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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. f errata d to It le pelure, pon d i: 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 TH yOUMERL J. I 1 1 1 9 THE WAR, AND ITS lOEAL: CANADIAN CHRONICLE. BY WILLIAM F. COFFIN, Esquire, FORMERLY 8HBRIFF OF THE DISTRICT OP MOVTEPAT T ri^rr^ ORDNANCE ESTATES, CANADA. ►♦-♦-♦4 PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 1864. F som 3079 Entered, according to, the Act of the Provincial Parliament, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, by William F. Coffin, in the OfiBce of the Registrar of the Province of Canada. 1 ■I ■I anU late Ottawa -0 STo tlje Iclififjt S^onourablt Sir €bmuttb Malhet fcab, garontt, <^f i« pinjestg's piosl ionowafrle |!rifjg domcxl, anti late ffioijemor ©mcral anti ffi;ommantier=m»CfjieE of Btitisf; Nortfj Slincrica, Mx& a^mmm (^hvonitU 0f iU Way of I8I2 58 respfttfun? mmttO, ftg fjia faitljM anU grateful Serbant, WILLIAM F. COFFIN. Ottawa, 2nd January, 1864. i SIR My I name a I do ir indeed, the api Crown to an i( The Provim notable contact revived Tlie of my c the me In the Quebec Sir Ge( on his Fiftc try wl] Durinf never to mai materi TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE i SIR EDMUND WALKER HEAD, BARONET. My dear Sir, — I venture to appeal to your respected name as the best introduction for the little work which I do myself the honour to dedicate to you. To you, indeed, it owes its existence. You conferred upon me the appointment I have the honour to hold under the Crown in Canada, and that appointment has given life to an idea, long cherished in embryo. The management of the Ordnance Lands in this Province has thrown me upon the scenes of the most notable events of the late war. It has brought me in contact with many of the surviving actors. It has revived early recollections of my own. The achievements of 1812 were the household words of my childish days. For three years, I grew up among the men, and almost among the incidents of the tim.e. In the Spring of 1815, from ^ :\<^ Grand Battery at Quebec, I had watched the slow avalcade wnich bore Sir George Prevost across the ice of the St. Lawrence, on his return to England. Fifteen years afterwards brought me back to a coun- try which, for thirty-three years, has been my home. During this long interval, the subject of the war has never ceased to be one of great interest. It has led to many enquiries, and to a gradual accumulation of material, which might have seen light earlier, had I DEDICATION. not been daunted hy a wholesome precept of my Eng- li.sli schooling : Si quantum cuperem, possem quoque. Non meus audet, liem tentaro pudor, quam vires ferro rocusent. That I do so now, must be ascribed, in great part, to the liberality of my Publisher; in some degree to the pressure of a l)elief that, under the circumstances of the times, the eftbrt had become a duty ; and still more, to the opportunity and incentive you liad made. Permit me therefore, "si tain imrviim carmen^ majestas reclpit ilia," to offer to you, in your honourable retire- ment, this mark of respectful homage. Canada owes to you a deep debt of gratitude. The revival of the military spirit of the country is due to your fostering hand. At your touch the Volunteer force sprang into life. The spirit you infused is inextinguishable. Your parting words will never be forgotten. As a member of that force, " quorum imrs parva fui,^' I offer this humble tribute to your talents, your patriotism, and to your manly, English, independence of character, and have the honour to subscribe myself, My dear Sir, With regard and gratitude, Your faithful servant, WILLIAM F. COFFIN. Ottawa, 2nd January, 1864. 'my Eng- at, t part, to 'ce to the CJCH of the till more, ,de. I, majestas »lo retire- a owes to 1 of the fostering rang into le. Your member )ffer this 1, and to ter, and Works consulted and documents furnished — chiefJi/ Ijj 2)('rsonal friends — tvJdch have contributed to this Clironicle 'of Trar 0/1812. Alison History of Europe. ./antes A. Military occurrences of the War. ■Inmes Naval History. rhristia History of Lower Canada, /JiMj/tiHicc/:.. .History of tlic War. Armstrong .. .Notices of tlio War of 1812. Tuppcr Life of Broclt, and Corrcs. Stnne Life of Brant. Xfff. Army and Navy ot America. Schoolcraft. , .Indian Tribes (larncau, History of Canada. liihaiid Histoiro du Canada, Croil Dundas, a sketch of Canadian History. Mansfield.. . . Life of Gen. Scott. Giffbrd History of tlio War of French Uevolution. Sab'me American Loyalists. Vtritas Letters of 1816. Answer to Veritas. ,Tlio Canadian Inspector. Pontiac Conspiracy of. Goodrich History of the United States— r. I'arloy. Greig History of Montreal. liouckette — Topography. Morgan Celebrated Canadians. Montreal Uerald, 1811, 1812, 1813, ami 1811. Manuscripts, Memoranda of: OFFIN. Major General Thomas Evans. .Tames Richardson, D.D. Col. Sir Etienne Tach«. ('olonol John Clarke, St. Catherines. Judge Jarvis, Cornwall. Colonel McLean, Scarborough. Squire Reynolds, Amherstburg, Serjeant Andrew Spearman. Manuscript Memoir of Sir George Provost. Journal of General and Governor Slmcoc. Report, Loyal and Tatriotic Society, 1817. Report of Commissioners of Indian Affairs. Letter of Philalethes in the United Service Journal, 1848. Review of Tupper's Life of Brock, in the same. The Author tenders his thanks to the Hon. Pierre J. 0. Chauveau, Superin- tendent of Education, L. C, for access to the valuable collection of Books and Documents relating to Canadian History, to be found in the Library of the Jacques Car tier Normal School, Montreal. Frcamblo — ERRATA. P. 48, line 24, for " Howard," read " Heward." P. 62, line 1, for " Howard," read " Howard." P. 29, line 18, for " Admiral Humphreys," read " Admiral Berkeley." CONTENTS. r CHAPTER I. Frcamblo. rAOK ,.. 17 CHAPTER II. 1 1812— Duration of tho War— FccUng In Canada. The War no Canadian qnarrol. Value of Canada to England at that crisis. Tlio fooling between tho British and American people. British prctensionB— Right of Search— Resisted by tho Danes— Tho northern powers— Tho Americans. Dritish dilemma. Blockado of 180C. Berlin and Milan Decrees. Orders in Council. Constructive Blockado. French and American in- consistency. Troubles of neutrals. AlTair of tho Leopard and Chesapeake, 1807. American exacerbation. British exclusion from American harbours. American gratitude to France. French sympathy in Canada a mistake. Tho Eastern States averse to the War. AflUir of the Trcsldent and Littlo Belt, 1811. Irritation in- creases. Vresident of United States apixals to Congress. War declared 18th Juno, 1812. Futilo attempt to capture British Westlndia fleet. British disbelief In a war. 21 CHAPTER m. state of Canada at the outbreak of the war. Military force — Attitude of tho people. Avatar of Brock— His character and early career— Letter from Montreal, 1808— Takes command of troops in Upper Canada, 1810— Becomes Lieutenant-tiovernor, 1811. Hull invades Canada, 12th July, rroclamation— Brock's reply— Meets rarliament. Spirit of th6 country. United Empire Loyalists. Proctor at Amherstburg, 4th August— Detaches Tecumseh— Defeats Van Home. On 7th August, Hull retires from Canada. Affair at Magagua. Capture of Michilimacinac, by Capt. Roberts and Toussaint Pothier. Brock with York Volunteers reaches Amherstburg. Inter- view with Tecumsoh. Capture of Detroit, 16th August, 1812 as CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. TAOS Brock providos for the safety of his conquest and returns to York— Urgent for action- Controlled by an armistice between Sir George rrevost and General Dearborn. Sir George at Quebec. Energy of tao Lower Canada Legislature— I'rovido money —Provide men. The Americans threaten Montreal— Niagara. Detroit. Inroad at Gananofiue. Affair at Ogdensburg. Krock returns to the Niagara frontier. Van Kenselaer and the Militia— Crazy for a dash. Capture of the Detroit and Caledonia off Fort Erie. Military ardour of the ' 'w York Volunteers uncontrol- lable. Van Kenselaer resolves to cross the NiRgara frontier. Qneenston Heights. Battle 13th October— Death of Brock and JIacdonald— Arrival of Sheaffe— Final victory- Surrender by Scott. John Beverley Kobinson. Brock's funeral. Scott and the savages 60 CHAPTER V. Armistice between Sheaffe and Van Kenselaer. Eastern frontier— Affair at St. Regis. "Capture of a stand of colors "— Setaliation. Hard frost below— ricasant weather west. American squadron and Commodore Earle. Gallant exploit of the Canadian schooner Simcoe. Chauncoy and Captain Brock. Armistice between Smyth and Shealfe terminated. Descent on Cana ''an IVonticr. Americans repulsed. Fort Erie summoned. Bishop won't give up Smyth retires into winter quarters, and goes south. United States disunited oi the war— Canada unanimous. Sufferings and spirit of the people. Loyal and Pati 'ic Society 65 CHAPTJ I VI. Naval occurrences of the war. Supremacy o: Ingland on the ocean. Indifference to foreign progress. American frigates— U' vailed in construction— Speed— Equip- ment^Powcr. Naval duels. The Const. ' n and Guerri^re. The Frolic and Wasp. The United States and Macedonian. The Java and Constitution. Effect of these contests. Exultation of Europe. England nerved and steeled. The Hornet and Peacock. Counter-stroke. Shannon and Chesapeake. Moral effect. The balance redressed. Gallantry on both sides. Effect of these events on the war in Canada 75 CHAPTER VII. 1813. American preparations on Lakes Ontario and Eric. British Ministry did its best —Canada its duty. Men and money voted. New Brunswick regiment marched fi-omFrcderictou on snow shoes. Mi^or General Evans. Sir J«me8 Yeo and seamen arrive Uarrisc town. cott. donncll of the i story. British arm scent pi —What on the clerk of Sheaffe. F< approac diers. tion of Amcrici follows CONTENTS. XI PAGE t for action— il Dearborn, ovido money oit. Inroad lira frontier. Detroit and 8 uncontrol- ton Heights, leaffe— Final leral. Scott 60 PAGE arrive from Halifax. British and American forces on the frontier. In tlio West. Harrison and Proctor. General Winchester delbated and captured at French town. Capt. Forsyth harries Brockvillo. Reprisals. Sir George I'rcvost at I'res- cott. I'ermits a demonstration. Prescott. Ogdensburg. Colom-l (ioorge Mac- donnoll. The Glengarries. Bishop Macdonnell. Dash at Ogrton.sburg— Dangers of the icc— The place taken. Capt. Jenkins and Lieut. Ridge. Pierre Holmes. His story. Mucdonnell's courage, courtesy, and kindness 84 CHAPTER VIII. British armaments at Kingston and York. British force. American strength. De- scent planned on Kingston. York and Fort George. Little York— What it was —What it is. Defences in 1813. York attacked 26th April, 1813. Ship of war on the stocks, on British order. First alarm. I'luck of the pojiulation. Maclean, clerk of the House of Assembly, killed. Young Allan MacNab. Sir Roger Sheaffe. 97 t St. Regis, ant weather le Canadian Smyth and ilsed. Fort larters, and Sufferings 65 CHAPTER IX. Sheaffe. Force at his disposal. His dispositions. MacNeil of the 8th. American approach— Disembark in Humber Bay— Gallant resistance— Slaughter of the Grena- diers. I'iko lands — Presses on the town — Enters the old fort — E.xplosion — Destruc- tion of friend and foe. I'iko killed. Sheaffe retires. The place capitulates. American Vandalism. Bishop Strachan. His admirable letter. The farce which follows the tragedy. Tho " human scalp " turns out to bo a perriwig 106 CHAPTER X. ifferonce to ed— Equip- Frolic and on. Effect fhe Hornet Ifect. The the war in 75 American programme. Modification. Fall of York. Newark threatened. Descrip- tion of Newark. Fort Niagara. Fort George. Climate and country. La Salle. Sketch of his exploits. Discovers the Mississippi. Fort George burnt. ]{cbuilt by Denonville. Colonel Dongan, Governor of tho Province of New York, objects to the building of a Fort at " Ohniagro." "Baron de Longucuil— Record of this family. Fort Niagara taken by the British, 1759. Surrendered to t iiited States, 1796. Upper Canada created a separate Province, 1791. Governor Simcoe. His career. Newark his capital. Visit of Duke of Kent, 1793. Compared with that of Prince of Wales, 1860 113 CHAPTER XI. lid its best t marched ad eeamon Seat of Government removed from Newark to York. Fort George Ptill Military Head- Quartcrs. American attack on Fort George and Newark. General Vincent in command. American forces. British strength. American force on landing. British retire. Fort George falls. Vincent occupies Beaver Dam. Description-... 124 xa CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. FAOK Lake Ontario. Kingston. Sackctt's Harbour. Expectations and preparations. Dr. Bichardson, D.D.— His Career and Record. Departure of Squadron. Sights Saokett's Harbour and witlidraws. Capture of American Officer of Dragoons. Tlie Expedition retires— Preparations for landing. Preparations for resistance. General Jacob Brown. Colonel Baccus. Landing effected. Americans defeated — Are the stores and ships on the stocks. The British ordered to retreat. Witlidrawal of the Expedition 130 CHAPTER XIII. Return to Vincent at the Beaver Dam— Retires on Burlington Heights— Colonel Harvey— Stoney Creek- British retire from, and the Americans occupy tlieir posi- tion — Harvey's plan for night attack— The Americans surprised— Desjjerate fighting —Americans dispersed— Generals Chandler and Winder taken prisoners— Present aspect of the ground — Old Lutheran Chapel— Burial place of the slain— No memorial stone — Why not t Americans fall back on Niagara— Abandon camps and supplies 140 CHAPTER XIV. New American Enterprise. Attempt on the Beaver Dam Post. Noble devotion of Mrs. Secord. Her Adventures — Reaches Decau's house in safety. Fitzgibbon. Boerstler's Advance— Attacked by the Indians — Reaches Thorold. Present aspect of Thorold. Welland Canal. Hamilton Merritt. Col. John Clarke. Old Isaac Kelly— Militia attack on Bccrstler— He surrenders to Fitzgibbon. Mary Secord the real Heroine. Princely generosity of the Prince of Wales. Lieut. Fitzgibbon— His career— A Military Knight of Windsor. History of the Knights. A Reverie. . 146 CHAPTER XV. General de Rottenburg succeeds General Vincent- Dearborn retires— Boyd in com- mand at Fort (ieorge— American Frontier exi)osed to attack— Colonels Bisliopp and Clark— Clark's career— Hazardous and successful foray on Fort Selilosser — Bishopp, emulous of gallant deeds, attacks Black Rock— Black Rock, now and then— Bishopp lands— Defeats the enemy- Captures the place— General I'orter rallies the Americans— The British attacked in turn— Bishopp wounded to death —His worthy career in Europe and Canada— Influence over the Volunteers— The Americans enlist tho Indians— Lr :o Ontario— Commodore Chauncey attacks Bur- CONTENTS. xm FAOB ons, Dr. Sights )ra);oon8. csistance. U'fented — ithdrawal 130 —Colonel :lR'ir posi- p fip;hting —Present slain — No Dn camps 140 otion of zgibbon. [lit aspect 1(1 Isaac 'cord tlie Igibbon — iovorie. . 146 in com- pisliopp llosser — jw and I'orter lo death Irs— The Iks Bur> i FADE lington Ileiglits— Fails— Again sacks York. Sir James Yeo provokes the Com- modore out of Niagara— Two American Bchooncrs foundered— Two taken— More expected from Yeo very inconsiderately— Yeo did his duty thoughtfully and well —From Ontario to Lake Champlain— Escapade at Core Creek on the St. Lawrence —Death of Capt. Milne— Supplies how furnished— How transported in winter and summer— Value of the Commissariat— Sir William Kobinson — Commissaries in Canada— Isaac Winslow Clarke— Ilis career- Bateaux Brigades 158 CHAPTER XVI. « Montreal the centre of supply— Description of Montreal— View from top of the Mountain— Montreal of 1840 or 1864, not the Montreal of 1812— Montreal viewed as the Military Key of Canada— Country around— View of Belocil— Canadian scenery —Canadian people— The Habitants, their progress, improvement and characteristics —Strong temptation to invasion— Approach to Slontrcal and the Richelieu country —Description of Lake Champlain— American force on the New York frontier avail- able for invasion 173 CHAPTER XVII. Sir George Provost and Sir James Craig— Sir James a good man but obdurate— Sir George politic and useful— Ho identiflca Limself with the people- They support him and British rule— The Legislature legalize the issue of army bills, and vote additiona. militia forces— Exchequer Bills— Sir George prepares for defence— English Volun teers— French Militia— The two people incline to different systems of enrolment— Both readily unite against common enemy— Isle aux Noix— Attempt made to prise this post— Capture of American schooners Growler and Eagle— Reprisals— Olficers and men ot H. M. brig of war. Wasp, transferred to Lake Champlain— Plattsburg, Swanton, Champlain, destroyed— Burlington challi nged— Blockade of the seaboard by the British— Increased American strength on the Lakes 181 CHAPTER XVm. stung by reverses the British Admiralty acted with vigour— Ships were equipped of a calibre to meet the Americans— Americans blocki'.ded in their own harbours- Commerce destroyed, revenue ruined— Seamen useless on the ocean, transferred to the Lakes- Naval engagements— Dominica and Docatur— Pelican and Argus —Boxer and Enterprize— Cruise of the President undei Commodore Ilodgcrs— Detroit frontier— Unpleasant vicissitudes— Story of the Fronvier— Squire Reynolds —His narrative— Early state of the Detroit Frontier— Building- of Fort Miami— Who paid for it— Surrender of Michigan Territory and Detro.'t to Americans under Jay's Treaty 1796— British war vessels on the Upper Lakes ai^owcd to rot- Brock's interview with the Indians— June 1812— First scalp taken by i.'io American McCulloch — Indian exasperation— Resolution to retaliate — Declaration of war received 28th Juno, 1812— Capture of the Cayuga Packet by Lieut. Solette 192 XIV CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIX. PAOE Squiro Reynold's narrative— Arrival of Brock— Interview with Tcciimseh— Affairs on tlie Frontier 1813— Ball at JIalden— From the dance to the field— Colonel St. George— Attack on French Town— Capture of General Winchester— Retreat of Troctor— Wounded abandoned— llolctto hit — Brownstown and the scalps — Fort Meigs— British engineers- Colonel Gratiot— Major Reynolds at the Raisin— Defeat of Green Clay— Retaliation of the Indians— Retreat from Fort Meigs— Council of war— Recriminations- Proctor, Elliott, Tccumseh — Proctor's treatment of the Militia— Second attack on Fort Meigs— A failure— Fort Stevenson attacked— Bravely defended by Major Croghan— Col. Short killed— Stormers repulsed- I'roc- tor retires— Barclay at Maiden— Efforts to equip squadron— No men nor material —The two 24'8— Calibre and character of guns in the squadrons respectively 202 CHAPTER XX. Captain Barclay and Commodore Perry— Resources of each— Perry's difficulty— Crosses the bar at Presqu'Isle— Description of Barclay's crew and armament— 10th Sep- tember—Battle of Lake Erie — Desperate contest — The Lawrence surrenders- Perry's personal exploit— Changes his ships— Renews the contest— The British squadron captured— Officers all killed or wounded— The resistance of Barclay and his crows— Barclay's heroic character and conduct— Appearance before a Court martial— Honourably acquitted— Barclay's defeat, Proctor's doom — Position of Proctor— Nature of country— Supplies exhausted— Alternative of retreat or sur- render — Retreats- Line of march— Difficulties — Followed by Harrison — Kentucky Mounted Riflemen- Tactics in the battle— Character of forest— Not impracticable to horsemen 215 CHAPTER XXI. Proctor falls back to Baptisto Creek— General Harrison with Perry's assistance follows— 5th October- British force halts at Dalson's Farm— Colonel Maclean of Scarborough— His reminiscences- Warburton in command at Dalson's— Proctor retires personally to Moravian Town— Roused before daylight— Intelligence— Troops attacked and retreating —Warburton followed by Shelby and Kentucky riflemen — Description of these troops and mode of attack— Proctor halts his men— Nature of ground and position— Tecumseh — His last words— No abattis made — American attack— Defeat and surrender of the British 223 CHAPTER XXII. Tecumseh— His character— Origin— Tribe of the Shawanese- From Virginia— Driven into Ohio— Thence into Michigan— The Brothers Elksottawa and Tecumseh— In- fluence ot Tecumseh over Indian tribes, due to his personal qualities— Anecdotes CONTENTS. XV PAGE li— Affairs on -Colonel St. •—Retreat of scalps— Fort in— Defeat of ;— Council of ment of the in attacked — )ulscd— I'roc- nor material jctively 202 ulty— Crosses at— 10th Sep- surrendcrs — The British Barclay and lore a Court I'osition of reat or sur- — Kentucky practicable i PAGE —Haughty conduct towards the " Long Knives"— His disintorostcdncss— Indian skill as draftsman— His personal appearance and costume— Stern adhorcnco to England— Last words to Proctor— Attack of the American riflemen— Tccumseli slain by the hand of Col. Jamos Johnston— The four heraldic supporters of Canada- Outrage offered to his remains 232 CHAPTER XXIII. Battle of the Thames— Its effect— In the States— In Canada. Sir George I'rovost. De- monstration on Niagara. Vincent concentrates at Burlington Heights. American projects on Montreal. Generals Wilkinson and Hampton. Plan of attack IVom the West and from Lake Chaniplain. Hampton advances to Odelltown— Encoun- tered by De Salaberry—Kctiros— Followed to the Four Corners. Career of De Salabcrry— Attempts to surprise the Americans— Discovered— Falls back on the line of C'hateauguay. Trcparations for defence. Keports on the battle by the American Adjutant-General King 239 CHAPTER XXIV. i 215 Story of Chatcauguay. The " Tomoin oculaire." Hampton advances from Four Cor- ners. Do Salabcrry faces right about, and returns to meet him. First rencontre —Halts— Throws up breastworks and abattis. Disposition of defenders— Ford in the rear. American attack on abattis— Impracticable. Attack on flank and rear, partially successful— Repulsed—Broken by flank Are. Retreating Americans Are on each other. Hampton, daunted, withdraws from front of abattis and retreats. Force engaged. Brilliant conduct of officers and men. Honour to De Salabcrry.. . 252 assistance Maclean of I's- Proctor ice— Troops • riflemen — I— Nature of ■ American CHAPTER XXV. Hacdonell of Ogdcnsburg— The Canadian Fencibles- Descent of the St. Lawrence Running the Rapids— Night March through the Bush— "Always on Hand"— French and English "Shoulder to Shoulder "—Natural Exultation of the French Canadians— Practical Reply to Dishonouring Imputations— Gratitude of tlie British Government— Quecnston Heights— Chatcauguay— Chevy Chace and the " Combat d^ Tre^tes "— Beaumanoir and Bembro— Croquart 26!i 223 |ia— Driven timseh- In- l-Anecdotes XVI CONTENTS. APPENDIX. Letter to Thdmns Jefferson, cx-rresident of the United States of America, Hataille de Chnteauguay Page ... 273 286 THE WAR AXD ITS MORAL. CHAPTER I. Preamble. .G)i/C — like the characters on the labarum of Constantine* — is sign of solemn import to the people of Canada. It carries with ^t the virtue of an incantation. " Like the magic numerals of the Lrabian sage, these words, in their utterance, quicken the pulse, id vibrate through the frame, summoning, from the pregnant past, lemories of suflfcring and endurance and of honorable exertion. [)hoy are inscribed on the banner and stamped on the hearts of the !!anadian people — a watchword, rather than a war-cry. With these words upon his lips, the loyal Canadian, as a vigilant sen- tinel, looks forth into the gloom, ready with his challenge, hopeful for a friendly response, but prepared for any other. The people of Canada are proud of the men, and of the deeda, md of the recollections of those days. They feel that the war of L812 is an episode in the story of a young people, glorious in Itself and full of promise. They believe that the infant which, its very cradle, could strangle invasion, struggle, and endure, )ravely and without repining — is capable of a nobler developuaent, God wills further trial. • Vide Gibbon, Vol. II, pp. 259, 260. 18 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. It is impossible for this people to ignore the portents of tlic time. The Mast of Avar hurtles around them ; Its sights arc in tlieir eyes, and the sounds in their ears. They feel that they are within the edge of tlie fatal circle, and await the stroke of the cyclone. It is natural that, at such a time, the popular mind should revert to the experience of the past, and that the -war of 1812 should be con- stantly invoked as an example and as a warning. Thus, the story of the war has suddenly become a subject of interest which it is difficult to satisfy. Fifty years have come and gone, and of the thousands who survived the contest, how few remain to tell the tale or point the moral ! Within the last few months, three honoured men, heroes of 1812, and who emphati- cally deserve the title, — Sir Allan MacNab, Sir John Beverley Robinson, and Major-General Evans, — have gone to their rest, full of years and well-earned distinction. The voices of those who could animate by eloquent experience, and guide by their counsels, become daily, fewer, fainter, and more indistinct ; and we turn with sorrowful respect from the living witnesses of the time, to those who bear record to the gallantry of their deeds and the nobleness of their motives. The story of the war has been told by eminent writers on both sides of the Atlantic. We have British and American histories ; j we have biography ; and the pages of periodical literature have been, in turn, alike devoted to the events of an epoch when the A world was a-glow with arms, and war seemed to be the main voca- 1 tion of mankind ; but the works of the general historian are 1 voluminous and inaccessible to the masses, and the part yielded to Canada is unavoidably small, on an arena occupied by the embat- tled nations of the earth. The Canadian authorities, faithful and reliable guides so far as they go, are, mostly, out of print and | scarce ; and they have been succeeded, and their places usurped I at our own firesides, by a flood of American publications, sensa- tional as t to this en H ality. W her institi bones for ( to suit a 11 hungry ogi i The pros , place the * book on an I the presen I desire for t I provides ar 1 counteracts will ))e exi British slio ciously cha this narrat: Canadian c point of vie is justly du dian indivit This dosi of the sun who have e I which has i erable contr I place, in go] :i n OBJECT AND AIM OF THE CHRONICLE. 19 tional as they are termed, written for show, designed for sale, and, to this end, pandering to the worst passions of a morhid nation- ahty. Writers of this chiss run, frantically, full tilt at liritain, her institutions and her colonies, with death's-head and marrow- bones for device ; and the bones arc broiled, devilled, and seasoned to suit a literary taste prurient and craving as the appetite of the hungry ogre in the nursery tale, who snuifs the wind and mutters — Fe, fi, fo, futn, I smell the blood of an Englishman: Be he alive, or be he dead, , I'll grind his bones to make my bread. The present is therefore deemed to be an opportune moment to place the following pages before the Canadian public. A new book on an old subject may offer the attraction of novelty, and, in the present instance, will possess the advantage of an anxious desire for truth. One great object will have been obtained, if it provides an antidote to the American literature of the day ; if it counteracts its influence, while it eschews its example. Nothing will be extenuated for the solace of British pride or to palliate British shortcomings ; and most assuredly nothing shall be mali- ciously charged to their adversaries. It will be the endeavor of this narration to invest the story told, as far as possible, with a Canadian character ; to present the war in Canada in a Canadian point of view ; and, while giving all honor to those to whom honor is justly due, still to impart, as far as can be rightly done, a Cana- dian individuality to this Canadian Chronicle of the War. This design has been greatly aided by the kindness of some few of the survivors of the warlike scenes of "fifty years since," who have embellished by the light of their reminiscences a work which has no other claim to originality. In justice to these ven- erable contributors, their names will be given in proper time and place, in gentle violation of the reluctant modesty inseparable from 20 CHRONIOLE OF THE WAR. bravery and worth, and which never has shone more brightly and with less of affectation, than in the present instance. And in the nights of winter, When thn cold north winds blow And the long howling of the wolves la heard among the snow ; When round the lonely cottage Blows loud the tempest's din, And the good logs of Algidus Roar louder yet within ; When the oldest cask is opened. And the largest lamp is lit ; When the chestnuts glow in the embers, And the kid turns on the spit; When the young and old in circle Around the firebrands close ; When the girls are weaving baskets. And the boys are shaping bows ; When the gudeman mends his armour, And trims his helmet's plume ; When the goodwife's shuttle merrily Goes flashing through the loom, — With weeping and with laughter Still is the story told How well Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old. CHAPTER II. 1S12— Duration of tlio War— Foolinp; in Canada. Tlio War no Canadian quarrpl, Value of Cniuula to FIngland at that crisis. Tlic feeling bntwoon tlic Hritisli and American pcdplo. Itritisli pretenHious — Itiglit of fiearcli— Hesisted by the Danes — Tlie nortliern power?— Tlio Americans. liritixli dilemma. IJlockado of 1806. Hcrliii and Milan Decrees. Orders in Council. Constructive Blockade. French and American incon- sistency. Troubles of neutrals. Affairof the Leopard and Chesapeake, 1807. American exacerbation. British exclusion from American harbours. American gratitude to France. French sympathy in Canada a mistake. The Eastern States averse to the War. Affair of the I're.sident and Little Belt, 1811. Irritation increases. Tresident of United States appeals to Congress. War declared 18th Juno, 1812. Futile attempt to capture British West India fleet. British disbelief in a war. The war of 1812 — so called in Canada — extended over three I years, — 1812, 1813, 1814. War was declared by Act of Congress of the United States on the 18th June, 1812. It was terminated by the provisions of the Treaty of Ghent, 24th December, 1814 ; which, however, was not ratified at Washington before February 1 7th, nor proclaimed in Canada until the 21st March, 1815. Canada in 1812 cared as little, as at present, for a war with her I powerful neighbor, but, as at present, cared not to evade it. The ploughshare and the broad-axe are her indigenous weapons, only to be exchanged at the call of honor, and of the public safety. Defence, not defiance, has been and ever will be her I motto. The war of 1812 was no Canadian quarrel. It was forced upon Ithe Canadian people, and fought upon Canadian soil, to gratify the antipathies of two nations, too like to be loving. True it is, the British Canadians of the West did not belie their descent. 00 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. !■ and shared, without stint, in the weakness and tlio 8tren;^th of the British cliuracter ; nor can it bo denied, that the French i>opuhi- tion of the East woke up to the fi«^ht with the gay and gallant spirit of their chivalrous forefathers. But the lot of both was to bo betwixt tho upper and the nether grindstone, and both faced the inevitable ordeal bravely and well. Nor is it right to admit, as some have asserted and many have believed, that tho assistance of England was purely gratuitous, — that the defence of Canada brought no compensation, that it was in fact an additional burthen at a burthensome crisis ; for it is beyond dis[)ute, that tho North American Provinces, and Canada especially, were indispensable to England at this period of the Great War in Europe. At the time that she was excluded from the ports of the Baltic, her best supplies of timber came from Canada, and the non-intercourse acts of the United States had thrown her, for tiiis article, almost exclusively on tho resources of tho North American colonies. One of the strongest arguments for war in the Congress of the United States was tiiat employed in 1811 by Mr. Porter, the Chairman of tho Committee on Foreign Aftliirs, in reference to tho comiuest of Canada. " These Provinces," said tlio si)eakcr, " are not only immensely valuable, but almost indis- pensable to tho existence of Great Britain, cut off, as she now is in a great measure, from the North of Europe. The exports from Quebec only, amounted during the last year to near six millions of dollars, in shii>timber, and provisions for support of her fleets and aniiies." Canada, in fact, made rich return for the expense of defending her, by the supplies afforded to the West India colonics. and to meet tho home demand. The war with Napoleon proved the value of these colonies, and a Avar with Russia might show it agam. Little hoed, however, did tho men of those days give to ques- tions of this sort. The only question between England and her CANADIAN SPIRIT — nillTISII FEKLINO. 23 colony then, was one of mutual nasistance. The men of the United States wore rthrewder calculators, but tho fceliuj^ which ruled in the British heart waa oiif* of bitter irritation. The war, indeed, was, at the bottom, no .jonrrol uotwoen governments. The ^governments of the day '^ro but tiif instruments of the time. The real cause of strife was to h« found in tliP temper of the people. It was a personal '' turn up" 1 f twoen Jonathan uiifl John liull. Inter Iloctora Priamidom animosum at.as intended to provoke retaliation. These boats were fired upon and taken within musket shot of our own fort. Their balls, falling on our own shore, were expected to have raised the indignation of the most phlegmatic. Fortunately, the commandant was not in the Avay, as otherwise it is difficult to say what would have hap- pened. A representation of this affair has been made at Washing- ton, and for an act certainly opposed to existing treaties, we have been referred for justice to the ordinary courts of law." * This letter was written from Montreal, but Brock was chiefly employed at Quebec up to July, 1810, when he was despatched to take command of the troops in Upper Canada by Sir James Craig. He established his head quarters at Fort George, on the Niagara frontier, but visited all the frontier forts, remaining for some time on the river Detroit, absorbed in observation and preparation for the contest he knew to be before him. In 1811, Sir George Prevost reached Quebec, and in October of that year, Francis Gore, Esq., the Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, having returned to England on leave. Brock, now a Major-General, succeeded him, and thus, at a critical moment, the civil as Avell as the military authority in the Upper Province was combined, most providentially, in the man most competent to confront the emergency. It is instructive to note from his correspondence at this time, how sagaciously he fore- saw, how earnestly he forewarned, and to observe how little his counsels were appreciated. War was declared on the 18th June, 1812, but, by some strange omission on the part of the British minister at Washington, the official notification did not reach Sir George Prevost until the 7th H July. Gei private pat Richardson apprised th the intellig( same time, once, of hii nately been for the pro raand. To of which K The thui of war, th into the t General II crossed the settlers — tli at Quebec- and lan'jjua ments, — wl unusual age the travellc pie, inoffens thundered i fear of polt; red man to man found " the horro and vauinuii To this, of England or white, ai • Correspondence of Sir J. Brock, p. 45. DECLARATION OF THE WAR, JUNE 18tII, 1812. 39 July. General Brock was not officially notified at all. Happily, private patriotism and enterprise supplied the deficiency. Mr. Richardson of Montreal, afterwards the Hon. John Richardson, had apprised the Governor General of the fact on the 2oth June, and the intelligence reached Brock, through a private channel, ahout the same time. He was then at Fort George. He made the most, at once, of his insufficient means. If not forearmed, he had fortu- nately been forewarned, by his own forecast. Personally he provided for the protection of the Niagara and Detroit portion of his com- mand. To JNIajor General Shaw he confided the Eastern frontier, of which Kingston was the Cvmtre. The thunder cloud soon burst ; — Long before the declaration of war, the American gf»vernment had despatched from Ohio into the territory of Michigan 2,500 men, under Brigadier- General Hull. On the 12th July, Hull invaded Canada. He crossed the Straits, or Detroit, as it was called by the old French settlers — the earliest of the offshoots from the parent settlement at Quebec — to Sandwitch ; where the people, in their habits and language, in their horses, vehicles, and domestic arrange- ments, — where the long lines of Lombardy poplars, pear trees of unusual age and size, and umbrageous walnut trees, — still remind the traveller of the banks of the Loire. He landed among a sim- ple, inoffensive, agricultural people, indisposed to resistance, and thundered forth a proclamation. This document appealed to the fear of poltroons and the instinct of traitors, denied the right of the red man to defend his own soil, and doomed to death eveiy white man found fi":htiug at his side. It threatened all who resisted with " the horrors and calamities of war," and proffered to the recreant and van({uished " peace, liberty, and security." To this, on the 22nd July, Brock nobly replied, that the crown of England would defend and avenge all its subjects, wheUier red or white, and that Canada knew its duty to itself and to its sovC' 40 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. reign, and was neither to be bullied nor cajoled into a departure from it. On the 17th he had opened an extra session of the Legislature of Upper Canada, and it must be owned that, at this crisis, the Legislature was despondent, and the people misgave. But a change in the scene speedily took place ; the noble character of Brock rapidly assumed its natural ascendency, the public mind became reassured, public confidence revived, and the lava tide of loyalty, living though latent, surged up and blazed forth as a bale-fire, inextinguishable in the land. Loyalty to England, fealty to the crown, were the birthright and hcir-loora of this people. The first settlere on the soil were the American loyalists, men of educated and elevated minds, who had undergone trials and persecuti* ns, and a fierce fight of afflic- tions in the cause of the King and of the " auld countree," and who exclaimed in the affecting language of the Psalmist : " When I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its cunning." They had left home, and friends, and wealth, and station, for a principle sanctified by its disinterestedness, and by the cunning of their hands had enshrined it in the heart of the wilderness. They had borne, for long, the scoffs and jeers of neighbors, who twitted them with a foolish choice, and who, until late trials, have not known the sacred impulse of a great cause. The reflections of the past had been to these men the only — the proud reward of rare sufferings and noble sacrifices. Oh let it net be imputed to them or to their descendants, that they have dwelt upon their loyalty overmuch. Englishmen make no more boast of their loyalty than they do of their honesty, or of their truth, or of any other of those manly virtues, which they justly claim to ibe national characteristics ; but, for generations, few have actually paid the price of their faith, and none can recall the rapture with which the martyrs, for conscience' sake, glory in the scenes of their THE UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS. 41 :1 va 's martyrdom. If the loud hosanna is often on their lips, the spirit is ever present in their hearts. If ^hey lay claim to the " sangre azur," they are ever ready to prove its quality, and to pour it forth in the cause of their Sovereign and of the time-honored flag of England. On this emergency, the United Empire Loyalists were, as ever, true to their antecedents. They thronged to the banner of Brock. The Province rose as a man. Numbers for whom anns could not be provided, returned disappointed to their homes. The rest did their duty nobly, and Have left their sons a hope, a fame, They too would rather die than shame. In this interval, while Brock was exhorting his Legislature and forming new levies, his lieutenants in the west had not been idle. Hull was in a position of great anxiety ; he had to draw all his resources from his rear, from distant Ohio, through ways which could not be called roads, and which were infested by savages. The extent of his force increased his difficulties ; he had too many mouths to feed, and yet he could not detach in sufficient force to secure his communications. Proctor, who commanded at Amhcrst- burg a force of about 350 men, threatened on his right by Hull, had still nerve enough to detach Tecumseh, the chief of the Sha- wanee Indians, across the Detroit River, to intercept a convoy commanded by Major Van Home. The detachment was encoun- tered in the bush, defeated, and scattered, the provisions captured, and the mail, containing the correspondence of the American army, fell into the hands of the savages. This occurred on the 4th of August. On the 7th, Hull, who had crossed to the easy conquest of Canada, and had relied on the country for supplies and upon the people for reinforcements, began to be satisfied of his mistake. He had made one or two abortive attempts on Fort Maiden. Colonel Cass, the hero of Ta-ron-tee, had earned this designation by an heroic retreat from before a few Indians at the 42 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. Riviere aux Canards, which Hcs between Sandwich and Fort Maiden or Amherstbarg. The IliviOre aux Canards, in French, or the Ta- ron-tec, in Indian parlance, is a sluggish and sedgy stream, which percolates the wide marshes in the rear country, and unites with the Detroit about five miles above Fort Maiden. This creek was crossed, near its mouth, by one of tnc make-shift bridges of the country. Here, on the 28th July, Col. Cass attacked an Indian scouting party, which, very properly, fell back, losing one warrior, whose body was scalped and otherwise disfigured. The Americans thereupon retired with their trophy — somewhat hastily, for they did not pause to de- stroy the bridge, which was re-occupied next day by the British, and was protected by two light field-pieces. Next day also re-appeared Colonel Cass, under the fostering wing of Colonel jMcArthur, — a strong reinforcement — and two guns. The bridge was attacked, two brave men of the 41st, outlying sentries, Privates Dean and Hancock, with that strange and dogged perversity so common among British soldiers, would neither retire nor give in. Hancock was killed — Dean wounded and taken prisoner. After some exchanges of cannon-shot, the Americans again retreated ; and an American writer declares " the escape of jMcArthur and his com- | panions to have been truly miraculous."* The proclamation, which | Hull had fathered, but which Cass had written, was found to be theatrical thunder : the Canadians would not revolt ; the Indians flocked to the British standard. At this moment the defeat of Van Home sounded like a knell. Hull was appalled. To cover his " base of supply," he thought it best to change his " base of operations ;" so, on the Yth and 8th of August, under the pretext of concentrating his forces, he Avithdrew himself and his army across the river, and resumed his occupation of Detroit. On the 9th, Proctor, apprised p of Hull's retreat, and relieved of all apprehension on his own part, |^ with commendable promptitude determined to follow up his first • Thompson's Sketches of the War, quoted by James, Vol. II, p. 61. SKIRMISH AT MAGAGUA — MACINAW AND MICHIGAN. 43 rations ; • jGiitrating river, and apprised own part, his first t Maiden r the Ta- ra, which with the 3 crossed, country. ing party, body was on retired Lisc to de- li tish, and -appeared rthur, — a attacked, Dean and ) common Hancock "ter some ; and an his com- ►n, which and to be Indians I at of Van his " base :■ ." /^ y p. 61. attempt upon Hull's line of supply, and dctaclicd Major Muir across tlie Detroit to intercept a much more considerable force and convoy en route to Fort Detroit. This expedition was not as suc- cessful as the preceding. Muir, with 100 regulars, 100 militia, and 250 Indians, found himself at Magagua in front of Col. Miller, a good officer, backed by the U. S. 4th Rcgt. of Infimtry, a part of the 1st Infantry, some regular artillerymen, and 400 militia, — about 700 in all. Muir, with great judgment, bethought him of the paucity of the force on the other side of the river, and of the military policy Avhich relinquishes a temporary credit for a future certainty, and so, ordered a retreat to his boats, which was safely effected. Muir and his subaltern Sutherland were both wounded ; the latter died shortly after. Two men were killed and nine disabled. In this action of Maguaga or Brownstown, the Ameri- cans, who held the ground on the retirement of the British and Indians, represent their own loss to have been 83 killed and wounded, and the Indian casualties at 100. The National Intel- ligencer, the American Government organ of the day, boastfully asserted that when the militia returned to Detroit from the battle of Brownstown they bore triumphantly on the points of their bay- onets between 30 and 40 fresh scalps, which they had taken on the field. As no mercy was shown to the redskins hy the trappers and borderers who constituted the militia, and as scalps were much prized spoils, it may be presumed that the number of these trophies represented fairly the number of the Indians slain.