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MAJKDM 'GIBKI^ BIR(DWN 
 
 U. B,Ajpinyc 
 
 ■»*'H/l 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 01^ THE 
 
 LATE WAR 
 
 »***««"» AVW^A'/^f^'*^^-.,.^ _ 
 
 /* 
 
 BETWEEN THE 
 
 W^\ 
 
 tmmj} STATJBS AND GB]I^AT BBIfAIK. 
 
 ST jamr m^0 mmsfopr, 
 
 .■Jtf. 
 
 V ■ ■ • 
 
 -%: 
 
 ifiimi^:^jimm^f^^^ 
 
 /■r¥- 
 
 sBBtaip^lPppfB 
 
 PHILADEI^PHIiis 
 rV9U8H£D BY THOU^ Wfm*y^% 
 
 * 
 
 Also by M. Ctaev fc Bon, A. Small, and M. "Ilioiiuui, nuIaddpl^Y 
 ' E. Weems and J. MiHigan, Oeot^town (D. C); D. Kennedy Ic 
 Sons, and John Stewaitl, Alexandria; P. Gottonii tliqhi|iond 
 fVa.): R. Cottom, Petenbuivh (Va.); Cale}> Bomal, NotfoO: 
 (Va,); B. C. Weightman, Washington Ci^j J. T. Vance, CoaJe 
 Sc Maxwell, and F. Lucas, Baltimore; Fatters9n & Lambdin, 
 Pitt8bui|;h (Pa.); W. Graydon, Hanuburgh (Pa.^} «i)4 A. % 
 Goodrich, New Tork. 
 
 Ciark U Rater, Printen, 78 JVo^ Fifth St. 
 
 Maj— 1818. 
 
^Rfi^^^vnmvpi^iiapHMiiHi 
 
 SECB 
 
 AS WE 
 
 Tonegr* 
 
 JHftfipt pf PenMtfhania, tcf mi; 
 
 Bb it BXXBMBXRS9) Thflt tin the. eleventh day of April, in 
 the forty-second year of the independence of the United States 
 6f America, A. D. 1818,< John Lewis Thomson and Thomas De- 
 iOvfcr c/£ the said district, have deported in this office the title 
 of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the 
 words folio wing, to wit: 
 
 ** Historical Sketches of the Late War between the United 
 States and Great Britain. By John Lewis Thomson, fifth, 
 and an improved Edition." 
 
 In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, 
 eiitiUedj ** An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing 
 |Le copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and pro* 
 prietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.**-^ 
 ^nd also to the ac^ entitled, " An act supplementarv to an act, 
 entitled, ' An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing 
 the copies of map's, charts, and hooks, to the authors and pro- 
 prietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned,' 
 and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, en* 
 graving, and etching historical and other prints." 
 
 D. CALDWELL, 
 
 Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 AND 
 
 Att] 
 
 
f- 
 
 TO THE * 
 
 HON. JAMES MONBOE, 
 
 SECBETARY OT STATE^ OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 WHOSE EFFORTS, 
 
 AS WELL ON AN EMBASSY TO THE COURT OF ST. JAMES, 
 AS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 
 
 To negfotiate an honourable Adjustment of those Differences which 
 resuKed io the late Contest with Great Britain, 
 
 April, in 
 ed States 
 omasDe- 
 : the title 
 ■8, in the 
 
 e United 
 1. Fifth, 
 
 sd States, 
 
 securing 
 
 and pro* 
 
 oned.**-*- 
 
 to an act, 
 
 securing 
 
 and pro- 
 
 intioned,' 
 
 ;ning, en- 
 
 1., 
 
 Dsylvania. 
 
 WKSE OHAHACTXBXSXS BT '^X MOST tXVKfXTlBABUl ZEII.; 
 
 AND WHO FRESmED WITH DISTINGUISHED ABIUTY 
 IN THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR, 
 
 At the Period most inemorable for the Achievements of the 
 
 American.anns; 
 
 THIS WORKy 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY 
 
 i ^ 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Philadelphia, July 4, 1816. 
 
 
 «■■ 
 
wfT^^^^^WPMW"* 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO 
 
 THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 "WnHEN proposals were issued for the publi- 
 cation of this work, some time after the ratifica- 
 tion of the treaty of peace with Great Britain, 
 its contemplated plan embraced nothing more 
 than the compilation of hasty sketches of the 
 leading events of the war, arranged in chrono- 
 logical order, and with a proper regard to the 
 preservation of iSfie principal features, and the 
 general characters, of the land and naval en- 
 gagements. The author was not long in disco- 
 vering that infinite pains and excessive labour 
 were necessary, to the collection of materials 
 from which these sketches, however concise, 
 might be made, with that fidelity which such 
 subjects require. 
 
 His resources at that period, though stamped 
 ith the character of authenticity, were extreme- 
 limited, and he found it necessaiy to intimate 
 is intentions to officers of the army and navy, 
 ho had been engaged in many of the events 
 hich it was his design to perpetuate, and upon 
 the truth of whose statements he could implicitly 
 
11 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 i 
 
 rely. These intimations were followed by many 
 assurances of ^.as^istance from gentlemen of all 
 ranks in the service, and by promises of full, 
 and accurate, accounts of the operations of the 
 fleets and armies. From such fruitful and au- 
 jthentic sources, the author could not fail to elicit 
 the best possible information, and though he did 
 not immediately contemplate an extension of the 
 limits of the work, he determined to put it more 
 in the form of a famihar and connected narra- 
 tive, than might have been expected from its 
 titlcy, without assuming, however, the style of a 
 history. 
 
 The length a ad number of the journals and 
 statements transmitted to him, not only tended 
 to increase his labours, but produced much more 
 delay in the completion of the work, and pro- 
 longed its appearance beyond the day on which 
 it was thought it would, in all probability, be 
 published. 
 
 To the same cause is to be attributed the cir- 
 cumstance of its having attained the three hun 
 dredth page, before tlie account of the northern 
 campaign was fully detailed, and to that circum- 
 stance he must refer his readers, for the concise- 
 ness of the description of the capture of Wash 
 ington, the attack upon Baltimore, the operation 
 upon the whole southern coast, and of the bril 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Ill 
 
 by many 
 en of all 
 3 of full, 
 ns of the 
 i and aii- 
 1 to elicit 
 ^h he did 
 on of the 
 it it more 
 
 » 
 
 5d narra- 
 
 from its 
 
 style of a 
 
 rnals and 
 ly tended 
 uch more 
 and pro- 
 on which 
 bility, be 
 
 id the cir- 
 iree hun- 
 northern 
 t circum- 
 e concise- 
 of Wash- 
 )perations 
 
 r the bril-l 
 
 liant and unparalleled repulse of the enemy be- 
 fore New Orleans. Limited as thftse descriptions 
 are, it became necessary to add seventy-tAro 
 pages to the number promised, and the expenses 
 of the work have, in consequence, been so much 
 increased, that without incurring an absolut^^ 
 loss, its bulk could not possibly be any further 
 extended. x 
 
 The Author cannot conclude this Preface, 
 without assuring his readers thafno efforts have 
 been neglected to ascertain the principal facts 
 connected with the events of the war. Perse- 
 vering as he has been, however, he fears that 
 omissions have been made, or that some mis- 
 statements may have crept into the work, and 
 to such he begs the indulgence of those persons 
 who were concerned in the events, as the attain- 
 ment of the knowledge of such facts too fre- 
 quently eludes the most industrious research^ 
 and the contradictory accounts, with which he 
 has been supplied, have often thrown tum into 
 perplexing embarrassments. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO 
 
 I 
 
 THE- FIFTH EDITION. 
 
 # SINCE the publication of the first edition of 
 this work, the author has been constantly em- 
 ployed in collecting further materials from \rhich 
 to describe the sortie from fort Ei*ie, and the 
 siege and defence of New Orleans. Through 
 the politeness of several gentlemen, whose names 
 he does not feel himself authorized, , nor is he 
 indeed permitted, to mention, he has been ena- 
 bled to detail the operations of the rival armies, 
 more at length, at each of those places. He has 
 had it in his power also to enlarge upon the ac- 
 counts, before given, of other important and 
 brilliant events, and to correct several errors, 
 which, notwithstanding the most studied precau- 
 tions, seldom fail to insinuate themselves into 
 all works of this nature. From these, however, 
 evei^ in the present edition, he cannot have the 
 presumption to avow himself wholly free; but he 
 has, nevertheless, the satisfaction of declaiing, 
 that many of his statements have received the 
 entire approbation of officers of rank, to whom 
 the perusal of the first edition has been sub- 
 mitted. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 • 
 
 ON presenting to the public a fifth edition of the 
 Historical Sketches of the Late War, the subscriber thinks 
 it incumbent on him to state, that notwithstanding its price 
 has been reduced from Two Dollars to One Dollar and 
 Seventy-five Cents, bound, the work has undergone a very 
 careful revision by the author, and without any diminU' 
 tion of the number of pages. This reduction of the price 
 owes its cause to the publication, at a lower price, of a 
 similar work, after the appearance of a former impres- 
 sion of this, with an evident intention of checking its 
 sale, and limiting the just profits of the proprietor. To 
 obviate as much as possible the consequences of a compe- 
 tition, ungenerous in itself and subversive of the general 
 principles of the trade, he has so far lessened the expenses 
 of the work, as. to enable him to put it at its present price, 
 without injury to his interests. The illiberality of the com- 
 petition alluded to, is highly aggravated by the fact of the 
 compilation having been made so much after the manner 
 of the Historical Sketches, that if the copy-right has not 
 been actually violated, the privileges which the law so 
 justly secures to the proprietor of a work, have been gla- 
 ringly infringed. 
 
 THOMAS DESILYER. 
 
 A 2 
 
 ■^^M^:. 
 
;b 
 
 < ! 
 
 i. 
 
 mm 
 
 ■■■ 
 
 ^% 
 
 •W^. 
 
S^r 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 .r 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 [sDiAW hostilities — ^Battle on the Wabash — Conduct of the Bri- 
 tish Cabinet and cruisers — Declaration of war. a^nst Great 
 Britain — ^Invasion of Canada — ^Fall of Fort Michihmackinac — 
 
 • Skirmish near Aux Canards — M* Arthur's Excursion — Skirmish 
 at Brownstown — Evacuation of Sandwich — Battle of Maguaga 
 — Fort Chicago— Surrender of Detroit, pa^re 13 
 
 * 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 I Disposition of the Naval Forcefr-^Escape of the Constitution — 
 Letters of Marque and Reprisals — Atlas engages two anned 
 ships— Essex captures the Alert — Engagement between the 
 Constitution and Guerriere — ^Pursuit of the Belvidere — ^An En- 
 gagement on the St. Lawrence— Capture of the British brigs 
 Detroit and Caledonia, on Lake Erie — ^Wasp <»ptures the Frolic 
 — ^Both taken by the Poictiers— Loss of the United States* 
 schooners Nautilus and Vixen, p. 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 I Hostilities of the Creek Inctians — Fight near Davis* Creek — Bat- 
 Ue of the Lotchway town. p. 49 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Organization of the Northwestern arniy — ^Its disposition — Com- 
 ' mand pven to general Harrison'— Defence of Fort Harrison — <■ 
 Siege of Fort Wayne — Expedition agfj^lnstthe Indian towns, p. 53 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 British evacuate Fort Defiance — ^Death of Logan — Battle on the 
 Mississinewa — ^Left wing of the army moves from Defiance 
 to the Bapida — ^Excursion of the Kentucky brigade into In- 
 diana, p.^ 
 
VIU 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 . V 
 
 I J 
 
 3 
 
 American forces on the Niagara and St. Lawrence — An affair I 
 upon the latter — Expedition against Gananoque — ^Bombardment 
 of Ogdensburg^ — Attack upon it — Disposition of the forces on [ 
 the Nia^ra — Description of Queenstown — Battle of Queens> 
 town Heigphts — Death of general Brock — Defeat of the Ame- 
 rican forces — Cannonade between Fort George and Fort Nia- 
 gara — An affair below Ogdensburg — ^Pike's incursion into Ca- 
 nada — ^Bombardment of Fort Nii^^ara — Capture of the enemy's I 
 baggage at St. Re^s — General Smyth's Proclamation — ^The I 
 British batteries opposite Black Rock, stormed and carried — i 
 Abandoned by the Americans, they open a fire on the battery 
 ^t the Rock, . p. 66 
 
 CHAPTER Vn. 
 
 The Navy — Third naval victory, the United States over the Bri- 
 tish frigate the Macedonian — ^Progress of the naval establish- 
 ment on Lake Ont^rio->-Chauncey's squadron pursues the Royal 
 George into Kingston harbour, and bombards that town-— 
 Growler captures an enemy's sloop — Fight between the British 
 sloop of war C)iarybdis and the privateer Blockade — The Or- 
 ders in Council exchanges broadsides with the British sloop of | 
 war Opossum — The Tom captures the Townsend — ^The Bona 
 vanquishes a 22 gun ship — The Dolphin engages and carries 
 two armed vessels — Fourth naval victory, the Constitution over 
 the British frigate the Java, p. 90 
 
 CHAPTER Vni. 
 
 Contemplated movement of the British and Indians from Maiden 
 to Frenchtown — Battle between the advance of both armies, 
 and the defeat of the British — Capture of general Winchester's 
 force, and massacre of the prisoners — Siege of Fort Meigs — 
 Dudley's victory — Wis defeat and death — Sortie from the gar- 
 rison — Siege of Fort Meigs raised — Council of the Indian chiefs 
 —Colonel Ball destroys a party of tlie hostile Indians, p. 100 
 
 H4 
 
 fL 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Preparations for the campaign of 1813, by the Northwestern 
 Army and the Army of the Centre — Expedition agunst Eliza- 
 bethtown, Canada — Cajiture of Ogdensburg by the British — 
 Batteries at Black Rocc — Concentration of forces at Sacket's 
 Harbour — Description of the town and harbour of Little York, 
 capita] of Upper Canada — Embarkation of general Dearborn's 
 army at Sacket's Harbour— American fleet under commodore 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 % 
 
 IX 
 
 Chauncey smIs thence — ^Arrives at the mouth of York Harbour 
 — British force under general Sheaffe — Its disposition — Landing 
 of the American advimce-»-Fight in the Woods — ^Landing of 
 tlie main force — British retreat to their garrison — Their works 
 outside, taken — They abandon their fort — Explosion of the 
 mag^ine — Death of general Pike — ^The Americans enter the 
 garrison — Command devolves on coIoneL Pearpe— General 
 Sheaffe withdraws his forces from the town, and retreats across 
 the Don— ;Hi8 rear guard annoyed by lieutenant Kiddle — Capi- 
 tulation of the militia and capture of York — The British destroy 
 the military storehouse, whilst negotiating for terms, and set 
 fire to a vessel of war — ^The Americans leave York and proceed 
 to Niagara — ^Fleet sails to Sacket's Harbour, for reinforcements 
 — An expedition to the head of Lake Ontario— Fleet retums-r- 
 Its disposition before Newark-^- Attack upon and capture of Fort 
 George — Fleet on Lake Erie — Capture of Fort Erie — Defeat 
 of generals Chandler and Winder— Attack on Sacket's Harbour 
 by sir George Prevost — His repulse, p. 117 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 leneral Dearborn retires from the command of the Northern 
 Army — Command of Fort George devolves on general Boyd — 
 Capture of the Lady Murray — Destruction of Sodiis — Attempt 
 to land at Oswego — ^Affair at Beaver Dams— Escape of tlie mi- 
 litia prisoners m)m the head of the Lake — ^Massacre of lieu- 
 tenant Eldridge — ^Affair between the British Indians and Young 
 Cornplanter — ^British ag{un attack Black Rock — Capture of an 
 enemy's gun boat — Fort George invested — American outposts 
 attacked — Second expedition to York^— British capture the 
 Growler and Eagle — Enter Champlain, pillage and destroy the 
 private houses— Chase of the British fleet on Lake Ontario — 
 Encampment at Fort George, and re-possession of Newark by 
 the enemy — He retires to his entrenchments — Capture of a 
 British officer by an American sentinel, p. 148 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 'he Northwestern Army — ^British appear again before Fort Meigs 
 — Defence of Fort Stephenson, Lower Sandusky — Capture '^f 
 the British fleet on Lake Erie — ^Northwestern Army remforced 
 from Kentucky — Is transported by the American fleet to Canada 
 — Capture of Maiden — The Americans enter Sandwich— Pur- 
 sue tne British up La Tranche — Skirmish in Chatham — Battle 
 of tlie Thames — Defeat and capture of general Proctor's army 
 — Escape of that officer — Death of Tecumseh — Destruction of 
 the Moravian Town — The antiy sails for and arrives at Buffa- 
 loc, p, 159 
 
it 
 
 4' 
 
 Y - 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Wan of operations on the St. Lawrence — Concentration of thej 
 forces on Grenadier Island — British abandon the investment ofl 
 Fort George — Dosoent of the St. Lawrence — Skirmishes in itsi 
 course — ^Battle of Chfystler's Kelds — The left wing of the! 
 Northern army retires to winter quarters — The right wingi 
 marches through the Chateaugay woods — Is attacked by the! 
 British-^Engages and repulses them — Goes also into winter! 
 quarters — The Americans evacuate Fort George and destroy! 
 Newark — Sxirrender of Fort Niagara — Destruction of Le wistownl 
 andBuffaloe, />. 177! 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Navy — Hornet challenges Bonne Citoyenne — Is chased from! 
 St. Salvador — Engages and captures the sloop of war Peacock! 
 —Arrives at New York — Return of the frigate Chesapeake — | 
 Her cruise — Arrival and departure of the President and Con- 
 gress*— Death of captain Lawrence and loss of the Chesapeake I 
 — Conduct of the pnvateers — ^Lieutenant St. Clair in Chesapeake I 
 Bay — Fight between the Commodore Decatur and the sloop of I 
 war Dominica, /►. ISSf 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Blockade of the Delaware River and of Chesapeake Bay — Attack! 
 upon Lewistown, on the former — ^Affair below Lewistown — j 
 Repulse of the enemy near Morris River — ^The gun boats attacks 
 two frigates — Engagement on the Delaware — Depredations iiil 
 Chesapeake Bay — Frequent failures of the enemy to land-*-! 
 Affwr at Frenchtown — Destruction of Havre de Grace, and cf j 
 Georgetown and Fredericktown — ^Blockade of other ports — [ 
 Loss of the revenue cutter Surveyor — Action between the 
 gun boats and three frigates — Defence of Crany Island — Hamp- j 
 ton assaulted and plundered, p. 204! 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 British land at Ocracoke and Portsmouth — Capture two letters of | 
 marque — Distribution of admiral Warren's fleet — United States' 
 schooner Asp — A fishing smack, the Yankee, captures a British | 
 tender, the Eagle — The frigates United States and Macedonian, 
 and the sloop of war, Hornet, blockaded at New London — Mid- 
 shipman Ten-Eyke — ^British at Saybrook — Engagement in Con- 
 necticut Sound — Wareham and Scituate — Occupation of East- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 U 
 
 port. Moose island — Attack upon Stonington — ^British clum the 
 territonr east of the Penobscot, and occupy Castine— Loss of 
 the United States' frigate Adams, p. 224 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Navy — United States' gun brig Arg^, captured by the sloop 
 of war Pelican — ^The Boxer and the Enterprise— Allen and 
 Burrows — Commodore Rodgers and the Planta^enet — ;Constitu- 
 tion chased into Marblehead — Commodore Lewis — Cruise of the 
 Essex frigate — Her capture — United States' sloop of war Pea- 
 cock, vanquishes the British brig of war Epervier — Cruise of 
 the new sloop of war M' asp — Her conquest over the Reindeer — 
 She sinks the Avon, p. 235 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 I Proposed plan of operations in Lower Canada — ^The army quit the 
 quarters at French Mills — Incursion of the British to Malone — 
 Smugglers — Movei .ent against La Colle — Concentration of the 
 British forces at Isle aux Noix — General Wilkinson's recal — 
 Establishment of a battery at Otter creek — ^British appear at its 
 mouth — ^are repulsed — Operations on Ontario — ^Lieutenant Dud- 
 ley— Defence of Fort Oswego— Second appearance of th« Bri- 
 tish there — Attack upon Charlottetown, on Gennessee river- 
 British land at Poultneyville — Blockade of Sacket's Harbour — 
 An engagement at Sandy creek, and capture of the whole Bri- 
 tish force — The British fleet retire to Kingston — The Americans 
 blockade them — An affair near Odelltown — Death of colonel 
 Forsythe — Expedition against Long Point, Canada — Colonel 
 Baubee taken prisoner — Incursion to Long Wood, Canada, and 
 defeat of the British, p.2SS 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Assemblage of the left division of the army at Black Rock and 
 Buffaloe — Capture of Fort '^'^e — Americans encamp at Street's 
 creek — Skirmish with the enemy's rear guard — Affairs of pic- 
 quets — Battle of Chippewa — British retreat to Ten Mile Creek 
 — American army encamp at Queenstown — Death of general 
 Swift — Movement upon Fort George — General Brown retires to 
 Chippewa creek— Battle of Niagara, p. 272 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Defences of Fort Erie extended— Invested by the enemy— The 
 British land below Buffaloe — ^and are repulsed at Conejockeda 
 creek— Affaifs of outposts— Death of major Morgan— Assault 
 
zu 
 
 'Wy 
 
 OONTENTS. 
 
 upon Fort Erie — The besiegpers driven back to their works— 
 Loss of the schooners Somers and Ohio— Renewal of the can. 
 nonade and bombardment, p. 303 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Invanon of the American territory by sir George Prevost — Battle 
 of the Saranac — ^Defeat, and capture of the British fleet on Lake 
 Champlain — ^Plattsburgh evacuated — Continuation of the siege 
 of Fort Erie — The besieged make a sortie from their works, 
 and storm those of the besiegers — ^The British raise the siege 
 and retire to Chippewa — Eng^ement at Lyons* creek — ^Des- 
 truction of Fort Erie by the Americans, and evacuation of Up- 
 per Canada — Operations against MichiUmackinac— Loss of the 
 United States' vessels, Scorpion and Tigress — Expedition into 
 Canada, under general M'Arthur, p. 316 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 itepeated engagements, between the gun boat Flotilla, and the 
 British vessels in the Patuxent — ^Bladensburg — Capture of 
 Washington — Of Alexandria — ^Death of sir Peter Parker— ^At- 
 tack upon Baltimore — Death of general Ross, and repulse of 
 his army— Blockade and siege of New Orleans — Defeat of the 
 British forces there — Termination of the war, by a treaty of 
 peace and anuty, negotiated at Ghent, p. 332 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The Navy — ^Loss of the United States' frigate President— The 
 Constitution engages, and captures, the British frigate Cyane, 
 and the sloop of war Levant-— Capture of the sloop of war Pen- 
 guin, by the Hornet, p. 361 
 
feir works— 
 of the can 
 p. 303 
 
 kst— BatUe 
 leet on Lake 
 pf the siege 
 ^heir works, 
 i the siefife 
 Ireek—Des- 
 Ition of Up. 
 ■Loss of the 
 edition into 
 /». 316 
 
 4 
 
 HI8TOBIC4JL SKETCH1» 
 
 ■* 
 
 QF THK 
 
 I.ATE WAB, ^. 
 
 a» and the 
 capture of i 
 arke^-At- 
 
 repulse of 
 feat of the 
 a treaty of 
 p. 332 
 
 lentr-The 
 
 te Cyane, 
 
 warPen- 
 
 p.Z%l 
 
 CH^ypTBEl. 
 
 Mrifish^ (kddnet and Crmim^^ifediiriffi^ otJWar 
 
 JutfinstJEhrm^ BrUai^--'iiiwmm of Xhi^9tida--^0ttl of 
 
 Fort Mip1iiHmaekismc'--^-&lch^8h itear Jmie OanaifmL 
 
 JBva^pic^n </ ^an4wy^h-rf$i0le tf ^a^au^^or^Fort 
 Chieagorr'Swrrender of Ihtroit 
 
 About fbe close of the year 1811, the Indian aJfiurs 
 on the southern and nor^iwestem frontiers of the United 
 States* assumed an aspect of a much more alarming nature 
 than had marjced any of the previous depnedations of Ae 
 neiffhbouring tribes. Incessant incursions, were followed 
 by m» extinction of wlu>le famtfi^*and the seyeral nations 
 seemed emiilous of excelling each other in acts of th6 
 greatest horror. An unextin^ishable hostility was mani- 
 fested by Jbe most powerful chiefs and warriors^ whose 
 enmity towards the frontier inhabttant^-^fas etcited, and 
 kept alive, by an industrioua circulatioiii oi inflammatorT 
 addressee and aUnring ^fts. Th^ conduct of the British 
 traders, was £u:irom being consifttttiit with the pacific dis- 
 
14 
 
 '^HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 H 
 
 {% 
 
 
 m 
 
 position, which their government had been professing; and 
 the facility with which the Indians became possessed of 
 every description of offensive weapons, known to be be- 
 yono their means, either to manufacture or to purchase, 
 led to sOBplctiins of th^ having; 4)een 8uj|)ptied by it» ap- 
 pointed agents. The result of ihvestigations, made by the 
 governors of Ohio, and of the Michigan and Illinois terri- 
 tories, save strone confirmation of these suspicions, and it 
 was wdl ascertained that great quantities of arms, and 
 ammunition, had been delivered to tiie different nations, 
 contiguous to the British posts. 
 
 The inflaenee of a mtawaneae, yf\m ityled himself 
 ^The Prophet" and who neglected no means to excite 
 the most violent animosities against the people of the 
 United States, had produced among the Indians, on the 
 bord^^ of tiie Wamsh, « ^^spcM^ion to massacre and 
 plunder, to so enormous an extent, that the vigorous in- 
 terferf^nce of tiie government was no longer to be with- 
 held. Measures were therefore immediately adopted, in 
 conjunction with governor W. H. Harrison, to repel by 
 force, 6U|tniges, whi'^h could not be prevented by treaty. 
 The mmtia of Indiana, and a regiment of United States 
 infiuitry, commanded by colonel (since general) John P. 
 Boyd, werte accordingly ordered to march under governor 
 Harrison, to the Propet^ town to demand restoration of 
 the plunder, which tne Indkns had seized, and to reduce 
 them to such terms, as should secure tiie future peace of 
 Ailt territory. Fn the month of November, of 1811, this 
 body of troops were within four miles of the Prophet's 
 town, (having already marched thirty-four days) before 
 ^e Indians had any expectation of seemg them ; when one 
 of the 'chiefs came out, and proposed that governor Harri- 
 soti ^ould eneamp near^em until morning, at which time 
 the Prophet wotfld willingly enter Intb' a treaty of peace. 
 This proposal was agrfeeato,and the troops w€re encamp- 
 ed in line of battle, with ordwrg to kefep on their accoutre- 
 ments, and to lie upon their «ni«, so that ^ey might be 
 reaAy for action without one moment's delay. At four 
 o^clock an the morning of *he seventh; the camp was at- 
 taclt^with great fury, by he savages, ut a pomt where 
 the bayonet, ftotveyer, socm dispersed tb^ and where 
 thre<^> Indians were found within the llneof sentindsseek^ 
 ing the commander. The morning was excessively d»rk. 
 
OF THB LATE WAB. 
 
 15 
 
 and the men could only be distingiuahed by the w^tob* 
 word« or the flushes of tKe muaketiy. By the aid of thii, 
 monoeRtdKy lig^t, th^ Indiana were seen cirowtUBg Uto the 
 camp, Imt they were entirely routed by several viMiroua 
 and intrepid cnarges. The conduct of colonel Idvya and 
 the fourth reciment, after the action had become more fo-^ 
 neraU intimidated and put the Indians to flight: at w» 
 dawn of day they were closely pursued* and numbers of 
 them killed* The cavalry wece brought into action* but 
 the savages fled from them in sreat confusion, abandoned 
 their town* into which they had been driven, and j^scaped 
 across the civer. Fifty^tnree Indiana were lying dead 
 about the encampment, and their loss in killed and wound- 
 ed, was estimated at 150.. Of the fourth regimeat 77 wer^ 
 killed and wounded* The loss of the whole force amounts 
 ed, from die most accurate account, to 187. Most of the» 
 militia under governor Harrison, behaved with great cou* 
 rage nnd bravery; and to colonel Boyd, whose experienco 
 in the Mahrattah (India) «enrice, led to such an expect 
 tion,is much of the success of this battle to be atplliited.* 
 Tranquillity being now restcured to the territory of In- 
 diana, the tro(q;»s returned to fort Harrison, and the mil^ 
 tia to their homes. Many months had not ela|ised, how- 
 ever, before the Prophet in connexion witL kis brother^ 
 Tecwnseh, a chief of great valowrv^nd <tf equal ambition* 
 threatwed a renewal of hostilities, not only againat the 
 inhabitants of Indiana, but of the adjacent territories. To 
 guard against future encroachments frwn tiie savages, 
 and to protect such of the inhabitants as had yet escaped 
 their fury« it was necessary timt the peace estabUeiunent 
 should be augmented, and new regiments raised,> of a na- 
 ture to cope with ]kh^ Indian warfare. Indications of hqs^ 
 tiUty to the inter^i^ of the United States, were ab^ut iiaa 
 time evinced in the conduct, as well of the British minis- 
 
 * Tn this Action the Indians Were oommandecl by WUie Ijo&h, 
 Stone JBaieryunA IVyntmaek, » Pot*wato«aie cl^f, who was ttU»hi 
 afterwards (in, Novepiber, 1812) by TecB«MW^« nephew, a f^aef of 
 the name <»' i^Ajpn, attsched to toe northwestern anny, at fort 
 Winchester. Tecunuen was absent fhnn his tribe on a Visit to tiie 
 Creeks ind Chidtasaws, and ihe Ih^het remained in his town, 
 during the engagement, offering 1^ inttrcesrions with the iErcat 
 Spirit, ^ the suocess of his wrms. 
 
16 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 1 
 
 try, M of their public shi)M of war, on the American coas^ 
 In neatriU ports, and on the ocean. ^ ^ 
 
 In the e^ent of a more decided obaracter being given 
 to this state of relations, between the United States, and 
 €h!«at Britain, and the Indians, the necessity of a laq^r 
 aniiy would become still more urgent In providing 
 againist these threatening evils, the second session of the 
 twelfth congress had been protracted to an unusual length, 
 and, ^m finding remohstrances to be unavailing^ the Presi- 
 dent, on tile first of June, 181S, laid before, the two houses 
 i detail of tiie various enormities committed against this 
 nation by ike British government, and the officers repre- 
 senting it Their immediate attention was required to 
 the swmect, as it was thot^ht necessary, by the ^;reatest 
 proportion of the peophe, that such encroacmng^ injuries, 
 should at last be resisted by the most eflfectnal means. 
 Documents being in possession dT the eiecuttve, which 
 placed tile insulting practices of the British, MaiiiBt ^e 
 commerce and national honour of the United rates, be- 
 yond aH doubt, the communication set forth, 
 
 ^ That the cruisers of that nation had been in the ban- 
 "tiniEed practice of violating the American flag on the 
 ** great highway of natitms, and of seizing and carrying 
 f off persons t»ailii% under it; not in tiie exercise of a be^ 
 <^ligerent right, founded on the law of nation»— gainst 
 ^ an enemy, l»ut of a municipal prerogative over British 
 *'sulMect8; 
 
 <*That they had been in the practice also of violating 
 ** the peace and the rights of our coasts, by hovering over 
 ** andliarassing our entering and departing c(miinerce, and 
 wtiiat to tile most insulting j^etensions they had added 
 *^ tiie most lawless proceedings in our very harbours; and 
 *< wantonly spilt American blood witidn tne sanctuary of 
 ** our territorial jurisdiction ; 
 
 ** That they were aiming to sacrifice our commercial in- 
 l^nterests, tuiA were laying waste our neutral trade, not be- 
 ^ cause we supjftied their enemy, but Irjr carrying ^i a war 
 faglunst our iriehdlv commerce that they might them- 
 "^selvos pursue an intercourse with their enemy; 
 
 ^ That they were plunderinff our vessels on the hig^ 
 "seas under pretended Uockades, wHhout the necessary 
 "presence or an adequate fwce to maintain them; and 
 '^ that to these transcendent acts of injustice the cabinet 
 
<Ur THK LATE WAR. 
 
 17 
 
 " of Great Britain added at leagtK the mc€ifnn§^ mffitm ^ 
 
 *< baeii HMvldad to mk ita political vicMQift.ita oompiiraiil 
 ** jeakMliea or thie aftdiijr Qt Britiak craitera; r 
 
 ** HMt at Hhe vary momeni when thair f lAlie niaiaier 
 <* #as holdiiig tbe ian^uago of friandaliip and 'vmpmtm 
 " confidanoe in the sincaiitjr af the De^otiMlMii wiS 
 *' which he was ehaf|;ed, a secret agent oC kft^OTafmnaiit 
 ** was employed m iatrigaes, having fbrthair mi^% a mth 
 " Torsion of oar governnieiit and a d^sinembeirriMi&i of our 
 ** anion; 
 
 • ** That the war&re which was just renewed b^ the sa^ 
 ** Vases on oar fimitaers, which sjiared ne^b^r 
 *' and was distinouished hy fBataffeapeculiarlj^ 
 ** humanity, could not be referred to without 
 ** tbsir hoatiUty with the influence of BrUiali traderaanc 
 *^ garrisons, nor without recdlecting the authenticalad aa» 
 ** amples of the interpositions of the officers and agpenia of 
 *^ that govemmeni^ And, 
 
 ' "Taut In fin^, on the side of Qreat Britain^ these wiaa 
 ^ a state of war aoainst the United States; and on the 
 *^ sicte of the United States a state ^poace towards Gteat 
 ^^Sritain.^- -■-• v -jj^v -:.^ -■ v^^s.-^^' ,.•^:■- 
 
 rTht committee of foreign relations, fei whom Hds mea« 
 M^ was referred, reported a nianiiesto to the house, in 
 wmch, aller recapitulating these i^evances, they raeomi' 
 mended, as the only measure to prevent fiiture aggression, 
 an imme^ate appeal to arms; and on the 18th day of June, 
 an act was passed, declaring war against the kingdom of 
 Great Britain and It^nd, and ^ deffendenciea tiiereof, 
 whidi received the executive sanction, 
 
 A small army, Gonttstiai|^ of the 4th regiment of infiui* 
 try, and ^ree re^ments of Ohio vohinteers, was ardeeedy 
 under the comin^iid of brigadier-general Hull, to protect 
 the frontiers against tiie incursions of the savagea^ Aiier 
 the declaration of war, this £prce, bmn^ nearest to tiie 
 most convenient point of invasion, was directed tor^^ 
 to the town of Detroit, von the river of that name, asid op- 
 posite Sandwich, a beautiful and extensive vttlage in -Up* 
 per Canada. 
 
 . Cia the MAl of Julv, aliter a tedious and fiitiguing iiaiish 
 of thir^r4ve days, during which he was obliged to liBrii£|F 
 lus camp, lit evdf^ positioa whaeh ha^ oceupisd at night, 
 
 B 2 
 
 "^^ 
 wt 
 
^WflP* 
 
 ^^^mmtm 
 
 18 
 
 HUTOBICAL 8KSTCBE9 
 
 to preTcntti suiDrise from a party of Indians, who, aided 
 by tile BrUiiklHid cloiKty and constantly reconnoitred 
 mnif and who ib^ plannoa an attack upon Detroit, whieh 
 the approach <^ lut army frustrated, oeneral Htdl ar- 
 rived at that post with 8,500 men. He had no sooner 
 gpiisoned the American shore of the Detroit, than the 
 Kitish began to throw up breast-works, and to erect batp 
 teries, on the onposite side. The first of these was de- 
 stroyed by a w»r direci^ed fife from the fort, and the per- 
 sons employed at it, were oUiffed precipitately to retire; 
 A secopo, which was situated about three miles below, was 
 destroyed in like manner, by a few pieces of cannon de- 
 spatched for that purpose, and worked with so much skill, 
 tmi| ^ enemy was compelled to abandon his design, of 
 forafying atthat |»oint 
 
 Active preparations were now making for an immediate 
 invasiea. of -Canada; boats of lai*ge capacity were con- 
 structed! imd the passage of the whole army was to be 
 ef^ted at the same instant, l^he width of the river 
 being favourable to the crossing of the troops, either above 
 or below the points selected to oppose their Handing, the 
 enemy was aliowe<], on his third attempt, to erect with«' 
 oat annoyance, a battery of seven small cannon, and 
 two mor^urs. These arrangements being eifected, the 
 embarkation took place on me IStb, and the army land- 
 ing on the Canadian shore, above the fort, entered Sand- 
 wich without opposition. Those of the inhabitants, yrh» 
 had not been compelled to repair to the defence of Mai- 
 den, were witilout arms, and therefore made no show 
 cf resistance to the Americans, by whom they were ho-; 
 aourably respected in tiieir propertv and pcrstms. Pos- 
 session was liad, in a few days, or the whole country, 
 from the nver Thames, or la IVancAe, so called from 
 tiie evenness and beauty of its bank, to a rivulet, within 
 five miles of Maiden, whither the British regulars, and 
 Canadian militia, with a great number of Indians, had 
 
 J^or to the occupation df Sai^wich, however, the ette*^ 
 my had removed his most valuable stores, and wtnlst he 
 was throwing up breast-works, and appai^ntly Iqrtifying 
 that "pla^ &T defence, the largest division m ^hb troops 
 was employed in transporting mem to Amherotbusg. < 
 
 If genenl AuU's instrttctionsy adimHld of his striking^ 
 
or TB& LATE WAR. 'y^'W' 
 
 » blow immediatelj on hii arrival at Detroit, a favourable 
 opportunity was culpably neglected. Btf^ on hearing a 
 propoeition from his officers, to cross tht rhr^r below; to 
 cut off the communication, between the two divisions, at 
 Sandwich and Amherstbuiv; and suddenly to rush upon, 
 and carry fort Maiden by storm; he alleg^ the necessity 
 of waiting for positive orders for the invasion of Canada, 
 before he could embarii his troops for that purpose. Whilst 
 the force at Maiden, was weuiehed by the employment 
 of the men at Sandwich, this project mi^t have been 
 Carried into effect, and his army, besides pnsoners, would 
 have obtained a large accession of stwes and ammunition. 
 When he arrived at Sandwich, the British army, witji 
 these, and othc / stores, and an augmented Indian force, 
 had collected at, and were placing Maiden in a state to 
 sustain a siege.^To attempt tiie reduction of that garrison 
 by storm, after the enemy had effected this concentration 
 of his forces, it would be necessary to proKseed against it» 
 with a train of battering cannon, and ladders, of a suffidint 
 hei^t and number, to scale tiie walb at various poiig^. 
 The American army had neither of these, at that time, in 
 readiness, and ite operations wehe delayed for one month, 
 in preparing two 34-pounders and three howitzers.^^ In ^Ihis 
 interval,' such advantages were guned, as result (rOni 
 subsisting on the resources of the enemy's country, and 
 the ciwtore of some camp articles, and a small supply of 
 arms, Vk reconnoitring parties. • 
 
 Meanwhile, tlie Bntish and Indians at St. Josephs, had 
 been making preparations for an attack on fort MichUi- 
 maekiniuf,* (a position on an island of that name, and 
 within general Hull's command) and on the I6tb, four 
 days a&r the occupation of Sandwich, byihe tk-oops of 
 the United States^ tile British embarked at St. Josephs, 
 and reached the island early on the following mprmng. 
 Their force, consisting of 306 white troops, and 715 In- 
 dians, was command^l by captain Roberts, of the British 
 regulars, who sent in a prisoner to inform the commandimt; 
 that if any resistance was made, the garrkbn and inhabit- 
 ante would be indiscriminately put to the sword. The in- 
 habitants knowing that the fort tiad but 57 men for ite de- 
 fence, escaped from the island, or delivered themselves to 
 
 * Pronounced— -Mackinaw. 
 
20 
 
 UISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 Ml!' 
 
 1 
 
 the tnetajt in ffreat numbers; but many of them had no 
 opportunity to do either, and were obl^d to remain, and 
 abide the issue of tiie day. The commandant of the gar-* 
 rison, lieutenant Porter Hanks, of the artillery, determined 
 to give as eallant a resistance to the assailants as his small 
 force would allow him. -< 
 
 The island of MichiJUmackinae is about nine miles in 
 circumference. It is separated from the main land by a 
 strait of about seven miles broad^ its greatest breadth is 
 tliree miles, and its elevation above the lake, on its high- 
 est ground, about 168 feet. Two square stone houses, 
 united by a stockade, stand in the rear of the fort, which 
 is situated on a bluff rock rising from the water, but is 
 entirely overlooked by the hi^ ground at the distance of 
 600 yards. The island itself is of a circular form, highest 
 in the centre, and i^sembling a turtle's back ; from which 
 circumstance it is said to have taken its name— (JftcAf 2i- 
 wuickinac, or the Turtle). 
 
 "Slie er emy had landed on the back part of the island, 
 and urged his approach within cannon shot of the fort, 
 w^ere he gained the eminence commanding it, and from 
 which, he dir^ted a piece of heavy cannon against its 
 most de^er.t;ele68 side. The Indians were arranged on 
 tiie edge of an adjoining wood. The British command- 
 ant now sent a fla^, wim a demand for the surrender of 
 ^e fort and island, and communicated the first intelli- 
 gence which the garrison received, of the declaration of 
 war. The movement of the British and Indians, had been 
 nn^ this moment, considered as one, among the many 
 <Nitrage8, to which the frontier of that neighbouiliood had 
 been exposed, and the American commandant had re- 
 solved to shut himself up, and defend the fortress to the 
 very last extremity, though it should result in the total 
 annihilation of his force. But, on being informed of the 
 actual state of hostilities, he was aware, that if he held 
 out, the enemy, whose present number could not be ef- 
 fectually opposed, might be lately reinfoixed, and that 
 the fall of the garrison, would ^ followed by the threat- 
 ened indiscriminate slaughter, as well of the soldiers com- 
 {>08ine it, as of the non-combatant inhabitants of the 
 sland. The only measure, which could save them from 
 the brutal massacre of the savages, was a surrender of 
 
 ■m 
 
 hh 
 
OF THE LAT£ ^AR* 
 
 fit 
 
 the fort to the British, and lieutenant Han|c8 vetj pru- 
 dently entered in^o terms of capitulation, in which he 
 secured e promise.' protection to all private property, 
 though he put the enemy in poj^ession of a post, suscep- 
 tible of bemg rendered the strongest in America. 
 
 It will be observed that the loss of J^chilvmackimie, 
 took place on the 17th of July, and that gene^ Hull, al- 
 ready apprised of the war, had arrived at Detroit oh the 
 5th — and tlie reader will jud^, whetl^r this intelligeiice 
 could not have been transmitted to JfKchilinuickinac, a 
 distance of 254 miles, and whether that post ou^t hot to 
 have^been immediately reinforced. The enemy had know- 
 ledge of the existence qf hostilities, through the activity of 
 persons concerned iu the Northwest Fur Company; nii^e 
 days before the arrival of the American disposables, whilst 
 the American garrison was suffered to remain in i^orance 
 twelve days afi;er — and to the vigilance of one side, alld 
 the tardiness, or neslisence of uie other, this disaster is 
 certainly to be ascribed. 
 
 Preparations were still going on at Sandwich, for an 
 attempt on Maiden, when me troops were informed of the 
 afl^r at MichilimaeJcinac, by the capture of two vefisfils. 
 in which the priscmers taken there, had been embarked. 
 Vnle^ the contemplated attack on Maiden, should result 
 iii the success of the American arms, the situation of the 
 tro^s would become critical in the extreme; the posses- 
 sion of Michilinuickinac *^ve to the enemy many de- 
 cided advantages, and if the captiire of that post was fol- 
 lowed up by an assault on fort, Chica^Ot all the fortified 
 stations west of Detroit, would be in his hands, and tiie 
 whole of his Indian forces might be thrown upon that 
 frontier. Detroit would he an easy conquest, and tiie 
 American army might be so encompassed, that its retreat 
 would be impossilue. The Indians from the shwes of 
 the northwestern lakes, were already released froqi con- 
 straint, and the British commander was collecting lai^ 
 bodies of them, to move down upon Detroit, and the in- 
 termediate garrisons. Depending on the arrival of rein- 
 forcements, however, for which, in anticipation of these 
 events, eeneral Hull had despatched numerous expresses; 
 and being assured of the importance of the occupation of 
 Amherstbui^, he remained at Sandwich, carrying on an 
 
itiL 
 
 III9T08ICAX SKETCHES 
 
 "!i 
 
 excursive war by small parties^ and reconnoitring the ene-* 
 ray's outposts with incessant vigilance. 
 
 Colonel Cass, of the 3d regiment of Chio volunteers, 
 was ordered, ^th a detachment of 280 men, to recon- 
 noitre an advanced post of tiie etiemy upon a long bridge, 
 crossing La Rimere Jinx Canairds, of the river of me 
 Ducks, about four miles from fort Maiden. A company 
 of riflemen, commanded by captain Robinson, was con- 
 cealed near the bridge, vrim directions to fire upon, and ' 
 divert the attention of the guard stationed upon i^ as soon 
 as the remaining part of the detacF ment should be seen 
 on the opposite bank of the river^ which was intended to 
 be fordea about five miles below. An unlooked for dif- 
 ficulty at the ford, caused so much delay in the move- 
 ment of the detachment, that it did not appear at the 
 appointed ground until sunset, when, having marched with- 
 01^ a guide, too near the bank of the river, its prepress 
 was wstructed by a tributary creek; to pass this, a march 
 of another n^ile was necessary, and time was consequent- 
 ly allowed for the enemy to prepare for his defence. On 
 coming down the creek, colonel Cass found the British 
 already formed, uud received from them a distant nre of 
 musketry. The detachment moved pn, however, in ^ood 
 order and with great spirit and alacrity. The British, 
 who had been reinforced, at intervals, during the whole 
 afternoon, and whose number was made up of the 41st 
 regiment, and some Indians, made several other attempts 
 to fire, but were as often compelled to retreat, tlie de- 
 tachment continuing to move on, regardless of their oppo- 
 sition. They were driven more than half a mi^e, when ~ 
 the darkness of the night made further pursuit hazardous, 
 and colonel Cass was content to possess the bridge and 
 some adjmning houses, until morning, when, after recon- 
 noitring the neighbourhood, and not finding the, enemy, he 
 commenced his return to the camp, at Sandwich. Mo ac- 
 cumte information could be obtained of the force opposed 
 to tl^ detachment, but the loss of the enemy, was reports 
 ed by deserters, at eleven killed and wounded. The de- 
 tachment lost not a single man. The bridge was after- 
 wards fortified by the British, with six pieces of artillery, 
 bit this being deemed insufficient for its defence, they 
 removed both bridge and battery, and planted their pannon 
 

 ^T THB LATE WAK. 
 
 23 
 
 behind a breastwoi^ constructed fixmi the timber of the 
 former. 
 
 Three ^ys .after (19th July) colonel M'Arthur, with 
 150 men from his own re^ment (Cttiio volunteers) oi> re* 
 lieving a detachment which was out, proceeded to the 
 reconnoitring ground of colonel Cass, whence he dis- 
 covered the enemy — 85 regulars, 40 Indians, and 150 
 militia, protected by this battery. The Queen Charlotte 
 of 20 guns being at the same time -anchored in Detroit 
 river, at the mouth of ^ux Canards, with a gun boat 
 cruising about her. The firing was kept up nearly ^ 
 an hour between the battery, and a few riflemen in «t> 
 vance of the troops, but at too great a distance to have 
 effect, whilst M'Arthur was examining the Queen Char- 
 lotte. ^ 
 
 On finding the enemy so well protected by the battery, 
 the riflemen were ordered to retire to the detachment^ 
 but M'Arthur^ desire to ascertain the true situation of 
 the enemy, induced him to go near the broken bridge 
 witha^lass. He discovered that the Indians had prin- 
 cipally left the battery, and almost at the same instant* 
 was informed by a messenger frmn the detachment, that 
 a number of them were seen piassing tQ a rOad in its rear* 
 He was now attended by Dr. M'Anaw and caption Fnthtiff« 
 who, on turning "dieir horses to ride with him to the de- 
 tachment, were fired upon by about thirty Indiaairi, from 
 their concealment in a brush, at the distance of only 100 
 yards. They escaped, however, without being hurt, and 
 colonel M'Artfiur, immediately after led his men to the 
 pursuit of the Indians and drove them across Jlux Canards 
 to the battery, between the detachment and which, the 
 fire was kept up, at long shot, for three hours, without 
 other injury to tne Amencans, than the wounding of two 
 men, though several broadsides had been dkchsirged from 
 the Queen Charlotte. 
 
 The chief, TecMWwe^, celebrated for his dexterity with 
 the tom-hawk and rifle, not less than for kis relentless 
 cruelty in the use of ti\em, i^inst the inhalntaitts fX ^ 
 frontier, was at the head of the Iiutians. The «scape, 
 therefore, of M'Arthur and his companions from a istwfp 
 of savages, trained and commanded oy such a warrior as 
 Tecumseht was truly miraculous. It was no less fortu- 
 nate, that the detachment bravely moved up, at the report 
 
"Ifl!^,: 
 
 
 34 
 
 Uip^q^M^AL S^TG||£S 
 
 of ^e fire of the XncKimus, ami put them to immediate 
 fli^t. M'Artiiur encamped for ike night within two miles 
 oiJiux Vmords, aiid, on the fallowing morning, returned 
 to the army» with colonel Cass, and 100 men, by whomhe 
 was then joined. 
 
 .^ jBetween, tins time and ^e ' beginning; of August, no 
 event took pUce« which couI4 aflfonl the American troops 
 an oppOrtuni^ of displaying their true character. Tne 
 inclenientey of the weather wa|t very unfavourable to the 
 operations of an a^tny. .Sudden transitions from extreme 
 h^i^ to intense cold, foUowed t^ violent storms of rain 
 and. ha^, : rendered them both sickly and discontented. 
 ISiey had been all enamoured of an expedition, which 
 promised ttiem so much honoiir and renown, and when 
 tlMBV landed ooi the Canadian shore, tiiey were filled with 
 i^uch assur^nc^ of conquest, as made their impatience 
 for achievement almost unffoverpable. The tardiness, 
 which now seemed insepfU'abTe from the conduct of their 
 commander, dispirited them, and destroyed whatever of 
 confidence tthey might have reposed in hun before. The 
 result of a poun^il of war, however, which it was found 
 necessary to convoke, revived all their desires, and a spirit, 
 no less active than that With which they nad set out, 
 pervaded the whole ebca^pment In two days mwe, \^ 
 proper exertio]as> every arrangement would m completed 
 fgr tiie investment o( fort lifalden. At the end of that 
 .time tile heavy cannon might be ready; if they should 
 not, the couiicil recommended an attempt with the bay- 
 onet. The British garrison had been weakened by con- 
 stant desertion^ of the embodi^ Canadian militia, and 
 a vi^irous attack upon it, however jgallant the defence, 
 cou3 not but be attended with ultimate success. The 
 deliberations of the council corresponded with the opinions 
 of th§ General, and the day was appointed on which the 
 assault was to take place. ' The cannon were well mount- 
 ed, and embarked on floating batteries; the amniunition 
 was already placed in wagons provided for its convey- 
 ance; the troops were aniinated by the prospect of a com- 
 bat, and not at all doubtfiil of a certain and brilliant 
 victory. 
 
 A company of volunteers fi'om Ohio, under command 
 of captain Brush, had arrived at the river Raisin, with a 
 quantity of provisions for the army. Although the troops 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 ^i. 
 
 were already supplied for many days, these provisions 
 might be necessary in the event of conquest. The distance 
 from Detroit, to the point at which they had arrived, was 
 thirty-six miles, and their march was liable to be inter- 
 cepted by scouting pai-ties from the enemy. Major Van- 
 horne was therefore despatched, with 150 men, to meet 
 and escort them to their destination. He had nearly 
 reached Brownsto*vn, on his second day's march, when he 
 \yas attacked in front, and on both flanks, by a very supe- 
 rior force of regulars and Indians. A waim engagement 
 followed; to the Americans the odds were fearful, but, 
 after an obstinate resistance, they succeeded in makil^ an 
 orderly retreat with the loss of 19 killed and missins, and 
 9 wounded. — Among the former were captains MCmlocb, 
 Bostler, and Gilcrease, who fought with that gallantry, 
 which has never failed to distinguish ihe citizens of the 
 state to which they belonged; among the latter was cap- 
 tain Ulry, since dead, whose conduct was not less noble 
 than that of his companions. 
 
 Major Vanliorne had scarcely been sent from Sandwich, 
 when a change of measures was adopted by the oeneral, 
 in opposition to the wishes and intreaties of all bis offi- 
 cers. The enterprise against Maiden was abandoned, and 
 he announced his determination of evacuating Canada, 
 and ofposting himself at fort Detroit. The promulgation 
 of his intentions, was attended by an order to break up the 
 encampment, and to recross the river in the night Con- 
 sternation and dismay were visible in the countenance of 
 every soldier; their confidence was destroyed, and they con- 
 sidered their commander to be timid and irresolute. The 
 presence of their own officers, on whose capabilities they 
 amplicitly relied, was scarcely sufficient to prevent one 
 universal burst of indignation. Reluctantly, and ^vith much 
 murmuring, they obeyed the order; and at daybreak of Uie 
 morning of the 8th, found themselves garrisoned at De- 
 troit Here the intelligence of the late skirmish was re- 
 ceived. 
 
 The communication, which had been opened by the ahny, 
 between Raisin and their present post, was shut up by 
 the savages. It was indispensably necessary that it should 
 be again opened, or the provisions at that river could never 
 reach the garrison, which would eventually be m want of 
 subsistence. 
 
 C 
 
J 
 
 d6 
 
 HI8T0BICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 I 
 
 To Beateiumt colonel James Miller, the command of a 
 strong detachment was for this purpose assigned. He im- 
 mediacy took up his line of march with 200 regulars, and 
 200 mUitia, the regulars being of the fouHh re^ment. The 
 British Indians, anticipated the return of the detachment 
 which they had driven back, and calculated that it would 
 be hu^ly reinforced. Their own body was therefore 
 increased to a number, competent, as they supposed, to 
 drive off, or peiiiaps to capture them. They were 700 
 stroi^, and mi^t be reinforced during an engagement, 
 from Maiden, opposite to which was the village of Browns- 
 town; which they had taken possession of a few days be- 
 fore. They fortified the ground at a<place called Magtuiga, 
 RBsalf four miles from Brownstown, by felling trees and 
 erecluig breastworks. Behind these, they intended to con- 
 ceal themselves, until the Americans should attain the 
 point, at which they might deal out to them what measure 
 ^ destruction they pleased. Ttie Indians were commanded 
 by their great leader, Tecumseh^ the united force by ma« 
 jdr Muir, of the British army. 
 
 On the 9th, the American troops, though they proceeded 
 with great caution, reached the ground on which the ene- 
 my desired to see them, before mey discovered their am- 
 buscade. Captain Snelling, commanding the advance, was 
 attacked from it, and sustained a combat until the main 
 body came up, when ^e British and Indians sprang sud- 
 denly from behind the works, formed a line of battle with 
 great celerity, and corhmenced a brisk fire, accompanied 
 with all the demonstrations of savage war. Sudden and 
 anexpected as was the attack, the intrepid commander of 
 ^e American force was not the least dismayed; his troops 
 received the shock without shrinking; and with a coolness 
 and sagacity, which are commonly looked for only in sol- 
 diers of long experience, he as suddenly drew up his men, 
 and after a rapid fire, charged upon tlo^ enemy with such 
 unusual firmness, as to throw them into complete disor- 
 der.^ The obstinacy of the Indians, however, would not 
 # ait of fl^ht; they were not compelled, by the restraints 
 V "^egular discipline, to act in concert with the British, and 
 f tin •ting to their own kind of combat, they were resolved 
 Bot to abandon the contest But the Bri^sh had now re- 
 covered from their confusion, and a scene of indescribable; 
 
OP THE I.ATE WAB. 
 
 «r 
 
 hoitor ensued. Uniting with 500 Indians, who were almoaC 
 naked, havingi their bodies painted in a fririitfii) mannei^ 
 and uttering their usual dreadftil shouts, mey fiwght on 
 every side of the American detachment; on erery side 
 they were gallantly repulsed. Means like these could nc^ 
 induce tiiese brave men to forsake their standard, or to 
 disgrace their nation. They saw daneer strengthenine 
 around them, they knew wnat kind of destiny awaited 
 their defeat, and they were resolutely determined to repel 
 the foe, or to yield only with their lives. Colonel Miller 
 found himself contending against a force, more than one 
 third superior to his own, but he was animated by the 
 same spirit, which influenced his men. Over such men, 
 headed by such a commahder, the enemy could not hope 
 to be victorious. The firmness of the Americans had that 
 eflfect upon the British and Indians, which it was intended 
 their savage nmses should produce on them. They found 
 that they riad not errors to resort to, which could attau 
 their end, and they began from necessily to give ground. 
 The obstinacy of me dco.iAchment, was equal to the deter- 
 mined character of the Indians, and the latter became first 
 intimidated. The utiited forces were driven, inch by inch, 
 into Brownstown; and would have been beaten into sub> 
 mission* had not a squadron of boats been ready to receive 
 them, at that place. They made as rapid a retreat across 
 the river, as tneir oarsmen could effect, and returned to 
 Maiden with an inferior force, to that witii which they had 
 left it Their loss was, in regulars, 7 killed and wounded; 
 of the Indians they left nearly 100 on the field. In the 
 stout contest, whicn the detachment kept up for more than 
 two hours, there were 15 killed, and between 30 and 40 
 wounded. The officers who principally distinguished them- 
 selves, were captain Baker, lieutenants Larabee and Pe- 
 ters, and ensign Whistler, The first of these was shot 
 three different times during the battle; the second lost his 
 left arm ; and the two last were also wounded. Colonel 
 Miller remained at Brownstown until the meridian of the 
 next day, when he received orders to return to Detroit 
 The troops were exhausted by so vigorous an engagement, 
 and they would have been unable to proceed further. A 
 fresh detachment would probably be sent upon the same 
 expedition; and colonel Miller, knowing how necessary it 
 
^& 
 
 HISTORICDC. SKETCHES 
 
 was^ that his men should be refreshed, was not averse from 
 this order. 
 
 Captain Brush was still waiting at the river Raisin for 
 an escort, when he received orders to remain at that place, 
 and defend himself there, or to proceed by a route, on an 
 uppfer road, crossing the river Huron. Colonels Cass and 
 M*Arthur were despatched, on the evening of the 14tli, 
 with SOO men, to assist in the transportation of the pro- 
 visions, on that route. 
 
 On the same day on which the victory at Maguaga was 
 achieved, captain Heald, tiie commandant ait foH; Chicago, 
 since called fort Dearborn, received orders immediately 
 to abandon that place. Accordingly, on the fifteenth, 
 after, delivering to the friendly Indians, in conformity to 
 his instructions, all the goods in the factory, and such 
 provisions as could not be taken away, and destroying 
 the surplus arms and ammunition, he commenced his 
 march with 54 regulars, and 12 militia, the whole amount 
 of his force* and was escorted by captain Wells, of fort 
 Wayne, and a few friendly Indians of the Miami tribe, 
 dent thither for that purpose. As the place would now 
 be defenceless, the inhaDitants, principally women and 
 Childr«n, were directed to accompany the troops. The 
 little party had not proceeded more than one mile and 
 an half, between a hi^ sand-bank, and the lake, when it 
 was discovered that a number of hostile Indians were 
 preparing to attack them, from behind the bank. Captain 
 .Heald immediately ordered his company to ascend it; 
 and they had scarcely done so, when an action com- 
 menced, in which, after firing one round, and charging 
 with great velocity, upon the Indians, the latter were 
 obliged to give way in front, but joining the party on the 
 American flanks, they kept up their fire, and got posses- 
 sion of all the horses, provisions and ba^age, of every 
 description. The friendly Indians stantiing aloof, re- 
 fusing to take part in the contest, and apparently waiting 
 the issue, that they might determine on which side to 
 belong, made it necessary for captain Heald to draw off 
 his few men, and take possession of a small elevation, in 
 an open prairie, out of reach of shot, from the bank, or 
 any other cover. Here he received an offer of protec- 
 tion, from an Indian chie^ on condition of his surrender: 
 
OF THE LATE WAS. 
 
 29 
 
 which, without much reliance on its faith, he accepted, 
 because of the ^eat disparity of force, the Indian 
 warriors amounting to nearly 500. Their loss was 
 about 15. Of Hie Americans, 16 regulars, and all 
 the militia were killed: amons them, captain Wells 
 and ensi^ George Roman, bom officers of great oA- 
 lantry. Two women, and twelve children were uso 
 killed. The Indians had it now in their power, to move 
 to any part of the country, through which the communi- 
 cation had been formed between the river Raisin and 
 Detroit, and numbers of them were accordingly posted 
 at several points on that road, whilst a stronger party pro^ 
 ceeded against fort Wayne. Their absence was. taken 
 advantage of by captain Heald, whom they had taken to 
 the mouth of St Joseph's, and who now, vrith his lady, 
 procured a conveyance to Michilimaekinac, where he 
 was received politely by the commandant, captain Ro- 
 berts. Mrs. tieahl was wounded by six shot— 4he captain 
 by two. 
 
 Any attempt to accelerate the transportation of the 
 provisions, would now be useless, for on the tiiirt^nth, 
 the British had taken a position opposite Detroit They 
 were occupied in throwing up breastworks, during that 
 and the two following days; at the end of which time they 
 had completed a battery of two eighteen pounders, and 
 an eight inch howitzer, without any interruption from the 
 American fort Major Denny, of the volunteers, who 
 had been left in samson at Sandwich, with 250 infantry, 
 and a corps of artillerists, was obliged, on theil* approach^ to 
 make his retreat across the river. This he effecteoi in good 
 order. 
 
 On the fifteenth, a flag of truce was received from ike 
 British, with a summons, demanding the immediate sur- 
 render of the garrison; to which it was returned fOT an- 
 swer, that the " town and fwt would be defended to tiie 
 last extremity.** The British then opened their batteries 
 upon the town, and continued to throw their shells into <he 
 fort, from four o'clock until midnight The fire was re- 
 turned until dark with little eifect At daylight the next 
 morning, tlie firing again commenced, \riuist the British, 
 under the protection of tiieir ships, were landing their 
 forces at Spring Wells. At about ten o^clock they proceed- 
 
 C2 , . 
 
30 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ed in a close column, twelve in front, along the bank of t!ie 
 river towards the fort. 
 
 From fort Detroit the enemy could not have been pre- 
 vented from landing:, had he attempted it, even in its 
 more immediate vicinity. Its situation had been origi- 
 n^ly chosen without skill; the town actually standing 
 between it and the river, and the foot of the scarp being 
 more than two hundred rods from it. On the evening 
 of the fiifteenth it was therefore suggested to general 
 Hull, that the British should be opposed on the margin < 
 of the river; that there was a position at that point, 
 whence they could be destroyed, with the utmost cer- 
 tainty, as rast as they could, land; and that a strong 
 battery, well manned there, would be a better security 
 than the fort of Detroit. The suggestions of general Hull** 
 officers were too often disregarded. The enemy had 
 now landed, and no obstruction could prevent His ap- 
 proach, until he should be either in the rear of the town, 
 or of ttie fort, when all the strength of the latter might 
 be successfully brought against him. The fourth regi- 
 ment was stationed within the fort; the Ohio volunteei-s, 
 and part of the Michigan militia, behind picquets, from 
 wMch the enemy's whole flank could be annoyed; the 
 residue of the militia were in the town, to resist the In- 
 dians ; and two'twenty-four pounders, loaded with grape 
 shot, were posted on an eminence, from which, they 
 could sweep the advancing column. The superiority of 
 position was apparent on the side of the Americans, and 
 their force at least equal to that of the enemy. They 
 had four hundred rounds of twenty-four pound shot, 
 already fixed, and about one hundred thousand cartridges 
 made. Their provisions were sufficient for fifteen days, 
 and every man of them, awaited the approach of the ene- 
 my with full and eager expectation of victoiy. The head 
 of the column had advanced within five hundred yards 
 of the American line, when general Hull ordered the troops 
 to retreat to the fort, and not by any means to open the 
 twenty-four pounders upon the enemy. The feelmgs of 
 the soldiers were not now to be restrained, as they had 
 been a few days before at Sandwich. Indignation at the 
 conduct, and contempt for the capacity, of me command- 
 
 city. 
 
 ing general, could no longer be aisguised, and they loud 
 
OF THE lATE WA». 
 
 SI 
 
 lops 
 
 ;fie 
 
 of 
 
 lad 
 
 the 
 
 ly uttered tlicir discontent They entered the fort, how- 
 ever, which, though crowded so that any movement was 
 impracticable, was scarcely capable of containing them. 
 Here they were directed to stack their arms, and they 
 had the mortification to see liie flag of their country 
 struck to the invaders, and the fort suri-endered without 
 the dischai^e of a single gun. A white flag was sus- 
 pended from its walls, and such was the astonishment, 
 even of the enemy's troops, that a British officer rode 
 up, to ascertain its meaning. It was the first instance, 
 perhaps, which they had ever known, of the surrender of 
 a military post, without a previous arrangement of the 
 terms ; and they had little expectation of so tame a sub- 
 mission. Those brave troops, who had but eidit days 
 before beaten, and put this same enemy to flijpit, were 
 now obliged to march out in review, and lay down their 
 arms to inferior numbers, who had done no other thing 
 towards the capture of the garrison, than showing 'them- 
 selves before it. 
 
 Not only the heroes of IJro^vnstown, but the detach- 
 ments then absent from the fort, the volunteers and all 
 the provisions at Raisin, and those of no incons>iderable 
 amount, the fortified posts and garrisons, and the whole 
 territory and inhabitants of Michigan, were delivered 
 over by capitulation, to the commanding general of the 
 British forces. Forty barrels of powder, two thousand 
 five hundred stand of arms, and an armament, (consist- 
 ing of twenty-five iron, and eight brass pieces of ord- 
 nance) the greater part of which had been captured from 
 the British in the revolutionary war, were surrendered 
 with them. 
 
 The detachment which had been sent out under colo- 
 nels Cass and M*Arthur, had received orders the night 
 before to return ; but when they arrived within sight 6f 
 Detroit, before which the enemy was already stationed, 
 it became necessary to use excessive caution in their 
 nearer approach. They were accidentally thrown into 
 a situation, the best for annoying and cutting off the re- 
 treat of the enemy, which could possibly be selected ; 
 and if they had heard any firing, or seen any indication 
 of an engagement, they might have attacked the rear of 
 the column, and placed the enemy's raw troops, between 
 
32 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 their own fire and that of the fort They could not ima- 
 gine what measures were in operation, when an uninter- 
 rupted silence prevailed between two hostile armies, with- 
 in fighting distance of each other ; the arrangement for a 
 surrender, was the last among their surmises, because they 
 knew that the garrison was superior to any force which 
 could then be brought against it. Their doubts were re- 
 lieved by a message from general Hull, to the following 
 effect: " I have signed articles of capitulation for the sur- 
 " render of this garrison, in which you and your detach- 
 ** ment are prisoners of war. Such part of the Ohio mi- 
 ** litia as have not joined the armj, will be peiinitted to 
 " return to their homes, on condition that tney will not 
 " serve during the war. Their arms, however, will be 
 " given up, if belonging to the public.** This despatch 
 was forwarded by colonel M'Arthur, to captain Brush. 
 The volunteers and militia returned to their respective 
 homes; but eeneral Hull, and the fourth rejE^ment, and 
 part of the nrst, were taken to Montreal, whence they 
 were destined for Quebec. G-jneral Brock issued his pro- 
 clamation, announcing to the inhabitants of Michigan, the 
 cession of that territory to the arms of his Britannic ma- 
 jesty, and establishing regulations for its civil govern- 
 ment. The capitulation of an immense territory, and the 
 surrender of tne whole northwestern army which was 
 composed of men, feelingly alive to the honour of their 
 country; ambitious of distinguishing themselves in arms; 
 and most of whom had left their families, and their friends, 
 to encounter the fatigues and dangers of a long campaign; 
 excited a sensation among the people, from one extremity of 
 the country to the other, not less indignant, than that which 
 was felt by the troops ti^jpmselves. When gene.al Brock 
 said, tliat the force at his disposal authorized him to require 
 the surrender, he piust have had a very exalted opinion of 
 the prowess of his own soldiers, or a very mistaken one 
 of the ability of those, who were commanded by the Ame- 
 rican general. The force at his disposal was inferior to 
 the garrison of Detroit, even in the absence of the de- 
 tachments. In a letter to sir George Prevost, he states 
 the American force at 2,500 — ^which, however, could not 
 be correct, as it had met with losses in the different skir- 
 mishes — and his own at 600 white troops, and 600 In- 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 33 
 
 tlians. By the return of his quartef-master-ceneral, it 
 consisted of, British regulars, infantry and artillery, 382 ; 
 Indians, principally Chipaways, Hurons, and Potawato- 
 mies, 650; Militia, in regular uniform, 362; Total, 1394. 
 Of these, few of the Indians were visible, as they generally 
 skulked in the woods, and did not advance upon the fort 
 with the British column. The force of general Hull's 
 arniy, by the morning report, was 1060, exclusive of the 
 detachment of 350 men, and 300 Michigan militia, then 
 out on duty, which would have made iflO ; superior to 
 the enemy by 316. On the arrival of captain Brush from 
 Raisin, his total force would have amounted to more 
 than 1860. 
 
 Had the troops remained at Sandwich until the provi- 
 sions were brought on, the surrender of this force to a body 
 of troops thus inferior in number, would have been pre- 
 vented. The British did not appear at that place until 
 they had heard of its evacuation ; they were induced to 
 follow up the American army, because of its abrupt depar- 
 ture from the Canadian shore; and it has been matter of 
 conjecture, whether general Hull's conduct was the result 
 of cowardice, or perfidy. In his official despatches to the 
 government, he attempted to defend his conduct, upon 
 grounds, with which mey were not satisfied — and whi^h 
 could not be proved before the court martial, by whom, 
 after being excnanged for thirty British prisoners, he was 
 tried. 
 
 After an investigation of all the facts, the court de- 
 clined making a decision on the charge of treason, which 
 was alleged against him, but said, they did not believe, 
 from any thing which had come before them, that he had 
 been guilty ofthat act. On the second charge, for cowar- 
 dice — and the third, for neglect of duty ana unofficerlike 
 conduct, they condemned him. A sentence of death was 
 passed upon him, but in consideration of his revolutionary 
 services and his advanced age, he was earnestly recom- 
 mended to the mercy of the President, who remitted the 
 sentence, but directed a general order to be issued, by 
 which his name was struck from the rolls of the army. 
 
 Could that genius and enterprise, which distinguished 
 tlie oiinev officers of the northwestern army, have been im- 
 parted to its commander, a more glorious issue to the 
 
m 
 
 34 
 
 HISTORICAL ^KETCHES 
 
 American arms, must have been the necesoary result. 
 The conduct of the several detachments, and the ample 
 success of each excursion, gave aii almost incontestible 
 proof, that a vigorous prosecution of the warfare, would 
 have obtained complete victory. Had the effect of these 
 successes been followed up by a rapid movement of the 
 army itself, and proper advantages been taken of the de- 
 sertions from the enemy's garnson, the whole country 
 would have been subjugated, or laid open to future expe- 
 ditions, and the object of the present, would doubtless 
 have been achieved. Weidcness and imbecility, however, 
 supplied the place of military talent, and the result was 
 different from that, which was looked for by the army and 
 the nation. 
 
 Ill 
 
 S 1 
 
 
 ■ V 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 35 
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 disposition of the ^aval Forces — Escape of thif Cfmsti- 
 tution — Letters of Marque and Reprisals — TJie Jttas 
 eneages two armed ships^—inie Essex captures the Jilert 
 -^^Engagement between the Con8tituti(m and Gu^rriere 
 —Pursuit of the Belvidere — *in engagement on the St. 
 ' iMwrmce — Capture^ the British brigs Detroit and 
 ' Caledonia^ on Lake Erie — The Wasp captures the Fro- 
 lie — Both taken by the Poictiers — ioss of the United 
 States schooners JS'autilm and Vixen. 
 
 CoTEMPORANEous with the disaster at Detroit, was a 
 succession of brilliant achievements on the ocean, paral- 
 leled perhaps, but never yet surpassed; the intelligence 
 of which entirely dispelled the temporary gloom, which 
 pervaded the minds, and filled with giiei, me hearts of 
 the American people. At the commencement of hostili- 
 ties, such of the United States vesseh; of war, whose 
 equip.nents were entire, had orders tc proceed immedi- 
 ately to sea. A squadron of three frif^ates, one brig, and 
 one sloop of war, sailed on the twent^'iirst of June (1812) 
 from New York, in quest of several of the enemy's frigates, 
 known to be at that time cniding off the entrance to that 
 harbour. On the third of July, the frigate Essex, captain 
 Porter, went to eea from the same port; and the Consti- 
 tution, captain KuU, sailed from the Chesapeake bay on 
 the twelfth. The brigs Nautilus, Viper, and Vixen, were 
 at the same time cruising oft" the coast; and the slpop of 
 wa* Wasp was at i;ea, on her return from France. 
 
 On the morninff of the 17th, an English sauadron, con- 
 sisting of the Jifricat a ship of the liue, tiie frigates Shan- 
 non, Ou^rHeret Behridere, and JEo^us, and a brig and 
 schooner, iiie nearest of the fri^ites beine within ^n- 
 shot, gave chase to the Constitution. A cum prevailing 
 during the whole day, towing and warping were unremit- 
 tingly resorted to; but the enemy, by attaching nU the. 
 
36 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 \m 
 
 I !♦: ■:> 
 
 boats of the squadron to two of the frigates, had gained 
 so much upon the Constitution, as to bring their bow guns 
 to bear upon her, though they received several discharges 
 from her stem chasers. The chase continued all niglit. 
 On the following morning, (18th) at daylight, the Consti- 
 tution, taking advantage of a fresh breeze which just then 
 spranff up, spread all her canvas, outsailed, and escaped 
 from Tier pursuers, and arrived at Boston on the evening 
 of the 26th— whence she sailed upon a cruise on the 
 second of August. The chase had continued for sixty 
 hours; the ship's crew were all that time at their sta- 
 tions; and the escape of the frigate from seven sail, two 
 of which were warped up by more than six times the num- 
 ber of men und boats employed by the Constitution, has 
 been considered as an incontestible proof, of the superior 
 skill and seamanship of her commander. The officers of 
 the pursuing ships, one of whom was aftei*ward captured 
 by captain Hull, have spoken of it in terms of the highest 
 admiration. 
 
 Congress having authorised th«» President to issue let- 
 ters of marque and reprisals, the ocean was very soon 
 covered with private armed ships, from almost every port 
 in the United States. One of the first which sailed, was 
 the schooner Atlas, commanded by captain '.'avid Mof- 
 fet; who, on the third of August, fell in with two armed 
 ships of the enemy, and at 11 A.M. engaged them both. 
 The action commenced by a broadside of musketry 
 from the Atlas, and was continued without intermission 
 until liv/on, when one of the enemy's ships struck her 
 colou/s. The whole fire of the Atlas was then brought 
 against the largest ship, when that which had already 
 struck, "again opened her broadside. A few shot from 
 the Atlas, however, drove every man from her decks, and 
 compelled her a second time to yield. At 20 minutes 
 Pc M. the largest ship struck also, and on taking posses- 
 sion of them, captain Moffet found them to be, the ship 
 Pursuit, of 450 tons, 16 guns, 18's and 9*8, and 35 men ; 
 and the ship Planter, of 12 guns, 12 pounders, and 15 
 men. During tlie action, the Atlas was very much dis- 
 abled in her ri^ng, and had 2 men killed and 5 wound- 
 ed. Among the latter, a seafian of the name of William 
 Curl, who behaved with great coolness, and refused to 
 quit his quarters^ though he lijid received a wound, which 
 
OF T^LATE Win, 
 
 37 
 
 ship 
 ten; 
 15 
 
 aftenvards proved to be mortal. The three vessels were 
 making a port, when a British frigate hove in si^it, and 
 recaptured 1^e Planter, but the Atlas, and her lai^st 
 prize, arrived safely in the Delaware. 
 
 On the thirteenth of August, the frigate Essex, which 
 had now been cruising forty days, fell in with the Bri^dh 
 sloop of war Alert, captain Laushd!k'ne, of 20 guAs, and 
 130 m^, who immediately ran down upon the fri^te*s 
 weather quarter^ gave three cheiers, coolimenced an ac^ 
 tion,and after ei^t minute's firing, struck her colotirs; 
 with 7 feet water m her hdd, her hull cut to pieces, alid 
 three of h»r men wounded. The officers and' crew of 
 the Eb8es:, which received not the slightest injury, were 
 hi^ly aMused at the boldness of the enemy, who must 
 have calculated on. an easy conquest over the American 
 fHgi\t-e. ^ few broadsides, however, deliberately fired 
 into #^'''^' -r..^ of war, brought down her colours, and 
 after cuncilucling an arrangement with captain Lau^ame 
 to that effect, captain Porter dismantled ner of her arma- 
 ment, and putting all his prisoners, being allout 500, on 
 board, sent ner, under the comtnand of one of his officers, 
 lie'itenant J. P. Wilmer, as a cartel to St Johns, in New- 
 
 indland, whence she was instructed to sail fw NefjP 
 York, with whatever American (JHsoners might b6 givi^ 
 in exchange. ' 
 
 About seventeen dajs after, late in the afternoon of the 
 3011i, captain Porter discovered, and stood under an easy 
 ail for, one of the enemy's frigates, which was at the sai^ 
 time standing for hm^ The Essex was cleared, and ike 
 crew anxious for r ^ agagement Bering apprehensive 
 that the enemy r«V ''o imd him in the ni^t, captain 
 Porter hoisted -a ligiit i ti.s mast head, and at 9 o'clock 
 discovered a sisn^ ot two flashes and a blue light, at 
 about 4 miles distance. The Essex stood on wr the 
 pol. ^t which this signal wa iven, until midnight; but 
 not getting a sight of the enemy, she hove too, under an 
 expectation that the hostile ship would do the same, until 
 morning. To the great surprise of captain Porter, and 
 the mortification *^f his crew, at daylight the enemy waa 
 not to be seen. 
 
 On the fourth < f )cp^enkber, (1313) in a tempting to get 
 ipto New York, the Ii^sex was mtercepted ana chased l>y 
 two large ships of war, who giined her wake and caaie up 
 
mm 
 
 S* 
 
 HTflTMUCAL SKBTCHES 
 
 vrith g^t fleetness; but she escaped from thetn by ma- 
 HONiTnng in tiie night, having mt hoisted American 
 colours^ and fired a gun to windward. One of the ships 
 being considerably to windward of the other, and about 
 Hye miW «9tem of the Essex,, it was determined to heave 
 ibwt as soon as it became dark; and in ^e event of 
 ftot being able to pAs8» to fire a broadside into her, and 
 lay her on board. The wind heading the Essex off, how- 
 ever* at thirtjT minutes after eight she bore away, and 
 b^ng cut off from New York, effected her escape into the 
 b^ of Delaware, where she arrived on the seventh^ 
 unthout the loss d a man — having made nine cantures in 
 addition to the Alert The Alert returned from St. 
 Johns, and arrrived at Ne ^'^ '^^' on the luxteenih of Sep- 
 li^mber, with 270 American ^ ners.. 
 
 On the dStH of August, (181^^ iie Constitution returned 
 to Boston, from a cruise commenced upon the second of 
 that msm^t and signalized by a brilliant and victorious 
 contesA with a Brituh ship- of war, the commander of 
 which had repeatedly tiireatened the capture of any one 
 of ^e American fri^tes, whom it misht be his fortune to 
 encounter. The frigate Gttetriere had been sailing off 
 tj^e eoast, for several months previously to the declafatlon 
 $i war; and had frequently shown herself at the entrances 
 to the different ports, wi^ her name written in lai^ 
 characters upon a flag at one of her mast heads, and at 
 Miother the words *^md the Little Be/^— in allusion to 
 an affair which had taken place between a sloop of war 
 of that name, and Uie Unitea States' frigate President; in 
 which ^e latter ship retorted an assault committed on 
 her, in time of peace, by dischai^ng two broadsides at, 
 and nearly sinkmg the sloop of war.* Captiun Hull had 
 
 * On the 16th Majr, the little Belt,^ commanded by captain 
 BijDgbam, and mounting 18 gufis, was hailed by the President, 
 to know what ship she was. The captain of the Little Belt re- 
 peated the question, without answering it: and commodore Ro- 
 e:rs Sigain asked, " What ship is that?*' This demand was fol- 
 ved by a shot £rom the little Belt. The President returned it, 
 imd receired a broadnde from her. ComiQodore Rogers then 
 ^ve a general order to fire : and having silenced the other, anun 
 Viquired what ship she was. He now received an answer, which 
 ht^inied him of the character of the vessel: and he lay too, in 
 order to assist her in repairing her damages. [For a particular 
 account of tius aflSur, see Clark's Naval Histoiy of the United 
 States.] 
 
 r 
 
 I' 
 (If 
 
I by ma- 
 Linericaii 
 th« 8bipa 
 id 9bout 
 to heave 
 event of 
 
 her, and 
 
 oft how- 
 
 wray, and 
 
 B into the 
 
 geventh-, 
 ititures in 
 from St. 
 AofSep- 
 
 l returned 
 second of 
 vktorioua 
 nander of 
 ►f any one 
 fortune to 
 I sailing off 
 eclaratlon 
 entrances 
 in large 
 , and at 
 lusion to 
 jp of war 
 isident; in 
 litted on 
 Ldsides at, 
 Hull had 
 
 |by captain 
 \ President, 
 le Belt re- 
 [lodore Ro- 
 ad was fol- 
 etumcd it, 
 i^en then 
 _ier, agwn 
 irer, wnich 
 lay too, in 
 [particular 
 le United 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
m 
 
 
 ^^'-<^Ij< 
 
 
 V'-'^ 
 
^^r^ 
 
 m 
 
 ^\Vv 
 
OV TUB IiM» WAB. !ff. 
 
 39 
 
 been informed of the afipeaniice of a sinsle ship of vfw, 
 to the eastwurd of the coast, and immemately ttood in 
 that direetion. Between the second and the nineteenth 
 of- August, he made several captures of merchantmen, 
 and recaptured an American br^, which had been taken 
 by the Awngtr. On that day, in iat. 41 deg. 42 min. N. 
 and lOfnt. 55 deg. 33 min. W. he discovered a large fri- 
 gate of Bie enemy, set all sail in chase, and came up with, 
 and ca^ured her, after a s{nrited engagement of forty<^ 
 five nffliiitet. She proved to be the fngate Querriere, 
 of 38 i^ns, but carrying 49, and commanded by captun 
 James M. Dacres. She was discovered at wout two 
 p. M. and at foul*, the Constitution was closini^* fast upon 
 her. At ten minutes past four, the enemy hoiste^i £ng)iih 
 colours^ and commenced the action by firing several 
 guns. The Constitution's fire was reserved, unvH she 
 could be put in such a position that ev^ry shot shci!ld 
 take ^fect;^ fuid the sailing master, Aylwin, brought her 
 80 sinfully into action, tmit captain Hull's views wene 
 completefy accomplished. But the enemy not e<Hnfipre- 
 hc*<ffing them, suspected the Americans of timidity, or 
 of ignorance in the art of gunnery, and dischM-gedt )m 
 broiulsides with an assurance of crippling his antagonist, 
 before he might opeb hi» battery. The Crew w thf 
 Constitution, anxiously awaiting tlie orders of ^eir coitt* 
 mander to fire, were themselves filled with surprise fit 
 his receiving so many rounds^ without yet retumk^ 
 them. Captain Hull, at his station,, however, was wiiS 
 great iud^ment reconnoitring the enemy witi his ghuit; 
 until nndmg'that the ability aiid excellent seamannAiip 
 of his sailing-master, brought up the ship to the exact 
 station, uptm the enemy's beam, from which he kliew 
 he could efiectuaJly annoy him, he issued his orders to 
 fire broadside after broadside, with the greatest poesiUe 
 rapidity. Hife crew, now perfectly entering into apla.^^ 
 which none but to able seaman could have, conceived, 
 executed his commtmds with as much alacrity as was 
 required; and after fifteen minutes close and constant 
 cannonading the enemy's* mizen mast havmg gone over 
 his stiiirboara f|ttarter, the Con8ttti|l36ik was placed upon 
 his Iffirboard bow, in a raking posfthm ; frmn ^liiidi i&e 
 swept tfie decks of the Guerdere, with grape and mus« 
 ketry. The enemy's sh^ became now unmanag>eaibie» 
 
 
40 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 and the Constitution prepartd to lay her on board. Lieu- 
 tenant Bush attempt^ to throw his marines on her deck, 
 when he was killed by a musket ball $ and the Guerriere* 
 at the .same moment, getting clear of the Constitution^ 
 shot ahead; but it being impossible to ^t her before 
 the. wind, she was exposed to every raking fire of her 
 opponent Her fore and main. masts went over th(f side; 
 her hull was cut almost to pieces; and at twenty minutes 
 past fiv^ she surrendered. The execution of the Consti- 
 tution's fire was dreadfully severe ; and the management 
 of the vessel reflected gi'eat credit ou her ofl&cer. Her 
 loss was but 7 killed and 7 wounded. The Guerriere's 
 loss was about 102»*-Hin wounded 6S, in kflled and missing 
 upwards of 40. 
 
 The Constitution had some spars, and much of her rig- 
 png, shot away; after repairing which, and getting out 
 %e prisoners, ane set fire te, and blew up the Gruerriere, 
 which, was in ^ sinking a condition that she could not be 
 brought into port Captain Hull spoke in ^high terms of 
 the crew, from the smallest boy in the ship to the oldest 
 seaman. The officers behaved with great gallantry* 
 AmQ!ng the most conspicuous of them were lieutenants 
 Hoffioian, *Shubrick, and Morgan. The brave and amia* 
 ble lieutenant William Bush, the ^t naval officer who 
 fell in this war, distinguished himself by intrepidly- 
 leading on the boarders, when he received the ball which 
 deprii^ his country of his. services. . Mr Avlwin, who 
 mancNivred the ship so well throu^out the battle,^ was 
 severely wounded; and on his return to port, was pro- 
 mated to the rank of a lieutenant The first omcery 
 lieutenant Morris, was dangerously wounded; his con- 
 duct procured for him the applause of the govanment, 
 and a promotion to the raidc oi post captain. Captain Hull 
 was received with a degree of joy bordering on en^usiasm, 
 l^y the citizens of every town through which he passed, on 
 his way^to the navy department Many of the state legis- 
 latures voted him their thanks and a sword; the freedom 
 of several cities was presented to. him, each in a gold 
 box; and the people of Charleston luul Philadelphia 
 subscribed for the purchase of two el^ant nieces of plate. 
 The congress of the United States votecThim, and his 
 officers and crew, their thanks-^— and the sutn of fifty thojii-* 
 sand dollars. 
 
 1 
 
•FTH« jihmkWAM* 
 
 M 
 
 was 
 
 loin 
 
 )ld 
 
 )hia 
 
 late. 
 
 llie Ouerriere', was on^ of the finest of the krgesi class 
 of tUgatfes in the British naTj; a fact whieh is eer^flcd in 
 a letter to lord Keith from a British oftcer, captain TIM- 
 maiJLavte, of the frieite Blanehe-^n irhich snip, en tlie 
 IQth^'of July, 1806, df the Farro islands, after A eontetft 
 of the same length, (45 minutes) he esptnrei the VltMl 
 frigate Le Guerriere, commanded b^Mifrnflieiir HlilileFtof 
 the lesion of honour. His letter states, ' JU Bwrtitrt 
 f « of me largest class offrisates^ vumrnHng 50 ^ns, wUh 
 a complement of 317 men.^ 
 
 ' The squadron which had sailed on the Slst Junei un* 
 
 der the command of commodore Ro^^rs, and %ltich 
 
 consisted of ^e President, oi 44 ^pam (flnrsMp); Unite4 
 
 States, 44, captain Decatur; Congress, 36, captain John 
 
 fSsfiTH; Hornet, 16, lieutenant coiiimandaiit iMimtwoB ; 
 
 imd Argus, 16, lieutenant commanchint SiNotAiA; re- 
 
 tiiriisd from the cruise, and arrived in Boston harbour on 
 
 the Stst August, with about 120 English prisoners on 
 
 board; having been out seventy^^wo dajTs. These tes- 
 
 sels had been oST the English cmnnel, along the co&st of 
 
 France, Spain, and Porti^, within 30 miles of the Rodt 
 
 of Id»bon; thence to Maideim isfand; thence off fToro 
 
 and Fleres; and thrice back to tlui Banks, and by I^Ml 
 
 Scotia to Boston. They -were, most of this tmne, in 
 
 search of the Jamaica fleet; ^oudi on the thiiil day out, 
 
 their attention was diverted, by the appearance of a Iftn^ 
 
 sait, whix;h was^i^erwards known to be the BrHlsK m- 
 
 gate Belvidere, captain Richard Byron, toA to wlw^ 
 
 they gave chase. The Pi^sident beW a superior sai^ 
 
 to the rest of the squadron, was brou^t within gUtt shot 
 
 of the enemy. The breeze tnclinlnff^to the wesf yu r g 
 
 and becoming lighter, however, tilie Belvidere hi;^ ^e 
 
 advantage; at 1 P.M. she hoisted English colours. At 
 
 four, the wind haying chang^, so UtaA the two vesflfels 
 
 sailed nearly alike, commodore Roc^gers determined' to 
 
 fire bis bow chase guns at the ringing and splurs, in the 
 
 expectation of crippling the enemy^ so that her escape 
 
 would be prevented, or at least that the President mimt 
 
 be eniMed to come up. The fire was returned from me 
 
 enemy's stem" guns, aind was kept up on both sides un^ 
 
 thirty nunutes aast four, i^en one of the PK^sidentfs chl^ 
 
 guns burst, killed and wounded 16 men^-«mong1)ke lit* 
 
 ter ^e commodore, and by the explosion of the ptMB^ag- 
 
 D2 
 
f-f 
 
 42 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 box from which the sun was served with powder, both 
 tiie niiun and forecastle decks in its neighbourhood were 
 much shattered. The helm was then put to starboard, 
 and the dischai^ of the President's broadside, wounded, 
 and considerably iniiu^d, thou§^ it did not destroy the 
 spars and ringing of the Belvidere. The President be- 
 gan now to ^e ground,^ no hope was left of bringing the 
 enemy to close action, except that derived from being 
 to windward, and the probability that a breeze migiit fa- 
 vour the President first, and ^e commodore ordered her 
 to be steered close after him, and the bow chase fluns to 
 be kept playing on his spars, rimng, and stern. At five, 
 the %nemy*s stem guns annoyed^the President so much, 
 that the commodore determined on another broadside, 
 which beinff dischai^ed, was found to have wounded the 
 fore topsail yard of the Belvidere: after this the pursuit 
 was kept up until 11 P. M. The President gave two 
 more broadsides, but the Belvidere having stove and 
 threw overboard her boats, and every ihis^ which could 
 bi^ possibly spared, and having cut away her anchors 
 an4 started about fourteen tons of water, outsailed the 
 squadron, and effected her escape. Six men were killed 
 and wounded by the Belvidere's fire, and 16 by the acci- 
 dent on board the President, making in all 22, among 
 whom, besides the commodore, were 5 midshipmen, one 
 Ueutenfint of marines, and one lieutenant of the ship. 
 
 WhMo these events were transpiring on the ocean, 
 several^ naval affiurs took place upon the lakes, more 
 infericH: in their ma^itude, than m the heroism of the 
 ions concerned in them. On the 30th of July, the 
 Julia of one 32 pounder, and two 6*s, waa fitted out 
 Kt's Harbour, witli orders to proceed to (^ens- 
 b«rgi> . On the 31st, upon entering the St. Lawrence, 
 within s^t of Brockvilk, ten miles from her destination, 
 sheidiscovered the Earl Moira of 18 guns, and the Ikike 
 q/f wiQUcester of 10, lying to. The Julia hore down 
 ^thin three quarters of a mile of them, and came to 
 action* At hfdf past 4 P> M. the enemy opened his fire, 
 and the engagement continued three hours and an half, 
 during which time, numerous attempts n^ere made to 
 iKItrd the Julia, by the boats of the* Ih^se, but the 52 
 pottnder being well fought, tlie enemy was oblked to 
 relinquish that plan. Both vesWs hauled up under the 
 
or THE LATE WAS. 
 
 4S 
 
 lens- 
 
 land battery, and kept up a heavy fire. At 8 o'clock 
 the Julia pi-oceeded to Oniensburg* without the loss of a 
 man. The enemy's loss has never been ascertained. In 
 all the engaeemen^ three shot only struck the hull; one 
 went throu^ the jib, and another pierced the gun car- 
 riage of the Julia. Her ciew were all volunt^%2rs; lieu- 
 tenant H. Wells ha\ing the coipimand, Samuel Dixon beine 
 sailing master, and captain Benedict beinff on board witii 
 a sm^l company of riflemen, actina; as marines. 
 
 Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliot, of £e United States navy, 
 had been ordered to the Niagara river to %iperintend 
 the buildii^ of the vessels at Black Rock, for the service 
 on Lake Erie. The British Inig Detroit of six 6 pound 
 long guns, formerly ^e United States' brig Adams» which 
 had been taken at-the surrender of Detroit, and the brie 
 Caledonia, of two small guns, both well appointed ana 
 supplied with blunderbusses, pistols, muskets, cutlas 'S, 
 bfHirding pikes and battle axes, came down the lake ind 
 r «>hored under the protection of fort Erie, on the monii- 
 of the eighth of October. Lieutenant Elliot planned 
 expedition against them, which, because there were 
 but few seamen at the station, was to be executed by 
 volunteers from the army. This plan was communicated 
 to gmeral Smyth, who immediately agreed to sup^y the 
 regulars, to man two boats, toattack and cut out tne ene* 
 ray's vessels. Several companies of artillery and infantry 
 wnich arrived at tiie Rock only a few days before, on hear- 
 ing the proposal for volunteers, stept forward to a man, 
 aim such was the eagerness of idl the troq)s, that it be-o- 
 came necessary to resort to lot. Fifty men only were 
 wanted : lieutenant Elliot having heard tnat the same num- 
 ber of seamen were at a short distance from him on their 
 route to the naval station, and who arrived at 12 o'clock on 
 the morning of that day, aiul who, though they came off a 
 march of 500 miles, m determined should be also of the 
 expedition. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the selection 
 was completed, and the men stationed in two boats, (fifty 
 in each) commanded by lieutenant Elliot, andiuling mas- 
 ter Watts. jbaif^#ie same boat wi^ the former, was li€;ui> 
 tenant Isaac Itottch, and with the latter, captain N. Tom- 
 son, both of jdift artillery, and officers of great merit, who 
 had been fortunate enou^ to dr^w the successful loia. 
 About three hours before dayUght of the following mom- 
 
44 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 Citr 
 
 ii^ the boats put off from the mcutii of BuJDSiloe creeks 
 and m two hours were alongside the vessels. 
 
 In ten minutes the crews of each were sc curedi the top- 
 sails sheeted home, aikl the vessels underway. The wind 
 not being sufficiently strong to get tiiem up against a rapid 
 current into the lalte, Ihey were obli^d to nm down the 
 Niagara, by the forts, undier a strong ^re of i.-ound, grape, 
 and cannister, from a number of pieces of heavy i^cwance 
 and flying ardlkery- They anchored within 400 yards of 
 the enemylabattenes. The <^|lcet comma:idJng these was 
 huled, an#informed that if another gun was fired, the 
 
 ErisoQArs sliould be brought on deck and dbare whatever 
 ite mij^t attend the American crew. This threat was 
 disF^amed, but the humanity of the American officers 
 
 Srevented them from executing it, thou^ a constant and 
 eistmctive fire was kept up Scorn <4ie enemy. The Cale- 
 donia succeeded ifi getting under the battenes of Black 
 Rock; but the Detroit could not be got across. All her 
 guns' were therefore placed upon the side next the enemy, 
 and a fire directed asunst uie batteries, as long as the 
 ttnmunitior^ lasted. During the conteut^ sf>!veral attempts 
 to warp her over to iAke American shore, wei-e unsuccess- 
 fitHy mai^. The fire firom the batteries was so destructive, 
 that lieutenaint Elliot, expecting that she would soon be 
 -sunk, if diie remained in that situation, determined to drift 
 df '«n the river out of cheir reach, and prefer mddng a 
 stand against the*. Ayii^ artillery. The caole was accord- 
 inffly cut, and the Detroit.made sail with light airF . but the 
 |nK>t having abaiidoned her, she brou^t up on ihe Cana- 
 dian side of Squaw island. The boarding boat was imme- 
 tliately (Hit in readiness, and sent with the prisonetv to the 
 53P Amencan side of the rive", wi+h Jirectior.* to return for 
 '"" lieutenant Elliot, and whatever proper*} could be got out 
 of the bri|,; the boat, however, could not <^t back to her. 
 lieutenant Elliot was, tlierefore, obliged, with lieutenant 
 Roarb and four prisone^TS, to make the Miore in a skiff which 
 they discovered under the counter. Protection was then 
 asked ^or Ae brig from lieutenant colonelScott, of the se- 
 cond regiment of artillery, who immediately despatched a 
 company of that corps, under captair^ J. N. Barker, with a 
 few pieces, tio be stationed opposite Die island. A boat from 
 1^ British shore approached the brig with forty men, wh'i* 
 tMcct^ded in getting on board, but the fire of four pieces 
 
/ 
 
 a.- 
 
or TikE LATE WAf ;. 
 
 4». 
 
 
 of artillery, soon compelled them to abandon ker« and 
 she was left m snch a- condition, that it would be impos- 
 sible to float her. Captain Talbot Chambers, and part of 
 the fifth United States regiment, afterwards crossed to 
 Squaw island and burnt her, witii her valuable cargo of 
 furs. The Caledonia's cargo was estimated at 200,000 
 dollars. In all these proce^ings, the American loss was 
 i) killed $ 3 severely, and 4 or 5 slightly, wounded. Ma* 
 jor Cuyler,ah officer of great bravery, was* killed by the 
 first shot from the enemy's battieries, as he stood on the 
 beach >. and midshipman John C. Cummings was wound- 
 ed in the leg by a bayonet, as he wa» boarding the De- 
 troit. The-r^ularswere unused to thid species of ser- 
 vice, but they had entered into, it with a^eal and alacrity, 
 and ^ir condu<^ entitled them ;to the af^robation which 
 th^y received from Iheir officers. Caotam Towson and 
 lieutenant Roach were actively engaf^ea during the whole 
 enteifMrise, and contributed to it& success, as much by 
 the»»:counsel, as by their intrepidity. The artillery which 
 was stationed on the shore, when the Detroit was aban- 
 doned by the crew, was served with skill and dexterity. 
 The. lossi of the enemy, by the report of deserters, was 
 about Seventy. •. ? 
 
 The United States sloop of war the Wasp, havii re- 
 turned from France, and refitted, put to sea again in " 
 the Delaware, on the. 13th Oc^ber, on a cruise. On the 
 17th she discovered five sail steering eastward, und as 
 several Df tiiem had the appearance .of ships of war, she 
 was plaoEki in a situation uiat she could escape from, or 
 assail them, as circumstances mi^t require. Keeping in 
 the course she had descried them, on the following morn- 
 ing, at dayl^it, tliey were seen ahead, and on being made 
 out to be a convoy of six sail, under convoy of a sloop 
 of war, the Wasp gave them immediate chase. The 
 convoy, under a heavy press of sail, all made their es- 
 cape, and left the sloop of war to contend alone with 
 the' Wasp; though four of those, who avoided the con- 
 flict, were heavy ships, and mounted 16 and 18 guns. 
 The weather was extremely boisterous, and the sea so 
 rough, that the Wasp's guns had already several times 
 been under water, she nevertheless, prepared for actijtMit 
 and at 32 minutes piMt 11, came down to windward in 
 handsome style, on the larboard side of the sloop of war, 
 and hailed her within about 60 yards. She was tlie British 
 
 Hi 
 
 s*"*:-. 
 
 '^.4 
 
H 
 
 
 4# 
 
 HISTOSICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 Hiop the Ftolic, captain Whinyeates, of S2 guns, and 
 at ms moment shewed Spanish colours, but apon being 
 hailed she immediately hauled them down, koisted the 
 English ensiim, and commenced a fire of cannon and 
 musketry, ^e action becoming close, the Wasp re- 
 ceived a shot which took away her main topmast, threw 
 it over the fore and fore mainsail braces, and made her 
 head yuda unmanageable during the remainder of the 
 action, ^le was soon after woucded in her gaff and 
 Ruzen tomiallant sail, but kejit up, notwithstanding, a 
 close laid galling fire as her side was goir^ down witli 
 the swell of the sea, and eveary shot consequently sisruck 
 the Frolic's hull. The English, as they ^ ^re Lccustom- 
 ed to do, fired as their ship was rising, and therefore, 
 either missed their a^* or struck only the ri^ng of 
 tiie Wasp. The Wasp shot ahead, gave a well mrected 
 broadside, took a station on the larboard bow of the Fro- 
 Uq, and ^^ually neared her, until she lay her on board, 
 althou^ while loading aio^er, and the last broadside, 
 the rammers of the. nins struck the side of the enemy's 
 vessel. The Frolic riad long before slackened her fire, 
 and her jibboom having now entered between the main 
 and mizen ri^ng of me Wasp, two of thts ^ uc*» euns 
 were brought mrou^ her bow ports, and swept her wnole 
 deck. The boarders were immediately called, and such 
 was the anxiety of every man to be the first upon her 
 deck, ^t several of them were pulled down upon their 
 own ship from the bowsprit of the Frolic. Lieutenant 
 Biddle, who was a supernumerary officer of the Wasp, 
 had mounted the hammock cloth to board, but his feet 
 getting entangled in the rienng of the Frolic's bowsprit, 
 midsliipman J. C. Baker, in his enthusiasti' ardour, caught 
 the lieutenant by his coat, tVew him back upon the 
 Wasp's deck, and was himself the first officer on that (ftf 
 tiie enemy. Lieutenant Biddle, however, immediately 
 sprang up, ascended the Frolic's bowsprit, and upon get- 
 tmg on ner deck, found only a seaman at the wheel and 
 three officers, who threw down their swords and yielded. 
 The Frolic's colours, were still flpng, and lieutenani Mid- 
 dle jumping into the ri^ne, pulled down the English 
 ensign himself. Her bi^ deck was crowded with lead 
 and wounded, and her main deck alippery with blood: 
 her lo^ could not be accurately ascertained, as many Of 
 the dead had been swept into the sea by the falling of 
 
 to 
 tei 
 

 «F THB LATE WAS. 
 
 "^-»- 
 
 4r 
 
 to, and 
 >n being 
 tted the 
 on and 
 ^asp rc- 
 t, threw 
 Lade her 
 r of the 
 ^ff and 
 nding, a 
 wn with 
 [y stanck 
 ecustom- 
 therefore, 
 i^g of 
 . mrectcd 
 the Fro- 
 (m boMrd, 
 iroadside, 
 5 enemy*8 
 [ her fire, 
 the main 
 ^aguns 
 ler whole 
 and such 
 Upon her 
 pon their 
 leutenant 
 le Waep, 
 his feet 
 owsprit, 
 |r, caught 
 pon the 
 1 that of 
 lediately 
 pou get- 
 leel and 
 yielded. 
 mi na- 
 Fiiialish 
 h lead 
 hlood : 
 I any <yf 
 lling of 
 
 her ruKuig, ancl others were buried under tbe SpanNP^iy^^ 
 had Mien en the deck; but by the^defslaration eJ^Mgi 
 oim oiffioers. it could not be less than SO k^ted «» 
 about 50 wouB'^ed. The Waip lost 5 k^led aod ft 
 wounded. Lieutenant ffiiddle waa put on boarc^ the JPro* 
 lie with a prize crew, with CHrders to make a ,^Uthi«!n 
 port; but the apjproach of a Bri^ ^p of the*|;oe, ihe 
 Poictiers^ sir J. Jr. Bereaford^ of 74 gun9» made it iiecea# 
 sarj for both ships to m&k« s&il for the moat conyenient* 
 TV Frolir was so much damaged, and the Wasp so di»- . 
 abled in hv^r rip; ^ing, that the enemy closed upon thenk 
 fast, fired <i sh^jt over, and passed, the Frolic, puirtued 
 the Wa^ made capture of nodi, and ordered them Hir 
 Bennuda. 
 
 Thus terminated a spirited rnd brilliant contest of 43 
 minutes, in tiie capture of an enemy's vessel, 4 guns su*^ 
 perior at least, to her antagonist Tlie conduct of the 
 American officers and seamen showed that they were not 
 to be surpassed m proni.ptitude or courage; to that of lieu* 
 tenant Biddle and lieutenant Rodgsrs, first of the ship, 
 unA every other commii»ioned aim wanant officer on 
 board, captain Jones has siven ^ffieial testimony. > 
 
 Lieutenant ' Booth and Mr. Rapp, and midshipmen 
 Gaunt and Baker, theiatter of whom soon after died in 
 Bermuda, behaved with great personal bravery. Lieute» 
 nant Claxton, who w^ ^ confined by sickness, left his bed» 
 went upon deckhand noted the incidents of the engage-* 
 ment with great cofhpo^ure. 
 
 When captain Jones returned from Bermuda, he re-^ 
 ceived from his countrymen as many flattering testimo- 
 nials of their approbation^ as they had previously given to 
 captain Hull. Tlie l^islatures of Massachusetts, New 
 York, and Delaware, of which latter state he waa a nar- 
 tive, presented him with their thanks, and several elegant 
 sworas and pieces of plate. The order of Cincinnati ad- 
 mitted him into the society, as an honorary member, as 
 they had captain Hull; and the congress of ike United 
 States voted him, his officers, and crew, 25,000 dollars, in 
 consideration of the loss they had sustained, by not beii^ 
 able to bring in the Frolic. 
 
 The next naval action took pla(» on the 25th of Octo- 
 ber, and terminated in the victcHry of the United States fn- 
 gate the United States, over the British frigate the Ma* 
 
 ,*f. 
 
 T 
 

 46 
 
 HlSTCttlCAL Slt£f Cites 
 
 trntmUan, the command of m^ich, upo . her bfeing brought 
 Ii|t8^rt, refitted and taken into th<i service, Wta given to 
 TOtttemnt commandant Jones, who, as a further testimony 
 of the high opinion which the executive entertained of his 
 gal||H9t^conduct in the capture of the FroHc, was now pro- 
 moted to the rank of post captain. ^ The events of that en- 
 gagement, in the order of succession, should have been 
 recorded in the. present chapter. Tliey will be found, 
 however, in another naval Section of this work. 
 
 Though the enemy ^ned no advantaees over our 
 fercf's on the ocean, which could counterbiuance the dis- 
 asters he sustained, by these successive triumphs of the 
 American arms, his superior class of ships maae capture 
 of several of our smaller vessels of war. Thje squadron 
 which had pursued the Constitution on the 18th of July, 
 captured a day or two after the United States schooner 
 Nautilus, of 12 guns, commanded by lieutenant comman- 
 da|it Crane: Mid on the 22dX>f Novemoer,(t812) the United 
 Staiies schooner Vixen, lieutenant commandant George 
 Waihiogton Reed, of the same number of sans, was cap- 
 i0^0t6ra, chase of i^e hours and an hiQf, by the Bri- 
 ^h l^^te Southampton, sir James I^ucas Yeo. /nioueh 
 the V&ifen was commanded by a sbilful and scientific 
 sejuwim, and manned by as gallarit a crew a« any other 
 American vessel, every eflfort to escQipe was founv! to be 
 fruitless, and she was lit len^ surrendered to a ^hip, 
 as much superior in sailing as in force. She had not 
 long been captive to the enemy, before both vessels ran 
 ashore, and Were immediately wrecked. The frigate's 
 crew became mutinous from intoxication, and the pro- 
 pertr which was saved from both wrecks,, was retrieved 
 by the generous and indefatigable exertions of the Ameri- 
 can «aiTors. Captain Reed nimself, was as actively en- 
 gaged in the direction and encouragement of the men, as 
 any of the British officers, and he received the public ac- 
 knowledgments of sir Junes, accompanied by an ofier 
 of his parole to return home. But such were the noble 
 sentiments by which he was ever actuated, that he would 
 not leave his officers and men, and preferrinff to remain 
 with them in an unhealthy climate, to which tiiey were 
 taken, be became a victim to an obstinate fever, brought 
 on by tim anxieties and fatigues, to which, by his unplea^ 
 sant siniation, and his unremitting attention to the com- 
 
.,% 
 
 HFTttBLATI&WAlL 
 
 49 
 
 cento 
 imon^ 
 of hiB 
 vf pro- 
 laten- 
 i been 
 found, 
 
 ST our 
 he dis- 
 of the 
 saptute 
 iiadron 
 
 f July, 
 ihooner 
 mman- 
 Umted 
 George 
 ras ca|)- 
 theBii- 
 rhoueh 
 ientinc 
 other 
 to be 
 a ^hip, 
 d not 
 Is ran 
 ite'8 
 
 Lmen- 
 
 sly en- 
 
 len, as 
 
 Uic ac- 
 
 offer 
 
 ndble 
 
 [would 
 
 imain 
 
 were 
 
 it 
 
 ilea- 
 
 com- 
 
 forts of his men, he was necessarily exposed. His ii 
 ment was attended by the British officers, and a ddt 
 ment from the ganison, and his fonend obs^uies w^^ 
 aocomponied by those honours, due to his rank, and nc^ 
 usually withhiBid from each other by brave aAd generous 
 ei^emies. ' ''^ 
 
 A splendid triumph seldom fails to excite the ffenenil 
 joy, and to call form the universal admiration of me pdo^ 
 pie. The rapid succession, in which thi naval conc^aests 
 followed eacn other; the superiority of seamanshm toA 
 gunnery, which Was exhibitea in ieacn; and the fact oeing 
 now well ascertained, that the in^cpertenced orews^the 
 American navy, could not oidy sustain a collet wim, bat 
 might rxtually capture, tho v^eran seamen of the enemy, 
 whenever chanee should bring them together^ upon equal 
 tenns; all contributed to turn the aftfflatM>n of congress to 
 tile marine establishment, and the muwity of the ntitiou 
 became desirous that measures should be inmiediately 
 adopted for its eidargementi 
 
 CHAPTER lU. 
 
 Hostilities of the Creek Indians-^Fight near Davis? Creekg 
 Battle cf the Lotchway town, 
 
 Intellioenoe of the recent misfortune of the north- 
 western armv, of the assault upon the troops from fort 
 Chicago, ana of the advantages which were conseq^uently 
 expected to follow those events, having been communicate, 
 by early despatches from the tribes' on the northern, to 
 those of the Creek nation on the southern frontiers, fears 
 were entertained that the result of a council of the chieft 
 of thit nation, which was to be held on the 32d of October, 
 (1812) would be unfavourable to the intOreets of that de« 
 partment of the union; and that a coalition would be form* 
 ed between the Indians of the two extremities, which mi^t 
 require all the energies of the ^vemment to suppress. 
 To this couittil of the Creeks, their neighbours, the l/Aac«> 
 
 E 
 
 ^> 
 
10 
 
 BISTamiCAl SKETCHJBS 
 
 I 
 
 tBupm, iiie Chiekasmps, and the Cherokees, yrere invited, 
 wfii, iC tiie delijlierationg of such a cenventioD, should be 
 «p^liieiicc4 by the eUtiioiH evklently produced by the late 
 aiVi^peBpes of their northern red brothers, the wmde fron- 
 tier i&om Tenessee, to the bay of mobile, and all the aet> 
 tiements between Georgia ana the Miesi^ppi, and T^es- 
 MA Mid Florida, wonla be aubject to their depredations. 
 Tne Seminales, a tribe attached to the Creek nation, were 
 idy at war with the white people on the borders of 
 l^lOEJda, and had sMudeced sevviai citizens on the 
 ^ eo^lia side of tlie St Mary^s. The s«?ne hatchet which 
 is raised by one of a chain of tribes, linked together by 
 qommont .or confed^nsated intemsts, is generally .grasped 
 by ^ The CiKek* were not dilatory in following an ex- 
 as^ple, whif^h they mi first pretended to restrain, aind ^eir 
 Otttniges surpassed those of any of the northern nations. 
 The British availiM themselves of one of the best har- 
 t|tt» in ti^ Gulf of Mexico, sent several of their vessels, 
 Uoen with the implements of var, to Pensacola. The com- 
 mandant at St Marks, a small Spanish settlement be- 
 tween East and West Florida, informed the chiefs that 
 the English would soon be there, with gum^ '' 'ves, 
 hatchet^ and ammunition for the red people, v . .« they 
 considered to be their friends. These were put into the 
 hands of the Indians, and they commenced me' hostili- 
 ties against all the defenceless inhabitants of Tenessee 
 {^ &(ffSJi» The presence of an anny became now ne- 
 cessary in the south, and the states there, were autho- 
 rized to call forth as many of the militia, as, in conjunc- 
 tion with the regulars, might be thought competent to 
 quell the associated tiibes. The Indians of the Creek 
 nation, are not subject to any kind of restraint in war$ 
 tiiey will neither give nor receive quarter, and pursue 
 DO other mode but that which leads to entire extermina- 
 tion. The force necessary to combat such an enemy, must 
 therefore be extensive, and the executives of the duB^ent 
 8^te«^ made every exertion, to arm and equip the whole 
 quota of ike militia. 
 
 . The Semirades had been committii^ff depredati<ma 9f 
 |he moist daring nature, before they haH any intelligence 
 l^om tMroor&ern friends; and uniting to their forces a 
 number of negroes whom they had captured at Florida* 
 they made frequent incursions into the state of Georgia, 
 
 unc 
 
 nu 
 
 vni 
 
 ber,| 
 was! 
 tim( 
 of 
 
vited, 
 ad be 
 elate 
 fren- 
 le actp 
 renes- 
 itions. 
 jWere 
 lere of 
 on the 
 wluch 
 iier by 
 rasped 
 
 dAeir 
 i^tic»i8. 
 isthar- 
 resselsy 
 le com- 
 ent be- 
 fs that 
 *ve8, 
 they 
 to the 
 Ihostili- 
 
 «t Tlift LicTE wjim. 
 
 ^1 > t: 
 
 )iia 9f 
 ice 
 
 Irce^a 
 lorida. 
 )oi|^a. 
 
 murdered many inhabitanti^ add etitiefl off much vtHbaJk' 
 ble plunder. Oh the night of the 11th of 8epteiii8i»', 
 about twenty American t^ps, principally of iii? Mariliel^, 
 under commaend of captain Williams, of that ctorpSi #ere 
 marching with two wagons towards Davis' Creek. When 
 within ten miles of their destination, they Were attacked 
 by a party of Indians and negroes, of about 50 in num- 
 ber, with whom they contended until every cartridge' 
 was expended. Captain WilliMnsy in the Course of that 
 time, received ei^ht wounds, and was carried off by two 
 of his men, leaving captain Fort, of the volunteers, ^ 
 command the troops, and to keep up the contest; but he 
 being flso wounded, and fin^ne the strength of the party 
 to be diminlshtT^, retired in t£e biit manner he could, 
 and left the Indians in pos8es8h>n of the wa|,';ons and 
 teama. The mght was excessively dark, and di^T^ral of 
 the men, who were wounded, had concealed thera<ielvef 
 in the bushes. On the fotlowing morbing a detsuhm^ 
 was sent from a block house a few n^es off, to wfcieh 
 some of the men had escaped, to examine tiuv^gin»ifn^. 
 They found captain Williams, with his tight leifiiid left 
 arm brokeuj his left lee shot through wiSi one, and his 
 right arm with three balls, and a wound through the 
 lower part of his body, (hie man was kUled and iTctdped^ 
 and the whole number of wounded amounted to six. Th^ 
 Indiiuis destroyed one waffim, but took ^e other to carry 
 off their dead and wounded — of whpm the number was 
 much greater than that of narines. Captain Wil- 
 
 liams languished for three lour days, and ek^ored 4t 
 Davis* Creek. 
 
 On the 24th of the same month, colonel Newnan, of 
 the Geor^a volunteers, left PicoUttta, with about 117 
 men, for me Lotchway towns. On his third day^ march, 
 when within seven miles of the first of those towns, he 
 was met by a body of about 150 Indians, all of whom 
 were mounted. Ims meeting was very unexpected to 
 the Indians; but they immediately dismountea, formed 
 a line of battle, and marched a few jpaces in advance. 
 Thi# movement was intended to intimidate the Greoi> 
 gians; but colonel Newnan pp*ve orders for the charge, 
 and determined to put an e > the encounter, by en- 
 tirely subduing the Indiai . putting them to flight. 
 The oattle ground was situated midst a number of ^amps. 
 
HISTORICAI. SK£TCH£S 
 
 which bonnded three of its sides. The Indians remained 
 firm until the Georgians had advanced within fifty paces 
 of their line, when they fled to these swamps ^or safety. 
 The whole of the musketry being fired at them with 
 precision, made great execution, and among others, kill- 
 ed their leader, MXng Faine, His tribe, on hearing of his 
 fall, were resolved on rescuing his bod^ from their ene- 
 my; and returned to the action for that purpose^ Seve- 
 ral charges were now mad«» and the Indians constantly 
 driven back, until at length, they resolved on one despe- 
 late effort, and recoverine all meir strength and spints, 
 made a push against the Geor^ans, which, thou^ it was 
 received with steadiness, could not be resisted with much 
 vigour. The Indians obtained the body of king Paine, 
 |ave up the conflict, which had now lasted upwards of 
 rour hours, and carried off iheir killed and wounded, sup- 
 posed to be between 20 and 30. In the course of the 
 day,(the Indians were reinforced from their towns, by 
 other Indians and negroes ; and renewed the action, which 
 they kept up with the greatest obstinacy, until the volun- 
 teers compelled them again to retreat. Their force in 
 the second attack, was upwards of 200, but they were 
 repulsed with liearly the samo loss as in the first; whilst 
 the volunteers' loss, in both, was but 1 killed, and 9 
 wounded. 
 
 Colonel Newnan's situation, was becoming extremely 
 hazardous; the enemy's numbers were hourly increas- 
 ing, and tiiey began to surround him on all sides ; he 
 therefore threw up a small breastwork, from which he 
 was determined to defend himself until his troops should 
 be reinforced also. He had already despatched expresses, 
 to procure additional numbers. His wounded men ren- 
 dered him unable to retreat or to advance; and he re- 
 pelled every assault which was made upon this little 
 work, until the 4th day of October. The Indians were 
 continually harassing him, day and nisht; and finding 
 they could make no impression on his Fortification, ^^sy 
 glutted their insatiable vengeance, by shooting ah his 
 horses. On the 4th, a perfect silence prevailed within 
 .colonel Newnan's camp, and the Indians suspected from 
 that, and the circumstance of their fire not tiaMn^ been 
 returned the day preceding, thai he had deserted it m the 
 night. Under this assurance, they approached the works. 
 
•F THB Jikm WJJU 
 
 58 
 
 without anj ih(mg|it of opposition, until the j were within 
 forty paces of then, when the Georgian troops suddiiilT 
 showed themsehres* compelled the Indians to retreat wim 
 precipitation, and after several rapid dischuiges of mns^ 
 ketry, killed and wounded about SO warriors more. They 
 then decamped, without being molested, and were 8ti»» 
 tioned about 10 miles oS, en the Fieolaita road, where 
 they were oblig^ to await the arrival of fresh horses «Bd 
 provisions. In his account of this affidr^ colonel Newntti 
 gives great credit to every volunteer of his ctetachment; 
 and their intrepid conduct, as well as his judicious w^ 
 rangements, served to cive a check to the combmed red 
 and black warriors, wfaioi promised aecnitT, to the neif^* 
 beurhood at least, until larfcer foroei should be organixed. 
 Besides the loss of EUng Paint, the iiidians had tln-ee of 
 the principal chiefs and thek* young governor slain; and 
 Bow4eg8, their second in command, severely wounded* 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Organhfatim ofth^^fbrthitfestetn Jrfnif^S;8 di^miH&H 
 -^Command given to General Harrison'--lhfence of 
 FoH Hatrism-^-^ege of Fori Waijne^^BxpedUion 
 against the Indian towns, 
 
 Imi«ediat£ly after the surrendet of th^ garrisons 
 at Michitiinackindc, Chicago, and Detroit, measure 
 were adopted for the or^a^^tion ttid equipment of a, 
 new arm^. An offer had been made to receive f otQf»- 
 teers into the service, from the stiftes and tminteries in 
 the fieighbourhood of Miehisafi; and they came fisrward 
 with an aldcriih^ which made it un^iicessary to held eut 
 alliu^ments. The recovery ef th^ sUrreudeted territory, 
 and the re-estabHshment of its ^rmet' tivU sovernm^ttt, 
 ^erethe strong iliotives, which induced stf^ the brave^ 
 IM natriotic lUenj \A its vkinlty, to iskt up arniAi mni 
 march against th« invaders, "the i&I^U^Mb U tM tfinrl- 
 tory, weire now gote^ed hj an au^ri^, t^ rigithmt to 
 
54 
 
 HI890BI0AL SKETCHES 
 
 be compatible with those notions of liberty inspired bf the 
 genius of their own constitution, and they were awaiting 
 me expected succour from their friends, with the deepest 
 anxiety. 
 
 ^ The new army was in readiness almost instantly, the 
 different corpa concentrated with unprecedented celerity, 
 and by the early part of September, (1812,) their disposi- 
 tion was com|rfeted. Two thousand Pennsylvania volun- 
 teers, under brieadier general Crooks, left Pittsbureh for 
 the shores of lake Erie; general Tupper's brigade of Ohio 
 volcmteers, was to ftttttce the road which had oeen formed 
 by the fk^t army, from Urt)anna to the Rapids; and a bri- 
 gade of Virginians, when they should arrive, under eeneral 
 Leftwhich, was to pursue the same route. General Payne'ft 
 brigade of Kentucky volunteers, the first of the present 
 army which was in readiness, and the 17th United States' 
 renment, under colonel Wells, were to proceed to fort 
 Way^e, and descend to the Ranids, of the Miami of the 
 lakes, which place was assignea for tlie general rendez- 
 vous. 
 
 l^e command of thie second northwestern army was 
 jS^ven by the unanimous wishes of the troops composing 
 it, to general W. H. Harrison; the immediate command of 
 the Kentucky troops under general Pa3me, devolved on 
 him, by his being breveted a major general by the gover- 
 nor of that state. 
 
