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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. by errata ned to tent une pelure, fapon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 DURI .^^^^(y^-^'/^c//^/ ^^ e/^<:^y ■w "^. '^' iM^S^B^ £®^£ SSU'SSISS!®®!^! f/.tr/i-tir- i'Ci IjUA Ihronto 'W^ 1 r, HISTORY OF THE \>- ■!>;' WAR BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND TUB %:: • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DUEING THE YEAES 1812, 1813, AND 1814. BY G. AUCHINLECK, FSRRUM QCO GRAVES PERSiB MELIUS PBRIRENT. TORONTO: PUBUSIIED BY MACLEAR AND CO., IG KING^STREET EAST, 1855, J^ '■"> 'V r ^073 ji P^^ ■■** Q TO THE VETERANS OF 1812. AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, THIS HISTORY » UKSPKCnrULLY INSCKIBED BY THE AUTHOR. L •nnO*^ ■'"■■■5 *'^"-^-i 1., gT or iiie on:if rnoss i^^i the lK-l,m l/M W////; /.\:V,i.i.ll.c»''' of Jiinuaiy IHI.). ■Ji.^' ■d>K ftv*- 7/^* pusttion oftHtfh . ^rmifx on fhf /I'/f haMA- fix f/ff/nr. / larftrncn l.t'/fjiir/tr/rtci/mf /■Jntfi/U'er'"'. t/i/ifan/ /hfitricf. / '\ ■ //'M// f//u/ ScmIkoI' YmHs . (O .Ni III Ml H'' III' r I I 1 —1 I L I I C3C- ^. ^'^ '^,:;.:.^xr^^o 1-e.:^ 1 ..%1 .- J? .,t ,,..,..... Y '" ^t s- ^ 'p - ■■■■'■" ■■■ « ■■ ■■■"""•' ■::2 <^,., -'^^.j^.. ..^ :' .'.mi"',' . *///.■ '. .fJS ,U/ ■■ti'A \One small howitier HerA I Gent IhkenkanheU 1/ A'ti .»»•,* / '2.\t iB: WW / /c< S- /4/i: ■ f> I'r ^ >< .1.. vl.. ...,.% I 1 H ? M / S S ^ ^ »? s s / r I 7f I I PrelimiDar J R iigorous execut Jbr in Council, ' tt Council thoug best course open Tbo United Stat p»rtc's Decree.— ■nd June, 180 licrchant TCsacl ft-itish Convoy.- ibr., 1807, an Wcdicament of i m France, and r( liborality of the Berlin and Mila United States Co Mbao's Mission.— fliatcs unfriendly t« the U. S. trc ■ipplies. — Effect fl^urse Act, 1st K Mr. Madison's 1^0!).— Negotiatic Madison. — Uejoic Ir. Erskino'g ar ritish Governm ir. Jackson. — U bth, 1810.— rr tench Decrees ; iizures and Bu inckncy's depart ipll. — Engagera( iigate President, poop of vrar Lit he President's ^ 511. — Report of ficommending th aiid 50,000 milit Humbors voted %oop9 ; 12th Ja A>y extent, a scci 9niti;d States and I Papers relating Clited to Congress March. — Ninety R-esiJent's Messf 0|i the 18th, and jincc subsequent Brdcrs in Counci ik, a War of A i CONTENTS. CIIAPTER I. I Preliminary Remarks. — Tho Berlin Decree. — ttf^orous execution of Uie Decree. — Ilritiuh Or- Jbr in Council, 7th Januarj, 1807. — The Order U ('ouncil though Btrictljr ju.st, not perhaps tho best course open to tho British Qovernnicnt. — The United States raise no voice against Buona- Mrte's Decree. — The affair of the Chosapculie, ■ad June, 1807. — Right of Search. — Some llcrchant vessels of the United States under j^itish Convoy. — British Order in Council, 11th wor., 1807, ond Milan Decree. — Distressing ■rcdicament of the U. States. — I'lca advanced fe France, and repeated by tho United States.— Ubcrality of tlie British Qovemracnt before tho Berlin ond Milan Decrees. — Embargo Act of Wiited States Congress, 25th Dec, 1807.— Mr. Bdso's Mission. — Public feeling in the United ttates unfriendly to Great Britian. — Additions 19 the U. S. troops voted by Congress, with ■ipplies. — Effect of tho Embargo. — Non-inter- fl^urse Act, Ist March, 1808. CIIAPTER II. Mr. Madison's Inauguration, 4lh March, 09. — Negotiation of Mr. Erskino with Mr. !adison. — Rejoicing in tho United States. — l|r. Erskine's arrangement disavowed by tho British Government. — Mission and Recall of Mr. Jackson. — Decree of Rambouillet ; May lith, 1810.— Pretended Revocation of the ft-ench Decrees ; 1st November, 1810. — French l^izures and Burnings still continued. — Mr. Hackney's departure from London ; 1st March, ipll. — Engagement between tho United Stales gate President, and llis Brittannic Majesty's op of war Little Belt; 16th May, 1811.— e President's War Message ; 4th November, 11.— Report of Committee on Foreign Affairs, ficommcnding tho raising of 10,000 regulars I d 60,000 militia; 29th November, 1811.— | lumbers voted increased to 25,000 regular ! t|oop3 ; 12th January, 1812.— Was there, to Ay extent, a secr.H understanding between the Ifnitud States and F ranco ? CHAPTER III. f, Papers relating to Henry's Mission communi- "Hited to Congress by the President, on the 5th larch. — Ninety Days' Embargo ; 4th April. — yesiJent's Message ; 1st June. — War declared the 18th, and persisted in, although intelli- knce subsequently arrive.'? of the Repeal of the \dcT3 in Council.— The War of 1812, '13, and a War of Aggression on the part of tho U. States. — Tho War declared simultaneonsly with the Invasion of Ru.xsia. — Tho British North American Provinces tho main object of tho Wor. CHAPTER IV. Attempts to induce the belief that the war was only unpopular with the minority ; from Juno 18 to July 12, 1812.— Declaration of Hos- tilities. — Spirit which actuated Canadians, — although from a knowledge of their weakness it might lead them to deprecate hostilities, yet not adverse to Great Britain. — Remarks on tho Address of tho Assembly of Upper Canada, on tho Declaration of War. — iStato of feeling in Lower Canada. — F'irst hostile demonstration ; 12th July, 1812.— Movements of Colonel St. George. — Conduct of our Indian Allies. — Gen'l Brock, with a body of Volunteers, leaves Y'ork for tho scene of action, and arrives on the 13th August. — Offensive and Retaliatory Measures at once adopted by General Brock. — Capitulation of General Hull, and fate of Detroit.— Effects produced ou Canadians by these unhoped for successes. CHAPTER V. Naval encounters at sea — General remarks on. — F'irst objects of the War; chase of Bolvi- dera; escape of English homeward-bound fleet of West Indiamen. — Manning of American fleet, as compared with that of tho British.— Captain Porter's inhuman treatment of an English sailor. — First consequences of the meeting of unequal forces ; loss of the Guerrifcro ; Frolic and Wasp ; Macedonian and United States ; Java and Con- stitution, December 29th. — Effect of these suc- cesses on the American people. — Measures adopted by the British Government. — American list of captures made. — American President's Jlessage, November 4. CHAPTER VL General Brock returns to York. — Compli- mentary and congratulatory letters received by General Brock; Col. Bayncs' opinion of General Hull. — General situation of affairs ; the effects of the armistice upon them. — The armistice and the subsequent policy pursued. — Arrival of In- dians, as a reinforcement, at Detroit. — Capture of the "Detroit" and "Caledonia" by the Americans. — Escape of General Brock. — Expe- dition against Fort AVaync ; abandonment of enterprise. — Despatch of Sir George Prcvost to Sir Isaac Brock. VI. CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. Non-arrival of reinforcements from Europe, and movements in Lower Province. — General Brock's reception at Qucenston. — Nature of the country along the Niagara frontier. — British force along the Niagara frontier at the time of General Brock's return from Detroit. — The force of the American army. — Gen'l Van Ransalaer's plans. — Despatches of General Brock. — Battle of Queenston Heights. — Despatches from the two commanding officers compared. — Personal appearance of General Brock. — Public opinion of General Brock's character and value. CHAPTER VIII. Opinions of the Press respecting General Brock's character and value, continued. — Ai*- mistioe concluded the day after the battle. — Treatment of the prisoners. — Disposal of the prisoners. — Attempts of the Press to keep up the "war spirit" by misrepresentation. — Refu- sal of the militia to cross the Niagara river, another proof that the war was not as popular as represented. — Resignation of General Van Bansalaer, and appointment of Gen'l Smyth. — Destruction of the fortifications at Black Rock, and of the furs taken in the Caledonia. — Cap- ture of Canadian voyageurs. — General Smyth's proclamations. — Invasion of Canada by General Smyth. — Effect of this failure at invasion. — Position of affairs on the Detroit and Lower Canadian frontiers. — Causes of General Dear- born's inaction. CHAPTER IX. Causes of General Dearborn's and other fail- ures considered further. — Demonstrations on St. Lawrence. — American force. — Proctor's force. — Sheaffe's force. — Army in Lower Canada. — The total numbers on both sides compared. — Com- parative naval strength, — Plan of campaign. — Arrival of Sir James Yeo. — " Hornet" and "Peacock." — The "Chesapeake" and the "Shannon." — Remarks on the action. — Want of discipline on board the "Chesapeake." — Na- val events on Canadian lakes. — Expedition to the Miami, and attack on the American defences. — General Proctor deserted by the Indians, and part of the Militia. CILVPTER X. Fort Meigs. — Slaughter of captives. — Descent upon York. — Errors of the Commanders. — De- scent upon Fort George. CHAPTER XI. Expedition against Sackett's Harbour, 27th May. — Proceedings at west end of Lake Ontario ; surprise at Stony Creek, — Result of the Dfar- born and Chaunccy expedition. — AfTair at the Beaver Dam. — Capitulation of Col. Bccrstler and five hundred and forty-one American troops. — Reinforcements arrive at Queenston, but re- turn to Fort George, — Proceedings in Congress on receipt of news of Boerstler'a surrender. — Col. Clark's expedition again.st Fort Schlosser.- Col. Bishopp's expedition against Black Rock.~ American alliance with Indians. — Proctor, am aspect of affairs in the west. CHAPTER XIL Commodore Chauncey's second descent upoi York. — Demonstration against the stores i; Burlington Heights. — Colonel Scott breakinj parole. — Second descentupon York by Chaunccj — Sir James Yeo on Lake Ontario. — Demonstra- tion against Fort George by Sir George Prevost Cruise of Commodore Rogers ; the President iu: Congress frigates. — Dominica and Decatur, Aug , 5th, 1813. — Pelican and Argus, August 12th.- Boxer and Enterprise, September 5th. CHAPTER XIIL Capture of the "Growler" and "Eagle American sloojr'j. — Descent on posts on Lak< Champlain, — Discrepancy between Christie out the letters of Veritas. — Capture of British storei and affair of boats at Gananoque. CHAPTER XIV. Situation of General Proctor in the west.- Consequences of Perry's victory, — Discussio; relative to the affair at the Moravian town. CHAPTER XV. Retreat of Proctor and place of rendezvous.- Armstrong's observations on Proctor's defeat- Remarks on Harrison's letters as to numbers.- James' contradictions on this affair. — Characte of Tecumseth. — Treatment of prisoners. — Inget sol on reprisal. — American policy. CHAPTER XVI. The Expedition under General Wilkinson,- The numbers engaged at Chrysler's Farm.- General Hampton's movements — his force.- Wilkinson retires to winter quarters. — Genen order. — Causes of tho failuili Ordor i iiiiiir iil'ili.' Ch lllliirr |{||||>|| <■ 'il lint liiULd ,- tiilVlMlimi'ill III —Mr. HnsoN .> Irodjis voiL'cl hj riuliniiiiary rem;irl' khioh wilfully oir, It to serve party lind one that is (h Iho ono, unprincii ai'biiiiliiiiij. \\\>, bit" office, will stri llc'iir, to the best < put prcjudieo'l ; )a!nphlet, on th (ry ami meagre falist, on the o 'hscrvant of truth, \nt, at tlie same ti onft'ss thit we wi jie heart,— aii'l a lulsrition, will rem iorioiis British eon krangemeiit and I |crself, no less th; llianco ; to recite 1 perc peace, to c tit degree prosperii -this is onr under '< we well may, as v cplore. In such a ►'en on our own sit Mn,— the pain wh H I S T Ft Y OF T II E W A R OF l^li, 181:), AND ISH. ClIAPTKll I. IVoni the Bcrlia Decree to tlie close of Mi-. Jcft'ersoir.s .SocouJ AJiiiini.--lriuioii — 21-t Nov. 180G... . .'ird .March, If^O'.). [JoNTKNT^ OK CiiM'Tici! I. — Pii'liiiiiiiiiry Hciirirli--.— 'Pill'. Hcrliii Drcree.— Rii,nirniN I'XPCMilinii of the Dccrre.— 15iiii:-h ()nl..-r 111 I'uiiiii'JI. 'i\h .1,111.. lri(J7.— 'riM' Oi.lcr iii Coini.il llioii;rli ,-.)|-,|,< d,,, |,,.st i-Mir-c ,)|).M ii) ilic r.iiiUli (i.ivi.TiiiiH-;il.— Till; I'.iiu-cl Si. Mrs ri\ir-o no voir.' .■i'.;;iiiiM Kiioiuipiiili 's | i..,i ,.,.._'|'|,e nii.iii-orilif Cliosiipnikc. JiiiKJ .lllill^ ISO". — Uiiihl c.l' S.';iic!i. — .'(>7. —.Mr. Ito.sK's .Mi.ssioii.— I'ulihr lialiii',' m llie IJailt-il .Sialis'iinrrnMidlv to Ureal Hiilaiii.— .\(ldilion.-i lo lliii II. s! iroops volcd hy Coii.i>u!.s^. Willi .supplies.— JOlTect til'llio Jliiiljargo.— .Son-iiil. rcour.su Act, l.-t .Muruli, ISUS. Prelimiiiary remarks. An lii.-itoricitl narrative ! discovers tliiit tlic errors of liuinan coivluct |\-liich wilfully olRn;lsiig:iin,-licaii ba^'onots. 'trans- ported with the freimine s[)iiit of deniocratiu inebrialiuii, tiieso Coni^ress dcclaimers were never able, for a moment, loentcrtaiii the iilea of loyalty, s^uierior to all the arts and enchant- ments of democratic seduction, growing up to any extent under the mild and equitable and parental rule of (li'cat Hiitain : — of filial love mcorruptible, inseparably weaving itself roimd the time-honored institutions of a mon- archy popular, free, and engrossing the hearts of its subjects. JJisahection, in their judgment, prevailed far and wide in Canada : (li.-aflection, i»cc,;rding to their confident but not very states- mandike vaticinations, was to afford them an easj- conquest. Tiie mass of om- pojndation were to rush into their arms : very diiTerent v."as the sj irit which our invaders, when they eros-ed the line, found ani)n;;;t us, — they found a sph'it, not fondly anticipating their embrace, but sternly prepai-ed togi'app'.e with fhem in mortal conllict ; not jiliant for [;rose!y t- ism, but nerved for ba.ttle ; and they found that spirit (we t-'.iy it not in bitterness, but we fay it with honest pride), they found (liat! spirit too much for them. Tlieir invasion was repelled ; and with it were repelled likewireciated our loytxUy. V>" hilst we frankly bear testimony to their skill and their valor, cm the lakes and sea more especially ; whilst wc confess that the energy and lb-: pucc.ss with whicli they worked their diminutive navy bled from atten ruinous catastr sea, from whicl the skill and co his island-foe; of his pa'^siona energies to accc arms had been for tliedcslrnct —as Mr. Aliso owing to " no r sudden fit of commanded the respect, and even awakened the fears of Creut Britain; we do not forget that their enterprise by laml ended in discom- fit uie, and that Canada was greatly instru- nunt;il 'o that discomfiture. It wrs by the side of a mere handful of British troops that our Canadi.T.i militia achieved the expulsion of the invading foo ; and, what is more, we do not regisnl it as an extravagant supposition that, hail the Jfother Country been unable to send them a single soldier, but regular ollicers only, to discipline and lead them, their own true hearts and strong arms — ho thoroughly 9 much thouglit was their spirit roused — would, unaided, havo « Tiiesc plans w won the day. Bo this as it maj' ; (^ii\ada did her part, and nobly too. l'\tr be it from ih to think of casting away or of unworthily hiding the laurels which she has gained ; thouuh most sincere is our de-ire to interweavL' with tin ni for aye the olivo branch of pe.ace. .Many of her native .sons who took up arms in her deience, arc still living amongst us, hon- ored as they deserve to be; and .so long as they shall be spared to us (and may Almighty (jod spare them long), we trust that political , vicissitude will not biing them the mortiiica- 'I tion of sei ing the great princijile of liriiish | supremacy for which they bore the niii.sketan'l^l drew the sword, fallin''' into anything like sen- « Riifornns oxecui ^ manifesto which I'erlin Decree, Nnvembcr, ISOi of the unfortuna The Berlin f)e all, mainly thro son's widely cir( to uiak'j our pre in itself as we ai articles of the I) admirable worl own extraordina cree is likely to oral disrepute. And when, in obedience to lhc| common destiny of nun, they .shall have beon>; removed, may their spirit long survive them, ; animating ihc; bosoms of a.n equally gallantand | ^°'" 't i*li-oduccd loyal raJii in generations yet unborn, and { '^'''^^' ''* ^'"^ ^^""'1 cherished as a pearl of great price by an aflcc-;! tionatc mother country, in " the adoption and menaces it expn ability of its auth steady prosecution of a good system of colonial i ""^^"^'^''"i q^ite c jovernnumt." AVe jiroceed nov»- (o fake up, in the order cf^ time, the causes of the war. Tiio I>< rliii Dficrco, ■il.-u i\ovi;iiil,pr, ISOO. Placed in a position c! power, apparently iiii' pregntdtle, by his recent victory of Jena (1-itfe Oct., 1800), wlii("h left the Prussian inonarchj prostrate at his feet : but smarting stiil will, the galling memory of 'iVafalgar, the Frcncl! Mmperor deemed the oiiportunity aflbrded bn the coniph^tc humiliation of Pru,ssia favonv; bio for returning, as fiercely an, yet h'els liimself boiinil by a due regard to thejn.-t defence of the rights and inter- ests of lii.s people, not to sufl'er se.eli measures to be tiiken by the enemy, wiil'ont faking somo steps on his part to restrain this violence, and to returti upon them the evils of their own injustice ; his niMJ.'sty is thereupon pleased, by aiul with the advice ot his privy council, to orchu', and it ii heri'by orderi;d, tiiat no vc-sel shall tie jiei'inittod to trade from one portt) another, l);>th wliieh ports shall belong to, or be in the posfe-sion of France or her allies, or .shall be so t'ar under theircontrol as tliiit Hrilisli vessels nuivnot freely trade thereat ; and the commanders of hi.s )n;ij.^sl\'s shi|).s of war and jirivateers shall be, and are hereby in- structed to warn every neutral vessel coming from any such jiort, and destined tc) another such port, to discontinue her voyage, and not to procoed to HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF 1S12. two iiic'ii:or,ih!o Oiilciswl.irh, ui'lKqipily, coti- tiiliuU'il lojiir^ravatt' llic i.r(;jihliics previoiisl)- ciitcitiiiiKd n;;'iii]st (lvii\t IJrilniri by ii liirj-v iii.'ijiirily of tlie inh;il)it;inls of Hit- I'niU'd f^luU'.-!, and HiipjJiii'd (In; ostcn.-i')U', but — a.> C'lTuni-taiicc.-!, to be lu'itaflor noticed, liititlc US to aigu" — not tbe rua! j;Tound for the Vi'mi- of \>>\2. It is v.\ll to lii'ar in riind tliat lliis Order v,-a ■; n'^t (he yv ; uictiiMi (/fii Tory Min- is(:y; biit of a ^Vlii,','; Cabinet, btadtd by Mr. F(..\, — a man who w'M iiaiilly bo eh;;; ;,e(l with an}' liias towards th;' arl.'Itravy exerci.'^c of tlie hh'luenec and i.ower of the l'riti>li Crown. 1( is .still more important to reniiulc tliat, v.lim J[r. Mimroo, the United Stater^ ^lini.sttr in London, rdiiuiiiniicaied (]ie Cider to his government, he did .so with comments expres- sive of coiicr.ri'cnco r.nd salisfaclion. " Th.e Hpiril of t'liis ()r;ler," ob.scrves },h-. Ali. on, " was to deprive the I'rencli, and al! the nations sid)- ject to their control, whieli had embraced tiit Cor.tinenta.l system, of (he adv;!nta,'.;es of the coasting Ira.le in neutral bottouis: and, con- sidering the nuieh more violent ~ iiii' iH.-t der in Council, though fciirsc (.pill to Ihe . 1 1 /- -i ■. 1iiiii>ii Cuvciumiit. just a.ul defensible, was, perhaps, an infelicitor.s proceeding. The Ihitish Government nn"ght h.ave tried mstcad one oj' olherof two expedioits, either of whieh, as matters turned out, would jirolia'-ily }iavc answereil i)etter than that •ivhieh was adopted. If they would not have been justified in treat- ing the Fmpcror's fuhninatiou with contempt; tliey nu"g!it — on the one hand — have paused, at least, to ascertain wheth.er neutr.al jtowers would acquiesce in liis furious enactment. any such port ; and any vessel, afior being so uarned, or any vesfe'l ei/niing froni aiiysueh port, after a reasonalilo time sludl have been all'onieil for receiving infiiniiatioii of this liis majesty's orders which sliall bi'Viuml proceeding to another siieli iiort, sliall be capttu'eil and lirouglit in, and, together with her cu'go, f-liall be eonilenmed as lawfal [iri/.e. And his majesty's principal secret- aries of slate, tlio Iwriis enuniiissioiiers of tlie adniiralty, and the judges of tlie Idgh eoui't o( adiriiraUy, and courts of vice aduurally, are to talt it v;as iicc of tlicer.ui.y, 'I on collision wi;li ue h.ave said, and ~^ ouneil, if it were neflleient, .stand.-!. n a i;osilion pcr- altcrnntivc of oh- inaetivity nii^iiit 1 ; hdt ccrtairily maintained ; and ) energetic rcsist- ecrcc was hein;. ntral nation.s ci United States— nee — received it, idcrin^', with at he silence of thu to be dei)!oi'ed, i e front the theatre le re from any at- l lip it.; ports — ank and honest le regretted, how- dilic feeling had V way, AVher. 1 on tiie part of I them, no voice e foumlin tlicPrcJ ei- '27, 1S07. of piihlic indii^nation w.m raised ; no anthori- 1 tative docniaent emanated from the govern- ment indicating, even indirectly and in the luildc^t terms, their .sense oi the outrage which had lieen committed l>y the oppres.sor and tramitler of Knrope. Not a word even of expostulation v.as iiroathcd by the great North ; American rejiuMii-— .ndependent as it was of Napoleon'.s irondiandi'd desi.oti.~in, and deeply interested in I'rilish commerce; until the a:ni , of French violence fell heavily on the ships of its own citizens ; and, even then, — allhougli coniiM^ation fol!ow<'d on contiscation, and mil- lions of IVancs a--cniing from thesciiucstratiiai c»f American i)roperty envi'died tlic Frencli t.'^nsury, — the tone adopted \iy the President of the L'niled States towai'ds the French gov- , ci'iimerit, though |;etulant enougii, \»"as gentle | and plaintive and sujinlieator}-, compared v.ith the stron;^ and angry language IVeqnenlly ad- drc:-sed from \\'ashington to niiuister.'i and ' p!eni[)Otontiarie.s of Gieat IJiitain. Till- afi";iir nf iliu Clics;ipc;iki:.22J .luDo, li07. AVhil.st dissatisfaction I was thus too evidently increasing on the part of the lishod usages and pvinciples of exhibits, in a very strong light, the Presi- dent's proolamaticn as a measure premature and unjustifiable. Right of j^eaich.f In the American mer- * Amorican Wickl;/ Jirr/lxUr, 2Zth Sept., 1811. f Extract from Mr. Sheffey's speech in the House of llepresentatives, on the bill to raise an additional military force — Jamiury, 3, 1812 : — •' He protested agiiinst waging a war for the protection of any other than native born American ; chant ves-clsbut a niUuvul citivien of these Uuit- Bcamen , or those who were citizens when the imle- ' ed States." civilized kingdoms, which wo had no right to controvert out of our own liu/it.s. Ho would therefore not protect any other than natural Am- erican citizens on the ocean. Wo did not deny the right of England to search for pro()orty ; slic wont fuitlicr, and clainuHi the privilege of sonreb- ing for lier seamen. The .similarity of our man- ners and language ocearioncd her to abuse the privilege in pomo caFoshy the inijue.-sment of our .seamen. This was not an abuse of principle but of honor. And lieliu-o we go to war with horf(w impressment he would make her this oiler: lie would airree iu)t to let anv man enter our mer- or that the mistake j^ •1 cccnrred so fre like the wrong proclamation o Slates,— in wh •'under pretex thousands of .\ guard of i)ubli bave been torn everything dea it liappcns, wa ration of war, member of the New Fingland S lent and educa pamphlet, jml tion to the int ment, weborro on ♦he " right "Thewhoionu been impressed past, was t)'J58, ( but 1500 have b at least one luilf of the residue it nioiety entered v of British soanici onhi, 13 150,000, whom they have it probable, we a 1500 seamen, the country."* AVhat the Un is .simply this :- tual steps to p service of Britis France. This w the grievance, chant service cf double the pay ship of war, besi moro direct all u Britain was stri ard all the stou could bring tog( gie for existence Carolina, Soutl employing — for seamen to one i Pome mi'rrlnuU Bfl'liflllC I:. S. u ISrili.^li c'ouv.iy. * Mr. Madiso Citizen. HISTORY OF TIIR WAR OF 1812. of thi; \v;ir, there / thousand of our thorn deserters, such ; and, as to as just as lawful e United States L^ly their having Jiiited States, — • of evadiii hostile interpretation likely to lie put u]ion fia-', I th by F had th 5 guard of public laws, and of their national have been torn from their country and from ! there was, we fear, but little inclination on the everything dear to them." The question, as ! part of citizens of the United Stales, to seek it happens, was discussed, soon after the decla- ■ protection under the guns of a llritisli ship of ration of war, by an " AMi;iacAN Citizen," a j war. Still, few as they were, they may serve member of the local legislature in one of the to suggest the relKction, how readily the New England States, and evidently a man of ta- , national feeling on both siiles might have been lent anil education. From a vigorous and lucid j conciliated into firm and mutually profitable pamphlet, published by this writer, in opposi- j friendship, had the Uniteil Slates been able to tion to the intemperate policy of his govern- 1 perceive at once — as Washington had striven ment, we borrow the following extract bearing that they should pcrcei/e — that their in- on t^^he "right of search:" — i terest, no less than their ori-in, boimd them "The whole uumhcr of sailors pretended to have ' ^° ^'^^^^ Ihitain ; and Ind they sincerely and been impressed from our ships, for fifteen years strenucusly labored, under that persuasion, to past, was ti'.'oS, out of 70,000, and of whieli, all jsupjiress their strangely misplaced and deeply but 1500 have l)een restored. _ Of this remainder, I pi'cjudieial sympathy v, itli France; a coun- at least one half arc ))robably Uritisli seamen, and try, at that time the verv antithesis of a of the residue it is prolialile that at least another ] popular State ; andiitious, merciless, despotiz- nioiety cntrred vohinlarilr/. The whole number \ ing; seeking to enslave the rest of Europe, and of iBritish seamen in their marine, or puhlir .,J,ip, ' liorself virtually enslaved by as thoroughpaced onl;/, is 150,000, and in their merchant ships, over ; ^ tyrant as the world lias ever seen. ° whom they have a perfect control, 240,000. Is | it prohable, we ask, that for the sake of gaining : n,i,ish Order in ,,,, „. n ,,,., ., ISOOseamen, they would hazard die peace of their i r'"i"^'''- "l'' ^V''' ireaty ol J iIsU country."* | irl': "'"' '""" "^- ('"' •^'■'v, 1807) having AVhat the United States should have done, secured the adhesion of Russia to the Con- is simply this: — they .sihould have taken eflec- ' tinental league, and established iUionaprrte in tual steps to prevent the entrance into their i his coveted position of supreme arbiter of the service of British seaman, during the war with \ destinies ofthe Continent, it became imperative France. This would have put a stop at once to on the British Government to enact a more the grievance, i.istead of doing this, the iner- ; cffoctual measure than the Order of the 7th chant service cf the United States offered them ! 'J'limai'y, which not only was, in its actual double the pay given to a seaman in a British ; bearing, comparatively lenient and mild ; but .ship of war, besides not disdaining to use other i li'iccn veiy generally evaded, and afforded moro direct allurements ; so that, whilst Great j t" Great Britain little or no protection against Britain was striving to rally round her stand- ! the extreme and tmscrupulous proceedings of ard all the stout heart-! and stalwart arms she j '' adversary. In this condition of aflairs, could bring togMxQv o/' her otrn .';v)?(\inastrug- ; on t: 1 1th November, 1807, tiio Order which gleforexistence, the States of Maryland, North '^vc give below was issued* To this Order Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were employing— for lucre's ."^ake — three foreign * The Government on this occasion were well supported by rarlianieiit — in llie Upper House by a nuijority of 1'27 to (11 ; in the Lower by 21 1 to HI. — Alison, vol. :i, p. .5;jy. ouni:u IN coL'.Ncir. At the Court at the Queeirs Palace, the llth of November, 1S07, present, the king's most ]'}xeelleiit .^bljesty in Council. " Whereas certain orders, establishing an un- seamcn to one native American. Soinp itir'n.innu vcs- jt i^ a curious and signi- B('ly. ficaut circumstance that, * Mr. Madison's War, by a New England Citizen. > i| kti 10 HISTORY OF TIIK \V \\l OF 1812. I>i:oii;ni;«i,r, on the ITlii I). .iMibLi- ol' lliL- ' imt llio Hnishii'.s stroke to his Lxcouimuiiica- fiiinii! \v:\v, i(i)liiil \,y liis Milan Dlciti'.wIucIi j timi nrCiLat Uriiiiiii.* s ^i; prociMleiiti'd syrttoin of warfiiro npninst tliis Kin;;- doiii, Jiii.l iiiiiicil c-iiii'c'iiilly at tlio (Ic-hiicti'in ol Its comini'i'ci' ami rrsoiirci':!, wi'iu s(miii' tinu' .'iiicc i;*suci| liy till! ;,'c>vcMniii'iit of Fratini', liy wliicli "liiu liriijsli I^i.iiiils WLTo (IicImioiI to bo in u Stall! (i( iil(ir|»a(ii'," tln"i'c'l»y siiliji'ciiii;; to iM|itiii'i' mill '•iiuiii'inii.iliaii all vr.^si'ls, with llii'ir car/^oi's, wliii'li sluiiiM cDiiUiiiii' to trmlo with his iii:iii.'>tv':- Uiiinii.ioiis : Ah'I wlu'i'i'as by tlu' .^aiiic (inli'r, "all trailiii;: ia Kiiirlish iMiTi'liainlisc is |ii'iiliiliiii'il, ami I'vory aitii.ii! Ill' iiiun-hiuiili/i' bol(iii;.'iii:r ti> Kiijrlanil, (if ciiiiiiiin I'liiiii her I'liloiiii's, ur ut' licr iiianur,icturi', is ili'rhii'.'il l.iwCiil pfi/.r ;■' .Viv.l wlii'iHMS i!k' iiaiioiis in aHiaiicc with Franco ainlunili'r hcicontrmil, wcri; ri'iiuiiuil to f;ivi', ami liavc ;iiv(;ii, ami do i;ivo, I'lVt'ct to such orilors : \ni| whiM'i>;l.i his iiiairstv's if the 7tli Jani.ii'y last has milaii-wi'fi d tin' ili'.-ircd piii |ii'm', eitlifi' of i'niu|H'llin^- till.' c'licaiy to recall tliosc oniciH, or of iiidiicii;;,' iiciitral nations to intcrimse, Willi clfuct, to obtain their ri-'Voualion ; but, on the contrary, the same have been rccjisily enforeel wiih inereased riu'oin- : And whereas his najcsly, under Ihi-se clicuni- st.ineos, linds hiinself eonipelleil to take liniher measures for a-sertini;' and vindieatinv; his just ri;:hls, and Ibr siiii|iorti!nc lh.it niaritiine power ■\vl,ieh the exertiiinsami valunr of his pei)]ile lane, under liu- lilcs.-in;^ of rrovi(li'iiee, enabled him to es'alilish and maintain; and the maintenance of wliieh is not more essential to the s;\fety and pros- perity of his nnijesty's doininiuns, than it is to t!ie protiction of such states as ;iti!l re'ain their iieh'- pendence, and to the general intereouricai.d hap- piiu\;s of mankind : His nnijesty is thrretiire jileased, by and with the advice ul' iiis privy conneil, to order, and it is hereby ordered, Intit ail tlie jiorts and places of France and her allies, or of any other country at rt'ar with his maje: ly, ami all other ports orplaces ill Europe, from, \\hich. aUlioui;h not at war with his majesty, the iJvilish lla.i; is cxcluih d, and all ports or i)laees in the colonics bclon;;in;r to his majesty's enemies, shall, from heneetbrth be sul)- jeet to the same re.-lrietions in poiiU of trade and navigation, wiili tlic exeeiitiuns heieinaftei'-men- tior.ed, as if the sanu^ were aelually liloeliaded by his majesty's naval foi'ces, in the im.st strict and rijiorous manner: — A ml it is bereliyfiiiil'.er ordered and dei.'lared, that all trailc in articles which are of the produce or maniifictnre of the said coun- tries or colonies, slndl be deemed and considored to bo unlawful ; and that every vessel trading from or to the said countries or colonies, toj;;ether witii all poods and inei'chandi/'' on taiard, and all articles of the produce or manufacture of thesaiil countries or colonies, shall lie captured, and con- demned as iirize to the' eaptois. lint althoiijih his nnijesty would he fiillyjustiiied, by the circumstances and considerations almve recited, in establishini; such system of resti'ictions wish respect to all the coinitries and colo- nies of his enemies, without ixecption or fpiali- fication ; yet his majesty, beinjr nevertheless dobh'oiid not to subject neutraLs to any greater iu- coiivonieiici) than is abnolutely inscparablo from the farrving into ell'ecl his niaje.-ly's just deter- mination toeoiinleiact the designs of liiseneinieH, and to retort upon his enemies themsidvos tlij consei|Uelices ol' liii'ircovn violeiici'alid injustice; and bring yet rilling to linpe llint it may be pos- sible (ci)iisi-ien;ly with that i.liji'ct) >till to allow : to neutrals the opportunity ol't'ia iiishiiigthe:iiselves with colonial prinhici.' Iiir their own consumption and 'iipply ; and even to leave open, fur the present, ^I'cli trade with his maji -ty's enemies as shall be carried on directly «ith the ports of Ids nnijesty's, dominions, or of his allies, in the manner herein- iifter mentioned : Hi-' majesly is therefore pleased fiiither to ordir that nothing herein contained shall extend ty suliji'ct to capture or condi'innalion any vessel, or the caigo of any vessel, lieloni^ini; to any country not declared liy this order to lie snlijeeted to the restiiciions incident to a stale of blockade, which shall have cleared out with such eaigo/roin s.uno port or place of the eoantry to which slu! belongs, either in F.uio|ie or Anu'ilea, or from some fieo port in his m;ij"sly's eolonies, nndi'r cirenmstaiices in wiiieh such traje from such I'lee pints is |ier- mided, direct to somepoii orplaeiMii the coluhieg of his majesty's enemies, or I'rom tho-^e colonies direct to the country to which such vessid belongs, or to some free port in Ids majesty's colonics, in suen cases, and willi sucl. articles, as it may be lawful to import into such free port ; — iKir lo any V''ssel, or the cargo of any vi'ssel, bidonging to any countiy not -.it war with his majesty, which shall have cleared out under such regulations as his majesty may think lit to iiii'scribc, and shall be pioceeding diiect from smiie |iiiit or jilace in this kingdom, or I'rom (Gibraltar or Malta, or irimi any port lieloiiging to his majesty's allies, to tliC port sp"cilieil in lu'f clearaiu'c : — nor to any ve-sel or the cargo of any vcssi-l, lielonging to any coun- try not at war with his majesty, whieli shall bo coming from any port or place iii Furope which is declared by this ordi'r to be subject to the lestrie- tions incident to a state of blockade, destined to some port or place in Furojie belonging to his majesty, and which shall In; , COMmii'm'ed h>'r I order, and shal I or iif her allies, with hi- m.iji'stv, tl,.. Ibiii-h'ila; Icul.iMy belongi! which shall not 1 allowed, todiseoi to •ein.' port Ol' niliii'or .M.ilia ; llircu so wai'iii hive been alio; liiiilion of this Id hilii'" from wliic' llinliee of this o; rati. .11 of my vu jciiaiiiiiied ill till t.i.'iiher with hi [prize to the cipt' And wllI'l'lMS CI Ihiu'e aci|iiiesci'il jliililliag all tiad" Inrriiifaclnre of li llilei'chants oi' iho |niim,'eaiiil eli'cct ti Ifroai person.-; .^tylii it the enemy, re Idorimients, ternn Ici I'ilie.'ites olit.iii lik'cl.niiig that the he priiiluce or Idiiiiiiiiions, or to t .\iid wher^.'as tl hv Fr.mce, aiid si; jiart of Iho m iiL,'.iiast the trade ( ■tuil instrume tmd it is therefon it: His ni.ijesty is t he ailvice of his i U'l'i'by ordered tli; iiii" shidi have he nf tills his inajest 'niiii which such v L'uryiiigany such ■aid, or any dociiii iiii',' the same, siud iii/.e to the cajito: ;lii'i'('iii, beloii^iii'. ivliuai, or on who ivus put on bi\ii'd. And the right 1 M's, iSlc. are to tak IS to them shall ix iovernment, on i ivliich vessels bel veil powers the nl lit (Hily lo be sea o he eoiiipiiNoi'ily •ive a tax laid on K' ciM'go, to be n HISTORY OF Tin; WAIl dl' Ifil'i. 11 IS (.'XconuiuiiiiL'a- y insi'iiariiblt' horn iiiji'siy".* jii.-il ili'itT- i'liis (if liis t'lU'iiiii'S, ii's ilii'iii-iclvcs tlij li'iii'c itliil iiijii.-ticc ; lliiil il may lie piis- ij''ct) >till III allow iiiisl;iii;_'tliiv.ii.-'clv('s ;' own consimiiitidii lM■ll,^ol■tllell^(•^^•nt, 'lU'iiiirs ii'i hIiiiII lio ifls (if lii.s iimjcsty't, llio ni;iiiin.'f iu'ii'in- SL'il fiirtlu'i' t(, fii'U r il sliiill I'Xtcinl t;) :ili"'-inir prcill- ^\■^! can svmiiatlii-c i;i now exposed. 'I lie o« cm, \'.liiisi' wtiv.cs li:ul i' II... I ■..;., ..I • I . ' ' the (li.-lrcs.s to wliicli the tioriu' for vcar.^ vast wcallli to their shores, rniiH'at m Slalii'. Ilii; liiiliil United St;i(<.s, the only nciilral jiiLwr, woiv whilst it was ;-li( wii uith the wreck of l'.iiro[)' Icoiiiineiici'il IiiT voya;:r! prior to nny notice l)f'thi^ ' (>l>serviM;r tliat hy tliesp nctf (h'.iiiieil toaiiy poit of I'lance, incnt lA /( (//'i/»i Ironnvhich detr.ict froin Its own iiidepeiideiici.' ninl ri;:lit'<, J till' Itiiii-h fii'.-; us iif'iri'saiil ise.xcliuled, or to any nil the soverei'_'iis of Kiirope liaviii;; in tni-t tin? coliiiiy l)i'!on;.rina; to his ni:ij">fy's c'vinies, and sovcrcijiiilie'i nnd independciiceof their lla;,' ; llmt nvliicli shall no t liave deafi'il out as is liere-hefore if, hy an iiepafilonahh' w^ 1 1 w lU'll, lit t'l d, todiscontinuu her voyii';e, and to pfocei-d the eyc.t of p(.^;"lity, would In- an indelihle stain, Oft or place in this Uiii^ri oin. Of to (iili- such a tvianiiv was allowi'd to lie estntilislied into Iniltifof .Malta ; and any vessel, wdiieha'ii'fhaviir_' prlnclpiis, and co'isccr.i il.'d 1. .aKC, llie Kiiulisil 111 ( a SI) waiiied, or after n rcasonahlo time sli:dl , would avail Iheniselves of ii to iiss.ft it as a fi,:;!it; liiive l)i>')i nH'ofded fur the arrival of intor- , as tlu'v iiavi'availci thi'iii elves of the inioleianco ili.in of this his luajoiy's order at any port, or ' ofcovernment^ toestalilish theitd'ainous principli^ II'" Ifoui whicii s!ie sailed, or wliii'li, nl'rer li.ivinc; tiiat tho Ihiir of a nation does not c((Ver ^'oods, and this Older, shall ho fouii'l in the proso- . to i,'ivc to their ii;;ht of liloclvade an nrliitrary ex- Iciitir.ii of inv vovaw, conlrnrv to the restrictions ' tension, and wliich iidii III 11 le Mivercii'iilv o: Icoatii ined ill this ith I hi; capture nil everv .-tatc ; we h.ive decrccti, and do decree, ad tuL'iilier witii her cafj,'i), condennie 1 Ipri/.e to the captor,' hiwlal ioiiows: Aiid wiiereas eoi 111' iiitiii's, iioteni^'it^od ill the war, )„,] I. V. vi'fv ship, to whatever iialion it may aciplie tiad' if I ni t!ie the hands of our ships of If of our pfivateei tl lev lire ili'clarei 1 to .\iid whei'.'as this expedient has lieen directed •fanoe, aiu 1 submitted to I IV such luefcliaiits III. and lawful p liiili laft of the new svsteiii of warfare directed a rtnte of b!i!(ka'i slands are ih'clared to be in I'll bv land and sea. Kverv list the trade of this kin- loin, and as the most ■"'''I'- of what.ver iiuion, or wl.aLsoever the nature ■mil id it is th insti'iimi'iit of aceoinpli-hiii tl le same. U'clori e esse iili.illv necessafv to re.--ist of its ctir^o may be, that sails from the ports of F.n;;laiid, of tliose of tiie Kiu^dish ciilonies, and of Hi lie advice of his privy council, to order. I tl: e coiinfi ii'S oeciipied bv Kiii;ii.'h tion "'ood i.ijesty is tliorefore ideased, by and with ■ ■"""■'^•' i"' I'l'^"-'. •'■' ^'''""■'"T "» "'V '"■'•■>'""'^''-''''^'-' iH'fi.'liv ofili'fi'il I iiat It and It IS nalik liiii" idl liavi; been alforded for i after reaso eeeivinir notice 1 privaleer- be capt'.ifed bv our ships ot' war or our djud,;,'i'ii to the cajiti IV. The. e mi'M.-^urcr wiiicli ari resoi ted CO majesty's shi|) ■ of i'lsactin;.'Uiider le, and are hereby which shall have KK. iji'sty's Order, in our Itoyal Palace, leli, kinir of Italy, )nfederatioii : — itcd bv the British )l tills his majesty's order at the port or place : only in ju.-t retaliation of the barbarous system "iHiii which such vessel cleared out, shall be found L' uiyiui^any such certilicUc or document ns afoi e- ■aid, or any document refenimx to, or autheiitici- ;inu' till' same, such vessel shall ln' adjudLced lawbil ni/.i.' to ilu' cajitor, to,i;i'ther \\\l\\ thei;oods laden liri'eiii, belon^iir.,' to the person or peiMins bv ivliiiiii, or on w hose belialf, any su(!li document 'i ivas put on boaf'l. And the ri;j;lit honorable the lords coniniis-ion- 'fs, \e. are to take the iiecessiiry measures hefcin ! IS tl) them shall respectively appertain. \V. J-'.v\vKi:Ni:a. j hivcfiiuient, on the 11th of Xovcmber last, by liiich vessels belonijiiiv; to neutral, friendly, or I !vi'n powers the allies of Knvdand, are made liable it only to be scan lied by I'hi.uli.-h crulsefs, but lie eoiiipulsofilv d.'tained ]•: d tc ive a tax laid on them of [he ci!i''::;o, to be re'^alaled l.iv the V> -o much per cent, on le"'isla- adoptcil by I'iij:;lanil, which as.^imilates its legisla- tion to that ot Algiers, ,s!iall cease to have any elVict with respect to all nations who siiaii havo the lirmni'ss to compel the Jlnuli-h ^ovei nmeiit to lespect their fla.;. Tlis\v ."liall continue to bo riu"'ifously in force as loni; as that j;()vernmeiit does not letinn to the principle of the hr.v of nations, wddcli re;,'ul,'ites the relations of civi!;/ed states in a state of war. Tiie ]>rovisioijs of I lie present decree shall be ,'dire.j>;ated and null ; in liicl, as soon ns the Jhi^^lish abide uiraiii by the princi- ples of the law of nations, which are also tho principles of justice and of honour. "All our niinisters ar(^ char'.'cd with the execu- tion of the present decree, which shall be inserted in the bulletin of the laws. (Siirncd) " X.M'oi.Kox. ' By order of the Eiiipir'jr, the isecretnry of State (Signed) II B. Maket. HISTORY OF THE WAU OP 1S12. cnn ri.'ivicH, had ciasfil lu lie tn IIilmm a sarc tiiic whrlhcr the ronst from tlic Klhc to .Ircst ) i I i ) : lii;;)n\iiy to coniinciciul alll'U'nco. Tliiir ciMiId 1)1' enanlcd, ntiil thu hlockndc i-flVctiinllv Bhi|i>', lialilc to he captincil liy oiio or otluT of: oitfdicod. Tlie Frviirli Kiniu ror, on (he otiiff the l)('lli;:tiviits, could only at;>M'it ii>k carry liaml, |ii<)claiiiii d tliL' l)!ockadc of tlf entire on tlicir commercial intercourse with litlicr. | coast of the TMiish IhIch, — no half-dozen ports ,' Hut it must hj rcmcm'icrcd that llic United 'of which could he li.ive nctnally invested witli ; iStad s, not liavin;; interfered when their inter- j l,is navy, shattered and almost extinp:uishe(l position mi.'ht possiiily have cliecked Hona- I as thai had heeii, hy the ^'ij^antie victories i.f parte, and peihaps recalled iiim within the (iicat Ihitain at sea. 'I'lms to attempt, hv limits of international hi.v, made no ell'ort to j means of a wrathful manifesto what the law arrest and remove at once the orij^inal cause ()f nations reco^rni/.es as the function only of n of their suhsequcnt misfortunes; so that it is snilicient naval force -whicli naval force he impoysihlo to say liow far they had tiiemselves | had not— was an outraj^eon international law, to hlame for those tni.-f irtunes. That the | not surprisinj; in the man to whom the ri;;ht. attitude which tiiey mi-ht have assumed, had ; of nations were a fiction, and treaties meiii they chosen, was likely to have some inlhience tated treachery and violence in masfpicradeil on I'.onai.arfe, can hardly l>e dDuhted. He | |,„i jt is inconj-niou^ and startling that sneli '; an outhreak of lawless and anti-cnmmerci.i I'ajre— such a mercantile excommunication (,: thought it worth his while to manuMivre in various ways — at one time |ii!la;rin(r, at another (latteiinj:; thi m — in the iiope of either driving; or coaxiuL;- them into a war with (Ireat Britain. 'J'heir policy, therefore, was not a matter of Fnj:land, as we may call it, — should have ever | found apolo{,^ists on this side of the Atlantii amonfrst a people, like tiie inhahltants of tli indillbrencc to him ; so that wc may not vcn- United States, animated hy an ardent spirit tiire to say with what effect remonstrance commercial enterprise, and claiming, even i: fromthatquartermightnothaveheenaftended. ! ;,avanre of fireat Ihitain herself, the posses As to the eminently characteristic avowal of sion of free institutions.* attachment, — "Ilis Majesty loves the Ame- ricans," — which, after a while, he thouj!,ht mi^^ht answer his piu'pose hetter than spolia- tion, the peo[ile of the United Stales have no doubt made up their minds hy this time as to what interpretation they o\i.2;ht to put on that declaration — as to whether it he }j:enuino regard or shameless effrontery. His protestation of love may he accepted for wliat it was worth ; but the fear of compelling the United State's to throw themselves eventually into the arms of Great Britain might have induced h" n *o treat a remosistrance from that republic witli at least some respect. Pl.-ii n(lv;iiirr(i i)y Jt was pleaded by Fmiirc 1111(1 t(|ii'alr(| !)>■ till-. Uiiiiid i-'iaifs. France, and the plea ,vas echoed by the United States, that the IJritish blockade of May, 1800, as constituting the first aggression, justified the Berlin decree ; but the two cases were, in princi',ile, widely ditlercnt. The blockade declan d by (Ireat Britain embraced no greater extent of coast than the innnense strength of the British Navy supplied the means of adequately watching; and special pains were taken beforehand, by communication with the Admiraltv, to asccr- thnt such nciitr, iiifj, fwr should, KUpplied tile eiu li,irid of war, an any blockaded, ports." Tiie ge inciii!gence, — foi uri' to be jipprcci heeii a huv gen upon r»rac( ntur IK) rii;ht to carry of niK? (tf two, o|- tiiiii'of war." (i her contest with this rule in 171' when permisd on carry tlie profliu colonics, either t( of liiiir own port cU'ect of throwiii'. aliiio.-t wholly inl folates, and iVoiu try pro.pered am fi'ali.vjd by Aine able to inalcc a hi iiiimiiic. nee, and trinieut of Ihilisli T.il.rraliiv of il.o Tho perfect lioncstv |jci„(; „]ien to ai IlriiMi (iiivcriiiiiiiit _r ,i,,, ,.i,„, ,,f ,,l...„i,,i, 1 , ' . ' l.-l„r.- Ihr liorlm ,u.>l *" '"'*■ l'"-'"' "' 'l'*-^"""' lol MipplieS into {''l Milan Decree.. ncce.^sity, advanced hv It,,,. 1,1,^,^,,,^ ,-,,^, the British (iovernnient, agrees with their claiod, the intercs liberal and even nuiaiiicent treatment of tlu United States, in regard to the commerce o;,i that country, as a neutral State, jirior to tlif Berlin Manifesto. In IsOIj, wdicn hostiliiie- with France \\ere renewed, the commander;; of Ilis Britannic Majesty's ships of war anci were specially c( coinmunicated I)) that "such hlocl prevent neutral i goods, not being I enemies, and not privateers, were instructed " not to seize aiiy^ ft-pn, „p,,roacliin neutral vessels which shouM be found carry ing on trade directly between the colonies o;- the enemy and the neutral country ; provide^ * Ninc-tentlis of the rovonue of the Unite. Slatis wa.s at tliis time deiived from eoiiimem' yet their Ilia,-! la}' witli a man who was a (iownrif;i liater of commeree ; wlio evinced a sort of fiiiiati ^ cal malice against commerce. Hi.'? policy was t .^ raikc l''ranc(Mn(lepemli'Mt of commerce (asclieii:! wilder tlaui the (;ru>ades I) ; and in liis effort.s t •; re,di/.e this, ho literally attcmi>ted to force natur heiself into sulisorvieiice to liim : — "p]iiacli:i:- al statutes to force the cultivator of l! ■;oil to einplov hi.s land certain products iti a climate niigem ciideavoiiriiig to rai^' ll to till wth : tojilant lieet instead of com ; and cott gm and tobacco and iudi tended them to grow kliere nature never it ing into and sailin ports." "\Vc (hve concessions; we piide ; for they t disposition of oui American Union a bitrary, selfish, o scquently to the decrees, Great Bri a diflerent course, her previous liberi de.<;ire to impair tl; entered into her n other than, as the it to be, an equitab UrSKMlY OF TllF. WAR OF 1SI2. m '^.'illi III r, tlip F.Hk! to rJro^jBUiat such neutral vi'sstl should not lif supply- 1 Iiiu'u on ^t^ author's head," and an Hucb, a (Kkii.U'C'lU'ctimllyMn;;, nor slioul.l, oti th.' .)ut( r voyaKf, luvi- j "'^UHiin' oljii^t ivlnliiUion. iTor, on the othcfHMipp'.ieil tho enemy with any arlicU-s contta- j j.,,,,,,,,,,, \,., „, | ndo of th<; entire ^b.itul ol' war, and slimiM iidI lie liiidin^ with nny l>In.'k:i / 1 • hiill'-dozen ports illy invested witli lost extinguished i,aiitic victories of ■ s to attempt, hv sto what the law ' function only of ,1 •) h naval force lie ' international law, ; ) whom the rights ) nd treaties nieili e m masquerade; startlin;^ that sue), 1 anti-commcrcial j [cominunication t' —should have ever ; lo of the Atlanti(, Jolmost wholly into t inhahitants of th 1 an ardent sp/irit oi daiuiin^:, even i: herself, the posses M. ( 1)11^11 lN)7. at Paris— Pcspatchos fro'.n tho l'nite(i States Minister (IiMier.d Armstrong — were received nt \Vashin;-'toM oil the Kith Dcceinlur, li^'iT, nfl ., ..,,., ,, , merelv the (irst I'liforci'tnent of a )•»//(• whii'h iiponforacentiiry, atlenst, thaf'a neutr.ilhas .,,.', . ■ . 1 i, ' , ■' 1.11 , ■ ' the I'lvnch ;rovernm''i;t intendul to pur-ue ; no re'ht to carry on a trade with the colonies , ., . .■ •• 1 .< .1 ^ , •' . ,1- . • and that, eonsetnientlv, it was no part ot tho of one ol two, or more, h.'lli>:;iT(iit powers m ,, . ,■ . " ... ,• • .... , „' , ,,..., I ■ ' Kmtierors policy to exempt the I niied States tiiu.M)! war." divat i'.iitain, however, during ' ' r ' ^ .,, , ., ,, , , from tile operition of the I'eihu Decrc'-. In- her contest with revolutioimry I' r.iiice relaxed , ,,. , , . . ,, , . ,^,,, , ,.,,,. ., . .►...o ; t« •i!;;eiH'e was lii'ou'.jht at the si'iiie tiiiip, this rule in I7!»l-, and still luillur m ITHM . " ' . . . , . , , ' throiip-li l.ondoii pMpers ol the l'2fl» Novcm- when periiiis-iiin wa.-> [granted to neutrals to!, ^ . ,,, ,,,,,. , . ., ', , „ , t, . .1- . I .. I ber, to tlio ellcct " thit orders 111 eouiiiil wero cany the produce of the rrench nest Indian , ' , . ,,,.,. , ., , ■'. ; , ,, . . , , . I about to be issued, declarin"; !■ ranee and tho coloiue.i, either toa l.rilidi p.oit, or to anv one ... . . * . , . ,,,, . , ,. , '1 .1 countries utiikr lier control in a state of ol iliiir own port.s. 1 his lelMXiliou hud (lie • , , , , ,, , ,, , 1 , „ , . , ,, I . . , I blockaile, a nicr. n 'e no doubt to the onlers cllect ol throwiic' the iTcnch eair\ 11;;^ trade I , . , , , , ,, , . .. , , , ... , I ,, • II I ,- .i IT •. , dated the d;iv belorc, but which h.'id not tlien aliiio.st wholly into the hands o| tho United 1 , ,,.,", , . ,.| , , „ ., ,, .... . been pulili.-.lied, and were not until a week Mates, and Ironi it the commerce ol lliat coun- 1 ' 4..,. • , .. ,, . ., , . , .111- 1 alUrward. t .\t thi.< period it wa.s tliat tho trv ino.pered ania/in^^lv, — .Tireat wealth lieiiii? ' perfect honcstj - plea of absohit( qt n'arLi.'d Ijy American laerchanl.s, who were fthle to make a lucrative p.roiit out of I'ritish iniiiiiiic. iii.'e, and, as it was shown, to the de- tritiKut of iJiitish comnierce. Even so late as 1800, when, to arrest the fiither inlroduclion or.-ii|)plies into France from the United State.'^, tliJ hlookade from the Mlbo to IJrest was do clared, the interests of the American Uepiiblie were specially consulted, in an explanation coinniuniciited by Mr. Fo.x to Mr. Monroe, that "such blockade .';hould not extend to prevent neutral ships and vessels laden with the commaiuk'iri g,,^,]^^ ^^^ being the propcrtyof His Majesty's cneiniesi, and not beinj; contraband of war, from approaching the said coasts, and enter- ing into and sailinj;; from the said rivers and ports." Wc dwell complacently upon these coiice.s.sions ; wc rei^ard them witli national pride; for they shew conclusively that the disposition of our (Jovernincnt towards the American Union was the very reverse of ar- bitrary, scllish, or oppressive. Now, if sub- Kequently to the publication of the French y, advanced hv jrees with theii it treatment of tlit| the comnierce f>: State, prior io tin wdicn hostililie>| he commaiuk'ir! ships of war aiu ' " not to seize any d be found cariv Ml the colonies <•'. .ountry; providci. line of the Uiiiti' 1 IVoiii eoninieree ho was a (lownriiii eed a sort of linuUi-: lUs policy WHS t onnuei'ce (asclietii' and in his eftorts 1 pled to force iiiitiir him : — "p]iiaeti:i;J cultivator of ll'' leavourin^ to rui^ niiiioniiil to tin-: of corn ; and cotin: re nature never iii lirst step in the way of cominercid restriction was taken by the 1,'iiited States. ,\n enib.ar- {:;o was laid on all the sliippinj; in their ports, the measure beiii'^ recoiuinendel to Conj^rcss, on the more responsibility of the executive,J and pas.-^ed with the utmost precipitation. "It [irohiliited the departure, unless by special inHi'ht enancTt.' in the coasting trade, ration for Uic affair of f lie CheKapcake. There was an iinlispensahlc prcliniiiiai y, however, tliat t!ic President's proelaniation* of (he '2'! were to f::ive homls, in do'ihle the value of tlu' : July sliould I)e previously withdrawn. Tieforc carf>o, to re-land the same within the United this siinnld have been done, he stated tliat In; States. "Thns"— Mr. Hil.lret!; i'oreihly i!_.i|.;nk,- isml no anthoiily to enter mi any ne.^oMalion, in rei^ard to the legisl.itivc pMeeedings of his ! and even deelined to speeify the reparation wdiiih he was empowered to ofler. As the President dee'iiied recallin;; the proclamation Mr. Rose returned home, and the settlement of the dinienlly was postponed. own eoinitrymeii on tliis occasion — " on the mere reeomuiendiition of the e\"ecn!i\e, almost without ilehate, \\\[\\ closed doo:'.'-, without any previous infiinatioii to the puhli", or op- portunity for advice from those most able to give it, was forcc.l throngh, by night sessions, ^^J}ll;t. u-,'''"u,diy 'I'lironohout the irrita- and the overbearing ileterminalion of a ma- I i>- 'm'"' lim-im. ' ing .li.^cnssion wiiich cn- jorityatonce pliable and obstinate, an act ; ^">t'*l. ^hc disposition of the American Rej.ub- strikiiiga deadly blow at the national indiis- | 'i"^' '"^ t« ''C taken into account, as evidently try, and at the means of liveliliood of great ' "P<-'i">tiii;t to protract and emb.airass negotia- numbers; the real nature and inevitable ope- i ''*^*"-—'''''"'^ disposition was muiuestionably ration of which seem to have been equally tlie reverse of amicable towards Crcat J5ritain. misapprehended by the cabinet wdiich recom- mended, and by the supple majority which conceded it." Tiie emViargo thus imposed was Whilst the ellbrt was made to remain strictly neutral, the heart of the nation was not in its piofession of neutrality. Ever since the acces- afterwards made still more stringent by sup- j -^i*"* of the Deniociatic party to power undir plementary measures denouncing severe pen- \ ^f>'- Jefferson— who was inaiignrated into his allies, anvi\v don 11 and ( jng tread, the la In Kiirope.* AclllilirlilS li> ihc i f^. lriMi|)s viiled (■|.iii;itss, Willi ; f lilics .Uiade to the arm «d for live years jiutliority was iil lii'»,'MiO(roops; \\ of ilollars was vo tile arsenals, and Illii I'l iif iIk; ]:i Itieiitaiy exaccrbf rig'nous enforcen; * " III whatever spirit that iiistninient was is- sued, it is siillieii'iitiy dUvIohs, tliiit it lias been produetive of eoiisideralile |)rejiidice to his ma- jesty's interests, as eoiisidered to liis inilitary aiul other servants in the Tiiited States, to tlie iionor of Ills flig, and to the jnivileges of liis niinistei'S ^ , ... accredited to the Ainciican governinrnt. From ! I'-astern States, who participated not in the tli(! oiierati.ni (if this pvocliiniatidii have nnavoid- | defiant spirit so widelv cherished and exhih- al.lv n'suhrddi'eetsotVet;diation,an^ | j,,,,} ,„,,.,j,,i^ (;,,,,, l!,'ii„in, were to be tbima that sterling part of the nation who, in point . * In his message ^•e, INI:, Me. Mail »oko tliiis witli n ??the hostile intle "<■' ingress will I'oid 1 11 1 < n .1 .1 •*' ^'i'"'-'' hito an ar become, by degrees, I'alataMe ratlur flian |[] \,y ^\^^, ^.y\^y . otherwise to the party who raised Iiim to the Ational spirit an chief MagiNliaey, and these formed a large #'"'^J'^'''"i'tN 'ipoii I majority. AVe do not foiget, however, that in the very respectable minority, chieli}' in the redress, wlijeli might be held to alVeet niatenally the (|iieiiinn of the repaiaiiini due to the United State.s, especially inasnineh as its exeentioii lias been persevoieil in after the knowledge of his JIajeelaiiner of the pretensions exiiitiited by th;it nllieer to search the national ships of a friendly power ter (leserters, and the as>iiraiiees of prompt and ett'i.'etuiil reparation, all cominnni- caliMl without loss of time, to the minister of the Uniti'd States in London, so as not to le;ive a donlit as to his ibijesty'.s just and amicalde inten- tions. Ihit his Majesty, making every allowance for the irritation which was excited, and the mis- apprehensions which existed, has anthori/ed mo to jiroceed in the negotiation upon the sole dis- conliniiaiiee of ineasnn\s of so inimical a tcii- dcuc -J/r. Jiusc to Mr. Madison. of foitune, talent, education, moral and religi- ous principles, have always compared most favortibly with the rest cd' their c(/untiynien. it is evident that the well known ])re'vah'iuc of a predilection for France and antipathy towards her adversary, nne-t iiave materially influenced, in a ni'.nner injurious on either side to just and re ■•niiable and advantageous policy, tlie confrover.sy which preceded the 'i'-'*=*^'^y '» choose I , , .. r !§'''"''' "-^ ""ll for eoi declaration of war. tfependenco of nati, AVliilst Great Ihitain had reason to be ex- Me with (freat Jirita trcmely cautious in negotiation, for, as we shall ji '"'j|i«"'i''ion, aim sec hoVeafter, France had laid a deep pio: "V'^'hnig treasonabl t, 'J'/lC Infill l(l,')u; sitate to write in The national spirii lile. bi ease of w leh event, them 'ritixh (/round on s when the secoii en hearilof, hnt n iveriimeiit, so lien itain, was friendiv sf'nly Was ana Ities |)ossil)ie witli 0111 y llildpoth c ich exhibits, in a ■stility to England i ong and prevalent S fully ajipeared i gcstioii l.y Liverii eo the United Stat HISTORY OF THE AVAll <>F 1812. 15 gainst her tliroii.!:;li the I'liitutl States! — tlu' latter country, on tlic otlier hand, woiiKl jeiil- l)Ut most un\vort!;ily, c:ufU'dan;;iinst con- §:e(linL', except lor its own obvious henelit, anil iiot always even then, anythin,::; likely to ■trenL'tlien the hands of the liriti.-h (Jovern- liieiit in the terrible contest it was wajzii!^- with |hat colossal desiiotisin which threatened to pear down and obliterate, beneath iis w ither- thc proclamation ^^ j,.^.^,,^ ^,,^ ,.^.j ^^.^;^^ ^f. p,.^^ institutions d the settlement |^ ^;^,,.^p^ =^ ud. L'sapcakc. There j inavy, however, lation* of the '2(1 thdrawii. I'eforc le stated that ho aiiv r,c,Liotintion, the reparation o oiVer. As the nuhout theirrita- •iission which en- \inerican I'ejiub- unt, as evidently nbarrass i\ep:otia- ; untiuestionably rds (Irtat Britain. to remain strictly Lion was not in its cr since the acces- V to power umUr u'lurated into his .■ arch, 18i'l — the it:iiii was steadily C(:eptions,anionf!;st 'd States. Untler t;id re])nblicananil 1 school, the idea tain seems to have able rather than raised him to (lie c I'oi'nud a lavt'c ct, howevor, that liiity, chielty in the piited not in the ished and exhib- were to be found on who, in point moral and reli;:!- compared most icir countrymen, [known prevalence and antipathy It have materially urlous on eitlui' ind advantageous ich preceded the I reason to he ex- m, for, as we shall llaid a dtcp plol Adiiili'ins li> tlii> U. S. triii'|M veiled liy iiii;iCNS, Willi suii- I plies. ' (Oil On the application oc the I'residcnt at this time, an addition was jjliado to the army of (i,(iOU men, to bo enlist- i fd for live years unh ss sooner discharged. ! j^utliority was likewise given to him to laise j jtii 1,(11 lOlroops ; whilst a subsidy of live millions ' of dollars was voteil for the estiiblishmcnt of flie arsenals, and for other militar}' supplies, j V. ];iiiiiuf 111.; Km. The eff^jct of Ihe em- >!} bargo and its supple- ; Bicntary exacerbations — as we may style the j ■ "orous enforcement-acts which followed it — ' 'M * In Ills nie??sairo to Congress of r>ili Xovcm" firr, 181'., >h'. Madison, at that time pi'csidonti ijioko tlivis witli relerenee to what he teiuiod ^tiio hostile intlexiliility " of (ireat IJi'itain — ^Congress will feel the duty of putting tinr I'liit- 1^1 Stiites into an armour and an attitude drmond- ! ill liy the crisis, and corresponding with the ^ntiimal si)irit and expectations. " l!ut four years liolbi'e, ujion the jiassing of the embargo $lft, T/ic Jiitr//i)i,)ici)\ an ollieial joiu'iial, did not itate to write in tills inliammatoi-y strain: — The national spirit is up. Tliat spiiit is inval- hle. Ill case of war it is to lead us to eon(|uest. such event, flurr innst ct'nnp to lie es[)air settled on fr.omiiid.H of all who depended for their liveUinod on the .sea. Merchants gloomily iinlitipat 'd the time when tlu'ir ships should >iiik be>ide their wharves, and grass grow in their streets. Tito I'.ritish Order in Co'iucil — they said — ha'i left; them some tra'Hc, but the acts of their own legislature had cut every thing oil". J>y men wdio were never tired of asserting their free iind inalienable riglit to the highways of the ocean, the ocean had been treacherously abandoned. ., . , For the cmbarno was Niiii-ii'i' rcoiirsR Act, isi.Mariii.iSOS. substituted. Oil the 1st Mar(di, ISitsi, a non-intercourse act, whereby all coinmciH'ial tran.sactions with either of the belligerent powers was alisolutely prohibited, but the embargo wtis taken olf as to the rest of the w(uld. This act, however, contained a clause (§ 11. ) authorizing the President, by proclamatioti, to renew the interciuirsc between America and either of the bellige- rent jjowers who should first repeal their ob- noxious orders iii cotmeil or decrees. ''This noil intercourse act"— observes Mr. Alison — had the elfect o totally' suspending the trade between America anil (Ireat Htitain, .and in- llicting upon both these coimtries a loss ten- fold gieatcr than that suileredby Frain'c, with which the commercial intercourse of the Ini- ted States was altogether incon.-iderable." 3d y\:m\u ISO!). Nothing of note oc- curred between the passing of the non- intercourse act and .Mr. Jellerson's retirement from his second term of oflice on the "A of ' Miiroh, 180'J. He de<'lined presenting hitnself for election a third time, both beciuise — as he stilted — he considered a third tmine of office would l>e alien, iVom tbesjiirit (d' the con- stitution, and bet aiise, as it .seems, he was thoroughly weary of the ctires and distrae- I tions of pnblic life. On the eve of his r;'tire- inent into private life his language was this I — "never did prisoner released from his I chains feel such relief as I shall on shaking j olf power." He was a man of great ability ; j but, unfortunately, both for (Ireat I'ritain and I his own country, his strong anti-I>ritish pre- i 1 in HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. jiulices stood very imich in his way in adnii- nisttrin;;, witli irnprirti.iHly and \vis(ioni, the {^ovcrnuKnt wilh whirh (hiriii};; eight years he was entrusted. We can malvo allowance for llie perplexities and annoyances of the time during whieh lie held the reins of i)0wer; hut, had Vt'ashington been in his place, with his digniticd and sagacious views of relations wiih (Jreat lirilain, we have little doubt that he would hav..' brought his country through (he dark and trying time, tiot by nourishing the war-spirit as JelR rson di'J, but bj" firmly facing and leprcssirg it. It was an inauspi- cious circiunstance that, just at that critical time, tlie chief magistracy of the United States should have been vested in a man wdiose heart was lilled wit!> hatred of (Jreat Britain ; and who had more than oncj jiatron- izcd and place Aurora newspaper, had l)i;eii shipped o^'jll^t before froin OaleiiUa — having ln-eii detected in a'tenipls to excite dis- turbaiioe and iasurroctioa in tiiat city. •|- AVe do not mean to s.iv he approved of its bloody atrocities : perhaps the wildest democrat in the United Stated would have hesitated there. nKui.iN nicrnKE. " 1. Tlio Uiilisli islands are placed in a state of bl()el;ii(le. 2. Every species of coiiimerce ai.J coniniuiiication with theiu is jiroliiliited ; all let- ters or fiackets addressed in English, or in tlio Fiiglisli characters, shall be seized at the post- oIKce, and interdicted all circulation. ',',. Even 15iiti; detcrniinalioii of all q'.iestions arising ou of ill's decr Innu- (Surntion, itli March, isou. ^v office wo clo.xnd our cocded hy Mr. Maili March 18(10. took the ceremony usual on sn he taken as a hint ( hituro policy of his ci to make themselves a ii ^ihlc of British iiiann ■ dn^ssed at his inaugi f "f cloth of American ••ircimistance was sign i evinced tho dcterinii f^tates to continue ind for no more tlniu w;is i Tlie IVesidenl's attire the nation ; and tlii .> I France had lukr-foot by so that his ;ly with tho II when the in had loiif^ icir Kwoi'ds, lion, in point , that of Mr. worse. Bolli •ds Napoleon rmer was too tlio tool of c is too much letoly entan- cd ill a slate of oiiimoreo arij lihitcd ; all let- lisli, or in tlio il at the po.-t. on. 8. Ev(.M'y iiilition whi'ti'- itrics occu|i:eii idiirs, t-liail U y wai'choufo, ort, heloDgiii:; jiiiinp; IVoni i;- ■cd ;i,(K)d pii/.o, lisli {;oods \i 'I'cliaiidiso bi?' from its work' prize. C. The be devoted to b*.. Aladiaon"s Inan^unition. Jt!i March, |Si)|.). — Ne^dtiatiun nf Mr. Mivskiiu; witli .Mr. M;idisiiii. — Piejuiciii.;: in the I'liited .States.— .Mr. Krskiiie's iirr;iiiip,ubir troops; llitli .January, ]S12.— Was there, to any extent, a secret uiider.-?tanding between tlie United Stai- s and rriince. Mr. Mndi.wm'd Tnnii- ^Jy. JcfforSOn, With (turRtion, 4th March, , - isoK. who.se retirement troiii office we cloced our last chapter, was suc- ceeded by Mr. Madison, wlio, on the 4tii March 1800, took the oath of (dlic(>, with the ceremony usual on such occasiniis. It may he taken as a hint of what was to he the future pidicy of his country, in their elforts to make themselves as independent as pus- .^ilile id' 15ritish niannfactures, that lie was dressed at his iiiau^iuratimi '• in a full suit of cloth of American niannfacture." 'riic rircunistance was sijinilicant : and sutlicieiitly evinced the dcterniinatioii id' tiie I uited States to continue indobtnl to (Ireat Britain fir 110 more tlian was inipi'rati\('ly nocc-^sary. Tiie IVesident's attire indicated tiie spirit id' ' «tiniuhit(vl l)y the complete co.s.?ation of com niercial intercourse produced by the war, has , reiiilered tiie market wiiich tireat Britain , now linds in tlie I'liiteil States I'ur In.'r maiiu- I _ ■ fai'tiires, jrroatly infi;rior to wiiat it ou;;ht to ' lia\e Ijeen, (■onsideiin;^; the rapii;!;hi)(Uiidn,:.; repuljlic, I and to \vhat it certainiv woiilcj base bei'ii but for tin; war. >\t th.e time of .Mr. .Madi- son's accession, the Xon-intcrcour.-e Act of ; the l>t Martdi iMI'.) was, of course, in operu- j tion, which, it will Ik; reincuilicroil, boro ' eipinlly upini both of the belli;;erent powers ; ;inil contained a (daiis(? ^ixinii: to the I'resi- ; dent llie power cd' rciicwinii- trade v.'itli that; } (Mie of tiie two conteiitlinL;' n.atiniis which should first revidvC its hostile eiiicts, so far us these affected the United State.'. NVu-ntrntinn or Mr. ]\ir. i{ose, tho British lOr^Kiiie with .Mr. .Mnill- t^"". Envoy before mentioned, who returned homo, re iit/rrffi, in th(> spring (d' ISOS, was succeeded by Mr. Krskine. IIo was the son of the cclelirated Judp' Krskine, and a man of talent ; but of a .saii:j;uine tem- piM'ament ; very favourably disposed towards the United States, ]»artly, no doubt, from his lii!\iii;; resided there; and tuo rcadjlv coiifidin;.,' ill the iitir prol'cssicuis of those nhl tacticians — Messrs. .Madison, (Jallatin, and .'^iiiitli, witli Avhom, durini:: !iis nc^i-otiation, lie had to d(>al. \\ hen we make the remark that these last nanieil jiciiilciiien hail tho ail\anta.u;e of Mr. lirskine in the •.■.ly rd'e.spc- riciicc iiiid inLj;eiiuity, we du iiH \s i.di if to lif> understoorj that mo coiisidci' tliem as Inn in;; Mp tiie nation; and that spirit, still furtlier made promise's to ilie 15ritish ininislr'r which \ 18 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. •they had no intention of |ici'rorniiii^\ On {!;racious dausc, — iiisortcl, as Mr. Sni'.h tlie contriiry, tho oniljarrassnicnts of Mr. ] aft(>r\vanl,s allffrcd, a^rainst hh remou- Madisou's udDiinistratioii, in ((niseiinonc^o of! ^^tl•anl■os, and liy Mr, Madison's express tho non-intrrcourse act whicli lie inliorited ! direction : — " I ii;ive it in express eharjijo from his ^rfdeeessiDr, were so vexatious at j from the J'resident to state, that while he the time tliHt ]Mr. Erskine enter<^d on the ! forheavH to insist on a further punishment negotiation, t'^tat tlie President was in the: of tiie oiTendin"' ofiiecr, lie is not the his-i humour of nifi'k in;:; eone(!ssions: and if he did | sensible of the jnstiee and utility o( sueh make very Material cmeessions to (ireat i an cxanifde, I'.cr tho l(;ss yiersinuled that it Britain, durinf;; that negotiation, -wo must ' would hest eonijiort with what is due from regard tliem as extorted by his diftieuhies, llis 15rit:innie Majesty to his own hontmr." ■vvithout oonsiiiering that he had it in view j This impertinent lecture on the prineiplcs .afterwards to «vad(! tlusn. Mosrs. Smith of hnnnr. addressed ]>y Mr. ^Madison to His tind Gallatin, with apjiareut frankne.-s ami llrilannie Majesty, Avas so deeply resented $;reat freedom, fpoke to Mr. Krskiue of the I by t!ie British Cabinet, that the negotiation favouralilo views and inti'ntions of their j relative to the Chesapeake was innnediately ^t^overmniMit ; Mr, Madison with greater eau- j broken oft' in consefpieneo, and Mr. Firskino tion ; hut all with an air ami manner of sin- ' was .severely ecnsured fctr transmitting a rerc friendship, of the genuineness of winch i note, containing language so discourteous Mr. Erskine appears to have been fully con- 1 :tnd unbecoming. Oll'ensive as this breach vineed; in Avhicli Mr. Canning, on the other of [iropriety was, t[>e Eritish Cabinet, it hand, at that time British Secretary for \ must be eonfessed, carried their resentment I'oreign Aifairs, seems to iiavo put little or of it too I'ar, when they nxide it a reason for no faith at all, Mr. Canning, we feel con- 1 withholding reparation for an acknowledged vineed, was not very far wrong in his low I wrong. estimate of the alleged friendliness of .Mr. | l^n regard to the Orders in Council, which Madison's adn^inistration gi^nerally ; but in ' were the subject of 3lr. Cavming's other dis- thi.s particular instance we could ha\e wi.-hed patch, the correspondeviue K'tweon Mr. Ers- that the strcr^tary's sagacious scepticism had kine and 3Ir. Smith ended in an assurance yielded to the confidence so gonerou.sly re- ' given by the former, that "His Majesty's posed by the young envoy in the protesta- '; Orders in Council of January and November commerce. tions ho received. In consequence of Mr. Erskine's representatio!;s of what he l)cliev(Ml tfl be an improved temper and tone of feeling in the United States, Mr. Canning—tlioudi LSI I", will have b(>en withdrawn, as respected j tiie United States, on the 10th June next. "To which Mr. Smith rejoined, that the non-Intercourse act would bo withdrawn, in he stated that he could see no symptouj,^ of' virtue of the powers conferred on the Presi-I the satisfactory change suggested by Mr. j dent by the act establishing it, from and after I the 10th of June;" and a ytroclamation, tO that efl'ect, from him appeared the same day. ■npjiiioinp in l,ho UniU'd Stutos. Tho utmost satisfac- tion was felt in the Erskine— -sent him new instructions, in two serynrato dispatches of the same date, (Jan. 23) ; one relating to the affair of the Chesa- peake, the other to the Orders in Cbimcil. In tho former of these two dispatches. ample reparation for the attack on the ' United Stirfes by the Federal party, and hyl Chesapeake was offered, in a promise that | the moderate men at this favourable change. the men taken from that vessel shcnild be j On the *24th of April, five days after the issii-j restored ; wliilst it was added, His Majesty ' ingof the President's proclamation declaringj would 1)6 willing, " as an act of spontaneous j the resumjition of coinuKM-cial intercourse! generosity," to make a [irovision I or tiic with Curat Uritain, the auspicious event wasi ■widows and <(rphans of the men who Imd ! celebratcii in New ^'ork by salutes of guns,! been killed in the action. 'J'he iiroili.MV'd reparation was aceepteil ; but the onirial note, intimating the President's acceptance «f it, closed with the rude and most un- ringiiig of church-liells, splendid illumino- lions, and otlier demonstratifins of public] rejoicing. The sentiments of the Federnlf Press ajipeared iu articles preceded by 1 ! HISTORY OF THE WAR OF IS 12. ir 13 Mr. Siu'.h t Ms romon- son's cx]')rcs3 x}ircss cluirj^o tluit while lie ci" punisliiiicnt ( iidt the less tilily of such suadcil that it t is (hic from own honour." the yirim'iplos liidison to Ilia ('('ply resented he new)tiatiou IS iiiunediately 1(1 Mr. Erskino [ransniitting a D iliseourtco\is iH thi.s In'oaeli h Caljinet, it cir resentment it a reason fur acknowledged ( V)uncll, whieli ing's other dis- ;\veen Mr. Ers- \ an assurani'i' Ills Majesty's and Novemljer n, as respected ith Juno next. ined, that tlip withdrawn, iiii 1 on the Presi- ] from and after Dclamation, tn I the same day. most satisfar- felt in tlii^ [larty, and h)' ■ turalile ohan,;:''. •I after the is^n ition declaring al intereouvn' idus event wa» iliites of guns, ndid illuminii inns (if puidli' if the Feder.'ii preceded I'V headings nueh as these : — " Triumph of Federal policy — No eml)argo — N(j French party — A return of peace, prosperity, and Iinistry to ratify Mr. rent, viz.: that Mr. Erskine had acted not J Erskiiu^'s arrangement," writes Mr. Alison, only inconsistently with, but in contradiction j " although justilied in jMiint of right by to his orders; and the op]iosition were i Xap(deon'rt violence, and Mr. Erskine's d(^- fiilenced. A con)paris(m of the c(nTespon- [ viation from his instructions, may now well dence between Mr. Erskine and the American government with Mr. Canning's despatch to tlio former, does indeed exhiljit the alleged contradiction in a very strong light ; for, whilst in the correspondence no mention is made of any condition besides the withdrawal of the Non-inter('ourse Act, Mr. Canning in his despatch specifies t/iree conditions on be cliara^cterized as one of the most unfortu- nate resolutions, in point of expediency, ever v adopted by the British Government; for it at once led to the renewal of the Xon-iutcr- course Act of the United States ; put an en- tire stop for the next two years to all com- merce with that country; reduced the ex- ])orts of Great Britain fully a third during which the recall of the Orders was to be con- • the most critical and important year of the tingent. "First — the repealing as to Great Britain, but the keeping in force as to France, war: and, in its ultimate results, contributed to prt)duce that unhappy irritation between and all countries adopting her decrees, so j the two countries, whi(;h has never yet, not- long as those decrees were continued, all ex- withstanding tlio strong bonds of natilral in- isting American nnn-importati(Ui and nnn- 1 terest by which th(\v are connected, been intercourse acts, and acts excluding foreign j ullayed." On the Otli August, in conse- 8hips of war. Second — the renunciation by I ([uence of the non-fuifilment of the Erskine the United States, during tli(? present war, arrangement, the President issiKMl a procla- of any pretensions to carry on any trade with . mation withdrawing the ]n'oclaniation pre- the cc)lonies of Ixilligerents, not allowed in time of peace ; ami, third — the allowing British ships of war to enforce liy capture ' Uritaiii and France the American n()ii-int(>rcourso with France and her allies." AVitli terms so express and pojiitiveas these before hiin, it seems ama/ing viously issued; thereby leaving in full effect the; Non-intere(mrse Act both against Great ^li-simi nml itcciill of ,\r. .Iw ksou. Mr. Erskine was re- cnllcd. and succerded bv tliat Mr. Erskine should have ventured to ; Mr. Francis James Jackson, who arrival nt ■"onclude even a " conditional agr(>ement" ns ; AVnshington in the month of October. He Jie described that into which he entered, i had done his country service at Copenhagen, 2f) TIIPTORY OF TITF, WAR OF 1P12. \\V\ in tlio no^oiiation wliich proccilcd tho s.-i/.iiro of tlio [)'iMisli fli'i't, a cirfiiiiist;!!!'''' in.r li'^i'ly in rccniiiMiciii! Iiiin to the '^ri-^cnnnciit (if tli!" rnitoil Sirit('<<. Vnnn tlii' inoiin'iit oi' liis; landiiip; to Iiis (lojinrtiiro in ;i!ioiit m inotitl/s tinio. iio v.a.i Hiilijor-t to ;j;iillin^ insult^ in clifTci'i'iit d(\uT('ns. IVoin tli'> l'r"-;iili':it, tlio pnpiilnro, aii'l tin' jirc'ss. His roc-all, at last. wix?' n'f)iiiwti'il liv till' Cnitccl StaliV'i ;:-n\('rn- rncnt, aiifl, oC foiirsc, ^.'ranted iiy tin- IJriti^li Cn'.iiiii't, t!io!i;j;l) witliout any iiiarlv ol'ilisa|i- probatirin rin tlif juirt oC his so\ iTciirn. noiTf-oif r;nnilif>iiillr MflV l^lh. l^-lll. Tii" I'li-licara:: -'T tho rnilril:'''lati' fir her colonies, or efinntries occupied hv French innies slaeild he sei/.ed. This act was carrietl intfi iinnie I'nitcd States: thei'e '. was. to IK! sure, sharp and xi'hcnic .t reuion- i ntcd as the n-rievances laid to the ; char^^c of fircat [Jritain wei'c resented ; and ! the French Emporor never atoned, nor o\on \ ovinced the fdi;2;htest disposition to atone. \ fcr it. I Protonrlpft Krvocnlinn _, ,, «„ i of the i>eiidi iirrrops: ' hi' r.mpcror of I' ranee, '" ^"»'>"'^'"^- 1'^'"' p-owin^ impatient under his ineffectual attempt to drive the I'nited •States into war with (!reat Uritain, thouj'Jit proper at last to all'oct a craiciliatory policy towards the Xorth American repiddic, and ; to try what j'airand plausioleprol'es'-ions couh' j ncrornplisli. Witliout any inteniion, as his | !«uht.er|!innt pro.-'ec shew I iif ke(>pin;_' jiis hands off their vessel-, tiie confiscatifai o which liad ail alont; furnisiied so con\<'nIeiit ' a triliute to his ij;-!j'>overislieil excheriuer. ! [hionai'iarte determined, nt least, to change < his tone, 'f'iip disappointment and dissatis- : faction ]irevailinji in tiie I nited States in conf the Er«- Idne arran;^euieut „a\e him jileasure ; and, more ]iartirnl:irly. the act ar^ainst (Ireat Ur'taiu with nhii-li the session of ('on^jre.on h id terniiuated was alto;fether to his taste. The Ihik(> of ('adore — his minister — was ar- oordiii'.rly instructed to make to the .Vmeri- c;Mi minister. .Mr. .\rmstronj;, the followinp; deelaration. v.hich was communicated in a note (lilted oth Auirust: — " .\t present <'on- ;;'ress retr:iees its Steps. The act of the 1st .March, ISO',) (the Xou-intercourse net as ro'A-irds France) is revokeil : tho ports of America are open to I'reneh trade ; and France is no hanger shut to America. C'on- j;r(>ss. in short. en;;a;;es to declare a;;ainst the helli^i-eriMit which shall refuse to recognise the rights of neutrals. In tliis new state of thin;;s, [ Min authorised to docdaro to you that till' decrees of Berlin iind 3Tilan are re- voked : and that from the 1st November they siiall ce;;se to be executed, it lirin;/ veil iin- i/iT\;'o(.il. that in consequence of this decla- ration, the Kn^lish shall revoke their Orderf< in Council, and renounce the new principles of bloekaile, which they have attempted to establish, or tluit the Cnited States shall cause the riii'ht to lie respected by the IJritish. The i'resident of theVnited States with eaac r tlelinht laid hold of this mndilinnnl revoca- tion ; dependent thouf!;h it was on a condition which Ihionapiirtc knew very well, and Mr. .Madison miiiht have known, too, w.t.s on tho part of (Ireat Britain wholly inadmissable. On tho very next day after that on Avhich it was conditionally promi.«icd they should bo revoked, Madison issued a proclamation as- sertin^ that "the said odict.s have been Tf^ voked ;" and that " the onemy rrrised on the fiisi day of that month to violate tho neutral eommerce of the I'nited States." Ihit the Fr(^• of tlii" prospective revocation of liie I'reneli decress was communicatpd at once tf> .Mr. I'inckney. the I'nited States 3Iiu- ister at London, who, without delay pro- ceeded on the '^,")th .Vuirnst following to niakft a formal call fni the IJritish Government to r-'pcal their Orders in C.'ouncil. Lord "Wel- lesiey, very natiir he necessary to French decrees wt Siibseipieutly. win of French violence of some detained color for the ^jover nssertin;;', and jm that the French d repealed, thoniih beyond tlie Duke poared to that eifee fitrenuoiisly and r British Cabinet th ally licen repe.di mainls, that the Or annulled. Ijoril W mittin;.; the Duke correctly interpret nouncini;' a repeal pommenei! absolnti her, hut conditiona the recall, within ; ih'itish Orders, In rrinc'de such a rec; ///»'??7 rrqinml. \\\ (lition mentioned i;| missable — the rcimi " the now Dritish p AVhat France refj ment by Hn^rland o blockade;" an expn biy implied much \ tion by tho FJritish of fact, tho blockac tiial blockade, coas ^00 how the IJritisli disputed that poin obvious to the eyes Keith's shijis no I bntvveeu Urest and 1 ive consider, admitt Mr. i'inckney that included in the m f'ouncil : that is, 1 that the line of coa Jiftual blockade wa; cament : but, in ci Trance, alTected liy partc's own pa]ier 1 sion, expressed or France wanted. I^ IIISTOIIV OF TTir; WAH OF lSI-2. M Ic.^lcy. vi'ry nntiirnlly. rcjilicd tliat it wmiM tliis: — '• (Jmiitiuj;; tii.it Britiiiii liiid 1(')0 vos- ■tluT iIk' >^('1s* rn •it('m|ii)rary iiitcrmisricm liai'liiuirs liy land as of Froncli vi(d(>ii('o, tifii'tlicr with tin" n'lcnsc tlinrffni-o, in our estimation, it was tioactuni of sonio detained Ann'ricaii vessels, ali'ordod liloekade. Itwasdreit Uritiiin's ik'w prin- li's o|' liloekade. Siie iiilist. notwitlistanil- oolor for tl le li-overnuieii t of tlie I'liiled State- nssertiii;:', and prolialily at tii(> tiiii(> iiopin ler inunensc naval forei tliat the V •h (1 ecre"s hai I 1 lit that I.lock- leen virtiiallv ade virtiiailv on t!ie sanu' footing with tlio repealed, though no aiitlieutie doeuinent ! Uorlin and -Milan I'errees: she must deny it3 lieyond tlio Duke of ('adore's noto hud up- j existiMiee.und — wliati we are osrieciullvaiimnc poured to that oifeet : Mr. I'inekney lahoured , at — slie must md leen re il( and reiterated his ih.- ' is to t;ike elVeet ; and, in d( so, it is to lifi '•hould lie ' distinetly iiiiderstond that in future, urilo.si^ finnulled. Ijord Welle-ley reiilied tiiat, " ad- she can heleat^'iier our seaport towns )iy iuiid muiK Is, that the Orders in (' mittin.u; the Duke of < 'adi letter to lie ', as w( iiv sea, th ill 1 in no at: tual rnrrcctiy interpr •ted 1' Ull- lilockad( That is. (ireat IJritain was not to nouncinij; reoea I of the V riMieh decree to : shut uu t!ic l-"ren.li ports from foreii;n inter- roinmene(! ahsolnteiy on the lirsr ol Novem- coiii>e. and del'ar tlieni Irom lorei^n sii|i- hcr, hut conditional as to its continuaneo, or | plii's-— how cifectiially soever slie mi;;'lit lio the riH-all. within !i reasonalile time, of the ; ahle to do it with her ]iowert'uI navy — until iJritish C)rders, hi^ should not hesitate to : her INiiiiisular hei'oes should l\;\\r crossed rfinf"d(> such n rcc.all, //iidie i-li'i.se. shi' niiixht. ilnvr/ rc^ii'i-nl. Iiut ihere \i"as ;i;iother eon- use her lieets toco-operate with her troops (lition nieiirioned in that letter wholly inad- , on land. 'I'hi! transcendent insolence rinciples of hlockade." 'I'h(>se, or a mont by Hnorhmd of " her lunv principle'^ of I declaration of war by the I'liited States hlockade;" an ex|iression which uiKjuestionu- i u,L:;;rinst (ireat JJritain, wcm'o the conditidiia bly implied much more than a inert! deidara- ' on wliiidi the Berlin and Milan Decrees were, tion by the British Cabinet tliat, tis a matter' by an anticipation, repealed as rejrurded the of fact, the blockade of I8(l(i had. !\s an uc- ! I nited States. 'I'lie French si-overnmont. in tual blockude, ceased to exist. AVe do not | short, revoked, or more strictly promised to ^('n how the Britisii (lovornment could have j revoke, their decrees in favour of the rnited disputed that point, seeing!; it was a tliinir | States, on tluMindeivla.ndinij; that one of two obvious to the eyes of any man, that Lord I thin^rs was to follow: either that (ireat 15ri- Keith'.s shi|»s no loniii>r watched the coast ' tain .should be entrapped into the surrender hotweeii Brest and the Flbe : fiOrd Welle.slcy. "f her maritime supei'iority ; of which beiiip; TVP con.sider. admitteil as imuli. when he told in itself lla^;raiitly ab ;,rd. France, we must Mr. I'inekney that the blocka latter alternative lieinp;, that the line of coast ori;:iiially coufin^d by ' us they no doubt imaiiined. the more proba- aotiial blockade was no bm^icr in that predi-j ble oi' the two: and which, within less than oameiit : but, in common with l!ie ri'st of ; two years, was the actual issue fif Fr rrance, alTect encr IV i;ie rer.a liati on of Ibiona- ; strataii'em an ,1 A merican irascibility. parte's own jiaper blockades. Bittthisaflinis- 1 sion, pxiiressed or imjilied, was not what i •;;• ■ France wanted. Her view of the case was ; French con-st in ISUO. wns the force actually w; th tlio iil 22 ITTSTOHY f»r TIIR WAIl OF 1H12. This rov()(';iti(iii,tli<'n,\vliii'liviiH h(i imnuled in piiljlii'dijciiiiu'iitsnrMr. M.idismi's Adiiiin- istratioii, siikI triiiiii|ili!iiilly '.iiott'd both in tiio.so dofiiiiKMits mid ill ('iin,:;ri'ss, as criMt inf5 an irrosistiMi! (duini (ui (Iii'mc iiritain for tlio r('[)('al of licr Orders, was iKitliini;^ moro than a revocation contin^iMit on iiii- possihlt! condititais, an[iears to us, altoj^ethcr in a position to take, and to maintain her own view of her own jiolicy. and to say to the United States : — '• It Avill be mutually advantaji-eiais that wo sliould discontinue the restraints Avhidi French vicdencc at tlic first eompelled us to put on your commerce ; and we do so : avo strike otf the trammels avo impos(,>(l ; yon, of course, abrorjatinu; your retaliatory enact- ments. It is true, the violence of France continues ; for, as she has relaxed her De- crees with an nnderstandiu;;- utterly ridi- culous. — on conditions surpass! iiii'ly innnuit- ablo and alisurd. — which can never be fulfilled, she bas, in point of fact, not relaxed those Pecroes at all. Fut yi.i!r Non-intercourse Act, and our Orders iu Coum-ii, luirt both you ami ourselves, infi- nitely more than tliey annoy or injure France, and this we ,iiid;;t* ti> be a sufKcient reason I':- ;■,.,,. i,,,!;,,,, f|„, Ordci-n, This avo aro ready to do, Avithout eompromisinf^ our ri;:;ht, Avliidi is sanctioiuid by all national law and pr(!cedent, to (dose Avhere avo can the jKU-ts of Fi-anee Avith our jhn'ts, Avhi(di are (juitc ade.piate to the nmiidenanceof any actual blo(d\ado avo have as yet attempted. This reliel' v.i! are ready to atf(U'd you, with- out for one monumt debarriu'i; mu'sidves from tinaiin'j; a;^'ainst (air enemy, as (lod shall ;:-i\e us ability, that maritime superiority, whore crowniuL^ hoiwairs and strenj;th Avero lioutrht AvIth tlie blood of Aboukir and Trai;il;;ar." This. Ave conceive, Avould have been e-oiid and safe policiy on the part of (Ireat Dritain. Jt avouM have conciliated the I'nited States, and miserably disap- pointed France, Avithout involvimr, so far as we can see, any concession detrimental to nuv maritime su]ieriority, nr discreditable to the nation at hir^-e. The porsistonco of tho IJritish <'a)iinet in their ori;i'inal ]ioliey at this ])eriiid, and si!lis"i|uentiy. Avhen tlift Hrsklne arrani';ement Avas (iisallowe(l, may lio prononueed, avo think, nnfortuiiiito, and seems, indee'rcss ; but Ave aro aAvare that a irreat deal of it arose from that source; Avhilst it riiay be acknoAAdedd, ivid the subsequent exclusion of| that mendianditic froux all the Continental ;' ports under his cimtrol, Tho re-establish- ment ol'satisfaetory relations Avith the United '3 States Avould certainly have been, under' the>ie cii-cumstaiu'es, a nteasure of relief; and it Avns simply as a measure of relief to fufferino; r.nd ■^'"ujilainlnp; midtitudes tlint tlie Ordei-s i:i (,'oujicil Avci'C, in the cud, rescinded. How i wo are ready to reseiud(>d before, revocation were t t''in would not ha too late I Mena'( rassnients; snrrou of public sufl'eriii inivms duiiions of lower classes of tl pect of a diminish its burthens, onlai loiin, Avere enornn imhappily, tliou;^! their cour.so. FrcMPh Seizures nml BimiiiiKH still c.iiti- nucU. justioo of stylin;;; revocation of hi.- revocation," than still persisted in ci to the United Stat and, in nnuiy in.- after the ear^o hai parte, it is true, release by his spci ground of tho United States' ue been detiiined in was all he did. 1811, French prii Mediterranean toe they fell in with, ; demnation into tl and Copenhagen. when the Congress ISll, Avere makin they called their c ppared no force ( deadliest rescntuK justice and outrag — Avhen Franco se( forgotten as thongl pome distant plan French frigates, ev lance, Avhich migl States some scrvi( Loire, and Avcro ] American vessels rouson, then, had 1 self as he did, in June, 1812,— after ITTSTOnV OF TIIK WAU OF 1812. 23 roscnuloJ. ll(j\v uiuL'li is it to Iji' rctrircitfil. ; " i)i(l the jiistiKinitiDii of tiio IJritish Ordors wo arc r(M(ly to miv, tli;it tiicy Inui imt licrn ' in ('(imicil il('|icii it did at list. ari'i\al iVoin lOiirojie liPdULlit news of fresh too late I Meiia<-ed witii aii,u;mcnted eml)ar- 1 sei/urcs and condemnation of Amt.'rican vcm- mssments; siuTounded iiyafl'ectin': evidences sels, under cover of tiiose \ery edicts of ol |)ul)lic sidferiiiL';. and syniptoms Ky no wlii 'h tln^ ri'iieal was so lioldiy alle;;ed." moans dulii(Mis of an out'ireak amonu-t tlie With Mr. I liiilivtii's testimony we leave tiiis Inwer classes of the )ieojil(! ; with the pros- to|Mi': •• As to tiie alle;red repeal, ly franco, poet of adiminisht'd rev"nu(> at a time wiieii j and the refusal of tireat Hritaiii to repeal its burthens, entailed ly the war with N'apo- ! her orders, which hud lioeii made the occa- loDii, were enormous, — the IJriti-h ('aliinet, ' sion, iirst oftlu! revival oi' iioii-importatiou imhappily, tlioui^lit it their duty to Imid on IVoni (ireat llrita.in, ami now of war ' not their course. > FiTiioli Scizurofi mill ,! Huriiing.s eUll coiiti- I uued. Notlilnp; cnii fihnw more only had no d(!cre(! of repeal Ikmmi produced ; not only had no captured .American vessel ever lieen reieased l«y any i'rencli ])ri/.c court J ...... conclusively the ! on the jrroimd of su('li ro]ieal, i)ut all tho liKstioo of stylin;:; Buonaparte's condiiional ]iulilic docinnents of Fram-o ; the Duke of revoeatioa of liis jiccrees '-a jireicnded ('adore, in his report to the Kmperor, of revociuion OI Ills nccrees '"a p .., „ , revocation," than llie I'aef. tliat the French i Decendicr 15, JSKl; tin; Kmi.eror himself, in still persisted in capturini; vessels liidonM;ino- : his address to the Council of Connuerce, of to the United States, sei/in;; their car;;oes, i March Hi. ls| I -. ;,iid tiie l>uke of Bassano, and, in many instances. Imrniii;^^ tla- ships ; in his recent report o!' Mtircli It), 1,S12; all (liter the cargo had been removed. IJuona- i spoke of the Ijcrlin and .Milan IVcreos as parte, it i.s true, to save aiipearaiices. did • sulisi-tiiii:' in lull force, the cherislied jxdiey release by his special license, and nut on llie of the Kmpii'c." Here surely, is ample ground of the nllegcMl revocation, some I evidem'e to show bow unmerit\liicli tlircatciii'il : lirtweon iiiciii l>i'iii;;' less tliaii a liiimlrod tn prccijiitati' tlic ni|itiinMvliicli tla; discus- I yards. Ip tu this liour tlio ancuuiits yii siim aliiait tlu; (h'di-i-s in CuMiicil was steadily \ Imtli sides a;i;i'ee ; hut liero wo iiiei't with liriu;;!)!;^ on. (ti tlie ii'itii .^fav, almut j must ]ier]i!exin;;- discre|iain'y iu tiie narni 14 or !•') lea;;ues tViiin CaiK^Ciiarles, Captaiii I ti\i's ul' die two ((iiiini uiders. Captain 15in;^IiaMi, of tlie I5iiti>li sloop of war Little i i5ii!;:liaiii tlius states tiie matter: " I hailed, Belt, at that tinn^ lookiii;i; for her consort, ' ami asked what ship it was ? lie repeati'd the (Jucrrions for wiiicii she liad dispatchi's, hiiy i|'.ie^tion. I a^aiii hailed, and asif force, hi favnr ! passotl on eitliei their respective' Biiighfim was de bravely fighting a one of 14 ; whilst litiving been broii tial, at till! reipies Washington, wa l)uring this impi and crew wei-e ex statement, that tl shot. To attemp tien, " AVho fired liO|ieI(>';s ur.dert;i on either side is ""ptain against i ship; yet it is bu that both the ]iri other circumstanc niouy given in, American. It is of eighteen gun another of forty- can lie attributed his orders, wliiidi i caeoiinter, express giving any unneee- merit or the people ca attack of his would have been a orders, friich as — v in his senses, ho\ poever, would h.'iv( ou the other hand dent sailed, were i somewhat singula! government disavi British minister, i of an unfriendly i the American ordei' I with our subject, 1 much importance very generally prev I as .Mr. luldreth, 'ii I firms us, that " Little Belt, with th ling on her the stil t!,w (,'!iesape;ike." piciou uf a hostile [ HISTORY OV THE WAR OF 1812. 25 'I 1 liin;4huui'i illOULi-'iluJ r p;l^^t oi;|llt, tlic (llMtnncii I a liuiidroil in;i'')unts uii iiicct witli II tiic narr.'i |-S, ('ll|)t!llll ■: '• I liiiilr.l, Ho V('IIIMti'il , mill iiski'il l'c[i(';itt 1 iiiy which 1 iiii- (hiro Hii^r'TS, I tllis Mtilt(!- is that? T.) iivi'ii ; Ijiit I ^Vhat slii]i is II or twenty iiuiiiiry ; iinJ tnniiiiot from a siidt, that Tii(^ actinii, jioiioral, and il'aii hour, nt of tlic Litth? ■iliu'fil ahudst mis could bo ;;(;rs statoil, lie desisted ,t liis advor- fficcrs of tho this jiauso. vofjers hailed ami charac- a;^oniHt. He the two ves- 1 the morn- sident sent a with a mcs- t tho unfor- ce, and ten- 1 adversary, nil declined. li(>st ol' her .with eleven w the render ic vessels. We .■ii'kinjr, tbfit, s, there wiis ie enemy, in viir. men dead and twenty-one wounded. Tlie I'resident Hulfereil but triiliiiii; lianiiino, and lost none of her ernw — one only Ikmii;; wound- ed, mid that hli^htly. No censure was pll^!sud on either iied-for attack on t!,e (,'hesaj.oake." In relation to this suf picioii of a hostile purposo ou the part of tlic ox- Americans, wo must iittaoh great woight to a remark made by Captain IJiiigham : — " Bj tho manner in which ho (Commodoro Ho- gers) apologized, it appearcil evident to mo that, had he fallen in v\ itii a British frigato, he wouldcertaiiilvhavi^broii^'ht her toactioii. And what farther confirms mo in tiiat opi- nion is, that his guns were not only loaded with round and gnipo shot, but with every scrap of iron that could Im collected." A» the British (Jovernment was satisfied with the disiiMiwal of liostih; orders on the jiartof the United States (lovernnient, the matter was allowed to drop: and tho excitemont arising from it at Lho moment soou diud away. Tho I'rosMonfs ttm Tho President, at tho >li--Mi,i;c', 4tli .sovcmliur, isu. close of the year, having called Congress together jifter a shortor recess than usual, eommunieated to them, on the dth November, a message, in which, after enumerating the subjects (d' comjilaint against Britain (id' wliiidi wo have already said enough), lie suggested the appeal to arms in these words, — " Congress will feel the duty of putting tho United States into an armour and an attitude demanded by tho crisis, and corresponding witli tho national expectations." The Committee on Foreign Affairi reeonnncndcd the raising of 10,000 regulars and riO.OUO militia, with other pro- l)aratioiis; but, such was the jiassionato ardour of the Legislature, that tho num- Jan.l2,isi2. ^^" ^'^'^'^'^ "*^'^''^' ^'^ * majority of 109 to 22, increased to 25,000 regular troops, and a loan was agreed to of ten millions of dollars. AVm tliore, tn nny ex. At tho TOrV timO that ti'iil. a .^('(Ti't under- ... stiiiniiiig iM'twi'ou tiio tho angry majority in I iiiti'it Statun uuj ^ . Franco t Congress were preparing tho unhappy collision with Great Britain, tho ])rivatcers and cruizers of France,, as avo have said, un- der the professed revocitinn of the French det'roes, were repeatedly making cap- tiii'es of American vessels, and .'e'lzing their cargoes. It was less than one month prior to tiio declaration of war .against tJreat ^Jritain, that a oorrespnndence was laid bofo /o Congress, by the President, be- Xov. C3. ^1 irrSTORY OF THE WAR OF IS 12. ^ % '• i m . ill tlio h onour II f tl i(>ir tho riK'itH, tlio intcrPMtM, )Mntry."* Tho contrawt is too obvlouH to C( twccn Mr. Biirlow, tlio Amorican minmtfir at I'aris, and tlio Seorotary of State, in whii'litho foriin'r'coniniuiiiciitiMlto his jrovcrn- 1 1(0 ovcrlixikoil ; — tho tcnifiT of " sinldpn iiifiit tho VPxati(HiH int('lli;'<'iu'n that lii.x I ((iiarrcl" tnwiinls (iroiit llrifain, — tho lonj;. oft'ortM to conchnlo a treaty with Fraimi' IkmI MitfiTiii'^ with FraiR'i>. Tho Imis in Xapoicon provod ahortlvc, and that no rcdrcixN Iiad, an i IJuonanarto'n favour apiioars in a Htill Htron)» yet, bfon olitaincd fur tlio seizures and ('(im- or lijilit ; il' it Ipo truly allo^jod^as hnj ^ fisoatiiiiiH ('itiior prior or Huhscipient to the I hooii doiu;— that tlwro was a ppnoral iiii- rolaxation of tho French decroes. It in prossion in tho riiited StatoH that tho repeal evident, then, that Muonaparto'f relaxation of <>f tho Onlers eonld not he far distant ; ami his doerooM in favonr of the I'nited States, 1 that, aetin;; iiiulor that impression, tho was not lumostly carried out. Tho ^rievan- hlemoeratic; party did their utmost to press cc« of which they complained at tho hands tho declaration of war before intelligence (if of Franco were, on their own showin;;, iin- j tho expected re|ifal should have reaehc(l redrcHHod; 'and yet tho President of the i Ameriia. l at least equal in amount to those we have sustained f'nan Kngland, and havo been attended with circumstances of still greater insult and aggravation ; if war were necessary to vindicate the honour of the country, consi.-teiu-y and inipartialitj requircid that both nations should havo been included in tho declaration."! J Wo havo ■* rrcsident's ^[oss.ago of 1st June, 1812. I Other pasisngos, bcsiilcs the two wo havo in- cerpiirated with tho text,, are worthy of repub- lication. J " Resolutions papseil at a Convention of Delegates from several Coimties of tbe State of New York, lu'M !it the Capitol, in the City of Alhaiw, on the 17th and 18lh days of Septem- ber, llUli." •' Resolved, that without insisting on tlie injustice of the present war, taking solely into consideration the time and circumstances of its declaration, the condition of the country, ami state of the public mind, we are constrained to consider, and feel it our duty to pronounce it s most rash, unwi.--e, and inexpedient measure ; tlie adoption of which ouglit for ever to deprive its tutlinrs of the esteem and confidence of an enlightened people — because, as the injuries we have received from France, arc at least cqudl in amomit to those we iiave sustained from Hiiifliuid, an* have been attended with circum- stances of still ureater insult and aggravation— if war were iieeessiiry to vindicate the honor ci the country, consistency and iiiqiartiality re- quired that both nations sJKUild have been in- cluded in the declaration. Recause if it were decmcil expedient to exercise our right if with greater advantage on tlie course due to selecting our adversary, prudence and commoii olrcady recordoi Madidon was eiiti intrigue ; and opinion withiait, dciiee. Still we itapression, in it- Mr. .Madison or void of patriotisi of Her\ ing Franci to what they <'oii to the interests jimy bo asked. In Bt'iise dictated tin wliu.^t' liostility \v; war wi;h France oar insulted honor Sti-ad of anniiiilati extended our comii Bucii II contest Wol the sul)liine cdnsul were coatributiiii; I puti.-aii ill I'hii'ope, fire.d interests tlii'duiihout the wt giivernnient, depeni tlie wishes and alb never to declare a body of tlie natiiai i zeal and alacrity ; cessity of tiie mea.'i to unite all parties tendency is, to an have before existed violence to its utim. for civil war. JJee clared, it was jiei le va«t majority of tli nortliorn states, by peiises iif the coute clusively, were stro: Recaase we see no r by force of arms, rulers say we are t evils and distresse necessity occasion, ta^ips we can expect tlie preat power of till* amazing resmi nierce and navigati We cannot compel 1 satisfy our demand cessfal maritime \ ducting wliicli we i our rulers liave ob: Rocause tlie exhai occasioned by tiie derived from conn tinue, will render an 1 t!ixes to a vast the people will be pres-sed. and tlie in f'iccutive alurmijij; IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR OF 1812. umour of their too (ihviitiiH to r ;lit never to deel.ire a war, into which ihe {ri'cut bo'ly of the natiiai an.Miot jirepared to enter with zeiil and alacrity ; as where the justice and ne- cessity of the measure are not so iijipureiit as to unite all parties in its support. !s inevitable ten^leucy is, to aupjiiieiit tlie tli-sentions that have before existed, anil by exMsperatin;;' party viuh'iico to its utmost hei;j;ht, prepare tlie way for civil war, IJecause. before a war was de- clared, it was jievfectly well aseertaiiud, that a vast miijority of the iieojile in the middle and northern states, by whom the burden and ex- penses of the contest nnist be borne almost ex- clusively, were stroni^ly op]iosed to the measure. Because we see no rational jirospect of attaining, by force of arms, the objects for which oiu- rulers say we are conteinliun; — and because the evils and distresses which the war must of necessity occasion, far ovcrlxilaiice any advaii- tav;os we can expect to derive from it. I'ecause the preat power of Kii!rliiiid on the ocean, and tliK amazinj;; resources she derives from com- merce and navigation, render it evident, that We cannot compel her to respect our ri;;hts and satisfy our demands, otherwise than by a suc- cessful maritime warfare; the means of con- ductiiit^ which we not only do not possess, but our rulers have o>>stiuately refused to jrovide. Bocause the exluiusted state of the ti'casury, occasioned by the destruction of the revenue derived from commerce, should the war con- tinue, will vender necessary a resort to loans .in 1 taxes to a va'liiijr differences, inasmuch as, by the eoiifessiou of the iircsent secretarv of state, satis- factory iiiid honouralile arrannements nii^rht easily lie made, liy which the abuses resulting from the impressment of our seamen, mijilit, in future, be etfectually prevented — Theretore, Resolved, That we shall he constrained to con- sider the determination on the part of our rulers to Continue the present war, alter otlieial notice of the revocation of the IJritish Orders in Coun- cil, ns affordinr; coiiclusive evidence, that tho war has been undei'tiikon from motives entirely distini't from those which have been hitherto avowed, and fur the jn-omotion of objects wholly unconnected with tiie interest and honour of the American nation. Resolved, That wo contemplate with abhor- rence, even the ])Ossibility of an alliance with the present Kiuperor of Franco, every action of whose life has deuionstatcfl. that the attain- ment, by any means, of universal empire, and the conse(|Ucnt extinction of every vestige of '■ idom, are the solo olijects of his ineessant, unbounded, and remorseless ambition. ]•;;; arms, with tho spirit of freemen, we might openly and fearlessly encounter ; but, of his soci'ot arts, Ids corrujitiu"; intluenco, we enter- tain a dread we can neither compier nor con- ceal. It is therefore with the utmost distrust and alaiTU, that wo regard his late professions of attachment and love to the American people, fully rccollci'tiiig. that his invariable course has been, by perfidious offers of protection, by de- ceitful professions of friouilsliip, to lull his iiiteniled \ictin\s into the fatal sleep of confi- dence and security, during which, tin' chains of despoiism are silently wound round and rivetleil on them." In the game Btrtiin, during the dcljato oa i 28 TTTSTORY OF TTIE WAR OF IS 1 2. f W^ adversary, jjrudencc ami coininon sonso dic- tated tlio ciinico of ail itnomy, from whoso liostility wc liad nothiiij; to droad. A war with Franco would Cfiu;ii!y liavo RatisliiMl our insultod honour, aod, at the sanu; time, instead of annihilatinir, v.'oulil liave revived and extended our commerce."* 15ut there were countorvailinc; considerations fallini; in with, wliilst, on tlie oll\er iiand, every cause of coniphiint aj2;aini«t Franco wa.'< hornc alonj; and overwiicimed by the current of the popuhir antipathy to Groat Uritain. the War-Rep 't, did Mr. Randolph speak in C'onp;rcss : — Tlii.s war of conquest (he said), a ivar for the ac- qTiisilioii of territory iiiid Milijocts, i.s to lie a new comiiK'iitiU'y on tiic ddctrine that ri'iiuMics are destitute of Miiibition — that they arc addicted to pence, -wedded to the lia]ii)ino.ss and .safety of the preat Imdy of their ))C(i]ile. ]>iit it scums this is til he a lioliday (.'.'unjiMipi — tlicre is to l)c no o\]H'iiSc of i)l(iod, or ticasure, on our ]iart — ("aiiiida i'^ to Cdiujuor liorself — slio is to he Bah(hu'd tij MO princijilcs of iVntcr.iity. Tlie people of tl :it country are first to ))e seduced from their fdlciiiaiice, and converted into trai- tors, i." preparatory to the nial^in;:; tlieni pood citizens. Although lie must acknow'i^('pe that pome of our tlnuiinp patriots were tlius manu- factured, he (lid not think the jirocess w(urid hold ./ood Avilh a whole coinnnuiity. It was a dnnpcrous expcrimci't. Wc 'jvcre to succeed in the French mode, lij' tiie system of frater- nization — all is French I — hut how dreadfully it mipht he re^oRted on the southern and west- ern slaveholdinp ?y were not about to abandon " Kverythini;; in the T'nited States," Bays •Janu\s, in his Naval History, "was to he s(;ttl(!d hy a calculation (d" jirnlit and loss. Franco had numerous allies, — FiUpland i scarcely any. Franco had no contipuous tfu-ritory ; Knpland had the Canailas ready to 1)0 nuirehed into at a monuuit's notice. Franco had no coninuuTO ; Enpland had richly-laden menliantmen travorsinp; every \ sea. Enpland, therefore, it was apainst whom the death-hlows of America were to ho levelled."* These considerations, no | all reclamation for the unjiaralleled outrages " insults and inj\u-ies" of the French povcrn- nuMit — to pive up our claim for pliuulcrcd mil- lions, and asked wli'it rejiaration or atonement they could exju-ct to obtain in hours of future dalliance, .alter they sliouM have made a tender // rini-airo'i/n cluetiy from f/ir llriiiyJi domiiiiav.i, since the breaking out of the rreneli troidiles. He in- ilipniintly s.aid — it is insuflerable. It cannot be borne. It nuist and onpht, with severity, to be put down in this house — and out of it to meet the //(' ilinH. \\v have no fellow feeling for the suU'eriup and oppressed Spaniards I \'et even //)(7» we do not reprobate. Strange I that we shouM have no objection to nnyotlnr people or government, civilized or savage, in the whoii? •I '" I{pi«olution« of the New Vork Delegate.^. Drock. Life and Cerrcspoudence of Sir Isa.ie doubt, powerful explosion and t hut, allowinp; to fluence, -wo arc standinp, that parison of a explosion and the shock of war on liiitiiio : hut, iillowinj]; to those thoir inidonialih^ in- fluence, wo are porfectly satisfied, notwitli- standing, that it was not merely the com- parison of advantaf:;es or risks ; it was not solely the answer returned hy the oracle of repuhlican shrewdness to the questifin, — " Whether more wore to he j^ained from a war with (Ireat Britain than witli France?" which hrought th(? contrfiversy to its deplor- ahlc issue. There were other motives at world. The jrrent autocrat of all the Russias receives the hoiHnp;e ot' our liijrli cousidcratiou. Tlic dey of Alfiiers :nu\ liis (livan of iiiriitos are very civil jrood sort oi' people, Avitli wlimu we fimi uo (liHiculty iu lauiutaiiiiujr the reliitiipiis of pence luul auiit}- — "TuvV;<, Jews nut iiifiilels,'' MrliiiifH, or tiie J.i/t/c Tmih, harliariaus and savajrcs of every elinie and color, are weleiaue to (tar arms. AVitli cliief;; of liauditti, ne^ro or muliitto, we cau trcdt ami can Iraih'. Name, however, Init l']u^Iaud, nvA all our Mutijialliies nre up in arms a|:;aiust her. Anc.iust wlioiu'.' A.u'aijist those wliose lilooil runs iu our own veins; in ciuuuion with wlu.m we cau Cijiiui Sliiilvspc'ire and Ne\vt;iu, and ('h;iiliaiu for our couru'rjaieu: whose form of iioveruuient is the freest on earth, our own only ex(a>iited; from whom every valuable ]irinciplc of oiu" o.vn in- Ftitutiiais lias lieeu Ixr.-rowed— representniion — jiUT trial — votiiif; the sujiplies — writs of haliciis corpus! — our whole civil and eriminal jurisora- dence — aj^ainst our/iV/o/c I'mlfshiul.i idcntitied in blood, in lauguage, in religion with our- Belvcs." Mr. Sheffey, too, of Virginia, spoke, with Ofpially moral courage, the hmgnago of truth, and justice, and ciunnion sense: — You have heen told that you could raise voluateers to atehieve the possession of (,'iinada. AVlu'i'e are these volunteers ? 1 have seen none of these jiatriotie men wiio were willing to go to Cimailain the private rank ; all of them want offices. Vou may rnisea f"\v miscnilile wretches f(ir your Jirmy, who would diss^rai'e the service, and only serve as utiprinciplcd minions to their oilicers. Will your fiirniers' sons enlist in your army? They will not, sir. Look at the army of "tiS. It Jiad twelve or tiiteen regiments noniinidly. It was dishanded in eijihteeii Tniiutlis; when liMH'tlie men had not lieeu r;ii.~e(l. AVhy, sir, you iiiid more ]iatriotism on pi'per then even than you have now; and yet y(ai coulil not raise Indf the forces for yoiii- army. If you puss the hill, you will not raise twenty- five thoiisatnl men in three years. The rc(uirse, aitd non-importation acts were, in name, impar- tial, for they were avowedly directed against these troops for nnthing. No nation can safely enji'iiiiH! in a loreigu war without lieing ]U'e]iared for it when they t:ike tlie resolution. Are you prc]i:ii-ed '.' Your secretary at war has tolil gentlcnuMi tli-it even l)laid0 jrocured : ami you saw a letter fnun him yes- tci'diiy, which infornieil \im thiit tiie sm.all sup- plies for the Indians could not 1)0 had without a relaxation of your eomnR'rci;il restrictions. Will you send your soldiers to Canada without lilankets? Or ilo you c.ilcuhite to take it liy the end of the siuiimei-, ami return home to a more genial cliine Ky the next winter 1 Tliis W'luld lie wi'll ('uut, suppose yon raise the men, what will (ireat Jh'itain 1)0 doing in the mean time? Will she be asleep? You nnirch to C.inada: whoro will be your seeiu'ity at home? will you desert your own eoimlry ; will you leave ymv cities to be sacrificed, plundered and sacked, for the sterile ileserts of Canada, of Nova Scotia, and New-r>runs\vick, and all the fro/en rcjiions of the north? Sir, go to Caiia'!;i, and y.ui will soon have to recal your army to (!iolli;,'prents ; l>ut, in reality, they j in the revohitionary Cont^ress wlio set their were fur IVoni prpssinp; equiillyonlxith; for, I fiiees against concluding peace with Great •whilst thoy scarcely mfilcstcd France, -with { Britain on terma not sanctioned by France; her incoiisidcraltlc American comniorco. ; and vhn, in stri(!t consistency with their thov inflicted an injury that Ava;- f'dt, on j vehement French ])rediloctious, attempted a fircat liritain, accustomed, as she hadheen, to find, before the enactment of those mea- sures, a large and profita1)le market in the censure on Mr. Jay and Mr. Adams, because they had negotiated a treaty of peace, with- out the consent of the French Government, United States. In the manufacturing towns , tiiough that treaty was honourable and ad- of France no popular commotions were pro- j vantageous to the United States. It is well voked by the commercial restrictions of the ; known that Washington lalioured, in every United States: Hiosc restrictions were the ; possible way, even to the length of risking main agent in exciting the most alarming liis P"l'idarity, to maintain and peri)etuate riots in Manidiester, Sheffield, and other | fni'i'dly relations with Great Britain; but parts of England, where large nnmliers of ' ^I''- -^Iii'li'*i'»<'Pr"^f ^ *'•« psicific mission to operatives found themselves cut off from the I that country in 17'.)4; and, about the same ordinary sources of employment and sub- 1 time, whilst the revolutionary rulers of sistence. Little did France, in her mad i France were ferociously plunging through imm(dation of her best and bravest to the phantom of military glory, ap])reciate or heed the loss of an extinguished commerce : •whilst Britain, dependent on her C(nnmerce for the means of protracted resistance, felt the wound. — her I'arliament bcsii'gcd with the petitions of suffering millions; her tiicir dreadful career of massacre and confis- cation, Mr. 3Iadison, at that frightful epoch of human calamity, stepped forward in ('(ingress to commence that warfare against British commerce, which he afterAvards waged with so much determination, — intro- ducing rcsdUitinns which, it is worth re- towns distracted witii viident mobs ; andtlu'i '"'"■kiii^-, ^vcre the same in character with bankruptcies of her merchants year by year . ibionaparte's continental system. We have increasing. Mr. Jefferson's and :Mr. :\iadi- «tyled that continental system, as embodied son's measures were certainly impartial, in i" the Berlin and Milan Decrees, a conmier- name ; far frora impartial, in effect. In ! ^^''^l exconnnunicatiim of (ireat Britain,— a regard to Mr. Madison's personal feelings, view which the American merchants did, in there is nothing to make it improbable, but a body, take of Buonaparte's enormous pre- much to the contrary, that they were iden- tonsions ; but Mr. ]Madisou represented acts, tical with those of Mr. Jefferson, to whose j ^^"^'i'-'li virtually excluded Great Britain from pchool in politics he belonged, whose Secre- 1 *lie pale of civilized nations, and were de- tary of State he had been, and whose influ- vised with the avowed purpose of destroying ence was exerted for his election to the Pro- 1 •"''". '^^ "i*''"« " municipal regulations." eidency. Mr. Madison was one of that party ^^»fl- though the ships of his own nation, if detected in the " inAimous guilt" of — — ■ I trading with, or through England, were by the ]Mllan Decree, declared to lie di'itadnn- ■wnr npninst Great Britain, while she was strng- (///zr'J, and were, in fact, confiscated, with pling f r the liberties of the worl.I Kut this I ^]^^-^^. ^drgoes, there was qncralousness, it is had great weight on Ins nnnd. Mie was tlic 1 , , . . . •,,-,■, , only power that stemmed the torrent cf uuiver- i t''»^' i" '"^ communications with the I rench sal despotism. //<; h.id little experience in the ; Government, but there was nothing that humKii heart, 7r/io believed tli.it thci-e wouM i sounded of war. Our convictions, however, remain any secrurity tor us after the mnritime I r. ,, .i i.\ e i.i A ■ ■ 11 *i 1 ■ • i. ,.1 1 1 ot the more than svmpat iv, — ot the en- dominion, as well as the (lomiiium ot the laud i ,' i . > should be consecrated in the hiin.ls of the great | operation of Mr. :Madison with France,— av.: Napoleon. These cnii(|nerors hnd nlwiiys been fnunded chiefly on his secret manoeuveriii'j; the same When they Imd subdued the world I ;,^ connecti.pii with the Idockade of IHH',, tliev sat dov>-n iiiiil sIuhI teiu's becHuse tlu'vcmild „,, ,. „ , ,. . find no other world to comiuer. Our victory; "'f" ^M^n-y ol the thing is curious; anil, over Great Britain would be our delcat.'' though it may not Avcigli with all of our ****** -x- * ; read'jr? a? it has done with as, we fiiucv :i that those to wl eijually with oui give it, therefor* London Quart e 1812 ; composed England Farn noticed by us, observations.* *Whnt shall first "(/;/ri'.fiiiii)! cf as the immediate WHS, for fill tirxt son, 'in IHiK), (th Buoiiii]):irte.) as i decree ? — that th approved by ^li nsTiiiiist by .Mr. .let mentioned by .Mr. made with Mr. J'^r great and iitrociou America, forgottei verted to in fou brought forward, principal figure in pose, as it would f^ invincible obstach (Ireat Uritaiu '.' L the subject. " The first noti find, is in a letter Mr. Smith, our se( li^th, 18U), in whii which he had liehl French minister. refers to a letter o Mr. Smith to hims lixheif, in which 1 Franco — Wliillicr, hhirlddi'K of n date cnllrd the Berlin Di wmdd coiiKcnt to ri:i the Kmpcvor, fallii ernment, id fores be laid for (ireat consented to repca admission that she neutral commerce, admission that sh only force, her mm of lier enemy, repl reqnirrd for the rc/v jc!// he a prerious r lin Idockiides of Fn date anterior to the " So fur the pb if Great Ib-ituin hi would have been i ing any future bio of France, in whic tion. or the des Kbould bo formed ; HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 31 a who set their [ice with Greiit [led Viy France ; !ncy with their 18, attempted a \diims, beciiiise of poace, Avith- h (Jovernnient, irable and mi- tes. It is well )iircd, in every iiKtli of rihkiii2 uid pei'jietuiito t Britain ; hut •ific mission to hout tiio samu ary mlers (if ii; ade of lf<(Hi. iirious ; and, th all of our us, we f'uurv i that those to whom it may be new, will bo, i equally withours(dves, interested in it. We .;*: jrive it, therefore, below, as we find it in the I liondon Quarterly Review, of September, I 1S12; composed of extracts from the New I Kngland Farme's pamphlet previously :| noticed by us, together with the iloviewer's I observations.* When our readers have sufficiently examined tliis curious case, they may attach what fi o they think is due to the only observation (> intend to add to this head, vi/., that Mr. .M.ulison — it has been asserted — sent out a copy of his war message to France, in the Masp; and that this is not the only circumstance which afibrds reason fur believiug that Franco for some time be- * What shall wc say if it appear that this jirst (n/i/n'anioiiii/ IHOO. which isuciw roiircseiited .13 the iiamcdiatc cause nt the ISorliii Decree, yitis, fiir III' lir.tt tiini', sag^estoil by Mr. Miuli- sou, in 180(i, (throuiih (jeiiend Armstrong to Jiuon:ip;irte. ) as a justifiiilile CiUise ottiie Frencii clccreo ? — that this blockade ot'lHKl'i, which w,is approved by Mr. Muiiroe, — w.'is not objected nsraiiist by .Mr. .Jefl'ersoii in 180S. — was not even nicntioiu'd by Mr. Madison in flio arraii;ieineiit made with Mr. Krskiiie in tSO'.l— but tiiat this great and atrocious iiijarv ilonc to Franco iiiid America, forgotten, nejilected, and not once ad- verted to in four years' ne^oeiation, — was brought forward, for tliefn-Hl timi\ to make a principal figure in 1810, for the exjiress ]>ur- pose, as it would seem, of throwiiin; in the w.iy inviiicilile obstacles to any adjustinent with (iri'ut I'ritaia ? Let us hear the • farmers' on the suliject. " The first notice of it, as far as wo can find, is in a letter from General Armstrong to Mr. Smith, our secretary ol' state, of .January lifj force, hcv moritiine jxncer, for the coercion other enemy, replied " T/nit the oxi.v rondilinn required for the revocation of the decree of lierlin, will he a previous revocation /)y submitting the point to M. ChampaLiiiy ; at least nothing farther ap- pears till the extraordinary b'tter of the Due de I'adore, in which the Herlin and Alilan De- crees are iiremi-^ed to be rejiealed, provideil Great 15ritaiu will rejieal her orders, and ' re- nounce her ja-incijiles of blockade which she wishes to estalilish :' — ' terms,' says the Farm- er, ' which every man will jierceive might bo construed to amount to the surreudcr of all her maritime rights.' " That there was a secret understanding between mir caliinet and that of France, that Great ISritain should be rcipiircd to aniud tier blockades of a ilate anterior to the Uerlin De- cree, and that this suggestion Jirst ciune from our caliinet, will ajiiieur from the two follow- ing extracts of letters from our secretary Smith, to .Mr. I'inckney; the one is dated in duly, 1810, in which he says, "you will let it 1)0 distinctly understooil that the repeal must ncctssurily include un uuuulmeut of the blockade 32 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. w Hi foro knew that warwduld lotlccltired, whilst (Jreat IJritiiin, the other ljellile tlia*^ '<'raiice will draw (jli-eat briialii aHoiloekiides) by iieceding to the act in Con- gress, on coiiiliiiou tiiMt the npi'nl af tli<' hlorkuih' shall iiccoiiijHiiii/ that el' the Orders in Council. " AVithin one mouth after these despatches arrived in France, IJuouaiiartc did bring us to issue with (Ireat Ib'itaiu on Ihl.s rrri/j)niiil ; and yet Ml". Madiscu was no jirc/did, liecause it was /ii' who first suggested the tlioujilit to .\rin- Btroug, and Armstrong to the ingenious cabinet of St. Cloud. '• In cunfonnity to i/diii- k/ii/i/ch- iioii.i, in yoiu- letter uf December 1st, 18t)'.l," (says Cieneral Armstrouu; to Mr. Smitli.) " 1 demanded wluther, if (ireat Jb-itiiiii revoked her decrees of a date anterior to the IJerliii decree, his Majesty would consent to revoke that decree." After this clear exposition, wo think that no reasoioilile iieinii' c;iii eiitert;iin any doubts of Mr. Madison's inli-ii;;ucs willi France. by Uroat Britain, live days aftorf Congresi had signed and sealed the warrant for the uniuitural strife. * AVhilst tills politiciil ferment wns nniitnting the (lilVi'rent |i;irties ot candidates foi'inini-^teriiil pciwer, tlie eNinninatiens in reference to the ef- fects ot the OrcUrs ill Council u|ion the cnnnner- ciid and niiiuufucturitifr interests in the kinijilom were ^oIiiLTon witli iittk- iiiten'n]iti(in in liotli lioiisis of |iiirliMiiunt. A vast innss ote\idence being at length collected, Mr. Ijruiij^ham, on .Tune 10th, brought the matter for final decision before tlie House of ('oiiinioiis. lie began his s|ieech withubserving. that the i|iiestion, thoujrh ot iiiie.\;miiileil interest, was one of little intri- cacy. Jts ])iiints Avere few in number, and in- volved in no oliscurity or (hnibt. At a distance, ineciaraiion of War passed Oil the Iblh. i Fcljrunry Gth, 1S12. was niitliorised ti for twelve niontii- I of men internicil land the militia, niost ]i"ints, but , being liable to i\Avere for military i'i.enlistnmnt was an i "That an hunibl tin his roynl l,isti'iii, tli(iuj;h of liltle iiiti'i- iibcr, tiud in- At a ilistiince, iss (if dotiiild, Dsof evidciu'c, K'titioiis with iiit cause tlio icated; yet lia convince liia ecu one of a liouse tliroiigh cd to a luoro )k a genernl liich was now ; of our indiis- ouly by tlieir lienies and de- af? a -emoily 'ssion of tlioir iieiit. He re- outline of tlio ptoses I'ad l)cen if the great tricts. Anu)ng witness wlio fnl amount of in. Slieftiehi, e districts of latetl in tlieni. )y wliicli tliis of the liouso; iitries in tlie titutes and J compensate next touclied to by the de- that of tho , and the nc- riglits ; and ay safely bo cxpe«liency, cease. He til nee of tlic luced in tills lisVominf!; the fsciureep, anil [r a long and [or onnncctcd ho fuUowinir b lu luldilinii tu rlio rof:;u- l;ir troiij'v, tlic I'rosidcnt WHS iiiitliiirisoil ti) cMniiliiy 'J").nijn vohnitecrs for twtdvo niontlis. -wlio uero to liiriii ii Imdy i\[' niiTi intennediate iM'twcf-n tlio ro.yuhirs I and tilt' militia, rescniMiiiL; tlie latter in I jnost points, ))ut diiU'rin;'; from them in licinj]f lirtlilc to furoijrn service. 'I heir cintii- i m^ was to be provided liy tlienisehi's ; tJieir arms ^verc to be furnished by tlu) resented. He corrected evcral statements made by liiin, and showed hat the commerce ol' Fraitee hail suffered in inch ijreater proportion from the effects of lesoOnlers. ()urslii|i|iing interest, he asserted, ail liceii benelltled by tliem, and if they were cpcah'd, the Americans wnuld conic in for a irjic share of our carrying trade, especially io luth Aiaei'iea, Upon the Avhole, he wiuihl not h'liy that our mnniitactures were likely to ob- liu Slime relief from the reiieal, but govern- out was placed between dillieiilliis on both ides, and it was their duty to adnpt the mea- iii'cs which would be least iletrimental. In his iliiiiion, the proimniieraiice of !irgumei!t led flic conchision that the rejieal if the Orders iviiiild be more prejudicial tlian liii'ir continu- llceruits came in dowly — at tin; ratio td' one tliousand in six luontlis— notwithstandinii; the liberal bounty ■wliiidi was oll'ored. It is curi- ous to observe tlio ooniparative eolduess with vvhiidi at this time (,'iiiigress addressed tiieni- s(d\os to ]iromoting the ellieieiicv of tlie navy, — tliat arm of tiie ser\Ice whieji cor- tainly did the rejuildio nmst credit during; tho v.-av. A subsidy of only S;;(li>,(ll)(l avus voted liir rejiairs; and a further sum of .•^^OIMHM) annually, for rebuildin;:; certain sliips. ^\'hat was proposed to be acconi- plislii'd by thispaltry sum, Avas to repair and lit out tho Ceiistellation, Cliesapoake, and anee. The great Imdy of Vii"rchnnts held the same o)iiiiiiin. {'"nur-liftlis of thos(! of (ihisgow had ]ielitioned in sui))Mirt of the or lers ; those I of i'ri^tid were unanimous in their iavour : and so were a majnrity of thu'C of biveriiool : there was no ]ietition from Fioinion against them, whilst a great miinber of London merchants Inul petitioned in their favour. Air. I'ariiig. aft'v a wnrr- eulogy of theenlight- ened viewidthi' siiliject taken by the honorable mover, said that the limise had two iiuestinns to decide : I. whether these distresses were attri- i butablc to the Orders in Council V !i. Whether I any benefits hail arisen from them in any other f|narter to compensate for tlu'se c.ahiniities ? .Mr. 1>. made a number of particular observa- tions relative to these two jioints ; and ciuiclu- ded with giving it as his conviction, that by iiiir Orders in Council v e lost the most substan- tial conimevi-!;d advantages fur an object wo could never obtain- with the continent. -that of forcing our trade ih ]dace on I War passed * Tlier.'^ was a molification of the Orders in .\\m\, isim. Lord Oastlei'eagh began with lamenting the preciiiitatiiin of the hon. gentleuuin in liringing forward this motion, and pi-essing to hasty dis- cussion a ipieslion tli.aii which none more vital ever came before the consideration of jiarlia- nieut. Ho deprecated any interference on the part of the house in a question in which com- mercial considerations were Tuixed with those of maritime right, and, jiending ti dcKcate ne- j goeiatinn, dictating to the executive govern- i ment the course it ought to pursue. After ; various obsTrvatiiuis in ih fence of the jmlicy i and justice of the Orders in Council, and in ! answer to some of the mover's s'at >ments, tho ' iiuble bird came to die ].oint by sa\ing, that hireat r.i'itain would consent tn susprml her i Orders in Conm ;'. proviih^d Anerica would sus- liend her iionimioi i.itiou act. The exnetinied, ini;ilil llieil be Iried ci| the iirai-licability nf re- storing things to their aucicat system. L'ndcr 34 TTlSTOIlY OF THE WAR OF IS 12. M Adama fri<;nt(>s ; and with tlio nnnunl mili- siily, tn roliiiild tlirci; (itlicr frifi.itcs of tlio old navy, tuo ruttcii to lie ro]iair(;(l. Tiic truth was, tlu! war mania (irij:;iiiatod, mainly, witii mull who carod little or iiotliini;- ahoiit commoroo — astlicydid not livi- liy it,— and could contomplato its ruin without roiicorn. The politicians of tho hack-woods, who formed so strong and so storii a section of tho violent factitm soeni to have iiaiiliy ^'iven a thou^'ht to tlu! suiferin^s in storo lor tiio oommorcial cities on tiio soa-coast, — siid'er- ings which, in any contest with a luival power like Great Uritain, must always lie I t<;rrihly severe. ill this Contrres"! (tho twelfth) the col"- hrated ifcnry Clay, then ayounu;and ardi'iit , man, niailo his lirst cntraiKjo on tho f^rcat I Avorld of politics, lie was a fervent advi> [ cate for war ; and his remarkalile talents, ! com))ineil with his san,ii;uinc and impctunus I s]iirit, soon enahled him to outstrip the oli ! champions of war, wlio raised him to tlm Speakershij) of the lloiisc; of ixeprescnta- tives, and tacitly acknowlcd^^ed him fur '. their leader. these circnnistances ho trnstad iliat tlie linusc wiiiild not ciinscnt to tlie aildres.s — and he inovecl the iriler of the day. Mr. '\Vhitl.'"cnd then Ipojrfced the nolile lord to Fny precisely what he proposeil to do with re- Si)ect to America. Lord rastlerenfrh said, tlint he meant that a pro])i)siti(in .should 'le made to the American j^ovcrnnieut to sns]iciid iiiniieil'ately the •Irdcr.'? in <'ouucil. on coiuliti(ai that they wuuld sus- pend their non-importation act. Mr. Whitbrcad was of opinion that if this pro- position were to lie sent out to Aiiievica, and it was expected that the house and ciiuntry should ! wait till they reccivi'(l nn answer, it was the . greatest delusion that had ever been attempted; I and he proceeded to express in strmi;;- terms the j urpency of the distress I'elt liy the :ii;iiui!'nc- j tiu'crs, and the necessity of frivins the iatended I relief without delay. Mr. I'onsunhy als'i spoke ngainst the measure proposed, as calculated to create delay. Lord Castlercagii, in further explanation, said that it was never meant that there should he any delay in suspending tlu Orders in ('oun- cil : the intention was that they should he sus- pended for a definite time, and that this circum- stance shou!(l bo coinmniiicalccl to the American government for the double pur)io.-e of a.scerlain- ing whether it wmdd, in consei|ueiice, abro^'ate ■ its non-imi'ortation act : and also (hat it mi^dit ' apply to France to return to the ancient system | of bellitrercnts. ^Ir. Wilbcrforeo objected til themodepivipnsed by the noble lord, because it showed an uusvil- liiipness to do tliat which, in fact, he intended to do. I Mr. Canninp:. in jrivinp; a kind of middle ojii- nion on the sulijcct, contended that rcvocati'in was better than suspension. j Mr, l?rouu;ham, after eonp;ratulatinfc tlip « house on the prospect of speedily pettinp rid of tlic<(' ( >rders, hopi.'i| that the noble lord woali withdraw his motion for ]U'oceediM;j; to tli (irdcrs of the day, and cxiilain nnu'e distimi!;. what was the exact intention of the govcri. nient. 'J'hc fni;.l result was, tliat ^h'. Pi. and J.or. rastlereaiih s>'verally wilhdrew their nn;tini|. on the tuiderstandinir that an oiticial itistrunu'i.: onthe.-ulijcttt should ajipear in the next (j.azetto It was a remarkable circumstance in tli'- debate, that Mr. Stephens, the most strenunui dercuderand ]iromoter of the Orders in (Vuniiil, was not lu'cseut: a certain jirocif that minister' were already prepared to make tho sacititf whicii the voice of the country rendered inevi- table. On .Tune SHrd, there appeared in tho Gazoti- a declaration from the Prince Regent, absolute'; and une(piivocally revoking the Orders ini.'oui- cil as far as the reganled American vessel?; with the proviso, that if after the notificati.: of this revocation liy our minister in America the governmeiU of the United States do not re- voke their interdictory acts against Bi-iti-!; commerce, the same, after due notice, shall k nidi and of no effect. Mr Bi'ougham, on this occurrence, dcclnroi the full satisfiction of himself and his frieni- with the frank and manly conduct of govern- ment in the mode it had adopted; and Iwi: sides of the house seemed happy in tho prospei" of the Jinucalile intercourse which tJiis procoei- ing would restore between the two conntrio-. We cannot, however, refrain from expressii;: our astojiishment, that during the debates tlier- ap|ieareil so little consciousness that the quo- tiou of repealing (u* continuing the Orders ': ("onncil. was a real ipicstion of peace or wa" with Ainericfi ; and that deferring the decisif: so long, was rendering italtogethor unimportaii; In fact, before the news of tho repeal rcaclio! the L'nitcd States, (/trj were actuaUy at war uc llrciil liriiiiin. Pajicrs relating iii'jiited to Co the uth .Marcl 4th Ajiril.- .laac. — War persisted in, •(iiciitly arrive ia Ciiaucil. — ' '14, a War of the United S simultaneously sia.— The IJrit vinoes the mail I'a|iord rcliUiiifr to 111 nrvV Mi»-iMn cniu- jlMiiiiii'iiti'ii til ("i iiuri'ss till- I'ru.sult'iil.iiu iliu 111 March. I jit AVasIungton tlia Muid been tlio eoml lllic United iStates ^Icclaring war at ii 'urther notice. T :iine, were hoilii |ipiiiist Great ]}rit licr North Americ; liat early period i alkcd of and disci lid very effectual lalifax iind Quebec loints on whicli thi :ageously couimeiici l:i'i,!riiage, taken in lopular .animosity, iamedi;ite assault, wtclied to Sir Janu -'iiiiada, who, le^t '"iiiiiiand slniuld he 111 embassy into the "iiposo of procur iistriictions yiveu mst always U IIISTUIIV iM' TIIH WAR OK l^'2. as 'I 1 I 'Ifth) the col.^ )im«i;iiTi(l ardi'iit ;o on tlin jjviMt L forvont advii- irkiildo taloiitN and impctunu.'i jiitstrij) the «U cd him to tli'' of IvoproRcnta- ^dj^ed him for ("llAITEll in. lily jrottincr rid of ikiIjIi! liini wijull iroecodiii^ tn lli' II uuirc distiiut!} III of the goverij Mv. r>. nnd Lori c'w their niotinm niticiiil iiistninieii; 1 the next Gazette nunstnnco in tlii; le most stremioui )i-ik'r.s in Cfiiincil. odt' tl^iit miiii.'^ton ikc the sac'itiiv ■y rendered iuevi- cd in the Gazoti'- llofient, ahsfilute'; e Orders in(!oiii' Vmcrican vessels: r the notificati': lister in Amcrici States do not re- against Briti;; e notice, shall It urrcnce, dcclnro^ If and his friiMi- induct of govern- "oiitcd ; nnd hfi'- >y in the prosper' liich tills procci-1- lic two countriov from expressir: the debates tlic [t I,-, 11,,- i'i-u.sulL-ut,ou tliu emhargo, 3Ir. .Madl^.m i I t
s was, even it i iiat early period of the disii.ite, jiuldi'dyj alked of and discussed as a very icasible ' |ind very cft'ectnal nieasiirc of rclaliati.in. | lalifax and (jhiehee wore l)Oth nientiimed as \ ; loiiits (ui which tiio attack might he advan-| I agcously commenced. As the I'lrsident's | ; aiiguage, taken in conjunction witli tlu' i lopular animosity, sccnii'd to tiireateu an , ■ iiuncdiate assault, intelligence Avas de>- ' ; Kitclicd to Sir James Craig, tiie (.io\i'rnor (d'; -aiiada, v.ho, hist the J'i'o\in(-o under his nnnaiid should he taken hy snr[)rise, sent 11 cinhassy into the Kastcrn States, for the ur[iose of ]irocuriii;g inr'inn.iticiii. 'i'lic luitructioiis gi\en to that ageui were not incMntent with tin- (lovernor's Imtnairabh' character. All tliat he contciiqdated was, — U) asct'rtaiii the real state ol' aifairs in tlin UnitiMl States; how far tlu- war-spirit had spread : with what ainoinit (d' success the resistance cd' the fedc'ral party w(uild proha- hly lie attended ; and, jicuerally, to acquire such infoi-inatioii as might assist liiin in ])utting the i'lvivliice under his ehar<^o into a. proper state id' derein-e. Sir James Craig, however, was unlortunate, as it proved, in his chiiit-e of the jicrsoii employed. 1'his pei'.son was a Caiitain John Henry, a clever and active, hut, as circumstances after- wards showed, a juirely merceiiai-y and unpriiu-i|iled man. lie was an Iri.shman l>y hirth : had come to the United States as an adventurer; hccame a captain in the army of 17'JS ; and ultimately settled on an estate in Vermont, close to the frontier. Accord- ing to his own ucrount, the attention of Sir •James Craig was drawn to him hy essays* wiru-li he had writti'u in newspapers againat repulilican gnvernment, which he professed to hold in utter detestation. By some means or other, however, tlie (iovcrnor of Canada had heard of him, invited I'iin to Montreal, anil from thence despatched him to Boston early in l.S(i9, for the purpose wo havo already described. After remaining in Bos- ton about three nioiitlis, during which period he wrote Sir James Craig's secretary four- toon letters, embodying information of no great value, as we tliiiik, he v as recalled, on the iipparent sett!ement |irodm-eil liy tlio Hrskine arraiig. Client. Jn Isll ho visited Knghuiil, and aj^plied at the Foreign (Iflice fpr a rewai'd I'uv his scr\ ii.es; but was referred back to Sir dames Craig's successor in the go\enimeut, '" as better able toa)iprc- ciate the abiiity and succe>s with which his mission laid been e.\ecuted. Henry did not 1 if'' iri.STOIlY or TflE WAR OF 1SI2. liko this; and ho, iiii«tciiil of rchiniinf^ to lit nil events; for the minds of tlio nniUi- C'aiiiidii, ]iroooed('(l to tlio I'niti'd Stiitcs, , tudo Avcre in tliiit lioiitod state wiiidi i'oud('i< 111 iinfaitli- the ii|ipeal ol" !iM uii|>opular minority to the ^\■\ lori', III tlui ti'imiiM' t('in|ii'r fill liirciin^r, lie jircscnti'd liimM.lf licrnrc liai" of piililii; o)niiinii a jicrfcctly liopolo IMr. M iilison : t( ami oll'o'cd |.i scl IlK- tal >1' lii> mission ail'air. I>iiili"j,' lla' di'liato in (.'(iM;^n'ss ( Mr. .Madi son tl 10 cnrrcsi.iinili'iii'i' Mr. .1 oliusMU deliverer tdused witli till! |iriilii>rrod liaru,uin, and ]iaid iiiiiisclf of tlu; scnsililo and c■ll■^allt si; nil- him out of the '•rcrct sorvifo fund tlio lar: 1111 nt. lliat " lu. I'oiisidorcd Canada as roiriicV sum of .s")0.(Hl() fi.f tlio papers: aiiiiarciilh liarlmur, and saw in tlio i-orrospondo liavinp; only a lii:'! tents, and not iin; •ral iKitinii of tlii'ir ci (Mitionil re; ■ion- lor aitackin:;' it. .\ vv. -asAvi inii'^t aru'iio \i"li( nicnt onsi t was made on tlic Briti from tli(! Iiandsoiiir price lie paid I'or thdii — , .Miiii>lry in tlio lli.iisc of Coiiiiiuais on tlii- how lit'le they contaiiH'd. llo cxiieotod, no licad ; lut, ■\vliil.-t tioy stated iliat Ilenrv'- doiiht, wlioii lie niaiio tlio lllioral oiler of i mission -was Sir James Crai^'.s own mt, i^oO.OdO, that lie corrospiindriice tiiiis ]air- • unknown to tlu-'m luuil all -was over, tliK chased woiiM fiirni-h discli -nrcs lii'ihly ' dcloiiilod it on the ;;r(aiiid that its ohjoi: horvicoatile to tli(( Ailmini-tratloii, hotli liy was nuihiiiH- nioro th;;i\ legitimate inforiii:v l)lai:keniii;i; tlie charactor of the JJritish • tion, very desirahle nt so erltioal a tiiiio: government and liy l)rii\j;'iii;^ siisjiicion and | thoiij.;,h they admitted that tlie transaotii' odium f:;enerally on the opposition in C(ai- I was not in all its eireumstanees manajril grci5S, — perliaps )iy lixiiii:; a chavi^-o of treason • with ]ierfeet disfretimi. ''oor Sir James w;> on some. His disrqiiiolnlment, then, must ; then in his u'rave ; 1>nt. althonjih his (w:: Iia -e hcen extreme, on disroveriioj; that the ! voice was not raisi-d in s"lf-(lcfenco, we ni;.y British, a^cnt had received no aiit!i'>rity or j venture to assert tliat his memory, which !• commission to offer hrihes in any sliajie : ; that of a strai,!i,l!tliirward, lionest, and fo;i: that neither his lottcrs nor the replies I less man, has not suffered even from {[■ skcteheil out any idan of insurrection : and | liaseness of the a,!i;ent whom it was his mi'. that the correspon.lonce diil not Iiii]ilicate. | fortune to eniiiloy. Alison's hrief allusiir or even name a sln-le citizen of the United i to this transaction involves a sli'^lit error si States. Still, liavin,!^; p;ot the pajvn's into I to '^ate, representing;; it as followin;^ tt his hands, and p;iid dearly for his ljarjj;ain, ! ninciy days' emhaiLi'M, of v.hieh wo areaiiin.: the President determined to make all the use j to speak. He uses, too, the words, — " cor of them that ho could , lie aceordlndy ! tain documents_/o?M(f/! on a Captain Henry,' transmitted them to Con,2;ress, accomiianied ; from which tlic j:-encral inference would!' by a message, puttin,!^ upon the whole affair I that Henry Avas detected, whereas ho sii; the bitterest interin'etatiart of Madison, the British (iovernment to foment disaffec- tion in the United States, and to hrini;' alMiiit the seiiaratlon of the Kastern States from the , ,.. , , , llnion. His end, however, was not answered. UthAiiiil. termined upon by t! A momentary excitement, it is true, was j Administration, the Fr produced: but, as he was unuhlc to hold up | sidcnt sent n confidential mcssa<:o to C' to puhile iiidi,i.';nation any of the " traitors" \ f;;ress, recommendinp;, " under existinii' o:' 'War jiavinj! been 1" whom he 1 iiav ua\e hon{>d to detect in Con- i cuiustancos liiid lects an emliar;in ss, nothiii;;; mati>rial was ett'ectod in sixtv day; grci favour of the Admiiiistration. The opposi- tion were not silenced; for not one of their iiuiiiher was cau,aht in the trap. Had tlie II to that effect passi sed i: House of liepresentatives by 70 to 41 : 1. the term w;is extended in tlic Senate ti> ' days, with which extension it passed h: branches of the liO^islature. This Ava.- for suspicion aL:;aiii>i them, it would a->-urei|ly j C'liiiiiiittal of tlii> ^Ndministration to Avar; ' luive;;oueluirdwitli them— astothciriiiiiuence I it was admitted by the Goveriiincnt par res ultl icon I liffereiit: had tl e're lie(Mi L;riiuii(l that, as a peace- never ha\'o lieeri gition — ii(itwith> tliey felt — prol'c helieve that the so rash and so that of jiluniriin;. pared, into w.ir, was iiitendcil to parte, hy stuppii to Spain, Avlien he;:illllili^ to Ik; I however, was ui paratory to war. at the expiratim (lovci'iuiieiit had Mr. Alisiiii des niea^iire only in IIS intended to '• pre]iaratioiis fnn and to luriiisli t their extensive ci their \essels of \\ to remove from iiicrcliant-ships a; them (iut of the war, when the should hecome ki cinliar^o was com of secrecy ; but 1 and the commerci tolliironcc of it allowed them in ships with extraor The Democratic Flour, ])y liumhei they .said, had b, I "11 patriotically, ti Spain. It Avas no troops Avero fjobti Avhich (iiid has e ti?;litiiii;; Mde by si oppressed jieople "xactions, the mas: of a French usi exhihiteil, in a hliiid ra^o of an oil iiiliictiiig ven,i:;e the certain risk o selves. '* The din :i writer in the Ai I'^l-, '•caused ], ■; (if tlio nml'i- wlilfli rciuli'i- minority to tlif •fV(;tly liiipolos' 1 (_'()M;;r('ss (oi lUsiiudi'livorcM cli'LTilllt souti- Uiula iis r(i :liouj:1i lii« ow: lefeiu-e, Ave ni;.;i cinory, Avliieh :• (iiH'st, and fi;i: even from tl ^ it -was his my s brief ivUusiii: a flij^lit error as s foUovvinj; til' lieli wc arealii'i c Avi")rds, — " (•(■;■ iptain Henry,' lerencc -would \' ivhereas lie pii: ,-n above, to Jl: Inavinji; been d- ll npon by tl •tration, the IV tnessaire to (''' ider existing); o' an emliar;i-n!' ■ffc>et passed t- ,y 70 to 41; 1 llic Senate tn ' it passed li' I'o. Tliis Avn- [uion to Avar: ' (vernmcnt par IIISTOIJY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 37 bar"'oc(>uM months duration, would be, aeeordinjj; to Htatislieal lalculatioii, as fidhjws : — Mercantile loss s2^,S14,240 J>eterinratcd value of surplus produce and wa-te dn.I'JC.O-JS Loss suistained by the revenue, '.•,( K ii i,(»UU Total direct national loss S74,()10,277 Ur, ^i),lG7,J2o per month. 'I'lio same moment, therefore, that tlio that, as a poace-measuro, the em never have been entcri;\ined. Still the o]ipo- sition — notwithstandiu;.; tiie serious ahirm | the V felt — professinu; themselves unabh; to j helieve that the (lovernment would eounnit I fio rasii and so "treasonable" an ai'timasl that of ^ilunirin;^ tli(> nation, ntierly unpro-i pared, into war, su;:'irestcd tliat tlic I'lnliarn'o j was intended to serv(; the Interests of Ibion;'.- | parte, )iy stopjiin;:; the export of lavivl-^ions ' to Sp;tin, wiicn^ the iJi'itish arms uere ; hi.'irinninu; to he triumphant, 'i'lie nuM'-ure, however, was undoubte(lly desi-ne 1 as pre- nation is (allnl upon to aid tlieir M;„vern- paratory to war, for tiie declaration of v.hicli, niciit wiiii a loan of ll,()(l(l,()(l() d(dlars, tiiis Jit the expiration of t!:e ninety da\^. tl:c Government, witliout any sin-de openly (lovernment hail non- ma'i.> up their minds, avowed or obviously beneticial purpose, ut Mr. Alison describes the ol.ieet of tlie the bare su--estion of expediency on tho measure only in jiart, wlieii he rejiresents it !i"i"t of tlic Kxecutive, destroys, by an em- us intended to '-iirevent inte!ii-ene.; of tiieir \ hav^o of three months, national wealth to preparations from reacliin^' (ireat liritaiii. : t'"* !i"""'"t of Sb-v.:)(>2,')7it. not to reckon and to furnish them with the means, from the indirect and collateral mischief, of their extensive connnercial n.avy. of maniiin-- enormous magnitude, with which the samo their vessels of war." Its main olijcct was , measure is prc.^nant." to remove from tho di ships of j i.,.,,.i,i,,„f,, ji(, war, when the proclamation of hostilities l-il' shoidd hecome known. The ]iassinu; of tin embargo was eondiictcd under an ininiieiiui On the 1st June, "the President sent a confi- ^e ' anv ;'.ttem)it to n Avhicii (iod has ever blessed with success : acts, when de iVom tl \<\-Mueiit mat- ter liail Mctiially l.eeii aiaMii;;;eil in rlie Treaty of ISl'G, — a 'I'roaty aippruved of tu tiio riiiiest extent, ami ^ii.':lled ly the iie;z'iitiat(>i's >>{' tlie I'liited States (•(iiieeriied in IVaiiiiiiij; it, tli()U,uli Mr. .Jelf'ersdii al'terwanls, fiT rouMonH liest iviiown til liiiiisell' relii.-cd to ratify it. N'iiliudy, tlierel'iii'e, e;lits, .Mr. 1'. eavuestly entreated that they Avoiild nut vote for the resohitioiis. Do not, 'aid lie, lot us raise armies, unless we intend to eiiiphiy tlicm. If wc do not mc.-in to support the rigiits Mild honour of the country, let us nut drain it ot' its resources. ]Mr. 1*. said, he Avas aware that there wore laniiy freiitlcmeii in the liouse Aviio Avere dis- sMtisfied thiit the committee had not *'H'd that wi; iritiMie ri^'lits, ln'V would tidt t, r-aid lio, let .'lid to I'lupldj' .port the ri^iid^ lis not drain it int tlicrc Avorc who were dis- not gone lur- dlatc declai'ii- (iiuc nioiisin'es [litati'd lis into ot his opinion; |fLves headlong (III, or even a had not three |at service. He ueuced by the It fear that the >ie (|UCstioncd, les of common c was sensible lit of Congress, lis in it, whose far feast. He lew "the provo- ■oat. lUit lie |o;illinp: in the luld have been plcdfied hiiu- !• of Foroij-'ii hoiild not 1)0 It i'or tho ■\Yiiin le niijiht also nibors of the |be among tho only in tlio |e, but in nil rican Weekly improsMion of nooossnry solf-tlorcncc. ri^Iit Iiriiliaiit arniamont wliidi, in tlio piirpoMo of in till' fii'>'t instanoo, Init siilisiii! of that expe- fitiiin which tii(> hondiir of a natimi. aiol oi' (Uli.in it is p(i,->ili]c (ha! tlicl.' war against f 11 ('iiristiaii nation es|ieciaiiy, is deeply cun- , (li'eat IJritain wmild not li i\(! iiecn (h'clar('(I. corned in rejudlinir, if it can. Tor this otf'eneo n;;ainst national iiite;;i'ity and j^ood ' faitii tho ;i;ovoninu'nt of tho I'nited States am answerable, in ]ir( ween tin;;; the; war from |]\en if tli(! tlaines of .Moscow liad |:vii\('d a.s inottbi'tual as the woes (d' Spain to e\ ;spo- rato the; 1 a,i;-.iinst tlie sc(air;i(! and tlio (ijipre-^'cr of Europe, still destruction, in ono motives clearly distinct from thost> whiidi I eanipai ol" half a million (d' his veterans, tJK^v avowe(l : motives not at all consistent was too evident ami too serious a blow to iiis with the position in which they desireil to inilitary streniith, not to impair the presti;ii> phice themsolves beforo thn M'orld, — that of 'f iiis alliance, and to shako that faith in an a;j:^riovod pnople contending for rii^hts j his destiny wliicli may havo o.xtendoil from wliicli liad boon infrin;;-e(] : motives, in short, j l'hirop(^ to his 'I'ransatlantit! allies; for in ;n-isiiii; wlndly from impular fe(dln;;s atonco i that falso position our An;:;lo-.Sa.\on brethen 'Covetous of tho possessions of another i ''!>'!. "" thi; Istli June, Isl'j, unhappily 1 nation, and exasperated for tho time by j l''i"'''d thenis(dves. A litth; more iiatienon '= passions lieyond control. In a word, the!"" th(; part of the Inited States would havo ^ war of 1812 was a war of .\(;(;i!i;ssinN : and i ■"'^^t all rii;-ht, without war, whicdi reinediod i its fate was that with wiiieh it is tho usu.al I '>"t'''",i-'« ■'""l produced no settlement bnb '*| Providence of (iod to visit, sooner or later, 1 ^^''""^ would have been made, had peace eon- " all asf^rosslvo wars; it was a failure ; and a *""""' * ' "' ' ''■ '■ " ' ' ; failure, thou^di brightened by occasional : triumph, involvinf;, on tho wlndo, a larp;o .. amount of rctriltutivo calamity. It i.^i, too, a remarkable ; avc mi,;;;]it say, providential : circumstance, that tho failure was mainly f brought about tliron;i;h tho p;allant and tho lunoxpcctcd resistance of tho very C(d(my -. which was regarded by its invaders as likely •; to prove an easy con(pi.">st, in conse([iienco. 'more particularly, of the li-! lyalty to tho tinned, two years before ; and that on terms more explicit and more advantageous to tho llepublio than the treaty of (ilumt, whicii closed tho unjn'otitablo content. Their troubles were tho troubles of tho ago; caused liy tho convulsion and tho disorga- nization of the civilized vvorhl, not by any ill Avill ha)'b(aire the breaking of tho oppressor's rod, "war-party in Congress, was the object of j their sufferings would have ceased. Tho Ifupidity, and by a " strong delusion" j tide of Krcmch invasion once driven back, 1 afforded them their highest hopes of success, ' tlio ancient landmarks wmdd have re- ^^ became largely instrumental to their dis- r^PPC^'^i''^'! = tiio ri-hts of nations, tlio renewal oi-imfiture. This looks like a judicial dis-|"''' intercourse, the revival of commorce ; Jnppointmont of schemes not merely visl(mary everything, in short, worth contending lor ■and inconsiderate ; but — what is flir worse — ^violent and unjust. V Tlio War no.invo.i Six days aftcn* the de- «imiillMriiMiis!v\vitlith(! , . ' „ , , |liiviu'iiou(ifi!u.-^!.i;i. claration ol war by the •; I'nitod States, Buona- |parte passed the Xiemcn, with tho vast and would have followed tli(! iall of I5iiona|>arte, since it was by his eompiests and decrees alone that tho order and the hiippiness of the world had been intcrru)iced. The I'nited States, by throwing themselves into tho con- test, only delayed that happy consumma- tion. IFISTOUY OF THE AVAll OP ]H12. Tiio iiriM-h \..rih TIkm'o Wf'i'o jiiiiny i eim mu|>|»I_v tint inij;lity vuiil that woulil In /incTiriiii I'imli tiic iiiiiiii (iiijcMa (if till Mm. imi'.'^ wli 'nil, ill Mini , oci'ii'iMiiK'il liy tlio IiKM (if tills (•(luiitrv. IH lilt 111' CnnLri'f"***, wi.'i'n V''II in hU cxiM.rts us im|>iirts. It wmiM r I h prii'voiiMly iiiisiiinlcr-iiMil in tin' I'liiti'"! i n|icnf.' ii|iiiii liim witli ii (lipiiliio (iini> States. Tlic 111' ilty ol' ill'' liriti li Nurlli Anu'rii'iin l'iii\ inri'swuv iiii-iiiHli'i'Mtiiud wIhmi the |i(iiitii'!il Hi'crs of (,'oii:j;ri'ss a'vfMMt!iin iiml iiii|ilii'it fiiitli wliicli iin> (il'ti'ii f'liiiinl to Immi* mm iii- verso pr()|(nrtiim to truili ainl iiirnriiiaiinii, tliat tliiiso ('(ijiinirs wen' ri|i(! fur ilil'i'i'tinii. 'I'lie ))(i\vor 111' (Ircat I5riliiiii, liaiiiiicri'il as rIh! was li_v tlio iimrtal (•tniL'irli! wlili lii'i- Kiirn|ioan ro(>, was greatly iiiisiiinicr.-toiiil, wlii'ii a incinlicr in ('oii;j;r''ss ('X|ir('>-si'il a|i|ia- roiitiy tin* ('.N|M'ftatiiiiis nl' tin- niaji^rity in tho wttoraiirc nf till' ii]i|iiilliii;^ piciliciiiiii, — " Wf shall ilri\(> the British IVniii ,,nv cuiiti- noiit ;" ami tlii> al/ility of tlio I iiiti'il .States to copo with siicli ail ailversai'y was fniisi- doraltly ovemitdl hy wiser he.ils ihan aiintlior Congress oiMtnr )iiisst of ('anat that we are threat"ncd with, or |irid;L:;e our harhoiirs with fri;iates, admitting he iimy iiavo no ii."sor Ills iia\y. within i'l.tie'i miles of us,"' The ^n'cat worth of tlic>i: possessliius was. at the time of which wo iini writiii;:, and is now, well known to peli. tieians in the liiited States. Whilst tin; war-spirit was ra^iinti:, the demncrats tlioiii.;li; it di>trc-.;ni^-. intoli imMi- ihat the I5riti^li lla;j; sliiiiild lie jii-oinjly wa\in'.'. on their vcrv horders, over -o clini^e a tract of territory: tlii^ re-;ene I'imiii mmi in-hical laile of sneli a land, liy iiaturi' so I'avuureil, in position si coiivciiiciitly siiiiaicil fur annexation, was M lie rcsohiiely attempted. — It was liki; takiii.; the Holy City out fif the liands of the iiiti- dels, and was eminently wmtliy of all tliO exi'.herant patriotism, and the Mind sacri- lice, and the furious elliirt of a repuhliciin crusade. The Uriti^h North American Vv'- vinces were coveted ; coveted most ardeiitlv, for their own sake, and for the antIei[iatiJ gratification of extirpatlii;^; from the eoiiti- iieiit every vesti^'O of kinjily f;'overiimeiit. The a •il.iur of the eiipiillty can seareoiT excite sinpri-e. where the oliject Avas s vahialile, iwid the a]ipropriatioii deemed f ca-^y. — e\eryt!iiii;;- ha\Iii;;' licii pre\ Ioumv settled liy the democrats to their perfci sallsl-iLtioii, — in a manner the most eav; and eoiiiforiahle that can he imaiiineil- as to the jiolhical ])ur]inse Avhicli tho IJritls!: Colonies were to serve, when Messed wit!: the privilei^o of incurjiorallon with tli: l.'nitcd States. " 1 am willing'," was tli ma,u;nanlinons declaration of .Mr. (irundv. 'i Teiiiics- I'e, " to receive (he Canadians ;i' adopted hreihreii : it will have henefici:;' political eifoets ; it will preserve the eiiuili liriiim of the pr nlmll III! I'lilly pc will liise their ili«iTelio|| nf otil lit pli'a>iire, ami t'iiiliiii<;ered. I Hilly to add tho till- Caniidas to J Tills is all very ■ it Hii);;;ests the p; i (lie same di>hiiiii' i I at II future peri I iiiitioiis. That t J ;:l:id to annex i * fill' acijuisition oi •: fully valued Colo • Ci'li'liraled l.y the iiitorcst and imp I nitioii of Imlcpci lio uiideiiiaMe. Iii>so.s, the .sacrili, f la«t war ha\(' t ' salutary lesson tl ■ te lie deri\ed i\ Britain in ]ieace tiiry to III,' wroti tliat to alehouse lie left the iikhIi 1 fire (if that hicr,- pliiys ahoiit one- with the hope of I jrniciiij; tho lla- depi'iiileiicies of ti i and Imijr xAiiy i ■; powerful on the j the jealousy they J having a foreign Attempts to iiidiif-e eiilyiiiipopniMrw i^ te.liily 12, I; tics.— Sp'iril wl !iltliiinj;-li IVimi II itiiiiniit lead tlic .yet ill it iidverso i en the Aililrcss Canada, on the h li't'linj; ill Louci III lustration ; 1 :.' "'■ t'DJiiiicl .Vt. (; 'I'iin .\Ilics.- -.(,', . Viiliiiitiers. li%n, •■H'lien, and jirrl 'Mlcnsi\o and |; a'tiiplcd II" (k'ih HIST(»11V OF TIIK WAIl (il- 1^12. 41 tllllt Wiilllil \v li'n ciiimtry. in Mll'tS. It WIIIlM IdiiIiIo foni' ; it ;ist niiaiitity 111' veil iH lit' I'ihhI, jt i'nr 111-* inniMi- 11 S('iitl;i, if iiHf , luav lii! roiidcr- ri'cks. ^VitlloHt liter, lltl I'llllllnt s oil iiiir fiiu>t I, or lpriii;j;o our nittiii;i; ho iniiy dcfciiil his iiwii II vo ii ildi'kvanl, vy. witliin ;!,n(»l wiii'th 111" these III' wll'ull wo ilP! known to piili- >s. Whilst till' Miioprnts thoiijrlit hat the IJriti^li 11--. on tln'ir vm •art of irrritory; 1 lailc ol' such ;i I, ill ]iositioii >.i ncxatioii, was t^ was iikf! takiii;; amis of tiio iiiti- ,.riliy of all tlr thn lilind sacri- if a r('|inlilicnii li Ami'i-li'an I'l"' I most avdiMitly, till' anticipato'l IVom tho ciaiti- Jv "iixcrnmoii. y can scarcoiv oliji'ct -was ?' tiou (Iconied f' icn ]irevii)u.-i} o their ]i('rfc.; the most rii>y he ima;iiiu'il,- hich tho 15riti-:i en hlessoil wiiii tioii Avith tli; illiii.i;'," was til .Mr. (iruniiy.'^ <'aiiailians ;i- lavc lifniefii'i:' rvc the ciiuili' liriiuii of the pivorniiieiit. >\ hen Louisiana ♦Ircat IJriiaiu — on their IVotitier. tho cniui.^ol tiliiill ho fully |ieo|ile(|, tlio N'orthcrii States may hi,' fitly ii|'|plie(l t.> their ca>e wiiich \mis will jiiso thoir |io\M'r ; they will heat tli" lMiiie>tiy ami \\ i>e|y ^iivu to Louis \IV., ili'irciinii of others ; ' ley can ho tloiii'csscil ;it pli'ii-uro, ami tin tlii* union nii;iht he I'liiliinp'roil, I thefeloro feel anxious not (iiily to inM the riori'las to the South, hut till' Cana'las to tho Nwrth of ihi-; i iii|)iri>." Tiiis is all very ainusin;;; hut, unha)'|iily, it Hiij;;;osts tiie |iainl'iil relleetiou, that -lioiill the Hametli>*hoiie>t cii|iiility continue, it m ly, lit II future |ii.'riocl a;:;aiii nnhroil tho two nations. That tho I'nitoil .States would he ;;l:|il to aniie\ the llritisji l'ro\iiiee, ; tint til'' an|iii»itiiin ol' tli '>e truly valual'h'. If not fully \ahieil Colonies, would ho hailed ami ci'li'la'ated liy tlieiii m u\\ evi'iit secoiul in interest and ini|iortanco only to their l)ecla- nitiipii of Iiide|iciidenee : — this wo holiove to hi.' imdeninhlo. ihit tho follies nml the Iiissos, tho siK'riiieed treasure and life id' tiie la-^t war have taui;ht them, wo trust, the' siilutary lesson that then; is more of prolil til ho derisod from commerce with (ircat, ihitain in |)eaco, than of e-lory or of terri- tury to 1 10 ■wrested fi'oin hor in war; and tliat to ah'honso ]iolitieiaiis nlono laij^ht to he left tho madness ul' jiropo-iiii; tiio sacri- lieo of that lucrative tn.llic Aviiich now ciii- |ilnys ahoiit onedialf of all their shiij[iin;;', witli tiie hope of tarnishinj^ tho renown, dis- j:niciiijr tho \U\<^, or suhdr.in;;' any id' tho (lepeiidcncios of that Kinpiro which is still — ' and lonj; raay it so coiitiiuio I— tiio most [loweri'iil on tho face of tho earth. As to | the jealousy they may I'col in consei(uonccof L.aving a foreign iiowor — so I'orniidaldo us i who, had ho hceii ;;u'dod hy that siii^iJ advice, vvuii|i| have spired himself u di.s- li'Piioiiral'lepeaee and ml aiemheri'il enipiro: " it is useless to iilie.;e,'' ur;;ed this honest eoiiiiseilor of iin niiscriipuhnis kiiiL', " thiit these towns of llulland were iii'ci'>>ary to voiir slate: the pmperty of others is never necessary to lis. 'i'hat which is truly neces- sary to us, is to ohserve strict Justice. You ■ ai;:lit not even to pretend that yoii liavo ii rlL:iit to ri tain in perpetuity certain places, hei'aii-e they coiitrihuto to the security of your frontier. It is your wisdom to seek that security )iy ^ooil nlliaiires, hy your moderation, or liy strongholds which you have it ill _• mir )io\\er to fortify in liie roar. liiii. lie this MS it may, tho necessity of vvatcjilii;- over oiir own seiairity can m.'ver ;:ive us the ri.i;ht o|' sei/,inn- uiir nei^hhour'.s territory."' I>y this advice, rcpnhlics as well as kin;;s nniy he proliicd ; and tlie I'niteil States in partii niar. il'cliar;;'cahlo at all with frontler-cirni|Ui'st : of which lot tiiem-elvcK liejndi;es. As to anmwin;;' the Uriti-h North American Colonies hy force of arms, tho lime has not yet arrived win n that woiihl ho ail exploit ea.sy of aecoiiipli-hmenl, or likely to ]ii'ovi! reminieralive, if we cMii>iiliT tlii! siiU'eriiijrs and tie' disasters which must pro- eude. The alternative id' '" pciicefn! cession" wo will leave lair ]iosterity to discuss in tho last days of Uritain's decrcpitudo. AVnn II .M.vv Ai.viu.irrv (Jon j,o.V(i roRE- lENU: OOXTEXTS. AttPmpt^ to indiiee the liel' ftlint tho war was I'lity iiii]iiipiilar with the iiiiiiority ; tVinii .Iiiiic hSto.)iil,v 12, It^ili.— .^k'ciaratii. 11 of Hostili- ties. — Spirit which aetii.itcd Caiiadiaus, — ahliiiii;:li IViiin ii kn'.ivlcdvie ol'tiieir vveakiies.s it iiiijiht lead tiiem to deprecate liostilities. yet Hot adverse to Great Jiritain. — Uemarks en the Aildress of the Assenihly of Upper Canaila. on tlio Declaration of War. — State et'l leeliii-; in l,ovver Canada. — First Imstilo ile- i iiniistratioii : llitli .inly, IMl'. — Movements 1 el' (.'oloiiel St. (Umi'jii'. — Ciiiidiict et' our lii^i • liiia Allies. — (iciicral lirin'h, with a Ixiijy ol' Viiiiinlcers. li'avcs \ nvk \\eoiile | Unitoi States. thron;;)iont the United States, as if, liy | iU Boston, on the day of tlie (leclaratirm awakoninp; discord, to drown the hist faint : of war, all the ships in the port displayoil hannonioMs notes of ninderution jjreatlied hy the rcl!cetln;r portion of the o(,ninuniity. Tiio cfl'ort, ho.vever, was a vain one — unless \vc record the outbreak at Ualtlniore as a first successful result of tlie war feelin;i;. Very different were the ]iopular sentiments in the Southern States, wliero swarms of privateers were preparin;^ to reap the ex- pected harvest of ])ri/es amon<^ the West fn '"^ t'"' groumls ollic-iiilly noted, w;i' he militia ' •''^" i^"'t!''*'''> ^"'t'' 'i declaration, that rcni ici'iiM'd to turn out while this massacre wa.^ m''"' /"wv'V^'V'/,'/ .;/''///. r////'//('v with Frain' |cr|ielralin;;-, and the .Maynr i:i said to h.i\e ' ^^''-^''W be regarded with abhorrence. A!: these attemi>ts, h party were unsucc and but resulted i liustilities, in .June Il<'i-li>rotion of Ilosti- 1ilii-.s. tory of hostilities one preceded the liiit it may be int mark the spirit oi llie one, slmrt, un iiij; no choice wlni * An Act decUirbi Kingdom of (Ji and the D'-pendc States of AiHcric Tie it enacted, ny rtepro.stMitMtivos of t j'ic.-i, in Ciiugfoss MS.' the s.Tiiu' is licreby < tliO Uiiitr.l KinplciMi J,-iiii|. Mild the l)i'|i(' UiiitC'l SlMtcs of .\iin anil tliMt the I'n-si'lc Miiil is ]ic'roI)y MUtiuii and iimvmI force of tl the same into ett'cct ; armed vessels ((f tlie or letters of mnnpio tiucli forui as he slia the seal of the Unite Bels, goods, and etVi the said United Kin^ Ireland, and the suh June 18, 1812.— A Dechirntion of Wn Court of Carlton- present, Jfi.^ R( Reijent ill Comic, Whereas, in cunsci ing licen received o the United States go\ je.sty, and of tiie issu reprisal by the SMid .Mt'.jesty Mnd iiis siibji lit':a'iii;; date the ;'.l st :;st; a frpp 1) the arhitrary :cd by f^ovcrn Titry into an stile to repuli- of the worst in;i;enuity of atrived. on of war was inexpedient the timo and on, the condi- of the puhlii' er to deprive contideaco of ed doflcent on led, also, tha; out of tcrri- limits of thfl vith the spirit caltuilated t" Id, proat, and in the Union.' t prosocutinj. Ily noted, wii< on, that cfii, with Franc I orrence. A!i 1 ! I these attempts, however, of the moderate i party were unsuccessful, as wo litivc shown, iind I'lit resulted in the final declaration of , hostilities, in Juno, 1.^12. iv-daration of Uosti- Wo introduce here vorinnent, apjioarod as if it luul heen dic- tated liy tlio ]iarti('s, who lor six months hcf.ire had ln'cn ('(jui|i]iini:; their I'ustcst \i's- scls as privateers, anc interesting; to the reader to j lie pcnnittcd to run without convoy; and mark the s])irit of the two dechiratii.ns— tiuis the chances of tlie smtiller class of iho one, short, uncompromising;, and leav- > privateers liecuring prizes would be mate- in;; no choice whatever to the liritisli Gu- * An Aii (lechtrinij Wc it enacted, ny tlso Scniite and House of Hopreseiitativcs of tlie I'liiteil States (if Ainc- j'ica, in t'liii^rc'ss assonililcii, that war lie. ami tlie same is lici'eby dcclai'iMl tn exist, licf'.vi'cn tlio UuitiMl Kiiiploni of Great I'lritain ami !re- Jaml. and tlie l)e|ii>nilonci('S theri'nf, ami the United States of America and their Territories ; and that the I'ri'sidcni of the L'nited States b(% and is hereby autlmriseil, to use the whole land Jinil naval force of the llniled States, to carry the same into ctfeet ; anil to isHue to ]irivate armed vessels of the United States CiimmissioiiH or letters of marinio and general reprisal, in such Ibrm as he shall think proper, and under tlio seal of the United States, against tJu? ves- sels, goods, and effects of the government of the said United Kingdom of Great Jli'itaiu and Ireland, and the subjects thereof. James MAnisojr. June 18, 1812.— Approved. Declaration of War against Amrriea—nl the Court of Ci(se, Oei.dnr i:'., ISllI— }'resenl, II i^ Rojial Jlijlin'.is the. J'nnee lli!jent ill (J(Hir,riI. Whereas, in cuiisenucnce of information hav- ing been received of ii dechuation y more satisfacinrily dciiiniistrate tiicir un- willin<;m'sst<) iirecipitate iiostilities, Ila\ iiii:', however, I'airiy disposed of tlio <|iiestinii, we will now turn to Canada, jukI take u]>, in order, the events which tlicn tjhook to its core that, as yci, infant ytate. inlialiltinp; wltin'ii llic 'rerritorics thereof, and hriiin' the sMiiie to jiidi'iiient in any of the ("onrts (if ,\dniirahy >vitliin His .Majesty's dominions ; and to that end His Majesty's Aflvneate-fJenevah witli the Advocate ot' the Aihniralty, arc furiliwitli to jireiiiue tlic (h'antrlit of a coniiai-simi, jiud present tiie same to His liuyal Miiihiiess tlie Prince lIcLLcnt. at this lioarif authorising tlic Coiiiinissinners for executing the olhce of Lord Hi^Ii Atliairah or any person or persons by them cm|ii)\vered and appointed, to issue fortii and {iiant h't- tors of iiiMniue and reprisals to any of His Majest\'s snljcets. or otiiers AvJiom the said fiinimissidners siadl deem fitly rs for execut- ing the oliiee of Lord llijili Admiral to will and recpiire the liijiii Court of Adniirahy of (ireat Britain, and the laeutenant ami Jud;;e of the Paid Court, his Kurroii'ate cr Surrogates, as also the several Courts of Admiralty witldii His ]\|ajest\'s domiiiinns. to take eo.iiiii/niiee of, and judiciallv pmeei'd ii|miii mII and all manner of eaptures. seizures, prizes, anil reorisids ni all ships and goods that are or shall he taken, and to hear and determine the same, jiiid. according to the course of Admiralty and the liMvs of nations, to acljndge and cnndenni all such ships, vessels, and goods as shall lielong to the govenmient of the I'nited Sfiiten of America, or the eiliztns tiii.reof. or to others IJel'ori', however, eoinnnMu-ini;; (uir lU'conn' of the various warlike proceed in;!;s whirli .'ilmost innnediately eoinineneed, it wiail'! he as well iiir its to take a hrief review if the ai'tital ]i.>sition in wliicii Cainuhi st I at the livcidKini;' out of tlie war, — to oxamiii' into her means ol defence, iind to cndeavou!- to ascertain, if possible, the eanscs whioli c(aild have led to the belief, so nniversallv held by their neighbours, that Canadian-, as a hody, might he considereil iis di- atfeeted : and Canada as not unwilling t. iissist in the cause of annexation. inhabiting Avithin tlie countries, territories. , mil doniinioiiS thereof (except as ai'oresaid( ; mh' that such powers ami clauses be inserted iatL. I said commission as have been usual, and iw j according to former precedents ; ami they lU' I likewise to ]ire|iaro and lay before His Wny.l 1 llighiu"^s the I'riiue Kegent, at this board. ; I drauglit of such iusiruetions as may be pro]!.: to be sent to the Comas of Adinii-alty in IP- Majesty's Foreign (iovernments and IManti- tioiis, for their guidance herein : as also aiiolliT draught LMJesty, tlin; nothing in tliis order contained sliall be uiiilcr- stood to recall cu' atfeet the declaration wliicii His Majesty's Naval Commander on the Amcri- c;iu station has been autlKU-ised to make to tlif Ljiited States of Awierica— namely, that Hi; lUyal Highness, animati'd by a sincere de.«ir^ to arrest the calamities of war, has atithorisoi the said Commander to sign a convcntioi!, recalling and annulling, from a day to h named, all hostile orders issued ly the respoc- five govermnents, with a view af restorinc, without flelay, the relations of amity and cm- meive betwi'cn His Mtijcsty and the Unitol Stiites of America. From the Court of Carlton-IIouse, tlic bii'. of Oc toiler, 1812. (Signed) CvsTi.r.iM'. \iiit. N. X'ANSiTrMrr. ('ii\!;i.i:s Lom;. I.IVF.IU'OOT,. !'. Mill l!ST. Mp.i.vii.i.f;. Sin.MofTII. PpirU wliiih iic'tiiiili'it raiimliaii!'. — iillliniicii. frcjiii 11 liiHiwKi'.lL'i' II I ilicir H'ciikni'H--. i; iiiiL'lit I !,.:i.i tlii'iii |i ili'pn'i'; K li'.slililir-— yi'l. ii"' ii'l- 3 vcrfu ledri'iil )>i'iliiiu. * oerned. from ! Urock's despatclii I 12th February, 1> j to Colonel IJayiic-; '' I have reasnn ti ■ of thi' two llmiM' tiiink necessary ti tind defence of tl manifested itsidf wdio conceived t i litied to judge." I those who were i I to he, at least, indil ^ the LieuteiKint-Ci ■ not, of coiu'se, thi ' the ardour displav 1 cliaracters. 'I'lie i I to (iovernor (hire' ■' lead on tlie present I Mr. Core evident!; I hut neirr Jorjriffil s hered among the lo ? actuated by base or I their character wii J put to a severe t..A I intend to propose I pleinentary Act ;' '. I Habeas Corpus ;' I ' An Act Ibr the I deserters.' " Now, although f i!elf beaten, in tin both the Militia i I yet we find, in tin ground to change f tra.T, he distinctly of tiiesc two inoiisi i the casting-voto ol ; fiecond by tin aim ' rity— to the strong » that war was not i I'lnted States : an I'liliy dissemin.i'.ed J iVom that country, i rially to intluenci I liofi, or of such « thtir ignorance IITSTO^Y OF TITE WAH OF lsl2. 45 iij;' our ni'Odiiti' I'dliu'lM wliii'li foil, it wiiwh iriof revii'w cf C!aiuulii. sttii«l r, — to exam in. (1 to CllllfllVdlir (^ oaiisoH wliich so universally i:it Canadians, (loreil HH div ; iinAvillinji; t' tlon. .,, <\inM(liatis •vvcro nut siffairs, wcvo easily lietrayed into error. torvitoricp. ni!' aliiresaid( ; iii'' e inserted in tl. usual, and ;ii ' : and tliey nv 'I'lire Ills l\i I it • ■ ' .» fpiin H w no ^ iliiirwciikMCH-, i! iiii;.'lit Wo Mia y lairlv ihvliice ' reason to indiiee a eliaiiL'o of o|iinioii, i.s ii.,.iiiiiii-- sii. M..1 M.i- this ia'-f, as lar as jiretty evident, il -wo may |iid;/i' Iroin the ^ ^'■■•'•'' I""''™' ■""■''"• I'jipiH- Canada is con-:tfay. to Sir oerned. from the tenor of (Jon.'ral ' *''''"";^'o Provost, tlio fiovcrnor-Cenenil : — IJrnek's despatches. Even so far liark as '" Hvery one with Avhoiu I Imvo had an "■ 12th Fidirtiarv, 1SI2, avo find liii.i -writinn- i o]i|iortiiiiity of eonversinu', assures nie that j to Colonel I5ayiies, the Adjutant-Cloinu'al, — ! :in e.xceeilinoly o-odd disposition prevails a " I have reason to look for the iicquioscenco I ainoioj; thf? ]ieople.'' '{"lie soundness of this (if the two Houses to every nieasuvo I imiv ! opinion w;is most trimnphantly estalilished think neces.sary to roeommend, for tlic iiencc ■ l>y suliseipioiit events, — not the least inl- and defenee of the country. A spirit Jms ' portant of whielnvas, tliatas soon thoMilitisv manifested itself little expected liy those l»ill, Imt slightly modified, was passed, who conceived tliems(dv(>s the liest qua- ' ullhoioih a clause had lieen introduced, ' litied to jud,2;e." Even in speakini;!; of ; aiitlioriy.int; the raising;- of Hank companies, Mhose -who were considered, if not hostile, ' to ho traineil at least si.x times in eaeh month, i to he, at least, indifferent to liritish interests, and although the inliahitaiits knew tlnit tlioy -j the Lieutenant-* lovernor remarks; "1 do would liavo to po to a jrreat distance to i nut, of course, think it expedient to damp a.ttend ]\irade, would lie lialdo to heavy ^ the aidoiir dis|day(!d hy those once doulitf'ul ex]iense, and be siiliject to no incoiisider- s characters. The most powerful oppoiuaits ; aMe privations, the flank (•ompanies, in the • to (iovernor (ioro's Administrati(ui take the districts in wiiich they were estalilished, . lend on the present occasiun. Some opposed ! were instantly completed with volunteers; i! Mr. Cioro evidently from ]iersoiial motive-;, and, indeed, an almost unanimous disposi- •1 Imt nen r J},r/< ifi'il tliC riu,ht of hein,^' niim- ' tion to serve was evinced. Xow, this feel- i licredaiiiono; the loyal. Few, very few tire i inti; was inanil'ested at a lime when the pros- actiiatcil by base or uuv.di'tliv considerations; '. pi'cts of the Colony were most irloomy, and i tlieir character will V(-ry soon, however, be ■ when the almost defenceless condition of the .^ put 10 a severe t...-it. Tiie measures which I Province was but too a|iparent. — nt a time I intend to propose are — -1. ' A .Militia Sup- when the (iovernor, on whose iud;;Mnent so • plomcntary Act ;' 2. 'The Suspension of the ' much dependi'd, was forced to iicknowledire, '; Habeas Cor]iiis ;' .S. ' An / "en i^aw ;' 4. ' that aithoii'j;li every man cupablo of carry- ? ' An Act for the better apprehension of iii<;' a mu.^ket, ahaoi; the whole of the lino, i deserters.' " should be prepared to act, he •' bad not si I musket more than wouUl suffice to iirin part I Now, although fienorn! l?rock found him- 1 of the militia from Kin;.;ston westward." I self beaten, in the House' of Assembly, on I both the Militia and Habeas Corpus Acts, ■ yet we find, in the reasons he assi'^ns, no The advices from En^dand at this jnno- ture were also cipially di-ijiiritinur, so nuieh ■ {,'round to change our opinion. On the con- j so, that, about ibis time, *'ol. J5aynes is I fi-y, bo distinctly attributes the miscarriage I found expressing himself, ''Sirneo. JVevost of these two measures — the first was lost by has directed me to inform you, tliiii uiilesH I the casting-vote of the chairman, and tin' ' reinforcements arrive from Eii'j:land, (of i second by an almost eouallv trilliu"- mii|o- wbich his Kxcellency is not sanguine, as the lension in MnLilaiiil seems to be, that hostilities would not ensui! on this continent; and as, moreover, the pledge ; rity — to tin; strong sentiment that prevailed. ' prevailing ap ■ that war was not likely t.i occur with the . I'liiteil States : an opinion which was carc;- 5 fully dissemiuateil by tlie numerous settlers ' Indd out in the Prince lb-gent's speeidi, of I from thiit country, and which tended mate- ' siipportiioi' with eoergv the contest in I'or- riiilly to intlnence the votes of the mem- ' tiigal and Spain, renders it little likely that hers, or of smdi of tliem at least n-. by ■ troopr; will be sent to this (itiarter,) although iliur ignorance of the real iv'silion of ; he loiy be \cry dcsirou- ■• dcr you tiiiy 4C IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR OF 1S12. I ■ assiHtiinTO to Htrciii^thon tholI|i]u'r I'mvim-"', his moiiiis (if duiiij^ so will jio lint very limitctl. Wlu'ii wc reinoiiihor, licsidcs all those dispiritiii;;' iiiiliii'iicos, tliiit a iiiinKsroiis body (>{' settlors (Voiii tlio United States were everywhere dissi'niiiiatins l'r:iin interest, affection, aiii virtue, pleaded for an opposite ]ioIicy, tlin; the most intelligent became the most crciln lolls, 'i'hat a government professing to I,' the friend of man and the great siipporlcr.; his lilierty and independence, should lij;li; ujt the t(a'ch of war against the only naticri that stands between itself and destructinn, exhiliited a degree of infatuation or n«adne>s alt(»getli(!r incomprehensible — " it cannii 1)0," said the wiser jiart of our inhabittniti — "the United States w'U never declare war against a nation which has uniformly treati'J them with kindness and res[)oct. whose Ucet- protect their commerce;, and whoso arniih support tlu.'ir freedom at\d indejiondencc.'' Ihit the n)on at present ruling the state<, infatuated, or, as tiicir more enlightoneil countrymen say, "bribed by the tyrant o; i'^'ance," regardless of the best Interests nf their country anc the feelings and affoctidm of a groat majority of their own poophi, liavi' conuiieiiced liostilifios against our mother country while treaiing tlu^ir v(;ssels vvi hospitality, and in>t ;ad of threatening their; liberties, oifering the most ci[uitablo toruis; of accommodation." t Here fidlowsa long and spirited appeal t[ the descendants of the U.E. loyalists, who lw.|{ been driven from the land of their adoptiuii;; and tlu\ro is very little dmibt but that tiki spirit which was roused amongst Canadian- ■ Avas attributable, in a great measure, to tlH' unshaken lidclity of thcso settlers. "Already have we the joy to remark, thai the spirit of loyalty has buist forth in all if ancient siilendor. The militia in all purt.- of tho Province have volunteered their wr vices with acclamation, and displayed a ck- gree of (iiieigy wortliy of the British nann' Tluiy do not forget tlio ble.-^sings and pri\i leges which they enjoy under the pri>tcctio" and fostering care of tho British Kmpirf. whoso government is only felt in this coniiin by acts of the purest justice, and most ]ili'ii^ ing and cliicacious bencNolciice. ^\ hen mr: are called u'pon to dei'cnd every thing tin call itrccioi!,-, their \vi\('s and cliiidr(Mi, th'' frici.ds auil pii.-;.-('>>ions, they ought to ! iii-|ilrc(l wiili (lie noblest resoliiiinns, ;in ilicy Uill ma !'C c.^ily l'r!;.:iilcncd by nieiiaa- ; (ir conrpiercd by f I \vc do, tho llani'i of !(mo end of tlie (\i ; cannot but cntertai tii'ijiations. Our e i that they can subd ■claniiition; Itut it i thcin that they are ! yiii]iulation is deteri I tlio few who mlgh pvill find it their saf i That this part o the most benellci; clearly [troved by t measures adopted more so, as every .1) that General, a ; British ground, tha i deceived hy tlio re '•■ induced him to bolit ] fur a revolt. " Innumerable at! i falsehood, to detach \ l(ir our enemies, m ^ ropcan master, trust S to force; and they ' I (if many of those 1: I far tho virtuous part I pence and hapiilnesf 1 much success durins; 1 tlay will tell you th: freedom — yes, the I J coiitemptiblo faction • nffairsofany nation- I sycophants who liel^ sof Buonaparte, will come to communicat to this Province; bu at your situation to confusion." ' "Trusting nioro I ; hostility, our cneinii I their emissaries thro f (luce our fellow Ruhjo J ly promises as fah ,| which they are foun( I fore been enacted foi ' **uch emissaries, and 5 i^liiiicnt on convlctio 'lot he easy to escapi Tho moderation ol j Were then passed, lii :; 'Icfouce of tho Pro' HTSTOllY OF THE WAR OF 1.^12. 47 , tiftbction, i\iw to iinlicy, tliii- he iiKist ci'filii (il'i'ssin^ to !-■ it. siippnrtcri:' , slmulil liiili; lie only iiiUiiri il dcstnielidn, ion or iiiiulneH — " it caitm; ur inhaliitiim- er docUu'o war iforiuly treated iL't, wlidseUcct* whoso iirnii('> iul(']>oiuloiii;e.'' 11^ tho state*, I'o enli;};litonhi! ' tho tyrant Hi jst interests (if 1 and uffectiiiiiii rn people, liav! st our niotlie; [• vessels \\h\: rcati'iiiii;;; their ([uitablo tuniii ritcd appeal t' alists, Avholial; loir adoption;! t but that til- j];Ht Canadian- leasuro, to tfe ers. remark, tli;i! ftirtli in allii- 1 in all pariv red their w splayed ail' r.ritisli mini' \;^s and iiri\: j liie protocti"' lish Knipii'i n this eoiuiin id most ]ili':i" AViu'ii mt: ry thinjj; lii' hildrcn, tlir r (iuj:,iit to i iiluliiins, :ui .■d I'V nieii.ui.- f or conquered l>y force. And 1ielnddin<» as 'we do, the flam'1 of patrintism hiirninc; from lone end of tlio Oanadas to the (ith(;r, wo ; ('iinni)t hut enti'rtain the most pleasinp; an- i tii'iliations. Our enemies have indeed said, I that they can suhdne this country by a yn-o- ! clmiiation ; hut it is our ])arts to prove to | I them that they arc sadly mistaken; that tho l|iiiludation is determinately hosiile, and that I the few who mijjjht bo otherwise inclined, I will fmd it their safety to bo faithful." ? That this part of tho address produced I tho most heneli(,'ial results, was pretty clearly proved by tho timid and v;u-lllatin,i; measures adopted by (ieneral Hull; tlie more so, as every day ailbrded fi-esh proi;f to that General, after he was fairly on British ground, that ho had been ^nissly idecoivcd by tho representations v. hich had I induced him to believe that Canada was ripe I for a revolt. ' " Imnnnerablc attempts will bo made by i fulsoliood, to detach you fromyouralioLiiance; I for our enemies, in imitation of tludr Ku- ' ropcan master, trust more to treachery than .to force; and they will, no doubt, make use i of many of those lies, which unfortunately I for tho virtuous part of these .states, ami the '" peace and happiness of the world, had too i much success during; the American I'obcdlion : they will tell you that they arc come to give ' freedom — yes, the base slaves of tho most contemptible faction that ever distracted the iiffairs of any nation — tho minions of the vcrj' synipliants who lick tho dust from tho feet of liuonaparte, will tell you, that they are como to communicate the blcssinp; of liberty to this Province; but you have only to h)ok lit your situation to put such hypocrites to Confusion." "Trustinjj; more to treachory than open hostility, our enemies have alreaily spread their emissaries throu;;h the country to KO- (Incc our fellow subjects from their alleoiance, ly promises as false as tho principles on which they are founlcd that in Lower Canada was th(! evil to ' bo Houglit. Yet, on examination into this ; part of (air suliject, we lind, that altlnaigh I fcjir Ucurgo I'rtsobt had at this time a very M 48 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1B12. d(;li(.'iituebec, we find tliut almost to Lower Canadians alone was tli.: successful resistance a;rain>t the eombinc'il attack ol' (leiuM'als Arncjld and Abait^iomcry, attributable. "Tin; party who defended tlii; principal battery, consisted of Caxadias .Mii.iiiA, wiili nine i»riti>li slmiik a to work the jiuiis.'' On no oiu! occasion, in jiointii' fact, can we di'tect th(> sli;;•llte^t trac-e of n hostile feeliii;;' towards the Uritish (iovern- ment iinion;;st Lower Canadians : in tli' present instance Avhat is tho result of our examination? we iiiid that '"four battalimn ol' jnilitia were in,-tantly raised, and tli'i vol ti Incurs Mere or^ranised and e(pii]iped in the short sjiace of six v.eeks by the lilji'rality of the younj;- Canadians : wo find the Lei.''»- lature issuiii;;- ;;'overiiiiient papers, bearing iiiter(!st and payable in Ijills of Exehanj;(Mii I'hijrland, to ]irevcMit specie i'roiu f^oin.ir to tli" United States ; anda,L;;ain, are oiirold I'rieniK, the inhabitants of (inebee, found at their jiost, ji'uardiiii^ the citadel, ]iroudof the duty, ami of tho coiise([ueneo reposed on thein. W e thiid^ we need >ay no more on the hi';vl of tJie loyalty of Lower Canada. ,,. , ,, ,., ,, On tho J2tli Jiih. ^iiMiiuii ; iiiiii Jiih, lsl2, the -iVmerican (io- IM'' lU'ral Hull, with a foro; of twenty-live hundred men ci-ossed over t" Sandwich from J'etroit and iilantetl the Amo- rican standard on Canadian soil, where hi issued a proclamation, ■•■ inviting the inha- bitants to join his standard. ■* rnoor.AMATiox. Head Quarters, Sandwich, J:itli.July, 1812. Inlinhitants of Canada — ■ After tliirfy years of peace .ind prnspcrifj, tho United States have lieeii driven to ami'. 'I'lie injuries and a}i;ircssioiis, the insults and in- iliji'iiities of (Ireat ISrilain, have oiiee more kl! tlieiii 11(1 alternative Init manly resistance, nr imcuiiditioual sulaiiission. The army uivli" my eoinniaiul has invaded your cnuntry. The standaril 'if the L'nioii now waves over the tt",- ritory of Canaila. To the peaceable, mioircii;- I iii:r iiiliabitants it brinsrs neither daiijrer n r idilticulty. Iciae.eto IIikI enemies, not to niiik': tliciii. 1 Come to ].rotcct, not in injure you. I t*^' pa rated liy .'iii iiinaeiise ocean ;iiid an ii ] (cii>i\i' wil leriie-s tVoiii (irivit llri tain, you IiiiV' no ]ii(rticipalinii in licr couiieils, no interest i^ her ciiiiduct. \ uu liave fell her tyr.aniiy ; y- I have si'en her injustice : l>ui I do not jisk yu.. I to avenge the one, or to rcdresj the other. As a toil to Goner; Conadc, General JJroc Tlio Uiiite.l .-lates ar, ifT'ir.l every security e(j |:i 1 your expert itioas. flili; IiIl's.-Iiij; of civil, p ^iTty, ami tlioir iicee-s,i IlmioimI pi'ospci'ity. 'I'll (i-ioa Id oar coimciis a:i ill ,1 sti'iii^Je for hidi'p ji i,i,ti;il Hi .S.ife iiu.l ti' |toi:iiy |ieiiod of tiie it tiru'.i liii I'iii-ie.l u.s to ill till' a.itioiis of the worh I ;;riMtor iiieasiii-e of ti'altli iiiKJ iiiiinoveiiieii |ul 1)1 any country. Ill till! iMiae 1)1 my co fity of ;,'i)vcriiiiiiait, I p yimr |iiMsoiis, piopuity Jiiiir lioiiii'.s, pnr-ae yoni gvipcitioiis, i-itise not you jBiriMi. M.uiy of your flu Mini ami iiiiiepeinlciiee ^liiliiieii, therefore, of th ill! heirs to the .same he iriny ol friends must be iiir.lial ueletaiic. Voii « ^r.i.'iny uiiii oppression, lilii'il station ot freeajcii. |vuimi;ii success, I iiiigl but 1 lio not. I come pr fi'iicy — I have a force « •ppositioii. Ami that •t a iiiiieh ^'renter. P, ||iii.Tu>t .mil the just exp jiiii shoiilil i;i|<,. |,:,it ill t Jdii will he eoiisiileivd ai (|iiil die horrors ami e.il.iii iKIIirc you. If the liarhi ♦' tireat Uritaiii he piirsii I^t |i)(ise to niunjcr our eii jfinu'n iinil eluMreii, this 'fU'Tiiination. Tiie first s Wf lirst attempt witii the ftL'>ijru;tl for one imliserii j*)M. Vo white imtii fouii f an hnliaii will be taken JT'ictioi will 1)0 his lot. 1 |in, duty, justice, and hu I thi.' einployinoiit of a fori ' JUNIUS, ami knows no wroii W a severe and relentless Mo'iht not your coura;^e •jt 'liiuht your attachment «-^tates()ir,.r you peace, yt ir clioiee lies between t ?1 Jo.struetioii. Ciioo.se, ; itiid may He who kiio •"-0, and who holds in his W^^ guide you to a result -1 fith your righu and iiitert fc"!)ill'88. By t!ie Genera). y'P'- of the nt/i Regt. of u«id Quartern, Satidmc •/"/yl2, 1812. 4< HISTORY OP TLE WAR OF 1812. 49 b DcccmliiT we ttml tliat lino Viis til'' i(,' rdiiiliiiu'l il(iiit;j;"inrn, ilefcndfl tlh: (' Canadias UK .1 to work 1, in jKi'mt Iff t traco of a itisli (lovcrn- IIS ; in til" •I'sult i>f our ur liiittaliniis ;(>(!, and tin (iiluipiH'il in the liijovality ml tin' Lcj:'>- |iers, ]>uariin Exchange in 1 fjoinji to til'' iirold friend-, iinil at their d of the duty, l religious li- L'rtv, ami LiU'ir ui.'ce-^Hary result, iii'liViilii,il ami Il'iicimI |)ios|ieiity. TlnU liljcily which •^■.ivc. (le- |i-ioii to uur ciiUiicils iiail cMcr^ry to our coailiict, |i .isti'ii.'i^le fur iiuli'|) juili'uce, auil which coa- fiK'teil 111 S.ife aii'l triiuii|ih.iMtly thioa^li the |ti)r:iiy perio I of llit; rcvolulioii. That lilnTty f hic.i U.is rai-tci u.j to au cli'v.iteil rank ainonj; Hie ii.aious ni the worlil, auii which alforded us | I greater nicasure of peace and security, of fciiltli ami iuiprovciueiit, tliitii ever fell to the Jut III iuiy country. | . Ill ilie name ot iiiy country, and liy the autlio- fity of ^ovcrnuicMt, I proniise ynu pmtit-tioii to] joiir pcisoiis, pioperty ami ri;,;ht.s ; remain at, jiiiir Imaii'S, pur.-ue your peaceful anil ciistoiiiary | gvde.itiuiH, riti.art in the appioachinj; contest. ynii will he considered and treated as enemies, i|liil the iiomirs and cilaiidties of war will stalk Ueliiri' you. If the harharous and savai^e pofcy M (Ireat Uritain lie pursued, and tin? .savaires he fct liiiisi! to unirdei' our citizens, and liutehcr otn- tiKiion and ehil hen, this war will he a Wi.r ol '■(Bn.'r.iii'ialion. Tiie first stroke of the tomah,iwk. fti' liist attempt wilii the scalping knife, will In.