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^'^""'^^mim^mmmm^. 
 
 ONTH 
 
 SMBELLl 
 
 I 
 
 
 PRISTEE 
 
HISTOKY 
 
 «F THK 
 
 . AMERICAN WAR, 
 
 >u^ 
 
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 OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND TWELVE, 
 
 
 FROM THIS COMMENCEMENT UNTIL TftE FINAL TERMlNATlC^ 
 
 THEEEOF) 
 
 ■■SiiraS' 
 
 ^^ ON THE MEMORABLE EIGHTH Of JANUAl^ l| 5, 
 
 AT NEW ORLEANS; 
 
 ■*■< 
 
 ..":■% 
 
 SMBELLISHED WITH A STRIKING LIKENESS OF 04nB«AL WSlLB^ 
 AND SIX OTHER ENORAVINOS. 
 
 : A-)'i, 
 
 
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 1,0 
 
 '(r7 
 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PUBLISHED BT WM. M<CA»TY. 
 
 PRINTED BY M<OARTY Sc DAVIS, S. W. CORNER <>I FtFTaj|3i» 
 
 CHERRY-STREETS. a 
 
 ■■■-— ' 1816. '- . ■'"=' .:;^l'- ^-'^-^ 
 
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 DISTHIOT OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO WIT.' 
 
 ^ .£^ '■'^ ^£itf£itfB£/?£i>, that on the sixth day of 
 
 * * Ayr • K ^ ""' '^'"** ^'^ '"^ atxtn aau of\ 
 
 :L-S.: ff'^yyn the fortieth year of the Independence ofl 
 
 * S ^/ie t/m/erf States of America, A. D. wCwiYr 
 
 '« ^^^rV^ m! :1"^^'^'^" ^^'^^^ ^-^ "^^^-- hundred and 
 ^^ thereof Ztf, ^°'"'"/«^^^^'^^ ««^// ^A.^/^a/ termination 
 
 « ^i ^^^^"'^hed imth a striking likeness of general Pike 
 
 « and SIX other engravings.** S^nerai i-tke, 
 
 enfuuT/"!'"i'!^ Vf' T '^*''' ^'""^'''^ 'f''^' ^^ited States 
 inlTl Z JtMthe encouragement of learning, by secur. 
 
 nLtr f'"' f '"''^*' '^^^'"'*' '^'^^ *°<>^* tothe.autLsanTZo 
 fmetors of such co/iies, during the times therein mentVned" 
 
 titid':jta::TT'''''^'' ^^^ -^^/.-.n..r/ro ::;;., 
 
 entitled, An act for the encouragement ofleamine bv .^r.^J 
 
 7nt:Ts:{hZ':'' ''t^ -^^^ *^°^* to}h:z;L'si:z- 
 
 metors of such copies, duHng the times therein mentioned » 
 and extending the benefits thereof to the artsofdTs^nZ^n 
 graving, and etching historical and other pHnt/:*^^' 
 
 D.CALDWELL, 
 Uerk of the District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Introdu( 
 Expedit 
 
 dian ( 
 I Invasiori 
 Attack < 
 
 limac 
 
 I Policy 
 
 Skirmis 
 
 Battle a 
 
 i Canada 
 
 the ar 
 Massa'cr 
 Charact« 
 Cruize c 
 
 pursui 
 I Escape ( 
 Capture 
 [Cruize c 
 I Rodger'i 
 Captt're 
 Cai^ t'e 
 Aifairs o 
 Battle of 
 Smyth's 
 Military 
 I relieve 
 Indian e: 
 March tl 
 Failure c 
 Expediti 
 Second e 
 Relief of 
 Destruct 
 Destruct 
 Expediti 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction, - - ... 
 
 Expedition of general Hull, and march through the In- 
 dian Country, - . . . , 
 Invasion of Canada, and reconnoitering on the Thames, 
 Attack on the British advanced posts and Fall of Michil- 
 
 limackinack. - - , 
 
 Policy of Britain and America towards the Indians, 
 Skirmishing, and American supplies intercepted, - 
 i Battle of Maguago,. - - . . 
 
 I Canada evacuated, Detroit summoned, and surrender cf 
 the army. 
 
 Massacre at Chicago, - * - - " _ 
 
 Character of the American navy. 
 
 Cruize of the squadron under commodore Rodders, and 
 I pursuit of the Belvidera, - - . . 
 
 1 Escape of the Constitution, 
 
 Capture of the Guerriere, - . . " . 
 
 Cruize of the Essex, - . . 
 
 I Rodger's second cruize and the Argus, - ^ ; 
 
 Capture of the Macedonian, 
 Cai^ i-e of the Frolic and Wasp 
 
 Aifairs on the lakes, capture of the Caledonia and Detroit! 
 iJattle of Queenstown, - - . , 
 
 Smyth's abortive expedition, - - . ~ ' 
 
 Military ardour of the Western States and fort Wayne 
 
 relieved, - . , _ ^ 
 
 Indian expeditions, 
 
 March through the wilderness to Fort Defiance" - 
 failure of Tupper's projected expedition, . * 
 
 I ^xpeditioM to the rapids of the Miami, 
 [ P i^f expedition thither, and siege of Fort Harrisor , 
 
 Destn.rf inn ' W ^f f ^P^^^^^^" ^S^^^^^ the Peoria te wns, 
 iJesti action of the Indian towns on the Wabash, 
 
 destruction of the Indian towns on the Missisainewa, 
 
 i-xpedition against thQ Florida Indiana, v-r.; .. 
 
 PAOK. 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
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 16 
 
 is 
 
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 42 
 
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 47. 
 
 4t 
 
ly. 
 
 CONTENT^. 
 
 The Bonne Cittoyenne challenged, 
 Capture and destruction of the Java, - - . 
 
 Capture and destruction of the Peacock, 
 Cruize of the Chesapeake and her capture by the Shannon, 
 Capture of the Argus, - ... 
 
 Capture of the Boxer, 
 
 Cruize of the President and Congress, - - ' 
 
 Cruize of the Essex, - - - . . 
 
 American Privateers— The Rolla, and the Comet, - 
 The General Armstrong and the Decatur, 
 Battle near the river Raisin, 
 Battle of FrenchtoTvn, - - . ^ 
 
 Massacre of the prisoners, - - - . '' 
 
 Construction of and Siege of Fort Meigs, 
 Skirmishing on the St. Lawrence, - - . 
 
 Capture of Ogdensburg, and of York, - 
 Capture of Fort George, - - . ^ 
 
 Oenerais Chandler and Winder made prisoners. 
 Capture of Boerstler's detachment, - - , 
 
 Attack on Sdckett's Harbour, - - 
 
 Sodus burnt, and second attempt on Sackett's Harbour, 
 Attack on Black Rock, - - - . 
 
 Siege of Lower Sandusky, - - . . 
 
 Norfolk threatened by the British squadron and bombard- 
 ment of Lewistown, - - - . 
 Capture of the Dolphin &c. and action between the Fox 
 
 and Adeline, - - - "_ 
 
 Annapolis and Baltimore threatened, 
 Burning of the villages of Havre de Grace, &c. 
 Attack on Craney Island, - - _ . 
 
 Outrages at Hampton, - . _ . 
 
 Decatur's squadron driveh into New London, 
 Attempt to blow up the Ramilies, - » „ 
 
 Explosion of a torpedo, - ' - - . 
 
 Capture of the British squadron on lake Erie, - 
 Evacuation of Maiden and Detroit, 
 Capture of the British army, - - - 
 
 Moderation of the conquerors. 
 
 Expedition to the Peoria lake, - - .^ _ 
 
 Inactivity of Ihe army at Fort George, r 
 
 Chauncey's cruises on lake Ontario, - - 
 
 Engagement with the Royal George under Kingston bat 
 
 teries, - - - - , . - 107 
 
 Engagement with Yeo's squadron, - a- - 109 
 
 Yeo cfeased round the Jake, , % • , 1\0 
 
 51 
 51 
 
 53 
 
 56 
 
 62 
 
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 64 
 
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 7* 
 
 75 
 
 76 
 
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 78 
 
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 81 
 
 83 
 
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 90 
 
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 91 
 
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 93 
 
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 94 
 
 95 
 100 
 101 
 103 
 105 
 106 
 106 
 
COVTENTi. 
 
 Chauncey's second engagement with Yeo, - « 
 
 Capture of the British transports, - - - 
 
 Movements on lake Champlain, - « - 
 
 General Hampton invades Canada. - «•' 
 
 Wilkinson moves down the St. Lawrence, 
 Battle of Williamsburgh, - - - ' - 
 
 Hampton declines a junction, - - - - 
 
 The army moves into winter quarters, 
 Evacuation of Fort George, - - ' - 
 
 Fort Niagara taken, and the Niagara frontier laid waste. 
 Events on the Southern frontier, and seizure of Mobile, 
 War with the Creek Indians, - # . 
 
 Capture of Fort Mims, - . ^ 
 
 Battle of Taliushatches, - - - . - 
 
 Battle of Talledega, - . . - - 
 
 Destruction of the Hillibee towns, - - - 
 
 Battle of Autossee, - - • - - 
 
 Expedition to the Tallapoosie river, - 
 
 Retaliation, - - - - . 
 
 Correspondence on the employment of the Indians, 
 Remarks on the army and navy, 
 
 Breaking up of the cantonements at French Mills, and af- 
 fair at La Cole mill, - - - - 
 General Wilkinson suspended, - - ' - 
 March of Brown's army to the Niagara, - . - 
 Holme's expedition on the Thames, - - . 
 Situation of affairs on lake Ontario, - - ° #. 
 Attack on the towns on the American margin of th6 lake. 
 Capture of a British detachment at Sandy bay. 
 Burning of Long Point, - _ - _ 
 Capture of Fort Erie, and Battle of Chippewa plains. 
 Battle of Bridgewater, - < 
 Attack upon Buffalo, . - - 
 Siege of Fort Erie, - - - . 
 General assault of the works, - - - - 
 Capture of two schooners on lake Erie, 
 Critical situation of the garrison in Fort Erie, - 
 Brilliant sortie, ,. . „ . 
 The British raise the siege, - - , - 
 Expedition under general Bissell, -r - '». 
 M* Arthur's expedition towards Burlington Heights, 
 Evacuation of Canada, - - ^ - . 
 British depredations in the Chesapeake, * ^ 
 Movements of Barney's flotilla, - - - 
 Measures for the defence of Baltimore and WasI\i%ton> 
 
 lU- 
 lU 
 115 
 116 
 
 iir 
 1 2a 
 
 120 
 121 
 12» 
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 187 
 12« 
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 137 
 
 1S9 
 
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 51 
 *56 
 157 
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 ieo 
 
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 165 
 
A 
 
 VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Vv 
 
 Arrival of the expedition under general Rosa ^ ^.a 
 
 '^tlidln'L'^'^"'^"" »"" ''"'™"- or the p-„b,J."" 
 
 buildings, 
 Retreat of the British, 
 Fort Warburton blown up, . " 
 
 Alexandria plundered, - ' " ' 
 
 RJ^rnh'^i'''"' for cutting off the retrea't of the'plundei^rs 
 . i:^d Pe";r .'"""! ^"'^^ -mn.oj:!res P^n^r 
 
 Commodore Rodger's fire ships, " . " 
 Defeat and death of sir Peter Parker, . ' ' 
 
 Dismissal of the secretary of war, 
 
 Attack upon Baltimore, . 
 
 Bombardment of Fort M'Henrv, . " " " 
 
 Retreat of the British, . " " 
 
 Proclamation of sir George Prevost ' . " ' " 
 
 Repulse of the British at Otter Creek, 
 Expedition against Plattsburg, 
 
 Amcron^.h^%^"'^-'^ '^^"^^'-^^ °" ^^^^ Champlain,' 
 
 Re^eatTfP^evor"""''''^"^ 
 
 Operations in New England, - . " " 
 
 Bombardment of Stonington, 
 
 Proclamation of neutrality towards Eastport," . " . 
 l^apture of that place, . , 
 
 Capture of Caatine, and destruction of the Adams frigate 
 
 Expedition against Michillimackinac, - - ' 
 
 Destruction of the establishment, at St. Mary's: 
 Attack on Michillimackinac, . . ^ ^ 
 
 Destruction of the establishment at Nautauwasa^a, ~ o 1 1 
 
 Sta?Hff -^ ' •' "l"^'."'^" blockading force on lake Huron, 2 2 
 Mate affairs in the Creek Territory! - ' t\t 
 
 Battle of Ecconachaca, - " l\l 
 
 Expedition of general Jackson, - . ' c,\\ 
 
 Attack on general Floyd's camp, . . t\l 
 
 Battle of the Horse Suoe, - . " l\l 
 
 Treaty of Peace with the Creeks, - . ' . 222 
 
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 200 
 
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 204 
 
 205 
 
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 208 
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 211 
 
 
• ONTfeNTS. 
 
 Repulse of the British at Mobile, - . . 
 
 Proclamation of colonel Nichols, 
 
 Destruction of the settlement at ^arrataria, 
 
 Capture of Pensacola, - . . . _ 
 
 Capture of the American gun-boats on lake Borirne 
 
 Military preparations at New Orleans, - . 
 
 Landing of the British below the town, 
 
 Battle of the 23d of December, 
 
 Description of the country around New Orleans, " - 
 
 Operations of the British previous to the 8th of Januanr, 
 
 Battle of New Orleans, - - . ' 
 
 Bombardment of Fort St. Philip, - " . ' 
 
 Operations on the coast of South Carolina and Georeia," 
 
 Cruize of the Essex, - . _ ^ ' 
 
 Captain Porter's reception at Valparaiso, 
 
 Destruction of the British commerce in the Pacific, 
 
 1 ne Happah war, - , _ _ ' 
 
 Typee war, - . . 
 
 Madison's Island, - . . . " *. ' 
 
 Capture of the Essex, - ... 
 
 Sequel of the cruize. 
 
 Result of the campaign on the Ocean, 
 
 Destruction of the General Armstrong, 
 
 Peace between America and Great Bntain, 
 
 Its reception in the two countries, 
 
 Lessons taught by the war, 
 
 vii 
 

 nttel. 
 
 «. 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 
 
 i' 
 Likeness of general Pike, to face the title page. 
 United States and Macedonian, to face page 
 Constitution and Guerriere, to face page 
 Wasp and Froiic, to. face page - - - 
 Perry's Victory, to face page - - 
 Battle of North Point, to face page 
 
 . Vl|, Battle of New-Orleans, to face page 
 
 27 
 ?4 
 28 
 95 
 192 
 231 
 
 A"*, t 
 
 R. 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN WAR. 
 
 DURING the last thirty years the United States has been 
 increasing m population and wealth in a ratio unparalleled in 
 history Within that period, its numbers have been more than 
 doubled, while its forests have been rapidly changing into cul- 
 tivated fields, and flourishing towns and villages rising, as if 
 by magic, m th. midst of the wilderness. These blessinirs, 
 however, have not been entirely unalloyed. The^apid increase 
 ot wealth had introduced luxury, with its accompanying evils, 
 and had, especially m the larger cities, considerably sullied oUr 
 republican simplicity of manners. Our extensive commerce, 
 ^' .^^^,^^b^«/»ed us with several of the European powers. 
 
 wh1rh"t ^hT V ^'.'" r'' '"^"^ '^^ ^^"-^t ^^' speculatio,; 
 which It had excited in almost every class, has undoubtedly 
 had a demoralizing tendency, though not perhaps in the degree 
 attributed to it by some politiciansf who have placed sofelHo 
 that account the want of public spirit and nationality, which 
 has been charged to this country!^ The late war, whalever 
 
 e^l'Tthlf r'^'r i'?^''<>^"--d, has certainly checked this 
 eyjl. It has raised the character of the nation in the eyes of 
 
 ioreign powers, and erected an altar of national glory on which 
 ^ n'artl P^J^dipes have been sacrificed, and polLkns oTete- 
 
 o^r^country ''''''' '"^ '"^ ""^"^"^'^ "^^ ''^"^^^^ °^ 
 
 A formal declaration of war against Great Britain, was Da<5<i 
 ed by congress on the 1 8th of June, 1812, which was Trocfat^ 
 
 wtoYet^aTtfe^t^I^T '?".T"^ '^^^ At^M:^tIm1"he 
 7r\^lt A r "" 9^ ^^""'^^^ S^^tes amounted only to seven 
 fe I '^^^ ^ ^^"^ '^^^P" ^f ^^r ^«d other smaller vesslls 
 The land forces were next to nothing. An army of 35 ooo 
 men, it is true, were authorized by congress aS..nrpJ£?>? 
 jyas empowered to call out 100,Jo Sfa; buf^^^^ 
 cies of force, though strong in defensive operatlnjn offeni^^^^ 
 
 wnere a comfortable subsistance is so readily procured, th|I 
 
 '*-»^ 
 
10 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAB. 
 
 h 
 
 f"' 
 
 
 embodying of a large regular force is far from being the wock 
 of a day. Besides, some time is necessary to change the hab- 
 its of men from civil to military; men brought up to ease and 
 indolence cannot at once execute the duties and meet the pe- 
 rils of war. Considerable difficulties were experienced like- 
 wise in finding officers fitted for command. Many of the re- 
 volutionary characters were dead, and those who survived were 
 almost too old for active service. In this state of things, can 
 it be a subject of wonder that the raw forces of the United 
 States^ headed by officers who had never seen service, and ac- 
 xompanied by rash militia, without subordination, should ex- 
 perience some disasters in the commencement of their career ? 
 These disasters, however, have thrown no disgrace on the 
 jVmerican name. On the contrary, the conduct of the Arne- 
 rican armies has reflected honour on their country, and all their 
 reverses have been occasioned either by the rashness of un- 
 disciplined bravery, or by the misconduct or inexperience of 
 their leaders. 
 
 From the disadvantages under which the army laboured, the 
 little navy of America M'as entirely free. The previous em- 
 barrassments of commerce ren .ered it easy for our naval offi- 
 cers to supply themselves with a sufficient number of seamen, 
 and with men too who hatl all their lives been engaged in si- 
 Tnilar pursuits, and under the most rigorous discipline; for 
 we apprehend that but little difference exists as to discipline 
 and general habits between a merchantman and a ship of war. 
 
 At the time of the tieclaration of w ar, general Hull, gover- 
 nor of the territory of Michigan, was on his maixh through 
 the Indian country in the state of Ohio, with an army of about 
 2000 men, destined for Detroit. ^ In the preceding month of 
 April the governor of Ohio had been ordered by the president 
 to call out 1200 militia. This requisition was principally filK 
 ed by volunteers, who rendezvoused at Dayton on the 29th of 
 April, and were shortly after placed under the command of gcr 
 reral HulL In the beginning of June the detachment advan- 
 ced to Urbanna, vvhere, on the tenth, they were joined by the 
 4th regiment of United States infantry. The following day 
 they commenced their march through the wilderness. 
 
 From Urbanna to the rapids of the Miami of the Lakes, the 
 country belongs to the Indians, and is entirely destitute of 
 roads. From the rapids to Detroit, along Lake Eric and De- 
 troit river, are various settlements, principally of French Ca- 
 nadians. By the treaty of Greenville, concluded by general 
 /iVayiic with the Indians iii 173 J, a number of trac :•, j^cncraily 
 »4x miles square, were cetlcd to the United States, which form 
 
HISTOUY OF THE WAR^. 
 
 U 
 
 chains of posts joining the lakes with the Oliio by the course 
 of tnc navigable rivers and the portages connecting them. By 
 the treaty a free passage both by land and water was to be al- 
 lowed to the people of the United States, along these chains 
 of posts. Forts or block-houses have been erected and gar- 
 risoned in most of these ceded tracts shice the declaration of 
 war, but at the t'me that the country was traversed by general 
 Mull's detachment, no civilized being was to be seen between 
 Urbanna and the rapids, a distance of at least 120 miles. 
 4^ Towards the end of June the army arrived at the rapids, 
 where a beautiful and romantic country suddenly opened to 
 their view, enlivened by the signs of cultivation, and by the 
 dwelUngs of their countrymen. Here a beam of joy animated 
 every countenance, and gave fresh energy and fortitude to 
 those who had undergone with difficulty the fatigues of a march 
 at once gloomy and oppressive. On men who had just emerg- 
 ed from a dreary wilderness, unincumbered by a single hut 
 reared by the hand of civilization, occupied by nought but 
 Indians and beasts of prey, the change of sceneiy had a won- 
 derful cflect. 
 
 After stopping here one day for refreshment, the army re- 
 commenced their march, having previously loaded a small 
 schooner with the hospital stores and officers' baggage, which 
 was dispatched to Detroit by water, under a guard of a lieuten- 
 ant and thirty men. Before they reached Detroit the army 
 were informed of the capture of the schooner, and of the de- 
 claration of war. On the morning of the 5th of July, they ar- 
 rived at Spring Wells, opposite Sandwich, within a few miles 
 of Detroit, where they encamped. 
 
 As general Hull had received, before his taking command 
 of the army, discretionary powers to act offensively in case of 
 war, the invasion of Canada was now determined on, and the 
 utmost diligence was used in preparation for that event. The 
 HDus of the troops were repaired, a part of the ordnance found 
 in the fort at Detroit was mounted, and every exertion was 
 used by the officers to impress on the minds of the soldiery 
 the necessity of strict discipline and obedience to orders. 
 
 On the 12th of July the a; my crossed into Canada, with the 
 exception of a small part of one company of militia, that re- 
 fused to pass the river. They encamped at Sandwich, a little 
 below Detroit, where a proci?mation was issued bv general 
 Hull. The inhabitants fled in the utmost consternation on the 
 approach of the army, but on receiving the proclamation, irst'^ 
 ny of them returned to their homes. 
 
 On the 14th a company of militia and a rifle corps, undef 
 
1.2 
 
 lOSTORY OF THE "W^AR. 
 
 
 \tf 
 
 ht 
 
 III 
 
 m 
 
 
 colonel M' Arthur, were detached to reconnoitre the countW. 
 Fhey penetrated to M'Gregor's mills, upon the river La 
 Tranche, or Thames, a short distance from the field of battle 
 where the British army was captured fifteen months after* 
 wards by general Harrison. On he 17th, they returned to 
 camp, having Collected a great quantity of provisions, and a 
 number of blankets, besides a considerable quantity of ammu- 
 nition and other military stores. 
 
 That part of Upper Canada traversed by tne detachment is 
 described by one of the volunteers that composed it as ex- 
 tremely fertile and beautiful. The fields of wheat and Indian 
 corn were remarkably fine; but as every male capable of bear- 
 ing arms had been drafted for the defence of the province, vast 
 quantities of the whej^t remained ungathered. 
 
 On the 16th, another reconnoitering party of 280 men, un- 
 der colonel Cass, was despatched in an opposite direction, to- 
 wards Fort Maiden, where the British and Indians had concen- 
 trated their forces. 
 
 Maiden, or Amherstburgh, is situated near the junction of 
 
 ^ Detroit river with lake Erie, about thirteen miles south from 
 the camp of general Hull at Sandwich. The road lies along 
 the river, and crosses two creeks, and the river Aux Canards, « 
 the latter ah)out four miles from Maiden. Cass's detachment 
 
 . I'uund the British advanced posts in possession of a bridge over 
 the Aux Canards. After examining their position, the colonel 
 posted a company of riflemen near the bridge, and forded the 
 
 ' river abput five riiiles above with the remainder of his force, 
 with the intention of surprising the British post. For that pur- 
 pose the riflemen were instructed to commence firing, in or- 
 der to divert the attention of the enemy, as soon as they should 
 perceive their companions on the opposite side of the river. 
 Unfortunately, however, being entirely destitute of guides, 
 
 ^ the detachment marched too near the bank of the river, and 
 found their progress checked by a creek, which obliged them 
 to make a circuit of two or three miles. This gave the enemy 
 time to make their arrangements, and prepare for their de- 
 fence. On being attacked, however, they retreated to Mai- 
 den, and left the bridge in possession of the detachment; but 
 as colonel Cass had received no orders to keep possession of 
 any post, but had been sent merely to reconnoitre, this bridge, 
 which formed the principal obstruction between the American 
 camp and Maiden, was abandoned, and the detachment return- 
 ed to camp. 
 
 Meanwhile the main body of the Americans remained inac- 
 tive at Sandwich. Not a single cannon or mortar was on 
 
 ,". 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 wheeis suitable for the attack of Maiden; nor was it until 
 7th of August that two 24 pounders and three howitzers w 
 prepared. Previous to that day, however, a great change ad. 
 taken place in the prospects of the Americans. The news of 
 the surprise and capture of the island and fort of Michilli- 
 mackinac* by a combined force of British and Indians, which 
 took place on the 17th of July, reached the army on the 28th. 
 The surrender of this post is stated by general Hull to have 
 "opened the northern hive of Indians," and to have induced 
 those who had hitherto been friendly to pass over to the British. 
 
 The policy observed by the British and American govern- 
 ments towards the Indians was of a diametrically opposite com- 
 plexion. The American government did every thing in its 
 power to civilize those unfortunate tribes who live within 
 their limits, and to introduce among them the practice of agri- 
 culture and the mechanic arts, with a view to wean them from 
 the hunter state, a state which is becoming daily more pre- 
 cai-ious and unprofitable from the increase of the population 
 of the country, and which renders them extremely dangerous 
 neighbours. The policy of the British, on the contrary, is to 
 keep them in their hunter state, by which they not only sup- 
 ply a lucrative branch of trade, but furnish a powerful weapon 
 in war. It is not^o be wondered at, then,, that the Indians, 
 who delight in warfare, and all of whose habits are averse 
 froiT^ the pursuits of civilized life, should cling to the British, 
 and shonld view -^he Americans, from theii tapid increase of" 
 population and strength, witlt jealousy and dislike. From 
 this cause Canada has ever been a thorn in the side of the 
 United States. While in possession of the French, by whom 
 it was originally settled, the most powerful efforts were made 
 by the British and provincial troops to gain possession of the 
 country. 
 
 In the French war of 1756, after three wholly disastrous 
 campaigns, and one of mingled disaster and success, the Ame- 
 ricans, assisted by powerful British aid, at last succeeded in 
 
 * MichiUitnackinac^ or Mdkina^ is a. small island: situated in 
 the evtrance of the strait bettveen lakes Hw^on and Michigan. 
 The fort is the most northern military post in the United States,. 
 Here a great fair was annually held, firevious to the %ffar, which 
 was firinci/ially frequented by the Indian traders and the jtier- 
 cJiants of Montreal, for the fiurfiose of exchanging the fieltrieat 
 
 tf the unei-iiilir/'A f^nnntti^ /ii*. *i.>. «».,««^../t,^*,..— „_ _,r r> *% .. 
 
 ;- _ - ' — ^^ r»^j»v.-5-„- jvt an, enit.-iii/tii.liil ^g VJ, yjirCiii JSTi^- 
 
 tain. 
 
 % 
 
 1 
 
14 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 'h.i 
 
 t -i 
 
 kik 
 
 i 
 
 -uniting Canada to the British dominions, and thereby restoring 
 peace to their harrassed frontiers. The same complaints 
 against the possessors of Canada for exciting the Indians to 
 hostility were urged in those days, that have been repeated 
 against their successors the British, and by none was the use 
 of this weapon more reprobated than by those who lately em- 
 ployed it. Such is the different lights in which a subject ap- 
 pears when it operates for or against us ! 
 
 By the fall of Michillimackinac, the junction of the Indians, 
 and the reinforcements, both of militia and regulars, which the 
 inactivity of the Americans enabled the British to collect for 
 the defence of Maiden, it soon became evident that no effective 
 measures towards the' reduction of Canada could be undertak- 
 Qn by this army. 
 
 Several skirmishes happened between reconnoitering parties 
 of the Americans and the Indian and British advanced posts 
 towards the end of July and in the beginning of August, in 
 which both sides claimed the victory. Most of these skirmish- 
 es took place near the river Aux Canards. By these parties it 
 was discovered that the bridge over that river had been taken 
 up by the British, except the sleepers ; that a battery waa 
 erected at one end of it ; and that the Queen Charlotte, which 
 carried eighteen 24 pounders, \^y in the Detroit river, at the 
 mouth of the Aux Canards, about a mile from the bridge, 
 with a gun-boat cruizing round her. 
 
 In the mean time the Indians had crossed the Detroit, and 
 cut off the communication of the American army with the 
 gtate of Ohio, on which they depended for supplies. As a. 
 small reinforcement of volunteer^, with a quantity of provi- 
 sions for the army was daily expected by this route, a corps 
 of 200 men was detached on the 4ch of August to open the 
 communication. This detachment fell into an ambuscade 
 which was formed by the Indians at Brownstown, where they 
 were totally defeated, and returned to camp without effecting 
 the object of their expedition. About the same time an ex- 
 press arrived from general Hall, the American commander on 
 the Niagara frontier, stating that there was no prospect of a 
 co-operation from that quarter. 
 