 Forts Harrison and Wayne were at this time garrisoned 
 only by a few regulars and volunteers ; numerous British 
 and Indian forces, had already marched from Maiden, to 
 Jhy waste the Ohio frontier, and the latter post would na- 
 turally be their leading point. G«n0iral Harrison there- 
 fore immediately marched to its relief, with Payne's 
 brigade and the regulars. Tlie former post (fort Harri- 
 son) 'was invested on the dd of September, by ike Pro- 
 phet's party from the Wabash. On the night of the 4th, 
 ^y set £re to one of the block-houses, containing the 
 cpntractor's property, and followed up that act, by a re- 
 . solute attack nmn the fort The garrison was command- 
 !ed h^ captain Z. Taylor, of the fth U. S. infantry, and 
 consisted of only 18 effective men. The flames were ' 
 raging— the Indians, about 300 in number, howlins in 
 their usual horrid manner, and the women and children 
 
4% 
 
 
 ■^ 
 
 isoned 
 
 ■'K 
 
 Ot THE LATE IVAB. 
 
 55 
 
 of the bafracks, looking up to captain Taylor, and implor- 
 ing from him that protection, which they could scarcely 
 expect to receive. When the block'-house should be entirely 
 consumed, a large entrance would be open to the enemy; 
 no efforts had yet succeeded to extinguish the Qre, its as- 
 cendency baffled every attempt, and the men themselves 
 began to despond. Two of the stoutest jumped over the 
 picquets, with the hope of escaping in the darK; but one of 
 them was cut to pieces, and scalped, and the o^er return- 
 ed with hi^ arm broken, and implored to be re-admitted 
 into the fort. Und^r these discouraging circumstance^, 
 captain Taylor never suffered his presence df mind to 
 forsake him; and apfrfying the only resource nowle£thim» 
 he ordered ^ small party te dislodge the roof of the house, 
 so that it mi^t fall in the space, whilst a few men in ano- 
 ther house, were to keep up a continual fire upon the In- 
 dians. His plan succeedea— the men became confident 
 in their exeilions, and a breastworlgl^vas formed under a 
 heavy shower of bullets, along the cavity which the de- 
 struction 0^ the block-hcuse^ produced. A desperate de- 
 fence w.;:^ n' v made, and a constant and rapid fire kept up 
 until 6 o'clock in the morning of the 5th. Several furious 
 assaults had been repulsed; and the Indians, at the ap- 
 proach of day, judginff the number of the garrison to be 
 greater than it actually was, retired with a quantity of 
 captured cattle, after haying shot all the horses belonging 
 to the fort Doctor Clarke was the mosit indefatigable man 
 in the engagement, and captain Taylor's good conduct was 
 so highl}r applauded, that the president soon after pro- 
 moted him to a majority. Two men only were killed, 
 '.vith the exception of the deserter, and one wounded. The 
 Indians always carry off their dead, unless iheir numbers 
 are too small ; and their loss is seldom ascertained witii- 
 Qut ereat difficulty. All the provisions were consumed 
 by the fire, and the garrison compelled to subsist on green 
 corn, until reinforcements should come on with supplies. 
 The litde band, which was now reduced to 14 men, re- 
 paired the dam^es sustfdned by the fort, and constructed 
 •a strong fortification across the space. The bastions were 
 all put m the best state of defence, and every precaution 
 adopted to sustun a second assault To the great joy 
 of tne garrisonr however, colonel William Russel arrived 
 
56 
 
 ^HlgTOAICAL SS^^ETCHES 
 
 about th<^ i6fh, from Illinois, with 600 mounted ranged, 
 And 500 infantry; and fort Harrison became sufficiently 
 manned, to resist the attack of a much larger bod} of the 
 Prophet's warrriors. 
 
 The situ»iomt)f fort Wajrne was now mo^e ftri^cal, 
 fhau that of any other fortress in the west The I dims, 
 who had proceeded from the battle ground of 0*»ica^, 
 were afterwards reinforced by those from Maldei» and 
 they laid dege to this ^y^ess in very large numbers. 
 The troops in garrison, amounted to s:^yet4y. On th<e 
 night of the 5th of September, the Indians commenced 
 ah attack ; they fired principally u|ion the sentinels, but 
 did iio injury. Oki ihe 6th, several of the men went out- 
 of the s<mth gate of the foit, but had not proceeded more 
 thiM seventy paces, wh»n two of them were killed, and 
 by the exertions of their companions, thdr bodies were 
 c^nrried into the ibrt» to protect them against stLMo^ m- 
 dignities. Durins CIb night another attack was made by 
 the whole force c? the Indians, and when they apv-roach- 
 ed the fort, it was confidently expected they woult- scale 
 the Works $ but the iccc'Sdant fire of the garrison, com- 
 ptWt^ them to abandon their design. What thiiy could 
 not do by force, they then attempted by straiigem. Re^ 
 sort v/a& haMl to all kinds of artifice, and they at length 
 brou^t up two wooden pieces, which they had contrived 
 ih imitation of cannon, ti> persuade the garrison, that the 
 British ha'* supplied them with battering pieces, to re- 
 duce the plM^* Tliese wefe brought upj and one of 
 their chiefs thteatened to batter down th''. walls, 'iKless 
 the troops would immediately capitulate; or to {:torm 
 them on the following day, when tiiey would be reinforced 
 by 700 other warriors. In three dajs they menaced an 
 entiie massacre; but the troops m fort Wayne, still 
 hoping that it would be relieved by the arrival of the ex- 
 pected volunteers, resolved to hold out, until every arti- 
 cle of provi jion should be exhausted. No other atten.v^<ff 
 were made upon the fort, until the 9th, when a firing wk2 
 ecmmenced, and continued at intervals all day, but with- 
 out dofflg any damage. On the succeeding day, they be- 
 gan their wur whoops renewed their fire, imd wtni ^in 
 unbuccessful. Not a man was killed in ant of fheir at- 
 t^ks; the only wounds which they ihflioteo, bdftg upon 
 
ciehtly 
 of the 
 
 critical, 
 dims, 
 
 ! i» and 
 
 On the 
 menced 
 sis, tmt 
 6nt out- 
 d more 
 3d, and 
 rs were 
 
 lade by 
 ^-roach- 
 k' scale 
 \r. com- 
 y could 
 1. Re- 
 length 
 trived 
 at the 
 w) Fe- 
 me of 
 1 'ifiless 
 {:totin 
 Iforced 
 led an 
 i, still 
 Iheex- 
 
 jn.v^'*^ 
 
 [with- 
 Wbe- 
 l^in 
 lir at- 
 lunon 
 
 or THE LATE VAB. 
 
 57 
 
 those,. ivho ventured without the fort. On the evening of 
 the l^lli, general Harrison's forces reached the garrison, 
 and the whole Indian body precipitately fled. On the 
 arrival of the troops at that place, Loffa% (who will be 
 spoken of hereafter,) went forward wim about 700 men, 
 raised an Indian yell, and pursued the retreating tribes. 
 This ugnal. was answered by them, at the distance of only 
 150 yards; but the intervention of the river, and several 
 other obstacles, prevented the pursuit being attended with 
 effect. 
 
 The depredations which they had committed aboul; 
 the fort, were as inhuman as they were extensive. All 
 the stoek upon the neighbouring farms was destroyed; the 
 com, all the small gram, and every house burned; and all 
 tile horses and catue killed. The Indian agent, Stephen 
 Johnson, was murdered, and his body treated with shocks' 
 ing indecency; and every act, indicative of nvage ven- 
 geance was committed. 
 
 The approach of the regulars and volunteers, prevent- 
 ed, perhaps, the destruction of the fields at a greater duh 
 tance, and secured a supply of Indian com for the garri- 
 son. But the great augmentation of the troops, made it 
 necessary to obtain supplies of other provisions, £rom the 
 towns ^i those tribes, which had been so active in de- 
 stroying what the farms mi^t have afforded. It was now 
 hi^ time, too, to make tlie Indians feel those effects of 
 the war, which their repeated cruelties had provoked; and 
 to convince them, that the American troops were not so 
 contemptible and degraded, as they, the Indians, might 
 conclude them to be from the surrender of the late coin- 
 tnander in chief, on the same station. General Harrison, 
 therefore, divided his forces into scouting parties, under 
 command of his most active officers. Several expeditions 
 were sent forward, against the Indian settlements, and 
 some expectations entertained, that they might be drawn 
 into battle. But they did not betray the same willing- 
 ness to combat these corps, which they had heretofore 
 shown to encounter otiiers. The Kentuckians were held 
 in great dread, by most of the Indian warriors, and the 
 expression of " Kentuc too muchf'* has not unfrequently 
 accompanied their orders to retreat. 
 
 On the 14th September, geppral Harrison despatched 
 
«B 
 
 HISTO&ICAL 8K£¥C»&9 
 
 colonel Wells, with hk own, and colonel Seott's regi* 
 ments, and SOO mounted nflemen, with instructions to 
 DFoceed up the river St. Joseph, which, With the St 
 Mary's forms the Miami of the Lakes, and to destroy the 
 Potawatomie towns at Elk Hart. Another detachment^ 
 consisting of colonels Allen and Lewis' regiments, and 
 captain (^mrard's troop, under command of general Payne, 
 but which the commander in cldef accompanied, proceed- 
 ed on Hie same day to the destruction of the Miami 
 towns, on the forks of the Wabash. The oli^ect of each 
 expedition was accomplished without opposition, the In- 
 dians M those tribes having abandoned their viilaces, and 
 the different detachments returned to the fort on m6 18th. 
 
 General Winchester, of the United States army, tep- 
 lived at fort Wayne, immediately after the eitpeditkrtl 
 aigaiast the Indkm villages, and tli^ command ^f the de- 
 taushmenta under general Payne and colonel Well% was 
 resigned to him, in obedience to the Orders of the war de> 
 pAft-tment The volunteers, who had centred all their af- 
 leetionB in the person of the commander of their choice, 
 were not satisfied with this change, until general Ham- 
 son reminded them of the revomtionary servit^s of hfe 
 successor, and communicated to them the ms^iictions 
 iVom the department, confirming him in the command e^ 
 ikU ttie troops, but those which were assigned to general 
 Winchester. 
 
 The strength of this army was continually augmenting. 
 Vdunteer associations^ to a greater number than it was 
 politic to receive into the service, were in the same day, 
 formed, equipped, and ready to march against the ene- 
 my, and a selection was made from among them, of such 
 a force as was at that time required, in conjunction with 
 the troops which had already marched, to make the army 
 complete. But such was the patriotic impetuosity of the 
 western people, that many of the corps who were not ^r- 
 tunate enou^ to be received, immediately provided them- 
 selves at their own expense, and insisted upon accompa- 
 nying their fellow citizens to the field. 
 
 The siege of fort Wayne having been raised by the 
 Indians, it now entered into the views of the two gene- 
 rals to march forces to the relief of the intermediate gar^ 
 risons between that place and Detroit, against which an 
 
S€oti*s fegiL 
 tructions t6 
 'ith the St. 
 
 destroy the 
 letachmen^ 
 iihentg, and 
 leral Pajne, 
 9d, proceed- 
 the Miami 
 ect of each 
 f>B, the In- 
 Alaceg, and 
 » the 18th. 
 
 army, m^ 
 expeditfem 
 <>f the de- 
 ^eHsj wag 
 b war d«. 
 n their af- 
 sir choice, 
 nd Harri- 
 ees of h^ 
 »^*wcti<aift 
 Btiiaadof 
 ogenwal 
 
 fsaentin^. 
 SB it Was 
 ame day, 
 the ene- 
 of such 
 ion with 
 he army 
 tyofthe 
 not f^r- 
 sd them^ 
 :compa^ 
 
 by the 
 » gene- 
 ite gai^ 
 \ikh an 
 
 , i 
 
 ^o* every nee 
 reatest possiWe 
 
 rore advanced to fortfilfi'*"" ^^eral Winch^rf^iilTk "*'' 
 fixed his h«Jl . "efiance, whilaf ^ "^•pf there- 
 
 &merXst l21if^** St. i&rjlf £f''l'F«»^Bon 
 
 fiance mm2^\ '^ ^^^^^^ ^^^'^ ^ 
 ber /iflVow?^" *» about 2000 a«^^®^ ^w fort Be. 
 
 *«ye»U^'*ei^rj^vT^* *^ foe wffi,i»«?»r. 
 twenty Dace. /2 .L*? *»»*». at the ^L""** *•"•«* «p 
 were pSS t '^'' *^ *^ »o1b^* *»«S» %ett 
 
 the niahf „f *L "''j??*"wi9 youSe Z^^ "**' entirely 
 
 ed. kiUed. trr&* r ^^f^-^H were ovt'' *^"»- 
 -•« manner oftlfe,^. -^iped « '^^^1"^: 
 
 »f the state ov^S h *"' ^»"t«Uon of .h ""'?.""''i» 
 
 k-jfed .t tte leg. <,fis?v^f,«". *" "« «r,s;?rcj 
 
60 
 
 'HISTOl^CAL SKETCHES 
 
 On the 27th, captain Ballard, who was distinguished in 
 that army for his courage and prudence, was ordered to 
 go out with his company of spies, supported by' forty of 
 Garrard's dragoons, ana bury the boaies of tne young 
 men, whose fate was now ascertained in camp. When 
 within about two miles of the spot where tiiey nad fallen, 
 Ballard discovered an Indian ambuscade ; but as he had 
 marched liis men in two divisions, placing one on each 
 side of an Indian trace, through which the enemy sup* 
 posed the volunteers would advance, the ambuscade be- 
 came useless, and the Indians succeeded in ffaining an 
 eminence: .whilst they were forming, captain Ballard 
 gave them a ^lling'^'re, which they immeaiately return- 
 ed, accompanied by a loud and terrific yell. Ballard or* 
 dered up the horse, and chained upon, and put them to 
 the rout. Pursuit was given, but the enemy knew the 
 country better than the dragoons, and escaped into the 
 swamp and thickets, with the loss of 4 or 5 wounded. 
 No injury of consequence enough to name was sustained 
 by the volunteers. 
 
 On the 28th, Ballard's spies were again sent forward, 
 and discovered a fresh trail of Indians. On communi- 
 cating which to the general, he ordered 20 troopers to 
 cross the river, to ascertain whether the wagons could 
 pass, and on finding a tolerable ford, the whole army 
 crossed about five mues above fort Defiance, aad encamp- 
 ed on its bank. At 100 yards from the edge of the river,' 
 another trail was discovered, when captain Garrard was 
 despatched, with 20 of his troop, to proceed and ascer- 
 tain by whom it was made. Tnree miles below general 
 Winchester's encampment, and two miles above fort De- 
 fiance, the enemy were observed to be encamped in large 
 numbers, with war poles erected, and the bloody flag 
 flying. When the army commenced its march from fort 
 Wayne, the troops were provided with six day's rations 
 only; but colonel Jennin&'s regiment was to meet them 
 with provisions at fort Defiance. At a certain point on 
 the Miuxf Glaixe, the colonel was directed to halt, and 
 erect a block house, which having done, he ascertained by 
 his spies, that the British and Indians were encamped near 
 the tort, and without reinforcements it would have been 
 knprudent to have proceeded fiirther. Late on the ni^t 
 of the 29thy he therefore forwarded an express to general 
 
'v'k^ 
 
 ■'¥^''W 
 
 ■' ■» 
 
 '■■-.■>?♦' 
 
 ov THB LATB mm* 
 
 61 
 
 Winchetter, to make known his skuatioiii 40 mflen abore 
 fori Defiance; and as tKe troops were Aow nearly stani»> 
 inff, captfun Garrard pi'oceeded with g^t despleli to 
 colonel Jennings regiment, to escort, wltii his aragooMi 
 a brigade of paekhorses with povisions for ^ir reliei^ 
 and effected a hazardous tour in dG.hours, thon^ all thai 
 time drenched with incxseaffit nun. 
 
 General Winchester seeing that his force was f» mfe* 
 rijir to thaft of the newly discovered enemy, and findhig 
 himself in their immediate vicinity^ despatched expressei 
 toi general Harrison at the St« Mary^ to obtain iw&fetce- 
 ments, and to apprise him of the sitiHrtion of the left wtn|^ 
 Expecting the required relief in afieiv da^ 'he piit his 
 encampment in a utate of defence, by Ibrafyihg kimself 
 on the front and sides, and kept out reconnoitring pa»> 
 ties, who were to communicate with him, the moment the 
 enemy should come out to attack him. Chi the o^er haoie^ 
 the enemy had possession of Ibrt Defiance» and were 
 pairing and enlarging its armament* 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 large 
 flag 
 fort 
 
 ■(>!* 
 
 The British evacuate F&rt Defance-^Iktsth ofLogaKHf^ 
 Battle on the Miesissinewor-^The l^ wing ofthearm^ 
 moves from Fort Defiance to the Mapids^JSxcuraion 
 of Hie JSCentticky brigade into Indiana, 
 
 General Harrisok, on receiving general Winches^ 
 tar's despatch, immediately began his march with general 
 Tupper'S mounted men, and arrived at the encampment 
 near Defiance, when he moved forward with the whc^e 
 force to attack that fort But the British and Indians 
 had evacuated it, as soon as they heard of his approach, 
 and taking away the cannon with which they had in^^ 
 creased the armament, proceeded down the Miami to the 
 Rapids. The mounted men were ordered to pursue the 
 retreating enemy, and to destroy ^ir encampment at that 
 place; and general Harrison lert fort De&ince« on the 5th, 
 (October) to join the right wing of the army* and to oeiw 
 
 F 
 
6S 
 
 M 
 
 mSTOmCkt, SKETCHES 
 
 centrate the whole at ^he appointed rendezvous, at the 
 Miami of tiie Lakes. After his departure, ^neral Win- 
 chester countermanded the order to general Tupper, and 
 the expedition against the Indians at the Rapids, was con- 
 sequently frustrated. Until the contemplated concentra^ 
 .Hon could be effected, no movement could be made which 
 .would promote the ultimate object of the campaign, and 
 the troops at fort Defiance, which now assumed the name 
 of fort Winchester,, remained in that garrison until the 
 14th of December (1 812). 
 
 In this interval, Logarit with about 30 friendl;^ Indians, 
 attempted to examine the movementi) and situation of the 
 enemy on the Miami, where his party was discovered and 
 dispersed. Logan and 6 of them returned, the remain- 
 der escaped in another direction. 
 
 On the ^Qd of November, he was again ordered by 
 general Winchester, to take two Indians (Bright-Horn 
 and Capt John), and go forward to make discoveries. 
 Early in the day, they were met and captured by captain 
 Elliot, son of tne Bntish colonel of that name, ana the 
 celebrated hostile chief, Wynenutck, and a party of 4 In- 
 dians. Logan resorted to. a slratagem, by which he ner- 
 »vLa.ded Wynemacky that he had come to join him, ana he 
 and his two men, were therefore, allowed to carry their 
 arms and inarch in front. Logan having communicated 
 to his comrades his determination to rescue himself or 
 perish in the effort, they suddenly turned upon their ene- 
 my on the first opportunity, and each brouglit his man to 
 tHe STOund; Wynemack being among them. The remain- 
 ing mree fii'ed in return, shot Logan and Bright-Horn, 
 the former in the breast, and immediately retired. Logan 
 exchanged the shot, notwithstanding the severity of his 
 wound, and both he and Bright-Horn, mounted the 
 horses of Wynemack and Elliot, (whilst Capt John pro- 
 tected their retreat,) and returned to fort Winchester. 
 jOn the 28th« Logan died with the firmness of a soldier, 
 sincerely regretted by the whole garrison, in the vicinity 
 of which he was t^uried with every mark of distinction. 
 
 At Franklinton, general Harrison was actively em- 
 ployed in forwarding ammunitipn, pieces of ordnance, 
 ordnance stores, provisions, &c. and arranging depots for 
 ^eir reception, on the road designated for tne march of 
 the right wing of the tivmy* On tlie 18th of November, 
 
 P 
 
0U8, at the 
 neral Win- 
 'upper, and 
 is, was con- 
 1 concentrap 
 made which 
 npaign, and 
 sd the name 
 on until the 
 
 idly Indians, 
 aation of the 
 icQvered and 
 the remain- 
 ordered by 
 Bright'Htym 
 discoveries, 
 d by cantain 
 ime, ana the 
 tarty of 4 In- 
 irhich he per- 
 him, and he 
 carrjr their 
 immunicated 
 himself or 
 >n their ene- 
 It his man to 
 le remain- 
 h-ight-Horrif 
 Ired. Logan 
 [erity of his 
 \ounted the 
 \tJohn pro- 
 Winchester. 
 |f a soldier, 
 (the vicinity 
 »tinction. 
 :tively em- 
 ' ordnance, 
 depots for 
 |ie march of 
 iNovember, 
 
 » 
 
 OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 63 
 
 he sent lieut. col. J. B. Campbell with, a detachment of 
 600 men, on an expedition against the Indians of the 
 Miami tribes, tesidinffin the Mississinewa towns. On the 
 momins of the 17th December, the detachment c aived 
 on the first of those towns, drove ^e Indians across the 
 Mississinewa river, killed 7 warriors, and took 37 prison- 
 ers. During this contest a part of the detachment was 
 sent to the other towns, which being already evacuated by 
 the inhabitants, were immediately destroyed, and the de- 
 tachment returned to the ground first occupied. On the 
 morning of the 1 8th, at daylight, the camp was attacked 
 by a number of Indians, of the Mfiami and Delaware 
 tribes, amounting to about 300. The attack commenced 
 on the right of me line, which was occupied by major 
 BalPs squadron of iiorse, who ^Uantly contended against 
 them for one hour, and sustained ^li^Sit the whole con- 
 flict. The Indians then fell back, and Were courageously 
 chained by captain Trotter at the head of his company 
 of I^ntucky dragoons. In this charge captain Trotter 
 was wounded in the hand: the Indians fled with great 
 velocity, and were pursued as far as was thought prudent. 
 Captain Pierce, of the Zanesville troop, was killed in the 
 act of charging. Lieutenant Waltz was shot through the 
 arm, but l^ing resolved on losing no share of honour, he 
 remounted his norse, and in that act was killed by a shot 
 throu^i the head. He was of the Pennsylvania volunteers. 
 Captams Markle and M'Clelland of the same corps, and 
 captains Garrard and Hopkins were complimented by the 
 commanding general. Lieutenant colonel Simmerall, ma- 
 ioc McDowell,, and captains Hite and Smith, are said to 
 have gallantly distinguished tliemselves; and the whole 
 detachment, after exhibiting throu^out a great degree of 
 patience, fortitude and coolness, rendered the victory moi'e 
 honourable to the American arms, by respecting the high 
 and inestimable principles of humanity, and rendering 
 them, as ihej ever ou^t to be, inseparable from bravery. 
 The general's orders, on their departure, were to that 
 eflecC and the most rigid obedience was pud to ^em. 
 The battle being ended, and the object of ttie expedition 
 completely accomplished, colonel Campbell commenced 
 his march for Greenville on his return, having first for- 
 warded an express for reinforcements, Tecwmseh being 
 reported to be in the neighbourhood with 500 wwrriors, 
 
'M 
 
 64 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHt:s 
 
 and the name of Heeumsehhad now become terrible. If 
 tiie detachment should be intercepted, an obstinate en- 
 gagement must follow, and by the momine report of the 
 S4ui,-dOd of the men were rendered unfit for doty, by 
 being froaUntten; an attack from a superior body of In- 
 dians could not therefore be sustained with any prospect 
 of success. The detachment reached Greenville, however, 
 without being once molested, andjhe citizois received the 
 troops with marks of admiration and gratitude. In the 
 destruction of the first town, the American loss was 1 
 killed and 1 wounded In the action of the following 
 morning, 8 were killed and 25 wounded — ^the Indian loss 
 in killed was known to be 40; the number of wounded 
 could not be ascertained. ' The prisoners were brought 
 away by the detachment Much astonishment was ex- 
 pressed that tfao ltl$Mns did not attack the detachment in 
 its retrooFade movement, but tins circumstance may be 
 attributed to the loss of their prophet, who it is supposed, 
 was killed in the second engagement . 
 
 Notwithstanding the season was already so far ad- 
 vanced, and the difiiculties in marching against the ene->' 
 my every day increasing^ general Harnson was too stea- 
 dily deurmined on the recovery of Michigan, and the 
 sumugation of Maiden and the country surrounding it, 
 to De put aside from his views b^ any such obstacles. 
 Every implement^ was provided wmch might possibly be 
 necessary; the military stores and trains of artillery were 
 already at the different depots, and the troops from Penn- 
 sylvama^being at Mansfield, those from Virginia at Dela<- 
 ware, and those from YMiio kt fort M'Arthur, the purposed 
 concentration could be almost immediately enected.— 
 General Winchester with the left win^, moved from fort 
 Wmchester to the Rapids, in conformity to the j^revious 
 order of general Harrison, who was now commissioned 
 a major general in the ariny of the United States, and 
 appomted to the command or the northwestern army. A 
 line of posts was to be established, aiid strong fortifica- 
 tions erected, as intermediate places of renc&zvous, at 
 equal distances between Defiance and Detroit: and, that 
 he m^t with more convenience superintend the build- 
 ing or these, the commander in chief fixed his head quar- 
 ters at Upper Sandusky. 
 
 A brigade of Kentuckians had been sent into theiln- 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 69 
 
 diana territory, under general Samuel Hopkins, with in- 
 structions to attack every settlement on the Wabash, and 
 then to fall upon the Illinois. On the 11th November 
 they marched from fort Harrison, with a view to the de- 
 struction of the Prophet's town. Seven boats, with pro- 
 visions, forage and military stores, comnianded by colo- 
 nel Barbour, accompanied tSie expedition, and the troops 
 marched, on the east side of tiie Wabash, to protect them, 
 until the 19th, when they reached the town, and were 
 engaged three day's in tKe destruction of it, and a large 
 l&jckapoo village adjoining, while general Butler with 
 300 men, surrounded and destroyed the Wynebago town 
 on the Ponce^assu creek; each of these towns had been 
 abandoned by the Indian warrkirs, and a small party was 
 sent out to reconnoitre tiie surroundins woods, and to 
 seek out their hiding places. , Several Indians showed 
 themselves, fired on the party, killed one man, and com- 
 pelled the others to reture. This occurrence was no 
 sooner made known to the troops, than 60 horsemeii 
 offered to proceed to the grouna, to bury their compa- 
 nion, and to encounter the enemy. When they attained 
 the point, near the Indian encampment, they were fired 
 upon from an ambuscade, and 18 of the party killed and 
 wounded ; among them, several promising ycmns officers. 
 The enemy had taken possession of a strone defensive 
 position, in which there was no hope of efl^tui^y as** 
 soling him, having a deep.rapid creek, in its rear, in the 
 form of a semicircle, and being fronted by a hi^ and 
 almost perpendicular bluff, of 100 feet, which copd only 
 be penetrated by three steep ravines. The death of these 
 gallant young inen, excited a spirit of revenge among 
 ihe troops, and tiiev moved forward under a heavy fall m 
 snow, determined to attack the enemy in his strong hold« 
 at every risk. But on arriving at the place, they found 
 that the Indians had evacuated it, and crossed m^Ponee- 
 passu on their retreat. There being now no certain'^oint 
 to which the operations of the troops could be directed* * 
 general Hopkins gave orders for their return to fcnrt Har- 
 rison, where they arrived after an absence df 16 days* 
 having in that time traveit-sed 100 miles of a country, of 
 which, to use the words of their commander, they had no 
 cognia^ce. 
 
 X F2 
 
66 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 i 
 
 I I 
 
 JtmerUianfcTee^ofn, the JViagara and 8t. Lawtence^-^n 
 affair upon the latter'^Ea;pedition against Gananoque 
 '-^Bomiardment of Ogdmsburg^-^ttack upon it^^ 
 Diapositipn of the forces on the J^^agara-^Deserip" 
 tion cf Qhieenstown — Battle of Queenstown Heights^^ 
 Death cf General Brock — Defeat of the American 
 foreeSf-^Cannonade between Fort George and Fort •Ni- 
 agara — Jin affair below Ogdensburg — Pih' incurs 
 ^on^into Canador-^Bonibarament of Fort •/> garar^ 
 Capture of the enemy's ^^gi^ ^t 8t. RegiS'^General 
 Smyth's proelamationr-^'fiie British batteries opposite 
 Black Bock formed and carried^-^bandonea by the 
 Jhnericans, they ope^ afire on the battery at the Mock,' 
 
 Whilst thi^se events were transpiring in the west- 
 em department of the union, dispositions had been made, 
 and troops collected at the different stations along the 
 Niaeara river; from ihe lake Erie to the lake Ontario; 
 andlieyond the latter, alonff the shore of the St. Law- 
 rence. M Excursions from the American to the British 
 shores of the rivers, had been frequently made, and on 
 some occasions, were followed by smart skirmishes.-— 
 The chief command of ^ese forces was given to majpr 
 geneml Dearborn. The immediate command of the 
 troops on the Niagara, to major general Van Rensselaer, 
 of the militia of the etate of New York. Brigadier gene- 
 ral Smyth was stationed at Black Rock. The titrnps on 
 the St. Lawrence were principally garrisoned a,t/(^en8- 
 burff, and commanded oy brigadier general Brown, also 
 of nie New York militia. 
 
 On the 15th of September (1812), 25 British boats 
 passed ^iadrid op the St. Lawrence, laden with military- 
 stores and munitions of war. About 140 of the militia from 
 Ogdensburg and Hamilton, with one gun boat* posted 
 
 iMt^' 
 
OV THE LATE WAR. 
 
 m 
 
 themselves on an island to obstruct their passage. The 
 enemy approaching the head of the river, brought himself 
 immediately in front of this island, when a rapid and well 
 directed fire made him ply for the opposite snore, where 
 he took shelter in the woods. The militia had no small 
 boats to pursue the flying squadron, and the British had 
 time to rally, to procure acwistance, and to return to a 
 contest This they did, with little delay, and after an 
 action of three hours, they were reinforced by two gun 
 boats and a large body of men from Prescott. The mi* 
 litia beihg then outnumbered, their ammunition nearlr 
 exhausted, and their loss 1 man killed and 2 wounded, 
 abandoned the enterprise, and returned to their respec- 
 tive quarters. The injury sustained by the enemy has 
 never been known. 
 
 Captain Fors^e, of the rifle regiment, being at the 
 garrison of (^ensburg, projected an expedition agfunst 
 a small village in the town of Leeds, in Canada, called 
 Gananoqtte* In this villa^ was the king's storehouse, 
 containing immense quantities of arms and ammuniticm, 
 and captain Forsythe was resolved on its destruction. In 
 tlie nisnt of the 20th- September, therefore, a number of 
 boats Deittg provided, he embarked witii 70 of his own 
 men, and 34 militia men. Before daylight of the 21st» 
 they reached the Canadian «hore, and landed, unobserv* 
 ed, at a little distance from the village. The enemy soon 
 after discovered them, and they were fired on by a party 
 of 125 regulars and militia. Forsythe drew up hia men, 
 and returned their fire with such effect, that tne Aritish 
 retreated in disorder, and were pursued to the village, 
 where they rallied, and resolved on making; a stand, and 
 disputing the passage of a bridge. An action took place 
 here, which resulted in the same manner as the former. 
 The enemy again fled, making his escape over the bridge, 
 and leaving 10 of his number killed, 8 regulars and seve- 
 ral militia men prisoners, and the village and store house 
 in possession oi the American party. Captdn Forsythe 
 lost 1 in killed and 1 wounded. Alter releasing the' mi- 
 litia prisoners on their parole, and taking out a quantity 
 of arms, fixed ammunition, powder, flints, and other arti- 
 cles of public property, and setting fire to the store house, 
 he returned to Cape Vincent with these, and the ei^t 
 regular prisoners. 
 
■i 
 
 68 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 In retaliation for this daring exploit, the enemy deter- 
 mined on attacking and destroying the town of O^ens- 
 bui^. Opposite io this is situateia the Canadian village 
 of Prescott, before which the British had a strong line of 
 breastworks. On the 2d of October they opened a heavy 
 cannonading on the town from their batteries, and con- 
 tinued to bombard it with little intermission until the 
 night of the Sd: one or two buildings only were iiyured. 
 On Sunday, the 4th, having prepared 40 boats, with from 
 10 to 15 armed men in each, they advanced with six 
 pieces of artillery, to storm the town. General Brown 
 commanded at (^ensburg in person, and when the ene- 
 my had advanced within a short distance, h& ordered his 
 troops to open a warm fire upon them. The British, ne- 
 vertneless, steadily approached the shore, and kept up 
 their fire for two hours; during which, they sustained the 
 galling fire of the Americans, until one of their boats was 
 taken, and two others so shattered, that their crews were 
 obliged to abandon them; they then relinquished the as- 
 sault, and fl«d to Prescott. 
 
 The success of the detachment, which had proceeded 
 against the brigs Detroit and Caledonia, on the 9th Octo- 
 ber, excited a strong spirit of enterprise among the troops 
 ^t the different stations along the Niagara. The whole 
 number under the command of general Van Rensselaer, 
 amounted, as it is said, to 5800, and were disposed of in 
 tfie following manner: 2900, with which he was himself 
 stationed, at and near Lewistown ; 1300 regulars, in- 
 cluding a detachment of the 2d artillery, commanded by 
 lieutenant colonel Scott, under general Smyth, near Black 
 Rock, distant from Lewistown, 28 miles; 500 militia and 
 volunteers, at Black Rock and Schlosser; six companies 
 t)f field and li^ht artillery (300), and about 500 of the 6th 
 and 13th regiments, and 300 of the 23d, under major 
 Mullany, at the fort Niagara. . • 
 
 The general was pressed from all quarters to give the 
 troopsr an opportunity of distin^ishing themselves^ and 
 liis own opinion was, that tlie crisis oi the campaign was 
 rapidly advancing, and, as he infonned the commander in 
 chief, " That the hhw imist be soon struck, or the toil and 
 " expense of the campaign go for nothing ; for the whole 
 *• will be tinged with dishonour,** 
 
OF TUB LATE ^Ali. 
 
 6d 
 
 Under these circumstances, and influenced by these 
 impressions, he ordered the resulars, Qnder lieutenant 
 colonel Fenwick and major Mullany, to leave fort Niaga- 
 ra, and proceed to his head quarters at Lewistown. The 
 same orders were issued to general Smyth's brigade. 
 When the British general Brock had made arrangements 
 for the civil government of Michigan, and had appointed 
 such officers as he thought necessarv to its administra- 
 tion, he transferred the command of Detroit to colonel 
 Proctor, and moved his own quarters to fort Geoi^, that 
 he midit facilitate the preparations on the Niagara fron- 
 tier. But general Van Rensselaer received intelligence, 
 which was thought to warrant a movement into Canida, 
 and was at the same time informed, that general Brock 
 had returned to Detroit (upon hearing of the preparations 
 in the west, for the recovery of that post), and had taken 
 with him such troops as could with safety b^spared from 
 fort £rie and fort George. He therefore promised his 
 army, ^t they should cms over and act against Queens- 
 town ; and it was for this purpose that the regulars were 
 ordered from fqrt Niagara and the Rock. The posses* 
 sion of Queenstown was important to the success^ of tiie 
 American arms in Canada,^ in this, or in anv future cam- 
 pai^. It is a handsome town, below the falls of Niacara, 
 at Sie head of the navigable waters of that strait, and im- 
 mediately opposite Lewistoun; a place of depot for the 
 merchandise for all the country above, and for the public 
 stores, and the line of posts arong the Niagara and De- 
 troit livers. It has an excellent harbour, and good an- 
 chorage; the banks on both sides are elevated, and the 
 landscape is among the most splendid and sublime. 
 
 It was intended, that the attack on Queenstown should 
 be made in the morning of the llih October, at 3 o'clock, 
 and the embarkation was to take place from thert>ld ferry, 
 opposite the heights, to which situation, experienced boat- 
 men were employed to navi^te the boato, ^m the land- 
 ing below. The river here is one sheet of vioi?nt eddies, 
 and an officer who was considered to be the most skil- 
 ful for such a service, was sent ahead; but in tii?^ ex- 
 treme darkness of the night passed the intended point of 
 embarkation, far up the river, and very unaccountably, 
 fastened his boat containing nearly all the oars of tiie 
 other boats, to the shore, and abandoned the detachment 
 

 I 
 
 M \ 
 
 70 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 The ardour of the officers and men was not the least 
 abated through tlie night, though they were exposed to p 
 tremendous northeast storm, which prevailed for twenty- 
 eight hours, and in that time deluged the whole camp. 
 But they were mortified by this distressing dilemma, and 
 the appearance of daylight having extinguished every 
 prospect of success, tKe detachments returned to camp, 
 and an express was sent to Black Rock, to countermand 
 the orders to general Smvth. The miscarriage of the 
 plan had no other effect than to increase the ardour oi' 
 the troops, and they impatiently awaited me arrival of 
 orders, which would bring them into personal opposition 
 with the enemy. Arrangements were therefore made 
 to that effect, and the uight of the 12th was designated 
 for tlie operation. Two columns, one of 300 militia, un- 
 der colonel Van Rensselaer, and another of 300 regulars, 
 un4er lieutenant colonel Christie, were to pass over toge- 
 ther. Thirteen boats were provided for their conveyance, 
 and when the heights shf *uld bfPcarried, lieutenant colonel 
 Fen wick's flying artillery were to cross over; then major 
 MuUany's detachment of regulars ; and the crther troops 
 ,,to follow in order. Early in the night, colonel Christie 
 'marched his detachment by the rear roa^, from ^Niagara 
 to camp. At seven in the evening, lieutenant colonel 
 Stranahan*s regiment moved from Niagara falls; at eight 
 o'clock, Mead*s regiment; and at nine, lieu, ynant colonel 
 Blanks regiment. Each corps was in camp in proper 
 time. At the dawn of day, the boats we»*e in readiness^ 
 and the troops embar^.ed early in the morning of the 13th, 
 ' under cover of a commanding battery, mounting two 18 
 pounders and two 6's. 
 
 Whilst these preparations w« re ffoing forward, the 
 3ritisii at Queens town were surreptitiousiy apprised ol 
 the contevnplated movement of the AmeiKJin troops; and 
 they despatched expresses to give intelligence to general 
 Brock, who was at thul moment quartered at fort Georgt . 
 —The heights were ii\jed with troops, and measures in- 
 stantly adopted to repel tlie debarkation. F^e boats had 
 scarcely put off, before they received a brisk fire of mus- 
 ketry, fro»ri the \/hole lino on the Canadian shf)re. The 
 AmericdU batteries were immediately opened to sweep 
 the opposite fehore, and three British batteries played wit' 
 great severity upon the boats. Lieutenant colonel Scott 
 
OF THE LATE 1¥AR. 
 
 71 
 
 the least 
 »sed to p 
 • twenty- 
 )le camp, 
 nma, and 
 ed every 
 to camp, 
 itermand 
 re of the 
 irdour oi . 
 arrival of 
 ipposition 
 )re made 
 esignated 
 ulitia, un- 
 ) regulars, 
 over toge- 
 nveyance, 
 ,nt colonel 
 hen major 
 ler troops 
 ;1 Christie 
 n ^Niagara 
 it colonel 
 i ; at eight 
 nt colonel 
 in proper 
 readinesS; 
 the 13th, 
 g two 18 
 
 ^ard, the 
 
 )pri8ed ot 
 
 [oops ; and 
 
 to general 
 
 rt Geor^»L . 
 
 isures in- 
 
 Iboats had 
 
 of mus- 
 
 )re. The 
 
 swee 
 
 lyed wit 
 
 el Scotv 
 
 P 
 
 of the 3d artillery, with a detachment of that regiment 
 froln Black Rock, had reached Schlosseri by water, on 
 the night preening, without beinff formallj apprised of 
 the halt of general Smyth's brigade, to which ne was at- 
 tached. On his arrival here, he learned the intention of 
 feneral Van Rensselaer, and commenced his march foil' 
 iewistown, after midnight, with two 6 pounders^ under 
 the command of captains Tcwson ?ind Barker, and, not- 
 withstanding the extreme badness of the roads, rendered 
 still more difficult of passage by tiie darkness of t^<^ nieht, 
 he arrived in t^ae to return the first of iJie eneiii/'s fire, 
 and, by dra\ ing a portion of the attention of his" batte- 
 ries towards himself, to facilitate the crossiii g of the Ame- 
 rican volunteers and regulars. Tne eddies in the river 
 were violent ; the shot from the enemy fell in heavy 
 showers on the boats, and the difl^culty of combatinff the 
 former, arid avoiding the latter, not only embarrassed the 
 officers, but put many of the oarsmen into confusion. 
 A grape shot from a battery below Queenstown, which 
 enfiladed the place of crossing, struck the boat in which 
 was lieutenant colonel Christie, wounded him in the hand, 
 and alarmed the pilot and boatmen so, that the boat fell 
 below the intended place of landing, and was obliged to 
 return. The boats in which major MuUan} followed the 
 two columns, fell also below the point, two of them into 
 the hands of the enemy, and that (.officer also returned. 
 But colonel Van Rensselaer, who commanded the whole 
 detachment, and whose boat* formed the van, moved to 
 the enemy's shore, succeeded in touching it at the desig- 
 nated place, and etfected the landing of the van, "consist- 
 ing of IOC men, under ^. tremendous tire, directed upon 
 him from every point. In aacending tlie banks, the colo- 
 nel received four balls. Captain Armstrong, captain Mal- 
 colm, and captain Wool, were wounded, jnd ensij.'^n Mor- 
 ris was killed. A party of the Biitish then issued from 
 an old fort belo.w Queenstown, but being fired on by the 
 Americans, immediately retreated. A strong lottery, 
 which fired incessantly upon the van, obliged it to retire 
 under the banks, where colonel Van Rensselaer lay wound- 
 ed, who, though in excruciating pain, with great difficulty, 
 stood up, and ordered his officers to proceed with rapidity 
 and storm the fort, and, if possible, to ascend and carrj^ 
 
iip' 
 
 > 
 
 si;-- -- 
 
 It ■ 
 
 •■3 
 
 HISTOKICAL SKXfFCHKS 
 
 the heights. The men were instantly rallied. About 6^ 
 of the most determiiied, commanded bjr-captain Oril^e, 
 seconded by captain Wool, thottgh wottnded» and Geute- 
 nants Kamey, Carr, Hu^nan, and Sammons, and ensign 
 Reeve, of the I3th; andlieutenants Chmsevoort and Ran- 
 dolph, «f the artiileFj, cautiously mounted the rocks on 
 the right of the fort, gave three cheers, and assailed and 
 reduced it after three desperate chturges. They then car- 
 ried the heights, and thu gallantly lexecuted the whole 
 order of tlie colonel, driving the enemy down the hill in 
 every direction. A part^ of them retreated behind a stone 
 guai'd house, where a piece of ordnance was briskly serv- 
 ed, but a fire from ^e battery at Lewistown, was so effec- 
 tually directed upon it, that it was in a few minutes si- 
 lenced. The British then retreated behind a large stone 
 house. The American matrosses were ordered to turn the 
 guns of the fort upon them, but lieutenant Gansevoort had 
 hastily spiked the cannon, and they were now therefore 
 useless. The enemy's fire was silenced, however, with 
 the exception of one gun, which was out of reach of the 
 American cannon ; and the boats were crossing, unan- 
 noyed, but by this battery. Reinforcements arrived after 
 tiiis brilliant success, under captain Gibson of the light 
 artillery, captain M'Chesney of the 6th, and captain Law- 
 rence of the 13th, infantry; and colonels Mead, Strana- 
 han, Allen, and other militia ofiicers. At about 10 o'clock, 
 tlic British line was re-formed, and flanking parties sent 
 out. Lieutenant colonel Christie succeeded in getting 
 across the river with 5(X) men, and took command. Ge- 
 neral Brock, having rec eived the expresses which were 
 forwarded to him, arrived at this moment, at the head of 
 a reinforcement of regulars from fort George. He had 
 led them round the heij^ts to the rear of the battery, when 
 captain Wool detached 160 men to meet them. The de- 
 tachment was driven back, but being immediately rein- 
 ijorced, pressed forward i^;ain, and was again driven back 
 to the brink of the precipice, forming thie Niagara river 
 above Queenstown. oeeiiig that nothing short of a miracle 
 could save the detachment from being beaten ; that they 
 were nearly without ammunition, and supposing it use^ 
 less to sacrifice the lives of brave men, one of the ofiicers 
 was in the act of lioisting a white iiag on a bayonet,, when 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 73 
 
 were 
 sad of 
 had 
 I when 
 ^e de- 
 
 rein- 
 
 back 
 j river 
 Iracle 
 
 I they 
 
 captain Wool, knowine, that if the men held out a short 
 while longer, they wouw be relieved by reinforcements, 
 tore down the flag, and ordered his officers instantly to 
 rally the trM>p8 and bring them to a chai^. At this mo- 
 ment, a reinforcement arrived, which augmented the 
 detachment to 3£0 men, wh ing led to the charge, 
 made a forcible apped to the tyonet, entirely routed 
 the British 49th reament, of 600 men, and pursued them 
 up the hei^t, until tiie ground was regained, which the 
 detachment had just berore lost Part of the 41st were 
 acting with the 49th, both of which regiments distinguish- 
 ed tliemselves, under the same commander, in Europe ; 
 and the latter had obtained the title of the Egyptian 
 Invincibles, because they had not on any occasion be- 
 fore, been known to give ^ound. General Brock, indig- 
 nant almost to exasperation at the flight of this regi- 
 m«it, was attempting to rally it, when ne received three 
 balls at the same instant, which immediately terminated 
 his brave career. His aid, captain McDonald, fell at his 
 side, mortallj wounded. At about 2 o'clock in the after- 
 noon, brigadier general Wadsworth, of the militia, lieu- 
 tenant cMonel Scott of the artillery, and major MuUany, 
 crossed the river, and took the several commands which 
 had been assigned to them.— Claptain Wool, in obedience 
 to the order of colonel Christie, crossed over toLewistown, 
 had his wounds dressed, and returned to the scene of ac- 
 tion. General Van Rensselaer, had crossed over to Queens- 
 town, and considering the victory complete after the 
 repulse of the 49th, and the death of general Brock, he 
 commenced preparations for encamfnng in the enemy's 
 country. But, m expectation of further attacks by other 
 reinforcements, he directed that the camp should be im- 
 mediately fortified, and committed this service to lieu- 
 tenant Totten, a skillful officer of the engineers. 
 
 The enemy was reinforced at 3 o'clock, by several hun- 
 dred Indians from Chippewa, who, under the direction of 
 the British in the town, commenced a furious attack upon 
 the American troops, whose whole number did not ex- 
 ceed 920. As they approached throu^ the woods and 
 an orchard, the troops not knowing their number, at first 
 faltered. Lieutenant colonel Christie, and lieutenant 
 colonel Scott, behaved with great coolness, and makmg 
 
 G 
 
 ,V.;£^, 
 
 ■•♦ff; 
 
i I 
 
 I 2 
 
 74 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 every possible exertion, led the men promptly on, and 
 in a short time, the Indians beins routed, fled before the 
 bayonet and rifle, leaving several dead, and x^ne of their 
 chiefs a prisoner. General Van Rensselaer observing that 
 the troops were embarking very slowly, and fearing the 
 necessity of a strong accession of numbers, crossed over 
 to Lewistown during the assault of the Indians, to expe- 
 dite the movements of the militia. 1200 and upwards of 
 them, were standing on the American shore, inactive, and 
 apparently, unconcerned spectators of the battle. At the 
 very moment when victory was perching on the banners 
 of tneir country, the ardour of the unengaged troops en- 
 tirely subsided, and no effort <;ould induce them to cross* 
 the line, and share in the glory of the day's triumph. 
 Thrice already had the battle been won; three assaults 
 of the enemy had been vi^rously repulsed; and the con- 
 quest of the town and heights must necessarily have fol- 
 lowed. One third part of the disengaged men would have 
 secured it ; but they liad witnessed at a distance the fu- 
 rious attack of the Indians; they had seen the bodies of 
 their wounded fellow soldiers brought back tb the garri- 
 son ; and they refused to go fiirther than the laws of their 
 country authorized the general to command them. They 
 claimed the privileges allowed them by the laws of the 
 country, whose honour and renown they refused to assist 
 in promoting; they beheld as pliant exploits as the world 
 perhaps ever witnessed, but still they were not animated 
 by the same spirit of enthusiasm, nor the same degree of 
 valour. Peremptory orders were disobeyed, solicitations 
 disregarded, ana all areument exhausted to bring them to 
 a sense of that duty, which the General vainly hoped, had 
 urged them in the first instance, to press for an opportu- 
 nity to act. Lieutenant colonel Bloom, who had been 
 wounded in one of the three engagements, mounted a 
 horSe and rode among them with the General, but his ex- 
 ample had no more effect than Hie General's persuasions. 
 Meanwhile, another reinforcement was seen coming up 
 the river from fort George. The battery on the hill was 
 considered as an imporfeint check to their ascending the 
 heights, arid measures were immediately taken to send 
 over a fresh supply of arms and ammunition. The re- 
 inforcements, however, obliqued from the road to the 
 
 Ki i 
 
ptiy on, and 
 d before the 
 Qne of their 
 werving that 
 
 fearing the 
 crossecTover 
 ans, to expe- 
 l upwards of 
 inactive, and 
 ttle. At the 
 
 the banners 
 d troops en- 
 lem to cross* 
 y*8 triumph, 
 iree assaults 
 ind the con- 
 ily have fol- 
 '. would have 
 ance the fu- 
 he bodies of 
 [xi the garri- 
 aws of their 
 them. They 
 laws of the 
 ed to assist 
 IS the world 
 >t animated 
 e degree of 
 solicitations 
 ing them to 
 hoped, had 
 m opportu- 
 
 • had been 
 mounted a 
 but his ex- 
 ersuasions. 
 coming up 
 iie hill was 
 ending the 
 sn to send 
 
 • The re- 
 ad to the 
 
 OF THE lATB WAB. 
 
 o%''d^S"^T?.i7«o? with the Indian. i„ the Z 
 pursuit o^u^Jf^'^^'^ troops being scatS^ 
 
 were taken a Rttle by s^pHse'^^'H the hei^5S3 
 at the heights must l4 neK «i5. "*!i"S *«t Se traSp" 
 mtion ^ neariy expendedfj^^uff*^' *»'». their amm^ 
 tion and disappointment »t T*™'helmed with mortificii 
 <:ross! and seeing th^tL'^L** ■*«■»' »<" the mmtia to 
 •educed 4etaehmfnUoowtirir«™ "'"^^''t, Sh tht 
 OSS would very soon Senli^^ ""***" *itl'outgr^| 
 a«r despatched a not^ to -te'^"?'*' ^M ReS- 
 '"« him with the conduct ?fth. *Y,»?9worth, acquaint- 
 «=our8e to be pursued ZIl ^ ""''^. "LeaviL Z, 
 assurance, tjt if he Ztgh^t."^ i^oM. wifh an 
 *^an Rensselaer) Wfluld S „ *" ristreat, he feeneral 
 c»«Id collect, aid cover hifi^r f k""'"^ hoara^he 
 
 • ."""torcement amounted to Sfm „ ^" V'^ 'ast British 
 ma line with theirS^ .Tdt"'!,"^"''*'' •'raCup 
 at about 4 o'clock an Sil* *"''''* hy their Indians 
 kept up for half an houJ^A^ f '""*»t eiisued, and wi' 
 %ing artillery, m„"kX' ^rf L t^^endous dis^ha^rf 
 detachment, &di„/S rtf ""'"'' ""til the AmSn 
 their strength C| nearly T.hTusld"* *"> «'»"S! . 
 nulitiawho had alraadv^ jf 5 • *ted. and those of th. 
 
 wable to fight l„ngetreeS^"'i'^ themseKes,tw 
 Ae reception «f geSrvA±E,*" ^'^^t. "P^ 
 
 ^i^hrherhKi"' ?ret^"-^- ^^^t 
 
 adorable aid from the AmericlS."^'.''<'y ™<=«ved c„»! 
 a brisk and well directed fi~o^ ^***"**' "hich kept up 
 ed upon their rear, and fremf.'S ^ '"^'"y. ^ he pW 
 
 d?i:r/h'"' *'p*^' ^hirK^onri:''i:? ""'^^^ng 
 
 aians, thrown out to cut oKk '^ht troops and IiC 
 
 t-gue. might separate wl^r" T''T ""'"''s. or t 
 
 jook place, and th< boatmen h!^^ "^^^^^ *^ J*st aifeir 
 fled from their dutv and /h k^'"« P^«i*^ struck Td 
 *I'«Persed, so thattw'of the' a'S ^''' ---quenttv 
 
 wie Amencans ..caped fi-oik 
 
76 
 
 HISTORICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 |:»' 
 
 the Canada shore. In this distressing dilemma, fhej were 
 oblimd to surrender themselves prisoners of war, to the 
 ttuiSier of 386 regulars, and 378 nulitia ; 62 of the regu- 
 lars and 20 of the militia being wounded. The estimate 
 of Ii^ed in the detachment was 90. When the last de- 
 tachment arrived from fort George, the whole Ameri- 
 can force was formed into line,^in three divisions, and 
 amounted to only 240 men, the militia refusing to act 
 l(Higer, and many of the regulars beiiu^ then already 
 wounded. The victorious enemy treateatheir prisoners, 
 while on the frontier, with the most generous ti»idemess; 
 but, for want of will or power, they put no restraint upon 
 their Indian allies, who were strippm^ and scalpine not 
 (Hily the slain, but the dving that remamed on the fi^d of 
 battle. The lifeless body of ensign Morris, who was bro- 
 ther to the amiable and distinguished naval officer of tiiat 
 name, was stripped to his shirt, and indignities, too sa- 
 vaee to be recoraed, were c(Mnmitted on his person. The 
 body of general Brock was committed to tiie grave, with 
 the usual military honours, and the guns at fort Niagara 
 were fired duiing the ceremony, as a tribute of respect 
 for a gallant enemy. 
 
 There was no officer crossed the line, upon this memo- 
 rable day, who did not do honour to his country. Colonel 
 Scott was in ftiU dress, which, with his tall stature, ren- 
 dered him a conspicuous mark for the enemy. It has 
 been said, that several Indians told him of their having 
 iJhtft at him, but he received no wound. A company of 
 volunteer rifleniPi), under lieutenant Smith, who took the 
 Indian chief, behaved with the courage of veterans. Lieu- 
 tenant colonel Fenwick was wounded three different 
 times, and each time severely) captains Gibson, Wool 
 and MChesney, and lieutenant Roach, of the artillery, 
 who was wounded in the arm, are said to have particu- 
 larly (liHiiuji^uiHlied themselves. 
 
 The British forces in the different battles, with the ex- 
 ception of the first, was at no time less than 1100; in the 
 last and fourth engagement, it was much greater. Their 
 loss is not known. An arraneement wu» entered into, 
 on the 14th, by which a few pnsoners were paroled; the 
 remainder were taken to Montreal. 
 
 Whilst the titM»p8 were embarking at Lewistown in the 
 
 ifi 
 
OF THE UlTE WAR. 
 
 77 
 
 [t has 
 
 ex- 
 the 
 leir 
 [nto, 
 the 
 
 [the 
 
 morning, the batteries at fort Geoi^ opened a cannonade 
 upon fort Niagara, which was returned, and kept up with 
 hot shot on both sides, for several hours. From the south 
 block-hoUse of the American fort, the shot was principally 
 directed a^nst the village of Newark,.and several houses 
 were set on fire, one or two of which were entirely con- 
 sumed. This battery was commanded by captain M'Keon, 
 and the guns were worked with great ability. The enemy 
 commenced throwing shells, ana as there were no defences 
 a^uiist these, captain N.Leonard, the commandant at fort 
 Niagara, preferred ordering a retreat from the garrison, 
 rather than expose a handful of men to their danger. The 
 bursting of a IS pounder, by which tw6 men were killed, 
 deprived tiie fort of its best battery. The retreat had 
 scarcely been ordered, when a numoer of boats, loaded 
 with troops, were observed to put off* from the enemy's 
 shore; upon which, captain M'Keon returned to the fort 
 with a guard of 20 men, ren^ained in it during the nighty 
 and was joined next mornine by the rest of the garrison. 
 Very few were wounded, and none killed except 4he two 
 men by the bursting of the gun. 
 
 Early in the following week, the British batteries below 
 fort Erie, opened a very heavy fire upon the village wid 
 fortifications of Black Hock, and kept it up at uitervak 
 during the day. There being no larg^ pieces that 6*8 at 
 the breastworks, very few shot were returned. Several 
 cannon shot struck the battery, and two or three passed 
 throudi the upper loft of the west barracks. The east 
 barracks were destroyed by a bomb thrown from a 24 
 pounder, which blew up the magazine, and burnt a quan- 
 tity of the skins taken in the Caledonia. General Porter, 
 of the New York militia, was sitting at dinner in his quar- 
 ters, when one 24 pound ball struck ihe upper loft of his 
 house, and another entered it through the roof. 
 
 On the 22d October the enemy landed at St Regis, a 
 village, without a garrison of any kind, and from which he 
 could move immediately upon me camp at French Mills. 
 The tribe of Indians iimabiting the vilia^, werejfriendly 
 to the United States, and as it entered mto the views of 
 the enemy to persuade theia from the service of the Ame- 
 rican government, uito which they might probably enter, 
 and to flatter them into their own, sir George rrevost, 
 
 G2 
 
78 
 
 HISTORICAL SK&fCKES 
 
 under the an^orit^ with which he was clothed, had for* 
 ¥[«pded to this trdbe, oresents of blankets, guiu^, specie, 
 9ui, under an escort ot soldiers, and accon^Mwied by de* 
 spatehes, in which he solicited their alliance. The force 
 was variously stated, from 1 to 300, and mijor G. P. 
 Young, commanding the American militia from Troy, 
 at the Mills, determined on iminediately attacking them, 
 aa it was understood they were halting there, for an in-» 
 crease of numbers. He detached captain Tilden to the 
 St. Lawrence, with a view of gaining a circuitous route 
 to one of two houses in which the BrttidK were said to 
 be quartered, and to secure the enemy's boats, which 
 were stationed there, to prevent his retreat. Captain 
 Lyon was detached with orders to take the road running 
 along the bank of the river St R^s, with directions to 
 gain the rear of tlie other house; and miyor Young, with 
 the remainder of the forces, moved on in ftoni. yVhen 
 within 50 yards of either house, he heard a firine which 
 c(mvinced him fhat captain Lyon was engaged. One 
 round was sufficient The enemy surr^dered ; but not 
 to the number reported to have landed, and the Ameri> 
 cans made 40 pris(mers, and took one stand of colours, 
 38 muskets, the despatches, and all the bagsaee. Two 
 battemuv were taken by ci^tain Tilden, ana ^ ^^^^P 
 returned to their encampment at about 11 o'clock. Tne 
 British lost 4 killed, and 1 mortally wounded. 
 
 At one o'clock in tile morning of tiie l7th of Novem- 
 ber, four British baraes approached the American i^diore. 
 About a mile above Ugdensbui^, and on bein^; hailed by 
 a sentkiel and refusing to answer, were immediately tired 
 upon. The report of his pnce brou^t several riflemen 
 to his assistance, when the Imu^s opened a smart fire of 
 grape shot, without effect, and soon after retired to Pres- 
 cott harbour. On their way thither they fired several shot 
 into the town, which were returned by a 6 pounder. 
 
 This alTiw was followed on the nignt of me 191h,by an 
 incursion seven miles into the British territory, by colo- 
 nel Z. M. Pike, and a part of the 15th regiment He 
 assaulted, and carried a post, which was defended by a 
 large body of British ana Indies, burned a block house, 
 put the garrison to fli^, and returned with a loss of 
 5 men wounded. 
 
 '.' v • 
 
OF T^R LATB WAR. 
 
 79 
 
 At BIX o'clock on Die morning of the Slst, the "Bri^^ 
 having prepared mortars, and planted a long train of bat^ 
 tering cannon, b^ind iireastworks erected on the oppo- 
 site margin of die river, commenced a bombardment of 
 fort Niagara, and open«l a cannonade from the batteries 
 at, and in the neighbottrhood of, fort George, which was 
 kept up, wiDioat a moment's cessation, until sundown. 
 Thej employed five detached lotteries in this affiur.-— 
 Two of tnem mountii^ 94 pounders, and one mounting 
 a 9 pounder. The remainder were mortar batteries, (rom 
 five and an htdf, to ten and an half inches, from which 
 were dirown great quantities df shells. Itiese fortress^, 
 are situated nearly opposite each other at ^e mouth of 
 the Niagara riv^r, iJ^mmand i^ entrance fVom lake 
 Ontario* Itie guns of fort Niagara may be brouditto 
 betur alternately upon fort Geoi^ and the town of New- 
 ark, whUst a (dependency of imi: Niagara, called the salt 
 battery, and mounting one 13 and a 4 pounder, was, at 
 the time of the attack, directly in a range witfa> and cd^ 
 culated to do much damage to the enemy's garrison. 
 Tlie American fort had received an augmentetion of 
 force, immediately after the cannonade of tiie Idth, seve- 
 ral cmps, which had marched to Lewistown having been 
 orderea, after the battie of Qaeenstown, to relieve the 
 garrison; but it was not yet supplied wilh a sufficient 
 quantity of artillery and ammumtion. It was now com- 
 manded by colonel G^eotge M*Feely. In the coar9e of 
 the day the enemy threw SOOO red hot balls, and 180 
 shells, llie shells proved to be harmless, but the hot 
 shot set fire to (several buildings, wldch were within and 
 about the fort; but throu^ me incessant vi^ance of 
 all the officers, and men, particularly of that gallant 
 officer, major Armistead, of the United States corps of 
 en»neers, who has on many other occasions distinguish- 
 ed iiimself, the fires were got under and eictinsUlfthed, 
 witiiout being discovered 6y the enemy. Notwitiistand- 
 ins the vast shower of shells and cannon btdl, wliich was 
 fauing into the fort, tiie garrison performed their duty 
 with unremitting alacrity, And served their pieces with 
 coolness and composure. Captain M*Reon commanded 
 a 12 pounder in the southeast block house; captain Jacks, 
 of the 7th militia artillery, commanded in tiie north block 
 
80 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ; U' 
 
 house, a situation most exposed to the enemy's fire.*— 
 Lieutenant Rees, of the dd artillery, had commaud of an 
 18 pounder, on the southeast battery, from which several 
 well directed shot were made, whilst the piece was point- 
 ed at the enemy's battery en barbettet mounting a 24 
 pounder. Lieutenant Wendal, of the same regiment* 
 had command of an 18 and 4 pounder, on the west bat- 
 tery; Dr. Hooper, of the militia artillery, had command 
 of a 6 pounder on the mess house; and lieutenants Gan- 
 sevoort and Harris, of the first artillery, had command 
 of the salt battery. Thus disposed, they returned the 
 fire of the enein^, with vigour and effect. They directed 
 several of the pieces at tne town of Newark, and re- 
 peatedly fired it with hot shot. The buildings within 
 tort George were also fired, and at one time one of the 
 batteries was silenced. A part of the parapet falling on 
 lieutenant Rees, his left shoulder was so severely bniised, 
 that it became necessary for him to quit his station, and 
 captdin Leonard, happening at that moment to arrive at 
 the fort, took command of lieutenant Rees's battery for 
 the remainder of the day. The continuation of the Dom- 
 bardment was far from lessening the animation of the 
 men, and they fou^t with undiminished cheerfulness 
 until the cannonading ceased. Colonel M'Feely spoke of 
 all the garrison in very strong terms of praise, and of 
 lieutenant colonel Gray, major Armistead and captain 
 Mulligan particularly. During the bombardment a 12 
 pount^r burst, and killed two men. Two others were 
 tilled by the enemy's fire;, and .lieutenant Thomas and 
 four men were wounded. From the salt battery the ene- 
 my was very much annoyed. A few shot from the 4 
 pounder there, sunk a schooner, which lay at the oppo- 
 site wharf, and such was the spirited earnestness of both 
 officers and men at this battery, that when in the most 
 tremendous of the bombardment, they had fired away all 
 their cartridges, they cut up their flannel waistcoats and 
 shirts, and the soldiers their trousers, to supply their 
 ^ns. An instance of extraordinary bravery took place 
 m the garrison, in the hottest of the cannonade, and for 
 deliberate coolness ^nd courageous fortitude, was sur- 
 passed, neither by Joan, maid of Orleans, nor the heroine 
 of Saragosa.— Doyle, a private in the United States* artil- 
 
^ 
 
 OF THE LATB WAR. 
 
 •1 
 
 &re.— 
 of an 
 everal 
 point- 
 ; a 24 
 imenti 
 it bat* 
 [imand 
 8 Gan- 
 nmand 
 ed the 
 irected 
 ind re- 
 within 
 of the 
 ling on 
 mused, 
 >n, and 
 itive at 
 terv for 
 Ke Dom- 
 1 of the 
 rfulness 
 poke of 
 and of 
 captain 
 t a X2 
 rs were 
 as and 
 le ene- 
 the 4 
 oppo- 
 )fboth 
 most 
 fSij all 
 Lts and 
 their 
 place 
 id for 
 18 sur- 
 jroine 
 artil- 
 
 lery, who had been stationed in the ff»rt, was made pri- 
 9oner tn the battle of Queenstown. His wife remained 
 in the garrison; and beinj^ there on the 2l8t, she deter- 
 mined to resent the refusal of the British to parole ker 
 husband, by proflferine her services, and doine his dutj 
 aeainst the enemy, wnenever the works ^ould be assail- 
 ed. She, accordingly, on this occasion served the 6 
 pottBd<t}r OB the mess house, with hot shot, (regardless of 
 the shells which were falling around her) and never quit- 
 ted her station until the last gun had been dischai^ed. 
 
 General Van Rensselaer, having resigned his command 
 on the Niagara, general Smyth now contemplated a more 
 eflfectual invasion of Canada, than that which had so re^ 
 cently failed. From a description of the river below tiie 
 falls ; tiie view of the shore below fort Erie ; and from in- 
 formation which he had received of the enemy's prepara- 
 tions; general Bmyth was of opinion, that the landing 
 should be effected between fort Erie and Chippewa. This 
 opinion he had delivered to general VantElensselaer be- 
 fore the battle of Queenstown, and, being in command, 
 he was resolved tha it should now be acted upon. The 
 troops stationed at Black Rock and Buffaloe were equally 
 desirous of engaging the enemy, and the general promised 
 them conquest and renown. In order that he might visit 
 the Canadian shore, with a force com^» •♦entto regain the 
 ^ <4ts which mi^t be captured, he desu\ ^ to increase his 
 numbers, by such an accession of volunteers, as would be 
 willing to peiform one m(mth*8 service in the army; to 
 submit to ttie ri^d discipline of a camp; and to encounter 
 the enemy on his own soil. He imm<*diately communi- 
 cated his intentions by a proclamation, issued on the 
 10th November, circulated in the counties of Seneca, 
 and Ontario, and invitins persons thus disposed to place 
 themselves under his authority. This proclamation pro- 
 duced the intended effect. It held forth great allurements, 
 and appealed to the patriotism of the American citizens. 
 Under this proclamation, ninibei'S of volunteers came 
 forwwtl with the expected a'acriiy; and on the 27th of 
 November, the force, collecte 1 »t the station, amounted 
 to 4,500 men, including the regular troops, and the Bal- 
 timore, Pennsylvania, and New York volunteers, the lat- 
 ter being placed under the command of general Peter Bv 
 
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 HI^TOaiCAX. SKSTCHBS 
 
 Porter, of the militia. On the following morning, at r#' 
 veUk, the whole fiM-ce wm to e: bark froni die navy jt»d 
 atBiack Rdck, and to proceed on the contemplated <ex- 
 peditioB. No posnble preparati<Hi was omittea. At the 
 navy, yard, there weare layii^ for the purpose of tranfmbrt- 
 iog the troops across <he river, 70 public boats, calculated 
 to carrjr 4() men each; 5 large private boats^ which were 
 taken mto the public service, to carry 100 men «u^; 
 aad ten scows, for the artillery, to carry; twentyi-ftve 
 each; which, together witii a number of ^nMll boats, also 
 provided, were to ^wispOrt the whole of this army. After 
 reminding the citizens,^ that for many yean% tney had 
 iben their country oppressed with numerous wrongs ; 
 and Ihatth^r government, though above all otiiers devot* 
 ed to peace, had been ^Mrced to draw the sword, and rely, 
 for rearers of injuries, on the valour of the American peo- 
 ple, which valour had in ever^ instance been conspicu- 
 ous: general Smyth's proclamation continued^ ** That one 
 ''army had been disgracefully surrendered and lost; 
 and another had been sajerifieedt by a pr&:i»itate at' 
 tempt to pass over at the strongest point of the ene- 
 n^s lines, with most incompetent means. That the 
 cause of these miscarriages was apparent; the com- 
 " mandek^ being popular men, 'destitute alike of theory 
 " and experience/ in the art of Vvar. That in a few days, 
 ** the troops under his command, would plant tilie Ame- 
 ** rican standard iu Cani^la; as they were men, abcus- 
 *' tomed to obedience, siknce, and steadinesis. Must I 
 " turn,** continued he, "from you, , and ask the men of 
 ** the Six Nations to support the government of the 
 '* United States? Shall I imitate the officers of the British 
 ' *' king, and suffer our ungathered laurels to be tarnished 
 ** by ruthless deeds?*** 
 
 Accompanving asecond proclamation of general Smyth, 
 
 of the 17th November, in which was recapitulated most 
 
 . of the>appeal of the former, and in which he set forth, 
 
 *^ It was about this time ,un4er8toQd, that anumber of friendly 
 Iiu]Uans proposed to be. tc^ten into gen* ral Smyth's army, but 
 that, from principles dPl|[\eilio9t sacred humanity, and not know- 
 ing to what exceSMS tn^ia^tbe carried, in the event of a, suc- 
 cessful invasion^ he feiqpiEu;ttl^i%fiWed to let them accompany hini 
 into Canada. 
 
 a 
 
 M 
 
 a 
 
ag, at r*-' 
 lavy^rd 
 
 dialed «x- 
 txrAttiie 
 traiifmort^ 
 lalcamted 
 hich were 
 ten each; 
 ventyi-flve 
 loats, also 
 my. After 
 thej had 
 h wrongs ; 
 ers devot- 
 I, aiidrely, 
 siican ]jeo- 
 1 conspicu- 
 "* That me 
 and lost} 
 imtate at- 
 n the ene- 
 That the 
 the com- 
 I of theory 
 I few claysi 
 tilie Ame- 
 len, abcus- 
 ). Must I 
 le men of 
 nt of the 
 le British 
 tarnished 
 
 Iral Smyth, 
 lated most 
 set forth, 
 
 offiriendly 
 aifiny, but 
 notknow- 
 jiitof asuc- 
 bmpany h'mi 
 
 or THB LATE WAIU 
 
 83 
 
 tfapit "disloyal and ^nitorous men had endeavoured to 
 ^^persuade the peonle £rOm 4oine their duty;" was an ad- 
 dnB$8 from i^cral . Porter to the people of Unterio and ^ 
 Gennesee; in which he inarmed them, uiat^neral Smyth 
 had a powerful army at Buflype, under strict discitthne, 
 in hi§^ spirits and eaaer for the contest. Thatwitn this 
 army, he would in a rew days occupy all the British forts 
 on meNiaeara. ' That as humanity su^sted this con- 
 quest should be a,chieyed with the least possible sacrifice, 
 general Smyth had a8k<?d their aid and co-opoation, for 
 uie purpose of obtainine^a force ^at would overawe op- 
 position, and save the emision of blood, 't'hat he intend- 
 ed himself to accompany the expedition; that a vigorolw 
 campaign of one month would relieve their fellow citi- 
 zens, Q? ^e frontier, from their sufferii^s; drive off the 
 savage kmfe; restore peace to ^e whole of that section 
 of the country; and redeem the tamit^ed reputation of 
 the nation. 
 
 A laige number of troops were thus assembled at and 
 near3ul&loe, where thev were oiganized, equipped, and 
 drilled for the intendea invasion. Before they s^uld 
 embaric, however, for that purpose, general Smyth deem- 
 ed it prudent to disloc^ the enemy frtNon the ponticm he 
 occupied upon the opposite shore* and to destroy his bat- 
 teries, and light artiUery, as well as the bridges on his 
 left^ by which his retreat would be «ut off frcnn Queens- 
 town or St Davidsi The general, therefore, directed 
 lieuten'«nt Angus, of the navy, with the officers and s^onen 
 under his' command, amounting m all to 70; and captain 
 King of the Idth regiment, with about the same number 
 of infantry regulars, to proceed on the night of the 27th 
 to the accomplishment of this object The expedition Was 
 conducted with all^the necessary precaution, and the boats 
 had nearly reached the Canadian shore, before they were 
 discovered by the enemy's sentinels. A vivid &:e of ar- 
 tillery and musketry was instantly opened upon them, but 
 the detachment nevertheless effectea a landing, and being 
 formed upon the shore by their respective commuiders, 
 the sailors and soldiers promptly aidviHiced to the assault of 
 tlt> 3 batteries. These were aucfies8f)|%.fltoFmed^ and the Bri- 
 t >h driven to their barracks at th« Red House, where they 
 rallied with 250 men, and commence a rapid fire of mus- 
 ketry. The guns at the batteriia being spiked, lieutenant 
 
 *i;^L 
 
5b: 
 
 84 
 
 HISTORIC AjL 8KBTCH£S 
 
 Anguft ancl c«ptabi Kui§^ aatbted t^ Samuel Swartwoot; 
 •tq. SB enterpruing' Gitn&en <i£ New Voric, w^o^ bemc at 
 iiic station, intdonteered liii serviceB, followed up Ineir 
 succew* by i^ des|>enite assault imoB ^ Red House* The 
 satlora cuuri^ with beanUii^ piKes and cuilasses, the re- 
 gpiU^uiB with the bayonet, ajnCafter-ii kaijd And destructive 
 enapgemeiit^ they routni the enemy* &red the barraeks, 
 «tid took id>ont 50 prisoners. tSastam JLiiug -tiiea marched 
 with ^ men, to possess himselr«f anotMr iMitery at a 
 -Utile distance frmn those which had been already taken, 
 and at which heint^ed to remain until the aimy should, 
 cross over. LieuteMat Angus returned with the remain- 
 der of the detadukient, ana ike wounded and prisoners, 
 and iHit himM^ ia readiness to naiwale the Itoats, m 
 wUcn the main hody of general Smy&'s troops were to 
 embitfk. 
 
 The loss of officers and men« to «^io»e courage, abi- 
 lity and discipline, both lieutenant Angus and <captain 
 Kin^ attributed the success of the enterprise, was j^reat. 
 SaibiMfBUMifaer Watis, the same who had dntaaatUshed^ 
 himsc^ in cuttine out the -CaledoBia, fell at the head of 
 his cMuon <ctf me saibrs as he was jadlBBtly :leadimF 
 tfiemoi. Amoag the wopded na^ o&ers, 4re U^ 
 tenant Wisa^ biMly; satlingmaster J« H. Carter, hadly-— 
 iQst the entire use of his ririitami ; sadingniaster filessioii, 
 diesneratdy, and died a lew daya after; attdsypman 
 Dunl^, SHfthtly; iBrailsfoBd, Iw^ and ttoldap, se- 
 verely; ana ^kndiam idangegop iily ' l o mptttation of a leg. 
 Boatowain CampbdU was womiMiHuJlT, and lost the use 
 of an arai. Of ther regulars, captain Box and Ueatenant 
 LissoB were WQuncfced Datttr. 
 
 fiverybatteiylietweeBdhinpewa and fort Erie, being 
 carried, and the icanaiSB spfxed, or destn^^, sixteen 
 miles of the 'Canadian .frontier were laid waste and de- 
 serted, and at daybreak of the 96th, the batteries on the 
 American side were in readiness to cov«r the embarkation 
 of theiBrmy, and most of Ihe troops hsd arrived at the 
 designated place. . Three hundred and fortTf /volunteers, 
 who Mid rawed under ^9enfend ^yth^s ptoclamotion^ well 
 armed and .pvoiiided, were marelwd by general Porter to 
 tin navy yara. Onie hundred and fi%<p1hers w^rer draw- 
 ing aiaas atBuialoe, and had orders to follow immedi- 
 atny. Atsundse, tin tveo^uenenilly began to embark. 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 as 
 
 neat 
 
 The 
 bera- 
 active 
 
 irehed 
 
 yata 
 taken, 
 ahoald. 
 
 BOners, 
 ate, m 
 reiiete 
 
 je, afcl- 
 captain 
 I mat. 
 K&hed^ 
 
 leading 
 ireUeii* 
 
 l«Mni» 
 
 Lpman 
 
 ip, ae- 
 
 a leg. 
 
 use 
 
 It 
 
 sititeen 
 de- 
 on the 
 ition 
 at the 
 iteeri* 
 li well 
 •to 
 drsw- 
 imedi- 
 Imbark, 
 
 the artillery having been ready from daylight, but such 
 was the tardiness, of a portion of them, that at 12 o'clock 
 the whole body, with colonel Swiff s volunteer regiment, 
 were not yet in the boats. A considerable number of 
 bai^s had been thrown upon the shores of the river, and 
 Conejockeda creek, by the high tide of the preceding day; 
 others were filled with ice and water, and several laying 
 about one mile below. To collect and put these in order 
 for the reception of the troops, required a delay of several 
 hours morie, and it was not until two o'clock, that all the 
 troops intended to be sent over at the first crossing, were 
 collected in a group of boats at Black Rock, under cover 
 of the lotteries, where general Porter, having brought 
 up the five boats which were below, joined, and took 
 his station among them. The number now embarked, 
 according to tiie estimate of general Porter, amounted to 
 2000, who were anxiously awaiting the order to proceed. 
 General Tannehill's volunteers, colonel^ F. MClure's re- 
 ^ment, and some riflemen and cavalry, in all about 2000 
 more, were still paraded op the shore, and were to con« 
 stitute the second embarkation. In the mean time, cap- 
 tain King and his 12 men, who were yet in tlie enemy's 
 territory, dismounting his pieces, were made prisoners, 
 and about 500 British troops had been dr^wn up in line, 
 about half a mile from the river, s(Minding their trumpets 
 and bugles, and indicating their readiness to receive the 
 Americans. Late in the afternoon, general Smyth order- 
 ed the troops to disembark, and silenced their murmurs, 
 by an assuruice, that the expedition was only postponed 
 until the boats should be put in a state of better prepara> 
 tion, and that they fthe troops) ^ould immediately after 
 be put in motion. The different regiments retired to their 
 respective Quarters; general Porter marched his volun- 
 teers to Bumiloe, but the enemy was actively employed 
 in remounting his guns upon the batteries.' 
 
 On Sunday, the 29th, an order was issued, from the 
 head quarters of the commanding general, for the march 
 of the troops to the navy yard, to embark on the following 
 morning, at 9 o'clock. The time and manner proposed 
 in this order, were disapproved of by all the officers; and 
 those of the highest rank addressed the general, and stated 
 their olijections to the plan. The repaired state of thd 
 ^^nemy's batteries i^ndered it inexpedient to cross at the 
 
'r 
 
 ' 
 
 86 
 
 '* I I .' u 
 
 HISTORICAX SKETCHES 
 
 point above the island, which covers the tiavy yard; below 
 that point he lay much augmented, in consequence of the 
 gallant affair of Ihe ^.8th, and occupied a line of shore, of 
 nearly a mile, from whi'ch he would have a full view of 
 the American movement if made by daylight. To avoid 
 the lire of the British flying artillery and infantry, it was 
 proposed to general Smyth, tiiat the troops should be 
 landed 5 miles below the navy yard, at an hour and a 
 half before day, on the morning of Tuesday, so that this 
 danserous shore might be passed in ihe dark; when if 
 the Doats were discovered, the troops would suffer less 
 from the enemy's fire. The place which was thus re- 
 commended, was of all others, peculiarly favourable to 
 . a safe and orderly landing, and me proposal was accord- 
 ingly adopted, and the army to embark at 3 o'clock, and 
 to land at half past 4, in ihe ord^ of battle prescribed on 
 the 28th. 
 
 On Monday evening (30th,) 7 boats for colonel Swift's 
 regiment, and 8 for the new volunteers, were brought up 
 the river and placed at different points, so tiiat the noise 
 and confusion of embarking the whole at one place, might 
 be avoided. At half an hour after 3, these boats were oc- 
 cupied, and took their station opposite the navy yard. 
 The regulars were to proceed on the risht, general Tan- 
 nehill's volunteers in the centre, and me ^w York vo- 
 lunteers on the left General Porter, with a chosen set 
 of men, was appointed to proceed in front, to direct the 
 landing, and to join the New York volunteers when on 
 the opposite shore. On the arrival of the boats which 
 were to compose the van, general Porter found that the 
 artillery, composed of a detachment of the light artillery, 
 under captain Gibson, and captains Towson and Barieer's 
 companies of the 2d re^ment of heavy artillery, were em- 
 barking in the scows with as much haste as possible: but 
 one hour elapsed before the regular infantry attempted to 
 follow, when col. Winder, at the head of the 14th, entered 
 the boats with great order and silence. Every thing seem- 
 ed to promise a speedy and successful issue; the troops 
 intended to be embarked were now nearly all in readiness 
 to proceed ; general Porter dropped to thp front of the 
 line witii a flag, to designate tlie leading boat ; and the 
 word only was wanted to put off. General Snvyth now 
 suddenly called a council of war, composed of'^ colonel 
 Moses Porter, colonel Winder, colonel Coales, colonel 
 
OF THE LATE VTAM. 
 
 87 
 
 t; below 
 e of the 
 shore, of 
 [ view of 
 ro avoid 
 y, it was 
 hould be 
 ir and a 
 , that this 
 ; when if 
 suffer less 
 » thus rc- 
 )urable to 
 as accord- 
 clock, and 
 acribed on 
 
 nel Swift's 
 brought VLp 
 it the poise 
 )lace, migbt 
 its were oc- 
 
 navy yard* 
 sneralTan- 
 [w York vo- 
 chosen set 
 direct the 
 •8 when on 
 loats which 
 ftd that the 
 rht artillery, 
 [nd Barker's 
 hy, were em- 
 ossible: but 
 Ittempted to 
 [4th, entered 
 thing seem- 
 ; the troops 
 in readiness 
 front of the 
 it ; and the 
 Smyth now 
 of colonel 
 lcs, colonel 
 
 Campbell, and colonel Schuyler, who, upon representa- 
 tions, made by the General, decided that the expedition 
 should not be at that time undertaken^ The front of the 
 line was one-fourth of a mile from the shore, when the 
 rear was observed to be retarded, and general Porter re- 
 ceived •rders from general Smyth to disembark immedi- 
 ately. He was at the same time informed that the inva- 
 sion of Canada was abandoned for the season ; that the 
 regulars were ordered into winter ouarters; und that as 
 the services of the volunteers could now be dispensed 
 with, they might stack their arms and return te their 
 homes. Previously to this order, an interview had taken 
 place between .general Smyth and a British major, who 
 came over with a flag.* The scene of discontent which 
 followed, was without parallel. 4000 men without order 
 or restraint, indignantly discharged their muskets in 
 every direction. The person of the commanding general: 
 was threatened. Upwards of 1000 men, of all classes of 
 society, had suddenly left their homes and families, and 
 had made great sacrifices to obey tiie call of Iheir country, 
 under general Smyth's invitation. He possessed their 
 strongest confidence, and was gaining their wannest af- 
 fections: he could lead to no post of danger, to which 
 they would not follow. But now, Ihe hopes of his govern- 
 ment; the expectations of the people; the desires of the 
 army; were all prostrated, and he was obliged to hear 
 the bitter reproaclies, and the indienant epiSiets of the 
 men, whom lie had promised to lead to honour, to glory, 
 to renown. The inhabitants refiised to give him quarters 
 in their houses, or to protect him from the ra^e of those 
 who considered themselves the victims of his imbecility, 
 or his deceit He was obliged constantly to shift his 
 tent to avoid the general clamour, and to double the guard 
 surroundine it; and he was several times fired at, when 
 he ventured without it An application was made to him 
 by the volunteers, to permit them to invade the enemy's 
 territory, under general Porter, and they pledged them- 
 selves to him, to take fort Erie, if he would give them 
 four pieces of flying artillery. This solicitation was 
 
 * It is stated in a letter written by gfeneral Smyth to the author, 
 that the object of this interview, was to negotiate for the e»> 
 change of a British surgeon's mate then a prisoner at Black Rock. 
 
 m 
 
m 
 
 t 
 
 88 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 evaded, and the volunteer troops proceeded to their 
 homes, execrating the man whom ttiey had before respect- 
 ed, and the general on whose talents, and who^ promises, 
 tiiey had placed the most generous reliance. " 
 
 General Smyth, however, found those who gave their 
 approbation to his measures, and who thought that he 
 had saved his army, by relinquishing the invasion of Car 
 nada. The public mind was for a long time agitated with 
 doubts about the proprietv of his conduct, in not prose- 
 cuting the campaign, and breaking up the enemy's strone 
 rits alon^ theNiasara. Few, however, have hesitated 
 declare liis culpability, in inducing men to leave their 
 homes for a monoi's incursion into 9ie British territory, 
 unless he intended to effect it at every hazard, which they 
 might be willing to encounter. But he has alleged, that 
 his orders from the commander in chief were to cross with 
 '* three thousand men at once;" that he could not ascer- 
 tain the number of troops which would go over until he 
 saW them actually embarked ; that when they were em- 
 barked, they did not amount to more than 1512 men, ex- 
 clusive of the staff, being but half the number with which 
 only, his instructions authorized him to assail the oppo- 
 site shore; and that many of the militia not only refused 
 to go, when ordered into the boats by his brigade major, 
 but Ihat more than half of general Tannehiil*s brigade 
 had desei*ted. In his official letter to general Dearm)rn, 
 he stated, that he had called toother a council of his 
 officers, agreeably to his instructions, in all important 
 cases, ana they decided against the contemplated opera- 
 tions, upon the ground of the insufficiency oi force. That 
 he then mformea the officers, the attempt to invade Ca- 
 nada would not be made until the army should be rein- 
 forced, and directed tiiem to withdraw their troops, and 
 cover them with huts immediately. — ^That the volunteers 
 and the neighbouring people were dissatisfied ; and it had 
 been in the power oi the contracting agent (alluding to 
 general Porter,) to excite some clamour against the course 
 pursued, as he found the contract a losing one, and would 
 wish to see the army in Canada, that he might not be 
 bound to supply it— That the situation of the force under 
 his (general Smyth's) command, had not been such as to 
 make the propriety of a forward movement obvious to all: 
 that circumstanced as he was, he thought it his duty *' to 
 
 i 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 •9 
 
 " follow ike cautious counsels of experience, and not bj 
 " precipitation, to add to the list of our defeats." 
 
 Whether general Porter's anxiety to see the army in 
 Canada, arose from so interested a motive as general 
 Smyth has alleged, or whether he was actuated by a de- 
 sire to see the campaign of 1812 closed with some bril- 
 liant achievement of me American arms,, the reader will 
 be better able to judge, by remembering tiie indefatigable 
 exertions which that general made, to enlaree Hie forces 
 at Buffaloe, and pf the personal share wMcn he was dis- 
 posed to take in the most dangerous part of the enter- 
 prise. 
 
 On the 9d of December, the enemy a^ain opened his 
 bt^tteries upon Black Rock, probably with a view to in- 
 form the American army that his ^ns were unspiked and 
 replaced, and that he was i^n m a state to resist the 
 invasion. His fire was returned from the battenr at the 
 Rock, now called fort Gibson, one of the guns of which, 
 under captain J. N. Barker, was so well directed, tliat the 
 ball entered an embrasure, at the British battery, dis- 
 mounted a heavy gun, and disabled the carriage. In a few 
 hours the enemy's fire was completely silenced. 
 
 The troops were now all quartered ; barracks erected 
 at Williamsvillife, for the reception of the largest propor- 
 tion j[ and no operations took place unlil the close of the 
 year. The armies wer6 distinguished by titles, derived 
 from their situations. That which was commanded by 
 general Smyth, being the army of the centre, and that 
 upon the St. Lawrence and its vicinity, being the north- 
 ern army; This latter, which consisted of an active force 
 of 5737 men, of infantry, cavalry, field and horse artillery 
 and militia, had also gone into winter quarters; and the 
 hopes of the nation rested now only on the northwestern 
 ARMY, which we left in the neighbourhood of the Rapids 
 of the Miami ; tlie head quarters of its commander at San- 
 dusky, making vigorous preparations for a push upon the 
 British and Indians at Detroit, and resolved upon quar- 
 tering for the winter in one of the enemy's garrisons. 
 
 H2 
 
90 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 I 
 
 . CHAPTER VIL 
 
 The ^avif^Third naval metorvt the United States over 
 the British frigate, the Macedonian^^Progress of the 
 naval establishment on lake Ontarith^Chauncefs squa^ 
 dron pursues the Boyal George into Kingston hatbour, 
 and bombards that town^-Tht Chrowler captures an 
 enemy's sloop — Fight between the British doop of war, 
 Cfiarybdis, and the privateer Blockade^^The Orders- 
 in-Council exchanges broadside^ with the British sloop 
 of war. Opossum — The Tom captures the Townsend^^ 
 The Bona vanquishes a 22 gun ship-^The JPolphinen' 
 gages and carries two armed vessels-^FourBi naval 
 vict&ry, the Constitution over the British frigate, the 
 Java, 
 
 The Amedc^ arms on the ocean all this time con^-"^ 
 nued to be triuiAhant. One naval victory succeeded 
 another, until ther|>eople of the United States were asto- 
 nished at . the ceaseless prowess of their tars ; and the 
 nations of Europe stood in admiration, and began to look 
 upon the rising naval establishment of America, as H 
 future rival to tlie formidable enemy, against whom it 
 was alreadj successfully contending. 
 
 The United States' nigate the United States, captain 
 Stephen. Decatur, of 44 guns, carrying 54,having seprated 
 from the squadron under commodore Rodgers, with which 
 she left Boston on the 18tii October (1812,) cruised in the 
 track of the British frigates until the 25ti), when in lati- 
 tude 29deg. N. long. ^ deg. 30 min. W. she fell in with 
 the British frigate Macedonian, captain John Garden, of 
 38 guns, but carrying 49, the odd one being a shifting gun. 
 The Macedonian was to windward, and entered the en- 
 gagement at her own distance. For half an hour after the 
 commencement of the action, the United States had no 
 opportunity of using her carronades, the enemy keeping 
 <Hit of their reach,and never once coming within the range 
 of grape or musketry. The action therefore, was of greater 
 
^ 
 
 I States over 
 ^es8 of the 
 mcefs squa- 
 ton hatbottr, 
 captures an 
 iaiop of war. 
 The Orders- 
 British sloop 
 Townsent^ 
 Jhlphinen' 
 'ourm naval 
 frigate, the 
 
 B time conti'^ 
 r succeeded 
 8 were asto- 
 ire ; and the 
 sgan to look 
 lerica, as H 
 ist whom it 
 
 ttes, captain 
 ig separated 
 , with which 
 -uised in the 
 hen in lati- 
 fell in with 
 Garden, of 
 hiftinggun. 
 red the en- 
 Duraftierthe 
 ites had no 
 ny keeping 
 in the range 
 IS of greater 
 
 ;^ 
 
 ■X. 
 
 
 / "^ / 
 
 ■i -'^^ 
 
 *< , 
 
 I 
 
 ■r- 
 
or THE T.ATB WAS. 
 
 91 
 
 
 I 
 
 leneih than usual, and continued under every advantage 
 to me enemy, until the United States neared him. The 
 fire from her then became so vivid, that the enemy's 
 crew imagining her to be.on fire, gave many demonstra- 
 tions of their joy, and expected every instant to see her 
 blown up. But the Macedonian's mizen mast was shot 
 awav by the board, her fore and topmasts by the caps, 
 her lower masts badly wounded, her main mast destroy- 
 ed, and all her rising cut up. Most of her guns were 
 disabled, the largest part of tier crew killed and wound- 
 ed, and having become a perfect wreck, she surrendered 
 after an action of an hour and an half, at the moment 
 when the United States was about to nke her. 
 
 The enthusiasm of the American crew, on discovering 
 the enemy, and during the battle, was perhaps unprece- 
 dented, pnd the precision uf their fire never surpassed in 
 any o^er naval engagement. Captain Garden being 
 brought on board, presented his sword to captain Deca- 
 tur, who, in testimony of the gallantry of his enemy, de- 
 clined accepting it^^sayine, that " he could not receive the 
 sword of a man, who had defended his ship so bravely." 
 The eneihy's loss amounted to 104, 36 in killed, and 681 
 wounded: among the latter, her first and third lieute- 
 nants. The loss of the United States was 5 killed, and 
 7 wounded, making a total of 12. Among the latter was 
 lieutenant John Musser Funk, of Lancaster, Pennsylva* 
 nia, who afterwards died of his wounds, regretted for his 
 worth, and admired for his constant coolness and courage. 
 The United States received no damage whatever, and re- 
 turned to port only to 9te her prize safe in. The supe- 
 riority of gunnery was decideoly, in tiiis action, on the 
 side of the American seamen, who fired 70 broadsides, 
 whilst the enemy discharged but 36. 
 
 The Macedonian was an entire new ship, and ha« been 
 «ut of dock but four months. She was brought into Hie 
 port of New London, and thence, through the Sound, to 
 New York, where she was fitted out as a 38 ^n frigate, 
 and as such bought into the service of the United States, 
 at the value of 200,000 dollars. 
 
 Captain Decatur every where received the congratula- 
 tions of the citizens.^ The legislatures of Pennsylvania 
 and Vii^nia voted him an elegant sword: the congress 
 of the United States, a gold medal. The corporation of 
 

 '^■*5«^ 
 
 n 
 
 HISTORICAX SKETCHES 
 
 : )fi' 
 
 New York voted him the freedom of the city, in a gold 
 box, and had his porliait set up in their gallery; and the 
 select and common councils of Philadelphia, (in which 
 city he was born) voted him a superb sword ; and ap- 
 pointed a committee, of which captain John>^Mullowney, 
 formerly of the United States navy, was one; who, in 
 conjunction with major general John Barker, then mayor 
 of the city, were to procure it to be made of American 
 materials. This sword was presented to captain Deca-* 
 tur by ^e mayor, accompanied by a concise and appro- 
 priate address, to which he made a pertinent and manly 
 reply. Lieutenant Allen, first of the sliip, and lieutenant 
 Nicholson, received the same honours from the legislature 
 ofVireinia. 
 
 On lake Ontario the naval operations were becoming 
 every day of more consequence. Arrangements had been 
 made for the augmentation of the fleet, and a large ship 
 lyas already on the stocks, nearly completed, and to be 
 called the Madison, About the 6th of November (1812), 
 commodore Chauncey, vt^ho commanded the fleet on this 
 station, had some suspicion that three of the enemy's 
 Squadron had proceeded fiom Kington, up the lake, with 
 troops to reiniorce fort George. The vessels supposed to 
 have sailed in this direction, were the Royal George of 
 26, the Duke of Gloucester of 10, and the Prince Recent 
 of 14 guns. Commodore Chauncey immediately sailed 
 with tiie brig Oneida, of 14 guns; the Governor Tomp^ 
 kins, lieutenant Brown, of o guns; the Grotvler, lieute-' 
 nant Mix, of 5 guns ; the Conquest, lieutenant Elliot, 
 of 2 guns; the General Hamilton, lieutenant M'Pherson, 
 of 6 guns; the Pert, Arundle, of 2 guns, and the Julia, 
 Trant, of 1 long 32 pounder, making in all 36 guns. As 
 the enemy's vessels were expected to return to Kingston 
 for more troops, it was intended to intercept them at the 
 False Ducks, a collection of islands which they would be 
 obliged to pass. 
 
 On the 8th, the squadron fell in with the Royal George, 
 and chased her into the bay of Quinti, where she v as lost 
 sight of in the niglit. On ike morning of the 9th, she 
 was discovered in Kingston Channel. Signal was im- 
 mediately made for a general chase ; but by the alternate 
 prevalence of squalls and calms, the squadron was led in 
 close pursuit into the harbour of the enemy at Kingston. 
 
OF TIIE LATB WAR. 
 
 93 
 
 n a gold 
 and the 
 n which 
 and ap- 
 llownej, 
 who, m 
 n mayor 
 imerican 
 in Deca- 
 d appro- 
 d manly 
 eutenant 
 igislature 
 
 l)ecoming 
 had been 
 irse ship 
 nd to be 
 tjr (1812), 
 »t on this 
 enemy's 
 ake, with 
 iposed to 
 ^eorge of 
 e Recent 
 ily sailed 
 |r Tomp- 
 |i*, lieute*' 
 Elliot, 
 
 HE.RSON, 
 
 Julia, 
 ms. As 
 Kingston 
 
 at the 
 k^ould be 
 
 \ George t 
 
 |v as lost 
 
 )th, she 
 
 ^as im- 
 
 llternate 
 
 Is led in 
 
 ingston. 
 
 The commodore being determined on boarding her, thou^ 
 she was anchored under the enemjr^s batteiies, with springs 
 on her cables, that she might get all her euns to bear, 
 gave his signal to that effect At three o'cfock, the bat- 
 teries opened their fire on the fleet, and sent forth a tre- 
 mendous shower of shot and grape. Lieutenant Elliott 
 of the Conquest, pushed forward, and went in, in the 
 handsomest style. He was followed by the Julia, the 
 Pert, and the Chrowler, in succession; then came up the 
 brig, with the commodore, then the €teneTal Hamilton, 
 and the Governor Tompkins, At 12 minutes after 3, 
 lieutenant Elliot opened his fire : at 15 minutes after 3, 
 the Pert, Julia, and Chrowler opened theirs. At 20 mi« 
 nutes after 3, the whole of the batteries fired on the brig, 
 and she sustained most of the fire during the remainder 
 of the action. A little while i^ter, the commodore gave 
 tlie sioial, ** engage closer f* which was instantly obeyed. 
 The Perfs gun, about this time, burst, and wounded her 
 commander, who, refusing to leave the deck, was knock- 
 ed overboard by the boom, and drowned. At 40 minutes 
 past 3, the brig opened her fire on the Royal George, and 
 the Royal George on the Hamilton. The firing became 
 now very hot, and was kept up with the greatest alacrity 
 until 4 o'clock, when the Royal George cut her cables and 
 ran furtiier up the bay. 
 
 The squadron became exposed to the cross fire of 5 
 batteries of flying artillery, m all about 40 guns, and the 
 guns of the ship, the RoyaJ, George; which, having taken 
 a more advantageous position, set new springs, and re- 
 commenced her fire. Round and erape were now fall- 
 ing about the squadron in heavy lowers. At half an 
 hour after 4, the whole hauled by the wind, and beat out 
 of the bay; two miles frcm whicn, they anchored, in full 
 si^t, until the 10th; and after remaining there nearly all 
 that day, they returned to Sacket*s Harbour, with the 
 loss of 1 man Killed and 5 wounded on board the Oneida* 
 Whilst at the mouth of Kingston Haibour, the commo- 
 dore captured a schooner, and as she could not beat out 
 with the squadron, he ordered the Growler to take her 
 under convoy, to run down past Kingston, and anchor on 
 the cast end of Long Island, under an expectation that 
 the Royal George A^ould be induced to come out to re- 
 capt^-re her; but h«r commander, fearing that the squad- 
 
94 
 
 HXSTOBICAI, SKETCHES 
 
 ^ome ou(, 8,a.S with L r^^ *» 'nd-ce the e?emy to 
 
 •^y to general Brock tJ^tu ■ ?" *"^ PnTate seen.*, 
 property and bSe^xr.""* """i S«nera^s Sat 
 
 ' &""?■-""«' ot°^'^tfi.*-*''^"hiS''^\t:^ 
 
 'ended. Commodore Ch,„„ ^ *"* •*">§ stronslv de 
 S,^..i.ncHe^dtM^X^^ 
 
 thlm^'j"'S on the swiftness „f *? •""^<"''<'n■a' Ports. 
 
 't" test:*? »^ "tf ofe a'c"hr f 
 
 merchants of GreaTl'? r»''»eq„ence exdfed ami "*.''• 
 ^«f. which wrrmrk^'"^;"! the -»t »umC7ct 
 
 SteT4:?r«S w- ^^^^^^^ ^' 
 
 fell in w^fk *? *'^®®® armed vesselia -rf Jl? "^'^ne 
 
OF THB LATE WAR. 
 
 95 
 
 his moorings, 
 n her hull, as 
 irough. The 
 he enemy to 
 for SacKet*s 
 e Prince Be" 
 oying a sloop 
 i placed her- 
 e armed ves- 
 ^ain, pressed 
 ght her into 
 2,000 dollars 
 ivate secreta- 
 eral's private 
 immediately 
 tting off the 
 'ock express- 
 nericans had 
 ' had got out 
 strongly de- 
 5 succeeded 
 I again to the 
 ting Ihe new 
 26th of No- 
 lent without 
 
 were float- 
 cruised be- 
 onial ports, 
 ff, many of 
 ih Channel, 
 amons the 
 r ofcap- 
 uced the 
 war, for 
 ybdis, of 
 war, were 
 ere then 
 nd which 
 n by one 
 ^haryhdis 
 irk, of 8 
 Ihour and 
 
 20 minutes, in which ^e .CharyMis\o^t 9.% of her offi- 
 cers and men, killed and wounded, and the Blockade 
 8 men only, the latter was carried, and taken into port 
 The Opossum encountered the " Orders^in'Councit,** a 
 small privateer, who fou^t her until they had exchanged 
 7 broadsides* when finding the enemy's force to be too 
 powerful, she abandoned th'^ contest, and effected her 
 escape. 
 
 Tiie privateer Tom, captain Wilson, of Baltimore, on 
 the 23a of November, descried a sail, gave chase, over- 
 hauled, and brought her to an action, which terminated 
 in the surrender of the enemy, with the loss of her cap- 
 tain and 4 men killed, and several wounded. She proved 
 to be the British packet Townsend, M*Coy, from Fal- 
 mouth for Barbadoes. Her mail had been tiirown over- 
 board, but was picked up by the Tom*s boats ; and after 
 being ransomed, she was suffered to pfoceed. 
 
 The Bona privateer, of Baltimore, having discovered 
 a British ship of 800 tons, and 22 guns, then on a voyage 
 from Madeira, ran up and engaged her, when the great 
 gun burst, and captain Dameron put 29 officers and men 
 into his boats, and despatched them to board her. After 
 a severe fight upon her decks, they carried her with little 
 loss. Two strange sail at this moment comine up in 
 chase, the Bona left the prize in possession of those on 
 board, and bore away, to draw the chasing vessels after 
 her. 
 
 The privateer Dolphin, captain W. S. Stafford, .of 10 
 guns and 60 men, also of Baltimore, being off Cape St. 
 Vincent, engaged a ship of 16 guns and 40 men, and a 
 brig of 10 guns and 25 men, at the same instant; and 
 after a long and gallant action, made prizes of both. The 
 Dolphin had 4 men wounded: the enemy 19 killed and 
 40 wounded, among them the captain of one" of the ves- 
 sels. Instances of the bold and daring intrepidity of the 
 crews of the private armed vessels of the Uni ed States, 
 are so numerous^ that the recital of them would swell 
 this work very far beyond the limits which have been 
 assigned to it. The eneniy's commerce was every where 
 assailed by them, and the British government were obliged 
 to protect their merchant ships by large convoys of ves- 
 sels of war. 
 
 A plan had been matured at the navy department for 
 a cruise in the South Seas, and the frigate Constitution, 
 
96 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 I :i' 
 
 now commanded by commodore William Bainbridge, the 
 Essex, captain Porter, and the Jibmeif, captain Lai^rehce, 
 were selected to prosecute the voyage in company. On 
 the 27th of October (1812), the Essex sailed from die De- 
 laware, and on the 3Qth the CansHttttion and Hornet from 
 Boston; several places of rendezvous having, been assign- 
 ed, at either of which this force was to be united) to pro- 
 ceed upon the cruise. On the 29th of December, the union 
 of these vessels had not yet been effected; and on that 
 day the Constitution descried a sail at meridian, in lat. 
 13 deg. 6 min. S. long. 38 W. ten leagues from St. Salva- 
 dor, which she soon discovered to be a British frigate. 
 Commodore Bainbridce tacked sail and stood for her. At 
 50 minutes past 1 P. M. the enemy bore down with an in- 
 tention of raking the Constitution^ which she avoided by 
 wearing. Much manceuvring , took place on both sides, 
 the object of the enemy being to rake, and of the Consti" 
 tution to avoid being raked, and to draw the enemy from 
 the neutral coast At 2 P. M. the enemy was within half 
 a mile of the Constitution, and to windward, having hauled 
 down his colours, except the union jack, which was at the 
 mizen mast head. A gun was then fired ahead of him, 
 to make him show his colours; but this gun was answered 
 by a whole broadside. The enemy's colours were then 
 hoisted, and the action began with round and grape; but 
 he kept at so sreat a distance, that the grape had little 
 effect, and to bring him nearer, would expose the Consti- 
 tution to severe raking. At 30 minutes past two, both 
 ships were within good canister distance, when the Con- 
 stitution's wheel was shot away. At 40 minutes past 
 two, the fore and main sail were set, and commodore 
 Bainbridge, being now determined to close with him, 
 luffed up for that purpose, and in ten minutes after, the 
 enemy's jib-boom got foul of the Constitution's mizen 
 ri^ng, and in another ten minutes his bowsprit and jib- 
 boom were shot away. At 5 minutes past 3, his main 
 topmast was shot away just above the cap. This was 
 followed by the loss of his gaff* and spanker boom, and 
 soon after, his mainmast went nearly by the board. At 
 5 minutes past 4, the enemy was completely silenced, 
 and his colours at the main being down, it was thought he 
 had surrendered. The Consfiftttion therefore shot ahead 
 to repair damages, which being done, and the enemy's 
 
 ill i%i. 
 
-r^'W;* 
 
 t)iidge, the 
 Lawrehce, 
 pany. On 
 )m me De- 
 9met from 
 ten assign- 
 ed, to pro- 
 ', the union 
 lid (m that 
 ian, in lat. 
 St Salva- 
 ish frigate, 
 for her. At 
 mth an in- 
 ivoided by 
 both sides, 
 :he Consti" 
 aemy from 
 «yithin half 
 ing hauled 
 was at the 
 d of him, 
 answered 
 ere then 
 ape; but 
 had little 
 e Consti' 
 two, both 
 the Cow- 
 jutes past 
 mmodore 
 ith him, 
 fter, the 
 rs mizen 
 and jib- 
 lis main 
 !'his was 
 kom, and 
 Ird. At 
 lilenced, 
 jught he 
 it ahead 
 ;nemy*s 
 
 ?^ 
 
 / 
 
 / VA 
 
mmmmmmm 
 
 ii I 
 
 ♦' 
 
 i.^' 
 
 iii! 
 
 1 
 
®* ^«» lATB WAR. 
 
 «» board, a numh*; !?"*"« »' Bombav «i, l 9'™". 
 .Walker. «,a ooeVfaffm.-''' «""«»<»• of %^T *?" 
 
 ^? q"«rfer deTh?.!i!".«"-. b«a„le„. t k!2* •'*»'«' 
 
 M bUi le? btade anST^' '?«»*« l>,Tw?l««t»f 
 
 Worfer^'^™»«<»«on,bow Mm to r* :? "^^ *« «c. 
 
 pbi«on. nor wim.?h k '"^ • »»Wle man to fcT^A f * «^'P. 
 
 X ^"^^"'^ barker, the first 
 
96 
 
 UISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 Pi' , 
 
 if, 
 
 officer of the ship, and midshipmeii James Delany, of Penli- 
 sylvania, and John Packet, of Jeffisraon countj, Virginia ; 
 the latter of whom was entiiisted with die despatches from 
 commodore Baihbridge to the navy department, and has 
 since been promoted to a lieutenancy. Matty of the -sea- 
 men exhibited a most uncommon degree of heroism: one 
 of them, John Cheves, after being mortally wounded, re- 
 mained on deck, apparently dying, until tne termination 
 of the eneigemen^ when, the wora being passed that the 
 enemy had struck, he raised himself up with one hand, 
 gave three cheers, and fell back and expired* His brother 
 was also severely wounded. 
 
 On the first of January, 1813, (nautical time) tommo^ 
 dore Bainbridge, upon bemg informed bj lieutenant Par- 
 ker, that the prize was in such a condition that many re- 
 pairs would be required to reader her at all manageable; 
 and knowing the immense distance at which he then was 
 from any port in the United States; and how much he 
 would be obliged to weaken his crew, to man the prize 
 properly; determined on blowing her up, which he acc(»tl- 
 ingiy did at 3 P. M. with every valuidne article on board 
 ofner^ except the baggase of the prisoners. To ^ese he 
 administered every comfort which his means could afford ; 
 and at St Salvador, where he landed the remaining crew 
 of the Java, he received the public acknowledgments of 
 lieutenant general Hislop to that effect, accompanied by 
 the presentation of an elegant sword. Captain Lambert 
 had received a mortal wound in the early part of ike en- 
 gagement, and was in so languishing a situation, that he 
 could not be removed frote the Java, until her destruction 
 was resolved on; after which the commodore directed his 
 course to St. Salvador, to land and parole him. On arriv- 
 ing in that port, he landed the private passengers without 
 considering them prisoners of war, ana released the pub- 
 lic passengers, and the officers and crew, amounting to 
 351 men, on their parole, on condition of their returning 
 to England and remaining there, without servine in anj 
 of their professional capacities, until they shouldl)e regu- 
 larly exchanged. 
 
 At St Salvador, t' e Constitution met the sloop of war 
 the Hornet, with who> i she had parted a few days before 
 the engagement) and leaving that vessel to blockade the 
 British sloop of war the Sonne Citoyenne, commodore 
 
or THB LATE WAB. 
 
 99 
 
 5lany,ofPciiti- 
 inty, Virgima ; 
 ispatchesfrom 
 tment, and ha» 
 my of the •sea- 
 heroism: one 
 f wounded, re- 
 le termination 
 INissed that the 
 rith one hand* 
 d* His brother 
 
 [ time) bommo; 
 lieutenant Par- 
 i that many re- 
 nil managcatble; 
 ich he then was 
 i how much he 
 > man the prize 
 rhich he accord- 
 irticle on board 
 ). To these he 
 ns could afford; 
 remaining crew 
 »wledgments of 
 ccompanied by 
 ptain Lambert 
 part of the en- 
 ;uation» that he 
 ier destruction 
 tre directed his 
 jim. On arriv- 
 jengers without 
 tased the pub* 
 amounting to 
 leir returning 
 jervine in any 
 [hould De regu 
 
 sloop of war 
 
 |w days before 
 
 blockade the 
 
 commodore 
 
 Bainbridffe broke up the intended cruise in the South 
 Seasi and returned to the United States. Here he was 
 greeted with the applauses of his countrymen, and re- 
 ceived the freedom of the city of New York in a gold 
 box, a piece of plate from the citizens of Philadelphia, the 
 thanks of many of .the state legislatures, and a medal from 
 congress, with 50,000 dollars for himself, officers, and 
 crew. The legislature of Virginia voted a handsome sword 
 to lieutenant Morgan and midshipman Packet of their 
 state, and their approbation to the officers generally. 
 
 The comparative force of the two vessels, as well as 
 the number of men in each, has been a suliject of preva- 
 rication, and given rise to much public discussion. Cap- 
 tain Laonbert having expired at St Salvador, it became 
 the duty of lieutenant Cnads, first officer of tiie Java, to 
 make an official communication of the affiiir to his go- 
 vernment That officer, unmindful of the generous mag- 
 nanimity with which he had beeA treated, endeavoured to 
 tBk.% awaj from tiie credit of oie American cominodore, 
 by underrating the number of the British crew, and the 
 actual force of the British ship; and by very largely over- 
 rating the force and crew of the Constitution* Aisurances 
 were given to commodore Bainbridee by the officers of 
 the Java^ that the ship left Enffland^with a crew which 
 did not exceed 320 men, but fie prisoners received on 
 board of the Constitution very fiir exceeded that number; 
 and when ^e muster book or the Java was found and ex- 
 amined, it called for 409 officers^ petty, officers, seamen 
 and marines; so that their loss in killed must have been 
 greater than they reported. 
 

 ICO 
 
 HlSTOBiCAl 8HJBTcajB9 
 
 CHAPTER via 
 
 
 ' -r--"i,taenomieBidianl 
 
 Frenchtown were ap^eheLW l^?"' *' '"'"bitants of 
 
 *e/ therefore implZdeenlmlw^'"^ massacred, and 
 •ws"- protection, ffiooril s!. f ™ Winchester to marohto 
 
 commwd, were Werior IT'" ^\ *'""* «■»« "^ h^ 
 force^ bjr which in aU pSbiffv r"*" *? *« '""ected 
 Without anjr previous'^ert tiJh*^ "'""'' ^ »««a^ 
 «o the plan of operations "S •« «*"f™' Harris >n. as 
 authority, gene^l W°ni;,w *"•"!?* ••" knowled^ or 
 Jionof the^nhabitaZ it!^-^j'''''« *» *« solSt^^ 
 .^i! ^^Ji ,«"^e. {th» rit^'ir^or- marching WW. 
 
OF THE I.ATE WAB. 
 
 101 
 
 le morn- 
 
 ing of the 18th, the two detachments concentrated at 
 Presque'Ule; when colond Lewie, having been informed 
 that an advanced party of the British ai|d fiidians, amount- 
 ing to about 500, were already encamped at Frenchtown, 
 immediately determined on attacking them. A rapid 
 march broitffht him within their view at about 3 o'clock. 
 At three miles distance he was apprised of their being 
 prepared to receive him, and, lest they should sally out 
 and suddenly encounter him, he arranged his men in the 
 order of battle, and approached with (Mi^ition to, the mar- 
 gin of the river. The command oi the right win|^ com- 
 posed of the companies of captains M<3racken, Siedsoe, 
 and Matson, was assigned to lieutenant colonel Allen. 
 The command of the left, composed of the companies 
 of captains Hamilton, Williams, and Kelly, to major 
 Graves. Major Madison was placed in the centre, with 
 the companies of captain Hi^tower, of the 17th U. 8. 
 infantry, and captaii^s Collier and S^brie. Captain Bal- 
 lard, acting as major, was sent in advance vi^& two 
 companies, commanded by captains Hickman and Glaves. 
 Thus organized, the whole body came within a aoarter 
 of a mile of the enemy. The river only separatea them. 
 The line was then displayed, and tiie passa|;e of the river 
 attempted, under a fire from a hovritzer, which the enemy 
 directed a^inst the volunteers, with little eflfect. The 
 line, remaming compact, marched across the ice to the 
 opposite shore, at the very moment when a taml was 
 given for a general chai^. Majcnrs Graves and Madisoii 
 were instantly ordered to assail the houses and picketing 
 in and about which, the enemy had collected ana arrayed 
 his cannon, before this charge could be made. The two 
 battalions advanced with, great velocitj, under an inces* 
 sant shower of bullets, carried the picketing with ease, 
 dislodged the British and Indians, and drove them into 
 tlie wood. Lieutenant colonel Allen made a simultane- 
 ous movement upon the enemy's left, then at a consider- 
 able distance from tlie remainder of his troops, and afber 
 one or>two spuited charges, compelled him to break, and 
 drove him more than a mile; after which, he took shelter 
 in the same wood, to which the rieht had retired. Here 
 the two wings concentrated, and, ocing covered by the 
 fences of several enclosed lots, and a group of houses, 
 "with a thick and brushy wood, and tL quantity ti fallen 
 
 12 
 
 
 ♦# -^ 
 
! i 
 
 
 W. 
 
 
 10£ 
 
 UISTORIOAIi SKETCHES 
 
 timber in the rear, they made a stand with their howiizwr 
 and small arms. Colonel Allen was still advancing with 
 the ri«ht wing of the American detachment, and was cx- 
 posedlo the fil-e of the whole body of the enemy. Majors 
 .Graves and Madison, were then directed to move up, 
 with ike Wt and the centre, to make a diversion in favour 
 of ike right; Their fire had just commenced, when the 
 right wing iuivanced upon the enemy's front. A sangui- 
 nary fi^t immediatdy followed: the houses were despe- 
 ratehrassuled; the British, who were stationed behind 
 the fences, vigjnrously charged upon; and their whole body 
 obliged a thira ttmfe to fly. Rapid pursuit was instantly 
 given to them. The British and Inaians*drew the Ame- 
 ricans into the wood, in their rear, and again rallying 
 their forces, several time» intrepidly attempted, under the 
 direction of miijor Reynolds to break the American line. 
 The fi^t became close and extremely hot, upon the 
 •rig^t wingy but the whole line maintained its ground, re- 
 pwsed every attempt, followed up the. enemy each time 
 as he fell back, and kept him t\Vo miles on the retreat 
 und^ a continual charge. At length, after having obsti- 
 nately contended asainst the American arms upwards of 
 three hours, the British and Indians were entirely dis- 
 persed, and carrying off all their wounded, and as many 
 of their dead as they could collect, they retired from the 
 field^ leaving 15 of their wsMrriors behind. The American 
 loss amounted to 12 killed and 55 wounded. The gal- 
 lantry of the officers of the detachments, left no chance 
 of discrimination to the commandant. Most of them have 
 been already mentioned in reference to their conduct 
 on other occasions. The coolness of the men was such, 
 that whilst they were assaulting and driving the enemy 
 from the houses, not a woman or child inhabiting them 
 was hurt Colonel Lewis encamped upon the same 
 ground whi^h had been previously occupied by the ene- 
 my. He had captured some public property, and pro- 
 tected the inhabitants thus far from the apprehended 
 cruelty of the Indians, and he now made preparaticllis to 
 maintain lus position until he should be jomea by general 
 Winchester.^ v-n.^9lJAi,i-rAi>- ^r •— ■ 
 
 On the 20th January, the' trdopg under general Win- 
 chester arrived, and when the whole were concentrated, 
 tliey did^ not eaK«ed 750 men. 600 were posted in pic- 
 
OF THE IJkTB WAR. 
 
 lOS 
 
 • howitzer 
 Lcing witn 
 id was ex- 
 y. Majors 
 move up, 
 i in favour 
 when the 
 A sangui- 
 ere despe- 
 ed behind 
 irhole body 
 I instantly 
 the Ame- 
 a rallying 
 under the 
 irican line, 
 upon the 
 round, re- 
 each time 
 the retreat 
 ving obsti- 
 pwards of 
 tirely di's- 
 1 as many 
 I from the 
 American 
 The gal- 
 10 chance 
 em have 
 conduct 
 as such, 
 enemy 
 [ng them 
 le same 
 1 the ene- 
 ind pro- 
 shended 
 iiiifhs to 
 I general 
 
 i\ Win- 
 itrated, 
 I in pic- 
 
 cruets, and 150 composing the right wing were emcamped 
 in an open field. On the morninff of the 22d, at revetlU» 
 a combined force under TecumsM and colonel Proctor, of 
 2,100 men, attacked the encampment The alarm gun 
 was immediately fired, and the troops ready for the recep* 
 tion of the assailants. The attack commenced witii a 
 heavy fire of small arms, r^iid the discharge of six pieces 
 of artillery, directed immediately at the temporary breast- 
 work behind which the left wiii^ was stationed. The ridit 
 wins was attacked with great violence, and sustained u\e 
 conflict about 20 minutes, but being outnumbered and 
 overpow red, was obliged to retreat across the river. Two 
 companies, of 50 men each, sallied out of the breast- 
 work to their assistance, but retreated with them. A 
 large body of the Indians had been stationed in the rear 
 of the encampment, before the attack commenced, who 
 either made prisoners of, or cut off, the retreatine party. 
 The left wing maintain^ its ground within the (nc<]^uett^ 
 Three furious onsets were made upon it by the Brilidi 
 41st, each of whioh was received with distinguished cool- 
 ness, and each of which terminated in the repulse of the 
 enemy. In the desperate resistance which was made to 
 the chains of this regiment, 30 of it^ men were killed, 
 and between 90 and 100 wounded. When the right wing 
 was discovered to be retreating, every effort was used to 
 form them in some order of action, either to repel the 
 pursuers, or to regain tiie tempolN^iy breastwtArk, from 
 behind which, the remaining part of the troops were still 
 pllantly defending themselves. General Winchester's 
 head quarters were several hundred yards from the en- 
 campment, he therefore was not in the first of the en- 
 gagement, but he hM no sooner arrived at the ground, 
 than he, colonel Lewis, and some others, who were at- 
 tempting to rally the fiyins ri^t wing, were taken pri- 
 soners. The remainder of the battle was fought in con- 
 fusion, and was rather a proof of the bravery of the 
 Americans, than of any regard which they had for tiie 
 order of the fi^t They saw the great disparity of force, 
 and knew how much their own had been weakened by the 
 destruction of the right wing. But they continued to 
 repel every charge of the* assailants, until 11 o'clock, 
 when an order was received, by a flag from the enemy, 
 by which it appeared^ that general Winchester was as- 
 
104 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 rir ii 
 
 Ufil 
 
 ii '^-i 
 
 h 
 
 ftured, that unless the troops of his command were imme- 
 diately surrendered, the ouiMingS in Frenchtown would 
 be set on fire, and timt no re^nsibilitj would be taken 
 for the conduct of the savages, who composed the largest 
 part of the enemy^ force: that to save the lives of the 
 remaining portion of his brave troops, he had agreed to 
 surrender them prisoners of war, on condition of their 
 being protected from the savages^ of their being allowed 
 to retain tii^ir priva^te property, and of having their side 
 arms returned to them. 35 officers, and 487 non-com- 
 missioned officers and privates were accordinglj surron- 
 dered, after having fousht with small arms, agamst artil- 
 lery, for 6 hours; and Deing all that time surrounded by 
 Indians resorting to their usual terrific ydils. The loss 
 of the Americans was 22 officers, and ^5 non-commis^~ 
 sioned officers and privates killed and missing and 3 
 officers and 22 privates wounded, who were among the 
 prisoners surrendered. The enemy's loss* except that of 
 the 41st regulars, could not be ascertained, every means 
 being used to prevent a discovery. It has been supjjosed, 
 however, that li was littie less than that of the Americans. 
 Colonel Proctor afterwards stated H) in his (^cial com- 
 munidition, to be 24 killed, and 158 wound^ed. 
 