* But this momentary reverse was of no benefit to Hull : Brock was on his track, and did not give him much time to deliberate. But again, during this interval, while Brock at York was pre- paring for his swoop in the West, and his lieutenants were haras- sing and retarding the game, the first British stroke of the war had been delivered 250 miles to the north, at Michilimacinac, in • James, Vol. II, p. 6. 44 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. the heart of what was then regarded as the Indian country. This island and fortress is situated at the northern extremity of Lake Hui'on, in the gorge of the Straits of Macinaw, and blocks the entrance to Lake Michigan. In those days it was regarded as a post of great importance. It is now the Gibraltar of that inland sea. It is strongly fortified, and makes of Lake Michigan a mare clausuniy where, beyond the reach of treaty stipulations, or of hostile interruptions, armaments may be planned and matured safely, against the rear frontier of Canada. The vast territory surrounding this lake, now occupied by the States o" Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, embellished by the cities of Chicago, Milwaukie, Grand Haven, and peopled by 6,000,000 of inhabitants, was, fifty years since, a howUng wilder- ness, the retreat and hunting-ground of savage tribes, whose tra- ditional treatment had taught them to put but little trust in the wliite man. With the American settlers their relations had been, for long, those of chronic collision and contest. The British had, upon an emergency, accepted the services of an ally whose ferocity they could not restrain, and of whose acts they were ashamed ; but if the British, in Indian estimation, had proved to be a cold and ungrate- ful friend, the Americans had never ceased to be a remorseless and grasping enemy. It is affectation to attempt to deny that at this crisis the Indian alliance was sought by both parties. Acci- dent and action combined to solve the diplomatic established for the protection of the fur trade, was situated 40 miles north of Macinaw, at the debouchure of Lake Superior into the waters of Lake Huron. Captain Roberts, a brave and energetic officer, was in command at Fort St. Joseph. Brock had reinforced this post in the spring, and Roberts had received instructions which, although embar- rassed by the irregular and perplexing interference of Sir George Prevost at a later period, he had prepared himself to carry out. On the 4th July, Brock informed Roberts that war existed, and left him to liis own discretion.* Roberts had at hand a congenial spirit. The Agent of the Hudson's Bay Company was Toussaint Pothier, afterwards the Hon. Toussaint Pothier, M.L.C., of Montreal, a French Canadian gentleman, brave, gay, pohte, ready for any exploit m court or camp. To him Roberts disclosed the informa- tion he had received, and the plan he had formed. " Pardieu, Monsieur," exclaimed the chivalrous Frenchman, gyrating with delight, — and those who remember him can well imagine his glee, — " il faut frotter ces gens la has, joliement." With such asso- ciates in an enterprise, little time was lost. To a force of 33 regu- lars was supplemented about 160 Canadian voyageurs, half-armed with fowling-pieces and old muskets. Two old iron three-pounders, which had been used for firing salutes and astonishing the natives, were put into requisition; and accompanied by Pothier, who, like Clive in another hemisphere, had flung his pen under his desk and buckled on his hanger, Roberts embarked in a miscellaneous * Tapper's Life of Brock. 46 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. flotilla of boats and canoes, attended by a small brig laden with stores. In the grey of the morning of* the 17th July, while the legislators at Toronto were snoring in their beds, Avhile the un- happy Hull was cogitating moodily at Sandwich, and the hero of Ta-ron-tee, having fluttered the wild-fowl in Duck Creek, had just retired victoriously, crowned with water-cresses, Roberts landed on Macinaw Island unmolested, got his two guns into a menacing position, disposed of his force ostentatiously, ordered his 33 regu- lars to the front, and bade Indians and half-breeds yell the war- whoop. At this summons, the American commander, who, to say the truth, was quite unprepared for an attack, felt it to be prudent to surrender his post, with about 75 regulars and a large quantity of military stores and valuable furs. It was the first intimation he had received of a state of war. This well-concerted and well- executed stroke was timely, and, in fact, invaluable. It secured the adhesion of the Indians. It disconcerted Hull, by exposing his rear, and was second only to the crowning exploit of the cam- paign, the capture of Detroit. Now came Brock's turn. No man knew better than he, the value of vigour in war, and that rapid offence was often the best description of defence. Having dispatched at once the Legislature and all pressing public business, on the 6th August he left York, now Toronto, for Burlington Bay, and from thence proceeded by land to Long Point, "Point aux Pins" being the rendezvous,* speaking a word of counsel to the Mohawks on the Grand River by the way. At Long Point, he embarked with about 300 militia, all volunteers, and a few regulars, in the ordinary boats of the coun- try, and ran along a dangerous and unsheltered coast for 200 miles, amid heavy rains and tempestuous weather, and exposed constantly to surprise, without losing a man. His constant super- intendence, forethought, and precaution, inspired his followers with * General Order, 12th August, Isaac Brock. 13R0CK CROSSES THE DETROIT RIVER. 47 unbounded confidence. After four days and niglits of incessant exertion, the little squadron reached Amherstburg at midnight on the 13th August ; Brock declaring, that " in no instance had he seen troops who could have endured the fatigue of a long journey in boats, during exceeding bad weather, with greater cheerfulness and constancy ; and it is but justice to this little band to add that their conduct throughout excited my admiration." * Here Brock encountered Tecumseh, chief of the Shawanee Indians, — regarding whose character and fate more will be said hereafter. It is wonderful with what an instinctive perception of character these two men instantly took to each other. Brock descried at once the sagacity and intrepidity of the Shawanee chief. Tecumseh, in one of his glowing orations, apostrophizes Brock as the warrior who, " standing erect in the bow of his canoe, led the way to battle." It reminds one of Caesar's standard- bearer launching himself upon the shores of Britain. The incident occurred in crossing the Detroit River two days after; Brock exposing himself, not from ostentation (for his courage was most unpretentious), but to win the confidence and rouse the enthu- siasm of his Indian allies. Brock concerted with Tecumseh the plan of his operations against Fort Detroit. The chief listened eagerly, with glistening eyes but undemonstrative attitude. He expressed his approbation with Indian brevity, and his readiness to act by a gesture. Brock asked him, " Could the Shawanees be induced to refrain from spirits?" Tecumseh answered that " Before, leaving their wigwams on the Wabash, they had vowed not to touch rum till they had humbled the " Big Knives," mean- ing the Americans. Brock remarked, " Adhere to this resolution and you must conquer." Brock acted with promptitude and vigor. The correspondence of the American army had come into his hands by the defeat of * General Order, Amherstburg, 14th August, Isaac Brock. 48 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. Van Ilornc, on the 4th August. The despatches of General Hull disclosed his own misgivings and the demoralized state of the army under his command. Brock saw the opportunity, and grasped at it, at once. With a force of the most miscellaneous character, not half the numerical strength of the enemy, ho determined to cross the river Detroit, and beard him in his don. On the 15th August, he summoned Hull to surrender. The latter took two hours to consider the invitation, and declined it. That night Tecumseh crossed the river with about 600 warriors, and occupied the roads and woods below Detroit, intercepting the American communications. The spot selected for landing was Springwell, four miles below the fort, on the only American line of retreat. The river at this point is ab^ut three-fourths of a mile wide, deep and strong. Before daybreak on the 16th, the force under Brock, consisting of 330 regulars and 400 militia, with four light pieces of artillery, crossed the river, and advanced upon the fort. He was flanked upon the left by the Indians in the woods, and on the right by a small vessel of war, the Queen Charlotte. Brock led on rapidly. He had taken the measure of his foe, and knew that daring was the best title to success. " Of the force at his disposal," says Armstrong, the American Secretary of War, " four hundred were Canadiar Militia, disguised in red coats."* The sequel proved the imitation not to have been a bad one. The York Volunteers, under Hatt, Howard, Bostwick, and Robinson, the men who had escorted Brock to Amherstburg, thrown out as skir- mishers, were well forward in the front. Astonished by the vigor of the advance, and perhaps disconcerted by the unearthly out- cries of the Indians, the Americans abandoned an outpost, well placed, strongly picketted, and defended by two 24-pounders, and retreated into the main fort. Preparations were made for an assault, when suddenly, was seen to emerge from the works, an * Armstrong, Vol. I, p. 35. SURRENDER OF FORT DETROIT. 49 officer bearing a flag of truce. Brigadier-General Hull had resolved to capitulate, and proposed a cessation of hostilities. Articles were formalized then and there, under which the whole Michigan Territory, Fort Detroit, a ship of war, 33 pieces of cannon, stores to correspond, and military chest, 2500 troops, and one stand of colors were surrendered to the British, who, thereupon, betook themselves to dinner. The first act of Brock on entering the fort was to release from captivity Dean, the gallant private of the 41st, who behaved so nobly at the Ta-ron-tee. He sent for the man at once, and shook hands with him cordially, in front of the whole force.* The surrender of Detroit electrified all Canada. It was the first enterprise in which the Militia had been engaged, and the courage and success of their Volunteers animated and encouraged all. No more was there of doubting or of wavering ; disaffection slunk out of sight. Brock became the idol of Upper Canada ; and no man ever, by his dauntless example, both moral and physical, and by effecting much with small means, had more honestly won the homage of a people. * Mem. : Col. A. McLean. CHAPTER IV. Brock provide for the safety of hist cnnquoxt and return* to York— L'rjfcnt for action- Controlled by on armJHtico between .Sir CJeorgo I'rovost and (jenerul IXiirborn. .Sir George at (juctwc. Kiicrgy of tlie Lower C'unudu Leginluture— I'rovido money— I'rO" vide men. The Amcria-aiis tlireaten Montreal— Mugaiu. L>itrolt. Inroiid at tiuna- no(|iio. Affair at Ogdonoburg. lirock returns to tlie Niagara trontier. Van liuurteiaer and the Militlo— Croasy for a dash, (upture of the Dotrolt and « aledoiiiu otf Kort Erie. Military ardour of the New York Voluntwrs uncoiitrollnbit'. Viui l{ttii»elaor resolvoH to crD!«ti tlio N'iagara frontier. (juefMiDtowu lleiglitn. Kattle 13tli October- Death of Hrock and Macdonald— Arrival of Slieafll'— Final victory — .Surrender by Scott. John Boverloy UobiuBon. lirock'n funeral. iScott and the savages. On, — on again, with tho gallant Brock and his fortunes, for on the fortunes of that noble man hung tho fate of Upper Canada, still threatened by overwhelming numbers on the Niagara frontier and on that of tlie St. Lawrence. It Avas well known at the time, that the demonstrations on Lower Canada were a feint to hamper Sir George Pre vest and retard supplies, and that the strength of the enemy had been thrown on the Upper Province. On the Niagara frontier they had accumulated in great force. The indisposi- tion of the Eastern States for the war, and the tendency of the democratic malady to French hallucinations, had preserved to the Lower Canadians the privilege of being the last to be devoured. After providing for the security of his conquest, and re-assuring the si)arse population of Michigan by a Proclamation, confirming to them their property and the enjoyment of their laws and religion, Brock sailed on the 22nd August in the schooner Chippewa for the Niagara frontier. We may well imagine the patriotic thoughts and high aspira- tions which at this time thronged the active and vigorous mind of this thorough soldier. His correspondence with his brother tells s-:! RETURN OP BROOK TO NIAGARA — ARMISTICE. 51 r action- born. »lr jnuy— rro- I nt (itinac I Uuiixc'laer lit otV Fort I itniiHclaor II October— icr by Scott, s, for on ia(la, still nticr and fimc, that ipcr Sir :th of the Niagara indisposi- cy of the id to the oured. !-as3uring rming to rcligiou, a for the Th aspira- nund of Ither tella the talo in liia own cheery and modest way.* lie knew that he was surrounded. An unconscious lion in the toils, he had torn the meshes to atoms in one direction, and heheld with fearless eye the fire and the steel in his rear, and on his flank. He would neutral- ize ntnnbers by activity and vim. In one week ho would have swept the whole American frontier from Buffalo to Fort Niagara ; ho would have dispersed the reluctant and imperfect levies there formed, and have destroyed the then insufficient armaments. Such a blow, struck at that time, would have pacified that frontier, averted two years of desolation and misery, and have secured for nobler deeds his own invaluable life. Nor was this all. This 1)low was to have been followed up by a stroke at Sackett's Harbour, the standing menace to Central Canada, just then wakening into armed life, and i)regnant with so much of annoyance and humiliar tion in after years. By the middle of September the enemy would have been anticipated at every point, and Upper Canada would have been safe. Rough lessons such as these might have incul- cated reason, and the war itself would have collapsed. Such, or like unto these, were the patriotic plans of Brock, when, on the waters of Lake Erie, conveyed by the British armed schooner The Lady Prevost, he encountered the demon of obstruc- tion in the shape of an armistice. The British Orders in Council, the ostensible cause of the war, had been revoked by an Order in Council of the 23rd June, seven days after war had been declared by Congress ; and so impressed was the British government with a firm belief in American moderation, and in the peaceful efficacy of the remedy exhibited, that on receipt of the intelligence they merely directed that " American ships and goods should be brought in and detained until further orders," f and " forbore from issuing * Life and Correspondence of Brock, p. 102. t Vide Orders in Council, October 13, 1812, and 23 June, 1813. 52 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. letters of marque and reprisal, under expectation that the United States would, upon notification of the Order in Council of the 23rd June, forthwith recall the said declaration of war." This hopeful credulity clogged their own movements and those of tb.eir subordinates, and nearly proved fatal to Canada. Prevost, pacific by nature, and bound by the pacific instructions of the Imperial government, on learning the repeal of the Orders in Council, pre- sumed Mr. Madison to be as pacific as himself, and proposed to General Dearboni, chief on the northern frontier, an armistice, which, in terms and operation, was as useful to the enemy as it was unfavourable to us, and which all but neutralized the moral eft'ect of the victories which had been achieved in the west. It gave the enemy time to breathe, to think, to transport stores and reinforcements unmolested, and, when it had served their turn, was repudiated by the President. It admitted of the removal of nine fine vessels from Ogdensburg — removed from under the guns of Fort Wellington at Prescott — to Sackett's Harbour, and gave Commodore Chauncey that ascendency on Lake Ontario which enabled him subsequently to destroy Little York.* Brock urgently renewed his instances. He was then at Kingston. " Attack Sack- ett's Harbour from hence. With our present naval superiority, it must fall. The troops at Niagara will be recalled for its protec- tion. While they march, we sail ; and before they can return, the whole Niagara frontier will be ours." In reply, Brock received peremptory orders from Sir George Prevost to do nothing ; to remain on the defensive and not provoke the enemy. It is just to believe that in doing this, the Governor General but obeyed the peremptory and painful orders of his superiors. Within his own sphere he had been prompt and energetic. He had convened the Legislature of Lower • Narrative of Simon Van Baaselaer, Lieut.-Col., A.D.C. to Gen. Van Ranselaer, Niagara. FORAY ON GANANOQUE — ATTEMPT ON OGDENSBURG. 53 Canada on the first rumour of war, and had obtained from them cordial support.* They indorsed his " Army Bills" to the extent of 11,000,000, and they voted #60,000 for five years, to meet the interest and expenses. By a preceding Act of May of the same year they had authorized the embodiment of 2000 militiamen, and in the event of war, the calling out of the whole militia force of the Province, and measures had been energetically taken to give effect to this legislation. " A cordon was formed along the frontier of Lower Canada from the Yamaska to St. Regis, where the line of separation between the United States and Canada touches the St. Lawrence, con- sisting of Canadian Voltigeurs and part of the embodied Militia. A light brigade of elite, regulars and militia, was formed at Blair- findie, under the command of Lieut. Col. Young of the 8th Regt., consisting of the flank companies of the 8th, 100th, and 103rd Regts., with the Canadian Fencibles, the flank companies of the Ist Batt. of Embodied Militia, and a small brigade of the Royal Artillery with six field-pieces.f " On the Montreal frontier the road to the United States from the camp at L'Acadie through Burtonville and Odeltown was ren- dered impracticable by ahattis. The Voltigeurs, with extraordi- nary perseverance, effected this fatiguing duty in short time, under the superintendence of their commanding officer, Major de Sala- berry.J " On the other hand, the Americans augmented their prepara- tions rapidly, and Gen. Dearborn threatened Montreal with inva- sion by St. Johns and Odeltown. Their force at Niagara and on the Niagara frontier, under Brig.-Gen. Van Ranselaer, was already formidable, and afforded good ground of apprehension to Gen. Brock of a speedy irruption from that quarter ; while Gen. Har- • 16th July, 1812. f Christie, Vol. II, p. 40. % Ibid. 64 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. 1/ rison was actively employed in collecting an army at the river Raisin, near Detroit, from Ohio and Kentucky. The naval estab- lishment at Sackett's Harbour in the meantime increased with celerity, and the ascendency of their fleet on Lake Ontario was, by the indefatigable exertions of Commodore Chauncey, now almost established." * Two insignificant affairs occurred on the Upper St. Lawrence, this early autumn, but little creditable to either party. Capt. Forsyth with 150 riflemen crossed from the American side (on the 9th September) to Gananoque, where he fluttered the turkeys, captured a few old muskets, woimded the wife of a militia officer who kept a store there, burnt the building and its contents, and returned home with a good deal of predatory exultation. En revanche^ and provoked by frequent interruptions of his con- voj's from Montreal, Col. Lethbridge, in command at Prescott, at- tempted a descent on Ogdensburg, opposite, in open day. He pushed off, on the 4th October, in the forenoon, with a force of 750 regulars and militiamen, in 25 batteaux, escorted by two gun-boats. They were received by a heavy fire of artillery, boats were struck and sunk, some disabled, all fell into confusion. The flotilla dropped down the stream out of fire, and returned whence they came, with three men killed and four wounded. It was a rash and unauthor- ized enterprise, ill-concerted, and led with more of courage than conduct. Brock, chafing but obedient, had returned to Niagara. He writes thence to his brother, 18th September 1812 : "A river about 500 yards wide divides the troops. My instructions oblige me to adopt defensive measures, and I have evinced greater for- bearance than was ever practised on any former occasion. It is thought that without the aid of the sword the American people • Christie, Vol. II, p. 40. AMERICAN PREPARATIONS — QUEENSTON HEIGHTS. 55 may be brought to a due sense of their own interest. I firmly believe that I could at this moment sweep everything before me between Fort Niagara and Buffalo. . . . The militia, being principally composed of enraged democrats, are more ardent and anxious to engage, but they have neither subordination nor disci- pline. They die very fast. It is certainly singular that we should be two months in a state of warfare, and that along this widely extended frontier not a single death, either natural or by the sword, should have occurred among the troops under my command, and we have not been altogether idle, nor has a single desertion taken place." * The " enraged democrats " at length brought things to a crisis. The American leaders had assembled on the Niagara frontier, — 36 miles in length from Buffalo to Fort Niagara — a force of about 6,000 men. A large number consisted of militia, of whom Col. Baines, having encountered them on his official visit to Gen. Dear- bom, says to Brock : " I found a very general prejudice prevail- ing with Jonathan of his own resources and means of invading these Provinces, and of our weakness and inability to resist, both exaggerated in a most absurd and extravagant degree." * Tlicse paladins, with little discipline, and no subordination, exhibited great impatience at what they were pleased to term, the dilatoriness of their officers, in not " clearing out the British fron- tier right off," and their impetuosity was greatly sharpened by a successful exploit on the part of Lieut. Elliott of the American Navy, who was then engaged at Black Rock in fitting for service an armed schooner. This officer, backed by 100 good seamen, in the early morning of the 9th October, boarded and carried, off Fort Erie, the brig of war Detroit, and the private brig Caledonia, laden with stores and spoils from Amherstburg. This feat, which was * Brock CorrespoDdence, p. 108. 66 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. well and gallantly done, could never have been attempted, had not Brock, at an earlier period, been restricted to defensive measures. Black Rock and its batteries would have disappeared, and the armed vessel Elliott had in hand, would have been in ours, or in flames. As it was, the Detroit grounded and was destroyed, but the eclat of the exploit turned the heads of the gallant militia, and they insisted, incontinently, either to be led to victory or to go home. General Van Ranselaer, who commanded the whole force, was manifestly under the impression that a good deal of glory was to be got at small risk, and was unwilling to allow the glittering prize to slip through his fingers. He had been informed by a deceitful spy, that Brock had left for the Detroit frontier. He resolved therefore, on the adventure. On the morning of the 11th October, an attempt was made, but failed. Boats were wanting— oars were deficient — it rained hard, and the general prospect was disagree- able. The attack on Queenston heights was, in consequence, deferred to the 13th. There is not on this continent a more imposing situation or a lovelier scene, than is presented from the noble plateau immortalized as Queenston Heights. Rising in rich undulation from the alluvial shore, which, at a distance of seven miles, subsides into Lake Ontario, they form the height of land through which, for twenty miles back, the river and cataract of Niagara cleave their resist- less way. They trend away westerly until they reach Hamilton, and constitute the great embankment which dams back the superin- cumbent waters of Lake Erie. The approach to the heights from the village of Queenston is strikingly beautiful. It reminds an Englishman of the grassy glades and hanging woods of his native land. An ascent of 250 feet, tortuous and broken, is now crowned by a grand column of buff sandstone, artistically designed, and not unworthy of the memory which Canada reveres. Bi-ock's monument PASSAGE OF THE NIAGARA — STRUGGLE AT LANDING. 57 is a credit to the taste and gratitude of the country. From the summit the eye commands a varied landscape of woodland and farm land, of umbrageous forest and rich cultivation— of village and of villa — church spire and cosy homestead — the blue Ontario in the distance, flecked with sails ; such as may well gladden the hearts of those under whose eye the land has grown, and make them glory in the flag, emblematic of the system, wliich fosters and protects it. The noble river, boiling, rushing, eddying, — which, 500 yards wide, rushes through the gorge at the right hand side of the spectator, now spanned by a gossamer bridge, 800 feet of wire tracery, — sepa- rates, as with a barrier of steel, the " clearings " of experiment from the domain of experience — the United States from British territory. On that rich October morning, glowing with the gorgeous tints of the autumnal foliage, and softened by the mellow haze of the first flush of the Indian summer, how attracdve must have been that lovely scene to the eye of the American invader, Baptized in molten gold and swathed in dun. In the early morning, before day broke, the desperate few, the " forlorn hope," had manned the first boats, and under the com- mand of Colonel Van Ranselaer, gained the Canadian shore. The force there stationed consisted of two companies of the 49th and about 200 of the York militia. One 18-poimder gun was in position, on a spur of the heights, and a carronade raked the river from a point about a mile below. The American force, covered by the fire of two eighteen pounders, and two field pieces from their own side, effected a landing with little loss. One oflBcer was slain in the boats by a ball from the gun at the point. More troops and some militia-men crossed, until about 1,300 men were in line, and in front of them the British outposts. The resistance made was desperate ; the assailants were as resolute. The voices of the American officers could be heard above the rattlo 58 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. of the musketry with the cry of " On men ! on ! for the honour of America." The reply, again, was a dogged cheer, and the rattle of musketry. In a short time, Col. Van Ranselaer was desperately wounded in four places. ( rood men and officers had fallen around him. The captaii s commanding the 49th companies had both fallen wounded. The fi/c of the 18-pounder was of no avail in that part of the field. It would have been more fatal to friend than to foe. At this moment Brock rode up. Awakened at daybreak by the firing, and fully anticipating attack, he called for his good horse Alfred, and, followed by his staff, galloped up from Fort George. He passed without drawing rein, through the village, reached the 18-pounder battery, dismounted, and was covering the field through his telescope, when a fire was opened on the rear of the field work from a height above, which had been hardily gained during this brief interval by Captain Wool and a detachment of American regulars, up an almost inaccessible fisherman's path. The volley was promptly followed by a rush ; Brock and his suite had no time to remount ; they quickly retired with the twelve men who manned the battery. There was neither space, nor time, nor thought, for generalship — all was sheer fighting. Williams of the 49th, with a detachment of 100 strong, charged up the hill against Wool's men, who were repelled, but reinforced, charged again ; notwithstanding which " in the struggle which ensued the whole were driven to the edge of the bank." * Here, with the storming foe before them, a precipice of 180 feet behind, and the roaring Niagara beneath, some craven spirit quailed — an attempt was made to raise the white flag- Wool tore it down and trampled it under foot. The re-inspired regulars opened a scathing fire of musketry ; Brock who, in front, roused beyond himself, had forgotten the general in the soldier, conspicuous by his height, dress, gesture and undaunted bearing, was pointing to * Wool's letter to Van Ranuelaer, Buffalo, October 23, 1812. DEATH OP BROCK — ADVANCE OF BHEAFFE. 69 1 J the hill, and had just shouted " Push on the brave York Volun- teers," when he was struck by a ball in the right breast, which passed through his left side. He fell. His last words were, that his death should be concealed from his men, and that his remembrance should be borne to his sister. Thus fell, and thus died a brave soldier, an able leader, and a good man, Avho honoured by his life and ennobled by his death the soil on which he bled, and whose name remains, ever beloved and respected, a household word and a household memory in Canada. Shortly after, Macdonell, his Aide-de-Camp, a Lieut. Oolonel of Militia, and Attomey-Genei-al for Upper Canada, obeying the last behest of his chief, leading on the " brave York Volunteers " and breasting the hill on horseback, was struck from his saddle. He died next day, and, regardless of self, his last thoughts were with his departed commander and friend. The charge of the Volunteers had compelled the enemy to spike the 18 pounder and retire ; but at this moment, the best officers and bravest men down on both sides, and the rest exhausted, a lull took place in the fighting. The Americans retained the hill, with the precipice at their backs ; the British retired under cover of the houses on the outskirts of the village. Both parties looked for reinforcements. As has been before remarked, the Americans occupied at this time a position full of peril. Though Wool had received an acces- sion of force, their number was unequal to the adventure, and they were cooped up on the brow of the hill, with their foe in front, whose strength they knew must increase, and the beetling precipice and the boiling river in their rear. Nothing could save them but a retreat, or large reinforcements. The first expedient was im- practicable. The reinforcements were within sight, within call, yet denied their aid. The " enraged democrats " had abated all their savagery. The men, a few days before, so desperate to do or die, 60 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. quailed at the sight of danger, and urged qualms of conscience and constitutional scruples as a plea for their poltroonery. Canada forsooth was not New York State, and they could not lawfully risk their precious lives, except in defence of their native soil. The hrave men on the opposite hill-side were, therefore, left to their fate. On the other hand. General Sheaflfe, who commanded at Fort George, had, under instructions from Sir Isaac Brock, got his men together on the first alarm. With about 300 regulars of the 41st and 49th regiments, two companies of Lincoln militia, and a handful of Indians, he had followed rapidly to the scene of tlie conflict. He took the road from Newark to St. Davids, which enabled him to debouch on the heights about two miles to the Avest of Queenston. He heard, on his way, of the fall of Brock, and pushed on the more eagerly, to avenge his death and retrieve the day. With all his speed, marching through roads such as they then were, he could not reach the Plateau long before noon. Here he was reinforced by Norton, and Brant the younger, Indian chiefs, and a body of their followers, and by about 200 volunteer militia men from Chippewa, making the whole force equal to 800 men. It will be seen, at once, that the invaders were surrounded, their backs to the river and to their own recreant countrymen, Queenston with its defenders breathing vengeance on their right, and Sheaffe on their front and left flank. Gradually and systematically, the fatal semicircle of fire and steel narrowed and thickened. Wool, who had bravely done his best, was down with wounds. Scott, who has since filled so large a place in the history of his country, succeeded him, and not unworthily. The Americans fought on manfully, but hopelessly. The fatal semi- circle narrowed more and more — a volley here — scattered shots there — amid the wild yell of the Indian, the shout of the soldier, the ghriek of the wounded, the hoarse word of command, — amid smoke AMERICAN RESISTANCE — SIR JOHN BEVERLY ROBINSON. 61 and dust, and tumult, and groans and execration, the last vengeful rush was made, and every living American swept from the summit of that blood-stained hill. Of the survivors, part scrambled down by the path they had ascended, part clinging to rocks and shrubs endeavoured to escape, but the lithe Indian proved the better cragsman, and the descent was fearfully accelerated. Many were dashed to pieces : many drowned — two men were seen to strip deliberately, and take to the whirling river, remarking significantly, that they might as well be drowned as hanged. Here, on the rocky selvage, at the foot of overhanging cliffs, unarmed and defenceless, the remainder assembled and, at once, resolved to surrender.* Scott, accompanied by Captains Totten and Gibson, with Totten's cravat attached to his sword point, not without great danger from the infuriate savages, emerged from the rocks, near where the Suspension Bridge now stands, and meeting a British picket, were conducted to General Sheaffe. Short was the parley between men in their condition, and a commander in whose hands were life and safety. Major-General Wadsworth and about 1,100 American officers and soldiers surren- dered, unconditionally, prisoners of war. The American loss by bullet, steel, and flood, had been near 400 men. Among the present residents, whom the fortunes of peace have cast on our frontier, is one John McCarthy, who served in the American regulars at the battle of Queenston heights. He now lives between old Newark (Niagara) and Queenston. He relates that, in preparation for the last assault of the British, the American officers caused their men to load and lie down, with the order not to rise or fire a shot until they " got the word." Twenty men were detailed at intervals in the rear, with pieces loaded, and directions openly given, to shoot down any man disobey- * Mansfield's Life of Scott, p. 48 ; Stone's Life of Brant, Vol. II, p. 512. •fi CHRONICLE or THE WAR. ing the first order. He states that the British were within forty yards before the word came, that tlio volley was instantaneous and fatal, but never stopped the rush, which cleared the hill like chaff before a .i^ust of wind. The British force engaged during the day consisted of the remnants of the t^vo companies of the 49th attacked in the morning who had been bravely sustained by Cameron's, How- ard's, and Chisholm's companies of the York militia. Sheaffe brought to their support 380 of the 4l8t. Crook's and McEwen's flank comi)anie8 of the 1st Lincoln ; Nellies and AV. Crook's companies of the 4th Lincoln, Hale's, Durand's, and Applegate's companies of the 5th Lincoln, Major Merritt's yeomanry corps, and a party of Swayzee's militia artillery. Colonel Clark of the militia came up from Chippewa with Capt. Derinzys' and Bullock's company of the 41st, Capt. R. Hamilton and Stone's flank companies of the 2nd Lincoln and Volunteer Sedentary militia. Young Norton, Brant the younger, and about 50 Mo- hawks. A company of colored men under Captain Runchey was on the ground, and did good service. The whole force at the close of the day did not exceed one thousand rank and file. Of this number about 80 were killed and wounded, Indians included. The British had been greatly exasperated by the fatal event of the morning. The men of Lincoln and the " brave York Volun- teers " with " Brock " on their lips and revenge in their hearts, had joined in the last desperate charge, and among the foremost, foremost ever found, was John Beverly Robinson, all. E. Loyalist, a lawyer from Toronto, and not the worse soldier for all that. His light, comj)act, agile figure, handsome face, and eager eye, were long proudly remembered by those who had witnessed his conduct m the field, and who loved to dwell on those traits of chivalrous loy- alty, energetic talent and sterling worth which, in after years, and in a happier sphere, elevated him to the position of Chief Justice FU of the Pro late lament demands, a to his mcmt Thus ter of all write with Queen victory; h\ the last mi side in the Sheaffe — a from the d; morning — ' won by Sh his success he had ear: heights, t\h Detroit. ] order of th tomb. Lik< " alone in interred wi at Fort G< under his s memory at The soldiei occasion of guns durin * It may bi something ol at the tune re Lieut.-Golon Deputy Assii FUNERAL OP BROCK — SCOTT AND THE SAVAGES. 63 of the Province, and to the rank of an En^^lish Baronet. Tho late lamented death of Sir John Beverly Robinson, Bart., and C. B., demands, as an homa<;;e to the grief of Canada, this passing tribute to his memory. Bright names hallow story as well as song. Thus terminated this remarkable contest. It has been tho practice of all writers, with jiardonable partiality, so far to identify Brock with Queenston heights, as to make his name inseparable from the victory ; but, honor to whom honor is justly due, and Brock was the last man to deny it to an old friend who had fought by his side in the 49th, in many a stricken field. The battle was won by SheafFe — a U. E. Loyalist, born in Boston, who had served the king from the days of Bunker Hill. Brock lost his life early in tho morning — the fight flagged in conseijuencc — was re-fought, and won by Sheaffe at 3 in the afternoon. Sheaffo Avas rewarded for his success by a Baronetcy. Brock died unconscious of the honors he had earned. On the day of his death, at the foot of Queenston heights, the guns of the Tower of London proclaimed his victory at Detroit. He had been made a Knight of the most honourable order of the Bath. His banner and his spurs were laid uj)on his tomb. Like a wreath of " immortelles," they cover a solitary name, " alone in its glory." Brock died unmarried. His remains were interred with those of his Provincial Aide-de-Camp, ( .'ol. Macdonell, at Fort George, in a cavalier bastion which had been constructed under his superintendence. On the erection of the column to his memory at Queenston heights, they were removed, and rest there. The soldier who commanded at the American fort, Niagara, on the occasion of the funeral, hoisted his flag half mast, and fired minute guns during the ceremony, shot for shot with our own.* *It may be pardoned to the pen which traces these lines, if it is inspired bj something of an hereditary interest in the events aarrated. The chief mourner at the funeral of Brock was General Sheaffe. Two of the pall bearers were Lieut.-Golonel Ooffln, Provincial Aide de Camp, and James GofBn, Esquire, Deputy Assistant Oommissary General, both ancles to the writer. As General 64 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. A picturesque incident of this scmi-savagc warfare is related. Col. Scott, by his stature and intrepidity during the day, had attracted the particular attention of the Indian Chieftains. Fortune favour- ed him so far, that his escape was ascribed to some peculiar " medicine," or to witchcraft. On the evening of the day of the surrender, Scott was dining with General Sheaffe, when a messenger came from persons without, who wished to speak with the " tall American." Scott rose, with a jocular observation, and pro- ceeded into the narrow entrance, where he found himself confront- ed by two Indians, Jacob ""Norton and Brant the younger. The latter in English, rapidly questioned him " as to his wounds," *' balls through his clothes," " they had fired at him all day without effect." The former somewhat rudely took the Colonel by the arm, as if to turn him round for inspection. Scott indignantly flung «he intruder from him, exclaiming " Hands off, you scoundrel: you shot like a squaw." The Indian blood was roused instantaneously, knives and tomahawks were drawn. Scott grasped his sword, but the odds were against him in a narrow pas- sage, when, in at the door way stepped Colonel Coffin, Provincial Aide-de-Camp to General Sheaffe, who seeing things at a glance, drew a pistol and put it to Norton's head, calling for assistance, which in one moment was on the spot from the room behind. The Indian Chiefs, recovering from their sudden gust of passion, and abashed by their own violence, slowly dropped their arms, and retired. The officer to whom Scott possibly owed his life was then Aide-de-Camp to the General, and on the 14th January following, was appointed Deputy Adjutant General of the militia of Upper Canada, which post he filled with universal respect, for twenty-four years.* Sheaffe had married their sister, and was their first cousin, his name is added, with, it is believed, a not ignoble pride, to the familiar record of men who— all U. E. Loyalists — had served their king and country truly in times of trial. •Mansfield's Life of Scott, p. 47 ; Stone's Life of Brant, Vol. II, p. 214. CHAPTER V. ArmiMtioe botwoon ShcatTp and Van l{pni<*>lapr. KaKtoni fVontlor— AflUr at St. ItoKii*. " Cap- ture of a dtand of colors"— Retaliation. Hard Ihmt below— I'lcaaant woutlicr west. American t«|uiidron and rommodoro Karle. dallant ex|iloit of the Caiiadlan Fcliooner Simcoe. Chuuncoy and (;a)>tain Urock. Armiittlce tMitweon Hmyth and .SliiMifn; teinii- niiied. De.'>c(>nt on Canadian frontier. AmericanH ri>|iulHed, Fort Kiie Kuninioned. Di^liop wont give up Smyth retires Into winter quarters, and goes south. Ignited Statca disunited on the war— Canada unanimous. 8ufr»riiigH and spirit of the people. Loyal and I'atrlotic Society. It is tmfortunate that Shcaffe, if liis own master, sliouUl have marred the fair [iroportions of his success hy an armistice which lias given rise to much animadversion. He apparently might, and if he could, he oinjlit to have crossed the river forthwith, and to have swept the coast of the renegade crew who had disgraced our com- mon manhood, and the Niagara frontier, on both sides, would have been spared much of future evil. I3rock, as he got into his saddle' on the morning of his death, had ordered Major Evans of the 8th Regt., who remained in command at Fort George, to open fire on Fort Niagara, directly opposite, and so effectually was the order obeyed, that, in a short time, the place was dismantled and abandoned, and might easily have been taken possession of the following day. But it should be kept in mind, that Sheaffe had to protect a frontier of 36 miles with about 1500 men — that he had on the other side 6000 opposed to him ; that in assailing the enemy's frontier he exposed his own to superior numbers at remote points, and that a failure on his part would have been a sacrifice of the successes gained, would have opened the road to Burlington Heights and York, would have thrown the enemy in Proctor's rear, and have endangered the safety of the Province. Independent of the rashness of an advance, there were in favour of an, pmistice many substantial grounds. 66 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. As before said he was weak, in face of an enemy superior in num- berg, and embarrassed by a crowd of prisoners, whom he had to guard as well as feed. He expected reinforcements, the safe and speedy arrival of which would change the aspect of affairs. It is obvious too, that he acted under unseen pressure, and that, in this respect, he was not his own master. Temporizing was the goveni- ment " order of the day ;" Sir George Prevost had imposed it upon Brock, he in his turn had impressed it upon Proctor in the west, and Shcaffe, with soldierly subordination, did as he understood.