 It being indispersably necessary to open the communication 
 with Ohio, general Hull resolved to suspend the operations 
 against Maiden, and to concentrate the main force of the army 
 9l Detroit. Unwilling, however, to abandon the inhabitants 
 of Upper Canada, many of whom had accepted his protection 
 
 ' 1 ^1. 1 ^ 1 j._ui:_u^j _ ri>.^_« aU^ i.„«i.„ 
 
 unacr liic pruciaiiiuuuii, iic csLuuiisiicu u. lui ticas uii tuc unns^s 
 
 •of the river, a little above Sandvich^ where he left a garrison 
 
 I 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR 
 
 15. 
 
 r restoring 
 :omplaints 
 Indians to 
 I repeated 
 as the use 
 lately em- 
 lubject ap- 
 
 le Indians, 
 , which the 
 collect for 
 lo effective 
 undertak- 
 ing parties 
 need posts 
 \ugust, in 
 i skirmish- 
 e parties it 
 been taken 
 )attery waa 
 which 
 at the 
 bridge, 
 
 3tte, 
 
 ,'er, 
 
 he 
 
 etroit, and 
 Y with the 
 ies. As a. 
 y of provi- 
 te, a corps 
 :o o^en the 
 ambuscade 
 where they 
 It effecting 
 ime an ex- 
 imander on 
 Dspect of a 
 
 munication 
 
 operations 
 
 af the army 
 
 inhabitants 
 
 protection 
 
 ; a garrison 
 
 of 300 men. The remainder of the army recrosscdthe rircp, 
 and encamped at Detroit, on the evening of the 7th and the 
 morning of the 8th of August. 
 
 In pursuance of the object of opening the communication, 
 600 men were immediately detached under lieutenant-colonel 
 Miller. This detachment consisted principally of the regular 
 troops, and a corps of artillerists, with one six pounder and a 
 howitzer, a small body of cavalry, and detachmentSt from the 
 Ohio and Michigan volunteers. They marched from Detroit 
 ©n the 8th of August, and on the 9th, about 4 P. M. the van 
 guard was fired upon by an extensive line of British and In- 
 dians, at the lower part of Maguago, about 14 m^es from De- 
 troit. The van guard maintained their position in a most gal- 
 lant manner, under a very heavy fire, until the line was formed, 
 when the whole except the rear guard, was brought into action. 
 The enemy were formed behind a temporary breast work of 
 logs, the Indians extending in a thick wood on their left. The 
 Americans advanced till within a small distance of the ene- 
 my, where they made a geheral discharge, and then proceed- 
 ed with charged bayonets. The enemy maintained their po- 
 sition till forced at the point of the bayonet, when they com- 
 menced a retreut. They were pursued in the most vigorous 
 manner, about two miles, when the pursuit was discontinued on 
 account of the fatigue of the troops, the approach of evening, 
 
 and the necessity of returning to take care of the wounded. 
 
 The Indians in this battle were under the command of Tecum- 
 seh, and are said to have fought with great obstinacy. 
 
 The British regulars and volurU^eers in this action are stated 
 lih general Hull's despatch to have amounted to 400, with a 
 larger niimber of Indians: the Americans were 600 in number. 
 The American loss was 18 killed, and 64 wounded: the loss of 
 ^he British was not ascertained. Four of their regulars were 
 ^ adc prisoners, who stated that the commander, major Muir, 
 •and two subalterns, were wounded, and that 1 5 were killed and 
 wounded of the 41st regiment; and as the militia and vohm- 
 teers were in the severest part of the action, thtir loss must 
 have been much greater. About 40 Indians were found dead 
 ©n the field; and Tecumseh, their leader, was slightly wounded| 
 the number of wounded Indians was not ascertained. 
 
 Nothing, however, but honour was gained by this victory. 
 The comnmnication Avas opened no farther than the p . . xs of 
 their bayonets extended; and the necessary care of the sick and 
 wounded, and a severe storm of rain, rendered their return to 
 ,...„„^j, isi«i:ri^-x,ii3aL;iy j.^.j^„„„„j.„_ Aioat8> nati been sent irom De- 
 tBOit to transport thp wounded thither by water; but th« ftttem^ 
 
1^ 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 
 
 t4 
 
 Ifi ' 
 
 ■J' 
 
 r ^^r 
 
 was found impracticable The boats being descried from Ma!-* 
 den, the Hunter and Queen Charlotte were despatched in pur- 
 suit, and they were forced to convey the wounded from the 
 boats into the woods, and there leave them until waggons could 
 be procured from Detroit. 
 
 It was now determined entirely to abandon Canada, and ac- 
 cordingly the fort at Sandwich was cacuated and destroyed. 
 
 Suspicious of treachery in the general, which had begun to 
 arise immediately after the return of the army to D 3troit, had 
 now become very prevalent among the troops. A letter was 
 written to governor Meigs of Ohio, by five of the principal of- 
 ficers, begging.him instantly to make every effort to open the 
 communication, and informing him of their fears and suspi- 
 cions. 
 
 On the 14th of August another attempt was made to pene- 
 trate to the river Raisin, where it was understood the detach- 
 ment from Ohio had arrived with the provisions. Colonels. 
 M' Arthur and Cass selected 400 of the most effective men, 
 and set off by an upper route through the woods. The same 
 day the Bi'itish began to erect batteries opposite Detroit. 
 
 On the 15th, general Brock despatched two officers with a 
 flag of truce, from Sandwich, which had previously been taken 
 possession of by the British, requiring the surrender of Fort 
 Detroit to the arms of his Britannic majesty, and threatening 
 that the Indians would be beyond his controul the moment the 
 contest commenced. General Hull, in his answer, replied, 
 ,that he was reaHy to meet any force which might be at his dis- 
 posal, and any consequences which might result from his exer- 
 tion of it. On the return of the flag of truce, the British com- 
 menced a fire upon Detroit from their batteries, which was vi- 
 gorously returned from the American fort. The British con- 
 tinued to fire and throw shells till 10 o'clock that night, and at 
 break of day the firing was renewed on both sides. 
 
 During the night the. ships of war had moved up the river 
 nearly as high as Detroit, and the British and Indians landed 
 under cover of their guns, and were advancing towards the 
 fort, when general Hull ordered a white flag to be hoisted, and 
 the firing to be discontinued. The firing from the opposite 
 side was immediately stopt, and a parley was held, when arti- 
 cles of capitulation were agreed upon, by which fort Detroit 
 with all the troops, regulars as well as militia, with all the pub- 
 lic stores, arms, and every thing else of a public nature, were 
 surrendered to the British The militia and volunteers were 
 to be permitted to go home, on condition of not serving again 
 UU exchanged. The detachment wHh the provisions aVthc 
 
 river Raisi 
 jent to me( 
 lated that 
 ihould be : 
 Shortly 
 letachmen 
 [he river F 
 former on( 
 pey learnt 
 ^as detern 
 ]n the evei 
 formed the 
 then marc) 
 citadel. 
 
 The day 
 fer arrive c 
 \he commc 
 )itulation, 
 lis force \\ 
 were con si 
 put into co; 
 ♦oldiers wl 
 troit, a coi 
 proper to 1 
 no right t( 
 by his acts 
 to Ohio, ar 
 ssible. 1 
 er to desi 
 there w 
 i^fuge in 
 lemoved, 1 
 me destru 
 Smore rigic 
 of the cou: 
 t|achment i 
 } Twenty 
 e hands 
 ieces whi 
 ay, 35 yei 
 ve hundr 
 mmunitic 
 The rea 
 nder, we 
 nemy, joi 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 17 
 
 are, were 
 eers were 
 
 river Raisin, and that under colonel M' Arthur, which had been 
 sent to meet it, were included in the surrender. It was stipu- 
 lated that private persons anu property of every description 
 should be respected. 
 
 Shortly after this capitulation took place, colonel M'Arthur-*s 
 
 letachment returned to Detroit, their attempt to penetrate to 
 
 le river Raisin having proved equally unsuccessful with the 
 
 former ones. When they arrived within a mile of that place, 
 
 learnt its surrender, on which a council was held, when it 
 
 ras determined to send an officer to the fort with a flag of truce. 
 
 tn the evening he returned with two Britisii officers, who in- 
 
 )rmed them that they were prisoners of war. The detachment 
 
 [hen marched to Detroit, where they stacked their arms on the 
 
 ;itadel. 
 
 The day following the surrender of the army, a British offi- 
 cer arrived at the river Raisin, and delivered to captain Brush, 
 commander of the detachment from Ohio, copies of the ca- 
 )itulation, and of a letter from colonel M' Arthur, stating that 
 lis force was included in the surrender. At first these papers 
 rere considered fofgeries, and the officer and his party were 
 )ut into confinement; but their truth being confirmed by several 
 foldiers who had made their escape from the garrison at De- 
 roit, a council of the officers was held to consider what was 
 boper to be done. This council decided that general Hull had 
 lo right to capitulate for them, and that they were not boulid 
 his acts; and they accordingly concluded instantly to return 
 Ohio, and to carry with them all the public property that was 
 )ssible. It was determined, however, that it would be impro- 
 [er to destroy those public stores that could not be carried off, 
 there were a number of American families who had taken 
 ifuge in the fort, and some soldiers who were too sick to be 
 jmoved, had to be leffbehind. It was likewise conceived, that 
 le destruction of the stores might induce the enemy to deal 
 Hore rigidly with the garrison at Detroit. These resolutions 
 ' the council were immediately carried into effect, and the de- 
 ichment returned to the settlements. 
 Twenty-five pieces of iron and 8 of brass ordnance fell intp 
 le hands of the British at Detroit; several of the latter being 
 [ieces which had been surrendered by Burgoyne on the same 
 lay, 35 years before, viz. the 16th of August, 1777. Twenty- 
 jve hundred muskets and rifles, and a considerable quantity of 
 imunition likewise fell into their hands 
 The reasons stated by general Hull for this unfortunate sur- 
 ;nder, were, the great inferiority of his force to thgt of the 
 lemy, joined to the numerous band of Indians, who were daily* 
 
 JX"^ 
 
1ft 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 1^ 
 
 ill 
 
 increaring in numbei'; the hazardous situation in which tiie dc* 
 tachment under colonels M' Arthur and Cass was placed ; and 
 the iinpossibility of furnishing his army with the necessary sup- 
 plies of provisions, military stores, clothing, and comforts for 
 the sick, on pack horses, through a wilderness of 200 miles, 
 filled with hostile savages. The contest, he observes, could not 
 have been sustjiincd more than a day for the want of powder, 
 and but r very t' \v days for the want of provisions. "A large 
 portion," continues he, " of the brave and gallant officers and 
 men I c&mmunded, would cheerfully have contested until the 
 last cartridge had been expended, and tiie bayonets worn to the 
 sockets. I could not consent to the useless sacrifice of such 
 brave men, when I knew it was impossible for me to sustain I 
 my situation." 
 
 The disasters accompanying this expedition did not end here. 
 On the change of prospects in general Hull's army in Canada, 
 a messenger was despatched to Chicago, or fort Dearborn, sit- 
 utated near the south-west corner of lake Michigan, with or- 
 ders to captain Heaid to evacuate that post, and proceed with i 
 his command, which consisted of 66 men, to Detroit, leaving it I 
 to his discretion to dispose of the public property as he thought 
 proper. The neighbouring Indians, hearing that the goods in 
 the factory were to be given to them, crowded into the fort [ 
 fi'om all quarters. On the 13th of August, captain Wells ar- 
 rived from fort Wayne with 30Miamies,whom he had brought] 
 by request of general Hull, for the purpose of escorting the | 
 garrison to Detroit. The following day all the goods in the i 
 factory store were delivered to the Indians. 'i.'he surplus arms | 
 and ammunition, however, and the spiritous liquors were de- 
 stroyed, lest the Indians should make a bad use of them if put | 
 into their possession. 
 
 On the 15th the garrison commenced their march for Detroit,! 
 a part of the Miamies being detached in front, and the remain- 
 der in the rear, as guards, under the direction of captain Wells. I 
 Their course lay along the beach of lake Michigan, the lake 
 on their left, and a high sa'nd bank on their right, distant about 
 100 yards. They had not proceeded two miles before they] 
 were fired on by the Indians from behind the bank, and an ac- 
 tion immediately commenced; but the Miamies giving the gar- 
 rison no assistance, in fifteen minutes thirty-eight soldiers, two! 
 women, and twelve children were killed, and the Indians had | 
 gained possession of all their horses, provisions and baggagt 
 The remainder were surrounded^ and made ■orisoners; They ! 
 were then earned back to the fort, and distributed among the I 
 /djlierent tribes. Next morning the Indians burnt the fort, and 
 
fflSTORY OF THE WAlt. 
 
 JS 
 
 e to sustain 1 
 
 I carried off their prisoners. The number of Indian warriors in 
 
 the action was between four and five hundred; their loss about 
 
 (fifteen. Captain fleald and his lady were carried to the mouth 
 
 [of the river St. Joseph, and being both badly wounded, were 
 
 I permitted to reside there with an Indian trader, whence they 
 
 took an opportunity of going to Michillimackinac, where the 
 
 captain surrendered himself to the British as a prisoner of 
 
 jwar. A lieutenant, twenty-five non-commissioned officers and 
 
 [soldiers, and eleven women and children, were prisoners when 
 
 [the captain separated from them. 
 
 By the disastrous issue of this unfortunate expedition of ge- 
 
 |neral Hull, besides the loss of men and arms at Detroit, a 
 
 weak frontier of vast extent was exposed to the brutality of 
 
 [Indian warfare, which continued for twelve months to harass 
 
 the western settlements, and the territory of Michigan was oc- 
 
 [cupiod as a British province. 
 
 From the disastrous scenes which followed the first efforts 
 )f our arms in the north-west, we turn with pleasure to record 
 [the glorious events that have taken place on the ocean. There 
 loiir gallant tars, strong in spirit, though weak in number, in 
 [despite of the thousand ships of the self-styled mistress of the 
 [ocean, have triumphantly borne the flag of America through 
 levery sea, from the rude and inclement shores of Greenland, 
 [to the rich and temperate regions of Chili and Peru. The 
 [enemy, with his immense disparity of force, has to boast of 
 |but few triumphs over us, whilst we can claim more than we 
 lave ships. 
 
 But the courage of our tars, though it has achieved victories 
 i^hich have thrown^ halo of glory around our little navy, forms 
 )y no means the most conspicuous or lovely trait in their cha- 
 a.cter. Their modesty and disinterestedness, their humanity 
 ^nd liberality to the conquered, have been such as uniformly to 
 Extort the grateful acknowledgements of the enemy that they 
 iave thus doubly vanquished, and have convinced the world, 
 that the character of bravery which they have acquired, doos 
 lot rest merely on the exertion of physical strength and techni- 
 :al skill. 
 
 Nor has the naval glory of America suffered by the few re- 
 verses that have taken place. On no occasion has its honour 
 )een in the slightest degree tarnished; it has been equally sus- 
 tained in defeat as in victory; and the clouds of adversity have 
 Berved but to display its character in a new light, and to show 
 that it is adequate to every emergency. 
 
 i iiese remarks do not solely apply to national vessels. The 
 Icomnianders and crews of our privateers have not be^ o»j*- 
 
 A 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAIl. 
 
 shone either in courttge or magnanimity, as has been amply 
 proved by their valorous deeds, and by the numerous public 
 testimonies which have been borne to their worth by the un- 
 flattering tongue of those who have suffered by their enter*^ 
 prize.* 
 
 
 'A 
 4^i 
 
 : i: I 
 
 1l 
 
 iWi 
 
 m » 
 
 * We are favoured nvith the following anecdote by a gentle- 
 man who waa firesent when the circumstance related took filacCj 
 he having been cafitured by the British squadron in a merchant 
 vessel which sailed from .England beforb the knowledge of the 
 war. 
 
 In Julyy 1812, the privateer Dolfihin, cafitain Endicot^ of Sa- 
 Jem^ was cafitured by a British squadron U7ider commodore 
 Broke, and the cafitain and crew were fiut on board the Eolue, 
 lord James Townshend. Endicot, during the short sfiace of 
 time that had elafised from the declaration of war to his cafi- 
 turcy had taken fifteen vessels, and by his enterfirize, activity, 
 end courage, had excited a considerable degree of asfierity 
 against him in the minds of the officers of the squadron, who 
 had almost daily heard of his exfiloits. On the arrival of the 
 crew on board the Eolus, they were treated with much haughti- 
 ness, and suffered some indignities. Cafitain Endicot, in fiarti- 
 cular, was treated with such haughty reserve, that for several 
 days not a word was exchanged with him. 
 
 This treatment, however, was but of short duration. On 
 board the Dolfihin the British found more of their own country- 
 men firisoners than there were men in the firivateer, and on ex- 
 amining them, they were equally surfirised and mortified to hear 
 the conduct of the Americans sfioken of in the highest terms of 
 afifirobation, to find that every thing had been done to render 
 their situation comfortable, and that all on board had shared 
 equally in every luxury that the vessel afforded. It was also 
 discovered, that in a former cruize Endicot had cafitured off 
 J^ova Scotia a vessel in which there was an old woman passen- 
 ger, who had 800 dollars in cash on board, and who afifieared in 
 great distress at the firosfiect of losing her firofierty. Endicot 
 had with difficulty soothed her, as she could hardly be fiersuaded 
 that her little all waa not irrecoverably gone. The crew, on 
 hearing of the woman's fears, unanimously declared that not a 
 cent of it should he touched. In the warmth of her gratitude 
 for this liberality, she made the circumstance publicly known 
 through the newsfiafiers on her arrival in the United States. 
 The British officers, Uahumed now of their fiust conduct, unu 
 
 Tntsrtified at being outdone in magna?iimity by a prrvateersman^ 
 
&ia,TORT OP THE VTAA. 
 
 121 
 
 A tew dpys previous to the declaration of war, the frigates 
 United States and Congress, and the brig Argus, received or- 
 ders to rendezvous Qff Sandy Hook. On their arrival there on 
 the 21 St of June, they were joined by the brig Hornet and the 
 President, from New York, and the same day commodore 
 Rodgers, who commanded the squadron, having received o^- 
 cial intelligence of the declaration of war, they put to sea in 
 search of a British convoy which had sailed from Jamaica in 
 the preceding month. The foilowinqr night information was 
 received of the convoy from an American brig, which had 
 passed them four days before, «nd the squadron crowded all 
 sail in pursuit. 
 
 Next morning, however, their course was altered by the ap- 
 pearance of the British frigate Belvidera, to which they- im- 
 mediately gave chase. The jiursuit continued from six in the 
 morning until past four in the afternoon, when the commo- 
 dore's ship, the President, having got within gun-shot, com- 
 menced a fire with the bpw chase guns, at the spars and rig- 
 ging of the Belvidera, in hopes of crippling the one. or the 
 other so far as to enable them to get along side. The Belvi- 
 dera returned the fire of the President with her stern guns, 
 and the firing was kept up without intermission for about ten 
 minutes, when one of the President's chase guns burst, by 
 which unfortunate accident sixteen men were killed and woun- 
 ded; among the wounded was commodore Rodgers, who had 
 his leg fractured. By the bursting of the gun, and the explo- 
 sion of the passing box, from which it was served with pow- 
 der, both the main and forecastle decks were so much shat- 
 tered as vo prevent the use of a chase gun on that side for 
 some time. Orders were therefore given to veer the ship, 
 and a broadside was fired, in the hope of disabling the spars of 
 the enemy. This, however, did not succeed; but considerable 
 damage was done to the rigging and the stern. The utmost 
 exertion was now used on board the President, by wetting the 
 
 tvateersman^ 
 
 changed their conduct towards Endicot, and invited him to me»» 
 in the gun room, where hin frank, manly behaviour quickly te^ 
 cured htm their highest resfieci. In sfteaking of pHvateeL he 
 remarked to the British officers, that they were under the same 
 regulations as national vessels, and that American finv ate erinx 
 juuurally differed from that of other nations, as it was generally 
 ^nsidered tn the United States as a national mode of carrying 
 on the war, and hastening fieace, by ofieratin^ ofi thl- «,««« L 
 
 *icr most vulnerable fioint. ' ' '"' ~ " 
 
 C 
 
ill 
 
 m' I 
 
 '«i 1 
 
 •* HISTORY OP THE WAI\. 
 
 sails, Sec. Lo gain ground of her opponent, but without success. 
 A constant fircing was kept up on both sides, the President at 
 times giving broadsides, 'intil about seven o'clock, when the 
 Delvidera, having cut away her anchors, started a number of 
 water casks, an<l thrown overboard her boats and every thing 
 that could be spared, began to gain ground, and to get out of 
 the reach of the President's shot. The chase, however, was 
 t:ontinued with all the sail our squadron could set, until about 
 half past eleven, when it was given up as hopeless. Consider- 
 able injury was done to both vessels in this action. One of 
 the first shots fired by the President killed one man and wound- 
 ed six; the captain was severely wounded in the thigh by the 
 breaking of the breeching of a carronade. On board the Pre- 
 sident there were three killed and nineteen wounded, the grea- 
 ter part by the bursting of the gjm. 
 
 The squadron now resumed their course in pursuit of the 
 convoy from Jamaica, but did not receive further intelligence 
 of it until the 29th of June, when an American schooner was 
 spoken on the western edge of the banks of Newfoundland, 
 that had passed them two days before. On the 1st of July they 
 fell in with quantities of cocoa-nut shells, orange peels, &c. 
 which indicated that the convoy were not far distant. On the 
 9th they captured the British privateer Dolphin, which had 
 passed the convoy the preceding evening. The pursuit was 
 continued, but without success, until the 1 3th, the squadron 
 J)eing then within eighteen or twenty hours sail of the British 
 channel. 
 
 From this they steered for the island of Madeira, and thence 
 passing the Azores stood for Newfoundland, and from the lat- 
 ter place by the way of Cape Sable to Boston, where thev ar- 
 rived on the 31st of August. 
 
 During a great part of this cruize the -weather was such as 
 to obscure every distant object: for several days the fog was so 
 thick as to prevent the vessels of the squadron from seeing 
 each other, even at cable's length asunder; In consequence of 
 which, although they chased every vessel they saw, and brought 
 to every thing they chased, with the exception of four vessels, 
 they made only seven captures and one recapture. The 
 cruize, however, was not barren of benefit to the country, as 
 the kowledge of the squadron's ueing at sea obliged the ene- 
 my to concentrate a considerable portion of his most active 
 force, and thereby prevented hw c^Hvirinf-: a large amount of 
 American property that would ita* ■ vir have fallen a sacri- 
 fice. The vessels that escaped v/ore, the Belvidera, another 
 British frigate^ by xtfght, and two Am^ricaij privateers. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. ^'^ 
 
 The Constitution frigate, under the command of captaiii 
 1 lull, had received orders to join the squadron, andforthat pur- 
 pose sailed fronl%nnapoli8 on the 5th of July. On the irth, 
 off Egg Harbour, four ships, apparently of war, wrre disco- 
 vered from the mast-head to the northward, and m shore ot the 
 Constitution, and, in the belief that it was the American sqviad. 
 ron waiting her arrival, all sail was made m chase of them. 
 At fo'ir in the afternoon another ship was seen from the niast- 
 head, to the north-east, standing for the Constitution with all 
 sail set, the wind at this i-ne being very light, which course 
 she continued till sun-set, oUt was still too far off to distinguish 
 signals. At ten in the cvenin - , being then withm 8ix or eight 
 miles of the strange lil, the private signal was inade by the 
 Constitution, and kept up nearly an hour; it not bemg answer- 
 ed, it was concluded that she and the ships in shore were ene- 
 my's vessels. Captain Hull immediately laid his vessel in the 
 same course with the others, having determined to he oft till 
 day-light to see what they were. 
 ' Next morning, about day-light, two frigates were seen from 
 the Constitution, under her lee, one frigate four or five nules, 
 and a line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig, anda schooner ten 
 or twelve miles directly astern, all in chase, and coming up tast, 
 they having a fine breeze, and it being nearly cabn where the 
 Constitution w«s. After sunrise, finding there was but little 
 chance for escape, beihg then within five miles of three heavy 
 frigates, the Constitution waa cleared for action, and two guns 
 were runout at the cabin windows, and two at the ports on the 
 quarter deck. At eight, four of the ships were nearly^ within 
 gun-shot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead tow- 
 ing, with all their oars and sweeps out. 
 
 *In this perilous situation, a new expedient was determined 
 on, which was the happy means of saving the vessel. Being 
 in /v«b twenty-fovir fathoms water, boats were sent out ahead 
 with ai>,cii->rs, and ^h^ ship warped up to them, by which they 
 s' ,.*) '-ug a to get ahead of the enemy. They, however, adopt- 
 ed the same plan, and all the boats from the furthermost ships 
 were sent to assist those nearest. For two days and nights 
 were they chased by the squadron, sometimes with light 
 winds, at others warping and towing in a calm, seldom mucli 
 beyond gun-shot distance. On the morning of the 20th only 
 three of the squadron could be seen from the mast-head, the 
 nearest about 12 miles distant, directly astern. Having now 
 a light breeze, all hands were employed in wetting the sails 
 from the royals down, and the enemy was soen left tar behind. 
 The Constitution, not being able to find the United States 
 
1 
 
 I 
 
 
 24 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 aTi^r* "'"' '"*'' ^™^ f" Boston, where she shonl^ af.,r 
 
 and" oVt'f.?^ f ;s'':;f<,iL?'''H''"s'''»^'" p« «- «»- 
 
 raked Af 1,J, .i,! P|"Pos= of closing and avoiding beina 
 
 my^ Srbv hlr '^^V"^ P^'^^^"' ^d t° «w^eP her ene- 
 luy s aecK by her grape-shot and musouetrv Th« k 
 
 i.tintSXt'thi'""'' '•'"' p^i-.-^^eTtKc'instttli;: 
 
 .im iniormea that she was in a sinking condition ind h^A 
 
 ileTu/' '^* '''" '" ™ '^'■^' ^n'l shortly after 
 
 Captain Hull in his official letter states, that all his crew 
 
 XT^ n' """'" ^'^'"'-y' f™" "'« smallesVboyin thl 
 s ij. to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear was seen Th^v 
 
 a went mto action giving three cheers, and request"n Jo be 
 
 eoiHrH,:'™,'^-""" "V''^ ^"""^- Their hnmanify was 
 
 ,?!? Ik'' ^''""I^- '^"P'"'" JJ»<:>^s. in his official letter 
 
 the S:»L^"'' '"k''V« '" '"'™ heen « that of a brave enemK 
 
 wotdSi.'"'"'' '""' ""= S™**^^' 'Attention being, paid. ftL: 
 
 On board the Constitution there were seven killed and seven 
 
 woutKled; on board the Gucrriere, fifteen were k™nd six" 
 
ortiy aftor 
 
 )«.t to sea, 
 which a$ 
 ft ship was 
 :h proved 
 ag; for her 
 ready she 
 g to ^3osc 
 fie re gave 
 •adside on 
 rt. Both 
 an hour, 
 iition, the 
 ng being 
 e for six- 
 fell over- 
 abled the 
 her ene- 
 fire was 
 Jr, whens, 
 5 became 
 istitution 
 s still fly- 
 hen they 
 
 was got 
 At day- 
 5titution, 
 and had 
 ;rs were 
 •tly after 
 
 lis crew 
 y in the 
 . They 
 ng to be 
 >ity was_ 
 il letter, 
 enemy; • 
 sing the • 
 d to the 
 
 id seven 
 
 and six- 
 
w 
 
 I 
 
 
 > ! 
 
 '4" 
 
 
 ' '■! 
 
 i ■ 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 ; 
 
 ii^^ 
 
 iJ 
 
 ih- 
 
IttSTORY OF THE WAR., 
 
 
 fy-three wounded, and twenty-four missing; the latter were 
 jytated by one of the officers to be away in prizes 
 
 The Constitution rated 44 guns and carried 56; her comple- 
 inent of men is 450. The Gucrriere rated 38 guns and car- 
 ried 49, the odd gun shifting, which makes it equal to two; 
 she had on boad about 300 men. 
 
 Meantime the other vessels of our little navy were not idle. 
 The Essex sailed from New-York on the 3d of July, and shoi 
 ly after fell in with a fleet of transports, under convpy of a fri- 
 gate and two bomb ketches, from Jamaica for Halifax, with 
 troops. The Essex kept at a distance until m^hty when she 
 cut off* a brig with 150 soldiers on board, which was ransomed 
 tor a bill oi exchange on London for 14,000 dollars. The 
 men were disarmed, an exchange receipt taken for them, and 
 they severally took an oath not to serve till exchanged. Cap- 
 tain Porter, in his letter to the secretary of the navy, lamented 
 that he had not Avith him a sloop of war, that the ships of the 
 ^onvoy might have been kept in play while he engaged the 
 I tugate. « Had this been the case," says he, « instead of tak- 
 ing only 200 prisoners, I have not a doubt that we should have 
 made prisoners of the whole of the troops, as well as the fri- 
 gate's and ti-auspcrts^ crews, which would have exceded 2000 
 men." 
 