- ^e sii^'iial for one iadiscriininate sc^aie of ilesola- ijiiii. N'o white man found fi<;litiiig l)y the side '$ ;m Indian will be taken pri.soaer; instant des- i'letiiii will be his Int. If the dictates of rea- i)n, duty, justice, and huiiuinity, cannot prevent jAeeiiiploymeut of a force wliich respects no ll^'lits, and knows no w^on^', it will be [irevented ^y a severe and relentless system of retaliari. n. liiu'i'it not your eoura;^e and (irmiiess— I wil ■PI 'liiuht your attachment to liberty. Tlie Unit- Id States offer you peace, liberty, and security — |Ciir elioice lies between these and vvar, islavery, dcstriietioii. Choose, then, but choose wise- ; au'l may He who knows the justice of our ibo, and who holds in his haiiils the fate of na- ns, guide you to a result the most compatible til your rights and iiileiests, your peace and '■■Mi'iess. By tie General. A. P. HULL, '■ of the llit/i Jiegt. of U. S. Iii/antry, and Aide Je Camp, die. Htad Quarter », Satuiwich, Jit/jf 12, 1812. wdl 1)0 fotiini at len the oth.r was noteworthy for pivsmnplion and hniiilnist. The arlfid atid tiireatening language, in wlti^U (ien. Hull's procliiination was com hed, failed, iio.vever, in producing tlie antiripated cll'ect, ami seemed lull to ner\c, slill mote keenly fur the contest, tlie gdlanl lew on whom l!ie suc- cessful dcfeiu'(! of the province depeiulcd — even then, ill fact, hud the foresight and energy of ihe IJiitish (ieiieral prepared the liisl of tlioso di.sa>ters which were so shortly !o oveiw heiiii tlie unfortunate Hull.* K.aily in tiie sp. i..g, (hpt. ''The unprovoked declaration of « ar by the I'ni- ted Statesdf .\inericaiij.Minst the I'liited Kiiigdiuu of (Ireat I'litain and iielaiid, and its dcpt'iideu- cie<, has been fn'lowcd liy the actual inva-ioii of this I'rovince, in a remote liiiniici of the wesleiii di.'-trict, by ,'i detaclnui'iit of the armed force of the I'liited Slates. The oflicer coininanding that detacliuieiit hail thought proper to iiiviic his .Shijesly's siilijicts, not merely to a (piiet and unresi;.tiiig siibuiissiuii, but insults tliem with a call to seek voluntaiily the protection of his govi'inniciit. Without condescending to notice the epithets liestowed, in this ajipeal of the Anierican comman- der to the jieople of I'pjier Canada, on theadmin- istialiou of his Majesty, every inhabitant 3. civ' ovuiits liiiii nssiiiiud ii (Icri Ifdly li s- Uiuti'ihI re !. — Licn'fiiant !IiiiirI<<, the olHi tilo as|H'(t, (ii'iiural llrdck liad providoil fi)>' ' in coiimimikI oI' ilic AimMicim-, l»:i> i fli.'iiili the piotictii'ii ol'l-'onSt. .J(>>c[ih, :i siirill ji.isi [ sliitcil that tlie sniiuiiMiis to >tirtcri'liT llicl' to the north-cast of ihi- Aiiuiicau inland dl' was tlic tir.-t iiifi)rii)alinii lu' liad (il'fho licij Jli, liihinaciiiiu', and our of his first acts, on ! ration of war. 'I'his, 1 iriirin< lOM'V f, MJHirai- if the drchuali.^n of war, was to si'iiil I httlo prolialiji', whi'ii wi- loincnihi r that on>* lotilicalion ol'it to ("aptain lvol)urts, llicn in \ Anwricans hail hi'i'ii inaUin;; prcparat a I CoiMinanil at St. Joseph's, with instrnrtions to liiaki.'. if praclicahii', an iniint'iliati- attack niion Jli Mihrnacinac. T'his ordrr was atrlc I upon by Captain Kohorts with sin,u;'t!ar proinptitndu and ilecision, and on liu- 'tlth July hi' em- barked witli forty-live m\\ of tlif lOih I'oyal Veteran IJattalion, two Innidnd Militia under the C')nnnand of Mr. (."rawfonl, iind two hun- dred and lifty Indians, (•i)iiipos..d pritudpally of Sion.x, Oitawas, and Chi[)iiewas. This force or tho in-riMiif^ !)f the ITtij elll'Cted a landing m' vithoul opposition,! his vita! post. a ileci-ive alt ick in this very ipiarter fir n{ :ir >ix months, and tli.ai (Jeneral Hull's iirn alone, the fruit of this preparation, exrec! the whole av.ailahle force in I'pl'er ('aim , vith a ■jU : !" some si.xty ie;j,ulars, wa.- by the aini!> .)1 (heat i -i -"ii, at a vast expense<)f blood and ticasaie, fl'oi.i no oilier motive tliaii to relieve her uni^ialel'ul eliililreii lioiii llie (ip|in'.— eioii ot .1 cruel iiei^^lilioMr. Tliin restiliilioii ofCii- nada to tlie eiiipiie ol Kiaiice, w;is the sli|iiiliited reward tor the aid LlVorded to llie revolted colo- nies, now the United States ; the dei)l is still due, and there can he no iloiiht Imt the pledge has b'eii renewed as a consideration lor eoMMiierci.d ndviiiitai^es, or rather for an expected relaxation ill the tyranny of fraiicc over the coiiniieieial world. Are yon prepared, inhabitants of (Canada, to biieoiiic williii;r siiOjeets, or rather slaves, to the despot, who rales the nations ol' eontiiieiital Ka- rope with a rod ol iron'/ it not, arise in a hody, exert y an- ener^'ies, co-opi'iate corili illy with the kind's regular forces to ri'pel the invader, and do rot, irive cause to your chil ireii, w hen yroanin;.' under the oiJpression of ii loreij^n master, to re- proiich you with havinjj so ea-ily parted with the richest inheritance ot this eartii — a participation in the name, character, and h'eedoin of Hiiloiis! The same spirit of justice, whieh will make every reasonable allowanei! for the unsiicees-ifiil cirnts ol zed and loyalty, will not fad to punish tin; di'lalcition of priaci|ile. K\ery ('anadian free- liolder is, ny delilierate choice, boniid by tin; ino-:t fol inn oaths to defend the nnniarchy, as well a-i hi> i.w I propei'tv ; to shrink (rom that en;j;a!,'e- III, nit is a ireaM n !iot to be lorniv en. Let no man Pup;ioli!i,ibf,- tP.reat of ' the cnmm iinler of the enemy's forces to rol'u. ; (|U irter, slnnil I an Indian appe.ir in the viink' 1 'file bravi' b mds ol .Vboriuines which iidiabil ' ', colonv wi're, like his Majesty s othei- subjects, p;; i-hed for their /ra! and tldrlity, by the In-- i tlkir piissessions in the lati- colonies, and r'-wr , ed by his Majesty with lands of superior valii" ! this I'roviiice. The faith of the Ilritish (iov. ; ment has never yet lieen violated — iln- hull i j feel that the soil they inlieiit is to thcni and i posterity protected from the base artssolVeijiicii I di;vised to over-reach their simplicity. Iiy»'; new piinciple are they to be prohibili'd fidi fendiinr their property? It tle'ir warfare. In: I bein;; dillerent to that of the white peo|'!i', • , more tenilicto the enemy, let him retr.ici -tep^ — they seek him not — and caninit eN]iiT! • find \\omeo and childien in an invadintr arinv- i l{iit they are men, and liave cfpial lijtlits will; jollier men to defend themselves nnd their p I [lerty « hen invaded, mori'espeeiiilly wlnm tlie\ I ' in the enemy's camp a lerocioiis and moit;il I . iisiiii: the same warlare uhlch the Ainerieaiif' inander ntfects to leinobiiie, I T'lis inconsistent and nnjnstifiable threat ol ; "usii,.i; (|uarter. lor sncli a cause as bein;; feui;.. arms wiili a brother ?ni!'eier, in del'iMice ol 1; i (led ri;ilits, must be exercised with the ceilaiiiih iMiice of retaiialion, not only in the limiteil e;r tions of war in this part ol tlie Kiii^''s doiiiii.ii' but in e\ery ([iiarter of the ;;!o!)e; (or the: tional character ol Britain is in)t less (listiiif;iiW 1 for humanity than strict retributive justice, «i.:Jt? ! will eon>ider the execution of this inliuman i!,; I as deliberate innrder, for wliiidi every sulijoc. the od'endin^f power must make expiation. IsA.\c IJiiorK, Major-Gon. and Pi eside;::. Head Quarters, lMni-(ieor.e, July 22, 1812. I5y order ol his honor the l*re-idcnt. J. I{. Glkou, Capt. & A.P r. * We lca:n from (nnicral Arinstronfr, (i'ecrct, at War at that jteriod,) that preiiaration? 1 been made alon^ the whole ("Canadian frontier, the fdl of IHll, and that warlike stores had It s"nt to Uurlinu'bm, on I,ake Champlain. IV the same authority we also l(\nn, that (n'W Hull be^an his march from Drayton, a frm' town in the Sl.ito of Ohio, nn the 1st o.xy or-li" 1SI2. twelve days bid'orc the declaration el « to cobpetate "ith such other corps as miu'lit de thied to the invasion of Canada. — El'. A. .\ ^-1 ' B.' tliis,ho vever, a: na • f-ll at once \[\ . einn !i:iriin . This po-ii oil ■, ii> it conunan k liecfs^ar/, H ill in- riiar.iri'.iii.iits. In niilim » stores an I s tlie lii-l fruits of tile U'hile these scene fee:,s, Were h.'iii j; tr;i II I 1 coiiinieneed an ; A'a i,r>tinir,j;. .Vi 1 ON the fionlier was i Scarcely have he.ai reM-;iaiice, (he f:;iiti ?i- \\\i of lint .•I'liuit i'i liit:.aiio!i of the 4- Ijy Cajitain Muir, a ' til' Itoyal N'ewloiii f^a'iili>rii's(l,ieu eJia of A)li;iery— such w Cuiadianshid to tin (iie nuKi iinpiMlaiit y, This point was, iiidci 1"! taiice to the IJrdi.- ('> t icir re'aiious will and v.as, natnra'ly, ; iiil'fest to the c icniy P li'iic'd no di.Iieii ■^•■k.i.'s^of itsdcf^'in HISTORY OP TUK WAR OK 181-2. 81 irks thf ('tlir- I--, lias I dii-iiil'v irii;ri'li.'r thi> ft; ad t.fflio (icl. 1', Mlilirill- I,;,; !'|lll>'T that !!,^ ii'cliarat'mi>*f" iiartrr fir uvwr'- ■al Hull's iirii' ration, OM-fek' L'liprr Oiiiiiiii s i'orco.-* to rcli." iMV in till- vnii'v wliicli inlialiil ll.i l.lii'isiilijfi-'l.'', pii y, \)\ tlie lo'- >iiii'.^, and r''W;ir; r supciinr Viilwi' : (• I'liilisli (lov iti'il — llu- liii!r'i| to tlu'in and t c avlSfiorri'fiiiciM i|(licity. l!y hI irohiliitvd lidiii ' liv'ii' wartiivo. In-: wliiti; i)fii|'!i', t liini icti.ici' I caniit't cxin-c! • invudinvr arinv pial riglits «ali ' M"* »i;d tlu'ii' I ially wluMi llirvf'; ii~ and ninrtiil !■ I' Ann.'rit'anc'ii; d)!c tlircat oi IS l)cin;; t'duin: di'l'cni'o ol i; ll tlu'C'iTliMIIM- ic liiiiiU'il i'|.' ii.j;"s doniii.l' ol)!.'; ftM' llif I'Hs distiiij:ni>' ivc jiisliiH', »i : i~ ihhnniar. i'.. n I'viTV sulijei. o\|)iation. SAAC- Kuoc'K, uul Prusidc:: -iucnt. (•apt. & A.PC. istronj:, (S't'crf; lU'cpavation? i ladian fi'oiitirr, (■ stores bad \V- thi-,lii> vi'Ver, as itmay — uitli Miclii'.imaci- n.i' fll !'t once (ii'iural Hull's ho|n;s of an easy an I liloi) Ik'ss comj lest of Caiiaila, — spirit iunl coali loiii^i! w\'iv lluMLdiy ihf is^.l iiilollii- Itnliaii trilirs, ami thu jioiir (d.i (Jen ral — already f.iiiiiliari/.i'd witli Indian uurfiie, lindingtiieni l,.s- iiieline 1 for neutrality, and the Canadian Miiiiit I-^^*'s fivorali'e ihui he iinliciiiated — fvca al this liinc hr^an to discowr the fi'lacy of In; expectations he had so prematurely f ( iiu'd. Miidrliiiiacinac, (or Mackin lu, as it is now ni.ire couiiiioiily et\veen tlio iiakcs Michigan and Hur.ai, ai)oul fiun- miles fio n land at tlu- ncarij-l point — its nam .■ is d' lived fio n a fin- cic 1 rc-ioaihlance lo a turtle's Uark. Tlic f'lt, on t'iie so ilh-east side, was situa'ed on a rock, aliif»>t pcr|iendicular in some places, exteihiiu;; in. Illy half round the island, and li^in;^ some two liundr d feet from the water. It ovei'- looked, and, of coiir.-e, coiiuuanded the hai- bo , a Iteauiifiil hasin ofahoui a mi c in extent, skllLTed from I^alNe Huron iiy two islands sii'.lciiing across its mouth, and leaving only airiiro.v slii i eh iiiiilI Ity whi h to enter the li;uiio . I'his po-itioii was a n»osl valualde on , a-ilcoiiimin led t:.e passive \l fiu:ts of tile war. While ihesc scenes, -o in\'io; taul intlieircf- ft'e's, A\re h.iiij,' traiisaeiid i;i ins rear, (len. 11 1 1 coiniiienccd an ailvaiice on l-'oi t Mii'den,or A ii I r-tiMiij;, .\l this tim.- th.; i}riti.-';i Ibi'i e oa the fiOMl ef was near y U'lminal, and could se.iicly have heeii expeeicd to ollVr nuieh re>i>iance, the giiri^on at Ainher>tliU!rii's(I,ieireJiaiit rrouihton'sjconmian I almost utter imp point was the thimder ofihe .\merican artillery to he first directed. The foit at Ainlurslhuig could not have sus- tained a seige of long duraii >ii, four hastions Hanking a dry ditch, with a single interior defence of picketing, |)oifonited withloopdioleS lor musketry, olfeiing hut little obstacle loan enterprising enemy ; a few shel's, indc((l,\\ouI(l have sulliced to destroy all (he defences, a;*, wiili the exception of the uiiigazitic, all iho hnidings were of wood, and covered with i>in3 shingles unfit for resi.-ling I'liy missile. Iho disadvantage of remaining in this position, Col. St. George, the commanding officer, well knew — orders were therefore given to the gar- risin fo he ready at a moment's notice, as Col. St. tieoige piefeired giving battle, even with ins inf 'lior force, tore • dning cooived n\) with- out the means of olfe ,.g ' v re>istence what- : \ 'lianipl^iin. h irii, iliat (ii'i' aytoii, a tVi"' isT P.W OF'I" eelaiMtion el » orps lis iidjili' !;i.-Ki'. .A.-* J dl' .Vrli'Jery — sue!) was the mat.) id on wlueli Cmadiaiis h id to iriisl lor a def nee of oneo' tile mo-;i inipoilaiU p.iiiits along their frontier riiis point was, indeed, of the most vital im- 'i>!i tance to the IJrdish, as it firiued the ke_\ t'l t leir re'aiions with the Indiansof ihcWesi, , |aiid uas, natura'ly, an ohjjct of very grea jiiii rest to (he e 'eiuy. (j.iieral Hull had e.\ tj I' • i'''>(-"tl no didicu ty in ascertaining th ■■=; ever. 'i he want ofdecisr. ^ •inn energy'' on the j)art ofCieneral Hull l> 'Ciune at this time very ap- I parent to bis more nter; rising opponent.'*, 'iideed, the .American (ieneral .seemed to liavo forgotten altoge r tlie intended objects of his invasion and to aave conlined bi^ clUirts to levviiiir i»ro\ i>ions and forasre from the inhabi- tants towards whom t!ie troops behavKl wi li great severity, as if to avenge thei'- disappointed hopesat meeting enemies where the}' (.xpe( ieJ to lind friends. Thi- state of inaction was only intenup'eciuple to impute to ill! a secret and systematic cooperation with tlio ■iieiuv; while others, Ics.-. pioiu; lo suspicion, ainl [' muTf fliaru'iMf leiiipeiainent, a.scriUe il to an )fi .!.r. !U i.j I ;;i i.: Iidm tji ;i!:i dile liiU false estiiiiiite of the vah of ihd ij^'ct- t) lie a'tiiice. d< 63 HISTORY OF TIIK WAU OF 1812. hovvivor, vvasslu'd ihulirst l>ltiO(I,*an(l till' fin!- , fliiins, who repclk'tl (lie iiltay tin; bri^ Oiiei la, einnnianded bv Ciipt. W'oolsey. Tliis vessel was a f:>-'t .•«ai!i-;, niiil, while lieating up the l/ike from I'loscdtt, in company with serveral other-", "as consiileraltiv a-head. The Oneida made for her first, inteii'lin^' to take those lo ieewanl afterwards, but night cowing on, they fortu:i;itely eset in a y either their own or the American (Jovernnient, although repeated applications have been urged on tioth, and ever a joint ttddresti to the Crown voted l)T both briinehe.i of the Legislature of Upper Canada, — although more recently we have seen a Briti-th fleet sent to Athens, to compel payment of a few hundred pounds to Don Pacilico.— Ei>. A. A. M. The Qiiccn Charlotte, a vcs.sel of some size and force, wn.s also mounted with twenty gims and anchored across the month of the river lo keep the enemy more tfTectually in cheek. AVhilc Col. St. George w.as thii.s engaged h Movcim-MtdofCol.si. keeping tlie enemy in ''•■"^S'-- check, CJen. Ikock waj anxiously expecting the time when, havii..' disposed , lomahawks, war i'"'*S and scalping-1 liiiii, and intent only oi liifiveived, they imglit ev'Uesof (ho.se wiM.<, ii'''i war had imchainc I'l "jipression of man. " iiaving taken up a p( % of a mile beyond M ':'^rir def.'iice were.spe ? of tlio leaves alone br li'ii reigned tlironghou ^ 'ill; example of the liel W ili.",Tound in order to i •^ ii'ilil witiiin a few yai Wnk'invailiiig, in this m; •^'i'l' cdlumii, which we S*^t 'listance, advancing ^^' \v;i.s incicased hy tl HISTORY OF TllK WAR OF mi. r.3 :)f n liody c: p, «lio, (intKr ad mlvi\i:((J Cntianl, lure !i' — n liiiilM oint, lut Cil, e (if tlic I'nsi- (Ivancc ot'lhe lycil, niidliad iss aiul wt'idj ody of niMiks- iiig its iccnn- .■I tiK'V appt'sircd issiiinn; from the wood, liouiiil- l>iilloik of tlu' 1 1st (Iivtiadins ^^l•'^ "i''' •* i[iir like wild dcor cliasod by the liiiiitsiMan, small dutacliiiuiit of Iwuiity iiumi of liis own an 1 uttiTin;; that p ■ciiliar sliout whii'li is foiniiaiiy, Iwiiily i-i;:ht Inf.mlry, ai\dt^viiity ku'tvii am mj; iIil-iihi'Ivim i- the nf/M-rry. — Hatla'ioii men liad hi-en ti'fu-d f.irward hy From thcin wo ascertained tlint a strony; ro- (ii-n. Brock, from the head <)ii:irt«rs of tho iiin'i I'f the ciu'iMV, cavalry and infantry, were Ke;;iinent, then stationed at Foit (ii'oi;,'e, for Jon their inarch to attack lis, hut that the (hf- the pnrpoie of r^'inforcin^ the lillle iini-oii (lenity of Iransportin;; their guns rendered it of Aniher-thnrs, and who, having reached their iiiiproh.ihle they eoiil I reach our position he- ilestination the pi- e'ing day, hid he n iles- f)iv nigh', allhoigli ilien only at a distan'-eof patched liv Co! ' roctor, (lately arrived to as- ci^'it miles. It, heinginstuitly decided on to siime the coniin md) to srengthen iw. Sliortly jiit-'cl them, the detachment was speedily iin- the r. port of a sing'e ^hot ech I'd ihrongh ^ik'!' arms, and on ils march for M I'.'ii.iga, a, the wood; and the iiiNtant :if:eisvavils theloiid minll In liiii village ilisfant about a leag'ie. — and teniiie yells of ihe Indians, fiUoaed hy a The road along which we advani-ed was ankle- heavy and d-sn'lory lire, apprise I iis that they deep with mud, and the dark forest wavingiis were engaged. The action then heiame gi iie- I iiil;cd and putrid bodies of ho;ses and men tage; when unluckily, a body of Indians that fcr Major Home's detachment, wiiiidi had iiad been iletaehed to a small wood about tivo Iri n snlfi'ied to lie unbiiried beiiealh our : hundred yards distant from our liiht, wero lir». No oilier sound than the m.'asiired step taken by the troops for a corps nf the enemy jftiu' troops in'eiTupted the solitude of the , endcavoniing to turn tin ir (kiiik. In vain «o |iiiu', rcndeted more iinjxising by the wild ap- called out to them that they were our Indians!. i)i';e;uu'e ofth" wirriors, whose bodies, st.iined The tin whi'li shmild have been rescived for 1 of some S7C j h twenty guns of the river lo • in cheek. n. Brock wai when, havin; dch the bcpv he might IumI he scene of iiC' spatched Co!. vith sucli U'i::- [to assume tli: umcdiafcly m detachnicM ,p, under tin ihich, seiitai open a emu- ons could fe at the river troit, and co; small piii'!j icen infbriufl ions was tlw roctor order tidred of tK and about IK! s the river ani illagc on th; he convoy flJi lition dill W, rmer attempt', en by Majoi Y the 9th, tht an scouts gati were advanf tea after war li paintnl in (he most frightful nianiRr (or theiifoi-s, was turned iiprn iher friends, wlio, I.' occasion, glided by iis with almost noisi- filliiig into tb ■ ^miu- error, re'uriicil it with iiu ■Kite; all with their hair jdaistered in such a i to the error of the troo^is. Tlint order and fay as to resemble the biistling i|uil!s of the discipline which would have marked their eon- iriijiine, \\l(h no othercovering then a cloth duct as ii body in a plain, was lo-l sight of, in Diind their loins, yet ar.ned to the teelli w ilh a great measure, while (ighting independent y ili'S tomahawks, war chilis, spears, bows, and singly in a wood, where every man, fol- I'lis, and scalping-knives. Uttering no , lowing the e.xamide of the enemy, was com- md, and intent only on reaching the enemy pellet! to shelter his person behind the Ireci ijieiveived, they might have passeil for the as he could. Closely pressed in fnmt by an cs'lres of those wilds, the ruthless demons .diiio-t invisible fie, and on the point of being lii'h war had nnehainedfor the piiriislimciit taken in the rear, as was falsely imagined, tho 1 oppression of man. troojis were at length compelled to yield to " Having taken up a position about a quar- , circumstance and numbers. of a mile beyond Maguaga, our disposi- | '• .Mthough our retreat, in consequence of :i> fir def.'nee were speedily made, the rust- ; this unfortiinale misapprehension, comnienceJ ,' iif the leaves alone breaking on the silence ' in some disorder, this w as soon restored, v\ hen liih reigiu'il throughout our line. Follow- Major Miiir, who had been wounded early in the example of the Indians, we lay reclined j the eiigagem'nt, succeeded in rallying his :h-",'round in order to avoid iieiiig perceiv- j men, and forming them on the brow of a hill iiiiiil within a few yards of the enemy. — ! whii h commanded a short and narrow bridge liile ;r.vai;ing, in this manner, the a[)]iroaeh , intersecting the high road, and cro-sing a mo- ihe eoliinin, which we knew to be, at no rass over wliiidi the enemy's giins must lu'i'rs- ■!i»lvaiil!i;e orn|i|iiisiii;;ngiilni tiO(i|iH to the t miiiy iiiilt w noils. AicnsloiiK'd to llie iisf of llii- ii|. ^Iiiir, wliDsc (•(iin.iiiiiiirntioii with 'runiiiisth i \nm hi> iiilMiicy — fhM'llin;: in a iiuiisiin ni lia I \tvvu cut III)', ami who iinw hi an! sonic Hniart lirinj; in the wuoil-; hcyontl liis Icl'l, na- tnially iiifirid tlial the enemy wi iv pn.shinj: fiiicsts witli thf inliicai i> s (if whi hlic v;, uhiilly ai (piMinttMl, and possossiii); the a'!\,'ii ta;;c of a dress « liich rendered him alninsl n: (he Indians in th:ii iin;'nishalilc to the i ve of an Kiinipeaii, t't finning Irs llaiiu, f^ainMig thehi;;!) road in onr .Atiierieaii marksman eiilered wilhconipaMititt reiir. and thus ruttiii}^ oil' our rt treat. The seeiirily into a coiilest v\ith tlie Knijlisli so!ili r oilier was then nivcii to retire, which we cci- ' who.-e ^r'arni;; haMliin id an I ncenutreniiis tain'y did at tiie douMe cpiiek, y.i, withoul wcreohjecis loo eiiispiiuoiis to lie missed, "h, liL'in;j: followed iiy tlie enemy, vvIK) suH'ered iis his utter ijriniran' e ol a mode of warlarr, to iraiii our hoats wilhont fiiriher mole.>latio!i. which couiaj^e and discipline wetc ofnoav " Inlhisaltlii!-, which we never then rej^ardcd rendered the slrii::,^le lor mustery even iii as any tiling: nun e than a shirp skirmish, yet to' iineipial. 'I'he ji: ineip'd arn.ies (o whiiti i. which the Americans have since attached an ; IJritish troop.s were o| | oseii diirinf; the u;: undue imiioiljiii'-e, tlieirloss was eij^hteen killed consisted not of rejriil.ir and W(ll-disci|ilii( find sixly-three wounded ; ours, one rank and troops only, hut of levies taken I'rnmthe I'un- iile ki led, two OUicirs, two Serjeants, nine- df Ohio and Kentucky, scarcely iid'eiier;. tei n lank and tile wounded, and two rank and rillenien to the Indiniis. Dressed in won'i lile mis.-inir, hnt iiflei'wards recaptured hy tlie frocks of a fxray color, and trained to ((i\ Indians. 'I'h" wounded ollicers were, .Majoi- their hodie> hehind the tree:- from which ll Miiir, and l.ii utonant Sutherland. They were | (Ired, williuiit cxposinj; more of Ihiir pi i near each other when the attack commenced, than was ahsoluttly luiessary for their :. | and Major Miiir haviiifi; ohserved an Aniencaii : they alforded, on nii;re than ono occa- takiiifia ih lilierate aim at them, hastily placed j the most eonvincinf^ proofs that without ': ashoit rille, which he usually carried with him assistance of ll»e Indian Warriors, the difn, on these occasions, on the shoulder of his com- 1 of so fjreat a portion of Western ('ana(i:i, I'aninn, and levelled it at his enemy 15otli | was entrusted to the char^re of the ii himdiid and lifly nii o: wlioiii were fndiii (ireal stri ss has he 1 I'l'iiiliirl iiri>iir liiiliiiii inii'iii'i. fliiilc ilisp lired at the same instant. The ball of the re}»ulars and militia, wouM have proviJ duty of gicat dilliculty ami douht. The .\mericans attached an undue* iini ■(posed to deal ^tiv.s pliii'cd hy Iho ili.nids ami the Aniei |lireii loud in their coi |;eni fdiivirnnienl to detail '(i> eir •.■t an alliance v klie Stales. i I '•Itesides," asMajoi ,; 'Tile natives must h I our fiKs; had we n Aiiiiricans v.ou'd, :i :)Mii-i ilepliire the iici viiy invader himself, < uralliis, an Icoiidiali of ^eirpreservation w lu'iiiK indeed niii>t '-VC k'sitrifedal such •n the III her hand toi >L'('ii our allies. No fail ry on our parts had •nnfiili'iice from a (i a'M)iei| hoillitii'S on '■"I'l- We were not dot, for the purpose o rill Itoundaries, can : iiiioiif,' an almost defi American, enteiing l.ieiit. Sutherland's cheek, tak', of one of the Mes.srs. Cald.vell f>i"j enough to man the guns,— this compnsnl Amhcrsthu'i:) he would have recovered had j ,,„^,„;.,p f,,,.,.^^ ,,,(;ro wa.s besides a'jout : lie not iiniMiideiitly, some tun daysaaerwnrds,j,„||,i,.j.,j ,„iijti.,^ making in all about sv inide premature use of his looth-b.-usli. This imiidred men : the total force opposed toi- opened the wound, brought on hemorrhage, ; ^^.,,^^ j^^ „.^. ,,jj^.^, shewn, not nioie thtiii I and before medical assistance could he pro-' cured, (the main body of the force being then I * Tills is prettv evidi'iit from (loiicnl I' in occupation of Detroit) he bled to death. — ' remarks. His olli' ial, teller giving an acci Teeiims h was also slightly wounded, hy a 1 i'. lanientn.'' that iiotliim.' «;»■< giiined In ' I I 1, * ^„ .1,; . .^,.,...o;,x.. *" ' lluiiior; and that I'le lilood of seventv-livi buck sliot, 0!i tins occasion. , i , , i • • •. i . 1 1- ' Inel lieeii slied in vinii ; as it liut ii|ene(l in- Here it was that an opportunity was first ' uiuuicaiionsas turtistlieii huyoiictshadext'.'- <, '1 every one, of re|)el iiKiiis po-sihie, iuid v lilies «ere in some in.s !cssis peculiar to evei'\ *'"'",' supposed th:it iii-'d iiy the d'oveniu t ";i> pos-il)l(., piiini I ry were no- iciilea -■ 1 allies. hi ustice, too, 10 the *f|'il<, that acts of h:.,!,: f":'liiuid to them. Tin f' '■ were in the hahii l"i'i'd, it is singular < t' •la! Hull's f-imous, IIISTOIIV Ol" TIIK WAR OF IHI2. ri5 ■ (1iM\(1vnnl!i,'« L- ini'iiiy ill tin sc of iJic rilif liunsllM' till.:: whi li In.' vii. .'iij; the a'l\.i!- Iiiin almost w.v l',iin>|'i'iiii, t'« llll COlllpHIIltHf l'',ni:li>li H(i!ili r iicroiitruiiidii 1)1' missed, «li:.( ■ dl" wiirJaii', ;: ivcif ofnonvii; Wry even iiinr: l'm to which t! liiiiii<; till' «;', will-iliseiiiliii iVnnillu' full- vi'ly iiilciidr ;.■ I'ssid in wniil'i trninud to mu i'diii whith tilt; of tluir i)t'i>"! y for thiir iiiii III 01)0 0('(!l>i'' hilt without u. iiii'.N, till' (li'fii. torn Canadii. I- of the K' nave jTovei ; )Ul)t. undue* iiii|'' n tlu'disparil} .(1, itwillla'-' illle to lioii.v forces unilirS kho'e of till'! iifantry, 'liid and Idly men, Iwo liuny the cham'es of war in their IliiiinU. ami the Aineiieans in particular ha\(' diii'ii loud in their condemiiali'in nCa nua-mi'i tit till' adiipiioii of «hicli the safety of the Wi >lern l'ro\ iiiee was in a great measure to I 111- altiiliiiled. These writers are however for- piiliil that every pos.-iMe exertion was ■ in- lyeii hy tile aj;enls of the I'liited States |(!iiveninient to detach the Indians IVom nsand tn rll'et all allinnee with them on the part of he Stales. "liesiili'S," as Major liichardson o'iserves, — I' Till' natives must have hcen our fiiemls or our foes; had we not emp'oyetl them the AiiH'rleans woii'd, and althoo^'h Inimanily liiii>t deplore the necessity, inipoMil hy the Very invader hims'lf, orcdiintni'j; them amoicj our allies, an Icoin'ialin^ at their side, the law of srlf|)rest'rva!io:i was our gui'le, and sciu- in'mis indeed must lie the power that would ' ive hesitated at such a iiioiiieiit in its choice." Ill the other hand too tlie Indians had alway.^ Iliet'iiotir allies. No faithless dealing nor treaeh- Itn on our p;irts had alienated their trust and se'iiilidenee from a (Jovernment which had proeliimatidii awarded dtiith to any one oftlitt sul'jei't> (it (ireat llritain, found eomhatiiig iit the >ide of, an! tlurefoie asKiimed to he n par- ticipator in the harharities itttrihiiled to I'lO Indians, the very first scalp should li.ivo hecn talvcii liy an ofheerof his own army, ami that within a few days al'ler the proelaiiiation was issiiod.* On the (ith of August, (ieiieial Ihock had OeiiiTiil liriM l» wiiliii the satisfaction ofiindiMj i>ihI\ i>r ii>iiiiiii'i'i-i. .Ill III I Irnr* York Cr that lie toiild lie spiii erl ••■'"'• "•■ '"'I"" "'",' "'-. finin the seat of ( ;ii\ ei M- riv.n llll llif t3lll 111 Aiii,'ii-i- meiit fir, a' least, asl urt lime, lie had divided the small loice at his disjiosal for the defence of the I'lo'.ince, in iho various (piarttrs mo-t likely to he attacked; hut sliil he was without a military i li st, without inoney enough at his command to hiiy provi^iiins, hlaiikets, or even shoes fur tho militia. I'mler these ein'iimstam'is, he inado Ills wants known to a nuniherof geiillenieii of credit, who formed themselves into what waa I'lilled "the Niag.ira and (^iiei'i)ston Assoi'iii- tion," the lale Mr. K.lieil (iiant of tiueeiiston lieing manager, and several thousand poinida were issued in the shape of hank notes, which were currently received throughout tho country, and afterwards redeemed with army hills. Having thus disposed of his dillieiiltiea, (ieniral IJroi k found himself at liherty to |Iii:i|iim! honntics on them with no sparing i;uiil. We were not the aggressors, we did not, for the purpose of ailding to oiir territo ill hoiiiidaries, carry ruin and desolation iiioiig an almost defenceless population, we Illy availed ourselves of the right, common every one, of repelling invasion hy every iR'iiiis po-sihie, and while we admit that our iIHl's were in soiie.^' in-siances guilty of the e.\- !i-i>i's |)fcii!iai' to every savage nation, it can lot l,c siippo.sed that the.se acts were saiic- oiied hy the Clovernmeiit, or tli!it| so far as 1 w;i> possible, piimiples of toleration and 11 ny were no! iculcaled hy us amongst our V 1 allie.s. 111 jiistice, too, to the Imlians, wc must re- nik, that acts of h-. Parous crne'ty were not itjiiliiicil to them. 'I'lie Ameriean haekwoods- Kii were in the hahit of .sculping also, and, I'lued, it is singular enough that, altiiough ^i-neia! Hull's I'amou.s, or ratlier inlamoii.s, ' * James, in his History of tlic War, writes : — At the aeiioii fought at Hrovviislottii, where Major . V'uii Iloi'iie was ilcl'eateii. a letter wa.s Jininii in I the pocket III t'.ipt.iiii .McCiillncli (who wasaiiioiig the sliiiu (III tliit occasion) addres.-eil to his wile, ami statinu: tli.it lie liati shot iin Indian neur tho t'aiiar ; Hrldge, on tlie IT)!.!! of July, and hail (he pleasure of tinrhni <;//' hix sralj) iiil/i Iiik tuth. .Vow of the fact itself there can lie very linlo doiilit, fnr we had one lii'liim (and one only) killeii and scilped at the (canard. Kiit, altlioiigh Captain .MeCiilloeh is eiititlcil to all the credit of this feat, there is reason to infer that .hiiiir.< l.t iiicoirect ii staling thi.s iiifoinialion was olitained lioin a letter found in his pocket. In the Inst instance, it i.^ extieniely niililu'ly that the Imlians, in rilling and stripping the liudy, ivoiild h ivo liioni.dit olf aiivthing so vahiele.-s to th' in as a letter, and secomlly, it is iinicli more prolialilo that such C'lnimimieation ii'oni Me('iilliicli to hia wife had lieeii placed in the mail, u Inch the party to which he lielonged, were escorting ficiii iJc- .loit, with the correspondence of (Jenend lliiTs ai'iiiy, ami which, it will lie reealh cted, was cap- tured liy the Iridiaiis. The whole of the letiera passed throniih our hands, and it is highly pro- halile the disclosure was iiuuie in this iiiau- iier, en inSTORY OF TIIR WAR OP 1812. I; P. Fi I iiir in iktmhi to the scimiv oI li(»tilitii.>- ' tim ■. Asl;ir;sl was 1113 st'lfconccriuM), Ii:i,; and lio iiccdnliiif^ly ciiilinrkt'd for I!iirliii;;t()ii ; vcn lici'ii tli^poxd :i) liiij^liul-, (ll fitiiliM;. Bny, wlicncf he proci'C'dcd liy Innd to I,( nj; ' ;i llioiijrlit luvir filtered into my liead, I v;: Point on Lake Krie. (jineral Hiock's foive, ' too much elated at the jirosinct hefore tin ,) ; on Itiivin,.!; York, amoimted to two hnvidreii j would have Icon at the ii>k of Mifliiii 1; iL vohmleers, — forty men of tlie 41>t regiment ' most i^evcroi ei'ioaclies from my mothi 1 — ul had Itien. some time previously, de-^palfheii in ;it paitinjr, as >;he clasped me in her arm- ::, I.onu: I'oint, for the purpose of eolleclin!; the then lore herself from my imhiiue, e.\il;i:i: Wi^ilia in that neijjhiiourhood, and lifly men ed — (lo, my son, and let me hear of your di.v: of the s!>';iv rei^imeut liad heen sent into tin ralln r than yo\M- di>;;race. I matched ofi'wi: lierior, with a view of encourajiing ami a full heart hut a huoyant >piii!." bein.2; joined hy the Indians, — part of the.-e With such volunteers as tin se lijihlii ;:f; troop- wou'i', ilie pji^li^h fiem ral antic!patul, the protection of tin ir homes am! tlio sui^ih Lc ;caly io jviin his force on the shores if : of their native land, (ieneral I'roi k had: Lake Krie. much reason to shun an onrounti r as far it may not he uninteresting to give a shoi't tlie sjjiritof his troops was in <|U?stion. 'sxu-.'t from ihe note hook of one of thosr vet- 1 when passing the Moliawk sc'tlement -• cr.ui -nilili.. men who so distinguished them- t|,^, ([y-xud liiver, (ieneral IJrock held, on i; Belve< dupu-; this and suhsequent campaigns. : 7,1,^ ., council o( war for the purpose of a^n: IL will sliew the spirit which actuated Cana- j taining how f,u- tluir jnofessions of f.ien.K ; diaus : i could he (runted, and \h'U\ thiin he reciiv ".Xfler b wing heen a f^w weeks in g.ar- the assurance tiiat sixty of tluir lii-avcs woi. rison,and madeasniui. progress in the dulies on the inth of the same month fillow l.ii- of a soldier's life as \ as possihle, I and several j At f.ong Point, on Lake Krie, heemhirkciP others, having volunteered, in addition to tlie few iv'gulars and thrie hundred mi-iiia in Imi ordinary duties, lo make ourselves acipiaiuted ' of eveiy d 'scri.ilio;!, colleried among t 1 villi the gr. at gun e.\eru>e, hegan to l>e \ery I neighhoiiring fuiners, who usuil'y empli; an.xious for the more active duties of a sol- ' them for the transp.Tialion of th ir cum :i ilier'slife, it was willi iiolittle e\eitvinent, then, ] Hour, hut no v ehe rfully an.l willingly ii-. we heard ll'.attJener.il Hull, with aslrcuigforce, I on the (ieneral his making use eftiicm ,1- liad i-r(>s>ed into Canaila fr.«m Detroit — a ji'o | means of transportali on. The uislame IV po-ition was then made to me hy two pen-ons Long l^)int to .\ndiersthurg is somewhat iiii' much older thiin myself to aid tlietu in form- two liimdred miles, with scarcely n liav i ing a com|)any of volunteers, in which 1 wa> 1 shelter, and this want the little (lolilla snllii to hold the rank of Knsign, to march to the ! mateiially from, as they encountered iim vest to meet (icn. Hull. This scheme, how- ! rcMigh weather on their passage along the l.V ever, was put an 1 nd to liy (ieneral ISroek's 1 The spirit, ho.vever, of the volunteers « proclamation calling for volunteers nl whieli ; siistaiiu'd hy the hope of ere long limi.' the Yoik (iarrixm was to furnisfi one liundied. themselves in presence of the enemy, and tin; \Vhen the proclamation or general order was felt each day increased confidence,aslhe viiii read on parade iiy Major .\lton, most gla !ly resources of their gallant and iniK f ili;;;i' did I avail myself of my position, as right leader were developed, .\fter four d.iy-:i hand Tuan of the (irenadier company, to shonl- nights of incessant exertion the little sipi.iili der my mu>ket and step to the front as the reached .\mhersthurg shortly hi lore mi Ini; first voluniiagg fciv iiiiiuli'^.ln' ciLMJ lioiii an i Kili'iU, t!ie Slip CNjiliiiied iImI .Itliiclli-.l to till llifirjoy ill till llc'ii- Hiiife f.ul of I'll' -(Mi'ciiy ElliiiU to stop 1 pray, Klliott, fi mil tell t!ie Im in irniw on this ntt.'inle I to, an liiilf.iii liiiiir wi or Teeiniipllie, t!iL' .li ii'-'li'-eiiii iiity 111 e iisely 01' liiai'v man, follimiiig grip! ]H'aiM ici^ \v,is a:i I liiu'ly pioji iiliiiiit live an I ti' I iiiclies ; hi; ti'iiiiiice, oval, clh't'rfiiliu's>i, ei silvi'i' crowns, ( the lower eaitl lar;,'e silvur iiie I holjove Ills ii DoiTlii'ste>-, vvl wal (III his t nifiitLHl with w the pDieupiiio.' "The first i hands heiiigov: fii'iii:;i)f iiiiHkei C'\ (if th.' leasiii its ilisi'iiiitijiii II ei'|iaiiile 1, witi wiiiil.l 111' held tor liii^rly look ft thnii-and III! IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR OF 1812. m iself coiiceiiu'd, li;i.!i !•{; I.iitlr, (I I (iiiL;hM;(j into my lu'iid, I w^ ros|K('t ln'fori' tiic,) i; li>k of Mld'ilil ;; t|,i dill my luctlur — \\U 1 mc ill lnT iiniK 11,: iiy imlii'iice, t'Xcliiii;,| lie licnr 1)1" your (K*: e. 1 iitjiiclicd ofl'wi It ^]lilil." : .'IS lli( so (i;:hlii frf; >iius iiiiil llif <:!n.;!- iK'iJil Hroik lijfl n I'licomiti r as fa as in (iiivstion. ()!i!i\vk sc'tlutni'iit 0'. il nntck lit'lil, on i' tlio jiinposf (if ,1-1 • jfessioiis of fiiom^' ■I'lii lliciii lie rocriv of tlicir lii':ivis wo'i. inoiitli f il'ou- Mil. Frit', lu'ciiiUirktMll iii'lrcil iiii-iiia ill Ik'i illorted iiiiioiilll(•^\lla( iin h scarcely a liay i til tie ilol ilia siili'ii y eiK'otiiiterod uk issa};ea!.'iii^lln' I. i" the volunteers " of ere loii}^ timi r tlieeiU'iiiy, ai.il i mlidence.as the v;ii lilt and iiidi I'lli,; After four d.iy-^: on the little S(|ii:ii!' ortly 1)1 fiire miini: igh iiu'iiio taken li )k the fiilliiw in^ ii' nee have I seen tin >'d the f;iti;;M(s >: : luring extreme'.v ' •hoerfiilni'ss ami i' t!.'(> to this little Ii' 't throughout cxii'- Sh irtly after Ian liii'.; at Aiiiher>lhur;r, <>en, Brock \^as lust hrou^Iit into aiock'sI,ifc '" : — " Tlio atlciiiioii of iliL' lioops was siiihlciily rows- cil liy 11 sli.ij;j;iinj; tire of iiiu>kcli'v, whicii, in a few iiii:nit<'^,liee,iiiie Lteiieial, niiij :i|i|)eaiiMl to pio- ciuii lioiji an isliiiul in I'lC Dctniii liver. Colmicl Eiliiiti, tin" HnpciinteiMlciit of the Iieliaiis, (|iiickly c\|iliiiH''l llial tlie liiiiig arose h'oiii the Iinlians at! lelh-.i to tlie iJiili^li c.mihc, "lio thus expresscil lliL'irjov ;it llie aniviil ot tiie reinfuieeiiieiit liiiiler tlifir rtliiro f.ilher. M ijir (leiicial Hioek, aware of the -c.ii'eily of the niuniions ot war, sent Col. F.lliolt to ■ito|) tills waste of powder, sa» iii.H : '' Do, pray, Klliott, fully explain my wi-^liesainl motive-;, an I tell lie Indians that I will sfieaU to tliein to- la a row on tliissiilijeet. ili-i reipiest was proinptly att.'aije 1 to, ami Colonel F.iliott leiunu'il iiialiont half .III hour with the S'.iawanee chief, Teciiniseli, or Teeiciiptlie, already iin'iiiioned. ('apt. (rh';x.i:, till.' ai le-de-eamp, l)eiii>( (ireseiil, had an oppoitii- iiity of c (nely oliserviii;r tliu traits of that extra- orlii.MV man, ami we are iiideh'ed to liiiii for the follu^via^' gripliie particulars ; — ' Ti'ciiiii.-eirs ap- lUNUMiici; was Vfi'y prepossos-iiij:, his linnic lii;lii a'l I liiu'ly proporlioncd ; liis a;;e I iin,it:i;ied IoIk- aliiint live an I lliirly ; lii- lna^lil, five leet nine or ti' I iaclies ; his e iiiipk'xion, li;;lit copper; conn- tiMaiice, oval, Iii|l;'iI lia/.'e eyes, lieamiiiL; "idi clM'"rl'iilnes-i, cnerirv, -iiid decision. T'liw sni ill silv.r crowns, or eoronet>, were siispciided from till.' I'lwer earlilai^e of his aqniline no-;e; and a lai':,'e silver medallion of (ieoiirc the Third, winch I lielieve his ancestor had received from Lord Dorelieste'-, when (hivernor (leiieral of Canada, wi!ycd ipiills of [ Pr, vioiis to (leiufal Crock's aniva', (ime- tlie porcupine.' i o;!,.,, „■.■,. ami rrmii. ral liull liaii, on t!ie Till ;il.irv iiii'a^no'-i .-il (Hicc i ,.i i .1 "The first and usual sahitatlnns of shaklnj: ii.Imi'iu-iI hv (i.n. Un.ik. mid Htti, recio.-;seil llio hands lieiiii,f over, an allusion was made to tlie late firiiii; of mii-iketry, an I 'reemiiseli at once approv- ed of til.' reason nivell liy \Iajoi-(!ciici'al Hrocli fur its di-fcontiiMi nice. It lieiii;; late, the parties soon separate 1, wilh an nndi:r-;ta!idin^ that u i oiincii woiiM lie lield the followin;.,' morning', T'lisac- for ri!i;:ly took plai'C, and was attended liy alioiit « llioii-und Indians, w hose cipiipiiiciit {jeiier.illy mi;;lit tie coiisiden'(l vcrv iiiipotance, and, with their aid, to drive the Americans from Fort Detroit. — His sp'.'ech was highly applauded, and Teciimseh was uiiaiiimoii-'ly called upon to sjicik in reply. He comiiienced with cxpre-ssions of joy, that their ', fiiher lieyond the threat salt lake (meaiiiii;: the I kiiifi of Knjrlaiid) had at leiii;lh awoke fVoni his ' loiiLf sleep, and permitted lii-i warrior-; to come to the assi-^tancc o! his red children, who had never ceased to leinain steady in their lrieiidshi|>, ami j Were now a'l reaoiiie ■;|ieeches from other cliief-;, and replies thereto, the council lirol.e up. (i'lieial lirocl;, havin;^ . ipiickly discovered the .^npeiior >a;.Mcily and intre- pidity of T''eiim-:eli, ami hi-; iidlnence o\ er the Iii- ti rti disliiet of t.'aiiada, if iinieed he (dierirhed the iiope of elhctiii;:- any ; iiio\cmciit i4' iiiiiHUlalice after (lie f.ill of I Mieliiliinaeiiiac. I ' The (lay afiir hi«! arrival, (lencrtd T.roi'k ■ a I i .1 II I 68 lllSroIlY Oi'' TIIM WAIl OF 1812. resolvt'il on, ami l)u;j:,in to pn pnn' in liis tnrn for, ii(r(.n>ivc opiiMlioM-. l»,ilt(rii> liii'l alrcinlv Ijtcn (It did under tlii' siiinjrintcnilt'ni c nl C'apt. IMx'in of ill.' Knfiiui'us, and Ca])t. Ila'l of tlu' I'ldvini iiil Navy, on an (.kvatt'il part nl the l>ank of tin- nelroit, hen- ahont ii n;ilr ncfos^, anil ilivcctly oppo-iii' tlic Anu'i-ii-an fort i.l'tlial naini', ami Mro.k ru-o'.vvil tostriUc a iv(' li'oA' ere his opi^oiient nhowlil he streii^dieiud liy reinfoireincnts. (ii'n.val r>i'i)(;k d sniitcluul a llayr to the A r.i| lisiiion of tliis kind, a'il;e so imi'oil- ant and nnexpieted, eoiiiinf;' from an enemy, too, yo inferior in force, could meet with li;;t one response, and aeeordinfily, as we li.nc seen, the American (ieneral I'ljeeted the il- mnul, and to Mod and his sword cominittid tlie issue. I'orlunately, however, the dilianrc was addiessed to one who did nol for a monunt -nllef it to ahate his dili<>enee or lessen L;,s hopes, and the return of his messenjier \mis hut the sijrnal of attack, and a gallin;; lire was Ameiican Commander, witli the f„ll„\vin- ! '■"""•'^'■'t^''y "I'^'''^''! on the town and fort if summons, jiaving |)reviously arranged fur the i "'troit. concentration of all his avai'.ahle force on the j o,, ^\^^, (.nnrt-mnrtial held on (Ieneral Hull spot: — I for cowardice, the sttcii;xth of the respeelivc " Head Qii.niors, Sanihvicli, AiiKMSt l.'jth, 181 'i. I forces was firetty clearly ascertained. In ">^iii.— Tlie lorcu at my ili-posiil autlidiizes me ] speaking; of (ieneial Urock's arniv, it i«. sfalul to require <.f yo,., the innnediate surrender of, _„ ,,.,,^, f^^.^.^ .^^ ,,5^ d\sin>s-A\ did not cxeecil fort DetroU. — It is lar tioiii iii\ nieluiatioii to join ' ill ii war ol extermiiiiiiioii, i.ui you must l.ea«aie , •^^'veii hundreil condatants, and of this nnmiiir tliat the numerous liitily of Indians, who have fnxr liiiinh'iil irt re Cinindinii iiiHitiii^iliKfiiilsul attach...! thiMMSi.lves to ,mv t,„ops, will he hey.,nil '.^^ ^,^,/ ,.,,,,/^ . ^.^j, ^,,5^ ^,j,,^„ p,.;.,.^,,l„l niv eoiilr.il tlie iiiouuiit the contest eommenees. ' ' You will lin.l me .lisp.).eil to enter into such eon- ''.V live pieces of lit;ht arlilleiy. six and time- ditiims as will satislv the most scrupulous sense potmdcrs, he hegan liis operations " Kesfiet I irj; of honor. Lieut. rol.Mu.l McDoim.ll, anil Major ^j,^. Americans, llie foUowinjr admissions vuri' (ih'!i_', are fully authonseil to eonelu.Ie any ari'an'ji'iiii'iit I hat may tend to prevent the un- necessary ell'usioii of blood. " 1 have the honor to he, ".''^ir, yoiu' most oli.lt. Serv.-int, "(Simied,) Is.\.\(: ItitocK, .Maj.u- Gen. " His K.veellinev, "HriuMilier (Jen. Hull, " (-'ounuaiidini; at Fort Detroit."' " To which the suhjoiiud answer was returned : lleail (Quarters, Detroit, Aiijj. 15, !«!:>. "Sii!, — I have received your letter .if this date. I have no other reply to make, than to iufnrm you that I am pr.'pare.l to meet any f.irce which made on the same occasi.ui : — "The streniiili, position, and supplies of the Am.riciin aimy have hcen frc.piently state.l, and even ju'li- cially estahlished. 'I'he moriunour .lisposal, an.l any eimse.iuene.'s 1 surrounded hy !i wide and deep ditch, stionuly whirl, iiLivn-suli from anv exertion ol it vou mav I f,..,i^^,,i .„„, p-Uisadoed, and .sustained hy na think pi'i'per to make. " I avail myself of this oppnrtutiity to inform y(ui that the IJag of truce, under th.' direction of Captain liiowii, proceed.'. i c.uitrary to thi' orders, and 'vitlmut the knowledjrc of Col. Cass, who cominan.l.'.l the ti.xips which attacked yourjiicket, near the liv.'r Caiiaid bii.L'c. exterior hatlery of twenty-four jioun.iers. Three hiuidred Mi. hiij;a!i militia held the to»n, wliich in itself formed a resjieetahle dcf nee against the Iroop^;. Flankiiiji' the .iDproacli to the fort, and covcj.l hy a. hifrti and luavy "I lii<.'«ise take this occasion to inf.uiu .vou ! pjeU,.! f^.tioc, were stationed foiu' humlre.H »l:io that (lowie - Imw-.' was s.'t on 111'.' c.intiMi v to mv I , ... ., , . 1,. , . 1 Oi.lers. an.l it .lid not take place until ,h,.,. , he p'"'""'^'^''"''> "■■"'^' """'''"'"'=''"'""" *''^' "-'■'' cvaciiaiioii of the Fort. From the best infermation | iii>d advam ing rapidly, was M'.\rthur"s ili- I have been able to obtain on tlw subject, it "as I „j,.i„„^.„t. ()f pros i>i.\ns and ammunition the get on hre bv some of the niliabitaiits on the other , , , . ,, ,. supply was jihundant ; in line, eveiytli:ng was then sullicunt for the trial of strength ami si.le ol the river. '' 1 am, very respcctfi.lly, " Vour E.xeellency's must olit. Servant, "(Signed,) W. Iln.i., DriL'. Ceu "Coming, the .V. \V. .\nny. His Kx. V. Major (l.'n. lii-ock, "Comiii'g. His liiitanuic Majesty's Forces, "Samiiiieli, I'liper Canada." coiirag'j which impeiuleil." Tliu followii)}! extract fntn (ieneral nroik's oflicial commnniealion to Sii' (Jeoige Previst will i)!ace all the cvciilsol iIii; luemoiahlc Hilli August clearly ai nadi-r ; — "Tiie f.trce at m inll.e c.iurse of th. ol Sainiwieh, the link' after daylight .iiiil under the al \k'\\M\ of the t^i jartinent, the wlml vithout the .sliiihti — a gooil position, The In.lian , v\hoh tlnir landii'g twon iMi'l ocniiied the half o!i our left. I eriNsed the 1 waiting in a strong fi.ne np.ni the cue cu,iipellin;r him to ivceiviii'^ inf irniati JI'Arthur, an oilic kl\ tin- gairison tl tai'liiiient of live 1 <;',)i)n id"'er\virds, t Si -!i that morning d'lided on iin iinm tlie troiijis -idvanci fort, aini having a hnd taken little or laud side, I resolvi Lillians penetratei iKial ilii'l, hove luent, hy proposii for the purpose ol laiion. Lieut. 'iiai at.d Captain (ilegi liy ine on this mi- li.inr with the co honor herewith 1 di rations afurwa the two su!ij>leine "The f.iice th j' sty"s arms cann » '2".iiO iiKU. In tl .lelacliineni i< ii agreeahly t.> the course .)l' the evi two han.he.l met valuahle conv.iy liar; but there conuininding wil bouivl hy the cu iiisTonv OK Tiin UAi; ok isi-2. ike so iiiipdit. om an c'liciiiv, lllL'Ot witll l);;t r, as ^^n li.nc ji'ctc'd the il,.. oiil (oiiiiiiittid '1', the (1( li;ii:fe il (or a inoninit ■ or lossin l,;,s iiessciijicr \\;\^ \\\i\)>x (in' was vn and Uni nf I fJoncral iiiiH (lif rospccUve ertaincd. (n »v, il is si;\l((l id not f,\(T('il >f tiii-^ iiniiiliir fifill,lf/K(/llix((l ips, prccc(Ki| six and tlucu. s" Kosntrlini; missions v\ ( n. I'lio strchuili, incrican aiiny d fvon jnili- ifr r('f)oris lo id!ocliv(.' I'urce sivi" of time Its innny Ohii) 'Aitliiir. (If s (na(ivi' iiini 1 iIk' f<'d-a rcat solidity; iti'li, stloii;;!y taint'cl liy ail 11" ponniii'is, I'ld tin' t()«ii, able (k'Cc lu'c ; .inproacli to I and luavy unulred (llio 'on IIk' )iul:(, Vitlmr's ilr. iniinilion llie .'ryllrn^i vva.s strengtii iuiJ ii'ral I5i(i(k'!t MKc IVt\i)4 iiorablr Kiili \>. ril>I ai ly UK ■cini tlv IkC-U' til I' le I III hi\ > ai !t.' loicu llM.ll.'C TiailiT : — " Tin' force at my disjio-al lieinj; eollectid inli.e iDinsf of till' l.")tii, in tlie lu ijilitiorhood ol Siiinluiili, tile eiiili.!ikatii>n tool< plicr a liiilf at'ier daylight on the foUoiuntr morning, ai.d under the aMe arranjrviiienls miles lielov, iiiovi'cl forward j;ir! oci'iiiiii'd t'le woo.U, aho'.it a mile and a lialf on onr left. 1 eniitii laliiin. Liedtenant-Coloiul John Macdonell ai.d Captidn (ilegg were accoiiling'y deputed hy me on this ini>sion, and return ■(! will in an I'.iiiir with the comlitioii.s, which I have the liDiua- herewith to tran-inil. Certain coiisi- (Il rations afiei wards induced mc to agree io the two supplementary articles. "The force thus surrendered to his .\Ia- j' sty"s arms cannot he estimated at less tlar -■'(•() mui. In this estiiia;' , Col. MWithniV ilil.ichmeiit is included, as lie sin leiulei ed. a,;j;ricahly to the terms of capiUi'.'ilion, in ihe conrse .)(' the evening, uilh the exception oi two Inmdri'd men, whom he h ft e--C(iniiejf a vahiahK- convoy at some litl'e disini ce in \\\> rear; Init there c.in he no doidit theidliiei roinmaiiding will con>ider himsi If eiiuuHy hound tiy the capitulation. into two irooiis of eavahy ; one com.] aiM' of aiiilkiy engim er.- ; ihe -Itli Cm ed S.ite.S regiiiient : de'arluie iiis of the !>' :ied otl Cn ted .■>•(, at ■> I'ginnnl-, \<)hm:e r- : t rec r uiiiKiiH of (he Ohio Mihiia; oiu' ri g im ut of the .Niichigin tirritoiy. ''Thirty pieces if hra--s ;md iron oi nanco have ahea'ly heoi Sfciii\d." iSoiil'S the cannon four hnndreil rounds of tw. iiiyd'oiir pound shot lixeil, one Iniiilred thousand cartridges, loiiy lain Is of j'owder, and two thousand live 1 iindrid stand of .irms fell iiiio liie lianiN of the coni| lerois. The articles of eap.ilnlati. n* will e.xcile in the 'Ciiiip at Detioit, .\iiu'. U\. ISl'J, ' f apitiilatioil toe the suirelidel- ol Koi t 1). ti nil, en- j tei'ed into hetweeii .M.ijor (fciieiiil |{nieU, loiu- luaiidiiig his Hiiiaiiiiie .\iaje>lC.- loice-, on the L'hiled Slated, I (III till' oilier p.ut. '' Ailich' I. Kort Detroil, v\ itli all Ihe lionii-, reg- I illai.s a.s well as ii ililia, will lie iiiiiiiedlalelv .-liireil- deieii to the ^.l■jti^h ton e> ineici the eoiiniiiiial of ,M;ij. (leii. Hiiicl;. and » ill lie eon-iihied as pii- on- ers of war, with the rxeepiioii ol such ol' the iiiihtia ol the Michigan leiiiiorv, who have not joined ilie ai iiiy Art. 11. .Ml piihlie stoics, iiriiis, a^ d .ill |iiililic I doeiiiiieiits, iiieheliiig evei\ tiling el.so o) a puhlic iiMliire, will I'C iiiiiiiedialel^ ,i;iveii up. All. 111. I'livjle persons, anil propel (vol every di'is'aiplioii will he iispeeled. Alt. IV. His K\eeileiicy, I'liixadier (o'lieral Hull, having expics-cd a iloire that a lielnehiiieiit Iroiii the, -tale ol (tliii., o;i its way lojoiii hi> iiniiy, as « ell as (MIC .Till limn Kcal Ilitmit, iii ilci iho i.'oiiniiand ofCol .Me.\ilhiir, sl.onl I he inehnled in die eapilulatioii, it is aeeoidii.gls aeueil lo. It is, however, lo lie inidcistood, that sileh pail of the Ohio militia as haveiiol joined the aiiiiv, will hu peiinitteil lo return lo their hoiia s, on condi- tion that they will not serve daii, g the war, iheir inns will i,e delivi'ied, up if helonging In the i piihiie. Alt. V. Thegalli-oii will niaicli nut at the hour 'of !'_> this il.iy, and llieliiilish willtuke inilneillatu j po.-.'lessii n of the foil I .1. M,\C1 U.M.M., l.iciil. Col. iiiilnia. P. A D ('., .1. 1! (Ii.na;, .Mi.jor, A. It. C. I J .WHS .Mirr is, I Lieul. Col. .'it'i C. S. liil'aiiliT, I V, iiiirsii. I Col. eoiiiniainliie.^ l-i n'gi. of .Miehig.in Mililia, j i\V. Hill., .Vp|itatcnienl~, which could hi' l)roug!it to hear on the siiliject, to induce the citizens "f the (iiited States to enter on the sei\ice at all, and that, on findirghow grossly til y had iiecii deceived uiih respect to Cana- dian loyalty, an I the iiunihcrs llo/king to their standard, and ;hat the lia^'iuiet's point, not the warm '^rasp of fiicndship, was the leci ptinii av. iiitiiig ih ni, they \' ere di>uiayed at tiie im'^itidii, coiicladed at Di'troi", tlie Kiiliof Ami:. ISI it- It is .rirccl that t!i(> Oiru'cvs and sol.lici< of the Oliio iiii'ltia and volnnlecrs shall lie pei iniltcd to proceed t't their respeeiive hoMiiw. on this condi- tion, iliat tlicy do cot, serve diiriiii; the present war, nniess tliev are exchanged. \V. Iliir., Biig. tJen. eonimandiiig r. S N. W. Army. ls.\.\e 15 ocK, Miij. <'"'^. Am article in addition to the sniioU'incnt c •• 'i- clo (if eapitidadon, com 'iided at Detroii, .'.: ■ iwdi of Auiriisf, 1812: — It is further airreed tliat the onKaM'sainl ."oldiers of tlip MiehiL'oi miliiia and vohiiileers, under the coaini.inil of Major Welhciall, -^liiill lie p'aced (in till- sain pri!ici|ili's as the (tliio iiiilili i ami volim- teiMs are plaeeil hy the siippK'iiieiitary arlicio of the I tit!) iiistaiit. \V. llii.r., lirig. Gen. coiumanding N. \V. .\riuv I'. S. Is.i.\c lir.oi K, Maj (ieii. n.'Mirn of the Ordii inei> tak'Mi in the fort and battciie; at D.^lroit, .VuLMHt jiUli, \Ay>. Iron (ddiianee — niiu' 21 pounder.^, ci'_dit 1 ' poll iders, five il p(>a'idcis. Ih.is.s (hdiiaiiee — three li pounders, iwo 4 poieidcrs, one :j pounder Olio '^ lueli liuwil/er, one I'..\ inch ditto. Vide Ariiistryng, pa;^ ' We felt it due to truth— to (ioveriuueiil— lo I (ieiieral II nil, and to all persons directly or imli. reetly eoiieeriied with ilie facts or eiietiinslai iij leadin;j to the shameful eapilnlalic n ol Delidit,!) suspend our opinion until ii suflici ncy of liu'lit was afforded to chase away the doubts ami >li;i. I dows that ri's ed on tliesliaugc transaction, liui hmlii has rc-olvi'd itself into e. .lainty — we lo lunger he: itate to juiu in opinion uilli the wii'iij jieople of ihe west, " of everv sect or persnasini', I leli^'ions or political,'" that the ariiiv at Detmt : was tre.ie!uu'ou-i|y siirriuidered ; ;niU that (lein'i.i! Mroek instead of tieueral Hull havi! fallen an easy vieiory. I !;i ew (ieiieia! Ilullif- lerward-i declared he re^rrelted this attack had iii't lieeii made, and he h.id every reason to lieiieve success woiiM have erowiu'ii his ell'iuls. The reii- sou given for delav ing oiiro|ieratioas was to uioiiiit our heavy iiiiinoii, and afford lo the Ciiiiulian militia time and opportunity to ipiit nil ohnoximis !»erviee. In the eoiiise of two wei ks, theiuunlur of their militia who were luiiliodied liad decreased liy desertion from one thousaud to six hiUHhiil men : i, ill the loiii.-'i' ol three »ee»s, ihe c.ui- loii were moiiuted, the ammnuitioii fixed, ami everv prepaialion made fur .in iiiiiuedinte invest- ment (if ilie fat. .Vt a eoiiiicil, at which weri) present all the field ollicers, ami whieli wis In M Iwo ilaV'i hefiue our prep. iralions Were eompli til, it was UMaiiiinou-ly aereed to make au immedlitiu ittempt to aecoiiipliNli the olijeel of the expedi- tioii. If liy waiti'ii: two days we could have ilni MM vice of our ailillerv, il »as ai;reed lo »ail ; it int. it was detenuiiied to iro wiilioiit il and attempt 'he |ilac. hy •itorui. This opinion ap|ieareil to ciii' mil with the viev\-; of the ''enel ■e>p. Jay Uii.s ap|i ai am I tho tl alil t^Mie.stliiin.tiirong! , • ',. country ; and II. ileckired to me ,, ...Igod to IcHil the '.li'M ••■■ p'-ieed \ .,. ,.iiil>;'rketl on h :.;;.i every requisite mill zeal, the ardor a till' o.licers and men o pli-hiaent of their wi- iilnlge, that ill the lio WiUitiiig iu duly to tin Tlie plan of attaekii m,i| instead of acting ciiiif, evacuated Ci river ia the night, Bii enemy to i-ijure inricv of the enemy liad joiiieil us, and Iheiii was hut a pa.-^ iatil iiiid iinaecountal mill ile^iruyed the litih of timid, irresolute, an kft ill tliccoiuiiiaiiding "Oil the i:uh, the I fite to Detroit, and li Daring' liiat and the iw (iii,mI ilieir olijeet .villa blislied a baitery lor v nil eigiit inch howitzer, a ilii.ichmeiit of :>.')' > coiiiiii.iiiiled liy Colonel onii'ied to march to th provisions, which had ^ )MMteL'leil hy a ciuiipiili f'lijitaii. Ihusli. "(1,1 S.iturday, the 1 fliiK of truce arrived f niiiiiiions froui (leueral of till' tii'.vii and fort of • 111) lon;j:er restrain the I tlii-^a i ii!iiediateaiiils| AliDiit four o'clock tin uiiiin the tow II. The fi tiiiiioil without inteiTU till iliirk. Their shells o'cliick. " I have been iiifoi vvlio sa\\ the return ol I the iliiy after the surrei (It every deser iitioe, w Oiii> thi)U.saiiil and tiiirt piiituuits, twelve iu a p Uiiifiiiin. Many of the militia. The rest of tl white force to about numlicr of the Indians witii any degree of { tisililc. And in the c ti.ivn luid fort, it was coul I have afforded iic eneaiy. " la endeavoring to to investigate the cans sn iiiiex[)eete(l and dis to fiiiil any solution in i cniue iiliiig parties, or Mce in our power, T ltd! 'IV eoiiniieiiciii;! our inarili. llISTonV OF THE WAR or 181-'. r.l ismvs of \U 1. Hull liU'Ud \v w !int fight. vanity hnsin- llisiil'il'T, ;,. , '■iiity, tiviiiii. .ugcs l)i'oiij;lit tiAh st liitn,tliioiig!ioiit tlic!"nf;lliimil linadlli ; tn llif .\or old (.Kiu-fal. Tin- si ntU ovcrnnioiil— 10 rt'ftly or imli. ciiL'unistiiiici'j n ol nclKiit.ii) •i iicy of liLilit Diiliis iind .'-li:|. nsiietioii. lint tllilllV — \\f ],t) « illi I lie wih !ij or |llM'Sll:lsilM', riiiy at Diitniii li lliat (ifiii'Ml it, to Ir Vf lii'ci lly eiirorci'il Kv Ml of tlic tii-i illll llllll OIljMlI. ri'HL'lli of ihc y (."oloin'l (';i William llu:i, (itli. 1812. I, llll'V l.ll'lk'i itil tl,c liii|n; itliili vji'W (if :oriiiis iiit:nk lllillcss li:i\i! Tlii! llllll ;f. t.ick IkkI iic'l 111 to lii'licvi" Is. Tlic l't';l- WHS lo iiioMiit !u' ('.iiiiiilijii !l oliiioxi'iiij ihi' iiuiiilKr ■.\'\ (li'crcii^iij ix liiinili'i'il 'n.-, lllu r.ui- (ixi'cl, jiul liiitc iinc-t- whicli uiii' •li «:is hi 111 ('nili|i!i ti ■!, :\ iiiiiiii'iliiilu (III' CXlH'dl- il liavi' iliii III Kiiit ; it iiikI ;itli'ni{it, iil'cii to <(iN n\. mill tlio 1)111 Hiarilt. ]\: ileclannl to me tiint lie coi.sii' --..l liinHclf r,..i|;,'eil to li'iid the army to .M.i'icii Tlie aiii- [. lii'-'i ...1 pl.iced ill tlic wa;,';;oiis, tl'C tJiiiiioii ^ •• iiil'i'vUt'il on lioani llio lloatiiifr liattoiics, ;;;,i L'Vt'i'v n.'i|iiisit(! was |iii'|iai(.'i|. The spiiit (iiiil /A'iii, tlie arilor ami animation ili-i)!;iyi'i| liy the n.lii'i'i;' ami nn;ii on li'aniinj; tin: lu'ir accni'i- pli-liiiii'iit of tlit'ir wi-iu-i, was ,■ sik'l' ami sai-i"! iilcili^e. tlial in the lioiir ol iiiai tlu'V wr)ii;il not ho wiiiitJM;: ill liuty to tln-ir countiy and llu'iiistdvfs. Till' plan of attac'kiiii; .M.ildeii was aljaiidoned, niid instead of aetin;; oiVeiisively, we broke ii|) our caiif, ev.iciiiited Canada, and re-eio.ssed ilie river in ih.e ni,L;lit, witliinit even tiie .-shadow ol an I'iK'iiiy 'o i'ljnre us. We lelt to the temler iiii'icv of the enemy the iii'seralile (".inadians who llllll jiiiiied us, and the jirdtn/i'in wo atVordcd tlii'iii was lint a pa.ssport to veiij;i'aiice. Tlii^ (,it:il iiiid unaecouiitalile>li'|) d spiiiii-d the ll()0|is, (iiiii ih>triiyeil the little eoniidenee whieli a series of timid, irresolute, and iinleci>ive iiieasnies had k'ft ill the eoniiiiandiiif; ollicer. ''■ "Oil tin- l"tli, the Hritish took a po.sition oppo- pile to Detroit, and liet;an to tlirow up works. Iliiriiic liiat and tlie two followin;;; days, they pnr- (iiiiMJ (heir olijeet .vithoilt interiiiption and esla- lilislied a Ijaitery for wo ei^iiiteeii pounders and niu'i;;iit inch howitzer. Aliont sunset on tiie llth, a lU'l.iehment of li.")!) men from the reitimem,- ciMiiiii.inded l»y 'Jolonel .M'.Vrtlnir and myself was oriii'ied to niareli to the river Kaisiii, to escort the pnivisioiis, which had some tiine reinained there |ii'i)tected liy a eoiiipaiiy under the eoininand ol (.'■ijil;ni. Brush. "Oil S.itiirday, the l.'itli, ah uit one o'clock, a flii^ iif truce arrived from S.nidwieh, ljearin>; a tiiiiiiiiDns from (ieneral Hrock, for iln- surietider of tlie toivn and fort, of Deiroit, statin;; he coiil i 111) liMi;.'er n.'straiii the fiirv of the savafxes. To tlii-^a iinnedi.ite and spirited refusal was reiurned. Aliaat four o'clock their hatteric'^ lieiran to play iiMiin the town. The tire was returned and i-oii- timii'd without interruption and with little effeci till (lurk. Their rsliells were thrown till eleven o'clock. "1 have lieen informed hy Colonel Kimllay, wild sav\ the return o( the (jiiarier-Master-ticner.il the (lay alter the surrendi'r, that their whole force, ol every descr ption, wl ue, red, and hlack, was one tlioiisaiid a.id tiiirty. They had twenty-nine piHtumts, twelve in u pl.itooii, ot im-n dressed '.n uiitiiiin. Many of these were evidently <,'aniidiaii iiiilitiu. The r(!.st of their militia inereas<'d their white force to ahoiit seven hundred men. The nuiniier of the Imlians could not t>e ascertained with any degree of precision — not inaiiy were Tisihle. Ami in the event of an attack upon the t(.«n and fort, it was a s[)eeie.s of force which coul I have artbrded no inaierial advantage to the enemy. "Ill endeavoring to appreciate the inotive."" and to iiivosti;;ate the causes which led to an event Bn unexpected and dishoiiorahle, it is iinpossihie to find any solution in the relative strength of the coiUe iding parties, or in the measures of resist- Mce in our power. That we were far superior U the enemy, that upon any orilinan piiiuiple nf ealculaiion »e wonhl have dcfrai 'il thiiii — iiie wounded and indigiiiHi' leelin^is o( eviiy man there will lotily. "A fi'W diivs liifiiiT t'le sivreiidi'l, I W'l in- foriin'il l.y (mi. iliill, we hiii! Imn' liiimUciJ loiiiids ol f.weiity -I'onr pound shot ti.\i-l, .iii'l . IkiuI olio liil.idrcd thonsaiid cai Iiid;;crt iinidc. Wc.-niien- dercd with the I'lt fimy liainis ol pioMhr and two thousand five lundied stand of .iriii-i. "The stale of our provi-iniis ha-* nut heen j-jc- iierally understood. On the day ot the >uirii.der we had lil'leen day.s' provi-ions of every kind on hand. 01 iiie..t tlieie wa> plenty in the conniiy, and airan^cineiils liad liecii niielj lor |niH lla^illg and ^^lindiiig the Hour. Il was ciilcnl.ili'd wo could iiMiliiy procure three months' provisions, iiidepenilent of one linndred and filly li,inels if tlmir, and one thousand three lilindied head of e.iltle which had lieen forrtaided fioiii the ,-tato of Ohio, which lemaineij at the livcr Kaisin uinler Captain lirnsli, within reach of the army. " lint had we lieen totally dislitiile of pr<'vi. sioiis, our duty and onr iiilere.-l. niiilnnlilediy, was to fight. The ei.emy invited ns to meet liini in the held, liy deliMtnig him the whole eonnliy would have liecii oiieii to us, and theoljecl ol our expeiiition gloriously .md silccessliilly oiilaiiied. It W(! had liecii deteatcd, we had nothing in do hut to retreat lo the fort, and make the liest de- fence which circnmst.inces and onr sitn.ition ren- dered praclicilile. lint lia.-ely to snireiider with- out 111 iiig .1 giiii — laiiudy to snlmiit wiiliout ini.-ii j» a Itayoiiet — disgracef'nily to pass in review heloio an enemy as inferior in the (pialiiy as in the nnin- lier of his forces, w ere eircnmsiances whieli excit- ed feelings more ea>il\ lelt than deseiined. I'o see the whole iif onr mei: Hushed with the hope of victory, I'.igerly awaiting the appioachii.g toa- te>f, to see tlielil aftei wards dispirited, hojieli -.g, and desponding, at least live hundred shedi.iiiig fears hi'cause they were not ullowcd to meet ti.eir country's foe, and to tight their eoimtiy's bailies, excited sensations which no Ainei ican lia.s ever lie Ore had cause to feel, and wide!', I linsl it', (iod, will lu.'Ver again be felt, wide one man le- mains to d','l'end the standard of the I'nion. '"I was iiilorined by (ieneral Hull, the morning after the capitulation, that the Hriti-h loices con- sisted of one thousand eiLjIit hundred re^rul.iis, ami t!iat he .-iii rendered to prevtmt the elVu-ioji of human blood. That he lagnilied their regular tiirce ne.irly fivefold, there can lie no doniit. Wtu'therilie philantliropic reason a-signed l.y hint is a sufficient justilication for surrenderiig a loiii- fied town, an army and a teiri'ory, is lov the (lovernmeiit to determine. ('i>nfident 1 am, that had the courage and conduct of the general been erpial to the »pi'-it and zeal of the troops, the event would have been u» tirilliaiit and sueeessful ag it now is disastrou.s and dishonorable. " Very respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant, IiKWis (.J v.-s, "Col. :ird Kegt. Ohio Volunteers. " The Hon. Wm. Kusti.i. " Secretary of War." fl l> ' UlSTollY OK Tlir, WAll ol" lKl'2, ni. Ill- a I I r''liii!;-c.\]iio^-i' Mm (i ■lur.il Ann Htri"!;, ill 111:- lii.-l"iv 111' :lii- WMr, may Ik' fail ly i.'Ki II a> :» siiiii|i!(.' cf ilic i .\ it inns wiiicli Wrrc ni:i If III ilii' iliiic !o liinl a victim, sniiic- wli r ■, nil wliirh to wicik tUc vi ii!j;, aiicc ol inorliiic'l n.itiiinal vaiii> \ In oiiIlt to make tho ('a«i' sli;l iiioio slioiiji a};aii;sl (ion. Iliil!, ra>liiK'ss a!)il if^iioran'T aio () lalitirs IVi' ly lio'ovvcl (Wi llii' l'',ii!j;'i>ii (irnciMl,— a slioil CXliart will, liovMViT, ciiabl ■ IIk' I'l'ailiT tn jmLc 111' iiiiiisiir; — " Notwitlistandiiif!; llu' r(|HM(iil liliiiifliMS of the Ainericaii («>-iK'ral, foi'lMiio fli'l nut yitriitirrly a'lainLni liiin ; and oil ilic Iiilh Aii};ti>t, [iri'M'Mti'il a iK'w orca-ion, r('i|iiiriii!.!; on iiis |iart only tin' vulvar (|iiality ol'drCi'ii^ivt'. eoiii'a,i;i', to have ("oaiiilculy luC- 11. -d I lie di,'>i;iis of lli'ock, and ri'-i'stal»li>lii(l his oMi iisccndancy on t v Detroit. This Od'a^-ion was (oiind in tin.' i/nliKmlioii of his advi'isiiy ; « ho on nM-siiiji thv rivef with a lori'v snnllc'i' tliaii that it ua-^ liis piii'iiosc to assail, liad ha>li!y dctunnincd to ii>k tlicstoini- in;i of a foi'li;ioalioii, stronji' in itself, abiiii- (laiilly s;iiiplied and sulliriently ^;anisoiu'd. If it lie liioii;;lil e\.iaordiiia.'\ , that under tlicsu eirciunslaiK'es, (i.'iieral Itrock shduhl hiiri\f'i)-!fiiH<;,( M the , ick issued his piochimatioii* to the iniiahiiaiiK of the Michigan ti'i i ilnry, and |i.' siich piecaiiionary nensiires as he deeii; i neeosiry lor tlit protection of the in'iahi:::[r, of the coiiipiered territory. To tlic honni ■ the Indi.in-, however, he it said, tli.'il allh";:, many enemies fell into their liaii Is, no In- ; life was snstaine I, ic'vond ihu eaii-ic'l hy r. Ihiti'h halteries KaiihliiUy did ihev n' ■ ■■ the injiiiictioii> of Teciun-ich an 1 the i. : I chiefs, who hail im|iressed on them t:;;ir. , notliiii;; eoul I they te-tify more slroiiiriy I- : j love to the kiiiir, their ^real fit'ser, th in ■ I follovviiiir ill-' dictates of hoimr and hninaM!. ' Wliich he, thri)iij:h his (ieiieral, li.id i m! ealel. Thi-; Keliavior on the pail of': Indi'in alliisdid imt, however, pievi nt (In. Hull from hasely a-ipersin;; them in his.-iiiiin ; to vindicate his con luel. " The haiuU ; .ira'e': him who iienned it, as in no on ■ .\miiii work on the war have welteeii ahle lodiscn-.i; an autlieiiticated statement of the exc.--- im|)uted to he Indians hy (ieiieral II Tliere is very little dmiht hut that the i; .n : tiieni, however, operated eliVetua.ly on (1^:. •r;(icliuiiati'lei.ee >liiill coniiiui force iiiiiil his Majcslv's pleasure lie Kimomi.m- loiij; as the jieace ami saleiy of llic mid teiiii- ^ uill ailiiiil thcieiil; aiul I iln hcicli.v a mi liii .; and make ki.own to the said ilihaliilaiils, that L' shall lie piotceied in the lull e.seicise aiiil ■ ploviiii'iit 111 llicir ieli;;i(iii, of whicli all pci.i . liolli civil and iiiiiitaiy, will t.ike notice, ni.d^'' erii llieiiiselvcs accnrdiiijily. All persons ha\ ill" ill their losscssiiiii, cr liiie:« , ., , 1 , , ," , ,. , i< J)"ii Iciicv prevailed any Kiiovvlcil;;e ol, any puUlic property, fl- J ^ , " foi'ih\vil!i deliver in the saiiie, or ,i;ivc 1 1 i .' thereof, lo the ollicei' eoiiiiiiiuidiiie, or in l.n ■ Colonel Nichol, who lire ihilv aiiilioii/.iil Id lui. tl,,,,ii i ...... ;i » . , . • ,• ' 1 r f-li'iiilil attnoute to l and <,nvc proper rect ipts |ni the same (lllicers ol iiiiliiia will lie liilil tespiitisilile, i all arms ill ilie pnsse.->ioii of :iiiliiia-im n If ..■■ iiiedialely ji:ivcii up, and all iiiitiviilii;.|s w lu:i< who have in tlieir posscs>iiui aiiiis u! any t will uive them up withonl delav. „. Civeii iniiler my hand at DeiK.ii, this Klili '^j ' '"' '"-f ■'•"d jrrea of .\iijii-t, Ihl'J, and ill the o'Jd year of I jcst_\"s leigii. I.-- \.vc Hi CI K, Mi.i.ii-(I' I lia '. and pro In c Milieu ler of D' tro olii a il despileh 1 fii'\ : -" It yvas in ti| ' :-, lliil an at in ,. ui'i ill ■ tlecesN,;i ; ini't iry stor. s, cii .1.1 ., Ml pac\-!i.ii ~i t.Mi I III h\'d mile--, Til ■ ticiiefars fcai- ri-sMiiiIy h.'i'c e- it I as iic ;.^»js on. this liiilu army, w Fic!:il ''Sj hy \\()UII su^ parted its. If air fo;,rof all the Nni h.r aiiinsi (r more tlian tweiii l;ii. c I in the ten iti (iell 'I'd h.ld depell Mi i!i.,'in .Militii) ai of I'lc i'c;;ii','ii' three.' Oir readers are tiie ir.ilh of this pa (I lural hy W't3- of i liiiii and his ilcvo! . II nil c of the nort cs I'l is!i!nctil-i am;); ill 111 ir cinploymch M 'i;i; Til VN IWo III Wl.i close this [loiti. cx'iict from oil' of lii 'iiniheis, wli'cli - I'l l s 'ci'c! of liis >iici ■; cHul 1 he more dcsp ? hill I answer that i! I a.liicttcd of nohiiit^ — 1 L' it possi'ssioii (1 iiiM addressed lo tin !; nh i iif the SKNTI.MI'.N" Ai.MV uttered to tin .. th ■ river contrary t Pi'i'ior ; it is, thi're J lice to my own disct C"cilcd f oin a cool c i - I lie ni'.st and irp,. S| r.n'irt proiliii'iil ml f" I i''|;ii|.i I)) t|i.-. III) lll- . c.iiisc'l 'ly li, dill ilit'v "'"V iin I llu- II i; r II tiu'iii (iial f slri)u:;'.y I'm;: filiicr, tliiii ■-. r Mini himmi'iiy I'.il, Iniil i iiiil- K' pint of <•:• [ilcVi III (u'lr :,; II in liis ,-iiit III ' TIk' liaiiil> i w liicli liail I'll ' Ilillll'.'VO IS i> Tin'ir iiiuii'nT- : lii-tory of ',iiriv])c (lovs I !y vioinicctl;;': Tliis jiMss:: 11^ di-i.zi'ii' I' '■• I on ' Amiiiis: iilik' lo ilisi'ii',.: (' llio exci-v (it'in-ral 11 ' UiMt llu' Ir.'ir : cilia. ly (III (u: icii'li.V iilil'.ou:.: Ill loililiii \, 1'. • IimII (iiiitiiin lie Kliii" II, li • iliu siiid li'iiii' v\<\ II M) ill I liilillilr., llllll !■ 'NcuIm' cimI ' liirli III! jirl'i liOlicc, ili.li ;-' -cssinli. (II' liii' ■ |ii()|Krty, > (ir fi'ivi- II IHU, liV til I/l' 1(11 i/rd III lie ^illlll' li>|i()lisilik', ' iMia-llull I I' \ i.liiol-i win:'' iiis ii! any 1- ii. iliis Uilli ■ I \l ill' Ot" I :? '..|.('|. I i ' Ji;i ', ami I ro III cd in a i.'icit iin asMiv t'li ' sii'ii^.st Id iIivmi thit thr ('niiiiici- o tHiio, niiu'ii liT i>l l> ti'iiil, as ill aiioMicr pail ol iii^ I'liiii-ylv.iiii.', and Kci.lii(I>ii ii oliilil dopiidi 111- lliiH cx; rcss' < liiiii 111 a ri'ia'iatdiy iini-imi, ' it iT liy ill, ni-i'v( 3 c;i'i:— "ll »v.i-i iiiiii i-viliji', ill (lie niliirr m ir tin ir Indian ali"-. I licv wiTi- tinw t nudit tii;ii ;-, llnl an ami , cniiM liave liti.-n runiis'.c vi:ii til' iiccc->ary s'l; p'ii'^ id' iirnvi-iioii-, niiitii'V ■•-liii' s, ciiitiiiii^j;. and coiiilnrt I'nr tin (ii>. Ill |iai;\-!n)r-L's lliroiiiili a wil Icni >s i.| tAii Mil Ir '(1 miles, Ii 1 .d w iili liDslilu s ivaui.'s " Til ■ (ii'iU'iMl'-i I'rars (')!• ill • siCi-ly id' his Iroojis !n>n a r(iniiiiii'ti,.n nl imidcn's, under I'm' id- em r. had oeiiirii d, which -hie t-i;.;htid man I'inild ii'it iii(>\ ide thr O!' ri)ri--er. i li Imixteil jiriisjicrts id' ail] i iier Cariad i, at !ea-t is far 1^ itie NiiLraia, hud li.'cii ('rii-ir.ile! nn 1 hmt- tiinnd, and the \'. Intlc riiii.n a^ ininii asmn- fi Miialy Ikti' ^i it 111' 1» tt r of ids Jiidiriiiciit, ; ishi d at l!ic fiiin-e of tlicir !'iiii_'-i hi li-lied as ill.' ;^ >-s <>"■ "It, Wis 1 ii;iiis-.i'ih', Sir, that i p'aii-, a^ if ilc mi^lity Ni.i :ai-i had rlnic^ed lii'.s link' aiaiiy, wiiin iIu.mi hy Ciii-iic and ; is emren! uid lucii iIiimwh fnun l.alu' < Mi- }:iiv;ii 'rs, hy wuiiii Is and deitiis, i oiild liavu ; lario In Kiic ii;ivvMids, hy curilniiuikis i.r nihcT sii, |ii>i'ted itsi ir Mfiiinsl mil only the culleiUd ! eonviilsivc pin immcna. Smh ".as (he r; vnl- fni.c nf all tiic Niirihern NaToiis (d' linliai.s, in'i rrmii nveru'i cniii r rindidcnc" In niter liir .nziiiwl (save the mark I) riii; iMiii) I'uijci: ! ann/i'iiieiii. The i M" it, i.idreil, jiiohici'd (if I'l p-'i' Caiiada, .■ Inise lupiilatinn iiiiisist.» ' ilni'iiul omI t''e Cuiiailas liy the la I! id' Dit'i.it ol'iiiiHV than twenty lii r,'> ihe inini'ier c.iii- v as as (.'ei-tricil a^ it w a- m.e.v; ceud. ll vi ;h ta' e I ill I he lenitiiry ol .Michi;,: m, (a- d' tln^ the lir^i eirerp i-' in \vdiirh the nilitia had (itii 'I'd had depeii I d liir his d iein e on the , li en t'nt;-i<;ei|, and its ennip'ele sii •ec>-- not Mi iii.;in .Militii) ailed hy the principal pari , on'c ini;'arted cnnlidetice to that hoK, hii! it of I'ac rej'il!ar I'orcus ol'tiie I'l-iiviino " liii-inrel the ti'niil, ii\ed ihe v\ ;i\ i !■. r-, and I ,, 1 . • .• , ■ 1 , i a\v( d the lew di-;dreiti' 1 \vh(i iniir'it have heon Oil- readers are in a pnsition 'o judge ot ' , , T . ,■ , ,1 r ,1 ■ . (• ,1 ■ , . II ; iiihahii-ints of til' i'rii' ince. 'jhi- \ ieloi v, too, tiie ir.ith ol tins part III the sl.Heni iit I lie j • . ' ,. I 1 • ,. ,. • . i at ill'' vei-\- eolimu'iiceinent I'f the (••ilniiai,:ain-l ' . _ ' 1. 1 'i • I 1 ,.".■ I I • ! proihieed th" iii)-l heiieli'id r. ^ulis in at- liiiii and Ins ilevoed .irniv the wlinle in- , ' ,1 I- ,1 .1 , " ■ .1 . 1- ! tachii'ij; Vet iiio':'e sli'oii'j-'v III the Itiit'sh canso, II nil c ol tile north-west aim otln r iiMdiii^ • ■ ' . ., . .Ill- 1-1 I iheln liansorili" •■ ( s| — inaiivid'vvlnin, h;id re- c- I i isliiiieiUs ainiKi;; tile In a ins, wine : have ' • ,, • I 111- . , ; V( Ts. s.|\ri'ti|!sen the 111 il isll ailll^', MOil'd ! ;\V(» III 111 ir eiiii)lo\nieiil and mid r tlieir (aintrol | . ... i sec di"! I'miii a e:iii^i' \\h:c!i tlnv eom't ived M ll,'!; I'lUN TWO Tiiiiis.\Mi w.irn; .mi:n'. \\ e ! . . ■ , , ., . . ,. . . . , I lis 1(1(1 hihiicss Id d r 11(1, or joined tiie .\ino- \V1,1 riilS!' tins pnllMIl III (I'll' sll ijeit UllIl ail ,. . ... ,. , . , ,, ', , , . i lic.iii standard. The ti i''e-, a'sn, ;iii I ii'imel 0113 (X rut Iniin on.' ol dijneial l> o.k s letters to ' ' , 111 iii'tiieis, wh'c!i siio,\s prelly clearly the; |lh'\' Wire, who weie mniei ided \. I;i' h |',arly 111 jiiin, 'MMil 1 li,'i'.e ihl'iiwii tinir ii.liiu ik'o ■Old niiiip.eis iii'ii the icijio^ite .--I'.'iii ri I - 'crei of ! i is ^in 'ces^ : — " Siimes ly iniildn; ceil I lie iinire desperate lli.in ih,- measure km I answer that the slate of Ihe l'r.\i:iei | i'"'"'t""'"^'- i"''*'''!- "■'- '' ''"' *'aiia,ia, that al.iitledof nodiin- hill desperate rem. die^. T" ^' * ■•''"' ^'' "^ ^'"■'' "'""-.^' '""' ''""^'"^ '<3 -I 'iilpos.es.io,, of t!ie letters niv anla'jn- U: '> l^. haUn en • n'riislel ikc dc fi nc^' i f the iiNi adilrossed to Ihe Seeietaiy at War, and liK'tifthc si;ntimi:nts wnnii iii-m)!',i:iis of itis Ai.iiv iitteri.'d til their friiinl,-, --evident des 1 11 ieiicy prevailo'l iiii.aiidii iii, I crossed t!i ■ river (a)iiti';iiy lo the opiiiiiui of C'olniiel I'i'iior; it is, therefore, no wonder thai envy !-Ii' nld atliilinte to niiod I'urtmu' what, in Jus- li e to my own disi'crnnicat, I imisl say pro- ( I'lJed f oni a cool (akailaton of the jioinx cl I'lic tirst and jrroatest cfl'ect \vn^ nl once t' i.n.ii imiiiiici.i ,.,i ,.,|(.,,vo Canidiins of a' ' 'I ii'lMii< In i|ii-tion at Montreal, liiav not he uninterestin';- to our readers: — " Itappears that (ieneral IluUand .«uite, accom- panied hy ahout '!'> ollieer.-! ami liOit ^;^)llJiers, left Kiiifiston, under an escoit of l"i,'e, accompaiiipij hy Captain (iray. Captain Ihilland Major Slul,. letoii followed in the second, and i-uiia: woui.dij oflicers occupied (our others. "4. The American ofllcer,". " 5. The noncomuiis^ioned officers and tol' diet*. I "(). The second divifiion of the escort. " It unfortunately proved rather latein thecvon- ing for the Vast concoi.rse of spectators asseinlili.J I to experience the gratification they so an,\iriii-|; looked (or. This iiicunvenieiice wa.«, however, in a great measmc remedied liy the illuiidnatiunsoi' the slreetr through which the line of march pas.-'t'i]. When they arrive at ! i;?t olij»cts of tin; I-'.: ii'ii of I'iii^li-'ii Ur^t Lidiaiiien. — ■I- coaipared wiili I' ji'tt,igo on wliieii ;''.".vi'.-s iiadlii'cn im i;i eiitLTin^, howeve] ;i ■ in .s:iiloi's, bone ol 'iioir t^incw, the l!r i I iiive lost sight of "fill;.' United Slates !ii;;ites, of seantiing '!iii ,' to their own se^ ''I' ii own well undel •li'.'jk-deckctl vessel '"'.'.•!','-dceked vessel ' ' i lur own class, hov i'l I'mnag.', ginus nn< *:iiit fact also, must ii '' American ves.-els iiiiny of whom, uiifi ^^iiile many more h Jjfitiah service. For 5 I CliiliC, liMvii ; (I li_\ ilii' ii.iliii loct't'iJfd to ilic •lit. CO 1 1. ;i', nccoinpaiiifd mil Miijoi- Sink- 1 ,-uiiie woui.iiil ilTicers mid tcl' ' escort. " Into in llii'cvon- tiitors ntis«'iiilili.J licy so aiixirii!-!; WHS, lldWCVCI, ill ', llluiiiiiiatioiisijf of iiiardi pasMil, iTiil's house, i!ie presented to l.ii ind wns receiveJ I invited to tnkc his slay at Ahi- he ahout sixlj Msii-; iiad t.) | iclv tlji ir cnini'Ieinei-.t iiol only \V.-t Iihli. linen. — Maiiiiiii^ <>{ .ViiPiiean Ih'et, ' I'.oiii iiiiii)nu;-t men of tiicir own ii:i;;()M, but 1- ci/aipiied with th.ii iiT ilie I'riiisii. — tl^iiLiin : 'loiii ii luiiiieruus !>0(ly also of fniei'^ii sca- I'pii'i's iiilminan tre.itnn'iit oC an Knulirfii I men. Tlie eoiistitiitiou also of tlie hudy ol" -,ilnr.— lir^t eonseiiuenees of the iiieetia^' ol'j AiiKTiciUi iiuiriiies was wlioily liilierent from !iie ^^iti^ll. 111 tlie I'liitc'l Stal'j- every man may learn to slioot, evi-ry man may he a marksman. 'i"o eollect ih.ese I'-qurL marksmen ot'i.'ers wero sent into ih: weslivn parts of the I'nion, and to eompKto still firlhcr their ellicieney, :\, maritie l).irr.i. kwas e>lal)Ii -IimI near ^Vas!lin!^- ton, from which iK'pt'.l the .Vmeiican ships were ngiilarly sr.njiliiMl. There was another point ill which the I'.ritish wero found, as com- pared with their opponents^ very ileliiient — .^imiiery, — nor was this eiUirel}' the finlt of the coinmanders of II. .M. ships, as the Admi- re ir opponents— we may alvi.-eiUy use the rally instructions, which they were bound to •r.'ssinn 'scene,' us tlie sea had hitherto lieen :„|„.y, reslriclcl them, during the fust .six ;-ta;,'c on which the triumphs of iirilish j montiis after the ship receiveil her armament, u::ii|'iai I'lrees; loss ol' the (Jaeriiirc ; fVoUe ;,:i'l \V,i-p; .Mac.'doiiiaa luul I'lilicd .'^1 iti's ; .1 iva an I Coiistitaiijn, l).'eeiiil»er •J'.Hii. — HlVeet ii| tlieso sueecvseson tlie .Vni'.!rieaii pi'i>;)le. — ^I 'isure.s alopteJ l»y the Uriiisii (/overiiaieiit. ••-.Vaieiiean list, of (;aptiiies male. — .Viiieriean I'li'-i iciil'.-; .Mes.s ige, Xovenilier 4. Tiie failure of all the milihuy movements Naval r,„-nimn-is ,ii Undertaken, SO fir, hy the ■■ , •■ uuial r.iiiaik,..!.. Ainerieans was, in some ': :iV'e, balanced by the une.xpetted success '■ilii' li attended their opevations lui an element '.vlii'li liad Ion;.; lieen the scinie of triumjili to ss had been most biillianlly represented. entering, liowever, on a contest v.ith Ame- fiom expendiiej; more slots per month* than imounted to one-third in number ofher ujipcr- ! Ill Sailors, bmie of their bone and sinew oij deck guns, and after the.els were maimed by sailors, many of whom, unfortunately, were British, ^^ lile many more had been trained in the iJnfiah service. For many years [irevious to 5 inattention to this most essential point in war, the proper haniling of the weapons by which it was to bo waged. We have boldly made the assertion that the American frigates were of the scantling of .seventy-fours, and a fev,' exiilaiiatory reinarka will show the correctness of the statement. * Vide Jauies' Naval llistoiy, part 6. |( - ■■ ^ • ! f 66 inSTORV OF TIIK WAR OF 1R12. In ITflt, ail Kiif-'lish sliifuvrlfrlit* Mr. Joshua Fudyinidn) tliat rnniiil lonjr twojily fnur- Iliiiiiiplinys, loiilciit at IMiil;i(lil|iliin. jravi; in puiinilt rs." The Con.stcIIatioii was a ••i.ic estimates of tla- ("St of liiiildiiip; three seventy frifrate to the Chesapeake, and "hid jioiNf. four jriin ships, to measure si.xtecn hiindrid moiiiiliii;: on her two hnmdsiih-s (vide Jaim, atid twenty totis, Ameri<'aTi measurement, lifty-foiir 'j-iins." Had the Amerieans, p.u. ahoiit seventeen hiin(h-ed and (ifty Kiisr'isli. ' sessed no sfronfjer frijjates tlian tin- lieavj ,; Ik'fore, however, the keels of these vessels had of these, Fnropeans woiddm t havelieen kimt. been much more tlian k'lid, Mr. .Fay's treaty fijteil witli tales of Amciii .in nava' |iro\\(s<. restored the amiialile relations between Fii' gland and Ameriea, and it was resolved to An ohjeet of jiaramonnt ini| nrtanee to i , F.rM oijrrf. M ih- Americans was, the ca].. convert the vessels, ))ci:iin ns scvcntv-foiirs, ^^ »'• !tl liullillllt'll. 1.1 the Itreadtli aiiiiiit three feet and a liall, aiitl : supposed to he on iL; not connectinp the fpiartor-deck and forecastle, I roast, and known to he under the convoy • po as to trive i:i reality oidy one continnonsi lj,it one thirty-si.x ^rnn friirate, and a .slooji <'. tier of pnns.— tlius were these seventy- fours Uyar. Thistliet had left Jamaica on the '2''ft converted into enormous si.\ty-t wo j:un fiipate.-i. A fri'^ate, the Constellation, hej^'un at thesamc time, and oiiuinally intended to class as a for- ty-four, was in a finiilur iKiiiiiifr reduced to tlie rate of a thirty-si.x. It apiaars from the May, and had passed Ilavanna on the 4ih June, at 'i, a.m. : on the 2:3rd (jirr i/ni/y ,i/tf thr ihi'hirdf'uin of irnr) the American Cai- modore spoke a hrijr, and ascertained tli.r. four days previous, in lat. .TC)" lonpr. 'IT- estimates rendered to Conj^ress that the ori- the Jamaica fleet ha: L'a on tlio '2''rt a on tlic 4ih firr ihitjx tij'tf inciioan Vmr ertaini'd tli.r, i;» lonp. (',;• ;n, stccrinn: i 10 imnH-dintik day made on; and castwiui!, This wns tile (.'Kidi'ia, ('.11' interci'iit a iirly cxiircti"! n liavini; a tVw pilot I km;, y to liaiiptr nsworod, .in; 1 the elliirtj as no Idii^'ir intentions r! \ inunedi.ntci]' iiig his ciilori same, (lie two oad jicnniMts^ nd the sUiofS )!■ twelve liiiiiii g which lime dy stern iiit. •d round sk i>n poundiTs President, the indinghinisil! shortened Mil- oin the fire ol ; Congress, tin fell short,) ad 1, and twcntj two wonndcd, the grealiT part slightly. Ac- refusing to lieconie a traitor to his rountry : — niriling to the .\n\erican uflicial account, the ^ " A N'ew Vnik iK'«^pnp( r, of .fuiie -JTlli, 1SI3, I'rc-i lent lost altogether, two tnidshipinennnd contains the fulluwiiig as the suli-tuice of tlio oiu- marine killed, the cotnmodorc, one lieu- ' formal deposition i.f tlw vi.'Uin of ("apt. IVir^ t' n;int, one lieutenant of marines, three mill- ter's imnimly tna'ment. The d. jiosltiori shifiinen, and t\\ else seamen wounded. This ' sta(es,t!iat .)o!m Ki ving was lioni in Newcastlc- ,iloi\e was a high price to pay for the dny'>i ; upon-Tyne, Kng'aml ; that lie has resided aiiiiiseineiit, hut this wns not all, as the home- j uithiii the Uiiite-l States, hut has never been ward hound (leet, through ('apt. Myron's jiidg- ' naturalized; that, on the I tth Octuhi r, IHJl, iiicnt in leading tli>' American sipiadron, so he entered on hoard the l^sex, am! joineij her Iniig a dance, arrived safi'ly on the 113rd j at Norfolk ; that Captain Porter, on the O.^th Ain.'11-t, in the Downs, Com liodgers only i June, 181-2, caused all hands to he pijied on fiillingin wiih adeet, not ofi-hips, hut, ofeocoa deck, to t'iko (he oath of allegiance to tho ii'its. orange peel, &f. To complete his niis- : I'liited States, and gave them to understand, fortunes, the i^ciirvy hroke out among the that any man who did not choose to do so men, and thus conferred an ailditional value ! should he di-eliarged; that, when deponent 1 1 I on the orang'S and lemons that were known to he in such profusion in the much coveted vessels. heard his name called, he told the ('ajilain that, heing a I5rili>h suhject, he must refiiso taking the oath ; on which the captain spoka to the petty ollieers, ami told them they must „ ^ . . , ,,, r 1 pass sentence upon liiin ; that they (hen put M:iiiiiin','.>f AiMcriciiii .^hould have formed part ,. . ^ , , , ,. , . . ... ■,i 11- rniii|>Mr.(i Willi „ ,, , ,, , , nim into tlie launch which lay along-ido tho iimrilie Hni;-li. of t omiuoiloro Koiiu'ijrs . If had hron intended that the frigate Essex ih fijuadron, hut she could not he got ready in time; the comjilement of this vessel, as aiknowledged hy Ca]it. Porter, wa? three liiin Ired and twenty-eight men. Another con- f "ision was also made hy ('apt. Porter, (one for which his government did not thank him), that, out of his three hundred and twenty- eight men, there were hut eleven landsmen To those cognizant of the material from which the .•oniplemeut of a Hiilish ship is made up, thisadinission must appear most extraordinary, and cstahlishcs the very important fact that, no pains were spared hy the Americans to send their vessels to sea equipped and manned in the most complete way'. We will now show Ihe importance that was attached to the re- tention of British seamen on hoard the A nieiica n ships of war, and this should be held in remem- Irance hy all who desire to judge fairly of those encounters between Hritish and .\meriean ihips, of which wc are now about to begin the iccount. We give, on the authority of Mr. James, CBpiain Por,er'.s i,.- *'»« following Statement Imiwii irciiimtiit of an which shows, if true p^^rvicc, and tight desperately; especially .."Klisli sailor. , , , , „ and wc would hardly •ippose that Mr. James would lightly ad- lince so grave a charge ; the barbarous ■eans to which an American oflBccr could Rsort, to punish a native of England for frigate, and there lumred a bucket of tar nver him, and then laid on a quantity of feathers having first stripped him naked from tho waist; that they (hen rowed him ashore, stern forennst, and landed him ; that he wan- dered about, from street to street, in this con- dition, until a Mr. Ford took him into his shop, to save him from the crowd then beginning to gather; th it he staid thereuntil the polico magistrate took him away, and [lut him into the city jirison for protection, where he was cleansed and clothed. None of the citizens mcdested him or insulted him." lie Siiys ho gave as an additional reason to the Captain why he :a 4i. /a 1.0 I.I 1^124 12.5 lir ii£ IIIIIM 1.8 IL25 11.4 111111.6 V] <^ n o ^2 ?>" ^^ d? 7: p>* ^> 02^ V* V / Wi # Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. HSSO (716) 872-4503 W/x i 68 IIISTUIIY OF THE WAR OF lfel2. n I.! 11 FirsH<.iiMi,iiM,(' .vlruii.ii'tli, was i'\- pciieiu:i.il 1>3' thu lii;;ate OiKriicic, coiu- niaiidctl by (';i|il;iiii iJacics, wl.ii li, cm Aiigu:-l I'Jlh, )ul. -II - -J'T X. liii 1 h.i,^'. .Jo"' W , '.va.-, Li-(,;i;.lil to arlidii l.y lli.j Aiiicii'an liiiiaU' C'oii.-lii!itio;i, Cajiiaiu liuil. Till! iT.-pcctivc Ibicc is thus ollicial'y stateil, — (iiicnii'ie (brly-( i;;!it .uuns, tluMwinsi- one thousand and liiii tylbni- ii.nuuls ol' shot: crew, two hunihed and I'uity I'linr: tons, one thousand and nin(.ly-two; — Constitution til'ly- six [;'utis, tlu'owinn' lit'tuen iiunih'i.'d au'! thirty- six jioinids (iC shot : crew, lour liumlred and sixty : tons, lil'tei n hunch-ed and tliirty-;Mj;lit. Even tliis statement will fail to convey an adequate idea of the real incciuality that existed between tiie vessels, as it sliould he also home in mind that the tdierriere was on her return from a luni; eniise w ith foremast and bowsprit sprung-, and in absolute need of the relit for whicli she was then hastening to Halifax* The Consiitnti.in was seventeen days fi-oni port, and in all resp;e(s as well j)repared for an cngagemi-'ut as the greatest care could make her. At half-[iast four the fiigates came to close quarters, and by half-past six tlic imeipial content was ended by Capt. Dacres lowering his Hag, the (luer)'iere being, by this time, an uiunanageable wreck, rolling her mr.in deck guns under, with her three masts gone by the board. No imputation can be attached to Capt. Dacres on this occasion, he f )Ught and handled his ship well, ar.d he with his crew yielded only to the irresistible superiority of jdiysical *"TlioGiierrierelia(l nearly expended, not only her water and provisions, 'ui t her boatswain's and carpeiit'T's stores ; he.- !^unler's stores were ftlso deficient; what reniaiiied of hor powder, from damp and long keeping, was greatly reduced in sti-eiiglh ; her liowsprit was badiy sprung, her nndiiiiiast, Ironi having Iieen stiuek by light- ning, in a tottering state, and her hull, from ago anil length of service, scarcely seaworthy. No one hen will deny that this rencontre was rather unfbrtu- luue ; ill fiu:t, such was the state of general decay in which the (iuerriere,at this time, was. that, had the frigate gone into I'ortsmouth or I'lyiuouth, Blie would, in all probability, have been disarmed and biokeu up." strength. Fo heavy imhed liad been (he liu* that after rimo\ing the odicers and crew it ' Sii;, — I am sorry toiiifoiiii you of the ea])t\;ii; of Ills .\!iiji'-t\\»^ liiie ship (bieiiiere. by the Aii.i r- icaii frigate Coiisliuition, after a Fcveie action im the I'.Uli August, ill hit. 40deg. 20 mii.utes .\. ;ii,,l long, iiii (kg. \V. At '1 V. .M. bt.'iiig liv the \\ii;J oil the stai-lii'aiil tiiel>, we saw a sail on our wciith. er beam, Ijeaiing down on us. At Ji, iiiirle lur out 10 be a uiaii-ul-war, be.it to (piarteis and ]iii;. [laivd lor action. At -1, ?lie cliv-ing fust, weir lo |uevent her lakiiig us. At ten miiiutes ]';i-i 1, i.oi»ted our eolois and lired several shot at 1ii.t; at twenty luimites past 1, she hoisted her coIhh and letunied oui- liie, wo;e several times loavdJi being i-akcd, cxeliaiiging broadsides. At .". s! e closed on our starboald beam, both keeping u|i ;; heavy liie and steeling lice, his intention bci::;; evidently to erc'Sa our Ijow. At 20 inimil..-s |M,t ."i, our inizeii-m.ist went over tlie star-lioard ii'!;ir. ter, and brought the ship up in ilie wind; tie enemy tlien placed liini.~eli on our larboard bow, raking us, a lew only (jt our bow guns bearing, ,u 4 his grape and rdlenieii sweeping our deck. At forty minutes past 5, the ship not answeiiiig l:i.'r heiiii, he attempted to lay us on board ; at ilii< time. Mr. (haiit, who eommanded the forecii.-!!'', v.'as eanied below badly wounded. I immediiii>'lv onlered the marines and boarders from tlii' iiiuii; (leek; the ma.-ter was at this time shot lluotiji t'e.e knee, and 1 received a severe w(>und in ti..; back. Lieut. King was leading the hoarders, wlu.':i the shi[) touiiiig too, we l)rought some of our Iioit guns to bear on her, and had got clear of our up- ponci'.t, when at twenty minutes past (>, our i'nie and mainmast went over the sid--, leaving the sliiji a perfect uumauageable wreck. The frigate sIh".;- iiig ahead 1 was in hopes to clear the wreck, uwl get the .-^hip under command to renew the actii p, but just as we had cleared the wreck, our spi ii .-„u yard went, ami the emuiiy having rove new bri' ces, i^c, wore round within [lislol shot, to lakei.-, the shi[i lying ill the trough (if the sea, and lullii,.' her main deck guns under w-atcr, ami all i\tteiii[i'! to get her before the wind being I'ruitles!?, wlior. calling my few reniaiiiiug ollieers together, the/ Were all of opii.ion that any further resi^til),l•; would only be a needless waste of lives, I ordcroJ, though reluct,; nly, the colors to he struck. The loss of tin; ship is to be ascribed to the cr.r!' fall of her maiu-ma.-t, which enabled oar oppiuu'ii; to choose his position. I am sorry to say, wo. nieio was aci hliv.vn up. 'f'lis 1 lU'i-tilying, as this ti'juLirly obnoxious the e,'i!!ses of quarr ji'iiie 1 and while ( her, still it was tin C'.'i'fable would he have been. It is that oil board of th this engagement, ■ .'-lanieu who had f longed to her ; but bv t!ie United .Staf. The 'luerrierc was to ;.'rt Inn- ill woiilii ! •■is ti..' Wounded were on lire; and I feel it conihict of Cai)taiu 1 iiK.'ii, has been that tA c:ire ii-iiig taki'n t.) sia,d|.' woundi.'i], and skill uf .Mr. Irviae KvW. I liojie, fhoii-!i !::ui' forts, you will not, tlii fay, the greatest cred .ship's company for t w'hi.i <'\po<'ofr, the master tir'iihnly atienllve, ;ii eleiring tin; wr.'el;, a- lit'i;!e.iant XlehoU ,,( party, .supporteil th' coi'jiJ, ;i;iii they suli'er 1 i Mr. .Sliiiw, mast the f>r.;!ii:i--t ni 'in d - Ihriteiiant I'ullai-.in, ai liuiitcniaut Heady, to i-eci;ived t suv ere eo: tiiu-t point out '!r. (;' i; itlc.', who vohinte'M- coiii'iiaiivled the after pan ieul. illy ac!i\-e, ,i.-^ Siip u.iU. r hiijv, in (■'•■y you wi'l think t!ie: l'io;)i'rIv defnided— ! :;MS[^, th,j iihsonee of li'-'af-n-int of iiiariu" !«■ 'iity-fouriir>;i, con-i and u-i> only luusteri a:i I ruty-limr m.';i, o r I- ir li . 1 .... .!, .,,, ■'•' I !i'l" ;l "1, when el, '■'ii'il ' 1 hint to e!io')ve I elel.)-:.; llM'-Ail'i '! ■n.iiA the tbierr:' ; HISTORY OF TIIH AVAR OF lSl-2. 69 i-<_n (he liix' mill c'K'w it (il i!if cijiiiiic liy tlu' Aii,(r- I'J'O ilCti<.'ll nil ii:,uti'S.\. :ii„l ; 1)}' llic N\ii;J oil oiir wciiiti. ;5, iiiii'li' liir rtuis iiud ]pie- ; i;:.st, winr lo iiiutes li:l-l I, 1 r^iidt lit Iii.t; L'll laT coin;., t:inc'.-i to;i\(i'.ii '.«. At. 5. she kci'iiinj.' uji ;i lU'UtioU IjLi::;,' iiiimiti'S pust ;l!'-ln>iinl (i'!;ir. lie wiiiil : tie l;al)(i;inl liow, s IjiMrinj:, ai.ii Diir (U'l-k. Ai iiiswt'iiiij: 1:(T joiird ; ill i!ii< the loi-ecii.-;!', 1 iiniiR'iliali'ly I'roiu the iiiuii! : sliot tliicnii,li wmiiid ill tii'j Kwrdurs, \v!iw )im; ol'cHir liO'.T 'car of our up- iiHt (i, or.v (''ie .'living tlu.' >!■;;! fri.u'uti' A\<»A- le w I'Lclv, iiii'l \v tlie aciion, , our ppiii Niil ovo new Ijim- ot, to r,d founil liy llie c'!i|Mor.s iiii]i').<-ilile (o ]ivv[) this, their lii'.st Ji.'ival lro,.liy, ;'.i!o;it, nnd the fi'm rriei-c wik nc<'ofdi:i,Jy set im lire nn ! l,!.v.\ii lip. T'li^ !ir!-t li;ive I/ei.'ii tir,.' in. ■re iiiMr[iiyin;r, as t!ii.-< s!iip had lueii iniide jiai'- tieiilavly ohiifixioiHto tlie Aiiierirnii-:, allhou;;Ii tlK'ca'.iSL'S of 'innrre! aro-e liefore ('a|d. Dacrc^ ji'ine 1 and wliil'.' Caut. Fe'diell (■•iiimi.ind.t.-d 111 r, -til! it was the same sliiji, ami most ae- (•.•ptahle wouM Ikt aoiiuir-ition as a trophy Imve heen. It is i:ot iiii'.VDrlliy of remark, ' that oil hoard of fhi^ (i Meniere, at tlie tiiiio (d' this engagement, tliei'c were ten American .Keanicn who had for a nun. her of years he- 1 liin-ed to lier ; hut as tlie dei !ai'i!ic:in of wa.i' bv t!ie United States was not known at th.e The (laerricro was so cut up, that nil attempts to LT'-'t her in would have Ijei.'ii u.^ele.-.-:. A.-* .'^ooi | (IS the wounded were got out oi' her, they ..;i't Ipt , oil lire; and I feel it mv duty to -^tale, that the comlact of Captain Hull and his otJieers to our I ineii, has been that of a Lirave enemy, tlw ;.'reattst e.ire lieiiii; tal;i.'ii to prevent our men lo.sin^- llie sia.dle-it trifl", ami the ijreito-t atliMitioji b.'inL' pii.id to tlii> wounded, who, tliroUL;h tlie alteniioii and .skill ut Mr. Irvi.ie, the -ur;,joa, I h()[)e will do well. I !eip', thiii'_;h --aeee-s has not orowned ouref- foif.', you will not ihinU it presumptuous in me to fay, the L'reatest credit is d.ue to tiie oilieer.s and ship's coaipaiiy for tlieir exertions, partieuhirly when expiised to the lu-avy rakius lire of the enoaiy. I feel particularly olilijred for the cxer- tioas of lieut. Kent, who, though wounded early liya splinter, continued to assi-t me ; int'ie se'-ond lii'Utenant the ■service has sulfercid a severe los^; Mr. S'ott, the master, thou',di woundeil, wns par- tii'ularly atieiitive, ami used evi-ry esoition in cleurii; the wi^'e!;, as did tie.' wa'.i.int oliicers. — lii'iite.iant Xielioll of tlie rnyd laariiies, and hi-; paitv, snppi)rreil the lionoraMe character of their I'oi'jK, and they sulVered severely. I must reeom- iiieud .Mr. Sliaw, niast.'i"; mite, v. h.o eiiaiiniii 1 'd the r>re:ii:i~'t lu 'in deck 'runs in the ah-e-iee I'l lii-'iti'iiaut I'ulhuan, and the who'e alter the fall eii'eam-'.in- Ci'^ you wi'l thialctheship mitvu-fed to myehargt', properlv def^ndi.'d — the luif u'tuiiate lo.-s of our iiiasi^, tho ahsenci- of the third lieuteuant, S'-e'ind lie!it'!iint of niar!u"J, thri>e niidshi; in 'ii and' tn- 'uty-four ne'u, coii^iideraldy W'akeneil our crew, and we (eily musti'i'ed at (luart'U's two hundred aa 1 eaivd'oar m^'u, on enniiau' into ae:i.ei; ihi! 1 -■•!•' 1 a 'I advauia.;" from his lu ni le,- 1 idoa\ and liis su[)erior sailin. C.l" a'l 1 rill" a'u, nie ea I'lled liiai to elnnse his disfau'-e. I eael'KM iii'i'.jwith a list of killed and woi ca lij.a'd the Caerri-r.-, (iine of I, el- saili'ig, r.o oppoi! 'inity of course laid silec Ihet ]il!r,il (dllred ils.''f fir di.-l- (diargiii;; thvni. Capi. I>a<'re-, ho-.vevi r, coii- C' i".i;ig it to he unjust in the e.\tienie, to comiiel llieni (o iight agaii;>t tie ir eonntrymeTi, lU'dered (lieiii to fpnt their (pi.'irtei's ,aral go h.hr.w 'I'his coiidiiet coiiira.-l; nnvt fivorahljr wilh the !iUe;.i;|s mal" hy ('apt. Ihill .'iial hi<(dli<'', rs foinve'g'ellie i.'re'.v (d'tle.' tlnerriero and induce them to fiirn (rai'ors. (hie of the iinai'.s I'l sorted lo v.'as to ki.ep Iii-t jirisoner.^J nian.'i.deil and chcited lo the d' el; dnring the niglit and the greater part of Ih- day. The i\a.-on as-I-ni'd hy ('.apt. ilnll f .r this u.iiisiia! seveilty wa-, tliat there were so many oflii.-. ov\n (M'ew who con.-i lered thediierriere's men as tlfir c Miiitrymeii, (and wlio fell, as well they might, some degree of shnnio at tlieir o'vn filleii state), he was a]'| vehensivc th'.' tv.-o hodies united wonhl overpower liini and the .\merieans, and carry t!io Con-! It ul ion to Halifax. 'J'he more prohahle reason seems to ha'.e heen to rer.der tlie piospct (;f liheidy tlni more allm'inj,' lo thw.-e 'a ho wi; I'd turn trailor.J. ("apt. Ilnll calcnhated, it may he supposed, that any whom he could p rsnade to enter, woidd lig'.it in llie iie>-:; ih--perato manner, rather than he t,ik n !':;d fnvn'd over to their firmer ceaimanda's, fri'in whom tluy could only cx[!ect to i ■ ''eive ii certain and well meriled fate. ('apt. Ihieres h.ars testimony, in oll-.cr ri..-;i( eis, t" Capl. llnll's ti'ialmeii', of himself and de.v, jind !h ' c-.re Iha* was taken to preve:it tlieir lo-iii".' the snia.llest triHe. Til" author cf the .\niei'ican " Xaval His- tory," ?.Ir. ("ai'ic, reme.rks thus np.oii the (lii- errii'ie's caplnri' : — ''It apprared in e'.idenco on tie.' (o':;t niav'.ial, t!r;t many Mng'i drMen were on hoard th^ (I'onstilutlon, and tint muiiy of th.ese were h'a'Mng men, or captains of guns." The oi'iei'is of I!k.' (liu'ri'lere kne'v som.? of ihun per-on,r.Iy. ():i..> ha I heen cap-tain of tin.' fireca-tle in tlee Knr;, 'li'.', aiiollier hu'.l hven in tlie .\"!:i'i" a" 'I'ralal ::"', an I the third lie'Uenant, wa-^ an Ti'islmv.in, le.-iieil Kcad. Tn th'.' latter end of isid, a r"g''-tei- of idii'-er.'i and olhei's, ndli'.-'.-y and ii iva', in tlu' .-.^ervico of the United Siales, was i-md IV'Uu thu \V.ashin'.rlo:i pr. -s, ] I'cpaic I 'i\- a rcso'tiiio-i of ('(Mva-e^s. .\f'.i;ed. to the li-l. of names in tliis o!ilei:d d len.i'eiil, i.-i ou'.' Ci.lii".!"! hea.ded " .•>; it", or coi-ntry wh a' • hom." Ti-rning to this eohimn, !:' th'.' iiav,.! deparln.K'nt, \vc liiul. 70 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. a.s wo (U'sccml in the li>.t, tlie blaiiKs in tlie Ireland, iuid their (Upendoncies, and the I'ni- Cfdunui of "wliere horn" increase ama/indy. ' ted States of America, and their tcriiloiius, Of ihe Hnperior olliccrs, only three captains — and you arc, witii tlie force under your ((nu. tjhaw. Patterson, and I'ricliton — were a.-liained ; niand, entitled to every belligerent rif;lit U; to name tlieir Irlii-place. Of one liundred atltack and capture, and to defend. You will and sixty lieutenants, live a[)pear to liave been use the utmost despatdi to reacli New Y(Jik, Eritisli ; but seventeen, all Knj;li>h or Iri>li after you liave made up your ccinpkn\eiit of names have blanl.s after them. Of twenty men. iir., at Annajjolis. In your way (Vom boatswains, fo\U' were born in the United , thence, you will not fail to notice the J>iili>li States; tlie rest nowhere. Of eighty-three | flajr, sliould it present it.self. I am infornii'i] mailing-masters, illleeii had no birthplace ; and , that the Belvidera is on our coast, but you eight appear to lie British. Of twenty-live I will not understand vie on iuqicUiug yoH io gunner.s, three appear to have lieen born in i battle jireviou.sly to your iiaving confidence in the United Slates; and out of thirty-three ! your crew, unless attacked, or with a rea;-ona. carpenters and master-mates, five only could | ble prospect v>f success, of which you aio to be found to fill n\) the blank with the term be, at your discretion, the judge. You are to " American." The blanks in the li.-t of able Bcainen increase surjirisingly. 'ibis, however, is not to be wondered at, when w e consider Captain Brenton's statement : — " It was said, and there is no reason to doubt the fact, that there were two lumdred British seamen on board the Constitution." After this analysis, Mr. Clark's remarks on the capture of the tiuerriere can be taken at their value — " It has manifested tlie genuine worth of the American tar, which has enabled him to meet under nis.M)VANT.\(iKoi;s ciKCi m- BTANCKS (save the mark), and to derive glory from the enountcr, tlie naval heroes of a na- tion which has so long ruled the waves." We have been thus particular in dwelling on all the circumstances connected with the capture of the (Juerriere, as with few excep- tions the same disjiarity of force prevailed and the same remarks apply. That the American fiiicccsses were unexiiected, is apparent from the instructions given to the olliccrs in com- mand of the vessels .about to leave port, and, was chased by a British squadron and pre- in fact, the first rapture of an English by an \ vented from getting into that port, so thatlitr American vessel was made, if not in direct i stealing to sea from. Boston, into which she breach of orders, at least contrary to the cal- ■ had been driven, and her encounter with the culations of the Navy Department, and liad | Guerrierew.as purely accidental and in contr,v reply to this, and inform me of your progrihs, "P. Hamilton. " Capt. Hull, U. S. Frigate Constitution." This discouraging and, considered with im- mediate results,soniewhat pusillanimous order, was soon followed by another of the same tenor, as follows : — "Navy Department, 3rd July, 1812. " SiK, — .\s soon as the Constitution isreinly for sea, you will weigh anchor and proceed to New York. "If, on your way thither, you should fall in with an enemy's vessel, you will be guided in your proceeding by your own judgment, bear- ing in mind, however, that you are not volun- tarily to encounter a force superior to your own. On your arrival at New York, you will report yourself to Commodore Rodgers. If he should not be in that port, you will remain there untill lurther orders. «♦ P. Hamilton." The Constitution, on lier way to New York not Hull put to .sea before his countermand reached Boston, he certainly would not have made his capture of the (Juerriere, nor is it jjrobablc that any capture woidd have been vention of orders, for even after his escape into Boston, a new order was despatched : — "Navy Department, 2'Jth July, 181i "Siu,— Your letter of the 20th instant, just made at all, if we may judge from the tone of l received, has relieved me from much anxiety. the following communications: — " I am truly happy to hear of your safety. "Naval Department, Washington, Remain .it Bo.ston until further orders. 18th June, '812. "SiK, — This day war has been declared be- " P. IIa.mu.to\." Before receiving this order Capt. Hull hail twecn the United Empire of Great Britain, i put to sea and escaped the doom, which hi^ afl'ri.ulited (ioveriunen —to he laid up in por A second action, t rriilic iiiid \V:i<;>. COI llicnisilves, took plac Lilueen II. M. biigKn iinl the United S ate (iinlain Jones. The I''rolic was the ( hm\v\ fleet from the was repairing the dam rcieivi (1 in a violent g: Kith, in lat. Si',^ north, hail carried away her i main-topmast, and lo.st a vcs.^el was made o gave cliacc to the conv AHliough in the cii] tionL'iI, Captain Whinyi \t\< convoy, and a clos onsned, which was mai hecanic, from her pre\ tion, unmanageable. T ta;.'e of this ."^hot ahead, which was tmablctobri r:o"' fell w ith her bows] and nnV.en rigging of t'leii iunnediately carrie a' tion of an hour's diu'; o!i>tinacy with which si tiiat, on the Americans their prize, but three at the wheel were foun In this dreadful conflict thirty killed, ami betwce del. Tlie vessels were of>trength, both as reg and her previous cripjile on this disastrous and s al'ienioon of the same da Fevonty four gun.<, fell ii hotJ! vessels, .sending Cmiress awai'ded to ( mwlal, to his officers a fii'rt- generally, twenty-l in testimony of their gal T'litisli vessel of sujK'rioi diniuuled for, as Captai li -|i;ilcli, gave the Froli' j'ilii'iou>ly said nothing II il state. The reader ' i'l what Ihe superior foi'i ttiti'iuuuthere given : — . inli inn iiiC'iriiieil i>t, liul you liiifj yoH to -■ontidenccin 111 !i rc'iisona. 1 you !ut' to You arc to 3ur pro^-rcs.'!. Hamilton. stitutiou." rtd witli im- linious onltr, of the same uly, 1812. ition isrcaily d liroccL'd to hould fall in be guideil in gnient, hoar- e not voliin- ior to your )ik, you will Igcrs. If he will remain .VMILTON." New York 311 and pre- , so that her which she ,er with the nd in contra- 4 escape into led :— idy, 1812. instant, ju?t ich anxiety. \'o\iv safety. ders. ,\ MI I, TON"." :. llidl hail i, which hii HISTORY OF THE WAPw OF 1812. ri afi'rislited (lovernnicnt had prepared for him —1,1 lie laid up in poit. A .^econd action, tciiilinc; to aufrmont the Friilii' and Wasp. conlidcncc of Anu'ricims in tlienisclves, took place on th ■ 18th Octoher, Iclivccn 11. M. l)ri<:; Frolic, Captain Whinyates, \m\ the Tnited S ates sloop of war Wasp, t'liplain Jones. The Frolic was the convoy of the hoineward liAimil fleet from the Hay of Honduras and ffiis ripaiiinir the damages luT masts and sails rcreivrd in a violent <^ale on the night of the Ifitli, in lat. 3(W north, Ion. C 4°, in which she hail carried away her main-yard, sprinif;; her maiii-to[)inast, and losthoth her toi)sails, when a vessel was made out which immediately gave cliacc to the convoy. Although in the ci'ippled state ahove nien- tiiineil, Ca])tain Whinyates determined to save his convoy, and a close .and spirited action (iisiiotl, which was maintained until the hri,!;; liccauie, from her previous shattered condi- tion, nninanagealile. The Wasp taking advari- tnL'c of this shot ahead, and raked the Frolic, which was unahle to bring a gun to bear. She i:iw fell with her bowsprit between the main j and niizen rii.'ging of the enemy, and was | then immediately carried hj- boarding, after an i .iilion of an hour's duration. Such was the' iih-tinacy with which .she had been defended tiiat, on the Americans taking pos.session of their jirize, but three officers and the man at the wheel were found alive on the deck. Ill this dreadful conflict the British loss was thirty killed, and between forty and fifty woun. del. The vessels were nearly equal in point of strength, both as regarded guns and men, and her previous crippled state alone brought on this (li.-astrous and speedy issue. On the al'uTMoon of the .same ilay II. .M. .shij) Poicticrs, foventy four gun.s, fell in with and captured hotl! vessels, .sending them into IJurmuda. (ingress awarded to Captain Jones a gold neilal, to his otticers a silver one, and to the cii'w j;enerally, twenty-four thousand dollars in testimony of their gallantly in cajjiuring a T'i'itisli vessel of sujierior force. This may be ticoiniled for, as Captain Jones in his official '1 ^jiatch, gave the Frolic two extra guns, and j^ilii'ioiisly said nothing of her previous di.sa- M d state. The reader may, however, judge in "hat the superior force consisted from the Vtiteiueuthere given ; — Frolic,broadtiiJeguns, i j nine, throwing two liumlrcd and sixty-two pounds of shot, with two twclve-poundcr carnmadcs, — crew, ninety-lwo, — si/e, three ' himdred and (dghty-four tons. Wa-p, broad- side, nine guns, throwing two hundred and sixty-eight pounds of shot, with two brass foin'-po\niders, — crew, one hundred and thir- ty-live, — size, four hundred and thirty-four tons. Nearly ni.itihcd as these vessels were, tlic ^Jiperiority if anything leaning towards the side of Wasp, yet the usual exaggerations of American ofiicers made it a victory over a superior force. Seven days after this affair, en the '2r)th of Mn<-...i,M„aii. and October, in lat. 2U'' north, UmiicU staus. Ion. 2.r. The action lasted for ui)wards of two hours, when, with one hundred shot in her hull, several of them between wind and water, her niizen mast gone by the board, main and fore topm.asts .shot away by the cap, her main yard in the slings, two remaining lower masts badly injured, and but few guns effective, the Macedonian surrendered. (.)f her com])lement of two himdred and fiftv-four men, deductinsr eight foreigners who refused to fight, thirty- six were killed and sixty-eight wounded. Commodore Decatur, in Ids official de- spatches, makes very light of the damage done to his ves.sel ; either in loss of men or injuries to hull or rigging, reporting only live killed and six wounded. Captain Carden, however, represents that the I'nited States " was pumped out every watch till her arrival in port, from the efTects of shot received between wind and water, and that two eighteen poun- ders had passed through her mainmast in a liorizontal line." There is very little doubt, also, from w hat may be gathered from his ac- count, but that these numbers were very far from representing the actual loss in killed and wounded. The comparative force of the two combat- ants m.ay be with correctness stated as fol- lows: — Macedonian — weight of broadside, live hundred and twenty-eight pounds; crew, two iiiindredand fifty-four ; size, one thousand and eighty-one toii.s. United States — broad.-iile, weight of melul, eight hundred and sixty- 72 HISTORY OF TIIK AVAR OF 1812. If .: J j^iiiiiiivc I'ori-i'of ilu' W: mi lla' Will's (if til, it t tliiiik t!i:it tlu'iv \\(iu!i fui'.-iii'li i'.\trav;i;^"mt d rorii), (HI tlio jijirl nf I pViims ])'U'.'i^r;i]ilis. r.itli'-r li:n'i-' ;r>\;ili','iUMl at the l/ravfi-y witli \\1 colli. ih!'j(1 ng;nii.-;t siu odds. Another aclii.n, ti ,I:iv;i riiid f'di.^iiiii- ^ f 1; SI. Ill I'l-iiilifi' :ii)',U. ( to 'h' (hi'oi.iclul, In liavnl liattlcs, for tlic \ Till' Java, Cai.laiii 1/ i lirnav'l viiyapx' to tlic 1! liiT (f i.a.'scrip'ors (ui lindy of ii'n'uits, on lli forty miles from St. S fimi loiiiT. ;i!i" ^y., ciie turod liy, tlie .\iiierir;i "The Java," peocrdin biilL'e's testiimmy, ii bcariiiii' ilate .lar.uary CCedillL'ly well foi;;_;'it. dieil, six (lays alier tl giii-heil ani] irallaiit cjt One c'ln lianlly rieil frrcni'e eniiM liave I'cc ci'Mi.i nt, as Mas showi iii^' tlir .lava fur a ^ cliana'S were so creat AvoiiM lie cin'o-intered vioiis ]ii~:iiry of the ,Ja l!iit \].o tian' will eoMie ^ ll;MVr-t (if L'lovy. I'liiiiihritlfH', ill t!iu t'd JJi'iifl, eDiiuiiaiiilcil li_v '■•IS 11, -ii' the ndiMle ( liiiiish t'ii:ri.tes, at the d Iruiii iiiiii. /'■■,/. ,-, ia t!i.>!:i;!e r-1 not a !ir| I- ; tiiif (loiitillr- IV'-jiCC'-: to Sir Jiijiiis )'i niio, ■!"',!,',l ii Ijiii-i.l I'l'nUir.l i|:tl) a pOUtloaiil! Vi'iKiiM' to P.iy that if ll gi t II icsstiii oil ifood ma Tlie (.'iius/,'//,(li(iii^ V: 1"' ill -'M, to cluilll 111 T 1 !'.'■ .!■' //..s fii rate, li; ui 1 t^'li ci:!-, wiii liiii,;; Id |h I'^iiiiiils tin' mdi'iit Zv'.i «•.;;.' .v.(/,-,^ in " ill,' liiai-.- — .\;''.s' t\':f!Ji/ IldwU;, mSTOKY OF THE WMl OF 1812 73 "ai.-iiivr fMi'ciMif iln' t",\o vessels, liL'L-n lil-/,.iiu'(l ! ihc jii'.'air luvltv i'li.:irlv ImToiv til',- re.'t'Ier. on t'liii the Will's of tliat (Votive liall, we seir.tlv | TIk.' lute Fiviieh lri'':ite I'n'iiomi n:\\ ue.v ly k tliiit there \\()ii!(l liuvelieeii I'liiiid <"Ui-e Cliiistetuil tlu' .lav 1, w:\: . iiu;l, runli IS to earrv fur.viii'li e.\trava,u"iiit (leumn-M'alioiv; of jny, nr I out to lioii.liay the newly ai'polnti") ( lovenioi", I,', 111, on the |iail of the pre^s, for such vain- [,ieiiteniUit-< leiienil lIi-lH|., an 1 sirt ■, with rv rr'eiioiis ])ani,!:rai)hs. .Mistiee and triilli would inunljor of suiieinuiniTaries^ — Mai'ine Soeioty r.itliti' have aw.'ikened a feelinir of •(dmiriition, | t)o\-s. Findin;;-, on joining, that mil of;i com- ;;! ilie hraverv with whi'di Ih-ili-li sai'ors liad ! i.l.'Uieiit of tw o hum hed and n'.ne!\ luo, tiic ('lit. lllivv O'MS. d against su«h iine(jnal i;nd fearful wholu iinniher of petty olii''''!; i"d nen. wlH) liad cve!' tlod !l llii or iii'en |ire- Aiiotlier nelion, (he result of wliieji I S''nl at an aeii.m, .anioini ted to h than ,I:lVM M1|( t; SI. Ui I'fi 1 C.i.-Mi llilT -Jillli. even more ( llsast was rous to lll'iy, t'ajitain l.ani'iert loudly renioM-traleil the I'.rili-h, v t reii^a lin.-l liie inetlieienev of such a si ins tl)S t^i he chronicled, liefoix' clo.-uii; the li^t of iiavii liattles, for the vw ir, on the ocean. Tlie .fava.Caiilnin Latnherf, on hrrontwai'd- lioiiiid voyape to the KnsI Indies, with a nurn- ' j. paiiy. The only ie]i'y \vas, that a voyage to the Ivi-t Indies and hack wi^dd inal:e sailors of them. It Mils in vain to ui;;e the matter further, hul as sou»e sli'-ht auienducnt to the licr cf i.a> seniors on hoiU'd, 1 Wii's crcw,ei^ht men were Jilloived to voluii- le-i'les ii larii'c leer. Manned m tl IS wav, wi h .'-i.\l\' Irish lioly of recruits, on the 2lMh Ueceinhcr, some forlv tiiiles from St. Siilvador, in lat. 1']'^ X. h! l('!;!r. Tiii'-' AV., enconnteri'd, and was ca'i- tarcd hy, the American f'rijiiife Con-tilution. [^ "file .Ta'.a," occoi-din!^- to Cojntnodove li.ain- testimonv, in !i Utter to a friend. men, who luid never smelt SiiU Wiiter, e.\ce[)t in crossing the chamiel — the rest of her com- liUmeiit maile up ficni pii-oi! sh'ps, ("apiaiii iinhert was (le.-palidu'd to sea. Is there f( r>)el should have su(cum')ed to a d iis he Was fir a contest 1, foi'ce '. '.I"he ureal ca\i.-o -upc jriiisl leU ;ini 1 ii-allant officer.' perirr, iin[.re! are ev^ n \',ith an e.jua for iislonisiunnent is that, witii such a crew, the Jiiva should hiive maintained ii li'dit from Co- Oiie c'ln hardly credit tliiit fo muidi indif- a little past two till six, iind that the f>:x'iwo could have liecii manifested hy (Jov-'lors should have heeii lowered fmm the crniivnt, as was shown in the case of prepar- ' stiu;,)) of the mi/.en m;,.-t onlv when the Con- in'^r the Jiiva for ii ^■o\ in A\hi(di the ' stituiion hid tiik only w n up a la poMt loit Ciianfes were so ureal that an onemv s vessel ' athwart the hows 'A' ler thni i1ef; iiceh-s i;;i- would he eiieo-mlered. .\ little of (he pre- ; ta'-onist. The Java lo.-t her ii dh IW- vioiis hisror}' of the Java w i'l, hnwcvi r, ph sjiiil, had I'lfWiirils of twenty ,v,-u-',s di-ahhd, her l'(»;>.(s slmt to jiieco.- Tint t!.e tiiue will come when lie shall reap a rich ;,..]i:;(|(.|xd Ih.'it it Wiis found liiirvi'-if oI'L'lorv. d her hull so to n'cessai" ll(fiiiljri(l(j<'. in the (.'iiualilii/inn, wiih the slnon I ].',. I'.l- ce.nuiiandrd liv t'., /. n '• I't ;ft' hunt her. T'wenfy-tv,-o were kiil; il, and ninety- two woutideil on hoiU'd tlie Juva, in this mur- ^v:is iii'ii' the ii;ii M!c of !l,e Ai !,■ liritisli t'ii;.^,tes, at tlie d;.io of our last accounts iniai hiiii. / (leronsconlJic uel the An Ui'l'lCiili !"-s,lnouu!i Ih ,ii Uidii in compaiison, w. Vel vei'L'— tiui /'•wV. ,-, in til.' htdc fiiirate J!- \-r-, — we k il.-: v;i-;iii not \\!i rp>iiect le; 1, to Sir Jp SiiHf/iiiiiDi/'i' n), ill'!, lint- a i;niulit l.ieu', WiUits to I) l,l,r.l lino a "-putleiiiini l>v a J'nrI, killetl and forfy-ei.uht wounded, 'i' added no jilory to l!ie A.meiiciin lla the same dililrtMie-' of fovi a as in tl i)f the liiieirierc, the crew, iilthoi'jii nomiu- y as, wili\ i;;>lan'-e Viiitniv to say tliat if tliey inret, tin; !;i,i;dil will j idl}' Stronger, wtis L'' t II li'.-<(iii Oil L'ood niiuniel Tlie <■ .//,.!, t'aiihiia • ■irtiyt, ivil! soon tive : indeei M in reality not li-iT ;'s eile( ;nni s rem.aiks on this iui'.d 111 -I'a, |o ciiniil ler ] ,.i ;;o i i.l li.e l.nil-i illal TliC ( 'onstitution cii) >' 1. th. iva cer- nrate, iieaiiv I; til.' A.hws ! . . t"ti I'iiy, will hriin; to the r''Ci.l I'liiiiiils tiie ardent y.o;i] tliat i:e.l out 1,1 Washinu'- taiidv, hul in so di-creiiitid.k' a i nami r that. ■<'tlon ol oil!" .•(•'CM (Us'iimaislie d h i hinl the latter het.'n miiiuu d with :i \.e;l Iraiiie ih'inixiikr'm "i!ieiiiiie> that tried men's soul- -A■;■•^■ W.'khi n<.:,,br. crew el Ihri linn!iri.t d twe'.ilv men, iio ul>t r'.utaii'.s in oui- n/ue.' ;;iid we 1 iiwo (.oil- 74 HISTORY OF TFIK WAR OF 1812. I\4' '' ■ r ■ ! Bidcrcil till- sul'jcot seridusly, that, not with- Ptandiii;: Ikt v;ist supi'iioriiy of fuivc, tlii' i Aiiicri.iiii frig;i((.'iinisl citliiT liiivo siiccmnlieil or liiivc lli.'d." Acconlinj!; lo tlu> same author, " thi.' iiiumii'r ill which liio .T.iva's men were trcdtcd hy thi' AiiuiicMii olliiTrs, rellucts upon the lalkr llie frrcatcsl disfiiaci'." Owv oliject, however, tlie (Vnistitiiliiin's officers missed hy their cnielly in mr.Mueliii'j; and pilla^dnir tlieir poor captives — three only of llie .fav.'i's crew c.itcreii, wliile the remainder, jail hirds thouj;li many of them were, treated wiili conteni|it their reiterated promises of liigli p'ly, rich land, and Ijiiert}'. The verdict of the court martial held on the Rurvivinp; officers and crew of the Java was, that " tile action was maintained with zeal, ability, and bravery," and the compliment paid to Lieut. (!liads, who commanded after Captain Lambert's fall, a very high one. Rear Admiral Thorn was the jircsideiit, a:id, return- ing Lieutenant Chads his sword, he thus ad- dressed him — " I have much .satisfaction in returning you your sword. Had you been an officer who had served in comparative obscur- ity all your life, and never before heard of, your conduct on the present occasion lias been sufficient to establish your character asa brave, F'cilful, and attentive officer." We think it but justice to bring these facts forward, to en- able tho.>e who may have .seen only American accounts of the war, to come to a more correct conclusion respecting the events we have been just d<'tailing. We cannot forbear quoting from James a short account of the reception of Commodore Bainbridge by the citizens of Boston ; — " At this moment our eyes light upon a pas- sage in a book before us, giving an account of the rece|)tion of Commodore Rainbridge by the citizens of Boston, and we cannot resist the temptation of placing it before the British pub- lic. ' On the following Tliursday (that suc- ceeding the fr igate's arrival, ) Commodore Bain- bridge landed at the long wharf from '.lie frigate Constitution, amidst acclamations, and roaring of cannon from the shore. All the way from the end of the pier to the Exchange cof fee-house, was decorated with colours and streamers. Tn State street they were :-trung across from the opposite buildings, while the windows aiirl balconies of the ho.iscs were filled witli ladies, and the tops of the fiouscs were covered with spectators, ami an imincii-! I r.-.wt! lille, now failed to sali.4y .Vmeriean dem;i'',o'_Miu«, "the American iiag was now to secure all that sailed under it." 'J'liis w-is. a bold attitude to assume towards a natioi! wl.o^e s<'amen had beaten, in sucrcv sion, every power ii Lurope into a confession of their suiK'iiority, ,iiore especially wIimi we reflect that the .\inericaiis were to the full as much astonished as were the Fiiiglish at the an- e-xpected aspect which naval events had now assumed. The various orders from AV'asIiington to the Commanders make this sufficiently .np- parent, and supply a more correct index to the reality of American expectations than do the vap')uringsof a few indivii;uals,whoprepareih liigli'\' seasoned dish of self-glorification for a public by no means unwilling to swallow tlie regale seasoned for the national taste. "No one" says one Historian* " can com- pare the oificialacLonnts without ackno'.vleili:- ingthit accident or firtune hid little to do with these battles, which were like nearly all * In;rersoll. t!,f (itlier naval eng;ig w.w, .wn.H Kngland h; i„r ^Ml•plise, and ciide; i;(r antagonist. More i;i II. US liattles would i liiil> ef the few gaiiiei This lii>t paiagr,iph i as liut TlW laurels were .ii;val wreath after I the .\iiierican Na'v .ill: ;ri tlier from the oc do'. (.rniiu'nt awoke, ai [■i.'ii, and adopted mi thuiiM have done at lli We have just given . M' ;i-iiir-i iiil(i|)tccl liy *'' l:n' lirlll^ll (j(ivtriii:ii'iii. l\ piii^, of the .American f r.ow, as far as lies in on til |is that were taken 1 r;dty, to put a stop to t Tliive of the small cl }!;rj'>tic, (Joliath, and S mid thus armed : The tAinty-i'ight long tliii ritiiiiicil, hut in lieu < dJiti'Liis' on the se>'0ni kr ef forty-two-pound I: d, uilli two long twel g;iis; this, with a coinpl li"! ;iiiiety-four men aiu fair match for the .\nieri fuiirs; as, howevei', no tniL'd from the capture i foMv, by what would hav ty-miir ill disguise, the p tiiriisuie may be, and t. d'Milited. li.siiles the completion tvo vessels were built {I'irposos. They also i »!iich we will t'lke from ' "The Leander was c |!;!", li'om a draught p liiia Ibi'e, the ingenic fdedoiiia, and many !'". I!iiii>li navy ; and t'l-lnicted of the same %wi:}a ofM. Louis-Chi *!' ii»istant surveyor uii |l'JA-,lii.' principal naval ai k Toulon, The first of HISTORY OF T[iE WAR OF 1812, 75 til' otliiT nnviil ciigJigeiiii'Tits tliroiij^liout ilic w.w, .\iTi:ii Knj;laiiil liad time to itcuvct IVium 111 r siirpi iiii>t. Mui'e ixUiisiv u or iiMiiX' iiii- iii KHis li.ittlcs would ndd littlf to the civik'U- lials oCiIr' lew {rained." Tlii-; Iii>t paiaj^raiili is a fortunate adniKsion, a> 1ml llw lauixls were added lo tlie Aniei Iran nnViil wreath aCler the lirst year, and as l!,u Anieriean Navy disappeared nearly alt. ^1 llier from the ocean when the Ihilish (lovernnient awoke, at len;;lh, from Ih inhlir fcii'i!, and ndopteil such measure^ as they [liiiuM have done at tlie hejiinninii; of the war. We liaveju.st given a fnll account, not only M.:,-n,r. ,..lo|.lrcl l,v ^^''''"' l^'Xl'loit.-i. hut of the i!xUr,ii.hU..v.:rM.:K'.ii. force in ton.s, men, r.ixl piiih-, of the American f>)rty-fours, and we will r,inv, !is far as lies in our power, point out the Btcjis that were taken hy the IJritish Admi- ralty, lo put a stop to their further sueces.ses. Tl'.ree of the small class seventy-fours, the Mi'jotic, (ioliatli, and Saturn, were cut down, ami thus armed : Tlie hrst deck hattery of t«inty-ei;j;ht lowg thirty -two-pounders was ritaiiuii, hut in lieu of twentj'-eight long (i:litiens' on tlio sc.onli^' hiitish navy ; and the Newcastle was t"i>tnK;ted of the same light wood, from the i*iaiii:!it ofM. Louis-Charles Rarrallier, then i'liy-istant surveyor iindir Sir ^Villiam, hut ;>'J^dieprineii)a! navalarchilect ll)rthe French *t luulon. The Ih-st of these ships measured I ")7 .', the olh( r 1500 tons ; and they were both con.strueted of very thin and iuaile'|uate scant- ling. 'I'he estahli-hment ol'each ship was iiO long 'itpouiiders on the liist or ' u]iper' deck, and -»> carronaihs l-J-pouiuleis, .and two, afierwards increased to four, long 'Jl-pounders on the seccnd or ' s]iar' deck; total, at lirst 5s, tluii tiu guns, wiih a net conipienunt of +MI men and hoys. 'I he l,i aiidcr and Nesvcas- tle, tin n fore, in the dispo.-.itioii of lluir guns, peifectly agiied with the cut-down 74s; and yet they weieoiliiially registered as 'frigates,' hut, hy way of salvo for their anomalous siiiiclure ' w iili .'par decks,' was superadded. if, by 'frigate,' is meant a ship with a sin- gle itattery-deck from .stem to stern, is it not a >uthcient .stretch c, the term, to ai)]ily it to a ves.sel th.ii has two additiona short deck.'!, upon w liich are moiuiled nearly as many guns as she carries on her whole deck i l!ut must a shi[i, having two whole decks, upon each of which an e(pial nuniher of guns is mounted, bo called a single-decked vessel ? And yet, in oHieial language, the Leander and Xew( astlc are not two-decked ships, olherwi-e their lower hatteiT-ileck would not be called tlu'ir upner deck, nor their upper, iheiispar deck ; milher would their dei»tli of hold he measured from the deck below the first battery-deck, i,.»r the leii'ith of ilie s.iine deck be regi,-.tered as tho ' length of gun-deck.' These are the only poiuls, ill which these frigates with >par decks dill'er from tiic cut-down 74s, and from the 50 and o4r gun shijis already mentioned. 'J'he command of the Leander waf^; given to Captain Sir George Rolph Collier, and tho command of the Newcastle, to Captain ford George Stuart, (ireat difliculty was e.xiieri- enced in getting these two ships manned ; and certainly the crew of the Leander, after it was obtained, was a very inditlerent one, contain- ing, besides many old and weakl}' men, an un- usually large proportion of boys. This inef- fectiveness of the Leander's crew has recently heen contradicted ; but we allude to the ])i riod of tlie shi/s arrival at Halifax, Nova Scolia. " We were tlien on board the T/cander sev- eral times, and not only witnessed the quality ■if her crew, but h.eard the otlhers complain, as veil they might, of their great inferiority in iliat nspect to the ships against which they were expected to contend. <■ 70 HISTORY (II- 'HIi; WAI! OF 1812. W liui .-111' 'iiiilUil Siiiili'iiil, I'll' l]ii!il'ii.\ tlu' 1.1 umliT \\!is s<» Iniiilit vi'il witli slurc.-, llml tl it'sliil" wiiul ■i';\' l::;s'i' lii rally liii>l nut stTiipk'd to si-tvl out th •ixi'S with iiistriK'tiuns cu'iiiu'lliu;; lln u! ■ til'.' vii", m;:,!', ! liiiiiy,' to !(ctii);i iiiiv siii;^k-'l'.'i;I\t.'il eU' : liail y]n: lint n ciivida :c!il in Coi!;; tlicii i; Wiis rirtiiiiati', nuii li m>; was an t fviii vr>si'i, IidWiVit mii'itum' 1
    ' iiuiil of liCiv rniis- twi'iilv-i'i^lit liin;^ twc oriiwa.li.- Tl.>- A k'.ar iirovrl a \ciy ii mlil'- rail' iiomi'Kis, twi'iitv caiTona'k'S t!iiit\ furcnt iiiii.cr, .siilinj;' hia>;ly, aiil rolling- to j iMiiiinUrs, with tuo lun.n- iii;i> sucli a (It irri'i that sill-' was con tanilv <'arrv- ' was also tiicl, aiwl foiinil to aiiswiT ex; in.. anay or sjiiiir.;iii.j;; hti' masts. Tlu' shiji 1 ion- '.ivs .lanii'S- T ic si\-a ml-l, actually .^(ow 1(1 IVi luiis nf wad r ; while iIk' , thiity-tlirti; cwt. twcnly-foiir pouii 1 i> ■ Calcilmiia, a shiji or.jouM,' l.ii' vi' a-iirv:ii(iit, ' Iiaviii;^ liecii ('oiiml heavy cnoni^h, sonii.' 'zr c calihre wi-rv pon>li'ii('tc(l, fi 'il"UI could ni)t stow' nioiL' than IJl tons. 'I'Ik' ! of the sain Akliar has since hvcii convcrt(.il to the onlv I'oot to a I'oot-aml-a-half Ioulk r, ami wii^'iir: liur|)o.-i' i'ov w hich, and carrying; a Mas i\( r aila|it( il, a truop-shiii. cargo, she Croin forty to forty-three cwt." Tl issiiiLinlar, that idtl.ouLih Aniei ican>;i' If it was dei'.ned iiicc-.-ary to liuild or were lumtiii;:; for i>rilisli fri'j,.ites all ow cnuip ships to o|iii(.,-e the lav,u:(' .\im.iican ocan, as sjon as the intention of annii fii;i,'atis in fair coinhal, thcy.shoiiM h.ave heen tish fri,.;'atcs with such .nuns was prom frig'ates, ami Iwo-ileekeii .-liip-liicc the r-canh.r the' .\iii 12 1 ei'ic.ans se em to have snldeiilv ii M'Wi'ast! am 1 AU1 lar. 'il 1 re wa.! a fii-ile tl leir ordi'i's lor hunt iii'.:'i! )'.'. n the Ih'i laid dii.vn in llie veir iSl.'l which wi mid have wo accordiii'^lv llml that thi' de.va wastlir an>',' I led ( lery pur] ; h'll, ai'iorthedrai!;rht IJritish friu'ate they ca])iiiied or hroir:;: of th ' J.iva lia.l heen prepared as that of a action, althoii;:h not, as we shall 1 U''e;i, l\';;'ii!ar fii,L;'a:e, [> ) r:\vy ;lli.-:, tile pe'.l •he lai'S of sli i;is, ci'.de and a row (/f iiort-- dl iml llviiee the Java now I'eceive onr altenimn, as we siia ^\,•ls I) nil a rjii-';"!!' t-,\-( >-di'.'keii •-! nn, Similar nave s r h several e-ase'S to record, iiroviirj,- ih:i to the Newc.-istle a;; 1 !.'. a'.ider. If the Ami r- .\iucriciiii,-; w.-re a< kcenlv awake t' ican frigate^!, of l.'i:'.;! toiw, ronh t! 1 not cari'v ; htiilil the I jiitisn ni >loo;)s, a.- thev h \\n\\ ease, their ":::i;'jLAvav IS, and the two : willed them in their fiin'ates. Ir lanicd I'.riliih (;0-;.rnii ships, av(ra;^in o w li itevcr IS cl-i-;- il u iiiK r one l.TlU tors, found s-aie,' iucoii\ei:ienee in car- pc iplc are di-posed, and not nnnat ■tr.il l'l.-!» tliat the' attach thenotii ryiiigtlii irs, h.o'.v e'OuM it he t: Java, of ll-.jf? tons, enoM h -.ir the eidit addi- tin re do ■.•; iwi.^t anv diil'ereiice', the .-li o( e (jM:dlty, so ti;:it ti ona! :z;un.- oi'i lered fir h is ]\t)W, 'I j(iH«r^>;on, tlu! late' I'l fitiivemic," — a vi ly lii tiic force of the IJnm |io,-i;iun with tliat of will he iiMe to Jml;jc li I'll rimient wasjiidit i — Ieii;jlh of main di t'.veiiiy fi ( t ; hroadth, l/,e Inilidred and ek'\t 1 (iia'liiiiidreeland tliirly. liiaiilp'd and twenty fee Kit; tons, live hiiml f.vi n'ydwo; men, oiio live. Now, sun ly the te-riiiK the Amei leans, \ i.i.e'a, to hav(.' hiiill v^■s^ tons liiirthonlarjror thai mill to have added thir r()iii|i!eiiient. The Lo tliouiilit otherwi,-e, .-o, I'roiluein,^' tho eliecl ' (iliiiiit, tho vossol.s, huil Donne Citoyenne, wer and ins: end of increasiii criii.-ed lifty-livo (on<,- [I'.it (11 hoard a smaller extra guns no e\lr;i ne'i'e'ssary — the oomploi and iliirty-fha; heing Sir Jos. Yoiko had then iriived ve.sra'ls to sea — i M.-tiiig ill (liiiiini>!iing carry, and at the sam ariMauK'nt. Lot us tako ". Scarcely wero tho t canuiiaik'S, and two k board, than two of tho ci slicre again, as having i torc'ceivethem — alreadj guns wore too close to;, qiiarterssullieiently rooi ever, the ships went t 60011 feninil neilher to s well. The utility of tl miv, he judged of when : to the narro\vncs.s of th there was no room to w guns were pointed thro Of this last discredit attendant consequences bercafltor a practical illu for the credit of the Brl IIISTUKV OF TilH WAIl ol' Isi-J. 77 ,u; .'li'ill now sliow. The l')ii;,'!i>li liiiioii, 'III! liiti' I'Vi'IhIi (MiviKo "limiM.- (■'.tipyriiiii'," — a vc-iy lint.' vismI, Alluiilariiiu tiic fiiiii' <>r til" r.niiiiL' Cihivt iiiiv ill jiixlii |iii>i;it)ii Willi tliiit (if tin.' i'mlir, iIk' muiI r \u',I III' iiMi' ti) jml^ii' iinw I'lr tl Mi'li.'ii ni i; i\i riillil'llt \V!l-^jll : i'.iMll.i' ('itnyclllic — liii^tli of iiiiiiii (kcic, tun; liiiiiiliiil ami twenty r ('itoyi'iiiic, mill lo have added tliirty iiicii, at l ast, to luv (■(niipkiiH'iit. Tlic Lords of tlic Adinirally tlioiijilit othrrwi.-c, so, as tlif sufisi iiuaiis of I'wlucini' the c'li'ct tluy dL>irid to hiinif n'ldiif, till' vessels, built from tjic liuus of the Il.inut' Ciloyetnu', wore shortem d live {\v<, r.\'\ insii.ad of iiiereasiuix, tiic luirllieii wasik- civaHid fifty-live tO!i<, — two extra guns were put ell hoard a smaller vcs-i 1, and to woik the extra guns no exha men were eonsidertd iH'i'essary— the eoniiilemi.'Ut of one iiuudied riM'l iliirtyfive hein^- (■on>idered siiHieient. Sir Jos. Yoike had the merit of si'iidint;- his ini- iruVL'd vessels to sea — tl;e imiirovemeiit emi- sisting ill diminishing a vessel's capaeity to CUT}-, and at the same time incrcasinp; lier ai:niiiiuMit. ket us take Mr. James' testimony : ''Scanely were the twenty tliirty-iio'.indrr ciuiunaik'S, and two long nines brought on I'Oanl, than two of the carronades we-e sent on slu re again, as having no iiro[)er ports fitted tori'divethem — alri'ady tlie remaining twenty guns were too elose together, to render tlie qiiarterssudieiently roomy. ^Vith these, how- ever, the ships went to .sea; and they were soon found neither to sail well nor to work well. The utility of their stern chase ports, mr.;, be judged of when it is stated, that, owing to tlie narrowness of the ships at the stern, there was no room to work the tiller while the guns were pointed through tlic ports." Of this last discreditable oversight and its attendant consequences, we shall have to give hereafter a practical illustration. Fortunately for the credit of the Brtiish navy, and for the individual honor of llie iMpidns and eivw.sof the lu w twtiity-;jmi V(*-e!s, the [ re^s gavo lallur ;i!i i \,i,:gi ralid an .iiiiit of ilnir lornj and ."i'/'.e, and iuhl tli iii up to virw as muelt more foriiiidalik- than they really wire. Tho eonsetiuiiwe was tluit the Wa-p, I'lo'i •, IVu- i-cH'K, mid Ijiiriii.t a'.i'idid eVviy tiiii,e-m i-ted man-i'f-war liny -aw. Kelalive to th ■ I'o.oiuj; that took plii.e in the caxe of the Hornet ami i'.omi' t'i!"ye!ui •,^\e •ha'.! now spral<,;iud >!uiU eslaMidi, with Mr. .laimV lul(>, the imt that the !)eIia\ior il' tlie Am ■rieansou the oeeas:or\ was iiolhiiig but braggadori') ef the most de>[ ieab'.e charneter.* * Wl.ile ill llie e.iily pait of I>eceai!ier, ISI-J, the I'liiliil Si.ile.-i' liuiile Ciin-ititiUinii, (juiiino- dore iiiiiiliridij id _ , ami sliip-^lodp lloniet, of eight- een ;>J-|Uiuiic|er ealnMi:iiles iilni two lung I'.'-puun- deri*, ('.i|it:uii James Lurtlehee, were w.iiliiig at ."^1. HiUiuliir, U) bejiiiiieij l.y the E.-^.-ex, an oeriir- leiue iuiiipeiied, wliieli tlu' eiiai'iieiei i-tic eiiiiiiiiig ol .\nieiieaiis tiirneil greatly to their iidvaiitiige. Ill ihe liiiilule of Novciieiei' the llilii^li •Ji)-gui\ >lii|) Uoiiiie-Citoyeiine, of I'iglileeii :i"J-p(iiiiider earioiiades ami two long ',)-poumler.-<, (.'aptuiii I'itt lj.aiuil/y Uieeiie, having, while eianiiig hum Kio- de-hi-plate, willi halt a niillluli stelling on I ' ilaniiij:ed hersi'lf greatly iiy riinnii tered the peirt ol .-'t. Salv.ehir, to hiiic and lie lioV'.' ilown. \\ 'leii the ^hip was keel-ont, tlielAo .^nieriean ships arrived in the port, 'llie .Vnierieaii Cdh.'iuI and the two Anierieaii eoiiiniandeis now hiiii iheir heads together to eoiiirivo soinelhing vthieh, w iih- ont liny |)er,sun:il li.^k to iiiiy one of the three, should eoiitiiliiite li^ ilie renown of their eoniinuii country. What so likely as a eliallenge to Capt. (Jreeee y II eould not be aeeepteil ; and then tho refusiil would he as i;iiod iis a vietory to Captain Lawrence. Accordingly, a challenge for t!ic Hor- net to iiici t the lioiiiie-Citoyelilie was ollered by Capliiiii La.\ reiice, ihiuiigh ihe Anieiicaii I'on.^nl, to liie liiilish eoiiMil, .Mr. Frederick L;indeiii;in ; (^nnniodore IJninhridge pledging his huiHiin' to bo out ol the wiiy, or not to interfere. Without in, iking the unpleasant avowal, that his goveriinielil u[ion this occasion, had rcdneed the vessel he coiimianded from a king's e:-uisi.'r to a iiierchant-ship, (.'iiptain (beem; traiisniitted, tliron^^h the consular channel, an animated reply, refusing a meeting " ii|)oii terms so nianile-;tly ad- vantiigeous as lliosi; proposed b^ Comiiiodia'o Hainbiidire." Luh'ed, it would appear as it th ,, on iinaid, ly running on shore, eii- lier euryro levoii.-tii 'HUM ii>ui\eii UN >\iiuoilljll- terferiiig, and the Ijiilisli ship Ijeeii the c(Mupieror, the pledge of honor, on the part ol boili Ameri- can commanders, would have been I'n.tilled ; and can any one for a moment imagine, that Commo- dore Bainbridgc would hue Seen the IJoiuie-Cito- yeiine carry elVa United Stales' ship of w.ir, with- out attempting her rescue ? It was more thuu 78 HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF lfi12. lUTiiri' I'lili riiis on llw su'ijict of tlie naval OlK'iiilinns (111 till- Iiiki><, we sliiiU iiroccivl to pivc tlit« American iicfiuiiit of tlif havoc coin- mittiil (111 IJiiti-h CDiiiim-Tco, thrlt^t^'ll tliu in- fitninicnt.ilily of their criii«icr(4, from the lU-- olaralioii of war to the ( ml of llic year I SI 2. It will he atiiii-iirj:, as the anxiety of tlie Anu'vicaiis to tnaKiiiry ovi-ry little coasting vessel, caiitureilaniijiv the We-t Inilia i.-lanils, into a sloii]) of war or nrmeil vessel, will he thus shown. Acconling to the Ani-jrican account, from Am..ricm,li.i..tn.,,.. ^'"^ ''""■' of the declara- nirts iriHdc. tion of war, IMth.Iiine, to the villi of the year, three lniii 20' south, longitude 40 ® west, the rear-admiral left Captain Greene, to pursue his voyage alone. Sometime in the month of April, having stopped at Madeira by the way, the IJonne-Ciloyenne an. ed in safety at Portsmouth. Could any scheme have been more cunningly de- vised for acquiring credit at a cheap rate ? — Ed. twenty-one vessels, iiidejiemleiit of the vali,.| of the crafts and carg'ies. Ill looking over this Iour list, we timl many vessels of fruni four to eii^ht humlr l| tons each, and descrihed as laden with t ] most vahiuhle cargoes, that we C(mi'eivi' ■• are very iiiiieh under the niaik in valuing t' three hundred and live prizes, at ten thoiba ; | dollars eaidi. This valuation, with the ntui>u; of specie and the value of the seven hiimlr. 1 1 and sixty-three giuis, w(.uld thus pivc, rv,r at our low estimate, a loss of over five niillioi; of dollars. To tlmse who may renieiiihcr tl'. facts as they occurred, or who are otln r«i.; ronversant with our mercantile marine, tlo ahsurdity of this statement speaks for itsdf. it may, hovvever, he as well to explain, feril.' heiudlt of the uninitiated, that the riclust f; these prizes, those represented as cMiTvii:; the largest numher, and the heaviest gun;, were West fndiaiiien, principally lioniew.ir; hound, and that, with some few exce]iti(in;, this class of vessels coulil not carry on ilnU anything heavier than a four or six-poiinilir, and of guns even of this ralihre, few cu'lI hear more than four, si.v, or eight. In iLe American account, the guns arc nearly all put down as twelve or fourtecn-pounders, soii.e even as eightecn-pounders, which makes tlie exaggeration still more ajiparent. It was a common practice for these vessels to ii oun; four or six puns, and to have a numher of wliat were called "Quakirs," that is wooden gnr.<, and, no douht, our Yankee hrethren have, in their version, reckoned each one of tlicfc " Quakers " as a hotxtjhh long twelve. Not the least injury done was the dcprivin; Great Britain of the services of so many pall- ors, for, according to this list, forty-five thou- sand seamen were captured during the fiM six months of the war. A brief notice of a few of the most remark- able of the captvtres, as chronicled in the .\merican papers, will he amusing: — Loui.sa Ann, laden with molas.scs, capturcil by a boat from the Benjamin Franklin, priva- teer, with seven men, under the (jun." (and we presume, also under the fire,) of a outtery cj twelve eightecn-pounders. Ship Grenada, seven hundred tons burthen, eleven guns and thirty men, with schooner Shaddock, also armed, (with s complement, it may be presumed, of at least twelve men,) ' IkiiIi cnptiiKd ;il the si Kii'.'lo, of New York, ' null. Ship Hassan, four' mm, captured Ijy the Ship Osborne, ten poiiiiders, twenty--ix n raptured by the 'I'eaze thirty men. lirig .\melia, captiir one gun. Tliise are sotne of tli jC'-VTalioiis, but the li> ami, unfortunately for I beta too tightly draw chroniclers, and the ari ovtT-sliot the mark. In the case of the H; eviT heard of a ves> t«ilvi'-jioimders intend ci'iiiplcment of only tw liowi'ver, be a waste of i iiblaiices of the means out the States, to blind ami, under the smoke o anl sixty-three pun.s, to ' that was fast approachiir Iiied, and a coiiipli'inent of only twenty men ! It would, Imtver, he n waste of time toaddiict further iibt.'inccs of the means resorted to, tlirou^'h- Oiit the States, to hiind the eyes of the [luhlie, anij, under the smoke of the seven hiMuh'ed anl sixty-three puns, to eoneeai the real ruin tliat was fast apjiroachiitp. A few individuals, Iiinal bankruptcy did not ensue. IJefore closinu' this history «e triHt v>e shall be able to tnake it apparent, on wlmh iiaiioti i the pre.'iter injury was wrou,'!)!, ami th.it. dur- I iiip the years lMl;>and "11, whih- i;n;;Ii>h ves- sels were in every sea, and while her Hag waved triumphantly everywiiere, the .\iiierl- \ can M.uine, whether nav.il or coniinenial, was as eU'eetually swept from the oci an, as if tho be.som of destruction liad pass"d over it. Ikfore closing the chaptt'r a few slmrt ex- A.M.Ti..:,M l>u-i.i.s.iN "■'"■'••* '■'■'"" ^''•- M'^liMura >t.j.«iu.', Nin-. ». siieecli will throw some additiiinal light on tlie tiiniives wbirli i.roiii|it- ed the American (Joverninrnt to prefer a war with Kii!,'laiid to oue with Trance, even siip- po.sing that equal eause.s of coiiii>laint had ex- isted against both those nations. We give one very si;j;iiilieant panigraph towards ti.e end of the me>sMge : " The receipts into the Treasury, during tho vear eiidin;.^ on the .'SDth Se[»f. last, have ex- ceeded si.xleen niillinns and a half uf ilolliir.s, which have been sufficient to defray a!I tho demands on the Treasury to that day, includ- ing a necessary reimbursement of near tlireo millions of the nriiici|i.al of the public dibt. In these receiptsaie included a \oi\\\ o\' nenrci'iht tiiillion eiijltt huixlrel (iml JiHij t/toiDnind the enemy has not seru[ded to cdl to liis aid their rvithless ferocity, armed witli the instru- ments of carnage and torture, which are known to spare neither age nor .sex. In this outrage against the laws of honorable war, and again.-t the feelings sacreti to humanity, the IJiitiih connnanders cannot resort to the plea of retaliation, for it is connnitted in the face of our exami)le. They cannot mitigate it, by calling it a self-defence against men in arms, for it embraces the most shocking butcheries of defent;eless families : nor can it be pretended tliat they are not answerable for the atrocities perpetrated, since the .savage.s are employed with the knov.dedge, and even willi menaces, that their fury could not be controlled. Such is the spectacle which the de|uited authorities of a nation, boasting its religion and morality, have not been restrained from presenting to an enlightened age." Tliis reads well, and .lo doubt impressed the American mind \\ith jt very sufficient and wholesome indignation against a people who, if they did not themselves perpetrate atrocities, could at least counteuance and encourage them in their allies. But what arc the facts of the case : — That it was notorious that the Ameri- cans exhausted every possible means to induce the Inditins to act as their allies, and that ii | was only on finding, that the memories of In. jm-ies perpefi'ated and wioiigs inllided by tli; I America!\s, were too fiesii in the recoHtc!;', of the Indians and rankled too decjily I'it ih.. wound to l)e easily forgotton, that the Aiiu;:- cans began to inveigh against the Ibitisli, i;: their deviation from the rules (^f "civilizd warfu'c." Hesides, \re fearlessly challenge Am. ric;ir,; to adduce the flagrant insfanees " of l)mi!i. eries against defenceless families," mentiuiu; in tl'.e pi'csidential address. The speech fui'i.ishes, also, anotlier Virv I con\ inciiig jiroof, that, in .'•pite of all cfibr;;, ' the war lias iHi;t;- \ty tlic Aiiiciiaa] Uie iiu-usniT- ij'l I itdvLTt t'l tli'j; /assiiclmsi'tls iii.i | rL-qiiireil (ktiuh- Iw lU'l'cncu nf t!i; I \isal was fouivlil exposition of l!:; | ,11 relating to lie ■ authority of i':; riee and connmr.il ['ence, can he llwi I deelared war, nil!, si'uis of inviwccl one Diitldii forlM |ig it, and tliittlit] other resourfii -nt military cstal- lien by the inim'i' It, and against the I tia were niciint IJ m I lenor of this, tliU after the pulfc luindrcd and fi«| li-uns, and a hra luantityofnationslj lierncrs might be I Ithc real value ft certain disburse- Is that the Xortli- dinded as to t':i I CHAPTER VI. COSTENTB. ijoncnd Brock returns to York.— Coinpliincn- ! taiy and congratulatory lottor.s received by i (JfiiL-ral Ih-oek; Colonel liiynes' opinion of j Goiiet.d Hull.— (lenoral situation of uft'drs ; ! t!ic effects of llio armistice upon tlicni.— The . aniiistice, and tho suhsciuent policy pursued. , — Anivid of Indians, as a reinforcement, at : X),.ti()it.— Captare of the " Detroit" and " Ca- ' kdo;ii;i" by the .Vmoricans.— Escape of Gen. Proclj. K\-p'Mliiion a^ninst P'ort Wayne ; a!j,Uplonnie:it of enterprise.— Despatch of Sir George Provost to Sir Isaac IJrock. AriF.ii h;iving regulated, as far a.s circum- ,,, , , .stances v.-ould admit, all viVmIv. matters, civil* and mili- turv, in the west, General Brock hastened his licm commcrcii allfi Xutf;.— Such was General I'mck's anxiety to i :Kan to the Niagara frontier, that, thougli unwu- liiiL'ly, he was obliged to leave some alVairs of iur.ioi'tauce unsettled, as the following shows : — J'miu Linif. Col. Xicfio!, Qnaiicrmantcr-Gencral of Mllithi, to Mitjur-Giticral Brock. * I have just been iufonued l»y Colonel Proctor n:U lie intends sending an express to-uiorrow to I I'oft Ui'oi'ge, wliicli gives ine an opportunity to |finv:ml a few prinled coiiies of your proclaina- ;iuu, and to iidorni you that hi order to carry it li'itu ulfoct, it has been found absolutely necessary [to organize the civil governuient. Under exist- ; circiiai«tances, I liavc advised Colonel Proctor |tj.i;sii:i)e the adaiinijtr.'iiion uniil your pleasure iaiowa, to which ho has ngrecvl, and the neees- If.iiy arrangenients conscfiuent tliereto have been laljptoJ and promulgated. In Judge AVoodv\ ard, piiolias been appointed secretary pro km, he Hill liaJ an able eo.i Ijutor ; and as your object junloiibtodiy was to traiuiuilli/.e the public mind, bd to give the inliatiitants a proof of the moder- !oa and benevolence of His Majesty's Govern- i^^iit, aa well as to ensure the due adnnnistration U the liiws, I do not think a more judicious bhoice could have bcca made. In all the discus- return fo the Niagara frontier, leaving all the forr e coiiM spai'c at De'roit, tinder tiencrtil Pro jtor, and on his wa}' thither, while on his voy-ago across Lake Erie, in the selu)i;ner Chippewa, he recciveil the first intelligenec of tlie armistice, which Sir CJeorge Prcvost and (ietieral Doar'orn, tiie American com- mander, had concluded. 'I'liis intelligence occasioned thedecpest regret to <,icneral Brock, as h.is foresight enabled him at once to per- ceive that the plans, which he had been matu- ring for an attack on .Saikctt's Ilailu)!-, mnst now necessarily be ab;uidoncd. liis mortiil- catioii iim.st have been excessive at liuding that the fruits of his successes in the west, whiidi he was now jireparcd to gather, would bo thtis, in ail probaldlity, lost. ! "Without joining in the outcry raised against .Sir Cieorge i're ost, this armi-tice deserves Serious consideration, as its operations tended sions v.-liich took place on this subject, Colonel ; Proctor did me the honour to consult ine ; and j I have no hesitation in s.aying, that I urged hira 'to the step he has taki'n, of wJiich I hope you I will, as it is' only temporary, apitrove. It Ila.^ : not been in my jiower as yet to send a statement of all tiiat we have captured, as the property is so scattered, I)ut I liopi; to finish this week. We got ii|)wards of €l,'2oo in nioney, and have sent down a hundred packs worth, I sup|)0vi,-i(ui.-," now we have Jilixaily sl'cwiiir. I'ii-au positions \^as llirown away. (n'Ofia! ('<>]. (';i" ''"' '1".^' "^ smreixhr we had nflceii trust nuist thereby have ', been excited, as could never have been re- 1 moved; and the fir.st eil'ects of wiiich would, probably, have appeared in the immediate dispersion of tiie Indians, whose powerful and ! indispensable aid, at that early period of the contest, would have been totally lost to us. ; To the facts above stated I must add the ex- , traordinary circumstance, that a statToflicer was sent express from Montreal to Upper j Canada, to prevent (ieneral Tirock from jjro- { cccding to the Western District, but which ino.st happily wasprcvented from taking eft'ect, bv the extraordinary rapidity of the move- ments of that zealous and gallant ollicer, wlio had proceeded thither before the oflicer so sent could reach hiin." We are as little desirous of entering into a defence of .Sir George Prevost, as of making a case against Mm, but the above strikes us a« Bcarccly fair, either to (ieneral Brock or to Sir George Prevost. In the first place, Veritas * Vide the letters of Veritas. \ Ibid. grinding the lloiu'. It was calculated witoh',,] readily procure three months provisions, imlt- pendent of one hundred and tifty barrol>': Hour, and one thousand three hurdrcd heii(hi'' cattle which liad l)ecn fui'waided from th- ' State of Ohio, and which remained at the rive Raisin under Captain ISrush, within reach o; the army." Now, these passages prove (ii< tinctly that General Brock's success was in i,o way attributable to the destittite state of lii< opponents, but was solely to be ascribed to his own energy and tactics. AVedo not think tliat Veritas meant in any degice to lessen tie ci'cdit due to General Broclc, on the contrary, his letters have all a direct tendency the otlur way; but we do think that, in his anxiety to establish a strong case against Sir Ceori'v Prevost, he has, inadvej'tentl}', strengthiin'; the hands of General Hull's apologists. 'Wr. respect to Sir George Prevost the ca.sc is Mi.l more unfair, lie says, " In short, military Iop- sight, anticipation, or counteraction of povi- ble or probable movements or designs of the enemy, formed no part of Sir (Jeorge'ssystciii of ojterations." Now, how was it possihlc f r Sir Ge;;rge, hampered as he was by iiistn:c- tions Irom the English ministry, to run coiic- tcr to the express orders he had rcccivcJ. What docs Sir George say in his letter of August 30th to General Brock ? " Tiic kine'i government having most unequivocally ex- pressed to me their desire to preserve peace | witli the United States, that they might, unin- terrupted, pursue, wit'" tlie whole disposaUe | force of *.he country, the vast interests com- mitted i'l Europe, I have endeavoured to k\ instrumental in the accomplishment of tlitif IITSTOIU' OF THE -WAR OF 1812. 83 views; Viiit I consldor it most r.rtiinato that I avail liitiKelCof tliosi' favoralilc circumstanfcs, have; ln'Cii eiiaUktl to do so witliout interfor- ' your lorilslnii will, T trust, he salisl'ol, frcnn i:,Mvith j'our oni'iMti)iis on the Potmit. Iain the letter whieh I have the honor of trans- ia liourlj" exiH'c(ati(in (if receiving froTii Tien, nnttuij^. Dearhoin intelIi;^':'nceri'S]>(;cti:i'^ the rere[)tion i "Ilavinc: (lins hroiieht to yom* lordship's of tl'.e iirojioscd sii-])cnsion of hostilities, in view the di!!'er"nt cIvcnnHtanses wliieh have cons^quenec of the revoration of the orders in | lod to tlie sneressfiil termination '<{' the cani- Coiuieil, whieh are the ))lea for war on the part : paijrn in the v.e-tern frontier of Upper Canada, of the Anieriean Cahinet." * * *■ " I con- 1 I cannot withhold from ^fajor d-neral 15rork. sailer the arrangement entered info liy fieneral the trihnte of applause so justly duo to him p.'nrhiirn, with ("olouel Paynes, requirin;; the ' forhis di-tiu!ru!>hed eouduet on this oeejision ; confirmation of tlie FresMent, to cstablisli its ' or omit to recommend him, Ihroujh your sacrcdncss." j lordship, to the favora'ile consideration of his hi his anxiety to criminate Sir Ccorco, Hoyal Ili:J:hness t!ie Prince Kei>ent, for the Veritas is again unfair, for speakin;^ of him, irrrat ahility and JudLrment wil!i which ho (imjrc '2'!) he Vi-rites, "lie was mainly a pas- ' planned, and the promptitude, ener;ry, and sivo instrument at that time ; neither did he fortitude with wh.ich he has etlected, the pre- pve any orders or impulse." * * * *" In | servation of Upper Canada, with the sacrilicc till' whole of these events, all that he had to ' of so little IJriti.sli hlooJ in accomplishing so ilo was to reap the fruits of what others had important a service." done, and it would he supposed that all was j Tliis is scarcely the ]"n,^iia,2e which Sir owiii;^ to Sir (ieorge." "When we come ! ^«corgc would have made use of hail he heen to consider the testimony of deneral lirook's ' really desirous ''to reap the fruits of what fcrapher, his own nephew, we shall discover ; others had sown ;" that it had not that eliect, that whatever Sir George Prevost's innnediate i at all events, is pretty plain from T.ord Ua- fiicnds may have done, to Sir George himself, j thurst's reply: — "I have had the honor of at all events, cannot he ascribed the desire ofi receivin'j: vour despatch, dated the 2()th An"'- shining in borrowed plumage. Jfr. F. Jh'ock j ust, together with its enclosures from Jhijor Tiipper's evidence wdl prove this — "as we General llrock, and I lost no time inlaying have already cotnmentcd on Sir (ieorge Pre- intelligence so important and satisfactory be. fore liis I'oyal Highness the Prince IJcgcnt. "I am commautled by his Fioyal Highness to take the earliest opportimily of conveying his aiiprohation of the ahi.k, .udiciocs, and vost's management of the war, and shall have oi'cisiiMially to do so again, wic cn.Ani.Y liivi; niM ciu:i)iT roK the viciiv handsomi-; manner in '.vliioh he spoke of .Major General iirock, in his ik'spatch to Lord Bathurst, one of His Majes- j m;cisivE conduct of Major General IJrock, of ty's princii)al Secretaries of State, announcing I the zeal and spirit manifested hj- Col. Proctor the surrender of Detroit, and dated Montreal, 2i)th August, 181 '2." The extracts from the despatch, however, wll prove this still more effectually : — " It was under these circumstances, at this and the other officers, as well as of the intre- pidity of the troops under the command of Major General Brock. "By the united exertions of this little army, the enterprise of the Americans has been de- critical period, and when the enemy were be- : feated ; the territories of his Majesty in Upper ciiuiing to consult their security by entrench- ing themselves, that General Brock entered Ainliorstburg with a reinforcement, which he na fortunately cnal)led to do on the Kith instant, without the smallest molestation,in con- I sequence of our decided naval superiority on I the lakes. To his active and intelligent mind, the advantages which his cnemys's situation ! afforded him over them, even with his very ' inferior force, were immediately apparent ; >nd that he has not failed most effectually to Canada have heen secured ; and on the ene- my's fort of Detroit, so important to that se- curity, the British standard has been happily placed " You will inform Major General Brock that his Royal Highness — taking into consideration all the difficulties by which he was surrounded^ from the time of the inva.sion of the province by the American army, under the command of General Hull, and the singular judgment, skill, firmness, and courage with which he was •ii: 84 HISTORY OF TITE TVAR OF 1812. W\i II enabled to sunnouiit tlifin so clUi'luully — hu- been iileii.-eil Lu aiiiiiiiiit biiii an extra Iviii.i^Ii' ol'il.e Mo.^L iion.jialjle Order of the ilatli." 'i'his in'oiuiit a<;ti()ii talieii by Uie Ih'iti-n Jliiiishy ill the I'eroi^iiiliou of w lial was !nandin;.v oiiieer to ruii co. niter tu in.-ti'urtii;ns wh-re, the couise of cuuduet to bo [lursued was .ro ex[)ressiy drdned. All tiiat ean In.' hopui i'or, nenccinent marched to snpijress an insuriic. iun striki;';;' at the vitals of our defence, are 1 lie belli as disl i^'al ; and tin.' in-:ur;;c'its Ailh Ihoir al. ('tiers, at tl.;it time, good nun uil tru'}— fur true it is, tliat n\ost of Ihe Ut. ..;/r are non-a Idres^ees, whilst all the l.i'i.r are u Idrestees." Amongst the various congratiilatory letlirs Comiiliineiiiary iiiwl addressed to tieniTy r.Mi :r:'iiili 1(1, y lfl|i''-i ti i ii • i.tciuHi liv (h-urr.ii i>roc!<, on tins occasion, l.r. rk. C, 'llilllinll dl' n.i,, .>' (iclH lal we could select ii at Ijest, m ease ol suecv is " not to lilane.'d," w'lile, in the event of faihue, sur^' f.nd c'! lain ruin must iie the inevitable result. 1 1 i.; ^\\n\■^^ than iirobable that wdien we Cunie i<) lb-' C'lnsideralion of tlie ronseiiu'. lues of the 1 li'.iey j.ur.-ue'' by ':'ir y Sii' (ieoige Pie\0't 111 prilit iiy the devils oi' anoiher, oi' to (k]iiiv;- (ieneral Jlroek of any pait of his fame, Ui.c, however, will sullice, Ironi the Chief Justice i; L'ju'er C'.nada, w here Sir (ieoige I'l'evi,!'; P'opularlly was deservedly very great, niii where his inlluence was doubtless most It'it." r'rom tlie v.hoh' tenor of these letters it i> (.,'isy to pei'reive that credit was given wLiV: due, and th.at (ieneriU liroik was not depiivui of the gloi'v he h.ad so drservully won. i''ro!u a lelier of Col. Uaynes to (iencnl Brock, it isajiparent that (Jeneral Hull inspir- ed a very diil'erent sort of feeling amongst hii captor.s. Col. Uaynes says, "Sir George ks consented to allow General lluli to returc ujjon his parole, he is loud in his complaint? against the Government at ^Vashinglon, an; the General thinks that his voice, in thegent' ral cry, may be attended with beneficial etllcts, and has allowed him to return and enter ti.i lists. General JIuU appears to possess Ira feeling and sense of shame than any man inliis situation could be sui)posed to do. lie suemi to be i)er(eetly satisfied with himself, islavi?!'^, of censure upon Ids Government, but appear; to think tliat the most scrupulous cannot at- tach the slightest blame to Ids own imuiedist; conduct at Detroit. The grounds upon whi.i; he rests his defence are not, I fancy, wtl founded, for he told us that he had not, ?.: ■In your present siHi.uion, I am perfectly s* sihie ot \oiu- occii]iatioiis, and know tliat \\c time Is precioiij?. Yet I take the liberty to iiitruit upon you with my congratulations upon ta brilliant success wliieh lias attended the nieasurti which you have jiui'sued with so much judgnu;;'. in Upper Canada, and the thanks of an iiulivida who leels the benefits which he, in common will every other subject of his mnjosty iu Uiitbt I America, derives from your exertioua. Detroit, guiip;i\vder fi Sir George Ins since s the large supjily fouin create a hhish, but 1 professes great surpri. zeal and military prep where witnessed; tha; f.ir, and that he has n (1 .nera! De.irborn, wi the imprudence to fo Seems cunning and u r.'liance is to be placet will sliew." before entering on (i:P'r.i! . douht that his Hicnd, ('I lu-ral Dearhorn, will sli^M : lii-; late, li'h" has the iiDiirudenee to folluw his examine, ilull scoins cunning and unprineiijled : how nimh r.'Iianee is to he placed on his professions, time will shew." hffire ent^'ring on the consideration of th ■ fi.Mfriii siiiriM.iii of armistice, it will I.ecxpe- aifiir*. liiri'il'.ci . I.I llie ' ari,ii>ii iMijumiiiijii. dient to cast a rapid claiice at the jrenci'al pD.-itiun of allairs in hotli Provinces, at tliat tinio, and to examine how far the enemy's plans wwc cither promoted or iin- po'led there')}'. Oa the conrmcs of Lower Canada, large boilies of American troops were stationed, and cull day was adding to their nnmhers, a des- cent upon ^^ontreal hy St. John's and Odell- to.vu IjL'ing evi lently the ohje.;t in contempla- tion. At Niagara, and along the whole of that frontier, (Jcneral Van Ihuiselaer was indefati- ;:i')Ie ill hisL'xcriioiisaiid had alrea^ly a>semh- ' It'll so forniidahle a force as to afford serious jronnit-; forajijirehension ; on the part of (ien. hrock, that an irrnplion, at no distant date, mi:;htbeexj>ec!edintiiat(]uarter. Fui'thcrwcst- ward (Jeneral Harrison was activel\- employed p in raising troops, and concoiilratiiig tliem about the river IJaisin, near Detmit, v.ith the I inteiUion of recapturing that position. Ac- cor.Iiiig to some American accounts the hopes of this oilicer were sanguine. Gi'iKa-al Ann- i^trong, (ifior n.iti-ing several ikv-ultKry attacks, hy til.' Kuntucky and Ohio militia, against soinf Iiuli.m settlements, observes " such was tliii state of things on the western frontier, when tlie (lovernnient, having decided the rival pretensions of Generals Winchester and Harrison, vested in the latier the command of the army and disli'icl ; with orders sufficiently i- eal of 1 the orders in Council, inforuiatiou whereof i * While aeung in a siibordhiatc capacity to ' Wiiielieslcr, the (!e;u'i:d Ii.iil no doutit of lieing ; alile, with a few lumnited men, to ro-t:ike Detroit I liy a coup ill' wi<(/;/, and was careful to iiifoi lu llio ; (ioveniiiieiil of his plans and their piMelie..!iilily. ' NVh'.Mi, however, by means of this and other re- ■ presentations, huviiii;- the same ohji^et, lie l.i'Citi.io ; eoiiiiiumding ollieer of the iiriiiy and district, liis .views siiihlenly changed; tlieliipiil and eertuiii process of a coup ih^ miin. was abuiidiincd :i> hoju;- I less, and one more systein.itic and impo-inj; fuIi- . slituted for it, reciuiriug as a iireliiiiiiuiry to any . direct iiioveuient on >biliieii or Jtetroit, an aceu- nnilation of twelve inoutlis' provi.-ionsaud (oraije, ' with carts, win.".^on,-, kc, to transport tliein from the i)laee of deposit to the scene ot iiclion, or, in other word.-, the- entire pure'iuise of all suiplu.s \ corn, flour Ol' fodilei", oxeii, liorses, carts, waguons, \kc.y to fie found within the slate of Ohio; and ; this at a time ('J'iud of Octoher,) when he says of the i'.)aiis, '' to get su])jilies forw.ii'd throaeh a siMiiupy wilderness of iiiori' thnii two liuialrej ' utiles, ill wa'.iLrons. or on paek-iioi'.-^es, wdiie'.i aro al.'io to c irry ilieic o.vii fodih'i', i- ali-olutely iiu- , poo.^:L•Ie." — J/''J_/u'i' !t'i(r,^/"y" I'm. I i 86 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 4 ■ Vi hail Keen (ransmittcd to liis Kxcclli'iirv from ! tu'c of tliu l'resil,:i UnitedSlates .-honM lie]\vn, was snliniillnl to St. lle;.''i:, wlien- tlie line of se|aratii.n In. to the .\nieiican (i.'iiei'al, in the hope Ihiit ' t\veen the I'niieil Slates ami Lnw r (';ni;ii':| thlseoi'.eiliat'iry measure, ri innvinpithc alleged toiiehes the St, I.aw iriue, e(>nsi>lin'j: i/f (';:i.-> l)riiiei|ijil Lirouiiil of (lill'erer.ee hetween the two dian volti'ieurs luxl pait of the i'nilpod'i d n.i- nations, \\i>uM he n.i't hy a eori-esi'ondin;;' | lilia. A li'_!it lii-iuai'e of the elit ■ nf the inn' , disposiliiin on the ii.irt of ilu' American (inv- reu'ular and mililia, was formed at lilairfiiidii', eminent, (ieiieral Dearhorn riadil\M'onsen*e, inands e various opfra'ionj lions he had rcceiscd fiom the lo ilish (Jov- , is a !a'r ]iroof that, as the armistice heneliUvJ crnnieiit, an I we h interests. Wo He availed himself of the vcr\' Tii'st opiior- ' will howevci', to cnaMe the leader to inrivc tunily th;tt ollered to re-estahli.-h anucahle relations hetwcen tlie two countries. In short, ho advised thj Am.'rican (lovcnment that they had i;o'.v no cause to a;lc?,e for a coiitiini- at u Just conclusion, m;d;e a i'vw cxtiac.- In":; the narrative of S. V;in FanM'laer, w ho iiiiti as aide-de-caioji to his relative, tieiieral V;,n TIanselaer, at that time C(.inmandln_u' l!;; ance of liostiiilies, ina-^much as all the p.riev- ; troojis on the Xia,a:ara fiontier: — auces of which they ccnijilaincd h.ad Ijcui re- ; " In this state of ihin.us, tlie armistice wli '.; moved. !!■', therefore, in furtherance of his had lieen conciu'u d 'letwcen (!( ncral I'cMr'i .:i in.--tructioi,.--, pvo!,tiec. 'i'he perforuam d AVhen, loo, we consider t'ie matter .-li'l inr- cf this duly was a.-^i,.n^d to mc, and a ^i:- Iher, it s'louhl he rcmend)ered that the armi- 'rc>tion liavins: he( n vaivIq hy me to that cir.i:, stice oidy lasted one month, althonj;h in fori e T had ti.c authority of t^encral Van I'an.Hlmr for a lonp'cr period on tlie s'c-fer;. Iron! ii r, ant sn.ch an ari-anu'cme'd, as, 1ic>;;l^ 01'. the •'ll-'L .\u:_iaist Sir (ieorjie di^p.atched his secininp; the ohjeids conlemplnted hy (^.ini;!: hisf.ructions to '.he we-d, advising; ticn. Urock lUarhcrn, na\;lit cir.ihlc us, peinli-.g i!:t nnni-lice, to use the ,1 (vtimuon and incii- purposes of tran-| with (icneral Shcall'c full of iiderest, as wa ].r'i;MScd hy me wen t: iM,-. hut ill lirst l>y ;,,:'i,t- to tiicni. T! ]i(i>i.'d ami insisied ^ Iliitidi (Icneral, will ol' f:ich other were o interests, ' It is mo UM'lurstood, that tlmr f'r(".'oin;j;arti.-lcs, tol fudlitie- for the firw iV". which did not cxi ift!ie armi-tice, furih uaaioK ;tcd as thereii ii!\l liy the wa'ers as tlio coss'ition of hosli! pr.ii facte 1 iuset;~;sion, iii/iit which conlincd nioveiiient of troops, s iilidve Fctrt Krie, an, u'-cwliLMV entirely uu- "The importance c never heen su!licient!_y iiii'liatu and pressiiur part, w.as, that wdthon S'iiijiliLS intende 1 for C.iIk'Cted at Oswcto, v rcich IIS, the roads wer I'll' ir;;ivy (Miinon, an l.ko U'as hesct hy a t .- "ill as tiic ii'JU'Oti'Uioi \''■\'^^, an express w !vmvi"ic at Os'.vciro, 'ii'liiivs with .all ]ios 'i.'a.'i'al \'au iim-icpio lais advaul'cj;e f)r an ..'iv'iter importance to t '■v;i> the way open, tlia U l)'.:di'nshiir^li with :i f'l" iiiau vessids from t llarlior. 'I'o this move tlriiiiicey iiidehted for ' ii'\ for a time, was eiia '■'"V. aid wiihout w 'l->ecat on T.itilu Yorl :iit''inpted." it is now f ii' tlie ren I' '-ilidH of Sii' ( iefrze "^vt'd Certain iiislructi TTTSTORY OF THE WAR .,F 1812. 87 iiisDpfra'ir.ns ici.' lii'iii'iinvl iiiaiiiK'r, (i[n.- tcrcsts. Wo ii'kT Id inrivi; cxtriH-'s fnw. tr, will) !ir!i.i (il'lUTIll V;,!l r.aniiiiit!' th; arnii: ,1 COIIUIIDI :tic(', to use the waters of tlif (>nl:uio, a~ 1 Mii'l Kinlistiirlieil liii;li\v;iv for tlic 1, .1 t \v;ts lidiinil to olii'V : a jiaiini liar 1 IIIC ( f col 'ini'i^' Witll til .t he coiiM also tiini to liis own 'lolli : fiirhcaian towni'( A I iK'rii'a w;!' l! 10 a i.v 1 lu; were nut ii )t oi ,IV I'V l>olii'y wliiili lio had hecii onk'ii'd lo adopt ; Imt at lii'st hy an uiu'iinivocal ri'fu.-al to should lie tlun hj hlaiiud liufaiisf, in imisu- il" to tliiiii. Tlio fullowinp; dansi', jiro- I aiico nf lii. inv!i iirti-wi-, :{ and iiisisu.-d on, on (In- par* of (he ami in ,,.p, .r a dv t (.■nuiMatiiiii ni til.' (Ii.ii rfiii\'S witli t.) iiH'a\ov(''l, hy h'iiiiiori,-iii'; il:iti>h (ii'iioiid, will serve to slio.v how wile | Aiiu'rici, he; en of e:ieli other were otir res])ective vii'ws nrd i avoid measures teiidiivj; to \\iden the hreacli iiitta'csts It IS inoreo ver to he di.-.tiiiiMi\' d :ive cause to (he American ]> to um ItTStood, that there is not anylhinj; in (lie eiiihark heartily in the ([uariel of llair fjO- fM'C".'oiiiu;arli. tol )(.' eonstnied into (iraiitin'.' verniiieiif . f.iLiliiie' for the forwanliivjj of troops, st' Tn addii; o the ahove rea> |S, il >l|l1!ll(l i'. ', whi.'h did not exist hcfore the dvchiral'ion i al>o lie home in miiio, that Sir <■ if the armi-tice, furtluT than they are to \> eonseidus o f h mic'iior slreiiiiih, and was uaaiou ■■.!( d as therein ;irovide 1, in tlie moilc | prett\ aware that at tiiis iiinetiire thero tl le wa'ers assiu'ii'i I to tlieiii to ; U, Mil liilh' ji.ip t! lal si I'll reinfiieeinent.- th. ss'iMon ol liosiiutie? 'I'lie result of a ; could he cxpecti'd, from any (piar'er, as would pr.iii'iiete 1 liisen^sion, however, was an a'^'/'ee- i enaMe him to adopt any other than a def.nsivo liii'ii t whieli conlined the restrirtjons to the ' svsteiii. AVliatever i rri of jud^)iieiit wo iii'iveiiieiit ol' troops, stores^ ,*;:(•. to the country ' may, at a later period of oiir narrative, liiid :iiiiive Fort l'"iie, and left such nioveiiieiit;. c;iuse to atlrihiite to Sir (le;ir^,' lh\o-,),t, e-L'wiii're en tirel y ui ishackled and f o lar we can scarce! Y h!aiii..' him lor avoidio'. T le impor taiico of this arraiicrement has ' t!ie ri.-k of '.veakeiiint;' Ids alreadv small forca IIIL"! ■r heen su:Iieient!3- a[ipreciated. The im- in hazardous eiileiprises Vihii'li, in case of late and I itessiiig necessity for it on our ' failure, mib;t end in cerlain rnin to tlu pro- pni't, w IS, that witlioiit it, th ordnance aiul i \iiicts co mmitteil (o his ciiai'it s;:i:iiies m tendc el lor the armv, havinn' lieeii re lull I ded at Oswe IS, the ro:i Is <:'i, Were iioi n ihl kely s were iin[iassaiile, especaaliy i eiieii :r to wi 1! A fe 11 se v extra ■■!- >m th of N'i'rifaH I've to move how anxious >ir tieor^''. iiies v.-ere to iliid somethinn' to condemn Ml' lie.ivv cannon, an I t; ij 10 iiuuwav o f tl le in IS measures. Wo h lave a!read\', in lor- ke v,-as h .'Set hy a trium|)hanl enemy. As 1 nier chapilei shew 1 liou" imex Iie.-ted hy >a us tlio n'_'i;'otiition was succes->l'u',!v com- , ^ ireat Ihalain was a decl iration of war on .d. I'l'IlWl" m express was i lispatehed to t'ul. i the part of the United State d at Osweiro, to move on with h \\ rivo shewn the firhc'U'anco and coneili it'irv at Willi all diii J!nt , titude (if tl • iiLiM-di imihslrv -we avo .•ai;i'a! \'au llansclaer was eiiatiled to use I hroii.i^ht heforo our readers proofs that tho liiis advaufan'o for another piirp^ .."ivitcr imjiortanee tti tho service. - '•i':i- llie w.ay op, n, tlian an expre d" even i war was not pojiiil.ar v.iih the ncjor'ty of t'lo ;oi)iier ;n!iahilaiits of the I'niled Slat'. Iv not ss was Sent ^ wi:h the re!iei;!in'j; part nf the Cdminmiiiy ; in the removal i short, we have proved distinctly that Hie war iiiae vessids from that [ilaco to Sacketl's was unexpected, and lli.d, even at the eleventh t ' 0- I'.'iishiir^h w ilh ;in orde '.ariior. this movement w.is t omnO'iore ; ni^ir, ihere were soi ml n >y calculaiiii: tiiaiiiicey iiulehted for the ascendancy which 'il". for a lime, was eiiaoled to maintain on the uh.-eniU'nt and without which the ■ lat on latl York could hot havo ueeii that m amicahle ai'ran'icment would he I'liter- ei 1 into. .VCCO (jieor"'e s arrual m t ana la rdiiiLi' to \'' 1 Mias >i '11 aiier .'^ir ic llClO a rapi I ;i"inpted." It is now fur the read r to wei.uh N\elllhe ositiiai (d' Sir <ilioiis f'lr dek nee, in ca.-(; ol uoei T I J is w is liighly pr'j[ 'er, It lii ^.ii if '■d 88 HISTORY OF THE W.^R OF 1S12. \wx> ninny oihci' excursions, no visi'jlu lesult fol- Tndiaii-Cile, or in si-ctions of a very sinsill from lowctl. eonscfinently, tlicir (li-:foiii(i(iiv(' woiiM lir, " 77(^ jn/'/i/o' r>/* 181 1 passed on without any hiccn easy, IkhI tiny liccn iiKt ininitdiatdv prciiMratif;nsront"ni])lativ('of\var, (llio liefon- after hy a resiie-talile ntiinlier of our ariin ! menlioncd ;iii!itia act cxn jitrd,) iiotwillistaml- ' lioals, ready ami fresli foi- llie attack." iiiLT tlie fulininatidns in C'linjire.-s a^iinst ns, ' Wliai i- Imtc cdnijiliiiiu'il of!,-, Iir-t, tint > (luriiijr ill! th, t \\inler: the open avowel ef results followeil Sii- (leorjic's tfur thiou'jli li. their (lesi;.nis upon (.'anada, ami the actual ' provinces on (iist n-^snuiiii,!:; the povirni!i>!'. Fpreadiiifr of the elotli fir Mr. Peter K. Porter's j We are rather !,t a loss to know wliat risn';- ^^■ar feast, as announced in the comniiltee of were look-d !',)•, oi' coull have I'ccn i x; n i ' Cunj.n'ess, wlureof he was tlie orj;;ui. i to us it a]i|ieais that all Sir (ieor^e wan'a, "The two intcri.i 1 keys of the province, i was to make hinisilf iier.-onally ni!.:ter (.fl'. viz. — Isle-anx Xoi.K and Coteau du lac, were dill'crcnl points nio--t exposed to attack, ;, , cither despised or overlooked in thattour, not eapahle of heinj^ easily made defensihlu ; l',,;. uilhstandiiig the inipor'ance decidedly given i he did hy j)er.-onal insiieetion, anil haui; to the former, especially by the French engi- ;;ainid the information he re jiiired, he iicers, and liy Cen":al Haldiniand, who \Nas an ahlejndi^o of positions, and who had ex- pended a large sum of money in feilifying it, in llie former American war. " The cause of the neglect I know not with certainty, hut the fact is, that T.-,lc-aux-Xoi\- uas not occu[iied until .some time after the war, and uught have been seized by the enemy, had ho then possessed sufficient military capa- city to estimate its value. Coteau du Lac was not occui)ied until the siunmer of LSI.".. "Not a gun-boat or vessil was built in the river Ivichelieu, .it, or above St. John's, or even thought of, until the Almighty threw into the prepared in case ol' necessity to make u>e • it. We do not see that Sir (.uoige wonld lur been warranted, in a young and poor coloi,- to waste its resources on works that it \;.;. •eiy uncertain would be rc(iuiied. The next complaint is, tlial the winter i; 1811 was sullered to })ass over without air preparation contemplative of war. The p:i-- sage, we presume, that is here .'illuded to i. Mr. Porter's speech, and win'ch we givo r.: length below,* is as follows: — "In short, i 'yh\ Porter Paid that t!it^ Iiouse witc ]iio! ;,M; expecting f'lom t!ie eonniiittee on iore'gn relaiii ; ■ some explanation of tlicir vicus in rcnoitiiif; tic power of the lirave lnn(h Itegimentand a few ] ,•l.^„lut■ol,^ no.v mid.T cor.:.iilciati.ii u ail.iish-:. a'tillery, in garrison at Isle-aux-Xoix, two of to the general expo.-ition of tliem ei.ii.aincclii; ti- the enem3''s armed ve-sel«, w hich were cap- tiu'cd in a mo^t gallant style, by the aid (\erc ciait'ed tei;' l)etterappelatioii) to which ('treat liritaiii resoi'ei to excite the violations of oar m.iiitime r''f;liis:' was inipos-ililc not to perci.ive thiit her C'iiii'.i;e towards us was not reg. dated even bylicrm,'. sense uf jus'tiee, luit solely liv a legard to thi/ l-f" tjable extent of our forbearanco. The la;t .-is vcai's have licen maiked bv a series cif iiiOL'ro.-''t tack the enemy if thev descended the St. Law , , , , ,. , , „ . ,, ., „i eiicroaehnients on our n;jlits ; and the luiiie",".: reuce,unine.nately after passing the rapids of j,,_,, ,,.,,;,.,^ .,,^. ,,„,^,i^.,_^. „j,,,^.,,, ,,^,,, ,„.!,,,,,:,„, the Cedars, before tluy cotild collect together ! were as mutalde as her eondiiet. ^Ve had -■"■ and form; it being certain that their boats I'"',' '^"'^^ >"'^':"' advancing doctrines which the y,.,: ., ^ , ,, ., I l)el'ore she had reiiioliated. ^\ e hail seen horn.' must necessarily sault or j.ass the rapids im- ,,^^_^. ^,,j,„„,i,,,,, „,;,, ,.,,,,,,], „„,,,, ,,,„,,,„. ,,1,!,:. connected, and by cimpiirison as it wore, iu on the preceding day she ivouldl.aveheeuuj'laui.'.- was the determinati. rci^uininend open and vi.'iirons and etlectivi' ceiintry, and the rehit aiul our enemy would This we adihit v.-as nnd wa-i used on tin till the Sth id' I) -rvu Mf. Checves, fro n l! :t orftfraid to avow. Ind t'l liave li''''ii co;i^els tioiind to and i cuiiiiiieree is not favour ratiiiii U at war with ui till' ellVct was fas he m liii'l iiiaeh l)e!le:- iiiforii In; umiM pretend (o, to f'unlis of (uir best and hwasi'iipossililethat ih iiitorestsof the United S of a ri^ht to the dirrrt rated, could siil)uiit to liis o|ii:iiun th;it jroing |ii'ciiaiary caierdatioii, i |ii~s, it wiiiild be for oi TiUMove the orders in c initt'itiieiii.evenduriii: ciiiitiiiiiance. lint there was anoth the Mihjeet ])ri'seiiled i lliiit was as regarded 111 V>e Were a youiinr iiatii ''•lied a little pride an il'jiil of justice and modi net uiiiilvc that of a vo I'cii ix; icti ! (.Tiortiiij.' II. c III. M tlllllilinll (nU.lilK'il ilitl.! I.^clvc- I'ollt!:' iicli as tlu'V li,. ; iKittd t'li'ir ii.- i:<, shoi,I(!t!.y on of uhor.': IIT.^TORY OF rilE WAR OF 1812. 80 wa.' till' tk'ttrniiniition of llm coiniiiittcc to ii' Unit ]iiirt of tlu^ IVi'sMcnt's iiiossn;;!' wlii'h reriiiniiiiMul ojicii ami di'diU'il war, a war ns rOiilfs to tlic naval foirc of the riiitul Stati-s, vi.'iiroii-i ami (H'crlivi; as tho rc.-ioi lives of tlio ai.d to tlic (Icfciiri' of the iiiaiiliiiio frontier, country, ami the nlativc j-itintimi nfoiir-clvc s I'laUino; tl;o fnl'Dwing ri]ioi t, in j^ail: — ;uul our enemy would cnulile ns to iira-iecute." ' "Tlie coiinnittee to wlioiu wa.-; ri (cireil so Tlii.-i we admit was jiivlty .-tronij,' lanjrna^c nnidi of the Proiileiit's iiKSsa;:e (/file ."th if nni] wa-i u.-iid on tin.' (ith of Ikceniher, Isl 1. Novemher IKI 1, ;ts nliilf.'; to the defviiee (( On (lie Slh (if I) ei'in').'!', howrvT, \ve iiml uur niai iiiih.' fi' ii' 'ci', ri'|iiii', in ii:.r\ tliiit t wo Mr. t'hceves, fro.ii tlio coiaiiiittee ai'iio'iited i ci-mmuniealions fro'u the Se( ret, my at War, oriifiaiil to avow. Iiidceii, s.iiil Mr. 1'., slu>soeni>' life, and wlio, if lie tamely ."uliiiiiiteil tn coo!, 1 1 hiivi' Imm'ii coii-itaiitly and Ciii'el'iilly feeliiii; our i dilil'eiiitc, intentional indiiriiily, miuiit safely eal* |iniriii)ns we would hear; I eiilale to lie Kidied and enlVrd fui' the "liole re- ■ jro on snliMiiilimj to oiii' iirliiriiitv nfter ' maindiT 111' liis lile; or, if lie should aflerwaidr* an'i ,11 'luT. it will not lie Iom'j: I. >iia!] Ml' II Hake to letiieve \iU eli.'il'iieter, must do if at Inii'^li siiii) siilijeet.*, not o l;ail ii' laljn.i: oui' ;;ni[ii'ity in tm tinie.i the eNpeiisi wliieh it would (.Ul' gf.'iil'tS luit traniiilin;^ on onr [lei'suns in tlie . liiin al lirst to isniiport it. We should clearly oui.- our cities. have cost un- derstand iiud ileline those r ii:Iits w hill 1 as a nation lliivii!^' lieeoiiie eiinvinreil Ihiit all hn;,es. frmr. we fiilL;ht to su[iiiort, and we shoiili] sii|ijn)it them fiiillh'r iiejrociation were idle, ilie eominiitee, M'v : at every hazard. If there he any snch tliin<_' as r. s:iiil, were led to the consid ■ration of another; rivdit.s lielweun nations, .surely the |ieo|ile ot the qh'sridii which wa-i — wjiether the maritime rif.dit.'^ riillxl Stnlfn, oeeufiyinjj the half of a eontiiieiit, Wiiicli drea t Hrit uni IS V .-iolat 111'' were siieli a- a riiht to iiavi'Mte the witlim t lieill cii.'lit to siiiiport at the liazard and expense (,i a j iiKilested by the iiihaljitaiits of the little island of \v;ir? .Villi he lielieved he was correct in .statinu' (ireat Itritaiii. tluit the commit tee w:i--.unaiiiinousIv of Ih inion It was under these views of the Ruliject that the tli''V wero. The coin mil fee ihotiirht that tlie orders I committee diil not sitate to It as tl leir iiu'iiiiiicil so far as they ^'o tn iiiti.'rriipt our J/vct ! opinion, that wc oiiLht to po to war in opyiositiori Ini'li'y that is, tlie carryin;: the prOdnciions of this to the orders in council, lint as to the e.\tent ol country to a market in the iiorls of frieinily nation (iiiil returnini: with tho f/ropoeds of them — om.dit to til isted by war. llnw f.ir we oiiiiht to fro ii iippiirt of what is coninionly called the rnr> il. lint as to the e.\tent ol thewarandthe time wiien it. should hi; coiumeiiced, there would ho of course some diver.-ity of senti- mont, in the house, as there was at first in tho tfii'l', iilttiou-ih tho (|iiestioii was afritated in tl //nil/ i committee That wo can roiitcnd with Piroat Britain npoidv ciuiiiinttei', no delinilive opinion was expres^eil, and evendiamled on the element where .--he injures —It was not deeineil necessary, at this time, to ■ us. it cxjire^s such an opinion, inasnnich as the injury we ' our pi sustain hy the iiihiliilion of this tr.n'.e is mer!xed in cope w iild to liiiild fully to pretend. Were it even ir ivv which rsliould he able ti till- ^'ivatei' one to our direct trade riih hers, no man who has any re;i.iiil fur ! 'he happiness of thi'iienpli' of this coiinlry, would The orders in council, Mr. I', said, of which venture to advi-o such a measnri .Ml tlie fa tlii'i'o seemed now to bo no inospect of a spei'dy j and irlory which the Urilisli navy lias aii|uired at repoal, certainly none diirin;.; the cfintinuanco of ! sea. have heoii dearly paid for in the .siilferiiifrs the present war, anfhorisi 'fr the ca[i(ure of our 'and misery of that ill-fated peojile at Imiiie — suf- ve.sseLs hound to ami from jioits where Hritidi I ferinirs occasioned in a rjreat measure hy the ex- il ; ami as that [lenso of that stufiendous esfablisliment. ]5iit cuiiuiierce is not favourably r.itiiiii U at war with nio.-t of the civilized wurM, without such a navv, the United Stales eouKl mal. till' I'llVct (;. IS he imderstooi ) fri oiii tliiise who a serious impression upon tin ,1 I! iii.irii, even iit AVi ih Kive, witliin SIX mont iftc declavation of war , luiiidr liii'l iiiach betfo" information on thi- subject tl 111.' ciniM pretend to, to cut up at oiie(\ alioiit tlire f'iiiitlis (if our best and mo-t protittible conimerci ItwasinipossibhMhat llienu'rcanlileorasricnltural troy, the vast and profitable commerce v.hicli .she It of the ocean. We ' prlnilrtrxiw every couiil liairass, if not de, latorestsof the IJnifed .States, wliich on tho nuesti of - rutoil, could submit t on I is constantly carrvinp on tn every part of this cor lU'ii^ht to the (//;vv/ //-.((A' could neverbo sepa- ! tiiient. Wo could destroy her fisheries to the ith ; we could depredate njioii her coinmei CO to lis (ininiou that icn impositions. It' om;; upon the crivii ind of lM'o ' the West India islands which is passirfr by o pocuniary calculaiioii, a calculation of profit and ' doors; we could annoy her trade alone; the coast lo-ri, it wiiiihl lie for our inloresi to po t o war to 1 of South America ri'iiiove the orders in cinincil, rather than to suli- ', to her own si initt'itheni, even duriii:,' the term of their [ irobalile ther lores in th Ci)iitiiir,,i!ico. was anotlier plai could even carry the war r.iiro|ie. I)iil, .Mr. V. said, ;'e where we could attack Hut ill ere was aiiollior pi it of view 111 w hid; her, and where she v.ouM (eel our p sensibly. We could deprive her .versiill more ii'r extensive that ■iiliject presented itself to th ■ c-iminitteo, and provinces lyiiii; alonp our borders to the north. 1 These provinces wore not only iiiimeiisidy valuable was as regarded the clia 11 >e were a yoiiiid natior iied a little pride and s >f t! li' ee.iilitrv. d h d we ell I themselves, but almost indispensai ■tilth (Il'uI (if pint, as v.-ill as :rea t ! tenee of Great Ihitain, cut off as she now Is in a pistiee ami nioiieration. (»i not unlike tliat of a v( itiiation was i irreat measure from the north o ■iuil; man i; if !■: iro|i'' enter ii;r into ' been credibly ii.l'./ruied tluit the e lie had ;.s lioia 1 I 1 1^ Hi. 90 IIISTOUV OF TIIH WAIl OF 1S12. — wliicli iiiTOiiiiiiiiiy llii^ iN'port,— wliich were ; I!ut (l,!i( soim- ml.Iilhnnt wnrk-i nrc d Jiiailc ill ii';ily li i|'iciifs |irii|iuuiHli'il liy tin niM'c\s>ai y, tie iiivci-v i \tciit ul' wliijli c Ctiiaiiilllrc, (">i)t.iiii III" li ■>( iiil'iiiiiiiliiia 1)11 tlu' 'i( iciKinl l>'i/< t, riiil/i<'l." siiljirl whi 'h tUvy liivf Ici'ii iiM.' t.. .•ollfct. ; It i-i n|.|)iin'iit IVum I'l" Umi .r of tliisr. "Tint dtii' uf ilu'iii I'l.nt.iii;-^ an ciiMiinTiitioii |ili', tliu iiri>-it!cl^ of a war were liv ni blH I'll I'liiiijiii'ii' 1 or <'i)iiiiiK'iici liili ifinaiks iiii-ms (•crtiiiii. We would n!so rciiiii'l tl|. on till- tr^'ops iKc • .,ary to u;arrison tlioiii, : •'"■'ii 'it of VMriniN cxtrncts, \\\: maili' in th,. 'lliat foi' tliL' foiniili !iiiii ii( aiiiksalruaily roin- iiili'o hu'tory jiart of this nariMlivH', of a .lei, nu'ii(.'i'j''(r'.'i, rdjijif'/iri i/!iiii !>< rc/nlnilr. l must ol tla'.-H! ill HI l;o to war for our iiiaiitiitic iml lit.-, \[r, ]\ . Ilf-llv (K'.-ili'S tluMII not to VOtl' lor till riMilii. Iicli's ii'' tlio first luii.'i'iJsiiv — ill ship tiiiilidr tion •, Itn not, saiil lio, li.-t us raise iiriiiii's, iinlcj ami ill provisions tor till! support of licr ilci'i-^ ami "'" intt'ml to ciiiploy tlii'm. If wr do not i ariiiK's. Hv carrviii;; on such a \v,n as Ik.' Ii i.| 'o support tlm rights ami hdiinr o| tlio coiiiitrv di'-^cribL''). al tliL' piiljlic; oxpi'lisi-, on liiii(i, ami hv li'' ^i^ not drain it of its ioouiits. imlivi'liiid oiti'iprisi- at sea, we .-liinild lie alih' in -^'i'- !'• i^iii'l I"' "'as aware I'lif tloTe were tiiuiv a short li'iit^ to reiiiunerati! oirseUes tenlold lor tC'Milleiai'ii in the liiai-;e\\ho were iii--atirlii'.i li,,'; for all the spoliations she liiid cinnmineil on our 'li>' t'einmiitee had not ixmie further and i-.tt,:. cumaieice. iii"n led a:i iniiiiedi.ilo euidi a war. that the lomiiiinee li;id i'll'i!i\(l the in-taiitly precipitnted us into it. liut ' resolutions oil the tai. \V leMier tlie mean s -u(di was not lii inion. He had no M";l recoiiiiiiended Were aiiequ.ite til the (ilijeet, or pluii;;iiii;; ourselves lieadlonj: into a war «ii|i whetlier ihev v.-ere lii.'St a laple 1 to the end, it powerful nali(Ui, or even a respeet.dile pi WOlll IV Ihe hiai-'c. when ihev ciiiie to dis- «ueii we had nut threv- retiiinents of men i< >\ aii'c, CU-is ihiMu s 'puiMtelv, til detenunie. Ferii for Ihat service, lie hojied that we shoiilil i:ii ."^Ir. 1'. .-aid, and lu- pr.suined >uc!i were the I'l'el- '"! inllileiiced liy the lioulinir of newsp:i m-r iii'-'s of ;dl the inenilicis of tlie eo uinitti tsliould havi' no o'lje'iions to any inoi|ili,-a;iii,.s i ; «' liy a I'ciir tliat the spirit of tiio twclltli coajriv*! d them whicli nii^hi III! a;;reeal'le tn i!ie h tiial the j^rciit oliject was still velaiiicd. it l! e lpte^i 11.11 to ah indoii the ii'aiiiiyt ,s() t:ites ol eonimon senjo nnd coinmon d II i.-cr. t;>.n. e w,",s sensilile that there were imiiiv uoml iii"ii resol III inns, or any ui her similar to I hem in ol.ject, mil I'f eonj^ressas well as in.iiiy of his iicst iVwhili phoidd p.is-i; it wa.-; tlo'ii the intemioii uf the i'l '•', who-e appetites were jirepnred for a !.■/• coiiiiiiilree, as soon as the fnrces eonieiiiphited to /'■i-^t. \h- w.is not siir[ui-eil ut it for In' knew iV! fie r.ai.-cd should be in aay tul.'i.ihle st;it-j of pie- pri.voc:i,ives had lieeii sutlieieiitly u'reat. l!i;:l,c p iraiion, to recoinmeml llie eaiplo\ iiieiit of ilieiii liii|'eii they would not insist on ealllnu' in i:;;' ■■•, for tlie piirpii.'e \\n- uhieh lliev sliail have lieeii at lea-t iinlil the tahle should liav raised, iiiih^ssKieat Ihiiain shall, in the m I'an time. at lea-t unlit tlie table sliouht liave been -pici!. Whi'ii thi'i w;H done, he pieired hilil-a'lf in h('!i;i| have done us Jusiice. In short, it was the di'ter- of the euiiimittee of fiirci'.in re'ations that t!u' i,'i:.- iiiinaiinu of the couiinittee to leeamneml opea llem.ni shnuld not In- disap|iointed of the eii'''i- and ileeid'.' 1 « ir — a w.ir as vijiorous ami elVeciive t liiinn iit forilie had ri~e!i niendy fur the piii'ii'i-i' or leis m c 1 a.icil. 11" sati-l.ictoiv I if I'Sjilainini;' to the ho"se li e opinions ami va'«* ana 1 ."•me'it < in i-i'-pi ct to the iiiipre<~in"nt of of the eiiiiuii'te in relali'iii to the resohitinas iini' ^H] (it O 11 -1 th iie'l. If lliei'e shmil 1 be iiuv "■enlh'iiien to be di-eil--"d. and he should be satislied if liO iu the iioiLij w.io weie not sati.;hcd tluit we o'.!''lit . hail been so toi'tuuate as to .saccee firitislaiii'i'.) !■< tliert |fi.|iiiii,-liiiitnt, lliat Sir .i^instnmlii.ii.s from in ',: rts tliat were luiiv |i iiiv ill Coiijji't'S.s, slioi |;'i le might lii' a jios- ;r;:ii!.'c!iicnt Iteing liiia He naturally siipiiose tiiieii'ili tlicirip„'eiils, III |i;:!istri's of the lot cut i ICiiliincl than he possil lni.'rcil to av IHOVillOO, )t' iiii'M 1(1 s[i,ir' wo !«Il(illli| l:il 'WS[i;il.r!'S, ii„r r'ltli ('ii;ii;iy«j II' l>';ii!i(sti!i;. ion di.-ci' li .'1. lilliy ^nml iii'ii li- iirst h'wW'.i Il'il I'll' !l I'.'f i)rlii> kiii'w iV; ,'r('Mt. lliiilie lliiiir ill ;;ii.'.Ii, e lii'i'li >|irc:i'l. ii-'cir ill lii'!i;i;f S tllllt till' p* I of till' rli'iT- nil lie lifli.'Vij iiKiiiy (if [':■; li"y woiiM Mit imIIv, lint niilv '1 lir, I'lit i:iiill ' nii'l op("t-!On lis ('X]i('ii('m.'i', lliiniiic n j'Ct rl' this li;i;i":l Ix'i'll iiMo 10 ii WiK— (Int..' it., jiiit «o w and fi'i'liiiL's .inj;; ill iiiniy his liim-i.', l:i; iiiiiim woii'l f'orciuii iiaii"U !iiH'' s;itislii."l il' 1.' IIISTOIIV or THE WAI! 01' 1813. 01 firinsiiuti'f.) !■< tliiTc, (lu'ii, nny ronson f ir i'li'.-i Hint no pi'isoii In re dursl iitti iiipf J" ''f- |n,!(ini.-liiiicnl, lliiit Sir (1. I'ii'Vo4, coniKiiiiii':' |ii -(■ it ^ or liiwilly, is il, tliiit mI ii liislMnci', i^iiistnictkii.s fioiii Iioiiie uilli tlu' stri iiuoii.-- f.is iKc nl Ircssis !uv iiiiiiiiirMrliinil for i'Xt>or- !'.rls tlirit wiTe luin;; iTnilo Iiy tlii' jua''!.' ta(ioii), llicy ri'imtc'l upon tin oru> li'ilirrr i* iriy ill ('i)ii,?n'S.