* Sir George Prevost disapproved of this armistice when reported to him ; but the British ministry, as Sir George said, had " ham- pered the contest with strange infatuation," and it cannot be wondered at, that absorbed in a vast life-and-death struggle in Europe, they prayed to be ridded, by any concession, of the wor- riment of a petite guerre in America. On the spot, and in our own view of our own interests, we see things in a larger and truer point of view ; and it should be kept in mind that the propriety of .the armistice was never questioned in England. The Americans were nothing daunted by this reverse. To the popular eye, the disaster at Queenston heights read as a success. The authorities, as well as the writers of the day, spoke of the death of Brock, as they now do of the fall of Stonewall Jackson, as equivalent to a victory. It has even been contended that the temporary tenure of the crest of the hill, up to the arrival of the reinforcements under Sheaffe, was in itself a vi^'iory. The British held the Redan in front of Sebastopol for two hours, before they retired, and yet it may be doubted if any American writer would admit this honourable feat of desperate valour to be a success. But successes of another and unexpected character — suc- cesses on the ocean, to be enlarged upon hereafter, had, at tbip * Life and Correspondence of Brock, Tupper, p. 116. critical e and impa reluctant intoxicati for furth( to take I winter frc had been due propo command. In proclar noble arn appear to . Leaving in front of tier of Lo 10,000 me Canadian i arms; the infancy of his inspirat were too n of demonst picket at I consisted o of the Nort Mackinac, at the heac still more Mississippi. • Col. Will •ate of Montr TEMPORIZrXO POLICY — AMERICAN COMPLACENCY. 67 critical moment, elated the mind of the government and people, and imparted an imii-M. ise impulse to the national energies. The reluctant good sense of the country was drowned in the general intoxication. The government urged on with vigour its preparations for further invasion. Late as the season was, they had calculated to take Canada at a disadvantage, when hermetically scaled by winter from extraneous help ; and, to impart to the tragedy, which had been enacted amid the melodramatic scenery of Niagara, its due proportion of farce, they appointed one General Smyth to the command. This gentleman was the Bombastes Furioso of the day. In proclamations he stands unrivalled. Never was there " a most noble army " more " bethumped by words," — but his exploits appear to have been Hmited by phrases. Leaving General Smyth to apostrophize his " Hearts of War," in front of General Sheaife, we will proceed to the New York fron- tier of Lower Canada, where General Dearborn had aj»sembled 10,000 men, and from Plattsburg menaced Montreal. But the French Canadian militia, like the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus, sprang to arms ; the land bristled with bayonets. Major de Salaberry, in the infancy of his fame, had the command of the outposts, and, under his inspiration, these undisciplined levies speedily showed that they were too much in earnest to be trifled with. After some parade of demonstration, on the 20th November, an attack was made on a picket at Lacolle, by a force from Champlain Town. The picket consisted of frontier militia and a few Indians under Col. McKay, of the North West Company, who had borne the news of the war to Mackinac, had returned to Montreal, to throw himself into the field at the head of his Indians, and who, in 1814, performed services Btill more important in the capture of Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi.* This gentleman so handled his small force, that the * Col. William McKay was father of Robert McKay, Esq., an eminent adro- •ate of Montreal. 68 CHRONICLE OF TUB WAK. enemy, in the dark, fired upon their own people, killing several, and then, much disconcerted, fell back on Champlain Town, from whence they came ; and thereupon Dearborn, in deference to the mandates of climate, retired into winter quarters. On our way back from the Plattsburg-Montreal section of the international frontier, we will touch at the Indian village of St. Rc;:is where the line 45° strikes the St. Lawrence. It is the westernmost, and extreme point of the frontier between Lower Canada and the State of New York. The Upper Province on the north shore of the St. Lawrence and Lakes had been formed into three military divisions — left, centre, and right — the left extending upwiirds from the old French fort of Coteau du Lac, up the line of the St. Lawrence, included Kingston. The centre embraced York and the Peninsula of Niagara ; the right comprehended the Detroit frontier and the Upper coasts of Lake Erie. St. Regis in Lower Canada, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence, opposite to Corn- wall, was surprised on the morning of the 23rd Oct3ber by a force of 400 men detailed from Plattsburg. The outpost or picket, at this point, consisted of twenty m3n and an officer of Canadian Voyageurs. Lieut. Rototte, Sergeant McGiUivray, and six men were killed, the remainder taken prisoners. In a cupboard of the wigwam of the Indian interpreter, was found a Union Jack, on gala days the worthy object of Indian adoration. This windfall was announced to the world as the " capture of a stand of colors," " the first colors taken during the war." Dozens of them mi"ht have been obtained, at far less cost, in any American shipyard. This affront was resented forthwith. On the 23rd November, small parties of the 49th Foot and Glengarry Light Infantry, supported by about 70 men of the Cornwall and Glengarry militia, about 140 in all, under Licut.-Colonel McMillan, crossed the St. Law- rence and pounced on the American fort at Salmon river, opposite to St. Regis. The enemy took to the block-house, but finding them- DIVERSITIES OP CLIMATE — COMMODORE EARLE. 69 selves surrounded, surrendered prisoners of war. One captain, two subalterns and forty-one men were taken, with four battcaux and fifty-seven stand of arms. No " stand of colors" was captured with the Americans, as it is not usual to confide standards to the guardianship of detached parties of forty or fifty men in any ser- vice. But while winter, growing gradually up the river, had already imposed an icy barrier to all military operations in Eastern Canada and on the line of the river St. Lawrence, the climate of the Western Province, the more moderate as it declines westward, admitted, to a much later period of the year, of naval combinations and of the movements of troops. At a time when t ^ St. Lawrence, from Quebec downwards, is barred by thick ribbed ice, and the vast territory intermediate between the Atlantic and this noble river is an impassable wilderness of snow ; where the breath freezes in the ver^ nostrils of men ; the immense tract of country west of, and among the Lakes, enjoys a climate very like that of England ;< — somewhat less of humidity, perhaps, and a little more of sun. At Detroit, the river freezes occasionally, as does the Rhine, and as does the Thames, and leads to much the same exhibition of jollity, booths and bonfires, races and roast oxen ; but the vast expanse of the lake surface moistens and softens the atmosphere — the waters are, for military purposes, at no period of the season reliably impiacticable, and the West is, during winter, and in ordinary seasons, as pleasant a country to fight over as any part of Flanders. Thus, on the 9th of November, 1812, the American fleet from Sackctt's Harbour, consisting of the Oneida brig of 16 guns, and six heavy schooners, chased the Royal George, commanded by Commodore Earle, into Kingston. At an earlier period the Com- modore had withdrawn from an attempt on the Oneida in Sackctt's Harbour, and much had been said to his disparagement in conse- quence. We have been reminded significantly, that the Canadian 70 cni||^c ONICLE OF THE WAR. Commodore did not belong to the Royal Navy. The imputation should have been spared until it had been fully ascertained how much of his apparent backsliding was ascribable to British mis- management. What was the strength of his crew ? What the state of his equipments ? What his orders ? His conduct simply indicated the character of all the orders of that time. We do not hesitate to say that the Canadian seaman, on his own waters — man to man — is as good as the briniest salt that ever trod deck ; and as a rule, for pluck or conduct, the raw Canadian material is equal to any found in Yankeedom, or Christendom either, and in proof we quote the daring escape of the Canadian schooner Simcoe, James Richardson, commander, by running the gauntlet of the American flotilla. The story is thus told : On the 20th November, the Americans had cannonaded the town of Kingston, and got the worst of it, at long bowls. They had hauled off, beating out of the channel into the open lake, under heavy press of sail, when they discovered the Simcoe, a fine 200-ton schooner, bound from Niagara to Kingston. She had been employed in the transportation of troops and stores, and was returning in ballast. The American force, armed with long heavy guns, intercepted her completely. Ricu ardson, not relishing the idea of capture, and the transfer of so fine a vessel to the American marine, attempted at first to run her ashore on Amherst Island, but the wind baffled this design. In the meantime one of the enemy's schooners got under his lee, and opened fire, but, attempting to tack, " missed stays." Richard- son's nautical blood was up in a moment. He cheered his men. " Look, lads, at these lubbers ! Stand by me, and we will run past the whole of them, and get safe into port." The answer was a ready cheer. The helm was instantly " put up," and spreading all sail, with a stiff breeze blowing, the daring Simcoe bore down direct on the harbour, passing a little to the northward of the enemy, who, SCHOONER SIMCOE — TERMINATION OP ARMISTICE. 71 ship by ship, delivered their fire of round and grape, and vainly endeavoured to cross her bows. She shot by them all, with riddled sides and sails, but not a man hurt, running the gauntlet for four or five miles. Before reaching port she was struck under water by a 32-pound shot, filled, and sank, but was easily raised afterwards, and repaired. As she sank the crew fired their only piece of ordnance, a soUtary musket, with a cheer of defiance, which was taken up and echoed by the thousands of citizens, troops, and militia who thronged the shore.* A few hours after. Commodore Chauncey, in command of the American squadron, captured a schooner having on board Capt. Brock, a brother of the deceased General, with plate and effects of his late relative. Chauncey paroled the captain, and, with graceful generosity, restored to him all the captured property he had in charge. The armistice between Gen. Smyth and Sir Roger Sheafie ter- minated on the 20th November. With Gen. Smyth gasconading was a gift. He had primed his men with proclamations, but fired the train with a long lanyard. He had prepared 2500 men for an invasion of Canada. He presided at the embarkation, saw the men off safely, and retired to " organize further." " The tornado burst on the Canadian shore," to use the words of the American annalist,! at the upper end of Grand Isle, between Fort Erie and Chippewa. It was met by the gallant Col. Bishopp, who commanded about 600 men, — 360 regidars, and 240 militia, under Major Ilatt and Capt. Bostwick. The first demonstration took place on the 27th November. Small outposts of the British were temporarily overpowered, guns were spiked ; Lieuter.ants King, Lament and Bartley, of the Royal Artillery, perversely fighting, with that stupid indisposition to give in, natural to British youngsters. * Memoranda of the Rev. Dr. Richardson, D.D. t Nile's Weekly Messenger, quoted bj Auchinleck, 119. 72 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. were badly wounded ; but when morning broke, Bishopp and Ormsby were down upon the invader. The guns were recaptured and unspik- ed ; a second division of American invaders repulsed with much loss ; and an aide-de-camp of the American general, with about forty men and some other officers, were taken prisoners. Smyth, who had already proclaimed himself victorious, was puzzled. Considering the disparity of numbers the British ought to have surrendered long before — he was sure they meant to do so — the case of Hull was precisely parallel. He would give them an opportunity, — and so despatched a flag of truce to Fort Erie, politely retjuesting a sur- render — a suggestion which was declined, in the best possible temper, by the imperturbable Bishopp. Smyth ordered his men again into the boats, and then, to dis- embark and dine, and then, to repeat the same manoeuvre, until at length, on the 1st December, he decided to abandon all idea of crossing and conquest, and to go into winter quarters, which was done, it must be said, to the intense disgust of his army. Winter quarters led to military conventions, and to resolutions very dis- concerting to the General, who finding himself to be threatened with tar and feathers, departed forthwith South, was removed in a summary way from the U. S. service, and subsided finally into a member of Congress : and thus ended the campaign of the year 1812, not inauspiciously for Canada. It proved two things — first that the people of the United States were disunited on the subject of the war, while the people of Canada were united to a man. The Legislature of Maryland openly denounced the war. The governments of Massachusetts, * Connecticut, and Rhode Island, had refused the quota of militia ' "demanded of these States respectively. Such men as Quincey declared in the House of Representatives at Washington, that " since the invasion of the Buccaneers, there was nothing in his- .tory.more disgraceful than this war." SPIRIT IN CANADA — LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC SOCIETY. 73 The voice of Canada was unanimous — in the Upper and in the Lower Province — French and English — Protestant and Catholic — men of all parties and all policies — the voices of all were still for war. They had not sought it, — they had shunned it, — but it had been forced upon them, and they were readv to fight it out. Recol- lect, that this was not the sentiment of a vagabond population, but of the farmers, whose fields were left uncultivated, and families destitute, while they risked their lives for their national independence. Nor were these sacrifices, all : let us consider the privations en- dured. Men were suddenly summoned from their firesides, homely but plentiful, to encounter a campaign, imperfectly armed, insuffi- ciently clad, uncertainly fed. And yet no complaints were heard — they suffered and fought on. But the. knowledge of their distress pervaded the community and touched every heart. First, the people of York originated a sub- scription, and the young ladies devoted themselves to the work of preparing flannels for the men. In December 1 812, rose the " Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada ;" Thomas Scott, Chief Justice, President, and John Strachan, William Campbell, John Small, William Chewitt, J. B. Robinson, William Allan, Grant Powell, and Abel Wood, as Directors. The object of this Society was to provide comforts for the men, support for destitute families, succour for the wounded, compensation to the plundered, and assistance to all who required and deserved it. The appeal of this Society met with an instant and generous response. In London, under the auspices of the Duke of Kent, was subscribed at once £5,000 ; in Jamaica, .£1,419 ; in Nova Scotia, £2,500 ; in Montreal, X 3,130 ; in Quebec, XI, 500 ; in York, £1,868 ; in Kingston and Eastern Districts, £800. In other places both within and without the Province other large sums, amounting altogether to £14 or £15,000. These moneys were employed very judiciously, to the relief of great distress, leaving at the close of the war a con- 74 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. siderable balance in the hands of the Treasurer, but, at the time, this generous appreciation of their eiforts had a grand effect. It sank deep into the hearts of the people of Canada. Inspired by the sympathy and enthusiastic support of their fellow-subjects in all parts of the world, the loyal men of Canada rallied to the flag of their native land — in utrdque fortund parati—mth the sentiment in their hearts Avhich they have handed down to their children, expressed in Praed's Charade — Fight as your fathers fought, Fall as your fathers fell : Thy task is taught — thy shroud is wrought- So — forward, and farewell. CHAPTER VI. Naval occurrences of the war. Supremacy of England on the ocean. Indiflbronce to furoi{(n progress. American frigates— Unrivallt'd in const! uclion— Speed— K»|uipment —Power. Naval duels. The Coustitutlou and (juerrieie. Tlie Frolic and Wasp. The United States and Macedonian. The Java and Constitution. Effect of these contest*. Exultation of Europe. England nerved and steeled. The Hornet and I'eacock. Counter-stroke. Shannon and Chesapeake. Moral effect. The balance redressed. Uallautry on both sides. Effect of these events on the war in Canada. Not to interrupt, as far as could be avoided, the thread of the preceding narrative, no mention has been made of those remarkable naval duels which imparted so much of a bold and startling inter- est to the American contest, so called, of 1812. The first of these occurrences, which took place towards the end of that year, electrified and dazzled America, and blinded the popular vision to the reverses which had been encountered in Canada, while a series of well fought engagements, resulting, in rapid succession, to the disad- vantage of Great Britain, signalized the opening of the year 1813. Up to this period of time, England had held dominion of the seas. The oceans of the globe owned her sway. The Spaniard and the Frenchman, the Dutchman and the Dane, had confessed her prowess. From Cadiz to Copenhagen, from Gibraltar to the Nile, she ruled the main. It was with astonishment, not unmixed with glee, that those who had suffered discomfiture, now witnessed her disaster. The haughty lioness had been bearded in her den, by her own sea- cubs, who proved themselves, in deadly conflict, to be not unworthy of their origin. In 1812 Great Britain had one thousand pennants afloat. At 76 cniioNrcLE OP the war. the outbreak of the war, the American navy consisted of four frigates and eight sloops, but they were all ships of new and skilful construction, combining great power with great speed, and both, in the number of guns and weight of metal, exceeding their nominal strength. The embargo supplied these choice cruisers with adrair- ble crews, while the officci's, in seamanship and bravery, were second to none. It had been remarked by observant travellers in preced- ing years, that the Americans were building vessels of their respec- tive classes, very superior to our own, but the British Admiralty of the day were deaf to suggestion or advice. They laughed to scorn all such Yankee inventions. The reverend greybeards raved an' stormed That younker laddies Should think they better were informed Than their auld daddies. Thus, when Avar came, a solitary frigate, splendidly armed, equipped, manned and officered, proved more than a match for ships of war, nominally equal, but in fact, greatly inferior ; while her speed enabled her to set at defiance all vessels or combinations of superior force. The frigates too, of England, scattered on every sea, were not onlj, individually, unequal in strength, but, from their numbers, imperfect in appointment and under-manned. All this ought to have been foreseen and provided for. In the absence of provision came the catastrophe. We have already seen how, in the first naval attempt of the war, the Belvidera had maintained the skilful supremacy of En j,laud, but this was followed by blows of di.Terent augury. In August, 1812,* the Constitution encountered the Guerri^re. The American, hi tonnage, weight of metal, and number of men, was half as heavy again as the Englishman. The former was fresh out of port. The latter returning from a long cruise to refit, with fore- • AiifT'ist 19, 1812 NAVAL DUELS — CONSTITUTION AND GUERRI^RB. n mast and bowsprit sprung. Captain Dacrcs, in true bull-dog fashion, fought for two hours, yard-arm to yard-arm. Ho was crushed, dismasted, wholly wrecked — seventy-nine men killed and wounded, and thirty shots received below the water-line, lie struck, without disgrace, to an antagonist uninjured comparatively in hull and rig- msi, and whose casualties amounted to fourteen.* The GuerriOre was sinking when she struck. She was fired by the enemy and blown up. Next, in October, 1812, ensued the fight between the Frolic and the American Wasp, sloop of war, of the same nominal force, but thft broadside, equipage and tonnage greatly in favour of the American. The Frolic, damaged in a gale, was refitting rigging. She was soon reduced to the condition of a log on the water, and was carried by boarding, the only living occupants of her decks being three ofiicers and the man at the wheel. The British loss in a conflict of an hour was thirty killed and between forty and fifty wounded. Both ships were taken in the afternoon of the same day by the Poictiers, 74 guns, and sent into Bermuda.f *The Guerriere had been captured from the French, and for the beauty uf her model was taken into our service. She was therefore an old ship, and her tcantling only admitted of the use of long IG-pounder guns, while the Gon- atitution carried 24 pounders on her main, and 32 pounders on her upper deck. The comparative fighting power of the two ships may be thus given :^ Constitution. Guerriere. 68 guns. 48 guns. Throwing 1536 lbs. shot. Throwing 1034 lbs. shot. Grew, 460. Crew, 240. Tonnage, 1538. Tonnage, 1092. t Frolic. 18 guns. Broadside, 262 lbs. Crew, 92. 76 hors de combat. Tonnage, 384. Wasp. 18 guns. Broadside, 268 lbs. Crew, 135. 6 killed, 5 wounded. Tonnage, 434. 78 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. UNITED ST> On the 2r)th October came a still sturdier blow. The United States encountered the Macedonian, 5(5 guns to 44, and the dig" parity still more increased by weight of broadside, tonnage, and crew. The fight was fierce, — at long range, — in close fight, — in attempts t«i board, — in a tremendous sea. The Macedonian was so crippled as to become unmanageable, and being exposed to raking broadsides, she could not answer. After a contest of two hours and upwards, witli mizzcnmast gone by the board, main and foretopmaat shot away, thirty-six men killed and sixty-eight wounded, she slowly and sadly lowered her flag. The disparity of force is best shown by the com- parativo losses. The British frigate lost 104 killed and wounded ; the American twelve.* Nor was this the last disaster of the year. On the 20th Dec, the Java frigate, under command of the young and gallant Lambert, left Spithead for the East Indian Station. Lambert had been at Quebec in 1808, in the Iphigenie frigate, where ho had attracted much attention, as the beau ideal of a British sailor. Brock speaks of him with warmth in his familiar letters. He sailed from Spit- head with a motley crew — gaol-birds, as they were called — being many of them poachers and smugglers, desperadoes, devoid of dis- cipline, but, as the event showed, full of fight ; many of them, however, had never fired a cartridge. Lambert, who had some American experience, remonstcated. He was answered with a sneer: ho was told that a voyage to Bombay and back would make a crew : and went to his death, doomed but determined. On the 29th Dec. he fell in with the Constitution — The inequality was much the same as in the preceding contest with the Macedonian. The Constitution at first stood away, long range being her forte, but Lambert was a * United States. Broadside, weight of metal, 864 lbs. Crew, 474. Tonnage, 1533. Macedonian. Broadside, 528 lbs. Crew, 254. Tonnage, 1081. UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN — CONSTITUTION' AND JAVA. 70 seaman, and one of tho bravest of tho brave. Ho know that his only chance was at cloao quartors, and by dint of j^ood seainunship, at lenj;th ran;^ed alongside of an antagonist, on his part nothing loath. The fight lasted two hours and a-half ; Lambert attempting to board, fell mortally wounded. With no greater crash to the bravo hearts around, down came, at the same time, the foremast of the Java, clogging the dock with wreck. Lieut. Chads took the command, and desperately fought on ; the rigging and running gear ignited from the discharge of the giuis. At last not a piece could be brought to bear, and the gallant ship, helpless and hopeless, sur- rendered to the foe, — but so utterly riddled and ruined, that the American Captain Bainb ridge, having saved the remains of her crew, left her to the flames, and the charred and shattered torso of the Java, " into tho deep went down." * Lambert fell, a hero as he had lived, and expired six days after. His " gaol-bird " crew, true Britons at heart, and inspired by his devoted gallantry, <— died, all pluck and bottom, To 8ave a sire who blushed he had begot 'em. The size of these American frigates may be estimated, on stating the fact that the largest 74 gun ship in the British navy at that time — the Dragon — was two feet shorter, though two feet wider, than tho President, the Constitution, or the United States, rated sis 44 gun frigates ; and that while frigates of the class of the Guerritire, the Macedonian, and the Java, carried each twenty-eight long 18 pounders and sixteen 32 pounder carronades, the American 44*8, so rated, carried thirty-two long 24 pounders and twenty-two * Jiira, 44 guus, Men, 292 Killed, 22 Wounded, 92—114 Constitution, ut suprd. Men, 460 Killed, 10 Wounded, 48-- 58 178 402 80 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. 32 pounder carronades. At long range they were superior in weight and precision of fire, and immeasurably superior at close quarters.* The effect of these successive disasters can hardly be exaggerated. England stood, for the moment, stunned. The continent of Europe shouted with joy. " Down with the sea-dogs, a baa lea loups marinSy" was the polyglot cry ; but the old sea-dog shook himself sulkily, showed his teeth, muttered an ominous growl, and betook himself at once to remedy the evil. Never does England bear herself more bravely, never does she look more worthy of her fortunes, than in the face of misfortune. The Admiralty, slow to move, when moved, swept on, with the force of the tide which rebuked the Courtiers of Canute. Efforts were made to strengthen the squad- ron on the American coast, and single vessels were eciuipped, and manned, fit to encounter the leviathans of America ; a further calamity spurred them on. On the 14th February, 1813, the American Hornet stung to death the IJritish Peacock.* Both were sloops nominally of the same force, bat the Hornet had two guns more than her opponent, and tb** 'reight of her broadside was double. In men and size she was mach superior. The contest continued for an hour and a half. The Peacock was so torn to pieces, that she sank with thirteen of her own men, and four Hornets, striving, nobly but vainly, to save their foemen from a watery grave. f As in the frigates, so was the disproportion in the American sloops of war. " For instance the sloop Hornet carried eighteen 32 carron- • Veritas, p. 145. t Peacock. Broadside guns, 9. Weight of broadside, 192 lbs. Men, 110. Tons, 386. Hornet. Broadside guns, 10. Weight of broadside, 297. M.n, 163. Tons, 460. HORNET AND PEACOCK — SHANNON AND CHESAPEAKE. 81 ades, four long 9 and two long 6 pounders with 162 picked men ; the British sloop Peacock had sixteen carronades of 24 lbs. and two long 9's, with 110 men." * At last came the counter-stroke. Among the many gallant oflScers, anxious to meet the Americans on equal terms, was Captain Broke, in command of the Shannon. He had under his command a crack ship mounting 52 guns, and a crew carefully trained to gunnery and small arms. They kne;v their commander, and their commander knew them ; and this mutual confidence made its mark in the hour of need. Broke, off the American coast, had learned that the frigate Chesapeake of 52 guns was then in Boston fitting for sea, where- upon he dismissed his consort, the Tenedos, a frigate of 86 guns, with instructions to keep out of the way while he had a fair " turn up" with the foe, and then, with Castilian punctilio, sent a cartel to (>apt. Lawrence requesting in the most respectful terms " the honour of a meeting to try the fortunes of their respective flags. "f Lawrence, as brave a sailor as ever trod quarter deck, had anticipated the invitation, and was prompt in his acknowledgments. In brief space, 11th June, 1813, Broke saw the American under weigh, and standing down upon him, surrounded by yachts and boats, while the cheers of his enthusiastic countrymen rang through the welkin. An entertainment had been prepared on shore for the return of those who were thus arrayed and sent to conquest, but the feast was served with funeral baked meats. The contest which ensued it is difficult to give in detail. It was short, sharp, and decisive, most bravely fought on both sides, but the magnificent gunnery of the British gave them an advantage from the outset, which was crowned by boarding. From the deck and from yard-arm, simultaneously, the American was carried, in a • Veritas, p. 146 ; Letter 9. t Letter from Broke to Lawrence, James, Vol. I, p. 199. 82 CHBONICLB OF THE WAS. desperate hand-to-hand struggle, led by Broke, who was severely wounded in the fray. Lawrence had fallen cheering on his men, and died shortly after the action, honoured and lamented. His body was buried at Halifax with every mark of military respect. In fifteen minutes from the firing of the first gun, the Chesapeake was a prize to the Shannon ; and in that brief space 145 brave men on the American side, and 83 on the English had passed to their account. The moral effect of this victory was tremendous — a suc- cession of disasters was repaired at a blow. The deadly spell was broken, and England again held in her grasp the talisman of success. It was recovered by her own resolution to repair defeat, and by a tardy, but just, appreciation of the merits of others.* In all these actions the strength of vessels, weight of metal and number of men were decidedly in favour of the Americans — the meed of valor was equally divided. In courtesy and manly bear- ing the American generously vied with the Briton. Lawrence and Lambert alike consecrated with their blood the flags of their respective countries. The echoes of the indiscriminating sea sing A requiem, evei lastingly, for the souls of the brave men who fol- lowed their example. Yet more the billows and the depths have more, Light hearts aud brave are gathered to thy breast : They hear not now the booming water roar ; The battle thunder will not break their rest. Keep thy red gold and gems, thou stormy grave ! •Give back the true and brave 1 * ASMAMINTB. fibannon. c; L.<>sapeake. Broadside guns, 25 as Weight of metal, 635 600 Number of crew, 306 tt« Tonnage, 1066 tona. 1136 tons. HONC^Tl TO THE BRAVE — EXULTATION OP AMERICA. 88 The early successes of this naval campaign exercised great moral influence on the general conduct of the war. They more than compensated in the American mind for the national shortcomings on shore. The seaboard cities were then the centres of population and of opinion. The tastes, the pursuits, the sympathies of the people were with their sailors. The present exultation gave no thought to the future, or to disagreeable admonitions on the distant frontier of Canada. The Government also were not unaware that the present advantages on the Lakes might, with their oppor- tunities, be greatly improved, and the prestige of victory be transferred from the ocean to these inland seas. CHAPTER Vn. 1818. Amorican prcpnratlons on Lakes Ontario and Erie. British Ministry did its b<»8t— Canada its duty. Men and money voted. New Drunswicic regiment marched f^-ora Fredericton on snow bIiocs. Major General Kvans. Sir James Yeo and peamen arrive from Halifax. Britich and American forces on the frontier. In the West, llarris'on and Proctor, (icneral Winchester defeated and captured at Frenchtown. Capt. Forsyth harries Broclcvillo. Heprisals Sir George I'revost at I'rescott. IVrmits a demonstration. Trescott. Ogdent:burj». ^'olonel George Macdonnell. The (Jlengarries. Bishop Macdonnell. Dash at Ogdcnsburg— Dangers of the ice— The place talcen. Cspt. Jenl(ins and Liout. Ridge. Pierre Holmes. His story. MacdonncH'scoarago, courtesy, and kindness. It has been said before, that one effect of the war had been to concentrate the national resources, both of men and material, and to dispose them most conveniently for operations on either arena, of land or lake ; immense preparations were made at once. Sackett's Harbour on Lake Ontario, and Presqu'isle on Lake Erie, were sup- plied with comparative facility from New York and Philadelphia, and a naval force, created with great rapidity, very superior to any with which Great Britain, engaged in every sea, and so distant from her colonies, could encounter the emergency. The preparations, therefore, for the campaign of 1813, were carried on with increased vigour by the American Government. The British Ministry, it may be beUeved, did their best, but at crreat disadvantage. Thronged and beset by diflBculties, it is not unnatural that they should stih have temporized, still have indulged in a lin- gering hope that more pacific counsels might yet prevail, or that the chapter of accidents would open at a leaf propitious to the fortunes of Britain. MEN AND MONEY — RECRUITS AND REINFORCEMENTS. 85 Nor was Canada wanting to itself. The Legislature of Lower Canada had assembled on the 29th Dec, 1812. The Army Bill Act was renewed and extended. £500,000 were authorized to be put into circulation. £15,000 were granted to eqtiip the embodied militia. £1,000 to provide hospitals, and £25,000 towards the support of the war. A duty of 2| per cent, on all merchandize imported into the Province was also granted for the support of the war. The expenses of the militia for the current year had been je55,000, or $220,000.* The whole expenditure of the Govern- ment was £98,777. In addition to the force already raised, the militia was augmented by a draft in Lower Canada. A battalion was embodied in Quebec, (the 6th) for Garrison duty. A Canadian Fencible Regiment, a regiment of Glengarries, and a regiment of Voltigeurs were recruited diligently, and with success. f The New Brunswick regu- lar regiment, (the 104th,) in the month of March explored, for the first time, the wintry wilderness lying between Fredericton on the River St. John and the St. Lawrence. These hardy men per- • Christie, Vol. X, p. 72. t The Montreal Canadian Courant — an extinct Literary Volcano^of the 4th May, 1812, copies from the Quebec Gazette of a preceding date: " Thb VoLTiOKcna. "This corps now forming under the command of Major De Salaberry is com- pleting with a despatch worthy of the ancient warlike spirit of the country. Capt. Perrault's company was fillled up in 48 hours, and was yesterday passed by His Excellency the Governor ; and the companies of Captains Diichesnay, Panet and L'Ecuyer, have now nearly their compliment. The young men move in solid columns towards the enlisting officers, with an expression of countenance not to be mistaken. The Canadians are awakening from the repose of an age lecured to them by good government and virtuous habits. Their anqer U/rcsh — the object of their preparation simple and distinct. They are to defend their K'ng, known to them only by acts of kindness, and a native country long since made sacred by ilie t iploits of their forefathers." 86 CHRONICLE OF THE WAS. formed this feat, actually, upon snow-shoes, confronting hardships and surmounting obstacles, to which the late march of the Guards throu^ the same scenes, admirable in itself, as it ever must be, was but a hdidaj freak. The staff and the Commissariat of those days had not undergone the teaching of a Crimean campaign — the more honourable to those who, by dint of individual exertion, con- trived to supply those deficiencies, and among them no man shone more conspicuously thf.n the late Major General Thomas Evans, C.B., long identified with the social circles of Montreal and Queb^^c, and who was then a Captain in the 8th Infantry. In their wake followed Captains Barclay, Fring, and Finnis of the Royal Navy, with five lieutenants and a few seamen, overland} from Halifax. From Quebec they proceeded rapidly to Kingston took the fleet there in hand, and laid themselves out, sturdily, to the work of fitting and equipment. In May they were joined by Sir James L. Yeo, from England, backed by about 450 British sailors. It may be well to recapitulate here the strength of the respective forces on the frontier, both of Upper and Lower Canada, at the commencement of the campaign of 1813. Armstrong, the Ameri- can Secretary at war, stated that the force commanded by General Dearborn, within District No. 9, that is to say, on the Plattsburg- Montreal frontier, was over 13,000 men of all arms. The force at the disposal of Sir George Prevost at this point did not excee^ 3,000 regulars and militia. At Sackett's Harbour 200 regulars and 2,000 militia ; at Lake Champlain, available for operations on Central Canada or the left Division, 3,000 regulars and 2,000 militia. To oppose this force there were scattered at Kingston, Prescott, and other posts on the line, about 1,500 men. On the Niagara frontier, the enemy had assembled 3,300 regulars and 2,000 militia. To these men were opposed 1,700 men in Fort George, and 000 men on the rest of the frontier, 36 miles in length,— 2,300 in all. WESTERN FRONTIER — PROCTOR AND WINCHESTER. 87 On the Western frontier, General Harrison held in hand some 2,000 men, while opposed to him in command of the Right division of Upper Canada, Proctor wielded about 1,000 troops, and 1,200 Indians and militia. The first operations of the year were adverse to the Americans. The conditions of climate on the Western frontier admit of military movements at a time when Central Canada is difficult, and Lower Canada impracticable. Early in January, 1813, General Harrison, who, at the head of the Ohio levies, hung upon the border of Michigan, made demonstrations on Detroit, weakly garrisoned, and held by Colonel Proctor, who had been left in command by Brock. The season, though favourable to an advance from the American side, from the South, precluded all idea of British reinforcements from the North. On the 11th, Proctor learned that an American division under General Winchester, had reached Frenchtown on the River Raisin, with the intention of attacking Brownstown, still more in advance towards Detroit. Proctor boldly grappled with the danger. He saw that the American force had advanced beyond the shelter of support, and he flung his whole strength on Winchester before Harrison could reach him. At break of day, on the 22nd, Proctor attacked the enemy's division, about 1,000 strong, being the flower of the Northwestern army, and encountered ; n om dread of the Indians, a desperate resistance. The buildings at Frenchtown were held, but a part of the American force broke to their rear, and enloavoured to escape by the road on which they came. In the pursuit, the American General was captured by Round-head, a Wyandot chief, and brought to Proctor. The Americans, who had retreated under cover, still fought with desper- ation.* Indian severities and their own inhuman reprisals crowded * Christie, Vol. XT, p. 69. A more detailed narrative of these occurrences, riil be found hereafter, Gbapterg XVIII and XIX. 88 CHRONICLE OF THE WAK. before their eye8,*like spectres of doom, assuming bodily shape, in swarms of dusky warriors, heralded by demoniac yells. Winchester, apprehensive that the buildings held by his men would be fired to the hopeless destruction of every defender, agreed to surrender him- self and his whole force. Five hundred and twenty-two men and officers, with anns, stores and ammunition, became the prize of the British ; about 400 were killed and wounded. Proctor commanded 500 regular soldiers and militia, with about 600 Indians, and lost 180 hors de combat. He and his troops received a vote of thanks from the Canadian House of Assembly then in session, and he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. For a time, the Michigan territory was safe, and Detroit secure. We will now turn from the right division of Upper Canada, to the division of the left, or the frontier of the Upper St. Lawrence. On the 6th February, Capt. Forsyth, the invader of rustic tran- quillity at Ganano(i[ue, made a nocturnal raid on the pigs and poultry of Elizabethtown, now Brock ville, where he wounded a militia sentry, sacked the cattle pens, and did not spare the private houses, nor the gaol, and carried off fifty-two of the inhabitants into captivity, — among them two Majors, three Captains, and two Lieutenants, elderly gentlemen, who, as a compliment, retained their commissions in the militia. Tliis exploit led to a brilliant reprisal, and deserves notice moreover, as a proof, how far this part of the frontier is assailable in winter — the ice, indeed, affording facility for small predatory excursions. The Lower Canadian Legislature rose in February, and on the 17th Sir George Prevost left Quebec for Upper Canada. On his route he found at Prescott Lieut-Colonel Pearson, an active and enterprising officer, who urged upon him an attack on Ogdensburg in retaliation for the recent descent on Brockville. Prevost doubted and demurred ; but while the proposal was under discussion, it was discovered that two deserters had escaped from the British side PRESCOTT AND OGDENSBURO. 89 with the intelligence of the presence of the Governor in Prescott, and of his contemplated movement westward, no light incentive to the enemy to intercept his ^ progress. It was therefore deemed expedient to distract attention from His Excellency by a diversion, and Pearson was permitted to plan a demonstration on the ice of the St. Lawrence, — like\he torreador of a Spanish bull-fight, — partly to disconcert, and hocus the bull, and partly to test the mettle and strength of the animal. Pi?scott was then a small village, protected by a palisaded fort, and block-house ; since enlarged, surrounded with heavy earth works, and now known as Fort Wellington. It is situated above the Rapids, or continuous, rough, and broken navigation of the St. Lawrence, which for 40 miles interrupts communications with Montreal, and was a place of rendezvous, for voyagcurs and batteaux, and a depot for military stores. It stands on an exposed part of the frontier, within cannon shot of Ogdensburg opposite. Below, the Canadian shore of the St. Lawrence is, to a great extent, covered by impassable rapids, and above, with a short interval, the coast is in like decree masked by the rocks of the Thousand Islands. But in that interval, from Prescott to Brock ville — a distance of twelve miles — a lovely champaign country opens to the view, undulating upwards in rich verdure, as if bom of the green .vaters of the noble river, and bearing on its fertile uplands, cornfields and orchards, mills and farm houses, villas and villages, nestling among primeval trees, all very beautiful to look upon, but diflScult to defend, either in summer or winter. Opposite to Prescott stands, now, the flourishing city of Ogdens- burg, containing 7000 inhabitants, in those days a populous vil- lage, very democratic in its proclivities, and anti-British in religion. It was then, also, a fortified military post, garrisoned and armed, but still more effectually protected by the breadth of the St. Law- rence, at this point, a mile and a quarter wide. One rash at- 90 CIFRONICLE OP TUB WAR. tempt Upon the place made in open day, in the soft and /^^olden autumn, had, aa already related, been repulsed. In the later autumn and early winter, the floating masses of descending ice prohiliit the use of boats, but by the end of December the river generally " takes," presenting when solid, a continuous surface, hut inter- spersed here and there with open intervals of rushing water, and with uncertain intervals of unsubstantial ice, pitfalls, and worse to the incautious footstep, and very trying to the nerves, if nerves were known at that early period of the Canadian formation. It had been, of coui-se, impracticable to test or try the strength of the ice under the fire of Ogdensburg. The proposed demonstration was in itself an adventure full of peril, but the man who led was no trifler. Pearson had been ordered away, and his second in command, Lt.