 The following day the Essex captured the brig Lamprey 
 from Jamaica. Intelligence. was received from her that the 
 1 hetis frigate, with specie and a large convoy for England, was 
 to have sailed about the 26th of June, and that several running 
 ships were on the departure. Every exertion was thereforl 
 made to get off St. Augustine in time to fall m-with them, but 
 vithout effect, as fresh gales prevailed from the south-west, 
 Mhich mcreascdiintil the 19th of July, when, by the violence 
 ot the tempest, they were compelled to run before the wind. 
 
 of wL V ^""^"'r' ^^^ ^"'^^ captured the Alert sloop 
 
 of war, after an action of eight minutes. The Alert, which 
 was said to have been sent out for the purpose of taking he 
 Hornet, ran down on the weather quarter of the Essex, and 
 gave three cheers at the commencement of the action. When 
 he ZT^ ^'' colours she had only three men woundedTbut 
 
 nkces Sp ''' """''.' '"1 ^'^ ^^'^' ^"^ was much cut to 
 pieces. 1 he Essex received not the slightest injury. 
 
 inclS.'^LV^^.r'ff ^ ''''^' ^'' prisoners, wLamounted, 
 inciudrng those of the Alert, to 500. cantain Pnrt*.»,^,^.i,„i.,i' 
 
 rhnrvr^r^"^""'^^,*^" ^^P*^^^^ «f the Alert, for despatching 
 Her guns were accordmgly thrown overboard, and she wasen- 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 r, 
 
 trusted to the command ot a lieutenant of the Essex, wjth 
 orders to proceed to St. John's, Newfoundland The Com- 
 mander of the British naval forces at that place, in a letter to 
 the American secretary of the navy, strongly protests against 
 this practice of immediately despatching captured vessels as 
 cartels; " nevertheless, as a proof of respect for the liberality 
 with which the captain of the Essex has acted, in more than 
 one instance, towards the British subjects who have fallen in^o 
 his Hands," and through a desire to fulfil the engagements efr> 
 tered mto by a British officer, he consented to the proposed 
 exchange. The Alert is noM- in the American service. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 30th of August, a Briitsh frigate 
 was perceived standh*?; for the Essex under a press of sail.— 
 Porter was instantly prepared for actioii, and stood towards the 
 frigate, and at the approach of night a light was hoisted for the 
 purpose of preventhig a separation. At nine a signal v/as msde 
 by the enemy consisting of two flashes and one blue light, ap- 
 parently about four miles distant. The Essex continued to 
 stand for the point were the signal was, seen until midnight,, 
 Avben, not getting sight of the enemy, she hove too until day- 
 light, on the presumption that the other had done the same, or 
 at least would keep in the neighbourhccd; but to the surprise 
 and mortification of all on board, in the morning the coast was 
 cl«ir. 
 
 On the 4th of Septembe^r, off the tail of St. George's bank, 
 two shi|teof war were discoverefl to the southward, and a brig 
 to the' northward, the latter in chase of an American merchant- 
 man. The Essex gave chase to the brig, which attempted to 
 pass her and join the other tw.'>, but was prevented, and com- 
 pelled to stand to the north. She, however, escaped, tlie wind 
 }>eing ligh^, by means of her sweeps. On the Essex showing 
 hev colours to the American vessel, the vessels to the south- 
 ward ftrcd signal p;uns, and made all sail in chui^c of her, and 
 by 4 P. M. had gained her wake, and were coming up very fast. 
 Calculating on escaping by some manoeuvre in the night, cap- 
 tain Porter hoisted American colours, and fired a gun to wintl* 
 ward. The ships still continued to gain on him, and the 
 largest being considerably to windward of the other, and only 
 live miles astern, captain Porter determined to heave about as 
 !;oon as it grew dark, and, in the event of not being able to pass 
 him, to fire a broadside and lay him on board, a resolution that 
 was received with three cheers when proposed to the crew.^— 
 
 K.if 
 
 
 ^1>- 
 
 
 
 -t-» 
 
 saw no more of the enemy; a circumstance which seems the 
 jnorc extraordinary, as a pi&tol was fired by accident on board 
 
 m 
 
rhe tom- 
 a letter to 
 ts against 
 vessels as 
 
 liberality 
 iTiore than 
 fallen in^p 
 ments er> 
 
 proposed 
 ce. 
 sh frigate 
 
 of sail. — 
 wards the 
 :ed for the 
 
 v/as msde 
 
 light, ap- 
 itinued to 
 midnight,! 
 
 until day 
 t same, or 
 e surprise 
 
 coast was 
 
 
 v:\ 
 
 ge's bank, 
 and a brigj 
 merchant - 
 empted to 
 I and cbm- 
 , tlie wind 
 X showing 
 the south- 
 f her, and 
 ) very fast, 
 light, cap- 
 m to wind* 
 1, and the 
 , and only 
 e about as 
 ble to pass 
 hition that 
 16 crew.'— 
 
 seems the 
 
 it on bosird 
 
 after | 
 
 donial 
 
 The I 
 
 choo^ 
 
 hour 
 
 lime 
 
 i 
 
d'^H 
 
 ^Hs 
 
 Wm^ 
 
 
 mt 
 
 
 iS^B 
 
 ^Bcx 
 
 iWW 
 
 ^^mi\. . 
 
HISTORY OF tHE WAR. 
 
 sr 
 
 .SSCXi 
 
 ,.«^^ 
 
 
 the moment when she must have been at the 
 [shortest distance from them. On the 7th of September the 
 iKssex arrived in, the Delaware. 
 
 On the 8th of October the President frigate, in compaoy 
 ^vith the United States, Congress, and Argus, sailed from Bos- 
 ton on a cruize. On the 13th the United States and Argus 
 )arted company with the squadron in a gale of wind. On the 
 15th the President and Congress captured the British packet 
 iwallow, having on board specie to tiie amount of nearly 
 00,000 dollars. On the 31st they captured a south sea ship, 
 
 P loaded with oil, one of two ships under convoy of the Galatea 
 frigate, to which they gave chase, but lost her in a fog. During 
 a he remainder of this cruize they saw no other British vesiicl 
 [except the frigate Nymph, which escaped in the night. On 
 [the 31st of December they arrived at Boston, having been, as 
 [far, tj^tlje east as longitude 22 degrees, and to the south as lati- 
 jtucle 17 (fegrees N., whence they ran down the trade wind to 
 [50 degi'ccs W., and on*ncir Keturn to the north passed within 
 120 miles of Bermuda. 
 
 The Argus, <ifter parting from the squadron, proceeded to 
 [the coast of Brazil,, sailed along the north coast frorn cape St. 
 Roque to Surinam, thence to the windward of the West In- 
 [dies, and thence in every direction between the Bermudas, 
 [Halifax, and the continent. After bciiig out 96 days she arriv- 
 fcd at New York > having made five prizes, valued at 200,000 
 : <lollars. During her ci-uizc, she fell in with a British squadron, 
 consisting of six sail, two of which were of the line, one of 
 I them a remai'kably fast sailer. The favour of the moon enabling 
 them to c;hase by night as well as by day, the chase was con- 
 tinued for three days, without intermission, and under various 
 circumstances, but by unremitted exertions, the Argus was 
 enabled to elude the pursuit. Pressed on all sides by the num- 
 ber of the enemy, and the baffling and unsettled slate of the 
 Aveather, she was at one time within musket shot of a 74, and 
 at another nearly surrounded. While in this perilous situation 
 she actually captured and manned one of her prizes. 
 
 The United States was still more fortunate. On the 25th of 
 October, off the Western Islands, about two weeks after being 
 separated from the squadron, she fell in with and captured, 
 liter an action of an hour and a half, the British frigate Mace- 
 Ionian, of the same class and strength with the Guerriere.— ^ 
 "^he Macedonian, being to windward, had the advantage of 
 loosing Irer distance, which was so great that for the first half 
 liour the United States couid not use her carrouades, and at no 
 fiine were they within musket or grape shot. ZTo this circuni- 
 
28 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 
 
 11. ': 
 
 her mizen mast, fo^ and^^L ^^ wounded; she aho lost 
 
 was much cut i,prLrhulTSnhrTf''fr^. '"^"^ r^'^^''^^^ 
 were only five killed n.H ^"^^^^^dthc United States there 
 
 ed by the?hrp^v^lr o s rsTcf ; ^'? '^"^^^^ -»'^^- 
 
 necessary. "^"^^ ^^ ^^ » ^"dcr her return to pon 
 
 onThe%li"LfDe?em^^^^^^^^^ -i.h her prize 
 
 sound far New YorlT "^"^ pi^ceeded through the 
 
 D^i:^^^^!:|'|^^^;j;;^y was displayed by commodore 
 Pertyof t^ie officers and ^^! 7 ""T^^^ Allthepro- 
 
 music aid several cTsks o^f wW i^'r ^" ''^^^"^"^^ « ^^"d of 
 -nd paixl for by the comllo™'' "'^'' "^^" valued. tg 800, 
 
 ^tance^^l,:^^^^- -^not^^^^^ to mention an in- 
 comraoni fcamen In tho .?r ^.^^''^ occasion among the 
 the carjfenter's c ew w^' ^^2^ nTn V^? Macedonian oL of 
 . inercy of the world amUf a ^1^^ ^'^ '\^^^ ^^iid'-en at the 
 <ioned them. On the ^Hval of fhi?' T-^^'^ ^^^« ^^^^ ^^an- 
 their grandfather ^v^nt^n bird tt Vr-^f c'"' ^' ^'"^ York, 
 Pi^perty and wa^es of hir.^n k "'^""^ ^'^^^' ^« ^^^i"» the 
 <:umstances of thffL^ L LI "^ ""^"^ ? ^^^i'-y i"to the cir. 
 on by the seamen foMlereHef^l^^^ "'^^ ! P^"" ^^« ^&^-^«i «P- 
 w^re instantly colleaedfofth^^^^^ ^^ ^*"^h « S^O 
 
 to be placed in the h andfof s^t.M.T ?^^/"^ education, 
 But of all the victorLs whir^f T^^^^^ ^^^ *^^ P^^pose 
 vessels, perhaps tl^mTs S^.t s^thaHhTcf ^h' '^ "°^^^ 
 come our most pleasing, task to record At *V ^?' "°T ^^■ 
 declaration of war, the WasD sloon I'f *^^ time of the 
 
 captain Jacob Jones, wan nnhtP ^ of w^p commanded by 
 «he had carried depTXs to ^r^'-^'""^ ?"^^P^' ^^^ither 
 f-^-ance. She arrived f the DH^ '"''''f'' ^" ^"S^^^d and 
 event, and sailed aS /l n ^?^^^^f\ ^rfew weeks after that 
 the lethsheexpeSed. h ""^"T '>" '^^ of October. ^ 
 t>oom and two^men On th^ ^"^^ '" \^^"^ «^^ ^^'^ ^^' ^^ 
 aDouteleveno'cTork in. I ^^^'^ «^ **»« following 4v, 
 in the tracTof ve^l " ' tn'J r^^-jj^^^ ^-ning, bein|then 
 fotind herself nla?five?t '"£ T ^""^"^^ ^^ ^^^'^^^ she 
 
 «ome of them seeLd to b^l^f ^^ ''""^"^ ^^«^^^^- " As 
 »-. _^^ p ^, ^'^v^iHcu lo oe sftiDs oi war. It -ur^ic ♦K^.,_t^ i 
 
> ascribed ihp, 
 
 superiority of j 
 
 On board the 
 
 J; she also lost 
 
 wain yard, and 
 
 d States there 
 
 tmage sustain. 
 
 return to poit 
 
 ^ith her prize 
 through the 
 
 y commodore 
 All the pro- 
 :cdonian was 
 ded a band of 
 luediit S800, 
 
 imhd her 
 
 
M^ 
 
 ms 
 
 
 
 Mm 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 29 
 
 r«nf n^fi Jir'"? ''^^'^''^^ ^ ^^"^ "^"^* to Windward, so as to es- 
 sTthS\V^' occasion might require, followed the strange 
 c^min^n?p« f ?^k'- ^' ^^y^'^^^ on Sunday morning, 
 SndeTronvnJ r^^ that they were six large merchant shipl^ 
 Icantain VVh-'^ .^ ^^T^ ""{7'^'' ^*^^^*^ P^-^^^'^ ^o be the Frolic, 
 CtSv '"^.'''^'J ^'""^ Honduras to England, with a convoy 
 KT^L'""^^ and manned, having all forty or fifty men, 2^ 
 
 rvever'ratScHr ""!f^" ^^ ^^^^ «^ dLrm^nTd' 
 leJlZfl. ^u !"?' ^""^^ ^' "'^'•^ ^^s a t»eavy swell of the 
 do^e reefed The t n ^^^^^^IJ^' ^^^ ^^^^^ Ws top-gajlant yards, 
 S'clork th. p- r t°P:«*^^«J ^nd Pi-epared for action. About 1 1 
 > clock the Frohc showed Spanish colours; and the WasD im- 
 
 3oard sidfwi Mn K ^.^'P ''^"'' t^^ t° windward, on her lar- 
 lanlpH H J ^^^i^^V^o^V^^ty yards, and hailed. The en^^ray 
 
 Sd oit^^^ ^«»°"^«' hoisted the British ensirn^ 
 
 B?«itirretumed nnH ^"'''^" '"^ mu«ketry-this the Wasp V 
 ^lanuy returned; and commg near to the enemy, the action be. 
 came close and without intermission. In four or five n?^ute« 
 
 fer mTiTt'on '' f^^ ^^^P "- *^«^ -^y' id filling dt'a 
 kT^ the inam-top-sail yard across the larboard fore and fore 
 
 fe^st o?th'e'Lr ''"? '^^ ^^^' ^'^^^^ unmlge^blTdu^^g 
 Vl n!;ln\ V,''"- ^" '^** °^ t*^^'^^ °«nutes more her ^ft 
 
 ^lesofthe;^rptgtswIr';;;e;^^^^^^^ 
 
 J>osition on her larboard bow H?r fi ' ^^^'^ resumed her 
 tended with ««^k , ^^^ "^^ ^^^s now obviously at- 
 
 that capTain lones'SS no'/ ' ' V^. "' ^'^ ""'^'^^ «« ^^-^Yned, 
 iiess of thTsS^WnH ''V^^^^^^^^ ^^^' ^^«t the rough- 
 
 [of a fewtiru^eTtoVertT; I'^co'Tt^.'"^ ^" ^'^ ^4^ 
 |away, and her rigcinff so murh^rn ? ^ ^^? '^^' ^^'^^ 
 tfraid that his nS^ h^i^ " *° P''^'^^^' ^^^^^ ^^ ^^s 
 
 Wd, andtt Sc'be abfetre^^P^^'^'w""!!^ ^ ^^ ^^^ 
 fore, die best chance nf«P.- u'^'^P^' "^ thought, there- 
 
 the contest at once With th?.^ ^"" T' '" *^°"^^' ^"^^ ^^^^^« 
 
 -^hr down upon tl^e^^^ ™T ^^^P' ^"^ run- 
 
 3lJo^.^'„ „:j""- , , ?! enemy, the jessels struck each othft»- th^ 
 
 foomVamrjrh^f^'''*'"?'^®^^^^^^'^ bow, so that her^ib^ 
 
ft- 
 
 It h 
 
 
 no 
 
 HISTORY OK THE WAR. 
 
 lieutenant, Mr. Biddle, who were, at that moment, standing | 
 together near the captain. The Frolic lay so fair for rakinp 
 that they decided not to boar4 ""til they had given a closing 
 broadside. Whilst they were loading for this, so near were 
 the two vessels, that the rammers of the Wasp were pushed I 
 agamst the Frolic's sides, and two of her guns went through 
 the bow ports of the Frolic, and swept the whole length of her, 
 deck. At this moment Jack Lang», a seaman of the Wasp, a 
 gallant fellow, who had been once impressed by a British man 
 of war, jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was springing 
 on board the Frolic; captain Jones wishing to fire again before 
 boarding, called him down; but his impetuosity could not be 
 restramed, and he was already on the bowsprit of the Frolic; 
 when, seeing the ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp's cre^^-,, 
 lieutenant Biddle mounted on the hammock cloth to board, 
 At this signal the crew followed, but lieutenant Biddle's feet 
 got entangled in the rigging of the enemy's bowsprit, and mid- 
 shipman Baker, in his ardour to get on board, laying hold of 
 his coat, he fell back on the Wasp's deck. He sprang up, 
 and as the next swell of the sea brought the Frolic nearer, he 
 got on the bowsprit, where Lang and another seaman were} 
 already. He passed them on the forecastle, and was surpris- 
 ed at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's deck, ex- 
 eeptthe seamen at the wheel and three officers. The deck I 
 was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the 
 dead. As he went forward, the captain of the Frolic, with two 
 other officers, who were standing on the quarter-deck, threw 
 doAvn their swords, and made an inclination of their bodies, de- 
 noting that they had surrendered. At this moment the co- 
 lours were still flying, as probably none of the seamen of iLej 
 Irohc would dare to go into the rij^s^ing for fear of the mus- 
 quetry of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle, therefore, jumped 
 into the rigging himself, and hauled down the British ensign, 
 und possession was taken of the Frolic, in forty -three mhiuteJ 
 after the first fire. She was in a shocking condition; the birth- 
 deck particularly was crowded with dead and wounded, and | 
 dying; there being but a small proportion of the Frolic's crew ' 
 who had escaped. Captain Jones instantly sent on board his 
 surgeon's mate, and all the blankets of the Frolic were brought! 
 
 * ^^John Lang is a native of .Yew Brunswick in Meiv-JcA 
 
 sey. We mention^ with great fileasure, the name of this hraT(\ 
 
 Amencan seamaji^ as a proof that con sfiicii on s valour is coA 
 
 fined to no rank in the navat 3a\'>ice> 
 
 .1 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 5f 
 
 from her slop-room for the comfort of the noundcd. To in. 
 crease this confusion, both the Frolic's masts soon fell, cover- 
 
 hTr^eck!' """'^ ''''"^ °" '^''''' ^"'^ '^"^ '^y ^ complete 
 
 nnnnJ "^"^ appcaJcd that th 3 Frolic mounted sixteen thirty-two 
 pound carronades, four twelve pounders on the main-deck, and 
 two twelve pound carronacjes. She was, therefore, sup;r'or 
 ^o the Wasp, by exactly four twelve pounders. The number 
 ^f men on board, as stated by the officers of the Frolic, was 
 jne hundred and ten-the number of seamen on board Iho 
 VVasp was one hundred and two; but it couS not be asc'ertatn' 
 nZffi ' '"J '^''. one hundred and ten were included marines 
 hom^n'nffl?; ^''^^^«P»^H beside her one hundred S 
 fA>o men, officers and mannes, making the whole crew abmVJ 
 bne hundred and thirty-five. What is however decisive asTo 
 [heir comparative force, is, that the officers of the Frolic ac^ 
 knowledged that they had as many men as they knevv what to 
 lo with, and m fact the Wasp could have sparged fifieenmen 
 Fhcre was, therefore, on the most favourable view, afleaTt an 
 quality of men, and an inequality of four guns The d sparitv 
 M- loss was much greater. The'exact number of killed S 
 ^vounded on board the Frolic could not be precisely dellvrZ, 
 
 Bon o w'of'ttT'r^'^r'""^ ««^^^^«' ^"d tL decTrt 
 
 fnd five slightly wounded " ^^'^ ^^^ ^'' "^^" ^^^^^ 
 
 [ones sent orders to lieutenant BiddleTrproce^d^rr^^^^^^ - 
 (on, or any southern port of the Unked si^^^f a ^^^f'^S" 
 ivas a suspicious sail to windward tllw' ^f? ^' ^^^^^ 
 
 ler cruize. The ships tnTarted ^^^^^"^ ^.^l^^^ <^«?tinue 
 how coming down veTy fast At fitt 'J ^"^P»^^«^« ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 vas one of the convoy, who M .1 1?^"^^°?^ ^^"' ^'^^ 
 
 ncnt,and the ship clelVed foi 'c^^^^^^ 
 
 Mvanccd, proved\o be a sevent^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^« 
 
 beresford. She fired a shot ov^rt I~r P^^^^'^^s, captain 
 fook the Wasp, the disabled 7fZ ^ ^^r^'"' P'"''"^ ^^^' «^^^- 
 
 •arncd into Bermuda. wasp and Irohc were 
 
 .-"^.'^!"«^t^^least praise due to rantnin T«... .u_. ...... 
 
 -- ox uus gallant action is perfectly midest^hdmu);;^: 
 
63 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 :. ^: W' 
 
 U-'fl 
 
 tious. On his own share in the capUire it is unnecessary to 
 add any thing. ' The courage and exertions of the officers and 
 crew,* he observes, 'fully answered my expectations and wish- 
 es. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct contributed much to 
 our success, by the exact attention paid to every departmtnt 
 during the engagement, and the animating example he afTord- 
 ed the crew by his intrepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers and Booth 
 and Mr. Rapp, showed, by the incessant fire from their divi-j 
 sions, that they were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. 
 Mr. Kni(jht, and every other officer, acted with a courage and! 
 promptitude highly honourable. Lieutenant Claxton, who was| 
 confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to the en- 
 gagement; and though too weak to be at his division, remained! 
 upon deck, and showed by his composed manner of noting itsi 
 incidents, that we had lost by his illness the service of a bravel 
 officer.**'* 
 
 Meanwhile the utmost exertions were used on the lakes, iitj 
 order to retrieve the disasters occasion by the surrender of! 
 the force under general Hull. When that event took place,] 
 there was only one vessel of war owned by government on 
 these waters, the brig Oneida, of 16 guns, on lake Ontario,] 
 commanded by lieutenant Woolsey. In the beginning of Oc- 
 tober, cdmmodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour with! 
 a body of seamen, for the purpose of taking the command, andj 
 several schooners which had been employed as traders on the 
 lake were instantly purchased and fitted out as vessels of war,| 
 «nd lieutenant Elliot was despatched to lake Erie to make ar- 
 rangements there for building a naval force superior to that of I 
 the enemy. Elliot had not been many days at Black Rock, be] 
 fore an opportunity offered for a display of the most determin- 
 <3d courage. 
 
 On the morning of the 8th of October, two armed British! 
 vessels the brig Detroit, late the United States brig Adams, 
 and the brig Caledonia, came down the lake from Maiden, ann 
 anchored under the guns of fort Erie, which is situated near!j| 
 opposite, and within a few miles of Black Rock, on the Nia- 
 gara, near where it leaves the lake. Elliot instantly determin- 
 ed to make an attack, and if possible get possession of them; 
 and accordingly despatched an express to hasten the arrival of 1 
 some sailors who were hourly expected. The sailors arrived 
 about 12 o'clock, 50 in number. Though wearied with a] 
 mareh of 500 miles* they were only allowed till midnight to re- 
 
 |i ilJM 
 
 • Port Folio. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAK. 
 
 33 
 
 fresh themselves, when, being reinforced by 50 of the regular* 
 land forces, they put off from the mouth of Buffaloe creek in* 
 two boats, with lieutenant Elliot at their head. Having rowed' 
 intxj^the lake abov< the vessels, they drifted down with the cur- 
 rent, till they were hailed by a centinel on board one of them, 
 when they instantly sprang to their oars, and, closing in upon 
 the vessels, they jumped on board, drove the British belovv-^, 
 and in ten minutes from their getting along side, the prisoners 
 were all secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the vessels 
 under way. Unfortunately the wind was not sufficiently strong 
 to carry them up against a strong current into the lake, and 
 both ran aground. The Caledonia, however, was beached un- 
 der the protection of one of the batteries at Black Rock, but 
 the Detroit lay near the head of an island in the middle of Nia- 
 gara river, exposed to the batteries and flying artillery of the 
 enemy. The Americans returned their fire from the Detroit; 
 but finding they could not bring the guns to bear with advan- 
 tage, the prisoners were all got on shore, and the brig was de- 
 serted. In the course of the day several unsuccessful attempts 
 were made by the British to board and destroy the military 
 stores in the Detroit; but a considerable portion of them was 
 secured by the Americans, after which she was set on fire and 
 abandoned. 
 
 The Caledonia belonged to the N. W. Company, and waa 
 loaded with peltry, which was estimated at 150,000 dollars. 
 The Detroit was a government vesdel, which was captured at 
 Detroit. She was laden with military stores, and had on board 
 sixty men and thirty American prisoners. She mounted six 
 guns. The Caledonia mounted two guns, and she had 1 2 men, 
 and 10 prisoners on board. The loss of the Americans in this 
 gallant exploit was only two killed and four wounded. 
 
 The force stationed on the Niagara frontier consisted of about 
 5000 men, of whom the majority were militia, under the com- 
 mand of general Van Rensselaer. The ardour of the troops 
 having been very much excited by the successful issue of the 
 enterprize of lieutenant Elliot, an invasion ©f Canada was de- 
 termined on, and accordingly, on the morning of the 1 3th of 
 October, the troops at fort Niagara and Grand Niagara, hav- 
 ing been marched to Lewistown the preceding evening, the 
 soldies began to embark at the dawn of day, under cover of a 
 battery mounting two 18 pounders and two sixes. 
 
 To accomplish their landing on the opposite shore, they ha* 
 only 12 boats, each capable of conveyine- 20 men. The move- 
 ment being soon discovered by the enemy, a brisk fire ofmus- 
 quetry was poured from the whole line of the Canada shore, 
 
 D 
 
 r 
 
3i 
 
 UTSTORT OF THE WAR. 
 
 '% 
 
 EitherXmayed by the dlsorhTr .•'"'"' "l^''<="'y "b^-d- 
 anrp ^f ,.«;«f ^ ^ "* °* *^^^ Indians, or by the aDDear- 
 ance of reinforcements which were seen marchine- from fnr 
 
 down the heights Gel^'^ Z^i'^T '■'P"''"='' ""'' <'"™« 
 t>d »n,ii,;I;T J ^"'"*' "'^<^''» who CO imandcd, was kill- 
 Id, and his a,d-de-camp mortally wounded. 
 
 toTeX thetidge'^TS; ^fctd^Z^ ""T"-^' "•" f'"^" 
 able the light artiUcry, senam^H ', '' '■^»''';""g unservice- 
 :.n,1 , „,« ,?r .u " /' ^'-P'" ■>'.<■<' I')- sonic niisappiehcnsirai. 
 
 FcVr"cScers; and 60 meri-hiriL^jT Lodf', '^"'"^ "^'""^ 
 
 i ^Li I JUS £nicill body, however, advan- 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 S5 
 
 red to the batteries, attacked and took two of them in succes- 
 sion, spiked the cannon, and took a number of prisoners. 
 They then retreated down the Niagara, where they found two 
 boats, on board of which thirty of the privates, three officers, 
 and all the prisoners embarked, leaving behind a captain and 
 30 men, who were captured by the British before the boats 
 could return. 
 
 Meanwhile, as soon as day, began to appear, all the troops in 
 i*he neighbourhood were marched to the place of embarkation. 
 A part of the detachment which had passed to the opposite 
 shore having now returned and excited apprehensions for the 
 residue, about 350 men under colonel Winder put off in boats 
 for their relief, and a part of this force had landed, when a su- 
 perior force with a piece of artillery appeared. A retreat was 
 then ordered, which was effected with a loss of six killed and 
 twenty-two wounded. 
 
 The general embarkation now commenced; but there not bc- 
 mg a greater number of boats than would hold 1500 men, a 
 < uncil of officers was held, at which it was determined, that 
 as positive orders had been received not to cross with less than 
 3000 men, it was inexpedient to make the attempt until a suf- 
 ficient number of boats could be procured for the whole num- 
 ber to embark at once; dependence being still placed on the 
 volunteering of the militia, it was thought that the actual num- 
 ber of volunteers could not be determined without an embark- 
 ation. The boats were accordingly moved a short distance up 
 the river, and the troops disembarked. 
 
 An additional number of boats being procured, another em- 
 barkation took place on the morning of the first of December, 
 but still no attempt was made to cross. After remaining in the 
 boats a few hours, the troops were ordered to be withdrawn* 
 and huts to be built for their winter-quacters. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the mortification of the troops on this 
 occasion, nor indeed the disgust felt generally throughout the 
 country. Proclamations had been issued by general Smyth a 
 short time previous, in which reflections had been cast on the 
 conductors of the former enterprises against Canada, and the 
 ♦'men of New-York" had been called on to join the army for 
 a tew weeks, and acquire glory and renown under his banners 
 A number of volunteers had been collected by Uiis invitation, 
 some ot whom had come a considerable distance. Their mor- 
 tihcation may easily be conceived! 
 