-i, kIidiiI.I liaw iiiiii^'iiK>l that out, as tluy nicnnt to kci p llirirowii roiiii-i'l? ; If \]\\<^Ul 1)0 ft possitiiliiy of ail aiiiicaltk' i "llowi-vor, I rtn cntrrliiin sniiic liop" tliat 'III lit liciii'^ liiiallv ciiti'icil iiilo : lllc\' ll.'IVr I'l r1, ik'ii.'itunilly siipiiosi'dtliit liis (liivi riiiiiriit, llnit /r. h DllC'l 1 iilioiit tli'ii' K" -I ,jis a ml 1 lis. If. \\] and 111 art' i.ii!!;li tliiira^^'ciit^, iiinst lit' tiii.iv tlnipMiulily frllow-lalioii r-i in t!io yami- viirya'.'il for llic |i;!:i>tri's of tlio iiitt'iitions of till! AiiiiTii'aii , t'orri'i tioii of filscliooil and .«iiippoii ofliiitli, kaliiiKt tliaii ho possilily ruiild Iii.>. Ilr was without liaviii;; any Know loii^i' of, or loiiiiiui- iiu.'iTilto avoid all iiioasiires tliat coiild pro- nioatioii with, o;'.c!i otlnr, will open tho oyis vnki' Imstilo fi'i.liii'.;s, ho olK'\'od liis instnic- of iiiaiiv, if wo ctiinnt of ail llio Mind; f^r of liM'! aiH 1 is ho opi'ii to Maiuo fill' so doin.LT. tho euro of tho lioiHSt i caliv 1, .1 pa!n. Its I 111 whi.nlil not rathor the I>rili.~li ('aMiiot he <'aiuiol doiiht ; hut of iho willullv h mil. the 'iiiii/i 1 for fottoriiig iiim with thoir instiuc- 1 niust ho loll to hu onr'.il \>v thoir ouii folly, and tlio ronloinpl of all iiido[iondoiit minds ifttr 110 war was docland, (Iioro tlio road- IJoforriii',' to ll 10 oh.'ii-'. our lo^iii'.; iho onii'ist not omit to hrar in mind that tho . naval supirioriiy of tln' lakos Wiitas adds, iH'ii'liisi'in was so liaslily conio to, that (ivo " t'pon tho suhjfct of tlio iippt'r lakes, thoir diys nlKr tho doolaratimi was sij;ii','d and I iioi;'loct in IJ^Il' caimot he oxotisi'd, ovi n upon H'lili'il in Congross, tlio oaiiso, tho ohiioNioiis tho ])riiii iplo of innoranoo or inaiUoi toiicy ; C1I1T.S in (.'onnoil, was ivmovod hy tho ifpci' for tho ooimnou tahio talk that sumnur at i-I'tlic said ordors,) and Sir (loor!;o complain- Montroal was tho incompotonoy of tho oHicorrt lif tl;o want of troops and oveiy iiiunllioii and niiii on hiiaid tl;o on iko of war iio( ;ssary for tl 10 (k'lonoi^ o f I lis •'•oV- Ontario (and that talk is supjiosod t') liavo iniiiKiit. ^'oritas ohsorvos, " It is the aonio ■ hooii ahvavs lieltor kmnvii al hiaii-nnart. r3 rl'a.-sur.mi'e to insinnato, tliat Ministors were ' than tho disi^iis of tho ononn 1, and that a ill! urn: fur such insullioiency, osjiooially as ' stronj;; roiiiody w as nocossary, or tl 10 roniiiiai.i. 1 t;av cuiild only have a knowlodiio of our thoiocd' would ho lost. Of that iiii'oiu;)etonoy ills tl iroi!''h Sir Oooi'lto's infirmat on. tl loro was fnrr.i-hi.d *ho most sfrik III'..- pn [Now Inw i!i justice oan Sir Oooruo he hku'.n.d hy (.'oniinoilore liark', whon ho \voiii over in thoIiovaHioorLr-toSaokott'sIlarliiiiir, in 1m!2, IfiV not informing mini-lrrs of his n-ijiii liiiiMits for a war, which ho was in-iriictoil hy | to destroy tho OiU'iila 1 ill tlio Dio.iiis ill his power to avoid the pfo- ! there, lindin.u- hor haiilod into the inin r 1 iVI' iiid 01 I a!'i:\my; lar- nioiion of. hour, and oin' or two of lur nii l,i fii liis anxiety to attack (lie movers of the 1 planted on tho hlnll' point dor tli I * 1 biUress to Sir (ioori^o ]*rev(xst, in roforoiico to 110 frarris.n), without cover, w lllii} war, \'riilas has sufrored himself to an to him — tho uallant t'omniodorc i :iik'd and li'ix' w;i3 lucii iirci nmioiiia Itlie vcrcro of iiiiu--tice to\ loly tho addi d. tl d his till or sicrn to the cniiir.' ai.d vvr foil owing' passage seem- to h ivo partioii turned to Kinii'slon, /'c //''('■/ : loll, "il if 10 siiialliH wo mav I'onos. Ill Vet I 10 notice was tal ken of this at ;(;f hoail-([:iarlers, nor any ivmo'ly at!ciiiiito ;j:!(at to our ;k diU- to S'J 1 02 TiisTonv or Tin; w.wi oi' isi3. ' ' if HTviix' (the trim iiorliitio!" of the irii);, Corci'S iif «I( iii'ial Hull to ISulI'ild, tlnu' tn l,| iliM iiil'MiKi'tl |iri'|i!ii;ili>ry t') tli> ir return ! ihi'ir ii.'itivc S(;it(', Clilii,) 1111(1 to thii'W' •m\>1 (1 the Detroit jiikI llie ('ii!e>loiii;i, ^ i;, ineri'liiiul Id'i;^. I i!t> nut riTolIirt v, lio «,,. ,i|.piiiiiteil ti> the enmiimtel nf lib' I'l'lruit, h : Ihi' Cile'loiiiu hinl In ri)\\ii eiijitiiin, Mr, Irvii, . gmtlv, where a mi-liike luis iieeuninl, for the reallv eiil|iiilik' pMily. To tlu' pre-i ut jierioil, llieierne, have we ilc-Ireil In siinhiMti' Sir (i'.'Or^e ; l!ie nl.itinii (if .siili.-iMji;,iit e\eiits liijiy, I'lihiips, eoiiiiiel lis tu ^xehaiij-e tliu liiii- {•ii,i;^e (if niMilii^'v for tlial of ceiintire ; if so, ue .vli.ill (iilmvor to (lea! willi his errors in tlie .••iiiiie .'^piiit of laiiiir :> wi.i li has iiiiiielKil US to tiie alliiiijit lo;'linr his imiiinry from | a yoiiiii,' man of a peeiiliarly riliiiiij; y aiiiiahle (lis;iii-i( ion, yit einloweil witli rexiliiliiii aiel lli'iiiiii'-^s of eli:ir;ii'trr. Ti two vessels, havin;;; icaeheil their tli'>liiia( Arri\,ii r,i" iiicii;iii-, .K pim fioiitiei', \vu must H IMlurcillnMl. Ml 1)1-. ■ . 1 1 , II-,, it. not oiiiil to nhsi rve that there was some slealow of truth in ('ineral lliilTs stalrmcnt n speetinjj; the fon'e of our Indian alliis, iillhoii':li the iierc-.-ily of sur- rendering: siii'h a I'list as Detroit on that ac- count nivv will he (|iiestiMii((l, T'esides ( len. Hull yiiMi'il, not to the actual strength of those allii's, for he siirremlrriMl hefore their faults iiijn>(ly asciil.eil to him. liefore follow iiiL'; (icneral Uiock to the Nia- IiIcIImII", .'14 n ti iMjiiri'i'jiii Ml. :ii jtc- fur liimliiij; the |iii.-oii(rs, were tluii h wholly iiii]iroti'cte(laii(l iiiisiisiiieionsof(iiiii..r| ill Ihr hai'iour of I'liie win ii, one dark li':'.:, they were assailed hy two larne IpomIs Ii'' ; with Ameriean sailors and troops, which l.i dropiied aloiij? side without heinir luT'iivi until it was too late for nnythiiij; like (ll'uf. , resistance. I"he Detroit was almost iiiiiii' , ately carried, hut the yoiin;^ captain iJ' t arrival, hut to the apprehension of their arri- 1 (-,^^,;^,^^,^j.,^ ^^,^i,,,, ;,,^. ^ ,i,„,, ,„i„„. i„. val. Major liiehardsou ohscrves, " Mr. Hohert ^^^.^,,^^.,, ^^^. j,^^ ,,„„,■„,[„„ ,,„ ,.,„,,, ,,;, ,„„,,, Pickson, a -enlleman to wVem. Ion- intercour.se I j„^.,,,„,„, J;,,,, vijiorous, thou-h almost eiitiivv with th<. Indians had imparted a kiiowled-e of J ,,.,„„.,, ,,,sist,uice. liastilv armin- hiins,: their character, and in(liicnre over their minds, ;ind e:illine' ou his little aiel iiiexpeiiuiM which prov.Ml hidily l.enefi.aal to the Hriii^h ^^.^^^. (,,.„,,,,,^. ,.,^.,,,11,,.. ,, ,io/,eu inenj to i. cause, was then actively en-atred in collecting L,^^ ^.^„,^.^ ,,; ^,,,.^,^^. j,,,,,,^,,,. ;„ „,^. ^,„ ,,,„, B.,me of the most warlike trills : while the I .^_^,^ ,5;^^,,^,,,,^.^,,^ .^ ,,,.^,,^,,^ ^,,,„^,,^.,.,^,,,, j,,,,^ ,, present Cot. Askin of T-omlon, at thai time, in ,. . , . i , . 1.. , , ;, ., f,. ,„ t; ' I hrst advaiiemi^ lioat, now dropping iruin t:,. the Indian DepMrtment, was already within a ,,^.,,,,,,^ ^ , ,,„^,',,, „,^. c'akdonia." few days journey o, .)etroit, will, a body of | _^,.,^,j. ,,^,^,,,i,,i„^, ^j.^^, j,,,,,,,,^ t,^„„,,, „. two hundred and seventy warriors, under c 1 1 r . i 1 .. m., i,.,;, m-. ■' ' successlul (ieleiice made liv .Mr. Irvme w : their Chief r.i-,-un. This little detachment i.i,,,,,,.i,„„ continues, "The intrepidity J: : had set out ex-pressly for tlie relief of Amherst- ,,,f.,,,,.„,i.„, ^f .Mr. Irvine, whose sinul^ lu: l.unr, and, in its passa-c down in hark canoes, ,,^^,, ,.5,,^,,, .^,,,1 ,,„„,„i,,, „„ ,,,, than seven encomdered much peril and diniculty.haviuir,,;, ,^,,,,i,,„,,^ ,„,t ,vill, (hit reward it ■ liad to cro.s Sa;rinaw hay, nearly lilh- miles in ; ^.^.,,,^. ,,,^,, .(^.,,_ -|,,,^ ,,^.^^,, . ,,p ,,,^ „^,,^,, ■ . extent, and for many hours in their frail harks, ,,,j,,,„„„t ,,„_^i,„„ t„ ,,^„,,, ,« j,.,i,,,nt ,■„. oti' : even out of si^d.t of the land. . • celerityoftheirmovements, that lluT reached I ^.,^.^,,j^^^,^ ^^.,^i^.,^ j^,,,. j^,^^^^ ^,,,,,,j,y .,,.,^.,,_ ,,, 1 Amher^tlmr-inthe romarkakly short period | .^^^^^^j^^;,,,, ^f a lieutenant in the riwind.; ()fsixila\s from tlieir departure fnau Miehi- ^., . ,. , ., , „„,:, „„t til ' I Navv, in which cnpncitv he contmunl !M liinacinac." "Wiiether the fear of these allies ' ' " ' wa.s a sufliciont excuse for (leneial IIuH's I nhandonment of a strong po.st wc leave to the reader to decide. In speakim:' of the capture of llie Caledonia Tiii.tiirc oi-thr Del,-.. it and Detroit hv the Ame- aiul ('ulciliiiiiii liy ilie . Vr 1 AiMiTieuiis. I'leans, M.'ijor ],iehardson remarks, "The two ;irnied vissels already mentioned as lunintr covered our iMiidir.i;', on servo during the whole of the suIjS': nav.al operations." The surprise of the Detroit and Calc(l"M was considered a very hril'iant feat, hut, wit | out seeking to di>|iarage the AmericMii cir acter for bravery, wc cannot look oa t::i | ex|iloit in tlie same light in which tin y vi'u!;.: have it couftidered. ]5oth vessels havini'l'"^ simjily employed in cartel service, were "■■ of ilefuiico peeuliar It'i'ir criws were not |l,;it eeliiposed of 11 cki iliiin s;ii!ors imd voi ilMiililied to compete Liflinictieetlai' Iresol Uiillior*. Moreovi-r, hiililiii.sed perfect secu I of any Kind of prepo civfl iieceSMiry to 1 siipiiiiSL'd llial the p liny appeared, would a'l hostile attemiits. >:'iriiii>e hoth ves-ils nri'S hrought from !>( 1.1 ill'' landeil at Ihill'a .Viinriiains can he ju i-iuii'tity of the Hag w [I- long as there were lii'iinl, we caiiuut p"ri ,\!i accident,* at on I'.'H'L' 111" Uoiiuriil lifiCli, > tliu rapture of the vei rcil about tlie same p( • .U tlli.^ cri.^i.i Gt a'suniu the oll'oiisivo ( Idjt iii)i a iieiiiiciit ill r crlerii'g down at the T'lrOlUO Mititill, llllt tllO: lial iMX'eedetl and aeei J.K t^iieeii Charlotte, ri-vViUin of the eapture( voi'voveiiiiig of the sur; i;;'.' iH.'.xt (lay eiiibaike' s lioDuer, oil board wl ILl'Mioii, giiiinled by a Hiiicli oiiiposed u port! Tunjuto. During the 1 wuii' uiiaiiy aceount pe lyiiiiyorhy ni;;lit, and -vini-Ticaiis were allowc Niiiit; liiiie — the hatclie; rumaiiulur. It was a i rL'iiairiiin the exorcise ( till' part of the little gu Jay la'i'uk, whea by th ilay Were close to the iuumi themselves suddi midst of a fog which h ni'.'ht. As the sun ros I'iit the calm pvevailei wreatliiag mists rolled coveroil, to their disiii upon the American 1 danger was imminent, '^ero already assemble discover to what Hag wondering what had t the lOLh, were put in requisition for this t provided with ether tha.n the common IIISTDUV Ol" Tlir, WAR di'' la 12. O.'J .if (Kfi'iioo jH'fuIiur to niLieliaiiliiKii, wliik' H'.ir ii\ws wvw not only wvnk in iiuiiiliir, li.it rolM|ii>sr(l iif 11 I'liiNS III' 111(11, I'liiuli ('iiii:i- tliaii s;ii! .sii[)|ioSv.il lliat till' iiarille- rliai'ai'ti r in wliirh ill 'Viiii|ifari'il, woiil'l liavf ^liicltkil lliL'ni fiom a'.l li'islilf altL'uii)ts. At llii- nionu lit of llu' 1 5'iriiri>u Itotli ves-ols lui'l on ImmimI tlic piiso- niis l'r'ni;:;!it fioni Dcliuit for the pin-pose of lidiig liili'K'l at Muli'alo, — jiow. tliort I'lic, (liu AiiRTicaiis can \n' jii^till'il, in vi.il.itiii'^ tlic wiictity of tho Hay wliicli conlinui'd to lloat a>lo!i:j;as tliori.' wcru AniLrican prisoiiurs on lii'aril, we cannot perceive. An nccii'.ent,* at one time proniisin'^ rt'.snl*^ r..-,pe i,r (Jfnurul fur more serious ilia n any """'"• whii'li could spriii'.,' ('mni tln-'-'Mptnre of llie vessels just name I, oceur- roliilioul t'.ie same period. 'I'owiir Is tlic latter end of Aiit-ust, M;ijor r.Muv u.M.M M'lirua-lopal.'liedwitli r-ii Winiir, „ir,„.l .M- a :,in:ilir..ri'caj:aln.st i'oi't iiK'hi III I'lai ipri'ij. NVawie, wliiii it was deelilrd t xpedieiit to attempt lliu ile.stnie- tion of, '!'!ii' time selccdd f'y the siirrcii ler of Helioil, ami (lie occiipiincy of llio adjacent di>ti i'ts. Acroidin;; to ii [mils also received, the i;arri.on of this p ist c(in.>i>te(l only of il luindied men or lln.ieahoiils, not * At llii-i crisis General IJioelc, anxious to a«uiiiu the oll'eusivo on llie Niaj,Mra lioiiiiur. lust not a iiioiiieiit in reluriiiug across tiie Lake, oi'!eriii|,' down at tiie same time, not only tiie ' Tunrnto Militia, liut those tiooi)-" of tlie 1 1st., who li:i'l prueeded and aeeoiiiiianied him to I'etroit. LiL' l^iec'ii (,'hiirlotte, luiiiriiiul'y laileli with the ri.';.;iil.iis of the caiiturvd miny, had sailed ),irvi-, now Si.|ii'iiiiiiMidi'nt nf Indian alf.di'i) ha-lciii'd lu'low toaci|uaint fii'in'ial It rock, who was lying on his bed, wiih the daiigrr which threatened the vessel, which it was imiio-siblc, by reason of the e.dm, to get larthcr from the ^-hoio, (Iciieral l!iiick immediately sprang to Ids I'eel, ami rushing upon tin' deck', saw the siiiiatio.i ot' llio vessel Was precisely what has lieeii ilescrhied. lie Was e X trcmcly line ry, and tiirniiiu' lo ilic mashn of the ^choom■r said, "you scoundiel you havo liilrayed im', let but one sliiit lie lirc'l Irom liio shori; and (pointing to il) I wi.l iiiii you 141 on the instant to ihatyard arm.'' The ma.-ler, I hough innocent of all de-igii, was greatly ahiimed by tho stern threat of tui- (leiieral. and as theonly pos^i- lilo means of extricating the vessel from her perilous .-ituation, onlered several of his crew into a small punt, attached to her stern, the only boat belonging to her. In this they attempted to tow her, but made so little progress that one of tho guard Hiked permission of tlielieneial to discharge his rille, in order to attract the attention ol tlio (^uci :i ('hirloite, iheii lying at anclior between point Abino and fort Krie, lo a signal whii'h had iieeii luevioii.-ly hoisti'd. Appi eliensi\ e that tlio sliotini;;ht not be heard li} liieir fiiends, while it might he the means of inlbrming the enemy of their true character, (ieneral liroek at first refused ids sanction, but as the man seemeil conlident that the report of his riile would reach the otln/r shore he finally a-.-ented, and the shot was fiied. Soon afterwards tlie answering signal was run u|) to tho ma.'^t head of the (^ui'di Charlotte and that vessel seeing the doulnt'ul sitmaion ol the schooner, on board whit'h however they were not aware tho General had emliaiked, immediately weighed her anchor, and standing over to the Anieriean shore, under a slight breeze which was then beginning to rise hastened to cover the little bark with her battery. Taking her in tow she brought her safely into the harliour of Krie, greatly to the joy of those who, aware of the invaluable freii^ht with which the schooner was charged, had, on tho weighing of the l^leen I'liailotte's anchor enter- tained the utmost aiiprcheiirion for tin; safety of the becalmed vessel, and watched with ileep iii- interest the vain attempts of her crew to bring her off." r li 94 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. very cllicioiilly runiishfd witii the loeaiis of Americans, wlio instantly Hew to tlieir am defence, Jind liaril jpiessed \iy the Indians, wlio and assumed a iiostiire of defence. The I; had closely invested it. 'i'lie reasons for at- ; dians, however, iield out their hands in (ok.r. | templing the deslruetlonoflhis jMi.-t were that of amity, and w^re sulIVred to enter thu .'•. it served as a depnt for stores, from whicii tlie j cle. Here, i/relending to be in the Aniciic;;.' enemy's troops on the frontier could be sup- interest, and descriliinjr themselves as liuiitu; plied. on their way to one of their villages, (!;■ v succeeded in lulling the suspii/ions of t!. The force destined for this enterprise con sistcd of a small detachment of troops, a howit- j ofiieer, who in return, communicated to tlia. /(■r, and two field pieces, and v,as embarked i th.at the parly he commanded were sco:: in boats and proceeded to the Miami village, | preceding the advanced guard of an aniiv I . - 2,500 men, then on their march for the Jiiai.: | village, and only distant a few miles." In consetjuence of tins intelligence, t:;| expedition was forthwith abandoned, ai;'! retreat determined on. On deliberation, ],.. situated about lifteeii miles beyond tlic en trance of the river of the '•anie name. For the I'm (her progressed' the expedition we will quote fi'om .Major ilii'liardson, ^^h() was present: — "IJeing there joined by the body of Indians destined to foiin a part of the cx[)edition, the j ever. Captain Muir decided on awaitihL' i! .■ l.letachment continued its route by land, and ajjproach of the enemy in order to gain a along a track of country bearing no mark of! correct account of their force and destinaii :. civiii/iition wl'atever. Our 0013- covering was The wliole of one day was thus passei!, ;i;.: the canojiy of Heaven, or ralher the arches j fears began at length to be enteitained, tlii; formed by the intermingling boughs of the the Americans, apprised of the vicinity of a?, forest through which wc moved, and not even enemy's force, had taken a ditlerent mnt,, the wigwam of the savage arose to diversify with the intention of cutting of a retnat. th<> monotony of the scene. The difliculty of; This would have left the little detaehuKiiti: conveying the guns Ijj' land, caused their the heart of the enemy's countrj", de.stitu:. transportation to be a work of much time; 1 of resources, with an overwhelming fiiv; and the river, from the poitit where we had I before tliem, they were consequently onkivl disembarked, was so extremely low as to rcn I to retreat on the old fort of Defiance, sitU' der the progress of the boats, following the j atcd abo at half way between the Miami vill.ra sinuosities of its Course, tedious to the last degree. Having at length, after much toil, gained that part of the lliami, where it was intended to disembark the stores, every obsta- cle aj)peared to be removed, and the capture of Fort Wayne, then at no great distance, an event looked forward to with confidence. Fate, however, had ordained otherwise. About nine o'clock on the evening of our arrival, the slirill cry of our scouts was heard echoing throughout the forest, and soon after- wards seven Indians issued from the wood on the o})i)osite shore, and leaping through the river, reached us. The account they gave of their adventure was to the following effect : — At a distance of a few leagues, while advan- cing cautiously along the road, they observed a party, five in number, in a glen, and seated round a large fire, where they were busily occupied in preparing their food. After a slight consultation they proceeded towards the group, and had approached within a few paces before they were perceived by the and the point from whence they had con;- menced their retrograde movement. Ilavir.' crossed the river at this place, a position wa again taken up at a point beyond which tlie enemy could not effect a passage unperceivod, We again resume 5Lijor Ilichardson's nam;- ive : " Early on the morning after our arrival, a party of Indians appeared along our line, cor.' ducting a prisoner they had found straying in the woods, at a short distance from tlie cneim'j camp. From his account it appeared thai the information given bj- the American ollicer was perfectly cori'ect. The force of the enemy consisted of 2,500 men, under the coniniarid of General Winchester ; and were destiiK"! fit the Miami, where it was intended to construct a fortification. On arriving at the spot whore their slaughtered scouts lay unburied aloii; the road, an alarm was spread throughout their columns, and deeming a numerous enemy to be in their front, it was thought prudent to entrench themselves where they ' Dispatch to Sir Geoi HISTORY OF THE WAH OF 1812. 05 I I o! an ariiiv Ihm'O. F'^i" thi'^ purpose trc.'S wrro iimnedi- ! "Tlic Imliiui.'^ iippfar to 1h' dilviisi' fo ro- Utclv fvllo'l, iUi'l in till' coiirso of a few hoJirs, : ti-cnlin,?, wiilimit \\v<* niakin'j n tvh\] !i for which the Wo-tcrn ' strr^nirth. ShDuld tlicy cc^rtiniii' to :\'X,ri'""^i''lc a weapon as the I'ille, are re- ' est (loiil)t of the result thai n\\;!;ls Miis seconil inarkahle, an enelosnre with inter>tiees for ' attenint to tin-n my ri,z!it ; Init yonr K.xeel- iiiu>i|iiv'trv, and snjliciantly lar,!j:e to contain leiiey will e;u:ly perceive tliat do",'.ts aiid [ tliiir vviiole force, ti>;.r"llier wiih their hajrorage ;jealonsics have a!r ady s: i>'ed tlieir minds. •iiiil \vaL;;.rons, was completed. It heinir evident ' The oflleers of the [ndiiin dejeirtme*!! w ill, I I frmii this intelli,':ience, tint th.e ol)je(-t of otir trust, he uhle to I'emove all sifh iinjiresvioii-:. ; oiitiri'rise was entirely fiarslrated, and that an' ".\lthon,!^h, froju the daily oiv--ervation of I !i'tnri< on the enemy's enti'enchmcnt with onr wliat is iias>iiii; on the opposite shove, a sin- fnlle force, if unsuccessful, must necessarily !ile man can ill lie spared frou) this line; I rnijiproniise tlie safety of our own posts, ('apt. ' liave, notwithstandimr, determined to send Muii' decided on retuiaiiu':; to .\mhersthure', ■ the two tlaiik companies of the Iviyal Xesv- wliieli fialress the detachment at length reach- foundland I'eginieiit lo Aniher>thnrg. Fresh cij after a fruitless ahsence of three weeks. j troops are d.ai'y arrivin;.', snjiposed to helong ".Mlhoughlittleornomentionhascverhccn'to the Pemisylvanin rpiota, of two tlKaisanil madcofour retreat from Fort Wayne, hef u'e "k'". l^'iriwn to he intend-d for th ■ fr..i.tier. so overwhelming a force as tliat wliich we so ; After the whole nrrins, an .attaek, I iui.igiue, unexpectedly encountered, ami hy wliieh we ' cannot be long delay. . The wret( hed state oidit to liave been annihilated,' the utmost ! of these (piotas, and the raggedness of the praise is due to Captain Muir for liaving fo^P". "ill not allow them to luave the rain iiccomplished it, not only without the loss of ' ""'I '-old, wliich, during the la.t week, have a mnn of lu's detacliment, hut even without ^ ^'I'^n .so severely felt. the aliandonnient of any of his guns or stores, I " 15<'t^v('en two and three liundred Indians which, a.s has already been stated, were being ; have joined and augmented the force on the transported with great toil and diflicnlty. ; other side. Their brethren here feel certain Every thing was brought otf and, at no one | tliat tliey will not act with any spirit against Imoment, was onrmarch pncipitatc. Indeed | us. So, T imagine, if we continue to .^liow ofthc hold atVront assumed by the detachment, ; a boll front— but, in the event of a di-^aster, jsomc idea may be formed from the cxagger- I the love of ])lunder will prevail, and tliey may iatf.l accounts which appeared in the American ' then act in a manner to be tlie most dreaded papers, even dm'ing the time we were retiring by the inhabitants of this country." A despatch from Sir (Jeorge Prevost to Sir De-palel. of .><„■ Cenrce ^""^'^^ I'''"*'l< furnishes U3 l'rev(i.sn<)«iil. IJmck. ^jfn additional reasons for our assertion tliat, up to this period, Sir upon Aiiiherstburg." Sir Isfiac IJroek, in speaking of this expc- jdition, ob.serves, "I am inclined to think Captain Muir acted judiciously;" and, with rclVrencc to the advance of the American | George Prevost is not as i)lame\vorthy as most party, states,* "It appears evident the cue- ; wri'ers of that dav have described. "We give i my meditates a second attempt on Amherst- the despatch at length : — burg. The greater part of the troops, which [arc advancing, marcheil from Kenluck}', with "Captain Fulton arrived, on the lltli in.st., with your letter of tlie Tth : the intelligence i an intention of joining GiMieral Hull. How! yon have connnnnieated by it convinces nic I thoy are to subsist, even lor a short period, ! of the necessity of the evacuation of Fort De- lis no easy matter to conceive. This difficulty ' troit, \ni1ess the operations of the enemy on I 'fill probably decide them on some bold ' the Niagara frontier bear a character less in- mcasure, in the hope of shortening the cam- i dicativc of determined hostile measuresagainst paign. If successfully resisted, their fate is your line in their front than they did when inevitable. you la.st reported to me. You will, therefore, I be pleased, subject to the discretion I have * Dispatch to Sir George Prevost, Sept. 9th, given you under the circumstances to which I 1812. 1 have alluded, to take immediate steps for oa ' HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ILAN Oi-' Oi evacuating tlmt post, togctlicr with (he terri- tory of Michig.m ; hy tliis measure you will be enahlcil to withdraw a greater number of the troops from AtiilnTsdniijj;, instead of tak- in;;;; tliem from Col. Vincent, \vlu)se rep,ulur force oiiglit not on any accomit to be dimin- ished " r iiave already afforded you reinforcements to the full extent of my al)ility ; you must not, therif)re, expect a fi;rtlier Kup|)ly of men from t.enco, until I shall receive from England a considerable increase to the present regular force in this province; the posture of alfairs, particul'uly on this frontier, requires every soldier who is in the country. " In my last despat'^h from Lord Bathurst, he tells me ' that his ^hijesty's Government trusts 1 will be enabled to suspend, with per- '■ bounded views of the Americans, I am sati;i- ation of Fort Deti'oit. Such a measure woiiM | most probably be followed by the total exUr- mination of the population on that Mile of \\A river, or tlie Indians, aware of our weakr,t-< and inability to carr}' en active warfare, \voi:',i only think of entering into tei'ms \\i;h tiit cnemv. The Indians, since the Miami ■itliiir, I in IT'.l'J, have been extremly suspicious ot'o;;r conduct; but the violent wrongs connnitt'l by the Americans on their tciiitoiy, !;;i-.; rendered it an act of policy with them to lii;- guise their sentiments. " Could they be persuaded that a peace ' c- twcen the belligei'ents would take place, with- out admitting thinr claim to the extensive tra.: of country, frar.duh'ntly usurped from thi.n, and opjiosing a frontier to the present uv ed in my own mind tliat they would inniK-i;- ately compromise with the e^em3^ I can;;ot conceive a coalition so likely to lead to iiio;c awful lyjnscqiiences. "If we ca!i maintain ourselves at Ni.i^in, and keep the communication to Montreal optn, the Americans can only subdue the hiili;ii: feet safety, all extraordinary preparations for defence which I have been indued to make, in conse Glengarry e.nigrants, he had not thought it i dians is now at its height, and it will requ'n. necessary to direct the preparation of any fur- nuieh management and large bribes to elll.t ther su])plies.' a cha:ige in their policy ; but the moment tiny "This will aiford you a strong proof of the j are convinced that we either want the mi:ar;< infatuation of his M:ijesty's Ministers upon the i to prosecute the war with spirit, or are lu::- subject of Ameiican afl'aiis, and show how tiating a separate peace, they will begin t) entirely I have been left to my own resources in the events which have taken place." AVilh the various despatches containing full and particular accounts of the actual state of affairs in the Province, before us, vre do not sec how with justice it can lie asserted, "that It is the acme of assurance to insinuate, that Jlinii-ters were to blame for anj' insufficiency.'' Yet this is the language too commonly held by Veritas and other writers of the day. The latitude, also, allowed to Sir Isaac Brock, should not be lost sight of, and it is certain that he made use of the freedom of action thus permitted him. "NVc have only to quote his despatch of September 20th, to prove this : — " I have been honored with your Excellency's despatch, dated the 14th instant. I shall suspend, under the latitude thus left by der my command are in perfect hoallh and your Excellency to my discretion, the cvacu- spirita." study in what manner they can most etlkta- ally deceive us. "Should negotiations for peace be openciU cannot be too earnest witli your Excellimy to represent to the King's ministers the ex] ;• diency of including the Indians as allies, iii;i not leave them exposed to the unrelenting fury of their enemies. "The enemy has evidently assumed defensive measures along tlic strait of Niagara, liii force, I apprehend, is not equal to attenii'", with any probability of success, an expedition across the river. It is, however, currently re- ported that large reinforcements are on their march; should they arrive, an attack cannot be long delayed. The approach of the rainy season will increase the sickness with which their troops are already alllic(;cd. Tho-c un- \ /' / \ Klil'ESE I. (jiioeii^toii. 3. -, i;:i;ilu (ii-oUiiils ul ■I- ( A. > lii|'|ie\vii tJa'fk. Ji. I'uik ci e.i. C. Siifcr.- Cieek. [). HImi k Crook. K. lliili-\i;iy Croi.'k. r. \\ iiileiiiiuttr's Crc G. l-'n lii!iiii;iii'.~ IJrecl II. l'ulii;iiii'> CiTik. 1. .'■mer Province. may be remembered, that lofficcr of the impossibility of .sending him any Ircinforcements, until there should be u "con- IsiJcrable increase to the regular force in the IProvince," as the presence of a large bod}' of JAincrican regulars on the Lower Canadian Ifronlier required every .soldier who was in the jcountry. A short extract from Christie will [show how Sir George was situated, and how p any e.vpectalions of his being strength- ened were realized. "The slender rein- troop.s, both regular and miiiliji, seem, nt tiiis crisis, to have had their time fully occupied, for we find that a party of Americuns, one hundred and fifty strong, under Capt;iin For- syth, crossed over from Gravelly Point to Gana- noque, eighteen miles lielow Kingston, from whence they dislodged a party of tifiy militir* and took possession of a quantity of arms and aiiimunition, which they carried away, aftcj burning the store and a small quantity of provisions. Mr. Christie adds — " Tlieir con- duct is represented to have been disgraceful towards the defenceless inhabitants." We lorcemcnts that arrived were barely sufficient | see also, from the same writer, that, "from ) relieve the citizens of Quebec for a .short lime from garrison duty. They consisted but kf the 103rd regiment from Ei\gland, with a lew recruits from other regiments, and a bat- [ilion of the 1st (or Royal Scots) from the ^est Indies; and the three battalions ofQuc- lec militia resumed garrison duty in the be- Inning of October, which they continued liroughout the winter, each taking in turn its r«ek." It is obvious, from this statement of 1 the frequent interruptions of the convoys from .Montreal, or rather Lachine, to Kingston, in Upper Canada, by the Americans at Ogdens- burg, opposite Prescott, Col. Lethbridge, com- manding at the latter place, formed the design of dislodging the enemy, and possessing him- self of Ogdensburg. With a view of effecting this purpose, he assembled a force of some hundred and fifty men, regular and militia, and having collected a sufficient number of 1: 100 IIISTOIIY OF Tlir: WAR OF 1812. batU'iiux, lu; pu.-hul < 11' on tlie fort- noon ol the Gnl Uctobir, iiikIlt cover of a ('{imuiniKKk' from I'lcscott, svilli twi.iily-live lialUiiiix es- cortfil liy two K'l"-''*)'''''-- ' I'^'V tidvarnHd williout oiipositiuii, >iiUil iiiiil diaime', when the enemy oiiemd ;i tiemendous (li.-chiirge of iinillery, wMch eheeUeil tluir jirogres.'-. Conl'iision immeilial ly eii.-iieil, and tlieywere compelled t(^ make a |ir'.ei]ii;ate relicat, will) the loss of three men Iviiled and I'onr wonnded. The Ameiieans \vereconuna:;ded liy Biifr.'idier General lirown, and behavid with murh cool- ness and intrepidity." Il may l>e as will to ftate ihal, this eiUei prise, mu'ertakcn wiihout {he i-anctioti of the eommniKUr of (he forces, was censr.red by him ; and thi'.t pnhlio opini(.n cond inned it also as rash. "With this brief glam e at the state of aff.iirs in the Lower Province, we rctnrn to CJeneral IJrock and tlie Kia^ara frontier. It may, perhaps, enable the reader t., | \:iiur<- oiih.' .•nniiiry coiniireliend the diHir;'. iiir. ties which alttndul mv movinient in force, and to ptreuve also li... causes vshich lefi the trooj's, on both siile>, in snch a[iparent ignorance of each other's b,,'. tics, if we take a bird's-eye view of ih; p,eneral face and character of the conndy, !;, a) jiearance at the present day is thus il^vu:,. ul in "Canada; I'asI, I'lesent, and Fiilur," bcl'tn'c, however, '|Uotin,i; the passafre, wewil. snjipose the reader to be on the crest of li.J eminence innnediateiy above [''onthil!, ji;,; tv.L'lve miles west of Chippewa. A glanct v, the accompanyin.i map will assist tiiis. Aecordin'j; to .Mr. Hmilh, "The toiir'-;| afivr travel'ing for some miles .ilutij road, where his view of the country on liil side of him has seldom extended l)eyoii(l iv or three miles, on reaching' this elevation, (;■ ;; I As soon as it was ascertained that tl;e i 'i '""■■^t i""?iii!i(cnt panorama, as it v.tTc '■•. | (ieneral had rea'lu-d magir, displayed to Ion astonished viMon, 1: immense plain, cxtendiiii; for many ini!i'S,!i,.; (icri. Urofk's leccii- tiuii ;n (jiit:c!i!.um. Cliippewrt, it was sue:- gested by Col. Ilolcioft, that a deputation of the principal residents in the distiiet should wail on him, to con;j,ratulate his Kxcellency on the eomi)lete success wiiirh had attended liis arms at Detroit. This dei)iitation was ,;c- cordin^lv or[j;arii/'.ed, and the procession met tluir (k'lievalat Queenston, as he was p,ro- ccei'iin^' in an open carriage, to Foi t (ieurue. "We have l)C'.:n assured by an eye-witness of the meeting, that (!eneral I'rofk was inex- pre.-sibly gritilled at his (Uthusiastic recep- tion, and the deep d.-votii'n tistilied by e;e:h member of the coitege io the cause, forwliich before and below him, studded with {m\.C villages, groves ami wiiidin,ir strean^s; l.^f;; him lies the V\\Ilarid Canal, cnw.h d> \\id, ;.■ [ sel.s moving- either way; beyond it, tli/ [ nctually dashin'r, I'oaiing calaraol of Xi::' o:i one side, the waters of Lake I'.rie, ai-i. th" other, those of Ontario, ^\'e ki.i.nv:;: other sjiot fioin whence so extensi\e a vi' can be obfair.c^d. An ob ei'vatory h:]' IU< in.Mii.M .Mhu 11' extont, di not, at the :,:■„. „r(i.Mrn,inn.(i,'s ^].^^^, ofCenerul IJroek's rfluru IriMii Uelruil. return from Detroit, amount to more than twelve hundred men, at l,i4 !i;ilf of which were militia. The^e troops '.vni' disjiosed of in the followiiij^ manner: — At <'l.iiii»ewa, a small dct;irli',neiit of the ll>t, ■jiiler Cipt. iJulIoek, and the flank ciimiianies oftlio 21 liiucola militiii, under (":i[its. R. !!;iwiiItou and Rows; — at Queen>tun, C'apts. PcMiiis and Williams, with the llaid; eompan- JLSofthe 4!)th, with a small hody of militia, !\\'ro stationed; nearly all the remainder of iliu force was at Fort (Jeorge, imder (lenera! .SlR'nft'e, with the exception of a few militia ioattered here and there along the line. Tt will thus be seen how inadequately so extend- ed a frontier was defendeil, and how the few troops scattered along the line were exposed to be cut off in detail by an energetic or en- terprising enemy. The American army, commanded by Major The Amcrioaii Ar;iiy— General Vail Ranselaer force of. • 1. 1 !• . consisted, accordmg to ihcir own olTicial returns,* of five tliousand two hundred and six men. This amount in- cludes all the reinforcements which had ar- rived at the date of the battle of Queenston, but is exclusive of three himdred (iidd and light artiller}', with eight hundred of the 6th, loth, and 23d regiments at Fort Niagara. — This gives a total of over six thousand three buiulred men. .James disposes of this force I as follows : — " Of t'ds powerful force, sixteen ; ! hiiii.lrcd and fifty regulars, tinder the com- ' iii:iml of r)rigiidier General Smith, were at BLu'k Rock.t — three hundri'd and eighty-six militia, at the latter place and Ihiffalo, — nine lliundred regulars and twenty-two hundred I I and seventy militia at Lewiston, di-lant from , Bhiok Rock, about twenty ei^ht miUs, — at Iroi't N'i.iiiara, were tdevcn luindre 1 more, ' :, p.;;" hr-°. men, of whom neaily two ihirda were regular troops."* Here was a force of regulars amounting to four thousand men, opposed to one of six hundred ; yet it will be shewn that various attempts have bieii made by American wri- tei'.s. to assign the infei iority of nuinl)eis, as the reason wiiy tlie aUuck on Queeiision so signally miscuiiied. As it was ipiite out of the fjucilion for Gen- firacTMl Vui. Khu.c. ^'i''^' I!>'"ck, ill tlic prcs- '■"■''■* I'''"'"- ence of ,so supori.r a force, to adopt any oIIht than lU'cc.uitinnary and dcfnsive measures, we will lay beforo the reader a sketch of what wi.'re really General Van Ranselaer's views. Tliis we aro enabled to do by means of a pamphlet publish- ed !iy t\il. S. Van Fiaiisekicr, his nephew and aide-de-cJimp. The instructions from General Dearborn, on which General Van Rans'.daer had to base his plan of operation.s, were as (bllows : — " At all events, we must calculate on poss- essing Upper Canada before winter sets in. General Harrison will, I am assured, enter Canada by Djtroit, with not less l!ian from six to seven thousand men, exclusive of tho troops necessary for guarding the fionlier against Indian depredations. " The force at Sackett's Harbour a. id that vicinity, is over two thousand, inchuhng aa old company of regular artillery, and a largo company of old riliemen. " I have great confidence in the exertions novr in operation in the navy department on Lake Ontario. In fict, we have notkiuj to fear, and much to hope as to the ultimate succesa of measures now in operation with a view to Fpper Camilla ; but much may immediately depend on what may happen at your post." Such was the conlident tone of General Dearborn's instructions, and that General Van Ranselear felt contidenc also, may be assum- ed from the admission made by his neplu^w, Col. .S. Van Ranselear. "He did not wish to be drawn from the object he had in vievv, by a controversy with (jcneral .Smyth, jartlcu- liirhj so, OH he hieie thot the jorccn irhich by l/iiii time had coUccfctl in hin mm iinmciliate riciniti/ wei'c (iinjihi ni'iJicituit/'ir the /nir/wHe.^* * Vidu ^\ Jlkjiu'jii. m 1 li 302 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. I This ndiiiissidii is nf iinpnrtance, us shewing.' wliJit pdwiiful r( iiirorccTiicnts must have ar- rived l'('t\v(C'n the midillo of August, wlien do. \:\u HniiselaiT arrived at the Niagara frontier on Mio IJith Oct. His situation in August is tliiis (U'scrilu'd : — " From tlio mo nient of liis assuming tlie rommaml, liis posi tion was one of the ulniost exposure and dan- ger, lie lay witliin sight of a powerhil enemy, |!C[iarat('d from him only by :i narrow liver, for the crossing of whicli, that cncmv possessed every facilitj'. lie had a line of thirty-six miles to guard, and his whole force was con- pideralily less than one thousand men, many of them without shoes, and all of them clam- orous tor pay — of ammimition there were not ten rounds per man, and no lead. There was rot one piece of heavy ordnance in tlic whole line, and tiierc were no artillerists to man the few light jjieccs which we possessed. Add to this, that the troops could not take or keep the field for want of tents or covering; that the medical dei)artinent, if one could be said to ex- ist at all, was utterly destitute of everything necessary for the comfort of the sick or disa- bled ; and that there was among the men that entire want of subordination, to say nothing of disciiiliue, whicli always characterizes raw- militia, and some idea may be formed of the condition of our army." Here was a lamentable condition for an amateur General to be jilaced in, especially when contrasted with the ease and comfort which pervaded the Biitish frontier. "The condition of the forces on the opposite bank of the liver was in contrast with ours in every particular. There was a icell-appointed and iceU-found army, under the most exact dis- ci|)line, and commanded by skilful and expe- rienced odiccrs. Every important post, from Fort Erie to Fort George, was in a defensible stale, and the enemy had possessed himself of a very commanding position on the heights at Qucenston, which he was rendering every day more secure and fiirmidable. He had, more- over, the mastery of the lakes, and was at that moment industriously employed in using that advantage to increase his numbers, and add to his supplies at Niagara." Let this statement bo well considered, and tho conclusion cannot fail to be arrived at, that General Van Ranselaer's reinforcements must have been very considerable, as we find the same writer, who in one case so toudiinply dcpicled his helpless condition, in ( iglit wcck^ asserting that "//c Iticw that thf/crccn nndfr /lis roiiniKuid were anqdi/ mifficicnt fur lln purjwitc" As we have now cstahlislicd the fact that there was no lack of troops, we will jirooecil to cnriuirc wliat was General Van Ranselaci's pur!)ose. Fortunately, Ingersol'.s, .Armstrong's, WilkinsonV, and Col. Van Ranselaer's works arc suflicient to answer this question most satisfactorily. In his letter of October 8th, to General Dear- liorn, General Van Ranselaer thus details his plans : — " Under tliese circumstances, and the nnpiessions necessarily resulting from tlieni, I am adopting decisive measures for closinj the fall campaign. I have summoned Xlnjcr- General Hall, Brigadier-General Smith, and the commandants of the United States regi- ments, to meet inc in a co',sultalion ; and I am well aware that some opinions, entitled to great respect, w ill be oilered for crossing the Niagara, a little below Fort Eric, and pursuin; the march dow n tho river. I think thi;; plui. liable to many objections. The enemy liave works at almost every point, and even an iiitl- rior force might hold us in check, and rendtr our march slow ; by taking up the bridges at Chippewa, they might greatly embarrass us: the cleared countiy is but a mile or two wide, one flank would be constantly liable to le galled by Indians from tiie swamps ; for a con- siderable distance, the rapidity of the current, and the he'ght of the banks render transpor- tation across the river impracticable; of course our supplies must follow the line of march, with the troutde and liazard of them every day increasing, and .should the enemy retrwt from General Harrison, they would have a double object in intercepting our supplies ; and bj- falling on our rear, and cutting off our communication, wc might experience the fate of Hull's arm)-. Besides these, and many other objections, there is no object on that side, until we should arrive at the commandm: heights of Queenston, which are opposite niy camp. " The proposal, which I shall submit to the council, will b(^ that we immediately concrii- trate the regular force in the neighborhood ol Niagara, and the militia here; make the best possible dispositions, and, at the same time, HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 103 'lilt the ri'g ilarj shall pa.ss from the Four Mile Cra'k to a jioiiit in tlie roar of Fort George, jnl take it by sloim I will pass the river liuri', anil carry the heigh;-< of Queenston. S>iiM we siicceeil, \vc shall effect a great dis- ( milUurc of the enemy, hy breaking their line nfcommunicati )n, driving their shipping from the 111 )nth of tlie river, leaving tliein no rally- i;i2 point in this part of tlie country, appalling the minil?! of the Canadians, and opening a niijj and safe coininunication for our supplies. Ue slia" save our o^vn land — wipe away part of the score of our past disgrace, get excellent barracks and winter quarters, and, at least, be prepiie 1 for an early campaign another year. .\ssoon as the result of the council shall be known, I sliall advise you of it." '1 his was a very feasible plan,and failed only, ac'ording to Colonel Vpp. Rmsclaer, through Bri.Milier-rjeneral Smyth's delay. Wliat sjays Tngcr.^ol on the subject : — " (!cn. A'exinder Smyth commanded at Buffalo, only a few miles from General Van Ranselaer, fif- teen hundred men of the regular army ; but, a< 1 vvjis infiirmed by a highly respectable offi- cer still living, was not invited to take part in the priijocted descent upon Canada, lest the glory of the day .should be taken from Gene- ral Van Ranselaer's cousin, Colonel Solomon Van Ranselaer, an officer in the militia ; both of the Van Ranselaers being, perhaps laudably, thj:igh, as it turned out, unfortunafely, bent on iiioiiopolizitig the credit of this affair for the iiii'itia. if not exclusivel}', at any rate in pre- f ranee to the regular army." General Armstrong's reu.,-rks are much to the .same etl'ijct — " I'lie troops employed, or intended to be employed in this service, were principally militia; and, therefore, not better chosen than the object itself. Why this was j s;i,is a problem not yet satisfactorily explained, j Ifit()ri;j,in'ited in an eaprlt de cor'ps, or belief of militia efficiency, tliere may be some color of excuse for the error; but if, as reported, the arrangement was made to gratify the am- bition of an individual, the act was not merely injudicious but criminal. At the period in o'lestion, there were at the General's dispo.sal more than three thousand troops of the line; from whom a corps might have been selected, which, well found, equipped, and commanded, ■A'oalil not have been either bcalcu or ballled." Wc have been thus particular in making these extract.s, as we are anxious to show that the failure of the attack on Queenston is not to be attributed to any want of troops, nor must it be con.sidered as a hastily devised plan, as preparations had been making for it from the period when General Van Ranselaer first assumed the command of the army. A few days before the battle of Quecn.ston, l)es,K,tche» of Gen. Tull instructions were ^'"^^- forwarded by General Rrock to the officers in command of the posts along the frontier, for their guidance in ca.so of attack, and a despatch to Sir Geo. Provost, dated 12th October, shows that he was fully aware of the impending storm, though uncer- tain of the direction in which it might break: " Mujor-tiion. Broek to Sir Geo. Provost, October 12th. " The vast number of tioops which have been this day added to the strong force jire- viously collected on the opposite side, convince me, with other indications, that an attack is not far distant. I have, in consequence, di- rected every exertion to be made to complete the militia to two thousand men, but fear I shall not be able to eiToct my object." General Brock's letter of instructions to Col. Proctor shows that the situation of the British troops was far from being as comfort- able as Col. S. Van Ranselaer's statement would induce one to suppo.se. "The unfor- tunate disaster which lias be^illcn the Detroit and Caledonia will reduce us to great distress. They were boarded while at anchor at Fort Firie, and carried off; you will learn the par- ticulars from others. A quantity of flour and a little pork were ready to be shipped for Amherstburg ; but as I send you the flank companies of the Newfoundland, no part of the provisions can go this trip in the Lady Prevost. 'i ill be necessary to direct her to return with ai. -^s.sible speed, bringing the Mar}' under her convoy. You will husband your pork, for I sm sorry to say there is but little in the country. " An interesting scene is going to commence with 3'ou. 1 am perfectly at ease as to the result, proviuo"! we can manage the Indians, and keep them attached to the cause, which, in f^ict, is theirs. " The fate of the province is in your hands, •^i\ ji 104 HISTORY OF THE WAU OF 1812. jii(l;.'iii;? l)y every ai>pe!irnnee ; we nre not to niiiJiiti loii;.' iilli' in tliis fniarter. Were it not for tlie positive itijunclioiis of the cointimirler of llic forees, I slmuM have acted with Rruater derision. Tliis forlx'nrniiee may lie prodiirf ive of iillimate };:i''<>(l, Imt I ddiitit its polity, Kut pcrliaps \vc liavc not tlic; iiieims of jnd;iiiifj foireetly. You will, of eoiiise, adopt a very dili'erent line of eonduet. Tlie enemy must lie kept in a state of eoiitinnal ferment. If the Indians aet as tliey did under Ticumseli, vlio prol)al(ly mi^lit he induced to retui'u to Andierstlung, that army will very soon dwindle to notlu'np:;. Your artillery must lie more numerous un to the Americ-m side. A con.sidenible feiiv, ! liowever, had effected a landii>g, sorr.e di',i:,i ■ 'above, l)y a path, wliich had liecn lii: considereil impracticable, and was, tlieiif !•, unguarded, and succeeded in <:aininj.' ilie summit of the moimtain. liad not this Imii done the Americans would have lieen defealiil, by the force then present, as it was, the Kodv, which had made good their i.scent, tar out- numbering the few troops o| i)..sed to (luni, carried the battery and turned the right ef tin; British position, compelling them to ritiiv with considerable los.s. jSo resistance coiilJ now be offered to the crossing from Lewi^ton, except by the battery at Vromont's jioiiij already spoken of, and froiri this a steady am! harassing tire was kept up which did consjiir- able execution. We give what now followcil, on the authority of a voluntt er who was attaclkd to the hght company of the 4'Uh. "On retiring to the north end of the vi!l!i-', on the Niagara road, our little band wis iii t liy General Brock, attended by his A.IU', Major Glegg, and Colonel M'Donell." IK' was loudly cheered as he ciied, " Follow iii', Boys!" and led us at a pretty sm.irt trt towards the mountain; checking his hoi .■■c to a walk, he said, "Take breath, Boysl" we shall want it in a few minutes!" annthcr cheer was the hearty response both fioin regulars and militia. At that time the toji nt' the mountain and a great portion of its sul' was thickly covered with tri-es, and w:is n w occupied by Ankricm rilleinen. On ani'.iiii at the foot of the mountain, where the road divcr-'ey to St. Da'-'d's, General ur-JcK dia- niiMinled, and, wnvii onrn hi<:h stone w nil ]';ic!n;„' hiinsilf nt tin ,,.„y <'f the mth. 1 i;,(iiiiit!iiii at donb'e ,,. \h of a sharp t'n' ,i;,.|.— and, ere Ion;/, nil of ll I 111, V ]'<', 1 o I irate aim, and lln ,;, ticeil the action, i' i,T,,l oiir ;.'a'l:ii t t'ene ni'Mii a few f'ei t of \ iiM |r .\'«\: now lai.-t d a sin ni;ll" nnd regulars a >!,■! or.l', ! ies-( i! ll r t!,- full of tMr b.Io dune a snpirior fore 1(1,1 n nfiderable('i- to t Hunt the niuiibas o iiii ilia had n.ver rea two hui d; id of V. 1 foniad ill I'lc-nt of \'i iiwMit reinforcement sc'aer, eonsidiring i flossed ()Vv.r In v,\d' f.niilyiiig the ciMcj) cu,ij in the British te t') liu.sten the se!\(.lin IIISTOnV OF TIIF, WAR OF 1SI2, 103 I ill nioiiiitnl, .•mil, niivin;; liis sword, clinilicd iivi r n Mi^li stone w nil, follow cd liy llic lroo|i>i ; I'.irin;^' liinwi.lf :it tlic Ih'imI of tlic li;^lit com- jriiy of tin" FMl', lie led the' wiiy np flii' ii.iiiitit!iiii lit doiilile (piii'k tiiiic, in tlu' vi-ry (.■ ill of II sliMtp Ilic frotn tilt' nu'iny's rifle- tiii'ti— nnd, nc )on,7, be wns sin^did out liy I IK cif it I Ml, V 1 1', I oir.iii^ fi rwiiid, took dt li- |(i;iti' iiiiii, iiiid (in d ; m-vctmI of tin- iiifi! Iilicid tlu- Mctioo, !!tid filed — Imf loo Into — niid oiir eii'liii t ('ei,eiM! fell on liis left sit!inee lieyond the sutnniit. , The tiiiiik c'OMii'nnies of the York Militia, iin- 1 (It Captains Ciinieion and Ileward, and I.iiiiierants Kohinson, McT.can nnd Stanton, ' li>i('is II liiiy ollurs, whose i^iin es I loipel, (ii.il (iiily di-^tiiiguishid tliinii-(.I\t.s on this ocia-ion. "At thisjr.nctiire tlic enemy were reinforced li_v(i(^li tKcis, Mu! jifter a s-cvere stmjjglc, ! in \\\ i(li ( (il(ir,el MtDondl, C'a| tidns I)iiii'isj aid A\iri!n;S, and n;('St of (/ur officrs, wire' tiller killed or wounded, wc were overpow- ered I ly niunhers, and forced to retreat, as llie (ijdiiy had outflanked us, nnd had nearly ninecilid in j^ainii.g our rear. Several of! our iulu Were liius cut off, and made prison- 1 ers— myself nnioiipf-t the nnniher." iSo li,r, .\ )■. (i. !<. Jai vis' accouiit agrees with j tliiise received from (.'aptain Crooks, Colonel : I'lirk, Cokniel Kcrhy, and Captain John ' MiMeekin — all of uhom were present on this i oeeasioii. Itagiiis, also, sti'ictly willi James'' stattineiit. Up lo the peiiodoi' the engage- iiHiil the lunuhiis of the Tiiitish regulars and iiii ilia had ii. ver re;uhed three hundred, over j two liuid'.id of V, horn now retreated, and fuiiiRd ill I'loiU of Viomoiit's balteiy, tliere to iiu:i;t reiiifor^'euients — while lien. \'an llan- selaer, eonsid^rirg the victor}' as complete, eiDssed (,\tr in orck r to give directions ahout fiiilifyihg tlie (•;•!. !p ulii.h he intended to oc- '"";'.', ill til..' Ili'itisl; ten iiory, and then reeios.sed t') liastuii tht.' sendin;; (jver veinforecinvnts. 1 The position of the parties was now thus: The Anieiicans occnpii'd the hi 'ghts at (J'ncn- •^ton, with a foice, cerlain'y, CNcee ling eight liundreil,and (leneral Van IJaiisclnerHdinits,n3 will he seen in his letter to Deiieral J>eiirliorii, that "n numlier of lioats now cnisMiI over, uiiannoyed, except l.y the one iin'ilinced ^4iin," conseipieiitly more troops wire liouiiy arriving. Karly in the aflernoon, a hody of ahoiit fifty Mohawks, under Xortoii and young I'rant, advanced through the wood-, f^ ok up a po>ition in front, and a very >harp skinnish eiisin il, whi'h ended in the Indians retiring (ju the reii.forcements w hi.h had no y lie'^un to arrive from FtJit (leorge. This ninrin'o- ment coriy thi'div from tlic AiiuTiciui lmtlerifs,tlu'y siirroiKKrud. Willi tlu' excel)! ion of a, few who lind tlirown tliemselves down a steep ravine. Jainis sn) > '* tliey threw themselves over the precipice, ns if heedless of the danj^cr, niul many miislhiive p( rislied in (he Hood. Otiiers, no donht, swam across; and some escn|ied in the few boats (hat remained entire, or whose crews could he persuaded to approach tlie Canadian shore." We have, however, a positive assurance from Capt. .lolm MacMickiiig, that this was iiotthe case, and tliat two only lost their lives by being forced over the clilfs; the report^, also, (liat have been so industriously circulatcil, of the Tridians lining the banks and firing on the fugitives, are, according to the same authority, e'ju.illy unfounded. The numbers, according to .Iaiiies,un(ler General Wadsworth, (who had been left in command by General Van Ranse- laer, when lie recrossed to hurry over rein- forcements,) who now laid t uinli>lurl'i'il. This wmdd give al^ of over six humlrcd killed ami woiimlcd, nnl the number seems by no means improiialpjo v\he!i we remember tli:it (liree boats were ni; to pieces, and that the loss in crossing in the morning was very heavy. The (|uestion now naturally arises, wliydil not tieiieral Van iianseiaer send over inon: troops, when he found .leiicral Sliealfe rciuir- ing reinforcements, so as tn retain bis s'.\\^f. liority in numbers ? .\n answer to this will \o, found iu his despatch to General Dearborn, in which a most ludicrous picture is drawn nf the behaviour ofthe ,\merican niiliiia nt Lewis, ton, the more remarkable from the fid ofllnn' being the very in;:n who, only two days jirc- viously, were determined on an invasion rf (Canada, without waiting for orders from tli(;r commaiuliiig ollicer. "The aidoroftlieiimii- g'lged troups," saysllietieiieral, "hadmiin'y subsided." Why? asks the rea-ler! TMr wounded comrades had [lassed over, had (K- ciibed the charge of the ** ijnrn-titjrrn" ;\m\ militia in the morning, and had warned them whatthey might expect if they came in contact uith troops infuriated at the loss of tluir k- loved (ieneral. Iiigcrsol sa3's : " Ridiiig nnuiiig the miscreant militia, with some of their offiem and Judge Peek to second him, flie di>lKiirt- eiied and disgusted General Van Uan-;elair in vain tried to prevail on them to piss the river, and secure the victory won ; one-third wdiiM do it, he assured them. Rut iRitln r reason, ord( r, persuasion, nor shame bad any elll'i't." " Fifteen hundred able-bodied men," says (nn. Armstrong, " well armed and equipped, shortly before clamorous with |)rowess and untaiiica- ble sjiirits, now put on the mask of la\\ful:n-i to I. ic their cowardice." Col Van Raiisehur obsv.:'ves: — " The panic had become so gene- ral that but r. small portion of our army 'OiiM be prevailed on to cross. The remaiiiiKr, to their eternal shame, be it said, instead of Icml- ing their aid to sustain their gallant bieilireii in their victorious career, stood passively .md saw them cut up, and captured in the end liy a force amounting to about one-third of tlair united number," These hard expressions, be it reniembcreil, are none of our choosing; they are the sent!- inents of American writers, and of writers, too, who were anxiohs to palliate the misdeeds uf tliat day. It is not a little rcmuikable how 1 1 liionenil Wilkinson, \\\ |:i,.it;cs lief lie him, > "Tlic names of tl Ipaiiieil Colonel N'.m 1 I mierprisc deserve t loffiiiiii', fir sunnoiiiii I «ii|ieriible, in the f n'c I under a heavy fire, an in: a siipiHor force, n I nnsof the I'.Hli Riili' i oi>lv posted, with an I ml Indians. It was i pility randy exbibitci I anl cxeeuti'iu were >■< " Here true valour, animal courag", was a t!.f liayonet, which ile cml a shot. It mu«l n hundred and twenty- ivhit si.\ himdreil wet and the reader will be the Mn;;le exception of it«asthe first military men or ollicers had bi the circumstances, ai opeialions, the imparl I tent judge will name ^ dfj d'wncre ofthe wa If tliisall'air, resullic render, is to be considi of the war, we are at i oa|iitulati<)n of Detroit passages Ibilowing an " Vet we heard of no honorary promotions cllieaey of brevets ha cred, nor had it lieco tile disgrace of the Cal fir llic adoration of complete success did n enterprise, but two gi fur the country. It re ter uf the American i ciieniy, l)y the death oilJcer that has headei tliroiighout the war, end to their brilliant c ately exempli lied by tl because ridiculous att ♦ Krror! O.Mi.Tiil Vmi IJ M:i)ipr Oeiieiul Wii* ciuilii ili':iii,'Ui>li.(l :;iill.i.ury u.u '■■■■Viie uCh''! eniinlry. •'S|i l;i(;iNu);iif.i fiuullei". — Kd. HISTORY OP TIFF. WAU OF 1812. 107 liiencral WPkiiinon, witli tlie oviiliiifo of tlit-si rax'tilli'H lii'f >ru liiiii, ciiiilil |icn tlu* rolto : "The niiiiu'S of the odiccrs who nccnm- I paiiiiil <'<'loiU'l \'.m IliiiisiliicT ill (his hiiiil\ ciiierprise dt'Cfi've t > 'h' i-nj^i'iivi-il o\\ iliu scrol I of funic, f'T siiniioiiiitiii}; otisliidi's nlriiost in .iiwTiilik', in the I'lci; of a ik'tiTiiiimd fiicmy, iiiliT II hciivy lire, iiml ili>lo'l;;iii^' iiiul [Mirsii in: a siipirior force, consisting of two coinpii niisof tlie iDtli I'lilish llcj^iineiit, iiiivinitiiK'- oii-ly piistfil, with an auxiliary l)()iiy of militia anl hiiliaiis. It was indeed a iii>p!ny ofinlre- pility rarely exhihited, in which I ho coridiicl anl (weeiiti'in were iqtially cniispieiioiis. " litre irue valour, so often mistaken foi animal conrag'.'. was attested hy an appeal li> tlic liayonet, which decided tlie contlicl witk- oiit a sliot. It tnnst not he foij^otten that two lmnilresa,;;es loliowing are still more reinatkable. "Vut we heard of no mark of distinction, no liuiiorary promotions on the occasion ;* the ctiicacy of brevets had not then been discov- ered, nor had it become n cessary to cover the disgrace of the Cabinet, by raising up idoUs fir the adoration of the people. It is true, complete success did not ultimately crown this enterprise, but two great ends weie obtained fur the country. It re-establisheil the charac- tdufihe American army, and deprived the enemy, by the death of I hock, of tlie best oScer that has headed their troo])s in Canaiiiiil. iii llii: .■ iiiuir\ f- lire iil'liw ciiiiiliv. ••spl'l-llllv llunil^:,' tllf lulC WUf Ull HitiNiafjiii-.i fiuimer.— Ed. A. .A.M. The ahsnnlity into which (Jeneral Wilkin- •on's paliiolisin has lure hurried him, is on I par with that of some ofthe \eracioiis hi.s- ories put foitli by sundry .\merican anihors. One writer,(Thoinpson,) in hisnccoiint of tho dl'iir in the morning, niikes tho Ameiiians hrce him(heil and t>ventv strong, "entirely idiites the Ihiii>h I'.lth rcuimenl of six him- Ired strong, and nrsmslhem np tlie heights." Not satislicd with qiia.lrupling th(! numbers ofthe -lOlh, If adds-" pal t ofthe list were ictiig with the I'.Kh, both of which regiments iistinguislied themselves iMidcf the same com- miniicr in Iviropc ; and the latter had obtain- ed the title of the K.';vplian Invincibles, bocauso tliey had never, on anv occasion in;K0UK, been known to give ground." One man of t' e tlst w.is present in tho morning. Lieutenant Crowther— and he wnn the sole representative of the regiment ot\ tho occasion. Another wi iter. Dr. Smith, like his frien.1 Mr. Thmnpson, also introduces the " wholo 4'.)th regiment, six himdrul strong," .adding, "They mutually resorted to the bayonet; and, after a bloody conllict, the fmious fnvin- eibles yielded lo tlii! sipeiior eneigy falseliool, especially when its refutation was so eu.sy, with so many actors on that ■ ' < ? 108 HISTORY OF TIIR WAR OF 1812, I ! F;! i i t Moody sfMjjc, nt Imiid, find vo;idy to iioti' tlic uiiliulli, \'.f iiiu-.t, tliciifoii' ai^ii'ihu till.' follow- iii'T iia^sHTc inlii< "|iMrtiS TIMN Tl!!tr.i: lirNlMtKH, witll Itlit 0!U' ])ii.cf of M-i!kiT, Mild no' a dn/.tn ro'.ui'ls for it; yi t [ Mill wfll iioisii'idi'd n nticat tiiiiidi Icssa sun ciidiT, -.v.-is not thou.dit of; and that tin- tioops wi'ie ill fact in us lii,;;li si)irits as if Wi' hail 1> 'cn suM.i-inr.'" Tlif ;il>sii!(lity of tl-is is loo yl.'iii; }r, \\\w\\ wc rfiiKni'icT that half an hour afier tlio (•.sliihili..n of " Ir'gh s-fiiits," tht'so \\\\ p,:illaiit soldi, rs lii( kc and llvd liko bo niui.y sla-i'i) Ijuforc a 'urcc sHj^lilly iiifirior. Wi' h;'ve now shew"! the piitu^'pnl events o( the !.".'!', and ] rorrs,.' to l!(.s|i:il(li<'> 0(1111 lliu . ' , t\v. (•..•.. !■ ;in.(1lir_' (jfli- irivc nnd PO'tl-'aVC tl!'! '•.v ''"'' '""'■"• si.aich.esoftboopiiosinjr Ccnovals to their vosive'.ive coniniandinji; offi- cers. " From Major (ieneral SheaflTe to Sir Geoijie Prcvost.'* Fort Ceorfxe, Oct. i:;, M2, Sin, — I liMve tlie lionor of infoiiiii:i^' ymr Fxrellei:ey, tli'st the eiietuy niMilo an attinl; v'itli coiisidfrahk' tore", tliis nioniinir, liffove day li^lit, on the po^ili.m of Qiieeiistown. {\ reeei'. ir.p; iiitilli'ieii' e of it. Major (leu. nunk iiiniiediatel}- ) roeeedvd lo (liat. I'ost, Mid I im exee.-sively grieved in liaviuu lo aild, tlmt li^ fell whilst gallantly cheering his troo|:s toan ( xertion for niaiiitaining it. \Vitli liiui ilif po.-ition WoS lii>t ; hot the ( lu my v, a-^ i.ot ;il- hnved to I'et.'.in it h i.p-, ruiifoieeliieiil> lanin;; oi-eii s?!it lip from this post, coiiii)o.~cd of n';;ii- lar lioojis, iiiililia, and Iiidiaiis: a ii.cMinci.t was ni.ele lo Ir.iii li- i;f:, \' hik' .-oiiie a' liiluv, under the ahle direction of (.'apt. llolerDlt.Mij,. p.orlnl liy a lujdy (.finftntry, engaged liisat- teiiti'ii iii fri'iii. Tl.i.~ di' eeti'iii w as aided, ton, I . . . . . ■ I hy tlie jtidiidous position \\hi(di NoitDii, iinl the Tniliaiiswitli him, h.ad taken on tlie udodr hrovv of the high ijiniiiid ahove Qneen-ton. " .\ coiomiiniejition heitn.' tliiis openeil \vi:li Chippewa, a jnnction was formed of siiecouri • From (lemrnl Vnn Hnvudacr, to thr Amcri- pxrito a strong dispn-iiion in tlie tronjis tn net. f.'ii|iiiii joii on the vStli, have lieeii of a very ini|i(iitaiit i the olivions eoiiseciiicnei's, to me jieisonally, if cliaraeter, prodiieingeonsefiueiices-^eiioustomaiiy j longer withholding niyovders under such eininii- iniiividiials ; esialilishing (acts actually connected stances. with the interest of the service am' the safety of I had a conference with , as to the pn?-!- the army; and as I stand proininei tly respoiisilde liility of getting some person to pass over imo for some of these cons('(niencos, I beg leave to ('anada. ainl olilain correct iifonnation. On the explaiii to yon. sir, and through you to my country, nior'iing of the 4lh, he wrote to me diat lie had the siiuation and circumstances in which I have procuied the man, wIkiIkiic his letter to f;o ovtr. had to act, and the reasons ami motives whi(.'li i Instnutions were given him : he passed (ivor, governed me, and if the resnil isnot all that iniuht ' and o'^taiiied sn(di ii forn ation as wai ranted an Lave lieeii wishe'd, it is such that, when the win. 1.^ j imi'M-dint'^ "I'tac!:. T!';!: was confidently com- grouml shall he viewe.l, I shall eheei fully snlimit inimieated to several of my fust ofliceis, umI niys.'lf to the Judgement of my couiitrv. j produced great /..'id to act; inoie espe< i;;lly a^it in my leit<.M' on the 8tli instant, 1 apprised \oii nii' lu I ave a c(nitr(illinKefl'ect upon the niions, I had, on the .'itli ; tnwn, and p<^ssess (.iirseives id the vill.i;j.', vvliore ' the liiKvp-: n.ijdit he si e'tiii'kl from the disticftiij; inc'einency of the weather. Lientenant Coloi el Fh inine:'s flung aitillory, and a delaehment of ree.nlar tro( ps iindei lii^o'Ui- nnind, were erdeied to he I'p in seasaie fianii l.Jil Xia'jara. ftrders were nl-o piMit (]<'i'eral Siiijih lo semi down from Finlfalo siiih detacdimeMi^ I'l his |piig:i(ie as exisiine e^reninstancesiii that vioi- iiity n:l-''t w.fcTaiii. Th ■ a't'ck wa- t.. 1" !'-a>ii-' at th.ree o'eldidv on the ir.'iiiiing of the lllli,]'!' erossiiiL' over in l)oal> In in the o'd I'eirv (i| pufi'i' inst.'i t. wi'iiten to Brig, (ieneral Smyth, of the l'iiii|;s to an Willi liiiM till' I my Viiis not 111- iirciiiLiit,-- l,:i\iii^ :)ini)i).-t>l iiriT.'ii- i.s : a iii(:M !:ic:;. ik' >(>iin.' ii' iiilcv, i|it. noiciiil'i.Mij,. ■, I iipij:o(! l.iM.;. Ill wasiiivkil, too, liicli Xofti'ii, liivl ;(!i on ;'i;e wcw;,- iVf Qia'(.'ii-ii)ii. tliiis opi'iifil wi'li 1 iiK'd uf siR'tcurj the trocifi? to act, null variiiiis cliaii- tiiativo ; tlnil tlioy t all lia/.iirils thoy \ coninioiitiii^'ii|Kiii nil' porsdiiiilly, vi iiiiicr sudi ciniiiii- — , as to tilt |(0f4 p!i>=.-i over into iiiatinii. On the 1110 that lie iiad fttcr to <;o ovtr, lie passcil (ivor, as wairiiiited an confidently com- first ofliceis, i'J e,=|je(i:illv a- it on till' niovi'iiioit >eil that riciioril lice he ilaii'il to The he-t pre- ier(>((ire. ii'inlo lo iiihls of (iuccii-- le villa).'*', «liore 111! theili.-tic.-!iii:g s (l\ini: niiilK'ty, |)s uiulei lii-i'"iii' seasdi- frein Foil t Cii'reral Smyth 1 (ielacliliiOiil!! i>f ,e;'siii ihiit vii'i- k \\a- t" I" !'■"'■'■' Z of the lllli,''!' o'll I'eiry oi'|H«ie nihiiriassiiuiit in ■;; sheet ul \iuk'lit I tliat iia'I ht-tju ofliTed iVuiii tliiil jiont. Tlie ciioiav nas llien iitlin kvl, an 1, altef a stmil, bat sjiifitci-i coniiiet, was coiiiiik'tely ileCeateil. 1 hail t:ic .■■aiiNlaetion of vuL-eiviirj; tlie sward oi tlii^ir (onuaaiiiier, i> ip,a.li''r funeral Waiis- worth, on tliu tield of liattlc, and many oili- I ars, V- it'll nine hmidied men, were maile inis- oiiers, and tnoi-e may yet ke cx;.e(:teii, A stun i of I'olois tin 1 one six-[)OUiu]ei', weie al-i) t^ilveii. 'i'lie m lion did not lerinin- atc til! ne:irly flifoe o'eloek in the afa riiooii, tinil their k:.-:S, in kilkd and wiiiinded, nui>l liave heen eonsidcrakle. Our.s 1 beiii^ve to havoliien coinin'.rativil}- siuaii in niiniVier.s; no ofUcers were killed besides Major-detieral Brock, one of tke iiio>t gall ml. and zealous ifliejr-- in !iis .Nkajesly's sei'viee, whose loss i:;iiiiii>l he too inuelidijiloi'ed; and Lieut. -f 'ok M'Keael!, pAniiiiial aide de-eamii, wiiose gal- lantry atid luefil ivinler kiiii woivhy of iris chii'f. f'aptains I)eimis and Wiiiiaias, coin- laaii'liiig the llank co!ii[)ani.-s of the 4'Jlh regiment, w ho were stalioiied at 'i^ii enstDii, Were wounded, bravely eo'itein'inu, at the head of tiieii' ns'ii agiinsl siij'eiior re.iobers; but I am glad to have \l in my \u> \ ir to add, that f'a|iLain Deiii.i/ was Ibri naitly a le lo kei [) the Held, thon,^h it was wiili ;',ii;i and ditlieully, und Cajitain \'i iiliams' \-, ooii i is not likely long to dejnive me ofkis se!\iee. " I am partieiil.irly in ie'itvd lo ('•;il. Hol- (I'oft, ol' the royal iiitiikiy, lor iiis ja i.ioiis and skilful eo-operation with the ;;.; ii- ami ho.vit/ers under hi- iinine liate sup . ir.;, nJ- eiice; their well direeted lire eth,;iibuted materially to the Ibitiiiiate re.-ult of t e day. " Caiitain Dereiizy, of the -ff^t i-.;.;iment, brought up tlie ninlbieene iils of ('u. ei);p.4 from Fort G.'orgc, and Captain Ji't'.-i' k led that of the same regimen! from r!,'p|',".va; and imder the:i'eon;ma!iM> those 'It .i i.inents a((piilte I thenisehes in siu !i a ni;,!,. ()■ as to snstainlhe repulation uliiiht'ic ll^l •■: ;;i;iient had already aeipiiredin the vieinity ot' Detroit. C'iilli'S,) i'X|i''fiene"il l.'o:iu-,ieii \ve;e proeiireil, to tukt' lae lioats, Ih.aii llie lainii'ig oeiow lu, iil.iee nt\';tiii irkiiioii. Ijieu'.ea.ii.t Sins '.^as cou^iilered ; tho iii.ii! of ine greati'st skill for thi-. serviee ; he; \vc!!t ,iiie:ei, mid, in tlie exiieiiie liaikiiess, p:i:;sed till! inti'u. lei pl.iee (ar up l!ic ri\ei ; anil mere, in the iii')~i extra ifilina/y aniir.-'r, f';;sti'iie 1 his boat tu tiie iilioi'e, i!,;il a!i.iin! )iie 1 llie if'taehinent. hi thi-: ti'oiu- liii.il h". iiad e.irried nearly all tlie lais, waieh vveic, pn-parcil ti'i' the boats. In this a;'oui/.'a„' ililcaniia stoo'l oilieeis anil men, uhosi' 'ii'lor liiiil not cooled liy exp'siire thi-oii'.:li tiie n;.;lit, to one ot tlie iiia.^i tri'ineiidoas noi tli-ea-t stuiMi-i, wiiieh eonliiiiieil iini'.iiiteil for tvveiilv-eigiit li'iui's anil ilehe^e 1 tiie whole eaaip. ('oloiiel Van K.eisei.ier was to h:.ve coiiii.'.a.inled the de- •iicliiaent. Aftei' this result I had hoped t'l.itthe palienee cf tia' troops vvoi'.M haV" eoeiinued, luitil I could <;;!iiiiit the i)!aii saggestoil in my letter of the ^tli. tiiat I iiiight act under, aini in coiitiiraiity to, the cpiiiiou which might be llieii expressed. I>ut my liiip'' \V;is idle; the previoiisiy cseited ardor f"' d to havi' g.iined tie.v he, it from the lati' li'.i.-.Miri.ige; the liravo men were inortiiied to ft'.'p shoit of their olijoet, and the timid thought la'HvIs li:ilf won by the attenijit. Oh the morning of the l-Jth, .such was the pros- f'lre upon me from all cpiarters, that I became siti^Jieil that my n hisal lo act iiiighi involve me III 'uspieioii, and the service in di-^graee. hie iteiian'-t'olonel Christie, who had ju«t ar- nv.jd lit the Four-Mile Creek, and had, late in the lii:lit of the Lliois the lire was silenced. The enemy then retreated '.ehiiid a large stone house; but in a short time tiie route lieeanie general, ii;.d tlieeiiemy's tire was -ikneid, except h'oni a one-gun battery, to lar dow n tlio river as to Iv out (if the reach ol our heavy ord- , natice ; and oiir lig!;t pieces could not silence it. «. T, !•■■■' ■ ,-,'' '.•!■ '-• ",,■, ■ . ^-, •• .• ■.. ■ ••■ \ no HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. M M " Miijor (iuiui'iil Hroi'k, soon filter liisiinival the 41st Hcgiment, A.-sislnnt Deputy QunrUT- 1 at Qiieenslon, tisxl si nt down ofdirs for hattor- 1 niaster-denernl, very useful. I liave (liriviij ing tlie American fort at Niagara, lirigade- ! much aid, too, from the activity anr! intdli. Major I'lvans who was left, in charge of Fort i geiico of Lieutenant Kerr, of the G!enp;irrT Georgi', directed the operations against it with i Feneihlcs, whom I employed in comtnunicaliii: so much effect, as to silence its (ire, and to j with the Indians and other flanking jiariii's. force the troops to ahandun it; and, by his " I was unfortunately deprived of the aidof prudent precautions, he iireveiitcd mischief of the experience and al>ility of Lieutcnnnt- a most serious nature, which otherwise might ' Colonel Myers, Deputy Quarter-Master f!i re- have heen effected— the enemy having u. ed j ral, who had been sent Uji to Fort Erie, a ftiv heated shot in tiring at Fort George. 1 days before, on duty, which detainei] \\m, " In tliese services he was most effectuallv aided by Colonel Claus, who remained in the fort at my desire, and by C.'aptnin Vigoureaux of (tie Hoyal Engineers. Brigade-Major Evans also mentions the conduct oC (^aptains Powell and Cameron of tiie Militia Arlilierv, in terms of corimiendation. "I.itnt. Crov. ther, of the -tl.st Regiment, had chaige of two lliree-pounders that had accompanied the movement of our little corjjs, and tliey wire employed with g'X)d effect. " Capt. C'legg, of the 4!mi Regiment, aide- dc-can\p to our lamented friend and (Jeneral, afforded nie most essential assistance ; and I found the services of Lieutenant Fowler, o( except V)y ttic one nnsiloncod giui. For some there. " Lieutenant-Colonel Rutler and Clark of the Militia, and Captains ILitt, Dnrand, Rcnv,. Applegarth, James, Crooks, Cooper, HoIkt: Hamilton, McEwen, and Duncan CaiiKr'm; and Lieutenants Robinsont and liuller, coni' manding (lank companies of the Lincoln nnl York Militia, led tluirmcn into aciion wi'h great spirit. Major Merritf, commanding tiie Niagira dra'foon-:, accompanied nie, and pave much assistance with part of bis corps. Cap- tain A. Hamilton, belonging to it, was disahlcj from ridii g, and attactied tiitnself to thcfruns, under Captain Holcroft, wlio speaks liiglilycf his activity and usefulness. I beg leave ic ninrtificttlion, tnal no veinforcenienls would pii-! over; seeing ttint imotlier severe eonftiet iiu-t soon eoiiinieiice ; and ktio^inj: tint the linivii tin.enftrr 1 iiail passed over tiie victorv appeared ,„^,„ „, „,^ ,„.j ,,^, .,^,^^ qnit" exlwmsto.l. „i coni|)lete, b\it. in ex|)eetaiion of fuitlier attneks, I wa'^ taking nu'asiiie.'* lor foi-iilyiMg uiy canif) ini- niediatuh ; llie (lireetioii of tliis.-ierviee I eottUMit- tcd to LieiUenant, Tdiien. of ilic engineers, llul, very r^ooii tiie enemy were ri'inl'orced liy a deatc' - ment of several liuinlre'l Indians tvinn Oliipiiewa; tliey eouinieiieed a rniniis attack ; bat wore pronipilv inet ami routed liy tlie ritlc and hayoiiet. Hy this time 1 perciived my troops were etiihaik- nearly out of atiimutiitioii ; nil 1 conhl do, wii« \o send them a fiesh ?npply of e;n tiiilge.s. Attli- eiitieal moment I ilci-^piitched u note to Gourr,: W'adsiworth iie(iniiiiiting him with (nir siliuitiin : leavjni; the eom-ye to lie p.nsiieil mneli Kitiisdun jnilgment; witli the aiS'iiiance that if lie tlimi!.'!it liest to retreat, I wMild etuleavor to.-ieiid ii,*iii,ii;; tioats aa I conhl commiiiid, and cover his rotiv:ii liv eveiv fire I conhl sid'i-lv miike. lint tlii'hii;ii! ing very slowly. I passed immediately over to , .^,.,. .ji,,,,,^,,.,! . ,„;„„. „f ,i,c i,„,„„„,„ i,,,,] fle.J, aeceleiMte their movements ; liut, to my "ttei| ,„i^. ^^,^^^.^ . .„„i bnt few g.it oil'. Vy ww. a^toii.sliinent, 1 f.,.niui that, at the very nioiiieiii i i,o„,y,.er, eouKI luit little mote than have leiuh.i %vhen eorn|)lete victory was in orr h;"iattery. We took it with- out much resistance. I inuiu'iiiately fijrnied tieliiiij it, and fronting the village, wlieii I observed (ieii. Brock with his troops formed, consisting of (our companies of the 49th regiment, and a few miiiti.t, mareliing for oiu' left flank. I iiiiiiieiii^itely de- taciied a party of 150 men, to take possession of the heights af)ove Queenstoii battery, and to liold (Jen. Brock in check ; but, in eoiiseiiuence of his superior force, they retreated. I sent a re- iid'orcement; notwithstimding which, the enemy drove us to the edge of the l)ank ; wlien, with the greatest exertions, wo brought the troops to a stand, and I ordered the otheers to l)ring tlieir men to a charge as soon as the amtmmition was expended, which was exectited witli some coit- f'usion. and in afew momcius the enemy retreated. We pursued thetu to tlie edge of the heights, when Col. M'Donald had his horse shot from under him, and was mortally wounded. In the interim, General Brocfi, in attemptitig to rally his forces, was killed, when the enemy dispersed in ill every direction. As soon as it was practicable, I formed the troops in a line on the heights fronting the village, and immediately detached flanking parties, which consisted of Capt. Maclies- ney, of the tith regiment, Lieut. Smith, and Ensign Grosvenor, with a small detachment of riflemen, who had that moment arrived ; at the banie time, I ordered Lieut. Ganesvoort and Lieut. Randolph, with a detachment of artillery, to drill out an 18- pounder which had been previously spiked, and, if possible, to bring it to bear upon the village. 1 1 112 111ST(»I1Y OK Till: WAR OV 1S12. I I Afi.'iiii, (jciioi'ul IJrock hail not Ihoii nuivi'il, and il u:i:- liis !uiiv:il tliut Ivil to tlic liri!li;iiil chai}i;c ill wliii-li an iiilbrioi- force i.'cnniK'lKd a siiiHiinr I'vn-v to iitiru ir iiii.i. ; Oiiu of tin most lirilliant and daring feats on rcord, and in wliirli ilie militia distin'^nisliod tlKMi'.selvcsli) tlic fidl as ninch as the r. yrnlars, fiiihiinjj; side by side, and animalrd « i li a huriiing desiiv to ri'vuiL;!' the loss of a coniniander wliose intcr- conise with them had insjiied at onec respect and affeciion. Tlieio is very little doubt fliat the death of the r)iiti>h (ieniral cost the lid' of many an invaik-r on that d:iy, wliieh would otherwise have lieen sfiared. As we arc u?iae')nain!cil with flic prescrvn- P,.,„.),:,i :,|,i,,.,-,r- tionofany poiliait, i^ublic | ante 1.1 (Mil. liMuk. ,„. j.rivate, of (ieii. H;'ocl< ' in this country, it may not h.' nninterestinii: to > givr lure n sligiit sk( tidi. In person he was | tall and stout, even inclinin;!; to coipulency ; ■ of fair and Horid complexion, with alaige fore- 1 head and full fice., thoimli the features were I not prominent. Jiiseycs were rather sniall. ! of a i;i'e}ish blue, v.ilh a sli^nht cast in one of them. His mouth was small, with tine teeth, nnd V. !i"n his comilenance \\as liLihl'.d by a snii'.i.' (lie exjiiesslon was parlicularlv pleasinp'. In manner lie was oxteeding-Iy atl'ablo and ccntleneinhk.?, of a cliecrfol and social habit jiaili:.! to i;ai[cin,iL>-, and, ihoinjli nei.er mariied, he vva--' extremely ] aiiial to female societ\'. (tf the soundness of hi-' judgment and bravely we have already adduced siillicieiit Tlio woCiiided and pi'l^^onevs I ordcri'd to he col- Itctod and sent to the j;ii,n'(l-l-.oii-;i>. Almat this time, which was about thicc or I.hu' o'clotk in tlie aftci'uooii, Licit. -r'ol. ('hl■i^lie aiiived, ;uid took tlic eoi; iiK'.iid. 'le oril' red me across tlie river to get, lay wotn . s dres.^;Ii i.ave bi;cn sudicictit to have clouded ■> v'. •- ,■ ' f much ,e,re:.ter imp'ortan- c. ITs ,M::j;'.-;y I. - lo.--t in liiin not oii'y an able tiiid niirii'cr; ,. riliieer, but one wi:o, i;i the e.\crci;c ( f ],;; i'unctions of provisi.>nal L'c'i'cnaiit-tlov.jr.: , of the Pi'ovince, di.-p'aycl ipialiij.^s adiiiimi'v adapted to dismay the disloyal, to reran !o the waveriiifr, and to animate liic prcat !::;•- of ;he inliahila'its ,'l,l;,■ii|■.^.t .-nc- essive .-.itMii ;> of the enemy to iir.ad.c the I'lovincc, in ;'. last of which he f 1!, too prodi'.'.a! oftlru lj:i.:' whieh. his eniineiit sirvircs l.ad tau-ht ii> ;, imdusiand the value." * The news of" the diiitli of this cxcelleiauli..' has been received liere as a pulnio cul,i.i:i" The atleiidioit eiiciimslacees of vlciory .-iiCiiM cheeked tlie paintul sensation. Ills loic^ ii; i.lii..? ill ilil-< iMoviiice, iuid particularly in this p;iH-i., 1,:;; made iiiiii in habit-i and jjooil oiiices iilii;o-i i citi.'.e.i ; and his frankness, cuhciliiituiy di-],! ..iii:: and elevated demeanour, an ehtiiiciMi' oi c. T ' e.\pi'OssioMSof i'egrelas i;(Uieivd ii.- he wiis kini«:., aii:i not littered by friends ami ac(|UaiiitaiiCfW.;. liiit by every .gradation of class, not only by ::ri»;: perseu.s, liut yoan.ir childnn, are the tcM cf !..• worth. Such too is tlu; (udy ciilo;;iuiii vv.:lii> i! the f;(;od and brave, and (lie cilizelis el t^iiiiiic have with snleuui cmctio:!S, pronouiiceil it h':.-. iiienuny. lint at thi.s anxious momeiit oilrjil".- iii,L;s are excited by his loss. General Itioik ii;;l aetpiired the conlideiico of tlie iiilKiliiiar.t; within hi.-i own .government. lie had sctmj their attachment permanently liy his o«:; merits. They were one jjcople aninaitcd I J I one disposition, and tlii.3 he had gnim..i.,' wound up to the crisis in which they were pbfti- 1 .'^iraiif.'e as it may seem, it is to be teand that h'. ha 1 become too imp.oilant to them. Tlic heroic I militia of I'pper (.'aiiada, more particulaily, bi knit ihi luselvcs to his persoi; ; and it isycttnu' ascertained Whether the de>ire to avoujie lii-ilw'^ can compensate the many enibaira.-;.^aiciitj ii»- occusiuu.. t^'iiiinns pf llie Pre*?. ■"pi-cliiii,' (jeii. IJroek's Mnictcr and value, „ HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 113 CHAPTER VIII. CONTENTS. Opinions of llic Press respecting General Brock's character and value, continued. — Armistice concluded the day after the l)attlo. — Treatment of the prisoners. — Disposal of the prisoners. — .\ttcmpt3 of the Press to keep up the " war spirit " by misrepresentation. — Refusal of the Militia to cross the Niagara lliver, another proof that the war was not as popular as represented. —Resignation of General Van llanselacr, and ajiijoiiifjuent of General Smyth. — Destruction of the fortitcations at Dlack Uock, and of the furs taken in the Caledonia. — Capture of Cana- dian voyageurg. — General Smyth's proclama- ilnui. — Invasion of Canada by General Sznyth. — Klfocts of this failure at invasion. — Position of ail'airs on the Detroit and Lower Canadian fro;itiers. — Causes of General Dearborn's in- TCtion. I'liE two notices, we have already given, might aliuost be con.sidered siif- i r>"iiiiciii3 of the Pri'ss, c • .. -i r ..i r-PKim^'UcM. HroLk's l'ci<-'"t evidence of the it'mmued '"""^ "''"''"' cioincncc to which Gen. Brock had raised him- self liy his civil and miHtary talents, and of I l'.ie correspondently deep grief with whicli his *Tho private letters from Upper Canada, in giv- ing tlm account of the late victory at Queenston, ire partly taken up with encoDiiastic lamentations U|ioii the never-to-bo-forgotten General ]?rock, '■>iiicli do honor to the cliaracter and talents of Jie man they deplore. The enemy have i othiiig , to hope from the loss they have inllictcd ; they i have created a hatred which panteth for revenge. ' Although General IJrock may be said to have fallen ' \ iii the midst of his career, yet his previous ser- ; vices in UpperCanada will l_)e lasting and highly | bonolicial. When ho assumed the government of | I '.'le province, he found a divided, disalfected, anil, of course, a weak people. II J has left them , united and strong, and the universal sorrow of the province attends his fall. The father, to his I t'l'liiren, will make known the mournful story. The veteran, who fought by his side in the heat [ and burthen of the day of our deliverance, will venerate his name. 8 untimely fate was doplorcd throughout, not only these rrovinces, but the Mother Country al.so. Yet we feel tempted to add one or two more tributes to his memory. The first is frotn a Montreal paper of the day ;* the second from Howison's "Sketches of Upper Canada."! The most conclusive proof, however, of the gtiiicral estimation in which Sir Isaac Brock was held, is, perliaps, to be found in General Van Kanselaer's letter of condolence to Gen. Shealle, on the occasion of h funeral, in which Gen. Van llanselacr expresses his desire to pay " a just tribute of respect to the gallant dead," and informs Gen. Shealfe, that "1 shall order a salute for the funeral of General Brock to be fired here,| and at Fort Niagara this after- noon. This generous conduct of Gcn.VanRanscIacr evinced feelings worthy of a soldier and a man. The President, Mr. Madison, when alludina: to the battle of Queenston in his message to Congress, observed, " Our loss has been con- .siderable, and is deeply to be liimcnted. That of the enemy, less ascertained, will be the file was more popular, and more beloved by the iidiabitants of Upper Canada, than any nnm they ever had among them, and with reason ; for he possessed, in an eniiuent degi'ce, those virtues which add lustre to bravery, and those talents that shine alike in the cabinet and in th(> field. His manners and ditposit'ons were so conciliating as to gain theattection of all wl:om he commanded, while his innate nolikness and dignity of mind secured him a respect almost (iniounling to vene- ration, lie is now styled the Hero of L'|)per Ca- nada, and, had he lived, there is ;io doubt but the war would have terminated very tlifferently from what it did. The Canatua, lU HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. : }■ more felt, as it includes amongst the killed the commandinf^ general, who was also the Gover- nor of the I'rovince." General IJrock was interred on the 16th Ortober, with liis A.D.C, Col. McDonnell, at Fort George. Mojor (ilegg says on the sub- ject, — " Conceiving that an interment, in every rcsp?ct military, would be the most appropriate, 1 made choice of a cavalier bastion which he had lately suggested, and which liad just been finished under his daily superintend- ence." On the morning after the battlc,an armisticct Armistice rnn. i,..!-(l ^as Concluded by Gene- the day alter the i.miie. j-.jig Yan Ranselacr and Sheaflc. Jamcs,in reference to this proceeding, remarks, — "It is often said that we throw away with the pen, what we gain by the sword. Had General Brock survived the Queenston battle, he would have made the 13th October a still more memorable day by crossing the river and carry inr^ Fort Niagara, which at that precise time was nearly stripped leads through Queenston villiige ; this spot may bo culled classic ground, for a view of must awa- ken in the n.iiuls of all those who di appreciate the greatness of liis cbaracter, and are acquainted with the nature of his resources and exertions, feelings as warm and enthusiastic as the contem- plation of monuments consecrated by antiquity can ever do. Nature had been very bountifid to Si. Isaac Brock in those personal gifts which appear to such peculiar advatitage in the army, and at the first glattcc the soldier and the gentleman were seen. In stature he was tall, his tine and benevolent countenance was a perfect index of his mind, atid his manncis were courteous, frank, and engaging. IJravc , lilieral, and humane ; devoted to his sov- ereign, and loving his country with romantic fond- ness ; in command so gentle and persuasive, yet so firm, that he possessed the rare faculty of ac- quiring both the respect and the attachment of all who served utider him. When urged by some friends, shortly before his death, to be more care- ful of his person, he replied : " How can I expect iiiy men to go where 1 am afraid to lead them ;" and although, perhaps, 5iis anxiety ever to shew a good example, by being foremost in danger, in- duced him to expose hiniseli more than strict pru- dence or formality warranted, yet, if he erred on this point, his error was that of a soldier. Ele- vated to the government of Upper Canada, here- claimed many of the disaffected by mildness, and fixed the wa\ering by the argument of success; and having no national partialities to gratify, that rock on which so many provincial governors have split, he meted equal favor and justice to all. t The ariniftice was to le in force only ou the frontier Uetvreen Lakes Ontario and Erie. of its garrison. Instead of doing this, ami of putting an end to tlie campaign upon the Niagara frontier, Gcr^ral Sheaile allo'.vt! himself to be persuaded to sign an annisiia; the very thing (jcneral Van Ranselacr wanti'l. The latter, of course, assured his panic struck militia, that the Ihitish General had .>;t.nt to implore one of liim ; (rather a hasty conclusion this of James,) and that lie. Genera! Van Ranselacr, had consented, merely to gain lime to make some necessary arrangements. Sucli of the militia as had not already scampcrci off, now agi eed to suspend their journey home- ward, and try another experiment at invasion." When James penned the above, he did not take into consideration, that the number of American prisoners, then in General Slicatfi'j charge, far exceeded the united strenjih of his whole army, when the Indian force was withdrawn ; and, besides, that with his very limited means of defence, he had a frontier of forty miles to protect. He seems also to have lost sight of the fact that General Var l\an. selaer retired from the command on the iMh Briti.sh-V)orn subjects soon felt convinced tliat ni;h him their religion or their l)irth-])lace was noib- stacle in theiradvancemcnt. Plven over the niindj of the Indians Sir Isaac Brock pained, ataiida'ur the capture of Detroit, an ascendency altopotl.er unexampled, and which ho judiciously exercised for purposes conducive equiilly to the cause if humanity and to the interests of his country. lie engaged them to throw aside the scaljiiiig knile, implanted in their breasts the virtues of elcmenc)' and forbcaranee, and taught them to feel pleasure and pride in the compassion extended to a vas- (luished enemy. In return they revered liiiii as their common father, and while under his com- mand were guilty of no excesses. Itis welll-iioKn that this untutored people, the children ul' ifce forests, value personal much more highly itian mental qualities, but the union of both in their leader was happily calculated to impress their haughty and masculine minds with respect m.d adnnration ; and the speech delivered by Tecum- seh, after the capture of Detroit, is illustrative of the sentiments with which he had inspired thcie warlike tribes. " I have heard," ubserved that chief to him, " much of your fame, and am liappy afjain to shake by the hand a brave brother war- rior. The Americans endeavour to give us i mean opinion of British Generals, but wc have been the witnesses of your valour. In crosjing the river to attack the enemy, we observed yon from a distance standing the whole time in an erect posture, and, when the boats readied the shore, you i^ere among the first who jumped on land. Your bold and sudden movements fright- ened the enemy, and you compelled them to t^l^ render to hall their own force." [October. He (Gen. I indeed to have reso I two dnys before, for I to General Sheaife, I probably the last con the honour to make [not look much like I tiiird descent on Can arc more deserving speaking of the armi land the former arm [any present advanta [pri.judice to the Brit j.Vmericans availed th Ian occa.sion to forw! [unmolested, from 151 ac I by water, which the [have effected, but wit [eiipense, by land, and I fleet which afterward Icommand of that la •force in these remark Iprisoners equalling in i land with an enemy i ptrcngth, it is not to iGencral Sheaffe shouli ■measures, so as to di Ifrisoncrs. Although it has been Trealmciil of the le w ikindncss and consider ■representations have iu!)ject. One writer ( jibe War) says — " For jtbey put no restraint i nho were stripping am ^'.ain but the dying tha ' battle,"' and in pre ^Iduces the facts, that iseil the corpse of an pl been stripped of lul'lier whose scull had |ii«k ; he forgcts,howc^ t unneccssarv, to enqui fcirt had not b(!cn sto p, or whether the s^ jeceived the fatal bio ^e only bring these t foT anxious to misrep Titers have been, and 1 8ie monstrous cruelties mSTORY OP TIIK WAR OF 1812. 115 ing thi?, anil ff aign upon the hfiilFe allo'.vt! ;n nn ariniiiiiv, nsulaer wanti'l. lis panic struck ral had sent to last y conclusion , Gonoral Van ely to gain time t;;onicnt?. Such ;acly scanipcrcJ r journey hoim- cnt at invasion." )Ovc, he (lid not the number cf General SlicnttVi mitctl strensrth [ndian force was t with his very lad a frontier o[ L'ms also to liave -neral Van l>an. md on the IJth mvinced tliati\!;li place was no ub- 'n overtlieniinJj lined, at aiidalur doricy altogothtr ciously e.xercijt'l to the cause ff lis country, lie e scalping liiiito, ■tues of clemency 11 to feel pleasiire tended to a vac- revered liiin a.s under his corn- It is well knowa children ul' ibe ore highly than of both ill ihoir to impress their with respect iii.'l crcd by Tccuni- ia illustrative of ad inspired theie " ubscrvcd that c, andamliappj ive brother war- r to give us a but we have ur. In crossing ve observed yen hole time in an lata reached the who jumped on ovements fright- led them to Bur- i October. He (Gen. Van Ranselaer) seems I indeed to have resolved on this course even tffodnys before, for in his letter of the IGth, to General Sheatfe, he writes, — "As this is probably the last coininnnication I shall have the honour to make to you," &c This docs not look much like entertaining hopes of a third descent on Canada. Christie's remarks are more deserving of consideration. In spealiing of the armistice he writes; — " This and the former .irmi.stice, without affording any present advantage, proved of material prejudice to the British on Lake Erie. The Americans availed themselves of so favorable [an occasion to forward their naval stores, unmolested, from Black Rock to Prcsquc Isle, by water, which they could not otherwise [have effected, but with immense trouble and [expense, by land, and ccjuippcd at leisure the [ileot which afterwards wrested from us the Icommand of that lake." There is much jforce in these remarks, yet with a body of [prisoners equalling in number his whole force, [and with an enemy in front of double his lEtrcngth, it is not to be wondered at, that Idcncral Sheaffe should have adopted prudent [measures, so as to dispose, at least, of his I prisoners. Although it has been very generally acknow- Treaime.it of the ledged that the prisoners If'''''"*- were treated with great [kindness and consideration, yet a few mis- |ropreseiitations have crept abroad on the Miject. One writer (Author of Ske'cchcs of m War) says — " For want of will or power fhey put no restraint upon their Indian allies '^ho were stripping and scalping not onlx' the pin but the dying that remained on the field pf battle,"' and in proof of his assertion he llluces the facts, that a Capt. Ogilvie recog- nised the corpse of an Ensign Morris, which pi been stripped of its shirt, and a dead licr whose scull had been cloven by a toma- bwk ; lie forgets,however,or seems ' consider It unneccssarv, to enquire whether the ensign's Jhirt had not been stolen by one of his own kr\, or whether the soldier might not have Received the fatal blow during the contest. ^e only bring these trifles forward to show |iOT anxious to misrepresent some American Titers have been, and how desirous to palliate lie monstrous cruelties perpetrated by them on the Indians during their long and numerous frontier wars. Two days after the battle, the prisoners Disposal of iho pri.- ''"^ woundetl, both mili- ""*"• tia and regulars, wcro sent across the river, upon their parole, as were General Wadswortii, and (.James sa vs all Cliristie some) the principal oflicers, the non- commissioned officers and privates of the regular army were sent to Montreal to await their exchange. Christie remarks on the subject, — " Among the American prisoners, twenty-three men were found, who, having declared themselves British-born subjects, were sent to England for trial as traitors." This gave occasion to retaliate upon Briti-sh prisoners in America, and a like number of the latter were put into close confinement as hostages for the safety of the traitors by order of the xVmerican government. The attempts of the press to prevent Atti-mpisofUiupross the supportors of the s;nr"'i;'^.lS>rc;:u: now unpopular war from I'l'i""- becoming disgusted with the manifold reverses which had, so far, attend- ed all the military operations undertaken, would be amusing, were not a feeling, akin to contempt, e.xcited. The Oflicial Organ, cor- responding toj our Annual Register, or the Military and Xaval Chronicle, appears at thi.s time to have been " Nile's Weekl}'^ Register," and a few short exracts will show not only how, with General Van Ranselaer's dispatch before them, they misrepresented every oc- currence, but how ignorant they actually were of the true position of the affairson the frontier. In No. 9 of Vol. 3, we find the following particulars, page HO: " The landing appears to have been efTectcd under a dreadful fire from the enemy. An instant appeal was made to tl.^ bayonet, and the British were soon dispossessed of all the ail- vantages they had in the ground;" no notice is taken of the manner in which "Wool, "the hero of the day," as he is styled, ascended tho heights without exposing himself or the troopsj under his command to a single shot. A littlo farther on, " three hundred and twenty mea^ charged the famous 49th British R gimcnr^ six hundred strong, and put them completely to flight," and as a crowning glory to the brilliant 116 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. achievements of the day, the afternoon oc- currences arc thus disposed o'': "our men though outHanked and almost sarrinnnldl, fought for an hour and a half more ; when, worn down with eleven hours exertion, they retreated without the loss of a man, to the margin of the river, but to their extreme raortilication, not a boat was there to receive them." vSuch gallantry deserved a better fate, for after waiting in " this painful situation for over a quarter of an hour, this gallant little band surrendered to five times their immber" On page 141 wc find that " the position (ipposito Quecnston is Illdch Jiocl /" Enough, however, on this subject, although it miglit have been expected that a paper, aluiost bearing an ofTicial character, would , have scarcely dared to give publicity to such I ridiculous statements : statements which only I serve to show how strenuous were the efforts { made to prevent the refusal of the Militia to i cross at Lewiston, appearing in its true light, ' viz. as a proof that the war was an unpopular '■ one. Refusal of llic ISIililia 10 cr(i!iilHct(<] of Massachusetts, who imagined, duiiliili',«;^ lliiit the doctrine might be very convuniiiit in the event of war in that region. The Kentuckians marched anywhrro, Ihty had no scru|)les ; why ? Because the wur was popular witii them, and they laughed at the idea that it was unconstitutional to cross a river or an ideal frontier, iu the service of tluir country. Three or four days after the battle, Gcncri! ili'>ij,'iiaii(iii (.r (iiiie- \ an Kanseiacr, disgiistci ral Van UaiisdaiT. nu'l -ii ii i . i- , apiKHaiiiicm .,r (.ioitiul "'th the conduct of the ^"'>"'- Militia, and, as ]k a- pressed it, with "being compelled to witi.c-s the .'sacrifice of victory, so gallantly won, oiul:c shrine of doubt," received permission fnn General Dmrborn to retire, and the conuiianj of the central or Niagara aruiy dcvolvcil o: Brigadier General Smyth, an olGccr from whose patriotic and professional pretension?, the multitude had drawn many favoraKlccorc elusions. " Nor was," says Genei-ai Ainistrong, " the es' imate made of hisniilitary characitrbj the (iovernment, more correct, as it tookfcr grantcd, a temperament, liold, ankiit an: enterprising, and requiring only restriction to render it useful." In the orders given fur the regulation of his conduct, he was acconling.j forbidden most emphatically l)y the ministir at M-ar, "to make any new attempt jit inva- 1 sion with a force less than three thoii'.uJ combatants, or with means of transpoiiiiioc I (across the Niagara) insufficient to carry over simultaneously the whole of that niiE- 1 I ber." I Ingersol, in his noticesof the war, observe^, "General Sni} th closed the campnigii ofi6i2|i in that quarter, by i failure much ridiciileil and yet vindic:ued. at' all events a nii.-ml!;l abortion, which, in November, iiistcaJ oil atoning for, much increased, our discrcJit oT October." Before, however, enteiiiig on tliij subject of the invasion of Canada by Oimt Smyth, we must not omit two events ffhiiij though not of importance, yet slioukl 110114 entirely l^st sight of, as one especially mi made the subject of much boasting on tm part of the Americans. The first of the. - Do^iriiclimi of pan ther'irtifi<'alii)aHMl HI n Kork. anil i>t° llic In Ukfil ill lla' Caluduiiiii l,ic"t.-Col. Myers f.irs which had f( the Cal' donin, tin nliich we have al kast satisfactory, failed in their acc( cent estimates of fiira. The second even Capliiri' of Caiiiidiaii \ova;'curs, Toya^'( HI'S, who, tu tain McDonnell, we the Americans undi affair, James says, ' stated ; but as the the attack in expect to three iumdrerd November, by di'tiichments of the least salisfact"ry, as the An»erlcaus haourg for the management of the "Major Yoimg had the honor of taking the i Opera in I'ari.s, pales before General Smiili's first standard from tbe enemy in the l)rcsent : eloquent and S[»irite(l ad(hx>ssc.s. Fortunate, war," following it up .nth, " the movements ' indeed, for the Canada.s, that the General con- of tlie enemy, during these times, were not to fhied his operations to paper. The first of them equally honorable or important." We are without the means of ascertaining what was actually captured on tiiis occasion by the enemy ; the proliability is, however, that sonic colours, a Union Jack perhaps, these productions was addressed '' To the Men of Now York," and revives the oft-repeated cry of oppres.sion, &.c. " To the Men of N'cw Yorh^ " For many years have you seen your coun- were captured. The handkerchief story is i try opprciised with numerous wrongs. Your rather improbable even for American fertility ' Government.although above all othijrs,devotcd of invention when national glory was at stake. ' to peace, have been forced to draw the sword. One point we have ascertained, that whatever i and rely for redress of injuries on the valor of might liHve been captured, it certainly was i ^^^ American people. not what is commonly termed " a stand of I colours." Cliristie, in his notice of tins affair, I writes, " Ou the 2;3rd October, a party of "That valor has been conspicuous, but the nation has been unfortunate in the selection of .some of those who direct-'H it. (Jne army nearly four hundred Americans from l^latts-'has bvcn disgracefully surrendered and lost burih, surprised the picquet at the Indian Another has been sacrificed by a precipitate village of St. Regis. Twerdy-three men, a lieutenant, a seijuant ami six men were killed. Hie picquet consisted uf Canadian voyageurs." attempt to pass it over at the strongest point of the enemy's lines, with most incompetent means. The cause of these wi.scaniiges is 118 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. apparent. The Commanders were popiilnr men, " dtstitute alike of experience ami theory," in the art of war. "In a few (lays the troops tinder mycommand will jiliuit the American standard in Canada. They are men accustomed to ohedience,* steadiness and silence. They will conquer or die. " AViil you stand with your arms folded, and look on this interesting strujjrgle ? Arc you not related to the men who fought at Bennington and S.iratoga? Has the race de- generated ? Or, have you, under the baneful influence of contending factions, forgotten your country? JIust I turn from you, and ask the men of the Six Nations to support the Go- vernment of the United States? Shall li imitate the oiricers of the British King, and | sulfer our uiigathered laurels to be tarnished I with ruthless deeds ? Shame, where is thy blush? No! Where I conunand, the van- qui.-hed and the peaceful man, the child, the maid, and t!ic matron shall be secure from wrong. If we conijucr, we conquer but to save." " Men of Xeic Yorl- : " The present is the hour of renown. Have you not a wish for fame? Would you not choose to be namcU in future times, as one of those, who, imitating the heroes whom Jloiit- gomery led, have, in spite of tlic seasons, visited the tomb of the chief, and conquered the country where lie lies? Yes ! You desire ! your share of fume. Then seize the present j moment : if you do not, you Avill regret it ; and say ' the valiant have l)led in vain ; the friends of my country fell, and I was not there.' ' Advance, then, to our aid. I will wait for you a few days. I cannot give you the day of my departure. But come on. Come in companies, half companies, pairs or singlj'. I will organise you for a short tour. Piide to this place, if tlie distance is fur, and send back your horses. But, rcnicmbci', that eveiy man * Those \<^i-; men arcustoiiied to oVieilioiicc, eteadiiiess, and silence, formed a portion of the troops who liiii], that day four weeUs, refused to cross, notliwillistandinj; Jiulqe PecU's and tlieir generars intreatios, iuul this too, but a few days ■ificr usiii'i; such throats against the general's life, if he reiiised to lead tlieui over to Canada, and victory, lis compelled him to adopt the iiieasr.ros wbi'jh ic-ulted in his defeat and their disgrace. En. who accompanies us, places himself under mj command, and shall submit to the snlutiirj restraints of discipline." This proclanmtifir. \vi,8 issued on the iTth; a second, wliii.li vili be found below,* and was even more eiicrfiitic than its predecessor, appeared, addresKcd "to TIIK SOLDlliUS OF THE AKMY OF TlIK CKNTKi;.' Tiie very first step t 1 *" ('(impnn'iortx in arm^ ! — The time is at liai.l when you will cross the streams of Niagara to riiii' (pier Canada, and to secure the peace of tlic Aineriean frontier. " You will enter a country that is to bo ore if the L'nited Stales. You will anive aninn" j people wiio are to hecoinc! your fellow citizens. It is not against them that we come to make wnr. I; is against tliut goveninient which holds lliuinas vassals. " You will make this war ns little ns po,«ilile distressful to the Canadian people. It tlifv ;ir> peaceable, they are to be secure in their pir!'i!;i.: and in their i)roperty, as fur us our imperious uc- cessiries will allow. '' Private plundering is absolutely fdiliidilon, Any soldier who (piits Ids ranks to iiluiulor on tie field of hattle, will be punished in the most c.ua.- plary maimer. " But your just rights as soldiers will be nicir- tained ; whatever is bootii \ nricadier-'i Camp near iiuUalo, 17i IIISTORV OP TUB WAR OP 1812. lift Tlio very first step taken by General Smyth of a detarlimcnt of eiplity men of tlic 4'.»th, IiuTninric.friiiiailttiiy in this Operation was ' '^' '"">'"• marked by a trick. It WIS necessary to give a thirty hours' notice of an intention to break off the arniistiec whicli miller Mnjor Ormsby, and about lilty of the Newfoundland regiment, under ("apt. Whelan. The ferry, opposite Ula«^k Kork, was occupied by two conij)ani'S of Militia, under ("aptuin hjil Ijcon concluded with (I eneralShealfe. 'I'his j JJostwick." At a house on the Chippewa wa-! accordingly done, but instead of the , Road, distant about two and-adialf miles from notice being Riven, as it ought, at iiead-quar- Fort Erie, Lieut. Lamont of the 4'.)th, with ItTsat Fort George, it was sent to the com- i five-and-thirty rank and lile, and Lieut. King m.uiiliiiK ollicer at Fort Erie, on the extreme ri|,'htofthe British line. This was doubtless with a view of making (he attack before jii'^LOur-^ could arrive from FortGeoige, which was tliirty-six miles distant from Fort Kric. N'o cllbrts had been left untried, not only to collect a large force, but to provide also the raciiiis of transjjortation. Six weeks had been constiraed in these preparations, in drilling, ffiipping and organising, and the conditions impnscii iiy (ioveriimcnt as to numbers before a.i invasion should be attempteil, hail been strictly complied with, as a force, by his own II. A., with a three and six-pounder, and a few .Militia artillerymen were stationed. There were also near the same spot two one-gun batteries, eighteen and twenty-four pounders, also uniler the command of I■ , i i " i ' /. ,. duty ami honor, ami deprive you of the esteem | ^^'- '^''-^''OPP had a very large force at this dill i;t,iii-liil country. You will shun the eternal \ time under his command, that his total can be i .,••(,(;/ tlut auait.s tlu^ nimi, who luivir.g come ; arrived at, as certainly there was no time for wiuim si^ht of the eiiowiy, bamlti shrinks in the K\ • i «• • r . c t- ^ .-. nvMiient of tiial. j^ •' . i\^^, arrival of remrorceinents fioni I' ort George. " .Vy((//' cs o/" ever;/ (wrz/.s .'— It is in your power, ^-'"l- i'i^crby's and ot'ier veteran.s' sialeinetits, to Mri-jvc the honor of y.nir country nml to euverlinelir.e us to the belief tli.'it James' numbers Tuur-clves with lilorv. Every m:ui w!io in'rforni* ii i ri-i • • ,• , i ..llant action "hall have hi,, name inad'e known i *'"'^: '''''''' ^"' """''• ^ '"^ I'"'"^ '^ ''°«-"-^''-' |t) t.ie ii^uion. licwiirds and honours await the ; u'>imi)orlant, as not one half of even thet roojJS :avo. La^iniy and contempt are reserved for ' mentioned by James were rerpiired on the Ico'Aurd-J. CoiiipaniiMW in arms! You cime to Kriipiibh a valiant loa ; 1 know the choice y.)u will |iii.ii;;'. (,'onie on, niv heroes! And when you oinpannnw n. arms ! You cr.ne to ! occasion, or h.ad any participation in the alfair. T'he demonstration was commeni.'ed b\- dis- A tlicenemy'.sliutteriesk't your runyin;r word ' patching a maruuuiiig party on the nia;ht of " Tk^ Ca,nc.u l.:r J), aih .'" j ^i,^ 07th, ,vho sncceedcl in taking a few pri- T!ripiJior-(;eneral Commanding. | sonei'.s, destruyng some public and private Cump near ituUalo, ITihNov., 1812. 1 dvveJlings, and .arrying and spiking four guns, ISO HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. viz., till- twi) (icIiI-iiii'ccH, fttiil two ti^,'lik'iM nnd I nnd shame ;i is, of hi- h i, 1 1',,-^ and povernnient ; wlio waH to eonviiiic tin Aineiii'iin jieople tlial all their (iiniriils wirc daylii;ht, and liic arrival of .\hij(ir(hni>l(y and not hase, cowardly and treaeherons; cvun Col. IJisliDin) with their seveiul detachment.**, , Sniytii nnist be added to the cntulofrin' ot in- and the recrossin;; was elleitedso linstily th u fainy which i)e};an willi the nann i !' Hull, Captain Kinjr and some tliirty-livo men were (Mir minds are depressed with sli.iinc, mA left hihind and hecume prisoners. Kmhoid- Our hands tremMe willi indij^nation, at il.ij ened by this iiepitive succes.s, (ieneral Smyth : final piostrntion of all our dearest and iemli.t Rent over in the afternoon of the 'i'.tth, a llajj of hopes. Ihit we will endeavour to assiinii'sniin truce toCoI. Iiisliopp, witha.4ummons to " I re- calmness, wliile we state to our readtrii tl.c vent the unnecessary ctl'usion of human lilood disjrr.'iccful events that have occurred on iIk by a surrender of Fort Krie, to a force so .'^^iipe- Nia public, and we shall not attempt to impinch ii.' | "/< isnnjiJeumnt toreinork \rith vhaf.v-l- dity some men, for mere j>ftrf}/j)'ir]ini!Ci',k':(\ vpiin ercry little incident teiulini} to thi''\ discredit on the AiHcricnii ttniii/. Xd'j, h>.\ content trith the nal'ed fetcta its theiian, ilrjl contrite to distort them into the 7nii!".«';/*' rent n few jmrticulars to yive it the nccl'M^ prares.' It is not uninteresting toobserve liowcr.tiriljl the writer of the above changed hi.- "i ii.: It is ever thus, however, with distorti il fs' !•,( and an iiulifl'erence to truth, in jiriM inir:'; historical narrative, is sure to end by tlu'wr.l templated. and tlie bitter pill was thus ren- dered still more unp.alatable. The official organ, already mentioned, of 19th December, thus notices the affair. " Jh's- 1 ter's contradicting some statement pri'viri;>f| aster upon disaster. The old scenes of imbe- ' laid down as incontrovertii)le. cility, treachery and cowardice, have been i A curious picture is given of Smyth's troi;j again displayed upon our frontier. AVitli grlof ; ment by his " outraged count rymvii." H' n\n universally de tniitor; he was >ho hooted through Ih (fas shifting hislrn tlli'itldi'.'II itioll III' I |fur, Ml'< M TO IMS ll> shi'lter to Smyth, I'liniMl the infamy of —this treatment w very men whom .b lii'foro ha, iilpove the i-'.i Was iiieroii.-itMi tt) 7u. I hail, iiti the iL'tli the men ofN'mv Yoi'k,: at Diillalo. 1 pre.-ium ami the vriliinfi'ers uii Cliiro, WDiiliI tuniisli -J GiMRTal Taiinehiirs li ropiirtin;; a total of 1(5 luiitei'ic i til eriiss iiitc to "crosri with liooi) Diysclt I'oaily to I'ullil t Preparatory thereto of N'ovoinlii'r, I sent n Lieutenant-l'olonel li Ciptaiii Iving, with w t!n) navy, at the head The (irst was to captu briilije about five mile cnui party weio to t c;iiiniin of tlio enemy's ofljirlit iU'tillcry. Thi t!k'ljii'l;;'> — the socom alile tliu li.'hlaiiillery, sion. Lieutenant An,; of the troops, retunio Captain King, Captaii Lii;utenunt Houston, i Tiie jjarty thus reihict ili.'ri.'(l unserviceable tv captured ;U prisoners, Ciptaiu King sent t\v Ills party with the oth mainin;^ with thirty abandon. Order.^ had been gi t'le neighb'.u'hood sho the pl;;ce of emharku' IIISTORV OF TIIK WAR OF 1R12. 121 ffu onlrewolly clcnonnctMl ns a cowanl nml ' traitor; ho was shot at several tiinco, ami was hinti"! tliroiiirh the streets of Ilntt'ilo. Hi- was sliifiin;: liis tent in every direct ion toavoiil thcindiL'iinlion of the soliliers. Jmlire drain- ' p;r, Jin II T(» iii.s iiiiNou, refused to allurd any shi'Itir to Smyth, and every tiiVirukee|ier de- diiudtheiiil'.iniy oriiisconiiniiiy. I'oorStnythI —this* treatment was experienced from the ! rcry men whom Jiidjre Peck Init six weeks hifoiv had U|)l)raided for tluir cowardice. Wc suppose, however, that this l>ehaviour of the po|)iila<'e is to he elassed amongst the be- i ni'fits resiiUiii^ fiom a lU'inocralical form of government. ( ieiieral Smyth's deiVnce will he found helow* with a few remarks on it hy (ien- *riKNTi.i:>ri:N, — Your letter oftlie'_'d n^'C'iiihor islit'l'iPio me, mill I iiii:*wer it in tliu llie I'ullowiiig uiamiiT : On the 2ylvaniu, roportin,']: a total of Ki.'iO, as many as -ll'_' had vo- luiltei'ie 1 to cross into Ciiiada. My orders were to "cross with IJHOO men at once." 1 deemed myselt ready to fullil them. Preparatory thereto, on the ni,L,dit of the 27th of N'ovonilier, I sent other two parties, one under Litfiitenant-Coloiiel IJisrstlor, the other umler Ciptain Kin;:, with whom Lieutenant Auiru*, of the navy, at the head of a body of seamen, united. The first w.is to capture a guard and destroy a bi'iili^e about five miles below Fort Erie ; the se- coail [larly were to take and render useless the caimoii of the enemy's l)atteries, ami some pieces oflirivatc rencontre. Ity an .\ct of Executive powi r, (leiieral Smyth was exiduded from the n Lroiar arni}', and ilij'iiiiil iritliimt u triiil. This proceediii;; was of course rotnplained of, and a petition presented to thellousenf Uejiresentatives, wlio, however, referre sometimes ad- iniinsttTed in free co\intries, and liow theexc- iin-nt sent in the night returned and excited ap- prehensions Ibrlhi! resiilin-, about 'J.')!! men, under ; the conmialiil of Coloin'l Winder, suildeiily put olV ' in boats for tin! opposite shore ; a part of this force had lauded, when a force deemed superior, with one piect; of artillery, was di-icoveicd ; a re- I treat was or^wit't, Lieut.- , Col. Hierstler, and Captain (Jilman deemed the ' force suflieient. I determined to i)osfpnne crossing over until more complete jireparation would emiblc me to endiark the whole force at once, the coims(d pre- scribed by my orders. The next day was spent in such preparation, and the troops were 122 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. I:. nifecl" of this failure at invasion. cutive is often, that is, with popular opinion to J it was unanimously decided at a council, held I The result of th back it, enal'lcd to strike a blow and commit a wrong, whicli in a less free country would not be submitted to. "With respect to the behaviour of the British troops on this occasion, we would remark, that General Smy tli's displays of force entirely failed to produce the efteet ho had desired, and that ! on the night of the 30th, composed of rccular and militia ofTicers, that " They did not con- sider a retreat at all necssary, nor a measure to be looked forward to, and that but a sinaij reinforccuient would enable them to repd any force which General Smj'th might have it in his power to bring against their country. ordered to bo iigaiti at the place of embarkation at eight o'clock on the nioniiiig of the oOth of November. On their arrival tlicy were sent into I the adjacent woods, there to build fires and re- main until tlux-e o'oelock a.m., of the 1st of Dec., j when it was intended to put oil' two hours before day-light, so as to avoitl tlie enemy's cannon in i passing tlie position " 'licli it wiis believed they i occupied below, to laiiJ above Chippewa, as.sault tliat jilace, and, if successful, march tlirougli (^ueenstou for Fort (leorge. i'or this expedition the contract(u- was calledon to furnish rations for j 2500 men lor four days, when it was found he ' could furnish the pork, but not the flour; the ^ deputy quarter-master called for CO brrrels, and got but 8.1. I The embarkation commenced, but was delayed | by circumstances, so as not to be completed until ' after diiyliglit, wl; ,• it was found the regular in- fantry, 0!>8 men, t.; (utillcry, 177 men, Swift's volunteers, estima' ■■] at '2:i(>, compimios of federal volunteers, under Captains Collins, I'lullips, Alli- son, .Moore, ;,' liier, and Mursliidl, amounting to ! 27() men, comniunded by Lieutenant-Colonel Jfc- ' Clure, l(i(t .nion of Colonel Dolibin's militia, and a few men in ii boat widi General I'. H. I'orter, had ; embarked — the whole on board amounting, exclu- sive of ollietrs, to 1 H5.")nien, or tlntieabouts ; antl it was two iiours later than had been contem- plated. I There wore some '"ii'r'« w;ir s|K'fcli, ilial he iii|imiiIi_-i! rtally io e.siiosc "Wlt lo iliiiigur. IJoLiaicis luicly do. Muytn, 1 nog it to no unaei'.-looii as intending to implicate tin; char.icters of the ollirors whoso ot)inions he has l>rouiTht forward tol)otster u|i liis conchiet. N, r, ru! of lliem f lii the ITlli Jan., General Winchester dispatched C'ul. Lewis with a considerable body agniust a party of British and Indians [)osted at Freiichtown, This party consisted of tliirty of the Essex militia, and two hundred Pottawattamies, Major Reynolds, who commanded, after a sharp conllict, in which the Americans lost, by their own showing, twelve killed, and fifty-five wounded, retreated, and Col. Lewis, occupied the ground and maintained his position till he wasjoincd on the 20th by (Jeiural Winchester. The United force now, according to Dr. Smith, anotlier American writer, funned a division ONE TiiousAM) stiiung, and consistL'd of the greater part of Col. Wulls' reginunt of United States Infantry — the Ist and uth "We, the subscribers, encouraged by a rr ,„ i.„ „ • ., i <. i . n , .^ ' . . ' a J Kentucky regiments, and Col. Allen's rifle large subscription, do propose to pay one himdrod dollars for every hostile Indian scalp. regiment, forming the flower of the north- western army. "We have here another proof with both ears, if it be taken between this ^f the advantage alTurded to the IJrilish by the ,i.,t,. n„,i +i.„ 1K^^^ ,i„., „r T J. 1... „„ " J "' ilate and the loth da}' of June next, by an inhabitant of Alleghannj'- County. Signed, G. W.\li.is, R. Elliott, W. Amhuson, A. Taimiiill, W. AVii.KiNS. Junr, J. IliVIXE. Mr. James continues, " A general ofTicer of the United States, employed against the Indians, at the very outset of the war, inad- vertently writes to a friend, — ' The western militia always e ry into battle a tomahawk and scalping knife, and are as dexterous in the use of them as any copper-colored war- riors of the forest. Eight hundred tomahawl< s have been furnished by the war department to the north western army.' " We know that these implements of civilised warfare were employed, for tho American Governuient paper, the National Intelligencer, in reference to the Heroes of Brownstown states, "They bore triumphantly on the points of their bayonets, between thirty and forty fresch scalps, which they had taken on the field." We know farther that Logan and seven huudied warriors were in tho pay of petty jealousy which exis.'d bet\.or.n the American commanders, and whiL-h often com- pensated for inferiority of force. (Jeneral Winchester piqued at Cieneral Harrison's promotion over him,and having ascertained the inferior number and motley character of Col Proctor's force, was anxi(nis to engage before (ien. Ilarrison'sjoining, in order to monopolise the glory and honor to be acquired. Col. Proctor advanced on the 2 1 st, ami on the 22nd attacked General Winchester in liis encamp, mcnt. The British force, according to Christie, consisted of live hundred regulars, seamen, and mililia, with about six hundred Indians. A severe contest now ensued, which resulted in the complete defeat and unconditional surrender of the American.s. The British loss ma\- be estimated at twenty-four killed, and one hundred and llfly-eight wounded — that of the enemy at nearly four hundred killed and wounded, and the capture of tlie remainder. The despatches of the respective commanding officers will follow in order. A vote of thanks was passed by the Assembly of Lower Canada to Col. Proctor and the tioops,both regulars and militia, who had so gallantly conducted them- selves. Col. Proctor was also promoted to 126 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. ^ir 1 the rank of Brigadier-General, by the com- maniU'r of the forces, until the pleasure of the Prince-llegont should be known, who approved and coniirnicd the appointment. From General Proctor to Major General Sheajfe. Sandwich, January, 26th. 1813. Sni, — Tu my last despatch I acquainted you thattlic enemy wavsin the Michigan Territory, marcliing upon Detroit, and that I therefore deemed it necessary that he should be attacked without delay, with all and every description of force within my reach. Early in the morn- ing, on the li)lh. I was informed of his being in possession of Frenchtown, on the River Raisin, twenty-six miles from Detroit, after ex- periencing every resistance that 'i-ij Reynolds, of the Essex militia, had it in his power to make, with a thrcc-pounder, well served and directed by bombardier Kitson of the royal artillery, and the militia, three of whom he had well trained to the use of it. The retreat of the gun was covered by a brave band of Indians, who made the enemy pay dear for what he had obtained. This party, composed '^<" militia and Indians, with the gun, foil back, sixteen miles to Urown's Town, the settlement of the brave ^Vyandots, where 1 directed my force to assem- ble. On the 21st instant, I advanced twelve miles to Swan Creek, from whence we marched to the enemy, and attacked him at break of day on the 22ud instant, and after sufTering, for our numbers, a considerable loss, the enemy's force, posted in houses and enclosures, and which, from dread of falling into the hands of the Indians, they most obstinately defended, at length surrendered at discretion; the other part of their force in attempting to retreat by the way they came, were, I believe, all or with very few exceptions, killed by the Indians. BrigadierGeneral Winchester was taken in the pursuit, by the Wyandot Chief Roundhead, who afterwards surrendered him to nic. You will perceive that I have lost no time ; indeed, it was necessary to be prompt in my movements, as the enemy would have been joined by Major-General Harrison in a few days. The troops, the marine, and the militia, displayed great bravery, and behaved uncom- monly well. AVhere so nmch zeal and spirit were manifested, it would be unjust to attempt to particularize any : I cannot hcwcver refrain from mentioning Lieut. Colonel St. George, who received four wounds in a gallant attempt to occupy a building which was fivoraWv situated to annoy the enemy ; together with Knsign Carr, of the Newfoundland regiment, who, I fear, is very dangerously wotimle'l. The zeal and courage of the Indian Department were never more conspicuous than on this occasion, and the Indian warriors fought with their usual bravery. I am much indebted to the different departments, the troops having been well and timely supplied with cvciy reijuisite the district could afford. I have fortunately not been deprived of the services of Lieutenant Troughton, of the royal artillery, and acting in the Quarter- Master- Generals department although he was wounded, to whoso zea is and unwearied exertions I am greatly indebted, as to the whole of the royal artillery for their conduct in this ailliir, I enclose a list of the killed and wounded, and cannot but lament that there are so many of both ; but of the latter, I am hapi)y to say, a large proportion of them will turn to tli '' duty, and most of them in a short time : I also enclose a return of the arms and ammu- nition which have been taken, as well as of the prisoners, whom you will perceive to be equal to my utmost force, exclusive of the Indians, It is reported that a party, consisting of one h\mdred men, bringing five hundred hogs to General Winchester's force, has been comiiletc- ly cutoff by thelndians, and the convoy taken, Lieutenant McLean, my acting Brigade-Major, whose gallantry and exertions were conspi- cuous on the 22nd instant, is the bearer of this despatch, and will be able to afford you every information respecting our situation. I have the honor to be, Yours, II. Proctor. The list of killed and wounded given by Colonel Proctor, corresponds with that we have given, although obtained from a ditl'crent source. Major Richardsons work. — We now give General Winchester's letter to the Amer- ican Minister at war : — SiK,— A detachment of the loft wing of the North-Western army, under my command, at Frenchtown, on the River Raisin, was attaclvcd on the 23rd instant, by a force greatly superior in numbers, aided by several pieces of artillery' The action commenc the picquct guards we fire opened upon the thereof was thrown i orilored to form on mo I found tlie enemy do farce and rapidity. A destructive fire time ; at length borne few of us that remaine frmii the lines, and sub cfour force, in numbt to defend themselves an unequal contest artillery, until I was b totliatpurtofthe field At this latter place, troops were defending (li'speration ; and I was manding ofhcer of the afford them an oppon themselves prisoners acceded. I was the in surrender from being done quickly, the bui be immediately set on fir bility would be taken fi savages, who were the I numbers. In this critical situat I preserve the lives of a fellows who still held them, and agreed with t: of the enemy, that they prisoners of war, on co protcctey which part thereof was thrown into disorder; and being onlorcd to form on more advantageous ground, I found the enemy doubling our left iiank with force and rapidity. A destructive fire was sustained for some time ; at length borne down by numbers, the few of us that remained with the party retired from the lines, and submitted. The remainder cf our force, in number about 400, continued to defend themselves with great g.aHantry, in an unequal contest against small arms and artillery, until I was brought in as a prisoner to that part of the field occupied by the enemy. At this latter place, I undersioud that our troops were defending themselves in a state of desperation ; and I was informed by the com- manding officer of the enemy, that he would ailord them an opportunity ol surrendering themselves prisoners of war, to which I I acceded. I was the more ready to make the surrender from being assured, that unless done quickly, the buildings adjacent would 1 be immediately set on lire,and that no responsi- bility would be taken for the conduct of the savages, who were then assembled in great I numbers. In this critical situation, being desirous to I preserve the lives of a number of our brave fellows who still held out, I sent a flag to thorn, and agreed with the commanding officer of the enemy, that they .should be surrendered prisoners of war, on condition of their being protected from the savages, and being allowed to retain their private property, and having tbeir side-arms returned to them. It is impos- sible for me to ascertain, with certainty, the loss we have sustained in this action, from the I impracticability of knowing the number who I bare inado their escape. Thirty-five officers, and about four hun- Nred and eighty-.seven non-commissioned loSicersand privates, arc prisoners of W£.r. A llist of the names of officers is herewith enclos- |eJtoyou. Our loss in killed is considerable. Uowevcr unfortunate may seem the affair jof yesterday, I am flattered by the belief that jno material error is chargeable upon myself, |»Dd that still less censure is deserved by the Itfoops I had the hocor of commanding. With the cx>;eption of that portion of our force which was thrown into disorder, no troops have ver behaved Mith more deter- mined intrepidity. I have the honor to be with high respect, Your obedient .Servant, James WiNcnEsTEK, ]irig.-Gen. U. S. Army. Hon. Secretary at War. N. IJ. The Indians liavc still a few prisoners in their possession, who, I have reason to hope, will be given up to Colonel Proctor, at Sandwich. James Winchester, Brig.-Gen. From Major- Gcnenil Ifdrrison, to Governor Shelby. Camp on Carrying Rock, 1.5 miles from the Rapids, .January 24th, 1^13. My dear Sih, — I send Colonel Wells to you, to communicate the particulars (as Lr as we are acquainted with them) of an event that will overwhelm your mind with grief, and (ill your whole state with mourning. The greater part of Colonel Wells's regi- ment, United States Infantrj', and the 1st and 6th regiments Kentucky Infantr}', and Allen's rifle regiment, under the immediate orders of General Winchester have been cut to pieces by the enemy, or taken prisoners. Great as the calamity is, I still hope that, as far as it relates to the objects of the campaign, it is not irreparable. As soon as i was informed of the attack upon General Winchester, about 12 o'clock on the 22nd instant, I set out to overtake the detachment of Kentucky troops, that 1 had sent that morning to reinforce him, and I directed the only regiment that I had with me to follow. I overtook Major Robb's detachment at the distance of .six miles ; but before the troops in the rear could get up, certain information was received of General Winchester's total defeat. A council of war was called, and it was the un.anirnous opinion of the (Jen'-rals Payne and Perkins, and all the field cificers, that there was no motive that could nathorize .an advance but that of attacking the enemy, and that success wiis not to i/^ expected after a forced march of forty miles agamst an enemy superior in nundier, and well provided with artillery. Strong detachi>:cnt3 of the most active meu 128 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. were, however, sent forward on all the roads, i find, however, that, excepting two unim- to assist anil bring ill such of our men as had portant all'airs, there is notliing to reconl. escaped. Tiic whole nunibcr that reached our Early m February, Capt. Forsythc with two camp does not exceed thirty, amongst whom ^ companies oi rillcmen crossed from Ogilens- were Jliijor M'Clannahan and Captain Claves. i hm-g, and made a descent upon Gannanoque, Having a large train of heavy artillery, and "'"J. .according to the Americans, surpiisud the stores coming on this road from AV. Sandusk Avhole British force, killing a great nianv, cap- under an escort of four companies, it was , ^"'''"S^ixo^I't-'tTS, hfty-two men and imiiK-nsr thought advisable to fall back to this place, | q"«»tities of arms and ammunition, bwiiks for the puri)OKo of securing them. A part of J ^vi^c^^lu^ a good many prisoners. A few words it arrived last evening, and the rest is within j ^iH put the matter in its true light. Thcvi!. thirty miles. As soon as it arrives, .and a rein- ^"gc consisted of one tavern and a snw-niil!, forcemoiit of three regiments from the Virginia and I'eiuisylvunia brigades, I shall again ad- with one small hut temporarily used by IV Stone of the militia, on whom devolve;! tin measuring their strength with us once more. (Jolonel AVells will commimicate some cir- cumstances, vi.'ch, while they aOlict and Vance, and give the enemy an opportunity of I ;'i'^l'On''^''''l''y of guarding f'iithfully the innnense military stores here depositcil, which consisted of two kegs of powder aii! one chest containing thirty muskets. Tho urpiise, wiil con\ in'ce you that Kentucky has j '<'"'^^'' amounted to one. 'ihe list of woumkJ lost none of her reputation for valor, for which j *» the .same numl)er. This unfortiinatp, ac- she is fuued. The detachment to the River j cording to James, was Mrs, Stone, who, wl ' Raisin was made without my knowledge or I consent, and in direct opposition to my plans. Having been made, however, I did everything in ni}' power to reinforce them, and a force oxceedmg by three hundred men that which (jieneral Winchester deemed necessary, was on ^ n ^ l >. i ^ i •" from the war department to employ troo|is o its way to jom hnn, and a fine battalion within she lay in bed, \,-ns fired at, through a windoir, by some mi.screant, and dangerously wounded. It appears, doubtless, extraordinnry, why Cmir^es of Gcu.Tiil CJcneral Dcarborii, who had full autiioritv Uearlmrii's iiiiictii'ii. fourteen miles of its destination. After the success of Colonel Lewis, I was in great hopes that the post could be maintained. Colonel Wells will conununicatc my further views to you, much better than I can do in writing at this time. I am, dear Sir, &c. W. II. ILVKUISOK, His Excellency Governor Slielb}'. The rapidity of Col. Proctor's movements, after the all'air at Erenchtown, assisted, even more than the victory, to cmbarass and puz- zle Gen. Harrison, and breathing space, a uiost desirable o'lject, was gained by Gen, Proctor and Lis gallant little band, while the intention of the Americans, to' throw the onus of their sup- port during the winter on the Canadians, was completely defeated. Except one or two trill- ing dtmonstrations, scarcely amounting to a movement, nothing of importance occurred in this quarter until April. AVc will return, therefore, to the Lower Province and General Dearborn, whom we left threatening, with an army, ten thousand strong, our frontier. AVe any or every sort, and to do whatever he thought necessary for action, and whose orders to act odensively as soon as possible, were positive, should have remained so long inactive, exhibiting even a torfior in his movements. Inger.sol, on thissubjcjt has — "II was General Dearborn's misfortu le to have an anny to form, an inexperienced, not over ardent Exe- cutive, a secretary at war constrained to resign, a Senate inclineel to distrust the Exe- cutive, Congress withholding taxes and siif- plies for nearly twelve months after war wai declared, a country destitute of military mean?, and men unaccustomed to restrniiit, anx- ious for display — " All these causes com- bined, form no excuse for General Dear- born. AVe have seen how Sir Gco'-ge Prevost, who laboured under all these disadvantages, besides the still greater one of being pre- cluded, by the ci'itical position in which Great Britain was then placed, from even a hope of being reinforced, has been con- demned. AA'e cannot allbrd, then, any sym- pathy to Gen. Dearborn. ♦Sketches of Ihy \v<\r. Cansos of nrnonil I IVarl>onrs anel otlier I fsiliires cuiisi tiered I'lU'. C ( tlli.T. HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 129 CHAPTER IX. to the Miami, and attack on the American defences. — General Proctor deserted by the Indians, and part of the Militia. CONTENTS. I them a.s thing.s to be overcome, and h.irder of tn 1 T^ I • J .1 i- n ! acliievcmont than the more sulxUiinjj; the troops Causes of General Dearborn 3 and otlier tailuros -i i • ,., , , , ,^ . „ j opposed to him. 1 he American commanders considered further. — Demonstrations on bt. „. „ . r .i • ^ i • vverc not men of this stamp, and, in conse- Lawrence-American force.-rroctor's force. ! qu^^ce, the exfoliation of Generals during the -Sliciiffe's force.— Army in Lower Canada.— I first campaign was excessive, and allowing all The total numbers on both sides compared.— i indulgence for the novelty of their position, Comparative naval strength. — Flan of cam- 1 and perhaps tlic difllculty of sustaining thcm- paign.— Arrival of Sir James Yco.— " Hornet" i selves, it was right not only that they should and " Peacock."— The " Chesapeake " and the I ^° superseded, but it was also just that they "Sl.annoa."-Rcmark3 on the action.-Want j "'^''"^"''^ ^*^ cen.sured. The campaign of 1812 ,,..,. , , ., u /-, 1 i< ' e""^J in a total eclipse of American military of discipline on board the "Chesapeake. — , . . •, \ t ■ ! pretensions, without leaving one lmgerin'» Kaval events on Canadian lakes.-Expedition ; g,^^,^ ^j. hope, and the commander-in-chiefs inactivity, tantamount to miscarriage, afliicted the friends of the war with the conviction that they were doomed to defeat. , , , , . , ^ -iv ^, Soine of Ingersol's conclusions on this sub- Wa concluded our last chapter with the ■. „„ „ , ,, , , • .. ^ , , ,, J*^^'' ^^^ so remarkable as to claim notiiH\ for \„=,>= ,.p r!,,„r,^i observation that we i .i .„ ■ .. . j • n ■,■ , , , „ I the extreme ingenuity evinced m findh^g out could Imd no grounds for ; „^^^j ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ .^ ^^^ sympathy with General | ^^^_^^ Americans were not vanquished by the Dearborn,' and farther consideration of the : p^^^,.^^^ ^^ ^^^^.^ adversaries, but that, "en- subject induces us to bring forward additional j^^^^„t^.,.„g ^^ ^1^^ threshold of Canada only reasons in support of that assertion. L,„n ;r,c.;r,r,;fi^o,.f ^i =.f„„i„„ „ -. - ' ' sucn msignmcant ot)stacles as V oyageuns, Wchave already shown that General Dear- traders, travellers and Indians, animated with l)omwas,(ifwemayso express it) his own mas- 1 but a fiint spirit of resistance to invasion," t«r, and almost unlettered by instruction.s, dur- they were conquered by the inactivity and pol- ngthe entire autumn of 1812. He had ample , trooncry of their commanders alone. Tlie time, with adequate means to prepare an army same writer adds, "A man of talent loading if five or six thousand strong, whom, if it had jOurarmiestoMontreal,as might have been done n only to keep them health}', it would have j in 1812, would have probably, brought tuc war «n better to put in motion. The English to an end that year. Englnnd was completely surprised and unprepared for it Such a General at Detroit, Niagara or Champlain as would have driven the English beyond Mon- treal, might have produced immediate peace. Hull and Dearborn, and executive inefficiency were answerable for prolonging the war, the vigorous and succes.Bful commencement of which might have creditably closed it sooa Caii.'os of firiK'nl I Pi-arlwni's and oUilt Miircs considered I'lir- I viiur. Generals had many greater difficulties to con- tend with, in d.ifending Canada, than the }i"jericans to conquer it. Buonaparte's career ilta!y,and Wellington's in Spain, bogan with, pd overcame, much greater disadvantages, Dd so it ever will be, a true General mu,st iiggle against prejudices and hindrances, in- pcUd by his own constituents, and look on 180 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF LSI 2. after it had begun. The fuelinp; of haucchty j po.vcr dill not then stiniulutc CIreat I'litaiii, whicli folUnvcd tlie "'^' innu^st Au>crican dcspa'aht. ing Montreal, if not making good his way there, and hohling it, and si.ch success would have The River St. I.av.rence afibrd.-:, in ils frozen state, during the early part of the year, an rallied tliousands to his standard), fell back , easy aiid safe mode of transit from the Amtr- after a failure — the climax of our military I iian to the Canadian shore>, and advnntnpe degrailation." These remarks arc doubtless very satisfac- tory to subjects of the United States, but we question wliether they will bo found equally convincing by those who have enrpiired into the feelings which animated the Colonists at that time, or, from study of history, arc enabled to judge of the determin'id resistance wliich a body of men, united, in heart and hand, ".an offer to .".a invading force. We, liowcver, enter- ed so filly, in a previous chaptci', on this sub- ject, iliat we think it unnecessary to dwell at greater length on it, or to do more than re- mind the reader that the failure of the attempts at invasion " were mainly brought about through the gallant resistance of the very colony which was regarded by its invaders as likely to prove an easy conquest, in conse- quence of the disloyalty vainly imagined to lurk in its heart." Ingersol justly observes, " England was completely imprepared for the war," but we deny the conclusion he arrives at from that circumstance, " that the conquest of Canada was therefore an easy one," and American failures only attributable to the want of capacity in the commanders. Wc contend that every incident of the war goes to disprove this, the numerical superiority of the Ameri- cans in point of numbers, was on all occasions 80 great as fully to compensate for any alleged inferiority of commanders. The solution of the question is to be found in the justice of their cause. This it was which nerved Canadian arms, and enabled tiiem to over- come an invading force so immeasurably Buperior. was taken of this by Caj.'t. I'orsythe, who wm- manded a detachment of United States rifle- men at Ogdensliurgh, to despatch mr.i'aiidin: parlies across who did not coniine their ojicra- lions to the destruction of pul^lic proi)erty, but exercised considerable severity towarus thv unarmed iidiabitants. A nocturnal predatory expedition, whicli La? been thought uorlhy of behig rankoi ainongit the " brilliant achievements " of Anicra:. valour, took place on ttic Gth Felruarv. General Arm-lrong in Ids " notices of the war " says, " Forsytlie, with two coinpanioi of rille corps in sleighs, ascended the St. Lau- rence fr'om Ogdensburg to Eli/.abelhlown on the Canada shore, surjjrised the Ih'ili.^h guard, madu fifty-two prisoners, (among \Ahom were the Major, three Captains and two bicutc- nants), liberated sixteen deserters, and madt pri/.e of one hundred and forty muskets aivii considerable quantity of .ammunition without losing a man of his party." This statement, ofiicially made, was of course highly gratify- ing and consolatory to the American public; in James' version, however, the affair as.sun'.iS a diiferent aspect. " After wounding a iiiilitis sentry, the houses in the village, the gaol not omitted, were ransacked and the male inhab- itants to the number of fifty-two were car- ried off. Several of these, as in the United States, held commissions in the niililii.' This circumstance, according to James, wu a fortunate one, and " the American pub- lic was, a few days afterwards, officiallj tcld cf the capture, in a very gallant imd- ner, of % British guard consisting of fiftj-tffO r.i"n, including two hn'l two Lieutenants jibe circumstance, ci I Till place it in itsi)ro[i r.diof the (jlengan-y pith a fliig of truce t |A:iitTican commandi I'CS conunitteil by I .jiuuiand." This rci |«'i.5iiict with " in sol :,:>," Jiiid a challenge ^..d the -Aincii'-ans .■:.b'!; ciiiiM not then 1 I'i.oi'ge Pi'evost declii I'.eiliiigs, assigning a liii not wish, hy anv j keen alive a spirit o This predatory atla toiiL', punished byliiL';i jivi,i,'h was made on th Kianil of Major -McDon! Icapture of a quantity o "iiukrcial stores, lo.r., an J seventy privates. T iKhooners, and two ](ie=:royc(l. This attac Iheavy fire from the . |l!i"co,st of eight killed a .Major .McDonnell's di I ' From Major Macdmn Prescot SiR,— I have the liono h information of his cxc rthe forces, tliat, in coiisei If his cicelloncy to rolalia '3iii:taiicc8, upon the etic |?gre5,sijris on this froiitie lu'elock, crossed tlie riv h ice, (ind attacked am pre than an hour's actii F the opposite town c l«fen pieces of cannon, |Miiie,conimissariut,aiul(i TOfes, four otficers and 70 fo ariD' ; schooners, am Y ''otii his barracks. I ily force consisted of al luiia, and was divided i pt commanded bj Gupta FJli^'ht infantry feiiciblei P nmk comp.anv, and j p the .state of tlie ice, ar line old ftench fort, was r *'■'' interrupt his retre Fthe left column, consist i'lnent, 40 of the roval IJahout 2U0 militia, to wa T",fliere he had posted b IIISTOUY OF THE WAR OK 1812. ISl it ion, which lias •ankc'd amongst r.ira, iiichiding two Majors, thrt"? CMptiiiiis, . li>lt\vo Lioutoiiants {nf militin not nd(led.)\ ino I'ire'UiiistJinoo, ooiiiicctod witli (liis airair, Till pliice itin its proper light, Major McDun- l-.illof tho (ileiigany foninblcs \va.s (k'spati'licd , Uithaflag oftriice to remonstrate with tiie ! Aiiiericaii c'lmiuaiiiler ahuiit "the (kpreihi- , \\:gdeiisburg." We deny that Mr. Thomson is entitled to any credit, even on this score, as (Jeneral Armstrong in his notices has " the IJritish commander retaliated, (for the Elizabeth aliair,) by a visit on the 2'2nd to Ogdensburg, drove Forsythe out of the place, killing and woumliiig about twenty of his men, and capturing a (iuanlily of pro- visions and stores, with six pieces of artillery." We doubt further whether Mr. Tliomson would have alhuhd to the ali-iir at all, had it not been so direct a sequence to the attack on Elizabethtown, to which he has attached so much imiiortar.ee. Wemay,pprhiips,l)e uniust in denying even this credit to .Mr. Thomson.but his whole woi-k proves that, wherever ho could, he has never liesifated to double the The depth of the snow in some degree retarded the advance of both columns, and exposed them, paiticularly the right, to a lieavy cross fire from the batteries of tiie enemy, for a longer period than I hail expected ; but pushing on r.ipidly after the l)att«ries began to open u))on us, the left column soon gained the right bank of the river, under the direct fire of his artillery and line of musketry, posted on an eminence near the shore; nu)ving on rapidly niy advance, consisting of the royal Newfoundland and some select militia, I turned i his right with the detachment of the king's regi- ' ment, and after a few discharges from his artillery, took them with the biiyonet, and drove his infantry through the town ; some escaping across the iilaek river into the fort, but the majority fled to the woods, or sought refuge in tlie houses, from whence they kept such a galling fire, that it was necessary to dislodge them with our field-pieces, wliicii now came up from the bank of the river, where they had stack, on landing, in the deep snow. Having gained the high ground on the brink of the Wack river, op[)Osite the fort, I prepared to carry it by storm ; but the men being quite e.^haus- ted, I procured time for them to recover breath, by sending in a summons, re(iuiring an uncondi- tional surrender. During these transactions, Cap- tain Jenkins had gallantly led ou his culuum, and bftd been exposed to a bea' ; i:'e of seveu £\ia». 182 inSTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. /! Ainoricaii Force. Hi ill ill 15ritish, and represent the Americans as " whipping their enemies " imder the most fidverse circiimstJinces that tlio creative mind of an American histoiiim coiild conjt'rc tip. Having disposed of tlicse afliiirs we sliall proceed to examine, before entering on the naval i)art of the histor}-, into the position of l)Oth parties, tlieir relative f^LrengUi, and the plans formed by the American Ciovernmcnt. During the first quarter of the year 1815, the govej'nment at Washington had made the most strenuous ellbrls to prepare for opening, \vith vigor, the campaign. Ample reinforce- nients and supplies had been forwarded. To begin : we find, accord- ing to Armstrong, " that within district No. 9, commanded by (Jencral Dearborn, tlicre were over thirteen thousand men of ail arms. On the Niagara three tliou- -and three hundred regulars, and three thou- ^■and volunteers and militia ; a*. Suckett's ilarbour, two hundred regulars, and two Miousand militia; on Lake Cliamplain, tlirce I lousand regulars, and two thousand militia. hi the West, although -we arc without (he data which would enable us to give so detailed which he bravely attempted to take with tlie bay- i/iict, though covered with 'iOO of the enemy's best iioops : advancing as rapidly as the deep snow, and the exhausted state (in consequence) of liis men, would admit, he ordered a charge, and had not proceeded many paces, when Ids left arm was broken to pieces by a grape shot ; but still undaun- tedly running on with his men, he almost iumiedi- ately afterwards was deprived of the use of his right arm, by a discharge of a case-shot ; still heroically disregarding all personal consideration, he nobly ran on, cheering his men, to the assault, till, exhausted by pain and loss of blood, he became imable to move ; his company gallantly continued the charge under Lieuteuaut M' Auley ; but the reserve of the militia not being able to keep up >' ith them, they were compelled, by the great su- periority of the enemy, to give way, leaving a few ou a commanding position, and a tew of the most iidvanced, in the enemy's possession, nearly about t!ie titne that I gained the height above mention- ed. The enemy hesitating to surrender, I instantly larried his eastern battf y, and by it silenced .mother, which now ope ^d again ; and ordering o;i the advatice the detachment of the King's, and the Highland company of militia, under Captain I'justace, of the King's regiment, he gallantly rush- ed into the fort ; but the enemy retreating by the opposite entrance, escaped into the woods, which I should have effectually prevented, if my Indian warriors had returned sooner from a detached ser- vice, on which they had that morning been em- ployed. a fitatcmcnt of (Jeneral Ilanlson's force, yet we are informed that while I'roctor, allir defeating and cai)tin'iiig Winchester, wis hastening back to .Maiden, to escape the atliuk- of llanison, this last mentioned otlioor, umlr similar npprehensious of his adversary, nflir setting fire to his stores, bagiinge and defenc . at tlie J'apid.s, retreated hastily to Port;!:. River. The delusion, however,t under wliii} this movement was made wa.-; iu)t of lo::. din\ition, and shortly afterwards, General Harris'^'- .iimotmcod to his government tha; " a few days would enable him to resume ar i defend (he position he had left, against anv thing Proctor could bring against it, ani advancing with a force of about two lliou.san: men , J on the eastern biink of the Miami, ht began a fortified cam;) to cover his intcn.ks operation.s. Here, for the present, wc mi; leave hini with General Proctor watching Lir „ t . 1, ^'ith five hundred an; I'roctor s lorcc. twcntj- regtilnrs,fciir hun- dred and fifty nulitia and about twelve hun- dred Indians. Wc have already shown tha; c, n- . P t^c whole force alon: Slicaflo .s Force. the Nipgara frontier, thirty-si .\" miles in length, exclusive of tba; statii>ned at Fort George, and which niayb-. I caiuiot close thi.s statement without exprc.«ir.! my admiration of the gallantry niid .«ulf-devotiw of Captain Jeidcins, who had lost one aim, audi; in danger of losing the other. I luu.-t also repo:; the intrepidity ot Captain Lefevro, of the Ni'it- foundlandreginient, whohad the immediate cliarie of the militia under Colonel Fruser ; of Ciiptai: Eustace, and the other ofticers of the King'sieg' ment; and particularly of Lieutenant Kidge, of tha' corps, who veiy gallantly led on the atlTance: and of Lieutenant M' Auley, and ensign M'Doac- ell, of the Glengarry regiment ; as also Lieutenaai I (jaiigueben, of the royal engineers ; and of Eiisij;i: M'Kay, of the Glengarry light-infantry; and of Ensign Kerr, of the militia, each of whom h:ii! charge of a field-peice ; and of Lieutenant Irapej, of the militia, who has lost a leg. I was alsowel! supported by Colonel Fraser and the othei o.liceii I and men of the militia, who emulated the cos-f spicuous bravery of all the troops of the line. 1 1 inclose a list of killed and wounded. The eiu'injl had 500 men underarms, and must have sustaintj I a considerable loss. I have the honor to be, &c. G. Macdonnell, Major, Glengarry light infantry, LieutenaB^j Colonel, commanding in the Eastenl District of Upper Caaadij Sir G. Prevost. &c. tArmstrong— page 121. t Ibid. ' :atcd at fomteen ! anil two hundred i iu but tllfeo hiuidi ;vo hundred and : ;hrce hundred met It is not .^o ca.sy .\niiy ill I.iiwer Ca- uiiila. ••n- can gather froir anxiety to criniinat to liave niiiUrxfittei nlt'i'iice or deferuie- thrco tliuiisand rej i''.it.sidc. These ntnnbeis si Till- Inlal iiiiKiliers :iliullisldu.-i euiDjiared, ircJ British and twi A glance at the st; '■''■i|i-'ii"itive naval ■ ".;-tli, .1"; we find a poweri .;r.ited tonnage of v :-inftcen himdrod tun -^ackctt's h;irbor. Th, .-i.x li(.';ivy caiinoi! "■uiiofatu in the mo- -le Cabinet at AVa- tiiiic our vessels on ! ':ii:iianned and unfur; >.'!■ and elsewhere, w\ v'amou to enable thei vicu! h'aving shown tlic l'l:in 'jf camjiaiini. '■■■ncfal Dearborn and -111, after smne delibe AmcTican liovenuuen "iccc.'^.'!. Accordiiia: < ioscj that three sinuil -liould be made. At I '0 attack and drive ha •'■■e surrender of .Maid "' ihe Michigan terri ^■'(1 the fleet, with an I ■«Te fir.-;t to attack Yo proceed to the iuve.stin "I'i ami water ; a th |JTcrfi-om BulTiilo, an. HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1R12. 133 Without expressir,! !iiiil solf-devutk (iiie aim, and is inii.-t alsori'po:; ,10, of the No't- immediate cliarK ruscr ; of Cuptai; of the King'sKji' ant Ridge, of thr on the advance; ensign M' DodC' as also Licutenar.t I ers ; and of Eiisijc , infantry ; and of ich of whom hi. jieutenant Irapey, | I was also sell the olheiolMii| mulated the m ps of the line. 1 ded. The eiienijl usthavesustaiiiti' tatcil at fouitttn himdrcd and forty regulars, j Krio niiteeii hundred tons, besides boats, lying at i '"'-'^t al,-o remind the reader that, in the fii'tU 'ickctt's harbor. This fleet, mounting eighty- chapter of this work, an act of great barbarity •ix heavy cannon, was in readiness to : o" the part of Captain Porter, of the Es.sex, iiDlKTate in the movements contemplated by '■ towards a Drilish seaman, was, on the autlio- . le Cabinet at Washington. At this very ! I'ity of Mr. James, exposed An account of iiiic our vessels on Lake Ontario were lying | this proceeding reaching Sir James Yeo, somo ;ir.:iaiiiied and unfurnished in King.ston bar- j natural cxiiressions of indignation at the act, r r ami elsewhere, waiting for the arrivtd of !ind of contempt for the perpetrator, escapeil •.lUiK'a to enable them to be prcj^ared for ser- j him ; and as these sentiments were uttere.l in ,JL.(.i I the hearing of several .Vnuiiian prisoners then ! on board the Southampton, they were soon Having shown the strength, »vc »vill now , made public, with appropriate emendations. proceed to the plan of ' Sir James Yeo's remarks were made to convey camp'aign proposed by | a challenge to Captain Purler, and this odlccr 'vncral Dearborn and Con\modore ('liaunee\', liad now an opportunity of thrusting himself ■"My after some deliberation, agreed to by the | into more erc(htable notice than the inhuman Ainuiican tlovermuent as certtun of ultimate ; tarring and feathering of poor John Ewing 'icccs)!. According to this plan, it was pro- ! was calculated to gain for him. A formal ac- i'jbtd that three simultaneous demonstrations ceptance by Captahi Portir of this (xc may -lioiild be made. At the we.-t Harri.son was call it pretended, as James deehires there i.s !;) attack and drive back Proctor, compelling no authority wdiatever for the sending) chal- ho surrender of JIalden and the evacuation lengc afterwards went the round of the Amc- l' the Michigan territory ; Com. Chaunce}' ! rican pajjcrs. "We have introduced this ancc- nd the fleet, with an army under Gen. Pike, ' dote, as it is nece.s.sary for us, before resuming j 'Voro first to attack York, and from thence to i our narrative, at the date where we broke off, proceed to the inve.stment of '("ort Ceorge by | to accompany Capt. Porter on liis first cruise ind and water ; a third force was to cross ' in the Essex. The suce-essful issue of this ;Ycr from Buffalo, and, carrying the forts at j adventurous expedition did not fail to create I'hin uf cainiifiiirii. lit iiistohy of tiik war of 1812. If •■ 4 great seiisntion tliroiijrlioiit (lie rnilcd Slntes, ; sloop of wnr, Alert, CnptninT. I-.R. Lin-hari and \vf iiiiglit cxiiose ourselves to the clmrgf ot a,Hii]>jirfxiilu reri, did wc otuit nught that might be supposid to henr on the siihject. Wc hnvc, besides, an nduitional inducement to nccoiiipuiy ('n|i(;»in Porter, ns we may he cnahled to correct a few statements wlii'h, inadvertently of course, have been sulVcred to creep into Lis record. The Kssex ha:■ dierson bo;ird, ami I'apt.uin llawkia.s wore in | j,,,„,,| ,j^.j^^_ j,y theend of the year ISll.tc purstut but, finding afier a while, that by , ^^ these choice vessels had eillier buonhmkir. continuing in chase, he must run the risk of| „^, ,^j, (..„„.i,,.ted into peaceable harhourslii;. separr.ting from, and i.erhaps losing the re- -j^,^^.^^ ,,i„ remninrd, and, as if possessin'-';-. maining six vessels of his convoy, he resumed reality the qualities which their nanus iuiiiii :, the Avenger and Alert were disp;it<'lieil tjt'; his course. James observes on this "Captain Porter | Xorlh American station a short time privi'v;.| was discreet, as well as shrewd enough to to the war. Had the Alert been rigf;oil w;' chuckle at this; and disarming an;if( li inu>t have Shiiiiiioii ami tliu merchant iiliip I'hintir, re- curried wUh it a iiieasin-' cor- iilion that niari- /•aptuieil t'roin tlio Aiiiericain. The Ksscx, time siipreiiincy had censt. .j be "Knj^lan.l's | keeping the Minerva closo nst.'rn of her, hero undoiibti'il ri;.:ht," nnd nnist liave iiispiretl' ilown as if to meet IlieSlunuu .1, tlicn in cliasc, Ameiii'tm sailors witli a most eoMtemptiMe hut iiavirifj closed to within ten miles, ('apt. o'liiiion of tlieir opponent's i.'onrajjo, Wej^ive ; Porter's better Jnd^rnient prevailed, and leav- ilio despatch entire, ing the poor nurrhant shi[> to her fate, tlio "On the afternoon oft!ie",Oth An;;ust, l' Kssex hauled to the wind and crowded all sail dscovereil one of the enemy's (ri;;ates stand- ' to fr^t away. 'J'lie .Minerva was taken posses- iiig forward, asunder a press of sail, appar- 1 sioti of and burnt, in hopes that the Ksstx iiitly with an intcniion of sp„'aldng; us, stood j might seethe Humes and clear down to avenge fir liini nndi r ci>y sail wit'i the .-hip prepared the iiidi'jri'ity, lnit with no eU'eef. This ri:n- f>i' action, and, apprehen-ive that he tui^ht iiiiig away was the last exploit performed liy not find me during the ni-lit, F hoisted a k'apt. Porter, who anclioreil, three days after- liijht. At'.), he made a signal consisting of | w-ards, in the Delaware, "crowned with glory." t.vo t!;isiies and a Line hght, apparently about "' 'dl, it may be remembered, tlic Hornet sloop of war off St. Sal- vador, where, with the Constitution, Caj)t. Lawrence had iteeii block- ading the P.oniic Citoycrne, and wdiencc sho had done the same, or that! he would at least | "'•^ •"'''''^•^'^'^ ''>' ^''^ Mo»(ague, seventy-four. have kept in our neigbonrhood; but to ,„ J Alter escaping from the line of battle ship, the great surprise ami the mortiiieation of my ''"''"'^^ ""^''^'^ ^« ^''° westward, captured an lour miles di-tant from us. I contiiuied to stand on f^r the [.oint where they were seen imtil iiiilnight, when not getting sight of the j enemy, I comluiled it would be best to heave to for him until daylight, presuming that he \\'e Iliniet and IVacuck. (.iSi'crs atid crew (whose zeal on every occa- sion excites my a Ion;:. G:]- j "'^'"^ by the ooanl Every attonpt was now liVwest. The Kssex being in :!»;- .orthand (i2« | '"^^^^ ^^ ••=^™ ^''^' ^'•'^"■' '"" '^'^ ^^''^"''^ "''^ '^"' and a few minutes afterwards the Peacock went down in five and a half fathom water west. The Ringdove (only of ei ,hteen gunsbj' , the way) was on that day at a' iclior in the bar- hour of the island of St. Tho.aas. The ship that p^'l^ t''"''''^'-^" ^f '"-t >ncn, four of whom only Capt. Porter fell in with, was llje Jlatlcr, eigh- ^"^^'^P*^*^ ^y bawling intotlic fore rigging. An teen gun sloop, Capt. Alexan.lcr (iordon, who I American Lieutenant, Midshipman, and three knowing tliat it would be folly to engage in so ' '"'^" "■'^'' dithculty saved themselves byjump- unequal a contest, very wisely avoided an en- '"?• "^ "»" '^"S «•«"' ^osvn, into boats lying ''i''ement ^" *^''*^ booms. Some of the men saved thcm- ° On the 4th of September Capt. Porter was ^^^^'^'^ '" ^''° ■'^*'^''" ^''''^^ •'"^'' ""t^vitlistanrling roally grutiiieel with a si-ht of a ship of war, | '^ ^^''^^ """'^■^^ dauiaged by shot, they arrived in as on that day, having in convoy the merchant | '''^^'^*J' '^^ ^^emerara. ship Minerva, he fell in with (to use his own t Of her hundred and ten men, tlic Peacock 1 i 136 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. ' i i;:i' I lost her gallant coininander and seven men, sending proper vessels to sea. The Peacock, besides three officers and twenty-seven men i Frolic and brigs of her class were mere shells, wounded. Tiie Americans state their loss at ' when compared with such ships as the Ilornci two killed and three wounded, out of a crew of 1 and the Wasp, whose scantling was nearly u; one iiundred and seventeen. stout as a llriUsh twelve pounder frigate, lu; AVe give the comparative force of the ; still they were entitled to be ranked in a combatants,beforc introducing James' remarks : certain class, and an extract from Lawrence's' on the action. Comparative force of the ships. Peacock. Hornet. Broadside guns .... 9 10 No. oflbj.. 102 207 Crew 110 16-2, Size 380 -ICO official letter will show that he did not hesitate to claim for himself a very sufficient amour.; of credit. Captain Lawrence could have allbrded to have dispensed with this, as w( readily admit that he was really a gallant ar.d truly brave o.'Iicer; nftcr all, we can hnrdlv wonder at his becoming inoculated with the The accuracy of this table has been proved, national disoi der, especially as it was tl:c yet American M'riters have declared that the policy of a government that has never ytt Hornet gained a victory over a "s/zy/t/v't;?' | been convinced of the uiutility, even in a profii Brllish forced Now for James. — " if, in their encounter of I'ritish frigates the Auieri- cans were so lucky as to meet them with and loss point of view, of making a misstate- ment. The wreck of tiie Peacock was visible for a long time after the action, and this was crippled mnts, deteriorated powder, unskilful j a fortunate ciicuuistance, as it gave ar. gunners, or worthless crews, they were not j opportunity of ascerlairiiig her relative ]/ iJtc cnrroiuuk-i were lined with icJi'ite caucus, the shot-lockers shifted from their usual places, and nothing could exceed in brUlcdnci/, the I'olish upon the of me," and adds, "and could plainly see tin *" At tlic lime I hiouglit the Peacock toaci:i)n, the Espicglc, (the brig nanitioneil us lieinr; at js anchor) riiuuntiiig sixteen two and thirty pwinil earronades, and two hnig nines, hvy aljout id had but o 400 gal- , , . , 1 . XI Ti / i '"'"^ *^' water on board, I reduced tlic allowance whose duty it was to know that the IVacock to three pints a man. and determined to nuikctl.s P best ot my way to the Lnited States. The Peacock was di'servedly styh'd one of tl'i-' finest vessels of her class in tlie Dritisli iiavv. was fitted in a manner suitable to her class. The brig Wtas new, built of oak, and able to bear thirty-two pounders.anu there could then have ihould'judge lier 'to be'abmit 'ihe 'twiila^je'i.t'tle been no other cause for the chaiige,biit that the I Hornet. Iler beam was greater by five incl.e', smaller guns took up less room, and gave a i ''!" '"•'' c"'"'>''in' length not so great by four fen. ,. , , 1 ii 1 1 Ti. I She nioiintcd Sixteen four and twentv lioum! c:ir- lighter appearance to the deck. It appears ,onades, two long nines, one twelve pound caito- extraordinary that the Dritish Government, nade on her toi)-gallant forecastle as a t-liiltii;!: after .so many disasters, and the lap.sc of eight f-'""' '""' ""^ '«""■ "'' ^'■'' P"U'idor, and two swivcij ,, - ,, , 1 ,- e , ,, mounted aft. I find iv her nuartei -bill that her months from the declaration of wtir, .shoidd i (,,,,.^v consisted of one hundred and thiity-U: not have become alive to the Importunco of 1 men, four of ^\hom were ubsent in r. pii^e." Captain Philip Br HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 137 whole of the action." It has been proved that the actual distance between the vessels •,vxs twenty-four miles. Lieutenant Wright, senior, of i.iie Peacock, has declared that the Kspiegle "was not visible from the look-outs ^t;Uio^ed at the Peacock's mast-heads, for Nome time previous to the commcnccniunt of the action," and if further information be wanted, it is to be found in the ignorance, of Captain Taylor, of the action, until informed nf it the day after, by the Governor of Demcrara. AVlien the authorities awoke from thuir lethal gy, some time afterwards, ami negan to examine somewhat into the real condition of sliips, their efficiency of equip- :nent, and their state of discipline, this same I'aptiiin Taylor was found guilty by a Court- Marlial of having " neglected to exercise the •hip's company at the great guns." It was tliorcfoi'c, perhaps, fortunate tl at the dis- ordered state oi' her rigging prevented Capt. Taylor from eng;iging the Hornet. It was iianl, at the same time, on Captain Taylor, that he should be punished for negligence, which was common to two-thirds of ihe navy, and to which the Admiralty, by their instruc- j ''^'"j ti"'eca.4li; wore 10 carronad tions, and their sparing allowance of powder and shot (or practice at the guns, were in ?omu degree instrumental. to sea about the 1st of May, unpcrccived, leav- ing only the Chesape;droke, of the Shannon fri- Tho Chcsiii).'iik(.. and gat<-', ^vas amongst that v.ho mourned the imbecility of a tiovernmcnt, which saw the capture of vessel after vessel iiy the Americans, and yet could not be per- Juailedbut that diplomacy and procrastination »oul(l convert small and inefficient, into large and null ecpiiiiped vessels. This officer vv'as ■I'.'tenniiieil to prove what an Englisii tliirty- dght could effect, when the ship and crew iure properly fitted for battle. On the 2 1st :irarch, 1813, the Shannon, in oinpany with the Tenedos, same force, sailed from Ilalifa.v, and reconnoitred, on the 2nd of April, Boston Harbour, where they discov- ered the President and Congress, tlie latter i'lite, the former nearly ready for sea. Ac- i:or(ling to James, the two IJriti.sh commanders ''etcrmim.,'d to intercept and bring to action the two American vessels. It is rather hard •0 say how it happened, but, nevertheless, ■•■ippen it did, that the American vessels got "'Oil her main deck, the Sliannon was armed the same ud l-vuiv oiliur Uiitiili iii;.'iitc ol her class, and Iut oslaijlislu'J ;^u::son thcquai ItT-deeii es, !;'.'-p(nu!(iL'r.s, and four long '.i-i>oinider3, total -IS guns. 15ut Cap- tain J3roko liad since nujunted a rj-pounder liout carronade thiougii a port pnrpii.-:(jl}- made on the starboard iide of thoqnartrr-deck, .ind a lirass long (j-pounder, used generally as an exercise gun, through a similar port on the larboard side; be- sides wliiclilliore wore two rj-poundorciirionudus, mounteii as staiding sti'rn-eliasers thioiigli the quarter-deck stern-ports. For tlicse la.st four gimi<, one .Ti-poundcr carronade would iiave been more than an eiiuivalent. However, as a m' long shitting 18-pouudor, OM the fiuarler-deeli and forecastle, total I'.i guns; e.xehi.sively ol a rj-iionndur boat,- earronade, belonging to wluch there was a very simple and well-eontrived elevating cariiage for tiling at the tops, but it is doubtful if tlie gun was used. Five guus, four llJ-pounder earronades and one long isqiounder, had, it was understood, l«'en latided at Huston. Some have a:ieped, that this was done i)y Capliiiii Lawrence, that he might not have u iiuineiieal superiority over Ills antago- nists of the liriti.sii ;;s-j^'un c'ass : others say, and we incline to be of that opinion, that the reduction was ordered by the American govennnenf, to case the ship, whose hull had already begun to hog, or to arch in the centre." ;!' ' 188 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. a -! bal cliallcnges wliich he had scut in, dcs- f patched by a Captain Slociini the following ' letter to ('a])(aiii Lawrence, late captain of 1 the Ilorne', and now cununanding the Che?a- | pcake : — j " As the Chesapeake appears now ready for I sea, I request vou will do nie the favour to i meet the Siiannon with her, ship to ship, to I try the fortune of our respective flags." (Here ' follows the description of the Shannon's force.) i " [ entreat you, sir, not to iinngine that I am ! urged by mere jier.-onal vanity to the wish of my meeting the Chesapeake, or that I depend ; only upoji your personal ambition for your ' acceding to this in\ Itation. We have both i nobler motives. You will feel it as a conipli- 1 raent if I .say that the rcsu't of our meeting ' may be the most grateful service I can render to mj- country ; and I doubt not that you, i equally coulident of success, will feel con- ! vinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in eKen comhafs that 3'our little navj- can hope to console your country, for the loss of that trade it can no longer ])rotect. J'avour me [ with a speedy rei'lj'. We are short of pro- ' vioionsand wa'er, and cannot stay long here." This letter did not reach Cai)taiu Lawrence in time to influence his proceedings, as it ap- pears that he had already received pernussion from Commodore Lainbridge to capture or drive away a Criti.sh shin that had rej)eatcdly ' lain to olf tlie i)ort, and, in view of all the citi zens, liad used every endeavor to provo!;e the Chcsape;dve to come out and engage her. j Captain IJroke's anxiety as to the rei)ly to his challenge induced him to mount the rigging himself and while at the mast-head he per- ceived that, ere Capt. Slocum's boat reached the shore, the American {"rigate was under way, attended by numerous sailing pleasin-e- boats, and a large (schooner) gun-boat, with Connnndores Uaiubridge and Hull, besides several other American naval ofiicjrs, on board. 'J ne ('hesnpe:dve got under weigh at half-past twelve, and at one rounded the liglit- house under all sail. The Shannon now filled and stood away from the land. At twenty minutes to four the Cliesapeake hauled up and liied a gun, as James has it, "eiiher in defi- ance, or perhaps to induce the Shannon to stop, so as to tiHord the gun-bo;it and pleasure seeking .spectators the gratification of witness- ing how speedily an American could 'whip' a British frigate." The Shannon now hauled up and lay to. At half-past iivc the Cliesa- peakc steered straight for the Shannon's star- board quarter, with a largo white flag at th» fore, on which was inscribed, as if to paralvze the efforts of the Shannon's sailors, the words "Sailors rights and free trade." At ten minutes to six tlie Shannon fired the first giui, and between the period cf its dis- charge and Captain Broke's boarding eleven minutes elapsed. In four miimlcs more the Chesapeake's Hag was hauled down, and i!if vessel was completely hi , Below* will U *The following is the dam.Tge and lo?3 of men siistiiined by the respoi'tive conibu'aiit^. Fiv* shots pus.sed thiouLdi the Siiannon ; o'li-, ()nl_v,bi'lo5 tlie UKiiii deck. Ut' several round shot thatstnics her, the greater part lodged in the siih.', riiii;;edi3 a line just ahuvc the copjter. A b-ir-shot eiitenJ a little hclow the water-mark, leaving a foot or H inches of one end sticking out. Uniil iier slid! holes were stoi)ped, the Shannon iniide a gcc! deal of water upon the hu'lioiird tuLk; hut, upn;i the other, not more than usual. Ilev tiirc aiiJ main masts were slightly iiijmed by siuit ; and her l)0wspiit (previously sprung) and niizeniiiiist weiv badly wounded. No other spar was datnageJ. Her shrouds on the starboard side were out alnio>t to [lieees ; but, from her perfect >^lato aloft, tlie '■haiinon, at a moderate distance, appeared to liavt suffi-red very liithf in the action. Out of a crew, ineluding eight reeaiitureii sea- men and '2'2 Irisli labourers two day-; only in the ship, of 30t) men and '24 boys, the Sliainion lo-t, besides her Hist Lieutenant, her purser (Geot;;e Aldhain), captain's clerk (John Duini), lUHoaiiicii, four marines, three supernumeraries, aivl one boy killed, her Captain (severely), boatswain (William Stevens, mortally), one iniiishi[)nian (J'jhii .'^air.ivcll, mortally), and 5o seamen, marines, uiid supcrni;- nieraries wounded ; total, 21 killed and 5 'J woun- ded. Out of a crew of at least 381 men and five boy* or lads, the Cliesapcake, as acknowli'ilgfil Ity her surviving coniniandingolKeer, lost her fi^urili Lieu- tenant (Edward I. Ilidlard), mastor (William .V White), one Lieutenant of marines (James broom 1, three midshi|inien, and ■) 1 petty oilieers. seaii.''!;, and marines killed, her gallant commander un-l first Lieutenant (both mortally), her st'e(aiii and third Lieutenants (tleorge Lmhl lui 1 Williain L, Cox), acting chaplain (Samuel Livi.rniore\ five niidshipinen, her boatswain (mortally), and 55 petty oilieers, seamen, and marines wounded; total 47 killed and I'y wounded, Lt of the latter mortally. This is according to the .-Vnu'rican offi- cial account ; but, it must be addeil, that tlu> tctil that reported themselves, in.'lndlng sc-v'oral slidit- ly wounded, to the Shannon's surgeon, three days after the action, were U.'i ; and the ("hc'saiioa'a'i =urgcon wrote from Halifax, that he esnniated the whole number of killed and woimded, at frcni IGO to 170. found the English despatch, but a force of the comb superiority of fore still on the side of Droad'=ido guns. Weight of metal, 11 Number of crew. Tonnage, The capture of (! of the e;Uraordinar HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 139 found tlic Eiiglisli accoiuit and the American ilc?patcl), but a glance at the comparative force of the combatants will show that the superiority of force, though but trifling, was still on the side of the Chesapeake :— SHANNON. CUESAPEAKi:. Rroailside guns, 25 Weight of inetiil, lbs. .538 Nuiiil.er of crew, 000 Tonnage, 1006 The capture of this vessel made public .some of llio extraordinary means of attack and de 25 590 37t5 1135 fence adopted by the Amerirans in their naval engagements with the Uriti-li. Among the Chesapeake's round and grape (Vide .lames, page 200) were found double-headed shot in abundance ; also bars of wrouL^ht iron, about a foot long, connected by links and fo'ded to- gether, so as, when discharged, to form an ex- tended length of si.x feet. Other birs, of twice tiie length, and in nu.iiber from three to si.v, were connected at the end by a ring; these, as tliey Hew from the gun, expanded at four points. The object of this novel artil- Ol'tlie Clicsapeake's guns we have already given '. i full account : it only runmins to point out, tlnit tlie j'li]' luul three s]iiire ports of a side on the t'mcn-tle, through wliieli to fight lior sliifiing Ion:: l"^-]K)uiider and I'-'-jiounder l)0,it-Rarroniide. Tuc foi'uier is admitted to have been used in tlnit way; l)Ut, as there is smno doubt whether the Mrrjiiide was used, we shall reject it from tiie broail.-jile force. Tliis leaves 2.5 guns, precisely the iiuuiber mounted by the Sliannon on licr t,roa'l?ide. Tiio accuracy of Ouptuin IJroke's state- ! luent of his ship's force is, indeed, wortliy of re- mark: lie even slitrhtly overrated it, because he repvo.-euted all of his guns of a side' ')n the upper ilto!;, except tlie boat-gun, as ;j'2-pounder carron- ii'.e.', when the inini!)er were long nines. As a Mi;ifter of course, a court of intjuiry was hell], TO investigate the circumstances uiiihjr wdiich t'.e ("iu'Siipeaiie liad Ijeen captured. Coniiuodore lialnhriiiu'i.' was the presiclent of the court ; and il;'j fjlluwing is the first article of the very •' lengthy" r( port publ' lied on the subject : " 'I'lie c-virt are unaidnicusly of opinion, that the Chesa- ;'?alie was g ilhintly carriei' into action f>y her late !-nve co.nniaudiu' ; and no doubt ^e^ts with tlie I'uurt, IVom coniparisnn of the injury '"Spectively 'ustained !iy the frigates, that the fii'e of the Ches- api'ako was nnicli supeiior to tiiat of the Hhannon. ' The Sliannon, being much cut in her spais and ■r;u';;iiig, ;ind ree..'ivingniany shot in and below the water line, was reduced almost to a sinking con- dition, lifter only a few minutes cannonading frtun tiie Che.-apeake ; wliilst the ChesapeLike was com- paratively uiiiijured. And the court have no il'ubt, if tin; Ciiesapeake had not accidentally fi!''ai oi\ board the >rin- cipal ollieors; the bugleiuan's desertion of his enemy had boari'.ed, which iiiiglit have' been done success- fully, it is believed, from the cautious manner in which the enemy came on board." It was cei'tainly very "cautions" in Captain Hroke, to lead 20 men on boaid an enemy's ship, supposed to be manned with a cumplementof 400 ; and which, at the very niomeiit, !i,i(| at least 270 men without ii wound aljoiit tleuii. The court of iiiquiiy makt s, also, a line story of the (iiiog down t)ie hatchway. Not a w(»rd is tliere of t!ie "mag- nanimous coiKjiiered foe'' havinj: llred from below, in t!ie first instance, and killed a I'ritish marine. Captain liroke will lonj^ have cause to remember the treatmentho experienced from this " magnani- mous eonrpiered foe." So far, itideed, from the conduct of the British being "a most unwarrant- Hble abuse of power after succe^'s," Lieutenant Cox of the Chesajieake, in the he.'ii'ing of several English gctith'mi.'ii, subsotiuently ailmltted, that he owed his life to the foibearanee of one of the Sh.anr.on's niaiines. When the American ollieors arrived fui board the Shannon, and some of them were finding (oit reasons for beinn ''taken so unaccountably," their first lieuti'naiit, Mr. Ludlow, candidly acknowledged, tlittt tlie Shannon hud beaten them heartily and fairly. Sir. — The nnfoitunate death .',-'" i':;|.ta;n .Tames Lawrence nivl Taeutenanl C. fiUillow, has render- ed i; my duty to inform you ol thi' capluie of tho late I'. States frigate Cliesapi .ik(;. On Tui'sihiy, .Tune 1, at 8 a. m. wc unmoored shi|< and at nuTidian got under way from I'lesi- deni's I'lOads, with a light wiml from tliesouthward and westward, and proceeded on a cruise. A ship was then in sij.dit in the oiling which had tho ' appearance of a sliiji of war, and which, from ia- toriiiation received I'ttun pilot boats and craft, we believed to be the Dritish liig.ile Sha.niiou. We made sail in chase and cleared .-hip for action. At half pas', four p.m. she hove to, with her hi ad to the soiuhward and eastward. At .'» i". m. took in the royals and top-gallant-sails and at half past , live liaided the cour-:.s up. About l-l niinutc3 before (i p. M. the action commenci'd within pistol shot. The first broailside did great execution on both sides, damaged our rij;ging, kilhd among ' others Mr. White, the sailing ir -J wounded 140 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1S12. >l lury was to dismantle tlie shroinls. The can- nisU-r sliot, whtii opened, were found to con- tain in the centre angular and jagged pieces of iron and copper, brolccn bolts and nails. The musket eartridg s, as we noticed before, each contained three Imck shot, and rille barreled pieces were amongst the small arms. Formi- dable preparations these ! The four victories gained by the Americans R,m>arks o„ th. ac ^'^'^ exalted the national tion. vanity to such a pitch tliat the disagreeable task of recording a de- feat was somewhat puzzling to the caterers to Dublic taste. It would not at all answer to "tell the story as it happened," conse- quently the various reasons as.-igned for the Chesapeake's mishap are not a little amusing. One OiUcer says,f " had there been an officer on the riuarter deck with twenty mi'n the re- sult of the action must have been different." Another, " it was with difTiculty the Shannon was kei)t afloat the niglit after the action, the Chesapeake on the contra^'v, received scarcely any damage from the shot Oi 'lis oppo- nent. The English officers do not hesitate to say, they could not have withstood the ilre of the Chesapeake ten minutes longer." In one place the public were informed that "the Chesapeake was greatly the inferior of her enemy in every respect, save the valor of her ofTiccrs." In another, that "the officers and crew were strangers to each other, while the Shannon had a picked cre^v and was a miu'II STUONCKii vessel than the Chesapeake, and had Captain La'vrence. In about 12 iniiuitcsnflor the oo!iiiiieuceiiie;it of the aL'ti -n, we fell on board of the eiieiiiy, ami iiiime;liately after one of our ann- ehests on the riu;irter-(leck was l)lown \i\) l)y a liaiul grenade thrown from the enemy's ship. In a few minutes one of the eaptniii's aids came on t!ie gun deck to inform me that tlie Ijoarders were called. I immediately called the boarders away and proceeded to the spar deck, where I found that the enem\ had sneeeeded in hoarding us and had gained possession of our quarter deck. I immediately gave orchn's to haul on Ijoard tin; fore tack, I'cir tlie purpose of sluiotiug the shi|i clear of the otiier, and then made an attemiit to regain the quarter deck, I again made an etfbrt to collect the hoarders, but in the mean time the enemy had gained complete possession of the ship. On my being carried down to the coek-pit, I there found Catitnin Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlow hoth mortdly wouiiiled ; the former had been cariied below previously to the ship's being tNilcs Weekly Ilogister, page HTl. greatly the odds in guns and men." The .\merican purser declares that the Chesniicakc "had the advantage, and tliat had Capt. I.u-.v- rence lived the Shannon must have been omc " Even Commander Ilainbridge found in th.i engagi ineiit "the best eviilrnce cf the .supf. riority of American over British frigates ar.J demonstrated, much to his own satisfaction, doubtless from its result, that Americansmut alwiiys conquer when they liad an iqi;;;i chance." We ])resunic the t'oinuiodo''' alludes to the equal force and tonnage of the Liueriere, llacedonian and Java, 'llie Coi!.- modorc was decidedly of opinion that "it is surely an evidence of our decided supcrioiiiv that an American thirly-six gun frigate, f-. hours out of port, with an uudlocijiluiiiL'i.t^ (we have merely the C ommodorc's ijixtdlA for this assumption,) shouid put an Eugii.h tliirty eight gun frigate, the best of her kimi, in a, fiuikiiuj xtnlc in fftccii mlnuten.''' Tiif Commodore winds up with the declaration that the Ihilish victory " was certainly to Ic [ilaced to ilie amount of good fortune on tlr.r side." These statements will suffice to sikii the nature of the information sujiplied tot!.' .Vmeri>-an public and how sedulously care;" ', the journals and naval (ifiicers were net *o awaku;'lakes.''"*'°"^''''''' ^^'^ Only lake on which floated a British armed vessel. The small ti-^et consisted of the Royal CJeoige, a ship of three hundreo::. who was present, says: "It was iinposaili!,' to have artillery bettor served ; every ball ;!iat was fired sunk into the roof of the ni:iga/,.!H, scattering the earth to a consiilerable di-^tanrc, a'ld burying many of the workmen in its t^'d, from whence wc could distinctly perceive the survivors dragging f jrth the bodies of tiair slaughtered conu'ades." Whatever the precise amount of loss ex- perienced by the Americans, at all events Cieneral Harrison was desirous cf er.fling it, and of dislodging a troublesome enemy, whose presence interfered most materially with his plans. He was the more inclined to this ?tc;i as a reinforcement of tv>elve htnuhed Ken- tuckians under General Clay had just anivc.I. This body was ordered by Gen. Harrison to attack the British redoubts on one side of the river, while he should make a sortie from the fort on the other. General Harrison's plan was a goo.l cnc, hail it been well carried out, and he had certainly troops enough to have executed any design he might have formed. The over- whelming force under General Clay easily succeeded in forcing the British line on one side, but advancing too far, and failing in forming a junction with the sallying party under Col. ]\liller, Mdiich had by this time carried the battery, they were attacked by Gen. Proctor, and nearly all captured or killed. Col. Miller's party were then in turn attacked by Proctor, and the battery retaken : the Americans making good their retreat to Fort Meigs. Ingorsol observes, " thus another reverse was the result of rash confidence and discipline,and the insensibilityof inexperienced troops to the vital importance of implieit obedience ; perhaps, too, on this, as on many other occasions, to the want of that mcrgetic control by a commander, without which even discipline and obedience fail." Ingersol's con- cluding remark on this affair is too curious to be omitted. " IIitheuto wak had iskts con- fined TO THE SORny ENDEAVOUR TO DEFEND TUB COUSTKV FUOM INVASION, WUILE ITS NrMEIilCAl AND rilYSICAL POWEK, IF WELL DIRECTED, WiS ABLE TO HAVE MADE ITSELF FELT IN LARGE COK- QVESIS or UTEO^'SIVB FOREIQM T£RHIX0RIB8." There is somethir this sentence : from oi"thewiU',asi'rii Ta InH been made by th Qiiecnston, Erie and successively the poii o'ject of these mo\ occuiiiti')!! of the forms tlie western po (idi. Harrison's |)resei auce of a couibincd at a,'i]iii»ition of this fjraooth wc are tol Americans the war ha very war, denounced i attempt to ai'quire ter ntither wanted, nor Inld; against the pro '\;istern States had i f'.'ind as to refuse the r froMi them. The re[ war we riow find put t a brave, but undiscip invasion ! ! The fads of the war Ingersol from setting and untenable a positio The defeat of the An plete, but Richardson .sh lialisfactory now occuri "die victory obtained i I as to reflect credit on fcrvice ; but the satisfa C'lnviction was deeply of cruelty, which, as th( Komoir, it becomes my hi the heat of the actio j enemy, who had throwi surrendered themselves immediately despatehe fifty men, for the purpc in the gun-boats, where would be safe from the 1 This measure, however the purest humanity, \'K the most probal)! proved one of fatal in prisoners. On gaining otirely deserted by t I »ssailed by a few cow Indians, who had borne yet who now, guided HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812, 148 Thcru is something purticiilarl}' absurd in this sentence : fiom liio very conuiienceinent ol'tlie wiuvi serie- if nf:y;ressivc demonstralions had been made l>y the Americans. ElizaUetii, Quecnston, Erie and Auilierstlmrg nad been su>ccssivo'y the point of atta' k ; the main o'jv;et of tliese movements had been the occui.ati')n of tlie rich peninsula which fmis the wtstein portion of Upper Canada, iloii. iliUTisini's j)resent wuiks were in furtlier- auce of a eonibined attack to be made for the aoqiiisition of this coveted territory ; 3-et braooth we are told that hitlierto with Americans the vvar had been defensive. This verv war, denounced in Congress as an unjust attempt to acquire territory which the Union n.ither wanted, nor had the means to hoM; against the prosecution of which, tlie '^;^stcrn Slates liad made so determined a i'Mi\ as to refuse the quota of militia required ima tliem. The repeated faili'.res of tliis war we now find put forth as the struggle of a bravo, but undisciplined militia, to re[iel invasion ! ! The fuels of the war should have prevented IngLTsol from setting up so very ridiculous and untenable a position. The defeat of the Americans was very com- plete, but Ricluirdson shows that scenes far less satisfactory now occurred. Major R. writes, "the victory olitained at the Miami was such S3 to reflect credit on every branch of the Eorvice; but the satisfaction arising from the conviction was deeply embittered by an act of cruelty, which, as the writer of an impartial Eomoir, il, becomes my painful duty to record. In the heat of tlie action a strong corps of tlie enemy, who had thrown down their arms, and Eurrcnrlored themselves prisoners of war, were I Immediately des;)atched, under an escort of I'fty men, for the purpose of being embarked in the gun-boats, where it was presumed they ; would be safe from the attacks of the Indians. 