 The events which followed the surrender of the Ame- 
 rican armf^ were of such a nature as to make the heart of 
 man recoil from their recital, and to deprive their record- 
 er, at a more distant day, of that dejgree of tempe>-ance, 
 which ought ever to be inseparable from candid and im- 
 partial narration. Facts, which have been established 
 beyond the possibility of doubt; which have been testified 
 by the solemn affirmations of the officers of the captured 
 army, and admitted by those of the enen^; and which 
 took place immediately under the eye of the conquering 
 commander, ou^t not to be withheld from the world; 
 the fidelity of history will not allow them to be magnified, 
 its steady impartiality will neither permit them to be ex- 
 tenuated. 
 
 Destitute of the common principles of sacred humtiiity, 
 and regardless of the civilized usages of honourable war- 
 fare, the allied British and Indian forces, no sooner re- 
 ceived the surrender of the vanquished, thou^ brave 
 defenders of the invaded territory, than they assailed 
 them with their tomhawks and scalping knives, and strip- 
 ped them of their property and dotning. When the right 
 
1 were imme- 
 [itown would 
 »uld be taken 
 d the lai^st 
 i lives of Ihe 
 ad agreed to 
 Ltion of tiieir 
 eing allowed 
 tig their side 
 87 non-com- 
 ingljsurron- 
 against artil- 
 irrounded by 
 s. The loss 
 non-commis^~ 
 ssing^ and 3 
 *e among the 
 scept tfutt of 
 every means 
 en supposed} 
 i Americans, 
 (^cial com- 
 d. 
 
 )f the Ame- 
 the heart of 
 heir record- 
 jmpevance, 
 lid and im- 
 Lestablished 
 (en testified 
 captured 
 land which 
 conquering 
 "le world; 
 [magnified, 
 to be ex- 
 
 [humuiity, 
 ible war- 
 iooner re- 
 breve 
 assailed 
 idstrijp- 
 the right 
 
 OF THE LATE WAU. 
 
 105 
 
 wiiue fell b^rV^i^ ^ut 40 mcfn, under lieutenant Isalu; 
 L. Baker, ^ .re attempting to escape, an offer of protec- 
 tion was made to tiiem, on conditiOh of their surrender. 
 Lieutenant Baker very gladly yielded^ to tiie. proposal for 
 the safety of his men, but the proffered protection did not 
 follow. One half of his party were butchered and Idi 
 naked on the field, and himself and the remainder march- 
 ed back to colonel Proctor^ camp. They gave up their 
 arms to j:hc Indians, and defenceless as they were, many 
 of them who brought up the rear as prisoners, werci mas- 
 sacred on the march. When general Winchester was 
 captured, in the act of pursuing and rallying the ri^t 
 wing, the same solemn assurances of protection were giv- 
 en to him, on condition of his ordering tlie whole detach- 
 ment to surrender. His humanity induced him to com- 
 ply ; but, when the troops were brou^t within the British 
 camp, tiieir side arms and accoutrements were taken from 
 them, and presented to the savofres. They were then left 
 in custody of the Indians, who were instrupted to fol- 
 low the British regulars to Maiden, to which place the 
 prisoners w^e to be conducted. The wounded prisoners 
 Were more likely to become the objects of Indian resent-^ 
 ment, and tiie American general remonstreted, therefore, 
 with the commanding British .officer on the necessity of 
 their being removed by th\^. regulars. To this remon- 
 strance, a pled^ vfm given, that such prisoners should be 
 attended to. They were left behind, however, and on the 
 morning of the 2Sd, the Indians fired many houses of the 
 inhabitants, and burnt the prisoners who had beien placed 
 within them. Being then in n-iadiness to march, they ar- 
 ranged other prisonei 3 in that or^ier, and on finding that 
 many of them could not walks in consequence of the se* 
 verity of their wounds, they immediately stripped them, 
 Stood them up for targets, and after killing, tomhawked, 
 and scalped them. Numbers who attempted the march 
 to avoid so dreadful a fate, became exhausted on the wayj 
 and. received the same treatment in the presence of their 
 afilicted fellow prisoners. Among those who were placed 
 in this situation, was an officer, whose case was of tiie 
 most unparalleled atrocity. Captain N. G. 8. Hart,* of 
 
 * Captain Hart was brother-in-lpw to Henry Clay, one of the 
 American commissioners at Ghent, and speaker of the House of 
 Representatives in the congress of the United States. 
 
ii. 
 
 If 
 
 i 
 
 'i s^i 
 
 I?' 
 
 106 
 
 UISTORICAX 8KBTCBK8 
 
 Lexington, who had, on several occasions, but on this par* 
 ticqknj, 8ig;^izea himself hy jus undoiuited bravery, 
 and who received a fiesh wound in the knee, in the early 
 fNirt of the engagement, on being surrendered with the 
 troops, was immediately recognized by colonel Elliot^* an 
 Americ<in by birth, who had &en a class mate of captain 
 Hart, at an American college, and who bad long been no- 
 torious for his acti^ty in exciting the sava^s to arm 
 themselves against his fellow citizens. In tbts action he 
 was bearing arms agunst his own countrymen, and on 
 discovering the companion of his youth, in the hands of 
 the savages, he felt tnat degree of national sympathy, of 
 which no man,' however vile, can entirely divest himself; 
 and, without being solicited,, made a {H'omise of his pro- 
 tectimi, and ij£ providing a conveyance to Maiden, which 
 would place captain Ha^ under his sujperintendence, un- 
 til his recovery should be ellfected. But colonel Elliot's 
 Sromise was foreotten. He departed, and a band of In- 
 ians entered the house iti which captain Hart lay, and 
 tore him from his bed ; one of his mother officers then 
 conveyed him to another apartment, where he was again 
 assailed. He at length induced tiie Indian^ to agree to 
 take him to Maiden, under the promise of a Im^ reward. 
 They proceeded but five n\iles on the road, before they 
 shot him, while on his horse, and to<^ his scalp. The fate 
 of colonel Allen, captains M'Cracken, Woodfolk, Hick- 
 man, and otiier officers, was no le98 unfortunate dian that 
 of captain Hart 
 
 'Wnen the surviving prisoners, officers and men, arriv- 
 ed at Maiden, the savages were allowed to sell ^em, and 
 many of the American citizens, who had been permitted 
 to remain in the town of Detroit for temporary purposes, 
 stept forward to ransom them; but when colonel Proctor 
 discovered, that, by this means, they obtained their re- 
 lease, he issued an order forbidding any future exchanges 
 of prisoners for money. Most of the officers, and many 
 of the men, among the volunteers, were of tiie first re- 
 spectability, holding offices of high trust, members of the 
 confess of the United States, and accustomed to those 
 refinements which result from wealth and education. 
 They had left the ease and affluence with which their 
 homes abounded, to obey the voice of their invaded coun- 
 
 * A native of Maryland. 
 
4>F THB LATE WAB. 
 
 lor 
 
 nil this par- 
 d brftveiy, 
 n tke etriy 
 d with the 
 i Elliot^* an 
 oi captain 
 ng been no- 
 es to um 
 » action he 
 m, and on 
 le hands of 
 mpathy, of 
 sst himself; 
 of his pro- 
 den, which 
 idence, un- 
 nel Elliotts 
 >and of In- 
 rt lay, and 
 ficers then 
 i was again 
 Co agree to 
 ge reward, 
 lefore they 
 The fate 
 blk, Hick- 
 than that 
 
 len, arriv- 
 them, and 
 permitted 
 
 Jurposes, 
 Proctor 
 their re- 
 xchanges 
 ind many 
 5 firit re- 
 rs of the 
 to those 
 lucation. 
 1 their 
 led coun- 
 
 ixjt &nd had encountered all kinds of hardships in their 
 dd&rent marches^ These men, while prisoners at Mai- 
 den, were treated with that handity superciliousness, 
 which belongs not to the noble soluer, nor to the enlight- 
 ened man. • 
 
 Judge Woodward, of the supreme court of th,e Michi- 
 gan territiHry, rendered every asustance to the prisoners, 
 widiin the power of an individuid, and by the influence 
 which he had acc]^uired<)yer the British commander, great- 
 ly alleviated their misfortunes. He boldly chaiged the 
 enemy with the enormities which bad been comn^itted, 
 and informed colonel Proctor, after having supplied him, 
 by his own directions, with affidavits which substantiated 
 all the hci», that ** the truth would undtmbtedhf tventw- 
 " ally appear, and that, that unfortunate dajjfmw^t meet 
 **, the steady and impartial eye of history,':^ Colonel Proc- 
 tor endeavoured to extenuate the facts, made no denial of 
 their occurrence, but alleged that no capitulation was en- 
 tered into; that the prisoners surrentlmd at discretion ; 
 and thatj therefore, it was n(rt necessary to control tiie 
 Indians. The battie was officially announced to the Ca- 
 nadian people, from the heiid quarters of the commander 
 in chief, the governor generall His communication in- 
 formed them, mat another brillianiaction had been siehiev- 
 ed,by the division of the army under colonel Proctor, and 
 admitted that the loss of the Americans was great, because 
 the Indian warriors had cut m all wh# attempted to es- 
 cape. T^he Indian chi^, Bovmd Head, he said^ had ren- 
 dered essential Services, by his bravery and good conduct, 
 and colonel Proctor had nobly displaced his ffiillantry,by 
 his humane and unwearied eopertions in rescuing the van- 
 quishedfrom the revengeof the Indians; for ^ich good 
 conduct he was promoted, until the pleasure of the pnnce 
 regent should be known, to the rank of a brigadier gene- 
 ral in Upper Canada. The general orders concluded, by 
 ordering *'a sidute of 21 guns, to be fired on tids glon- 
 ous occasion.'* 
 
 General Harrison having heard of the exposed situation 
 of general Winchester's troops, had ordered a detachment 
 from general Perkin*s brig^def to rairch under miyor Cot- 
 groves, to his relief; but they did not reach Frenchtown 
 before the battie, and immediately on their return U> the 
 Rapids, at which place general Harrison was tiien station- 
 ed, he fiell back 18 miles to the carrying river, in order 
 
i j 
 
 \ 
 
 'U 
 
 ls^i\ 
 
 t i '. 
 
 ii ! 
 
 I.I 
 
 ''i! 
 
 m 
 
 1 1 
 
 ,1 . 
 
 
 108 
 
 BI»T<atKCA]:.8XBTCRE^ 
 
 to for^e a junction witli the trocqM jii the |<(par, a^ 
 v^ffhe eoavoy^ of artiUery and stoits* then commfpom 
 IJ^Iier Sanduskj. \Fit>m this blit6e7he4^f»atchea a ^ 
 
 (^ truce with aaurgeon to^lkfalden»taa^ni'to'^c> ci^>^- 
 tiired sick and wounded ; his flag was not respecled/how- 
 eyer» and one of the suEgeon's ii»»nipara^Qa was Jdlled, 
 and himseU' wounded and takeir prisoner. 
 
 A stroQff defire- now preyailed amoi% the ttroops to 
 avenge the Joss of tiiett' hraye hr^thren in ari^ andgov- 
 emor lii^^ havii^ mmptly forwarded two regiments of 
 Ohio militia to remrorce general Harrison, hex^n ad- 
 vanced to the Ka^dSr and coimnenced imildinr a fort^ 
 which has since been ren4er^ memorable under the 
 nam^ of £»rt W&e^ Fortificatidns wsre at the same time 
 constructed M .t^»er Sandu^j*^ iinder the direction of 
 general Prooks*- Whibt th^e precautionary measnres 
 were adopted, for the proleetion o^ the iiwxpB, and the 
 defence jpf the territory, detached par^awei^fr^^ 
 ^indulged in short exciUB8iiui% none of Winch leMuted in 
 uiy malerial^idyaatage* In <ine of these, ^e commander 
 in chiefs hip^K maich^ inJPr§$fue48kiAi ^e head ef a 
 detachment, ^po^ beariiit^thata tody of in^wna had-col- 
 liected^ at that place; bttt theliMilpMi4ed,athM approach, 
 too rapid) J to be oyeriiifcen^. aind Wtetarnedio nw en- 
 canipmen^ after having marched 60 milea in SI -hours. 
 
 No ev^ of anj4:onsequettce occurred during the re- 
 mainder of dw winter. The unanthoriMd movement Of 
 feneral Winchester, was en^ely iubversive of general 
 [arrispn*c plans, and so contrary to ins arran^iiients, 
 that the whole system of oi^uuzation was agun to be 
 gone over. Gener^ Harrison therefore left the troops 
 strei^theninff the posts of fort Meigs, Upper Bandusky, 
 and fort Stephenson, whilst he returned to Ohio, to con- 
 sult with the governor, to accelerate the miarch of the re- 
 infc^cements, and to expedite the transportation of addi- 
 tional stores. He had i|ot been long absent from fort 
 Meigs, before the garrison was threatened with an attack. 
 New levies were hastily made from Ohio and Kentucky^ 
 but as they did not arrive in time to resist the enemy,, 
 now collecting in large numbers in ^e neiehbourhood, the 
 jpennsylvania bri^de voluntarily ^xten£d its term of 
 service, which had just then expired. General Hurison 
 was apprised Of this circumstance by despatch, ahd re- 
 
Aiidi'to ce- 
 
 chedfalbig 
 to ^e ciq:^- 
 icled, how- 
 fas killed, 
 
 ttrooos to 
 I, ana gav^ 
 igittents of 
 i^i^n ad- 
 Iqraforti 
 uncler the 
 same time 
 irec^n of 
 '^measores 
 •.and the 
 fipeqiienlly 
 ?e6iHted in 
 Qpimander 
 i head of a 
 IS had«oi- 
 approack, 
 < lug cn- 
 heufB* ~ 
 
 the r©- 
 '^cnttif 
 \f general 
 i^ients, 
 tn to be 
 troops 
 tndusky, 
 to con* 
 the re- 
 of addi- 
 fort 
 attack, 
 ntucky* 
 enemy,. 
 l,the 
 ;erm of 
 larrison 
 id re- 
 
 OF THE XATB WAR. 
 
 109 
 
 turned with all possible expedition to the earrii^on. He 
 arrired on the ^Oth April (1813), and ma£ instant pre- 
 paration for an approaching 6ieg<;. The fort was situated 
 on a comnianding eminence, and well supplied with 
 every necessary munition of war; but eeneral Harrison 
 being desirous of putting his men in ^e best * possible 
 gtate of Security, was every day erectii^ fortifications of 
 different descnptions. The troops in the garrison Were 
 animated and zealous in the cause of their country, and 
 their exertions without parallel. On the 28th, captain 
 HamHton was sent out with a patrolling party. About 
 three miles down the river, he discovered the enemy in 
 great force, approaching fort Meigs, and im^he^iately 
 communicated his discovery to the general. Ail express 
 was then sent to eeneral Green Clay, who comn^anaed a 
 brigade of 1200 Kentuckians, with an order for his imme- 
 diate march to fdrt Meigs. Greneral Harrison actdressed 
 the troops; informed them of the vital importance if every 
 man's being vigilant and industrious at fiis post ; i|nd re- 
 ceived assurances that none of them would abandon their 
 duty. A few British and a body of Indians commenced 
 a very brisk fire from the opposite shore, l|)ut the distance 
 was too great to do injury. Their fire was returned from 
 two 18 poundei-s, ana they retired and concealed them- 
 selves from the view of the fort In th^ evening, the 
 enemy crossed the river in boats, and selected the best 
 situations about the fort, to throw up work« for the pro- 
 tection of their battering cannon. The garrison was com- 
 pletely surrounded, ana preparations were |ctive, upon 
 one side to storm the fort, and on the other 'to repel the 
 most vigorous assault. Several dragoons who had offered 
 to reconnoitre the enemy's camp, md not proceeded far 
 from the fort, when they were nred on, and one of them 
 was shot through the arm. Early on the morning of the 
 29th, the Indians fired into the fort with their nftes, and 
 mortally wounded a man who was talking witfi the gene- 
 ral — a constant firing was kept up c^n both sides during 
 the whole day. Several men in the g^irrison were sli^tly 
 wounded, and a number of the enem^' killed. The Brit- 
 ish batteries had been so far constructtd during the night, 
 that sufficient protection was afforded to him to work by 
 daylight Numbers of shot were thrqwn into the breast- 
 works to impede their proffress, but before night, they 
 
no 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 had three batteries erected, two with four embrasures 
 each, and one bomb battery. On the morning of the 
 30th, the besiegers were discovered to have extended 
 their batteries, and to be preparing them for the cannon. 
 Their progress in doing tnis, was retarded by a well di- 
 rected and constant fire from the besieged. They were 
 observed to carry away men from the batteries, by which 
 it was supposed that the fire from the fort had either kill- 
 ed or wounded many of them. 
 
 General Harrison having a suspicion that the enemy 
 intended to surprise and storm the garrison in its rear, 
 from the circumstance of a number of boats having re- 
 peatedly crossed from the old British ffarrison to the side 
 on which stood the American fort, each loaded with men ; 
 he gave orders for one-third of the troops to be constant* 
 ly on guard, and the remainder to sleep with their mus- 
 kets in their arms, and to be in readiness to fly to their 
 posts at any moment. The Indians occupied all tiie ad- 
 vantageous positions round the fort, and to this and many 
 other discouraging circumstances, was added the want of 
 water, which was supplied only from the river, whence a 
 few men each night were obliged to obtain enou^ for 
 the ^rrison for the succeeding aay. This they did at an 
 imminent risk of their. lives, the Indians being always on 
 the alert During this day (30th,) there were several kill- 
 ed and wounded on both sides. In the night, a gun boat 
 which had been towed up the river by the enemy, was 
 placed near the fort, and kept up a fire at intervals upon 
 it. Not one ball entered it, however, and on the morning 
 of May Ist, she moved off, after having discharged 30 
 shot without effect This morning the grand traverse, at 
 which the men had been some time engaged, was nearly 
 finished, and several inferior ones were commenced in 
 different directions. The American garrison was now in 
 very excellent condition; and as soon as the well should 
 be finished, would defy the utmost power of the besiegers. 
 At about 10 o'clock, the enemy had one cannon prepared. 
 With that he kept up a brisk fire. In the course of the 
 day, he opened several pieces on the fort, and before 
 night, he had in operation one 24 pounder, one 12, one 6, 
 and a howitzer, from which he fired 260 shot durins the 
 day, without doing any material injury to fort Meigs; 
 though one man was wounded mortally, two badly, and 
 
our embrasures 
 morning of the 
 have extended 
 for the cannon, 
 id by a well di- 
 d. Thej were 
 eries, by which 
 had eitberkill. 
 
 iat the enemy 
 son in its rear, 
 )at8 having re- 
 >on to the side 
 led with men; 
 o be conatant- 
 ith their mus- 
 to fly to their 
 ed all the ad- 
 his and many 
 d the want of 
 ifer, whence a 
 in enough for 
 lieydidatan 
 ng always on 
 ! several kill- 
 t»agun boat 
 enemy, was 
 itervals upon 
 the morning 
 scharged 30 
 i traverse, at 
 , was nearly 
 maaenced in 
 was now in 
 well should 
 le besiegers. 
 >n prepared, 
 ►urse of the 
 and before 
 B 12, one 6, 
 duriiiff the 
 ort Meigs; 
 badly, and 
 
 OF THE lATB WAH. 
 
 'owing day fid ) iXt u^^S was continue!? ? -^ silenced 
 
 ,^th CStv t5 ^"^^ and cTnin^.f ^ ^' * fierce 
 
 Amerfcan fort^ !**^."P**« ^^e rear S J"f * ^"^^ 
 l^ PromptlyJeturn . "**2^ «^ sJS X, ^'^S^ ?^*e 
 ^'^ey cont&uid ff SI ^' '\'**^ several timi -i ^^^''^'^ 
 ascended thetet^nJ^^^^ ^-IP^S tJ»e d^r Thf^.^"* 
 n^-ed into it wiSi i • ®. '*«»g^bourhriodYf .f H^'^^a^s 
 
 of theda^\,£K"^'^n, which felM"""**. *» "* 
 fflcer who ^A T'^^ with bZ?*" "^ *« 88(h „|. 
 
 «imediatell^t*;«"n«fewhow^h*»*«'e whole 
 
 I SjMS^d with the f^*?. "<««. Coton^Xdf '™»- 
 
 sortie. Colon.l n J. • * ">f«ntry, was *„ ^° Lionel 
 which thev h« J P""'V landed his m*^ f ««mimind the 
 
 f?«r batgrie? we^';""?"* 'f the Brf'^l "f^hed them 
 
 Nr M^"^^ we- iT* •'•«'* B„?^sh T^ **•» 
 the British J^f^'"»*;n«y ««rried.7?t» "S?t '^ "^he 
 In pursuance^^ *"'' Canadian miliS ^P**^' «>d 
 
 to have cros^thft-'"' *« -bject of Wg\!5^"»«' J^Sd- 
 
 r much elated at tr"" *» <"»« Mefe TJ^Jt"*"* "^t 
 
 »«a at the success of S « ?'f "•«» '^re 
 
 «>«ir first battle, tint 
 
- iia 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 I .' i 
 
 they became desirous of pursuing and capturing the re* 
 treating enemy. An immense oody of Indians, at that 
 time marching to the British camp, were met by the re- 
 gulars as they retired. With these they formed, and put- 
 tmg the Indians in ambush, they made a feint to draw 
 colonel Dudley's men into the woods, in which they too 
 well succeeded. The Indians came from their ambus- 
 cade, and attacked the brave but indiscreet Kentuckians. 
 A sevfire engagement took place, which terminated in 
 the d^th or capture of almost the whole detachment, 
 and which was followed by the same kind of massacre, 
 though not to the same extent, that succeeded the sur- 
 render at Raisin. The British intercepted the retreat of 
 colonel Dudley to the river, whei*e he would have, been 
 protected by tne guns of fort Meigs, and only 150 men, 
 out of 800, effected their escape. 45 were tomhawked; 
 and colonel Dudley, their gallant leader, was among the 
 killed. He is said $o have shot one of the Indians, after 
 being himself mortally wounded. The remainder of ge- 
 neral Clay's brigade assailed a body of Indians in me 
 wood, near the fort, and would have been also drawn 
 into an ambush, had not general Harrison ordered a party 
 of dragoons to sally out, and protect their retreat to the 
 fort 
 
 The contemplated sortie was intended to have been 
 simultaneous vnih the attack on the opposite side of the 
 river; but the impetuosity of colonel Dudley's troops, 
 defeated this project, and colonel Miller, with part of tne 
 19th and a body of militia, in all 350 men, sallied forth, 
 after the Indians were apprised of tiie attack upon the 
 old batteries. He assaulted the whole line of their works, 
 which was defended, as has since been ascertained, by 
 200 regulars, 150 militia, and 4 or 500 Indians, and after 
 several brilliant and intrepid charges, succeeded in driv- 
 ing the enemy from lus principal batteries, and in spiking 
 the cannon. He then returned to the fort witii 42 pn- 
 soners, among whom were two lieutenants. The nrst 
 charge was made on the Indians and Canadians, by the 
 battalion of major Alexander, the second on the regulars 
 and Indians, by col<mel Miller's regulars, the officers of 
 which were captains Croghan, Lan^m, Bradford, Nea- 
 rinff, and lieutenant Campbell, and a company of Ken- 
 tuccuans, commanded by captiim Sabrie, who distinguish- 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 113 
 
 ed himself in the first affair at Frenchtown. This com- 
 pany maintained its sround with more ^rmness than could 
 have been expecteu from a hasty levy of nuilitia, xad 
 a^inst four times its number. It was at length, however, 
 surrounded by Indians, and would have been entirely cut 
 off, had not lieutenant Gw^ne, of the 12^, charged the 
 Indians with part of captfun Elliot's company, and re^ 
 leased the Kentuckians. 
 
 On the 6th, hostilities seemed to have ceased on both 
 sides. The besieged sent do¥^n a fla^ by major Hukill, 
 to attend to the comforts of the American wounded and 
 prisoners, which returned with the British major Cham* 
 bers; between whom and th<s garrison, some arrangements 
 were made about sending home Hie prisoners by Clev^ 
 land. On the Tth, there was a continuation of bad wea- 
 ther. Flags were passing to, and from, the two armies, 
 durins the whole day, and arrangements were entered 
 into. By which the American militia were to be sent to 
 Huron, to return home by that route, and the Indians 
 were* to relinquish their claim to the prisoners taken on 
 the opposite shore, and to receive in exchange for them, 
 a number of Wvandots, who had been captured in the 
 sallies of the 5tn. During the 8tb, the excnange and in- 
 tercourse of flags continued, and a promise was made 
 by the British, to furnish general Harrison with a list of 
 the killed, wounded and prisoners, which however was 
 not complied with. On the 9th, the enemy was observed 
 to be abandoning his works, a sloop and several sun boats 
 had been brou^t up in the night, and were receiving the 
 cannon*— on being discovered, a few guns from fort Meigs 
 obliged them to relinquish their design, and by 10 o'clock, 
 the siege was raised, and the whole of the enemy's forces 
 were on their retreat. 
 
 Thus terminated a siege of 13 days, in which the Brit- 
 ish commander, general Proctor, promised the Indian 
 allies, that the American garrison should be reduced, and 
 its defenders delivered over to them as prisoners of war. 
 1800 shells and cannon balls had been fired into the fort, 
 and a continual dischai^e of small arms had been kept 
 up, yet the American loss was only 81 killed and 189 
 wounded: 17 only of the former during the siege, the 
 remainder in tiie sortie, and the different assaults of the 
 5th. Of the latter, 124 were wounded in the sortie, and 
 
 K2 
 
»'■%. 
 
 U4 
 
 HI8T0BICAJ* 8KBTGBE8 
 
 M 
 
 66 during the siege. Hie loss of the United States re* 
 galars was 156 in killed and wounded; that of the Ken- 
 tucky and Ohio militia, and the tweWe months' volun- 
 teers, 114. But Kentucky, as on other occasions, suf- 
 fered the most severely, her loss in killed and wounded 
 amounting to 72. The daring intrepidity of the citizens 
 of that state, had continually, and too often with an indis- 
 creet impetuosity, led them into the most dangerous sitU"; 
 ations. It was to this, that their defeat under colonel 
 Dudley was to be attributed, and because of this, that 
 they lost in that affair 300 and upwards, in killed and 
 missing. But it was to this also, that the gratitude of 
 the whole nation was due, when, regardless of the blood, 
 which, in the first stage of the war, sne had already freely 
 and profusely shed, her citizens came forward ^vith una- 
 bating alacrity, and volunteered their services on every 
 hazardous expedition. 
 
 The force under general Proctor, was reported by de- 
 serters to be 550 regulars, and 800 militia. The number 
 of the Indians, was greater beyond comparison than had 
 ever been brought into the neld before. They were 
 much dissatisfied at the failure of the repeated attacks 
 upon the fort, tiie spoil of which had been promised to 
 them— «yet they several times during the sortie, prevent* 
 ed the capture of the whole of their allies, the British re^ 
 Kulars. In one of the assaults, commanded bv captain 
 Croghan, uponta battery which was defended by the ^ena- 
 dier and ligbt infantiy companies of the 4l8t regiment, 
 ihe enemy suffered severely; and but for the immediate 
 assistance of the Indians, could: not have effected a re- 
 treat, which l^e visour of the assault compelled them 
 to make.^ General Harrison caused not only the ground 
 upon which the enemy's batteries had been erected in the 
 neighbourhood of the fort, but that on which colonel Dud- 
 ley's battle had been fought, to be strictly examined; on 
 the latter, the body of that unfortunate officer was dU- 
 eovered, dreadfully mangled. 
 
 OflKtnsive preparations were now for a time suspended. 
 The naval equipments on lake Erie, were in active for- 
 wardness, and until these were completed, the troops 
 were to remain at forts Meigs and Sandusky. Thefinxes 
 at eitlier were adequate to its defence, and general Harri- 
 son left gpeneral Clay in command of the former, whilst 
 
states re* 
 
 the Ken- 
 ha* volun- 
 sions, Buf- 
 i wounded 
 le citizens 
 li an indis- 
 irous situ-; 
 er colonel 
 
 this, that 
 lulled and 
 ratitude of 
 
 the blood, 
 ad^ freely 
 
 ^vith una- 
 8 on every 
 
 •ted by dc» 
 he number 
 ri than had 
 liey were 
 ;ed attacks 
 omised to 
 5, prevent- 
 Bntish re- 
 captain 
 the ^ena- 
 regiment, 
 mmediate 
 ted a re- 
 led them 
 e ground 
 d in the 
 Dud- 
 led; on 
 was di&- 
 
 [spended. 
 
 ttive for- 
 
 [e troops 
 
 leffHxes 
 
 Harri- 
 
 whikt 
 
 or THB LATE WAB. 
 
 US 
 
 he set out for the latter, and tlience intended to repair 
 to Franklinton, to forward new reinforcements. In the 
 month of June (1813), a gjeneral council of Indian chiefs 
 was assembled in the neighbourhood of Seneca town, 
 Lower Sandusky, to which place the head quarters ttf 
 general Harrison had been transferred. The result of 
 metr deliberations, was an offer to take up arms in behalf 
 of the United States, and they proposeu to accompany 
 the general into Canada, But the incursions of the hostile 
 chieis were now more frequent than before. Their depre- 
 dations were extended along the shores of the lake, and 
 many of the inhabitants were killed or made prisoners. 
 A temporary check was given, however, to their inroads, 
 by a squadron of dragoons, who encountered and cut to 
 pieces a party of the most ferocious of the savages. Colo- 
 nel Ball was descending the Sandusky with 2S men, when 
 he was fired upon by wout SO Indians from an ambush. 
 He charged upon and drove them from their ambuscade, 
 and after an obstinate contest upon a plain, favourable 
 ^ the operation3 of cavalry, he destroyed every chief 
 of the {larty. During the warmest of me engi^ment, 
 he was dismounted, and in personal fight with a warrior 
 of great strength. They fought with desjperation until 
 the colonel was relieved bv an officer, who shot down 
 the Indian. The, savages then became furious, and after 
 ^ving their customary ugnal^ to receive no quarter, ther 
 made a vigorous onset, and kept up the contest until 
 their whole band was destroyed. Tnis affair produced 
 some terror among the Indians, and the persons and nro- 
 perty of the inhabitants were secured for a while from 
 outrage and plunder. 
 
 The conduct of" this vigilant and able officer, has been 
 frequently spoken of, in general orders. At the repulse 
 of the besiegers of fort Meigs, he was amtmg the most 
 conspicuous of those officers who vainly strove to surpass 
 each other in the acquittal of their duty. To majors 
 Ball, Todd, Sod wick, and Ritzer, and major Johnson of 
 the Kentucky militia, the c(Hnmander in chief gave a 
 public expression of his warmest a(^>robation. Of cap- 
 tain Wood, of tlie engineers, who has since that time so 
 nobly distinguished himself in a sortie from another ear- 
 rison, the general said, that in assigning to him the first 
 palm of merit, as far as it related to the transactions with- 
 
*.' 
 
 116 
 
 HISTOHICAL SKETCHES 
 
 in the works, he was convinced that his decision would 
 be awarded by everjr individual in camp, who witnessed 
 his inde&tiffable exertion; his consummate skill in pro- 
 viding for me safety of every point, and in foiling every 
 attempt of the enemy; and his undaunted bravery in the 
 performance of his ctuty, in the most exposed situations. 
 In speakins of the Kentuckians, he said, that it rarely 
 happened that a general had to complain of the excessive 
 araour of his men, yet that such always appeared to be 
 the case whenever the Kentucky militia were engaged, 
 and that they appeared to think that valour alone could 
 accomplish any thing. The general was led to niake 
 this remark, from the conduct of captain Dudley's' com- 
 pany, of (Hie of the militia regiments, as he understood 
 that gallant officer was obliged to turn his espontoon 
 against his own company, to oblige them to desist from a 
 further pursuit of the enemy. This declaration referred 
 to the conduct of this company in the sortie. 
 
 On the 6th or Tth AtLj of the siege, general Harrison 
 * received from general Proctor a summons to surrender^ 
 which was delivered in the usual form, by major Cham- 
 bers, who informed the general that the British comman- 
 der was desirous (^ saving the eflftision of blood. General 
 Harrison expressed are&t astonishment at this demand. 
 As general Proctor aid not send it on hb arrival, he sup- 
 posed the British officers believed he was determined to 
 oo his duty. Major Chambers, in vain attempted to per- 
 suade him of the high resjpect which ^neral Proctor en- 
 tertained of him as a soldier, and intimated to him that 
 , there was then a larger body of Indians assembled j than 
 had ever been known to have been at opo time orguiizedt 
 General Hurison dismissed him with rtsburances that he 
 had a very correct idea of general Pro<' tor's force, that it 
 was not such as to create me least apprehension for the 
 result of the contest; that general Proctor should never 
 have the post surrendered to him upon any terms; and, 
 that if H should, fall into his hands, it should be in a 
 maimer calculated to do him more honour, and to give 
 him laiger claims upon the gratitude of his sovernmenty 
 •than he could possibly derive from any capitulation. 
 
^'■ 
 
 OF THE LATB WAR. 
 
 1X7 
 
 ision would 
 
 witnessed 
 kill in pro- 
 liling every 
 ivery in the 
 
 1 situations. 
 it it rarely 
 le excessive 
 eared to be 
 re engaged, 
 done could 
 d to make 
 [lley's* corn- 
 understood 
 
 espontoon 
 isist from a 
 Dn referred 
 
 U Harrison 
 
 surrender, 
 
 ajor Cham- 
 
 kh comman- 
 
 d. General 
 
 IS demand. 
 
 ral, he sup- 
 
 ermined to 
 
 ted to per- 
 
 *roctor en- 
 
 him that 
 
 }ledi than 
 
 organizedt 
 
 is that he 
 
 Be, that it 
 
 in for the 
 
 uld never 
 
 *ms; and, 
 
 be in a 
 
 d to give 
 
 ernment,. 
 
 on. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Preparation for the campaign of 1813, by the northern 
 army and the army of the centre — Ejepedition against 
 Elixabethtown, Canada — Capture of (M^sbw'g by 
 the British — Batteries at Black Bock — Concentration 
 of forces at Sackefs Harbonr-r-Description of the 
 town and harbour of Little Fork, capital of Upper 
 Canador—Emharkatim of general Dearborn*» armu 
 at Sackefs Harbour^^rrives at the mouth of York 
 Harbour-^BrUish force under general Sheaffe-^Land* 
 ^"ng o^ the •American advance — Fi^ht in the woods-^ 
 Landing of the main force — British retreat to their 
 garrison^-^Their works outside taken^-^They abandon 
 their fort-^Explosion of the magaxinsf^Death of ge- 
 neral Fike — The Jimericahs enter ^ garrison — 6ene- 
 ral Sheaffe toUhdraws his forces from Hie town, and 
 retreats across the Ikm-^His rear guard annoyed by 
 lieutenant Biddle-^Capitulation of the militia, am 
 capture of Fork-'-^mericans leave Fork and proceed to 
 J)nagara—'The fleet sails to 8ackefs Harbour for re- 
 inforcements — Jin expedition to the head of lake Onta- 
 rio — The fleet retums-^Its disposition before J^ewark 
 "Attack upon, and capture of. Fort Oeorge-^^The 
 fleet on Lake Erie — Capture of Fort Erie-^Defeat of 
 
 fenerals Chandler ana Winder — •Attack on Backet's 
 Tarbour by sir George Prevost^^His repulse, 
 
 Arrakoem£nts having been entered into between 
 the American and British commissaries to that effect, a 
 mutual exchai^ of prisoners took place, which restored 
 to the army oi the United States, all the distinguished 
 officers, who had fallen into the hands of the enemy during 
 Urn campaign of 1812. Vigorous preparations had in tiie 
 meantime been making by the ^ortnem army and the 
 
118 
 
 HISTORICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 I I 
 
 army of the centre, for opening the campaign of 1813. 
 Reinforcements of regulars from most of the recruitine 
 districts, and the necessary supplies of provisions and 
 military equipments, had been forwarded with tiie utmost 
 celerity, and every thing seemed to promise a successful 
 issue to the contemplated operations. 
 
 Captain Forsythe and his detachment, consisting now 
 of about 185 men, were still stationed at Osdensbui^, 
 where he was in command. Deserters, from me Canada 
 side of the St Lawrence, were continuallj surrendering 
 themselves to him, at this post, until their numbers be- 
 came at length, so extensive, that the vigilance of the 
 enemy was strongly excited. British guards were re- 
 peatedly sent over to the American shore in search of 
 
 . them, and though they succeeded in taking about 16, they 
 committed so many aggressions upon the persons and 
 property of the citizens, that captain Forsythe deter- 
 mined on attacking them in the village of Elizabethtown, 
 
 ^ and releasing the deserters whom they had thus taken 
 and imprisoned at that place. On the 6th of February, 
 (1813,) he therefore drafted a part of his own company, 
 and accepted the services of a sufficient number of volun- 
 
 - teers, to increase his. command to 200 men. With these, 
 accompanied by colonel Benedict and several private gen- 
 tlemen, he proceeded up the river to Morristown, where 
 he formed his men, and at S o'clock on the niorning of 
 the 7th, he crossed over to Elizabethtown, surprised the 
 guard, took 52 prisoners, among whom were 1 major, 3 
 captains, and 2 lieutenants, and captured 120 muskets, 
 20 rifles, 2 casks of fixed ammunition, and some other 
 public property, without the loss of a single man. He 
 then released the deserters from iail, recrossed the river, 
 and retuiiied to Ogdensburg, where he negotiated with 
 two British officers, sent over for that purpose, for the 
 parole of the prisoners. 
 
 Soon after this, the movements of the enemy at Pres- 
 cott were indicative of an intention to attack (^ensburs. 
 Colonel Benedict was therefore induced to call out his 
 regiment of milftia, and arrangements were immediately 
 made for the defence of the place. On the 21s(: of Fe- 
 bruary the enemy appeared before it, with a force of 
 1200 men, and succeeded in driving out captain Forsythe 
 
 -.TV- 
 
ft of 1813, 
 recruiting 
 isions ana 
 the utmost 
 successful 
 
 sting now 
 
 vdensbui^, 
 
 he Canada 
 
 rrendering 
 
 imbers be- 
 
 [ice of the 
 
 \ were re- 
 
 1 search of 
 
 ut 16, they 
 
 trsons and 
 
 the deter- 
 
 abethtown, 
 
 thus taken 
 
 February, 
 
 company, 
 
 r of volun- 
 
 i'^'ith these, 
 
 ivate ffen- 
 
 m, where 
 
 iorning of 
 
 rised the 
 
 major, 3 
 
 muskets, 
 
 me other 
 
 an. He 
 
 e river, 
 
 ted with 
 
 for the 
 
 I at Pres- 
 
 lensbur^. 
 
 out his 
 
 ediately 
 
 of Fe- 
 
 brcc of 
 
 orsythe 
 
 OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 119 
 
 and his troops. The British attacked in two columns, 
 of six hundred men each, at eight o'clock in the mom- 
 in?, and were commanded by captain M'Donnel of the 
 Glengary li^t infantry, and colonel Fraser of the Cana- 
 dian militia. The American riflemen and militia received 
 them with firmness, and contended for the ground up- 
 waitls of an hour; when the superiority of numbers com- 
 pelled them to abandon it, and to retreat to Black Lake, 
 nearly nine miles from Osdensbui^ after losing twenty 
 men in killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy, from 
 the deliberate coolness with which the riflemen fired, was 
 reputed to have been thrice that number. The British 
 account, which claimed the capture of immense stores, 
 none of which had ever been deposited there, admitted 
 the loss of five distinguished officers. In consequence of 
 this aflair, a messa^ was sent by the commandant of fort 
 George, to colonel M'Feely, the commandant of fort Nia- 
 
 §ara, informing him that a salute would be fired the next 
 lay in honour of the capture of the Am«;.ican village. Co- 
 lonel M'Feely having received intelligence in the course 
 of the same evening of the capture of nis majesty's frigate 
 the Juv&^ returned the message to the British comman- 
 dant, by communicating to him his intention, of firing a 
 salute at the same hour from fort Niagara, in celebration 
 of that brilliant event. 
 
 On the 26th March, the batteries on Black Rock were 
 opened upon the enemy, and the fire continued with little 
 intermission until night The sailors' battery completely 
 silenced the lower battery of the enemy, but what aamage 
 was done to his troops has not been ascertained. One man 
 w ,^ killed, and several hurt by accidents at the Rock. 
 
 Reinforcements were now every day arriving, and the 
 concentration of a larffc force at Sacket's Haroour, was 
 effected about the middle of April (1813). Many of the 
 troops from Champlain, and the shores of the St Law- 
 rence, amons whom was captain Forsythe's command, were 
 ordered to that point; and it \vas confidently expected that 
 the carnpaign would be comm snced by the invasion of Ca- 
 nada, in oroefore the following month of May. Orders 
 had been given to commodore Chauncey, by the navy 
 de>artment, to receive on board the fci4.iadron, the com- 
 mai^ing general Dearborn, and any force which he might 
 destine to proceed against the posts on the British Niagara 
 
ill 
 
 I f 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 l! 
 
 
 120 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 frontier. A plan had been conceived and organized by 
 seneral Dearborn, by which, in co-operation with the fleet, 
 ne was to storm and to carry the works at Little York, the 
 capital of Upper Canada, and to proceed thence to the as- 
 sault of fort George, the ^eat bulwark of that country. 
 
 The capital of Upper Canada was formerly known by 
 the name of Toronto, and is situated at the bottom of a 
 harbour of the same name, which is formed by a long and 
 narrow peninsula, called Gibraltar Point, on the extremity 
 of which stores and block-houses are constructed. The 
 ^rrison stands on a bank of the main land, opposite to 
 tiie point. To the westward of the garrison formerly stood 
 ' the old French fort Toronto, of ^-mich scarcely any ves- 
 tiges remain, and adjoining this situatiim is a deep bay, 
 which receives the nver Humber, The town of York lo 
 projected to extend to a mile and a half in length, from the 
 mouth of the harbour along its banks. But many years 
 must elapse before the plan is completed. Its advance to 
 its present condition, has been effected in the course of 
 fifteen. The government house, and the houses for the 
 distinct branches of the legislature, are f<aid to be hand- 
 some, and the view from the latter li^ly diversified. 
 
 Agreeably to a previous arrangement with the commo- 
 dore, general Dearborn and his suite, with a force of se- 
 venteen hundred men, embarked on the 22d and 23d of 
 April, but the prevalence of a violent storm prevented the 
 sailine of the squadron until the 25th. On that day it 
 moved into lake Ontario, and having a favourable wind, 
 arrived safely at 7 o'clock, on the morning of the 27th, 
 about one mile to the westward of the ruins of fort Toron- 
 to, and two and an half from the town of York. The exe*- 
 cution of that part of the plan which applied immediately 
 to the attack upon York, was confided to colonel Pike, of 
 the 15th regiment, who had then been promoted to the 
 rank of a migadier general, and the position which had 
 been fixed upon for landing the troops, wps the scite 
 of the old fort. The approach of the fleet being dis- 
 covered from the enemy's garrison, general Sheaflte, the 
 British commandant, hastily collected his whole force, 
 consisting of upwards of 750 regulars and militia and 100 
 Indians, and disposed them in the best manner to resist 
 the landing of the American force. A body of Brit'sh jire^ 
 nadiers were paraded on the shore, and the Gl 'angary Fen- 
 
OF TH£ LATE W 
 
 ISl 
 
 y^-: .• A *. 
 
 inized by 
 the fleet, 
 York, the 
 i to the as- 
 ountry. 
 known by 
 ttoih of a 
 L long and 
 extremity 
 teu. Tlie 
 pposite to 
 lerly stood 
 y any ves- 
 deep bay, 
 tf York h 
 h, from the 
 lany years 
 advance to 
 1 course of 
 les for the 
 :o be hand- 
 rsified. 
 le commo- 
 )rce of se- 
 ind 23d of 
 jrented the 
 lat day it 
 ible wind, 
 the Snh, 
 irt Toron- 
 The exe- 
 Imediately 
 '"1 Pike, of 
 id to the 
 hich had 
 the scite 
 eino; dis- 
 ane, the 
 lie force, 
 and 100 
 to resist 
 ^t'shgre^- 
 y Fen- 
 
 cibles, a corps which had been disciplined with uncom- 
 mon nai](i!> since the commencement mf the war, were sta- 
 tioned at another point Bodies of IndUos were<ubserv«d 
 in groups* in diflferent directions, in aijtda^i^^^ .woods 
 below' the scite of the fort, and numbers of horsemen sl»)- 
 tioned' in' the clear ground suirouBdifng it . These were 
 seen moving into the tol/m, where strong i(^d woriu had 
 been thrown up to oppose the assp^nts. The Indians 
 were taking post at statics, whidk were pointed oat to^ 
 them by the British offiipers wi^ ff^eiit skills &om which 
 they conld annoy tile Americans aithepeintatii^uHQhthe 
 water and the weather would compel them to I^nd. Thus 
 posted, they were to act as twa^kuvs, The rogulars were 
 discovered to be moving mt^xi their works in op^ eo» 
 iPiHns of platoons, and mitrching akmg the banl^in^t 
 O' ' Into the woods. 
 
 Ml 8 eMock the d^biiriuition commeiiced; at ten it was 
 comn|eted. M^or Forstthe and his riflemen, in several 
 large bvUmuXi were in tne advance. They puUed ^ igor- 
 ously for the designated ground at the scite, Jbi|t were 
 forced by a stroiq; easterly wind a considerate ^stanfie 
 above. Thi^ enemy being within a fe^ feet of the w.^ter« 
 and compietely masked by the thickness of fi, copse* cosi- 
 menced a galling fire of musketry and rifle. . To have 
 fallen ^rther fronn the dear ground at whiph he was first 
 ordered to land, w<mld have snl^>3cted not only^his own 
 corps but th« whole body of the troops to gr^at '''wdvan- 
 ta^s I and ^ ? li^^nding at a greater disti^ice.from llie towii» 
 the object t t'^f ftxf^ition mi^ be frustrated. lla|#r 
 Forsythe. • 'yvic'^,.deternuned upcm making that part 
 of tlie shoiti, «. -7i)jch the enemy's principal stirength wi^s 
 stationed, and tb.^./ed his men to rest a mcmient otk their 
 oars, until his riflemen should return the shpt 6eQeral 
 Pike was at this mom'^^t hastening Ui^ debarka^ifm of ^ 
 infantry, when, as he wa? standing on the ship's deck« H$ 
 observed the pause of the boats in advance, aiw fwringiiMj^ 
 into that which had been reserved for himself and nis ifaC 
 he called to them to jump into the boat with htm, ordMed 
 major K:. of the 15th (the same who had di^inguished 
 himself *j ~ Arryirg; the enemy's butteries opposite Black 
 Rock«) to £*i>ilow hun instantly #iui three compaiue^^ pf 
 that reffiment, and pushed for the Canadian shore. ISeibre 
 he reached it, Forsythe, had landed, M^m» 9^991^7 M- 
 
w 
 
 lU 
 
 HnpOSlCA£ SKETCHES 
 
 saged with the principal paH irf* the British and Indian 
 force, under the inlinediate command of seneral ^heaffe. 
 He contended with them nearly half an liour. The in- 
 fantry ^der major King, the l^t artillery under major 
 Eustkr, the volunteer corps commanded by Col. M^Glure, 
 and abcwnt SO men who had been selected from the 15th 
 ajt Platti^rg^ trained to the rifie, and designed to act as 
 H small corps of bbseryation, under lieutenant Riddle, 
 
 9i^eh hinded in rapid succession, and formed in platoons. 
 Oeneral I%e took temmand of the first, and ordering the 
 #hole body to prepare for a chat^, led them on to the 
 summit 6f the mnk* from which the British grenadiers 
 Dt^ereponring down a volUsy of musketry and rifle shot. 
 The advance <^ t ^ ^n>erican infantry was not to be 
 withstood, and the g iers yielded meir position and 
 retired in disorder, i j signal of vict(»*y was at the 
 same intftent heard fbom Forsytbe*d busies, and the sound 
 had no sooner penetrated the eiars or tiie Indians, than 
 
 J they pEV^ a customary yell, and fled in every direc^n. 
 Hie Glengary corps then skirmished With Forsythe's, 
 whilst a fresh body of ^eni^dieris', supposed to have been 
 the 8th er King's reeiment, made a formidable cliarge 
 upm^ "the American (^umn, and paHially coDipelled it to 
 retire. But Ihe officers instantly Falliea the troops, who 
 returned to the ground, and impetuously thai^gea upon, 
 and, routed the grenadiers. A reinibt'cement m ^e re- 
 mainder «f the 15th then arrived, with captaiivSteel^s pla- 
 toon, aiid the standards of the regiment, and the Ameri- 
 cans remained undisputed masters of the ground. 
 
 .A fresh front, however, was presented by the British 
 ftt a dmtance, which gave way and retired to the g^rri- 
 s<m as soon as the American^ troops were aeain formed, 
 by mi^er King, for the charee. The whole Inidy of tiie 
 troops being now landed, orders were ^ven by general 
 Pike to form in platoons, and to march m that ottler to 
 the enemy's works. The first line was composed of For* 
 sythe*^ riflemen, with front and flank guards; the regi- 
 ments of the first brigade, with their 4)ieces; and three 
 platoons of reserve, under the orders of malw Swan ; 
 Miljar Buirtts and his train of artillery were formed in ^ 
 year "df ^is reserve, to act where circumstances might re- 
 i^uitt* The second line was composed of the Slst regi- 
 H^t, in «ix pifttoonsi flanked by colonel M 'Clure'ft vo- 
 
OF THB LATE W 
 
 % 
 
 M 
 
 123 
 
 luateers, divided equally as light troops, and all ui^deT' 
 command of* colonel Ripfey. Thus f(wrmed, lui iniunctiffli 
 was-^ven t& each fficer, to suffer no man to Wad ; wlieiiiL> 
 within a short dite^ance of the enemy, an entire reliance 
 would be placed upon the bayonet; and the column> 
 moved on with as much velocity as the streams and rair 
 vines, which intersected the road along the lake, woiuil 
 permit One field piece, and a howitz^, \i^ere with diff^ 
 culty passed over one of these, the bridges of which hai4^ 
 been destrojred, imd placed at the head of the columii^ 
 in chai^ of lieutenant Fanning of the 3d artillerjr. As. 
 the column immeraed from the woods, and came iinm(Bi- 
 diately in front of me enemy's first battery, twa or tfar«e 
 24 pounders were opened upon it, but without any kind, 
 of eftect The column movea on, and tiie enemy rtitreati^ 
 to his second battery. The guns of the first, w«re ijnme* 
 diately taken, and lieutenant lUddle, having at this mn- 
 ment come up with his corps, to deliver the. prisoners 
 which he had made in the woods, was orderea to pror 
 ceed to take possession of the secMid battery, idiout '^^ 
 yuds ahead, me guns of which, lieutenant Fraser, ^!^e- 
 camp to the general, rep<Nrted to have been spiked by the 
 enemy, whom he discovered retreatii^ to the ganisQiu 
 General Pike then led the column up to the second bat- 
 tery, when he halted to receive the ci^titred amB\ani1^, 
 and to learn the strenMh of the ^amson. But as ev^ 
 appearance indicated me evacuation of the b^rraclui, he 
 suspected the enemy of an intention to duw him within 
 ranee pf the shot, and then suddenly to show himself ii 
 great force. Lieutenant Hiddle was sent forward with 
 his corps of obsmration, to discover if ^ere wereuiy, and 
 what number ofVoops, withon the garrison. The barracks 
 were three hundred yards distant fnmi the second batte- 
 ry, and whilst this corps was engaged in reconnmtring, 
 fenenil Pike, after removing a wounded prisoner from a 
 angerous situation, had seated himself upon a stump, ^nd 
 commenced an examinition of a British sergea^ who 
 had been taken in the woods. Riddle;, having discovered 
 that the enemy had abandoned the garrison, was about to 
 return with tnis information, when the magazine, which 
 was situated- outsid* the barrack yard, blew u^, with a 
 tremendous and awful explosion^ passed over Riddle and 
 his party, without injuring one of his men, and killed and 
 
T 
 
 124 
 
 HltfromCAL SKETCHES 
 
 
 "^ I 
 
 IS* ' 
 
 wounded general Pike, and 260 of the column. The se- 
 veiitjrofgeiienU lake's wounds. disaUed him ^romfiiiiher 
 servfce, and the. command <^ the troops deyolved upon 
 colonel Pearoe of the 16th r^menl^ who sent a demand 
 to the town of York for an unmediate surrender. Hie 
 pkn of ^ ccmtemplated operations was known only to 
 general Pike, and, as general Dearborn had not yet land- 
 ed, the future movetoients of the troops would depend 
 'ItHKiA the will oi their new commanaer. .He ordered 
 Inkn immediately to form tiie column, and to march forr 
 ward «id occupy die barracks, #hich major Forsythe,who 
 had been scouring the adjoining wood, had already en- 
 t^red. Meanwhile, the British re^lars were retreating 
 across the Don, and destroying the brides in their reu*. 
 After ^e explosion, lieutenant Biddle witii his party, then 
 reinforced by 30 regulars, under lieutens^nt Iiorrell,of the 
 l6th, pursued the aiemy*8 route, and annoyed his retreat- 
 \ng guard from the wood; This was the only pursuit 
 } which waamade.^ 
 
 Had a more vigorous jpush followed the abandonment 
 of the enemy's garrison, his whole regular force must 
 have beMi captured, and the accession of military stores 
 would have been extensively ^reat. The majority of die 
 offic^ were well aware of this, and as it was known that 
 the stores were deposited at York, they uiged the neces^ 
 sity of the immediate ap*|;roach of the whole cdumn, to 
 prevent their temoval. Colonel Pearce Ihen marched 
 towards the town, which was distant three qtta|*ter& of a 
 mile. About half way between York and the garrison, 
 the column was intercepted by several officers of the 
 Canadian militia, who had come out with terms of ca- 
 pitulation. Whilst these were discussing, the enemy 
 was engaged in destroying the military store house, and a 
 laige vesselof war, then on the stocks, and which in three 
 days might have been launched, and added to the Ameri- 
 can squaidron on Ontario. Forsjthe, who was on the left 
 in advance, being aware of this, despatched lieutenant 
 Riddle to in"^ -m colonel Pearce. Colonel Pearce enjoined 
 the observance ^ general Pike's orders, that the property 
 of the inhabitaiits of York should be held sacred, ana that 
 any sold^ who should so far neelect the honour of his 
 profession, as to be ffuiltv of plundering, should, on con- 
 viction, be punished witn deatli. At 4 o'clock in the af- 
 
. These- 
 om further 
 >lved upon 
 a demand 
 tder. The 
 jm only to 
 t yet land- 
 Id depend 
 [e ordered 
 march for- 
 sythejWho 
 ilready en- 
 retreating 
 their rear, 
 party, then 
 Tell, of the 
 lis retreat- 
 iy pursuit 
 
 indonment 
 
 brce must 
 
 tary stores 
 
 'tj of tiie 
 
 own that 
 
 le neces- 
 
 f<dumn, to 
 
 marched 
 
 srs of a 
 
 OF THE £ATE W JR. 
 
 125 
 
 opei 
 idtl 
 
 temoon, the Americana we^ ip poasession of the town, 
 and terms of capitulation were i|g[reed upon, by whkh 
 notwithstanding we severe loss which the army aad the 
 nation had sustained by the death of the general; the un- 
 warrantable manner in which that loss waa odcaaiooed ; 
 and the subtlety with which. the militia colonels oflbred' to 
 capitulate at a distance from the town, so thattl^» coiiAvkn 
 mikht be detained until general Sheaffe should^ escape^ 
 and the destruction of the public properly be completed* 
 although one of its articles stipulated for its dtliyery iiito 
 the hands of the Americans; the militia and inhabita^ta 
 were freed from all hardship, and not only their pemons 
 and prc^rty, bttlK their legislatiye haU and other jpublle 
 buildings were protected. The terms of the capituu^tioii 
 were, ** that the troops, regulars and militia, and the navU 
 " officers and seamen should be surrendered prisoners «f 
 " war. That all public stores, navtd and mUiuii%, shtndd 
 ** be immediately given up to the commanding omcers of 
 " the army and navy of the United States, and that all 
 *' private property should be guaranteed to ^citizena cf 
 " the town of York. That ^1 papers belonging tp the 
 " civil officers should be retained by them, attd mat such 
 " aurseons asrmi^t be procured to attend the wounded 
 '* of me British re^lars and Canadian militia, should not 
 "be considered prisoners of war." Under this capitula- 
 tion, 1 lieutenant colonel, 1 majoi*, 13 captains, 9 lieutet 
 nants, 11 ensigns, 1 deputy adjutant ^neral, and 4 naval 
 officers, and S50 non-commissioned cmcers and privates, 
 were surrendered. The American infantry were then or- 
 dered to return and quorler in the barracks, while ^ 
 riflemen were stationed in the town. 
 
 When general Pike's wound was discovered to tm mor- 
 tal, he was removed from the field, and carried to the 
 shipiung, with his wound,ed aids. As they conveyed him 
 to die water's edffe* a sudden exclamation was hem from 
 the troops, which Informed him of the American havi^| 
 supphmted the British standard in the oarrison. I^ ext 
 pressed his satis&ction by a feeble sign, and after bein|^ 
 transferfed from the Pert schooner to ^ commodore's 
 ship, he made a si^ for the British fla§^ which had then 
 been brought to him, to be placed u^r his head, And 
 eicpired wuhout a groan. Thus perished, in the anna if 
 victmy, by the ungenerous stratagem of a vanquished 
 
 1,2 
 

 ne 
 
 niSVOBICAI. SftSf CHE^ 
 
 f6e, a soldier of tri^ valour, and invincible coura^; a 
 general of illustrious virtues and distinguish^ talents. 
 
 When the British general saw the American column 
 advancing from the woods^ he hastily drew up the articles 
 of capitulation, and directed them^to be delivered to a 
 colonel of i^e York militia. This colonel was l^is^cted 
 to negotiate the terms after the regulars should have 
 retreated. denerU,! SheaflTe, therefore, considered tfie 
 earrison to be ao much surrendered, as if th^ articles had 
 been actually agreed upon and signed. Yet he treache- 
 rously ordered a train to be laid, wldch was so calculated 
 that the explosion of the magazine should be caused, at 
 the time when the Americans would wrive at the bar- 
 racks. Had not general Pike halted the troops at the 
 enem;^8 second battery, the British plan would have at- 
 tained its consummation, and Ihe destruction of tiie whole 
 column would have been the natural consequence. The 
 ^ train had been sldlfiilly laid, and the combustibles ar- 
 ranged in a manner to produce the most dreadfiil effect 
 500 barrels of powder, several cart loads of stone, and 
 ah immense quantity of iron, shells, and shot,, were con- 
 tained in ^e magazine. The Calamity winch followed 
 the «tplosion, caused no discomfiture among the troops. 
 A number of their officers, of high rank, ajtid of equal 
 worth, were either killed or wounded, and they became 
 aictuated by a desire to revenge their fall. **Pmkwit 
 w^ brave jellowSt and avenge ytmr gemgral^ were .^e 
 lii^t wotxls of their expiring commander. They instantly 
 ^ve three cheers, formed the column,, and marched on 
 rabidly. Had they been led directly to York, the issue of 
 the expedition would have been fruitful with advanta^s. 
 As if was, however, the enemas means were crippled/his 
 resources cut off^ and the military stores of m^ captors 
 extensively mult^lied. Most of the guns, munitions of 
 war, and provisimis, necessarj to carry on the campaign 
 5y ^e enemy^ had been dep<^ited at York^ and notwiSi- 
 staH<Ung &e firing of the priuv^ii^al store house, an im- 
 mei»e quantity fell into uie hands of the Americans-. 
 The bamee and private papers of general Shetffe were 
 left at roKK, in the precipitation of m& flight, and proved 
 to be a valuable acquisition to the American commander. 
 Iliese, and the pubuc stores were the only articles of cap- 
 ture* The conduct of the troops needed no restndnt. 
 
OV THE LATE WAR. 
 
 H7 
 
 mgc; a 
 ents. 
 colttinn 
 articles 
 red to a 
 s^cted 
 td hate 
 red tfie 
 cles had 
 treache- 
 kulated 
 used, at 
 the bar- 
 i at the 
 have at- 
 tie whole 
 e. The 
 ibles ar- 
 iil effect 
 me, and 
 ere con- 
 followed 
 B troops, 
 of equal 
 became 
 Ftishtm, 
 rere the 
 Dstantlj 
 ched on 
 issae of 
 anta^s. 
 iledyiiis 
 captors 
 tions of 
 unpaign 
 lotwiui- 
 an im- 
 ericans; 
 fe were 
 proved 
 nander. 
 ofcap- 
 sstndnt. 
 
 Though their indignation was highlv excited,' by ihe cir- 
 cumstance of a sodp having been ^und suspended near 
 the speaker's chair, in the le^slative chamber, neither th^ 
 ornaments of the chamber, the building itself, nor the 
 
 5 ublic library, were molested. A larxe quantity of flour, 
 eposit^ in the public stores, was di^ributed among the 
 inhabitants^ on condition that it should be used for their 
 own consumption; and those whose circumstances were 
 impoverishea, were supplied with many oth^^ articles of 
 the captured provisions. The balance was taken on bo|iid 
 the ^et, with the naval stores, or destroyed upon the 
 shore*'^:^ :'.),: ' - 
 
 Immediately after the fall of general P?ke, the com-, 
 mknder in chief landed with his staff, but he aid not reach 
 the troops undl they ha4 entered York. He ihere made 
 arrangentents to €xp^ite their departure for the other 
 objecto of the expedition, and they were soon after re- 
 embarked. 
 
 l%e co-operation of the squadron was of the greatest 
 importance in the attack upon: the enemy's garrison. As 
 3oon as i&e debiarkatiob was completed, commodore 
 Chauncey directed the schooners to take a position near 
 th^ forts, in order ^t the attack of the army and naw, 
 mig^t, if possible, be simultaneous. The larger vessels 
 could not be brou^t up, and in cbnsequence of the wind, 
 the schooners were obliged to beat up to their intended 
 position. This they did« under a very heavy^fire iit>m the 
 enemy's batteries, and having taken their statipn within 
 six hundred jrards of the principal fort, opened i^ galling 
 fire, ai^d contributed very much'to its destrttcti<m; The 
 loss on board the squadron, was 3 killed and 11 wounded. 
 Amonff the killed were midshipmen Thompson and liatr 
 fiel<^ uie latter of whom, in his dying moments, had no 
 otiier care than to know if he had performed his duty to 
 his country. 
 
 In the action, the loss of the American army was tri)aing; 
 but in consequcince of the explosion, it was much greater 
 than the enemy's loss in killed and wounded, 14 were 
 killed and 32 wounded in battle, and 38 were killed and 
 Q9& woiinded by the exi^losion, &t> that the total AniiPr 
 can loss amounted to 320 men. Among those who fell 
 by the explosion, besides general Pike^ were 7 captains^ 
 7 subalterns, 1 aid de camp, 1 acting aid, and 1 voumteer 
 
 :^^.r/ 
 
128 
 
 BI8T0SICAX SKETCHES 
 
 B# 
 
 ftid. The enemy^ loss in killed and wounded, atnount- 
 ed to 200— in prisoners 550^— 4ifhr of whom were regu* 
 lars— being altogether 750 men. His wounded were left 
 h| the houses on the road leadineto, and in the neighbour* 
 hood of York, and were attebded to by the American 
 army and navy surgeons. The prisoners^ were all paroled, 
 and the troops withdrawn from York immediately after 
 its capture. 
 
 The officers of the l5th, greatly distinsuished them- 
 selves throughout the day. The death of their gallant 
 leader, wbonad personally organized that regiment, and 
 had already successfully led detachments of it to the ^eld, 
 inspired them with a more determined spirit to revenue 
 the barbarous act of a defeated enemy, than Could be tw 
 by any other corps. Animated by this desire, they anx* 
 ioiisly pressed forwajtl, and had they been permitted to 
 pursile the retreating column of the English, under the 
 distinguished officer (major King) who now commanded 
 them, scneral Sheaflfe and his regulars would not have 
 effected their escape. Seyend {uatoon officers of this, 
 and the 16th redinient, were kiUed. Captains Nicholson 
 and Lyon by me explosion-^-captain Hoppock, as his 
 company were landug. Lieutenant colonel. Mitchell of 
 the 3d n^iment of amllery, acted as a volunteer on the 
 expedition, and by lus indefatigable exertions, at every 
 post of danger, gitve strong presages of that gallantry, by 
 whichrhe has since identifiea his name with those or the 
 bravest officers of the army. Major Eustis, captains 
 Scott, Young, Walworth, and Stephen H. Moore of the 
 Bidtimore volunteers, who lost a leg by the explosion, 
 and lieutenants M^la^sin, Fanning, and Riddle, were 
 among the most con^cuous officers of the day. The 
 latter Jiad been exfNressly selected by general Pike, from 
 his own rej^ment, to command the corps of observation, 
 and was always Appointed to the most hazArdous enter-^ 
 prises. 
 
 Lieutenant Bloomfield of the 15th, and nephew to bri- 
 gadier general Bloomfield, waa also killed. The army 
 sustained another loss in the dea^ of this brave young 
 officer. The 21st regiment, under cdonel Ripley, tnoum 
 it formed part of tlie reserve, and did not participate in 
 the action at the place of landmg, was in a state of strict 
 discipline, and manoeavred with great skill. 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 129 
 
 every 
 
 lor the 
 [ptains 
 
 ►f the 
 fosioii« 
 
 were 
 The 
 
 from 
 |ation, 
 
 iat^ 
 
 bri- 
 irmy 
 roung 
 lou^ 
 
 ktrict 
 
 I 
 
 On the let day o£ May (1813), the Canadian territory ib 
 tht neighbourhood of York, was entirely-evacuated. Tiie 
 troops were all placed in the vessels to which tiliey had 
 been respectively assigned, and a smi^ schooner was 
 despatched to Niagara, to apprise general Momm Lewis, 
 then in command at that place, of the result of the expe« 
 dition against York, and of the intended approach of the 
 troops toward fort Niagara. 
 
 But the fleet, which consisted of about 17 sail, did not 
 leave the harbour of York untU the 8th, in consequence 
 of the prevalence of contrary winds. Late on that day,, 
 they arrived at Four Mile Creek, which empties into the 
 lake at that distance below fort Niagara, ana thence takes 
 its name. Here the troops were landed. 
 
 On the 9th» two schooners, under command of lieute- 
 nant Brown of the navy, were ordered to proceed to. 
 the head of lake Ontario, with 100 regulars, commanded 
 by captain Willoughby Morgan, of the 12th regiment, to 
 destroy or capture ^e public stores, which were then 
 known to be dfeposited there. On their arrival, the ene« 
 my's guard, of abnout 80 men, retired; the public build- 
 ings were destroyed by the detachment, i\i€ stores brought 
 away, and the expedition returned on the 11th, without 
 loss. 
 
 On tiie 10th, commodore Chaunc^ sailed with the re- 
 mainder of the fleet, to convey the wounded officers and 
 men to Sacket's Hui>our, and to obtain reinforcements 
 there for the army. Between the time of his arrival at 
 the harbour and the 23d of May, detachments of th^ 
 s(][uadron 'sailed on 4ifiereht days for Niagara, with such 
 reinforcements as could be spared. Having directed the 
 schooners Fair American and Pert, commaiided by lieu- 
 tenants Chauncey and Adams, to r^mai^i near the har- 
 bour, and to watch the enemy's moveinents from Kings- 
 ton, the commodore sailed on the 22d with 350 of colonel 
 M*Comb*s regiment of artillery, and a number of addi- 
 tional guns, and arrived at the Niagara on the 25thr— 
 Arran^ments were immediately mme ^between commo- 
 dore Cnauncey and s^iueral Deacbom, for an attack upon 
 fort George and its dependencies. On the 26th, the com- 
 modore reconnoitred the position at which tfie troops 
 weie to be landed, and at night sounded the shore) and 
 placed buoys at station^s for the small vessels. The weft* 
 
130 
 
 UISTOmiCAL SKXTCHES 
 
 ther, which had been for several days extremely boister- 
 ous, now moderated, and it was agreed that a conjoint 
 attack, by the army and navy, shwild be made on the 
 following morning. A sufficient quantity of boats, to 
 land the troops in the order of attack, had been by this 
 time provided, and a considerable number which had 
 been 6r sevend days building at the Five Mile Meadows, 
 above the fort, were now in readiness to be launched into 
 the NilBoara river. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 26th, the enemy, having ob- 
 served ^e preparations for launching the boiats, opened 
 a small battery, which had been erected immediately 
 opposite the meadows, for die purpose, of annoying the 
 workmen and of destroying the boats. The nre from 
 tins battery [Hroduced a premature cannonade between 
 forts Georee and Niagara, which was followed by a bom- 
 bardmtot between all the batteries in the neighbourhood 
 of the two forts. The battery which stood directly omx>- 
 ^ site fort George, did ^eat injury to that garrison, and its 
 guns were directed with such precision, that the halyards 
 of the enemy's flag staff were shot awaj« No block- 
 house, or wooden building of any description, in or near 
 that fort, escaped injury; whilst on the American side, 
 not the most trifling loss was sustained. The boats, in 
 the meantime, succeeded in passing fort Geoi^, and pro- 
 ceeded to tiie encampment at Four Mile Creek. On the 
 same ni^t, all the artillery^ and as many troops as could 
 possibly be accommodated, were put on Doard iheJ^adi' 
 80H, the Oneida, and the Lady of the Lake, The re- 
 mainder were to embark in the boats, and to follow the 
 fleet At 3 o'clock on the morning of the ^Tikv, sij^ml 
 Was made fw the fleet to wei^ anchor. In consequence 
 of the cidmnera fj^ the weather, the schooners were 
 diliged to resort to sweeps to attain their positions ; which 
 they did in the following order— Sailing madters Trant, 
 in the Ju/ia, and Mix, in the Gfrotr^, tM>k their stations 
 at the mouth of the river, and silenced a battery, which, 
 iirom its situation, commanded the shore where the troops 
 wereto land, about one*^urth of a mile below the town 
 of Newark. Mr.Steevens, in iih% Ow^rio, took a position 
 to the north of the lighthouse, near which this battery 
 was erected, and so close to the shore as to enfilade the 
 battejy, and cross the fire of the J^ia and Chr^ivler,-^ 
 
' boister- 
 conjoint 
 i OB the 
 loats, to 
 L by this 
 lich had 
 |eadow8» 
 ;hed into 
 
 iving ob- 
 , opened 
 mediately 
 Ting the 
 Are from 
 between 
 »y a bom- 
 bourhood 
 itly opfM)- 
 a, and its 
 halyards 
 (o block- 
 n or near 
 can side, 
 toats, in 
 and pro- 
 On the 
 as could 
 le Madi- 
 The re- 
 liow the 
 i; signal 
 quence 
 J were 
 which 
 Trant, 
 stations 
 which, 
 troops 
 e town 
 sition 
 [battery 
 le the 
 
 07 TUB LATE VfAM, 
 
 idi 
 
 Lieutenant Browii, in the Governor Tlgmpkiiu, stationed 
 himself near the Two Mile Creek, on the enemy's side* 
 where a battery had been erected of one heavy gun. Lie»* 
 tenant BroMrn m the Con^uettt anchored to the south-eaot 
 of the same battery, opened on it in the rear, and crossed 
 the fire of the fi^emor Tompkins, Iietttena4.t MThor- 
 son in the Hamilton, lieutenant Smith in the Jigp, and 
 saiiins master Osgood in the Scourge, took stations near 
 the above, to cover the landing, and to scour the woods 
 and the plain. 
 
 This disposition was skilfully effected, and each vessel 
 was within musket shot of the shore. At 4 o'clock, g^ 
 nerals Dearborn and Lewis, with their suites, went cm 
 board iheMtdison, and by that hour the troops were all 
 embarked. The whole number amounted to ittore than 
 4000. The batteries were now playing upon each other 
 from the opposite sides of the nver, and the troops ad«- 
 vanced at intervals in three brigades. The advuice «va« 
 ^*iA by coltmel Scott It was composed of the artiUerv* 
 ting as infantry ; of Forsythe^s riflemen^ and of detach*- 
 
 jts from infantry re^m[ent8, and landed near the batr 
 t^, which had been wlenced by the Governor Tomp- 
 kins. General Boyd, to whom the late general Pike's bri» 
 gade had been assicned, commimded the first line, winch 
 vm» flankedjbiy cornel MClure's Baltimore and Albany 
 volunteers^ This brigade struck the enemy's shore imme- 
 diately after <|ie advance had landed. The second bri- 
 Bade, under generid Winder, followed next, and then the 
 tiiird, under general Chandler. While th^ troops wece 
 crossing the lake in this order, the wind suddenly aprung 
 up very fresh from die eastward, asd caused a knai^ sea 
 directly on the shore ; the boats could not therefore be 
 got off to land the troops from the MuUson and Oneida^ 
 before the Ist and 2a bribes had advanced, and 
 MOomb'd reeiment, and the marines under oaptaiB 
 Smith, did nm. reach the shore until the debarkation of 
 ji^ese brigades had been completed. 
 
 When the advance, which consisted of about 500 men, 
 was approaching the point of landing, successive volleys 
 of musketry were poured upon it by 1900 regulars, step 
 tloned in a ravine. A brisk exchange of shot w^ kept 
 up for 15 minutes, the advance, neverdt^ess, eontinuioc 
 to approach the enemy without faltering. Such, indm. 
 
-rr-^^TFi 
 
 W 
 
 ISS; 
 
 HISTORICAL SkXTCHES 
 
 *tnM tht eagornosft of the troo^ thftt officers and men 
 l«mMd'4iilo the lake and w.%^d t^iHe shore. Captain 
 wndnuui (^ the Sd artillery, WM^tl^ ilrst man vfpon th6 
 jmemy^ terrki^. The troops wei^ now formed with 
 ^letity, and led to the charee. They dro^e the enem^ 
 from tnefa' slroQff \vAA, and dispersed thsm in everj di-. 
 fection; sonie ot their forces takiitg to th^e wood for bel- 
 ter, and others retreatio^ to the lort '^fhe former were 
 vigtM-oiisly pursued by INrsjrthe's kiflemftn, and ^e latter 
 by the advance, corps and the Ist br%ade^ Few shot 
 were fired from the fort, ^e panic being instantly com- 
 municated to the garrison. Fort Niagara^ and its depen- 
 dent battAies, were still throwing ivji their shot, and fore 
 Gei>rge han^ng become untenable, the enemy >ha8lily laid 
 a train ta the kni^azines, abandoned all their works^ end 
 iaoved off wi% the utmost preci^i^tion in di^ereht routes. 
 Colonel Scott, with his lieit v^tx^s, continued the pur- 
 ^it, until he was recalled oy an oider from general Boyd. 
 ^Ifi^utenant Riddle had been sent by colonel Scott with 
 ^ detached party, to annoy, tl^ riear of the enemy, but 
 not beir^ (Hxlered back, at the time when the li^t troops 
 were recalled, he followed his route to il^ueenstown, and 
 took up several of hb strangling j^rties. The dragoons 
 under colonel Bum, crosaedT the l^agara river above fort 
 George, at the moment the jpHai-suit was stopped. The 
 li^ troops now took possession of fort Greorge ; colonel 
 Scottf and CAptains Hindman and Stockton, with their 
 compatdes, entering first and extinguishing the fites which 
 were intended to explode the magazine; one had, how- 
 ever, already been i>lown up. General Boyd and colonel 
 Spott mounted the parapst, and cut away the f^t^ff, whilst 
 ^ptain Hindman 8accf>^«»d V tajpi^ tfie fla« which the 
 enemy haa left fiying, and which 1^ ^rwarded^ to ^r^eiid 
 XWrbcm. The American ensign was then hoisted in die 
 town and fort, and all the troops were called in and quar- 
 tered. \t 1^ O\;lock, Newajw, and all its surrounding 
 batteries, were in quiet possession of the American army; 
 and such was the speed with which the enemy re^^^ted, 
 tiiat very few of his troops were overtaken. General 
 Dearborn's forces had been under .<>ms eleven hours, and 
 were said tolie too r..i:ch exhausted to pursue him with 
 as much rapidity as he moved off. 
 
Of THB JJLTWi WAK. 
 
 133 
 
 uid men 
 Captain 
 upon the 
 led with 
 e enem^ 
 every di-. 
 for rfiel- 
 ner were 
 ^e latter 
 few &hot 
 itly com- 
 td depen- 
 aikl fore 
 stily Iftid 
 orlu» &nd 
 nt routes, 
 the pur- 
 ralBoyd. 
 Icott wkh 
 lemy, but 
 ^t troops 
 town, and 
 1 dragons 
 >ve fort 
 The 
 colimel 
 ii their 
 18 which 
 . how- 
 colonel 
 Iff, whilst 
 Inch the 
 irseial 
 the 
 id quar- 
 [ounding 
 army; 
 [^^eated, 
 reneral 
 irs, and 
 im with 
 
 
 At the time the eniim^ ahandonsd his W4»ij», the wind 
 had increased. 8(i«id||k«ild the tea had iMconesa violent 
 towards the •hor9»,^|m' t^ 8itlia1iKi.of Ihe fleet at the 
 stations which #ie diflfer^iit vB^iehi had takei^ was thought 
 to be dangerous in the extreme. Commodore Ghateioejr 
 therefore made aigoal for ^ wMe ^et le wieigh, aii4 
 to proceed into the rtver* whdfte they aachoied behveen 
 the forts Cteor^ and 2Qagiua» Al^ough^ 4» ao6on wm 
 fought by inferior nmnberis on ths Aat^ric^ tide, the ad- 
 vance, and nart (^ Boyd's btig&ile only beine engauisd, 
 the loss of tne enemy was exces8iye«-^re had in liSed, 
 108; in woiiilded 163; 115 regiilaa« weretalEenpriMnerSft 
 exclusive of his wo inded, aI) of whom fell into tlie hatoda 
 of the Anericans^s to that the loss of ^ enemy in 
 killed^ wounded and piisimers, of his regular fmrce, 
 ar^ounted to 366. The militia prisoners who were pa- 
 rolcd to the number of 507, being added to their loss* 
 mokes a total of >393, The Am^can army \<k S9 In 
 killed, and 11 1 in wounded. Among the iorrou', only eo^ 
 dfficer« lieutenant Hebart ^3f the lignt artillery. Amwi^ 
 tlw lattef, were major Kiiig of the 15th, captain Arrow- 
 snath ef tiie G«h, captain Steel'Of the 16th, captain Beach 
 <>f tbe iSSd (who ned lieen^ wound^l at the baitlle of 
 Qaeenstown heights, And was pixmioted to the rank of 
 captaki for his^od conduct there) and lieutenant Swearv 
 ingen ef Fors^^tiie's rifliimett. The Blitish 49th (Invinci^ 
 bles) was in tfak action, and colonel Myers, who command- 
 ed it, wounded and taken prisoner. 
 
 In speaking of the condttclef the soldiers and seamen, 
 both general Oe«i)om and commodore GhaHncey alleged, 
 that all behaved too well to suffer the election m any one 
 for commendation. The former, however, m a aecoi d 
 despatch to tke war department, stated that the wholu of 
 the officers ami men, discovered that readihess and ardour 
 for action, v/hich evinced a determination to do honour to 
 themselves and their country«>^at the animating exam- 
 ples set by general Bovd ana colonel Scott, deserved par- 
 ticular mention, and that he, the commander in chief, was 
 greatly indebted to colonel M. Porter, of the loht ikrtille- 
 ry; to major Armistead, of the ^ r^i^^m^:;*, ofartillerp^; 
 and to ca4>tain To^en of the cngineersi fl>r their skilnil 
 executimi, in demoUsldng the enemy^ tort and batteries, 
 t jeutenant commandant Oliver H. Petry^ had ieiiied 
 
 M 
 
«IM 
 
 uisvaaicAL sketches 
 
 the squadron on the n^t of tNe Wth^ volunteeiid his 
 services in the rnntemptttad aittftefc^and rendered gi'eat 
 assistance in airaag^ngaud^saiiermtiiliding tUe debarkation 
 of the troops. On bMrd the sfnoidiion, the loss was one 
 kiHed and two wounded. Comasodcire Chsuncey was in^ 
 defotigaUe m his co*qf>eratilMis with the army, in all its 
 impoi^int movements. Many (tf the advantages obtain- 
 ed in this affiiir, are to be attributed to his judicious 
 plan of silencmg tiie enemy's t>atteries^*^eneral Dear- 
 bom had been confined for several days ^y a violent 
 indisposition, but he refused to yield the command of 
 the expedition, and issued his orders x^gularly from his 
 bed. 
 
 Captain P«Ty was despatched to Black Rock the day 
 after <he battie, with fifty seimien* to take five vessels to 
 lake Erie as soon as possiUe, and to pr^Mure the whole 
 squadron for tiie service by the 15th of June. Two brigs 
 had been launched at Erie» and two or three small sehoon- 
 K&n, had been purchased into tiie service. The squadron 
 was daily expected to be in read&iess to proceed to 
 Presque^sle, to co-operate with the northwestern army. 
 
 On the 28th, genend Dearborn having received infbr- 
 matkm that the en<miy had made a stand on the moun- 
 tain at a place callid Beaver Dam, where he had a 
 deposit of provisions and stores: and tiutt he had been 
 joined by ^0 reguUirs from Kingston, landed from small 
 vessels at the head of the lake, immediately ordered 
 general Lewis to march to that place, with Chandler and 
 Winder's brigades, the light artillery, dragoons, and rifle- 
 men, to cut off his retreat Although the enemy's troops 
 from fort Erie and Chim^wft had jmned his main body at 
 Beaver Dam, he precipitately broke up his encampment 
 on the approach of the Americans, and fled alotag the 
 mountains to the head of the lake. General Lewis's army 
 moved on and took possession of the different posts be- 
 tween fort George and fort Erie, the latter of which was 
 entered by lieutenant colonel Preston, of the 12th, in the 
 evening w that day; the post having been previously 
 -abandoned, and the magazines blown up by tne enemy. 
 'Two days before, the Queen Charlotte, and three others, 
 of the enemy's vessels, came down to that fort, but on 
 hearing of the capture of fort George, they proceeded up 
 ^ lake to Maiden. 
 
 .,iii^- 
 
OF TOS JUA.TS W/ldtt. 
 
 IS^ 
 
 iiA his 
 lu gi^eat 
 irkatlon 
 nraa one 
 wasin*^ 
 n all its 
 
 obtain- 
 adiciotts 
 id Dear- 
 
 violent 
 nand of 
 from his 
 
 the day 
 essels to 
 to whole 
 wo brigs 
 1 sehoon- 
 iquadroik 
 oceed to 
 jm army, 
 ed infor- 
 le mouA- 
 le had a 
 lad been 
 Mm small 
 mdered 
 dler and 
 tnd rifle- 
 's troops 
 body at 
 mpm^t 
 king the 
 k'g army 
 be- 
 lch was 
 i, in the 
 tviously 
 enemy, 
 others, 
 but on 
 >ded up 
 
 The enemy llpi|b§iiNpid^ his positions along 
 
 the Niagsfi^ geiipWU^M) ret^noed mik laA diifisicsi i to 
 fort Qeoivts &t^^*l| wad rtt«u>i^^ that general Proc- 
 tor inleiMled to oiaiiih IN^ the northwestern ih^ntier, to 
 j<Hn gpenecal Vin<Mint, wbohad alreiidy marched from that 
 place, a^ to retrieve 4ie misfortunes Of the Br^sh ar^i^s, 
 itbecame neeegsiunr to ^ess forward with a force com- 
 p^nt to prevent me amon of the British generals, or at 
 leaat to intercept them, in their contemplated route. Ge- 
 newd Winder ^«s therefore despatched on Ae first day 
 of Jime flBlSX Mth ids awn brinide, and one remment of 
 general Chandl^fc H^ was followed on the 33, by the 
 remaitider of Chandlei^ brigade, the dragoons m^ artille- 
 ry, under t^ orders (if that ganeral to whom the chief 
 command was as»igBed. They proceeded to the Fort^ 
 Mile Creek, where tiiey guned intelligence of genenil 
 Vincent having ti^ken a stand tt Buriiugton Heights, 
 near Stoliy Creek, beii^ about 4& miles distant from the 
 fort Greorge* In t^e vicinity of Stony Creek, the AmiQ» 
 ricans encamped > but in so^^ careless a manner, that they 
 were surprised by the enemy at midni^t, and several of 
 their principal officers made prisoners. General Vincent, 
 it has been supposed, beca ao possessed of the American 
 countersign-^and having discovered that the kegrt 
 part of the camp was its centre, he made an attu >n 
 
 it, at that point, at two o'clock on the morning oi llie 
 siitth. Prontiiig by the example <tf the Americans at 
 York, he ordeirSi that no musket should be loaded, lest 
 a precipitate fire mi^t apprise his unsuspecting enem;^ 
 of his advance, and led up the 8th or K^s regiment, 
 and the 49th, with fixed kyonets, to charge upon the 
 sentinels. The American advanced guard, under com- 
 mand of cantain Van Vechton, were first alarmed by the 
 groan of a dying sentinel, and were surprisied and made 
 prisoners. Five pieces of light artillery, near the front 
 were capttti'e4 aad turned upon tile encampment, before 
 the alari^ became seneral. Tne two brig^ners. Chandler 
 and Winder, who nad but an hour before separated from 
 a council, were instantly mounted, and the men formed 
 with as much facility as the extreme darkness of the 
 morning wnuld permit General Chandler took post in 
 the rear4>f the left Hank of the right wing^^-generai Win- 
 der commanded the left wing. Such was tM momentary 
 
^06 
 
 UlftTORlCTAI. SMMTC^BES 
 
 e<mfii8ioii which prevaUed, tii«t^/to»leiiding parties 
 ewM not dfetbigunh each other; ^iKii Ihefive i^eces 
 of artillerf were ired into tha ^oa«i{i«iei?<t» gpeneh^ 
 Chandler and Witidrtr botii roAt «p to the batt^, to 
 IMnevetit another d'isch^rge, under an impression that the 
 American troops had mistaken the enemy. They were 
 bo^ conseqttentty captured. The ot^er officershwerei^-^ 
 ^rant <yf the loss oi their generals, and each chose his 
 own plan of resisting the assailing party. Tfaie> advanced 
 eoips, the Sih, QS% and part of the S9d, were engaged; 
 tfcose in the rear did not get to the assistance «>f the li^nt. 
 The 16th, "^ch because of the iltnes»(^iis colonel, and 
 the abstoee of its lieutenant colonel, and other field oil- 
 cers, was commanded by captain Steele, was formine on 
 i^ standards, when the cavalry under Colonel Bum, hav- 
 ing cut their way throueh tiie British 49th, with such 
 impetuosity that mey could not stop, pierced throngh the 
 ^centre of uiat i>egiment The conmsion increased. The 
 dillerent companies of the 16th, were firing on each 
 other; the artillery were engaging the infantry, and the 
 cavalry the- artillery; each corps being under an impt%s- 
 sion, tnat it was contending with the enemy. 
 ' Itiis state of things continued, until captain Towson 
 opened his artillery, which^ being stationeu .u^e in the 
 rear than any of the other pieces, he brought against the 
 enemy with such eifect^ that the confusion and disorder, 
 ¥^ich had taken |;^ace in the American lines, prevailed 
 also within the British. The companies of the 2d artille- 
 ry, which wen then acting as l^ht corps, under captains 
 Hindman, Nicholas, Biddle, and Archer, kept up an in- 
 cessant fire, nntil the dawn of the day enablea the troops 
 t<V distii^ish each other. An attevipt a\ as then made to 
 f<mrm the line, colonel Bum now cummaiiding. The 5t!i 
 re^ment, which had beCn am.'ying ih» enemy, from tlie 
 ^MMimencement of the action until daytn-eak, aid not lose 
 one man, and was foufid at that time formed in line, and 
 sctstained on its left fiank by part of the Sdd, under majoi* 
 Armstrene. The firing irom the encampment became 
 bri»% and irresistible. The enemy gave way, rallied 
 and broke again. The dragoons charged upon, an<» com- 
 pletely nutted them. They fled in every iirectiiop, and 
 their commanding officer was missing before day. His 
 hors^ and accoutrements were found upon the ^ound. 
 
«r THE I.ATE WAB•^! 
 
 \t 
 
 ; parties 
 B i^eces 
 
 btwpy, to 
 that the 
 «jy were 
 
 [jhose hi9 
 advanced 
 BSigaged; 
 the front 
 !)nel,aiiid 
 ileidaffi- 
 nniiieon 
 iUrti,nav- 
 dth such 
 roBgh the 
 led. The 
 on eacli 
 and the 
 1 impt^s- 
 
 Towson 
 ^e in the 
 gainst the 
 disorder, 
 revailed 
 artille- 
 captains 
 p an in- 
 e troops 
 made to 
 The 5t!i 
 from the 
 not lose 
 line, and 
 r majoi- 
 became 
 raUied 
 i\ com- 
 OT^, and 
 >• His 
 .i^round. 
 
 and he himself waa difcovered by las own people, ill ^ 
 course of the aaii|ft^;|f| almjost faitnahed, at a autiliiee of 
 four miles from tfa^ ictene of action. 
 
 Seveidl deiqierate eflSurta Had been made befiHre the en- 
 emv fled, to take tiie artiUety. I^euteBant lAuiieBni^fl 
 galuuttry recovered one niece, and prevented the 
 of others. lieutenant Mllonougb, of the ^ a 
 pursued a retrea^ng party, and recovered aL>other* 
 
 ^jood conduct of ihoae breve youiw men, as well as that of 
 capfiains Hindman, Nich<das, Archer, Steel; andXeoMrd* 
 or the light artillor/, has been spoto of, if^ 8®^"^^^* 
 ders, in l^rms of stronff commendationtf^-^^'orontil [Qm 
 and Cidouel Mftton, gauantly. distinguished themli^i^s, 
 '^nd wet^. said to have saved the army. The American 
 loss in this affiiir, was 16 killed, 38 wounded, and^ bri- 
 gadiers ^neral, 1 miuor, 3 captains, and^ men missing; 
 making in all 154. The whole of the miisuig;^ fell into & 
 4kands of the enemy<*-»i^ho8e loss was exce^ivelv severe, 
 
 ibut particularly in officers. 100 prisoners^ mostly of ^ 
 
 v^dth, were, captured, and transported to fort George^— 
 Cfttktain Manners, of Ihat reraument, bein^ illj was teken 
 in his bed, by lieutenant Riddle, who, from a princi|de of 
 humanity, put Mm on his pardc> on condition of his not 
 serving the enemy, until he should be exchanged^— An 
 engagement which that officer violated, by anpeaiing in 
 arms against th^. American troops, immediately after the 
 recovery of his health. 
 In the course of the morning, the British sent a flag 
 
 v^f truce, to obtain permission to bUry their dead, and to 
 remove their wounaed.»The latter, however, had been 
 
 placed in the nei^ ixMirine houNis, under the care of the 
 American sur^vO^^, and 9ie army having given up the 
 pursuit of the enemy, had fallen back to Forty Mile 
 Creek, being about ten mileii in the rear of the field of 
 battle. Here it encamped, on a plain of a mile in width, 
 its right flank on the lake, its len oh the creek, skirting 
 the base of a perpendicular mountain, and was joined on 
 the same evening, by a detachment of the Gth and 15th 
 reeiments, and a park of artillery, under colonel James 
 AuUer. On the 7th of June, generals Lewis and Boyd 
 arrived at the encampment, and the former assumed uie 
 command. 
 Intelligence had been immediately forwarded by gene^ 
 
 M ^ 
 
138 
 
 HIST«BICiX SKETCHES 
 
 til Viiie«iit,:to sir lAniiB%'¥«Ot tl jb cdmmati^iBa the 
 Britiah fleet btt lake Ontario, of t^ iffidr at Stony Creek, 
 and of the position at which the Americans had encamp- 
 6(l* In tlie evening of the 7th« the fleet appeared within 
 sight of the eneampment Its character was not known, 
 however ; bat, lest an attack might be amin made upon 
 timknaf in the nigh^ the trocms were oraered t& lay on 
 th(^ anifs. At dayli|^t, on the 8th, the enemy's vessels 
 Weitt stationed abMast of the ^ciunpment, ^aiA within 
 ottO'iikilci of thfC shore. A laitte'eohooBer was warped in, 
 mA Qjiened her fire on the boats which had been em- 
 l^jred to transport the American baggage, and which at 
 diat time lay upon the beach. Captains Archer and Tow- 
 son, wepe ordered down, Mth four pieces of artilleiy, to 
 i:*esist her attempts to destroy the biAts; and captain Tot^ 
 ten, of ^e en^neers, prepared a temporary furnace, for 
 heating shot, and had it in ^peratioii in less thanlii^ an 
 hottr. Ithe fire of the sehooner "vas then retamed with 
 sttch vivacity and eihot, that she was very soon oUiged 
 to retire. At this moment, a pttty of Indians showed 
 Ihemsdives upon the brow of the mountain, and com- 
 menoed a fire on the camp. General Lewis demtched 
 a party from Ihe iStli redmen^ under colonel Christie, 
 to dtslodes them, but thai service ivas performed bj his 
 adjutant, lleutffiiantBldridee, who? feeing the necessity of 
 driving ^ Ihe^^^iins, hw gallantly gained the si^mmit 
 of the mountajm with a few volunteers, without orders, 
 and repulsed the enemy before colonel Christie could 
 reach that point Sir James idien demanded the surrender 
 of the armv, on ike ground of its having a fleet in its 
 front, a body «f, ravages in its rear, and a powerful army 
 of British regDdars on its flanks. To this demand it was 
 deemed unnecessary to make a reply; but as general 
 ^^eapbom had sent an express to recaf the troops to fort 
 tBfeorge, upon seeing the tfritish fleet pass that post, gene- 
 ral Iiiewis prepared to retire. In obedience to tluS order. 
 The caapp equipafte and baggage were placed in the 
 boBitSyiuia were erlered to proceed to fort George, undf»- 
 pMoctien of ootonel Miller^ command, which was com- 
 p^ttent to resist ipv attack which ihi^ be madeM4mt 
 4bey p«t from the more before the detachment came up; 
 and alter proeeedine about 5 miles, were dispersed by an 
 amid ichooner of the enemy. 12 of them feU into, the 
 
fi^iiig the 
 •ny Greek, 
 i encarap- 
 ■ed within 
 Dt known, 
 uuie ttpion 
 to lay on 
 '*» Tesseis 
 m1 within 
 carped in, 
 been em- 
 which at 
 mdTow- 
 iUeiy, to 
 tain Tot- 
 
 iliatf an 
 
 tted witb 
 iobli|^ 
 
 > showed 
 nd c«Nii. 
 ^atehed 
 Christie, 
 d bj his 
 •sBStttyrf 
 ai^mmit 
 
 • orders, 
 « could 
 irrender 
 i in its 
 iilartn|r 
 I it was 
 general 
 
 > to fort 
 t»gene- 
 i order. 
 
 IB the 
 , in^^ 
 
 ISCOBi- 
 
 ief«4lat 
 Bieup; 
 ibyan 
 ^.the 
 
 03P TM XAi, „^^^ 
 
 139- 
 
 hands Of the Britiih j-iaA^n a^ '^^ 
 
 "^P* twok up their^Mi-lj: 5 Jt ""*«ti np, and iko^ 
 enemyfe bwiJ.?. ^"^'?»^ for fort OeonwLtjS?. 5! 
 
 
 t^>f ^e^iSl'CTnl^^ »ei«hbo«r. 
 
 caw rf hospital stow weJ^^^^^ «wh a vidtiaNe 
 
 J*d to thi enemyfVSil^ "i^f^^^^J^tely <riiX^ 
 ftj^ajled by geJenH:'^^^ men^hadTS^ 
 
 ^*' -<** -efc the pUee (n'Zr'i'';^:^^^^ 
 
 tawwa to hiwe abwidMiSA. ******»"»« funeral was 
 pMe.^«^nasZff ^ command afthe J^ 
 
 SStef ' ^ ^ 'S:^ i«S2wi±S ^'*^ -5 
 
 ■™ nnuan eflkcted a rebnt ifcZ 2i''Ir"T' Wwwfc and 
 
140 
 
 UISTORICIA SKKT0HE8 
 
 portant jjMwts on the Britisli I^agahi, whicbr had been 
 taken at the expense of so much blood, and the deatruc* 
 tion of the gamaons on the American side of that river, 
 which happened not many month* after, were among the 
 least pdmtciotts of a long train of disasters. A develop- 
 ment which can only be produced by a gradaal hqise of 
 time, may enable the fnture historian to expose the mis- 
 taken policy upon which the deplorable causes were found- 
 ed. No discovery has. yet been made^ from which the pre- 
 sent recorder of these events can f(Nrm jm v o&er idea, man 
 that which is founded on uncertainty and conjecture; and 
 these do not go to the constitution of^such an authentic his- 
 tory of the war, as it has been his utmost endeavour to 
 compSe. 
 
 Whtlst the troops were preparing to embark at York, 
 for the expedition asainst rort Georse, the British at King- 
 ston, having gainea intelfigence ot tiiekr absence fi^m 
 ^acke^s Harbour; of the batteries atHhat place having 
 i^een prineipaUy ^smantled ; and of the smiutoesa of tiie 
 force which had been lett for its protection $ hastily col- 
 lected all their disposables, and embarked on boara 4iieir 
 fleets under the command of sur Gmsbi^ vPrevo^ : # .eet 
 itself beinc commanded bv sir James ¥eo. CM ^^M^t 
 ai the STthofAfoyx^vcnours after the capture- of rorlk 
 Qeoige, the British appeared off the entrance te 'w har- 
 bour. The Americant.force cOBsiited of 280 invalids, 
 and iiSO dragoons, then iiewlv arrived, from a long and 
 fttigung march. Two small vessels^ under lieutenant 
 Ghauncey, were stationed at its mouth, and cave mstant 
 ngnals oi alarm* at the approach of the Britiui' squadron. 
 Expresses were immediately forwarded to general Brown, 
 then at his seat^ 8 miles from the harbour, and he imme- 
 diately repaired thither to take the command. 
 
 The tQur of du^ of -the militia of his brigade, had ex- 
 pired many weeks before, but he had been requested by 
 gen«nd Deaibom, to take command of lice hubour, at 
 anytimei when the enemy should a{i|>rQach it, and topro- 
 me for its defence. ImmediatebTwi his arrival, depo- 
 sitions were made to thai effiBot Xie movements of the 
 enemv in<ficated his intention: to land on the pemnsula, 
 callea Horse Island. General Brown therefore determin- 
 ed on restating him at the water's edge, with tiie Albany 
 volunteers* under colonel Mills* and such militia as could 
 
t had been 
 
 that river, 
 ttnongthe 
 ^ develop* 
 ^ lapee of 
 le the mis- 
 i^erefouml- 
 ch the pre- 
 
 cture;and 
 heritichis- 
 leavour to 
 
 ailTork, 
 hatKing^ 
 Bce fHrni 
 ^ havuig 
 
 i^lr eol- 
 >ard 'their 
 
 t> :»t 
 
 ^<%ht 
 rof fcrt 
 ' Whar- 
 
 latogmid 
 iuleBttit 
 imstaiit 
 luadrisii. 
 Brown, 
 e imme- 
 
 had ex- 
 ited by 
 our, at 
 topro- 
 >dJMpo- 
 (oitthe 
 ansula, 
 «nnin- 
 Ubaay 
 
 (GOBld 
 
 heinstaJttUycoJIectiid Ai. 
 
 Ch«,„ce^ "*^^»"'**» committed t^S^f 
 gj-.boate. with S3 toTbo'SiL^f' 2 «hSS,«^, ^ 
 
 J«*«»r. when. havinJ SS^ t". 'T^ '" *^ 
 "^W. the whole of tt.;. i. ^ ' '™ troons fi-om o. 
 
 te*e"- crew,, wto «rri^ .TS.^'if'T «••» "Amdwed 
 fne remainder. sevin)!. » ^ ** »«rboar in th« ni-tT 
 
 SMhagfrom Oaweso. stood inSfo^'^^**^' would Kb 
 «d their armed bS to^Xv .ll™* ^y-*"'' degp«tch! 
 Atappaintedj and d«A«li Lu'"-,.^? ^ ihe/Wre 
 WIS interruption of th^i^ j j^ "'»«'' *»» caued h^ 
 
 wth the invadimr enemy Th.i^.*"»W *» f>e eodtei 
 tK-ned on the w«ir^W^;„ef?X*2?. *'*»»- to beTtl 
 neli^ll»_wa, posted witt hl^^.SS.^'^ "S.J^'* "*»- 
 MAatpointwashearlT^riL '^0^ The straB«Sr 
 
 exoefcd 1000. ^SHLrf?^ "U" »»«li<»% did^' 
 *ith great slalL«S|tf 1 ''•**'* *«dheeni^ 
 
 ChL'^.^''^'^*^" -^e rfSit^^^ 
 «hJ^ •'*■** «»«»>r* c r^al*^'^ «* moot 
 
149 
 
 HISTORICAL 8ILBTCHES 
 
 ' t 
 
 sistance to the ftttaek of the ehemj should still fail, lieu- 
 tenant Chauricey was to destroy the stores at Navy 
 Point, and to retire with his two schooners^ ahd tHe 
 prize ichooner, th^ Duke of Gloucester, which had been 
 a few weeks before captured from the enemy, to the 
 south bfaoif^ of the bay, and east of fort Volunteer. In 
 this fort the regulars and militia were to shut them- 
 selves up, and nuJte a vip^us stand, as their only re- 
 maining resort Every thing being thus ordered, gene- 
 ral Brown directed his diefensive army to lay upon their 
 arms, whilst he continued personally to reconnoitre the 
 shores of the harbour durin^^ the whole night of the 28th. 
 At tiie only fiivourable point of landing, he had caused 
 a breastwork to be thrown up, and a battery en barbette, 
 to be erected. Behind this most of the mflitta were sta- 
 tioned. 
 
 At the dawn of the 29di, the enemy was discovered 
 ^ith his Vessels drawn up in line, between Horse Island 
 and Stony Point; and in a few minutes, all his boats and 
 barges approached the i^re, under cover of his ^n boats, 
 those being the heaviest of his vessels, which, m cons(s- 
 quence of the li^tness of the winds, could be brou^t 
 up. Tlie txt)ops with which the boats were filled, were 
 commanded by sir Geoif^ Prevost in person. Commo- 
 dore Yeo directed the movements of the barges. Ge- 
 neral Brown instantly issued his orders, that £e troops 
 should lay close, ana reserve their fire until the enemy 
 should have approached so n^ttr, that every shot might 
 take effect Tms order was executed^ and the fire was 
 so destructive, ^at the enemy's advance boats were 
 obliged to make a temporary pause, and numbers of ^eir 
 officers and men were seen to fall. Encouraged by the 
 desired effect of the first fire, the militia loaded their 
 pieces with the utmost quickness, and the artillery Was 
 (Nrdered to be opened at Uie moment of th^ir second. But 
 before the seccmd round had been completely dischaiged, 
 the whole body of the militia, none of whom had e jr 
 seen an enemy until now, and who were entirely unac- 
 customed to subordination, though they were well pro- 
 tected by the breastwork, rose from behind it, and aban- 
 doning those honourable promises, which l^y had made 
 but a Tittle while before, tneyfied with equal precipitation 
 and disorder. A strange and unaccountable panic seized 
 
OF THB LAT£ WilB. 
 
 143 
 
 finil, lieu- 
 it Navy 
 atid the 
 lad been 
 V t© the 
 teer. In 
 it them- 
 
 only re- 
 id, gene- 
 pon their 
 oitre the 
 the 28th. 
 d caused 
 
 barbette^ 
 were sta- 
 
 iscoTered 
 se Island 
 [KMits and 
 |un boats, 
 in cons^ 
 * brou^t 
 ed, were 
 Contmo- 
 ;e8. Ge- 
 ve troops 
 e enemy 
 ot might 
 fire was 
 its were 
 i of their 
 li by the 
 ed Iheir 
 ery Was 
 d. But 
 harged, 
 ad e ^r 
 y unac- 
 pro- 
 aban- 
 made 
 pitation 
 seized 
 
 the whole line; and with the exception of a very few, ter- 
 ror and dismay were, depicted on every countenance^ Co- 
 lonel Mills, vainly endeavouring to rally his men, was 
 killed, as he was reminding them of the solemn pledgef 
 which thev had ^ven; but the f<Ul of this brave ofS&cer 
 served rather to increase their conlusiou, than to actuate 
 them to avenge it 
 
 General Brown seeing that his plan was idready frus- 
 trated, and fearing his inability to execute any other* 
 without the vigorous co-operation of the militia, hasten- 
 ed to intercept their retreat; and finding one company 
 of about 100 men, who had been rallied by the active 
 and zealous conduct of captain M*Nitt, <^ that corps, he 
 brought them up, and ordered them to form in line with 
 the regulars and volunteers, who had continued to keep 
 their ground. 
 
 In tiie interval, which had thus elapsed, the enemy had 
 efiected his debarkation, with little opposition; and draw- 
 ing up his whole force on Hoise Isiand, commenced his 
 march for the village; on the rond to which, he was met 
 by a small party of in&ntry, under mi^or Aspinwall, and 
 a few dismounted dragoops, under major Laval, wha op- 
 posed hun wi^ much gallantry^ Two of the ^n boats 
 rang^ up the shore, and coi^ored the field with grape. 
 This hanaittl of troops then jgradually retted in good or- 
 der, from an immense superiority oi numbers, and occu- 
 pied the intervals between the bajrfitks* 
 
 lieutenaiit colonel Backus, with his reserve of regu- 
 lars, first eittisKed the enemy, when the militia company 
 of captain MrStt was formed on his flank; and in the vi- 
 gorous fight y^ich then followed, this company behaved 
 with as much gallantry as the bravest of the regulars. 
 The whole force was compelled to fall back, however, by 
 the supeiior strenffth of tlie enemy^ column, and resort- 
 ing to ^e barracks for what shelter they could affi»rd, 
 they posted themselves in the unprotected log houses, and 
 kept up an incessant ai^ effective fire. From these, the 
 most violent assault^ and the rntcAted and varying efforts 
 of the British* were inconq)etent to disloctoe mem. Co- 
 lonel Gray, the quarter master general of the enemy's 
 forceSt advanced tx> the weakest part of the barracks, at 
 the he)Ml of a xsoliimn of regulai^ and after exehangins 
 shoto with an iitfertor party of militia and regulars, led 
 
144 
 
 IlTSTOmiCAL SKETCHES 
 
 hb men on to the assault. A small boy, who was a 
 drummer in major Aspinwall's corps, seized a musket, 
 and levelling it at the colonel, immediately brought him 
 to tfie cround. At that moment, lieutenant Fanning, of 
 the armlery, who had been so severely wounded by the 
 explosion at Little York, and was yet considered to iie 
 unable t» do any kind of duty, leaned u)>on his piece 
 whitet it was drawn up, and having given it the proper 
 elevation, dischaived tiiree rounds of grape into the faces 
 of liie enethy, who immediately fell bacK in di8Qrder.p^ 
 At ^is instant, lieutenant colonel Backus fell, severely 
 wounded. 
 
 Whilst the battle was raging with its ereatest violence, 
 information was brou^t to lieutenant Chauncey, of the 
 intention of the American forces to surrender. He there- 
 fore, in conformity to his previous orders, relating to such 
 an event, fired the navy barracks, and destroyed 'all the 
 property and public stcnres, which had previously belong- 
 ed to the harbour, as well as the provisions and equip- 
 ments which had been brought from York. The des^c- 
 tion of these buildings, ana the conflagration which was 
 thence produced, was thought to have been caused by 
 the troops of the enemy $ and although the undHsoiplined 
 militia and volunteers, a*d the invalid regulars, were* sus- 
 picious of being pUeed between the fe« of two divisions 
 of the British, tney continued to fight on, regardless of 
 their inferiority, or the consequences of their capture, i 
 
 0eneral Brown was all this time actively superintend- 
 ing the operations of his little army. He now determined 
 oi^ making a diversion in its favour, which, if it should be 
 «ttCcesrfttE would be the only means of saving the place, 
 or of relieving; his esriisusted troops. Having learned 
 tiiat the militm, w^ had fled from their stations in the 
 early part of the engagement, had not yet entirely dis- 
 persed, and fliat tht^ were still witfiin a short distance 
 <tf th« scene of action, he luistened to exhort them to 
 imitate the conduct of their brave brethr^ in arms. He 
 r^RDSiched diem with shameful timidity, and ordered 
 them iisstantly to form and Isllow him, and threatened 
 ^th instant death, the first matt who should refuse^- 
 His order was obeyed with alacrity. He then attempted 
 a 8tarfttagem> by which to ^teceive the enemy, with re- 
 gard to the ^es against wl^eh He w»s contendingr-^ 
 
 '^t 
 
4IT THE LATH WAB. 
 
 HH 
 
 »itl«(if iNO^I thrb^ 4ifl«intWood,#i^ UJ^Mrtf 
 #B ^t/m^mimdiim \m^ §^^ '^mm 
 
 Tl^fili^^ liM; Mi#^ otltct tt iS^ mmtmt nrlttMi 
 the t^dTliiiifitti^ifigfe^^ pm mSitm^ ^ i0- 
 strttdSHii ill tii^'Wt^ Ult^miMiiiia ^^^ 1^ 
 imt 1!^ wdF coi»fl9ci^ iKf tiie^q^ 
 American fMii0 ffff\01o^' Ri ai^ tip Ht^ 4|mm#% 4»f 
 
 off immediateiT to Bie BHM MiM#bi^ lie Krw tti|t<g|it«- 
 
 had been exposed td'hit #^^, hie |^<Mlil MirvMiM to 
 the ceiit^g^ <Bi^t easily htmimMkf^, aait m iH h<K 
 mtak j^^ability, w«^d stlli .Mt^e c^iillii^ t^ and 
 
 But the I)recipita4^ ^ 1^ f^tW^ mi^fihtdlmMt 
 li^ #^ the ^ ouhdt^ l^sdiw ffrliis o)ni»sffi*Y bk^k imh 
 
 dist^jllttished c(* hi»ol|ieii^ Aib^^ tfBm$r 
 
 iiiMergii^ii^ G^nij» iliiiiMaNllfoo^ii^dli^^ 
 ciiiitiaalr I'he retHrii ^f t^b^ a#a«aiii(t<^^a»#1lii» 
 lli«^ asieertained, amottdHed^^ im^iiSicm- % «#Na»> 
 mi'f^ mtk aiid fi^^#|^ i#^^ i^ S^eipiiM^ 
 Md ias n^k aa^ ffltt ft^^ #iii(^^ «&d 3 caftpi9> 1 
 ^in^l^ dm SS rank and ffl^ Klaiite prisoners. In im> 
 
 bcH»^teid bei^i^ieairied aii% pv^Hl^il^llQl^ 
 liQii'^^^Aineiftein mali«i^^'iki'W|«i^iH!«^'m- 
 
 nuiAber of their megHMuipE li^isie'l^ dse eeftnid &:. 
 volii)a.te^^ ^lii(«i^^^p^^i^ 
 were I^M^ Iv &ii^ 3 lieutftiwii«Bi mi T 
 
 en^d^ ef^1li#^»^1i^i Mi IP^^iloii-cieiiimiliiQiiMd^i^^ 
 and pi^t^ INK^iiM^aiid 5i^ ttttiiN^Mnidfiid iHMii 
 
 ^e itoAber of thoi^^iMurMl^ %1if 1^^ 
 
 the iimidiltr isit^'^i^ li^te«%^1Nile giSM^ «f 
 s^^era^i^miiiij^lli^iili^wb^^ HcRlfeii* 
 
 ^"i'^i 
 
 N 
 
 o. ,..-, 
 
 /f^ 
 
r 
 
 'TsspyTr'"' 
 
 mmsm:'* 
 
 146 
 
 UIST^ICAL SKE^eaES 
 
 Bant ChauQcey was no sooner appmed of the «nor oi* the 
 repoi^ nrhich m& been broi^t to^hlm, tl»m he made ererjr 
 exerti^on to save as much of the public property ks it was 
 po^ible to rescue from the incr^iuii% conftigraMon, and 
 to that efiect, he ran the Fair Almeritan and the Fe<*t ^) 
 th^ river. The new frigate, the ge^ral Pike, which was 
 tben on the stoi^ks, was sann^; and Iteuteiua^Talaiaii,, of 
 tlie armjr, at the imminent twkj^f his lifci* boa]^4 \he 
 prtz0 scnooner the Duke of 'Oioiieester, which was then 
 on^v, with a considerable daantitj of powder in her 
 ftol4 extibg4^hed the fire, and brou^t her from under 
 
 the femes of the i»toreh(»udes.:^;..,;;e ; . :^' : ■'' ^^ ■-%. ■ - -^^ - - 
 
 l^otwithiftanding this signaTrei^lsci tlte British com- 
 mafi^ing offiicersmtempted tp play off a strata^mj which 
 sir James YeoafterWai^s adopted at the Forty Mile Cri»«k. 
 Thfj se^t ill a fias^ with a peremptory demand: ii»rf the 
 formal surrender of the post, which was as peresi}t^torily 
 refund; After a fwced march i^f 4Q miles in on. day, 
 lieutena)^ colonel Tattle haJ arrived with his coBPrnim 
 of about 600 men, |ust as the British were retre«^g to 
 their br-^ts, und was tiierefare too late to p&rMtipateHb 
 thi^ ae^^r l>^er reinforcements were con^ui^ly ex- 
 pected* tmA ^ hfttWii* would be inia sitn^tei to mdk^ 
 a iHore vieorous, thoi^^ not, perhaps* a moi# bril^lki^t 
 d^^einee. ^ Tix return of the eisemy, even under the ad- 
 vani^s of mere fii^oural^e. winds, was, therefore^ not 
 looltea Ibr wl\'h any apprehension. A bjpctnd Aag wns ve- 
 oeived by ^neral Brqwn^ acconnpaiiied by a r<&%iiest^ tiiat 
 the killed and wounded o^ the Biiti^, might b6» trended 
 with respect |n answ^ to this, the moat Mtlsfactory 
 assurances of comidlBnce were giyem 
 
 Aft^r b^ng oemp^'ied to relinquish tiie ^jrther prose- 
 eution of f^n expeditiaf^^^ having for ita primary oligect the 
 ^aptufre and destruction of a post, tiie permanent popse»* 
 lien of wMch onlr, could ^e tw^e Ameiicana aiijrj^ P^ 
 m a superiority on the luce "Ontario; t^r kavintf ftac> 
 cee^ed i^ his eriUj^ie» in a degree whicii scarcely de- 
 f^ervi&s to be termed par^i and after being obll<*ea, by 
 the pre^minance oiim iq|i«rehenabn over hii Sravery 
 an^ rorasii^tk to retire ^nm tne aisaiut, imd precicitately 
 to fa>av« his dead and wott!*4ed to ^e mercy of his ene- 
 my; general sir George Pre^f^stiieued an oifebl account 
 to the people of Canada, and forwarded despatches to 
 
wtor ol the 
 [ladefeverjr 
 jr ksitwas 
 'ation, ij^d 
 he Pert ^^ 
 wbieb was 
 Talmaiiidf 
 loard^i vhe 
 h was then 
 der in her 
 from imder 
 
 iritish com- 
 ^noj which 
 &ileCr«»«k. 
 andioF'the 
 jreaii^torily 
 n on - day, 
 I ccpmaiHi 
 etiieaitlbg to 
 riitipatenb 
 llnuiSily ex- 
 on topak^ 
 
 der the ad- 
 »i%for6^ not 
 Ai^ 'aW Te- 
 ^uestftbat 
 btttrented 
 .^facteEj 
 
 rtherjprose- 
 'object the 
 «nt pwses- 
 la dny i\ pe 
 Mmnk sue- 
 carceij' de- 
 obl^*ea, by 
 lit Sravery 
 reeicitately 
 ef hia ene- 
 sili account 
 (patches to 
 
 /^ 
 
 W f HE' LAIC* ^*Wll^ ^- • 
 
 his govemment, kteac^ of which he hud claim to a hi^ 
 liant and niipittiiUieled vktJMyi and alleged that he hip 
 reluctantty Wdeii$d his trOio^ to leate a beaten ene^y, 
 whom he haddil^tt before ium for 0wee hours, becanse 
 the co-operation of tiie ^eel #nd armir could not be ef- 
 fected. Gentfriil BrowiiV i^tagtem bad so hr succeed^ 
 cd in decifeivipi^ him, tliit he reported the woods to have 
 been filled wimin^try and field piecei, from which an 
 incessant, heavy and destructive fice had b< m kept up, 
 by a numerous JHid almost invisible foe ; more than quad- 
 ruple in numbers to tiie detachments which had been taken 
 from the garrison of Kingston; and that his loss was ne- 
 vertheless very far inferior to ^at of ^s antagonist. Pri- 
 vate letters, however, which were, about the same time, 
 written from officers of these detachments, after relating 
 that colonel Gray and two other officers had been ^ illeu, 
 and t' at fmyors Evans, Brummion^, and Moodie, and se- 
 veral captainaand subalterns had been- wounded, admit- 
 ted that their total loss anOmnted to ^ivards of 150. 
 
 Had the result df the expedi^oft i^nat 8acket^s Hai^ 
 bour» been of that character 0f 4inparalleled[ brilliancy, 
 winch wc«jld have entitled it to the encomiums of its 
 commander,^ and to the warmest adtuira^n of the Brit- 
 ish nation, its eflects wpuld have been long and deplo- 
 rably felt by the American governine&t. Imtnense quan- 
 titiea of naval and ittitltarratores, which had been from 
 time to time collected at tnat depot; the frames and tim- 
 btsrs which had been prepared for thus construction of ves- 
 «eb of war, and the ri&ginfi; and armaments which had 
 been forwarded thither tor their final equipment; as well 
 as all the army ciothin«^, camp equipage, provisions, am- 
 munition, and implements of ^t^nr, which had been pre- 
 ^dou^y captored from Ihe enemy, would hav^ &llen into 
 hi»^hands. The destruction of uie batteries, the sttip then 
 on the stocks, the extensive canttonmeuts, and the public 
 arsenal, would have retarded the bi^l^^ of another naval 
 foFoe, and that whicli vmt tdreadyon tfaS lake in separate 
 detadiments, coukl have been intercepted, in its attaint 
 toretorn, and might hftve been c&ptured in detail. The 
 priz« vessel whieh was then kying in the haiiMin', and 
 which had been taken by the Americans, and the two 
 United Sta)tos^achoe.ier8, would hav3 been certainly re- 
 captured, and the whole energies of the Americap gov- 
 
149 
 
 HiSTHiUCAI. 8|L£9^C»^9 
 
 ennnentt ad^ la ^am n^st vig^foitt mi iin^tearied 
 t^mgi^eB, o%lit never «0ttii^«^^i^^ msf^prospect 
 of mi asf^enfleacy onthe We* ^ A« it froired, tiowe^er, all 
 these inpieiadiiig eT9ft were metiei^iVt^/^^^^i^^^ ef 
 ^ poHUBftiidi^ officer^ aad ike mmiakih foB«iet» of 
 those «f hi» troops, who withstood the In'iiiti of the action^ 
 converted that event mto a ^j^ndid vietm-y^ which would 
 otherwise have been an irretrievable ^H^ter. 
 