 General Smyth, in his official report, relies, for his iu«fifira- 
 non, on the positive orders that he had received not to cross 
 witiiout 3000 men at once, and states that considerably less 
 
36 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ■ 
 
 mi 
 
 A 3 
 
 measures for ascfrtaimflTthe "iren^th „f .h ""= '™*"*^'* **«" 
 have been adopted without suehrwast of nl^n ?•'''• "^ 
 and suchade-jradationof the n iL™ k ^ '"^ patriotism, 
 public mind was never so m^tef^f*"- P^'h^P'the 
 dence so „uch shake^aron^thUoecS.^"' "<" P-Wic conli. 
 
 of 5;e''eKrot^rtre?eC:rarext ?' '\' '"^^ ^' °"«'"' »-> 
 of Indian warfererexcited the mo.?i™ f™"'"'V '» «he ravages 
 out the western cour*y The arLrdJ ^'"'Ji^F'^ ?™"Sh- 
 and reinforcement of JenemI Hun Ld l ^"^^ *?"■ ""^ ■•*"«' I 
 dezvous under generaf H^^rton^a itlvme" a'ndTed B T 
 early m August, and on the leceint of .hi i,f, ir ^f^' 
 
 capltulationr volunteers poured £ so tlf'^T^ "^^^^ 
 Kentucky and Ohio, that it herL^ " '''°'" =>" P^'" of 
 
 than to eLite thHrdot „f '4?drenr:nd'"'^?° "'"r' 
 *eie discharged, and with difficuhln!! ' •? f ™" mimben 
 their homes.- diHiculty prevailed on to return to 
 
 of S:\™n"eTpo"r'^'e'IS" 7^ '''™"'" "> ">« «'-' 
 
 tember withlb^m 2500 me„™whe„ce X' ™ ""^ ^^ "^ ^"^P" 
 rangements and receivinrhi'sliS l," "^^^P'^'-nS his ar. 
 the 5th for Fort Wavne a n„« -f^. ?^^'. ^^ matched on 
 the rivers StM^rv and S, T f '""^"^ " the confluence of 
 
 assume tL':;amr^fTh?Milr ff^htfakf"^^'^'^ j^^'^l'- 
 been for some time invested bv hLiiit i ^- V"^ P°" ''^'' 
 
 ing of the approach of XrisLtCv'eH^^^^^^ °" ''^="- 
 
 acct'nt'':rtLtLt?;trer^ fupXr-nr ^''%°-™''-» 
 
 were organizedTone of whi^h !, P"'''"/<= '*" ^''P^dition, 
 
 towns, sLated upon^he Waba^h'a Ht'rh t^''"?'' ">^ M'"™' 
 with the Tipnecanoe rive^ H,f .V httle below its confluence 
 
 villages, wK stS ^^Tl^ fa^lt^irjCnh^'TTr" 
 
 A tew nnvR uftt^n fK« ..«i o ., ^' 
 
 tions, general Winch.;;- l^e^atToT ^Xnc-^^tHSt 
 
 [|(|. 
 
 \ 
 
HISTaRY OF THE WAR* 
 
 3f 
 
 tional reinforcements, Winchester had been originally desti- 
 ned to the command of this army by the president; Harrison, 
 who was governor of the Indiana territory, had merely been ap- 
 pointed a major-general by brevent by the governor of Ken- 
 tucky, and by him placed in the command pro tempore, on ac- 
 count of the urgency of the occasion. On the arrival of Win- 
 chester, Harrison accordingly relinquished the command, and 
 set out for his own territory with a body of mounted men, for 
 the purpose of breaking up the Indian settlements in that 
 quarter. He had not proceeded far, however, before he receiv- 
 ed, by express, a commission from the president, constituting 
 him commander in chief of the north-western army, general 
 Winchester to act as second in command. These counteract- 
 ing measures are said to have been owing to the ignorance of 
 the president, at the cime of Winchester's appointment, of the 
 brevet appoi ment of Harrison, and to the general expression 
 of confidence in -the latter by the Kentuckians having reached 
 the seat of government siiortly after. Fortunately the measure 
 created neither jealousy nor dislike on either side. 
 
 General Harrison arrived at Fort Wayne, and resumed the 
 command on the 23d of September. The day previous to his 
 arrivm general Winchester had marched for Fort Defiance with 
 2000 men, consisting of four hundred regulars, a brigade of 
 Kentucky militia, and a troop of horse. 
 
 In this p;irt of the country, one of the greatest diificulties 
 which an army has to surmount, is that which arises from the 
 difficulty of transporting provisions and stores. At all seasons 
 the rout is wet and miry. The country, tl )ugh somewhat 
 level,.is broken by innumerable little runs, which are generally 
 dry, except during or immediately after a heavy rain, when 
 they are frequently impassible until the subsiding of the water, 
 which is generally from twelve to twenty-four hours. Another 
 of the difficulties of transportation arises from the nature of 
 the soil, which, being generally a rich loam, free from stones 
 and gravel, in many places a horse will mire for miles full leg 
 deep every step. 
 
 To avoid the inconveniences and dangers of delay in tra- 
 versing this wilderness, each soldier was furnished with pro- 
 visions for six duys, and general Harrison proceeded to Fort 
 St. Mary's, in order to forward a detachment with supplies by 
 the Au Glaise river, which affords a water conveyance for a 
 considerable part of the way. This detachment was placed 
 under the cominand of colonel Jennings. 
 
 The army being now in the centie of a country which pre- 
 sentcd every facility for the Indian mode of warfare, the utmost 
 
 Do 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 
 kill 
 
 centre. Near^e ceXc 'f'Z'K'"- "^^' ^^^ '^f "''"«' »<i 
 in front and rear Th^V^Zt^f^^fT't' strong guard 
 distant from the centre rLr?^'' "'"',•" «° °f '0° yards 
 
 nerally about 300 strong, nyaichlTL^r"' r^'"^". "=" K'" 
 their rear to be even with ,hf r . , '"""S'' '" "dvance for 
 
 preceded by a compaVof spies 40* blf^f ^'"'!-''' '"" ^'''^ 
 nerally one or two mUes in advL^ce" "rh^"' ^''? 'T^'^ ^o- 
 was covered by the horse *'^""'^- ^^^ '•«" of Uie -T-rs 
 
 brus^h^frr" "T- "■* obstructions occasioned by the u. 
 
 fa^n^ si°x^ tn^.Tet'aX' '%r ^ "^™'- S''™-- -- 
 three o'clock 'to lay ™ and foAifv ''• ^^"^'^"'^ ''""«'' ''''°« 
 was done by forminV round it =7 '^ .""' ?»<=?"'?"»=«. which 
 
 of four or fiveTet^ he^i" 5.^,^°'"'' "^ '°'^',"'"' ''"'»"> 
 fires were kindled atThe t^?,,''!, r °?" "' " ''*' '•="''' ^'n=»» 
 
 the outside, abow twenty^'c s loZlT' "^^ '"'>" «'" °" 
 On the 24.th nf *i^ J u*^ I *^"^ '"^ breastwork. 
 
 the''fi"r:f:r^,^::tef,:5f-?j;;,;^;i;';.'';y^^ 
 
 situation of the enem" These^alllr'''';K''\''"''^''' »'' 
 
 tiJC 26th, about six miles in adv^nr^ If a ^^ ^^^ ^P^^^ ®^* 
 
 night advance of the encampment for the 
 
 ing on this elevation they were fired on bv the LS.^ ?k1 w'T.: 
 ui^muuy returned, accompanied by a loud and terrifirvHl" Th^ 
 cavalry were then ord^eSTo advaL.^'thTcr^^^^^^^ 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 39 
 
 the ui 
 »'anced more 
 halted about 
 nent, which 
 s and brush, 
 dark, small 
 ii'ge tires on 
 I'k. 
 
 ^ the mai'cli, 
 ns was sup- 
 y were pur- 
 ng pressed, 
 npraticable. 
 s, and four 
 h on to Fort 
 rcngth ajKl 
 wever, haci 
 
 to conduct 
 U the same 
 i most bft . - 
 he spies on 
 nent for the 
 
 y the dead) 
 ey had not 
 of Indians 
 . on which 
 3 comman- 
 placed his 
 )f the trail, 
 mbuscade, 
 hije form- 
 
 yell. The ^ 
 
 dians on their approach raised the retreat yell, and precipitately 
 fled to the swamps and thickets. The pursuit was continued 
 for two or three miles; the nature of the country, however, ren- 
 dered it impossible to act with effect. In this skirmish only 
 one American was slightly wounded in the ankle. The Indians 
 were supposed to have suffered more severely, as several trails 
 of blood were discernible. After interring the remains of their 
 imfortunate brethren, the detachment returned and took their 
 usual station in front of the army. 
 
 On the 28th, shortly after forming the line of march, four 
 Indians were discovered and fired on by the spies, but without 
 erlect. A general engagement being now expected to take 
 place, the order of battle was formed; but no enemy appearing, 
 the line of march was recommenced, and the advanced part of 
 the horse was ordered to push forward to ascertain whether or 
 not a strong force of the enemy was at hand. In a short time 
 a Iresh trail of Indians was discovered. These indications of 
 the near approach to the enemy determined the general to cross 
 the river as soon as possible, and accordingly a tolerable ford 
 bemg discovered by the troopers, the army passed over and en- 
 camped on the opposite shore. Here a fresh trail was per- 
 ceived nearly equal to the one made by the army, which was 
 supposed to be the trail made by Jenning's detachment, a sup- 
 position which was hailed with joy by the soldiers, whose pro- 
 visions were now exhausted. Their joy, however, was but of 
 short duration. A party of horse, who had been dispatched 
 down the trail, reported on their return that it had been made 
 by a large force of the enemy, whose encampment they had 
 discovered about three miles below, two miles above Fort Defi- 
 dh^ ^^d^ ^^^^ burning, war poles erected, and the bloody flag 
 
 , Late on the night of the 29th an express arrived from Jen- 
 mngs s regiment, stating that they were^encamped on the Au 
 l^Tlaize, 40 miles above Fort Defiance, where Jennings had been 
 ordered to erect a block-house. While mgaged on this duty he 
 had ascertained by his spies that Fort defiance was in posses- 
 sion ot the British and Indians, and he had therefore thought it 
 imprudent to proceed further without reinforcements. 
 
 barly on the morning of the 30th, captain Garrard and 30 of 
 *us troopers were oi;dered to proceed with all possible despatch 
 to Jeimmgs block-house to escort a brigade of pack horses 
 with provisions for the relief of the starving army. The de^ 
 va.xmicni reacnea the biock^house in the course of the follow- 
 ng day, and, after resting a few hours, again set off as an escort 
 \o the provisions. The> .ejoined the army on the evening of 
 
v-c:: 
 
 |i |. 
 
 \k. I 
 
 ; -'''i 
 
 •',! 
 
 ■ i\ 
 
 -5f 
 
 40 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 the 2d of October, drenched with 36 hours incessant rain. Thi*. 
 was a joyful evening to the soldiers. Provisions were now 
 plenty, and the escort was accompanied by their beloved gene- 
 ral Harrison, who resumed the command. During the ab- 
 sence of the detachment, the army had taken possession of 
 Fort Defiance, the British and Indians having retreated down 
 the river. l^ 
 
 On the 4th of October, general Harrison, having left at Fort 
 Dehance the force which constituted the left wing of the army 
 under general Winchester, retui-ned to the settlements to or- 
 ganize and bring up the centre and right wing. On the day 
 ot his departure, he ordered generalTupper, with the mounted 
 troops under his command, consisting of nearly 1000 men; to 
 proceed on an expedition to the Rapids. This expedition was 
 never carried into effect. Its failure arose partly from the un- 
 disciplined state of the troops which had beeir selected for the 
 enterprize, and partly from a disagreement which took place 
 between their commander and general Winchester, who com- 
 manded at Fort Defiance. The inefficiency of raw militia was 
 perhaps never more strikingly displayed than on this occasion. 
 
 General Tuppcr, after returning with his mounted volunteers 
 to Urbanna, was despatched with the centre of the north-west- 
 ern army, consisting of a regiment of regulars, and the Ohio 
 volunteers and militia, to Fort M' Arthur. The right wing, 
 consisting of a brigade of Pennsylvania, and a brigade of Vir- 
 ginia milnia, were stationed at Sandusky. 
 
 Shortly after his arrival at Fort M' Arthur, general Tupper 
 organized another expedition for the purpose of proceeding to 
 the Rapids of the Miami, He left the fort on the 10th, with 
 a force consisting of upwards of 600 men, the soldiers carry- 
 ing provisions in their knapsacks for five days. On the even- 
 ing of the 13th, being then about 13 miles from the rapids an 
 officer was despatched to examine the situation of the enemy, 
 by whom it was ascertained that the British and Indians still 
 occupied the settlements and fort at the rapids; and that the 
 boats and vessels lay a little below. 
 
 In consequence of this information the detachment halted 
 until sunset, when they proceeded to a ford about two and an 
 half miles above the rapids, whence scouts were again detached 
 to observe more particularly the situation and force of the ene- 
 my. The necessary information being «oon received, the 
 troops were ordered to cross the river, in order to attack the 
 enemy at the dawii of day Unfortunately, however, it was 
 impracticable 5or the troops to cross. Every expedient that 
 could be devised was unaviuJing, ami a T»umb«r of men v/ho- 
 
HISTORY OF .THE WA^. 
 
 41 
 
 were swept down the rapids, were vi h difficulty saved, with 
 the loss of their muskets and ammiMt^ion. 
 
 In the monung, convinced that he was unable to get at the 
 enemy, general Tupper ordered the spies to endeavour to decoy 
 them over; and they accordingly proceeded down and 4iscover- 
 ed themselves. The stratagem, however, proved uHj&uccess- 
 ful; for though a few Indians crossed the river, they were too 
 cautious to be drawn within the lines. The main body was 
 then marched down the Miami, opposite to the encampment 
 of the enemy. They appeared in considerable disorder as thp 
 advanced guard opened from the woods. The British, who 
 were in the vessels and boats, immediately slipped their ca- 
 bles and proceeded down the river. The Indian women were 
 jeen running off on the road leading to Detroit; the men com- 
 menced a lire at the detachment from their muskets and a four 
 pounder. 
 
 General Tupper having observed a number of mounted In- 
 dians proceeding up the river, and fearful of the camp being 
 surprised, ordered the detachment to return. When within 
 about a mile of the encampment, some of the soldiers, pressed 
 probably by hunger, the provisions being now entirely exhaust- 
 ed, fired upon a drove of hogs, contrary to orders, and pursued 
 them nearly half a mile; others left the ranks, and entered a 
 field to gather corn. At this moment a body of mounted Indi- 
 ans came upon them, killed four men, and then commented an 
 attack on the rear of the right flank. The column being in- 
 stantly thrown back, commenced a brisk fire, which caused the 
 Indians to give ground; but they quickly rallied, and passing 
 along the van-guard, made a violent charge upon the rear of 
 the left column. This column was also thrown briskly back, 
 and every attempt made to break the lines being resisted, in 
 20 minutes the Indians were driven from the field. Conceiv- 
 ing, however, that the charge of the mounted men was merely 
 intended to throw the troops into disorder to make room for an 
 attack of the foot, general Tupper ordered the right column 
 to move up into marching order, lest that attack should be 
 made on the right flank. This column had scarcely regained 
 their position, when information was received that the Indians 
 were crossing the river in considerable numbers. Tupper 
 immediately ordered the left column to resume their march- 
 ing order, and proceeded to the head of the right column, 
 where he found that a number of Indians had crossed on horse- 
 
 ha 
 
 ck- that. •^riTYip. vjf 
 
 
 r iU _ ^i -_~ J _t, . ... . 
 
 200 on the opposite bank. A battalion was immediately order- 
 ed to advance and dislodge them. This attack was success- 
 
42 
 
 HJSTOHY OF THE WAR. 
 
 I'. 
 
 \^ 
 
 with ,.l„tols ^d h„U "rf TnlX;-:nlr ' '"'" ^PP'^^O 
 their horaes; but they were w^^h f ""'^ '"^''<= '■«" f™"' 
 
 «g»ini a.,d carried off tie fie7d S^niw''"^;",'"' "'"'™" o" 
 the rharffes at the rrm,,!,. P'" ^°S '«<' o" several of 
 
 well c«uLd white hT,? ?rr"K°[1I"' ""="=■" "■""'"'d °" a 
 at other dmZhLed(n,IhZT^l'^\^^ sometimes fired, and 
 ed that he was wou„de™S th?»^M "'' ' "*■=■ '' "^ ^"PP"'" 
 
 ,e?:^tVturw^\HX^ettX: fehT"' ^^ -"- 
 
 the?dl\im™\"tpu's^:„"r?'/''Pr.' ^°»''"'=''<' »<>- 
 2000 men. On the east s?de rf ^r"^"« °^ ^^^^^ ' "^ »"<» 
 the rapids, a body of the enem! *j!™'' * '^^'^ ™'« ^^ove 
 300 BLsh re^uLf and "^Z r'oo ti^^'Hr''''"^ "^ 
 lamed the position of the enemy Tnnn„ J ^*™e ^'"='""- 
 tachment to advance and rnS.'„ ^^ ' ordered a small de- 
 treu. This straugem succe^rr'^i! "'"'=''' »" 'hen to re- 
 impetuosity until they were^.^^ *"^"''' '*'"'"^'* *'"> 
 charged, wLe repuS, oTaU n"rane''rs wX™' • i '"t °", "*'"« 
 ter, and put to flieht FonrtTIn c^ '^ considerable slaugh- 
 
 lake Erie, several exneri^tinn/ "'''^ ^"' «^ ^'^^ borders of 
 
 met at Vincennes, it was ae-reerf JLf w ^'- ^'"^ ^"'^'''^ ^^^**^ 
 
 ceed to the relief of Fort Harrison I nn.? r V^'""^^ ^''' P^ 
 bash, which was nf t^?..- ^ ' P°^^ ^"S^^^ "P the Wa- 
 
 should then pmceed to theX '"^""Tv ^^ '^' ^"^i^^^' -"^ 
 Illinois, wher^e ^e ^as to be meTh' !^ '"''"' ^^ '^" "^^^ 
 
 Another detachmem under ? ^ ^^^ ''^"^^'' ""'^^^ R"^^^"- 
 <>t fK« .„^„ I, '"*^"^1,."."^.^'^ captain Crai^r, was to mm th.«, 
 ^-"- puu;c. 1 his last dPtaf-i„««^*-::_.. ._ •»:"" ""•:'•• 
 
 ....... eiiiiiv. puu;c. 
 
 Illinois river. 
 
 i^, . . — 1-vv.iA. v^iaiu* WHS CO IQin th^m 
 
 iius last detachment was to marih upthi 
 
Bveral of th^m 
 
 HISTORY or THE WAR. a'^ 
 
 Captain TaWor, the commander at Fort Harrison, liavinerp 
 ce.vcd .„f„rma,o„ of the approach of the ho8ti"e S": 
 
 preTautbn ih^T"' T"= "■«''7PP«=="™ce, had used eTery 
 precaution tha the smallness of his garrison would adinir„f 
 rhe fir« hostile symptoms appeared on the evSg of Z M 
 
 a shoS. hT«*""' "?'" 'r ^"K men, who had beenM^ed 
 a short distance from the fort, were shot and <;ri,lT.^^ ^"'pioyea 
 
 found in that condition the ne'xt morn °g by ^stan Ct?hat 
 had been sent out to seek th^n™ tu: ^ .' =»'"«*" party that 
 
 I them to redouble their v^^^^^^^^ aJd heTffir^'Tt '""^^^ 
 
 I were directed to walk the round 'alIn5-h^'^!S ^^-^i"^ ^^^^'^ 
 
 to prevent any surprize ^^^'' '" °'^^' if possible 
 
 !ed toL ala^mt^hrit wa?dfs;rerd?h^t''lh'eTw?r''bin'- 
 
 ans succeeded irfi°Sl if "t,di*?" *'.^"" g°"',>''' *= !■««- 
 
 few mimues after th"«di coTe-^TtS^'fi^^ rit""'''''^' 5 
 10 a quantity of whiskv th^thlA u j •' ", commumcated 
 
 ' mediitely ascendedio t"? brfflinr'''''"^ '^.'^'^ ^^ ^"^" 
 
 made to extiniyuish it aJ^.\ i ?^^ ^""^"^ ^^^^ ^^a* was 
 
 , racks, which Sitmed tr^^^^^^^^^ the bar- 
 
 men gave themselves un £1 Lc! /?^tifications, most of the 
 
 fire, L yells^? the iX^s ani't"^^^^ J^t ^"^^"^ «f the 
 
 children (who had taken refu^^^^^ 7^^ °^^^^ ^«"^^n and 
 
 I appal the stoutest heart &/, 1^ ^^'^^' ""^"^ sufficient to 
 
 < ommander never forsook wT V^ ^r'?'" °^ "^^"^ «f th\ 
 
 of his men on the rrf of th^^arrfcks" wkh ^^ T^'"^^ ^ P^^t 
 
 that part adjoining the block-hrse wh le th^ ''' 'V'^^ ««" 
 
 up a constant fire on the IndJnnc f. ' ^^^^^ the remamder kept; 
 
 two bastions. The roof wa^ t., n T ^T^^' block-house an^ 
 
 from without, by >4[ch 11 " °^.""^^" ^ shower of bullets 
 
 tuo wounded. ^ ' ^°''^''^"» ^^^^ ^^^ «^n was killed ai3 
 
 now^^S^^^lt'i- n^^f red with firmness, and 
 tinguished the fire, but raised fh ^^ ^^'^^ ^^^ '^^t only ex- 
 Wgh in the gap occasioned by the hn"'-"^"? .^"" «^ «i^ f««t 
 
 appearance of the fire, two of the soldiers had. 
 
HISTORY 9T THE WAR. 
 
 mW2 
 
 I f 
 
 'li 
 
 in despair, jumped the pickets. One of them returned about 
 an hour before day, and, running up towards the gate, begged 
 for God's sake that it might be opened. On suspicion that 
 this was an Indian stratagem, he was fired at. He then ran to 
 the other bastion, where, his voice being known, he was direct- 
 ed to lie down till day-light behind an empty barrel that hap- 
 pened to be outside of the pickets. This poor fellow was 
 shockingly wounded, and his companion cut to pieces by the 
 Indians. 
 
 After keeping up a constant fire till six in the morning, 
 which after day light was returned with considerable effect by 
 the garrison, the Indians retreated out of reach of the guns. 
 They then drove together all the horses and hogs in the neigh- 
 bourhood, and shot them in sight of their owners. The whole 
 of the homed cattle they succeeded in carrying off. 
 
 In this attack the Americans had but three killed, and three 
 ■wounded, including the two that jumped the pickets. The In- 
 dian loss was supposed to be considerable, but as they always 
 carry off both their dead and wounded, the amount could not be 
 ascertained. At the moment of the attack there were only fif- 
 teen effective men in the garrison, the others being either sick 
 or convalescent. 
 
 The Indians, disheartened by this failure, made no further 
 attempt on the fort, but the garrison still remained in a peri- 
 lous situation, as the greater part of their provisions had been 
 destroyed by the fire, and the loss of their stock prevented fu- 
 ture supplies. Captain Taylor therefore attempted to send, by 
 night, two men in a canoe down the river to Vincennes, to make 
 known his situation, but they were forced to return, the river 
 being found too well guarded. The Indians had made a fire on 
 the bank of the river, a short distance below the garrison, 
 which gave them an opportunity of seeing any craft that might 
 attempt to i>ass, with a canoe ready below to intercept it. A 
 more fortunate attempt was made by land, and the garrison 
 was immediately after relieved by the force under genei*al 
 Hopkins, consisting of nearly 4000 men. 
 
 After the relief of Fort Harrison, Hopkins began his prepa- 
 rations for his expedition against the Peoria towns. They 
 commenced their march on the morning of the 15th of Octo- 
 ber, and continued it for four days in a direction nearly north. 
 But here again the spirit of insubordination began to show it- 
 self. The general states in his official despatch, that having 
 
 #\wlA«Wk#l ft Vinlf «*^ fKA nArkVit-h^^Vh ^f 4-l«A Ad-t. ^».. I« «« £ •« ^ •«!a<.a r\C 
 
 -j-iM-„-5i^-^ n iJttsv ill iitv Kifs-jiitrusi xji. iiic ~lli Viaj , III SA S411C j;iCi.= U» 
 
 grass, for the purpose of refreshing the horses, he was ad- 
 dressed by one of his majors, in the most rude and dictatorial 
 
fllSlroiY OF THE WAK. 
 
 45 
 
 irihhncr, requiring him instantly to resume his march, or his 
 battalion would break from the army and return. Of the re- 
 ply of the general ^o this modest request we are not informed. 
 Next eveuing, however, an event took place which seems to 
 have»ppcad the spirit of discontent through the whole detach- 
 ment. A violent gust of wind having arisen about sun-set, 
 just as the troops liad encamped, the Indians set fire to the 
 pra^e all around them, which drove, furiously on the camp. 
 Thtey succeeded, however, in protecting themselves by firing 
 the grass around the encampment. 
 
 Next morning, in consequence of the discontent that pre- 
 vailed, the general called a council of his officers, to whom he 
 stated his apprehensions, the expectations of the country, and 
 the disgrace attending the failure of the expedition; and, on 
 the other hand, the exhausted state of the horses, and the want 
 of provisions. He then requested the commandants of each re- 
 giment to convene the whole of the officers belonging to it, and 
 to take the sense of the army on the measures to be pursued; 
 addii)g, that if 500 volunteers turned out he would put himself 
 at their head, and proceed in quest of the Indian towns, and the 
 rest of the army might return to Fort Harrison. In less than 
 
 an hour the report was made almost unanimously to return. 
 
 In vain did the general request that he might dictate the course 
 lor that day only. His authority was now at an end; and all the 
 efforts of the officers were necessary to restore order hi the 
 ranks, and to conduct the retreat without danger from the siir- 
 •i-ounding though unseen iFoe. 
 
 Though this expedition returned almost without obtaining 
 the sight of an enemy, yet it was not altogether unproductive 
 04 benefit. The Indians of the neighbouring towns, hearing of 
 Its approach, had marched the greater partof their warriors to 
 meet it, leaving their villages in a defenceless condition. In 
 this state they were found by colonel Russell, who had marcliod 
 upon them in the expectation of meeting with Hopkins' amiy, 
 and his detachment attacked and defeated those who had been 
 left behind. Having driven them into a swamp, through which 
 the rangers pursued them for three miles, up to their waists in 
 mud and wSter, he returned and burnt their towns, and destroy- 
 ed their corn. The number of warriors who advanced to meet 
 Hopkins from those towns is stated to have amounted to 700; 
 Russell's force consisted of not more than 400 men. A con- 
 siderable number of Indians were killed in this attack. On the 
 
 part of the Americans thern wfirp nnlv f^'^r. iir»..r.<4»,ii c 
 
 tliem mortally. 
 
 Craig's force was still smaller than that under Russell? it is 
 
 E 
 
History of the war. 
 
 ■ it 
 
 iSktli 
 
 ', U '} 
 
 stated to have consisted of not more than 80 men. With thw 
 small body he marched up to the Illinois river, twenty miles 
 above the town destroyed ! Russell. Here he attacked an In- 
 dian settlement, which he totally destroyed, with all the im. 
 provements, and took 42 prisoners, one of them an Englishman, 
 and a large collection of furs. He returned with his prisoners 
 and booty without the loss of a man. 
 
 In the month of November another Indian expedition was 
 undertaken by general Hopkins, with about 1250 men. This 
 was directed against the towns of the Wabash, where the battle 
 
 of Tippacanoc had been fought about twelve months before 
 
 Haying left Fort Harrison on the 1 1th, accompanied with boats 
 ior the transportation of provisions, forage, and military stores, 
 Hopkins arrived at the Prophet's town on the 19th, without in- 
 terruption. Early in the morning of that day, 300 men were 
 detached to urprisc the Winebago town, on Ponce Passu creek, 
 a short distance below the Prophet's. Having surrounded it 
 about the break of day, they were surprised to find it evacu- 
 ated. The party, accordingly, after destroying it, rejoined the 
 main body at the Prophet's town. 
 
 For three days Hopkins' detachment was employed in achiev- 
 ing the complete destruction of the Prophet's town, and the 
 lurgc Kicapoo village adjoining, the former consisting of 40 
 and the latter of 160 cabins and huts. They likewise destroyed 
 all their cultivated fields, fences, &c. and constructed works 
 ior the defence of the boats and of the encampment. 
 
 On the 21st a reconnoitering party were attacked by a body 
 of Indians, and one of their number killed. The following day 
 60 hors^Tien were despatched to bury their comrade, and gain 
 a better knowledge of the ground, but they unfortunately fell 
 into an ambuscade, in which 1 8 of the party were killed, woun'd- 
 ed, or missing. This party, on their return, brought informa- 
 tion of a large assemblage of the enemy, who, encouraged by 
 tjie strength of their camp, appeared to be waiting an attack.-^ 
 Every preparation was accordingly made to march early next 
 morning, to engage the enemy. A violent foil of snow, how- 
 ever prevented the movement on the 23d; and the camp was 
 found abandoned on the following day. The position which the 
 Indians had thus abandoned is spoken of as having been re- 
 markably strong. The Ponce Passu, a deep rapid creek, was in 
 their rear, running in a semicircle ; in front was a bluff", 100 
 feet high, almost perpendicular, and only to be penetrated by 
 three siteep ravines. 
 
 On the return of the troops to camp, the river was found so 
 fall 9 ice, as to alarm them ior the return of the boats. Hop- 
 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 47 
 
 kins had intended to have spent one week more in endeavouring 
 *o find the Indian camps; but the shoeless, shirtless state of the 
 troops, now clad in the remnants of their summer dress; a river 
 full of ice; the hills covered with snow; and, above all, the un- 
 certainty of finding an enemy; all these circumstances deter- 
 mined him to return. Tliey accordingly set out on the 25th 
 and in a few days arrived a f'ort Harrison, having completed a 
 march of upwards of 100 miles into the Indian country, which 
 is totally devoid of roads, and destroyed three of their principal 
 towns, in the space of less than twenty days. 
 