1 This measure, however, although dictated by the purest humanity, and apparently offer- I ing the most probable means of security, ! proved one of fatal import to several of the prisoners. On gaining our encampment, then entirely deserted by tlic troops, they were I »ssailed by a few cowardly and treacherous I Indians, who had borne no share in the action, 1 7(t who now, guided by the savage ioetinct of their nature, forced the Eriti.-h guard, and selecting tiieir victims, couunenced the work of blood. In vain did the liarrnssed and indignant escort nttenijit to save tliem from the fury of their destmyers; tiic jilirenzy of these wretches knew ro bour.ds, and an old and excellent soldier of llio niun- of Rus.scII, of the -list, was sl'l^t through tlie heart wliile endeavoiing to wrest a victim from the grasp of his assailant. Forty of these unliappy men had already fallen beneath the steel of the infuriated party, when Tecumsrh, apprised of what was doing, rode up at full speed, and rai.-jing his tomahawk, threatened to destroy the lirst man who resisted liis injunction to desist. Even on those lawless people, to whom the language of coercion had hitherto been unknown, the threats and tone of the exasperated chieftain jiroduced an instanta- neous efl'ert, and they retired at once humiliated and confounded." " Never did Tecuniseh shine more truly him- self than on this occasion ; and iiouglit of the savage could be distinguished save the color and the garb. Ever merciful and magnani- mous as he was ardent and courageous, the voice of the suppliant seldom reached him in vain ; and although war was his idol, the ele- ment in which he lived, his lieart was formed to glow with all the nobler and more generous inqiulses of the warrior; nor was his high character less esteemed by ourselves than reverenced l)y the various tribes over which, in his quality of brother to the I'roplict, he in- variably presided. In any other country, and governing any other men, Tecumseh would have been a hero ; at the luad of tliis unciv- ilized and untractable i)eople he was a savage ; but a savage such as Civilization herself might not blush to acknowledge for her child. Con- stantly opposed to the encroachnieiits of the Americans for a series of years previous to their rupture with England, he iiad combated their arnues on the banks of the Wabash with success, and given their leaders jiroof of a skill and judgment in deferice of his native soil wl'.ich would not have disgraced the earlier stages of military science in Europe, (ieneral Harrison himself, aconunuuder with whom he had often disputed tlie palm of victory, with tlie generous candor of ihe soldier, subscqucntlj ascribed to him virtues as a man, aad abiliUci I i 144 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1813. as a will rior, roiniaandinjj; at oin'c the atlen- ' by American odicials for every Indian scalp. tioi\ ami alniiralion of his enemies," I In jilacc of so unjustly eondeinning the Hriti^ "Tlic sMrvivors of this melancholy catas- as iiarticipators and instigators in such rpK' trophe were iminediately conveyed on hoard scenes, Americans sliould have asKcd, hnv^ the gun boats moored in the river ; ai\d every wc not had meted to us the c\ip of trihiilaliori {)recaulion having boen taken to prevent a and niiserj- so unsparin.i^ly measured out li\ renewal of tlic scene, the escorting party pro- ourselves to our red brethren. ceeded to the interment oi. the victims, to j whom the rites of sepulture were allbrd.'d ' After the action General Proctor ascertalno'l even before those of our own men who had' Vu-wr.x\ iVoctor do- ^'"^ impossibility of n- fallen in the action. Colonel Dudley, second «"'■''"'''■■'!''■ l',"!'?'"' straining the Indian- -' andiiart 1)1 lilt! .Mililia. « • ,\ . in command of General Clay's division, was i ""om pursumg their cs- among the number of the slain." ' tablishcd custom of returning home to scnin Every one must deplore this transaction, \ t''e booty they had acqiiired. A great p,ir: andregrct that proper mea.sures hail not been: of the militia also represented the ahsohi;. adopted to insure protection to the captives ; ! necessity that existed for them to rettini t^ mo.itunhapplly,too, it afforded an opportunity 'their homes so as to take advantage of th 10 American wiiterst-l.i'bi'gestillmorc freely 'sl'OJ't Canadian season for preparing their in the strain " b'Ue- invective already so i "ops- General Proctor, therefore, found him common, and v . v .,ei iw enabled to color ' ^elf compelled to embark his guns and storc- with some shau ■ of tr Ih the numerous ; ™sc the siege of Fort Meigs, and return tt appeals made against the b^'i :. for acting in ' Amhcrstburg. Wc will begin our next chapter concert with the Indians. We do not pretend ' "''^h the account of this endjarkat'on to hi to palliate thi:; inhuman massncre; but still, it: f"ii'"^ i" General Proctor's letters to Sir(. must be borne in mind that the Indians far i Prevost outnumbered their allies, and that they were I Col. Proctor's embarkation return of tii; smarting under the sense of a long series of , force, of all rank.s and services, includin: injuries indicted on them by the Americans. : Commis.sariat oflicer.s, itc, on this expedition, They had never experienced mercy at the ; gives five hundred and twenty two regular?, hand of their enemies, the lesson of moderation i and four hundred and .sixty-one militia. His and mercy had never been taught them, and i loss of killed, wounded and missing was est- at this precise time, a reward had been offered mated at one hundred and one. BIIDCK'S MONUMKNT, AS IT WAS— fJUlinxsTON. two regulars, e militia. His ssing was est- 10 CITY AM) HAY OV TORONTO (YORK IX ]M'l). '^ /^ "*•! * . <^ >> c- - ^' ^ / '1 • '// .,; ,,,1 .Jl C;- i'ort Mei;;'?.— SIau;^li U[;()ii York. — Eiro Dtfci'iit iiijoii Fort iNon'.soi,, in liis hi introduce it, only fo c;atiii,2 the regtiliirs .• ivuii beseiged \i,, ill his lustori"al sketch, tourhcs hilt sli-ihtl von thisairair, anil ii;i|i('ars iiulceil, to introduce; it, only for thu imrpose of di'iire- ciatini; tlit' ix'f^iilai's and luiliiia. " Fort Meit:.> was bescigcd hy P'-octor and Tcciimsch, witli SEVKHAL TIIOI SAND LnGMSII AND IxDlAXS,* who, after many days hoinhaithiient, were compL'llod to retire. Indians, even under so valiant a loader as Tccuniseh, are of little use in besieging a fortified place ; and, witiiolt theIsdian?!, the English soldieks seldom rKii- FORMED MICH." General Pnctor's modest despatch will shew exactly what was eflected. Upper Canada, Sandwich, May l-ilh, 1813. Sir,— From the circumstances of the war, I have judged it expedient to make a direct report to your Excellency of the operations and present state in this district. In the expectation of being able to reach the enemy, who had taken post near the foot of the Rapids of the Miami, before the rein- forcement and supplies could arrive, for which he only waited to commence active operations against us, I determined to attack hlra without ilay, and with every means in my power ; out from the necessary preparations and some 'We gave, in our last chapter, the exact number of I ' UUitia and Indians. untoward circumstances, it was not in my power to reach hliu w idiiii three weeks of the [loriod I had [uoposed, and at which time he i.u;^hl liave h^.'cn cajituri'd or destroyed. Fr'>!u tli;' in(tS'<;uit ;i'iu lu'avy rains \^'c cx- prriciii-cd, and during' which our hatl'jiios were coiisirurt.d, it was not until the morning of the l.^t iii>t., the filth day after our arrival at the iiu>u:!i of the river, twelve niiles from the enemy, that our batteries could be opened. The encin}', \\ ho occupied several acres of commanding ground, strongly defended by block-houses, and the batteries well furnished with ordnance, had, during our approach, so completely entrenched and covered himself, as to render unavailing every effort of our artil- lerv, though well served, and in batteries most judlciou.-,!y placed and constructed, under the able direction of Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, of wiiose aliility and unwearied zeal, shown particularly on this occasion, I cannot speak too highly. Though the attack has not answered fully the purpose intended, I have the satisfaction to inform your Excellency of the fortunate result of an attack of the enemy, aided by a sally of most of their garrison, made on the morning of the 5th inst., by a reinforcement which descended the river a considerable dis- tance in a very short time, consisting of two corps, Dudle3''s and Rosswell's, amounting to thirteen hundred men, under the command of Brigadier-General GIreen Clay. The attack was very sudden, on both sides of the riv«r. 148 IIISTOIIY OF THE WATl OF 1812. The ciiumy were for n ffvv niinutus in posses- sion of our batteries, ami took some jirisoncrs. After a scviro contest, tlii)iif;li not of lon^' ron- tinuuMie, the eiuniy gave way, and except llie liody of those who sallied from the fort, must linve been mostly killed or taken. In this decisive alV.iir, the odiiers and men of the ll.^t He;;inient, who ehaiped aii'' routed the enemy near the Imttei ies, well maintained the great re|)Utati'iti (>r the corps. Where all (h'Sirve piaise, it is dillicult to distinguish, ('apt. Muir, an eld ollicer, who has seen much service, had thegnod fortune to he in tho im- mediate coninianu of these hrave men. IJe- sldes my obligations to Captain I hambers, for his unwearied e.xerlions preparatory to, and on the expedition, as ])epiity-.\ssistant t^uar- ter-Miisier General, I have to notice his gal- lant conduct in attacking the ei.emy near the batteries "it the point of the bayonet: a ser- vice in which he was well supjiorli'd by Lieuls. lUilIoek and Clements of the list regiment, and Lieut. Le Breton of the lloyal Newfound land regiment. Tlie courage and activity- dis- pla3'ed ihrouj'h the Wi\ule scene of action b}' the Indian chiefs and warriors contributed largely to our success. 1 liave not been able to ascertain the amount of the prisoners in posses'^ion of the Indians. I have sent oil", according to agreement, near (Ive hundred prisoners to the liver Huron, near Sandu.'-ky, I have proposed an exclKngc, which is referred to the American (loMirinient. I could not ascertain the amount of the enemy's loss in killed, from the extent of the scene of action, and mostly ii\ the woods. T conceive his lo.ss, in killed and wounded, to have been between one thousand and one thousand two hundred men. These unfortunate pcop'j were not volun- teers, and conipkte Kentvicky's quota. If ttic enemy had been i)ernutted to receive his rffinforceuients and supplies undisturbed, I iil'.ould have had at this critical juncture to contend with him for Detroit, or perhaps on this shore. I had not the option of retaining my posi- tion on the Miami. Half of the militia had left us. I received a deputation from the chiefs, counisclling me to return, as they could not prevent their people, as was their custom dftei any battle of consequence, returning to Lelr villages with thtir v.oundcd, their prisoners, and plunder, of which thiy had taken a considerable quantity in llie boats of the enemy. Helore the ordnance could be willnlrawn from tlie batteries, I was left with Teeumseh, and less than twenty chiefs and warriors, n circnmstanec which strongly proves that, iiiiilir jiiuwiit circtiiiiKtiiiiroi tance afforded me. Lieutenant Lc IJreton, of the Newfounilland Ilegiment, assistant engineer, by his uinvea- ried exertions, rendered essential service, as did Lieutenant Gardiner, of the 41st Ilegi- ment, from his science in arlill' ry. Tlie Koyal Artillery, in the laborious duties tlay I'cr- formed, di>played their usual unwearied zeal, and were weil assisted by the Iloyal New- foundlanil (nmler Lieutenant Garden) as aildi- tional gunners. The laborious duties wiiicli the Marines, under Commodore Hall, were called upon to perform, have been i. ost cheer- fully met, and the most e.s.'^cntial service jur- formed. I have the lionor to send an embarkation return of the force that served under my com- mand at the AMiami, exclusive of the Indian.s, who may be stated at twelve hundred. I also enclose a return of our killed, wound- ed, and prisoners, who have, however, been exchanged. I have taken upon ruv^ to give the rank of Major to the six Captains of the line, as militia were employed on the sat le service with them ; some of them arc old officers; all of them de- serving; any mark of your Excellency's appro- It will be peroei IHSTORY OF THE WAR OF 1813. 149 bation of tlicm would bo extremely grutcflil to mi'. 1 Ik"' leave to mention the four volunteers rather parhlini? of this iIiuMinu-nt, ni\(l wo can Diily iU'couiil lor this iirocci'iiiii;; (the c'xpung- iii(^ from the (icspatrli of il ul part of it we of the list n';;Imout, WilUiiison, Uii'lninlsoii, iliavejust niiotLil) as asrriliin^ it to tlie ncces- I»Vm^', ami Pro -tor, as wortliy of |iro»u)tion. Isity whicli fxislod, fli:\t tla- war slioul'l, at all I liuvc the lioiior to lie, Ac j hazards, lio reMileri"! popular, ami tliat it was, Hknuv Puocioit, j tlierifori.', fuuii'l e.xpcdifiii tn kiip iilivo the I!ri.:;.-(ii.'n. Coiner. I spirit of aniiiiosity whiih they Ii;id hy tliiH 1 h'x to advnowle-lsd the in Icfati-^ahle ' >'"'« I'arliaily .succccli'd in arDUsin;,', and fxertiiHis of tliu (.'ommis.sariat. (Si^'ued,) IIk.vky Puoctou. To His Kx-clkncy I.ieut.-(ien. Sir (i. IVovost, Hart., &c. whii'h it liad heen tiair aim to establish, by circulating tales calculated to kindle a feeling orrevcn,2;e throuj^hout theliii^th and bnadth of the rnion. It will he accordinj^ly found that those tales are the most highly seasoned which were produced by the (iovernmcnt organs. We left Commodore I'hauncey with a largo llett atSacketl'sllMrbor, l),.Mv„i .>,,n„ Y„rk. ,.^,.^,,^. ^^ eo-operate in the meditated combined attack on ('anada. It will bo perceived, by his dispatch, that (it'iural I'roctor does Hlau^'l.t.r ..f .aptiv.is. ,,^^ ,^n_.,,,,, ^^,^.^^ ^^ ,,,,„,,^ iinpnit mce to the Indian force as Ingersol would fiin make out. He and other Atni'rican writers have always nridc this arm of the •'allied force" a convenient excuse for any mistiikesorfaiIures,andwchave, accordingly, I •'•""• '^^■^'" ''' onetime proposed that this already shewn that to the dread inspired bv j '^^''^'''^ '"'"'"'^ ''•'''^' '*^'^" ^'""""^"'iced by a this f,.ire was "llnirs(Kpl.,ral.le siuTender"" i "'O^'*-"'"*'"^ «" Kingston, and that the two vscrilK'd, while, in anollier instance, " to the I '^'■'SiiJ^''^ wintering on Lake Champlain, and vilouse made by I'roctor, with H!li.)t's ai.l, ! ••"""""'''V.'«'>l«-^'"ly-l'\-^l"""l'-^'l "'i'". ^1">"''1 „f the terror ..ftbesavnge:-'," all the disasters i ''^' I'''^''*''' '" ^'^''.-''^ "'"' t'''"<-^I"^''t'''l ""-'^•r at the Iliver llaisin were attributed. j "'^' '""""''"'1 "f General i»ike, by the most The Klliot here spoken of has been frankly h'''"'''l*-' '•'^""'. »"'' "'^l' ^''" R'-^'"t^'^t possible ai'knowle' «"'•!'••'»« ">• .'i«^'iult, ofcntilh/ and bloodHhe>;'iio liberally inter- carry that |mst, destroy the .shipping wintering there, and subseipiently be governed by cir- woven into their narratives by most of the .\nnTii'iin chroniclers of these times, exhibit 80 much of th.) character of romance, that it were idle to attempt the refutation of the many and curious fictions ; we may, however, remark, en passant^ that whilst we do not admit that cruelty was ever practiced, where the Ihitish could interfere, in the present iiLstaiiCv.' the individual most obno.xious to eumstance.s, in cillier retaining the positioner in withdrawing from it. This jdan wa.s, how- ever, abandoned, probably from reports of the inerea.sed strength of the Urilish, and the one detailed in our la.st chapter, substituted. 'J'he two letters from General .Armstrong, Secretary at War, lay open the whole plan of operation.s, and prove most conclusively how well in- censure was acknowledge.! to have been one ! ''o'''"^"! l'"' American commanders were of of thein.selve.s. We close this p;u-t of our:^'^^'"^''^''^'' I'revosfs weakness at that time, sulject, by also vmiindin- the readers ,,1 ! 'i'^''"":''""'^'^^^ '''""''•^^•""'^ ''3" ^'"-' f"'^^' '''"!""'^^ these "thrilling i, s," that in General Win- chester's official de.>iratch, (uh he w>-otc it) he expressed himself " /(/'//(/// 'jnttijied with the attintion which had been paid to Iulu, his olTicers, and the jtrisono'^ fji'iicvdlltj, by the British." A signal proof of American disingentious- aoss is to be found in the Kuppres.sion, or which ultimately led to the change in plans. {^First Letter.) Finr>j lOV;. " I liave the Prcsjilent's orders to com- municate to you, as expeditiously as possible, the outline of campaign which you will im- mediately institute and pursue again.st Upper (^inada: — M ( t i 150 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. Ist. -1000 troops will bo usscmllcd at (Second Letter.) Suckcd's Harbor. Fclrunnj 1\th, 2.1. oiHtrjwiilbc brou[5littog<'t]ici;UT5unr;ilo' "Before I lift New York, ami, till very and its vicinity. ' recently, since \uy nrrivnl here, I was infiirincd Gil. Tlie former of these coriis \>-ill be cm tliro\i;.^!i vnrious cbannds, that a winter or balked and transiioricd niider conv"j- of tlie ' sjninj;; altai'k iiiion Kin.uston was not ]ii;i(ii. fleet to Kingston, where tluy will be l.andeil. cable, on account of the snow which gem rally Kingston, it.s garrison, a:id the IJrilish ships lies to the dtptli of two, and sometimes of whUi-ring in the harbor of thai place will be , three feet, ovi r all that niirlhern region (Uiring its first object, Its second obj-ct will be ^ those seasons. Hei\ce it is (hat in the plan York, (the capital of l'|)per Canada) the \ recently conimnnicated, it was thon^iht safest stores collected, and the two frigates building ' and best to make the altark by n comlii ation there. Its third ( 'jtot. Torts Cuorge and ICiie, of naval and military means, and to approach and their depeiuhiicies. In the attainment of our olject, not by directly crossing llic St. this last there v ''.1 b^j a co-operation between Lawrence on the ice, but by setting out ficm tae two eorjis. Tlie composition of these will Saekett's l.'arl or, in concert witli, and iimltT bfc R.- follows : I convoy of the lleet. Later infoiination iljirors 1st. Bloom.lcld'.s brigade l,}r,0 ' from that on which this plan was fouiuk'd; 2d. Chandlei's do 1 014 'i"'l l''^ fortunate issue of Major I'ors) tli'slast ad. riiiledelphia detachment 4uu j expedition shew.s, that small cnterpriMS.at 4th. Ualti more do. 5t'.!. Ca.li.slc do. 6tli. Greenbu.sh do. 7th. Saekett's Harbor do 8th. Several corps at Butfalo under the command of General Porter, and the reeruit.s belonging thereto. . 3,000 ;j(i(i least, may be successfully e.sreculel at the 2uu present season. The advices, given in your 4(i0 ; letter of the 1 lib instant, have a bearing aLtineilfor The Adjutant-General has orders to pu* the [ tin; (uture objects of the e.vpediiioii : and, if more southern detachments in n»arch fis ex- j p,.^,sy^,^l by Prevost before such junction can poditiouMy as po;;sible. The two brigades on ^ j,^ edeeted, he may withdraw hiniHlf Ic Lake Champlain you will move so as to give j Saekett's Harbor, or ollu r place of security, them full time to reach their place of destina- j o„ our side of the line. This would be iiiiuli tion by the 25lh of March. The route by | ti,y shorter road to the oiject, tiiul perhaps i:iizabelh will, I think, bo the shoittst and ^ the safer one, as the St. Lawrence is now evay best. They will l)e replaced by some now ^. ij^jn. ^^^^^n i„.i,]„.,,,i^ a„j ^jj;.,.^ „o „i,.„.||,iioD raised regiments from tlic cast. to either attack or retreat. Such a movement, You will put into your movements asnmch j ^y^]^ „y doubt,! c soon known to Pre\osi,anJ privacy as may bo compatible with their ^..,„„ot ^ut quiet him. The dileinmait execution. They uiay bo masked by reports j p, ^^ents w ill be serious. Either he nm-tgive that Sacketf' Harbor is in danger, and that ' up \^\^ western posts, or, to save tluni, he their principal effort will be made on the | „m,si ^.^ny him.^elf in force, and prumplly, to Niagara, in co-operation with General liar j Upper Canada. In the latter case be \^il! bo rison. As the route to Saekett's Harbor and . embarras.«ed for subsistence. Lis conv.y>of to Niagara is for a considerable di.itance the provi>ion will be ojien to our ataeks, onJ same, it may be well to intimate, even in line of niaily one hundred miles, ami his orders, that the latter is tlie destination of the position at Monti eal much weakened. Amither two brigadoa now at Luke ChampUin." I decided advantage will be, to let us !iito*.ht iccTct (if his I'c; make heavy dv recover Kingsl..n and aft'.'r all mail ou Lake Champ imagine'!, or tli report-^ make him AVitli r. gard to that we have n 3tAtcd above, i'l given to tiie weste menfs against tl adviinit' .-outliwa operating on his of co!iinnniieatio! positi'ni, they (tin seC'ireil ; 1>!, Iiy ta or, 2'!, to l!inliiigt to protect them w give!) liir Ih" marr' e.xcepti.ig Ulmer'.- panie-i of axe-men, the Cliaiidiere. The .-oulhern d .•tron.'er tlian I h l'hihule!p!iia will a sand ellectives." Altlioiigh we arc to make out w hat ' are KT( without niii real 1-, .^,.11 why it Arm-tri'nj-, althoug commenting on thi consiileralde lensrth, this p.iint, \\(} mn degree of coiifidene Dearborn's and Coi presentations, influci information gained t I-t this matter. In 25th April, ISL'J, Hcctsai!i.'d from Sae having on board Gem in-chief, and a cons easy to get at the i sont on this enterpr mtaif/ of which it Dearborn docs not ci American historians inentiore,! by Chain took on board the i^'Oiit seventeen hi .■f'iuees, on whut am HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 151 jocrct t'f lii-' I't-'-'il s(ici;;itli. If ho be ab'e (o make licnvy dctiicliuunts to cover, or to recover Kiiv--^'"". mul to protoi't !u^ ^•u]1;)lil.'S. nnd aTt' r :ill iii;iiiil:iia li'iii>'_'lf at Mti\itri';il rin') ou L:iko CliMinpIiiiii, ho is stroiiner than I irafi;:ii>u'l, or tinn any well-aiuliinlioated reports lu.ikc him to 'lo. Willi ri;;:iril to our luaj^azincs, my heliof i.<, that wo liavo notliiir^- to fear; hooauso, as statc'l a'liivo, i'rovo-t's attention imist be given to the western Jio-^t^, and to our move- ments a;:iiinst theiu. Ho will not dare to advaiii 1' >'iutliwardly, while a hcav}- eorj« is operating: I lu his Hank, and moniu'intr his line of ceamnuiieation. I'ut on the other sup. positi'Mi, they (the miijrnzines) may bo easily Sfcvnvd ; 1st, by taking' them to AVillsborough : or, 2d, to I'urliiigton ; or, ."d, by a militia call, to proteet them wliere tli(>y are. (M'dors are (»ivcii liir tie' mareh of the eastern volunteers, except!.. g LThuor's rci^iuient, and two eom- panies of axc-incn, sent lo open the route to the Cliaudiore. The southern detaehniont will be much ••troa.'er tlian 1 had supposed. That from i'hilailelpliia will amount to nearly orio thou- sand eii'ertives." Althuiigh we arc enabled from those letters to make out what v, is the original plan, we are KTl v.itleuit mi:tli information as to the real ri i-«.a why it was ahandoned. Kven Arm-tmii^r, although Secretary at War, and commenting on this ])artie'ilar enterprise at mnsiiliiablc length, is comparatively silent on this p'tint, we may, therefore, witli some (icgroe of confiUmee, aseiibe it to (bneral Dearhern's and ("onunorlci'c Chauncoy's re- present a lions, influenced doubtless by [irivate inforiii.ition crained throe jh tiieir siiies. Be this matter, however, as it may, on the 25th April, ISl.'J, (,\»mmod(ire Chauncev's ticet '-ailed from Saekett's Harbor for York, having on board (lenoral Dearborn, a.sdencral- in-chief, and a considerable force. It is not easy to get at (he exact nvunbcr of troops sent on this enterprise, nor to ascertain the wn^f//, / n on the 27lh, and jiroparations wore immediately made for landing th" troops. Ytirk .seems at this time to have been in an ahno'^t il"''i'nce'ess ciMidi'.ion, and a very ri'pr( hen-i'-le apathy appeal's to have i)rc VMile' a''''idi'ntal circumstance of the Duke of (llonee^ter brig being in the poit, undergoing some I'cpairji, enabled the garri.-cm to mount, on temporary field works, a few six-pounders. Still the defences were of the most in.significant char- acter, and we are at a loss to accoont f«r the undertaking the building of vessels in a place so open to, and unprepared for, an attack. Their vari(jus p(»sitions having b'^cn taken up b\' the armed ve>-;> Is de^lineil to i.iverthe landing, and take part in the attack on the halt' lies, tlie debarkation of the troops began about eight o'lloek in tlie morning, and Forsyth with his ritlo cor|)S wore t!ie first who attempted to make good a landing. The -pot at whieh the binding wa-^ intended to have been m.ade was close to the site of an old French fort, and will bo f )tmd onreforence to tb.eptan at the head of ihe chapter ; the boats were, howevir, earried by a strung breeze and heavy sea, considerably to leewatd of the intended jioint, ami nearly half a mile to the westward the landing was etli'cted. Arm- strong says this sjoit was "thickly covered with brushwooil, and already rxeupiod by Hriti-h and Indie.n mark-nu'ii." Il.id the spot been m-eupiod ast!ui> represented, tl"- chances are, when vs'e con.-ider with what diflii'uity I hey overcame a mere handful of men, that the Americans would never have landed on that day ; in reality it was oceu]ii. d by Major Givens, with about five-and-t'veni y Indians, 162 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1813. I and a company (about sixty) of Glengarry Fcnciblos. Armstrong adds ; " in the contest that followed, Forsyth lost sonic men, l)nt no credit." Wo grnnt the former, as the defence inadehythchMiidfidofmen.thenon the ground, was so determined that Forsyth would have found itdiflieult to effect a landing had he not been speedily reinforced by Jhijor King and a battalion of infantry. The landing of the main body under Ciencral I'ike now enabled the enemy to advance more boldly, and to drive back the IJrilish, (whose iiunil)ers had been in the meantime increased by the arrival of some two hundred and twenty mililia, and fifty of tlie Newfoundland regiment,) from one position to another. The stand made at some of these positions v.as very gallant, as two comi'.anies of the 8ih regiment (:il)Out two hundred strong) had now joined. James says, "the whole of the American troojis, at this time on shore, amounted, by their own accounts, to upwards of one thousand. 'J'hcse were met by two hundieii ami ten nun oi'the Sth, and Newfoundland, rcgimeiils, and about two hundred and twenty mililia, who made a formidable charge upon the American coliur.n, tn\d partially compelled it to retire." Kein- forccd, however, Ijy the fre.-h troojis that were coulinually being landed, tlie Amei leans rallied and eomper.ed the r.rili>.h to retire, partially covered in their retreat by the batteries which, in.signitleant as they were, had still done good service, by partially occu- pying the attention of the enemy's vessels, which had by this time, from their light draught of water, approached w ithin gun-shot. The companies of the Sth I'egiment sud'ered materially irmn thiir ignorance of the roads, tlic grenadiers being nearly anniliilaled, and this was tlic more to be n gretted, as their gallantry was without any beneiieial results, the main landing having been ell'eetcd before their arrival, (u neial Shealle appi ars to have laid his i)!ans very badly ; by early dawn the alarm o( the enemies' appro;'<'li was given : yet so confused tloes every movement appear to have been, that we lind only a few Indians and a hundfnl of militia on the spit to ofijiose a laiuiiag, while the two companies of the hth were lell to lind their uay thrtuigh woods and cover wilhout jiroper direction or guides. We Ihid, in addition, .Vdji.tint tie. i. Shaw, w ith ubodyolmeuandabra&ssi.\-pOaader,tuUingup ' a position on the line of Dundas street, where , ho remained, taking no part in the action. Wo do not blame Adjutant Cien. Shaw for ! this, as we presume he had his orders, but ' we questinn the judgment which placed him j in such a position, as it was not probable that I tlie Americans would advance by that route, leaving in the rear, a force which, "small as ii was, had kept them in clicck for six hours. On the retreat of the 15ritish, a movement j effected through the woods, the Americans I advanced and carried, without nuich resist- j ancc, the first defence : advancing towards i tlie second, and observing the fire cea.^esud- deidy. Pike concluded, and not unreasoiialily, that it was for the jjurnose of inakuij; proposals for a surrender, and unfortunately halted his troops while yet at a distance o( two hundred yards from the main batter}'. AVo say, unfortunately, as, had they advanceii the major part of them must have peri.died in the explosion whicli took place on the firinf of the magazine, which had been jiisi blown up i)y Sergeant .Marshall to prevent the enemy gaining po.sscssion of a large quaiiti!y of p.owder deposited there. Inger.-ol styks the blowing up of the magazii»e " a vile strat- agem ;" and Tlioinson accuses (leneral Slaalfe of treacherously ordering tlie train to Ik laid, and of artfully placing several cait leads of .atones to increase the effect. This is f|iiite in- correct, as we do not think Sheidle clever enough to have suggested such a plan ; besiil ■, .Marshall distinctl}- s'ated that had iie known (leneral Sheatl'e wished it, or had it ocmrroi: to himself, he could easily have blown up tlit enemy by giving ten minutes more j ort llrr. Had he done so, the destruction of the ulio!« column wouM have been the natuiul coiisi- fpience. A vast amount of nonseii.-e, relative to this affair, has been penned Ir,- Aiijeiii.ar. historians, who do not seem to relket thil this was an invailing force, and that the mire has always been a legitiuiate mode either of attack or defence. In the present iii.^taiice, the only object in blowing u[) the niagaziiif was to prevent (leneral Pile getting posses siuiioflhe powder; it was, therefore, Ijknvnup, and very clumsily too, it was done, iis severa; of the IJritish troops w ere killed or ivouiidi'ii by the explosion. We heartily iigieu Kill. dames, "that even had Die whole coluiuL I beeu dciitroyed, the Americaus would but have met tlieir t commiserate the p( aithhim, "thatt oy the American eiglit ineniburs of ;-,rlhewar." Th( u; citkt.s, killed ai huiidied Ameiican .indwiile, and creat ;omporary alarm a ind rubbish were ufthe vessels licar to In2;crsol, "the '■arth(|iiake." deneral i'ikc wa his breast and side gered in great age Pike was a native o seated to have bee bred .sohlier, and oi the Americans had. one. Through mot 10 prevent uiineces> paltry as was the vie wheliiiiiig odds, sti'.l linovuiig that he lia twas. Tlioinp.son quent onhis death ; Couiaiodore's ship, amattre.-5.<, andaskin iiag to be laid undei he iiubly breathed h 4'h." All honor we are i num who dies a sac considering llie iinii bors, by which, a.ft etru^'gle, the feat of achieved, the oflicioi liistoiiaiis has confer jf honor iijion the la tieneral Shcalfe w of the temporary pai liad been thrown, an force lie could, and le CCS the civil authorit he made a hasty re Ivingston, destroyinr s!iil»son the stocks, a »nd naval stores in ti '-'f the town beinc sui'rtiider iiecessai il WSbtipulaled, that i UISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1813. 158 as street, where in the action, Cien. iSliaw for liis orders, but lich jilaccl him 5t probatilc that J V>y that route, iich,'siiiall as it . for six hours li, a inovemcni the Americans lit iiuieh resist- mcinj; towards firi' cease suil- it uiireasonalilv, osc of making (1 unfortunately it a distance uf B main battm. I theyadvanaii, have peiishi'd ir. :^e on the firing had been just II to prevent tlit I large quantity Iiifier.sol styles ve " a vile strat- taiice, the niiigazirie ctting |>os.-cs- fore, blown up, (ine, lis seviTal ;d or wounJea ly i)grec with whole eoluiuu s would but have met their deserts ;" and if disjiosed to commiserate the poorsoliliers, at least, we wish, (villi him, " that their places had been (llkd oythe American President, and the ninety- f;i"ht members of the Legislature who voted for the war." The explosion, partial as were .li cil'eets, killed and wounded more tiian two iiundied Americans, spreading its mischief far ind wide, and creating in the reuiainder much -.enipurary alarm and conf:.-ion. The stones md rubbish were thrown as far as the decks yf the vessels near the shore, and, according '0 Insersol, "the water shocked as with an •;arthi|uiik<'." lieneral i'ikc was literally Ftoncd to death, his breast and sides were crushed, nnd he lin- gered in great agony till he expired, (ien. Pike was a native of New Jersey, and is repre- sented to have been a gallant and thoiough- brcd soldier, and one of the best conuiuTidcrs ••lie Americans had. His death was a glorious '.>ne. Through motives of humanity he halted 10 prevent unnecessary effusion of blood, and paltry as was the victory gaiiud with such over- wiieliiiiii^' odds, still lie had the salk-factiou of iiiowiiig that he had gaineil a victory, such as Xwas. Thompson and Ingersol are very elo- quent onhis death ; "carried on board the Ooninioilore's ship, fJeneral Tike was laid on araaltress, and asking f .r the Kritish cajitin'ed dag to be laid under his head, in a few hours he nobly breathed his last upon it, without a sigh." All honor we are ready to pay to the brave man who dies a sacrilice for his country, but con^idrring liie Ininicnse su^ierioiity of nuni- bors, by which, after a long ant the |i.-t of pi iiuicis on parole, many who had never laid , to eommu- iiieate the niortilying inteliiirence tliiit the enemy had oblaineii pos.^es>ion of lli.it jiliice on the 'llth of April. 1 sl:all iiow jrivo your lOxeelleney a I'urlhei' detail of that event. In the evening of the 2tUli, inforniatioii wan received that many vessels had been seen to the eastward. Very euly the next miriiin.:, they weic discovered Ivlip.'to, not fo- fioni the har- bor; after some time had elijise I, tliey made I sail, and to the number of sixtei-ii, of various dc- I seriptions, anchored oil' thi' shore, sieiie liistance I to tiie westward. Itoats full of troops were hii- ] mediately seen assemliling near the eomiiiodore's ■ship, under coreidf whose tlie. ami that ol other vessels, and aidei. by the wind, they soon ellV'cted a landing, in spite oi a spiiiiod oiijiosiiion from Major (Jivens and about fpity Inclians. A com- pany of (ileni;airy li^htinfanli-y, which ha t been or- dered to support tiiem, had, Ity some mi lake (not in the smalle.-t degree lm|iutable to it- comman- der,) lieen led in another direction, and came late j into action. The !;i)uld have felt eonfident of Bucci'-s, in spite of the di«|iaiity of nnnihi is. As it was the eoLte-t, w lii,;h eojnineneeil lietwn'ii six and srven o'eloek, w,;rt liiaintaiiicd for nearly eight hoius. When we had pnifci'ded tome miles from York, we met the li;:ht ii.lantry of the Kiiiii's re- mcnt, nil its r('Mf'' lor l-'orl (Ieorf;(> ; it tetired with U8 and covered the retreat, which was eflected without moh-tatioii from the enemy. I havi- till' honor to he, i\'e., I!. II. SiiKAKKi;, Major-fxcnoral. ITi= F.XTlletiey Sir flroriie Prevost, &•'•. Rcdi; 11 Mf ki'l.'d, Wi'iiiid'.d, prisoners, an 1 miss- ilij:, of the troops en^iairi'd at Yoik, under tl.e command of Sir I'.iger llall Slieafl'e, on the 27th iiliim.ip : — Kiiijiston, Way lOlli, ISin. Tofa' — One captain, one serfjcant-major, (our Serjeants, (me diinnm.r, filly-two rank and (i!e, three j:uniier.s, killed : one ensi;.'n, two ser: •■ ■ one drummer, thirty rank and lile, woutidei: -.w lieutenant, fnur seijeants, one drummer, t ii.;- six link and llle, one driver, W(uinded and pii- doners ; sis rank and lile, om; Iioml)irdier, three gunners, [iiisonerti ; six raiiiiand tile, one gunner. Names of olHcers killed nnd woundeii. /{i/liif~ >^\\\ (or King's regiment) — Captain M'NimI, volunteer 1). .Maclean, cleik of the House of Assemlily. H'"(((i(/i(/ — l!oyal Newfoundland Regiment — Lieiuenmt 1>. Keven, prisiiinr. Glengirry Light Infantry — Knsigii R ihins, slightly. Ge.r .il Si.iiV — C.ipt.iiii Loriiig, I04lh regi- ment, .slightly. Incorporated Militia— Capt. Jarvis, voluiitcr Ilartney, harrack-iiiasler. iJiciniii) LioNAni), Acting dei'Uty i.•si.^fanl.■adjut;;I:^grI;.;J. EllWK. '^VV.NK.S, Adjutaii;,-gi.rerii', Xo.-th A'norioa. Td'nin of cfjiitii/ii/in), cntrrrd ivfy. . rei'u. lar and militia, to ground their arms inra. il!,itelv on parad.', and the naval ollicer.s and se ,:k'ii be immediately surrendered. That all pulilio stores, naval and i.iilitirv, «hil, lie immediately given up to the commauiiin;; offi- cers ol the army and n.ivy of tlie United Siiitf!— that all priv.i'e propel ty shall I'C giiarai tcoil tc the citizens of the town of York. That all [)a[)ers helonging to the civil i.filccr! fihall he ret lined hy them — that such sMigcoiisai may be procured to attend the womide I nf the liriti.-li regulars and ('anadiai' militia .shall i;otbe coii-idered prisoners of war. That oiu' lieiitenai't-colonel, onemajur, tl.irteoc Ciiiitains, nine lieutenants, eleven ensi^riiJ, one (pnirter-master, ot.e deputy adjutant-general of the militia, namely — Ororge ^lustanl, ii.i'iiet V.iiidi.'iburch, l.oliei't Stamen, (iecM'ge Iiiddiit, Wm. Jarvis, Ed« d .M'.Mahon, J(d. . iVil-ell, Ely ri.iyter. KNsniNS. Andrew 'iiioiiip,soD| Lieut. -Cnl. ('hewett, Maj.)r Allen. CAl'TAINS, John Wilson, .John Hiitton, I'eter llohinson, Ueiihen Richardson, Jiihii Arnold, James Fenwick, James Must.ird, Duncan (.'ameton, David Thom|»soii, John I!oliins(>n, Samuel llidont, Thomas Hamilton, John l>ui;i, William Jarvi-t. (JIIARTKIt-MASTEIl. Charles I! ■«. I.IKUTh.;>ANT3, John II. Shultz, Nineteen f.erjeant.s, four corporals, iiiul two hundred and four rank and lile. Of the field train department, Wm. Duiiliar;o( the provincial mivy, Captain Ers. (hivciiMUi, [.ieiifenant (Ireen, Mi Ishipmen John 11 'lout, Louis Haiipre, Cleik. James Lain'sdoii, one boat- swain, lifteen naval artdicers ; of His .M.iji-'Sly'l r -gular III) ps, Lieiileliant iJe K( ver, ele' scr- je.int-major ; and of the royal ;o'tilh'i'', ire bom- hardier and three gu'iners, shall hi' smn inlored inisoners of war, and accounted tor ri t^ie «• elianee of prisoners betwooii the rnilel .'•wl'^ and Groat Ihitain. Alfred Seiially, Donald MAiiiiur, William S'.eith, Andrew .Meicef, Jame.< Cheuctt, (J.'orge Kink, Edward Theiepaon, Charles Dei.isnii, (jeorge Deiilsoii, Darcev Roulton. .\ I'l SA^ A. AVI I W.( W. F. G According to l! sonris aiiio.Mited thrte. yet some t!ii< nuiiihcr, one, ar.otii.-r, lo nine i assiilions, too, w DL'avhorn'.s ollieial h Lec.i seen lie does i the Ijriti.-h fcjrcc at Snvtil as tlii.s force the iinl'irtiii>ate 61^ 8lh'):i their « ay Iron the Americans wo farce to eoiiteiul w i and Cienoral Sheaile this affair of York— ilary at; i iiava' store coiii;iiirativeIy large in an e.xpo.sed sitaali ncgii;,'eiice ill not ori be put in order, and mi'iisurcs for conccii .•iuriiig soiuetliing HI (k:aial Sliealfe w as scJid in tiie comma! Mnjer General l)e ]!i toMoiitre.al, ne took t in that di.-,tiict. Tlie Atnericans ga qu.imity of luival sto tiou had heen negle bwiivci, was tital of lial heen nearly pi bri.' i'liiu'c Regent I three days before tli ing capture. 'I'liest. IllfcM'.M)!, " l,y aiiOlli »tS,U'kelt's liarl.nur !i.i ! not even tliis to for the loss of so man 8C1111S dispn.sed lo ti •^Kilii:- hur.shly wiiii HISTORY OF THE T>^\R OF 1812. 155 urvifl, volmitcf.f, iut;-.:'.j.'ri, ij. KS, I'.Ui A-Jii'iioa. 17' /r. n,i I},,' n-i}^ "* unn y om] nnn III'' •ijilllli't III of ui(l Coiii.aoJon \ niilliii, af tlii; ■^I'.'iMion, sliiill l)c riiL" tro i|i>, roiu. I'sii-i iiirn-iiiatdj .s u'.nl .-■i' .'lion b; H'l I lilit irv, shall coitmiiiiiiliiijoffi- !• I'llilril Si;,trj— '0 f;ii;it:i: u i'>l tc V. tlii> civil iiflieori such «'irL;i,)!isaj wiiiiiiilcJ ijfihj lilitin shall i;o:le noniiijiiv, tlJrtcet veil ciisiu'ii-i, or.e Ijtitaiit-guiieral of \^f Mil-:* iril, V.iiiiii.'iburch, I SMIiI."!, Ki'liii/i, J:il \ is, 1 M'M.ilion, VilH,|l, lyii'i. w 'riii)ii,|isoD| ll SlMillliv. 1(1 M'A'i'iiir, 111 Si.iitli, W Ml ll'iT, ( "iii'» rlt, Kiiil<, il TliiMiipson, - Iii'i.isi'ii, i' DulilytiM, y IJimltDii. hum1.<, iiiul W Will. Piiiil.;ir;of 1^. (idVi'U'aiii, .lot, 11 IMou'- .is,loM, (iiu'l)oal- if His M.ii''5tj'! Cc viT, nil'' sf- lPrr>\ rri' boB- l.,> Miipmlereii 1 lor n i!ic ei- c I'nitrl iU\W I- 1, fS;_T 1] 0. E. MITCIIEFJ,, T.MMU.-roI. ^ I "thiy sil ('rt', not only nm!.oo(l" U. S. Viivy. ■ cini-tii- i^, li.nvfvrr, .-j'.'nf o;. tl,!^ v. i: '. nm\ W.CIIKWKTT. Li(Mit.-('..l.( oil). liiiJ Itf 'I. Voi-k Militia. W ve !iro iinliirciUroni the <-ir('iiinh force at nioro than eiglit Inmdred. permanent pos^-es-ion was taken." Sniiiil us tlii.s forcL was, iiad it not been fori Touehiiip; the sea'p hero nientinn-d, In,2;er- the iiiif.irtiinate fa-' wc deem it) liaU of tlie ' sol pretends to give an olticia! l li r from Sth'iii till ir way fioni Kingston to Fori Clior^;e, i Conimodoro Chaunrey to the Hot . \\'il!iara tlio Americans wonld have had a still smaller Jones, Seeretary of the N'avy, in '.vhieh the farce to contend with. Sir Geor;;o Picvost ' Commodore is made to write : Sii:, — I have tiie honor toprt -eiit yon, by the hands of Lient. Dudley, l!ie i>;■iti•^!l staiul- Uuiy an I I'ava! stores to lie snper- scJl'iI in tlie command, in Upper Canada, hy Miijiir General l)e Rottenhurg, and, ret'iriiing sillier it to lemaiii hi hiscahiiiel." .\iinstrong in lelation to this afrdr, wiites, "our trophies were fewer but better taken lare of. One human scalp, a priz' made, as we ii.i 1 • >tand, toMuiitreal, he took the command of the troops . by llii^ Coiummliirc, \\;\a oiriivd, but not ac- in laat district. llie Americans gained possession of a great q'Miility of naval stores, of which the destrue- ti)u had been neglected. The greatest loss, cepted, as a decomthin to the wal's "f t'le war ollice.'' Ft will be ob.served th.d .\i:ii>trong does not say how, or where, Ccnimodore Cliauneey acquired this vah: ble li ',hy, but iiuACvci, was that of the shijis — one of w liich \ fiom the expert rujss of the baekwo.'dsmen in liiil been ne-iily planked. Forliuiately the scalping, (we have already giviu one or two bri- iViiiee Regent had left tiie harbor some three (lays before the attack, tliereby cscap- instanccs of this,) it is not at all unlikely, but that the scalp in rpiestion was that of an un- iiio' capture. The stoi'cs taken at York, writes fortunate Indian who w;;.-, shot while in a tree, lii-'.r.M)!, "by another mi.stake, were burn; ' by the Amerieah'S, in their advaM c on the >l>'a'kett'.s Harbour," so that the Americans town, on the other hand, il may lie giihered lot even this to boast of as a recompense from .\rmstroiig's words, tlirt Cliaiinccy him- lel foi tlie lussof .so manymen. James evijently self took the sca1p,whi''li he afterwards olforcd semis disposed to accuse the Americans of j asa prize todecorate the wall.^of the warofllcc. ''■'ii:g harshly with the town, and t^latus thai ' Ingersol devotes si.x and a half paLe., to this 150 HTSTOR? OP THE WAR OP 1812. one scjilp, i;ikitig iiji all the liorrors of the rcvoltilioti.'uy w.n; and jToviiiL'-iiK tdisliiictly how safe ho, iit coiiiinon \vi(li oliicr AiiuTitMii »Tit(.'is-, wiTC to uiako ii,> n cui^e of rriiclty, even hy iinplicution, ajjaiiii'l the Kritish. njr (lid ho make allowances for thu stron- cast wind; yet there is very little doubt Imi that, had flencial Dcarhnrn been a nnn nf energy, niiioh more mi;:ht have hi en (.(riftcJ .V still nii;re f^larinj; instanre of want o' jiid.u;nieiit occurred, however, in tlie next movement we have to touch npon ; tlicdcsccnl upon lort (ieorge, at the mouth of ihe Niagara lliver. One olijeet of the expedition ajrainst York' Dcscont upon I'eit the capture of the sturcs, ^''^^"''*'''^' havinj]^ heen accoiniiiish- ed, the troops were rc-embarked, in the liop« that they would bo able to proceed to the second and more intportant movement, with- out loss of time, liaflled, however, hv liL'ht Shealfc was superseded, as it is supposed. Errors <,f the (^.mi- ^'J"" ''i^' blunders in the '"'""'"••^- defence of York, and certainly not without cause, as he appears on the occM.sion to liavo acti il without judg- ment or any fixed plan. Numerous as his mistakes were, they still sink into insigni- ficance, when we compare them with those of the Ameiican commanders, who failed in two great points, the capture of the frigate, and the fui'vciition of Shealfe's escape. Had General il.arliorn been on the field, instead | and adverse winds, it was not till tlie sixlh of beiu'i in t^nMy three miles from the shore, ' 'lay (8th of May) after leaving York, thntthcj on Pike's death, ho might have prevcntjd the ' arrived off Fort George. It now cost General escape of Sheade with the main body of the' Dearborn three weeks to dii-patch his woiniki] regJ'.lars; as it was. Col. I'ierce, who succeeded to Sac!;;, it's Harbor, and bring thence nin- to the connnand, was lolully without orders, j fori'ciuents ; as Ingei sol says, "a inontli of and knew not what to do. This would have been ' precious time was consumed before tlieatlad most inipoi (ant, for situated !iS Great liritain, on Fort George, and then again the com- at that time, wa-s, she could liave ill allbrded mander-in-chief remained on board :i vis>il: ^0 send mure men to this country, and, scanty , while lii-; army, six thousand strong, attacked as were the means of defence, the captiu'c of "'hI carried the place." Sheaffe's iV.ice, small as it wa.s, would have j The British force on the Niagara line been r. r-il;d blow. General Armstrong, in his I amounted, at that time, to about ei-'itM letter tu Dmrbont, dwells particularly on this ! jumdred regulars, and live hundred iiii'iiia. point, an. I writes, "I am assured that the I The regular force eonsi.-ted of tlie -flHli I!i;:t regnii.r force in both the Canadas has uc no I and of detachments from the 8lh, 41st, (Jltn time sine.' the declaration of war, exceeded garry and Newfoundland corps, with a small three thousand men; ani"l to Fort (ieorge." Genend Armstrong's igno ranee of the nature of the ground has bd him [on the'27lh M;»y, the batte: icson the .Vnicri ::^ to make some remarks not quite deserved :' Ride of the Niagara being ready for action, ivJ HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 157 means necessary for trjinsportntion provided, the combatants began their movement in [iQit^^ along the lake shore, to Two-mile Creek, till' jioiiit designatei] for a gciural landii\.!r. James should chronicle so extraordinary a cir- cumstance as the want of powder in the prin- cipal Hritish fort in Western <"anad.i, had wo not so recently seen that a fii^^ale was !)uilt, ^Viicn Hull's surrender had j)ut the IJritish \ and a (juanlity of provisions and stores depo- jn losscssion of the artillery they so much sited in so exposed and indefensible a position rtouiriil, five of the twenty-four pounders as York. Whoever was tlie culpaMe I'arty, bl'jeen brought from Detroit, fi)ur of which I wlulher Sir (ieorge Pri'vost or (Ivneriil had been mounted at Fort George, and the I Sheade, there is very little doubt but that to 5fth on a battery, enharhrtt,\ about half a this circunistancc may be attrilxiied nuieh of Dii'.e below Newark, now Isi.igara. A fuv , the impunity '..-ith which the Anuricaiismado from hoine fiebl pii;ejs had been o])ene(l oi. their ineliuiinary moveujents on this «'r;it.ion. The British force was ]iosted as ;iilvantagt»- ously as eircuuislances would admit, by (iene- ra! Vincent, and they made a most Lrallant resistance, being overpowered oidy by the r.umerical strength of the assailants, and the (ire from the Anicrifati shippinr, whi'li rom- hiavv cannonade was again conitnemed from I "lifted dreadful havoc, and renKrt-d their furt Niagara to cover the attacking party, and efforts to oppose the landing of so iuuneasur- '■ in addition," (says James,) " two schooners, ! ''ibly superior a force altogether inelHetuaL bytlif use of their sweeps, had reaeh( il their i 'I'hrec times, under cover of the hravy (ire 3liti^)ii»at the mouth of the liver, in order to , ''om Ihe fort and the shipping, the Americans I siUw the twenty-four pounder and the nine- attempted to land, and were repulsed, by the pouii'ler, also jtlanted en harhcftc close to ' persevering courage of tlieir op|ionent- ; and N'fHiirk. Another schooner stationed herself! it was otdy at la^t, when consi.lerdily re- to till.' northward of the light house, and so duced in ninnbers, that General Vinceat, who |clo.sc t.) the shore as to enfilade the first saw the iiuitility of persevering in so uiiefpiid the American boats, when proceeding, on the iolli, to the rendezvous. 'J'his had piovoked s return from Foit Niagara, bj' which the Mjck houses, souic scattered dwellings near tlie Ibit, and the fort it.self were considerably (iainiii'fd. On the morniiig of the 'J7th a nanii'J buttery, and cross the fire of the re- raaiuiii!' two schooners." Tiic remaining five .1 contest, retired, blowing up, bifore his retreat, the small (luanlity of powder which schooners anchored so as to cover the landing : yet remained in the uiagazine at Fort t Iv'orge. I of the troops. Thii fiigate Madison, Oneida Tlie heavy fire had remlered the foit alto- brig, and a schooner, lookup also advanta- I gcther untenable ; (ieneral Vincent bad, there- Ijtous positions. The united broadside of these vessels was Dfty-one guns, many of |lhom thirty-two and cighteen-poundcrs. Afjaiiot this formi.lablc array what had the British? — a weak position entirely exposed to « cross fire of shot and shells, and a scarcity of powder— i credible as this last asset tion msy appear, we are, ncvertheles.-., borne out in I'oie, no alternative left but to retreat in the direction of Qucenston, first ii I'orC George : the fire tiul liuing iinmediaCely iv;turutid. WB lIlSTOnV OK THE W.\n OF 1P13. li ha foiiml, w iiiii^l not, ImweMT, oiiiil {•> r.otiff j onecxiiir-ciiation cotitaiiKilin it, n lativc to thu i Aiiiciii'Mii sirii;:;;U'. Wl' hHu K- to iliu passive . "lli< •■vliiilo r.iicL' i> s!ali'y nnriiliii-, lio mailc a vi i y ' a'lK' ri'ticil — collrclia'j; hy the next iin'iiiin;; , rK'arly sixt'jcii liiinilr.d iiiiii, wiili a im.Mtion, IJurliii;^;'! I liilj;liis, to IhM Iju'k on, wliiili, | accor'ri! ; t > I) irh'.rii, wliik' il n maiiicd in the ]io\\ CI- of l!i(.' I'ritish, r( iiiIlim''! tlic snccc.-s- fulofi"i|;it!")n liy lliu Aniciirimsofthc \\\sti.rn jii'i'i:i-!ii;i iiiii rai'tii ablf. As at \'i)i!<, ;in;4(r a fe>v ruined houses and unlcnuhlc fort. j , I it f(.M-'i"l I'or stJiiio time. AImuiI -t o'clock, A. M. a coii.liiii; tioii of c'iri'tiiii>it:iiiL'('s Kvl to a lidi.'f iliat an iiivasi(i:i w,is iiicilitatc d. TIk; nujiiiiii;^ ln'inf^ oxci'' iliii;,' liazy, liuitlu'i' his ini;:ni'< nor his iiitfi:- ; tion (Mini lie ascertained, until, the mist elcarinii; away at h:U'i'va!s, the entiny's fleet, consi^linj; ol' , foiirtc.'ii 01' fifteen vessels, was diseovci'ed muler ' way, siaiidiiij; towiinis the iij;htdiousi', iu an ex- temie 1 Hiie ol more tlian two mili's, cuveriii^ from ninety to one liundred Iar;:(; l)oatsand scows, earli containin;^ an avei'a''e of lil'iv to sixlv nn.Mi. ihe Driiinii loss in Ulled and wounded wnj very Inavy. The 8lh, (ileufrarry and N\nv- foimdlaiul detachments !o.-,t full oni dia'f of their tiniti d force, and the militia a|)|iear in have alsosidl'ered Severely, at least iif,djtv.f:vc ha\in;: hieneithir I;i!Kd or wcamded. The total IJritish loss was e.tiinaicd at fo!;r huinhvd tmd forty-live. Thomson, ia hi< "M\etih\s of the AVtir," mako np a mtv in!|io,- i.;:x total of lirisoner,-, ; lil\e nin.-i ■),' hj, .■^liiteimtits, howe\er, his accout;t is jjro.elv I xaj^r^erat''d. He eiMUits the -v. oniRkd reirnlarj t'.\iee over; once as wounded, and a sni,;,,; time its jrisoners — he ndils furl her, "t!.. militia jnisotiers who wei'e iianhd to i!... nund'er of livi.' hmidi\d aii 1 yo.wu," \r, N,',nv in the flr.-t [dace, no nnwoimded n j^uliiis [u\ into the hands of ih • Ainei it ans, cxcej.t tlit llity v>!;o Wi-re captured at t'le fort. A;:.;r, .Mr. 'riii'inson fori^'ets to inform us Iio.v ihv tcrie.s in the fort. A.s our li;^lil troo|v- fi'IIbaci MlHCi till' ni li'.l 'lody, which Was niovtvl fii;-,v;.iil; to their snpiiort, they wi.-re fjallaiitly sastiiiiioilM the 8ih (kii.^fs) re;,'inu'nt, coininiii;de(| hy Miji.'f tremendous lire of shot ami shell.s, I decided on retiring my little force to a position wdiicli I hoped might be less assailable by the heavy onlnaiiceof the enemy, and from which a retreat would be left open, in the event of that me.asure becotninf necessary. Here, after awaiting the approach of the oneiiiy for about half an hour, I received authentic information, that his force, consisting of from four to five thousand men, had re-formed his columns, and was nuiking an effort to turn my right flank. At tliia critical juncture not « 3* IHSTOllY OF TIIK WAR or 1812. 159 five liuiKlKiiaiul>e veil ijan)li'iltiiilitiii|,iistini'rs iTtTc oliiainod — as liu lias faik'il in llii-', wi- imi.'-t rtftr lo .lames. " No sD^inr Ii'kI tlic AmLiii ;i!i .■iriny ^rot possession of the Ni;i;rara froniiLV, llian (Hi its witli ii.irlics witc (-cut to I'Vi ly I'liiii-Iiousi- anil l.o\cl in (lie ni-i^li- i)Our!iiiM,i, (o ^^\■^^■[ a iiamli' IVoiii lliu male nha''itiiiis of luin-i.-t every aj;c. ^mnv. were ,'la'I ■ ftliis I'Xctise for r.niaininir peairiMy at heir li'iisis; and llio.-c. wlio inade any ippn-iijiii were llnv'i'.ljiicil to lie sent across •'n'i n\i,!, aid tliiowii into a nui-onic inixm. Te t iHi''t v.'onder, tlr n, tliat \iveii Canaiiians were frot ready to lie 01) llie part of tlie Uriii-li, in n-i.>tin;^ the allaek." [ Our loss was very M,i..,t, j.nt ti,,,( ,,f the I enemy was ijiiite as }:r. at in pKipoiiido — thiU is, tlie numlier tliat f. II in t\le •■Nvcntioii I done liy (Ii,. lilty-nne ;."ni hi iiad^iiv of tilt' I ve>sels. The Ami iii'ah-> ll;vni ;. Ives stall' their j lo vei v s:iii-.i:ir(orv ; i and, as James ha.> it, not a liidr i .Mliorn's I olli. i:il k'tler on this oeia-ion. lie i1m,.s not tunvuiu d to the heeretarv at War, so as, not .,.,..,,,•., • • , , ,, , ', 1 , . . I stale that the riMli-h were snoerHir m inr'-e — inlv I') -'.'.e.ltlie an\oun! ol tlie l)>; siistimed, I ... • , , ., • . , ;, ,...,. ,• 1 <• , , inis IS partieuiarlv sliikui'j- m an Ameiican— 'jut i'V a l.nr mlerciiee ol llio foree tiiinloved, , , , .* ' • ' lie, howeviT, Inn lis at enemy's piisiii.ii ail'ir \r 1 I tlir a r,anta,:;e the I. ' We iiavi' "lent »;!•* to Ii(> lost, luid -oii-ilile tliaf every ell'oit .tail ini II iiiiiije, In the (liiieLTd and iiii'ii iiiiiler iiiv , - coiiiiiiiiiiil, lu iii.iiiitaiii the piisi ot I'm I (ieoii;!', 1 , my iiiili' arniv ; — ovi'ry one most z^'aloiisly dis- jul'l luit coasider iiivslII jii-tilird ill eoiioimiiii;- ; eliai^'ccl iho ilmii'S ofiii^ le-pi-i i.ivu- ^i.itJiMi. The ■OUliiii'iiil a eiHitest, tin; issue nl wiiieii [iromisfil i ^llu;:u;le on tlir JTth e'liitiiiiHMl iVeaii ihuT ti) four 3oailv;iiaa;;e to the interests of his Mnjcsty'sser- hours; and, I lament tou'lil, it «us atUaded with viM'v severe loss. I have tho hoaor to eiirl"-i> a Il-I of tlic lvilli'1, :iit|ij;i ui.-ni>\eii, ilie troojis under my eoinmaiiil ' woumleil, and missiiif;, with iis iinieh nceiii ley aa 'Cieitiilia iiioliiia, and iiiiir.'hed aeriiss the co'iii- the iiuluie ol existing' eiieiiiu.-l.niees uaj admit. Wm. U.iviii^; ^iveii oiders lor tlie tort to l)e iTacuatiij, till! jiuiis til lie >pil\ed, ami the amiiiti- «7 in a lii'o paralli.'l lo ilie Nia;^ara i ivcr, towaiils '.he|ii)?!iiuii iiuaitlie llea\ei- Dum,l>eyoml t^ueL'iis- Wwii MDuataiii. at whieli [il.iee I hail llie honor ol rcpuiti.g La your Kxei;lle:iey that a depot o( pro- 'iiiui.s aiiil aiiiiiiunitiun had lieeii luiiueii soiiu? ■jme jiiue. Tlie reai-j.;iiard of the army reached that pii^iiion diiiiiij^ the iii,nlit, i.iid we were soon illi'inai.l-joi'ied liy Lieuteiiaiit-Culoiiel IJisshopp, *ilh all the (liHacliiiients fiom Chippewa to I'oit Eric. Tile light, and one batnilidii eompany ol the Sill, (kiii;,-'s,) joined us about the same time, udiil Ciptaiu Barclay, with a dotachiuoiit ot the royal iiiivy. Uaviiijr a^senlhIed my whole force the follow- .ngiiniri!iii;r^ whieli did not exceed sixteen liuii- Ireil nit'ii, 1 continued my march towards the headot'tiie lake, where it is my intention to take 'jp a po-itioii, and shall endeavour to maintain it, Jalil I iii;iy be honored with your Excellency's lustructiuiis, which I shall fuel most anxious to receive. 1 be;; leave to suggest the great im|)ort- uce that exists for a eomnmnieation being opened with me, through the medium of the fleet. The aiklioiuge under Mr. Brandt's house is pei- i«cily good and safe. I believe your Excellency aeed not be informed, that in the event of it be- oomiiig necessary Uiat I should fall back upon Tork, the assistance of shi|)ping would be rerpii- Bte tor the transport of uiy artillery. I cannot conclude this long communication, without ex- pressing a well merited tribute of approbulion to *e gallantry and assiduity of every oflicerof the •Uff, aud iuUeed of every iudividutd composing Many (il the inis-ing, I linpe, win In- fmii.! to be only siiaggkrs, ami will mioh rcjuiii their corps. I sh.dl n aeli the lu'ad of tin' hike tn-moi row even- ing. Hitherto theeiit'iny has not a!t''iiipted to inleiitipt my movements. Inibrmatiiin reached me this morning, through an antheniic channel, that lie liad pushed on three thuii-iinil infantry, and a eonsider.ible body of cavalry, towards tjueenston. His whole force is stated to amount to nearly ten thon-iiiiil men. 1 si'iul this despatch bv .Mr. .M;ithi>on, who acted as a volunteer on the 'JVth ; and 1 jun happy to inrurin your E>;celli'ii(y, that his ton 1 let was very honorable to his eharae'er, and iin'iits :iiy marked a[)prol)ation. Amnnaition will be want- ing by the first vessel. Ciiptain .Milms has been kind enough to remain with me until my next despatch. I have the honor to be, &c. John V'i.ncim, Brig. Gen. His Excellency Lieutenant-Giineral Sir George I'revost, &e. &c. ic. Return of killed, wounded, and InissilU^ of TTia .Majesty's troops in actiim with lie eaemy at Fort George, May tho 27th, iHl.i. One captain, 'me lieutenant, or.c cr agn, on* Serjeant, forty-e.^lit rank and iilo, killed ; one general-staff, one major, two eapiains, five lieute- nants, two ensign a, four serj.;aiits, fwoiry-nine rank and file, wounded ; one lit uienaiit, thirteen Serjeants, eight diuinmers, i-.vo hundnvJ and forty rank aud iilu, wuuudcd and inia,:- ^, IGO HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. I already stult'd tfic exposed position of the Britivli ; our readers may, therefore, take this insinuation at its proper vahie. O'Con- nor in liis aceount, reversing the real state of things, makes the 15riti>h " live to one." Thomson, more modestly, says, " the action would have reflected honor on a band of voter ans long areustonied to ' the din of arms,'" We left (iineral Vincent at thi; lioaTfr Dam, where he had been joined not only bv the detachment from Fort Krieand ('hi[ipcwa, hut by one (lank and one battalion coinii.irv was fuu-hl by ii\ftiior numbers on «he Anie- of the Stti, and Captain Harelay, U.N., «ithi\ rican side," and Dr. Smith, giving no numbers, 'small body of seamen on their way to I„'it(, dwells only on " the llrmn(-s and gallantry of I Krie. To cut off thi.-? force, Dearborn, v,h\ the .\merican troop.s." I seems jiever to have been in a hurry, df. 'llie (M'a|o of (Jencral Vincent and bis spatched, on the 28tli, a considerable Imdy: troops lift tiie Ameiieans as far as ever from but, luckily, lie sent them in the wron;:'li'if- (he dtsirul undisturbed occupancy of the j tioii, fur bad he cho.sen the Lake roa 1, tli.rf' western peninsula. Iiijcrsol ob.serves, " Vin- ^ would Ikivc been a probability of cuttiii:^ilf cent, ihe liritish liencral, cfl'cctcd his retreat j (Icneral Vincent. Two days were occupied (probably without Ikurhdni'xmii liiotrinf/ ■> ^^J /fS w^^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation # W .^ 4 ^toc'' out on its relnrn to Kinjv^liiu. " About fort}- Indians, in their canoes, hn'. aocoTupanied the expedition. Dis.-ati.sficd at beinp; called back without ellectinj:; anytliiiv: particularly as thiir unsophisticated iiiin'.- >ailed. .\s a short descri[)lion of Sackett's Harbor will not be irn levant, wo will here introduce Jan\cs' account of it. "Sackett's Harbor biarsfrom Kinp;ston, on Lake Ontai lo, south by east ; distant in a straisrht course, tweniv-tivc, but, by a ship's coi;rse, thirty- i could devise no reason for abar.donin: tl-: live mi'es. It stands on the south-east sidelenterpri.se, they steered round Stony Point, of an expansion of the IJlack IJiver, ucnr to • and .iy. The harbor ; American shore, fearhv-.-^ly jiaddled in to i.s small, but well sheltered. I'rom the north- ! attack them. These consisted of about seventy west runs out a low itoint of land, ujion which I dismounted dragoons, who had just been is the (Uick-yard, with lar?;e stone houses, and ; landed from twelve boats, which, aloivj with seven others that had pulled jiast the ])eiiit and escajied, were on their v>ay to Sadalt's Harbor. As soon as the American trooj'^ ull the buildings re(piisile for such an establish- ment. Upon this point tlierc is a strong work called Fort Tomkins ; having within a block- house, two stories high : on the land side it is saw the Indians advancim;, thev hui.^eda ... I . . . , covered bv a strong picketing, in which there 1 white Hag, as a signtd to the I'rilish vesse..^ are embrasures. At the bottom of the harbor I for protection. 'i"ho latter immediately hwe is the village, consisting of sixty or seventy i to, and Lieutenant Dobbs, first of the U'(/', houses : to the southward of it is a barrack, ! stood in with the ship's boats, and brought off capable of containing two thousand men, and the American dragoons, along with their generally used for the i.iarines belonging to twelve batteaux. 77//,'? fovtuHoiis ai}'tur' the fleet. On a point eastward of the harbor, stands Fort Pike, surrounded by a ditch, in advance of which there is a strong line of picketing. About one hundred yards from the village^, and a little to the westward of Fort Tomkins, is Smith'.s cantonment, or barracks, capable of containing two thousand five hundred .strong; it is strongly built of lo^s, foiming a square, with a block-house at each coiner, and is loop-holed on every side." irdfi ih'cmcil an avfp'ciouH omfit ; ami -Nr Gi'or'ie Frcrost chtcDnined to stand lad to Siich'tVs Ilaihor." It i.s clear from this account that James desires it to he understood that, in all proba> bilitj', no attack would have been made, liaJ it not been for what ho terms the fortuitouj capture, and on another point — the delay— lie is equally explicit. This is of importance, as Christie also mentions it, onlv accounting for This was the state of Sackett's Harbor at the j it in a different manner, and making it a sliaile date of the attack, at wliich time also many of the guns belonging to the works had been convt yed to the other end of the lake. The wind wa-; now light and favoral.de, enabling less discreditable to the commander. In speaking of the events of the first day, Christie write.s, "the weather wa.s propitiou.s, and the troops were transferred to the batteaux, to IlISrorvY OF TFIR WAR OF 1812. 168 or llie shore dr .•fciT, witli tilt L\h\<^ on lioarl v;inls till' si i ore reco'.nioitro t!i'. glicen cllcctcu, rooiis were em ' one anximislv 'I'licrc is hen ;ic<'0'i;n1s p,ivoii for t!u \\vvi. Tliisdor.f. i'^lit v.ind Ktoc' lu'ir cnnocs, hal Dis.-atisrieil a* ectin,!; aiiytliiiv: hisiicMU'il minilj abar.ilonin': tk 111(1 Stur.v I'oiiit, ,f troops on thf- ■ paddU'il in to lofalioiit seventy ) had just been vhich, iiloivjT with past the point ;;V to Saeliett's Anurican troop? tiK'v lioisleda 10 15i'ifisli wssc'i^ iiiinic'iliatoly l^'ve rst of the 11 '^'/'. and hronglit ol? Olio- with tlicir ttlitO'lS Mji/'.T 07ncii ; end .Nr to stand liul'-ii •onnt that James .hat, in all proba- c been made, bad ins tlie fortuitoui it— the delay-be of importance, as ilv accounting for inaking it a slia'le commander, I" first day, Christie ropitious, and the the battcaux,to make their laiidiii;^;, nnd( r an es'-ort of two :'!n-'M>al-', (•onuuaiiiicd by Captain Mulcasler, •Jio wliole under the iiuniodiate direction of 'he land and n.nval cominanders-in-eldef. Tlicy iiad proceedisd but a short distance, when a ■nivoy of American boats, loaded with troops v/ere descrird doubliiiL; Stony I'oint, on their '.vay from (ts\ve,:;o, to Sacketl's Harbour. Tlie hiiliaiis who had previously landed upon an island (Ired uinin tlieni. as they passes' and 'liie'.v them into conruMon, when the boats iiul liatteaux bore down and captured twelve )ft!ie!ii, with a'nuit one hundred ami fifty iiien: the rmiainder eseiqicd into Siclcett's liii'bour. 7 he liiii'/iii'j irii^ t/ieit d'>ate!iie!its we have given are contained in Col. 'hyne's letter,* from wdiich it can only be '/■'■ovi AJjataul-Ucncral Hayncs to Sir George J'rtvo.tt. Kingston, May 80th, 1813, !*1R,— I have the honour to report tei your Escelli'iiey, that in confonnity to an arranged I ?hr, of oporations with (joniiiiodore Sir James Uoo, the tleet of lioats assenihled a-stern of his il'i?, at 10 o'clock on the iiigiit of the '.'Stli lifiJtiint, witli the troops placed iiiider my coni- I'lnn'J, and, led by a gun-boat, under Captain I il'ilcaster, royal navy.proceeded towards Saekett's Inirbour, in the order prescribed to the troops, jiacasethe detaclunont was obliged to inarch in holumn, viz: — the grenadier company, lOOth, I »ith one section of the roval Scots, two companies hftlie 8th, (or King's,) lour of the lOltli, two of I 'tie Canadian voltigeurs, two six pounders, with piif giiuiiers, and a company of Glengarry light I»ij4ntry,wpre eait)arked on hoard a lightschooner, I'Jicli was proposed to be lowed, under the gathered tha-tlu; attack faileil inconsequence of til" shij'S not being abh; to near t!ie shore. Xor is a sy'labli: lo be found relative to waste of time through wdiii h the o|iportunity, allbrded by the previ ms fair wind, Imd been lost, but only an allusion to I fa: CDutinnnl'ion. 'ij' (he I'riht ni'if (ii/rerse iriii'fn^ and the. in- suliicieiu'y of the gun-boats to acconiplisli what tlie larger vessel-', '' ulillfar o'J'" might have doii". li is not often that we liavc occasion to coni] lain of a " muddled disiiatrh," but assure Hy the one in (jue^tion seems written for tlie express purjiose of making the best out of what was a very discnditable allair to I'^ir Ceorge Prevost. A shade of excuse for the loss of time is to be found in (Jhri-tie as he lenrescnls the attack as begni on the ilrst d'ly, and (jnly interrupted by the cajiture of jiiisoners, to .secure whom it was peili.aps iiecc-sary to return to the snip, rendeiing it th:istoo late for further operation o!i that day; but even this is a poor excuse, and the trilling delay, biid an energetic ollicer ! been in command, would have been soon re- paired, the fair wind profited by, and the attack of the troops covered by the lire from I the large vessels of the squadron. I To return, however, to the attack which was linally made early on the morning of tlie : 2!)tli. It began by a mistake, and the Iroop.s [were landed on Horse Island, "where," : (according to dames,) " the grenadier comiiany of the liiiith, which formed the advance, meeti'ig with some slight opjiosition from a si.x-pounder mounted en harbctte, as well liK from three or four hundred militia, stationed j directions of odicors of the navy, so as to insure ' the guns being landed in time to support the I advance of the troops. Although the night was ' dark, with rain, the i)oats assembled in the I vicinity of Sackett's Harbour, by one o'clock, in I compact and regular onhu" ; and in this position i it was intended to remain until the day l)roke, in j the hope of elTectiiig a hindiiig before the enemy ' could lie prepared to line the woods with troops, which surrounded the coast; liut, unfortunately, a strong current drifted the boats considerably, I while the darkiiesss ot the night, and ignorance of the coast, iircvented them Irnm reuoverin{r 1 their proper station until the day dawned, when the whole pulled for the point of debarkation. It was my intention to have landed in the cove formed iiy Horse Islainl, tint, on ap[)roaching it, we discovered that the enemy were fully prepated, by a very heavy fire of inusketiy from the surrounding woods, which were tilled with 164 HISTORY OF TITK WAR OF 1812. at that point, carried the six-pounder ?jeforc | a second discharge could be fired from it, and i drove the Aiiuriean niilitia with precipitation ; into tlic woods." ("hristie's account of this i is difl'ercnt, he says, " ihcy '' (the IJritish) | " first attempted to land on the Main, in a : cove formed by Horse Island, but on approach- 1 ing it, they foiuid the enemy prepared for Ihem, by a heavy fire of musketry, from the surrounding woods, sup[)orted by a field- piece. Thfy then pulled round and landed . on the oulside of the island." After the troops were fairly landed it docs j not appear that they had any very obstinate resistance to encounter, and it is plain from both Christie's and James' account, that there was nothing to have prevented Sir George Prevost from accomplishing all that he desired. Thompsonf is particularly severe on his countrymen, and his account by no means bears out Col. Ikyne's assei'tion of the great resistance ollercd. " Though," says he, " they were well protected by tlie breast-work they rose from behind it, and abandoning the honorable promises of noble dating, which they had made but a little while belbrc, lied with equal precipitation and disorder. A strange and unaccountable panic .seized the whole line ; and with the exception of a very few, terror and dismay were depicted on every countenance." Any remarks on Sir infantry supported by a field-piece. I directed the boats to pull round to the other side of the Island, where a lauding was etiected in good j order and witli little loss, although executed in the face of a corps, formed with a field-piece in the wood, and under the enfilade of a heavy gun from the enemy's priucipalbattery. The advance was led by the grenaiiiers of the lUOth regiment, with undaunted gallantry, whieh no obstacle could arrest. A narrow causeway, in many places under water, not more than four feet wide, and at)out four liuudied paces in leiigdi, which connected tlie L'and with the niainlaiul, was occupied by the enemy, in great force, with a ■ix-pounder. It was forced, and carried in the most spirited maimer, and the gun taken before a sceoml disclmige could he nuide from it ; a tumbril, with a few rounds of ammunition, was fouiiii ; but, tmfortunately, the artillerymen were Btill behind, the schooner not having been able to get up in time, and the troop.-^ ivere exposed to so heavy and galling a fire from a numerous, but almost invisible foe, as to render it impossible to halt for the artillery to come up. At this spot two paths led in opposite directions round the hill ; I directed Colonel Young, of the King's t tSketebeii of ^bc War. pa^o 113 George from Veritas must be taken with dnt allowance for the animus which marks evcrT- thing he wrote respecting that commamkr His version runs thus : "The troops won disembarked, but without artillerj', and ad- vanced with their usual spirit, when theenemv in dismay fled, whilst our men coming to ;> block-house, which made some resistance. were checked. During this advance so hope- less did the enemy consider tlicir situation. that they burnt a barrack or store, spiked th. gims of a battery, ami began their rctrtnt through the villages, setting fire to their new fi'igate, the Pule, then on the stocks, and (jiencral iJrown, who commaiidcu,had actually written a letter of capitulation, which ].i hail appointed a flag of truce to carry to the com- mander, whilst a few men were keiit in tht block-house, to give an apjjcarance of rcsi'^l ance, so as to obtain better terms. At thi? period, in an evil hour. Sir George Prevost, misttdxing the enemy in running av.-ay, wit!: the dust thcreVj}' thrown up, for a column of reinforcement's arriving, immediately g,w orders for a re-cnd)arka)ion, and then wasex hibited the extraordinary military spectaclc'if a retreat, I will not .say a flight back to back." This picture is highly colored, but tliert is still much truth in it, and when Colonel T?aync's letter is strijipcd of its apologetic character, it will not be found to differ mater;- regiment, with half of tlie det.ichmcrf, to pen^ trate l)y the left; and Major Dnnninond, of tW 101th, to force the path by the right, wkL proved to be more open, and was lesrs occupiei by the enemy, t'a the left the w ,)il was V'.^ thick, and was most obstinately maiutaiiied t- the enemy. The gun-boats which had covered our landing, afforded material aid, by firing into the nooiv but the Americiin soldier, behind a tree, was ok] to be dijilodged by tin l)ayonet. The f\mw J advance of a section produced the tligl)t if hundreds. From this obser\ at'on all firing w directed to cease, and the detachinont beinM formed in as regular order as t!io nature of tk* ground would admit, pushed forward through ttn wood upon the enemy, who, althougli greatl; superior in nundjers, and supported by fitlii' pieces, and a heavy fire from their fort, fledwi-l precipitation to their block-house, and toft.j abandoning one of their guns. The divi;i«| under Colonel Young was joined in the cliaig'-i by that tuider Major Prummond, flliich '•'j executed with such spirit and promptness, tltiil many of the enemy fell in their enclosed barmcftj which were set on fire by our troops ;— at iW| point the further energies of the troopa bfc»*l HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 165 slly in substaiioc. James adds his testimony on this point, and aflor descrihin"; the British advance, goes on : " so hopeless did the Aineri- csns consider tlieir case, that Lieutenant (^hauncey set fire to the Navy harracks, the prize schooner JJule of (/loiiccster, the ship IJeneral Pijl't\ and completely destroyed the naval stores and provisions, which had hcen captured at York." The wliole aflair of "Sackett's Harbour may be thus sununed up. Sir George Prevost, with an adequate force, made his appearance before it, with the inten- tion of striking a blow at the seat of American naval operations on Lake Ontario, and of establishing Uritisli supremacy in that quarter. Indecision, we will not call it timidity, pre- vented his striking the blow, while the weather was yet favorable, and the enemy unprepared. When he did attempt to carry his plans into execution, a change of wind prevented the '^-operation ot the fleet, on board of which unavailing. Their block-house and stockaded battery could not be carrieil by asdiiult, nor leduceil l)y field-pieces, had we been provided with theni ; the fire of the gun-boats proved iiiauffieieiit to attain tliat end : light and adverse winds coMtiuueil, and our larger vessciU were still far off. The eucuiy turned tiio heavy ordnance of tlie b.'Uterv to the interior defence of his post. Ife hiid set, fire to the store-houses in the vicinity of the fort. Seeing no object widiin our reach to attain, that could cainponsate for the loss we were momentarily sustaining from the heavy tire of the enemy's cannon, I (iirected the troops to take up their position on the crest of the hill we had ckirged from. From this position we were orderL'il to re-einbark, which was performed at our leisure, and in perfect order, the enemy not presuming to show a ^Jingle soldier without the limits of his fortress. Your Excellency having been a witiu^ss of the zeul and ardent countge of every soldier in the field, it is umiecessary for me toasjin'o your Excellency, that but one sentiment inim;ited every breast, that of discharL'ing to the utmost of their power their duty to their king and country. Hut one sentiment of' regret and morti- ticatiop. prevailed, on being obliged to quit a beaten eaeniy, whom a small band of British soldiers had driven before them for three hours throu- I a country al)ounding in strong positions of defence, but not offeiiiig a single spot of cleared ground favouniblu forth? operations of disciplined troops, without having fu'ly accomplished the duty we were ordered to perform. The two divisions of the detachment were ibly CGinnianded by Colonel Young, of the King's, and Major Drummond, of the lOtth. The detaehnientof the Iving's under Major Evans,nobly suatained the high and established character of i;cellency will lament the loss of that active and iiitflligent olflcer, Captain Gray, acting as deput)' (juarter- niaster-general, who fell close to the enemy's work, wiiile reconnoitring it, in the hope to dis- cover some opening to favour an assault. Com- modore Sir James Yeo conducted the fleet of boats in the attack, and, accoinpanying the advance of the troops, directed the co-operatioa of the guu-f)oats. I feel most grateful for your Excellency's kind consideration, in allowing your aide-de-eamps. Majors Coote and Fultou, to ac- com[)any me in the Held, and to these officers for the able assistance they afforded me. I have the honor to bo, &c. Enw.vun Bavnks, Col. Glengarry Light Infantry commanding. To His Excellency Lient.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart., &c. Return of the killed, wounded, and mi>!sing, in an attack on Sackett's Harbour, on the 2'Jth of May, 1813. 1 general staff, 3 sergeants, 44 rank and fde, killed; 3 majors, 3 captains, ,5 limitenants, 1 ensign, 7 sergeants, 2 drummers, 17'2 rank- and file, 2 gurmers, wounded; 2 captains, 1 ensign, 13 rank and file, wounded and missing. m 1C6 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. i ill IIa]iic. uous. |{y his decision and prompt (Ijurip, the surprize of the enemy's camp was cura" jileted, and all his eliorts to make a stand were rendered inelfeetual by the havimct, which overthrew all oi)position. A party of the -IDth, with major JMenderleath at tiair head, callantly charged some of the eiuinys lleld-pieces, and brought oil' two six-puuiid- ers. Mnjor Ogilvic led on, in the most gallant manner, the live companies of the Kiii;''s re- giment ; and whilst one-half of that highly disciplined and distinguished corps supjmrted the 4!)th regiment, the other jiart niovtil to the right, and attacked the enemy's left llaiili. wdiich decided our midnight contest. I have also re(!eivcd the greatest assistance from major tjlegg, brigade-major to the fuiccp, and l)eg leave to mention the names of cap- tains M'Uowal and Jlilnes, your excellency's aides-de-camp, who accompanied me to the attacl , and upon all occasions have voliiiitetr- ed th( ir services. 1 have like\vise to acknoiv- ledge the assistance of captain Chambers, of the 41st regiment, who had arrived some days before from Amherstburgli ; and Mr, Brook, pay-master of the 49th, who asslsttd me as acting aide-de-camp. To Mr. Haekett, acting-staff-surgcon to this army, I feel particularly indebted, for his ju- dicious arrangements, by wdiich the wounded have received every attention, and are most of them likely to be restored to the service, It would be an act of injustice, were I to admit assuring your excellency, that gallantry and discipline 'vere never more conspicuous than during our late short service; and I feel the greatest satisfaction in assuring you, that | every officer and individual seemed anxious to rival each other in his efforts to sup- port the honor of His Majesty's arms, and to maintain the high character of Brilist troops. I beg leave to refer your excellency to!-t indosed reports H :.»«, whiih, [ rcgi I have th (loncral return of ing, in action ' head of r.ake ( h Total; 1 lieiiten uid liK', killed ; 2 ;cnants, 1 ensign, : Serjeants, 2 drum wounded ; ,3 seijea ins- General Dearbor more ah>iii'd than 1 IsiiniKissihle to rec( immediately afterw his despatch. It v nicnt, which follow Tictory : "I have received I of the Like this e ihat out troops, con ntral Chandler, wei this morning by the Indian force ; an.' 1 though our loss was I thirty), and theenei driven from the lieli krand Winder wer( had advanced to as I company of artiller menced. TJeneral \ amongst the killed o( was mortally wound with fifty prisoners Uent. The whole hundred and fifty. » request to bury th( accompanied by Bri;. I on to take command An analysis of thi,- j and really so curious tfoulle, as it is but I paper, written with ; I truth, can be found. Jishand Indian force. j« least, was not dec I Ws letter, for, in 1 I'teBritish force as I ants." ^ the next place, HISTORY OP TIIR WAR OF 1812. 171 ■nt the uniiny's iti-'liiil his uiovi;. ciiilii-'st Inlurna- mil iiuk'htiil for (.■nit ion •, imlliin;; i^; nrriui^'i'tiKiitg, ■il'iil ill iho rchult. rli'fWh, will) rom- ivas very ('oib|iic- 1 pr()iii|it (■ti'urtP, camp was com' to malic a stand 1)V the havimrt, ition. A jiaity of iderlcath at tliiir c of the enemy s tr two six-iiuuiiil- the most gallant 1 of the Kin',''s re- ar of that highly (1 corps suiijiurted lii- part Miovcd to enemy's kft Hank, t contest, greatest assistance mnjor to the fuicc?, Llie names of cap- your excellency's pan led uie to the nsliavevoliiutetT- vewise to ackiiow- ain Chauibors, of u\ arrived some tburgh ; and Mr, yth, who assisttii tafl-Kurgcon to this ebted, for his ju- lich the wounded ion, and are most ed to the service, ijiLstice, were I to ncy, that gallantry more conspicuouB service ; and I feel assuring you, that .1 seemed anxious is efforts to sup- ijesty's arms, and aracter of Britisli excellency tol-M indoi-ed reports for particulars respecting our |,)giii wliiili, I ri'grtt, lias h'jen very severe. I have the honor to he, &c. JollN' VlNTKST, I!ri;;ailicr-g(n'l. Goncral return of killed, wounded, and mi>s- ing, ill action with the enemy near tiie heail of r.ake Ontario, June (Uli, IRl.'). j Total: 1 lieiiten.'int, " .si'rjcant.s, lf» rank uid till', killed ; 2 majors, ."J captains, 2 lieu- tenants, 1 ensign, 1 adjutant, 1 (brt-niajor, I) Serjeants, 2 driiinmers, 11:! rank and file, wounded ; .3 seijeants, 52 rank atid lile mi.s.s- in?. _ j tiencral Dearhorn's ofTicial letter is even i more al»>iird than Inger.sol's remarks ; and it Isimpossjiile to reconcile the policy he adopted immediately afterwards with the contents of his despateh. It will he seen by tiiis docu- 1 nienf, which follows, that he aliiio.«t claims a Tictory : [ "I liavc received an express from the head of the f-iike this evening, with intelligence that out troops, (lommanded by Ihigadier-t Je- [ mral Clitmdler, were attacked at two o'clock i this morning by the whole of the Hritish and , ImiiiiM force; an.' by .some strange fatality,; oujch our loss was bat small (not exceeding I thirty), and the enemy completely routed and driven from the iield, both IJrigadiers Chand- ler and Winder were taken pri,soners. They had advanced to ascertain the position of a company of artiller}-, when the attack com- menced. General Vincent is reported to be amongst the killed of the eiu'iny. Col. Clarke i was innrtally wounded, and fell into our hands, j Uith fifty jirisoners of the 49th British rcgi- ' nent. The whole loss of the enemy is two i hundred and tifty. They sent in a flag, with] U request to bury their dead. General Lewis, | iccompanied by Brigadier-General Boyd, goes I on to take command of the advanced troojis." .\n analysis of this letter will be interesting I and really so curious a document deserves the trouUe, as it is but seldom that an official I paper, written with such an utter disregard of truth, can be found. " The whole of the Brit- jishand Indian force." The Secretary at War, lit lea.st, was not deceived by General Dear- jWn's letter, for, in his remarks, he speaks of jthe British force as " seven hundred combat- lants." In the next place, as to the Indians, there were not altogether more than thirty, and these were at Murlington lit ights, whcr. they remained. (ieneral I)c.ii'bcprn's allusion to tiiem \va.s, however, n sulllcitnt foundation on which Mr. O'Connor, in his hi.-.tory, has con- structed a very impo.sing pa>sage. "The army, on this occasion, has jirovid il.-i firm- ness and bravery, by keeping its position in a night atta( k, in which the ydls of the Indians mingled with the luariiig of tlu; caiiuou and musketry, were calculated tdiiili-nidale." To resume our analysis. General Oearborii pro- noimces " the enemy completely routed and driven from the Held," and yet practically contrailictshisown statements by immeiliately after retiring from before a " routed I'tiemy " again— .so far from the lhiti.-,h semling in a Hag of truce " to bury the dead," the .Ameri- cans retired,* and hft their oirn dohl to be hiivicil />>/ the Jiritisfi. Lastly, although General A'incent was killed by !)e;irboin over night, he had sufficiently recovereil from the shock which he must have experienced at hearing of his own death, to entertain the two American generals, at dinner, next day, and to inform them of the capture of four of their guns and one hundred and twenty nun, a point on which General Dearborn and others * One of the Anipricari accounts of the Stony Creek business eontuiii.s tiie follow ing stutenient: "Captain .Munners, of that regiiiieiii, (the -I'Jth) was taken in his beil by licuteiuint iliiiiUe; who, from a principle of hniiiiiiiity, |int liiiii on his I)arole, on coii(iilioii of his not aurving the enemy, until Ik; should he exehanged. An eiigagenicnt which that olficer violated, by ap])eai'iiig in arms against the Amoricaii troops, imineiiiatidy alter the recovery of his health." This is a .serious charge against a bravo ollicer, now living. Thus it is answered. Close to e.iiitain Manners, on the field, lay a captain Mill.s, of the American army, still more severely wounded. The two oHicers agreed, and mutually ])le(lgetain Manners became of course, exonerated from lii.s parole. That an American editor should n'lvti insertion to any story, rellectiiiK upon a British otlicer, is not at all straniie. But it is so, that an American officer should have allowed three editions of Mr, Thompson's book to pass, every one contaiuing so scandalous a paragraph, y the iiritisli, so iinlDpcd for, wc must look for other causes than the mere valour of the British rcKularsor Canadian militia, as how- cm' gallant their conduct might have heen in the Held, however patient tiicir beliaviour ilurin^' the hardships and privations of the c»iniiiii;j;n, still the odds Iirouj;ht airainst them liail been so overwhelming as |)roperly dii e (.cd to have swept away all opposition. We do not, by any means, desire to deprive the British or i madian soldier of one particle of iionor and praise to which ho is so justly entitled ; we only desire to observe that it was jmoat fortunate train of events that ii os, nnnnunition and other necessary supplies. The enemy would prolmhly retnat on our approach, and keep out of our reach, l>einj; covered hy one or more armed vessels. The whoh' of these einharrassments have resulled rnin a tempo- rary loss of the command of the lake." The poor old general was plalidy very willing to fmil some cause on which to saddle the ellect produced hy his intirmities, and after reading the account of the two fresh disasters which now befell Idin, the reader will not be sur- piised to lind that an (jider was isNued on the (ith July, recallinfi; him from the command of the di.strict; anil enjoinin|,; on Ids snccesHor "not to prosecute any ofrensive operation, the Americans a succession of leaders whose until our ascendancy on the lake wasre-estab- incapacity neutralized, in a great measure, their numerical superiority. Whatever (ien. lished."* TJefore closing this subject it may lie as well to remind the reader that, at the Dearborn mi.^ht have been, it is very evident ' very time (Jcneral Dearborn was enumerating tlie addition of live humlred men to (ieneral that he was at this time (piitc unlit for the harrassing duties which had devolved upon him. A few extracts will shew this. In a letter of thi 4th June, he says, " I am still very feeble, and gain strength very slowly." June 8th. "My ill-state of health rcndes it extremely painful to attend to current duties, and unless it improves soon, I fear I shall be compelled to retire to some place where my mind may be more at ease." This state of health will aicount satisfactorily for the desponding ton» of his despatch of 20th June, a short time before his recall from the command of the district. "From resi,u'nations, sicknesss, and other causes, the munbcr of regimental ollicers present and fit for duty is far below what the service requires. A considerable portion of the army being new recruits, and the weather being unfavourable to health, the .sick have become so numerous, in addition to the wounded, as to reduce the effective force far below what could have been contemplated. The enemy have been reinforced with about five hundred men of the lOith regiment, whence I conclude that he will endeavour to Ifeep up such a plan, at, and near the head of the lake, as will prevent any part of our force Vincent's force as a reason for abandoning his plans, he had under his eon\mand, at Fort George alone, double the number of regular troops in all Western Canada. Had we not, in our enumeration of his force already shown this, wo have a proof of it in IngersoU's ad- mission. Alluding to Dearborn's recall, he says, " hrfore Wilkinson took the command, . our forces in Canada, about.ro"?' f/musand strong, were .shut up in Fort (leorge." At this verj- time Proctor and Vmcent's forccP united would not have made up an elfective body of two thousand men. And, if we turn to the other end of the lake, we will find the garrisons and other posts equally deficient in point of numbers. What .says .\rmstrong on this head? "1st. Prcvost, on his arrival at Prescott, borrowed from that i)art an escort of soldiers to prevent his being captured on his way to Kingston — a fact utterly incon- sistent with the report of his having brought with him large detachments from Quebec and Montreal. 2nd. That I'roctor, Barclay, Vin- • This Act of executive aiitliority oriuriiiated with that portion of tlio House of RcprcsoiitativeB mod* active and iullueatial in suprwrting th^- war. ■1 1 J 74 IIISTOllY OF THE WAR OF 1812. cent and Shcafro, so far from bein;; in a j cnrnninnding the cross roads at the Ten-mile "ond'iioii to yitld any aid to Ihu attack on ! Creek and the B. 'aver Dam. It wasso airanirfd by i»recc'iccrted si;;'nals, that their stations could readily support each othej\ Dearborn Saokctt's Harbour, were themselves in great want of reinforcements — I'roctor postjjoning on that account, an attack which he liad been i fimling tliat these manccuvres had very ma- ordered to makj on Perry's fleet, then fitting [ lerially circumscribed the range of his troops out. ;Jrd. '!"hat, when late in the month of | v.ho were now compelled to live on their own May, .'he IJiitish connnander-in-cluef (induced ! resources, determ'ned to clieck farther en- by tlie continued absence of the American croachmcnts on his imsc, and despatched Hcot arid army at the head of the lake) mae Indians encamped I'w terrifying, and to Irenes, nii-ht be cons; I'iucmg to the Indian? l"ao yells, said " W< HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 175 val of tlRvJC, ami ioutcnuiit Fitzgib- le Ik'Ul (if we may hwood), aiiiliiftfr [it reinforcLMiieiits r detcnniiK'il on the Americans to doubtless very L'd Willi the affiir at Fit/^riblion (then iiiucli pviiiso for II over the Arae- ation wliic'h Mrf. Sccoril, K?ii., Je- wlio v,ni \\m\M h October, Wi), OS ut the ir.ten- njiich to Lieut. FitzglLtbon's suriJrise, Col. B«rstkT, Keoin'^ no prospoot of escaping or saving liis wonnJed, who were by tlii.s time I prcttv numerous, consented to, and tenus ^1 cijiitulation were f()rtli\vitl» airrced on. | Just as these were beinf; drawn tip, Major: ie Ilarcn, who liad been sent for liy Lieute- Mnt l'"itz;^ibbon, arrived, bringing wiih him Article H. That the ofllcer.-? .shall retain their arms, horses, and baggage. Aiticle Iir. That (he noii-commissioncd ofliiH^rs and soldiers s!ki!1 lay down thi.ir .arius at (he head of the ihitish column, and shall become prisoners of war. Arlile !V. T!iat the militia and Vwhi!ite(.rs, with Lieiileiiant Colonel JJvi'rstK'r, shall be about two hundred and. twenty men. This purautted to returu to the Uiiiied ^t^lales on body cainc up in (inic to secure the prisoners, '>ut not suflicie; so to save Col. R(oi'.-tlcr •.he iliv'race of having surrendered to a body, which, with the two hundred Indian.s, did not lalf equal that under his command. Particular'; of the capitulation made between •liiimhtioiKis; Ooiicl Captain M'Dowell, on l,,'l ,,,|,i )■,. i;, ,,ii(. tlie part ot Liuut.-Col r.u.rican troops." r.a'rstler, of the United »t;itcs' army, and Major I)e llaren, of His i Dritannic Majesty's Canailian regiment, on i the part of Lieutenant Colonel Risshopi», com- 1 miiniliii;.' the aiH'ance of the Rritish, respecting i the force imder tlu; command of Lieutenant- Colonel Dterstlcr. j Artielo L That Liout.-Col. RtXTstler, and j "ho force under his command, shall surrender I prisoners of wai'. I •.ion of the American troops to a..rround and take ' j Hiz;ililiou nnij party, wliich con-isted at tliat time ' of adetuchnient of tlic -I'.ttli r(.'^inieiir, sonic few ' Siilit'ui, ami a small boily of Indians, tooppose some o'O of the American infintrv an.i a dotaehmeiit of homo .50 of mounted American dragoons. Tiie dlculty of reaching Lieut Fitzgibbon's post is thus related ia Mrs. Secord's own words : — " I shall commence at the battle of (Jucenston, where I was ut the time die cannon bills were Hying arouinl ni'- ill every direction. I left the place during the eiiiiageiiient. After the battle I returned to '.jaeeiiiton, and thor found that my husliand had IJwinvoiiii led ; my house plundered and property liiHtrnyed. It was while the Americans liail |)Os.ses- li!0'.i of the frontier, that I learned the plans of the through the woods, to acquaint nic that the enemy jAi>i>ricaneoinmandor, and detei'iiiiiied to put the [ intended to attempt by surprise to cajiture a de- I British troops under Fitzgibbon in possessiiui ofltachnient of the 4'Jth regiment, then under my jtiieni, and, if possible, to save tlie Hritish troops ■ command, she having obt.iined such knowledgo I'tom capture, o., perhaps, total deslruetion. In ' from jjood authority, as the event prove(I. Mrs, Noingso, I found I should have great flilliculty Secord was a person of slight and delicate frame, Im getting through the American guards, which and ni'.ide the eil'orl; in weallier excessively warm, |*oreoat tea miles in the country. Determined and I dreaded at the time that she must suffer in I to perse' ere, liowever, I left early in the morn- 1 health in consequence of fatigue and anxiety, she \>K walked nineteen miles in the month of June, I having been exposed to danger from the enemy, "HT a rough and 'Kifsri,i:i:, Lieut. -Col. coiumaiidiiig detaidiuient United States' Army. V. V. DidlAKix, Major, Can.adian regiment. tremble. I cannot express the awful teeling it gave nie ; but I diil not; lose my presence of mind. I was determined to persevere. I went up to one of the chiefs, made iiiiu iiiidLT-tand that I had great news ftu' ("apt. Fitziiibboii, and that he musf let me (lass to his camp, or tli;it he and his party would be all taken. Tiie chief ut Urst olijected to let nic pass, but finally consented, after some hesitation, to go with ine and accom- pany ine to Fitzgiljbon's station, which was at the Heaver D.ini, where I had an interview with him. I then toid him what I li.id come fir, and what I had hoaril — that tiie Americans intended to make an attack upon the troops under his command, and would, from their sufierior iiuinbers, capture them all. Jjcnetitting liy this iiifurmation, (,'apt. Fitzgil)bon formed ids plans accordingly, and cap- tured about five hundred American infantry, about fifty mounted dragoons, andaliel l-pieee or two was taken from the eneiny. I leairiied home next ihiy, exliausted ami fatigued. I am now ad- vanced in yi'ars, and when 1 look ba(d< I wonder how 1 coulil have gone tlir(>u.:li so iiiucii fatigue, with the fortitude to aceoiiipli:di it. I do hereby certify that Mrs. Secord, the wife of James Secord, of Chippewa, Esq., did, in the month of June, 1S13, walk from Iku' house in the village of St. Davids to Decainp's house in Tliorold, by a, circuitous route of about twenty nii'es, jiartly I ' I i i I II 176 irrsTORi' OF THE war op 1812. As soon aH General Dcarl)orn heard of Roinrorcrnirnt. nrrivo Uocrstler's critical situa at (iii.TMst,,!, imt re;, tion, he dispatched Col. turn to I'lMt (ii (irjri!. ' Christie with a reinforce- ment of three hundred men. Tlie detachment marched as far as QucenKton, where, Iiearinji of IJuTstlcr's surrender, Col. Christie returned to the camp. Congress had been in session about a ,. . „ month when the intelli- Prorrcdinu's in Con- fn;'*s on irci ipt (if news gcncc of this afiair rcach- cd \\ ashmg()n, and it served as a sort of climax to the continual tidings of mismanagement and misfortune. Ingersol says, "after a short communion of regret and impaliencc in the House of Repre- sentatives with the Speaker and General Ringold, I was deputed to wait on the I'resi- dcnt, and request (Jencral Dearborn's removal from a command which so far had been thus unfortunate." This remonstrance had the desired eirect, and, as \vc have already seen. Dearborn was recalled, and, according to Ingersol, " the northern army was relieved of a veteran ka'ioiB they posted in t Kin their advance; Iwed by the whole of |«« Ittdians could not b I"? woods without our r*3, it was deemed pi 12 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 177 •Irino (on tlic <■»«« | triously circulated ti ititrs of New York- Col. Clark's letter, taken in connection with our previous remarks, ColClark'hlottcr. ^.jn g^^^^ ^j^^ j^^g ^j- so many stores actually necessary to the ritaliiy of tlic American army,* as must have conjiileralily added to the perplexities of the war party at Washington, increasing, as it did, the ilrainage on the resources of a young country, with a public chest by no means jvertiowing, and a commerce as effectually suspended as if their whole tncrcantile marine had been swept away. Nearly one thousand American merchant vessels had been (we thank Ingersol for this information) taken and condemned by the British. Of one hundred thousand and more American seamen, regis- tered at the Custom-house in 1812, a large portion of them were thrown out of employ- ment by the war, to remain idle, discontented, sad mischievous, unless they could obtain employment in privateers. Ingersol niukes a curious commentary on the avidity with which the \mcricans seieed on and followed lip this trade. We call it trcul/^, and an in- quiry into the character of the parties by Chippewa, July 12th, 1818. •Sir,— I have the honor to report to you, for I '.lie iiifornution of Major-general do Rottenbiirg, to the detachment under the command of Lieu- tenant-colonel Bisahopp, consisting of a detach- aient of royal artillery, under Lieutenant Arm- strong, forty of the King's regiment, under Lieu- I tenant Barstow, one hunired ofthe4l3t, under I C«ptam Saunders, forty of the 49th, under Liou- I tenant Fitz-Gibbon, and about forty of the 2nd pdSrd Lincoln Militia, embarked at two o'clock I again, before the attack was rt-newed bv the Indians, reinforced by the American advance gnard. Oat we all Jeaped a second time, and Nichie and ids backers were glad to take shthcr in the bush again. We now found that we hud " Cotched a Tartar" — Porter with his whole force was ujion us. " Sauve qui pent," was noiv tlie cry, and as a matter of coarse the rash to tliie boats was a very devil take the hindmost affair. In the confusion, some oars in the boat in wiiich Col. Bisshopp embarked, were lost overboard, and she drifted down the stream, while the enemv followed on the bank firing into her. The gsllan: Bisshopp, the darling of the army, received his death wound ; never was any officer, save aiivaTj the lamented Brock, regretted more than lit was. All the fighting on this occasion was done bj the Green 'una, and if any merit be due, Fitz- gibbon is entitled to it. In conclusion, I may ae well add, that a part of the " Greens" were over at Fort Schlosser, commanded by Lt. Wiiider, in Col. Clark's expedition ; in truth Winder com- manded. On the day following the attack on Schlosser, a large detachment crossed from Buffalo, and the remainder of Fitzgibbon's corps, about twenty-five in number, under Thompson, attacked them. They made a running fight ol it of three miles before they leached oil; I am, yours, A GREEN 'UN. their boats andjjot ^SiR, — To your account of the battle of Stocj Creek I would like to add a few particulars which may not prove uninteresting to your readers, and you will find that they ditter a little from your account of the surprise. At eleven o'clock at night the Light Conip.inj and Grenadiers of the 49th were under arms; every flint was taken out and every charge was drawn. Shortly after we moved on in sections, left in front, the Light Company leading the way towards the enemy's camp. I had been driven in that afternoon from Stony Creek, and was well acquainted with the ground. The cautious silence observed was most painful ; not a whisptr was permitted ; even our footsteps were not allowed to be heard ; I shall never forget the agony caused to the senses by the stealthinesa with which we proceeded to the midnigbl slaughter. I was not aware that any other force accompanied us than the grenadiero, and when we approached near the Creek, I ventured to whisper to Col. Harvey, "We are close to the enemy's camp, Sir;" " Hush ! I know it," was bis tion held out ; hent HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. no the battle of Ston. particulars which your reader?, nud a little from your This affair, too, led to the Americans throwing off the mask, and, after all llie vituperations so freely lavished on the Ihitish, making use of the satnc " savage arm of the rffvice " which they had so bitterly and un- aasingly condemned. In describing the British retreat to their iioats, we purposely italicised, in our enume- ration of the attacking bodies, the words mne Indians, in order to direct the reader's ittention to the fact that the American liovernment had called in to their assist- ance, along the shores of the Niagara, "the ruthless ferocity of the merciless sava- ,'e?," (for this expression see History of the When the public journalists of one nation , ,. ... „ have beeii collectively Iniiian tihiaiirp. Hon- . . •' soiisiis!iijttii.'a I'orfonii- descanting on a particH- iiiK it. , •. 1 11 lar enornuty observable in the course of action pursued by anotlier, should that particular course be adopted by the party previously condenming it? It then becomes the duty of the historian to seek into the reasons for the chi4nge, and to ascertain either the cduse or the apology. A\'e have already shown that, from the ruth- less character of the border warfare which had so long been waged between the Ameri- cans and Indians, it was hopeless to expect that they would at once bury the hatchet, and, 'nited States, vol. 3, page 228.) The plea j 'I'ong with it, the recollection of all the wrongs or this was the invasion of the United [ and cruelties inflicted on them. It became, (tatcs territory, (" the pollution of a free j therefore, the policy of the Government, sce- ml ly tyrant governed sluvcx") but it did not perhaps strike Mr. O'Connor that this admis- sion must sanction on the part of the British an alliance with Indians, also — inasmuch as (ieneral Hull had set the example of inva- sion. The Americans appeared certainly as liberators, but, then, the Canadians were so blind to their interests as not to perceive the lilessings of freedom which Hull's proclama- tion held out : hence the Indian alliance. roply. Shortly after a sentry challenged sharply ; Lieut. Danford and the leading section rushed forward and killed him with their bayonets ; his I ijioedijig corpse was cast aside and we moved on '.vith breathless caution. A second challenge — |»ho comes there? — another rush and the poor sentinel is transfixed, but his agoniised dying | groans alarmed a third who stood near the watch- ; [life ; he challenged, and immediately fired and Sed. We all rushed forward upon the sleeping I guard; few escaped; many awoke in another horld. The excitement now became intense; Jthefewwho had escaped fired as they ran and jwouseJ the sleeping army. All lied precipitately jliijond the Creek, leaving their blankets and [saapsacks behind. Our troops deployed into line, and halted in |t''iemid3t of the camp fires, and immediately I'ejin to replace their flints. This, though not a f-'v lengthy operation, was one of intense l>!ixiety, for the enemy now opened a most 'witic fire, and many a brave fellow was laid We coull only see the flash of the enemy's irelocks, while we were perfectly visible to them, ptinding, as we did, in the midst of their camp i-es. It w:is a grand and beautiful sight. No fcs« who has not witnessed a night engagement « form any idea of the awful sublimity of the ^'fae. The first volley from the enemy coming ■OEaspot as "dark as Erebus" seemed like the firsting forth of a volcano. Then again all was ing that their own past, " ruthless ferocity " precluded any hope of alliance, to prevent the Briti.sh from seeking that co-operation and friendship denied to themselves. Hence Hull's first proclamation, and the subsequent tirades against " savage warfare," &c. We have, also, already shown that, inas- much as Hull's invasion of Western Canada preceded the occupation of, or incursions into, the American territory, Mr. O'Connor's plea, dark and still, cave the moans of the wounded, the confused click! click! noise mide by our men in adjusting their flints, and the ring of the enemy's ramrods in re-loading. Again the flash and roar of the musketry, the whistling of the bullets and the crash of the cannon — " Chaos has come again." The anxious moments (hours in imagination) have passed; the tremblingly ex- cited hands of our men have at last fastened their flints ; the comparatively merry flound of the ramrod tells that the charge is driven home ; soon the fire is returned with animation ; the sky is illumined with continued flRshes ; after a sharp contest and some changes of position, our men advance in a body and the enemy's troops retire. There were many mistakes made in this action, tlie iwo greatest were removing the men's flints and halting in the midst of the camp fires, this is the reason why tii.' loss of the enemy was less- than ours, their wounds were lostly made b-y our bayonets. The changes of position by differ- ent portions of each army, in the dark, accounts for the fact of prisoners having been made D> both parties. I must give the enemy's troops great credit for having recovered from their confusion, and for having shewn a bold front .so very soon after their having been so suddealy and completely surprised. Yours, A 49TII MAN. 180 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. "The invasion of Now York State," cannot liu considered tonablc ; wo must, tliertfore, look furtlier for tlio cause of this " unnatural alli- ance with savages,"* Mr. Thonisont declares that it was done "by way of intimidating the British and the Indiinis, as by the Arnf;ricanf3 incorporating into their armies, the same kind of force, the hal)itual stratagems of the uavagos woulil be counteracted, and their insidious hos- tilities defeated," and yet, oddly enough, adds, "in the hope, too, ofprcventing a recurrence of previous barbarities." Smith,| by way of proving this, wo suppose, cites the following remarkable instance : — " Of the inlluenco of a cultivated people," wriLcs Dr. Smith, "whose manners and reli- gion .'.he savages respect, to induce them to rf>sign their inhuman treatment of their pris- oners, Major Chappin gave an instructive ex- ample immediaLely after uniting his force with the warriors of the Six Nations. A corps, composed of volunteer militia and of these In- dians, had completely put to rout a party of the enemy in the vicinity cf Furt George. In a council held before the conflict (for all things must be done among them by common con- sent), the Indians, by his advice, agreed amongst themselves, besides the obligation of their general treat/, which they recognized, that no one should solp or tomahawk prison- ers, or employ towards them any species of savage inhumanity. Accordingly, after the battle, sixteen wounded captives were com- mitted solely to their management, when, governed by a sacred regard to their covenant, and the benevolent advice of their commar.d- er, they exhibited as great magnanimity to- wards their fallen enemy, as they had shown bravery against their foes in battle." We can easily understand James's aston- ishment that any American writer should have been found to promulgate the fact that sixteen British captives, writhing under the anguish of their yet bleeding wounds, were, by the orders of an American officer, " com- mitted solely to the management " of a party of hostile Indians, to determine, by way of experiment, whether those rvtJikss »avages,l * History of the War. t SkotchesoftheWar. J History of the United States. H Wc carefully employ none but tho terms taught us § American writers. thill faithleiyit and perjidious race would listtti to the adrtce of their white and civilised brethren ; and to ascertain whether the injli,. ence of a cultivated jieople would impose any 'cstraints upon the known habits of Indian w'\rfare. The artful advice to an iiifuriiUcd mob who had just secured their victim, "Do not nail his ears to the pump,' fades in com- parisop with this example of American feeling for theii pri:;oners. After the battle of the Miami, when the British guard (see chapui nine) in charge of the American prisontr?, were overpowered, and some df them killed and wounded in defenco of the helpless cap- tives, committed to their charge, when fortv Americano fell victims to the fury of the In- dians, ihc whole Union resounded with thv most cAaggerated accounts of British piTfid} and cruelty.* Tliis outcry, too, was raisid only on the unconfirmed statements of tin American press, yet here have we found one of these same historians gravely chronicling an experiment, as to whether the Indian-! would act the part of good Samaritans, or scalp and otherwise torture their victims. Toriurt to the feelings of the captives, it must, under all circumstances, have been ; a wanton . party were encountered and oaptured. After the American officer had surrendered, he drew forth a concealed pistol and shot one of the chiefs, in whose charge he was, through the head, endeavouring to make his escape, for this act of treachery Lieut. Eldridge very deservedly lost his life, and to those who are cognizant of the Indian character it will not appear strange that some of his party should have also paid the penalty of their officer's perfidy. Not one .iritish or Canadian was present on this occasion, (this is proved by Mr. O'Connor himself, in his account,t in which he no where alludes to the British,) yet, Mr. Thomson's rabid feelings have induced him to cite this act of cruelty on the part of the British as a causo for the Indian alliance. A reference fb dates will further disprove Mr. Thomson's statements. "This "act of cruelty " was perpetrated on the 8th of July, now the declaration of war by the six nations of Indians was made three days antecedent, and oould not therefore have been occasioned by this "case of barbarity." " We, the chiefs and counsellors of the Six DccIanitionofWar.bv ^'''^'^'"' "^ '"••'''^"«' ""^ tli<" Six " ■ Indiaiiii. * James quotes this case, also, in his history. tHistoiT of the War, pase 106. Roal causes of alii atK'<;. Nations' o'f siding in the State of New York, do hereby proclaim to all the war-chiefs and warriors of the Six Nations, that war is declared on our part against the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada. Therefore, we do here'ny com- mand and advise all the war-chiefs to call forth the warriors under them, and put them in motion, to protect their rights and libt-rties, which our brethren the Americans, are now defending. — By the Grand Oounsellom." It would have been far more honest had American writers come boldly forward and justi- fied. Oil their real grounds, the alliance which they had all along desired to form. They would have been then spared the trouble of inventing, and the disgrace of circulating, all those marvellous tales which disgrace their pages. The credit of being foremost amongst the ranks of these modern Baron Munchausens is certainly due to the government organ, in which the " Ilend of the EnijUsh Church " is first vehemently denounced as an "ally of hell-hound murderers," and then contrasted with the United States Government. " From the organization of the governmant of the United States, the constant care of every administration has been to better the condition of the Indian tribes, and preserve profound peace with them. Such is the spirit of our republican institutions. We never began a war with them, or placed the tomahawk in their hands. When the Briti.sh, in alliance with them, ravaged our frontier and com- mitted murders, until then, unheard of, we atltiaed this restless people to peacCy and resisted their importunity to retaliate on the enemy the wrongs thejf. had inllicted. They have been sometimen empl •yed (is spies or guides but in no other cajmcity. At this moment (April 1813) the United States could let loose on the British in Canada, upwards of one thousand Indian warriors, imi)atient for the field of battle, thirsting for blood, But i>-- HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. the same policy prevails; they arc retained by force, or persuaded, or pensioned to remain quiet." What a glorious contrast. It would ajjpear, however, that the Amcri- eans diKcovcred that there is a limit beyond which human patience can no further go — hence the expediency of employing them as a means of counteracting the wiles and stra- tagems of the hostile tribes, and of gradually instilling into their savage minds the lessons of moderation and christian forbearance. W'ould it not have been far more honest, we repeat, to have frankly admitted, that by rep- resentations, and presents, the object of the Americans had been gained, and thu*' some of the Indian tribes had, forgetting past wrongs, rallied under the American standard. This, Hiowever, would not have suited the purpose;, of the American government, vvhi h was, even ai the time of completing the treaty with the Indians, meditating farther tre'>xhery and violence against the hpplessand persecuted red man. At the very time of the completion of the treaty, the government organ writes : " It appears as though the extermina- tion of the faithless race was indispensable to ovr safety. We have evidences of their fero- city that it would he criminal to forget.''^ What follows is even more at variance with the lessons of [moderation and forbearance which the humane and considerate command- ers of the American army had it so at heart to inculcate. 'In the nature of things it will be impossible for them to defend them- selves, nor can Great Britain give any security by treaty. She may abandon or support as policy dictates. Thus the time is at hand when they will be swept awa from the face of the country as with the besom of destruc- tion." We can scarcely believe that any one who reads the above, can be at a loss to ac- count for the inveterate and determined hos- tility evinced by the Indians towards the, Americans. Most unfortunately for the case of moderation, and so forth, which American writers are so desirous of establishing, Niles Jtegister institutes a comparison between the use of the Indians by the British as analogous to the use of blood hounds in Cuba by the Spaniards,* a most unfortunate comparison, *Below will be found an account of the educa- cation of the blood-hounds introduced by the Spaniards into St. Domingo, first to destroy the as in Mrs. Stowe's late work (the world wide known Uncle Tom's Cabin.) 'Prohf puJor!' the enlightened Americans of the present day are represented as following the same atrocious customs with reference too, not tn their ei\eniies, but to those in whom nature has implanted the same burning desire t'cr freedom which we presume indanicd the breasts of a Washington, a Jackson, or a Lawrenca. This digression ' is, perliaps, scarcely rek- vant to our subject, but when we find such atrc'^ious paragraphs in American b oks, pro- fe.-^si.'ig to be "Historical Registers," we feel bound 10 retort the calumnies and fix tl,e stigma of cruelty on the nation to which it more properly belongs, " The United States." American writers may place what colour- ing they please on this alliance, and maj assign any reason they think proper— but the real fact of the case stnrids thus— tht capture of York, the occupation of Fort Erie and Fort (Jeorge, and Proctor's with- drawal of his forces from the . territory of Michigan, gave an appearance of reality to the vapouring and gasconade ot the Americans, and enabled them to hold out such reasonable hopes of conquest or plunder :■ '■- were sutflcient to overbalance that deadly ...limosity which was the most natural feeling ♦or every Indian to cherish, to whom memory had not been denied. We omitted, in our account of General General Clay's Mani. Clay's defeat at the .Mi- festo. ami, to introduce the manifesto issued by him previous to that ac- tion. It will, however, serve here as an iilu!;- tration of the lesson of moderation inculcated by the American Commanders. It will be remembered that General Clay's army met witli precisely the same fate as their butch- ered brethren whom they were burning with haste to avenge. General Orders. Soldiers, You are now about to leave the shores of Kentucky — Many of you can boast that she gave you birth — She is indeed dear to us all. Indians and afterwards the fugitive negroes. All who have written upon the settleoieixt of America, have endeavored to give immortality to the cruel- bj every means in t HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 1S3 Ki:sTvcK:.\SH stand high in the estimation] .,f our comiroii country. Our brothers in I HI ins, who have gone before us to the scene of! ation, have acquiied a fume, which slioiild | never he furpotten by you — a fame worthy j your emulation. I feel eons ions you wouUl rather sec your I country no more, than return to it, under the : ii^iprcssion, tiiat I)y an act of your.s, the high j clmriicter of Kentucky had fillen. I To support this reputation, purchased by i valor and by blood, you must with fortitude ' meet the hardships, and discbarge the duties ties of tlie Spaniards in tliis particular ; and many uriiisli historians are singularly eioiinent on tli a great therje for censure. liiU who had the aston- ishing audacity to justify the Spaniards on the plea that these blood-hounds could not be res- traiaei' oni thrusting their heads into the bow- els and leitrinj; out the living hearts of their vic- tim.-? No one has had the impudence to do this; but the hlaiiiu is uiiivorsaliy l.iiil where it justly jpplies, and l/n' S/nuiiard'i, who nuedthe dor/s, arc ■msidernl at resjjo>uMe for the enormities thai imnmittcd. From the famous speech of Lord Dorchester lotlic Indians in 1704, to the present day, the Oritiah ii) Canada have constantly trained savages for th„ very work they ave now engaged in. This ijiiot mere assertion. It can be sustained by hosts of testimony ; and will be received as an established fact by an impartial posterity. A war with the United States has always been regarded by tlie Rritisli as a probable event, sooner or liter; and hs "gracious majesty's" officers in Cinaiia have been unremittingly emp!oye'orlc, is iu an instant torn to jjieces, and thus of soldiers. Discipline and subordination mark the real soldier — and arc indeed the s( ul of an army. In every situation, therefore, the most per- fect subordination — tlie most ri^id discharge of duty will be expected from all. Partiality or injustioc shall be shown to none. I have the most pi;rfect conlidence in your atta< hinent and support through every diffi- culty we luaj- encoimter. It is upon you — it is upon your subordina- tion and discipline I rely, for a successful issue of the present campaign. Without this ' they arrive at a copious meal. While they gorge thems'dves nitli t)us, the keeper and his colleagues j caress and encourage them. IJy this exeeral>l» artifice the white people ingratiate tlieniselves j with the dogs, and teach them to regard a negro I as their proper prey. — As soon as the young dogs I are thus initiated, they are taken out to be exer- cised on living objects, and are trained with great I care, till they arrive at the necessury nicety and I exactness in the pursuit of the poor wretchc s ] whom they are doomed to destroy. The common use of these dogs in the Spanish islands was in the chase for run-away negroes in the mountains. — When once they got scent of the object, they speedily ran him down and devoured him, unless he could evade the pursuit by climbing a tree, in which case the dogs remained at the foot of the tree yelping in a most horrid manner till their keepers arrived. If the victim was to be pre- served for a public exhibition or a cruel punish- ment, the dogs were then muzzled and the priso- ner loaded with chains. — On his neck was placed a collar with spikes inward and hooks outward ; the latter for the purpose of entangling him in t roduccd their daugh- ter. The justice of our cause — with the aid of an approving Providence, will be sure gua- rantees to our success. GREEN CLAY, bkioadieh general. The tone of this manifesto, and the spirit breathed in the concluding paragraphs, re- quire no comment on our part. The words in capital letters are exactly as they appeared in General Green Clay's own document. In the teeth of such a manifesto the Americans have dared to impute cruelty to the British, while carefully suppressing the well known fact — that just at this very time General Vincent had sat at the head of a committee by whom, as the best means of putting an end to any cruelties, it had been resolved, that ten dol- lars should be paid, to every Indian, for every American prisoner brought in alive. This resolution, James declares, appeared in a Boston paper, but we regret to state that not one of the numerous officers and men saved by its instrumentality, ever had the good feeling to acknowledge to what cause their safety was due. General Proctor and the right division of Proctor's movements t''"^ """^ "^W demand ill the West. our attention. We can- not, however, concur with Major Richardson, who claims for this corps, the proud title of '• the fighting division of Canada." We do not mean by our denial to detract one whit from the laurels won bj' the right division, hut only to assert the claim of the other divisions of the army, whether composed of regulars or militia, and this claim we are borne out in making, if we refer to the various general orders issued on difTerent occnsioni fiOm hcnd quarters. The niovi merits of the right division were undoubtedly altrmlcd witf, the most important and lieru llrial results, and when we consider that their force vny rnreh exceeded in numbers a sinple reginicnt their exertions and energy become more remark- able. T. t!.. ! L Genera*. Proctor was jr. F(irt >IciKs. duced, towards the end of July, to prepare, at the instance of Tecum. seth, to repeat his attempt on Fort .Meigs. Tecumseth's plan, according to Richardson, was as follows : — *' Immediately in rear of Fort Meigs, and at right angles with tl'c river, ran the road to Sandusky, distant about thirty miles, upon, or near, which the chief had been apprized by his scouts that General Harrison, (who with a largo portion of his force had left the fort soon after its relief from General Proctor's presence,) was at that moment encamped. Having landed some miles lower down the river, the whole of the Indian force was to march through the wood and gain, unperceived by the troops in the fort, the Sandusky road, where a sham engage. ment was to take place, leading; the garrison to believe a corps, hastening to their relief had been encountered, and attacked hy the Indians, and inducing them to make a soitie for their rescue. The moment they had crossed the open ground, intervening between their position and the skirt of the wood, we were to rise from our ambuscade, and take them in the rear, making at the same time a rush for the fort, before the enemy could have time eftectually to close his gates." This plan was certainly, to all appear- ance, a good one, and the attempt wf>^ made accordingly, but, whether the Americans suspected the ruse or not, they did not stir from the protection of theirifort, although, according to Richard.son, the fire had become so animated and heavy, as to leave the British half in doubt whether the battle was a sham or real one. The surprise of Fort Meigs by stratagem having failed, and as any attempt to redu>? it by siege was out of the question, what guns there wore,being only light six poundeR — it was resolved, (Major Richardson say.- at Tecuuiseths' earnest request,) to attempt • History of the Wai HISTORY OF TUB WAR OP 1812. 180 eigs by stratapm attempt to redu e he question, what light six pounders ' Richardson say.- 2quest,) to attempt »ho rc'luction of a fort which had been con- triicted on the west side of the Samhisky nver. This fort, about forty miles from tlic iimuth of the river, stood on a rising ground, ifliniiiandiiig the river to tiie east ; having a lilain to tlic north and a woofl to tlie west. "The body of tlie fort was about one hundred nnls ill length, and fifty in breadth, sur- nunded. outside of all the other defences, \ij a row of strong pickets twelve feet ligh from tho ground ; each picket armed nt tho top with a hmjoncV^* Just outside 111 this fence, with the embankment reaching to the foot of tho pickets, was a ditch twelve feet wide, and seven deep, thus forming a glacis of nineteen feet high. Tho ditch was protected by a bastion and two strong block- houses which completely enfiladed it, thus forming a very sufficient and formidable line ofdeftnce. We have no means of ascertain- ing correctly the number of troops that formed tlia garrison, but as an American account places them at " an effective force of one hundred and sixty rank and file," wo may safely and without fear of exaggeration, put the numbers down at two hundred and fifty. Of the British there were three hundred and ninety-one offlcera and privates. Of the Indians there were but two hundred, and they withdrew to a ravine out of gunshot, almost immediately on the action commencing. On the first day of August a landing was effected, under an ineffectual discharge from Uie enemy's guns, and a position taken up in ths wood, on the skirt of which the Brit* sixpoundens were placed. On the morning o ' the second a fire was opened on the fort and continued till three, p. m., by which time it having been ascertained that the fire from tho light sixes would affect no breach on the litockade. General Proctor resolved to carry the fort by storm. Forming his men accord- ingly into three colurans,about 4 p.m. he began his attack, ano a'though exposed to a most destructive fire, t lo gallant body reached the ditch. "Not a fascine" says Richardson, ''had been provided, and although axes had iieen distributed among a body of men selec- ted for the purpose, they were so blunt, that it would have been the work of hours to cut through the double line of pickets, even ' History of the War, pa>;e 131. if an enemy had not been there to interrupt our progress." * , In defiance of this difUcultj-, the axo-inen leaped without hesitation into the ditcli, and attempted to accpiit themselves of their duty ; but they were speedily swept awny by the guns from the batteries, charged with musket balls and slugs and directed with fatal preci- sion. The troops had establisheil themselves on the edge of the ditch, but it was impossible to scale without the aid of ladders or fascines ; and within a few paces of the cMeiny only, they saw their comrailes fall on every hand with no hope of avenging their deaths. Tho second division had only two officers attached to it. Brevet Lieutenant-colonel Short, of the 41st, was killed while descending the ravine at the head of his column, when, the com- mand devolving on Lieutenant Gordon of the same regiment, that officer encourairing his men, and calling upon them to follow his ex- ample, was one of the first in the ditch, and was in the act of cutting tho picketing with his sabre, when a ball, fired from a wall-piece, struck him in the breast. Although danger- ously wounded, he refused to abandon his post, and continued to animate his men by his example, until a second ball, fired from the same piece, and lodging in his brain, lefl the division without an officer. The action had continued nearly two hours without produ- cing tho slightest impression on the enemy, when the bugles sounded tho " cease firing," and the men wore ordered to lie flat on the ground on the edge of the ravine. The first division were so near the enemy, that they could distinctly hear the various orders given in the fort, and the faint voices of the wound- ed and dying in the ditch, calling out for wa- ter, which the enemy had the humanity to lower to them on the instant. After continu- ing in this position until nine o'clock, the col- umns received an order to effect their retreat in silence, which was done accordingly, the enemy merely firing a few vollies of musketry, producing however no materia! effect. The troops having been re-embarked the samo night, the expedition descended the river, and returned to Amherstburg. Our loss In this affair was severe — three officers, one ser- geant, twenty-two rank and file killed ; three officers, two sergeants, thirty-six rank and file wounded ; and one sergeant, twenty-eight ■ \ ' \ m HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1813. m rank ami file missiiij^. Of this iiiitubcr the proportion of (ho first division iiloni", consist- in(^ priiicipiiliy of the li^ht coinpaiiy of tlii" 41 Ht, wliich liiul ftttiukcd the stroiiK"St point of tlic position, was five and thirty nun. During Iho assault, no assistftnce whatever was afforded hy the Indians, wlio, unaccus- tomed to this inodo of warfare, contented themselves with remaining quiet spectators of the scene. It is a curious circumstance that we do n^ t find in James, Cienerul Proctor's ofHcial de- spatch on this sufiject. Richardson writes, "The only iJritish document referring to the matter at all, is the followinj; brieC notice hy Sir tieorge Prevost, evidently founded on a more detailed communication from General Proctor. We give Sir Ge urge's general order, and the American official version.* The only one we have been able to get at will be found below in our notes : — 'Copy of a letter from Major Vrcghan to Oen, Harrison, dated Lower Sandiiski/, Aiir/unt 5, 181 ;J. Dkau Sib, — I liavo the lionor to inlonn you, that the combined force of the enemy, amounting to at least 5U0 regulars, and as many Indiniiti, under the immediate command of Gen.' rroctor, made its appearniice before this place, early on Sunday evening last ; and as soon as the Geueral bad made such disposition of liis troops, as would cut off my retreat (should I bo disposed to make one), he sent Col. Elliott, accompanied by Major Chambers, with a flag, to demand the suirciufer of the fort, as he was anxious to spare tiie effu- sioix of blood ; which he should probably not have in his power to do, should he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. My an- swer to the summons was, that I was determined to defend the place to the last extremity, and that no force, however large, should induce me to surrender it. So soon as the flag had returned, a brisk fire was opened upon us, from the gun- boats in the river, and from a fiveand-a-half-iuch howitzer, on shore, which was kept up with little intermission throughout the night. At an early hour the next morning, three sixes (whicii had been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets), began to play upon us — but with little effect. About four o'clock r.M, discovering that the fire, from all his guns, was concentrated against the N.W. angle of the fort, I became confident that his object was to make a breach, and attempt to storm the works at that point. I therefore ordered out as many men as could be employed, for the purpose of strengthening that part — which was so effectually secured, by means of bags of flour, sand, &c., that the picketing suf- fered little or no injury ; notwithstanding which, the enemy, about 600, having formed in close column, advanced to assault our works, at the (ientral Order. Held (iunitcrs, Kingston, Adjutant (ieniral's Otilcc, Ud Sept. 181,1 Ilis Kxctlkncy the Commander of tin Forces has received a di jiatch from M.ij .r General Pr.Hlor, reporting the circum.itainiv of an attack, made by a small portion of tv guliir troops and a body of Indian warriors, on the 2d of August, on the American fort of Lower Sandusky, which, owing to the strenph of the ('\u rny's works, which resisted the i\u of the light field guns brought against it— so that a practicable breach could not he cfTictid — as also from the want of siifflcicnt co-o|n'ra- lion on the part of the Indian warriors, uniisth! i understood that the Indians joined in the ; attack. " It is a fact worthy of notice," says I this gentleman, "that not one Indian was loiiinl iiiuoiig.st lIiu dciiil, ultlioiigh from three to four hundred were present." Before following General Proctor's motions, , ,. , _, aftev his retreat, we iiiovtmuMit.s. must return to tlie Niagara frontier, taking a glance, as wo pass, at York and Commodore Chauncey's second descent upon it. The movements also in the lower province demand our attention. So many important events require, howcven a fresh chapter. II n 183 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. CHAPTER XII, CONTENTS. Commodore Chaun- <'«.v's soconj desccnf upon York. Commodore Chauncey's second descent upon York. — Demonstration against the stores at Burlinffton Heights. — Col. Scott breaking par- ole. — Second descent upon York by Chauncey. — Sir James Yeo on Lako Ontario. — Demon- stration ugainat Fort George by Sir George Prevost. — Cruise of Commodore Rogers; the President and Congress frigates. — Dominica and Decatur, August 5th, 1813. — Pelican and Argus, August 12th. — Boxer and Enterprise, September 6th. CoMMODOuE Chauncey having completed the equipment of the General File, a new vessel of about the same tonnage as the Wasp, and manned with a very large crew, about one hundred and twenty of whom had been drafted from the Constitution, while the restof her complement had been made up from other vessels in the Atlantic ports, again appeared on the lake to resume offensive operations. We have been particular in noticing the mode in which the General Pike was manned, as a body so large as one hundred and twenty from one vessel, all trained to work together, must have in- spired her commander with the greatest con- fidence, especially when aware that, with the exception of the few thorough bred seamen who had been brought from Great Britain by Sir James Yeo, the remainder of the crews of the British Canadian navy were fresh water seamen, picked up hastily, and possessing few recommendations, save dauntless bravery, tnd an ardent attachment to the cause in which they had been enlisted. Commodore Chaun- cey's fleet now consisted of fourteen vessels, making up a force of over twenty-seven hun- dred tons, and manned by about twelve hun- dred picked men. Sir James Yeo's fleet was Just one third inferior to his adversary in tonnage, guns and men ; what his men lacked, however, in numbers and discipline, was in some degree made up by the spirit and zeal which animated them. Commodore Chauncey's first object was the ^ ^, . ^ capture, or destruction, Domonstration npamst /^ . -i , , tho stores nt Burling- of a considerable quan- ton Heights. jj^y of stores that had been collected at Burlington Heights, and which he had ascertained to be but slenderly guarded. Col. Harvey, anxious for the pro. tection of these stores, and suspecting, from Chauncey's manoeuvres, his designs, des- patched Lieut. Col. Battersby, with pan of the Glengarry regiment to strengthen Major Maule, who commanded at Burlington Heights, Col. Battersby by a forced march M)f extra- ordinary celerity arrived with his reinforce- ment, and the American commodore, finding that his reception was likely to be wanner than he either anticipated or desired, prudent- ly kept his men out of reach of harm, con- tenting himself with the capture of a few of the neighboring inhabitants. Having ascer- tained, however, that Col. Battersby's depar ture had left York undefended, he determined to swell the number of "American victories" by " a second siege and storming. &c." of that place. He accordingly seized his opportunity, and bore away for that port, which he entered on the 31st July. Amongst the officers whom Comniodorf | Col. Scott breaking Chauncey had embarked P*rol«- for the expedition against Burlington Heights, we find the name o[ Lieut. Col. Scott. Now, according to Sir George Prevost, Lieut. Col. Scott was at that time an unexchanged prisoner of war, on his parole. Breaking parole is a severe charge to | make against an ofiBcer, especially one who, as General Scott, has .occupied, since, so | prominent a place in the world's history, nevertheless, on Mr. James' authority, and with but faint denial of the charge from j American historians, we feel compelled to avow our belief that Lieut. Col. Scott did actually forfeit his pledged word of honor as I a soldier, on the occasion of the second descent upon York. We will now enter on our proof of thi! I charge. All lists of prisoners paroled or ex- changed, were necessarily transmitted to the commander-in-chief. In this case it will b« found in Sir George Prevost's despatch of the j 8th August,* to Lord Bathurst, that cohnd Swtt is expressly mentioned as an rinpitrold | prisoner who had forfeited his pledged word. A faint attempt has been made to clear I colonel Scott, from the imputation on the| • This despatch will be foiuid under tho uc*t hc^ ' Wilkinson's Memoii HISTORY OF TIIE WAR OF 1812. 189 xious for the pro. i suspecting, from his designs, des- rsby, with part of ) strengthen Major Turlington Heights. d march Mjf extra- with his reinforce- 'ommodore, finding kely to be warmer or desired, prudent- jach of harm, con- capture of a few of ts. Having ascer- Battersby's depar- ided, he determined \merican victories" orming. &c." of that zed his opportunity, t port, which he whom Commodore | uncey had embarked 16 expedition against find the name ot according to Sir Scott was at that | soner of war, on his is a severe charge to especially one who, .occupied, since, so le world's history, nes' authority, and the charge from 1 feel compelled to eut. Col. Scott did word of honor as ' f the second descent 1 our proof of thi! ners paroled or ex- transmitted to the this case it will ^ )st's despatch of the :hurst, that cohnil ed as an tinparold his pledged word. len made to clear imputation on the id under the uc»t k*^ I pica that " he believed himself to be an ex- changed prisoner," but as no shadow of proof has been brought forward, the defence can n"' he entertained — The following was the form of parole signed by lieutenant-colonel Scott and others when taken prisoners, " we promise, on honor, not to bear arms, directly or indirectly, against his Britannic Majesty, or his allies, during the present war, until we are regularly exchanged. We likewise cn- jage that the undermentioned non-com- missioned officers and privates, soldiers in the service of the United States, who are per- mitted to accompany us, shall conform to the same conditions." This is no accusation trumped up at this late period to impugn Gen, Scott's character as a man of honor — on the contrary, it was made at the time, and while lieutenant-colonel Scott was yet un- known to fame, and of no more importance in public estimation than any ottier American officer. It is therefore of consequence, that his friends should, if they can, at least make j tile attempt to wipe away the imputation. An extract from James will throw some tlditional li;j;ht on the subject, and prove that ' there wer,. other oflBcers besides colonel Scott, who did not scruple to break their parole, when a convenient opportunity presented itself, " To the doughtj' quarrel between Mr. President Madison, and general James Wil- kinson, * of the American army, we are in- debted for some important di,sclosures relative to the paroled prisoners. The general very candidly tells us, that lieutenant George Read, a witness examined on the part of the prosecution, at the general court martial, held at Troy, in the State of New York, in February, 1814, deposed on oath, " that on the 24:th December, 1813, while a prisoner I on parole, he received from colonel Lamed, jaaorder to repair to Grcenbush, in the fol- I lowing words : — ' I am directed by the secretary of war, to jcall in all the American prisoners of war, at jornear this vicinity, to their post, and that jlhe offisers join them for drilling, &c.— You jwill therefore repair to the cantonments at iGreenbush, without loss of time.' • Lieute- jUntRead further deposeth, that ho repaired |to Greenbush, in pursuance of the order, and * Wilkinson's Memoirs, volt 8, page 197. made no objections to doing duty : that on general Wilkinson's arrival at Waterford, in the ensuing January, lieutenant Head called upon him, and exhibited the order received from lieutenant-colonel Larned ; that general Wilkin.son thought the order very improper, and afterwards issued the following order, dated, \Vatcrford, January, 18lh 1814. ' A military officer is bound to obey promptly, and without hesitation, every order he may receive, which does not atl'ect his honor; but this precious inheritance must never be voluntarily forfeited, nor should any earthly power wrest it from him. It follows that, where an officer is made prisoner, and released on his parole of honoi-, not to bear arms against the enemy, no profes.sional duties can be imposed on him, while he con- tinues in that condition ; and under such circumstances, every military man will justify him for disobedience." "Such," adds James, "are the principieB upon which Mr. Madison conducted the late war. Lieutenant-colonel Scott, although per- haps not one of those American officers, who, like lieutenant Read, ' made no objection to doing duty' in compliance with the shameful order of his Government, certainly gave his parole at Queenston, and yet subsequently appeared in arms, both at Fort George, and at York." We take pleasure in mentioning, that lieu- tenant Carr, of the United States army, also a prisoner at Queenston, declined obeying the order to perform duty, on the ground, that it was always contrary to the parole. Thin meritorious case being an exception, as it would appear, enhances its value ; and it ought to operate as a lesson to that govern- ment, which could thus stab the reputation of its officers, to facilitate the means of conquest. It is perfectly clear that Lieutenant-Colonel Scott broke his parole in every sense, as he not only joined what might be called the non-combatants in their usual garrison routine of drills, ».tc. ; but he took, according to Sir George, an active part in the more stirring scenes of the campaign, thus renderin^r his dereliction from the path of honor doubly flagrant Wo have found that American writers 1' ve been always ready to lay hold of the slightest charge (witness the case of Capt. Manners at Stony Creek) against British 1 l.l 100 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ofRcers, it will be well for them then in the present case to direct their attention towards clearing the character of one of their most distinguished men from the stain of dishonor resting on it. To return, however, from our digression, to _ , . ^ Commodore Chauncey, Scnontl dfispent upon '' York by Clmimccy. whom wclcftjust after his appearance, a second time, before York. This place being left by Colonel Batte^sby's departure with the Glengarry fencibles, un- defended, the Americans landed without opposition and took quiet possession. The first thing done was to lay hold of everythingj in the shape of stores, that could possibly be construed into public property, and the decision resting not with a court of judicial enquirers, but rather with men not overburthened with scruples, it may be easily inferred that some private property did by mistaTce find its way to American owners. Their other acts seem to have been attended with the same evidences of republican license, as they opened the gaol and liberated the prisoners, some of whom were in confinement awaiting their trial for capital offences. The few men in the hospital who were so ill as not to bear moving, even in the opinion of American prisoner-hunters, were paroled — the others were removed as trophies won at the " second battle of York." The public store-houses were then all destroy- ed, and by mistake some of the store-houses of the inoffensive inhabitants with large quantities of provisions, were first sacked, and afterwards burnt. This was a fair day's work, and accomplished without so much fighting or loss of life as the capture of the depot at Burl- Hngton would have occasioned. A commander of energy or daring would, perhaps, have been provisions cheaply for the shipping. Havire succeeded in all their objects, towards evenine they embarked, and the fleet sailed for Niagara' taking with them, or having destroyed, five guns, eleven boats, with a quantity of shot, shells and other military stores. Sir George's dispatch* will bear out all we have asserted relative to the injuries inflicted by the cncmj on private individuals, by whom, indeed, this visitation was almost entirely felt. This is a circumstance which must not be lost sight of by the reader, as we shall soon have to show how loud was the outcry raised by both the American people and goveinment when retaliatory measures were adopted by the British. Christie mentions a curious coinci- dence, viz :-that on the very day the American commander and his troops were burning the barracks and stores at York, Lieut.-Col. Murray was no less actively employed on the same business at Plattsburg — we shall, how- ever, have to treat of this in its proper place. The American fleet remained quietly at Niagara until the appearance of the British fleet on the 8th of August. Sir James had sailed from Kingston, on the 31st of July with supplies for the army, and having duly landed them, he looked into Niagara in hopes of tempting Commodore Chauncey to leave his anchorage. The challer'gc was accepted and the Americans bore down on the British line with whom they manoeuvred for nearly two * From 8ir G. Prevost to Earl Bathunt Headquarters, Kingston, Upper Canada, August 8th, 1813. My Lord, — I have the honour to acquaint your lordship, that the enemy's fleet, of 12 sail, made its appearance off York on the .31st ultimo, The three-square rigged vessels, the Pike, Madis- on, and Oneida, came to anchor in the offing; but the schooners passed up the harbor, and scarcely satisfied to leave himself open to the ! landed several boats full of troops at the former charge of having been frightened by a handful j Sf 7.°". and proceeded from thence to the town ° 11. I of which they took possession. They opened the ot men, and prevented, m consequence, from j goal, liberated the prisoners, and took away three - accomplishing an enterprise of some import- i soldiers confined for felony : they then went to ance. Commodore Chauncev, however, knew '^« hospitals, and paroled the few men that could " ' ' ' nnt ha rnmnvaA They Hcxt eutcrcd tlic storc- better, and as we suppose he must have been the best judge of the value of his character we leave our readers to form their own esti- mate of the affair. A second landing was made on the next day, and an ed'pedition fitted out which proceeded a mile orm u\) the Don, not be removed. houses of some of the'inhabitants, seized their contents, chiefly flour, and the same being private property. Between 11 and 12 o'clock that night they returned on board their vessels. The next morning, Sunday, the Ist instant, the enemy again landed, and sent three armed boats up the river Don, in search of public stores, of which We will follow , ., i . i. , . ,. , ,. ' beinff disappointed, by sun-set both soldiers and under the pretext of searching lor puhhc; g^i,,,^ ^ad evacuated the town, the small barrack , stores. The real object was to procinx- li x'sh '■ wood-yard, and store-house, on Gibraltar PolDt, HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 101 hipping. HaviiiB , towards evening sailed for Niagarai ig destroyed, five quantity of shot, pes. Sir George's n'e have asserted ,cd by the eneinj hom, indeed, thia ly felt. This is a )t be lost sight of oon have to show Liscd by both the oveiiimcnt when adopted by the a curious coinci- day the American were burning the York, Lieut.-Col. employed on the or — we shall, how- 1 its proper place. lained quietly at nee of the British ;. Sir James had jSlstof July with laving duly landed igara in hopes of incey to leave his was accepted and in the British line ed for nearly two Earl Bathurst. arters, Kingston, , August 8th, 1813. mr to acquaint your it, of la sail, made the 31st ultimo. Is, the Pike, Madls- :hor in the offing; p the harbor, and jops at the former thence to the town, They opened the ind took away three • they then went to few men that could entered the store- itants, seized their same being private J o'clock that night essels. The next istant, the enemy rmed boats up the stores, of which both soldiers and , the small barrack Q Gibralwr Point, ravs, losing four small vessels during that time, two of them, (the Julia and Grotrlcr) •jv capture, and the other two, (the Srovrge '.f eight guns and the Ilumilfon of nine,) by •heir being np.set in a squall* The entire •rews of these vessels, with the exreption of -istccn who were saved by the British boats, ■,vj!C lost. Commodore Cliauiicey, somewhat iiaheartened at the loss of four of his vessels, lid so many men, bare up for Niagara, from ivhence he sailed soon after to Sackett's Harbor, where he arrived on the ISth of August. As the reader may be scarcely yet aiare of the actual superiority in point of force of the Americans over the British Heet, we »i!l give a few cxtrarts from the Naval Register with the detailed account of the occurrences of the 9th and 10th of August. We will follow Sir James Yeo through all _ T , his operations from the [ f ,tario. date of the return of the I iet, after the Sackett's Harbor attempt, to 1 the affair now under consideration. We have already shown the valuable ser- [ vice rendered by Sir James, in the attack on I the Americans, at the Forty Mile Creek,where it may be remembered much valuable camp I i;']uipage, stores, provisions, &e. — were, thro' his instrumentality, captured. On the 13th [(June) he made prizes of two schooners and some boats containing supplies, and learning from some of the prisoners, that there was a jjjTn,g been first set on fire by them; and at jiisy-light the following morning the euemy'a fleet 1 iiiled. The plunder obtained by the enemy upon this I predatory expedition has been indeed trifling, Iwdthe loss hiis altogether fallei\ upon individuals ; I the public stores of every description having been Iremoved; and the only prisoners taken bv them, jitere, being confined to felons and invalids in the iM'pital. • The troops which were landed were acting as wines, and appeared to bo about 250 men; iiey were under the command of commodore lUiuncey and lieutenant-colonel Scott, an unex- i.';ia!iged prisoner of war on his parole, both of |»hom landed with the troops. The town, upon Itne arrival of the enemy, was totally defenceless ; I w militia were still on their parole; and the Iprincipal gentlemen had retired, from an appre- IwHsion of being treated with the same severity Iji^ed towards several of the inhabitants near Fort- 1 iwrgc, who had been made prisoners, and sent L'"''™''e says. " upset through prew ofsail in endeavor- I'toeKape." depot of provisions at the Genesee Kiver he directed his course thither, and succoeded in securing the whole. On thelOlhlic cai)tured another supply of stores and jiroviillons from (ireat Sodus, and returned on the 20th to Kingston. On his next cruise, after landing the .stores at Burlington we found him, as already de- scribed, inviting the American fleet to leave the protection of their batteries. Vi'e will now quote from the Natal Chronicle : "The Americans, by their own admission, had fourteen vessels, armed, also by their ad- mission, with one hundred and fourteen guns. Nearly one-fourth of the long guns and car- ronades were on pivot carriages, and were consequently as effective in broadside as twice the numbo*" The fourteen American vessels were manned with eleven hundred and ninety three men." When SirJamesY'eo made his appearance off Niagara, the Americans could scarcely inter- pret his manoeuvres to aught but what they were intended to convey — a challenge — we therefore find that " Commodore Chauncey immediately got under way, and stood out with his fourteen vessels, formed in line of battle; but, as the six British vessels ap- proached, the American vessels, after dischar- ging their broadsides, worcandstoodunder their batteries. Light airs and calms prevented Sir James Yeo from closing; and, during the to the United States. Lientcnant-colonel Battera- by, of the Glengarry fencibles, with the detach- ment of light troops under his command, who had been stationed at York, was, upon the appearance of the enemy's fleet off that place, on the 29th ult. ordered with his detachment and light artill- ery to proceed for the protection of the depots formed on Burlington Ileights, where he had joined major Maule's detachment of the 104th regiment, and concentrated his force on the foU lowing evening. The enemy had, during the course of that day, landed from the fleet 5l>iJ men, near Brandt's house, with an intention of storming the heights ; but fliiding major Maule well pre- pared to receive them, and being informed of lieutenant-colonel Bat* rsby's march, they re-em- barked, and stood av,. • for York. My last accounts fro n nuyor-generalDe Rotten- burg are to the 3d instant, when the enemy's fleet had anchored oflt Niagara. I have received no tidings of our squadron under sir James Yeo, since its sailing froiri lience on the 31st ultimo. I have the honor to be, kt. Gkorob Prevost. Earl Bathurat, &c. &c. &c. 81: I \\ 192 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. I niglit, in a heavy squall, two of the American schoonei'S, the JIarullton and Scourge^ upset, and their crews unfortunately perished. On the JIth the two parties were again in sight of each other, and continued manoeuvring dur- ing that and the succeeding day. On the 10th, at night, a iino breeze sprang up, and Sir James Yeo immediately took advantage of it, by bearing up to attack his powerful oppo- nent; but, just as the Wolfe got within gun- shot of tlie Pike and Madison, these two pow- erful American ships bore up, fired their stern chase guns, and made sail for Niagara ; leav- ing- two fine schooners, the Julia and Groic- ^r, each armed with one long thirty-two and one long twelve pounder on pivots, and man- ned with a crew of forty men, to be captured without an ellbrt to save them. With his two prizes, and without the loss of a man, and with no greater injury to his ships than a few cut ropes and torn sails, Sir James Yeo re- turned to Kingston." We have examined with some care the min istcrial organ, (Niles Register) for some notice of this attair, with the intention of giving the American account at length, and we were the more desirous of do;ng this from our having lighted, during our search, on the following choice paragraph — " A Montreal paper speaks of Commodore Chauncey as ' not having learned even the rudiments of war. We have sent him (says the same paper,) a most able teacher (Sir James Yeo) who will carry him through all the inflections peculiar to it in much less time than a school-boy can be taught to conjugate a verb, or understand its principal.' " "One would think that this paragraph was written by Sir James himself, for it is quite his character. We shall see when Chauncey gets along side of him — '^that's all." After reading this elegant extract which will be found on the two hundred and twen^j - seventh page of the fourth volume of Ifiles Register, we were quite prepared for finding a ful , true, and particular account of Commo- dore Chauncey's " brilliant victories over an enemy double his force," and perhaps the suresl evidence of Sir James Yco's success may be found in the fact of Commodore Chauncey's not having captured the whole British fleet on paper. We give an extract of the Commodore's modest official letter* thattht reader may compare it first, with our versitin, and, secondly, with the only notices in Xila Register which bear distinctly on the subjec, and which are found in volume five, pagv twelve. " Commodore Chauncey fell in with the enemy 'Sjsquadron ; of whom, after a go'jii deal of manoeuvring, he got the weather gagi. *' The British bore away, and he then cIuvk,: them to Kingston. " It was thought that tt.t enemy would not give a chance for the com- bat so earnestly desired by the officers and crews." "It is positively stated that two schooners were captured for want of obedi ence to orders ; perhaps by having too raucL eagerness to meet the foe. It is agreed upon that our gallant Commodore never yet hm! the power to bring the enemy to action— hi< vessels in general sailing much better than ours. The Sylph, however, is a valuable my iliary in catching the foe." 'Extract of a letter from Commodore Chaunccj t" the 'Secretary of the Navy, dated on board tbe ship General Pike, at Sackett's Ilarbor, ISil; August, 1813. Sir, — I arrived here this day with this ship, the Madison, Oneida, Governor Tompkins, Con- quest, Ontario, Pert, and Lady of the Lake. Tbe Fair Aiuericnu and Asp I left at Niagara. Since ! had the honor of addressing you last, I have been much distressed and mortified ; distressed at the loss of a part of the force entrusted to my com- mand, and mortified at not being able to bring the enemy to action. The following movements aDd transactions of the isquadron, since the 6th in?»., will give you the best idea of the diflSculties awt mortifications that I have had to encounter. On the 7th, at daylight, the enemy's fleet, ccn- Slotting of two ships, two brigs, and two iarg? schooners, were discovered bearing W.N.W., distant about five or six miles, wind at west. Ai five, weighed with the fleet, and raanceuvred w gai^ the wind. At nine, having passed to lee- ward of the enemy's line and abreast of his van ship (the Wolfe), hoisted our colors and fired a few guns, to ascertain whether we could reach him with our shot ; finding they fell short I wow and hauled upon a wind upon the starboard tack; the rear of our schooners then about six mile? opart. The enemy wore in succession and haiileil up on a wind on the same tack, but soon findinj! that we should be able to weather him upon the next tack, he tacked and made all sail to the northward. As soon as our rear vessels could fetch his wake, tacked and made all sail in chase, In the afternoon the wind became very fight, and towards night quite calm. The schooners used their sweeps all the afternoon, in order to ck»t with the enemy, but without succesa. HISTORY OF THE WAR Ci-' ^fiii. 198 il letter* that tht ith our versiun, notices in Xikt f on the subject, ume five, pagi- ncey fell in with )in, after a gooii [10 weather gagi, d he then chwft/, thought that lit nco for the com- the officers and stated that two r want of obedi- having too much It is agreed upon c never yet hail ly to action— hl« luch better than is a valuable aus- ly with this ship. )r Toinpiilns, Con- ' of the Lake. The it Niagara. Since 1 Du last, I have bcoii ; distressed at thf ;ru8tcd to my com- ig able to bring the ng inovenients anJ eince the 6th in«t., the difficulties wA to encounter, enemy's fleet, ccn- 5s, and two largr bearing W.N.W., wind at west. Ai lud manoeuvred » ng passed to ie»- abreast of bis van colors and fired a er we could reach sy fell short I wore he starboard tack; 1 about six mile? sccssionandhailled , but soon findiDf! ther hira upon lh< de all sail to the •ear vessels couW Je all sail in chaK. me very light, and 3 schooners used in order to cloK success. One can scarcely wonder at the mi8tal--es into which the too credulous citizens of the I'nion were led, when the systematic lying of the Government is taken into consideration. The following morceaux will show whether we have affixed too harsh a term to the tissue of misrepresentation that was so sedulously woven round the inhabitants of the Union. They are taken from the principal source ol the tictions — The Government Organ. " The Lady of the Lake, (a flag sent to Kingston) has just returned. The whaling we gave them we find to have been much more serious than we then expected. Sir James Yeo acknowledges to have been beat- en by us in each rencounter, and thinks liim- self lucky that we could not follow the vic- tory up. Ho says the fighting was done ; and that he had given orders to his men to escape from their vessels as soon as they grounded, and that their trains were already laiJ, for blowing them up. His ships were literally torn to pieces, and a number of officers and men killed and wounded. "Another account of the battle, says, the fighting was over, and it was only necessary for Commodore Chauncey to take possession, to have completed his victory ; but in this he was disappointed by a sudden gale of wind, which drove the enemy's fleet to tho head of the lake, under the protection of their bat- teries. Commodore Chauncey might still have destroyed their fleet; but our fleet Late in the afternoon I made the signal of recall, tnd formed in close order. Wind during the night from the westward, and after midnight squally ; kept all hands at quarters and beat to windward in hopes to gain the wind of the enemy. At two i.M, missed two of our schooners ; at daylight discovered the missing schooners to be the Ha- milton and Scourge. Soon after, spoke the Go- Ternor Tompkins, who Informed mo that the Ha- milton and Scourge both overset aud sank in a heavy squall, about two o'clock ; and, distressing to relate, every soul perished, except sixteen. This iatal accident deprived me at once of the lervices of two valuable officers, Lieut. Winter and Sailing Master Osgood, and two of my best I schoojiers, mounting together 14 guns. This ac- cident giving to the enemy decidedly the supe- riority, I thought he would take advantage of it, particularly as by a change of wind he was I again brought dead to windward of me. Formed I the line upon the larboard tack and hove to. iSoon after six a.h. the enemy bore up and set pudding-sails, apparently with an intention to I bring us to action. When he had approached I u within four miles he brought to, on starboard .18 mu.5t, in turn, have inevitably been lost also, and the grand object of the government, the command of the lake, frustrated. Chauncey might have covered himselfwith the same imperishable glory, that did Parry ; but then he would have unfortunately aban- doned the all-important object for which he was contending, and which, by his masterly conduct on that day, was compktely and effectually secured to us." The seemingly careless manner in which the Capture of schooners. capture of the two schooners is disposed of is worthy of remark, it being incidentally brought in as if an afiair quite unconnected with the action,(if so petty a skirmish deserved the name) and only arising from an error, the effect of excess of bravery. The last item respecting the Sylph, has been most judiciously introduced to cover the ad- mission of "the effects of too much bravery," but still it was not ^uite enough without the usual contrast of the merits of the respective commanders, so we are gravely told first that Commodore Chauncey partook of a splendid dinner prepared for him. i.; Washington Hall, New York, in honor of e affair, and in the next paragraph informed that Sir J. Yeo was a blustering bully with whom discretion was the better part of valour, and from whom, as a British official, truth could not be expected. We are most fortunately enabled to test the value of Commodore Chauncey's official letter, and the remarks of Mies' Register, by tack. Finding that the enemy had no intention of bringing us to action, I edged away to gain the land, in order to have the advantage of the land breeze in the afternoon. It soon after fell calm, and I directed the schooners to sweep up and engage the enemy. About noon we got a light breeze from the eastward. I took the Oneida in tow, as she sailed badly, and stood for the enemy. When the van of our schooners was within about one and a half or two miles of his rear, the wind shifted to the westward, which again brought him to windward ; as soon as the breeze struck him, he bore up for the schooners in order to cut them off before they could rejoin me ; but with their sweeps, and the breeze soon reaching them also, they were soon in their station. The enemy find- ing himself foiled in this attempt upon th« schooners, hauled his wind and hove to. It boob became very squally, and the appearance of its continuing so during the night; and as we had been at quarters for nearly forty hours, and baing apprehensive of separating from some of the heavy sailing schooners in the squall, I was induced to run in towards Niagara, and anchor outside the bar. Qeneral Boyd very haudaomely offered anj 194 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. the following letter, from one of General PUc'h officers, which found its way by niiF- take inlo the (Tnited States (inzctte of Sept. 6th, Tlio writer, having previously stated the American force at two Hhi()S, one brig and eleven schooners, says — " On the lOth, at midnight, we came within gun sliot, every man in li'gh spirits. The schooners com- menced the action with their long guns whicli did great execut'.on. At half-past twelve, the commodore fired liis broadside, and gave three cheers, which were returned from the other ships, the enemy closing fast. We lay by for our opponent, the orders having been given not to fire till she came within pistol shot, — the enemy kept up a constant lire. Every gun was pointed, every match ready in hand, and the red British ensign plainly to be de- scried by the light of the moon ; when to our utter astonishment, the commodore wore and stood S. E. leaving Sir James Yeo to exult in the capture of two schooners, and in our re- treat which was certainly a very fortunate one for him." Farther comment on the affair is quite unnecessary after this letter, which is the most satisfactory proof we could have adduced, first of the correctness of the account we took from the Nacal lie'jhter — secondly, of the meanness of Commodore Chaunc^y in assistance in men that I might require, I received 150 soldiers, and distributed them in the diil'orent vessels, to assist in boarding or repelling board- ers, as circumstances might require. It blew very heavy in squalls during tlie night. Soon after day discovered the enemy's fleet bearing north ; weighed and stood after him. The wind soon became light and variable, and before 12 o'clock viuite calm. At five, fresh breezes from the north, the enemy's fleet bearing north, dis- tant about four or five leagues. Wore the fleet in succession, and hauled upon a wind on the lar- board taek. At sundown the eriemy bore N.W. by N. on the starboard taek. The wind hauling to the westward I stood to the north- ward all night in order to gain the north shore. At daylight tacked to the westward, the wind having changed to NX. W. Soon after, discovered the enemy's fleet, bearing S. W. I took the Asp, the Madison, and the Fair American in tow, and made all sail in chase. It was at this time we thought of realizing what we had been so long toiling for; but before twelve o'clock the wind changed to W.S.W., which brought the enemy to windward; tacked to the northward; at three, the wind inclining to the northward, wore to the southward and westward, and made the signal for the fleet to make all sail. At four the enemy bore S.S.W.; bore up and steered for him. At five observed the enemy becalmed under the penning the dispatch we have given in our notcK, and thirdly, of the utter want of [rin- ciple of both the American government and their official organ, A7/f»' Wedhj l!i'fii<,frr.~\[ is almost unnecssary to add that an order was soon afier the appearance of this letter, U>m,\ at Washington, forbnlding any oilicer to \sv>v, with the intention of publication, any accounts of the operations of the fleet and army. The otlicer, who has so opjiortunely cnahlcr] us to add, to the evidence already hron4t forward, one more proof of the unworthy means adopted by American commnndcTs and their rulers, at Washington, to delude a vain glorious people with ficticious statements of their prowess, has unwittingly raised the veil which the cabinet at Washington would have willingly suffered to remain over I'iiaiin- cey and his doings. He .says, " we proceeded directly," (which, wo presume means, after they had done chasing Sir James Yto to Kingslon,) "for Sackett's Harbour, where v,c victualled and put to sea, the next day, after our arrival, August 14th. On the iGlh we discovered the enemy again and hurried to quarters, again got clear of the enemy bv dint of carrying sail, and returned to Sacki tt's Ihirbor. On the 18th we again fell in with the enemy steering for King.ston, and ne land, nearing him very fast with a fine bre'fze from NN.W. At six formed the order of biitdc within about four miles of the enemy. TliewinJ at this time very light. At 7 the wind cliaiigtJ to S.W. and a fresh breeze, which again placed the enemy to windward of me. Tacked and hauled upon a wind on the larboard tack, under easy sail, the enemy standing after us. At nine, when within about two gunshot of our rear, he wore to the southward ; I stood on to the nnrtii- ward under easy sail ; the fleet formed in two lines, a part of the schooners formed the weather j line, with orders to commence the fire upon the enemy as soon as their shot would take etfect, and as the enemy reached them to edge do«ii upon the line to leeward and pass through tlie intervals and form to leeward. At about half | past ten the enemy tacked and stood aftei u!. At eleven the rear of our line opened his fire upon the enemy; in about fifteen minutes the fire became general from the weather line, which was returned from the enemy. At half past 1 1 the | weather line bore up and passed to leeward, «• cept the Growler and Julia, which soon after tacked to the southward, which lirought the eriemy be- tween them and me. FUled the maintopsail and edged two points to lead the enemy down, not [ only to engage him to more advantage, but to h him from the Growler and Julia. He, however, I kept bis wind until he completely se parated thoM reached the h rmlt of tif.o prnji('i' (jiiiJai fitroitr the sn icqiiddlij iit, C We take lea the present v ." of liis liMvjng ( and oflicial bid inaiidcr all aro The demons Dcmoiislratinn.Ti^ii Geui'ti; l')';.'\ ost. centre division,' for a kw day.s, was displayed, h hill, and down a fyiiig him that dislodge tlic one this description, facts will alfbru Christie handles he is obliged to a two vessels from changed a few sh without injury to i schooners. T.tcke (midnight) linding from the rest of i tope of saving tin reiuctantly gave squadron then tolc the starboard tack betifeen our two st until about one a.m otiliijed to surrend superior. Saw not pight; soon after d M with tlie north si srsintow, the oth( 8iie may have bee no disposition to cc to windward, and 1 schooners labouring lie dullest to run iii pie increasing ver\ iflto Niagara with" run to Genesee B; "Mels.and with th( obtain provisions fo °«af'yout, the Me^ •""gleday'soubo; "cnesee Bay. I f PMt of the gale's Muld run to this r "quadroQ with more tVcritas alludes her l«ftcr Colonel BLjhopp'! HISTORY OP TITR WAR OF 1B12. 103 vc given in our IT want of prin- poverninent an'l 7,/,'/ Ui-fjhtvr.—W. ,hiit an order was, this letter, \<>m\ ly otlicer to wr*v. lion, any uccounts and army, portunely enabled already brou'.'lit of the unworthy ican commanders igton, to deliulc a clicioiis fetatoiiitnts ittingly raised the iVashinglon woiilJ cmain over I'liaiin- ys, " we proceeded sumc means, aftei sir James Yeo to Harbour, where v,c the next day, after On the 16th we ;ain and hurried to r of the enemy by -eturncd to Sackvtt's e again fell in with Kingston, ami we reached the harhor on the lillh. 77(M b the rrDiiU of ttco (•/•w/.vr.^, the Jirsf of' ,rlu'ch lnj f.rnvn- ijnhhdiCC' vthjht hai-c dcrhkil in our fdronr the ii incnse qiuuitity of star, cliiiiii, iiiul other kinds of (lisrnaiitling sliot got upon ilcck, in ri'iuU- ness for action. It apiicais al.M) that when tlie Elizii Swan wiialcr hovo in sight a few days aftcrwauls, slic was supitostd to he a large ship of war, and the ceremony w ith the grog and di.Mnantling shot was repeated. After a very cautious approach on the part of the Presiof-h.\t'ii.i: snu- ! ! Ihave as Commodore Rogers might ham been, it xa well for him that ho did not belong to the British service. Discretion is the better part of valour, and is a most necessary' quality for a conmiin ler to possess, but, in the present instance, prudence in the commodore appears to have been somewhat akin to pui^•'.lanimity, and with our severely dealing pul>lic, similar conduct would have been rewarded, not with a public dinner, but a court-martial, the sen- tence of which would have been disgrace, if not death. It may be considered a most forlumite event for the two British command- ers (Catlicart and Ellis) that the Alexandria, from htr badsiiling, prevented an encounter, as the two vessels were no match for the American frigate, even after making every allowance for the difi'erencc of the command- ers, and the engagement must have ended in the capture or destruction of the British ves sels. llid this taken place, what an ojjpor- tunity would have been afforded for magnilo- quent effusions. — An Ameuican fiugate cap- TUKIN(i A LINE-OF BATTLE SHll' AXD A FliI'>iATE. Such would assuredly have been the most modest version of the affair, if we may judge by the ca[»ital that was made out of Commo dore Rogers' running away. Not .i little dis- mayed at his narrow escape, Conmiodore Ro- gers "determined," says James, "to (|iiit a region where constant ilaylight atlordcil an j enemy so many advantages over him," wo ! therefore next find him more to the south, ward, in a positior. where there was a favour- j able opjiortnnity for intercepting the (lade ' bound for the Irish channel. Here he cruistid ; until again fiiglitcned from his slatir.n liy a report of a superior force seen in that n^inn, Running up the Channel then, and rounding Ireland, he stood bick to his own shores, and, having succeeded in learning the stations of the vaiious Hritish vessels, then cruising off the American coast, from a small schooner which he had captured, was enabled to run safely into Ne vport, Rhode Island. "We have endeavored to give a fair and un- prejudiced account of Conunodore Rogers' cruise, and we now propose to give a few extracts from our old friend, the WaNlmifrton organ. The first statement runs thus:— "The former," (the rnsiilcnt,) "was repotted to have taken the British vessel 'JIkkchs, with specie." {The Thvxcvti ix ralal a screnlii-Jonr in Slechh list.) The 'J'helis fi'igatc mounts thirty-eight guns and nmst be the vessel alluded to. Two things are note worthy in this paragraph, first, the insinuation respecting the 'J'hencus, secondly, the assertion, never contradicted in regard to the 77ietls. There is very little doubt but that the impiession conveyed to the citizens of the United States was tnat their pet hero Rogers had in all prol>ability captured a seventy-four — certainly a frigate. Could impudence go further than this? Tlie next paragraph is still more amusing — " It is announced ofilcially that Counnodore Rogers captured his B. M. hiig Cruixcr of eighteen guns off the Shetland Inlands, the Oheron was in company but escaped. It was calculated that Rogers had done infinite damage to the Greenland trade. For a considerable time he has given full employment to twenty or thirty of the enemy's vessels of war, and if they do catch Iiip\ he will cost them more than he will come to." A postscript to this "bit of truth" goes on to inform us that " he had an-ived at Neivport, after cruiz'ng all round and round the Britiah islands, though they have a thousand ve.-fels of war. It is said that he brought into port a sloop of war, and one of II. M. schooners HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 100 will) tnetity-niiio iDcrchuntnicii." Coiiiinent sloop of war, whicli liml been couiiniUiiiKSdiiie on iIkho htatc'iitciils is imiioct'S-;ttry, and so il'in'cdjitioiis in llii; St. (icorgu's C'liaimul. inily ul)Mii(l are they llial, lest we should be Alioul day-liriuk (d' the 1 Itli, the Anjnn was iiuspi'cted of following tl>c cxauipic set lo u." oi' iiilMepresenting, we must inform our discovered Hepiuuting from a ship which Hho had just set on fire, and standing lownrdg leaders, that our extracts are to be found in several other mii fhanlmen. The l'tli<:iin was tiiu lifili volume of Nile's Ui^gister. i to windward and bore down under u prcsri of The 6<>/<(/''tJ<« after parting company cruised sail, tiie captain of tlic Anjua appearing, by aboiitlor II considerable time and then return- Ins mami'iivres, to invite an engagement. eJ lo I'ortsmouth, New llamp.^hiie, where i Captain Allen, the commander of the Anjtis, Tlic Domiiiit'.i niid she ivas blockaded by tho Teneiloit, Captain I'arker, who used every means in Ins powei- to provoke a meeting. The late of the Chma- ytike was not yet, however, forgotten, and the government, mindful of the short career of one thirty-six gun frigate, prudently dis- aniit'd and laid up the Congrcus shortly afterward P. T!ic next event of importance was the Ciipture, August Ctli, of the Doiiiiiika schooner by the Franco-Anuricp.n privateer schooner Decciur, c()u.manded by the culehraled Captain Oominicpie I)i.\(' i.* The most di>c.reditalile part of this all' ir appears, at first sight, to be the capture by a piiviUeer,hut when it comes to be investigated, it will be found that Lieutenant Barrete (the coiiiaiaudery by his gallant conduct rellected honor rath';r than disgrace upon the British arms. The iJomiuica mounted twelve guns and had on board lifiy seven men and nine boys. The Dccd'ur had the same number of guns, with one hundred and twenty men, and Captain Dixon, knowing the force opposed had been llrst lieutenant of the Utnted States when she captured the Macedonian, and had repeatedly expressed Ids ability to w hip any iJrilish sloop with an American of equal force, in ten nunutes. Let us now examine James' statement of the comparative force of these " anxious candidates for the lamel crown." According to James, " the Pi/iaia mounted tho usual establishment of her class, sixteen thirty-two pounder carronades, two long sixes, and a twelve pounder boat carronade. But unfortunately, (^aptain Mapl'.'S, when recently at Jamaica, bad received on board two brass sixes." IlavMig no broadside ports ?or them, and unwilling to lower them into the hold as ballast, he knocked out two stern ports and mounted them there, "much to the annoyance," says James, "of tho man at the helm, and without contiibuting in the slightest degr','e to the brig's actual fon-e. The established comple- ment of vessels of the I'cUcdit's class was one hundred and twenty men aii'l boys, of this numbe:' "^he lacked the second lieutenant and six men. The Argun mount'd liighteen twenty- four j)Ound carronades with two long twelves, to aim, relied for success upon the arm in ; Iier crew mustei ing one hundred and twenty- which he was almost doubly superior, and , five strong. The origin.il force had amounted carried his oi)ponent by boarding. The obsti- j to one hundred and lifiy-seven, but thirty -two iiate icsistaucc oH'ored by the Doiuiiiica will be liest shown by the list of casualities. Out of her total complement of sixty-six men and boys, the captain, purser, two midshipincn, and thirteen men were kiiled or mortally wounded, and over forty severely or slightly wounded. The loss of the Decatur was nineteen men. On ihe 12th of the same month, the rdican, ThePolieanandA>-gus. ^'s'^teen gun brig sloop arrived in th.j Cove of Coik from a cruise, hut before ttie sails were failed. Captain Maples received instruction- to put to sea again in quest of an American See vol iv, pa«o iiH of James' jNaval History. had been disnatched in prizes. At G, A.M., the Argus opened her fire, and, after a sharp action of some forty-live minutes duiation, was boarded and carried by the British slooj). The Pelicdu liad one man killed and i\\G wounded ; the Argus six kiiled and eighteen wounded. Amongst the list of the mortally wounded were Captain Allen and two midshipmen. James gives the comparative force thus : — Peliciin. Argus. Broadside guns 10 No. of lbs 2G2 228 Crew. (Men only.).. 101 122 Size ..tons 3^5 ..^...31) :,li soo HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1813. ITic respective forces engnpcd were so nearly equal tliftt it' is unnecossftry to offer ony furti'.er reinnrk thnn the admission that what ever superiority tliere nii^ht have been it was on the side of the Hritish, and that Captain Allen fought his vessel bravely under the slight disadvantaRe, and on hi;i death, which occurred a short time afterwards, his remains were attended to the pravc by all the ofticers, military or naval, in the port. "Some people excel in powers of endu- _ , T, , , ranee, such as the Eiir- Boxcr aiiJ Piiitcrprisc, ,. , ^ . , , , lislr cvuiced at the bat- tle of AVaterloo. Others excel in powers of assault such as the French displayed there. But there is no record of a Hritish vessel en- during the terrible blows inflicted on some of the American vessels before yielding." Thus writes Ingcr.soll, forgetful of the defence made by the Java, and still more recently, the Dominica, in which last engagement, as wc have just seen, the British vessel was not surrendered until her captain and sixty men, out of a crew of sixty-six, lay dead or wounded upon her deck. Mr. Ingersoll, besides these two instances, which wo have just cited, might have found a third in the case of the vcs.sel whose capture wc are about to relate. At daylight, on the 5th September, the Bri- tish brig-sloop Boxer, of fourteen guns (twelve eighteen pounder carronades and two sixes) while lying at anchor, near Portland, United States, discovered in the offing a sail, and im- mediately weighed and stood to sea in pursuit. The strange vessel was soon made out to be an enemy and proved to be the Ameriean gun- brig, Enterpi-ise, of sixteen guns (fourteen eighteen pouin.er carronades and two nines) commanded by Lieutenant Burrows. The American vessel, after her superior powers of sailing had been tested, and it had been sufficiently established that should she get beaten it was easy to escape, bore up to en- gage. At a quarter past three the action commenced, terminating after a severe and protracted contest m the surrender of the Boxer The British vessel measured one hun- dred and eighty-one tons, (her force we have already shewn) and was manned by sixty men, of whom twelve were absent, and six boys. The Enterprise measured two hundred •By English we presume, Ingersoll means British. and forty-five ton.s, and had on board one hundred and twenty men and three hoys. T le ofll( ers of the Hoier had the mortillca- lion to sec four men.dnruig the action, desert their guns, thereby reducing the niunbcr of the combatants to forty-foui', yet, in spite of all these casualties and the fall of CnpttJn Hurrowp, early in the action, the vessel waj only yielded afler a loss of twenty-one men nearly half the crew. The loss of the Enter. princ was fourteen killed and wounded, her commander being included amongst the killed. Besides the more than two-fold disparity in crew.s, the Enterprise was altogether a stouter vessel than her antagonist. This will U proved by Commodore Hull's lettei* which • Extract of a letter from Commodore Hull f. Vomtnodore Bainbridije, dated the l()//t but. "I yesterday visited tlio two brij^s and wasiw- tonished to see tiio difference of injury sustaiiieJ in the action. The Entcrprize ban but one i« pound shot in her hull, one in her niiiiniiiast, and one in her foremast ; her sails arc much cut niib grape shot and there are a great number (jf grape lodged in her sides, but no Injury done by them. The lioxer has eighteen or twenty 18 pound shoi in her hull, most of them at the water's cd;;e- scvcrul stands of 18 pound grape stick in liersiJe, and such a quantity of small grape that I did m undertake to count them, ller masts, sails anl spars are literally cut to pieces, several of lier guns dismounted and unfit for service; her top gallant forecastle nearly taken oft" by the shot, her boats cut to pieces, and her quarters injureii in proportion. To give you an idea of the quan- tity of shot about her, I inform you that I cojiiioii in her mainmost alone three 18 pound shot iiolej, 18 large grape shot holes, 16 musket ball holes, and a large numl)er of smaller shot holes, without counting above the eat harpina. " We find it impossible to get at the number killed ; no papers are found by whic'- we can ascertain it — I, however, counted upwards of 9iJ hanmiocks which were in her netting withbedsin them, besides aeveral beds without limniiiock:; and she has excellent accomodations for all he; officers below in staterooms, so that I have do doubt that she had one hundred men on boarJ. We know that she has several of the Jiattler'smn on board, and a quantity of wads was taken outot the Rattler, loaded with four large grape shot with a small hole in the centre to pu' in a cartridge that the inside of the wad may take fire when it leaves the gun. In short, she is in every respect completely fitted and her accommodations exceed any thing I have seen in a vessel of her class. llemarks. — There have been various o[iinionj respecting the relative force of the vessels, anl some ungenerous attempts have been made to diminish the splendour of the victory. Tlie fore' going extracts, we conceive irrefragably settle the question offeree and of skill. It appears thatia number of men the eneipy were equal ; in number tJames Naval Hist: mSTORY OP TnE WAR OF 1813. 