-Col. G. Macdonnell, conducted the enterprise. Colonel Macdonnell being for the nonce a militia officer, like the Free Lance of former days, was given to fighting on his own inspirations, and it was hinted that Pearson did not altogether disapprove of the latitudinarianism of his subordinate. This gallant officer came of a good stock. Descended from the old, and a native of the new Glengarry, he led to the fight such a following as Vich Ian Vohr himself, might have been proud to muster. lie commanded the Glengarry Fencibles, raised wholly in Central Canada, and on the occasion of the raid on Brockville, had been dispatched to remonstrate with the American commander on the un-railitary character of his excursion. He had been received with a discourtesy not usual to the educated officer of the American army, had been taunted somewhat in the style of " Mine Ancient Pistol," and had been challenged to a fight on the ice ; a fancy ho was not disinclined to gratify, and he had at his bidding the very men to help him. These men were the Glengarries. In the rear of Prescott, due North and East, fronting on the St. Lawrence, and a few miles THE GLENGARRIES — BISHOP MACDONNELL. 91 distant from tho stream, lies what is known as the Glengarry country, of Canada, composed of tho present* united counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry. At tho time of the war these tracts of country were known as the Eastern District of Upper Canada. Alter the peace of 1783, the Eastern District had been appropriated by the British Government, as a place of refuge for the U. E. Loyalists, ijnd it so happened that among these early and war-worn Bcttlcrs, a majority consisted of Scotch Highlanders, the descendants of men who, after Culloden, had been transported to tho plantations, and whose instincts of loyalty were such, that regardless of names, genealogies, or dynasties, they looked to the principle, and whether it was for James, or whether it was for Georgo, struck heartily and home in the abiding sentiment of Claverhouse : " Ere the king's crown comes down, there are crowns to be broke." The dauntless devotion of these men attracted a still further acces- sion of chivalrous loyalty. To the Jacobites of 1745 — to the U. E. Loyalists of 1775, was added a gallant band of Scottish soldiers who had fought the battle of the Crown against Republican France from 1792 to 1803. Men who had battled under Hutchinson and Aber- crombie, who had pushed the French grenadiers at Aboukir, and had borne the brunt of the Turkish cavaliers at Rosetta. The brief and illusive peace of Amiens (1802) led to the disbandment of many fine British regiments, and among them a Catholic regiment of Highlanders, raised some years before, mainly through the instru- mentality of Alexander MacdonnoU of Glen Urquhart, a Catholic clergyman of great energy of character and benevolence of dispo- sition.* He had been appointed chaplain of the corps, and in the hour of their destitution proved to be a fast and faithful friend. By unremitted exertion, he obtained from the British Ministry of the day the permission and the means, to transport the men of the late Morgan, Celebrated Canadians, p. 262. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ■U 12.2 us u IM 2.0 1.8 1.25 II 1.4 1 1.6 M 6" ► V] V) /: ^;? .^ Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 "9) f/. r^"^ % ^ # 92 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. Glengarry regiment to Canada. He led them into the wilderness, and engrafted on the waste, their faith to God and their fidelity to the throne. Good Catholics, faithful and loyal men, they have never departed from that first, noble teaching. The earnest priest and tried friend, through life, never deserted them. Partaking of the character of the mediaeval churchman, half bishop, half baron, he fought and prayed, with eijual zeal, by the side of men he had come to regard as his hereditary followers. With the univci'kal acclaim of all good men of all denominations, he rose to the P^piscopatc and died Bishop of Kingston, mourned in death as he had been revered in life. The Bishop had been most active in rousing and recruiting the Glengarries during the preceding winter. The fiery cross liad passed through the land, and every clansmaxi had obeyed the summons. The Glengarry Fencibles garrisoned the frontier, and their gallant leader, (George the Red) a near relation of Bishop Macdonnell, now rallied his followers behind the earth works of Prescott for his pro- posed dsmonstration on Ogdensburg. And wild and high the " Cameron's gathering" rose, — The war note of Lochiel, — which Albyn's hills Have heard, and heard too have her Saxon foes ;— How in the noon of night that pibroch thrills Savage and shrill ! But with the breath which fills Their mountain pipe, so fill the mountaineers With the firm native daring which instils The stirring memory of a thousand years, And Evans', Donald's fame, rings in each clansman's ears. Little time was wasted on preliminaries. It had been the prac- tice of the British for some time previous, to exercise daily on the ice. Half the river fairly belonged to them, and not having, hitherto, carried their mimic warfare beyond these limits, they had continued to drill and manoeuvre, unmolested. On the morning of the 22nd February, Macdonnell descended on the ice at the head ATTACK ON OGDENSBURQ — GALLANTRY OF JENKINS. 93 of 480 men, — two-thirds and more Canadian militia, supported by two field pieces. He played and purred for some time with velvety touch, prepared for a spring. The American officer in command, Forsyth, was at his breakfast. He was informed, in haste, that the British fun, that morning, looked very like earnest; but assum- ing the privilege of the " old soldier," he simply " pooh-poohed " his informant. The British were only at drill, " they were not the men to trouble him in that impudent way," and so, betook him afresh to his corn cakes and hominy. He occupied an old French work on the western side of the Oswegatchie, a small affluent of the St. Lawrence, at its mouth, situated behind where the lighthouse now stands. He had eleven guns in position, 500 men at his back, and a glacis before him a mile wide, exposed and smooth as a table- cloth. Macdonnell manoeuvred briefly, and then dividing his force into two columns, advanced rapidly to the attack ; — speed and reso- lution alone could save them. The Americans, more wary than their chief, sprang to their guns ; musketry and cannon opened on the advancing columns. The left, under Macdonnell himself, rushed rapidly on, under a heavy fire, and through the deep snow ascended the river bank, and swept from the left into the village of Ogdensburg, overwhelming all opposition. Here from the east- em bank of the Oswegatchie, he commanded to a great extent the flank and rear of old French Fort Pr<;sentation, and the batteries which raked the river ; but his own guns were behind hand, they had stuck in the deep snow bank and rough ice, broken and piled, at the river bank. By furious efforts they were forced to the front, and not a moment too soon. While this was doing, Jenkins, who commanded the right wing, a gallant New Brunswicker, and a Captain in the Glengarries, had, most emphatically, taken the bull by the horns. Seven pieces of artillery, backed by 200 good troops, smashed the head of his advance ; gallantly he rallied his broken column, not a living man shrank ; springing forward with a 94 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. cheer, his left arm was shattered by a shot ; nothing daunted, for- ward and still cheering on, his upraised right arm was disabled by a cluster of grape. Thus crippled, his voice still failed not, nor his gestures, until he fell from loss of blood,* but he was nobly fol- lowed. His gallant Glengarries, with broken formation, through the deep snow, in front of the deadly battery, were re-forming for a charge with the bayonet, when, fortunately, Macdonnell's guns on the left got within range. Captain Eustace, with the men of the King's, crossed the Oswegatchie and captured the eastern battery, and together, both attacks swarmed into the body of the place, to find it vacated, except by dead and dying, the enemy having withdrawn to the woods in their west rear, where there was no means of inter- cepting their retreat. The Americans lost about 75 men and ofiicers, eleven pieces of cannon, a large amount of military stores and four armed vessels burnt in the harbour. The British lost eight killed and fifty-two wounded, the larger proportion, as may well be supposed, in front of the old French work assailed by Captain Jenkins. This feat was performed chiefly by the men of the country, by the militia and Fencibles, both Canadian and Glengarry. These men did not plead qualms of conscience or constitutional scruples, as an excuse for not daring the ice, which undulated and cracked and gaped beneath their feet. One hundred and twenty of the King's regiment, under Captain Eustace and ** Lieutenant Ridge of that corps, who very gallantly led on "chores," c * Captain Jenkins was a man of striking appearance and bearing, — the admiration of bis men. He was, as stated in the text, a native of New Brunswick, the son of an American loyalist and brave old soldier. His left arm was am- putated at the shoulder ; his right arm was saved, bat almost in a useless state. He survived in this condition some years. Mrs. Sampson of Kingaton,— the esti- mable wife of a man as much respected as she was beloved, the late Dr. Sampson,— was a sister of this distinguished officer. His only daughter, the wife of Sutherland Stayner, Esquire, lives near Richmond, G. E. FIGHTING xARMEUS' SONS — PIERRE HOLMES. 95 the advance,"* and forty of the Royal Newfoundland regiment, under Captain Lefebvre, led the left column, and, as ever, were fore- most in the fray, but the remainder of the force, and particularly the men under Jenkins, were farmers' sons fighting in defence of their homes, and right nobly did they redeem, that day, the pledge made to mother and sister and wife by the old fireside. Col. Frazer of the militia was bravely supported by his officers and men. Lieut. Empey of that force lost a leg. Lieut. McAulay and Ensign Macdonnell of the Glengarries, Ensigns Kerr of the militia, and Mackay of the Light Infantry, who had each charge of a field- piece, and Lieut. Gangueben of the Royal Engineers, are all honour- ably mentioned by Colonel Macdonnell in his graphic and soldierly despatch. There still lives in Ogdensburg an old Canadian militiaman, by name Pierre Holmes. His father had been a British soldier, his mother a French Canadian of Sorel. French is his natural lan- guage. He is very old and very poor. He works about, doing " chores," cutting wood, and drawing water for the grandsons of those against whom he fought on this memorable occasion, and who appear to regard the lively old man with especial fiivour. He relates how that he was a " petit tambour " of the Canadian Fen- cibles in those days ; how the British paraded for a while, threw out skirmishers, and advanced on the ice " drapeatix deployed et tambours battants ;" how boldly Macdonnell led, how, by swearing and sweating, he got his guns out of the deep snow ; how, he cared for his prisoners ; how, he released one indignant captive, who had been rudely treated by an over lively volunteer, and * Vide Macdonnell'a despatch, February 23rd, 1813. This dashing officer subsequently married the eldest daughter of the Hon. Samuel Gerrard of Mon- treal. Their eldest daughter is married to Edward L. Freer, Esquire, Canada Postal Department, and the second to G.eorge, son of the Hon. George Mo£btt, of Montreal. 96 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. sent his unworthy assailant to the black-hole ; how, he prohi- bitcd and forstalled all pillage. It appears, that in crossing the river, a little of the olden rieving temper had revived among the Highlandmen, and the word " spulzie " had passed, and many faces glistened with glee at the hopeful prospect ; but to their in- tense disgust Macdonnell anticipated them. He put a sentry upon every door in Ogdensburg ; " and so," exclaimed the auditor of old Peter Holmes' narration, " you got no plunder after all ?" "Plunder!" shrieked the old man, in the angry accents of indig- nant recollection, " Plunder ! Non^ momsieur^ 7ion pas mime une torquette de tabacf* Macdonnell took his revenge by force of contrast ; he was cour- teous to his ^enemies, protected prisoners, spared the poultry, respected elderly gentlemen notwithstanding their rank in the militia, and paid every American teamster employed in transport- ing the captured stores to Prescott four dollars per diem in hard silver, as the price of his services. • Pierre Holmes, as has been before said, is very old and very poor. By some misadventure or inadvertence, or want of knowledge, or of energy rightly applied, he never got the 200 acres of land awarded to him as " Tambour Major" at the end of the war. Is it now too late; can nothing even yet be done for the brave old man ? CHAPTER VIII. 15riti
  • ,ary — Baronets of that name. He certifies by a document given under his hand at Quebec, May, 1787, that " John Coffin, Esquire, served in the British raiiitia, under my command, during the siege of this town by the rebels, from Nov. seventy-five to May seventy-six, during all which time he conducted himself and behaved with the greatest spirit, zeal, and activity in the king's service, which by his example was very much promoted, particularly on the attack of the 31st Dec, when he very much distinguished himself." He left a large family — four daughters : the eldest married Colonel McMurdo; the second, the Hon. John CraigiBj brother to Lord Craigie, Edinburgh ; a son of this lady is now a British Admiral ; the third became Lady Sheaffe ; the fourth died in Quebec. SONS AND DESCENDANTS OF JOHN COFFIN. 105 And seven sons. One was killed, a Lieutenant in the Navy; another, Francis Holmes, rose to the rank of Admiral in the same noble service ; two died high in rank in the Commissariat — one a Major in the Army; a sixth was member Legislative Council, and Colonel Mil., Lower Canta?. ; and a seventh Adj. -General Militia, Upper Canada. His descendants reflect with pride, that the above-named exil'^s earned their rank by long and faithful services ; but it is a subject of still greater pride to acknowledge that they all owed their opportunity to the devoted loyalty which has ever characterized their family, and to the generous appreciation of it by their Sovereign and country. These descendants in Canada and in England are many. Among those in Canada may be named Mrs. Hamilton of Quebec, mother of Robert Hamilton, Esquire, and of the Hon. John Hamilton of Hawkesbury, C. W., Mrs. Dean, wife of James Dean, Esquire, Quebec, and William Holmes Coffin, Prothonotary of the Superior Court in Montreal. CHAPTER IX. SfaeafTc. Force at his disposal. His dispositions. MacNcil of the 8th. Amorican approach —Disembark in Huinber Bay— Gallant resistance— Slaughter of the Grenadiers. Pilie lands— I'reeses on the town— Enters the old fort— Explosion— Destruction of friend and foe. I'ike killed. Shealfe retires. The place capitulates. American Vandalism. Bishop Strachan. His admirable letter. The farce which follows the tragedy. The " human scalp " turns out to be a perriwig. As many imputations, some thoughtless, many reckless — all equally unjust and ungenerous — have been cast upon the reputation of Sir Roger SheaflFe in relation to the defence of York, it may be allowed to a kindred hand, in this place, to vindicate his memory. York in itself was incapable of defence. All the troops in Western Canada would have been insufficient to protect it. The regular garrison, if it can be so termed, consisted of a company of Glengarries and 50 men of the Royal Newfoundland regiment, apart from the militia. This force had been augmented accidentally, as has been before said, by two companies of the King's Regiment under Captain McNeil. Sheaffe's first duty as a soldier, and as a general, looking to the defence of his military command, was, to abandon a place never intended to have been defended, and to preserve his force for the protection of the country. The capture of this detachment, at this time, would have been an irretrievable loss, and, in its effects, fatal to the Province. His first duty, therefore, was, to destroy all public property which would otherwise benefit the enemy, and to fall back either on Kingston or Niagara. The direction of this movement depended MILITARY DISPOSITIONS — ATTACK DEVELLOPED. 107 on the developments of the enemy. If they had landed on the side of the Don, he would have retired on Burlington heights. They assailed him on the west, and he withdrew towards Kingston. General Armstrong, the American Secretary at war, wrote to General Dearborn, privately, from Washington, 13th May, 1813 : " We cannot doubt but that in all cases in which a British com- mander is constrained to act defensively, his policy will be that adopted by Sheaffe, to prefer the preservation of his troops to that of his post, and thus carrying off the kernel leave us only the shell."* If York had been left defenceless and unprotected ; if a ship of war in the hands of the shipwright had been recklessly exposed to destruction, the fault was not with Sheaffe, nor with his direct superior Sir George Prevost, as charged by Veritas, but with the authorities in England who trifled with the emergency until too late, and then, spent treasures m life and money to repair an irreparable error. On the first alarm, Sheaffe had got his men in hand, and awaited what the morning should bring forth. At early dawn, the Ameri- can squadron was seen bearing down on Gibraltar Point, and the western flank of the town. The plan of attack was at once dis- closed. The mouth of the harbour was the threatened point. While the ships of war engaged the three mutilated guns, an over- whelming force would be thrown ashore, and all retreat to the west would be cut off. Sheaffe, thereupon, detached the best part of his force to keep the enemy at bay, to check the advance, to afford time for the destruction of public property, and to cover his slow retreat to Kingston. Captain McNeil, at the head of the two companies of the 8th, was ordered on this service, about 200 militia rallied on the flanks of the regulars, and Colonel Givens, with a small body of Indians, always notable in the war, already • Armstrong, Vol. I, p. 87. 108 CIIHONICLE OP THE WAR. occupied the woods on the west side of the town, skirmishing to ascertain the precise place of hindiug. An eyewitness has described the scene. The American fleet, in beautiful order, bore down before a fresh breeze Avhicli carried them beyond the intended point of disembarkation. They had fallen to the southwest as far as the eastern extremity of Iluniber Bay, ere the ships of war rounded to, and brought their heavy broadsides to bear on the shore. Sail was rapidly taken in, the boats assembled under cover of the vessels, — men promptly cm- barked, and the stalwart rowers, — the best seamen in the American service, — bent ready to the oar. By this thne McNeil, assured of the point of descent, had brought his men down the shore road, and had drawn them up in line, on the top of the bank which bounds the western side of Humber Bay, a startling red line, right in front of the American batteries, and at half cannon shot from the muzzle of the guns. It was a dauntless, but desperate expedient, " e'ctait Men magni- fique, mais ce n'etait pas la guerre.''^ The first American broad- side swept the men down like grass before the scythe. Under cover of their broadsides, amid the din and smoke, the American boat's crews dashed to the shore. The disembarkation was well handled. So soon as the keels touched ground, the riflemen under Forsyth, sore with recollections of Ogdensburg, were overboard, in the water, up the bank, down among the bushes, invisible, except where the rapid pufis of white smoke bespoke their fatal presence. The boats backed ofl" in- stantaneously, and returned for reinforcements. McNeil himself and the greater part of his brave grenadiers had been killed by the first cannonade ; the remnant, scattered and shattered, fell back from before the lashing fire, and the American rifles, always dea- parately resisted, held their own. A bitter, skirmishing fight ensued amon"; the trees. But the eager reinforcements hurried to DISEMIJARKATION — DESTRUCTION OP 8tH GRENADIERS. 109 the shore. General Pike of the American army, an officer of repute, landed in the rear of the riflemen, at the head of a division at least 1000 strong, and the torn relics of the British detach- ment, — the rctiquioe Danaum, — slowly fell back upon the town. Meanwhile, Sheaffe had collected his stores, dispatched his con- voys, and ordered his retreat upon Kingston. The light company of the King's regiment, an additional rehiforcement for Niagara, was rapidly approaching from that direction, and afforded oj)portune support. The ship and the dockyard, and a large (juantity of marine stores were destroyed, — much removed ; the residue, for the most part indestructible in material, fell finally into the hands of the enemy. General Pike, on his part, had pushed forward, feeling his way through the bush, and fighting with an enemy who defended every tree. His advance was slow but steady. At about 2 p. m., he emerged from the forest in the rear of the old French Fort and insignificant harbour defences. The fleet having effected the dis- embarkation weighed anchor and stood up into the harbour itself. The simplicity of this operation proves all practical defence to have been impossible, and that any more protracted resistance would have doomed the town. The American troops pushed on and soon enveloped the Fort. It contained at this time within its enceinte the government or " King's House," some public oflBces, the usual complement of barracks and store houses, and a powder magazine, built into the bank on the lake shore. This must have been a recent structure, as Brock, in 1811, complained that " the only powder magazine was a small wooden shed only sixty yards from the King's House." For safety's sake this dangerous appendage had been removed to a strong stone building constructed in the water front of the Fort. The Americans swarmed into the works, fiery with fighting, and flushed with success, when, suddenly — with the crash and concussion 110 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. of an earthquake, — the powder magazine exploded at their feet, spreading havoc through their ranks. Of the assailants 250 were instantaneously killed or wounded ; of the defenders many perished. Up to the sky, like rockets, go All that mingle there below : Many a tall and goodly man. Scorched and shrivelled to a span, When he fell to earth again. Like a cinder, strewed the plain. When in cradled rest they lay, And each nursing mother smiled On the sweet sleep of her child, Little thought she snch a day Would rend those tender limbs away. Pike had pushed on to the front and was in the act of question- ing a militia soldier, one Joseph Shepherd, whose family still reside in the township of York, when — with a flash and eddying smoke— the infernal blast swept through the air. A heavy mass of stone struck the General down. In like manner. Shepherd was crushed at his side, and was borne off in the arms of his relative and fel- low soldier, Joseph Dennis, now of Buttonwood, Weston. The gallant general and more humble soldier, both died of the injuries received, within a few hours, victims alike in the cause of their respective countries. The contest itself was stayed by this catastrophe ; it had en- dured for eight hours. The surviving troops had withdrawn, well covered and unmolested by the enemy ; all that could be done had been done, and York capitulated through the local officers of militia. What remained of the public stores was surrendered, two hundred and sixty-four militia men laid down their arms. Sheaffe left behind him of the regulars 62 killed, 72 wounded ; one wounded officer •with one sergeant major and four men of the artillery, prisoners of war ; and fell back deliberately and without obstruction upon King- SHEAFFE RETIRES — RUIN OF PROPERTY — DR. STRACUAN. Ill ston. Such are the facts, the inferences are left to the judgment of every intelligent man, soldier or not. * • 'Si quid novisti rectiu3 istis Gandidus imperii, si non, his utere mecum. . It is painful to relate that the American army shamefully abused its success, and perpetrated acts of vandalism, which at a later period, and in a distant scene, entailed just retribution. The details cannot be given more effectively, than in the vigorous language of the Rev. Dr. Strachan, D.D., now the venerable Bishop of Toronto, who in a letter addressed to Thomas Jefferson, Esquire, of Monticello, ex-president of the United States of Ame- rica, and dated York, 30th January, 1815, expressed himself as follows : — '* In April, 1813, the public buildings at York, the capi- tal of Upper Canada, were burnt by the troops of the United States, contrary to the articles of capitulation. They consisted of two elegant halls, with convenient offices, for the accommodation of the Legislature and of the Courts of Justice. The library, and all the papers and records belonging to these institutions were con- sumed ; at the same time the church was robbed, and the town library totally pillaged. Commodore Chauncey, who has generally behaved honourably, was so ashamed of this last transaction, that he endeavoured to collect the books belonging to the public library, and actually sent back two boxes filled with them, but hardly any were complete. Much private property was plundered and several houses left in a state of ruin. Can you tell me. Sir, why the public buildings and the library at Washington should be held more sacred than those at York ?"* We have here the testimony of an eyewitness, whose evidence is beyond challenge. There is not in Canada a man whose career has been more thoroughly dovetailed into the moral structure of * Vide Appendix No. 1. Letter from Dr. Strachan to Thomas JefifersoB, Giquire, in extento. 112 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. society, in welfare and in sorrow, than that of John, tho revered Bishop of Toronto. From a beginning of noble humility, by dint of talent and honest energy, he now adorns the e})isco|)ate. Sixty- four years since, in the grand field of educational labour, he stru^.'- gled with, and mastered a rugged soil, which has rendered noble increase. It was his great privilege, to have modelled the minds and characters of the men. Avho have since made the country, and who have left upon its broad surface, the '* tower mark " of ster- ling. AVHiatevcr differences of opinion m.ay have been, at times, entertained as to his course, tliat course has ever been straiglitfor- ward, truthful, and uncomi)romising ; and at the age of eighty-five he enjoys, in the lusty winter of his years, the well earned respect and esteem of all classes of men in Canada. His testimony on the subject of the severities, persistently exercised by the American armies, is unimpeachable. His remarkable letter will be found at length in the Appendix. Again, after the tragic scenes which have been narrated, came the larce. The Americans occupied some days in removing the naval and military stores. The commanders found solace in the composition of despatches and in the compilation of catalogues. The " spolia opima " were all duly recorded, but the sensational trophy of the day, embalmed in a special report from the innocent seaman in command on lake Ontario, was " a human scalp" alleged to have been found " suspended from the chair of the speaker of the House of Assembly." The official circles at York were a little scandalized and more amused at this announcement : by some it was regarded simply as a mauvaise plaisanterie, other? it puzzled, but at last it eked out, that the shocking trophy so loudly paraded, was in reality a perizvig, — an official peruke, dropped in the confusion, and transported in triumph to Washington, to find a place by the side of the " stand of colours " captured in the wig- wam of the Indian interpreter at St. Rdgis. The Americans evacuated York on the 2nd May, 1813. revered ^ dint of Sixty- CHAPTER X. Amorioan programmo. Modiflcation. Fall of York. Newark threatened. DoRcription of Newark. Fort Niagara. Fort George. Climate and country. La Salle, Sketch of his exploits. Discovers the Mississippi. Fort George burnt. Rebuilt by Denon- ville. Colonel Dongan, Governor of the Province of New York, objects to the build- ing of a Fort at " Ohniagro." Baron de Longueuil— Ilecord of this family. Fort Niagara taken by the British, 1759. Surrendered to United States, 1796. Upper Canada created a separate Province, 1791. Governor Simcoc. Uis career. Newark his capital. Visit of Duke of Kent, 1703. Compared with that of Prince of Wales, 1860. CO in the atalogues. ensational 3 innocent m scalp" dr of the ;s at York mcement : rie, others J so loudly iropped in i, to find a III the wig- 3. The programme of the American commanders had at first embraced the reduction of Kingston, York, and Fort George or Newark. The attack on Kingston had been abandoned; York had succumbed ; and Newark, distant only a few hours' sail, un- supported and indefensible, lay at their mercy. Contrary winds, however, thwarted all endeavours, and they did not arrive off the coast of Niagara before the 8th of May. They disembarked at the mouth of a streamlet known as Four-mile Creek, on the American shore of Lake Ontario, and, as its name implies, situate about four miles to the east of Fort Niagara. Here, for nearly three weeks, the expedition lingered, while Chauncey was employed in removing his wounded to Sackett's Harbour, and in transporting from thence reinforcements and heavy ordnance, preparatory to the attack on the British position at Fort George. We may occupy the interval by describing the mam features of this part of Canada. The mouth of the rivqr Niagara afforded one of the finest harbours 114 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. on Lake Ontario. Safe of access, secure in its anchorage, and pro- tected from every wind, it was at the same time exposed to this drawback in a state of warfare — it was open to the fire of both shores, and was, therefore, useless to cither party. The river is at this point about 800 yards wide. On the eastern sliorc, where it joins the lake, stands Fort Niagara. Fort George and its de- pendency, the town of Newark, stood on the western bank of the river, somewhat withdrawn from the lake shore. Fort Niagara commanded the entrance to the river ; Fort George domuiatcd the harbor, and made it untenable by an enemy. But the town of Newark, on the BritiHli side of the river, lay under the gims of Fort Niagara, opposite ; and though Fort George, in the event of an attack, might retaliate and punish aggression, it could, in no way, jtrotect the town. The course of huiijan events had reversed alllnuuan relations; and Fort Niagara, which, from its foinidation, had been to the town a fostering friend and defender, had, by the provisions of treaties and the fate of war, been converted into a shape of fear and a standing menace. The traditions of the spot are as interesting as the site is beau- tiful. The scene is at once historic and picturesque. Within sound of the roar of Niagara ; within sight of Quecnston Heights ; surrounded by a isountry of unrivalled fertility ; a tessellated par- terre of fruit, flowers, and foliage ; Avhere the grape, and the peach, and the api)lc and pear flourish side by side ; in a climate soft and genial ; under skies as blue as those of Italy, and bathed in an atmosphere more pure and translucent. Hero, on the banks of a river exulting and abounding, whose winding-way, like that of the High Street at Oxford, is its main feature of beauty, and just where its waters blend with the aqua marine of Ontario, rise now the ramparts of Niagara and the venerable ruins of Fort George, the Sestos and Abydos of that Golden Horn. The scene is worthy, at once, of the pencil of Claude and of the PORT NIAGARA — LA SALLE — BARON DE LONQUEUIL. 115 pen of Froissart, for it teems with memories of the deeds of adven- turous men. Hero, in 1678, the heroic La Salle, huilt his first fort ; a few miles further on, above the cataract, on Navy Island, opposite to the mouth of Chippeway Creek, he built his first ship. Men yet living recollect to have seen, in early youth, on this, then, well-wooded island, the charred remains of burnt ships and other relics of his extemporaneous dockyard. From hence, in 1679, he launched his first bark of European structure, on the unknown water, of the upper lakes. Ho named her the Grifibn, armed her with seven guns, and with his friend Tonti, and the celebrated Recollet, Pfirc Hennepin, dared the watery wilderness of Erie, threaded the maacs of the Detroit, gave a name to lake St. Clair, penetrated into lake Huron, visited Michilimacinac, explored Mi- chigan, and closed his groat career by discovering the Mississippi and founding Louisiana. The trading post at the mouth of the Niagara, erected by Robert Cavalier de La Salle, was burnt a few years afterwards ; and, in 1687, was re-established by tlio Marquis de Dononville, Governor General of Canada, in a more permanent form, on the site of the present Fort Niagara. Dononville describes the locality as " the most beautiful — the most pleasing — the most advantar geous site that is on the whole of this lake." But the establishment of a French fortress upon tlie English side of the river Niagara, aroused at once the jealousy and the indignation of the Provincials ; and Colonel Dongan, the English Governor of the province of New York, remonstrated strongly against the building of a French fort at " Ohniagro ; " and in 1687 he solicited from the board of trade of the province of New York, an order to build a " campagne fort at Ohniagro." The works, established by Denonvillo, were abandoned in 1688, and so remained until 1725, when the Baron de Longueuil* com- ' This Baron de Longaeuil most bave been the second of the name. He had 116 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. mcnccd a stono cavalier, and completed it in the next year. Chaussegros, the French engineer cmjuoyed, represents that the work was erected on the spot where an ancient fort had been built by order of Denonville. With the fall of French dominion on this continent, came the fall of Fort Niagara. It had been by degrees enlarged and strengthened, and in 1759 was held for the French King, by M. Pouchot, who had under his command some 600 men. It was served from his youth in tlie French armies, and died Governor of Montreal, The third Baron do Longucuil, Charles Jacques Le Moyne, was born atUhe Chateau de Longueuil, 26th Jan., 1724. Ho commanded the French troops at the battle of Monongahela, 9th July, 17&5. He was made Chevalier de St. Louis and Governor of Montreal. Tlie Marquis de Vaudreuil relates in a despatch dated 8th September, 1765, that this distinguished officer, serving under Baron Dieskau, had disappeared in a skirmish on the shores of Lake George, and was believed to have fallen a victim to Indian treachery, if not to Indian cruelty. He was then 31 years of age. He left an only daughter to whom the Barony descended, and who as Baroness de Longueuil married Captain Grant of the 94th Regt. at Quebec, 7tb May, 1781. This noble and exemplary lady, who was the embodiment of all the graceful and generous and chivalrous qualities 80 much prized by the French Canadians, died in 1842 at the advanced age of 86 years, an object of universal respect, as she was to the last, the object of universal love. Her son, the Hon. Charles Grant, M.L.C., succeeded to the Barony and title. He had married Caroline, the eldest daughter of the late General John CoflBn of Alwington Manor, New Brunswick, and niece to the Iffte Admiral Sir Isaac CoflRn, Bart. This lady still lives with her brother, Admiral John Townsend Coffin, in Bath, Somerset, England. The late Baron, who died in 1848, was succeeded by his son, the present Baron de Longueuil, who residss on the Continent of Europe. The House of Longueuil is connected by marriage with the Baby, De Beaujeu, Le Moyne, de Montenach, de Lanaudiere, de Gasp^, de la Gorgendiere, d'Eschambault, and several other of the old families in Canada. And of these old families it is one of the oldest and of the most honourable. Le Moyne is the patronymic of the maison de Longueuil. They are of Norman SIEQE OP 1759 — DEATH OP PRIDEAUX. 117 besieged by Bri^'adicr General Pridcaux, at the lioad of 8200 men and 600 Indians. The place was regularly invested, parallels opened, and battorjes oatutUished. On the 20th July, General Prideaux waa 1a the simple tomb of General Duhesme, slain in the village, at the door of the " Three Kings," by a Black Brunswick trooper, on the evening of Waterloo. His widow and orphans record that thej have erected this monument to the memory of a brave soldier and a good man, and leave it to the safeguard " des bravet de toutet Us natiotu," The hand would wither which could desecrate that stone. AMERICAN RETKEAT AND LOSSES. 146 lines of Fort Gcorj^e, thou^^h in executing this manocuvro ho wai intercepted, and suffered nuich. On their advance the AmericanB had been accompanied, along the lake shore, by a flotilhi of boats, and batteaux. Burns fell back upon this support, and embarked his wounded, and such of his men as had not yet got under cover, and was slowly creei)ing down the coast to the place from whence he came, — when, on the 8th June, Sir James Yeo, who, by this time had become master of his own movements and had got out of Kingston, appeared in the offing ; intelligence from the shore had apprized him of the state of things, and of the position of the enemy ; and Richardson* dwells Avith sailorly impatience on the perversity of a calm which anchored every vessel of the squadron, As idle as a iiaintcd ship, Upon a painted ocean. At length a breeze sprung up, and the sqiiadron closed in with the shore, cutting off the twelve rearaiost boats of the American flotilla, laden with valuable supplies and stores. Perceiving an encampment in the woods on the beach, the Commodore disembarked in the ships' boats two companies of regulars under Major Evans of the 8th Regiment. This active officer landed, and in the even- ing having been reinforced by two companies from Burlington Heights, under Colonel Bishopp, the second deserted American encampment was entered. It was in a state of conflagration at the time, but the captors saved from the flames 500 tents, 140 barrels of flour, 100 stand of arms, ammunition and other articles of a very acceptable character. Thus did this very gallant exploit of Harvey free the whole Peninsula from the invader, and threw them back upon the mere edge of the frontier, with a deep and dan- gerous river in their rear, between them and their supports and supplies. • Mem. of Dr. James BichardsoOi D.D. CHAPTER XIV. New American Enterprise. Attempt on the Beaver Dam Post. Noble devotion of Hn. Socord. Her Adventures— Reaches Decau's house in safety. Fitzgibbon. Boeretler't Advance— Attacked by the Indians— Reaches Thorold. Present aspect of Thorold. Welland Canal. Hamilton Merritt. Col. John Clarke. Old Isaac Kelly— Militia attack on Boerstler— He surrenders to Fitzgibbon. Mary Secord the real Heroine. Princely generosity of the Prince of Wales. Lieut. Fitzgibbon— His careei^A Military Knight of Windsor. History of the Knights. A Reverie. Nor was this all. One bold and successful feat of arms infused morale, and inspired another. On the retreat of the American force, Vincent had been followed up, and established his outposts at his old position, the Beaver Dam. Decau's house was occupied as a depot for stores. It was guarded by a small detachment of the 49th, about 30 men, under Lieut. Fitzgibbon. Fitzgibbon was one of the paladins of the war, a man of nerve and enterprise, of much vigour of character and great personal strength. An incident characteristic of the man had occurred on the spot. On taking up his ground at the Beaver Dam, he had driven out the American pickets. Attempting to intercept them he encountered alone at the back door of Decau's house two of the enemy, each armed with a musket and bayonet. Both charged upon him. Fitzgibbon grasped the musket of the more advanced man, and by mam strength threw him upon his fellow, whose musket he also grappled vrith the other hand, and although both struggled desperately, he as resolutely held on, until his men came to his aid, and his antago- nists surrendered. Such was the man to whom on the night of the 23rd June there 1Burtlyj punted, partly dragged by ropes up the ra[)ids of the St. Lawrciice.j The crews were supplied by a levy or corv/;e of French Cnnadians.l Several thousands of these men were devoted to a service, for wliicl they were peoUiarly i. lie became Bishop of Quebec in 1806. His services, in the protection of his church, and in the promotion of the best interests of his pco])lo, were most honourable ; but, among them all, none do greater credit to his heart and head than his constant adherence to the British Crown. * Exchequer Bills — Macaulay explains what they were. " Another nml at that conjuncture, a more efFi-ctual substitute for a metallic currency owed its existence to tho ingenuity of Charles Montague. He had succeeded in engraft- ing on Ilarley's Land Bank Bill, a clause which empowered the government to istuc negotiable paper bearing interest at the rate of three-pence a day un a bOBJied pounds. In the midst of the general distress and confusion appeiircd th« first Jxchcquer Bills, drawn for various amounts from a hundred pounds down to five poucds. These instruments were rapidly distributed over tbo kingdom by post, and were everywhtre welcome. The Jacobites talkol violenUy againti th»m in every Coffee House and wrote much deteetable verse against tliem, but to little pnrpose. The success of the f>liin was sach tbat the MiPist«M at one time resolved to issue lv*n^ shilling HiUs for the payment of the troope. But it does not appeer that their resolution wai Ctrrlod iat« tffeut. History of Bogland, vol. ir. p. 608. ARCHBISHOP PLESSIS — HIS OPINIONS. 185 Nor was the PreLto a blind or an unreasoning adherent. He gave good ground for the faith that was in him. " In considering the system of vexatious tricks organized against the church and pcoi»le of Canada, by chiefs and subordinates who were sent from the Court of Louis the XV., at that time under the sceptre of Madame do Pompadour, he aihuitted, fninkly,that under the English Government the Catholic clergy and rural population enjoyed more liberty than was accoi-ded to them before the conijuest ;" and after having praised the English nation, " which had welcomed so gener- ously the French Eccleaiustics, hunted out of France by the Uepub- lijansof 17t'2," he added, " that the capitulation, as well as the treaty of 1763, wore so many new tics of attaclunent to (Jroat Britain, and that religion itself would gain by the change of domination."* It was in the spirit of this manly avowal, that he issued his fnati- dement or ej)iscopal proclamation, read in. every church in his dio- cese, and concluded in the following eloquent language : " Gucrrii'rs" said he, " it is to you that belongs the task of opposing yourselves, hkc a wall,! to the approach of the enemy. They will cease to be formidable when the God of battles fights on your side ; under his holy protection, march to combat as to victory : sustain that repu- tation for obedience, for discipline, for valour and for intrepidity by which you deserved your first success. Your confidence will not be vain, if in ex^wsing your lives for the defence of your country and your hearths, you take care before all things to make your peace with God." These sentiments of the Bishop wore enforced by his clergy with a quiet undemonstrative earnestness, which is energy, without tho pretence it often assumes. It pervaded, encouraged, emboldened *Life of Mongrandc'ur Plcfisis, hy L'Abbd Pttland. TrABslated hj 0. B. French, p. 14. Vide ibid., p. 2S. t The expression of Stonewall Jackson was beif aatfcipate4. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 128 ■so 1 2.5 mil u lilK 2.2 u m 1 1-25 1 1.4 1 1.6 ■m 6" ► vl Va ^;. M, > ^' *jr .V M \>- .-> :^ '^ 'W o Hiotographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)873-4503 o %" "^ ^ :\ \ \r^^ ;\ 5^ ^ 186 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. all men. A remarkable incident, hereafter, on the battle-field of Chateauguay will exemplify its influence.