely shrinks in the moment of trial. Soldiers of every Corps! It is in your power to re- trieve the honor of your country and to cover your- selves with glory. Every man who performs a gallant action shall have his name made known to the nation. Rewards and honors await the brave. Infamy and contempt are reserved for cowards. Companions in Arms ! You came to vanquish a valiant foe, I know the choice you will make. Come on, my heroes! And when you attack the enemy's batteries let your rallying word be, " The Cannon lost at Detroit or Death " ALEXANDER SMYTH, Brigadier General Commanding, Camp near Bufiklo, 17th Nov. tgraif *.