201 ail on hoard one and three boys, iftf! the tnortilirj. the nrlion, desert ip; the niimhcr of If, yet, in spite ol JO fuU of ('apt*in Dn, the vessel was ' twenty-one men, loss of the EnttT- ind wounded, her imongst the killed. [)-foUl disparity in iltogethcr a stouter ist. This will b« bull's lettci* which Commodore Hull t'. atcd the H>th mt, wo brigs nnd was iv c of injury su3taiiioii rize hns but one 1> ill her inniniiinst, and Is are rauch cut with real number of grap« injury done by llicni, ,wenty 18 pound shot the water's ed;!e- rape stick in her^iJo, 11 grape that I did noi Her masts, sailaanJ ieces, several o( lier for service; hertdp cen off by the shot, her quarters injurea an idea of the quaii- in you tliiit I coaiui'J 18 pound shot holes, 6 musket ball holeJ, er shot holes, wiihoot ins. get at the number d by whic'- we can minted upwards of 90 r netting withbedsin without liDinmock:; inodatioMS for all he: s, so that I have no ired men on board. I of Ihe Rattkr'vnn vada was taken out of ir large grape shot e to pui in a cartridge nay take fire when it 10 is in every respect jominodations exceed essel ot her class.' :en various opinions of the vessels, and have been made to 3 victory. The fore- ,rrefragal)ly settle the , It appears that in ere equal ; in number ire give for two reasons. Firstly, to show the ililTcrencc of execution done in a dose action, where the wciglit of metal ininp the same on both sides, tlie respective stoutness of the limhcrs woidd bo tested, and secondly to proTo how ready Commodore Ilidl was to make statements which he must have seen were untrue. Tho British hrig had upwards of "one hundred men on hoard, for, "says 0»ptain Hull, F counted upwards of ninety hjminocks." Now if tho American pid)lic did not know, Commodore Hull knew full well that, in tho Ilritish service, every seaman »nd marine has two hammocks allowed liimt yet ho was disingenuous enough to pen a statement which ho knew, coming from a sort of pet hero, would produce an effect all over the Union. Brave, Captain Ilidl may have been— most unprincipled, this circmnstancc clearly proves him to have been. Wc close this chapter by giving in our notes Lieutenant McCftll's really modest, if not qiute correct lettcr,J and with a few observations from James on the difference of the carronades used in the services. "The established armament of the Boxer fasten carronades; and that number, with her tsvo six-pounders, was as many as the brig could mount with effect or carry with ease. But, when the Boxer was refitting at Halifax, Captain Blyth obtained two additional carron. ades: had he taken onboard, instead of them, twenty extra seamen, the Boxer would have been a much more effective vessel. Against tho Engli.kico among ihe ited Slates. She ;old as a meicliant ly, and tlial only rer calculated. le eastward. This fames, " Canadians the continuance oi ; preceded tlie war, boats, stationed at rented tbe lafts of 3ut of Uie bay, for ;e, and parliculaviy ic lake and li'.cr, he Anierican^;, and would liavo elTocl- ;tgc of any llotilla ve desired lO con- inplaii). The sole 10 I5iiti>h in that ux Xoix, " a small •ighty-five acres, id distant about ten ue." On this island a few block-houses ;e defences were from the lOthand counnand of Major t of artillery was ;e gun-boats, built over land, vepre- •ce in that quarter, •e foresight, and, ;;ilitios, had, sooD .f the wai', armed in order to ensure the command of Lake Chaniplain. Desirous, ire siippose of reconnoitring, perhaps with a view of demolishing the fortifications at Isle au.x Noix, Lieutenant Sidney Smith with two sloops, manned by seamen from the Atlantic board, [iresented themselves on the 1st June off Isle aux Noix. Col. Taylor immediately look such measures as resulted in the capture of both. Major Taylor's official letter to General Stovin is short enough to incorporate with oui" text, and, giving a simple unadorned statement, may bo relied on. Isle Aux Xoix. SiK,— In the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, I have the honor to acquaint you tliat one of the enemy's armed vessels was discerned fiom the garrison, at half-past four o'clock this morning, when I judged it txpe- dient to order the three gun-boats under migh; and before they reached the point above the garrison, another vessel appeared insight, when the gnn-boals commenced fir- ing Observing the vessels to bo near enough the shore for musketry, I ordered the crews of ihe batteaux and row-boats (which I took with me from the garrison to act according to circumstances) to land on each side of the I rirer, and take a positi in to rake the vessels ; bf tiring was briskly kept up on both sides ; libeeneniy, with small arms and grape-shot on shore. The alacrity of the garri-on on this occasion calls forth my warmest «p])roba- tion. Ensigns Dawson, Gibbons, and Hum- phreys, and acting Quarter-master Pilkington, and men, of the 100th (Prince Regent's) re giincnt, and Lieutenant Lowe of the marine department, with thiee gunners of the artil- lery to each boat, behived with the great est gallantry; I am particularly indebted to Captain Gordon of the ro3'al artillery, and Lieutenant Williams, with the parties of the 100th regiment onshore, who materially con- tributed to the surrender of the enemy. The Growler has arrived at the garrison in good order, and is apparently a fine vessel, and the boats aie employed in getting oft" the Kagle, which was run aground to prevent her sink- ing. I have hopes she will lie saved, but in the meantime have had her dismantled and her guns and stores brought to the garrison. Ensign Dawson, of the lOOlh regiment, a most intelligent officer, will have the honor of de- livering you this. I have the honor to be, &c., Gi:()i!(,R Tavi.oh, Major, 100th rcgt. Major-general Stovin, Commanding at Chambly. A great blow was inllioted by this capture on the enemy, and it did much to cheek the from tltc enemy's line, by land. On this in- form;ition, I returned to put the garrison in the best order for their reception, leaving di- rections with the gun boats and parties, not to sutler their retreat to be cut off from it; and before I reached the garrison, the enemy's I vessels struck thc'r colours, after a well-con- Itested action of three hours and a half. They IproTcd to be the United States' armed vessids JGrowler and Eagle, burthen from ninety to lone hundred tons, and carrying eleven guns jfJch; between them, twelve, eighteen, and six- |;:en pounder carronades ; coii..)Ietely equip j?ed ui.der the orders of the superior ofiicer ol jlhe Growler, Captain Sidney Smith, with a jcoiiiplenient of fifty men each. They had one -an killed and eight wounded ; we had only Ithree men wounded, one of them severely, Ifrom the enemy's grape-shot on the parties intention of invasion from that quarter. It I occasionally. Near the close of the action, an has been.- ho wn that the two American vessels express came off to me in a canoe, wilh intel- were of considerable tonnage and strength, iigcnce that more armed vessels were, ap- and it was deemed advisable, as their capture I preaching, and about three thousand men now afforded an opportunity for inuuediato elTectual operations on Champlain, not to let the chance jiass uiqiiofited by. AVhether venturing so far down a liver, where it was so narrow as scarcely to allbrd room for man- cjouvring (even with the intention we have already alluded to) was strictly piudcnt, we leave to abler tacticians to decide. AVe can- not, however, but agree with Christie, that had not the commanders been yoimg and iri- expei'ienced men, they would scarcely have undertaken a step which endeil so disasti'ous- ly, and has been generally regarded in the light of a piece of idle bravado. Whatever might have been the intentions of the American conunanders, Ihe efiect of their capture was to have t!ie hospitals, stores, an>liit of suiiiiiies for the troops. Veritas writes, " In my last niiniher, I stated, that at one time, in autuiuu, iSl:], our troops a( Kingston had not seven days' suhsistence. Those at IMvseolt and l'\)rt Wellington were nearly in a similar situation. "This was in a great measure owing to a combination of persons, eiiher in the pay of Madi>on or gratuitously promoting his ser- vice. They effected their own purpose- partly by their own example, or by operating on the avaiice of the well-an'ected, by persuading them to withhold supplies so as to get exces- sive prices. This was the o.stensible pretext ; but the real motive was to disconcert our military operations, by starving the troops, at the time of the expecteil invasion, by the forces collecting at Saekett's Harbour." '^Vhat says Christie on the same subject, and in reference to the same date. "The army acting upon the extensive line of opera- tions along the frontiers of Upper and Lowei' Canada, (at the lowest computation one thou- sand miles from Lake Champlain to Michili- macinac), was, by the able arrangements of Conmiissary General Sir W. il. Robinson, and the unwearied exertions of the department under his directions, copiously supplied at every point with provisions and commissariat stores of all descriptions." Now, which of these statements is the cor- rect one ? We are inclined to adopt neither. With regard to the statement of Vcr'tas, that interested parties were disposed to hold their stores, in hopes of conmianding liigher prices, we think it extremely probable ; but we are disposed to reject his assumption that it was done to embarrass the movements of our troops and to assist the enemy. The spirit that prevailed throughout the countr}', and which enabled our militia to sustain hardships of every description, was too patent, too rife, to permit such a course of action. Had Canadians exhibited a discon- tented spfrit, had the slightest evidences of disaffection been apparent, then there might have been grounds for Veritas's supposition, for supposition we inu>.t call it, as his .-tute- nicnt is unsujiported Ijy any proof tliiU is satisfMC(o)'y lo us. We cannot help ascriljln" this charge of Veritas to a desire to ninlu' an uttaek even by a side wiml, on Sir Ceo. I'rc vost; and we lliiuk thnt (he exlra, piovWoiis an] forage were taken froiu the farmers, witliout ihcir couHent ; but at very liberal and imk'O'l very Ingh prices, fixed by the Magistrates; tlie one iialf of wliieh they would now be lini)py to '_'e;, Many who were duped by the arts of the disatH'ct- 0(1, now feel compunction and sorrow nt their folly. This measure created complaints, wliicli were artifully laid hold of by a Junto of disatk'cted persons, but self styled patriots, who seein;,' their ohject likely to he defeated by this prompt and decided measure, became furious in their Jenun- oiutions against the military in generni, but es- pecially General De Rottenburgh and Licitcnant Colonel Pearson, who then connniviided at Prescot. The Chief of this Junto, was a man wliobad quitted Prescot the moment he heard of «« being declared, and resided at Montreal, cilhcr h'oni cowardice, or as considering it to afford a wider field for exertions favorable to the views of the enemy. He begun his career by lihellir? every class in this community, and aflerwiirJj attacked the oflScers aforesaid, for doing their duty, in a periodical essay, under the si^'iiatiire of the " Anti-Jacobin," which was at first publish- ed in the Courant, but the Editor getting alarmed, at the abusive matter it contained ; the work was taken up by a wretched paper called the Spec- tateur, that had commenced operations upima congenial plan. This paper yet continues, but is dwindlin;: into i deserved insignificance. The Anti Jacobia has for some time dropped his signature, but occasiuniiiij deigns to enlighten his (ellow subjects with the fruits of his brain, under anonymous signatures, or under the mask of editorial remarks. It would occupy too large a space, too enter into a formal discussion of the question about ilie | right of declaring Martial Law, and thorel'orel shall content myself with observing, that to ar^ue I that such a power can in no case be exercised Kith out a previous Legislative Ad, is as absuiJ asW say, that an individual has not the right of self- preservation if attacked, but must, instead o! J^* feuding himself apply to the civil magistrate for IITSTOTIY OF THE WAR OP 1S12. 207 1 it, as his rotate- ,ny proof that is nothclj) ascrihing (k'sii'c to iiiiikc un on Sir Gto. Pre- ic extract wo no\7 assertion. ous ;)lot, it biciim? proclaim a nioililiijii lMico, provisimis aivl rniers, witlioiit their i\l and imlcL'tl very agistratea; tlie one )w bo happy to Mt. arts of tlie di-iiitlVct- and sorrow pt tlicir nplaints, whicli were Junto of disnftwted lots, who seeing tlieir by this prompt imd rious in their ilciiun- )• in general, but a- nirgh and Licitcnant leu commanded at I, was a man who had int ho heard of w;ir d at Montreal, cither iidoring it to alTord a orable to tlie view3 of is career by lilielHnj niity, and aitemv.rJj said, for doing their under the signature ih was at first puWish- ditor getting alanneii, tained; thewoikwas iper called the Spec- id operations upoaa but 18 dwindling into Anti Jacobin hiisfe ,ture, but occasionally How subjects wiih tlie my moua signatures, or remarks. space, too enter into question about the Law, and therefore 1 serving, that to argue case be cmrisd tcHh- .o<, is as absurd as to not the right of self' must, instead oi Je- civil magistMto lot 4 protection, ami conspfpiciitly risk being des^lroyed before lie can oliiiiin that protection. "rtenoial lii>v< apply to ordinary ciises, but there are c.i!4 's tb' t irijuiro extraoiiiiiiary and prompt reinedios. lioli^llion or inviision tissurodly come within the bilfoi' class^ iitid (huin^ tlio existence ofeitlierof tliciii, or itb.Jiiluto (l,in;;cr tbcreof, uiarlial-Iavv iiui\ be coiistiliitioiially procliiiiiii'd bytliB Sovereign or his llepresenliitive; aiul to do so iiiay be as iiulispensaljlc to tlio siifoiy of the sate, as tlie instant application of personal force to the preservation of an individual when attack- ed. "Tliat the application of tho power aforesaid was not made upon trivial occasion, is mani'est ; for tlie question wag reduced to this. — Sliall tho army be starved at the time the enemy is known to be prepared for, and detemiiiied upon immed- iate invasion ? or shall an authority be exercised todefoiit the plots of the disaffected, and thereby save the province against that invasion ? So certainly will every honest and loyal man .ay yes loth; second part of the question, that I venture to assert, that in such a predicament had tiie officer at the head of the Government, been so neglectful of his duty, as to be dismayed into inaction, by democratic clamour or threats, he would have deserved condign punishment. " General De Rottenburg, I conceive, was per- fectly justified in what he did, from the necessi- ty of the case, and Lieutenant Colonel Pearson in obeying his orders, was also so ; and I have been astonished to learn, that Sir George I'revost, Biwn finding that the Lieut. Colonel was daily abused and threatened with prosecutions and I persecutions by the disaffected Junto, for his zeal is esecuiing his orders about subsisting the [troops, cooly observed, that if he had got into a scrape, let him get out of it the best way he can. Sir George's duty was to have enquired whether I lie Lieut. Colonel iiad acted from corrupt motives lorfroin zeal in a necessary measure, and if the llitter, it was incumbent upon the commander ot Ithe Forces to have supported him. "I have a right to ascribe the conduct of the IJuntoto disaffection; for what good subject, hheulhe enemy was at the door, would have Iteken measures to palsy our means of defence. |Io give aid to tho enemy, is treaon, and what lnore elRcient aid could be given, than, what I hm mentioned. It only wanted proof, of a cor- pspondence with the enemy, respecting those Iproceedings, to have made those concerned there- jin, punishable for High Treason." We think the reader will fail to discover in this extract any proof of Vi-riias' as iinipiion, ami \vv repeat lli.it we can sec little iiinio in it tlian a desire to ntlach sunie oiliuin to Sir George I'revost. We will admit thatca.scs did c.\i.-t ufslioit- couinions for the troops. (Iciicr.d I'loctor's force, for inidMiicc, \v;is nt this very (inu' sid- fciin;^ for want of provisions; hut tiiis, Vilicii we come to iin]uiie iiitt. flie cause, was owiii,;; to the great numbers of Indians wlio, liaving for-saken their hunting grounds and usumI oc- cupations, look :d for subsist I'lu.e for llicni- selves and families to tlic i;n,i:li-.li comniis.sa- riat. Had there hccn no Indians to fed, Proctor would not have rciptircd more provi- sions than could have been easily supplied to him. IJut, allowing that this and oilier ca.ses did exist, wo still ask for the proof of the ani- mus which caused the deficiency. Man is naturally .sellisli, and it would bo difliciilt to lind any family, not to speak of nations, where some member or memlicrs of it wercnot actuated by scltl.sh or interested views. Is it to be wondered at, then, that instances occurred, during the war, of parties desiring to drive a bargain with government for their in- dividual benefit? A;icl if there were such, does it neces,sarily follow that their proceedings were influenced ij}' treasonable motives ? In.stances are daily occurring at the present day, and complaints are constantly madr, es- pecially on foreign .service, of the bad quality of beef supplied to the troops; but docs it follow that becau.se the contractors wish to make as much as they can out of their con- tract, that they are !u league with Louis Na- po'eon or the Czar, to reduce the stamina of the British soldier, so as to render him dis- contented, or, from sheer weakness, unfitted to re>ist any future invasion that may be meditated, by either of these Potentates, at some future period ? Without adopting all Christie's statement, we are yet inclined to attach much more value to it, than to that of Veritas, especially as far as relates to the victualling department. Ilard.shijis the men had to suffer from want of tent.s, blankets, clothing, &c. ; but the priva- tions were borne with a cheerful spirit, which did honor to the Canadian soldier, and enabled him to repulse an enemy overwhelmingly su- perior in point of numbers. 208 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. Before leaving, for busier scenes in the Capture of TJntish w^st, these waters, we storcH, and alliiir ol bout!) at Gunanoquc. must not omio to men- tion a trivial event, which, Hkc many others of like importance, has been not a little magnified by American historians. Two boats belonging to Commo- dore Chauncey's scjuadron, mounting one gun each, and manned by about seventy men, captured a British one gun boat, along with her convoy,consisting of fifteen batteaux,laden with two hundred and thirty barrels of pork, and three hundred bags of bread, bound from Montreal to Kingston, for the relief, we pre- sume, of the troops whom Veritas has de- scribed as suffering so much from the machi- nations of unpatriotic and designing men. The number of prisoners, nine of them sail- ors, amounted to sixty-seven. No sooner was intelligence conveyed to Kingston than three gun-boats, under the command of Lieutenant Scott, R.N., w^ith a detachment of the 100th regiment under Capt. Martin, were despatched to intercept the Americans, as well as to recapture the convoy. This turned out an unfortunate affair ; it was too late, when the British discovered tin enemy, to attack them that day (17th or 18th of July) ; the attack was accordingly post. poncd, and early on the next morning thf British, who had been, in the meantime, rein- forced by another gun-boat, and a detach- ment of the 41st under Major Frond, ascended Goose Creek in pursuit. The passage up the Creek was, however, obstructed by trees that had been felled and laid across, and the swampy nature of the ground rendered the landing of the troops very difficult ; the con- sequence was, that the expedition returned without success, having lost, principally in their endeavours to land, five men, besides having seventeen wounded. Amongst the killed was Captain Milne, one of Sir George Prevost's aides-de-camp, who had just arrived from head quarters to gain intelligence of the expedition. The American loss is nowhere to be found ; but, as might be expected, th* British loss is set forth by the veracious Arce- riran historians, as amounting to sixty or seventy killed, with a commensurate number of wounded. For some time i .' •*.'V^'\"V"\'* HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. 809 CHAPTER XIV. 00NTKNT8. Situation of General Proctor in the west. — Con- eequencea of Perry's victory. — Discussion rela- tive to the affair at the Moravian town. For some time before the expedition against Fort Mcig3 and Fort Sitwtion of General gtephenson, of which Proctor in the west. the result was so dis- astrous, General Proctor had found himself seriously embarrassed by the difficulty of anding food for the large number of Indians who had flocked to his standard. The stores of provisions along the Detroit, which would have amply sufficed for the demand of his own troops, and even of the Indian warriors, were soon exhausted by the necessity of providing food, as well for these claimants, as for the families of the Indians. Other circumstances, too, conspired to increase the difficulty : the absence of the militia from their homes had materially diminished the supply to be ex- pected from the spring crops, as these had, iQ a great measure been neglected. The American command of the lake precluded all hope of supplies by water, and transportation of stores by land, adequate to meet the deuiand, was altogether out of the question. The only hope, then, lay in the arrival of such reinforce- ments from the Lake Ontario fleet as would enable Captain Barclay to open the navigation of the lake to the British. The expectation of all was directed to this point, but neither guns nor men appeared, meanwhile the exi- gence became hourly more pressing. The 14 Detroit was, however, launched, the forts were dismantled to meet the emergency, and these lumbering guns were fitted in the best manner possible to suit the ports of the Detroit, or as we should rather have said the ports were fitted to receive the guns. To complete still farther this botching business, the other four vessels were stripped of part of their armament to complete the equipment of the Detroit. Fifty seamen had arrived from Ontario to man the five vessels, with an intimation that no further assistance could be afforded, consequently. General Proctor was corapelled to complete the manning of the fleet by a detachment of the 41st regiment With a fleet manned and armed in this manner. Captain Barclay found himself com- pelled by the pressure of circumstances to sally forth upon the lake on the 9th September, to meet a well-provided and almost doubly superior force. The result may be easily anticipated, on the morning of the 10th, the fleets met, and after a bloody and hard struggle, duriDg which, in spite of of all advantages, victory seemed to declare herself on the side of the British, the whole British squadron was captured — Captain Bar- clay's letter gives a truthful account of the affair. His Majesty's late Ship Detroit, Put-in Bay, Lake Erie, Sept. 22d. Sir, — ^The last letter I had the honor of writing to you, dated the 6th instant, I m- formea you, that unless certain intimatioo 210 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. was rccciveil of more scnnicn on their way to Anilicrstbur^, I slioiild be obliged to sail with the squauio.i, ;l:j;!'jr;''''y nianneil ns it was, to fight the enemy (who blockaded the port,) to enable ns to get snpplies of pro- visions and stores of every descriiition ; so pcrfeotl}' destitute of provisions was tlie port, that there was not a day's (lour in the store, and the srpiadron under my command were on half allowance of many things, and when that was done there was no more. Such were the motives which inchiced Major-gene- ral Proctor (whom by your instructions I was directed to consult, and whose wishes I was enjoined to execute, as far as related to the good of the country,) to concur in the neces- sity of a battle being risked under the many disadvantages which I laboured, and it now remains for me, a most m^ lancholy task, to relate to you the unfortunate issue of that battle, as well as the many untoward circum- stances that led to the event. No intelli- gence of seamen having airived, I sailed on the 9th instant, fully expecting to meet the enemy next morning, as they had been seen among the islands; nor wati I mistaken; soon after daylight they were seen in motion in Put-in-bay, the wind was then at S. W. and light, giving us the weather-gage. I bore up for them, in hopes of bringing them to action among the islands, but that iVtention was soon frustrated, by the wind suddenly shifting to the southeast, which brought the enemy directly to windward. The line was formed according to a given plan, so that each ship might be supported against the superior force of the two brigs opposed to them. About ten the enemy had cleared the islands, and immediately bore up, under easy sail, in a line ubreast, each brig being also supported by the Siuall vessels. At a quarter before twelve I rornmcr.'.ed the ac- tion, by giving a few long guns ; about a quarter past, the American Commodore, also supported by two schooners, one carrying four long twelve-pounders, the other a long 32 and 2-4 pounder, came to close action with the Detroit ; the other a brig of the enemy, apparently destined to engage the Queen Charlotte, supported in like manner by two schooners, kept so far to windward as to ren- der the Qneen Charlotte's 20-pounder carron- ades useless, while she was with the Lady Prevost, exposed to the heavy and dcfstnic- tive fire of the Caledonia and four other schooner.'^, armed witli long and lioavy guns, like those I have already described. Too soon, alas! was I dejjrivcd of the services of the noble and intrepid Ciiptain Finnis, who soon after the coinnu'iK'Oiiu'nt of the nctioi fell, and with him fdl my greatest support: soon after, J lieutenant Stokoe of the ss by a splinti;, iintry of his m- riod. Provincial had charge of vcd with great vas inucli too jf such an ofBccr proved of far ted. 1 great fury until ved my opponent jsing from him to was at this time ■ican commodore, was against him, soon after he lell ;fcncclc.ss state of las now a perfcft raking fire of the c Queen Cliarlottc fit I could receive her, and the Lady too fa.- to lecwarJ red, made a noble effort to regain it, )rted by his small ,1 shot, and took a • ; nor could I pre- ,c situation of the us from wearing; fn board her. My was now mortally ■vcrely, that I was [nned as the squad- in fifty British sea- Irew of Canadians .tally unacquainted the loss of officers [ver in any action ■re; every officer ;heir seconds', were severely, a i to be Lieut. Bichan, oi most n ably, and ilid every tiling which a brave and experienced ofBccr could do in a vessel armed with twelve pound carronades, against vessels currying long guns. I regret to state that he was severely wounded. Lieut. IJignall, of the Dover, commanding the Hunter, displayed the greatest intrepiditv ; hut his gnnsbeiiig small (two, four, and si\ pounders) lie could bo of much less service tiian he wished. Every officer in the Detroit, behaved in the most ex- emplary manner. Lieut. Inglis showed such calm intrepidity, that I was fully convinced that, on leaving the deck, I left the ship in excellent hards ; and for an account of the battle, after that, I refer you to his letter which he wrote mc, for your in- formation. Mr Iloffrneistcr, purser of the Detroit, nobly volunteered his services on deck, and behaved in a manner that reflects the highest credit on him. I regret to add, that he is very se- verely wounded in the knee. Provincial Licnt. Purvis, and the military officers. Lieutenants Garden, of the Royal Newfoundland Rangeis, andO'Keefe, of the ilst rcg'menf, behaved in a manner which ex 'ited my warmest appro- liation; the few British seamen I had behaved with their usual intrepiditj', and as long as I was on deck, the troops behaved with a calm- ness and courage worthy of a more fortunate issue to their exertions. The weather-gage gave the enemy a prodi- 30US advantage, as it enabled them not only to choose their position, but their distance also, which they did in such a manner as to t'cvent the carronades of the Queen Char- lotte and Lady Prevost from liaving much effect; whiie their long guns did great execution, particularly against the Queen Charlotte. Capt. Perry has behaved in a most humane and attentive manner, not only to myself and officers, but to all the wounded. I trust that although unsuccessful, you will approve ofthe motives that induced me to sail under so many disadvantages, and that it may be hereafter proved that under such circiT". stances, the honor of his Majesty's flag has [lot been tarnished. I enclose the list of kil- I'ed and wounded. I have the honor to be &c. (Signed) R. H. Barclay, Commander, and late Senior officer. Fn our notes,* Commodore Perry's official letter will be found. This letter we have very little fault to find with, except that it contains no allusion whatever to the bravery evinced by Capt. Barclay and his very inferior force. This inferiority will at once he .seen when we give the weight of metal thrown by the American guns, and their number of men, in opposition to the Britsh force. Americans. British. '.W'ight of metal. . . .lbs 9-28 4-j9 No. of men 580 ;j f.5 Commodore Perry's acknowledgment of this circumstance, although it might have lessened somewhat his claim to a Nelsonic « U. S. Schr. Ariel, l'ut-in-Bay,13tii Sept. 1813. Siu, — In my last, I informed you tliat we had captured the enemy's fleet, on tliis lake. 1 have now the honor to give you the most important purticuluis of the action : — On the morning of the loth instant, at sun-rise, they were discovered from rnt-in-Bay, where I lay at anchor, wiili the sqiiiulron under my coiiniiand. We got under wei'h, the wind light at S. E. which brought us to windwurd ; formed the line, and bore up. At fifteen nuiuites before twelve, the enemy com- menced filing; at five minutes before twelve, the action commenced on our part. Finding tlieir tire very destructive, owing to their long guns, and its being mostly directed at the Ht. Lawrence, I made sad, and directed the other vessels to follow, for the purpose of closing with the enemy — every brar.e and bow line being soon shot away, she bec;\me unmanageable, notwithstanding the great exertions of the sailing-master. In this situation, she sustained the action upwards of two hours, within canister distance, until every gun was rendered useless, and the greater part of the crew either killed or wounded. Finding she could no longer annoy the enemy, I left her in charge of Lieut. Yarnell, who, I was convinced, from tiie bravery alrealy displayed by him, would do what would comport with the honor of the flag. At half past two, the wind springing up, Captain Elliot was enabled to bring his vessel, the Niagara, gallantly into close action ; I immediately went on board of her, when he anticipated my wish, by volunteering to bring the schooners, which had been kept astern by the lightness of the wind, into close action. It was with unspeakable pain that I saw, soon after I got on board of the Niagara, the flag of theSt. Lawrence come down ; although I was per- fectly sensible that she had been defended to the last, and that to have continued to make a show of resistance, would have been a wan'^n sacrifice of the remains of her brave crew, liut the enemy was not able to take possession of her, and cir- cumstances soon permitted her flag again to ba hoisted. At forty-five minutes past two, the signal was made for " close action ;" the Niagara being very little injured, I determined to pass through the enemy's line— bore up, and passed 212 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. victory, would certainly have ra'sed him in the opinion of every cnndid rca !or. A careful examination of the circumstances connected with this affair, proves that Capt. Barclay lost the day from two causes ; the first, that of not being in a position to take possession of the St. Lawrence when she struck ; the 8econd, the unfortunate loss of the few naval officers on board the fleet, This fact was particularly dwelt upon in the sentence of the court martial which was held on Capt Barclay and the surviving officers and seamen. We transcribe the sentence pronounced by the court, of which Admiral E. J. Foote was president : "That the capture of his Majesty's late squadron was caused by the very defective means Capt. Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Eric ; the want of a sufficient number of able seamen, whom ho had repeatedly and earnestly requested of Sir James Yeo to be sent to him ; the very great superiority of the enemy to the British squadron ; and the un- fortunately early fall of the superior officers io ahead of their two ships, and a brig, giving a raking fire to thcin, from the starboard guns and to a large schooner, and sloop, from the larboard side, at half pistol-shot distance. The smaller vessels, at this time, having got within grape and canister distance, under the direction of Capt. Elliot, and keeping up a well directed fire, the two ships, a brig, and a schooner and sloop making a vnin attempt to escape. Those ollicers and men, who were immediately nnder my observation, evinced the greatest gallantry ; and, I have no doubt but all others conducted themselves as became Amoricm officers and seamen. Lieut. Yarncll, 1st of tlic St. Lawrence, although several times wounded, refused to quit the deck. Midshipman Forest, (doing duty as Lieutenant,) and sailing master Taylor, were of great assistance to me. I have ^reat pain, in st.'*ting to you the death of Lieut. •Brook, of the marines, and MiJshipman Lamb, both of the St. Lawre.'ice, and Midshipman John Clark, of the Scorpion ; they were valuable and promising officers. Mr. Hamilton, Purser, who volunteered his services on deck, was severely wounded, late in the action. MiJflhipman Claxton, andSwartwout, of the St. Lawrence, were severely wounded. On board of the Niagara, Lieutenants Smith and Edwards, and Midshipman Webster, (doin<{ duty as sailing master,) behaved in a very handsome manner. Captain Brevoort, of the army, who acted as a volunteer, in the capacity of a marine officer, on board that vessel, is an excellent and brave officer; and, with his musketry, did great execution. Lieut. Turner, commanding the Oaledonia, brought that vessel into action in the most able manner, and is an officer, in all situations, that may be relied on. The Ariel, Lieut. Packet, and Scorpion, sailing master Champlin were enabled to get early into action, and were of great service. Captain Elliot speakB in the highest terms of Mr. Magrath, purser, who had been dispatched ia a boat, on service, previous to my getting on board the liiagara ; and, being a seaman, since the action has rendered essential service in taking charge of one of the prizes* Of Captain Elliot, already so well known to the gOTernment, it would be almost supevfluous to speak : — in this action, he evinced his character- istic bravery and jmdgment ; and, since the close of the action, has given me the mort able and oaMDtial asaiatance. I have the honor to enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, together with a 6tat»- ment of the relative force of the squadrons. The Captain and 1st Lieutenant of the Queen Chap lotte, and Ist Lieut, of the Detroit, were killed. Captain I^arclay, senior olficor, and the com- mander of the Lady Prevost, severely wounded. The commandf.T of the Hunter and Chippewa, slightly wounded. Tiurir loss, in killt'd and wounded, I have not been able to ascertain ; It must, however have been very great. I have caused the prisoners, taken on the 10th inst. to be landed at Sandusky ; and have re- quested Gen. Harrison to have thcni marched to Cliillieothe, and there wait, until your pleaeuN shall be known respecting them. The St. Lawrence has been so entirely cut up, it is absolutely necessary she should go into a safs harbor ; I have, therefore, directed Lieut. Yarnell to proceed to Eric, in her, with the wounded of the fleet ; and dismantle, and get Ler over tita bar, as soon as possible. The two ships, in a heavy sea, this day at anchor, lost their masts, being much injured to the action. I shall haul them int) the inner bay, at this place, and moor them f )r the present The Detroit is a remarkably fine ship ; and is very strongly built; the Queen Charlotte is a much superior vessel to what has been repre- sented ; — the Lady Prevost is a large, fiw schooner. I also beg your instructions, respecting th« wounded ; I am satisfied, sir, that whatever steps I might take, governed by humanity, would meet your approbation ; — under this impression, I have taken upon myself to promise Captain Barclay, who is very dangerously wounded, thai he shall be landed as near Lake Ontario ai possible ; and, I had no doubt, you would allow me to parole him ; he is under the impression, that nothing but leaving this part of the country will save his life. There is also a number of Canadians among the prisoners — many wlw have families. I have the honor, &c., 0. H. PSBBT. Hon. W. Jones, Sec. Navy. The Return above alluded to by Commodote Perry, admits the American loss to have been twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six woucded- i total one hundred aad twenty-three. the actio exertion! In equi{)i under hii fled, unc bringing ment and his squai contest, V him to till of the offi squadron gallant m the said ( surviving i and honor: A great circulated subject of ( loud was tl recompenst resolution ^ and House effect : "Thatth same are he Hazard Pen petty officei serving as under his GLORIOUS vi( 10th Sept., SQUADRON 01 In rcferen plain that C for this part Commodore the slightesi and Yankee backward ir generally mi to the adn countrymen, government, is there to h warrant the thanks of Coi suflBcient, so '^ere unanim " Hesohe] States be rer ^ struck, en the two BQu HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 213 the sentence lich Admirfti JaJRBty's late very dcfectiye to equip them Bcicnt number repeatedly and nes Yeo to be periority of the a ; and the un- erior ofQcers in you a return of er with a state- squadrons. Th« thu Queen ChaN roit, were killed, r, and tlic com- evcrely wounded, r and Chippewa, !, in Itilk'd and Ic to ascertain ; \\ great. taken on the 10th ;y ; and have re- tlieni ninrched »o ntil your pleaeuw n. entirely cut up, it )uld go into a safa cted Lieut. Yarnell th tlie wounded of get her OTcrtba sea, this day ot g much injured te , intJthe inner bay, n for the present fine ship; andi« icun Charlotte is a at has been repre- is a large, fiw 3n8, respecting th« that whatever steps y humanity, wouU der this impression, to promise Captaia ously wounded, that ir Lake Ontario ai bt, you would allow ider the impression, ■ part of the country H also a number o! iaouers— many *« inor, &c., 0. H. Pbbbt. d n in to by CommodoK loss to have b«CT lety-flix wouDdea- •three. the action. That it appeared that tho greatest exertions had been made by Captain Barclay, in equipping and getting into order the vessels under his command ; that ho was fully justi- fied, under the existing circumstances, in bringing the enemy to action ; that the judg- ment and gallantry of Capt. Barclay in taking his squadron into action, and during the contest, were highly conspicuou.s, and entitled him to tho highest praise ; and that the whole of the officers and men of his Majesty's late squadron conducted themselves in the most gallant manner; and the court did adjudge the said Captain Robert Henry Barclay, his surviving officers and men, to bo most fully and honorably acquitted." A great deal of bombastivc nonsense was circulated by the American press on the subject of Commodore Perry's ■' victory," and loud was the crowing, but even this was not recompense enough for a grateful country, a resolution was therefore passed in the Senate and House of Representatives to the following effect : "That the thanks of Congress be, and the same are hereby presented to Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, and through him to the ofiBcers, petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry serving as such, attached to tho squadron under his command, for the decisive and GLORIOUS victory gained on Lake Erie on the 10th Sept., in the year 1813, over a bhitisu SQUADRON OF SUPERIOR FORCE." In reference to tho " superior force " it is plain that Congress had no grounds whatever for this part of their resolution. No where in Commodore Perry's letter will there be found the slightest allusion to a " superior force," and Yankee commanders were not generally backward in asserting their full claim, and generally much more than their just claims, to the admiration and gratitude of their countrymen. Not even in the ready tool of government, tho official organ at Baltimore, is there to ua found such assertions as could warrant the addition of this sentence. The thanks of Congress were not. however, deemed sufiBcient, so the following farther resolutions were unanimously passed : " Hesolvei, That the nrcMdent of the United States be requested to ciuse gold medals to be struck, emblematical c f the action between the two squadrons, and to present them to Captain Perry and Captain Jesse IX Elliot, in such manner as will be most honorable t« them, and that tho president be farther re- quested to present a silver medal with siiitablo emblems and devices to each of the com- missioned officers either of the navy or army serving on board, and a sword to each of the midshipmen and sailing masters who so nobly distinguished themselves on that memorable day. " liesohe I, That tho president of the United States be requested to present a silver medal with like emblems and devices to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Jno Brooks of tho marines, and a sword to the nearest male relative of midshipmen Henry Lamb, and Thomas Claxton, Junior, and to communicate to them tho deep regret which Congress feels for the loss of those gallant men, whose names ought to live in tho recol- lection and afifection of a grateful country, and whoso conduct ought to be regarded a« an example to future generations." From the last resolution it would appear that Congress thought that honor and medals were sufficient rewards for officers, but that petty officers and seamen not being actuated by the same high spirit, required something more substantial. It was, therefore, resolved, " That three months' pay be allowed, exclu- sively of the common allowance, to all the petty officers, seamen, marines and infantry, serving as such, who so gloriously supported the honor of the American flag under the orders of their gallant commanders on that signal occasion." This was a curious distinction to make in a country like the United States, when by the constitution all men are declared to be bora free and equal. We have seen how the American Govern- ment rewarded their countrymen, let us now enquire into the reward obtained by Captain. Barclay from his country, what recompenw was made to him for the noble and chivalrous spirit which urged him to seek an enemy two- fiflhs his superior. Captain Barclay's appear- ance at the Court Martial is represented to have drawn tears from the spectators, so mutilated was he. One arm he had lost previously, the second was so badly wovmded by a grape shot, that it required artiflcial support, besides this he had received several 914 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ilk I m\ ■M flesh body wounds. It will Hcarcely be bcliuvi'il that, notwitlistmiiliiig tlio tliilterin^ sentini-c of tho court, and the severity of his woiinds, (Jnptain I!jiiclfiy was only pronioti'il to po.^l rank in Ih'il, or ncaily tlevcri years ufter llie action. AVith the loss of the Uritlsli (Uct vanishcl all |iros[n'ct of suppliis C<(n«'(|ii('ncc»of Per- •»! c ry'ii vkidry. fitlier of men or pro- visions,atul consequently no Iiopc roinninod that ctrectual resistance could he ollered to the advance i/I'llie enemy, or t > his oeciipation not only uf iliu .Miehi:j:;in tirritorv, hut also the wosti.rn portion of the peninsula. In fact Proctor was at once reduced to the necessity of abandoning all his posi- tions beyond Lake Krie, and Ijy this abandon- ment he ran the farther risk of being deserted by his Indian allies. Already had a vast number of boats been collected by the Ameri- cans, for the purpose of conveying the troops, who had assembled, in the neighbourhood of Forts Sandusky and Meigs, to the number of ten thousand men, across the lake, now that their success had left them undisputed masters hi that quarter, when (leneral Proctor found it essential to the safety of his troops to take immediate measures for a retreat. A council of war was held, and the Indian chiefs invited. At tliis council. General Proctor, after an expositioii of the numerical strength of bis force, of their position without provisions or other supplies, and the impracticability of procuriie^- the actual necessaries for supporting life, proposed that, as it was utterly impossible to prevent the landing of the enemy in over- whelming force, the forts of Detroit and Amhersiburg, together with the various public buildings, should be destroyed, and that the troops and Indians .shoidd retire on the centre (li\ ision at Niagara. It is much to be deplored that this proposition was not acted upon, and that General Proctor suffered him- self to be induced by Tecumselh's mingled reproaches and entreaties to change his pur- pose. Teciimseth's speech, which follows, is said to have been delivered with great energy, and to have produced the most start- ling eliect on his brother Indians, who are described to have started up to a man, bran- dishing their tomahawks in a most menacing manner : — "Father, — (ho thundered,) listen to your ehihlren, you see them now all beli)ro you. The war before this, our IJrillsh father, gave the hatchet to his red children when our olj chi( fs wiTe (I'ive. Thi y arc nnw all (Itful. In thai war oiu- lather was thi'ov\n on his baik by tlie .\merieniw, and our father took Ihim by the hand without our knowledge, ami hu iir, while tlie threatening attitude and diver- i.iiiil cos;tume of these latter formed a striking hjnirast with the calm demeanor and military Uatbofthe officers grouped around the walls. |The iiost prominent feature in the {licturc, |ho.rovcr, was Tecumscth. Habited in a leither dress, hi athletic proportions ["■ire a(lmiral)ly delineated, while a large plume jf '.vhite ostrich feathers, by which he was Igenerally distinguished, overshadowing his piv, and contrasting with the darkness of -omplexion, and the brilliancy of his black Pai piercing eye, gave a singularly wild and ;iu"i(ic expression to his features. It was evi- ^crit that he could be terrible." After some opposition General Proctor prc- Jon Tecumseth and his brother chiefs to >i.nt to a second proposal, viz., to retire on I'll- Moravian village, distant nearly half-way •tt.veen Aiuhcrstbirg and the outposts of the centre division, and tliero await the npi»roaca of the enemy. This course of action having been decided on, the troops were immediately set about de- stroying the fortilleatioMS, and various public buildings in Detroit and Amher^tbuI•g, and these places presented for some time a scene of cruel desi.latiori. All stons that it was dcenuMl impossilile to movi' were conunitted to thellauies. 'i'he woik of dumolilinii ha\ing been complete), and tlie baggage waggons aiul boats sent on in advain-e, ihe Irooj. ; com- menced their manh; ami never was i' march set out on, under more dispiriting circum- stances. The situation of the n\pn was dt'iilorablc in the extreme; they had been for some time on .short allowance ; and even their pay had not been regularly received. Arrears were due, to some for six, and to others lor nine months. A Canadian winter was fast ap- proaching, and few of the troops had blan- kets; to all greatcoats were a luxury quite unknown. The same privations which they had experienced during the winter of 1812 were, therefore, likely to be doubly felt during the coming season. To all cliese real hard- >hips was joined the painful certainty that the families of many of the militia were exposed to similar privations at home. Under the.sc circumstances, the troops com- menced their retreat towards the end of Sep- tember, and proceeded up the Thames, a river navigable for small craft, up which the boats had alruculy preceded them. On the 27tli the American fleet, " composed of sixteen vessels of war and upwards of one hundred boats," received on board (Jeneral Ilarri.-on's divi.sion, and landed it, on the afternoon of the same day, at a point throe miles below Am- horstburg, which post was reached Just three days after it had been evacuated by the British. The two armies, numerically considered, stood thus — The IJritish retreating force con- sisted of about eight hundred and thirt}^ men, exclusive of five hundred Indians; the Ame- ricans mustered fully five thousand men. We have adopted James's statement of the American force, as he seems to have been at much trouble in arriving at something like the truth. " The number of American troops," says James, "with which General Harrison 216 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. i: V S ; 80 sanguincly expected to overthrow General Proctor's army does not appear, cither in General Harrison's letter or in any of the Am- erican accounts, minute as they are in other less important particulars. Perhaps, by put- ting together such items of numbers as, in the general plan of concealment, may have escaped the notice of the different editors, we shall get within one or two thousands that landed below Amherstburg ' without opposi- tion.' " By following out this plan, James has ar- rived at the number which we have adopted above. The British movements were extremely slow, as they appear to have been encum- bered with a very unnecessary amount of baggage, and, when they arrived at the Moravian village, the pursuing party was but a few leagues behind. This village, situated on a small plain, offered every facility for defence, being skirted on one side by a thick wood highly favorable to the operations of the Indians, and on the other by the Thames, while immediately in front, a deep ravine, covered with brushwood, and capable of being commanded by artillery, presented an obstacle peculiarly unfavorable to the passage of cavalry, of which a large portion of the advancing columns consisted. It is impossible to understand the motives which could have induced General Proctor to abandon his original plan of making a stand at this point, and withdrawing his troops into the heart of a wood. It could scarcely have been that he expected by this means to render the cavalry, of which reports averred .he major portion of the pursuing force to consist, comparatively useless, as, had even General Proctor been ignorant of the material out of which the American cavalry was formed, the Indians were not in the same state of ignor- ance, and there can be very little doubt but that this very point was discussed at the meet- ing, when Tecumseth urged the impolicy of a retreat. In General Harrison's despatch * he says. the American backwoodsman rides better! than any other people ; a musket or rifle is no impediment, he being accustomed to carry them on horseback from hia earliest youth. The Indians knew this as well as General Harrison, and it is not probable but that they put General Proctor in possession oil the fact — so acute an observer as Tecumseth f was not likely to leave his commander in the dark on so important a point. The British | regulars on the other hand were just as i suited lor this irregular kind of bush fight. I ing, where their tactics and previous trainin'l would be useless, as their opponents werel the reverse. Taking, then, all these pointij into consideration general Proctor's manccur are more and more difficult to be accounteijl for, especially when we remember that all his former operations had been marked bjl decision and clear-sightedness. RichardaJ who was present at the battle, says "on tiiJ 6th, at one o'clock in the afternoon, we were! within two miles of the Moravian village, hi in defiance of that repeated experince whicl( should have taught us the hopelessness o combating a cancealed enemy, the troopi were ordered to defile into the heart ofj wood, not very close it is true, yet throDjI the interstices of which it was impossible fJ the view to extend itself to a distance of morj than twenty paces, much less to discover ol jects bearing so close a resemblance to ta bark and foliage of the trees and bushes, i the costume of the Americans ; whereas i the contrary, the glaring red of the BritiJ troops formed a point, in relief, on which tl eye could not fail to dwell." • From major-gen. Ilarriion to the American secretary at war. Head-quarters, Detroit, Oct. 9th, 1813. Sir, — In my letter from Sandwich of the 30th ultimo, I did myself the honor to inform you that I was prepariug to pursue the enemy the follow- James does not seem to consider position to have been unfavourable. lit d "this position was considered an excol!^ one ; as the enemy, however numerous I force could not turn the flank of the Crtii or present a more extended front ii theirs," we are rather pleased to be at bring forward even so slight a palliation! James' opinion, of that unlucky atTairJ have not been able to find in any other | ing day. From various causes, however, 1 unable to put the troops in motion una morning of the 22nd inst., and then to tak(< me only about 140 of tlie regular troops-JI son's mounted regiment, and such of gi''J Selby'a volunteers as were fit for a rapid : HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1813. 91T )odsn)an rides better a musket or rifle is leing accustomed to )ack from his eariicsi :new this as well is it is not probable but 'roctor in possession of •bservcr as Tecumseth his commander in the a point. The Britisli hand were just as ill ir kind of bush fight- ; and previous traininj their opponents were then, all these pointj ral Proctor's manccuTra fflcult to be accountoi ve remember that all had been marked b; jhtedness. Richardso' le battle, says "on tlii the afternoon, we wei iie Moravian village, bal peatcd experince wbid us the hopelessness ;d enemy, the trooji lie into the heart ofj it is true, yet throta 3h it was impossible fi elf to a distance of mol uch less to discover cl a resemblance to ti| le trees and bushes, Americans; whereas ( iring red of the BrirJ t, in relief, on which tij well." seem to consider unfavourable. Ik considered an excel!^ however numerous I the flank of the Criti 5 extended front til ler pleased to be abiel so slight a palliatioDl that unlucky affair, f to find in any other Btance, even the shadow of an excuse offered. Christie says " this disaster to the British arms, seems not to have been palliated by ihese precautions, and the presence of mind, which, even in defeat reflect lustre on a com- mander. The bridge and roads in the rear of the retreating army were left entire, while its progress was retarded by a useless and cnmbrous load of baggage. Whether the omission sprang from an erroneous contempt of the enemy, or from disobedience of the orders of the commanding officer is not well us causes, however, I j ronps in motion unttf lust., and then tolakH Uie regular troopi-JI .'lit, and such of pM were fit for a rapiJ ^ the whole amounting to about 3500 men. To general M'Arthur, (with about 700 effectives) the protecting of this place and the sick was com- mitted ; general Cass's brigade, and the corps of lieutenant-col. Ball were lefl at Sandwich, with orders to follow me as soon as the men received their knapsacks and blankets, which had been left on an Island in Lake Erie. The unavoidable delay at Sandwich was at- tended with no disadvantage to us. General Proctor had posted himself at Dalson's, on the right side of the Thames, (or Trench) 56 miles from this place, which I was informed he intended to fortify, and wait to receive me. He must have believed, however, that I had no disposition to follow him, or that he had secured my continu- tnce here, by the reports that were circulated that the Indians would attack and destroy this place upon the advance of the army, as he ne- glected the breaking up the bridges until the night of the Sad instant. On that night our army reached the river, which is 25 miles from Sandwich, and is one of four streams crossing our route, over all of which are bridges ; and they being deep and muddy, are rendered unfordabl^ for a considerable distance into the country. The bridge here was found entire; and in the morning I proceeded with Johnson's regiment to save, if possible, the others. At the second bridge, over a branch of the river Thames, we were fortunate enough to capture a lieutenant of dragoons and 1 1 privates, who had been sent by general Proctor to destroy them. From the pri- soners, I learned that the third bridge was broken up, and that the enemy had no certain informa tion of our advance. The bridge having been imperfectly destroyed, was soon repaired, and the army encamped at Drake's Farm, four miles below Dalson's. The river Thames, along the banks of which our route lay, is a fine deep stream, navigable for vessels of a considerable burthen, after the passage of the bar ut its mouth, over which there la six and a half feet of water. The baggage of the army was brought from Detroit in boats, protected by three gun-boats, whicii commodore Perry had furnished for the purpose, as well as to cover the passage of the army over the Thames, or the mouths of its tri butary streams; the bank being low and the country generally (prairies) as far as Dalson's, those vessels were well calculated for that purpose Above Dalson's, however, the character of the riv- understood." Wc are however anticipating, as wc have not yet given an account of the battle, if wc may so call it. The disposition of the troops is a point disputed One author asserts that the line formed an ob- tuse angle; Thomp.son, that the line was straight. Christie strange to say gives as Proctor's position, the identical one which we have been lamenting that he did not oc- cupy. Richardson was present on the occasion, as he was taken prisoner on tho field of battle ; following him, therefore, we er and adjacent country is considerably changed. The former, though still deep, is very narrow, and its banks high and woody. The commodoro and myself, therefore, agreed upon the propriety of leaving the boats under the guard of 150 in- fantry ; and I determined to trust to fortune and the bravery of my troops to effect the passage of the river. Below a place called Chatham, and four miles above Dalson's, is the third un- fordable branch of the Thames ; the bridge over its mouth had been taken up by the Indians, aa well as that at M'Gregor's Mills, one mile above. Several hundred of the Indians remained to dis- pute our passage ; and upon the arrival of the advanced guard, commenced a heavy fire from the opposite bank of the creek, as well as that of the river. Believing that the whole force of the enemy was there, I halted the army, formed in order of battle, and brought up our two 6-pouud- ers to cover the party that were ordered to cover the bridge. A few shot from those pieces soon drove off the Indians, and enabled us in two hours to repair tho bridge and cross the troops. Colonel Johnson's mounted regiment, being upon the right of the army, had seized the remains of the bridge at the mills under a heavy fire from the Indians. Our loss upon this occasion was two killed, and three or four wounded ; that of the enemy was ascertained to be considerably greater. A house near the bridge, containing a very consider.ible number of muskets had been set on fire; but it was extinguished by our troops, and the arms saved. At the first farm above the bridge, we found one of the enemy's vessels on fire, loaded with arms, ordnance, and other valuable stores ; and learned they were a few miles a-head of us, still on t!ie right bank of the river, with a great body of Indians. At Bowles' Farm, four miles from the bridge, we halted for the night, found two other vessels and a large distillery filled with ordnance, and other valuable stores, to an immense amount, in tiamea; it was impossible to put out the fire ; two 24- pounders, with their carriages, were taken, and a large quaniity of ball and shells of various sizes. The army was put in motion early on the morning of the 5th. I pushed on in advance with the mounted regiment, and requested go- vernor Shelby to follow us expe litiously aa pos- sible with the infiiniry. Tho governor's zeal, and that of his men, enabled them to keep up with the cavalry, and by nine o'clock we were at Arnold's mills, having taken in the course of the 5 m\ i -1: , .V, M' 218 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. may safely record that the British were drawn up in line, in a wood, not a very great distance from the Mora\ian settlement, with the Imiinns on the right, and a six pounder on the left. Tiie whole Britisli force thus drawn up amounted to four hundrctl and seventy six. Originally it numbei'ed ai)OUt eight hundred and forty — but of these one huiwh-ed and seventy four had been just ca[itured in the batteaux, and nearly one hunthed and seventy were cither in the hcspitul or wore on duty guarding the bnggage. The American force, even by their own admission, mustered twelve hundred cavalry nineteen hundred and lifty infantry, and some one hundred and fifty Indians, thus, exclusive of officers, out-numbering Proctor's force seven-fold. General Harrison drew up Lis orces in two lines, and commenced the at- tack by a simultaneous charge on both British and Indians, in both cases the first charge morning, two gun-boats and several batteaux, loailed with provisions and aniniunitiuu. A rapid bend of the river at Arnold's mills, affords the oidy fording to be met with for a con- eidei.djle distance ; but upon examination, it was found loo deep for the infantry. Having, how- ever, fottunatel)' taken two or three bouts, and Bome Indian canoes, on the spot, and obliging the horsemen to take a footman behind each, the whole were safely crossed by 12 o'clock. Eight | and his left upon the swamp. General Kings miles from the crossing we passed a farm, where j brigade as a second line, 150 yards in the rear of a part of the British trooj)S had encamped the Trotter's ; and Child's brigade, as a corps of re- night before, under the command of colonel War- j serve, in the rear of it. These three brigades burton. The detachment with general Proctor , /ormed the command of major-general lloiiry; was stationed near to, and fronting the Moravian j the whole of general Desha's division, consisting town, four miles higher up. Being now certainly of two brigades, were formed en potc7ice u^on 5(10 men, and colonel Johnson's regiment of mounted infantry, making, in the whole an ag- gregate something above 3000. No disposition of an army opposed to an Indian force can be safe, unless it is secured on the ffanks and in the rear. I had therefore no difficulty in arrangin;' the infantry conformably to my general order of battle. General Trotter's brifjade of 500 men formed the front line, his right upon the road, near the enemy, I directed the advance of .lohn- son's regiment to a^ celerate their march for the purpose of procuring intelligence. The officer the left of Trotter. Whilst I was engaged in forming the infantry, I had directed colonel Johnson's regiment, which connnaiuling it, in a short time, sent to inform ' was still in front, to form in two lines opposite to me, that his progress was stopped by the enemy, | that of the enemy ; and upon the advance of the who were formed across our line of m;irch. One of, infantry, to take ground to the left; and, :orm- the enemy's waggoners being also taken prisoner, ' ing upon that flank, to endeavour to turn the from the information received from him, and my right of the Indians. A moments reflection, own observation, assisted by some of my officers, j however, convinced me, that from the thickness I soon ascertained enough of their position and ; of the wood, and swampiness of the ground, they order of battle, to determine that which it was proper for me to adopt. I have tiie honour herewith to enclose you my general order of the 27tli rlt. prescribing the would be unable to do any thing on horseliack, and that there was no time to dismount them, and place their horses in security ; I therefore determined to oppose my left to the Indians, and order of march and of battle, when the whole of! to l)re»k the British line, at once, hy a charge the army should act together. But as the num- j of the mounted infantry; the measure was not bar and deserii)tion of the troops had been essen- sanctioned by any thing that I had seen or heard tially clianged, since the issuing of the order, it became necessary to make a corresponding alter- ation in their disposition. From the place wl. 're our army was last hal ed, to the Moravian town, a distance of about three miles and a half, the road passes through a beech foreat without any clearing, and for the first two miles near to the river. At from 2 to ;i(tO yards from the river, a swamp extends parallel to it, throughout the whole distance. The intermediate ground is dry, and although the trees are toleralily thick, it is in many places clear of underbrush. Across this strip ot land, their left aj}pHi/t(l upon the river, sup|)orted by artillery placed in the wood, their right in the swamp, covered by the whole of their Indian force, the British troops were drawn up. The troops at my disposal consisted of about 120 regulars, of the 27th regiment, five brigades of, but I was fully convinced il* it it wouM suc- ceed. The American back-wooi nen ride better in the woods than any other peoide. A musket or rifle is no impediment, they beir.g accustomed to carry them on horseback from their earliest youth. I was persuaded, too, that the enemy would be quite unprepared for the shock, and that they could not resist it. Cduformahly to this idea, I directed the regiment to be drawn up in close colunm, with its right at the distance of 50 yards from the road, (that it might be in some measure protected by the trees from the artillery,) its left upon the swamp, and to charge at full spee.'r, the contest was more severe with the was now utterly liopeless of any successful result. Persuaded, moreover, from the sud- den cessation of the firing in that direction, that our centre and left, (for the wood inter- cepted them from our view) ha I been over- come, we, at the suggestion ami connn;ind of Iji(nitenant Iluiles, the onlv (dlii'er with us, prepared to make good our retreat, but, in- stead of going deejjer into the wood as we purposed, we mistook our wjiy, and found ourselves unexpectedly in the road ; when on glancing to the right, we beheld, at a di.->tanco of about live hundred yards, the main body of our men disarmed — grouped together, and surrotuidcd by American troops. On turning to the left, as we instinctively did, we saw a strong body of cavalry coming towards us, evidently returning from some short pursuit, and slowly walking their horses. At the head ofthe.se, and dres.sed like his men in Kentucky hunting frocks, was a stout elderly oflioer whom we subsequently knew to be Oovernor Shelby, and who, the moment he beheld us emerging from the wood, galloi)i)ed forward and brandishing his sword over his head, cried out with stentorian lungs, " surrender, surren- der, it's no use resisting, all your people are taken, and you had better surrender." There was no alternative. The chaimel to escape bad Indians, Colonel Johnson, who conimandcil on the flank of his regiment, received a most gdling fire from them, which was returned with great effect. The Indians still further to the right advanced, and fell in with oin- front lino of in- fantry, near its junction with Dosha's division, and for a moment made some impression on it. Ilia excellency governor i^helby, however, brought up a regiment to its supjjort, and the enemy received a severe fire in front, and a j)art of Johnsons regiment having gained tbeir rear, tliey retreated with precipitation. Their loss was very consideralde in the action, and many were killed in their retreat. I can give no satisfactory information of the innnl)er of Indians that were in action ; hut there nuist have been eonsi. if devotion to their country's cause, rescued it's | honot and their own, even in defeat." The -tl-t Regiment had uniformly bdiaveii I so gallantly that this severe censure apncirs ] almost uncalled for, ^nd this feeling scfms to j have pervaded all ranks. No official doc;. menf, relative to theaffiiir, from general lV(c| tor to Sir George Prcvost is to be found, cod' sequentiy these arc no direct pi'oofs that Sir George issued his order in consequence of I General Proctor's representations, still, in the line of defence adopted 'ny General Proctoron the court-martial, subsequently held on him, there were prec'sely such statements brought forward as would have been likely, had tb^j j been previously made, to have brought down upon the troops the reprimand conveyed in the General order — we should hesitate to ascribe | to General Proctor this underhand proceed- ing had he not so ungenerously endeavoiireii on his court-martial to shift the blame from his own shoulders to those of the troops un- der his command. Whether, however, Sir George Prevost issued his general ordpr, on General Proctor's representations, or not, we cannot help feeling that this order was an ill-advised one. From the facts elucidateJ afterwards in the court martial, it became apparent that the publishing of it was prema- ture, and this fact seems only to render the hasty conduct of the commander-in chief more reprehensible. It was clearly his duty, before publishing a document, the tendency of | which was to cast odium upon a corps, which he himself admits to have previously wontis warmest admiration — to have carefully con- sidered all the information furnished him, and to have distinctly stated whether it was in the representation of their general that the right Division was thus reprimanded. IIISTUIIY OF THE WAll OF 1812. 223 —that thni lehntl om t!ic officers nnii | •ces servin,^ as mi- pcrionccd i-vcrv sup. mil stilU■^; llmt Uain tvarinest thanks an! of victory wlun i'.. •y an overwlRhni;.^ lossesscd in roscno, 1 of unfiirtiinnti rr- relay and his bnve llant darinf; ami «i.!f •'s cause, rescued it's m in defeat." id imifortnly laeliaveii rcrc censure apticirs this feeling seems to cs. No official doc;. ir, from general Prop t is to be found, COD' direct proofs that Sir r in consequence of sentations, still, in the by General Pro^toron iqucntly held on him, \ statements brought leen likely, hadlKy have brought down mand conveyed in the lid hesitate (O ascribe underhand proceed- erously endeavoureJ shift the blame from ise of the troops un- ether, however, Sr lis general order, on lentations, or not, n this order was an the facts clucidatoJ martial, it beearae ing of it was prema- only to render the commander-in chief [vas clearly his duty, lent, the tendency of upon a corps, which previously wontts have carefully con- In furnished him, aiid whether it was ia ir general that the eprimandcd. A coleiiiporary writes tlius relative to the alTair, handling Sir George Prevost very s<,verely. "Well timed indeed, and witlia heiltting Tace does the insulting censure, contained in the opening of the order, emanate from the man who had previously made a descent upon Sackett's Harbour, with a view of des- troying tlie enemy's naval and military works iiiii wlio at the very moment ol accoini)lish- uunt of the object of the expedition, and when the Americans were retreating, turned and tied with precii)itation to his boats, pre- senting to the troops who were unwilling sharers in his disgrace, the monstrous yet ludicrous anomally of two hostile armies tlocin;; from each other at the same time. — Well does it become the leader, who, at Platts- burg, covered the British army with .shame, and himself with enduring infamy, by retiring attlichcad of 15,000 men — cliietly the ilower oftiieDukcof Wellington's army — before a force of .Vinericans not exceeding as many Imndreds; and this even at the moment when the commander of these latter was preparing to surrender his trust without a struggle. — Well does it proceed from him, who through timidity and vacillation alone, at an earlier period of the war, entered into a disgraceful armistice with the enemy at the very moment when General Brock was preparing to follow 'jp his successes on the Western frontier, by siveopingthe whole southern border of the St. Lawrence. Happily was it devised by the authority to whose culpable inattention and iiieglect alone was owing the loss of our gallant Bill day's fleet, ?.nd the consequent helpless- Iness of that very Right Division he has jhesitated not to condemn for a disaster attril)- Mableto himself alone. Nay, well and most consistently does the sting issue from the |Commander of the Forces, who, on the occa- sion of the capture of Detroit, and the victory obtained at the river Raisin, ordered Royal ilutes to be fired in honor of conquests hich had been achieved principally by the 41 st f>egiment, and whose remarks, even on the oc- ;asion of their unavoidable repulseatSandusky, convey rather a compliment than dispraise." Wliat added materially to the severity of 'lie reprimand, was the high eulogy pronoun- ced and most deservidly so, on the officers and ieaman of Captain Barclay's fleet. Christie's observations on this unfortunato affair, to be found in our notes,* are peitinent and just, and throw much valuable light on the all'air. * (leneral Proctor had, to iliis time, served with honour iinil distinction in Pppcr (.'iiiiaila,iiiiil wnij uiiiversiiiiv coiisiilciLHl a brave and aliU' otlieer ; tint hi-" retreat, iiid the events of this uiitowaid day, blasted lii-i fame iind at once ruiiieii liiiii iu the puldic e.siimatioii. — Some, however, were of (ipiiiion tiiat the severity of tlie general oider, l)y Sir (Jeorge Prevost, on the occasion, was pro- mature, ami a prejudition of the case of his uu- iiirtunate brother m uriiis, who it was thought l)elore so complete a comleiimatioii from his .su- perior ollicer, miglit to have iiad the lienclit, of a trial, fhis he ultimately did get, but not until upwards of a year after the occurrence alluded to, before the expiration of wliich, Sir George Pre- vost himself, had fallen still lower than he, in tho pul)lic estimation, by his own ingloiioiis retreat from Plattsburgli.more humiliating to the national ])ri(ie than even Proctor's affair. His retreat and discomfiture were of but a small and isolated di- vision of the army, hitherto distinguisheil for its gallantry, Init which, Ijy the loss of the fleet, l)e- coming destitute of its resource.^, had no other alternative than a speedy retreat, or an iinme- d'ate suiren ler. lie took his chance of'the former. The rctreit, it seems, was iil-coiuluctcd ; f)ut was, iu fact, that of Sir George Prevost, taking all in all, any thing better? lie ailvanced to Platts- Inirgh, at the head o( an elfective force of at least twelve thousand troops, the elite of the army un- der his coiinmmd, recently from Prance and Spain — men accustomed to victory, and again march- ing to it, as they believed — well provided with an abundant commissariat, an 1 stores of all liinds, and I'mJ on by experienced and able ollicers. — These, however, on the naval defeat, (the loss of the fleets being, in both cases, the inunediato cause of retreat) he countermarched, to their in- expressible huniiliatioi: and disgust, without their being allowed oiice to see, much less co le in contact with the enemy. A further advance, after the loss of the fleet, was, indeed, out of the question; but nothing could justify the precipi- tancy of retreat, sacrifice of public stores, and de- moralisation in the army that look phw- in con- sequence of it. The district of M')n\. oal, was im- mediately in his rear, and at the short di tance of three, or at most four marches from Platts- burgh, upon whi-;h he might, it is said, have fall- en back at his leisure. It is, however, but justice to remark, time has materially worn down the asperities with which Sir George Prevost was also in his turn prejudged, with respect to this, to say the least of it, most unlucky ex- pedition. Major general Proctor being tried at Montreal, in December, 1814, on five charges preferred against him for misconduct on this occasion, was found guilty of part ol them, and sentenced " to be publicly reprimanded; and to be suspended from rank and pay for six months." It was found " that he did not take the proper measures for conducting the retreat," — that he had, " in many instances, during the retreat, and in the disposi- 224 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. The two defeats, Captain Barclay's and General Proctor's, were productive of the greatest benefit to the Americans, as not only was the whole territory of Michigan, except the port of Michilimacinac, reconquered, but the whole of the western district lost also. tion of the force under his command, been erro- neous in judgment, and in some, deficient in those energetic and active exertions, which the ex- traordinary difficulties of his situation so par- ticularly required." — " But as to any defect or reproach with regard to the personal conduct of major general Proctor, during the action of the 5th October, the court most fully acquitted hun." His royal highness, the Prince Regent, con- firmed the finding of the court, but animadverted upon it rather severely, by the general order is- sued on the occasion, dated, " Ilorse Guards, 9th September, 1815," for its "mistaken lenity" to- towards the accused, as the foilowuig extracts will explain : — "Upon the whole, the court is of opinion, that the prisoner, major general Procfor, has, in many Instances during the retreat, and in the disposi- tion of the force under his command, been erro- neous in judgment, and iu some, deficient in those energuiic and active exertions, which the ex- traordinary difficulties of his situation so par ticularly required. •' The court doth, therefore adjudge him, the sud mtyor general Proctor, to be publicly repri- manded, and to be suspended from rank and pay, for the period of six calender months. " But as to any deff ^t or reproach, with re- gard to the personal v.unduct of major general Proctor, during the action of the 5th October, the court most fully and honorably acquits the said major general Proctor. " His royal highness, the Prince Regent, has been pleased, in the name, and on the behalf of His Majesty, to confirm the finding of the court, on the 1st, 8d, 4th, and 5th charges. "With respect to the second charge, it appear- ed to his royal highness to be a matter of sur- prise that the court should find the prisoner guilty of the offence alleged against him, while Pour corrible de malheur, too, the services of the Indians were lost ; and American editors boast that General Harrison, after the battle of the Thames, made peace with three thou- sand warriors. they, at the same time, acquit him of all the facta upon which that charge is founded ; and yet, that in the summing up of their finding, upon the whole of the charges, they should ascribe the ofifences of which the prisoner has been found guilty, to error of judgment, and pass a sentence totally inapplicable to their own finding of guilt which can alone be ascribed to the court having been induced, by a reference to the general good character and conduct of major general Proctor to forget, through a humane but mistaken lenityl what was due by them to the service. " Under all the circumstances of thu case, however, and particularly those which render it impossible to have recourse to the otherwise «• pedient measure of re-assembling the court for the revisal of their proceeding, the Prince Re- gent has been nleased to acquiesce in and con- firm so much of the sentence as adjudges the prisoner to be publicly reprimanded; and in carrying the same into execution, his royal high- ness has directed the general officer, command- ing in Canada, to convey to major general Pr> tor, his royal highness's high disapprobation of his conduct ; together with the expression of hij royal highness's regret, that any officer of the length of service, and the exalted rank he ha8 attained, should be so extremely wanting in pro- fessional knowledge, and deficient in those activi energetic qualities, which must be required of every officer, but especially of one in the respon- sible situation in which the major general wu placed. "His royal highness, the commader in chief directs, that the foregoing charges preferred against major general Proctor, together with tht finding ond sentence of the court, and the Prmce Regent's pleosure thereon, shall be entered in the general order book, and read at the head o( | every regiment in his Majesty's service. " By command of his royal highness the com- mander in chief. H. Galte&t, Ad.'geDeraL' I «AW«AAA!^^.vw^^A>wvwv^«v^v« Retreat of Proci Armstrong's o —Rcniaika on —James' coiiti racter oi Tccui -Iiiger^-ol oil r Thi regulars .' ' Rfti-p»t :if Prcr'tor »: pUivijt ruiidczvous- of October, rutrc agined, in the gre I a. -mall village s;o lofLakeOntari'j, Jnyoiilb, they rcr |tlicirniimber<, in( lamouiitiiig to t\ Djring this r^'ti cat J«n almost unbrol jsuU'ered Iho gient lanJ their appeara jtlie vil;ig(., was Itoion (In; fooling Iraiuour of tlie dei Isprcad amongst t Jl'j these unfortun flitir little Iioiiiest tut appear inevital P«i.ic .spread far ar General Annstn I ?'■ Ml lector's de- [b: ofBoer's situat lencement of his Id ), the Bcrvices of American editors J after the battle with three thou- HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 225 him of all the fact* ided ; and yet, thai finding, upon the should ascribe the er has been found and pass a sentence jwn finding of guilt, to the court haviDg to the general good ijor general Proctor, but mistaken lenity, ! service. tances of the case, oae which render it to the otherwise ei- mbling the court foi iing, the Trince Re- cquiesce in and con- jnce as adjudges the •primanded; and in :ution, his royal high- ral officer, command- major general Pro» igh disapprobation of 1 the expression of hii aat any officer of tbe e exalted rank he hu :emely wanting in pro- deficient in those aclitt I must be required oi ly of onein therespoD- he miyor general w« the commader in cbirf ng charges preferred ctor, together with tin ^e court, and the PrinM In, shall be entered io ind read at the head ol [esty's service. »yal highness the com- 3ALVKET, Ad.-generaL* CHAPTER XV. CONTENTS. Selrcit of Proctor and place of rendcEvous. — Aniistrciig's observations on Proctor's defeat. — Rcniai lis on If an isou'a letter as to numbers. — Jiimes' cdii'.riKlictiona on this alT.iir. — Clia- racter oi Tucuinseth.— Treatment of prisoners, -Iiigersol ou reprisal. — Amcricoa policy. Thi regulars and militia, who had escaped 1 &.,•.».. :,fP..x,..t<.r*na captivity or destruction pkvyirLiiilczvous' on the uiifortunatc "ith of Octobor, retreated, as may be easily im- agined, in the greatest confusion, to Ancastcr, a Miiall village snuie t(-n miles from the head of Luke Ontario, and, on the 17th of the same Ljiilb, they rendezvoused at, that place, their number^, inclusive of seventeen officers, liniD'aiitiiig to two hundred and fifty-six. iDjring this TL'ti eat, which was cfTcctcd through Ian almoibt unbroken wilderness, the 'roops Isullca'a the gieatcst privations and misery, laiiJ iheir appearance as they straggled into [the viliigc, was by no means calculated to ]ki,on the feeling of apprehension, which the Iramour of the defeat at Moravian town had Kprcad amongst the defenceless inhabitants. Ilo thi'se unfortunates, pillaged houses and Itliiir liiile homesteads destroyed, could not put appear inevitable, and the infection of the bai.lc spread far and wide. Umi'tife's obscrva' {»■ on Wbctor's do General Armstrong in his observations on Proctor's retreat and sub- sequent defeat, seems to have been unaware of hi officer's situation previous to the com- encement of his retreat, and uninformed as 16 to the manifold difGcuUies hj which he was surrounded. Proctor's sit»iation at Maiden, writes Arm- strong, made necessary on his part, a prompt retreat to Vincent, unencumbered with bag- gage; or a vigorous defence of tbe post committed to hi; jstody. By adopting the former, he would have saved seven hundred veteran soldiers and a train of artillerj--, for tho future service of his sovereign ; by adopting the latter, lie would have retained the whole of his Indian allies, {three thousand com- hnUints) giving time for the militia of tho interior to como to his aid ; had the full ad- vantage of his fortress and its munitions, and a chance, at least, of eventual success, with a certainty of keeping inviolate his own self- respect, and the confidence of his followers. Taking a middle course between these ex- tremes, he lost the advantage that would have resulted from either. His retreat began too late — was much encumbered with women, children, and baggage, and at no time urged with sufficient vigour, or protected with suffi- cient care. Bridges and roads, ferries and boats, were left behind him, neither destroyed nor obstructed ; and when, at last, he was overtaken and obliged to fight, he gave to his veterans a formation, which enabled a corps of four hundred mounted infantry, armed with rifies, hatchets, and butcher knivey, to win the battle " in a single minute." Con- duct like this deserved all the opprobrium and punishment it received, and justly led tO' General Harrison's conclusion, that " his antagonist had lost his senses." flae HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. f i lit It in plain, wc again asset, from those remarks that Armytronf; could not have bein aware of Proctor's real sitnaton, and we shiill proceed lo ur|^c in detail our objections to his conclusions. First as to tie prompt retreat to General Vincent, unencumlxred willi ling- gage. AVo have no defence to make of Proctor on this count, too nutny of our co- (onijH)raries have expressed thcinKclves strong- ly, in reprobation of tlie ill judged manner iii which the retreat was conducted, to perndl us to urge auglit in Aii.viication. One fact, how- ever, is remarkable, Veritas the earliest wiiter on the subject, one by no means sjiaring in condenmalion, and who miglit have been supposed to bo thoroughly acipiainted with the jjros and cons of the alfiir, is silent on the point, confiiiing his remarks to a slricture on the severity of Sir (ieorge I'revost's gene ral order. This is si;;ni(i.'ant and leads us to pause ere mc adopt too readily all that has been said in condenmation of Proctor. Secondly, — As to the vigorous defence of the post committed to his custod v. We have already shown the dilDcu'.ties by wLich Proc- tor was surrounded, and that it was impossible for him to find provisions for his troops as well as for the Indians and tluir families. Gen. Armstrong lost sight, too, of the fact that •' the post " had been to a great dogrcc dis- manl-L'd of its guns, which had been required to arm IJarcby's fleet, and had accordingly been appropriated for that purpose, and captured with that fleet. Proctor was, we think, to blame for the deposition of his forces at ihe Moravian town, but cTen this is, as wo have shown, a mere matter of opinion, as the observations, quoted ia our last chapter, aliow. We must not allow one passage in Armstrong to pass un- noticed — it; i.iiN nmu] an Americanconi- Iril.r as t.. imnibcrs, mander for modcsl y ; «> must not omit, tlareftrc, on the present orcv sion to point out an instance of it as ccui- ring in Iliniison's despatch, lie admits tlidt "the number of our troops was cettiiinlv greater than that of the enemy," 'I'hU 'a ^onKtlliIlg even for an American (Jeiiuraljnii the pains he takes to do away with the im- pression, that nmnbors had aiight to do with the fate of the day, is also notewortliy. A> cordingly, he adds, in the nrxt par;if;n;ili, " but when it is recollected that they lindciio- «en a position, that eflectually secured their H;!.nk, which it was im|)0ssil)Ie for us f.o turn and that we could not present to them a line more e,\tendeliaiiiud oi himself, wo think that Hen* (dice imi^t Iiave pntdueed llic ellect. V\'c liad iaU'iidi'.! to Iiiive closed this fiuh that ho nuviT went into action uiuro confident Oi' iiuccess. 1 liavc the Iiouor to ho, itc, IhlCKAIU) FUIF.ND, Miijor Cominninhn;; 41st rcgt I/icutcnant IJullock's leKer, dated Harton Heights, (Jtli Hecoiaber, 1613. Hero fol- io wh: — We jirocccded to Moravian town, and, whon witliin 1 J miles of it, were ordered to JLtl without fuTlinr remark, but an exuiiiiiia- ! halt. After hakinij; about live minutes, we tion into various doeui.:ents temjit us to quote I were ordered to f ice to the ri}:jht about, and thcin, as they throw tiuich lif;hl on an ad'air advanced towards the encniv in liles, nt which rthieh the ubioiice 1' ctlieial returns has iefl very much in the dark. Tho eonununi- catijii which led to the correspondence was adilressed i^ Lieutenant llulloek by Miijor Friend, then in command of the second bat- talion of the regiment, Barton Height;^, 30th Nov., 1813. Sill.— I request you will, with a^ little de- luy as the nature of the report vviiladmii, fur- nish me with every cireumstancc within your knuvvledgf, and that you may have heard from uiidoubted authority, relative to the late un- fortunate allair that took place between Gen. Harrison's army and the Jst battalion 4l3t regiment, at Moravian town on the 5lh of Octo'icr last, for tiie purpose of transmitting it to LleuL-Gen. Champagne. As you arc the senior and only officer o( the regiment who has escaped from the field, that was in the rauli.s, it is highly incumlent on you to state most minutely the nature of the ground on which the regiment was formed for action, the nnnncr in which it was formed, the number then, of the regiment actually in the field, the number of tho enemy opposed to you, and of what they consisted, and what resistance was nude by tlie regiment previous to its defeat, if it had received provisions regularly, was com- plete in ammunition, and could have got sup- plies when required, and, in short, every cir- cuinstame, that happened from the com- mencement of the retreat from Amherstburg, relative to the regiment. You cannot bo too particular in your statement, as I am sorry to Bay there are reports afloat disgraceful in the extreme to the regiment, and every individual with it that day. I think it but proper to in- form you that I saw Major General Proctor's official report, which highly censures the con- duct of the regiment, and in which he says the men were in gieat spirits. Having ad- vanced about (illy or sixty paces, we were halted a second tinie, a', which the men ap- peared dissatislied, and overhearing some of those nearest to me express themselves to the following effect, 'that they were ready and willing to light for their knapsacks; wished to meet the enom}', but did not like to bo knocked about ia that manner, doing nei* ther one thing nor the other,' I immediately checked them, and tliey were silent. About tliis time several of the regiment came up without arms or accoutrements, who had es- caped from boats cut oil" by tho enemy's ca- valry. From these men we learnt that the enemy was within a mile of us, and had a large force of cavalry. "We had halted about half an hour, when the Indian alarm was given that the enemy was advancing ; most of our men were sitting on the logs and fallen trees by the side of the road. On the alarm being given wc were suddenly ordered to form across the load. From the suddenness of the order, apparently without any previous arnuigement, the manner in which we were situated when it was given, the way in which it was given, which was 'form up across the road,' and from the nature of the ground, the formatioa was made in the greatest confusion ; so much so, that the Grenadier company was nearly in the centre of the line, and the lignt com- pany on the right. A second order, as sudden as the first, was given for t'ae grenadiers and No. 1 to march to the rear and form a reserve. The grenadiers and part of Captain Muir's company accordingly form«d a second line, about 200 yards in rear of the first, under command of Lieut.-Col. Warburton ; the left of it about eight or ten yards to the left of the road, and extending to the right into th« 228 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP lfil2. m woods, formed nt cxtcndcrl ordiT, the men I wcro one lioiitoimtit-ooloni'l, six cnptiiinn, min. plai iiiX tlitiii^ Ives iK-hiiid trees ^^'^ ronsf. tienteniinls, three fnsigriv, ihici^ stufP, twotitv- qiiently iinieli sepnrated. The first litio I six scrj^cint , eij^liteeii coriioniU, four drum could not distinpuisli, hut from whnt I hnvc ; mcrp, two hnmh'ednnd ninity-si'vcn rank f • been informed hy liieiit. (inrdiner, 4 1st npt., ' die. In wiiiit nuinner the re-^t o' llu- rcgi- ooiiiiii.'indiii;^ 11 si.v-poiimU'r, it was funiied in inenl was diitrihiittd yon >vil! l>t? ni.ndi' a-. tlic rullo\viii(5 manner — ft six fiounihT was i qiiainted with t)y tlio enclosed stateirvnt placed in tlic road, having a lange of lifty signed hy the Adjutant of tlimT'^iineiii. 11,,. }ards, the 4Ist regiment drawn up on ilslnuinher of Indians we hail in the li'id wai rigiit, extending in the woo(] ; on each side KOO, Tlie numher of the enemy I cannot of tlio iimher of the six-pounder were some I positive'y anirin. hut from the iidorniation ol). of tlie Canadian Li;^ht Dragoons. From tlie ' taincd from individuals of tlie regiment tul^tn men of tlie regiment, who escaped from that prisoners on that day, and who nlterwards line, I understand thc^y were not formed at , escajjed, the lunnher could not have heen .ess regular extended order, hut in clusters and i than 0,0()0, of which l.'JOO or 1,500 were in confusion. To the left of the road in which j cavalry and mounted riflemen. The number the six-pounder was placed, and i)arallel to it, I of our dragoons did not exceed 20. Our loss ran the Jliver Thames. To the right and left : on this occasion was three sergeants, and nine of the road was ftrcmnrkahly thick forest, and | rank and tile killed, and thirty-six woinulcdi on the ri'iht, where we were formed, the gromid I that of the enemy, fifteen killed, and fifrni was free from brushwood for several hundred I forty to fifty wounded. Having been thus yards, where cavalry could act to advantiige. far particular in stating everything to which — My position at this time, (lieing on the right I was an eye witness, and which has come to of the 2nd line") and the ihickness of the lor- my know'cdge, I beg leave to remark tlmt, est precluded me from noticing the manner in j friiin the well known character .'f the reui- which the enemy attacked the 1st line. The ment, any observations emanating from those nttack commenceil about two hours after the \ whose interest it is to cast a director indirect order wa^ given to form up acioss the road. ! reflection upon its conduct, cannot be received I heard a heavy firing of musketry, and sh Ttly with too much distrust. afer saw our diagoons retreating together with the limber of the six-pounder — placed on the left of the 1st line. About a minute a fierwards I observed that line retreating in conl''i>ion, followed closely by the enemy's rrivalry, who were galloping down the road. That portion T the 1st line which hnd escaped ( on this alluir. tion of the troops, that the enemy's cavalry, retreated behind the 21 ; wc trust no attempt will bo made for the line, wiiich stood fast, and fired an irregular i future to cast unfair aspersions on their gal- volley obliquing to the vigbt and left, which , lantry. James is somewhat contradictory on I have the honor to be, &c., RiciiAUD Bi;i,i,orK, Lieut. .1st (jirenaillerJ. Major Friend, Comm'g. 2d. Batt. 41st Ue-'t. Lieutenant Bullock's letter, contains so .T.imcs' cmtnwlictions clear and fill a vindir.v npncare 1 to check the enemy. The line hav- iig ir *lnim -si'vcii rnnk '■ I'sl o' llic rcRi- ■ill 1m! iiiniU* «'•• [jst'il stnti'iivnl ! ro'^inKMit. Tl.i' n tin; li 111 vva^ noniy I ciinnnt ' iiilormn'ii>ii ot)- c rt"J,iii\i'iit tukiii who nlleiwards ot liavc >)o(.n .I'ss ) or 1,500 wcro n. Tho iiuMibcr ■ud 20. Our loss r^'oantiJ, ami nine rtv-six woiindcrli killed, unil from living beun thus rythinj; to wliifh hioh has cnww to 3 to remurk llmt, actcr .>f the nui- mating''''"'" those I (liriH-t or iiKlirect ;annol be received r to he, fiC, Altn UlM.I.OCK, . .1st Gronailiers. bitt. 41st lloi,''t. ttcr, contiins so iinl fill a vindica- 1 ilic troops that he made for the lions on their gal- contradictory on xtolling the hra- the men of the :d the Indian.stb been ch.vngc .,' probable event, he In General's cIa"...' troops. Ind? Thirty five idrcd ; the leader Ig it would be use- ;he superiority in IS over the fact by [on the score of his ,ving been beaten niSTORY ^F TIIK WAR OP 1812. 22ft by tho flvo hnndrad men ; and an Kitcilish writer admits his claim, on the pound tint, a^lho Armrii'aMS were used to liein;; beaten, it \va'< a di.ignico for live Hiiii.-'h not to .leat thirlv'lve Americans. In the vciy next paj^c, afler llii-t iiUjiutation on the conduct of iho Iroiip'^, .lami s writes: — "The censure pissi'd upon the right divisinn of the (Jana- (li;\n army, liy the Ci>ininander in-chief, was forlain'y of iinparallcled severity." Now, how could any censure be too severe for un- stcnilimss in the field? The faJt is, Jamt.i was nnxious to have a. cut at both Proctor and Sir lieor>;c I'revost, and, in eagerness to do this, he contnidiets himself three times in two pa;;c.s, S'jme persons have a most iiiifor timate moitig to be Chmtiaii people, they (jare a high example of Christian virtnes. For evil they returned not evil. For cruelty they returned mercy and protection." James, when noticing this Treatment of soiiers. Pri- paragraph, observes, "bad we taken up Dr. Smith's book, for the first time, wc should have pronounced this an excellent piece of irony." We have, however, produced quite evidence enough to show that whatever atrocities the Indians might have committed, the Americans, asparticipes cr;mmi«, should not be the first to cast stones. Before returning to the Niagara frontier, it will bo necessary to enter on the subject of the treatment of prisoners, especially as about this time a question arose which not only af- fected the comfort, but was of grave import to the lives, of many i)crsons on both sides. First, however, as to the treatment of pri- soners. Could the statements of American writers be received, the impression would be convey- ed, that, in losing their liberty, the captured British took leave, at the same time, of all tho privations and sufferings incident to a state of warfare. A few extracts from the narrative of one of the prisoners taken at the battle of the Thames will show how far this was the case, and whether more credit should be al- lowed to American claims for liberal conduct towaids their prisoners, than as we have just shown, in Tecumseh's instance, they arc en- titled to when claiming, for the Kentucky volunteers, the character of setting forth a high example of christian virtues and magnan- imity towards the dead. " To describe the fatigue and privations which we endured during our tediousjourney would require time and space. The rainy season had already set in, and scarcely a single day passed by without our being literally wet to the skin. Our route lay through an inhospitable tract of cojntry, consisting alternatc'y of gloomy forest and extensive savannah, the latter often intersected by streams fed from the distant mountains, and swollen by the increasing rains. " Many of the officers were without great coats, having been plundered of nearly every- thing, as well by the followers of the division, as by the enemy themselves, and although we had a change of linen left, during the whole journey no opportunity was afforded us of having anything washed, Ro that in a short time many became ir.fected with vermin, whi:h gave the finishing stroke toourcala- Jcgister, paRc 1 !fl t 232 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. I it miticR. After several weeks of most tedious travelling through this dreary region, some few traces of civilization and cultivation be- came perceptible, and wc finally beheld the banks of the Scioto, overcome, as well may be imagined, with the utmost lassitude. On the opposite shore of this small river stands the town of Chilicothe, the termination of our journey." So far it will be observed that no extraordi- nary care was paid to the comforts o*- even necessaries of the prisoners, but a darker scene has still to be displayed. After the battle of Q'K'nston twenty-three of the prisoners were iwo^uiscd as deserters and British born subjects, and were sent to England, by the ccmmaiider-in-chicf, for their trial as traitors. The American government, having been made acquainted with the fact, instructed General Dearborn to put an equal number of British soldiers into close confine- ment as hostages for the safety of the former. In consequence of thi- measure, (he com- mander of the forces by a general order of October 27th, 1813, proclaimed that he had received the commands of the Prince RcgL'nt to put forty-six American officers and non- commissioned officers into close confinement, as ''.ostages for the twenty three soldiers con- fined by the American government. General Order, Head quarters, Montreal — October 27th, 1813, His Excellency the Governor General and Conmiander of the Forces, having transmitted to His Miijesty's Government a letter from Major General Dearborn, stating that the American Commissary of Prisoners in London had made it known to his Government, that twenty-three soldiers of the 1st, Gth and 13th Regiments of United Siates Infantry, made prisoners, had been sent to England and held in close confinement as British subjects, and that Major General Dearborn had received in- structions from his government, to put into close confinement twenty-three British sol- diers, to bo kept as hostagos for the safe keep- ing and restoration in exchange for the soldier,- of the United Stales, who had been sent as above stated to England ; — in obedience to which instructions, ho had put twenty-three British soldiers into close coidinement to be kept as hostages ; and the persons referred to in Major General Dearborn's letter b(in;» sol* diers serving in ihe American army, taken prisoners at Quecnston, who had lUclareJ themselves to be British born suljocts, and were held in custody in P^ngland theie to un- dergo a legal trial. His Excellency the Commander of the Forces has received the coTninnnds of Hi^ Royal Highness the Prince Regtiil, tlirongh the Right Honorable the Earl Balhur.st, Se- cretary of State, to lose no time in conimtini- eating to Mnjor General Dearborn, that lie has transmitted a copy of his letter, and that he is in consequence instructed, distincUy to state to Major General Dearborn, that His Excel- lency has received the command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, forthwith to put in close confinement, forty-six American offi- cers and non-commissioned officers, to beheld as hostages for the .safe kee[)ing of thf twenty. three British soidiers stated to have been put in close confinement by order of the Anieiican i government. I And he is at the same time to apprize him that if any of the said British .soldiers shall ] suffer death, by reason that the .soldiers now j under confinement in England have been found guilty, and that the known law, not only of Great Britain, but of every indepen- dent state under similar circumstances, lias been in consequence executed, he has been instructed to select out of the American ofii. cers and non-commistioned officers put into confinement as many as double the number of British soldiers who shall have bein so un- warrantably put to der.th, and cause such officers and non-commissioned ofliccrs to suffer death immediately. And His Excellency is further insiructedto notify to JInjor General Dearborn that the commanders of His Majesty's armies, and fleets on the coast of America have receivid in- stiHictions to prosecute the war with unmiti- gated severity against all Cities, '1 owns, anJ Villages belonging to the United States, and against the inhabitants thereof, if after this fommunicalion shall have been duly niinleto .Major General Dearborn, and a reasonable time given fur its being transmitted to the American government, that government shall unhappily not be deterred fiom putting to death uny of the soldiers who now arc, or who The British f -iis iixcellenc HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 288 's letter bcin^ sol* ricaii army, taken \\\o hiid tkiclarctl born Kuljocts, and igland Iheic to un" )mmnnrli'r of the coniiniuul> of llij c Regtiit, tlirongh Earl Lalhurst, So- ) tinio in communi- ?arboin, tliat he lias ctlur, and tlial lie is , distincily to state •n, that His Kxccl- nnand of lii-iRoval nt, forthwith to put '-six American offi- d officers, to he held Ejiing of the twenty, jd to liavc been put dcr of the Aineiican time to apprize him ritish soldiers '■hall lat the soldiers now Ingland have been he known law, not t of every indopcn- circumstances, has utcd, he has been f the American offi. cd officers put into double the number all liave been so un- 1, and cause such ssioned ofliccrs to further instructed to Dearborn that the y's armies, aiul fleets a have received in- e war with unniiii- Cities, '1 owns, anJ Uiiite(i States, and I lliereof, if after this been duly nni'le to 1, and a reasona'jie | transmitted lo the it government shall cd from jiutting to who now are, or who may hereafter be, kept as hostages for tlie purposes stated in the letter from Miijor General i)carl)orn. His Kxcelleiicy the Commander of the Forces, in announcing to the troops the com- iDand> of llis Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, is confident that they w ill feel sensi- ble, of the parental solicituile which His Royal Highness hase\inccd for the protection of the person and honor of the British soldier, thus grossly oul-Mged in contempt of justice, hu- manity, and the Law of Nations, in the persons of twenty-three soldiers placed in close con- finement, as hostages lor an equal number of traitors who had been gn'lty of the base and unnatuial crime of raising their jjarricidal arms against that country which gave them birth, and who have been delivered over for legal trial to the just laws of their olTended country. The British soldier will feel this unprincipled cutragi", added to the galling insults and cruel barbarities that are, daily, wantonly indicted on many of his unfortunate comrades, who have fallen into the enemy's liands, as ad- ditional motives to excite his determined resohilion never to resign his liberty but with his life, to a foe so regardless of all sense of honor, justice and the rights of war. (Signed,) Edward Bavsks, Ai'j't. Gen. Early in December the commander of the forces received a communication from Afjijor Gen. AVi'kinson, by Colonel Macomb, of the United States army, bearing a fiag of truce, statin;; that the Government of the Uniteil States adhering unalterably to tlic princi|)le and purpose declared in tlie communication of Cieneral Dearborn had, by way of rei)ri-;al, ordered forty six Biitish ofilcers into close conlinc'.nent. On receipt of this connnunica- tion the governor ordered all American olficers viUiout ti'mtinclion of rank to be immediately placed in close confinement, and in pursuance of this. Generals Chandler, Winchester and ^Vinder were conveyed from their quarters at Ileauport, to Quebec for confinement. At the same time the following order was issued : — General Order, Adjutant General's Office, ]'2th December, 181.3. ids Eicellency the Governor-in-Chic' n-^ Commander ( f the Forces las t.> arnource to the troops under his ccnimaiid, that he has received a communication from Majrr (ren. j NVilkinxm, cnniniandinga division of the aimy of the Uhited States of .\n:eriia, by o;dii ot j his gov rnnieni, of which the fidloAJng is j an extract : — j "The (iovtinm.nt of the Unihd States adhering unalterably to the principle and purfiose declaied in the comniunic:iti'>n of Generid Deaiborn to you, on the .suij.ct of the twenty-tliree American soldi; rs, prisoners of war, sent lo England to be trii 1 as ctimi- nals; and the confinement of a like mnnber of Brili.'h soldiers, jjrisoners of war, s- leete J to abide the fate of the foinur; has in c n- !-cquence of the step taken by the British Government, as now communicated, oidered forty-six I'.ritish officets into c'.o.se confine- ment, and ihat they will not be discharged fiom their confinement until it shall be known that I he forty-six American ofiicers and non-^ connnis^ioned olficers in question are no longer confined." It would be superfluous to use any argu- ment to refute an assumption so extiavagant, unjust, and unprecedented, as to deny tho right of a free nation to bring to leg.d trial, in a due course of law, her own natural born subjects taken in the actual commission of tho most heinous oUenee that man can commit against his king, his country, ai tl his Gml; that of raising his panieiiial arm against his allegiance to his countrymen, by itiigning with their enemies; a crime held in such abhorrence b\' every civilized natiiiu in Kurope, that summary deaih by the law .Martial is its avowed rewanl, and is inthcted with unrelenting severity by Eranco, the ally of the United States. This pretension must appear to every unprejudiced and upiight mind as iniquitous and unjust, as is the retali- ation whijh the Government of the CniteJ States has adopted, by placing in close con« flni'ment three and Iwenly Biitish soldiers, as iiostages lor an equal number of inianious wretches, the unworthy olfspring of Great {{ritain, who, when drawn from the ranks of the enemy, solicited lo be sullered to expiato their treason by turning their arms against tlieir em])loyers. These rebels have (with ; T contempt they meiit) been consigned to 284 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP J 813. the infamy and punishment that await them from the just laws of their ofTeiided country, ^vhile the (iovcrnincnt of the United States does not bhish to cliiim these outcast traitors as their own, and outrage the custom of civilized war, in the persons of honourable men, by placing them on a par with rebels and deserters. No alternative remains to the commander of the forces, in the discharge of his duty to his kinp , his cotinlry, and his ff How soldiers, but to order all the American officers,prisoners of war, without exception of rank, to be immediately placed in close confuiement as hostages for the forty-six British officers so confined, by the express command of the supreme auinoiity in that country, until the number of forty -six be completed, over and above those now in confinement. His Excellencv directs that this general order together with that issued on the 27th of October, be read to the trooi)s, that the r-i'Ish soldier may be sensible of the terms on wh.ch America has determined to wage this war; confident that he will meet them with proper spirit and indignation; for should he become the prisone? of a foe so regardless of those laws, which forages have governed civilized nations in war, he would be doomed to a rigorous confinement, and that only pre- paratory to a more savage scene. (Signed,) Edward Baynes, Adjt-Gen. North Americi. "We have purposely italicised the words, without distinction of ranh, as Ingersol has not scrupled, in his observations on this affair, to endeavour to throw a false colouring over it, and to have recourse to misrepresentation. He writes, " when England took her position on the dogma of jicrpetiial allegiance. Gens. Chandler, AVinder and Winchester, Colonel Lewis and Miij )r ^[udison were prisoners on parole near Quebec, but not one of the superior oificers was seized as a hostage. A dogma originally a[)plied only to vassals, never enforced ngiii'st lord.-;, in the feiidal ages, from whiv-;e dark codes it sprang, England, on the ferocious revival of it, restricted to men in humble stations. No American above the grade of captain was confined. In the first place this is simply untrue as the three gene- rals just mentioned were removed from their Ingorsol on rciirisal- parole atBeauport to Quebec for confinement' Again, as to the dogma of perpetual alioj^iance, it was not the vindication of this dogma which Great Britain at tliis time desired to assert, but the right of punishing disertersi and of establishing the point th it n. mere forsaking of the British flng and territory was not sufficient to absolve from the general law of allegiance, or from the military and naval codes in particular, which, in conmion with those of all nations, awarded the punishment of death to deserters from either service. Ingersol is not more happy when he cites Moreau, Bcrnadotte, and Pezzo de fJorgo, as cases in point to prove that fugitives from \ country may honorably join in waif ire against that State. France may be said to Inve been afflicted with a civil war, in the c iiducting of which both parties cilled in alli.s; but even during those unhappy times victims were not wanting, and Ney's fate telU much more forcibly against Ingersol's position, than Moreau, Bernadotto, and Pozzo de Borgo do for him. For some time the measures of the respec- tive governments were carried out very rigid- ly, and many hardships were sulfc.ed by the unfortunate victims of this attempt, on the part of the United States, to fores Great Britain to consent tamely to regard the deser- tion of her soldiers and sailors. The final settlement of this affair did not take pluce till July 1814, but we introduce it here in order to close the subject. The whole correspond- ence will accordingly be found in our notes,* ^General Older, Head Quarters, MDiitn'iil, lOth April, 1314. Ilif Excellency the Govcrnor-in Ghiet :iii'l Com- mander of the Force?, announces to tlie troops ui dcr ills command, that lie was ])Iimsoi1 to sanc- tion and contirii:, en the 15tli inst., artirlcs of a convention entercU into liy Colonel f^.iync?, Aujiitant-Goncral of the Forces, iiiid Briirailior- G(!neral Winder of the army of tlio Uiiire i Stites of Aineiiea, (or the mutual roli-nsooI'Mll j>ri.-oncr3 of war.hostnges or others, witli the exception of 'lie f(irty-six American olficers ami iir)ii-eoinn)i*sii)ned pflieers placed 'n close conlinemeiit !is liost:i!:;03, ill eonforniity to the general or.ler of llie i-'Tth of O.'toher la.-t, in retaliation for twenty-three l?r,tish sohiiei'S, contined by the G >veriii!ioiit of the United Slates, as ho-(iai;es for twcnty-lliree IJritish ijorn suhjects, taken Iroiii the r.inl on ]):iroIe, by either party since the coniinciicenient of hostilities, the num- ber of prisDners for widch an equivalent has not been returned, shall he withheld from all military se'vice. until exchanged. It is with pro- satisfaction that the com mander of the forces feels confident, that this provi;iij!ial clause can never apply to the army iQ Guild I, from the immense disparity in the number and rank of the priaonors, it has restored to the enemy. All offleers, non-commissioned ofHcers, and soldiers, lieing prisoners of war, who are not prevented in consepience of their wounds, are commiiniled to join their respective corps and staiions on the loth duy of May next, and I) resume their military duties. (Signed.) EnwAnn Baynf.s, Adjutant-General. General Order, Head Quarters, Camp at Chambly. July 2nd, 1814. Several officers of this army having returned from the Unit'-d States, where they had l)ei'n held ill ciosu conlinement as hostages, and having on their release signed a coiuiitional parole co i- taininv' a i)ledL,'e on their part, to return to their captivity at the expiiation of a limited period, unless previously exchan;;ed : His Excellency the (j iveriior in-Chief and Conni.aniler of the Forees, uunsidering such parole to l)i! inconsistent "ith the pio^isions of a convention for the ex- change of prisoners which was (-.itered into by persons duly em[)owered for that purpose by the Giiveiiiiiiunt of the Ui;ilcd States, and His Exeelli'iicy respectively, aiid has already been canii'd into complete execution on his part, and has iilso lieen in part executed by the American Givermueiit, — is plei^ed to declare that all those offi.'ei-, wlii'tlier of the line of Militia are ab- solve 1 IVeiu their [)arole, under iind by virtue of the lii'foi'u mentioned coiiventii n ; — thiit they ar" rcdeiised and free to serve •• s if they had naer been prisoners of war, and are all and cans for the treatmcn of their prisoner ■•, and after enumerating ii long list of ofli.'ers who had been thrown into prison, he a.sks — " Into what prison ? The Penitentiary, along with forty convicts, condemned for murder, rape» forgery, coining, burglary, horse-stealing, &c.' James adtls — "Lest the reader should doubt this, he will find in the appendix furnished severally included in the g-^neral order of the Kith of April, directing all prisoners of var after the 15th of Miiy to repair to their rcspectivo corps and stations, and to resume their military duties. To destroy any doubts which may by possibility bo entertaii'.ed with regard to the complete exe- cution of the convention above meiitke-ed : to satisfy the nice and scrupulous sensihility with which a British sdldiir must ever view and examine nn act, professing to release him from an obligation in which his honour is iinolicated, and to remove every apprehension from the mii\ds of those wlio may come within the scope of tlie present general order. His Excellency is pleased to authorize the communication to the irmy undf r his command,of the principal circumstances attending the conmiencement, progress, and final conclusion of the convention to w lieh Uusioa has above been made. At the solicitation of the Government ot he United Statts, conveyed in a letter from tlie.- Secretary o( Sate of the I9th of M.nch, and not less induced by his anxious desire to allevi •" j the unnecessary severity which the systeir if retaliation had introduced iiUo the conduct >'f ttus wiir, the Conunander of the Forces di i not hesitate in acceding to a propo-sal which seemed to pronuse the attainment of an object so desirable. In that spirit, and with tnat view. His Excellency consented to the exchange of Brigaliev General Winder, (a hostage) in conseriuence of that officer having l)een selected by the President of the United Slates as an agent vested with full powers to negotiate for an exchnnge of prisoners of war, as well hostages as others. His Excellency was also pleased to nominate Colonel Haynes as an iigont vested with similar powers, on tlie part of t!ie British army. The negotiation commenced under the most favourable auspices. The basis asd conditions of the convention being left to the discretion of the two officers above mentioned, it was agr of American la v -for instance, we find dial Ur killing a wife by slioo:ing her, Secretin V ut Siiitc, dntod Wiisliinj;ton llic 22n(l March, w,is received hy Hi ig.-(icii. Winder, and was veili:illy ri'pi'i sented ■■■)■ iiiiii to coiivi'v a positive pioliiltition to his eonseniiiiii to the rele.isc 1)1 fhc twenty-llil'ee I5iiti>li soiilieis injii in eoiifiii'iin.'iit a-i host.a;:es for the IJiitish sulijeet- seiit to )] iLr!aiiil for tial, uidoss it wa3 stipulated thill thcv also should he released, and sent to the United Slates. 'I'lii- [iropii.sition was instantly answered hy a note iiil.) To asccitiiiii the existence of the pnvvcr o' final ratification on the part of Hi i<;ii(li,r General Win- der the ('i)inniiiuler of the Forces was pleased to direct Ciillimenf, bnt that fn- st. ling a negro, or a horse, ten and four years and a half ;iie not considered too .»;evere r. sentence ! James conclndes liis observations hy re- inar-xing — "General Slicnire did not Ixluve thus to the Aiiurican forces wdio siiircndmil at the battle of Queenston, a:iil many will be crnmeiit. that His Excellency, the Coinirmnlor of the Forces, has Ijei'n i)teased thus puh:icly to I absolve all the olficers and oilK^rswho liuve re- I cciitly returned from t'.ie United States (roin a j |)iirole which His Exiiellency conceives to he in- consistent with the terms of that convention, and "liich he coi;siilers to have been exude.; hj [lersons ignorant of its existence, or miscoiiceiT. ing its condit'ons. By His Excellency's Command, Edward Baynes Adjt. Getiend, Br.tish Noith Aincrica, Montreal, 10th April, ISU, No. 1. Colonel Baynes has commimicatrd to His Ex cellcncy the Commander if the Forces the pur- port and extent of the alterations txplaiiu'il Ky Brigadier General Winder to exist, between the instriieiions of the 19th March addressed to him liy the Secretary of State, and those of the 'Jiml. of the same date received ye-terday, iinil that the onnssion of the same in the first copy was owing to an error in tran=ciioiiig it. His Excellency, however, on reference to the letter of the Secretary of State of the 19tli March, adi'.ressed to him, as it is stated, "with the view, ami in the sincere desire to lesioro to the nnldest practice of civilized nations the treat- ment of prisoners on both sides," and aiitliOiiz- iiig Brigadi.r General Winder, on the put of the United States (Jovernment. to coneliiiioun arrangement which may embrace the exeliango, as well of those held as hostages, as of otlior lirisoiicrs; aid His Excellency learning from that ollicer that his instructions fully coniporlcd with the uiupialilied tenor of the pioposal made ill the Secretary of States' letter to hiai, did not hesitate a moment in acceding to the avriii!;e- ments therein suggested, and was prepureil to waive just irrounds which he conceived heliadof coiii])!aint against the Government of the United States, on the subject of the exchange ol prison- ers of War, in the hopes of pronmting an iir- rangemeiit so desirable for the cause of liiiii. uni- ty and the honor of both nations ; and lie is much disappointed to fimi his hopi'S frustrated by the introdiici.ion, at this period of the iieiioiia- tioii. of a claim so totally inadmissilfle, that had the Secretary of States h tter borne the most dis- tant alhsion'to it. His Excellency would liafe felt liimscit, as he now docs, [.roliibited from pio- ceedint; any further on the subject. Tiie British view the confinement of twenty- three soldiers as the lirst act of aggression; tor the undoubted right whicli every free iiaiioa pt^a* sr.rprisod that tl ij
  • t tliis tnodc; of incnrccnitinp llii- tili (lovernnient. to Ideiiiaiui as a preletniiniry step, a detailed state- Itieiit of iit)out three thousand prisoners of war, let "liiiii tlie third were cf the United Sfiites [ic:iii.ir service, captured in (Janadn duiiiiir tin.' IfiMCiimpai;^!!, and given up in f^ood fiilh to the lliiiiteil Sta es, who at that period, liacl no British Iprij'iiiers. — and as all subsecpieiit cxciiaii^jes on |lw|iiitof the Uiuted Slates Inive lieen adpiit- Plfii l)y iin equivalent number of prisoners >iii;iil- |uiii'i)ii>ly exchinged, it is insisted that the ii'ric.iii (iovernment is bound by honor aiiJ jCwllaltli to make full and complete sali>fictioii ijriiie itliove debt, in conformity to tiie 14t;i ynitie of tiie cartel, b>'fore she can in justice re jtii", or iisk an equivalent lor a siiiiiie Biitish irisDiier now iu her possession : ami for tlii • pur- fcosi; returns will be jjrepareil, not only of tlie luiiilwr of prisoners remaining nnexchiinjred in liepissessioii of either power, but of those iriven fpiiisood fiitiiOy the British Governm 'iit to th.- liiitod Slates, and for wiiich no return has yet }<(i in.ide. or satisfaction ott'ored ; and as it ap- l^-ir^froia the documents now transiiiited, ih;it iieL'iiited States are adding t) the number of piis |3«rjp|iiced iu restraint as Hostages, His Kxcrl- pcyisielt no alternative, and is under the iin- Noui nec-'ssity of ordering into close conliiie- psnt, all the American officers remaining in his FSHjioii, not heretofore considered aa IIos- (tgea. II the instructions of the Secretary of State 15','forc cniterin,!; on the stihjci.'t of Itu! im- pression produced on the centre (livi-i.)ii, hy the intelligence of the disaster wliirh had overvvliehned the rijjht, or iiortlicrn, divi-ion, it will he advisabU- to conclinlc Hie operu'lons whiidi \\erc now iiinlertiilu'ti, imvI'T (iciicrils Wilkinson nntl Hampton, in the Lo .er Pro- vince. \W', may, however, notice, that not- leave to the diseretinn of niiL'ailier-tlenrral Win- der no latitude on the snbji'ct ol tin- twentv- thiee Biitish soldiers considered byd'icai Ibiiain as the sole justoiigin of thesystemot rct.ihation, tlie further pros"ciition of this negotiatinn, for an exchange of prisoner", must be unavailin.', as His Excellency, although prepared to waive alt minor considerations, as to meet the Anteiican (iovernin -nt on a fair and liberal basis, is at the same time unalterably firm in his (lelciinination not to compromise in the slii;htcst degiee, that piiiicioie ofjisiico and etpiity ii[) m wiiich tho measiiics of Ids (Toveiniiieiit have l)een .rained. On a I'ormer occ.ision, Coh)nel Hiyiies eominu- nieated to Mj ir Melv.lit! that if the ini-oncrs of war in Caiiaila were lifit exchanged previous to the arrival of the transports expected e.nly in the Spring, it would become a nccessaiy measiiro to relieve tlie C.inadas ot that charge, and that they would be sent to Fin<.dan(l ; and on the open- i' g of the river navigation, the prisoners novv at Moil' real will be sent lot^iiebec tnr that purposo, (Signcu) EiiWAiti) B.wxKS, Col., aiitl Adjt. Ueneral. No. 2. Brigadier leneral Winder has received Colonel Baylies' note of this inoiiiiiiL.', and has reail it with ciosi- an-e he fe.irs that the bein ficial mrise- (|iiciices whitdi would result IVoin mailing ex- changes, as fir as wis praetii'.d)le unilcr the powers held bv (len ral Winder inu-t be dileated iiv per.-isting in the views held out by tin? no'e of Co'oiiel Baynes — ex(;haii:;es which vvcnild restoro to liberty so ininy brave and hoiiMia^de men of boili nations, who may otherwise linger out a le boiis protracted conHiiement, Hnally to lie ter- minated 'y an inglorious d.'alh, and which lieside, would have left untouched in the fullest extent, the pr. ten-ions of lireat Bi itaiii, on tiie (pu'stion Irom wliencu the system id ret.diation has arisen. It appears to Biii:ndier General Winder, from the note of Colonel B.iynes, that he considered ail exchange made under the restriction in Brig.t- tlier General Winder's power, as ar. abandonment or compromising the princi[ile in tpiestion by the British Government.— Surely, if this were the case, as a::cording to Brigadier General Winder's conception it ■;ertainly is not, it would liavc been 238 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. m _ 'm \ wit!i>(.iniliiig tlio(l(-foat sustained in the wc.^t, tlie !'«riii-'li slill n tiiinud iindisturhcd iio.-sts- Bion of Michiliumciiiac, nnd thereby prescrv<.cl tlioir inf'.iKtu'O, to a very maturial (legixx-, over tlic Indian triliCHiii tlio we.-t. (jciitriil Harrison coiik'ninlated the reduc- tion (if this post, but ourct.'<, must nece.-sarily fill. General Harrison seems, however, to have lost sight of tlie possiljiluv of tiie ga.rison being su])plied hy wav ill York, or, though with more didieulty, liy tW Otui'va river. All liis dispusahle forces were | an aljuinloiiniciit of it on tlie part of the Ameri- can (ioveriiiiieiit, if lliis resirieiioii imil not ex- l»lOil i'l tlio power, ami wuuKl ! ave been an extot.t of power wliicli, it i.^; eorifi'lenlly believed, Hi- Exeeliency ditl not expeet woidd be eonferred on the oeea.-ion — nor intleed eoiiKl it be suppose I that, a nower to treat relative to the ailjustmenl of iliis piin iple would liave been eoifei red upon a pccsuii ill llie .siinatio:), and under tlie eircuni- staiiees wliieh IJiigadier (Jeiieial Winder was wlii'M he !•( ceived the power, IJriiiadier (ieneral Winder further supposes that His Eicelleiiey liaJ and can have, in the or- dinarv .;oui>o of tiling', no power to settle and adjust this (piestiori unless by speeial delegation, and tills if luiown to the Government of tlie Uni- ted Stales, would have drawn from them a cor- respondent delegation of power with a view to its adjustment. But tlielJavernnicnt of the United States were aware that His Excellency possessed, as inciden- tal to his military conunand, the power of making exehangos relative to the piit^onera u.ade from and by Ids eomniand, wliieh did not compi-omit the piineiple of the British Government on this point, and therefore hid in view to delegate a corresponding power to BrigadieiGencial Winder, as i* is eonsidered they have entirely done. The (Jovernmeni of the United States con- ceived that a relinquibluuent of the twenty-three I original hostages taki ii by them would be eom- promiting the principle on their p.rt, and declined to give a poiver to this extent — they, on the con- trary, do not ask a release of the twenty-three men sent to England, because that would be re- linquishing it on the part of the Biitish Govern- ment. Tne power to negotiate upon this ques- tion, it, is presumed, has been delegated to the commissioners about to assemble at Gottenburg. But General Winder is at a los8 to perceive, that because he does not possess this power a negoti itiou is to stop, which could originally only have coatemplated, and been expected to con- template, the exchange, as far as could be done without broaching that question. And the letter of the Secretary of State to Ilis Excellency, of the 19th March, and bis contemporaneous in- structions to Brigadier General Winder, while Uiey look to the largest possible exchange, yet reserve, and express to do so, whole and entire, tlic right on this system of retaliation, and he most sincerely believes his propositions of yester- day's date entirely attaiu this object to both par- ties. Brigadier General Winder, conscious it would htf useless to submit any observation on the other parts of Colonel Baynea' note, as he believes them completely embraced in one of the propo- siiions of Ids note of ye^torday, entirely coi.lcjrm. able to Colonel Bayne.s' wishes; nnd iRcaij^f possc.-'.sing no titlier powers or instmelion^ tiiin those already conmiunieated, he «iip[)oses it nore importiint, at tlie pre: marKS ia a spirit of unreserved candor ami cit- dialiiy, and without the loss of a inoaieiit ;— mj fliitters himtelf, that, viewed by Col nul Kivl^i with the same s|Hiit, they will be found emii!;; to strong and eonelusive weight. (Signed) Wm. Windeu, Brig. Gen. U. S. AriiiT.l No. 3. Montreal, April lltli, 1814. Brigadier-general Winder lias received Cu'orell Baynen's note of this morning, and has rfad isl witli the attention whieh the subject of it wasdT culate ; to awaken, and ;ii,wevcriiiueblieic>:r'.ii| that he is not able to accomplish all that In hoptill mid wished, yet he is gratified in believin;;, ihitl much may lie accomplished in strict confuuuity t«| the principles upon which his Kxecllency teelil himself bound to act as detailed in Col. Uavues'il note of to-day, and also entirely within tlie [lo'vt'iil and instructions which Brigadier-general Wiiidttl has received and submitted Irom hisGovciniin'ij',1 Colonel Baynes' note states, "that the couiiDfr ment of the twenty-three American officer?, ai^ an equal number of non-commissioned officer^.i considered as the first stage of retaliation, on tbd part of the British Government, and will be(.tri severed in so Inig as the twenty-three soMici for which they arc held as h.ostagos, are kept ii confinement, and cannot be aflected by m; eJ change that does not emancipate the twenijJ three British soldiers." WhatBrig.-gen. Winder proposes, thereforci entire conformity to this principle is, that the Brij tish officers put into confinement in retaliatici for the confinement of the above forty-six Amej rican officers and non-commissioned officers m be released and exchanged to such an extent i an equivalent value of American officers confiiiH in retaliation for them, or who may be prisoneij of war, other than the above forty-six, shall I released and exchanged. Brigadier-General Winder, in his note oft Otb, made bis proposition as extensive as b« v<( HISTORY OP THE WAR OB' 1812. 239 therefore moved from the head of Lake Kiie to liiillltlo, whence they were forwardeil to the Niagiirii district, to juiu the expeililion con- tcuiplated a;;ainst the Lower Province, and in part to siippl}- the detii;:hnients which had bccnaheiidy (h'afted from that district, and con veyril to Sackett's llarhor lor the same pur- pose. al!offC(l, Imt coiisiilcrod at tlie saiiio time, tliat if, ill its wIkjIc extent, it, was not ac(;('|)t.il>l« to liirf Esci'llciicy lie would iiolil liitnself icaily to ciii- brace any inoililiL'atiou ot them, wliich iiiif^ht Ik; mnrB a('cei)tal)le, and within lirigadier-geucral Winder's powei. Tlii^ liioposition appoarinj:; to Urijcadier-fjoneral Wiiidoi' to hn so entirely within the priiicii)K's COi'.taiiK'ii ill Col. fJayiU's' note, lie teels the most saniMiiiR' usisurance ot its acceptance, ami, without encniiihi'rinir it witii anytliing else, he hastens to Eubuiit it without delay. (Signed) Wm. Winokr, Brig. Gen. U. S. Army. nder, in his note of tl n 08 extensife aa h« »i< No. 4. Head Quarters, Montreal, Adjutant General's Offu . April 12th, 1814. Colonol Baynea haa to acknowledge Bi" -adicr- gcneral Winder's note of the Hth instant, and is coinni.niiled to accpial;;*. l.im, that th commander of tlio lorces consents to a'' e:;chang '' hostages, and all otliers, prisoners of war in conformity to the scale of the cartel, under the previous stipu- lated Gondii ions recited in his note, viz. — That tlmtiveiity-tliree British soldiers first confined as hostages, and the forty-six American officers and nou-coiiiiiMssioned officera confined aa hostages, in retaliation for the same, remain untouched and be not included in the present proposed ex- change. It appearing that the American Government assert to h.ive placed seventy seven British offic- ers iu confiiiement as hostages, and the right to retaliate in an ecpial number, ficing assumed by tho comniaiKler of the forces, it would be neces- •ary to place thirty-one American officers in similar restraint, in order to hold seventy-seven to restore in exchange ; but to avoid the perform- ance of so unpleasant a task, it is proposed that it be taken for granted that tliis further act of retaliation has been carried into ellect, and that ♦lie number of hostages on both sides, being equal in number, amounting to seventy-seven, are declared released as hostages, and placed on the footing of ordinary prisoners of war, to be ex- changed as such, in conformity to the cartol. Th it this measure take place immediately in Qaebec, and with the least possible delay in the United States and Halifax. The exchange contemplated, ia to include every individual held as a prisoner of war connected It had been the settled plan of the .Vnierican . . „ „ (lovcrniucnt fiH.m tho Amenrnn Policy. coiiiiiitn(.emci:t of tho war, to make a deci.-ive attack on tho Lower Province. Wc gather this from the coriespondcMcu between tr.e otlli ers in cunimand, iiiid the bureau of war at \Va.>lung. ton, and we .^iiall proceed to .show how this : with tho army of Britisli North America, com- ■ niiMiciiig Ironi the lirsi il luLsnliiiin I'l, either ' ."ide, cxci'|itiiig only t>vi. , y-tiin.'f liiili^li :-o!clii'rs, ] ^nd the forty-six Amc;' . i otlicers ami non-coni- ] missioned olHcers to Ijc eserved as liosiagcs; it I being further ttipiiLitcd that the 1 ist-nieniianed j li)ily-si.\ will be placed on tho fo.itin;; of oniinary ! prisoners of war, and excliange'l as sucu when- ever the twenty-three BriiisU soldiers are so re- leased or delivered over for exciiaiige. The details contained iu Biigadicr-general Winder's note of the '.Uh instant .ire aceejited of, as forming the outline for u mnMial ;irrangement lor carrying the exchange into ellect. (Signed) Edwaui) Bavnks, Adjutant-general, B.N. A. No. r> Head Quarters, Montreal, Adjutant General's Office, April iJth, 1814. Colonel Bayncs has to acknowkdge Brigadier- general Winder's note of the 1 Itii instant, and iu commanded to acquaint him, that the commander of the forces has no objection to the ])rinciple ujjon which his exchangi; is proposed by the Sc« cretary of State ;is a preliioin.iry nieasiue to his entering u|)on the proposed Mcgotiiition, provided that the basi:, upon which that negoti ition is to be conducted, is iu its principle adinis.sihle, and holds out a fair and a reasouaole prosi)ect of pro- ducing the dei'red eiid. His Excellency considered tho proposal as stat- ed in the SecreUry of State's letter of 1 '.)th March as coming under that descri[iLion, and the accooi- panying letter of instrucfions ot the same date, comporting with the same, be dai not h sitate to grant his consent to the proposed exchange of Brigadier-general Winder, as a proper pro liiniiiary measure ; but a subsequent coiuinu- nication from the Secretary of the United Statea, behig received by Brig.adier-gcneral Winder, and represented by liira to have been introduced into the first instructions, alterations in themselves inadmissible in piiuciple, and that the same had been omitted by error in transcrilnng the first copy, and were therefore to be considered as Ibnniiig tho f„^xt and spirit of the proposition. The commander of the forces considered himself absolved from his assent to a document which had, from the act of the proposing party, become a nullity ; and thereby cancellin;i whatever might have emanated from it, and that he was at liberty ?40 lllSXOUY OF TllK WAR OK 181'2. f! dc'tcriiiintitioM wa*; cariicd out— iJio forco ctii- ploycd, the tHti; wliich nltuiideil llic !iUciii|it, aii'l tlic (MUSI'S wliitli I '(I to tliu ditin' (ailiirf of 11 schc'inc.dclilieratt'ly planned, loiii.'clierish- C(l as one of llic certain nicat.s of icducinf; llie Can.i las, and iiiidntnlii'ii wit'i everv nci'onipaniinent of f.nce, that it was in the power ol the American (iovernnient to ini part to it. to revert to liic alloriiulive MiLj'.'csteil in the Se- tretary ol Stalu'd tirdt letter, and reji.'et tlie pio- po.sal iji loto. Colonel Uaynca \i directed to inform Hiijjadier General Wimler, that it is nut His Kxeelieney's intention to saiieiion any pariial exchaiif,'e, except for the expreiid pin'i)i).>e sated in the Su'cretarv of State'.-! letter, with which ho thinks it highly CX|)eilicnt anil pioper to conipiv, Imt he nm.-*i re- quire Ironi that ollieer a niujit irnect and un- e(iui vocal as.snranee. that he is nathorizid to tr'iit ami rati f II, wii/iuiU J\rt/tHn entertaineil for a moment that he inicaileil to rentier them in the least ilegree tloubllul. iiikI hg trusts thi.s ..vowal will remove all such iinprev sions, and enable ('olunel Ihiynes and hiiuself, upon the aiijustiii(!nt ol Ihij-'adiei denerd WIiiiIit's e,\(!hange, to proceed without delay to tlie ar- rangement. (Signed,) Wm. Windkii, Brig. Gen., U. S, Araty, No. 6. Montreal, April 13tli, 1S14. Brigadier General AVinder very much regrets that he i^houlU have tailed in cominuuicatmg to Colonel Baylies in the last interview, the extent of the powers coinmunieated to him with retpiisite precision. It was the intention of Briiradier General Winder to have slated, that his powers extendetl without restiietioii, to pi't)puse a.nl ii;i;ree to an exchange of all British I'risoiiers of \Var taken from the eommami ol Sir George I'revo-t, except the tvveiiiy-ttireu men put into conlineinent in retaliation tor the twenty-three men ai'iit to En^lanJ, to wdiich extent he now as.-ures Cilonel Baynes his powers extend, eml>raeing all the subjects contained in Colonel Baynes' notes ol the 1 1th and I'Jih, and Brigadier General Winder' .- of the llih. As it was not the intention of Brigadier General Winder that his Excellency should have the least General Order, Adjutant (Jeneral'a Odiee, Head (iuarters, Moiilral, July ISth, IMJ. His Excellency the Commander of die I'orcca Mnmiuiiees to tlie troops under his eomiiiainl, tiiiit haviiii; at the invitation of the American govern- ment, deputed Colonel Baynes, Ailjutant, ileia'ral, and Lieutenant Colonel Brenton, rr.ivineial Aide, de-camp, to meet on Thursday la.>t at Cn.iiii|iluin, t!oloiiel Lear, late Consul General ot the I'niteJ States at Algiers — lor the purpose of reeoii^iJor- nig the convention fur the exchange ol piiscihm which had been entered into on the lithof April last, between Colonel Baynes and lhi;;aJier General Winder; and of removing whatever ob- j ctiona might be made to the due e.teciilion of It: — and the t^aid meeting having taken pl.ice accordingly, all objections to the said eonvintioii were then, and there, completely removed ; ,iiid tin- same was, on the Kith instant, lidly ainl (iiiljlc lo substitute Montreal for the [loint of atind, especially iih t'otnmodoro Chauneey vohii- teered to watch both channels, so ns toensurt a (|iuet sail, or pull, down the river to [hi-. flotilla. Unfortunately, however, the ,\nicri<',in commodore was as little ccmpetent to execute one undertaking as the other, and no soorcr was the expedition consisting of three hundn.': large boats, exclusive of schooners, sloops, and twelve heavy gim boats, safely under weigh, than two brigs, two .schooners m several gun boats were on tlio "(pii vivo "to annoy them. The first detention was at I'Vcnch's Creek, directly ojjposito the jidint at which an army, destined for Kin^'ston, might be supposed to lantl, liere a halt nf some five or six days occurred, during wliich time the flotilla and troops were nnieh annoy- ed by the tea/.ing British vessels from thcljav opposite French Crock. On the 5th Novenilitr, another start was effected, and a place called lloag's, fouf miles below Morrisvillc, anl about fifty from French Creek, was reactied. At this point the water procession halted preparatory to passing Fort Wellington, (lis- tant six miles farther. The general here drew up, agreeably to established custom, a pro- clamation, addressed to the inhabitants of the country he was about to conquer. " For its brevity, no loss than Us moderation," sayi James, " it far surpasses anything of the sort hitherto promulgated by an American (itneral, " Proclamation of James Wilkinson, Major General and commander-in-chief of an ex- pedition against the Canadas, to the inhabi- tants thereof: " The army of the United States, which I have the honor to command, invaded the | province to conquer, and not to destroy; to subdue the forces of his Brit inic Majesty, | not to war against unofTenu. ig subject Those, therefore, amongst you who remain | quiet at home, should victory incline to t American standard, shall be protected in their persons and property ; but those who art found in arms must necessarily bo treated u avowed enemies. — To menace is unmanly,- lUSTonV OF THE WAR OF 1812. 2U p, wliif'h followcil, niovcnicnl n-riiiiM :nnil mil), nml ttv miiiilifiiiiL' iii.iiii\ .•iiifl nilvisaljlc to he iioiiit ol' iiltnik. C'l\iiiiiu'i'y vuhii- neis, HI) US Uu'ii.-tiri. the river to ll..- i-eviT, th(! Aiiicrian niiilH'U'iit toexcdik Out, niwl no soomr iny of three hundrtc ' Hcliooners, sloop?, boats, safely undtr two srhooiicrs ami a the "qui vive"to detention was at opposite the yml lineJ for Kin;;stoii, antl, here a hall nf :urre(1, duriiii:; wliich [)S were niueli annoy- \ vessels from the bay 3n the 5th November, !(], and a place calltd ow Morrisvillc, anl Creek, was reached. ,er procession halted 'ort Wellington, div l"hc general here drew jisiied custom, a pro- he inhabitants of the |o conquer. " For its ;3 moderation," says . anything of the sort |an American ( itncral ._,es AVilkinson, Major ler-in-chief of an ex- nadas, to the inhali' Jnited States, which 1 Immand, invaded the ndnotto destroy; to' lis Brii .nic Majesty, iinofrena, ip; subject. [gst you who remain 1 lictory inchic to 111 be protected in their \ but those who are [essarilybo treated u aenace isunmanly-- taisoJuco, (llslioiioruhio— yet it is just and giigenient, will bo found in tlie respective liiimatio to place tlieac alternatives bcforo | bulletins of thu ooiiiMi;ui'Iin^ ullicers. rou." Un the 7tli the powder, ammunition and all hi troops, except cr.ougli to uiiui tho bi)./:>)ii! Miiniwn lo Major Ucno'itl Dc liDWuihnvij. Cliry.'lcrV, WilIi:uuOjtii';', Upp^r (^u..^dn, November 12ih, 1813. Siu, — T have the heartfelt griili(ii',itlides Lieutenant Andersoi. and about thirty liulians, who had accoK panied the detachment from Kingston." This number General Wilkinson lias cor, tinned to swell in his ofHcial letters* fromsi.'i' *.l''rum viaJor-gcHcral Wilklii/ioji to t/ic AiiKnui': saritari/ at tear. nKAii-Mr.Miir.r.s, Fi'j:.\cii Mii.i.s, Ailjoiniug the I'loviiice ol Lowc r Canada. hull November, iSVi. BiR, — I liog Icnvc to refer you to llic jouriij. I which aocoiiipaiiies this letter, for tlio paiiiculan of the nioveiiieiits of tlie corps iKhler my com- niaiid, down to tlie ^t. Lanrii, i-, and viV endeavour to exert my uul'eehle miinl todetailKl you the more striking and iiiipoitiiiit iiiciJen!! wliieli have ensuc'od ,vitli a let I lornied me he h,ei •Mcli the foot of t iiTsuvre imiiK'ili *'■ 'It ivhicli n\''irere-.olv(., "OHMvcrcaeeordin 'K Colonel Swil HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1813. 245 ilnancc stores taken, ;t been collected, ir to be, ic. W. M0KI!IS"N, bOtli, coiaiiinmlirg corps of observalior: niiHled— one captaii:. . r;ink anil lik',kilkil. I Items, six stijcants. y-one rank ami li!i md lile, tnissing. I mention the iiumki troops under his con,- andiitCh-yskr'sfiirra. n at "ei^lit hundroi Lieutenant AnderbOi, ans, \vl)0 liad accon. from Kingston." ul Wilkinson lias cor. lUeial letters* from i;.v ilkbmoyi, to the Ama'm I at ic'ir. F.us, Fkkncii Mn.i.?, [■(iviiu.'o ot I.invrr CiiMJJ. lt)tl\ Noveniljer, Islo. refer yon to tin.' jourru letter, for tlio partinlai^ ] le corpi4 iki^Ut my com- St. I.iiwieii '■, iiiiJ »'" unfeeble niiiui lo detail Ki iinl iniporliiiit iudJer.'.! I CO niv dep;iruire froci jfoot oi Lake Ontario, ot I ony which followod it«j II my rear, and in conceni 1 a lew gun-boats, secracil iiiv progress. I ^n iihoilt, and put an cndtol w;is conni-ed to my leil vn^ too ill f|>i' any Mli«l 1 (lid not .'arelosaWl -ni-le day from the jrot-l of government. 1 Wl laniptonon tlrj tUli luslj lonel Kiii^'. and luJ <\ nction will', nie on tbe!4| »pected would talio piS«r I would have been unpu <;rdit of this o''J'-'<^' " of vital importance to I credit for their zealaij active universal liosuW ts of the country cnabW greatest advantage. >d by a respectable to" St was lined with m« very critical part ol , to march a deucbniet^ )rogreiW. teen hundred to two thousand, and not satisfied even with thi.s amplification, in a lote to liis nicmoiis, written lonj;; subse- luentlv, the .\inerioan fieneral artiiaUy vcn- 'ured to state that, " tiie enemy showed '(renty five hundred men in battalion, on the !lth, and this force was beaten back, by seventeen liimdred of viuliacipllned troops^ upon a reserve of seven hundred men, making the whole strength of the enemy thirty-two hundred men." To disprove this is easy, and if we t 'kc Col. Waliiacks evidence, (who was in the action, and swore, at the general's court martial, I' That he had a fair vie.v of the enetny, and and that he supposed tlic whole, regular.^, mihtia, and indians to have been between eleven and twelve hundred men") and compare On the evcniiir; of the '.Hh, the army hiilted a leir miles from the head of Lonj^ue Sault. On the raorpiiift ut the loth tiie enclosed order was is- >ui], (ietieral l?i'ovvno imnched, a<5reeal)ly to jfJir, and at win we were apprised, bv the le- ports of liis artillery, that lie was eng.'iged some ■listaiice lielo'.v U:*. At tlio same time tiio enemy were ohsorved in our rear, ;nid their galley and lun-boats approached our tlotilla, and openeil a ire upon us, wbieli obliged me to order a bat'eiy j of is.pounder.s to be planted, and a shot from it conipellid tiie enemy's vessols to retire, together fitii tlieir trodps, after some firing between the [ idvanetil parties. Ify this time, in coiise(pience ofliis liisoinbarUing .and re-einl)arkli,g the heavv iTiii?, tlie day was so far spent, tliat our pilots W not diM'e to enter the Sault (ei'uiit miir.sa con- tinued rapid), and tlieretbre we frll down about wo miles, and came to anchor for the night. Early the next morning everything was in rca- iines;- fur motion ; imt having received no intcl- I licence from (Jenerai JJrown, I wa.^ still delayed, ii sound precaution required I sliould learn the reiuk of liis alTair, before I committed the tlotilla 1 1') the Sault. At li;ill'-]i:\Ht ten A.M , an olVieer of dra!iOf)n-; j 'jrived iviih a letter, in which the (Jener.d iii- iortiied 1110 he had forced the enemy, and would I reach t!ie foot of the S.iuit failv in the ilay. Or- lire wi-re iniiiiediately <;iven for the liolilla to iiii, at which instant the enemy'.s gun-boats ap- I reared, and began lo throw shot iiimmg us. In- jtorniition was at the same time bromrht me from Brijidior-g.'iural Boyd, that the enemy's troops M?re advaiicim; in column. I immediately gave •'i''r< !•) iiini to atieiid ihom. This rcpMit was I *»n ruatiadicieil. Their irni'.-bnats, however, JMr.tiiuei to scratch tis, and a varii>ty of repurts pf their iiiovi'ments ami counter-movenn'iits «ere I "fuir.-hi ti) IPC ,11 sucee-^sioK, which conviiici'd me pit their dctcrii ination to hazard an attack, \\hi;ii litetiiill l„> ,|oiio to the greatest aa\-e. I When lirst wi- iiractice lo deceive " and this is literally the case witli (ieneral i I ier-gen. Boyd, to throw down the defachmenta of his command, as.-igned to iiim In tiie order of the ; i)recediiig day, and composed of men of liis own, Covington's and Swartw out's brigades, into three ' columiifi, to march upon the enemy, outflank them it po-^sible, and take their artillery. The action soon after comme .ced witli the advanced body (jf tlie enemy, am' lieeame ex- I tremcly sharp and galling; and lasted, with oc- ' casioi.al pauses, not sustained witii great vivacity, in open space, and fair combat, for upwards of two hours and a half, the adverse lines alternately yiehling and advancing. It is impo-sible to say with accuracy what was our number on the field, becaus(> it consisted of indclinite detachnieiits, tal.eii from the boats, to render safe the passage of the Sault. (ieneral Covington and Swartwout vohintiu-ily ' took p.irt ill the action, at the head of tlie de- tachments from tlieir nspeclive bri^a^ie-', and ' exhildted the same courage that was displayed by Brigadier-general Boyd, who happened to be i the Senior ollicer on the ground. Our force en- gaged niieht have rea(died ItUiO or IToOmen, Imt actually did not exceed ISno. That of the ' enemy was estimated from riiio to '2(mm)^ hut did not proliably amount to more than 1,5imi or liJOO ; consisting as I am inlcMrneil, of detachments from , the ■\'M\\, Slth, and K'lth regiments of the line, with three companies of tiic voltigeur and (iii-n- gary corps, and tlio milit'a of the country, who are not iiu-iuded in the estimate. It would l>e pre^umptuou.s in me to attempt to , give you a detailed account of this atVair, v. hich ' certainly redects 1 i;;li honor on the valor of tho .Vnierican soldier.-*, as no example can be juo- dueed of midiseiplined iiieii, with inexpei iencod ollicers, braving a tire of two hours and a half, without (luittiiig the (ield; or yiidding to their an- tagonists. But, sir, the ial'orination 1 i. ia' givo you is derived from olTiec'rs in my confidence, wh.o took active parts in tlu; eontliet ; lor, al- though 1 was enabled to order tlio altaeli, it, wag my haid fortune not to be able to lead the tioopi I commanded. _ii 246 HISTORY OF THE ^V^AR OF 1812. WilkiiiKon. In his first letter that officer declares th;it "(letienil Uoyd's force did not exceed eifihteeii hiiiulred men." In liis se- cond letter, tlie (General discovers and corrects an omission of six hundred men under Lieul. Colonel Upliam, In a note to the (leneral's book we meet with the new asserliun, " The force viidcr (lencrul Boyd, which engaged the enemy (I [ Chry.ilcr'n, was scpkuiok to ium ;" in this case IJoyd's force must have exceeded thirty-two iiundred men. A\'e leave it to the rcadei' to judge and reconcile the conliicting asserti'tns. From Wilkinson's own notes, we may safely place the numhers of the .\mericansat twenty- nine hundred men, acting under General IJoyd and as assistants to the crews of the floliila, in navigating the rapids; and niaking the most liberal allowance for this head, we have still left an American force tinico as great as that of the British, at Chrysler's. On the evening of the day of Ijattle, the Americans retired to their boats and embarked, Tlic , the American Geneial, we have still in hi ■ whole were rc-indiarked, and procecdcil ilowii tte river without further annoyance from the ciunij tir their gun l)oats, while the dragoons witii five pieces ot light artillery inaiehe 1 down the Camula shore without molestation. ', It is clue to his rank, merit, and service?, t:,at I I should make particular mention of brigiuiie:- , general Covington, wlio receiveil a inoi tal wuiiud directly through his body, while aiiiniatiii': i.is men, and leading them to the charge. Ue Icll where he fought, at the head of his men, aid i survived but two days. ; The iie.xt day the Hotifa passed lhruuf;li tiit Sault, and juined that excellent oliicer, briu'elit:- gen. Jli()\Mi, at Harnliart/, near Cornwull, win:/ he had been instructed to take post and wait rcy i I arrival, and where I confidently exjiocted to Lear of major-general Hampton's arrival on the oppc- j site shore. I Ihit immediately after I had halted, col. Atkin- son, inspector-general ot the division under nu- jor-general Hamilton, wailed on me with a liiti.': t'lom that iillieer, in which, to my uii<|iPiik;iiiie j miirtitication and snrinise, he declined tliejnnc-| tion (jpdered — and informed me he was nririL.;* to Lake Champlain, liy way of co-oj>eratiiin t. ' the proposed attack upon Montreal. Thisletttr, together with a copy ot that to which it 1= in i"' . swer, were immediately gubmiltcd to a eoumiloil war, composed of many general ollicers, ar,i] lael colonel commanding the idite, the chief enj.'inrttl and ailjutant-general, who iminediately uiive itl as tlndr (,ii);nion, that the attack on .Mui.uuil >hould be abandoned for the jireseiit >e:i>-iin, iiiJl the army near Cornwall be inimedi itely cro-ell , to the American shore, for taking up "ihtsff I ipiarters, and that this place allorded an eli,;iU»j I position for such quarters. 1 acquiesced ii: t'li'j y iiere follows ji .,| F0T'-.ded;-A-,7/,,/; ; Ijn. J. Anuatronj HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 247 icar Cornwall, not by a laiiil iniircli, sc'l to tlic annoy- both by land and ;e Oen. AVilkinson, vill follow ihc fur- i of (it'll- llamiilun, n we k'ft, organiMrn; Iwanl, with, as we rhiil'S the most cffi- 1 yet taken the Mi lunbcrs we have the iglon organ, whkh ' were then collecteil indtr Miijoi-tieiierai 1 move were on tlii'ir expected from tlie vcYn\ snialUr hodit.- (voniolheninartLr«," sc troops, either aid a'rc not refi\nre(l I'V we nave still in liis mil procccdeil ilowii tl.c oyiince Iroiii the emniy the dra-zoous with five jUclieldo\vnlheC;U!aJa iicrit, and ?orvK'C?, ti.at ■ mention of ))ii^ii'::ti; eo'-ived a nM)rl;d wuuuJ while auiniulir.g i.ii lie lell lo the cluni^e. -- , head of I'.iri men, aud 1 il a pasj^cd through tk lllenl olVicev, bng.-'lii:- I near ("ornwall, wlu':.- ItaUepo^t andwuinr.y lloutlv expected l.> l.rtt \i\i arrival on llic epi-"-- i l,ad halted, c(il. Atka- jlhe divirdou under im- lived on nic with « h*: lidi, to niv un-^peakai'K he .Icelined the.UiK'' '.-,1 me he was nvir.l..;., Iwav of co-openin-'ii r. I Montreal. TlnsUu.r. Ihat to whieh it i' "■.f; lubmiuedtoacouiiei,. l^oneral ollice... .n.^ " T.lile. the chief en;:a.rt 1,0 inunediatelv ;.;•'« II \a attaeU on Moiii:>-'l 1, ho present sen^..".'"')! l„. in.niediitelvov.-'J 1 fur takiu;: np v;"'! J ;,,oallordedanel..uj^ 1 acquiesced u. u" letter, to the Secretary of ^Var, of the 12th Uctijlier , very satisfactory proofs not only as to nuinhers but also as to elliciency. "i'our thousand eihxtive infantry, and a well apiiointed train of artillery, ought to in- spire you with some reliance upon our army." Here is evidence to .substantiate our asscr- :;oii, ai.d be it remarked that there is no proof tliat the expected reinforcements did nof arrive, as Gemral Hampton .speaks only of ilicclive infantry, and would not be likelj' to mcliide tiie raw levies svhi(di were potiriiip; in jn hiiu in the category of 'tfeotive.s. Neither is mention made of cavalry, although a force without whicli American movements were - liendage to my ollicial eommunication resiiecting the actimi id' the 11th instant. 1 last evening received the enclosed informa- j tion, the result of tlic examinatimi of sundry : prisoners taken on the liehl of l).iltle, wliitdi jus- lilies tlie opinion of the gi'iieral oflicers who wore 1 ill the engageincnt. This goes to prove that, ' although the imperious obligations of duty did i not allow mo sullicient time to root the enemy, they were bi'ateii; the accidental loss of onelield- jiieco notwithstanding, after it liaii been dis- cliarged lo or 'JO times. I have also learned, from what ins lieen considered good authority, but I will not vouch for the correctness of it, tliat the enemy's loss exceeded 5oij killed and ; wouiuled. ! The enclosed report will correct an error in my former coiiimunication, as it appears it was the 8',lth, and not the 84tli, liiitish regiment, which wa.s eng.i-ed on the 11th I beg leave to mention, in tlo! action of the lltli, what, from inv severe indisposition, I have omitted. Having received inforiiiatioii, late in tlie day, that the contest had become soinewl at dubious, I ordered up a reserve of .''lOo men, whom I had I ordered to stand by tlicir arms, under lieutenant- Gol. U[ihain, who gill.mtlv led liiem into action, I which terminated a few minutes uftei their arrival ! on the ground. Witli great consideration and re- spect,! have the honor to be, kf\ I Jami-.s Wilkinson. 1 Hon. John Arinstroiig, secretary at war. i V. I 218 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1813. S'l m. had the effect of checking tlic ardor of the enemy, and, just at this moment, a company of the IVovincial militia, hiihcrto concealed, opened an unevpected Or? oii th'/ n uin bowy. This almost flank fire, and the expended line along which the bugles appear>.'t ; ^oiind. possessed (ieneral Hampton ;ind hi-, am/ with the idea that \ powerful bo^y was; in front and on the flanks, and die Aincricnn.-; were thrown into the utmost disorder, and a tumaltuous and precipitate retreat ensued — leaving Col. DeSalaberry, with scarcely three hundred Canadians, master of the field. About the close of the affair .Sir (Jcorge Prevost and General DeWattevillc arrived on the ground. Even Ingersol is rornpellcd to remark ?'e- specting this affair, " Encomium on the prow- ess of Col. De Salaberry and his Canadian countrymen is probably well founded. It is true that a few hundred of them worsted an army of between four and five thousand Ame- rican regulars, vvhcii (Jioneral Hampton had been for some time assiduously preparing for active service, and the bubble of Canadian conquest burst and evaporated, if not forever, at any rate for that war." A more detailed account will be found in the following general order of Or'nhm: 27th: Hkad-Qi'autki,- , A Fourche, on Chatcuvrjuay river. Oct, 27th, 1813. Gf.neuai. oupeiss. — His exnllcncj .jic go- vernor-in-chief and commander <■'' the forces has received from mnjor-gencrai Dt Watto- ville, the report of the affair whicl* to"k place at the advanced position of his post, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, between the AniP-rie.in army under the command of major- ge*i' i„: Hampton, • 'd the advariccd pickets of the British thro\i . out for the purpose of covering working parties, under the direclion of lieut. col. Do Sal.ibcrry ; the judicious pos- ition chosen by that ofilccr, and thj excellent disposition of his little band, composed of the light infantry c"" Canadian fenciblus, and two comi)anies of Canadian voltigcurs, repulsed with loss the advance of the enemy's principal column commanded by gen. Hampton in per- son ; and the American light biigadc under col. M'Carty, was in a like manner checkc Hebilen and O'Sullivan, and from every oflficerand soldier engaged, whose gallantry and steadines.s were conspicuous and praiseworthy in the highe.-: degree. His excellency, the governor-in-rliief anJ commander of the forces, having had the sat- isfaction of himself witnessing the coniliictn; the troops on this brilliant occasion, feels il a gratifying duty to render them that prain which is so justly their due; to mnjor-gencni I De Aratteville fur the admirable anangenunt j established by him for the defence of liis post; to lieut. col. De Salaberry, for his jiidicicn- j j and officcrlike conduct displayed in theclioic. of position and arrangement of his force; to the officers and men engaged with the encnijl the warmest acknowledgments of his Exe>!-| lency are due, for their gallai try and steadi ness, and to all the troops at the .statii n tk highest praise bclong.s, for their zeal, stead;-j nes.s, and di.scipline, and for the pati''nt durance of hardship and priva'irn \vlii(hllii;| have evinced. A ditermineil perscviraiie.i" this honorable conduct cannot fail of cro.vnj ing the brave and loy.-d Canailians wKli v'c-| tory, and hurling disgrace and conriiMmi the head of the enemy that would jnii their happy soil. r>y the report of prisoners, tlie omi.i}: force is stated at 7,51)0 infantry, 400 cavalrvJ un.. iid priva'ion which tlu 'niiiiH'd jierscvivar.i'. ! I cannot fail of cro>vr.-| vmI Canadians with vic-| ■ liracc ani'i confurioa in juiy that would pol'.^;^ prisoners, the cncr.iv': »0 infantry, 400 cavalrvJ The lirili-sii advancel force actually engaged, r fJcn- eral Hampton, in rcfu-ing to join ! is (Uvision Canadian light company liad 3 -anl: and I to the tivops de,oeraIiig tl'c k 1/ • vrence (tj ■''!killed--l sergeant, 3 rank ami Hie w,,iuided. ' (.irry an attack ou Montrca!,; rc-dcrcl it cx- Volli, Mus, 4 rank and fde wounck'-l. j pcdient to mc e the ariay "ol r. nc'i Mills, on Third battalion, flank company, 1 captain f >almon river." bounded— 2 rank and file kil' d, G wounded, [ This determination ^xi^^ carri...' int . etrect on the 13th. ind four missing. Chateauguay Chasseurs, 1 captain wounded. Total— ii rank and file killed— 2 captains, 1 sergeant, LT rank and file wounded, and 4 missing. Ollicers wounded— captain Daly, 8d em- bodied militia, twice wounded severely, but not dangerously. Captain Rruyer.s, Chateau- juay chasseurs, slightly. 'Signed) EDWARD RAYNES, adj. gen. (iiucnil onl.T. The re. if of die two Amer- ican generals, with their forces, having ro- moved every appearai!:e of danger, the com- mander of tlic forces, by a general ordi r of the 17th November, dismissed tli3 Sedentary Militia, with due acknowledgements of the loyalty and zeal which tliey had manifested.* Tlie failure of an invasion planned on so great a scale was with dilliculty apologised After his repulse at Ciiateaiiguay, General ^^'^ by the public journals in tie pay of go- lliiniptoii retreats. Hampton retreated to his vernmcnt; but the Roston dazette, not having late position ; and, on assembling a council of '^ share of govcinment patronage, was ena- war, it was determined to fall back on their '^''-''' to speak out boldly; and we transcribe former po>ition at Four Corners, so as to •''" '^^'^''■'^^'' '''°'" ^'^'^'^J'^"''"''' •" keep open the communication with the United I " Every h.our is fraught with doleful tidinga -States, and, at tlie same time, lie in readiness, I —humanity groans from tlie fnnuiors. llamp- if possible, to renew an attack on the enemv. i '""'' ami}- is reduced to about two tliousand, The retreat was miicli impeded and harras.sed ^\ ilkinson's cut up and famishing; orimina- by the Canadian militia,* who hun"- on their ''>J» fi"'l rccriniinati in are the order of the rear; and, indeed, so great had been the fa- tigues and privations experienced by the Eastern division, from constant attacks and the inclemency of the season, that General Hampton, deeming farther co-operation witli General Wilkinson inqiossible, shortly after fell back upon Rlattsburg, and retired to win- ter quarters. We will new return to General AVilkinson, day. Democracy has rolleil lierself un in weeds, and laiu down foi its last wail'iuing in the slough of disgrace. Armstrong the cold- • ' Head <''iarler,s, Lncliiiie, N\.veinber Hdi, 1813. "Ooticral C ,\ r. — T.. . divisioii.s of sc(lentary militia call ' j-ii by the general order of tlie Htfi instant, are ii Ijo di^liandcd ami to return to their ics[ieetive bom- i, in tbe l,.'llowin'.; rder. n.h,>,„ „.„ 1 ft „ 1' 11 • • 1 I " His exeelli'i'.cv til'" '.'overiKpr in chief and com- «hom„e left, near Cornwall, awaiting the ,„a„,icr of the lore- in' dispensing. („r -be pre- sent, with the I ;rther services ot ilie militia, feela ibe greatest Siitisf.iciioi' in aeknowledfihig tbo General Wilkinson was not ! ebeeitii! al.terity with wbieii tbey have repaired lowintcriinartci's l^i,pt very loiv in suspense I '" ''"^'''' ''''•■'l"'''l'^''^ i dsIs, and tbe loyalty nnd zi>h1 •N nn (1, i.iii \T I ° 1 ,, /- ' I tlicv have inaiiifested at liie iiiospcct ofiMieoun' on the I2th November, a letter from ,,,iM„' tbe enenn— ultb.u;.*> behas been ei.cekec llmnpton made its )ipp.earaiice, "btn^tintj,'" accuidiiig to the eommiindtr-iii-e!iief," all iiis arrival of General Ihunpton. Wilkiii-:oii iTlirps •Sirdi'cii'iri' l'n'Vnnnaiuiingoflicer of a compai.y of seilentary militia is to receive for every private man, retnrniiii!; home, at the rate of Is. lid. cur- rency and non-eomniissioneil otlicorsin that pro- portion, i'or every five leagues that they hav(> to travel — this allowance is, U)v that period, in lieu of pay and rations. "Colonel La Croix's division, now at Lower Lacliine, is to march from thence on the 2otli instant, so a.s to arrive on the Champ do M.irs, t In alhisiou to the J5rilish ilcseciit on tlie Niagara frontier. 'jealous of each other, and jiolitical eneuiits- the Secretary at War being at the .saniu tiine if wc are to judge by his writing, an oii|ionent of the commander-in-chief of the expedition. The result of this we have seen. The failure is to be ascribed to two causes. General Wilkinson's incompetence, and Hamp- ton's anxiety to secure to himself the honors of the expedition. Of the first we have the most abunJant evidence furnished at the court uiaiiial held on General Wilkinson. The testimony of Mr. Thime on that trial prove these fticts. "1st. That the General began his ex- pedition without knowing whether he carried with his army of eight il;ou=an(l men, .subsistence suilicient for five dayi jr for lifty. " 2ndly. That his attention to this im- portant subject was first awakened at G'cn- adier Island, in consequence of the sup- posed effect of a storm on the provision boats. "Srdly. That, although apprised that the loss was great, he adopted no measures to remedy that disaster." Nor was this all that was proved. In the General's diary it is stated that, on the 7th of November, having passed nil the preceding night in the open air, he was at Montreal, by If) o'clock in the morning iif thai (lay, for the ])uipi)se of i)ilinjj: thi'ir amis, and re. , turning in store their iCcontrements, aiuiiiuiii- ! tion, lilankets, iiaversaeks, and canteens. " Liet col. .M'Kenzie's battalion will ni.irci. , from its present quarters so as to aiiive on the I Champ do Mars, at 12 o'clock the same diiy,— and lieut. col. Leprohon's at 2 o'clock. "Lieut, col. Cuthhert's is to arrive rn the Cham]) de Mars, at in o'clock on the 21st iiist.— '. The battalion placed under the conmnind ol lieut. col. Bouchervillo will leave the ground it at pre- sent occupies on the I2lli, and proceed tu Mon- treal on itf route to Three Rivers, — The one con- fided to the command of lieut. eol. Ili'sclianiliiiult will eoinnience lal.ing back to Moi.treal on the 2;iil instant. — The remaining battalions of the se- dentary militia are to commence their inaicli for their respective parishes on the 23d. ! "The quarter-master general of the forces will make the necessary arraiijieuKnts for rdii-vinj: captain I'latt's troop of Volunteer Cavahy from its present duty, on or liefore thi; 24tli iiiriiimt , when it is to return to Mi'iitroal Uv the purpose 1 of b< ing disariin'il until fiiilhcr orders. I '"ISy his excellency's coiuniand, EnwAKi) Bavnks, i Ailjt.-general." HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 251 riiimo on that trial in consequence thereof much indisposed. The staltniciits which follow will show to what cau.-c ihe (ionerars indisposition was really to bu iiscrihed. "Uu or about the Cth of November, 1813, (the night the American troops passed Oj^- densbur^h and Piescott,) having received orders to niuflie the oars, and leave men eiiougii barely sullicient to man the boats, we injirclied the remainder I'y land below ()g- densbinyh. When we arrived, as we thought, near the place where v,e were to meet the boats, (say a mile below Ogdensburgli,) we (Jcncral James A\ ilkinson was llure, and in a state of intoxication ; and tliat hU dei'ortnu'nt, and obscene and vulgiu' convirsiition, Init too jilainly manifested his being in tliat situation. This deponent farther saith, tliat the General sung several obscene and vulgar songs; and farther saith not. (Signed) Owin ('mati ikld. Sworn before me at the village of Ogdeu3« burgh, this ITth of July, IS:)."). JnllN Si hit, Justice of the IV'ace, &c "Daniel Thorp doposeth and s.'iith, th.ithc baited at a f-mall house near the river (D. i lives about a mile below the village of Og- IhorpVj ; and while there, discovered a boat approaching the shore. Jbijor Forsyth hailed the crew, and on explanatifin was informed it was lieneral Wilkinfon's l)oat. The Major, myself, and others, met the Cieneral at the water's cilge, and asked if he wished to come on shore. Indicating that he did, Forsyth densburgh, and that, on the night the Ameri- can army passed Prescott, (lencral James Wilkinson came to llie houits, give laying him on something like a bedstead that I orders, or even listen to a reporting ofliccr, was in the room, and having done so, ho was. Must returned from a field of battle." in a very short time, in a sound sleep. The The ojdnion the reader must have formed time to the best of my recollection, at which , of the Generars capability for command after we received the General, was about two these extracts, will enable him to ;u rive at a o'clock in the morning. For some time a.'ler I very sufficient conclusion as to the niai:i cause this occurrence, he was not very accessiae ; of the failure. ^\'e have, however, a farther itwas said that he was in bad health." | cause — the gallantry of the men "who," The above is a statement made by Major i according to Ingersol, "in brigs, schooners, Sirdsall. I gun boats and gallics, led by the gallant "Ouin (^halfielddcposeth and saith, thatjon Captain Mulcaster, gave our craft no repose the night the American army passed Prescott, or respite from attack." This, t.)0, idthough this deponent went to the house of Daniel ; Chauncey had boasted that he was to destroy I'horp. This deponent farther saith, that ' Sir James Yco's squadron, and c/i.v/rc a Sff/a ->. 252 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. !!P^ So np ii pamirjf fur the Jfotilln tJoirn the rircr much for ('iKUinccynn pnsronndc. Inf^cMsol, in inuiitioiiin^ Wilkinson's diarj', calls it "the Odysspy of a calnmltoiis voyage, by a l)L'il- ridden general and his tempest tossed follower,-:, who were contimially as- Bailed liy vigiliuit and skilful enemies on the water, and from batteries along the shores, 1 at every tiM'ti." The lii;;hest meed of praise we can award to the Itiito-Canadian defenders of their soil and perhaps the most reliable, as it comes from an enemy, is simply to transcribe a pas-:a;:e from Ingersoll. " The IJritish and Canadian troops deserve great cred t for the persevering and invincible spiiit in wiiich they met a formidable inva- sion, fortilied every pass on the St. Lawrence, Seized every opjiortunity of harassing, im- peding, and assailing our army, until at last they, more than storms, and casualties, more than ILn/qilon'n ch'/cclion, forced it to disho- nored defeat, when, well led, there was every pledge of victory," AVe need add nothing to such conuncndalion. The reasons assigned by (Jeneral TIamptor, General llainiitdii. in vin(lication of his diso- bedience, were want of food for men ; forage, for cattle and horses, and means of trans- porting nioie of the former than each soldier could carry on his back. These excuses can be doubly disproved, first by Il.'.mpton's own letter to Wilkinson in answer to one from that general, complaining of scarcity of pro- visions. Hampton, in that letter, so far from setting forth any scarcity on his part, dis- tinctly says, " I hope to be able to prevent your starving ;" and then continues, " besides rawness and sickness, my troops have en- dured fatigues equal to a winter campaign in the la(e snows and bad weather, and are sadly depressed and fallen olf." AVhen thus com- plaining, it is not likely that Hampton would have omitted to add to his complaint of " fa- tigues undergone," that of scarcity of provi- sions, liad such really existed. This point established, we may safely adduce as the se- cond means of dis[)roof, the testimony given given at Wilkinson's trial by various officers. First, General IJissel deposed — *' That he reached the Four Corners with his regiment, on the 15th November, from St. Regis--that the marching was generally dry, the roads frozen, and part of them sandy — that, for a few miles through the woo'ls, the frost, in some places, yielded to loaded waggons — that he had a number of horses with his regiment, but found no dillicnlty in procuring supplies for them, his quartermaster purchasing a considerable quantity of hay and corn, within three miles of the Four Cor- ners." Colonel Thomas, quartermaster-general of Hampton's army, deposeth — " That there was always on hand full supplies of hard bread, Hour, salt pork, and beef, r.nd beef eatllo with the army ; and that he was alwa, s competent to furnish means of transportation for said army, wherever it might be ordered to move, as well after as before General Wilkinson's order to General Hampton to join the army on the St. Lawrence." Major Wadsworth, issuing conunissary,de' poseih — "That he had constantly a full sup- ply for the troops, of hard bread, flour, salt pork, and beef; and after the llrst of October, constantly with the army, a considerable number of beef cattle. About the 10th of November, when the division moved from Chateauguay (I'our Corners) to Plattsburgh, there was in deposit forty-five days' iirovision of bread and flour, a considerable quantity of salt meat, and at the Four Corners and its vicinity, seven or eight hundred head of fat cattle." Captain Conkling, of the 4th U, S. infan- try deputy quartermaster, being asked by the court what time it would have taken to remove the division, with its provision and baggage, from the Four Corners to St. Regis, on the St. Lawrence, d(poseth— "That hedid not exactly know the distance between the two places, but if twenty-five miles, as reported, it would have taken three days." The real .secret of the failure wr.s the jeal- ousy of the two commanders and the secre- tary at war, AVilkinson's jealousy of Arm- strong's authority being as sensitive, as Hamp- ton's ff Wilkinson. As e:^rlv as the •Jllh of August, Wilkinson, according to Tngcrsol, wrote to Armstrong requesting that he would not interfere with Ids arrangements, or give orders within the district of hi^ .Mniniand, meaning, of course, that he wisl.ed Hampton to receive no orders save through him. Prevost's liistnu i™^ HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 251 ing was pciu'rally nrt of them snndy roiifrh the woo'Is, yielded to loaded mmihcr of horses ul no diUlndty in , hisqnnrteiiiiaster quantity of hay s of tlie Four Cor- rinastcr-general of — " That there was ios of hard bread, md l)ocf cattle \vith ahva, n competent iponntion for said c urdered to move, eneral AVilkinson's to join the army ngcoiiimisFary, de- nstaiilly a full sup- 1 bread, Hour, salt he first of October, ly, a considerable Vbout tlie lOihof isioii moved from ■s) to Plattsbiirgh, five days' provision lerable quantity of iir Corners and it3 mdred head of fat c 4th U. S. infan- r, being asked by lid !iave taken to its provision and irncrs to St. Regis, etii— "Thathedid CO between the two niles, a.s reported, iluro was thcjcal- jrs and the iJ.core- jealousy of Arm- ensitivc, as Ilainp- m\v as the 'JUh of liiiii' to Lv^ersol, iru- that he would iiL-ements, or give { )us c.iMiinand, J wisl'.ed Hamilton iroiigh him. Two heads on tlio same shoulders inako u monste' . Happily for Canada, this great ox- jicdition, nay the whole campaign, was n nion- litcr with three heads, biting and barking at each other with a madness which destroyed llieni all, disgraced tlic country, and saved I'unada. ])iseord .vas a lepro.-y in the very heart of the unilertaking, and to this lidly as umch as to (.'anadian gallantry, great as it undoubtedly was, is to bo ascribed the failure of the long cheri,-,lieJ scliemes and hopes of the war party. The sad intelligence of the catastrophe on j Inimi'SNioii jiro. the Thames reached Gen- duwd nil tliccciitrii II" i 1 L ii (1.1 divisicMi ii.v 111.' (lis. cral \ mcent about the Olli aster of iliLTife'lit. October, and that active officer, in order to secure a central position, so as either to co-operote with the remains of Proctor's army, or renew operations on the Niagara frontier, immediately moved liis troops from the cross roads to Ijurlinglon heights, where Proctor joined him with the small renmaiit of his divi ion. This movement has been described by American liistorians thus— "General McClure, with the New York mi- litia, volunteers, and Indians, succeeded in drifing the British army from the vicinity of Fort George, and pursued them as liir as the Twelve Milo Creek." The subsequent conduct of General Mc- Clure and his army will satisfy the reader as to the probability of this statement The effect produced on Sir George Provost by the tidings of Proc- Prevost's Instructions. , , ,. tors discomliture was &n order to Vincent, to commence his retreat without delay, and to evacuate all the British posts beyond Kingston. A council of war, held at Burlington heights, decided, however, upon an opposite course of action, and it was determined to defend the western peninsula at all hazarils. James's remarks on this order of Prevost arc forcible and just : — "Fatal, indeed, would have been the re- treat. There was still a considerable number of sick, both at Burlington heights and at York; and, considering the season of the year Md the state of the roads, the whole of them must have been left to the protection of the enemy. Nor, for the same reason, could the wdnance, ordnance stores, baggage, and pro- visions have followed the army ; and yet the garrison at Kingston, upon whieh place the troo[>s wore directed to retire, liad, at this time, scarcely a week's provision in store. This abandonment, too, of territory so soon following up the atliiir at the .\[oravian village, what W(jiild the Indians have thought of us J In short, it will not bear relleetion." A very spirited occurrence grew out of one of the ellects jirodiieed by Proetor's discomfit- ure. Two coini)anies of the InOth regiment, which Iiad been stationed at Cliarlotteville, in the London district, had been ordered to join the main boily at liurlington heights, and or- ders had also been issued to disembody the mi- litia. Tiic oflicer, liowevei, to whom the execu- tion of this duty had been entrusted, knowing thatabody of American marauders, with some disatlected Americo I'anadians, hadbeencom- mitting outrages on the inhabitants, left a supply of arms and amnuinition with some o( the militia ollicers anil privates. Col. Bost- wick, of tlie Oxford niililia, determined to put down the marauders, and having, accord- ingl}', mustered forty-live men, he marched, towards the end of October, against, and for- tunately fell in with, them, on the shore of Lake Erie, about nine miles from Dover. An engagement ensued, in which several of the gang were killed and wounded, and eighteen taken prisoners. Tiicse eighteen were tried and fifteen convicted of high treason — of this number eight were executed, and seven trans- ported. The whole all'air was very creditable, planned with considerable judgment, and car- ried out in a most spirited manner. The President of Upper Canada was so pleased with it that he issued a gencr.al order,'" in com- mendation of the spirit and zeal displayed, * '''■ JJiatrict 'jrncral order. District lieaJ-quaner:i, Kingston, ;i5tli Novoinber, 1813. The major-general commanding, ami president, having received from niajor-genernl Vincent a re- port of the very gallant ami patriotic conduct of lieutenant-colonel Bostwick, and an association of 45 officers and men of the militia of the county of Norfolk, in capturing and destroying a band of traitors, who, in violation of their allegiance, and of every principle of honor and honesty, had leagued themselves with the enemies of their country, to plunder and make prisoners the peaceable and well disposed inhabitants of the province, major-general De Rottenburg requests that colonel Bostwick, and every individual of the associatioo, will accept his best thuuka for their ■\ 2,54 1ITST0UY OF Tlir. WAR OF 1812. This gi'iural onlir we cMiinut Imt rcf^nitl (isn pcvoiv i;oiiimtiil;irv mi I'u' policy of Sir ( icor;;;!' I'roclor, wiiiili would liiivi'(;ivcii ii]) tlii' wlioli' jH-niii Ilia witliuMl slrilviii^' a Miiglo l)lo\v iii its riofc!>c<'. Tlic inli:\I)itnn(s ii\ the iu'ic:lili()rhoo(l of Movcni.'Mls „rr,,i,,iirl l'"il (ii'orge li.iviiij; re- *'"''''''-^' piiSL'Mtcil to (ii'ii. Via cent how cNpost'ii (hi'v wtrc to tiu- picMhitory attiu ksorticiural Mi'Cliiif'H iiiilitiii, who were piliiifrin^ thiir fMfm lioiisos iiiiil dcstroyiii}; tlii'ir hiinis, liv (lilciiiiiiu'd to ili< i'l\ tlicsc do- prediitic iis iiml injuries. Colonel Murray was accordingly ordered to make a demonstration with tiuve hundred iuid seventy-nine rank and tile of the J'lnth re;;inient, about twenty vol- unteers, and seventy Indians led by Color.el Klliott, MS lar as the Forty Mile Creek, beyond which he was forbidden to proceed. This movement had the ell'ect of making <.ieneral McChire, wlio was posted at Twenty Mile Creek, decamp with eonsideriiblc haste. Ob- scrviiij; the eileets of his demonstration. Col. Murray solicited and obtained pennission to extend his march, first to the Twenty, and sub- sequently to the Twelve Mile Creeks. 'J'hese approaches on Murray's part so alarmed the American (icneral, by this titnc driven back to Fort George, as to induce him to adopt the atrocious measures which led to such just and prompt ,and merited, though severe retaliation. General McClure, Iiaving heard of the dis- Dostnictioii of New- astrous termination to ark.uowxNiagara. Wilkinson's expedition, and dreading a similar fate, determined to evacuate Fort (Jeorge. Even this step, how- ever, was not considered by the American General ns atlbrding sufficient security ; he feared lest Fort Niagara might be endangered should he leave a shelter for the advancing troops, and acting under thisimjulsc, he wan- seal and loyalty in planning, and gallantry in car- rying into execution, this moat useful and public spirited enterprise. " Tlie major-general and president hopes, that so striking an instance of the beneficial effect of anauimit} and exertion in the cause of their coun- try, will not fail of producing a due effect on the militia ot this province. He calls upon them to observe how quicUIy the energetic conduct of 45 Individuals has succeeded in treeing the inliabi- tanta of an extensive district from a numerous and well armed banditti, who would soon have I tonly destroyed tlie nourishing villag.