* Sir George Prevost applied, vigorously, the resources at hi? com- mand to the protection of his threatened frontier. He had, at this time, cantoned in the districts of Montreal, Laprairie, St. John's, and Chambly, about 3,000 men ; two-thirds of which were Voltigeurs and embodied militia. It is curious to observe the varying characteristics of the rr ces, in the terms of service most acceptable to each. The French Canadian preferred to be a conscript ; the Anglo-Canadian insisted upon being a volunteer.f •Human story reproduces itself. Let us take the testimony of Burlce, given twenty years before. " When the English nation seemed to be dangerously, if not irrevocably divided — when one, and that the most growing branch, was torn from the parent stock, and ingrafted on the power of France, a great terror fell upon this kingdom. On a sudden we awakened from our dreams of conquest, and saw ourselves threatened with an immediate invasion, which we were, at that time, very ill-prepared to resist. You remember the cloud that gloomed over us all. In that hour of our dismay, from the bottom of the hiding-places into which the indiscriminate rigour of our statutes had driven them, came out the body of the Roman Catholics. They appeared before the steps of a tottering throne with one of the most sober, measured, steady and dutiful addresses that was ever presented to the Crown. It was no holiday ceremony, no anniversary compliment of parade and show. Ii was signed by almost every gentleman of that persuasion, of note or property in England. At such a crisis nothing but a decided resolution to stand or fall with their country, could have dictated such an address ; the direct tendency of which was to cut off all retreat, and to render them peculiarly obnoxious to an invader of their own communion. The Address showed what I had long languished to see, that all subjects of England had cast off all foreign views and connections, and that every man looked for his relief from every grievance at the hands only of his own national government. — Burke, Speech before the Bristol Election, Sept., 1784. t It was the boast of the soldiers, as we find it recorded in their solemn resolutions, that they had not been forced into the service, nor bad enlisted chiefly for the sake of lucre ; that they were no janzzaries, but free-born Eng- MILITIA SYSTEMS — THE VOLUNTEER AND THE CONSCRIPT. 187 Both Briton and Gaul made good soldiers in the field ; but the one stood on his independence, and accepted bounty-money ; the other eschewed soldiering en amateur, yet cheerfully obeyed the draft. Both acted in accordance with their traditions. Since the days of Cromwell, the Englishman has been free to fight for whom he pleases. He enlists for reasons best known to himself ; and " takes the shil- ling," because he chooses. The Frenchman has been a feudal fol- lower of his lord and of his king from his earliest to his latest history. The terms of his tenure in Canada revived a system not then extinct in France, and perpetuated habits of thought and action derived from his ancestors. He obeyed with the same devotion with which he would have followed a Montmorenci or a Condd ; and with an inborn recol- lection of the discipline of Royal Roussillon or Gui^nne. It was necessary to devise and adapt a system suited to the genius of both races of the population ; and Sir George Prevost did so. In no part of Canada have the two peoples so much amalgamated 18 in the district of Montreal. It would be more correct, perhaps, to say assimilated : each race still retains its distinctive features ; Each gives to each a double charm, Like pearls upon the Ethiop's arm. But commerce and constitutional government have exercised their influence ; and we see that tendency to a union of the Norman and Saxon elements which, in the course of ages, has made England what she is. On this occasion, as ever since, in questions of national defence, a generous rivalry animated both races. The Frenchman bore no love to the puritanical " Bostonnais," whose pre- vious visits were not held in pleasant recollection. The Englishman rankled in the face of a nation which heaps upon him and his lishmen, who had, of their own accord, put *heir lives in jeopardy for the liberties and religion of England, and whose right and duty it was to watch over the welfare of the nation which they had saved. — Macaulay, Vol. II, p. 94. 188 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. countrj, contumely and vituperation. Hard words may break no bones, but they offer a poor salve to old sores. Thus, with the cordial aid of an united population, Sir George made vit'oroua arrangements for the defence of this frontier.* About «u miles below the outlet of Lake Champlain, barring the channel of the Richelieu, stands the military post of Isle am Noix — now a fortress, then a swampy island, protected by rude breastworks and a wooden block.house. In 1812, when the onlv means of communication was by water. Isle aux Noix was regarded a;S a bulwark of the frontier. The country on each side of this fortalice was, for many miles, an impenetrable forest. It is now cleared and cultivated ; traversed by roads, and seamed with railways. In thoso days it was regarded as the portal of the district. Here was stationed a small regular garrison. Here, not long before, Sir James Craig had caused to be conveyed three gun-boats, built at Quebec. In the summer of 1813 the garrison consisted of detach- ments of the 13th and 100th regiments, and a small party of artillery, under command of Major Taylor, of the lOOth.f The Americans, shortly after the commencement of the war. had, on their part, built and equipped a small flotilla, to watch the entrance to the lake, and protect its Abaters from insult. This object is now secured by a strong but small work, called Fort Montgomery, which, on the verge of the frontier, and at the margin of the river, prevents the British from getting out, as effectually as Isle aux Noix prevents the Americans from getting in. It may be question- able if, in the event of a war, either work would, under the present • In September waa embodied another battalion of militia, called tlie Fifth Battalion, afterwards Canadian Chasseurs ; while the merchants and traders of the 1st Montreal Sedentary Militia organized themselves into four companies of volunteers for garrison duty, and 'field service in case of emergency,— Christie, Vol. II, p. 41. t James, Vol. II, p. 239. ATTACK ON ISLE AUX JfOIX — CAPTtRB OP EAGLE AND GUOWLEB.. 189 circumstances of the frontier and conditions of warfare, prove aught else than a mere man-trap, in which soldiers are confined alive, to be disposed of at leisure. A few scows filled with stones and sunk in the muddy channel, would probably answer the purpose, at a less expenditure of men and money. Little apprehension was entertained at Isle aux Noix of an attack from the lake, when at day-break on the morning of the Ijit June, a sentry on the southern rampart discovered trucks, and streamers, and the masts of tall vessels rising above the mists, which at early morn, and at that season of the year, settle down upon the marshy banks of the river. The alarm was given — the garrison was roused — the gun-boats manned, and got under weigh ; and, feeling their way through the fog, came upon two armed sloops, of from 90 to 100 tons each, armed each with 10 guns — eighteen- pounder carronades and long sixes ; and each mounting on a pivot an eighteen-pounder Columbiad. The object of th'e incursion was never made intelligible. It was venturesome, but indiscreet. Without the co-operation of a land force nothing could have been effected. The armed vessels could only have approached the works to their own assured destruction. From the nature of the channel tliey could not bring their broadside guns to bear : following in file, tlie fire of the one impeded tiie fire of the other. As it was, the gun- boats had them at their mercy, and raked both. Major Taylor, per- ceiving his advantage, landed men from the boats and batteaux,sind lining the bushes on either fflde of the stream, kept up a galling fire of musketry. After a contest of three hours and a half, they struck their colours ; and proved to be the Growler and Eagle, armed sloops, with a compleroeiit of fifty men each, and commanded by Cjq)tain Sidney Smith, late of the Chesapeake. The Growler was brought to ^e garrison in safety ; the Eagle was so mauled by her pony antagonists, that she was run ashore to save her from sinking, but was got oftf afterwards, and repaired. 190 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. This unexpected attack and its results, exposed the hospitals, barracks, and stores in preparation on Lake Champlain for " Mon- treal service," and encouraged the British to attempt their des- truction. Sir George Prevost, in a despatch to Brock, in July, 1812, had remarked most justly, that " our numbers would not justify offensive operations, unless calculated to strengthen a defensive attitude." There can be no doubt but that, at this moment, the best defence was to be found in disarming further attack. Preparations were made accordingly. The prizes were re- equipped ; the three gun-boats put in the best order ; a flotilla of row-boats and hatteaux provided for the conveyance of troops. But the movement was paralyzed for the want of mariners. Fortunately, there was then lying at Quebec H. M. brig of war, Wasp. Her gallant commander, Everard — Pring, his second — and their whole crew volunteered to man the vessels on Lake Champlain. The service was readily accepted — the men transported to their destmation— and on the 29th of July, the expedition left Isle aux Noix for Lake Champlain. The military force consisted of detachments of the 13th, 100th, and 103rd regunents — about 1000 oflScers and men, under command of Lieutenant Colonels Williams, Taylor, and Smith. A small artillery force, under Captain Gordon, and a few embodied militia were added ; and the whole placed under Lieu- tenant Colonel John Murray, of the 100th, one of the most prominent officers of the war. On the following day the flotilla reached Platts- burg — landed — dispersed the militia under General Moore — and de- stroyed the barracks on the Saranac, which were preparing for the reception of 4,000 men.* They upset Pyke's encampment, burned the arsenal, hospital, store-houses ; and removed a large quantity of naval and military stores. Everard then stood across the lake to Burlington, in the Growler — now re-named the Broke — accompanied by one gun-boat. He was close in on the 2nd August : found two * Murray's Despatch, 3rd August, 1863. THE BRITISH SWEEP LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 191 sloops, one of 11 and the other of 13 guns, ready for sea ; and a third, somewhat larger, lying under protection of a battery of 10 guns, mounted on a high bank, while two floating batteries and field- pieces, on the shore, strengthened the position.* Evcrard captured and destroyed four vessels under the eyes of this very superior force, which he very wisely abstained from attacking. The barracks and stores of Swanton, on Missisquoi Bay, were destroyed, as were also the barracks, block stores, and buildings at Champlain town ; the contemplated mischief was frustrated for a time, and the expedition returned to Isle aux Noix. This irruption, which was essentially a miUtary movement of great importance, was denounced by the American press as an outrage. The British were stigmatized -as "faithless ruflfians, unprincipled invaders."! They forget that on the following day was perpetrated the second descent by Commodore Chauncey on York, a place already plundered, half depopulated, and where there was, at the time, no military establishment. This bold stroke, on the part of the British, disconcerted for the time the American project to invade Lower Canada by the most natural and accessible channel, and with the aid of a naval force ; and it now becomes necessary to explain the circumstances which had about this time much facilitated their naval preparations on the northern lakes. The Government of Washington had made the best use of adversity. Driven to bay upon the searboard, they devoted their energies, their men, and material to their inland waters, and from a new stand of vantage dealt forth strenuous blows. • Everard'a Despatch, 3rd August, 1863. t James, Vol. II, p. 244. CHAPTER XVIIL Stutip; hy ri^vPMfla flic Urifish AdnifrnUy rtctcd with ViffoMr— 8lilp« Were equipped of* calibre to meet tlie Amoricflns— Amerfcflns blockadod in tlicii" own harbouri!— Coniiiicrce dfstroycil, revenue riiiiieii— 'ScaiKon useless on the ocean, transfened to tlio Lukes— Nnvnl engaj(ement!"— Dominica and Decatnr— I'd lean and Arguo— Boxer and I'.iiter- prize— Crulae of the I'rcBident under Comniodorc RodgerB— Detroit frontier— Unplea- eaut vicissitudes — Story of the Frontier— Sijuire llcynolds— liis narrative— I'^arly state of the Detroit Frontier— IJullding of Fort Miami— Who paid for it— Surrcinlcr of Michigan Territory and Detroit to Ameritrana under Jay's Treaty 170C— iJritiah war- vessels on tlie Upper Lakes ttllowcd to rot— Brock's interview with tlic Indians— .June 1812— First scalp taken by the American 3Tcrnlloch— Indian exasperation— Hcsohifion to retaliate— Declaration of war received 28tb June, 1812— Capture of the Cayugt Packet by Liout< Kolette< We will, therefore, return to the ocean, which we left on the 1st June, after the successful issue of the contest between the Shannon and the Chesapeake. Long before this event occurred — early in the year — -the British admiralty, stung into activity by previous re- verses, had despatched to the coast of America vessels of a class, nnd in such strength, as to sweep the sea of the American cruisers, and compel the best and bravest of their ships and officers to take refuge in their own harbours. In Feb. 1818, Sir John Borlase Warren, having established a vigilant blockade of the American coasts, inter- cepted their carrying and coasting trade, and ruined their commerce.* The public revenue sank from $24,000,000 to $8,000,000. The Bays of the Chesapeake andDelaware were scoured by Admiral Cock- bum and a light squadron ; great damage inflicted on naval stores and arsenals, and the towns on the coast kept in a continual state of harassment. A few comments which it is proposed to make on the occurrencesof this naval campaign, and on the atrocities charged • AHioA, Vol. IV, p. 462, Am. edition. NAVAL ENaAGEMBNTS — PELICAN AND ARGUS. 193 against Cockburn and his crews, are postponed to a later and more opportune occasion in the course of this narrative. The effect of tlie blockade was to shut up the American frigates in the ports of the Atlantic, and to transfer their officers and crews to Lakes Cham- plain, Ontario, and Erie. Thus it was that Captain Sidney 8mith, late of the Chesapeake, was found and captured at Isle aux Noix. Thus it was that Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie, and later still, Commodore Macdonough, on Lake Champlain, were enabled to do such good service to their country. But, not to interrupt the even tenor of our inland way hereafter, it may be as well to note here a few remarkable events of maritime war which signalized the summer. On the 5th August, the Dominica, a British schooner of twelve guns, 67 men, and nine boys, was cap- tured by the American privateer Decatur, Captain Dominique Diron, mounting half the number of guns ; but one, an 18-pounder, on a pivot, of more value than all the guns engaged, and supplied by a complement of 120 men. The American, confident in his numbers, carried the Dominica by boardmg. The obstinacy of the contest 18 best shown by the list of casualties. The Dominica lost her captain. Lieutenant Bar6t^, purser, two midshipmen, and thirteen men killed, and forty wounded. Out of a crew of seventy-six souls, fifty-seven were hors de combat before she surrendered. On the 12th of the same month, th ^' Ucan, a British eighteen gun brig, just in from a cruise, was deSi^atched from Cork before she furled sails, to encounter an American war schooner, known to be committing depredations in St. George's Channel. She proved to be the Argus, of 20 guns. After a sharp action of forty-five minutes, the American was carried by boarding. Her captain, Allen, was killed in the action. The Pelican was the superior vessel of the two. She was heavier in tonnage, and threw a broadside 341bs. more than her adversary, but the Argus had the advantage in crew by about 20 men. N 194 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. Later in the year, on the 6th September, the British brig of war Boxer, of 14 guns, lying at anchor off Portland, Maine, discovered a sail in the ofBng ; weighed, and brought to action the American gun brig Enterprize, of 16 guns. Here the advantage in tonnage and weight of metal was on the side of the Americans. In men they were 120 to 60. The usual sanguinary scene ensued. The fighting on both sides was desperate. Both of the captains, Blythe and Burrows, were killed, and the British ship was surrendered when her crew was reduced to 27 men. Her colours could not be hauled down ; they had been nailed to the mast. Greeks may have met Greeks in a manner worthy of all imitation, but it may be doubted if they ever surpassed British or American sailors at the close of an action. These were the most »emarkable events of this naval campaign: Commodore Rogers, in the President, made a long cruise, prolific in despatches, during which he was always running away from some- body, or somebody running away from him. He made a few prizes, and a great escape, and successfully got home, which appears to have been the greatest success of his expedition. We will now retrace our steps from the ocean to our own inland seas — from the sea-board of the Atlantic to the Detroit frontier. Here, in the extreme West, the war had undergone many vicissitudes. The scenes there enacted have, to a certain extent, been already recorded as they befell ; but for a clear understanding of the catastrophes of this campaign, it is well to recapitulate some of the early occurrences of the year. It is not a pleasant tale to tell which terminates in disaster, but a great nation looks upon reverses as the true test of prowess, and whether on the banks of the Canadian Thames, or in the rocky fastnesses of Cabool, encounters the decree of fate with dauntless front. From these, and a thousand such ordeals, England has emerged, purified, and strengthened. All that men of British lineage wish to know upon subjects such as these is the truth. The wisdom, which truth inspires, has long since taught, DETROIT FRONTIER — SQUIRE REYNOLDS. 195 that we can never bo told the truth too often, or too emphatically, and wo are permitted on this occasion to draw it from a source beyond all peradventure. All men who know Amherstburg, or Maiden, as it is often called, know Scjuiro Reynolds. There is not in all the Western Counties a man better known or more respected. He is in fact an institu- tion — one of the oldest and earliest in the country. At the age of eighty-three, he unites the mental vigour of middle age with a wonderful amount of bodily activity and buoyancy of spirits. His vitality is Palmerstonian. This gentleman exercises in his part of the country the functions of a patriarchal Rhadamanthus. He is the universal arbitrator and referee. If you want safe law or intelligible logic ; if you want counsel for the present, advice for the future, or an inkling of the past, you are handed over at once, and as a matter of course, to Squire Reynolds. He lives in a snug homestead, more villa than farm-house — ^low, with extended wings — embedded in a grove of fine old pine trees. In front flows the Detroit, literally seamed with long lines of schooners, tugged and towed by little ungainly steamers — the " Black Dwarfs" of the river, small, ugly, but possessed of giant strength— and which scare up from the surrounding waters, flocks of innumerable wild-fowl. Around him are the inclosures and gardens, and the indescribable mass of out- buildings, which the protection of his cattle in winter imposes upon the Canadian farmer— with an eye, in early days, to the wolves — perhaps to the Indians. We are reminded in the long low irregular building, in the court yards and out-stedings, and even by the relics of a former " stockade," of " Rotherwood, the dwelling of Cedric the Saxon." With this introduction, the kindly old gentleman may be left to Bpeak for himself. Seated in his rocking-chair, before a cozy log fire, at his own hearth-stone on the shores of the Detroit, on this misty November morning,— he jerks himself back from before the 3, and exclaims— 190 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. " Know something of the country ! Why, I think I do. I knew it l)eforc it was made, and have seen it grow, every inch, since. I remember when, with the exception of this little strip of settlement, hardly wider than the Beach Lots where wo now are, there was not a house between Huron and Ontario. No man but the hunter tra- versed that wilderness, of which London is now the centre. Our communications from ' below ' were all by water. The Courts of Law were transported by water. Well do I remember when, in 1802, the Brig Speedy, Thomas Paxton, master— father of Major Paxton, of Fighting Island—was lost on the Lake, and the Judge and the Jury, Crown Offices, and litigants—all went down in her. " My father was Commissary to the British troops at Fort Detroit —at that time the chief trading port and military settlement in this part of the world. I was bom there in 1781. At this time the whole State of Michigan was British Territory— the river Miami divided it from the State of Ohio,— and we were often and much disturbed by quarrels, and bloody fights at times, between the Indians of our territory and the frontier settlers, who could not be kept back. " At length, in 1794, Governor Simcoe, with the authority of the British Government, caused a Fort to be built at the mouth of the Mianu, for the protection of our frontier. Pilkington, late General Pilkington, of the Engineers, planned it and superintended the construction. Colonel England was in garrison there with part of the 24th Foot. In 1795, by Jay's Treaty, a new line of frontier was established. The Americans persuaded the British Govern- ment that the Line of the St. Lawrence and the Lakes, was the safest frontier between the countries, and so, for the sake of a qmet house, they gave up all the frontier posts— Oswegatchie, Oswego, Niagara, Miami, and Detroit. I saw the British flag hauled down from the flagstaff of Detroit at noon, 11th July, 1796. I saw it again hoisted by Brock, at noon of Sunday, 16th August, 1812, DETROIT IN 1796 — MICniOAN ABANDONED. 107 " When wo gftvo up Detroit, the rivor was ^Yi(lcr than it is now in front of that huge city. It must have been at least 1,000 yanls wide then, but the wharves on both sides have much cncroaclied on the waters. The fort stood back on a risin*; ])ank about 700 yards in tlio rear of the river. Wo left it in capital order. The troops were withdrawn and quartered at Sandwich and Fort Mai- don. We had at that time the entire control of the waters of the upper Lakes. We had a flotilla, composed of two largo brigs, 1>) guns each ; one schooner of 8 guns ; and three gun-boats of one gun each. They were all allowed to rot. " Thus England abandoned Michigan, a territory as big as Spain— with its coal mines and other resources— and our Indian allies were left to the tender mercies of the Ohio trappers, who invaded their hunting grounds, and drove them to desperation. Lord Dorchester went homo in disgust, remarking that Canada was a new ' Arcady the Blest,' to be protected, thenceforward, by catch-poles and javelin men. Well did Lord Chatham exclaim, before this time, that the diplomatists of England threw away, with a dash of the pen, what her soldiers had won at the point of the bayonet. " There was a gentleman of your name residing at that time in Newark. He was in the Commissariat. Ah ! an uncle. Well, I can tell you something about him in relation to the surrender of this territory. In 1797, the year after the evacuation, I was sent down by my father to Newark, on a mission of which I was proud. I was only 17 years old then. It appears that Governor Simcoe, who had built Fort Miami, and had defrayed the expenses out of the Military chest, had further resolved that the expenditure should be refunded from the revenue of the Province, and I was sent down with an order on Peter Russell, President of the Council, for the amount. Mr. Russell honoured the order and gave me the money, which I handed over to the Imperial OflScer, Commissary James Coffin, and took his receipt. We became great friends in after years. 198 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. " I cannot say whether the Province actually paid the money or not. The revenue was very small then. The amount paid over was somewhat about X 4,000 specie, sealed up in canvas bags. Lord Dorchester and General Simcoe might have had to raise the money themselves — Simcoe had left the Province. All I do know is, that the money was refunded to the Imperial Treasury. If Canada paid for Fort Miami, it was given up without much regard to her interests. I don't know that she paid in like manner for any other places surrendered on the frontier. " I was here in 1812. I was myself a commissary to the forces ; and, in those days, to feed a force, and provide in advance for the supply, was an arduous task : of course our main dependence was on the regular line of supply from Montreal. The troops, and the Indians, too, were supplied from our stores. The chief rations then consisted of Irish mess pork ; but pigs had begun to be plentiful ; and, when our communications i ere interrupted, I contrived to supply the deficiency from the far. "S which were springmg up over the country, with most of which was familiar. While I had charge, the troops never wanted, tl ugh they had often but little to spare. " Before the war broke out — I tl ik early in June, 1812 — Brock paid us a flying visit. He was th < Governor, during the absence of Governor Gore. When at Fort Maiden, the Indians asked Brock for powder and guns, to go back into Michigan, and get back their lands. The General told them, that to ^ve them ammunition, would be to make war on the United States ; * but,' said he, ' I am very sure that they will make war upon us before long. So wait a bit, and you shall have all you want ;' * but,' added he very solemnly, * if I supply you, you must abstain from scalping the dead, and ill-treating your prisoners. Promise me that, and then you shall have all you want.' They did promise. Colonel Elliott, the Indian interpreter, was present, and translated. FIRST SCALP — "promise WIPED OUT." 199 "You would like to know how that promise was kept. I can tell you wmetlung about that, too. When Hull crossed at Sandwich, 12th July, 1812, he despatched scouting parties to the Canard River, only seven miles from Fort Maiden, under Cass, and one McCulloch, a Kentucky man.* They encountered at the Canard Bridge an Indian scouting party of fifteen warriors and two squaws. The Indians opened fire on the / ;nericans, who fell back. One of them crossed the river, fool-hardily, and was shot. McCulloch scalped him, and the body was abused by those with him. " McCulloch bared his arm, and attached the trophy to his left elbow, a way they have of drying such things. On his way back be stopped at the Park farm, near Sandwich, and asked Widow Park for a drink of water. She observed what hung from his elbow, and remarked on it. * Yes,' said he, ' it is the scalp of a d — d red- skin we killed below there.' * I am sorry for it,' said she ; * the Indians would not have done the like. I guess you'll sufier for this.' "And so they did. When the Americans retired, the Indians went over and found the body of their comrade, scalped, and his skull beat in. They wrapped it in a blanket, and bore it back to Fort Maiden, went rigb* to the door of Colonel St. George, the commandant, and laid it down at the threshold. They called out the Colonel. * Look !' said they, ' our great father not long ago told us not to scalp, not to kill. Look at our brother ; the long knives not only scalped him, but killed him over again. Look at his skull ! Our promise is wiped out.' " This was but the beginning — more by and by. But in a day or two the Americans came back to the river Canard — the Ta-ron-tee, * McCulloch (Captain McCulloch) was, it is to be presumed, the person killed hj the Indians, at the head of a scouting party, in the subsequent afifair of Von Home. Vide James I. p 62. 200 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. as the Indians call it, — ^which by this time was better protected, by more Indians and a small party of the 4l8t. Again they had a fight, and were again repulsed. A fine fellow of the 41st lost his life here.* He was advanced sentry in the plain on the other ade of the river. They came upon him suddenly, and called to him to throw down his arms, and surrender. H^ replied that he was there to defend his post, and fired, killing one man. They fired, too, and mortally wounded him, and, on their retreat, left him to die in a shed. He died, and was found, scalped, and the Americans were at first accused of the deed ; hut that was soon proved to be wrong. It turned out that one Main-poche, an Indian of ours, had stealthily followed the Americans in hopes of pickmg up a scalp, in revenge for the act of a few days before. He did not succeed ; but on his return, aUghting upon the dead body of the soldier, he thought that any scalp was better than none. He brought it in, and, both from the colour and cut of the hair, was detected at once by the com- rades of the dead man, who gave him a good thrashing for his pains. " We heard of the declaration of war on the 28th June, 1812. Brock sent up the news from York. He had arranged before with Proctor, to go over and take Detroit,^ at the first outbreak of war. Hull had not yet reached this post, but was on the way with reinforcements from Ohio. On the 2nd of July all arrangements were made, and we were on the point of starting, when, below Bois Blanc Island, on the Canada shore, appeared a fleet of boats. We made up our minds at once that it was the Americans coming to attack us, and manned our works. It was all a false alarm. It turned out to be a brigade of trading boats and canoes from Mon- treal to Macinaw. Next day orders came from Prevost to make no offensive movements, and nothing more was done. Vide p. 42 ante. CAYUGA PACKET TAKEN — PLUCKY ROLETTE. 201 " But upon this day, the 3rd, a gallant feat was performed by Lieut. Rolette, a plucky little French Canadian from Quebec. He was Lieutenant in the Provincial Marine. He was out in a boat with eight men, when he saw a vessel approach under American colours He went right alongside, and boarded, and found himself, among American uniforms. Without a word, he put a sentry on the arm-chest, one on the companion ladder, and one at the wheel, and then gave loud orders to shoot any man resisting. The Ameri- cans knew nothing of the declaration of war. Independent of the crew there was on board a guard of thirty-three soldiers. Shortly recover- ing from their surprise, the Americans, remarking the number, began to cast ugly glances on their captors ; but it so chanced that the vessel was close ofiF a windmill on the Canada shore, around which had been thrown up a breastwork of logs, which gave it a military look. Rolette, with presence of mind, ordered the helmsman, in loud tones, to put the vessel under the guns of the battery. This had its efifect for the moment. Fortunately a batteau came down the river at this time, with men and an oflficer, and enabled him to secure the prize. She proved to be the Cayuga Packet, containing Hull's military chest, extra baggage, military and medical stores, and all the correspondence of the army. CHAPTER IX. Squire Reynold's narrative— Arrival of Brock— Interview with Tecumseh— Aflkirs on the Frontier 1813— Ball at Maiden— From the dance to the field— Colonel St. George —Attack on French Town— Capture of General Winchester— Retreat of Proctor- Wounded abandoned— Rolette hit— Brownstown and the scalps— Fort Meigs— British • engineers— Colonel Gratiot— Major Reynolds at the Raisin— Defeat of Green Clay— Reta> liation of the Indians— Retreat from Fort Meigs— Council of war— Recriminations- Proctor, Elliott, Tecumseh— Proctor's treatment of the Militia— Second attack on Fort Meigs— A failure— Fort Stevenson attacked— Bravely defended by Major Croghan— Col. Short killed— Stormers repulsed— Proctor retires— Barclay at Maiden— Efforts to equip squadron— No men nor material— The two 24'8— Calibre and character of guns in the squadrons respectively. " This exploit of Rolette's was of great value to Brock when he arrived on the 13th of August. I was with Col. Elliott, Superin- tendent of Indians, when news came that a boat had reached the beach with officers on board. Tecumseh was in the room. EUiott got up and spoke to Tecumseh in Shawanee, and we went down together to the water-edge. We found the General and others disembarking. Among the first was John Beverley Robinson, and a lot of York volunteers. We were told more wanted to come than the General could bring ; and he put them off by saying that he wanted some to remain to defend York. " Tecumseh was presented to Brock. I observed him looking nar- rowly at the General. On our way back to the house, he remarked to Elliott that the General was a brave man, deserving of all confi- dence. "And now, with respect to the occurrences on this frontier in the spring and summer of 1813. I was present at them all. The troops could not move without the Commissary ', and I am proud to BALL AT AMHERSTBURG — INTERRUPTED FESTIVITIES. 203 feel that whatever was left to me was done satisfactorily. A little of the early fighting, when told, explains the rest. *' On the 18th Jan., 1813, being the anniversary of old Queen Charlotte's birthday, all the young fellows on the coast side — lesjeunea gens de la cdte — combined with the military to give a ball. We had assembled at Mrs. Draper's Tavern, here in Amherstburg, and the lads andlasseswerefull of dance andfun, when in walked Colonel St.George equipped for the field. " My boys," said he, in a loud voice, " you must prepare to dance to a different tune ; the enemy is upon us, and we are going to surprise them. We shall take the route about four in the morning, so get ready at once." Of course there was some confusion and surprise, but I believe the fellows liked the fighting as much as the dancing. The ball broke up at once, and every man was at his appointed post at the proper time. It had been very cold, but no snow had fallen. The river had taken across, and we started for Brownstown, four miles distant, on the ice. It was not considered strong enough to bear more than small 4-pounders. The men marched in extended order. " It appears that the General had got intelligence that General Winchester was advancing rapidly to attack Fort Maiden or De- troit, and had resolved to anticipate him. The American Generals, Winchester and Harrison, were at loggerheads. Winchester, an old revolutionary officer, did not like to be superseded by Harrison, and aimed at a great blow, on his own account, before the other could come up to share the glory. We took the wind out of his ssdls most completely. It was just dawn of day when our columns got out of the forest on an open space in front of the house of a Canadian named Jerome, which the Americans had stockaded. The place was called French Town, on the Kiver Raism. The Americans must have arrived on the ground the night before. The stockaded house was quite insufficient to receive them. Part were encamped or bivouacked on the outside. As we got out of the 204 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. wood, the reveilU was beating inside the stockade, and it seemed as if the advanced sentry was attracted by the rattle of the drums, for he did not perceive us, in the mist of the morning, until they had ceased. Then he heard the rumble of the gun-carriages, and turned and fired, and hit Gates, the leading grenadier of the 41st, right through the head. The ball went in at one ear and out at the other. Our people deployed rapidly to the right and left, in the open, and commenced to fire. Proctor made a strange dispo- sition of his line. He put a gun on each flank, and advanced one gun in front of the centre, so that every ball of the enemy, which missed the gun, struck the men in the rear, and some of our own musketry hit the gunners. I'll tell you a story about this presently. In the mean time the fire from our line was so heavy, that it drove the enemy who were outside the stockade down the bank on to the frozen stream below, and into the woods beyond, where numbers were killed by the Indians. The stockaded house still held out, when, to our surprise. General Winchester was brought in a prisoner. He had slept away from his men at the house of a Frenchman named Lasalle, about two miles off, and, aroused by the firing, had mounted his horse, and was riding down in haste, when he was intercepted by a drunken Indian, known by the soubriquet of Brandy .Tack.* His captor had despoiled the poor General of his cocked hat, coat and epaulets, and had donned these insignia of rank, and cut a most ludicrous figure with his vermilion cheeks and painted face and pompous aspect. The General, in his shirt^sleeves, on a bitter cold morning, was in a sad plight. Brandy Jack described how the General had fired his small gun (pistol) at him — ' no good,' — and gave the captive of his rifle to Proctor, who received him with all kindness. The transition * James and Christie attribate the capture of Winchester to Round Head a Wyandot chief. He may also have enjoyed the soubriquet of " Brandy Jack but the squire maintains the latter denomination to be the true one. CAPTURE OF GENERAL WINCHESTER — ROLETTE AGAIN. 205 from peril of instant death to assured safety warmed the heart of General Winchester. He felt, at once that, the British were not the monsters they were painted, and he offered to surrender the stockaded house and garrison, if pronuaed quarter. The promise was, of course, made, and the garrison laid down their arms. This led to a catas- trophe which was deeply deplored by us all. " But I promised you a story about Rolette. He came up to me on the ice, and said he was very sick — that he had a racking head- ache. I recommended him to return. The brave little Frenchman turned upon me as if I had insulted him. He was detailed to take charge of a gun, he said ; to go back would be eternal disgrace. ' Look here,' said he, producing a heavy Bandana handkerchief, 'tie this tight round my head.' I rolled it up thick, and did so. ' I am better already,' he remarked, and pushed on. After the action he came to me. * That handkerchief,' said he, * saved my life ; look here ; ' and in the folds of the handkerchief was a musket- ball, which had partly cut through the silk, and had flattened, one side of it, on his skull. That cranium of his must have been sub- stantial. It was all swollen and blackened where the ball had struck. He was in front of our line in the centre, and had been wounded by our own men. Irvine, of the navy, a Lieutenant, who commanded the other gun, was also wounded in the heel. " I have spoken of the catastrophe. I will tell you, now, how that came about. Scarcely had the prisoners surrendered, and been marched off to the rear, when news came that General Harrison was only eight miles distant, and was rapidly advancing with large reinforcemenls. Proctor got alarmed, and ordered a retreat. This was all right, but there was no need to hurry about it. The pris- oners and many of the wounded were removed safely ; but some of the wounded, too much hurt to be moved, were left in the stockaded house, where there was also a store of liquors. The Indians — not Tecumseh's people, but Indians of the Lake, under Dickson — 206 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. prowlers and plunderers, who, it is believed, did not fight at all, got at the liquor, and, when mad with drink, assailed the prisoners. The guard was insufficient. It is feared that some of the wounded were murdered, too. It was a sad affair, and caused intense feel- ing in our camp. Proctor was greatly blamed by us, though he was made Major-General, and got the thanks of the Lower Canadian Parliament. He need not have retired so precipitately. Why, he left his own dead and wounded, including Colonel St. George, hit in three places. " I had under my order at this time a number of sleighs and drivers for the commissariat transport, and I had taken possession of a Frenchman's house at Stoney Creek Landing, and used it for a depOt. When Proctor retired with his men, it was reported that the wounded had been left behind. We discharged the sleighs there and returned, bringing down from eighty to a hundred wounded and twenty-three corpses. The wounded were made as comfortable as possible o straw spread on the floor of the Frenchman's house. The dead were conveyed to Amherstburg, and buried, all in one pit, here in the church-yard ; I can show you the place. I found poor Col. St. George, a brave old officer, who had been sent out from England to instruct the militia, lying where he fell, badly hurt. I brought him back in his own sleigh, having knocked the seat out, and filled it in with straw. He would have died else ; as it was, he did not get off his bed before July. The Americans followed us from French Town to Brownstown, an Indian village, at a cautious distance, it is true; for we never saw any of them. But they boasted that the ' heroes of Brownstown returned, brin^g on their bayonets the scalps of their enemies as trophies of war.'* This was published and printed ; * James quotes a paragraph from the National Intelligencer, the Amep loan Oovernment paper of that day, which stated that "when the AmericanB returned to Detroit from the battle of Brownstown, thej bore triumphantly on FORT MEiaS — BRITISH ENGINEERS — COL. GRATIOT. 207 bttt it is not added whether the scalps were those of the wounded, or of the Indians, or of their own people. It is believed that with them a scalp was a scalp, from whatever skull it came, and that it was a cute Yankee trick to carry off the spoil, and credit the Indians with the act. " The next affair in the campaign was that of Fort Meigs, on the Miami, which occurred in the month of April, 1813. General Harrison, after the capture of Winchester, occupied himself in strengthening Fort Meigs, as a dep6t and starting point for future attacks on Detroit. It is about 40 miles distance. Proctor deter- mined to beat up his quarters, and sent for my brother, Major Rey- nolds, of the 2d Essex. My brother was highly praised by Proctor in his despatch of the 26th Jan., for his conduct at French Town. Proctor asked if he could depend on the services of the militia. The answer was, that, for a few days and prompt action, undoubt- edly ; but that at that period of the season, longer delay would destroy all hope of crops, and bring starvation on the settlement and the troops. Proctor despatched, at the same time, two British engineers, disguised in Canadian costume, grey cap6ts and sashes, to inspect the ground on the British side of the Miami, opposite to Fort Meigs. These gentlemen were so imprudent as actually to stake out the ground where they proposed to erect the British bat- teries. There happened to be then in the American service a Swiss colonel named Gratiot, a very clever engineer, and he chanced to be at Fort Meigs. He detected at once the meaning of the stakes on the opposite shore of the Miami ; and, before the British got down, he had run out an ^aulemmt, or some such sort of thing, the points of their bayonets between 30 and 40 fresh scalps, which they had taken on the field." James, I, p. 66. But this evidently bore reference to Mnir's affair at Maguagua, 12th August, 1812. Still, " scalps are scalps,' whether taken in 1812 or 1813. 208 OUBONIOLB OF THE WAR. with a brass eighteon-pounder behind it, and our people were caught in their own trap. "After Hull's surrender, my brother had been sent with two com- panies of militia, about 100 men, mostly French Canadians of the C6te, to occu[)y French Town, on the Raisin. He was backed by some Indians — ^how many can hardly be said, they were so uncer- tain, — one day, 20 ; the next, 100 ; the next, 60 ; the next, none at all. One Colonel Lewis, with about 700 American regular troops, attacked him there. Our people fought most bravely, retired slowly from log to log, from morning till night. When night came, the Americans thought better of it, and gave up the pursuit, returning to the quarters our people had occupied at French Town. This affair was the subject of Proctor's despatch of the 26th Jan. " Proctor embarked at Amherstburg,here, on the 23rd April, with a considerable force , convoyed by gun-boats.* He took with him two long 24-pounders, to arm the work his engineers had planned against Fort Meigs. It took some time to get into position, and then the 18- pounder began to show its teeth. It commanded our guns, and was well served and aimed. It soon dismounted one of the 24*8, and dis- abled the other, killing a fine boy of the Newfoundlanders, who was serving the vent. Still our people were not to be beaten that way. They got things right at last, when Harrison planned a sortie under Miller, aided by an attack from without. A reinforcement of 1200 Kentuckians, under General Green Clay, was within striking dis- tance. Clay came down the river, crossed to the British side, and, aided by Miller's vigorous sortie, drove our people out of the battery upon their reserves, who were in camp further do^vn the stream. The Americans followed in confusion. Our people rallied upon • Force 23d April, 1813.— Regulars 520 «* " " «« Militia 460 ■« " " " Indians 1500—2480 DEATH OF LAURENT BONDT — INDIAN EXCESSES. 