 The last Indian expedi'tion of which mention is made, in this 
 quarter, is one which was commanded by colonel Campbell, coiv- 
 sisting of 600 men, which marched from Greenville (Ohio) 
 against the towns on the Mississinewa, a branch of the Wabash. 
 
 On the 17th of December, after marching all night, Camp- 
 bell arrived at one of the towns about day-break, which he in- 
 stantly attacked, and the Indians were driven across the^.-^s- 
 sissinewa river, with the loss of 7 killed and 37 prisoners. Only 
 one American was killed and one wounded in this skirmish.— 
 After securing the prisoners a part of the detachment was de. 
 spatched down the river, who retitmed the same day, having 
 burned three villages without r^listance. They then encamped 
 on the ground where the first village stood. 
 
 The following morning a little before day-light, the camp 
 was attacked by a body of Indians, supposed to be about 300. 
 1 hey commenced their attack on the right, vnth a horrid yell. 
 Alter a desperate conflict of about three quarters of an hour, 
 a charge was made by the cavalry, which forced the Indians to 
 retreat, leaving 40 killed on the field. InthkaffHrthe Amer- 
 icans had eight killed, and twenty-five or thirty wounded 
 
 Anotiier attack was anticipated, as information was received 
 that recumseh, with four or five hundred warriors >vas only 
 htteen miles from the scene of action; but reinfor^fnuits short^ 
 ly after arriving from Greenvillp, they effected thei¥ retrjJiyt 
 without molestation. f '- . W 
 
 A small body of Georgia volunteers had been collected Mv 
 in August, for an expedition against the Indians on our Souths 
 em border, where considerable depredations had been com- 
 mitted. Several unforeseen circumstances, however, prevented 
 
 wL ;^' ^''''f'^ '"^^ '^^^^^' ""^^^ t^^ 24th of September, 
 wnen the detachment, consisting of only 1 17 men, wrdi twelve 
 horses, marched from^St. John's under the command of colonel 
 n?,?!, agamst tiie A.otchaway towns in East Florida. This 
 small torce carried with them only four days' provisions. 
 
 Ihe detachment left St. John's in the evening, marching in 
 
'Xr 
 
 I 
 
 X 
 
 4« 
 
 HiSTORY OF THE WjV^ 
 
 Indian file, with a small party in front and in rear> the openness 
 ot the country rendering it unnecessary to employ ir.en on the 
 right and left. The encampment at nights, there being thr^e 
 companies, was ill the form of a triangle, with the baggage in 
 the centre; the men lying with their clothes on, their feet point- 
 ing outwards, and their firelocks in their arms. In case of an 
 attack^ the officers were instructed to bring up their companies 
 upon the right and left of the company fronting the enemy, and 
 to follow the Indian mode of fighting until ordered to charge. 
 In case of meeting the enemy on the march, the first compa. 
 ny, which consisted of riflemen, was instructed to file oft' to the 
 right, the centre company to advance and form to the front in 
 single rank, and the company in the rear to file off" to the left; 
 th3 whole then to advance in the form of a crescent, and en^ 
 deavour to encircle the enemy. 
 
 On the morning of the fourth day, when within a few miles 
 of the Indian towns, the party in advance discovered a body of 
 Indians marching along the path meeting them. The compa- 
 nies were immediately ordered to advance according to the pre- 
 vious instructions, which appeared exactly suited to the situa- 
 tion m which the enemy was found, and Newnan placed him- 
 self at the head of the centre Company. The Indians were now 
 seen falling back and making preparations for battle, by un- 
 shngmg their packs, trimming their rifles, and fonhing; and 
 the Americans continued to advance, taking advantage of the 
 trees in their progress, until within musket shot of the enemy, 
 when many of the Indians began to fire. The charge being 
 now ordered, thQ. enemy were forced precipitately to retire, and 
 take refuge in a swamp. Unfortunately the riflemen in filuig 
 to the right, inadvertantly took too great a circuit, by which 
 means a small swamp was inteppv.sed between them and the 
 Indians, which rendered the victory less decisive than it would 
 have beenjiad the whole charged together before the Indians 
 dispersed. The action, including the skirmishing on the 
 flanks, lasted two hours and a half, the Indians having frequently 
 attempted to outflank and get in the rear of the detachment, 
 but were always repulsed, by the companies extending to the 
 nght^ and left. The detachment had one killed and nine 
 Avounded in this aff'air. The loss of the Indians was more con- 
 siderable. Among the killed was their king Payne. 
 
 The Americans remained on the ground to watch the mo- 
 tions of the Indians, who were now seen near the swamp, paint- 
 ing themselves, and in consultation, which indicated an inten- 
 tion of renewing the combat. Accordingly half an hour before * I 
 sun-set, having obtained a considerable reinforcement of nc- 
 
RiSTOIiy or THE VTAn. 
 
 4<r 
 
 V 
 
 gross and ImUaus from their towns, they commencf d the most 
 horrid yells, imitating tho cries and noise of almost every 
 animal of the forest, their chiefs advancing in front in a stoop- 
 ing serpentine manner, and making the most wild and frantic 
 gestures, until they approached within two hundred yards^ 
 when they commenced firing. The soldiers remained perfectly- 
 still and steady behind logs and trees, until the enemy had ap- 
 proached somewiiat nearer, when a brisk and well directed fire 
 soon drove them back to their original ground. The action 
 lasted until eight o'clock, when the enemy were completely 
 repulsed. Two men were killed and one wounded; the enemy 
 carried off several of their men before it was dark — after which 
 all firing was at the spot from whence the flalh arose. After 
 thus fighting all day, the detachment had to work throughout 
 the whole of the night, and by day-light had completed a toler- 
 able breast-work of logs and earth with port-holes- 
 
 As soon as it was dark one of tlie officers was despatched to 
 St. John's for reinforcements and provisions, and six of the men 
 took the liberty to accompany him, taking with them some of 
 the best horses. 
 
 For two days succeeding the battle, nothing was seen nor 
 heard of the enemy; but on the evening of the third day they 
 commenced firing at their works at long distance, and renewed 
 it every day for five or six days, but without effect. 
 
 Seven or eight days having elapsed since the express had 
 left them, hunger was staring them in the face, and they were 
 now reduced to the necessity of eating one of the horses; thev 
 had no surgeon to dress the wounded, and apprehensions were 
 entertained that the enemy would receive reinforcements froni 
 Augustme, or the Makasukie Indians. Expecting relief, how- 
 ever, every hour, Newnan was,unv^illing to leave the breast- 
 work while a horse was left to eat; but one of the captains de- 
 clared that he was determined to set off with his company; and 
 many ot the mqn, giving up all hopes of relief, talkedof desert- 
 ing m the night rather than perish or fall a sacrifice to the mer- 
 ciless negroes and Indians, whom they were taught to believe 
 would surround them in great numbers in a few days. 
 
 In this trying situation, the few remaining horses bemg shot 
 down, and the number of sick daily increasing, Newnan reluc^ 
 tanUy consented to leave the works, ond directed the litters to 
 be prepared to carry the wounded. About nine in the svening 
 they conaijienced their distressing march, carrying five wound- 
 ed men in litters, and supportine- two or three mnrp? nnr! k^.-i 
 not proceeded more than'eight niiies, when th^ meu became 
 
 E.2 
 
 (I 
 
iO 
 
 HISTORY OF the' WAR. 
 
 rii 
 
 I 
 
 perfectly exhausted from hunp^cr and fatigue, and were unabie 
 to carry the wounded any farther. ^ ^^' 
 
 nnM^l? I'k '^^ '''^'^''^ "^^^ peculiarly unfortunate; for they had 
 left the breast-work more than two hours wh^n twenty-five 
 orsemen with provisions, arrived to their relief, on a diftliela 
 rd1her.t''T/'.'^ had taken, but, finding th; place desert' 
 ect on the Zh H .'• "^"^^"^'^^^ «>«" that had been 'cspatch- 
 m ssL' them . i^l *'«''«^.'"*^" ^'^^^e, by some mean, or other 
 missmg thtm. 1 hey again constructed a plan of dc^nce, and 
 a sergeant-mapr with one private was despatched to Sto 
 to learn what had occasioned the delay of ?he supplies ' 
 
 1,,%'^ T? T'^ the spirit of insubordination begin to display 
 
 peM aiain to :rd " .f '^ ^" '!"' ^^^^"^°«"' ^^^wLi was con' 
 pellea again to order the march. They had scarcely marched 
 
 verert^:'lt7s;7's^''''VT" ^^''''' °^ ^'^^ detachn/ent disco- 
 verea the heads of several Indians on both sides of the nath 
 
 from among some trees that had been laid pristmte by a hu ' 
 
 ncone; at the same instant, the enemy fired upon die advanced 
 
 par^y, and ahot down four of them, one of Tom died on the 
 
 spot, and two survived but a few days. The niom^nt t e faW 
 
 was heard, the detachment was ordered to ctee Id tlfe In! 
 
 dians were completely defeated in 15 minutes, nlmrdroppinJ 
 
 their guns, and all running off without attempting 'to i ally !! 
 
 W of them were left dead on the field. The detachmem'iay 
 
 on the battle gix^und all night, and next day marched fiv^ m les 
 
 yhen they again threw up breast-works between two 21; 
 
 arrival ot the provisions aiiu horses, when they were enabled 
 to pmceed to St. John's. The number of IndLria the S 
 ngagement was from 75 to loO. In the second engagemen 
 their number, (includmg negroes, who are their best soldiers 
 was double that of the Americans; and in the third en va^c- 
 mem there appeared to be 50, which was nearly equal to their 
 t%''^J ^^^J deducting the sick and wounded. The number of 
 ieSff '''''*'"'^'^'^ '^'''^^ ^^^ ^"^i^»« "^^i^t have been at 
 
 Another exjpedition of volunteers was sent against those 
 Indians from the state of Tennessee in tl^. month of Februan' 
 ? km/n ', '^ ^vere defeated in three engagements, and 
 
 o8 killed, a nmnber wounded, and seven taken prisoners. The 
 5n!r' '?'^'^'" burnt their settlements to the number of 386 
 houses, destroyed several thousand bushels of corn, and took 
 400 horses, and about the same number of cattle. The Indians 
 T« ♦K^'li ^'*" '" "^^' "vi./ic liic ueiacmncni ieil the settlement. 
 
 audtc^^r^uSu """' "" ^""™'»» '-* -^ »- "'«-' 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 51 
 
 gainst those 
 
 We have never seen the real value of the militia, and at the 
 same time their total inadequacy in their present state, more 
 strikingly exemplified than in the official narratives of those 
 Indian expeditions. The materiel^ the stamina of the militia, 
 cannot be surpassed; but as to all other military requisites 
 they are totally worthless. When we see them encountering 
 fatigue, cold, and hunger, without a murmur, and displaying in 
 battle the most undaunted bravery and resolution, we cannot but 
 lament that all those valuable qualities should be rendered of 
 none effect by the total want of subordination and discipline, 
 without which zeal, numbers, and courage avail notlung. 
 
 It rests with the national legislature to apply the remedy to 
 this evil. The constitution has clothed them with the power, 
 and it is to be hoped they will no longer refuse to make use of 
 It. The system ought either to be abolished altogether, as a 
 most extravagant waste of time or money, or it ought to be 
 made (and it is surely capable of being made so) a powerful 
 and certain means of national defence, by a proper system of 
 national instruction. 
 
 On the arrival of the Constitution frigate at Boston, after the 
 capture ot the Gurriere, captain Hull received permission to 
 remain on shore for the settlement of his affairs, and commo- 
 dore Bambridge was appointed to command in his room. Af- 
 ter undergoing the necessary repairs, she sailed on a cruize to 
 the Last-Indies, towards the end of October, accompanied by 
 the Hornet sloop of war, commanded by captain Lawrence- 
 but m runnmg down the coast of the Brazils, they found the 
 Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of war, loaded with specie 
 lying m the port of St. Salvador.. The Bonne Citoyenne was 
 a larger vessel, and had a greater force both in guns and men 
 than the Hornet; but so eager was captain Lawrence to eneace 
 her, that he sent, through the American consul at St. Salvador 
 a challenge to her commander, captain Greene, pledHnjr his 
 honour that neither the Constitution, nor any other American 
 vessel should interfere. This pledge was confirmed by com- 
 
 wiTsf ^^'t"'j^''' ''^' ^^. '^°'" ^'^ sincerity, left the Hornet 
 belore St. Salvador, and sailed on another cruize. The com 
 mander of the Bonne Citoyenne, however, did not see fit to ac- 
 theHorneV "^^' ^"^ ^^^^^^^ himself to be blockaded by 
 On the 29th of December, a few days after leaving St. Sal- 
 
 Ztr^^^X'T-T^^'r^ ^'"""^ '^"^ "°^^^ «^ ^^'^^i'' ^t "ine in the 
 mornmg, iJambridere discovered two strange aaii «— «f ...u:_i- 
 
 tm!!?'" l^^f K^^r ^^"'^' \^^ °'^'^" **«" Shore towards 'the^cinsti-' 
 tution. At half past eleven, the private signal for the day be- 
 
£2 
 
 SiSTOftY OF tUE WAH. 
 
 
 i-ii 
 
 m 
 
 mv Thl A " ' ^^^^l-^^^ it was concluded she was^ an ene- 
 r?L .f ^ A"^^"f a» «nf gn was hoisted at twelve, and shortW 
 after the enemy hoisted her colours. About half pas one 
 the vesse being perceived to be a British frigate, fiSnlriZ' 
 tacked ship, and stood towards her, when she mmedSv £ 
 
 mg. At two, the enemy being then within a half a mile of tho 
 Constitution and to ,windward,\nd having hauled down her co 
 lours except the union, Bainbridgc onlercd a gun to be fired 
 
 sh;i^ ^^h^niv'?'?" ^^^^^ ^«^«»^enced with round and grape- 
 shot, the British frigate keeping at a much greater distance 
 than the conunodore wished, but he. could not bHn^ S to 
 c oser action without exposing his ship to be?L raked A 
 number of manoeuvres >vere now made by both v^-ssels to ob 
 am a raking position, during which the wheel o? he Constt 
 tution vyas siiot entirely away. Bainbridge now determhS to 
 close with the enemy, notwithstanding th? danger ob^Wr^^^^ 
 close to t7'"^S-'y -^ ^^- f-- -^d mainsail, and lufild up 
 
 About 4 o'clock, the fire of the enemy being completely si- 
 lenced; and her colours in the main rigging beiiS down k 
 
 tTre^rr^'"' ''^^'^'"'^' ^'^^ the cSLtiLion!hot 2ad 
 to repair the riggmg, leaving the enemy a complete wreck It 
 
 was shortly after, however, discovered that the colours wdre 
 
 ^^i:::S{^r^^''^'''''^^^^ --^ of tt damage 
 the Constitution took a position across the enemv's bows 5n 
 
 hL flag. '"^' '"*^ '"^ '"^^ ^'^ P^'"^^"^^y avoS'by striking 
 B^nbridge now sent his first lieutenant on board the prize, 
 which proved to oe the Java, a frigate of the same rate as the 
 Guerriere and Macedonian, but with a much larger comple! 
 toent of men, havmg had upwards of 400 on board at the com. 
 
 SdeTfo/t'^n vT'/''^^^'^"^ ""'^^^ supernumlaX 
 wis atf In K^ ^'r''^. '^'^P' "^ ^^' ^" '^^ East Indies. There 
 comlnd nf I u ^^^"^«"^t-general Hislop, appointed to the 
 command of Bombay, major Walker and captain Wood of his 
 staff, and captain Marshall, master and commander in the 
 British naif^-, going to the East Indies to take command of a 
 sloop of war there The commander was captain W,ert a 
 veryjistmgmshed officer, who was mortally woun^iT the 
 
 Th« action lasted an hour and fifty-five minutes, in which 
 
 It 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 &Q 
 
 time the Java was completely dismasted, not having a spar of 
 any kind standing. She had been fitted out in the most com- 
 plete manner, and had copper on board for a 74 and two brigs 
 building at Bombay; but the great distance from our coast, and 
 the disabled state of the vessel, forbidding every idea of at- 
 tempting to take her to the United States, after removing the 
 prisoners and their baggage, she was set oa lire, and soon af- 
 ter blew up. 
 
 The loss on board the Constitution was 9 killed and 23 
 wounded. The loss on board the Java could not be exactly 
 ascertained, ad the officers were extremely cautious in speak- 
 ing of the number of her crew. Commodore Bainbridge states 
 it at 60 killed and 101 wounded certainly; by a letter written on 
 board the Constitution by yne of the officers of the Java, and 
 accidentally found, the number was stated to be 60 killed and 
 170 wounded. 
 
 After blowing up the Java, Bainbridge returned to St. Salva- 
 dor, where he landed all the prisoners on their parole^ to the 
 number of 3^ I, exclusive of nine Portuguese seamen, who were 
 liberated and given up to the governor of St. Salvador, and 
 three passengers, privute characters, whom the commodore 
 did not consider prisoners of war. 
 
 On account of the destruction of the boatr of both vessels is 
 the action, nothing was taken from on board the Java except 
 the prisoners and their baggage, the whole of which was give© 
 up to them. Among other valuable articles given up was a 
 chest of plate, which had been presented to general Hi&lop by 
 the colonel of Demarara. Commodore Bainbridge received 
 the public acknowledgments of the governor of St. Salvador, 
 as well as of his prisoners, for the kind treatment and benefi- 
 cence which he displayed on this* occasion. 
 
 The Constitution again left St. Salvador on the 6th of Janua- 
 ry, and arrived at Boston about the middle of February. 
 
 Meaiiwhile the Hornet blockaded the Bonne Citoyenne, un- 
 til the 24th of January, when the Montague, a 74 gun ship, 
 hove in sight and chased her into the harbour; but night com- 
 ing on, she wore and stood out to the southward. Knowing 
 that she had left Rio Janeiro for the express purpose of reliev- 
 ing the Bonne Citoyenne and the packet which Lawrence had 
 also blockaded for 1 % days, and obliged her to send her mail to 
 Rio Janeiro in a Portuguese smack, he judged it most prudent 
 to shift his cruising ground, and accordingly shaped his course 
 towards Pemambuco. On the 4th of February he captured the 
 English brig Resolution, of 10 guns, laden with provisions and 
 about S2 3,000 in specie j but as she sailed dull, and he cou^ 
 
 -<^4*.- 
 

 54 
 
 mSTORY OF THE WJbR. 
 
 1 1 . .<«»■. 
 
 pf4l 'lift' 
 
 '.*, 
 #: 
 
 i 
 
 
 ^nH ^ /k ^"^ V"" ""^^ ^^'•' ^^ took out the money and crew 
 and set her on fire He then ran down the coast for Mora^^ 
 ham, and cruised there a short time, and thence ran off S" 
 nam. After cruising off that coast fr'om tile 1 5th o"he 22d of 
 Febru ry, without meeting a vessel, he stood for Demarara 
 Next morning he discovered a brig to leeward, which hTchas 
 
 a p lot^'p eJi^urto^" • '^ -\°^lig^d to haul off for want f 
 IZa ^^r '°"^ Y" giving up the chase, however, he discov 
 ercd a vessel at anchor without the bar of Demarara river wUh" 
 the Enghslv colours flying, apparently a brig of war In'b^a 
 ing around Carabona bank, in order to tret at hoi »V >, if 
 three m ^He afternoon he discovered LS^r sa^I 'on hifw'eT 
 w2d'F V'^T ^°^'" ^"^ ^^"^- At 20 minutes pa 1 4 sh^ 
 
 Lieutenant Shubrick* was immediately sent on board the 
 prize, which proved to be the British brig Peacock comm.nH 
 
 o Scret weVtkirr":^^^ '" .^"•'' ^--d that^a nuibe^ 
 m ner ci.ew were killed and wounded, and that she w-m sink 
 
 rhr.1 Ti t7^^ ^<^ii^eh were immediately brought to an- 
 
 e1 bu" ahh'ofXr '^ '"^'^ despatched to briJg off tie woui"- 
 
 hls tLt iu f he'' rr^""''' ,'^'°^^" overboard, the shot 
 noies that could be got at plugged, and every exertion mnrle 
 by pumpmg and bailing to keep her afloat umil tTe prisZrs 
 
 and a ha'lfXr'' '" ^'^^^' ^^^^^^^"^'' ^^^ ^he sun'k "nfi; 
 and a ha f fathoms water, carrying down 13 of her crew and 
 three sailors belonging to the Hornet, who were nobly risking 
 their lives for the safety of the vanquished foe. A lieuJenam 
 
 I 
 
 «4tl'S?///^"^''''''^"*/"^ '^^' ^^'d fortune to be in the, 
 actions mth the Guernere, Java, and Peacock, ' 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 S3 
 
 to de in the. 
 
 and othei' officers and men of the Hornet employed in remov- 
 ing the prisoners, with difficulty saved themselves, by jumping 
 into a boat that was lying on her booms as she went down. 
 Four of the 1 3 of the crew of the Peacock, mentioned as being 
 in her when she went down, were so fortunate as to gain the 
 fore-top, and were afterwards taken off by the boats. Previ- 
 ous to her going down, four of her men took to her stern boat, 
 that h^d been much damaged during the action, and it is hop- 
 ed reached the shore in safety; but from the heavy sea runn- 
 ing at the time, the shattered state of the boat, and the diffi- 
 culty of landing on the coast, it is more than probable that they 
 were lost. 
 
 The exact number of killed on board the Peacock could not 
 he ascertained from her officers. Captain Peake and four men 
 were found dead on board by the Americans; the master, one 
 midshipman, carpenter, captain's clerk, and 29 seamen were 
 wounded, most of them severely, three of whom died of their 
 wounds after being removed. On board the Hornet there was 
 only one killed and' two wounded by the enemy, but two men 
 were severely burnt by the explosion of a cartridge during the 
 a^rion, one of whom survived but a few days. Her rigging and 
 sails were much cut, a shot passed through the foremast, and 
 -ne bowsprit was slightly injured; her hull received little or no 
 damage. 
 
 The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the finest vessels 
 of her class in the British navy. Her tonnage was supposed to 
 be about equal to that of the Hornet. Her beam was greater 
 by five inches; but her extreme length not so great by four 
 feet. She mounted sixteen 24 pound carronades, two long 
 nines, one twelve pound carronade f i^br top-gallant forecastle 
 as a shifting gun, and one four, or gx^uhder and two swivels 
 mounted aft. Her crew consisted of 134 men, four of whom 
 were absent in a prize. 
 
 During the engagement, the L'Espiegle, the brig that Law- 
 rence had been endeavouring to reach before the Peacock ap- 
 peared, which mounted 1 6 thirty-two pound carronades, and 
 two long nines, lay about six miles distant, and could plainly see 
 the whole of the action. Apprehensions were entertained, 
 that she would beat out to the assistance of her consort, and 
 therefore such exertions were made in repairing damages, that 
 by nine o'clock the boats were stowed away, a new set of s£uls 
 bent, and the ship completely ready for action. She, however, 
 declmed coming out, and at two in the mornine-the Hnrhpt o-ht 
 under way. "^ "-" 
 
 The moniin^ after the action, Lawrence fottnd that he haf 
 
56 
 
 History of the "wav. 
 
 ^v 
 
 ^"^m 
 
 w^v V KKam u 
 
 1277 souls on board, and therefore, as his own crew had been on 
 two-thirds allowance of provisions for some time, and his sup- 
 ply of water was but scant, he determined to make the best of 
 his way to the United States. He arrived at Holmes' Hole on 
 the 19th of March, and a few day ^ after proceeded down the 
 sound to New York. 
 
 The kindness and hospitality shown by captain Lawrence and 
 his officers to his unfortunate prisoners, was such as to pene- 
 trate them with the most lively gratitude, which the officers ex- 
 pressed shortly jifter their arrival by a public letter of thanks. 
 « So much," say they, « was done to alleviate the distressing 
 and uncomfortable situation in which we were placed when 
 received on board the sloop you command, that we cannot bet- 
 ter express our feelings than by saying « We ceased to con- 
 sider ourselves prisoners;" and every thing that friendship 
 could dictate was adopted by you and the officers of the Hor- 
 net, to remedy the inconvenience we would otherwise have 
 experienced from the unavoidable loss of the whole of our pro- 
 perty and clothes by the sudden sinking of the Peacock." 
 
 Nor was the crew of the Hornet a whit behind their superi- 
 ors in that noble generosity which ever accompanies true bra- 
 very. As the sailors of the Peacock had lost every thing ex- 
 cept What they had on their backs when she went down, our 
 American tars united to relieve them, and made every English 
 sailor a present of two shirts, a blue jacket, and a pair of trow- 
 sers. 
 
 The frigate Chesapeake, commanded by captain Evans; 
 sailed from Boston about the middle of November on a cruize. 
 From Bo&ton she ran down by Madeira, the Canary, and Cape 
 de Verd Islands; thence to the equator, between longitude 25° 
 and 15° W., where she cruized six week^^. She then sailed 
 along the coast of South America, and passed within fifteen 
 leagues of Surrinam. Thence she passed through the wind- 
 ward islands to the coast of the United States; near the capes 
 of Virginia, and thence along the coast to Boston, where she 
 arrived on the loth of April, after a cruize of 1 15 days. Du- 
 ring this cruize she took an American brig, sailing under an 
 English license, and three British vessels, one of which she 
 burnt after taking out the crew and cargo. On the first of 
 January, off the Western Islands, she disccrered two large 
 sail bearing down on her, apparently ships of war, and lay too 
 until near enough to ascertain that they were a 74 and a frigate, 
 when she made all sail and escaped. Off the canes of Virgi- 
 nia, about ten days before her arrival, she gave chase -to a sloop 
 df War, and continued chasing for two days, when it escapedin 
 the night. 
 
HISTORY OF THE W ^k. 
 
 i> 
 
 The Chesapeake continued in Boston harbour until the first 
 tof June, the clay of her unfortunate rencounter with the Shan- 
 non. Captain Lawrence, of the Hornet, had a short time pre- 
 vious been appointed to command the Chesapeake; and hard- 
 ly had he arrived at Boston, when the Shannon, commanded 
 by captain Broke, appeared off the harbour, with the avowed 
 purpose of seeking a combat with her. ^ 
 
 " Stung with the repeated disasters of the British frigates, 
 this officer resolved to make an effort to retrieve them; and 
 Avhen he deemed his ship perfectly prepared for that purpose, 
 sent a formal challenge to captain Lawrence. 
 
 " ' As the Chesapeake,' his letter began, 'appears now ready 
 for sea, I request you will do me the favor to meet the Shan- 
 non with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective 
 (lags. To an officer of your character, it requires some apo- 
 logy for proceeding to further particulars. Be assured, sir, 
 that it is not from any doubt I entertain of your wishing to' 
 close with my proposal, but merely to provide an answer to any 
 objection that might be made, and very reasonably, 4ipon the 
 chance of our receiving unfair support ' After observing that 
 commodore Rodgere had not accepted several verbal challen- 
 ges which he had given, captain Broke then proceeds to state 
 very minulely the force of the Shannon, and offers to send all 
 Britisii ships out of reach, so that they might have a fair com- 
 l)at, at any place within a certain range along the coast of New 
 England which he specified; if more agreeable, he offers to 
 sail together, and to wani the Chesapeake, by meatis of private 
 signals, of the approach of British ships of war, till they reach 
 some solitary spot — or to sail with a flag of truce to any place 
 out of the reach of British aid, so that the flag was should be 
 hauled down when it was deemed fair to begin hostilities. « I 
 entreat you, sir,' he concludes, 'not to imagine that I am urged 
 by mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the Chesapeake, 
 or that I depend only upon your personal ambition for your ac- 
 ceding to this invitation. We have both nobler motives. You 
 will feel it as a compliment, if I say that the result of our meeting 
 may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; 
 and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel 
 convinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in even combats, 
 that your little navy can now hope to console your country for 
 the loss of that trade it can no longer protect.' 
 « The style of this letter, with the exception of the puerile 
 
 braviidn about rni->-ii->inrlo»''^ P«-h-i.v.q«o Io c. i. _._ j i i 
 
 ... ■ -■' "•"•' — •'v'.Lt-..io, i3 iiai;r>. iiiiu iiiuiiiy; ana 
 
 It the torce of the Shannon were correctly stated, would be 
 such a challenge as might well be sent from a brave seamen to 
 
5B 
 
 IIISTORY OP THK VAR. 
 
 ■^iM- 
 
 a gallant adversary. We, however, are but too well satisfletl, 
 that captain Broke studiously underrated the number of his 
 guns and crew; or that, after his challenge, he must have re- 
 ceived additions to both. That the Shannon had more guns 
 than the number stated by her commander, wo learn from the 
 testunony of the surviving officers of the Chesapeake; who 
 also assert, that she had three hundred and seventy-six men; 
 that she had an officer and sixteen men from the Belle Poule; 
 and that the hats of some of her seamen were marked * Tene- 
 dos.' Such as it was, however, this letter, most unfortunately, 
 rievcr reached captain Lawrence. If he had received it; if he 
 had been thus warned to prepare his ship; if he had had an 
 opportunity of selecting his officers, and disciplining his crew; 
 it, m short, he had been able to place the Chesapeake on any 
 thing like equal terms with the Shannon, the combat might have 
 been more bloody; there might have been such an engagement 
 as has not yet been seen between single ships on the ocean; 
 
 ^ough we cannot ruffer ourselves to doubt the result of it. 
 