- of New. aik, and tip n ignobly lied into his ouri luri- I torv. I 1 The winter of 1811) hud set in unu.Mially t'iirly, and for scvcinl ii of Newark. , With such ha«te did Mc«'lure n-lrc'it, tint ' the fortilicalioiis at i''i>rt (leoij^e, whi'h had bwii I'ciiaired since the r occiipatiDii iiy (he Ami'iicaiis in May were left eoin|iui'atively iimijiircil. He was in too much hast(! to de- itrty the ma;;;iziii('S, or even to remove his tents, of which a sudirimcy for Hfleeti hiiii- ■ircd men were left standing — even the de- «tni liiiii of the new barracks, recently erected ,)n the Niagara, was not deemed necessary. Had McClure not retreated with su'di pre- cipitiiiicy, the indignation ol the soldiers, as thi'y hclicld the smoking ruins of the lieauti- ful and llourishing village, would have burst like a thunder stroke upon the heads of the American tJeneral and his troops. Colonel Murray gives the following account of Ills inarch and occupation of Kort vhole of liis tents standing. I trust the indefatigable exertions of this handful of men have rendered an essential wrvice to the country, by rescuing from a merciless enemy, the inhabitants of an exten- sive and highly cultivated tract of land, stored "ith cattle, grain, and provisions, of every description; and it iiiii.4 be an ixiilt.ilii'ti t') them to liiid tlienisrlve.4 delivered I'mm tl;c oppression of a lawless baiidilli, roiiiposcd of the disaHc( ted of the coiiiiti y, (ir;.'aiil/.i il under the !'ire<'t iullucni'f of till' NitKricni! -(.rciri iiii'ril, who carrird terror and di-iu.iy into every Ikiiiily. I have the hotior to be ,Vc. iJ. .Ml i;i(AV, I'olonci. To mnjor-general Vincent, Ac. Sir George Prcvost, relieved, by the uncx- Miivcincriis in ilir pi<-ted (cniiiiiati'in of ^^'■'''' Wilkinson's exjiedition, from all further apprehension with regard either to Montreal or Kingston, now Icistened to take such measures as wo:il 1 c()iiulerl)al- ance the success which bad attended Genera. I larri.son's movements, and secme the main- tenance of the cominaiiding l)0.^itions yet held at Stony Greek and Muiringtun Heights. Karly in Noveniijer f-icutenunt General Drummond and .Major General lliall had ar- rived from Kngliind ; the former to relieve Uo Rottenburg in the military command and pre- sidency in the Upper Province. IJoth thcso ollicers arrived at General Vincent's head quarters at St. David's, soon after the re-occu- pation of Fort George, ami at the crisis when Col. Murray's energy and decision had beea so ably manifested. Colonel Murray proposed to General Drum- Attack oil Furt Niar mond a retaliatory attack *"''"^ upon the ujiposite lines ; and the proposal not only met with the cordial approbation of General D.-ununond, but his hearty sanction. ^V'ithout waiting, there- fore, for the permission of Sir tjeorge Frevost, he instructed Colonel Murray to carry his plans into immediate operation. This decision was right, as the delay necessary for waiting thf; orders of the commander in chief might hive enabled the enemy to recover from his panic, and tne opportunity for striking a vigor- ous blow and avenging the conflagration of Newark, might have been thus lost. Orders were therefore given for prompt and vigorous measures, to be carried out by Col. Murray and General lliall. Col. Murray's despatch gives a clear and uncxaggerated account of the surprise of Fort Niagara : — IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. {./ /. ^ #? ^ >- f/. Ui ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 H |;fi 1 2.0 1.8 U 111.6 ^d % 5^%7# 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 -^ r 256 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ^i ( ii . ■ ■f. '. From, the same to lieutcnant-cjeneral Driimmond. Fort Niagara, Dec. 10, 1813. Sii!, — Til olje nowledge of lieuten- : incers, in suggcstinj: ) the attack, and for vards, I cannot too unwearied exertions T Pilkington, 100th irward the materials demand my acknow- irby, lieutenants Ball, of the diO'ercnt pro- ly thanks. Jly stall- will have the honor ;ch, and the standani to his intelligence, istance, not only on on many former, I ir force consisted of Annexed is a return the enemy's loss in )risoners. The ord- tores are so immense, ny power to forward nt for some days, but ifferent calibres, are irds of 3000 stand of ■n the arsenal. The clothing and camf ption, J, MURBAY, Colonel. gen. DrummondjAci CHAPTER XVII. CONTENTS. Hetum of killed and wounded in attack on Fort Niagara.— Remarks on General HaU'a Letter. — Armstrong on the capture of Fort Niagara — Proclamation of Sir George Frevost.— Occur- rences in Chesapeake Bay, and its tributary fivers.— Descent on Havre de Grace.— Cutting out of the Surveyor Schooner.—Attaik on Junon by flotilla. General MeClur^'s letter to the American iecretary at War will be found in our notes.* On the same morning on vhich the surprise dfFort Niagaia was eftected, Generd Ryall ♦fossid over to Lewiston with about five hun- dred rank and file, and, almost without oppo- lition, entered and fired it. The small villages of Youngstown, Manchester, and Tuscarora, u soon as the inhabitants had deserted them, iharcd the same futo as had been awarded to Newark. The conflagration t^us lighted up along the ihores of the Niagara spread such terror that General McClure, not daring, ©rearing, to ex- pose himself to the dangers which he had provoked, resigned the command of the regu- Itfs and militia, now assembling from all '"Fnmbrigadier-gniernl M'Clttre to the Ame- rican teerHary of war. Head-Quarters, BuSalo, Dec. 22d, 1813. Sir,— I regret to bo under the necessity of an- wnnctug to you the mortifying intelligence of lie k»« of Fort-Niagara. On tho morning of the Ulh insUnt, about tour o'clock, the enemy cross- •1 the river at tho Five mile Meadows in great tirce, consisting of regulars and Indiana, who •tde their way undiscovered to the garrison, I *kich from the moat correct informatiou I can 11 parts, to Major General Hall, and on the morning of the 29th, that General occupied Buffalo with some two thousand troops. On the morning of the 28th, the indefati- gable Drummond was at Chippewa, ancertain correctly the number of killed and wounded. About 20 regu- 1 -I 268 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. Niagara, for the purpose of attuckinp; the enemy's force, collected .it Hbick Rock and Budiilo ; and carrying into execution tlie otlier objects, theiein mentioned, I crossed the river in fl following night, with four companies of the King's Regiment, and the light company of the 80tli, under Lieutenant Colonel Ogilvic ; two huu'lred and fifty men of the 41st regi- ment, and the grenadiers of the lOOih, under Major Friend ; together with about fifty militia volunteers and a body of Indian warrioi's. The troops comph'ted their landing about twelve o'clock, neaily two niiUs below lllack Rock ; the light infantry of the 81)lh being in advance, surprised and captured the greater part of a piquet of the cnem}', and secured the bridge over the Conguichity ('leek, the boards of which had been loosened, and weie ready to be carried off had there been time given for it. I immediately established the 41st and 100th grenadiers in position beyond the bridge, for the purpose of perfectly se- curing its passage : the enemy made some at- tempts during the night upon this advanced position, but were repulsed with loss. At daybreak I moved forward, tlie King's Regiment and light company of the 89th leading, the 41st and grenadiers of the 100th being in reserve. The enemy had by this time opened a very heavy fire of cannon and lare have escaped out o' the tort, some badly wounded. Lieutenant Bcek, 21th regiment is killed, and it is said three other?. You will perceive sir, by the enclosed general orders, that I apprehended an attack, and made the necessary arrangements to meet it ; but have reason to believe, from information received by those who have made their escape, that the com- mandant did not in any respect comply with those orders. On the same morning a detachment of militia, linder major general B^^nnett, stationed at Lewis- town Heights, was attacked by a parly of savages ; but the major and his little corps, by making a desperate cliargc, effected tlieir retreat, after be- ing surrounded by several hundreds, witli the loa^ of six or eight, who doubtless were killed ; among whom were two sons of captain Jones, Indian in- terpreter. The villages of Youngstown, Lewis- town, Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora village, were reduced to ashes, and the inoffen- give inhabitants who could not escape, were, without regard to age or sex, inhumanly butch- . -ered, by savages headed by British officers paint- ed. A Britiah officer who was taken prisoner, avows that many small children were murdered bv the Indians. Major Mallory, who was stationed at SchloBser, musketry on the Royal Scotts, under Lieut. Colonel (lordon, who were destined to land above IJlack Rock, for the purpose of luriiinc his position, while he should be attarki'd in front by the troops who landed below ; .several of the boats having grounded, I am .sorrv to say this regiment suffered some loss, and was not table to eircct its landing in si fTicient time to fidly accomplish the object intended, tliou"!) covered by the whole of our field guns, iiniler Captain Uridge, which were placed on the oj)positc bank of the river. The King's and Sf)th, having in the mean- time gained the town, eonuncnced a verv spirited attack upon the enemy, who weiein great force, and very strongly posted. The reserve having arrived on the ground, the wdiole were shortly cng.agcd. The enemy maintained his position with very con^idiralA ob.stinacy for some time ; but suli w;is ths spirited and celerniined ad\ancc of ourtroops, that he w as at length compelled to give way, was driven through his batteries, in wliicli were a twcnty-four-pounder, three twelve- pounders, and one nine-poundcr, and pursued to the town of IJutfalo, about two niilcs (li«- tant ; he here shewed a large body of infantry and cavalry, and attempted to oppose our ad- vance by the fire of a field piece, posted on the j height, which commanded tiie roaJ ; but with about 40 Canadian volunteers, advanced to Lewiatown Ilei-ht-s, and compelled the advanced guard of the encniy to fall back to the foolofthj mountain. The major is a meritoriou! odicer; ] he fought the enemy two days, and contusted every inch of ground to the Tanawanty Creel'. In these actions lieutenant Lowe, 23 1 regimeril] of the United States army, and eight of the t'an8« I dian volunteers, were killed. I had myself, thresj days previous to the attack on the Niagara, with a view of providini for the defence oflliisj place. Black Rock, and the other villages on tLi.'| frontier. I came here with the troops, and have called! out the militia of tienessee, Niagara, and Cbf tauqua countries, en masse This place was then thought to be in iranri'l nent danf^^r, as well as the shipping, but I hav«| no doubt is perfectly secure. Volunteers iU coming in great numbers ; they are, ho'vever.i species of troops that cannot be expected to con^ tinue in the service for a long time. In a few days 1000 detatched militia, lately drafted, Tiij be on. I have the honour to be, kc. G. M-Clurb, Brig.-gen. com. IIoD. J. Armstrong, see. at war." HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1812. 259 3ottP, under Lieut, c tkstiiu'il to land jmrposc of luriiing lid V)e ntlacked in ided below ; soverul ded, I am sorry to Koinc loss, .iiul \nf ig in siffieiciittinu )et intended, llioiigli ur field guns, under ^ero placed on the laving in the mean- connnenced a \\;ry enemy, who wciein rongly posted. Tin on the ground, the gaged. The enemy ■ith very con^idi'riilA i J • but such was llio ; advance of ourtroopp, | impelled to give way, s batteries, in wliicli under, three t^velvc- pounder, and pursued about two niilesdiv large body of iiifuntrj )tcd to oiiposeouiiiii- •Id piece, posted oi\ the iided the road; but Jvoluntoers, advanced t« compelled the advanced 1 liaek 10 the foot of tin 13 a mcritoriou! oflicer; •0 days, and contustcd the Tanawanty Creek. nt Lowe, '231 regiment V, and eight of the Ciins- [led. I had myself, ti™ ,ck ou the Niagara, left for the defence of tins he other villages on tliij Itroops, and havccallcdl Issee, Niagara, andCha' J thought to beinimnri' Ihe shipping, but I lii'«| Secure. Volunteera W <; they are, ho'vever, inot be expected to m ■ a long time. luft'e." Ilitia, lately drafted, ml bnour to be, &o. G. M'Cldrb, Brig.-gcn. com. at war." finding this inefFoctunl, he fled in all directions, and betaking himself to the woods, further } pursuit was useless. He left behind him one | six-pounder brass field piece, and one iron j eighteen and one iron six-pounder, which fell | into our hands. I then proceeded to execute i the ulterior object of the expedition, and de- ; tflched Captain Robinson, of the King'.s, with l«o companies, to destroy two schooners and a sloop, (part of the enemy's late squadron,) that were on shore a little below the town, i with the stores they had on board, which he ] sftkl'jally completed. The town itself, (the j inhabitants having previously left it,) and the i whole of the public stores, containing con- si'leraUc quantities of cloathing, spirits, and four, which I had net the means of conveying jway, were then set on fire, and totally com- smned ; as was also the village of lilack Rock, on the evening it was evacuated. In obedience to your further instrnctions, I have clirecteu Lieutenant Colonel Gordon to move down the river to I'ort Niagara, with a j)arty of the 19th light dragoons, under Major Lisle, a detach- ment of the Royal Scots, and the 89th light eorapany, and destroy the remaining cover of the enemy upon his frontier, which he has reported to have been eflectually done. From every account I have been able to collect, the enemy's force opposed to us was not less than from two thousand to two thousand five hun- dred men ; their loss in killed and wounded, I should imagine from three to four hundred; but from the nature of the country, being tnostly covered with wood, it is difficult to jscertain it precisely; the same reason will sccount for our n^^t having been able to make J greater number of prisoners than one hun- dred and thirty. I have great satisfaction in stating to you the good conduct of the whole of the regular troops ,nd volunteer militia; but I must par- ticularly mention the steadiness and bravery ofthe King's Regiment, and 89 th light infantry. Ibey were most gallantly led to the attack by Lieutenant Colonel Ogilvic, of the King's, fho, I am sorry to say, received a severe I wound, which will for a time deprive the (enice of a very brave and intelligent officer. After Lieutenant Colonel Ogilvie was wounded, tte command of the regiment devolved on Ctptain Robinson, who, by a very judicious movement to his right, with the three bat- talion companies, made a considerable im- pression on the left of the enemy's position. r have every reason to be satisfied with Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, in the command of the Royal Scotts, and have much to regret, that the accidental grounding of his boats deprived luc of the full benefit of his .services ; and I iiave also to mention my approbation of the conduct of iMajor Friend, com.iianding the 41st, as well as that of Captain B'awcctt, ofthe 100th grenadiers, who was unfortunately wounded. Captain Rardon, of the 89th, and Captain IJrunter, of the king's light infantry companies, conducted themselve'i in the most exemplary manner. Lieutenant Colonel El- liott, in this, as well as ou other occasion.s, is entitled to my highest commendations, for hi.s zeal and activity as superintendent of the Indian department ; and I am happy to add, that, through liis exertions, and that of his officers, no act of cruelty, as lar as I coulJ learn, was committed by the Indians towards any of their prisoners. I cannot close this report without mentioning, in terms of the warmest praise, the good conduct of iny aide- de-camp. Captain i 1 olland, from whom I re- ceived the most able assistance throughout the whole of these operations. Nor can I omit mentioning my obligations to you for acceding to the request of your aide-de-camp. Captain Jervoise, to accompany mc. He was extremely active and zealous, and rendered me very essentia! .service. I enclose a return ofthe killed, wounded, and missing, and of the ordnance captured at Black Rock and Butialo. P. Ryall, Major General. Lieutenant General Drummond, commanding the forces, Upper Canada. The return enclosed by General Ryall Return of killo.l and '^'"'''''^ ^ '««^ ^^ ^^'''^^ wounded in attack on one killed, seventy-two Port Niagara. i , , . , . wounded, besides nine missing. The American loss it is impossible to arrive at, as all the information afforded by General Hall's letter is " many valuable livea were lost." General Hall's letter is short, but, short as it is, it serves as an additional proof how determined the writers of bulletir..s were, that American troops should never be supposed to succumb, except to superior forces. 260 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. floniark.i on General Hall's letter. Wo will give first General Hall's letter, and, as a commentary on it^ Gen. Armstrong's re- marks will fully answer our purpose. "I have only time to acknowledge the roceipt of your letter of the 25th inst., and to a-^ld, that this frontier is w holly desolate. The British crossed over, supported hy a strong party of Indians, a Utile before day this .norning, near Black Rock; they were met ly the militia under my command with spirit; but were overpowered by the nu i.bers and discipline of the enemy, the militia gave way, and flud on every side ; every attempt to Tjlly them proved ineffectual. The enemy's purpose was obtained, and the flourishing village of Buffalo was laid in ruins. The Niagara frontier now lies open and n.tkcd to our enemies. Your judgment will direct you what is most proper in this emergency. I am exhausted with fatigue, and must defer particulars till to-morrow. Many valuable lives arc lost." Such is General Hall's letter, now for Arm- strong. Afler describing the fall of Fort Niapara, but here we must pause for a a mo- ment to examine into the truth of Armstrong's Insertions respecting the fall of Fort Niagara The General observes, "Murray's move- ArmstroHR on the cap- '"'^"^ '" » ^'^'^ Strictly tiiro of Fort Niagara. military, was well con- ducted and merits applau?c, but the use subsequently made by that officer of his adversary's crime, or of his own good fortune, cannot fail to degrade hiia both as a man and a soldier ; sirce, " what has been gained in cither character, and has been gained without ?os3 or resistance, should be held without v,lood>hed." Yet of the sleeping, unarmed, and unresisting garrison of Fort Niagara, sixty-five men were killed and fourteen, wounded. More than two-thirds of whom were hospital patients. Here is u direct charge which is substanti- ated by no other American writer, Ingersol excepted. No allusion to such a circumstance will be found in McClure's despatch, except the passage " the enemy rushed in and com- menced a most horrible slaughter." Let us examine the circumstances. McClurc was anxious to make the best excuse h e could for iiimseir, and has shown that he was very ready to place all the blame on Captain Leonard for not being ready and prepared for the attack; still, he says not one word as to the massacre of hospital patients implieil by General Armstrong. Is it probable that he would have let slip so favourable an oppor- tunity of arresting enquiry into the fall of the fort, had so outrogeous an act been commitid, It would have been the best mode possible' of exciting national indignation, and, under cover of the clamour, the question as to capability in the defence of the post would have been forgotten. What do other American writers pay on the subject? Dr. Smith, to whom we have, on more than one occasion, referred, and a jth whose animus the reader must by this time be pretty well acquainted, merely states that, in the month of January Fort Niagara was surprised and captured. Mr. Tlioinson is more particular, and after the usual introduc- tion of "Indian warriors" states amongst the enumeration of horrors, that " the mmtn of the garrison wers stripped of their clolkiug, and many of then killed.'^ This statement is bad, and talse enough Lo prove most con- clusively that the writer was anxious to make a case out against the Brit sh. Is it likely then, we ask. that the s aughtcr of unarmed hospital patients, had such really occurred, would have been passed over in silence by this malevolent and inventive writer. This assertion of General Armstrong's may fairly be classed, for meanness and falseho dij with that of General McClurc, rcspcctingj " British ofBcers painted like Indians." Whtn General McClure obtained this informatim w are at a lo.ss. It is not to bo found in an American writer, with the exception of Mr. O'Connor, and bears so distinctly the stam of having been fabrijated by a man, who w frightened out of his wits, that it i.s scarce!; necessary to enter further into the matter. Wo have said enough on the subject show that General Armstrong has here, will out due deliberation or attention, stated w a very short enquiry would have convim him to be untrue. We will, then, return Hall's letter. Armstrong says, " the fucci of this part of the enterprise (the capture Fort Niagara) being ascertained, Ryall pi ceeded to execute what remainrd of the pl«i and it must ie admitted with littie mri 3miAy.S, LIKE The italics ii the last porti( o>Tn ; and the vincing proof tl tnemy had rati of the Aineric numbers of th With a few will close, the Niagara frontie "Both sides M been from bvthe difigiacei .fare, in which tli iors, and doomc Western New Yo iesolated by Bi imcrijai aggres provoked, howe^ This admission readily endorses Armstrong, may aiony as to w Tiolate the recog IngersoI is ve; the .\merican mil l;!''. "Our loss tbn that of life a licertained that aone the devastat ad fifty men, reg l!ie latter helples; Mprise, the rail! fared; so that ou 'irs in the fort ha M equal, perliap,' f"om, we had be ioil three thousai ■^'f of them, beh; latmoitcoivardly HISTORY OF THE WAR 0, 1812. 2C1 blame on Captain dy and proparud for not one word as to patients imiilieil by it probable that he iivourable an o|i|ior- y into the fall of the 1 act been commitcd. test mode possibk' of :ion, and, undercover ,tion as to capability )3t would have been rican writers pay on ), to whom we have, m, referred, and v ith er must by Ibis time id, merely states that, iry Fort Ningara was 1. Mr. Thomson is er the usual iniroduc ors" states amongst rors. that " the women Ipped of their clathiog, led:' This statement y lo prove most con- r was anxious to m:ilborhood, at the very period when his Majesty's standard was waving upon the fort of Michilimackinac, and atfbrdirt; protection to the persons and property of those who had submitted to it : — Within a fe.v weeks afterwards, the British flag was also hoisted on the fortrcisS of Detroit, which, together with the whole of the Michi- gan territory, had surrendered to his Majesty's arms. " Had not his excellency been actuated by sentiments far ditferent from those which had influenced the American government, and the persons employed by it, in the wanton acts of destruction of private property, committed during their short occupation of a part of Up- per Canada, his excellency could not but have availed himself of the opportunity which the undisturbed possession of the whole of the Michigan territory, afforded him of amply re- taliating for the devastating system which had been pursued at Sandwich and on the Thames. " But strictly in conformity to the views and disposition of his own government, and to that liberal and magnanimous policy which it had dictated, he chose rather to forbear an imitation of the enemy's example, in the hope, that such forbearance would be duly appreci- ated by the goverement of the United States, and would produce a return to more civilised usages of war. " Tlie persons and propertv, therefore, of the inhabitants of the Michigan terriory, were respicted, and remained unmolested. " In the winter of the following year, wher the success vhich attended the gallant enter prise against Ogdensburgh had placud iha: populous and flourishing village in our pos- session, the generosity of this Britisii chjira;- ter was again conspicuous, in the scrupulous preservation of every article which could be considered as private property, such public buildings only being destroyed as were used for the accommodation of troops and for pub- lic stores. "The destruction of the defences ofO"- densburgh, and the di.spersion of the cncinv's force in that neighbourhood, laid open the whole of their frontier on the St. Lanrencc, to the incursions of his Majesty's troops, and Hamilton, as well as the numerous settlements on the banks of the river, might, at any hour, had such been the disposition of his Majesty's government, or of those acting under it, beer. plundered and laid waste. "During the course of the following sum- mer, by the fortunate result of the enterprise against Plattsburgh, that town was for j^cvcra'; hours in the complete possession of our troop?, there not being i.ny force in the neighborhood which could attdnpt a resistance. — Yet over I I here, under circumstances of strong tcmp;,v tioi\ and when the recent example of the I enemy in the wanton destruct'jn at York, o: j private property, and buildings not used for military purposes, must have been fresh in j the recollection of the forces employed oi; that occasion, and would have justilied ij retaliation on thtir part, their forbearani'i was strongly manifested, and the diicctionij his excellency had given to the commander j of that expedition, so scrupulously obeyed,] that scarcely can another instance be shen-nj in which, during a state of war, and uiderj similar circumstances, an enemy, so complete- ly under the power and at the mercy oil their adversaries, had so little cause of coni-j plaint. " During the course of the same summerj forts Schlosser and Bmck Rock, weresirj prised and taken by a part, of the for^'cs undetj the command of Major General De RottenburJ HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 2«S rn to more civilised ,e ol the same summerJ B,ack Rock, were^irj part, of the for.es undetl on the Ningara frontier, at both of which places personal propertj' was respecterJ, and the public buildings were alono destroyed. " It was certaiidy matter of just and reason- able expectation, that the iinmanc and lilieral course of conduct pursued by lis Excellency on these different occasions, would have had it; due \ eight with the American government, and would have led it to have abstained, in the further porsecution of the war, from any acts of wantonness or violei.^e, which could only tend unnecessarily to adil to its ordinary calamities, and to bring down upon their own unolfending citizens u retaliation, which, though distant, they must have known would avrait and certainly folio »v such conduct. " Undeterred, however, by his Excellency's example of moderation, or by any of the conseCjUences to be apprehended from the adop'.ion of such barbarous measures, the American forces at Fort George, acting, there is every reason to believe, under the orders, or with the approbation of their government, for some time previous to their evacuation of that fortress, unde^ "arious j)retences, burned and destroyed the farm houses and buildings of many of the respectable and peaceable in- liabitanls of that neighborhood. Rut the full neasure of this species of barbarity remained to be completed at a season when all its horrors might be more fully and keenly felt by those who were to become the wretched victims of it. " It will hardly be . -edited by those who shall hereafter read it in the page of history, that in the enlightened era of the nineteenth century, and in Lhe inclemency of a Canadian winter, the troops of a nation callirg itself civilized and christian, had wanionly, and without the shadow of a pretext, forced four iiundred helpless women and children to quit their-'-ollings, and be the moumful spectators of the conHa^i-ation and vOtal destruction of ill that belonged to them. "Yet such was th- fate of Newark on the 10th of December, a day which the inhabit- ints of Upper Canuds, can never forget, and the recollection of which cannot but nerve their arms when again opposed to their vin- dictive foe. On the night of that day, the American troops under Ur-gadier (Jeneral M't'lure, being about to evacuate Fort Giorge, which they could no longer retain, by an act of inhumanity di.sgraceful to themselves and to the nation to which ihcy belong, set lire to upwards of luO houses, composing llie beauti- ful village of Newark, and burned them to the ground, leaving without cover !ig or shelter, those ' innocent, unfortunate, dis- tressed inhabitants,' whom th-U oflicer, Iiy hl.s proclamation, had previously engaged to protect. " His Excellency W3ulj have ill consulted the honor o( his country, and theju.;oners, or hud relruated inL'liiriiiiisl) to their own territories; we have besides, nliun- dant proof from thebehaviour of the .Vincrican soldiery, when in occupation of the Xia^iira district, what would have been their line of conduct to tho inhabitants of these scctiont of country, had they encountered any opposi- tion, and if the inliabitants along tho shorts of the Chesapeake Bay, suffered from some ol the inevitable evils of warfare, the cause must bo sought for from two sources. As we have, on more than one occasion, shown, from Washington and Baltimore issued the most mendacious and inflated accounts of the exploitsof both American navid ninl land expeditions. The Government organs on no oc- casion suffered the truth to transpire in case of defeat, and when victory had been aehinved. the conquest was magnified to such a de;;re» as to inspire a feeling of invinciliility. It is scarcely to be wondered at, then, that every farmer or blacksmith imagined, that in cass of attack, there was but the necessity to offer a show of resistance, and that tlie Bri- tishers would run away. To this cause then which led them to tempt, and even provoke, attacks was in the first plac* attrihutaljlc some of the severities enforced ii. this quarter. A second reason is, perhaps, to be found in the fact that sailors, whatever their disciiiline on board, are very apt to indulge in a little more license than their red-coated brethren. The expeditions along the shores of the Chesa- peake necessarily comprehended many blue- jackets, and many of the com ilaiiits made by the inhabitsmts must, we fear, be ascribed to Jack Tar's thoughtlessness. It must, at the same time, be observed that every tritle has been jnagnified and distorted by American writers. If a sailor or soldier, stragglinf» from his party, and relieved from the watchful anil supervising eye of his commander, robbed ^ hen roost, or made free with a sucking pi.', it was immediately magnified into wholesale wanton destruction of property and the tale, in all probability, received so rich a colouring that the unfortunate offender would be at a loss to know again his own exploit. In our account of the proceedings in this quarter, we will simply confine ourselves to I»iril of Ihe invaders, h;it, ere the ink wn s, U>c invMilers were ret real I'd iiiL'turiimsly IX' linvc hosit!Ui('e lie ikTivoil from lieutenant Jtol)erlsnn, o( the artillery ; lieutenant Alex- ander, of the l)r(i(?on.s; lieutenant I,i\vis, ofllie IIi;:lillyer: iind Captains Wyhourn and Car ter of llie royal marines, I have now anchored the above mentioned bri;^s and tenders near a farm, on the right bank of this river, where there appears to he a considerahle (]• antity of cattle, which I in- tend emharking for the use of the lleet under yoin* cointnand ; and if I mi'et with no resis- tance or impediment in so doing, I shall give the owner hills on the victualling-olTice for the fair value of whatsoever is so taken ; hut should resistance bo made, T shall consider them as u prize of war, which I tru4 will meet your approbation ; and I purpos , taking on board a fnriher supply for the flcc> to-morrow, on similar terms, from Specucie Ii land, which Hcs a little l)eIow lIuvre-de-Graf .-, and which I have been informed is also w ijII stocked. I have the honor to be. A' j. (1. COCKimilN, Rear admiral. To the right hon. admiral Sir J. B. Warren, bart. K. M., &c. AUhon;;h liie strictest orders were issued by the Hear Adu'.iral, to land without molestation to the unopposing inhabitants, and although these order.s wore enforced with the greatest severity, s;till we find our old friends, the writers of the Ilhtorij oj the War and Sketches of the War, ready as ever to malign and mis- state. The author of the /7Mto?')/ o/«Ae Uiilted States, however, outdoes them both, and shines conspicuous in his task of distortivc misrepresentation. So totally careless of truth is ho as to represent public stores as belonging to merchants of Haltimore and Phila- delphia, auost di-sciplined soldiery, was never entertain* cd ! when, therefore, the fact was fon L'd on them, a bitterness of feeling was eiiiriMnlered, which, like an unwholesome tumour, found vent, in the discharge of the most violent nmtter. A second expedition was soon forced upon the connnanding olTiccr, by the absurd temer- ity of the inhabitants of Havre de Grace.— The rule laid down by the Hritish A liniral was, that all supplies should be paid hr, at full market price, but that all such supplies nuist be forthcoming, that is without serious inconvenience to parties supplying, but that, should rcsistence be offered, the villa;.:o or town would then be considered as a forliticJ place, and the male inhabitants as soldiers, the one to be destroyed, the other with their property to bo captured or destroyed. The inhabitants of French Town had expe- rienced the benefit of this arrangeineat, and taking no part in tiie contest, rem line 1 un- molested. The inhabitants of Havre de Grace, not so prudent, received a severe lesson.— Descent on Havi-o do The British A hiiiral, tirace. deeming it utcc;.,«ary, to draw his supplies from a place called Spe- cucie Island, where cattle and piovisions were abundant, was obliged to pass in sight of Havre de Grace, a village on the west side of the Susquehanna, a short distance above the confluence of that river with the Chesapeake. The inhabitants of this place, possessed, very probably, to a great extent, an idea of their valor, and qualifications for becoming soldiers, and had consequently erected a six gun bat- tery, and, as if to attract particuhn- attention, had mounted a large American Ensign.— Most probably, however, neither, the l.nsign nor the battery would have attracted atten- tion had the erectors thereof, remainea quiet, but instead of this a fire was opened upon the British ships, although they were fir beyond the range of the guns. This provjcation the Admiral determined to resent, he consequent- ly determined to make the town of Havre do ITTSTORY OF THE WAR OP lfll2. 207 (irace and th« bftttery tlio ulijuct^ of his nuxt »ttJiok. Full (litiiils of tlio reasons for, ntnl oljcrfs of the iittiick, will be foiimi in Admiral Cock- bum's second letter wliich follovvs : " U'l.i M.ijesty's sliip Maidstone, Tuesday niglit, fid May, ISl), at anchor otr 'rnrkey I'oint. "SiK, — I have the honor to inform you, that whilst anchoring the brig-» and tenders oirSpecucie Island, agreeably to my intentions notiliud to you in my oOicial report ofthe l2Dlh ultimo. No. 10, I observed guna ilred, and American colours hoisted, at a battery lately ercrtcd at Havre de({race, at the entrance of Susquehanna River. This, of course, imme- diately gave to the place an importance which I had not ))efi)re attached t' it, and I there- fore (ktermined on attacking it after the com- pletion of our operations at the island ; con- requcntly, having sounded in the direction towards it, and found that the shallowness of the water would only admit of its being ap- proached by boats, I directed their assembling '.mder Lieutenant Westphall, (first of the Marl borough,) last night ut 12 o'clock, alongside the Kantome : when our dctatchments of ma- rines, consisting of about 150 men, (as before,) under Captains Wybourn and Carter, with a small party of artillerymen, under liicutcnaut Robinson, ofthe artillery, embarked in them ; and the whole, being under the immediate di- rection of Captain Lawrence, of the Fantome, (who, with much zeal and readiness, took upon him-iclf, at my request, the conducting of this service,) proceeded toward Havre de Grace, to take up, under cover of the night, the neces- sary position for commencing the attack at the dawn ot day. The Dolphin and Highflyer tenders, commanded b^'Lieu'enants Ilutchin- SOM and Lewis, followed for the support of the boats, but the shoalness of the water prevented their getting within six miles of the place. Captain Lawrence, however, having got up with the boats, and having very ably and ju- dieiously placed them during the dark, a warm fire was oi)ened on the place at daylight from our launches and rocket-boats, which was smartly returned froni the battery for a short time; but the launches constantly closing with it, and their fire rather increasing than deciea.sing, that from the battery soon began to slacken ; and Captain Lawrence observing this, very judiciously directed the landing of the marines on mc left; which movement, addi'd to the hot fire they were und'T, induced (he Americans to commence withdrawing from the battery, to take Hhelter In the town. "Lieut. (1. A. Westphall, who had taken his station in the roi ket-fioiit close to th" bat- tery, therefore now judging the moment to be favourable, pulled directly up under the work, and landing with his bont'.-i crew, got imme- diate possession i was a preconcerted arrangement. "The militia, amounting to about two hundred and fifty, were kept to their arms all night ; patroles were stationed in every place where they could possibly be of any service ; uid the volunteers were at their guns, with a general determination to give the enemj' a warm reception." Wc make this quotation to show, not that these men were wrong in taking up arms for the preservation of their hearths and homes, but to prove that any icverities on the part of the British, were not exercised upon unoffending or defenceless inhaliitants, but actually formed part and parcel of the miseries always attendant on a stJHte of warfare. Another object gained by the quotation is to convict the writers of the "Sketchesof the War," History of the War," ind " History of the United States " of wiltul 'listen ion of the truth. One of these writers states that they "attacked, plundered, and l)urntlhe neat and flourishing Jwi unprotected Tillage of Havre de Grace ; for which outrage no provocation had been given, nor could 8xcuse be assigned " Admiral Cockburn's letter, and the remarks in the Review, show whe'hcr the village or town was either un- prepared for, or uncxpectant of, an attack. This last extract will therefore suffice os a sample of the other accounts. But this system of mis-statement was not wnfined to journali-sts or historians, Mr. Munroe in his official commnnication to Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the teeth of the fact that six pieces of cannon and one hundred Nid thirty stand of arms iiad been captured, persists in describing the inhabitants as un- wmed. One writer a Mr. O'Connor in his •eal to prove at once the bravery of the tlefenders, and the deliberate atrocity of the usaiiants — Brst descants upon the vigorous prepar9,tion.s made, and the resolute defence, and then winds up by declaring that " it is not easy to assign any cause, other than the caprice of its projeiHor, for this violent attack on an unoffending and defencdas village. No reason of a public nature could h;ive induced it. No public property was deposited there, nor were any of its inhabitants engaged in aiding the prosecution of the war." Tt would be idle and unnecessary after these quotations to add anything more on this sub- ject, and we shall accordingly pa..s, aided by one long gun. The launches and rocket- boats smartly returned this fire with good effect, and with the other boats and the ma- rines I pushed ashore immediately above the enemy's position, thereby ensuring the cap- ture of the towns or the bringing him to a de- cided action. He determined, however, not to risk the latter; for the moment he discerned we had gained the shore, and that the marines had fixed their bayonets, he fled with his whole force to the woods, and was neither Been nor heard of afterwards, though several were sent out to ascertain whether he had taken up any new position, or what had be- come of him. I gave him, however, the mor- tification of seeing, from wherever he had hid himself, that I was keeping my word with respect to the towns, which (excepting the houses of those w^ho hai continued peaceably in them, and had taken no part in the attack made or us) were forthwith destroyed, as were four vessels laying in the river, and some stores ot sugar, of lumber, of leather, and of other merchandize. I then directed the re- embarkation of our small force, and wc pro- ceeded down the river again, to a town I iiad observed, situated in a branch of it, about half way up, and here I had the salissfaction to find,lhat what had passed at Havre, G eorire- town, and Frederickl own, haditseffect, and led these people to understand, that they had more to hope for from our generosity, tiian from erecting batteries, and opposing us by means within their power ; the inhabitants of this place having met mu at lan:, to say that they had not permitted either guns or militia to be stationed there, and that whilst there I should not meet with any opposition whatever. I therefore landed with the officers and a small guard only, and hav- ing ascertained that there was no pui)lic pro- perty of any kind, or warlike stores, and havitig allowed of such articles i. we stood in need of being embarked in the boats on payment to the owner of their full vaine, 1 again re-embarked, leaving the people of this place well pleased with the wisdom of their determination on their mode of receiving up. I also had a deputation from Charlestown, in the north-east river to assure me that that place is considered by them at your mercy, and that neither guns nor militia-men shall be suffered there ; and as I am assured that all the places in the upper part of the Chesa- peake have adopted similar resolutions, and that there is now neither public property, vessels, or warlike stores remaining in this neighbourhood, I propose returning to j-ou with the light squadron to-morrow morning. I am sorry to say the hot fire we were under this morning cost us five men wounded one only, however, severely ; and I have much satisfaction in being able to bear testi- mony to you of the zeal, gallantry, and good conduct of the different officers and men serv- ing in this division. To Captain Byng, of the Mohawk, who conducted the various arrange- ments on this occasion, with equal skill and bravery, every possible praise is most justly due, as well as to Captains Wybourn, Carter, Lieutenant RoberUson, of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Lewis, of the Highflyer ; Lieute- nant Alexander, of the Dragon, the senior officer under Captain Byng, in command of the boats, deserves also that I should particu- larly notice him to you for his steadiness, cor- recti less, and the great ability with which be always executes whatever service is entrusted HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 271 in, to a town I had iranch of it, about ad the sali>'.faction d at navro,(Jcorgc. lad its effect, and led nd, that tliey had ir generosity, than nd opposing' us by ; the inhabitants of ; at landing;, to say [lilted either guns 2d there, and that ot meet with any lerefore landed with aard only, and hav- ! was no public pro- warhke stores, and rticles u we stood ed in the boats on f their full valiio, 1 ig: the people of tiii? he wisdom of their ade of receiving up. om Charlestown, in ire me that that place t your mercy, and nilitia-men shall be am assured that all part of the Chesa- ilar resolutions, and ler public property, remaining in this so returning to you -morrow morning. hot fire we were IS five men wounded 2rely ; and I have g able to bear tosti- gallantry, and good liccra and men scrv- Japtain Byng, of the the various arrange- i-ith equal skill and •alse is most justly s Wybourn, Carter, the Artillery, and Highflyer; Lieut*- Dragon, the senior ng, in command of at I should particu- his steadiness, cor- ility with which be service is entrusted to him ; and I must beg permission ef seizing this oiniortunity of stating to you how much 1 have been indebted to Captain Burdett, of this sliip, who was good enough to receive me on board the Maidstone, when I found it impracticable to advance higher in the Marl- boroni,'h, and has invari'ibly accompanied me on every occasion whilst directuig these va- rious opirations, and rendered me always the most able, prompt, and cflicacious assis- tance. I have the honor to be, &c. G. COCK 15 URN, Rear-Ad. when by making resistance the town or village fell under the category of " places taken by'storni." The great object of the attacks made by such journals as the "Xational Advocate," " Democratic Press," and others of the same stamp, was to lower the character of Rriti.sh troops and ol Britain, in the estimation of Europe, and, at the same time, by the recital of these outrages to inllucnce the feelings of western patriots. Janie.-^, who was in a situa- tion to ascertain the truth declares that '•American citizens of tlic first consequence To the Right Hon. Sir J. B. Warren, Baronet, i in Baltimore, Annapolis and ^Va&llinlrton when they have gone on board the British Chesapeake squiii, a.s tluy f'rLi[ncnlly did, with flag.s, to obtain passportis, or ask other favours, and llie.se inflammatory fiar.i^raphs were shown to them, never failed (o declare with apparent shame, tint they bad been penned without the .slij^htcst regard to truth ; but merely to insti<;;Ue tiieir ferodoiis country- men in the Western States to rally round the American standard." Fortunately the task of disproving all these charges is ea.sy, as the North American Review bears the following testimony to the behaviour of thj invaders. " They, (the British,)," says the Review, were always desirous of making a fair pur- cha.sc, and of paying the full value of what they received ; and it is no more than justice to the enemy to state that, in many instances money was left behind, in a con.spicuous place, to the full amount of what had been taken away.* One very material difference may be observed between the proclamations we have seen issued by General Hull, on the first in- vasion of Canada, and Sir George Cockburn's addresses to the Americans. Tiie first in- vited the Canadians to turn traitors, threaten- ing them, in case of non-compliance, with all the horrors of war, the English Admiral mere'y asked them for their own sakes not to oppose a superior force. The next object of importance was the cut- Cutting out of the Sur- ""S out of tlic Amen- veyor Schooner- can Schooner Surveyor, by the boats of the Nacissus. This was a very spirited thing on both sides, and so im- pressed was Lieutenant Crerie with the gal- •North American Eeviuw, vol- 8. V. P. IM, K. B. .vc. A\'li;Uever severities were used towards the uihabitants of these villages, the chastise- ment was merited. The British had evin'-ed the desire to respect private propert}', and had even sent on two of their own countrymen to apprise the villagers of their disposition. The Americans returned a subini.s.si ve •iies>age, alleging that they were without the means of defence, whilst they were pr. paring awiirni reception for their visitors. In short they laid a trap for the British, in which they were themselves caught, inasmuch as they lost their property, which would otherwise have been respected. This was .so clearly established that even American writers have been able to make very little of it, and they have, accordingly, contented themselves with general charges of British cruelty and so forth. One end wa.s gained by the example made if Havre de Grace and the two villages, as deputations praying for mercy began now to be sent to the British commander from the other places in the neighbourhood of the Chesapeakes. This disposition on the part of the inhabitants has been construed into "treachery" by the author of "the War," and most unjustly so. The British were in force, the militia who should have opposed them were too few in number and generally too undisciplined, if not lacking in courage, to offer any effectual resistance. What then remained for the poor people but to make the best terms possible, so ab to avert the fate which had overtaken three places already mentioned. Still more unfair ij it to call the British unprincipled marauders, as on no occasion was any severity observed except 272 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. m [ ■ ■ 1 Mi '•I lantr of the American Commander, Captain Travis, that he returned iiim his swoid with the following letter: — From Lieutenant Ciieuie to Captain Travis. His Mnjosty's sliip Narcissus, Juno 13th, 1813. Sin, — Your gallant and desperate attempt to defend your vessel against more than dou- ble your number, on the night of the 12th instant, excited such admiration on the part of your opponents, as I have seldom witnes- sed, and induces me to return you the sword you had nobly used, in testimony of mine Our poor fellows have severely suffered, occa- sioned chiefly, if not solely, by the precaution you had taken to prevent surprise ; in short, I am at a loss which to admire most, the pre- vious engagement on board the Surveyor, or the determined manner by which her deck was disputed, inch by inch. I am. Sir, with much respect, &c. JOHN CRERIE. Captain S. Travis, U. S. Cutter, Surveyor. Towards the middle of June, the Naval Attack on Junon by Commander at Norfolk, noma,. Com. Oassin deemed it advisable to attempt the destruction or cap- ture of the Junon, forty-six gun frigate, then anchored in Hatupton Heads, and from which boat expeditions had been dispatched to des- troy the shipping in James' River. An attack was made on the 20th by the American flotilla,* armed with some thirty •From Commodore Cas.sin to the American Sec- retary of tlie Navy. Navy Yard, Gosport, June 21, 1813. Sir, — On Saturday, at 11 P. M., Captain Tar- bell moved with the tlutllla under his command consisting uf 15 jiun-boats, in two divisions, Lieu- tenant John M. Gardner, Ist division, and Lieu- tenant Robert Henley, the 2nd, manned from the frigate, and 60 musketeers, ordered Irom Craney Island by General Taylor, and proceeded down the River; but adverse winds and squalls pre- Tentt d his approaching the enemy until Sunday morning at lour, when the flotilla comenced a heavy galling fire on a frigate, at about three qnariers of a niile distance, lying well up the roads, t>t o other frigates lying in sight. At halt put four, a breeze sprung up Irom E.N.E, which guns, and manned with about Ave h'lmiied men. The Junon was becalmed and a? the flotilla did not venture within reach of her carronades, the action was confined to a dis- tant cannonade. It, however, lasti'cl a ^uffi. ciently long time to warrant Ivonimolore Cassin's writing the letter which we have given in our notes. One statenu-nt of the doughty Commodore is particularly ridicu- lous, viz., that the Junon was almost reduced to a sinking state, the fact bein.; th:it she re- ceived two shots only in her hull, and had but one man killed. enabled the two frigates to get under way— one a razee or very heavy ship, and the otlKM- a Incite — and to come nearer into action. Ttio boais in consequence of their approach, hauleJ otV, though keeping up a well directed fire on the mzee aud the other ship, which gave us seveial broiidtiiiles, The frigate first engaged, supposed to be the Junon, was certainly severely liandled-had the calm continued one half hour, tliat Iri^jatt; must have fallen into our hands, or been dwiroyed, She must have slipped her mooring so as to drop nearer the razee, who had all sail set, coming up to her with th ) other frigate. The uctioii con- tinued one hour and a half with three aliips, Shortiv after the action, the razee got alongside of the ship, and had her upon a deej) careen in a little time, with a number of boats and stagci round her. I am satisfied considerable damage was done to her, for she was silenced some time, until the razee opened her fire, when she com- menced. Our loss is very trifling. Mr. Allison, master's mate, on board 139, was killed early in the action, by an 18 pound ball, which \)>mei through him and lodged in the mast. No. 164 had a shot between wind and water. No. 67 had her franklin shot away, and several of tliem had some of their sweeps and stanclu'oiis shot away — but two men slightly injured from the sweeps. On the flood tide several ships of the line and frigates came into the roads, and wedii expect an attack last night. There are m\i in the roads 13 ships of the line and frigates, ont brig and several tenders. I cannot say too much for the olliecrs and crews on this occasion ; for every man a()pefired to go into action with much cheerfulness, apparent- ly anxious to do his duty and resolved to couquer, I had a better opportunity of discovering their actions than any one else, being in my bout the whole of the action. I have the honor to be, kc. JOHN CAS3LV. lion. W. Jones, &c. li HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. f7t out ftvL' li'imlied limed and as the thin reach of her confined to a ihs- ?cr, I'lsti'il a '■uffi. rant I M>nimo lore r which we have statcnivnt of the )articuhirly ridicu- \ as almost reduced bein.; 'hat she re- cr hull, and had but CHAPTER XVIII. ct under way— one a id the otlior a Ingate action. Tlie bouts in ich, haulel otT, thuiigh fire on tlie razee and IS scveial bioaiisiiles, supposed to he the ;ly handled — had tlie )Ur, that tii^ate must 3, or been destroyed, mooring so as to drop all sail i^et, eoiniiig up 'ate. Tlie action con- alf with three ships. ,e razee got alongside ion a deep careen in a iv of boats and stagei considerable oaiiiiige [as silenced some lime, fire, when she com- trifling. Mr. Allison, 39, was killed early in d ball, which passed in the maat. No. 164 and water. No. 67 , and several of them and staiicheonrt shot ■hdy injured from the several ships of the the roads, and we diJ There are no\i in line and frigates, on« _. for the ofliccrs and )r every man appeared cheerfulness, appn^n'- nd resolTed to conquer. ,y of discovering tlieir being in my boat ti« aor to be, &c. JOHN CASSIS. ki MAT be supposed, the blockade of the Chesapeake, and the threatening position ta- ken up by the fleet, off Hampton Roads, placed the Americans on the qui vive, especially as many tongued rumour had been busied in ttcribing plans and intentions of every de- uription to the British Admiral. The flotilla had failed in their attack on the Junon, thereby demonstrating that gun boats alone could effect nothing : the Constellation could not venture from under the batteries, und as there was, consequently, really no force by which the British could be attacked by water, the Americans were compelled to en- dure the sight of a ho.stile squadron daily be- fore their eyes, with the mortifying conviction forced on them, that, inastauch as they had been fomenters of the war, so were they now the principal sufferers— So strict was the blockade that it was not only impossible for »Dy vessel to escape the cruisers which guar- ded the passage between Cape Henry and Cape Charles, but it was an enterprise atten- ded with great risk for any vessel to leave the James, Elizabeth, York, or in fact, any of the riTers which disembogue into the Chesapeake biy. All that was, under these circumstances, left for the Americans was to prepare against Ktacks, and we accordingly find in " Sketches of the war" that upwards of ten thousand oiilitia were assembled round Norfolk and its 'icinity, the points against which an attack 18 was most likely to be directed. With tho whole coast thus on the alert it was not to bo expected that the preparations which wer« openly made towards the end of June bj the British Squadron would escape observa- tion. •' Accordingly," as James has it " Cra- ney Island being rather weakly manned, the commanding ofHcer at Norfolk sent one hun- dred and fifty of the Constellation's seamen and marines, to a battery of eighteen pound- ers in the north west, and about four hun- dred and eighty Virginia Militia, exclusive of officers, to reinforce a detachment of artillery, stationed with two twenty four and four six pounders on the west ude of the i.sland. Captain Tarbell's fifteen gun boats were also moored in the best position for contributing to the defence of the post." It will thus bo seen that very formidable preparations for tho defence of this port were adopted, and the following despatch from Admiral Warren to Mr Croker announcing the failure of the at- tack on Craney Island will not wholly bt unprepared for. From Admiral Warren to Mr. CroTcer. San Domingo, Hampton-roads, Chesapeake, June 24, 1813. Sir, — I request you will inform their lord- ships, that, from the information received o< the enemy's fortifying Craney Island, and it being necessary to obtain possession of that place, to enable the light ships and vessels to proceed up the narrow channel towsrda ■ if. ,; ; :;■ i ■ .J 1 t 274 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1813. ^(,A Norfolk, t) transport tho troops over on that side for them to attack the new fort i\w\ lines in the rear of which the Constellation frigate was anchored, I directed the troops under Sir Sydney Beckwith to lie laiideil upon the continent within the nearest point to that place, and a reinforcement of seamen and marines from the ships; butupo i approaching the island, from the extreme shoalness of the water on the sea side, and the ditliculty of getting across from the land, as well as the island itself being fortified with a number of guns and men from the frigate and militia, and flanked by fifteen gun-boats, I considered, in consequence of the representation of the ofBcer commanding the troops, ^ftho difficulty of their passing over from the land, th.it the persevering in the attempt would cost more men than the number with us would permit, as the ot'ier forts must have been stormed before the fiigate and dock-yard could have been destroyed ; I therefore ordered the troops to be re-embarked. I am happy to say, the loss in the above affair, (returns of which are enclosed) has not been considerable, and only two boats sunk. I have to regret, that Captain Ilanshett, of His Majesty's ship Diadem, who volunteered his services, and led the division of boats with gi eat gallantry, was severely wounded by a ball in (lie thigh. The o'liocrs and men behaved with mtich bravery and if it had been possible to have got at tl'.e enemy, I am persuaded would have soon giiiiicd tho place. I have the honor to be, &c. J. B. WARREN. J, W. Croker, Esq. A return of officers, seamen, and marines, bclonicing to His M.njesty's ships, killed, woundci, and missing, in the attack on Craney Island, June 22d. Killed, none — wounded, eight — missing, ten. Return of land forces killed, wounded, and missing, in same attack. Killed, six — wounded, sixteen — missing, one liundred and four. The policy of making this attack has been very much questioned, and .some of Janus' objections appear to have a considerable ^\io\\ of reason. He says, " There can bo oidy one opinion, surely, about the wisdom of sending boats, in broad-day-light, to feel their way to the shore, over shoals and mud banks, and that in the teeth of a very formi- dable battery. — * But still had the veil of darkness been allowed to ";reen the boats from view, and an hour of liio niglit chosen, when the tide had covereu the shoiils with deep water, the same little party miylit have carried the batteries, and a defeat . ss hailed a glorious uiumpb jve." h many of Jarae^ I the iiijiidicious se- d an ebb tide. And •f the casualties are in en's despatch, yet it was precisely to ,lure was to be attri- ; was an open paradi ed bustle round the s of course not unob- who thus had time aturc their plans of place the first pari ic seventeen or eigb- light hundred men, ^vith, was landed at » an untena'tle pos'i- movctnent, in sup- could not be niadf. lis position for som« re-embarked and r«- .e actual attack wa! ;qually strong as the would observe here, iry to the opinion and [anshetL, Maude, and •ruled by the decisioc iie senior officer. It [ic commanding officM he calculated onfM tiie demonstration, a fact that must not be ' forgotten when we come to compare Ameri- I can accounts. From the shallowness of H.c water, the tide being out, some of the boats got aground on a mud bank some hundred and fifly yards from the muzxles of the guns manned f>y the Conslellation'.s men. In this posilion it is not very wonderful that two of the boats were sunk and many of the crews killed, especially when we add that the boats were ashore so close .u the beach that the American Marnics and Militia, by wading in a short distance, could pick off the men while struggling in the water. Admiral Warren's wording of his despatch is about as absurd as some of the American accounts. The Admiral slurs over the real reasons why his men were obliged to abandon thr enter- prise, but it would have been much more cre- in a bit of the pati'io'' Itheir hopes of eucccH Uhio'a we can affords ditable if he had confessed honestly that the attack, injudiciously planned, was a total failure. His account, glo.«sing over the affair, dilTers so wide'y from those of American writers that the reader is tempted to enquire farther, and the consequence is, that the Ad- miral is convicted of the very fault with which we charge — Thompson, O'Connor, Smith and IngersoL We have fairly stated the British force, and their loss; we will now examine the American version of the ofTair. One* makes the British force, that landed in front nf the Island battery, consist of four thousand men, but forgetting shortly aftor his random figures, in the next page he states " that three thou- sand British soldiers, sailors and marines were opposed to four hundred and eighty Virginia militia, and one hundred and fifty sailors and marines." Mr. O'Connor reduces the force at Crane/ Island to fifteeen hundred meiii only thus doubling them, but to make his country some amends for this, he quadruples the force that landed on the main, stating them at three thoussand strong. Commodore Cassin in a postcript to one of his letters wlopts the same number, and even Ingersol, who from having been the latest writer has had more opportunity afforc'.ed of learning the truth, falls into the same error and makes the British tronps twenty-five hundred strong» o be attacked by the ^J'oopa composing the flying corps attached to this squadron ; and having instructed rear- admiral Oockburn to conduct the naval part of the expedition, and placed captain Pechell with the Mohawli sloop and launches, as a covering force, under his orders, the troops were disembarked with the greatest zeal and \lacrity. Sir Sydney Beckwith commanding the troops, having most ably attacked and defeat- od the enemy's force, and took their guns, colours, and camp, I refer their lordships to the quarter-master-general's report, (which is enclosed,) and that will explain the gallantry and behaviour of the several officers and men employed upon this O'^casion, and I trust will entitle them to the favour of his royal high- ness the prince regent, and the lord's com- missioners of the Admiralty. Sir Sydney Beckwith having reported to me that the defences of the town were entirely destroyed, and the enemy completely dis. persed in the neighbourhood, I ordered the troops to be re-embarked, which was perform- ed with the utmost good order by several officers of the squadron under the orders of rear- admiral Cockburn. I have the honour to bo, JOHN BORLASE WARREN- John Wilson Croker, Esq. No. 15. From quarter - master -general Sir Sydney Bechwith to Admiral Warren. His majesty's ship San Domingo, Hampton- roads, June 28, 1813. Sib, — I have the honour to report to you, that in compliance with your orders to attack the enemy in town and camp at Hampton, the troops under my command were pat into light sailing vessels and boats, during the night of the 25th instant, and by the excellent arrangements of roar-admiral C'ockburn, who was pleased in person to fuporintend the ailvance under lieutenant-colonel Napier, con- sisting of the 102d regiment, two companies of Canadian Chasseurs, three coni|)anies of marines from the squadron, with two 6- pounders from the marine aitillery, were landed half an hour before daylight the next morning, about two miles to the westward of the town, and the royal marine battiiiions, under lieutenant • colonel Williams, wore brought on shore so expeditiously tha'. the column was speedily enabled to move forward. With a view to turn tlic enemy's po .^ition, our march was directed towards the g'-p'.L road, leading from the country into the .tar of the town. Whilst the troops moved ofT in this direction, rear-admiral Cockburn, to en- gage the enemy's attention, ordered the armed launches and rocket-boats to commence a fire upon their batteries; this succeeded so com- pletely, that the head of our advanced guard had cleared a wood, and were already on the enemy's flank before our approach was per- ceived. They then moved from their camp to their position in rear of the towr, and here they were vigorously attacked by lieutenant colonel Napier, and the advance; unable to stand which, they continued t*^ ir march to the rear of the town, when a detachment, under lieutenant-colonel Willams, conducted by captain Powell, assistant- quarter-master- general, pushed through the town, anf' forced their way across a bridge of planks into the enemy's encampment, of which, and the bat- teries immediate possession was gained. In the mean timf> some artillerymen stormed and took th*- enem;y s remaining field-pieces. Enclosed I have the honour to transmit & return of ordnance taken. Lieutenant-colonel Williims will have the honour of delivering to you a stand of colours of the 68th regi'nent, James city light infantry, and one of the first battalion 85th regiment. The exact numbers of the enemy it is difficult to ascertain. From the woody country, and the strength of their positions, our troops have sustained some loss ; that of the enemy was very con- siderable — every exertion was made to collect the wounded Americans, who were attended to by a surgeon of their own, and by the British surgeons, who performed amputations on suck sis(anc( such as buried. I beg obligatic and lieu and abl( captain I whose '/. to my be Returr Four t' Three ; Three ; Ri'turn killed, tvvi James' attention i the fact, t cominittjd imate war renegadoci ing part ol pcrpetratin Jcts of rap custom has parable fi-o storm, but nature, as which woi »hese circu ears of the vrere given the Clia-^sei It will b( this, that, i Hampton, t Captain Sui in-Chiof, an being remor rageous coni tion to give sequence of cruolly shot »nd unarnie Island. Tlu tain Smith h act as they compelled, a 'irk and sei We do no HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 277 on such as required it, and atTordcd every as- sistance in their power. The dead tjodios of such as could be collected, were also carefully buried. I bcR leave on this occssion to express the obligations T owe tolieutcnant-roloi;el Napier, and licutenant-co'onel Williams, for their kind and able assistance ; to major Malcolm and captain Smith, and all the officers and men, whose zeal and spirited conduct entitle tbein to my best acknowledgements. SYDNEY BKCKWrni, Q. M. G. Return of ordnance stores taken. Four twcv-e-pounders in camp. Three six-pounders do. Three artillery waggons ^nd hor'ses. Ri'turn o: the killed and wounded. — Five killed, twenty-three wounded and ten missing. James' observations on this c^'ir are worth attention as he docs not attempt to conceal the fact, that acts of rapine and violence were comniittjd, unauthorized by the laws of legit- imate warfare. James writes, "The Foreign renegadoes (les Chasseurs Ihitaniques) form- ing part of the advanced force, commenced perpetrating upon the defenceless inhabitants acts of rapine and violence which unpitying custom has, in some degree, rendered inse- parable from places that have been carried by storm, but which are as revolting to human nature, as they are disgraceful to the flag which would sanction them. The instant »hese circumstances of atrocity reached the ears of the British commanding officer, orders were given to search for, and bring in all the Chasseurs," which was done. It will be as well to remark in palliation of this, that, immediatel}' after the storming of Hampton, the Comniander of the Charseurs, Captain Smith, waited on the Commander- in-Chief, and informed h'm that his men, on being remonstrated with respecting their out- rageous conduct, declared it to be their inten- tion to give no quarter to Americans, in con- sequence of their comrades having been so cruelly shot at whilst struggling in the water, ind unarmed, before the batteries at Craney Island. The Admiral on learning frcm Cap- tain Smith his conviction, that his men would act as they had declared they would, was compelled, although short of troops, to em- ' ark and send them from the American coast. We do not pretend to extenuate the ex- cesses committed, and deplore as heartily as any American that such should have occur- red, still we must point out that these grave errors were but the fruit of the seed which Americans themselves had sown ; besides, we can adduce from their own journals clear proo! that, although inany excesses occurred, still these actions have been grossly exaggerated by their historians. The Georgetown Fakral liepul'iicnn ^ of July 7th, a journal published under the very eye of the Government at Washington, testities "that the statement of the women of Hampton being violated by the British, turns out to be false. A correspon- dence upon that subject and the pillage said to have been committed there, has taken place between General Taylor and Admiral Warren. Some plunder appears to have been commit- ted, but it was coniined to the Chasseurs. Admiral Warren complains, on his part, of the Americans having continued to fire upon the struggling crews of the barges, after they were sunk." It might have been expected that, when penning their violent philippics against Bri- tish cruelty and atrocity, this testimony would have had some weight with the denouncers of Admiral Cockburn and his men, but we regret to be compelled to state that in no American history from which we quote, nor in any other, that we have seen or heard of, does this exculpation of the British appear. Admiral Warren, having edectually suc- ceeded in annihilating the trade along the whole coast of the Chesapeake Bay, despatch- ed Admiral Cockburn, in the Sce[)tre 74, with the Romulus, Fox and Nemesis all arviiis en flute to Ocracock, in North Carolina, for the purpose of striking a blow on the commerce carried on in the adjacent ports. On the 12th of July the expedition arrived oil" Ocracock, and preparations for landing were promptly arranged. On the morning of the 13th the troops were embarked under the command of Lieutenant Westphall, first of the Sceptre, and making for shore, after some opposition succeeded in capturing two privateers, the Atlas ot Philadelphia, of ten guns, and the Anaconda of New York, of 18 long nines. These vessels took possession of, the troops landed, and without opposition entered Ports- mouth. The destruction of the two letters of marque having been accomplished, Admiral 278 HISTORY OP THE WAR OF 1813. II Cockburn ro-cmharked his men, finding that but few public stores were contained in tho place, and that tho inhabitants nppcarcd peaceably dJHposed and disinclined to draw on thernsolvis tho chastisement which had at- tended the resistance made by some of the villages on the CJhesapeako Way. The operations of the Southern Squadron were completed by the descent on Portsmouth and the JJritish Admiral was satisfied that he had inflicted a blow on American -" merco, which it would require years of peiity to repair. In point of fact the great outlet by which American commerce found a passage had been hcrmolirally sealed and the commerce of Delaware and Maryland, Virgi- nia and North Carolina, may be saiil to have been virtually extinguished. We will accord- ingly once more cliange the scene and again visit the Canadas. Wc now transport the reader from a Southern Juno to a Canadian December, when wc find Lieutenant Metcalf and twenty eight militia capturing thirty-nine regulars, near Chatham. This exploit was but trifling, yet it is note worthy as it proved that General Harrison's occupation of the western jieninsida had but served to infuse fresh spirit, and to render the opposition more determined. ' Jeneral Drum- mond was so satisfied with the gallantry dis- played by Lieutenant Metcalf', that he pro- moted him. Another circumstance, which, however, was to be expected, must here be noticed No American has thought it necessary to mention this little expedition, although we hear nu- merous instances of more trifling affairs being duly chronicled. This, however, would have reflected no credit, hence the universal silence. The next affair was an attempt made by Cap- tain Lewis Basden, commanding the light company of the 89th, and a detachment of the Rangers and Kent militia, under the com- mand of Captain Caldwell, to check the inva- sion of the Americans along the Detroit and Lake Erie Shores. General Armstrong gives rather a lengthy account of this inroad of the Americans, and observes, " having a worth- less object, it ought not to have been adopted. For of what importance to the United States would have been the capture or destruction of a blockfiouse, in the heart of an enemy's country more than one hundred miles distant from tho frontier, and which, if hoM, would have been diilicult to sustain, and, if des- troyed, easily reinstated." Tho Americans hearing of the approach of the British party retreated, but x'-ere compelled to make a stand, which they did intrenching themselves so effectually that their assailants were compel- led to retreat with a loss of sixty-five killed and wounded, amongst them Lieut. fJasden As a proof of the sheltered position of tho * moricans we may mention that their low only amounted to four killed and fi)ur wounded. The demonstratiin had, however, the effecl. of compelling tho Amencans to abandon any further ac'vance and to retreat as fast as they could. Colonel Butler, tho originator*, f the expedition, has written raflier an exaggerated account of it to General liar rison, and he has not failed to reduce Amtri- cans by twenty in number, adding at the same time about forty to the Hrit'sh. ]V\s letter will, however, speak for itself: — Dear Siu— By Lieutenant Shannon, of the 27th Regt., United States' infantry, I have the honor of informing you, that a detachment of tho troops under my command, led by Captain Holmes, of the 24th United States' infantry, has obtained a signal victory over the enemy. The aflair took place on the 4th instant, about 100 miles from this place, on the river de French. Our force consisted of no more than 160 Rangers and mounted infantry. The enemy, from their osvn acknowledgement, had about 210. The fine light company of the Royal Scots is totally destroyed ; they led the attack most gallantly, and their com- mander fell within ten paces of our front line. The light company of the 89th has also suffered severely ; one officer of that company fell, one is a prisoner, and another is said to be badly wounded. In killed, wounded, and prisoners, the en- emy lost about 80, whilst on our part there were but four killed, and four wounded. This great disparity in the loss on each side is to be attributed to the very judicious posi- tion occupied by Captain Holmes, who com* pelled the enemy to attack him at great dis- advantage. This even, more gallantly merits the laurel. Captain Holmes has just returned, and will HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 279 if held, would in, and, if dcs- Tho Americans ic Hritish party to iimkc a stand, ; themselves so ;s were compel- sixty-five killed liicut. Basden position of tho . that their loan cilled and four in had, !io\vever, Amencaiis to e and to retreat lonel Butler, tho las wriltrn rather t to General liar to reduce Amerl- ■r, adding at the he Brit'sh. Ills for itself: — ' the 27th Ilcgt., avc the honor of ;tachinent of the I, led by Captain 1 States' infantry, rictory over the the 4th instant, ilace, on the river sisted of no more ited infantry. The icknowleilgcment, ight company of destroyed; they y, and their corn- ices of our front of the 89th has ne ofQcer of that loner, and another id. prisoners, the en* on our part there four wounded. loss on each side cry judicious posi- Holmes, who com. him at great dis- ire gallantly merits t returned, and will furnish a detailed account of the expedition, which hIiuU immediately bo transmitted to you. Very respectfully, Your most obedient Servant, II. BUTLER, liicut.-Col. Commandant at Detroit llajor-Gcneral Harrison. EncMjy'.s forces, aa stated by the prisoners. Royal Scots, 101 89th Regiment, 45 Militia, &0 LidiaDH, 40 to CO 236 We are rather at a loss to guess whether tho information, as to force was gained from tho one wounded man who fell into Captain Holmes' hands. The return made by the British, shows a loss of fifty-seven instead of eighty killed and wounded, and the only prisoner was a volunteer, who, poor fellow, had only ju.st joined and could scarcely be expected to have had much time to learn particulars as to force. Again we must, for a short space, leave the west and follow the movement to farther east. We must not omit, however, to chronicle a mistake into which Major General Browne was led, and which must have tended, mate- rially, to lower American Commanders in the esiiraation of their men. Wilkinson's memoirs show clearly, as ex- plained by a letter of General Armstrong, of date the 20th January, that it was contem- plated to open the campaign of 1814 by a pretended demonstration in the Upper Cana- dian peninsula. A twofold object was to be accomplished by this, as to defend the fron- tier ports along the Niagara would require the union of all the troops in Western Canada, and it would be rendered difficult, if not im- possible, to make any demonstrations against Amherstburg, Detroit, or the shipping a i Frie and Put- in-bay. Again, this attack wo ild prevent the possibility ot any re-inforccmc nts being sent to the lower Province, in case at- tacks should be contemplated on Kingston, Montreal, or Quebec. The real orders to Gt. eral Browne, were, "you will immediately consult with Commo- dore Chauncey, about the readiness of the fleet, for a descent on Kingston, the moment the ico leaves the lake. If he deems it pr«c- licable, and you think you have troops enough to carry it, you will attempt tho expedition, in such an event, you will use the enclosed us a rune dc ffuerre," Tho instructions to be used in this manner were " public sentiments will no longer tole- rate the possession of Fort Niajrara by the enemy. You will therefore move the t"vision which you brou;^ht from French Mills, and invest that post. (Jovernor Jenkins will co- operate with his five thousaml militia ; and Colonel Scott, who is to be made a briga- dier, will join you. You will receive your in- structions at Onondaga hollow." Poor (Jen- eral Browne, knowing that he would have to wait for some months ero the licet could move, was induced to mistake the real object of attack, and accordingly marched forthwith his troops, two thousand strong from Sackett'o Harbour westward, to the point where he was to receive his instructions ; here ho was un- licceived and had to march back again through tho most wretched roads to Sackett's Harbour. This marching and countermarching could not have inspired much confidence in the minds of the soldiery, when tho time for action in tho western peninsula really did arrive. During all this time General Wilkinson had been at Plattsburg nunsing his wrath ngfiinst the Canadians and British for the reception which they had accorded to him in liis expe- dition down tho St Lawrence. Findini; it impossible, we presume, to restrain his desire for revenge, the Gen' W, on the I'Jth March, advanced with his ari >y from Plattsljurg to Swanton, Vermont, near to Missi-quoi Bay, on Lake Champlain. On tho 22d the Gen- eral cro.ssed the boundary and took possession of Philipsburg, a village just within the linos. On the 26th, the General re-crossed the lake for the purpose of striking a blow in another and more favorable direction, and we find him on the 29th, at the heal of four thousand men holding a council of war to deliberate on an attack to be made on a British force sta- tioned at LaColle Mill, about eight miles frum Champlain. We here give the proceedinirs of the council, and the general order, which was the result of these deliberations. Minutes of a council of war held at Chain- plain the 29 th of March, 1814. Present — Brigadier-general Macomb, brig- :M t ''w ^r ' 160 HISTORY OF THE WAP. OP 1812. s, . adier-f^oncral niflscll, brif!;arllcr-goncral Smith, colonel AtkiiiHon, colonel Miller, colonel Cuin- min^S mnjor PiitB, mnjorTottcn. Mnjor-gi-neral Wilkinson states to tho coun- cil, tlinf, from the best information he ran collect, the cneniy lias assembled at tho Isle ■ux Noix and La Colle Mill '2500 men, com- posed of nboiit 2000 regular troops and fiOO Uiililiji, of whom, iiHer leaving a garrison of 200 men nt Isle aux Noix, 1800 regulars and 000 niilitiii may be V)ronglit into action. The corps of the Ifnilcd States, now at this place, consists of .'UMCJ combatants, including 100 cavalry, and iiOl artillerists, with 1 1 pieces of artillery. The obji ut fourteen mil«(l from the Isle aux Noix, and twenty-one from r.a (yollo river were stationed under the com- mand of lieutenant colonel Sir William Wil- liams, of the ruh regiment, six bitilion com- paniec; of that regiment, and a battalion of Ca- nadian militia; niunberimr altogether, about seven hundred ami fifty rank and lile. At Isle aux Noix, where lieutenant co'onel Richard Williams, of the Royal marines, comiimr\ded, were stationed the chief pnrt of a battalion of that corps, and the two flunk companies of the l.'tth regiment; iu all about five hundred and fifty rank and file. 'I'lie garrison of \,h Colic Mill, at whifh mnj^r Ilaiidcock, of the 13th regiment, commanded, consisted of about seventy of the marine corps, one corporal, and three marine artillerymen, caiitain Blake's company of the l!]lh regiment, and a small detachment of frontier light infantry under captain Ritter; the whole not exceeding one hundred and eighty rank and file. At Whit- man's, on the left bank of the Uiiilielieu, dis- tanced about two miles from the .Mill, and communicating with Isle aux Noi.x, was the remaining battalion company of the Canadian fenciijles, under captain Cartwright, and a battalion company of Voltigeiirs were stationed at Burtonvillc, distant two miles up La CoUe river, and where there had been a, bridge, by which the direct road into the province pas- sed." On a review of these numbers it will be found that there were not altogether more than seventeen hundred and fifty regulars and militia within a circle of twenty five miles in diameter, yet ,e;enerjd Wilkinson in the esti- mate presented to the council numbers the troops at Isle aux Noix, and La Colle, alone, at twenty five hundred and fifly, ami desig- nates them all as regular troops with the ex- ception of two companies. Before entering on the expedition we will give a description of this famous post against which four thou- sand valiant Americans were marching. The Mill at La Colle was built of stone with walls about eighteen inches thick, hav- ing a wooden or shingled roof, and consisting of two stories. It was in size about thirty- six feet by fifty, and situate on the south bank of La Colle river ; which was then fro i\ I ■'It- TTT 282 HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. r v v '' 4\ zen over nearly to its mouth, or junction with the Riohelieu, from which the Mill was about three quarters of a mile distant. The Mill had been placed in a state of defence, by fil- ling up the windows with logs, leaving hori- fODtal interstices to fire through. On the north bjink of the river, a little to the right of the Mill, and with which it is communicated by a wooden bridge, was a small house, converted into a block house, by being sur- rounded with a breast-work of logs. In the rear of this temporary block house was a large barn, to which nothing had been done, and which was not even musket proof. The breadth of the cleared ground, to the south- ward of the Mill, was about two hundred, ana that to the northward, about one hundred yards, but in the flanks the woods were much nearer. The reader has now before him the position and strength of the Mill, the number of troops available for its defence, and the number of the assailants. These points then haing been settled,we will accompany General Wilkinson on that march which was to result in victory or death. The Americans commenced the expedition by setting out in a wrong direction, and instead of La CoUe found themselves at Bur- tonville, where they attacked and drove in a small piquet. This mistake discovered, the march was resumed but again in a wrong di- rection. At last, however, they got on the main road near Odelltown, about three miles from La Colle. This road was found almost impassable for the troops, in consequence of the trees on either side having been felled, and before the march could be pursued, the axe-men were compelled to cut up and remove the obstruction. While this operation was going on, a piquet sent forward by Major Handcock, opened a severe fire and killed and wounded several men. At last, however, the Mill was reached and by half-past one in the afternoon the American commander had invested the fortress with his nearly four thousand men. As the General very natu- rally expected that the one hundred and eighty men who composed the garrison, would attempt to escape, six hundred, under Colonel Mills, were sent across in rear of the Millc, to cut otr all chance of a retreat. A heavy fire was then opened from an 18 12 and 6 pounder battery, also from a 5^ inch howit- zer. By this time the two flank companies of the 13th had arrived at the scene of action, and a gallant charge was made by them on the battery, but the overpowering fire kept up compelled them to retreat and rccross the river. A second charge was now made by the Fencibles and the Voltigeurs, with th« remnant of the two companies of the 13th. This charge was so vigorous that the artille- rymen were driven from their guns which were only saved from capture by the heavy fire of the infantry. The evidence as to the gallantry of the British and Canadians is for- tunately to be found in the proceedings at General Wilkinson's court martial. Lieute- nant-Colonel McPherson who commanded the artillery, deposed on that occasion that, " the ground was disputed inch by inch, in our advance to the mill ; and the conduct of the enemy, that day, was distiufruished by dfsperate bravery. As an instance one com- pany made a charge on our artillery, and at the same instant, received its fire, and that of two brigades of infantry." Lieutenant-Col. Totten, of the Engineers, and Brigadier Gen- eral Bissell might both be also cited as bear- ing the same te^^timony. Despite, however, this gallantry, it became apparent to Major Handcock that farther attempts on the guns, in the teeth of such overwhelming superiority in numbers, would be but to sacrifice valu- able lives, the men were accordingly with- drawn to act on the defensive. Here we must correct a statement made by General Wilkin- son, in his trial, viz., that he had to contend against not only Captain Pring's two sloops, but also two gun-boats at the back of the mill. We assert on the authority of James, and Wilkinson's own memoirs, (vol. 3, p 235,) that not one American officer stated anything of the kind, and that Colonel Totten swore positively " that the fire from the gun- boats was perfectly useless, fifty or a hundred feet above their heads." It was by this time about dusk, but although the fire of the besieged had slackened for want of powder, the enemy made no attempt to carry the Mill by storm, but retired fr»m the field. Thus ended the fourth great inva- sion of Canada. It would almost seem impossible for any historian, however unprincipled to represent this affair in any other light than as a check HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. 288 vo flank companies t the scene of action, i made by them on ■powering firo kept reat and recross the was now made by roltigcurs, with th« ipanies of tlie 13th. ous that ihe artille- a their guns which ipture by the heavy e evidence as to the nd Canadians is for- I the proceedings at irt martial. Lieute- 1 who commanded that occasion that, ted inch by inch, in and the conduct of 'as distinguished by an instance one com- our artillery, and at ed its fire, and that of ry." Lieutenant-Col. s, and Brigadier Gen- be also cited as bear- . Despite, however, le apparent to Major ittenipts on the guns, •whelming superiority but to sacrifice valu- ire accordingly with- nsive. Here we must e by General Wilkin- at he had to contend 1 Pring's two sloops, at the back of the authority of James, 3moirs, (vol. 3, p 235,) )fBcer stated anything L;olonel Totten swore fire Irom the gun- ess, fifty or a hundred out dusk, but although id had slackened for lemy made no attempt orm, but retired fr«in the fourth great inva- impossiblc for any )rincipled to represent light than as a check of a large by a small body, but nothing, it appears, was too difficult for true patriots, v^ilo Jcsired to place their country in the most favorable light. Accordingly we find Messrs. Thompson, O'Connor and Smith explaining axay and smoothing the failure of the attack until in their skilful hands, the affair almost issumes the character of a victory. Mr. O'Connor contends that the enemy must not !« permitted to claim a victory because cir- carastances "concurred to render it nearly mpossible to di'ice him from his cowardly ii.TongJiold" Instead of one hundred and eighty, Ur. Smith places two thousand five hundred men v,-ithin the Mill, although it is iiffieult to imagine how so many men could Repacked in a building fifty by thirty-six feet -[considering that there were two stories to the Mill, this would be somewhere about an I'Jowance of one and a half feet to each indi- vidual.] As the account which has been jast given is necessarily imperfect, a despatch from Colonel Williams to Sir George Provost, L< added, which will lie found to be detailed ind perhaps more satisfactory. from Lieutenant- Colonel Williams to Sir G Prerost. La Colle, March 13, 1814. Sib,— I beg leave to acquaint you, that I have jiijt received from Jlajor liandcock, of th^ 13th Regiment, commanding at the block- house on La Colle river, a report, stating that the out-posts on the road from Burtonville and L< Colle mill, leading from Odell-town, were Jttiicked at an early hour yesterday morning liy the enemy in great force, ollected from Piattsburgh and Burlington, under the com- mand of Major-General Wilkinson. The at- tack on the Burtonville road was soon over fhen the enemy shewed themselves on the raJ from the mill that leads direct to Odell- I ;wn, where they drove in a piquet stationed ;ii advance of La Colle, about a mile and a half fetant ; and soon after the enemy established I i battery of three guns (12-pounders) in the food. With this artillery they began to fire itlie mill, when ALnjor liandcock, hearing of the arrival of the flank companies of the 13th Regiment at the block -house, ordered an at- h«ck on the guns ; which, however, was not sacocssful, from the wood being so thick and I « filled with men. Soon after, another op- portunity presented itself, when the Canadian Grenadier Company, and a company of the Voltigeurs, attempted the guns; but the very great superiority of the enemy's numbers, hid in the woods, prevented their taking them. I have to regret the loss of many biave and good soldiers in these two attacks, and am particularly sorry to loose the service, for a short time, of Captain Ellard, of the 13th Re- giment, from being wounded while gallantly leading his company. The enemy withdrew their artillery towards night-fall, and retired, towards morning, from the mill, taking the road to Odell town. Major liandcock speaks in high terms of obligation to Captain Ritter, of the Frontier Light Infantry, who, from his knowledge of the country, was of great benefit. The marine detachment, under Lieutenants Caldwell and Barton, the Canadian Grenadier Company, and the company of Voltigeurs, as well as all the troops employed : the Major expresses himself in high terms of praise for their con- duct, so honourable to the .service. Major liandcock feels exceedingly indebted to Captain Pring, R.N., for his ready and prompt as.sistance, in mooring up the sloops and gun-boats from Isle au Noix, to the en- trance of the La Colle river, the fire from which was so destructive. Lieutenants Cas- wick and I licks, of the royal navy, were most actively zealous in forwarding two guns from the boats, and getting them up to the mill. To Major liandcock the greatest praise is due, for his most gallant defence of the mill against such superior numbers ; and I earnestly trust it will meet the approVjation of his ex* cellency the Commander-in-chief of the Forces. I have the honour to transmit a list of the killed and wounded of the British : that of the enemy, from all accounts I can collect from the inhabitants, must have been far greater. I have the honor to be, &c., William Williams, Licut.-Col. 13th Reg., commanding at St. John's, list of killed, wounded, and missing, in action at La Colle mill, on the 30th March, 1814. II rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 1 subal- tern, 1 sergeant, 43 rank and file, wounded ; 4 rank and file missing. Note — 1 Indian warrior killed, 1 wounded. R. B. Handcock, Major. 284 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. i ■i A comparison between Col. Williams modest letter, and Mr. O'Connor's version of the same affair will not be uninteresting to « he reader : "The issue of this expedition," says Mr. O'Connor, " was unfortunate, although in its progress it did honor to the Americans en gaged. The enemy claimed a victory, and pretended to gather laurels, only because he was not vanquished. General Wilkinson, at the head of his division, marched from Cham- plain with the intention of reducing the ene- my's FOKTKKss at the river La Colle. •• About eleven o'clock, he fell in with the enemy at OdcU-town, three miles from La Colle, and six* from St. John's. An attack was comnienced by the enemy on the advance of the army under Colonel Clarke and Major Forsyth. Col. Bissell canio up with spirit, and the enemy 'vas forced to retire with loss. General Wilkinson took part in this action, and bravely advanced into the most dangerous position, declining frequently the advice of his oflBcers to retire from imminent danger. The enemy having used his congreve rockets with- out producing any effect, retired to La Colle, wher ; 'lie was pursued. At this place an action wasexpecteil; but the enemy whose force, when increased by a reinforcement from the Isle aux Noix, amounted to at least twenty-flve hun- dred men, mostly regulars, declined meeting the American force, although much inferior in mimhers and means ofioarfarc. •' Several sorties were made by the enemy, but they were resisted with bravery and suc- cess. The conduct of every individual at- tached to the American command, was marked by that patriotism nnd prowess, which has so often conquered the boasted discipline, long experience, and military tactics of can enemy who dared not expose his " invincibles"\ to the disgrace of being defeated by a less numer- ous force of Yankee woodsmcn."f This extract we would not venture to give without naming also the very page from which it was taken. Would any one, we ask, believe it possible that this writer was describing the repulse of four thousand Americans in an at- tack on a mill, garrisoned by one hundred and * We presume Mr. O'Connor means twenty-six miles. t These italics are Mr. O'Connor's. X nidtory of the War, page 219. eighty British — with somewhere about twelvt hundred regulars and militia stationed in the vicinity. Even General Wilkinson was com- polled to allow, on his trial, that the building was defende I by a garrison of, not eighteen hundred regulars and five hundred militia, but of six hundred veteran troops. Col. McPherson's testimony on the same occasion showed that in his estimation, at all events, the gallantry so much vaunted by Mr. O'Connor was not displayed, and he declared " that the army should have attempted to force a passage into the mill, and employed the bayonet at every sacrifice, or have renewed the attack, with heavier ordnance, at daylight the next morning." How Messrs. O'Connor, Smith, and Thomp- son could, with the proceedings of Generil Wilkinson's trial open to the world, ventur* to put forth their statements would puzzle i any one unaccustomed to their through thick and through thin style of laudation and apology. James is very severe upon the poor Gen- eral for the note which he put forH-ard io answer to Col. McPherson's assertion that " the bayonet ought to have been employed," To take such a post, wrote Wilkinson, with small arms, has often been attempted, but never succeeded, from the time of Xonophon who failed in the attempt down to the present day. Xenophon himself was balll^d in an attempt against a Castle in the plain of Cai- cus, and also in his attack on the metropolis \ of the Drylanes, and in times modern as well as ancient, we have abundant examples of j the failure of military enterprises, by the most ; distinguished chiefs." Before giving James's comments on this : note we would suggest to General AVilkinson and his three apologists that an attack on a j Stone Castle with nai row slits for the double purpose of admitting light and discharging j arrows, cross-bolts, or javelins, and an attack on a Mill, (where is not usually a lack of good | sized windows,) with musketry and a well served battery of three heavy guns, are] not quite one and the same thing, -^s the General has gone so ftir out of his way to find an excuse, we also may be excused for j travelling back a few years, in order to confute his assertions. In that veracious historical | j i. mewlieie about tweWt lilitia stationed in the Wilkinson was corn- rial, that the building •ison of, not eighteen five hundred militia, ran troops. ititnony on the same , his estimation, at all much vaunted by Mr. iyed, and he declared lave attempted to force 1, and employed the Ice, or have renewed r ordnance, at daylight or. Smith, and Thomp- roceedings of Gcner»l to the world, venturi tements would puzzle to their through thick yle of laudation and 5 upon the poor Gen- ch he put forward io er.son's assertion that ) have been employed," vrote Wilkinson, with been attempted, but the time of Xenophon pt down to the present jlf was ballled in an e in the plain of Cai- tack on the metropolis : times modern as well ibundant examples of nterprises, by the most ■■ i's comments on this t to General Wilkinson ts that an attack on a j ow slits for the double ight and discharging! avelins, and an attack t usually a lack of good I musketry and a well ree heavy guns, arei same thing, -^s 'l^* iir out of his way to | ;o may be excused for ars, in order to confute at veracious hisloricil j HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1812. 285 fork generally known as Ivanhoe,* we have jn instance of a stone castle being carried by ! rabble armed with bows, bill hooks, and spears, assisted only by one Knight. Now if juch deeds of Herring do could be effected by tie brave foresters of olden times, we opine that American woodsmen, especially when sided by a General whom it was difficult to \ttf out of danger, should have at least at- tempted one onslaught. The whole passage, however, is too ridiculous to laugh at, we will therefore return to James, who, commenting on the General's note in justification, observes "General James Wilkinson, of the United States Army, then has the effrontery to compare his disgraceful discomfiture before a Canadian grist mill, with what occurred to — Lord Wellington at Burgos — Bonaparte at SL Jean D'Acre — and General Graham at Burgos. James here declares himself to be jssick of the Bobadil General, as he presumes his readers to be. We have dwelt sufficiently long on this lubject, and will therefore but remark that ffilkinson returned after his repulse to his old quarters, relieving the Canadians from fear, not of his men as soldiers, but as ma- rjoders and pillagers, quite as expert as the much abused sailors and soldiers of the Che- uptuke squadron. The next event which occurred was one for which Sir George Prevost has been severely blamed. Commodore McDonough had just launched a ship and a brig, both destined for service in Lake Champlain — and had also collected a great store of provisions and mu- nitions of war at Vergennes, Vermont. On the 9th May Captain Pring judging that the ice was sufficiently broken to allow his u.sing the flotilla under his command, determined to Utack the place and destroy at once the ships Kid stores. He, however, found the enemy In too great force for him to effect any move- >ent, as he was without troops to attack the •iiemy on shore, he was therefore compelled to return to Isle Aux Noix. James remarks on this affair : *' had a corps •ftight or nine hundred men been spared, lie lives of Downie and his brave comrades "We contend that Ivanhoe !3 quite as reliable |«horlty aa either SmitJi, O'Connor, or Thomp- would have been saved in the September fol- lowing, and all the attendant circumstances, still so painful to reflect upon, would have been averted. Veritas in his letters speaks still more plainly, ♦' Captain Pring applied to Sir George for troops — as usual the applica- tion was refused — but when Captain Pring returned, and reported to Sir George what might have been done hy a joint attack then, he was offered assistance, to which offer the Captain replied, that it was then too late, as the enemy had taken alarm and prepared ac- cordingly." Sir George's mistake in not des- patching troops, whetherasked for or not, on this expedition, will be more clearly under- stood when we reach that part of our narra- tive, relating to the attack in which Captain Downie lost his life. From the River Richelieu we must trans- port the reader to Ontario, and follow the fortunes of the expedition against Oswego, a place, next to Sackett's Harbour, of the most importance to the enemy, and at which it was supposed that large quantities of naval stores had been deposited. On the 3rd of May the fleet under the command of Sir James Yeo, embarked at Kingston, a body of one thou- sand and eighty men, all included, and on the 4th, General Drummond himself embarked. At tliree o'clock in the afternoon of the 4th the fleet had arrived sufiiciently near Oswego to open their fire, and preparations were at the same time made for disembarking the troops; this movement, however, was frus- trated by a gale springing up which compelled them to claw ofi" a lee shore, and gain an offing. The three despatches which follow, will convey a very clear idea of the proceed- ings which took place as soon the weather moderated. The first is from General Drum- mond. H. M. S. Prince Regent Oswego, May 7. SiR — I am happy to have to announce to your Excellency the complete succc-j? of the expedition against Oswego. The troops men- tioned in my despatch of theSrd instant; viz, six companies of De Wattevilles regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel Fischer, the light company of the Glengarry light infantry, un- der Captain Mc Millan, and the whole of the second battallion royal marines, under Lieu- tenant Colonel Malcolm, having been cmbar- ) i ?? n 286 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. t\. ' ■r w ked with ii detachment, of the royal artillery under capiiiin Cnittenden, with two field- pieces, a detachment of the rocket company under Lieutenant Stevens, and a d';tachment of sappers and miners under Lieutenant Cosset, of the royal engineers, on the evening of the 3rd instant, I proceeded on board the Prince Ilogent at day-light on the 4th, and the .sqiia entered the fort ; and I liad an opportunity of witnessing the bravery of lieutenant llcwett, of that corps, rt ho climbed the fiag-statl'and pulled down the Anioiican en- sign which was nailed to it. 'J'o lieutenant- colonel Harvey, deputy-adjutant-general, my warmest approbation is iost justly due, for his unremitting zeal and useful assistance. The services of this intelligent and expe- rienced officer have been so freqtieiilly brought under your excellency's observation before that it would be ='iperlluous my making any connnent on the high estimation in which I hold his valuable exertions. Captain Jervois, my aide-camp, and lieuten- ant-colonel llagerman, my provmcial aide de camp, the only officers of my personal statf who accompanied me, rendered me every aa- siotance. Captain Jervois, who will deliver to your excellency, with this despatch, tlie American flag taken at Oswego, is full}-^ able to afford every further information you may require ; and I avail myself of the present opportunity strongly to recommend this ollicer to tb« fivorable consideration of liis royal highness the commander in chief. I have the honor to be, &c., GouDON Dkummond. Col Fischar's letter to Colonel Harvey, and that from Sir James Yeo to McCroker, being more explanatory, will furnish still more con- clusive evidence, as to the importance of this Jiffair. Frora lieutenant-colonel Fischer to lieutenant' colonel Uarveij. H. jr. S. Prince Regent, off Oswego, Sir, liake Ontario, ^bly 7 . It is with heartfelt satisfjiction that I have the honor to report to you, fortlie information of lieutenant-general Drunnnond, command- ing, that the troops placed under m^' orders for the purpose of stormiiig the fort at Oswego, have completely succeeded in this service. It will be superfluous for me to enter into any details of the operations, as the lieuten- ant-general has personally witnessed the con- duct of the whole party ; and the grateful task only remains to point out for his appro- bation, the distinguished bravery and discip- hne of tho troops. 'Ihc second battalion of royal tnarineR !h4'l ml wk, f R- •■ 1, U| i ii; !J vR; ' 1 3B8 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. formed their column in the most regular manner, and, by their steady and rapid ad- vance, carried the fort in a very short time. In fact, nothing could surpass the gallantry of that battalion, commanded by lieutenant-colo- nel Malcolm ; to whose cool and deliberate conduct our sufjcess is greatly to be attri- buted. The lieutenant-colonel reported to me, in high terms, the conduct of lieutenant James Laurie, who was at the head of the first men who entered the fort. The two flank compa nies of De ^Vatteville's, under captain De Beraey, behaved with spirit, though labouring with more difficulties during their formation, on account of the badness of the landing place, and the more direct opposition of the enemy. The company of Glengarry light infantry, under captain M'Millan, behaved in an equally distinguished manner, by clearing the wood, and driving the enemy into the fort. I beg leave to make my personal acknowledge- ments to staff-adjutant Greig, and lieutenant and adjutant llermet, of De Watteville's, for the zeal and attention to me during the day's service. Nor can I forbear to mention the regular behavior of the whole of the troops •i '^>; His majesty's brig Magnet, (late Sir Sidney Smith, Off Oswego, U. S. May 7. Return of ordnance and ordnanct- stores, taken and destroyed at Oswego, Lake- Ontario, the 6th May, 1814, /;// his majesty^ s troops under the command of lieict. getd. JJru)umo7id, Taken; — 3 82-pouudcr iron ^'uns, 4 24-p(ronder iron guns, 1 i2-pouiider iruii gun, I 6-pounder iron gun. — Total 'J. Destroyed; — 1 heavy 12 pounder, 1 heavy 6- pounder. — Total 2. Shot; — 81 42-poandor, round; 32 32-pounder, round ; 36 42-pounder, canister ; 42 32-poun- der, canister ; 30 24-poundcr, canister ; 12 42* during their stay on shore, and the most per- feet order in which the re-embarkation of the troops has been executed, and every service performed. I enclose herewith the return of killed and wounded, as sent to me by the different eorps. I have the honor to be, &c., V. Fischer, Lieut.-col. De Watteville's rci^iment Lieut.-col. Harvey, Deputy- adj utant-general. Return of killed and wounded of the troops iu action with the enemy at Oswego, on the 10th of May, 1814. Total — 1 captain, 2 sergeants, 1 drummer, 15 rank and file, killed ; 1 captain, 1 subal- tern, 2 sergeants, 58 rank and file, wounded. J. Haevev, Lieut.-col. dep.-adj.-gen. Return of the killed and wounded of the roy- al navy at Oswego, May 6. 3 seamen, killed ; 2 captains, 1 lieutenant, 1 master, 7 seamen, wounded. Total— 8 killed ; 11 wounded. J. Lawrir, sec pounder, grape ; 48 32-pounder, grape ; 18 24- pounder, grape. Eight barrels of gunpowder, and all the shot of small calibre in the fort, and stores, thrown into the river. Edward Cruttendkn, captain, commanding royal artillery. E. Baynks, adj. -general. Memorandum of provisions stores, captured. One thousand and forty-five barrels of flour, pork, potatoes, salt^ tallow, &c. &c. 70 coils of rope and cordage : tar, t)locks, (large and small,) 2 Email schooners, with several boats, and other smaller craft. Noah Fb£eb, mil. See. THE HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 280 C II A P T E R XVIII.— Continued. ounder, grape ; 18 24- ^013. Fbkkb, mil. Sec, It will bo as vrcll, before giving Sir James Yeo's tjffic'ial account, 'to Amcrii'an Acroiints of i „ /• _ i ^i*, Ik. acsc.ut on Osweao. "liikc a few observations on tlic American version of the descent OnOs\voj;o. It is worthy of rc- uark, that Gen. Drummond distinctly states, that the vessels anchored at long gun shot of the batteries, and that the roconnoisance of the morning Avas only intended as a feint to eniilile him to discover wliere the enemies' Latteries were, and what was tlieir force ; this elfected, Sir James Yoo would then be enabled, on the withdrawal of his gun-boats to place his vessels in the most commanding situations. Tliis retirement of the gun boats, however, appears to have afforded General Armstrong and others an opportu- nity of palliating the defeat, by claiming a sort of victory on the first day. The General says, " The larger vessels took a position for battering the fort, and soon after, opened upon it a heavy fire ; while fifteen boats, crowded tviih infantry, moved slowly to the shore. When arrived within the range of Mitchell's* shot, a fire upon them was com Kenced, which in a few minutes compelled them to withdraw. A second attempt, made in the same way, was not more successful ; when ships, boats, and troops retired en masse, and stood out of the harbour." * The Couuniinder .it Oswcw. 19 It will be seen by this extract, that the ships were not within reachof the American guns, why then did General Armstrong omit to mention the cause which compelled the British vessels to witlidraw ? and why docs ho contradict himself by leaving it to be inferred, tliat the withdrawal was occa- sioned by the fire, and should therefore bo considered in the light of a repulse. Again, too, the General states that, on the occasion of the second landing, " every foot of ground was well contes d with the head of the British column, for half an hour, after which no farther annoyance was given to the retreat, which was effected with coolness and courage." We do not exactly understand how the General could have been so rash as to claim for the defendants at OsAvego either coolness or courage, when one of the American officers, who was in the action, in a lettor dated " Oswego Falls," Avrites thus : — " The militia thought best to leave us, 1 do wit think they fired a ynn." James mentions this same letter, which he speaks of as having been published in the newspapers of the day. Another circumstance, which occurred I that same afternoon, afforded alsogreat cause 'i.' £00 HISTORY OF THE WAR Oi' 1^12. f )!• hr.'lf l;iii(l;iti(in on tlio ]i;ivt (if tlio Aincri- most assidiidus in their ntlcnijits to "-('iiro- CiiiH. The IJritisli (leet found it necessary, 'sent the amount of loss "as most trillin-," in oonseiiuenco of a heavy gale from the ; This proeeedinji; allonled an oii[iortunitv t.> Dorth-wcst, to ehnv (ilT a Ico shore, without the opposition or fcleral papers of the day delaying.' to l.oist \ip all their hoats, sfime of to tax frovt-ninu'iit -witli Avilfully deceivin;: vh.ieh were cut loose, and drifted on shore, the people. "Wo have already shown vl.iU really was captured, and will now give in contrast the Amcriean accounts. This was done to prevent pjcttinp; emhnycd ; and to every one, who may rcmemher the pitnatiiin of Oswen(\ the necessity of this, _, _, .,, , , • 11 1 V ; <■ Mr. Thompson savs :—" 1 he enemy tnk via he apparent, especially Avlu'n it is lar-; ' ' . ' -^ ther borne in mind, that a lee shore, on' these liilces, even in a moderate j^ale, is so|j much dreaded, that, even at thepreseiit day, despite the .superior huild of vessels, nnd Ki'tiL-at or thu t!c\t. increased skill in seamanship, vessels are f^ometimes compelled to leave their anchor- n;;e twice or throe times, and that it often takes a fortnight, or perhaps lon;j;or, to take in a load which a couple of day.s in fair weither would he .'efficient for. The American writers represent these boats as prizes. Smith, O'Connor, and Thompson, all mentimi the retreat of the ]>ritish lleet, but not one of tliem had the honesty to state the cause. Another point to be commented on is the discrepancy as to numbers. General Urown declares, that over three thousand were l.iudeJ; Mr. O'Connor reduces this number to two thousand ; Smith states the numbers at between two and three thousand. Mr. Thompson only mentions seventeen hun- dred; and the American oiiicer, whom we have already mentioned, estimates the num- ber at twelve hundred. Armstrong esehews uumliers, and merely mentions fifteen boats crowded with, men. These same writers have been quite as do- torniined to rjlucc their ov.n, as to swell the numbers of their opponents ; and appear ac-ordingl}-, ono and all, to have carefully omitted in their list of combatants the militia, and to have confined their state- ment as toniimljers to that of the regulars al mo. We aLCordingly find that three liun- diod men, and no more, formed the heroic band who, for half an hour, resisted, accord- ing to General Drown, the onslaught of more than three thousand men. The same policy was observed with regard to the captured possession of the fort and barracks, but far the little booty whieh ho obtained, consist- ing of a few l)arrels of provisions and viiis key, he paid much more than an equivaU'nt." Smith declares that wo captured " notliin;; but a naked fort." O'Coiuior adinits oi;;lit pieces of cannon, and stores worth one hun- dred dollars. The returns made by the British are horr.e out liy an American writer from OnondiiL'", who estimates the amount at over forty thousand d(dlars. The last point worthy of note is tliat, although the JJritish troops remained for nearly 2-i hours in the place, we do not find any complaint against them on the |iart iif a single American writer. This was high!',- creditable to the troops, marines and scanK'U, and affords a very marked contrast to tho behaviour of some Americans in an afi'air at Long Point, which wo shall shortly luivo i') relate. '\\ o will now give Sir ■James Yeo's version of the affair, and in our r.otes ^vill be found* tiie general order issued by tlu American commander, General Brovrn. * American General Onicr. Head ((uartovs, .'^iu'kell's Haikr May 12, 1814. 3Tajor General Brown has the satislaction to announce to tlic forces under his coniniiiinl. lii;!t the detachments ?tationscl at Oswego, aiider llie immeiUiite oiders ol'lieuleuant-colDuel JMilc'ntll. n! the third artillery, by their irullaut and hii'lily military conduct, in sustaining the (iio ol' lli.' whole Briti>li fleet of this lake for ncaily two days. a!i(i contendinij; with the vastly iuiM^ii'ir niiiiibcrs of the enemy on tlie land, as lonir us tho interests of the co;uitry, or thehonoiu' oftlicir prn- I'ession re(]uireil ; and then, cllectinir liieir retreat in good order, in tiie face of this superior force o! tiie enterprising and accompHshed f'oe.te tliodeiict of naval stores, which it became their duty to defend, have established for themselves a name in nnis, worlliv ofth(> icdlant nation in wIioh' eai^e articles, and the government organs were] they tight, and hiuhiy iionourable to the am:) HISTORY OF THE WAR OV lsl2. 2'.U ' (itU'iiiiit.s to '•(■pre- " us iimst trilliii-." I nil iiii[iurtnnity t" il ]iainTs of till' I'.ay ii uiU'ully tlcci'iviii;' ilremly shown vl.ut nl -will ii'jw givo ill ic'counts. — "Tlie enemy tnlc 111! }iaiT:icks, luit fnr iiljto.iiieil, ciin>i>t- jirovislons ami wliis than an eqnivak'nt." captiivoil " notliing .'onnor ay red-hot shot, and much cut up in her hull, masts, and rigging: Captain I'opham ro- ceivoil a severe wound in his riglit hand, and peaks in high terms of ,Mr. Richardson, the ^. ,, • n xi ,.,! i master, who, from a severe wound in the left cam an olhnir. On the morning ot the Oth, ; , ,. , . , ,,,,,. ,„,,-, I arm, was olilitreil to undergo amputation at evei'vthiug being ready, 140 troops, LOO sea-. , ,, . . ^ , .... , ^, , . IT 1 itho slionlder lumt. men armed with pikes, under Captam Mul- 1 caster, and 400 marines were put Into the, q.^,^^^.^,^ Spilsbury. of the Niagara ; Cap- boats. The Montreal and Niagara took then- ^,^i,^ j,,,,^,,^^ of the Charwell ; Captain An- stations abreast, and within a quarter of aui,,,,^^ ^^he Star: and Captain Collier of the luilo, of the fort; the Magnet 0]^posite thej ■^i.,^,,,^..^,^,!^,^^.^.,! j^^j,^.,^ ^.^ j,^^. ,.i.i,f.,,.ti.,n. twn, and the Star and Charwell to oover | ,j^^,^^ ^^^.^j^^^ jj^^^^.^jj^j^ ^,f ^.^^,^1 ^^^.^^.1,^^^ ^.^.^r , I the landing, which was ellected under a most' j^^ admiration of all ; thev were led by the lieavy fire of round, gmpe, and musketry, I .,j,.^,^^ (^,^,,_ ^^j.j,.,,],,,^ ,.,,1 .^.^j-,,,,,! .everely. kept up with great spirit. Our nuMi having (.^^,^^.^5,^ Holloway, doing duty in the Prin- l. ascend a very sreep and long hill, Avere I ,^.^,^ Charlotte, gallantly fell at the head of oonsequently exposed to a destructive hre. kj^ company. Having landed with the sea- Iheir gallantry overcoming every difSculty, I ,^^,j^ j,,^,^ nmrincs, I had great pleasure in tliey soon gained the summit of the Inll ; ! ^.j^^^^^j^^ ^^^^ ^,j,,^, ^,,^ j,^..^ ,^,,^i j^j.^,jjp^ .^^. and, throwing themselves into the ^^^^'^o, i^,,,^,^^ ,u\xl to their lordships' r; , , r. 1 1 AT-. 1 11 1 1 • II 1 .1 notice the service of my first lieutenant, 'Ir. l*utenaiit-Ci)lniiel ^ulcliell had. 111 all. less tVian ■ , ' Wiiion; and the fosse of the enemy, by land and /5''ott; and of my aid-de-camp, acting lieu- Wdter, exc.:;eded 3001). ' j tenant Yoe, to Avlioin I beg leave to refer R. JONES, assistant-adjt.-gcn. I their lordships for information ; nor fchoulJ ^*(M4r| 2D2 IITSTORY OF TTIK WAR OF If 12. i \ |':',;t_;, -l^J till' iiirritoriijiis cxtrtions (if'iictiii;; lieuteiiunt (irillin, Kcvcruly woiiiitlod in tlio arin, or Mr. IJnnvii, Imtli (if whom wore iittiirheJ to tlie fttoniiin^ I'iirty, lio (liuittijil. It is a prosit source of Hiitisfactioii to iiio to acciuaint their lonlsliips, that I hiivo on this luid all other occasions, reeoived from Iiieut-sa;.'0 up, but were attacked from the shore by ii largo party of riflemen, one hundred and fifty in number, besides militia, infantry, and cavalry, mustering some two hundreil strong. The British were here fairly eauglit in a trap, and all that remained for them was to fight tlieir way back ; and to do this parties were hinded on both banks, iu order 1, drive l»f .Miiiiiiandin attiiiipt wa prevailed, ii tin' destrui :i,irtv. As aiice, it wil iiml wound* third of till liiint have evident fron hum's ofliciii t!io Ainericii wiui'li'd by l;u'> of man t\':lr own iw h ih'itli, we ffiiriiicst gra Armstrong] affair by styll plislied by y\ and tlnrty-tw I'iihoniiilitia ik' whole Br of the Anieric iii;iii of their tlie reader cai mind tliat a j m both bai Britisii were The same uis caused Arm f tlio militia prompt him wluitever it m An occurr;? to which wo reflect quite Si character as offii'ei's' condii Di'uminond ha a1>Ic village of rhiswas done I''3*t, so that wiaUed, havii t J land, witlio at a prist so el grand centre o 'liT'Jt for the t Fear uf anot inSTOUY OF TIIK WAU OF IS12. 203 1,1 (hive lull k till! ciifiiiy fr"i» ft sitimtioii ' British Im'l ituluccil the Aiiiorican cnmmiin. ,'„mmiiiiirmji till! piisHii-o of till) limits, Tlii'jiliT to fi.iKviitriito al.-mt rmiralo ninl Krio att.iiii.t wiis jriilliuitly inmlo, Imt miml'er«| (wliero tlic licet lay) a lai^o hoily of troop!", nroviiilcil, anil tlio rosiilt of tlio atfair was One of tliu Amoric.m oiru-ors, n Colimi'l ilio ilcstniction or capture of tliu wholt!' (.'amp'-oll, .iiitl,;ii);;, iloulitlcss, that it was a ■Mi'tv. As ft proof, however, of the rcsist-j pity so many men hIiouIiI remain inactive, aii,'0. it will Hullice to state that the killed ."aw, in the occupation of Dover, an opportii- aiid woini'lcd amounted to more than uue-! nity of dlstill^'^l;^I■iM^ himself and hciielitin;:; third of the party. That the Americans liis country. Taking;, then, full fuc hundred mint have had Indians as their allies, is cviilcnt from tlio conclusion of ('ajttain Pop- Ii;im's official despatch: — "The exertions id' the Amcriciui otlicers of the riilo corps, com- manded hy Major Apjilin,!:;, in saviu.^ the lives of many of the officers and men, whom ,'ViV on'ii men niid the Indlnns nrrt' ihrotiu;/ t'l il'df/i, were conspicuous, and claim our warmest gratitude." Anastrong begins his statement of the affair hv styling it an "aehievenieut" accom- United States infantry, he crossed over from Mrie on the loth May, and, the British troops retiring hefore him, destroyed the mills, dis- tilleries, and houses in the village. Mr. Thornton says; "A .i(j>t(ii!rnii of British dragoons stationed at the idace lied at the approaidi of INdonel Camphidl's ihhidnndil, and abandoned the women iind children, who es[)crienced humane treatment from the Americans." If the hurning of stores, harns, and dwell- ii!lisling iidi;i- uu'l thirty-two men, omiiting all mention of.i)itants be included in Mr. Thuniton's cate- titliormilitiaor Indians, and he declares that: gory of Inunano trcatno'ut, we should like to thevidiolo British party fell into the hands be enlightened as to wl,t would be considered ijfthe Americans without the lo>s of a singlci harsh treatment. As a pniuf, however, that man of their ])arty. The proli;iliility of this' even the Americans were a>haii,ed id' the the reader can judge of, when it is borne in' transftction, we h;>\e only to mention that a mind that a hand-todiand conlliet occurred; court of inquiry, of which Gosieral Scott was on both banks of the river, and that the: l>resldent, was instituted to take the facts into consideration, and that their decision was, "that in burning the houses of the inhabitants, C'olonid Oainpbell had greatly erred ; but this error they imputed to the rceolleetlon of the scenes of the llaisin and the Miami, in the Western territories, to the army of which Cohmel Ctimpbell was at that time attached, and to the recent devastation of the Niagara frontier." British were only overpowered liy numliers. The same disregard of truth, however, which fiiiiscd Armstrong to suppress all mention f the militia and infantry, would doubtless prniupt him to conceal the American loss, whatever it might have been. An occurrence on the shores of Lake Erie, to which M'C have already alluded, does not rollei't i|uite so much credit on the national dmractcr as did .Alajor Appling's and his The court appears to have had most con- ofiicers' conduct. Early in 3Iarch, General venient memories, or they could .scarcely Diummoud had quartered at the inconsider-liftvc forgotten that an act very similar to al'Ie village ofDover a small body of dragoons. tl>c present had alone caused the destruction This was done by way of eslaljlishing an out- I'ost, so that the Americans migh.t not bo (■Mabled, having the cummand of the Lake, tjland, without opposition or notice, troops, at a post so close to Burlington heights, the grand centre of the British position, and the 'li'pot for the troops on the Niagara line. along the banks of the Niagara. A\'e learn from the transaction, that the American military tribunals of that day looked upon pillage and destruction of private i>roperty, only a "a trilling ei'ror." We will have occasion to notice in what light the destruc- tion of the public buildings at Washington was regarded, and whetli'-r the course of the Fear of another attack ou the part of the, British Generals is so lightly considered. I 4. 201 IIISTOUY OF TIIK WAR OF \s\2. ft! I \ It Ktirly in Ajiril nn oxpodition woh orpiinizcil, , , hiiviiH' fur itH oliiwt iiii Mm. Iillliiiii. tilhiic' ai.il llttlick nil !l llcW pdxt CStll- Mlifi liai|ii,-li. 1 !• 1 I i. »r 1 1 1 1 nii'l til' r('cM|iliirc dC Mlrliilininckiiiiu', Tlu' t'xppilitiuii, liciwcvcr, ill cdnvoiiiKMico, Knyn Annslrdii;.',* of a a iif att!i(kiii;i; Matidiadash vas rory yoou iilmiidi)nt;d, in ('(inscriiicncc of niin- dry InipKdlmi'iits, writes Arnistron;;, " aris- ing fniiii Hlmals, rocks, dani;;orous islands, perpetual foj^s, and Imd pilotaj;e," and the ^af\'r aiid easier plan of an attack on tlie Nortli-^Vest ('omiKiiiy's f-cttleiiicnt at St. Mary'f* suli.-'tituted. Tlii-^ part of the expo- diticn was entrusted ti» Captain Holmes of the United States Army, and J/ieutenant Turner of tla^ L'nited States Navy, and very t'flbctually the work entrusted to them was cxeouted, as every Imu.-e at the post was de- stroyed, ni) puljlic huildinj;;-) of any deserip- * Liltcr fivin l/ie Sirrclnnj of War to the PrcsUcnl.—Ji>ril 31s/, ISll. Sia: So loan us wo had reason to helievc thai the enemy iiilt'iuU d anil was in couJilioa to ro- fstahllsh liiinsclt'oii the 'I'li^unes, ami opiMi aiunv his inteix'ourse willi the tnilian liihcs of ihe west, it was. no (l()nl)t. inopiT to jjive to «uv naval nieau-; a (iircL'lion which wmild hcst oi).^Il■llct or dcl'eal such iiio\enic!it or (lcsi:,'ns. An order has hccii accoiilinulv Lnvcii hy the iia\-y dcpaitincnl, to cni- jiloy the llolilla, in sconiinir the sImics oI' the more western lakes, in dcs; loyiiiii; the enemy's tra( ' >" cstalilishnieiit at Si. J(>sej)h's. anl in rccap'uni.j;' Feat .Micliilitnackiiuic. As. howe\er, oar las i„( vices show, that the enemy has no dilciunt force westward of Bnilin^tou hay, and that he has salfered the season of easy and rapid transport- ation to e.>cai)e him, it is evident that ho means to f»tren^;thori himself oa the i)eiiiiisnki, and maki; Fort lOiie, which he is now n^jiairim;, ihe western cxtremi'y of his line of opi'ralioii. ITader this new stale of thiiais. it is rcsiiectfiilly suljmiUecl, whether aiiollior and huUur use cannot he made oi our llolilla >. la evplainiii'j; myself, it is necessary to" premise that, tiie uanisons of Detroit and .Maiden included, it will he praclicahlelo assemhle oa the shores and naviirahle watei's of Laki; l^rie. live Ihousand rejriil'ir troops, ami thret! thousand volunteers and militia, and that measures have heen lakou to pro- duce this ctrcct on or before the 10th day of June tion t'oin;? tlioro to warrant thin atrocIiMs ontrae;e. Tho liorsen and eattio were killcl, and even tlie proviNions and pmlen stull', wliiidi Ooiild (Kit ln-reuioved, \\ r-re di'.-trovcd with a view of tliorou;j;hly rniiiin;^ the pii.«t. Messrs TlioiiHon and Smith are pirtici;. larly reserved as to the conduct of their eonntrymcn at St. Mary'n, but Mr. (t'(',,,|„i,r lioldly deidares (hat " the pr-'jierty dcsiMved way, aeeordine; to the maritime law of na- tions, as vceognizod in the Fn;i;lisli cnurt-i, i^dod prize, aswidlns heeause the Conipunv's a;i;ont, .lohnson, wlcd the I'lijaiiiuiis jmit i fa //vn'/o/-, havini; heen a citizen and iiiMv'i'lrato of tho Mieliiii;an territory, before the war, and at its eommencement, and nowdisrluir;'- iii;.^ the fiinetions of nuigistr:ite uinler tho IJrilish Uovernment." Tills position fd' Mr. O'Connor's, thnt nur- fjiaitdltfi' (III .shore nx xrell d.i uj'oat is ijood [irizr, must not ho lost siuht of, as tho sniiie v.'riter will he found laying down a very dif- ferent interpretation of what eoiistitutes " good prize," Avhen the proeoodings of tlio I'ritish in tho Che-sapoako arc under his eonsideratloii. next. Without, however, tlio aid of naval rm'ans, this I'orce will be comparatiMly inoperative, ami necessarily dispersed, but with sucli aiil, cuinpe- tent to great oljjucts. Lake Frio on which our dominion is iitulisjiMlwl, famishes a way scarcely less coiiveiiieni lor ap- |)roachiii;| the heart of Fp|ier Canada lluiii Lii,;e Ontario. Kiirht, or even six thousand men kimled ill the bay between Point Ahino and Fort Miic. and opeiatini; either on the line of the Xia^'ara, nr more directly [if a more direct route is Ibiiiicl], a:,Miiist the ISrilish ]iost at the head ot' Ihiiliiiiiloii l)av, cannot be resisted with eiil-ct, without corn- nellini^ the (>ueniy so to weaken his more ea.steni posts, as to brin;^ them within reach of our moans at Sackett's tlarboiu- and Platted )iu-y,h. Ill choosiiiii between this object and lliat tn which the iloiilhi is now destined, there cannot. I think, he much, if any. hesitation. Our ali.irk. carried to Ihnlinirton and York, interposes a hinritT, which completely protects Maiden and l^etioit— makes doubtful and hazardous the eiieuiy's intcr- coe.se with the western Indians, reduces .Mackinac to a ]iossession perfectly iisiiless, renders prol'able the abandonment of Fort Niagara, and takes from the enemyhalf his motive for coiitiuuintc the naval conllict on Lake Ontario. On the other liainl, t.ike Miickinac, and what is gained, but Mackinac itself. I have the honour to be, kc, (Signed.) JOHN ARMSTRONG. IIISTttUY OF THE WAU OF 1^12. :'i5 'rant tliin iitrocliuiii il ciittK! wtTi' kilk'il, i II ml jrnnli'n nU\i\', \vi\, woTv (l('.>*triivfil, y ruiiiiii;^ tlio jii,.»t. Smitli uri' | urtin;. 10 (•(iiidiii't 111' tlii'lr 'f, liiit Mr. ( >'('(imiiir • iiroiii-rty iIi'.-itMyeil mrltiino law of n;i- tlio Kii;i;lisli c'nurt", 'lUlKC till' ('iilll|i;iiiy'i " illJlllllllllX 1,11,1 I f'(t izcii mill iii:i'^i«iriito ry, tic^foro tlic war, t, mill iiiiwili!^! Iiar;;- :i;;lstnitt! uinlcr tlio 'Connor's, that nicr- 'U a.i ajhi(i( is ijood i;:ht of, as tlio sniii'! wv^ tlown ft vory ilif- f A\liiit constitiitcs ! proi/oe'liii'^N dl'tiio iiiko are iiiuli'i* lii:* ho aid of naval moans, i\i'ly iMoii''nili\'', ami •illi siifli niti, fuiii|ie- Idiiiiiiinn is iimlisi'iiiled, s.s CDiaciiic'iil I'nr ap- irr ('iiiiada lli.iii L;!.;'' { ihousaiid iiirii l.iiiilcil \l)iiio ami Fort V.nc, iiii' 1)1' the Niai:aia, or iii'cl voutf is loiiiiil], Ihr iicad i/l' 1)111 liiiirltiii I'llL'ct, without corn- ilfii his nioiti eastern II ifuch of our means :att.',l)Ui-t.di. is olijcct and lliat to stilled, there cannot. I sitation. Oiii' ali.u'k, k. interposes a harrier, Waldeii am! Uetioit— )iis liie eiieniy's iiiter- iiis, reduces ^lackinac less, renders prohable a:;ara. and takes from r eoiitinuiii^ tlie naval On the other haiul, laiiied, hut -Mackinac N ARMSTRONG. Wliiit. ton, couM tlm Ainericiin (lowrn- ment liii\o thou;^litnf tli<'iiion>troiiMiio.sitinn Isiiltliiwn, thiit a man, who dcsortO'l, ** pliiyod the infunioUH piirt of a traitor." Wlmt a iiitler Niitiro is tiiis of Mr. O'Connor's on tiie wlioli! American (lovprnnK'nt ? nn eominaiiilers of tlio vessids who had captured, citlr r in nicrcliantnifn or viwcls of war, Urltish sultjocts, and wiio had otniiluycd every means short ost on the 4th instant. ^My situation was embarrassing, I knew that they could land upwards of 1,0(10 men ; and after manning the guns at the fort, I had only a disposal)le force of 14u to meet them, which I determined to do, iu ordiT as nnu-h as possible to encourage the Indians, and having the fullest confi- dence in the little detachment of the New- foundland regiment. The position I took up was excellent, but at an unavoidable and too great a distance from the forts, in each of which 1 was only able to leave 25 mlliiia- men. There were likewise roads upon my flanks, every inch of which were known to the enemy, ]iy means of the peoitie formerly residents of this ishmd, who were with them. I could not afford to detach a man to guard them. Jly position was rather too extensive for such a handful of men. The ground was connnanding, and, in front, clear as I could wi-h it. On l)oth our tlanks and rear, a tliick wood. !My utmost wish was, that the Indians would only prevent the enemy from gaining the M'oods upon our flanks, which Would havo forced them upon the open ground in our frunt. ^V natural breastwork protected my men from everj' shot ; and I had told them that, on a close approach of the enemy, they wore to pour in a volley, > nd inunedlately charge ; numer(nis as the enemy were, all were fully coniident of the result. On the advance of the enemy, myO-pounder and o-pounder opened a heavy lire upon them, but not with the effect they should have had : being not well nuinncd, and for want of an artillery -ollicer, who would have been iuvalual^le to us. They moved slowly and cautiously, declining to meet mc in the open ground, but gradually gaining my loft Hank, which the Indians permitted, without fu'ing a shot. I was even (jldigcd to weaken my snmll front, by detaching the Micliiniia fencibles to oppose a party of the encuiy, which were advancing to the woods on niy right. I now received accounts from Major Crawford, of the militia, that the encniv's two large ships had anchored in the rear of my left, and that troops wore moving by a road in that direction towards the forts. J therefore, immediately moved, to pliice my- self between them and the enemy, and took up a position effectually covering them ; fmni whence, collecting the greater part of the Indians who had retired, and taking with mo ^Major Crawford and about oO miliiia. I agala advanced to support a party of tiieFallsoviiie Indians; who, with their gallant chief, Thomas, had commenced a spirited attack upon the enemy; Avho, in a short time, lost their second in command and several other officers; seventeen of whom wo counted dead upon the held, besides what they carried off, and a consideralile number wounded. The enemy jetired in the utnujst haste and con- fusion, followed by the troops, till they found shelter under the very powerful liroad>idoof their ships, anchored within a few yards of the sliore. They re-embarked that evening, and the vessels immediately hauled off. I have the honm-, &c. R. M'DOl'ALL, lieutenant-colonel, His Excellency Sir George Prevost, t^c. Mr. Thomson, in Sketches of t!ie "War, does not use his own language, but i[uotcs from Captain Sinclair's letters the following passage — " Michilimacinac is, by nature, a perfect Gibraltar, being a high inaccessible rock on every side, exceiit the west ; from which, to the heights, you have ne;irly two miles to pass through a wood, so thick, tiiat our men were shot down in every direction, and within a fcAV yards of them, wltJtuutkin;! able io sec (lie Indians, who did it. '■' * '■ Several of the commanding officers we 5 picked out, and killed or wounded by tlio savages, without seeing any of them. Tiio men were getting lost and falling:; into con- fusion, natural muler such cireumstaiices ; which demanded an immediate retreat, or a HISTORY OF THE WAR OF IS 12. 207 S to lUL'et niu in tlio [illy gaiuin-r iny loft s pcnnitti'tl, withmit en obliged to woakL-u .chiiig tlio Mieliin;aa )ai-ty of the enemy, :o the woods on my accounts from !Miijor a, that the enemy's ;liorcd in the rear of ) were moving by a )wards the forts. J, moved, to place my- the enemy, and took covering then; ; from I greater part of tlio d, and taking with mo out 50 militia, I again party of the Fallsovine tlieir gallant chief, cod a spirited attaek in a 8h()rt time, lusi; nd and several other rliom wo counted ilead what they carried off, nibcr wounded. The tmost haste and con- I troops, till tiiey found powerful broailsidcof ,'ithin a few yards of barkcil that evi.niing, itoly hauled oit'. tc. J, licutenant-eolonol, I'ge Provost, ite. vetches of the "War, anguage, but iinotcs letters the folic iwinij; inac is, by nature, a ^ a high inaecessiiiio cept the west ; iVi.m you have nearly two wood, so thick, that ivu in every direction, of them, vllhuuthrin;! who did it. ■'■ * * Hiding oiHeers wc 3 or Avounded by the g any of thein. Tho and falling; into con- sueh cireumstanees : uuediate retreat, or a. t.)tal defeat, and a general massacre must linvc ensued," This was conducted in a masterly manner by Col. Croghan, who had lost that rahuihle and ever to hi: lamented txlicci; jMajor ILdmcs, who, with Capt. Van ][ irn, was killed by the Indians." It is worthy of remark that to the Indians is here given the credit of this repulse, and had this really not been the case, there is no JouU but that Mr. Thomson would gladly have swelled the ruUof ditfieulties which the Americans had to contend against. As it is, Mr. Thomson declares "that the Indians ahme exceeded the strength of Col. Croghan's iktachmont, and that this intrepid young offiecr was compelled to withdraw his forces after having sustained a hjss of sixty-six killed and wounded." Tiierc were but fifty Indians on the island at the time of the attack, so that Mr. Thom- siiii's " intrepid youuij ojliccr," the hero of Saiuhisky, did not cover himself with laurels oil the occasion. Shortly after the arrival of Col. McDouall at Miehilimacinac, he ut.uk OM the post of ■ ;, j^ ^ SO many Iriira' ilu tliieii. •> • •' of the Western Indians, that he felt warranted in despatching a [larty ti attack the late Indian post of Prairie du Cliien, some four hundred and fifty miles fiMiu Miehilimacinac, on the Mississippi, which had been lately taken posscssi(m of by G'^n. Clark. A St. Louis paper states that "every attention was directed to the erection iif a temporary place calculated for defence, that a new fort was jirogressing, and that thi' defence was entrusted to one hundred amlthircy-four dauntless young fellows from the country." Besides these dauntless young fellows, wo know that sixty rank and file of the 7th regiment were present. All this preparation shows the importance attached to the post, and makes it the more strange that no American author should have alluded t'j the expedition despatched against it. The object in nuiking this attack was to fOiaove the possibility of an unexpected attack on ^liehilimacinac from the roar. C'l, McKay's dispat(di to Col. McDouall will I'e found sufficiently oxjdanatory without farther comment from "us. From Lieuteiuint-Coltincl M'h'ai/ to Lieutenant- Colonel iWDou(dt I'niiricJii C/iii)!, Birt M'Kny. SIR, July 27, \^\\. I have the honour to communieate to yon. that I arrived here on the 17tli instant at 12 o'clock; my force amounting to (ioU men: of which, loO were 3Iichigan fencibles. Canadian vidunteers, aiul officers oi' the In- dian department, the renmiinhn' Indians. I found that the enemy had a small fort, situated on a height, immediately behind the village, with two blockhouses, perfectly safe from Indians, and that thoy had (j pieces of cannon, and GO or 70 etleeti\o men, officers included. That, lying at anchor in the middle of the Mississip[ii, directly in front of the fort, there was a very large gun- boat, called (lovornor Clark, gun-boat Xo. 1, mounting 1-t pieces of cannon, some and o pounders, and a number of colnu'iis, nianued with 70 or hiO men with muskets, and measuring 70 feet keel. This floating blockhouse is so constructed, that she can be rowed in any direction, the men on board being perfectly safe from small anus, uhlle they can use their own to the grcate.->t ad- vantage. At half-past 12 o'clock, I sent captain Anderson with a flag of truce, to invite them to surrender, which they refused. 3Iy in- tention was not to ha\ o made an attacdc till next morning at day-light ; but, it being impossible to control the Indians, I ordered our gun to play upon the gun-boat, which she did with a surprizing good eHect ; for, in course of throe hours, the time the action lasted, she fired 80 rounds, two-thirds of which went into the (lovcrnor Clark. 'Thev ko[>t up a constant fire upon us, l)otli from the boat and fort. "We were an hour be- tween two fires, having run our gun up within musket-shot of the fort, from whence we beat the boat out of her station. She cut her cable and ran down the current, and waN siudtered under the ishmd. Vv'o were oblig(-d to desist, it bcir.g imiiossiblo, with our little liarges, to attempt to board her, and our only gun in pursuit of her would have exposed our wlnde camp to the cnemv, she therefore made her escape. I, A ii f 203 TIISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. I I On tlio r,Hh, iiii'lint; there -were only six rdiimls (if'roiiiiil shot renuiiiun^r, iriclinliii.ir tlireo of the cnoiny's v>c \m<\ picked up, tlio il;iy Avas eniphiyeil in makin;;; lead hiillets for the i;;iin, and throwing; up two hrcast- works ; one Avithin 7'") yards, and the other Avilhin 4;')() yards of the furt. At six in tlie (!veninp;, every thin^ lieing prepared to the first hreast-work, from wlienco I intended tlirowirj; in the remain- ing; six roundfj. At the moment, the first hall Avas aliout bein;; put into the cannon, a Avhite lla;^ Avas put out at the fort, and im- nicdititely an officer came doAvn Avith a note and surrendered. It heln;;; too h\tc I deferred Riakin;; tliem deliver up tlieir arms in form till mornin<:^, but innuediately placed a etroni^ guard in the fort, and took possession of the artillery; Frciui the time of our lanilin;f till the}' surrendered, the Indians kept up a constant Ijut perfectly useless fire, upon the fort : tlie distance from AA-lience they fired Avas too jjreat to do execution, even had the enemy l)eea exposed to a lew. I am happy to inform you, that every man in the 3Iichi^an fencilile.s, Canadian volun- teers, and ollicers in the Indian department, behaved as Avell as I could possibly Avish ; and, thou;.';h in the midst of a hot tire, not a man Avascvcn Avnuudod except three Lulians; that Is, one I'uant, one Fallsovine, and cue .Sioux, all severely, but not dangerously. One lieutenant, 24th U. S. regiment ; one militia captain, one militia lieutenant, three Serjeants, three corporals, tAVO musi- cians, .').'> privates, one commissary, and one ii\terpreter, have been made prisoners, C)ne iron (i-pounder, mounted on a garrison, carriage ; one iron u-pounder, on a field carriage ; three sA\'ivels, Gl stand of arms, four swords, one field-carriage for G-pounder, and a gooil deal of ammunition ; 28 barrels of pork, and 40 barrels of fiour: tliesc arc the principal articles found in the fort Avhon surrendered. I Avill noAA- take the liberty to reriucst 3-our particular attention to captains Rollette and Anderson ; the former for his activity in many instances, but particularly during the action. The action having commenced unexpectedly, he ran down from the ujiper end of the village, A\ith his compuny, through the heat of the fire to rceive orders ; and before and since, In jjclng in- strumental in preserving the citizens from being quite ruined by pillaging Indians ; and the latter, for his uuAvearied atteiitiun in keeping everything in order during tie route, and his activity in fidlnwlng up tli.3 cannon during the action, and assisting in transporting the annnunition. Lleutoiinnt Portler, of captain Anderson's companv ; lieutenants Graham and Rrisbois, of the In- dian department ; captain l»ean of the Prairie du Chien militia ; and lieutenant PoAvell, of the Green Ray, all acted AvIth ccmragc and activity, so becoming Cana- dian militia or Aoluntcers. The Interpretors also behaved well, but particularly M. St. Germain, from tlie Sault St. ^larie, and jM. Rouvllle, Sioux Interpreter: they aW lately prevented their Indians committing any outrage in the plundering Avay. Com- missary Ilonorc', Avlio acted as lieutenant In cajitahi RoUette's company Avhose singular activity in saving .and keeping an exact ac- count of provisions surprised me, and Avitli- out Avhtch Ave nuist unavoidably have lost much of that essential article. The Michi- gan fencibles, Avho manned the gun, he- haved Avith great courage, coolness, and regularity. As to the sci-jeant of artllh'rj, too much cannot be said of him ; for the fate of the day, and our success are to lio attributed, in a great measure, to Lis cour^i.ge, and Avell-riuuiaged firing. Since Avriting the foregoing, a fcAv Sanks have arrived at the rapids, at the Rock river. AvIth tAVO Canadians, aiicttor grace from Col. Mi-Kay, had lie notpreviously stated that the tiro inces- yantly keiit up liy them wa-:* perfectly use- less, from their heing so Jar (>(/', v.jiilc, in the very next paragraph, ho admits that n^t a man, e.xeept i/nxc Indians, Avas wound(!d. IliiW is this reeoneihiljle with the re^pectfnl ijistanee which they oliserved? and did it not occur to Col. McKay, when stating that his red allies got wounded, that he was thcrehy admitting the fact of their being under lire ? , , Captain Sinclair after Attni'k on ami ilos- "^ ^r- i -i- tr.iiPii (if tliu Nmioy tho repulsc at jlichili- macinae, thinknig, we presume, that it would nut answer to return euqitj'-handed, and having missed tho furs at St. ^Mary's and St. Joseph's, determined tumako a third attempt to accpiiro laurels and booty by a descent on a block house, two miles up the Xottawasaga, situate on the south-east side of the rivtn-, which here runs parallel to, and forms a narrow peninsula with, tho slioro of Gloucester Hay. The success of the expedition ^Aas conijilete, so far as the destruction of the blockhouse, but neither the Xancv, her men, nor the furs when captain Sinclair departed for Lake I'irie, lie left the two American Sidiooners, Tigress and Scorpion, to blockade the Xot- tawasaga, hojiing thereliy, as it was thcunly route by which pnnisions or .-ujiplies of any descriijtion could be forwardi'il to Michili- macinac, that he should lie thus enabled lo starve out a [)lace \vhich had sui'ii-^-;i'uily resisteil an attack by arms. In obecliince, probalily, to oi'ders, tlie schooners took atrip to the neighljoui'huod of St. -loscph's, and were discovered liy s(ime Indians, Avho dis- closed the fact of tiieir ]ircsence to lieutenant Worsley, with the additional information that they were lll'lfen miles ajiart. Acting on this information, lieutenant Worsiey jiro- ceeded to take the measures which will be found detailed in Uio following despatch ; — From Lieutenant Ihd'^rr to Li'^idcnant-Culuncl fll'Dowtll. Jlcc.'aliiiuiruiiu; Sijit^niilrr V, l*-! 1. SIR, I have the honor to rejiort to you the par- ticulars of th(i cajiture of the rniled States' schooners, Scorpi.m and Tigress, liy a de- tachment from this garrison, under the com- mand of Lieutenant Worsley, of the royal inivy, and myself. In obedience to your ordm's, we left Mich- ilimacinac on the evening of the 1st instant, in four boats, one of which was nninncd by seamen under Lieutenant Wcjrsley, theothcra by a detachment of the royal Newfoundland regiment, under myself, Licutemmts Arm- rowardeil tho prowess of captain Sinclair I strong, ainl Radeuiiurst. ^\^i arrived near and his party, as lieutenant Worsely, Avhojtho Detour about sun-set on the f.llowing commanded, burned the Xaney, a small ,hiy ; but nothing was attcMupted that night, trading schooner belonging to the Xorth Vtest Compiany, to prevent tho enemy taking possession of her, and, as the block house had been set fire to by a shell, he himself retired with his party up the river. Tho whole of the Xcn-th AVest Company's valua- ble furs had been previously despatched up the French river, s(j that tho side reward reaped on the occasion was the destruction off. log block house, ami the destruction of !i sehuuner soino eighty or a hundred tons krthen. Although no benetit was rcajied "V the Anun-icans in this all'air, it was piro- liuotiic of ultimate good to the Uritish, as. as the enemy's po-^ition Imd not been cor- rectly ascertaini'il. TIk; troops rcnniiued the wlnde of tho Grd instant concealed ann)ngst tho woods, and, about G o'clock that evening, began to move towards the enemy. We had to row about six mih;s, during wdiicli the most perfect order and silence reigned. Tho Indians who acconi[ianied us from Macinae, were left about three miles in the rear. About 9 o'clock at night wodiseoveredtho enemy, and had approached to within lUO yards bclbre they hailed us. Un receiving no answer, they opened a smart lire upon us, both of musketry and of the mo IITSTORY OF TIIK AVAR OF 1812. 2l-piiiin'lL'r. All opiiosition, hnwovor, ■was'iittrilnitod ; but I must assure you, th.it in vain ; iiml in the course nf five niinutos, every officer and man did his duty. the enemy's vessel was hoarded and carried, i I have tlie lionor to he, &c. hy Lieutenant AVorseley and lieutenant Arm- [ A. II. ]>L'f/IER, stroll,^ nil the starho'.'.rd-side, and my lioat Lieutenant Royal Ncwfinindland Re;j;I;nent, annlgcr and fifty rank and file. Besides this beating up to US ; the soldiers 1 directed to! , ,, « , , , , , 1- , 1, 1 1 i ; number, tlierc were forty-one others takca keep below, or to lie down on the deck, to' ,, t .• , . , .i ., , . „ ,, . , ,, from tlio Indian department, the coinnn-sa- avoid being seen. Lvery thing succeeded to' . , ,, , ., , t ,- , • ,. . , ', " . 1 , , riat, ivc, besides three fndnin chiels. Iho our wisli ; the enemy came to anchor about' , . . „,.„.. ... ., „ . ', . , , , , I American versions (d this affair, wlmli wa^; two miles from us in the niglit : and, as dav! , ,, , • , r. ,. ■ • • , , ,,/.,.,,,., ,,•' I made the subject of a court of investigation dawned on tlie uth instant, wc slipt our cable, I , ,, . " , r- „ , . , . , , , ... 1 , -1 by their government, fully sustain their and ran down under our iib and foresail. , ^ n •,■ n . . ^ n T, ,, . ,, , , T- character tor fortuity of invention. Ikf.jio Every thing was so well managed bv Lieu-' , , ,, -i, ... /^ , ^ ,,, , , , ■ ', ■ . : the court, tlie British force was made to cou- tenant Wnrselev, tliat wo were within ten . , « ,, . , i ,,- •, , , ,. , ' , . , ,. , sist of three hundred soldiers, sailors ami vards of tfie enemy befrn'o they discoveredT i- -^r mi i- i- , , ji , n • , Indians. Mv. ihomson suiiplies beutenaut I's It was then too late ; tiU", in the course ,,r , .,, , , i , wt t t „, . , 1 , , ., I AvorseleyAVith two hundred and fifty Indiana, of hve miuidos, her dock was covered with , , i i rr. -i i i . i * , ' -r . . , a hundreel and hlty sailors, and adctacluin.nt our men, and the British flag hoisted over' p., a- n ,, ' i • ^ at ■->•.. , , . ^,, '^ of tlieiNewfoundlandicirniu'nt. Jir.iU nr.iKir the American. She proved to be the fecor- ,. , .' • . , • . i , ,, \. ,, I mentions no numbers, luU introduces iiisteau pion, commanded bv Lieutenant Inrner, of ,, ru • , , l ' ,, . , ^, , - . ' , the ioflowmg statement, the Lnitcd States navy; carrying one long 24-pounder in her hold, with a cimiplenient; « Captain Arthur Sinclair, commanding tlio of;!2 men. She had two men killed, and United States' naval fVirce on the upper two wounded. I enclose a return of onr'tukos, states in a letter to the Sei-retary of killed and wounded, and am happy to say the Navy, on the authority of sailing mav that the latter .arc but slight. ! tor Champlin, that 'the conduct of th'j j enemy to their prisimers (the crew of the To the admirable good conduct and man Tigress), and the inhuman butchery of tlm-o agement of Lieutenant AVorseley, of the royal avIio fell into their hands, at the attack ''U navy, the success is to lie in a great measure | Michilimaciuac, has bccu barbarous beyen'i HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF 1S12. ini assure you, that his iluty. to 1ji\ ite. L II. IJULGEU, .ndland Rc;^'uuent. I'Douall, &c. &c. ■woumled of the ptiivo of the United 11 and Ti^^rcss, on il)cr, 181-1. kand{ih\-\voundpd. 'icr/iiiienf; — 1 Licu- 'ouaded. snot mention in his ivc to the value of I'C aypraiscd shoi'tly )ers, and valued at ,s stcrlinj^. As all )niittcd, it Avill be :is party consisted of ,0 niidshipman, one ucn, with lieutenant d lilo. besides this ty-ono others taken ucnt, the eonmiissa- [ndiun ehiefs. The is aifair, which wa^; iuvt of inveslij^ation fully sustain their invention, l^^efiro ee was nuule to cun- ildiers, sailors and sujudios lieutenant ■cd and lifty Indians 's, and iidetachiiient nicut. 31r.0\'i.nm'r introduecs instead lir, commanding tho ree on the upper to the Secretary uf ty of sailing; nia>- he conduct of tlio s (the crew of the \n hutchory of thuso Is, at the attack on u barljarous bcyunJ [•; a parallel. Tiie former have been plundered of almost every article of clothinj^ they pos- ?c:»sed ; the latter had their hearts and livers taken out, which were acluaUif cooked and feasted on by the savages; and that too in discipline of the crew of the Ar^ins ? Tngi'rsol knew full well, when he attempted this ridiculous excuse, that when a nuM-rhant vessel is taken by a man of war, that, shinild she not be destroyed, a prize crew is put on (kqnarfers of the British oj/iccrs, saiic'iuncd. hourd of her, and she is despatched tn the ly Col. McDouall.' " nearest jiort; had he, therefore nientinneil as T^ . , , 1 .1 • ' a reason why the i>ri/o was reiMpturcd, that It IS only necessary to remark on this; , . - , , . ,, , , ,. /• 1 • i- r.-.r /->'/-( , the prize crew i^ot drunk, It would have been extraordinary tabrication oi Mr. Connor s, | ' , » • i „ .., . , , , ,,. , ... lof no unusual occurrence. Again, how were that there were no prisoners taken at Michili-i , „ , . , . ,i 1 ,, , . ,, ,. I the crew of the Argus to Iiave got at the maein.ic, and tliat in the proceedings, as ' . , . " i , i v , , , , . . . , r .1 ^.wine; the prize was not taken liy boanling, reported by American journals, of the court! , ,. , , , i / • „ xi i J. • 1 xi a- 1 „ but bv a gun Jired across lier liows, and so of enqr.iry that tried the officers and crew of " , , , ^ c , rp- 1 V ; so(m as a boat s crew was put on board or the ligress, no sucli proceedings were even' , ,, ,. , . ,. i ,, i .. ,. , , . T -i. 1 1 1 XI i. 1 1 X ; her, the I'ehcan being discovered, tlie lioat s hinted at. Is it probable that such conduct ! ,,,,,,. , , .^ 1 111 , 1 '; crew were recalled, and the brig set on iire. had it occurred, would have been passed over ' . , ,, , , . , ,,. ,. . ., ,« V ., ,,, , lis it nroljable that the captain and olhcers oi in silence, afiording, as it would have done, I , , ,,, ..,,.,,. , X -x f x- X- • XI I the Ar"us would be so remiss 111 tlieir duties ?ueh an opportunity of stigmatizing the I ^ . , , , , ■ • „ ... , „ „,, • i". X '!i« ii«t to notice the lioat s crew liringing liritish { Ihe ansv.'cr is obvious, yet we , „ , . , . £ 1 xi X AT ntrx > 1 1 "vi xi Itaek from the prize so much wine as to find that Mr. Connor s book, with the ■ . . , ', , , , . , . . , , X !• X 1 1 i intoxicate a wlio'^ crew, and keep tlieni in atrocious statement uncontradicted, has pas- , „ ' , '- . , ,, , vx- !• [that state for twenty-four hours, the tunc K'd througli many editions, and IS oven now! , , ,, •' , r , ^ ■ , , , PI-", • xi IT -x 1 c'x X Ithat elapsed between the caijturc of the ling a class book 01 history in tlic United States. I , , ^ . . . ,,,, , , ., T 1 X xi 1 xi X X X laud the going into actmn. ihe whole idea lu regard to the numbers, the statements . , , , r • . , • IS absurd, ami only iurnisbes another m- fiirnishcd by authorities who wrote on the subject at the time, have enabled us to dis- prove the xiinerican exaggerations, by giving the correct numbers. XnTiil pruceetliiig?. "We must now pass, for the present, from the op- stance of what American writers will ri'^nrt to in order to bolster up any national dis- honour or defeat. (■nil; erations by land, and take a glance at thel.\ia,-,,|\,','i;'iu' aila'sioup States forty - four- gun occurrences that had taken place during the ' """■* On the 24th of May Commodiire Decatur, l>.'i'afui"s ciuiso ill Commanding the United il stairs, villi lu and !i:in. thirty-eight, and the Hornet, eigiueeii ever, to notice one statement of Ingersol's S'l'^ '^1"<'P. ■started for the East Ir.dics frnm relative to the capture of the xVrgus by II. x^I. ^''^\\' York. IJy the 1st June, th.> American Bri;; the Pelican, which we have already touched upon. sciuadron had got through tlio intricacies of Long Island sound, by whioh passage they were forced to endeavour to get out, Sandy ^n extenuation of the loss of the Argus, ir , , • n i i i i .T x i ,., , . '^ I Hook being blockaded, and they stood out to Ingersol states "that on the l.ith xVugust, . , ? , ' f. ,. ,°. , ,,,!•,. sea. At nine a. m., however, tiiev were dis- the Argus captured a vessel loaded with wine, I , , ir T>r i • -i- i- .,."'„ , , , 1 icovered by II. M. ship \ aluint, seventy- ot which too free use was made by the Amc- p . -xi xi • i i ' . ,.,,,, lour guns, in company with the eighteen- ncan crew, soon after which Jier flag was, I , j, . r •" x 4 x i • . , .' , „ " I pounder, lortv-gun frigate Acasta, and iiu- notingloriouslv, struck, after an engagement : v x i i" i ir i • " - " " mctuatoly chased. Here was a glorious with the Engli:di brig of Avar Pelican, Capt. Maples." Now what inference is to be drawn from opportunity for Commodore Decatur ; he had been thirsting for an opportunity to tackle single-handed to a British seventy-four; and this passage? Is it to be construed into a as according to Ai.iorieaii accounts the confession that the American captain resorted Maeeihniian was as fine a frigate as the to an attempt to give his crew what is com- IJritish had ever built, the xVeasta w;is just mouly styled Dutch courage, or should it be her match, and if any slight make-weight takon as a very severe reproof upon the inight have bceu rcipiircd, it was amply '.iO'2 HISTORY OF THE ^y\u or isi2. Hiipjili'il liv t!io lliriii't. Wliiit tluMi (li^i()iis (At'rliiiiir'l, tn (x.-apo ('a]itiiio. Tito Cniiunndiirc il'nl ii;it r.ltcinjit to invrcaso tlii' f'd'i'o hi jiiirsiiit, l.ut ilii; American pa]icrs (lid: and it Wiis, iiccMrdin.'-ly. circulated tiirougli the L'liiiiii, that threo vessels liad chaseil, a ra/.ue ljei;if^ a'ided to the real muiiher. An tittoiiipt Avas m:-.<\o. a short time after , ,, the eh:i.Mi (if lieeatiir and A*t 'iii|it to M. w u]) til" llaiiiiiirs, ;ii li-liiT ]:is s(i;iadri(ii, tolilow lip the ri:iiiiilies poventy- fmir, tlicn at Anchor lit Fisher's Island. James ;!;ives tlie following ncoount of this occurrence. Two merchants of \cw York, encouraged by a promise of reward from the American GoviM-iuncnt, formed a ]ilan for destroyin;;' the ll:i;nilies, Capl tin Sir Thomns ^Master- man Hardy. A schooner named the Ka;-le was laden with several cask if gunpoAvder, haviiii;' trains leadint;' fr(nii . .-jiocics of gun luck, whicli, tipun the principle of clock- work, went oil' at a given period after it had heen set. AIjono the casks of powder, iind ill full view at the hatch wa}-, were some ca.'-ks of ihair, it heing known at iVew York that the liamilies was sh.ort of provisions, and naturally sujiposed that Captain Hardy Would immediately order the vessel along- side, in order to get the ship's wants sup- plied." slooji, wlTudi had lieeii r(,'ceutly captured and lay a short distance oU". The lieiitijnant dlil as he was ord.'yc.l, my] at '2 h. .'!0 III., ]i. 111., while he and his uum wer(! ill the act of securing her, the sciiufnci' Mew uji v.itli a treiin'r.dous explosion. The [loor lieiitenaiit and ten of the iinc fellows who were with hini, [lerished ; and the re- maining three men escaped only with hcin" shockingly scorched. 15. ith James iiiul Uienton are very severe in their aiiime.d\ersions on this head, ami James declares that he fully concurs with Breiiton in the AjUuwiiig remark: — "A quantity of arsenic placed aniciiL'st the food, would have heeii so ptrfecily cnui- patilde with the rest of the contrivance, tluit we wonder it was not resorted to. Slioultl actions like these receive the sanction of Government, the science of war, niMi tin; hvx of nations, will degenerate into the inirlarity of the Algerines ; and murder and pillage will take the place of kindness and liumauity to our enemies." '• Thus mnr.lerously laden, the schoon'jr sailed from Xew York and stood up Uic sound. On the "otli, in the morning, the Eagle :ippi'oached Xew L(;ndon, as if inteiid- iug to enter that river. The Hamilics dis- patched a lioat, with thirteen men, under lieutenant John Geddes, to cut her off. At eleven, a. ui., lieutenant Geddes boarded the S(?hooner, and found that the crew, after having let go her onl^- anchor, had aban- done 1 their vessel and fled to the shore. 'J'he lieutenant lirought the fatal prir/.c near the Itamilies, and Sir Thomas oiih^ved him to place '.he vessel alongside of a trading I permitted." "We confess wo arc not of tlsis epini'^n. AVe see in this transaction nothing im re than the niodiljed use of lire shijis, and can- not see the ditferencc between this sc!ic:iie ;u!d the Emperor of llussia sinking subnni- riiic charges to blow up vessels atteniiitiiig the p;issage to Cronstadt. Some eminent writers on the subject, such as \\'(df, itc., have asserted that war legalizes any violence, and that fraud and poison may be einpliwed ;igainst enemies ; Grotius, Yatel, and utlior authorities have defined the legitimate inoJo of war to be the employment only of such force as is necessary to accomplish the end of war — rather an ambiguous deflnitiijii. Leaving, however, thi,'.^ nice point to bo set- tled by the [leace congress, we would direct attention to Ingersol's inconsistency on this suliject. He is very ehupient on the em- ployment of the Indians by the British, mid declares that "God and Uiiture put no sufh means in men's hands : shocking to evory lover of hononih'e war. In vain hn.s religion ceil established if the;e acts of crueltv arc Amv s; was no II iMnnraliie tlie IvMinii l;ating tlic ^\ e ire can find n into GdesH 5tadt or St deplore w.i necessity i I'iviiio Jaw i:i;:ed ],y ,u Ijc regulate Perha[)s i Anioric,.|nI,.,;i Wrri'iiiy Im til '.fiIu'l'ru.«M,.|ii doi'O Hod.r, n ■ return fnm fv^od tJie 1 V'-rk, "w!j, ■?;»»' nothiiit ^.'leu I a"-;i mmi/'s .if/na aiile cause, v a'thougli in superit,!- f^rc remain oiitsi iii,,''""" the ti This assei 8»t suflicien fWout, uho !ii!ierted that ''■:ir(l they f!''areil for a 'Wn within "n the starl -"r maintop; i»d, seeing n f'lirgunslui. J^i'osideut ga\ '".listed our c. "''•cluctanth Ueket, jier u 'I'i haiul.s wei '^' mniixlji.e s ""'»«li it was s'imulaiit c(h; 10 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1S12. .10.1 ociuly eaptm-uJ, wi\s Dvili'VC'l, ami lu; iinil lii-t ">';" her, i\^c si'liiioncr 8 CXI ill i^i' 111- The f tlie iiiii' iVUows, ^lictl -. !ui«l tlio re- el uiilv whliljeing on t'.vo vory severe on this lii'iul, fiiul fully einii.uvs with lie pLu'cd ammi,':?t n so perfectly cdui- he contriviinee, tluit csortod to. SliouM vc the siu'.ftiou of of -Will-, ami the hnr tcinto the iiiirh.ivity iiuivJer and I'lllii^c .due.-^s and huiiwuity lot of tl-:l> oiiiuK.n. •tion niitlilu^ wa'e lire s-hi\is. and cuu- jotwccu tills scheme ,sia ^-iukiii^ t^ulnua- n YOHScls attcwi'tiug .t. Some eminent siudi as Wolf, ic, -alizcs any violence, 'ii may he onipl"}''-''^ .,s, Yatel, and utlior the legitimate muile vmcnt only of such iiccompllsh the end ihiguous definition, lico point tohe^ot- ,^^^ AYC would direct n(-onsii*tcncy on this ,M^u(>nt on the em- hy the British, mid uatnrc put no such shookini;; to cvory In vain has reli;:i"n acts uf cruelty arc Now surely the cnijdnynient of Indians WAS no more Khocking to cvory hivcr of liouiiraldo w.ir, tlnvn the .'ittonipt to lilo\v up the Uamilics. Yet we iind iui;(jr.-(d rcpro- Uuin;^ the one and passinij over the other. AVe ire m iro lioncst than In<2;er.-i(d, and can find no difrereneehetwcenasiicll tlirown into Odessa, and a tire-shij) scut into Crou- stivlt or .Seha-itopol. K\er\' CMri>tian must Jejilorew.ir as a calamity, hut so lon^as the ti\(! sliori<. wliorc luuidrods were assoniMcd to witness the cnga;^cment." '' The oommandor of the seventy-four," adds tiie writer (d'tlils veraoinus duouniont, "Imdit in liis power, for live hours, to hring us at any tiuio to an cngaueniout. our lualntopsail to thu ma-^t during that time. It was afterwards ascertained that tlte .ship wliicli declined the Initthj with the iVe.iidont, was the I'lantagenct, sevonty-fiair, (.'aptain Lloyd. 'J"h(; reason glsoii l>y Capiiiiu Idoyd for avoiding an engagat:ement was tiiat liis necessity of a thing, so opposed to every Divine law as a state of warhire, is reeoo-. iii;;'jd liy initions, Ave cannot see how it is to'ercw were in a state of mutiny." be regulated hy Christian rules. Perhaps one of tlie mo>t signal instances of unhhishln'T clFrontery Amcnc.'inlinastiii'.'iim . ri'-ri'iuv tM till' loiu-iic occurred in the case of tlio i'resident, Lommo- doro llodgers. The I'resident was on her return fron\ her tliird cruise, and having pissed tlie Delaware was stainling for New Yurk, "when," says the Commodore, "I saw nothing until I made Sandy IIoolc, vrheu I again fell in with unot/ter of thv tnmi/'.i .s(iii((ilru- rossa frigate. The cargo was valued at one hundred thousand dollars. The Pniiiy aivl New Zcalander were tilled with all tln' oil from the other ships, and sent home. Tiny were, however, 1ioth recaptured, with their prize crews — the first by the Loire, the second by tho Belvidera. The Rose and Charlton were given up to tho prisoners ; the Sir Andrew Hammond was taken ly the Che- rub ; the Hector, Greenwich, and Catherine got burned, and the Seringapatam was run iiway Avith by her crew, who delivered her to her owners in payment of salvage. It will thus be seen that, a balance being struck, the i res'iilc would not be very favouralilc to the j An'oricav Gov( rnment, the loss of the Essex | being taken in; j consideration ; not to speak j of tho valuable services of Captain David j Porter, of whose talents as a despatch-writer we will furnish tho reader with au esamplej in our next chapter. THE HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. r.05 CHAPTER XIX. rCXTENTS. fiiptnin Daviil Porter as a writer of ilcspatclics. --Fifth iiivasitm of Caiiaila by a Uiiiteil States' army.— General Brown's proclama- tiim or general order. — General Brown's force. — Surreniler of Fort Erie. — General Bi'own')< Despatch — Movcmcnt-i of the Ainc- riciin army. — General Brown's inaction and timidity. — Brown's letter to Cliauncey. We give Lclow, as promised in our last Caiitiiin navia Porter chapter, Capt. Porter's ajawiiterofdespatcht's. lougthy vindication of * Litter /rum Captain Porter to t/w Secretary of the Navij. Essex .Junior, July 3rd, 1814 at Sea. Sir, — I ha "0 done myself the honour to ad- dress you repeit'edly since I left the Delaware ; but have scarcely a hope that one of my It'Iters has roacheil you: therefore Ciiiisider it necessary to j^ive yon ii brief history of my pro- ceoiling-- since that period. I sailed from the Delaware on the 27tli of Octohor, 1812, and repaired with all dili(df. An en- sign and motto Hug at tlio gafl", anutlier motto Hag, " free trade and equal rights," at tlie fore, an ensign in t!ie mizen rigging, and think that a more e.Ktraordinary production fur mingled cunning and blundering it would be difficult to find. Cai)tain Porter appear.s to enabi" "i" lo meet the Conunodore by the 1st of April, ofT8t. Helena, I proceeded to the island of .'^t. Catharines (the last jdace of ren- dezvous on the coast of Brazil) as the most likely t'^ supjily my wants, and at tlie same time afford me that secrecy necessary to enable me to elude the I'ritish ships of var on the coast, and expected there. I here could jiro- cuio only v.ood, water and rum, and a few bags of Hour; a?id hearing of the Commndore'sactinu witli the Java, the cajiture of the ll'imet by the Montague, ami a consideiable augmentation of the Britisii force on the coast, and of several being in pursuit f>f me, I found it necessai'y to get to sea as soon a possible. I now, agreeably to the Commodore's plan, stretched to the southward, securing the coast so far as Itio ilo la Plata. I heard that Buenos Ayi'cs was in a state of stai'vation, and could not supply our wants ; and that the governraent of Montevideo was very inimical to us. The Conunodere's in- structions now left it completely di^cretiniKiry with me what course to pursue, aud I deter- mined on following that which had not only met his .approbation, but the approbation of the then secretary of the navy. I accordingly shaped my course for the l^acitic ; and alter suffering greatly from short allowance of provi- sions, and heavy gales off (.'ape Torn (for which my ship and men were l)adly provided) I arrived at Valparaiso on the Mtli of March, 1813. I here took in as much jerked beef and oth«r provisions, as my ship would cuuve- lA m L 300 IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR OF 1H12. S: I an«l sovcrsil jacks lioisteil in ilifrcroiit parts of tilt! slii[i — all tlii'so !in; iiKHitioiKMl liy Ciipl. Porter, awl liii'l ln' imt ackmnvlodgcd it, nieiitly i^tow, iiinl ran dciwii the coast oC Chili iiml Peru; ill tills track I IVll in witii a I'l'iii- viaii f'nrsair, wliicli tiail on Inaril I wciity-tmir Aiiioiii'Mii-i IIS ]ii'isiini'rs, tlic crows oi' two Avliak- siiijts, wliicli ^lln liiul taken on the const nt'Cliili. Tlio ciiiitain infoniieil mo, tiiiit, as tlic iiUh's of (ircat l>iitaiii, lliry wmild caiitiirc nil tlicy slioiilil iiicot witli, ill cxticefation of « AViir lictwccii Si)ain ainl tlio Uiiitdl States, 1 coiisci(iicnily threw all his (i;iiiis nail iiimiiiini- tioii into tiie sea, lilierateil the Aiiitrieaiis, wrote II lesiiecli'iil letter to tlie viceroy, ex- jilainiii^r the ciiiiso of my pidceediii^fs. which 1 (leliveidl to lier ca|itiiiii. 1 then jiincecileil for Lima ami rc-cajitureil one of the vessels as she was cnteriiifi thejiort. From tlienco I proceeil- td for the (!alli|ia;ros Islaiuls, where I ciui/.eil from the ITtli of .\|iiil. until the ".rcl of Octolier, 181^1; dm inn which time ^ touched only once on the coast of America, Avliich was for the jiurjiosc of jirocurinjj; a sii]/iily of fresh water, as none is to he lound luiioii;; tlio.se ishiiuls, which are, ]ioiOiaps, tlie most barren and deso- late of any known. While iimonp; this pronp. 1 captured the followiirj: IJritish ships, eni|iloyed cliietiy in the •Tamos' Naval History would liuve furnishf'd the iiifiiriimtioii. AVo slioiild scarcely note such a tritle, were spermnccti whale fishery 1 %> */ LF.TTKIIS 01' MAIUJC K. T'tit^. Mm. (i'»,(S. Vurcc.ll for. ^Montezuma 270 21 2 Policy 175 2i3 10 18 Georjiiaiia li80 25 18 Greenwich ;',88 25 10 20 Atlantic ;io5 24 8 20 Rose 220 21 8 20 Hector 270 25 11 20 Catharine 270 29 8 18 Keriniiiii'atani 8.-)7 ni 14 2(1 Charlton 274 21 10 18 New Zeahuidcr 2.:)0 2:? 8 18 Sir A. Hammond 301 in 12 18 3,450 302 107 As some of those ships were captured liy boats, and others by prizes, my oflicers and men liad several opiiortunitics of showing their gallantly, The Rose and Chiivlton were given to the prisoners, the IFector, Catharine and .Monte- zuma, 1 sent to Valparaiso, where they were laid up; the I'olicy, (.ieorjti.tna and New Zea- lander, 1 sent for .\mcrica ; the Greenwich I kept as a store ship, to contain the stores of any othf-i prizes, necessary for us ; and tlic Atlantic, now called Essex junior, I cquipjied with twenty (iuns, and gave comand of her to lieutenant Dowiies, Lieutenant Downos had conveyed the ]U'izcs to Valparaiso, and on liis return brought me letters informing me, that a squadron under the command of commodcn'e .lames Hillyar, con- tistiu;^ of tl:e frigate Thuebc, of tliirty-.six guns, the Itacoon and Cherub sloops of war, mid it vtore-ship of twenty guns, had sailed im tlie I'lth of .Inly for this sea. 'I'he llucomi and Cheiiib had been seeking me t' r M.ine time i.n the coast of Hrazil. and on their ri tiiin In.iii their cruize, joined the sfpmilron sent in search cd' me to the I'acitic. .My ship, as it may he supposed, after being ni'iir a year at sen, re- ipiireil some repairs to ]iiit her into a state to iiuct them; which 1 ileteiinlnecl to do, ami bring theiii to action if 1 could meet thei: on neiii'ly equal terms. I proeeedi d now in f Nooaheevah or Mnilisdii'K island, lying in the ]Vi(ins ami stores for upwards of four moiitlis, and ^ai!ed for the coast of ChiU on the 12th of December, 18];{. Previous to sailing. I secured the yeringapiitam, Green- wich and Sir Andrew ilamniond iimler the giiii:* of a battery, which 1 erected for their protcc- tioii, (after taking jiossession id' this fine i>liiiiil for the United States, and establishing the iiaist friendly incrcourse with the native^.) I left them under the charge id' lieutenant (iaiidile of the nvirines, with twenty-one men, witii oiikr.s to repair to Valiiaraiso, after a certain iK'iioil, I arrived on the coast of Chili on the ]2tli i.f .lanuary, 1814; looked into Coiicci'tion iiihI Valjiaraiso, found at both placis mily time Kiigli-h ve-^si'ls, aiul leariie that the siiuiidlnll leiro for that sea c their deimitiire, st in endeaveuiiiig en up the British the vessels whith le. were laid uii iiml 1(1 afforded the iiie-' own vessels, ■Hliiili mimennis iiiid uii- ivhale ilshery there he aetuiil injury we tiniated at two and jiendent of exiieiises lie. They have fur- •<, cordage, cahles, lies and stores of lops on board them r the seamen. We enemy siiiee I had ze haviiifr jivoved a ne. 1 had not yet of drnwiii}: bill^ "" joct, and had heeii iile advances U my if pay. vve had kept the reinarka'jly healthy. it not iipiirt i)f till! ridicuIniH {H'otiMisioii ami siii'''!'iii,;i wliirli |iro\aIlt'd, and vvii'hdi laid .Vmeric-aii dilii irs oiicii to tlio idiar^o that I hailhiit one case of the .scurvy, ii nl Inul lost iiuly tiie f(illowiiij5 men by ileatli ; vi/.. : .liiliii S. Cowan, lieut. Holier! Mill.T. surgeon. Levi llolnies, o. seaman. Ivhvard Swejuy do. ,'^:iiiiiiel (iroco, seaniaii. .hiiiii's Spatfonl, jriiniier's mate. lioniaiiiin (ieer.s, 1 . , ,• I, , ' ,• iiiiarter j'nnnovs. .Jiilin l!od;_'ers, j ' "^ Andrew Maliaii, corporal of marines. Lewis I'i'ice, |irivate mariiu'. 1 had done all the injury tliat eonhl ho dr.iio the liritisli coiiinieree in the I'aeitie. and still li(i]iod to siiinali/e my cruize hy something; more splendid Icfoi-e leaving; that sea, I thought it iidt inijiroiialde that eojiimoilore llillyar might liiive kept his arriv.il secret, and helieving that he Would soldi me at \'alparisi) as the most likely place to fiml ni". 1 th.-refore deterniineil t'l eriii/e alioiit that pl.ae'e, and should I fail '■ .acting him, lioiied to 1 e (•iiiiipeusyfed liy the ea|itiire of some nu'rcliaut sliips, said to lie expected from Kirrhind. The riiodie, agreealily to my expectations, 'Riiie to seek me at Valpariso, \\hero [ was (iiieliored witii the I^ssex. my armed iiri/.e the K.^sex .Jtinioi-, under the commaiiil of lieutenant Dowiies, on the look out olf the harlionr : hut, cnatrary to the course I thought he would pur- sue, comniodoro Jlillyar liroughl with Iiim the • 'lioriil) sloop of war, mounting '2^ guns, IH 'A'2 ].i)Uiiil carronades, H li4's and 2 long ll'.s on the .juarterMleck and fore-castle, aiiil a complement of ISO miMi. The force of the 1*1. (die is as follows : ',]{) long IH jioiinders, sixteen '!L' [Hjuad carronades, one liowit/.er, and six o Iiuunders in the tops, in all o;! guns, and a O'jiniileirent of .'!:!') men, making a force of 81 gunsand ")(l!)nien : inailditioii to which they took on lioard the crew of an English letter of iiiar([iie laying in port. I'otli ships hail picked crews, ;iiid were sent into the I'aeitie, in com])aiiy with the llaco;in of li2 guns ami a store shij) of liO L'liiis, for the exjircss purpose of seeking the Essex, and were prepared with tlags hearing the motto, "fiod and country ; British sailors' best rights — Traitors oll'end liotli." This was intended as a reply to my motto " Free Tnidc and sailors' Riyhtx" under the erroneons im- pression that my crew were chiefly Kiiglishmcn, or to counteract its eti'ect on their own crews, The force of the Essex was Hi guns, f.jrty ;i2 pound carronades, and six long 12's, and lier crew, wiiieh had lieeii much reduced hy pri-es, anionnteil only to 2o") men. The Essex .Jutiior. which was intended only as a store-ship mounted twenty guns, ten 18 pnnnd carronades, atid ten short ij's, with only (10 men on board. In re- ply to their motto, I wrote at my mi/en, '• God, onr Coun'rij and Ldjcrli/ ; T/franis offend thnn:' On getting their provisions on board, they ffcut olf the p.jrt fur the purpos:c cf Idockadiiig mi.si'cpresciitaticii and falso writing fornioil [lart (if an iVincricaii (dlicer's duty to iiin cuuiitry, C'liptaiii I'orter dt'darcs that, in me, where they crii'zed for near si.x weeks ; during which time I endeavoiired to [irovoke a 1 hallcnge, and frei|Ueiit!y, but iiieHectually. to bring the I'iiKdie alone to action, first with both my sliips, and afterwards with my single ship, with iiolh ci'ews on board. 1 was 'Several times umler way, and ascertained that I had greatly the advantage in point "f sailing, and oiicu -iicceedcd in closing within a gnn-siiot of tiio I'lmdie, and commenced a fire on her, whcnslio ran down for the Cherub, wliicli wastwoamlii half miles to leeward ; this excited some siir- pri/.e and ox|iressioiis of indignation, as ]>vv- vious to my gidting umler way, she hove to ofl" the port, hoisted her motto flag and tireil a gim to windward. Commodore llillyar seemed de- termined to avoid a contest with me on nearly eipial terms, and from iiis extreme iiriiderice in keeping both hisships everafter constantly with- in hail of each other, there were no hopes ofnny advantages to my country from a longer .'-tay in jiort. I tlierefore ileterniined to put to sea the tir-t opportunity whi(di shoald odor ; and I was the more strongly indiu'ed to do so, as I had gained certain intelligence tiiat the Tagus rated o8, and two other frigates, had sailed for that sea in pursuit of iiic ; and 1 had reason to expect the arrival of the llacoon from ^'.\V. coast of ,\merica where slie had been sent for the purjiose of destroying our fur establi-.hiiient on tlie Columbia. A rendezvous was apjiointed for the Essex .Junior, and every .'irraiigement niaik' for sailing, and 1 intendeil to let them chase me off, t i give the Ivs-ex .lunior an oppor- tunity of escaping. On the 2Sth March, the day after tlii.s dete.niinatiori was formed the wind came on to blow frcsli from the soiitii- ward, when I parted my larboard cable and dragged my starboard anchor directly out to sea. Not a moment was tn be lost in gettiiii; sail on the ship. 'i'lie enemy were close in with the ]i(iint forming the west siile of the bay ; but on opening th.em, I saw a prospect of jias- sing windward, when I took in my to[i-gallant- sails, which were set over single reefed top-sails, and braced up for this jmrpose : but on round- ing the {loint a heavy si|uall struck thesliip and carried away her inain-top-mast, precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were drowned. 15oth ships now gave chase to me, and T endeavoured in my disableil state to re- gain the port ; but finding 1 could not recover the common anchorage, 1 ran close into n small bay, about three-(]uartors of a mile to leeward of the battery on the east side of the harbour, and let go my anchor within j)istol shot of the shore, where 1 intended to repair my damages as Soon as possible. The enemy continued to approach, and shewed an evident intention of attacking, ri'ijnrdlins of the ntntmlifii nf the place p-'>fr I irux anchored, and the caution oh- .-■erved in their ajijiroach to the attack cf the cripiiled jli-nx wan tnilj ridiculous, as was thdr A\ 808 irrSTOUY OF TIIK WAIl OP IS12. ( Iinlf iiM liDiir, lie ilisfiMcil, witli tlirco pimM'sprttrin nmy, ntiil i!(»ii1)t!»'»n will, lip romlily only, lioth liis ii]i])i)jifi\tH, Ml as to cuinin'l 'ii(1ii](t('il liy rcmlfrM wim kimw iiiiiliiii' of (iiciii t'l liiiiil Dirto r(«|iiiir tliimuj^os ; this uh- Kvliat tlirco tw<'l\('-|)iiunilorH oiui «(H'cft in tin; dinjiliijl of ihiir vKilln jlii;/if, and Iho ninulvr of jtnlm (il (ill tlir iiiii'l-liiiiilt. I, with lis niiicli cx]i('ilitiiin IIM ciri'iiiiistiiMccs woulil iiijiiiit ol', pot niy sliip-rt'iiily I'linit'tiiin, iiinli'tiiii'fivouri'd tii }he In.il if appiiieiitly in In'r power to do so, but kept up n distant tiring with her long guns. The I'lueli", IViim our di-abh'd state, vns eiialled Imwever liy edging oil", to choose the distance wliiih hi'-t suited her Imig guns, and kept up a lreiiieiiilip|i>< (ire on u.M, wdiich mowed down my brave com- panioii."* by the d'l/.cn. Many of my gun« had been rendered iifele-.s by the eiuiiiy'c shot, miil many of them hud their whole crews ilestrovd — we iiiiinneil them ag.iin from lliose whieh wei'C disaliled, and one gnii in pnitieiilar was three times manned — tiltecn men wire slain at it in the coin-so df the ariinn I hut strange lis it may )ip|iear, the captain dt it e.i- eape(| with only ii slight v.'ouml. I inding tliat the enemy had it in his power tn choice his distance, [ now gave np all ho]ie!i of dosing with him, and, a.^ the wiml Ibr ihe moinent. sceiueil to favour the ilesign, I ilvtenniiied ti; ciideaviiiir to rim lici' on shore, kind my nieii and destroy her. Fvery thing ^eellH'd to favour my widies, W'- liail approached the shore within musket shot, and I had no ilniilit of succeeding, wdien in an instant the witu! .shifted from the land (as it is very eoir.iiion in this port in the latter part of the day) ami payecl oiir head down on tiie I'ho'be, where we were again exposed to a dreadful raking fiio. .My sl'.ip was now totally unmanage.'ible : yet ,is her head was toward the enemy, and he to the leeward of me, 1 still hoped to lie able to boai-il him. At this nioiiient l.icut. Dowiies ciime on board to receive my orders, under the inipris- sion that I should soon be a prisoner. He cmiM be of no use to me in the then wretched >tato (/!' the Essex ; and finding (friiui the enemy'; putting Ills helm nji) thai my la.^t atti'ii pt at iioarding would not succeed, I directed liiia after he had been ten minutes on hoard, te return to his own shij), to be jircpared for de- fending and destroying her in case of attai.k. lie took with him several of my wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on board td make roinii fin- them. — The Chernb now li;id an opjiortunity of ilistingiiishing herself, by keep- ing up a hot lire on him during his return. Tlio slaughter on board my shi]) had now beconu' horrible, the enemy continued t(j rake us, fiiil we iinalilc to bring a gun to bear. I theref'di'o directed a hawser to be bent to tlio sheet an- chor, and the anchor to be cut from the bows to bring her head round : this succeedeil. We again got our broadside to bear, and as the enemy was much crij)]ded and nn.'ible to ImM his own, 1 have no doubt he would have ihifteil out of gun shot before he discovered we lia I anchored, had not the hawser unfortunately parted. My ship had taken fire several times ni.STOKV OF THE WAR OF IM2. 309 will, lio rt'tnlily {lliiW liiitliiii;^ dl' ciui I'lVfft ill the ct wri't'k, wc were VO luT, tViilll till' t'rniii litT iri||iIiM) I i.tr. Slic .I'kI II, ,t lltliiiljili -lie lii.il it II Hii, Kilt k('|ii ii|i a ll!l>l. Till' I'llU'lli', I'li.il 'It'll liMwi'vcr, ri>tiiiK-i' wliii ii tii'-t jit up II tl'OIII('lll|i>U!