209 their own advanced rear, oonsisting of 300 militia, who opened fire at onoe, and then charged with a cheer, which brought up the regulars still further in the rear. Reynolds and Capt. Laurent Bondy, of the Cdte, led up to the muzzles of the American rifles, which, once fired, are no match for the bayonet. Bondy was shot through the body, and fell against a tree. * Don't stop for me,' he said, to some of the men who paused. ^ Don't mind me — I'm done for. Do for those fellows.' And they did.* " The Kentucky men ran, the sortie was repulsed, the battery re- captured, a large number of prisoners was taken, and again occurred Bome of the same scenes which had caused so much horror at French Town. The Indians of different tribes, scattered through the woods, were beyond control ; they overpowered the escort. One man, Russell, of the 4l8t, was slain in defending his charge. Tecumseh rushed up, and drove his tomahawk into the skull of a trucident ruffian who would not hold his hand. Some of the prisoners were murdered, and among them Colonel Dudley, the second in command. I call it murder, because I won't call murder by any other name. There is no doubt those Indians were shocking imple- ments of war, though perhaps not much worse than bomb shells or Greek fire, and why could not the Yankees leave the devils alone ? Who scalped the red skin at the Ta-ron-tee ?t The Indians were fighting for their lands, and avenging their own wrongs. If you • 6th May, 1813. t James, in his Military Occurrences, Vol. I, p. 62, gives the following version of the same occurrence : " In the pocket of Captain McOulloch of the American umy, killed in this affair (Tecumseh and Van Home) with the Indians, waa found a letter addressed to his wife, in which this humane individual states tlut on the 16th July he had killed an Indian, and had the pleasure of tearing tbe scalp from the head of the savage with hia teeth." That the Indian was icalped is, an undoubted fact. We may be allowed to question the operation in dental surgery. 210 OHRONIOLE OF THE WAR. want tho skin of a wild cat, you must take the scratching. Wo did all wo could to step the Indians. We gave five dollars for every prisoner brought in. Hundreds were brought in, and paid for by the Commissaries. I have paid numbers of such certificates myself. " Another word on these scalping stories. They have boon the stock in trade of American writers ever since the war, only they grow a little as they get on. Have these people forgotten the ' heroes of Brownstown, with tho scalps on their bayonets,' borne home in triumph ? Now if the boast was true, where did the scalps come from ? Not from our dead, for I removed them all myself. Not from our wounded, for I helped to remove most of them, and know that none were left. Did they scalp their own dead ? or did they scalp the Indians ? If they scalped the Indians, what right have they to complain that the Indians scalped them ? " But the defeat of Green Clay had no effect on the place, which still held out. Proctor opened fire from his 24*8, and Gratiot gave him shot for shot. We were getting back to the old slow work, and I knew that the supplies were running short. I despatched orders for more,and got them,butwe wanted * push.' Proctor did not go at it in a way to satisfy any one. At last he dismounted his guns, put them on sleds, and let them down the steep bank under the fire of the enemy. It was done, by the men, as if on parade, but it was clear that a retreat was intended, and all began to talk. Tecumseb, through Colonel Elliott, demanded a council. It was held. I was present, but came in after Proctor had spoken. Tecumseh was up, calm, cool, deliberate, thinking in look, very hard in what he said. Elliott translated. * Our father has brought us here to take the fort, why don't we take it ? If his children can't do it, give us spades, and we will work like beavers ; we'll eat a way in for him.' Other and harder words followed, until suddenly Proctor, in a passion, turned on Elliott with, * Sir, you are a traitor.* Elliott instantly, half drawing his sword, answered, * Sir, you short, and PROCTOR AND TECUM8BH — PROCTOR AND THE MILITIA. 211 not swoot.' Proctor put his hand on his sword-hilt. Tccumsoh, who had sat down, Indian fashion, on his hams, and who was filling the pipe on hi« ♦^omoha^.k, rose slowly, and shook the tobacco out, saying to Elliott, ' What does ho say V * Sit down,' says Elliott, putting his hai 1 on Tecumsoh's arm, " never mind what he says." Other officers preset ♦^ moved up at onee, and without a word stepped between ; all felt it was wrong. Not long after, Elliott resigned his place as Indian Superintendent, and called Proctor out, but no meeting took place. Proctor was right ; a commander in the field holds his life for the safety of others ; he can't toss it away for the fun of a personal fight. " Next came the militia. It has been said they deserted Proctor. Nothing can be more untrue, unfair, ungenerous. Who had they to speak for them ? He was their mouthpiece. His despatch was the only record — praise others ; say nothing about them ; and the brave man who fought for all he loved, had nothing to look to but the love of those he fought for. Proctor treated the militia badly. When they saw his guns on skids, and knew the siege was over, they sent respectfully to ask leave to go home, only to put in a crop for the benefit of his men and their own children. He sent them home and disarmed them. He tried to disgrace them, but they would not be disgraced, because they knew they did not deserve it. Brock was another sort of man. He thought, and felt, and spoke for othe men, and other men loved him, and fought for him, and died for him. "About the middle of July, Proctor planned another attack on Fort Meigs. He only took with him the regulars, and a few Indians. He refused the services of the militia, and, as I before said, took away their arms. How much of his future ill success is to be credited to this piece of policy, you will see. I went with the troops on this second expedition to Fort Meigs.* The plan was to inveigle >■ i 26th Jal7, 1813. 212 OHRONIOLB OF THB WAR. ihe enemy out of the fort, and to get in with them ; but they Trould not come out, and as the place could not be taken with two tax.' pounders, the British retired with all the discredit of a defeat. What Proctor could not do at Fort Meigs, he tried to do on a more distuit and more defen^ble work on the Sandusky river. Fort Stephenson, defended by Major Oroghan, a brave Irishman, in the United States army. Proctor sent Major Chambers, with a flag, to demand the surrender of the fort.* Croghan came out on the drawbridge of the ditch, and said to Chambers, — ' Tell your General lie mu^ blow the fort to hell, but it shan't be given up by me.' He was as good as his word. ** Fire was opened on the work from the six-pounders, and on the evening of the 2nd August, Colonel Sliort, of the 41st, led on the storming party. They rushed through the smoke, down into the ditch, up against the palisades, but neither ladders nor fascines had been provided ; the tools they had were bad, some of the axes had no handles. The attempt to tear down the palisades failed. The men then tried, desperately, to clamber over, and while doing so, the enemy opened from a concealed gun, which flanked the ditch, and which, charged with grape, did deadly execution, Lieut. Gordon and Colonel Short were both killed ; about 100 men were killed and wounded, and the recall was sounded. The storming party was brought off; the Indians, who don't understand storming, covering ike rear. The next morning Proctor left the river. <?A to a great extent destroy the undergrowth— between the huge tnmks the space is clear ; you may ride between them as freely as through the aisles of a Gothic Cathedral. The trees which would neutralize and disturb the regular formation of infantry, offer but little impediment to r. bold irreg- ular cavaky, each horse^uan fighting " on his own hook." CHAPTER XXI. I'rootor 1U18 back to Uaptlsto Creek— General Harrison with rerry'8 assistance follows— 5tk October— British force halts at Dalson's Farm— Colonel Maclean of Scarborough— His reminiscences— Warburton in command at Dalson's— Proctor retires pcrsonallj to Moravian Town— Roused before daylight— Intelligence— Troops attacked and retreating —Warburton followed by Shelby and Kentucky riflemen— Description of these troops and mode of attack— Proctor halts his men— Nature of ground and position— Tccumsch —His last words— No abattis made— American attack— Defeat and surrender of the British. Proctor had drawn off on the 28th of September. His baggage- waggons and store-boats had been sent on in advance. Many I I of his men had already marched 18 miles through a country deep • aa the worst marsh in Holland. They fell back leisurely for about 30 miles to Baptiste Creek, near the mouth of the Thames. They ^ crossed on a bridge which, when passed, was most unaccountably left by the troops undestroyed. They then took up their line of march on the north shore of the Thames. They still covered the rear of their boats and convoys. From the Bridge to Dalson's farm, near where the town of Chatham now stands, was a distance of about 16 miles. Dalson's was a small clearing, one of those scattered Oases which were then found, at long intervals, in the wilderness. Here, the uninter- rupted level was broken by a rising ground, probably pitched upon by the pioneer and bush ranger, as possessing the r ^commendation of dryness. ' Here, upon the 5th of Oct., Proctor had halted with his whole force. He had been retarded by the state of the roads, and by the necessity of not leaving in the rear, supply-boats — delayed by ti> 224 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. the tortuous course of the river — by mud banks, and all the obstruc- tions which accident heaps upon ill-fortune. Tlie rains, though sufficient to destroy the roads, were insufficient to swell the river. Harrison followed by the same route, supported by Commo- dore Perry, with three gun-boats, and a flotilla of smaller craft — manned from the American fleet, buoyant with success. The re- tiring army, laden with an unnecessary amount of baggage, and weighed down by moral depression, was pursued by lusty arms and light hearts, in boats lighter and more swift, from the smaller requirements of an army in pursuit. It is embarrassing to encounter, at this point, the conflicting and angry statements, and harsh comments on the ensuing events. — Happily, however, at this moment of deep and painful embarraa*- ment, there has come to our aid a living eye-witness of these events, whose opportunities and whose fidelity are beyond cavil. In the township of Scarborough, and within a few miles of Toronto, still lives Colonel Maclean, who was a lieutenant in the 41st, at the battle of the Thames. He was on the staff of General Proctor. He is a son of the brave Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, who, as a volunteer in the ranks, had fallen by the side of McNeil, at York. He had obtained a commission in the 4l8t, and had seen service in all the varied affairs in Michigan, and on the river Detroit. He was present at the battle of the Thames. After the war of 1812, he served his Sovereign with his old regi- ment in India — before the stockades of Bangoon and Prome ; had occupied the temples of Ava, and had witnessed the subjection of the Court of Ummerapoora. At mature age, he returned to his paternal farm ; and under the lowly roof of one of those old- fashioned, wide-spread Canadian dwellings, which looks like a gigantic mushroom, or the wide and black expansion of an Arab tent, he dispenses a homely, y«t fmsk and soldierly, hospitality, which an Arab might Qnvy. Here, on tiie advanced side of 70, COLONBL MAOLBAX.— DAL0ON'S FARM. 225 he presents the remains of a giant form, and an intellect which compels us to own, that the men of 1812 were the mastodons of oor formation. It may seem hypercritical, but it is not less obser- rable, that the exuviw of a race fast passing away indicate that the natural development of the present generation does not equal that of their grandsires. M&clean was on Proctor's staff, saw all that one man could see, and knew more than most around him. The story of the fight is given almost in his own words. Proctor, on the afternoon of the 4th Oct., had taken up a good defensible position at Dalson's Farm, and had left his force under his second in command, Major War- burton. Proctor did not anticipate an immediate advance of the enemy. He knew that the difficulties of his own movements must still more embarrass theirs, and it was believed that the American commander would prefer rather to bridge the quagmires with gold, than plunge into them to provoke an encounter with such a foe, desperately at bay. With the heavy baggage in advance was the wife and family of the General. They had shared with him, for many months, in the hardships of a frontier campaign, and had been despatched some days before, with otLer helpless impediments to the march, in the direction of the retreat. They had reached the Indian village bown as Moravian Town, from certain missionaries of that persua- sion who had devoted themselves to holy labors among the savages in that part of Canada. This mission was about 16 miles from Dalson's Farm. The General, having made his arrangements, pro- ceeded with his staff to Moravian Town to meet his family. Maclean offered to remain and watch events ; but the General, confident in the security of the position, smiled at the proposal, and directed his young Aid to accompany him. Before daylight they were aroused from their sleep by hurried intelligence from the front, that the enemy had reached and attacked p 226 CHKONICLE OF THE WAR. the position at Dalson's Farm, and that the troops were falling back. The rapid strides of exultant pursuit had overreached the leaden footsteps of unwilling retreat. An early frost had suddenly set in, hardening the roads and bridging the morasses, and offering one of those chance combinations of ill-luck which persecutes the unfortu- nate. Thus favoured, the American Mounted Rifles had pushed on, and, about an hour after midnight, were in the British bivouac. Warburton retired at once, and was perseveringly followed by Harrison and his men. GChese men, styled by Harrison " mounted infantry," were for the most part Kentucky trappers and hunters- men like the leather-stockin ; of Cooper, inured to the wilderness, and between whom and the Indians there existed a constant warfare and chronic hatred. Hardy, daring, keen, ruthless, admirably clad in a leathern hunting-frock and trowsers, decorated with tasselled fringes, a handkerchief of red, or blue, or yellow, wrapped tightly around the head, with tomahawk and scalping-knife in his belt, and his trusty rifle in his hand, the Kentucky pioneer presented an appearance as redoubtable as it was picturesque. As a cavalry soldier, in the European acceptation of the term, he was useless ; not a man among them bore a sabre ; but as scouts or videttes, and for the purpose of rapid advance or retreat, they were invaluable. The usual tactics of these horsemen, however, were to follow up and harass the retreating foe, and, dismounting from their docile steeds, plunge among the trees, and ply the fatal rifle. Upon this occasion, profit- ing by the unexpected improvement in the roads, they had recourse to a further expedient. Every man, like the Templars of old, brought on a foot-soldier behind him, so that in actual conflict a line of skirmishers, thrown to the front, covered and concealed by their smoke, the approaching cavaliers. This dangerous force was under the immediate command of an ex-governor of Kentucky- Shelby — a veteran of the revolutionary war, who, at the age of 66, still showed all the fire and vigour and energy of youth. BATTLE GROUND ON THE THAMES. 227 Such were the men who now tracked down the retiring British soldiers. Proctor, roused from his sleep, took to horse, and with his staflF rode to the front. He encountered the retreating force about three miles to the west of Moravian Town. Day was break- ing. He instantly ordered the whole force to halt, and face right about. The order was most gladly met. The men, after a weari- some night's march, seemed to be reinvip^orated by the prospect of a fight. The position thus accidentally takfn up was very favourable. The Thames, not wide, buv deep, covered the left flank ; the road cut the line perpendicularly at about 200 yards from the river ; from the road the line of front continued for about 300 yards, until it struck an impassable C3dav swamp, which effectually covered the right flank. Upon this nsrrow front Proctor disposed his small force. They had contrived to bring up with them a single gun, a six-pounder, on a travelling-carriage. This piece of artillery was planted on the road, in what may be termed the centre of the posi- tion. The men were deployed to the right and left from the river to the swamp, their formation being dislocated and broken by the intervening trees. In front of the position was a continuous, but open, forest. The swamp on the right was occupied by the Indians. This disposition was excellent. The left flank was secure, the centre- strong. The right flank, more extended, was covered by the swamp, which, extending lengthwise in the direction of the road, flanked the American attack on the main position. Here Tecumseh, in a morass, of which the mere name alone can convey no idea to the uninitiated — amid moss-hung trees and twisted trunks, and trees fallen and rotten, overgrown with a vegetation tangled and thick, smothered by too much moisture and too little air, knee-deep at the best, and often deeper — was unassailable by the Kentucky horse- men, while he could sally out upon their flank, and wage a hand to hand conflict, in which the lithe Indian on foot, with rifle and toma- hawk, was more than a match for the individual horseman. 228 CHBONIOLB OF THE WAS. These dispositions were made at about six o'clock in the morning. Two hours elapsed before the enemy appeared. In that interval, Tecumseh had conference with Proctor. On parting, he shook hands with his chief, with a fearless look. His last words were, " Father ! have a big heart ! " It was believed that Tecumseh had retured to his people in the swamp with the understanding that he was to await the discharge of the gun as a signal for his onset. The gun was never fired. Two hours elapsed. In that interval the men sat down and rested, and partook of such scraps of food as remained in their haversacks. But no precaution was made against surprise, or to notify an advance. No pickets were thrown out, nor videttes to the front, though a small force of militia cavalry was at the General's disposal. MacLean rode down the front track for about a mile, and saw nothing, but heard the American bugles ringing in the woods around him. Another precaution — the one most naturally suggested and easily executed — ^was incomprehensibly omitted. A dozen axes — and with the force, there must have been one hundred — would, in an hour, have cut down an abattia impassable to men on horseback, clearing also the front to musketry fire. This simple expedient never occurred to Proctor ; at all events, it was never put in prac- tice. The enemy, by their scouts, had reconnoitered and saw clearly the British position. About 8 a. m. they first showed the head of their advance. They came on slowly, carefully covering themselves witli the trees. The riflemen on foot crept on stealthily in front, and soon troubled the British line. The horsemen followed, dodging behind trees, but still maintaining a disconnected formation. They approached nearer and nearer. On a sudden, they clustered together, and made a Tush forward. They were met by a volley, which daunted them for a moment. In another, they again clu» BATTLE GROUND ON THE THAMES. 229 tered together, and, before th' men could reload, charged again. The men broke, and in one moment more, all was over. The chief attack was on the right of the road and line. The men here threw down their firelocks. The gun and the left flank, taken in reverse, broke and surrendered in detail. Proctor and his staff, stunned by the sudden disaster, and overborne by the irresistible tide of fugitives, retired upon Moravian Town, and found their way ultimately, in wretched plight, to Burlington Heights. One officer and twenty or thirty men, who were on the extreme right of the line, next to the Indian ambuscade, withdrew unobserved, and joined the other fugitives at Ancaster. The whole effective British force engaged on that 5th of October, was 476 men, of whom 12 were killed and 22 wounded. The American army on the field amounted to above 3,000 men. This great catastrophe, unparalleled in the annals of the British army, requires some further investigation. It may be said, in ex- tenuation, that the men were worn out, and borne down by harassing and irritating service, and that, from the nature of this service, all reg- imental pride, all esprit de eorps^ had been lost. They had been detached on outpost duty for months, in the most exposed places. Fever and ague, and the depressing symptoms of this disease, were rife among them ; 170 men were then in hospital. They had not received pay for months ; they had no great-coats ; their food had failed. They knew that on the preceding day their supply-boats, fallen to the rear, had been taken by the enemy. They had 180 miles of wilderness behind them ; they were exhausted by the night's march. They knew that there was no hope of successful retreat. The expressions used by them, when faced about in the morning, showed that they were ready to strike a last blow ; but they felt that it was the last. But there was another element of cUsintegration at work. Proctor was on bad terms with his re^ment. He was the General com- 230 CHKONICLB OF THE WAR. manding on the frontier. He was also Lieut.-Colonel of H. M. 4l8t Infantry. There is not in the whole social fabric a more beautiful or more delicate piece of machinery than the internal structure and eccmomy of a British regiment. What a main-spring is to a watch, such is harmony among the officers. While they pull well together with the good taste and good feeling which characterize the service, the same manly, cheery, cordial spirit prevails in every barrack- room. The men, with intuitive tact and feeling, without knowing how, nor caring how, imitate that which recommends itself to their best instincts. Discord among the officers disconcerts good men, and makes bad men licentious. Discontent and dissatisfaction corrode discipline. It did so in the present instance. The fact and the effect were both known. The bands of discipline were relaxed, and broke at the first strain, and the result was ruin. To this unhappy combination of causes must be ascribed the want of energetic unanimity, and the absence of that mutual confidence, which begets self-reliance, and is the foundation of all military cohe- rence in the hour of trial. The men had ceased to rely on one another — to regard " shoulder to shoulder," as the bulwark of strength and marxim of salvation. To these causes must be ascribed the fall of a corps, to that hour distinguished for martial conduct, and which, on fifty stricken fields since, has washed out, with the best blood of its bravest, that one, solitary, spot on an honoured escutcheon.* - Proctor was tried by a court-martial. It is not for the Canadian * To this holocaust of expiatioa Canada has contributed its victims. Monti- zambert, Major, a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in Quebec, served in this regiment m India —at Candabar, at Gabool, in the Kyber Pass — and was slain while gallantly leading his men on the 12th Sept., 1848, in Mooltaa. Lieut. Evans of the 41st, son of Gen. Evans, was killed while storming a hill fort in Aflghanistaa, subsequent to the fall of Oabul in 1846. [• the Canadian BATTLE GROUND ON THE THAMES. 231 chronicler to add one word to the decision of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, dated Horse Guards, 9th Sept., 1815, by which so much of previous service, and perhaps of future promise, were extinguished for ever. CHAPTER XXn. Tocumach— His character— Origin— Tribe of the Sliawaneae— From Virginia— DriTen into Oiiio— Thence into Michigan- The Brothers Ellcsottawa and Tecumseh- Influence of Tecumsoh over Indian tribes, due to his personal qualities— Anecdotes— Haughty con' duct ; ^ards the " Long Knives"- His disinterestedness— Indian skill as draftsman— His personal appearance and costume— Stem adherence to England— Last words to Proctor— Attack of the American riflemen— Tecumseh slain by the hand of Col. James Johnston— The four heraldic supporters of Canada— Outrage ofibred to his remains. But the great episode of this fatal field has yet to be related. Here fell Tecumseh. Here fell the untaught Shawaneae, the friend and comrade of Brock. It is difficult to do justice to the memory of this worthy compeer of Spartacus, of our own Caractacus, and of that noble iEthiop, Toussaint L'Ouverture. No braver barbarian ever graced Roman triumph. Here he fell — Butchered, to make a Roman holiday I We have but few of the notaUlia of his early career. He was chief, or chief-conjomt, of the Shawanese, a tribe originally of Vir- ^nian stock, but which, in the slow but sure progress of European cupidity and aggression, had been driven back from the sea-coast, and had estabUshed their hunting-lodges in the Scioto country, in what is now the State of Ohio. This was in 1730. In 1812 they were estimated to number about three hundred warriors.* They were designated the "fierce Shawanese," and have been denounced for their ferocity ; but men and the descendants of men famiUar 'Schoolcraft. Indiaa Tribes. Vol. I, p. 301. TIOUMSEH. — THE BHAWANESE. 233 arriors.* They with the Inquisition, the auto-dorfe, the fires of Smithfield and of the Grenelle, — with the rack, the wheel, the red-hot pincers, and the boiling pitch, — ^with Luke's iron crown, and Damien's bed of steel— have no pretence for fastidiousness on this score ; nor should they use hard words towards their fellow-men, frenzied by acts of cruel and often wanton wrong. Their contact with the whites had not tended to abate this fierce characteristic. Year by year, and inch by inch, had they been forced back, from camp-fire to camp-fire, from the Atlantic to the Wabash, appealing in vain to a Christian doctrine since known as the "Monroe," and which, being done into plain English, apparently means — That they should take who hare the power, And they shoald keep who can. Hunted and harried, in course of time they receded until they found themselves in the territory of Michigan, under British protec- tion. In 1812 they obeyed the counsels of the Prophet Elksottawa, and followed to the field his more warlike brother Tecumseh. From his youth up he had shown himself to be a remarkable man. Devoid of education, in the European acceptation of the term, he had yet learned to control himself. Instinctively he had risen above the in- stincts and passions of his race. He despised plunder; he abjured the use of spirits ; he had overcome a propensity strong within him, and had, for years, renounced " fire-water." His conduct in the field was only exceeded by his eloquence in council. This combination of head and hand won the hearts of his tribe and of their savage allies. The influence of the chief extended over the warriors of many other Indian nations. With the skill of a statesman he appeased aU dis- sensions, reconciled all interests, and united all minds in one common alliance against the hated Americans. This was due to his personal qualities alone. 234 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. He had little respect for the superstitions of his people. " Totems " and genealogies he treated with indifference. As a specimen of his eloquence, may be related his reply to Governor Harrison of Indiana. On the 12th August, 1810, he appeared, at the head of 400 warriors, at Vincennes, in front of the Governor's residence, and was invited " m." He replied : " Houses are built for you to hold council in ; Indians hold theirs in the open air." When the meeting was over, one of the governor's aides-de-camp said to him, pointing to a chair : " Your father requests you to take a seat at his side." Standing erect, and in a scornful tone, the chief answered : " My father ! the sun is my father, and the earth my mother. On her bosom I will repose ;" and then seated himself upon the ground. He hated the " Long-knives " with an intensity of hatred. In battle, in actual conflict, he was unsparing. To the wounded he was pitiful; from the conquered he turned with contempt. At the capture of Detroit, to a remark from Brock, he replied, haughtily: " I despise them too much to meddle with them." Not an act of violence could be charged against the Indians on that occasion. Brock, admiring the control he possessed and exercised, took off his silken scarf, and wound it round the waist of the chief. Tecumseh was, in despite of his stoicism, evidently gratified ; but, to the sur- prise of all, appeared the next day without the decoration. To an inquiry, he answered that he could not wear such a distinction, when an older and an abler warrior was present. He had given the sash to the Wyandot chief. Round-head. Before crossing the De- troit, to attack Hull, Brock had sought from him topographical infor- mation. Tecumseh threw himself on the ground, took a sheet of bark, and with his knife traced a map of the country — its woods, hills, rivers, roads, morasses, — which the best officer in the army could not have surpassed. He was taciturn by habit, after the manner TECUMSEH — HIS ASPECT AND COSTUME. 235 of the Indians ; but when roused, his intellect and his imagination gave utterance to a flood of impassioned oratory.* The American delineator delights in depicting Tecumsch in a red coat, with a pair of tinsel epaulettes, such as append to the shoulders of unhappy British officers on the American stage. He has even been mustered into the service as a Brigadier-General. Without disrespect to his memory, it may be said that he did not hold a rank which he would have adorned. Contrary to the Indian nature, he had an aversion to external ornament. His invariable costume was the deer-skin coat and fringed pantaloons ; Indian moccasins on his feet, and an eagle-feather in the red kerchief wound round his head, composed his simple and soldierly accoutre- ments. Richard, Coeur de Lion, himself was not more contemptuous of spoil, or avid of glory. He was about five feet ten inches in height, with the eye of a hawk, and of gesture rapid ; of a well- knit, active figure ; dignified when composed, and possessing fea- tures of countenance which, even in death, indicated a lofty spirit. He was in the forty-fourth year of his age when he fell. He had, under severe trial, adhered with stem fidelity to the British ano".. He did not assimilate with Proctor. Still, in pros- perity and in adversity, with his counsel, or against it, to the last hour he was true as steel. True to King George , true to British m en, * The greater portion of the facts relating to the career and character Of Tecumseh, have been drawn from " Tapper's Life of Brock," and from the spirited sketch of the chief given therein, and drawn by Colonel Glegg, after, vards Military Secretary Lord Aylmer in Canada ; but, in the temporary absence of the book, and, in addition, recourse has been had to one of a series of papers on the war of 1812, which have lately appeared in a popular peri- odical — Harper's Magazine. It is to be regretted that these papers, cleverly written and artistically illustrated, should, in an attractive form, pander to the worst prejudices of an obsolete time, and should disseminate, near to our own firesides, and in the year of grace 1863, the most unjustifiable statements with respect to Indian violence and British complicity. li 236 OHRONIOLB OF THE WAR. true to his faith in a cause and m a people of whom he had but an indistinct idea, he died fearlessly in that faith, true to the last. His death sheds a halo on the story of a much abused and fast departing race. May the people of England and their descendants in Canada never forget this noble sacrifice, or the sacred obligation it imposes. It should be held as the seal of a great covenant. " And Jonathan said to David, the Lord be between thee and me, and between my seed and thy seed for ever." The last words of Tecumseh to Proctor, had been : " Father, have a big heart !" — and with his own big heart on his lips, he withdrew to direct his own people in the swamp on the left of the battle-field. The American horsemen in their advance divided into two bodies. The right division, under Lieut.-Colonel James Johnston, advanced upon the British line, threw out their dismounted riflemen, and charged with the effect related. The left division, under Colonel Richard M. Johnston, the elder brother, attacked the Indians in the swamp. An account given by a fair American writer is intel- ligible enough.* Richard Johnston and twenty of his men devoted themselves to draw the Indian fire. Nineteen out of the twenty- one fell, but the Indians, elated by their success, sprang from their covert and met, on even ground, a portion of the rifles who had been providently dismounted, and who, now pushed forward into the fight. Johnston, himself wounded in four places, but still in the saddle, was attacked by a prominent warrior, who wounded him a fifth time with a rifle shot. At the same moment, his horse, also wounded, stumbled forward, but did not throw his rider. Johnston had at his side a pistol loaded with four buckshot and a bullet. He saw the Chief rush at him with upraised tomahawk — levelled his pistol and fired. He remembered no more. He could discover nothing through the smoke— faint from loss of blood, he reeled out of the * Army and Navy of America, by Jacob E. Neff, M.D., p. 566. TECUMSEH — HIS ASPECT AND COSTUME. 287 saddle, and was borae almost lifeless from the spot. He was told afterwards, that he had killed Tecumseh. The Colonel gave his story simply and not boastfully, but others scrambled for credit where a brave man found cause for pain. There is every reason to believe that Johnston did slay Tecumseh. On his body was found the marks of four buckshots and a bullet. These wounds had caused his death. From thoir direction they must have been inflicted from above — as from a man on horseback. Johnston was the only man on horseback in that part of the field.* And so died as brave and as true a soldier of England as ever trod the heather of the Highlands or the wealds of Kent. He completes the tale of the immortal four, who, to the end of time, will hold up in the face of all nations, the young escutcheon of Canada. Four more chivalrous supporters of a national trophy have never before adorned the pages of History or the triumphs of Sculpture, than Wolfe and Montcalm— Brock and'Tecumseh. It is painful to be compelled to record the disgraceful fact, that the body of the Indian hero was treated with foul indignity. It is believed, that the inanimate corse was scalped, and it was braggishly asserted by the Kentucky men, that strips flayed from his skin had been used as razor straps.f Scotchmen of the present day blush • Battle of the Thames. "This actiea fought in October, 1813, was the last and most complete defeat of the Savages of the North- Western Lakes. Tecumseh was supposed to have fallen by the hand of Colonel Johnston, of Kentucky ; but that veteran soldier has himself said, that all he could say, was : when attacked by the Chief, he fired, and when the smoke cleared away, the Indian lay dead before him. The popular account attributes the deadly aim and wound to one Mason, a native of the county of Wexford, Ireland, who though a grandfather, aged four-score, volunteered his services on that expedi- tion. He had been an old revolutionary soldier, and fought in the ranks with his own sons — themselves men of middle age."— History of the Irish Settlers in North America, by Thomas dHArq/ McGee. t '* The Indian hero, Tecumseh, after being killed, was literally flayed in part by the Americans, and his skin carried off as a trophy." Vide Appendix- Bishop Strachan's Letter. 288 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. yihan told, that after the battle of Sterling— five centuries and a a half ago, — their countrymen made whip-thongs of the hide of Crossingham, the English Treasurer; and generations of Americans will remember, with greater shame, an act of equal barbarism, com- mitted, in a refined age, by a Puritan people, with even less show of provocation. CHAP. XXIII. Battle of tho Thames— 11b cflbct— In the States— In Canada. Sir George Prevost. Demon* Btratlon on Niagara. Vincent concentrates at Burlington Heights. American projects on Montreal. Generals Wilkinson and Uampton. Plan of attaolc ft'om tho West and ftom Lake Champlain. Uampton advances to Odelltown— Encountered by Do Sala* bcrry-Kotires— Followed to the Fonr Corners. Career of Do Salabcrry— Attempts to Surprise the Americans— Discovered— Falls back on the lino of Chatoauguay. Propa- rations for defence. Reports on tho battle by tho American Adijutant-Gonoral, King. The catastroplte of the Thames was a source of intense exulta- tion to the American government and people. " lo triumphe " resounded through the land. It had ohUterated the disaster of Hull. It had restored the Western country, the territory of Michigan, and the Fort of Detroit, to the American arms. It had cowed the Indians. Cannon, the trophies of Burgoyne and Saratoga, which had been re-captured by Brock, were re-taken and paraded, crowned with flowers. The remnants of a British regiment were marched with triumphal pomp through the bourgades of the West, and though entitled to the treatment usually accorded to prisoners of war, had been ignominiously herded with the in- mates of a local Penitentiary.* British officers, confined in the cells at Frankfort in Kentucky, had leisure to study the philosophy of institutions, which award the same penalty for shooting a wife or stealing a negress. To crown all, it elevated Shelby and Johnston to the rank of heroes, and, in after years, made General Harrison President of the United States. * James, Vol. II, p. 299. 240 CHBONICLE OF THE WAR. It fell as a heavy blow upon the British, but it caused no dis- couragement among the people of Canada. It roused much indig- nation, and caused a renewed outburst of dogged resolution, but the immediate advantage to the Americans was immense. It gave them undisputed possession of the waters of Lake Erie and Lake Huron. It reheved them from all apprehension on their Western frontier, and enabled the Cabinet of Washington to concentrate their energies and their forces on the long contemplated project against Montreal. In retracing our steps from West to East, we may be allowed to express surprise, that Harrison had not followed vigorously in the same direction, and treading with his Kentucky horse on the retreating footsteps of Proctor, reached, simultaneously, with him his refuge at Ancaster. The position of Burlington Heights might thus have been assailed on all sides, by land and lake, for speedy means of communication with Chauncey and his fleet at Niagara could easily have been found, and the British force advanced on the Niagara frontier, would have been placed between two fires ; and cut off from reinforcements and supply, would have been ex- posed to the fate which had just befallen the army of the West, or the Right Division. For, be it remembered, that after the successful actions at Stoney Creek and the Beaver Dam, the British advanced posts had occupied the latter position, and the American forces on Canadian soil, though they held no more than the ground they stood on, still fringed the whole Niagara frontier between Fort George and Fort Erie, and that Commodore Chauncey occupied the safe and convenient refuge of the harbour mouth of the Biver Niagara. In the interval between the engagement at Stoney Creek, and the battle of the Thames, Sir George Pre vest had made a tour of inspection in Upper Canada, and had made bold to attempt a demonstration, as it was afterwards called, on the works held by the Americans at DEMONSTRATION ON FORT GEORGE. 241 Fort George. If this demonstration meant anything it must have contemplated the storming and the capture of Fort George, for the idea of a purposeless demonstration cannot be entertained. And yet the capture of this work would have resulted in exposing the town of Newark and the captors themselves, in an inferior position, to the powerful fire of Fort Niagara ; while the occupation of Fort George by the Americans weakened the American army in the field, and kept a large detachment of good troops uselessly en- trapped upon the Canadian frontier. Nevertheless, on the 24th August, Sir George made a formal attack upon this post, drove in the pickets, looked the defences in the face, and retired, as Veritas says : — The King of France, with forty thousand men, Walked up the hill, and then, walked down again. Sir George appears to have been afflicted with a strange infir- mity of military purpose. His error consisted, not so much in the failure of the attempt, as in attempting at all, either without plan, or without resolution. To woo a Queen, or to command victory requires a daring spirit : — » Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall, If thy heart fail thee, climb not at all." .The Governor General returned to Kuigston and to Montreal, taking with him De Rottenburg, — the Lieutenant Governor, — in his train, and having done little to infuse courage and confidence, or prepare the minds of men to encounter the trials to come. On receipt of the intelligence of Proctor's disaster, General Vincent prudently withdrew from St. David's and the Beaver Dam, and again concentrated his forces at Burlington Heights. He also called in his outposts from Long Point on Lake Erie and made every preparation for a desperate struggle with Harrison. The universal feeling at this moment was " no surrender," and yet 242 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. there can be no doubt, but that fears which acquired strength as they flew, had magnified the danger to such an extent at Quebec, that orders were given at this critical moment, for the complete evacuation of all Canada, west of Kingston. Oflficers of rank and zeal, among whom the most conspicuous was Sir John Harvey, interfered to avert a measure pregnant with ruin, but so sure was the American Government that Vincent would save the " kernel " and Harrison only find the " shell" that they ordered their suc- cessful General back to Detroit, and by the aid of Perry's fleet threw the " Conqueror of the Thames " and his army on the Niagara frontier, in support of the combined operations planned from Sackett's Harbour and Lake Champlain on Montreal. Thus, by degrees, Montreal became the grand centre of Ameri- can strategy. Immense preparations had been made for a coup •de/oudre which was to terminate the campaign in a blaze of red •lights with melodramatic effects. In the words of an American writer of no mean rank, the Hon. B. Gardinier of New York, once ;a Member of Congress :* " The Democrats concerted a grand •campaign. The whole season was employed in tremendous prepar rations. Public expectation was perpetually on the stretch. The Secretary of War was in the vicinity of the armies. Perry had se- cured Lake Erie. Chauncey had hemmed in Yeo. Wilkinson sounded his bugle. Hampton rose in his strength. From East to West was nothing heard but the dreadful note of preparation and the ^easy capture of Montreal. Prom both armies came letters teeming ^with assurances of victory. Victory was the cry of a thousand trumpets."! And again, from the same writer, we have an enume- ration of the forces prepared for the invasion. " When Wilkinson lay at Grenadier Island, the army of the North amounted to * From the " Canadian Inspector," being an answer to Veritas, pp. 24, 25. t 'Examiner, p. 317. WILKINSON AND HAMPTON. — ADVANCE ON MONTREAL. 243 10,000 men. Hampton had 5,000, which with 6,000 militia augmented the force destined to reduce Lower Canada to 21,000 men. Opposed to this army were 5,000 regulars — 2,000 of which were in Upper Canada." * This writer was not far wrong in his estimate of the relative strength of the British and American forces. The original plan of the American campaign, as enjoined on General "Wilkinson, had embraced the surprise and capture of Kingston and the seizure of Prescott — as a whet to a growing appetite, only to be appeased by the conquest of Montreal.f General Hampton having assembled his strength at Plattsburg was directed to penetrate across the Seigniory of Beauhamois, emerge on the shores of the St. Lawrence, and occupy the coast of Lake St. Louis between the mouth of the Chateauguay and the Indian Village of Caughnawaga. From hence he could at any time unite with Wilkinson on the Island of Montreal, between St. Ann's and Pointe Claire. The Isle Perrot was regarded as a point d^appui^ and intended so to be held, and the flotilla which had transported Wilkinson was prepared to aid in effecting the junction. This conjoint operation followed in the footsteps of its military predecessors. Like Amherst in 1760, and Montgomery in 1775, Wilkinson and Hampton manoeuvred to attack Montreal on its most accessible side. Then, as now, Mon- treal was not to be assailed in front with impunity. From Lachine down to the Island of St. Helen's, the rapids of the River St. Lawrence — a stream, very wide — ^in some places, very shallow, abounding in rocky reefs, and in rapid currents — and impassable, except in a class of vessels which can not be extemporized — present obstacles which, with a little precaution, may be made insurmountable. • Examiner, p. 91, Vol. II. t Armstrong. Vide Letter, dated War Department, Saokett's Harbour, Sept. 22, 1813. Appendix, Vol. II, p. 201. 