 CHAFTEB X. 
 
 tiBtifnsfr<mi^ command i^UtsJfm^ 
 em fminyf^Commtmdof JS'ort 0e9nfe demises m g» 
 
 timtf Sedu^'r^JHtea^ to Umd at Osweg^^^-Ajfmit at 
 BeamrJkm&^JISsetipe of,Mie m^^Mfi, prisoners /rom 
 tht k£fldoithsiak»-'^u98mtei^^ lieuUntmtMldtridgft 
 ajtf^-^ ^Btween ^ |NlM /wJWs §md vm'm Com* 
 trUUh mmn aUaok JEUacf^ Moeh^^-Ckiptuim 
 . ^ tm ^smrnffs ^gmioa^r^ort 0$orge moeated^^-tim* 
 rifian m^^9 attackkidm>,SBeimd ^aopodiUoH to Wovk^^ 
 MtiUsh coftmf^^fh^&romi^ 
 
 plain isiU^g^ imdde^oy Uie prkjiaitB housMr^ham 
 of iht BriHahJkit on lake Qntiitip-'''iMncanifmewt at 
 Fort GeorgefOndrtOrpotsewion of ^flBtoark % the, ane- 
 my — Bb retire$ to ni8 mti'!en^mmt$^'CaiAifre of- a 
 Mritish q/icer, bjf aHsifom^iiin mttimiL 
 
 . TtiE increasiog indispoiltipn of «eiieral Peaii>om 
 hvinng rendered him im^t £m* active duty, he fesi^sned 
 thecKMnmand of the northern armj^^ and rehired io his re» 
 aidenix. General l4awi8.hAd repaiired to Sacket^ Haf^ 
 jbouf , to act in concert with eonMDOdiire Chatmoey* who 
 had r^jraed to that nlacor wd was imdLit^ active pi«*» 
 naratioBS te restore the Wtteiies liid bciUduigs to tiMHr 
 former €OiiditiD% The coaunMid <sf iort Qeer|e« aad the 
 dependencies of that place and fort Niagara, devoured om 
 l^nd Boyd*^ 
 
01* imm %JL^PB Wiuu 
 
 
 ^ On the 14th of J^ive (^|9iaX li«iiteiiaiit€hftHii^ ma 
 oidci«d' ta |ir«&eed'iii Ihft Lo&y of ^ Iddce; to einw off 
 FresquimalU, and to intercept ^ enemy's tramlport ves- 
 sels. On tho Mthi he M ill wiili and ^^^^Hb/bWAt- 
 ish schooner t^ Ididy BittiTmT,<thea>^iind ©nnt K^j^ten 
 to ¥ock« "irithftii BaMiaii^lttgni Mid 1# noi^onnan^OB* 
 ed olBeelt oHd piiii&fk r^he v^ loafded id#i pro^iitii^ 
 aowder^ ^0^ inid #ied BMmimitiOB^ j0id uraa hrett^ 
 mtoSocket^s Harbour on the IBth^ |ier crew coi»is^ 
 of 6 moBk ^ 
 
 On^ the same day, the Bri^sh ficet aj^peared before the 
 to\m of »Sodu8, on a bay of that name, widch ia formed 
 on the American side of lake Ontario, between Oennesi* 
 ^aee and Oswego rivers. General Burnet of the New 
 York mtlitia^ suspecting that they intended to land their 
 troops, and capture a quantity of provisions, ordered out 
 4 vegteitit from the county or Onta^ The militti col- 
 lected in gr^t haste^ and arrived at Sodus on the follow- 
 ing moinlng. But the enemy;; well knowing ^t his ap- 
 pearance would excite the alarm of the inhamtants, drew 
 off ltts:£»rce»un^ their apprehen^eni ahotdd be subsided, 
 and re^ippeared^n the eveidnw <tf the 19th, a few lK>ttrs 
 after the^ militia had been disohiyved. In contemplation 
 (^ his return, the inhabitants hao^ removed all tbs public 
 stores from the buildiiags -on the water's e^i to a small 
 distance in the woods(, and on the re-appeanmce of the 
 liostiie squadron, a second alarm was immediately given, 
 and ei^ress^ sent after the discharged militli^ wl^h 
 overtook and broujght^em back, with a lar^ reinforce- 
 ^ment Before l^eir return, the enemy had landed, and 
 finding that the provisions had been removed, they set 
 fire to all the valuable builc^ngs in the town, and destroy- 
 ed most of the private property of every description^— 
 They then agreed to stipulate with the inhalntants^to de- 
 sist from destroying the remaining houses on condition 
 of dieir surrendering the flour a^d provisions, whioh th^ 
 knew had been deposited at that jplace. These articles 
 were then not more than 200^ yards from the village, yet 
 the enemy did not choose to attempt their capture, lest 
 he might be drawn into an ambuscade; but he thr^iten- 
 ed the entire destruction of every house in the town, if 
 they were nut immediately delivered over to him. The 
 appearance of the militia, prevented the executioi^ of 
 
 N2 
 
^■p 
 
 w 
 
 ISO H|»f OmCUU^ SKE^CHiES 
 
 (Mt tiiRtfuti #iid the ^liiiny Immediiiitdj returned 4o his 
 ftbipplagi mid moyed'up tm lake en the following morp* 
 
 ^e J26tb (June), the whole fleet ap^roacked Os<- 
 w^,4iad nittde sevemi atteaMt^ td'kiiid their treopa, but 
 4iM^ l^tiifbed each time to^taelp «hif|>iiig» upotf ^seeiag 
 thfitlbe troopa at thai place i«wre prepareq^to etieaitliQiii. 
 Ilbe AiB«^€aa ^nxe atlhat #nie, eonspted of QOOanlitia, 
 aaid a j^uUMigrof pegulaiv, under eemiiiiaid of lte«i^ 
 tenant cokm^l Carr, bf whose skilful management, the 
 eHemy were persuaded that the post was .giuriaoned by 
 a numerous bod j of troops, and they became extretoely 
 cautiotts in tiieif operatimis. ^ Fearful of being everpow- 
 «i)Od, they retinquished their intention of limdin^ and 
 witfidrew ih>m before the place^ Lieutenant Woelsey, 
 of theOndda, and other naval officers andseain^ii, were 
 at OswegOj mA had previously remoii^ the stores from 
 t^tphice to Sackefa Harbour. The fleet ilien proceed- 
 ed to the .'beighbottrhood of fertGeorge, where it lay for 
 several dajis, . • ■ ^ f 
 
 , A few days ^previously to ^ departuie of g^eral 
 Bearborn from that post, a body of tne en^ny had col^ 
 lected on ft hi^ grouadyv about eight miles from Queens- 
 town^ for tlte purpose of proeuring supplies, and ^i ha^ 
 rassine those inhabitants who were cornered to be 
 friendly t» the United States. On 4he 128tb, a party of 
 troops, consisting of dOGinfontryy a scpiadron of dragoons, 
 a company (^ New York mounted volunteers, and cap- 
 tain ftrDoweU's corps of light artillery, being in all About 
 600 men^ under command of colonel Bcerst&i*, were de- 
 tstched from the American <Bncam|mienty at fwt Oeorgei 
 tbriliepitrpose of cutting elf the supplies of the «iemy, 
 and of breaking up their encampment at the Beaver 
 Dams. The Bntisn force which was stationed there, 
 was composed of one comnany of the I04th regiment, 
 about SOO militia, and 60 Indians, amounting to 340 men. 
 At about 8 o'clock on the morning of thed4th, Smiles 
 west of Queenstown, the American detachment' was at^ 
 taclied from an ambuscade. The action commenced 
 with the dragoons, who were placed in the rear. C^ap- 
 taiBs Machesney and Roaches companies of infantiy, 
 #ere instantiy brought into a portion to return the ene- 
 m§*9 in to advantage, and very soon after drove them 
 
i. 4o his 
 gmoipr 
 
 lied 08<- 
 
 Opgybttt 
 
 of Iteu^ 
 ent, the 
 
 ^etiieljr 
 verpow- 
 n^ and 
 Voolsey, 
 en, w^re 
 es fpfNiii 
 iroc^d- 
 t lay lor 
 
 .• ■< :■ 
 
 bad Golr 
 Que^hs- 
 
 to be 
 yof 
 
 118, 
 
 cap- 
 
 de- 
 leorgei 
 l^my. 
 
 miles 
 
 ms at' 
 
 lenced 
 
 CJap- 
 
 itiy, 
 
 ene- 
 
 ikem 
 
 ' tm rmm u^'TM yrAM^M 
 
 %m 
 
 AC(m&ideraiyedi9taiice into the i«w)dB.^^T^ 
 made a eii«uit<Mis msht a^^enre^in (wi, and oftsm^tL 
 &ee u^n the mounted riflemen who were stationed there. 
 They w^« iiiimediu^y i#iil«iNl»«tnd i^^ t» Ihe 
 
 ivoods. EyeK|r a^mpt waa llii^ msde J^iAmw th^ intp 
 the opeii g;v«MUi4>^biit wi#)Qiite^ A Jew of ^e boldest 
 of tbem# ^ntoref^froni Hieir ltt^[in|^{kbice% bi^xW 
 medliytety compelled to fty. to them ngpkin for sbditep. 1^ 
 en^ny^s force was now oontinumlj JWgmeiiling, w 
 was every: instant ^dtikte ac jNipeitority. ^ A retreat was 
 then ordered for a short aistance,whicb was effected with 
 U^i^ loss, 
 
 f^f Colonel B<Brstler«,.t^]kea suspecting tilat be w^Sr^ur- 
 rounded by a very superior and* numeroiia force, diespatch- 
 ed an expresA. io general Dearboni fpiv mnforcements, 
 and informed him of his intesitien to ipaintaia his posi- 
 tion until they should arriTe« Coloniel Christie was or- 
 dered to proceed immediately with the* 15th regiment, 
 and a company of-artille^y^ to the #ipport of c<]^nel 
 Boerstler ; but he had not proceeded %rmer tiian Queens- 
 tovm, when he waa Infonned that tiicl latter had surren- 
 dered Ins detachment 
 
 The express had scarcely been Ibrwarde^, when lieu- 
 tenant FitzgibboQ* who comm^ided #ie Bi^tish miUtia 
 and Indians, rode' up to colonel Bcerstler, with^ flag^ and 
 -pformed himj, on the honour of a British soldier, ll^t the 
 regular force, commanded by lieutenant colfmel Bishop, 
 was double that of tlie Americans, and that the Indians 
 were at least 70Q iii^ number. Colonel Bosrstler, tsiistmg 
 to the veracity of tlie officer ; fearing the impracticability 
 of escaping; and being unwilUng to abandon his wound- 
 ed, agreed to terms of capitulation, by which the wounded 
 «were to be treated with the utmost tenderness, the offi- 
 cers to be permitted to wear their side arms, private oro- 
 perty to be respected, and the volunteers to oe panHed, 
 and permitted to return to their homes. 
 
 Lieutenant colonel Bishop was not on the ground at 
 the time when this capitulation was effected, as the Bri- 
 tish lieutenant had asserted on his honour, but arrived 
 there in time to Confirm the articles of surrender. These 
 .were no sooner agreed upon, than they were violated; tiie 
 officers being deprived or their side arms for the gratifi- 
 cation of the Inctos, who robbed them also of their coats, 
 
15S 
 
 HIftT«BiOAI. SKKTCHES 
 
 and i9iiiat«¥ee-omanieitts df dfess they coveted. Ko potf> 
 sible account of the namher of killed or woofiaed* on 
 ^iher side could be olftai&ed* Colon^ Bceratler was 
 slightljr w^undi^i and <i«^4w^Mt/heftiieVrof the dtli. sftr 
 Yerelv^ig rM^aig the«tliiii:iaf1iiiQ^^ ^ 
 
 Cfttoti^ Cli^atie retorned to fbrt Gtocge, w^uilbrin»> 
 lapin ortlifa (Bsaster^^^^^^^ ^e tilri^di laoved dawn iipon 
 t^eensl^wii^eecti!^^ iNit fdi^e aiid ila ntaigdii0mim0d, 
 «id in.|i Ibw days alterwavds iitirested the ADueikim 
 catnpi haying becoi pt«ev|oiislyrjoked by fdlth^ forces 
 fitHii the hoMl^af the lake» 
 
 General Vincent was. stationed at BiirUngtoii Hei|hts» 
 with a small- force, mi senerat Be Bottenhui^ lay en- 
 cainped at the Ten Mile Creek, 
 
 iSmd Mew York mounted volunteers were detained at 
 the head nf the Ifdie, In violation of the ar^cle which pro- 
 vided f^ur their parole. On the ISth (JulyX theywere ordered 
 to Kinsston, to be ~kept. there as prisoners of war« l%ey 
 were for tliis purpose emharkea iir two bei^ under a 
 guard of pien, and a lieutenant When within 12 tiiiles 
 of York, they nise upon the guard, and after a struggle of 
 a few minutes, ^carried boith m>ats, and shaped thdir course 
 for fort Kiag^a. After rowing nearly all nighti uid es- 
 ci^ung from^an^^ enemy's schooner wi^ £reat diffieult^, 
 tiiey arrived safely witii their prisoners, m effecting this 
 danng escapei. major Chapin, who commanded the volun- 
 teers, gave the ^gnal to his men, by knocking down the 
 British lieutenant, and personally encountering two of his 
 soldiers, whom he fortunately subdued, and kept in re- 
 straint until the second boat fay along side of him* 
 
 Subsequentiy to the event at Beaver Dams, several afr 
 fairs of outposts took place, which, though not quite so im- 
 portant in their consequences, were e(|wally as brilliant as 
 any of the occurrences, which had previously ^ransmred on 
 the Niagara frontier. Among them was a severe skirmish, 
 brou^t on by an attack which had been madeupcm two of 
 the outposts of the American encampment at fbrtOeoi^, 
 'on the 8th of July, by the combined force of the British 
 and Indians. It had no sooner commenced, than adjutant 
 lieutenant Eldridge of the 13th, was ordered to the sup- 
 port of the outposts, with a small detachment of 39 men: 
 whilst a laiger body was preparing to follow him, under 
 the command of major Malcolm. The impetuosity of 
 
» OF THE I.AT£ WAlU 
 
 153 
 
 lieutenant Eidfidge led iuni<'Uito ai thick woiMi^jiirbere a 
 superior force df theBriiifth^'imd'liidiwis lay in anibnsbj 
 and f^flier an obstinate, but fruitliSsts struggle* his.p^y 
 were ^ntireljr defeated, five only but of the whole numbi.- 
 escaping; thirteen were killed or Wounded, and the re- 
 mainder taken prisonerg^ At the lirst ontet, Ihe enemy 
 waa refMilsad? but at &^ second; he pressed upon and, 
 surrounded the little partj, witli the Wtiole of his nume- 
 rous force. All the prisoners, jncludiiig ^e Wounded, 
 were then inhumanly murdered, and thdr persons treat- 
 ed in so baFbarous k manner, that the most temperate re- 
 cital of the enemy's conduct may, perhaps, scarcely ob- 
 tain belief. The leelmga of the nM>0t obdurate reader, of 
 a much mor^ distant period, caqnot but be ex<iited.to the 
 highest degree of indignation, and those of the writer are 
 not at all to be envied, when teecessity obliges him to de- 
 scribe the sufferings of his countr^rmen, br the relation of 
 facts which stand' too well authenticated oefbre him. The 
 same enemy who had not kii^ ago In^ored the mercy 
 of theu American fiffieer t4» be extended to his Britidh 
 prisoner^ nowMI upon the defenceless captives of this 
 pas^, and scalped iheir heads wMlst they were yet alive, 
 split open tiieir skulls with their tomhawks, tore theif 
 heartci out of thetr bodies, and, stabbed and otherwise mii*> 
 tilated them* Iiiei|t<inant fiblridge was sump^Mtd to have 
 eiperienced the same trea^ent The inhatatants of ihe 
 n^ghbourhood,.hayin{; informed the garrison that he had 
 been led wounded into the wo<^, l^tweeii two Indiana, 
 a ikg was sent out on the next day, to ascertain hb fate i 
 whicn soon after returned, with an answer, that lieute- 
 nant E^ridge, having ,kUled one of the India! chiefbdns, 
 the w&i^oro of his tnbe had retaliated this supposed act 
 of traiush«7> by putting him to instant deaths But ttua 
 reply was ascertained to have been a aubteffiM^of t^ 
 enemy^ to evade the necessity of accounting &r a pri^> 
 soner^'who was kmwn to have been takjen aHve. 
 
 The comniiseioiL of thisi and odheif^ outrages of theMlB 
 nature, by thi^ ^lemy, at length ipdueed the Americaa 
 commander, genepai' Boyd^ to recewe a paity of the)6i> 
 nem and tFtiseiipara trmes Into the service of the United 
 States, by wa^ of «»ttmidatlng the British and indiana, 
 and«f ppe^entingft reeuitence of their barbarities. Shoi^ 
 ly aftep they ^ad lendezvoused at fi^ Cifeoige, and had 
 
154 
 
 Ul8T<miCAli SSKTCfifiS 
 
 covenantld not to seial|i or murder any of the enemy's {tti- 
 soners who niiKht iatl into^ their hin^, they W«r6 joined 
 to a fMiHy of vmunteers^ and sent to cot (iff one of mt out- 
 posts 6f the enemy, whose principdi encampment was up- 
 warda of two miles from the fort llie American Indians 
 were commanded by major Henry (VBall, or F/mf^Ct^ft- 
 pltfit^, whosttcceeded ^ capthiring and bringine iflf*lS 
 of the British Indians, and 4 of their white troops, with a 
 loss of only 3 Indians killed. - •> 
 
 7^ army atibrt Gedrge wis at this time in a state of 
 inactivity; a war of outposts only bieing carried on, which, 
 though resulting in vanoiis success, was of use to the un- 
 disciplined divisions of the encampment. 
 
 Oh Ihe momiuj^of the 11th July, a British regular 
 force crossed the !NiagarabeloMr Black Rock, and moved 
 u|^ with great rapidity, to the attack of th«t podt^ The 
 militia who were stationed there, immediately lied in con- 
 siderable numbers; a few of them, however, stood their 
 f round, and im^erging from a wood, at aeventy yards 
 istance from the enemy, annoyed hmi very severely. >- 
 Ibat this annoyance was not regarded by the British, who 
 entered the place, set ^re to the barracks, the block 
 house and otiier toiliUngs, spflced several pieces of can- 
 non, and took off a quantity of provisions. Whilst car- 
 rying the pn^fty to their boats, th^ were attacked 
 t:^ a force of regulars, militia, and a few 'Indians, who 
 poured upon them a very destructive fire. Tlie enem}^s 
 loree amounted to 250 men, nine 6f whom, and a captain 
 (Saunders) of the 4t8t,were left upon the shore The 
 force which was brought against them, was precisely 
 eqwal id their own. They reared partially to their boats, 
 and in putting off from ttie shore, lost upwards of SO in 
 killed^and wounded^: Amdi^^ the latter, was lieutenant 
 colonel Bishcm^ mortaily; 
 
 0n ihe Iftnt small expedition of volunteers, and about 
 40 sohliers, lefifert" 6eOr^ in two smaR row boats^ pro- 
 ^eoied to the head of ^'@t^ Lawrence^ and captured a 
 f»t boat mounth^ <me S4 poiuider, 1^ bi^teaux 4oaded 
 irith property, imd 4 officers ai^ 
 
 On ^ same day^anbutwork of the American §arriion, 
 ^as attadiod by 200 British and some Indians^ Gokmel 
 BetAt was sefl^ out to oppose them. He took one field- 
 piece into an open field, and assisted by lieutenant Shnitln 
 
Of TIDR X.ATE WA1I» 
 
 t»$ 
 
 e <tf me oat* 
 eM was up- 
 can Inciians 
 
 ttgine ifl^*12 
 dops, with a 
 
 n a state »f 
 d on, which, 
 e to the un- 
 
 tifith regular 
 and moved 
 
 Soit^ The 
 ed in con- 
 stood ^eir 
 lyenty yardd 
 severely.— 
 British, who 
 I, the block 
 sees of can- 
 Whilst car- 
 re attacked 
 idians, who 
 le enemy's 
 id a captaih 
 there The 
 8 precisely 
 theiir boats, 
 s of 50 in 
 lieutenant 
 
 », and about 
 boats^pro- 
 captured a 
 iaux-loaded 
 
 \Xk j^Arfiiofl, 
 
 Cokmel 
 
 one 4dld- 
 
 UHit SmitlH 
 
 • 
 
 after a content ^f wm bMlr, succeeded in drinj^ qS the 
 enemy. Majors Atmstrong^ Cinnmiiigs, captaiSs Tow* 
 son^ Ma!dK8Qn^ Vandfdsem^ aiid BMsallrtm fmnef ef 
 whom was wounded. Were alsQ actively engaged. Hie 
 Americafi less amounted t» four> killed, and j» manjit^ 
 wounded. ^ 
 
 Besides lb« militia* under mtyor C^apin/ who had been 
 captured^ at the Beaver JDams^ sew;p»l parties- of regolarti 
 made ,i>riso)iers at the 8|unep|iu:e,<dsor effected tiSir es- 
 capei in consequencie of the refosalof the enemy to m» 
 poie them. On the i^rtln a Im^ boat airrive^. at wt 
 George, ud<lk4^UeuteQant and & Canadian, mifitii^ who 
 had been taken by d UnHed State* reguliuri^ ^ i New 
 York mil:itiainen,iis Hie former Wffl?e o^iducting them to 
 Klo^to|k« About the same time» ik boat .with 14of co|*« 
 nel fioerstler's. men, and 2 of the enemy, nr^edifrom 
 Ym'k. They communieated intelli^ience of ^e severs^ 
 treatment which the American^ prtsiMieies eKperienced 
 t^ei^ and ^general Bo^ and comiliodinre Chtttti^Gey d% 
 t»*3»uied on&n ex|)efE^on,tQ.that4^ >: 
 
 'i)n /the 38th commtklorev^haiui^ sailed wi^4i o^@d^ 
 Scott and atM>ut dOO men4 They landed- at York, c«^ 
 tared or d^troyed the public propel^y imdstf ires f^/tne 
 enemy* and after barAiiiff tlm . bflmck8,.vwh|^ Had beeQ, 
 spared at the capture of uiat place in A^tpli, apder l^l im^ 
 pression ^t their liberality, would be <ippreciated by .^ 
 enemy> the^re-^barked, imd returned luaiiolested to fort 
 George, bnnging with th^ att the sick aiid wounded of 
 colonel Bcerstler's men, wlimn th^ oould find. 
 
 A few weeks v^ece^ng ttiis affidr the Umted States 
 armed vessels the Gruwler and Ea^e werecaptured^ai^ 
 a desperate en^s^ment^ three lours and an half, with 
 a nun^er of British gun boatB» and detaebmimts from the 
 garrison at l^h oupe Mix» The ac^on tookpliice near 
 Ash- lelanud, on the river SefMf, or MehdkUiW that part 
 of lake.Champlaiii whieh empties tBt6 ^e St httyn&kee. 
 The schooners were commuraed by fieui Sidney Sa^ 
 and were the only armed vessels, e^ccepting a few |^ 
 boats, Jliid small barges; Which c^ts^tu^ the i^ericaii 
 naval I»r6e on lake^hampkin. Tfa^ii; captui«e thero^H^ 
 a^ve the ^i^y tfi»«]|tite ascenj(liBiC|r on that Ei^4 The. 
 ftitish ^ted tb^r loss at 3 iif»n wounded. The loss on 
 board the schooners 'W9a 1^ kiled aii4 8 wouiuled. , e ^ ^^ 
 
tmmm 
 
 nwratiitkt si^^rciKs 
 
 J 
 
 m 
 
 jf 6iiw1NIi «f mfm^y(!ft^B^ 
 
 Clmofk^ wi<& iMno sloops ftf war, llree giti| ftitflil, «ni! 
 
 flli lilllllli^f^Se^^ i^ef iltedl^^f bum m^etsi 
 
 cc«^ to tie l^wtii 6f liNirt^t^ t0^^ 
 
 abiM ##8 iriir s)%^ ^« W¥l% l^^ftr^ i 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 157 
 
 ta wwMfc snti 
 : oiiiiiliitopg 
 
 ■ •« 
 
 
 It ft^iml 
 
 rm ntnCt- 
 
 night 2 of ^e schooners were missing, ^the Hamilton and 
 Scourge) both of which had overset ana sunk in a heavy 
 squall: 16 men only escaped drowning. The fleet lost 
 by this unfortunate accident, two exceuent officers, lieu- 
 tenant Winter and sailing master Osgood, a number of 
 fine seamen, and 19 guns; and the enemy thence gained 
 a great superiority. On the morning of the 8th, he was 
 discoverea bearing up with an intention of bringing the 
 Americans to action. Commodore Chauncey uien di- 
 rected the schooners to sweep up and engage him. When 
 the van was within one mile ana a half of the enemy, he 
 bore up for the schooners in order to cut them oft; but 
 in this he did not succeed. He then hauled his wind and 
 hove too. A souall coming on, and commodore Chaun- 
 cey being apprenensive of separating from the heavy sail- 
 ing schooners, he ran the squadron in towards Niagara, 
 aira anchored outside the bar. Here he received on ward 
 from fort George 150 soldiers, and distributed them 
 through the fleet to act as marines. Before 12 o'clock 
 on the morning of the 9th, the commodore discovered 
 the enemy's fleet, and stood for him, and. after manoeuv- 
 ring until 11 o'clock, at times pursuing him and being 
 Eursued by him, the rear of the line opened its fire on 
 im. In 15 minutes the fire became general on both 
 sides. At half past 11, the weather line bore up, and 
 passed to the leeward, except the Growler and Julia, 
 which soon after tacked to the southward, and brought 
 the British between them and the remainder of the Ame- 
 rican fleet, which then edged away to engage "the enemy 
 to more advantage, and to lead him from the Growler 
 and Julia. Sir J. Yeo having separated the two vessels 
 from the squadron, exchanged a few shot, in passing 
 witii the General Pike, (Commodore Chauncey's ship) 
 without injuring her, and pursued the schooners. A 
 firing commenced between them, and was continued un- 
 til 1 o'clock on the morning of the 10th, when the schoo- 
 ners surrendered, and the fleets lost sight of each other. 
 Soon after daylight, they again, became visible; but no 
 disposition being shown by the enemy to come down on 
 commodore Chauncey, he shortly after ran towards Sac- 
 ket's Harbour, to provision the squadron, and arrived 
 there on tlie 13th. 
 
 0. 
 
' 
 
 158 
 
 UISTaEICAL SKETCHES 
 
 About this time sir George Prevost joined the ar- 
 my, then investing fort George, and meditated an at- 
 tack upon ^e American forces. Captain Fitzgerald of 
 the 49tn, assailed an outpost on the Niagara, and after 
 gaining the rear of the guard, was fired on and charged 
 by captain Davenport, of the 16th United States' infantry, 
 who cut his way through Fitzgerald's party, rallied his 
 own, and made prisoners of 10 men. At this moment 
 captain Deleno, of the 23d, came up and captured Fitz- 
 gerald, who was then wounded. The whole line of out- 
 posts was at this instant attacked and driven in. Captain 
 Vandalsem, of the 15th, who commanded ^e outpost 
 upon Butler's road, was cut off by the enemy ; but nas- 
 tily forming his small party, he desperately forced his 
 way through a superior body, and brou^t his guard 
 safely into the garrison. The Briti^ forces gainea pos- 
 sessjion of the town of Newark, and skirted the woods op- 
 posite fort George, within gun-shot of the American camp. 
 Brijgadier general Williams, who had a few days before 
 arrived at mat post, advanced from the works with his 
 brigade, but after a trifling skirmish, he was ordered 
 back by general Boyd, ana the troops were directed to 
 act only on the defensive. The British soon after re- 
 tired to their intrenchments, then about 2 mOes dis- 
 tant. The loss of the garrison on this occasion, amount- 
 ed to 30, in lulled, wounded, and missing. The capture 
 of captain Fitzgerald and his men was the only loss 
 which the enemy is known to have sustained. 
 
 Af&irs of outpost^j in which the character of Hie Ame- 
 rican arms was not in the least dimimshed, were now oc- 
 curring daily. Colonel Brearley, and other officers of the 
 different regiments, distinguished themselves ; and a spi- 
 rit of emulation pervaded the whole American line.— Or- 
 ders had been issued to the sentinels, to permit no one 
 to pass within their chain, without the knowledge of the 
 commanding officer. But a British officer, in passing 
 from the left to the ri^t of his encampment, having by 
 mistake approached the American line, induced a senti- 
 nel to violate these orders. Thomas Gray, a private of 
 the 15th, who at this time happened to be on guard, seeing 
 the error into which the enemy's officer was Ukely to fall, 
 permitted him to enter the line of sentinels before he chal- 
 lenged him, when the officer immediately surrendered. He 
 
OF THE LATE WAB« 
 
 149 
 
 the ar- 
 id an at- 
 gerald of 
 md after 
 i chareed 
 infanhy, 
 allied his 
 \ moment 
 ired Fitz- 
 ae of out- 
 . Captain 
 e outpost 
 ; but nas- 
 ibrced his 
 his suard 
 linetlpos- 
 woods op- 
 ican camp, 
 ays before 
 i with his 
 s ordered 
 [irected to 
 after re- 
 miles dis- 
 amount- 
 le capture 
 only loss 
 
 the Ame- 
 •e now oc- 
 ;ers of the 
 and a spi- 
 ine. — Or- 
 it no one 
 ge of the 
 passing 
 aving by 
 a senti- 
 rivate of 
 , seeing 
 ly to fall, 
 he chfd- 
 lered. He 
 
 proved to be captain Gordon, of the Royal Scots, and was 
 conducted to general Boyd, who afterwards presented the 
 sentinel with a silver cup, engraved with inscriptions, 
 commemorative of the event by which it had been won.«— 
 The Aitierican army sustainedf about this time a serious 
 loss in the death of colonel Christie, at fort George, and 
 of lieutenant colonel Tuttle, at Sacket's Harbour^-both 
 of whom died of severe illness. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The JVorthwestem ^rmy'~-Pritish appear again before 
 Fort Mei^s — Defence of Fort Stephensont Lower San- 
 dusky — Capture of the British jteet on iMke Erie-^ 
 Northwestern Army reinforced from Kentucky-^Is 
 transported bythe Jimerican fleet to Canada-'-Capture 
 of Maiden — The Americans enter Sandwich — TiXfSfue 
 ike British up La Tranche—Skirmish in Chathamr--' 
 Battle of the Thamjes — Dtfeat and capture of general 
 Proctor's Army-^Escape of that officer— Death of T^ 
 cumseh—Destrmtion of the town — The army sails for, 
 a^d arrives at Bwffdloe, 
 
 The combination of the British forces on the Nia- 
 gara; the augmentation which they were daily receivii^ 
 by reinforcements from the interior of Upper Canada; 
 and the rumours thence sent forth, of an intended coali- 
 tion, between these, and the army of general Proctor, from 
 Detroit ; all contributed to persuade the American com-, 
 manders, that the enemy had become regardless of the 
 defences of the garrisons of Detroit and Maiden; and 
 that their leading object, for the accomplishment of wkich 
 they had determmed to draw together every species of 
 troops witHin the province, was ^e expulsion of tn« Ame- 
 rican forces from the Canadian territory. But the vigi- 
 lance of the commander in chief of the northwestern 
 army, enabled him not only to discover the enemy's reid 
 design, but ihat their regulars and a great body of t^e ](n- 
 
n I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 160 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 dians, were at that time concealed in the neighbourhood 
 of forts Me^ and Stephenson, and feeling cunfideat of 
 tiieir expectations that the regulars of his army would be 
 ordered forward to the aid and co-operation oi the army 
 of tiie north; or, that the militia would be called from a 
 tour of duty, wliich would thence be deemed unnecessary 
 to perform; general Harrison extended his defensive ar- 
 rai^ments, and enlarp;ed his forces by new requisitions 
 upon the governors of the contiguous state and territory. 
 He was still engaged at his head quarters at Leneca, in 
 fixing the destination of the new troops, as they arrived, 
 and in distributing them throughout the different posts. — 
 Fort Meigs was placed in an excellent state for vigorous 
 defence, and active exertions were making to fortify fort 
 Stephenson. To the entire equipment of the latter, many 
 difficulties presented themselves, and its situation was 
 considered to be so defenceless, that general Harrison 
 directed the commandant to destroy the public nropertv, 
 and immediately to abandon the fort, if the enemy snoutd 
 at any time appear before it.--— During the month of July 
 (1816), the assembled tribes of Indian warriors, under 
 Tecumseh, (who was reported to have then r<!ceived the 
 commission and emoluments of a iMrisadier general) and 
 a considerable force of regulars, under general Pi'octor, 
 had been well trained for a^\ expedition, the cbjeclof 
 which was to reduce fort Stephenson, and thence io pro- 
 v^eed to a second investment of fort Meigs. Tecumseh 
 was despatched with 2000 warriors and a fev.' regulars, 
 to make a diversion favourable to the attack of Proctor 
 and Dixon, upon fort Stephenson. He approached fort 
 Meigs, and kept up> a heavy firing at n. distance, in order 
 to persuade the garrison that an engigement had taken 
 place between the Indian forces and a part of general Har- 
 rison's division. By ike arrival at fort Meigs, of an officer 
 iV<>in the head quarters, ikh scheme was fortunately frus- 
 trated; and Tecamseh then approached the garrison, and 
 surrounded it with his whole force. 
 
 Fr<im Senev.? town scouting parties had been sent 
 out in every direction, along the shores of Sandusky 
 bay, wiiii in<;tructions to keep up a continual commu- 
 nication with the commander m chief. On the morning 
 of the Ist of August, he was informed of the a'^iproach 
 of the enemy to the mouth of the bay; fort Stephen- 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 161 
 
 )ourhood 
 fideat of 
 /vould be 
 he araiy 
 d from a 
 ecessary 
 nsivc ar- 
 [liisitions 
 territorjT. 
 meca, in 
 • arrived, 
 posts.— 
 vigorous 
 rtify fort 
 er, many 
 tion was 
 Harrison 
 wopertv, 
 ly snoufd 
 1 of July 
 •s, under 
 eived the 
 iral) and 
 Pi'octor, 
 cbject of 
 e io pra- 
 ,mseh 
 jregulars. 
 Proctor 
 Ihed fort 
 |in order 
 id taken 
 Iral Har- 
 oilicer 
 ly frus- 
 on, and 
 
 m sent 
 
 |,ndusky 
 
 ;ommu- 
 
 lorninff 
 
 |>proacn 
 
 tepheiL' 
 
 
 son, situated twenty miles above, evidently being their 
 object. Early in the evening, the combined forces, con- 
 sisting of 700 Indians, under Dixon, and 500 regulars 
 under general Proctor, who commanded in chief, appear- 
 ed before the fort The gun boats, from which they had 
 landed, were at the same time drav/n up, to bear upon one 
 of its angles. 'General Proctor immediately disposed his 
 troops so TiS to jurronnd the gairison, and entire' r to cut 
 oflf its retreat. His immense superiority of nuuiiers, en- 
 abled hihi to invest it so perfectly, that the Ameiican 
 troops, whose whole effective force did not amount to 
 160 men, had no probable prospect of cutting their way 
 through; and major Croghan, who had been promoted 
 to ttie command of this post, foi his gallant conduct at 
 the siege of fort Meigs, having already disobeyed the 
 orders of the commander in chief, by not destroy ing 
 and abandoning the fort, had made arrangements vo repel 
 an assault, by cutting a deep ditch, and hastily construct- 
 ing a stockaae work around it. Being ably supported by 
 his officers and men, he determined on defending the gar- 
 rison, though he should sell th ^ life of every soldier. The 
 British generaF, liaving campleted the disposition of his 
 army, attempted to obtain possession of fort Stephenson 
 by artifice. He sent forward a flig by colonel Elliot, 
 whose character is yet in the memory of the reader, ac- 
 companied by the same major Chambers, who had before 
 demanded the surrender of fort Meigs, and an Indian 
 chief, whose enmity to the Americans v'aH violent This 
 flag was met at a few paces from the ganision. by ensign 
 Shipp of the iZih, to whom general Proctor's demand, of 
 an immediate and unconditional surrender, was delivered, 
 and from whom the enemy received major CrogJian's an- 
 swer, of a determination not to yield, out with the loss 
 of all his m{.n- Colonel Elliot then attempted to seduce 
 the ensign from his duty, by various artifices, whicli were 
 followed by a threatened slaughter of the garrison, on 
 further refusal to surrender, riie young American turned 
 from his apostate countryman, Elliot, with disgust, and 
 was immediately seized upon by the Indian chief, who 
 attempted to disarm him. The resistance of the ensign, 
 and the interference of Elli«t and Chambei-s, prevented 
 this outrage, and major Croglian being apptehensive abaut 
 the safety of his officer, instantly ordered him to be called 
 
 2 
 
ii^ 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 }■ 'Hi 
 It 
 
 162 
 
 UlSTOTHtkh SKETCHES 
 
 into the garrison. The enemy then opened his fire from 
 the pn Doats, and a five and a half inch howitzer, and 
 continued the cannonade throughout the niriit. On the 
 morning of the 2d, three 6-pounders were discovered to 
 have been planted at a distance of 250 yards from the 
 stockade, and in a few mmutes after, an urisoccessfiil 
 fire was opened upon the foi t. The British general feel- 
 ing his inability to annoy the garrison; from me situation 
 in which his artillery was then placed, and be^ng con- 
 vinced that he could neither make an impression ujpon 
 the works, nor ever hope to carry them by storm, unless 
 a breach could be made in the northwest angle of the fort, 
 ordered all his guns to be directed at that point. A rapid 
 fire was kept up against it for several hours; but major 
 Croghan, being aware of his design, detached as many 
 men as could be usefully employed, to strengtfien that 
 angle: by means of bags of sand, of flour, and other arti- 
 cles, it was effectually secured. Under a supposition that 
 his fire had shattered the stockade work, wnich was not 
 at all injured, general Proctor ordered lieutenant colonel 
 Short to lead up a close column of 350 regulars, of the 
 41st regiment, to storm the fort at that point, whilst a 
 second column should make a feint upon that part of the 
 American line, which was commanded by captain Hunter, 
 of the 17th. This attempt to draw the attention of the 
 garrison from the northwest angle did not succeed. The 
 troops posted there were ordered to remain firm: and, 
 when the column, which was advancing against them, had 
 approached within 20 paces of tlie lines, before which 
 time it was so completely enveloped in smoke as not to be 
 observed, they opened a heavy and galling fire, threw the 
 advancing party in confusion, and intimi&ted that which 
 was reserved for the attack on the other angle of the fort. 
 ITie British battery, wliich was then enlarged bv two other 
 6-pounders, was a^in opened, dnd sustained the advance 
 of the two columns, by an incessant, though equally un- 
 successful fire as the former. Colonel Short rallying his 
 men with great alacrity, again led them up, advanced to 
 the stockad»^, and springing over the pickets into the 
 ditch, commander* tlie whole column to follow, and assault 
 the works with the utmost ^^ur, but to give no qitarter 
 to any of the American soldiers. 
 
 At the northwestern angle stood a block-house, m 
 
OT THB XATE WAR. 
 
 163 
 
 sfrom 
 ', and 
 In the 
 red to 
 m the 
 ^essful 
 il feelp 
 :aation 
 g con- 
 n upon 
 unless 
 lie fort, 
 i. rapid 
 t major 
 i many 
 en that 
 er arti- 
 on that 
 vas not 
 colonel 
 , of the 
 bs^hilst a 
 : of the 
 iunter, 
 of the 
 . The 
 and, 
 m, had 
 J which 
 3t to be 
 ew the 
 which 
 the fort, 
 o other 
 Ivance 
 Lily un- 
 Ing his 
 iced to 
 Ho the 
 issault 
 \uarter 
 
 Ise, ift- 
 
 i: 
 
 wlttcli a 6-pounder had been heretofore judiciously con- 
 cealed. It was at this instant opened, and having previ- 
 ously been pointed so as to rp' 'n that situation, a dou- 
 ble charge of leaden slugs was 1 into the ditch, and 
 sweepings the whole column, the kiontx>f which was only 
 thirty feet distant from the pieces killed colonel Short, and 
 almost every man who haa ventured to obey his order. 
 A volley of musketry was fired at the same time, and 
 great numbers of the enemy who had not yet entered 
 me ditch, were severely wounded. The officer who suc- 
 ceeded colonel Short in the command of the broken co- 
 lumn, immediately rallied and formed it anew, and led it 
 on to the same fatal point. A second fire from the de- 
 structive 6-pounder, was poured upon it with as much 
 suc(^s as tne first; and the small arms were discharged 
 so briskly, that the enemy's troops were agsdn thrown 
 into confusion, and not all the exertions of the British 
 officers could bring them up to another assault. They 
 fled precipitately to an adjoining wood, and were very 
 soon followed oy the Indians. In a few minutes the 
 firing entirely ceased: and an army much more than ien 
 times superior to a small garrison, was compelled to re- 
 linquish an attack, the successful issue of which, was not 
 at all doubted by any one of its officers. 
 
 A 3trong degree of terror prevailed among the collect* 
 ed forces. Tne Indians were enraged and mortified at 
 this unparalleled defeat ; and carrying their dead and 
 wounded from the field, they indignantly followed the 
 British regulars to the shipping. General Proctor aban- 
 doned his v/ounded, and len the dead bodies of liis most 
 distinguished officers, among whom was colonel Short, 
 in the ditch. — ^During the ni^t of the 2d, major Croghan 
 received as many of me wounded enemy through the port 
 hole as were able to approach it, and to those who could 
 not, he threw out provisions and water. 
 
 On the morning of the Sd, the gun boats and transports 
 sailed down the bay, and guards of soldiers were imme- 
 diately afterwards sent out to collect and brins into the 
 fort all the wounded, and to bury the enemy's dead with 
 the honours to which, by their rank, they were entitled. 
 70 stand of arms, several bmces of pistols and a boat 
 containing much clothing and military stwes, which had 
 been left in the hurry of the enemy's flight, were theft 
 
164 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ill 
 
 taken. The loss of the assailants was reported to have 
 been not less than 150; that of tiie garrison, was 1 killed j 
 and 7 sli^tly wounded. 
 
 The bnlllahcy of this afi&ir procured for the officers 
 and men, the thanks of the government, and the unfeigned 
 applause of all parties in the union. Major Croghan was 
 soon after promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and 
 was presented with a sword by the ladies of Chilicothe. 
 His precau^on and activitv prevented a very important, 
 though weak post, from falling into the hancts of the ene- 
 my; and ^ve a powerful chieck to their plan of opera- 
 tions, for the remaining part of the campaign. The com- 
 mander in chief, whose positive orders he had ventured 
 to disobey, yielded him his warmest approbation, and 
 recommended to the early notice of the departm^t of 
 vrar, a young soldier of 21 year s, who had baffiea the 
 most^in^enious efforts of the British general, andlnad sus- 
 tained his various assaults for 36 hours. Besides mfyor 
 Cn^an, the garrison contained 7 officers, all of whom 
 distinguished themselves. Captain Hunter was second 
 in«command, and resisted the attacks of the second Bri- 
 tish column, as well as of the Indians. Lieutenants John- 
 son, Bayler, and Meeks, of the 17th, and Anthony, of the 
 £4th and ensi^s Shipp and Duncan, of the 17th were 
 stationed at different places in the garrison, and acquitted 
 themselves with great credit. 
 
 General Harrison had no sooner been apprised of the 
 approach of the enemy toward fort Stephenson, than he 
 sent orders for tiie immediate march of £50 volunteers, 
 from tipper Sandusky, and put in readiness all the infan- 
 try at Seneca, under generals M*Arthur and Cass. Scouts 
 were instantly forwarded to reconnoitre the position of 
 the enemy, but in consequence of the strong aisposition 
 of the Indian forces, they were unable to approach the 
 garrison, and were met by general Harrison and his dra- 
 soons, between Seneca town and fort Stephenson. Here 
 me retreat of the enemy, under Proctor, and the invest- 
 ment of fort Meigs by Tecumseh were i&rst heard of, 
 and the general directed M'Arthur and Cass to fall back 
 to Seneca town, for the protection of the sick, and the 
 
 Srovisions, But two days after, Tecumseh and his In- 
 ians, followed the steps of Proctor and Dixon, and all 
 *ppieheiisions about, the safety of the military hospitals 
 were, therefore, removed.. 
 
OF THE ULTE WAf; 
 
 165 
 
 to have 
 1 killed, 
 
 B officers 
 nfeigned 
 5han was 
 onel, and 
 hilicothe, 
 nportanty 
 : the ene- 
 of opera- 
 rhe corn- 
 ventured 
 lion, and 
 rtm^t of 
 oMm the 
 dhad Sus- 
 ies major 
 of whom 
 Ks second 
 :Cond Bri- 
 ints John- 
 ay, of the 
 7th were 
 acquitted 
 
 ed of the 
 than he 
 olunteers, 
 the infan- 
 ts. Scouts 
 position of 
 isposition 
 roach the 
 I his dra- 
 ►n. Here 
 e invest- 
 heard of, 
 fall back 
 and the 
 his In- 
 , and all 
 hospitals 
 
 The American fleet on the lake Erie, having been com- 
 pleted, and, with great difficulty, pissed over the bar, a 
 principal part of me crew of each vessel beiag made up 
 of the Pennsylvania militia, who had volunteered to goon 
 an expedition, sailed 4)n a short cmise, for the purpose of 
 training the ffuns, and of exercisins the .sailors. In the 
 latter part or August, commodore I^rry proceeded to the 
 mouth of Sandusky river, to co-ojjerate with general Har- 
 rison. At this place, about 70 volunteer marmes were re- 
 ceived' on board, and the. fleet sailed in quest of the Bri- 
 tish squadron. The latter was, at that time, near Maiden, 
 before which place commodore Perry appeared, and after 
 reconnoitring the enemy, he retired to ^nt'in'bay, a dis- 
 tance of 30 miles, in hopes of drawing out his an^onist. 
 r On the morning of the lOtli of September, of the same 
 year, 1813, the enemy was discovered, bearing down upon 
 the American squadron* w^iich immediately got under 
 weigh, and stood out to meet him. The superiority of 
 force was greatly in favour of the British, though they had 
 not an equal number of vessels. Their crews were lai^er, 
 and the length and numl>er of their guns greater, than 
 those of the American squadron. The latter consisted of 
 the br^ Lawrence (flag vessel) of 20 guns ; the Niagara, 
 captain Elliot, of 20; the Caledonia, lieutenant Turner^of 
 3; the schooner Ariel, of 4; the Scorpion, of 2; the So- 
 mers, of 2, and 2 swivels; the sloop Trippe, and schoon- 
 ers Tigress and Porcupine, of 1 gun each ; making a fleet 
 of 9 vessels, of 54 guns, and 2 swivels. The British saua- 
 dron consisted of the ships Detroit, commodore Barclay, 
 of 19 guns, and 2 howitzers; the Queen Charlotte, captain 
 Finnis, of 17, and 1 howitzer; the schooner Lady Prevost. 
 lieutenant Buchan '^f 13, and 1 howitzer; the brie Hun- 
 ter, of 10; the sloo;> Little Belt, of 3; awl the schooner 
 Chippewa, of 1, and 2 swivels : making a fl««t of 6 vMseis, 
 and<63 guns, ■\ howit/.ers, and 2 swivels. 
 
 When th. American fleet stood out, the British fleet 
 had tlie wi . thergage ; but at 10 o'clock, A. M. the wind 
 shifted, and brough ^ the American to windward. The line 
 of battle was formed at 11; and at 15 minutes before IS, 
 the enemy's flag ship, and the Queen Ch"rlotte. opened 
 upon the Lawrence a heavy and eff*ectuai lire, which she 
 was obliced to sustain upwards of ten minutes, without 
 a possibility of returning it, in consequence of her bat- 
 
166 
 
 lilSTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
 • 
 
 II 
 
 tery being of carronades. She nevertheless continued to 
 bear up, and having given a signal for the other vessels 
 to support iier, at a few minutes before 12 opened her 
 fire upon the enemv. The wind being too light to assist 
 the remainder of the squadron in eomine up, the Law- 
 rence was com{lbUed to fidit the enemy's neaviest vessels 
 upwards of two hours. The crew were not at all de- 
 pressed; their animation increased, as the desperation of 
 the fi^t became greater, and the guns were worked with 
 as much coolness and precision, as if they had been in the 
 act of training only. The slaughter on board the bri? 
 was almoi:>t unparalleled, the rising very much injured, 
 and the braces entii;ely shot away: and. at length, after 
 every gun had b^en rendered useless, sh«e became quite 
 unmanageable. The first lieurenant, Yarnall, was thrice^ 
 wounded; the second lieutenant, Forrest, struck in the 
 breast; the gallant lieutenant Brookes, of the marines, 
 and midshipman Laub were killed, and sailing master 
 Taylor, purser Hamilton, and midshipmen Claxton and 
 Swartwout, wounded. Her loss already amounted to 
 22 killed, and 61 wounded; when the commodore, see- 
 ing tiiat she must very soon strike, if the other vessels 
 were not brought up, gave the command of the Law- 
 rence to lieutenant i arhall, and jumping into a boat, or- 
 dered it if} be steered for the Niagara, to which vessel he 
 had determined to shift his flag. In passing from the 
 Lawrence to the Niagara, he stood up, waving his sword, 
 and gallantly cheering his men, under a shower of balls 
 and bullets. He gained the Niagara, unhurt, stt the mo- 
 ment tJiP flag of the Lawrence came down; and the wind 
 having at that instant increased, he brought her into ac- 
 tion, and at 45 minutes past 2, gave signal for the whole 
 *'fleet to close. All the vessels were now engaged, but as 
 the tuperiority of .the enemy had been increased by the 
 loss of the I^awrence, the commodore determined on 
 
 f)iercing his line with the Niagara. He therefore reso- 
 utely bore up, and passing ahead of the Detroit, Queen 
 Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, poured a galling and de- 
 structive Jfire into each from his starboard side, and into 
 the Chippewa and Little Belt, from his larboard. He 
 WHS th^n within half pistol shot, and as he cut through the 
 line, the ( ominnnder of the Lady Prevost, a braive officer, 
 who had distinguiiiihed liimself at the battle of the NUe, 
 
OF THE LATE WAB*^ 
 
 ler 
 
 otinued to 
 
 ler vessels 
 
 pened her 
 
 td to assist 
 
 , the Law- 
 
 iest vessels 
 at all de- 
 speration of 
 
 vorked with 
 
 I been in the 
 
 trd the brie 
 
 luch injured, 
 
 length, after 
 
 i^came quite 
 
 [I, was thrice^ 
 
 itruck in the 
 
 the marines, 
 
 ailing master 
 Claxton and 
 
 amounted to 
 
 Bimodore, see- 
 other vessels 
 of the Law- 
 nto a boat, or- 
 hich vessel he 
 ^ing from the 
 ring lus sword, 
 
 ■hower of balls 
 irt, it the mo- 
 ■ and the wmd 
 ^t her into ac- 
 i for the whole 
 Ingaged, but as 
 Vreased by the 
 'leterminOT on 
 therefore reso- 
 Detroit, Queen 
 ■ailing and de- 
 * «ide, and mto 
 I larboard. He 
 cut thiM)Uffh the 
 a brave officer, 
 rte of the Nile, 
 
 received a musket ball in his face, and the crew being un- 
 able to stand the fire, immedu^lj ran below. At this mo- 
 ment the Caledonia was strugnhng to get closer into the 
 action, and her commander, Jueutenant Turner, ordered 
 her guns to be fired through the foresail, which interfered 
 between him and the enemy, rather than lose the chance 
 of a full share in the combat, and was only prevented from 
 attempting to board the Detroit, by the prudent refusal of 
 the officer of another small vessel to assist him. 
 
 The action was now raging with its utmost violence; 
 every broadside fired with the most exact precision, and 
 the result of the conflict altogether uncertain. In addi- 
 tion to the loss of the Lawrence's guns, one of the Ariel's 
 had burst, and the enemy had then the superioritv of 34 
 guns. This doubtful aspect, however, soon after changed. 
 The Queen Charlotte had lost her captain, and all tier 
 principal officers; and having,*by somfe mischance, run 
 foul of the Detroit, most of the guns of both vessels be- 
 came useless. In this situation, advantage of which was 
 immediately taken by commodore Perrv, they were com- 
 pelled to sustain, in turn, an incessant nre from the Nia- 
 ^ra, and other vessels of the American squadron. The 
 British commodore's flag was soon after struck, and those 
 of the Queen Charlotte, the Lady Prevost, the Hunter, 
 and the Chippewa, came down in immediate succession. 
 The whole fleet surrendered to the infericyr squadron, with 
 the exception of the Little Belt, which attempted to es- 
 cape, but was pursued by two of tj?e gun boats, and cap- 
 tured at a distance of three miles from the nauajdron. 
 
 Thus, after an action of three hours, in wnich the in- 
 dividual gallantry of either fleet, had never been surpass- 
 ed by any naval event now to be found on the record of 
 history, was the entire command of this important lake, 
 yielded to the American arms. To the future operations 
 of the northwestern army, every prospect of success was 
 thrown open, and the recovery of the lost territory be- 
 came no longer doubtful. Commodore Perry informed 
 his government, that it had * pleased the Mmighty to 
 crown their arms with success }'* and attributed the issue 
 to the gallant conduct of his officers, his men, and the vo- 
 lunteers on board. Among them are to be found tiie 
 names of captain Elliot, lieutenants Turner, Edwards imd 
 Forrest, and midshipmen Laub, Cla&ton, Swartwout, 
 
i6d 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 Clark and Cummings. Of the conduct of lieutenants Yar- 
 nall^ and Brookes, and puter Hamilton, the latter of 
 whom worked as a common skilor at a gun, the best evi- 
 dence has been given — ^the admiration of the whole of 
 their own squadron, as well as that of the enemy. 
 
 'Hie number of killed and wounded in both neets was 
 excessively ereat. Commodore Barclajr was wounded in 
 the hip, and lost the use of his ridit arm: ^e otiier had 
 been snot off in a former action. The loss, on board his 
 squadron exceeded 200. The American loss amounted 
 to 27 killed, and 96 wounded. The captured vessels were 
 convoyed to the bay of Sandusky, ana the prisoners, 600 
 in nuni^ber, conducted to Chilicothe. Among these, were 
 a few companies of the British 41st regiment, who had 
 been taken on board to act as marines. 
 
 T^e result of this bril|iant conflict, was immediately 
 followed by active and extensive preparations for the ex- 
 pulsion of tile enemy from Detroit, the entire subjuga- 
 tion of Maiden, and the overthrow of general Proctor's 
 army. These objects achieved, the operations on the 
 Niagara, and St. Lawrence would be rapidly facilitated, 
 and the most plausible prospects helct out to an expedi- 
 tion asainst Montreal. Governor Meigs had made a call 
 upon uie militia of Ohio, as soon as he was informed of 
 the attack upon fort Stephenson, and upwards of 15,000 
 volunteers wer» very soon under arms. Many of these 
 were not yet dischai^d,.and general Harrison now re- 
 quired a proportion of them. At the mouth of Portage 
 river, he intended that his whole army should be concen- 
 trated; and between that point and Sandusky bay, he 
 caused fences of \ogi& to be constructed for the protection 
 of the horses and baggage. The governor of Kentucky, 
 Isaac Shelby, arrived at the new head quarters of the ar- 
 my on the 1/th of September, with 4,000 well mounted 
 volunteers. The works at fort Meiffs being reduced, and 
 garrisoned by a few men, general M*Arthur marched 
 from that post with his brigade, and joined the main body 
 also. Thus strengthened, general Harrison determined 
 on invading the enemy's shores ; and, at the dawn of the 
 
 • This gallant young officer has since been lost, in the Umted 
 States brig Epemer, on her passage from the Mediterranean with 
 dei^atches. 
 
4' 
 
 OF THE LA^TB WAB. 
 
 169 
 
 Sl6t he ordered bU forceg to embark at the mouth of the 
 river, and to rendezvous at the diflferent islands, which 
 lay in clusters between Maiden and the point of embarka- 
 tion. To colond Johnson, who commanded a Kentucky 
 mounted regiment at fort M?igs, he gave orders to pro- 
 ceed to Detroit by land; arriuiffements having been first 
 made, by which uiat officer and the commander in chief, 
 tvere to be informed of each other's progress by daily ex- 
 presses. 
 
 On the 27th the troops were received on bbard the 
 fleet, now enlarged by the captured vessels. They were 
 embarked at a small island, aoout SIO miles from Maiden, 
 called the Eastern Sister, and one of two islands to 
 which the names of the Sisters had been siven. In the 
 afternoon of the same day, the fleet which was cmnpo- 
 sed of 16 vessels of war, and upwards of 100 boats, ar- 
 rived at a point 3 miles below Maiden. Here the troops 
 were landed in good order, and with perfect, silence, and 
 proceeded thence to Amherstburg. 
 
 The British general, well aware that the American com- 
 mander would early avail himself of the advantages late- 
 ly gained by the capture of the fleet, had made prepftrar 
 tions to retire into th6 interior of Canada, to a place of 
 better security than Maiden. He was apprised by his 
 estafetUt of the approach of general Harrison, and hav- 
 ing first set fire to the fort, and destroyed every article 
 ofpublic property, he ordered his forces, which were stUl 
 composed of British regulars, and Tecumseh and Dix- 
 on^s Indians, to retreat towards the Thames, and ihence 
 along its course to the Moravian towns. The fort, ^ 
 barracks, and other public buildings,- were still smoking,^ 
 when the American army entered Amherstbui^, and a 
 number of females came out to implore protection from 
 its commander. — ^They received it. The guns of the 
 batteries had been previously sunk, one only remained 
 oh an island opposite Maiden, and that had been left in 
 the confusion oi the enemy's retreat to the Thames^ 
 
 An^ierstbut^ had heretofere been the repository of In- 
 dian spoil, and the principal depot of Indian presemte^ 
 The tribes had been continually provided with munitions 
 of war, from the garrison there; and rewarded at that post 
 for the outrages committed by them, at various times, up» 
 on the people of the adjoinins American territories* The 
 
 # 
 
170 
 
 III8T0RIOAI. SKETCHES 
 
 > 
 
 :(' 
 
 !!i 
 
 previous sufferings of the citizens of the frontier* had all 
 Deen derived from the activity of British traders, who 
 were proprietors of the property and soil ; yet though 
 almost every volunteer of the American army had been 
 aflfected» either in his possessions, in his own person, or 
 in that of his relatives, by the incursions and outrages of 
 the enemy, the inhabitants of Amherstburg were protects 
 ed from violence, and their individual property honour- 
 ably respected. Highly, and frecjucntly^ as tlie indigna- 
 tion of t)iese troops had been excited, they were still de- 
 termined to contrast their conduct here, with that of the 
 British and Indians ^t the river Raisin; andj the house 
 and grounds, therefore, of the most active officer at that 
 scene, colonel Elliot, suffered not the least molestation. 
 
 On the 28th, the army crossed La RivUre aux Canards, 
 the bridge over which the enemy had not stopped to de- 
 strojyr, and arrived at Sandwich on the followmgday, the 
 fleet moving, at the same time through the river I)etroit to 
 that place. Governor Shelby's command then occupied 
 the point at which the first invasion .of Canada had been 
 attempted, whilst the remainder of the army crossed over 
 to the delivery of the town of De^it, out of the posses- 
 sion of the British Indians, who immediately abandoned 
 the garrison, and retreated in different directions. Gene- 
 ral Harrison, knowing that large numbers of warriors, vlh- 
 Aer SplU'Logt were collecting in the woods hear Huron 
 of lake St. Clair, directed general M'Arthur to remain 
 with most of the regulars, in the occupation of Detroit, 
 whilst he would pursue the army of general Proctor up 
 the Thames. f;^^^^ 
 
 polonel R M. Johnson's regiment had arrived at De- 
 troit on tiie day after its occupation by the American ar- 
 my; and having concentrated this force, with a part of 
 colonel Ball's regiment of dragoons, and the whole of 
 governor Shelby's volunteers, the commander in chief, on 
 the 2d of October, pursued the enemy's route* Such was 
 the rapidi^ of his movement, that he encamped in the 
 evening of'^^ the same day at the river Mscum, a distance 
 4)f 26 miles from Sandwich. Early on the moraing of 
 the 3d, he resumed his march, and being accompanied 
 (^general Cass and commodore Perry, as acting aids, 
 lie woceeded in the advance witii Johnson^s regiment, in 
 «raer to secure the bridges on the rivers., tributary to lake 
 
 ^ 
 
OF THK I.AT£ WAR. 
 
 171 
 
 r, had all 
 iere, wha 
 et though 
 had been 
 yenon, or 
 atrages of 
 e proteci- 
 y honour- 
 i indigna* 
 ■e. still de- 
 ;hatof the 
 the house 
 ;er at that 
 lestation. 
 7 Canards, 
 >ed to de- 
 gr day, the 
 Detroit td 
 1 occupied 
 i had been 
 ossed over 
 the posses- 
 abandoned 
 I8« Gene- 
 rriors, un- 
 %r Huron 
 to remain 
 ■ Detroit, 
 roctor up 
 
 red at De- 
 erican ar- 
 a part of 
 wnoUe of 
 chief, on 
 Such was 
 id in the 
 distance 
 ormng of 
 ompanied 
 ting aids, 
 ^ent, in 
 to lake 
 
 St Clair. By the capture of a lieutenant of dragoons and 
 eleven privates, who had been left in eeueral Proctor's 
 rear, with orders to take up every bri<&e, by whidh the 
 approach of Hatrison's army could possibly be facilitated, 
 one bridffe was saved, and the American general learck<v 
 ed that the enemy had no *' certain information of his ad- 
 vances up the Thames.'* Within eight miles oi this river, 
 at Drake's farm, the army encamped for the night, and 
 its ba^age followed thus far, in the transports of the 
 squadron. 
 
 On the morninff of the 4th, the army again proceeded 
 on its route, and having reached Chatham, 17 miles from 
 lake St. Clair, found iU progress obstructed by a deep 
 and uitfordable creek, the bridge of which had lieen par- 
 tially destroyed by a body of Indians who now made 
 their appearance, and fired on the front suard. They had 
 taken a position on the opposite side of the creek, and 
 iknked tne American army on the right bank of the river. 
 General Harrison madt^ immediate arrangements to dis^ 
 perse or capture them. Colonel Johnson was already 
 stationed on the ri^t of the line, and had seized the ruins 
 of another bridge, under a smart firf ; from the Indians on 
 that iliMik. Major Wood was directed to bring up his 
 ari ^ery, and cover the ^ton«ers, who wei repauii^r the 
 first i>ndge. This he did with unexpected occess. The 
 Indians could not withstand the heavy dischai^s of ar- 
 tillery, and they therefore retired without much i e^rd 
 ta the order of their retreat. The bridge was quickly re- 
 paired, and the army, having first extinguished the flamea 
 of a farm house, which had been fired by the Indians, and 
 captured from it 2000 stand of arms and a quaslity of 
 clothing, crossed over tiie creek, pursued tiiie enemy four 
 miles up the river, annoyed his rear ffuard, and took from 
 him several pieces of cannon. This skirmish conti- 
 nued one hour, in which time t'v. » wen of the army were 
 killed, and six wounded; whilt^t thii*teen were killed on 
 the side of the en^emy. Bestti'^s iiiaskets, cannon, and 
 clotliing, he lost three vessels, iv^ed with ordnance 
 stores and arms, which the approach of the Americans 
 obliged him to destroy. 
 
 On the 5 th, the pursuit was eagerly renewed, and at- 
 tended by Ihe capture of two cun boats, and several 
 barges, loaded wit];i provisions and ammunition. Having 
 

 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
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 I.I 
 
 l^|2£ |25 
 :^ b£ III 2.0 
 
 I! 1^ 
 
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 1.4 
 
 IJ4 
 
 
 6" — 
 
 
 > 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sdences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 w 
 
 m 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■s$ 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STRKT 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 "'^ ^ 
 ^ 
 

 
 t/j 
 
 i/.. 
 
i7Q 
 
 ui^ToikUiAi, sitB^rdiEs 
 
 ill '" 
 
 attaittsd'ilke g^ond tm wfakh the ^liemy had eiiGftmped 
 the iii^i6em«, the coiiBiiiaiid«r In chief ^rettteitottknel 
 Xohni^ to hialen ^ fiuircli of his advairee cuitrd^ and 
 W9^ftirWtiPi^itii]0i6W W re<^moltre the flit«ation'4>f 
 the'ciHAbiiMd Bnliiih and Indkn tbrces^ This <Eiffioer 
 tirj noun i^lert reliiiriD»d witljt intdligenee that the ene- 
 m^^WM^ {M%p»red 1^ aedt>n,ln tM lipmi^ jBtamitV^d^ 
 IwkaSiH of the Anetican inain body. Tlieroai ttpon 
 'iNriBch general Harrison was then mkrehing, entered a 
 thnsk^d extensiine forest on tiie beach. A stortdtstaiice 
 fit»in^ilfe^nli: of the Thames, was a a^lrj avrampi which 
 extended to #ie If iniivian town* and between Mn swanfp 
 and the riveT, was m leve^ plidn, ^i»HicH ni^hidi, becittse «f 
 ihd thick iiiKlerwood in the forest, ui^ armjr w#aM be 
 N« make its a|iproacbejk Across this pkdn^ the 
 l^%ne.was drawn up, with ita left reathsg^^on the 
 riter^ sitp^rted bif^ the greatest proportiott of their artfl- 
 ler^, its cen^ bems protected by two heavy pi(6ces, and 
 ill atiengthi in- regulars; aatountine to ^OOt 1^200 Indians 
 wlM liiited along the margin of fie >swamp. 
 
 ^~ PP f^n^!^ Hanisdn liad come up with the main 
 iilwas advised of tiie advantageous sitaa^mi of 
 t|e'eiieiB|iy, he ordered ccdonel Pauh with 150 regulars, 
 tO'Oi^py li space between the road and the river; to 
 iih^ce upon, and divert the enemy, and on an oppor- 
 tmuHy, to sei^ the q^non which defenckd h» left flank, 
 litttbtenaat colimet James Johnson was i^^cted to form 
 nuu^t^ PHijiu^s battaUon of the mounted re{||iment, and 
 Mbr Skiget^ three spy companies, into sik chaiglBig 
 coftniiia, mnediately in n-ont of the British line of rega- 
 Ws alld an Indian flank: whilst general Henny^^divbton 
 of iftflia^, shouM be stationed ibrhis support in his rear. 
 Golbliel it. IML Johnaoi^ wtas vharoed with the formation of 
 annfter battiAkm, in front of the Indians«^ that w»« ar- 
 rayod on the margni ef the swamp^ He according ly dis- 
 mea^t^ one company, under comniand of ci^itiin mack" 
 eTtWilk which he stratohed^^ne in fine of the incBans, 
 and ordered makr Thompson to form the Femaini%foor 
 cod^pianleSk on n o r ge back, into t«rb cliannng colnnras of 
 double 'files, immediately in the rear of lie line on foot. 
 Tlw kit of tluB battalion was siqpported by the inHuitry 
 of ajMiertti Besha. 
 
 ThiM dispbled, with the main army in theb rear, these 
 
iht$mptd 
 : #16 enc- 
 
 interact a 
 Iflitftiiice 
 ftp, whicli 
 Ib swamp 
 
 ir#alii Ite 
 pMn^ the 
 tf^^&tk the 
 ben' ariy- 
 
 iHceft, and 
 
 Indians 
 
 the Biain 
 »a^«o& of 
 regulars, 
 river; to 
 n Ojppor- 
 eft BMik. 
 
 1 to form 
 ientt and 
 chttgi% 
 
 of re^- 
 k^di^ion 
 
 his fear, 
 nation of 
 were ar- 
 B^tydis- 
 
 lii<yaiis, 
 
 wims of 
 on loot. 
 isAiitry 
 
 nr, these 
 
 ^4mwim JomJt^mAB^B 
 
 ITS 
 
 cHwoBS mowe^ forwi^^ to this attach* The BtMI#gife 
 -Ihft^firat ii«< ^Mik^^whidi ^ 4;^^ wa» ^^is^mmM, 
 aod ilk a itm isiiBiiai^ the esm^lim^im ^fi0o^ik^ 
 MfwanisH^ IM^ lont^nleiH who» MijHlg^#a|«|M)i ll^lp- 
 lish cegi^m wi^ irresisahl^tpeedi^^ ittMiir 
 
 £M»4)r eiit cMm itsisrj 9^1^ ii4»« imfiD8<4 «^ 
 haiihg^iiilh^ aiMl woiinM %nmrda of^ SQ^ «t eao ehtfie, 
 iBStaa%^iriBidi k thehr i«arr ai# tho ^mSk 
 
 Siichiiinn thefanic whMir iMtrvadid dfisiiiMe^ieof the 
 enoii^, thi^fii oidop wi^ had been issited |tf Is 
 net, was^iot attempted to he eseti^df tti^ ki ' 
 'wh^, GsAoneto Mmam IMMit^n^ ani laaliilr I 
 
 l%a^(BlMa||aiiitd.4ifr sooner heoft #M0, th«H je9A# IIn^ 
 ^dbmmmi^ ««vise«ifRjiice« of his concbictin i||d3|iai, 
 if he shorn hoi tatoen in thip battiei abandaiiedr W^ooni- 
 oniid^^iBd nide his escape In a ourrisge^ imder a stviHig 
 escopi^of dii|$eonft.. 
 
 Whdat <his brtlUant ehsig^ was mahing ot the Mi^ 
 the aoienwas rigiogwtih gi^yielenkMi o& fhel^^ 
 Mitwtlm'Sm In^ooDi #eie,. and thi miwiiited liii^iiid 
 infiailKir drawn up ^aefdasl -i^niy It waft ioi^ger i^ii|p|ii^^: 
 obe lliia i tf y contended. The kidiaiis were ^MifiM 
 by ^ c mi mft, who fon^t with more thim laa acen^siHk* 
 ed skiU, and hi Ting posted his wuriiors in^besl^pos^i- 
 hle situatiims to repulse an attack, he indicikilid ilii li^ 
 Hnsnesa to reoeiiFo the assanlt of tfo Aiaamm ctimjlxj, 
 C^Meliohnson, who saw that the butaolwovld ^ ' 
 the groand. with mote bmr^fj t|iaa ^ Bi^ikk 
 pU^ed himself at the head of his bidrtaKon, ttwtlelWup 
 to a v^oFous charge upon Ihcmtisth's fyaak, 1|M||^iiief 
 at the same, moment dealt out a trem^idous fteis» whiihi 
 though severe in its effect, did pot retwd tiie MvmbkmI 
 of the advancing columns. But the diffic1lltv^ of pallia- 
 ting the thicket and swamp, threw an inpedkMt hi^^the 
 way of a successful rescdt to an t>nset wiin doigDoni^ Attd 
 the atter.pt ta break the Indhm Une, in C0Bte<pieiR€e 
 failed. i%.u eugagement imjaiiiediately took place, however, 
 in ¥4iieh, after ^zchangmg several rounds With 1||eiitR- 
 sek*8 band, coh>n^ Johnson ordered both his colttih^ to 
 dlsmount^and teading them )i4p a seq^p^l i]me,he aim^ii 
 desperate, but sttccesinil eiCort, te break throi^ tMHu^ 
 dians. HannggBiBod the rear of thair line, hiSBtttor- 
 
174 
 
 HISTARICUI^ SK£fi:CHi;S 
 
 der #r«£t^ his men to , fight t)^ in iime own mode. 
 Thck pontes;^ be<;iitnie now more obstinate. N(^iiri^»taiid- 
 ing^^tbeir tine n«4 l^n t^^ pierced, apd their wmioi» 
 were filling m co^uderable numtiersi the Indians did not 
 ^Mi theiMyet jet discomtted^ and quickly collecting 
 their iMittciiwi strenji^ upon the risht, they ni»de an at- 
 teqi|»t to penetrate me line of infantry under fene.id He- 
 sha. In mb ^ey had nartially succeeded, a part of thai 
 BiMi hai^hg f jjilti^ced, w)^ goTeimor She% brought up 
 thr^ cem^ies of his volunteers to its support, and^ in 
 ti)ffn, threw h^k (he Indians. ^ 
 
 '^jJlieenvfhUe colonel R. Bft. J<^8(m Had been five times 
 wolfed,* and m that state, covered with blood, and ^st" 
 hausted by pun and fatigue* ^ personally encountered 
 Tectmseh. The colonel was mounted on a whitocharger, 
 at whtth, being a conspicuonsol^t, the Indians hiul con- 
 tinuallv levelled their fir^ A shower of biillets had fallen 
 round iiini; his holsters, his clothes, and most of his ac- 
 coutrements, were pierced In lieveral places; and at the 
 instant when he discovered Tectf^mseA,ni8 horse received 
 a secoM wound. Teeumsek having dischareed fads rifl^, 
 SpriiiK forward with his tomhawk, a<td had it already 
 tafeed to throw, wh^ colonel JohnsbiPs horse stag|peif«a 
 baek, and immediately the colonel 4]iew tbk^ a fustolj 
 shot die Imtian throng^ the head, and both fell to t^ 
 ground together.t ' 
 
 The wounded colonel being then lemoved from the 
 fie)f» the comniaQd of that battalion devolved on major 
 'l^iiMison, who, continued to fisht the whole body of me 
 Iniyi|& (then upwards of lOOOj, more than an hour, and 
 ly put them to flight. In their attempt to gun 
 the l^laoe, through ^e level plain, they were pursued, 
 aJMlpumbers of mem cut flown by the cavalry. 
 
 The Atnericans being now masters of the fidd, then* 
 glihant commander, wim had been in every part of the 
 actio^, directed the wounded officers and men «f boiQi 
 ,,ann!es, to be taken care of; and the trophies <tf tiie vic- 
 
 * CfD^nd Johnson survived his woUnda, md yet represents the 
 state of lEentnckv, in the natit^ial legialaturet 
 . f It hki be«n frequently doubted, whether the Indian, who thus 
 attacked ^e colonel, was TVctMMeA.— >That chief was f-mnd dead, 
 however, upon the field of battle, and with such a wounds as is 
 deserfhed to have been^yen to colonel Johnnon's uitagonUt. 
 
 s 
 
I mode' 
 
 wwmon 
 did not 
 »llectiiig 
 e axL at- 
 e.^ He- 
 t of thftt 
 i^t up 
 
 ■9 ■ 
 
 ve. times 
 ,.a]id«x^ 
 yiuttered 
 ii;hftrger, 
 hiid con- 
 ad&llen 
 I bi» ac- 
 id ai the 
 received 
 Idsril^, 
 idready 
 
 orrtRK lATH^m 
 
 173 
 
 a {Ustol, 
 1 to the 
 
 rom the 
 tn major 
 J of uie 
 our» and 
 tog;aiiL 
 urstted, 
 
 i, their 
 of the 
 |«f both 
 1 the vic- 
 
 sntithe 
 
 ^hothuB 
 id d^adj 
 ndt as is 
 
 tory to be colieoted and conveyed to the 8qiiadn>n«i#«' 
 Among these, were several pieces of brass cannon, wMdi 
 had b(^ taken fivm Bdrgoyn^, at Sanltogik, in the stmgr 
 gte for the iytepeildenee of the states, and surrendered 
 again by eeneral Hull, d5jrears afterwards, at Detroit 
 
 In the battle of the Tfuubes {5th Ociobet, 1813), the 
 number of Americans engaged did not exceed 1400^ The 
 nature of the j^und, reimered an operation by the whole 
 force impfactic&i^e, tmd the main body therefore formed 
 ;i corps of reserve. They sustained' a loss &[ 50, id killed 
 and wounded. The number x»f the former, amoMTwhom 
 was a brave old solcHer of the revolution, colonel Whitley, 
 then serving sis a volunteer private in a Kentucky r^- 
 ment, amounted to 17. The en^mylost in regulars alone, 
 upwards of 90 killed, and about the same number wound- 
 ed, and surrendisred in all 600 prisoners. Among.the In- 
 dians, 120 were killed, includmg their brave> but amtn- 
 tionS^ and inveterate leader. 
 
 A squadron of horse, which had been Ordered in mir- 
 suttof Proct6r,immediatelyafter his flight, returned to 
 general Harrison with the oagg^ and private papers <^' 
 the British commander, wMch tSiev had taken witldh 100 
 yards of; his escort. By the speed of his horses, and his 
 knowledge of the country, he successfully eluded his put^ 
 suers. 
 
 The result of Has victory was hi^y advantageous, not 
 only to the operations of the army below, but to all the^ 
 northwestern territories^ some of whose inh«bitanis were 
 released from the restraint of a cdnquered people, and 
 had now a favourable prospect of future tranquiUiJ^* By 
 this events the whole British fonce in tlmt part of Cfaiuida, 
 was destroyed; the Sssociation, with eacn other, ijft^^ 
 different tnbes, hostile to the United States, prevented j 
 and their reunion with the c.iemy entirely cut off. By 
 the fall of the &uuvanoe chief, the Americans were dis^^ 
 cumbered of their most powerful^ inveterate, and expe- 
 rienced Indian enemy; and a sudden check was given to- 
 the sjiirit of barbarian enterprise, to which that flintier 
 had hitherto been subject. Teeumseh was a bold, intre- 
 pid, and active leader, whose undeviating practice it was, 
 never to ttdie a prisoner* He was ever reidy to conceive 
 a daring and innuman design, and would execute it with 
 unprecedented and remorseless perseverance. His ruling 
 
ire 
 
 HI«!r<miCAL SKSTOHES 
 
 pasMkmw thii^ f^iider mid animhilft<loi& of this pedlile 
 whom he believed- had encroadied upon, and^pradanly 
 deprived hii m^estry of th^ «oiK mtt, when he ^inder- 
 tom «n exped^oDr accomtNUiied br hifi tribe, he woiild 
 reliai^itH to th^m the spoil, though lie woald never yield 
 the pritile^ of destrtmng^e victim. To the Indians of 
 ail other tribes, as weU as to that among whom he was 
 bom, tbe loss of a leader like^1[^uni$e/t, on whose capa^ 
 city and conduct as a war^^kir, thej could always reijf 
 and wiio would ^ncbun^ and assist in their crueltieft, 
 wiis therefore irreparable. Such, indeed, was the effect 
 of h» death, upon the tribes generally, that bHuiy of the 
 diiefs of most of the nations, Irnvm^ no confidence in any 
 other leader* ^ve themselves up to the conqueri^ g^e- 
 rill ai^l n^jeotiated with him terms of peace^in WM% he 
 s^ttbtted waH, his govemmelit should not be expected to 
 smistiheir warrioi^k 
 
 On the day-following that on which the battle of the 
 'fhameff was fought igeneral Harrison des^^ech the Mo- 
 ravian town, and commen<!ed his inarch for Detroit, where 
 he n^^otiat^ tenns of peace with other tribes, and re- 
 ceiveif a flag froln general Proctor, accompanied bf it re^ 
 GOiest, that h^^ treatment mi^t be extended to the 
 Bridi^ prisoners^ This request had been anticipsted by 
 the American eeneral, who nad already given up the sim- 
 jk^ comforts of his own tent, to the wounded British co- 
 tottels, and had instructed his tr6ops before the battie, &at 
 i^ person of even menerol Froctor should be req^ted, 
 % l)^ the fortune of^ day^it should be thrown into &eir 
 hands;-/ ^■■- ■ -^ -^-''yi -V.-. 
 
 At Detroit governor Shelbj^ volunteers, and the twelve 
 ipOkiUla' men, were aM honourably dischiu^. Tlie Ibrt 
 wi|ft garrisoiied by 1000 men, uAder general Cass, who 
 iNfiiii^PlMimted provisional governor of the Michi»in tei^ 
 riioiT;^ and tiie civil law was restored to tiie condition in 
 wii|cii it was at the time when general Prottor inslxtttted 
 olh^ ordinances, for the government of the inhabitants. 
 
 lb llie event of his success against Factor, the com* 
 fiuttder in clac^ had been directed by tiie war d^artihent 
 to join the northern army on the Niagara; and atc^ing- 
 )y, havhig besides these arranfltments, stationed a re- 
 spectable forlce at-Maldra «id Sandwich, on tiie dSd of 
 
OF TOM lAfE VAB. 
 
 yfT 
 
 the pedtole 
 
 I ne under- 
 , hcj Would 
 lever yield 
 Indkttt of 
 »iii he was 
 rhose capft-* 
 way* Feiy, 
 r craeltie^, 
 the effect 
 Any of t^ 
 nee in any 
 
 ti Which he 
 x]^Gted to 
 
 ittleof the 
 id^ Mo- 
 troit, where 
 «8, and Te- 
 ed by a re- 
 ded to the 
 cipttted by 
 ip the aim- 
 Britiahco- 
 battie,&at 
 respected, 
 a ii^ their 
 
 the twelve 
 The fort 
 Cass, who 
 chi^n ter- 
 sndition in 
 institttted 
 ibitants. 
 ; thecom- 
 epartment 
 
 atoo^inr 
 ned a re- 
 iiieflSdof 
 
 October, he embarked in the sqitad^fon of lake Erie, with 
 all his disposables^ and aailed for the village of Buffaloe, 
 where he arrived before the beginning of mvember. 
 
 w 
 
 T- 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Plan of operations onihe 8t, iMwrenee^-^ConcentroHon 
 ^'of the forces on €irenadierlslimd — British tAofidon the 
 
 investment cf Jhirt Oeorge-^Deseent of the St. Law- 
 
 rence^-^kirmi-^m in its course^^Battie of CkrystUr's 
 
 JUid-^The i«^ ^''^ of the JVWtfterit Jirmy retires to 
 ^winter quarters'-^The, right wing marches through the 
 
 Chttteau^y woods-^Is attacked by the British-^En^. 
 
 gages oMt repulse^ themf-^&oesf also into winter gmr^ 
 •^ier»-^!!Ph€ JStmerictms evacuate Fort George, am de^ 
 
 stroy^rewark^^--SwrreinderofFv^ 
 
 tion of lawistown and Buffaloe. 
 
 ContiESPONDBMT with tlie^e movements of the north- 
 western army, a plan of operations on the St Lawrence, 
 had been concerted by the united talents of the war de- 
 partment, whieh had been transferred to the fhmtier, and 
 general Wilkinson, who, having succeeded to, the com- 
 mand of the army of the north, had ^tablished his head 
 quarters at fort Oeorse. By this plan, the capture and 
 occupation of Montre^ and fcingston, the grand rendez- 
 vous of the British land forces^ and the only secure har-' 
 bour for their naval armaments, was contemplated; and 
 the result of its successfol execution, could not fall of 
 being^ fruitful with advantages to the future movemeiUs 
 of the army, and the contemplated conquest of the pro- 
 vince of Ifower Canada. The late overwrow of general 
 Proctor in the upper province, increased the expec^tions 
 of the department and the army, an4 held out to each, 
 the most certain prospects of eventual si|C€ess. Two ob* 
 stacles, however, presented themselves to the entire ful- 
 filment of these expectations. The lateness of the sea> 
 son, which, in a country where the winter commences 
 
i 
 
 I ; 
 
 t 
 
 ^n 
 
 HlftTOBICAI. 8]KIBTCHBS 
 
 witb j^«t severity, w0iil4 mile up iBsurmountable ob- 
 ntnkctimi to thi^ movemeats of treopt; and tke diAerence 
 of opiniot^ between the eommaitding eeneral andtlra se- 
 eretaiy of- war, as to which post shoiud be the first object 
 of assault Each being tenacious of his own opinion, and 
 botifi anxious for the consmnmation of the concerted 
 scheme, it became necessary to hasten the impending; ope- 
 rations, by liie adoption of one or the other. The delibe- 
 ration of a council of war was proposed. To obviate the 
 first difficulty, tiie removal of the second was indispen- 
 sable, aind the necessity of an immediate decision, upon a 
 (|uestioR involviiig the interests of tite expedkien, bcK;am« 
 more ob^ous^ A coun^ was- thereibre organized, and 
 cotoiceiving that the success of the design, depended on an 
 eaily movement of the designated . force, tim decided, 
 witnout hesi^ttioa, on a descent upon Montreal 
 
 AmmgelneBts were then adopted to collect and con- 
 centrate the different regtments on Grenadier island, a 
 peiiit between Kingston and Sac^efs Harbour, winch had 
 been assigFied as the best ruMtezvous, because <rf ita con- 
 tiguity to the head of tiie St. Lawrence. Orders were 
 forwarded to fort George, to colonel Sc^ti of the artillery, 
 who had been left, bv general Wilkinson, in command of 
 tbat post, to embark his artillery, and cotonel Ranikilph's 
 r^^nnent of infantrv, <»i board a vessel of the sqiiadv(H», 
 aim to proceed to-me island. The general had «&ft the 
 nurison of fort Geoi^ on the 2d of October (181d), with 
 me lar^st portion <^-the troops, who were n^wawaitins 
 ike amval of the remainder, at the rendezvouiE^ md had 
 been actively employed in providing- cloHiing, and ether 
 equipments necessary to tke soldiers,- ift the course, of 
 their movenuHrt down the river. Between Greni^Uer 
 island juad Sac]u:t'S Harbour, he had made £f«quent voy- 
 ages, to see that the troqis were weH bestowed at the 
 £nrmer, and that the different detachments, which almost 
 daily arrived at the laMeVf were immediat^ de^^atehed 
 tiience. He had caused a suffici^t number 4^ beets- to 
 be prepared to convey the art^ery through the StrLaw- 
 rencef. and ^having assicned ^e t»inmiand of BacketTs 
 Barbea^ io lieutenant, cdonel Dennis, he thence procee<i* 
 ed to pat the troops in raotkm at tiie islands 4Xi; 
 
 By this time (the 9Sd) the force at that place amounted 
 to nearly 8000 men, and was composed ot colonel Moset 
 
BtaUe ob- 
 diAerence 
 ad'the 8e< 
 irat object 
 iiiion,and 
 concerted 
 idiittope- 
 "he deliDe- 
 ibvUte the 
 indispen- 
 on, upon a 
 
 lized, and 
 ided OB an 
 y decided, 
 
 ; and con- 
 r island, a 
 wlricb had 
 o^ ita eon> 
 ■ders were 
 
 E'^lery, 
 id of 
 lph'8 
 acHiadron, 
 dMt the 
 81S),with 
 
 t, and had 
 and ether 
 ceume of 
 Greni^tier 
 |uent voy- 
 ed iM: the 
 ch ahnost 
 
 beata to 
 StLaw^ 
 Sa«^fi& 
 {HTOceed- 
 
 unotthted 
 lel Moset 
 
 or THB XATE ^AK. 
 
 179 
 
 Porter^ light aetilleiy ; a few G0in|Nuiies of colonel Bciltt'a 
 (2d) n^ment of artillery; colonel SfComb^ (ad) fem- 
 ment ofartiUierj; the 0th ireg^ent of iitihiftry; thewi, 
 commarded by captain Humphry; the llth; the l^Ukft 
 colonel Colea; the 19th, commanded byeolonelV^peston 
 of the 23d; the 14th, lieatenant colonel Dix; the 15th, co- 
 lonel Brearley;.the 16th, colonel Pearce; the dipt, ooHonel 
 Ripley; the 22d, colonel Brady; the ^th; and ma|or Fpr^ 
 sythe's rifle corps. 
 
 Having issued the necessary-orders, general Wilkinson 
 resolved on moving on the 25th; and atthough the eales 
 which had prevailed for several days, continued witn^^un- 
 abated violence, and were now attended with beviry rahis, 
 his aaxietvto promote the issue of the expedition, indaobd 
 him to oraer tne embarkation of the "troops; and, stnt^ 
 giing against a disorder which had rendered his heallit ex- 
 tremely f>reearioQS, he remained on the tsland until the 
 embarkation was nearly completed, directing the boats to 
 take advantdse of the momentary pauses^ the storm, 
 to slide into me l^t. Lawrence. 
 
 A few days before, intelligence hadbe^n forwarded bf 
 colonel Scott^ of the enemy havinff evacuated the in- 
 trenchmtots in the nei^bourhood of fort Georae^ and of 
 their having^bumt, and otherwise destroyed all Sieir canap 
 equipage and numy stand of arms, in order to facUitate 
 the march of their troops to Kingston; to which pkM^e 
 they had been ordered, as soon as general WiUdnson'^s 
 contemplated movement was discovered. They had 4ie^ 
 ajt^risea of the intentions of tlie Americim general prie* 
 viously to tlie 9th, and, on that day, they abaiidoned tile 
 whole peninsula on the Niagara, and directed mibir attend 
 tion tathe defence of Kingston, against which they sup- 
 posed ihe Americans would move. To keep tiiat impres- 
 sion alive, and to confine their plans to the jprotectitm of 
 Kingston only, general Willdnson fixed on French creek, 
 which lays imm^iately opposite the point at which the 
 Britbh suspected he would land, as tne general rendez- 
 vous of the troops, after their entrance into the^t Law- 
 rence. Brigadier general Brown (now ^f the United 
 States' regulars) was oidered forward to command tiie 
 advance of the army at that place; and the rear ^was seoii 
 after strengthened by the arrival at Grenadier island^ of 
 fhe SOth regiment^ under colonel Randolph. * 
 
180 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 On the Ist November the enemy appeased at French 
 creek, with a sqnadron of four large vessels, and a num- 
 ber of boats filled with infiintry, and attacked the detach- 
 ment at that place in tlie evemnSi General Brown has- 
 tily made arrangements to defendnis position, and after a 
 short cannonaife the enemy's vessels were compelled to 
 retire, by a battery of three 18 pounders, which nad been 
 erected, and manaeed with great spirit, by captains 
 M'Pherson and Fanning, of the artillery. The enemy fell 
 down to a convenient harbour, and renewed his attack on 
 the following niorning. By the same judicious arrange- 
 ments he was again repulsed, and ^ few hours afterwards 
 tiie Ame^can squadron entered the St. Lawrence, and 
 took a position near French creek, to command the north 
 and south channels. On the 3d and 4th the rear of the 
 army arrived at the general rendezvous. On the 5th, the 
 flotilla of tr&nsports got under way, and arrived without 
 accident, below Morrisville. 
 
 On the 6th, the commander in chief ordered the flotilla 
 to descend witli the whole arr^y, to a point within 3 miles 
 of Prescott, And directed the powder and Used ammuni- 
 tion to be debarked, and transported by land, under cover 
 of the night, below the enemy's battenes. Before either 
 of these orders were put in execution, he proceeded in 
 his gig (a smiiU boat) to reconnoitre the place, and having 
 concluded that the safest passage of the troops would be 
 effected on shore, he ordered me debarkation of every 
 man, except the number necessary to navigate the boats, 
 and the army marched by night, two miles l^ow Prescott. 
 Arrangements were also ma^e for the passage of the flo- 
 tilla, to the samci point; and general Brown, being the ger 
 neral officer of the day, was charged with the superintend- 
 ence. Availing himself of a heavy fog, which came on at 8 
 o'clock in the evening, tiie commaQder in fshief, believ- 
 ing he could pass the enemy's fort unobserved, put the 
 flotilla and the marching columns in motion, at the same 
 instant; and m:oceeded in his gig, foUpwed by his passage 
 boat and staff, ahead of the Former. An unexpected 
 change^ of the atmosphere, enabled i^he enemy's garrison 
 to discover the boats, and the columns upon land, whose 
 movements had been simultaneous. Nearly fifty S4 pound 
 shot were fired at the general's passage bdat, and the 
 columns were assailed with a great number of shot aiid 
 
OF THE LATB WAR. 
 
 181 
 
 French 
 i a num- 
 { detacb- 
 ownhas- 
 kd after a 
 )elled to 
 had been 
 
 captains 
 lemy fell 
 ittack on 
 
 arrange- 
 rterwards 
 mce, and 
 the north 
 ;ar of the 
 e 5th, the 
 d without 
 
 (he flotilla 
 in 3 milea 
 lammuni- 
 ider ciDver 
 re either 
 eeded in 
 d having 
 would oe 
 of every 
 theboat«> 
 Prescott, 
 f Ihe flo- 
 the ger 
 rintend- 
 e on at 8 
 ', bejiev- 
 l, put the 
 the same 
 Is passage 
 ^expected 
 garrison 
 whose 
 pound 
 and the 
 shot apd 
 
 shells. Neither of these attacks were successful; and 
 the onlj injury sustained by the Americans, was bnenMUi 
 killed, in one of the boats. The flotilla had been halted by 
 general Brown, as sooH as the flrins was heard, and it did 
 not resume its course until the setting of the moon ; when, 
 in attempting to pass, at the same puice, it was attacked 
 also. It nevertheless pursued its passage to the place of 
 destination, under a heavy, though ineffectual fire, of 3 
 hours. During all this time, of 300 boats, of which die 
 flotilla was comprised, not one was touched by a ball; 
 and before 10 o'clock of the fth, they all safely arrived 
 at the designated rendezvous. From this place, the com- 
 mahder in chief forwarded an order to general Hampton, 
 commandine the left division of the northern army, to 
 form a junction, with the division then descending the St. 
 Lawrence. 
 
 On the 7th, the difficulties in this descent increased. 
 The indisposition of the general became alarming. The 
 poisage or the troops was delayed half a day, in extrica- 
 ting two schooners from the river near Ogden'sburg, which 
 were loaded with provisions, and had been driven to that 
 place by the enemy*s fire. In the course of the mornings 
 the commander in chief had been informed, that the coast 
 below was lined with posts of artilleiy and musketry, at 
 every narrow pass of the river. He, therefore detached 
 colonel JHfOomb, with the elite corps of about 1200 men, 
 to remove these obstructions. At 3 in the afternoon, the 
 army followed. Ihimediately after passine the first rapid 
 of the St. Lawrence, the passage bmd of me general was 
 again attacked by two pieces of li^ht artilTery, which 
 colonel MComb had not nhfl«i-ve(1 iii his march. No 
 other injury was done, however, than the cutting of the 
 ri^i^ the attention of these pieces being diverted from 
 that ^ect, by lieutenant colonel Eustis, and a few light 
 gun barges,* between whom and the enemy, ^ cannonade 
 was kept up, without effect on either side. But major 
 Forsyihe, who was in M^Comb's rear, having landed nis^ 
 riflemen, and advanced upon the enemy, 3 pieces were 
 precipitately earned away. About ^ miles below the town 
 of Hamilton, the flotilla came too, and the general receiv- 
 ed intelligence of colonel M*Comb having routed the 
 enemy at a block house^ Smiles lower The dragoons 
 
 • r ^ -, ■ Q 
 
18£ 
 
 HISTORICAL 8K£TGUl!l8 
 
 ' I." 
 
 which were attached to the first division of tlie army^ jiad 
 by this time assembled at a place called the White House, 
 situated at a contraction of the river. On the morning 
 of the .8th, the flotilU proceeded to this point, and after 
 havinc ordered (fpeneru Brown to oo forward with his 
 brifsde to reinforce colonel ftfComb, and to take com- 
 mand of the advance of the army, general Wilkinson 
 directed the transportation of the dragoons across the St. 
 Lawreiice. This business was completed in the coursie 
 of the night. 
 
 Not long after the descent of this river was commc^ 
 ced by the American army, the Britisli troops, who had 
 been concentrated in the vicinity of Kingston, having dis> 
 covered tiiat that post was not the object of the expedi- 
 tion, immediately proceeded to Prescott. The day fol- 
 lowing that on which the Americans had passed this vil- 
 lage, the JBritish commandant sent a flag over to Ogdens- 
 buig, witn a demand for the delivery of all the public 
 property there, under the penalty of the immediate d^ 
 struction of the town. Wittiout waiting, however, for a 
 compliance with this demand, the enemy embarked about 
 1500 troops and followed general Wilkinson's descent, 
 with an intention of annoying his rear. . On the 9th» they 
 had so far gained upon it, as to bring on a skirmi^ be- 
 tween tiie American rilBemen and a party of British mili- 
 tia and Indians. After haviiig killed one nian, the enemy 
 were completely repulsed. 
 
 In the course of this day, the cavalry, with 4 pieces of 
 artillery, under captain M*Pherson, were attached to the 
 command of general Brown, who was ordered to clear 
 the coast below, as far as the head of the " LopgueStrnt" 
 After being obliged to halt several hours, by the rapidity 
 of the current, to enable general Brown to make good his 
 march, in time to cover we movement of the flotilla, ge- 
 neral Wilkinson arrived at a point called the Yellow 
 House, which stands near the saut s 
 
 On the morning of the 10^ he ordered general Brown 
 to prosecute his march, with all the troops under his 
 command, except 2pieces of artillery and tiie 2d dragoons. 
 A regard for the safety of the men, induced the command- 
 ing general to nuxrch as many of them as possible, as tiie 
 passage of the Longiu 8aut would be dangerous. This 
 regiment, therefore, 'a well as all the men of the other 
 
OT THB LATE WAlt. 
 
 If3 
 
 e army^Jiad 
 Tiaic HuuBe, 
 the morning 
 t, and after 
 ird with his 
 
 take com- 
 Wilkinson 
 
 cross the St. 
 
 1 the course 
 
 "as commc^- 
 ps, who had 
 , having dis< 
 the expedi- 
 rhe day fol- 
 sed this vil- 
 r to Ogdens- 
 il the public 
 ^mediate ^ 
 wever, for a 
 tarked abotut 
 m's descent, 
 the 901, they 
 kirmish be* 
 British mill- 
 the enemy 
 
 4 pieces of 
 ched to the 
 ed to clear 
 ^gue Saut." 
 he rapidity 
 ke good his 
 flotilla, ge- 
 he Yellow 
 
 ral Brown 
 under his 
 I dragoons, 
 command- 
 »le» as the 
 HIS. This 
 the other 
 
 brigades, with the reservation of a proper number to na- 
 vigate the boats, were assigned to general Bo^, who 
 was ordered to takenecessair precautions to prevent the 
 enemy hanging on the rear, from making an advantage- 
 ous attack; and if attacked, to turn upon, and if possitSe, 
 to beat them. Oeneral Brown, in obedience to tnese or- 
 ders, marched with the advance, then consisting of about 
 1800 men, and composed principally of iiolonerAfCbni^s 
 artillery, some companies of colonel Scott's r^ment, 
 part of the light artillery, the riflemen, and the 6th, 15th, 
 and 22d regiments. At a block house near the 6aut, 
 which had been erected to harass the flotilla in its de- 
 scent, he was engaged by a strong party of the enemy, 
 with whom he contender^ tor a few minutes, and atlengm 
 compelled them to retire. This repulse was eff'eoted en- 
 tirely by major Forsythe, who w'as severely wounded in 
 the engagement. Ueneral Brown then took a position 
 near the toot of the satU, At the same time a number of 
 &itish gallieslEtnd gun boats approached the flotilla, now 
 at the shore, and commenced a cannonade. The galley 
 mounted a lotig S4^under, which materially injurra the 
 Aknerican barges, and it became necessary to run two 
 18-pounders on shore, and form a battery to resist the 
 enemy's attack. One shot from this battery obliged the 
 British to retire up the river; and it bein^ then too late to 
 trust the flotilla to the saiit» the current in which allows 
 no chance to land, or to pursue any other than its own 
 course, the barees lay too until the morning of ^e 11th. 
 
 At 10 o*cl6cK on that day, the flotilla was prepared to 
 sail ; and the division Unde j* general Boyd, consisting of 
 his own, and generals Covington and Swartwout's bri- 
 gades, was already fonMed in marching order, when an 
 alarm was heard nrom the gim-bqAts, and the command- 
 ing general was apprised that the enemy were advancing 
 in columii. The increasing indisposition of general Wil- 
 kinson rendered, him incapu>le of taking the field. Gene- 
 ral Lewis having declined the command, in consequence 
 of being ill also, general Boyd was ordered to turn upon^ 
 and attack the fe^iti&h force. The enemas gun-boats 
 were advaftciiig at the same time, with a view to attack 
 the rear of the flotilla, as soon as it should move ofi>-* 
 The oflicers hav?t»pr it in charge, wew therefore directed 
 not tO'l«ive t'" Sore. Gen«til Boyd advanced upon 
 
"i"»ll^P'!Jv 
 
 1S4 
 
 HISTORICAL SI^ETCHBS 
 
 the enemy, wi^ his detachment, formed in 3 columns, 
 and forwaiiled a body of general Swartwout's brigade, 
 consisting of the Slat regiment, to 'meet and bring the 
 enemy. to action. Colcmel Ridley, with this regiment, 
 ranged through the woods, which in a semicircle, skirt- 
 edChryStl^s field, and drove in several parties of the 
 skirmishers. Upon entering the open field, he discovered 
 the British advance, consisting of the 49th and Gleneary 
 regiments. With tiiese he immediately commenced an 
 action, , in which he twice chained these united regi- 
 ments, ei^er of which was more than equal to the 9.1 st, 
 and drove them over the ravines and fences by which 
 Chrystlei^ field was intersected; when they fell upon 
 ^eir main body. Meanwhile, general Covin^n nad 
 advanced upon the enemy's right, where his artmery had 
 been planted; and at the moment when the 21st assailed 
 the British vleft flank, this brigade forced tiie right by a 
 vigorous onset, and the result of the action was now look- 
 ea to with great certainty. The ^lant c^dUct of gene- 
 ral Covington attracted the attention of a party of snarp- 
 shooters stationed in Chrjatler's house, one of ivhom 
 levelled his piece and shot him from his horse. The wound 
 
 S roved to be mortal, and in two days afber the eeneral 
 ied. The fall of their commander threw that brigade 
 into confusion, and it very soon tHt)ke before the enemy's 
 artillery; and toother with the 16th, took shelter be- 
 hind the 21st, which were still engaged with the British 
 left and centre. Four pieces of artillery had been planted 
 to enJUade the enemy's rightj but out of reach of sup- 
 port; and, when Covington's brigade feH back, the Bri- 
 tish commander wheeled part of his line into, column, to 
 attack and capture them. A body of dragoons, under 
 the adjutant general Walbach, attempted, in a very gal- 
 lant manner to charge the British column, but the nature 
 of the ground prevented its being checked, and the in- 
 tervention of the 21st, between the cannon and the ene- 
 my, alone retarded his advance. I'he British then fell 
 bsMck with muth precipitation. The 25th, which had 
 been disordered, was at this time in a ravine; and on all 
 parts of the field, skirmishes and detached battlea were 
 kept up with various success. The 21st being out of am- 
 munition, was withdrawn from the exposed positions of 
 the ground, and a second attempt was soon after made 
 
columi^B, 
 8 brigade, 
 bring the 
 re^ment, 
 cle, skirt- 
 ies of the 
 iiscovered 
 Glensary 
 nenced an 
 lited regi- 
 the 9,\st, 
 by which 
 fell upon 
 ngton nad 
 tiuer J had 
 st assailed 
 right by a 
 now look- 
 ctofffene- 
 f of sharp- 
 > of ^hom 
 
 Ehe wound 
 e seneral 
 it brigade 
 le enemr'is 
 ihelter be^ 
 he British 
 sn planted 
 )h of sup- 
 , the Bri- 
 olttHin, to 
 IS, under 
 
 very gal- 
 he nature 
 id the itt- 
 
 the ene- 
 
 then fell 
 Ihich had 
 Ind on all 
 
 le» were 
 of ani- 
 
 utions of 
 tter made 
 
 '«r T^ ULini ' Wah^ ' 
 
 lt5 
 
 ijp««r tfie caniion. The d^th rf Iwutenant WilKam Wf? 
 SmitH/oftbft light iirtiUeiT, Who conMnanded du« piece^ 
 enabled 1he^«neiny «6 caMttfe the Mytro^yib^ bfih 
 taitted. t%6 coolncHss ana brav^ of i^uitain Aintis^ong 
 Irvine, sated the refnaimng pieces, whi<£ he brought off 
 the "field. The action immemfttelj^ alter ceased. It h^ 
 been fought with distii^uished gallaAtry, by about 1700 
 undiscipmH^ men, against the aatne ntiniber of Bntliali 
 veterans, and its duration w«b uptrards of two hours; The 
 enemy's force consisted of detachments fr6m the 4dth, 
 S90\, 104th, the voltigeurs, and the Glengairy regiment 
 These retired to their encampment, and lie Americans 
 to^eir boatsi 
 
 The Amiericah loss oil Ihis occa^n amounted to 33^ 
 102 ef whofHi were killed; amone tiiese weie lieutenanti 
 Smith, Hunter, and Olmstead: the loss in wounded was 
 swdled by the rank and worth of the officer^ on that list 
 genentllJovitigton ; colonel Preston ^miyors Chambers^ 
 and Cnmmlnffs; and captains Foster, Townsend, Mvers, 
 and Campbell, bfcittg among the oflkers composing it: ^ 
 those wiio distinguished themseltes, none were more con- 
 spicuous thun ca))tain Irvitie* and lieutenant Mahon of the 
 16th, who planted the first American ensign on the Cana.- 
 dian shere at the assault and capture of fort Geoi^ 
 ^\ln this battle, the victory #as claimed on bom sides. 
 An impartial examination of the result, however, will lead 
 to Ihie conclusldti tiiat it was a drawn battle; or tliat, if 
 aniT'advaiiti^s oei^rred to either party, they were de^ 
 ^i^Mly gA$ifted by the • Ameriicand. Ine front of the ene? 
 m^ had been forced back more than a mile in the early 
 p^'of the'aetion, and it never regained tiie ground thus 
 lost. To lise the words of the American general, his 
 vie^' add theise of the British <5ommimder. "were pre- 
 cisely opposed, "the first being boUcJi by the instruc- 
 tions of his government, and the most iM^emn pbligatiotls 
 of duty, to precipitate his descent of the St Lawrence, by 
 eve^y practicaUe means: and the last, by equally impe- 
 rious duties, to retard, and if possible, to prevent such de- 
 scent If then, he j[^e British commander) .found him* 
 seK victorious on this day, it was certainly in his power 
 to have effected the one or t^a other ol^ect and as he 
 made no attempt ^) effect either, it follows incontestibly 
 that he had no foii ground on which to claim a victory.** 
 
 Q2 
 
Mf 
 
 m 
 
 HISTQRig^^ i^U^TCaSS 
 
 So fiur from oMnictipg IJlie iiiirther descent of th^ xivsr^ 
 ikhejeneiny umer apun aisailed the coliwui ufwniaMfOr 
 th« bftc^of the flotiUa. Early m the mormug of jtfae 
 l2ih, the an^y proceeded on ita route^ aod reached Barn- 
 hart, near Comwidl. w))ere it r^oined the advaiice. At 
 tbUjBJlace general lyillunsflin rkeiveda lettor fk-om geae'- 
 ral lumpton, in which he deelin^d a meeting at St. Re- 
 als, the {dace named in ithe ordera which had Been sent to 
 mm on the 0thi and informed the commander in cluef 
 t|uit he intjended to i|»areh to lake Champlain, and thence 
 to c6-o^erate in the attack upon Montreal General Wil- 
 kinson immjediatelyconi^luded that it would be useless to 
 prosecute his route to Montreal any further, and that every 
 prospctct of a dj^sirable termination of the campaign was 
 destroyed. He therefore summoned together me princi- 
 pal officers of that diTiuoh of the army* with which he 
 was aictin|^ who determined that the receipt of this des- 
 patch, rendered it ei^pedient that the army should quit 
 the Canadian side of the St. liawren^, anq go into wiii- 
 ter quarters at French Mills, pn Salmon river, wMch it 
 accordin^y diid on, the 13th instant After having sur- 
 mounted many ^i^qus difficulties, in the descent of a 
 liver, crowded with various obstructions, the fiirther pror 
 secution of its passa^ was tl^s entirely abandoned^ by 
 the united determination of thj^ commander in chief, and 
 his council of war. , ^ .1 , . . , . ,, . , .^ ^ 
 
 Whether the refusal of general Qamptipii to ibrm a 
 junction with j^neral Wilkinsoi), at the pt* R«gis, instead 
 of adopting his own plan of nuurching by Ghamplainand 
 Cognawago, should luive prevented tiie prosecutipn <^ the 
 campaign to its original object, does not come within the 
 province^ these sketches to discuss. It is the business 
 of thpjmter of them to be studiously impartial, and he 
 does Mi hesitate to acknowledge his belief, that many cir- 
 cumstances are vet to transpire, before the public opinion 
 can be regulatecL 
 
 Whilst general Wilkinson was engaged, in concentrat- 
 ing the left division of the army at Grenadier bland, pre- 
 nvatory to the descent of the St Lawrence, ffei^eral 
 Hampton hiad determined on laoving ther right cuviaion 
 from Champhdn down the Chateaugay,for the purpose of 
 obtaining a situation, from which it could with more fa- 
 cility co-opeiate in the contemplated movements against 
 
dug of .jtfae 
 
 ^ance. At 
 firoiBgeBfi'' 
 
 at 8t.Re- 
 een s^nt to 
 er in chkf 
 and thence 
 ;neral Wil- 
 i useless to 
 1 that every 
 npaign was 
 
 me princi- 
 b which he 
 of thisdes- 
 ikould quit 
 |o into win- 
 »r» which it 
 having sm*- 
 Bscent of a 
 iirther pro^ 
 ndoned, by 
 1 chief, and 
 
 to fonn a 
 ds, iii6tea4 
 
 ^F «i«B UlTIS war. 
 
 U7 
 
 |itip9 of the 
 within the 
 
 ^e business 
 
 (al, and he 
 many cir- 
 
 ^ic opinion 
 
 oncentrat- 
 ^laiul, pre- 
 i, ffeQ.eral 
 uviaion 
 purpose of 
 more fa- 
 against 
 
 Mon<x«aL On <he 2|$t of Oetdhar he put hit tro#p«^ 
 motion, having first arranged' t line of conllnulliel^lttl^as 
 &r up the ^ Lawrence as Ogdensburg^ An exle^ve 
 woodr^lied with hewn iimber, and covered with'^> In- 
 dians and the enemy's lig^t tro<|ps, threw aa impediment 
 in the way of the engineers^ wh« were to out a coad ftr 
 Ihe passage of the artillery and stores. Oenend Iznd 
 had beeti d^taehtd with the fight troopa^ and ent r^- 
 ment from the line, to turn them in fiimk, and to seise 
 on the open countiy below. In this he succeeded; and 
 the main army, advancing on a circuitous read, reached 
 the advanced position on the evenmg of fthe ^dw At a 
 distance of seven miles from the sround on Ivhich the 
 army encamp^, was a wood which had been formed into 
 an ii66a^ and was fiUed with a . succession of breaii- 
 works, the rearmost of which wa» wril siippU^ with 
 ordiiancek Bthioid these, the di^oeable force of the ene- 
 my wasv^aced; in front of them the Ug^t ^oops and In- 
 (mn8# ^ liooi^ J^vost w^ sttpBo&d to>bi the eom- 
 mander in chiefi of tho foisces and nreastworks thila ar^ 
 rangnd* It waa i^esolved tn ii^taek ai^?dialod^ tmn. Co- 
 lonel Purdy, who commanded the 1st brisade, waiordeKed 
 on the iS^lIii tti fiird th^ river, and march 4ow9 en ita op- 
 nosMe aide,<iintil he shoiddroadiitlia enemy's rear* whece 
 he WW loreeiiMfi^ npreriand i#fieh hii»ui hiabieait- 
 worte 9vhiJl«t the. 9d boAdb* ;i»ider gc^erld luirdi was 
 to a8saU4iitn$j«f^mnt. ; lle.irei6^ one was to W the 
 iignak of atti^ltlM* tfaof other. ^ .CeiMmel Purdy according^ 
 marched down on ^e opposi^iffAl^biut haa.not poctm- 
 ed far* when he received a countermaiidtng orffer f;xim 
 ^nerai Hampton, issued in consequence of a eommuniea- 
 tiott ^m the ()tt&rter master aeneral'a department, winch 
 the gwert^ decerned unfavottrfMi>le to tht prosecution of Ms 
 
 hk ftttemptiiig to return to .#ie pia<^ at which, he had 
 previously crossed the river, coloiusl Pwdly was attacked 
 by the enemy's in&ntry and IndUans, iWio were repulsed, 
 aner a short contest, though they had .tlut>wn the Ameri- 
 can column into partial confusion. The British at the 
 same time came out of their works, to attack the Sd bri- 
 gade on the opposite side. They were repulsed at tins 
 point also, ana general Izard drove them rapidly behind 
 their defences. Tlie 1st brigade attempted the construe- 
 
188 
 
 mmmm 
 
 niawmmu.'smm>Tcwmfi 
 
 ito^ifi *tMiibeof iog^'MMi^^^ it>#ag Assailed by^ 
 conftdenUe mce of the Brtttih fvgiilirs, ind receivedva 
 slittr^v.Are acit>8»tiie river, ^e brieve was completed} atid 
 coionel ^itrd j recrossed fiis m^i He was again atteek* 
 ed/and aevend times reaistMl ^e thiurges'of t}M«iiemy; 
 T^earmy ctioimeiiced a retreat, afler losiifg abdut^tjr 
 men; and a#|;enerat Hampton received an aeconnt of 
 the^ enem^' iemg conttnoaUjr reinforced, he iNssohed, on 
 thtf^vicenf 4k «<Minfii)^tfiM retreat to the Four Corners; 
 *nie amy, accord^igi3r$ion the Slst; returned* to' 'a |iosi» 
 tiiA wfaidi it held many days before. -In theieViunOii» 
 skirmishea, majors SneUing and Wool wo^ pwrticularly 
 diitinguished* 
 
 A jgettte^^tterfe was kept up' on the tines b^ Col* Clark, 
 who oMiRiMided a rcviment of Mantry, acting as rifle- 
 itaen, wliieh bid airea<fyj on several important oeca^ons^ 
 been of great annbyanoe to the «nenm< Bit this inctnr^ 
 slvowarniie was sto^^^ soon after tike retnttiof gene^ 
 raft Haihpton^ divisinii/and alllhe ti^ooptnnder Ms com*' 
 mand Hrere put into winter qnarter^, in iBe'conrse'ef 4he 
 mcilith of Nvrember, and' the comtnMid ttsi^ned iapiM* 
 
 Noi hn^ alier'ifa^<ie^i)rtiiii^'tff giki^rat Wililnion#Qiiii 
 iavt Oeotwei that; |)Oil!^ tell eadskiive^ lb' tiie 4ieininMM| 
 of "liQ^nfii 8cott^> g^nii^ Umi^»mi nM mmmiW&kLM 
 ol^ildW^¥ol# militill^1Mlii^^uit)^ ^^^iAsM^€nf^mtt 
 sklnalBhes toeik tdaoiei In^iiM^^ theie^^i^^ 
 with th(r€anidi& ^v^kthmer UMiiintell t^^l^biili^ behiMfiid 
 with peirstfnal bi^v#y^Mia!id'gifi>«iatt ttufecn^^f theWvkies 
 w^h vtb« AmerieafI goveramerit mlgKt mpitsb tl-oMHliis 
 new^speeiesoftroopii^-'-^^i'''' ■- ■ 
 4» On the iOlik Decend)«drt^81d>, it was ascertained that 
 the mtemf' had eollected a fewse of I'5li0teelilttrs, and at 
 least 700 Indians, and were proceeding on uieir march ^ 
 fort Geoig^to etpeMlis A^erieaiiis froth the gurriioniind 
 the^slMires; The reninani<of an army, ^f whi«h iheearri^ 
 sen %ras at that time conipOiBed, rendered the pedt altoge- 
 ther untenable^ and general BlChire determined on de- 
 stroying the town of Newark, and the batteries Ir^ which 
 it was protected, and evacuating fort George, wdth a view 
 to postmg himself at fort Niagara^ Accoraingly, having 
 first »vett the inhabitants fiill notice of his intentions, he 
 put mm int6 executkin^ and crossed his foroe over to 
 
or THE LATE VfAR, 
 
 189 
 
 A(«d by * 
 
 EK^tiiwdl^ ft 
 
 etediattd 
 in atteek* 
 
 bottt^ty 
 
 BCOIlBt of 
 
 )oW«d»<iii 
 • Corners; 
 30 a |>o8i^ 
 ie i^riouft 
 rtiettlarly 
 
 >oLClarki 
 V as rifle- 
 oecasloBft, 
 
 llof geUe* 
 r his com* 
 rseof 4hc( 
 I to tfKtte^ 
 
 irottitliis 
 
 'miiA- that 
 ■t»,aiiid lit 
 inarch i0 
 risOttind 
 thc'ttarri* 
 ^aHoae- 
 »d on ffe- 
 Irf which 
 tha Vir^ 
 y. having 
 itions, he 
 over to 
 
 the American shore. Newark was left in flames* and 
 the j^ns of fort George were rendered useless. Hie 
 British forces arrived only in time to find tiiemselves 
 without shdter, and were obliged to fall back to Queens- 
 town. From this place general MClure attempted to 
 dislodge them, by the batteries at Lewistown, Imt without 
 effect. ' •; 
 
 The British commander became highly incensed at the 
 destruction of the town of Newark, and secretly resolved 
 on the conflagration of Buffiiloe, Schlosser, and Lewis- 
 town, and the capture of fort Niag^ira; the garrison of 
 which they destined to be put to the sword. A surmiso 
 of these intentions of the enemy, induced the American 
 commander to transfer his head quarters to Buffaloes to 
 which place he immediately set out, to provide fimr the 
 protection of its citizens, and called forth the neighbour^ 
 ingmilitia en fiuuse. < ' 
 
 Fort Niagara was at this time garrisoned by 3^ sick 
 and effective men, and was commanded by captain Leo- 
 nard, of the artillery, who, notwithstanding the notorious 
 fact of the enemy being within two hour's inarch of the 
 fort, neglected to provide against an assault, by night, 
 and on me evening of the 18th, took up his quarters at 
 a farm, 2 miles distant from his command. At 4 o'clock 
 on the morning of the 19th, the enemy, 400 in numijlier, 
 crossed theNia&ara, under colonel Murray, and approach- 
 ed the principal gate, which was then open. Accompa- 
 nied by his Indian warriors, he rushed furiously in upon 
 tiie garrison, and in a few minutes, put an end to all op- 
 position. The only resistance which was made, he re- 
 ceived from the guard in the southeast block house, and 
 the sick, who crawled out from their beds. What officers 
 were within the fort, exhausteu every means of defence, 
 of which the suddenness of the attack had net deprived 
 them. On entermg the garrison, colonel Murray recdved 
 a wound in the arm; soon after which he yielded the 
 command to colonel Jlamilton-'-under whose superin- 
 tendence, tiK women of the nrrison were stript of their 
 clothing and many of them killed, and. the persons of the 
 dead cheers treated with shocking indignity. In the 
 meantime, captain I^eonard arrived, and was made pri- 
 soner ; and out of the whole number of troops in the gaii* 
 rison, 20 only effected their escape. The British flag 
 
196 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 was iimnediatelv after unfurled, and the enemy had the 
 entire commana of the entrance to the Niagara. * \^ 
 
 In the course of the same morning about 70(K Indians 
 made an attack upon Lewistown, which was defended foy 
 a small determent of militia, under major Bennett, who 
 resisted tihe asndlants, until he was entirely surrounded, 
 and then desperately cut his way through, with the loiss 
 of 8 men, and effected his retreat. This village, and 
 tiiose of Young's town, Manchester, and the Indian Tm- 
 carora, were speedUy reduced to ashei^B. Whilst the In- 
 dians were engaged in firing Lewistown, major Mallory 
 boldly advanced frttm Schlosser, and attacked their outer 
 guara at Lewistown heights, and compelled it to fall back 
 to the foot of the mountain. The Indians were soon re- 
 inforced, however, and the gallailt Mallory was in turn 
 dbli^ed to retire. He retreated gradually to Tantawantp 
 creek, occasionally turning upon, and nghting their ad- 
 vance guard, for 2 days; at the end of which time, the 
 Indians eave up the pursuit In these afl&irs, major M[al- 
 iory lostlieutenant Lowe, of the 23d infantry, and 8 men. 
 
 ueneral M'Clure, having collected nearly SOOO militia 
 at Buf&loe, left them uiraer the command of general 
 Hall, and repaired to the villase of Batavia, alMut 28 
 nules from Bnfialoe, to provide for its protection against 
 a sa|Iy from fort Niasara. He had previously sent lieu- 
 ti^pUt Baddle to that place, with alt the regulars in the 
 v^t^ty, amounting' in the whole to 80 men, to secure the 
 pttbHc arsenal. On his arrival at Batavia, after having 
 organized a body of militia- there, he ordered the regulars 
 back to Bttflaloe, to encourage by their example, the un- 
 disciplined troo]^ of his division. 
 
 On the 30th (DeeemberX the British landed 650 m^h at 
 Black Rock, and immediately proceeded to the village of 
 Buffiiloe. Before they reached it, however, they were ob- 
 stinately opposed by colonel Bleeksly, and 2 or 300 raw 
 and unaisciplined militia. General Hall had' fallen back 
 about three miles from BulUoe, when his force Was rate 
 by lieutenant ^Riddle and his regulars. The^ritieh had 
 already entered the village, and the militm fled wi^ the 
 greatest precipitation. Riddle offered to march with his 
 regulars m front, and thus to excite the tatiiid militia, to 
 rqvttlse the enemy, and drive him from the village. But 
 the general, yielding to the unwllliitgness of the men, do^ 
 
UF TUB LATE WAB« 
 
 191 
 
 my had the 
 .ra. ' \'> 
 roo Indians 
 lefended by 
 ennett, who 
 surrounded, 
 ith the loss 
 village, and 
 Indian TVs- 
 hilst the In- 
 Lior Mallory 
 I their outer 
 to fall back 
 ere soon re- 
 was in turn 
 Tantawanty 
 ng tiieir ad- 
 cn time, the 
 , major IVf al- 
 ', and 8 men. 
 SOOO militia 
 
 of general 
 a, alMut 2S 
 ;tion against 
 ly sent lieu- 
 [ularsin the 
 o secure the 
 after having 
 the regulars 
 
 }le, the un- 
 
 650 m^n at 
 le village of 
 ey were ob- 
 or 300 raw 
 fallen back 
 'ce Was mtc 
 \Britieh had 
 ed with the 
 'ch with his 
 militia, to 
 ilage. But 
 le men, d^ 
 
 clined the proposal of the regular officer, who, thereupon, 
 rode towards the village to reconnoitre. He advai^ed 
 within half a mile of ito suburbs, and seeing that with a 
 handful of spirited men he could himself save the place 
 from destruction^ he returned to general Hall, and en- 
 treated him to place 200 men under his command, with 
 whom he promised at least to rescue the women and chil- 
 dren, who would otherwise be sacrificed by the Indmns, 
 if not to drive out the enemy. General Hall thought diis 
 plan was impracticable. lieutenant Riddle, therefore, 
 was preventeck from attempting it By the exertion of 
 miyor Staunton and major Norton, each of whom belong- 
 ed to the village, abcwt 200 men were collected, and ex- 
 pressed their willingness to combat the British and In- 
 dians. These were advised, that it was in vain to at- 
 tack their enemy, and this advice was sanctioned by the 
 general. At lengdi, having become ^uite indisnant at the 
 timidity of tiie militia, lieutenant Riddle took upon him- 
 self the responsibility of going forward with his oWn men, 
 and of rescuing as much public property as they could 
 lyear away. He entered tne upper ^t of the villi^, 
 where he was informed by a citizen, tiiat colonel Chamn, 
 who had long before the flight of the militia, been oraer- 
 ed to take post at Conejockeda creek, had surrendered 
 the place to the enemy, under the condition ^iMt tibey 
 were to plunder, but not to bum it The Indians w«4^m 
 that moment firing the houses. Lieutenant Riddle, MBa 
 30 men, tiien took from the arsenal, which had not been 
 discovered by the enemy, about 300 stand of arms, and 
 some other public property, and having made two Indian 
 
 ?risoners, returned to the position occupied by general 
 lalL 
 
 On the following day, January tst (1814), a »nall party 
 of dragoons were ordered in advance of the whole miliFtia, 
 which general Hall marched to the vicinity of the villasc!, 
 in order to make a show of force. €aptain Stime, i^o 
 commanded the advance, accfnnpanied by lieutenant Rid-^ 
 die, lieutenant Totman, of the Canadian volunteers^ and 
 lieutenant Frazer of the 15th reeiment, infantry, made 
 several prisoners on the marnn ot the vilUge, and having^ 
 delivered them to the genenu, the latter immediately <Mr- 
 dered his whole force to retire, and called In the advance 
 % that purpose* Riddle and Totman, not knowing that 
 
192 
 
 HISTORICAL SILBTCHE8 
 
 I 
 
 the dragoons had fallen back, were left in the near neigh- 
 bourhoM of the enemy, and upon being discovered by a 
 8quadr<ni of the British horse, Vney immediately put spurs 
 to their own, and attempted to escape toward the rendezr 
 vous oi ^neral Hall's brigade. They very soon outstrip- 
 ped their pursuers, and were congratulating themselves 
 upon their supposed escape, when another squadron of 
 the enemy were perceived coming out of the road, lead- 
 ins from Black Kock, and directine their course for Buf- 
 fafoe, between which and that road. Riddle and Totman 
 then were. Thus hemmed in, on a narrow highway, 
 with a superior enemy in front, and in the rear, they saw 
 no probable prospect of escaping, and would have ^ven 
 themselves up, but for the Ix^tment which other prison- 
 ers on the l^lWara had recently received, and tiie prac- 
 tice, which had about this time commenced, of nuudng 
 hostages. No alternative seemed to present itself, but 
 that of cutting their way throu^ the party in their front; 
 and on thib they mutually resonred. On their attempting 
 to dash through, with ^dent impetuosity, the whole party 
 dischaiged their pistols at them, one only of which took 
 effect, and the unfortunate Totman fell from his horse. 
 Riddle cut through with his sword, and having gained their 
 rear, pushed his horse through a narrow lane on the. left, 
 and rode into a tiiick swamp, terminated bv a forest 
 Thf0ugh this the enemy did not choose to rollow him, 
 arid he arrived ai.the head quarters of the general on the 
 same day, without having met with other obstacles. 
 