< I'll my lii'avi' coiii- iiy lit' tiiy jriiii« luul f I'lU'iiiy's (-iKit, mill Ic Cl't'WS ilostl'iiyc'il I'l'nlil tlliiSC wliicli ijMii in iHii'ticuhir ■tiltrcn iiii'ii wire it' tilt' IK'f.iill ! Iillt e iMiitiiiii (if it (■•>- itiil. liiidiii^ tiiat iwi'i' til c'hiii'-i' Ills II l|()]H'i) (if I'ldfill^ i| fill" lliO Ilinllicllt. II, I ih tonniiii'il tii Imri', l.iiiil iiiy iiRii tllillJJC M'CIIH'l '.II ml niiiivoiiclit'il till- ml I liMil no ilmilit I iiistiiiit tin- Avim! is very ciiiiiiniiii in ■t (if the tiny) iiinl ' I'liii'lii', ■wliere we reuilful raking' tiro. ii!iiiii!:i'i:lile: yet as eiiiy, iiiul lie li> tlie til lie iilile to liiiiinl t. l)(iwiics er.me on iiiiiier the iiiij'vis- jii isiiiiei'. lie ciiuM eii wveteheil >tnV: ul' frnm the ciieiuy'; my lii:-t iittcu pt at I'll, I ilii'oeteil hiia imtes I'll Ijoavd, to ■.' jireiiiired for ile- 1' ill t'ii.se of attiick. il id' my wi.iimk'ii. crew (111 Imai'il to Cherul) miw liaii an i_ir I'.ei'seif, liy kei'])- iii^ liin letiii'ii. The ]i hiul now lieemue eil to rake us, and > lieiir. I therefore it to tlio slieet ail- cut from tlie Ihh'-h .1 : this siiececli'il. to bear, ami as tlie iiul uiiali'.e to Imlil : would have ihifteil (liscovercil wc Iia'l iwser uiifurtniiateiy 'u fii'c Beveriil time:' teethof 11 liciivy iiro of long oip;lit('tiiis, hutjtliiiHo fiinilslicil liy t\w dfliiiu's <'ii}:;!i^('il (in eiiiiiiiit iiiiiMiMi' uiMiii liny OIK! t'lsc. Otlicr iie- citl.er h'kU', ami, in tlic iiriviito It'tttrs rnmi Collllti Woro I'l i\i'il of this ('l|;r{|jr|i||ii<||t tllllll MlilnO (if tllO (i|l-hMil' iri ijiiriii;; the nctioii, Init iiliinniiinly so forwiirii | anil my slii|i wari cut ii)! in a maniK r v, hieh wiiH mill aft lit this moment, tin; llames were liiirst- , |ierliaii-^, never liclme witiie-<-ci| - in liin', I saw iii^ up caeli huleliway. eiiiertaiiiei 1 of iiy, uml no hopes were her ; our ilistanee fiiiiii tlie HJiore diil Jiot exeeed three (jilarters of li liriive erew lioh ,p ■avinn her, i| lit l!ti miniilo alter iml I iiopeil many of vvHiilil lie utile to save llieniHehes, Nhoiihi the >liip Mow up, us I was informeil the lire wr.s •i I'.M. ^ave the paintiil nnlir In siiikv the iilnUI'! (') men, elii'lit ii;; ollieei'", well' a 11 thiif I'eiiiuincil of my wlmle crew, iificr tlio uction, ciiimhle of dninj; tli sill (•(' died. The ( iieiiiy still continued his tire, H'low served to ineiea-e the ' and mv I'ravr lhiiii''h iiiifortunMli' enmpanion:', liiirror of our situatimi — our lioiils were dc- , were still falliii;j; almiit me. I direeted an op- sti'iiyed hy the enemy's shot; I llwrelore di-lposite ffuii to he lired, to shew tlniii we r'.'riel tho-c who ciiuld swim to j'unp ovei lioaiil. ' intended no further re-^istanee ; lull lli^y did imt ■ill I on leavour to;{ain the shore. .Some re.ielied it siiiiK^ were t.iken hy the eneiiiy, uiid some jierislii'd iu tliu iitteiupt ; Imt most preferred 'liann;. iili me the fiite of th ship, Wl desist; four men were killed iit my side, anil others in diirereiit lairts of the i>hip. 1 now lielieved lie intemleil to shew us m* ((Uarter, and that it wmild lie us well to die with my wliJ r.'iu.iin.'il, now tiiriii'd our attention wholly . tla;X tlviiin us struck, and was on the point of tn exiiii;rui,-hiii;i; IIk; llames; iind when we a;;ain lioi-tin;,' it, when alioiit ten iniiiuti's after hid siieeeedi'd went airaiii to our j;uiis, where haiiliiiLC tin' colours down he ceased tiling;'. tiriuj^ was kept up lor some minutes, luiii 1 cannot speak in siillicioutly hi;!li terms of the crew had hy tliis time become lo weakdied, that they a'l declared to me tlii^ im[iossiliiiity of iiia!;iii;i' fiirijier resistance, and entreated me to lU'reiider my ship to save the wounded, as all the cniiduct of tliii-e eiii^aji'cd for such an iiu- parulk'led length of time, under such circuin- staiiees, with me, in the iirdiious iind uiieipial contest. Let it sulliee to say that more liriivery, further iittenipt at opiiositioii niu,-t pro\e skill, pjitiiotisiii and zeal were iievi-r di-phiyed 'tiial, almost every u;un heiiiL disalili liv I on any oeea-ioii. 1 very lUn' seemeil i let'TM '<1 th'd'struction of their crews. I now sent for the, to die in defeiiee of their much loved cuiiiitiy's ullicers of divi-ioii-^ to cnli-iilt them ; but what , eail^e, and iiolhiiin' bill views of humiinity euiild w,is my surplice to tiiid only aetiii;j; Jiieiit. ever have reconciled them to the sin reiiijer of .Sti'pheti iJeeatur .M'Kiiiii'ht remainintr, (who! the ship ; they remembered the wounded ami coiiiirmed the report respectin. tliu condition | helpless shipmates lielow. To actiiif; lieuteii- iif I'le ^'iiiis on the jiiiii (leek— those on the spar ants M'Knin'ht and Odenheimer I feel much 'k'lkwero not in ;i better state). Lieut. Wilmer, | indebted for their ;ireat exertions and biavery alter li;ilitiii^iiiost liallaiitly throiijih the actinii, i thnninhout the action in fi;'.'liiii;j; and eiicoiira;;- hiilli" L'ttill;. Wa-^di'i th I 1 overboard by a siiliuter wl ile injj; the men at their divisions, fur the drxienuis et anchiir frnm the Imus and manaLa'iiient of the loii"; Lriiiis viied. .Velinir Lieut, .loluili. (,'owi d promptness in remaiiiii'ij: then iiid /mi- lor their as their lust a iii'.-i Mr. Ld'.;. liainewall, aetin;: sailing | crews were slaiiirhtered. The eniiduct nf that 'r had been carried below after reeeivin;^' brave and heroic oHicer, aetiiii!; lieutenant .John evere wounds, one in the breast and oiia,(j. Cowell, who lost his le;; in the latter part uf in the face ; and acting Lieut. William H. Odeii- ' the actiiui, excited the .'idmiration of every man liuiaier had beiii kiiucked overboard from the in the ship, and after bein;: wounded would not two .)ll;il IML' ; t','r aa instant before, and did not rcjiain consent to be tikeii beb itil lo. .Johnson who had j liiieil 111 that unless soiiiothinij; was to pievent it, the .ship would soon sink fruin the! me the d ly before, and ficted as marine oliicer, imiiili'T of shot holes in her boltoiii. And on ; coiidiieted himself with 'n-cit lir.'ivry, and e.v- Bcniliiii; for thecai'iieiiter hi; informed us that all erted elf in assistiii^j; at the loiijr jri the had bck'n killed or womid ;il, and that imi^ketry after the first half hour bein;;- useless, he liiid once been over the side to stop the leaks j fruin our long distance, when his .sliii;;.-! had been shot away, anditwasj Mr. M. W. Uostwick, whom I had iifipniiiteil with ilitlieiilty ho was saved from drowning. | acting purser of the Kssex .Tuuior, and who was Tiio enemy froin tlio smoothness of the water, , on board my ship, did the duties of aid, in a ami th:' impossibility of our reachino; him with manner which rellects on him the liighost hon- our earronade-;, and the little a)i|n'elieiisioii that our, and midshiiimi'ii Isaacs, Farra'^iit tind ()>'- sxeited by our tiro which had now b Icii. as well as acting nii'!slii]!!ii('n .J.'imes T. miU'li sl.-iekened, w;is eiialiled to take aim at us .lames li. Lyman an 1 .Samuel Duzeiibiii'\ , and as at a target : his shot never missed our hull, : muster's mat-.' Wiiliuiii I'ieroe exerted tiiem.-,elved I'i 310 niSTOllY OF THE WAR OF 1.^12. iii'Mitiiiiicil of f!u' Ih'ilisli \('-sf]s Iniiilin;!; otV to roi)!iir cl;uiia;ii's. Aj^iiin, CiiLituiii Porter emleavouvs to iiisiiuuitc tliiu lie was attacked i in tlio poi'f'ormiiiicc 'if their ro-])i'etive tol shot of neutral shore ; when for six weeks I Iiail ilaily offered liini fair ami honoral)lc eonihat, on tei'nis lii-eatly to his ailvanta,u;e ; tlie 1)!(ki(1 of the slain must he Oil his heail, ami he lias yet to reconcile liis coniluct to heaven, to his conscience and to the world. ]\ly loss ]v\^ Iieon dreadfully sevei'e, 58 killed or have siiici; 'iied of their wounds; and anion^f them lieuteiMiit Cowell : li'.l were se\erely wounded, '.!7 .-diu'.itly, and:)] arc mi^-injr ; niak- ini;; in a'.l l')l, killed, wiunded, and niissinj!:, a list of wliosc names is annexed. Th" professional kiiov,led^-e of Dr. Hichard Hoffman, actin;^ surjieon, and Doctor Alexamler Monti^omery, actiu"- sur;.:eon's mate, added to tlieir assiiluity and the benevolent attentions and a^>istance of ^Ii'. 1). V. Adams, the elianlaiu. yaved the lives of many of the wounded, those gentlemen have been indefati'iiblein their atten- tions to tlicm ; tiu two fii'st I be;j; leave to re- commend f; ■eonrumation, and the latter to the notice of the .1"). irtnieut. 1 must in .iustif'catiou of nij'sclf observe, that with our six twe > poui'iicrs alone we fought tais action, our caronades beii -j; almost use- less. The loss in killed and woundeil has been great with the enemy; annmg the former is the first lieutenant of the Plnvbe, ami of the latter captain Tucker of the Cherub, wdiose wounds are severe. Both the K-:--ex and I'liivbe were in a sinkinjj; state, and it was with dii'.ieulty they Could be kept afloat until they anchored in Valparaiso next niorninir. The battered st^te of tiie I'^sscx, will, 1 believe, prevent her ever reachinii; England, and 1 also thiidc it will be out of their power to repair the damaj^cs of the rh(i>be so as to enable her to double Cape Horn. All the masts ami yards of the IMitebe and Che- rub are Itadly crippleil. anil their hulls much cut iii> ; the lornu'r ha'I eighteen twelve poiuid .shot through her below her wa.ter line, some three feet undei' water. Nothing but the smoutli- lu'ss of the water saved both the I'luebe and E-sex. I hope Sir, that cur conduct may prove satis- factory to our '.'juuti'y, aud that it will testify! in a neutral iiort, although confessin«-, a dozen lines iibovo, tiiat ho was uiiahle to re- cover the ciuumon anchorage. it liy obtaining our sjieedy exchange, that wo may again have it in our power to prove our zeal. Conimodoro Ilillyar, I am informei], hn.« thought pro[ier to stale to liis Government that the action lasted only 4') )nitiutes ; .•vhy ours ; exei']itiiig the lew minutes they were reiiairiiig damages the tiring was inces>iiiit. Soon after my ce.pture I entered into an n'/yce- ment with commodore Ilillyar to disarm iii\' [iii/.o th.e liSsex .Junior, and iiroceed witii the survivors of my oHicers and crew in hm to the United States, taking with me all her ollicers and crew. He consented lo grant her a |iassport to secure her from reca]'t!ire. Tliohir was small and we knew we had much to sutler. yet Ave lio]ped soon to leach (oir country in safety, that we might again have it in our power to serve it. This arrangement was attemUi! with no additional expence, as she was a.luin- dantly sniiplied with provi:rty (pf every person slmuM lie resjiectcd — his orders, however, Avere imt so strictly atten-Mleiahlo amount. 1 should not have considered this last circumstance of siiflicient ini|iortaiice to notice, did it not mark a stirking dill'erence lietwei n t!ie navy of Great Ih-itain and that of the Ui ItcJ .States, highly creditable to the latter. />// f/ir (irrinil of the TuyuK, a fin- daj/fi af.',r mil r/iin\ I icifs infnrmfd that bennks the xhips which hud (irn'rcd in the J'dcijic in purxuit of im; (Did thoxc Klill c'jxrtrd, othcrx urn- xi iil to cni!:e for mr in the China xnix, ofj' X< ir Z' ahind. Timor and \tw lliiUiind, and that another frii/die teas xiiit to the Ji'inr la Plata. To possess the J'-ssex it has cost the Ihitidi government near six millions of dollars, iiml yet. .sir, her capture AvasoAving entirely to accident; and if Ave consider the e\)iedition Avilli Avliich naval contests arc uoav decided, the acti'ju it ■-. ujzli ciiiil'i'ssinjr, li was uiuiMo to re- age. ,' cxolmi^fro, tluit wo [xnvt'i- tu indve our !im iiifuiiiK'L lin? lii^ Gi)veiiiiiu'iit tli:it initiiitcs ; iMvin liiy ■•iikI ]ir(ic'ct'il with 'vs anil iTcw ill lu'i iiy; with UK! nil hoi' !ilcialiIc e eonsi'lereil this last niiiortaiice to n')t:ec, illcrenc'' Ix'twecn tlie I that ol' the Ui.ited the latter. ■///.•.', CI ft ir (A.'.?/.? af'tT J that be.fnh's the xliips irijic in purmiit of me, I rtt wcri' f^nil lo cnii:e y Xi ir /iiihinil. Tiiiivr I anotlurfrijaii' Kna lins* cost tjie r>iiti-l; s of iloHars, iinilyt't, entirely to iiceiileat ; ]ieilition witli wliioh ideJ, the action is ■.. IIISTOllY OF THE WAR OF lsl2. 311 It may not he, perliaiis, known tn every I Captain I'urter niiisi lia\e liud a \ww\ tliat in the Kii;:;lish iiii;rehiint sorviee a ous oiiiniuii of liis own jii ii:i- liruwess, if v.e nia\ one dill'ereiit stylo of paintin;^ tlieir vessels [u-e- juil;^e jjy the niinilyor of ves.sels which ho rc- vaileil at that time to wliat was adopted in the presents iis iiaving Ijcon enuippod, manned, United States. In IJritish ve.ssol.s iuiitation mid despateiiod to various parts of the world, port holes were painted, whilst in Aiiieriean, fur no otlier pur|ioso tiian that of eaptiirinjj; a plain wiiite or red riband was iiaiiiteil from tlie redoulttaMo Captnin David Forler — si.K stem to .stern. Captain Porter knew iier-:millionsof dollars spent in ilospatehiii,!;- f'resli foutly well wluMi making:; his statementof his vessels to the I'aeitio, besides those already capture of twelve letters of manjue, that he^there, to the Ciiii.ese Seas, to Timor, to New would not doeeivo sailor.s, especially as he Zealand, to New Ilolland, and as if one side ailiiiits that the vessels were employed in the'of the eoutinont mi;;ht be iiisuilieient to re- spermaceti whale fishery. To any one who has over seen the rloeks of a vessel while on the fishing ,u;roiinds and strain Captain i'orier's ardour, vessels to the llio do la Plata were iilso found necessary. A Ivussian sipiadroii, at the present time the state of lier decks, the al.sunlitv of Captl^^^lT-'^^'l to bo cruising somewher.s in our Porter's representing vessels of onJ hundred i^"''"^" possessions, has not excited half the and seventy-live tons as carrying ton guns, r^''"'"'' '"^'' ''" ''''' '"""1 tl^it Iialf the prepani- orbeing pierced for eighteen, is simply ridi-it""'^ l'^^^*^ ''t'^-" "i^i'l^'. ^vlueh were doomed culous. We have, however, shown on a pre- |"eeessary to ensure the caiituro of our Ame- vious oceasbms an attempt by would-be I »""^"i" f'-'n'-it'^- K""iigl', liowevcr, .,f Captain American Nelsons to swell the capture of, J^'""''l ^'"'"t^i/""! •''« ^'Ji^ulous attenq.t at West India droghers and other coasting yes-j'^^l^-o^""'^^"'^'"''- sels, into "gallant and successful carrying The Americans, not yet sati>fled tliat the of \\. M. S. armed vessel, of liftoeii tons,] Fiflli invn-i m of ra- diance of ocjiKpiering twelve guns, and ninety men." Such, in nmii, i,y a u.iiiua .statc-s CajKida was hopeless, d( pooth, is very much thcspirit in which Cajit. |"""" tcrmined, oarlv in \t<\A, I'orter dictateil his report; the gallant com- ^ to make another attemjit. A\'e find, accord- maiuler forgot, however, in his estimate of ingly, that, from the beginning of April to the cost t(/ the IJritish Government of the the end (jf .June, (ienoral Urowii, the Ameri- capturoof the Essex, to record the fact of the ^ can commander, was actively' engaged in ultimate re-capture of many of the vessels, preparing his armv- of invasion. Towards auJ of all their cargoes. the end of Juno, the Secretary at 'War, .it dishonour to tliein. Had tlioy briuiglit tJicir ships iiuldly into action witli a force so very su- perior, and having tiie choice of position, thoy sliouhl either have ca])tured or dc-troyed us in n fourth the time they were about it. ])iifin;i the action, our conaitl (jaiornl, Mr. Puiimrll, cdlli'd on the governor <>/ Valpuraim, and rtqui'sird that the batteries might protect the Ei^f'X. This request was refused, but he promised thul if she nhduld succeed in fii/htin;/ her wu'/ to the cniinniiu anehorai/e ho "oiild send an oilieer to the IJritish eonimaude nud ro'niest him to cease ilriug, but deeliiu' 1 using force under any cireuinstaneos, and there is no dioibt of a perfect uuilorstaudiiig existing botweeu them : this coii- ihiet iidiled to the assistance given to t!ie IJri- tisii, and their fricinlly reception after the notion, and the strong bias of the faction wliieli L'nvern Ciiili in favour of the Kngli-h, as well as tlioir hostility to the Americans, induced .Mr. i'oiiisi'tt to leave that country. Uiidor siieli cinaiiustaiiees, I did not coiieelvo it would be proper for me to claim the restoratiou of my ship, confident that the claim would bo made liy my goveriiiiiout to more ctfect. Finding some diliieulty in the sale of my jirlzos, I had taken the llect(0' and ("alhariiie out to sea and burnt them witii their cargoes. I exchanged lieutenant M'Kiiiglit, Mr. .\diuiis. and .Mr. Lyman ami eleven seamen for part of the crow of the Sir Andrew Hammond, and saileil from Valparaiso on the liTtli April, wliere the enemy were still pi.tchiiig up their ships to put tliem in a state for proceeding to llio de Janeiro previous to going to Enjiland. Annexed is a list of the remains of my crew to bo oxclianged, as also a cojiy of the eorres- poudeiice between coniinodore Ilillyar ami my- self on that siibjeet. I al-io send you a li-t of the prisoners 1 have taken during my cruize, aiiKjuntiiig to ;! lo. 1 have the honor to bo, i^c. U. POUTiai. The honorable Secretary of tiio navy of the United St.it.'S, Washiii"ton. J i HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1S12. I \ Washington, judginfr, it may bo supposed, from ]>ro\vn's (los[uitclies, tliat sufficient pre- piiFiitions h.v\ Ijecn miule, issued his fiat "to ciu'i-y F(irt J'Irio, and heat up the enemy's quarters at Chippewa;" addinjr, however, tlio pr\i(h3nt proviso tiiat " in case his (the British) fleet gets the cnitrol of Lake Onta- rio, you are immediately to rc-cross tlie strait." A few of tlic heads of General Arm- strong's " lieads of plan of campaign" are interesting, as tliey show how very certain the Secretary at War had made himself that all his [ilans wore to succeed. The first was, Tliat su;'li portions of the P]rie fleet, and of the garrisiiu at Detroit, as the officer com- manding may deem necessary for the pur- pose, be despatched without delay to tlie western lakes, with orders to attack or cap- ture a British fort or depot, established at Matchadash Bay, on Lake Huron ; recapture ^Iichilim;\cinac, il'C. These orders very ex- plicit, and doubtless, when issued, General Armstrong considered them as already executed. Wo sliowed, however, in our last chapter themiseraljle failure wliich attended all the operations ufjdertakeu in this direc- tion, and that the Americans, instead of crowning themselves with glory and rich furs, reaped only a harvest of defeat and disgrace. Simultaneous orders were also issued to bring all sur[dus vessels on Lake Erie to as- sist in transporting the left division to the Canadian shore, and that such division, after landing, should " be marched as expediti- ously as possible on the British position at Burlingt^^'|a vi I'l.ithiitiun or general Gen.ArmstrongVinstnic- oriler. , . . , , „ tions, issued the follow- ing general order, dated July 2d, Is 14 ;_ ".Major-Gen. Brown has the satisfacti,,n to announce to the troops of his division on the frontier, that he is authorized by the orders of his Government, to put them in mo- tion against the enemy. The first and se- cond brigades, with the corps of artillerv, will cross the strait before them, this night, or as early to-morrow as possible. The ne- cessary instructions have been given to the brigadiers, and by them to the commanding officers of regiments and corps, V\) 'ghty rank and file, out of which number, ti . the garrisons at Forts Krie, George, Missi- _'u, and Niagara must lie subtracted, leaving an availaide force of seven hundred and sixty regulars at General iviall's disposal. To this number must, iiowever, be added three hundred sedentary militia and as many Indians, in all thirteen hundred and fift^' men to oppose an invading force of four thousand, (ieneral Biall was compelled, besides, to almost strip the forts of their garrisons when marching again.st Brown at Chippewa. It appears as if Canada owed almost as much to the incapacity or difi'erences of the American commanders, as was diu! to the gallantry of the troops. We have shown that this was the faet in pre\ions invasions, and it vrould appear that the iireseiit attempt lid not furnish an exception. This conclu- sion may be deduced from the following ex- tract from General Brown's meinoranda of occurrences in the campaign of l.'^ll, on the Niagara : — " Toward the evening of the 2nd, General Uiplej' (the second in command) apjieariMl to be much discomposed. He objected to the division made of the tr:ins)iorts, and complained that he would not be able to c-oss with sulhcient force ; that the principal lighting Avould be above the fort where he was ordered to land, and that he had seen lights during the night and smoke during the da}-, for some time pa;;t. Gen. Brown endeavoured to satisfy him, but in vain. He (Bipley) tendered his resignation, which was not accepted, as the General was inflexibly determined that the army should cross ai^ree- ably to the arrangements he had nuide." It isdifficulttounderstand(m what grounds the American General could have based his (dijcetions. By their spies tiie Amerieans were fully informed as to the smallness of the numbers that could be mustered again.st them, and, in fact, they were in this instance too well served by their spies, by whom they were led to believe that the British did not amount to one thousand men, regulars, mi- litia, and Indians all includdl. That this was the case was proved by General Brown dividing his fm-ce, in order to prevent the pos- sibility of the garrison at Fort Erie escajiing. •i'l 311 HISTORY OF THE WAll OF 1812. 5!i f- Wliiitover wore Ivi[ile3-'s reasons fur dissu- tisiaetiiin, it i.s certain tliat the 'novemcnt of hi.s division across the river Avas made more slowly than that of tlio other, under General Scott. It isal'solntely necessary not to pass over thos(; indications of want of unanimity amonj; tiio American comnnimlers, as it would otlierwise be laying ourselves open to the same charj^es thatareso justlj- preferred ajfainst AuKn-ican hisi;orians ofdistortin;^ the truth. Tiiis insinuation must be particu- larly (guarded a;j;alnst by the English chron- icler of the war, inasmuch as it generally falls to his lot to recount the defeat of large bodies of Americans by very inferior force ; hence other reasons must be souglit than the mere dili'erence in 'o bravery of the troops, and tliese are very readily found in the incajiacity and quarrels of the conmian- ders. The two divisions having crossed on the ,„ , ,. . ord of -July, invested Fort Sunvndcr (if I'oi-f Krio. . ... Erie, which, being inca- pable (>f actual defence, both fr(mi the nature of the fortifications and the smallness of its garrison, was at once surrendered. Hero we would direct attention to tliat part of ( leneral Brown's despatch where it is stated that "Fort Erie did not, as I assured you it should not, detain me a single day." This is particularly absurd, when It is remomboied that, by .American accounts, the garrison only amounted to one hundred and sevenvy, and that General AVilklnson in his memoirs distinctly states that "Fort Erie Avas in a defenceless condition." The American divisions landed, one a mile and a half above, and the other the same dis- tance below Erie, so that no opposition coulci be brought to bear from the guns of the fort; and, on its surrender, the garrison was pi'omjitly despatched across tlie river, and marched into tlie intcKt)rof Xew York State, a detachment of artillery and a few infantry being left as a garrison ; three armed schoon- ers, under the command of Lieutenant Ken- neily, being stationed as a further security under its walls. It was not until 8 A.M. that General Riall received the intelligence of the Americans having landed, and he instantly, on receipt of the information, ordered live companies of the lloyal Scots to advance as a reinforcement of the post. The advance of this body was. however, checked ])y the intelligence of tlie surrender of the fort. General Jliall then determined on an immediate attack, but was induced, by its being represented to hiin tliat the 8th regiment was hourly expected frum York (now Toronto), to postpone the attack until the morning of the 4th. On the morn- ing of the 4th the attack was accordiii'dv made. In the letters of Veritas, some very perti- nent remarks are made on this subject, whicii we transcribe: — "(ieneral lliall's attack upon the enemy, under so great a dispniiior- tion of force, as probaljly five to one, ha* been cc aired by many; but the prolmhility is, that i he had not done so, and broke in upci their plan of operations, ly that dariii;: and unexjiected manoeuvre, they, pnil.ulily. without the aid of tlieir fleet, would (by appearing to threaten an attack upon our lines at Chippewa) have i relied to the left, and have actually cut off v.ir coinmunicaticn with lUirlington, as (jriglnally intcudi'il. "In this view of the subject, his attack was fortunate, and the retreat afterwarJ? made by him is deserving of credit, iVuin having been clf'ected in good order, without loss of men, artillery, stores, or liaggage; so that tlie confidence of his troops reiiiaiiicil unabated. Had he retreated in the iir>t instance without fighting, the probaliility it that his men would have been dispirited, as considering such a retrograde movement tlien premature." We fully concurwith the opinions exprossd by Veritas, which we think are fully burnu out by a consideration of tlie plans laid dovn by the Secretary at War, and the adoption nf this movement by General Iliall, when i;ii. -- rant of the force of the enemy, can only I'O considered as a proof of the judgment anJ bravery of that oiHcer, who was only anxiou? to prevent ajuuction with the force that uii^^lit be expected in the fleet. From M'tjor-Gencntl Riall to Lieiitautnt-Goupti Sir G. JJrumtnond. Chijipewa, July f'l. Sin,— T have the honour to inform yu tliat the enemy efl'ected a landing on tlio morning of the 3d iustaut at the ferry, o;'- HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1S12, as a reinforcement f)f this liody was. intL'llii;x'iico of tlio Jenenil Jliull ilicn ite iittiiL'k, litit was •sonted U) liiiii that rly c.\j)ectod from ^ (stpiine the attack th. Oil tlie inuni- k •\vus aueordiiiLi'ly 5, some very pcrti- thissiili)oct,Aviiiili ■al lliiill's attack I f:;reat a dlspnipor- y five til oiu', ha- l)ut the pniliaMUty ic so, and In'uko iu lon;5, liy that (hirin;; re, th<>y, prol.iahly, iv ilcct, would (by II attack ujioii our I -relied to the left, v.ir eoinimiuicatiou nally intended, suliject, his attack retreat aftcrwaids iny of credit, from ^ood order, without ves, or haii'gage; so is troo^is reiaaineil reated in the first i', the pnuiahility it been dispirited, as ■ade niovenient then "pinions expressed nk arc fully borne ! the plans laid down and the adoptinii nf .1 Riall, when i-i.^- enemy, can only bo the jud,^nient and 10 was only anxi"U5 the force that luisbt 1^1 Lii'i(li:i'.uii!-Giiici'"' hippewa, duly li. .(,ur to infona vmi a landin;;; on the .lit at the ferry, op- pii.-ite l»lacM Rcick, havini;; driven in tlio the lidit troops boinj^ hron^^ht to their siip- liieqiict of the garrison of Fort Eric. I was! port, they succeodcd, after a sharp contest, madeaequainted with thecircuinstaneealiout in dioitid;j;!nii; them, in a very liar.dsoino ci;dit in theinoriiini^, and ;j;ave onhn-s for tlie ' style. I idaced two li;;ht twenty-four pound- iminediate advance to Chippowa of five com- ersandafive-aml-a-halfincii lu'wit/(M-ai:;aiiist puuies of the royal Scots, under Lieutenant- the ri^ht nf the enemy's position, and funned (nlonel (iorihin, to reinforce the <;arrison of' the royal Scots and Inutli re;;iment, with the that place. Lieutenant-Colonel IVarson had 'intention of makinjj; a movement n]ion his muved forward from thence with the li;i;ht [left, Avhicli deployed with the ji'i-eatcst i-igu- c-.mpanies of the lUdlh, some militia, and a'larity, and opened a very heavy fire. I im- fow Indians, to reconnoitre their position and mediately moved up the King's regiment to imuihers ; ho found them posted on the ridge the right, while the roytil Scots and 100th parallel with the river, near tlio ferry, and regiment were directed to charge the enemy ill strung force. I received instructions from [in front, for which they advanced with the Majnr lUick, that they had also landed a con- siilcralde force aliove Fort Erie. In conse- quence of the King's regiment, which I had greatest gallantry, under a must d(>structive fire. I am sorry to say, however, in this at- tempt they suffered so severely, that 1 was every reasmi to expect the day before froinU»bliged to withdraw them, finding their fur- York, not having arrived, I was prcvcnte ther efforts against the superior numbers of fi'iiiu niiiking an attack that night. the enemy would bo unavailing. Lieutenant The fillowing morning, the 4th, a Ix^dy of i Colonel Clordon and Lieutenant-Culomd the tiioir troups were repurted to be advancing ly the river; I moved to reconnoitre, and f'liind them to lie in consid.craljle force, with cavalry and artillery, and a largo body of ritli'men. Lieiitenant-Cidonel J'earson was in ailvance during this reconnoisanco with tiie light company of the royal Scots, and the Hank compjiny of the lOUth, and a few of the lOtli light dragoons, four of whom, and eight horses, were wounded iu a skirmish with the enemy's riflemen. Having been jiuiicd by the King's regi- ment on the morning of the 5th, I made my iispositions for attack at four o'clock in the afternoon. The light conxpanies of the royal ?wts. and lOOth regiment, with the second Lincoln militia, formed the advance under Lieutonant-f^'olonel Pearson. 'J'he Indian warriors were, througlmut, on our right ll'.iiks in the woods. The troops moved in three columns, the third (the King's regi- ffi'iit) being in advance. The enemj' had lakep up a posiiimi with his right resting vn soino buildings ami orchards, close on the river N'iagara, and stror.gly sujiported by artillery ; his left towards the wooil, having sooiisiderablo body of rillemen and Inilians in fi'out of it. Our Indians and militia were shortly en- .Mar([uis of Tweeddale, commanding these re- giments, being wounded, as were most of the ofHeers bclon^ring to each. I directed a re- treat to be made; upon Chippewa, which was conducted av jth good wrder and regularity, covered by the King's regiment, under Major Evans, and the light troops under Lieutenant Colonel Pearson ; and I have pleasure in saying, that not a single prisoner fell into tlie enemy's liands, except those who Avero disabled from wounds. From the report of some [irisoiiers, w(! '.lave made the enemy's force to amoutit to alunit six: thousand men, with a very numerous train of artilleiw, hav- ing l)een augmented liy a very large liody of troops, whicdi moved down from Fort Erie immediately before the commencement of the action. Our own force, in regular troops, amounted to about fifteen hundred, exclusive of the militia and Indians, of which last de- scriptitm there Avcre not above three hundred. Fort Erie, I understand, surrendered upon capitulation, on the 3d inst. Althuiigli this affair was not attended with the success which I had hojied for, it will be gratifying to you to learn that the officers and men be- haved with the greatest gallantry. I am particular!}' indebted to Lieutenant-Colaicl J'earson for tlu' very great assistance I have M:ed with the enemy's rillemen and Indi- received from him, and for the nninner in iiu^, who at first checked their advance : but which he led his light troops iuto action. '' '*ia '"W| 31G HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. Lieutonaiit-Coloruil Oordon, and Lioutunant- Cijlonel tlio ^Marquis of Twoodiliilo, and MiiJDr Evans, o.niiniaiulinj^ tlio King's regiments, merit my warmcr-t praise for the good ex- am) do tliey showed at the liead of their re- sijcotivc regiments. The artillery, under the command of Capt.' Macc(jnnoeliie, was ahly served, and directed with good etFect ; and I am particuhirly : obliged to Major Lisle, of the lOth light dra-| goons, for the manner in which he covered and protected one of tlic twenty-four-pound-! ers which had hcen disahled. I have reason' to he highly satisfied with the zeal, activity, and intelligence of Caittain Holland, my aide-de-camp. Captain Eliot, deputy-assistant j quartor-master-general ; staff-adjutant CJreig, ! and Lieutenant Fox, of the royal Scots, who; acted as 3!ajor of brigade during the absence, of ]Major Glegg at Fort George. The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Dixon, of the 2d Lin-| coin militia, has been most exemplary; and| I am very much indebted to liim for it, oui this as well as on other occasions, in which he has evinced the greatest zeal for his 3Ia- jcsty's service. The conduct of the officers : and men of this regiment has also been highly praiseworthy, Lieuteiumt-Colonel Pearson j has reported to me, in the most favourable terms, tiie excellent manner in which Lieut. Horton, with a part of the 19th light dra- goons, observed the motions of the enemy, wiiile he occupied the p(.sitIon he took on his first hauling, and during his advance to this place. — I have, itc, P. RIALL, .Alajor-Gen. General Brown's despat'di is short,* but , , is remaricable for one Ueneral lirowii s ili'spatch. feature, viz., that, even with the knowledge of his own strength, ho * Frum M. I jor- General Broun to ihe American Secretary at ^S'ar. Chippewa Plains, Ji'ly G, 1811. Sru, — Excuse my silence ; I liavc been mikh eng:ige(l ; Fort Eric ilid not, as I assured you it sliimld not, (IctMiu me a single d:iy. At eleven o'cliickou tlie niglit of tiic 4lli, I arrived at this jilace witli the reserve, Geiieval Scott luiving taken the position about noun with the van. !My arrMngoinents for tm-iiing and taking in the rem' the enemy's position east of Chippewa was made, Avhen ^bijor-(iener;il Riall, suspecting our intention, and adhering to the rule that it could not have been very sanguine of ultimate success. Tiio General distinctly states that witii his gallant and accomplished troops, |;o will break down all oppositiim Ijetwcen Iiim and Lake Ontario; but he is careful to qualify this admission by adding that "if joined Iv the fleet, all will be well," but that, if <\v}a. junction slnnild not take place, he will eudua- ^ Dur to avoid disgrace. Some of th(> American accounts of the battle of Chippewa are worthy of notice fur their outrageous extravagance. ^Ir. O'Con- nor, for instance, states that the Rrlti.^h rogu- 1 lars suffered defeat from an inferior fune, principally volunteers and militia, iiifcrlcir in everything but courage to the vanqui>!uil enemy. Yet this same writer was in po,>se- sion (d'oflicial documents whichparticuhuTcI the pre^cnce of four regiments of regular in- fantry iind a corps of artilhu-y. and the l.at of thu.'o bodies having suffered severely in the engagCiMent. This statenuMit was nnidi', too, in direct opposition to General \'> ilkii- son's account, which states the clfective ; strength of General Scott's brigade h/c/k' at i eleven hundred regular infantry, and tiio i force that crossed the strait under General Brown at about three thousand five hur.dreil men, including twenty-seven hundred rc;;ii- lars.f is better to give tlinn to receive an attacl:. caa-o ; from heliiml hi'' Avorks abti'.it five o'eluck in tli al'ternoun of tl c otli in order of liattfe. We liil | not baulk him Before six o'clock his line was j broken and h's forces defeated, leaving on tliej tield 100 killed and Avoundcd. lie was clojcly pressed, and Avould have been utterly riiineii, [ but for the ])riixinuty of his voiks, \vhltiiir he j Hed for shelter. The wounded of the enemy, and those of wirj own army, must be attciideil to. Tliey will l^e removed to Buffalo. This, with my iuuitoilj means of traiisi)ortation, will tske a day or twn, I after wdiich I shall advance, not doulitinpr lait that the gallant and accompli>^hed tmops I Icii'l, will break down all opposition between me inul Lake Ontario, when, if m;t by the licet, ail is woll — if not, under tlie favor of'heaven. we >hrull beliave in a way to avoid disgrace. ^ly detailed j report sliall be made in a day or two. I am, with the highest respect, &c., Jacoi! Buowx. Hon. Secretary of War. t AVilkinson.'s Memoirs, Vol. I., r"S*^s G4C, G-312, 1354, G--,8. HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1: i2. 517 siui^uineuf ultiiii;ue l.stiiictly stiites tliiu, [)iiHilishe(l trwijis, h'. isitlon liotwoeii liim is eiU'L'ful tiM^iuilify ig that "if joinoil by 1," but tli:it. if .-mil place, lie will oii'lua- •an accounts of tlv.' wortliy of notice fur :i;j;anci;. Mr. O'Ccn- that thel'>riti.-hrc;;u- iiu ail iufdiiiv fui're, and militia, iiifcvicir i;!;o to the viuuiuislit'il writer was in p(>.!sc-- iSwhichparticiiliUT'.o.l j :;;inioiit8 (if re;iu!;n' iii- irtillcry. anil tiio f.U't 5 suffered severely in 1 stateiiieiit was niinle, )\\ to General U ilkin- Btatert the clfeotive cott's bv;<;ade alone c.t I ar infantry, and tiie strait nnder (li-iicrall thousand five huii'liTi •-seven hundred rc^a- : i-c'ceivc:iu,'\t!iicl:.einre i ibout live o'clock in tliO I |,rder of bnttlc. Wo'li^l sis o'clock lii^ liii« w;is I ctVated, louviiiLi: on the luded. lie Wiis clojcly ] vo been utterly ruiiu'L hirf voiki-, Mliltliu'liej hicniy, and those of "V.r liided t'). TIk'V w'.U'iOJ •Jiis, with loy iiiuiti'il will trtke ii diiy or twn. Imce. not douhtiiict 'nitj LiipliHlicd troops I Icii'l, lisivion between me iiml in.t by tlie 'l^''-''- "I'i^l livorol'iieaven, wc >li!ill aisprnco. My detailed 1 |a day or two. 2st respect, kc, jACon 13iio\vx. |r. One of the strongest proofs that can bclto ennlde him t<) go in purHuit ot an eneniy, V umi'iitH of the Amorloiu addueeil (if tJio Amori- 'not mustering more than half his numlier. The niinghid promises anil intvoutios are very amusing; in one paragraph Cliaunci^y is assured of his ((icneral i'lrown's) "aliility to meet tlie eneniy in tin; field," and in tbo siteiiipt against General iliall, who still j very next sentence he is entreated " for God's Diiiiiitained his position at Chippewa. On i sake" to come to assist in threatening Fort ilie 8th the American General resolved on a George, a fortification which was aban- doned by General MaeGlure, with a garrisdii "''"'>'• cans /('// /i((rin;/ ijainnl ir/i'/'wy at Chippewa, is that General l>rown Miiaincd from the 4th to the Sth before he (vuM suninnm up rosdlution to make another fnvard movement, and after a slight skir- aiidi with some of General Iviall's artillery .;; Miiall biidy of men with two guns), the Chippewa creek was crossed, and tin; Anieri- e:\:i'* advanced as f\ir as (Jiieenstun, General Ri;i!l retreating to Fort George. Fmni the 8th of July to the 2.1rd of the f,..;wra!r.niwn-fiiiinction mcmtli, General Brown, aM tiiuMity. ^m, j,i^ enormous force, was content to remain without striking a lliff, unless an occasional demonstration kf'.ive Forts George and ^Mississaga, or the TOitun conflagration of the village of St. David's, be considered as such. During this time, the American General wrote the most ci'ving letters to Conimudnre Chauncoy, almost imploring his co-operation. '•AH accounts agree," writes Gen. Brown, ■tiiattho force of the eneniy at Kingston is ray light. Meet me on the Lake shore, loitli of Fort George, with yina- fleet, and wwiU be able, I have no donlit, to settle a plau of operations that will break the power of the enemy in Upper Canada, and that in tb; course of a short time. At all events, l(t me hear from you. I have looked for y;nr fleet with the greatest anxiety since the l"tli. I do not dtiitbl my ahilHy to meet the enemy in the field, and to march in any direction over his country, y-mr fleet carry- W'-' for nie the necessary supplies. We can tlireateii Forts ( leorge and Xiagara, and carry Bm^lingtmi Heights and York; ?nd proceed I fet to Kingston, and carry that place. Fur God's sake, let me see yon."* This letter is rcmarkablefor many reasons, notthe least curious of which is the pathetic mlalmost touehingappeal of a general, with tur thousand men at his back, to a naval ■ mmander to bring him four thousand more. Br ;vn'3 1 tter to Chauiiccy. Irs, Vol. I., pagob ^ ', H ^ Wilkiusou's 5Icmoirs, Vol. I., page CGG. (jftwo tlnnisand men, on account of its un- tenability, This, too, at a time when the garrison did not numlu''oeeed tu KiiKjutini and cany the place, this, too, from a man wdio remain- ed with a force rpiadruplc the strength of that opposing him fur thirteen days, with- out mustering up sufficient courage to at- tcmiit mure lirilliant enterprises than the liurning of an unprotected village, and the plundering of a few scattered farm houses. We have, however, occupied too much space already with the proceedings of such a com- mander as General Brown, and we very wil- lingly accompany him back to Chijipewa, to which place ho retreated on the 24th, while under a violeut tit of a])prehensi(in of his f(jur thousand men being surrounded or intercepted. AN'e gladly turn from sutdi an exhibition of American generalship to (Jeiieral Iliall, who, after throwing re-in- f(jreements into Forts Gcoige and Mississaga retired towards Burlington heights, where he expected to be joined by the lU3id regi- ment, and the flank companies of the 104tli, This meeting taking place, however, at the twenty mile creek. General Biall, instantly retraced his steps, and took up a position about thirteen miles from i!ie American army. We will leave the two armies thus posted, while we notice the atrocities perpetrated l)y the Americans during their three weeks campaign in the Niagara district. In doing this we will take no one sided British ac- count, but a letter from an American officer, a major ^IcFarlaud ; we may also refer to 318 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF IS 12. I' a;- ft tlie fUut, tliiit iin Aiiu'iie-iiii uITicor, Coloiiel ii^uiust tlio onciny, witli sjicciiil orilcrs to Sluiie, w;iH ilisiiiiss(!il tlio H(!rvico by tlu? ["report if the ciioiiiy apiioiircd," and lo a|iplv sentence of ii Court JNIiirtial, for the wanton for asisistauco if noeessary. (ieneral Sintt, destruction of St. David's. Major McFar- land writiis : — " The nulitia and Indians plundered and burnt everything. The whole population is against us, not a foraging I'arty, }>ut is fired on, and not unfrci[uently returns with having learned that tho force occuiiviri"' Lundy's Lane wan more than a men' patn,]- ling party, reported it to (jcnerul Brown, who iuiinediately pressed forward to suppurt iiiin. (Ieneral Uiall, on the advance of t!iis superior force, very priidentially ga\(' ordcis missing numbers, Tliis state was to bts.to retire on (^ueenstt)n. Assistancf was, anticipated. Tlie militia have Ijurnt several however, nearer at hand than General Uiall private dwelling houses, and, on tho 19tli|eould have lioped or anticipated. instant, burnt tlie village of St. David, c(jn- sisting of a!)out tliirty or forty houses. This was dune within three miles of camp; and iny batralion was sent to cover the retreat, as they (iin; militia) iiad lieen sent to sc(nir tho country, and it was jjresunied they miglit 1)0 pursueil. MyG-d! what a service. I never witnessed such a scene; and had not the commanding officer of tlio party, lieutenant colonel Stone, been disgraced, and sent out of tli : army, I should have resigned my commission." Lest our readers should imagine that Majo' McFarland was one of tiic parties disaSected to tho war, ami whoso report would consequently not ho trustworthy, we give a few more extracts from his letter : — " IIo declares tliat he desires no better fun than to light the British troops M'hom, ac- cording to James, this same Major politely calls cut-throats." — ho also glories in being a "staunch American." " AVhat then" asks James, " must have been tho scones and sulTerings that could excite compassion in such a breast." To return, however, to the two generals. On learning that (jlenoral Brown had retreat- ed, General Riall advanced with his aug- mented force, now nearly one thousand strong, and took up a position near Lund^-'s Lane (ibout a mile from the Falls), and about two and a iialf miles from the Ameri- can position. The American commander, having lieen instructed that General Riall had crossed over frtmi (iucenston to Lewis- ton, to effect a diversion, and that a small party occupied Lundy's Lane, determined by a counter diver.sion to advance on tliat post. IIo accordingly despatched General Scott with eleven hundred rank and file No sooner Iiad General hrummond iicardof tho landing of a large American force, and tho result of tlio battle at Cliippewa, than he Iiastened from Kingston to Y(irk, whidi |>1;!( o ho left on the evening of tiie '2M\, arriviiii; at Fort Niagara on tho next morning. The greatest energy seems to have charactcrizfil General Drummoud's motions, end we liiid him first dispersing Colonel Swift and hi;, party of volunteers, and then rapidly advanc- ing with about olgiit hundred rank and lilc to the sup'port of General Riall. AVhen witliin a short distance of Lundy's Lano, General Drummond loarncil that the force under General Riall was in retreat, and his first act was to change the rotr'sU into an advance upon the position so lately aband f,iod, and the position was again occu- pied when the Amerlciin troo)is were vitiiin half a mile of it. For tho particulars nf this action we will, however, refer our readors to General Drunmrond's despatch : — From LieuUnant-gcneral Dfummond to Sir G. I'rocost. Head Quarters, near Niagara Falls, Sin, July 27, 1814. I embarked on board his innjosty's schooner Netley, at York, on Sunda.y even- ing the 24th inst., and reached Niagara at day-break tho following morning. Finding, from lieutenant-colonel Tucker, tliat iiiajor- gcneral Riall was understood to Ijo moving towards the Falls of Niagara to support tlio advance of his division, which lie had pu:-lic'.l on to that place on tho preceding evening, I ordered lieutenant-colonel Morrison, with the 89th regiment and a detaciimcnt of the royals and king's, drawn from Fort George and Jlississaga to proceed to tiie same point in order that, with the united force I might ii .a ITISTOR'i OF flTK WAR OF 1M!2. 319 .red," iinillo iipi'ly f. Gnneral Sintt, ! force OL'ciijivin;:: him a mere imttnl- ) (MMUTill l)Vn\Vtl, torWllVil to Mljiji Vt he rttlviuice "f t!iis ntiiiUy j^iivo onlcts Assistani'f> ^Vl\s ;hiin Cienenil llinU iiijinted. )nuniuuiiilht';iV'l of Liiicricuii f'lircc. uml , Cliipiicwa, Uiiiu lie :oYork,\vhioUpk(0 [• the 21th, iirviviv:- cxt morr.iuj;. V.n: I have chavacterizpil lotions, mill \yc timl lonol Swift ami \\\.-> then rapi'lly ailvauc- indrcil rank and iilc a Uiall. distance of Lundy's ,iid learned that the liall was in retrofit, h change the retreat IP position !^iJ l-.itely .tion was a-ain ocou- n troops were vuiim 10 partii-uliws id' thi.s , refer our readers to jspatch : — Pnmmoml to Sir G. 'St. oar Nia.^ara Falls, 27, l^U. ard his innjesty's rk, on Siindi'.y evou- reached Nia-:;araat | morning. Finding, Tucker, that major- Irstood to Ije inovin,? agara to support the |wliichhehadpu>liO'l ^ preceding evonin;!, | [lonel Morrison, widi •■ a detachment of the Lvn from Fort Geur-e Iced to the same poiut 1 united force I mi-ht yt iigainst the enemy (posted at Street's 'reck, with his advance at Cliipi)ewa) on :,v arrival if it should he found expedient. — ;,.vil''red lieut^'uant-i'olonid 'I'uikcr, at the ,mt! time to proceed up the right l)ank of •:,o river, with 'M) of the ;Ust, ahont '3)0 of ;iie royal Scots, and a lioily of Indian war- riors, sujiported (on the river) l)y a party of armed seamen, under captain Doljhs, royal ;;avv. The ohjeet of this movement was to rhjierse or capture, iihody of the '.'nemy en- iimped at Lewiston. Somo unavoidahle lolay having occurred in the march of the ;riiips up tlio right hank, the enemy had Bioved oif previous to lieutenant-colom;! Tucker's arrival. I have to express mysell' ■ dstied with the exertions of that oflicer. Having refreshed the troops at^^ueenstown, mil having hrought across the 4lst, royals, ;;ik1 Indians, I sent hack the 41st and lOUth roL'imeuts, to firm the garrisons of forts I'lwrge, Mississaga, and Niagara, under •utenant-colonel Tucker, and moved with '.vi SOtii, and detachments of the royals and iing's, and light company of the 41st, in all i'mhU 8ih) men, to join major-general Kiall's virion at the Falls. When arrived witlau a few miles of that wsition, I met a report from major-general r.iall that the enemy was advancing in grea*. ■.•en. I immediately pushed on, and joinsl io head of lieutenant-colonel Jlorrisou's .ilumns just as it reached the road leading ■i the IJeaver Dam, over the summit of the :.;llat Lundy's Lane. Instead of the whole ■f major-general lllall's division, which I vspoeted to have found occu])ying this posi- ■:m, I f(juud it almost in the occupation of Ke enemy, Avhose columns were Avithin GOO yirds of the top of the hill, and the sur- rjumling woods hlled with his light troops. Ilio advance of major-general Kiall's divi- "'jn, consisting of the Glengarry light infon- !rv and incorporated militia, having eom- Bienccd a retreat upon F(jrt George, I coun- termanded these corps, and formed the 80th regiment, the royal Scots detachment, and iM 41st light company, in the rear of the iill, their left resting on the great road ; my Wo 24 pounder brass field guns a little ad- "inecd, in front of the centre, on the summit ! the hill; the Glengarry light infantry on the rigl'it; tiie hattalion (4' incoiporati'il mili- tia, and the detachnu-nt of the king's regi- ment on the left of the great road ; the sipiad- ron of the I'.tth lidit dra;:ooi)s in the roar of the left, on the road. I had scarc(dy com- pleted this f irmation when the wledo front was warmly and (dos(dy engnged. The ene- my's principal ettorts wore directed against our left and centn'. After repeated attacks, the troops on the hd't were parti;illy furced liack, ami th(! ei\e'iiy gained a nmiui'iitary possesion of the road. This gave him, liow- ev(!r, no material advantage, as the troopg whiidi had lieen f )rced hack fn-med in the rear (4' the S'Jth regiment, fronting the road, and securing the think. It was during this short interval that major-general liiall, li iv- ingreccivi.'d a severe wound, was inti-n-ejiteil IS he was passing to the rear, by a party of the enemy's cavalry, and taken jirisoner. — Tn the centre, the repeated and determined attacks of the enemy were nu't hy tlie S'.hh regiment, the detachments ol'tln! royals and king's, and the light com[Kiny of the 41st regiment, with the most [>erfect steadiness and intrepid gallantry, and the enemy was constantly repulsed with very heavy loss. — In so del:erinincd a manner were their at- tacks directed against our guns, that our artillerymen were hayonettcd by the enemy while in the act of loading, and the muzzles of t!;o enemy's guns were advanced within a few yards of ours. The darkness (4" the night during this extraordinary conHiet, oc- casioned several uncommon incidents: our troops having for a moment been pushed back, some of our guns remaiiHMl fir a few minutes in the enemy's hands; they, however, were not only (piickly recovered, but the two pieces (a G-pounder and a 5^ inch howitzer) which the enemy had brought up, were cap- tured by us, together with several tumbrils, and in limbering up our guns at one period, one of the enemy's G-pounders was put by mistake on a limber of ours, and one of our G-pounders limljcred on one of his : by which means the jiieces were exchanged ; and thus, though we captured two of his guns, yet, as lie obtained one of ours, we have gained only one gun. About o'clock, (the action having com- menced at G,) there was a short interiniy^don 320 III8T0HY OV TIIR WAIl OF lsl2. \'' •s n of liriii;^, iliii-iii;^ \vli'u-li it Jipiioiirs tliocncmy i it ti) iiiurc tliiiii two tliuusmid eight liuii'lii'l wiiH tMniilnyml III I)riii;i,in;^ up tlio wlmlo ol'iof ovorydoscrijitiuii. lii.s rcmuiiiiii;' force; iiiul lie MJiortiy after- \ ,.,.«,. j-m ..u i i i n " , . ' , . , ^ , \ ■'^ very (lilhcult, Imt at the fiunr- timo a wiirdH renewfil Ins iittiick witli troxh troops, I „,^^,,„ .■,..., ^ ,,., , . .1.11 , , , ., , , 'nf>>'i K'litiiM",^ 'lutv rciiiiuiis, tliat I'l cii'liM- , ' ' ,. '. '\ |\ouniij; to (lojuHticc to the merits i.i tiii'olii- liiiitrv iuiil success. About tins period the ,.,„.^ .... 1 . 1 1: i 1 1 . i- • . , , . , ... ,,,' ,. .. I L-er.s iiiiil soldiers liv whose valor and (hsrii,. reuiamder of lU'iior-wiicnil Kiall s division, i i;.. ,,■ • • . ." , , , . , ,.,,,, , , . , ,' I lino this important success has hi'i'iiolitauinl. wliieli hail lieeii ordered to retire on tiie !id- r ,„„„ ,.„„„„, ..i„ :. ti .• 11,- . . „ , ., il was, very early in tlie action, (U'i>rivcd of vanee of the eiiemv, eonsistin;!; ot the lO.ld' . , ,,. m , r ,\ 1 ■ , , ,, , , , i»»n.)or-;jeneral Kiall, who, I re^rret to Icani, rc;'inu!nt, umlcr Loloin'l r^cott ; the hcail-ii , ,..,,. .1,1 , . p,. ■ , " ' . . . ,. , , ' , , ihas siifh'i-ed the iuuputatio!) of Ins arm and quarter division id tiio royal heots ; tiic ,,.. ,„ , , , ,. . , ,^ , , r •• r i! CM 1- ' r^vliose hnivery, /cal, and activity, have head-(|uarter I ivision ot the Sth, or kin;r s ;; 1... ,., , 1 „„„ „ „ ^;. ' . f. , , , alwavH boon conBpicuous. flank comp'.inios of the lU lili ; and some de- tachments of militia, under lieutenant Colo- To Hcutcnant-colonel IIarv(^y, ilcputy-ad- ncl Hamilton, inspeetin;.; field ofKcer, jolncd|jutant-gouoral, I am so deeply indelited for lii-i the troops ciiij;M'i;cd ; and I placed tlnuu in a; valualile assistance previous to, as well as soeuiid line, with the exception of the royid^ liis able and ener^^etic e.Kortioiis duriii;;. this Scots and dank companies of the 10 ith, with severe contest, that I feel myself called upon which I prolonged my line in front to the right, wlicre I was apprehensive of the ene- my outflanking mo. The enemy's efforts to carry the hill were continued till about midnight, when ho had fluffered so severely from the superior steadi- nr;,s and disjlpliiio of li'.:i majesty's troops, that he gave up the contest, and retreated with great precijiitation to his camp l)eyi>nd the Chi])pewa. On the following day he abandoned his camp, threw the greater part of his haggage, camp equipage, and provi- sions, into t!ie Rapids, and having set fire to Street's mills, and destroyed the bridge at Chippewa, continued his retreat in great disor:-iiinnio 3J0 (a- 100 II tlieir own auc. tis fudian", i iJiuinmond ai, >n Indian onj coed twenty-( sovere. Gene of e:icl! witli -several otlio 'ii)eajitain [I Wy, hut re WIIII'IM shot to ■awi at his pie Was brother to riv(;4 uf I ns^i'ot to Icurn, )n of his nYin iiud lid activity, liave I:ivv(!y, (li'imty-uil- ■jilyii\iU;liteilforlii>! (Ills 1(1, rt>* WL'H ns ortidii- iluviii;:, this .myself iaihMliii"iU 's iitt(Mi imi to tlio lis hi:^'.ily 'ivtii.'vil;»v!y fuir thai has tak(!n 1 till* province. The isplnyoil ly w~v\'>r rit-;;<'iu'ral, do^uvve n. I imi''h rot:Tet ;ront and promising nt Moorsoin, li'-lth .nt-adjiitaut-oncral, Is the close of tho xertions of caiitain lii'ivtcr-uiastor-ji'.'ne- aiul coiuliict 1 hail instances to veniavk, joi- Malik" and iieut. ■tov-mastor-i^t'iKM'urs i^cly useful tu nic : tvouiulcd. from Avhosc active tn-eatcst assistance, u my aid.^s-do-caini^, .ovin-, and captain )ma.jor-j;oiicvalUiiiil- lufortunatoly tiilj;o()n>, under mH(i()rLi.sle,|Cid()n(d C.iiit|d.ell. M ijor Kirljy succtjodoJ and the \cry credit;vhl(' and excellent de- lieutenant-colonel llohiiiHon in thr« ninunani fence made liy the incorporated militia-bat tili(ju, under lieuteuant-colonol Uobinsoii, AXKKIC.VN VKItS.lOSS UK I 11 1 WATKll. HATriK (u uuinnK- C»pi/ of " letlcr from an nflker in lite arm;/ to 4i.( friend in Alezandria, dated Fort Uric U. C, Jul:/ liH. On tlio '2^1 I found mysidf so far recovered nsio j(iii) till! army lit (Juci'iiston Ilidj/lits, al- thdiigli that part of my I'oot whkh was t'liictmed will Mover \w. of mndi service. On tl)i> -IHi wc retired to (Miippewa, and on the 'I'tlh at half- past 4 I'. M. our lirst hri^rade commanded hy (liTioriil Seott, engap' 1 tlie eiinmy's advance aViiit -I, miles from Chipnewa ; I lie ii'ain luxly of both iirmies soon suiii>ortod the advances, mill ft tremondoin huttle was fiuij^ht lastinp 6 li'iurs and '2'1 niiiiiiteH, mostly within hiilf musket, and sometimes within pistol shot, wliicli ended in. the enemy's total defeat, leaving 21ii'a^s24 ponmlf^rs and 1 hrass (i pounder in our possession. We kent the hattle ground un- til midnight, when liavinj:; removed our wounded iH'I [lart of our dead, W(^ retired to (Iliippew.a, uV,w^ with us his brass (i pjuiider. We were 'iiialj'.e to Itriiig olf hi? two 'H [lounders fi'oin a w;iiit of horses ; almost all our.s being killed, ami our pieces were generally taken ufl' with bricoles. The enemy's loss in killed, wounded ami prisoners must he altout 12 or KJOO. Cf frisoiiers we hiive taken major general lliall, ili'n. Priimmond's aid de camp, 10 ofHcers and ■JJO or 100 men. His force engaged was by their own accouut about 1,500 regulars, besides bis Indian", Ike, commanded by Lieut. Gen. Diuinmond and Miij. Gen. lliall. We had not «n Indian engaged and our force did not ex- ceed twenty-eight hundred men : our loss is dcvere. Generals IJrowi. and Scott, and an aid ,l'''„ra are wounded -several other nthcers killed, among wliom was my fiiptaiii [RitcliiiJ^lK- was wounded in the tKiJy, hut refused to (juit his piece, when a ciiiii'iii shot took m(i>t of his head olF All the meii at his piece were killed or wounded. He Was brother to the editor of the Richmond En- lujcr, and formerly lived in Alexandria. of tho incorporated niiiitia-battnlion, and continued very j;allantly todiroct its etl'ortit. most undiiiiMted bravery 'i.ut a proficiency in tactics and military skill, tiuliioi:' surpassed by tho most veteran urmies. From major-general Hrown to the lecretary of war. Awf •an ThebiiiHe of \iAa.\p.A, says the Albany Argus, Mmnnnds, like the achievements of our naval heroes, the admiration of all classes of the Americin people, a few excepted ; and the most bitter revilers of the army are impelled by tke strong current of applause, to admit that tie heroes of Niagara merit the warmest thanks Mil gratitude of t'aoir country. The captured *ffi(Mirs of the enemy with an ingcnions candor 'hat roflects upon tliei honour, declare, that liere was exhibited on our part not only the 21 (No diilf.) Sill, Conlncd as I was, and liave been, .since iL lust engagement witli the enemy, 1 feiir that the account 1 am aliout to give irtajc be less full and satisfactory than nii'lcr (.thcr circumstances it might have liecn niiide. I particularly fear that the coniluct of tho gallant men it was my good fortune to lead will not be noticed in a way due to their fame, and the honour of our country. You are already apprised, that the army hat, on the lioth ult. taken a pi)siti' n at t'liippewa. About noon of that day, colonel fswilt, who was posted at Lewiston, advised vu\ by express, that the enemy appeared in consider- able lurce in Queenston, and on its heights; that lour of the enemy's fleet had nrriveiJ oil the pri!cediog night, and were then lying near Fort Niagara ; and that a number ofhoatw wertS in view, moving up the strait. Within a few minutes after this intelligence had been received, I was further informed by captain Denmon, of the ((uarter-master's department, that the enemy were landing at Lewiston, and that our baggage and stores at Schlosser, and on their way thither, were in danger of immediate capture. It is proper here to mention, tlnit having received advices as late as the 20th, from gen- eral Gaines, that our fleet was then in port, and the commodore sick, we ceased to look for co-operation from that (jutirtcr, anddeteruiine.di to disencumber ourselves of baggage, and march directly to IJurlington Heights. To musk this intention, and to draw from Schlosser ft small supply of provisions, [ fell back upon Chip])ewa. As this arrangement, under the increased force of the enemy, left rnueh at hazaril on our side of the Niagara, and as it appeared by the before stated information, that the enemy was about to avail him,self of it, I conceived that tho most effectual method of recalling him from the object was to put myaelf in motion towards Queenston. General Jicott, with the 1st brigade, Towson's artillery, and! all the dragoons and mounted men, were ac- cordingly put in march on the road leading thither, with orders to report if the enemy appeared, and to call fur assistance, if tbst was necessary. The 25th regiment, under major Jessup, was engaged in a most obstinate coniliut witb aH HISTORY OF TlIK WAR OF 181::. Thiit 1iiitt;ilii)ii liiiM only lixfii tirpmi/.fil :i few niDiitliH, aiitl, mucli In t!io croilit urfap- tiiin KohiiiHDii, nf tlio kiii;:;*H r(';;iiiu'nt, (luu- thiit i'i take urotiiul In his riglit. II(? Iiail .suci'ct'iloil in tunrn,;; llic ('iiciiiv'm l((tt tlaiil<, — lia'l captinr I (liy a ili'l.iciiinoat uii'ltT ciiiitain Kt'lcliiini) ^r«'iiiM'al Uiall. ami ttiiiiilry (itinT (itlit'ci>, aiii)rehending that these corps were much exhausted, and knowing that they had sutlered severely, I determined to interpose a new line with the advancing troops, and thus disengage general Bcolt, and hold iiis brigade in reserve. Orders were accordingly given to (leneriil Ripley. The enemy's artillery at this moment occupied a hill which gave him great advantages, and was the key of the whole position. It was Supported by a liue uf infantry. To secure the vineial licutonuut-ccddiul), Im8 attained b liiglily respectabh' do^^rco ofdiseipline. J II tlie n^itorated and iletertnined uttiiekii victory, it waH necessary to carry thin iirlilhry, and sei/.e the height. This duly was ii.'.^ij^'iM'd to cohinel Miller, while, to favor its execution. the 1st regime.it, under the command of colo- nel NiehohiH, wan directed to nietinee nm) amuMc the infan.ry. To my gieat nioiiitii'.^. tion, this regiment, after a dJM h.iigc or lv\(), gave way, and retreated .some distnni c befure it could be rallied, though it is believed the i.)li. cers of the regiment exerteil thcni-rlves tc shorten the distance. Stlmiil.iteil by the examj)les set theii\ liy their gallant leader, by .Major Wood, of the l'enn,«yi- vania corps, by Colonel jlobbin, of New Viik, and by their ollicers geni rally, they j rei ipituln) theiaselves U[ion the enemy's liti'". a'ld laele all the privou'.'rs which were taken at IITh point of the action. Having been for some time woundiil, and being a. good deal exhausted by loss of blool, it became my wish to devoUe the coi.u,iarid en (ieneval Scott, ami retire from the tiehl ; Imt on inipiiry, I had llu' mi-forliHM' to li.rii lli.it lie was disabled by wounds ; I iJierejore kept iny post, and had the sutisfaction to .-ce the enrmy s last etVort repidsed. i now consigm;il the com- mand to Ciciieral Uiidey. While retiring from the fieM, I .saw and fell that the victory was complete on our jiart, if pro]>er measures wei'e ]iromi>tly adopted to secuire it. The exhaustion of the rac ii w;h, however, ^lueli ns made ><12. 323 li:iH iittainoil a rl\-* l\>A^\H'l\ vol" its I'XCCIItKIII. itllllilillnl lit I'liln- l to iiit'iiiu'c mil) ^' Jjicilt lllnl lltil'.n- (liMllMl|.',r or two, i- (listiiiici' lii'Inrc it bolicvfl till- t'Ui- :vcl tlii'iii-tlvc's tc ■r- set llu'iii I'V tlu'ir cid, ot llif l't'iiii.-\l- .liiii, of New Vi'ik, y, tiii'y 1 I'diiiitiitiil « lino, ;\i|il iii;i 1 III' tlic nil II \v;i-, Home ii'lVcslinii'iil ly miuin'il «iitrv. Ml- 111 till' wiiiit lit ( ri'Ciiio liclit'vi'l it y ami tlio tmi'iis •r Viriii^itiii; I'H' tiir liitiUi'iy ; iiii") i" thu iTiomy IhmI rn- 1 nil lioiir iiltrr my ,niii.'(l tliat (.'I'lirnil ut ;iiiiii'\uM'i' mill in him. mill, ii""'' the IIU'ilMirC 1 WH9 til jiiit the tronp.i tioii ; to pivo llii;m to tnke with iiim li. iiml every otiicr hiiii^'H'ou tlie iiflil , anil fhore to nuct :iiiii iiiiiiOMP'il. To (li.jii, mill 1 rt-'lioil not executed. I lequiitc lire iiiy I'Off- rooji^', to do ju>tic» my own sen^'' <'f ion, they might liuv« m,\\, you have row evi- gnlhintry ofConeral* icl Miller, and Majir «rliii:l> till' •'iii'tiiy iiiinlii mi our (■i>i>trr, tor Ihr fiiir[i lit" i^tiiiiin;!;, ut mice, tlio tTcst (d the [iiisitiiiii. iiiid cii r ;;inH. th(> HtfiidiiicM unil iiitri'|iiility
  • y tlio tmoiis ullr.ttt'il for till! (li'tciico of tliiit jitiMt, were iit'MT siir|mss('(| : tlioy ('(Hisistcil (d' the 'Jtl li;itt;ilinii y ii severe wouiul, liy niiijor I'litliird ; ji (letaidiinciit of tlie niv- al iSeiitt.>*, miller lieiitoniuit l[eiii|iliill, titii| at'tftr lie WHS killeii, lieiiteiiiiiit l-'niser ; a detaehiiinnt id' tlie, f.'!rd re;;iiiient. Tlic.«'0 tniops ri'|ie!iteilly, when hard pros.'^cd, forniod round till' coliiiir of tho SDth re;.;iinont. and in- viiriiilily reimlsed the desperate (dl'nrts made tt;;:iiiist them. On the ri^rlit, tlie sl((adiness luid (;<)(:d condiiet of the 1st hattiilion ol rnyiil Seiitts, niiiler lioiileiiaiit (lordnn, mi f line very tryiii;:; uecaslmis o.teited my admi- ration. Tlie kiiijf's rej^iment, 1st hatlaiii.n, uniler major Evans, heliavod with e(|iial piliiiiitry and finnnus.s, uh did tho lij^ht 01' the l.-t hiijrade, the eliief, with his aide de Miiip, Wortli, hi-' iiiijnr id' lirifjade, Smith, mid tvcry eiiiaiiiiindi'r id' linttaliun were vviiiiiidi'd. The 2d liri^ade siitl'iTe I Ic.^'; liiit, as a liri- gaile. their (.•ondiut en tilled them to the iipplaiise 'jf their eomitiy. .Mier the i iioiny's stnia};' |io- filioii had lieeii carried liy the 121st and the de- Iwhmonts of the ITlli and IHth, the l^lillld li.'id liSiui'R'd a lu^w cliaiMcter. They eoiild not .'i^rain lic-haken or dismiyed. Major .Md'arlaiid, of tiicliitt^!!', fel! iiolily at tho head of liis liattalioii. Inder (he eonimand of (iriieial I'm-tir, the Diiiitia vohint'.'er.s of I'oiiii-' ' .aiiia and New Vork Ptoiid undismayed ami -t t!ie hotte.-t liie, anil repulsed the veterans o; iiosed to them. Tie- Cuniiilian volunteers, coi .nmiided liy Colonel Wilcux, lire reported by ieneral I'ortei- ns hav- ing; mi'ii ted and ri.'eeivi I his ap]iriilialiijti. Theom jis of artillery, eniiinimided liy .Major irmiliiiaii, liidiaved wiiu its usual irallantiy. C;iiit,iiii Towsuii's company, attached to the 1st brigiult', was the lirst and last en>!;ajred, and tlurin;:; the whole coiiHict m;iiiitained that iiij^li thiiractor wliicdi they liad previously won hy llieir fkill and valour. Caiitaius I'.iddle and Ritchie were lioth wounded early in the action, but refused to (piit the field. The latter de- diircil that he n"ver woiilil leave his piece ; and, true to his engagement, fell by ltd bido, covered »ith wounds. tHimpuny of the royulH, detached under ou^h tain Stewart : the f;reiiadiers ot tho W,U\, do- tached under captain llr(i\\ne ; and tho Hank eontpanles of Ihe Idltli, under ctiptaiu Leonard: the (Uenniir' v lijiht infantry, un- der lieutenaiit-iiil.iiiel Mattershy, dinplayod most valnalile ijualities as li;;ht troojw ; (iolonel Scott, major Smelt, and tho offuerH of the lO.ld, deserveerodit for iheii' exertiouK in raiiyiii;; that re;^inient. after it had licou thrown into niiimentary disorder. liioutcnaut-eolonel I'earson, inH|KM;tinf; lield-oflicer, directed the advance with (riral int<'dip.ence : iind lieutenant-rolonel Unuii- luond.of the Idltli, huvini;i.'iineforwanl with my permission, early i.'i tl day, miulo him- self actively usel'id in dillcrent parl« of th» field, undiT my direction. ThoHo otlliors iiro entitled to my hest thanks, an Ih Licu- lenanf-colmiel Hamilton, iiisi)octin{5 lieltl- oflicer, for his exertions after IiIh arrival with till! froojis under ('idmKd Scott. 'J"ho ftohl artillerv, so Imi^' as ihiie \va> li^^ht, wii« wiiU served. 'I'lic credit of its eflicient state is duo to ea[itain Maekoiiocliic, who has had (diarn;*( of it since its arrival with linn divir^ion. Cajitain M'Laiichhin, who hiw care, of tli« The >latl (if the army liad its n(H;ulliir merit and ilistiiictiiiii ; Colonel (iirdiner, wljutHiit- Kciieral. thouj^h ill, was on lisi>taiit, Mn J or J ouch, w.:-i very nitive and useful. .My ga'n.jnt aidcu. lie camp. An-lin and Sp( iicit, Iwui numy and critical duties to pciroi in, in the discharge of which the latter tell. I .■.hall e\ir think oi iliifl yoiini: man v.itli piiilc and ie;..ret; re{!;rct thut liis career has heen so short- pride that it lui8 lieen so mdile and distini;ui^heil. The (iiiriiicers. Major'- Macrae" and Woml, Wv reer-Mtlv dislinirni' lied on tlii i rtny, and tlieir military tali ut was exerted wilii gieiit eftcct ; they were much iindir my eye, iind near my pei-Min, Iind to their assi.-tance a {j;reHt deal is f.iiily tube ascrilicd; 1 iiio-t earnestly reoom- nicnd tlu'in, as woithy of the hi;;liest trust ami conlidenee. The staff of (ieneialH Jliplev ami I'ortcr discovered creat zeal and attcntJon tt> duty. Lieutenant i;. 15. llandnljih, of the 20th re';iiuent, is ciititlLii to notice ; hi.^ courage waa conspicuous. 1 enclose a return of our loss ; thoso Dotod as mis.sinn may u-cner.'iUy lie numhcred with tho dead. The en Miiy had hut littlo opportunity of nuikinj^ prisoners. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, &c., JAcon IJUOWN. Uou. John Annstrojig, Sccrotury at War. 324 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. I - V, ' i ^ batteries at Fort MissiHsaga, volunteered his ] Bervces in the field on this occasion. He ' was severely wounded. Lieutenant Tom- kins deserves much credit for the vaxy in •which two brass 24 pounders, of which he had charge wore served ; as does serjcant Austin of the rocket company, who directed the Oongreve rockets, which did much exe- cution. The zeal, loyalty, and bravery with which the militia of this part of the pro- vince had come forward to co-operate with his majesty's troops in the expulsion of the enemy, and their conspicuous gallantry in this, and in the action of the 5th instant, claim my warmest thanks. I cannot conclude this despatch without recommending, in the strongest terms, the following officers, whose conduct during the late operations has called for marked appro- bation ; and I am induced to hope that your excellency will be pleased to submit their names for promotion to the most favourulilo consideration of his royal highness tlicprinco regent ; viz : Captain Jervoise my ai\imnil Jh/hfinj men first time, ventured to cross bayonets with \ emliodicd, when they were marched back to Britsh troops, atid the issue of the combat I Chippewa." That the luss was ho severe, then taught them, whatever their moral i we, cannot, for a moment believe, when we courage, their ]diyslcal inferiority to British i consider the numbers of {\w. Aniericanu and Canadian troops. This battle may almost bo styled an im- promptu engagement, inasmuch as the engaged ; we can only, therefore, look on thi.s statement of Ingersol's as an attempt at an e.\cuse for the retreat of a superior body American General, in ordering the advance j befrn-e an inferior. in the first instance, was without correct! If ever a writer earned a pension from his information, as to the force opposed to him. Tliis we learn from Wilkinson, who distinctly devotion to his "country's cause," Ligersol is tiiat man. Nothing has suHircd to withstand stiites that it was n^ported to General Scott, the onslaught of hi.s pen on tlie character "that the enemy could not be in force," and j and morale of the IJritish, and a few extracts, that, conse([uenlly, that officer "pressed j taken in connection with Drummond'a dea- furward with ardor," to atta('k the I'.ritish. j patcli, will not be found unamusing. We If ever one army was fairly beaten by I are lirst inlbrmed. page ".I'J, that "General another, the battle of Lundy's-lane furnishes I Bniwn. when th<' victory of Bridgewater, us with such an Instance; tiiat is, if remain- 1 so far as couM be judged from all circuni- inj; in possession of the field while your stancis, was complete, was with difficulty adversary retreats precipitately and in dis- suppiirted on iiis horse as he retired toChip- ordcr, !je consid((red as a proof (d' victory ; pewa." We presume that iMr. Ingersol cm Goiieral Drummoud was attacbd by a ! reading over this paragraph considered it 6ii|H>ruir force, and, through the gallantry of ^ necessary to account for (ieneral H.own and his troops, he not only sustained his posi- 1 his army's retreat to <'hi|ipewa, accordingly tiiMi, but, on the next morning, when Gcm^al : (,n page KIO, we find it stated that " The Ri|ih'y^ received instructions from General , struggle was over, i'ride ol^ Hncce-s (the cajjtured j^nns) fell at last into tlie hands of the IJritish, who returned to the hill, soon after the Ameri- cans left it. Mr. ln,!^ers(d further acc(mnts for the capture ip, was captured by us." 'J'o this Ingers(^l responds — " They capfmrd nothiivj, hut morhj found aninnoii, accidenldihj left, when an hour after the en(Mn3''s retreat, their con- querors in eompli>te and undisturbed pos- eesslim of the guns and the iield, slowly and in perfect order, left it and them, to return to tlie indispensable repose of their camp." It has been our good fortiine to converse with several of the otlicers who distinguished themselves in the battle of liUiidy's-laue, and by all we have been as-nircil, that, so far from the Anu'rican troops leiiving the hill, leisurely, aiul voluntarily al)andoning the guns, ivs Ing(!rsol represents, the real state of the case wa-<, that the Anu>ricans did abandon both the top of the bill and the guns, but that it was becausi; a vigorous bayonet charge ( mnpelltMl them, and thai the gujis were recaptured about one hundred yards from the position origiually occupied. We almost fancy Mr. Ingersul has boon misled by the tale told at the Obsc-rvatory, which now marks the scene of the stnn'clo and that the worthy sergeant who recounted the tale, recognizing the historian as a Yankee, crammed him with the version of the battle prepared for his countrvmen ; if so, Mr. Ingerscd fared better than Gciienil Scott, who, we ]n-esume, having some ap- pearance of resjiectability al)oiit him, \sm mistaken for an Englishman, and had the unspeakable niorlilicalion of having the sjxjt pointed out to him, " where General Suott turned tail and ran awity." On one sentence, taken from the Qupjico Gazette of the 2ord September, 1814, Mr. Ingersol bases a regular edifice of deductiouH, "with all our strength," wrote the Gazette, " it would be rashness to penetrate far into the United States, and might produce another Saratoga." This single sentence suffices to furnish Ingerscd witli material for the fol- lowing extraordinary assertions : — "Continued skirmishes, sieges, sorties, and other demonstrations, following the two pitched battles* in Canada, ju-oved only corol- laries to the prf)blem solved by them, that the American army, like the navy, was su- perior to that of England. As soon as the stniirifle, mt who recounted ! liistoviiin iiH a ill tlic v(>r.«ion of s oouiitrMiioii ; if :tcr tlum General liuving Kotne ap- ' al)"iit liiin, waa nan, and luul tlio of having; the spot loro Geu(!ral Scott iVmn thi^ QiiolitY, t ember, 1.S14, Mr. ili(;c of de(hictions, >vrote tlio Gazette, penetrate far into ht jinnluceanollKT sentence wutfices to iterial for the fol- rtions: — 3, sic;:;es, sorties, following the two , proved only corol- ed liy them, that the nuAy, was su- 1. As soon as the TV ascendant were liscipline added to enary iiriton was ', English prcdu- id odious journal- ftheL'nited States ish nation. But ived, and disjias- unced, I hem also Nut a little of that ceminji'ly insigni- which, during tho and Septendjor, nvarialily ilefeated lii'itain by land s fortunately, not ish jiroviuce, but innicH and ilect.s, ntered them." iw Ingersol could ICC, when the real etate of tho case is ccmsidnred, and the and j)ainting out how tho affair .should have grounds for Mr. IngorBol's boast disposed of. I been conducted, asks whether, "if such If we refer to the position occupied by the [views liad governed in the alfair at Bridgo- Amerlcans during ouo period of the year [water, the tropliies won on that occasion 1813, we fuid that nearly the wdiole of thel w^ion by nn American of doubt as to country thus occupied had been wrested [whether " they had whipped," being, when fniin the invaders, that their strongest fort ' we consider the national character, tantiV- (Kort Niagara) had been stormed, that their Imoiint to an acknowledgement of defeat, whole frontier had been devastated, and that, I Mr. Ingersol traces in tliese battlca tho with the s(ditary exception of holding Fort;origin and cause of peace. " Battles in Csv- Erie, .M.-. ingersol had not tho smallest ex- |nada did more to make peace than all the cu'^c for giving to the world the statement solicitations at St. Petersburg anr;/(>ftcii, Avritea, " iinding thoeiicmyso etrongly posted and iusuperior force, bo ju'ici- ousjy retired; and then a scene ensmil xvhirh. iKfi been Cdrrfulbi ciniccalcd Jfiim /// ■ publii'. By the iniprovidence of i'uiinated by rejicllini; tlie invaders from his Majesty's teirilorii'S. 'I'lie commander of the finccs uiiiics ^vith Lieutenant General Dnimmond, in simetcly lamenting the great lo^s which tlic sci\iio lias sustained by the severe wciir.ul u'>ci\ed by Miij.ir General liiall, and his siilisci|iioiik untoward ca)tture. It will be a niosi picas- log part of the duty of the d ni'JUiJ),- I'd for his bag- ^, had not Ijccn on of it was now nodation of IiIm KH'o.ssily of a re- ;ealudor delayod ; a3, that u con- aiuns, stores, and iher of tents wero burnt," (ifiii'ral this fact from an mind wliich ijcr- ?fore him Iii;:;('rsol ; tlic assurance to s <;aiiiHd, and that 1 or(ic'r! n of Lundv's Luifr iflury, tl.n Anicri- vere always wur [\ to (lualify and I-, (Joncral Drnm- inti<'\i of knowing j;;alhuilry, on tiie wcru duly aiijiro- i the issuing of thft 's OiTirE, 4th Aug.. ISU. forces has lb* nudj:ating to the al Order, issued d, after the a' lion ih oi' last nil nlll^ His Kxceliencj e meed id' j^raise y the Lieuienant dars, and militia, '. to share in this c deep sense he iui ' of the dis- .j:etie exertions of nioud in the niev ;Ucd by reiielliii^ !>sty's lerritmies. forces uniles with iiond, in since: ely which the sfiviio U' wci:"..d UN ei\ed lid his suliseiiuenk 1 bo a most picas- of the (.Vni'.'um- HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 320 der ol the forces to bring the nicritor;-. Captain Campbell : and Royals a ung with OUH services of the right division of the army 'them : also a party of incorporated militia^ uf the Canad.;s, before the graoit.us considei- liy wluin the brunt of the action was for a ation of his Koyal Highness the Prince eonsideralile lin.e sustained an( 1 wl loso loss Regent. lias been very severe. To the advaiue under (Signed) Ei>\VAllI> liAlNCS, I Lieutenant Cohn.(d Pears(Mi, consisting of the Adi'l. Gen. N. A- (ilengarrv Lijiht Infantry, under Lieutenant Cidonel iiattersby ; a small parly (d' the It will 1)0 seen bv thi.! eiidorsation o( | lOllh undei Lit hieiiant Colniud Ihi'mniond; General Drummond 'cneral order, that llic th incoi'porated militia under li'eutenant heads of departments in ('anada, were saM'd ('olonel Hobinsun, and detachnicnts from the trouble of endeavntiring to make tho'the 1st, '2nd. dth, and ^ih Lincdn militiii, worse afipear the better c-iii-o, a uf^P'sity ' end 'Jnd Ynrk under Mitcnant Colonel hi('h fell to the lot of \Vashin;j!;t(m aiul Ha!- Pai-rv. li'ilrd, the LitnitiMiant (Je tiinorean w ers riter.s. (Jen. I)ruminond v.nn the! Ms w amies t tl laitl Tl icv are il oH due to hattle, and in his general order, whi(di fallows, 'the troops wliicdi arrived under Culoiul Scott, he gives a nmnly and straightfnrward version I during the action, viz., the 1st or Royal of the all'air. Knowing that his men were I .^'cots under L-e-Jlcnant (^dl•nel ilordon, 8th hiavo and discijilined, he f(dt that ho was n(.'. I or King's unde;' Major i'.\aiis; ln.ird regi- ciilled on to lavish the cxtravatiant prtiise on menr under Coli.tud Scott, Flank Company them, for coinporting themselves as sohliei.s, which usually nnirks American General orders : — DISTPJCT GKXKKAL OIIDLK. II. (i., F.M.I.S or XiA'JAKA. 2()thduly, ISIL Lieutemmt General Drummond oilers his (incorest tuid w armest thanks to the troops 1(1 llh with the Xorlulk, (Ixford, Ke and militia engaged Yesterday esem phiry steadiness, gallantry a f.r the 1 (lis. 1)1 pHiie in repulsing all the ellbrts of a numer- ous and determined enemy t, near t!ie Fall- itirara; their exertions lia\e lieeii crowne< N with complete su 'd ccess, by the defeat of the enemy, and his retreat to the position (.1 Chipjiewa, with the loss of two ol' his gur.s and au iniuienso number of killed and wiiunded, and several hundred jirisoners. When all have beha\ed nobly, it is unnece-- fary to hold nj) ]iarlicuhir instance-- (d' merit !'',ssex 1 Can-rers, ind Middlesex. un and der Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton. The admirable steadiness and good con- duct of the l'.).h Light Dragoons under Major Li'^lc. and of the detachment of Royal Artill erv under aritai n Madaihlan, are entitled to ]i;uiicular prai.-e ; the latter olhcer having lieen badly wounded, the com- nnmd (jf the Artillery devolved to Captain M iconocliie itl with wnosi ga ilaiit ry and in corps individual.^ T'lii" Lieiitenanl exertiiais Lieutenant (ienrral Drummond was highly ]deased. Sergeant Austin, who directed the firing id' the Conjire\e rockets, deserves ^ery great credit. To the (dlicers (d* the General and his personal stall', to ('apt. Hidland, Aiil-de-canip to Major Goi.eral I'liall, Lieutenant Gei.eral Drniniunnd i'lnda liiniscli' greatly indebied for the assistance they afforded him. He has to 1 uneii t 1 leing Ueprned (b wnnnd early in the ;i'tion,) of the sei \ icea of Major General Iviall, who was most un- r, while 1-,'iuiiiint: Gi'iirral cannot, however, refrain from ex-l firtunalely made prisnue lire>siiig in the strongest niaiiiicr his adiuira-i from the iidd, l-y a | arlv tl le enemy 8 tiun of the gallantly and sleailiness id' tliei cavalry, wlm had a ninmeiitary possesion f'Dth regiment, under Lieutenant C(d mol jof the road, liioutenant General DiiimuionJ Mi.ri'ist.n, and Major CliU'ord, who ably and ] has aboiongret the wounds wliisi(lent has great pleasure in disniissiii;^ to tiieir homes the wiiole of tlie sedentary militia who iiavcjit Ix'fore the I'eader. seventy-live men, to attack the American sehooners. The details of this affiir arc ho fairly ;!;iven in Lieutenant Ciinklin;^'^ letter that it is unnecessary to do more than placo eo handsomely come forward on theoc(^asi(m, coniident that on any future emer;;en(y, their loyalty will he a;i;ain c({ually conspu-u /•'niiii f.i'citlinitiil Coidlin to Coptuiit Knin^ify. Fort(.lcor<;i', I'pper ' 'anada, Snt, Aui^ust IC), ISN. ous.— lie will perform a >;;rateful duty in I "With extreme re-,'ret I have to make known representinn; to his Majesty's Government. |t" you the circumstances attendin;,' the cuf- tho zeal, hravery, and alacrity with which |ture of the Ohio and Somers. Cn the ni};-ht the militia have co-operated with his of the 12th, between the hours ,)f 11 and 12, Majesty's troops. (Sijrned) ,). TIAIIVKY, IJcut. Cid. and Di'p. AilJ. llnicidl. TUealtiickiiii Kru-t F.ric After the battle of Lundy's Lane, the American troops havin,tr retired to Fort Eiie. there stren.i^thencd their position. enlar;!;inji the Fort and crectiu'r new batteries, and so the boats were seen a short distance a-lic;id of the Somers, und were hailed from that vessel: they answered *' ]irovisivin-boats, " which deceived the oflicer of the deck, asour army-boats are in ihe habit (d' piissinj; and rejiassinji; throughout the ni;:;ht, and enalilcd them to drift athwart his hawse, and cut hia cables ; at the aame time ))ourin;j; in a heavy lire, before he discuvered who thev were. anxious were they to prepare f-.r the comin- ,,^,j.j„t.,„cous!v thoy ,vere ah.njrsid.."'„f me, Btorm, tiiat, for fully a week after the\ hon^^ht refue;e within the walls of the Old Fort, the troops were empl')yi!d nij^ht and day in putting the works in such a state as nii;j;ht enable them to repel tiie attack Avhich (ieneral Kipley felt was inevitable. These preparations were not, however, unfelt by the peaceable settlers of the country, as the build in"-s at Streets Mills were destroyed, on the etext that thev midit afford a shelter to pr and notwithstandinj;; my exertions, aided Ly Mr. M'Caliy. aetin,::; sailinjj-master, (who was soon disabled.) I was untible to repulse tlioni. iJut for a moment, I mainttilned the(iuartor- deck until my swoi'd fell, in conyerpienco of a shot in the shoulder, and nearly all on deck either wounded or surrounded with i)ayoiU!ts. As their force was an overwiielin- inj5 one, I thouj^ht farther resistance vain, and j!;ave up the vessel, with the satlsfaL-tion an attacking army. This wanton destruction ^^^ j^.^^..^^_^ porformed my duty, and defeuJcd of private property must not be lost si;^ht of by the reader, as we shall ere lon<2; have to chronicle American o]iinions on nearly eimilar actions. (Jeiu'ral Drummond found it noeesaary, too, at this time, in order to facili- tate his attack on the An\erican position, to attack the batteries at lUack Rock, and the vessels of war lyin^ in front of Fort Erie and coverin;!; it lakewanl with their broad- eide-^. The difficulties in aeconiplishin;^ the latter of these actions were very great, and the boats necessary fir tin; purpose h;i.d to be transported, one a distance of twenty miles, the others ei>;ht miles on the men's shoulders. These dltli.ailties were, however, .all over- come, and on tb.e eveuin;^ of the lllh of August, the bxits wore safely launcheJ in my vessel to the last. List of killed and wounded. Ohio — Killed, 1 ; w^mnded, G. Siuiwr.'i. — AVounded, 2 The enemy's loss in killed and wounded is much more considerable ; amon;^ the killed is the commaudinj; officer (d" the ICetley, (lyinp; here.) captain RatcliiTe ; he fell in at- tempting:; to eonie over my quarter. Nut withstandin;i; the number of muskets and pistols whicdi were fired, and the bustle in- separable from enterprises of the kind, neither the fort nor the Porcupine attempted to fire, as we drifted ])ast them ; nor did we receive a shot until past Black Hock, though thnv mij^ht have destroyed us with ease. We expect to be sent to Mjntreal, and per- haps to tiuebe.; directly- niSTOUY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 331 jr the (;i)uiinand lime crcwH of tlio American his afV.iir arc ho ^inkliii;i;'.s letter mure than |il,ico ^a pi a in Kinih'ihj 'pper Canada, •), ISU. e to make known ending the cap- 1. C n the ni^^ht irsol'll ami I'l, ilistaiKi^ a-head lailed from that Itruvisiiiii-hoatK, " r the deck, asou" L oi' iiiissinji and i;;lit, and eiiulilcd ;i\v,se, and out liiH lurin;;; in a liciivy whn they wore, ah>n;r;sid(' ol' nie, icrtions. aid('(l ly muster, (who wu3 ■• tist:uue vain, 1 the satlisfaction ty, and defended wounded, ed, C. 1 and wounded is anionf; the killed r of the Ketley, ffe ; he fell in at- y quarter. Not of muskets and id the hustle in- f the kind, neither ittempted to fire, ,,r did we reeeivo ik, though thej ith ease, Montreal, and pcr- Edward I'. Kennedy, Esq., conunanding 'of tlio enemy's Fort, Ity the lire of the liattcry tlio I'liited States Naval Force on Lake Erie, , whieli I had opentMl un it on the morning of Kl I'cifully, your obedient servant, i the l.'Ith, and liy whiih the stone huilding A, .M. C(JNi\LlXG. w'as nuieli injured, and the general outline Tills was a very spirited atfair. the force , of the parapet and enihrazures very much attiifkcil was much superior to the attai'king altered. I was detenuincil on assaulting tho j.irty, and the loss u[' the vessels was nun h place ; and accordingly made the lU'ccssary flit hy th(^ Americans, although suhscMpient arrangements for attacking it, hy a heavy rvcnts in some measure eompcnsated for the'c(dumn directed to tin; entren(dni!ents on tho ciipture, l.sidt! of Snake-hill, and by two columns to ad- TiiK attai-k (»n this place was. perhaps, tin y n I'.rU. most gallant action of the whole war, the tdi-^tinate courage of the ifii'ips was HO remarkaldt! as to elicit the :ir;iise of th"ir enemies, — c\ en Mr, Tlinmson, f Britain hating notoriety, hearing testi- iiviny iin this ot:casion, to the gallantry ex- hibited liy thelirito-Oanadian troops. Ill (leneral Drummond's despatch, and (he accompanying note, the leading particu- lars will ho found, and the extracts from .i'liprican de>paii;i."s sv.id papers will show vanee from the battery, and assault the fort and entrenchment on this side. The troops destined to attack by Snake-hill, (which ('onsist(!d of the King's regiment and that of D(! Watteville's, with the flank com- panies of the With and 100 regiments, under Lieuteinint-Cidonel Fis(dier, of tho regiment ofDe Watteville,) niarcdieil at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, in order to gain the vicinity of the point (jf attack in sufficient time. It is with the deepest regret I have to rc- t'l'^recjing of joy that tho repulse of the !,,,„. i u,,. f..:i„„„ <• i ,i ,," i ,• , . . , , . , , ' , , . ' P"i t ''"- tailurc ot both attai ks, whudi were ISritish before Fort Frio inspired U (iiine.Ml DiMimmoud's despatch a very (■.■piial Di-iuomuiiJs f'lH acoouut is given of '"'■""'■ th(> repulse of the troops, u;ii]i.'r his eoiiimand, before Fort Erie, /•,vi Lkuli'iiitnt-iJcneral J)rnmmond to i>ir (Jeorge J'rtWDst. Camp before Fort Erie, >:s, August 15, IS 14. Ihiving reason to believe that a sufficient .:n;ire.ision had been i)roduced on the wiu'ks i<"verse,) or have surrendered. made two hours before day-light this morn- ing, A i-ojtyof Lieutenant-Colonel Fischer's report,* herewith enclosed, will enable your E.Kcellencv to form a t(di'ralde correct iud"- nieut of the cause of tho fiilure of that at- tack ; had the hea (lordmi DiumtHdiiil. Sir, Cuiip, .August lo, 1814, I liive the honour to report to you, for the .Biormation of Lieutciiant-g. iu'r:il Druninnuid, ttiit, in eoinpli.-ince witli tlie in^truc lions 1 fwoivcd, tlie brigade under my CDnimnud, con- Mmle, and was |Jieveiited by it to rapp'^rt iiDijor Dj Villatte, of he Watteville'siind Bptaiu I'owell of the quarter iiiaster-ge!!erar.s department, who, actually with a Jew men, h;id turned the enemy"-; bjittcry. The column of support, consisting of the re- inainder of l»e Wnttevilie's iind the king's regiment, forming the reserve, in niiirching to I near the lake, i'ouiul themselves ent;ing!ed he- 'tween the rocks and the wiiter, jind, by the retreat of the fl^ink eoinpiiiiies. were tiii'own into such eonlusion, ns to render it iiiipos.-il)le to give them iiny kind ol formation during tho darkness of the nigiit, at which time tln'y were exposed to a nio-t galling fire of (oe enemy's battery, nn'l the nuiner(Uis parties in tho abattis ; and F am perfectly cnnviiiceil that the ureat nimiber of missing, are men killed w se- verely woiimled, at that lime, when it was im- po^>ible to give them any assistance, .\fter diiy-brenk the troops formed, and retired to the camp, I enclose a return of casualties. J. F[.sciii;ii, Lieutenant-colonel I)e Watteville's regt. 332 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ^ Tlio uttiick 1)11 tlio fort and ontrem'!mi(Mits()f lionK'iiiint-coloiicl Fisdior's Ix-i^^aile was leading fmin it to tlio laico, wiis mude at tlii'jniadc, until oniorginji; from a tliick wood, it Baine moniont by two cidunins, ono under found itself wuildenly Htopiied by an abuitis, I.ioutonant-Ciilonel Drununond, 111 Itli n^/i- and within a licavy lire of niuskotry and ),'iin» mcnt, consistiiij^of the Hank conijianitis 4 1st I from lichind a formid;ible nntrcMirJiment. and I04th rej^imonts, and a body of .^eanuMi and marines, under Cajitain Uobbs, of the royal navy, on the fovt; the other undi-r Colonel Si^ott, lO.lrd, consistinf; (d'tho iDonl regiment, hUpiiorled by two conii>anics of tho royals, was destined to attack the en- trenchments. These c ir.rneii against the enemy, Avhostill ' 'u^iiiicu the stonebuilding, when, mostunli • ',ol , :-ome ammunition, M'hicli had been ], id unu : the platform, caught fire from the .iriiig of n guns in the rear, and a most tremoudous explosion followed, by which almost all the tro1( iicl J)rmu- mond, 101th reginu'uls, who eomni uiiltd tho centre and left attacks, weie unfurtuiiatcly killed, and your excellency will perceive that almost every officer of those columns was cither killed or wounded by the cuciiiyMire, or Ijy the exjilosicm. Jly thanks are due to the under mentioned officers; viz. to Lieutenant-Ooloiu'l Fisdier, who commandeil th" right attack ; to Mnjor Cooi'e, aide-camp to yourexcellcMcy, who ac- coni]ianied that column ; Major Kvans, of tho king's, commanding the advan(er-gc'n- eral's dcpiirtment, who conducted licutciiunt- cidoncl Fischer's column, and first entoreJ the enemy's entrencdinujnts, and liy his i'ddI- ness and gallantry particularly distinguished himself; Major Villatte, of De Wattevillo's regiment, who led the column of attack aiul entered theentrenL-hments; asd'.il l/cutemuit Young of theking's regiment, wilii alnnt lifiy men of the light companies of tlic king'>ai.d | De Watteville's regiments: Captain l*oucl|j reports that Serjeant Powell, of the IDtli The failure of these most important attacks Dragoons, who was perfectly aKpiainted with j has been occasioned bv circumstances whicdi tl;e ground, volunteered to act as guide, amlj may be considered as almost justifying the momentary panic which they produced, and which introduced a degree uf confusion into the columns which, in the darkness of the night, the utmost exertions (d" the officers were ineifectual in removing. The officers apjiear in\ari!ib1y to have be- haved with tlu; most perfect coldness and bravery ; nor could any thing exceed the steadiness and order with which the advance preceded the leading snb-divisioii in tliu most intrepid style. In the centre and li'ft columns, tiio exertions of Major Smelt, Iti.'Ird' 'V"-iiiH'iit, who surcrcdid to the coiiiiniviu! "fi ihe left ccdumn, on lliedeath of ..olone! .*^c -tt ; ; Captains Leonard and Slioie, of tlic l<'l;i'. Ilaiik c(uaipanies; Captains UIcw, Bullitk.j and O'Kcefe, flank companies; ;jl>i Cajitainj D dil)s, 11 lyal Navy, commanding a party (if j volunteer seamen and marines, arc eutitledl HISTORY OP TIIR WAU OF 1812. .133 ler's l»n<;aik' was w ii thu:k \vii(i.l, it ]ti'(\ liv un iiliiUli!<, luskcii'v iiml ;;uim ilu ciiircni liuiont. iiiid left I'lilumn:*, lion ton:im-n ill mt'l 1^ i;;illiiiiti-y nlliuth It; unrtirUuKite cx- ir(iass(>l. ('oliiiiol iUU-(-'ul(jiu'l Dnim- iliocoiuinuniloil tlio ivcio uitfcirtunntcly fy will ].('ii('l\o tliat liii-.(> f(iluiiius was liy till' cutuijVrnc, IiouikIov moiitiiineil iiit-Ooluiicl Fisclior, lit attack ; to Mnjor •exct'Uoiicy, wild ao- Major Kvans, (iftiie 10 atlvanc:e ; Maj'T 's; Caiitaiii liaxloii, Lioiiloiiaiit Murray, ills.. 1)0;; to add llio II, (d' tlio 01on,u;arry led on tl.o staff as iuarler-iiia>tor-;:on- iiiUutcil licutoiKUit- , and first ontoruil and l)y hi-' '•ool- ularly distin^ruisliod ,,1' l)e \VaUo\lllt.''s diiiiiii id altark and s; as did l/.oiitoiiaiit loiit, willialiMUtliity ,., (il'tlie kin^i'saud ts: Caiilaiii r»wcll \,woll, (.f tho I'.Uh ctlv artiiiainU'd witli to act as -;uidi', iind j suli-divisiiai in tl'O tho contro ami li'fcj d'Mai«rSin(dt, U'.'Irdj d to tho coniniaud ofl oath ot\oloiio! Sr .tt;| Slu.ic, of tho UUthj aius Glow, Uulluik, 111 -Hts III tomy iX'kiiiiwIo ij;iiioiit.« (tiloy rifo all wouikI- the inudicil urti.ers of llio (iivimoii, lo tho fj.) X.ir fan I onTt iiioiifiotiiii;;, in the siuk and wouiidod, iilso (daiiii my thanks. jtrons'^st tonus of anproli itiuti, tho aolivo, iciliai.-<, and usofnl ovortinns of Captain Fiiint, of tho lO.'Jpd ro^^inioiit, deputy assl^tant- I hav(! tiio honour to lio, Ac. (lOlllKlX DiUMMOM), Lieutoniuit-Cieneral. mi:irtor-in Htor-;;oiioral, who was imfortu- His Exocdlcnoy Sir Gcor^o l'rovo>»t, Bart. &o. naiolv vvoimdod and takon ]irisoncr ; and Ciptain U iriioy. of tho ."^Dth ro;;iniont, who paim .^. ;;l-i CaiitaiiiJ Tho rosiilt of tho attack ini I'ort Krio was blvohintcorol hi;, sorvicos as a temporary ''\<'" """•i" disastrous in its o.mso piotK-os to a;f' Hritish than had hcoii tho attack on York omidiictod tho contro column to tho attack. t'> »'''' Amoricans. In this alfair niiio hun- in which ho rcK'civod two daii-crous wounds. «li'«J nioii were oithor killoi' or wounded, 'and so sevoro was the Mow. that liad a loss To Major [''.lill t, oommandin- tho royal ,.„,,,.^^,ti^, eonimandor than Diaimiuond hoon artillery, and (.'aptaiii Sahino, who e'-m-j j,, l-,,,,(.r Ciuiada, or had amoro uhlc (ienerul nmdod tho l.itlory as w(dl as tho field-uns, ^j,,^,^ j,,.,,^^„ ,.,„„„,.„„i„i ji,^. Amoricans, the andt.. tlio oflicors and niou .d that valuahio !,.,.,„,( „,• j,,^. ,,,„^^ .^^ ,.;,.;,. ,,,1^,,,^ ,,.^^^, ^^^^^ branch of the service, sorvin^ un.lor them, 1 ,,,. ,,,,. ,,^^^f ^^.,.5,^^^ ehaiMcter. have to e\'[)ress my entire apprid)ation of llu'ir skill and i!.\ortioiis. Liontoiiaut Cli irl- As it was, whothor from Brown's wound, tun. royal avtiUorv. entered tlio fort with the I "^- '''•"'" '''=^ it"':>pacify, tho Mow was not centre column, (i,v 1 several rounds upon the '"'""^^''''^ "!'• =""' ^"l«>'i""t tmio was allbrdoa onomy from :.is own j;u.i>,an,l was wounded *" <''^"'^'''>1 J>nnume Mo recover from the k the explosion. The alillity and exertions 'fLienteaant I'liilpot, royal nn;i;ineers, and the officers and men of that department, d;iim my host ackiiowlodginiieuts. loss whi(di he had 0: I'fi' "od. .Vs may 1)0 imaj'inod .. victory at Tort Erie was tho sij^nal ;i' ■ lo P.oans all through tho Unitoil Stales, and amonj^st others it ap- pears to have ])arti( ^arly " gladdenod tho To [/MMiton i'it-('oloiiol Tnekor. who eom- hoartofGen.Gtiincs that so many British and miidc I tho reserve, and to li'entonant-Cd- Canadianshad n hlown up," Wo sn'ijoin (ini'ir .-..rsDi^ins;)!' •tini^tioluoflici.'r, and Liou- lenant-CVdonel Battershy, (l!en,:T;irry lif!;ht infaatry, anll as to Captain I'ostor, my mili- tary secretary, and tliooiliccrs of my personal hours, eommencin^ at '2 o'(dock, a.m. They >t;ill'. I am uiuler tin; j^reatest ol)li;;a' ions for attacked us on each flank — ;:;ot poss(>ssion of m in invndin;; a li:u'ty cfj arlnes, arc culllluij tlieii.s.dstanco i.hoy h.ive afl'.irded me. My iikiiuwlclgmonts. arc due to (Ciptain D'Alson, '■f the OOih regiment, Bri;.;ade-.Major to the rijlit division, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Nii.hdl, (pi irtci"-m ister-;;cneral of Militia, tho fsertions of deputy conunissioner-gcncral TarqiianJ,andtheotticors of that department, for the supply of the troops; and the care the salient bastion of tho (dd fort Erie; w hich was regained .at the point of the bay- onet, with a dreadful slaughter. The ene- my's loss in killed and jirisoners is about 'V)(); near 30!) killed. Our loss is eonsidorable, but I think not one tenth as great as that of the enemy. I will not detain the express to give you the particulars. I am prejuiring HBdattentini of Htalf-surgcon O'Mtilley, and 1 my force to follow up tho blow. i\ 334 HISTORY OP THE WAR OP 1S12. With {;rc;it respect and CHteem, jour clic- dii;iit scrviuit, KD.MUNI) P. CAINKS, Jliii/, (ii n. Cmnij. T/if JIiiu. John Aniixlrtnuj, llif Sn'ri/i,/' H'm; From llif Ihifl'iiJo llnvilf, AiKjunt 1(5. SF'LKXDIl) DKI-HXCK OF I'OKT KIUK. W'v tiikc ^r(>;it plcusiin' in prcsiMilin;! our ruiidi'i'.s witii (lie loll. iw ill;; ^liorious iiiid iri- torestiiijj; news IVoiu ouri^iiiiiiiituniiy ut I'urt Kric, rt'toivt'd last (;\tiiiri^ fVoiii uiidoulitt'd authority: — Ou Siindiiy rvi'iiin,^ lii'ulctiaiit ^rncral I)ruu\iniiiid iiiiid'' iii-i dispositioiiH fiT stonii- in^ I'oi't Kric Aimut hnlf-piist 2 o'cliudc yf'.->t(;rd.iy morning tlic attack coiiiiiiiiii fd from three cdli iuii'<. oiii' directed a;j;aiiist the Fort, one a}i;ainst Tuw.son's battery, and the third moved up the river in order to force a passa;j;e lictweeii the Fort and river. Tiie eoliuiui that ajipvoa.lied the Fort succeeded in ^ainin;:; the rampart, after haviii;; licen several times ri'puhed ; wiicn aK'oiit odO of them liad jfained the works and mailo a Htaiiil, an exidoslon from some unknown cause eomidotely cI,Mreii the ramparts of the cnemv, tlie most i,l' wliom A\eve iitierly de- Htroyed. The (iiluiiin tiiat moved to attack the south (or 'J'owson's) battery made (U's- ju'rate char;;es, lait wore met with sucii firm- ness by our artilleryaud infantry, as to be com- pelled to fall back — they advanced a second and tliird time '.vith !:;re:it resolution, lint boiu" mot with smh dislin,Lruisiiod irtill mti'v. they i!;av(i v/av aud to the woods, 'i'he action continued one hour and an hair, during; which (exce))t the short in- terval that the enemy occupied the ramparts) the artillery from that fort and batteries kept up a most destructive fire, as well on the main body of the enemy as on the at- tackini; columns. Theso colums were com- posed of the best of the British army, volunteers from every corps, the forlorn hope. The cnemv's loss ib estimated at rinin'' 800. Vl'.\ rank and tile passed this plmo (hid mornin^r, Ibr (ireenbush. Colonel Dninmiontl and six or seven officers were kill"(l, ono l>ep. Q. M. (ien. (said to be captain Klliot). I and two platoon officers, prisoner*. Our loss, I in kilh'd does not exceed twenty, umst of I which we learn are of tla; artillery. Wo |re},'ret to ^;tate, that ;:retto say, was that excellent oillcer unijor Lodowick Miir;;an, of the 1st rifle re;;iment, who so c;;ill,uitly re- |uilsed the enemy at Conjockety Creek, on the mornin;; of the .'>d instant. He was in- terred at Ihiffalo. on Saturday, with all the honour due to his rank and distinguished bruvcrv. IIISTOIIV OF TFIK WAIl OF 1812. 335 \W\n |ilii(0 ihid lurif'l l>nniiiiuiiiil ivcrc kill'Ml, one cuiituiii Klliot). unt'i-<. Oiirli'ss, twenty, iiiiist of • artilli'n. Wh ill WiUiMtiis and llie •.irtillrrv, iin- c, mis-iiii:, t*iip- >vc> woiimlri'. bu» liinu's. di' the nicinj'i nijic uml I'unislor loir ]>»• nin^t bo ivliiit !■* un'iitiimcJ Tli week rial ud\aiita;;o to ^,;uty 111' vit'.i'inon It lacked and ilvoso lii'V li..-l IVnni til'tcon ( itily iru' man.— with a dctailiiaciil •kcd tin' .■uriny in ^.k "i'ttic I'a't: and sonic tiiufM'cliirni'd ,f ten >>Y twelve kil- n-ct to say, wa^ that .dowiek M"r>;an, of ho so o;alIantly ro- mjockety Vm'k. on listant. ll»' \\iw '"• rday. witli all tho anil di.stingu;.shod Onr fleet on Lake Ontario, to tlie nuinlipr tho c.\ant|de,M of ardor and firnuu'.ts ^et tliein of nine Hail arrived off fort Niajcara alioiit l>y tlnir eonmiandeis. eight or ten days since. The Sylpji, said to !» tin- action at the Falls of Niau'arii, lethe .Mwillest sailer on the lake, u;ave chase «'n|.taiii Ketclimn is a>;ain tliKtiii;;nislied, in ^, to a I'.ritish l.ri}:, which heln^' nnalde to hein^j; .letadied hy (VdonelJesstip to the rear osMpe, was ahainlonedaiidldowii u|.. From of the enemy','* line, snpiiorted hy the Lieut, every aiipearanco she was loaded with muni- *'"l""d wiih the .^nii le^imeiit, toimcd ut tioiirioi' war, inlendeil for the Uiili-h forts. ri;iht unfiles, witli the enemy's h ft Hank, Cumiiiodore (.'haiiinx\y conimandH the lleet, and kee|.in-; watch oM-rthe lliitish re-iment whosn luialth is f:nt impr .vini.';. Three of of dra:;; is, dra" n upon a parallel line on ilio (Miemy's small vessels lie in Maj^ara Ids ri;iht. Th'i , did Kelehnm under cover river, blockaded by onr licet. |of the iii;;ht, bt^tween two line, of the enemy, Wo have the unpleaHint ta«k to inform seize a parly of r.rili>li otlienN and men, i:iO public of the loss of two rnitcij Slates 'unon;.; whom were Major (ieneial Itiall, ami diooner.s lyin,!,' near Fort Krie, by capture.;"" "''I "'' l-'culcnant (Icieral DnimmomL It appears that tho enemy fitteil'onl an ('8 KortFrie, and made a simnllaneons attack !<'"'"'"'l- Soon after Ciptaiu Keichum had upon our three seliooneis ; th.> l»ore„pineI"l>''i''>''-l '''"'" peiieral Kiall his ntnae, and 8iicooedeil in be.atin.i; them oif; the .^.auers|<'XI"""^^'''' *"'''"' ''■'' happiness jit meeting,' an tho river, delow the | .',W!ok. The I'ortaipine .sailed oM S.iM. lay furl <''CiHM-al Uiall when at lluilulo. sent his i> ]. I sword with a [»>lile note, to lieutenant Colo- ,,, , ,1 , /-I , • i\ , , ■• .1 lud Je. snii — tin" l:cntarn that ( aptam PoIiIih, o| the! ' Briti.sh royal navy, coiniuiuidcd tlie party 7liioh captured tho Soniers and Olilc. ml Ohio were captured, and taken down, w't'> '''"' -""' '<''l- 'V\'.'y'.'; '" |'"" '''■"';.''4.''.' Sir 1 lay fori We have b(>en eorreclly inforia.'d of par- licular.s of the lienism of captain Keichum iif the li,")th I'CLrinient, whose name has oil aci.'uiint of his wounds, Tiie defeat at Fort Frie, di'-astroiis as it Till' III piil-v at f'uiijoi t.i CiirK. was, was i'elte\(>n more severely from the cir- ,'umstance id' a similar repulse, although not rocoived the just applause of the jaiblic— attended with stub loss of lil'c, at Conjoetft thou^b, it is re^^relted by bis fell, .. v -,. flicors. | ''reek, near Black Jlock. We admit readily that ho has not been hunourcd witi. a br. vet I '''iit <''<' intention (d" the I'.riiiMi Ceneral to from the ,i;overnnient. The u;allant conduct »'lli'<'t a diversion here and • airy the batteries of this youns ofliecr on tlie .'nh of .Jidy. hits p't F'lack lloek was defeatfid, but we cannot ken set forth by ^^'cneral Srott. The parti- K'''"'* Major .Morjran's statement as to cularswhich reliect on him honour.-* e.iually!'»i"il'<'"^ <•> p!i'^ unnoticed. The Mnjor high, are, that in the mont'i of .Tuoe previ- 'It't^lii'"''' that tl.e Uriti-h nuinl.ereil fn m ous ho had marched his company fioin the twenty to ilfteen hundn d men. the actual rendezvous at Ilartfonl -a full company nfjiHimbtr liavito^ been four humlred and sixty. recruits, asseinljled by him under specialist ^^'-^ '!"'"' "»'i*"'e"''^iH'y for Major .Moro;an to have increased the fon e opjiosed to him, in sum or ratio, as every one will readily admit the fact of his havin;_', with little better th.iii half the nuiMber defeated an attack which invidved ^ireat resulis. Major Mor;;an's report*will be I'ound below in our notes : — withority from the coinmin lin^ ofllrer of the roi'iment, to form a link conii>ari\, iiar- ticularly dressed and eipiipped, and drilled by him for li^jiht service — andallyoiin;:; men. The intrepid eonduet of thc.-e men, so l.itely from tho interior in opposiui; three times their fonie, when opca'atlntf by tlemselves on that day, cmpletely proves that the o;ood .j^i.^^poUT OF MA.JOU MOIIGAX, Cidaot ot our sidd.ers. however inex- g_^^_ Foar, Fu.i;, Aufrust 5th 1814. porionced, will depend, as m the instance ot Having been stationed witli the 1st buttnlinn tho gallant leader oftliLs iletaehment upon of the l.'^'t regiment of Killcmen at Lihck Hock ; I 336 HISTOIIY OF Tin; WAll i)V 1H12. Aiiiui'icari jduniivlrt wc.o loii'l in iIi'M' ('oh(li!miiutii»ii III' tlif Outni.'i' lit I'.tI TiillNit, nil Lik.' i:rir H«!Vi!riti»v-* una »!ri»riti( pnictin''! I»y t\\o llritiwii in tin; Cliosiviir.ikr. but iiro iii.mt ciirnfiil nmer to ulluw tliiit nnuriiMiis coi iKI I ic trill Ity ..f iitri'- cititv we tiiul. Iiowi'vor, nil the iiuflinri'v ol' Mr. .Kiiiii'M, tliiit an (U'lnirrt'iii"' tiM»k pliin' on liiikc Krin wlii.-li we licliovo will |i;ir.illr'l lytliiii;;. liDrtL'vcr liiul, that ever on iiiicil alon;; llii' shoriM of tlic Oli«sa|M';ik»'. Wi^ giv( ui tlio aii'^ir iM Mr. .Iaint>s's wnnls — Tho Ann'riciiiiH will not all p\v us i.' ^ivo an uiiintorruiiptctl ilotiiil of opon iintl lionoru- bio wiirCirc. Anion;; Kinor.il \>vUy oiitnif-os uiKiii i»riv:iti' ipro|iLTty, oni that ocriirii il on Lake Krin is too lioinous to Jiass nniiotic'd. On tlio If'.tliof Au{!;iist, a jiarty of about 100 AiiioricanH and Indians Ian loil at I'ort- fiiliMt on til It lak(>; and rolilmd M) |i(M(In of fiUnilii'^* of all thrir lior.sfs, umI of cvury irtii !<■ iif |iiius"liold furn.tur'', a. id wcarin" a|ii»ar<'l, bolon^in;; to tlicm. 'Ihc nunil'vr of indi\idM il-< wlio Wf-ro tliiis ihrnwn nakcil and destitute u{ion tlu* wnrld, aiunuiited t men, .'17 W(»nu'n, — thrci! of llie latter, aiiil two oi' tlio fornier, nearly 7" years uf ajje, — and I tS cliililiiMi. A j;reat many uf tlio more respectable inliabitaiits were nut tinly robbed, but earried off as prisonerw; amuii;; tlieni, a member of the house of ashombly, Mr. Ibivnwell, tlnaij^h ill of lover aiil ii^rne. An aulli'MitieattMl aoeoiint of tliin inoit attroeiuus proeecdlni;, delixcrud in by eoluiiel Talbot, the owner of llu^ M^tflemont, sl;inds mtoii the reeords of the "liDyal iml i'atriotie Soeiety of I'ppor Canada;" yet nut a whisper on tho subject has cscaiied r the •^'\ lll.li ar:iiy iiioviiijr up the rivo tlie iip- po Mti* 'Ai- I'ciiit oil b'lat Krie, I Hii ji'.'i'ti'd :lit'_v iiiif^lif iimke iti 1 Mil OllclltliiM real iittueU on the Ibitrulo sMe. 1 imiiH'iliMt ly moved laid took a positi"ii eii the upper y'uh' nt Coajocta Creek, and that uiKiii iliivw up battery of xoiiie h liii'li I Inioi I on die gi'onii I, .iiid liMil the hriilue turn inviiy. About 2 irdoek tlie next iiinriiinti |)ici)U,'ts IV'iiii lieltiw my live me iiii'oniisit'.u of the laiicliii,!j; iirnioe lieiit> full uf l:ecl to u,-', to cotisi; t of fruiii 12 to bjiMi iiu'ii, cuimiiniiiled by lieuteiiiiiit lu'ont'l Tiickir, • if llie ^l^t rcj.'iiiieiit. They iilsu i^tiite tliiit tlpir (I'ljcet was to re-e;ipiuie (_r,eiieral Kiall, witli uliier Ib.'iti^h prisoner'., niid ilestroy the public ■ t ii.'H (lepusited lit Uuti'iilo. The, iictiuli oiile liiiued nlidiit two hoois mid loilf. I iiin liiipliV to .state tliev toni ph'ti-ly f.'iiletl ill atteiii|its, tlieii^ - w Our ios-. IS tiifbiig euiiif.ariMl e liad two l;illeil and vhAit \vi ■ th witli At II nuiirter p.-ist fuiir tiwy 11 us, tiiel cutumeue ed til e attael neudins a jiaity ta'fure to repair tlieliridjic under vrr of their fire. When they had got a; th goodrith; distanee, I opened .a heavy (ire fin tliein. ■wlileli laid II number of them on tin- ^'rouml. and eomiielied them to retire. They tlun formed in the sk'rt of the wood, mid ke|it up the fight at lonj: sliut, eoutiouallv r •infoieiiiji from the Canada shore, iiutit tliev had 2o liuat load<, and then attemiited to ontHatik us. liy .-eiid- inj; a larpe body uj) the ereek to turd it. when I detaehed beats. Kyau, Smith and Armstroiijr. with al>out lid men, to oppose their left win;:, where they wa-e aiiain repulsed vitli tonsider- nble loss— after whieh they iippeared disposed to give up their objeet, and retreatecl liy throwing six boat loads of troops on Sniiaw IslaiKl. whieh enfiladed the creek, and prevented me from harassing their rear. Tiieir superior numbers cnahled tlicm to take their killed and wounded off the fldd which we plainly saw, ami observcMl they suffered sevorely. We found Borne of their'dead thrown into the river, an "s covered with logs and stones, and some on the field We also collected a num'ir of muskets and accoutrements, with clothing that appeared 1 am sorry to iiibirm you that captain ll,.iail- tuii, lieufemiiits Wadsworth iind M'liitosli tire aim iig.>t the hitter. Their gallantly iu ex- nosii.'i theiiiseives to encourage thc'r men, I liink entith^s iliem to the notii'e of their eountry. My whole eommnnd hehnved in i» iininner that nierite«l my warmest iii'proliatiiiii : and in justice to them, 1 cannot tivuid men lioiiiiig the names of the uificeis wliieli fln- as Iblhvos : — Captain Ilambtoii lieutciiaiit" U'adsAvoith, Ryan, Calhoun, .MTntosh, Arnnlil, .Shurtride. Ml-'ai l.itid, Tlpf n, Anustruti;;, .^mitli, Cobbs, Davidson and Au -tin, with ensign I'age. If, ^ir, you fielieve we have (hmc our dui; we shall feel highly gratified. 1 am, sir, respcci fully, our olieiliciit .servant L. MdliOAN. Major l.--t rijlc luytmenl M»jnr-(Jlencral Brown. llEC.U'iTri.ATioN OK oiiu KiiJ.KD AM>Woi:sunp Captain, Subalterns, Rank and file. Wounded, 1 2 5 Killed, 2 Aggregate. 10 ' ' ■■|lf riililiivl 50 Ik'.kIm iHu.x, III. J 111" cvory liip', ii.iil \ve;ir'iii;» •m. Till' iiiiml'cr iiUH tlimwn nuknl ■rill, aiiiniintt'il ti ■ 111" llii; liiUer, ami TO ^I'liiN of ii;n', ;mit iii.iiij' (if tlio Ills wi.'tf not (inly 1 pr'iMiiiKTH : uiiii'ii;; IDUSO of llhhPlllljly, ill iif lexer mil act'' III III of tliin \^l^, dulncri'il in by ' lif tllO MitfllMllPllt, if till) " liiVill lll'l Hir Cairidii ;" yet il)jflct Ii;i8 cscapeJ fiaii. llifir WiUiiii-'. Viv li'il tlio lirit.-li fine of li-uni 12 to loli'i iiiiiit (ii'oiu'l TuckiT, ■ ulso htutf tliiit lli'ir 1',1'in'v.il Kiiil), willi il ili'slroy tlic jmhiic ). Till! iirtioii Cull- i| half. I mil Imppv |«'tily I'tiik'd ill tli''i> tliiig cdiiijiii'oil W'itli iiini t'i}j;lit W( •uiilo'l thiit I'liptiiiii li,.iiiil- I iiiul Mliitdsii lU'C ir gallimtvy in ex- iuiMjro tlu'r liioti, I he uvC'-v. of tin'ir ninnil ln^liiueii in « aiiiieHt H]'pvoliati uiiiHiiii l!>.iiifnaiity I, M liito^li, Aninlil, I'ipli n, Aniistioii;!, 1 Au-tin, witii ensi(rii lavo ('one our Jut.v |>"l. ur olieilii'ut sevvaut L. M(»11(JAN. r 1.-7 rijlc lifytment ii,r,K.n ANnWovNurP t^rns, Kauk ami tile. <• II A I' T 1^ 11 X X I ri'no(\ \in;:;arii, Lady rrovo>t, Caloduiiia and I'(ircu|iin('. Kcdui.'cd a.sdc'iicral I'liininmnd was liy tlio losses lit Chijipowa, Luudy's Lano, nnil Fort i'ric, tho arrival of the tJtii nnd N'Jnd regi- iiKMits, nuistcrin;; Sdino oiu! timiisand and forty men was insiiHicicnt to ]daco jiini in a Iioxitloii to threaten so formidaldc a post, especially as he liad licen conijullcd to send six eoniiKUiies ut' tlio -ILst to Fort (ioor;i;o, and what was left of the 103rd to Uurlinj^- ton, thus leaving himself in point of nuni- hers very little stronger than Iiefore. Tiie heavy and constant rains, and tln^low swanifiy gronnds ou which the army had Iicen so longencampcd, nnd the privations they had nmlergimo, sju-ead typhus nnd intermittent fevers amongst the troops, to such an extent CONTK.VTS. The fortification at Fort Eric repaired. — General Brown's boasts of victory. — Skirmish at Lyoii's ('reck. — Aiinstroiig and liig?rsol on (loneral Izzard. — l'assain:i((uoddy Bay and the events in tliat rt »ft"-«r (Jenoral Drum- EH.. rtpaiRd. moiul's repulse, in com- mencing tho ro-eonstrui'tion of the defences at Fort Erie, injureil liy the ex|ilosion ; the eoinplotion also of tho now works that wero' in course of erection, at the time of the assault, was pressed on so ru]iidly that, in a very short space of time, they wero able to Vinst that " Fort Kric was rendered impreg- miblc to the attacks of any other than a vastly superior furce." These defences wero mount- that General Drumnioiid, so far from being Oil with twenty-seven heavy guns, and the 'i^'lc to assume the olfcnsive, was compelled garrison was reinforced by new levies of ^" ^^^-t most cautiously on the defensive, militia. Italmost appeared from the strength '■'•'c position of the two armies was, at this if the reinforcements as if the Americans time, as foUows :— Tho Americans occupied 6 2 7 10 were resolved at all hazards to keep posscs- ■ion of Fort Eric as a sort of equipoise to the British h(dding Fort Niagara. We learn friim " sketches of the war" that three hun- dred and twenty regulars arrived in tho St. Lawrence '' om Lake Huron; a company of ritlonicn frui • Sandusky; and several other detachments of regulars from Batavia and Sackett's Ilarbur, giving in nil a force of three thousand four hundred men, and besides these largo numbers tho Fort was protected, lakeward, by tho broadsides of the St. Law- Fort F-ric with their rear covered by tiio ships. The IJritisli batteries wero |)hiced directly in front, but strango to say wero guarded only by a line of piquets, the main body being about a mile and a half to the rear ; wo presume that this position wius taken up by ricuoral Drummond on account of tho ground being somewhat higher and less swampy. From tho 1st to the ITth September little occurred of consequence, except a few trifling affairs of piquets, but General Urowu, wl 338 HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF 1S12. li;i 1 l»y tills tiiiK' oiillrcly recovcri'd froiii liis woiimls, liiiviii;; loiiriKvl from stra;ri:;lers tlio sickly conditii)ii oC (iciici'al Dniimiinnd's army, siml tliiit tlic (ifiicriil w>i-i lUL'tlitutln;!; tlio romoviil (if his fnrfcs to a hfaltliior 'o- ciility, (li'tci'iiiiiicd. tu aiitii;ipato tlu' inovc- iiH'iits, iiml to f;ain tlu! crtvlit of IkivIiij; (•om|icll('il tho n.'trcat. (.>n the afu'iiioon of the 17th ho !ii-(;Mnli',i;:ly adviuiccl with a l:tr,:;o force, -uiil siiccceilctl after a j;'allaiit resistance in eiirryinj:; the whole line of l»at- tcvies. Tlie Americans were, however, not ])c;'miiteilsiifri';e:it tiiae to destroy the works, iiiih'C'l ;hey v. :re ni'' evn aide to spike the jrnas, as detacliineuts oi' tlie Koya! Scots, the S'Jih. the (llen_u;ary li^hi inl'antry, three com- ]>:•.!. ies ci' theuili and seven eompanies of the S'.Ind now nr.i.'.e their iijijiearance, and drove the enemy, iit the hayonets' jmlnt, from the l.atfvii' . nearly to the j^lacis of Fort Fri^', makin;:; several |);is;>i',('rs in tho charge and puisnit. By five o'clock tho works wore a^ain occupioil and ;! ■ lino of pinnots renewed. As will lie seen liy (iiMUM'al Do Wattevillo's lottcM' to (ieneral Drnnimond the loss of the I'ntish in this affair was very severe. 'J'lie Ami'ricans acknow!<>d;,'e a total loss of iivo luind.rol and ten killed, wounded and pri- soiiers. Di'sj)((/rli frnin }fiij'nr-G-ii<'rti/ Dc Wallirillo., 'o Liculcniud-G'iiicrdl Jh-iuin)i(>nfl. Camp heforc Foit-Frie, S(-pt. 1',), 1814. Sir,— I liav(> tlio honor to report U< you, that (he enemy aitarked, on the 17th in the afternoon at three n'clnck, oor jiosi'.i.in he- fore Fort Ihie, the "Jiid liri^^ade, un(UM' colonel Fischer, e.nn)io«ed <;[' the HJi and do A'v'atte- vi lie's rej!;iments, hcin^ on (hity. Under coyer of a heavy fire of his artillery from Fort Krie, and much favoured liy the nature of the ground, and also hy the state of the weather, th(> rain fallinj^ in torrents at the moment of his approach, the enemy Mueceeded in turnin;^ tho right of our line of piipiets, without iK'ing perceived, and with a very considei'al.hf force, attacked both tho pi((uets tuid support, in tho flank and rear : at the same tinn', another of the nnomy'H coluniuH attacked, iu front, the piijuets hetween \o. '2 and No. ;; hatierics [and, having sueeoeded in penetrating hy Xo. ' t piipiet. pa.rt of his force turned to his Icfr. and thercliy surrounded our "ight, and m t j almost imnu'dii'.te ])ossession of No. .'] liatlery. jThe enemy then directed his attacks, with a jvery superior force, towards No. 2 hattery ; ;huttlie ohstinato resistam-c made hy tiio 'piiiuets, under e\ery posialilo disadvantau'e, (lelayed I'onsiderahly his getting po-v^csvion I (d" No, 2 hattery ; in which, liov,cw;r, heat ] last sncec!eded. As soon us t lie alarm wa.< given, the it hrig.'ide, hcing next for support, ci;ni]in.-.(.d (if the Royal Scots, the S2nd and S'.hh regiuiciils, under Lieutt uant-t'olonel Gordon, received jordors to march forward; and al-o tlie iJLdit |d(Mni-lirigade under Lieutenant-Colonel I Pearson: tho Glh reginuMit renniining in 'reserve, umler Lieutcuant-Colonel Cainr.- hell. From the Couecssion-road, tlio Iioyal Scots, with the ^'Jlh as support, moved hy th.o new roail, and met the enen\y near tlie Mockdiou^e, on the right of No. ■'] hattery; whom they en- gaged, and, hy their steady and intrejiid con- duct checked his further progress. Tin; SJd regiment, and three companies of the (iih regiment, were detached to the left, in (av!. r to support Nos. 1 and 2 hatteries. Tliu enemy having, at that time, po:-:session of No. 2 battery, and still juishing forward, seven companies of the «^2d, un(icr iiiajor I'l'octor, and the three com]iaiiies of the (Ith, under major Taylor, received directions to oppose the enemy's forces, and iminciliatelj charged them with tho most intrepid hr.v verj', driving them hack across (uir ciitrencli- ments ; and also from No. 2 battery, llio/ehy preventing thiar de-itniying it, or daniagin;; its guns in a consiileralile degree, bieu- tenant-Coloncl Pearson, with the (ilengarrj light infantry, under Lieutcnant-C(donol Battersby, pushed forward by tlio rcntro road, and attacked, and carried, with groat gtillautry, the new onti'eiichment, then in full possession of the enemy. Tho enemy, being thus repulsed at every point, was forced to rc>tire with jirc-ipilalion lo their works, leaving several )irisoiiers, and a number of their wounded in our hands. Rv Jive o'clock the cntrcncliiucnts were again HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. r,39 No. '•', liutliM'ics, iictnitiii;^ I'V No. anii'il Id his Id'r. ••i^ht, iunl y t!iO lo (li^a'lvaii'ii\'_"\ ;'tt'iiij^ po.-i>cssi()ii , liowcNi;;', I'.o at i.-t , G.ivili'ii, icrcivcd ami ar~w tlu; li.irlit iieiUciia!il-C"lnuel ■nt i(".(i:iin!n,:i; in iit-Cul.iu'l CiUiip- ec'sinn-viiail, lli^ 8'Jth art sup[iiirt, ,(1, anil iiu'l tlic ;k-llOU-0, (111 tlio -will 'in thoy on- Ivuiul liitri']iiili''iii- [U'oii:ro>.-. Till! s^'i iipanii's 111' tin.- I'ltli to ilic Ifft, ia oi'il. r 2 l.atU'rit':^. TliD liv.o, |iii.^s('s>ioii cf pushiiiji- forwanl, S2(l, uikUt majnr r.|ianics <.if Uio titli, Icivi'il iliri'ctii^iis to , and iiniiHsruUolj Kist iiitroiiiil lirf*- cross (lur cntrt'iirli- 2 Inittorv, llievcby nn; it, or (huuairin,!; 1,U> ao;;vcc. Licii- ■itli t!icriinimond, itc. Return of killed and wounded, 11") killed and VJI missiiij:; and woiindoii. this overwhehnin^ f.irce (ieneral Drummor.d f(dt that it would ho madnos.s to opp()SC hi.s handful (tf troops, ho therefore returntnl from Chippewa uiim Fort (ieorj^e and IJurlinj^ton lleiii-hts. .-■'iirMisli Ciiek. at Reyond a skirmish at l^yon's Cret;k hu- , ,j ,. tweeii a hri^ach; under Ceneral liisnel, some ,tifte(;!i hundred stroiij^, luid a hodv of Although we find in " sketches of the war'' .^j^ j,,„„|,.,.,i ,^,„i ,ip,^. „„,„^ composed of .lo- (j.n;i«ii!m«u-si...asts t''=it '!■ ^"■'^•■^ ^"' ''^^^ ''""-, tachmcuts from tho S2nd, IDdlh, and Clen- °^" '"'•''■ dred a:id ten, exclusive jg^^j.y ri,j,'iments, nnd<>r Colonel Murray, in ofmiiitiaand v<.lunte(>rs, wasackMowledl!;ed.!^vhich the Uriti-h lost nineteen killed' and and although (ieneral Dr,,\vu was driven' ^v,ju,„ied, while .Mr. Thomson acknowled-ea back to his stronghold, without ha\in^' ac-j.i loss of sixty-seven, nothing; resulted from cunplished the objects of the sally, still he;ti,c expedition under Cencral I/.zanl, as cir- kd the modesty to term his sortie, ii: a let- jcunistances very soon compelled him to tor to General Gaines, " a splendid achieve- j exchange his advance for a precipitous and raei.t." Another .American commander, i „o,ne\vii.^(; inglorious retreat. Cii'iieral Varnum (llu; V should have heen a 1)1, had the elfrontery to write, "our ga.iant little army has again signalized itself hy ;:iiiiing a s[il .idid victory over a part of the enemies forces near Fiu't J'"irio. Two of the tnciaies batteries were carried, the guns:p„jeavouring to complete tli«;ir largo ship ^['ilvcd, trunnions hrokeii off, and their tj,,. i^^^_ Lawrence, and that this vessel witij her hundreniaincd hero until about the Frio, andthearrivalid'asocon..i rummond, as lie hicl already evaded iMi attack on Kingston, his resolution ^^as shaken, iiis mai'ch suspemKiL of which rcpiired a mar.^h of tea days, and''''*'! '' ''"' n'sp,mdenceoi,encd witli the nav:d the other a march of twenty, he made ,i„ •^•"mm^vn'lor ou the old question, " by ^vlmt scruple of preferring the hitter; though, by doing so, ho necessarily put much to hazard by giving time to rrevo,>t to reinforce his western jMists. Nor was this the only mea- sure he adopted, having a similar tenilency. " From a desire," he said, " to bring in his coWnm fresh and ready for immediate scr-i Adjutant-General of tlio divi^iuu. * Tivcnttj mill 6i'orn)cd Cccsar'.s ju.stum iterilios ; and if the case was urgent, considerably mere, fSucli was tlie well-known cnnditioii cl' the fleet, Avhcn Izziird arrived at Sackett's Ibubor. J^tatcment of Major O'Connor, Assistant HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. :]U iivli to iifU'i'ii 'vc is iinytliing lis not 0111 lu-!'. •viitivc tlien'v ; i\ ut tho "iiiulli sseiUy, fiiv '■'"■ , imt 11 iii-i:i v'l wcury. -Vii'l kett'slliul.iii' 'ill lU Kiii.L'>1"n li:il ; (lur li'Hn li;iil .1 lie l:iki-.t ii'it ;i r iiviiUiii.'j: liii'i- [u\ iittai'kiii;:. ii^ it |i..st. 1""V tliif l>ro\vn :i!iil lii^ :t. " The iicrils," i-ainl ai'o iKiNV so as mukv' it my ty, toli'iivoKinS^- ■ troops on li"nril iluf tholukclaml lio Ni:i.^:vi;i, mvl r (if Dnimnii'iul," lus decidedly au- A stonu of wind di proviit''d the oval now liosMii^lit looed: Avhetlicv Ly ds in wet weather, liiin nf the >U,vm, l.yv,-:Uer. StViUigO jferroil Ui'^ fnriucr, ItU aiiniiuiu-cd thi'^ lit. Fii'.dlti;.', hi'V,-- d made, was mucli |\d even den'mnccd ,s a now ruM' t> iimnond, as he had ,,n Kinjrston. his inareh svispeiuled, Incd with the naval Lueslion, '-hywhat Lnv's)ustunritcriUcs; rcon'ddn-ably mere. l^vu condition of the l,t Sncdictfs Harbor. lo-Conncr, Assibtaut livi.-iou. viiiito ho slitmlJ niovo." In this attoinpt to obtain from tliat ojGeor a sanetloii foi" his own opiiiiDU, he si;j;iially failed; no answer was voiu hsafod to tlie ([uestidii, and nn^rely a iiotieo given of thi; time and jdaeo, at whieli the tro(p])s wonld he recoivod on hoard of tlio licet, and 'earried to any point on Lake Ontario, ho might think proper to indieato.' '• Tlioiigii sen.sibly rebuked by the manner ill which bis In([uiry had boon treated, he felt himself in no smiill di>groc eonsuled by two eircumstanees — tlio huitnde given liim hi ehotisiiig a landing-place ; and the limi- taiion put liy tlie c'liiunodnre on tlie number uf triiop> tlie Hoot C'luld Conveniently carry — when, forgetting alike the orders of the ;:;i)Voriiment, the promises made to IJrown, and the assurances gi\en to the quartcr- master-goneral the evening preceding, ho atoiiee and perempturily declared for the iiiiiuth of the (Jcnesce! At tiiis ]daco, he found himself with threo thousand men early in the morning (d' the 2ild, l>ut, a-: might have been readily f(jreseen, entirely destitute of the nuMiis of trans]iortiition. It was not. tliorefore, till the 2 kh, ho resumed his movement, wlii'U, adhering to his purjiose of " bringing in his corps fresii and ready fur action," ho directed his march, not on DuiTalo, liut on IJatavia — where an uiiex- poilcd solace for idl [last doubt.«, labors and terrors, awaiteil him, ' in a full assurance lliat, on till' 17th of the month, Brown had, ijy a skilful and intrepid attaek made upon lli'uiiim.iiid, become his own deliverer.' '"Ill an interview with this officer on the 2tjth, though professing a willingness to dis- charge his remaining duty, he restricted its oljiects to a seige of Fort Xiagara ; anile\en lia/.ir led an opinion, that this fort retaken, the ranipaigu might, with jiropriety, termi- iiafi'. To this jiroiiosition, in Iioth its parts, Iji'iiwn refused his assent — ;iustly remarking, tliat, as a mililary post, Xiagara was not wirth ludding by citlier belligerent ; a..d that its garri:ron, now c imposed wholly of invalids and convalescents, formed no ob- jwt worthy (d" pursuit; and again: that, as ho understood the orders, under which tlu 'livisiou of the right had marehed, they pre- scribed three (ibjoets, " an attack on King- 'ston, ^\hich' had lieen omitted; the relief uf 'the division of the left, which had boon ac- complished ; and, lastly, the utlavk and cop- turc (if Drti)iniiiiU(l's unm/ — invidving that , (d' all the British prists on the ]u>ninsula." [ — "This," he adilcd, " remains to be done, I and may bo ai'com]dishod, with scarcely a doubt of success, if, for the ]mrpose, a pro. per direction lie given to the two divisions united." It was not, however, till after the stimulus (>{' a second conversation with Brown, that I/.zard couhl be prevailed upon oven to cross the Niagara; when, on receiv- ing a full exposition of the proposed project of attack, and perceiving, after a thort re- eoiiuoissanco of Druniniond's position, the pr(ii(jii ordered " a re- treat across the St. Lawrence, and winter ([uarters to lie taken for the troops," — thus literally fullilling his own prediction, that the expedition would terminate in disap- pointment and disgrac<\ "While Izzard was making those extra- ordinary displays of military skill and ardor, an expedition was organized in the west, having for its objects the security and ((uiotofthe Michigan territory during the approaching winter, an attack on Burling- ton Heights, and an eventual junction with Brown's division on the Niagara. The force assigned to the service was coinposiid of mounted yeomen, furnished by Kentucky aim Ohio, one coin[iany of United States rangers, and seventy friendly Indians, mak- ing in the aggregate, st>vcn hundred eouibatr ants. Though failing in its principal object, the movement, from the acti\ity and judge ment with wliicdi it vas conducted, may not 1)0 unworthy of a short notice." HISTORY OF THE WAIl OF ISI'2. i After tlic lonjj; nml cxjilaniitory oxtva<'t al-l^'orsol's misrcpresciitations do tiut however roai ly ::ivoii, it will lio uiiiKM (>>>aiy to i|Uiilf Vnd lien', in tip' (nciils rl.lcl 1 iiume ,l'iO ly uiorc 1 liaii afi'w linusfroiii Inir-ci'snl M loiiirii , loiiowt'i I tht' Aiiiriican i<'ti-car iiii c wan . C lually severe .strlcturos are to be foiuiJ in hi pa^es ; ■Itis liflieuU,"' say; In ifl )f cjindour \y t -'aioiteu. lOSSIllll' to .ji.stii'} vjeiieial l/.y,ai pnuleuee or af- t'"" haviii;'; i fc.;talioii ol'iiruileiici injiiriuus by excess. a vinue, like all others Tak iii'j; twen tyd: get fioin JMattsl)in% alloat on Lake Ontario v,hen it mi^rht have heen done in ten, The Ijiieeai .v'.in"- <\:["('"Li'n of (ieneral MaeArlhur is l)'e:i': 1 Uy t 'in as • n ox|ie,ii. l.ject the de.«'nu'tivm of lor it^: ilepots of )irovisiom and foraw, and the ivs to fowardlyniiscreant's|)roei](itat letreatheforo a small hody dispatrlieil to stop his ]ircdat(iry then ! eareer is thus disposcil of "u iiart of the I'l.'Jd, nnioi Ciusint;; his army to he landed, not in any where I/./.ard ehose, as CVu Cliaoncey offered his licet to land them, choosinj"; the mouth (d' ( lenucsee river in New York, where they must unavoitlally he dc- ('.,i,.,i]., I Hegiment of the J'.)t!i Li^ht ])ra;^.ion, and l,„.^Json)0 Indian warriors, were dcsr.atched to ],„( repel an''o,|(i^ le IX' a Cana.lian shore, at hist, till the 1 1th ( 'ctoher. •Is ol' the case wei(> that on the Scjiteniber a liaml of Lawless i)ri;;:iiiils crosseil over fr u\n Doti iinl Hix weeks after he left I'lattshur;^-, au.l 'lien j^^.,,,^,,. ,^.ttie,nont, instead of i.lantin- his standard eay reniarkiii'i; that ,l,.,.,l and twenty Kentucky mounted rillemen " If ( Ieneral Iz/.ard had by many battles es-|^^.m, i,i,„_ tablished his character, such comluet wouhl ^ liave been less obieclionable. IJiit as an' officer untried, known only liy a few, he was Mr. In^ersol states t' ■\] lev I'ou led more than live Inindred militia," and caii unable to make d against the military lured iipwan IsofoiH Imndi'ed. Fmiu what and popular curnait then irresistibly stnui^ for ai'tion." These two extracts wil ource n'j;ersoi co es us. d have learned this hist .\o I. ilitia were at luat, full fict pu//l time embi died in that section of the country, Illy ex' tl us the arm s had been all sent in, an 1 -o lar fromthcchar-eofhistycondeumall • i ..n sin;.;, from mustering fivi ally ospeci wlio never as one ooe; troiii awriKM' (■ Ml: -1) .liflicult (lU Id h hundr 1 iron; iil\'c heen cxpciicnccil some ill hesitates to distort facts, ifbydoing'eollectin- fifty. A-aIn, as to prisoner., e 80 a pa>!;e o brighter li':;ht can be thrown up f his country's history. In support of to Mr. .lai f in theSvhat did tliey consist ? for answer we refer The one liuiidre(l aiiil lifiy lies. loners consisted of peaceable iiihalaiaius this alle;;ation we may adduce the fact that pri In-ensol doubles the number of men un.ler' both old and youii-, and .Ininkcn Indians (jener al M nrray s commaiul am 1, not satis- and their sipiaws The instant it was asccr- fied even with that, the Manpiis( fTwccddale, taiiu'd tliat a dcta.dimeut (d' the 10:;rd n\-i- tlien at Kin,i:;ston sufferiii;.;- from th e V. fleets I ment, num berlir'j; less than half McAithur' jfhis wounils, is placed at their head as a sort force, liad movec d I'nan riurlin.ijton hci;.vliis foil to the tiraises lavished on !)ani, tui'l llic lit letrentl.eliire :o[t his prcihitdry I jiai't of till' liti'.J lit Dni;; >oii, and •e ilesyatchcil to hiir, but did not \Yore t!;at on tlic hiwh'ss hri^-iiiids iuitl riivi'.;(!d ii inu; twenty -^>i'vui llic vril'ii-tuiiiito misery and wiint. tliese misereai-.ts Joncral MeArthnr (text of a niilltavy precisely tlie same id, usinu; the ]iie- (iioliiit si'vcii i;u;i- niouniod rilii'incn ni livl •'tlii'V nailod itia," and (-.ip- •"mia \vli!il h.'arned tliis last tia veie at lliat 111 of ihcicamtry, it in, and so iar vol stiMn;^;, sduic I cxpevienceil in ; til prisiiiie'i'.-, of answer we refer liuudred and fifty iMole inlialiiiants, niiikeii Indians -taut it was a^ei'r- r tlie ll'ord r*"z\- n lialf McAi-tliur's ',iirlin.ii;toii lieip;ht--, ■j; di^^uersd and s ) t tlie British rebu- ilt mih'S of theia." mills was a m.J^'a TITSTOIIY OF THE AVAR OF 1S12. w'uton outra^fo on private iiroporty, and tlie misery entailed for the wli;ile winter was ex- ce-^sivc. The pretext too tli-.". l)y the aet, tlic troops wQVQ ini- iiM i.ii'i.,Ld was altoj^e- u I .■ uiifoundcJ, inasinuidi as the .Vmcrieau Coiiiiiiander knew full well that the .supplies for the tiMiips were iirimd]i:illy drawn from below, and that the destriietii.n of t! i mill' the 0(1111 inaiii 1 of lieuteiiaut-eolin'/l ! ferries, h Idid wmild he hut a trilliii liH^iiivenieaee to t!i trodps whilst it could not hut re.siilt in tin' most ruinous eoiisei[uenees to the unoireiidiiiji; and peaeeahle iiihahitants. AVo shall ho w A ever see Imw Ameriean writers reirard sum Iar tr.insaetiniis on the <.'l nr-apea AVk have pretty nearly disposed of the military events alonu- the \iaji;ara, for L^l-f ; en tieiieral I';isa:iiii:ii|Uiilily liayniul •lie oviuls ill that iiu.ir- we ha',e sc Izzard and his amy eross the Niagara, and retreat to winter (inarters, two thousand men of his army havin;j; heen dispatched to rliDur, and wi so SlH'll Swkett's ha fieiieral Drummoiil, after th(> expulsion of every Ameriean from British soil, ret ire greater fjiiietly into winter (piarte'rs, the [Mnion (d" the troiii»s havin,:; heen sent to Kiii;:;stoii, so eoinpletely had a sense oi fL'iJlli ily heen restored. AVe will pass tl leii f;iim !i(!ar!y tlie extremity iif I>riti-!i territory (111 the west, to nearly the extreme east, and tiiko up the proceedinii-s of Liinit. Colonol lIUlll'' '•ton and Sir Thomas Hardv. lie moveinents o f th )iH lese oltii-ers, am llh IS under their eoinmand, will he f 'tind tro(i[ fuUv detailed in the oiiieial rejiorts wlueli we rive at leii:>lli ; Fraiit Li'riifriiiiii/-rnhiiif] Pilhiihitun In Lini- kiuiiit'ijijucnd f^ir .lu'in C. Slicrhni'ik''. Moose Island, Passaina(|U(iddy IJay, Snt, duly VI. iSld. Uaviu'.L' saileil from llalii'ax on th til instiint, aiToni'taniei I l> rn'utenant-eolon( XicdUs, of the royal cnj^ineers, and a de- tiichinent id' the royal artillery, under the CMiiiiiiam I of •aptain Hunii I I lave the lion- Mir to a ■iiuaiiit yoiiv excidleney, that we ar- livi'd iit .Sli(diinrne, the place of rendezvous, mi the eveniii;!; Jicconiiiiin v nil' on this ^l'r\K•l' was lie 111 ■jpatidied ill a boat, l.eariii;^' a truce, with a siimnioiis, (cooy oi' ihicl lis transmitted, )addressed to tl le oliiccr commanirii bii re'|iiiriri that M( ml should be surrendered to his IJritannie n le: Tl lis )>roposal was not accepted ; in coiisei|Uence the ti Willi !l were aln^ady in the boats, pnlliMl oif under tin? siiperintendance of (v'.ptain Seuh'iuse, of n; royal navy, v. nose arran^'eincnis were so judi 15ut, clou- as to ensure a succe il isMie previous to ri'acliin;j; the shoi-e, tlie co- luled d the enemy on Fort-Sullivan ir Ijinliii'^', tlie own on ol weie (■•ilil- tulatioii was ai^'ree enclosed. d' which the ei A\'e found in the i'urt a delaehnieut oft' 10th re;dmeiit of American infrantrv, ■ . ilstUlL ol Six O Hi, aboili >'■<•) men, der the eominand of Major I'ntiiain, v. oil' rendered tiiems [iris uiers of w This fort is situai 1 on an emln niandillif the eluraiice to the niieln elice Coil iti witlun ii IS a hlockdiou- (', ami also lour h '■■« IS-poiinders, one iS-pound carroiiude, and four iield-pieees. The extent of the ! dainl i,^ about four mile : inlenL;tli and two in breaddi am in 11 i^riMt state of enltivat on. Ti militia amount to about 'JoO, and the popu- lation is calculated iit ll'i'H). rii AVe k l- :ia\e also (I an. ipied Allen's and Frede- so that the whole of tl ,e i-laii'ls "l>r?*i^* 344 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1S12. in this buy arc now subject to the Britisii Ha;;. It is very siitisfiictorv tj 'no to nision the colours and .standard found in Port-Sullivan. I have the honor to be, &c. A. I'li.KiNGTON, lieut.-col. l)e)iuty-adjntant-^eneral. Lieut. -p'n. Sir J. C". Sherbrooke, K. 1}. Fniii' (■(tjiltilii Ihtiilij, U. K.. and Ueutenmit- roluH'l I'ilLiu'jIun, ti> the American commander (it MiiDsc hluuiJ. Ou board i'^ his nnijesty's ship Ilaniillies, ., if Moose Isiand, July H, 1S14. Silt, A.; we are perfectly a])pfised of the weak- ness ol' the fort and pirrison under your e'.!i,niaiirati uu^ervii'eril.lL' '.l-pouiiders, twii lJ-|ii'iiiiilor (•arreii.'Kl'S witbniit rnniiiireB. l!ia-? L'liiis — Twii siiviiciiMe nnd twoiinscrvi'c'nliltliulit ('-liiiioMl.rs. with tnivelliiir; cni-TiM'_'es. sidi" arms. \r, Kerty-tnn ^Mper (■■■irtiid'j-es, tilled witli i^K p nf piiwiler. five l!;niiiel de., do, : lilTO unserviie^dile naisKi't- nail laitridiri'S. Keiir liiniilred and lifty-twolnnsermind tS-imundor «lHt: ,'.,'. 1 s-|>. under piajk slmt: SJ-U !■« »• rexnid r,-p.iunder: ',i,'i e-inmniler i'«se slu I. Six bari-rls <<( leaned pnivder. contiilninL' leii poirJs oBcli : 100 muskets, with '•nvnncts. Inlts. sliiies. aiidi'itn- plete swiirds, uith I'l Its. s aMviids. .Ve. Seventy -twii ineenipli'te tents, une I'nltiHl States' e»sJi.-n, W. liij-\.N, captain reval artillery coiiipa «,v. HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1S12. niiKiiiiteil I'll' lliiit lit witli tilt' i.rii|ile ;it lio U'riii> tln'ir •ecildin. the ('ilii>icrty of the (itlieti-, iunaurs, t\V(i lJ|»'un.lor 111 f\vo\insiTvi'-i':iMili:;lU .'_'i'S, siili' ;iriii<. A''. l,-,t Willi six p'liii.l- f'f :ij uiii'iTviifaMi' iiiuslM't- srri>unins-i"'»»'''''" -'"'♦; ..• nmiid r.-p'iuiiili''' ''■'' , cmtiiir.liv-' 1"i> P'tiPils s. IhUs. >lin}:s, anil ''••m- >''• •^''- , :^ .no I'lilti'il Stiili'S .-nxfe*. inal;irtilUi'.V'i'iiU»v^ Wo do nut wuiuler iiuieli ut tliis, ^vllell we of twenty-six ;;uiis, (ei^liteen inpuiu!-'.) Tlio rpmomber that, mi ciiiitaiu Hunly isMiiiii; .iinireeilinj^s will, ln.wi'vcr, lie liiiiiul at his pnielauir.tii 11, eailiii;; till tlic |poci|i1(' either 'lcii;:;tli in thu (itlieial aeenimts wliirh hil- (. taUe the natli (if alle^^iaiiee, or tlieir ile|iai-;luw : tuve, tiiree-ftiiirtli.s uf the iiilialiitiiuts tlilii]i, that iifrer idii>in'^ my de- It was the only Jiart of the I'nited Slatrs spatili of tiie ll'itli iilt., in whii-li 1 iieiitioned uiiiler iiiidi;-imted IJritish doiuiiiiun. Two, my intention of {iroceediii;; to the I'l'Oohs.'ot, fiMiiticr fortresses Miehilimacinac and' Rear-admiral (.Jridiihs and niVM'lf h'st no I . . . . Ni;!;rura, were siirjirised, eaptured, and ■time iii saiiinj^ from Halifax, witii --iiih a fiiri'ihly lield hy tlu; enemy dnriii;; the war: a;i'l parts of Maryland and \'ir,iiiiiia were naval foreo as he deeiiifd neeessaiy, and the troops as |ier mar;i;in (vi/., 1st eMm;Miiy of iverniii ; Imt .Ma^saeluisetts was tlie only royal artillery, two rille eonipanirs o!' tiie 7th litiitethat aeipiieseed in siudi siil>jii;;ation." liattalioii (itUlirej:;iment. 'Jtith, (j^iid. and '•Stli III writinj^ his history, the narration of the events that occurred in this (juarter must liiivo licen sadly trying; to 31r. ]ni;ersul. re;:;iiiu,Mits), to accomplish the ohject we had in view. \',.|v (>;xi'lv in themorniiiLC of the .'Mth, wo llavlnir iiotliiii;,Mo compiain of on IIk' part f^.u in witli.tlie Riiieinan sloop nf war, when ■aiu! iSritish, his only mode of aceountiiij; Captain I'earse infinned iis that the rnited firtlio success of his Majesty's arms is liy niili,;^nin;:; the character of his own country- men, and if his statements arc worthy of i.roleiice we j^ither from them some curious hiets as to the intOf!;rity of the j^reat Republic ill the year IS 14. "The G(jvcriimcnt of Massacliusotts made niicifort to prevent, if it did mil conniir a/, ml rijoicc at its snliju;i;ation." Tiie same jealou'^y of Southern extension and opposition to the war paralyzed rcsist- a:ia' to Kn.i^lish invasion of Massachusetts, aiiil jiart of the North East was almost [lOacealily and permanently reduced to Kii'dish dominion, inst liefi.rc the South- west defeated a miicii more {(irmidahle ' iiiv;ision there. It would take us, however, ; t'l loiiii- to follow In^ersol throu";h all his States' friijate, the Adams, liad.ijot intotlic IV- iiohscot, but iVoiii the apprcheiisi '11 of liciiim attackeil liy our "misers, if sIk; reiiriiie'd at the entrance of the river, she had run up as hi^li as llampdeii, where she had landed her Willis, and ne.uiitod tlicm on shore for her |irotectioii. Oil leavini;' Halifax, It was my original in- tention to have taken possession of Machias, oil our way iiitl.cr, liiit on rcicix Iii;^- ilils in- t(dll;j:eiice, the adiiiiia! and iiiy-clf were of opinion that no time should lie ^l^t in [iro- ceeding to our dc-tination, and we arrived here very e:!rly mi the morniii;^ of iii«j 1st instant. The fort of Castino, which issliuaied upon a )ieninsula of the eastern side of the I'emdj- seot, near the entrance of that rl\cr, wa.s Lime ntation over the fallinir away of tlu : '^""""""<''l '> I't''"^ "^'''i" f-un-risc, iait the liiildren of Massachusetts, we will, theie- f"i'e, pass on to the second cxjiedition which, umler Sir John Sherbrooke, was directed ssiinst that part of Maine, lyinj^tothe east- wanl of the Penobscot river, — and which W'ulteil in the temporary occupation of Custiiie, 1?(dfast, and Machias, with the destruction of a lar;j;e aiiioiiiit of shippinir, isieludln;^ the Unlteil States frlgati; Adams, American officer refused to surrender it, and immediately opeiieil a lire from four 2i- ]iounders upon a sma. schooner tleit had been sent wltii Lieutenant Colonel .Viciiols (commaiidinj:; royal engineers) to reconnoitre the work. Arranfjomonts were immediately made fur disembarking.' the tronps. Imt before a laml- in^ could be efl'ected, the enemy Idew up the \i& : :1C IIISTOUY OF TFIi: WAll OF 1812. in!i;i;-i/.iiio, and CMMiK"! 11)1 tlio.M.!Jct.iiiii;iili.iis^ rii(lcrst:iii(liii^ tliiit a strong' jiarty of iliu ri\cr, (•:iri'viii;i; oil' in tlirKoats witli tliciii two inilitiii Irom tlio nci^hliouriii;^ townslii], ImJ fi(>lil-|,i,., •,.;;, asscmhlcil at nlmut lour miles from ra>tlno, AM wo Imd no nioiins of as('(>r(alnin^ \v hat force the Anicrl'.'anH liad on th's iirninynla, I 1 imiid a i|c;taclimpnt ol' tlio royal artillcn-, witli two rillf companii'soC tlicOOtli and !>Stli rf":;ini('nt.-', iiniliM' Col. l>on,:;!as, in tlio rc:ir oi' it, witli orders to neenre tlie i-itlinins, and to take t}ie t iossc.>-xionoi'l!ie lii'i'/lil'> wliiili cominand own soon leariici roznlais l.iit 1 at Castine, cxce 1 there wore no on thoniad jeadln'i; to liiwehiil, I sent out a .stronjj pntrolo on tlie mornin;; of tlic 'Jil, |,(j. fore dav-hroak ; lieiu;* iired at the furtat Casline, iqion our fn-t mjh |iearanc(!; hut that the main \<'>i\\ had >iiii.e dispersed, and ;;ono to their ro«]i()(;ti\e llwlaeJ. jit the party which, had lilown up the ma;;a/.inn and escaped, and that the militia, which were as.-cmlileil there, had dispersed immediately upon our laud:n;j;. .So mi ■o done ■I ly 1 1 1 " h 'j: her. T no arrauiremi lit for thi> eervico havin;^ heon made, the llear-admir: entrusted t!ie execu Is; a few of them were made pri- soners. Xo inteIli;;onci' haviu;^ readied uh from Captain Ihirrie, on Saturday ni-lit, 1 luarcheil with almut T"!' men and Iwn li^rjij field pieces, u}ion IJuckstown, at •'! o'cl.irk, nn Sunday niorninji;, the -Itli instant, I'nr tlio purpose of learnin;^ what pro;;ress he hal I made, and of all'ordinj;' him assistance, il' ro- e> liitclii'i'iip tionof it to Captain Bar- 'I"""'"''- 'Hiis placeis alioiit ISmil rie, roval navy, and as the eo-operatio land Col n o r .^Ithc I'onohscot than Castine, and mi tli M^t- lorce was necessarv, 1 ■led Lieut. one .loll II, with a iletachment of artiUorv, the (lank com]ianies of the 2'.Mh, &2i], and Ol-Ul I re;4iments, and one rifle company o A' the COth, to accompany and co-oporato Avith Ca|)tain Uarrii; on this occasion ; but as es aho\i: Castino, it aj)- arv measuro of iireeau- II; inipdon is 27 mil peared to me a nei'C' tion lirst to occupy a ])iist ou the western bank, which mi^dit afford support, if neces- sary, to the force j;'oin^- up the river, and at the same time prevent tln' armed population. which is very numiM'oiis to tl th le soiitliwar dand ern bank of the river. Uoar-admiral (Irilliih accompanied mo on this occasio had reason to lielievi; that the li^ which had been taken from t'ast secreted in the neiifhbourhoodof 15in_ am! IS wo it ;;uiis ilie Were -town. re threatened to destroy ley were given up. ail' tl th le town nil I.' two lilM- tl pounders ou travelling-carriaties weii' coiisoipienco brought to us in tiie coin-,'.- of III the d;i e day, and av" now in cur ])ossosmiiii. At Buckstown, we received very siiti-l'ic- tory accounts of the success Avliich hi! at- to the westward, from annoying the IJriilsh in their operations against the Adams. l)))iin iiupiiry, 1 fouml that Belfast, which is upon the high road loading from Hampden to Boston, and which perfectly commands the bridgis was likely to answer liotli these piur- poscs, and I consoque)itly directed Major General Gosselin to occupy that jdace with the l29th regiment, and maintain it till further tended the force employe 1 uii the i •P nver. A\'i learned that Captain Barrie had jiroccedcl from iranipdcn up to Bangor: and tlie ad- miral sent an officer in a lioat from IJiiik:;- town to eomnuinieate with him ; ^vlM'n. find- ing there was no necessity for the ti inaining longer at Bucksti.wn, they inaiclicJ ■1' lack to Ci tl le lie Xt d; IV, Having ascertained that llie obicit I III' dit exiieititiou up the Peuoliscot had hecii orders. As^ tl As soon as tins was accomplislied, and the tide served, Kear-Admiral Criflith directed Cajjtain Barrie to proceed to his destination, and the remainder of the troops were landed tained, it was no longer necessar;' for nie to occupy Belfast. 1, therefore, on the evening of tlie 0th, directed Major-deneral (io--e!iii to emljark the tr( oops, and lo join me iii'i'i that evening at Castine. jNIachias Ifoing thiMinh' place now remain- ing where the enemy had a p'St hetwi.".':i riii-^ towiislii)) lir.il lilcs fniin Cii-titii?, rliill, 1 sent i.ut a liii;;; of thr 'Id, Ku- \^ lit llif 1 l;u f, 1 lltiu ol' till' cniiiity 1! (ilunii '^uw^ l.i-iii;; , ujiuii onv tii>t :ij>- lili liinly li;iil >lui:o r resjiiiutlvc Irinii'^. iD'.vcvor, li.Tt, \s!io ii'.iiit, aiiil tlirii t'M.k L'lii weri' iii.i'lt' {iii- haviii;^ roiii.licil hh Siitunliiy iii,:;lit, 1 ini'ii ami tu n I'^lit pwii, at '■'> i>\:lork, uii h iiislaiit, t'nr tlio It )iiM;j;n'>'< 111' liii'l in assisf.iun', if n;- t IS iiiilo lii'j;lii'nip no, aiul nil tiii'iM-l- li'ar-atluiiiMl UriHilli (lerasicM, am! as \vc hat tin; li^lit ;;uus from CastiiK' wi're li!ioiu-k-t"\vii. V the town iiuli-3 I tlu! two li;'a> • li- cavi'Ia;rt>s wcic in u> in til" (••mi--" I'f cur jios-("^-i'iH. L'uivL'il very sati-fn'- ccss wliii'h li:i'l at- 1 up the rlwf. Wo irrii; liiul jiroi'tTdi-'l lan,i;;or ; and tin: lul- i lioat from l>iiik:^- tli liini : wln'U, !iml- V for tiio tro"!*- !'o- tuwn, tln-y niaii'lifJ .lay. at the ohjcct of till' liHi'ot h.i'l lici'n iiij- iKH'Ossary for im' to I 1 1>, oil iho evoiiin.2 .'■-tl.'ucral (io-i'lin 111 to join Hie iierr. V place now rt'iua;!i- i;i I a post k'twira iiisToiiv OF Tin: war or isi2. l!;e I'ciiiihscot ami J'a-saniainiuildy \>:\y, l\ I have iniicli ph-asuro in ri'iiortinv; to jdiir crJoreil Lieuti'iiant Colonol I'ilkinxtoii to^ Ioril.-.hip, that tin- moMt pi'i fi'ot iinanimity ami pninHH 1 with 11 ilctai'lnm'ut of royiil artillery i;;ooil uiiiliM^tanilin;; lias prevalleil het ween am 1 the lI'.Uli rc";iineiit t' •iipy 't ami as the naval ami military hram lies of the ser- niival assislanee was n-iuirel, llear-ivlminili vlee, during tiie whole projiress of this ex- (Irifllth iliiertcil Captain I'arkor, of tho Te- pcHlitioii. iiO'los, to eo-opi-rate with Ijiiaiton iiit-eolnnel i /-.j I'ilkin^^ton upon this oecasioi;. it my tjuty to express, in the stnni;:;- lest terms, the great ol)li;;alions f am iimliT On the moriiin;,' of the '.nil, Captain ISar-jt,, Jtcaixnlniiral (liiliith, for his iudi.iona rii'. wi ill i/iouli'iiant-eoluncl .Julm. ami tiie ntlviee ami reapyl lo say, was aeeoniplishcd with vory littli'i Ijss on our part; and your lord-lii]i will; fcruoivo, hy the return sent herewith, that llw only odieer woumlid in llils ail'a ■<. I su Its h liive lieeii exi'eneiiriv I have reason to he W(dl satisfied with tlin ;4allaiitryiiiid ;.',oiideondiu;t of the troops, ami have to olFer my tlianks t i .Major-;;eneral din, (,'olou.d l>.iu-l.is. and t! le eonimin- r 1.- tain (iall. of the ll'.hli jrie naitier,' Herewith I have tin.' honor to transmit a ■lit. wjiy of the report made to me hy 1, John on this oceasioii, in wliirh your fliinwill he pleased to idiscrve that the hieii- din;j; oflieers of i'or|is, lor the alaerity shown l>y them, and strict diseiidine whivli has jei.'ii maiiitaiiiei To tl u: lieai Is ,>[■ lai tnieii! an 1 to tl 10 i'.'ii lUit-eolonel speaks very hi,;:lily of the <^i\\- ]ii,.i|. I oflieers of the i^ciKMal and of my personal staff, I iini mm II indolilid for the zealous manner in whirli they have disediar;;ed their biitrv a ml d eonduet displayed hy thei'"*^'"'! resin'i-tive unties. s upon this expodiiioii, under M'ry tryiii; .Major Ad.l ISlill. ilr.unistanees. And 1 he- to .•all your lord-i|,;ue the honor of ,U\ my miiilary si'i'i'i'tary, wi!I iveriiij; this despatch. lili's attention to the names of those ofHeers, Ho has heen with mo durin.n- the whole vS irtnai-j those operations and is widl enal.Iedto afluni i:!iHii who m Lieuti'iiaiit-e inel.l ohn |i; Lilly hestow.s praise. Tho enteri>riso and VDiip hudN] intrepidity manifested liy l/anitenant-eolonel (mlrc lip any n "liii, and the d isciiiline anil ira hve llantry ilis- hy the troops under him. relleet ^roat liMi.Fur upon them, am C't iv.knowled^ements : 1 demand mv war ilonnation ymi mav ro ,im I 1 I ni- lavo to re- I have entrnstoil the colours ami st.indarJ •taken from the enemy to Major Adilisoii. who will receive your lordship's eoimnam quest your lordship will take a favorahloop- 10- d I I'tunity (d' liiiii^'Mi;. tl le meritonuus am euwe-^sfnl ser\ ices, iierforim d hy ihe troops [fNiiiived on this oeeasion, under the view o( speetinu' the further disposal (d'thi'in : i take the liherty of roeomniondint;^ hin jdoservin;; (Jlieer, to y.air lordship's protec- as u tion. lia\(', iVi 1 iii- 11 ival lli^-hnesss the I'rl iIe'j;ont. J. C MlKliliKooKn. A- l!r ir-a Imiral tiriflilli i\ill. uo doiilit, i .,mi :i.vi' a detailedi report id' the naval opcra- •le 1)11 this oeeasion, I forhoar toiiuhinj;' |c;o;i tliis Milijcet, further than to solieityour ;d.-lii])'s attention to that part id' Colomd u's reiiirt, in which Uirihntes tli UuT(ss (d' this enterprise to tin.' nnusterly •■»ii,'t'iuen ts of Captain il; iri;c, ro il ii; ar- ivy, »iw eiaijueted it. X.IJ. — The returns id" killed, wounded, missin;;-, an14. Silt. — In eompliaiieu with your f^xeel- leiiey's (adders of the 1st insta:it, 1 sailed 3-18 IIIJ^TOIIY OF Tin: AVAR OF 1812. fiMiu ('ii>tin(' witli the (Ictiuliiiiciit nf ruval towanls II;miiMlcii. In iiililitii>ii to tin- ile- urtillcry, tlm flank ciiinininioM of IIk; li'.Xli, tiii-lmu.'iit of royal artillery iiinlcr Lii'ulciiiint OJihI, and I'stli r(';;ini('nts, and oiio rillf (Jarston, Captain IJarrio had landed cuo fnni|>any oftjie Tlli liuttalion (Kdli re;;inu'nt, (i-jioiiiider, a r>.J-in(di liowitzer, and a r. ket V.liieii ffinijioscd till,' I'uree yonr KxeelleiH'V M|i|iaratii-, witli a detaidnnent ol' sailm-i dill nie tlu; lioiionr to jdaco under my eoni- under I-ieiiti'iiant Symonds, IJotely, and maud, lor the pufposo of co-cmtiiif^ with Slade, and Mr. SparHn;r, master of hi Captain IJarrie, of the lloyal Navy in an . Majesty's ship I'.ulwark. expedition up this ri\i : . On lhenioniiii^o('tlie'2d.havin;:; proceeded nhovo the town (d' Frankfort, we discovered soni" of the enemy on tlndr march towards Hampden, liylheeastern shore, whiih induced uie to order lirevet-inajor Crosdaile, with a I'.'hnieni of ila; USth, and souu' rillcinen Tlie fo;:; was so thick, it was impossii.lc t for in a CO irrect idea of lh<; featun .r iiii country, or to rocoiuKUtre the eneniv, wlm^i; unmlier mitc reported to he 1. |(t'i, iiii,lei' land (d" J>ri^adier-;reneral lljake. the coii.n dot ciiil Walhice, tolahdauHi, wilh an IS-poimd.T and some li^ht li(dd-pieces in advance of his centre, so pointed as cnuipletely to raki! iliC the e-t.'r. ',,,^,i .^i,.^,.,,!^. f.^,j^,^ jj^^,^ 4,,^ i,,^„j, ,,,•,..,,„ (wdiom Captain IJarrie had done me the ^\'.i,.,P(< ,.iii mil TI ^>w.w..L ^..,.Mi,.. .,.t...> ...i.. ,..M,v, ,.... ...V. \Vji,-(|s riiieiU' M in advance, ilio ciu-iavM ^m honour to attacli to my command,) wore ,5,.^ „„^^. ^^ t„ slacken, and we pusli'-l Ifl * ^'^'-'"'-o ". landed and bivouacked for the night, durin w rhich it rained incessantly. AVe gi )t und er arm s at five o'clock this morning, the rille- company forming the advance un*'ii/i(' I lie fi'iitiiri'H <>\' till' • till' t'lll'lll^ . V.lln-C o 1,1' l.li>''. iiiMi'i' licr-^i'iiiTal r.l.ihi'. t ii'ilurk, iiiir>kli-- so sli:"'|'ly ciijrii;j:i'il iniliui: 111'" 1" "''"'I ■ •lit cnlllliilllV "i I'l" ;'tii>tiuu C'uiiki'r, to limm Iki'I H"! inl- liclore 1 tli-iiivi'i'i- 1 II Hue, iiccuiiyiiiL' ;i Uaf^eiiu;^ ]iH>;iiiiii in jiili-njliifslel't li;iiiki"l iiiliii;^ tin' v.'iiil iiiid DUiitcil si.'\ I'V.il h'livy i;;lit oxti'Uirni.u; n.ii,-i- [dt, restini; ni'-" ii wiili ill! IS-jioima •!■ COS in advaiui' "1' hi-^ iiiipleti'ly tit viiki'. till' ^u\'JL,^^ at tliL' IVint I'l a |c olili^od to a.lvMihO iiiasliopcrcoivi'il'mr opcni'il a vory lioavy jioaniliini^kctryiil"'!! [•n.ssoiltliolivi'1,^1', tlo- , the hiU to ,i:i't iios- io. uf wlii<-l» we loiiml llic hamls oH'aptiuii vaiu-o. Tlie ciumiiv's Ucn, ami we l'"^'"''^ lloil ill drivin- Kim i»t Isltii.n; while Cap. ain company of the •i'.Hli, ,f the hill "11 iheWl,! aisi'oveve.1 tliat tlioj in tiro, aiul that the; the battery w!i-.''l>' uinpleto possession ,,l,^vo, and Captam HISTOUY OF TIIM W.Ml OF IS12. 31.) llirrio with tlip Kiin-honts lind seeuiTil tliat jOStli ; Captains (lull ami Cnnker, uf tin* 2',Uh ; ■jow the hill, rpoii tliis iH'cn-^ioii 2 dlrrrt"! nil military forco, the return of whidi 1 ! in the niost Jiidieiou.s manin'r hy Lii'uten iiit Ii-i';* uflcr whirh Captain I'arrie and (liir>toii, fmin whom [ derived th" ahlest support. I faiiiiot speak too hi;:;hly of Captain Carter and theidReers and marlims under his direr! ions, lie moved tiiem in tlio I'H" detonnined on pursuing:; tlio enemy ■vards !{an;i;or, whirh plaei; \\r reaelied , iilioiit DjipositioM ; and hi-re t'.vo hrass '1 ' I '.iiiii'liM's, ami three .-tands ,d' I- 'loiirv, fill lal.h'-t maniii'r to tlie aniiovaiire of i!io ' . . . I ti'onr pussossion. lJrij;adier-;j,eni'ral lilake .'iiniiy, ami su as to iniet my fulh'.^t tip- vMi ill this town, surrendered liimself pri- .iier: and, with othiT p.-isouers to tiie i.miitint of I'Jl, were adniiited to their •|.;u'ules. F,i;i,hty prisoners taken at IIam])den are in onr eiistody. The loss siistaiin'd hy tin; enemy I have not had in my power i-rrectly to aseertain ; rrport statrs It to he from ■")'• to 40 in kilh'd, vroimded, and nissiii;;. _ roval. Xothin;^ eould exreed the zeal and perse- veraie'O of Lieiirenants Syiuonds, IJotely, and Siade. an.l .Mr. Sparlinjr, of the Koyal Xavy, witii the detarlmiriit uf seaiiira under their rommaud. From Captain IJarrio I liave reeeived the ihlest assistanee and sup[nirt ; audit is to , , , ,1 • , I his masterly arran;;emeiit uf the plan that I Our own loss, 1 am lianiiv to add, islaili,, .■ • i.'ii. -^ v .i • u •mall; viz., I rank and tile, killed ; I eap- ft'el indehted for its siieeess, Xothini^ eould •mal; viz., l rank ami liie, uiiieii ; i ean- , ,. , . ,. ,. „ ,, ' ' ' |he more eorditu than the eo-operatioii of tho ;ain, 7 rank and lil", woiuided; I rank audi , , .,., ,. .. . . I Sle, missiiin;. Captain (Jell, of the2Uth, wa: ivdunded when leadiii,!^ the column, which i'prived mi of his active and useful a>.sist- mce ; hut, I am hajipy to add, he is /■'■■iverinj;. I cannot cdosc this despatch witlmut men- iiiau in tlie hi;rheHt terms, all tiie troop 'd under my coiumai d. They 1 lave n KTited my hi;^licst praise for their zeal and :;i!l;intry, which were conspicuous in the itromo. T feel most particularly indehted lUrcvet-major Kiddall, of the Oilnd regi- tioMt, second in command; to I'l-evet-niajov K"itli. of liie same re;^iment ; 15revet-m ijor <'laile and Captain M'l'her.son, of the naval and military forces on this service in every instance. Cajitain Carne;:ie, of the Koyal Xavy, v.Im mn.st handsomely voluiiteoretl his services with this exjiedition, was in action with the troops at llauijiden ; and I fi'cl most partiru- larly indehted to him flu- his e;;crtioiis and the a,ssistancc he aH'ordecl mo on tliis occa- sion. I am also liouuik'rs, -1 12-poimders, 4 Itrasso-pouudeis. Cirriiu/es — 1 traversing; 124-pnunders, 8 stand- s' 18-pi)Uiiders, 2 travelliiij; lll-poiiiiilers witli '.imk'rs, 4 travelling l-J-poiuidei's with liinl>ors. Spoii'/r.s—S li4-pouiiders, 20 18-pmmilers, 2 li-pouiidors, 4 13-pounders. /,;i//(,s— 2 24-pouuders, 3 r2-pouiidcrs, 1 ■tiiniuilcr. Wu'lliooks—2 24-poundor, 3 12-poulidcrs, 1 5-pJUiiiler. fkoi — 23G round 24-pouudcrs, 500 roun4 I have the honour, i^-c., IIEXRY JOIIX. Lt. Col. 18-poiiiiders. 1 aianuinitinn-wafrpfon. 1 a-aiuu- nitioii-cavt, 12 common Iiaudspikes, 40 haircls of powder. ]\'i,h- — 20 24-pounders, 70 ly-poundcM. N.B. The M ij;aziae in fort rastiue was Iihnvn up hy the ciiciiiy. The vcs.scl on boavil of which the powder w as, ran on shore, and the wliole destroyed. Eleven of the 18-pounders were destroyed In- order cf Lii'utenant-roliniol John, not liaviii;; time to bring them oil". GEOnOE CPiAWFOUD, :\hij(.r, Connnanding Royal Artillory. Lieut. Gen. Sir J. C. Sherhruokc. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 l.t 1.25 !f?liM IIIP-5 •^ 1^ III ^ 1^ 12.0 12.2 11111= U 11.6 ^1 <^ /2 ""l '/ M Photographic Sdences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 873-4503 r O 350 HISTORY OF THE WAll OF 1812. From Lioilcudat-rolonrl I'illcini/fou lo Licufcn- aut-ijeiwrdl fsir J. C. S/ii:ihriii>ki'. Macliias, Sept. 11, ISU. Sir, I liiivc tlio lidiiimr to a:Mju;uut yi>iir exi'el- Iciiry, tluit 1 sailiHl from I'oiidliscot )i;u", witii the bri'^ado yuu wcn' ploased to place Uiulor iny Odiiiiiiaml, consi-tini; of a (ietaeli- uu'iit 'li'i'oyal artillery, with a h(i\vil/.i'r, the battalion ennipaiues of the iiUth rcLriinent. and a p:irty ol' iIk; 7th liattalion of tlu! GUili foot, on th(! innnrmii; of thr '.Ith inslaut; and arrived at JJiick's harhor, about 10 miles from this jihue, on the followin;^ evening. As tlie enemy lireiuire, it was ('\ident be was apprehensive! of an attack: I thore- forc deemed it expedient to disembark the troops Avith as little delay as p(j;-silih> ; and captain Hyde; Parker, ci.min;',ndiii;_f ilie naval force, appointed captain Stanfell to superin- tend this duty, and it was executed by that oiiicer v.itli the utmost [promptitude and decision. Upon rea'hinu; (he shore, 1 ascertained Uiat there v,as only a ]iatliway throuirh tlie wo'ids by which \vo could adva.ice a.nd tiike Fort O'Jb'iun and the battery in reverse; and as the guns of these works oommandcd tlio passage of the river, upon which the town is situated, I decided u[)on y)ossessing Ourselves of them, if practicable, during tiie night. We moved forward at ten o'clock P.M. and, after a most teilious and harrassing march, only arrived near to the fort at break of day, although the distance doe.^ not exceed live miles. The advaiu'ing guard, which consisted of ivfo companies of the 29th regiment, and a detachment of riflemen of the */Uth regiment. under ^^•;o^ Tod, of the former crops, im- raediat(;y drove in the enemy's pi((uets, and ution pursuing hiiu closely, found the fort had been cvacinilcd, leaving their col- ours, about five minutes before wo entered. Within it, and tho battery, there are two 2 !- pounders, throe IS-pounders, ^!e^■eral dis- mounted guns, and a block-house. T!ie party v.hi(di escaped amounvd to about Td men of tho -lOth regiment of American lafan- !try, and ."<• of the embodied militia; iho irctreat was so rapid that I was n(jt enabled to take any prisoners. 1 understand there were a few wounded, but they secreted them- s('vc-< in tlu! wood. Having secured the fort, wo lost no time in advancing upon Maidiias, whlidi was t:ik- en Avithout any resistance ; and also two !iclil-|iloces. Tin.' boats of the sipiadron, under tlie rnm- aiaiid of lieutcinint IViucdiier, of the royal navy, anil tho royal nmrines, under lieuten- ant Welchmen were detached to the eastern side of ti;e river, ami were of essential ;(;r- vico in taking tv.'o licld-iiieces in that ipiarter. XotAvithstanding that t!ie militia were n(;t assemlded to any extent in the Alcinity of tlio town., I was nmking the necessa.ry at- rangements to advan.ce into the interior of the coiuitry, when I received a letter fmiQ brigadier-general Urewer, commanding the district, wherein he engages that the milita forc(\s Avitliin the county of ^\'ashington .-hall not bear arms, or in any way serve against his Britannic majesty during the present war. A similar oiler having Ijcen made by the civil officers and principal citizens of the county, a cessation of arms was tigrt-cd upon, and tlio county of Washington has passscd under the dominion of his l>rilanii; maj.csty. I beg leave to congratulate you uiioii the importance of this acces.sion of territory wdiich has been wrested from the enemy; it embraces about KW miles (d' sea-coast, and incliides that intermediate tract of country wliitdt .se])arates the province of ^'ew IJrunH- wiid^ from Lov»'cr C'amubi. A\'e have taken 2(j )iieces of ordnance, (se^ viceable and unserviceable,) with a ]lrl)I]0^ ion of arms ami ammunition, returns* of '■' Ih'lurn of Onlnniicc, Anna, AmninnitHin, -niounted serviceable 18- pouiid'.r |carronade. I 'I i.'a.pi i 'ii'dos, y\ e\-ery if) most c .;iivccn til I iia k. . IITSTORY OF TTIH WAR OF 1812. 351 (idk'd inilitia; tliO I ^v;ls not eiKiljlod 1 mulorstaiul there they secreted tlK'in- trt, wo lost no tune lias, Avhii'h was liik- uce ; iiud al-o two lr,.ii, under the oom- iicliier, of the royal irini>s, under licuton- laelicd to iho eastern ,-erc of essenlial :er- ficld-pleccs in that t, t!ir niiliiia wore net i;t :n the vleinily of \a'^ tlie necessary av- e into the interior of ■eceived a letter froio \ver, conuinuidhii; tiiC ivaf-es that the niilltii ty of Washington .d\a!! any ^vay serve a-aint^ y "^ihirin;? the presnul having been nnnio hy •nncipal eiti/.ens <>f tliC arms was agreed upen, lasiilngton has passsed If his r>ritanic majesty. :vatulato you upon tho laeeession of territory ted from the enemy; miles of sea-eoast, am! hdiato tract of eoinitry rovinec of Jsew 15rui* ada. lieecs of ordnance, (^t•^ cable,) with a l'l■opo^ imunition, returns* of wliicii are enclosed dl Have tlie ji ismi. jitisfaction to advl, tliat this servi<'(> lias been oiTeeled w |.;UT. 1 ItllOU t tlie lo if a man on oui I cannot retrain tnim cxpre;-sing, m the itriinge.-t iiKinner, tlic a'hulrablc steadiness anil go(id( onductof tlie2'.HIi rogiincnt, under m;ijor llodgc. The advance, under nnvjur T.A, arc also entitled to my warnn>st thanks. A dctai-hnient ov .')(! scaimMi frnm his iiui- -ty's ship Bacchante, under Mr. ]>ruee, i:!i,-ter'H nnxto, were attached to the royal viillery, under tho comiuand of !ie\itenant :iai:el, iif that corps, fu' llic puri^.-^e of dr;i;:;- . !ig the howit/er, as no other means could ' procured to bring it foj'ward; and to their ■lir.vearicd exertions, and the judicious ar- ■',;ij,;o;nent of lieuleiniut I>an;el, 1 am iri- ■ 'itcd forhaving a ')\ lu'-h lio-.vit/.ercouM-yeil ■jMUgli a counlry tho inostdiflicult of access l.vcr witnessed. Te <:a.ptain Parker, uf his majesty's sliip T-ui.'ilos, who commamled tin; sipuulron, 1 ■ ■! every obligation ; and 1 can assure you ,;,.; most cordial understanding has .sul)sisted y.avccn the two branches of t!ie service. I have tho homear to lie, &c. A. IMLKIXiiTOX, I ha\e now tlic hmiour to inform ymi, that I put to sea on tho 2nth ultium, with th sliips and sloup iianiei d in the i iiargMi, and ten sail of transpnrts, having t!i(^ troops im bo;;rd, and arrived olT the M-tiidcna Islands nil the nmrning of i!io .'Hst, \- here I was joined bvthtd>ulw;irk,'l'cnedos, I }\i\ kiiieiiian. eruvian, and I'iclou. From Caiitain I Licut.-tJul. Den. Adi.-C ).-'. >eii. ;L;eut.-ri J.C. SI lerbrooke, 1\.I) ■jiii RiMr-AdnumJ Ori/li/h to Vicc-A:L llird: Cor/l r:i;i' II. M.S. Kndvm ion, ol r Castine, entn earsc, of the llillenian, I learned that tlie Cniied States' frigate Adams lael, a few days before, :;iit into l^•nobscot•. but not considering herself in sili'tv there, Iiad gone on to iram|>den, a l'lac(! 27 miles iiiglier up tho ri\er. wliere lo'r gims had been landed, e.r.d ihc jiositioii was firlifying for lii'r pro- tection. 'ro\vards evening, the \\iiid lieiiig fair iind the weaiher favourabh', the lleet nnide sail up the Feiuibscot !5ay, Captain I'arkcr in the 'I'eiH'ilos leailiii"-. We passed lietv.-(>cn the Metiniem and (ireea Islands abuut mid- night; and steering through the chaniKd formed by tlie Fox's Island and Owl's head, ran up to the eastv.'ard of Long Ishuid, and found ours(d\es at dav-!i^'!it in t!ie mnrnini' in sight of the fort and town of Castine, As wo approiichoil, snmc show of resistance was made, and a few shots were fir(>d ; but the t'wrt was soon after aliandoiuvl and blown up. A'v a'lont 8 A.M. the men of war and transports were ancliored a little to the i-tl nortiiwe.rt 1 ol" th',' peninsula (.f C; the snndler vessels takinu; a station of the Penobscot river, Sept. '.», l-!l I. ,;.— My letter of tlie 2;b'd of August Halifax, by tlio Rover, will have made '[Uainted with my intention of accom- ; tho expedition, then about to proceoil ■i lie I'liiyiii; laier tl |i;.m CV 10 cominanc 1 of his F 3ll Si '.po •jxeeiieney Mr Sherbrooko, K.B., for this l(? Armx, Amnnanlum, la., b,/ (he troops under \.iriil<:n Pjint B'll/iri/ — 2 24-pouaders, mounted on |^■^i^oll carriages, complete. Hi^t Mitc!ii(ts-~1 brass -t-pouii'lers, inountei], Itllwriioss, eoinplcte. ^'I'liiits — 2 iron 4-poundcrs, on travellincr |«T4;^es, complete; .5 2I-ponnders, 10 IS- fflijers, rendered partly unserviceable by the 'lay, and eoiiiplelely i!estr liarrols of grape and case-sliot. 5."):! round shot for IS and 2 l-pounders. (i kegs of gunpowder. 2-'Jlb.s. each. 2S paper cartridges lilleJ for l-]ioiiii lers. .1. l)ANli;b, Lieut. Royal Artll. * Dragon, Endyinion, ]?aco!iaatc, and Sylplv. m 3r)2 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF lSl-2. tlic ruiccliante luid Ivifloiuim Avorc dctaclicd v.'ith tlif tn)u])S dcntincil fur tliis service, arid quiot ]iossessi()n •\v;is tiikon, tmd licld, df ' .'it towu, us l(jiig us was tlKuglit neccs- Hur}-. Arrant^'^inonts wore inimodiatoly made forattai'kinj; tlie frij;;atc at irairijidon, and tlic General liavin;^ pr(ifi'or(Ml o\ory military assistanop, 000 picked men, iindiM- the omi- rnunddl' Li(Hitcnant-C(donolJohn, uf tlie(il»tli re;finient, -were cmliarkcd the ,'c>| here, has requested that a vessel of war niurj take his despatches to England. I have, in compliance with his wishes, ap- ])ropriatcd the Martin for that service, amlj Ca]!tain Senhouse will take a copy of tlii^ letter to tho Secretary of the Admiralty. I have tho honour to be, i^c., EuwAun Griffith. To Vice-admiral the Hon. Sir Alex, Cochrane, K.B., &c. .Vev7 Kng Ciiptun public Uiiitctl I ations ( liespiitc Before ] Vi-.f:ira.s (Iroi ter found I iicccde to, stances to ;)nne.vion rory colon rebellion lantand vj ^f a groat A Bost(| that "Mill iiQcl Yarn J port, and \ afth Bril ^ Ilampf, »bly well tl liive comul ton." At Dorcl Bony wo 'sl-i, was ^Vashingtoj 'MtimentsI '•^ l^rltuin, '^'cracy poj ■^gain it 23 rilkin^itdii, ileputy appointod Id com- luncnt of avtillfivy lUiilcT his coiuinanil inil Pictou sclioonor, L of that plaro. He lit, and iHo>i likfly, arc in possession of c defencos, thoy urc G II A P T E R XXII vcrnl townships eiist iti'ins horc to tender ; livitish mithority: .mid slvo vcnsonal.lo s would he used only cir persons nnd pv- wcd to retain them, ahsolutely necessary. |uict and nnolVending iitra^o from their le:-^^ and for the niainten- ; d tranciuilUty of the | y on shore, bona fde\ bltnntsof theenuntry i Viccn respcctod. All! Upropcrtyalloat, havej .0, conceivir.s it t" I'C ( government should ho p^v, of our suocessc. it a vessel of war niurj En!:;land. -loewith his wishes, ai-| for that service, av 11 take a copy of th of the Admiralty. lonour to he, "Sic., Euu-Aun GuiFFnii. Ton. 0, K.Ii., ^^' I II I CO.NTKXTS. Sew Englimd foulhig towards CIrcat Britain.— Capture of Waalihigton and destruction of public i,!u!dinc!;s. — I'roivu-ations made by United States (lovi,'r!nneut. — General observ- ations Oil the expedition. — Gcnerul Winder's despatch. Before givlnj; Ciiptain Barrio's letter and Now Kn^'ia.ui r.viiu- the articles of capituhi- v,«ra.s (ir.'it itritaiu. tion, wliioh Capt. Par- ker found t!io liihahitants most ready to accede to, it will ho well to adduce a few in- stances to prove liow reaily to lireak the connexion with the United States, were the very colonies which h-ad set the example of rebellion in a former war, and by whoso j^al- lintand vigorous exertions the indepeudeuoe of a great country was secured. A Boston Journal, the Sentinel, stated that "Major Putnam, Captains Fillebrown '.nd Varnuni, arrived under parole from East- port, and speak hi::;hly of the good conduct f th British re;^iment there, so abused by ihe Virf/ialans for their reputed misconduct ■it llaniptan. Tlic soldiers Ijchave remark- I'ly M'oU there ; yet this is the corps said to :.ave committed such outrages at Hamp- ton .** At Dorchester from Ingersol's own testi- mony wo learn that "when the 4th of July, bl4, was celebrated at Dorchester, where ^Vashington commanded in 1775, one of the ■etitiments drunk was " our country united t) Britain, and happy till ilia pestilence of dc- '^wracy poisoned and blighted it." Again it was recommended by the Sdem 23 Gazette tliat all imposts, taxes, and proceed.^ of cajitures witliin the state, tiiat niiglit go into the national treasury, be retained ; that the prisoners of war then in tlie state sliould beexclianged for such of her own citizens as were in the iiands of the enemy, and, finally, that peace should bo made witli (Jreat Britain, so as to leave the lairdeu id' the war on tiie more belligerent States, and by theso moans to free Massaciuissets from tlic bur- dens whicii o]ipressed her. After citing these instances of loyalty, Ingersol lias the inconsistency and assurance on tlie very next page to a^>ert "that tho hearts of the common pcujile of X'ow England remained American." This was not all, however, for Timothy Pickering, Member of Congress, on the 10th March, 1S14, publicly recommended that no one should give his vote "to redeem the pa- per money, cxchecpiors, bills, or other loans to continue this unnecessary and iniquitous war." The remaining incidents connected with tho attacks on the American coast will be found embodied in Captain Barrio's despatch and the articles of capitulation signed. After our expose of American feeling, wo think it unnecessary to bring forward more testimony on two points. The first that, our assertion at tho beginning of Ihig history, as :o the war being unpopular and forced on the country by tiio administration was correct ; secondly, that tho evidence aa to the behaviour of the troops, taken from American sources, goes far to disprove tho 854 iriSTOIlY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ucciisatidns iiiaili! !i;^iiinht tlicni as I'l'i^ariliii;^ tlieir (.•iiiuliK.t at ilavre dc (.iraefsiind Ocorgc- towii. Tlir (lesiiati'li (-f ('a|itiiin liarrio iuul tlie Rrtidi's oi' caiiitulation arc all tliat are ne- cessary In |ila<'0 tlii^ I'uailt.T in full itDasosisioii of (!\( ry fact of inninrtaiicn coiiMccU'il witli Caiilaiii I'arkor's and I'ilkintuu'.s oxi.odi- f.on. FrviH Cdjilain I'dvilc l<> Hear Admiral Grillilh. II. M. sldop Sylph, off Ban;;"!-, in the J'enuhscot, Sept. u, ISU. Sill,— llavin}^ received on hoard the tships named in the nuir<;in,* a detachment of 20 men of the royal artillery, with one ')i-incli howitzer, commanded liy Lieutenant (!ar- sten ; a ]iarty of M) murines, ooiiimaiidcd liy Captain tarter, of the Dragon ; the Hank companies of the 2',tth, t')2d, and VStli regi- ments, under the eommand of Cai>tainsGell and Caker ; Minors Riddell, Keith, and Croasdaile, and Captain Macpherson; also, a rille comjiany of the 7th hattalion of the COth regiment, eounnandod hy Capt. Ward ; and the whole under the orders of Lieuten- ant-Colonel ■John, of the GOth regiment ; 1 proceeded, aj^reeahly to your order, with the utmost despatch, up the Penobscot. Light variable winds, a most intricate channel, of which we were perfectly ij^norant, and thick foggy weather, prevented my arriving off Frankfort before 2 p.m. of the 2d inst. Here Colonel John and myself thought it advisable to send a message to the inhabitants ; and having received their answer, we pushed on towards Ilamiiden, where we received intel- ligent j that the enemy had strongly fortified himself. On our way up, several troops were observed on the cast side of the river, mak- ing for Brewer ; these were driveii into the woods, without any loss on our side, ]iy a party under the orders of ^lajor Croasdaile, and the guns from the boats. The enemy had one killed and several wounded. At 5 P.M. of the 2d inst., we arrived off Ball's-hcad Cove, distant three miles from Hampden. Colonel John and myself landed * II. M.S. Peruvian and Sylph, Dragon ten- der, aud the Harmony transport. (jU th(! south side of the Covi; to rcconnDiti'o the ground, ami obtain intelligence. Ilavin" gained the hills, w(; discovered the eiicniv's piijuets advantageously posted near the jii^di- way leading to Hampden, on the nortii ^i- ject was obtained by 7 o'(dock ; and notwith- standing every dillicully, the wliolc cf the troops were landeil on th<-liea(i. Off this place the troops halted till the artillery were mounted ; and by si.K the whole ad- vanced towards llampdon. The boats under the immediate cMnniaud of Jiieutenant IVdl^r, the first (;f the l>nigon, agreeably to a previous arrangement with Colonel John, advanced in line witli the right flank of the army. The IViiivian, Sylph, Dragon's tender, and ilarniony transport, were kept a little in airear in re- serve. Our information stated the enemy's force at 1400 men, and he had chosen a most ex- cellent i)osition on a high hill. Alnait a quarter of a mi! ^ to the southward of tlio Adams' frigate, he had mounted eight Im- pounders. This fort was calculated to cuin- mand both the highway, by which our troops had to advance, and the river. On a wimrf close to the Adams, he had mounted fifteen IS-pounders, which comi)letely comniainIeJ the river, which at this place, is n(jt above three cables' lengths wide, and the land on each side is high and well wooded. A rocket-boat, imder my immediate di- rection, but manoeuvred by Mr. (linton, gun- ner, and Mr. Small, midsliipman, of th3 Dragon, was advanced about a quarter of ii mile a-hcad of the line of boats. niSTOIlY OF T'^E WAR Ci' H12. 355 ,vc til rcfiinnoitvo ercil tin; t'lifuiy'H ted iKMi- tlic liiirli- on the imrtli h'uli; lincil to lai.d I'l'* 11, to ilrivc ill tli'^ ground. 'I'll!'* "1'- oi:k; iii'.il ui.twitli- , till' wlli'lr of tllO > nortli i-iile of the it viis fovuul iiii- illery nt tin- .sivmo u;keiloiilhi'^i'ouiiil Miijor lllilihill. It ng tlio iii^jht. At the fog cloiucil iiwiiy iiour, which oiiahliil eniy hy wiitor: iiml n-thc iirlilli vviiliout m Ball's-hoiul. (HV itcil till tho iirtillevy r six the whole ini- inunciliatc efmnuurl ciirstof the Univroii, s iu'raii,i:;oineiit with id iu line with the iiy. Tin' I'eruvian, er, iiiiil llanuoiiy little in arrear iu re- ■d the enemy's force |ad chosen a most ex- high hill. About a lie southward of th':' .d mounted eijJiht 1*^- | las caleuhited to com- f ,, by which our troops [c river. On a wliarf had mounted fifteen Impletely comniandoil Is place, is not above ■• lide, and the land on | irell wooded. ler my immediate dl- |dby Mr. Clinton, gun- midshiinnan, of th:5 , about a tiuarter of a ! of boat.s. So soon as tho boats pit within i^iiii-shot, the enemy tiiioned his lire upon them from t!io hill ami wharf, which was warmly re- turned. Our rockets were generally well- iirected, ami cvidentally threw the enemy into confusion. Meantime, our troo]is stunn- ed thehill with tho utmost gallantry. Ui I'nro the boats got within good grape-shot distance of tho wharf-battery, tho enemy sot tire to tlie Adams, and ho ran from his guns the moment our troops carried the hill. I joined tho army about ten minutes after this event. Colonel John and myself iin- mcdiat(dy determined to leavo a suflieient fiircc in possession of the hill, and V> pur- sue the encinj', who was then in sight on the The officr and men bore tho privations, in- separable from our coiilined means of aei niii- moilation, with a cheerfulness that entitles thorn to my wannest thanks. Though tho enemy abandoned liis batteries before till ships could be liroiight to art against them, yet J am not less olili-ed !o cipiains Kippon and l>ickens, of the I'onivian ;',n(l Sylph ; aeting-lieuteiiant Pearson, wlei com- manded the Dragiin's tender; lieutenant Wuodin, of the Uragon; and Mr. IJarnett, master of the Harmony; their zeal and in- defatigable exertions in bringing up tiieir vesstds, through tin; most intricate naviga- tion, were eminently conspicuous. Colonel •lohn speaks highly in ju'aisc of Captain 15;ingor road, Hying at full speed. Tho boats M'arter, and tho detachment of royal marines iiid shi[is pushed up tho river, [ire army. Tho enemy was too nimble for us, and most of them escaped into the woods on our left. On a|iprochiiig IJangor, the inhabitiints, ivh.) had opposed us iU lIuinpdiMi, threw oil' tlieir military character; and, as magis- ;;'ates, select men, itc. made an unconditional irrender of the town. Here, the imrsuit ■:i|iped. About two hours afterwards, Ijrig- a.Her-general IJlako came into the town to ■Icliver himself as a ]iriso!ier ; tho general, ;md other prisoners, amounting to I'Ji, were ulinitted to their parole. Enclosed, I have the honor to forward you lists of the vopsels wo have captured or do- -ti'oyed, and other necessary reports. 1 am hiijipy to inform you, our loss consists only r one seaman, lielonging to tho Dragon, killed; captain Gell, of tho '2'Jth, and seven [irivates wounded ; one rank and file miss- I cannot close my report, without cxpi'ess- ir.;; my highest admiration of tho very ;;dlant conduct of Colonel John, and the 'jificors and soldiers under his command ; for, exclusive of the battery before-mentioned, they had difficulties to contend with on their left, which did not fall under my observation, as the enemy's field-pieces in that direction were masked. The utmost cordiality existed between the two services ; and I shall ever ^ool obliged to colonel John for his ready co- operation iu every thing that was proposed. under his orders ; and also id' tho seami'ii attailu'd ti) the artillery, uuder tho comn;and of iii'iilenants .Simmonds. .Motley, I,. Stale and .Mr. Sparling, master of the Bulwark. I have, on otle'r occassions of service, fiiund it a pleasing ]i:irt of my duty to cnm- mend the services of lieutenant I'edler, iirst of tho Dragon ; in this instance, he coin manded the boat jKirt of the expedition most fully to my satisfaction ; ho was ably second- ed i)y by lieutenants Perceval, of the Teno- dos, and Ormond, of tho Kudymion ; and .Mr. Ansel, master's mate of the Dragon ; this last gentleman has p:issed his examina- tion nearly live years, and is an active offii or well worthy of your patronage ; but, in par- ticularising him, I do not mean to detract from the other petty-officers and seamen emjdoyod in tlij boats; for they all most zealously performed their duty, and are equally entitled to my warmest acknow ledge- monts. I am also most particularly indebted to tho active and zeah)us «. xertions of lieuten- ant Carnegie, who was a volunteer on tlii.'? occasion. I can form no estimate of tho enemy's absolute loss. From diflforcnt stragglers I learn, that, exclusive of killed ai.'' missing, upwards of 30 lay wounded in tho woods. I have tho honor to be, &c. RODEllT liAllIlIK, Capt. ofll.M.S. Dragon. ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION. Article I. The ofiicers and troops of tho ) i IIISTOUY OF TUK WAli OF 1812. "!::. UnittMl Stat"", iit present on Moose islaiu!. an; to siii ri'mlcr thcnisclvcH |'ri.;i:i!iTs of vur, and iirc to (li liver up tlio furts, l)uil(lin;^,M, arms, iiMnmiiiition, stori's, ami oflects, witli oxti(;t invontorio.s tlicrrof, lidon^^in;^ to tlic Amoriran {^ovornniont; and tlicy arc thorr))} transfcrrod to liis Hritunnic majesty, in tlie Hanio manner and [)osses.sion, as has lieen lield lieretolore )iy tlie Anicriean ^^overnnH^nt. Art. 11, The f^arrison of the ishmd shall 1)0 jjrlsoncrs of war, until re;^nlarly ox- chan;;ed ; tlioy will march out of the fort with tlic honors of war, and pile their arms at such place as will he ajipointed for that purpose ; the officers will he permitted to ]>roceed to the United States on tiieir parole. The next event of importance, in order of ,,. . ,,.. ,. . date, was the descent inddcsiruftion i)t Tuljlic on "W'ashinjrton, an liuilUiiit:^. ,„ . ... , , , aitair, wliuli, aIilion;;h strictly a rctaliaiion for cx(;cssivc and mani- fold atrocities, was made the pretext for the utterance of the vilest slander hy the Feder- alists, a^^ainst not only the IJritisharmy, but the entire nation. We trust, however, to bring forward such evidence, as to the conduct of the Uritish in this affair, as will satisfy the impartial reader, both as to the falsehoods put fortii by part of the American prcs.s, and the absurdities uttered in the British IIouso of Commons, and which carried, until t im- proved, considerable weight with a lar^: portion of the people. Nor was this all ; American v/ritcrs have not scrupled to uoclaro that peace was in- definitely postponed " in order that the British .;Governmont might by its military and naval instruments, deliberately commit 80 atrocious a violation of civilized warfare." Says Ingersol, " The unknown caitiff who attempted to assassinate General Ross is much less detestable and unpardonable than tht member of the Government, Ministry, Monarch, Kcgent, or whoever the miscreant may be, guilty of the infinitely greater out- rage of postponing peace for several months, after the causes of war had ceaaed, in order to devastate tho public edifices of an enemy's capital." Without ailducing one iota of proof, In- gersol makes this ImjKI assertion, and, nii supporteil by evidence, he bases tlio\\liiile ,,1" his reasoning on a fact so injurious t.. tl,i eharaeterof the British nation. T'lrtiiiKin Iv, however, we have eviden,n', that the Ameri- cans ha ])ermit a handful of men to commit such dc- vn station in the presence of so vastly superior a force. Before entering on tho expedition, it will be as well to get rid of one charge that vva3 made by many American journals against the commaudinj: officers of the lloct CD O then lying oa the Chesapeake, but no proof of which has ever been attempted. During the whole period that the Fnglisli fleet wore on the waters of the Chesapeake, the ofiicers, who were sent on shore to pro- cure provisions and water, were constantly beset by crowds of fugitive slaves, who im- plored to be rescued from a state of bondage. These appeals, w ere too piteous, always to be disregarded, and the consequence was that hundreds of them were taken on board tho British vessels, from whence they were I f The HISTORY OF TIIK W.»ll OF \i^\2. yj-, uta of jmiiif, In- sortidii, iind, im la.'-t'.s tli; ^^ Imlo ul" iiijuilous Id iIk; on. I'lii'tniiiitclv, , that tilt! Aim.'ii- lis (lesi'ciit lici'm^ lio 2(Uh (if .luiio, iii)^ tluit own lit till- (Icl'cncc (if tllC vt'i'o .■uimiHiu'iMl, ?y{i not niitro ft from a Christian nation, especially one that has done so mud', to abolish liie slave trade. There are negroes in Vir<;inia, and, we beli< vc, in ill the Southern States, wln) have their inte.'e>ts and affections as stron^^Iy en;;raftcd in their hearts, as the whites, and who feel the sacred ties of filial, jiarental, ami conju;;al affection, cfiually strong, and who are warmly attached to their owners and the scenes of their nativity." James very correctly notices this as one of the most inadvertent hut happiest pieces of satire extant ; and so it must appear to all. Kven at the present time, no later than two days back, a New Oilcans journal, the " Creole" contained an advertisement offering to purchase slaves from any ouarter, and it is impossible to take up a Southern paper without I'.io eye being offended and the senses disgusted with the iiccoimts of slave sales — the attractions of a young (juadroon being diVelt on and puffed with as nuuh minut(!- nv^ss as the points of a horse. The revela- tions of the horrors uf American slavery are so patent, and have excited such universal iiorror, ihat it is almost unnecessary to dwell on the unp;iralleled impudence which could assert that uio slaves were warmly attached to their masters — slave owners selling their i children, and the mother of their children : but the bare thought of these things is sickeiiing, yet the very journals containing these advertisements wore the foremost to accuse the British of having violated "the; ■lictates of Christianity and civilization," | The q; c'itiou, too, may be put iu an- : other form. It was BubmitteJ to tho House of lleprcj-entatives, by .Mr. Fish of N'ernnint, and n'S(dv('(l, "That the committco on public lands he instructed to eni|uireinto the expediency of giving to each deserter from the British nrmy, during the present war, one hutidred acres of the puldic lands, such dcs(>rtcr actually settling the saint-. Afti r this sp(>eimcn of nation il honor, and considering what slavery was then in the Tnitod States, the jmsition tak(Mi liy the Americiin press, .ippcars the more extraordi- nary. The assertion that slaves were dragged away by force with the greatest -rnelt is simply absurd; it was with the grc .test diffi- culty that the ISritish c.immaiHlcr could vic- tual his fleet, lying as it did on an enemy's shore, and 't was not very prtdiable that lie would sufVer his difficulties in that respect to be increased by the addition id" loads of ne- groe:-', w bom, to make pridit :>ii it, it would b(! necessary to feed and ke('p in good condition. The only marvel is that the British Com- mander should have allowed his feelings of humanity to overstep the strict line of duty, inasmuch as by rescuing those unhajipy victims from slavtMW lii> n-as seriously inoi'.