244 CHBONICLB OP THE WAR. '5t Now, as then, no enemy can cross the River St. Lawrence beloAV the Island of St. Helen's, until he has subjugated the South shore, and has scuttled the gunboats of England. These are some of the conditions precedent of a passage of this great river in summer. In winter the navigation will take care of itself. The American War Department was well aware that if, by a sudden irruption, they could occupy the fertile .and inviting valley of the Richelieu, seize Sorel, and cross the St. Lawrence, they would, hazardously, place an immense river between themselves and their supplies ; expose their army to attack both from Quebec and Montreal, and iimie every available war-ship of England to inter- rupt reinforcements and intercept retreat. They eschewed there- fore any line of advance which would put them on the St. Lawrence below Montreal. To assail the city in front was impracticable without the aid of boats of a description which is not portable, and the last, and, perhaps only, practicable, expedient, was a descent on the Island from the West and an advance upon the city by the olden route of Lachine. It is not necessary to dwell further here, upon what, when occasion serves, will be shown hereafter, that, such being the unavoidable conditions of an advance on Montreal, the facilities of defence, developed by the necessities of the attack, if rightly improved, render Montreal a military position of great strength, resembling to a certain extent Vicksburg on the Mis- sisippi — ^but in many respects superior. These considerations, perfectly well understood by every in- structed officer in the American service, led to the only feasible scheme of attack, had the execution been equal to the plan. The combined operation was well designed, and the better, that « either force, under Hampton or under Wilkinson, was in itself, more than sufficient in numbers and equipment to have attamed the object in view. Wilkinson's force was 10,000 men — infantry, cavalry, and artillery, admirably supplied and transported by COLONEL DE SALABERRY. 245 water. The men landed and fought in light marching order — the very knapsacks were cared for in the boats. Hampton by his own account had with him " 4,000 effective infantry and a well- appointed train of artillery." * And then, without speaking of cavalry, by which we knoAV that he was accompanied, and without taking into account the 6,000 militia which, from the best Ameri- can authority, we also know, that he had at his disposal, there can be no question, but that the American invading force from the Plattsburg frontier came up to the strength assigned to it by Sir George Prevost in his Despatch of the 30th October, — that is to say, to 7,200 combatants. To encounter these combined forces, were dispersed below Kingston, on the line of the St. Lawrence, and in the District of Montreal, over a surface of at least 300 miles — in garrison, in camp — on outpost and in hospital some 3,000 troops, regular and militia. Of this force 1,600 men were in line on the South of the St. Lawrence, to repel Hampton's invasion. The advanced column, watching the frontier, consisted of 350 men. The renewed preparations at Burlington in Vermont, and at Plattsburg in the State of New York had, from an early period in the season, attracted attention in Lower Canada. These prepafa- tions could have no other object in view than an irruption on Montreal, through that part of the District of Montreal lying west of the river Richelieu. Isle aux Noix — St. John's and Chambly — were the garrisoned points directly menaced — but garrisons can rarely do more than protect the posts they occupy ; and it was necessary to provide for the observation as well as the defence of an extended frontier. To this advanced column, there- fore, scattered in a widely extended order, was confided the safety of the frontier. It was commanded by Colonel de Salaberry. It Letter to Secretary of War, 12th October, 1813. 246 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. :. became the duty of this officer to anticipate irruption or sortie, and to detect from the sound and flash of the distant gun the intended course of the projectile. As early as September, the American General Hampton had transported across Lake Champlain the force collected at Burling- ton, and at the head of 5,000 men had attempted an mvasion of the District of Montreal. On the 29th September he had des- patched his Slite under Majors Snelling and Hamilton to surprise an outlying picket at Odelltown. This was a hamlet buried in the dense forest, which for many leagues, in those days, covered the frontier. All the roads and pathways through the " bush " had been cut up, obstructed by dbattia^ and made impassable, during the preceding campaign by de Salaberry and his axe-men ; still had Hampton pushed forward vigorously, his riflemen might have held the outskirts of the woodland, while his pioneers cleared away the obstacles in their rear. Three or four leagues of black-ash swamp once surmounted, and he would have emerged among the farms and populous parishes of an open and cultivated plain. But, both parties of the Slite were misled or misdirected. The attack upon the picket was but partially successful — the alarm was given -^the abattis were manned by a few frontier Light Infantry and by a handful of Indians under Captain Mailloux, who multiplied their number by an incessant fusilade, while yells of horrid augury reverberated through the gloom. These brave men held their own, until they were reinforced by the flank companies of the 4th Bat- talion of the embodied militia under Major Perrault * and by the Canadian Voltigeurs commanded by Colonel de Salaberry. This indefatigable officer was Hampton's fate ; — Ha I 'Who comes here ? Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil, That makes my blood cold, and my hair to stand ? Speak to me. What art thou 7 Vide p. 8ff. FRENCH FAMILIES OF NOBLE DESCENT. 247 Ghott. Thy OTil spirit, Brutus I Brutus. Why com'st thou 7 Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. and, on the pretext of want of water, in a very wet countmdy, a very wet season, Hampton withdrew from Odelltown — fell back on his own frontier, and moved his force westward, to find his Philippi on the banks of the Ghateauguay. Charles Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, Seigneur of Chambly and Beau Lac, was descended from a noble Basque family — of which a brave cadet had earned renown and rich feudal posses- sions under the French Crown, in Canada.* He was one of that chivalrous race of men, whose very names embellish Canadian story with picturesque illustrations. The younger branches of many noble French houses had sought service and settlement in a country peculiarly adapted to the genius and traditions of men to whom arms were the only career, and with whom the sword was the guidon to fortune. The process of French colonization in Canada had been unavoidably military. The cultivator of the soil was in ceaseless contest with the savagery of nature and of man. He could never abandon the sword for the plough-share. He was compelled to use both, with alternate hand. The feudal system of mediaeval France was well calculated to encounter this condition of things. The same martial polity, which had, five centuries before, inspired the " Assizes de Jerusalem," engrafted its proto- type the " Coutume de Paris " on the soil of Canada. The Saracen in the East, and the Savage in the West, would own no obedience but to the mailed hand. This military code provided at once for • Of the family of the brave Colonel de Salaberry, O.B., the eldest son, Alphonse, is Adjutant General of Militia for Lower Canada. Louis, the second son, lives at Chambly. Charles, the third, is colonel of a regiment of Volun- teers in the district of Quebec. Of the ladies of his family, one daughter is the widow of the late Augustus Hatt, Esquire, and now resides at Sorel. 248 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. colonization and defence, and harmonized with the antique associa- tions of the colonists. " In 1598 Henry of Beam authorized the granting of fiefs, chatellaincs, and baronies in Canada to men of gentle blood for the tutelage and defence of the country." * And the Bearnoise or Basque family of de Salaberry profited, and not unworthily, by the wise liberality of their fellow countryman. Their father and the grandfather of Colonel de Salaberry had borne the " panache blanche " in full front of the fight against the standard of England, but from the hour when, by sacred treaty, their allegiance had been transferred to the sceptre of England, they bowed reverently to the last behest of their native Prince, and, at his command, gave " foi et hommage " to the British Crown.f And to that great obligation they, and the mass of their fellow countrymen, have ever been nobly faithful since. De Sala- berry and three brothers took service in the British army. Two died under the blazing sun of Hindostan, — one fell in the deadly breach of Badajos. Our Canadian hero served in the West Indies. He had commanded the Grenadier Company of the 60th regiment, 4th battalion, in many fierce engagements. He distinguished himself in 1795 at the conquest of Martinique, and had survived the miasmata of Walcheren. On returning to Canada he tui*ned • Garneau, Vol. I, p. 182. t In a note to Mr. J. M. Lemoyne's interesting collection, entitled " Maple Leaves," we find the following record of French Canadian services to the British Crown twenty-fire years after the Conquest : — " A party of distinguished Canadians on the 8th June, 1775, offered their services to Major Preston in Montreal to retake Fort St. John from the Ameri- cans, and did so on the 20th June, placing it in the hands of a detachment of the 7th Regiment, or Royal Fusiliers, under Captain Kineer. They were the Chevaliers de Belestre, de Longueuil, de Lotbiniere, de Rouville, de Boucherville, de Lacorne, de La Bruiere, de St. Ours, de Levy, Pertuis, Hervieux, Gamelin, de Montigny, d'Eschambault, and others. For this service. General Carleton publicly thanked them. In September of the same year, this party, with the SKIRMISH AT THE FOUR CORNERS. 249 his military experience to goed account, and raised the corps of Canadian Voltigeurs. At the head of this corps, as has been already related, with the advance of Colonel D'Echarabault ho had, in the campaign of the preceding year, repulsed the first attempt made by Dearborn on the debateablc ground of La Cole. On Hampton's retirement from Odelltown he was promptly followed up. Salaberry overtook him at the Four Corners, or cross roads of the Chateauguay — via qud se findit in amArts— about five miles within the American frontier, and near the source of the river. Here an attempt was made to surprise the American camp, which failed through the accidental discharge of a musket, when Salaberry, finding himself to be discovered, collected about fifty of his Voltigeurs, and a handful of Indians, and made a vociferous onset on the advanced detachment of the enemy, con- sisting of about 800 men. The Americans fell back in confusion, and enabled him to withdraw without loss. Thpse small affairs had infused mutual confidence into the commander, and his men, and contributed to the great success which was shortly to follow. Under the smoke of this light skirmish, dc Salaberry fell back on his supports, following the descending course of the Chateau- assistance of a number of Volunteers, from Quebec and Three Rivers, Messieurs de Montisson, Duchesnay, de Rigouville, de Salaberry, de Tonancour, Beaubien, de Musseau, Moquin, Lamarque, Fauchier, and others, started for St. John's near Montreal, to relieve the Tth and 26th Regiments, then in charge of the fort; and who expected a siege; but after being beleaguered, the fort surren- dered on the 2nd November to Gen. Montgomery. The Canadians and the two regiments were carried away prisoners of war— -Congress refusing to exchange the Canadians 'they being too much attached to the English Government, and too influential in their own country.' Two — Messieurs de Montesson and de Rigouville — died prisoners of war. De Lacorne, Pertuis, and Beaubien had been killed during the siege. De Lotbiniere had an arm shot off. De Salaberry was twice wounded."— Pp. 66, 6T. 250 OHROmOLB OF THE WAR. guay. He knew the ground thoroughly, having long before examined it, with the foresight of one charged with the safety of the outposts of the army. He could now see the course of the projectile. He had indeed already anticipated its line of flight, and was already prepared to counteract the blow. For some days previous he had been occu- pied in choosing his positions and in fortifying them with the ready materials the Canadian forest offers. His dispositions for this purpose were made with great judgment. It is impossible not to be struck by the meagreness of detail which characterizes both British and American narratives of this important action — but to the American the subject was not a pleasant one, and to the English writer not very intelligible. The scene of action was remote from the daily track of travel and of strife. It was neither seen nor sought. The battle was fought by French Canadian militiarmen. These men dispersed to their homes — doubtless they " fought their battles o*er again " by their own fire-sides, but the English writer had not much opportunity to hear from their lips the changes of the fight. The Despatch of Sir George Prevost dwells more upon his own slight intervention at the close of the action than upon the incidents of the contest. The report of the American Adjutant General, King, is curt and conclusive : " 25th October. The plan of the attack adopted by the General was to detach Colonel Purdy with the Slite and the 1st Brigade, forming the most efiScient part of the army, across the river ; and by a night march gain the fording place on the left of the enemy's line, re-cross the river at that point, and at dawn of day attack the enemy's rear ; wlule Izzard's Brigade, under his own direction, should pursue the march, and at the same hour, attack it in front. The whole of this plan miscarried shamefully; SKIRMISH AT THE FOUR CORNERS. 251 Purdy's column, probably misled, fell into an ambuscade, and was quickly beaten and routed ; and that of Izzard, after a few dis- charges, was ordered to retreat." And this report is a fiur intro- duction to a more detailed story of the fight. .• . ,- I,.. CIIAP. XXIV. story of Cliatcati)?iiay. The " Tomoin ootilairo." Hampton advancos from Four Corners, Do i^aliibt'rry facoA right about, and returna to moot iiim. First roiicoiitru— llult:)— Tlirows up bri'aHtworkjt and abattis. DiDpositton of dofoiidors— Ford in tiio rear. Anu>rican attack on abattiii— Impracticablo. Attack on flank and rear, partially #uc- co88i\il— Kopulsod— Itrokon by flank Are. Kutroating Amuricana tiro ou each other. Hampton, daunted, withdraws from front of abattis and rotnnits. Forco engaged. Brilliant conduct of offlcers and mon. Honour to Dc Salaberry. It is always satisfactory that the party most interested should be enabled to tell his own story, and by a fortunate occurrence, this source of satisfaction has been supplied. The Redacteur of the " Courier d'Ottawa," Dr. L. E. Dorion, has re-produced most opportunely the narrative of a " Temoin oculairc," dated 3rd November, 1813. This narrative appears to have been pubUshed in some of the journals of the day. If a guess may be hazarded as to the authorship, it might be, perhaps not unjustly, ascribed to the late Commander Jacques Viger of Montreal. Ample in detail and minute in circumstance, it gives, with all the proverbial ease of the French raconteur, incidents which correspond in the mam with the relations of more pretentious writers. The following account of the Battle of Chateauguay will be little more than the story told by the " Temoin oculaire " done into English. The original will be found in the Appendix. The American army at the Four Corners, under Hampton, after having for some time attracted the attention of our troops, on the DESCRIPTION OF GROUND. — PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE. 258 2l8t October moved direct on our frontier. That same afternoon about 4 p.m. his advanced guard drove in our advanced videttes. They were thrown out to a place called " Piper Road," about I ten miles from the church at Chateau^uay. Major Henry, of the Boauharnoia militia, in command at the English River, notified Major General de Watteville, who ordered up, at once, the two companies of the 5th Incorporated Militia, commanded by Captains Lcvcsfpic and Dobartzch, and about two hundred men of the Militia de Beauharnois. This force advanced about two leagues until, at nightfall, it halted at the extremity of a thick wood into which it would at that moment have been imprudent to penetrate. At daybreak they were joined by Colonel de Salaberry with his Voltigeurs and Captain Fergusson's Light Company of the Cana- dian Fcnciblcs. Thus composed, de Salaberry pushed on, along the left bank of the river, about a league, and there encountered a patrol of the enemy. He imtantly halted his force. He had some weeks before carefully reconnoitred this very ground, and knew that the whole course of the river presented no better posi- tion. The forest was intersected by ravines which drained a swamp on his right, and fell into the river which covered his left. Upon four of these ravines, which were like so many moats, fossSs, in his front, he threw up breastworks. The three first lines were distant perhaps 200 yards from each other. The fourth was half a mile in the rear, and commanded a ford, by which an assailant coming from the right bank of the Chateauguay might have got into his rear. It was most important to guarantee this, the weak point of the position. Upon each of these lines of defence a parapet of logs was constructed, which extended into the tangled swamp on the right ; but the front line of all, folloAving the sinuosi- ties of the ravine in front, formed almost an obtuse angle to the right of the road, and of the whole position. This whole day — the 22nd — was employed vigorously in strengthening these works, 254 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. which in strength, natural and artificial, could not be surpassed. They had also the advantage of compelling the assailant to advance to the attack through a wilderness, remote from his supplies, while our troops had all they required, and were close upon their supports in the rear. The right bank of the river was covered by a thick forest. In the rear, at the ford, care was taken to post about sixty men of the Beauharnois militia. Nor did the Colonel limit his precautions to the works above spoken of. To secure himself to the utmost, he detached a party of thirty axe-men of the division of Beauharnois to destroy every bridge within a league and a half of his fix)nt. And about a mile ahead of the front line of defence above described, he threw down a formidable ahattis of trees, with the branches extending out- wards, and reaching from the bank of the river on his left, three or four arpents across the front to a mvanne or swamp on the right, which was almost impassable. Thus the four inner lines were effectually covered, and the American artillery, known to number at least ten guns, was rendered useless. They could not be brought into action. To these admirable arrangements, as much as to the heroism of his men, must be ascribed the brilliant results which ensued, "and to the gallant de Salaberry, alone, must be ascribed the choice of the ground and the dispositions made. On the 22nd, Major General de Watteville visited the outposts and approved entirely of the precautions taken, but the labour of strengthening the position continued without intermission up to the 25th September. When at about 10 a.m. the American skir- mishers opened on the cibaUit^ Lieutenant Guy of the Voltigeurs, who was in front with about twenty of his men, fell back, and was supported by Lieutenant Johnson of the* same re^ment, in charge of the picket, which protected the fatigue party. After a sharp AMERICAN ADVANCE — ABATTIS AND FORD. 255 I exchange of musketry, the labourers retired within, — the covering party to the front of the ahattis. At this moment, de Salaberry, who had heard the first firing, rode up from the front line of defences. He brought with him three companies of the Canadian Fencibles under Fergusson, which deployed at once on the right rear of the abattis. The company of Captain J. B. Duchesnay was extended on the left, while the company of Captain Jucherau Duchesnay occupied, en potence^ a position on the left rear among the trees on the bank of the river, so as to take the enemy in flank if they attempted to carry the ford in the rear, held by the Beauhamois militia. It should be observed here, that in this part of its course, and between the abattis and the ford, the river made a curve or bow, so abrupt, that at the re-entering elbow of the curve, the fire of the defenders flanked the ford in support of the fire in front. Then de Salaberry, who had already twice durmg this campaign, tested the American metal — who had longed for another trial — saw his opportunity, and profited by it. He was in the centre of the line — the companies of Fergusson, L'Ecuyer, and deBartzch on his right. In the swamp and wood lay Captain Lamothe and a corps of Indians ; on the left and left rear the compames of the two Duchesnay's. The pi ce of these troops taken from the first and second lines of defence was supplied from the third and fourth by the Canadian Fencible regiment, under Colonel Macdonell of Ogdensburg fame. While these arrangements were being made with precision and rapidity, the enemy debouched from the wood into a large open space in front of the abattis. On the left bank of the river Hampton had the supreme command : under him served General Izzard, at the head of the 10th, the 31st, and other regiments, amounting to 3,000— or 3,600 men with three squadrons of cavalry and four guns — and yet the artillery was not brought into 256 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. action. About 1,500 men were thrown on the right bank of the river under Colonel Purdy to force its way through the buah, and take the Canadian force, in reserve, at the ford below. The enemy debouched on the plain in front of de Salaberry in column, and advanced in this formation close to the abattia, exposing the head of his narrow line to a fire in front, and his flank to the Indians and tirailleurs in the bush and swamp. This was his moment. An American oflBcer had ridden forward, and had attempted to harangue the troops in French. Salaberry seized a rifle, fired, and the orator fell. At the same moment his bugler sounded the order to fire, and a blaze of musketry burst from the ahattis and the swamp. The column halted, paused for a moment, made a turn to the left, formed line, and opened a vigorous fusilade — but the fire of the left was, by this movement, thrown into the wood, where it had but little efiect. Not so with the fire of the right, which compelled our pickets to retire mthin the ahattis. The enemy mistook this falling back for a flight, and raised a great shout, which we returned with interest, and it was ail they got from- us, for they never had possession of one inch of the abattis. While the cheers on the one side were re-echoed by cheers on the other, taken up by the troops in our rear, suddenly Salaberry ordered all our bugles to sound, to augment in imagina- sion the strength of our force. The ruse had this effect. We learnt from prisoners afterwards that they had estimated our force at 6,000 or 7,000 men. But for all the shouting and bugling, the musketry fire never ceased. It was so hot and uninterrupted, that the enemy never attempted to carry the abattis. After a time their fire slackened, and they appeared to await other events — they looked to the other side of the river. Here the bugles indicated an advance, and Colonel Macdonell, eager to add to the laurels he had won at Ogdcnsburg, moved rapidly in the direction of the fire with two companies from the 11 ATTACK AT THB FORD— AMERICAN REPULSE. 257 first and second line of retrenchments under Captain Levesque. The Beauharnois militia, defending the ford, had been attacked by Purdy in superior force, and had been compelled to retire. Mac- donell ordered Captain Daly with his company of the oth Incor- porated to cross the ford in their support. At this moment de Salaberry, perceiving the fire in his front to relax, and the shouts of the combatants and the fire of musketry to increase on his left flank and rear, saw, at once, that a diversion was about to be operated at the ford, and betook himself to his left where the company of Juchereau du Chesnay was drawn up en potence, and came down to the river just as Daly crossed the stream. From a stump, he watched the adva i 3e of the enemy with a field glass, exposed the while to a heavy fiio, and gave words of encouragement to Captain Daly as he waded through the water. This gallant officer got his men into order and most bravely thrust the enemy home. They fell back, rallied and reformed, and opened a well-sustained fire. Daly was over-matched. lie and his brave Canadians slowly fell back. He had been wounded in the advance, and while retiring, while encouraging his men by word and example, he was wounded a second time and fell. Captain Bruyere of the Milice de Beauharnois was also wounded at tiie same time. Their men, unequal in numbers, were compelled to recede, slowly, and with face to the foe, under the command of the gallant Lieutenant Schiller, and once more was heard the joyful shouts and jeers of the advancing enemy — but their exultation was brief — for rushing forward, unobservant of the company formed en potence on the other side of the river, they became suddenly exposed to a crushing fire in flank, which at short distance arrest- ed their march and threw them into utter confusion. Vain was the attempt to rally — they broke and scrambled back into the bush. There, it is believed, that advancing parties fired upon their retiring comrades, mistaking them for enemies. On the 258 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. other hand, Hampton, learning that his stratagem had failed, and that the attack on the ford, on which he had so much relied, had resulted so disastrously, drew off his left attack, which for an hour had been inactive, though incessantly persecuted by our skir- mishers from the abattia. The Canadian troops remained in position, and slept that night on the ground on which they had fought. In the morning, being reinforced by the company of Voltigeurs under Captain de Rouville and the grenadiers of Captain Levesque of the oth Incorporated and sixty of the Beauharnois Division, de Salaberry confided to Colonel Macdonell the defence of the abattis against any renewed attack, and pushed forward his videttes cautiously — incredulous of Hampton's retreat. About twenty prisoners were taken, and the line of flight was indicated by muskets, knapsacks, drums, and provisions strewed in the way. Forty dead bodies were interred by our people, many graves were found, and notably, those of two oflficers of distinction, buried by their own men. The wounded were carried off, but we knew after- wards that the enemy estimated their own loss hora de combat at upwards of one hundred. This brilliant achievement cost the Canadian force, two k' ^ed, sixteen wounded. Among the officers most prominent on this occasion — and all did theii duty nobly — were Captains Fergusson, de Bartzch,* and Levesque of the 5th ; Captain L'Ecuyer of the * Captain de Bartzch, of the Voltigears, in after years the Hon.P.D. de Bartzch, of St. Charles on the river Richelieu, Seigneur of the Seigniory of that name, •ud as member of the Assembly and of the Legislative Council, an actirr able, and eloquent advocate of reform, so long as reform esichewed revela- tion — has bequeathed an honourable name to a family who, in the bluom of life, recall pleasant recollections of the promise of the bud. The eldest daugh- ter of this gentleman married the Hon. Lewis T. Drummond, late Attornej Qeneral for Lower Canada. The second is the wife of the Hi>n. Gornwallic Monk, Judge of the Superior Court. The fourth married the Count de Rotter- CAPTAIN DB BARTZCH — THE DU CHESNAYS. 259 Voltigeurs ; the two du Chesnays of the Voltigeurs,* who both dis- tinguished themselves by their sang froid and precision in the execution of difficult manoeuvres. To these must be added the of Voltigeurs tain Lovesque s Division, de (fence of the [ forward hie treat. About was indicated ad in the way. y graves were on, buried by ve knew after- tie combat at 3e, two k' ^ed, ninent on this ius Fergusson, Ecuyer of the i.P.D. de BarUch, )ry of that name, ouncil, an actitf esjchewed revoln- in the bloom of he eldest duugh- d, late Attorney Hi»n. Cornwallif Count de Rottei- mund, a Polish exile and savant; and the third M. de Kierzkowski, son of the late Lieiitenant-Gencral Kierzkowski, an old and distinguished officer in the lervice of Russia. This gentleman has been returned, and held a seat, in both branches of the Canadian Legislature, aa a member of the House of Assembly and member of the Legislative Council, ad unguom Faotus homo,— non ut magis alter, amicus. * The Brothers du Chesnay, whose names will ever stand in our Canadian storj as the foremost in this conflict — the Ajaces of the fight, aet O0UV /cAeof eaaerat Kaf aiav, were of an old family. Their first settlement in Canada dates from 1640. The family name is Juchereau de St. Denis, — du Chesnay (of the oak grove) being the designation of a fief which became the appanage of a younger branch bearing the patronymic of Juchereau. One of the two brothers, Juchereaa du Chesnay, had served the British crown for some years in the 60th regiment —on foreign stations — and on the death of his father, retired from active service, in the interests of his estate and of his family. But the hereditary passion was inextinguishable. On the first sound of war he transferred to the militia the knowledge he had acquired in the line. He raised a compa'hy in the Canadian Voltigeurs, and during the war was constantly on the frontier. He was, as given in the text, actively engaged at Chateauguay. He was subsequently appointed Deputy Adjutant General of iMilitia and Superintendent of the Indian Department. His devotion to the Throne has descended as an heir-loom to those, whose friendship is a pleasure, and a pride to the contemporary annalist. His surviving children are the Hon. Juchereau du Chesnay, M.L.C., and Phi- lippe, now Provincial Aide-de-Camp and Lieutenant-Colonel, Militia. Of hii daughters, the eldest is the widow of the late Hon. Roch d>! St. Ours, M.L.C., formerly Sheriff of the District of Montreal, and the representative of one of the oldest and best families in French Canada. Tlie second is the wife of T. 0. Campbell, Esquire, O.B., late Major in the 7th Hussars, Seigneur of St. Hilaire de Rouville, and Colonel, Militia. And the third is married to Lieu- tenant-Colonel Ermatinger, who earned for himself, rank, and for Canada, distinction, in the service of Spain, and is now one of the Inspecting Field Officsrs of Militia of the Province. The secoad brother, better known as the " Chevalier" du Chesnay, was also 260 CHRONICLE OF THB WAR. gallant Captain Daly * of the Canadian Foncibles and Bruyere of the Chateauguay Chasseurs, both of whom were wounded. Captain Lamothe made the most of his handful of savages. Lieu- tenants Pinguetjf of the Light Infantry ; Guy, Johnson, Powell, and Hebben of the Voltigeurs ; Schiller, of Daly's company, — all io the British service, previous to the war of 1812. On the outbreak of the contest he devoted his services to his country's cause, raised a company of Voltigeurs, and at Chateauguay, and on all other occasions, upheld, at the head of his French fellow countrymen, the honour of the British flag. A ne- phew, Narcisse, the son of an elder brother Antoine, a lad of 16 years of age, was also in the field at Chateauguay, actually engaged. " Those who were there behaved themselves so loyally that their heirs to this day are honoured for their sake." Froissart, Vol. II, p. 220. * Joseph Daly, Esquire, of Montreal, H.M. agent for emigrants, is a nephew of this brave officer. t Captain Pinguet. — This officer appears to have been a Quebecquois. Since writing the above, there has appeared in a Feuilleton, published in Quebec, and entitled "Soirees Canadiennes," two letters, indited by Captain Pinguet, one shortly before, and the other, immediately after the Battle of Chateauguay. In the second he says : <* O'^tait le dimauche que I'abattis fut commence, et le mardi, comme les bikcheura finissaient quelque chose qui manquait, un parti de diz homnles de notre compagnie et de vingt des Voltigeurs, qui ^taient en avant pour prot6ger les travaillants, aper(;urent I'avant-garde de I'ennemi qui s'avan^ait. • • « Nousavions & combattre contre deux mille hommes de pied et deux-cents hommes de cavalerie ; nous ne perdions pas de temps ; nos soldats ont tir^ entre trente-cinq et quarante cartouches, et en si bonne direction que les prisonniers que nous ftmes le lendemain disaient que nos balles passaient toutes & I'^galit^, soit de la tdte, soit de la poitrine. Notre compagnie seole s'est battue U environ trois-quarts d'heure avant que de recevoir du renfort. ***** And to show that campaigning in Canada is not a mere promenade militaire, may be added : " Apres la bataille, on nous a ramen^s dans nos retranchements, oH nous avons pass^ huit jours, & la pluie, au ftoid, sans feu et sans couvertures ; de U, nous sommes descendus anz maisona, oil nous itions presque aussi mal que dans les bois ; nous y avons 6t6 huit jours, et avong requ ordre de remonter. Je crois a present qu'un homme est capable d'endurer sana crever, plus de misere qu'un bon ehien." CAPTAIN LONGTIN — DUTY TO GOD AND KING. 261 is a nephew of displayed intelligence and vigour. Captains Longtin and Huncau of the Milice de Beauhamois gave to their men an honourable example. Of the former it is related, that on the commencement of the action, he knelt down at the head of his company and offered up a brief and earnest prayer. " And now, mes etifans" said he, rising, " having done our duty to God, we will do the same by our King." Here spoke out that olden spirit of chivalrous devotion which the history of a thousand years has made the heritage of the Canadian people. Nor should we pass over in silence the names of the simples soldats, — Vincent, Pelletier,Vervais, Dubois, and Caron, — all of the Voltigeurs, who swam the river and cut oflF the retreat of the prisoners who were taken.* It will be seen at once that the whole brunt of the action fell upon the advanced corps under the command of Colonel de Sala- berry. This force barely numbered 300 combatants. The battle was fought in front of the first line of entrenchments, at the ahaitis, and at the ford in the rear. On this part of the field de Salaberry commanded alone, and to him alone is to be ascribed the glory of the victory. * Among the officers in command of companies who had not the good fortune to be actually engaged — who were "well in hand," but not wanted — on the 26th October, may be noted the names of de Beaujeu, de Lery, de Rouville, de Tonnancour, Malhiot, Raymond, Bruere, the indefatigable McKay, and Berczy. The company, however, of this last officer was in the charge of Lieutenant Tach^, now the Hon. Sir Etienne Tach^, Colonel and Aide-de-Camp to the Queen — of whom more hereafter. A sister of Captain de Tonnancour married the Hon. Thomas Coffin, of Three Rivers, and his eldest son is Prothonotary of the Court ofQueen's Bench, Montreal. ! I CHAPTER XXV. M ; i Macdonell of Ogdensburg— The Canadian Fencibles— Descent of the St. Lawrence- Running the Rapids— Niglit March through the Bush— "Always on Hand"— French and English " Shoulder to Shoulder "-Natural Exultation of the French Canadians— Practical Reply to Dishonouring Imputations- Gratitude of the British Government— Queeuston Heights— Chateauguay— Chevy Chaco and the "Combat des Trcntcs"- Beaumanoir and Bembro— Croquart. Had the gallant de Salaberry required the services of a fellow soldier, or had the fortune of war, even for a moment, deprived us of his own, there stood, happily, at his side the most efficient substitute Canada could supply. Macdonell of Ogdensburg had been lately ap- pointed to the command of a battalion of French Canadian Fencibles, and was at Kingston drilling and organizing the force confided to him. On the 20th October, Sir George Prevost, then at Kingston, received intelligence of Hampton's irruption on the Beauharnois frontier. At the time, Wilkinson was known to be within a few miles in front, at the head of 10,000 men. Kingston was pre- sumed to be his object. The distracting eflFect of this double menace, in front, and in flank and rear, demanded prompt and judicious counteraction. Here Sir George did well. He dared not weaken Kingston by withdrawing a single man of the line. As he mounted his horse for Lower Canada he sent for Macdonell, and inquired if his corps was in a fit state to meet the enemy ; and was assured that they were ready to embark so soon as thei/ had done dinner. Prevost gave his prompt subordinate carte blanchCj enjoining, simply, a prompt rencounter with Hampton on the Beau- harnois frontier. Left to himself and to his own resources, RUNNING THE RAPIDS — NIGHT MARCH. 268 MacdoncU was not unequal to the emergency. Ho had offered men. He had now to find boats, and boatmen and pilots, to conduct thoao men in safety down the dangerous rapids of the St. Lawrence. In that named "of the Coteau du Lac" Lord Amherst lost in 1760 sixty-eight batteaux and eighty-eight men. Those who have descended the rapids of the St. Lawrence for a pas- time, in a well-found steamer, manned and piloted and handled, to provide against all chance of accident, and can recall the combined sensation of awe and misgiving with which they sank and surged amid those boiling waters, whirled by rocks and shoals, where a touch would have been destruction, with the speed and rush and roar of a tempest, and who rejoice even now that the rapids are passed and the danger over, may be able to appreciate the resolu- tion of men who dared the same danger at the call of duty, in huge unwieldy row-boats or batteaux, to which a disabled oar or a mis- direction of the rudder must have brought instantaneous destruc- tion. But no misgivings troubled the minds of these brave men or their resolute leader. His arrangements were rapidly made. Boats were soon procured — his own personal experience supplied pilotage — his soldiers volunteered to the oar. Every French Ca- nadian is a boatman. The perilous waters to which they are accustomed demand the constant exercise of bravery and skill. The world does not produce better material for soldier or sailor. After a few hours' delay he embarked with his COO men, encoun- tered great dangers, but surmounted all ; ran all the rapids successfully ; crossed Lake St. Francis in a tempest ; disembarked on the Beauharnois shore ; and in the dead of the night threaded the forest in Indian file, reaching the bank of the Chateauguay, on the morning of the 2oth September, in advance of Sir George Prevost, who had ridden down the opposite shore of the St. Law- rence aided by relays of horses. When the Commander-in-Chief asked him in a tone of some surprise " And where are your men ?" 264 CHRONICLE OP THE WAR. ':| V: I ' " There, Sir," replied Maodonell, pointing to 600 exhausted soldiers sleeping on the ground, not one man absent* Thiw willing young battalion of French militia, officers and men, had accomplished the distance from Kingston to the battle-field of Chatcauguay — 170 miles by water and 20 miles by land in 60 hours of actual travel — a fact which deserves to be ranked by the side of the marvellous march of the Light Division of the British army before the battle of Talavera, recorded with so much of just pride by the historian Napier. Thus it was, that three companies occupied the rearmost lines of defence prepared by de Salaberry, and being thus in the rear, Daly's company had the proud satisfaction of repelling the Ameri- can flank attack on the ford. Of the men, therefore, engaged, all were French. Of the officers, four names indicate their British Imeage. Their gallantry proved it, and proved further, how thoroughly in such a cause, and on such a field — should occasion ever occur — the people of French Canada may rely on the staunch co-operation of their fellow citizens of British extraction. The French population of Lower Canada are very proud of the victory of Chateauguay, and with just reason. The British popu- lation of the Upper Province had achieved a like success over the common enemy at Queenston Heights. It was gratifying to the natural pride of a great national origin, that the fortune of war should have thus equitably distributed her honourable distinctions. They had, moreover, a stronger motive, both for resentment and exultation. The American Government and democratic press, with unexampled effrontery, had cast upon a race " sana peur et sans reproche,^^ the dishonouring imputation of an easy political virtue. They had been charged with a readiness to violate plighted honour, and with disaffection to the British Crown. Truthful and * ■ • Vide United SerWce Journal, June, 1848. Corresp. QUEEN8T0N HEIGHTS AND CHATEAUOUAY. 265 generous in all relations, whether of peace or war, they resented this indignity, as a stain felt more keenly than a wound, and they gave the " Bostonaia " their answer on the field of Chateauguay. This noble and opportune service had the effect of twenty victo- ries. Twenty days had hardly elapsed since the defeat of Proctor on the Thames. Muttered rumours of disaster had scarcely reached remote districts, ere the cloud of anxiety and doubt was dispelled by the exploit of Chateauguay, and the Red Cross Banner of England gleamed forth unsullied, in the light of that valour which it had so often encountered, proved, and respected, under the Lilies of France. Great Britain honoured this worthy feat of arms in a becoming manner. Standards were conferred upon the regiments engaged. A Battle Medal was given to every soldier. De Salaberry was made a Commander of the Bath. Sir George Provost, who had ridden up from his quarters in the rear at the close of the action, extolled in a Despatch dated from Montreal on the 30th October, the conduct of the men engaged, and dwelt with superfluous com- placency " on the determination of all classes of His Majesty's subjects to persevere in an honourable and loyal line of conduct," which upon that occasion, at least, might have been allowed to speak for itself. Queenston Heights and Chateauguay are to the people of Canada what Chevy Chace and the " Combat des Trentes " were, in the olden time, to their martial ancestry — the fountain and thh nursery of traditions, which create character and foreshadow a national career not unworthy of the sources from whence they spring. As " the child is father to the man," so to nations, honourable traditions are the best guarantee of future greatness, and the descendants of those who fought on the battle fields of Canada, accepting the obligations noble memories impose, are as proud of their antecedents, as those who glory in the iron legend 266 CURONIOLB OV THE WAR. \, of Bcaumanoir and Bombro — of KnoUys, Calvorty, and Croquart —or of thoac who, With stout Erie Percy there wore slain, Sir John of Adgerton, Sir Hubert RatclifTand Sir John, Sir James the bold Heron. The " Combat dcs Trontos " is, probably, not so familiar to English ears, as the ficrco Border foray immortalized in the Ballad of Chovy Chaco. The story has been well told, is full of national interest, and is not an inappropriate pendant to scenes upon which the Canadian loves to linger. Both the " Combat des Trentcs " and the " woeful hunting " of Chevy Chace, befell in the same century, but the encounter of the " Thirties " preceded that *' on Cheviot side " by many years. Chevy Chaco dates probably from the year 1388. The " Combat des Trentcs " took place 27th March, 13G1.