 In It few days after, the British evacuated all the posi- 
 tions tiiey had captured, except fort Niagara. This, they 
 put in a better state of defence, and from it they made 
 nrequent incursions, which were ever attended by acts of 
 violence upon the neighbouring inhabitants. 
 
 Tlie campaign of 1813. in mt north, was now drawn to 
 its &ial close ; and thoi^ the American arms had attain- 
 ed a high degree of reputation, no one advantage was 
 obtained, to atone for the blood and treasure, which had 
 already been exhausted. The capital of Upper Canada 
 had been taken. It was scarcely captured. Wore it was 
 abandoned. The bulwark of the pr^ ^nce, fort Georee, 
 had been gallantly carried; but an infeiiorfoe was suffer- 
 ed to escape, after being beaten; and the conquerors were 
 soon after confined to the works of the garrison, and 
 
 IH 
 
near neigh- 
 ▼ered by a 
 y put gpurs 
 the rendezr 
 m outstrip- 
 themselves 
 quadron of 
 road, lead- 
 -se for Buf- 
 id Totman 
 V highway, 
 ; they saw 
 blave ^ven 
 her pnson- 
 1 the prac- 
 of making 
 itself, but 
 their front; 
 attempting 
 irhole party 
 which took 
 i his horse, 
 ^ned their 
 m the. left, 
 f a forest 
 oUow him, 
 ral on the 
 cles. 
 
 1 the posi- 
 
 |Thi8, they 
 
 hey made 
 
 by acts of 
 
 drawn to 
 Lad attain- 
 |taee was 
 which had 
 |r Canada 
 >re it was 
 George, 
 \s» suSer- 
 irswere 
 m, and 
 
 
 
 V ■■^-■I 
 
 'J ^ 
 
 
 '■,Y.^- 
 
 *■ / 
 
 / 
 
 .--*?. ..'o-' 
 
 
 
 ml 'J- 
 
 % 
 
 U ' 
 
^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 13) 
 
 OT T^B 1.ATE WAH. 
 
 193 
 
 
 closely mvested upwards of six months. The lonffcon- 
 template attack upon Montreal, was Ihistmtdl; Kine- 
 ston iitiU rjHnained, a safe and advantage^Mis l|artHmr, m 
 the hands of the enemy; and a fortress, which misht have 
 been long and obstinately, and eflEectiudlT defend, was 
 yieldisd, with scarcely a stmn^e, and uhder circumstances 
 mytteriMs iir the extreme, to the Tetaliating invaders of 
 the American Niagara frontier. In the course of the sum- 
 mer of 1$1S,. the American army posseted every posi- 
 tion between lake Ontario and lake Erie, on both sides of 
 the Niasahu In the winter of the same year, after ha\- 
 inggradroally lost their possessions on the British side of 
 that stream, they were' dieprived of their possessions on 
 their owa. Another day may bring forward a develop- 
 ment of the causes^ which led to such unfavourable re- 
 sults; and posterity be enabled to throw the censure on 
 the proper olyect 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 7/t« JWvj^— 2%e Hornet challenges Bonne dtoyenne — Is 
 chased from St. Saivador'^Engaffts and captures the 
 doop of war Feaeoek — Arrives at J^ew Fork^'-^RetUTn 
 of the frigate Chesapeake-^Her cruise^-^f*Arrival and 
 departure of the President and Congress — Deaih of 
 captain Lawrencet and loss of the Qhesapeake-^-^on' 
 duct of the Privateers — lAeutenant St, Clair, in Ches- 
 apeake Bay-^Fight between the mrivateer Commodore 
 Aecatur and the shop of war bominica* 
 
 The United States' sloo]) of war Hornet, having 
 challenged to a combat, the British sloop of war Bonne 
 dtoyenne, captain Green, who declined an acceptance of 
 ^e invitation, she was left before the p(»rt of St. Salva^ 
 d6r, by commodore Bainbiidge, with orders to blockade 
 the enemy's, vessel of war, containing upwards of half a 
 million of dollars, and two armed British merchantmen, 
 then lying in that harbour. This blockade was vigilant- 
 
194 
 
 HI8T0BICAI. SKBTCUJBS 
 
 It k^t up' until the, 84th of January, 181d, on which day 
 tne Montague 74 hove in tight, and chased the Hornet 
 into the himMmr, whence, however, she escaped in the 
 alight Captain I^awrence, who still commanded her^ 
 then shifted his cruising ground ; and after having cap- 
 tured a vessel of 10 nins, laden with specie, and having 
 run* di»wn the coast for Maranham, thence off Surrinam, 
 and thence for Demarara, outside of the bar of the river 
 leading to which place, and with the fort bearing S. W. 
 about S and an half leagues distant fi'om him, -he disco- 
 vered a man of war brig^ which he immediatelv attempt- 
 ed to near, by beating round the Carabana oank. In 
 making this effort, a second sail, of equal size to the 
 other, was also discovered, at about half past 3» P. M. 
 At 90 minutes past 4, the strange sail, the British sloop 
 of war Peacock, captain Peake, of 18 guns, and one Im- 
 pounder carronade, a shifting |;un, showed the EnsJ^h 
 nas, and tfie Hornet was immediately cleared for acBon, 
 ana captain Lawrence made every attempt to get the 
 weathergage. The Peacock was edging down fast All 
 the efToiis of the Hornet to weather her proved fruitless, 
 and at 25 minutes past 5, the American ensign being 
 then up, in passing each other, the two vessels exchang- 
 ed broadsides within half pistol shot iThe effect of this 
 fire on board the enemy's vessel was extremely severe ; . 
 on board the Hornet no loss whatever was sustuned. 
 The Peaaock, being then discovered in the act of wear- 
 ing, captain Lawrence bore up, received her staiixiard 
 iMioadside, run her close on board on the starbou^ Quar- 
 ter, and poured into her so heavy, constant, and well di- 
 rected a fire, that in 15 minutes she surrendered, with 
 her hull and rigging totally cut to pieces. At the mo- 
 ment of her surrender, she hoisted a signal of distress, 
 and in the next moment, her mainmast went by the board, 
 lieutenant Shubrick, whose gallantry, on tms occasion, 
 was not less conspicuous than in the actions with the 
 Ouerriere and Java, in each of which he ^ve unequivo- 
 cal proofs, as well of his humanity, as of his bravery, was 
 despatched to iHing her officers on board the Homet^->- 
 He soon retomed with her first officer, and a report that 
 the captain had been killed in the latter part of the action; 
 
 * This officer was lost in the Epervier. 
 
OF TH« LATR IfAB. 
 
 195 
 
 ^hich day 
 [C Hornet 
 id in the 
 ided her^ 
 viiig^ cap- 
 id having 
 3urrinani» 
 the river 
 ig 8. W. 
 •he disco- 
 ' attempt- 
 ank. In 
 Ke to the 
 3, P. M. 
 tish sloop 
 id one 12- 
 leEneliflh 
 or actum, 
 o set the 
 fast All 
 fruitless, 
 ign being 
 exchui^- 
 ct of this 
 y severe ; . 
 sustained, 
 of wear- 
 starboard 
 ftrd auar- 
 well di- 
 ; with 
 ^e mo- 
 distress, 
 lo board. 
 
 that a great number of the crew were either killed or 
 woundttlt and that she was sinking fast, having already 6 
 feet water in her hold. Bo^ vessels were brou|{^t to an* 
 chor, and all the boats immediatelv* despatched to ttring 
 off the Wounded, and as much of meir basgage as could 
 be found. All the shot holes which could 1^ got at were 
 then plugged, the guns thrown overboard, and cQwry 
 possible exertion u^d to keep her afloat, by pumpinff 
 and bailing, until the prisoners could be removed. AH 
 efforts appearing to be entirelv unavailing, ^e body of 
 captain Peake was enclosed in tiis own-fla^, and me ship 
 sunk in 5 and an hair fathoms water, carrying down 13 of 
 her own, and 3 of tht Hornet's crew.* Wim the utmost 
 difficulty, acting lieutenant Conner and midshipman Coo- 
 per, who were superintending the removal of me prison- 
 ers, effected their escape, by jumping into a boat which 
 was Ijdng on her booms, at the moment when the Pea- 
 cock sun^ 
 
 < The loss of the enemy amounted to 33 in wounded, 3 
 of whom' afterwards died. The number of killed could 
 not be ascertained ; but 4 men, besides the captain, were 
 found dead on the Peacock's deck; and 4 men m addition 
 to the 13 who sunk, were drowned. The loss on board 
 the Hornet was 1 man killed, 2 slightly wounded in the 
 action^and 2 severely by the bursting o^a cartridge. Her 
 hull was scarcely injured, thoueh the riggins and sails 
 were cut, her foremast pierced through, and Inr bow- 
 sprit sli^tly wounded. 
 
 The officers and crew of the Hornet -were not behind 
 those of any other ship, in emulating the example of 
 captain Hull and his brave companions; and the course 
 and consequence of this engagement, bore a striking si- 
 militude to that wiUi the Griierriere. Acting lieutenants 
 Conner and Newton, and midshipmen Cooper, Mayo, 
 Gtetz, Smoot, Tippet, Boerum, and Titus, behaved with - 
 that bravery, whicn had now become almost inseparable 
 from the American name. Lieutenant Stewart, the 1st 
 officer of the ship, was unfortunatelv too ill to keep the 
 deck, and captain Lawrence was therefore deprived of 
 the services of a meritorious and valuable officer. 
 
 * These men went on board to save the wounded, the British 
 sailors having* reiiised to assist them. "^ 
 
"^p 
 
 196 
 
 HISTOmCAL SKETCHES 
 
 ItiJB enm^ent took, place in view of the siy^of war, 
 whicli lay m Denarara river, the Espeigle ; a^l^ptain 
 Xiawreiice being apprehensive that ^e would best out to 
 the assistaiice bf her consort the Peacock, the ^eatj^st ac- 
 tivity prevaUed on board the Hornet to repair damages, 
 as soon as they were sustained, and by 9 o'clock all the 
 boats were stowed, new sails bent, and the ship com- 
 pletely prepared for another action. The E^^gle, oi 
 equal Ibrce wi^ the Peacock, did not cotme out. 
 
 Captain Lawrence's crew liad been on S-Sds allowance 
 of provisions for several days, and the nuinber of souls 
 now on board amounting to 270, inSluding tlujse of the 
 merchant prize, it became necessary that she should re- 
 turn to the United States. She shaped her course for 
 Ne^ York, where she arrived about the 20th of March. 
 On the passage her officers divided their clothing with the 
 prisoners, who had lost their baggage; the crew of the 
 ship save up each a proportion oftheirs to the crew of 
 the^ftacock; and the private wardrobe of the captain, 
 whose attentions to the wants of those, whom the fortune 
 of war had placed in his hands, and 'whose exertions to 
 ameliwate their condition were unceasing, was i^ven up 
 to her officers. At New York, captain Lawrence was 
 received witii universal joy; and his reception in other 
 cities was similar to that which had been given to other 
 naval , commanders. 
 
 Many days had not elapsed, after the arrival of the 
 Hornet at New York, wben the United States' friga,te 
 Chesapeake, captain Evans, of 36 guns, returned to the 
 hiEtrbour of Boston, from a cruise of 115 days. During 
 that time she had run down by the Madeiras, Canaries, 
 and Cape de Verds, and thence down on the equator, 
 where sue cruised 6 weeks. Hence she proceeded down 
 the coast of South America, and passed within 15 leagues 
 of Surrinam. On the 25th of Feoruary, the day after the 
 conquest of the Peacock, she passed over the 'place, at 
 which that vessel had been sunk, and thence proceeded 
 down by Barbadoes, Antigua, and most of the windward 
 islands, thence on the coast of the United States, between 
 Bermuda and the capes of Viipiua, by the capes of the 
 Delaware within 12 leagues, by New York within 20, 
 and thence by the east channel to Boston, where she ter- 
 minated a cruise on the lOtli of April, marked by the cap- 
 
OF THE LATB WAB. 
 
 1«7 
 
 sUpofwar, 
 
 I beat out to 
 ^eat^st at- 
 ur damages, 
 clock all the 
 e ship com- 
 Espetgle, of 
 E»ut. 
 
 Is allowance 
 ber of souls 
 thuse of tile 
 le should re- 
 ir course for 
 I of March, 
 hing with the 
 crew of the 
 the crew of 
 the captain, 
 1 the fortune 
 exertions to 
 ivas given up 
 wrence was 
 on in other 
 yen to other 
 
 rival of the 
 
 ates* friga,te 
 
 irned to the 
 
 ys. During 
 
 8, Canaries, 
 
 he equator, 
 
 ceded down 
 
 15 leagues 
 
 aj after the 
 
 le 'place, at 
 
 proceeded 
 
 windvard 
 
 es, between 
 
 apes of the 
 
 within 20, 
 
 re she ter- 
 
 bythe cap- 
 
 i^ve of f^uj* valuable merchantpien, the chas^ of a Sfritish 
 slooo Q||l^r» and an esci ^« from two line of bati^e j|hi|>i* 
 The command of this ship was thim giv<9i tp captain 
 Lawrence, (her late commander, captain Evaiis; havios 
 accepted die command of the New Yotk station) und di- 
 rections were immediately '^ven to repair, and equip her 
 for another cruise. Commodore Roapiers had returned 
 to that port also fro in a cruise, in which, tfaoudi he did 
 not capture any armed ship of the enemy,^he drew from 
 the coast such of Ms public vessels as were destined to 
 blockade the different ports, and saved to the mercantile 
 interest of the country many millions of dollars: Hie 
 President and Congress were at that time the only ves- 
 sels of his squadron. To keep these in port, the British 
 frigates Shannon and Tenedos, each being of tiie largest 
 class, appeared off the entrance to the haroour of Boston, 
 and sent in frequent reports of their size, strength, and 
 armament. Early in the month of May, however, com- 
 .modore Rodeers put to sea; but the British frigates 
 a,v aided him ly sailing from the coast In, the course of 
 that months the Shannon returned to the mouth of the 
 harbour, and lier commander, commodore Brooke, sent 
 in a challenge, to the commander of the frigate Chesa- 
 peake. This challen^ was not received by captain I^aw- 
 rence, but l^s ship being then in readiness, he understood 
 the menacii]^ manceuvres of the Shannon to be an invita- 
 tion, and on the first of June (1&14), with a crew almost 
 in a state of mutiny, and unacquainted with their new cap- 
 tain, and without his full complement ot officers, his first 
 lieutenant, Paee, being sick on shore, he sMled out to 
 .meet, and give oattle to the hostile ship. The Shannon 
 sailed from the bay, and put to sea, the Che^peake, fol- 
 lowing in chase, seven miles astern At half past 4, the 
 Shannon hove to, with her head to the southwara and east- 
 ward ; and at half past 5, the Chesapeake hauled up her 
 courses, and was closing fast with .the enemy. At 15 mi- 
 nutes before 6, he commenced the action by firing his after 
 suns on ^e starboard side, when the Chesapeake eave 
 him a broadside; this was succeeded by a broaidside from 
 the Shannon, which killed the sailing master, Mr. White, 
 and many of the crew, and woundcn captain Lawrence ; 
 he refused to quit the deck, however, and ordered a second 
 broadside, the return to which, wounded th captain a se- 
 
 R2 
 
198 
 
 HISf ORliDAL 8Rin*OBE8 
 
 tooA time, and kill^ the fourth ^utenant, Ballard, and 
 Hettt^nant Broom <rf',the marines. "The Che8i»peake then 
 nukjl^ ahead, of tiie Shannon, when her jib sheet, the 
 sliflcsof her fore top sail yard, her spanker brails, and 
 her DOW lines and o^aces, being cat, she luffed into the 
 wind, and took aback, and fell with her quarter foul of 
 the Shannon's starboard anchor. This accident «ive a 
 decided advantage to the enemy, and enabled him to 
 rttke the Chesapeake. Captain Lawrence was uU this 
 while on deck, still persisting in his refusal to' so below, 
 when, having called for the boarders, h^ received a mus^ 
 ket ball throu^ the body, and in a languishing state was 
 carried down. At this moment the ship was deprived of 
 all her principal officers ; the first lieutenant, Au^stus C. 
 Ludlow, had been mortally wounded; several (» the mid- 
 shipmen and petty officers, besides the fourth lieutenant 
 and the commanding officer of marines, were either killed 
 or wounded, and the command of the ship devolved on 
 her third lieutenant, Budd. The braveiy and seamanship, 
 of f^s officer, being already known to the crew, some 
 hope remained of saving the ship, and of capturing the 
 superior enemy. But, as lieutenant Budd ascended the 
 spar deck, an arm chest on the quarter was blown up, by 
 a hand grenade, thrown from the Shannon's tops. The 
 boarders very soon followed lieutenant Budd, but bef<Mre 
 they reached the deck, captain Brooke had determined 
 that the Chesapeake could only be carried bv boarding, 
 and having already so many shot between wind and water 
 in his own ship, that he became apprehensive of her sink- 
 ing, he threw his marines on the Chesapeake's quarter 
 deck,tind headed them himself. Lieutenant Buad im-, 
 mediately gave orders to haul on board the fore tack, for 
 the purpose of shooting the ship clear of the Shannon, and 
 of attempting to capture captain Brooke, who had then a 
 number of his crew on board the Chesapeake. On this 
 effi>rt the fate of the ship depended, and most of the Ame- 
 rican crew, mindful of the dying words of their gallant 
 commander, whose injunction on them was, " Don't give 
 up the sfiApr several times attempted to succeed in it: 
 but the boatswain having mutinied, aikl persuaded many 
 of tie men, who were dissatisfied at not havinj^ received 
 their prizre money of the last cruise, to join him below ; 
 the few who remained firm to thek duty, were soon over- 
 
5V THE tlli^lS; WAR. 
 
 190 
 
 ilard, and 
 eake then 
 iheet, the 
 irails, and 
 I into the 
 er foul of 
 nt «ive a 
 A nim to 
 18 aU this 
 ;o below. 
 
 ed a mu8*> 
 'State was 
 ieprived of 
 .ugustusC. 
 jfthe mid- 
 lieutenant 
 ither killed 
 'volved on 
 leamanship . 
 crew, some 
 tturing the 
 cendecl the 
 f wn up, by 
 tops. The 
 but before 
 letermined 
 ^boarding, 
 and water 
 f her sink- 
 s's quarter 
 Budd im-, 
 e tack, for 
 innon, and 
 tad then a 
 On this 
 the Ame- 
 :ir gallant 
 hn*t give 
 leed in it.: 
 ed many 
 received 
 [m below; 
 iOOB over- 
 
 Sowered ; and lieutenant Budd^ beipg wounded and thrown 
 own to the gun 4eck, in attempting to gain tiie quarter, 
 ihe scheme entirely fuled, and the enemy guned com* 
 plete possession of the upper deck. A great proporti<m 
 of the creWj who had escaped a wound, neverthdess con<* 
 iinued fitting; and captain Brooke, as he was crossing 
 the ship, was sKot through the neck by the Chesapeake^ 
 chaplam, Livermore, whom he instantly cut down ; but 
 he, almost as soon, received a wound in the head, and 
 was then transferred to his own ship.' Hie enemy *& crew 
 were now commanded by lieutenant Waft, who stabbed 
 and cut down the wounded and vanquished, without re- 
 md to their cries of surrender. He was killed on the 
 Chesapeake^ deck, according to one account, by one of 
 the Slumnon's sailors, as he was placing, hj mistake, the 
 American over Ihe English ensign ; accordmg to another, 
 by an American sailor in the main top, when in the act 
 of killing a wounded marine. The enemy had now the 
 entire possession of the Chesapeake; the Ei^ish flag was 
 flying at the different mast heads, yet they ccmtinued to 
 shoot at, and otherwise to wound* her sailors. A volley 
 of musketry was fired by them, down upon tiie WQundea, 
 and one of the American mid^ipmen was assailed by a 
 British marine with great violenpe, after his submission 
 to tiie Shannon's commander. 
 
 In this engagement, the result of which is attributed to 
 many fortuitous events, the suMriority of the American 
 gunnery was eleariy evinced. The Chesapeake fired two 
 ^ns to one of the enemy, and pierced tlie shannon's sides 
 m so many places, that she was kept afloat with very great 
 difliculty ; whilst, on the other side, the Shannon's broad- 
 sides scarcely injured the hull of the Chesapeake. At 
 lone shot the engagement might have terminal^ differ- 
 ently; thoueh die captain and crew were strangers to each 
 other, the ship just out of port, and not in a fighting con- 
 dition, and many of the sailors quite raw. Her rate was 
 36 guns, her force 48. The rate of the Shannon was 38, 
 her force 49; and in addition to her ow);i crew, she had 
 on board, 16 chosen men from the Bella Poule, and part 
 of Ihe crew of the Tenedos. She lost in the engagement, 
 besides her first lieutenant, the captain's clerk, me purser 
 and 23 seamen, killed; and, besides her captain, one mid- 
 shipman and 56 seamen, wounded. On board the Cbesa- 
 

 200 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 peake, the captain, the first and fourth lieutenants, the 
 lieitten{uit of marines, the master, midshipmen Hopewell, 
 Livingston, Evans, and about 70~ men, were killed: and 
 the second and tiiird lieutenants, the chaplain, midship- 
 men Weaver, Abbott, NichoUs, Berry, and neaflj 80 
 men, wounded. The greater pi^portion of- this Loss was 
 sustained, after the enemy had gained the deck of the 
 Chesapeake. 
 
 Soon after the termination of the action, the two ships 
 were steered for Halifax, where the bodies of captain 
 Lawrence, and^s^allant officers slain in the battle, were 
 committed to the grave with the usual honours, attended 
 by all the civil, naval and military officers, of the two na- 
 tions, who happened to be in that port. 
 
 Not long after these honourable funeral obseouies had 
 been performed by the enemy, captain Geoi^ Crownin- 
 shield, brother to tne present secretary of the navy, actu- 
 ated by t|)e laudable aesire of restoring tiie body of the 
 lamented Lawrence to his country and his friends, re- 
 quested and obtuned permission of the pi^sident, to pro- 
 ceed in a flag vessel to Hidifax, at his individual expense, 
 for that purpose. The commanding officer of the British 
 rauadrott, at tihat time bloekading the eastern ports, sir 
 lliomas Hardy, readily assented to the free passage of 
 captsdn Crowninshield's brig, and he accordingly proceed- 
 ed to effect his efcgeci, accompanied by twdve masters 
 of vessels, who volunteered to compose the crew. The 
 body was brou^t to the port of Salem, and entombed 
 with the temains of its ancestors in New York, where the 
 hiehest funeral honours were paid by the citizens, as a 
 tribute of their respect and admiration to their late gal- 
 lant countryman. 
 
 The private amfed vessels of the United States, the 
 number of which had greatly increased since the account 
 given of them in a foregoing chapter of these sketches, 
 were still cruising over the Atlantic, continually captur- 
 ing, and otherwise annoying the commerce of the enemy, 
 and occasionally engaging some of his public ships, m 
 such gidlant combats, as ate entitle4, and oudit to oe re- 
 ^stered among the accounts of the most brOliant naval 
 exploits. 
 
 The Cotne^, captain Boyle, of 14 guns and 120 men, being 
 off Pemambuco on the 14th January (1814), discoyered 4 
 

 w 
 
 OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 201 
 
 nahts, the 
 Hopewell, 
 illed: and 
 I, midship- 
 nearlj 80 
 B loss was 
 eck of the 
 
 s two ships 
 of captain 
 atUe, were 
 \, attended 
 he two na- 
 
 eouies had 
 I Crownin- 
 navy, actu- 
 ody of the 
 riends, re- 
 snt, to pro- 
 Eil eiLpense, 
 the British 
 L ports, nr 
 passage of 
 y proceed- 
 re masters 
 rew. The 
 entombed 
 where the 
 zens, as a 
 ir late gal- 
 States, the 
 le account 
 '. sketches, 
 ly captur- 
 le enem^, 
 ships, m 
 t to De re- 
 ant naval 
 
 (len, being 
 covered 4 
 
 sail standing out of that place. This squadron consisted 
 of 3 En^sH merchantmen: the ship George, capt Wil* 
 son, of 14 guns, and the brigs Gamfrier, captain Smith, 
 
 and BoweSt captain , of 10 guns eacn, who were 
 
 bound to Europe, under the protection of the fourth ves- 
 sel, a Portusuese national ship of 32 guns, and 165 men. 
 The latter having exhibited the colours of hier nation, 
 captain Boyle stood for her, and received a communica- 
 tion of her character and object, accompanied by an in- 
 junction not to molest the Inerchithtmen. Considering 
 that the Portuguese had no ri^t to afford protection to a 
 British vessel, in the nature of a convoy, captain Boyle 
 informed her commander of his determination to capture 
 them if he possibly could, and immediately sailed in pur- 
 suit. As ihey kept close together, the Comet opened her 
 fire upon the 3 merchantmen, who returned it with ala- 
 crity. The man of war delivered a heavy fire of round 
 and grape, and received in turn a broadside. The Eng- 
 lish occasionally separated from each other, to ^ve the 
 Portusuese a chance of crippling the Comet, whose cap- 
 tain, however, kept as near as possible to the merchant- 
 men. Frequent mt)adsides were discharged, as oppor- 
 tunities vaned, at the whole sc|uadron, whose collected 
 force amounteid to 54 guns, and m a few minutes the ship 
 George struck her colours in a sinking condition. Soon 
 after, the brig Bowes struck also; but a broadside from 
 the man of war prevented the Comet* s boat from taking 
 possession. Captain Boyle then repeated his attack upon 
 the Portuguese, and obliged h^r to sheer off, with the loss 
 of her 1st lieutenant and 5 men killed, and her captain 
 and several men wounded. The third merchantman, 
 the GamMeTt then also surrendered, and the brig Bowes 
 was immediately taken possession of. So much were 
 the others injured, that captdn Boyle deemedrit improper 
 to board them, and determined to lay to until morning, 
 it being by this time excessively dark. Between the Por- 
 tuguese and the Comet, several broadsides were ex- 
 changed in the course of the ni^t, without anj material 
 effect On the following morning, the man of war gave 
 signal to the other ships to make the first port, and stood 
 off herself with that view. The Comet brought her prize 
 into the United States, fhaking her way through a squa- 
 dron which was blockading the southern ports. Before 
 
202 
 
 HISTOBICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 she arrived, however, she captured the Mexi»i aiid Jhrni* 
 nica packet, each of 10 guns, and i!ti^ Metdeen f^ % in 
 the presence of a British sloop of war, who wss, at the 
 same time, in full chase of the privateer. 
 
 On the 1st of February, the schooner Hazard, captain 
 Le Chartier, of 3 guns, and 38 men, captured tiie ship 
 Jillnon, of 12 suns, and 15 men, being one of a convoy 
 for Europe. On the 23d, she was re-captured by the 
 cutter CtUedonia, of 8 guns, and 38 men, Irom New Pro- 
 vidence. Three days after, the Hazard fell in with both, 
 engaged, and after an action of several minutes, compell- 
 ed both to strike, but took pt)ssessi6n' of the prize only 
 and carried her into St. MaiT*s. The Caledonia was very 
 much, injured, and most of her crew either killed or 
 wounded. On board the Hazard, the 1st lieutenant and 
 6 men were slightly woundled, but the hull and rigging 
 were severely wiattered by the grape from the two ves- 
 sels; ^ 
 
 The private armed schooner General Armstrong, cap- 
 tain Champlin, of 18 guns, being within 5 leagues of the 
 moutii of Surrinam river, on the 11th of March, discover- 
 ed a larae sail to be at anchor under the land. The crew 
 of tiie wneral Armstrong supposed her to be an English 
 letter of marque, and consequently, captlEiin Champlin 
 bore down, with an intention of ^ving tier a starboard 
 and larboard broadside, and then to board her. The stran- 
 ^r, in the mean time, had got sail on her, and was stand'- 
 ing out for the American. Both vessels, thus approach- 
 ing each other, had come within gun-shot, (tiie English- 
 man firing the guns on his main deck,) when the General 
 Armstrong discharged both the contemplated broadsides, 
 and discovered, too late, that her anta^nist was a heavy 
 fr^te. She nevertiieless kept up her fire, thou^ attempt- 
 ing to get away, but in ten minutes she was silenced by 
 the enemy. The last shot of the General Armstrong 
 brought down the enemy's colours, by cutting away her 
 mizen gaff, haulyards, and her mizen and miun stay; and, 
 cap' n Champhn, presuming that she had struck, made 
 prf 'ations to possess her; but the frigate opened ano- 
 ther i . ivy fire upon the schqoner, killed 6, and wounded 
 the captain and 16 of her men; shot away the fore and 
 main shrouds, pierced the mainmast and "bowsprit, and 
 struck her several times between wind and water. In 
 
 I. 
 

 OF THE JJLT1& WAR. 
 
 203 
 
 dSi and Domi^ 
 rdeenfX 8^ in 
 
 10 Mwii At the 
 
 xardt captain 
 ared the ship 
 A of a convoy 
 ptured by the 
 rom New Pro- 
 
 11 in with both, 
 lUtes, eompell- 
 the prize only 
 Ionia was very 
 ither killed or 
 lieutenant and 
 [II and ri^ng 
 n the two ves- 
 
 rmstrong, cap- 
 leagues of the 
 [arch, discover- 
 md. The crew 
 t be an English 
 tiain Cbamplin 
 er a starboard 
 ler. Thestran- 
 ind was stand- 
 thus approach- 
 , (the English- 
 in the General 
 
 sd broadsides, 
 
 |st was a heavy 
 
 lou^ attempt- 
 
 ,s silenced by 
 
 1 Armstrong 
 :ting away her 
 
 ainstay; and, 
 
 struck, made 
 opened ano- 
 
 and wounded 
 
 the fore and 
 
 wsprit, and 
 
 id water. In 
 
 this condition, she laid upwards of 45 minutes, within 
 pistol s^^ of the frigate; out, by the extraordinary exer- 
 tions of t|^ crew, and the aid of sweeps, she got out of 
 the enemy's reach, and arrived at Charleston on the 4th 
 of April. 
 
 On the 3d of that month, the privateer Dolphin, of 10 
 guns, still commanded by captain Stafford, who had en- 
 gaged and captured two of the enemy's vessels, mounting 
 26 guns, was attacked at the mouth of the Rappahannock 
 river, by 17 barges from a British squadron. The bargi^s 
 carried upwards of 40 men each: the Dolphin was man- 
 ned b^ 60. Two letters of marque, laying there also, 
 soon yidded, but Captain Stafford resolved on defending 
 his vessel. The (lattle continued two hours, when the 
 enemy succeeded in boarding. The Dolphin's crew 
 fought witii great desperation on her deck, and the engage- 
 ment was kept up many minutes longer, before the ves- 
 sel was captured, llie enemy took down her colours, 
 and lost, in killed and wounded, nearly 50 men. On 
 board the Dolphin, 4 men were wounded. 
 
 At a harbour near Gwinn's Island, lieutenant St Clair 
 of the navy, who had previously distinguished himself as 
 an able seaman, in the sloop of war Ai^s, anchored a 
 small schooner, mounting two or three guns, and filled 
 with arm^d m^n, to repel the depredations which the en- 
 emy were, about that time, committing along the ^ore.s 
 of the Chesapeake. He encountered a schooner, who 
 hailed and ordered him to come on board with his boat^ 
 which being refused, an engagement foUowed, and ter- 
 minated in silencing the strange vessel. She, however, 
 renewed it, a second and a third time, and was as often 
 silenced. The ni^t was excessively dark, and when 
 lieutenant St. Clur sent his boat to take possession, he 
 discovered that she had made her escape, leaving him 
 with one man wounded on board the schooner. 
 
 This succession of sea engagements, was .closed by a 
 brilliant attack, made by a privateer upon a sloop of war. 
 The schooner Commodfore Decatur, of 10 euns, com- 
 manded by captun Dominique, en^ged the sloop of war 
 Dominica, lieutenant commandant Barret, of 14 euns, and 
 after a well contested action,. carried her by ooarding, 
 and brou^t her into the United States. No event, pro- 
 bably, in the uaval annals, furnishes evidence of a more 
 
f 
 
 204 
 
 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES 
 
 brilliant and decisive victoty, gained by a vessel so infe- 
 rior in siae, strength, and armament^ to her antafonisi 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Blockade of the Delaware River, and of Chesapeake Bay 
 -Attack upon Lewistoum, on the former-affair be- 
 low Lewistown — Repulse of the enemy near Morris 
 , Ri^yer-^inie gun bwts attack two frigt^es—Briffage' 
 ntent on the Delaware — Deprddatwns in Chesapeake 
 Buy^Frequent failures of the enemy to landr-^^air 
 at Prenchtoum—Bestruciton of Havre de Qraee, and 
 of G'^Wgetown and Fredericktown-~-'Blockadeof other 
 pofts^^Jjoss of the Revenue Cutter, 8urveyor^~»Action 
 Between the gun boats and three frigates — Defence of 
 Crany Islan^-^Hamptonassauttm, and plundered; 
 
 The declaration of war against Great Britain; Was 
 no sooner made known at that court, than its ministers 
 detettmned on sending into their provinces of Canada, the 
 ' veteran regiments of their army^; and adopted* effectual 
 measure to forward to the coast of the American states, 
 a naval force competent to blockade its principal bays 
 {ind rivera» Incensed at the successes of the American 
 naval arms, over the frigates and sloops of war of their 
 naticHif they hastened the departure of their different 
 fleets; and, in retaliation for the invasion of their provin- 
 ces by the Araericfui troops, instructed their commanders 
 to burn and otherwise to destroy, not only the coasting 
 and river craft, but the towns and villases on the navi- 
 gable inlets; and more particulirly in me southern de- 
 partments of the union. Eariy in the spring of 1813, de- 
 tachments of these fleets arriv^ at the mouth of the De- 
 laware, and at the entrance to the Chesapeake bay.— r 
 Others were to rendezvous atBermuda, and thence to 
 proceed to the reinforcement of the blockading squadrons. 
 In the month of March, the Poictiers, 74, comnia4ore 
 Beresford; the frigate Belvidere, and several smaller ves- 
 sels of war, entered the bay of Delaware, and destroyed 
 
Oir THE LATE WAR. 
 
 mi 
 
 el so infe- 
 
 feake Bay 
 -Affair he- 
 ir Morris 
 --Engage' 
 jhesapeake 
 idr~^air 
 Sfrace, and 
 ids of other 
 W'-^ction 
 'Defence of 
 maered., 
 
 ritain, was 
 B ministers 
 ISanada, the 
 d* effectual 
 ican states, 
 icipal b&ys 
 
 American 
 ^u* of their 
 r different 
 leir provin- 
 ommanders 
 he coasting 
 ►n the navi- 
 Dttthem de- 
 )f 1813, de- 
 i of the De- 
 jake bay.— r 
 
 thence to 
 
 squadrons, 
 commodore 
 mialler v«s- 
 
 destroyed 
 
 great numbers of small trading vessels. In the course df 
 mat month* they were repeatedly repulsed in thdr at- 
 tempts io capture otiiers wnich lay near the shore, by the 
 militia of Delaware; and several instances occurred of 
 sharp fighting, which tended to improve the disciplihe of 
 the Volunteers of that state. 
 
 A demand was made upon the people of Lewistown, 
 for a supply of provisions for the olockading squadron, 
 which bemg spiritedly refused, on the 6th Df April, sir 
 John P. Beresford directtBd captain Byron, to move as 
 near the town, with the Belvidere, as the Water would 
 permit him, and, having first notified its inhabitants, to 
 bombard it, until his demands were complied with. On 
 the night of the 6th, the bombardment accordingly took 
 place; the enemy's gun boats approached near enough 
 to throw their 32-pound balls into the town, but their 
 bombs fell far short of their obiecti Colonel Davis, who 
 commanded at that time, had already removed the "mimen 
 and children, and returned the enemy's lire from in 18- 
 pounder battery, with which, in a' few minutes, he effectual- 
 ly silenced one of the gun boats. The cannonade continued 
 nearly 20 hours; at the end of which time, the enemy 
 drew off his vessels and descended the b&y, having dis- 
 charged upwards of 600 sho^ shells and Conereve rock- 
 ets. The shells did not reach the ixiwn; the rockets 
 passed Over it; but the 32-pounders injured several of the 
 nouses. The Poictiers and the Belvidere, sailed out of 
 the bay for Bermuda. 
 
 The Spartan frigate, having entered the Delaware soon 
 after the departure of this squadron, attempted, on the; 
 31st of the same month, to land about 60 of ner men near 
 Morris's river, on the Jersey side, with a view to obtain 
 provisions. A small party of the militia of that state, 
 however, hastily collected and drove them oflf^ before 
 tiiey had an opportunity of visiting the farmers' houses. 
 
 fn the month of June, the frigate Statira, and the sloop 
 of war Martin, reinforced the enemy, and had captured 
 many large merchant vessels bound up the Delaware. 
 The whole trade between the capes and Philadelphia, and 
 many of the intermediate places, was liable to be inter*- 
 cepted; and, unless they were protected bj a convoy, 
 the small vessels usually employed on the nver, did not 
 >ittempt to sail. On the 2Sd, a squadron of 9 gun boatei, 
 
 3 ' . '■ ' 
 
206 
 
 UISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 r " 
 
 and 2 armed sloops, under lieutenant commandant An- 
 sus, of the navy, convoyed 3 sloops, laden with timber 
 for a 44, then building at Philadelpnia, under the eye of 
 the enemy. The gun boats engaged the two frigates, 
 whilst the sloops effected their passage, and the Statira 
 and Spartan moved from their anchorage to a situation 
 out of reach of annoyance. 
 
 . A merchant sloop, having entered the bay on the 22d 
 of July, on l\er return from sea, was cut off bv the Martin 
 sloop of war, which had just reappeared in the Delaware. 
 The sloop ran aground to avoia capture ; and although 
 she was afterwards attacked by a tender and 4 baizes 
 well' manned and armed, a hasty collection of militia with 
 X field piece, under lieutenant Townsend, drove off her 
 assailants, and saved the sloop. 
 
 A detachment of the gun boat flotilla, being at this time 
 but a few miles off, were apprised of the attack made by 
 the sloop of war, and captain AngUs immediately pro- 
 ceeded! down the biay, with 8 gun boats and ^ block 
 sloops. On the S9th, he discovered the Martin grounded 
 slightly on the outer ridge of Crow's shoals, and deter- 
 mining to attack her in that situation, he anchored his 
 squadron within three quarters of a mile of the enemy, 
 and opened afire from the whole line. The Junon fri- 
 gate came up to the assistance of the sloop of war, and 
 anchored within half a mile below her. Between both of 
 tiiie enemy's vessels, mounting in all 69 guns, and the 
 gun boat squadron, a cannonade followed, and continued 
 about 1 hour and 45 minutes; in all which time, scarcely 
 a shot struck either of the gun boats, whilst at almost 
 every fire, the latter teld upon the hulls of the sloop and 
 frigate. This difference oi effect in the firing being dis- 
 covered by the British, they manned their launches, bar- 
 ges; and cutters, 10 in number, and despatehed tiiem to 
 cut off the boats on the extremity of the fine^ No. 121 , a 
 boat commanded by sailing master Shead, which, by some 
 accident, had fallen a very great distance out of ^e line, 
 and was prevented from recovering its situation by a 
 strong ebb, and the wind dving away, became the object 
 of attack from the enemy's barges. 8 of them, mounting 
 among them three 12-pound carronades, and Carrying 150 
 men, assailed the gun boat at one time. Mr. Shead con- 
 tinued, nevertheless, to sweep her towards ^e squadron. 
 
dant An- 
 th timber 
 Ke eye of 
 » frigates, 
 le Statira 
 sitaation 
 
 1 the 22d 
 lie Martin 
 Delaware. 
 I although 
 I 4 bar^B 
 lilitiawith 
 ive off her 
 
 it this time 
 k made by 
 iately pro- 
 l ^ block 
 I grounded 
 and deter- 
 chored his 
 he enemy, 
 Junon fri- 
 war, and 
 «n both of 
 and the 
 continued 
 1, scarcely 
 at almost 
 sloop and 
 being dis- 
 ches, bar- 
 d them to 
 |No. i21,a 
 1, by some 
 ^f tne line, 
 Ltion b^ a 
 Ithe object 
 1 mounting 
 /mgl50 
 kh^ad con- 
 Isquadron, 
 
 OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 207 
 
 and to discharge his 24-pounder alternately, at one or the 
 other of the pursuing barges, until. thej oained so fast up- 
 on him, that he resolved to anchor his boat and receive 
 them as warmly as the disparity of numbers would pier- 
 mit him. He men gave them a dischaige of his great sun, 
 wij^ much effect, thou^ to the injury of the piece, which 
 being fired a second time, and the carriage breaking down, 
 it became necessary to oppose the enemy, who were 
 closing fast, by the boarders. With these, Mr. Shead 
 resisted them, until his deck was covered with men, and 
 the vessel entirely fiurrounded by the barges. Such Was 
 the impetuous fury of Uie English sailors, that the Ame- 
 ricans were driven below, and the authority of the ene- 
 my's officers could scarcely protect them from violence. 
 The flag was struck, and the boat carried off in triumph 
 to the men of war. In this assault, the British lost T kill- 
 ed and 12 wounded. Qn board the boat, 7 men were 
 wounded, but none killed. The squadron was all this 
 time firing at the enemy's ships, who retu-ed after captur- 
 ing Mr. 8nead, ^e Martin having been extricated, from 
 her situation on the shoal. On board the flotilla not a man 
 was injured, and but 1 of the boats' ri^ng cut; this was 
 No. 135, commanded by sailing master Moliere. Th^ 
 engagement continued nearly two hours, and was the 
 last affair, of any consequence, which occurred in the 
 Delaware during this year. 
 
 In, and along, the shores of the bay of Chesapeake, 
 where the blockading squadron consisted of four 74% se- 
 veral frigates and lai^ sloops of war, and a number of 
 tenders and bai^s kept for tne purpose of navigating the 
 smallest inlets, depreciations of every kind, and to a very 
 extensive degree, were carried on mih unremitted avidi- 
 ty. The various farms, boiinded by the different creeks 
 and rivers, tributary to the bay, became the scenes of 
 indiscriminate and unjustifiable plunder.. The stocks of 
 many of them were completely aestroyed ; the slaves df 
 the planters allured from their service, armed against their 
 masters' defencdless families, and encourf^d to the com- 
 missicm of every kind of pillage. Along a coast of such 
 an extent, it was almost impossible to station troqps to re- 
 sist every incursion, or to draw out, and transfer from 
 one point to another with sufficient celerity, even the 
 neighbouring militia. But many instances occurred, not- 
 
 ■•# 
 
SOB 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 vithstanding* in which the invaders were opposed, and 
 sometimes severely repulsed, by a handful of militia, col- 
 lected without auuiority, and frequently without a leader. 
 On the shores of die Rappahannock, one or two divisions 
 of the enemy were beaten and routed with loss, by a small 
 party of Virginia militia. In the neighbourhood of Easton, 
 r&faryland,) they took possession of several islands. 
 From Sharp's, Tilghman's, and Poplar island, they ob«> 
 tained provisions for the fleet, and attempted many incur- 
 sions to ihe opposite shores, their success in which was 
 prevented by Dodies of cavalry and infantry, which the 
 spirited citizens^ of Maryland had arranged, at different 
 rendezvous, alone the shores of the bay, in antjicipation of 
 a visit from the blockading fleet. 
 
 The commanding officer of the fleet, sir John B. War- 
 ran, was at this time in Bermuda, making preparations 
 for its augmentation; and the vessels then in the bay, 
 we're commanded by rear admiral George Cockbum. 
 About the latter end of April, this officer determined on 
 attacking and destroying the towns most contiguous to 
 the head of the bay; and for this purpose, on the 29th, 
 he led a few hundred of his marines, in the baizes of hi» 
 ship, the Marlborouffh, to the attack of Frencntbwn, a 
 place containing 2 welling houses, £ store-houses, and 
 several stables; and importent, only because of beinff a 
 
 filace of intermediate depot between Baltimore and Rii- 
 adelphia. A part^ of militia, from Etkton, too inferior 
 to the invaders to justify an attempt at resistance, retired 
 on their approach, and admiral Cockbum landed his ma- 
 rines and aestroyed the store-houses, in which %v«re de- 
 posited a quantity of goods belonging to merchr^nts of 
 tfiose cities, of immense value, and a splendid architec- 
 tural drop curtain and other paintings, belon^ng'to tiie 
 Philadelphia and Baltimore theatres. The marines being 
 no professed admirers of the arts, these were destroyed 
 without much hesitation. The private houses were saved 
 by the interference of some respectable citizens; and af- 
 ter plundering the others, and setting fire to two vessels 
 laying in the harbour, the British returned to their ship- 
 ping. 
 
 Havre de Grace, a small town containing about sixty 
 houses; situated on the west side of the Susauehanna, 
 about two miles from the head of the bay, anq through 
 
4>F THE LATB WAB« 
 
 209 
 
 losed, and 
 ilitia, col- 
 ,t a l^er. 
 ) divisions 
 by a small 
 orEaston, 
 il islands. 
 , they ob* 
 any incur- 
 which was 
 which the 
 ,t diflferent 
 cipation of 
 
 ft B. War- 
 «parations 
 n.the bay, 
 Cockburn. 
 rmined on 
 tiguous to 
 1 the Wih, 
 Lives of hi» 
 icntbwn, a 
 ouses, and 
 of beinff a 
 i and rhi- 
 )o inferior 
 ce, retired 
 ed his ma- 
 were de- 
 rchiints of 
 architec- 
 ing'to the 
 ines being 
 destroyed 
 ^ere saved 
 9; and af- 
 vo vessels 
 heir ship- 
 
 lout sixty 
 
 Buehanna, 
 i through 
 
 which the great post road passes, was the next object in 
 the plan ci' the admiral's operations. On the morninjg of 
 the 3d of May (1813). he proceeded to its assault, with 19 
 barges; and when within a short distance of the town, 
 commenced a tremendous bombardment, accompanied by 
 the firing of cannon and die discharge of numerous rock- 
 ets. In expectation of an attack from the enemy, a batr 
 tery had been erected, of two 6 pounders and one 9, and 
 colonel Smith ordered out a detachment of the Hartford 
 county militia for the defence of the place. At the time 
 of the assault, the inhabitants were in their beds; and 
 there being no sentinels, the first notice they had of ^e 
 approach of the enemy, was from the discharge of one of 
 his pieces. .The battery had been ass^ed as a place of 
 rendezvous, in the event of an attack: but, such was the 
 surprise which the presence of the enemy excited, and so 
 incessant his dischai^s of shells and rockets, that five or 
 six men only, were fearless enough ta repair to their breast- 
 work, and resist the approaches of the British baives. Tliis 
 small party kept up a fire from the battery, until the ene- 
 my's advance commenced its debarkation ; when all, ex- 
 cept O'Neill, an Irishman, abandoned their posts, and fol- 
 lowing the militia, who had fled with shameful precipita- 
 tion, left >the women and children of the place, to the 
 mercy of the invaders. O'Neill continued, with ffl'eat dif- 
 ficulty, to dischar^ one of tlie 6 pounders, until, in recoil- 
 ing, it ran over his thigh, and rendered him incapable of 
 further resistance in that way. But, collecting all his 
 strength, he armed himself with two muskets, ana retreat- 
 ed from the battery to the centre of the town, where he 
 joined Mr. Bennet Barns, an old and respectable native 
 of Maryland, and kept up a brisk fire, until they were 
 both made prisoners. In the mean time, the whole body 
 of the enemy had landed, and were actively engaged in 
 destroying the houses. They set fire to those which had 
 not been mjured by their shells, broke the furniture, and 
 cut open the bedding of the citizens to augment the flames; 
 destroyed the public stages, cut to pieces the private bag- 
 gage of the passengers, tore the clothing of some of the 
 inhabitants from their backs, and left to others those only 
 which they wore. They set fire also to a house in which 
 was a woman who had been all her lifen Cripple, and then 
 but a few days delivered of child. To the ur^nt supplica- 
 
 S2 
 
SIO 
 
 HISTORICAL SIL^TCHES 
 
 tion of this hiipless bein^ for protecticn from the flames 
 for herself and her o^^nng, they gave a brutal refusal^ 
 uttered too in the most mdecorous language. ^ To the hu- 
 manity of some nei^bour she was ultimately indebted for 
 herlite.** Women and children, flying, in every direc- 
 tion, to avoid a relentless foe, and to se^ protection from 
 their own countrymen, were insulted by the morose sea- 
 men and marines; and the only house (of Mark Pringle, 
 esqO which yet remained entirely uniiyid'ed, was sdught 
 by one and all, as an asylum. In this, which was a spar 
 cioua and elegant private mansion, several ladies of the 
 first distinction had taken refuge, and among them the 
 mother and sisters of commadore Rodgers, whose house 
 and ^rniture were much injured. An offi^^er, who had 
 just before made prisoner of O'Neill, was entreated to suf- 
 fer this house, at least, to esca^^ie the general conflagra- 
 tion; but, as he was obeying the otrders of admiral Cock- 
 burn, the^most he could do, was to suspend his purpose, 
 until tiiose unprotected women could prevail upon the ad- 
 miral to oountermand thetn. The only act, partaking of 
 the least degree of humanity, of which, on' this occasion, 
 the admiral could boast, was his compliance with tiiese 
 earnest entreaties. Havine spread desolation throuj^ *he 
 whole town, and destroyed me doors and windows of a 
 handsome church contiguous to it, the admiral ordered a 
 detachment six miles up the river, to a place called Cres- 
 weU*8 Ferry, whence, alter committing many actc o^ out* 
 raee, they returned to concentrate their force at the place 
 oflanding. Here the admiral ordered them to re-embark; 
 ai^, having crossed the Susquehanna, the whole pquadron 
 of his barges, made round the poi'it which is formed at its 
 i^tffance, tnkd shaped their course three miles further up 
 ik& bay,, where iha party relanded, repaired to those im- 
 portant-jMid valuable works, Coecil furnace, whers lay up- 
 waixbtK 50 pieces of elesant cannon, the only legitimate 
 object 9f destruction which the invaders had yet met with. 
 These they spiked, stufled the muzzles with clay and 
 iNfoken pieces of iron, and after many attempts to burst 
 
 • This fact is well authejitical. J, and was related toUhe auth.or 
 by » gentleman then an inhabitant of Havre de (xrace, but no>v a 
 reside i^t of Fhiladelphia, who was in the town at that time. 
 
OF THB LATE WAR. 
 
 211 
 
 le flames 
 refusaU 
 » the hu- 
 ebted for 
 ry direc- 
 ion from 
 rose sea- 
 Pringle, 
 IB Sought 
 ras a spar 
 es of the 
 them tiie 
 me house 
 who had 
 ^ to suf- 
 :onflagra' 
 ral.Cock- 
 > purpose, 
 m the ad- 
 rtakin^ of 
 occasion, 
 irith these 
 rough *he 
 lows of a 
 ordered a 
 ed Cres- 
 tc o*^ out» 
 the place 
 t-embark ; 
 fquadron 
 led at its 
 urther up 
 those im- 
 5 lay up. 
 gitimate 
 net with, 
 clay and 
 to burst 
 
 he author 
 >ut noAv a 
 Irae. 
 
 them, knocked oft* the loops.^ The> then proceeded to 
 batter down the fomace, which was private property, set 
 fire to the stables belonging to it, and, as the last act of 
 atrocity, with which ihU expedition was destined to be 
 markea, they tore up a small bridge, constructed over a 
 deep, thou^ ^nanrow creek, and over which, travellers of 
 every description were obliged to pass, or ventjtire Hirou^ 
 a wider channel at the imminent hazard of their lives. 
 
 Having attained all the objects of this enterprise, the 
 British sailors and marines returned to their shipping in 
 the bay; and, on ihe 6th, tiiey sailed from the nei^bour- 
 hood of Havre de Grace, to tiie great joy of its distressed 
 and ruined inhabitants. (KNeilf, who had dared to resist 
 them in the early stage of their proceedings, was taken 
 on board the blockflding fleet, and detained there several 
 days. Such of the inhabitants, whp were not left entirely 
 destitute, were deprived of those articles of property, 
 which wouM relieve o^ers; and, it became necessary to 
 apply for assistance to the principal and most opulent 
 town of Maryland. The citizens of Baltimore >cjd«;ved 
 the sufferers, «nd preparations were soon after made to 
 rebuild the hou'jes. 
 
 In the relation of such scetiesras those which occurred 
 at Havre de Grace, it seldom happens tiiat iiVk account is 
 to be ^ven of the killed and wounded in an, action. In 
 the sli^t resistance which was miide by t>Neill and his 
 companions, however, the enemy had three men killed 
 and two wounded. Of the militia, one man was killed by 
 the explosion of a rocket 
 
 Fraught with the immenp.e booty which he had brou^t 
 away from Havre de Grace, and findins his sailors and 
 mannes quite elateil at die facility v/hich the jHrospect of 
 an attack on other eqtuily defenceless towns held out, 
 of enriching themselves, the reur admiral contemplated 
 an efrly assmlt upoi^ such as he should discover to con- 
 tain the most valual^le spoil. The treachery of some ci- 
 tizens of the republic, and the easy intei-course which he 
 kept up with his appointed aeents, sach as are employed 
 by officers on all stations, eniu>led Him to discov^ the si- 
 tuation of those towns and villages along the bay shorei» 
 
 * Some jf the smne guns are now on board the V ;'ted StsAttt 
 flrigate Java. 
 
31S 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 with as much readiness, as he could be wafted by hi*' 
 ships from one point of assault to another. On tlie river 
 Sassafras, emptying itself into the bay, at a short sailing 
 distance frgim the admiral's anchorage, and separating the 
 counties of Kent and Cqec'il, stood, nearly opposite each 
 other, the villages of Georeetown and Fredericktown, 
 containing, either of them, wout 20 houses. These had 
 attracted the attention of admiral Cockbum, and ^he de- 
 termined on the possession of the property of the inhabi- 
 tants. On the 6th, he therefore entered that river, with 
 18 baizes, each carrying 1 great gun, and manned alto- 
 gether by 600 men. Fredericktown was his first object. 
 At this place, one small cannon had been mounted, and 
 about 80 militia collected, under colonel Veazy. On the 
 approach of the baizes, the latter commenced a heavy 
 fire, and, havii^ disdiaiged an immense number of Ian- 
 grage rockets, grape shot, and musket balls, within a 
 very few minutes, more than one hp^f of the militia fled. 
 35 only, under the colonel, ^tood their ground, and work- 
 ed the canr-^n with such skill, thiit the botits, whose fire 
 was principally directed at the battery, suffered very f se- 
 verely. The mvaders were gallantly resisted r )re tliAil 
 half an hour, when they effected a landing, and inarch- 
 ang towards the town compelled tiie miliiia to mihe,-^ 
 Cmonel VeMv effected his retreat, in excellent order. 
 Admiral Cockburn then marched at the head of his men, 
 to the village; where, after having plundered the houses 
 of th^r most valuable moveables, he set fire to every 
 building in ihe town. The entreaties of the distressed 
 wmr' .1! and children availed not with the admiral; and 
 h^ would not quit the place, until he had entirely deprived 
 them of every refuge. Whilst the flames, were raging in 
 every part of^ Frederick, the admiral moved over Sassa- 
 fras river, to Geoigetown, and demolished all the stone, 
 and burned the wooden buildings. The wretched inha- 
 Ititants of the opposite towns, were left to console each 
 other, and the enemy's squadron of barges, glutted witii 
 firesh spoil, retired to tlieir capping. 
 
 Sueceeding this afl&ir, were several repulsf s of small 
 partie» of the enemy from the shores of toe bay. Many 
 attempts were made to land at the different farms, and 
 the barse crews frequently assailed the planters' houses, 
 an4 ilooK. off provisions, clothing, money and plate. 
 
 
 ^f> 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 Sli$ 
 
 sd by his' 
 tlie river 
 rt sailing 
 rating the 
 Dsite each 
 iricktown, 
 rhese had 
 ind he de- 
 he inhabi- 
 iver, with 
 ined alto- 
 rst object, 
 nted.'and 
 ', On the 
 1 a heavy 
 »er of lan- 
 , within a 
 tilitia fled, 
 and work- 
 whose fire 
 id very f<e- 
 r >re ttkail 
 id inarch- 
 > retire.— 
 ent order. 
 f his men, 
 he houses 
 
 to every 
 distressed 
 airal; and 
 r de{)rived 
 
 raging in 
 irer Sassa> 
 the stone, 
 ;hed inha- 
 isole each 
 itted witii 
 
 t 
 
 of small 
 
 . Many 
 irms, and 
 •8* houses, 
 tc. 
 
 Abcut this time, too. admiral Warren issued a procla- 
 mation from Bermuda, declaring, besides the Chesapeake 
 and Delaware, the ports of New York, Charleston, Port 
 Royal, Savannah, and the whole of the river Mississippi, 
 to be in a state of risorous blockade. From all fliese 
 ports, however, notwiustandinjg the efficiency of admi- 
 ral Warren's force, the public snips o( war of the United 
 States, the private armed vessels, and numerous mer- 
 ch^i^tmen, were daily putting to sea. Prizes to these, 
 which had been captured at immense dbtances from the 
 coast, were continually sent into the harbours, declared 
 to be blockaded ; and neutral vessels did not hesitate, to 
 enter and depart, at the pleasure of those concerned in 
 them. Adm* >l Warren, shortly after arrived in the 
 ChdsapeaV ' ^ ^ ' ^n additional fleet, and a large nutnber 
 of soldiers ani laarines, under general sir Sidney Beck- 
 wlth. Between these officers and admiral Cockbum, va- 
 rious plans were desired for the attack of the more im- 
 portant assailable towns. ' 
 
 Bv *-he capture of the bay ctaft, tliey were well sup- > 
 plie f/iih tenders to the difierent vessels of the fleet, and 
 the strength of their armament enabled them to equip the 
 craft in a warlike manner. The revenue cutter Surveyor, 
 captain Travis, was assailed by the bai^s and tender of 
 the Narcissus frigate,, on tjie IQth of Juni^, near York 
 rivf?; and, after a gallant resistance, was captured by a 
 force nine times supe/i.^ir to her own. This cutter was 
 transferred to the Br -m: » mce, and freauently employ- 
 ed in pienetrating th -i mt'^w passes ana livuteis along 
 the shore. The dept^iiu. o- - of the enemy received, about 
 this time, however, a salui^r chi^ck, from several private 
 armed vessels, which had been hired into the American 
 servit a cruise alone the bay. 
 
 The enemy's force mere cont. ed of seven 74% twelve 
 frigates, and maniy smaller vessels; and, from their* suspi- 
 cious movements, and menacing attitudes, the citizens of 
 all the surrounding towns, became apprehensive of an at- 
 tack. Hampton c . ' Norfolk, were thought to be their 
 more immeaiate u:-y ts? and preparations were made at 
 the latter, to man ail the works wnich had i "^en previous- 
 ly constructed. At Norfolk, the militia force very soon 
 cmasisted of 10,000 men. At Hampton a force of not 
 more than 450, had yet been organized. 
 
# 
 
 214 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 On ^e 18th (May), 3 of the frigates entered Hampton 
 Aoads, and despatched sevecal barges to destroy the small 
 vessels coming down James' river. Two or three gun boats 
 being in the vicinLh^ of that river, obliged the barges to 
 retire, and communicated to the naval commander of the 
 station, commodore Cassin^ intelligence of the approach 
 of the frigates. The flotilla of gun boiits, in Elizabeth 
 river, on which Norfolk is situated, was then commanded 
 by lieutenant commandant Tarbel I. 'Hie fri^te Constel- 
 lation was moored at the n^vy yard opposite N(H*fo1k, 
 and it was determined by commodore Cassin, to man 
 fifteen of the gun boats, from the creivir of the Constella- 
 tion, and to dispatch them a^ )^^t that frigate of the 
 enemy, which was reported to ki. le Qiiles ahead of 
 the omers. On the 19th, captain 1 & ;ell proceeded with 
 his boats, in tWb divisions; lieutenant (*ardn^ having 
 command of the first, and lieutenant R. Henly, of the 
 second, ^ The prevalence o( adverse winds, prevented 
 his coming witnin reach of the enemy, until 4 P. M. of 
 the ^th, at which hour'he stationed his divisions, and 
 commenced a rapid fire, at the distance of three quarters 
 of a mile. The frieate opened on the boats, and the can- 
 nonade continued half an hour, to the great injury of t^e 
 frigate (the Junon), when the other frigates were enabled, 
 by a fresh lH%ezr, to get upder \}rei*ni, to the assistance 
 of their companion. Captain Tarbell was then obliged 
 to haul off to a greater distance, still, however k<eeping up 
 a well directed and incessant fire, upon the enemy's whple 
 squadron. The first frigate was, by this time, so much 
 inured, that her fire was only occasionally delivered ; 
 and, between the others and the gun boats, the cannonade 
 was prolonged one hour longer^ in which time, several 
 heavy broadsides were discharged at the flotilla. Cap- 
 tain Tarbell then withdrew froiA tlie engagement, with 
 tiie loss of 1 killed, Mr. Allison, a master's mate, and 3 
 of the boats slightly injured. The enemy were supposed 
 to have suffered severely. The frigate, first engaged, 
 was so much shattered, that the vessels which came to 
 her assistance, were obliged to employ all their hands to 
 repair her. In this affair, the Americans had 15 guns ; 
 the British, 150 and upwards. Captain Tarbell's con- 
 duct, as well as lieutenants Gardner, Henly, and others, 
 
OF TUB LATE WAR. 
 
 tis 
 
 Hampton 
 the small 
 guii boats 
 barges to 
 ler of the 
 approach 
 Elizabeth 
 immanded 
 e Constcl- 
 , Norfolk, 
 1, to man 
 Constella- 
 Eitc of the 
 ) ahead of 
 seded with 
 ler having 
 ily, of the 
 prevented 
 4 P. M. of 
 isions, and 
 je quarters 
 id the can- 
 iury of the 
 >e enabled, 
 assistance 
 len (bilged 
 Lfeepingup 
 iy*s wnple 
 L so much 
 [delivered ; 
 ;annonade 
 le, several 
 lUa. Cap> 
 lent, with 
 ate, and 3 
 supposed 
 engaged, 
 came to 
 hands to 
 15 guns ; 
 ell*^ con- 
 id others, 
 
 received the fullest approbation of the surrounding garri- 
 sons, and of the citizens of Norfolk. 
 
 The firing during this acUon, eing distinctly heard by 
 the enemy's fleet in the bay, and fears being entertained 
 by the admiral, about the safety of the 3 frigates, 13 sail 
 of line of battle ships and frigates, were ordered to 
 proceed to Hampton Roads. In tiie course of the 20th, 
 they dropped to the mouth of James* river. Where they 
 learned uie cause of the recent cannonade, and 'determin- 
 ed on forthwith reducing the forts and garrisons, on which 
 the defence of Norfolk depended. An immense number . 
 of bai^s were apparently preparing for an attack on Crany 
 Island, the nearest obstruction to the enemy's advances. 
 Captain Tarbell directed lieutenants Neale, Shubrick,^ 
 ana Saunders, each of the Constellation, to land 100 sea- 
 men on that island, to man a battery on its northwest 
 side, and disposed tiie gun boats so as to annoy the ene- 
 my from the other. At the dawn of the 22d, tne British 
 approached t^e island with their bai^s, round the point: 
 of Nansemorid river, to the number of about 4,000 men, 
 mttny of whom were French, from time to time made 
 prisoners by the Ei^ish, and occasionally received into 
 their service. The place at which they iiad chosen to 
 land, was out of reach of the gun Iniats, and when 
 they had approached within a few hundred yards of the 
 shore, the gallant* lieutenant Neale, assisted Dy Shubrick 
 and Saunders, opened a galling fire from his battery, and 
 or celled the enemy to make a momentary pause. The 
 battery was mannecf altogether by 150 men/ including 
 lieutenant Breckenridge and his marines. An 1 8-pound w 
 whieh was stationed at it, was fired with such preeisjon^ 
 tluit many of the bai^s were cut through the middle, and 
 would inevitably have carri^ down the crew, but for the 
 immediate assistance rendered by tl^e others of the squa- 
 dron. Every attempt to approach the shore having here- 
 tofore failed, and the admirsd's boat, tile Centipede, up^ 
 wards of 50 fee', in length, and filled with men, being 
 pierced in so many places, that she bunk as soon as she 
 was abandoned, tne enemy, whose seamen were falling 
 in every barge, determined on returning to his shippiiu; 
 with as litti& delay as possible. But, even in his retreat^ 
 he suffered severely from the small battery. 
 
^H 
 
 216 
 
 HtSTORICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 Whilst tlus gallant resistance was made to his approach- 
 es from the w&ter, by the navaji division on the isumd, thi^ 
 enemy's troopi^ who had lanued on the main shore, and 
 crc^ed 9, iiarrow inlet to ^e west side, were warmly en- 
 gaged with die Virginia volunteers. Previously to the 
 moveinent of the bai^s^ upwards of 800 solcuers had 
 been landed by the enemy at the place abovementioned, 
 and were already crossing the inlet, which, at low water, 
 is passable by infantiy. Colonel Beatty, who command- 
 ed tlie military division on the island, made instant and 
 judicious preparations to receive the enemy. Under major 
 Faulkner, 01 the artillery, two £4-pounders and four 
 6-pounders, had been drawn up to resist thenu One divi- 
 sion ^f Ihis battery was commahded bv captain Emmer- 
 son.; and two x>thersy by lieutenants Howl and Grodwin. 
 The enemy's troops had not all landed, when this cannon 
 was opeped upon them with great address; and, those 
 which fiad not crossed the gulph, were compelled to re- 
 ireat, by the velopity and precision of the tire. Those 
 which had already gainad the island, fell Mck to its rear, 
 and threw several rockets from a house which stood there; 
 but they were very soon dislodged by one of the gun boats, 
 in which a S4-pounder,lvas brought to bear upon me house, 
 and wii^ ^^t difficulty escapea firom the island; when, 
 joininff the trodps who had been previously repulsed, they 
 ^^^ke all conducted back to the British fleet. When that 
 4iVMion qf the enemy, wjiich was composed of his seamen 
 and marines, hadTbeen foiled in its attempt to land, lieu- 
 . tenant Neale gave directions to his intrepid sailors, to haul 
 up the, boats which had been sunk, and to assist the British 
 sailors and marines, who were making, for safety, to the 
 shore. The Centipede was accordingly drawn up, and a 
 small brass S-pounder, a number of small arms, and a 
 quantity of pistols and cutlasses, taketi out of her. 2S of 
 her men came on the island with her, and surrendered 
 tiiemselves as desert q. In this warm and spirited en- 
 ^igement, in which S, > British soldiers, sailors and ma- 
 rines, were opposed to %uO Yir^nia militia, and 150 sailors 
 and marines, the loss on the side of the invaders, in killed, 
 wounded, and drownad, was upwards of 200, exclusive of 
 40 deserters: on the side of the invaded, not a man was 
 either kSIed or woiiiuled. 
 
emproach- 
 
 here, and 
 armly en- 
 ly to the 
 dliers had 
 lentioned, 
 ow water, 
 command- 
 istant and 
 ider major 
 and four 
 One divi- 
 a Emmer- 
 d Grodwin. 
 lis cannon 
 und, those 
 sUed tbre- 
 e. Those 
 to its rear, 
 tood ihen; 
 sun boats, 
 the house, 
 nd; when, 
 ilsed, Ihey 
 IVhen that 
 his seamen 
 and, lieu- 
 >rs, to haul 
 khe British 
 •fy, to the 
 up, and a 
 ms, and a 
 ler. 22 of 
 rrendered 
 jirited en- 
 and ma- 
 150 sailors 
 in killed, 
 :clusive of 
 mac was 
 
 OF THE LAT£ WAK. 
 
 U7 
 
 By tlie gallant services of the defenders of this island, 
 the safety of the town of Norfolk was, for a time at least, 
 secured; and to the intrepid bravery and indefatirable 
 exertions of lieutenant Neale, and his companions, Shu- 
 brick, Saunders, and Breckenbridee ; of lieutenant colo- 
 nel Beatty, and his officers, major raulkner, captain Em- 
 merson, and lieutenants Howl and Goodwin; and 2 non- 
 commissioned volunteers, sergeant Young and corporal 
 Moffit» and th& valiant men, who assisted in the derence 
 of the island, the gratitude of the citizens of NoHfbtk, and 
 the surrounding towns, Portsmouth, Gosport, and oUiers, 
 has been frequently manifested. 
 
 Immediately after this re]^lse of the British, a confer- 
 ence was held between admirals Warren ai\d Cockburn, 
 and sir Sidney Beckwith; the result of which was, a de- 
 termination to avenge the loss they had sustained, and to 
 facilitate the success of their next attempt,^ by cutting off 
 the communication between the VLpper part of Virginia 
 and the borough of Ij^orfolk. This communication, they 
 supposed to be entirely commanded by the small garrison 
 at HamptQu, an inconsiderable town, 18 miles distant 
 from NotfoJk, and separated from it by Hampton Roads. 
 Their troo^js, exasperated at the failure of tlie recent ex- 
 pedition :<gainst. Crany island, were well disposed to re- 
 taliate tlie consequences of a repulse; and their comman- 
 ders availing themselves of the intemperate spirit which 
 was manifested throughout the fleet, resolved on forward- 
 ing an expedition against this weidc position, with the 
 least possible delay. All things beine ready upon their 
 part, they proceeded on the ^th, j days after the late 
 engagement, with upwards of 2,000 men, in a large squa- 
 dron of their principal barges. Of these, the 1(^ regi- 
 ment, 2 coxifipanies of Canadian chasseurs, and 3 compa> 
 nies of marines, composed the advance, under lieutenant 
 colonel Napier. The remainder of the troops consiited 
 of royal marine battalions, under lieutenant colonel Wil- 
 liams'; the whole commanded bv sir Sidney. A number 
 of launches and rocket boats, filled with sailors, and co- 
 vered by the sloop of war Mohawk, captain Pechell, were 
 commanded by admiral Cockburn, and directed to take 
 a station before the town, to throw in the rockets, and 
 keep up a constant cannonade, whilst the troops under 
 sir Sidney, should land at a diataiice of sevenl milea be- 
 
 T 
 
218 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 low the town, and sain the rear of the undisciplined 
 American militia. 'Hie plan of operations being thus ar- 
 ranged, the movement was commenced at the dawn of 
 day ; and, with this irresistible force and equipment, the 
 enemy proceeded to assault a garrison, oi 349 infantry 
 and nile, 62 artillerymen, with four l^*s and thi^ee 6*8 
 and 9.7 cavalry: making in alt, a force of 438 men. 
 
 On the approach of mat division of the enemy, which 
 was to attack from the water, major Crutchiield, the com- 
 mandant at Hampton, immediately formed his troop on 
 Little England Plantation, which was divided from the 
 town by a narrow creek, over which a slight bridge had 
 been previously constructed. The enemy's barges were 
 approaching this creek, and keeping^ up a fire of round 
 shot, until they gained Blackboard Toint, when the four 
 12-pounders were opened upon them, with so much ef- 
 fect, that admiral Cockburn thought it advisable i» draw 
 back and shelter himself behind the point. Thence he 
 continued to throw his rockets, and 12's and 18*s nearly 
 an hour, without doing the smallest injury to the encamp- 
 ment; his shot either fallitig short <)f nis object, or going 
 over it. 
 
 Meantime sir Sidney had landed, and was comii^ down 
 the great road on the rear of the Americans, wheiv major 
 Crutchfield being ap;^rised of his inarch, had despatched 
 a rifle company under caplain Servant, to conceal tiiem- 
 selves in a wood, near which the invaders would be 
 obliged to pass. Captain Servant executed his orders 
 with the utmost precision, and annoyed the advancing 
 British column with great severity. But his force was 
 too inefficient, to sustain a contest of any length of time; 
 and major Crutchfield, seeing that the barges would not 
 approach until they knew of the arrival of sir Sidney 
 within the camp, drew out' the infantry forces to the aid 
 of the riflemen, and to prevent the en«my cutting off 
 his retreat. As this portion of the Americans were 
 marching in column, near a defile which led to Seley*s 
 road, they were fired upon by the enemy's musketeers 
 from a thick wood at 200 yards distance. Major Crutch- 
 field immediately wheeled his column into line, and 
 marched toward the thicket to return the fire, and rout 
 the enemy. He had not advanced 50 yards, before the 
 British delivered him a fire fr^/m two 6-pounder8, accom- 
 
 «■> 
 
OF THE I.ATE WAR. 
 
 219 
 
 rs, accom- 
 
 pmiied by an. unexpected discharge of rockets. Being 
 now apprised of the danger of proceeding in that direc- 
 tion i^inst ordnance, with ao small a force, he wheeled 
 again into column, and attempted to gain a passage 
 through the defile, in the woods; ai the extremity of which 
 captain Servant, witii his riflemen, had heretofore kept the 
 Bntish in continued check. His column, under the fire 
 from the two 6's was not formed with as much celerity 
 as it had been displayed, but he succeeded at length in 
 putting it in marching order, and proceeded to the de- 
 file. Captain Cooper, with the cavalry, was at this mo- 
 ment engaged with the enemy's left flank; and, notwith- 
 standing the fatigue which his troops had already expe- 
 rienced in patroUing, he annoyed them so successful y, 
 that the Bntish general, augmenting the strength of thaw 
 flank, issued a direction to cut him off. In this the ene- 
 my did not succeed: and captain Cooper, drawing Hp his 
 troop in a chai^ng column, effected his retreat wtui great 
 skill and intrepidity. 
 
 The column under major Crutchfield, had now gained, 
 and were p;«ssing through the defile, under a constant 
 fire firom the encfmy's 6-pounders. It had just attained 
 the wood, on the left of tlie riflemeh, when a third 6- 
 pounder opened upon it, and, in conjunction with the 
 others, tlirew into confusion the different companies of 
 which the column was composed. Several platoons 
 immediately took up their retreat; but, thpse which were 
 nearer the head of the column, led oii by maiot^ Crutch- 
 field and major Corbin, wheeled ^ith great juagment into 
 the wood, and formins on the rifle corps un^er their se- 
 parate captains. Shield and Hemdon, kept up the action 
 with an unflagging spirit, until it was deemed necessary for 
 the whole body to retreat. Captain Pryor, who had been 
 left in the encampment with the artillery, to continue the 
 fire upon the enemy's bai^s, resisted their approaches 
 until the sailors had landeain frooi of the town, and the 
 British troops were in his rear. They had already ad- 
 vanced within 60 yards of his battery; his corps were 
 ready to ^ield themselves up as prisoners of war^ and the 
 royal marines were preparing to take them., They saw no 
 possibility of escaping, until meir sallant commander gave 
 an order to spike the guns, and oreak through the 'ene- 
 my's rear. Intrepid as himself, they instanuy executed 
 
220 
 
 HiSTORICAL SK£TCH£ii 
 
 i^ 
 
 kif commands ; and pressing furiously through the British 
 marines, whom they threw into a temporary derange- 
 ment, found their further escape obstructed by the creek. 
 Captain Pryor still determined on retiring beyond the 
 enemy^9 reach, threw himself into the creek, and com- 
 mancung his men to follow, with their carbines, effected 
 the retreat of his corps in good order, and without an indi- 
 ▼idual loss. Such was the disparity of force, when the 
 baige cr€iws, and the troops of the enemy had effected 
 a union, that the retreat of the whole American detach- 
 ment, became indispensable, and major Crutchfield gave 
 an order to that effect The British ^neral pursued the 
 retreadng column about 2 miles without effecting any 
 inirpose, though the latter frequently halted, formM be- 
 nina fences, and delivered a smart fire. 
 
 The American loss, in this action, amounted to 7 kil- 
 led, 12 wounded, 11 missing, and one prisoner — total, 31. 
 The British loss, by the acknowledgment of many of 
 their officers, amounted to 90 killed, and 120 wounded-— 
 total, 210. Among ihese were one colonel and one 
 captain of marines, killed ; and 3 lieutenants, wounded. 
 Aamiral Warren's official letter, however, allows but 5 
 killed, 33 wounded, and 10 missing— total, 48. 
 
 If the account of the affair at nampton, could be 
 closed, by no further reference than to the gallantry of 
 captains Ashly, Cary, Miller, and Brown of the militia; 
 captain Goodall> of the United States* artillery, and lieu- 
 tenants Anderson, Armistead, and Jones, wno were all 
 conspicuously engaged in it; a painful recital would have 
 been spared, of occurrences disgraceful to the arms of 
 tile enemy, unjustified by the principles of civilized war- 
 far^ and unparalleled, even by the enormities committed 
 on the northwestern frontier. The troops und^r sir Sid- 
 ney, and the sailors under admiral Cockoum, no sooner 
 found themselves in possession of the town of Hampton, 
 than they indulged in a system of pillage, not less indis- 
 criminate than that which had attended the visit of most 
 of the same men to Havre de Grace. To these acts of 
 Cruelty and oppression upon the unresisting and innocent 
 inhabitants, they added others of the most atrocious and 
 lawless nature, the occurrence of which, has been proved 
 by the solemn affirmation of the most respectable people 
 of that country. Age, innocence, nor sex, could protett 
 
■# 
 
 OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 221 
 
 e British 
 lerange- 
 le creek, 
 ^ond the 
 Dd coin- 
 effected 
 ; an indi- 
 irhen the 
 effected 
 1 detach- 
 eld gave 
 Bued the 
 ting any 
 rm^ be- 
 to 7 kil- 
 total, 31. 
 many of 
 mnded— 
 and one 
 nround^d. 
 ivs but 5 
 
 ;Ould be 
 lantry of 
 I militia; 
 and lieu- 
 were all 
 mid have 
 arms of 
 zed war- 
 >mmitted 
 ir sir Sid- 
 o sooner 
 lampton, 
 «s indis- 
 ;of most 
 e acts of 
 innocent 
 »ous and 
 n proved 
 e people 
 protetf 
 
 the inhabitak?ts, whose inability to escape, obliged them 
 to throw themselves upon the mercy or the conquerors. 
 The persons of the women were indiscriminately vio- 
 lated. The brutal desires of an abandoned and profligate 
 soldiery were gratified within the view of those who 
 alone possessed the power and authority to restrain them; 
 and many of the unfortunate females, who had extricated 
 themselves from one party, were pursued, overtakeii, and 
 possessed, by another. Wives were torn from the sides 
 of their wounded husbands; mothers and daughters, strip- 
 ped of their clothing in the presence «f each other; and 
 those who had fled to the river side, and as a last reiiige 
 had plunged into the water, ^ with their infant children 
 in their arms, were driven again, at the point of the bayo- 
 net, upon the shcMre^ where neither their own entreaties 
 and exertions, nor the cries of their offspring, could re- 
 strain the remorseless cruelty of the insatiable enem^, 
 who paraded the victim of his lust through the ^public 
 streeto of the town. An old man, whose infirmities had 
 drawn him to the very brink of the grave, was murdered 
 in the arms of his wife, almost as infirm as himself, and 
 her remonstrance was followed by the discharge of a pis- 
 tol into her breast The wounded militia, who mid crawl- 
 ed from the field of battle to the military hospital, were 
 treated with no kind of tendeniess, even by the enemy's 
 officers, and the common wants of nature were rigorously 
 denied to them. To these transcendent enormities, were 
 addeu the wanton and profligate destruction, not only of 
 the medical stores, but of the physician's drug-rooms and 
 laboratories; from which only, those who had been wound- 
 ed in battle, and those upon whose persons these out- 
 rages had been committea, could obtain tiiat assistance, 
 without which, they must inevitably suffer the severest 
 privations. 
 
 Two days and nights, were thus consumed by the Brit- 
 ish soldiers, sailors, and marines; and their separate com- 
 manders, were all that time quartered in the only house, 
 the furniture and interior decorations of which, escaped 
 destruction. On the morning of the 27th, at sunrise, 
 : nprehensione being entertained of an attack from the 
 iKighbouring militia, whom it was reasonably ponjectup. 
 ed, the recital of these transactions would rouse into im- 
 mediate action, tlie British forces were ordered to em- 
 
 T2 
 
^s 
 
 HISTORICAL SKSTCHE'S 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 bark; and in the courae of diat morning they departed 
 from the devoted town, which will immemorially testify 
 to the unprovoked and unrelenting cruelty of the British 
 troops, ihey had previously carried off the ordnance 
 which had been employed in the defence of the town, as 
 trophies of tfieir victory; but when they determined on 
 withdrawing from the place, they moved away with such 
 priecipitation, that several hundred weight of provisions, 
 a quantity of muskets and ammunition, and some of their 
 men were left behind, and captured on the following day 
 by captain Cooper's cavahy. Having abandoned then: 
 intentions of proceeding to another attempt on the de- 
 fences of Noifolk, the whple fleet stood down to a posi- 
 tion at New-Point-Comfort where they proposed water- 
 ing previously to their departure from the bay, on an ex- 
 pmlition ag^nst a town In one of the eastern states. '^;> 
 Such was the agitation of the public mind, throughoAt 
 Virtinia, which succeeded the cireulation of the account 
 of me assault on Hampton, that representations were made 
 to general Robei^ It Taylor, th« commandant of the dis- 
 trict, of the necessity of learning from the commanders 
 of the Biitish fleet and army, whether the outrages which 
 had been committed, would be avowed, or the perpetra- 
 tors punished.-«-That able officer, immediately oespatch- 
 td Ins aid to admiral Warren, with a cartel for the ex- 
 change of prisoners, and a ]>rotest against the proceedings 
 of the British troops, in which he stated, that " the world 
 woold suppose those acts to have been approved if not 
 e3td|ed, which should be passed over witn impunity;** 
 that he " thouriit it no less due to his own personal hon- 
 our, than to mat of his country, to repress and punish 
 every QTcea&f tiiat **it would depend on him (Warren), 
 whetaer the evils inseparable from a state of war, should 
 in future operations oe tempered by the mildness of 
 civilized life, or under the admiral's authority, be aggra- 
 vated by all the fiend-like passions, which could be instill- 
 ed into ittiem." To this protest, admiral Warren replied, 
 iMt he would refer it to sir Sidney Beckwith, to whose 
 ^Uscretion he submitted the necessity of an answer. Sir 
 Sidney, not only freely ayowed, but justified the com- 
 mm^on of the excesses complained of; and induced the 
 American commander to beueve the report of deserters, 
 that« promise had been made to the fleet, of individual 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 TB 
 
 22d 
 
 >parted 
 testify 
 Britisn 
 dnance 
 )wn, as 
 ned OR 
 (Oa such 
 •visions, 
 of their 
 ingdaj 
 id their 
 the de- 
 »aposi- 
 l water- 
 
 lan ex- 
 
 M, - ■ . ^■ 
 • 
 
 oughout 
 account 
 ire made 
 the dis- 
 manderB 
 iS which 
 erpetra- 
 espatch- 
 the ex- 
 ;eedin|8 
 le world 
 d if not 
 mnity;" 
 lal hon- 
 punish 
 V^arren), 
 should 
 tness of 
 eaggra- 
 e instill- 
 replied, 
 whose 
 er. Sir 
 le corn- 
 iced the 
 iserters, 
 (!ividual 
 
 bounty, of the plunder of the town, and of permission to 
 commit the same acts, if they succeeded in tne capture of 
 Norfolk. Sir Sidney stated, that ** the excesses at Hamp' 
 ton, of which general Taylor complained, were occasioned 
 by a proceeding at Crany Island, That at the recent at- 
 tack on that place, the troops in a barge, which had been 
 sunk by the nre of the American guns, had been fired on 
 by a party of Americans, who waded out and shot these 
 poor fellows, while dining to the wreck of the boat; and 
 that, with a feeling natural to such aproceedins, the men 
 of that corps lan^d at Hampton" THe Britisn general 
 expressed also a wish, that such scenes should not occur 
 again, and that the sul^ect jnight be entirely at rest The 
 American seneral, however, alive to the reputation of 
 the arms ot his country, refused to let it rest, and imme- 
 diately instituted a court of inquiry, composed of old, and 
 unpreiudice-* officers. The result of a long and careful 
 investigati which was forwarded to sir Sidney Beck- 
 with, was, - none of the enemy had been fired on after 
 the wreck of the baq^, except a soldier, who attempted 
 to escape to that division of tne British troops which had 
 landed, that he was not killed, and that, so far from shoot- 
 ing either of those unfortunate men, the Ariieriican troo^ 
 had waded out to their assistance. To this report, air 
 Sidney never deemed it necessary to reply, and the out- 
 rages at Hampton are still liine^toned. Many of the unhap- 
 py victims died of wounds and bruises inmcted on them, 
 m their stru^les to escape, which baffled the medical 
 skill of the surrounding coun^. 
 
ipp 
 
 324 
 
 HISTORICAL SKSTCII£9 
 
 m 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 British land at Ocracoke and Portsmouth^— Capture, two 
 letters of marque— Distribution of admiral Warren's 
 fleet — United States* schooner \isp — Ji fishing smack, 
 the Fankee,^capturesthe British tender, the Eagle-^ 
 The frigates Jjnited States and Macedonian, and sloop 
 Hornet, blockaded at J^ew London — Midshipman Ten 
 
 . Eyke— The British at Saybrook-n'Engage.iient in Con- 
 
 . necticut Sound"— Wareham and Scittuitt — Occupation 
 of Eashtort, Moose lalanA— Attack upon Stomngton 
 
 ., —British claim thp, territory east of the Penobscot, 
 and occupj Castin^^Loss of the Umted States* frigate 
 *Sidam8, 
 
 Reunquishino the contemplated attack upon one 
 of the ejPJstem ports, anci adopting a plan of operations 
 asaitist the town? and harbours to the southward of those, 
 vmich had alretidy been ass&iSed, admiral Warren de- 
 tached the largest propordon of his fleet, under rear ad- 
 miral Cockbum, to pro(;eed on an expedition against 
 Ocracoke and Bgrtsmoutti, t^vo flourishing harbours in 
 ^e etat^ of North Carolina. Ewly in July, a force of 11 
 saii appeared off the first of those places; and on the 13th 
 of t'^k at month, the rear admiral ^irosa^u die bar wi^ a 
 mat, iumber of b^^rges, attacked two letters of maraue, 
 tilie Anaconda, of New York, and the •Atlas, of Philaael- 
 phia, and after being gallantly resisted by the small crews 
 of Ihc^ vessels, earned tl^em by boarding. Ihe revenue 
 cutter, which was then in the harbour effected her es- 
 cape, conveyed intelligence to Newbcirn of the approach 
 f I vhe enemy, and thus frusti-ated the remainder of the 
 ailiiiiral's plans. A^ut 3,000 ;nen were thei. landed at 
 Portsmouth, where they destroyed the private property 
 of the inhabitants, and treated the place with no more 
 forbearance tnan they had shov^^n at Geoigetown and Fre- 
 dericktown. The collector of the customs was seized 
 
OF THB LA<ill WAB. 
 
 225 
 
 turfi. two 
 Varrtn's 
 ^ 8mack\ 
 
 ,nd sloop 
 man Ten 
 t in Con- 
 cupation 
 mtngton 
 enobscot, 
 ^frigate 
 
 pon one 
 lerations 
 of those, 
 rren de- 
 rear ad- 
 
 against 
 >oiiFs in 
 ce of 11 
 the 13th 
 r «trith a 
 marque, 
 Hiladel- 
 11 crews 
 revenue; 
 
 her es- 
 pproach 
 r of the 
 nded at 
 iroperty 
 More 
 nd Fre- 
 
 seized 
 
 and taken on board the fleet, and tiie building destroyed 
 in which his ofl^ was contained. After remaining two 
 days in possession of these places, the onemy returned to 
 his stiippins; and^ not feeling himself competent to the 
 attack on Newbem, now that its citizens were preparing 
 to receive him, he deiyirted with his squadron from Ocrar 
 coke, and sailed again for Chesapeake bay. 
 
 The fleet, which had been keeping up the blockade in 
 those waters, had been divided by almval Warren, and 
 the different vessels distributed along the coast from New 
 London to Cape Henry, to watch the entrances to the 
 Karboars of Connecticut, New York, and the Delaware. 
 In tlie Chesapeake, no further i j^uiults were made upon 
 the villages, but ihe farm houses, the noghbonring coun- 
 try scats, and the ittock upon the lands, and the nume- 
 rous island J., waich could pe approacheck by the smallest 
 barges, were indiscriminately plundered. Such islands 
 were taken possession of as aiflbrded quarters for the 
 troops, and frequent excursions maife from them against • 
 the defenceless landholders in Iheir vicinity. 
 
 On the 14th, the United States' schooners Scorpion 
 and ^p, being under weigh from the mouth of Veoco- 
 mico river, were pursued by two of the enemy's sloops of 
 war; and, findmff it impossible for both vessels to es- 
 cft^ throush theT>ay, the Scorpion continued her course, 
 while the Asp, a dull sailing vessel, returned to the river, 
 and was run into Kinsale creek, by her commander, sail- 
 ing master Segourney. The enemy's vessels- anchored 
 near the bar^ and despatched three barges filled with arm- 
 ed men, ^^v assault and carry her. As these were ap- 
 proaching, Mr. Segourney opened a well directed fire, 
 and compelled them, in a little time, to return. Rein- 
 forced, however, by two other baizes manned in like man- 
 ner, they again approached the schooner, and carried her 
 by boarding, thouni obstinately resisted by her little crew, 
 to whom they rerased to show quarter. Her commander 
 had been shot throudi the body by a musket ball, and 
 was sitting ^'^n the deck against tne mast, when tiiey car> 
 ried her, and brou^t down her colours. In this attitude, 
 and suffering under the severity of his wound, he wa^^ at 
 that momentj animating his men, to repel the bcarders, 
 when one of the British marines stept up, and shot him 
 through the head. He expired instantly, and the next o£v 
 
•w 
 
 226 
 
 UISTOBI^Ui SKETCHCS 
 
 I 
 
 ficer, Mr. IVfClintock, seeing v^hat would be the probable 
 fate of the, whole crew, ordered his men to save them- 
 selves bj fii^t. Those who had not previously been 
 wounded, reached the shore» in safety; and the enemy, 
 havinc set fire to the schooner, returned to the squadron, 
 thouj^ not before they had been fired upon by a collec- 
 tion of militia, who retook the vessel, and extinguished 
 the flames. 
 
 The Poictiers 74, still commanded by sir John P. Be- 
 resford, had been stationed for several weeks at Sandy 
 Hook, for the purpose of blockading the harbour of New 
 York. Numbers of small vessels had been daily captured 
 by her; and one of them, the sloop Ei^le, was converted 
 into a tender to the line of battle ship, manned with two 
 officers and eleven marines 3 and equipped with a 32 brass 
 howitzer. She was constantly employed in the pursuit 
 and cfq)ture of the coasters, and had already committed 
 various depredations. Commodore Jacob Lewis, who 
 commandea a flotilla of 30 sail of gun boats, determined 
 on protecting the fishing boats and river craft, by the cap- 
 ture of this tender. He accordingly hired a fishing smack, 
 called the Yankee, and placing about 30 men on board, 
 under one of his sailing masters (Percival), and supply- 
 ing him with several articles of live stock, gave him in- 
 structions to proceed from the Hook, in the direction of 
 the banks, with his armed men 'concealed in the cabin 
 and fore peak. The sloop Eagle, upon discovering her 
 at the Hook, immediately gave chase ; and, on seeing the 
 live stock, ordered the man at the helm, Mr. Percival, 
 who (with two men only on deck) was dressed in the ap- 
 parel of a fisherman, to steer for the 74, then Iving at a 
 distance of five miles. The fishing smack had ner helm 
 immediately put up, for that apparent purpose ; and being 
 by this means brought along side, and witnin three yards 
 of the Eagle, her commander gave the signal, "Lawrence" 
 and her men rushed up with such rapidity, and discharged 
 so brisk and unexpected a fire, that die crew of the Eagle 
 became panic struck, and many of them ran below. Her 
 commander, sailing master Morris, and one marine, were 
 killed ;. and midshipman Price, and another, mortally 
 wounded. Percival's men were prepared for a second 
 dischaige, when a sailor on the enemjr's deck was seen 
 creeping to the howitzer with a lighted match; one of th^ 
 
•^^R" 
 
 OF THE LA¥£ W AB. 
 
 227 
 
 trobable 
 3 them- 
 iy been 
 enemy, 
 [ua4ron, 
 L coUec- 
 iguished 
 
 I P.Be- 
 
 t Sandy 
 of New 
 captured 
 mverted 
 vith two 
 32 brass 
 pursuit 
 mmitted 
 ris, who 
 ;ermined 
 the can- 
 g smack, 
 »n board, 
 supply- 
 hmi in- 
 ection of 
 le cabin 
 ring her 
 leing the 
 ercival, 
 the ap- 
 ring at a 
 er helm 
 id being 
 ee yards 
 
 charged 
 Eagle 
 Her 
 le, were 
 ortally 
 second 
 ^as seen 
 e of the 
 
 e 
 
 crew of the Yankee, levelled his musket, and shot him in 
 the breast, and in a second aftelr,the flag of the Eagle 
 came down. The sloob and the prisoners were tiien taken 
 into the Hook, and delivered to the commodore, who pro- 
 ceeded with them to New York, where Morris and Price, 
 (who died immediately after landing,) were buried by the 
 navi;l and military authorities. Mr. Percival was pro- 
 moted to the new sloop of war Peacock, and the brass 
 howitzer was transferred to the quarter deck of the com- 
 modore's flag boat. 
 
 In consequence of commodore Decatur having j^ro- 
 ceeded with the frigates United States and Maceoohian, 
 and the sloop of war Hornet, throu^ the sound, to get to 
 sea from the east^vard, and of his having been driven with 
 his dqiiadron, into New London, by a superior detach- 
 ment of the enemy's ships, that port was rigorously block- 
 aded, by the Ramilies 74, two frigates, and several smaller 
 vessels, under commodore sir Thomas M. Hardy. Every 
 effort to get to sea, under the auspices of dark ni^ts and 
 favourable winds, having proved unavailing, in conse- 
 
 auence of the enemy being continually apprised of the 
 esigns of the Amencmn commodore, ne was blockaded 
 for many months, without a prospect of eseuting, either 
 by the ordinary channel ur by the sound. Between de- 
 tached parties from each squadron, several afiairs of mi- 
 nor importance took place, during the blockade ; and in 
 one of them, midshipman Ten Eyke,of the United States 
 frigate, made pnsoners of two iieuten#\t8, two warrant 
 officers, and five seamen, in a house on iQardiner*s island. 
 Incursions into the neighbouring states, were frequent 
 from the British forces ; but, thou^ extensive numbers 
 of shipping were destroyed, the conduct of the sailord 
 and marines, under sir Thomas Hardy, was not marked 
 by the indiscriminate commission of unrestrained and 
 wanton outrage, of which there were too many incidents 
 on the coast to the southward ; and the houses of the 
 different villages, as well as individualproperfy, were 
 therefore almost invariably respected. The general de- 
 portment of commodore Hardv, was that of a brave, hu- 
 mane, and ffallant enemy; and had his conduct been emu- 
 lated by omer commanders, the horrors and distressed 
 conditions of a state of war, would have been ameliorated 
 
228 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 on both sides; and the necessity of manj instances of re- 
 taliatory measures, might never have existed. 
 
 During the winter months of 1813-14, scarcely an event 
 of consequence took place, on any part of the coast, or at 
 any of the shores of ttie bay and riverS; in which the ene- 
 my's vessels were anchored. The town of Killinjworth 
 alone, had an opportunity of repelling three or four dis- 
 tinct attempts to land, and of beating off superior num- 
 bers, in British bai^s. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1814, however, the enemy mad^ 
 several movements, mdicative of his intentions to pursue 
 an active course of warfare. On the 7th of April, about 
 200 sailors and mari/ies, entered Connecticut river, in a 
 number of bat^s, and landed at the town of Saybrook, 
 where they spiked the guns at a small battery, and de- 
 stroyed many trading vessels. Thence they ascended the 
 river, to Brockway's ferry, destroyed all the shipping 
 there, and amused themselves, without any apprehensions 
 of an attack, upwards of twenty4bur hours. In the mean 
 time, a body of militia had assemUed, under command of 
 a brigadier general of Connecticut ; 100 men, and several 
 field pieces, were stationed on the opposite shore, &r ^ 
 two pieces and a party of men, on the ferry side below; 
 captain Jones, and lieutenant commandant Biddle of the 
 Hornet, arrived with a detachment of sailors from the 
 sauadron, and every thing was arran&id for the capture 
 01 the whole party of the enemy. The success of the 
 {dan was inevitabtic; the word only of the general com- 
 mancUng was wuted for; and, as he was making other 
 arrangements, th^ those adopted by these experi^ need 
 officers, the enemy drifted down the river with muffled 
 oars, under cover of ^^ark night, cheere<i loudly, when 
 they had passed the town of Stybrook, and escaped to 
 the squadron, after destroying 200,000 dollars worth of 
 shipping. Several shots were fired after them, but with- 
 out effect. , 
 
 About this time, the Liverpool Packet privateer was 
 cruisiii^ with great success, against the American com- 
 merce m iue sound, and had uready annoyed the coast- 
 ing trade, to an enormous extent Unless this cruiser 
 was driven from the sound, no coaster could sail from 
 one port to another, with any assurances of safety. Com- 
 
viOF TU£ IiA^S WAB. 
 
 2£9 
 
 »cc9 of re- 
 
 f an event 
 oast, or at 
 K the ene- 
 llin^worth 
 ' four dis- 
 rior num- 
 
 imj niad« 
 to pursue 
 »Fil, about 
 iver, in a 
 Saybrook, 
 , and de- 
 ended the 
 
 shipping 
 ehensions 
 the mean 
 mmand of 
 kd several 
 hore, i>^^ 
 le below; 
 lie of the 
 from tiie 
 i capture 
 SB of the 
 iral com- 
 ing other 
 3erii need 
 I muffled 
 Jy, when 
 caped to 
 
 worth of 
 but with- 
 
 iteer was 
 3an com- 
 he coast- 
 i cruiser 
 lail from 
 y. Com- 
 
 modore Lewis, determined on an expedition against her. 
 He ssuled with the detachment, consistiAg of Id- of his 
 
 r boats, d/ove.the privateer from th^ jnouth (tf ihe 
 jours in the sound, and proceeded to Black. Rock, 
 New Haven, and Saybrook. At tjie latter place, he Al^ 
 chored on. the ^«d of May, and found upwards of 4 9 
 sail of coafitinff vessels lajing there, bound eastward, bii^'' 
 the masters of which being fearful of the privateer and 
 the enemy's baives. The couitstodore was applied to fbr 
 convoy; l^r-d tho"^ he knew riot whether he could 
 yield any kipd of {>rotec"«on> against a frigate, a corvette, 
 and an armed sloo|. , at i hat monient in the passage before 
 New London, ^e took the coasters under convoy, and 
 agreed to throw himself between them and the enemy, 
 (m the 25th, he accordingly sailed witfi the convoy 
 bound for New London, and at 5, P., M. came to action 
 with a frigate a sloop of war ^nd a tender, and continued 
 the engfigement, until all the coasters had safely passed 
 the enemy and arrived at New London. This being 
 done, ajltH5)u^ the whole objes^t of his attack was achiev- 
 ed, commodore Lewis determined upon trying the further 
 ;^«ffect of his hot shot. The boats were each supplied with 
 a furnace; and whilst they were pouririg hot balls into 
 the enemjr's sides, and frequently setting him on fire, they 
 received m turn, scarcely a shot from eimer of his vessels. 
 Guh boat^N^o. 6. was alon*» injured;, and being struck be- 
 tween wind and water, was immediately grounded, to 
 prevent her sinking. The sloop of war had, oy this time, 
 withdrawn from the en^igement; and the fire of the gun 
 boats was principally directed gainst the frigate. She 
 was observed several times to be on fire; one shot 
 passed through her very neai the magazine ; 17 of- her 
 men were already killed, and a lieutenant and a great 
 number of men, wounded ; and the captain was on the 
 
 Eoint of surrendering, when he discovered that the gun 
 oats had' ceased firing. The night closed in immedi- 
 ately, was excessively dark, and the commodore found 
 himself obliged to anchor his boats, and reconnoitre the 
 enemy, untU next morning. He intended to board the 
 sloop, but she was stationed between the two ships, and 
 that prqject was therefore useless. At daylight, observ- 
 ing the enemy towing away their vessels, and retreating, 
 he instantly made signal for pursuit; but the report of the 
 
230 
 
 UISTOEICAL SKETCHES 
 
 cannonade, had brought the whole British fdrce, consist- 
 ing of 7 laive sait.to their assistance, and the (ommodore 
 arandoned BIS intention of renewing the action, and pro- 
 ceeded' up tlie sound to New York^ with the enemy in 
 hk rear, as far as Faulkner's island. The loss on board 
 the flotilla, was one man by the recoiling of a gun. The 
 fH^ie was supposed to be the Maidstone, of 38, and 
 mounting 49 guns ^ but several sailors, who deserted from 
 her, and were in this action, reported her to be the Hot- 
 ^ijimti of the same force. The consequences of this en- 
 ^igement, aiid o( that which took place below Crany 
 island, have occasioned much speculation about the utili- 
 ty of gun boats. In each instance, it was undoubtedly 
 prm'^ed, that, under such x^ircttt!)^tances as attended them, 
 the gun boats are capable of ei'eat annoyance to the lar^ 
 gest ships of war. CommtNlore jbewis, whose activity 
 and enterprise, rendered hiin, of all other men, capable of 
 manoeuvring tbem to advantage, has saved an immense 
 amount of property to the mercantile interest of his coun- 
 try, by his repealed cruises with them, in and near the 
 sound. 
 
 But the operations of the immense naval armaments, 
 which were maintained by the enemyi before th« ports 
 of New York, Boston, New I^ondon, and the entrance to 
 the sound, were not to be checked by a flotilla 6f boats, 
 however well appointed, consisting in all, of but 30 sail; 
 and the whole eastern coast was therefore exposed to 
 the ravages of the invaders. The towns and villages 
 there, were as exposed and defenceless as those to the 
 south; but a degree of forbearance was manifested by 
 the commander On this station, which prevented the com- 
 mission of such extensive depredations. Yet an insa- 
 tiable hirst for plunder, induced many of the British 
 cruisers ^ seek me destruction of every species of public 
 property, of the most flourishing manufacturing establish- 
 ments, and of vessels carrying on a trade between the 
 eastern and other ports; and Ihe cupidity of the sailors 
 and marines, frequently led to the sequestration of private 
 property. At the towns of Wareham and Scituate, they 
 burned all the vessels at their moorings; and, at the for- 
 mer, which they approached under a flag of truce, they 
 set fire to an extensive cotton manufactory. But at a 
 place called Boothbay, they met with a spirited opposi- 
 
on THE l^TB WiJU ♦ 
 
 2S1 
 
 iTce, consist- 
 i commodore 
 ion, and pro- 
 he enemy in 
 0S8 on board 
 a gun. The 
 , of 38, and 
 iesertedfrom 
 3 be the Hot- 
 9 of this en- 
 >eIow Crany 
 out thie utih- 
 
 undoubtedly 
 :tended them, 
 ce to the lar^ 
 hose activity 
 en, capable of 
 
 an immense 
 jt of his coun- 
 
 and near the 
 
 • 
 
 1 armaments, 
 fore th*" ports 
 e entranct to 
 (tilla of boats, 
 f but 30 sail; 
 'e exposed to 
 and villages 
 those to the 
 lanifested by 
 ited the com- 
 ifet an insa- 
 the British 
 ies of public 
 [ng establish- 
 between the 
 f the sailors 
 [on of private 
 ituate, they 
 , at the for- 
 truce, they 
 But at a 
 ited opposi- 
 
 tion; and in several des[>erate attacks* ^peated on dif- 
 ferent days, and with various numbers* they were repul'- 
 sed, with considerable loss, by the militia of tiie neigh- 
 bourhood. . 
 
 About thr month of July, the blockading squadron, un- 
 der sir Thoinas Hardy, received instructions to assail, and 
 take possession, in his Britannic majesty's name, of Moose 
 Island, near the mouth of Kobbeskook river, opposite 
 to the province of New Brunswick, and on the western 
 side 01 Passamaquoddy Bay. This bay was ad|iuc^ed 
 by the British ministers, to be within' the boundary of 
 their possessions in North America; and, after the cap- 
 ture oi Moose Island, their forces were directed to occu- 
 py all the towns and islands within^s limits. On the 11th 
 of that month, sir Thoq»aa proceeded with the lU^milies, 
 74, one 60 gun ship, 3 sIoods of war,, and r transports, 
 containing between 1500 ana £000 troops, with an mten* 
 tion of surprising the town of Eastport, containing about 
 1000 inhabitants, and situated upon Moose IsLand^-— 
 Against ti^is force, no kind of opposition could be made 
 by a small garrison, containing but 59 men, 43 of whom 
 only, were effectives; and major Putnam, the comman- 
 der, did not attempt to molest the troops, who had alrea- 
 dy landed. Formal possession was then taken of the 
 whole island: the officers in the garrison paroled, the pri- 
 vates fjonveyed to the squadron, the fort, which tnen 
 mounted but 6 small cannon, enlai^d, refitted, and the 
 battery es^ended to 60 pieces; and a proclamation issued 
 by sir Thomas Hard v and lieutenant colonel Andrew 
 Pilkington, in which they declared all the islands to have 
 been surrendered, by the capture of Eastport; allowed 7 
 days* residence to such innabitants as snould refuse to 
 swear allegiance to his Britannic majesty ; and appointed 
 a day on* which they were to assemble for that purpose. 
 A^bout two-thirds of the people submitted to thesp terms, 
 under an expectation of retaining their privileges; but in 
 the month of August, the province of New Brunswick, in 
 council, ordered, that the inhabitants of Moose Island, 
 should not be entitled to the rights of their other subjects, 
 notwithstanding their oath of all^iance ; but that they 
 should ^ treated ad a conquered people, and placed un- 
 der the control of the military authority. . Eastport was 
 soon after well fortified; and remained in possession of 
 
 .t*^.-' 
 
23£ 
 
 T 
 
 HISTtmiCAI. SKETCHES 
 
 the British, until the conclusion of the wtir; before which 
 period, however, their sarrisoii was, frequently weakened 
 oj desertions of large Bodies of their troops; the officers 
 were often' compelled to perform the duties of sentinels; 
 and the difficulties of subsisting the army and the pec^le 
 daily increased, by the extreme scarcity of provisions, v ' 
 <Havinsthus secured the possession of Moose Island, 
 and provided for its defence ajgainst any attempt to re- 
 cover it by the Americans, sir Thomas sailed to his old 
 station, before New London; On the 9th of August he 
 made signal for the Pactblus frigate, 44, the Tkrrour 
 bomb ship, and the Despatch brig of 20 guns, to weish 
 anchor, and sail with the RamilieSf to the attack of the 
 town of Stoningibn, which the commodore had been or- 
 dered to reduce to ashes. The appearance of this for- 
 midable force, before a town, whicn possessed but weak 
 and inade^^ate means^of defence, excited an alarm among 
 the inhabitants; which the message of commodore Hardy, 
 to move off the unoffending people of the place> was not, 
 calculated to subdue. But having complied with the 
 terms of tiie commodore's note, and disposed of the 
 women and children, tliey repaired to a small battery, 
 which had been erected a few weeks before, ftnd in which 
 were mounted two 18-pounders, and one 6. Those who 
 had been drilled as artillerists, were stationed at these 
 pieces; the flag was nailed to a staff, ajpid a sihall breast- 
 woric, which h^l been hastily tiirown up, was lined with 
 musketry. Thus arranged, the handful of militia be- 
 longing to Stonington, awaked the approach of the ene- 
 n^y, with painful anxiety. Expresses were forwarded to 
 general Gushing of the United States* army, command- 
 ing at New London, for a supply of men and ammuni- 
 tion; and to the neighbouring districts, for a hasty levy 
 of militia. At 8, in tlie evening, five baiges, and a lai^e 
 launch, filled with men, and armed with ^pounder carro- 
 iiades, approached the shore, under cover of a heavy fire 
 x>f round, canister, and grape shot, and a diicharge of 
 shells, carcasses, and rockets. The Aitiericans, jreserv- 
 ing their fire, until the baiges were within short grape 
 distance, opened theiir two IB-pounders upon, and com- 
 pelled them to retire out of reach of the battery. The 
 enemy then attempted to land at the east side of the 
 town, at a point which they supposed to be die most 
 
OF THE LATB WAR; 
 
 ZSB 
 
 ore which 
 weakened 
 le officers * 
 sentinels; 
 he people 
 dsions. 
 se Island, 
 mpt to re- 
 to his old 
 luffilst he 
 5 Terrour 
 , to weigh 
 ack of the 
 d been of- 
 f this for- 
 I hut weak 
 inn among 
 are Hardy, 
 ;e» was not, 
 I with the 
 led of the 
 ill battery, 
 d in which 
 rhose who 
 d at these 
 lall breast- 
 lined with 
 militia be- 
 }f the ene- 
 rwarded to 
 command- 
 t ammuni- 
 hasty levy 
 indakrge 
 ider carro- 
 , heavy fire 
 icharge of 
 US, jreserv- 
 ort grape 
 and com- 
 sry. The 
 ide of the 
 the most 
 
 defenceless. This being discOverad by the militia artilH- 
 ristst the 6-pottnder was immediately transported to that 
 side of the town, and the-bai^» were a second time com- 
 pelled to retire. They returned to the shipping, with a 
 determination to renew- thek* attack with more Vigour at 
 the dawn of the following morning;^ * The bombardment 
 nevertheless continued until midmght. 
 
 Before memine the enemy's squadron was augmented 
 by the arrival of tiie JVmi^tM/, 18 gun brig; ana at the 
 dawn of day; the diffisrent vessels were stationed nearer 
 to the town; the Despatch being within pistol shot of the 
 battery. The barges approached the shore in lai^ num- 
 bers, and met with as si^al a repulse as on the preceding 
 night One of them was shattered to pieces by the 4-poua- 
 der on the east side of the town;' whilst a ouinonade was 
 kept up between the 18-pounder battery and the ^n 
 bng. Which resulted in her expulsion from her anchora^. 
 She had received several shot between wind and water, 
 and was obliged to haul off and repair. The hai^s m.VA 
 returned to tiie shipping, and the five vessels dnfteo o'lt 
 of the reach of tiie battery, made new anchorage, and con- 
 tinued to bombard the town, during that apd the follow- 
 ing day. On the 13th, commodore Hardy, relinquishing 
 any fiirtiier attempt to reduce the town^o ushes, and hav • 
 ing already lost 21 men killed, and. upwards of 50 wound- 
 ed^ ordered his squadron to wei^ anchor, and proceed up 
 Fisher's Island sound. The mh-^'^^'^^Tits of Stonington 
 were released from their appreht i about the safely 
 
 of their dwellings ; and tiie womc- and children, some 
 time after ^stored to their homes. Notwithstanding the 
 bombardment had been protracted to three successive 
 days, and upwardsof sixty tons of metal had been thrown 
 upon tiia^ shore, not a man of the militia was killed, and 
 the number of wounded did not exceed six. Among 
 them was lieutenant Hough, who as well as colonel Ran- 
 dal, and lieutenant Lathrcip, greatly contributed, by th^r 
 activity and skill, to the repute of tiie enemy. Stoning- 
 ton contained, at the time of the attack, about one hun- 
 dred houses; forty of these were injured by the shot, but 
 ten only materiafly; and but two ^" *J»ree entirely de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 Not content with possessing I V j^ island, and other 
 islands of the bay, the British tlaimed, as a colony, all 
 • U2 
 
$54 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 that part of the. district of Maine, lying to the west of, 
 and between, Penobscot river and PassarAaauoddy bay; 
 and instructions were also forwarded to sir Jonn C, Sher- 
 i)rooke,, the governor of Nova Scotia, aiid rear admiral 
 Griffeth, comrnandin^ the naval forces within that pro- 
 vince, to take possession of all that territory. These com-^ 
 manders entered the Peqobscot river on the Ist of Sep- 
 tember; appeared before Castine, from which the garri- 
 son fled, ai&r blowing up the fort, and which the British 
 immediately occupiea. A proclamation was then issued 
 by tiie governor and the actmiraU in which they claimed 
 as the territory of H. B. M. that part of the province of 
 Maine, east ot the Penobscot, in which there were more 
 ^n 40 villages, and upwards of 30,000 inhabitants. Af- 
 ter possessing Castine, many of these villages were gra- 
 dually occupied, and ordinances were established for the 
 . civil and^ military government of the people. Castine, 
 also r&Doiained in the hands of the enemy until the con- 
 clusion of hostilities. % 
 
 The United States' frigate Adams, captain Morris had 
 arrived in the Penobscot, from a successful cruise, a few 
 days before the opcupa^n of Castine; and having run 
 upon the rocks near that port, was obliged to be hove 
 dpwii at Hampden, thirty-five miles up ^e river* te; have 
 her damages repaired. On the 3d of September, the Bri- 
 tish sloop Sylph of S2, the Peruvian of 18, and one trans- 
 port ana .ten bai^s, ascended the river, manned in all 
 with about 1000 men, from Castine, under command of 
 commodore- Barrie, with a determination to capture the 
 frigate. Captain Morris erected several batteries on emi- 
 nences near his vessel; supplied the militia, who were 
 widiottt arms, with the ship's muskets, and made every 
 preparation to repulse the enemy. Notwithstanding these 
 judicious arrangements, and the readiness of the ship's 
 crew to resist the enemy's attempts, the militia could not 
 be brought to oppose an inferior number of British regu- 
 lars; and flying precipitately from the ground, left no 
 other alternative to captain Morris, than to surrender his 
 crew, or to destroy the Adams, and retreat to Bangor, or 
 .Kennebeck. Under the direction • of lieutenant Wads- 
 worth, of the ship, the sailors and marines retired in good 
 order, over a bridge, which crossed a deep creek; but, 
 captain Moijis ana a few men, who remained to set fire 
 
OF THE LATE WAE. 
 
 2dd 
 
 e west of, 
 eddy bay; 
 1 C, SJier- 
 ir admiral 
 that pro- 
 hese com-^ 
 st of See- 
 the garri- 
 he British 
 lien issued 
 ^y elaiitied 
 ►rovince of 
 nrere more 
 ants. Af- 
 were gra- 
 ed for the 
 , Castine, 
 i\ the con- 
 
 ff orris had 
 Tiise, a few 
 having run 
 to be hove 
 er, to^have 
 jr, the Bri- 
 one ttuns- 
 ned in all 
 mmand of 
 capture the 
 ies on emi- 
 who were 
 lade every 
 iding these 
 the ship's 
 I could not 
 itish TC^- 
 id, left no 
 Tender his 
 Baneor, or 
 int Wads- 
 ed in good 
 reek; but, 
 to set fire 
 
 to the vessel, having succeeded in blowing her up, were 
 cut off from this retveat, and 'compelled to plunge into 
 the river^ and effect their escape by swimmiMN Disap- 
 pointed in the object of their expedition, the British re- 
 turned to Castine, and conducted an incursive warfare 
 against the to^s in the vicinity of that port 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Mivy-^United StaUtf gun brig ^rgus, captured by 
 the^ sloop of war Pelicanr-^The Soxermid the Enter* 
 priae'-^Uen and Burrow8--^Commodore Rodgers and 
 the PUmtoftenet^^The Constitution chased into Mar- 
 blehead'^Vammodore Leuris— 'Cruise of the Essex fri- 
 gate-'-'Her cavture-^United Stated sloop of war tea- 
 cock, vanquishes the British doopof war Epervier^'' 
 Cruise of the new sloop of war Jrasp'^Her conquest 
 over the Reindeer-^^he sinks the Avon, 
 
 .'"■■■ ■• ^ • ; 
 
 I. ■ 
 
 The government of the United States, having deem- 
 ed it expedient, in the spring of 1813, to send an ambas- 
 sador to France, at which court they were not then re- 
 presented, the American gun brig Ai^s, lieutenant com- 
 mandant Wm. H. Allen, of 18 guns, was r 3spatched to 
 L'Orient, with Mr. Crawford, the minister plenipotentiar- 
 ry, appointed to negotiate & treaty of commerce with that 
 power. After having landed the minister, she was ordered 
 to cruise in the vicinitv of the British channel, where she 
 arrived about the midale of June, and continued to cruise 
 until the same time in August. During this period, she 
 captured in St. George's channel, upwaras of 20 vessels, 
 coasters and others, and excited a great 'degree of alarm 
 among the towfis upon the En^ish coasts. In consequence 
 of her activity in makiiie captures, and the danger ^ Bri- . 
 tish vessels of parsing mrough the channel, the insurance 
 upon coasters could no longer be obtain^ in England, 
 but at an amount very far exceeding the double premium ; 
 and though numerous vessels of war, of aJl rates and de- 
 scriptions, were floating at the docks, the Argus was al- 
 
236 
 
 HISTOHICAI^ SKETCHES 
 
 lowed to maintain her cruise in this neighbourhood fof 
 two full months. The attention of. the aamiralty was at 
 length, however, awakened; and, hn the 12th of August, 
 the sloop of war Pelican, captain J. F. Maples, of 21 car- 
 riage guns, was ordered to cruise in search of the hos- 
 tile stranger. On the 14th, at 4, A. M. by the light of. a 
 brie then on fire, the two vessels were brought in sight of 
 each other. The Ai^s immediately close hauled on the 
 starboard tack, and made preparations to receive the ene- 
 my. Failing in every attempt to gun the weatheigage, 
 captain Allen, at half past 5, shortened sail, and waited 
 for the Pelican to close. A few minutes afterwards the 
 Pelican displayed her colours; the Argus hoisted the 
 Anierican ffae, wore round, and within grape distance, 
 gave her a larooard broadside; which being returned, the 
 action commenced within the range of musketry. At 
 the second fire from the Pelican, captain Allen fell. He 
 was wounded severely in the leg, but remained on deck 
 until several broadsides were exchanged; when, being 
 ouite exhausted by the excessive loss of blood, he yielded 
 W command of the Afgus to lieutenant Watson, and 
 was taken below. Meantime the Pelican shot away the 
 main braces, the spring-stay, gaff, and trysail mast, of 
 the Areus. At 12 minutes past 6, her spritsail yiud^ and 
 most 01 her standing rigging, on the larboard side of the 
 foremast, were lost; ana lieutenant Watson received a 
 wound in the head, which made it necessaiy that he also 
 should be c;\^ed below. The command of the Argus 
 now devolved on lieutenant William H. Allen, jun. whose 
 unremitted exertions frequently defeated the ^nemy's at- 
 tempts to get into a raking position. At 16 minutes past 
 6, the Pelican edged off, with an intention of setting un- 
 der the stem of me Aigus; but lieutenant AUen, by luf- 
 fing close to, with his main-topsail tie aback, and ^ving 
 her a i;akin^ bhiadside, completely frustrated this a^ 
 tempt But, in two minutes alter, sne shot away the pre- 
 venter main braces, and main-topsail of the Argus, de- 
 prived her of tiie use of her after sail, and thus causing her 
 to fall off before the wind, succeeded in passing her stern, 
 and ranged up on her starboard side. At 25 minutes past 
 6, the Ajgus haring lost her wheel-ropes, and running tig- 
 ging of every description, became entirely unmanageable; 
 and the Pelican, not being materially damaged, had an 
 
 ■-<^ 
 
OF THE LAT£ WAB. 
 
 237 
 
 irhood for 
 Ity was at 
 )f August, 
 of 21 car- 
 f the hos- 
 light of. a 
 in sight of 
 led on the 
 e the ene- 
 athergage, 
 nd waited 
 -wards the 
 oisted the 
 \ distance, 
 turned, the 
 Letry. At 
 a fell. He 
 i on deck 
 hen, being 
 he yielded 
 atson, and 
 t away the 
 1 mast, of 
 i yiupd, and 
 »de of the 
 received a 
 at he also 
 the Argus 
 jun. whose 
 nemy's at- 
 nutes past 
 etting un- 
 en, b^ luf- 
 Lnd ^ving 
 d this atr 
 y the pre- 
 \j^s, de- 
 ausing her 
 her stern, 
 [lutes past 
 nning lig- 
 inageable; 
 d, had an 
 
 opportunity of choosing her position. She continued her 
 fire on the starboard quarter of the Argus, un^l half p!»8t 
 6; when lieutenant Watson returhed to the deck, and 
 made preparations to board the enemy. The shattered 
 condition of the brig rendered that effort impttsible ; and 
 the Pelican took a position on her stem, and gave her a 
 raking fire for 8 minutes, when she passed up, and plac- 
 ing herself on the starboard bow, continued a raking 
 fire there until 47 minutes past 6. ^11 this while, the 
 commander of the Argus was endeavouring, without ef- 
 fect, to bring her guns to bear ; and having nothinj^ but 
 musketry to oppos i to the galling ahd effective nre of 
 the enemy, he determined on surrendering the brig. A 
 mtosure, which, in consequence of the loss of several of- 
 ficers, and many of the men ; of the shattered state of the 
 hull and rigging; and of the impossibility, under these 
 disadvantages, of getting otherwise out of the combat, he 
 wquld have bi^en warranted in adopting much sooner. 
 At the moment her flag came down, the Pelican was 
 pressing jto board hei , and being close along side, imme- 
 diately took possesblu 1. Her loss amounted to 6 killed, 
 and 17 wounded ; 5 of the latter died soon after the en- 
 gagement The loss of the Pelican was 3 men killed, and 
 5 only wounded. 
 
 Captain Allen submitted to ah amputation of his leg; 
 but evety means of restoration to his health proved inef- 
 fectual; and, on the l^th, 3 days after the action, he ex- 
 B'red in Mill Pnson hospital, whence he and midshipmen 
 elphy (who had both his legs shot from his body at the 
 same instant}, and Edwards, were buried with the usual 
 honours of war. 
 