 But he knew nothing of this challenge—he saw only the Shan- 
 non riding before him in defiance; he remembered the spirit 
 with which he himself overawed a superior, and he could not 
 brook for a moment, that an enemy, which seemed to be his 
 equal, should insult his flag. Although, therefore, the Chesa- 
 peake was comparatively an inferior ship— although his first 
 liemenant was sick on shore— although three of his lieutenants 
 had recently left her; and, of the four who remained, two were 
 only midshipmen, acting as lieutenants— although part of his 
 crew were new hands, and all of them had lost some of their 
 discipline by staying in port— yet, as he would have gone to sea 
 m that situation had no enemy appeared, he felt himself bound 
 not to delay sailing on that account, and throwing himself, there- 
 lore, on his courage and his fortune, he determined at once to 
 attack the enemy. It was on the morning of the 1st of June, 
 1813, that the Chesapeake sailed out of the harbour of Boston 
 to meet the Shannon. As soon as she got under weigh, cap- 
 tain Lawrence called the crew together, and having hoisted the 
 white flag, with the motto of ' free trade and sailors' rights,' 
 made a short address. His speech, however, was received 
 with no enthusiasm— on the contrary, signs of dissatisfaction 
 were evident; particularly from a boatswain's mate, a Portu- 
 guese, who seemed to be at the head of the malccontents; and 
 complaints were muttered that they had not yet received their 
 prize-money. Such expressions, at the eve of an action, were 
 
 rant as he was of the characters of >is sailors, and upwjJUiig 
 
:tion, were 
 
 JflfSTORY OF THE WAR, 5^ 
 
 at such a moment to damp their spirits by harshness, preservea 
 his accustomed calmness, and had prize-checks, at once, given 
 by the purser to those who had not received them. Whilst 
 this scene was passing, the Shannon, observing the Chesapeake 
 coming out, bore away. The Chesapeake followed her till 
 four o'clock in the afternoon, when she hauled up and fired a 
 gun, on which the Shannon hove to. They manoeuvred for 
 some time, till at about a quarter before six, they approached 
 Avithin pistol shot and exchanged broadsides. 
 
 " These broadsides were both bloody; but the fire of the 
 Shannon was most fortunate in the destruction of officers.— 
 The fourth lieutenant, Mr. Ballard was mortally wounded; the 
 sailing-master was killed, and captain Lawrence received a 
 musket ball in his leg, which caused great pain, and profuse 
 bleeding, but he leaned on the companion way; and continued 
 to order and to animate his crew. A second, and a third broad" 
 side was exchanged, with evident advantage on the part of the 
 Chesapeake; but, unfortunately, among those now wounded on 
 board of her was the first lieutenant, Mr. Ludlow, who was 
 carried below — three men were successively shot from the 
 helm, in about twelve minutes from the commencement of the 
 action; and, as the hands were shifting, a shot disabled her fore- 
 sail, so that she would no longer answer her helm, and her an- 
 chor caught in one of the after ports of the Shannon, which en- 
 abled the latter to rajce her upper deck. As soon as Lawrence 
 perceived that she was falling to leeward, and that by the Shan- 
 non's filling she would fall on board, he called his boarders, 
 and was giving orders about the foresail, when he received a 
 musket ball in his body. The bugleman, who should have 
 called the boarders, did not do his duty; and, at this moment 
 commodore Broke, whose ship had suffered so much that he 
 was preparing to repel boarding, perceiving, from this acci- 
 dent, how the deck of the Chesapeake was swept, jumped on 
 board with about twenty men. They would have been instant- 
 ly repelled; but the captaui, the first lieutenant, the sailing 
 master, the boatswain, the lieutenant of marines, the only acting 
 lieutenant on the spar-deck, were all killed or disabled. At the 
 call of the boarders, lieutenant Cox ran on deck, but just in 
 
 time to receive his falling commander, and bear him below. 
 
 Lieutenant Budd, the second lieutenant, led up the boarders, 
 but only fifteen or twenty would follow him, and with these he 
 defended the ship till he was wounded and disabled. Lieuten- 
 "iiv ^viUivrv, nuunvicu ua nc wus, nurncu Upon QccK, wiierc he 
 soon received a mortal cut from a sabre. The marines who 
 vere engaged fpught with desperate courage; but they were 
 
60 
 
 rilSTORY Of THE WAR. 
 
 ,;(" 
 
 few in number; too many of them having followed the Porta- 
 S belowT" ' TT' "'" ---Jaimedfit is said, as he fku Ik- 
 
 MeanwHlI 1 ""Sk ^''" " u' ^^^^"^ "^^" ^^^^^ prize-money.'-- 
 Meanwhile the Shannon threw on board sixty additional men 
 
 who soon succeeded in overpowering the seamen of the Ches' 
 apeake, who had now no officers to lead or rally them, and took 
 possession of the ship; which was not, however, su rendfr^ 
 cLtKuT"' "^ submission, but became the enemy's only be. 
 to resist^ """'" to overwhelm all who were in a condition 
 
 "As captain Lawrence was carried below, he perceived the 
 melancholy condition of the Chesapeake, bu cried out,VDon't 
 give up the ship.' He was taken dowi into the ward-room 
 and, as he lay m excruciating pain, perceiving that the no^se 
 teirthe l'''''.'' he ordered the surgeon to g^o on deck and 
 
 ouis. 'They shall wave,' said he, < while I live.' But it was 
 too late to resist or struggle longer; the enemy had already 
 possession of the ship. As captain Lawrence's wounds would 
 not a low of his removal, he continued in the ward-room, sur- 
 rounded by his wounded officers, and, after lingering in Ueat 
 pain for four days, during which his sufferings were^too fcitte 
 
 hXT ^'V 'P"l^' ^^'' P^'^^P^' t« think of the sad eve s 
 he had just witnessed, or do more than ask for what his situa- 
 tion required, he died on the 5th of June. His body was ^.^ap- 
 ped m the colours of the Chesapeake, and laid on the quarter 
 deck, until they arrived at Halifax, where he was buried with 
 the highest military and naval honours; the British officers for- 
 getting m their admiration of his character, that he had been 
 but lately their enemy. His pall was supported by the oldest 
 
 r.^?n!'?f T ^ ' "• "^^ '^"'^ ^' ^"^^^^^' ^"^ »« demonstration of 
 respectful attemion was omitted to honour the remains of a 
 Drave, but unfortunate stranger. 
 
 « In this sanguinary engagement thtf Chesapeake lost her 
 commander and forty-seven men killed, and ninety-seven 
 wounded, of whom fourteen afterwards died. Amon^ these 
 were h^tenant Ludlow, first lieutenant of the ship, and lieu' 
 tenant Ballard, the fourth lieutenant, both excellent officers 
 
 «,On the part of the Shannon, captain Broke was dangerous- 
 ly wounded, though he has since recovered; the first 1!^- 
 . H '.nH *^fr "'""' captain's clerk, and twenty-three seamen kill- 
 cd, and fifty-seven persons wounded, besides captain Broke. 
 
 " 1 he capture of the Chesapeake is to be ascribed whnllv to 
 lac cxiraorcuiiary loss of officers (a loss without any precedent", 
 as lar as we can recollect, in naval history); and to her falling 
 
 1 
 
d the Portu- 
 , as he skulk- 
 ze -money.' — 
 litional men, 
 I of the Ches- 
 em, and took 
 surrendered 
 ny's only be- 
 n a conditioi; 
 
 erceived the 
 1 out, ' Don't 
 ! wurd-room, 
 lat the poise 
 n deck, and 
 :rike the co- 
 But it was 
 had ah'eady 
 ounds would 
 l-room, sur- 
 ng in great 
 re too acute 
 B sad events 
 at his situa- 
 y was wrap- 
 the quarter 
 buried with 
 officers for- 
 e had been 
 ^ the oldest 
 nstration of 
 mains of a 
 
 ^e lost her 
 inety-seven 
 nong these 
 >, and lieu- 
 officers, 
 dangerous* 
 rst lieuten- 
 amen kill-. 
 1 Broke. 
 1 wholly to 
 precedent, 
 her falling, 
 
 IflSTOftY OF Tttfi WAR, 
 
 6r 
 
 accidentally on board the Shannon. During the three broad- 
 sides, while the officers of the Chesapeake, were living, and 
 she was kept clear of the enemy, the superiority was manifest- 
 ly with the Americans. The Chesapeake had received scarce- 
 ly any damage, while the Shannon had several shot between 
 wind H.nd water, and could with difficulty be kept afloat during 
 the succeeding night. It was only when accident threw the 
 Chesapeake on board the Shannon, when her officers were un- 
 able to lead on the boarders, that captain Broke himself, con- 
 trary, we believe, to the regulations of the British navy, left his 
 own ship, and was able, by superior numbers, to overpower the 
 distracted crew of the Chesapeake. 
 
 " We have heard many accounts, which Ve are very reluc- 
 tantly compelled to believe, of improper conduct by the British 
 aftui' the capture, and of bruta! violence offered to the crew of 
 the Chesapeake. As, however, some allowances are due to 
 the exasperated passions of the moment, something too to the 
 confusion of a bloody and doubtful struggle, we are unwilling 
 to prolong the remembrance of imputations which may be dis- 
 proved, and perhaps have been exaggerated. 
 
 " But we should wrong the memory of captain Lawrence, 
 we should be unjust to the officers of the American navy, with 
 whose glory all the aspiring ambition of the country is so close- 
 ly blended, if we omitted any opportunity of giving the last 
 and fairest lustre to their fame, by contrasting their conduct 
 with that of the enemy, or if we forbore, from any misplaced 
 delicacy towards our adversaries, to report circumstances 
 connected with the fate of the Chesapeake, which throw a broad 
 and dazzling light on the generous magnanimity of our coun- 
 trymen." 
 
 Our readers cannot have failed to observe the liberality 
 which was extended to the officers and crews of the GuerrierCr 
 Macedonian, and Java, and the still more striking instance of 
 the Peacock. -''• When the Chesapeake was taken by the Shan- 
 non, the key of captain Lawrence's store-room was demanded 
 of the purser. It was given; but the purser observed at the 
 same time, that in the captures of the Guerriere, Macedoniap, 
 and Java, the most scrupulous regard was paid to the private 
 property of the British officers; that captain Lawrence had laid 
 in stores for a long cruize; and that the value of them Would 
 be a great object to his widow and family, for whose use he 
 was desirous, if possible, of preserving them. This request 
 was not merely declined; it was haughtily and superciliously 
 refused. 
 
 " Howpver we may mourn the sufferings of that day, the loss 
 
 j3 
 
62 
 
 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 
 
 ^ *», 
 
 3. j! 
 
 'r t ' ill 
 
 ■ r ifl 
 
 i 
 
 of the Chesapeake has not, in our estimation, varied ti.e rela- 
 live standnig of the marine of the two countries; nor does \t 
 abate, in the slightest degree, any of the loftiness of our naval 
 pretentions. The contest was wholly unequal in ships, in guns 
 m crews, in officers, in every thing. ' 
 
 "The Shannon was a better ship; she had not upon h*-r the 
 curse of that ill-omined name, the Chesapeake. The Shannon 
 was a stronger ship; she mounted twenty-eight eighteen poun 
 ders on the main deck, twenty-two thirty-two pound carron- 
 ades, and two long brass nines or twelves, on the spar-deck 
 and a large carronade amidships, in all fifty-tivo gu7is, besides 
 this last heavy carronade; while the Chesapeake mounted twen- 
 ty-eight eighteen pounders on the main deck, and twenty thir- 
 ty-two pound carronades, and one eighteen pounder, chase 
 gun, on the spar-deck, m allforty-nme guns. 
 
 « The S4iannon had a better crew. Besides her comn'ement 
 she had seamen from two other ships. That crew, too, had 
 been long at sea; long in the ship; were known; were tried- 
 and as commodore Broke sent a challenge, were, of course' 
 men on whom, if they were not picked for the occasion, he 
 knew he could confide. The Chesapeake had, on the contra- 
 ry, m part, a new crew, unknown to their officers, not yet know 
 lug their places or the ship. The ship bad not been more than 
 a tew hours at sea, and the landamen ?..id the landswomen had 
 been dismissed from heron the very day of the engagement 
 1 he officers, too, although we should be last to detract from 
 their merits, and although the manner in which they fouelit 
 their ship docs them the highest honour, the officers were 
 young and few m number, and had as yet hardly any opportuni- 
 ty of disciplining or knowing their seamen,- yet, under all these 
 disadvantages, the great damage sustained by the Shannon 
 and the great loss of her crew, all which took place before the 
 boarding, warrant completely the opinion, that, but for the ac- 
 cidental loss of officers, the vi^.tory would have been with the 
 Chesapeake*." 
 
 The brig Argus, commanded by lieutenant Allen, sailed 
 from New-York about the middle of May, having on board Mr 
 Crawford, our minister for France. She arrived at L'Orient 
 on the 12th of June, and shortly after sailed on a cruize 
 
 On the Uth of August, being then in St. George's channel 
 where she made a number of captures, she was discovered by 
 tlie Pelican sloop of war, which had been despatched in search 
 
 Port Foiio 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 63 
 
 of her. As soon as Allen discovered the Pelican he shortened 
 sail, and the two vessels got alongside about half past five in 
 the morning, when an action commenced, which was kept up 
 with spirit on both sides for three quarters of an hour, when, 
 lieutenant Allen being mortally wounded, and nearly forty 
 others killed and wounded on beard the A'-gus, she struck her 
 flag. On board the Pelican there were only two killed and five 
 wounded. 
 
 As the American account of this action has not been re- 
 ceived, owing probably to the death of the commander, and as 
 the British account is unusually barren, we are not able to state 
 any of the particulars. That the Pelican was much superior 
 in force, however, there is little room to doubt. She is rated 
 at two guns more than the Argus; and it is stated, in a London 
 paper, that in the year 1797, she beat off a French 44 gun fri- 
 gate, after an action of two hours. There is a circumstance 
 nientioned in a Cork paper, too, which is totally kept out of 
 view in the official account, and which, if true, takes away all 
 the honour of the victory, small as it is, from the enemy. « As 
 the action closed," says the Cork paper, " his majesty's ship 
 Leonidas, captain Seymour, fell in with them." In Steele's 
 List, the Leonidas is rated as a 38 gun frigate. That a sloop 
 of war should surrender t< a vessel of superior force, when a 
 38 gun frigate was close aboard of them, is a circumstance 
 surely not to be wondered at. 
 
 A few days after the action, lieutenant Allen died of his 
 wounds, and was buried at Plymouth with the honours of war 
 
 Previous to her capture, the Argus had taken 19 vessels! 
 most of them in St. George's Channel. 
 
 In recording the loss of the Chesapeake and Argus we have 
 had to lament the still greater loss of their gallant comman- 
 ders. We have now to record an event, at the remembrance 
 ot which tears for our loss mingle with exultations for our suc- 
 cess. 
 
 On the first of September, the United States brig Enter 
 prize, commanded by lieutenant William Burrows, sailed fronj 
 Portsmouth on a cruize. On the morning of the 3d, Burrows 
 discovered a schooner, which was chased into Portland har- 
 bour, where the Enterprize was brought to anchor. Havine- 
 received information of several privateers being off Manhagan, 
 he weighed anchor and swept out the following morning, and 
 stood for that place. Next day a lar^e brie of war was difirnv- 
 ered, to which chase was immediately given. The enemy fir- 
 ed several guns, and stood for the Enterprize, with four en- 
 signs hoisted. After manoeuvei-ing and reconnoitering -fbr 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 i.if t '1'— 
 
 h -; si 
 
 
 ■: 
 
 some time, for the purpose of discovering the force of the ene- 
 my, Burrows, about three in the afternoon, shortened sail, tack- 
 ed, and ran dowri, with the intention of bringing her to close 
 action. At 20 minutes after three the firing commenced from 
 both vessels, within half pistol shot. The action continued 
 for about a quarter of an hour, when the Enterprize ranged 
 ahead of the enemy, rounded to, and raked her. Shortly after 
 the m,ain-top-mast and top-sail yard of the enemy came down 
 The foresail of the Enterprize was then set, and she took a 
 position on the starboard bow of the enemv, and continued to 
 rake her, until, about 40 minutes after the commencement of 
 the action, the enemy ceased firing, and cried for quarters: 
 their colours being nailed to the masts, could not be hauled 
 down. 
 
 The prize proved to be the British brig Boxer, of U guns. 
 1 he number of her crew could not be ascertained, but 64 pri- 
 soncrs were taken, including 17 wounded. Captain Hull, in a 
 letter to commodore Bainbridge, describing the state of the 
 Boxer when brought into port, says that there was every rea- 
 son to believe that there were lOo men on board. On board 
 the Enterprize there was only one killed and thirteen wounded, 
 two of whom died of their wounds. 
 
 Lieutenant Burrows fell in the commencement of the action- 
 he, however, refused to be carried below, but, raising his head' 
 requested that the flag might never be struck. When the 
 sword of the vanquishe4, enemy was presented to the dyin? 
 conqueror, he clasped his hands and said, " I am satisfied; I 
 die contented;" and then, and not till then, would he consent 
 to be carried below, where every attention was paid to save his 
 life, but in vain. A few hours after the victory he breathed 
 his last.— Captain Blythe, the commander of the Boxer, also 
 fell in the commencement of the action, having received a 
 cannon shot through the body. His remains, in company with 
 those of Burrows, were broi ght to Portland, where the two 
 commanders were interred, side by side, with military honours. 
 The Boxer was so much damaged in her sails, rigging, 
 spars, hull, &c. as to render it difficult to carry her into port. 
 The Enterprize received but trifling injury On an examina- 
 tion of the prize, she was adjudged wholly to the captors, 
 agreeably to law, as a vessel of superior force. 
 
 On the 23d of April, the President frigate, commanded by 
 commodore Rodgers, sailed from Boston.' On the 30th he took 
 his departure from President road, in company with the Con- 
 gress, commanded by captain Smith. Ori the 3d of May, while 
 in chase of a British brig of war, near the shoal of George's 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 © 
 
 een wounded, 
 
 IjBank, they passed to windward of three sail, two of which, 
 I from their appearance, and from information previously receiv- 
 ed, were supposed to be the La Hogue, 74, the Nymph fri- 
 k'ate, and a merchant brig. After getting clear of George's 
 iJJank they continued along east southwardly, in the direction 
 lof the southern edge of the Gulf Stream, until the 8th of May, 
 hvhen the President parted company with the Congress, the 
 Batter being in chase of a vessel, which proved to be an Ame- 
 iricun merchantman. After parting company, Rodgers shaped 
 jhis course, as near as the wind would permit, to intercept the 
 ■enemy's West India commerce passing to the southward of the 
 jGrand Bank. Not meeting with any thing in this direction ex- 
 [eept American vessels from Lisbon and Cadiz, he next pur- 
 isued a route to the northward, so as to cross the tracks of the 
 [West India, Halifax, Quebec, and St. John's trade. Notmeet- 
 m^ any thing in this route, however, after reaching the latitude 
 pi 38 degrees N., he steered to thcs S. E. towards the Azores, 
 off which, in different directions, he continued until the 6th of 
 June, without meeting a single enemy's vessel. At this time, 
 falling m with an American ship bound to Cadiz, and receiving 
 information that she had, four days befcre, passed an enemy's 
 convoy from the West Indies, bound to England, Rodgers 
 crowded sail to the N. E., and, although disappointed in fall- 
 ing in with the convoy, nevertheless made four captures be- 
 [ tween the 9th and 1 3th of June. 
 
 Being now in the latitndvi of 46° N., and longitude 28° W., 
 Rodgers shaped a course that afforded a prospect of falling in 
 with vessels bound to Newfoundland from St. George's Chan- 
 nel, by the way of Cape Clear, as well as others that might 
 pass north about to the northward of Ireland; to his astonish- 
 ment however, in all his route, he did not meet with a single 
 vessel, until he made the Sheetland Islands, and even off there 
 nothmg but Danish vessels, trading to England, under British 
 licences. A considerable portion of .heir provisions and water 
 bemg now expended, it became necessary to replenish these, 
 previous to determining what course to pursue next; accord- 
 ingly, for this purpose, they put into North Bergen on the 27th 
 June ; but were not able to obtain any thing but water, there 
 being an unusual scarcity of bread in every part of Norway, and 
 at the time not more in Bergen than a bare sufficiency for its 
 inhabitants for four or five weeks. After replenishing his wa- 
 ter, Rodgers stretched over towards the Orkney islands, and 
 ...c... ,, .,,.„„i,ao vuc x^uiLu v.apc, lor tnc purpose oi intercept- 
 ing a convoy of twenty-five or thirty sail, which it was said 
 would leave Archangel about the middle of July, under the pro-. 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 I >',!>> 
 
 tection of two brigs or two sloops of war. In this object, hOv 
 ever, he was disappointed by a line of battle ship and frigate 
 making their appearance oflPthe North Cape on the 19th of Ju. 
 ly, just as he was in momentary expectation of meeting the 
 convoy On discovering the ships of war, Rodgers stood to- 
 wards them to ascertain their character, when he hauled by the 
 wmd on the opposite tack to avoid them; but, owing to faint, 
 variable wmds, calms, and entire day-light, the sun in that lati! 
 tude, at that season, appearing at midnight several degrees i 
 above the horizen, they were enabled to continue the chase up. 
 wards ot eighty hours; during Avhich time, owing to the differ- 
 cnt changes ot the wind, they were brought quite as near as 
 was desirable. 
 
 Disappointed in meeting with the convoy, Rodgers now steer-i 
 ed to gam the direction of the trade passing out of and into the 
 Irish channel. In this position, between the 25th of July and 
 2cl ot August, he made three captures, when finding that the 
 enemy had a superior force in that vicbp'ty, he made a circuit 
 round Ireland, and then steered for the banks of Newfoundland, 
 near which he made two more captures, and by the latter one 
 learned that a 74 and a frigate were on the eastern part of the 
 bank, only a few miles to the westward; he, however, did not 
 rail in with them. 
 
 On the 23d of September, to the southward of Nantucket 
 shoals, Rodgers fell in with and captured in a very singular 
 manner, the British schooner Highflyer, tender to admiral 
 Warren. On approaching the schooner she hoisted a private 
 signal, which was answered by the President, by a signal which 
 tortunately proved to be the British one for that day, on seein.' 
 which the Highflyer immediately bore up, and was boarded by 
 one of the officers of the President in a British uniform. By this 
 stratagem commodore Rodgers gained possession of the British 
 private signals, and admiral Warren's instructions by which 
 was discovered the number of British squadrons on the Ameri- 
 can coast, with their force and relative positions.— He was thus 
 enabled to avoid them, and on the 26th of September arrived 
 safely at Newport, Rhode-Island. 
 
 During the cruise, the President captured twelve British 
 vessels, three of which were ransomed and despatched to Eng- 
 land as cartels, with 2 1 6 prisoners on parole. The British gov- 
 ernment, however, refused to sanction the terms of exchange 
 entered into and signed by their officers, assigning as the rea- 
 
 cd understanding between the two countries." The PresidenU 
 on her arrival, had fifty-five prisoners on board. 
 
IIIStORY OF THE-WAR. 
 
 &r 
 
 Tlie Congress, after parting with the President, continued 
 her cruise unti) ♦he 12th of December, when she arrived at 
 Portsmouth, N. H. She captured two British brigs often guns 
 I each, one of which was destroyed, and the other after being 
 dismantled, was givep up to the prisoners, who were discharg- 
 ed on parole, and furnished with provisions, &c. sufficient to 
 i carry them to the West Indies. She likewise captured a Brit- 
 |ish ship laden with wine and potatoes, which was destroyed af- 
 [tcr the greater part of her cargo was taken out. 
 I After parting with the President, the Congress ran to the 
 southward; and, crossing the equator, put into Seara, on tha 
 IBrazil coast. After watering, she beat against a strong wind 
 land current, up to Fernando de Noronha, where she again wa- 
 Itcred; and dien proceeded to the eastward, in hopes to fall in 
 Iwith some Indiamen. She cruised as far as 18°. W. from 6° 
 IS. to 6° N. under easy sail, made the island of St. Pauls ; but 
 intil her return to Fernando de Noronha, which was nearly 
 fhree months, never saw a vessel. She then returned to Seara, 
 [where she took in a quantity of cassada, jerked beef, &c. and 
 Iran under two reefed topsails to latitude 44° N., passing near 
 iHalifax, where she captured a brig, who informed them of Bos- 
 Iton being blockaded by a superior force. She accordingly made 
 lior Portsmouth, where she arrived, with her crew, 410 men, in 
 Iperfect health, having lost but four on the cruise. When the 
 Imen commenced on the jerked beef and cassada, it did not 
 lugree with them, and about fifty were sick— but they soon re- 
 covered. The Congress was in perfect order and wanted no 
 I repairs. She hado n board about thirty prisoners on her arrival. 
 The Essex frigate sailed from the capes of the Delaware on 
 the 25th of October, 1812; on a cruise to the Pacific ocean, 
 Letters, however, dated July 2, 1813, were received at the 
 navy depratment about the middle of December following, 
 llrom her commander, captain Porter, at which time he 
 was cruizmg off the western coast of South America, with 
 a Heet ot nme armed vessels under his command, eie-ht of 
 iwnich were British letters of marque, which he had cap- 
 lured and fitted out. The first of these vessels, which 
 A\ as a ship ot two guns and twenty-one men, was captured 
 Ion the 29th of April. Two others were then in si^ht, 
 close tOH-vHier, about seven miles distant from the Essex; the 
 one inciuung teu guns, six and nine pounders; the other six 
 K'lglitecn pounders, four swivels, and six long blunderbusses, 
 imoiriled on swivels.. The wind beino- lic-ht and variabl*^- c.r.A 
 comiumg greatly in the bravery and enterprize of his officers 
 ^m iuts,, and apprehensive of their escape, from the prevalence 
 
6B 
 
 HISTORY OF TME WAR. 
 
 'f'ii 
 
 of fogs in that climate, Porter directed the boats of the "Ei&ct 
 to be armed and manned, and divided into two divisions. Suit- 
 able signals were established, and each boat had her particular 
 station pointed out for the attack, and every other previous ar- 
 rangement was made to prevent confusion. 
 
 The boats, seven in number, rowed off in admirable order. 
 Guns were fired from the enemy to t-rrify them; they rowed 
 up, however, undismayed, under the muzzles of their guns, 
 and took their stations for attacking the first ship, and no sooner 
 was the American fiag displayed, as the signal for boarding, 
 and the intention discovered by the enemy, than their colours 
 were struck without a shot being fired. They then left a crew 
 on board the prize, and took their stations for attacking the 
 other vessel, when her flag was also struck, on the first call to 
 surrender. Thus were two fine British ships, each pierced 
 for twenty guns, worth near half a million of dollars, mounting 
 between them sixteen guns, and manned with 55 men, well 
 supplied with ammunition and small arms, surrendered without 
 the slightest resistance, to seven small open boats, with fiftv 
 men, armed only with muskets, pistols, boardhig axes, and cut- 
 lasses. 
 
 On the 26th of March, previous to the capture of any of the 
 letters of Marque, Porter fell in with the Peruvian corsair ship 
 Nercyda, mounting fifteen guns, v^hich had, a few days be- 
 fore captured two American whale ships, the crews of which, 
 amounting in number to 24 m«n, were then detained prison- 
 ers on board. As they could assign no other motive for the 
 capture, than that they were the allies of Great Britain, and, as 
 such, should capture all American vessels they could fall in 
 with, Porter, to prevent in future such vexatious proceeding, 
 threw all her armament into the sea, liberated the Americans, 
 and dismissed the Nereyda. He then proceeded with all pos- 
 sible dispatch for Lima, to intercept one of the detained vessels, 
 which had parted company with the Nereyda only three lays 
 before, and was so fortunate as to arrive there, and recapture 
 her on the 5th of April, at the moment she was enterine- the 
 port. ^ 
 
 Captain Porter describes his crew as enjoying remarkably 
 good health and spirits, no symptoms of scurvy having ap- 
 peared, although they had been at sea for eight months, with 
 the exception of 23 days. The Essex was in prime order, with 
 abundant supplies, and two of her consorts were fitted out with 
 20 guns each, and well manned. He mentioned that British 
 letters of marque wore numerous in those seas, and that the 
 American whalers had derived rnuc'i benefit from his cruize. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 •€y 
 
 The bravery and enterprize of American seamen have not 
 l)een less conspicuous on board our privateers than in our na- 
 tional vessels. We shall here present an account of a few of 
 the most conspicuous actions that have taken place. 
 
 In no oiie action fought during the pr^esent war, has there 
 been more courage and gallantry displayed than in the attack 
 made by the privateer RoUa on the British ship Rio Neuva. — 
 The Rolla originally carried four twelve pound carronades in 
 her waist, and one double fortified twelve mounted on a pivot. 
 In a gale of wind off Madeira, the 4 twelve pounders were 
 obliged to be thrown overboard, and only one gun remained; 
 with this, however, on the 14th of December, 1812, the Rolla 
 attacked the Rio Neuva, mounting 18 guns, and 30 men, and 
 took her after an action of twenty-five minutes. During the 
 action, the men or board the Rolla, animated by the. courage- 
 and conduct of captain Dooley and his officers, evinced a fixed 
 determination to take the enemy or perish. When the ship 
 struck, the Rolla had ranged up within pistol shot, and was pre* 
 paring to board. 
 