* About twenty miles from the town of St. Malo, " St. Malo, beau port de Mer^^^ on the river Ranee, stands the romantic town of Dinan, and, in a dell hard by, where ripen the best figs in Brittany, experto crede, may still be seen the ruins of the Chateau and Monastery of Beaumanoir. Thirty-five years ago. the mailed effigies of the warriors of a half-forgotten race lay recumbent on their tombs in the chancel of the roofless abbey, spared by the ravages of revolution, but crumbling rapidly beneath those of time. The name of Beaumanoir was one of high renown in the days of du Guesclin and of Olivier de Clisson, when the English contested, on the soil of France itself, the suzerainete of the French crown. The Lord of Beaumanoir was one of the leaders in this remarkable Combat des Trentes," of which the following account is given in (( ■I • Battle of Otterbourne (historically the same as the foray of Chevy Chace), August 15, 1388 Combat des Trentea March 2*7, 1351 I COMBAT DBS TRENTBB. 2H7 tiio Ilistoire do Bretagno, quoted in a note to Johnos' edition of Kroissart,^ Vol. II, p. 191 : — " After the death of Sir Thomas Daggoworth, the King appointed Sir Walter Bontloy, Commander in Brittany. The English, being much irritated at the death of Daggoworth, and not being able to revenge themselves on those who slew him, did so on the whole country, by burning and destroying it. The Marshal lie Beaumanoir, desirous of putting a stop to this, sent to Bembro, who commanded in Plo^rmel, for a passport to hold a conference with him. The Marshal reprobated the conduct of the English, (Hid high words passed between them ; for Bembro had been the companion in arms to Daggoworth. At last, one of them proposed A combat of thirty on each side. The place appointed for it was at the half-way oak tree between Josselin and PloOrmcl, and the (lay was fixed for the 27th March, 1851, being the fourth Sunday in Lent. Beaumanoir chose nine knights anil twenty-one esquires. Bembro could not find a sufficient number of English in his garrison — there were but twenty — the remainder were Germans and Bretons. Bembro first entered the field of battle, and drew up his troop. Beaumanoir did the same. Each made a short harangue to his men, exhorting them to support their own honour and that of their nation. Bembro added, that there was an old prophecy of Merlin, which promised victory to the English. The signal was ;^iven for the attack. Their arms were not similar, for each was to choose such as he liked. Billefort fought Avith a mallet 25 lbs. weight, and others with what arms they chose. The advantage at first was with the English, as the Bretons had lost five of their men. Beaumanoir exhorted them not to mind this, as they stopped to take breath ; when each party having had some refreshment, the combat was renewed. Bembro was killed. On seeing this, Cro- quart cried out, ' Compagnons, don't let us think of the prophe- cies of Merlin, but depend on our courage and arms ; keep your- 268 CHRONICLE OF THE WAR. selves close together, be firm, and fight as I do.' Beaumanoir, being wounded, was quitting the field to quench his thirst, when Geoffry du Bois called out, * Beaumanoir, drink thy blood, and thy hurt will go off.' This made him ashamed and return to the battle. The Bretons at last gained the day, by one of their party breaking, on horseback, the ranks of the English — the greater part of whom were killed. Knollys, Calverty, and Croquart were made prisoners, and carried to the Castle of Josselin. Tintimiac on the side of the Bretons, and Croquart on the English, obtained the prize of valour. Such was the issue of this famous Combat of Thirty, so glorious to the Bretons, but which decided nothing as to the possession of the Duchy of Brittany." * • The Chronicler adds in the text, with respect to Croquart, " He was ori- ginally but a poor hoy, and had been page to the Lord d'Erole in Holland. He had the reputation of being the most expert man-at-arms of the country. He was said to be worth 40,000 crowns, not including his horses, of which he had twenty or thirty, very handsome and strong, and of a deep roan colour. King John offered to knight him, and to "inrry him very richly if he would quit the English party, and promised to give Llni 2,000 livres a year ; but Croquart would not listen to him. It chanced one day as he was riding a young horse, which he had just purchased for 300 crowns, and was putting him to his full speed, that the horse ran away with him, and in leaping a ditch, stumbled into it, and broke his master's neck." Such was the end of Croquart. END OP VOL. I. NOTE. The anonymous correspondciit through whose valuable agency the inter- esting narrative of a "T^moin oculaire" has been revived, after an oblivion of fifty years, expatiates on the apparent apathy of his fellow countrymen, and points to the monument on Queenston Heights as an example and a reproach. He asks why nothing has been done to commemorate the scene of this great national exploit, and to point out to posterity the battle field of Chateauguay. This writer will be pleased to hear that the subject has not been altogether neglected, and that although much remains to be done, a step has been taken in the right direction, which, it is hoped, may lead to more practical results. There is, in the immediate vicinity of the battle field, a piece of Ordnance pro- perty, in superficies about five acres, occupied by an old block house. On the suggestion of the officer in charge, this piece of land has been set apart as the site of a future national monument. Through the active instrumentality of the Hon. Sir Etienne Tach^, the Hon. George E. Gartier, Attorney General, and the Hon. P. Vankoughnet, then Commissioner of Grown Lands, an Order in Council was passed, dated 7th December, 1859, " reserving this piece of land from sale, and appropriating it for the purpose of erecting a monument comme- morative of that distinguished feat of Canadian arms — the Battle of Chateau- guay." APPENDIX '4 I I I [ExtracU Canad Willim To Thoi Viiii Sir, In I respecting with the ington, ai transactio middle ag< war adopt "Dbai lenemj has Nestruction ited. Of t one sentimt full armed recently for ictsofbarl APPENDIX. No. 1. {Extracted /roni the Report of the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada. Published, Montretd, Lower Canada, 1817. Printed by William Gray.) To Thomas Jefferson, Esquire, of Monticelh, Ex-president of the United States of America. jSir, In your letter to a member of Congisss, recently published, [respecting the sale of your library,* I perceive that you are angry with the British for the destruction of the public buildings at Wash- ington, and attempt, with your accustomed candour, to compare that transaction to the devastations committed by the Barbarians in the middle ages. As you are not ignorant of the mode of carrying on the war adopted by your friends, you must have known that it was a small •MoNTiCBLLO, 21st Sept., 1814. " Dear Sib, — .... I learn from the newspapers that the vandalism of our lenemj has triumphed at Washington over science as well as the arts, by the destruction of the public library, with the noble edifice in which it was depos- lited. Of this transaction, as that of Copenhagen, the world will entertain but loae sentiment. They will see a nation suddenly ]vitbdrawn from a great war, I fall armed and full handed, taking advantage of another, whom they had [recently forced into it — unarmed and unprepared— to indulge themselves in |&:ts of barbarism which do not belong to a civiliKed age." 8 274 APPENDIX. 'fltf retaliation after redress had been refused for burnings and depredations, not only of. public but private property, committed by them in Canada ; but we arc too well acquainted with your hatred to Great Britain to look lor truth or candour in any statement of yours where sJie is con- cerned. It is not for your information, therefore, that I relate in this letter those acts of the army of the United States in the Canadas-, which provoked the conflagration of the public buildings at Washington, because you are '^ell acquainted with them already ; but to shew the world that to the United States and not to Great Britain must be charged all the miseries attending a mode of warfare originating with them, and unprecedented in modern times. A stranger to the history of the last three years, on reading this pi of your letter, would naturally suppose that Great Britain, in the prid of power, had taken advantage of the weak and defenceless situation ol the United States to wreak her vengeance upon them. But what woul be his astonishment when told that the nation, said to be unarmed an unprepared, bad provoked and first declared the war, and carried it on| offensively for two years, with a ferocity unexampled, before the Britisl had the means of making effectual resistance. War was declared agains Great Britain by the United States of America in June, 1812 Washington was taken in August, 1814. Let us see in what spirit yo countrymen carried on the war during this interval. In July, 1812, General Hull invaded the British province of Uppe: Canada, and took possession of the town of Sandwich. He threatene (by a proclamation) to exterminate the inhabitants if they ] aade an resistance ; ht plundered those with whom he had been in habits ol intimacy for years before the war — their plate and linen were found i ■his possession after his surrender to General Brock ; he marked out tb loyal subjects of the King as objects of peculiar resentment, and con signed tlieir property to pillage and conflagration. In autumn, 1812 p-^nie houses and barns were burnt by the American forces near For Erie, in Upper Canada. In April, 1813, the public buildings at York, the capital of Ur^ Canada, were burnt by the troops of the United States, contrary t( APPENDIX. 275 the articles of capitulation. They consisted of two elegant halls, with convenient offices, for the accommodation of the legislature and of the courts of justice. The library and all the papers and records belonging to these institutions were consumed at the same time. The church was robbed, and the town library totally pillaged. Commodore Chauncey, who has generally behaved honourably, was so ashamed of this last trans- action, that he endeavoured to collect the books belonging to the public library, and actually sent back two boxes filled with them, but hardly any were complete. Much private property was plundered, tvid several houses left in a state of ruin. Can you tell me, Sir, the reason why the public buildings and library at Washington should be held more sacred than those at York ? A false and ridiculous story i.^ told of a scalp having been found above the Speaker's chair, intended as an ornament. In June, 1813, Newark came into the possession of your army (after the capture of Fort George), and its inhabitants were repeatedly j>royniscd protection to themselves and property, both by General Dearborn and General Boyd. In the midst of these professions, the most respectable of them, although non-combatants, were made prisoners and sent into the United States ; the two churches were burnt to the ground ; detach- ments were sent, under the direction of British traitors, to pillage the loyal inhabitants in the neighbourhood, and to carry them away captive ; many farm houses were burnt during the summer ; and at length, to fill up the measure of iniquity, the whole of the beautiful village of Ne^^r rk, with so short a previous intimation as to amount to none, was consijjned to the flames. The wretched inhabitants had scarcely time to save themselves, much loss any of their property. More than four hundred women and childroc were exposed without shelter on the night of the 10th of December, to the intense cold of a Canadian winter, and great numbers must have perished, had not the flight of your troops, after perpetrating this ferocious act, enabled the inhabitants of the country to 1 come in to their relief Your friend Mr. Madison has attempted to justify this cruel deed I on the plea that it was necessary for the defence of Fort George. Nothing I can be more false. The village was some distance from the fort ; and 276 APPENDIX. instead of thinking to defend it, General McClure was actually retreating to his own shore when he caused Newark to be burnt. This officer says that he acted in conformity with the orders of his government ; the government, finding their justification useless, disavow his conduct. McClure appears to be the fit agent of such a government. He not only complies with his instructions, but refines upon them by choosing a day of intense frost, giving the inhabitants almost no warning till the fire began, and commencing the confiagration in the night. In Nov.^ 1813, the army of your friend General Wilkinson committed great depredations in its progress through the eastern district of Upper Canada, and was proceeding to systematic pillage, when the commander got frightened, and fled to his own shore, on finding the population in that district inveterately hostile. The history of the two first campaigns proves, beyond dispute, that you had reduced fire and pillage to a regular system. It was hoped that the severe retaliation taken for the burning of Newark, would have put a stop to a practice so repugnant to the manners and habits of a civilized age; but so far was this from being the case, that the third campaign exhibits equal enormities. General Brown laid waste the country between Chippewa and Fort Erie, burning mills and private houses, and rendering those not consumed by fire, uninhabitable. The pleasant village of St. David was burnt by his army when about to retreat. On the 15th of May a detachment of the American army, under Colonel Campbell, landed at Long Point, district of London, Upper Canada, and ou that and the following day, pillaged and laid waste as much of the adjacent country as they could reach. They burnt the village of Dover, with the mills, and all the mills, stores, distillery, and dwelling houses in the vicinity, carrying away such property as was portable, and killing the cattle. The property taken and destroyed on this occasion, was estimated at fifty thousand dollars. On the 16th of August some American troops and Indians from Detroit, surprised the settlement of Port Talbot, where they committed the most atrocious acts of violence, leaving upwards of 234 men, women, and children in a state of nakedness and want. APPENDIX. 277 On the 20th of September, a second excursion was made by the garri- son of Detroit, spreading fire and pillage through the settlements in the western district of Upper Canada. Twenty-seven families, on this occa- sion, were reduced to the greatest distress Early in November, General McArthur, with a large body of mounted Kentuckians and Indians, made a rapid march through the western and part of the London districts, burning all the mills, destroying provisions, and living upon the inhabitants. If there was less private plunder than usual, it was because the invaders had no means of carrying it away. On our part, Sir, the war has been carried on in the most forbearing manner. During the two first campaigns, we abstained from any acts of retaliation, notwithstanding the great enormities which we have mentioned. It was not till the horrible destruction of Newark, attended with so many acts of atrocity, that wo burnt jthe villages of Lewiston, Buffalo, and Black Rock. At this our commander paused. He pledged himself to proceed no farther, on the condition of your returning to the rules of legitimate warfare. Finding you pursuing the same system this last campaign, instead of destroying the towns and villages within his rench, to which he had conditionally extended his protection, he applied to Admiral Coch''dne to make retaliation upon the coast. The Admiral in- formed M^ . Monroe of the nature of this application, and his determina- tion to comply, unless compensation was made for the private property wantonly destroyed in Upper Canada. No answer was returned for several weeks, during which time Washington was taken. At length a letter, purporting to be answered, arrived, in which the Secretary dwells with much lamentation on the destruction of the public buildings at Washington ; which, notwithstanding the destruction of the same kind of buildings in the capital of Upper Canada, he affects to consider without a parallel in modern times. So little regard has he for truth, that, at the very moment of his speaking of the honour and generosity practised by his government in conducting the war, General McArthur was directed by the President to proceed upon his burning excursion. Perhaps you will bring forward the report of the Committee appointed by Congress to inquire into British cruelties, and to class them under the 278 APPENDIX. hcuds furniBhcd by Mr. Madison, as an offset for the facts that have been inentionod. The Committee must have found the subject oztrcmcly bar- ren, as only one report has seen the lij^ht; but since the articles of accusation are before the public, and have been quoted by the enemies of £ngland as capable of ample proof, let us give thorn a brief ozamination : 1st. Ill-treatment of American prisoners. 2nd. Detention of American prisoners as British subjects, under the pretext of their being born > .^ ^1 Photographic Sdences Corporation 1 \ s>f^ ^ A \ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^^^ .^.f^ \ ^o J^ %0 c^ \ % 280 APPENDIX. their service, by money, land, &c. After it was found impossible to per- suade any number of them to do so, the American government encamped them, for nearly tvfo months, in a pestilential marsh near Sandusky, without any covering. There, having neither shelter nor -the necessary quantity of provisions, they all got sick, many died ; and, in October, the remainder were sent to Long Point, sick, naked and miserable. From this place they could not be conveyed, till clothes had been sent to cover their nakedness. Great numbers sunk under their calamities, and the utmost care and attertion were required to save any of them alive. Such an accumulation of cruelty was never exhibited before. The government of the United States assumed the prerogative of relieving oflScers from parole, without exchanging them ; and even Com- modore Rodgers took twelve seamen out of a cartel, as it was proceeding to Boston Bay, and was justified for this outrage by his government. 2nd. Detention of American prisoners as British subjects. It is notorious that a great many of the American army have been British subjects since the commencement of the war ; and, had we deter- mined to punish these traitors with death, if found invading our terri- tories, and, after giving them warning, acted up to such a determination, it would have been strictly right ; and in such case very few would have entered Canada. While these persons act merely as militia, defending their adopted country against invasion, some lenity might be shown them ; but when they m;;irch into the British Provinces for the sake of conquest, they ought to be considered traitors to their king and country* and treated accordingly. 3rd. Detention of sailors as prisoners, because they were in England when war was declared. This accusation is ridiculous, as sailors are always considered in the first class of combaiants ; but it comes ^yith an ill grace from those who have detained peaceable British subjects, engaged in civil life, and banished, fifteen miles from the coast, those of them who happened to be in America at the declaration of war, and treated them, almost in every respect, like prisoners of war, according to Bonaparte's example. 4th. Forced service of American sailors, pressed on board of English men-of-war. APPENDIX. 281 rere in England This accusation has been often made, but never coupled with the offer of Mr. Forster, to discharge every American so detained, on being fur- nished with the list. The list was never furnished. 5th. Violence of flags of truce. This accusation of Mr. Madison contains about as much truth as those that have been already examined. We shall give two examples of the treatment experienced by the bearers of flags of truce from the British army. Major Fulton, aide-de-camp to General Sir George Prevost, was stopped by Major Forsyth, of the United States army, at the outposts, who insulted him most grossly, endeavoured to seize his despatches, and threatened to put him to death. So much ashamed were Forsyth's supe- riors at this outrage, that he was sent for » short time to the rear. General Proctor sent Lieut. Le Breton to General Harrison, after the battle of Moravian Town, to ascertain our loss of officers and men ; but, instead of sending him back, General Harrison detained him many weeks, took him round the lake, and, after all, did not furnish him with the re- quired information, which had been otherwise procured in the meantime. 6th. Ransom of American prisoners, taken by the savages in the service of England. Some nations of the natives were at war with the Americans, long be- fore hostilities commenced against England ; many others not. When attempts were made to conquer the Canadas, the Indians beyond our ter- ritories, part by choice and part by solicitation, came and joined us as allies; while those within the Provinces had as great an interest in defending them, as the other proprietors of the soil. To mitigate as much as possible the horrors of war, it was expressly and repeatedly told the Indians that scalping the dead, and killing prisoners or unresisting enemies, were practices extremely repugnant to our feelings, and no presents would be given them but for prisoners. This, therefore, instead of becoming an article of accusation, ought to have excited their gratitu e' for the presence and authority of a British force uniformly tended to secure the lives of all who were defenceless, and all who surrendered. It almost without exception saved the lives of our enemies ; yet the Ameri- I . 282 APPENDIX. can government brands us as worse than savages, for fighting by the side of Indians, and at first threatened our extermination if we did so, although they employed all the Indians they could. Many individuals have acknowledged their obligation to us for having been saved by the benevolent and humane exertions of our officers and troops ; but no officer of rank ever had the justice to make a public acknowledgment. The eighth accusation is much the same as this, and must have been separated in order to multiply the number of articles. It is notorious that some British soldiers have been killed by the Indians, protecting their prisoners. This was the case at General Winchester's defeat, and at General Clay's. The grossest exaggerations have been published. General Winchester was declared in all the American papers to have been scalped, and mangled in the most horrid manner, when he was in his quarters at Quebec. In a General Order, dated Kingston, 26th July, 1813, among other things respecting Indians, it is said, that the head-money for the prisoners of war brought in by the Indian warriors, is to be immediately paid by the Commissariat, upon the certificate of the general officer com- manding the division with which they are acting at the time. Let us now see how the poor Indians are treated by the Americans, after promising that they have done their utmost to employ as many Indians as possible against us. It is a fact that the first scalp taken this war was by the Americans, at the river Canard, between Sandwich and Amherstburgh. At this place an Indian was killed, by the adyance of General Hull's army, and immediately scalped.* At the skirmish of Brownston, several Indians fell, and were scalped by the American troops. The Kentuokians were commonly armed with a tomahawk and long scalping-knife ; and burned Indians as a pastime. At the river Au Raisin, Captain Caldwell, of the Indian department, saved an American omcer from^ the Indians, and, as he was leading him * An Indian never scalps his enemy until after he is dead, and does so to preserve a proof or token of his victory. APPENDIX. 283 ; by the side we did so, individuals saved by the )ut no officer gment. The en separated IS that some 3ir prisoners, neral Clay's. [ Winchester scalped, and quarters at L813, among oney for the immediately 1 officer corn- Let us now er promising is as possible was by the aherstburgh. neral Hull's •e scalped by wk and long department, leading him d does so to off, the ungrateful monster stabbed him in the neck, on which ho was killed by Capt. Caldwell's friends. The American troops, under General Winchester, killed an Indian in a skirmish near the river Au Eaisin, on the 18th January, 1813, and tore him literally to pieces; which so exasperated the Indians, that they refused burial to the Americans killed on the 22nd. The Indian hero, Tecumseh, after being killed, was literally flayed in part by the Americans, and his skin carried off as a trophy. Twenty Indian women and children, of the Kickapoo nation, were inhumanly put to death by the Americans a short time ago, near Prairie, on the Illinois River, after driving their husbands into a morass, where they perished with cold and hunger. Indian towns were burnt as an amusement, or common-place practice. All this, however, is nothing, compared to the recent massacre of the Creeks. General Coffee, in his letter to General Jackson, dated 4th November, 1813, informs him that he surrounded the Indian towns at TuUushatches, in the night, with nine hundred men ; that, about an hour after sunrise, he was discovered by the enemy, who endeavoured, though taken by surprise, to make some resistance. In a few minutes the last warrior of them was killed. He mentioned the number of warriors seen dead to be 186, and supposes as many among the wee^s as would make them up two liundred. He con- fesses that some of the women and children were killed, owing to the warriors mixing with their families. He mentions taking only eighty-four prisoners of women and children. Now, it is evident that, in a village containing two hundred warriors, there must have been nearly as many women and men, perhaps more; and, unquestionably, the number of children exceeded the men and women together. What, then, became of all these? Neither does General Coffee mention the old men. Such things speak for themselves. The poor Indians fought, it appears, with bows and arrows, and were able only to kill five Americans. Their situa- tion was too remote, for them to receive assistance from the British. Their lands were wanted, and they must be exterminated. Since this period, the greater part of the nation has been massacred by General Jackson, who destroyed them wantonly, in cold blood. There was no 284 APPENDIX. resistance, if we except individual ebullition of despair, when it was found that there was no mercy. Jackson mentions, exultingly, that the morning after he had destroyed a whole village, sixteen Indians were discovered hid under the bank of the river, who were dragged out and murdered* Upon these inhuman exploits, President Madison only remarks to Con* gress, that the Creeks had received a salutary chastisement, which would make a lasting impression upon their fears. The cruelties exercised against these wretched nations are without a parallel, except the coldness and apathy with which they are glossed over by the President. Such is the conduct of the humane government of the United States, which is incessantly employed, as they pretend, in civilizing the Indians. But it is time to finish this horrid detail. We shall, therefore, conclude with a short extract from a letter of the Spanish Governor of East Florida, Benigno Garzia, to Mr, Mitchell, Governor of the State of Georgia, to show that the policy of the government of the United States, in regard to the Indians, is now generally known : " The Province of East Florida may be invaded in time of profound peace, the planters ruined, and the population of the capital starved, and, according to your doctrine, all is fair ; they are a set of outlaws if they resist. The Indians are to be insulted, threatened, ^nd driven from their lands ; if they resist, nothing less than extermination is to be their fate." 7th and 9th. — Pillage and destruction of private property, in the Bay of Chesapeake and the neighbouring country, and cruelties exercised at Hampton, in "Virginia. It requires astonishing eflfrontery to make these articles of accusation, after the depredations and cruelties committed by the army of the United States in the Canadas. In the attack upon Craney Islands, some boats in the service of Great Britain ran aground. In this situation they made signals of surrender; but the Americans continued to fire upon them from the shore. Many of them jumped into the water, and swam towards land ; but they were shot as they approached, without mercy. A few days after, Hampton was taken, and some depredations were committed by the foreign troops who had seen some of their comrades so cruelly massacred : but before any APPENDIX. 285 1 it was found t the morning ire discovered nd murdered- narks to Con* which would ties exercised t the coldness ent. Such is ates, which is lians. But it nclude with a East Florida, 0? Georgia, to ites, in regard e of profound starved, and, atlaws if they ^en from their 36 their fate." ,y, in the Bay s exercised at of accusation, of the United rvice of Great of surrender; ihore. Many •ut they were 3 amp ton was n troops who ut before any material damage was done, they were remanded on board. Several letters from Hampton mention the behaviour of the British, while there, as highly meritorious, and contradict the vile calumnies of the Democratic print, which Mr. Madison copies in his message to Congress. This brief account of the conduct of your government and army, since the commencement of hostilities (which might have been greatly ex- tended), will fill the world with astonishment at the forbearance of Great Britain, in suffering so many enormities, and such a determined departure from the laws of civilized warfare, to pass so long without signal punish- ment. Before finishing this letter, permit me, Sir, to remark, that the destruc- tion of the public buildings at Washington entitled the British to your gratitude and praise, by affording you a noble opportunity of proving your devotion to your country. In former times, when you spoke of the magnitude of your services, and the fervour of your patriotism, your political enemies were apt to mention your elevated situation, and the greatness of your salary. But, by presenting your library a free-will offering to the nation, at this moment of uncommon pressure, when the Treasury is empty, and every help to the acquisition of knowledge is so very necessary to keep the government from sinking, you would have astonished the world with one solitary action in your political life wor- thy of commendation. Nor are your obligations to the British army unimportant, though you have not aspired to generous praise. An opportunity has been given you of disposing of a library at your own price, which, if sold volume by volume, would have fetched nothing. You have, no doubt, seen that old libraries do not sell well after the death of the proprietors ; and, with a lively attention to your own interests, you take advantage of the times. I am, Sir, With due consideration, &c., (Signed,) JOHN STRACHAN, D.D., Treasurer of the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada. York, 30th January, 1815. 286 APPENDIX. No. 2. BATAILLE DE CHATEAUGUAY. M. l'Editeur, — II y a cinquante ans que 300 braves donnaient iTu- nivei-vS cntier le spectacle d'un des plus beaux faits d'armes dont peut se glorifier notre jcunc pays. Sur la frontiiire de leur patrie, animds du courage chevaleresquo que leur avait Icguo leurs ancStres et marchant sur les pas do leur valeureux chef, De Salaberry, ils repoussent et mettent en fuite une amide infiniment supdrieure quant au nombre et pleine de I'orgueil que lui inspirait ses prouesses passdes. Sans doute, Monsieur I'dditeur, vousavez ddjii, compris, et levictorieux nom de " Chateauguay" est venu involontairement se placer sur vos l^vres, ce nom rempli d'emo- tions et tout palpitant d'intdret, mais helas ! tombd dans I'oubli. Quoi ! un demi-sit'cle est k peine encore ecould, nous possddons encore au milieu de nous quelques uns de ces anciens vetdrans qui virent le drapeau dtoil^ s'enfuir devant la bravoure toute fran§aise de nos " Voltigeurs," et ndan- moins la plus belle page de notre histoire est ignor^e par une grande partie do la jeunesse canadienne. Cette mdmorable journde, qui fait p^ lir I'assertion mensongtire qui met en doute la bravoure et le courage du Canadien-frangais, devrait etre gravde dans le coeur de tout bon citoyen, etsamdmoire consacrde par quelque marque rublique qui la transmettrait h la postdritd la plus reculde. II y a quelques annees, avec grande pompe, on posait la premii^re pierre d'un monument dlevd au gdndral Brock et k son aide-de-camp, le colonel McDonald. Pourquoi le Bas-Canada ne ferait-il pas ce qu'a fait le Haut ? Pourquoi un monument, tdmoignage irrdcusable de notre vdndration, ne s'dleverait-il pas sur la tombe du hdros Canadien comme sur celle du Breton ? Est-ce qu'aux plaines de Chdteauguay ne se rattachent paa d'aussi glorieux souvenirs qu'aux " Queenston's Heights ?" Oh ! oui, et cependant, sur le champ qui ren- ferme les ossements de nos p^res, I'oeil ne rencontre pas m6me la simple petite croix de bois h laquelle le fils religieux peut aller suspendre une couronne de ^aurier. Qu'on dl^ve done un marbre k ceux qui ddfendirent APPENDIX. 287 nnaient H I'u- dont peut se e, anim(^'S du march ant sur ;t mettent en et pleine de te, Monsieur Ihateauguay" empli d'emo- )li. Quoi ! un re au milieu rapeau dtoild irs," et ndan- • une grande ;, qui fait pfi- e courage du bon citoyen, transmettrait 'ande pouipe, al Brock et 5> s-Canada ne ;, tdmoignage ir la tombe u'aux plaines renirs qu'aux imp qui ren- imo la simple aspendre une li ddfendirent si vaillammcnt notrc sol contre I'invasion dtrang<^re, commo h ccux tomb6s pour la ddfenso do noa droits civils et politi(|Ucs ; ou bien, mieux encore, qu'un seul couvre lours cendres itous, et (jn'il disc aux (jtrangers qui visitent Ic pays qu'arrosent le St. Laurent, I'Ottawa et le Saguenay^ que les Canadicns-fran^ais, eux aussi, out eu dans le passd leurs braye* et leurs martyres. Castor. Montreal, 15 Janvier 1863. P.S. Ci-inclus, vous trouverez, M, I'^diteur, le rdcit de rdvdnement memorable auquel je fais allusion dans la correspondanco ci-dessus; j'es- p^re que vous le publierez, persuade qu'il sera lu avcc Ic plus grand plaisir par vos lecteurs. Je fais I'extrait suivant d'un ancicn journal. 3 novembre 1813. Comme un d(5tail circonstancie de I'affaire r^cente sur la riviere dc Chateauguay pourrait ne pas d^plaire in, vos lecteurs, je vous prie d'insd- rer dans votre gazette r(5bauche suivante. Quelque diffuse et quelque d^fectueuse qu'ellc soit, comme description, elle a au moins le mdrite de I'exactitude, ayant dtd ^crite par un T£moin Ooulaire. L'armde am^ricaine stationn^e t Four Comers, sous lo gdndral Hamp>- ton, apr^s avoir si longtemps Cx^ I'attention de nos troupes, commenga- enfin ^ s'approcher de nos fronti^res, le 21 du mois ' -»"',ier. Le mCme jour, vers 4 heures de I'apr^s-midi, son avant-garde pt, iSsa notre piquet stationn^ k Piper's Road, k environ dix lieues de'l'dglise de Chateau- guay. Aussitot que le major Henry, de la milice de Beauharnais, com- mandant 'X la riviere des Anglais, eftt regu avis de Tapproche dc I'en- nemi, il en informa le major De Watteville et fit avancer immediatcment les capitaines Ldvesque et Debartzcb avec les compagnies du flanc du 66me bataillon de la milice incorpor^e, et environ deux cents hommes de la division de Beauharnais. Cette force s'avanga d'environ deux lieues cette nuit-ltl, et s'arreta a I'entrde d'un bois au travers duquel il n'aurait pas 6i6 prudent de passer. Le lendemain au matin, de bonne heure, ils i' i 288 APPENDIX. furcnt joints par le lieut.-col. Do Salaberry, avcc scs Voltlfjjeurs, et la compugnie Idj^^ro du cupitaino Ferguson, du regiment canudicn. Le lieut.-colonel De Salaberry remonta d pr6s d'unc lieuo sur la rive gauche de la riviere, ii I'autre extrdraitd, et uno patrouille de rennenii s'dtant moDtrdo ii quelquc diHtance, il fit faire halte tl aa petite force. Le lieute- nant-colonel, qui avait eu I'avantage de reconnaitrc tout Ic pays uu-dessus de Chateauguay dans une expedition sur la fronti6re anidricaine, quel- ques seniaincs auparavant, savait que le bord de la riviiire no pouvait fournir une meillcure position. Le bois dtait renipli do ravines profon- des, sur quatro desquelles il dtablit quatre lignes de defense, I'uno apris I'autre. Les premieres lignes dtaient distantes I'une do I'autre d'environ deux cents pas ; la quatri6me dtait k peu pres un dcnti-iuillc en arri(^re, et commandait sur la rive droite de la riviere un gu«5 qu'il dtait trtis-impor- tant de ddfendre, afin de protdger la rive gauche. II fit fairc sur cha- oune des ces lignes une esp6ce de parapet qui s'dtendait ii quclque dis- tance dans le bois, pour garantir sa droite. Le parapet sur la premiere ligne formait un angle obtus ii la droite du chemin, et s'dtendait le long des ddtours du fossd. Toute cette premiere journde fut employde k forti. fier cette position, qui, quant 5. la force, ne le c6de ii pas une de celles qu'on aurait pu clioisir. Elle avait aussi I'avatitage de forcer I'ennemi, s'il dtait disposd i attaquer, de traverser une grande dtendue de terrain inhabite et de s'dloigner de ses ressources, tandis qu'au contraire nos troupes avaient tout il souhait et dtaient bien soutenues in I'arritire. La rive droite de la riviere dtait couverte d'un bois epais, et Ton eut aussi soin de se mettre en garde auprds du gud, et Ton posta en avant de I'autre un piquet de soixante hommes de la milice de Bcauharnais. Le lieutenant-colonel ne borna pas son attention aux ouvrages ci-dessus. Pour assurer sa protection davantage, il ordonna k un parti de trente btlcberons, de la division de Beauharnais, d'aller en avant de la premiere ligne, afin de ddtruire les ponts, et de faire des abatis. En consdquence, tous les ponts furent ddtruits dans I'espace d'une lieue et demie, et il fut fait un abatis formidable k environ un mille en avant de la premiere ligne, s'dtendan. da bord de la riviere k trois ou quatre arpents dans le bois, oik il joignait, sur la droite, une terre mardcageuse, ou savanne, par APPENDIX. 289 laquelle il 6t&ii presquc impossible de passer. Les qnatro Hgnes <5taient ainsi complitemont ^ couvert. On savait bien que I'ennemi avait une dixaine de canons, et il lui dcvcnait impossible do Ics amcncr. C'est A, la force de la position choisio et fortifide de la sortc, ainsi qu'A I'hdroisme de notro petite armdo, que nous dovons la victoire brillante qui a 6t6 obtenuo. Len talents et I'habiletd d'un officier commandant ne se distingucnt pas moins sans doute dans le choix de son terrain avant la bataille, que dans la disposition de ses troupes au fort do la melde, et Ton ne fera que rcndro justice au lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry en disant qne lui seul doit 8tre loud de Varrangement admirable itahli pour la diferue de son paste. Apr^s que le colonel De Salaberry eut fait ces dispositions ju^icieuses, le major-gdndral De Watteville vint voir son camp, et lui fit I'honneur d'approuver tout ce qu'il avait fait. Quoique les abatis eussent 6t6 achevds le second, on tint continuellemcnt en cet endroit des partis de travailleurs, afin de Ic rendre encore plus for- midable ; on envoya des troupes en avant pour les protdger, et il y avait toujours en outre h I'arri^re un piquet nombreuz. Le 29 du mois passd, vers dix heures du matin, une avant-garde de I'ennemi vint & portde de mousquet de I'abatis. Le lieutenant Guy, des Yoltigeurs, qui dtait en front avee une vingtaine de ses homraes, fiit contraint de reculer aprds avoir dchangd quelques coups de fusils, et fut soutenn par le lieutenant Johnson, du m@me corps, qui commandait le piquet k I'arridre des travail- leurs, qui se virent dans la ndcessitd de retraiter et ne ee remirent pas ik I'ouvrage de tout le jour. D^s que le lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry eut entendu le feu, il partit du front de la premiere ligne. II prit avec lui trois compagnies du capi- taine Ferguson, du regiment oanadien, qu'il ddploya k la droite et k I'avant de I'abatis ; celle du capitaine J. B. Duchesnay, k qui il ordonna d'occuper la gauche, en s'dtendant en m§me temps du odtd de la riviere, et celle du capitaine Juchereau Duchesnay qui, avec environ 50 ou 60 miliciens de Beauhamais, fut placde derri^re, en potence, k la gauche de I'abatis, de mani^re k pouvoir prendre I'ennemi en flano, s'il avanyait contre la milice de Beauharnais, sur la rive droite de la rividre. J'oubliais de dire qu'il 290 APPENDIX. y ayait environ uno vingtaino do sauvagcs avco Ich hommcs do la com- pagnio du capitainc Ferguson 8ur la droitc. Lo lioutcnant-colonol hc playa au centre de la ligno du front. II yoyait alors dovant lui un cnncmi avco Icquel il s'dtait deux fois cfforcd d'on venir aux prises depuis lo com- mencement do cette oampagno ; I'occasion tant ddsiri^o se pr<5scntait, ct r<$v6nement a montrd comment il a su en profiter. Entro I'abatis et al premiere ligne dtaicnt placdes la companie do Yoltigours du capitaine Ecuyer et la oompagnie ldg6re du capitaine Debartzch, du 5me bataillon de la milice incorpordo, ayant lours piquets do flanc sur la droite. Un groa corps de sauvages, sous le capitaine Lamotho, 6ta.it rdpandu dans le bois, ii la droite du capitaine Debartzch. Le lieutenant-colonel McDonell, do I'inft^terie Ugdre de Glengarry, se transporta, avec une partie de sa brigade Idgdre, de la 3me et 4me lignes ^ la Ire et la 2me. Tous ces mouvements se firent ayeo une grande rapiditd. Sur ces entrefaites, I'ennemi commenya h se former dans une grande plaine qui aboutissait presque d. une pointe en froQt de I'abatis. Le g6nd- ral Hampton commandait en personne sur la rive gauche de la rividre ; il avait avec lui le lOme, le 31me et autres regiments, faisant environ trois milleou trois mille cinq cents bommes, avec trois escadrons de cavala- rie et quatre pieces d'arCillerie. Ndanmoins, Tartillerio ne fut pas employee dans Taction. Un gros parti de I'ennemi, se montant d, environ quinze cents hommes, pdndtra k trayers lea boia sur la rive droite de la rividre ; il dtait composd du 4me, 33me, 35me, et dea bataillons de Chasseurs yolon- tairea. Le reate de I'armde amdricaine se fonuait derridre la force qui ^tait sur la rive gauche. Peu aprda que le colonel De Salaberry eut fait les dispositions, comme on a dhjk dit, une forte colonne d'infanterie s'avanya par la plaine au devant de Ik, et le colonel, voyant que cette colonne s'dtait exposde k^tte priae en front et en flanc, ayantage qu'il avait attendu quelque tempa, il tira le premier, et Ton a'aperjut que aon feu avait jete baa un qfficier jl oheval ; o'dtait un bon augure. Alora il ordonna au trompette de aonner la charge, et auaaitdt les compagniea du front firent un feu vif et bien dirigd qui arrgta quelquea minutea la marohe de I'ennemi. II demeura quelque tempa en repos, puis, faisant un tour k gauohe, il se forma en APPENDIX. 291 kcs do la com- nant-coloncl sc ; lui un cnncmi depuis lo com- prdsentait, ct ro r abatis et al rs du oapitaine 11 5me bataillon la droito. Un r<:!pandu dans le iloncl MoDonell, me partie de sa me. Tou8 ces ans une grande batis. Le g6n6- le de la rividre ; faisant enviren idrons de oavala- fut pas employ^ \ environ quinze ite de la rividre ; Jhasseurs volon- ridre la force qui positions, comme par la plaine au ait expos^e diStre quelque temps, il bas un officier t »mpette de sonnei .n feu vif et bien jmi. II demeura le, il se forma en Hgrie, ct dans cctto position, Ificha plusicurs voldcs. Ni^anmoins, par ce mouvcmcnt, lo feu do la gauche de sa ligno porta cnti^rement sur la par- tie du bois qui n'dtult pas occupdo par nos troupcH ; mais lo fou do sa droit6 fut asscz fort pour obligor nos piquets d vcnir obcrcher un abri derri6ro I'abatis. L'enncrai prit co mouvcmcnt pour lo commencement d'uuo retraito, et fut bien tromp<5, car il no put s'cmparor d'un pouco de I'abatis. Los huzzas rctentissaiont d'uu bout & I'autre do son armde : mais nous no lui cddamcs pas mCme dans lo combat de oris ; nos compa- gnies du front cri6ront ii lour tour, et les huzzas furent rdpet^s par colics de la queue, ct onsuitc par les troupes do la premiere ligne, qui fit jouer les trompettcs dans toutes los dircotions pour porter Tcnnemi A croiro que nous dtions en plus grand nombre. Cette ruse do guerre cut Tcffet d < I'on entendit, encore une fois, les oris joyeux des ennemis, uiais leur oie fut cello d'un mo- ment ; car ils ne furent pas plutot arrivds vis-^ is de la potence, que, par I'ordre du lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry, k troupes qui se tiou- vaient \h firent sur eux un feu vif et blen dirigd, q . les arreta tout-^ coup dtaxxB leur marche bardie et les mit d^^ns la plus gn le confusion. Yaine- ment tach6rent-ils de rdsister; ils se dispersfirf j et retrait mandant Oanadien, k la t§te d'une teoape de Canadiens qui ne se montait pas & la vingtidme partie do la force qui leur 6tait oppose. 4( ^ * * " Oe moment reoonnaissanee; rir d'une phnse \s6 par un oom- li ne se montait e. 4: :|( * * I ■