 Several United States' sloops of war were about this 
 
 Eeriod, upon tiie stocks; and it being necessary tiiat their 
 uilding and equipment should be superintended by jlkpe- 
 rienced naval officers, commanders were assigned tol^m, 
 previously to tiieir being launched into their destined ele- 
 ment - To restore to the American naVal list, the name 
 of a vessel which had been captured by a superior force, 
 after* tiie moment of vicWv over another vessel, one of 
 these was ordered to be called the Wasp, and the com- 
 mand given to lieutenant commandant jBlakely, at that 
 time of the ^n brig the Enterprise, 
 
^lipwpsnsfr- 
 
 2^ 
 
 [ISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ■I ' 
 
 By this transfer, the command of the later vess^ de- 
 Tolved on lieutenant commandant Burrows, to whom in- 
 stntcticns (lad been ^ven» for a ci'uise from Portsmouth, 
 On the Ist of September, he sailed frotn that* pliu:e, 
 steered to #ie eastward, and on the 3d, discovered anr' 
 chased a schooner into Portland, where he gained iiitelli- 
 gehce of several privateers b«ing off Manhagan, and im* 
 medi^telr stood for that place;* 
 
 The British gun Jirig^ tne Bcxer, captain Bly the, of 14 
 ins, and nearly 100 men, had been fitted up at St Johns,. 
 Tew Brunswick,) for the purpose of a combat with the 
 ibkrprise, mounting the same number of guns, and very 
 nearly the spme number of '^nen. To the crew of tlie 
 Boxer, however, a detachment was added from the Rat- 
 ler, upon her arrival on the United States' coast. On 
 the morning of the 5th, the Enterprise, in the bay near 
 Penguin Pomt, discovered the Boxer getting under weigh, 
 and gahre chase, to he/. The Boxer fired several gu|is , 
 stood for the. Enterprise, and hoisted four ensigns. Xlap- 
 tain BurrowSf having ascertaiiiod her ch}«.racter, stood out 
 of the bay to d>tain sea room ; and followed by tlve 
 Wij^t he hauled upon a wind until 3 P. M. At that 
 houir he shortened sail, and in 20 minutes the action 
 commenced, within h&lf pistol shot. At the first broad- 
 side, capftain Blythe was killed by a cannon shot through 
 his body; and in a moment afterwards, captain Burrows 
 fell by a musket ball, llie command of we two vessels, 
 during the whole engagement, was, therefore, mi^intained 
 by the lieutenants. Captain Burrows refused to quit the 
 deck, and at 4 P. M. received the sword of captain Blythe, 
 from the hands of lieutenant M*Call ; expressed his satis- 
 faction at the manner of his own death, and expired about 
 8 hours afterwards. The colours of the Bcjcer had been 
 naillMl to the msst, and her fii'st officer was, therefore, 
 obliged to hail lieutenant M<]!all, to inform him of her 
 
 ,11 t 
 
 lip 
 
 • The Enterprik*! is the same vessel, which, in 1801, was a 
 schooner, in the Mediterranean, commanded by lieutenant Ster- 
 rct. Under that officer, she engaged and captured, in August 
 of that year, during the Tripolitan war, the snip of war Tripoli^ 
 of 14 guT.,^ and 85 men. In this engagement she lost not a single 
 man; whilst her antagonist, had 50 of her creW kiUed and 
 wounded. 
 
 1 1 \ 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 er vessel de- 
 to whom in- 
 Portsmouth. 
 that* place, 
 covered anr' 
 lined ihtelli^ 
 ^n, and im- 
 
 llylhc, of 14 
 
 at St. Johns,. 
 
 bat with the' 
 
 m?, and very 
 
 crew of the 
 
 rom the Rat- 
 
 ' coast. On 
 
 the bay near 
 
 under weigh, 
 
 several gujis, 
 
 isigns. Xlap- 
 
 ker, stood out 
 
 ►wed by t!ie 
 
 M. Ai that 
 
 the action 
 
 first broad* 
 
 shot through 
 
 ain Burrows 
 
 two vessels, 
 
 i muntained 
 
 ta (mit the 
 
 tain Blythe, 
 
 ed his satis- 
 
 pired about 
 
 r had been 
 
 , therefore, 
 
 him of her 
 
 1801, was a 
 
 itenant Ster- 
 
 in August 
 
 ' war TripoUy 
 
 not a single 
 
 killed and 
 
 £39 
 
 surrender, before it was Icnown that she was vsitqutrfied. 
 She was immediately taken possession of, and carried 
 into Portland, with' aer masts, sails, and spars^ cut to 
 pieces; and, with twenty 18-pound shot in her hull. The 
 number of her killed and wounded, could not be ascer- 
 tained, no papers being on board, by which ^ streng^th 
 of here. 3W could be known. Her officei:8, admitted the 
 loss ef ^ killed, and 14 wounded. The rigging of the 
 Enterprise was much cut with grape shot, but her iiull 
 not materialljr d)9.maged. Her loss ^as 1 killed, and 13 
 wounded. Dieutenant Tillinghast, and midshipman Wa* 
 ters, ^e latter of whom was severely wounded^ behaved 
 with coolness and determination; and lieutenant MCall, 
 who succeeded his eallant cf^tain, sustained the reputa- 
 tion of the navy, by nis; conduct throu^out the action. 
 
 On their arrival at Portiand, the bodies of the deceased 
 commanders w re deposited, witii the u&ual military cere- 
 monies; and the prisoners were soon after removed to 
 the interior. Both vessels were repaired withtite utftiost 
 despatch ; and the Boxer, beine ctmsidered the superior 
 vessel, was order^ by the president of the United Statei^ 
 to be delivered u^. for the bedkfit of the ci^t(Mni, and 
 bought fcom them into the service. 
 
 nj the fall of these young (^cers, captains Allen and 
 Burrows, the naval service experienced a heavy and al- 
 most irretrievable loss. Captain Allen had distinguished 
 himself in a gallant manner, in the action with the Mace- 
 donian, at which 'time he was first officer to- commodore 
 Detatur; and hot long after, received the approbation of 
 his government, by a promotion to the rant of a master 
 commandant, and to the command of the Argus. He 
 sustained the I'eputation of a brave and courteous man, 
 an accomplishea seaman, and a friend of ui^swerving in- 
 tegrity. Captain Burrows, whose intrepidity and rarti- 
 ? tade, insti|«ited him to remain on the deck of his vessel, 
 ^ in the agonies of death, until' he knew of the surrender of 
 the enemy, possessed these inestimable qualities in no 
 less a desiree. The ioss of such men, will be a fruitful 
 source of sorrow, to those who have been their compa- 
 nions in arms, and to those who looked up to them for 
 examples of usefulness and heroism. 
 
 Between this period and the commencement of the 
 year 1814, the cruise of the ships of war of the United 
 
24Q 
 
 HISTOltltiAI. SKETCHES 
 
 H 
 
 Stftte%were not attended by any of those bnlllant acMeVe- 
 mentd, by which they had vpreviouslyv and iiave sinte 
 ^at ^me' been (jnarked. In the mdnth of Februarjr, of 
 thatyear, the irigate Pi;e»dent, returned from a cruise of 
 about 70 di^«. At the entrance of Sandy Hook, after 
 havinK^pasjMNlIhe %hthou^ei. commodore Riodgers, fwnd 
 himself in the pigSioUrhpod' of thre^ lai^ men of war, 
 the neareft beings the P^tagenet 74, captain Lloyd»^— 
 Behig well assured of ^n attack, £ram one oral) of the 
 enemy's veissds, .hcT cleared ship for actibn ; fuid, thou^ 
 his capture was inevitable^ he determined n^t to lose the 
 President, until he eould no longer fight her. In conse- 
 quence of the wind and tide bi^ii^ bow unfayottrable, he 
 was compelled to remain in his situation 7 hours, before 
 either of th^m enabled him to cross llie bar; and. In all 
 that tinp to has great astcnishtnent, and to the surprise 
 and mortification of the prisonera-on boards no disposition 
 was manifested to attack the PresHlent, thoueh her charac- 
 ter was known; and she foed a gun to windward, to sig- 
 nify her wmingness to fight, since there was no apparent 
 jpssibility of escaping. The lide having changed, com- 
 modore Kodgers proce^ed to New York; i^nd captmn 
 Lloyd, after returning to England, jeccounted for his con- 
 duct, by ailing a mutiny in his ship, and had seVeral 
 of his sailors tried upon Aat charge. V^ 
 
 In the succeeding' month of April, the Constitntion 
 frigkte, commanded nycaptfun Charies Stewart^ wks also 
 returning from a cruise, commenced oh the 1st January. 
 On her arrival on. the coast, she was pursued by two Brit- 
 ish frigates and a brig^ and chased into Marblenead. The 
 excellent seamai|iship of her commander, enabled her, with 
 difficult to esc£^e; and she reached Salem, without in- 
 jury. During her cruito wshe captured the British public 
 schooner JPic^ottiL and fell in witii the frigate Xet Pi^, 
 captain Mikitland, who fled cm the approadi of t^e Consti- 
 tution. No effort'was left tmtried by captain Stewart, to 
 overtake and bring her to action^ but she escaped in the 
 hight after a lone chase; and captain Maitland» on his 
 m-rival in England, was complimented by the admmtl ty, 
 for his strict observance of hts instructions, in flying from 
 an American frigate. r /• 
 
 Repeated opportunities were,- about this time^ §^ven to 
 the enemy's squadron off Sandy Hook, to engage the gun 
 
Of THE I^TB WAK. 
 
 £41 
 
 boat flotilla. A schooner had been driven on fihore; and 
 numbers of barges, well manned and armed, were des- 
 patched to t^e possession of her; but commodore 
 Lewis, ordered a detachment of his sailors to land and 
 protect her. With a small field piece, and their small 
 arms, they beat off the enemj, launched the schooner, 
 and carried her to her destined port. New York. A 
 month afterwards, the Belvidere chased the brig IjLegent, 
 laden with an immensely valuable cargo close into the 
 Hook; when the commodore, whose station was con- 
 stantly at that point, immediately gave signal for a de- 
 tachment of his flotilla to follow liim; and placing him- 
 self, with 11 sail, between the frigate and the chase, 
 prevented her capture; and fired upwards of 50 shot at 
 the frigate, which stood off without returning the fire. 
 
 In a preceding chapter of this work an account is 
 given of a plan of a cruise in the South Seas by a squad- 
 ron composed of the Constitution, the Essex, and the 
 Hornet, under commodore Bainbridge. This cruise was 
 broken up ^y the engagements of me Constitution and 
 the Hornet; and, as neither of those vessels were found 
 by the Essex, at either of the appointed rendezvous, cap- 
 tain Porter obtained such adaitional provisions as were 
 necessary for a long cruise. He had received intelli- 
 gence ot the victory over the Java, and had been in- 
 formed that the Montague had captured the Hornet. He 
 therefore determined on prosecuting the original cruise, 
 with the Essex alone. Previously to his departure from 
 the rendezvous on the coast of Brazil, he captured the 
 British packet Nocton, took out of her n,000t. sterling, 
 in specie, and ordered her, with lieutenant Finch, to the 
 United States. He then shaped his course for the Pacific, 
 arrived at Valparaiso, on the 14^ March, 1813, provi- 
 sioned himself there, and running down the coast oi Chili 
 and Peru, fell in with a Peruvian corsair, on board of 
 which were 24 Americans, detained as prisoners. Cap- 
 tain Porter immediately threw the guns of the corsair 
 overboard, deprived her of all her warlike implements, 
 released the Americans, and re-captured near Lima, one 
 of the vessels in which they had been taken. From 
 Lima he proceeded to the (xallapagos glands, where he 
 cruised from April until October; and, in that time, cap- 
 tured 12 armed British whale ships. Tho^ Montezuma, 
 
ti 
 
 !.'■ t 
 
 ii; 
 
 I i 
 i 
 
 t 
 
 IH 
 
 
 U'2 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 of S guns and SI men; the Policy, of 10 guns and 2.6 
 men; the Georgiana, of 6 guns and 25 men; the Green- 
 tmch, of 10 guns and 25 men; the JtlantiCt of 8 guns and 
 24 mien; the Bose, of 8 guns and 21 men; the Hector, of 
 11 guns and 25 men; tne Catherine, of 8 guns and 29 
 men; the Seringapatam, of 14 guns and 31 men; the 
 Charlton, of 10 guns and 21 men; the J^Tew Zealander, 
 of 8 guns and 23 men; and the Sir Andrew Hammond, 
 of 12 guns and 31 men; making, in all, 107 guns and 
 302 men: and th6 total amount of tonnage, 3456. Ma- 
 ny of these vessels were pierced for 18, 20, and 26 
 guns, and captain Porter equipped several of them, 
 and commissioned them as United States' cruisers and 
 store ships. The Mlantic, he called the Essex Junior ; 
 equippect her with 20 guns, and assigned his first officer, 
 lieutenant Downes, as her commander. This officer 
 convej^d such of the prizes, as were to be laid up, to 
 Valparaiso. Here he learned that a Biitish squadron, 
 consisting of one frigate, two sloops of war, and a store 
 ship of 20 guns, had sailed for the Pacific, in quest of the 
 Essex, and he immediatelv returned to captain Porter 
 with this intelligence. The Essex had now been one 
 year at sea, and as she required many repairs, captain 
 Porter proceeded to the island of Nooaheevah, or Madi- 
 son's Uland, lying in the Washington ^oup; where he 
 completely repaired the Essex; and having secured three 
 of his prizes under the guns of the battery which he had 
 
 ftreviously erected^and manned with 21 marines, under 
 ieutenant Gamble of that corps, sailed for the coast of 
 Chili, on the 12th December, and arrived there on the 
 12th January, 1814. He then looked into Conception 
 and Valparaiso, where he learned, that the squadron of 
 which he had been informed by lieutenant Downes, was 
 conjectured to have been lost in doubling Cape Horn. 
 He nevertheless, continued in the neighbourhood of Val- 
 
 Jaraiso, and was anchored in that port, with the Essex 
 unior, when commodore Hillyar, of the frigate Phcebe, 
 of 36 guns, mounting (thirty long 18's, sixteen 32-pound 
 carronadies, and one howitzer/ on her decks, and six 3- 
 pounders in her tops,) 53 suns, and having a complement 
 of 320 men; accompanied by the Cherub sloop of war, 
 capt^ain Tucker, of (eighteen 32-pound carronades, eight 
 @4's, and 2 long 9*3) 28 guns, and 130 men, arrived at 
 
OF THti LATE WAB. 
 
 243 
 
 una and 26 
 the Green' 
 f 8 gans and 
 le Hector, of 
 guns and S9 
 il fnen; the 
 ; Zealandevy 
 u Hammond, 
 )7 guns and 
 3456. Ma- 
 2.0, and 26 
 al of them, 
 cruisers and 
 Issex Junior; 
 i first officer, 
 This officer 
 le laid up, to 
 sh squadron, 
 ', ana a store 
 quest of the 
 ptain Porter 
 m been one 
 airs, captain 
 'ah, or Madi- 
 p; where he 
 iecured three 
 trhich he had 
 rines, under 
 • the coast of 
 there on the 
 Conception 
 squadron of 
 )ownes, was 
 Cape Horn, 
 •hood of Val- 
 th the Essex 
 gate Pheebe, 
 !en 32-pound 
 ), and six 3- 
 complement 
 oop of war, 
 onades, eight 
 1, arrived at 
 
 Valparaiso. The Essex, which mounted (forty 32-potind 
 carronades, and six long 12*s,) 46 guns, and had her crew 
 reduced, by prizes, to 255 men ; and, the Essex Junior, 
 which was not competent to resist a sloop of war, mount- 
 ing 20 guns, and naving on board 6(X men, were thus 
 blockaded by a force of 81 guns and 500 men. 
 
 After cruising at the entrance to the harbour for 6 
 weeks, the Phoebe hove to, fired a gun to windward, and 
 hoisted a^ motto flag, with the words, ''God and our Coun- 
 try; British Sailors' best rights; Traitors offend both;** 
 in answer, as it was thought, to captain Porter's motto 
 of "Free Trade and Sailors* Rights.** On the mizen of 
 the Essex, a flag was immediately hoisted, with the words, 
 "God, our Country, and Liberty; Tyrants offend them,*' 
 and she got under weigh, and commenced a fire on the 
 Pheebe. Captain Porter conceived the movements of the 
 Phoebe to be intended as a challenge to engage him, ship 
 to ship; but, on discovering that the Phoeb« ran down to 
 her consort, he felt convinced that commodore Hillyar 
 would not engage the Essex alone. This conclusion was 
 confirmed by the conduct of the two vessels, in keeping 
 constantly within hail of each other, 
 i Captain Porter, having now learned that the Tagus and 
 2 other frigates, had also sailed for the Pacific, in pursuit 
 of him; not knowing at what time they might gain the 
 squadron already blockading him, and seeing no advan- 
 tages which hisxountry could obtain by his remaining 
 longer in port, determined on put^ng to sea; and ex- 
 pected, by drawing off the Phoebe and Cherub in pdrsuit 
 of him, to afford an opportunity to the Essex Junior, to 
 which he had appointed a rendezvous, of escaping. 
 
 On the 28th of March, the day after this determination 
 was formed, the wind came on to blow fresh from the 
 southward, and the Essex parted her larboard cable, and 
 dragged her starboard anchor directly out to sea ; ^e oc- 
 currences which followed, are thus described in captain 
 Porter*s official letter :* 
 
 * This letter, together with an account of the entire ciuise 
 of the EHsex-— of the possession of the island of Nooaheevah, by 
 capttun Porter, in the name of the United Statea— of the inter- 
 course established with the natives in behalf of his government 
 — of the destniction of the enemy's commerce in those seaa^— 
 of the immense expense which it cost the British govern- 
 
V 
 
 244 
 
 HISTORICAX SKETCHES 
 
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 " Not a moment was to be lost, in getting sail on the 
 ship. The enemy were close in with the point form- 
 ing the west side of the bay; but, on opening them, I 
 saw a prospect of passing to windward, when I took in 
 my topgallant-sails, which were set over single reefed 
 top-sails, and braced up for this purpose; but, on 
 rounding the point, a heavy squall struck the ship, and 
 carried away her main-topmast, precipitating the men 
 who were aloft, into the sea, who were drowned. Both 
 ships now save chase to me ; and, I endeavoured, in 
 my disabled state, to regain the port ; but, finding I 
 could not recover the common anchorage, I ran close 
 into a small bay, about three quarters of a mile to lee- 
 ward of the battery, on the east side of the harbour, 
 and let go mv anchor within pistol shot of the shore, 
 wherie I intended to repair mv damages, as soon as pos- 
 sible. 'The 'enemy continuea to approach, and showed 
 an evident intention of attacking us, regardless of the 
 neutrality of the place where I was anchored. The 
 caution observed in their approach to the attack of the 
 crippled Essex, was truly ridiculous; as was their dis- 
 play of their motto flags, and the number of jacks at 
 the mast heads. I, with as much expedition as circum- 
 stances would admit of, got my ship ready for action, 
 and endeavoured to get a spring on my cable, but had 
 not succeeded, when the enemy, at 54 minutes after 3 
 P. M. made his attack; the Pheebe placing herself un- 
 der my stern, and the Cherub on my starboard bow ; 
 but) the Cherub soon finding her situation -a hot one, 
 bore up and ran under my stern also, where both ships 
 kept Up a, hot raking fire. I had got three long IS poun- 
 ders out at the stern ports, which were worked with so 
 much bravery and skill, that in half an hour, we so dis- 
 abled both, as to compel them to haul off to repair da- 
 mages. In the course of this firing, I had, by the sreat 
 exertions of Mr. Edwarti Barnwell, the acting sailing 
 
 ment to pursue and capture the Essex-^and, of the transactions 
 which took place, between the different tribes of natives in the 
 Washington g^up, and the fleet with which he appeared there, 
 are to be found in a " Journal," published by captain Porter, and 
 accompanied by several engp^aved plans of those places, of the 
 harbour of Valparaiso, and a view of the battle between the 
 Phoebe And Cherub, and the Essex. 
 
OF THR X.ATS yfAn*, 
 
 ^5 
 
 ^ ma»ier* assisted by Mr. Xiinscott, the boatswaiD^- puc- 
 " C9^ed 'm getting spring on our cables, thr^e di&rent 
 << times; but, tlie fire of the eBemj was, so excessive, 
 " that, before we coiild set our broadside to bear, they 
 ** were shot away, and thus rendered useless to us. lify 
 ** ship had received many injuries, and several had been 
 *' killed and wounded ; but, my brave officers and men, 
 '* netwiths^ding the unfavourable circumstances under 
 " which we were brought to action, and the powerful 
 ** force opposed to us,, were noways discouraged; all ap- 
 " peered aetermined to defend their ship to the last ex- 
 " tremity, and to dio in preference to a shi^meful sur- 
 ** render. Our gaff, with the ensign and motto flag at 
 " the mizen, haa been shot away; but, free tradp and 
 *' sAiLOBs' fuoHT8» Continued to fly at the fore. Our en- 
 " sign was replaced by another, and to guard against a 
 " similar event, an ensign v«ras made fast in the mizen rig- 
 ^<ging, and several jacks were hoisted in different parts 
 *' of me sldp. The enemy soon repaired his damages^ 
 "for a fresh attack: h^ now placed himself, with both 
 ** his ships, on my starboard quarter, out of the reach of 
 " my carronades, and where my stern guns could not be 
 " broudit tx> bear; he there kept up a most galling fire, 
 " whi(£ it was out of my power to return, when 1 saw 
 '* no prospect of injuring him, withoiit. getting under 
 ''weigh and becoming the assailant My topsml sheets 
 " and haulyards were all shot away, as well as the jib and 
 *' foretopmast staysaU haulyards. The only rope not cut 
 ^ was the fiying«jib haulyards, and that being the only 
 " sihI I could se^ I caused it to be hoisted, my cable to 
 ** be cut, and ran down on both ships, with an intention 
 " of laying the Phoebe on board. The firing on both s^des 
 *' was now tremendous. I had let fall my foretopsail and 
 " foresail; but the want of tacks and sheets had rend^ed 
 " them almost useless to us ; yet, we were enabled, i^v 
 " a short time, to close with the enemy ; and, although 
 *' our dedks were now strewed with dead, and our cocK- 
 " pit filled with wounded; although our shijp had been se- 
 " veral times on fire, and was rendered a perfect wreck, 
 ** we were still encouraged to hope to save iher, from the 
 ** circumstances of the Cherub, worn her crippled state, 
 " being compelled to haul off. £ihe did not return to close 
 " action again, although she apparently had it in kffF 
 
 X2 
 
4: 
 
 d46 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 '* power to do so* but kept up a distant firing with her 
 'Monffguns. The Phcebe, from our disabled state, was 
 ** ensSled, however, bj ed^ng off, to choose the distance 
 " which best suited her long guns, &nd kept up a tremen- 
 " dbus fire on us, which mowed down my brave compa- 
 " nions by the dozen. Many of my guns had been ren- 
 ** dered useless by the enetany's shot, and many of them 
 *'had their whole crews destroyed. We manned them 
 " again, from those which were aisabled, and one gun in 
 ** particular was three times manned; 15 men were slain 
 ** at it in the course of the action! But strange as it.may 
 " appear, the captain of it escaped with only a slight 
 " wound. Finding that the enemy had it in his power to 
 " choose his distance, I now gave up all hopes of closing 
 ** with him; and, as the wind, for tne moment, seemed to 
 ** favour the design, I determined to endeavour to run 
 "her on-shore, land my men, and destroy her. Every 
 " thins seemed to favour my wishes. We nad approach- 
 ** ed the shore within musket shot, and I had no dfoubt of 
 " succeeding, when, in an instant, the wind shifted from 
 " the land, (as is verv common in this port in tihie latter 
 ** part of Ihe day) ana payed our head down on the Phtsbe, 
 '* where we were again exposed to a dreadful raking fire. 
 '*My ship was now totally unmanageable; yet, as her 
 " head was toward the enemy; and he to leeward of i^e, 
 *' I still hoped to be able to board him; At this moment, 
 " lieutenant commandant Dowhes came on board to re- 
 *' ceive my orders, under the impression that I should 
 " soon be a prisoner. He could be of no use to me, in 
 "the then wretched state of tlie Essex; and, finding 
 *' (from the enemy putting his helm up) Ihat my last at- 
 " tempt at boardmg would not succeed, I directed him 
 " after he had been about ten minutes on board, to return 
 ** to his own ship, to be prepared for defending and de- 
 " stroying her, in case of attack. He took with nim seve- 
 " ral of my wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on 
 *' beard, to make room for them. The slaughter on 
 bouti my ship had now become horrible, the enemy 
 continuing to rake us, and we unable to bring a gun to 
 " bear. I merefore directed a hawser to be bent to the 
 '* sheet anchor, and the anchor to be cut from the bows 
 "to bring her head round: this succeeded. We again 
 ''got our broadside to bear; and, as the enemy wa« 
 
 tt 
 
 u 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 247 ^* 
 
 with her 
 state, was 
 i distance 
 a tremen- 
 kve compa- 
 been ren- 
 ly of them 
 ined them 
 »ne gun itt 
 were slain 
 ; as it.may 
 [y a slight 
 is power to 
 of closing 
 , seemed to 
 our to run 
 ler. Every 
 i approach- 
 nd doubt of 
 bifted from 
 n the latter 
 the Phoebe, 
 raking fire, 
 yet, as her 
 vard of i^fie, 
 lis moment, 
 oard to re- 
 it I should 
 >e to me, in 
 ,nd, finding 
 my last at- 
 irected him 
 d, to return 
 ine and de- 
 h nim seve- 
 it's crew on 
 Biughter on 
 
 the enemy 
 ig a gun to 
 [)ent to the 
 Q the bows 
 
 We again 
 enemy wa« 
 
 <( 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 «( 
 
 " much crippled, and unable to hold his own, I have no 
 *' doubt he would soon have drifted out of gun shot, be- 
 ** fore he discovered we had anchored, had not the haw- 
 *' ser unfortunately parted. My ship had taken fire seve- 
 " ral times during the action, but alarmingly sa forward 
 and aft at this moment, the &ames were bursting up 
 each 4iatchway, and no hopes were entertained of sav- 
 ing her; our distance from the shore did not exceed 
 three quarters of a mile, and I hoped many of my brave 
 crew would be able to save themselves, sliould tne ship 
 blow up, as I was inform<^ the fire was near the masa- 
 zine, and the explosion of a lai^ quantity of powder 
 ** below, served to increase the horrors of our situation. 
 ** Our boats were destroyed^ by the enemy's shot; I, there- 
 ** fore directed tiiose who could swim, to jump overboard, 
 '*and endeavour to gain the shore. So)ne reached it, 
 ** some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in 
 "the attempt; but most, preferred sharing with me the 
 " fate of the ship. We, who remained, now turned our 
 *' attention wholly to extinguish the flunes ; and, when 
 " we had succeeded, went again to our guns, where the 
 *' firine W98 kept up for some minuted; but the crew had 
 '*by mis time, become so weakened, that they all de- 
 ^ clared to me the impossibility of making further resist- 
 " ance, and entreated me to surrender my ship, to savfe 
 ** the wounded, as all fiirther attempt at opposition, must 
 " prove iheflfectual, almost every gun being disabled, by 
 " the destruction of their crews." 
 
 Captain Porter then summoned his officers of divisions 
 to a consultation, but, to his surpiise, his summons was 
 attended by only one remaining officer, acting lieutenant 
 M'Knight, who made the same report concerning the 
 condition of the guns. Lieutenant Wilmer had been 
 knocked overboard by a splinter, and. was drowned; act- 
 ing lieutenant Cowell had lost a leg, of which loss he af- 
 terwards died; Mr. Barnwell, the acting master, had 
 been twice severely wounded ; <he acting lieutenant Oden- 
 heimer, had been knocked overboard about the same 
 time, and did not regain the ship until she had surren- 
 dered; many of the wounded were killed, while in the 
 hands of the sui^eons; the cockpit, the steerage, the 
 ward-room, and the birtii-deck, could contain no more; 
 and, such was the quantity of shot hdies in the bottom of 
 
£48 
 
 HI8T0KIC4l< SKI&TCHES 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 'M 
 
 the Bssex, that, unless she was very soon repaired, th« 
 carpenter reported she must inevitabhr sink. T1\^ smooth- 
 ness of the water, and the impossibility of reaching; the 
 enemy, with the carronades, enabled him to fire wim the 
 most deliberate aim at the Essex, and, seeing no hope of 
 savins his little frigate, captain Porter, at twenty minutes 
 past o P. M. gave orders to strike the colours. At this 
 moment, 75 men only, including officers, were all that 
 remained of the crew> fit for duty, and several of these 
 severely wounded. The Essex had now yielded to the 
 superior force of the enemy, who, nevertheless, still fired, 
 and continued to .do so, ten minutes after her surrender. 
 Many of the crew were, in this time, killed: an opposite 
 ,gun nad been fired, to show that she intended no further 
 resistance, vet commodore Hillyar still assailed her, and 
 four men rell at the side of her commander. Conceiv- 
 ing from tiiis conduct, that the enemy intended to show 
 no quartet, captain Porter determined to die with s 
 flag flying, and wad on the point of re-hoisting it, when 
 the firinff ceased. ^ ^ 
 
 In addition to the officers already mentioned, captain 
 Porter speaks of Messrs. Johnson, and Bostwick, actins^ 
 officers; of midshipmen Isaacs, Farragut, and Ogden, ana 
 acting midshipmen, Terry, Lyman, and Duzenbury, hav- 
 ing behaved witii much bravery, enterprise and skill. 
 
 Such was the condition of both the Phcebe and the Es- 
 sex, that it was with extreme difficulty they could be kept 
 afloat until tiiev anchored in Valparaiso. All the masts 
 and yards of tne two British vessels were crippled, and 
 ^&r hulls cut up. The Phoebe had eighteen 12 pound 
 shot below her water line, though the Essex never reach- 
 ed the enemy^ but with her ux 12 pounders. All Uie ves- 
 sels were obli»Nl to be repaired, to double Cape Horn, 
 and, at Bio de Janeiro, they put in, to fit up and repair, to 
 enable them to reach England. 
 
 In an engagem^it of 2 hours and SO minutes dura- 
 tion, between one ship of 46 guns, six only of which could 
 .*be used, and two vessels of 81 guns, the Loss on the infe- 
 rior side must necessarily have been excessively severe. 
 On board the Essex, 58 men were killed: 39 severely, 
 and 26 slightly, wounded; and 31 missings making a 
 total loss of 154. On board the Phcebe and Cherub, the 
 I99S was not small. The first lieutenant of the former 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 949 
 
 was killed, and captain Tucker, of the latter, severely 
 wounded. 
 
 Commodore Hillyar made arrangements with captain 
 Porter, in consideration of his conduct to the crew of the 
 Alert; by which, the Essex Junior was to be dismantled 
 of her armament, and given up to the prisoners, who were 
 to proceed in her to the United States. AccOrdinelv, on 
 the 27th of April, captain Porter and his crew left Valpa- 
 raiso in that ship, wnich, under lieutenant Downes, was 
 furnished with a passport, to secure her admission into 
 any of the blockaded ports of the United States. On the 
 5th July, thev fell in with the Saturn razee, captain Mash, 
 who Buflferea the Essex Junior to proceed, after an exar 
 mination of her papers. Two hours after, being on the 
 same tack with the Saturn, she was again brought to; 
 the papers re-examined, and the hold overhauled, oy the 
 boat's crew and an officer. Captain Porter was informed 
 that commodore Hillyar had no authority to make any 
 arrangement, by which this ship should be given up, and 
 that sne must therefore be detained. He immediately 
 ordered out a boat, manned it with a sufficient crew, and 
 pulled off from the Essex Junior. The Saturn did not 
 discover him, until he was out of gun shot, when she 
 chased the boat, without success; and captain Porter 
 landed at Long Island, upwards of 30 miles from the 
 place; at which he left the Essex, and immediately pro- 
 ceeded to New York, where he arrived, after an absence 
 from his country of 19 months, and to which portlie was 
 followed, a few days after, by the Essex Junior. 
 
 The United States* sloop of war Peacock, captain L. 
 Warrington, of 20 guns, and 160 men, was launched in 
 the month of October, 1813 — ^performed a cruise during 
 that winter — escaped the pursuit of the enemy into St. 
 Marjr's — put to sea ftsain, and on the 29th of April, dis- 
 covered tne British sloop of war Epervier, captain Wales, 
 of 18 guns, and 128 men, having under convoy a:n English 
 bris, and a Russian and a Spanish ship, all of whom made 
 sail, on the approach of the PeacocK. An engagement 
 followed, soon after, between the two vessels of war; ^nd, 
 at the first broadside, from the Epervier, the foreyard pf 
 the Peacock was totally disabled, by two round shot in 
 the starboard quarter. By this circumstance, she was 
 deprived pf the use of her fore and fore top sails, and 
 
■I 
 
 tm 
 
 1 
 
 '' ■■ ^ 
 
 n 
 
 ,»\'i 
 
 K 
 
 . >" 
 
 1 
 
 o'^ 
 
 
 
 , I? 
 lii 
 
 1 1 Hi 
 
 250 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 captain Warrington was compelled to keep his ship lar^e 
 througjhout the action, which continued 42 minutes. In 
 this time, she received many shot through her sails and 
 rignng, lost several top-mast and top gallant back-stays, 
 aiKl had 2 men wounded. Her hull not at all injured, and 
 none of the crew killed. The Epervier struck, with 5 
 feet water in her hold, her main top-mast oyer the side ; 
 her main boom shot away, her fore mast cut nearly in 
 two, and totterine; her fore ri^ng and stays shot away, 
 her bowsprit much injured; her hull pierced by 45 shot, 
 20 of which were within a foot of her water line, and 11 
 of her crew killed, and her first lieutenant, and 14 men 
 wounded. She was immediately taken possession of by 
 lieutenant Nicholson, first ofiicer of the Peacock, who, 
 vfiih lieutenant Voorhees, of the same ship, had been dis- 
 tingu^hed in another naval combat S 118,000 in specie, 
 were found on board the Epervier, and transferred to the 
 Peacock; and captain Warrington, having received on 
 board the officers of the enemy's vessel, pursued his 
 course to one of the southern ports, in company with his 
 prize, after repairing her with the utmost diligence. 
 
 At half past 5 P. M. on the following day, being almost 
 off the centre of Amelia Island, captain Warrington dis- 
 covered two lai^e sail in chase, which he ascertained to 
 be frieates. At the suggestion of lieutenant Nicholson, 
 he took all the prisoners out of the Epervier, and leaving 
 a crew of only 15 men on board, directed her to make the 
 best of 4ier way to St. Mary's, whilst he stood on the wind 
 alons shore, to the southward. The frigates then sepa- 
 rated, one being in chase of the Peacock, and the other of 
 the Epervier. At 9 that nisht, the Peacock lost sight of 
 the chaser, but continued all night to the southward. At 
 daylight of the first of May, she shortened sail, and stood 
 to the northward, discovered the frigate asain, and was a 
 second time chased, until 2 P. M. when the frigate gave 
 up. In the evening, she resumed her cruise, fell in with 
 the frigate a third time, on the morning of the 2d, and was 
 again chased until she lost sight. On the morning of the 
 4th, she made Tybee light house, at the entrance of Sa- 
 vannah, and arrived at that port in the course of the day. 
 Here captain Warrinjgton found his prize, the Epervier, 
 which had escaped with great difficulty, after beating off 
 a launch well manned and armed, which had been des- 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 251 
 
 i ship laree 
 inutes. In 
 r sails and 
 back-stays, 
 tijured, and 
 ick, with 5 
 jr the side ; 
 it nearly in 
 shot away, 
 by 45 shot, 
 ine, and 11 
 and 14 men 
 ission of by 
 acock, who, 
 ad been dis- 
 
 00 in specie, 
 ierred to the 
 received on 
 pursued his 
 any with his 
 igence. 
 
 teing almost 
 rington dis- 
 icertained to 
 t Nicholson, 
 , and leaving 
 to make the 
 
 1 on the wind 
 js then sepa- 
 l the other of 
 
 lost sight of 
 thward. At 
 il, and stood 
 n, and was a 
 frigate gave 
 , fell in with 
 1 2d, and was 
 orning of the 
 ;rance of Sa- 
 . of the day. 
 the Epervier, 
 »r beating oft* 
 id been des- 
 
 patched from the frigate to overtake her. Lieutenant Ni- 
 cholson, by his iudgment and decision, which had never 
 been known to desert him in times of peril and difficulty, 
 prevented her fecapture. The Epervier was repaired, 
 refitted, bought into the service at Savannah, and the com- 
 mand given to captain Downes, of the Essex Junior. 
 
 The conduct ot lieut. Henly ; of midshipmen Greeves 
 and lUnlgers; Mr. Townsendf, captain's clerk, uid Mr. 
 Myers, master's mate, is represented by captain War- 
 rineton to have been cool, determined, and active, llie 
 sailing master, Percival, the same who captured the ten- 
 der Eagle, off Sandy Hook, handled the ship in a very 
 superior style, and placed her in such situations as were 
 most advantitteous, with much ease and professional skill. 
 
 The new sloop of war the Wasp, captain Blakeley, 
 mounting 20 guns, having been completely equipped for 
 a long cruise, sailed from Portsmouth on the 1st of May, 
 1814, between which time and the 6th of the following 
 July, she captured 7 merchantmen, and a brig Gi war, 
 the Reindeer^ captain Manners, of 18 guns, and one shiftp 
 ing gun, and 118 men. This capture was made after an 
 action of 19 minutes, in lat 48, 36, N. and lone. 11, 15, 
 W. On that day, at 15 minutes after 4 A. M. me Wasp 
 beine in pursuit of two sful before the lee beam, disco- 
 vert the Reindeer on the weather beam, and immediate- 
 ly altered her course, and hauled by in chase of her. The 
 pursuit continued until half past meridian, when the Rein- 
 deer, having previously hoisted an. English «nsign and 
 pendant, showed a blue and white flag at the fore, and 
 fired a gun. At 15 minutes past 1, captain Blak«ley calH- 
 ed all hands to Quarters, ana prepared for action. At 22 
 minutes past 1, he tacked ship, and stood for the Rein- 
 deer, with an expectation of being able to weather her. 
 At 50 minutes past 1, the Reindeer tacked and stood from 
 the Wasp. 56 minutes past 1, the Wasp hoisted her co- 
 lours, and fired a gun to windward, whicn was answered. 
 The chase was kept up until 32 minutes past 2, when the 
 Reindeer tacked for ine Wasp; and the latter took in her 
 stay sails, and furled the royals. Captain Blakeley hav- 
 ing now discovered that the Reindeer would weather 
 him, immediately tacked ship; and at 15 minutes past 1, 
 the Reindeer being on his weather quarter, at 60 yards 
 distance, fired her shifting gun, a 12 pound carronade. 
 
^ 
 
 :*!i' 
 
 I ''it 
 
 S52 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 loaded with round and grape shot. At 17 minuter past 
 3, the "ame gun was fired again; at 19 minutes past 3^ it 
 was fired amird time; at 21 miautes past 3, a fourth 
 time; and at £4 minutes past 3, a fifth time. The Rein- 
 Jeer not getting sufficiently on the beam of the Wasp, the 
 latter was compelled to receive these repeated discharges 
 without being aole to bring a gun to bear. Her helm was 
 therefore put a-lee, and at 26 minutes past 3, captain 
 Blakeley commenced the acdon with his after carronade. 
 on the starboard side, and fired in succession. Then.ain- 
 sail was then hauled up. At 40 minutes past 3, the Rein- 
 deer's larboard bow being in contact with the larboard 
 quarter of the Wasp, captain Manners directed his crew 
 to board her. The attempt was ^llantl j repulsed by the 
 crew of the Wasp, who several times beat off the enemy; 
 and at 44 minutes past 3, were ordered to board in turn. 
 Throwing themselves with great promptitude upon the 
 deck of me Reindeer, they succeeded in the execution of 
 their orders, and her flag came uown at 45 minutes past 
 3. In a line with her ports she was cut almjj^st to pieces ; 
 her upper works, boats, and spare spars, entirely de- 
 e'troyed, and on the following day her fore mast went by 
 the Doard. 25 of her crew were killed, and 42 wounded, 
 making a loss of 67 men. On board the Wasp, the inju- 
 ry sustained was not so material. Her rigging was de- 
 stroyed, however, in several places, her foremast pit f-ed 
 throiTsh by a 24-pound ball, and her hull struck by 6 
 rouna shot, and many grape, though not witli sufficient 
 force to peneti-ate far Her loss amounted to 5 killed, 
 and 21 wounded, principally in boarding. Among the 
 latter, midshipmen Langdon and Toscan, both of whom 
 expired some days after. Having received the prisoners 
 and their ba^^e on board the Wasp, captain BlaKeley 
 blew up the Reindeer on the evening or the 29tli, and 
 saile'l foj I.'Orient to provi.ie for the disabled part of 
 each crew, whose wounds 'had become offensive m con- 
 sequence of the intense, heat of the weather. He arrived 
 ,'i i that port on th« 6th of July, and found that their da- ' 
 mage could be repaired by the carpenters of the ship in a 
 few days. 
 
 In this ac^^lon, lieutenants Bury and Reily, who had 
 ' )een in the en^gements with the Guerriere and Java, 
 and lieutenant TiUinghast (2d), who was instrumfntal 
 
# 
 
 Hit TAB LATE ifXSU 
 
 25$ 
 
 iute;s past 
 past % it 
 a fourth 
 rhe Rein- 
 A'^asp, the 
 lischarges 
 helm was 
 J, captain 
 carronadcr 
 The nain- 
 , the Rein- 
 i larboard 
 i his crew 
 sed by the 
 he enemy; 
 rd in turn. 
 5 upon the 
 tecution of 
 inutea past 
 ; to pieces ; 
 ntirely de- 
 ist went by 
 a wounded, 
 p, the iniu- 
 ng was de- 
 ist pit f-ed 
 ;ruck bj 6 
 L suficient 
 » 5 killed, 
 V.mong the 
 1 of whom 
 B prisoners 
 1 BlaKeley 
 29tl!i, and 
 ed part of 
 ive in con- 
 e arrived 
 i then da- ' 
 |e ship in a 
 
 who had 
 
 and Java, 
 
 itrumental 
 
 tiff the capture of the Boxer, im^ntained the high credit 
 ^lichtilie^ acquired dn those previ^s occitetoilp. \A|id 
 captain iimceiey, wh<Me reputatioii ^^'M a skillifl seaman, 
 and an exp<;rt nay^itorr, k n<^ iwrpiissed b}r ant naViil 
 offlcei , had his crew m w^ drilled, upon the-prhia^les of 
 maritie discipKne^ithat tiiey never des^ired ofWnquisMiig 
 an ^uM feree of #JQir enemy. • 
 • to the port of li'Drient, the IVasp was detuned by 
 1: uid winds until i^aeS^i*. August, having been anchored 
 there 5S days. Dttrir.« this timie, every attention \*as 
 mv^n to har officers and trew by the mhabitantti, and 
 tneir situation, in a foreign port, rendered particularly 
 agreeable by the assiduities of the Americain minister. 
 
 After leaving that place, and rapturing two yaluable 
 British itierchantmen, captain Blakeley fell in with a con- 
 voy of 10 sail, on the 1st of September, under tihie p«t)tec . 
 tion of the Armada 74,!V\d a bomb s^ip. He ^tood for 
 then^. and succeeded in cutting out ot the Sfihiadron, a 
 brig laden with brass and iron cannon, and military 
 stonres, from Gibraltar; and after taking out tl|ie prison- 
 ers, and setting h^ on fire, he ende^^vottted to cUf out 
 annUier vessel, but w&s driven off by the f 4. In the even- 
 ing, at half past 6, he' discovered 2 vess«3lls on his lar- 
 boi!urd, aiid d on the staHjoard bow^ and hftu)ed for that 
 whieh was farttiest to windwnrd. At 7, she wiw tilLide 
 out t'j be a bri^ of war, making signals with flagSj which 
 could n<^ be diElinguished, owmgto the darkness of the 
 nijl^t; and at 29 minutes pa^t 9, she Was under the le<» 
 bow of the Wasp. Captain Blakeley ordered the 12-j»ound 
 carronade to be fired into her, aaii^ received a return from 
 the stranger. The Wasp then ran under the iee bow of 
 the enei^y to prevent her escape, and iminediateij com- 
 menced an action which continued until 10 o'clock, when 
 captain Blakeleyi auppdl^ing his antagonist to be silenced, 
 ceased firing, and hailed to know if she had surrendered. 
 i'to answer l«i{^ given to this demand, he recomtnenced 
 fiiingj and the enemy returned him broadside for broad- 
 side. ' At 1£ minutes past 10, the enemy having made 
 no return to the two last broadsides, was again hailed to 
 know if he had surrendered. Captain Blakeley was in- 
 formed that the vessel being in a sinking condition, her 
 commander had struck hi a colours. The Wasp's hoat$ 
 were immediately lovt'ei^d, when a second brig of war 
 
 Y 
 
# 
 
 234 
 
 IIISTOttirCAI. SK£TCH£8 
 
 Hill -i ^' 
 
 was digcorereB a Kttte distance astenr, standing hr her. 
 'jn^ecrew were instantly sent to their quarters, and pif^' 
 parations invade for another engf^qient TheWasp^ was 
 laying to for the approach of the setond stran^r, when 
 ai 36 minutes past 10, two other brigs W^« mscoversd 
 standing also for her. Under these circamstances, cf^itain 
 Blakeley was prevented fronri taking possession of his prize, 
 and keeping (m the wind, with an expectation of draining 
 the brig, first discovered, after him^ he w^ered new braces 
 to lye rove, to replace those which had been sh^ away. 
 His expectations were not, however, answered, the bng 
 of war continuing in pursuit onlj until she was near 
 enough under his stern, to jgive him a broadside, and rer 
 turn to her companions. Tnis ^e did', and cut the rig- 
 ging and sailB, and shot away a lower main cross ti'ee 
 of me Wasp. . , 
 
 The name and force of the prize has since be^ tscer- 
 tained. She was tiie sloop of war Avon, cimtain Arbuth- 
 not, of the same immber of guns as the Reindeer, and 
 sunk immediately after the Castilian (the vessel which 
 chased the Wasp) had taken out her last man. Accord- 
 ing to the enemy's account, her captain was wounded in 
 both legs* The first lieutenant and 8 men killed, and 
 the second lieutenant, 1 midshipman, and 31 men, 
 wounded. 
 
 The Wasp received in her hull, four 3S^und shot, and 
 in her mainmast & number of grape shot. Her sails and 
 rigging were much damaged, but her loss in men amount- 
 ed to only ^ killed, and 1 wounded. She repaired her 
 damages on the succeeding day, and continued to cruise, 
 in conformity to her instructions from the navy departs 
 ment. On trie 2 1st of September, she captured, oft' the 
 Madeiras, her thiiteenth prize, the British brig Atalanta, 
 of 8 guns, and tlie only one which she sent into porL-~ 
 Thffi vessel arrived at Savannah, in the beginning of 
 November, under the command of Mr, Geisingen, one of 
 the officers of the Wasp, with despatciies from captain 
 I^keley. 
 
 The Atalanta left the Wasp, at sea, on the 23d of Sep- 
 tember, without knowing: the destination to which her 
 further cruise would convey her, and, smce that time, no 
 official accounts have been received from her. Her 
 cruise was,, therefore, most briiliaut aud unparalleled* her 
 
mv THB 1.ATS WAV. 
 
 A»5 
 
 icling for her« 
 •ters, and p^B*- 
 "hftWaspwM 
 ratifer, when 
 iu mscovewd 
 ances, ca^ain 
 onofhispri2«» 
 on of drawing 
 ed new braces 
 en shot away, 
 ered, the bng 
 she was near 
 idside, and re- 
 id cut the rig- 
 ain cross ti-ee 
 
 ice been ascer- 
 aptain Arbnth- 
 Reindeer, uid 
 e vessel which 
 man. Accord- 
 iras wounded in 
 icn killed, and 
 and 31 men, 
 
 )Ottnd shot, and 
 Her sails and 
 n men ainount- 
 16 repaired her 
 inucd to cruise, 
 e navy depart- 
 iptured, off the 
 \ brig Atalanta, 
 snt into port — 
 \e beginning of 
 eiBina;eii, one of 
 ;8 &om captain 
 
 the 2Sd of Sep- 
 n to which her 
 ice that time, no 
 from her. Her 
 nparalleled, her 
 
 sailors all yoai^ athletic, brare and entirasiastic, and 
 her officers among the most skilful in the service. Tba 
 public mind has Men, therefore, greatly agitat«d, by ap- 
 prehensioiiH about her safety^ and hi ~ Tefum to port 
 looked for, with painful aniiety, by people of ^ 
 whole countrv. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Proposed planof operations in Lower Canada— *The army 
 quit the quarters at French Mills-^Incursion of the 
 British to Malone — 8mfjgffler»—^^ovement against La 
 Colle-^Concentration of the British fon^ces at Isle au0 
 ^oico— General Wilkinson's recal-^Establisliment of a 
 battety at Otter Creek—British appear at its moitth-^ 
 *Are repulsed'— Operations on Ontario'— Lieutenant 
 Dudley — Defence of Fort OswegoSecond appearance 
 of the British there^—*Attack upon Charlotte town, on 
 GenesseeMver — British land at Poultneyvill»-^Block' 
 ode of Sackefs Harbour— »Bn engagement at Sandy 
 Creeks and capture ff the whole Briti^ force-^Tht 
 British fleet retire to Kingston-— l^he ^Americans block- 
 ade them>—<An affair near Odeltown— Death of^olonel 
 Forsythe— -Expedition against Long Pmnt, Canador-r' 
 Colonel Bauhee taken prisoner— Incursion to Long 
 Wood, Canada, and defeat of tfie British, 
 
 In the winter of 1813, we left the northern army, 
 under general Wilkinson, in quarters, the right division 
 being at Champlain, and the left, and largest, at French 
 Mills. Between that time and the spring of 1814, seve- 
 ral plans of attack upon the posts ofSt^rhilip, L'Ac»diie 
 and St. John's, by the route of Hammerford, La Tortue 
 and St. Piere, and for a simultaneous movement against 
 Cornwall, with a view to cut off the communication be- 
 tween the ifpper and Lower Ptovinces, were swbmiited 
 to ike )var department, by the commander in chief. — 
 Before the propositions were received at the depari-^ent, 
 
256 
 
 HJSVOttlCAL SK£TC!iI£S 
 
 ¥:■>'! 
 
 li 
 
 or^ro had been forwarded to Saknoti riyer, directing tiie 
 general to withdraw his forces from French Mills; to for- 
 ward SOO&men, with a proportion of field and batterine 
 cannon, under ^neral Brown, to Sacket's Harbour; and 
 to fall back, wim the residue of the troops, stores, and 
 baegage, to Plattsburg. 
 
 in conformity to these orders, the flotilla, in which the 
 army had descended the St Lawrence, was destroyed oh 
 tbe ni^it of the 12th of February; the barracks were fii*ed 
 on the succeeding day, and the troops abandoned their 
 
 Suarters, and marched toward tiie several places of their 
 estioation. V 
 
 General Wilkinson had scarcely reached Plattsbui^, 
 before he was apprised of a movement of the enemy, 
 with a view to the capture ai a few sick men, whose (ex- 
 treme illness renderea it indispensable they should be left 
 in ^ hospital at Malone, a short distance from the Mills. 
 He, therefore, determined on their expuhdon from the 
 territory, in tirae to prevent the achievement of their ob- 
 ject, and havi?ig made proper arrangements, for the con- 
 venience and comfort of the sick at their new quarters, 
 he marched with all possibl;e expedition to meet and Re- 
 pulse llie enemy. 
 
 Colonel Scott, of the IpSd British regiment, command- 
 ed the expedition asainst French Mills and Malone, com- 
 posc^l of 2000 regulars, Glenearians, and militia, and ac- 
 companied by nearly 300 guides and followers. He cross- 
 ed ov^r td the Mills on the 21st, burned the arsenal at 
 Malone, pillaged the property of individuals, and carried 
 off several barrels of public provisions. But, hearing of 
 the apjproach of the American troops, -he retreated in great 
 ccmfosion, though not without destroying the bridges in 
 his rear. TTie wliole party suffered severely by a, tre- 
 meiulous storm of snow and hail, which prevailed at the 
 close of the day, and lost upwards of 200 deserters, who 
 surrendered themselves to the American army. 
 
 During the following month (March), the troops were 
 not otherwise engaged than in breaking up a system of 
 sniugffling, which had been carried on for several previous 
 months, and which, at ^is period, was extended to an 
 alarming and dangerous degree. . 
 
 Near the close of March, general Wilkinsop deter- 
 
 W'' 
 
mv VSE JJkT^ W11L 
 
 U7 
 
 »; tofeir- 
 Mitterine 
 
 Hir; an4 
 res, and 
 
 irhich the 
 royed oh 
 irere fired 
 led their 
 s of their 
 
 lattsburg, 
 B enemy, 
 vhose ex- 
 Id be left 
 the Mills, 
 from the 
 * their ob- 
 p the con- 
 quarters, 
 »t and re- 
 
 ;ommand- 
 one, com- 
 &, and ac- 
 He cross- 
 ursenal at 
 id carried 
 learingof 
 d in great 
 tridges in 
 by a tre- 
 jed at the 
 ters, who 
 
 ops were 
 ystem of 
 previous 
 Jed to an 
 
 >li deter- 
 
 mined on* establishing a battery at Route's Pouit, wlwre 
 he had previoasly discovered a poskion well adapted &r 
 a work, to keep in check the oontenplated moveimnt«f 
 the British fleet, destined to operate upon the lake Chaiik> 
 
 Slain, and which had beien laid up during the winter, at 
 t John's, about 21 miles below the mouth of the La 
 Colle, and 26 from Rouse's Pcont; After this position had 
 been reconnoitred by his engineer, miyor Totten, he made 
 an attempt to carry this object, into executi(m, bat the 
 sudden and unseasonable breaking up of the ice, defeated 
 tile plan; and, being informed that the enemy had taken 
 the alarm, and was condensing a force of 2500 men, at 
 La CoUe mill, 4 miles from RiMise's Point, he determin- 
 ed, on the opmionof his leading officers, and a report that 
 the walls could be effisctually mttered, wi'di a 6-{>ottnder, 
 to attack it. On tiie 30th, he accordingly entered Cana- 
 da, and was met by a party of the enemy at Odelltowt^n, 
 whom he forced back more than three miles, on the route 
 to Montreal, in the course of which, much ^irmishiiM|[ 
 took fdace. He then resumed his march to La CoUe nail, 
 a large and lofty fortified stone house, measuring 60 feet 
 by 40, and at that time in command of major Hancock, 
 and a strong corps of British n^lars. 
 
 To'drive the enemy from this post, and to tlStct its 
 destrui^on* general Wilkinson ordered forward an 18« 
 pounder, and disposed his troops so as to intercept him 
 m an attempt to retreat. The only road of approach be- 
 ing through a deep forest, almmt inundated, and covered 
 with insurmounti^le obstructions, to the passage ei a 
 heavy pwce of c^non, the 18-pounder could noi be 
 brought up, and the general determined upon attempting 
 a breach with a twelve a ' a five and an naif inch howit- 
 zer. He took post with tiicse pieces, under coinaiand of 
 captain M*Phersoa and Iiis seconds, iieutettantB Larrabee 
 and Sheldon, at a ("istance of 950 yards from the fortified 
 house, and covere?i them with the 2d brigade, compo6ie<i 
 of the 33d, S4tl!, 4th, and tOth regiments, and part of co- 
 lonel Clarke's command under brigadier general Sm^ 
 on the ri^t; and the 3d brigade, oompo^d of tfie 14th 
 and 20th, under biieadier general Hssel, on the ' < t. Co- 
 lonel Miller wr.s detached Mrith the 6th and i)iith, and 
 
 Y2 
 
25B 
 
 HISTOEICAI. SKl&TCHES 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 part of the 19th, to cross the La Colle, and form a line 
 across the severidi. roads le^ing. from the stone house m. 
 ^e opposite side of the river, to cut off the retreat of the 
 B^tiwi regulars. J|i%adier general MComb, wi^ a se- 
 lect corps of tiie 1st brigade; formed the reserve. All 
 these r^imentft were mere skeletons consolidated. This 
 dbpositioa being completed, the battery was immediately 
 opened upon tiie enemy, who promptly returned the fire, 
 and thfep numbers of Congreve rockets upon the right 
 wins of the American line. From these manifestations 
 of deliberate and circumspect preparation, the command 
 der of the American forces was induced to believe the 
 report, Ihat the number of the enemy amounted to ^00; 
 his strength was, inferior to tiiat, bowever, thou^ compe- 
 tent under the cover of stixms walls, to repel an att«:k 
 from & ffAuch larger number of assailants^ jf> v« 
 
 'ih.e stone house stood upon that side of the river on 
 which general Wilkinson had drawn up his Une; a block- 
 house of wood stood on the other ; and both were encom- 
 passed by an open piece of ground, on the ^ge of a ii^rood, 
 bordering upon, which the Americans had taken post; 
 evfiry officer, therefore, fronj the lowest subaltern up to 
 ' j4> commander in chief, was exposed to the enemy's fire. 
 Here the ip^neral made proper arr^igements to keep his 
 corps in order, to receive a combined attack, and conti- 
 nued to cannonade ihf house, but without beine able to 
 ^ect a breach, although tlie f^nii were managea with un- 
 comuiCH) skill/ by, officers accustomed to tiieir use. Cap- 
 tain M'Kierson had laeen already wounded under the 
 chin? this wound he immediately bound up, and conti- 
 nued tu direct ^le fire from his piece, until a second shot 
 broke his thu^, and rendered him unfit for further duty. 
 His next officer, lieutenant Larrabee, was shot through 
 the lun^, and lieutenant Bhelduii kept up the fire with 
 great vivacity, until the close of the engalgement The 
 conduct of these gentlemen was represented by tfieir 
 romm an d er to be "so conspicuously pliant as to at^acjt 
 the admiration of their brotners in arms." 
 
 Relying on the firinnesM and intrepidity of his troops, 
 and seeing that the Americans were resolved on the lon- 
 ger mainlMnance of the cannonade, ihe British comman- 
 dtr, mt\|or Hancook, determined on issuing a strong party 
 
mtTBM LAITB WAB« 
 
 259 
 
 n a line 
 Lottse on 
 it of the 
 i*h a se- 
 ve. All 
 i. This 
 lediately 
 [the fire, 
 the right 
 estailons 
 comman<- 
 lUeve the 
 to ^00; 
 h compe- 
 m attack 
 
 i river on 
 ; ablockr 
 re encom- 
 dI awood, 
 ken post; 
 kern up to 
 eitty*8 fire. 
 > keep his 
 uid conti- 
 ig able to 
 f with un- 
 [ge. Cap- 
 inder the 
 md conti- 
 icond shot 
 ther duty, 
 through 
 fire with 
 lent The 
 by their 
 to attracjt 
 
 kis troops, 
 n the lon- 
 comman- 
 •opg party 
 
 from the house to storm the battery, and put the assail- 
 ants to fli^t He gave Orders for a sadden and imme- 
 diate sortie, and several desperate chains were attempt- 
 ed upon the cannon. These were successively repulsed 
 by the covering troo|>s, and the enemy's regulars obliged 
 to retire to the fortified building, witn considerable \oa^. 
 They then shut themselves up in tiie house, and con- 
 vinced of their ability to retain their position, put at de- 
 fiance the utmost elTorts of the Amencans; and general 
 Wilkinson being now persuaded of the im^racticafaolity 
 of making an impression, with such light pieces, upon a 
 solid stone wall, round upon experiment to b« of unusual 
 thickness, called in his aetachments, witlidrew his Imtte- 
 ry, and havii^ previously removed his dead and wounded; 
 fell back to ^lelltown at about 6 o'clock of the same day. 
 Thence he moved to Champlain and Plattsburg, at which 
 latter place he established his quarters. The American 
 loss in this aftau* amounted to 140 in killed and wounded; 
 among the latter lieutenants Green and Parker, of ihe 
 infantry. The enemy's loss was known to be considera- 
 ble in uie sortie, but tiie amount has never been accurate- 
 ly ascertained. • 
 
 Immediately after the incursion to La Colle, the whole 
 regular force of Lower Canada, and a battalion of G4en- 
 garians from Coteau de Lac, were concentrated at Isle 
 aux Noix, and a large number of batteaax collected at St; 
 J^n's. The formet awaiting the movement of the Bri- 
 tish fleets whose boats were emfdoyed in the daily exami- 
 nation of the ice on the lake, on the breaking; up of which 
 such movement depended. This event took place in the 
 be^nning of the month of April, and early m May the 
 Bntish itotilla entered lake Champlain. 
 
 Previously to their appearance on the lake, general 
 Wilkinson had been recalled from that district, by an or- 
 der from the department,* of the 24th March. But, bcine 
 apprised of the equipment of the enemy's flotilla, and m 
 their intention to blockade the mouth of Otter creek, 
 leading to the town of Vergenne- . where the American 
 fleet lay waiting for their armament, he, notwithstanding 
 this order, visited the capes at its entrance, conferred 
 with commodore Macdouough at Vei^^nnes, and made 
 arrangements to erect a battery and fortifv that points— 
 
260 
 
 HlgTORlOAX »KSTCB£S 
 
 Thii precantton proved to be of incalculable senrice, and 
 amply jirovi(kda||[;ainBt an attempt to obstniet the pa8- 
 saae ofthe American squadron into the lake. 
 
 On the 45th of Maj, not long after the batter j had been 
 constructed on the cape, a bomb vessel, and 8 large row 
 galliea irere stationed, by the enemy, across the entrance 
 of the creek, with a view to its blockade, and to cut oflf 
 supplies for a new ship just then completing, and in* 
 tended to be adcted to me American squadron. Captain 
 TJuMTiton, d^the light artillery, was despatched to defend 
 the battery^ and commodore Macdonough placed a num* 
 ber of satlors, under lieutenant Cassin, oi the navy, t» 
 co-operate with the artillery. A new large gun brig, and 
 several other gallies, being at the same time about two 
 miles in the rear «f the bomb vessel, suspicions were en- 
 tertained of the enemy's intentions to land a detachment 
 of troops, either to capture the provisions in the nei^- 
 bourhood, or to assail tne battery from the rear* General 
 Davis, of the Vermcmt militia, immediately called out a 
 detachment of his brigade, and made dispositions to re> 
 sist an invasion. At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, 
 the bomb ship opened her battery upon tiie new works, 
 and continued the attack upwards oi two hours^ without 
 doing any other mjury than the dismounting of one gun. 
 Captain Thornton, with his matrosieaj^ and Ueutenant 
 Cassin* with his sailors* Returned the ire with constant 
 animation, compelled the enemy to withdraw from his po- 
 sition, ami captared two ga^lties, which the British seamen 
 were dl>liged to abandon. The bomb ship, and the re- 
 minder of the ^lies, stood off to the oth^r vessels, and 
 the whole squadron proceeded down the laf^e, passed 
 Burlin^oil, and had some skirmishing with a small body 
 of militia, \mAer general Wright, who manoeuvred so well 
 as to persuade the enemy ^t his force was much 
 stronger. During the attack, commod<H% Macdonouoh 
 attempted to bring the American vessels down the credk, 
 but did not succeM in reaching the mouth until the ene- 
 my had departed. . 
 
 The enemy were not less active in their operations 
 aloi^ the shores of the lake Ontario; and the command- 
 ers of the rival armaments there, lost no time in prepar- 
 ing and equipping their vessels, to take the lake early in 
 
 J .-if^^i 
 
OP THB liATlB WAB. 
 
 26^1 
 
 rice»«nd 
 thepaB- 
 
 hadbeen 
 irge row 
 entruice 
 cot off 
 and in* 
 Captain 
 :o defend 
 d a num-> 
 navy, to 
 brig, and 
 bout two 
 were en- 
 tachment 
 he neigh- 
 General 
 led out a 
 ms to re- 
 rthcl4th, 
 ew works, 
 9, without 
 one gun. 
 ieutenant 
 k constant 
 »m his po- 
 ih seamen 
 the re* 
 lels, and 
 
 lali body 
 so well 
 ks much 
 Icdonoudi 
 Ihe cre«c, 
 
 the ene- 
 
 irati<niB 
 
 lomooand- 
 
 prepar- 
 
 early in 
 
 the spring* At the close of the preoediiw autumn, ther 
 had manceuVred with uncommon skills though not mti 
 equal success, the one to draw his enemy into an eoptgt' 
 ment, the other to avoid fightins, for mt supremacy of 
 the water, until his fleet should be augmenteif by an ad-' 
 ditional force. At Kingston, an immense vessel was 
 building for that purpose; and, at Backets Harbour, a 
 new ship was ordered; of a sufficient size to maintain 
 the existing equality. Whilst these vessels were con- 
 structing, various plans were continually adopted to de- 
 stroy then), and all the caution of one party, became 
 necessary to guard aeainst the vi^lance of the other. On 
 one occasion, the 25th of Apfil, three of the enemy's boats 
 succeeded in getting close in with th» harbour, when 
 lieutenant Dudley, m the navy, being the officer of the 
 guard, detected and fired upon them. Each boat "Was 
 provided with two barrels of powder, attached to c&ch 
 other by means of ropes, and intended to be placed un- 
 der the stocks of the vessels. Upon being fired at, they 
 immediately threw ^e powder into the lake, to prevent 
 an explosion of their own boats, and pvlled off without 
 returning a shot. 
 
 Failing in all his attempts to destroy the hull of the 
 new ship, the British commander determined upon inter- 
 cepting her ri^ngi naval stores, and guns. These had 
 been depositea at Oswego, about 60 nmes from the har- 
 bour, and thither sir James Yeo, and lieut^ianlt general 
 Drummond, resolved to sail with the whole fleet, and a 
 competent number of troops, to land and stonh tike fort, 
 and capture this valuable booty. Accordingly, on the 
 5th of May, sir James appeared before the fort, with 4 
 lai^ ships, 3 brigs, and a number of gun boats, barges 
 ana transports — the transports principally cofktaining trtcr 
 troops of lieutenant general Drummond. The success- 
 ful issue of this expedition, would have fdven to the Bri- 
 tish forces, for a time at least, a decided superiority <m 
 the laJcOj and, without knowing that the stores had been 
 previously removed from Oswego, they commenced an 
 attack, which was kept up for nearly two days, the bril- 
 liant and unusual rti^sistance to which, did not, however, 
 avail the American garrison. The fort mounted but 5 
 old guns, 3 Of which were ahnost useless, and had a shore 
 battery of one 12-pounder. It had been garrisoned buia 
 
362 
 
 HISTOSICAX SKETCHES 
 
 few days, bj lieutenant colonel Mitchell of the artitieiy, 
 aa^ ii90 men. The schooner Growler, having on board 
 cafltain Woolsey and lieutenant Pearce of the nary, was 
 at that time in Oswego creek, receiving the cannon which 
 had not yet been removed. The enemy were no sooner 
 discovered, than the Growler was sunk to prevent the 
 capture of the cannon, and all the tents in store were im** 
 mediately pitched, on the village side of the creek, to 
 persuade the enemy that the Americans were numerous. 
 Under lieutenant Fearce, the few sailors of the Ghrowler 
 were added to the garrison; the shore battery was com- 
 manded by captain Boyle, who was seconded by lieute- 
 nant Legate. 
 
 At about 1 o'clock, 15 large boats, crowded with troops, 
 moved, at a given signal, to 4he shore, preceded by seve- 
 ral gun boats. Which were sent forward to cover the land- 
 ing; whilst all the larger vessels opened a heavy fire upon 
 the little fort The contest was kept up with great vi^ur 
 and equal vivacity; the fort itself returned a very anima- 
 ted fire; and the shore battery, succeeded twice in re- 
 pulsing the debarking boats, and at length compelled 
 them to retire to their shipping. The whole squadron 
 then stood off, and anchored at a distance from the .shore; 
 one of their boats^ being 60 f^et in length, and carrying 
 36 oars and 3 sails, was so much shattered, that her crew 
 abandofted her, and she fell into the hands of thie Ameri- 
 can artill^. 
 
 Though tne British were thus compelled to retire from 
 the assault of the fort, it was by no means to be supposed 
 that ik'jy had relinquished their intention of storming and 
 possessing it The immense superiority of their force 
 and means, would not justify such a supposition, and co- 
 lonel Mitchell was therefore particularly vigilant He sta- 
 tioned picquet guards at the different points of debarka- 
 tion, kept his men upon t^eir arms dunng the night, and 
 neglected no measure of precaution. Mortified at so suc- 
 cessful a resistagce, by a force known to be so much in- 
 ferior and protected by weak batteries, the enemy deter- 
 mined to effect a landing under cover, as well of their 
 lai^ vessels, as of the gun boats, and at daybreak of the 
 6tJi, they approached me shore again. They were early 
 discovered coming up, under easy sail, and soon after 
 tlie principal ship, tlie Wolf, and the other fi*^tes, re- 
 
OV THE LATE WAB. 
 
 263 
 
 artiBeiy, 
 OB board 
 navy, wa» 
 ion which 
 no sooner 
 event the 
 i were im- 
 creek, to 
 numerous, 
 e Ghrowler 
 was com- 
 by lieute- 
 
 ith troops, 
 
 i by seve- 
 
 r the land- 
 
 y fire upon 
 
 reatvi^ur 
 
 ery anima- 
 
 rice in re- 
 
 compeiled 
 
 I squadron 
 
 the .^ore ; 
 
 d carrying 
 
 her crew 
 
 lie Aftiefi- 
 
 etire from 
 e supposed 
 )rming and 
 their force 
 n, and co- 
 it. Hesta- 
 if debarka^ 
 night, and 
 latsosuc- 
 o much in- 
 Bmy deter- 
 ell of their 
 eak of the 
 were early 
 soon after 
 iigates, re- 
 
 sumed their position before the fort and battery, whilst 
 the brigs, schooners, and g^n boats, proceeded higher up 
 to cover^ by their fire, the landing of the troops. The 
 Wolf, and the frigates, kept up the cannonade for three 
 hours, whilst the land forces, to the number of 1700, 
 composed of one column of De Watteville regiment, led 
 by lieutenant colonel Fischer, on the left; a second co- 
 lumn of a battalion of marines, under lieutenant colonel 
 Malcolm, supported by a detachment of 200 seamen, un- 
 der captain Mulcasterj the second officer of the fleet, on 
 the right; succeeded under a tremendous fire from Ihe 
 brigs and schooners, in jgaining tiie shore, where their ad- 
 vance was resisted by lieutenant Pearce of the navy, and 
 a small party of seamen. The landing being effected, co- 
 lonel. Mitchell withdrew to the rear of the fort, united 
 with the sailors, two companies of artillerymen, under 
 caj^in Melvin, and lieutenant Ansart, and assailed the 
 invading columns, whilst the companies of captains M'ln- 
 tire andPierceof the heavy artillery engaged the enemy's 
 flanks. Thus formed, he boi*4tained a v^rous and des-> 
 perate conflict upwai^s of SO minutes, m which great 
 slaughter was made among the enemy, and a severe loss 
 experienced by the troops of the garnson. Against a 
 force, I vever, which amounted to ten time tl^ir own 
 number, , was found useless for the American^ onger to 
 contend; and col(mel Mitchell accordingly fell back, about 
 400 yards from the enemy, where he formed his troops 
 and iook up his march for the falls, 13 miles in the rear 
 of the fort, upon Oswq^o river, to which place the stores 
 had been previously removed. He retired in such good 
 order, as to be able to destroy the bridges in his rear, not- 
 witiistanding he was pressed by a numerous foe. 
 
 The enemy tlien took possession of the fort, and bar- 
 racks, but for the little booty which he obtained, consist- 
 ing of a few barrels of provisions, and whiskey, he paid 
 much more than an equivalent, tim loss, in killed, 
 amounted to 70; in wounded, drowieij^ and missine, 165; 
 in all 235. Among these, were caprpii) Baltaway Killed, 
 and captains Mulcaster, Popham, and Ledei^rew, and 2 
 lieutenants and 1 master wounded. In the noble and ob- 
 stinate resistance which they made, the Americans lost 
 lieutenant Blaney, an ofiicer of high promise, and 5 meA 
 kUled, 38 W4Ninded, and 125 missing ; in all 69 men. ^. 
 
 -fe; 
 
^ 
 
 ^f^^. 
 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 ■lUU 
 
 110 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 1-25 1 1.4 1.6 
 
 
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 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WIST MAIN STRiiT 
 
 WI»STIR,N.Y. MS80 
 
 (716)a73-4S03 
 
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 i 
 
264 
 
 HI8TOBICAL SKETC^HES 
 
 On <iie merning of the 7th, the enemy findinr #iiit the 
 
 object of the exfi^ition, ihot^ prosecuted with a force 
 
 includuiff^^^ <he ships' crew8» of 9000 men, had n«t be«n 
 
 achieved, evacuated the place, after firine the kuracks, 
 
 'spiking some, and carrjmg off others, of me suns. 
 
 On, the 9th, thevreta. tied to Oswee^o and seniaiiag 
 into the village, informing the inhabitants of their inlen^ 
 ,tion of landing a krge force to jH'oceed to the falls for 
 ^e execr don of their original plan; but on being assured 
 by the people that tiie stores had berni removed from that 
 place, and that the communication was cut off by the de- 
 struction of the bridges, they quitted Osw^o, and stood 
 for Kingston. . 
 
 On the evening of the ISth, 4 ships, 2 brigs, and 5 eun 
 boats, ef tliis squadron, were discovered shaping .their 
 coijrse for Charlotte, a town near the mouth ol the Gen- 
 nessee river. At this town, a corps of volunteers, amount- 
 ing to 160 men, and havine one field piece, had been 
 stationed for its defence; and the commanding officer, on 
 thjB appearance of the fleets immediately de^mtched ex- 
 presses to general P. B. Porter, who arnved' there early 
 on tlie morning of the 1 '^th.^— In answer to a flag^ which 
 bad been sent ashore, with a demand for the surrender 
 of the place, general Porter returned a positive re^sal. 
 Two ^n boats, carrying between^ ana 300 men, then 
 entered the river, ana opened 'a fire up<m the town and 
 battery, which they continued, with little effect^ for an 
 hour and a half. The commodore sent in a second flag, 
 with a repetition of his demand, accompanied by atiureat 
 to land ISOO regulars, to destroy the town. By this time 
 ^e women ana children were all removed, about 350 
 militia collected, and dispositions, made to cut off the gun 
 boats, if they should approach furth^ up the river. Being 
 wdl assured of the determination of his men, to resist the 
 landing o^ the enemy, general Porter repeated Ms reply 
 to the commodore's demand. At 8 o'clock on the mom- 
 ins of the 15th, the gun boats retired to thdr shiitping, 
 af^r havine thrown a great quantity of rockets, shells, 
 and round shot, without doing any material injury, and 
 the fleet took its departure from the yicinity of Charlotte. 
 
 In the evening or the same day, this force proceeded 
 to Poultneyville, a village on the border of the lake, and 
 d^an4^ the peaceabra surrendei; of the public. ttores. 
 
 m 
 
OV (ni£ LAT& WAU. 
 
 i265 
 
 ^ ^t the 
 
 ith a f(Mrce 
 
 net been 
 
 kuraeks, 
 
 m. 
 
 sent a flag 
 leir inien* 
 b falls ibr 
 nff assured 
 I From that 
 by the de- 
 and stood 
 
 and 5eun 
 iping .their 
 f the Gen- 
 's, ameuntp 
 , had been 
 roflker.on 
 Matched ex* 
 there early 
 flag, which 
 surrender 
 ve refusal, 
 men, then 
 e town and 
 ectj for an 
 econd fla^ 
 by a threat 
 y this time 
 about 350 
 off the ^n 
 iver. Being 
 o resist the 
 d his reply 
 i the mom- 
 r shiitping. 
 Lets, shells, 
 iniury, and 
 'Charlotte, 
 proceeded 
 i lake, and 
 licf tores. 
 
 The inhabitants wera incompetent to repel the invaders, 
 and the British commodore landed a party of suiors aw? 
 marines, who captured a^uantity of daauM^ flour, wd 
 were committinff depredat^nt upon indivif&d property, 
 when the arrival ot brigadier genemd John Swin, Si the 
 New ¥ork militia, with ISS volunteers, put them to a 
 precipitate flight Their boats hastily pulled off to the 
 fleet, when a vigorous cannonade commeiieed, acd se-^ 
 vend old houses were {^rcsd by the 18 and d4-pottnd 
 shot The enemy did not attempt to re-land, but soon 
 weighed anchor, and being jotned by other vessels of the 
 squaditm, steered for SaeCer^ Harbour. 
 
 Nine miles distant from the liarbour the fleet cast an- 
 chor, in ^iffiirent pa8hioiM» on the 19th, to enable them 
 to cut off all commui^cation between H and other places 
 on the lake. The new ship, the Supaior, a frigate of 
 uncommcm beauty and dimensions, had been launched 
 there on the 1st m the month. Her equipments, for the 
 capture of which the enemy had so vigorously assaulted 
 fort Oswego, had mostly arrived by land conveyances, 
 and «ir James Yeo being ignorant of this circumstance, 
 and supposing the ASnericana dependent entirely on their 
 free and ready access to the lake, for the possession of 
 these supplies, C4>mmenced the blockade of the harbour, 
 with &e sole view of intercepting them. Upon learning, 
 as he afterwards did, that the new ship was receiving her 
 armamenit^ and equipping with great expedition, he broke 
 up the blockade* and proceeded with his fleet to Kingston. 
 
 Some cannon and ordnance stores, intended for the 
 vessels of the American fteet, had, in the mean time, ar- 
 rived at Oswego from the interior. Another new ves- 
 sel, intended to be called the Mchmpk, was ^eii on the 
 stocks, and, to prepare h^r for the la^e in tiie early part 
 of June, these stores, as well as those which had peen 
 removed to Oswego fitUs* were indispensably nece8ii|ry. 
 To transport them by land would i)e attended with diffi- 
 culties and delays, which recent experience had taught 
 the America k commanders to avoid, and commodore 
 Chauncey, i*:'^/.!!g now an unobstructed passage to the 
 lake, directed captain W oolsey to convey them in a flo- 
 tilla of barges (in which he could ascend the small creeks, 
 if pursued by tiie enemy) to Uxeir point of destination. 
 To give security to the passage of the barges, brigadier 
 
 Z 
 
 */ 
 
i266 
 
 HISTO&ICAL SKETCHES 
 
 It! 
 
 general Gaines, whe commanded the land forces at the 
 Harbour* despatched major Appling, of the rifle regiment, 
 with ISO officers and men, to co^>penUe with captain 
 Woplsey, in escorting the flotilla. The barees, 19 m 
 number, were i^n at the falls «f Oswego, anaprevious- 
 ly to their mevement to the lake, captain Woplsey, had 
 caused a resort to be circulated tliat tiie naval stores 
 were to be rorwarded to the Oneida lake. The watch- 
 ful enemy had several £un4)oats at that tine hoveling 
 about the numerous credos, which disduuge themselves 
 into the lake Ontario, and examining every cove, by the 
 aid of which, small baiges misht elude tneir i^lance. 
 On the 28th of May, captain Woolsey, having previously 
 reconnoitred the mouth of the Oswego creek, and find- 
 ing a <;lear coast, brought his flotilla tnrer the rajuds, and 
 reached, the village of Osw^o at sunset. Avadiii^ him- 
 self of the darkness of the night, he put into the lake, 
 with major Appling and his men, distributed in the seve- 
 ral batteaux. A small party of Oneida bidians were des- 
 patched to Big Salmon liver to meet the flotilla there, 
 and to proceed along the shore to Sandy creek, in whidi 
 captain Woolsey's orders obli^d him to make a harbenr. 
 At the dawn of the 29th, after having rowed 12 hours 
 in extreme darkness, and under a heavy fall of rain, the 
 bi^es arrived at Big Salmon, and were met by the In- 
 uian^, commanded by lieutenant Hill, of the rille corps. 
 The flotilla then proceeded on its passage, and arrived, 
 in the course of me day, at a point 2 miles up Sand/ 
 creek. Thence a look-out boat, under lieutenant Pearce, 
 was despatched on the 30th, to reconnoitre between its 
 mouth and Stony Point. This boat was discovered by 3 
 guii4M)at8, 3 cutters, and a dg, under captain Popham, 
 and diased into the creek. No doubt being entertained 
 that the enemy would pursue lieutenant Pearce up the 
 creek, dispositions wire immediately made by major Ap- 
 pling^ ana captain Woolsey to draw him into an ambus- 
 cade. He veiy soo.ni appeared, and at 8 o'clock, A. M. 
 commenced a cannonaae at lone shot At 10, he land- 
 ed a party, and pushed his gun-Doats and cutters up the 
 «reek, occasionally firing into the woods as he ascended. 
 Mi^or Appling, who had posted his men in a judicious 
 jRUHiner along ihe bank, below the poiBt at wnicfa the 
 American Wrges were moored— then suddenly rose from 
 
OV THB LATE IT AH. 
 
 267 
 
 es at the 
 regiment, 
 1 captain 
 res, 19 m 
 
 Sreviotts- 
 Bey. had 
 ral stores 
 be watch- 
 i hoverang 
 hemseWes 
 fFe, by the 
 vigilance. 
 
 and 
 ipids, and 
 Eiilii^hiim- 
 » the lake, 
 i the aeve- 
 i were des- 
 tilla there, 
 :, in which 
 aharbenr. 
 1 12 hours 
 f rain, the 
 by the In- 
 line corps, 
 id arrived, 
 up Sand/ 
 mt Pearce, 
 etween its 
 rered by 3 
 1 Popham, 
 ntertained 
 ce up the 
 niaJ.or Ap- 
 an ambus- 
 Qck, A. M. 
 [), he land- 
 ers up the 
 
 ascended. 
 
 judicious 
 wnich the 
 
 rose from 
 
 his ctmceahnent, poured upon the enemy a rapid and de* 
 structiTe fire, and in 10 minutes* Idtlra 1 midshipman 
 and 13 sailorj and marines, wounded 2 lieutenanta and 
 28 saHors and marines, and took pifisoners the remainder 
 of tlie party,'cons2sting of two post captains, and 4 lieute- 
 nants of the navy, 2 lieutenants of marines, and 133 meit»' 
 The whole party amounted to 185, The gon4M>ats and 
 cutters, necessarily fell into the hands of the Americansi; 
 who lost but 1 man t^htly wounded. 
 
 A squadron Of dragoons, under captain Harris, and a 
 company of light artiHery, under captain Melvin, with 2 
 field pieces, arrived in the neishbourhood at the com- 
 mencement of the action, but «d not participate in it. 
 Major Applii^ was soon f^ter breveted a lieutenant colo^ 
 nel, and his officers, lieutenants M'Intosh, Calhoun, 
 Macfarland, Armstrons, and Smith, and ensign Austin, 
 were publicly thanked by the commanding general offi- 
 cer at Sacket's Harbour. Captain Woolsey, and his of- 
 ficers, lieutenant Pearce, sailii^ master Vauehan, and 
 midshipmen Mackey, Hart, and Caton, who had been or- 
 dered t» Oswego to superintend the transportation of the 
 cannon and stores, acquitted themselves in a masterly and 
 courageous manner. 
 
 The cannon were soon after transported to ii» Har- 
 bour, and the new frigate Mohawk was launched on tiie 
 11th of June, and very speedily armed and equipped to 
 jmn the sciuadron, which then consisted of 9 vessels, cai> 
 ryins in all about 251 guns. 
 
 The result of this affair was sensibly felt throu^out 
 the British fleet; it deprived them of a number m ex- 
 perienced seamen ; and several valuable and intrepid offih 
 cers, and they were compelled to remain in Kingston 
 harbour until their places were supplied, and the squadron 
 enlarged by an immense nicrr snip then building there, 
 and intended to carry 112 guns. Commodore Chauncey 
 sailed round the lake in the course of the month, and fre- 
 quently stationed himself hefore Kingston, to draw out 
 the enemy's squadron. 
 
 Until their new ship was completed, they determined, 
 however, to remain in p»rt, and in that interval, no hostile 
 event took place upon lake Ontario.-*Nor, indeed, was 
 any warlike attitude assumed in its nei^bouring lake 
 Ene, or the lake Champlain, before the commencement 
 
mim 
 
 268 
 
 UI8TOBICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 ' 
 
 •f the summer. From the borders of the hitter, lieute- 
 nant cohwel Forsythe, of the rifle corps, on the 28th of 
 June, made an incursion into Canada as far as Odelltown, 
 where an afiair took place with a detachment of the ene- 
 my, from the post of La Colle. The colonel made an at- 
 tack, retreated, and attempted to draw the enemy into 
 an ambuscade; but in his zeal, discovered himself and 
 his l^rty too soon, and an engagement took place before 
 the British were ensnared. 17 of their number were kill- 
 ed; amone them the celebrated partizan commander, 
 captain Mahue, who was shot by lieutenant Riley. Co- 
 lonel Fors3rthe, who had heretofore been a terror to the 
 enemy, was woilnded in the neck^ of which wound he 
 died a few dap after, and was buried with military ho- 
 nours at Champlain. The command of this corps was 
 then trahsferrea to lieutenant colonel Applina;. 
 
 From Erie, colonel Campbell, of the 19tn regiment, 
 eiN>ssed over the lake with 500 men to Long Poin^ where 
 he landed, and proceeding to the village of Dover, de- 
 stroyed the flour mills, distilleries, and all tiie hotises oc- 
 cupied by the soldiers, as well as many others belonging 
 to tiie j^aceable inhabitants of the villaffe. A squadron 
 of British dragobns, stationed at that mace, fled at the 
 approach of colonel Campbell's detachment, and aban- 
 doned the women and chiloren, who experienced humane 
 treatment from the Americans. Colonel Campbell un- 
 dertook this expedition without orders, and, as his con- 
 duct was generally reprobated, a court of inquiry was in- 
 stituted, to examine into his proceedings, of which gene- 
 ral Scott was president. This court declared, that the 
 destruction of the mills and distilleries was according to 
 the usages of war, but that in burning the houses of the 
 inhabitants, colonel Campbell had ^atly erred. This 
 error they attributed to ihe recollection of the scenes of 
 tlie Raisin and the Miami, in the western territories, to 
 the army' of which, colonel Campbell was at that time at- 
 tached, and of the recent devastation of the Niagara 
 frontier. 
 
 During these events of the winter and sprine ui 1814, 
 the British had collected in the neighbournood of the ri- 
 ver Thames, and at the Delaware town, situated upon 
 that river, ^a very respectable force of regulars, militia, 
 and Indians ; and several expeditions were planned and 
 
i«ii 
 
 OF *HB lATB WAB/ 
 
 S69 
 
 ir, lieute- 
 le 28th of 
 delltown, 
 r the ene- 
 tde an at- 
 lemy into 
 nseff and 
 ice before 
 were kill- 
 nmander, 
 ley. Co- 
 or to the 
 Around he 
 ilitary ho> 
 :orp8 was 
 
 •r-' 
 
 re^ment, 
 int, where 
 >over, de- 
 [lotises oc- 
 beloneing 
 I squachron 
 led at the 
 andaban- 
 d humane 
 npbell un- 
 
 his con- 
 y waa in- 
 iieh gene- 
 
 that the 
 wording to 
 68 of the 
 ed. This 
 
 scenes of 
 itories, to 
 kt time at- 
 
 Niagara 
 
 of iai4, 
 of the ri- 
 ited upon 
 8, militia^ 
 ^nned and 
 
 set on foot against them by colonel Anthony Butler, who 
 commai^ed the American fortes in the Mlchifftn terri- 
 tory. In the month of February, captain Lee^ who had 
 been formerly a cornet in tlie Biichisan dragoons, was 
 sent into the vicinity of the enemy, wimabout 14 mount- 
 ed men. Muaj miles in the rear of- the British forces, 
 he made prisoners of several officers, and among them, 
 the fomous colonel Baubee, who commanded a party of 
 Indians, and assisted in the depredations committea on 
 the New York frontier. Captain Lee contiived, by his 
 judicious mmagement, to bring them over to Detroit, 
 without detection* «»i^ 
 
 Upon their arrival there, c<^onel Butter prcjected an 
 enterprise, under captain A. H. Holmes, of the 94th regi- 
 ment, to whom he asngned the command of 160 rangers 
 and mounted in >ntry, and despatched him, on the £lst( 
 of February, a^iunst several oi the enemy's posts. Onj 
 the 3d of March, at the distance of fifteen miles firom De- \ 
 laware, captain Hjimes received intelligence that tlie ene- 
 my, whose force consisted of a company of 100 men>of 
 thie Royal Scots, under captain Johnson, 45 of the 89<h 
 re|;iment, under captain Caldwell, 50 of McGregor's mi- 
 litia, and the same number of Indians, beine in all d46 
 men, had left the village with an intention of descendkig 
 the river. Captain l&lmes* party had already su^hNni, 
 and been reduced by hunger and fatague, and 16 of his 
 men, "^vho were unable to march further, sent back to De*^ 
 troit; with the remainder, he did not deem it prudent to 
 give battle to the enemy> without the advan^ge of tiie 
 ground, and, therefore, fell back, five miles, to a position 
 on Twenty Mile Creek, leaving captain Gill,<witn a n^ 
 guard of 20 rangers, to follow. 
 
 " This guard was overtaken by the enemy, and after <||* 
 chandng a few shots, eflfectea a retreat to tiie positJoji 
 yvHm captain Holmes then occupied. At Twenty Mile 
 Creek, there was a deep and wide ravine, bouncied, dh 
 each side, by- a lofty heights On the westeiti height, cap- 
 tain Holmes had established an encampment, in the form 
 rf a hollow square, the detachment from Detroit being 
 on the north front of the square, the rangers on thcynest, 
 and tiie militia on the souths and all protected t^l6gs, 
 hastily thrown together. The regulars of ,the Q4m iitid 
 S8th refdments, were stationed on the brow of the height, 
 
 Z 2 
 
270 
 
 HISTOiUCAI. 8KST0UES 
 
 iinooverecL In this gititatioii, the Americans awaited the 
 attack, and captain Holmes, h^ the skilful and mdicious 
 manner in which he posted mmself, compelled his supe- 
 rior enemy to commence it. 
 
 ^ Eariy on the morning of the 4th, the British appearing 
 in few numbers, on the eastern height, immediately oppo- 
 site to the American can^p, gave a loose fire and retired; 
 Same time having elapsed, without their reappearance, 
 captain Holmea despatched lieutenant Knox of trie rangers, 
 to reconnoitre them, who perfm med that duty with ala- 
 crity^.and returned with an account, that the enemy, whose 
 number he judged to be not more than 70, had retreated, 
 wi^ such precipitation, as to leave his bagnige scattered 
 on the roaa. This retreat was made for 3ie purpose of 
 drawing the Americans from the height, on which tne Bri- 
 tish officer saw they were so advantageously posted. The 
 attempt was attended by a partial success, for tlie Ame- 
 rican commander, not being well assured of the strengtii 
 of his adversary, descended from the camp, and followed 
 him in his retreat. Captain Lee, who commanded the ad- 
 vance^ m this march, wnich continued five miles, was for- 
 tunate enough to discover the enemy in full force, pre- 
 Ofor a resolute attack. The pblicy, which had in- 
 the British officer to draw the American from his 
 strong ground, judginff of it by its result, was founded in 
 extreme weakness* Having succeeded in seducing him 
 to a distance of five miles, he supposed that captain 
 Holmes, with an inferior detachment almobt worn out 
 with the hardships of a fourteen days' march, and the se- 
 vmty of the weather, would pause and give battle to a 
 body of fresh troops superior in numbers and in disci- 
 pline. He therefore never attempted to improve the ad- 
 vantage he had gained, by detaching a strong party to 
 cross the ravine, above the road on which the Americans 
 had marched, and to occupy the position which they just 
 abandoned. By this act he would have cut off all com- 
 munication in tke rear, and compelled captain Hohnes to 
 disperse his party in the wilderness, or to yield at discre- 
 tion. In either of these cases, the American detachment 
 would have been destroyed. 
 
 Captain Holmes feanng, however, that the enemy had 
 attempted tiius to cut him off, immediately retreated to 
 the heights,^ re-established himself iii the encampment 
 
or rTRs iiArrs was. 
 
 sri 
 
 aited the 
 mdicious 
 his supe- 
 
 appearing 
 Ay afpo- 
 d retiredi 
 pearance, 
 e rangers, 
 with ala- 
 ny, whose 
 retreated, 
 scattered 
 lurpose of 
 htheBri- 
 ted. The 
 tlie Ame- 
 i strength 
 [ followed 
 edthead- 
 ), was for- 
 brce,pre- 
 h had in- 
 i from his 
 Minded in 
 Hcing htm 
 t captain 
 worn oat 
 id the se- 
 at^ to a 
 in disci- 
 re the ad- 
 party to 
 imericans 
 they just 
 all com- 
 [olmes to 
 atdiscre- 
 tachraent 
 
 lemy had 
 reated to 
 mpmenf, 
 
 and a second time comjielled the British regulars ind Ib^x 
 dians to attack him oh his own ground. ^^ j 
 
 '-The rangers and many^^e infantry, not knowing Hie \ 
 wisdom nor the necessity of the measure, exhibited great | 
 marks of discontent at the retreat, and many of them re- > 
 fused to fight the enemy. But, on his re-appearance upon | 
 the opposite height, one impulse animatea the whole de- 1 
 tachment, which resolved on repulsing the asstUantai^** \ 
 The British commander then made a disposition to dii- ' 
 lodge them, and throwing his militia, and Indians acroM 
 the ravine, above the road, he ordered them to commence 
 the attack upon the north, south, and west sides ot the 
 encampment^, whilst 4ie charged down the road from the 
 opposite heidit, crossed the bridse, and rushed foriotttly 
 up the hei^t occupied by the Americans, on their east; 
 or exposed side, with an intention of chaif;ing the regu- 
 lars. This he did, under a ntUing fire» which did not 
 check his advances, until witmn twenty paces of his ob- 
 ject There his fr^nt section being shot to pieces, md 
 many of those who followed being wounded; hb prine^ 
 pal officers cut down, and the fire of the Americans in- 
 creasins in vivacitj; he abandoned the assault aitoceiher, 
 and took shelter m the neighbouring wood, at distances 
 of 15, 20, and SO paces. Having arra/ed his forces, he 
 commenced a rapid fire from his cover, which was warm- 
 ly returned, and increased on both sides. From those 
 parts of the encampment, protected by the loss, the ran- 
 sers and militia fired with great coolness and precision. 
 The regulars, on the uncovered side, were directed to 
 kneel, uuit they might be partially concealed by the brow 
 of the height, and, by these means, were enabled to fire 
 with more deliberation than their assailants. 
 
 After one hour's conflict, the British eave up all hopes 
 t>f dislodging the detachment, and at twuight commenced 
 tilieir retreat Captain Holmes did not pursue them, be- 
 cause they Trere stiil superior in numoers, and might 
 dmw him at night into an ambuscade, in a country much 
 better known, to Ihem than to him; amd, because he had 
 already sained a sufficient triumph in repulsing, and de- 
 feating the object of an experienced foe. The American 
 loss amounted to six men killed and wounded. By their 
 own official report, the enemy lost captain Johnson, lieu- 
 tenant Orame, and 1£ men killed, and captain Besded 
 
272 
 
 HISTORICAL 8KBTCBG8 
 
 (Bftrdeii») lieutenant Mi)onaId, and 49 men wounded, 
 making a total of 67'. The whole American force in ac- 
 tion wai 150 rank and file, many of whom fought and 
 marched in their atockinff feet, and though the weather is 
 extremely cold in that cnmate, in the month of February, 
 they were not permitted, nor did they express a wish to 
 trite a shoe, even from the dead. Captain Holmes, soon 
 after, returned 'wi^ his detachment to the Michigan terri- 
 tory, and received the thanks of the commandant, and 
 the brevet rank of major from his government He spoke 
 of ail his officers in very flattering terms, but particularly 
 of lieutenants Kouns and Henry, and ensign Heard of the 
 28^^ and lieutenants Jackson and Potter of the 24^, be- 
 cause their good fortune placed them in opposition to the 
 main stren^ of the enemy. 
 
 AfteUt* this event, detachments were frequently sent out 
 to reconnoitre the enemy's country, but for several weeks 
 returned without being able to encounter any of his tn)ops. 
 Thoae on the American sid : of Detroit nver, remained, 
 therefore, in a dtate of perfect security; and the comman- 
 ders of the land and naval forces, employed the time in 
 ]ir(jectii^r various plans, by which to establish fortifica- 
 tions on uie lake St Clair ; to cut off the communications 
 between Michilimackinac and the Indians; andto secure 
 i the inhabitants of the territory from their incursions. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Assemblage (^the left dwiHon of the army at Black Bock 
 and Bughto^-^Capture of Fort Erie^^meticans en- 
 camp ttt Street's Cre^'^kirmish wi^ the €nemy*s 
 rear ^uMtd-'-JIffairs ^ pkqmts — BattU of Chippewa 
 •'^rttish retreat to Tm Jmk Creek-^m^riean army 
 encamps at ^ueeiutown^-^Death of general Swift-^ 
 Movement upon Fort George — C^eneral Brown retires 
 to €^i§fpewa Creek'-^Battle of ^Tiagara, 
 
 ^ To retrieve th6 disastrou* consequences of ^e last 
 northern eampaien ; to regain (he jjossession of the posts 
 in Canada, which had been obtained by conquest, and 
 
OF THE Li^TE WAR. 
 
 273 
 
 wounded, 
 >rce in ac- 
 bught and 
 weather is 
 I February, 
 ; a wish to 
 Imes, soon 
 [liean terri- 
 tidant, and 
 
 He spoke 
 particularly 
 eardof the 
 le 94^, be^ 
 ition to the 
 
 ;ly sent out 
 rend weeks 
 ' his troops. 
 » remained, 
 le comman- 
 the time in 
 h fortiiica- 
 Aunications 
 dto secure 
 rsions. 
 
 WtekSock 
 
 etieans en- 
 he €nem%*s 
 ' Chippewa 
 neon army 
 il Swift"- 
 fwn retires 
 
 of the last 
 f the posts 
 quest, and 
 
 lost by the inefficacy of the means provided to retain 
 them;^ to drive the enemy from the occupancy of the 
 American irarrison at the mouth of the Niagara; and to 
 command 9ie frontiers on both sides of that stream; va- 
 rious plans had been projected, numerous dispositions 
 made, and measures were finaliy adopted for their achieve- 
 ment To this end, eenend tirown, now elevated tor the 
 rank of mi^or jB^eneral, was ordered to assemble, and or- 
 ganize, a division of the army, at, and in the neighbour- 
 hood of Black Rock and Buffaloes This division consist- 
 ed^ of two brigades of resuiars, tiie first commanded by 
 brigadier g^nwal Scott, formerly of the 2d artillery, and 
 the second by brigadier general Ripley, formerly of the 
 21st infantry. To these were added a brigade of New 
 York volunteers, and a few Indians, under bru;adiers 
 seneral Porter and Swift During the months or April, 
 May, and June (1814), ^e concentration of this force was 
 effected, and the principal part of that time employed in 
 its discipline. 
 
 The first step towards the accomplishment of the ob- 
 ject \of the present campugn, was the assault and capture 
 of fort Erie, at that time in command of major Buck, and 
 garrisoned by 170 officers and men of the ^th and 100th 
 regiments On ^ morning of -the 3d of July, therefore, 
 in obedience to general Brown's orders, the two brigades 
 of regulars embarked for that purpose. General Scott, 
 with the first, and a detachment of artillery, under major 
 Hindman, crossed to the Canada shore, about one mile 
 below fort Erie, and general Ripley, with the second, 
 about the same distance above. The landing of the se- 
 cond brigade was attended with much difficulty, in, con- 
 sequence of the impossibility of apfHt»achinff the shore, 
 with the gun boats, in which it had embarked. The de- 
 barkation was, therefore, effected in two small boats, 
 capable of containing at one time, not more than 50 men. 
 Th<^ first brigade was on the shore before a gun was fired 
 by the enemy, who^had a picquet stationed near the place 
 of landing. From these two points, on the right and left, 
 the fort was rapidly approached by the regulars, whilst a 
 party of Indians, who had been crossed over skirted the 
 wood in its rear. The garrison, entirely unapprised of 
 these movements, was completely surrounded, and gene- 
 ral Brown demanded the quiet surrender of the post 
 
«74 
 
 HlSTOftlGAIi 81UITCHK8 
 
 A few nma oily were fired, whick wounded four rien of 
 the 25w regiBient, under majer Jessuip^ of the first bri- 
 pnAt, when iiia}or Buck surrendered the fort to the in- 
 vading army; Immediate possession was taken of the 
 garrison, and the misoners were marched to the interior 
 of New York. The passage of the troops across the 
 channel, and the conveyance of the prisoners to the Ame- 
 rican shore, was superintended by lieutenant commandant 
 Kennedy^ of the navy. 
 
 l^lpr general Rial], with a-cByision of the British army, 
 conatitutra of the best disciplined,, and more experienced 
 European re^lars, was at this time intrenched at Chip- 
 pewa, and thither it was determined the Americans should 
 proceed, to attack and rout him. Arrangements were, 
 therefore, made for the security of the fort, and the pro- 
 tection #f the American rear, by the estaUishroent of a 
 small ^uriaon, under lieutenant M'Donough, of the artil- 
 lery, and the disposition of the marine force, near, and in 
 front of the fort. 
 
 V On the morning of the 4th, general Scott received or- 
 ders to advancf with his brigade and Towson- s company 
 oi artillery^ uptm Chippewa. In tlie course of the same 
 day, he was followed by general Ripley, and the field and 
 park artillery, under major Hindman, and by general 
 rorter and his volunteers. On the ri^t bank of Street's 
 creek, two miles distant from the British works, the army 
 was drawn up in three lines, the first bri^de facing 
 Streets creek and the bridge — ^the second bneade, form- i 
 ia^ the second line, and the volunteers the ^ird. The 
 fuk of artillery was stationed on the ri^t of the encamp 
 ment, between the first and second line, and the lignt 
 troops were posted, within ^e same space, on the left. 
 
 In its afiproaches from fort Erie, along the Niagara, 
 to this position, the first brigade encountered the advanced 
 corps of the enemy, strongly posted behind this creek. 
 General Scott immediately ordered captain Towson to go 
 forward with his artillery and dislodse them. That gal- 
 lant officer, in a few minutes, compelled them to tall back, 
 though not until they had intrepdly destroyed the bridge, 
 over which the advancing co(umn would be obliged to 
 pass. • 
 
 About^ tl|e ^me at which captain Towson opened his 
 battery upon the enemy, captain Crioker or the 9th 
 
ir nen of 
 first bri- 
 te the in- 
 » of the 
 i interior 
 croas the 
 the Ame- 
 imandant 
 
 dsh army, 
 perienced 
 1 at Chip- 
 UBS should 
 iiits were, 
 d the pro- 
 Rient of a 
 f the artil- 
 »r, and in 
 
 iceived or- 
 
 company 
 ' the same 
 i field and 
 J generai 
 »f Street's 
 , the army 
 de facing 
 ide, form- ; 
 ird. The 
 i encamp* 
 
 the light 
 
 he left 
 Niagara, 
 
 advanced 
 
 is creek. 
 
 rson to go 
 |That gai- 
 
 fall back, 
 bridge, 
 
 Obliged to 
 
 jened his 
 the 9th 
 
 or THB I.ATB WAB. 
 
 vrs 
 
 infantry, had been directed to flank out to the left of 
 the bri^de, to cross the stream above the bridge, aoMl 
 to assail the riglit of the enemy's guard. This movement 
 was made with so much celerity, that captain Cnooker 
 reached the enemy's position, and was in full pursuit of 
 him, when the brimde column arrived at the bndge. Af^ 
 ter retreating a wort distance, the British commander 
 bein^ aware of the impossibility of captain Crooker re^ 
 ceiving a reinforcement, of sufficient strength to combat 
 the impetuosity of well appointed cavalry, until the bridge 
 should be replaced, ordered his draeoons to turn upon, 
 and cut up the detachment. Under Sie eye of the gene- 
 ral cdlnmanding the brigade, and before the nioneers had 
 rendered the bridge {> ssable, captain Crooker was sur- 
 rounded and charged upon by a numerous troop of the 
 British 19th. This brave detachmeat, dletermined to cut 
 throu^ this superior force, fought their way to a house 
 not rar fix»m tM place of attack, and having gained it, 
 turned, at the order of their commander, upon the nur* 
 suing horsemen, and haying first struck terror into their 
 ranks, put them to a flight, precipitate* as their attack 
 had been impetuous. At this moment, captain Crooker, 
 whose men mi^t well be exhausted after so vigorous an 
 engagement was relieved from nil apprehensioB of an- 
 other assault from a fre^ body of troops, by the arrival of 
 captains Hull and Harrison, and lieutenant Randolph, 
 with a small party of men who had been tiastlly thrown 
 across the stream to his support '*In partizan war,^ the 
 general of brigade observed, '* he had witnessed mrthing 
 more gallant man the conduct of captain Croi^er and his 
 company." ' ;.« 
 
 At 11 o'clock in the evening of that day, the encamp- 
 ment was formed in tiie manner already described; and 
 early on the mormng «f the 5th, the enemy cmnmeaced 
 an attack in various detached parties upon the picqnet 
 guards surrounding it One of these was comriandea by 
 captain Treat of the Slst infantiy, and on its return t9 
 the camp, through a meadow of hi^ grass, was assailed 
 by a bnsk discharge of musketnr. One man fell, se- 
 verely wounded, and the rear of tne guard broke and re- 
 treated. Captain Treat's attempts to prevent the flight of 
 the left of his di^ahmsiai, were mistaken fi>r anintentifm 
 to avoid the ca^nj ; and though he was ordei^ i» a 
 
a76 
 
 UISTOBICAL 8KE ^^CH£8 
 
 nel^bouring wood» his guard beins first collected in pur< 
 suit of the puiy that had attacked him, he wiw iimnedi- 
 atelj ai'ter strqiped of his command upon< the nround of 
 cowardice, in retreatine before the enemjr^ and <» miscon* 
 duc<^ in abandoning thQ wounded nuin to their mercj. 
 This man had, however, been brousht in by captain 
 Trea<fs eurders, jmreviously to his mar<^ in <|ttest of l^e 
 demy's party. Being resolved on a participation in some 
 way or oliier in the approaching battle, tiie captain en- 
 tered as a volunteer, in the same company wMcn he had 
 just before commanded ; and the senior officer of ^ 21st 
 riM^ment directed him to lead a platoon into ac1»)Bvr— 
 TKis act was considered as a manifestation of hm cSurage 
 and patriotism, and the court martial before which he was 
 tried* (tismlssed him Mrith an honourable acquittal* 
 . The vivacity of these assaults upon the picquets gra- 
 dually dimimshed until mid-day, after which they were 
 revived with unabating vigour. Creneral<Riall, well ac- 
 quainted with the position of the American forces, and 
 awajre of their intention to attack him, determined upon 
 issuing from his intrenchments, and by stiiking the nrst 
 blow ro intimidate, and probacy throw into disorder the 
 whole line of the invading army. With tiiis view, he cross- 
 ed the Chippewa with every species of his force, threw 
 his right flffidc, his Indians, and a larse detachment of his 
 H^t troops, into the wood, on the kit of the American 
 encampment, and approached, gradually, with his main 
 body upon the left bank of Street's creek. The move- 
 ment in the wood was discovered early enough to frus- 
 trate the designs of th6 British commander,* and general 
 Brown ordered eeneral Porter to advance, with the vo- 
 lunteers and Intuans, from the rear of the camp; to con- 
 ceal himself from the enemy's view, by entering the 
 wood; to drive back his l^t troops and Indians; and, if 
 possible, to ^n the rear of his scouting partiek, and place 
 them between his line, and the division of regulars. As 
 general Porter moved from the encampment, the Ameri- 
 can outposts and advanced parties fell back, under the fire 
 of the enemy, in order to draw him upon the centre of 
 the front line. 
 
 General Porter met, attacked, and, after a short but 
 severe contest, drove the enemy's right before him. His 
 route to Chippewa was intercepted by the whole British 
 
 ' 1 ■ 
 
OV THEf LATE WAR. 
 
 itf 
 
 m1 in pur- 
 I immedi- 
 mundof 
 n miscon-^ 
 sir mcrcj. 
 y captain 
 est or l^e 
 m in Bfwie 
 aptain en- 
 cn he had 
 >niie2l8t 
 > ac1ioD>r— 
 kcSarage 
 ich he waa 
 tal. 
 
 squets gra- 
 they were 
 11, well ac- 
 orces, and 
 lined upon 
 iig the nrst 
 iserder the 
 7, he crogg- 
 rce, threw 
 nent of his 
 American 
 I his main 
 The move- 
 ;h to fnis- 
 id general 
 ith the vp- 
 p; to con- 
 tering the 
 is; and, if 
 , and place 
 ulars. As 
 the Ameri- 
 ier the fire 
 B centre of 
 
 short but 
 
 him. His 
 
 ole British 
 
 column, arrayed in order of battle, and agaim^ this pow-^ 
 erfill foi^ce, the volunteers desperately maintained th^ 
 ground, until they were overpowered by the 8ap^ri<]Hi^ 
 of discipline and numbers. 
 
 As soon as the firing became regular and heavy be- 
 tween the volunteers and the enemy, general Browh 
 rightly conjecturing that all the British r^lars Were 
 ensaged, immediately ordered general Scott*s brigade, 
 and ^owson*s artillery, to advance and draw them into 
 action on. the plains of Chippewa. Greneral Stott had ho 
 sooner crossed the bridge over Street's creek, ttwn he eh- 
 C3untered and gave battle tpthe^nemy. Gaptaih Tow- 
 son commenced his fire before the infantry li^ttidioiis 
 Were in battle array, and, upon their being formed, to6k 
 post on the rivier, witii'S pieces. In frbiit ftf the extreme 
 risht, and thehce pkyed upon the British batteries. 
 
 The 9th regiment and part of the 22d, formihg the 1st 
 battalion under major Leavenworth, took position on ^e 
 right; the 2d battalion (11th regiment^ wa^ led to its sta- 
 tion by colonel Campbell, who, beeihg soon wounded, 
 was succeeded in the command of that r^ment by Ina- 
 jer M'Neill. The 3d battalion (^th re^thient) was form- 
 ed by major Jessup, on the leit, resting in a wood. — 
 From this posi^on^ that officer was ordered to turn the 
 enemy's ri^ht win& then ^steadily advancing upon the 
 American line, '^iilst this order was in execution, and 
 Jessup's battaliou^ngaged in an animated contest, with 
 the British infantry, 1^ detached captain Retchum, with 
 his company, to attack a superior detachment, at that 
 moment coming up to the reinforcement of ^e body, 
 against which, tne 25th was en^;aged. Captain Ketchum 
 flanked out, encountered the fvesti det^^chmient, and sus- 
 tained a vigorous and despeitite eng^.<vement, uhtil the 
 battalion cleared its own front, and marched to the ihp- 
 port of his company. 
 
 This fortunate consummation of hiB ptah, the major 
 did not effect without a violent struffl^le. The British 
 gave him an animated and destructive nre; his men were 
 falling around him in numbers too great to leave him any 
 hopes of victory; and he became, at length, cl(»iely 
 pressed, both in ''ank and front. His regitnent, never- 
 theless, betrayed not the least disposition to falter, and 
 promptly obeyed his order to ** support arms aiHi Ad^ 
 
 Aa 
 
ms 
 
 IIIST'oBICAL SK£TCH£S 
 
 
 vanc^* under this tremcndcws fire, until a position of 
 more seciwity was gained. From this, he returned^e 
 enemyfs fire, with sucK order and rapidity, that the Bn- 
 tish nght flank fell back, and the battalion was enabled to 
 come HP in Ume to co-opera^ with captain Ketchum's 
 
 detachment. . ' . . x- .l 
 
 The whole line of the enemy began about this time to 
 recoil. On the American right, the battalion of maior 
 Leavenworth, was not only engased with the British in- 
 fantiy, but frequently exposed to, the fire of the batteries. 
 One of his officers, captain Harrison, had his leg carried 
 off by a canaon ball, but so doubtfiil, at that moment, 
 did he consider the issue of the battle, that he would not 
 suffer a man to be taken from his dutYi to be^ him from 
 the field, and supported- the torture oi his wound vrith ex- 
 treme fpjrtitude, until the action ceased. 
 
 Major M^eiil*B battalion was also engaged, from the 
 commencement until the close of the action, and, toge- 
 ther v^tti major Leavenworth's, received the enemy on 
 the open. plain; of these, the 9th and 22d, were panillel 
 to the attack, but the 11th, had its left thrown forward, 
 so as to a^^l in front and flank, at the same time. Thus 
 posted, majors Leavenworth and. M^eill resisted the 
 attacks of the enemy, with great giillantr^ and zeal. On 
 tiiis end of the line, the fire was quite as incessant as on 
 the left, and its effect not less destructive; but the 
 troops displayed an equal degree of animation. 
 
 After tne lapse of an hour, from tiie commencement 
 of the battle, captain Towson, who had maintained his 
 ' position on ^e river, notwithstanding one of his pieces 
 nad been thrown out of action, having completely si- 
 lenced the enemy's most powerful battery, turned his re- 
 maining pieces on the infantry, at that moment advancing 
 to a charge. This accumulation of fire; the effective dis- 
 charges of M^eill's musketry, peculiarly destructive 
 from the obUque position; the steadiness of^the two batta- 
 lions; and the apparent issue of the engagement between 
 * Jessup's and the British right mng, compelled gfen. Riall 
 to retire, until he reached a sic ping eround, descending to 
 Chippewa. From the point formea by this ground, nis 
 troops fled in confusion to their intrenchments, behind 
 the creek, and having regained their works, retarded the 
 approaches^ of the conquerors by means of their heavy 
 
OF THfi LAl^E WAU. 
 
 279 
 
 MMition of 
 turned tiie 
 UtheBri- 
 enabled to 
 Ketchum's 
 
 his time to 
 [ of major 
 
 British m- 
 eWtteries. 
 legf canied 
 ^t moment, 
 
 would not 
 rhim from 
 a^ with ex- 
 
 3, from the 
 , and,toge- 
 enemy on 
 ere parallel 
 im forward, 
 ime. Ttius 
 esisted the 
 i teal. Ctai 
 Bsant as on 
 e; but the 
 
 mencement 
 ntained his 
 ' his pieces 
 ipletei^ si- 
 *ned his re- 
 advancing 
 ective dis- 
 estructive 
 two batta- 
 |nt between 
 gfen.R|all 
 endinffto 
 •und, nis 
 . behind 
 itardedtfae 
 eir heavy 
 
 batteries; on which alone, they relied for safety, in th^ 
 eyerit of their being obliged to retir^. <^ >>* 
 
 "' About the time ^ey commenced theii* charge, TM^ti^ 
 itindman had ordered forward captain Ritchie's compi^y 
 of artillery, and one piece, a Ij^po^inder, under lieuten- 
 ant Hall. They arrived, in tune only to participate in thd 
 close of the action^ but joined ca,ptatn Towson, in pursu- 
 ing the enein^, under the fire df his batteries, until he 
 threw himself into the. intrenchments. 
 
 Whilst the first bri^de Was tlius callantly engaged 
 with this superior force, in which were included the lOOtli 
 regiment, under lieutenant colonel the marquis of Twee^ 
 dale, and the Royal Scots, under lieutenant colonel Gor- 
 don, general Ripley, whose l^lgade was already formed 
 in line of battle, proposed to the commanding general, to 
 pass the. left of the firstbri^e; to turn m& enemy's 
 r^t; and by taking a position in his rear, prevent his 
 retreat to the Chippewa. But, as the volunteers were at 
 that moment fallii^ back from the wood,, on the left of 
 the fields general Brown was of opinion that an attack 
 would be iriade in that quarter, and deemed ^e pres<snce 
 of general Ripley's bri^e, necessary to receive and re- 
 pel it. At the Tnoraent of their retreat, however, he de- 
 termined to follow up the victory, by advancing against 
 their works with all his ordnance, and directed general 
 Ripley to adopt the proposition he had made. But such 
 was the p^cipitation oi the retreat, that this movement 
 became unavadii^ and on the report of two reconnoi- 
 tring officers, major Wood of the engineers, and captain 
 Austin, an aid to the general, as to me situation and se- 
 curi<7 of the enemy^s worics, general Brown was induced 
 to order all his troops back to their encampment 
 
 This sanguinary battie, resulted, as may well be sup- 
 posed, in an immense loss on both sides. That of the 
 Americans, in killed, wounded, and miming, amounted 
 to 328; sixty of whom were killed. Among the wound- 
 ed, were colonel Campbell; captains King, of the 22d, 
 Read, of the 25th, and Harrison, of the 4Sd, but doing 
 duty with the 9th, lieutenants Palmer and Brimhall, of 
 the 9th, Barron, of the 11th, and De Witt and Patchim, 
 of tiie 2dtii. The Isss of tiie British, in killed, wounded, 
 and prisoners, was, according to general Brown's repoi^t, 
 308; but, by lieutenant general ])r ^mood^ retumis, 
 
2S0 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ii 
 
 
 ^t^ were 139 killed, 320 wounded, and 46 mi^inff, 
 making a total of 505 ; so that the number of the wouna- 
 e4,3^t^i, was nearly equal to the aggregate loss of the 
 Aniencans. Among these were tiie marquis of l*wee- 
 <)a|e, Ueutenant colonel Crordon, lieutenant colonel Dick- 
 spn, cl^)tain Holland, aid de camp to seneral Riall, 7 
 i;fmUins, 17 lieutenants, and 4 other subaLtemg. 
 
 The liveliest testimonies of the ajpplause of the people, 
 and the honourable approbation of the jgovernment, were 
 
 S'ven to generals Scott and Porter. The brevet rank of 
 iutenant colonel, was conferred upon maj<Nrs Jessup, 
 lUeaven worth) and M'Neill; and of major, upon captains 
 Towson, Crooker, and Harrison. But there were other 
 g^^t and distinguished officers, who shared in the 
 perils, and the fortunes, of that day. Among the most 
 conspicljious of these, were lieutenants Worth and Watts, 
 aids to general Scott; lieutenant Smith, his m^jor of bri- 
 gade; major Wood of the engineers, who superint^ded 
 me construction of the wocks at fort Mei^, during the 
 inemorable siqge of that garrison; captain Harris, ojthe 
 drasoons; ana lieutenant M*Donidd, of the second bri- 
 sade, who penetrated a wood pu^ annoyed the enemy's 
 
 Intell^|ence having been communicated to lieutenant 
 general Drummond,.of the defeat.of major eeneral ^aU, 
 tiiat officer, was immediately reinforced at Chippewa, by 
 the 8tiior King's regiment from York; on the arrival of 
 which, he disposed his troops in such order as to repulse 
 an assault from the Americans. Geiwral Brown, mean- 
 while, renudned at his encampment at Street's creek, and 
 on tiie 8th of the montli, determined unon an attempt to 
 dislodge general Riall. General Ripley, was for this 
 purpose, ordered to proceed with his bn^e, to a point 
 thr<N3 miles above the British works, on the Chippewa, 
 to open a road of communication between Street's creek 
 and that point; and; to construct a bridge over thje Chip- 
 pewa, for the passage of tiie troops. This ordier was 
 executed with great secrecy; and without loss of time, 
 and the artillery was brought up in the course of the day, 
 to cover the pioneers, whilst constructing the bridge^-** 
 The enemy had no knowledge of ^i»is movement, until 
 the brigade anived at the ci-eek, and the artillery was 
 already planted near its margin. General Riall was then 
 
 i#< 
 
OF THE LATE W AH. 
 
 £81 
 
 le wound- 
 [>8B of the 
 of twee- 
 me\ Dick- 
 1 RaaU, 7 
 
 he people, 
 lent, were 
 it rank of 
 rs Jessup, 
 1 captains 
 ivere other 
 *ed in the 
 the nuMrt 
 ind Watts, 
 yor of bri- 
 srint^ded 
 durins the 
 rris, (H the 
 econd bri> 
 le enemy's 
 
 lieutenant 
 leral RiaU, 
 ippewa, by 
 arrival of 
 to repulse 
 wn, mean- 
 creek, and 
 attempt to 
 IB for this 
 to a point 
 Chippewa, 
 »et'8 creek 
 the Chip- 
 order was 
 )8 of time, 
 df the day, 
 sbridge.r— 
 lent, until 
 illery was 
 1 was then 
 
 informed, by his bul^post, of these operations* and haaiily 
 forwarded a detachment of the royal artillery, to check 
 them. A cannonade ensued; but such was the efllbet 
 produced by ^neral Ripley's artillery, that the British 
 pieces were withdraw^ ; the bridge was soon after com- 
 pleted, and general Blall, apprehending an attack on his 
 riKbt flank and in front, from tiie formicbible arrangem«nts 
 which he saw in preparatiim, abandoned his Ime of de- 
 fences, and retreated oy the road to Queenstown^ .Gie^e- 
 ral Brown occupied the enemy's works that eyenu^ and 
 on the foUowine mominc (the 9th), pursued the rouifce to 
 Queenstown. Riall had,lioweYer,Tetired to the Ten Mile 
 Creek. . ■ .- . ^ ■ . . "-■.^ - ^■•ir^.^^-^'^i. 
 
 At Queenstown the American army was thai enciunp^ 
 cd, and the commanding general held a council of war, 
 for the purpose of matunne a plan of future and dedsiVe 
 operations. On the ISth, brieidier general John Swift, 
 second in command to genenu Poi ier, and the sam^ who 
 had put the British m&rines to flight at Poultii^ni[ilH 
 having offered to reconnoitre the enemy's pt^ition at fori 
 George, was detached with 120 volunteer^ to bbt^ a 
 view of those works. On his arrival within its neighbour- 
 hood, he surprised and captured atn outiijost, consis^ig of 
 a corporal and five men; one of these, after having sur- 
 rendered to the detachment and requested quarters, availr 
 ed himself of an advantafleous moment, treaenerqusly ^ed 
 at>and shot the genenu, who, nol^itiifttanding the sud- 
 denness of the attack, and tho severity of his wound, in- 
 stantiy levelled his piece, and killed the assassin. ^ The 
 alarm produced by this fire/**-<iu^ up » British patroll- 
 ing pai-ty, of 60 men, against whom general Swift, regard- 
 less of the persuasions of his officers, to attend to his 
 wound, marched at the head of his detachment, and c^f 
 menced an attack, which result^ in the retreat of the 
 enemy's party. The general, however, whose wound was 
 mortal, fell, exhausted by the loss of blood, bef|M« the 
 termination of the skirmish. Iii» next officer, beat the 
 patrolling pftrty into the fort, and returned to the en- 
 campment at Queenstown, with the body of his expin^g 
 commander. General Swift, whose loss was sincerely 
 deplored by the whole army, and who had served with 
 distinguished reputation dunng tiie war of tiic revolution, 
 WTO interred wUh tiie usual ceremsonij^anihonw^ 
 
 Aa2 ■" ' ' ' '■^•■. ' ' 
 
 ^' 
 
 /^ 
 
e6£ 
 
 HIBTOBI€AI> SKETCHES 
 
 a fdhtier. ' T)w whoie Totmiteer brigade, to which the m- 
 aeral ifas attached, lOUcited an opportunity to avenge the 
 laQ of tieir brave olficer^ and an opportunity was not 
 toDf wasted. 
 