 The privateer schooner Comet, Captain Thomas Boyl^ 
 sailed from Cape Henry, on the 25th of November, 1812, on » 
 cruize to the coast of South America. On the 1 2th of Decem- 
 ber, at one in the afternoon, she discovered four sail standing 
 out of Pernambuco, and lay by to give them an opportunity of 
 getting off shore, in order to cut them off. At three, they be- 
 ing then about six leagues from the land, she bore up and made 
 all sail in chase of them; and at eJix having discovered one of 
 them to be a very large man of war brig, all hands were called 
 to quarurs, the guns loaded with round and grape shot, the 
 deck cleared, and all got ready for action. At seven, being 
 then close to the chase, the Comet hoisted her colours, and 
 sheered up to the man of war, which had hoisted Portuguese 
 colours. The Portuguese then sent his boat on board the Co- 
 met, the officer of which informed captain Boyle, that the brig 
 was a Portuguese national vessel, mounting 20 thirty-two 
 pounders, and 1 65 men, and that the three others were English 
 vessels under his protection, which he would not suffer to be 
 molested; he also mentioned that the English vessels were 
 arnied and very strong. Boyle having shown him his com- 
 mission, ajiswered, that the brig had no right to protect English 
 vessels on the high seas, and that^^e was determined to cap- 
 ture those vessels if he could; that he should be sorry if any 
 tiuiig uisagieeitblc took place, but if it did he would not be the 
 aggressor; but that he should certainly resist any attempt to 
 prevent his capturing the vessels. The officer having now re- 
 
 _iki^^i 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 turned on board the brig, Boyle hailed her, and distinctly slated 
 his intention of immediately attacking the convoy, which con- 
 sisted of a ship of 14 guns, and two brigs of 10 guns each, the 
 whole force, including the Portuguese, being '>4 \ ,:.. 
 
 Boyle accordingly made all sail for the -^uj^Vtsh vessels, 
 which were close together, and about half past dgiu, the moon 
 shmmg clear, he hailed the ship ordering them to back the main 
 Xopsails. Little or no answer being given, Boyle, having quick 
 way at the time, shot a little ahead, saying that he should be 
 along side again in a few minutes, when, if his orders were 
 not obeyed, a broadside would be poured into him. Af? ^r a 
 few minutes he tacked, the man of war close after him He then 
 ran alongside the ship, one of the brigs being close to her, and 
 opened his broadside upon them both, all the vessels at this 
 time carrying a crowd of canvass. From his superior sailing, 
 Eoyle was frequently obliged to tack, by which he would have 
 received considerable advantage, had he not been closely fol- 
 lowed by the man of war, which now opened a heavy fire upon 
 , "him; which was returned by the Comet. Having now the 
 whole force to contend with, Boyle kept as close as possible to 
 ^e English vessels, which fr.quently separated to give the 
 ;man of war an opportunity of giving a broadside. The Comet 
 ' ontinued the action, sometimes pouring her broadsides into 
 the merchantmen, at others into the man of war, until eleven 
 o'clock, when the ship surrendered, being all cut to pieces, 
 and rendered unmanageable and directly after one of the brigs, 
 which was also vei y much disabled. A boat was now despatch- 
 ed to take possession of the brig, but it was forced to return, 
 being prevented from passing by the fire of the man of war; 
 one of Whose broadsides almost succeeded in sinking it. The 
 Comet now directed the whole of her fire at the Portu- 
 guese, who soon sheered off, and was followed for a short dis- 
 tance by the Comet, which then returned, arid made the third 
 merchantman surrender, she also bein5> cut to pieces. 
 
 Boyle now took possession of the Bowes, the brig that had 
 lirst surrendered. He also spoke the ship, and ordered the 
 captain to follow him, who answered, that Lis ship was in a 
 sinking condition, having many shot holes betv/een wind and 
 ■\^ater, and not a rope but what was cut away; but that he 
 would, if possible, follow his orders for his ov.n safety. As 
 soon as the Bowes was taken possession of, she received a pass- 
 ing broadside from the Portuguese. The neon having now 
 set, it became very dark and squally, and the Comet was sepa- 
 rated from all the vessels except the man of war, with v/hom 
 ibrhalf an hour longer she continued occasionairy to cxchan|:c 
 
 K 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAB. 
 
 71 
 
 broadsitles. At day-light, however; the vessels being found to 
 be still in the. neighbourhood, the Comet wore close to her 
 prize. The man of war then stood down for them; on per- 
 ceiv >^ which Doyle immediately hove about, and stood for 
 him, when he also tacked, and made signals for the convoy to 
 make the first poit. The two merchantmen accordingly put 
 before the wind, accompaaiied by thi Portuguese, by whose as- 
 sistance and their own exertions, they succeeded with the ut- 
 most difficulty in regaining the harbour of Pemambuco, leaving 
 the Bowes n possession of the Comet. 
 
 On the 1 1th of March, 1813, the General Armstrong, a 
 privateer schooner, while cruizing off the mouth of Surinam 
 river, discovered a sail, which was supposed to be a British 
 letter of marque, and immediately bore* down on her, with the 
 intention of giving her two broadsides and then boarding. Af- 
 ter giving >er one broadside, and wearing and giving another, 
 to their surprise they found they were aloni side of a frigate, 
 pierced for 14 guns on the main deck, 6 on die quarter-deck, 
 and 4 on the forecastle. The wind being light, the privateer 
 lay for about ten minutes like a l<>j^ in the water. During that, 
 thne however, they shot away the i.igate's fore-top sail tie, hi* 
 mizen gaff hauiyards, which brought his colours down, and his 
 mizen and main stay, when, thinkirg she had struck, they 
 ceased firing; but being soon undeceived, they recommenced 
 the action. The frigate lay for a few minutes apparently un- 
 manageable, but soon getting way, opened such a heavy fire 
 us would soon have sunk the schooner, had s e not succeded 
 in making her escape by the assistance of her sweeps. In this 
 action, which continued for 45 minutes, the privateer had 6 
 men killed and 16 v uunded. All the haulyards of her head 
 sails were shot a',v-ay, the foremast and bowsprit one quarter 
 cut through, all the fore and main shrouds but one cut away, 
 both mainstays and running rigging cut to pieces, a great num- 
 ber of shot through the sails, and seveial between wind and 
 water, which caused the vessel to leak, a I a number in the 
 hull. While they were getting away from the frigate, she 
 kept up a well dircctnl fire for the foremast an. gaff of the 
 schooner, but without effect. 
 
 On the oth of August, 1813, the privateer Decatur, being- 
 on a cruize, discovered a ship and a schooner, the first of which 
 proved to be the Biltish packet Princess Charlc^te, the other ' 
 the British vessel of war, the Dominica. ' She immediately 
 ...I,,.,, ..-^.„a.ivi= iiiviii, uiivi 3u;;ii iuuxiu licracii aorea:^! Oi tiie 
 schooner. Bo'i vessels continued to manoeuvre for two or 
 three hours, the Dominica endeavouring to escape, aiil the 
 
HISTORY or THB WAR. 
 
 ,'*■ 
 
 ill' 
 
 n 
 
 Decatur to board, during which time neveral broadsides were 
 fired by the former, and a number of shot from the large gun 
 of the latter. The Decatur at last succeeded in boarding the 
 Dominica, a number of men passing into her stem from the 
 bowsprit. The iirc from the artillery and musquetry was now 
 terrible, being well supported on both sides. The Dominica, 
 however, not being able to disengage herself, dropped along 
 side of the Decatur, and in this position was boarded by her 
 whole crew. Fire arms now became useless, the crews fight- 
 ing hand to hand witli cutlasses, and throwing cold shot; when, 
 the captain and principal officers of the Dominica being kill- 
 ed, and her deck covered with dead and wounded, the British 
 colours were Im uled down by the conquerors. 
 
 During the combat, which lasted an hour, the Princess Char- 
 lotte nniained a silent spectator of the scene, and as soon as it 
 was over, she tucked about and stood to the southward. She 
 had saiJed from St. Thomas, bound to England, under convoy, 
 to a certain latitude, of the Dominica. 
 
 The Decatur was armed with 6 twelve pound carronades, and 
 1 eighteen pounder on a pivot, with 103 men. Her loss in the 
 action was three killed and sixteen wounded, one of whom af- 
 terwards died. The Dominica had 12 twelve pound carron- , 
 ades, two long sixes, one brass four pounder, and one thirty- 
 two pound carronade on a pivot, with 83 men. She had 13 
 killed, and 47 wounded, 5 of whom afterwards died of their 
 wounds. Perhaps this engagement has been the most bloody, 
 and the loss in killed and wounded on the part of the enemy, 
 lit proportion to the number engaged, perhaps the greatest, 
 of any action to be found in the records of naval warfare. The 
 surviving officers of the Dominica attribute the loss of their 
 vessel to the superior skill of the Decatur's crew in the use 
 of musquetry, and the masterly manoeuvering of that vessel, 
 by which their carriage guns were rendered nearly useless.— 
 The captain was a young man of not more than 25 years of age; 
 he had been wounded early in the action by two musket balls 
 In the left arm, but he fought till the last moment, refusing to 
 surrender his vessel, although he was urged by the few sur- 
 vivors of his crew to do so; declaring his determination not to 
 survive her loss. 
 
 The Decatur arrived at Charleston on the 20th of August 
 with her prize. The surviving officers of the Dominica spoke 
 in the highest terms of approbation of the humanity and atten- 
 tiion disTjlaved towards them hv the officers and crew of the 
 Decatur. 
 
 Tov ards the beginning of January, general Tupper having: 
 
irrrroRr of the war. 
 
 7$ 
 
 adsldes Vfcvt 
 
 in ajnanncr paved the way by his expcditoijs, general Win- 
 chester proceeded down the Miami from Fort Defiance to the 
 Rapids, with the force under his command. On his arrival 
 tiierc, he was strongly urgjed by the inhabitants of Frenchtown, 
 o.i the river Raisin, to protect them from the violence and put- 
 rage of the horde of savages by whom they were surrounded, 
 uud to whose brutaiiaes they wrre daily exposed. Yielding to 
 the call of humanity, Wuichescer, on the 1 7th of January, by 
 the unanimous advice of his of/iccrs, but, it appears, without 
 consulting general Harrison, detached a body of about 750 men, 
 under general Lewis, to their relief. 
 
 Oa the following day, when within three miles of French - 
 town, information was received that a body of British and In- 
 dians were encamped at tluit place, and that they had received 
 notice of their approacli. The troops were accordingly arrang- 
 i a and directed to prepare for action, and then proceeded with- 
 in a quarter of a mile of the enemy, who immediately com- 
 menced a fire with a howitzer, from which, however, no inju- 
 ry was received. The line of battle being instantly formed, 
 tJie whole detachment was ordered to advance ac oss the river 
 on the ice; in which they succeeded, though it was in manv 
 places extremely slippery. The left wing and centre werr. 
 then ordered to possess themselves of the houses and picket- 
 mg about which the enemy had collected, and where they had 
 placed their cannon. This order was executed in a few min- 
 utes. Both battalions advanced amidst an incessant shower of 
 bullets, and succeeded in dislodging the enemy, neither the 
 picketing nor the fencing over which they had to pass check- 
 ing their progress. 
 
 The right wing fell in with the enemy at a considcrabfe dis- 
 tance to the right, and pursued them a mile to the woods, 
 where they made a stand with their howitzer and small armsy 
 covered by a chain of enclosed lots and a group of houses, with 
 a thick brushy M'ood f^ll of fallen timber in their rear. Lewis 
 now ordered the left and centre to possess themselves of the 
 wood on the left, and to move up towards the main body of the 
 enemy as fast as practicable, in order to divert their attention 
 from the right. At the moment that the left and centre com- 
 menced their fire, the right advanced, and the enemy being 
 soon driven from the fences and houses, both parties entered 
 the wood together. The fight now became close, and ex- 
 tremely hot on the right wing, the enemy conceotrating their 
 forces on that side, in order to force the line. They were. 
 However, still obliged to retreat, although slowly, the Ameri- 
 tiins being much fatigued, and were driven, in whole, not 
 
 G 2 
 
^4 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 less than *'vo miles, every foot of the way under a confeinuul 
 charge. V 
 
 The battle lasted from three in the uftemoon till dark, when 
 the detachm nt was drawn off in good order, and encamped tt 
 the place which the enemy had first occupied. 
 
 The force of the enemy in this affair has never been exactly 
 ascertained; but from the best information, there were 80 to '00 
 British and 400 Indians. The number of their killed and 
 wounded is likewise unknown, as they were enabled to carry 
 off all but those left on the field where the battle commenced, 
 'vhich was about fifteen;, but from the blood, the trails of bodies 
 dragged off, and the reports of the people who lived near the 
 place, the slaughter must have been great. One Indian and 
 two of the Canadian militia were taken prisoners. A quantity 
 of public stores was also taken. The loss of the Americans 
 was twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. 
 
 On the 20th, general Winchester joined the detachment, 
 with a reinforcement of 250 men. 
 
 Meanwhile colonel Proctor, who commanded at Detroh, 
 hearing of the approach of the Americans, ufHanccd to meet 
 them with a body of 1.500 Indians and Britisn, 300 of whom 
 ■were regulars. On the night of the 21st he discovered the 
 American detachment, and early next morning commenced an 
 attack on their lines. The attack commenced at S in the morn- 
 ing, by a heavy fire of musquetry, assisted by six field pieces. 
 The main body of the Americ^^ns were stationed within pick- 
 ets on the left; a smaller force, unprotected,, occupied the right, 
 who gallantly sustahied the shock for a quarter of an hour, 
 when they began to give ground for the purpose, of forming iu 
 a situation more favourable for their fire, and less exposed to 
 that of the enemy. At this moment Winchester arrived at the 
 place of conflict, his quarters having been at the distance of 
 three or four hundred yards f'*om the camp, and his attention 
 was immediately directed to rally the retreating party. This 
 retreat,, however, being discovered by the enemy, the whole 
 Indian force, together with a portion of the militia, bore down 
 upon them v.'ith redoubhvl violence, and by the superiority of 
 cheir numbers, and the severity of their fire, prevented their 
 forming. After a short conflict, in which they suffered severe* 
 ly, all that survived were made prisoners. 
 
 The left, who were stationed within the pickets, maintained 
 their ground for several hours, and repulsed the British regu- 
 lars, in three successive charges, with great slaughter. About 
 1 1 o'clock, however, Winchester was brought in as a prisoner 
 to ^is Dart of the fields and T^erceivino" that rcsistatice was-Ui 
 
QISTORT OF THE WAR. 
 
 7a 
 
 itatire ■vVas.Ul 
 
 lin, and influenced by the threat of their being abandoned ta 
 savage fury unless they instantly surrendered, he acceded to a 
 capitulation, and sent a flag to the pickets to inform them they 
 were prisoners. 
 
 General Harrison was at Lower Sandusky, when he received 
 the intelligence of Lewis having advanced to the river Raisin, 
 and fearing that he might ^jc overpowered, he immediately set 
 out for the Rapids, which he found that Winchester had just 
 left with the reinforcement. When the news of Winchester's 
 disaster reached Harrison, ne was about three miles above the 
 Rapids, with 360 men. He immediately ordered them to pre- 
 pare to march, and set out with his staff .to overtake a detach- 
 ment of 300 men that had set oui that morning for the river 
 Raisin. He soon overtook them; but before the troops that he 
 had left came up, it was ascertained that the defeat was com- 
 plete, and it was the unanimous opinion of the officers that the 
 detachment shotild return. A hundred and seventy of the 
 most active men, however, were sent forward, with directions 
 to proceed as far as possiWe to assist those who were fortunate 
 enough to escape. These, however, were but few; the snow 
 was so deep that the fugitives were entirely exhausted in run- 
 ning a few miles; those that did get off effected it by turning 
 down to the lake, and secreting themselves. There were not 
 more than 40 or 50 that got a mile from the scene of action,, 
 and the greater part even of these were overtaken.. 
 
 Though the resistance on the part of the Americans was 
 put an end to by the capitulation concluded by Winchester, we 
 regret to say, that the most tragical events of this disastrous 
 day are still to be recorded, events wliich affix an indeljble 
 stain on the arms of the British. After the battle the British 
 returned to Maiden with their prisoners, except about 50 or 60 
 wounded, who. were not able to march. A few of the Indians 
 remained behind, who, being joined next morning by about 
 50 more from Maiden, immediately commenced a massacre of 
 the wounded Americans, and afterwards set fire to the house« 
 in which they had been left, and consumed their remains. The 
 same day the Indians massacred a number 6f their prisoners 
 who had not been wounded, whose remains they would not suf- 
 fer to be interred, but left them above ground, where they were 
 torn to pieces and devoured by hogs. These horrid outrages 
 are but too well substantiated, not only by the inhabitants of 
 Frenchtown, but by some of the officers who had the good for- 
 tune to escape, by being purchased from the savages.* Great 
 indignities were likewise ir.flicted on a surgeon and his two 
 comuaniDns, '^v'ho, a few davs after the battle, had horn riPs- 
 
r^ 
 
 aiSTOllY OF Tlia ^TAH. 
 
 
 patcl^^d by Harrison with a flag of truce, to attend to the 
 wounded. Om of them was kiilcd by the Indians, and tlie 
 others robbed ot the money witii which they had been entrust- 
 ed by tiie general, for the relief of the most pressing wants of 
 the wounded. After suffering many indignities, not only from 
 the liKlians but troin the British, under the flimsy pretext ol 
 their usmg the flag only as a cover*, they were at length set 
 at hberty at Montreal, whither they had' been carried and im- 
 prisoned. 
 
 On the 23d of January, the day after the surrender of Win- 
 cnester, Harrison retreated to Carrying river, about midwav 
 between bmdusky and the Miami. In the following month he 
 agani ailvanced to the Rapids, where he constructed a fort, 
 M?- '' "1,(1''"°'''' °f ^^*^ governor of Ohio, was named Fort 
 iucigs. 1 Ins tort contains about nine acres of ground, nearly 
 m an octagon^form At each corner is a stron^? block-house, 
 witxi cannon planted so as to rake each line, and command every 
 elevated pomt near the fort. Between the block-houses are 
 urong picketmgs fifteen feet hi height, against which a breast- 
 woik ot clay was thrown up on both sides, and in addition to 
 tins, several long batteries were erected, which were well sup- 
 pUed with cannon. ^ 
 
 The term of service of a large portion of the militia in Har- 
 nson s army havmg expired, 1200 men were called out In- the 
 governor ot Kentucky, and despatched under general Green 
 ,^lay to supply tneir place. They left Cincinnati, their place 
 ot rendezvous, m the beginnhig of April, and arrived near 
 ^ort Mcigs on tbe 4th of May, which they learnt wa. besieg- 
 ^^ J^y a large lorce of British and Indians, under general Proc- 
 
 Proctor had set out for Fort Meigs with 1000 British and 
 UPO Indians, about the middle of April, with the expectation 
 ol capturmg it belore the arrival of Harrison's reinforcements 
 ancl supplies, but, owing to incessant and heavy rains, he was 
 not able to open his batteries before the first of May. A brisk 
 hrmg was kept up on both sides until the fifth, when a small 
 party ot general Clay's detachment arrived, with information 
 
 * General Hanisoriy in /its official disfiatch, staies^ that the 
 surgeon was furnished with a letter addressed to any British 
 officer he flight meety describing the character in which he went, 
 and the object for which he was sent^ an open letter to general 
 Winchester, and written instructions to himself , all of which he 
 ^vus directed to show to the first ofRcfr h/> w/^/ fm-.rfi 
 
HISTOHY OF THE WAR. 
 
 7% 
 
 of the rest being close at hand. Orders were immediately 
 despatched to Clay, to proceed down the river in his boats, to 
 land 800 men on the left bank of the river, who should imme- 
 diately attack the enemy's batteries, and spike their cannon, 
 and the remainder on the right bank, who would be aided by a 
 sortire of the garrison. The plan was successfully executed, 
 the cannon were spiked, but unfortunately, instead of returning 
 across the river to the fort, they pursued the flying enemy to 
 the woods where they were surrounded, and the greatest por- 
 tion taken prisoners. A great part of the baggage was also 
 taken in the boats by the Indians. 
 
 Notwithstanding the unfortunate issue of tiiis affair, howe- 
 ver. Fort Meigs was relieved. Proctor, being deserted by the 
 Indians, whom their chiefs could not prevent returning to their 
 villages, as is their custom after any battle of consequer.ee, 
 witii their prisoners and plunder, made a precipitate retreat 
 on the 9th of May, having previously secured their ordnance 
 on board a sloop. 
 
 No event of consequence took place on the New-York fron- 
 tier during the winter. The opposing armies being divided 
 by a barrier of ice, not sufficiently strong to allow of the trans- 
 portation of artillery, peace was only disturbed by a few petty 
 incursions, which each party justified by the plea of retaliation. 
 
 On the 6th of February, captain Forsythe, the commanding 
 officer ac Ogdensburg, on the St. Lawrence, received informa- 
 tion that several men who had deserted from the oppoisite 
 shore, on the ice, had been taken on the American side by a 
 party of British, aiid carried off and confined in the jail at 
 Brochville. 
 
 In cwBisequeiM^e of this intrusion, as it was deemed, Forsythd 
 the same evening crossed over with about 200 militia and rifle- 
 men, for the purpose of retaking the prisoners, and capturing 
 the military stores at Brockville. On approaching the Canada 
 shore, a flanking company was detached above, and another 
 below the town, to secure all the passes, to prevent informa- 
 tion being communicated to the country. Before the main 
 force reached the shore they were fired at by the centinels, 
 but, instead of returning it, they rushed through the main street 
 to the jail, which was instantly carried, the prisoners liberate- 
 ed, and then the magazine was secured. The troops in the 
 town were completely surprised. One major, three captaias, 
 three lieutenants, one surgeon's mate, and forty-two privates, 
 together with their arms, besides 130 rifles and musquets cap- 
 tured by the British at Detroit, and several casks of powder 
 
 auu UACU UilUIiUniUUn) were awCUrcu ai;u uiOuguiuu* i'CnCuv 
 
78 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR 
 
 » * m 
 
 order was observed by the officers and men, scrupulous rtsncct 
 paid to private property, and no injury was done to any indivl 
 dual. Although a severe fire was kept up from the houses as 
 tne Americans advanced to the jail, there were none killed and 
 but one wounded. 
 
 n V^l ^oJJ*^^ins: evening a party of 46 Indians, headed by a 
 British oftce", crossed over from Prescott, a villaj-e in Canada, 
 a mile and a half above Ogdknsburg, for the purpose of captur- 
 ing a picket guard of nine men, belonging to Forsythc's com- 
 ^f*"^'; , 1.^^ succeeded in taking the centinel on post, and then 
 attacked the guard, but were repulsed by their steady bravery, 
 aided by their advantageous position. The succeeding evening 
 J 5 or 20 American volunteers again crossed, and took a lieuten- 
 ant and two men, together with 15 or 20 stand of arms. 
 
 On the morning of the 22d of February, the British crossed 
 over m considerable force, and succeeded in Capturing Oe- 
 densburg. Forsyihe, with a force of less than half that of the 
 Jaritish, effected his retreat to Black Lake in a masterly man- 
 •^er. Considerable alarm for the safety of Sackett's Harbour 
 was excited by this event, ^nd immediate measures were taken 
 tor reirforcing it. No attempts were made, however, at fur- 
 ther conquest ; the British shortly after retired across the St 
 Lawrence. 
 
 The ice having disappeared on Lake Ontario about the mid- 
 flle ot April, the look-out boat Growler sailed from Sackett'8 
 Harbour on the 19th to reconnoitre the lake, and immediate 
 preparations were made for an embarkation of troops for the 
 invasion of Canada. The troops, to the number of 1700, im- 
 der the command of general Dearborn, were embarked by the 
 ~od, but the weather proving stormy, the fleet did not sail till 
 the 25th. 
 
 On the morning of the 27th they arrived off York, the capi- 
 tal ot Upper Canada, and left the fleet having taken a position 
 to the south and westwa.d of the principal fort, and as near 
 tne shore as possible; the debarkation of the troops commenced 
 about 8, and was completed al?out 10 in the forenoon. The 
 place fixed on for landing was a clear field, the scite of the old 
 t rench fort Tarento, but the wind blowing heavy from the east- 
 ward, the boats fell to leeward, by which they were exposed to 
 a galling fire from the enemy, who had taken a position in a 
 thick wood, near where the troops were obliged to land. This 
 circumstance likewise prevented the fleet from covering the 
 landing. The cool intrepidity of the officers and men, however, 
 «>vercame every obstacle. 
 
 - he nncmcn under Foisythe first landed, under a heavy fire 
 
 count IS : 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 79 
 
 from the enemy, who had collected all their force at this point, 
 consisting of 700 regulars and militia, ?nd 100 Indians, com- 
 manded by general Sheaffe in person. The contest was sharp 
 and severe for about half an hour, when about 700 or 800 of the 
 Americans havirg^ landed, commanded by general Pike, and 
 the remainder of the troops pushing for the shore, the enemy 
 retreated to their works, leaving a number of killed and wound- 
 ed on the field. '^ s soon as the troops were landed, the schoo- 
 ners were directed to take a position near the forts, in order 
 that the attack upon them by the army and navy might be si- 
 multaneous. \ 
 
 Pike, having formed the troops on the ground originally m- 
 tendcJ ^or their landing, advanced to the batteries, which now 
 opened their fire; which was returned from the schooners, that 
 had beat up to a position within 600 yards of the principal fort. 
 The troops were led in the most gallant manner by general 
 I^ike, who carrie-I two redoubts, and was approaching the prin- 
 cipal work, when the enemy, having previously laid a train, 
 blew up his magazine, bv which a great number of the troops 
 were killed and wounded, and, among the former, the ever to be 
 lamented general Pike.— When the fall of Pike was made 
 known to general Dearborn, he landed and took the command 
 of the troops. 
 
 As soon as the magazine was blown up, the British set fire to 
 ! their naval stores and a ship on ch 3 stocks ; and then the regu- 
 lars with Sheaffe at their head, made a precipitate retreat from 
 the town. By two in the afternoon the American flag was 
 substituted for the British, and by four the troops were in pea- 
 ceable possession of York, a capitulation having been agreed 
 on with the militia commanding officer, by which the town, 
 stores and nearly 300 militia were surrendered. 
 
 The total loss in killed on this occasion was, in battle 14 and 
 by explosion 38 ; wounded in battle 32, by explosion 232. 
 
 The loss acknowledged by the British in theii' official ac- 
 count IS : killed 62, wounded 34, wout ded and prisoners 43, 
 prisoaere 10, and missing 7. 
 
 This loss of killed, wounded, and prisoners, however, must 
 only include the regulars, as 300 militia were sv^^i. Nicred m 
 the town. 
 
 The day after the capture of York was em{?loyed in burying 
 I the dead. The public buildings, barracks. Sec. were then des- 
 troyed, together with the military sieres that could not be 
 brought away, ahd by the first of May the town was entirely 
 cvucuatecl, the militia prisoners parolled, and the troops enj- 
 -ai-Kca ; but, owing to contrary winds, the fleet did not sail tiii 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 the 8th. On the aftemoon of the same day they arrived at Four 
 Mile Creek, below Fort Niagara, where the troops and public 
 property were landed, and on the 10th Chauncey again sailed 
 for Sackett's Harbour for reinforcements. The day previous 
 to his departure, two schooners, with 100 picked men, sailed 
 for the head of the lake to seize a quantity of public stores.— 
 The stores were found to be guarded by about 80 regulars, 
 who were repulsed, the stores brought away, the public build- 
 ings burnt, and the expedition returned to Fort Niagara with- 
 out loss. 
 
 Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour on the 13th of May, 
 and having received 350 troops on board, again sailed on the 
 22d, and arrived near Fort Niagara on the 25th, where the 
 troops were landed. A council v/as inmiediuiely held by gen- 
 eral Dearborn, for the purpose of making arrangements for im- 
 mediately passing to the opposite shore. Next day Chauncey 
 reconnoitered the position for landh>j^ the troops, and at nighi 
 sounded the shore, and placed buo) s to point out the stations 
 for the small vessels. He then took on s»; ardof the Madison, 
 Oneida, and Lady of the Lake all the heavy artillery, and as I 
 many troops as could be stowed. 
 
 On the 27th, at three in the morrung, the signal was made 
 for the fleet to weigh, and before four the remainder of the 
 troops were embarked on board of boats, which were directed 
 to follow the fleet. The schooners were judiciously placed in 
 positions to silence the enemy's batteries, and cover the land- 
 ing of the troops, within musket shot of the shore. In ten mi- 
 nutes after they opened on the batteries, they were complete- 
 ly silenced and abandoned. 
 