- veniencing the crews of the vesstds under his comniand, and so (■ruwding his slii|is iis to render tliem almost unlit for going into action. T(j return,liowever, to thecxiicditioii. The President of the Cnited States, in I'n.p.uiitims in;.il,. Lv fomicd officially since U. states (.luvcTument. jj,^ o,^,th of June, of th.', ap|iroaching storm, lost no time in d(;ter- niining to prepare; accordingly the heads of departments and the Attorney (Icneral, were convened on the 1st .Inly, and it was then decided, first, "that ten or twelve thousand draughts from the militia of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and A'irginia, should be held in reserve in their respective States, ready to march at a moment's warning. Secondly. That not less than two, nor more than three thousand of the afore-mcn- tioned draughts, should be assembled for im- mediate service, atsomecentral jioint between the Potomac and Baltimore. Thirdly. That the militia of the District of Columbia, (we omit detail) making an ag- ;;;re'4ate of three thousand combatants, fthoulJ IirSTOIlY OF THK WAR OF 1812. coiistitiito II corps at nil tiinr's (lis[)()S!il)lc, umlci" tlio direction nf tiic! cniniiiiiiidin;^ (•(.'iicral." That tliiiso roHoliitionn woro not moro wtinls, wo have (jonoral Arnistnjnj;'s tosti- niony, who says : "Nor will it apiuar IVom the report niaili! \>y the Coii^^rcssional <'oiii- mittoo of Imiuiry, that aii\ liiiu> was lost in givin;^ cIVoct to those nuMsvircs, so far as their execution depended on the "War De- partment. "On the 2nd July," says the Report, " the t(!ntii military district was constituted, ami tho command ;;i\on to (ieneral Winder. On the Ith, a renuisition on tii(! States ior ninety-three thousand five hnndr('d men was issued. On the 1 Ith, the Oov(^rnors of IVnnsylvania and Vir<:;inia. acknowledged the recoijit of tlw^ requisition, and promised ju-omptitudo. On the lOth, the (lovernor of Maryland was served with a copy of the requisition, and took measures to comjily with it. On the 12th, General Winder was authorisijd, in case of cither menaced or actual invasion, to call into ser- vice Hie whole of the Maryland ijuota (six thousand men), and on tlio isth, live thou- sand from Pennsylvania and two thousand /'/•(;;/( lirijadiir-dcncral Wiudcr tot/icSicre/uri/ at War. Sill, Uultiiiiorc, Aurr. 07^ j^i j AVhon tlic oiioniy arrived at tlic iiiuuth cf tlic Potdiiiac, of all the militia wliich I liad hecii nutlKiri/.cd to assemble, there were but alioiit 1700 ill the field, V.', to 1100 under General SIruiisliury near this place, and 2oO at 151a- deiisliuri;;, under lieiiten:nit-colonel Kramer: the hIow pra;i;ress of draft, and the imperfect oina- ni/atinii, with the ine(l'ectiveiie>s ol' the laws to compel tlicm to turn out, rendered it impos- sible to have i>roeuied m<)re. The militia of this state and of tliccoiiti^'uoiis parts of Virginia and I'eimsylvuiiia were called out en mnssi', but tlic former militia law of Pemi- sylvMiiia had expired the 1st of .lime, or July, and the one adopted in its jilace is not to take efl'ect in orjfiuii/.in;i the militia before October. No aid, tl.crefore, had Ijecn received from tiia', state. After nil the force that could be put at my disposal in tliat short time, and makinji such dispositions as I deeme(l l)cst calculated to pre- sent the most respectable force 't whatever point the enemy miji'lit strike, I was enabled (by the nuKt active and hnrrassins; moveiuont of tiie troo])sJ to iiuerposc liefoie the enemy at liladcnsbiir}^. about 5000 men, including HJO regulars and commodore Barney's command. Much tlje larj^cit portion of tliis force arrived from Vir;,'inia. making' an a;:ij;rc-ate (tlic re;;iilar infantry, ca\alry, marines, fj,,. tilhi nu'u, and district militia inelud,.d) r,f j«i.xtoen tliousand ni.x liundrol men." >Vhen we run over these -^VLKii preparations Jomini's surprise, that a handful u\' mni should have been permitted to execute what they did, is natural, and after the iidnii.-,si,,iis made by ArmMtron;j; as to their force, it is perfectly alisurd in American writers to pretend that, .it IMadensl.urj,^ thev were compierespatch, which will be found in a note* will furnish a very ij;ood instance of the truth of an American bulletin. on the gr& fnm }L>h,'.,jcnrral Jlnss to ICnUialhurM. an.l .l..|..ut..l tl... Ilutllla, tukln- .lu.l .Ir...trny. in;; till' wlioli'. JLiviii;,' ii, \><\\. Mv liDi-d, I Imvo tlio li'mor ti) coininunicato to your Idrdsliip. tliiit nil tlio 'JJtli iiisfiitit, lifter (l(>-j I'tMtin;' tlio iiriiiv of llic I iiitfd Stiiti's utii Itj mill's (if Wtif'liiii^tiiii, mill u-^tiTtiiincil the fitn'o of llio ciiniiy ti> 1m' siuli ii>; ininht mitliiiri/.c lUi iittriiipt :it larryiii;; \\\'* iMpitiil, I (li'tiTinitu'il t'l iimki' it, ainl ai r"rMiii);ly |iul tlic triMi|i!, in iiinM'iiiciit I'll till' <'\''iiinj» f till' 'Jilnl. A lorp^i uraliniit I'Jihi m.'n aj)- tliat Jay, the tnioiis umliT niv rniiiinainl I'li-, , , • ■ ■• .• • , , , ' . \. ,, . ..'poaroil In oiiiiiiM. us, l.iit ii'tirr.l aliir liniig tpred aiul tuok iiossoswion o( tin; rilv nl ' ^ , ,. , .-,,., , . ' * a few Mill its. Oil till' 2ltli, till' tninj.s ii'siim- '^"''"""^""- _ t'.l tli.'ir iiiari'li, anil ri'iiliivl IMa.l.'n.l.ur«, It was ili'ti'iMiiiiii'd liotwii'ii Sir Ali'xamli'r .^ villa;;" sitiiati; mi tin' li'ft liaiik nf th'j Coi'hraiio ami iiiysi'lf, tn disoiiiliark tlit'j ^..,^t^,,■,^ l,raiii'li nf tlic I'litDiiiai', ali.'iil livo miles from Wasliiii^tiai. army at the villa;;n of Ijonodirt, mi tin' ri^lit biuik of the Patuxent, with tin- inti'ii- tiim of i'i)-o|ii'ratin^ with rear-admiral t/'m-k- liurn, in an attack uiimi a tlutilla of the ,. , . , ,. i • ■ , 1 . 1 .1 I (■ very eommandiii;: liei;;lits, loniied iii two enemy H ;^iin-l)oats, under the eonimand ot •' . " " . ,• i- a On till' opposite side of that liwr, the eneiiiy was discovered strongly posted on odinmodore IJarney. On the '2Utli instant, the army eoiiimeneed its man.li, having laiiil- eil the previous day without opposition ; on the 2lst it reaelied N'ottin^haiii, and on the '2"Jd moved on to Upper MarllMirou^h, a few miles distant from I'i;^ jioiiit, on the I'atiix- ent, where admiral Coeklairn irlj in with, cxcopti'Mi ot'uliipiit Itlnillied liy cnlonel llii^iiii, nl'tur liaviii;:; lust his horse, and lo whole or a partof capliiiii Shower's coiiipiiiiy.ljotli of whom fli'iR'riil Stiitisliury represents to have iiiinle, even thus deserted, a irnlliint stand. The fall wiiicli lieuteiiiiiit-eiildiiel Itiij^iiii receive 1 t'roiu his liorse, tnijellier with liis irie;it elloits to miiintaiii his position, ri'iideioij liini niKilile to fiiUow the retrciit ; we have therernre to l;iiiieiit tliiit tliis i;:dl;iiit and excellent otlicer has lieeii tiiUen prisoner; lie has, liowever. lieen paroled, and L met liiiii here, recoveviniffrom the braises occa-^ioiicd by his fall. The loss of his services at this iiioiiiciit is serioas. The otli r.altiinore reiriinent, under lieute- iiinit-coloiiel Sterrett, beinu; the left of brigadier- general Stan-biiry's brigade, still, however, stood their jiround, and except for a iiioiiieiit, when jiart of them recoiled a few steps, rc-j maiiu'd tinii, and stood until ordered to retreat, with a view to jircveiit their beiiij; outflanked. The reservi'. under brigadier ■gener.al Smith, of the district of Columliia, with the militia of the city and Georgetown, with the reijiilars and soiao detachinents of Maryliind militia, | tlaiikeil on their right by coiiiiiioilore Ijarney , mid jiis brave fellows, and lieutenant-colonel i Hi'al, still were to the rij:lit on the hill, amh iiiaintaincd the contest for some time with great; cllect. I It is not with me to report the conduct of commodore IJarney and his coinniand, nor can I speak from observation, being too remote ; bat the coucurrent tcrtimouy of all who did observe ^ lines, his ailvanee occupying a fi.rtiliod house, which, with artillery, co\ered tho bridge over the eastern hraiieh, whirh tho British had to pass. .V t.road and straight road leading; fVoiii the bridge to Washiiig;ton, ran through the "iiemy's position, which was carefully del'eiided hy artillery and ri- llemen. them, does them the highest justice I' r their brave resistance, (iiid destructive i ll'ec i they produced on the enemy. Coninioiloie li.irney, after having lost his horse, took post near one of his guns, and there unfortunately received a severe wound in the thigh, and he a!>i) I'cll into the hands of the enemy. ("a]it,iin Miller, of tho marines, was wounded in the aim fighting bravely. From the be>t intelligence, llu're re- mains but little doubt that the eueiiiy lost at least too killed and wounded, and of these a very luiusuiil piu'tinii killed. Our loss cannot, 1 think, lieestliiiMtc.l at more than fromliO to 10 killed, and oO to i,0 wounded they took altogether alxuit 120 prisoner-. You will readily understand that it is Impos- sible for Hie to speak niiniitely of the merit or demerit of particular troops so little known to me from their recent !inil lia^ty assemblngo. ]\Iy subsequent movements for the iiiii'iioso of preserving as much of mv force as possible, gaining reiiiforciMiient j, protecting this place, you already know. great respect, i-ir. I am, with very great resi^ect, iir, your obedient servant, W. II. WiMd'Il, IFc-i. J. .Armstrong, Sec. of War. I rig-gen. lOth mil. dist. N.IJ. We have to lament that captain Sterrett, of the .''ith Baltimore regiment, has also been wounded, but is doing well. Other oflic('rs,cno doubt, deserve notice, but I am as yet unable to particulari^ie. f I " 200 IIISTOUY OF THE WAR OF 1H12. fc 'I'Ik! (ll>-|insitiipn fur tho nttiiok luMtii; rmidc, it was coiMirH'rircil witli sn miicli iiiiiii'tiinsity liy till' li^lit hi'i;,^'i(l(', ciinHistinK of the Kltli li;;lit inrantry, iiiul tin' li;:;lit iiil'iintry fuiii- jijuiif's t. Ill Hiiiniort of the li;;;lit liri^^iido, I onh^rod up a l)fi;;ado midi-r tlit; command of f(d(iiicl Hnmkc, whip, with tliti Utii r(';;imciit, at- tacked tilt' enemy's ii-l't. tlie Itli re;;imeiit pre.«siii;j; Ills rii:;lit willi Midi eilect, as tu ciuist' liim tu aljaiidun liis ;;uns. J I is lirst lino f^iviii;^ way, wan driven on tiio second, wliieli, yieldin;; to tho irrnsistaldo attack of tlio l)ayoni't, and liie weil-diriictcd discliar;;e of rockcits, ;i;iit into ('(HiCusidii and llcil, icav- inj; tho IJritisli masters of tlic lii Id. The rajiid fli;;ht of tlio enemy and liis llancliard, of the royal engineers, in the duties of his de- partment, Avas of groat advantage. To the zealous exertions of captain Waiinvright, Palmer, and Miniey, of the royal navy, and to those of tho oilicers aivl seamen wlio land- ed with them, the service is highly indebted, I I'- I he latti'r, c .•anii'ii alt; i!.tain M'l I ted as ni .:id to the .■idebted, 1 mu'!< 111 aiixii'ty I'lir tlu- ioct, won! consjiicu • y tliaiik.s iiro duo, 3 witii ovKi'y vvish •0 of tlio troiips and tion. To n-ar-ud- ;^'i'sted tiio attack M'lio ftt.'coiii|ianicd ;n'ato.st oldi^^ation II and ad\ioo. ) li'd tho attack, ia >r the niiMtj oxaiu- ) well followed hy and the 8.Jth llfrht Jones, of tlio 4th 's attached to tho express my appro- ;oniluct iif cujiiiicl ido : the i Itli ro'A- n j;uisluMlit.--en' under iit-colonol-Miillens : )ot, under the eom- ];ein;j; eiii!:diy con- lic hitter, eaptani Money, had ehargo of the ioar.ien altaidied to ni: rine artillery. To ■ iptain M'l>ou;_'all, of tlw Soth font, who iited a-i hiy aide de camp, caplaln rallH, md to till' ntlicers (ifniy ,'*tatf, 1 I'lid inm-li iiuluhted. I «iii>' di'»patcll, I lie;; leave to reeoin- mend to vmir lordship's protection, as an ollicerof nueh merit and ;;reat promise, ami eapalile of atl'ordin;; any fur'her inf irmatior. that may he reijui-ftite. San;;uine in hop- in;; for the a|ipro'iation of his royal hi;;hnes.'i the prince ri 'j;i'nt, and of his maje-^ty's ;;ov- ernment, as to the conduct of the troops under my comnnind, I have, i<:c. i;. UO."^S, maj-;;en. I he;; leav(^ to enelo«^e herewltli a return of t!ie killed, • wounded, and mis^iin;; in tho action of the 2 kh in.-.tant, to;;ether with ii Htatement of the ordnaiiee, ammunition, and ordnance stores taken fmui the enemy lio- tween the I'.'th .iiid "Jolli of .Vu;;ost and liko- wlso sketches of the scene of action and of the line i<{' march. II. M. Sl.'iol' MaNI.V, oil' NoTTtNOItAM, I'atixknt, Au;;. '27, ISII, Sm, I have the honour to inform you, tliat, a;;reeahly to the intentions I iiotilied to you in my letter id' the 22d instant. I proceeded Ity laml, on the morninor of tho 2oil, to Up- per Marlliorou;ih, to meet anil confer with Major-general I'oss, as to our further oper- ations again-t the enemy ; and we were not long in agreeing on the propriety of making an immediate attempt on the city of Washington. •* Killed (p 1 ; wounded loS. Rd'irn "/ onliidncr, ainnuutUkin, '"id ordtKincc- storc^, liikcii /rum tlic cnriiii/ b;/ the. ariiii/ umhr llm comiiKin'i of Mnjor-dmcntl Kohert Ross, hulnrrn the V.Uh anil 2')(h of August, 181-1. .\ii;;iist in — 1 :24-pound CMrronado. A\it?ii>t 2::. — 1 Ci-iiouicl licld-guii, with car- riii;:e complete ; l-JI) stand of anas, with car- touches, kc. &.C. Au^rust 24, at Bli^deiifbiin/. — 2 IS-pounders, 12-pouiidei's, 3 (i-pouailci's, with field-ear- riii;;es; a quantity of aniiiuniition lor the abuve : '2)10 staiid ind cnrronades, 5 18-pound carro- nades, ll] l:'-poimd guns, l! '.i-jiound guns, ii (5- poutiil pans. Tiitiil amount of ciiimou taken — 20(1; fjOO hai'rels of jidwdcr: lOd, ()()() rouTnls of niuskct- ball cartriil;::es ; 40 biii'rcls of fnic-i:r;iined powder; a Itii'gc ipiantity of ainmunitioii of dif- ferent natures made up. The navy-yard and arsenal having been set on tire by tiie eiiomy before tiiey retired, an inmiense Ipiantity of stores of every description was destroyed ; of wiiicli no account couhl 1)0 taken. Seven m eight very heavy cxiilosiona during tlie iii;:lit denoted that there li.'cl been large nuigaziiie^ of ]iiiwilcr. F. G. J. WlbMAMS, lieutenant rovnl artillerv, A. Q. M. .1. SllCIIKLL.' captain connaMiuling artillery. N.B. The I'eniaiiis of near20ll() stand of nj'ma were discovered which liad liccn destroyed by -'f ., ¥ 'I t \ !, f 302 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. In confoniiity, therefore, with the wishes of the fi;onoriiI, I instantly sent orders for our marine and naval forces, at Pij^-point, to be forthwith moved over to Mount Calvert, and for the niariiir-artillery, and a pro- portion of the seamen, to be there landed, and with the utmost possil^le expedition to ofHcers. Some other prisoners were also taken, tlioiij:;h not many, owin;^ to the swift- ness with which the enemy went olf, and the fatigue our army had previously undergone. It would, sir, bo doomed presumption in me to attempt to give you particular details! • - ,1 1-11 \-i J res|K'ctin!r the nature of this biitlle ; I slmjl join the army, which lai once readily agreed, , therefore, only remark generally, that the enemy, ^^,000 strong, on ground he had chosen as best ada])ted for him to defond, whore ho had time to erect his batteries, and concert all his measures, was dislodged, as to accompany. Tlio major-general then made his dispo- sitions, and arranged that Captain Robins, with the marines of the ships, should retain possession of Upper Marlboroguh, and that the marine-artillery and seamen should follow the army to the ground it was to oc- cupy for the night. The ormy then moved on, and bivouacked before dark about five miles near Washington. Ill the night, captain Palmer of the Ileb- rus, and captain Money of iao Traave, joined us with the seamen and with the marine-artillery, under Captain Harrison, Captain AVainwright of the Tonnant, had accompanied me the day before, as had also lieutenant James Scott, acting first lieuten- ant of the Albion. At daylight, on the morning of the 24th, the majijr-goneral again put the army in motion, directing his march upon Bladons- burgli ; on reaching which place, with the advanced brigado, the enemy was observed drawn up in force on a rising ground beyond the town ; and by the fire he soon opened on us as we entered the place, gave us to un- derstand he was well protected l)y artircry. General lioss, however, did not hesitate in immediately advancing to attack him: al- . . i, 1 , 1 i. 1 I 1 (these companies boui"; attached to tlie li;iiit though our troops were almost exhausted ^ ' ° . " -.1 ,, ,■ .- f. , 1 I ,1 1 1 • .ibriKade), and they resncetively behaved with the latigue ot the march they had just, " '. ■ ' '' , 1 1 i. 11 .• !• ' with their accustomed zeal and bravery matle, and Init a small proportion oi our vwi 1 1 J. I rri • 1 1 • I None other of the naval department avciv little army had yet got up. J his dashing; . ^ . 1 T 1 i^ 1 1 fortunate enouirh to arrive 111) in time to tukc measure was, lunvmer, lam hajipv to add,' . . ,- , . , .,, ,, ., ., ', ,, . ' their share 111 this liattle. excentmij' cantiun crowned with the success it merited ; toi soon reached, and a victory gained over him, by a division of the British army, not amounting to more than 1500 men, ln'iided by our gallant general, whose brilliant achievements it is beyond my jiower to do justice to, and indeed no possible cuimnent \ could enhance. The seamen, with the guns, wove, to their great mortification, with the rear-diviNion, during this short, but decisive action. Those, however, attached to the rocket-brigade. ] were in the battle ; and I remarked, with I much ]ileasure, the precision with wliii li the rockets were thrown by them, under the di- rection of firstdieutcnant Lawrence, of the marine-artillcrj-. Mr. Jeremiah !M'I>aniel, master's nuite of the Tonnant, a \ery fine young man, who was attached to this party, being severely wounded, I Ijeg peruiissiim to recommend him to your favouralile loiisid- j eration. The company of marines 1 have on ' many occasions had cause to mention to you, commanded by first-lieutenant Ste- ' pliens, under the teinjiorary coniinnr.il i>f .aptain Reed, of the Otli West India reginipiit, spite of t'lio galling fire of tlio enemy, our Palmer, of the Ilebrus, with his aid-dr'- troops advanced steadily on both and in his fnmt ; and, as soon as they ar- rived on oven groniul with him, he fled in cvoiy direction, leaving behind him 10 , . ,, , icamp, Mr. Arthur AVakefield, midsliipin"ii his flanks, i ' ' . ', )f that ship, and lieutenant James wott. first of the Alliion, who ac ted IS my ail le-Je- canu) an( 1 remained with me during the plCC( OS of cannon. nd a consK leral )le nuiii- whole time. bcr of killed and wounded; amongst tluv The contest being completely ended, and latter Commodore Barney, and several other | the enemy having retired from the field, the general gav ifhen he ag n. It V •ached tha .'If, and s tay jiast tli jut being 'icmy ope musketry, k)uscs; th "lediately f ^session c hi town SI nice. The onen wn, SO' fii jival store* almost read war lying which protc lEjton. On takin; 'Ct fire to till snd the avi iptain Wa > that til WIS comple ores and b • the precc animunil kcwise dcs wire about ! ('It calibres •iiiall-arms. Miensive n 'a;od at a i sii'il, were li ::. short, si MiKlic pro J ■vliicli could ;ivornment, iruss the E w-re likowi^ This gene curing the ajain, at nii Bladensbnr;; We arrivi ier, without 5'itliout a sii wd this moi 'fliero I ha IIISTOIIY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 3G3 jiri.soncrs wore also ', owin;; to tlic swift- my went (itf, uiid the ri'V iuusl y vinderfrone. inijil iirosmniitinii in , 11 piirticnlar detiiils I' this bulth> ; I shiill, ; ;,^<'iier;iliy, that tlio on "ground lie liad I for him to dcfond, rcct his liattiTics, and s, ■\ya^i disl(jd;^rd, as victory gained over he Tiritisli aniiy, not n l")t)0 men, headed ral, Avhoso hrilHant nd my power to do no possible cunimcnt guns, Avcve, to thoir th tiie rear-divi>ion, ecisi\e action. Tiioso, the roidict-hri^jade. id I reniarkc'l, with eision witli wiiidi the y them, under tlic di- int Lawrence, of the Jeremiah .M'Daniel, T(jniiant, a very Kne ittacheil to tiiis party, d, I bog permission to uv favourable consid- % ■ of marines 1 have on cause to mention to first-lieutenant 8te- nporary conimar.d of , West India r(\'j.;iniciit, ; attached to the li;;iit respectively lichavcd d zeal and bravery val depai'tment were rive u}) in time to take tie, excepting captain lis, with his aid-do- aketield, midshi|un"n itcnaiit James S'ott. ;) acted as my aide-de- with me iluring the jmpletely ended, and :ed from the field, the /.'ueral gave the arm^'aljout two hours re^t, iheu ho again moved fiirward on Washiug- Mii. It was, however dark 1)eforc we •iudiod that t'ity ; and, on the general, my- .■11', and sonic officers advancing a short ,v;iy past the first houses of the town, with- iit being accompanied by the tr(jo]is, the i.i;niy o])ened upon us a heavy fire (d' :ui^ketry, from the capitol and two other : luses ; these were therefore, almost im- :.udiately stormed by our pco| taken ' -session of, and set on fire: alicr wliich :!ie town suldnittcd without further rcsist- inoo. The enemy himself, on our entering the :'\vn, so' fire-to the navy-yard, \tille ; and, in the morninii-. iptain AVainwright went with a party to ■eo that the destruction in the navy-yard MS complete ; v»dion he destroyed whatever Ivitres and buildings had escajiod the flames : f the preceding night. A largo quantity • f ammunition and ordnance stores were likewise destroyed by us in the arsenal; as wi're about 200 pieces of artillery of differ- vrit cali'ores, as well as a vast quantity of ■:ir.ill-arms. Two ro]ie-walks of a vei'v ; vionsivo nature, full of tar-rojie, &c., situ- jaied at a considerable distance from the jard, were likewise sot fire to and consumed. Ill short, sir, I do not believe a vestige of public property, or a store of any kind, which could bo converted to the use of the pvcrnniont, escaped destruction: the bridges aeruss the Eastern Branch and the Potonuic |»''re likewise destroyed. This general devastation being comidetcd 'luring the day of tlie 2.')th, wo marched |i?ain, at nine that night, on our return, by Bblonsburgh, to Upper iMurll)orough. We arrived yesterday evening at the lat- |!er, without molestation of any sort, indeed pitliout a single musket having been fired ; m\ this morning we moved on to this place, fliero I have found his maj-jsty'a .sl,.,op Manly, the tenders, and the boats, and I have hoisted my fiag, ]>ro iiwjmrc, in the former. The troops will pndialdy march to- morrow, or the next day iit farthest, to Uenedict for rc-embarkatiou, and this flotilla will of I'ourso j.dii you at the same time. In closing, sir. my statement to you, of the ariluous and highly important operations of this last week, I have ii most ]deasing duty to jierform, in assuring you . &o. P.S.— Two long G-pounders guns, intended , v^u-h. Thompsons assertions ff for a battery at Nottingham, were taken off, ;Xhe statement as to force contained in both-'' and put on board the J}runc, and one taken |,jcnoral Ross and Admiral Cockburn's -bs-'' at Upper Marlborough was destroyed. | patclies ire fully borne out by General ArnJ As usual, jNIessrs Thomson and Smith give; strong,* and Winder himself admits that Im. (i.-n.iai ..iKrivatKms i" tlicir accounts the! force amounted to five thousand men, y.-t on theoxprpitinii. jjjQj,^ cxairsierated esti- with a superiority of more than three to (niOj, mates of the attacking force, reducing, in an inverse ratio, that of their countrymen. For- tunately, they contradict each other in such a manner, and Gen. Wilkinson's testimony! tj,„cs consist ? was it that sufficient time 7 he ascribes his defeat to the disadvaiitau'csl under which he laboured. \ Now Ave ask, in what did these disadvan-fl is so positive, that the correctness of the two British despatches is established. Mr. Thomson, in the first place, states the British preparation liad not been afforded ? Thia could not be, as, from the 2Gth Juno, tiiq Government had been apprised of the thrcatj force at si.K thousand men, just one thousand I ^,^pj ^.j^i^^ ^y^, ,^_^^.^ ^,,^^^.,^ ^^^ Arinstron more than Mr. O'Connor, and two thousand that it was not from inferiority of force, lij Toung an^ t' finder's st !y dispro tailed list "The an ctor Sniitl United Sta M:irylund( liistrict ol Virginia di Regular in ■^ niicn an -^taiislniry' * General Wilkinson puts tho matter in an-l ,,,.,. ^, ,. , , , , . c ,^ ,1, the road, the profundity of the ravnios, t other light, and, speaking ot General Ross, p , ,.."'. , , ,, ,, , „ 1 1 <■ X- i i stceimess oi the a(;clivities, and the s "General Ross marched trom Not- . , ., ,, nets 01 the ridsres. says- tingham the same morning, by the chapel road leading to Marlborough ; and, on dis- covering tlic American troops, sent a de- iachni"nt to his left to meet them, which ad-, vauccd to the foot of the hill near Odeu'sl Wo think the aljove extract will prove (uiR iissertion,iistoWinder'scapabilit3-ofo]'pnMii:j * Notices of the War, p. 100. , i'oung's bri ' Minor's Vii General '\\ Kcount of ] President wi araed upon Tith confidei 'itli valor. .'jops that •"held their 1.1'jther Mau] sposed the ( ills of a j fflio forwar -livity in t -aiself into ■irvive tho p If General ''resident M HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. ig;> •ican troops foil liK'k.W*^ ill their miireh." ; londent of 'WilkinMinj iCCiimidtconctMve lio ventured to nuike dispatch is nearly as cndaci(ju,s as Jlrj Imnipson's assort ionsj x)rce contained in lj(itl] imiral Coekburn's dis'J oout by General Arm-| liniself admits that liig vc thousand men, yet more than three to ona ,t to the dlsadvantuKoa ued. hat did those di>advaiH tliat sufficient time fdi been afford(.'d ? Thij )m the 2tUli Juno tin 1 apprised of tlie tin-eat^ ! shown by Armstrong inferiority of force. Ic disadvanta;i;cs consist I n in answering:— to tlia his men, and tlio tiit;i,f on the part of tlio de^ avail himself of the nii'l niij^ht have been used yiedo the enemy's a[ kinson writes, " Nut ^ oken, not a causewaj nidation attemptod, mil id of the road oljstructi the enemy, in a marc from Benedict to Ujiinf uto on ■which there aio It deiiles ; which, ^vil!l six pieces of ligiit artil-t infantry, two hundroj dragoons, mi<;lit luive t an}' force that cnuld I is the narrowness nl lity of the ravines, th^ ivities, and the sliaqi- i ^in Toung and dasliing conunandor like lloss. s statement as to his force is unhap- ;ly disproved by Dr. Smith, who gives a !;iili'd list, whicli we snlpjdin: •■The army under ticncrid AVindcr,"' says ■ctor Smith, " consisted of: — United States' dr.Tgoons 1 10 Maryland ditto 2-10 District of C'olumliia ditto uO Virginia ditto 100 5:30 Rcj;;nlar infantrj' oOO men and marines COO 1 :;•■ Stansl>nry"s brigade (if militia Sterrctt's regiment, ditto GOO iJaltimorc artillery, ditto loO I'iukuev's battalion, ditto 150 Ninth's brigade, ditto 1070 Uiamcr's battalion, ditto 210 Waring's detachment, ditto loO Maynard's ditto, ditto l-'iO spiiken with I'ospoct to the troops, and bears clear testinniMy as to the actual nuniluM's (d' the British engaged. He says, "the Ameri- can fiirce they routed by about seven hundred and fifty rank and file of the dth and dlth regiments." The disparity nf hifs botweon the two armies is easily accounted fur, as we iind twenty-Onir pieces of artillery marked on (ieneral Wilkinson's diagram. These com- pletely enfiladed the bridge, and were very dcstruetivo to the advamdng eolnmns. Tiic American loss was trifling, as they seem, in common with the {'resident, to have acted on the prineijile 'Ho tlmt fights and runs awa}",' and so forth." By the American estimate of public pro- 2|.-:3jperty destroyed at Washington, it would appear that full satisfaction was taken for the injuries commictcd at Newark ami else- where. Tlie estimate returned to Govern- ment was as follows ; — 1100 1010 I'lOidl's and Hood's regiment of do. 800 Volunteer corps .'ioO Total at IJladensburg At hand. Voung's brigade of militia •loO Minor's Virginia corps GOO 1150 r..yi;3 1050 I e extract will prove on r sci npaliilityofop the War, p. 100. Grand Total 7503 I General Wilkinson is very sarcastic in his M'count of Bladensburg. Ho says, "their i'-'^sldent was in the field ; every eye was 'lied upon the chief; every bosom throbbed :h confidence, and every nerve was strung ;!i valor. No doubts remained with the : jps that in their chief magi>irato they ;!ield their Commander-in-chief, who, like uither Maurice, having, b}' his irresolution, :!posed the country to the chances and acci- '.mts of a general engagement, had now mo forward to repair the error by his Ktivity in the field ; determined to throw ;iiuself into the gan of danger, and not to ■irvive the power of his country." If General Wilkinson is severe on Mr. President Madison, he is equally plain i at Washlnijton. The committee appointed by the American congress to inquire into the circumstances attending the capture of Washington, and the destruction consequent on that event, after giving a statement of the operations in the navy-yard, report the following estimate of the public property destroyed : — Dollars. The capital, including all costs, 787,103 President's house, 2;'.d,;534 Public offices, 93,013 . 1,115,110 But the committee remark, as the walls of the caiiital and president's house are good they suppose that the sum of 400,000 dollars will bo sufficient to ])lace the buildings in the situation they were in previous to their destruction. The losses sustained in the navy-yard are thus estimated : — In moveable property, In buildings and fixtures Dollars. 417,745 91,425 500,170 366 HISTORY OF THE WAR UF 1812, Tlic committee tlicn im-occcmI to tlio rei-ajii- iiiiJ Mr. (!;ites, the mnutli-iiicee oltlicG tulation of tlio losses iii tlie navy-yard, witli \eriimeiit, wliofo ]ircsscs and tyjie liad luc^ an estimate of the real 1< s ■was (uS.'jr.l (lollers, 71 cents, of which kiiowled;^e that " the itlunder of private jiro. 2G0,4(;.") dollars ami 20 cents value were re ^crty was prohibited, and soldiers tr;insi' covered, in aiuhors, musket-harrels, locks j,i.esi.iiii.r the order were severely [amished.^ copper, timl)er, i^i.-. I (h}{} more extract v, iu.'li we ^iive from Th.' most imp.u-tant feature in the <1«> (j,,,,,.^^.^,,,,,,, j„^,,„,j „,• Septemhcr s, v-ill struct!. ui in the Navy Yard, was the i'^'"; ^,o„,,,lete our list of proofs that hoth .Mr, struction of th.; new fn-ate, and the Ar-us, j^j.^^^^.^,^ .^,^j y^^, Madison have Tadlv wron J Hloop, as it inllict.'d a .lirect hlow on a naval ^,^j ^,^^^ ,,,.;^i^,, ^^,,^ji^,,.^ ^,^. ^,_^;^, ;,,j,J,,i,„,,^ J force still in its infancy. Both Mr. .Madison, in his proclamation, an( Cocl 1 Mr. Muuroe, in his letter to Admiral n-ane, have endeavoured to show " The list of plunder and dr>trurt ii 11, cop ied i'roni a vile am , liljell (uis prnit of tiiiij that ^■''^3'> '^ '^ f;;ross and abominalde iala-icati the ]{ritish, by tiieii attack Washini'ton. known to lie such by every inhabitant. Mosl not only (mtra;^ed the rules of war, in destroying- the public buildinj^s, Ijut by again bringing Ibrward the Hampton and Havre do Grace aiVairs, they leave it to be nnder-j of the plunder was committed by rabble ol the place, fostered among the citizens, am from ihose viiliiinj' no jilace is free in tiii if ]ieril !ind relaxation of the lav,'. Tlit; Bril stood that the troops behaved in the same' tish army, it is no more tiian justi disorderly manner jdij ii)il»uted to them on that t^> f^iiV' l»-t'.^crved a moderation and d iscl occasion. The American journals of that day prove pline, with respect to private persons auq property, unexampled in the annals of war.' however, the contrary if th The C' ; dison's ]iroclamation.* Wo also hri'.nc's h rri; laid ho .Tiinary and "ijia rirt:-((tt His JIaj 1'; ibivillg Ik' .■iieral of th :..' into (jll'ecl '..<: inhabilai Withoiir dw minittcd Ity :.l in I'.ritish ..;• liver Uais ■rii di>avowe . liatcly com ' ■ L'l', to the A . tnl at Hav Ay in the t iio burnt an ::vat britaiii, .i'litants, win ■■\"1 iKi protei ..V- of war. invasion an .:in' authorit; liters of the < :e most serio ;:iistances th ■ :it;e aiel en iiivcs that s :h-iiiiiided \'< :■■ ilestructio -..- city, is an ':■! view. In •ijiipk's (if tl :,-t hostile to .' I'liiu'se of t :.;ic;iial jiow< .M' been coin _-,;ilie victorio |:ita!ice of sue ''■yi has been t ;.'jat and barba : tenets of will '■U of desolati 3 the govermi . ;(lia no insta: :'imiiig of the nil, posterio Minerated, w 'ie village of clits destruc 13') ordered it, scessary in tin ;>'!, however, v uruiug T Ji^ b IIISTOUY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 307 iitli-|ii('co 1)1' tlic G s aiul i\\i*' liiitl 1m Lo ucknowli'ilj^o th committed liy '' tl till' tiiwn, will) iiro*^ i-ess." -i Wiis <"anpi'lli' iiiulcr (iT ]ii'iviili' ]iro» iind soldirrs ti';in«' severely [luni? >» hieh \\c jiivo IVdui 9 f Septcmlier S, wilt ironfs tli;it lidtii Mr^ III have i'liully wruu^* by tlicir usjiersimi^ : lor iiiid ili'>mietii 11, libellous [iriut of ihaJi omiuablo lubrieatii n, lory inhaliitiuit. >!■ si iniuitted by rabble of [)i)^ the eitizeiis, iiii(J' jiliiec is free in tii.u'S of the law. TIh; Drii more than justic^ noderatioii and disci l»rlvato persons an^ ill the annals iirwar.*! 'ssary to cite fnrtliel of our assertion as t(| itisli army, and t;ov which their eharaeto^ unroe's answer to ehraiie, and Mr. Mil AVealso ^i-'ve Adniiru tion wliieli lias hw 1 forces, so iii;iiiitt'.stlj d!' civilized wailare, il ound of retaiiutiiui. N^ States coinpelk'il to ro ■oat Britain, than thej manner most ccnsnnaiil unianity, and to tlio:' h it was dcsinible td two nations, after tlid hey percciveil, liowcvorj that a spirit alike juflj cherished nor acted orf .uch an assertion woul(j vere not snppiirled bj h has perhaps alrcadj tiun to other nutioui of these states. I^t V-chranc's letter, an some exprossioiifl in it ire laid ludd of as breathin^^ a most san- .niinary and ruthless spirit: — "iviii virc-inludnd Cuchrdne lo }fi\ ^f(lnr(lc. llis Majesty's shiji the Tunnant, in the I'atiixeiit river, An-. IS, IsU. ■:r., Ihnini^ been cilled on by the ^^overimr- ;iii;!'al of tin; Canadas to aiil him in earry- : into eifeet measui'cs ol' retaliation a,::;aiiist ,.<: inhabitants of the United ^States, fur tiie Witlioiit ilwellinj? on the deploi'ablc cruelties iiiiiiitted l)y ihe sava;j;i's in tin; ISrltish ranks, .1 in iJritisli pay, on American jn-isoners, at .A' river ilaisin, wiiicli to tliis day have never 'I'M disavowed, or atoned, I refer, as more ini- diati'ly connected with the subject of yijur •jv, to the wanton descdatioii that was eoin- .:t(d at ilavre-de-(Jrace, and at tieorjr(( town, rly in tlie sprini; of ISb!. Tiiese villages ; 10 liiirnt and ravaj^ed by the naval forces ot ;\'at liritaiii, to the ruin of their unarmed in- iliitaiits, wiio saw with astonishment they de- rod no protection to their ])roj)erty from the ,x- t)f war. iJuring the same season, scenes invasion and jiillage, carried on under tiie ,1110 authority, were witnessed all alonj^ the liters of tiie Chesapeake, to an extent inflictin;: :.'iiio«t serious jirivate distress, and umler cir- ;:iistances that justified the su-^ideion, that re- live and euiiidiiy, rather than tlie manly itlves tiiat should dictate the hostility of a :li-minded foe, led to their perpetration. The •' destruction of tlie houses of government in -.- eity, is another act which comes necessarily ■iview. In the wars of modern i'.urope, no liiipU's of the kiml, even among nations the :. -t hostile to eacii other, can ho traced. In 'course of ten years past, the capitals of the :ui|ial powers of the (Jontinent of Eurojie .VI" heoii comiuered, and occui»ied altermitely I'le victorious armies of each otiicr, and no • nice of such wantim and justifiable destruc- . 1 has lieen seen. We must go back to dis- '.:;( and liarbarous ages to find a parallel for .' nets of which I complain. Although these .;- of desolation invited, if they tlid not imiuise jtlie government, the necessity of retaliation, -tin no instance has it been authorized. Tiie iiiiing of the village of Newark, in Upper f'.a- :ilii, posterior to the early outrages above r-ainerated, was not executed on that principle. ae village of Newark adjoined Fort-Geor;. .>, tilts destruction was justified by the officer nj ordered it, on the grounil that it became scossary in the military opei itions there. The •:!, however, was disavowed by the government. ^.0 burning which took place at Long-point wanton desfrindion cnininltted bv their army in rppfr Canada, it lias become iniperimisly my duty, etuiformably with the nature of the i^-oveiior-general's application, to i.y makin;; reparation ti the sufierinj^ inhabitants of Upper Canada ; thereby manifesting:; that if tiie destructive measures pursued by their army -were ever sanctioned, they -will no longer be permit- ted by the government. people, eontoiidiii}; in a just cause fur tlieir essential rights and tlicir ilearest interests. 1 liiwe tlie honour to l)e, w tli fj,rciit cousid- cratidii, sir, your nio.st olici.Iieiit liunible ser- vant, Vice-.'uhniral ."h- ALxander Cochrauo, conunander in diiet' of his IJritaniiic majesty's ships and vessels. .JAMKS MUNROE. • Mr. MaiUsun'.s I'riir/aiiudiun, Whereas, the enemy, by sudden incursion, have succeeded in invadini^ the capital of the nation, dclVuded at the moment by troops less miincro\is than their own, and almost entirely of the militia ; durinp; their possession of which, thouj^h lor a sin;^le day only, they wantonly destroyed the pul)lic edifices, havin;!; no relation in their struc ure to oi)erations of war, nor u.-^cil at tlu! time for military annoyance ; some| of the United .States, do issue this my piix.Ia of tliese edifice-* heing also costly luonuments of I mation, exhorting- all the good jieople, tiicrefnro. state, and of arts; and tiie others, depositoi'ies! to unite their liearts and hands in .giving ett'oct was not unauthorised, and promptly .-hewn to be so, and that the United States have Im'cii ii« constant in their emleavours to riclaim tlio enemy from such outrages, hy the coiitr:;-t ni' their own exanii)!e, t\y tliey have liecn ri-,iily tu terminate, on reasonable condition, tiic w;ir itself. And, whereas, these I'-nceei.ings and dcclarcil purposes, wl ich exhibit a deliberate disregard of the lU'inciiiles of liunianity, and the rules ui' civilized warfare, and which must give to tlic existing war a character of extemled deviistation and barl)arism, at the very moment of iiegucia- tion for peace, invited by the enemy liiniself, leave no prosjicct of safety to anything witliiii the reach of his preilatory ami iuccndiaiy ope- rations, but in a manly and universal determi- nation to chastise and expel the invader. Now, therefore, I, .lames Madison, rresidcnt of the public archives, not only ju'ec^ous to the nation, as the memorials of its origi • and its early transactions, but interesting to all nations. to the ample means possessed fa- that ])urpobe. I enjoin it on all oflieers, civil and militaiy, to exert themselves in executing the iliities witL as contributions to the general stock of histori- which they arc respectively charged. Ami, cal instruction and i)o!itical science And, whereas, advantage has Iteen taken of more especially, I require the oflicei's, com- manding the respective military districts, to lie the loss of a fort, more immediately guarding: vigilant and alert in providing for tiie defence the neighbouring town of Alexandria, to place tlu town within, a range of a naval force, too long and too much in the habit of abusing its superiority, wherever it can be applied, to re- quire, as the alternative of a general conflagra- tion, an undisturbeil plunder of private property', whica has been executed in a manner peculiarly distressing to the inhabitants, who had incon- Htderatcly cast themselves on the justice and generosity of the victor. And, whereas, it now appears, by a direct Oommuni:ation from the liritish naval com- mander on the American station, to be his avowed purpose to employ the force under liis direction, in destroying and laying waste such towns and districts upon the coast as may be found assailable ; adding to this declaration the thereof; for the more effectual accomiilisliment of which, they are authorised to call to the de- fence of exp' sed and threatened pl.-ics, propor- tions of the militia, most convenient thereto, whether they be, or be not, parts of the ([uotas detached for the service of the United ,'s, hy till- (jimtn;.--t (jf tlicy liave hccn ii-.iily tn iblc coiiiUticii, tiie \s:.r ).'ocociiing;.s ivnd dcclan>il it !i ik'lilarato (h>rcg:iiil iinanity, .'iml tliu rules "{ Avhicli iiuivt jiivo to the •i-df uxteiiilc'il (li'viistiitiiu vpi'V luoiiiciit 111' iu\a'ii'iii- 1 liy the fiioniy Iniiisclf, ittt'ty to iiiiythiiii!; witliiii tdi-y mill iuci'iidiary ni"- V mill uuivcr.siil deterini- exiu'l the 'iivailcr. lames .Madisini, rrividoi.t , do issue this my proclii- ;hogood people, theret'iin'. iiid haruls in giving ctft'ot ssessed I'nr tliat jjurpose. ers, civil and military, to executing the duties with icctively charjred. Ami, quire the otlicers, com- e military di>tricts, to be iroviihnj; for the defence effectual accomplishment thoriscd to call to the ilc- threatoned phics, propor- most convenient thereto, le not, parts of the quotus ice of the United .States the general governiutnt. ich appeals so forcihly to I patriotic ilevotion of the no will forget what tbey what they owe to their 1 destinies which await it; Kiuired now, and to be i sons, with the augmented jes wth which time anJ :d them. In testimony] eunto set my hand, anil the United States to I'O nts. Bone at WashingtuD, 2 r.vcsident, JAMES MADISON ecrctary of Stale. II A 1' 1' J^ R X X 1 1 I . I'ONTKXT.-. Attack on Alcx.andria. — Sir reter Park'er's deatli, — Captain Gordon's terms, — Ingersol on Madison and Armstrimg, — Demonstration against lialtiniore, — General Smith's de- spatch, — (.(pillions of the American writers on tlic descent on I'altimorc, — Plattshurgh. Unfovtunutoly, Mr. Miulison'.s pruclamii- tioii given in uiir last chnptcr has been in- vested with an appcar.ance of justice by the articles whicli appeared in the Ainninl llcjis- ler, and by other passages, subscipientiy, in Mr. ^lacaulay's works. AVe confess we can- not regard this affair in the same liglit, uimJ can only look on the proclamation as an attempt I'y Mr. Madison to cover his own deti- cicncies. In the first place, he terms an expe- dition, which lie had Ijcen warned, two months previously, would be undertaken, a sudden in- cursion, and then endeavours to prove the rutlilessness of Sir George Cockburn in car- rying out his plans, liy the assertion that "buildings having no relation to war were destroyed." When General lloss was fired at from the i Capitol, did not that act render this building! an object for legitimate attack? And, in the I destruction of the houses of lleprescntativcs, j and the Treasury, was a worse act committed than when Colonel Campbell, of the United States army, destroyed the dwelling-house ' and other buildings of a Canadian, and jus- ; tified the act, as according to the usages jf ' war, because a troop of British dragoons i had just fled from them ? [ I'' gersol has m.-^dc great capital out of an ; tA-ticle which appeared in the Annual Regis- ! 24 le)\ fir ISI 1, and iliat nur readers may judge 01 the comments for thein-^idves, wo give the extract, taking it, \\ A fmin [ngi.'rsul, but t!ie R(';/i.sli:r itself. " Ey the capture of Washington, the Americfiii (lovcriiiiieiit not only sustained a severe his.s in prupcrty, but incurred much reproach from the nation, es|iecially from tlio party adverse to the war, as having been the occasion of a disgrace Avhieli it liad taken no effectual measures to prevent. A vulneralde part of the ]li^(uililie was now ex- posed, and men's minds were impressed willi a sense of imminent danger, where be- fore it had been regarded only as a remote possibility. On the oilier hand, it cannot b(! concealed, that the extent of devastation practised by the victors, l^rought a heavy censure upon tlie IJritish charai:ter, not only in America, but on the continent of Europe. [f /.y ackiiowlfdijid, that strict disrip/iiic icas ob.ii'rvcd, w/ii/c Ike Ironpfi were in jio.ss-csion (if WattliiiKjhn, (ind jirini/e jiropcrf;/ iras anxtonabj prolecled: but tlie destruction not only of every establishment connecteil with war, but of cililiccs consecrated to the jiur- poses of civil government, and affording specimens of the advance of tlie fine arts among a rising people, was tliouylUan indul- gence of animosity more .suitable to the times of barbarism, than to an age and na- tion in which hostility is softened by senti- ments of generosity and civilised policy." It will be seen, in this extract, that t"'.e writer distinctly says, not that the attack on Washington really was an act suited to bar- barous ages, but only that it was thought so. 370 IIISTOllY OF Tin: WAIl Ul' IS [2. ' !U Mr. Tii^^orsol, howciver, hiis not fiiilcd to rjiiot" tlii.s piissagp, ivml evi'ii so lute us IH IS, Tlic onciiiy wltp, liowover, very sti-dii'.'-! ]iiiste,; under (,'aptain (lordon, be;i;iin a retrc^'niilc Nonilny Uiverof a lari^eiinantity of tobaeeo, i march from Alexandria, and liy the ')tii, ii'i besides rescuing from slavery one hundred thoH;j;hnKiny ditHeultics presented th.einselve! and t'.ir'._j five slaves, and taking on lioard a 'by a combinatioii of skill, diligence, m^ number of cattle, to relieve his stores already good fortune, the British Conuuani'.:r was overtaxed by the necessity of finding food for so many addditional mouths. Mr. O'Connor designates all this plundered prop>u'ty; but Mr. O'CJoinior should have re- enabled to withdraw and anchor lAa who squadron in perfect safety. Ingersol 'coms detcrinin '" "'••"^' ^•'T'".'? tion to be supplied to the ships, and /.(/./ /;./'l""^l *'"' '"■' 'I"">dall, be-rud-in- oven hl.^ the III- J;i'l price Uj biHs on the liiiti^k Uoccrn- mcitf. wife tlio sanctuary of a common inn: botii thorovilod and revilers pursued by resislless ^„ .,, , • 1 , -foes, bent on the indiscriminate destriictio'i Arliclo o. Ollicors will bo upiioinlcil to ■ ■ . ,• ii . , ... ot all alike. I he ni";lit tollowin:' ciinie some 800 that those articles are strictly complied, r i- i • i ' i ,i i . . . •' . compensation lor such iiuuishnient — the last with funl any deviation or non-comphanco i . ' ,. ,r ,. . ., , r. , ■ •',.,,. r 41 . • 'ni;rht(d .Madison s exile, and eve of his re- on the iiart (.1 the inhabitants ot Alcxanuna I ,,.,,.• , ,. i. » . ,1 , -1 'stm-ation to almost universal lavor. It wiw will render iIiH treatv null and void. I .. • .i »• -i r /-■» i i * .. jspent in the family of Quaker hosts, stran- Amorican historiauH wl"!) dcscantin- on j,,.^^ j,, him, and conscientious adversaries (d' these terms are but too apt to dwell on Arti- 1 :^„ ^^.,„._ ^^,,,,,^ ^^.j,|^ primitive hospitalltv, clo No. ;{,but we should recommend to their !^.^.i,,,,,,,^.,| j-,.;^.,^^ Mudlson, entertainin- him ospecial notice also ^'n. ;, pafcularly as thisj.^^j j^j^ outca.st comrade.s in misfortune witli Article was strictly complied vrilli, and not 1^,^^, j.jjj,^,.^^ .j,,,^ ,,,,,^^ touchin- attentions. ,0.1 article of food was taken on board the p„.froshed by sweet repose under the «^.aker vessels without full and prompt l'''^^*-^"*- 'roof, tliev returned next day to AVasliin-t.m ; Even the (Jt.vornment or-ans at IJaltimore, 1^^,^^^ ^^/^j,^ ^^..,^. ^^.^^.^ j,,i,„,,| ,,^. (;^,„„al when indul-in- in every species of vitupera- Armstron-. After his su--.-stion to fortify tion did not dare to deny this. | ami defend the Capitol was, with bis own Ingorsol is silent on the subject and mere- 1 acquiescence, overruled by (Jeneral Winder ly contents bimself with designating the and Cidonel Monroe, the Secretary of AVar prizes made as spoil, we should however like rode to his htdgings in the city, provided Mr. Ingorsol to say what dirterenee existed : himself with a change of clothes and one (;f between the AVcst Indiamen or South Sea I Scott's novels, with which he withdrew to a whalers captured at sea by the Americans farm-house in Maryland, Avhere ho was fiaind and merchant vessels captureil in an enemy'.s next morning, ({uietly enjoying his romance. [Kirt. I Coldly accosted by every one of tho J'rcsi- Ingorsol is vevy l)itter on liotli Jlr. Madi-j dent's party, except Mr. Madison, wdjose bo- son and Gene- jhaviour was as usual, the war secretary felt !n,vrsoI Oil .M;i!i.-:)r. iiiid Armstrong'. 1.,^. , p,, , ., ral Armstrong, I the first symptoms of that nearly universal on tho ono for his poltroonery, and on tho ; aversion which marked his return to AVasli- lattor for his contemptuous indifference of jington, and protested against his continuance what Avas going on around him. lie says, — jiu the war department. Never well liked " Emerging from his hiding-place, aiul by Madison, who yielded to tho pcditical, Boon informed of tho enemy's precipitate de- parture, the President likewise turned his local, and critical inducements wliich took General Armstrong, from connnanding tho steps towards deserted "Washington, where j garrison and important station of the city of his presence was the signal of universal re cupcration — his own, the capital, and the country — risen like Antaeus from his fall. Such are war's vicissitudes and compensa- tions. At G lorgotown, at the tavern, in the apple orchard, and at the hovel in the woods, the commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia New York, into tho cabinet, his contempt for all but regular troops, and for party, if not popularity, his military and aristocratic democracy, supine and sarcastic deportment and conversation, habitual disparagement of the wilderness capital, the negligence im- puted to him of its defences, and his opinion frequently expressed, that it was too insig- .372 HISTORY OF TIIK WAIl OF 1812. nififiint til lio in (liiTi;i;or, foniontip)? tlin do fire iiKMi li:no of a Kin'rillcc, lillnl Wasliiii;;-^ ton with iii.HciiL'mioH,tIiiMiri'V('ro(lti>aiiliu<)>'it^ liy its iliv-itriH'tiuii, ami fc-'ittrcil tn raiu'oniiis liiitc. .Men r(Mi\iin> vii'tiiiis, ami it wuh na- tural to iiial<(' llicni ol' Arinsfroti^ ami Wln- d'T, iiH alone ^iiiltv of wliat all tin; rest were to lil'nn! for, and, wliidi wrrc in rart.inllrnii- ties of rcpulilican instiintions. 'I'lu! I'all of Wa!diin;^t(in cndanjiiCrcd ilic lenioi.tl of tin' neat (d' jfovornnuMit from a i)lacc' wliicli Imtli cast and vr-it lipjjan todis|ii"" iicadin^ mi>n tlicn;, Cliai'lcsi'arndl.d uo, who.-c hosjiitildo villii stood oi tlio iiictnvo.-'iinc ln;i'j;ht.s ol' (<('or;:;('to\\n : dolni ]M;ison, witli his cli'i'^ant njsidt'nci! on Analostan island, on tlio I'ntoiuac, at tln-ir fcot; Jolni Van NoHS, a lai'so latullord in tlic In-art of the city, wiMi many nmi'n wiiiisc jirojicrty Avas tlireadncd with snddon ami ruinons dcfire- eiation, intimate.^ and HUpportcrs of Madison, to personal, party, and patriotic altatdimonts, joinod solicitnde for thoir honicstoads, in- stinctive and irrcprcssililo beyond all reason. Tin' ilistrict militia swore tinit they would hi'cak their sworiN rather than wi(dd tin'ni, directed hy .such a Secretary of War; and Georj^otown sent a deputation to the I'rcsi- dcnt to tell him so, eonsistinj;!; of three re- monstrants, one of \.hom was ILuison, editor of the newspaper most ahusive of his admin- istratiiai ; and anotiicr, McKonny, then eon- trivin;j; to promote ^lunroe's election as Madison's successor. Rcfiisiiijr to receive Ruch envoys, too wise and just to ;^ivo Avay to local clannn-, hut too mild and forhearinj: to sjiurM or rehnk'j it, the President com- promised with what Armstrong stij^matised as a vil!'.iji;e molt, hy advising him to with- draw temporarily from its vengeance, if he did not even intinnite a wish that the .Secre- tary of War would relinquish his official suiierintendencc of the District of Columbia, promising shortly to restore him to all his faculties. General Armstrong could not re- main, under such disadvantages, a member of his administration. The averted counte- nances of all the President's associates, when first met after the defeat, all cold, and one of them, Mr, Uarroll, insulting, told the secretary that he could not stay, even though liis life had not been threatened by the mili- |V, tary mob he defied, witliout forfi'lling thol indepeuilcine he maintained. I (I'll rill ".there-' fore, after his intcr\iew with the l're>iiU'iit,i|'.' and by his ad\ice, to Ihiltimore, on the '•'>ri\f\ September, l.sl 1, in the federal jourmd o thatcitv, in* published an indl":nant resi"- nation of a place, which. thron;diout his in cnmbeiU'V, was one of contiinial niinrreli with the generals In; superintended, (luil of their disastrous mi-carriages of the eam- paigns he jirojeeted. .\t bi-^ residenc nri |' the .Voi'th Hi\er ]>(\ snrvi\ed till ni.>;'c ilun }■ I'ighty years old. Having liravely xTMd in ; the army ol the Itevohiti 'U, been the (,|M|in | of its almost r<'lielli(ius complaints by tlie Newbcrg letters which he wroti\ appointed., to high pu))lic trusts at home and alir^inl by ^ Presidents Washington, .Tell'cr.>-( n, anl .Mi-f; dison, he closed his lile, by militiiry annals *' '>[' th(! war id" ISPJ, rcmarkalile fur sum urate inirrative, poli'-hed diction, and manly t'lnc." i A few tiays nfter the Wadiington l!.xpndi-l Drtuoiistnill '11 ii'MUisI l!:il!iiii(jri'. . , , . ternuned that a demonstration should b(> nKidi!agiiin>t iJalli- ; nmrc, and that, if there appc.ireil to te any j: reasonable prospect of success, the deni(in-| stration should lieeomo a real expedition, the piili(!yoi'this demonstration wasapimrcnt, when we consiilcr that t!io Java frignte and] several sloops and smaller v(\->cls(i|'',vai' were lying ther(^, and that an imnH'n.<(> ipnmtity «?' of naval stores were dejiosited in the arsenal, | the loss of which could not but inflict a heavy 1 blow on the American Govcrnnnnt. Influenced liy these considerati'ins Sir] Ahixander Cochrane, Admiral Cockburn.andl General lloss began to make the necessary! arrangements, and from the 1st to the Uth] all was a scene of bu?iy pi-cparation. f)n thoj I2th tlie troops laiulcd at Nortii Point, atj the entrance of the Kiver Patapsco, while thol frigates, bond) vessels, and Hotilla worked upj the Patapsco, as well as the shoal water per- mitted, in order to co-operate with the army I by an attack on Fort Mcllcnry, and the other batteries about two miles from the City. The Americans had so long sustained along] the banks of the Chesapeake a series of I humiliations, that it would almost appear aa| if, in relating the descent on Baltimore, their] JilHtoriiinM imgracn w ;iie nnist :iiul from ''pting Ai r.\H nnigni ivn was ( ;i Arnistrt .tas the nil ilritish as , AV'o are \ ii't nnml .Viirtli Poiti : i\v much , ui statenn 'fho trooj niinul (d' G :ii'ntsof llo aaidsof the Uth rcginn 'A and -n( ■iiips, and ::.iler C.ipt 'iiiibcring •;:ik and til Here we ^lTs, yet .\i :.!stiiriaiis, Ilritish mil ili'iiisand. A .i-patch fo : iinlicrs. . :"ni varioii entwriter: Itotlie real Ue gather f I Strieker's lif Pcnnsyb I thousand oi I Tills was ex llio forts ai tliousand st miinbers tli iiiieof breas lakon, at I'oi Jjf being nu hiie Anioric: hailunts, an lliousand in * S! IHSTOKY OF TIIK WAU OF IS12. 37;{ itlumt f'lrfi'itiiij; thfl llird. Hi'lirili;.'.tlicriiliiit,j lultiimiiH', (III tlic llril (> I'lMlcnil jounml ot till iiiill):iiiiiit n.'.-'i^-! I. t)iniii;^liiiiit Ills iii'l i' coiitiiiiial ([uiirriU! iiporintt'iiilivl, jiiiil rr'Kijios (.!' tin' cidii- At li'n ri'i«;ili'ii((' ()nj i'vl\i''l till iiiovf ilnm iii^ liiiiNcly >cr\iil in It! 'II, lici'ii till' oi'L'unj H (•(iiii]il;rnits liy tliel llO Wl'iitc, !lli|;iiilltl (1 j lii'iiii' lUii! iilii'i'iil l.y I I, .Fcil'cr.-i.n, ami M;i-| c, liy iiiilitiiry iiiiiiiii-i] iuirk;ililo i'or iKHMiriito iiiii, aii'l iiiaiily t'liio." V>'iidiiii,u:tiiii Kxiipili-1 ti'.tii. it \>;is (Ic- on'. , • 1 1 , tcriiiiiK'd tliiit i\\ i(> made against 15alti-l apptMiM^'d to l;(! any I SllClCSS, tllC llt'llKIIl-l i(! ii i'(':il ex|icduiun. strnlidii uasaiii'ai'ciit, ; t!ic -lava iVl;^;at(\ and ! ler vciiSL'ls (d' war wero | nil iiiHii(nis(^ ([uaiitity |iii>iti'(l ill the arsciuil, ; not liUi inllirt a heavy (loVOVllUlCUt. (■ c'on^idoration.s Sir iliiiiral <'o;kliuni.aiul ) inaki; tho lu'ccssaryj im the 1st to tlu^ lltli lircparation. <>n tho d at North Point, at 'cr Patapsoo, -while the and ilotilhiworkodupl ,s the yhoal wator pcr- ;)peratc with the army [cllonry, and the other] Ics from the City. ;o long sustained along! icsapeake a scries of ould almost appear a3 ;nt on Baltimore, their | iiiHtoriiiiis Jiad d.'tcrnjiiicd to wipo iiway tho lluviiij; laid hi-forc the reader thin Htato- , iinj:ni.c \vhi(hiiadlM'(-ii incurred, l.y makin;; nient of iiumherM we proceed to the cxi.edi- ;lio most ol that iitluir. Accordiii-;ly wejtioii itself, and iKyin with an extract from 'jiid from [n-ziersid to Smith, not even ex- Col. Hrookc'w letter, addiiiy; to it Sir Alexan- ,'ptinv; Ariiistroii_'. that the Hritish force (Icr Coehranc's and Admiral Cocklairn'i '■■■ if;i)< ma-;iiilicd in tlie h:\uw ratio that their (leMpatchcs,j,'ivin;r in our notes also an extract wn wan diminished. We must, however, from (Jcneral Smith'.s (lespateh'* to the Secro- tary at War. " Ahout two miles hcyond this pitinif our advance hecame en^iic^ed ; the country wan hero closely woo(lcd, and the enemy's rille- men wore eimlded to con il themselveH. — At this moment, the ;;allaiit (icneral lloss received a wound in his In-east which proved mortal, lie only survived to recommend a young and unprovid(^d family to tho protoo- tion of his king and country. "Thus fell, at an early age, one of the brightest ornaments of his jirofcssion ; one wli(», whether at the head (d" a regiment, a )>rigade, or corps, had alik(! displayed the talents of eommand ; who was not less heloved in his pri\ate tliaii eiithusla-^ticallj admired in his piildic iharactcr; and wie se only fault if it may he deemed so, wa.; an excess of gallantry, enterprise, and devotion Armstrong the justieo to ohserve that he «is the most moderate, and only made the iiritisli as six to t/iri''. Wo aro f irtunately in possession of the X act niiinlier (d" troops that wore landed at Niirtli Point, and we will proceed to examine iiow much truth exists in the various Ameri- ,:in statements, Tho troops which landed under th(! eom- :iand of Genoral Iloss consisted (jf detacli- fnicnts of Royal and Marine Artillery, the rem- jaiitsof thelst l>attalions(d"tliedth,i2Ist, and Ihii regiments, and th(! Sotli regiment, the 'A and 2nd battalions of Marines irom the iiips, and a body of six hun(lro(l seamen, ;i.der Captain Kdward Crofton ; the wlnde iiMibering thirty-two hundred and hoventy ■iiik and tile. ]li>re we ii ive ilii> oflicial return of niim- .Ts, yet American writers, pretending to bt; isforians, have not scrupled to swel! the llritisli nuniljers to eight, niiu;, and ten .ii'iusand. A\'(;look in vain in (ieneral Smith's spateli for S' onie clue as to tl le American :iiiiil)er.s. Wo arc, however, luckily, able rem various admissions made by tho dift'e- reat writers, to approximate somewhat closely ;o the real state of the case. Tor instance. «e gather I'nan Mr. Thompson tliat (Jeneral IStricker's briLjade. besides scvei'al ' to the service. Ifever it were pcrmitled to a soldier to lament those who fall in Iiatth. we III: indeed, in this install aim tliat mclaii- dioly I irivile;:( comtianies 'I :f Pennsylvania militia, amounted to three thousand one hundred and eighty-five men. Tliis was exclusive of the men stationed at "'J'lius it is, that the honour (d' addressing your Lordship, ami tlu; eonuiiaiid nl' this army, have devolved upon me ; duties which under any -th •ircHinistanees mi ght 1. ivo been emiiraced a^ the most envial)l< fortui an< 1 here I venture 1( licit. |the forts and Ijatter who mastered one throULih vour lonlsl nil, Ills rovi Hid glllKJSS the Prince llegent's considiu-aliua to the *^ .(iri.ir t from Mil jur-fl lateral Suiilli'a Dr.'.pii/rh. ilioiisand strong, and wlicn wo add to these laiinbers the men stationed along ilio whole .i:ieof breastworks, estimated, by the irisoncrs laken, at four thousand, wo And th it, instead if lieiiig numerically inferior to the I'ritish, |'.tte A mericans more than doubled their as- lants, and considerably exceeded eight lousand men. * Sketches of the War, p. GIO. About the time ticiieral Strieker IkcI tal; l.'U the gvdun 1 just iiieiitidueil, he was Joined hj l!rigailier-(!eiieral V/iiidc r, vlio liad been stationed on the west siilc of the city, liiit w;i.s now ordered to inarch wiih (lemial iJuiKi'.ii-'s hrigiiilo of Viriiiiiia militia, and the United States' Dragoons, under Captain IJird, iind tako est oil the left of (ieneral Strieker. ]) th esc inoveiuei its, tl: lin^ade;-! if (! uniig lis (I Straiisbiiry and Furciiiaii, the seamen marines under CoiiiiiKidnre Uodgers, the IViiu- f Two miles from North Tolut. 374 inSTOIlY OF THE WAU OF 1812. clrciiriiMtiini'CM of m_v nucfci'(liii;», duriii); i!lmr;»o. In Ichs timn fiftonn inin^trs, tlio oporiitidii-t of HO imicli iiKHiH'ut, to an (»Hiccr;»'iiciny'H forc' lit-inj^ utterly ln'okcn uikJ t.f Kiicli lii;;li aiitl L'Uiililislicil iiK'iit. jdiHpcrHeil, Hod in ovL-ry (lii»i-tioii u\(«r iho "Our iidviiiKHM'oiitimiin^ to |irt!sn forward, country, loavin;; on tlic li»jld two |»ii'uc»t of tin' enemy's li^^lit tnioiH wero |iu> a corps killed, woundcil, and pri-;oiier,^. ♦.fallout (It 100 men, nix piei'c.s of artillery, "Tli(!uneniy lost, in this xliort Inil l.rilljunt and Home hundred cavalry, ww discovered luffair, from rjOO to f.dO in killed and wounded; (Misled under (over d* a wood, ilrawn up in while at the most moderate coni]iutiiiioii ho a\erydon,se(irdfr,an(lliuin;!astnin;,'palinj,'. i.s at least 1 000 //,>/•.< ,/,; ruinlxif. The otli whiih crossed the main road nearly at ri;;ht| r,.^inient of militia, in particular, has heen anj^Ics. Tho creeks and inlets of the I'atap- roi>rcHented as nearly annihilatcil. P.CO and IJIa.k riv.-rs, whieh approach each | .. ,y^^^ ,,,^^. j,^,;,,^, ,„^^^. f.^^. ,^,i,,^„,,.,i_ ^,^,, j,,^ oth.r at this point, will in some measure, ^,.,,„|,^ ^,^^'.^ ,^,^^.,^^.^ j,^,. ^..^^^. ,^,^ j,_^^ ,.^.^^ account for the contracted nature of tlie;,„,^relMiftor discmharkation) n.ud, fall;;,,,.,!, r-nemy's position. L.^ ,„^,t,jj j;^^ the iii-ht on the ground of "1 immediately ordered the necessary dis-l„.,,ij.,, j,,,^ ,.„,,„,y ,,.^,, ,,,.^.,, .li,,,,,,^,,^.,, __ positions for a general attack. The light | n,,re, I rcceiv.-d a communication from Vicc- lingade under the command of Major Jones I, ^^,,„ir,ii tho Ilonourahlo Sir A. Cochrane .if the 4th, consisting of the S5th light infan-i„,;,r,ning mo that the frigates, homh-ships, try, under Major (Jul.l.ins, and the I'gl't and flotilla of the licet, would on tho oiisuin- com panics of tho army, under Major IVmgle, „i„rni.ig, take their stations as previouslj of the 21st, covered the whole of the front, driving tho enemy's skirmishers with groat loss on his main body. Tho Ith regiment, under Major Tauiu'o, hy a detour through some hollow ways, gained, unporcelved, a lodgment eloso upon the eiKMiiy's left. The remainder of the light brigade, under the ooiiiinand of tho honourable Lieutenant- Colonel Mullins, consisting of the 44th rogiiiicnt under Major dohnson, the marines (if the licet under Captain Kobbins, and a proposed. " At day-break on tho l.lth, the army again advanced, and at ten o'clock I occupied a favourable position eastward of |{:iItiiiinro, distant about a mile and a half, and from whence I could reconnoitre, at my leisure, the defences of that town. "Ijaltimorc is ctunpletcly siirroundoil lij strong but detached hills, on which thecnonij had constructed a chain of iialisadcdredoiilit.'*, detachment of seamen under Captain Money L'u»''et'ted by a small breast-work; I have, of the Travc, formed a line al.,ng the enemy's | •">^vevcr, reason to think, that the defence tu front; while the left brigade, under Colonel Patterson, consisting of tho 2lst regiment, comi tho northward and westward of the iilace, were in a very unfinished state. Chinkaiiiii ion, nandcd bv Major Whitaker, the 2nd '''1'' ^^■'''^■'' '''^ '» '"•■""' ''^ *""' P"-^'' battalion of marines by Lieutenant-Colonel, ^'""'I'lctely commands tho town; this was Malcolm, and a detachment of marines by|^''° strongest part of tho line, and here the .Major Lewis, remained in columns on the!«"<^'"y ''^^^'^^^ "'"«* apprehensive ot ai: road, with orders to deploy to his left, and j '^"'^*'''^- These works were defended, acconj- press the enemy's right, tho moment the| >"« *« **'° best information which wo couM ground became sufficiently open U, admit of ^''^t'^'"- ''^ '^'^""^ l'''*^^^ '"en, with a lai- that movement. train of artillery. " In this order, the signal being given, the "Judging it perfectly feasible, with the whole of the troops advanced rapidly to the description of forces under iny coininaml, I Fylvania volunteers under Cnloncl Coboan and On Tuesday, tlic enemy appeared in front of Findlcy, tlie Baltiiuore nrtillcry under Colonel my ciitrcnclimonts, at the ilistance of two iiiilos Harris, and the mai'liu' artillery under Captain on the I'liiliideliiliia road, IVoni wlioiu-e lie hail Stiles, mauiK'il the trenches and the batteries j a full view of our luisition. He iiiaiKtrnvicii — all prepared to receive the eiieiu}-. AVc re- j during the morning towanls unr left, asifwnli malacd iu tliis situation during the night. I the intention of making a circuitous march, anJ IIISTOllY OF THE WAR OF 1812. yi maflo arranj;pniPntH for a ninht-attfick, during! thor, wlicrc I tuok up my pround ftir tlio wli'nli tlio Hm»('rii)rity of the encmy'H iirtillcry iii^lit. uniiM not Imvn boon ho luiioli folt ; aiiil| " HuviiiK nHccrtainoil, nt ii late hour on (.iptiiin M.Dou-all, tho li-Mivr of th.-so t|,o morning of th.' ir)tli, th;it tin' ««nciiiy IcsiMiti'lii's, will huso thu JK.nor to point oiit!i„i,i „„ ,|i.|„,sition to (piit his intuMiJmH'nt'H M your lorilihip, those pju-tl.'iil.ir points I n,u\..,l ,|uwn an.l n-fnil..irknl tlu* lun.y iil f the lino which I hiwl propose! to a.-t on. x,„.tl, \\,\,xt, not lcu\ing ii miin hciiiml, mol Itiirinf,' tho ovcnin'r. however, I reeeive.l a ',,.,rryi,|^ with nic alout Ccit prisoners, l.eiri;; iinnninieiitiunfroni tiie eoninian.ler-in-eliief |„.,.s.,|,s ofthe ln-st fiUiiilies in the city, an. I iftho naval forces, l.y which I was informoil! „.|,ij,i, ,i,„„i,,.r nii^ht have l.een very cousi- rliiit, in conse AhxamJa- Cvrhrane to Mr. Crohn: liy the iesHun which he had received on the' II. M.S. Tounaut Chesapeake, Sept. iS-tl. 12th ; and towards the evening I retired tliel " Sir, — I retiuest that you will be pleased to troops al)out three miles and a half fur- inform my lords commissioners of the admi- coming down on the Harford or York roads. ! stretching from my left across the country 'jeiicnils Winder and Strieker were ordered to when t!ic enemy was likely to approach the ailiipt tlieir inovciueiits to those of the enemy. ! (luaiter he seemed to threaten. This niovement to us to hafflo tliis supposed intention. Tlicy! imhiced the enemy to concentrate his forces fxccuted this order with f!;re!it skill aiidjay a musket- ball, \viiii'h cliisod his glorious career before he could be brought off to tho ship. " It is a tribute due to tho memory of this gallant and respected offii'or, to pause in my relation, while I lament the loss that his majesty's service and tiic army of which ho ■was one tjf tho Ijrightest ornaments, liave driving in our videttcs, nnd sliowiiig an inten- tion of iittiickini^ us Hint evoniiip;. I iiiiine- sustained liy his deatli. The unanimitv and tlie zeal, which he manifested on every oc- casion, while I had the honour of serving with him, gave life and case to the most arduous undertakings. Too heedless of his personal security when in the field, his de- votion to the care and honour of his army has caused the termination of liis valuable life. Tho major-general has left a wife and f\imily, for whom I am confident his grate- ful country will provide. " The skirmish which had deprived the army of its brave general, was a prelude tc a most decisive victory over tiie flower of the enemy's troops. Colonel Brooke, on whom the command dcvo'ed, having ]iushed forward our force to withhi five miles of Baltimore, where the enemy, about GOOO or 7000, had taken up an advanced position, strengthened by field-pieces, and where he had disposed himself, apparently with the intention of making a determined resistance, fell upon tho enemy with such impetuositv, that ho Avas obliged soon to give vvay, and fly in every direction, leaving on tho field of battle a consideralilo number of killed and wounded, and two pieces of cannon. " For the particulars of this l)rilliant affair, I beg leave to refer their lordships to rear, admiral Cockburn's despatch, transmitted iierewith. "At day-break thonext morning, tlio biiml)s havingtaken their stations within shell-range, sujiported by the Surprise, with tho otlier frigates and sloops, o]>encd tiieir fire upon the fort that protected the entrance of tho liarljour, and I liad now an opportunity of observing the strength and preparations of the enemy. "Tho approach tothe town on the land side was dofondod by commanding heights, upon which was constructed a chain of redouljts, connected l)y a lireast-work, with a ditch in front, an extensive train of artillery, and a sliowof force tluit was rci)ortod to bo from 15 to 20,000 men. tack me; or, if ho declined it, of attacking him ill the moining. To this nidvoniont, and to the diatoly drew Gciiorals Winder nnd Strieker, i .strennth of my dol'onco, v.-liicli (he enoniy li.'ni nearer to tho loft of my cnti'fnclimonts, and to, tlio f'nirost npportnnity of olisorving, I ain iii- tlio ri^rlit of the eu(Mny, willi the iiitontiim ofiliicodto nttributo liis retreat, 'vvhloii vas coiii- thoiv (ailing on liis right or rear, should hi at- 1 luoncod at halC-past ouo o'clock ou Wednesday HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 377 cxtmornin";, thobnmbs "The entrance \>y sen, -witliin which the J "It has been a source of tlie greatest p;rati- town is retired nearly three miles, M-as en- fieation to mo, the continuance of tiiat tirely obstructed by a barrier of vessels unanimity cxistini^ between the two services, sunk at the mouth of the harlwur, defended which I have before noticed to their lurd- inside by gun-boats, flanked on the right by ships ; and I have reasons to assure them, a strong and regular fortification, and on the that the command of the army has fallen up- left by a battery of several heavy guns. !ou a most zealous and able officer in colonel . [Brooke, who has followed up a svstem of "Ihese preparations rendering it imprac- 1 ir.iii.iii i " c ■ n , ' ' " ' . corduuity that had been so lieiiehcially ticablc to afford any essential co-oi)eration i ^ i , i • i i i. i i • c r . , , , adopted by his much-lamented cliiel. by sea, I considered that an attack on the , . , ^ , , , , •^' 1 .1 1 " Ivear-admiral Cockburn, to whom Iliad enemy s strong position by the army onlv, I .,, , T -i f r ii 1 c eonhded that part of tlie naval service which with such disparity ot force, thougii confi- , , • , , • , i • , . r • 1 i. • 1 1 1 Avas connected with tiie annv, evinced his dent ot success, might risk a greater loss , .,• ,1 ,„ti,„^>.,„ • f (.1 i 11 'usual zeal and abuitv, and executed his im- tuan the possession ot the town would com-i - . t.^ e . iM., 1 IT • • ..1 iiortant trust to mv entire satisfaction, pensato tor, Av'ule holding in view the i •' ulterior operations of this force in the con- "Rear-admiral Malcolm, who regulated the templation of his majesty's government; and collection, deliarkation, and re-enibarkation therefore, as the primary object of our of the troops, and the supplies they required, movement had been already fully accom-, has merited my best thanks for his indefati- plished, I communicated my observations to gable exertions; and I have to express my Colonel Brooke, who, coinciding with me in acknowledgements for the counsel ami as- opinion, it was mutually agreed that we sistance which, in all our operations, I liave should withdraw. 'received from Rear-admiral Codrington, (lie . . ! captain of the fleet. " 'Iho following nioriuiig, tlie army began leisurely to retire ; and so salutary was the " '^'^•'' r.\\>Uih\H of tlie s(ina.lron, who were elfect produced on the enemy by the defeat |^'"M'l".y*-''l ''» t'"' variou.s duties a-llout, were he nad experienced, that, notwitlistanding'-iH emulous to promote the service in wbif tlie enemv, tlie de-;'' '^ . ,■ 1 ,1 "i , ,. , 1^ ,i->. ,r^vell as to the accompanving letter fron struction, liy tiieiuselves, of a quantity cfi .... , . . ii * 1 • r I : . colonel Brooke, expressing his obligation t sliiprung, the burning of an extensive rope- . > i n n n 1 ii ir „„,-i;„. , .i „ captain Fidward Crdfton, who cnnuiiamlcc] walk, and otlier public erections; thei ' . , , . ' p ,, , ,1 . , laiulcaiitaiiis T. l}..Siillivaii, Rowland, Miiiiev causing of them to remove their property I ' „ ,; ., 1 , ,, ,, ,, ,■ ' and liobcrt Kamsay, who had charge (if di- from the city, and aliove all, the collect:ngi . . , » i visions ; and I have to recommend these lordships to the report Rear-admiral Cock- burn has made, of the meriturinus and IS m to and harrassing of the annod inhabitants from the surrounding country ; producing a total stagnation of their commerce, and liea])ing upon tliem considerable expenses, at the same time effectuallv drawing olf their officers, together with those who are par- ticularly noticed by the Rear-admiral, to their lordship's favourable consideration. " Captain Robyns, of the royal marinea attention and support from ot!:or important | who commanded the marines of the squad- quarters, ron on this occasion, and in the operations inorirnig. In this he Avas so favored by the ex- treme darkness, and a continued rain, that we did not discover it until diiy-liglit. I have now t!io ]ileasure of calling your ut- tcution to the brave coiimuuidor of Fort M'FIcnry. Major Ariiiistead, ami to the opera- tions contiiicil to that ([iiartor. The enemy made his approach l)v water at the same time that his army wasadvi' iiig (m tlie liind, and oouuuciiccd u discharge ul' houihs and rockets 378 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. It, ,■ ( 4' - :1! af^iiinst Washington, being severely wounded, I beg leave to Ijring liim to their lordship's re- collection, as having been frefjucntly noticed for his "lallant conduct during the services in the Chesapeake, and to recommend him witli Lieutenant Sampseen entrusted since our landing ; to Captain White, (acting Captain of the Albion,) who attended me as my ai ;i bri-k, with all on bo;ird. The b;U'gos and Iwttery utan 1 it is bclieveil, a successl'iil fire, liiuing tlio the Laz;iretto, under tlie command of Lieufc-;liottost period of tlie boniburdnieut. vicinity. HISTORY OF THE "WAR OF 1812. 3R^ ir, to you, i\w high the enterprise and officer, not only for ion, but on tlie very have employed him !siipeake. ■ to ho, &e. fRN, Rear Admiral. ir A. Cochrane, K.B. in-chief. to the. same. II. M. H. Tonn'nnt, mhcr 15, ll^l 1. avo to ho allowed to much I feel indebted mandins the l)ri;jado [ajesty's ships under to Captains Sullivan, for their very ^reat in"' every formation s troops, having seen pose tlicmselvcs to the fire, to keep their men ■with the diseiidined and steady conduct of , sir, excited the admi- dual of the army, as ratitude. be, dear sir, lOOKK, Col.-coni. Sir A. Cochrane, K.B. r-iu-chii;i. ty-four Avouuded. r in Avhieh General niith disposes of tliC ffair at Nm-th Toint is To road his despatch lat the action was only • Our videttes were neral, without adding V tliathoand his whole 1 that such a salutary 'ectually prevented tlie i; the least opiio>.-ition tt. as to this a.'tion hav- r,piets: ilvst—- during )tillti, kept up a hri-k, -cessfnl ini\ Awnwi. tlio lubardnient. more than an hour the battle of North Point to the death of (ienoral Ro:>s aiaie, 'lac ido •X- -x- Tvas well contested, '* Secondly — " the misconduct of one rojiiiment, safety of Raltlnutro was attributable. The waters of tue I'atapseo were too shallnw to Col. Ansey's, cau.-cil some cnnfusion, and i permit the near approach of the I5rit;-h fri- forood (ioneral Stridior to yield the field of gates to Fort Mdlenry, but it is v.ell known battli'." Now for (ienoral Arni-^trong's tes- that the Cajitains of tlio Severn, Kuryalus, timniiy. "The march was re-umed and a ! Ilebrus, and llavannah frigates, olibred to battle fought of one hour and twenty minutes' lighten their vessels and lay them along >'u\q contmuancc. If any credit is to bo attached to these statements, (U-noral Striehor must have en- tertained very curious ideas of a battle, if lie considered North I'oint as a nn^re skirmish of vidottes. Again, he says that ho had an intention of "attacking him (Col. Brooke) in the morning." If surii were really Colonel Stricher's intention, what was there to pre- vent pursuit ; allo-.inv: even that Col. Brooke of the Amoriean fort, and it would almost, appear as if nothing prevented the offer I ving accepted, but the state of iinli'cisiiin into which the naval eonnuanders weri' '.lirown liy the deatli of (ieueral Ross. Had Sir Alex- ander Coehranc acted with his usual deuision, the Java and other vessels of war must liavc been captured, MiUimore must have I'illen, and instead t)f the annals of (Ireat Britain recording a disaster, another victory wouM moved off his armv unin rceived, he halted have been added to her long roil (d" triumphs, within a very short distance a sufficiently long time to have,- allowed t!ie American forces to overtake tliem, and ever\' one is aware that riat'.sbiir' Hitherto our task has boon comnaratively painless, as when we had to clironiclo a rctreatin"; armv rareiv fi''hts with as much : i r i. i i ii i ^ i ii i " - - " defeat, we have been enal)!ed to siiow that spirit as one on the advance — why, then, did , • , , -^ ^. •, ^ . . - ' ' to superior numijors alone was it attnhu- not Stradi'.n', if so anxious to fidit, ban"; on , , i i i , i i r " ' " I table, and wo liavc also proved liv ti^nres tlu! eoemv's rear, harass his r»>trcat and force 1 p . • •, n l • i ' i. / ' ^ . I from American writers, that, 111 almost e\.^ry him to i:ive battle. AVo have sliown that it i • , i • , i • i ■" . I ir.stance wiiere victory was achieved, ,. as could not have arisen from want of troops, I • . • <■ i. • i 1 ' I against a superior force. It is now, however, and there is no alternative left, m spite of ' j ■. . i • i f ., , , ' our duty to eiiroiucio one of the most (joneral Striehcr s assertions to the contrary, ' 1 -r .• i-^- i • ii ' ' ] liumihating expeditions ever sustained bv a but to ascruio it to want of iiielinatimi. no i, •■■ , ,. i »i „i i • ii ■ ",• i Isritisli force, and tiie ta-^k is tlie more painful as the defeat arose from i.o niiscondiict on the part of tlie troo[)s, but was solely in-oducod by the imbeeility and vacillation of Sir George Provost. We will, however, permit the unfortunate commander of tlio British forces to tell his own tale first, and ill our next (diapier we will entoi-on a revio\7 of the whole transaction. Extracts from the the American oommaiider,Goneral .M;iconil/a dispatch will bo also found in our notes.* have, liowe\cr, devoted fpiite sp.ice enough to the doughty iViuericaii Geiun'al. It would lie dIHicult to decide wiicther the , . „ . . lo P(cans of the Gov- 0|iiiiiiins nt til! AuiiTifaii iviii, IS Kin t!u! dcsiviit mi crnniont Organs over tiie uisastivjus attack on BaU'uiore, or their de.iunciations of the British for the AV>iund to their vanity, in- flicted at Washington, were loudest. There is, however, very little doubt, but that itwas * " The gnvernor-gencrul of the Cunadas, Sir George I'revost, liaAiiigcoliectcd all the dispos- able force in Lower Canada, with a view of conquering the country as far as Crown Point, (ind Ticonderoga, entereil the territories of the United States on the Ist of the month, and oc- cupied the village of Champlain : there he avowed his intentions, and issued orders and prochiniiitions, tcmling to disnade the people from their nllei^ianco, and inviting thcni to fur- nish his army with provisions, lie immediately began to impress the waggons and teams in tlie vicinity, and loaded thciu with his heavy bag- gage and stores. From tiiis I was persuaded he intended to attack this ]ilace. 1 had imt just returned from the lines, wiiere I had com- manded a fine brigade, which was broken up to form the division under miijor-gencral Izard, and ordered to the westward. Being senior otlicer, lie left mo in coniniand ; and, except the four companies of the Gth regiment, I had not an organized Iiattalion among those remain- ing. The garrison was composed of convales- cents and recruits of the new regiments, all in the greatest confusion, as well as the ordnance and stores, and the works in no state of defence. 382 HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. I'Voin Sir ficori/c iVov/.v/ fo JCaii liathnrd. Hoa(l-(iii;irtcrM, riiitt.sl,ur;,'li, State of X.Y,, !\rv Loui), Sept. 11, 1814. " r|iiiii (ho arriviil of tlio rcliiforccmonts from tin? e Rottenlmr^r, for the purpose of carryin;^ into etfeet llis Royal llij;liuess the Prinee ll(';i;ent's coninrvnds, ivhicli had lieon conveyeil to me Ity your lordship in your despatch of the 3d of June last. "As the troops concentrated and ajtproaehod tlie line of se;iaration l)etwoen this province and the United States, the American army ahandouod its entrenched cani[> on the river Cha/.y, at Chamiilain ; a ]iositiou I imme- diately sei/.od, and occupieil in force on the 3d instant. Tlie f -II iwin;^ day, tlio whole of thele.ft division advanre 1 to tlio villap;e of Chaz\', without mcetin;^ tlie least opposition from the enemy. "On the")th, it halted within ei;:;htmiIesof this place, liaviii;.!; surmounted thedilfieultles created by the obstructions iu the road from To create an emulation and zeal among the olHcers aud laeri iu completini^ tlic works, I divided theni into detaclniUMits, and placed t'aeni near tlio several forts; deC[!niii, s',iiii>iivt('il l)y f(,ur I'antry iiinl ti iloini- cneval rvol/m.-on ; Uie (risbanc's 1iri;::i'l('. ;i;i, snii]i"vtoil ]»y li'iB impede the advanoe Jilt tli'>y wi'i't' ilrivcn ir jKisiiiiins, ai'.il t!i'» sbm-;:;. This Yi\\n<\ ^rscd the stvoiit; posi- cncmy at l>e;id (.Tcek, canJiinoil by biin, ami It to defiMiil the ford, festorin-? tlio bridges, orioctiy destroyed— an irmouiited. ueiny iiitlieocciiiuitidii of land on the south :li(> Saranae, I'lnnviic 1 ;deulits and otlier field ] scs armed uitli lieuvy llotilla'* at aiudior out I ! shore, consistin;; of a •idgcs. On the liikc-rnnd; I ported 2U0 men, nndc.- lotli vcRiiiient, with or- )d:^, to phiee nh'-tnic;i<.n« tify himself; to this party [ cs. In advance ot tlint j . Applin.LS v.itii llOriiie- ovcments of the enemy,! L'licc. It ■^vasa^eert;ulle(], I oil the Cth, the enemy columns on the two roads dinn;at Sampson's a little I The column on the lieek- |cded most rajiidly ; the th lis advanced jiartics, j c men, fell back most pre- >Ht disorder, notwithstuiu.- ii5 did not deip;n to fire on „ flankers and ailviinccd previous, I ordered mnJM- a detachment of 250 lueii I, and set them an exam- , captain Leonard, ot the directed to proceed with] the ground beloro day ; I his appearance until eijilit uy had approached within ir ship, a bri;;, a sLdiouiier, a sloop, and tou-^iin beats. "I immediately comniunieato 1 this eir- cumstanco toCa|itain Downic, who Iia 1 bfcn rccoutly appointed to command the vessels * on Lake Champlain, consistiiiLi; of a .'hip, u bri;.!;, two sloops, and 12 jj;nii-boat'': and re- quested his I'o-operatioii, uiid in t!ie m'an time batteri' 1 were constructed liirtlie ;iuns broii;;lit from tlic rear. "On the mornin.^ of tlie 11 ih, viir liotilla was scon over tlio isthmus which join.s Cum- bcrlainl-head witli the maindaiul, stoerin;; fur l'lattsbiir;^li 15ay. I immediattdy ordered that part of the lirigade umler Major-( leiuM-al Ilol)inson, wliieh had Ijceu brou'^ht forward, conslstin;^ of mir li^^ht infantry coinpaiiies, third battalion 27tli and 70th iTi;'iiiieiits, and Major-Cleneral Puwer'^ bri;i'ade, eonsistin;^ of the third, fiftii, and the lii'st battalion of the 27tli and oSth re.i^iiuents, to foicethe fords of the Siranae, and advance, provided with scalinp;-iadders, to escalade the enemy's works upon the lieijj;ht ; this force was placed under the command (d"Ma)or-(jieneral Robin- son. The batteries opened their lire tiio in- stant the ships engap;ed. , Runs ; Surprise, 2) guns; j Preble, 7 guns ; 10 gun- two miles of tlic villasc. 'With his coinluct, therefore, 1 am not well pleased. .Miijor Wool, with his jiiirty, disimted the road with i;rc;it obstinacy, hut the militia could not be ji'-cvail- ed on to stand, notwithstamlimci; the exertions of their freneral and statf-otlicers ; idthoujvh the fields were divided liy stroiiir stone walls, and they were told tliat the enemy could not possi- bly cut them off. The state dragoons of New York wear red coats ; and they bciii,!j; on the heights to watch the enemy, gave constant alarm to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, and feared his getting in their rear. Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated within a mile of Plattsburg, I despatched my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Root, to hring off the detachment at Dead creek, and to inform Lieut. Colonel Appling that I wished him to fall on the enemy's right flank. The Colonel fortunatly arrived just in time to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head of a column debouching from the woods. Here he poured in a destruc- tive fire from his riflemen at rest, and continued to annoy the enemy until he formed a junction with major Wool. The field-pieces did consid- erable execution among the enemy's columns_ * The Confiancc, 3G guns; Linnet, 18 guns ; Broke, 10 guns; Shannon, 10 guns; lli gun- oats. IG guns. " It is now with decjieoneorn I inform 3oiir ' lordsliip. that notwitlistandliij; the iiitrejud I valor with which Caplaiii I>ownie led his ' ihiiiila into lu'tinn, my iiio-t saii;^uine j hopes of complete success were not lon^ af- terward-', blasted, by ii e unbiiiation, ,is ap- peared to ii<, (if unfortuniito events, to which naval warfare ispccnliarlyexposed. Scan'idy I had his majesty's troops forced a passa;;c I aero- i the Siiranae, and ascended the jieiujjit , on wliieh stand the enemy's work<, when 1 had the extreme mortification to hear tiic shout of victory from the (>neiny's works, in cimsofiueneo of the IJrilish fla;.^bein;; hnvered on board the Confiancc and Linnet, and to see our p;\:n-boats seeking; their safety in Ili^Iit. 'i'his iinl.ioked for evtnit deprived mo of the (M-operation of tlie fleet, without wiiicli the further prosecution of the service was become im)>racticable, 1 did not liesitate to arrest the course of the troops advaiiciiiir to the attaidc, because tlio most eoinpleto j success would havelieen ni)a\ai!iii'i:, and the I po.ssession of the enemy's w(*rks olfered no I advanta;z;e b\ <'ompensate for the loss we i must have su'ainevl in a<"i|uiriiijr posscs.sion of them. .So undaunted, however, was the enemy, that he never deployed in his whole march, always pressing on in column. Fiijliiig tiiat every road was lull of • lops, crowding on us on all sides, I ordored lli ■ field-pieces to retire across the bridire, and form a liattery for its piotectioii, and to cover the retreat (d' the infantry, wiiieh was accordingly done, and the parties of A])- pliiig and Wool, as well as that of Sproul, retired, alternately keeping up a brisk fire until they got uiicler cover of tiic works. The enemy's ligiit troops occupied the houses iienr the bridge, and kejit u[i a constant tiring from the windows and balconies, and annoyed us much. I ordered tiiem to lie driven out with hot shot, which soon jmt the houses in flames, and obliged those sharp-shooters to retire. The whole day, until it was too late to see, the enemy's light troops endeavoureil to drive our guards from the bridge, but they suffered dearly for their perseverance. i\n attempt was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the militia handsomely drove them back. Tiie column which marched by the lake-road was much impedetl by tlie obstructions, and the re- moval of the bridge at Dead creek ; and, as it passed the creek and beach, the gallies kept up a lively and galling fire. Our troops being now all on the south side of the Saranac, I directed the planks to be taken off the bridges and piled up in the form of brest-works, to cover our par- 384 HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF 1812. " I havo orlorcd tlio Ijattcries to bo dis- uuuilU.'iI, tho f^iiiis witlidrawii, iiml the ])iy^' g!i;;o, witli tho waiiiidoil men who can ho roniuvod, to bo sent to tho rear, in order that tho troojjs may return to Cliazy to-morrow, and 0-1 tlio i'nllowin;^ (hij to Chamidain, whori! 1 jinijioso to Iialt '.mtil I liavc a.sccr- tainod tlio uso tlio enemy i)roj)oso niakiniT of tlio naval asccndaney they lur.o ao'iuirod on Lake Cliamiilain. Iivin .S'/V J'lincs Lucas Veo to }fr. Cmkcr. If. M. S. St. fiawreneo, Kiii;^stoii, ■Sir, .Sciitember lit, l«lt. "i havo tho Iionor to transmit, for the infor- mation 'if the lords coinmi.ssiioncrs of tiie a(huiral!y, a eojiy nf a letter from Ca|ilahi I'rin,!i;, hito commander of iiin majesty's Lrj.^ Linnet. '• It appears to jiie, and 1 luive ji;ood reas.iii ,i r I .? I i -.1 . . itob<;iie\e, that caiitain Downio was ur^ed "1 have l!i(! hinour to triiiisiiiit heroAvith I ,,. . , • , . . , "''^'-"' I r .1 1 •!...„ land Ills sliip liurried into aetion, Ijc ore slio returns of the hc.s .sustained bv tlie left' ' pj-i 'n, mil divi.sion of tliis army in itsadvanic to I'hitti- bur^, and in forcin;i; a pasHa;j;e aerosij tho river Saranae. I liavo tiio honor, &e., (ii:oi:(;H i'rkvost. Karl Ji.ithurst, k.\ Jiciiiru iif /iii/ri! (tudivollliili'd ; 1 ensi;rn, -Isi-rjeants, 30 rank and iiie, I iior.l ; — Lieutenants ( J llu toll, Ci, O_:^ilvio, and L. 3I;irehinj;ton. Canadiim C/ia.imuiw : — l/wnt. H. \'i;iii"au. EDW. 15AYX!:,S. Adi.-(.ien., X. A. was in a lit state to moot the enomy. "I am also of opini.m, that there w 's iii,t the least necessity for cur sipiaih^ai <;iviii<' tho enemy such decided advantages, ]i\ r;i,. I iiijj; into their bay to cnnaf;o them. Even I I had they boon sueees.sful, it would not in eaiitains, .i i ■. i ■ i i ^i ^ ,', I tiie least iiave assisted the troops in stunn- inji; tho batteries; whereas, had inir trcopsi taken their b ilt,;ries first, it would liuvej obii^^ed the enemy's sijuadron to quit tin bay, and '/r o ours a fair chance. I havo tho honor, to be, ite. JAMES LICAS YKO, ('omniudore and commander in chic.'' J. \y. Cr;)kcr, Esq., &c. &c. itc. tics intended lor dispntiiip; tlie p.'issnj;?, which ni'tor\v;U'ds eua')!eil us to hold (lie ltrid;fes aij;iiiiist very superior nuudters. From the Ttii to tiie lltli, tiio eiieiny was employed in fiettinc; on iiis liiitteiiii'i'-train, and creetiiiaj lii.s liatteries and a[)proaclies, and constantly .skirniisliinp; at the bridj;os and fords. Jiy this time the militia of New Vork and the volunteers of \'crn>oiit were i»oin'injr in from all re:l| severely in killed, and wounded, and i>risoiiers ; a considerable hotly crossed the stream, butl were either killed, taken or driven back, 'J'he| woods at this place were very favourable to tliel operations of the militia. A whole conip!ui}'f of the 7(Jth regiment was here destroyed, tliej three Lieutenants and 27 men prisoners, tin Captain and the rest killed. I eaimot forgo tlia pleasure of here stating the gallant conduct afi Captain Al'Glassin, of the loth regiment, wliq was ordered to ford the river, and attack tij party constructing a battery on the right of tba enemy's line, within 500 yards of Fort-13rownJ which he handsomely executed nt midnigLtJ with SO men ; drove off the working party, con* sisting of 150, and defeated a covering party oj were opened on us, and continued throwin bomb-shells, shrapneils, balls, aiul Congreve I the same number, killing one otficer and s^i rockets, until sun-set when the bombardment men in the charge, and wounding many. A ceased, every battery of the enemy being silenced ' dusk the enemy withdrew bis artillery, &c. .if ; I'to l<> Mr. Vrakcr. liiiwroiifc, Kin^i'tdii, labor 21, 1« 11. transmit, furtlic iiil'wr- Miiiuuissimior.s u\ tli.' 11 letter from Cii|it;i'n [• of his majesty's \>\-v;. ?: uitl I have good reus, n 11 l)')\vnic was iii^;i i, inti) action, hcCure kI.. • cot the enemy, on, that there %v's imi \ r our s(iuadnin {^iviu;.' oil advantages, hy j:' - ; eii;;a,i^o them. K'm -sliil, it ■woiijil not ill d the trolls in sti.nn-j ercas, had fuir tnuijis < fir.st, it would have siiuadron to (iuit the fair chance, nor, to be, &o. KS LUCAS YFAJ, I commander in chiff. tc. k^. I'tc. our lire. The iinv.'d cn- wo hours, in full view (fl Mt'oits were madi! by \h: .vcr ut the c(iiunieia'i.'n!('iitj d boiiibunlcniuiit, with .\\ I works, iiii.l they hiulin't-J ie an iniuieuso number of iitteiiipt to croi-s wnsj ,rid:j;o, another at the up- rd at a I'ord about thrc;! At the tNYO first he vmV ilm-s — at the lord liv tli«j militia, where he sulR-ro; d wounded, and i>r:soiiefs: crossed the stream, bulj ken or driven back, The ■ere very favourable to tho litia. A whole company t was here destroyed, the id 27 men prisoners, thfl killed. I cannot forgo tl.if iug the gallant conduct ( t': •] if'^the loth regiment, wh) 1 the river, and attack battery on the right of thfl 500 yards of Fort-BrownJ dy executed at miduightJ off the working party, conj efeated a covering party ol killing one officer and i\i nnd wounding many. A( idrew his artillery, &c. (J II A P T E 11 X X I V CONTENTS. The attack on Plattsburg, its failure, and its consequences. — Expedition to New Orleans. — The gain to bo expected from the expedi- tion. — Lafittc, the chief of the Uanatarian jiirates. — Attack on Fort Bowycr, and defeat of the British. — Preparations for the attack and defence of Now Orleans. — Defence of the gun boats. — Discrepancies in account of the gun-boat action. — Commodore Patterson's attempt to gain information by spies. — Ad- vance of tho British. — Fighting on the 2.3rd and 24th. — Arrival of reinforcements. — Com- parative strength of the armies. — lletreat of the Britisli. — Behaviour of the troops. — Law- rence's despatch to Gen. Jackson. — Conclud- ing naval events of the war. — Treaty of peace. The unfortunate commander of tho British _, ,. , ,„ .. , forces, in tho expcdi- its ftiiurt', and its couno- tion aj^ainst I'latts- quencts. burg, lias been almost universally made the target against which tho most envenomed arrows have been di- rected. Peace be to his ashes, a.s his death was occ.'sioncd by over anxiety to hasten home in order to clear his character from the Imputations cast on it, and wc would that justice permitted us to pass over in silence the last act of the drama. This, however, may not be, and did not even impartiality demand a faithful narration of the unfortunate > mlt of the most important expedition undcrtu. ■ iluring the three years war, the loud boast- ings of the Americans would impose on us tho necessity of showing that it was not to the men that the defeat at Plattsburg was attributable, but that to the commander alone was the disgraceful termination of the expe- dition due. 25 Sir James Yeo has been accused of re. garding Sir (jcorgc Provost with a jealous eye, wo therefore make no use of his dis- patch to Mr. John Wilson Croker ; that however of Cajitain Pring contains some passages which render it very dilliciilt to understand Sir (ieorgc Provost's subsequent conduct. Captain Pring says, " in conse- ipicnce of the ctirne.st solicitation of his excellency Sir George Provost for the co- opcrathm of the naval force on this lake (Champlain) to attack that of the enemy, who were placed for the support of their works at Plattsburg, which it was proposed should be stormed by the troops, at tho same moment the naval action should coniinencf! in the bay; every possible exertion was used to accelerate the armament of the new ship, that tho military movements might not be postponed at such an advanced season of tho year, longer than was absolute! '^ necessary." Sir George Provost's dispatches all tend to • prove the correctness of Captain Pring's statement, that the attacks were to bo simul- taneous ; and so confident of this was poor Captain Dowuie, that he addressed his men to this effect before going into action : " My lads wo shall be immediately assisted by the army on shore, let us show them that our part of the duty is well done." This pre- sumption on the part of Downio was fully warranted by Sir George's plans ; and it is therefore a most extraordinary fact, that a General, who had on previous occasions proved himself a brave and energetic officer, should have on this occasion by his indecision and timidity have cast a lasting slur on him- self and the army under his command. Wo Hi 380 HISTORY or TlIK WAll OF 1812.J piirtiruliirly iiu'iilidn tln! iiriiiy as wo do n(in(|uif't niwl (inlor, clmractfrist'K' nf Ainorii'unl coiisiiliTtliiitaiiy'Iisfrnlit attarlu-'ltoDowiii"', luivul disci jiliiic, in cniitrast willi tin,' (luinor-j luH bnitlicr oflicors or iiicii of tin- licet; and wlicn it is taken into coiisiilcnition tlnit, six- toon days licfore tiu! action, tlie Conlianco was on tho stocks; liaonou;;h in llii J (Kicasion, and by way of proving that llciivoiij itself was auspicious, ho adds, that " a cock flew upon a gun slide, clappeiured narratives. There is.liow ever, one assertion jiut forth Ity Ingersol » atrocious that it must not be passed over, it is that Sir George Provost, in order t cover his retreat " sent an officer to (icneral Moir's house to inform his son, loft in chargi of it, that preliminaries of peace were signci at Ohcnt. This Ingersol aflccts to belicv was a stratagem of Sir George's, but as h does not venture to adduce a single proof i support of his asserti(jn, we can well afl'on to rank the statement as about cqmilly wor thy of belief with most other deductions ofl the same writer. ^ In his own anxiety to prove how pcrfci'l everything American must bo, Ingersol fur- nishes some very conclusive evidence as to tho strength of tho American position. lie says, " to explain the cause of this strang( defeat of the British army it will bo ncces* sary to state that the Village of Plattsbur is situated c n the west side of Lake Cham plain ; and a river called Saranno, on its waj| easterly, passes through this village, dividing it into two parts, and empties its waters intf inSTOIlY Ob' TIIK WAR OF 1H12. ;i87 ai'torii^tit! of Ainoiic-.in mtniHt with tho cliiinor-j h HPd fislitH." [llirOl'SCl'V stiltCllK'Ilts llHl no \Hi\nt liliink, uiid wo any onowlio may liavo ol' cdiniiavin;; tlio two tixioty to pr.ivo timt " to i'oiii]ilt'to till! (irc- i\rt oi' tho Anioriciiiis'J veil to tlie ]iniyor thutj y Mi'I>ullollj;Il en tlii^l (if proving!; that Ilcavoiij , lie achln, that " u co ', claiijipd his wiii;;;s'viiilj ich " Nai>y In^ersol hi 1st not he passel ovor,-- ^c Provost, in order ti sent an officer to (ieiieriil rni his son, left in eliiir, ries of peace were si<^nci. gersol afi'ccts to believe Sir George's, but as lin aildiico a single proof in rtion, MC can well aftonF mt as about equally woi- most other deductions of ■ty to prove how pcrfcifc an must be, Ingersol fur* 3onclusivc evidence as [» American position, llu the cause of this strange ih army it will be ncoes- ;ho Village of Plattsburj^ west side of Lake Chain* called Sarann.c, on its war )ugh this village, dividing nd empties its waters inti tho bvy, beln;; a part of Lake Chaniphrm. This stream, for the distancti of fniir miles, or more, in ctmsoquonco of its rocky shores ami bottom inrenilered impaswabloby fording, and lit tliiit time there were but two places where they crossod it on bridges. On the south side of this stiv-am, a short distance from the lower briilge was tho place selected for the forts, it being on un eminence <'<)m- manding a view of tho whole village. '* * ■' Tho inhahitimts, together with the troops, on finding the enemy were near, thrcsw down tho upper bridge and took the jdank off from the 1(»w(H' one, and made evi^ry otlier arraiigenient to prevent tlie enemy from teaching the fort. All tliis shows that Provost had some diificuUies to contend with, but taking them uU into coiisidtM'ation it is yet too apparcMit tiiat nothing but the military imbecility of tho commander occasioned tho disgrace that uttaeh(!d to the nation by the disastrous catastrophe of Plattsburg. It is evident that Sir (b'orgo Pro\ost did not cninco on this occasion the smallest combination of plan, or sign uf execution ; '"nor was," as Veritas observes, "any (diject (d" the expedition visible unless through its efl'ect, that of bring- ing on the destruction of our licet, without making an effort to save it, or to rescue the urmy from tho disgrace of being tame spec- tators of that desti'uclioii." Enough, however, has been said of an ex- pedition, which we would could be blotted from the page of English history, and which must ever bo a proof that, no matter Avhat the high spirits and gallantry of troops may bo, unless they are properly commanded, reverses such as that of Plattsburg must be expected, instead of the brilliant deeds of former days in the Peninsula, or tho later deeds of daring at Alma, Balaclava, or Iii- kermann. Passing from the north to the south, we lind a task imposed on us nearly as painful as tho record of British disasters at Platts- burg, viz., tlie attack en New Orleans. There is little doubt that the British go- vernment originated tho expedition to New Orleans under the impression that they would receive material assistance from the KxpoditJon to New Orleans. Spanish portion of the populatioit. and that from till' Frcnidi little or no opposition might bo expeofi'd. Precisely the same arguments were brought to bear on the declaration ..xp,..!,.,! t-ikeii entirely without frnmti,..,.Mv,iiiim. some probahility of its paying I'A- its expenses. For threo years tlie cotton and sugar crops ^t^' Louisiana and Mississippi hail been accumnlating In the warehouses of the ((uecn city of the South, and the promoters of the sidicme anticipated that at least tl'"tcen million of dolliirs must reward lie invading force. The first steps taken b}' the Uritish com- Lifitt,., (l„ .lilof of th» »"!^»'lcrs in this expe- lianatarlim „lrat,.,. dition were iU-advis. d, for Mithout retlecting that a traitor to liIs country will most probably be one also to his new friends, the lirltish commanders wore most signally over-reached in their attempts to secure the assistance of La- fitte and his men (most noted pirates ami the scourge of the Gulf of Mexico) lioth as i)ilots and as active agents in the proposed descent. Tho chief of these freebooters, however, played a mo?t artful game with the British commanders, and Avhilc affecting to betray his country, h" was in reality for- warding all their plans to the Governor of tho State, and organising a vigorous defence of the important post of which he and liis followers had possessed themselves. For this, (we cannot call it treachery,) good ser- vice, Lafltte, his brother and his band receiv- ed full pardon from the President of the United States, fer their previous misdeeds. The British, deceived by Lafitte's re pr sentations, directed their first attack against Fort Bowyer, situated on Mobile Point, and forming the extremity of a peninsula which .188 HISTORY OF TlIK WAll OF 18I2. U joinod to tho (MMitinoiit liy a niirrow intli-I<>ft<>ctivo lis tlio Hritish attiulc on Fort How- imiM, vvliich diviilcs HonxpcourH buy t'rom yor, und i-cxiiltfil in tlio rii|itur»M,. (Ifstnic- lliiitof I'lTilid. itioii of tli)> wliolo tliitillii, anil ultli<>n;;l> I.ii'ii- tenant Ap .Junes, whf)Mo doMputch will Iji* found Ih'Iow,* lias »'ndravoiir»'d to ni;ikt( tlic lii'Nt of till? atl'air, flicro can lie no doiilit Ijiit that Captain I/xkyicr vory noon convincpd TliiH attack on Fort llowyor viw n very Ait«.K on Kurt ii.my.r, '" C'>n''fived, l.:«dly ■i.Mrl,.|l.nfnf Ihi. Ilrlll^li. j,],!,,,,,.,!^ ji„d worso t'xociitcd luaufDUMc, and tlio ri'sult oi" the attack was tho lo««s of the Ilonnos, twenty- two j!;un forvctte, very grout injury inirurtiMl on the Sophia, ei^^liteen ^uns, and the loss ill killeil and wounded of seventy-two men. The lI(!rnieH ^^rcunded within nvuskot shot of a heavy l)attery, and Captain IVrry, her eoininander, findiii'j; every elTort to ;;et her oil' unavailin;;, removed his wounded and set his vessel on tiro. It is needless to add tiiat t!io attack on the fort was a most si^;nai failure. Unfortunate, however, as this afl'air was in loss of vessels and life, it proved eipially so in the opportunity ailorded to the enemy of puttln;^ forward the most outra;;oous as- sertions. Quo writer, Latour, in his "war in Louisiana," converts tlio twenty-two, and eighteen gun corvettes, tho Hermes and Sopiiia into friji;atcs, and states tiio liritish force at ninety-two guns and thirteen hundred i\nd thirty men, modestly giving; his own countrymen eight guns and one hundred and thirty men. Fortunately Fort Bowycr was afterwards taken and four hundred aud fourteen men captured in it. Tho Americans acknowledge a loss of only four killed and four wounded, estimating that of the IJritish, (ascertained from what source it is impo.'esl- blo to say,) at one hundred and sixty-two killed and seventy-two wounded. After the failure of the attack on Fort , .^ . Bowyei'th *norican I'l-eiiaratlons tor tho at- •' tiirk iiiid dofuiico of Now naval ••oiimandcr, '^''^"•''- Commodore Patter- sou, turneil his attention to obstructing the passage of the British llotilla, which was thei\ preparing, with a large body of troops on board, for tho attack on Now Orleans, which stands on the left bank of the Missis- sippi, one hundred and live miJes fnnr its mouth. For this purpose he c instructed a formi- dable force of gun- iKsfunc'oof Uii!gan Uiats. boats and men, but the defence made by them was about as Lieut. Ap .lones of the dillereneo between llritish and American seamen when fairly inatclied. It is not only remarkable, but amusing to , , note how the American ItlHiTcpamk-!! Ill III- iriiint of t)iii m\ii-i.i«it commanders and iiistori- ans, in their attempts to soften down everytliing which might offend the national vanity have (rontradictcd eiicli other. Captain .Jones, in his d"spat(li. speaks of the British barges "as almost as largo as the gun-boats themselves." I.atour. in his anxiety to account for tho bail firing of the Americans, speaks of ihem as " ob jccts of so small a si/e, &e." In order to tost the truth of liieiit, Ap. •Tones' statement, we give the si/.o of one of the gun-boats uniUn* his command, and con- trast it with that of tho Hunter, styled by tho Americans a British brig of war: — I'nitcd States Boat. Ilunicr. Weight of broadside in lbs. 51) li.S Crew - - - - 41 39 Tcnnage - - - 112 74 Tliis misrepresentation was not conlined t^> Lieutenant Jones. Commodore M'Doiiougli, although fully aware that the smallest gun- boat was sevcnty-tive tons, describes two * From Lieutcnnnt Jones to Coin. J'utlrr.son. New Orleans, 12th :Muroli, 181-".. Sin. Having sufiiciently rccovc'red niy slrength, I do myself the honour of reporting to you tin' particuliira of the cupturc of the division nt United States' gun-boats l.ato under my com- iiinnd. On tho 12th of December, 1814, tl'c tneniy'- fleot off Siiip Island increased to such a ft rci' as to render it no longer safe or pniileiit for ine to continue on that part of the lakes with tho small force which I conunanded. I therefore determined to gain a station near the Mallicu- rcux islands as soon as possible, which, sitim- tion would better enable inc to oppose a fnrtlicr penetration of the enemy up tho lakes, and iit the same time afford ine an opportunity oi retreating to the Petites Coquillcs if necessary At 10, a.m., on tho 13th, 1 discovered a largo iittack oil Tiirt How- I' iiijituro •'. ili'>tru(- , tuiil altlxHi^li LiiMi- )so (losjMitfh will III- iivoiiri'il to iiiakt! till- can lie ii" nlit tml vory Hdoii coiiviiu'cd (lillVr»*nco hctwniMi soaiiicn wlicn fairly aliio, luit ninuniiig tn liDW tlio Aniprii'au »iuan(l(;r^ and histiiii- 1, in tlioir attcniiitH to [» wliicli mlKl't oftVnd kvo * ib'spatili, l)ar;;eM "iis almost as honisolvcM." Latour. lilt for tlie liail firlii;; nks of ihcin m "ob , Sec" truth of Lieut. Ap. i^Ive the si/« of one of is connnand, ami coii- hc Hunter, styled hy sh hrij^ of war; — States Uoat. lluntor, 1 lbs. 5'.) 2H 41 3U 112 74 n was nut fonlined t<> mmodorc M'Donoii;;!! , that the smallest gun ) tonf, des'^ribcs tw.> niSTUllY OF TIIK WAH OF 1S12. 3^9 ncs to Can. J'alierxon. as, 12th ^Nlardi, ISlo. recovered my slrcn^tli, of reporting to yoti tlio )tiire of the division ot ts lato nnder my coni- mbor, 1814, tbe tneniy'.- lercfised to such a ft rco ger safe or prudent foi t part of the lakes with commanded. 1 therefore tation near the Mallieu- f.s possible, which sitnu- le me to oppose a fnrthcv my up the lakes, and iit me an opportunity ot ?s Coquillcs if necessary, 13th, IdisooTcred alarge Hrilisli vesscdM, mimo two toHH Muiullor than th'iH, an " wloops of war." Do not tliesf) statenientH clearly conviet Messrs. M'I)i)nou(;h ami Joims of wilful mi>- roprcsentution on their fiieo? Who ever heard of a ship's hiuneh measuring one lumdred and twelve, or even si-venty-five (oUN, oven at the present time, wln'n the size of bouts have nearly iinroased in tiie Maine ratio as ships? Let the reador I'liney a fri;.';at') measuring one thousand ami Hfty tons, having to hoist up, either on deck or ut tho stern, boats of (uie hundred ami twelve tons! Again, Mr. Latour makes the British I'lunehes objects of so small a si/e, that It was iin|)<)ssibla to hit them ; yot ho very i:oiuplaeently dwells oii the procisioii of the .Vinerican Hn.' against the lerger vessels — these larger \c-<,-cN liciiig actually niueli smaller than tho Anierieun gun-hoatN. Another trilling mistake on the juir* of ' I/ieiit. .JiiiKs is till' omission ol tw»dve guns (four and si.\ pouiulers) and two ti\e-aiid-a half-inch howitzers, which wore found in the captured vessids, and not iindudi'il in hisforci-, although it was evident that they had been recently used. We have, however, said enough to mIiow how mu(di value may be pluceil on the statements of either Mcut. .lones or .Mr. Lalour. Had we, too, not bronglit Mifhcici.t proofs forward, it is only neeessary to add. flotilla of barges had left tho fleet, (shnpinft their course towards the I'as Cliiotien,; wliicli 1 supposed to bo a diseiabaikatiou of ti'oops nit<'ndcil to land ut that jilace. .Ahuut U, p.ii next inortiinp, still a |ierfcct calm, tlie enemy's flotiHi IS aliout nine miles IVom us at anchor. Iiut soon gilt in molinu mid rajijilly aarge had on board more than thirty-one men, and far- ther, every man was i -.ved from the Ton- uant's launch. An attempt made by Commodore Patterson „ , „ ,, . afforded fine scope fir Comniotlorp I'uttoismis '_ .ittoiTipt to train iiiforina- renewed abuse of Bri- tain an(t the actsot her commanders. This officer umlor pretence of ascertaining the fate of the prisoners on board the gun Ijoats dispatched two officers, one of them a Doctor, (to make it apjicar we presume that the wounded would be neglected by their captors), to obtain tlie desired in- formation. These officers Admiral Cochrane detained, informing them that they must not consider themselves as prisoners in the full sense of the word, but that as their visit was unseasonable, he could not permit them to return until it would Ije impossible for them to profit >iy wl'.at they had seen, and put (.ieneral Jackson an fail as to the proposed attack on New Orleans. The attack over, they were at once released, yet tliis did not prevent the vilest liljcls being levelled against the British Comniandor. In order that tlie causes which led to the failure of the attack on New Orleans may lie Ijctter understood we make a short extract from Jame-i' dc-scription of the natural and artificial features of the country : — " As the country around New Orleans pos- sesses very peculiar features, a slight digres- sion may be necessary. The Ijayou liienvenu is Parker, master's mate, who giillantly ilcfended the vessel until lie wus severely wouiidcJ, wlien the enemy hy liis superior numlier, succeeded ill piiinliig ]iosscssion of tlio dock about 10 iniimtes jiast VI o'clock. Tlie enemy imme- diately turned the guns of his jirizeon tlic other guii-boats. ami fired several shot previous to striking the American colours. The action coiitiiiiied with uiiiiljatiiiij; severity until 40 minutes jmst 12 o'clock, when it teriuiiiatoil with the surrender of No. 1]:'., all the oIIut vessels hiiviiig previously f:il!eu into the Iiaml- of the enemy. Ill this uiie(|Uitl contest our loss in killed ami wounded has Ijojii trilling compared to that of the eneiiiv, llh'itisli loj;.-;, the creek through which all the waters of a large basin, or swamp, about 80 miles in extent, bounded on the nortli by the Missis- sipjii, on the west by New Orleans, on the north-west, by bayou Sauvage, or C'lief- montour, and on the east by Lake I3orgne, into which item)>ties. It receives th<' streams (d' several other bayous, formed liy the waters of the surrounding cypress swamps and prairies, as well as of innumerable little streams I'rom the low grounds along the river. It is navigable for vessels cd" 100 tons, 12 miles from its mouth. Its breadth is from no to loO yards, and it has six feet water on the bar, at common tides, and nine feet at spring tides. Its jirincipal branch ii> that which is called bayou Mazant, which runs towards the south-west, and receives the waters of the canals of the plantations of Viller6, Laeoste, and Laronde, upon which the British afterwards estaldished their principal encampment. The level of the great basin, on the l«ink of the principal bayou, is usually 12 feet below the bank.s of the Mississi[ipi. The overflowing of the- waters of all those bayous and canals, occa- sioned by tiie tide of the sea, or by the winds raising the waters in the lake, forms, on all their banks, deposits of slime, which arc continnally raising them above the rest ol the soil ; so that the interval between two bayous is below tlie level of their banks, and the soil is generally covered with water and mud, in which a'luatic pJants, or large reeds, of the height of from six to eight feet, grow in abundance. It sometimes happens that the rains, or the filtrated waters, collected in these intervals, or basins, not finding a vent, form what are called Ireinhliii;/ prairies , which arc at all times impassable to men Kiiclosod you will receive a list of the killed luid wounded, ami a correct statement ■{' the foi .0 which 1 had the lioiiour to commaiui ut the eommeuccment of the .-iction, together with an estimate of the force I liad to contend against, as acknowledged by the enemy, which will oiiiihle J on t(j decide liow far the honour of our country's fhig has been sejij.oitcd in Ihi conllict. 1 ha\ tlio ■nonf:iir to tie, itc. THOMAS Ar (WTESHY .JONES. American force, . - ilf) giiii>; — 201 men. l'r;ti>li do. - - 42 fiuii^— 1200 men and douK Louisiani the soil o vated on as it rece at New feet; anc above the I waters w called in on its bar mouth, a swells; w would be five mont now be be I ties our tr I in transp( provisions I rations on After tl Advance oft 'six miles o in place ol ? enterprise liiilt was c, tiie rciiifu British dc and not m ital of the lions mus To the htil ilienvouu, L'ontcliart rear, nia} success au On the Fi-hlini; |and21lli. further p some sIki many bei sides, and Mown up. [jouisiana jion on til The losJ m til ose < Ijlive killed I" ■ lea 17 killed — 77 wouudc I loans, acco i hundred HISTORY OF THE WAR OP 1812. 891 all the waters of a al)Out 80 nill(!8 in nortli Ijy the Missis- N'cw Orleans, un tiie Siuivaf^o, or Chof- st l)y Lake; Korj^no, t receives the streams formed by the waters yprcss swani])s ami. f innuvncrable littlf jj;roumls alonji; tlu' or vessels of 100 tons nth. Its breadth i.- ;iud it has .six feet mmon tides, and ninc- s ]irineipal branch is layon Mazant, whic!> th-west, and receives s of the plantations nl Laromle, upon whicli csta)(lished their The level of th(,' mnk of the principal 'et IjcIiiw the banks uf c overflowing of tlu; yous and canals, occa- ic sea, or by the winds the lake, forms, on all of slimo, whicli arc hem above the rest ol interval between two ;vel of their banks, and overed with water and i jJants, or large reeds, six to eight feet, grow meliincs happens that ted waters, collected in ;ins, not finding a vent, 'd tvcmhliiKj prairic.'i . es impassable to men ceive a list of the killdl orrcct statement <th Sir Kdward I'akenham arrived to take the command, bringing with iiim reinforcements which Arrival ipf ri iiifdrcpnii'iifs. ius it recedes from them. The Mississippi, j brought up the number of Ids troops to five at New Orleans, periodically swells 14 or 15 j thousand and fort}-. The Americans rcceiv- feet; and is ihen from three to four feet ed also ccjiisiderable reinforcements, making above the level of its banks. To coniine its General Jackson's force at least Iburteen waters within its bed, dikes or ramparts, j thousand men. called in Louisiana Im-es, have been raised y.^^ tj,;^ ,l.^tp tjn ^^^^ jj,|, „{•, J.^„„.^,.,^. .^ 11 its banks, from the highlamls towards its series of conflicts took place, the nature of mouth, a little above the level of the highest ^^hich will be best explained by the follow- swells; without which precaution, the lands I i„g(,^tract from a work written by a sub- would ho entirely overflowed, from four to,.iijp,.,^ ;„ ^]^(, ijritj.vli ju-mv. live months in the year. The reader will now be better able to appreciate the difficul- Advauco of tin; lliitish. ties our troops and seamen had to encounter in transporting themselves, their baggage, provisions, and artillery, to the scene of ope- rations on tlie left Ijank of the Mississippi." After tlie capture of the gun boats the British were enabled to advance to Avithin about six miles of the city, and here, unfortunately, ill place of pressing on, the success of the enterprise was considered so certain that a luilt was called to recruit the men, and allow tlie reinforcements to come up. Had the Briiish despised the American soldiers less, and not made so sure of their game, the cap- ital of the Southern Provinces with its mil- lions must have fallen into their hands. To the halt and the advance b}' the bayou irienvonu, instead of approaching' by Lake I'ontcliartrain, so as to take the city in the rear, may be ascribed General Jiickson's success and the repulse of the British. On the halting of the British General | ^'^"l^^''^" l^''"!^''^ ^'.''' "^"'•'' ''^^^" ''''' "'''^I^^''-^'*^ on tiij ■j:ua. Jiickson determined to " During the 2.Stli, 2',)th, .'iOtii, ;Ust, strong detachments from the different corps were employed in bringing a train of lieavy ord- nance from the boats, with ample supply of powder and liall. Tlio labor and diliiculty of accomplishing it were lieyoiid calculation. Nor was it the only irksome duty in which we engaged. 'J'lie piquets were never mour;- ted without suffering, sooner or lattc'r, an attack. Sometime the enemy contented them- selves with cannonading the outposts ; some- times they advanced large corps in the day, who amused themselves and us M-itli long unprofitable skirmishes. But their more usual system was to steal forward in sec- tions, after dark, and to harass us with a desultory and troublesome fire of musketry till morning. . . . "As yet, neitlier I nor the men had ven- tured to light a fire. . . . But the day was j)ier<.'ingcold. A heavy shower fell from time to time, and the absolute discomfort of onr ^ Ki.'liliii ''"'-'"'• cudeavourtoarresttlieir i'lirther progress, and during those days some sharp skirmisliing ensued, a good many being killed and wounded on both j sides, and the Caroline, American schooner, ! Mown up. This vessel in concert with the ' Luuisiana sloop had eflected a powerful dlver- bhn on the British flniik. The loss of the British may be estimated nil those days at two hundred and seventy- prudence. Two fires were made to blaze up — one for the men, the other for myself and my companion. It seemed as if tlu^ Ameri- can artillerymen had waited for some such object to direct their aim, for the smoke had hardly begun to ascend, wiieu tliey played upon u«, from a battery of live guns, as per- fect a storm of grape-shot as ever w]iI.>tIod past the ears of men so situated, iind in iivi' minutes tin; fires were abandoned. ]]y,{ with this the enemy were not contented; under co\('r of the cannonade;, a b(jdv of jlive killed and wound(Ml, that of the Anieri- .some two or three hundred infantry advan- uis, according to their own account, at two ced, in extended order, from the Vnu^ ... A luindrcd and thirteen. I most uniuterosting skirmish ensued. Tiie Ill: 392 HISTORY OF THE WAK OF 1812. Americans, it was perfectly manifest, wore raw troops. They made no determined ef- forts ; probably it Avas not intended tlicy should make efforts to drive us in. Bvitthcy pressed forward from time to time, crcepinp; alon;; the f:;ronnd, and runninj; from ditch to ditch, and retreating again as soon as they had discharged their pieces. On our side no movement whatever was made. The men lay down, as I directed, behind a row ol hushes, which served at least to conceal them from their opponents, and each file regularly shifting its ground, a pace or two to the right or left, as soon as it had fired. liy this means many lives were saved, for the Americans regularly returned our five, and they never failed to direct their aim to the spots IVom whence our smoke ascended. The affair having lasted four or five hours, the enemy at length saw fit to withdraw" and we returned toourditch, with trilli igloss of only two woundfd. . . Tlieir cn.nuon con- tinued to annoy us to the last, insomuch that the very sentinels were under the ne- cessity of hiding themselves. ... It was now iiliout midnight, and the darkness had be- come, almost without a metaphor, sncli as might be felt. . Worn out with fatigue, I had returned to the ditch, not to seat myself be- side a comfortable blaze — for no fire had been lighted, and it would have been mad- ness to think of lighting one — but to rest my limbs a little, and to smoke a cigar. . . The enemy, finding that their heavy artillery hardly reached our camp, had moved two field-piceos and a mortar without their lines, and, advancing them as near to the sentries as a regard for their own safety would allow, were now cannonading, not the otitpost, but the main body of the British army. It was easy to perceive that the balls fell not short of their mark, Looking back towards the position, I saw that the tires wore hastily covered up, and the murmur of voices which arose gave testimony that tlioy were net thus stilled before it was ncjcssarj ." During this time the British acknowledge a loss of lifty-tlve killed and wounded, the Americiuis of fifty one. The grand struggle which was to decide the fate of New Orleans did not, however, which day the final attack was made by General Pakenham on General Jackson's position. The extracts from General Lambert's de- spatch will enable the reader, with the assis- tance of the respective positions of the two armies, to understand the plan of attack and defence pretty clearly. Gen. Lambert says : Extract of Despatch from Major General Lambert to Earl Buthumt. "In order to give your lordship as clear a view as I can, I shall state the position of the enemy. On the left bank of the river it was simply a straight line of about a front of 1000 yards with a parapet, the right resting on the river, and the left on a wood which had been made impracticable for any body of troops to pass. This line was strengthened by flank works, and had a canal of about four feet deep generally, but not altogether of an equal widtii ; it was supposed to narrow towards their left : about eight heavy guns were in position on this line. The Mississippi is here about 800 yards across ; and they had on the right bank a heavy battery of 12 guns, which enfiladed the whole front of the posi- tion on the left bank. " Preparations were made on our side, by very considerable labor, to clear out and widen a canal that communicated with a stream by which the boats had passed up to the place of disembarkation, to open it into the Mississippi, by which means troops coulJ lie got o-> er to the right bank, and the co- operation of armed boats could be secured. " The disposition of the attack was as fol- lows: — a corps, consisting of the 85th light infantry, 200 seamen, and 400 marines, tiio 5th West India llcgiment, and four pieces of artillery, umler the command of Colonel Thornton, of the Hoth, was to pass over durin" the night, and move along the right bank towards New Orleans, clearing its front until it reached the flanking battery of the enemy on that side, which it had orders to carry. "The assailing of the enemy's line in front of us, was to bo made b^ the brigade com- posed of the -Ith, 21st, and 44th regiments, with three companies of the Ootli, under Major General Gibbs, and by the 3d brigade, consisting of the 9,id, two companies of tiic tike [ihive until the Stli, on the morning ofi'Joth, and two companies of tlie fusiliers and Aidc-( of the Gibbs HISTORY OF THE WAR OF 1812. 393 attack was made by n General Jackson's lencral Lanil»crt's dc- readcr, with the assi^- e positions of the two the plan of attack and . Gen. Lambert says : from Major General '^arl IMhural. our lordship as clear a. 1 state the position of eft bank of the river it t line of about a front arapct, the right resting; left on a wood which racticable for any body lis line was stren^^thcncd had a canal of about •ally, but not altogether was supposed to narrow ,bout eight heavy guns lis line. The Mississippi •ds across ; and they had icavy battery of 12 guns, whole front of the posi- re made on our side, by abor, to clear out and ; communicated with a boats had passed up to ai'kation, to open it into vhich moans troops could right bank, and the co- boats could be secured. of the attack was as fol- histing of the 85th light n, and 400 marines, the fnnent, and four pieces of 10 conunand of Colonel ,h, was to pass over duriii;;; e along the right bank ns, clearing its front until ;ing battery of the enemy it had orders to cnrry. f the enemy's line in front adc by the brigade com- 1st, and 41th regiments, ,nies of the 95th, under hs, and by the od brigade, .'id, two comjianies of tho anics of the fusiliers and 43d, under Major General Keanc: some black troops were destined to skirmish in the woiid on the right ; the principal attack was to ho made 1)y Major General Gibbs ; tho 1st brigade, consisting of tho fusiliers and 43d, formed the reserve; tho attacking columns were to be provided with fascines, scaling-ladders, and rafts ; tho whole to be at their stations before daydight. An ad- vanced battery in our front, of six 18-pounders, was thrown up during the night, about 800 yards from the enemy's line. The attack was to be made at the earliest hour. Un- looked-for diifieulties, increased by the falling of tho river, occasioned considerable delay in the entrance of the armed Iioats, and those destined to land Colonel Thornton's corps, by which four or five hours were lost, and it was not until past five in the morning, that tho 1st division, consisting of 500 men, were over. The cn.seinhko^ the general movement was lost, anil in a point which was of tho last importance to the attack on tho left bank of the river, although Coloncd Thornton, as your lordship will see in his report, which I enclose, ably executed in every particular his instructions, and fully justified the Ci)nfi- dence tiie commander of the forces {ihiced in Ills abilities. The delay attending that corps occasioned some on the left bank, and the attack did not take place until the columns wore discernible from tho enemy's linos at nioio than 200 yards distance; as they ad- vanced, a continued and most galling fire w ^ o]ened from every part of tlu.'ir line, and from the battery on the right bank. '"The bravo commander of the forces, who never in his life could refrain from beinc: at the post of honor, and sharing the dangers to which tho troops were exposed, as soon as from his station ho had made the signal for the troojis to advance, galloped on to the front to animate them by his presence, and he was seen, with his hat off, encourajrin^ them on tho crest of tho glacis ; it was there (almost at the same time) he received two wounds, one in his knee, and another, which was almost instantly fatal, in his body ; he fell in tho arms of Major M'Dougall, his Aidc-dc-canii). Tho olTiHitof this in the siirht of the troops, toguiher with Major (General Gibb.s and Major General Keano being both borne oft' wounded at the same time, with many other commanding officers, and further, tho preparations to aid in crosising the ditch not being so forward as they ought ti> have been, from, ])erhaps, tho men being wounded who were carr3-ing thom, caused a wavering in the column, which in such a situation be- came irreparable ; and as I advanced with the reserve, at about 250 yards friun the line, I had tho mortification tu oljserve the whole falling 1)ackujion mo in thegreatestconfusion. "In this situation, finding that no impres- sion had been made, that though many men had reached the ditch.and were either drowned or obliged to surrender, and that it was im- possible to restore order in the regiments where they were, I placed the reserve in position, until I could obtain siudi information as to determine me how to acttothe best of my judgment, and whether or not I should re- sume the attack, and if so, I felt it could bo done (uily by tho reserve. The confidence I have in the corps comjiosing it would have encouraged mo greatly, though not without loss, Avhich might have made the attempt of serious consequence, as I know it was the opinion of tho late distinguished commander of the forces, that tho cari'ving of the first lino would not be the h;ast arduous service. After making the best reflections I was capable of, I kept the ground tho troojis then held, and went to moot Vico-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, and to tell him, that under all the circumstances I did not think it ju-udent to renew tho attack that day. At al)out 10 o'clock, I learnt of the success of Colonel Thornton's corps on the right bank. I sent the commaniling officer (jf the artillery, Colonel Dickson, to examine the situation of the battery, and to report if it was tcnablo; but informing me that he did not think it could bo held with security by a smaller corps than 2000 men, I consequently ordered Lieutenant Colonel Gubbins, on whom tho command had devolved, (Colonel Thornton being wounded), to retire. "Tho army remained in position until night, in onler to giiin time to destroy tho IS-pounder battery we had constructed tho preceding night in advance. I then gave orders for the troops rosuiniiig the groimd they occupied previous to the attack. 394 HISTORY OF TIIK WAR OF 1812. " Our loss has Ijccn very severe, but I trust it will not lie considered, notwitlistandinj^ the fiiilure, that tliis army has suffer(;d its military charaeter to be tarnished. I am satisfied, had I thouj^ht it rij;ht to renew the attack; that the troops would have advanced with cheerfulness. Tiie services of both army and navy, since their landin;^ on this coast, luivo been arduous beyond anything;' I have ever witnessed, and difliculties have been got over, witli an assiduity and jiersc- vcranco beyond all example, by all ranks, and the most heartj' co-operation has existed between the two services. " It is not necessary for me to expatiate to you upon the loss the army has sustained in Major (ieneral the llonoraltle Sir E. I'akenham, Commander-in-chief of this force, nor could I do so in adequate terms. Ills ser- vices and merits arc so well known, that I have only, in common with the whole army, to express my sincere rcf^ret, which may bo supposed at this moment to come particu- larly home to me. "Major (ieneral fiibb'^, who died of his wounds ilio followinj^ day, and Major (Ieneral Keane, who were both carried off the field within 20 yards of the glacis, at the head of their lirigadcs, sufficiently speak at such a mamcnt how tliey were conducting thcm- selvcs. I am happy to say Major (jlencral Keane is doing well."' Major Latour makes the total British forces Conip:irative stien-ih "^^ t'lO ^th amount to oftheAimk.s. closc on seventeen thou- sand men. From the official returns, however, we find that the IJritish forces really consisted of seven thousand three hundred men, just ten thousand less than Major Latour repre- sents. If, as we have usually found it to be, the American return of their own force was diminished in the same ratio that that of the British was increased, then the revelations contained in Mr. O'Connor's history would warrant the belief that a very large force was under General Jackson's command. Ac- cording to O'Connor the total force amounted tt) six thousand one hundred and ninety-eight men. Considering tlieu the national failing it is reasonaldc to conclude that the American force was at least as large as that of the IMiavimu- nf the tioop!-. British, while it musjt not be lost sight of that the returns of killed and wounded show liow securely entrenched they must have been. The British h.ss in killed and wounded amounted to two tliousand and thirty-six, that of the Americans to but seventy-one. Tlie total loss of the British in this unfortunate expedition was two thousand Auir hundred and ninety-two, while the American loss did not e.'ccec .1 three hundred and thirty-three. On the morning after the battle (Ieneral Lambert communicated III tioat of (lie l!riti-li. • , ,<• » ,-, , With !>U' A. Cochrane, and as the imiprudcnce of making a further attack on an enemy so securely posted was obvious, it was determined that a retreat should be commenced. Accordingly on the night of the ISth instant the movement was made, and the army retired fourteen miles from their former position, and remained in bivouac imtil the 27th, when the whole were re-embarkcd. However unfortunate the termination of this expedition might have been, still we can- not find that discredit in any manner attaches to the troops. Tlio fatigue they had under- gone had been incessant, and the list of casualties shows that they were not chary of exposing their lives. Taking all these cir- cumstances into consideration, and making due allowance for the damji tliat must have been cast on the troops at seeing tliree of their Generals killed and wounded, wo can only ascribe the failure at New Orleans to the same cause whicli saved Baltimore, the premature death of a British General. After the embarkation of the troops, the departure of the fleet was delayed till the 5th of February, when they sailed, arriving on the 7th at Kauphine Island, and disembark- ing there. In the following despatches will be found a full account of the investment and surrender of Fort Bowyer on the 12th : — J-Jx/tart.i from Mnjor Gencrnl LaniliirCs Despatch lo Eaii JJaf/mr.sl. '■ It lieing agreed lietween Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and myself tliat operations should bo carried towards Mobile, it was decided that a force should lie sent against Fort-Howyer, situated on the eastern point of tl every infoi |( was con.sid for this I' artillery. I of the 4th. I service, ti I engineer i I chief and e artillery n 1| mainder of p on Isle L)a *' (ieneral K( I"; say has ret i: their arrar " Tlic w for the bin point, the service sail Rickctts, in sufficier than deteri which was Bowyer. "At day got into tin under Liei 44th, wit ately threv Lieutenant cover the whole bein made to m by the not seen u their M'or no firing retired inr pushed on Having re nant-eolon wore decid formidable batteries speedily f; the navy t sary equi] engineer s night of tl: to within 1 night. Ti decidi.'d up lot be lost sight of and -woundod show d thoy must have 1 kiilud and wounded and and thirty-six, to but scvcnty-onc. h in this unfortunate isand four hundred American loss did 1 and thirty-three. ■ the battle General l)ert communicated Sir A. Cochrane, f makii:g a furtlicr securely posted M"as ined that a retreat Accordingly on the t the movement was tired fourteen miles )n, and remained in rhen the whole were the termination of I expedition might c been, still we can- any manner attaches gue they had undcr- nt, and the list of ey were not char}' of I'aking all those cir- cration, and making amp that must have s at seeing tliroe of nd wounded, wo can 3 at New Orleans to naved Baltimore, the ritish Clcneral. on of the troops, the IS delayed till the otli y sailed, arriving on laud, and discmljark- «itchcs will be found stment and surrender l'2Ui :— Gencnil Lam Iieii'.i iti Ballnivfil. itween Vice Admiral ino and myself that rried towards IMoljilc, force should i>e sent ituated on tiie eastern HISTORY OF TIIE WAR OF 1812. 3D5 point of the entrance of the bay, and from I to receive their guns on theni^ ~r~ "" every information that could be (detained, it and on the morning of the 11th . * was considered a brigade would be sufficient battery of four IS-pminders on the „' " ^ for this object, with a respectable force of two 8-inch howitzers on the right," " artillery. I ordered the 2d brigade, composed | about 100 yards distance, two (■)-)iounders of the 4th, 21st, and 44tli regiuT^nts, for this about oOO yards, and eight small cohorns service, together with such means in the ! advantageously ]!laced on the right, with engineer and artillery dc])artments as the, intervals of ])ctween 100 and 200 yards, all chief and commanding officer of the royal furnished to keep up an incessant fire for artillery might think expedient. The re- two days, were prepared to open. Prepara- mainder of the force had orders to disembark I tory to commencing, I summoned the fort, on Isle Dauidiine and encamp ; and Major-! allowing the comnuinding officer half an (ieneral Keane, whom 1 am truly happy to, hour for decision u]ion such terms as Avcre say has returned to his duty, superintended 1 proposed. Finding he was iuclinod to con- their arrangement. Isider them, I prolonged the periou, at his "The weather being favourable on the 7th i request, and at three o'ch.ck the fort was for the landing to the eastward of Mobile given up to a British guard, and British point, the ships destined to move on tliat ^ (-'"lours hoisted ; the terms being signed service sailed under the command of Captain I l^y Major Smith, military secretary, and Ricketts, of the Vengeur, but did not arrive it^'iiptain Rickctts, R. N., and finally ap- in sufficient time that evening to do more ; Proved of by the Vice-admiral and myself, than determine the place of disembarkation, j I am happy to say our loss was not great ; which was about three miles from Fort- i and we ar- indelited for this, in a great Bowver. , measure, to the efficient means attached to ' . j this force. Had m'C been oldiged to resort to " At daylight the next morning the troop.'^! i r n i ii r n ii i •^ " '^ ' : any other mode of attack, the fall could not got into the boats, and 000 men were landed j have been liKtked for under sucli fivourable ; circumstances. under Lieutenant-Colonel Debbeig, of the! 44th, without opposition, who immedi-l ately threw out the light companies under! Lieutenant Bennett of t!ie 4th regiment, to | cover the landing of the 1)rigadc. Upon the ' whole being disembarked, a disposition was! ^'^'^h, to attemj^t its relief; two sch made to move on towards the fort, covered '"'^^'^ F^^'^^'O"^' '^'"^^ :"^ intercepted letter, "We have certain information of a force having been sent from Mobile, and disem- barked about 12 miles off, in the night of the liooners by the light companies. The enemj- was fell into our hands, taken by Captain Price, and . 4-1 1 1. moo ^ • c i. fi R.N. , stationed in the bav. not seen until al)Out 1000 yards in front of | ' their works ; they gradually fell back, and i Hdurn of ordnance, iimmnnilion no firing took place untif the whole hnd[^iorcs, cnptuml Jmn the encm'j in t/,is place, retired into the fort, and our advance had »« the I2lh instant. pushed on nearly to within 300 yards.— ' Fort-Bowyer, Fel). 14, 1815. Having reconnoitred the forts with' Lieute-i -^ S"n^ 1 *^-'»cl' mortar; 1 oi-inch howit- nant-colonels Burgoyne and Dickson, ^yei ^'-cr, and a large quantity of ammunition, were decidedly of opinion, that the work was ' Lawrences' despatch to General Jackson, formidable only against an assault ; that T.awrpn(v-s sorvos in a Ictior to thejccedcil in l)rin<^Inf; his Imlky adversary to ac- Sccretar- it AVar, uf the 21th Fohruary: — tion. Captain Hayes' dcsiiatch to Achniral 4y trimming tlieir sliips in every way possj- j blc to effect their jmrpose. As tlie day ad- vanced, the wind declined, giving the Kndym- I ; ion and, as before stated, (in preferenco to closing the land to the soutlnvard,) wo stood away to the northward and eastward, til! the squadron readied the supposed tnick of the enemy ; and, what is a little singular, at the very instant (»f arriving at tiiat [loint, an hour before day-light, Sandy Hook bearing W.NAV . lo leagues, we were made happy l>y the sight of a ship and brig standing to the southward and eastward, and not more than two miles on the Majesiic's wcatiier- Ijow ; the night-signal for a general cha«c was made, and promi)tly obeyed by all the ships. " * From Commodore Decatur to the American i^ecretari/ of the navy. II. B. M. ship Endyiniun. at sc;i, January 18, IHlo. .Siu, — At day-lig;lit we discovered four ships I coiniiienccd iit tlic siinic tiine. "?Vc coiitiiiucl in chase : one on cicli nuarter, iiml two a-stern, ' t-ngagcd, steering S'nith, and studdiii^-snils set, the lending ship of th(> eiiciiiy a rjizec ; she ; two l:ours and a li.iU', when we coiiqilctely suc- coinmciiccd a fiic upon u-, but witliout otVcct. j cceded in disiuantliug her. I'leviously to her At meridiiin, the wind hccaiae light niul baf- j dropping entirely out of the action, tiicro were tbng ; we had increased our distance IVoni the I intervals of minutes, when the ."^hips were razee, but the next ship a-stern wliich was also j hroadside, in v.hich she did not fire a gun. At a large ship, liad gained, and continued to j this period. (half-pa>t 8 o'clock,) althcui;^h dark, uain upon us considerably. We iniinediatcly ' the other sirqis of the si|aadron were in sip;ht, i/ccu})ied all hands to lighten ship, by starting ; und almost within gun-shot. We wereof coiuse water, cutting a^Yay the anchors, tlirowing over- ; compelled to abandon her. lu re-assuiniog board provisous, cal)les, spare spars, boats, and j our former course for the jiurpose of avoioing every article that could be got at, keeping the the squadron, we were coiiqicUcd to present our sails wet, from the royals down. At ■'!, we had j stern to our antagonist ; but such was his state, the wind quite light; the enemy, who had now ; though we were thus exposed and within i-iingc been joined by a l)iitr, had a strong breeze, and | of his guns for l-.alf an hour, that lie did not were coining up vvith us rapiilly. i jivail himself nf this favour.iljle opportunity (if i The Kndymion (mounting 50 guns, l21 p^miid- ! raking us. We continued this course until I rs on the main-deck) h.id now approached us \ eleven o'clock, when tAvo fresh ships of the within gun-shot, and had commenced a tire : enemy (the I'oinonc and T(MU'dos) had couie up. with her bow-guns, which we returned from our i The I'onione had opened her fire on the lar- jtern. At five o'clock she had obtained a posi- j board bow, within musket-shot; the other, tioii on our starboard-quarter, within half j about two cables' length a-stern, taking a that we could not retain lives of many valuable ould have been uselessly most dcMrable to adopt correct statement will be as possible. ,, who bears this to E. relate to him every par- lope, be satisfactory. with respect, &c., iNCE, Lieut-Col. Com. an evident advantage in sailing ; and Captain Hope's exertions enabled iiim to get his ship alongside of the enemy, and coin- i they cmild conic up, and was not without hopes, I if the night proved dark, (of which there was I every appearance.) that I might still be ena- bled to ctt'ect my escape. Our opponent kept, , off at the same instant we did, and our tire point-blank shot, on which neither our stern nor quarter-guns would bear; we were now steer- ng E. by X. the wind N.W. I remained with lor in tins position for half an hour, in the 10 raking position on our quarter; and the rest (with tlio exce])tioii ot' tlie Endymion) within gmi-shot. Thus .-ituated, witli about one filth f my crew killed and wounded, my ship crip- po that she would close with usonour i)road- pled, and a more tlian fo.ir-fold force ojqiosed ■ide, in whieh case I had prepared my crew to ' to me, without a chance of escape left, I deemed i)oard ; but from his continuing to yaw his ship I it my rrect state- 398 illSTOUY OF TllK WAR OF 1812. 'If :i I luonco L'luso action, at liiilf an hour pa.st !) o'clork ill the ovcnin;;, which ■'i'aH unnlinuod witii j^i'cat galhuitry ami spirit, on botli sides for two liours ami a half, wlien the Emljinion'.s sails hoiiig cut from the yanls, thu ciiouiy got a-head : Captain Hope taking this o|)[iortunity to bond new sails, to enable him to get his ship alongside again, tiio action cciiscd ; till the Pomone, getting up at lialf-past 11 at niglit, and firing a few shots, th(^ (Miomy hailed to say shehad already surrendoi'od. "The ship, on being taken possession of, proved to be the President, as above stated, commanded by Commodore Decatur. "The v(!ssel in company -with her was the Macedonian l)rig, a mercliant-ship, laden witii ])rovisioiis, which made her osc.ipo by very superi(jr sailing. "And now, sir, a very pleasing part of my duty is, the bearing testimony to tiie able and masterly manner in which tlic Endy- mion was conducted, and the galhuitry with wiiich sin,' was fought; and wlien tlie effect [iroduced by lier well-dirci'tcd lire n\iitn the President is witnosod, it cannot be doubted but tliat Ca[itain Hope would have succeeded either in capturing or sinking lier, had none of the S(iuadron been in siglit. " I have not yet been able to ascertain the loss of the President, but I believe it to be much greater than the Endymion's, and she had six feet water in tlie iiold wiien taken possession of. J5oth ships were very much] cut in masts and rigging ; and, had the pre sent mo>L ,-lV> ;<; gale commenced twelve hours sooner the iirize would undoulitcdly have sunk. I Iiave the honour to bo, &s. \ JOHX HAYES, captain; llear-admiral tlie Hon Sir H. Hotham." Numltcr of persons of all descriptions on board the President, previous to the action, about 4'JU. Xumljer of her guns o'.). Commodore Decatur has made the moslj ho could of this affair, and in liis attempts t'l make the best of a Ijad cause, he ap|iears tu have been aldy supported liy his clia])laiiii who seems to have been ready to swear t(( anything, as in the case of the chaidain the Essex frigate. Unfortunately, howevcri 1 tlie schoolmaster on board the Pn^sidciitl I Mr. liowie, gave directly contrary evideiic( ! to that of the cliaitlain, ami the circumstanci I of only one shot having entered the Prcsii dent's larboard side, the one opposed to th| ! Pomone, afibrds corroborative evidence tiie truth of Mr. Bowie's statement, " tlial no man had been hurt by the Pomone' fire," in disproof of Dicatur's assertion cod tained in note." Previous to the capture cl laent ; the attention of tlic surf^eon Vicing so entirely occupied witli tl:e wounded, tiiat lie was uiialile to make out a correct return when I left tlie President ; nor sliall 1 lie able to make it until our arrival in port, we having parted company v>'ith the S([uadroii yesterday. 'I'lie enclosed list, with the exception, 1 fear, ol" its being short of the number, will be found correct. For '2 1 hours after the action it was nearly calm, and the scjuadron were occupied in re- pairing the crippled ships. Such of the crew of the i'lcsident as were not badly wounded, were put on board the different ships ; myself and a part of my crew were put on board this ship. Oa tlic ITtli we had a gale from tlie eastward, when this ship lost her bowsi)rit, lore anil main-masts, and mizen-top-mast, all of which were badly wounded ; and was, in con- seiineuce of her disabled condition, obliged to throw overboard all her upper-deck guns : her loss in killed and wounded must have been very great. 1 have not been able to ascertain the extent. Tea were buried after I came on board ; (;U') hours after the action ;) the badly wound- ed, such IIS were obliged to keep their cots, occupy the starboard side :f the gun-deck, from |- tlie cnbin-bulk-hcad to the main-mast. Fnv • the crippled state of the President's spars, feel satisfied she could not have saved Iio|- masts, and I feel serious apprehensions for ti safety of our wounded left on board. It is due to Captain Hope to state, that ever attention has been paid by him to myself am officers that have been placed onboanl his sliiii that delicacy and humanity could dictate. I have the honour to be, kc. STEPHEN DECATUR Th( Hon. I5en. W. Crowninshield, Secr>itary jf the navy. Jiritinh sqii'r'ron referred to in the letter. Majestic razee, Eudymion, Pomone, Tcnedo: Despatch brig. \_IIere foUotc tlic names nf'l^ killed; 55 wounded. '"Extract of a letter from Commodore Decatur i the American secretary of the navtj. New York, March 0, 1815. '•in my official letter of the 18th of JaH uary, I omitted to state, that a consideriibj number of my killed and wounded was from til fire of the Pomone, and that the Endymion La tlic IVc pressed En•. )1IN IIAYKS, ciii.tiiin. II Sir II. llothiun." i s of nil duscrijuioiis (ii4 previous to the actionlj IS ;V,). in- has made the inns !•, and in his attemiits ti| lad cause, ho appears t ported by his ehaplain| eon ready to swear t(^ ease of the eliaplain ( L'ufortunatcly, howeverl I board the President •cclly contrary evidoiic( in, and the cireunistani'i Lvin^ entered the Presi , the one opposed to tin irrohorative evidence ^ P'.vie's statement, " tha hurt by tlic Pomonc' Dicatur's assertion cuu rovious to the capture u to the niain-ninst. Fm' f the Tresidcnt's spars, nild not have saved ho ous apprehensions for tli « (I left on board. II Hope to state, that cvir lid by him to myself iiii n placed on board his sliii| manity could dictate. luiiour to be, &c. STEPHEN DECATUU. rovvninsbield, le navy. referred to in the letter, dymion, Pomone, Tcnedo! '3 of 2 Skilled; >)0 wounded. 'rom Commodore Decatur secretary of the nanj. jw York, March 0, 1815. ettcr of the 18th of Jai state, that a considerab and wounded was from tl uid that the Eudymion li the President, (.'onuuodore Decatur liad ex- pressed iin earne-it desire to fall in with the Kndyiuion, openly avowinj; lii.s capability tu capture an Kntiilish line of battle ship wit'.i liis fri;;;iite. Let us compare the respective nizes (d' the lino of battle ship and the fri<;- atc :— Kiidymion. Pr(>sident. Weif^ht of bro.adsido, lbs. 07() - lUd Crew— Men - - - .'.I'J - 172 IJoys - - - 'J7 - 5 ■ onna;;o - - - 1277 - lo^l.'J "We have heard it stated liy an old inhabi- tant of IJei-muila, who saw the vessels a few days after the ai tion, that the President, alongside of the Endymion, was " like a rpiart alon;;:sid(\ of a ))int bottle," and this difference; in their size rcliects the ;^roiter credit on Cajitain Hope, to whom it is a jiity the opportunity was afforded of lowering, single-handed, the American mania for boasting. Taking Ci.mmodoro Dicatur's whole mysti- fication and false stating of this iiil'air into consideration, and eoni|pariiig his statements with extracts from logs of the IJritish evi- dence, the conviction is forced upon us that the American commander resorted to sub- terfuges and misstatements to cover his de- feat, unworthy both an oilicer and gentleman. The next affair that comes before us for consideration is the capture, by the Consti- tution, of the Cyane, mounting thirty, and the Levant ci;:hteen guns — the one manned by one hundrea and fifty-six men and twenty- six boys ; the other by one hundred and fif- teen men and sixteen boys. The weight of metal thrown by the Constitution's broad- side eipialled that of hci- iwo antag(niists put together, while the British vessels only mounted carronades, and the Constitution showed on her broadside seventeen lontr twenty-fours. Again, the Constitution had an board, in iuldition to her own crow, one lieu- tenant, one master's mate, and fifty men belong- ing to the Saturn, and when the action ceased, was left motionless and uiuiiaiingeablc, until she bent new sails, rove now rigging, ami fished her spars; nor flid s!ic rejoin tlie s([uadron for six hours after the action, and tliree hours after the surrender of the President. >[y swonl was delivered to Captain Hayes, of the Majes- tic, the senior officer of the squadron, on his quarter-deck ; which he, with great politeness, immediately returnci. I have the honor to four humlrcd and seventy-two men, her antagonists two hnndreil and sixty-one, ex- clusive of boys. The particulais of the action will he found in tin' a|i|i(Midix,* and we need only remark further that the oificers and crews were honourably aeipiitted by ii Court Martial, and applauded for the gallant defence (dl'ered. The comnnimler (d" the Constitution laid claim to great creilit for having captured two vessels, contencces- from the Admiral at IJermuda to th(( I'nited I ^'^'^ American Governments to the Indians, States; ofthe I'en-uin, bri-. by the r. S. I "'''• s^e how false to every promise then made ship Hornet; and that of the East Indial^l'C "'^tion has been. Not contented, too. Company's armed vessel. Nautilus by the h^''tl"i^-4«i>-i"^ the lands of the red men, ship l'ea(.'ock. A statement uf the ci^mpara- tivo force ea.-ily enables us to account for the capture of both the I'enj^nin and Nauti- lus. The IVni^uin mounted sixteen carro- nades, thirty-twos, and two six-pounders ; and liad a complement of one hundred and Americans do not hesitate to assert the ne- cessity of destroyin{^ every Indian on the American continent. That by the sword and the introdui'tiun of ardent spirits they have also too well succeeded, is a subject of deep regret to those who still cherish an in- twenty two, of whom seventeen were ))oys ; I Merest in the fate and fortunes of the abori- it may also be added that out of the entire I gio'^l possessors of the soil. In what a proud position, now, did the Ca- nadians stand at the declaration of peace, and in what a ridiculous lij!;ht the American tiovcrnment I Ignorant of the undying love of their country that animated every Cana- dian, and nerved their arms for the contest, the United States Government had boastiniilv ships' crew, only twelve hud been ever in action. The lIornel,:.irried eighteen carronndes, of same weight as those of the Penguin, two long eightcens, swivels in her tops, throw- ing iifty siiot at a discharge, and upon her i( quarters two similar swivels. The comple-j ^j,,^^^,,^^^ t,,^^ (..^^.^j^^ j,^^,^^ ^^^ con-juered, mcntof the Ibu'net was one hundred and j ^^ j^^^.^^ j^^^^i,j^.,^i^,^.^,^.t,,^j^ j^^^^j^^ ,^ j.^^.^^.^^^^ seventy-three men. The last affair between ^ ^.,,5^.,^ f,^,,^^,^ l,aughtily on their country, the N.autilus and lY-aeock was one that ^yj,.^^ ^^..^^ ^,,^, ^.^^^^j^ ^j. ^^m,^^,;^. ^^^^^^5^;^;^ reflected the crowning disgrace on the Ame-;^^j proclamations, that two of their fort- rican character for veracity and honour, and ^.^^^^^.^ ^^.^^.^ j,^ ^^^^ possession at the time of -four rinirton was to be considered a man. IIIst- i ° -t " ^ ^ \ i n 1 •"" " , « , : Ivingston, it would have been utterly impos- excuses are so transi)arcntly false, and the 1 m i„ r ii , , v •. 1 i. ^i \ i \ / ' . ! siblc lor them, having lost the command of impudent assertion that only one broadside ., i , , , 1 1 ^ i- n <• t. , ' ■' ! tlie Jjake, to liavc prevented the fall of Sack- ' ett's harliour early in IBlf). a glance at the annexed notes in the appen- .i,„ .„„,.„„ „„,i .i,„x „„„• „ „ „, 1 i- » . ' ' tlie peace, ana tliat, seeing a seventv-loii dixt will prove how unworthy cai)tain War- „, , , „ <■ • i„ 1 1 1 1 1* 1 , ' ^ . . ' inu large Irigate liad been launched v. *• See Appendix C. f Sec Appendix D. * Treaty of Pciice, Appendix, &c. f'rom ( Miidcii le,'lirilo> war, til to uctioi of wliic minutes "mud. Cons! enemy, as also t her of g suit of t ouii be f. •'oiiiniMii ported t! Inclo> uctioii, ,1 board t!i lor your force of woundeij fjo usceil l[ Hon. B. uf til ■imsricd/l fr/i/alr] of tlini Pra;ja\ ConitnJ focrgy ^v "overcd ; in Port covered iilso HtariJ or osurao to show wlmt m l)r(iii(lsi(lo vi \\h\ do, Imt the only conchiHion t tho (loii;j;h1y Ainori- liin:mitiv<^an"jiiioiuMU ulnod to iu-iiuire hiu- nnd nil that vcinains r us is to record tho i^iiin}? of a treaty at lay of Pcccinher, IS 11. tho ninth article of thi.s I the conduct of si'cces- nments to the Indians, very promisee then made . Not contented, too. ands of the red men, !sitato to assert the nc- ir every Indian on the That hy the sword 1 of ardent sfirits they icceeded, is a suhject of who still cherish an in- 1 fortunes of the abori- he soil. osition.now, did tho Ca- he declaration of yieace, >lous li}:;ht the American rant of the undying love t animated every Cana- cir arms for the contest, vernmcnt had hoastingly lada must ho comiuered, ver their heads, a fortress^ Lightily on their country. It of all their esiicdition'- that two of their fort- possession at the time of ,t, seeing a seventy-four had been launched at have been utterly impos- n"- lost the command of irevcnted tho fall of back- in 1815. APPHMMX. From C'lplaiii SleicKri 'n ihr Amrriran Srcrc'ari/ of the X(iri/. U. S. fri^ato <'oiislilutioii, IMay, IHlij. Kill, — Oil lintli Fohruiiry la-t, tlio isliiiid of Miideria bi'iaiii}; aliout VV.S.NV. distiuit (i'J leagues, we fell in with II. U. M. two ships of war, the (Jiiyne lui'l Levant, ami lirniiiflit tlu'iji to action iiliout () o'clock in tiiu evening; Ixith of which, utter a s()irit('(l cti;j:ii,L!;eiiioiit of lU iiiinutes, surroiulcil to il:j ship under my coiu- innud. Considering tlie aterii of us; finding the Ciyne dropping a-stcrn, and to-lccward, and the frigate gaining on her fast, I fouiiil it iiiipossihle to sav.^ her if she continued on the same eour.-e. without having the Constitution hrought to aeli(.ii hy their whole force. I made the .signal, at 10 minutes past 1 I'. M. to her to tack ship, which was com|died wi;h. This niamcuvrc?, I conceived Avould detach one of the enomy'd ships in j)ur- suitoflier; while, at the same time, from her position, she would be cnahled to reach the anchorage at I'ort I'raya, before the detached ships coiihl come up with her; but if they did not tack after her, it would alfurd her an op- portunity to doulile their rear, and make her escape before the wind. They all coniinueil in full chase of the Levant and tliis ship, the ship on our lee-quarter filing, hy divisions, brondsides, her shot falling short of us. At 'I V. M. /y our having drojiited the L(^v;;nt consi- derably, .ler situation became (from the position i02 TIIK iriSTOMY OV TIIK WAR 01' IR12. of tlio onom^'.t fiij;!ito) Himilar to tluM'nync. It ImciiiiK* lu'rcMsiiry to M('|iiii'iito al^o fioni tlm l.cviiiit, or ri.ik this y.]\\\i liciii;; lirou^lit to iic mill j;iivt! ii|ptlic itin>uif (il'tliis ^lli|^. Tliii' wicri- lict> of tli(! 1,1'viiiil Ipi'iiiiiii! iicccs.-nry, Tm tlic |irc- xcrviitioti lA' tlic Ciiii-tilntiiin. Siiiliiin-iiinctCT li in ti) cover licr. I niiiilc tlio ^ijjiiiil, at r)|||ixoii, Mi'1-liipiimii Vurimiii, ii Jioal-wiiiirH mill, pii^t:!, for liiT to liin'k wliicli siiccoiiiplii'.l ' unite, iiml lli iiieii, were iih-eiit. on iliity In the. wiili. At 12 miiiiili's pa^t :! the wliole otllie lirtli ctilh r, to lirinj; the I'lirtoMirii,' tiiKJer oiii eiioiiiyVhfiiiatlron tii<:ke-ij.rii. Striiii|.;er .--horleil .'iail, in l.-t reef top-sails, hoisted American eoloiu'.s, and havili'd her wind ono]>po.-ite tatd; : appeared to l)C IV tar;:e IVinate, havin;;; 10 ports of a-side. (Cleared tor action ; stranger S. K. byS. ',\ miles. — At •"» Island of Xdc/ii'c N. l>y V,. 12 or lli miles; — cloudy, lost siglit of stranger : — 10 in Lst roofs : — I'J s(|iiallv. I). From Lidtliinanl Uni/cc to the Snrclur;/ of tin: Eitxt Iii(l:'ie on tlio liOth .hino list, in a short I'Ut smart actiim with an American sloo]> of war, oil" Aiijier, in thu htniits of Suiida, have hitherto ]>reventcd my transnuttiiig an otticial •••eport of the eircumstance.s attending that melancholy afVair. I am li.appy to state, that my health i- now tolerably re-established ; and I think my.self particularly fortunate, considering the nature of my Avounds, that tlio honour of addressing you on this sultject has been reserved for my pen, although, no doubt, public rumor has, ore this, i)ut you in possession of nuist of the facts which f now do myself the honor to state, and nMjuest that you will do \m\ the favor to submit them to the honorable board. On the oOtli June last, being olF Anjier, in the straits of Hunda, on my jiassnge to jJcngal. in charge nf public despatches fro»ii the .lava gov(riiuicnt, about 4 I'.M. a strange sail hove jin sight, standing with a fair wind to the north- eastward; and, as the honorable company'* cruiser Nautilus, under my command, was working to the south-westward, the two vessels ajiproached each other rapidly; and, when the stranger was distant about tiirec ndles, 1 ob- serveil that she had IlritisFi ccdor.s hoisted, and knowing that univcrs.al pe.ace had been re- stored to (Jreat 15ritain, I dispatched a boat in chaigeofmy mastei', ^Ir. Hartlett. to olitain ; intelligence, which reached the stranger nearly at the same time as themaster-attend.-uit's from the shore; nnd 1 observed, with my s])ying- glass, that the othcers had no sooner got up to tho ship's side than the crews were forcibly taken out, and both boats made fast a-stern. I prepared for action, and tiie stranger at onco opened her tier of ports, and bore down towards* us. To jncvent her crossing our hawse I tacked, then shortened sail, hove to, and soon afterwards liMiled the stranger, "What sh"; is that '.'■' To wdiich I receivtd no rcjtlj', until re- peated four times, and then merely " IIo'loo I"' j.Vbi'Ut this prriod the I'iUglish blue ei sign was h.'iuled down, and American colours hoisted. I jtiieu asked '■ Am I to consider you in the light ,of a friend or an enemy?" The reply was, AITKNDIX, 4o:i his ^llil>. Tliiv dficri- 'cc.iniry, I'i'i' ill'' Jii'f- ion. Sllilin^c-lllll^tl•T mm, II 1) .iit-wiiin'M -(•III on "liity ill till' irtoMiriir »iiiiii'r oiii 10, rob. 21;, 1S11. iift>. _ _ rigs lit 1101)11. ilsN. 7:1 >V. I'.tni. till' jiinls liy, toiillow , lifilitiiirs.— .\t 1.:10, • iiiuiii-st;iy-siiii. — At i}ii], top-ijiiillaiit, low- hiiils. — lliniK'd to tlic Hindu nil siiil to (.•lo'"' \ miles. — y Vj. lli ♦)!• l;i miles; ger: — 10 in Lst redV. : (';iii' wind to tlie nortli- lioiioriible I'oiiipimy'* my commimd, was twnrd, the two ves.-'ols- [lidly ; mid, wlicii the ut tlii'io miles 1 ob- riti^Ji c'ol(jr.'< luii.stcd, al peace liad been re- I disjiati'hed a boat in I'. r>ai'tk'tt, to obtain L'd the straiif^er iieiirly ister-atteiid;iiit"s tVoin ved, with my i-pvinj;;- d no sooner [\ot up i(> e erews wei'o i'oreibly s made fast a-stern. I the .stranper at once and l;oie down towards ;rossin;^ our hawse I :ail, hove to, iuid soon an;:rr, " AVlint sir; is •ivid no rcjil^', until re- leii merely " IIoMoo I" xlisli blue ei si^ii was can colours hoisted. I insider you in the lijAiil ly ?" The reply was, "An Piicmy." I then Informcil the .\mrrlenn Cilptaiti that pence had Imtm rulilicd between (Jreal I'litaiii nnd the United Slates of Amer- i :a ; al-o, thai I had lhi> prodamutioti on board, and hoped that 11 ilii(> oinslderiitioii of thi" would induce him to .'^pare blood.-heil. was then commanded, in 11 very loud and peremptory iimnner, to "haul down my colours, " which .viis imniediatejy repented still louder, nnd with the addition ot "instantly;" towliicli I ri'iilied, " 1 shall do no Mich tliinj;." 'i'lie .AiiirricMii then opened his lire on 11-:, by which two men were killed at the (;iiii near me, and 1 reci'ivi d a f;rape-shot, in 11 slaiitin;; direction, through the riKht cheek of my posteriors. A hhort but brisk action ensued, and ol --erviii;; some casualties, my lir>t lieutenant, Mr. llobert Alayston, and several otlurs, wouiideij, nnd beinj; myself disableil by a .'i'J-pound .shot which sliattereil my rijiht knee-joint, and sjilin- tered my tliii^hbone ; also considering^ the great •ilisparity of force, I deemed it my iluty, nl- thou;:h I must confess that it was with no small degree of reluctance, to strike the JJritisli colours to the American. Her first lieutenant, about dusk, took jpossession of us. She proved to he the U. S. sloop of war Peacock, Capt.iin AVari'iii;;ton, carrying twenty ii'J-pounil earro- nndes, and tw^o loiif; 18-pounders. Her crew is said to consist of 2110 men. I'loth vessels anchored for the night nboutsix miles oH' Anjicr, and in the luorninfi I w.is jier- mitted to be taken on shore, as well as the rest t of (he killed nnd woundeti on board tlie honorable eonipany'M cruiser Nautilus, on the .'KMh of last .hine ; nnd, in h'niiig to l.'iiiient the los.-t of so mnny, 1 re- gret that a fairer ojiportunily for tlM'ir exer- tions was not nll'iiided them, and i.iy-elf, with 1 vessel of more eijual force. What loss the -\merican may h.'ive sustained I am not alile to say. If report is to be relied on, they iiad four or live nien wounded, and their bow-gun di-mouiited. The damage the Nautilus received in the ac- tion was cotisideralile both to her liull and rigging. The bends on the starboard-siile, (the side engaged,) were fhivered from aft to the fore-chains, and the bulwark, frniii tlie chess-tree aft, much torn. The laiiinli and cut- ter were both perforated with shot, the lower mast and tiller slightly wounded with grape, and the bonm-main-sail shot through in many places. Two guns were disabled by the enemy's shot, nnd the sheet-anchor compb'tely so, by the loss of its iron stock, ring, andtluke. Four ;i2-pound shot, that were found lodgeil, have been iiicked out of her: one w.'is under the counter, very nearly level with the water. A great number (d" small-arms and gunner's stores were thrown overboard by (he Americans on their taking possession, to clear the deck. The packets, I am happy to say, remained on board without being touched, but almost every thing below was ransacked. It now only remains for me to do that justice to the conduct of the officers and crew of tin- Nautilus, on the .'iOth of last June, which they so well deserve, by declaring my admiration of their firmness, and thus i)ublicly expressing my satisfaction with their conduct throughout. The two sonpoys atid native servant, witli amputated limbs, have, I understand, recovered, aud been sent by (.'aptain William KatwcU, of the honorable company's cruiser Henares, to Calcutta, in the honorable company's cruiser Antelope. Lieutenant Maystone's wound was once healed, but has broken out afresh ; he x-^ lowever now, I am happy to say, again on the recovery.* My own cure has been greatly ir>:- peded by two unfortunato tistulas, in my siumji. which have caused me to suffer much. Tliu rest of the wounded are all well. Ecidoice of Mr. Macgrcrjor. Question. Did you communicate to the offi- cers of the enemy's ship, before the action between her and the honorable company's crui- ser Nautilus took place, that peace had been concluded between Great Britain and the United States, and ratified by both parties? Ansiver. I did : I communicated to the first lieutenant, * Tlic wnunil subBeiiueutly mortified, ami h'! 'IkJ Pt"- i-'.iuVht ord, lbl5. 404 Tin-: IllSTOllY OF THE WAR OF 18J2. I on his itifuniiin;; mo tli;it 1 win a i»i'isi,uer of war; but 1 scaroc siiid it, wlifii tlio cap- tain Clime forward and ordered nu> to be taken Ijolow. I cimimunicatcd the above also to tlie |iuiscr of tlie f^!iii>, in tlic Avard-room. — <.j. Wliut time li.id you lieen on '.oanl litforc the coiunieiiccnient of the ^aid action? .1. llatlier more tliau a t, in the straits of Sunda, I take tlie liberty of makinj; known to you the particulars. In the afternoon of that day, when a-breast of Anjier, 11s we closed with this brig, wliich ipl/cared evidently a ve.ssid of war, and coni- pli;tely prepared for action, her commander liailed, and aiik'j .. if 1 knew there was a peace. I replied in the iwg.itivc, directing liim, at tlie Mime time, to haul h' ; colours down, if it were the case, in to! ••! of it ; a Idingthat, if he did not, F should firo into her. 'J'his being refused one of the forwi'rd guns were lircd at lier, which was immctliateiy returneil by a broad-ide from the brig; our broini-ide was then discliargeil, and his colours were struck, after having six lascitrs killo 1, and seven or eight wounded. As we had not the mo->t distant idea of peace, and this vessel was but a short distance from the fort of \njier, I cons'd:>reu \'.< assertion, coupled with iiis arrangcni it f .r action, a finesse on his jiart, to ainnso us, lill lie ould place himself iind'.'r the protcctioi. of the lOrt. A fcAV minutes bcn'orc coming in > ■ itact with the brig, two boats, containing tne master-attcii ;ant at An- jii'i', and an otticer of the army, eriuc on board, and as wo were in momentary expectation of tiring, they were, with their men, passed below. I concluded that they liad Ijeen mi-led by the liritish colours, undi'r which wo had passed up the straits. No ut to them: and they, very improperly, omitted mentioning that peace existeil. The nest day, after receiving such intelligence as they had to coinmunicato on the subject, (part of which was official,) I gave up thevessel, first stopping hei" shot-holes, and putting the rig- ging in order. T am aware th.xt I may be to blame for ceasing hostilities without more authentic evi- denca that peace \\"\ been concluded ; but, I tru'^t, when our di,-tanco from liome, witli the little chance we had of receiving such evidence, lire taken into con,-ideration, I shall not be thoiigUt to have decided prematurely. tui:aty of rivAct;. His 15ri tannic Majesty and the United States of America, desirous of terminating the war which has so nnha])pily subsisteil between the two countries, and of restoiing, u])iin [irin- ciples of perfect reciprocity, jieace, frieiulsliip, and good understtuiding lietwccn them, have, foi" that purpose, appointed their resjiectivu plenipotentiaries, that is to say : his Ibitannic .Majesty, on his part, has appointed the right honorable James, Lord (I imbier, late admiral of the white, now admiral of the red siiuadron of his Majesty's lleet, Henry Goulboiirn, Esq.. member of the Imperial parliament, and under secretary of state, and William Adams, Esq. doctor of civil laws: — and the president of the United .States, l)y and with the advice and con- sent of the senate thereof, has appointed John Quincy .\dams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay. Jonathan Russell, and Albert (Jallatin, citizens of the United States, who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers, have agreed upon the following articles : Art. I. — There shall be a firm and universal jieace between his Britannic ^liijesty and the United States, and between their respectire countries, territories, cities, towns, and people, of every degree, without exception of places or persons. All hostilities, both by sea and land, shall cease as soon as this treaty lias been r'.tified by both parties, as hereinafter men- tioned. All territories, places, and possessions whatsoever, taken from cither party by the other, during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands liereinafter mentioned, shall be re- stored without delay, and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any of the artillery or other public property originally captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain therein, npon the exchange of the ralltications of the treaty, or any slaves, or other private property, and all archives, re- cords, deeds, and papers, cither of a public nature, or belonging to private persons, which, in the course of the war, may have fallen into the liands of the officers of cither jiarty, .sliall be, as far as may bo in-iieticable, forthwith restored and delivered to the proper- aulhorities and pcr.soiis to whom they respeciivcly belong. Such of the inlands in the bay of I'assama- ([uodily as arc claimed by both parties, shall remain in the poi-ses.sion of the jiarty in whose occupation they may be at the time of the ex- change of the ratilications of this treaty^ until the decision respecting the title to the said islands shall have been made in conformity with the fourth article of this treaty. No dis- po.sitlon made by this treaty, as to such posses- sions of the islands and teiritoiies claimed by both parties, shall, in any manner Avhatcvcr, bo construct<;d to all'ect the right of either. Art. n. — Immediately after the ratification of thi:i treaty by both jiarties, as liereinafter mentioned orders shall be tent to the armies, squadrons, officers, subjects, and citizens of tlio two powers to ccuoC from all hcslilitiej; and to prevent al arise on i taken at s( it is recip (tfects will twelve day parts of tl latitude of latitude of in the Atl.i of west loi wi(di, shnl time shall the Atlanti or ei|Uator, and Irish t all jiaits of North Sea.s the .Medite ocean soutl tude of till for every p tor : ami oi other parts Art. III. either side, restored as cation id' tl on their ya. contracted contructing charge, in s been made inaiuteiianc Alt. IV. second art thousand s tween lii.s States of . United Sta within twei liip, lutwccn tlicni, liavc, ted their rcspcctivu say: liis Uritaiinic appuintod the riglit ] nliior, hite admiral of the red ki madron of ] •y Gi)ulbuiirn, Esq.. i irlianicnt, and under rilliam A(hrni«, Ksq. tlie president of the 1 the advice and cou- has appointed John Bayard, Henry Clay, )ert Gallatin, citi?,en.« 0, after a reciprocal spcctivo full powers. )wing articles : I a firm and universal nio Jlajesty and the •eon their rcspectlTe !S, towns, and people, 'xccption of places or )oth by !-ca and land, his treaty lias been as hereinafter mcn- laccs, and possc^siotiH either party by the • -which may be taken reaty, excepting; only entioncd, shall be rc- without causing any ; away any of tin- ; property originally i or places, and wliich 1 tho exchange of the or any slaves, or and all archive^, re- , cither of a public ivatc person.'', which, may have fallen intu )f cither jiarty, shall practicable, forthwith the prope^' authorities y rcspeciivcly belong, he bay of I'aiisama- by both parties, shall of the party in whose it the time of tho ex- s of this treaty^ until tho title to the said made in conformity this treaty. No dis- ity, as to .-iioh pos.ses- territorics claimed by ' manner whatever, be iglit of cither. after tlic ratification irties, as hereinafter )0 tetit to the arniiea, jts, and citizens of tho all hcstilities ; iind to prevent all causes of complaint which might arise on acount of the jai/es which may be taken at sea after the ratihcationsnf thistreaty. it is reciprocally agreed, thiit all vessels and (tfects which may be taken utter the space of twelve days from the said ratiiicatio!is, upon all parts of tho eo.^^ t of North America, fri)ni the latitude of twonty-threo degrees nm-th, to the latitude of fifty degrees north, as far eastward in the .Xtlantic Ocean as tlie thirty-sixth degree of west longitmle from the meridian of (Ireen- wich, shall be restored on each side : that the time shall be thirty days in all other parts ot the Atlantic ocean, north of the eiiuiiioxial line or cquatoi-, and the same time fur the UritLsh and Irish channels, for the gulf of Mexico, auvl all jiarts of the West Indies : forty days lor the North Seas, for the Baltic, and for all ]jart< of the Mediterraiu>an. Sixty days for the Atlantic ocean south of the equator as fai- as the Lati- tude of the ('a])e of Good Hope: ninety days for every part of tho world south of the equa- tor: and one hundred and twenty days for all other parts of the world, witliout exception. Art. 111. — .Ml prisoners of war taken on either side, as wi'il by land as sea, shall be restored as soon as practicable after the ratifi- cation (jf this ti'catj', as hereinafter nuntioned, on their jniying the debts whicii they may have contracted during their captivity. Tho two contructing parlies respectively engage to dis- charge, in specie, the advai\ces Avliich may have been made by the other, for the ,sn-tcnance and maintenance of such jirisouei's. Art. IV. — Whereas it was stipulated by the second article in the treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred and eigiity three, be- tween his I)ritannic Majesty and the United States of America, that the boiuidary of the United States shonld comprehend all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the Uniteil States, and lyirg between lines to be drawn due east from the )ioints where the aforesaid boundries between Nova-Scotia, on the one part, and East Florida on the other, .shall respectively touch the bay of I'nniiy, and the Atlantic ocean, excepting such isl.an'ls as now arc, or heretofore have been within the limits oi' Nova-Scotia: and whereas the several islands in the bay of I'assainaqn.iiMy, which is part of tiie bay of Fundy, and the island of Grand Menan, in tho said bay of I'undy, arc olainuMl by the United States as being conqjre- hended within their aforesaid boundaries, which said islands are claimed as belonging to his Britannic majesty, as having been at the time of, and jo'evioiis to, the aforesaid treaty of one thou'^and seven hundred and eighty-three, within the limits of the province of Nova Scotia: in order, therefore, finally to decide upon these claims, it is agreeil that they shtill be referred to two commissioners, to bo appointed in the following manner; viz. One conuiii.isioner shall be appointed by his Britannic nnijesty, and one iiy the I'resident of the United State-^, by and with the advice and consent of the senate thei'<'( I', and the said two commissioners so iippointed shall be swuru impartially to ex- j amine and decide upon the .=aid claims, accord- ting to sindi evidence as shall be laid before ! them, on the | art of his Britannic .Maje-ty and ! of the I'nitfd Slates respectively. 'I'he said jconunissioners sh.'ill meet at St. .\ndrews, in the I province oints of which they dilfer. and the grounds uiion which their resjiective ojiinions have been formeil, in* the grounds upon whicli they, or eitiiei- of them, have so refused, de- clined, or omitted to act. And his Britannic .Majesty, and the government of the United Slates, hei'eby agree to refer the rejtort or re- ports of the said cart of the bound;iry line between the dominion of the two powers whicdi extends from the source of the river St. Croix directly north to the above mentioned north-west angle of Nova Scotia, thence along tiio said high lands which divide those rivers that empty tliemselves into the river St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the north-westennno^t 40G TllK HISTORY OF TIIK WAIl OF 1812. Iiojul of ('oniiccticut river, tlicnce down uloii}^ tlic miildle of timt river to tlio forty-liftli degree of north iMtitiide: tlieneo l)y ii line duo we.-t oil fSt. Croix, to tlie river Iroquois or Cataraguy, to be surveyed suid markeil accord- ing to the s.'iid ]irovisions. The said commis- sioners shall nuike h map of the said boundary, and annex it jiut ratificatio;i ( with all the i whom they n f ratifie.-ition : ; ti'ibes or init :' sioMs, rights ' have eiijiiv,' i sand eight h I' hostilities: ^ f; nations shall <: againt the V I' zens anil su' I present treat I nations, and I ills Britannic I put an end ii f the pi'csent 5^ tribes oi' nati |;be at war a I I forthwith to I respectively, |; privileges, u ^; heen entitled iind eleven, [ vided always iigree to dv- PUritaniiic Ma r APPENDIX. 407 said coiniiussioiicrs V nceat Albany, in the ill have power to ad- v 1 or places as they ;oniuiissioners shall, mdcr their hands and iry through the said munication.--, and de- I contractinfi; parties ivithin the said river, licatioHH, do respec- , ity with the true in- ' one thousand seven ; And both partiee ignation and decision And in tlie event oC •s differing, or both, ig, declining, or wil- rcports, declarations, ,de by them, or either ■rence to a friendly I made in all respects the fourth article is 1 a manner as if the agreed that the said niissioners, after they uties assigned to them shall be, and they are their oaths, imparti- according to the true of peace of one thou- ighty-threc, that part the dominions of the Is from the water coni- Iluron and lake Supc- ;stcrn point of the lake to which of the two Is lying in the lakes, d rivers, forming the tivcly belong, in con- tent of the said treaty J seven hundred and use such parts of the > it, to be surveyed and nissioners shall, by a nder their hands and mdary line aforesaid, :ie points thus referred •ize the latitude am' lorth-westcrn point of id of such other parts they may deem proper. consider sucli desig- fmal and conclusive, aid two commissioners of them, i-efusing, de- tting to act, such rc- xtement shall be made .■m, and such reference r state, shall be made he latter part of the lecl, and in as full a lis herein repeated, •al boards of two com- 1 the four preceding !ly have power to ap- employ such surveyoia I I or other persons as they sh.ill .judge necessary. Diijilicates of all their respective rejjorts, de- clarations, statements, and decisions, and of their accounts, and of the journal of their jire- cceiling". shall be delivered by them to the agents of his Uritannic Mnjesty, anil to the agents of the United States, wiio may be re- spectively ajipointcd and authorized to manage the business on bclialf of their respective governments. The said commissioners sliall be respectively paid in such manner as sliall be iigri'cd between the two cniitractiiig parties, .sucii agreement tteing to be settled .at the time of the exchange of the ratilicationn of this treaty ; and all otlier expenses atteuiling said c(,mmis.doners shall be detVayed e(jually by the parties. And, in case of death, sickness, resig- nation, or necessary absence, the place of every such ccimmissioner respectively sliall be su})- plied in the same manner as such coKimis>ioiui' was iirst ajtpointed, and the new coiniuis.-ioner shall take the same oath or alVuiiiation, and do the same duties. It is further agrecil between the two contracting parties, tliat in case any of the islands mentioned in any of the preceding articles, which were in the possession of one of tli(! parties prior to the coniniencenient of tlie present war b.'tween (he cooatries, sho'ild. by tlie decision of any of the boards of ciuamis- sioners aforesaid, or of the sovereign fir state so rcfVricd to, as in the fo\ir next pr.'CL'ding artick"^ containi'ii, fall within tlie dominions of the other party, all grants ol lands made pre- vious to the commencement of the war. by the jiarty having had such possession, shall be a-- valid as if such island or islands iiad. I)y smdi decision or decisions, been adjudged to b? within the dominions of tlie party havin;;- such possession. Art. IX.— Tlie United States of Aineri.'a en- gage to put an end, immediately .after the ratification of tlie present treaty, to In stilities with all the tribes or nations of Indians, with whom tliey may be at war at the time of such ratification ; and forthwith to restore to such trilies 01- t\ations. respectively, all tlie jiosses- sioiis, rights, and jirivileges, which tliey may have enjoy 'd or licen cntitle(l to in one thou- i sand (Mglit hundred and eleven, previous to such I hostilities : !' ovidetl always, tliat siicli tribes or 9 nations shall ;rrce to desist iVoiii all hostilities' I againt the United States of ,\mcrica, their citi-- \J zens and subjects, upon the ratification of the' I present treaty being notified to siicli tribes or; nations, ami shall so desist accoi'dingly. And- his IJritannic Majesty engages, on his part, to! , put an end immediately after tlie ratification of i l' the present treaty, to jiostilities with all the! f tribes or nations of Indians with whom he may'^/,, I be at war at the time of such ratification, andj — ratification of the present treaty licing notified to .such tribes or nations, jiiid shall so desist accordingly. .Art. X. — AVhereas tin r.iHicin slaves is irre- concilable with t!ic piiui !e of liumanity and justice, and uiiereas liotli ;iis ISritannic M;ijesty and tlie United Slat?s are d<"irous of continu- ing tlieir efforts to promote its entire al)(dition, it is hereliy agri'cd that both the contracting parties sliall usetheii' best endeavours to accom- plish s,) dcsiralile an object. Art. XI. — This treaty, when tlie same shall have been ratified riu lioth sides, witliout alter- ation liy either of the contracting parfiesand the r.atifications mutually exclianged, shill be bind- ing on b(>tli )iarties and the ratifications shall 1)0 ex(dianged at Washington, in the space of four months from tliis day, or sooner, if practi- cable. In faith wiiereof, we the rcsjiective ]ileni{)0- tentiaries. have signed this tiasity, and have thereunto athxed our seals. l)one. in triplicate, at Ghent, the twenty - fourth (lay of December, one tliousaiid eight hnndrcd and fourteen. r..\:\iiiii;R. IIKMIV (i()ULr,()rilN. WILLIAM ADAMS, •lOll.N (iUi.VCV ADA.MS, .1. A. r.AVAi;!). li. ('1,AV. JONATHAN i;i s.-;i;i.L. ALIJi;;iT (;.\1, LATIN. .Now. tlurcfortto the end of tliesaiii treaty of |icace;in 1 amity maybe obscrvnl \vith goml f;iith. on tiu'i^art oliiii- United Slates, l,.Ia!iKs Madison. I'rrsid.'Mt as aforesaid, liavec:iii-e I the )>reinises to lie made public : ,and 1 do liereby oiijoin all persons bearing oflicc, civil or mililai'v, within tlie United States, and all others, citiziii or in- liabit.iiit thereof, or being within tlie same, faithrully to observe and fulfil tlie said treaty, and every clause and article tloireoi'. In testiinony whereof 1 have ca;i.t-d the seal of the United States to be aRixe 1 to thoe pre- sents, and signed the same with my l::'.nd. l>ouo at the City of Washington, this eigh- teenth day of Uebrnary, in the year (d'our Lordone thousand eight liundre Unitcil Statos the tliirtv-ninili, JA.Mi:S .MADISON. Uv the jircsidcnt. JAMKS .MONCOi". TiiUil J]n'!i.sh mill American CniiKci-fi cnjitiind or (lixlroi/fd, excluding I'lone ri'-cijUihiil, liuiini/ the ll'(/;-';— I forthwith to restore to such trilies or nationsi 1. respectively, all the possessiiais, rights, audi I privileges, which they may have enjoyeil, ori ' pheen entitled to. in one thousand eight liiuidrcd' j luid eleven, previous to such hostilities : Pro- ; I>rili;-h ....| vided always, that such tribes or nations slialij j agree to d;^■:ist from all hostilities against jiis ' Aiecri.'.in .. ^IJritiinnic Majesty, and his subjects, upon the _ Vessels. ;]0 CI Guns. :):'>0 (it;o Com;>l( ments Tons, l()'J7;j Ty.)\ ; M818 40S TlIK IirSTOIlY OF TJIK WAIl OF 1812. Lint i:f Hiitis/i (in'l Aiii'-rii-a.i luilixni'il irui."ii. UUITISIF. Slii l>s riiuncs. (inn-. : (^)iiri. 'I'lisi.-. MiicciliPii ('v.ino, Alert. KpG I'vicr, ii\vreii..e. lloxer. sr. ]. IlilJlhrtyfi-, lii,!livlii>u, No. .sc. Sc.j Sc! I '.I IS 14 ]:! ■ •2'.^-2 1081 171 .-)■",'.» «() ;{'.);] 117 ci; 17'.) 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