 At the consultation, which was held by general Brown, 
 aiid his prkicipal officers, a plan of attack upon fort 
 George/ was proposed ; and, to the prejudice of a proposi- 
 lion, stdMnitted by ^eral Ripley, of following up ffene- 
 ltl^Biall; of drimghim from «ie peninsula; or of stnkuig 
 iis severe a blow, as that which he had rec^ved at Chip- 
 pewa, and thua totdly to annihilate his force; was adowU 
 «d b^ a mi^ori^ of the council. In order to ascertain oie 
 possiiiilitj^of capturing that fort, by a coup de main, the 
 aoeottd brujade, and tl^ volunteers, were directed to re- 
 connmti^ n, in the most secret manner. Whilst general 
 B»piey a|>proached akmg the l^iaeuii, ^erid Porter, to 
 WAOse br^jade was attached two field pieces, under cap- 
 tain Bltehie, of the^reeular artillery, advi^ced by the way 
 of St David's and ^e Cross Boads, to lake Ontario, 
 #faeace he oculd ^Maki a full view of fort Niagara, and 
 «nable the principal engineer, major Wood, to examine 
 the works on that «de of fort George. After viewing the 
 northern face of fort Niagara, eeneral Porter moved in, 
 upon fort George, drove in all uie enemy's picquets, and 
 formed his brinde in the open plain, within a mile of die 
 fori. To eni^e the ei^^seer to examine the works widi 
 more certucity, he ordmd lieutenant colonel WUcocks 
 to advance wi^ his command, under cover of a small 
 wood, widiin musket ahot of the^rrison. These positions 
 were maintained upwards of anliour and a half, during 
 -which time the British batteries opened upon the troops 
 on th6 plain. Several detached parties, sent out to attack 
 the volunteer li^t troops, were successively repulsed, and 
 the ofageet of the eiq[>eai^n beuig accomplished, general 
 Porter moved round the south side of the fort, andjoined 
 eeneral -Ripley^ bri^e oil the Niagara. As he retired, 
 me etiemy sent out several pieces of field artillery, and 
 commenced a nqlid five upon his rear. The brigade, how- 
 ever, moved tff, in ^ood order, with two men wounded? 
 and lieutenant #ontame, of the artillery, and an ofRcer of 
 the volunteei^^iad then* horses killed under them, by a 
 cannon balL^ 1^ his approaches to the lake, general Porter 
 deem«d it neeessai^^Q station iTtcf^li^ upon the several 
 
OF THE LATE WAS. 
 
 m»& 
 
 roads leading to the fort Five of these were cafituivd 
 by a partjr of 90 Canadian mililia, residing in the neigh- 
 bottrhood^ and some of whom had been in the American 
 encampment, professing tp avail themselves of the term* 
 of general Brown's proclamation,. issued upon entering 
 Canada, ^that all persons demeaning themiwlvfs peacea- 
 ** Uv, and pursuing ^eir private business, should be treat- 
 ** ea as friends.** 
 
 To give more certainty and effect to the assault of forts 
 George and Niagara, and to the occupation of Queens- 
 town, St David's, and Newark, general 9rown, previous- 
 ly to fais pMsage of the Niagara strait, had adopted mea^ 
 sures, in conjunction with commodore Chauncey* for die 
 co-operation of the American squadroil. Oh the 20th of 
 July, he, therefore, niioved with his whole force upon fort 
 Geoive, and took a position, wilh a portion of h» troops, 
 on lale Ontario, as well with a view to attempt that ga^ 
 risen, as to obtain some intelligence of the fleet Commo*> 
 dore's Chauncey'ft extreme illness, prcnrentdl the smling 
 of the fleet from the harbour, and general Bnmn, xmtt^ 
 hensive of an attack upon the rear of his iMtny, and of 
 his tommunication wim the encampment being cut off], 
 by the militia then raising en masse, fell back to Queens^ 
 town, on the. QSd, to protect Ins baggage. Having thefe 
 received intelligence of the detention of the fleet,lie de- 
 termined to disencumber the axmj of ite heavy ba^asej, . 
 and to march asauist Burlington ' Heights; 4)n the pemn.^ 
 aula, between wliich h hd Ene ikt enemy had in thiEf mean 
 time, concentrated his principal forces. To dmw from 
 Schlosser, a supply of provisions, necesssry to diis etpa^ 
 dition, he retired on Ihe d4th, to the junction of the Chip- 
 pewa and Niagara: with the exceppon of the 9th r^a» 
 ment, the army encamped on the nght bank of tiie Chip- 
 pewa. That regiment was posted on the nordi side of tnf 
 stream, in and near a block house, in the advance. 
 
 Lieutenant general Drummond, anxious to redeem the 
 tarnished reputation of the British arms, aiid having now 
 augmented his force, so as to feel capable c^ offering bat^ 
 tie, witiiottt any doiibt of its succesnul resiilt, forwarded 
 a ^vision, ftnder general ^iall, to l^eenstown, who oc- 
 cupied the heij^ts there, immediately after their abao^ 
 donment by the Americans. From Queenstowh, general 
 lUall threw a large detachment of his troo{fe, across the 
 
 w^ 
 
mmmm>'!mm 
 
 I' 
 
 .684 
 
 HISTOmCAL SKETCHES 
 
 Ntagura, to Lewistown, with a view to the capture of the 
 Aitt«ican sick and wpunded^ at that time in the hosptital 
 at Schlosser, and the destniction of the bamge, ammu- 
 aition, and provisionst deposited at thatpwse. By ex- 
 presses from colonel Switt, commanding at Lewistown, 
 general Brown was informed of this movement, and al- 
 most at the same moment, a prcquet, stationed beyond 
 the 9th recent, reported an advanced party of the ene- 
 my on the J^iagara road. To draw him from nis purposed 
 piila^ of Schlosser, oeneral Brown, having no immediate 
 ineans of bringing uifnis sick and stores, nor of transport- 
 ing troops to their defence j ordered general Scott to 
 move, with his bruade, then consisting m about 700 men, 
 and Towson's artuiefy» still attached to it, in the direc- 
 tion of Queenstown. f -'■* ; 
 
 , At 4 O^clock in the afternoon of the 25th (July), the 
 first brigade moved finom the encampment in l^ht march- 
 tnjrordilr, the 9th regiment b ii^ in front of the column, 
 and oaptdn Harris, with a troop of regular and v(dunteer 
 drttoons, and a company of ,infantnr» under capkin P^nt- 
 land, of die 22d, constituting an adfvanced corps. About 
 ifcwo miles and a half frt)m the Chippewa, uid mthin a 
 short distance of ike falls of Niagara, Ihe American and 
 British advanced parties came wimin view of each other, 
 and general Scott halted his column, to reconnoitre the 
 ground, and make arran^mehts for the reception, or at* 
 tack, of the enemy. Lieutemint colonel Leavenworth, 
 with the 9th, consisling then of only 150 men,- was imn^e^ 
 dJat^ly ordered to take the left of the rtoad, within. sup- 
 porting distance of the column, which, on the exeaiiion 
 of this order, again moved, forward, the enemy retiring 
 before it. On an eminence, near Lundy's lane, at a pmnt, 
 chosen by major general Rhdl, because of the decid^ ad- 
 vantage of the ground, the enemy was ^posted in^ mat 
 strength, with a formichible battery of nine pieces of ar- 
 tillery, two of which were braAS 24 plunders, and an ex- 
 tensive and heavy line of intkntry. This position was 
 extremely favourable to the operatkcns uf the oattery, A»d 
 there the British general haa long wished to engage the 
 troops, who had compelled him to retire from every otber, 
 «i wnich batt^ had been previously given them. 
 '^ On the arrival of general Scotfs column at a narrow 
 strip of wodds, by ^ch only the British line was ob- 
 
are of the 
 
 le 
 
 1^, ainintt- 
 i. By ex- 
 lewistown, 
 it, and al- 
 sd beyoiid 
 >f the ene- 
 ) purposed 
 immediate 
 transikort- 
 1 Scott to 
 1 700 men, 
 I the direc- 
 
 (July), the 
 ght march- 
 be column, 
 i vcdunteer 
 [riain Pfent- 
 pg. About 
 id within a 
 lerican and 
 each o^er, 
 nnoitre the 
 tion, or at* 
 fkvenworth, 
 was inm^e'* 
 ritiiin.sup- 
 execution 
 ny retiring 
 at a point, 
 ecided ad- 
 1 in^ great 
 ices 0? ar- 
 ind an ex- 
 )«ition was 
 ittery.and 
 sngag|ethe 
 irery other, 
 
 a narrow 
 le was ob* 
 
 •F TUS LATB W^B. 
 
 9S9 
 
 scured from his view, c^tptains Harris and Pentland. were 
 first fired on, and asallantly engpged the enemy's advance* 
 which had gradually retreat^ to draw the Ameriam 
 column to the situation at Lundv's lane. The hrkiMle 
 column^was again inunediatelj halted, lieutenant coloiiei 
 Leavenworth ordered to his situation, and tieutenant co- 
 lonel Jessup, with the 25th, deta^Jied to attack the left 
 of ^ British Une. The 9th, 11th, and SSd, passed the 
 advanced corps, and moviqe to the north of the wood, 
 entered a smooth field, in lull view of the enemy, and 
 within canister distance of his battery. The rear of the 
 column hiivin^ cleared the woodjgeneral Scptt ordered 
 the line to be instantly formed, l^his order was not exe- 
 cuted before the British opened a^ tremendous ^e frdm 
 their battery, and the whole line pf their infantiy drawn 
 up on its right, and obliquely inits front. Towson, with 
 his artillery, was stationed on the right of the 9th, and 
 though they could not be brought to &ar upon the emi- 
 nence, he animated the American, line, by an incessant 
 dischar^ from all his pieces. 
 Thus drawn up on both sides, the action continued, with 
 
 reguneRt 
 
 ing expanded their ammunition, colonel Brady and lieup 
 tenant <;olonel M'Neill, being both severely wounded, and 
 all the captains of the former, and most of the officers of 
 the latter, either killed or wounded, both regiments were 
 withdrawn from action, and many of the officers, but prin- 
 cipally subalterns, attached themselves to the 9th, and 
 fiNight under its gallant chief, in various camicities, and 
 with unusual courage and perseverance. Among these 
 were Heutenant Crawford, and lieutenant and adjutant 
 Sawyer. Against the chief part of the British line, lieu- 
 tenant colonel LeavenwoHh^ with the remabs of the 9th 
 alone, continued the engagement with unshaken firmness 
 and bravery; and wa^ at fensth, directed to advence and 
 charse^ upon the heig^ and with the 11th and 9£d, to 
 break the enemy's line. Notwithstanding, these three re- 
 giments were greatly diminished by the excessive loss of 
 officers and men, they nevertheless steadily advanced, with 
 supported arms, until general Scott, learning the shattered 
 condition of the 11th and 22d, coiyitermaiSliid the order. 
 
Sft6 
 
 HIBTOBICAIi SKETCHES 
 
 The enemy was at this moment pressiiu; upon the left 
 of the line; &e right of the 9th, was therefore thrown for- 
 ward to meet and repulse him, and the whole regiment, 
 commenced a fire more animating, if pMsible, mit cer- 
 tainly more destructive than the first. It is scarcely pos- 
 nfiile to do justice to the conduct of this gallant regiment, 
 or of its intrepid commander. It had already given such 
 signal instances of individual valour, as were never sur- 
 passed upon an open field. But valour alone, is not com- 
 petent to resist the repeated assaults, of a numerous and 
 increasing foe ; and against a prodigious inequality of num- 
 bers, it is sometimes little less than madness to contend. 
 The 9th regiment, was at lei^^ reduced to nearly half 
 the number With which it had entered the field, and neing 
 still pressed by the enemy, who frequently chai^d with a 
 fresh line* lieutenant cidonel Leaven worm despatched an 
 of^cei^ to general Scott, to communicate its conaition. The 
 l^neral faiving been just informed of the approach of re- 
 inforcements from Chippewa, rode immediately to the 
 position of tiiat regiment, and directed it to maintain its 
 ground. 
 
 That indefatigable and excellent reconnoitring officer, 
 lieutenant Riddfe, of tiie 15th infantry, had been^ sent out 
 in the menung,. with- a party of lOOinen, to «cottr the 
 surrounding cmintry. He had not proceeded more than 
 three miles fi*om the encampment, when, in attempting to 
 gain the rear of a scout of the enemy, he was informed 
 By several of the inhalntants, of his being close upcm a 
 division of 3000 of the !ftitish troops. At the time of his 
 leaving the camp, general Brown had not been apprised 
 of the contiguity of the enemy, and lieutenant Kiddle, 
 therefore, hastened back with all possible speed, to com- 
 municate the intel^ence. The nature of ^e ground, 
 over which he had fo retrace his steps, and the extreme 
 caution with which it was necessary to proceed, to avoid 
 reconnmtring ''etachmoits of the enemy, lengdiened his 
 distance, from the head quarters, upwards of five miles. 
 He had not arrived at the possition of the Americans at 
 Chippewl^ when he was iq^piised of the meeting of the 
 hostile armies* by the repeated and heavy discharges of 
 artillery. Naturally concluding that general Brown's 
 whole lorce had proceeded to the field of battle, and not 
 hesitating a ||oment, as to the course he sh<mld pursue. 
 
on the left 
 hrown for- 
 ! regiment, 
 e, btttcer- 
 arcelj pos- 
 t regiment, 
 ghren such 
 never sur- 
 is notcom- 
 nerouB and 
 jtyofnum- 
 to contend, 
 nearly half 
 ; and Deing 
 rged with a 
 patched an 
 dition. The 
 t>ach of re- 
 tely to the 
 namtain its 
 
 ring officer, 
 en^ sent out 
 ) «cour the 
 more than 
 tempting to 
 8 informed 
 oae np<m a 
 time of his 
 in apprised 
 mt Riddle, 
 id, to corn- 
 he ground, 
 le extreme 
 
 d, to avoid 
 Evened his 
 five miles, 
 lencans at 
 tins of tiie 
 
 hirgesof 
 Brown's 
 
 e, and not 
 Id pursue. 
 
 OV THE LATB WAS. 
 
 3«7 
 
 he wheeled his detachment upon the Niagara road, and 
 immediatelv marched to a participation m the engage- 
 ment Thu detachment was the nrst reinforcing party 
 wliich arrived to the relief of the first brigade, aim gene* 
 ral Scott stationed it on his extreme left, with directions 
 to lieutenant Biddle, to watch the motions of the British 
 riflemen and Indians. 
 
 By the same circumstance, the report of the artillery, 
 general Brown was also first informed of the commence- 
 ment of the action, and of its scene, and having directed 
 general Ripley to follow with the 2d brigade, was already 
 on his way to the falls, when he met the assistant adjutant 
 senend, nuyor Jones, returningto the encampment at 
 nill speed for reinfercem^ts. The intelligence commu- 
 nis Ated by miyor Jones, induced the commander in chief 
 to despatch him, io order up general Porter's volunteers, 
 in addition to the 2d brigaae, and the park of artillery. 
 General Brown then rode hastily, with his aids, accom^ 
 
 Sanied by major M^Ree, of the engineers, towards the 
 eld of tiatile, and on his further advance, was met by a 
 second messenger, major Wood> ilso of the engineers, 
 and who had marched with general Scott's br%ade. From 
 this ^dlant ai^ accomplislied officer, he received a report 
 of the close and sanguinary character of the action, and 
 directed lum to return with him to the field. 
 
 Exhausted and reduced as the 9th, 11th, and 22d r^- 
 ments already were^ another vigorous (mset froni the ene- 
 my, sttfficienuy numerous to interpose occasionally a firesh 
 Une, might probably decide the fate of the day, before the 
 arrival of the ap]Nroaching reinforcements. The determined 
 and obstinate manner, however, in which they had already 
 received, and repulsed, the gallant and repeated chan^ 
 of the British infantry, induced major ^neral Rlalfto 
 overrate their force. But, to whatever measure of strraigth 
 these intrepid re^ments amounted, he knew also, that the 
 number of hb combatants would be augmented from the 
 camp at Chippewa, and being assiued of the necessity, in 
 that event, of enlai^^ng his own force, he despatched mes- 
 senji^rs to lieutenant general Drummond, at fort George, 
 to inform him of the desperate nature df the xonflitt^-* 
 Until tids period of the engagement, his force, including 
 the incorporated militia and «ome Indians, amounted t^ 
 
88S 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 iGSf men, beiiu; more than double the strength by which 
 he was opposecC 
 
 Major general Brown arrived at the scene of this obsti- 
 nate strugrlie, aboiit the time at which general Scott or- 
 dered the^th regiment to maintain its ground, and seeing 
 the exhausted state of the troops, and the shattered con- 
 dition of the brigade, determined on holding it in reserve, 
 whUst the reinforcing troops should continue the engage- 
 ment The 9th, 11th, and 22d regiments, were therefore 
 consolidated into one battalion, under colonel Biady, who, 
 tiiough wounded, refused to quit the field, until the result 
 of the engagement should b« known. General Ripley's 
 brigade, major Hindman's artillery, and seneral Pbrter's 
 voranteers, all of whom had marcned wim unusual rapi- 
 clity. Over a difficult road, were* now within a short dis- 
 tance of Lundy's lane. General Ripley being in the 
 advance, and within half a mile of the held, immediately 
 despatched his aid de camp, lieutenant M'DOhiald, of the 
 19tn infantry, to inform ^neral Brown Of his approach, 
 and to receive instructions as to the situation of trie ene- 
 my, akid orders, as to the dbposition of his brigade. 
 
 Immediately before the arrival of general Riptey, a 
 temporary pause j|>reyailed between the two armies; an 
 awfiil and (but for tlie groans of the wounded soldiers,) 
 an unbroken silehce was preserved aniong the troops on 
 either side; the impetuous descent of the stupendous ca- 
 taract of the Nia^ura, alone interiTipted th^ pervading 
 stillneiBs, and contributed to the solemnity and grandeur 
 of the scene: and the leadei^ of both forces, havine fallen 
 baek to their original positions, seemed mutuallv disposed 
 to a momentary cessation of the sanguin!ary and fatting 
 strife. The krnval Of these reinforcements, under generu 
 Ripley, and of others, under lieutenant general Drum- 
 mond, put an end to this suspension of hostilities, and 
 the en^igement was renewed with augmented vi^ur. 
 
 Major nihdman's artillery being brought up, tiie 'com- 
 panies Of captains Biddle and Ritchie, in addition to Tow- 
 son's detachment, soon ckme into action, and general 
 Porter's vobinteers w'ere displayed upoln the left of gene- 
 ral Scottfs brigade. Lieutenant Ml>onald, who had been 
 dei^tched for orders, having met captain Spencer, one 
 of the aids of the <ommander in chief, bearing ordeiis for 
 
OF Tin LATB WAK. 
 
 , by which 
 
 this obsti- 
 l Scott Gr- 
 ind seeing 
 tered con- 
 in reserve, 
 le engage- 
 5 therefore 
 Irady, who, 
 the result 
 ml Ripley's 
 ■al Porter's 
 usual rapi- 
 L short dis- 
 ing in the 
 nmediately 
 aid, of the 
 s apprbach, 
 of the ene- 
 gade. 
 
 r Ripley, a 
 armies; an 
 A soldiers,) 
 > troops on 
 tendcus ca- 
 pcrvading 
 d grandeur 
 ivinK fallen 
 y msposed 
 d fotigning 
 er genend 
 ral Drum- 
 ilities, and 
 vigour. 
 », the'com- 
 on to Tow- 
 nd general 
 ft of gelie^ 
 hadl>een 
 encer, one 
 orders for 
 
 the 3d brigade to form on the skirti of the wood to Ifie 
 ri^t of the 1st, immediately retnmed to general Bipiey 
 with these directions. 
 
 Meanwhile, the S5th regiment nhder lieutenant c oknel 
 Jessup, which had been oi^ered, in the earlr part of th^ 
 action to take post on the right^ had gallantly contended 
 a||ainit, and succeeded in turning the eneniVs left flank. 
 Lieutenant colonel Jessup, availing himself of the e:. tfeme 
 darkness of the nigh^ and of the incaution of the British 
 ceneral in not placinin '^ proper guard across a r^ad upon 
 his left, threw his regiment is thu rear of the enemy's re^ 
 serve, and surprising or "^ detachment after another, made 
 prisoners of so many ot their officers and nuvn, that the 
 operations of his fire anus were constantly impeded. Ge- 
 neral Dntmlnoiid, who was now commanding in person 
 the front line ofthe enemy; having dcterminedon concen- 
 trating his whole force, and leading it to the attack of |eil. 
 Scottf^ brigade in frotit and on each flank, and despaicli- 
 ed his aid S& camp, captain Lorinff, to bring up genend 
 Rai^l with the reserve It was the good ieirtime, how- 
 ever, of ca^^taii^ Ketchum, of this rerimetot» whose emi- 
 nent services mtatly contributed to lie victorious iseue 
 of the battle at Chippewa, to make jprisoners of major ge- 
 neral Riall, who was wounded in the arm, and the aid of 
 lieutenant j;eneral Dmmmond before the reserte wat 
 put in motion. 
 
 Had this ooncentration of seneral Riall's line with that 
 of general Drummond been elected, th^e reduced brigade, 
 cjEMOsposed now, only of the consolidated battalion, could 
 not at this moment, and without the support of the 9d bri- 
 gade, have withstood the assault of so overwhelmiXig # 
 force; and the movemeiait of lieutenant colonel flegnup, 
 therefore unquestionably eaved that battalion. Having 
 hastilv adopted proper arrangements for the dispopal elf 
 his prisoners, lieutemmt colonel' Jessup felt his way to the 
 spoVwheretiie wanhest fire was kept up upon tlie bri-* 
 g^e to which he belonged. Easiwardly of Lundy^ lane; 
 and on the south of the Queenstown roid, he drew up hi$ 
 regiment behind a fence« from which he ceuld effectual- 
 ly annoy the enemy. A party of the British infiintry 
 were, at that time; drawn Up in front of a fence, on tlie 
 opposite side of the same road^ Lieutenant cdonel Jes- 
 «up's approach to his present position, had been made 
 
 Bb 
 
£90 
 
 MKM:09II|3AL 8KSTCH£9 
 
 with 80 much secrecy* that they did no^ know he was 
 there, unj^ tnej received a deadly and destructive fire, 
 which compelled them to break and fly along the Queens* 
 to^n rqad. By the Uazie> pf this fire, lieutenant colonel 
 Jessup'Was discovered to major ^enecal Brown, who rode 
 up, appla^ed his conduct, and directed him to move 
 by Lundj's luiie, and form upon the rig^t of the 2d bri- 
 gade. 
 
 The (^rations of that brigade were all this time ear- 
 tied on with the utmost biriluancy and success^ When 
 his aid de camp communicated the order of the cfmiman- 
 der in chief, general Ripley saw the in^racticaMjity of 
 operating upon the enemy, from the posiuon at which he 
 wras directed to display his column; or of advancing from 
 ii^ in line, upon an emergency, trough aldose wood. 
 At the same ntoment too, general Drummond's infantry 
 and all hi artillery, had commenced a galling fire upon 
 general Scqitt's brigade, which could only he supptMrted 
 by a dir^t movement of the 2d b^^gade upon the centre 
 of tiie enemy's line. The impenetrable darkness of the 
 night, rendf^rcu it difficult for the generals of brigade, at 
 all times, to find the commander in chief, or each.otiier, 
 and general Ripley, therefore, deteimined to assume a 
 responsiiMlity, by adopting in time, the only movement 
 which could save the 1st brigade from inevitable destruc- 
 tion, and ultimately achieve the victory. 
 
 He therefore proposed to colonel Miller, the same who 
 had distinguished himself in the earliest stage of the war, 
 s^tMaguaga, and who now commanded the 21st,orHip- 
 iey^s old regiment, to storm the enemy's battery with 
 that, whilst he would support him by leading up the 23d, 
 a younger and less experienced re»ment, to a charge 
 upon the British flank. Colonel Miller, well knowing 
 the perilous nature of this desperate duty, replied to his 
 general, ** PU try, sir,^* and immediately put his regi- 
 ment in readiness by forming it in line, on the left of the 
 road, directly in front of his otuect The 23d was, pt the 
 same time, formed in close column, by its commander, 
 major M^arUmd, and the first which had arrived that 
 day under lieutenant colonel Nicholas, from a long and 
 
 * 'Words afterwards worn on the buttons of the aist regiment.. 
 
Oy THS XATB WAB. 
 
 ^91 
 
 iow he yras 
 ructWe fire, 
 the Queene- 
 lant colonel 
 rn,who rode 
 iin to move 
 ' theSdbri' 
 
 is time car- 
 essr When 
 I >. commaQ- 
 cticability of 
 at which he 
 dancing from 
 'close wood. 
 id*8 infantry 
 ing fire cipon 
 te supported 
 nthe centre 
 rkn^s of the 
 Df bri^de» at 
 T each, other, 
 to a^uDie a 
 J movement 
 Bible destruc- 
 
 le same who 
 of the war, 
 [21 st, or Rip- 
 lattery with 
 up the S3d, 
 to achaiiH;e 
 rell knowing 
 bplied to his 
 ^ut his regi- 
 le left of tne 
 d was, pt the 
 |coihmander, 
 rrived that 
 a long and 
 
 [st regiment. . 
 
 fiitigaing march, was dire^^ ed to memce the enemy% in- 
 fantry. WhiUit these dispo^tiwis were makhig» gjeneral 
 Ripley despatched hi» aid to apprise general Brown of die 
 impossibilify of forming on the sMrt of the wood, and of 
 the measures which he had, in consequence, adof^ted. 
 The commander in chief hkj^ly cwnmended the iles^pn 
 of tiie brieadier general, and^instantly authoiised its exe- 
 cution. With hearts panting for the accomplishment of 
 this enterprise, these re^ments moved forward, under a 
 rapid and destructive fire directed aeiinst them, at their 
 very onset, by the enemy's whole Hne of musketry, and 
 every piece oi his cannon. The 21st, nevertheless, 
 prmnptiy pressed forward; the 23d faltered. .It was, 
 nowever, instan^lv rallied by the pergonal exertions of 
 general Ripley, who led it up to the contemplated charge. 
 At a distance of little more than 100 yards from the top 
 of die emmence/on which die Biilish cannon were posted, 
 and which these r^ihents were necessarily, ohliged to as> 
 ceiled, they received another, and equall;jr as severe a dis- 
 chaige fh^m the musketry and heavy pieces. The Slst 
 was now, however, too much enamoured of its ob|ect,4 
 and tiie 23d too obstinately determine^ on retiievinff its 
 fame, to betray the smallest disposition, t» recoil worn 
 the near consummation of their bdd and hazardous enter- 
 prise. By this fire majdr M'Farland,^of the 23d, was 
 Killed, ana the command of that re^ment devolved upon 
 mijor Brooke, an officer of no less mtr<r*.pidity and valour. 
 The description of a more Mlliant, am decisive move- 
 ment, may never have been registered ou the page of 
 history. To the amazement of the whok British line, 
 colonel Miller, steadily and silently advancing up the 
 eminence, until vnthin a few ipaces of tltie eiiemy*s casnon 
 impetuously charged upon the artillerists, and aflhar a 
 short but .desperate contest, carried the whole battery, 
 and instantly formed Ins line in its rear, upon the aame 
 ground on wnich the British infantry had been previously 
 pesi^. in carrying the heaviest pieces, the 2tst re^- 
 ment experienced severe losses, several officers of dis- 
 ^nguished bravery and jnerit, being either killed or 
 wounded. Lieutenant €iUej, who commanded an ad- 
 vanced company of that re^mcAit, by a resolute and un- 
 examined efwrt,<;arried one of the cutis, &nC fell wound- 
 ed by its side immediately after. He had advanced upon 
 
^92 
 
 Hiari^OBICAIk SKETCHES 
 
 ¥1 :n 
 
 Lt with such rapidity, as to bayonet the men sta^oned 
 at it before they had time to escape t\nA cut down witii 
 his own hand* an artUleris^ who was apptying a match to 
 the iHece« In the same charge, lieutenant Bigelowwas 
 kill^ and caption Burbank, and ensupis Jones and Tho- 
 niasy and lieutenant Fisk of the 19th, and ensign Camp 
 of the second rifle, both attached to the 2l8t, were 
 wounded. 
 
 The advance of the 23d, ..upon the British infantry 
 suppor^ng the canmm, being as proir.pt as that of the 
 2iMt both raiments pierced Uie enemy's line at the same 
 instant Mayor Brooke, in obedience to the order of ge- 
 neral Ripley, led his battalion, under the eye of hia com- 
 mander, into tlie very ranks of the, enemy, and putting 
 them to a hasty and lusorderly retreat, marched up to the 
 relief of colonel Miller, who, though he had formed his 
 line .in the rear of the captured batt^,had not ^et driven 
 the enemy below the emmence, and ^'^ at this moment 
 closely pressed, almost at its summit. By the junction 
 of these two re^ments, however, and the bringing into 
 line of the first, the fate of this assault was determined, 
 the British infantry and artillerists retired beyond the 
 reach of musketry, and tiieir oVvn cannon were turned 
 against tiiem. 
 
 The features of the action now began to assume a new 
 character. The Heights from which the enemy had been 
 thus gal limtl^dUloGged, being a very commanding posi- 
 tion, the nMiintenance of them, would alone determine 
 the issue of the conflict, and general Ripley immediately 
 formed his line for. the protection of tiie newly acquir^ 
 battery, and prepared to receive the assii^ults which he 
 ri^itly coiiyectured would be made for its recovery.-— 
 When tliQ capture of ipneral Rtall was announced, be- 
 fore the dislod&ment of the British frrnn tiie eminence, 
 tiie eKtion of the first brigade was manirested by three 
 loud hn^zas, which brou^t a shell from tlie enemy that 
 tell iri major Hindman's corps, and exploded a cauim of 
 anraaunitiim, beloi^nff to the company of the brave and 
 lamented captain Ritoue, who. being mortally woiinded 
 in t^ie course of the engagement) fMl into the hands of 
 the British. Major HiiMiman w«a now directed to bring 
 up his corps, including Towson's detachment* and post 
 hunself, with his own and the captured cannon,' on the 
 
OTVaaJLATT. WAB.'^ 
 
 £93 
 
 dowawltii 
 ft match to 
 l^elow was 
 sand Tho- 
 ^ign Camp 
 Slat, were 
 
 ih infiintry 
 faat pf the 
 it the same 
 Hrder of ge- 
 of hift cjcmo- 
 ind jmtting 
 »d up to the 
 formed his 
 :^et driven 
 lis moment 
 le junction 
 imnns into 
 lefemined, 
 >eyoiid the 
 ere turned 
 
 ume a new 
 yhad been 
 riding posi- 
 
 determme 
 nmediately 
 f ac(}uired 
 \ which he 
 ecovery.— 
 >unced, be* 
 
 eminence, 
 by three 
 
 nemy that 
 
 I COMOIt of 
 
 brave and 
 wounded 
 
 : hands of 
 
 d to bring 
 and post 
 
 n/on the 
 
 right of geneial Riplev*bbri|^r Mid between it and the 
 S5thi OD' the left of we aeeOnd ^c%ade^ general lorter^ 
 volunteers were then rawed. 
 
 The Kae 'being tiitlsvMnnedi at /the exmration of a 
 short interval, Heu^enaiit genenU ^Drummond, ineensed 
 beyond meacBure at the ci^re of hU artillery, resolved 
 on regaimng it, «nd Nan^ strongly reiitforcMl, advanced 
 upon {Eeneral Riploy, vnth a h^vy and extended ^ne, 
 outflanking him on Mlh extremes. In anticipation of hie 
 approach, which could only be diseovered by the seond 
 attoidinr it, eeneral Ripley had diisected his troops, to 
 reseirve meir fire, until tney had received that of the «&• 
 iailants, imd» if necessiyr^, to feel the bayoni^, before 
 they should draeharge their ^eces, with the: double mt^ 
 of drawinr the advamang line within close strikiiq^ dis- 
 tance, anifof mailing his own fireniore deadly and efloc- 
 tive, by giving it a curection by the flashes of the ettetmy*s 
 mu^etryi. 
 
 On the other hand, lieutenatit general Drummond, thus 
 resolutely determined oh the recoverv of his cannon, 
 gave a peE^n|»tory order to all his platoon officeis, to 
 advance steaddy, and wi^out any regard to the fire of 
 j&e American Hne; and^ afier attaining a given distance, 
 to make a prompt and vigorous charge, and, if piDsriUe, to 
 ■Ml directly upon the cannon. His whole division, diere- 
 J»re, marched at a quick step, until it camewiUiin 20 
 paces of the summit of the he^t, when the several refit- 
 ments received orders to poor in a nl|rid fire, upon me 
 American line, and to follow it with the immeduite ap- 
 peal to the bayonet. This fire was no sooner delivered, 
 than the second brigade, the volunteers, and lieutenant 
 ■colonel Jessup^s regiment, instantiEmeously returned it, 
 and threw the enemy's line into a momentary confusiom 
 But, being immediately rallied, it returned to a conflict 
 more tremendous, than any which had been witnessed in 
 the day^ battle. Upwards of twenty minutes, one blaze 
 of fire succeeded another, in each line; sections, compa- 
 nies, and rranmentSk mutually fell back, and were suc- 
 cessively rallied, and again brought into action; but, at 
 length, the British line was forced back, jind the doub^ul 
 contest terminated in their retiring to the lower extremity 
 of the hilk 
 
 Bb 2 
 
■Pi 
 
 ^H 
 
 inannmMAL skstcbss 
 
 >;ft ivts nttt to be gi|nMMe^ however* thftt tin enemy, 
 the giti&lest |NPOp(BrtMV cf #hooe troops had been aocus- 
 tomed to desperate feats of ynknr, and had ^ncomitered 
 the meat otpetieiioiA battaiiono of Buropeai^ armies, had 
 yet eonsentea to viefd, to an army bat lately made op <»f 
 the ittWiMt niilenalSk nvhat in that event woald be tonsil 
 dered the tvophies of a victory. Measures were, accord- 
 ingly, instantly adopted by genefa^ Riple3r> to remove his 
 woitiHled* and restore his line tor proper order. 3 ^ 
 
 Whilst this splendid repulse was given to the assaidit 
 of the enemyi general Scottfs consolidated battalion, which 
 h|Hi been until this time, held in reserve, wais drawn np 
 in the rear of the second brisad^ under lieutenant colonel 
 Leavenworth* colonel Brad^ wounds having reiidered 
 him unit for active duty. General Scott's brigade nub- 
 joTrliMonaiSt Smith, and his aid, captain Worai, beii^, 
 at thisjit^iie, bodi severely wounded, ne selected an am 
 from thil 0th regiment, and forming tiie battalion into co- 
 lunm, marched it across the field, siid displayed it on a 
 narrow lane, paralliel with, and to tiie south of Lnndv'S 
 lane. From ^is position he despatched lieutenant colo* 
 nel Lieavenwor^ to seek the commander in chief, and to 
 receive his orders as to the disposition of the battaliob. 
 General Brown being conducted to its position by tiie co- 
 lonel, a short conversation followed between tiie two p»* 
 nerals,'the result of which was the immediate' movement 
 of general Scot^s command into Lundy*!^ lane, where it 
 was to be formed with its right towards the Niagara road, 
 and its left in the rear of the captured battery. 
 
 Having ^ven a new arrangement to his troops, gene- 
 ral Drummond, after a lapsO of half an hour, was dis- 
 covered to be adin&nc^g to a second charge. He was re- 
 cei^^ with undiminished> firmness, and general Blpley^ 
 ov#sr to retain the fire being repeated, the whole British 
 me dischar^ its musketry, from the same point at 
 which it had . previottsly paused. The light which was 
 thence emitted, enabled! me Americans to fire with the 
 Utmost precision, and to check the enemy^ nearer ad- 
 vance, tlie repeated discharges of mijor Hindman^ 
 artillery, which was served witii uncommon skill and re- 
 gularity, were severely felt by the advancing line, and 
 ^ offitcers attached to it behaved with coolness and gal- 
 
OV TBS UlTB Witt. 
 
 Z^5 
 
 M enemy, 
 Mbaocufi- 
 tcoimtered 
 rmieSy bad 
 Bade ap^ 
 i be eonM* 
 re, accord* 
 remove his 
 
 tbeaasanlt 
 ilioB, which 
 B drawn vp 
 Ant colonel 
 g retidered 
 irigade ma* 
 brai, beinr, 
 ted an am 
 ion into co- 
 tjed it on a 
 of Lnnd^'b 
 benant coio* 
 hief^and to 
 e ^ttaliob. 
 d by tiie co- 
 tbe.two f^ 
 i movement 
 e, where it 
 iagafaroad, 
 
 • 
 
 ttops, gene- 
 ir, was dis- 
 He was re- 
 id Bipk^'s 
 lole British 
 le point at 
 which was 
 e widi the 
 nearer ad- 
 Hindman's 
 ill and re- 
 line, and 
 |s8 and gal- 
 
 Ikntry. 'Hie iltaation on t^ top of the eminence, ^re 
 many and decided advantages to ceneral Rapley*s con^ 
 mand; scanty a lAiot waslred; iniich failed or hitting 
 its object, whilst the ftre of the British, being |nore ete^ 
 vated, generally went over the headH of the Ainericailft. 
 Oenend Ripiey,being of a tall Btatnre,and moontnl with- 
 in eight pa^s of the rear of his lii;®, was by this circiuiio 
 stance oimstantly exp<i^ed to the enemy^ balls. His horse 
 was wounded nnder him, and his hat twice perforated in 
 the cioiirse of the second attack. After the first discl^irae, 
 in tilts eflfort to n^in his battehr, the British general, de- 
 termining to break the ceihtre of the American line^ com^ 
 posed of the 2tst r^ment, and detachments of the 17tii 
 and |9th, levelled his fire at tiiat point With tiie excep- 
 tion of a few platdons, the dlst; however, remained nn^ 
 shaken. These bein^ immediately rallied by general Ripi- 
 ley, the contest contmiled with great viiacit^. nntU the 
 enemy, finding he could not make ano6ier im|^ression on 
 the American, and feeling hni own line recoiling^ again 
 flyback to the bottom ef the eminence. 
 
 Immediately after the commencement of this second 
 coiltest; the f'^iiains of the first brigade were also broii^t 
 into action. At tiie time of the second discharge, me 
 two Ihies being neariy narallelj and enveloped in a blasK^ 
 of fire, geneiiarScott, who had approached the top of tfie 
 em^nce, €6 astertain their sitita^on^ now rode hastily 
 back to his bri^e, demanded* in an imimated voice, of 
 colonel Leavenworthf "twi these troops prepared for ike 
 charge?" ttod, without wailMig for a remy, ordei^d them 
 into dose cidumn, their left in front, ana to njbve forward 
 and chai^. This order beuiff executed almost as soon 
 as it was ^ven, the general led up the column, an4. pass- 
 ing between the pieces of artillery, advanced upon the 
 enemy's left. 
 
 The gallantry of general Scott* s troops, however, CQuld 
 not prevail agamst a double line of infantry, by which iht 
 British flank was supported, and triis diaive being met 
 witii unexpected ftrmness, the consolidated Imttalion fell 
 back, and passed to the extreme left of cenerat Pin ter^ 
 volunteers, ^o were all this time warmly engaged with 
 the enemy. Lieutenant colonel Leavenworth was then 
 ordered to re-form the column, and to change its fron^ 
 whi<;;h being done, general Scott led it to a second charge) 
 
m 
 
 tk-^. 
 
 -k' 
 
 
 ^m 
 
 IllSf OmCAL SKETCHfeS 
 
 and made a, resolate attempt; to turn the enemy's right. 
 iThia flank being also protect;ed by a doable line, the at- 
 tem|it was not more successful than the former ; and the 
 battiffion'tuaun fallink back, was ordened to form on the 
 left of tile line, whtnt the general passed tothe ri^tand 
 joining lieutenant colonel Jessbp's rwiment, liad^i^shoul- 
 derfractunsd by a. musket ball, and almost at the«ame 
 instant, receivea a serere wound jn the side, which com- 
 pelled blfli to leave die field ; iiot, howeVer, without hav- 
 ing first returned to^ lietftenant colonel Leavenworth, 
 wboiR he ordered: tbmove^ to the right of the line, and 
 consolidate lus battalion with the 25^ regiment, the com- 
 mander of which was dso severely wounded. General 
 ScoiJt had hithfesrto escaoed the fire of ^e enemy, inth sin- 
 
 SlargM fortune; he nad been constantly, and probably 
 )' often, in the m<^ exposed situations ; he led his 
 trbope in persdnr to the separate charges, and tiever shrunk 
 from ady part of the engagement^ however desperate or 
 daqgerood. He was now conveyed to the encampment at 
 Chippewa, whente hewas soon after removed to the Ame- 
 jdcan side of the Niagara. 
 
 Having thus fidled in two i^i^vrdtts and determined ef- 
 Irtts Cor the rc^covery of his j^es, the Britiih general 
 k^^Ui to despair of any better success fnnn a third ; but 
 the fortunate arrival of another reinforcinflr;party'from 
 fortCll^eoege^ now protected by four ^ the %ntish fiieet, 
 reanintating his tnHtps, he put them in readiness for ano- 
 ther charge^ by forming a fi^fesh Ikie with the new detach- 
 ment, l^^airds of hfuf an hour having elapsed since his 
 aecond repfltse, it was considered very doubtfol by the 
 ilUnericans, whethijr their abilil^ to maintain theii^ ground 
 would be put to another trial. Excessively fatigued by 
 the violence of the last struggle^ their canteens being 
 exhausted, and no water (an article now almost as in- 
 dispensable as ammunition,) at hand to replenish them, 
 it would be wondered at, if they had either courted or 
 desirp ' ajvnewal of the contest But tiiey were deter- 
 mine lose no part of the reputation, which they had 
 that'L t acquired, and if the cannon were again to be 
 defender*, tiiey would be defended with equal vigour 
 and animation. Their doubts were very soon removed, 
 by the approach, in a more extended line, of tiie whole 
 body of the British troops, who, independently of their 
 
enemy's right 
 Ae line, the at- 
 rmer; and the 
 o form on the 
 rtheri^tand 
 fliad^^^shottl- 
 st at the«ame 
 Ic, which com- 
 •, without hav- 
 Leavenwortb, 
 if tiie^MS, and 
 ment^ the com- 
 ided. General 
 nemy.ii4th sin- 
 y/aim probablj 
 L8 ; iie led his 
 idnevershrunk 
 tr d^erate or 
 cncampmiint at 
 red to tile Ame- 
 
 idetermined ef- 
 
 Bri^ general 
 
 m a thira; but 
 
 inat ijarty from 
 
 e British fl<eet, 
 
 dineks for ano- 
 
 le nev^ detaeh- 
 
 apsed since his 
 
 oubtiitl by tlie 
 
 in theii^ ground 
 
 ^ly failed by 
 
 canteens being 
 
 ' al^iost as in- 
 
 eplenish them, 
 
 ler courted or 
 
 sy were deter- 
 
 mich they had 
 
 ire again to be 
 
 I equal vigour 
 
 soon removed, 
 
 , of the whole 
 
 lently of their 
 
 (- 
 
 6W THE LATE VAB. 
 
 m 
 
 remforcements, had the advantage of being amply re- 
 freshed, frpm the plentiful resources at Queenstdwn and 
 St David's. ^ 
 
 The advance of the enemy was no sooner made known 
 to general Ripley's line, than the ardjomr of all hismen in^ 
 ^tantly revivedi and remeijnberkfg the order of their gallant 
 commander, to reserve their fire, they prepared to receive 
 that of the? approaching line. 
 
 The British delivered their fire nearly witbui th^ ^aine 
 distance as before, but they tlid not &11 back from the 
 fire of the Americans' with the same precipitation.^— Their 
 fresh line steadily advanced, and repeated its discharge; 
 the Americans remained firm, and returned it; and an ob- 
 stinate and tremendous conflict followed. l^eSlst again 
 manifested its determined character, and under the direc- 
 tion of colonel Miller, deiUt out a destructive fire upon 
 its assailants. The^ri^t and left repeatedly fell back, but 
 were as often rallied, and brought into the hne, to preserve 
 which, die exertions of the eeneral, and colonels Miller, 
 Nicholas, and Jessup, and all the other officers, wei« con- 
 stantljr required. On the other haml, the fresh troops of 
 the British, were as unshaken aa their antampist, the 21st; 
 but the regiments and sections, which hadl>e^n before re- 
 
 Eulsed, recoiled again, and were repeatedly urged forward 
 y their officerst At lei^eth, the two lines were oh ^e very 
 summit of the hill, each at the point of the l)ayonets of ms 
 other, and both appealing to that wea{}ony with unusual 
 foixe and rapidity. Such was the obstinacy of the con- 
 tendins parties, that many battalions loh both sides were 
 forced Dack, by the vigour of the comoat, and the British 
 and American lines became mingled with each >otiier. At 
 that part of the height, on which the catnon were station- 
 ed, tlie battle was most desperate. The enemj having 
 forced himself into the very midst of major Hmdman'a 
 artillery, two pieces of which the officers of that corps 
 were coinpellea to spike, he waa wanaly, en|»ged across 
 the carriages and guns ; and the slaughter whioi took place 
 upon the eminence, Sufficiently evinced his determination 
 to resapture, and the resolution of the American artilleristB 
 to retain, the trophies which the g^lantry of the infantry 
 had won. 
 
 llie close and personal contests now prevailing from 
 one end of the line to the other, produced a degree of 
 
 1 
 
trnirn 
 
 W^ 
 
 ^» 
 
 HI9T0EICAL SKBTCldSg 
 
 
 confusioli, wMch the coolness aiid energy of the giKeral' 
 could scarcely {(uppress: The broken sections were at 
 len^, however^ restored to the line» and, having regfiined 
 their several po8itioiis» compelled the enemy's light tnd 
 lef^ wings to fall Inek. The centre of his line imitatinff 
 the^ example of the flanks^ also save' way, and the aasaim 
 upon the'airfillery, after a dveadral conflict, bein^ at Ihb 
 moment repulsed, the whole British line fled precipitately 
 a third tiitte. The personal ilmd most active exertions of 
 their prShdpid officera, could not retard the flif^t of the 
 troops, and they retreated beyond the reach ei^r of mus- 
 ketry or cannon. General Drummmid, seeing that the 
 repuise^f this last and most determined efibrt, l»d wearied 
 and depressed his 4ine, and feeling assured that it would 
 be difficult to lead them On to anotner attempt, which, too, 
 in all probability, would be followed by a more disastrous 
 discomfiture, conseiited to relitaqui^ nis cannon, and re- 
 tired beyond the borders of the field, over which were 
 strewed the dead and wounded of both armies. 
 
 At tibe cf»nm»icement of the last chat^ major gene- 
 ral Brown, wlyie attending to the formation of lieutenant 
 cotonel Leavenworth's battalion, was severely wowided 
 by a musket ball in the right thigh. A little while after, 
 he received a second wound on the left side, and b^ing 
 compelled to quit the field, retired also to ^ Chmpewa, 
 and devolved the command on ^neral Ripley. Though 
 the British had been forced to ihthdraw from the action, 
 i^^^t officer, not knowing whether ^ey had yet yielded 
 '^^e victory, or whether they contempkted the adoption 
 of measures, by which ^till to retrieve the honour of their 
 arms, re-formed his line, and held it in readiness to re- 
 ceive an attack, in whatever manner it should be made. 
 Convinced of the~ necessity of the removal of the captur- 
 ed cannon, and of the immense loss winGh would thence 
 he prevented, general Rtpl6y had frequently despatcKed 
 his aid to general Brown, for the means of tninsporting 
 thern^ from the field. No means, were, however, at hand, 
 most of the horses beniffalready killed, and tiie remain- 
 der necessary to draw off the American pieces. General 
 Rl{dey, therefore, at the close of the engagement, order- 
 ed general Porter to detach a party of his volunteelhs to 
 assist in their removal.-— But, tne British guns being un- 
 Hmbered, and in « dismantled condition, itwasfbimdto 
 
\.>j^ 
 
 Y? 
 
 •..?» 
 
 
 p 
 
 le general 
 s were at 
 ;r«gfikied 
 right imd 
 iinitatiiis 
 heaasauH 
 ine ftt thb 
 ecipitately 
 lertidns of 
 g)it of the 
 lerof inu»- 
 ^ that the 
 ad wearied 
 it it would 
 which, too, 
 disastrous 
 on, and re- 
 vhich were 
 
 • 
 
 najor^ne- 
 lieutenant 
 J wounded 
 vhile after, 
 and b^ing 
 Chippewa, 
 Though 
 the action, 
 et yielded 
 e adoption 
 ur of their 
 iness to re- 
 be made, 
 the captur- 
 ald thence 
 lespfttcHed 
 mifiporting 
 ir, at hand, 
 he remain- 
 . OefMiral 
 Int, or4er- 
 lUl^ei^ to 
 being un- 
 is fbuad to 
 
 ^ Tun LATB WAB. 
 
 4 
 
 b^ impracticable to ilraw them away, but by mcsms of 
 dragiropes, none ^rwhich were at thi(t time en the grottiid* 
 Relttc^t^as were all4he troopa^if the line to abanm the 
 tiipphils, which h^ been ^ined by the, resiatlets vaUMir of 
 the 2d bi^igiule, to diiBcuUie8» now found tobe insunnount^ 
 able^ they were jpbliged to yield. 
 
 It was at this -moment, while in conversatHii with lieu- 
 tenant colonel Leavenwort'i, whose battalion was then 
 condensed with the 25th resiment, and commanded by 
 lieutenant colonel Jessup, and who had been s^t by that 
 officer for directions as to the dispositiims of the 1st M» 
 
 fide, that general Ripley received an order from general 
 rownto collect the dead and wounded, and to retani 
 witii, the army to its encampmoit on the Chippewft* In 
 obedience to the wishes of the commander in chief, this 
 order was put into immediate execution.. Major Hindman 
 with the artillery, was already on his march, and the rem*' 
 nant»of the regular and volunteer brigades, having first 
 rolial the smaller pieces of the enemy's cannon down the 
 precipice, returned to the camp ingpod oider, and without 
 molestation, about 1 o'clock in th? morning of the Sdth. 
 
 In this instance, as at the defence of Sacket's Harbour, 
 where it has been seen, the Bri^sh troops were opposed 
 and repulsed by: the same commanj^er, the eneiny claim- 
 ed another decisive and more brilliant victory. The Gov- 
 ernor general, sir iGreorge Preypst, and the commaoding 
 ^neraf Drummond, complimented the regulars and mili- 
 tia eng^tged in it, **for tneir ejpemplaru steadineBg, gtil^< 
 " lantrjf p.nd discutline, in repilntig all the efortB of a 
 " numerous and determined en^mv, to carry tM position 
 *< qf Lundy*8lane,** and announced, "that their eaertiQ^s 
 ** had been crowned with success, by the complete defeat of 
 " the enemy.** 
 
 If, upon ground of their own selection, and with a body 
 of 1637 men, to assail an advanced party of an enemy o( 
 only 750, and after an hour's obstinate conflict, to repose 
 on their arms, until they could be relieved by reinforce- 
 ments— If, after a mutual reinforcement, their enemy's 
 numbers should amount to two brigades of 1450 infantry, 
 a detachment of 367 artillery, and a corps of 600 yoj^n- 
 tears, making in all 24i7 men, and their own force sbwld 
 consist according to a repprt of one of their officers. 
 
 ^t 
 
 ^t 
 
 if 
 
WW 
 
 '.*f«l 
 
 t«?." 
 
 #■ 
 
 :#:^ 
 
 HISTOTllCAIt SKETClIki 
 
 of 3450 re^lara, 1800 incorponted fpi^tia, and 4^ In- 
 ^iam, Biakine in all 5150 men, and, with this disparity 
 df strength, mey should be driven'^om the .eminenoii on 
 whic^ they liad advantageously posted themselves, with 
 the loss, too, of all their cannon— If after three desperi^ 
 assaults, any one of them upwards of SO minutes in dU'^ 
 ration, for Vie recovery of their battery, and with the abi- 
 lity to interpose fresh lines, to be successively repulsed 
 with imnitese losses, and, after a contest of six hours 
 (from half past 5 in the evening, until 12 at night) be- 
 tween some of the best disciplineid troops of Europe, and 
 newly nused recruits, the former eventually to withdraw 
 from the field, and leave their enemy in possession not 
 only of'tiieir cannon, but of one of their generals, the 
 second in command, the first having narrowly escaped 
 capture— -If this bo to eifect the complete defeat and 
 overthrow of their adversary, the British troops certainly 
 achiev^ a tMilliant and decisive victory. Tne governor 
 
 Seneral of the Canadas was. in the performance of his 
 utywhenhe complimented' tliem for their steadiness; 
 and, the prince regent of Ensland betrayed n^ precipi- 
 tationi when he announced it to the wend, and permit- 
 ted ** Niagara*^ to be worn upon the caps of <me,of the 
 reoments. -■—■'. 
 
 The captured artillery, it is true, was re-obtained by 
 its ori^nal owners; but, its return to their possession, 
 was neither the result of any desperate eflS»rt to regain it, 
 *^br the evidence of a victory. They had entered into 
 the engagement under ciipcumstances highly advantage- 
 ous. Their force could be continually au^ented, eiliier 
 by^requisitions for militia, t>r by the C9iicentratiion of their 
 regulai« from the neighbouring jiosts, and was already 
 double the strength of the Americans. They were sur- 
 rounded by deposits of ammunition, and, being; in the 
 vicinity of their garrisons, could at any time, a£i^ister 
 to the wants of their army. Not so the AnusMcans^--* 
 They were at a distance from any resources, whence 
 they might derive either supplies or reinforcements— 
 Their numbers had been lessened by repeated sMriiiushes 
 with the enemy, and by the casualties commonly uici- 
 dent to armies. With the odds against them, ^/ti&d 
 been drawn into this tremendous struggle, tiie long d^ra- 
 
 ,|te 
 
mf 
 
 HV TliK I.ATK -W^JU 
 
 30t 
 
 id 480 In- 
 dispaiity 
 ineiBloeoii 
 tve8» with 
 deepen^ 
 itesindtt' 
 th the abi- 
 f repulsed 
 six hours 
 night) be- 
 irope, and 
 wtthdraw 
 ession not 
 lerals, the 
 ▼ escaped 
 [efeat and 
 i jcertainlj 
 e governor 
 uce of his 
 steadiness ; 
 1^ precipi- 
 id permit- 
 one <ai the 
 
 >tained by 
 
 possession, 
 
 » regain it, 
 
 tered into 
 
 idvantage- 
 
 ted» either 
 
 on of their 
 
 IS already 
 
 were 8ui> 
 
 na in the 
 
 idii^ister 
 
 i^cans^-* 
 
 i, whence 
 
 ements^— 
 
 sldiniii^ies 
 
 only iBci- 
 
 . %ey1i&d 
 
 long dura- 
 
 tion «f which so mttdilBiluiiisted their troops,and reduced 
 tMir numbers, thM after becoming the eniiro masters 
 orthe4ei|l»and keeping possession of it nearly an hour, 
 tli^ t^tived with a fimxe , not amountioc to the eottple- 
 niGpof two regiments. In this reducea state, and with- 
 out the means of removing the captured pfMerty, they 
 left the enemy's cannon at the foot of the llttin^e* on 
 which they had proudly and gallantly wrested it from 
 him. Had their means been less limited, Ibey might 
 have embellished the conquest notonly with these, but 
 other splendid trophies; pat all disputation for ever at 
 rest; and left no alternative to the enemy, hut an acknow* 
 ledgment of his defeat and disgrace. In a battle cles- 
 perate and tremendous as this is represented to have 
 beep, the loesea on «Mh sifle m\i8t necessarily have bran 
 isuiiense. In kiUed, wounded, prisoners, and missings 
 the total oi both armies amounted to 1729, the proportion 
 being nearly e(|lial« and the killed and wouimed alone 
 1384^ On &e side of the enemy, I usHStantaidyutant ge« 
 neral, 1 captain^ 3 subidterns, aild 79 nen-comntiasioned 
 officers and privates were^kBled; lieutenant general Dntm* 
 iBond, major general Riall, and 3 lieutenants colonel 2 
 minors* B captains, 22 subalterns, and 522 non-commis^ 
 sioned officers and privates were Wounded; and thepri> 
 soners and missing amounted to, I aid de camp (cap4in 
 Lonn|^) 5 ol^er captains, 9 dilbaltems, and 290 non- 
 conuBiastoBed officers and privates; msddng in all 878 
 men. 
 
 Many officers of distinction fell alto on the other side; 
 and the total loss was little less than that of the British: 
 it consisted of 1 miyor, 5 ciq»tains, 5 subalterns, 150 non* 
 commissioned officers and privates, killed ; major general 
 Brown, bri^diers ^nem Scott and Porter; 2 aids de 
 camp, 1 bngade miyor, 1 colonel, 4 lieutenants colonel, 
 1 majors 7 captains, 37 subalterns, and 515 non-commis- 
 sioned officers and privates, wounded; and 1 brigade ma- 
 jur, 1 captain, 6 subalterns, and 102 non^commissidned 
 officers and privates, missing; making a erand total of 
 851, and a diiSferenc6 of 27 only between me contendii^ 
 parties. 
 
 Of tfa^ individual gallantry of the officers, from the higfi- 
 est in rank, down to the youngest subaltern, the most po- 
 sitive evidence is fumiahed by ^e long list of kUled 4&<i 
 
 Cc 
 
 ^1^ 
 
ip 
 
 wm 
 
 ^i^ 
 
 30d 
 
 UUVOBICAli SK&TCHKS 
 
 ''■#• 
 
 ■ %i 
 
 ^ouBded. Every mMi ttpon the field being en^^aged in 
 the iMtttle, the bmrei^ of no one officer wm duitiBSuitha- 
 ^le from another* except in those instanees when oy the 
 change of the enemy'a movements, detachments were 
 thrown into sitiiatiooa, from which they ccnild be extri- 
 cated only b^ the most daring intrepidity. 
 
 When iiiir American forces returned to their encamp- 
 ment at Chippewa, major general Brown directed gene- 
 ral Ripley |o refresh the troops and proceed with them ear* 
 ly in the niiomingi to tiie battle ground ; with a view, no 
 dioubt, to reconnoitre the enemy, and if he loitered near 
 the field in a position fit>m which he might be advan- 
 tageously driven, to engage him ; but certamly not to 
 assail a superior force, under circumstancei to the last 
 degree unfavourable, and which woidd inevitably result- 
 in the total destruction of the American army. The 
 troops, now amounting to about 1560^ being putinmo- 
 tloli, in obedience to this order, general Ripley despatch* 
 ed feconuoitrinff parties in advance of his main body«r— 
 Vrom ^ese he teamed that the eneniy was posted on the 
 field in advance of his former position on tne eminence; 
 reinforced as had been reported by the prisoner»$ his line 
 drawn up between the river and a thick wood, his ^flanks 
 resting on each, and his cannon stationed so u to enfip 
 lade me road. Under such circumstances, it would have 
 been nighly injudicioua to have attacked him; and, where 
 no advantages are to h^ gmned, the useless effusion irf 
 human bloM, is a stain upon the ability and valour, as 
 lirell as upon the judgment and humanity (^ ^he soldier. 
 General lUpley seeing the impossibility of re^^ining the 
 field of batue, and, the^ probatnlity of nis ow^ flanks be- 
 inj^ compelled to fall back, by the immense auperioiity 
 or the enemy's numbers, turned his army towards the 
 Qhippewa; whence, having first destroyed the bridges 
 over that stream, as well as the platforms, which he had 
 previfiusly constructed at the enemy's old works there^ 
 tiie pli<stted his retreat towards the fort Erie; and reached 
 it ill good order on the following day. There he deter- 
 iriined upon makins a decided 8tanc(a^inst the British 
 troops, whose regular and gradual approaches he anti* 
 cipated* - '?''--''^'t ■/;.•..•■ 
 
^W THB ULTB WAK. 
 
 903 
 
 ig enjpiged ill 
 I dmoBguiiiiap 
 i when Dy the 
 hmentt were 
 Mild be extri- 
 
 iheir eitcftmp* 
 lirected getie- 
 with them ear- 
 Ith a view, no 
 s loitered near 
 l^t be fldvan- 
 rtainl J not to 
 :e^ to the last 
 Bvitably reaxAir 
 I army. ^ The 
 ing put ui mo- 
 ipley despatch- 
 B main bodyv— 
 » posted on the 
 tne eminence; 
 MmeFti his line 
 Dod, his ^anks 
 i so as to enfir 
 ^ it would have 
 m; wid, where 
 ess effusion of 
 and valour, as 
 • of the soldier, 
 f refining the 
 owsi flanks be- 
 lEse superiority 
 if towards the 
 ed the bridges 
 , which he had 
 id works there, 
 e; and reached 
 There he deter- 
 ittst ^e British 
 Miches he anti^ 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Li^ 
 
 J.) 
 
 
 Jhfeneet of Fart Erie §xUruUd'-^nve8Ud iy Hit tngmjf 
 '-^Tke BHHth Umd hdfiiw Btigaimi md am tt^m 
 at Can^ockeda Creeh-'-^apdrs of oiUpost s B m ih if 
 Jtimjw Jlbrgmn^'-^umM mpt/a Fort MvU^ 'H^ he- 
 siegers driven back to U^r wmk»^Lo9$ef the Mhea* 
 Iters Somertatid OhiO^-^Menewal ef the ettnmmadi and 
 fromtorrfiMeiilit 
 
 This retrograde movement of the Alneflesii am^ 
 WW no sooDcr emscted, and tiie sitliatioiis of the dilSMeai 
 regiments aUotted in the encaiupmelit; ten the eim* 
 nandtng general (Ripley^ imniediately dincted tbei^ HinSil 
 of drfence to be extended^ tlie fori enlanged, and »•# 
 batteries erected. With tbe aid of the engmeers, fieuioi- 
 nants colonel Wood aaod M^Ree^ defences of i|biKtt£i^ thh 
 verses, intrenchments, ftnd redoubts, were instatttly com* 
 menceid^ and from the 27tk of iuly, until the dd or Sd tff 
 August^ the troops were employed night and dskf. In 
 placing the works in a State, to sustain me expected ami 
 idmost certain, attack. Had Mieutenaiit ^neral Brmi* 
 niond followed up the victory w)»eh he cUimed, he wevild 
 have found the shattered American briflndes seureelj ^ 
 any kuid of cottditioB. ^ resist htm. But the eaotmift 
 enemy did not choose to pursue a retreating army^K^Ois 
 troop* had ^ven falm such signal proofs^ of th«r intretoi* 
 dity, vmiaA his own nundiers were again enlarged. On tne 
 29th of July, being reinforced by m fkht aiM lelfc ifings 
 of De Watterilie troops (1100 strong, & puiiied firwiuf# 
 to the investment of tto fort This reinforeemeni eH" 
 tended his numbers to 5SM men, and with thSi fortnl- 
 dable superiority of str^ieth, ke appeitred, on the 3d day 
 of August, before a fort, whic^* but a few daya befea^, was 
 declared by the enemy to be a mretohed stockade< altD- 
 gether incapable of ddence. 
 
M' 
 
 304 
 
 HISTORIC AI« SKETCHES 
 
 Having driven in the American picquets, and formed 
 his encampment two miles distant from the garrison, he 
 eraduallj approached within 400 or 600 yards of the fort 
 (properly so called) commenced a double line of intrench- 
 iments, erected batteries in front of them at points from 
 which he could throw in an effectual fire» and planted his 
 cannon so as to enfilade the works. Seeing by these in- 
 dications that the British commander was preparing for 
 a regular siege, general Ripley availed himself of the 
 time thus lost by the enemy, in opening his trenches, and 
 carried on his defensive arrangement with unceasing 
 alacrity. 
 
 The approach of the British army on the 2d of August, 
 bdna; discovered by major Moigan, of the ist riflemen, 
 to wnoto, with a detachment of 940 men, the defence of 
 the village of Bufi&loe, which had r«|g^ined its former 
 flourisl^n^ condition, was entrusted, he suspected the 
 enemy oimaking a feint upon fort Erie, with a view to 
 an actual attack upon Buflaloe. To. defeat any such ob- 
 iectyrhe immediatiuy took a position on the upper side of 
 Conejockeda creek> cut away the bridge crossmg it, and 
 threw up a breastwork of logs in the course of the nif^t. 
 Though/the British general had no intention of making 
 a feii^ nujor Morgan's precautions, in anticipation of an 
 attack, wore not uselessly adopted ; for, early in the 
 morning of the 3d, a detachment of the enemy's 4^ st reei- 
 ment, under lieutenant colonel Tucker, crossed the Nia- 
 
 Sara in nine boats, and landed about half a mile below 
 le creek. At the approach of day, the British colonel 
 commenced an attack upon tiie detachment, and sent for- 
 ward a party to repftir .the bridge, under cover of his fire. 
 Major Morsan did not attempt to retard the enemy's ad-> 
 vances, until he was within riiie distance, when he opened 
 a fire, which proved so destructive, that lieutenant co- 
 lonel Tucker fell back to tlie skirt of a neighbouring 
 wood, and kept up the contest at long shot. In the mean 
 time, general I>nimmond th/ew over mnforcements, and 
 the Imtish detachment now amounted to nearly 1200 
 men. With this force colonel Tucker attempted to fla'ik 
 his antixonist, by despatching his left wing to ford the 
 cre^k above, and press down upon the opposite side : 
 thisi movement being cbserved, major Moi^n sent for- 
 ward Ueutenauts Ryan, Smith and Armstrong, to appose 
 
OF TRE LATK WAll. 
 
 SOS 
 
 the fording party. Betw««n tkcs^ detiMthwentSv aii eb- 
 gageraent took place, a short dbtence above tfiie breast- 
 work, and after several heavy dischtt^ges^ the enemy fell 
 back to his main body, with connldendiile loss. Liettte-' 
 nant cobnel Tucker, finiding that the «ljfect of his expe- 
 dition against BuflfSiio^ (4he ncaptare of gjSiieind.' iHidl, 
 and the leslinietioa cf the pitbKe «tdi«8 tli4r«) ^uld ii«t 
 «be achieved without an immense loss^^ tmA k&dUHng the 
 desire of lieutenant general' DrmtJlnMAIdK lb aitt^ent, ra« 
 ther than decrease, tme fidrcei destined for the ai^ 4if the 
 ioirt, oti the ofypesite ^one^ tm deterttdned oii aitaudorii^ 
 the enterprise, and dmn^iig off hk troops to Squai^ iiSmni 
 and reli»Wd ^je&cia fitfthe Camdteii shoreid With se^small 
 a force, mi^ liio«giiR coold^ ti^ atUniintto' antfojr ^m, in 
 his retreat He< is attpposed t& hxve io»t a c^iiuderabte 
 number of m^ iBfany dead boilei IweilBg found iii the 
 credt, and upon die lieldi aad-filK priiioaers! bei% ^akeu 
 by the d^taehm^fit In- diisjEamnt U^e affiur, captltitl 
 Mamilton, and* lieutiema»tff wWdswortH and WBtt>&^ df 
 the riflemi^, aild ftre pfinU»8| vip«ne wounds, and tWo^ 
 privates Mlled; 
 
 By th&Tth of August, most of the batteries* and tra- 
 versea abptft fort Erie, were completed; UpoA a battery 
 upwarda of 20 feet h%h, and situated at S^^ake MH, the 
 southern extremity of tlie works^^fi.ve £Uns wtt'e mount- 
 ed, and the commasid eiven to n^M^ ^^^/son^ of the ai«- 
 tillery. Two other bat^ries bet^,en I'owiim's and the 
 ua^tk works^ one mounting thre««. guni^ under liaptainBid^ 
 dk, a^d the other twojpm^, under lieutenant Fontailliej 
 were also completed The northern point of the fort had^ 
 been extended to the water, and die ilo^aasbiK^ery, ^ 
 two guns, erected <m the bonk. Tae drt^m, inhvitf, 
 riilemen, and volunter;n, were eHoan^w betweetl th^ 
 western! rampirts iUfflU the wfttbf, asid the idtlllWj^ undW 
 maji[if liindman, stationed wi^n the n&a^ #ti#a. 
 
 Whilst theso preparations wienre malihi^ n^tinkpkiM 
 csomonadestock plftee, without an^lB>«r#iieff^ on either 
 side: before any regular Mng wait corAmeiieed, biigsdilt* 
 genarai Gaines arrived at die ^Mrt, and asguined the.' com* 
 iMttld of di i army. General I^plev then retuftifed to diie 
 <comMKiiid tit his brigade. The timsh> army mn- hbW 
 stren^t p«iited behind their woHiMi att^ general Oit&iif» 
 dete^idtoad t<v ascertoisi^thc!: strength, audendefiyiM^ if 
 
 Cc2 
 
w 
 
 
 Si 
 
 306 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCUBS 
 
 possible, to draw them out On the 6th, he sent the riile 
 coq)S, with major Morgan, who had been previously trans- 
 ferred from the American shore, to pass through the woods, 
 interveiling betweend^e British lines and the fort, and 
 with orders to amuse the enemy^S' light troops, until his 
 columns .should indicate an intention to move; in that 
 event, majdr Morgan was to retire gradually, until his 
 corps should htkve f^len back, upon a strong line posted^ 
 in me plain before* the fort, to receive ^ pursuing British 
 troops. The object of this movement failed--ma|or Mor- 
 gp*" having encountered and forced the enemy's light 
 troops into the lines, with the loss of eleven killed and 
 three wounded and made prisoners; but, notwithstaiidini^, 
 he maintained his p<Niition upwards of two hours, he could 
 not succeed in drawing forth the main body of the British 
 troops. He therefore returned to the fort, after losing five 
 men kill^ and four wounded. By the 10th, the enemy's 
 line wad. protects trjT several block-iiouaes, and a long 
 wooden breastwork; To examine these woi^s, captain 
 Birdsall, of th^ 4th rifle re^ment,-was sent out witii a 
 detachment of the Ist, and his own company, amoiintinr 
 m all to 160 ipen. After so^ne skirmishing., he suck^edea 
 in beating in two of their picquet guards, vith a loss on 
 their sicke of ten men killed; and one killed and three 
 ^rounded of the riflemen. On the 12th, a working party 
 of the enei..y, su]4)orted by a guard of his light troops, 
 was disco /ered to be opening an avenue, for the construc- 
 'tion of an additional battery, from which, to annoy the 
 Tear of th<» fort. Agreeably to the orders of general Gaines, 
 major I«lorgan detached about 100 men, under captain 
 Birasall, to cut them off": that ofiicer immediiately assailed 
 the guards and, after h. smart contest, drove in both it and 
 the wording party. In the event of the enemy's guard 
 being reinforced mim^their lines, mmr Morgan had been 
 also Ordered to hold his corps in readiness to support cap- 
 tain lUrdsftllK and as a large body of the enemy was ob- 
 served to be approaching upon the detachment, the major 
 ]^lhODq»tly moved forward and eneaged it. A warm and 
 spirited conflaot followed, in whi<£ several men were kill- 
 ed on both sides. At length, however, an additional party 
 of the enemy coming up to the aid of that engaged, major 
 Morgan ord^ired his corps to retire, and had scarcely given 
 A that eSect^ wheot he received a musket ball in 
 
the riiie 
 ly trans- 
 e woods, 
 fort, and 
 lintil his 
 ; in that 
 until hia 
 e posted >• 
 £ British 
 nor Mar- 
 y's light 
 (led and 
 itandin^, 
 he could 
 e British 
 wing five 
 : enemy's 
 
 , captain 
 at with & 
 noiiDtinr 
 te^eded 
 a loss on 
 nd three 
 ing party 
 ,t troops, 
 jonstruc- 
 nnoy the 
 i Gtunes, 
 ' captain 
 assailed 
 th it and 
 r's guard 
 lad been 
 )ort cap- 
 was ob- 
 tie major 
 cm and 
 rere kill- 
 lal party 
 d, major 
 iiy given 
 st bill in 
 
 or THE tATB WAlTi^ 
 
 3or 
 
 his head, which for ever deprived the garrison, and his 
 country, of his vdiiable services. The corps was con- 
 ducted to the fort by captain Birdsall, and the body of its 
 brave and lamented commander, interred at Btifialoe, with 
 the proper honours and solemnities. 
 
 During these repeated skirmishes, and in tiie intervals 
 between the sorties of detachments, the besi^rs, and the 
 b^ieged were diligently engaged in strenemening their 
 respective works; and from the 7th until the 14th of the 
 iiiontiti, an almost unceasing fire was ke^ up between 
 them with various effect. (Si the night or the 14th, the 
 emotion and tumult in the British encampment, gave cer- 
 tain indications of an iu tended attack upon the fort. — 
 (General Ri\>ley, twajs on the alert, was among the first 
 to discover t ^ * 'ications, and having first oraered his 
 brigade, statioaeii t(» the left, to be formed within the line 
 of defence, he despatched his aid, lieutenant Kirby, to 
 inform general Gaines, of his conviction of the enemy1» 
 contemplation. General Gaines was himself already per- 
 suaded, that an attempt would very soon be made to storm 
 the sar..^n; and lieutenant Kirby had no sooner deliver- 
 ed his message at head quarter^, than the firing c^a picquet, 
 commanded by lieutenant Belknap, of the infantry, as- 
 sured him that the moment had arrived. Dispositions 
 were immediately made to receive the assault, and the 
 troops jf the garnson anticipated its result with pride and: ' 
 entiiusiasm. --^ 
 
 Lieutenant general r « ''i and, having appointed the 
 morning of the 15 th, f^ '% irous and sudden assault.^ 
 upon the fort, had previously ■ in.inged the order of attack-* 
 in three columns, to be made at three distinct points, with 
 a view to harass and distract the garrison. Itis ri^bt co- 
 lumn, unt^^r lieutenant. colonel F' '>er, of the &£, and 
 composed of parts of the 89th ami iOOth regiments; De 
 Watteville's detachments from the royal artillery with 
 rocketeers; and a picquet c^ cavalry; was to make a de« 
 tour of three milea tb >ugh the wodas, and to assault the 
 southern extremity ( - i^e worics. His centre column, un- 
 der lieutenant colonel ^li^mtn^nd, of the 104t' . and com- 
 posed of detachments from that, and the 4l8t regiment 
 of inff^ntr^, of the royal artillery, seamen and marines* 
 was to hti! conducted by captain Barney, of thc^ 29th, ta 
 
 # 
 
«p 
 
 308 
 
 HISTOSICAI. 8KBTCH£S 
 
 the attack of tlie f(Nrt The li^ft Golumn, under colonel 
 Scott, of the lOSd, and composed of that regiment, was 
 to be led bv captain Elliot, to penetrate tK^e openings in 
 the wocks between the fort and the lake, and to scale the 
 battery upon the bank. In adTanee of lieutenant Fischer's 
 column, tne British picquets^tt Buck's road, toeetherwith 
 the liai^ns of the encampment, were to be punied on, by 
 lieutenant cokHiel Nichols, to driTe in the American ou^ 
 posts. The royals r another part of De Watteville^ n^- 
 ment; theGleogarian^; and the incorporated militia^ ntt- 
 der lieutenant oMonelTticker, were to be held in reserre: 
 and the I9th liglit dragoons, sta; t'^'d in tiie ra^ne, in 
 the rear of the fort, to receive an«Li tey ^e pdsoners 
 to the encampment; a duty which ii A net fait to tdeir 
 lotto perforn^ 
 
 General Gaines, not knowing at what po»tB the asanlt 
 would )be made, prepared to receive it at aH these Irhick 
 he suspected the enemy miaht judge to be assailable. 
 The command of t^ fort and bastions wa»^en to capo 
 tain Alexander Williams, of the artillery, whicK with the 
 battery on the margin of the lake, under lieutenant Dou- 
 glass, of the engineers, and thence called the Boukkiss 
 battery, formed the northeast and southeast aa^ of the 
 works. In a bU)ck4iouse, near the salient bistioni a de- 
 tachment of ^e 19th infantry, was stationed, imder major 
 Trimble. ^ The batteries in firont; undev captains Mddle 
 and Fanning, were supported by fl«neral Porter^ volttn^ 
 te^rs, and me corps or riftemem The wlM>le body of ar- 
 tSkry, distributed throughout the garrison, was command- 
 ed by major Hindman. The first brigade of infantry, 
 under lieutenant colonel A^inwall, was posted on the 
 right; and general Ripley's briendie MppOTted Towson's 
 b^tery, and the line upon the lOR. On tne evening of the 
 14th, a few hours before the commencement of the assault^ 
 and whilst these dtsbositwns were making tot repel it^ one 
 of the enemy's sheila foil inio w smalt macazihe wi^in 
 the Anencan worki^ tmA produced an awfol explosiotr. 
 From one end'ol the British line to the other, a loud shout 
 was tn consequence uttered, but as^Bo badiei^tsfollowed 
 the explosion, the shout was repeated i» the fort, and in 
 tbe mfidst of the enemy's exultation^ captiffii, WMliaims 
 immediately discharged all his heaty pieces^ 
 
,^'v 
 
 ȣ THE liATB WAR. 
 
 309 
 
 tder colonel 
 ^ment, was 
 openings in 
 to scale Ihe 
 At Fischer's 
 iKetherwith 
 i3ied on, by 
 nericanou^ 
 Bville'B regi- 
 militia, on- 
 [ in resertv: 
 B ravine, in 
 lie prisoners 
 
 » the aamlt 
 those trhick 
 t assailalile. 
 ^eii to cap^ 
 cK with the 
 tenant Don- 
 he Boua^s 
 11^^ of the 
 
 Sin^ a de- 
 er major 
 sBlddte 
 rter's volttn- 
 body of ar* 
 icommand- 
 of infantry, 
 ited on the 
 )d Tdwson's 
 Bttingof the 
 the assault, 
 repel: it^ one 
 izin« wi^in 
 1 explosion. 
 V loud shout 
 Btifoltowed 
 fort, and in 
 n^Witiiams 
 
 
 At half an hour after two, on the morning of the 15tb, 
 though the darknesa was excessive, the approach of lieu- 
 tenant colonel Fischer with the r ht column, 1^00 strong, 
 was distinctly heard on the left ot the garrison. The 2d 
 brigade, the command of the 21st reeiment having been 
 ^ven to lieutenant colonel Wood, of the engineers, and 
 the artillery of Towson's battery were prepared to re- 
 ceive him. Marching promptly forward, lieutenant co- 
 lonel Fischer assailed the battery with scaling ladders, 
 and the line toward the lake with the bayonet. He was 
 permitted to come close up to the works, when the 21st 
 and 23d regiments, and the artilleij upon the battery, 
 opened a sudden and tremendous fire, which threw his 
 whole column into confusion, rendered him utterly unable 
 to sustain the contest, and prevented his making an im- 
 pression upon the works. Having retired some distance 
 to re-organize his column, he immediately made new 
 arrangements for, and varied tiie shape of his next attack, 
 so as to avoid those points, from which the ^eatest mea- 
 sure of destruction had been dealt out to him. Accord- 
 ing to the general plan, howeirer, which it was incumbent 
 on him to pursue, it was, necessary that the battery should 
 be carried; but, with the means to eifect this object, he 
 was badly provided. — -With «caling ladders, of no more 
 than 16 feet in length, he could not possibly throw his 
 troW upon a battery, of about 25 feet high, and his se- 
 coi^^ attempt, equally furious as the first, met with no 
 greater success. He was again repulsed, and with con- 
 siderable loss. Convinced of his inability to get posses- 
 sion of the battery, and feeling tiie deadly efl^cts of the 
 incessant shower? of grape, which were thrown upon him, 
 he determined, in his next effort, to pass the point of the 
 abattis, by wading breast deep into the lake, to which the 
 works were open. In this attempt also, he was unsuc- 
 cessful, nearly 200 of his men being either killed or 
 drowned, and the remainder precipitately fallii^ back. 
 Without waiting to know the result of the attack, upon 
 the right of the works, which had been already made 
 by the second and third column, he ordered a retreat to 
 the British encampmeiit, which he did not effect, without 
 the loss of many of his rear guard, taken prisonei'S, in a 
 sally made from the works, by the order of genera'l 
 Ripley. 
 

 M 
 
 I'? ■ 
 
 It j 
 
 I, : 
 
 ;■ 
 I 
 
 3|Q 
 
 UlST4>&iqA]« SKJftTCitES 
 
 Tbft iktltlick Ji^om tM eentre and hit eoliiimi* the first 
 of 7dO« 9m the 8«c6nd of 800 wmi^wttt reie«ved^ until 
 th^ Gontest heMme very aniiiMted betweon licut«ii«it 
 coloo^ FijKhtr'f colutnii, $3ad the troopt upon th* left. 
 From the line V defences, hetweeii j&e Iwiji^bai hitte- 
 rj and the Jortt and froift those in front of tme f$MnMOB, 
 heutenant psmnk ^rmnmood supposed reinferceflBkents 
 would be £awn to the ajd of the wuth^rn extremiiy of 
 the worlu^ ^ with th^ view he had given ^nNiier 
 stret^ ta kv^ ri^t» ih«i,ito M» other cokinwoi aiipl i»* 
 tended to ev«»l h^imielf ^ tbe.(»on8(M|u^ weaiieiied iliil^ 
 
 of the north* and south-eMi angl^ of ^e AwericaftyNi* 
 'ftii0 IMetmetf Muft^dnvep in» the epproeoh of lieudennnt 
 ciileBel jDiriininNNWE w«e .beard from the favine»wl -ee- 
 hn^l Se^tSi eoh^n at the aame time advaiioed along 
 the maifin of ti|^ water. From the 8ali<Nit bealioftel the 
 fort» cJBi^in Ijfilliams immediately opened his &fe upon 
 t|(e centre c^umiir--«whil»t the ai^roach of eolonel ^ott 
 was ftti^iiipted to b^^eeheii % the Douglass battery* 
 ai|4 ^^aina^ Bou|^ton and Hardira^ l^ew York mid 
 Fii^yivania volunloersiit eii >^ i^ii the^ 9th iii|^try» 
 ^mder capiain Foi^^ on its leffe; mid a &i^oimder nlan^ 
 edat that point, under the manaaemeiiiof colo^^ M*Ree. 
 At 50 yarde distance from; the llnoy the enemy's ld!t co« 
 ^n^n nmde a utMnentary pause, and instantly recoiled 
 trvu the fire of the cannon, mid mui^try^ But the 
 centre column, having advanced upmi everv assailable 
 point of the fort,* in defiance of the rapid and heavy dis- 
 charges of the artiUery, and having, ascended^tiie pavap^t, 
 by means of a hiise number of scaling lad^ers^ its i^- 
 c^rs called out to & line, extending to me lake; to^fdesist 
 firing'<~an artifice which snecoeded so w^l, that tlm 
 Boaglasa battety,. and ^e infaatvy, supposinp; the order 
 to proceed from thib garrismi suupendei their fire, until 
 the detofitton was di ovej^ Tpe l^ column, in the 
 meim time^ reeovereu >m '. ka . c^utton, and was led 
 up to a^econd cha^, ^om whieh it was agun repidsed, 
 b^we it^hi^nep^>iN!tthit3r'«i planting the sealing lad'^ 
 ders, and^pw the less of its commaimer, and upwmtls 
 of one^lid^pttB men. 
 
 WhHst the if^eond attempt waa in operatioi!^ the cen^e 
 column was with great difficulty, thrown back from the 
 salient bastion; and the troops within the fort, were 
 
 ., -r 
 
^■N 
 
 OV THB LATE WAV« 
 
 311 
 
 the first 
 
 EMl'llUltil 
 
 mtenwit 
 
 gMTflSOIt* 
 
 reenents 
 
 mel $cotl 
 18 bAtUry. 
 York «i»a 
 I ii^Mitry, 
 
 y^Ultco* 
 
 y rocoiled 
 
 ^ But^e 
 
 heavy dis- 
 paiwpftt, 
 
 ^ ii^ldesMi 
 i^^iitfc the 
 the order 
 five, until 
 lq, in the 
 w«» led 
 rtpnlted, 
 ting lad- 
 
 ■.;lv' 
 
 the cen^e 
 
 from the 
 
 fort, were 
 
 reinforced fivm ||encral Biplejr^ hrigade, and |;e- 
 neral Porter^ votttnteers. Bat lievtentnt colo&til Dmm- 
 mond, actuated bjm detsmiiiittkm (iM^ to be overcome 
 by a siiiffle repttlsejLto force an entrance into the guti- 
 aQB» aiMl momentaryy eifkee|ing ^e rtservi^ tb bt ord^iw. 
 ed np by the tieutenant g;ettemi> returned to the assault a 
 second and a third tiBie. %1he naUant efforts, how- 
 ever, of Miftfor H^ndman and mn aHmei^^ «id tiie infan* 
 try de^idunent of nia|or Trimble he was^ei^h time, more 
 s%n^y mmlsed than before; and coloiiel fik^tf s eotuhin 
 havaig wimdrawn froR^Ute actkAi, upon ^ fall of Ite 
 leaderv lieutenant Boog^asa vifaft buiiiy e^^d ^ #Httr 
 such a direetion. to die gum nf Ms battery^ aa la bof or 
 the eomminiicatiini between SminmoM^ cotomn, and the 
 restfve of lieutanasit cofonel fucker. ^ 
 
 Tbe new bastiona which had been conHneM^ for^ 
 enkegement of theold fort Arie, not being yttcomple^d^ 
 the only op|M»itiott whieh could he ^^ tii this enemy^ 
 approaches upon those poli^ wag%y'ttieanft"ef small 
 anus. The baftteries of captain Biddle indcaptahi 11^ 
 Ring (formerly Fontatne%) m ^e wo^W intirvenlng b€» 
 tween Towson^ battery and the fert, Were therefore open- 
 ed upon the r^emy widi|;ireat vivi^ity, and his advances 
 from the (^><n, frequcmtfy checked by &oae giUaiitnild 
 meritorious oflScers. 
 
 ^ter this third r^mhe, tkntenant colonel Th*Qmin<md, 
 takingadvantage of the ^darkness <if th%' nrariiin^,.and of 
 the heavy oidttmna of smdce, wtdch doieceal<sd afl^ Mi!ti» 
 ffom the vi«w of the gafrisctti, iiibved hh tmept s^eiithi 
 round the^ditch^ repeated his char^,and reascended his 
 ladders with such veloci^} as tog^ footing on thejpata- 
 pet, before an^ eflfectui^ Oj^qpositiDn could be made. Bemg 
 m the very Bhddt of hi« al^ii^he diriected^m to chuigS 
 vigDi-ously with th4^tt|^e» aiid bayoiM^ a|)(| iu> sl^^w 
 quarters to any yM^S^ aoldler ^^^^ t^^ lliii 
 
 order waa^esecisked^iwm the utmoai Iv^dity and die 
 most obstinate previoils papts ^ die en^ageiiient, frrmed 
 no kind of panoiel Wthe vi<Hi»iceand d68p|ri]ii^ii of the 
 present conflict 
 
 ^ General idShiees, in hJi ofiiciiki letter, sparifciiig ^ Keoteniuit 
 cotonel Drummondit observes, " The order of ' Gvv0 tht ft mkm 
 m quartert was often reiterated by this oflScer, whose toavwty, W 
 it had been seasoned with virtue, would have entitled faim to the 
 admiration of every soldier." 
 
mmi^mm 
 
 wmt. 
 
 wm 
 
 imVipill 
 
 IIISTOEICAI* 8KST€li£ii 
 
 31£ 
 
 WatQioiigh of ^ «»^ei7# Mi^^^ the iiifitl^<^ 
 
 ant9». m were nil: psw^Ay ^v4Niiided^H4h« ifiitt^^li^R 
 W^mm, moFliai^.* liQliill^lbe efwto of ^^o^lliv^* 
 
 posted )^f&m]tm^me9^ 
 
 fort, eoidd #4^^4lii ^^vitmi^^ 
 
 firom the l|i|pp;|^, i^iii^ifiiiijk^^^ # 
 
 myt bu| lieutenant e^lomV^l^i^mmm^^ 
 
 TooM th|e^«3dia«^8iA ^M^ 
 a luiiids^ke# he A«$&mA Mmxki 90m^iimi)imeitxm^ 
 ty of the iiasaflanti, viitti he^r^cetved a ipptol shot ^- 
 chai^ged at (ui^^^ th^ha^ ivf ^eil^^^4lliilnalid«i€ il^ 
 
 tenant colQii4 4m>^^^ ^ 
 
 moip^Bls^'-f^lali^ii^lS^^ 
 
 son stan#!(ig near ^^mMJm'^'Si^^^ eolowel 
 
 thriiHigh rae lire99t.,V:: ■'■:■ :-C.:~,'\..-- \'->a«-.v :v...,v ,/■,:■,;:.■ . 
 Hie loft^ of %pr. Iipi4»t4^ ^^^Wt the^peoliiHMity 
 ^f tiM^ eneif^i tmpi» m they oiniluiiw^ 
 th^ ioik^ i^a^ilM ai^ re- 
 
 pulsla a<^y<N^ iiif lotia 5^ai|^ made kp^nct^^Bi^J^^^ 
 
 • This unui]^ yofti^oipb^ vtoilie^sm^ coloiiclAil^k^iliii 
 WUliwna, who iM|a\^^ ^k^«I ll|i«^ li^^ ^ I|iil^»d^^^S^ 
 ^lagmeer desMiBii^f |o jfi^^ #^ f^Ott is |^%,i|id«ht^ 
 
 who iNi a ineii^el> f^i^m oiir fbtom^nm b«n^ 
 
 cl^ «f Phi]«del»ltii. a^lfri^ <^ 1^ fel||l. 
 
 ing M^^i^ 10 jdMUre Iq th« hoBOi8»^»adltiaipe!3^:; Qfi(lie««»IMi^ 
 of IdlCt^JoliQted t» t»« jient to|% 
 
 celved M ohier to »«^pfdr thifher, fie^m vxei Wa^mt a g^imsoR 
 vviiicb, fin* se^iiTal montiis, he had commanded witiK reputation. 
 Early m the ^liini^ of that year, j^ho^rii in a nalbB vi eonval^S' 
 eence frmn a ^inmoas fever, M' pin^eeded ib mt ^(^ and 
 joined the anny Of geii»al Brown* uH l^^lilch no officer was more 
 univerMfll3^estee1nra. 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 Sid 
 
 lain 
 
 
 WW . !^^"^*^^W*' 
 
 is war 
 ihot ^• 
 
 ^eoiowel 
 
 jitatet' 
 
 bpittation. 
 rasroore 
 
 tachments of the garrison. The approach of daylight 
 enabled both pai-ties to give a more certain direction to 
 their fire. The artillerists had already severely suffered ; 
 but with those that remained, and a reinforcing detach- 
 ment of infantry, major Hindman renewed his attempts 
 to drive the British 41st and 104th from the bastion. 
 Oaptain Birdsall, at the same moment, drawing out his 
 riflemen from the ravelin, rushed through the ffateway 
 into the foit:, and joining in the charge, receivea an ac- 
 cidental wound from one of his own men, just as the at- 
 tack failed. Detachments from the 1st brigade, under 
 captain Foster, were then introduced over the interior 
 bastion, to the assistance of major Hindman ; these de« 
 tachments were to charge at a aiffefent point of the sa^ 
 lient, or exterior bastion, and were handsomely led on by 
 captain Foster, and the assistant inspector general, major 
 Hall. This chai]^ also failed; the passage up the bas- 
 tion not being wide enough to admit more than 3 men 
 abreast It was frequently, however, repeated, and 
 though it sometimes occasioned much slau^ter aqnong 
 the enemy's infantry, was invariably repulsed. By the 
 operations of the artillery, from a demi-bastion in the fort, 
 and the continual blaze of fire from the small arms, added 
 to the effects of the repeated charges, the enemy's co- 
 lumn, being considerably cut up, and many of its prin^ 
 cipal officers wounded, began to recoil; which, being 
 obseiT'ed by the besieged party, and the contest having 
 entirely subsided on the left flank of the works, rein- 
 forcements were brought up from that point, and many 
 of the enemy's troops, in a fev/ moments, thrown from 
 the bastion. 
 
 The British reserve was now expected to come up; 
 the guns at the Douelass battery had by this time been 
 turned so as to enfilade that column in its approach; cap- 
 tain Fanning was already playing upon the enemy with 
 great effect; and captain Biddle was ordered to post a 
 piece of artillery, so as to enfilade the salient glacis^^- 
 This piece was served with uncommon vivacity, notwith- 
 standing captain Biddle had been severely wounded in the 
 shoulder. • All these preparations being made for an ef- 
 fectual operation upon tne enem^r's remaining column, 
 and from the dreadful carnage which had already taken 
 place, it was scarcely supposed that he would continue 
 
314 
 
 UISTOEICAI. H1££TCH£S 
 
 ^,V| 
 
 the aasauit much longer. Bui 3 or 400 men of the re- 
 serve were ibout to rush upon the parapet to the aaeist^ 
 ance of those recoiling, when a tremendous and dreadful 
 explosion took place, under the pkUfbrm, which carried 
 away Jthe bastion, and ail who happened to be upon it* 
 The enemy's reserve immediately fell back, and in a 
 short time the contest terminated in the entire defeat of 
 the assailants, who returned with the shattered columns 
 to tiieir encampment. 
 
 On retiring imm the assault, according to the report oi 
 general Gaines, the British army left upon the field 22S 
 EUled, among whom were 14 officers ol distinction; 174 
 .wounded; and 18& prisoners; makins a total of 582. 
 Others who were slightly wounded had been carried to 
 their works. 
 
 l^e official account of lieutenant general Drummond 
 does not acknowledee so large a number in killed, but 
 makes the aggregate Toss much greater. His adjutant ^ 
 neral reported, 57 killed; 309 wounded; and 539 mis- 
 sins — ^in all 905. 
 
 T^ American loss amounted to 17 killed; 56 wound- 
 ed; and 1 lieutenant (Fwitatne) who was thrown over the 
 |»ai«.pet, while defending the bastion,, and 10 privates, pri- 
 soners — in all 84 men; making a difiference in th^ fii- 
 
 * This explosion, to which alone, the enemy attributed the fai- 
 lure of his arms, notwithstanding tiie signal repulse of his ri|^ 
 and left cohimns, has been variously accounted for. It was oc- 
 casioned by the communication of a spark to an ammunition 
 chest, plabed under the platform of the bastion, but by what 
 means, the natrrator of this event has not been able, afler an in- 
 vestig^on of many papers, written to him upon the subject, to 
 ascertain. It is to be regretted, that a fiict constituting so im- 
 portant a feature in this memorable defence, should never have 
 "been mtitfactorily developed. Several letters from officers, en- 
 '«aged«t the ngiat flank Cff the American works, state it to have 
 (been the vesult pf entire accident ; whilst others relate, that lieu- 
 teaant M^Donough, not having been immecUately removed from 
 the foot of the bastion, on which he had been twice wounded, 
 and being lUghly exasperated at the determination, which he saw 
 fai the conduct of the enemy's troops, to shew no mercy to the 
 Vanquislied soldier, resolved upon devotinjgf himself to stop the 
 -progvess of their inhuman eoreer, and to this end threw alighted 
 match into the chest of ammunition, and by its immediate explo- 
 sion, produced those tremendoiMi eflfects, wtttch lestored tbe 
 1)a8tion to the Amcricaoa, and terminated the conflict 
 
OF THB LATE WAS. 
 
 did 
 
 nf the re- 
 he assist- 
 l dreadful 
 ch carried 
 » upon it* 
 and in a 
 ; defeat of 
 d columns 
 
 e report m 
 e field 222 
 ction; 174 
 tal of 582. 
 carried to 
 
 drummond 
 kUled, but 
 djutant^ 
 1 539 mis- 
 
 56 wound- 
 
 ivn over the 
 
 rivates, pri- 
 
 m th«r fa- 
 
 uted the fu- 
 of his rigte 
 
 It was oc- 
 
 ammunition 
 
 jut by what 
 
 after an in- 
 e subject, to 
 uting so im- 
 
 never have 
 officers, en- 
 te it to have 
 ite,thatlieu- 
 iinoved frotn. 
 wounded, 
 irtuch he saw 
 nercy to the 
 
 to stop the 
 •ew a lighted 
 sdiate explo- 
 
 ittored-tfae 
 
 vour of 821. Daring the cannonade and bombardment 
 which commenced on the 13th, and continued until an 
 hour before the assault on the mornins of the 15th, 45 
 men of the American garrison were killed and wounded. 
 Captain Biddle, lieutenant Zantzinger, and adjutant lieu- 
 tenant Watmoueh, of the artillery, and lieutenant Patter- 
 son, of the 19th mfantry, among the latter. 
 
 A night or two before the attack upon fort Erie, the 
 British general furnished captain Dobbs, of the royal na- 
 vy, with a sufficient number of troops to man 9 large 
 boats, which were completely fitted to attack the 3 
 schooners, the Somers, Porcupine, and Cttiio, then lying 
 at anchor off the fort. The Porcupine succeeded in beat- 
 ing them off, but the Somers and Ohio were carried, after 
 a gallant resistance, in which the enemy lost 2 seamen 
 kuled, and 4 wounded; and the schooners, 1 seaman 
 killed, and 3 officers and 4 seamen wounded. The cap- 
 tured schoonors were taken down the Niagara, and an- 
 chored near Frenchman's creek; ihe Porcupine imanedi- 
 ately after suled for the town of Erie. 
 
 In c<»i8eqaence of hoM immense loises in the assault, 
 the eaemy'a force was reduced ahnost to the number of 
 the troops within the earrison ; and until he was a^na 
 reinforced, he did not ^unk proper to carry on hi» oMra* 
 tions. A few days iHroughthima reinforcement ot two 
 full regiments, and having enlai^d his batteries, and 
 made akrimgementa to force the Americans to the evacu** 
 ation of fort Erie, he opened a fire from his whole line* 
 and threw in hot shot, shells, and every destructive im- 
 plement within hifl reach, without intermission, during 
 the reminder of the month of August. On the 28th, ge- 
 neral Gaines was severely wounded in several parts of 
 his body by a shell which fell through the root of his 
 quarters,^ and exploded at his feet He was fortunate 
 enough to escape 8uffi>cation, by gaining the door of the 
 apartment; but being entirely disabled, ne retired to fiuf- 
 ialoe, and left the command again in the hands of gene- 
 ral Ripley, who n^ected no means to facilitate the 
 completion of the works, which with the assistance of 
 th«^ ^ tgineers, h(; had originally planned. 
 
316 
 
 HISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Invasion of the ^American territory by sir George Prevost 
 "^Battle of the 8aranac — Defeat and capture of the 
 British fleet on Lake Champlain — Plattsburg evacu-- 
 ated — Continuation of the siege of Fort Erie — The be- 
 sieged make a sortie from their works, and^storm those 
 of the besiegers"— The British raise the siege, and re- 
 tire to the Chippewa — Engagement at Lyon*s Creek 
 --Destruction of Fort Erie by the »Sm£rican8, and 
 evacuatifm of Upper Canada — Operations agmnst 
 MicMlimacktnac^-Loss of the U. S. vessels Scorpion 
 and Tigress — Expedition into Canada, under general 
 M*Arthur. 
 
 The operations against the enemy's positions along 
 the Niagara* had scarcely been entered upon, when the 
 governor general, sir Geoi^e Prevost, matured the plan 
 of the expedition, having for its object the invasion or the 
 American territory, from Ijower Canada; the defeat and 
 destruction of the right division of the United States' 
 army then lying in the neighbourhood of Plattsbui^, un- 
 der major general Izard ; and the subju^tion of the coun- 
 try to Crown Point and Ticonderoga. l^o oflfensive mea- 
 sures against any part of Lower Canada, by this army, 
 being at that time in contemplation, and the apprehen- 
 sions of the war'department having been strongly excited 
 about the safety of the left division, after its investment 
 at fort Brie, general Izard received orders to march for 
 that post, with a reinforcement of the lai^st proportion 
 of his troops, and to assume tlie command ot the garri- 
 son. Accordingly, after detaching about 1500 men, un- 
 der brigadier general Macomb, most of whom were either 
 sick or convalescent, and requiring of general Mooers, of 
 the New York militia, the aid of a few volunteer compa- 
 nies, for the defence of Plattsburg, he marched for Sack- 
 et'a Harbour, with upwards of 3000 men. Being thus 
 left in coidmand of a position, open to the attacks of the 
 
or THE LATE WAIt* 
 
 317 
 
 ^revost 
 of the 
 evacu' 
 Thp. he- 
 rn those 
 md re- 
 Creek 
 n,8t and 
 igainst 
 wrpion 
 general 
 
 8 along 
 hen the 
 le plan 
 1 01 the 
 eat and 
 States' 
 rg, un- 
 e coun- 
 ire mea- 
 army, 
 irehen- 
 ixcited 
 stment 
 rch for 
 portion 
 e garri- 
 en, un- 
 i either 
 [)erB, of 
 compa- 
 Sack- 
 g thus 
 of the 
 
 enemy's naval, as well as his land forces, general Macomb 
 neglected no precaution to prevent surprise, and to put 
 his small army in the best state of discipline, though on 
 the 1st of September, in consequence of the best bri- 
 
 Sades bavins oeeu broken up, to form eeneral Izard's 
 ivision, he had but one battalion property orjsnnized.—- 
 The works erecting were on that day unfinish^, and the 
 troops, therefore, divided into detachments to complete 
 them. 
 
 Transports, with troops, had been continually arrivine 
 at Quebec, from England, and such was the secrecy and 
 address, with which sir George Prevost made preparations 
 for his intended expedition, that, before the 1st of Sep- 
 tember, he had organized a powerful army of 14,000 men 
 opposite Montreal, constituted of the most experienced 
 generals, and distinguished officers of the British army. 
 This comparatively immense force consisted of three bri- 
 gades and a c is of reserve, the brigades being divided 
 into twenty-f divisions, and having a staff composed of 
 two lieutenahio general, five maiors general, and a propor- 
 tionate number of assistants anu deputies. The respective 
 brigades were commanded by maiors general, Robertson, 
 Powers^ firisbane, and Baynes (adjutant general). Major 
 general Kempt commanded the reserve. Sir Sidney Beck- 
 with was quarter master general to this army, ana lieute- 
 nant general De Rottenburg, the second in command — sir 
 Geoi^e Prevost commanding in person. 
 
 Abbut the first of the month, he Occupied with these 
 troops the village of Champlain, and issued addresses 
 and proclamations, inviting the citizens to his standard, 
 and promising them the protection of his majesty's go- 
 vemmeni. From Champlain he continued to make gra- 
 dual approaches towards Plattsbui^, until the 64h. Early 
 on the morning of that day, he mt^e a rapid advance in 
 two columns, one coming down the Beckmantown road, 
 and the other along the Lake road. At a bridge crossing 
 Dead creek, intersecting the latter, general ]Mac<Hnb had 
 stationed a detadiment of 200 men, under captain Sprout, 
 of the 13th, to abattis the woods, and to place obstruc- 
 tions in the road; after which, he was to fortify himself 
 with two field pieces, sent with him for that purpose, and 
 to receive orders from lieutenant colonel Appling, who 
 with 100 riflemen, was reconnoitring the enemy's move- 
 
 Dd 2 
 
318 
 
 HISTOBICAL SKETCHES 
 
 ments some distance in advance of this jKosition. The 
 brigade of general Brisbane, which approached through 
 the Beckmantown road with mors rapidity than the other, 
 was met by about 700 militia, under general Mooers, who, 
 after a sli^t skirmish with the ei^emj's lidit parties, with 
 the ex«eption of one or two companies, fled :n the great- 
 est disorder. Those who were intrepid enough to re- 
 main, were immediately formed with a corps of 250 n>gu- 
 lars, under major Wooll, of the 29th, and disputed the 
 passage of the road for some time. But their fears ako 
 ^tting at length the better of their judgment, notwith- 
 ^nding the oneiny fired only from his flankers and pa- 
 trolling parties, tiiey followert the example of their com- 
 rades, and precipitately retired to the villp^e. Major 
 WoolPs regulars remained firm ho"=ever, a; a oeing join- 
 ed by captain L. Leonard's park of flying artillery, and 
 the 6thtand a detachment of the 34th re^ment, continued 
 to anno^ tiie adviancing parties of the Bntish column, and 
 killed lieutenant colonel Wellington, of the 3d, or Buffs, 
 who was at its head. 
 
 General Macomb, at this moment, personal'.j direct- 
 ing the movements in the town, soon saw that the ene- 
 my's object, in making so much more r^i^ a march on 
 its west, thr*a on its north, was to cut on lieutenant co- 
 lonel Appling and captrdn Sproul's detachments, des- 
 patched his aid, lieutenant: Root, with orders to tho3e offi- 
 cers to withdraw their /orces from Dead creek, to join 
 the detachment of major Wooli, and to tall upon th^ ene- 
 Hkj s r)^iit flank. Whilst lieutenant colonel Appling was 
 procA e<.iine in obedience to this cd^r. h • was er^oun- 
 tert^i; on uie north side of the town, by the light ri^ivisions 
 of the enemy's 1st bri^de, sent for the purpose of cutting 
 him off*, and which had that moment emerged from the 
 woods Theiir numbers were superior^ and had he been 
 delayed an instant longer on the Ijake road, he must in- 
 evitably have yielded. Here he engaged, but after a short 
 coiitest, retired before them. In me centre of the town 
 he re-enga£ed them, and bein;; joined by r.»i?jor Wooll, 
 was ordered to retire to the American works, on the south 
 side of the Haranac. 
 
 The retreat was effected in good order, and covered 
 by a ^uai^ of 120 men, under nantain M^lassin, of the 
 Rth intantry; the deijich^ents ©Itemately retiring and 
 
OF THE LATE WAS* 
 
 319 
 
 hraugh 
 J oVher, 
 •8, who, 
 J8, W) th 
 
 li gr^at- 
 to re- 
 n?gu- 
 beu the 
 irs ako 
 lotwith- 
 md pa- 
 ir com- 
 Major 
 ig join- 
 Ty, and 
 ntinued 
 mn, and 
 >r Buffs, 
 
 direct- 
 he ene- 
 arch on 
 kant co- 
 », de&- 
 i>3e offi- 
 to join 
 hvi ene- 
 ing was 
 er^oun- 
 ivisions 
 cutting 
 om the 
 le been 
 lust in- 
 a short 
 e town 
 Wooll, 
 e south 
 
 covered 
 of the 
 g and 
 
 keeping up a brisk and effectual fire upon tlie British co- 
 lumns. Having reached the works with a trifling loss, 
 general Macomb ordered lieutenant Harrison, of the 13th, 
 under the direction of major Wooll, and protected by 
 captain Leonard's artillery, to destroy the bridge over the 
 Saranac. 
 
 This order was not executed without some difficulty. 
 The British having occupied the houses near the bridge, 
 with their liffht troops, kept up a constant fire from me 
 windows, and wounded lieutenants Harnson and Turner, 
 of the IStfj, and Taylor of ihe 34th. These troops wore, 
 however, soon after dislodged by a discharge of hot shot 
 from the American works, and in conjunction with the 
 right column, were engaged the remainder of the day in 
 various attempt"* to drive the euards f om the several 
 bridges. — But the planks had all been taken up, and be- 
 ing placed in the form of breastworks^ served lo cover the 
 American lisht parties stationed for the defence of the 
 passages. Tne obstructions which h&d been thrown in 
 the way of the column advancing by the Lake road, and 
 the destruction of the biitlse over Dead creek, greatly 
 impeded its approaches, and, in attempting to ford the 
 creek, it received a severe and destructive fire, from the 
 |im boats and gallies anchored in front of the town. — 
 But not all the ^Uies, aided by the armament of the 
 vaole fiotiUa, which then lay opposite Plattsbui^, under 
 commodore Macdonou^, coula have prevented the cap^ 
 ture of Macomb's arr>y, after its passage of the Saranac^ 
 had sir Grenrge Pievost pushed his whole force upon the 
 mar^n of that stream. Like general Drummond, at Erie, 
 he made a pause, in full view of the unfinished works of 
 the Americans, and consumed five days in erecting bat- 
 teries, and throwins up breastworks, for the protection of 
 his approaches. Of this interval, the America^ general 
 did not fail to avail himself, and kept his troops constant- 
 ly employed in finishing his line of redoubts. Whilst 
 Iboth parties were thus engaged in providing for the pro- 
 tection of their forces, the main bouy of the British army 
 came up with the advance; and general Macomb was 
 also reinforced by the militia of New York, and t^:^ vo- 
 lunteers from the mountains of Vermont Skirmishes 
 between li^t detachments, sallies from the different 
 works, andtrequent attempts to restore the bridges, served 
 
3£0 
 
 HISTOBICAI. 8KETCHB8 
 
 to amuse the besiegers and tne besieged, while the for- 
 mer were getting up a train of battering caiienon, and the 
 latter strengthening their lines, and preparing to repel the 
 attack. In one of these skirmishes, on the 7th, a British 
 detachment making a violent effort io obtain possession 
 of the pass of a bridge, H^as handsomely repulsed by a 
 small guard under lieutenant Runk, of the oth infantry, 
 who received a musket ball in his body and expired on 
 the following day. He was the only officer killed during 
 the siege. 
 
 The New York militia and Vermont volunteers, were 
 now principally stationed at tiie different bridges crossing 
 tile Saranac^ or in the wood opposite the fording places. 
 FroijA these positions they annoyed the enemy's guards, 
 and poured repeated dischai^s of musketry into his 
 masked batteries. 
 
 Two pf general Macomb's new works were called fort 
 Brown, and fort Scott, and opposite the former it was 
 suspected, a very powerful masked battery had been 
 constructed, in order suddenly to demolish it at a time of 
 general attack. To tliscover the truth of his suspicion, 
 and if possible to destroy or mutilate such a work, cap- 
 tain M^Slassin, on the night of the 9th, volunteered his 
 services, to ford the river with a competent detachment. 
 His enterprise was approved by the general, who as- 
 signed him the command of 50 men. — With these the 
 captain succeeded in fording the river nearly under fort 
 Brown, and upon gaining me opposite shore, proceeded 
 with great secrecy about 300 yards. At^this distance, 
 from the mai^n of the river, he encountered a guard of 
 150 men, whom he instantly encaged, and with such vi- 
 gour and address as to deceive mem, with respect to his 
 own force, and after a short contest to drive them behind 
 a work, which he discovered to be the suspected masked 
 battery. Havine succeeded in ^e accomj^lishment of one 
 of the objects of his enterprise, neither captain M'Glas- 
 sin, nor his brave detachment, could think of returning 
 to the army, without having signalized the expedition by 
 some act more important in its consequences^ than the 
 putting to flight an enemy's guard, however superior in 
 numbers. He accordingly ie<l up his detachment to 
 charge upon the work, into which the British ^ard had 
 fled, ana by one or two vigorous onsets, in which he had 
 
OF THE LATE WAB. 
 
 321 
 
 but one man wounded, he carried the battery, and en- 
 tirely routed -its defenders, with the loss of their com- 
 manding officer and 16 men killed, and several wounded. 
 Being now in possession of a wofk, which would have 
 incalculably annoyed the batteries at fort Brown, captain 
 M'Glassin destroyed it with all possible haste, and re- 
 turned to the American works, with the loss of 3 men 
 missing. For this gallant and hazardous essay, which 
 had a tendency not only to deceive the British general 
 with re^rd to the actual force of general Macomb's army, 
 and to msnire the troops, militia as well as regulars, with 
 a spirit or enterprise, but placed a principal work, fort 
 Brown, beyond tiie possibility of being silenced, captain 
 M^Glassin received the puUic thanks of his commanding 
 officer, and tiie brevet rank of major from the president 
 of the ITnited States. 
 
 On the morning of the 11th, the motives of the British 
 general, in delaying his assault upon the American v/orks, 
 became apparent. Being assured of his ability, at any 
 time, to aestroy them by a single effort, he was regard- 
 less of the manner, in which they mi^'^t be ^adually 
 strengthened, and awaited the arrival of the British s<][ua- 
 dron from lake Champlain, in co-operation with which, 
 he contemplated a general attack, and the easy capture 
 of the American fleet and army. On that day, his fleet/ 
 consisting of a lai^ frigate, the Confiance, of 39 guns ; 
 the brig Linnet, of 16; the sloops Chub and Finch (for- 
 merly tJhe United States* sloops Growler and Eagle) of 11 
 suns each ; and 13 gun boats and row gallies, mounting 
 m all 95 guns, and having a complement of 1050 men, 
 made its appearance, under captain Downie, round Cum- 
 berland Head, and immediately engaged the American 
 squadron, under commodore Macdonough, then moored 
 in Plattsburg bay, and consisting of the ship Saratoga; 
 the brig Eagle; the schooner Ticonderoga; the sloop 
 Preble ; and 10 gun boats, mounting alt(^ther 86 guns, 
 (the largest vessel carrying 26) and being manned with 
 820 men. 
 
 The first gun from the Confiance was the signal for a 
 general action, and sir George Prevost instantly opened 
 nis batteries upon the works on the opposite bank of the 
 Saranac. A tremendous cannonade ensued ; bomb shells 
 and Congreve rockets were thrown into the American 
 

 
 322 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 lines during the whole day; and frequent, but inef^ectua^ 
 attempts msule to ford the livsr. At a bridge, about a 
 mile up the river, an attempt to throw over a division of 
 the enemy's array, was handsomely repulsed by a detach- 
 ment of regulars; and an eifort to force the passage of the 
 bridge in tSe town, was effectually checked by a party of 
 riflemen, under captavn Grosvenfu*. But the principal 
 slaughter took place at a ford three miles from the works. 
 There the enemy succiieded in crossing over three com- 
 panies of the 76th resiment, before his advance waii im- 
 peded. A body of volunteers and militia, stationed in a 
 contiguous wood, opened a heavy fire upon them, anct 
 after a spirited cohtest, in which one of these cwnpanies 
 was entirely destroyed, its captain killed, and three lieu- 
 tenants and 9.7 men ma^e prisoners, those who had at- 
 tained the shore, fell back in disorder upon an approach- 
 ing column, then in the middle of the river. The receding 
 and advancing columns minsled with each other, and be- 
 ing closely pressed by the volunteers, the whole body was 
 thro\ 'n into a state of confusion, from which the officers 
 could not recover them ; numbers were killed in the 8tr«»aw, 
 and the dead and wounded being swept along by the lo^xe 
 of the current, sunk into one common grave. 
 
 But the result of the engagement between the two na- 
 val armaments, which continued upwards of two hours, in 
 presence of the contending armies, soon determined the 
 action upon land. Its eflScts were sensibly felt by the 
 British general, whose plaiis were completely frustrated 
 by its issue. After getting round Cumbcrlar <1 Head, 
 captain Downie anchored his fleet within S\)0 yar«i'^ of the 
 line formed by commodore Macdonough, and placing the 
 Confiance frigate iti opposition to the Saratoga; the Lin- 
 net to the Eagle, captain Henley; one of his sloops and all 
 his gallies, to the schooner Ticonderoga, lieutenant com- 
 mandai)t Cassin, and the sloop Preble ; his other sloop al- 
 t^rnat^y attacking the Saratoga and Eagle. Tlie latter 
 vessel was so situated, shortly after the commencement 
 of the action, that her guns could not be brought to bear. 
 and captain Henly cut ner cable, and placed her between 
 the commodore's ship and the Ticonderoga, from which 
 situation, though she exposed the Saratoga to a galUn^ 
 fire, she annoyed the enemy's squadron with much ef- 
 fect, ^me minutes after 10 o'clock, nearly all the guns 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 329 
 
 ineffectual 
 re, about a 
 division of 
 J a detach- 
 iftagc of the 
 
 a party of 
 £ principal 
 I the works, 
 three corn- 
 ice waii iia- 
 ktioned in a 
 
 them, luici 
 > companies 
 I threelieu- 
 vho had at- 
 n approach- 
 "he receding 
 her, and be- 
 lle body was 
 I the officers 
 1 the str<»air, 
 I by the lu^ xe 
 
 the two na- 
 wo hours, in 
 ermined the 
 felt by the 
 r frustrated 
 AvA Head, 
 rai'i'* of the 
 placing the 
 ;a; the Lin- 
 oops and all 
 tenant com- 
 ber sloop al- 
 
 The latter 
 imencemcint 
 
 ght to bear, 
 her between 
 
 from which 
 
 to a galHng 
 th much ef- 
 
 all the guns 
 
 on tiie starboard side of the Saratoga beine either dis- 
 mounted or e/ntirdy unmanageable, commodore Macdo- 
 nouc)> was obliged to put out a stem anchor, and to cut 
 the bower cable, by which means the Saratoga winded on 
 the enemy's frigate with a fresh broadside, which being 
 promptly delivered, the Confiance immediatedy after sur- 
 rendered, with 105 round shot in her hull, and ner captain 
 and 49 men killed, and 60 wounded. The Saratoga had 
 55 round shct in her hull, and had been twice set on fire 
 hy hot shot from the Confi ace, but she sustained a loss 
 of only 28 in killed, and 29 wounded, notwithstanding she 
 mounted 13 guns less^ than her antagonist. The Con- 
 fiance had no sooner surrendered, than the Sarato^*^ 
 broadside was sprung to bear upon the hn^ whose nag 
 struck 15 minutes after. Captain Henley, in tiie Eagle, 
 had already captured one of the enemy's sloops; and the 
 Ticonden^ after having sustained a filing fire, caused 
 the surrender of the remaining vessel. The principal ves- 
 sels of the British fleet being now all captured, and three 
 of their row sallies sunk, the remaining ten escaped from 
 the bay in a mattered condition. 
 
 . Among the officers killed on board the Saratoga, was 
 the 1st lieutenant, Gamble; and on board the Ticonde- 
 roga, lieutenant John Stansbury (son of general Tobias, 
 Stansbury, of Maryland), w!*; was shot upon mounting 
 the netting, to discover in what manner tne guns of his 
 division might be brought to bear more eflfectually upon 
 one of the enemy's vessels. Among the wounded were 
 lieutenant SmifJi, acting lieutenhnt 'Spencer, and mid- 
 shipman Baldwin. The tofjil lopi of commodore Macdo- 
 nuugh's squadron amounted to, 52 men killed, and 58 
 wounded. The enemy's loss was, 84 men killed, 110 
 wounded, and 856 prisoners, who alone amounted to a 
 greater number than those by whom Hiey were taken. 
 
 The capture of his fleet being announced to sir George 
 Prevost, he immediately withdrew his forces from the 
 assault of the American works. From his batteries, how- 
 ever, he kept up a constant fire until the dusk of the 
 evening, when, being silenced by the wins of fort Mo- 
 reau, under colonel M. Smith, and of forts Brown and 
 Scott, he retired within the town, and at 9 at nighrt sent 
 off km artillery, and all the ba^;age for which tie could 
 
324 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHI^S 
 
 obtain tranftport. About midnight he made a disgraceful 
 and precipitate retreat, leaving behind him all his sick 
 and wounded, with a request that they might be eene- 
 rously treated by general Macomb. At daybreak of the 
 12th, this movement bein^ discovered by that officer, he 
 immediately despatched his light troops, and the volun- 
 teers and militia, in pursuit The enemy, however, had 
 retired with such celerity, as to reach Chazy before the 
 pursuit was commenced, and a violent storm prevent- 
 *^d its continuance. Immense quantities of provisions, 
 bomb-shelis, cannon balls, grape-shot, ammunition, flints, 
 intrenching tools, tents and marouees, were taken, and 
 upwards of 400 deserters surrendered themselves in the 
 course of the day. Besides these, sir Geoi^e lost 75 pri- 
 soners, and, as nearly as could he ascertained, about 
 1500 killed and wounded; amon^ them several officers 
 of ra^k. The loss of the Amencan army, which, with 
 the accession of the volunteers and militia, did not es:ceed 
 2500 men, amounted to 37 killed, 62 wounded, and 20 
 missing. . 
 
 For the gallantry which they displayed in tiiis splendid 
 engagement) general Macomb, lieutenant colonel Appl'mg, 
 majors WoolT, of the 29th, and Totten, of the engineers, 
 whose services were eminently conspicuous in the con- 
 struction of the works, and captain Brooks, of the artil- 
 lery, received the brevet rank of the grades next above 
 those which they held on the day of the action. Captain 
 Young, of the 15th, had been put on board the squadron, 
 with a detachment of infantry, to act as marines; and 
 for his coolness and intrepidity, in a species of service 
 distinct from that to which he was attached, was also 
 brevetted. Captain Grosvenor, of the infantry, and the 
 brigade major, lieutenant Duncan, of the artillery, were 
 conspicuous for their zeal and activity throughout the 
 engagement; the latter was chained with the delivery of 
 the despatches to the war department. Promotions took 
 place also in the navy, and commodore Macdonough was 
 immediately elevated to the rank of post captain. 
 
 The investment of fort Erie was all this time continued ; 
 the troops of the garrison were actively engaged in the 
 completion of me l>astions, and of the abattis on the right 
 flank; and the besiegers employed in the erection of 
 additiomtl batteries, intended to enfilade ^e western ram- 
 
 '"I 
 
OF THfi LATS WAR* 
 
 325 
 
 lisgraceful 
 1 his sick 
 t be eene- 
 iak of the 
 officer, he 
 the volun- 
 i^ever, had 
 before the 
 ft prevent- 
 provisions, 
 tion, flints, 
 taken, and 
 lives in the 
 lost 75 pri- 
 led, about 
 ral officers 
 ivhich, with 
 not exceed 
 ed, and 20 
 
 lis splendid 
 ^el AppJ'ng;, 
 engineers, 
 in the con- 
 )f the artil- 
 next above 
 Captain 
 B squadron, 
 irines; and 
 of service 
 , was also 
 'y, and ttie 
 lery, were 
 iighout the 
 delivery of 
 tions took 
 ugh was 
 in. 
 
 continued; 
 
 d in the 
 
 tiie right 
 
 rection of 
 
 stem ram- 
 
 ft&rlft ^ ^ Alif^rkan woifl». 0«nj»r«l'BHM htfd i^^ 
 turned' to the. post, arid resutti^ th« cominftiid ctf tli^ 
 army/ Mrhiel^ mid beciii ' in ^t ikieantiii^ reiiiforcfid #f 
 n«w letiesel aiifitia. Abot^ibe iniddle #a^biiln6er, 
 aftef thet|e irrangeiheirts fi^ere completed, mTstuiiiipt to 
 dlslbdgie ^ enemy #on^ big ml^nched works, «qid i^ 
 deprive bim of tlie'mtons of aihtoj^g the^g^^ ^^^ 
 detei^ined oto. A soirtte was plintin^, lOia the mormiig 
 of t^ ifd^ appointed for^its cix:ecutiori. XiieiQt^niitits 
 Riddle and mz<6n of Ifie ]5th infthtrj, had already 
 opened a r^ad frbmf the sottthei^ at^e i^f the earridoii, 
 to^ a pokit withm pitstol shot of the enemy's ridit wijiig^ 
 Und vtit^ slicib set^^y, th&t it was not didco^erecFunlil ]^e 
 actii^ ^ assault bomiAented. About noon, the regul^, 
 infiuilir^, and tifl^m^» and the volunteers aiid militia, 
 weit' in readiness to* march ^^iild befori^ o'clock, the 
 sortie was mad«* llie division issuing ihmi the lef^wa^ 
 tommanded by' fflaitepal,Pbfter, and composed of «Gb 
 rHIemen and^ a fe^ Ibaians, ubder colonftt^t^it,. and 
 two columns, the ridi^ commantled W lieutenant colonel 
 Weod, and the left b« brigl^i«|^ pri6tt4r)i)^^ of the 
 New York militia. Thesej cohmiis #«f% conducted 
 through ^e ^oods by lieutenaikts judtfie ai|d Frtizer,i^ 
 approached upc^ tlie cnemy**iiet«f b«tt«a^jptt^ 
 with such rftpidity, as to durprisie th« bf^ad^imonea |l 
 his line. His batteries, Nos. 3 and 4, wet>e g4|iantfy 
 stormed) and a^r 30 minutes close action, both carried. 
 Colonel Gib8on» iind lieutenant colonel Wood, fell at Uie 
 head of their columns^ almp^t at ^e onset, and the re- 
 spective commands devolved upon ll^iitcnaiant coloh^ 
 M'DiHiald and major Brooks. 
 
 A block house m the rear of battery No. 3, was alio 
 carried, and its garrison made prisoners. Thi*6e 24* 
 pounders and their carriages, were destroyed, and^idftef 
 the prisoilers wer^ jetured, and the American columni 
 mo v^d beyond its influence, lieutenant kiddte descend- 
 ed ji^to the mi^zihe, and first taking out a quantity of 
 fixed ammunition, set fire to a l^ain leading to several 
 barrels of powder; The explosion took place much 
 sooner than the lieutelnant expected, and not faNSiiig ablt 
 to escape in time, he was covesred with ^le combusti- 
 bles ana fra^ehts of the maeftzine, from which he |p|9 
 extricated with the titmost difficulty. At the moinent bf 
 
 Ee 
 
I! 
 
 3S6 
 
 UISTORICAI^ SKETCHES 
 
 • 
 
 this explosion, the right.division of the troops which 
 had been statiQned'. in the ravine between the f<^rt and 
 the ^,eneoiy*s works, under ^neral /Miller, with orders 
 not to attack, iintil generM Porter had engms^d ike ene- 
 my's right flank, first came up to the assaulC and in co^ 
 operation with colonel Gibson's column, pierced the Bri- 
 tish intrenchments, between their batteiies Nos. S ^ind 3, 
 and after a severe contest, carried the former.. In this 
 assault, brigadier ^neral Davis, of the New Yo^ militia, 
 fell at the head ofms corps. The enemy's second block- 
 house, his batteries 2 and 3, and his unfinished battery 
 No. 4, with the intervening breaatworic^ and intrcjicii- 
 nptents, beins now all in tiie possession of the Americans, 
 gifeljberai JdilTer's division inclined towards the river, with 
 a view ti^^sail his battery No. 1, erected ^tthie Mtremi- 
 tyii^fhi? left'j||ank, A%this point, the enemy made a 
 much bolder and more obstinate resistance* There,^^ 
 defences were constructed wit!i #ie most studie^ intriqa- 
 cy; breastworks had been thrown up, connecting his first 
 find seconcl battery;, successive lines of intrenchmi^nti 
 intersected each other f^ ilearly j|.hundred jTfirds in thei 
 rear ; imd|b ws of aba^i$an4;timbjpry planted in, 4^uitiplicd 
 involutions, formed iiipediments to the abroach ol? the 
 assailants, [induced fome confusicp ih the column, And 
 ■jE^e conitant appeals to the bayonet necesaftrv. Before 
 geneFalMiller attempted this movement upon the ba|;ttery 
 near €[ie water, getteml Brown had ordered up^ ^lierai 
 jpipley with the resefrve, comprised of the Slst re^ipent, 
 under lieutemmt colonel Uphpn, and desired him, as the 
 seniot* officer in advance, to ascertain the eeneral situa- 
 tion of the troops, aiid withdraw the^^ from thc^ene- 
 my's works, as soon aathe object of tlu^ sortie, the de- 
 struction of his batteries, was effected. The reserve, in 
 dhedience to this order, promptly advanced to the sup- 
 port of Miller's column, and came into tiie en^a^ment 
 as the enemy's force was; strengthened fvom ma en- 
 campment. This column was composed Of die 9th, 
 die 11th, and p^t of the 19th infantry j the first being 
 commanded by lieutenant colonel Aspinwall, who lost 
 iiis left aj-min the assaultj and fe last, bv major Trim- 
 ble, who was dangerously shot through the body. Under 
 the iijAmediate direction of the same ^aillant leader wHo 
 had carried the cannon, upon the eminence at Lundy's 
 
pa which 
 I fdrt and 
 ith orders 
 d the ene- 
 and in CO* 
 d the Bri- 
 B. S|ind3, 
 c In this 
 )fk militia, 
 opd block- 
 idi battery 
 I intrcpch- 
 ^mericans, 
 river, with 
 !€} extremi- 
 iT made a 
 There, Ilia 
 iedintrioa- 
 LDghisfimt 
 renchmf^nti 
 ,rd8 in^^ei 
 lihultiplicd 
 oach (»- the 
 olumn, and 
 Before 
 ie battery 
 ttpr general 
 b regii|ient, 
 him, aa the 
 neral situa- 
 m thfi^ene- 
 tie, &e de- 
 reserve, in 
 to the siip- 
 HEgagemei^t 
 «n ma en- 
 jf the 9th, 
 first being 
 1, who lost 
 najor Tiim- 
 iy. Under 
 leader who 
 at Lundy*8 
 
 07 THE LAf E WAR. *^ 
 
 $s^ 
 
 lane, and aided bf lieuten&nt colonel Upbatn, with ^' 
 21st and part of the 17tK, it tnade a rapid charge ifpon^ 
 and stormed the remaining birttety, whicih was inatantly 
 abandoned by the British ih&ntry ahd ariiUerjr. Qen^m 
 Ripley the|i«oiMered a line to be'fohttied in front, for the 
 protection of th6 detachments, engaged in apiking the 
 enemy|a gima, and d^olifthing mc captured #drk9* 
 Thia line he determined alao to atrength^n, in ^itder ta 
 annoy ^e rear of general Drummond'a retreating forejell, 
 and was in the act of fovwarding jtheae aTratogementa, 
 when he received a daageroua wound in the neck; and 
 fell by the aide vif major l3rook, oC, the 23d, whoae cokn- 
 ma;na waa at that moment engaged with a detachnieot 
 on the enemy'a right. Hia aid, lieutenant Kirfoy. ctjuM^ 
 him to bb remidVed to the ^rriaon, and gene^, Mmf 
 having ordered the right wing to fall baek, tne trobpa 
 upon the left, were ahortly after recalled!; tnd the opertp 
 ^na ceased, with the accompliahment of all the ofagecta 
 ofthe;al^e, *^ ■,^: 
 
 , The troopa then returned to the ^rr^wik, with their 
 priionera, jjPfd jnanx ^plUi^fi of #ieir valour; snd dn 
 the third My afjter; lii^ tenatit glsnei^l* Orutn||^i#r ^<l^ 
 had been Joined before' the lo|%e4y w^xf ^neral De^ 
 Wattevilleiind Stovin, broke up hia encanaj|inent, raia^ 
 the 8iege,a^'ha8tily Retired Ifj^ addk 
 
 tion ti>^ "ti^e jiwa ef nearly all hia cannon, hie force v^ i 
 agal^re^iiieed ^ least 1000 men; notwlthatlndiQif 
 
 the rciiiKs of 4irdaya^inceBiant mi were deatrittyea, 
 and^ll Of his diceMi>an4 374 cf hib non-eonlmianoluil 
 officera and privatei niiail|^|>Hson^, atid traiiaferred to 
 the' American |)|ore; he called the etent a vejlNflae of an 
 Anleitean armM* 5000 meUL by an ineohaidei^Ae ititm- 
 ber of Britiah troops. Incli^iiig Jho lifintei f Irea^. iiien- 
 tioned, general Ifeown'a amity iMt 10 oflieiers'%lkd 70 lyit^ 
 pied; m eiiieera and I9a Vended $ aotd IQ O^ri Aiid 
 2l)d jnii^lilgMti aU 310. AmOng A« k|lte^ Wer« tiito* 
 taint Armi«Mli of tfit" ril|i^e«rp0> I&ll 'bT the llth-m- 
 fiptry; Bridf^, Of tHe Slftt i^fiititry Vand iKiel, of the 
 f0lupleers-^*j^^aign <>f ^Hg^ of the Wk kHmtry, im oiB- 
 cer Of rafeitt merit, jHliaidu^tiantsB^ -^^ BetthUp, 1^ 
 Biaktiffii^fi thJe v<^tfteera#; But loaa of the thr# 
 leadera («f the eiiltann^ ecbi^oti. iff# lefti^ergien4||i'?>» 
 Porter^ di^aibn', was senaibly felt 'tnroUgjkdvC ^e arny. 
 
 t 
 
^2$ 
 
 UlSTOjRICAL 8K£T€U£8 
 
 6<»iieF^] Davit had watered the service, with a regiment 
 ^,|>atkiotic. Tolui^teers from the county of GenetBee, and 
 ve^ry goon distingiii^hed himself by the industrious facili- 
 ^ with which he acquired a knowledge of military move- 
 menta, and ^s coolness in the execution of ihem. The 
 condufit of lieutenant , colonel Wood, general Porter re- 
 wesefited tp be *'what it uHiforiDly had been, an exhi- 
 bition of military skill, aciito j^Ajgoient, and heiaoic v^ 
 lour," 
 
 .It waa in tlie act of storming the 2di battery, a|id at the 
 head of his deta^ment thatcohjmol Oibson received the 
 mortal wound, which, on the loliowin^ day, closed his 
 military career, and deprived the service of a generous 
 an^nillant soldier. He had entered the army as a cadet, 
 at^est^Oint, in 180iS; and, by the force and vigour of 
 his military g^pius, had elevated hiinsdf to the rank of 
 c4p&in, at the jleclaratidii of war. Between that period and 
 tl^ 4aY on which he fell, at the moment of his triumph 
 ^>ver the enemy, he had filled several stations of honour 
 and ^eat re^^sibllity. He had been entrusted with the 
 superintendance of the recruiting 4^trict, received Uie 
 ^iQmil|P|in ^f^ inspector general, and was Unally pro- 
 linotefi to the command ipplhe 40i tUIc r^ment. ISiQ 
 <)fllc^ viras il^ld in <J»pre general estimation, by the 
 >ps ; anj| lo ^^ix^uis^cT had been his,.|quious and 
 it slices, ^t a i^iHtary work,^erected neju: BUiek 
 , #a8 long ^ince ordered to be called f<^ft Ojibsoo* 
 Soon after the enemy had been thjis compelled to 
 t^m the «i»g^ M fort« Erie, the garnpon jTas enlarged by 
 the arrive^ .of the rigjit; division, uj^roiajpr general 
 l^£d, who 8i^)^sed«^, general Brown ^ the eommnd 
 of i|^ Wi?»y» , Tte a^^icession of thi» dfvisioq, ana the 
 stre^^ of the d^enpfs, whieh were a^ by this tin^e en- 
 
 t, ^ BO^e-^ iiiem gai)iisWd with heavy cannon^ ^ren- 
 edforiPiip impw^aW^ to the attacks ^ any other 
 th^ a vastly sHneEii»r lop^e; ands the t^onth, intervening 
 betMfi8^i> <hie im of Septmh^ *n4 the I8i^^>f October, 
 wp <po¥^i^t|y eiof^oy^: ^drilling and harmoniwi^ 
 
 werii ^eiposited for the use of^^ ^ri<liii^4>c^i 
 * iisard directed general Bissell, commanding 
 
 t 
 
6# 'irUn tA>r* tTAA. • « 
 
 M9 
 
 regiment 
 i«Bee. ajid 
 otts faciU- 
 ftry piaov€- 
 Bm. The 
 Porter re- 
 1, an iexhi- 
 leeojic v^ 
 
 apdAttihe 
 reived the 
 closed bis 
 I generous 
 as a cadet, 
 i vigour 0^ 
 ^e, rank of 
 period and 
 s triumph 
 of honour 
 »a with the 
 ceived the 
 inally- pro- 
 nent, No 
 n, by the 
 irious and 
 ie»x Black 
 
 Gjihson* 
 dpelled to 
 il^rged by 
 \r general 
 xomni^nd 
 , awl the 
 8 tiine en- 
 nnou*-ren- 
 ipy other 
 iterv^ning 
 'October, 
 
 In th« 
 » briinch 
 
 %i^n of 
 lihtroQ^r 
 mmanding 
 
 the Sd brigade ef the 1st diiri8ion» to march thither and 
 seize themi Ob; thfe 18th he proceeded on the expi^i- 
 tion/tnd <i^r dnthig in a picquet guard", and capturfhs 
 its coniinandinj ofiicerr, he threw iwo lisht' comikiEaiieS 
 under ciaptain Dorman, of the 5^, Und m^ifena|irHor<^' 
 rell, of the 1 6th infantry, and^ a eobpany'^ Hflieme]^^ 
 uiid^ «af»tain Irvine, across Lyon^s 6r«ek^ ftnd etiduifjped 
 for the iligtit ^^th pit^iiet ' guards stafioiied at propef 
 distanees. One of trtescj commanded by 1i<*uteiiant Qias^ 
 saway, and statiohed <on the C^hippen^a road; wad attack- 
 ed^f two^ companies of the OlihigaHr Hght infantry, whfch 
 were beat ofl? with toss. On the fotlowiti^ niorni^ ISlir 
 brigadi^was attacked by a force of IWOm^iM^'cth 
 \otaA the ntaitjuts of Tweedftle. Captaiti D^hiiaii's W 
 foatry^and;frvine*s riflemen, rec^^ed thfe first fi#% of th^' 
 enemyl^nd su^tlEdited It with the greatest gallantr^^ whilbf 
 ten^rarBiBMli was fbmii%' afitf brinsing up the- bth# 
 trttops 40 tli^if support Colbnel PincKne^., wtft th^ 50| 
 regio^^l, was o^ered to tum the enemy^a^ght iianl^/ 
 and: tb etk off a pl^e of artUtery which he Ified Just ^#jir 
 broight Into aetioti; whikt ma^r Hariiard, with the 14tl^' 
 was t6 charge them in front These fnoVeiHt^^ht^ were 
 iniitetitlyielfectedi ' The enemT*8 leftflafnk and his ted^e, 
 sniik%ndeT thfe fire oi coirps d*dUte;'^dAhe infiemettt aUd 
 the^^rge of'the>t4thi and hisH^htflaMdc Was turned im- 
 iteediately after, by ^e tapid and iforcible nioyetiient^^df 
 the 3thi The recbit of his linfe, and the approach'^df tKi^ 
 Am^caA reserve, composed of the 15th, under mly[or 
 Grintibfe, and th^'t6th, under isolon^l P^i'ce, ito ^fo^ce 
 the sirbeess of the main body, was 116 sooner perceived by 
 the marquis, than he ordered his troiops to retire from th^ 
 grouild on which they- had enga^d genieral Bbsell^<tnd, 
 expectiiiff to draw that officer after him, fell back to his 
 fortifications at the mou^ of the river. As his retreat 
 was made without much regard to order, dl his killed, 
 and most of his wounded, were left behind. He #a8 pu^ 
 sued but a small distance, when general Bissell, in coh-i 
 formity to his instructions, destroyed the provisions at 
 t^e mills, and returned to his position at Black creek, 
 haviAg effected the ofalect of his expedition, with the lofis 
 of 67, killed, wounded and mtssingi. 
 
 lire whole army, with Uie ejcception of lieutenant co- 
 lonel Hindman's artillery, to whom the command of fort 
 
 E e 2 
 
HP 
 
 990 
 
 HISTOBlHAIf |«||9!jC9»S 
 
 Brie, and iho wopkf« v«ft strutted, was n«w opemtiaff 
 in t^ vifunity of Bliick creak and €l>ip|iewa« Its ttan' 
 liad mn reduce^ bj the removal of general Bipley to the 
 American «hove» aiter being weui^ed, and the tran«fer 
 of Mneral Breern ^ Sacket^a Harbour, and of general 
 Miliaria 3<^n. Immediataly after thr repulae of the. 
 jUamnii^of .Tveedalo* general Izard dlriN:ted ita f et«m 
 to tJ9e gairrwont whenca, aa the weather waa ahonl^ this 
 time ae^ngin eitrfuaely cold, ^nd the aeason having ar<- 
 rired whOA h<^tUitiea uamilly ceased, it iraa determined 
 t» transport it to the A^mmw ahpre, to wippjf ^ troo^ 
 w^hi v^ oom^oHable wintar quartera. c T^e fort wae 
 apfcohiiiig^y destroyed; and all the batteries demoltiihed ; 
 and aftar A^orpua and brilUant campaign of four fnondis, 
 the Qanad^ territot^ was evacuat^ and the aitny^dia- 
 lydbnted in quartera at Buiihloe, Ulackliiick, and mta- 
 iflb. l%e FOiuhteera'^andvfiititht were dischargied, with 
 the^ thairi^a of the giayemmant; and general Porter i?acet«ed 
 yi^rjogs teatoonialaof approbatiou and applanae froiiK^e 
 ataxia ^ wbiich he belong, for hia constant display of 
 by^fiy^and the h^ degree of discipline which he main- 
 ta^ed^W command. . 
 
 ' Whilst theae eventsi w^re transpiring between the n^tisH 
 era army, and Jie #«niea o^ Hentenant ^^peral Dmro- 
 mond and aii? Oianige Fravo^ an expedition had been 
 ttted ont in the nor^wett^iefRintry, under the imHed 
 Gobmaiid of c^mmfldom; Sinclair, with the Ueet u^n^lake 
 Erie, and lieutanant ^colonel tCro^n, with adetachment 
 of'aill^leij and infeuitry« ^ act againaib the fort and island 
 of Michilintackinacf Biit the expedition &ilcd, noiwith^ 
 staiiding the fkillandgaUantry of die oncers engaged in 
 H; and tli^ tfloopa remd from the island, after having 
 aibcted a landing, ^^ the loss of the second oiker, 
 mi^ iMmaa, of tho 9^. infantry. The enemy apprised 
 xf the movement, appeared in laiPse numbers to recast it 
 and being protected ny breastworka, and aided by a body 
 of Indians, exceeding the strength of /colonel Croghan'a 
 detachment, that intrepid young offi^cer was compelled to 
 withdraw hia forces, and return t^^ the shipmns;. On hia 
 way to th¥ island, however, he diatroyed the 6rt St, Jo- 
 seph's, and the enemy';S eat«Mishniei>t at Sainlt 8t, Manx's. 
 The losaof the detachment in ^o. expedition amounted to 
 60, kilM, wounded and missing; 
 
'OV TKB £ATB'%^'B'«« ti 
 
 Bit 
 
 peratinff 
 Its %m 
 ty to the 
 tn»i«fer 
 general 
 e of the- 
 
 ^itt titis 
 
 tenuined 
 
 fort wft« 
 
 rfdonthe, 
 pMlBntfl- 
 
 pNl, with 
 
 fpoMi^e 
 Uapl^yof 
 hf maan- 
 
 pNnofftb^ 
 
 hud b^ei} 
 leimiHcd 
 
 fea^hm«nt 
 
 Qd/»)ftQ4 
 
 notrwith' 
 igaged in 
 sr naving 
 d office, 
 afifirlaed 
 Tenstit, 
 !7»*>ody 
 !?ro|han*» 
 tp^lled t9 
 . Onhi9 
 rtStJo- 
 t,JManr^«. 
 (mntedto 
 
 After leaving the island, commodore Sinclair stationed 
 two of his Bchoonera, the Tigresi and Scorpion, near St. 
 Joaejph^, to cut off all supplies for the British nrrifton at 
 Michilimackinac. Lieutenant colonel M'Do^ali, the com- 
 mandant of the garrison, supplied lieutenant Worsiev, of 
 the navy, with 250 Indians, and & detachment of the Mfew- 
 foundland reeimeflt, with whom, and 1S6 sailors, he at- 
 tacked the schooner on tie 9tli of September. After a 
 severe strurale, in which lie lost a very disproportionate 
 numbei>of lulled and wounded, he carried the vessels, and 
 proceeded witk theiix io Bficlttttiaaicfcinac. ^ 
 
 - (hi the SS2dof the ibllowing monlh, brigadier general * 
 M*Arthiir, hairing collected 790 eflfectivo regulars and mi- 
 li%, proceeded on aaeci^t expeditiiiB, along the western 
 ahoife of lake 8i Ckttr, and passed into the C^nkdiaB ter- 
 ritory^ ai. the month cf thatwatoK He penetrated iWK) \ 
 miloflfwi the enemy^ country; deetrayed more than that { 
 number of muskets ; "i tt:tcked a large body of nHlitift and - 
 Indians, encamped on ^ivotii^able eround>.made about 150 
 priaoAers:. «und dippei'^ed att^ihcr mtachmenls to be found 
 at lihe 'fnames^. usford#^or Orand Biven Dtting the 
 i|»aiK:h^ he' principally subsisted on the enemy* and ifed 
 «ev^ of the tiaillH. from ,w|dch the Briiish troops iii Up- 
 pm &iamh, went supplied wiilh feod» HairiBg Mmed in- 
 t0lliigi€iiM»Qf^tiie evacaatioiBi of Jbrt^firie^he jihMienedi bio 
 blt^on of iproceedins to^BlMryngtoii; 1^ and fe* 
 
 tallied to EtetiMft OB jUie l!7tfati»f Noy^^ 
 expedlti^, & eniemy^ hotiite; intcntiojk wets diveried . 
 fromiEno^er quarter^ and his nieanaofattaoldn^jBf;!^^ \ 
 enlil^y orip|»Md ; the destnidioar«f * bla aitpi^s renderA I 
 ing such an ati^pt aHo^elher impNctstable. ^ 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
mm 
 
 3d£ 
 
 HISTORIOAX. SKETCHES 
 
 
 m 
 
 4ii 
 
 i 
 
 •^■•^ . H 
 
 GHAFTEft XXI. 
 
 Repealed engagements hetwetM th« ^^tm botA JUnHUa ofu^ 
 f ite Britigh 'oessdg in the Pxtaxent' ^kden^tf^ 
 Capture of Washingttyn^iJfdkxaind^ ty^ 
 
 Peter Park^p^^^mttek vptni Ba^more^^ihaih ef j^ 
 nertd Eoss, and' r^niiu of Mi arim>^BhBi^ade 'OtB'' 
 ^aiegftof Mv^ 9rlMn»^B^ai&9fme; BiriHakfore^ 
 tkere^Terfiiinaiim eftheW&nby u> Treahft^^eoeef 
 mid'Jlmity^nigeitk^mat'Ohenti . *f^ 
 
 on Ihe easterti coasts during ^eiBUBiiiiep wlol4, ^^ci 
 dre^v beffli li'aced -rto the occupalioh. pif tfiastpct^ ftftd* 
 Ga8tkiie» m^the besiiAiiiiij^ of SenfeCiitifoen« Ui^'^eir '^mi 
 tionb alepg< tiie moFd». of iSke\^lx^t»eak^)»f, w^HuK 
 sdutheni emit, tHey? iikave iidt be4iifMNwed'biByo}id#iik< 
 at^k upon ^SkkA^^fmiii^i^ 
 
 c^ttne. At'tliatiienoe^Vi'floti^ con^stiiiigif^l & toittvr^ 
 W0 ^n boats, agailey/andrnine kiige barges, sail^^^JFroiii 
 Balibmore^ under coninibdore Bikmej, for the protectioB^ 
 of the InletF and (u^bours m tJtei»ev«l«li {puts ot< the biPjr. 
 On the let June, beioe at the liMMitik; of tite Patuxeat, the 
 commodore diBGOvered two schtmners, one of which car- 
 ried 18 guns, uid immediately gave chase. The srhoo^ 
 ners were joined, however, by a large ship, which des- 
 patched numbers itf barges to their ase^stance, and the 
 commodore, ia danger m being cut off from the Poto- 
 mac, sigOaled his flotilla tn «ail up the Patuxent. In the 
 river he engajsed the schooners and the barees, and after 
 be&fing them off with hot shot, he anchoreti within thi^e 
 miles of a 74, stationed at its mou^. In the course of a 
 few days the enemy was reinforced by a razee and a sloop 
 of war, and joining the barges of tiitse vessels, to those 
 witk which they had alreacfy engaged commodore Bar- 
 
(If THE IJLXK WASU 
 
 443 
 
 i.*-.v..-. 
 
 
 
 
 4, 
 
 rt and* 
 
 tection^ 
 
 m^ mn' 
 ch car- 
 
 6rho<v> 
 ;h des- 
 nd the 
 ! Poto- 
 
 In the 
 d after 
 n thi^e 
 se of a 
 El sloop 
 those 
 Bar- 
 
 \ 
 
 aey, ^ley followed his flotilla into St I^onardV creek, 
 two n^iies above the month of which, his ^n (Mats aod 
 barg^ were formed ia Uqe of batt)<$, ^cross the ehaaneii. 
 From this point the commodore eQ^ged ihe«i, and see^ 
 i^g atlisposition to fall back, he immediaJ^jr bor0 down, 
 put t^m to flij^t, and pursued them to within a short 
 diftancw.of theur shipping which consisted oi a €(hip, a 
 brigy and, two schooners, Jn ii«iE^ aftfuriioon of the lOtb, 
 the enemy made another attempt upon th^ flo^a, with 
 twenty barges and the two schooner^. The commodio^ 
 immeaiately moved upon them, and after a smart fire, 
 drove the barges down ic^' the 11^ gun vessel, which, i» at^ 
 tempting to beat out, was ao severely hani^J^d, that her 
 cre%v r^ her aground and abandoned ner. 
 
 These atteni^cfts upon the flotilla were constantly re- 
 peated, and its olockade in St. l^eonandV continued until 
 the 2^; on the morning of which day, a combined at- 
 tack w'a corps of artillery, tirhich had. been despatched 
 from Washington to its assistance, a detachment of the 
 marine corps, and the flotilla itselC was made upon the 
 whole squadrnp, among which were two frigates. The 
 action continued upv/ai^s of two hours, ai^, terminated 
 i^ diiving ihe enemy from his anchorage. His ^ips stood 
 doi^n the river, and commodore Barney finding the block- 
 ade raised, sailed out of St Leonard's, and proceeded up 
 the Patuxent 
 
 The British squadron, at the difierent actions in the 
 Chesapeake, were now every day augmented, by arrivals 
 of transports mnd ship^s of tKe Une troya S^)and, The 
 cessation of hostiUUes which had taken place in EujTope, 
 enabled the Bfitish ^vernment to, send out powerful re-> 
 inforcements to their fleets and armies already on tiie 
 4?oast, and admiri^l sir Alexander Cochrane had been des- 
 patched with upwards of 30 sail, having on board aii furmy 
 of several thousand men, under major general RosSf"— 
 This force entered the ChOsapeake \n the course of the 
 summer, and b^itween the lana and naval commandi#s, a 
 plan '^f attack npon Washington, Alexandria, and Balti- 
 more, was aoon al^r iMldbted. A few weeks before the 
 repulse of sir George Prevost, at Plattsburg, admiral 
 Cochrane notyied the secretary of state, of his leaving 
 been called upon by the governor general, to lay waate. 
 
 
m 
 
 1 
 
 Vi'' 
 
 if 
 
 i 
 
 Hi 
 
 Ifl: ■ 
 
 334 
 
 HI83;^B1CAL SKETCHES 
 
 aitd destroy, all such towns and districts upon the coast 
 as might be foand assailable; and^that he had in conse- 
 quence issued his prders to that effect, to all the naval 
 commanders upon the siation. . ' 
 
 If thi» despktch were forwarded wilh the honourable 
 intent of a)>prising the American government of ihe con- 
 templated attack upon the eapital, the object was either 
 wilfully, or throu^ negB^hte, defeated; for, previously 
 to the receipt orM8 notice at the depar^ent of state, 
 tile enemy was already ascending, in two divisions of his 
 fleet, the Patuxent and the.Potqmac. In the first of these 
 rivers, his force; amounted' to 27 square rigged vessels, all 
 of which proceeded to Benedict, the h^ul of frigate navi- 
 gation, and landed about 6000 regulars, seamen and ma< 
 nnes. Coqamodore Barney,^ by the ord^ of the secre- 
 tary of the navy, had made arrangements to have blown 
 up thi flotilla on the approach of the enemy; and joined 
 the arfipiy, under general Winder. As soon as the enemy 
 appeared, the flotilla was accordingly blown up. The 
 enemy then took up his march 4>y me. way of Notting- 
 ham and Marlborough for Washington. « At this tin^e 
 general Wiujder, with the forces intended to oppose him, 
 was at the Wood-Yard, twelve miles to the.soutiiward 
 of the capital. His force at tiiis place amounted to about 
 three thousand, including seamen and marines; As it 
 was ascertained thai the enemy was anproaching, gene- 
 ral Winder fell back to the Battalion Old Fields, tp. pre- 
 vent his communication with the city from bein^ inter- 
 cepit^d. On tite etenine of the d3d, general Ross m force 
 pushed within a few miles of the Old Fields, and bivoil- 
 acked'for the night. In the course of the afternoon pre- 
 <^edin^ his van*euard encountered the light corps of lieu- 
 tenant colonel Hcott, majorTeter, aiid captain 8tull, with 
 whom a few shot were exchanged, when on the arrival of 
 die British column these corps retreated and joined the 
 Ami^rican army. About twijiight, eeneral Winder took 
 up hn march from the Battalion. Old Fields, crossed the 
 eastern branch of the Potomac, above the navy yard, and 
 encamped near the Irid^. Earlj^ on the 24#), the enemy's 
 column resum(ed its march, and reached Bladensburg, 
 about § miles from Washington, without loss. At Bladens- 
 burg, general Stansbury had taken an advantageous posl- 
 
OJP T&E 1^1% WAB. 
 
 $^ 
 
 a coast 
 
 conse- 
 
 naval 
 
 [>ttrable 
 [ie ccm- 
 either 
 viottsly 
 f state, 
 } of his 
 >f these 
 »els, all 
 le navi- 
 ind ma- 
 I secre- 
 i blown 
 1 joined 
 1 enemy 
 ). The 
 Jotting- 
 is tiine 
 )se him, 
 ithward 
 o about 
 As it 
 . gene- 
 t^pre- 
 j inter- 
 m force 
 bivort- 
 on pre- 
 if heu- 
 1, with 
 rival- of 
 led ^e 
 r took 
 ed the 
 ti. And 
 nemy's 
 sburg:, 
 adens- 
 8 posi- 
 
 tion; and bj the ^^eatesi exertion, general Winder was 
 enabled to interpose his whole force before the enemy, in,- 
 cludine commodore Barney's flolilla mjenuid m^nes. At 
 1, P. M the action commenced: The Baltinikore artiUery, 
 under captains lii^ers and Maegcuder, supported bj mii- 
 jor Pinkney's riflemen, were statijOned in advance, i0 
 command the pas^ of the. bridge^ and dealt out a very 
 destructive fire. BUt the fl^ti^ column i^lvanced upon 
 them in such gupertor force, that tliey were dt>Ttgea to 
 retire. .Upon which, the. right and centre of geneml StJEpiSr 
 bury's brigiMle, immediately ^ve way, and in a few mi- 
 nutes he was deserted by his whole command, except 
 about 40 men of colonel Ra&an*s reghntnat, and captain 
 Shower's company. The 5m«Bal1iittore raiment, under 
 colonel Sterret, stationed on the left of general Btan6- 
 bury's brigade, maintained its ground, untiC test it should 
 be ou^anked, an order was given for its retreat The 
 reserve, under brigadier general Smith, of the District of 
 Columbia, with commodore Barney and lieutenant colonel 
 Beajil on their right, still remained upon the hill, and con- 
 tinued the contest after the fli^tjof me Maryland bri^^ei^ 
 As the militia retired, the British regularsjulvaiiced upon 
 tlie main^ad, and coming immediately in front of com- 
 modore Barney's corps, he opened his iS-pounders upon 
 them, which cleared the road, and for a time disordered 
 their cnlumn, and retarded their approach. Two other 
 attempts made bv the enemy to pass the batten^, were 
 also repulsed; when general Ross marched k division nf 
 his troops into an open field, with % determination to flank 
 ^e commodore's right This attempt also was frustrated 
 by captain Miller, of th<e maiines, with three IS-ponnders, 
 and tne flotilla-men acting as infantry. After being thus 
 kept in check^about halfan hour, general Ross began to 
 outflank the right of the battery, in large numbers f and 
 pushed his main body over the ground which, had been 
 abandoned by general Smith's brigade, and threatened to 
 turn Barney's left. Having expended nearly all his agi- 
 munition, and in consequence of the retreat of general 
 Smith's brig^e, being unprotected on his left, commodore 
 Barney found himself unable to contend longer against 
 the overwhelming force of ihe enemy. To add to his 
 prtsent embaiTassments* he receivea himself a severe 
 
 .i 
 
306 
 
 HlStOBtOitlr SK^TCIVES 
 
 wtfumd m the thigh, add \mi the semces of two of his 
 ptitfcifi^i officers* Who were kiHed, aiid dho of enpfiatn 
 Mlkrof^the inaiiiiesy and saititig miiAter Marthi» who 
 were wouiided. At this juncture, the etiem^f from the 
 i^t^ftnd left wiut gaining the real" of the btttery. llraft 
 •ita«ted» the comittOiiore pcft orders fer a retreat,, and 
 aket beinfr carried a short dktance from the scene of his 
 gatlantniiie fell, eshansted by the l«ss of bl^Mkl, andlnras 
 geon amr made .prisoner by general Ross and admiral 
 CdckhUm, who pot htm on his parole, and hiiving fin^t 
 ri^oved him to their hospital in Bladenshnrg, ordered 
 the immediate att^ndanceef their surgeons to dress his 
 wounds 
 
 Having thUd obtidned possession of the bridge, over 
 the easbm branch of the Potomac, the enemy marched 
 directly upon the capital, and immediately proceeded to 
 thtf destruction of all the spacious and splendid edifices 
 by which it was adorned. The senate house, the repre- 
 swtattive hflU» the supreme court room, ^ prendent^s 
 houae» witb all its external and interior decorations, and 
 the buildings cimtaining the public departments, were 
 very soon- deMoli^edt m severM private houses burned 
 to me ground. The phinder of individual property was 
 prohibite<^ however, and soldiers transgressing the order 
 were aeterely punished. The prihcipaivengeance of ad^ 
 miral Cockbum* on whom, ijf the safety of the citizens' 
 dwellings had alone depended, if he is to be judged ^y 
 hi» former conduct, thet would have rested on « ^Tender 
 guaranty, was db^ectoo against .theprin'ting office of the 
 editor of a newspaper, from wliose press had been issued 
 6«qtie«it accounts of the admiral's depredations along the 
 coast • ' ^ 
 
 Thffe navy yard, a» well as a new first rate frigate, and 
 If sloop of war, were destroyed by order of govemment, 
 upon the approach of the enemy, to^ prevent &e immense 
 public stores, munitioas and armaments, deposited there, 
 ft«m ftLIIing into his hands^ The patent office alone, in 
 which were collected the rarest specimens of the arts of 
 the country, escaped the insatiable vengeance of a foe, 
 whose dec^troying arm was directed against tfie most su- 
 
 Serb monuments of architectural skill, and public muni^ 
 cence. fht public documents and official records^ the 
 
OlF THE LATK WAR. 
 
 337 
 
 e of his 
 eftpfftin 
 in, who 
 roi» the 
 . lliffft 
 eftf ,, and 
 teof h» 
 afldWad 
 admiral 
 ing firftt 
 ordered 
 Iress Ins 
 
 ge, over 
 marched 
 eed^ to 
 [ edifices 
 le repre- 
 emdenfft 
 ons^ and 
 to, Were 
 s burned 
 ert^ wa« 
 he order 
 ce of ad- 
 citizens' 
 Ldffedl^y 
 dtender 
 iec^ the 
 ti issued 
 long the 
 
 ate, and 
 imment, 
 mmeflse 
 !d there, 
 tlone, in 
 I arts of 
 \( a foe, 
 most 8u- 
 ic munr- 
 rdsy the 
 
 fiags, and various other trophies of the repeated triumphs 
 of th(» Am«^iDan arms, and the spede fiitmi «U the bai&s 
 in the district, had previousiv been jdaced beyond the 
 reach of the cupidity of the invaders, and they re<]imed 
 from an irru{iitien which excited the indtena^on of all 
 parties in the union, and drew forth the depi'eciitiQBs of 
 theprincipal nations in Europe. 
 
 The president and the heads of departments, all of 
 whom had visited the rendezvous of the troops at Bla^ 
 densburg^ the day before the battle, findin|^ that the force 
 which had been hastily assembled, did iipt amount to the 
 number called for bv the requisitions upon the ad}acent 
 states, returned to the me^opolis to maxe arrangements 
 for the augmentation df geutoral Winder's army^ This 
 duty, which in times of less danger, required the exercise 
 of great energy, could not be performed^ before the ene- 
 my ; had encountered and defeated the cerpSf already Col- 
 lected. The capture of tliese officers would have caused 
 at least a temporary derangement of the government, 
 and in order that its functions mi^t be resumed unme^ 
 diittielj^ after the departure of ^ ^nemy^ tbev ietivcd 
 from the metropolis on his approadb Ij^ikeral Winder 
 had alsn withdrawn, with the remnant of his force to 
 Mont^Somery courlliouse: the dtizens were incapable of 
 opposing the hostile operations of the British comman- 
 ders; and the capital was therefinre entirely^ at their 
 mercj^ ■■ '-h s'>'"^-^?^»^' • :■* ' 
 
 Tlidt division <^ the enemy's fleets which ascended the 
 Potomac, consisting of 8 smC upon which were mounted 
 175 guns, and commanded by captain Gordon, was direct- 
 ed to attack the city of Alexanaria. As they apptMieb- 
 ed up the riv«!r, the commandant of fort Waniurtc^ cap- 
 tain Uyson, destroyed that garrison, and retired with his 
 artillerists, and the British squadron passed up ta the city, 
 without annoyance or impednnent The peopleef Alex- 
 andria surrendered their town, and obtamea a stipular 
 tion on the 29th of August, from the i&Tiish comman- 
 der, that their dwellings should not be entered Or destroj*- 
 ed. The condition upon which this stipulation was made, 
 required ^e immediate delivery to tne enemy, of all 
 puolic and private naval and ormiance stores; of all thfe 
 shipping, and the furniture necessary to their equipment, 
 then in port; of all the merchandise, of every descrio- 
 
 Ff 
 
 i ■ 
 
I 
 
 s&a 
 
 Ul^TOmiCAL «]^TCHEM 
 
 M. 
 
 tioit trtktittier in the town, or removed from it since the 
 19tb of i^e mon^; that such merchandise should be put 
 OK board ^« sh^ipins, attlie eipense of the owners; and 
 iStait fdl tesseh wliicn m^jat have been suidt upoa th^ ap- 
 (iroach qf the enemy, should be raised by the merchants 
 and delivered up» with all their apparatus. These hard 
 and ungenerous conditions were complied witii; and on 
 the '6th of Septen^r, ci^ytain Gordm moved off with a 
 ^Iciet of ptwi vessels, which, tA welt as his frigatea and 
 other vessels oi War, contained caraoes of booty. In 
 descending the river, he was warmfy opposed, and re> 
 Ceived considerable damage from tw0 oatteries at the 
 White House, and at Indian ileftd, under the respective 
 commands of captains Porter and Perry, of the navy— • 
 the former assisted by gei^nd Hungeitord'sr brigade of 
 VMnia militia infimtiy, and a eompany of riflemen, fi»m 
 Jdrorson county, under captain Humphreys, whose bro- 
 Dier lost an arm in Htut en^igement ; and the latterly tiie 
 taigade' of jeeneral Stewart, and the volunteer companies 
 of nu^ot' Rster and captain Birch. The batteries, how- 
 ever, not being completed, and mounting but a few light 
 pieeesy ' could^ not invent the departure of tiiie enemy 
 with his knmense booty, though' they k^t up an mces- 
 smt ire from the 3d until ^e 6th tfi the mon^, upon 
 ^ vwBsela pasting down on each of f^iese days. Gem- 
 modore Rodgert, too, aided by lieutenant Newcombe 
 and sailing master Ramaj^e, made frequent attempts to 
 destn^ the enemy^ shipping, by approaching withm the 
 liiiige of musket «hot, with several small fire vessels. 
 After the cornmunication of the fire, a change of wind 
 prevented these vessels from getting in between the Bri- 
 tiih fiq^tes, thou^ they exerted much alarm among^ the 
 fteet, whose men were aetinsely employed in extinguish- 
 ing the flsMnes. These remctive forces were afterwards 
 eoncfcntrated, and commodore Rodgers took possession 
 of Aleiandria, wKliadetenmnatiMi to defend it, notwit^^ 
 studKng its surrender, against another attempt of the 
 encniiy, wftose fleet was not yet out of sight from the 
 n^M«Bt battery. 
 
 After tbe embarkation ai the troops under general 
 Rtes, ivhose loss at Bladensbufg neariy amounted ta 
 1000 meu, in killed, wounded, pnson^rs^ cteserters, and 
 those who died of fatigue, admiral Ck>chnine coficentmt* 
 
 ■ 
 
# 
 
 it nnce tlie 
 
 ^ould be put 
 
 »wnere| and 
 
 upoii th« ap- 
 
 te merchants 
 
 These hard 
 
 ^ith; and on 
 
 idoffwii^a 
 
 frigates and 
 
 booty. In 
 
 »ed, and r»- 
 
 eries at the 
 
 e respective 
 
 the navj-— 
 
 9" brigade of 
 
 B«nieQ,from 
 
 whose bro- 
 
 latteri^ ^ 
 
 r compaMies 
 
 teries, how- 
 
 afew light 
 
 the «neinj 
 
 tp an mces- 
 
 tonth, upon 
 
 lys. Gom- 
 
 Newtombe 
 
 tttempts to 
 
 within the 
 
 re vessels. 
 
 ;e of wind 
 
 n the Bri- 
 
 amoi^the 
 
 ^xtinguish- 
 
 afterwards 
 
 possesalon 
 
 U notwitf^^ 
 
 ipt of the 
 
 irom the 
 
 r general 
 Minted la 
 -ters^ and 
 pcentral* 
 
 W THE l^ATB WAB. 
 
 ($89 
 
 ed the various detachments of his fleet* ai|d made prftpa- 
 ratioua for an attitck upon the city of Baltimore. 
 
 Despatch veswla were forwarded to all pwts lif ithe 
 bay, to call toother the frigates stationed &««^' IN ^i^ 
 Cerent shores, abd among others the M^nel^tuB, «^«ii;naiid- 
 ed by sir Peter Parker, and then Tying in the neigtilpiUl^ 
 hood of Moors f!ieldi9. That officer determined o» an 
 expedition against a detachment of MaryUind vptuntejevs^ 
 encamped, under colonel Read» at tlu^ fields, belore h$ 
 obeyed the call of the adtaiiral ; and for that purpose land* 
 ed with 230 men, and maHe a detour.to lurprise and cut 
 it o£ The deiachmeni; consisted oif 170 m^nj ami ilfi 
 commander* being apprised of th^ enemy's mQtii9n8,, was 
 fttUy ptepared to receive him. 3ir Peter advanced to a 
 chajrg^ and being repulsed, opened a fire within pistol 
 shot, wiuch continued. neiirLy an hour. At the en4 <»f 
 that <3tae his force was cbrivea back, with a h»$ <»f XT 
 carried off, jind 19 kilted» and 3 wounded, left upo9k tbe 
 ground: among the wounded was sir Peter, who dli^d 
 immediately ali6r being mi on board the iS|ene)au9»r- 
 Colonel Read hsid 3 men slightly wounded. The Mfoe- 
 laus joined tiie .fleet upon the following day, and sailed 
 with it to the mou^ of the Petapsco iott die 10th of Stt^ 
 ten^ber. 
 
 The fleet consisted of nearly . 40 sail, and the he«:ilest 
 vessels, ships of r the line, anchored across the cha<iii«l, 
 and commenced the debarkation of the troops* i^ended 
 for the Ittnd attack, upon North Point, 12 miles distisnt 
 from the city. By the morning of the I2th> abonjtt 8000 
 soldiers, sailors, aitd marmei^ were in readinesS^ to march 
 upon the town, andjl^Q kwib vessels and frigates pro- 
 ceeded up the river, and inchored within two OEMJes ai^d 
 an half or fort M*Hetiry> 
 
 This ^rison^ commanded bv, lieutenant cplonel 0. 
 Armtstead, of the United Slates* artillery; a.Ui^ttei^ at 
 ^ Lazaretto, commanded by lieuteiiattt » i&utte^, oi the 
 flotilUi; asmsll workrcaUed f^rt Covington^ by lieutenant 
 Newcombe* of the ^hierrieve ; a sii am battery^ erected 
 near it, by lieutenant X^ebster, of tlie flotilla; andlinvf of 
 intrenchments and breastworks, hasttlv thrown up by the 
 people of Baltimore, werie rtiMed cm for the defence and 
 protection of the city. 
 
 
 HGA»-*-Hi#i"J' 
 
340 
 
 UISTOaiCAJi SKETCHES 
 
 'I- 
 
 :^/'^t,tlie forts: and bfttteries, 1000 men were stationed; 
 along the breasWorks, about four times that number ; 
 and ul under temmind of major general Samuel Smith, 
 aaiisted br brigadier general Wmder, of the United States* 
 eirta?jf, and bt^^er general Strieker, of the Baltimore 
 
 In anticipation of the enemy's intention to land at the 
 point, and to meet and repulse his Inght parties, or to en- 
 g^ige Ins whole force at a distance f^i>m the main worics, 
 geneial Strieker was despatched with part of his Mgade, 
 and a light corps of riflemen and tn&nti7, from general 
 Siaasbury's brigade, under miyor Randal, and several 
 companies of the Pennsylvania volunteers* : On^eeven- 
 ine of thellth, this detachment, amounting to 3t85 
 emctive inen, reached <he meeting house, naar the head 
 irf" BiUir creek, when the yoliinteer cavalry, wider oo^ 
 lOnelBiays^ were sent three miles, and captain Dyer's ri- 
 flemen, two miles, in advance. Early on the following 
 momine/ cantain MQntg;omery, . with the artillery; lieute- 
 nant colonel Sterret, v^ith the 5th; and li«ttenant colonel 
 Long, with the 27th re^ments, were smt some distance 
 t\>rw«*d. The artillery was planted in the ndddte of 
 the^^orth Point road, al^l supported on each iank by the 
 two infantry regiments. The 51st regiment, underliett- 
 teniuit coknel Amey, Was stationed a^few hundred yards 
 in (^ rear of the 5tn; the 39th, under lieutenant colonel 
 Powler, in the rear of the 37th| and the 6tii, under lien- 
 tenant colonel M'Donald, drawn up as a reserve, bilf a 
 niSle in ^ rear of the whole. 
 
 The riflemen were ordered to skirt a low wood, with 
 a large sedge field in its front, under cover of which, as 
 thecavidry fell back to appiise general Strieker of the 
 approach of the enemy, they were to annoy the British 
 advance, and retire in ^ood order upQn the main body of 
 '^e troops. Soon lifter these dispositions had been made, 
 tti<^ cavalry ^cume in with the intUligeiioe, that the ene- 
 my^ light corps Were rapkily adi^iBcinff ako^ the road, 
 and at Uie monient when it was expilcted they would be 
 engiged hy the riflemen, >that bod^ was aeon falKng hack 
 without havine o|^[H>sed them, underajpvesttmption that 
 the enemy had landed at Blaek river^ ib orckrr to cut off 
 their retreat The general immediately pushed ibrwaid 
 two comjianies from the 5th infantry, 150 in number. 
 
OV TUB LAm WMU( it 
 
 541 
 
 itioned; 
 lumber; 
 { Smith, 
 IBtates' 
 litimore 
 
 id at the 
 ir to en- 
 t works, 
 
 genertl 
 several 
 he even- 
 to 3185 
 the head 
 ider co- 
 dyer's ri- 
 »lk>wing 
 ; lieute- 
 b"Golonei 
 distance 
 idd}e of 
 k by the 
 er Ji^ 
 id yards 
 colonel 
 er lien* 
 tedfa 
 
 t' I..,- i . 
 
 d, ^th 
 kich» as 
 1^ the 
 Bifttish 
 body of 
 I made, 
 K» ene- 
 lie road, 
 Hiid be 
 igback 
 m that 
 c»t^ 
 qrwaid 
 umber. 
 
 under €i|^i^ Levering aiid Hdwwd; immI commokM 
 by- majdrmath, of that regimenii about 70 riAelDM%#n*> 
 wtr oafitain Aisqiiith; the cavairy;aiid 10irtilUiia4f«^M» 
 a 4 "ponndM-, eoinmaiided b^ lieatanant 0t3«i. > ^Chiv d»* 
 tadinieiit, having proceeded half k mdt, wtt m&th^ and 
 instantly engaged, the enemy's main ^ady, ISia •itii»< 
 tion of the ground would vot admit of die co<opera#DAof 
 ^ arttllelT and ^ralrjr; and the infantrr tnd riflemoiif 
 sosiained iKe whole action with great ganan<rv» pooring 
 in a rafdd aiiid effective fire upon the Britisn enkimm 
 kiUingiikajor general lUws, and several other olficert, wid 
 impemng th« advance of the Britisb arpiy. Httfiimnm*i 
 formed mt dii^ fe(}uir^d of them by nnend StneW« 
 the whole detachment, with a trifling loas. Ml bade in 
 exeeltant order npon the Ameiiean line^ The enemy 
 then miWed forward, under eolonel Brooke, upon whom 
 the commadd bad devolved^ and at half tiast 2 bemm to 
 throw bia rockett upon tile left flank or the ndUtia tiri* 
 gsde. Captain MontMmer^ immediateljr opened hit ir* 
 tMi«ryupon him, and lie British played upon the left and 
 centra with their 6 noundera and a howitxer* The ^u^ 
 nonide oontinaed with great vivad^, until general Btriek* 
 er6rdei«d the firing io ceftse, so as to draw the onemy 
 witiHtt the raiKe of grape and eanitter* Colonel Brookio 
 then covered hia whole front with the Bvltiih light bri- 
 s^icte; directed the 4th regiinent, by a detflttr, to gitfn a 
 todgmentclbse upon the. American left, and (brmectaline 
 along general SMcker^ front, witb tha 41tt Mgimettt^ thd 
 marinea <rf the fleet; and ^a detachment of seamen; and 
 placed the Stst regiment, the 3d battalion of marines^ 
 and' another detachment of seamen, in coinmns en the 
 main rbad, with orders tb press on the American right-on 
 the first opportunity. General Strieker, seeing thftt hts 
 left flank would be the main obfeet of attack, cfdered up 
 the SSth into line on the STth, and detached two jpieeei 
 of artillery to the exta^eme left of lieutenant edonel Ft>W^ 
 Inr^ command. Lleutenunt colonel Anu^ was alio di- 
 re<sted to form the 5latriA right angles, iHtb bis vight Met* 
 tngnear the left W the S9lbi 
 
 Irhe whole force of the ^nemy at that moment j>reMed 
 forward hia rbht eorumn, advanckig npon the s/th and 
 IM» and attadced those regiment* with great impetno^ 
 sity. The 5lst> which waa onlered to open upon the eae^ 
 
 Ff2 
 
34£ 
 
 lIISTOmCA];. fiKB'TCHES 
 
 my in his attempt to turn the rest of the line, deliveretl 
 a loose fire, immediately broke, fled precipitately from 
 its ground, and in such confusion, that every effort to 
 raBy tt>r0yed ineiiectuaL The Sd battaUon of the 39th, 
 l^aa thtowB into lUsorder, by the flight ol the ^Ist, imd 
 fome of its comnanies also gave way. The remainder, 
 and the 1st battalion stood firm. Thus abandoned by 
 the retteat of the 51st, general Strieker made newer* 
 langements for the reception of the enemv, and opened 
 ajeneral fire upon hiss, from the right, left and centre. 
 The artillery, sent forth a destructive torrent of canister 
 a|;iiii«it the British left column, then attempting^ gain 
 theiO^ver of a small log house,, in front of the 5th regi- 
 mei^ Captain Sadtler, with his yagers from that re^ 
 mtA^ who were posted in the house when the Aritish 
 4th re|[iment was advancing had, however, taken ^* 
 precaution tojset file to it, ana the intention of the eneu^j 
 was tlierefore defeated^ The 6th mgiment then opened 
 its: fire, and the whole line entered into an animatea con- 
 test, which continued with a severe loss to the enemy, 
 un^ 15 minutes before 4 o^clock. At that hour, general 
 Strieker, haviiig inflicted as much injury upon the inva- 
 ders ^as eoula possibW.be expected, from a line noW but 
 1400 stronft afiinst a forcie amounting, notwitiistanding 
 its losies, !lik & least 7000 men, ordem hia bri^e to 
 i«etii% upon the reserve regiment; an order which was 
 Wfil executed by. ^ whole line, which in a few minutes 
 mtti^d upon Ueutenant colonel M*0ottald. From the 
 |li|jsi%;0ccupied by this regiment^ general Strieker, in 
 order to refresh ms troops, and prepare them for a se« 
 cond movement 01 the enemy, retired to a position half 
 axmile.in.ad^ABce of the left of major general Smith's 
 wtrenchm^ts. Here he was joined by general Winder, 
 who, with seneral Douglass's Virginias bri^^, fend the 
 IJnited Stipes' dragoons, under captain Bird, took post 
 upon his left. 
 
 .• sWlnlst aU these movements were in operation, general 
 Smith was actively engaged in manning ^e^^«nches and 
 batteries with generals Stanabury ai^ Foreman's bri- 
 gades, a deta«(shmeni of seam^ aim^ marines, under com- 
 modore Bo(l[gers» colonels Cobean and Fitily^s Fmnsyl- 
 vania volunteers, colonel Harris's Bdtimore artillery, and 
 ^e nuurine jwtillery under captaiaSliles, Colonel Brooke 
 
OF THE ULfE WAB. 
 
 34JI 
 
 iW but 
 
 com- 
 
 ;aiMl 
 rooke 
 
 ^id not advance with his columns farther than the mmnd 
 on which general Strieker had been previously formed, 
 where he remained during the night of the 12tii. Early 
 on the. following morning he received a communication 
 from admiral .Cochrane, mat the frigates, bomb shipsi, and 
 flotilla of halves, would take their stationt, tobombard 
 the town and fort in tiie course of the morning. At day- 
 break of the 18th, the land forces, therefore, a^uo: moved 
 forward, and occupied a position two inilet easl^vard of 
 the intronclmients. The day was chiefty enmloyed in 
 man«BHvrii^ by 1x>th parties; colonel Brooke frequen^^y 
 attempting to make a detour throuril the country, to the 
 Harford and York roads,and generals Winder and Strieker 
 adapting their movements to those of the enemv^the bet« 
 ter to frustrate his designs. At noon tte Britim columns, 
 were concentrated directly m front of the American line, 
 and colonel Bitioke advanced to within a mile »f the 
 works, drove in the outposts* and made arraiigenientB ^Ror 
 an attack at night. Generals Winded and Strieker were 
 then ordered to station themselves on the enemy's rig^t, 
 and in the event of an attack upon the breastworks, 
 to fsll'wpoK.^t flank, or on his rear. Hm assanH was 
 net made, however, and (he enemy, probably thinking he 
 would be outflanked, and having discovered the stitsngth 
 of the defences, withdrew fnimhis position in the couiiie 
 of the ni^^t, and re-embarked his troops in^e evenii^ of 
 the 14tii. His retreat was not discdvered uH^l break of 
 that day»in consequence of the dat^kness of the night ; 
 and thottgh a heavy fall of rain cohtinned throughout Ihe 
 morning, g|eneiiil Winder witk h'ls dragoons and the Yit^ 
 ginia militia, major Randal with his Mght corpse and the 
 whole mititia ai|d cavalry, were stint in pursuit The ex- 
 cessive fati^e of the troops, all of whom had been three 
 days and nights under arms, in the moat inclanent wea- 
 ther, prevented their annoying the eneniyfs rear with 
 much effect, and they made prisoners of none bht strag- 
 glers from his army. At the mom»it when colonel 
 iorooke advanced along the Philadelphia road, the M- 
 galies and bomb shim of the fleet nqiproached n^thin 
 strikinff distance of me fort Colonel Armistead had id- 
 ready disposed of his force to maintain the cannonade 
 with vigoui^; a c«npany of regular artillery, under cap- 
 tain Evans, and another of volunteer arallery, under 
 
■M 
 
 344 
 
 nilTOltieAI. SEBTORfeS 
 
 captain Nicholson, manned the bastions in the Star fort; 
 captains BitfllNinr and Addison^ sea feneibles, and cap'- 
 tain Berry's, and lieutenant Peaningptna'a artillery, were 
 stationed al the water batteries; and about ^00 Infontry, 
 under lieutenant coSonel Stewart, and major Lane, were 
 
 5 laced in the outer ditch, to repulse an attempt to land, 
 fhe iiombnrdment commenced. All the batteries were 
 immediatrij opened upon the enemy, but the shot fldling 
 verrfar sliort'of his vessels, ilie firing ceased fruin the 
 fori or was maintained only at intervals, to show that 
 the garrison had not' sank under the tremendons showers 
 of rockets and shellst incessantly thrown into the batte- 
 ries. Thus situated, without the power of retaliating the 
 attack of the enemy,colonel Armistead and his bniv« m^n 
 endured their mortification with an unyielding^ spirit do* 
 ring the whole bombardment, Which eontmued un^ 7 
 o'doiftk on the monuAg of the 14th. Under cover of the 
 night, the British commanders dMpalched a fleet of 
 barges to attflick and storm fort CovingtOfi. The attempt 
 was repulsed^ however, and the assaihints retired with 
 an immense loss, to their bomb vessels; and on the 
 morninff of Wednesday, the whole stood down the river, 
 and rgoincd admiral Cechrane's Aeet The loss in the 
 fort amounted to 4 killed, and ^ wdnnded t anioh|{ th« 
 kUled werQ two eallant young voliinteer officers, lieut^<» 
 ttants Glagget and Ctem. The entire loss of the en<imy 
 has not VMbe^ ascertained. That of the Americans on 
 the field <)f bi^ttle did not fall short of 150, whicln beintf 
 added to the kilted and wounded in the fot^ makes a total 
 of t78. The invaders havii^ thus retiried fiivm what they 
 calleid a dononstraSon iipdn BaltiM4re, the safety of the 
 citiizeni was secured,and the diflhi«nt corps werfe relieved 
 fiiBm further duty. V 
 
 The plan of operatieni/howe^r, whidi hifd been adopts 
 ^ 1^ tiie Biitiih cabinet, to d«»troy and lay waste th« 
 prki^ipal towns imd commercial cities, assailable eithier 
 ny/mmr land or naval forces, Was not to be abandoned 
 becauie of this r^lse^ gallant md effective as it was; 
 <^The cities of Charleston, Savannah, Baltimore and 
 WanhingtM, were destined to' be burtied and plun- 
 dered *, and l4)eW' Orteans, the great emporium of an the 
 wealth and treasure of the western states, waa to be 
 seized, ai|d held as a colony of Oreat Britain. The f^tl- 
 
tar fori; 
 titd cap*- 
 y, were 
 nfantiy, 
 
 tiff WOM 
 
 to land, 
 les were 
 t iUling 
 mm the 
 ow that 
 showers 
 ke batte- 
 ting the 
 [ivem^n 
 lirit dti- 
 nntit 7 
 r of the 
 fleet of 
 attempt 
 ed with 
 Ml the 
 ife river, 
 
 in, the 
 »ii|( the 
 
 heute- 
 
 enemy 
 cans oil 
 n being 
 
 a tout 
 at they 
 
 of the 
 ^Keved 
 
 adopt- 
 ite the 
 either 
 doned 
 t was. 
 
 and 
 plan- 
 It the 
 to be 
 
 ffttl- 
 
 •F THE LATE WAB. 
 
 S45 
 
 ure of her arms, in an assault upon either of these places, 
 was not to prevent an attack upon another, no natter 
 what the slaughter; and the separate commandtra were 
 directed to concentraite their forces, or diaw from the 
 Bermudas such an augmentation as should be neeessanr, 
 and in the event of sncoeseive repulses upon other ob- 
 jects^ to bend all their strength a^unst the city of New 
 Orleans^ and its defences on the- Mississippi. At tiie 
 Bermudas a powerful and well appointed fleet «Ml>anny 
 was, for this purpose, collected, and their arrival upon 
 the southern coast daily anticipated. Admural Cochrane 
 had, in the mean time, directed a smaller squadron of 
 vessels, then fitting out at Pensacola, in tli^ territory of a 
 neighbouring nation with whom the United States wei^ 
 at the same moment at peace, for an expedition against 
 some of the defences, by wluch the entrances to New 
 Orleans was protected, to make the earliest prepimiisii 
 for an assault upon fort Bowyer, a garrison situiM^ ft* 
 point called Mobile. In the early part of September, 
 this squadron,, consisting >of two sum^s of war, and two 
 gun bri^) mountiiig in all Sl&guns, and commanded by 
 captain Percy, was already on its way to flie intended 
 attacks On the 12th of that month, captain Percy xame 
 within si^t of the fort, landed upwards of 700 Indians 
 and marines in its rear, where^ within a small distance of 
 the garrison, they erected a la^ battery* and towards the 
 evemngof the 15th, tlie assault commenced with a can^ 
 nOniade and bombardment. The fort was commanded 
 b^ major Lawr«aice, of the Sd infantry^ mounted 20 pieces 
 of cannon, most of ^em of small catibre, and was |^- 
 lisoned by less tluui 130 men. With this^isproportaon- 
 ate strength, ma|or Lawrence not onlv sustained a con- 
 flict of several hours, but eventuaUy orove the enemy's 
 troops from their portion on the shore-— destroyed nis 
 principal ship tlie Hermes, which was abandpned by her 
 crew, and alWwards blown out of the water«--«nd re- 
 pulsed his assailiuits with a loss on their side, in, killed 
 and wounded, of 2S0 men. The reinaining ships of tlie 
 squadron returned to Pensacola, where they were again 
 received by the governor, to repair th^ losses and obtain 
 new equipment^ Mortified in tiie extreme at th^ir ui£^ 
 expected disa^r, and foUy determined on avenging it, 
 the British commanders fordiwith commenced the enlai^- 
 
^aiiK^ 
 
 JPS 
 
 346 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 m 
 
 IB€nt of their foi'ces, by enlisting new tribes of Indians, 
 provided with arms, anu ammunition, at the expense of 
 the Spaniards. 
 
 The Creek Indians, whose numerous hordes had al- 
 ready been repeatedly defeated, at the Alabama, the Hic- 
 kory grounds, and elsewhere, by levies of militia, under 
 maji^r j^neral JacI(;son, (^hen at Tennessee, but now of 
 the Unitejii States' army, a man of great {H-omptness, i}e- 
 cisHon and intrepidity,) and who had been reduce<u to the 
 necesaty of ne^tiating a treaty of peace with the govern- 
 inent, were again uigad to raise the tomfaawk against the 
 people by whom they had been conquered* Until some 
 decisive and effectual measures were adopted to prevent 
 this illegal, and, to the Americans, dangerous intercourse, 
 the inroads of the treacherous savages would become no 
 leas fi'equent than before, and the faciliUes of annoying 
 tiie adjacent Americaa coast l« greatly multiplied. At 
 the appearance of such imminent danger, general Jack- 
 son, wnose head quarters were then at Mobile, did not 
 hesitate wh&t plan to pursue, and without waiting for tlie 
 authority of the government, he immediately cc fleeted a 
 force of nearly 4000 men, and determiued on the occupa- 
 tion i»f, and the expulsion of the enemy from, the town 
 of Pensacola. On iiis arrival before that place he re- 
 quired of the governor, an immediate "Consent to ibe oc- 
 Ckipation of ihe fo^t£^ by tlie Americans, until they should 
 be garrisoned by a sufficient number of Spanish troops 
 tc protect them a^^nst the violation of their neutrality, 
 of which the British forces were entirely regardless. 
 This proposal was unhesitatingly rejected, and after a 
 feeble resistance to his approaches, general Jackson car- 
 ried the place by storm, and forced a compliance with 
 his equitable demand. By the fiersuasion of the British 
 (f^i.zara, however, tJie cominandant of the principal fort 
 was induced to destroy its rrmament, and blow up the 
 bastions, and having secur(>d his troops on board the 
 British squadr-^n, to retire witti them to the HaVAnna. 
 The necessity which took general Jackson to Pensacola, 
 being now therefore at an end, he returned to the Ame- 
 rican territory, and made preimrations for the defence of 
 New Oi'leans. 
 
 From this period, the early part of November, until 
 the middle of December, the naval force upon the sta- 
 
> OF TH£ IiAT£ WAK. 
 
 347 
 
 »f IndiartS, 
 expense of 
 
 es had al- 
 a, the Hit- 
 itia, under 
 mt now of 
 ptness, ile- 
 acfcw to the 
 the govern- 
 against the 
 tFntil some 
 to prevent 
 intercourse, 
 become no 
 >f annoying 
 tiplied. At 
 sneral Jack- 
 ile, did not 
 iting for tlie 
 r ccilected a 
 I the occupa- 
 ki, the town 
 lace he Te- 
 it to tbe oc* 
 they should 
 initv'a troops 
 • neutrality, 
 regardless, 
 and after a 
 ackson car- 
 liance with 
 thtj British 
 incipal fort 
 >low up the 
 board the 
 le Hdvanna. 
 Pensacola, 
 |o the Ame- 
 defence of 
 
 Imbe/, until 
 Ion the sta- 
 
 tion was gradually incretsing; it amomtted at lencth to 
 60 sail, composed principally of ships of the line, heayy 
 frigates, and transports, and comprised of the command 
 of admiral Warren, and the detachment from Bermuda. 
 On board this formidable fleet, was as anny of nearly 
 16,000 men, detailed frf>m the grand army of the Duke of 
 Wellington, ami placed under the chief cimimand of sir 
 iv^wardPackenha'in, th*' ^^'i*c of that distinguished gene 
 ral. To this army wac attached a general stafT, selected 
 from the ablest officers of the army of the continent and 
 including majors generals Gribbs, Keane, and Lambert. •< 
 To watch the approach of the enemy, and to apprise 
 the commander in chief at New Orleans, cf the advance 
 of the fleet, commodore Patterson, commanding on the 
 naval station there, despatched Ave gun boats, under lieu* 
 tensnt Jones, to the pass Chrisdan. These boats consist- 
 ed of No. 5i sailing master Ferris ; £3, lieutenant MlCee- 
 vcr; 150, lieutenant ccnnmandin^ Jones; 162, lieutenant 
 Speddon; 1^3, sailing master Ulnck; and carried 33 guns, 
 and 182 men. The Sea Horse tend»ir, sailing master 
 JohiiHon, had been sent into the bay of St Louis, on ^ 
 morniriff of Ihe 13th December, to remove the public 
 stores &om the ai^acent shore, und was attempted to 
 be c«it ont by three British despatch boats, whom she re- 
 pulsed with considerable loss. Her commander then 
 anchored her, at an advantageous portion near the bank 
 of the lake, on which were stationed two G-pouiders, and 
 awaited the approach of the same barges, and a reinforce- 
 ment of four others. The Sea Horse was vigorously 
 attacked, but continued to resist '.ler assaiiantn upwards 
 of 30 minutes, when sailing master Johiiiscn ser fire to 
 her, escaped to the shore, and destroyed the deposit af 
 provisions and stor^Se Lieutenant Jones, havmg m^w 
 ^i^covered that a squwJron of barges was on its way to 
 die pass, made {arrangements to repulse an a<tt»€k, and 
 for that purpose, ordered the commanders of the boats, 
 to form a line abreast across Malheureux island ehaimel, 
 with springs upon ijfi'd cables. At daylight of the 15th, 
 the enemy approached. The United States' tender, Al- 
 ligator, being to the southward and eastward of the ffun 
 boats, in attempting to join them, was easily captured by 
 a detachment of barges, and the British sipiaflrou, con- 
 sisting of 43 barges, and 3 gigr, mounting 43 guns, toid 
 
!UJJi''iHM"» 
 
 mmm 
 
 348 
 
 UISTORSCAI. SKETCHES 
 
 r" 
 
 t ^ 
 
 i 
 
 c&rrying 120Q men, under the orders of captain Lockyer, 
 formed also a line abreast, in open (Htler, and commenced 
 an engagement Three of them attempted to board No. 
 156, iieutenismt Jones's boat, but were promptly repulsed, 
 >vith the loss, too, of all their officers. A seccmd ai^mpt 
 was, a little while after, mad« by four other barges, with 
 no greater success. Against this boat alone, 15 of the 
 barges were at one moment engaged, and lieutenant Jones, 
 having been wounded, and compelled to go below, and 
 the master's mate, Parker, after defending her to ^e ut- 
 most of his skill, being also wounded, t»e enemy suc- 
 ceeded in carrying her, and turning her gun against tlie 
 other ^n boate. With this acquisition to his strength, 
 the Bntish commander obtained a more easy conquest, 
 which was completed by the surrender of No. 23, lieute- 
 nant M'Keever, who held out to the last This contest 
 was as desi perate as it was unequal ; and the loss on board 
 the flotilla, amounted to 6 men killed, and 35 wounded; 
 on board the enemy's squadron, it was nearly 300. 
 
 By the capture of the gun boats, the principal protec- 
 tion to the coast was lost and the enemy had it in his 
 power, to move at pleasure, and select anj point at which 
 the greatest facility to the landing of his troops^ would 
 be afforded. Accordingly, having collected at the Isle aux 
 Poix, near the entrance of Pearl river, a division of his 
 army, of upwards of 3000 men, under major general 
 Keane, and having ascertained, that a landing might be 
 effected, at the bayou Catalan^ the light brigade, the 4th, 
 85th, and 95th regiments, Lane's rocketteers, and 100 
 tappers tmtd miners, were embarked in boats, under co- 
 lonel Thornton; and the 21 at, 44th, and 93d regiments, 
 under colonel Brooke; and the artillery, under major 
 Muiiro, in small vessels. On the morning of the 23d, 
 (December) this expedition, having sailed through the 
 lake Borgne, landed at the head of the bayou. Under 
 the onmediate directicm of colonel Thornton, a communi- 
 cation was opened through the fields of cane^ the troops 
 advanced upon the high road, surprised and captured an 
 American picquet, passed fort Villere, and possessed a 
 position on general Viller6's plantation, nine miles below 
 New Orleans, with their right on the road, and the left 
 resting on the Mississippi. In the course of the day, they 
 werc^ followed by general Keane, and the remainder of 
 
OF THE XATE WAR. 
 
 S4§ 
 
 n Lockyer, 
 ommenced 
 r board No. 
 y repulsed, 
 nd attempt 
 arges, with 
 , 15 of the 
 snantJonea, 
 below, and 
 ir to the ut- 
 enemy 8uc- 
 against tlie 
 lis strength, 
 y conquest, 
 . 23, heute- 
 rhis contest 
 OSS on board 
 S wounded; 
 300. 
 
 iipal protec- 
 had it in his 
 int, at which 
 oops, would 
 the Isle aux 
 ision of his 
 ijor ffcneral 
 ing might be 
 Me, the 4th, 
 , and 100 
 under co- 
 regiments, 
 nder niajor 
 of the 23d, 
 hrough the 
 rou. Under 
 la communi- 
 L the troops 
 baptured an 
 [possessed a 
 Imiles below 
 Ind the left 
 le day, they 
 emaindet of 
 
 the troops, who immediately bivouacked, and were per- 
 mitted to sleep in the utmost security. The mansion- 
 house of general Villerfe, was ocGupi< ' as the British 
 head quarters. 
 
 The promulgation of the loss of the gu .. boats, and of 
 the entire command of lake Boigne, having been thence 
 given to the enemy, produced a scene of bustle and con- 
 fusion in the city of New Orleans, which could only be 
 allayed by the activity and energy of the commander in 
 chief. Thp confidence with which he had already in- 
 spired the citizens, enabled him to turn this disaster to 
 an eventual advantage, and to animate the re^lars and 
 volunteers, with a patriotic impatience to drive oflf the 
 invaders of the territory. He instantly despatched ex- 
 presses in all directions, sent out messengers to briga- 
 dier general Coffee, at Baton Rouge, to come forth with, 
 his brigade of 2000 mounted volunteers, and made a call 
 upon major general Carroll, of the Tennessee, and gene- 
 ral Thomas, of the Louisiana militia, to organize and en- 
 large their divisions. General Adair was already on his 
 march from Kentucky, with 2500 volunteers from that 
 state ; and before the British could approach the city by 
 land, these forces would in all probability, be concentra- 
 ted under the eye of the commanding general. Mean- 
 while, all the bayous, canals, and roads leading to and 
 from New Orleans, were well reconnoitred, and upon 
 those which the general thought to be passable, fortifi- 
 cations, breastworks, and other defences, were erected. 
 Commodore Patterson was no less active in supplying 
 the places of the seamen who had been capturecl. The 
 United States' schooner Carolina, captain Henley, was 
 sufficiently manned ; but the sloop of war Louisiana, had 
 not one sixth of her crew on board; and governor Clai- 
 borne, who neglected no means of co-operating wi^ the 
 arrangements of major general Jackson, and of giving 
 the utmost facility to the execution of his orders, recom- 
 mended an embargo to the legislature, to prevent the de- 
 parture, in any way whatever, of foreign or native sailors. 
 To lieutenaift C. C. B. Thompson, of the United States' 
 navy, he issued a commission of captain commandant of 
 sea fencibles, to enable him in this trying emergency, to 
 press and compel the services of anv seamen the-, on 
 shore. Being clothed with this authority, that officer im- 
 
 Gg ' • ^ 
 
(f 
 
 t 
 
 if 
 
 llif 
 
 wmmmmm 
 
 wm^ 
 
 It 
 
 
 350 
 
 UISTOBICAX. SKETCHES 
 
 mediately placed himself at the head of a detachment of 
 sailors and marines, and pressed a crew in the streets of the 
 city, composed of sailors of several nations, speaking differ- 
 ent languages, and incapable of understanding the orders 
 of their commanders, or the words of each other. By the 
 ikcommon exertions of lieutenant Thompson, however, 
 wnose gallantry rendered him not less conspicuous, than 
 his fortunate acquaintance with the languages of these se- 
 parate countries to which the sailors belonged, they were 
 m a fortnight brought to a good state of discipline. In ad- 
 dition to all these preparations, general Jackson pro- 
 claimed martial law, and the peop^ of Orleans became 
 confident of their ability to resist tne British forces. 
 
 Before the occupation of general Viller^'s ground, on 
 the 23d, by general Keane, the Tennessee volunteers 
 ^nd militia, had arrived, and were encamped on the left 
 bank of the Mississippi, 4 miles above *New Orleans. 
 Brigadier general Morgan was stationed with 350 of the 
 drafted militia of Louisiana, at tiie English Turn below. 
 As soon, therefore, as the advance of major general 
 Keane was made known to general Jackson, he ordered 
 detachments to be made from the division of general 
 Carroll, and the brigade of general Coffee's mounted vo- 
 lunteers, and sent round to his own position below the 
 city. These detachments were commanded by generals 
 Carroll and Coffee, in person. Being resolved upon at- 
 tacking the British in their encampment, general Jack- 
 son directed general Carroll to remain on the Oentilly 
 road, to provide against the enemy's approach from Chef- 
 MenteuVt and immediately marched with general Car- 
 roll's brigade, parts of the 7th and 44th regiments, ma- 
 jor Hind's dragoons, some uniform companies of militia, 
 under major Plauch6, 200 men of colour under major 
 Daquin, and a detachment of artillery under colonel 
 M'Rea; a force in all not exceeding 1500 men. The Caro- 
 lina, commanded by capt. Henley, and bearing the broad 
 pendant of commodore Patterson, proceeded down the ri- 
 ver, to co-operate in the attack; orders having been first 
 E'ven to lieut. commandant Thompson to fdllow with the 
 ouisiana. At 7 o'clock in the evening, the general arrived 
 near the enemy's encampment, when he discovered that 
 the British force extended nearly a mile along the river, 
 and^ directed gen. Coffee to turn their right, whilst with 
 
OF TH£ LATE WAR. 
 
 351 
 
 ichtnent of 
 reetsofthe 
 kingdiffer- 
 the orders 
 r. By the 
 1, however, 
 uous, than 
 of these se- 
 , they were 
 ine. Inad- 
 ckson pro- 
 ins became 
 orces. 
 ground, on 
 volunteers 
 on the left 
 w Orleans. 
 350 of the 
 ^urn below, 
 or general 
 he ordered 
 of general 
 kounted vo- 
 below the 
 )y generals 
 d upon at- 
 leral Jack- 
 ie Oentilly 
 from Chef- 
 neral Gar- 
 ments, ma- 
 of militia, 
 ider major 
 er colonel 
 The Caro- 
 
 the broad 
 )wn the ri- 
 
 been first 
 w with the 
 ral arrived 
 ►vered that 
 5 the river, 
 vhilst with 
 
 
 the residue of his troops, he would attack the line on the 
 left near the river. Commodore Patterson was first, how- 
 ever, to open the fire of the Carolina, as the signal for 
 the general assault. This being done, ^e enemy's troops 
 were immediately aroused from the slumber and peace- 
 ful security, in which they had indulged. The fire from the 
 starboard battery of the Carolina produced a destructive 
 effect upon the British flank. General Jackson made a 
 
 Erompt advance upon its left, and genera! Coffee, who 
 ad dismoanted his men, to give them a freer and more 
 certain use of the rifle, rushea upon its right, and threw 
 himself within the enemy's encampment. So unexpectr 
 ed and disastrous was this attack upon his position, that 
 the British commander was filled with amazement, and 
 for a moment scarcely knew in what manner to give it a 
 repulse; but summoning to his immediate assistance, 
 that sagacity and military experience, which he could 
 not have failed to acquire in his European campaigns, he 
 put his troops in motion to resist the nearer approaches 
 of his antagonist. The advance of general Coffee nad been 
 made across the plantations of colonel Laronde and ma- 
 jor Lacost^, on the latter of which he drove in the pic- 
 quet guards, and encountered the British 85th regiment, 
 under colonel Gubbin, which did not stand to receive 
 more tlian one fire, when it fell back to the centre of the 
 encampment General Coffee then filed his division ob- 
 liquely to his risht, attacked a party of the enem;^ sta- 
 tioned in several small huts, and succeeded in driving it 
 also from that position. 
 
 The right division of general Jackson's anny was all 
 this time engaged with t -mel Thornton's light brigade. 
 The action commenced vith an attack made by Uie Tth 
 infantry, under major Piere. who was immediately jmned 
 by the 44th, whic^> formed upon his left under colwiel 
 Koss. To these .ete soon aaded the militia, under ma- 
 jor Plauche, Sa\ary's volunteers, and the command of 
 major Daquin ; and at t' e moment when this ccps took 
 its post on the left of the whole line, the conflict was ani- 
 mated, desperate and sanguinary. Colonel M'Rea's two 
 pieces were al8r> engaged on the extreme right ot the 7th 
 regiment, and kept up an incessant and pffe< tive fire. Co- 
 lonel Thornton's line greatly outflanking the American 
 
mmmmmm 
 
 mmmmmm 
 
 352 
 
 HISTORICAL 8K£TCH£1S 
 
 1' 
 
 'r 
 i' 
 
 ri^t division, an attempt was made, without effect, to 
 turn the battalion of major Daquin, and an impetuous ef- 
 fort to carry the artillery on the other extremity of the 
 line. The firmness of Daquin's battalion, and the instan- 
 taneous advance of the centre, followed by a' chftrse 
 from the 7th and 44th, compelled the enemy gradually 
 to retire, and left the division under general Jackson, in 
 possession of the ground first occupied by colonel Thorn- 
 ton. This was the moment at which general Coffee, 
 having felt his way to the Old Levee, near the margin of 
 Lacoste's plantation, placed himself almost in the rear of 
 the same ground, and annoyed the enemy with great 
 success in nis retreat. With this repulse, and the re- 
 union of the two divisions of the American line, the con-^ 
 test of the 23d terminated. Fortune was runixins full in 
 favour of general Jackson's troops, and he was in eager 
 expectation of capturing the whole of the invading divi- 
 sion ; but a heavy fog, to which that country is subject, 
 set in, and entirely destroyed his prospects. He there- 
 fore condensed his force, remained upon the field all 
 night, and early on the morning of the 24th, assumed a 
 position of more strength, 2 mues nearer th<? city. In 
 »his action, the Americans lost 213, in killed, wounded, 
 and mmms. Colonel Lauderdale, of general Coffee's 
 brigade, f«lT at tlie head of his regiment in one of the 
 charts; colonels Dym- and Gibbop, were each severely 
 wounded, and major Kavenaugh fell into the hands of 
 the enemy. On the side of the British, whose loss 
 amounted to nearly 400 men, several officers were also 
 severely wounded. 
 
 The vigour*, impetuosity, and decision of this attack, 
 upon their first disembarkation, caused the British com- 
 manders, even after the increase of their numbers, to ad- 
 vance with more caution. They therefore commenced 
 the erection of batteiies, in order to make their approach- 
 es ^^adual, and destroy the naval force then in the river. 
 The Carolina had contmued, during the whole course of 
 the engagement of Ihe 23d, to discnai^e her broadsides 
 into the enemy's encampment, and succeeded in driving 
 from the mamn of the shore, the musketry and rocket- 
 teers, wlio had previously been stationed there. At 2, on 
 the morning of the 24(h, lieut commandant Thoinpson 
 
OF THE LATE WAR. 
 
 $53 
 
 eflfect, to 
 ituous ef- 
 ty of the 
 le instan- 
 a' charge 
 ^aduallj 
 ckson, in 
 si Thorn- 
 il Coffee, 
 nargin of 
 le rear of 
 ith great 
 i the re- 
 the con* 
 1^ full in 
 in eager 
 ling divi- 
 s subject. 
 He there- 
 field all 
 ssumed a 
 city. In 
 tvounded. 
 Coffee's 
 rie of the 
 severely 
 hands of 
 lose loss 
 vere also 
 
 8 attack^ 
 tish com- 
 rs, to ad- 
 nnienced 
 ipproach- 
 the river, 
 c^ourse of 
 oad sides 
 1 driving 
 1 rocket- 
 At 2, on 
 OQipson 
 
 joined commodore Patterson, with the Louisiana, the 
 calmness of the weather having prevented her reaching 
 the scene of action before. On that day a northwest 
 wind, which blew a heavy gale, prevented either of 
 these vessels from proceeding up tne river, to anchor 
 abreast of the position, at wnich general Jackson had 
 posted himself; and its prevalence during the 25th and 
 26th) t(^ether with the sudden rise of the river, and the 
 strength and rapidity of the current compelled the com- 
 modore to remain all that time before the enemy. This 
 he did not, without keeping up an occasional nre from 
 both vessels. The British were in the mean time, em- 
 ployed in erecting furnaces for hot shot, immediately 
 abreast of the Louisiana and Carolina. On the 26th, 
 commodore Patterson, in obedience to tiie wishes of ge> 
 neral Jackson, left the Carolina, and proceeded to New 
 Orleans, to man and arm as many merchantmen, as 
 might be fitted to bear the weight of heavy cannon, and 
 to support him with such a squadron, until the line of 
 breastworks, at his new position, should be completed. 
 Captun Henley, and lieutenant commandant Thompson, 
 tiierefore, made every effort to remove from the anchor- 
 age opposite the enemy's batteries, but their attempts 
 were abortive, and on the morning of the 27th the bat- 
 tery nearest the Carolina, opened with hot shot and 
 shells. The second shot lodged in the main hold, under 
 the cables, in a situation too intricate to be approached, 
 and she immediately took fire, which increased so rapid- 
 ly, that captain Henley, being fearful about the explo- 
 sion of her magazine, gave orders to the crew to aban- 
 don her. The event justified the captain's apprehen- 
 sions, for he had scarcely reached the shore, opposite the 
 enemy, with the loss of one man killed, and six wounded, 
 when she blew asunder. The Louisiana then sustained 
 the whole fire, until her situation became extremely dan- 
 gerous. To have lost her, would have* been to lose the 
 whole co-operative naval force, and lieutenant comman- 
 dant Thompson attempted to get up the river, under the 
 favour of a light breeze. His efforts were, however, con- 
 stantly baffled, until his skilful management rose supe- 
 rior to the obstacles by which he was surrounded, and ne, 
 at length, succeeded in getting her near general Jackson's 
 position. 
 
 Gg2 
 
■li^ww! 
 
 ^"W 
 
 354 
 
 HISTORICAr SKETCHES 
 
 After the destruction of the Carolina, the enemy moved 
 upon this position, which general Jackson had been in- 
 cessantly strengthening with artillery, and some rein- 
 forcing Detachments. Major eeneral sir Edward Packen- .^ 
 ham had previously landed with the reserve of the army, ' 
 and superintendedfthe present movement in person. At 
 the distance of 800 yards from the line of defence, sir 
 Edward commenced nis attack, upon the morning of the 
 28th, by throwing bomb shells and rockets, opening a 
 heavy an^ continual cannonade, and gradually advancing 
 upon this position, with the left column under eeneral 
 Keane, in front, and hoping to compel general Jackson 
 to retire to the city. Tne batteries at the line Jacki^on 
 were immediately opened, and general Keane's column 
 obliged to seek protection behind some houses, which 
 are scattered in the field near and about the Levee. 
 SeVeral heavy pieces were planted by the enemy, under 
 cover of which sir Edward intended to storm the Ame-* 
 rican works. From two guns there, however, his column 
 was kept in check, and he was chiefly employed in throw- 
 ing shells upon the Louisiana, with the fragments of 
 which her decks were covered. As the British advanced 
 upon the works, lieutenant Thompson sprung the ship 
 so as to bring her starboard broadside to bear upon, and 
 enfilade the column. From eight guns, he kept up so in- 
 cessant and destructive a fire, that in several hours lOQ 
 rounds were discharged from each ; and after a violent 
 struggle, of that length of time, to dislodge the American 
 troops, the enemy was forcibly repulsed, and withdrew 
 beyond the reach of immediate annoyance. Here, again, 
 as may more naturally be supposed, the Americans, being 
 protected by breastwork?, tne loss of the enemy very 
 far exceeded that of general Jackson's camp. He is re- 
 ported to have lost upwards of 250 men, whilst the Ame- 
 rican loss amounted to 17; 9 of whom were killed ahd 8 
 wounded. Among the killed was colonel Henderson, of 
 general Carrol's division of Tennessee militia, which had 
 Just before encamped at the line. He had been sent out 
 of the left extremity of the works, to drive off a party 
 of the enemy, who had made a lodgment near the wood« 
 and was killed in the first eflS>rt to execute this order. 
 Among the wounded was mmor Carmick, of the marine 
 corps, whose horse and iiimseff were wounded by a Con- 
 greve rocket. 
 
I 
 
 moved 
 een in- 
 le rein- 
 'acken- ,^ 
 e army, * 
 m. At 
 nee, sir 
 5 of the 
 enin^ a 
 vancinff 
 eenerai 
 Ackson 
 Jackdon 
 column 
 I, which 
 i Levee. 
 •, under 
 le Ame- 
 \ column 
 n throw- 
 nents of 
 advanced 
 the ship 
 pon, and 
 up so in- 
 ours 100 
 a, violent 
 imerican 
 vithdrew 
 re, again, 
 ns, being 
 my very 
 ie is re- 
 he Ame- 
 edahdS 
 erson, of 
 hichhad 
 sent out 
 a party 
 le wood, 
 is order. 
 i marine 
 y a Con- 
 
 or THE LATEi WAll. 
 
 355. 
 
 Having still further enlarged his forces, by new de- 
 tachments of sailors, soldiers and marines, and finding 
 that he had not yet made any impression upon the un- 
 finished breastworks, sir Edward Packenham lost no time 
 in the construction of batteries, and the planting of heavy 
 pieces of cannon. The American general was no less in- 
 dustrious, in enlat^ng and improvins his means of de- 
 fence, and each was exercising nis military energies, un- 
 der the harassingfire of the other. On the SOth Decem- 
 ber, commodore Patterson opened a 24 pounder batterv, 
 which he had secretly erected on the night of the 29th, 
 on the extreme risht of the line, and so situated, as to 
 bear upon the Old Levee, and any part of the field. The 
 effect of this fire, united to several rapid discharges from 
 the Louisiana, upon the enemy's advance, drove the Bri* 
 tish from their works. On the Slst two t2 pounders were 
 landed from the Louisiana, and mounted behind the Le- 
 vee. On £hat day, sir Edward Packenham kept up a can- 
 nonade for several hours, and received a continnai return 
 of artillery and musketry. 
 
 Early on the morning of the first of January, 1815, 
 sir Edward haviiig in the course of the preceding night 
 ejected two formidable batteries, commenced a discharge 
 of heavy cannon, shells, and Congreve rockets, much 
 more animated and successful than any other with which 
 they had assailed the American works. Several gun car- 
 riages within camp Jackson, were destroyed, and con^^ 
 siderable damaee done to the guns themselves. The 
 head quarters or the commanding general sustained the 
 shock of numberless rockets and Balls, and the enemy 
 was paraded in the ditches near his batteries, in readi- 
 ness to storm the work, as soon as the cannon should be 
 silenced. The explosion of a magazine at one moment 
 gave them a hope, that the garrison was dispirited and 
 nearly overcome; but at the next, the rapid and tremen- 
 dous discharge of artillery, evinced the determined cha^ 
 racter of the brave volunteers. A second attempt was 
 made to reconnoitre the left of the works, resting on the 
 woods, with a view to turn the extreme left battalion 
 of general Coffee's brig»Se. But the party detached 
 for that purpose, returned to sir Edward with infor- 
 mation ol the impracticability of such an assault upon 
 that extremity of the line. He, nevertheless, continued 
 
356 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 the cannonade upwards of five hours, and forwarded his 
 heaviest pieces m advance of his main body. At the 
 end of that time, he fell back to his encampment, and 
 adopted a measure by which to reduce the place. The 
 Louisiana did not participate in this engagement, be- 
 cause it was discovered that the enemy had erected se- 
 veral batteries on the edge of the river, from which they 
 intended to throw hot shot into her, and commodore 
 Patterson, therefore, ordered her to be kept without the 
 range of shot, and her men were landed to assist at the 
 batteries. 
 
 General Jackson's encampment was now every day 
 strengthened by numbers. Major general Viller^, tiie 
 present governor of Louisiana, had arrived on the 30th 
 and 31st, with a division of Louisiana militia; major ge- 
 neral Thomas, commanding a second division of 500 
 men!, encamped at the close of the Ist of January, in tiie 
 rear of the works; and on the 4th, general Adair^ divi- 
 sion of Kentucky militia, amounting to upwards of 2200 
 men, not one half of whom were armed, reported to the 
 commander in chief, and were stationed on the planta- 
 tion of LanguiUet with the exception of a detachment of 
 700 men, who were placed upon the line. General Mor- 
 gan had, previously to the battle of the S8th, been direct- 
 ed to witndraw hie troops from the Envlish Turn, and to 
 Sost himself on the rig^t bank of the Mississippi, imme- 
 iately opposite general Jackson's line. In addition to 
 tiiese dispositions of his troops, who now amounted to 
 3846, including the batteries on both sides of the river, 
 the general had caused several successive lines of in- 
 trencimients and breastworks to be formed in his rear, as 
 places of retreat, in the event of the enemy's successfully 
 scaling the parapet of his present works. 
 
 Betore the eighth of the month, general Jackson had 
 eight distinct batteries constructed, mounting in all 12 
 guns, of different calibre, the largest however being a 32 
 pounder, under command of lieutenant Crawley, late of 
 the Carolina. The works were one mile in extent, from 
 the river to the Cjrpress Swamp, and terminated in a bend 
 to the left of about 200 yarcuB. On the right of these 
 works were stationed the Tth regiment, major Plauch6, 
 major Lacoste, and major Daauin's battalions^ and Ihe 
 44tn regiment, amoanti^ in all to 1389 men» and com- 
 
er THE LATE WAR. 
 
 357 
 
 n had 
 all 1£ 
 
 a 32 
 late of 
 I, from 
 
 bend 
 
 these 
 iuch6, 
 Id the 
 
 com- 
 
 manded by colonel Ross of the 44th; the centre wa6 
 composed of general Carroll's, and part of general 
 Adair's division, and amounted to 1600 men; on the 
 left was stationed the command of general Coifee, whose 
 brigade consisted of 500 men ; so that the whole line was 
 defended by 3489 men. On the opposite side, the 
 works erected by general Morgan were defended by 276 
 of the Louisiana contingent, 176 of the 2d or colonel 
 Cavalier's regiment, and tiie Ist and part of the 6th, 
 compiising 110, under colonel Degian, the whole amount* 
 ing; to 546 men. To these were added, on the night of 
 the 27th, a reinforcement of 500 men, from general 
 Adair's Kentucky militia, under colonel Davis. Com- 
 modore Patterson erected further batteries on the same 
 side of the river, to annoy the approach of th$ enemy, 
 if he should attempt it, along the Levee on the right bank 
 of the river, and in the line which covered general Mor- 
 gan's troops were planted ope 12-pounder, and two brass 
 sixes. 
 
 Sir Edward Packenham, having been, reinforced by 
 his fusileers, and the 43d infiantry, which au^efited his 
 strength to 12000 regulars, and 2000 seamen, and having 
 at inti^rvals, during the nieht, between the 1 tt and the 
 8tli oi le month, stren^ened his battery, "ith heavy 
 pieces ot cannon, determined on a vigorous asbault upon 
 the American works on both sides of the river. With 
 this view, colonel Thornton, to whom was entrusted the 
 attack upon general Morgan, was to cross the Mississippi, 
 in boats and launches, which had been transported tor 
 that purpose, during the night, with a corps consisting of 
 the 85th light infantry, 200 seamen, and 400 marines, 
 the 5th West India regiment, and 4 pieces of artillery. 
 The assault upon the works commanded by general 
 Jackson, was to be made in two divisions. The right 
 under major general Gibbs, and ci/itiosed of the 4tfi, 
 21st, and 44th regiments, was to attaci' the centre of tfie 
 works; and major general Keane, ^v^g to lead the 3d 
 brigade, composed of tiie 43d, the 93il, and parts of the 
 95tn, and the fusileers, on the road on the river side, to 
 the attack of the extreme right The reserve was con- 
 stituted of the first brigade, and commanded by major 
 seneral Lambert. To cover this operation, an advanced 
 battery, of six 18-pounders, was thrown up during the 
 
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 358 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 night of the 7th. . General Jack in was apprised of this 
 intended movement, by the unusual stir and bustle which 
 was perceptible in the British camp, and made provision 
 for the reception of the assailants. Colonel Thornton 
 c^uld net efltect a landing at the contemplated point, but 
 being thruwn 2 or 3 miles belov/, a delay of several 
 hours took place, and the attack was nov, as the British 
 general intended it should be, simultaneous. 
 
 The engagement commenced, however, on the left 
 bank, early on the morning of the 8th, by an unusual 
 shower of bombs and Congreve rockets; tne new batte- 
 ries opened, and sir Edward strove iii vain to effect a 
 breach, or to demolish the parapet. His fire was vi^r- 
 ously returned from the eight batteries, but he, notwith- 
 standii^ ordered his two divisions to advance, which 
 they did with an intrepidity seldom equally, and ex- 
 pected to plant their scaling ladders and fascines. The 
 6th, 7th and 8th batteries, covered by general Carroll 
 and general Adair, who succeeded general I'homas, and 
 sqpported by ^neral Coffee's riflemen, kept up a rapid 
 and tinusual discharge upon general Gibba'a division, and 
 sweeping 't from ri^t to left, compelled him very isoon 
 to recoil in confusion. The most active efforts were im- 
 mediately made to rally the troops, and bring them up 
 to a second assault, and in this act, sir Edwara Packen- 
 ham, who had rode to the front to animate his men, re- 
 ceived two wounds, one of which struck him on the knee, 
 and the other, a cannon ball, pierced his body, and cut 
 him to pieces. Mi^or general GKbbs, however, again 
 led up the same column, and advanced in good order, to 
 a 7ery short distance from the line, where thejr received 
 as animated and destructive a discharge of artillery and 
 musketry as before. General Gibbs fell, severely wound- 
 ed, and the column again fled in the utmost contusion. 
 
 The division on the right of the works, under general 
 Keane, made a very prompt advance upon the redoubt 
 there, jumped ondauntedly into the ditch, under the fire 
 of colonel Ross's command, and by a forcibh effort, 
 sained the redoubt, by entering the embrasures. Hence, 
 being led by their principal engineer, colonel Renee, 
 they mounted the breastworks, and were certain of vic- 
 tory. The 7th regiment fought them with great steadi- 
 
' 
 
 wmmm 
 
 of this 
 e which 
 rovision 
 hornton 
 int, but 
 several 
 ! British 
 
 the left 
 unusual 
 w batte- 
 effect a 
 18 vi^r- 
 notwith- 
 f, which 
 and ex- 
 ». The 
 Carroll 
 aas, and 
 a rapid 
 ion, and 
 iry joon 
 were im- 
 them up 
 Packen- 
 men, re- 
 he knee, 
 and cut 
 agun 
 >rder, to 
 received 
 lery and 
 wound- 
 usion. 
 ' general 
 redoubt 
 the fire 
 effort. 
 Hence, 
 Renee, 
 of vic- 
 steadi- 
 
 Oir THE LATE WAR. 
 
 559 
 
 ness and perseverance; the batteries, Nos. 1 and 2, and 
 tiie ri^t of the ririit wing» opened a o^mendons fire. 
 Colonel Renee, and others, were killed; major general 
 Keane severely wounded; and the whole column precipi- 
 tately fell back, and retreated in the ^atest disorder. 
 The ditch was literally filled with their killed andwonnd- 
 eil, and a large proportion of their men made prisoners. 
 As they attempted tii^ir retreat aloug the bank, commo- 
 dore Patterson opened the batteries from the opposite 
 side, and did very extensive execution. The only general 
 o^cer now left upon the field was major general Lambert, 
 who, prompt!y coming up with the reserve, vainly attempt- 
 ed to check trie flight or the attackins columns. The loss 
 of three of tilieir geperals, whose bodies they saw trans- 
 ported from the field, and the immense slaughter which 
 the field itself presented to them, ai^ued more powerfully, 
 than the commands or persuasions of general Lambert, 
 and he was forced to take a position out of reach of the 
 American line. The fire, nevertheless, did not cease, but 
 being directed against the British batteries, continued un- 
 til 2, P. M. and eventually silenced them. The assault 
 was then entirely abandoned, and general Lambert fell 
 back to the original position, to consult the admiral as to 
 the prosecution of future operations. The resuli of the 
 conterence determined them upon returning to their ship* 
 
 King with as much order and celerity as possible. But 
 etbre the embarkation could actually takd place, the fate 
 of colonel Thornton was to be known, and his division 
 collected on the left bank of the river. 
 
 When the attack upon the main works was commenced, 
 that officer assailed, with greftt impetuosity, the gun bat- 
 tery of general Morgan. The American right flank re- 
 tired before him, and his whole -attention beine turned 
 towards the left, a sharp and animated contest followed ; 
 but, being deserted by more than half their line, and far 
 outnumbered by their enemy, the troops of that flank 
 spiked their guns, and left the battery in possession of 
 the assailants. 
 
 The success which attended the assault of col. Thorn- 
 ton, who was severely wounded, did not however avail 
 the British arms: their disaster on the opposite side of 
 the river, mad- it necessary for this division also to re- 
 
PipMWVnP'liPPpiPQr 
 
 MHii^llHP.JIWBpW'l'eJ' 
 
 'Wi«"W' 
 
 366 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 tire; ai^d, in obedience to the orders of eeneral Lambert, 
 colonel Gubbin, on whom the command of Thornton's 
 division had devolved, re^rossed the river, and fell back 
 upon the main body, and before the 18th January, the 
 whole nrmy evacuated the shore. 
 
 On the rollowineday, the 9th, admiral Cochrane direct- 
 ed two bomb vessels, one sloop of war, a bri& and a schoo^ 
 ner, to statiicm themselves before fort St. Philip, witii a 
 view to its bombardment and destruction. On that day 
 they commenced an attack, and continued throwing shells 
 into the fort until the 17th in the evening, when the com- 
 mandant, majtM* Overton, opened a heavy mortar (not until 
 then in*Teadiness), and threw the line of ships into such 
 disorder, that, on the morning of the 18th, tiiey retired 
 to the anchorage of the fleet 
 
 The expedition, which had been thus extensively plan- 
 nec^ in En^nd, and for the fitting out of which an im- 
 mense treasure had been exhausted, was thus resisted, 
 and entirely destroyed, by the valour and perseverance of 
 a small army, principally made up of volunteets and mili- 
 tia, and commanded by a general, whose military career, 
 though brilliant, and almost unparalleled, was commenced 
 but two years before. The slau^ter which attended this 
 repulse of the invading army, was, on' their side, never sur- 
 passed at any other mittle. Besides their generals and 
 other officers of hi^h rank, the British lost, in killed, 
 wounded, and missing, about 4000 men. The American, 
 killed, wounded, and missing, did not exceed 500. 
 
 The British fleet, however, continued in the neighbour- 
 hood, and on the 10th of February, gjeneral I^ambert hay- 
 ing landed near fort Bowyer, with a large body of his 
 troops, demanded of lieutenant colonel Lawrence the sur- 
 render of the garrison. In its rear an extensive and heavy 
 battery had been planted, and the powerful force by which 
 it was surrounded, made it expedient that the fort should 
 capitulate on honourable terms, or that the garrison should 
 suDhiit to the sword. Colonel Lawrence chose that line 
 of conduct which propriety and humanity dictated, and 
 the enemy took possession of the fort. 
 
 On the same day, the British sloop of war Brazen 
 arrived off the station, with intelligence that a treaty 
 of peace had been concluded between the American 
 
OF THE LATE WAB« 
 
 361 
 
 Lambert* 
 kornton's 
 fell back 
 lar J, the 
 
 e direct- 
 a schoo^ 
 >, with a 
 that day 
 ng shells 
 the corn- 
 not until 
 nto such 
 Y retired 
 
 bIj plan- 
 h an im- 
 resisted, 
 erance of 
 ihd mili- 
 y career, 
 imenced 
 Lded this 
 ever sur- 
 rals and 
 1 killed, 
 merican, 
 K). 
 
 iighbour- 
 >ert hav- 
 y of his 
 the sur- 
 id heavy 
 >y which 
 t should 
 n should 
 that line 
 ;ed, and 
 
 Brazen 
 
 treaty 
 merican 
 
 and British ambassadors at Ghent, which had met the ap- 
 probation of the prince regent of Eneland. Not long af- 
 ter, general Jackson was apprised oy the secretary of 
 war, of the ratification of the treaty by the president and 
 senate, and all hostilities immediately ceased. A regu- 
 lar and mutual exchange of prisoners was entered upon, 
 and the volunteers and militia were honourably discharg- 
 ed, and sent to their homes, with the gratitude and ap- 
 plause of their country. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The Jfavy — Loss of the United States* frigate President 
 •—The Constitution engages and captures the British 
 frigate Cyane, and sloop of war Levant — Capture of 
 
 . the sloop of war Penguin, by the Hornet. 
 
 •The blockade of the frigates United States and the 
 Macedonian, and the sloop of war Hornet, at New London, 
 having continued until the only season at which they 
 could possibly escape, had elapsed, the Hornet wm or- 
 dered to remain at her station as a guard shi^ whilst the 
 frigates were to be moved up New Londoh river, to the 
 head of navigation for heavy vessels, and there to be 
 dismantled. Commodore Decatur, and the crew of the 
 United States, were transferred to the frigate President, 
 then moored at New York. In the course of the winter, 
 a cruise to the East Indies was determined on, at the navy 
 department, to be performed bv a sauadron, consisting 
 of that frigate, the sloop of war reacocK, then also at New 
 York, the sloop of war Hornet, and the Tom Bowline, 
 a merchant vessel, bought into the service as a store ship. 
 The Hornet was therefore directed to proceed to the 
 same harbour. On the night of the 18th November, 
 captain Biddle passed the blockading squadron, without 
 being discovered, and joinec^ commodore Decatur at 
 New York. That port had been, also, constantly block- 
 aded, and several frigates, sloops of war, and a razee, 
 were at that time cruising off the Hook. On the 14th of. 
 January, commodore Decatur, thinking it more likely td 
 
 Hh 
 
^mmm^ 
 
 362 
 
 UISTORICAIi SKETCHES 
 
 •%. 
 
 get to sea, with the President i»indj, directed captain 
 Warrington to follow him, with the Peacock and Hornet, 
 as soon as the Tom Bowline was in readiness; and hav- 
 ing assigned the island <^ Tristan d'Acunha, as the first 
 place ofrendezvous, proceeded to the bay, with a view 
 of escapine from Sandy Hook in the night In conse- 
 quence of me negligence of the pilot, the President struck 
 upon the bar, a^d remained there thumpine, upwardf^ of 
 two hours. This accident caused her ballast to shift, 
 and when extricated from this situation, by the rise of the 
 tide, it was discovered that she had entirely lost her trim. 
 The course of the wind forbidding her return to port, the 
 commodore determined, nevertheless, upon running out 
 to sea, and did not doubt but she would soon recover 
 that ease in sailing, for which she had been long celebra- 
 ted. At dayliffht he fell in with the British squadron, 
 under captain Hayes, composed of the Majestic (razee), 
 the' frigates Endymion, Tenedos, and Pomone, and the 
 Despatch bris, which immediately gave chase. The Pre- 
 sident was lightened as much as possible, but the su- 
 perior sailing of the enemy's ships,' enabled them to &ain 
 rapidly upon her, and the leading frigate, the Endymion, 
 of 49 guns, and mounting 24-pounders on her gun deck, 
 ^t close under her quarters, and ccnnmenced firing.--^ 
 Commodore Decatur, finding that the Endymion was 
 cutting up his ri^ng, without his being able to bring a 
 ^n to bear, determined to bear up and engage her, and 
 if possible, to run her on board, and in the event of car- 
 rying her, to sail off and abandon the President. But the 
 enemy manoeuvred to avoid this plan, and the conflict 
 continued two hours, and ended in silencing and beating 
 off the Endymion, with her hull and ri^ng much cut 
 up, her masts and spars badly injured, and a great pro- 
 portion of her crew killed and wounded. The President 
 was a^o considerably damaged, and lost ^ men killed, 
 and 60 wounded; among the former, lieutenants Babbit 
 and Hamilton, and acting lieutenant Howell; among the 
 latter, the commodore, and midshipman Dale, who lost 
 a leg, and died of his wounds at Bermuda. By this time 
 the rest of the squadron came within two miles of the 
 President The Endymion had hauled off to repair, and 
 commodore Decatur made another attempt to escape. But, 
 in three hours, the Pomone and Tenedos lay along side. 
 
" 
 
 far THS LATE WAR. 
 
 S63 
 
 1 captain 
 1 Hornet, 
 and hav- 
 i the firg|t 
 h a view 
 [n conse- 
 nt struck 
 •wardp of 
 to shift, 
 ise of the 
 her trim, 
 port, the 
 ning out 
 recover 
 ; celebra- 
 quadron, 
 (razee), 
 and the 
 rhePre- 
 t the su- 
 n to ^in 
 idjmion, 
 un deck, 
 firing.— - 
 ion was 
 i bring a 
 her, and 
 t of ear- 
 But the 
 conflict 
 beating 
 uch cut 
 eat pro- 
 resident 
 I killed, 
 i Babbit 
 ong the 
 ^ho lost 
 Kis time 
 8 of the 
 •air, and 
 )e. But, 
 ttg«de. 
 
 and the Majestic and Endymion were within a short dis- 
 tance of him. The eallant commodore, not choosing to 
 sacrifice the lives of his crew in a useless contest, wiui a 
 squadron of ships mounting not less than 110 guns, r&> 
 ceived the fire of the nearest frigate, and surrendered. 
 He was taken on board the Endymion, to whose comman* 
 der he refused to deliver his sword, when required, al- 
 leging, that if they had been singly engaged, that officer 
 would inevitably have been captured, and that he had 
 struck to the whole squadron. The enemy, however, as- 
 serted that the President had been conquered by the En- 
 dymion alone; that her damage was sustained in a storm 
 which rose up after the battle; and having repaired botii 
 vessels, sent the pri^^e from Bermuda to England, under 
 her convoy. There she was lightened, and mid in dock 
 along side an old 74, which was deeply laden, to give her 
 a smaller appearance in the water than the President 
 
 The United States* frigate Constitution, which had 
 been some time repairing at Boston for a cruise, sailed 
 from that port on the 17tn December, still under the com- 
 tnand of captain Stewart. After cruising in various parts 
 of the ocean, and in the track for outwara and homeward 
 bound, convoys, until the 20th of February, she fell in with 
 two strange men of war sail, at ten minutes past 1, P. M. 
 on that day. One of these being to windward, was bear- 
 ing up for the Constitution, and at 2h.30m. displayed sig- 
 nals, and squared away to the westward to join her con- 
 sort. The Constitution set every rag in chase, and a few 
 minutes before 3, commenced firing from her forward suns 
 on the gun deck. At 3h. 15m. the main royal mast of the 
 Constitution was carried away, and enabled the enemy's 
 vessels to distance her fire. Before 5, a new royal mast 
 was completed, and a little while after the breeze fresh- 
 ened, and the ship to leeward tacked to the southward, 
 under all sail. At 6, the two ships hauled to, on the lar- 
 board tack in line, and in ten minutes the Constitution 
 ranged ahead of the stemmost, brought her on the quar- 
 ter, lier consort on the bow, at 200 yards distance, and 
 opened a broadside, which was immediately returned. An 
 exchange of broadsides continued, until uie three ships 
 were completely enveloped in smoke, upon the clearing 
 awav of which, the Constitution found herself abreast of 
 the headmost ship, and captain Stewart ordered both sides 
 
364 
 
 HISTORICAI. SKETCHES 
 
 to be manned, backed topsails, uil dropped into his first 
 
 E)8itiou. The ship on the bow backea sails also. The 
 onstitution's broadsides were then fired from the lar- 
 board battery, and in a few minutes the ship on the bow 
 perceiving her error in getting stemboard, filled away, 
 with an intention of tacking athwart the bows of the Con- 
 stitution, and the ship on the stern fell Off, perfectly un- 
 manageable. The Constitution then filled away, in full 
 pursuit of the former, came within 100 yards of her, and 
 gave her several raking broadsides. She made all sail 
 before the wind, with a view to escape, and captain Stew- 
 art, knowing her crippled situation would enaole him* to 
 overhaul her at any time, after securing her consort, wore 
 round, and ranged along side the latter ship, from which 
 a gun was fired to leeward, to signify that she had sur- 
 rendered. Possession was then taken by lieutenant Hofi- 
 mai^, of his Britannic majesty'^ frigate Cyane, captain 
 Gordon Falkon, of 34 guns, 32lb. carronades. Her com- 
 mander and officers being brought on board, captain Stew- 
 art sailed in chase of the other vessel, and in a short time 
 discovered her standing for him on the weather bow. In 
 a few minutes the enemy fired a broadside, which being 
 instantly returned, he tacked ship, made all sail, and at 
 that moment received a rake from the starboard broad- 
 side of the Constitution. Upon gaining his wake, captain 
 Stewart opened a fire from his gun deck chase guns, with 
 such effect, that the enemy hove too and surrendered with 
 five feet water in his hold, his masts tottering, and nothing 
 but the smoothness of the sea prevented them from going 
 overboard. Lieutenant Ballard was sent on board, and 
 took possession of his Britannic majesty's ship Levant,, 
 captain Douglass, of eighteen 32lb. carronades, and two 
 large 12 pounders. The loss on board the Cyane and 
 Levant amounted to 40 men killed, and nearly double 
 that number wounded; on board the Constitution, where 
 no other spar was lost than the fore topgallant yard, 4 
 men were killed, and 11 wounded. 
 
 On the 10th of March, captain Stewart, entered the 
 harbour of Port Psaya with his prizes, and on the lltb, a 
 British squadron, consisting of the lieander, sir George 
 Collier; the Newcastle, lorn George Stewart; neither of 
 them carrying less than 60 euns; and the frigate Acasta, 
 captain J^err, of 44 guns, which had sailed from the east- 
 
Ol^HE LATE WAR. 
 
 S65 
 
 > his first 
 io. The 
 the lar- 
 the bow 
 jd away, 
 the Con- 
 jctly un- 
 F, in full 
 her, and 
 all sail 
 in Stew- 
 \ him* to 
 )rt, wore 
 m which 
 had sur* 
 int HoflT- 
 captain 
 [er com- 
 in Stew- 
 lort time 
 ow. In 
 h being 
 , and at 
 broad- 
 captain 
 US, with 
 ed with 
 nothing 
 n goin^ 
 ird, and 
 Levant,, 
 nd two 
 ne and 
 double 
 , where 
 yard, 4 
 
 ed the 
 11th, a 
 eoi^ 
 ler of 
 casta, 
 e east- 
 
 em coast of the United States, in quest of the Constitu- 
 tion, appeared off its entrance. Captain Stewart imme- 
 diately made sail, escaped from tne harbour with his 
 squadron, and was closely pursued by the enemy's three 
 ships. After a Ions and perilous chase, the Constitution 
 ana Cyane escaped their pursuers, and arrived safely in 
 the United States; but the Levant, after whom all sail 
 was made by the enemy's ships, ran into Port Praya, with 
 a heavy fire of broadsides from the Leander and New- 
 castle, to put herself under the protection of the neutral 
 port. The neutrality of the Portuguese was not regarded 
 by the British squadron, however, and they recaptured the 
 Levant, and carried her into Barbadoes. 
 
 A few days after the departure of the President from 
 New York, the Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline, left 
 that harbour, without knowing of her capture. On the 
 third day after sailing from Sandy Hook (the £3d of Ja- 
 nuary,) the Hornet parted company with the Peacock and 
 Tom Bowline, and directed her course towards the island 
 of Tristan d'Acunha, the first designated rendezvous for 
 the sauadron. On the 23d of March, she descrfed the 
 Britisn brig Penguin, captain Dickenson, of 18 guns, and 
 a 12lb. carronade, to the southward and eastward of the 
 island. This vessel had been fitted out, and 12 supernu- 
 merary marines put on board, with whom, her crew 
 amounted to 132 men, to cruise for the American priva- 
 teer. Young Wasp. Captain Biddle immediately made 
 sail, cleared the island, and hove to, until the Penguin, at 
 the same time coming down, should be within striking 
 distance. At 40 minutes past 1, P. M. the Pensuin haul- 
 ed her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English co- 
 lours, and fired a gun at musket shot distance. The Hor- 
 net immediately luffed to, sent up an ensign, and gave the 
 enemy b broadside. A constant fire was kept up for 15 
 minutes, the Penguin all that time gradually nearing upon 
 the Hornet, when captain Dickenson gave orders to run 
 her on board, and was killed by a grape shot before he 
 saw them executed. Lieutenant MT)onald, upon whom 
 the command of the Pen^in then devolved, bore her Up, 
 and running her bowsprit in between the main and mizen 
 rigging of the Hornet^ ordered his crew to board. His 
 men, however, seeing the Homet^s boarders not orJy 
 read^ to repel theiii» but waiting for orders to jump upon 
 
366 
 
 HISTORICAL SKEIVHES 
 
 the Penguin's deck, refused to follow him. At that mo- 
 ment the heavy swell of the 86a lifted the Hornet ahead, 
 and the enemy's bowsprit carried away her mizen shrouds 
 and spanker boom, and the Penguin hung upon the Hor- 
 net'B quarter deck, with the loss of her foremast and bow- 
 sprit. Her commander then called out that he had sur- 
 rendered. Though he was not distinctly understood* 
 captain Biddle ordered his marines to cease firing, and. 
 demanded of the Pensuin whether she had struck. An 
 officer of the Hornet discovered a man takine aim at cap- 
 tain Biddle, after the surrender, and called to nim to avoid 
 the fire. He had scarcely done so, when a musket ball 
 struck the captain in the neck, severely wounded him, and 
 passed through his coat collar. Two marines, to whom 
 the man was pointed out, who had discharged his piece at 
 their commander, immediately fired at and killed him, 
 before he brought it from his shoulder. The Penguin just 
 then got clear of the Hornet, and the latter wore round 
 to ^ve the enemy a fresh broadside, when her comman- 
 der called out a second time that he had surrendered. 
 The severest exercise of authority became necessary, to 
 prevent* the Hornet's crew, who were incensed at the ene- 
 my's firing after she had struck, from discharging the 
 broadside. Twenty-two minutes after the commence- 
 ment of the action, she was taken possession of by Mr. 
 Mayo, of the Hornet The Penguin was so much injured, 
 that captain Biddle determined upon taking out her crew, 
 and scuttling her; after doing which, he sent his prisoners 
 to St Salvador in the Tom Bowline, by which vessel and 
 the Peacock he was joined on the 25 th of the month. In 
 this action the Penguin lost 14 men killed, and 28 wound- 
 ed; the Hornet, 1 killed, and 11 wounded; among the lat- 
 ter, her first lieutenant Conner, dangerously. ^ 
 
 Having bent a new suit of sails, and repaired his rig- 
 ging, captain Biddle -was in a perfect condition to pro- 
 secute the cruise, and, together with the Peacock, after 
 waiting the foil time for commodore Decatur, at the 
 island of Tristan d'Acunha, sailed on the r2th of April 
 for the Cape of Good Hope. On the 27th, they discov- 
 ered a Bntish ship of the line, with an admiral's *'""■ 
 
 The Peacock and Hornet immediately separated, and 
 made all sail in different directions from the stranger, 
 who came up in pursuit of the latter. The chase com- 
 
 I 
 
&wnt 
 
 HE LATE WAS. 
 
 S67 
 
 liat mo- 
 t ahead » 
 shrouds 
 lie Hor- 
 [id bow- 
 lad sur- 
 eretood« 
 ng, and. 
 ik. An 
 I at cap- 
 to avoid 
 ket ball 
 liim, and 
 to whom 
 piece at 
 led him, 
 ^in just 
 re round 
 ;omman- 
 endered. 
 ssary^ to 
 itheene- 
 ^ng the 
 nmence- 
 by Mr. 
 injured, 
 ler crew, 
 irisoners 
 ssel and 
 nth. In 
 \ wound- 
 : the lat- 
 his rig- 
 to pro- 
 :k, after 
 at the 
 )f April 
 discov- 
 il's flag, 
 id, and 
 [tranger, 
 Vse com- 
 
 
 menced at about two o'clock of the 27th. and continued 
 until 10 in the morning of the 30th, during which time 
 tile enemy's bow guns were continually fircH — his vessel 
 frequently gained upon, aad was as often dropped by the 
 Hornet; ^nd captain Biddle, after throwing overboard 
 every heavy article at *hand, and all his guns hut one, at 
 length effected his escape, and went to St. Salvador for 
 the purpose of refitting. On his arrival there, he gained 
 intelligence of the conclusion of hbstilities, between the 
 two nations, and sailing thence, soon after returned to 
 the United States about the latter end of July» and waf 
 promoted to the rank of post captain. 
 
 The capture of the Cyane, tne Levant, and the Pen- 
 suin, took place before the expiration of the time limited 
 by the 2d article of the treaty of peace, to constitute their 
 legality, and the only one of them which got into port, the 
 Cyane, was taken into the service of the United States. 
 
 Thus terminated a war of two years and eight months* 
 in which the naval arms of the United States, were fifteen, 
 and those of Great Britain, four times triumphant; and 
 during which, the former lost three frigates, Wtven sloops, 
 and five smaller vessels, of war: whilst the latter, lost 
 five frigates, nineteen sloops of war, one of which was 
 blown up b^ a land battery, several gun brigs and schoon- 
 ers, two brigs cut out from under the guns of a fort, and 
 upwards of fifteen hundred merchantmen, captured by 
 private armed vessels. The operations of the American 
 armies, were, at the commencement of the war, not quite 
 so successful: — ^Defeat, disgrace, and disaster, in many 
 instances, followed their movements; but the struggle was 
 eventually closed by a succession of achievements, which 
 reflected the highest degree of lustre upon the American 
 name, and ranked the United States among the fijrst and 
 most independent nations of the earth. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Clark U Btuert Printers. 
 
 ■Ml*--' ■ » I-' li 
 
mmmmmm 
 
 r 
 
 '4r- I 
 
 IP 
 
 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER 
 
 General Brown, face title page. 
 Constitution and Guerriere, face page 39. 
 Wasp alRl Frolic, face page 45. 
 United States and Macedonian, face Chap. VII. 
 Constitution and Java, face page 96. 
 Hornet and Peacock, face Chap. XIII. 
 
 ^',<Bi>i.f— >>iili»i«- i'if - 
 
a9. 
 
 ip. vii.