 The troops ther. advanced in three brigades, and landed near 
 a fort which had been silenced, at Two Mile Creek. Immedi- 
 ately on their landing, the enemy, who had been concealed in a 
 ravine, advanced in great force to the edge of the bank, in order 
 to charge them; but the schooners opened so well-directed and 
 tremendous a lire of grape and cannister, that they were soon 
 obliged to retreat. The troops fio ned as soon as they landed, 
 and immediately ascended the bank, and charged and routed 
 the enemy in every direction, the schooners still keeping up a 
 constant and well-directed fire. The British now re-entcicd 
 Fort George, and set fire to their magazines, after which they 
 moved off rapidly towards Qucenstown, and were pursued 
 by the light troops for several miles. The main-body, how- 
 ever, having been under arms from one in the morrmg, were 
 too much exhausted for further pursuit. They returned to 
 Fort, George, of which they had quiet possession by iwtlvc 
 o'clock. 
 
lhsT((RY OF THE WAR. 
 
 81 
 
 On this occasion we find the first mention made of captain 
 Peury, the hero of lake Erie. He volunteered his services to 
 commodore Chauncey,and rendered great assistance in arrang- 
 ing and superintending the debarkation of the troops, He was 
 present at every point where he could be useful, under showers 
 of musketry, but fortunately escaped unhurt. The next day he 
 was despatched to Black Rock, with fifty-five seamen, to pre- 
 pare and take the command of the squadron fitting out there. 
 
 The loss of the Americans in capturing Fort George, was 
 thirty-nine killed and 1 1 1 wounded. The British lost 108 kill- 
 ed, and 278 prisoners, of whom 163 were wounded. The 
 jiumberof militia parolledby general Dearborn was 507. 
 
 The day after the capture of the fort, general Lewis marched 
 ■svith Chandler's and Winder's brigades, and the light artillery, 
 dragoons, and riflemen, in pursuit of the British, by the way of 
 Queenstown. Information had been received that they had 
 made a stand on the mountain, at a place called the Beaver 
 Dam, where they had a depot of provisions and stores, and that 
 they had been joined by 300 regulars from Kingston, and were 
 calling in the militia. Dearborn, therefore was in hopes, that, 
 confiding in the strength of his position, the enemy would await 
 an action, by which an opportunity would be afforded to cut off' 
 his I'etreat. In this expectation, however, he was disappoint- 
 ed. The troops at Fort Erie blew up their magazine, and 
 joined the main body at Beaver Dam, who then broke up and 
 retreated along the mountains towards the head of lake On- 
 tario. The same evening Fort Erie was taken possession of 
 by a party from the opposite shore, and Lewis, finding that the 
 enemy had made their escape, returned to Fort George. 
 
 Dearborn, still in hopes of being able to cut off the retreat 
 of the enemy, on the Istof June detached general Winder with 
 his brigade, and one regiment from Boyd's brigade along the 
 lake shore. On the 3d general Chandler followed with the re- 
 mainder of Boyd's brigade. The British general, however, 
 anticipated the blow, by attacking the American army before 
 day on the morning of the 6th. Unfortunately, although the 
 American loss was but small, and the enemy, whose force was 
 very inferior, driven from the field, ytt both the generals Chan- 
 dler and Winder were taken prisoners. In this attack the 
 Americans lost two generals and several other officers, but a 
 greater number of prisoners were lost by the enemy. 
 
 Dearborn received the intelligence of this affair late in the 
 same evening, and immediately despatched general Lewis to 
 take the command of the troons. He arrived and took the 
 cammand in yae afternoon of the rtli. The British likewise 
 
 H 
 
62 
 
 lilSTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 i 
 
 ;f?i 
 
 ■ ''..'^ii 
 
 .,i il 
 
 despatched a messenger to sir James Yco, who was off Yori-i 
 with the British fleet, with orders to co-operate in the attack 
 on the Americans. Lewis fouhd the army encamped at the 
 Forty Mile Creek, on a plain of about a mile in width, ten miles 
 in the rear of the ground where it had been attacked, its right 
 flank resting on the lake, and its left on a creek which skirts 
 the base of a perpendicular mountain of a considerable height. 
 
 Lewis had scarcely arrived at the camp before the hostile 
 fleet hove in sight. It did not approach near enough before 
 dark, however, to enable them to ascertain with certainty whe- 
 ther it was Yeo's or Chauncey's squadron. In this state of un- 
 ( ertainty, the ai-my lay on their arms all night, and at break of 
 day struck their tents, when the hostile fleet was discovered 
 abvct :;t of them, about a mile from the shore. About 6, it being 
 a dead cahn, the enemy towed in shore a large schooner, which 
 '>ii iif r approach, opened her fire on the boats which the army 
 had employed for the transportation of their baggage and camp 
 cqui ;)age, which then lay on the beach. As soon as her object 
 was pfciceived, four pieces of artillery were sent down to the 
 shore, and captain Totten of the engineers was ordered to con- 
 struct a furnace for heating shot, which was prepared and in 
 operation in less than 30 minutes, and the schooner was soon 
 compelled to retire. 
 
 A party of Indiana now made their appearance on the brow 
 of the mountain (which being perfectly brdd, exhibited them 
 to view,) and commenced a fire on the camp. They were 
 quickly dislodged, however by a small party under the com- 
 mand of lieutenant Eldridge. The Americans lost not a man 
 by the attacks of the fleet and Indians. 
 
 Sir James L. Yeo now sent on shore an oflicer with a flag, 
 demanding a surrender of the army, it being invested with sa- 
 vages in its rear, a fleet in its front, and a powerful army on its 
 flank. To this demand general Lewis only answered that ** the 
 message was too ridiculous to merit a reply " 
 
 Between 7 and 8 o'clock the four waggons that were with the 
 army were loaded with the sick, and with ammunition; the 
 canip equipage and baggage was put in the boats, and 700 men 
 were detached to proceed in them for their protection. By 
 some irregularity, however, the boats, induced probably by the 
 stillness of the morning, put off" before the detachment reached 
 the shore, and they had not proceeded above three miles, when 
 a breeze sprung up, which enabled an armed schooner to over- 
 haul them. Some of the boats, however, kept on, and escaped; 
 the others were run to the shore and deserted, twelve of which 
 
 lost 
 
 J pi isi'- ipsiiiy iOSuvU rr ilii L/ixUUiiUt:. J\\. i 
 
 o'clock th( 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 83 
 
 was soon 
 
 ai>my was put in motion, and reached fort George with the loss 
 only of a few stragglers, who were picked up by the militia 
 and Indians. 
 
 Shortly after this affair, the American troops concentrated at 
 Fort George, having evacuated Fort Erie, and the remainder 
 of the Niagara frontier. 
 
 On the evening of the 23d of June, Dearborn despatched 
 lieutenant-colonel Boerstler, with 570 men, to Beaver Dam, a 
 few miles beyond Queenstown, to attack and disperse a body 
 of the enemy, who had collected there for the purpose of pro- 
 curing provisions, and harrassing those of the inhabitants who 
 were considered friendly to the United States. The force of 
 the enemy was understood to be about 80 regulars, 150 or 200* 
 militia, and from 50 to 60 Indians. 
 
 About 8 next morning, when within about two miles of Bea- 
 ver D-^m, Boerstler was attacked from an ambuscade, but soon 
 drove the enemy some distance into the woods. He then re- 
 tired into a clear field, whence he immediately despatched an 
 express for a reinforcement, stating that he would maintain his 
 position till it arrived. Three hundred men were instantly 
 marched to his relief. They were, however, too late; for, on 
 arriving at Queenstown they received authentic intelligence of 
 the surrender of the Avhole detachment, and accordingly re- 
 tumed to camp. 
 
 The British account of this affair states that the detachment 
 to which Boerstler surrendered was but small, the Indians be- 
 ing the only force actualy engaged; but that his position was 
 surrounded by woods, which he was led to believe was occu- 
 pied by a superior force. 
 
 While tlie American army was thus employed at Fort George, 
 several enterprises were undertaken by the British. On the 
 night of the 27th of May, a force of upwards of 1000 men, un- 
 der sir George Provost were embarked at Kingston on board 
 the British squadron, and in open boats, and immediately sailed 
 for Sackett's Harbour. Next morning they were observed by 
 lieutenant Chauncey, who commanded the small naval force 
 remaining there, the principal part of the American squadron 
 being engaged at Fort George, he immediately sailed into 
 the harbour tiring alarm ?.'uns. The alarm being immediately 
 communicated, guns were likewise fired from the alarm post§, 
 in order to bring in the militia, and instant measures were taken 
 to resist the attack. * '. 
 
 No attempt, however, was made to land on the 28th, the at- 
 tention of the enemy being drawn off, at the moment when all 
 was prepared for landing, by the appearance of a fleet of Ame,- 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 Uf' 
 
 ncan barges passing from Oswego for Sackett's Harbour. Tht 
 barges of the enemy were immediately despatched to cut them 
 off, and succeeded in taking 12; the troops, however, had pre- 
 yiously succeeded in landing and gaining the woods, and came 
 into Sackett's Harbour the same evening. The remaining 
 seyenboats outsailed the enemy's barges, and got safe into port. 
 It IS presumed that the landing was now put off till next morn- 
 ing, under the expectation of cutting off more barges, as the 
 fleet hauled their wind and stood into South Bay, and the arm- 
 . cd barges were despatched, apparently in order to waylay them. 
 During the night a considerable militia force came in, and 
 were stationed on the water side, near Horse Island, on which 
 was placed a small body of Albany volunteers. The moment 
 It was light, the enemy's squadron was perceived in line be- 
 tween Stony Point and Horse Island, and shortly after troops 
 -were landed on the latter, from thirty-three large boats, under 
 cover lof their gun-boats. 
 
 General Brown, who commanded the post, had directed that 
 the volunteers should retreat across the neck which joins Horse 
 Island to the main land, in case of the enemy landing there, 
 which they accordingly did, and joined the militia wiktv his 
 command, amounting to between four and five hundred nifn. 
 1 he enemy having landed and passed to the main land, vera 
 marching to the town, when they received the fire of the volun- 
 IS^r? and ^^i*i-^ ^-;,;ch sOTi:cwhat checked their progress.— 
 Unfortunately, however, the militia, totally unacquainted with 
 military discipline, after giving the first fire, rose from their 
 coyer and fled to the woods. Tho handful of volunteers, thus 
 losing their support, were likewise forced to retreat, but being 
 joined by a few regulars from the town, succeeded in rallying 
 a portion of the militia, and, by the aid of the fire from the fort, 
 soon forced the enemy to withdraw to their ships. Unfortu- 
 nately, the ofiicer who was entrusted with the care of the navy 
 barracks r.nd store-houses, who had been instructed to fife them 
 in case of the enemy proving victorious, mistaking the flight 
 of the militia for a complete repulse, set them on fire, and they 
 were totally consumed. 
 
 The American loss in this attack was twenty-one killed and 
 eighty-four wounded, of the volunteers and regulars, and twen- 
 ty-six missing. Of the militia there were twenty-fivt killed, 
 wounded, and missing. Of the enemy, twenty-nine were found 
 dead in the field, and twenty-two wounded, and thirty-five 
 were made prisoners; in addition, many were killed in the boats 
 while effecting their landing; a number were likewise carried 
 off the field bv the enemv. nrevimm tn thf- ro»Yirr>fnnf>Tnf>n* oi 
 
I 
 
 irrSTuRT OF THE WAR. 
 
 tft 
 
 his retreat. In the British oiEcial a* rount, their loss is stated 
 as follows, viz.: Killed forty-eight uunded one hundred and 
 ninety-five, wounded and iniss f*-> sixteen. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey retu. ;ci to Sackett's Harboir on the 
 1st of June, om Fort George, where he was compellc to re- 
 main for near two months, unti» tht new vessel, the General 
 Pike, was ready for sea, a the enemy's fleet was » * consi- 
 derably superior in force. 
 
 Meanwhile the British U ded it over the lake. On the 16th 
 of June their fleet appeared off" the village ^ Sodus, where a 
 quanti y of provisions was deposited. The Jitiaof the neigh- 
 bourhood were instantly called to arms, and the following day 
 arrived in considerable force. In the mean while, the enemy 
 having disappeared, the provisions . were removed from the 
 warehouses on the water's edge to a small distance in the edge 
 of the woods, and on the 19th the militia were dischar d, ex- 
 cepting a small number as -^ guard. Before evening of the 
 same day, however, the fleet again appeared. The alarm was 
 instantly given, and expresses sent after the discharged mili- 
 tia, who immediately returned, but nov in time to save the 
 place. — The enemy having landed, and finding that the great- 
 er part of the provisions had been removed, s't fire to all the 
 valuable buildings in the place, which were consumed with 
 their contents. 
 
 The next day the fleet appeared oL Fort Oswego, and made 
 several attempts to land troops, but each time returned on sec - 
 ing the American troops ready to meet them on the shore. 
 
 Another attempt was made on Sackett's Harbour on the 
 night of the 2d of July, by a considerable force in oper oats> 
 headed by sir James Yeo. This scheme being discover, d by 
 a deserter, commodore Chauncey as soon is possible got un- 
 der way to intercept their retreat. The British, however, dis- 
 covert d the desertion J and decamped some time before the 
 commodore could reach their place of landing. 
 
 On the morning of the 1 1th of July, 250 British regulars 
 crossed the Niagara river, and Ian 'ed a little below Black 
 Rock. On moving towards that place, they were discovered 
 by about 200 militia, who instantly fled. The enemy then set 
 fire to the barracks, block-houses, &c. spiked several pieces 
 of cannon, and took a quantity of flour and salt, and four small 
 field pieces. While engaged in getting off" the property, they 
 were attacked by a force of 100 regulars, ISO militia and vol- 
 unteers, and 20 or 30 Indians, who had come down from Buf- 
 faloe, who poured in upon them a successful fire, by which a 
 considerable number were killed, nine of whom were left dead 
 
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 (716) 872-4503 
 

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 86 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 I-.* 
 
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 on the shore, besides a captain mortally wounded. Fifteen 
 prisoners also were taken. They sccecded, however, in car- 
 rying off the property. The loss of the Americans was one 
 killed and three wounded, two of whom afterwards died. 
 
 Nor were the British inactive upon Lake Erie After their 
 retreat from Fort Meigs in the beginning of May, several 
 threatening movements were made from the lake at Fort Meigs, 
 Lower Sandusky, Cleveland, and Erie. No serious attempt 
 was made, however, on any of these posts, until the first of 
 August, when a combined force of the enemy, amounting to at 
 least 500 regulars and seven or eight hundred Indians, under 
 the immediate command of general Proctor, made its appear- 
 ance before Lower Sandusky. As soon as the general had 
 made such a disposition of his troops as would cut off the re- 
 treat of the garrison, he sent colonel Elliot, accompanied by 
 major Chambers, with a ilag, to demand the surrender of the 
 fort, stating that he was anxious to spare the effusion of blood, 
 which he should probably not have in his power to do, should 
 he be reduced to the necessity of taking the place by storm. 
 
 The commander of the fort was major Croghan, a youth of 
 rl^l years of age. His answer was, that he was determined to 
 defend the place to the last e-*remity, and that no force, how- 
 ever large, should induce him to surrender it. So soon as the 
 , flag returned, a brisk fire was opened upon the fort, from the 
 gun-boats in the river, and from a five and a half inch howitzer 
 on shore, which was kept up with little intermission through- 
 out the night. 
 
 At an early hour the next morning, three sixes, which had 
 been placed during the night within 250 yards of the pickets, 
 began to play, but with little effect. About 4 in the afternoon, 
 discovering that the fire from all the guna was concentrated 
 against the north-western angle of the fort, Croghan became 
 confident that the object was to make a breach, and attempt to 
 storm the works at that point. He therefore ordered out as 
 many men as coald be employed for the purpose of strength- 
 ening that part, which was so effectually secured by means of 
 bags of flour, sand, &c. that the picketing sufteretl little or no 
 injury; notwithstanding which, about 500 of the enemy, having 
 formed in close column, advanced to assault the works at the 
 expected point, at the same time making two feints on other 
 parts of the fort. The column which advanced against the 
 north-western angle, consisting of about 350 men, was so com- 
 pletely enveloped in smoke, as not to be discovered until it 
 had approached within 1 8 or 20 paces of the lines; but the 
 men, being ajl at their posts and ready to receive it, com- 
 
 .'\V 
 
HISTOllT OF THE WAH. 
 
 sr 
 
 tied. Fifteen 
 tvever, in car- 
 [cans was one 
 
 menced so heavy and galling a fire as to throw the column a 
 little into confusion; being quickly rallied, kowever, it advanc- 
 ed to the outer works, and jjegan to leap into the ditch. At 
 that moment a fire of grape was opened from a six-pounder, 
 which had been previously arranged so as to rake in^hat direc- 
 tion, which, together with the musketry, threw jthem into such 
 confusion, that they were compelled to retire precipitately to 
 the woods. *- r / 
 
 During the assault, which lasted about half an hour, an in- 
 cessant fire was kept up by the enemy's artillery, which con- 
 sisted of five sixes and a howitzer, but without effect. 
 
 Before the attack was ended, the soldiers in the garrison sup- 
 plied the wounded enemy in the ditch with water, by throwing- 
 over full canteens. ** 
 
 The whole number of men in the garrison was not more 
 than 1601 Their loss during the siege was 1 killed and seven 
 wounded slightly. The loss of the enemy in killed, wound- 
 ed, and prisoners, must have exceeded 150; one lieutenant- 
 colonel, a lieutenant, and 50 rank and file were found in and 
 about the ditch, dead or wounded. Those of the remaindeP 
 who were not able to escape were taken ofiP during the ni^ht 
 by the Indians. . & 5 •• 
 
 About 3 in the moniing the enemy sailed dow. he river 
 leaving behind them a boat containing clothing and considera- 
 te military stores. Seventy stand of arms, and several brace 
 ot pistols, were afterwards collected near the works 
 
 A few days after the assault, Proctor despatched a surgeon 
 with a flag of truce, to assist in the care of the woundedfand 
 with a request that such of the prisoners as were in a con- 
 (lition to be removed might be permitted to return to Maiden, 
 on his parole of honour that they should not serve until ex- 
 changed. 
 
 Harrison, in his reply, stated, that on his arrival at Fort San- 
 dusky on the morning of the 3d, he found that major CroRhan, 
 conformably to those principles which are held sacred in the 
 American army, had caused all the care to be taken of the 
 wounded prisoners that his situation would permit; that his 
 Hospital surgeon was particularly charged to attend to them, 
 and he vyas warranted in the belief that every thing which sur- 
 gica< skill could give was afforded. They have been liberally 
 turnished too, he added, with every article necessary in theip 
 
 fZT!" u ""^ ^^"^ ^"""P"^^ '^^^^^ ^^'-^Id supply- Having re- 
 
 cired to his government for orders respecting the disposition 
 
 ot the prisoners, he could not with propriety comply with the 
 
 ' cquest for an immediate exchange. But lit; assumed Jiim, that 
 
81 
 
 HISTORY or THE WAR. 
 
 as far as it depended upon him, the course of treatment whicfi 
 had been commenced towards them while in his possession 
 would be continued. 
 
 !t is impossible here to avoid contrasting the conduct ot 
 Proctor and Harrison, in two exactly parallel cases, the care of 
 the wounded, and treatment of the surgeon sent for their re- 
 lief after the battles of Frenchtown and Sandusky. In the one 
 case the surgeon is treated with politeness, and only sent back 
 because his aid is unnecessary, and the wounded are supplied 
 with water by the garrison, even whilst the attack is carried 
 on. The opposite conduct need hot be repeated here. It has 
 made too deep an impression to be so soon effrced. 
 
 On the 26th of December, 1812, an order in council was is- 
 sued by the British government, declaring the Chesapeake and 
 Delaware bav s in a state of blockade, and on the 20th of March, 
 all the ports south of Rhode Island were included. During the 
 winter, intelligence had been repeatedly received by American 
 prisoners from Bermuda, of the arrival of a British squadron at 
 that place, well stored with bombs and Congreve rockets, and 
 with a considerable body of troops on board,"* for the purpose of 
 destroying some of our southern cities. The alarm, then, that 
 was excited at Norfolk may be easily conceived, when intelli 
 gence was received of the approach of this squadron, which on 
 the 4th of February was perceived in the Chesapeake, standing 
 towards Hampton Roads, to the number of two 74's, three fri- 
 gates, a brig, and a schooner. The frigate Constellation had 
 come down the bay, and anchored in Hampton Roads the day 
 before, and on the arrival of the first news of the near approach 
 of the hostile squadron, it being then ebb-tide, was fast aground 
 at Willoughby spit. Fortunately, however, the flood made, 
 and the ship was afloat before the enemy hove in sight. S4ie 
 was immediately brought up Elizabeth river to Norfolk, and 
 anchored between the two forts,. 
 
 Every exertion was now made for the defence of the place, 
 by calling out the militia, &c.; the recruits at the barracks were 
 brought down to the fort, and the gun-boats stationed in the 
 most favourable position to resist the expected attack. No at- 
 tempt, however was made upon the town. The squadron con- 
 fined its operations to the capturing and destroying the bay 
 craft, and forming an ejRFectual blockade of the waters of the 
 Chesapeake. 
 
 About the same time a British squadron entered the Dela- 
 ware bay, which consisted of the Poictiers, 74, the frigate Bel- 
 videra, and several small vessels, and for some weeks were em- 
 ployed in fixing buoys, intercepting and capturing the outward 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAT*, 
 
 89 
 
 and inward bound vessels, and burning the bay craft On the 
 16th of March, sir J. P. Bererford, ^the commSd;r of the 
 squadron, transn.itted a letter to Lewistown, a smal fishing 
 
 trate, requesting him to send twenty live bullocks, with a uro- 
 portionate quantity of vegetables aJd hay, on boa^rthe Po c 
 
 paid tor at the Philadelphia prices, ''^he request was acmm' 
 p,ned w„h a threat, that in'case oU r^lnsXC Z^m'^Z 
 
 .omniiantrw^^irh' ^}'"^% 'ho«8h Politely refused, as "a 
 I ompi ance would be an immediate violation of the laws anrf an 
 
 "tir h1^§rm°",m^°"'; ^^-^-^ Ber^tdl^^ere " 
 irenerous Zl .' ^^^ "\^" ^^^' ^" ^^^ °Pi"^«» "hither un- 
 nn^l? 'u wanting in that magnanimity which one nation 
 ought to observe to another with which it is at war IUs"n mv 
 power," continues he, " to destroy your town, a^d the reou^st 
 have made upon it as the price of its security's neither dis 
 
 ^ essing nor unusual. I must, therefore, perskt and whateve; 
 
 , sufferings may fall upon the inhabitants of Lewis, must a7 
 
 |%rqtl:sSr"^^' '' "^^ '^-''^-^ -^^^ ^ -^-" - et 
 
 j Nothing further passed on the subject, till the 6th of Anri? 
 
 when they renewed the demand, and LdV veral 32 pound shot 
 
 ntothe town, previous to sending the flag on shore to show 
 
 that they were serious in their threats, fn BeresfoM's letter 
 
 S'^e^^ull't {f ^r'"»' ^» ^^"^ideration of his superior 
 10 .e. 1 must, therefore," continues he, « consider vour refn 
 sal to supp y the squadron as most cruel in your partTthe in 
 
 "dS^o ^"'^^ '^•'f ^ ""'''?'' ^^^ -«-'" and' children ;^ 
 reduced to by your conduct, and earnestly desire they may be in- 
 
 ^ turned thTn^- ^^ '^T ^'""'^ "^"^^^^ ^ '^'^^^ ^^P^Y ^as %". 
 turned, that the commander, colonel Dav5«, was a e-allant m«n 
 
 ^ and nad already taken care o'f the ladies. oHL r^eturToS 
 ,l^\'f^''''''f^^^^^<^ornmenced{rom four launches with 2! • 
 
 P^t boa?"w?H'''- '^' '^T^' ^^'^ '^ P«^"d^^« ^"d - "^-rtar; a 
 pi ot boat, with six pounders; and a schooner with 12 twelve 
 pounders, covered by the frigate Belvidera. 
 
 1 he town being seated on a considerable eminence, suslained 
 
 n^ shorr T"^k '^". '°'^^^^ P^''^^ «^^r' ^^^ the bombs fall- 
 S's «,?';!• I . ^? ^'T ^" eighteen pounder on shore, which 
 he r'; r l^^ ^>' ^'^^^ ^^T" ^>^ '^" ^"^"^y> '^^^^^^ one of 
 he nl.n. ^'"'^"^ gun-boats. Above 600 shot were fired at 
 the place, a great part ot whkh was afterwards dug by the bovs 
 
 - y, 
 
p^ 
 
 90 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 out of the sand, viz. 40 of 32lb. 96 of 18lb. 156 of 12's and 9's 
 with a large quantity of 6's and grape, besides shells and re' 
 mains of rockets. Not a man was killed on the side of the 
 Americans during this attack. 
 
 On the forenoon of the foHowmg day, a number of small 
 boats approached the shore, apparently with the intention of 
 landing; but, being gallantly met by the militia on the beach, 
 they were recalled by a signal from the squadron. 
 
 In the Chesapeake the pnncipal part of tne squadron began 
 to move up the bay about the beginning of April. On the 3d 
 they anchored oft' the mouth of the Rappahannock, for the pm- 
 pose of attacking the Dolphin, a privateer schooner of 10 guns, 
 and three letters of marque bound for France, which had taken 
 shelter m the river on the approach of the squadron 
 
 Their tenders and launches, to the number of 1 7, being mann- 
 ed and sent up the river, a furious attack was made on the ves- 
 sels, which unfortunatly lay becalmed. Two of the letters of 
 marque were speedily taken, they making but a slight resis- 
 Jance; the third was run ashore, and most of her crew escaped 
 The Dolphin bore the brunt of the action. The whole force of 
 the enemy was soon directed to her, and she gallantly sustained 
 the contest for two hours, when, at last, they succeeded in 
 boarding her. Even then, however, she did not strike. The 
 hght continued for some time on deck, until, overpowered by 
 numbers, the Americans were forced to submit, the enemy hav- 
 mg previously pulled down the colours. 
 
 A few days previous to this affair, a most unfortunate action 
 took place here between the American privateer Fox and the 
 United States schooner Adeline and two gun-boats. The 
 schooner and gun-boats were proceeding down the bay, und>'" 
 the command of lieutenant Sinclair, and at midnight mad 
 harbour under Gwinn's island, near the mouth of' the Rappa- 
 hannock. After having anchored in a line across the channel, 
 Sinclair was hailed by the Fox, and each taking the other to be 
 an enemy, and consequently refusing to send a boat on board, 
 Sinclair fired a musket ahead of the privateer, which she in- 
 stantly returned with a broadside. 
 
 The schooner and gun-boats then opened their fire, and in 
 fifteen minutes silenced the privateer. Being hailed, however, 
 to know if she had struck, she renewed the action without an- 
 swering, and in fifteen mmutes more was again silenced. On 
 being a second time hailed, she once more opened her fire, 
 which she continued for half and hour and then cut her cable and 
 escaped up the bay. On board the Fox the captain and five men 
 were badly wounded, she had one shot in her hull, and her sails 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 91' 
 
 r IT 7 V""^^ ^r'- ^^^ ^^""^^^^ «" bo^^d the schooner, 
 ^vhich bore the brunt of the action, was but small, only one mai 
 severely wounded, and the ringing a little cut. 
 o.K f J'^'^-Vl^'^^^'^T continuing to stand up the bay, on the 
 nff th/P" K^7r"«^'^ Annapolis, and on the 16th appeared 
 off the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve or fourteen miles from 
 Baltimore. Both Annapolis and Baltimore were threatened 
 with an attack, but nothing was attempted, the enemy careful- 
 ly^keepmg their vessels at a safe distance from the guns of the 
 
 But though the fortified towns escaped the vengeance which 
 had so long been threatened, it was not the case with thTun- 
 
 KeTav "''v^''' f r ^ ^'^^^ '''' "^^''« ^h^t f^'' into the Lad 
 of the bay. Four of these were laid in ashes by admiral Cock- 
 
 burn who gallantly led the barges which ascended he rivers 
 
 for this purpose. These plundering and burning expeditions 
 
 itSelry.'^^ ""^ famous in^he neig.boLhoSd o^fT 
 
 Having sufficiently signalized their prowess b> the burning 
 
 town'anS tZ"^ Havre-de-Grace*, Georgetown, ^.d Frederkk? 
 
 l!r ' ^/^^ farm-houses, mills, &c adjoining, the squadron 
 
 onsTnd n7" ' •' '^'^^ ?^?^'^y^"S ^^^ oyiter-l^'ats, wZ-shaT 
 
 elv^s buf i\ I ron' craft in their progress, and showing them- 
 
 the bay ^^"^^^^^^^ distance, at every fortificatv?n near 
 
 .JJ'^ squadron after returning down the bay, resumed their 
 station m Hampton Roads, with the view of attacking Norfolk 
 i^arly on the morning of the 22d of June, they landfd a arge 
 teil'"^?\%T l!^V^^«""ts of des'erteJs about 2500 ^n 
 ctnev t'I ^^^^'^^^^'^ river, and marched them up towards 
 t aney Island, the passage to which from the main land, is 
 
 St eSllTVrr ^'''y-J^'^y^o.isMl ofmen, were then 
 , to effect a landing on the north side of the island wJfh 
 
 whom the force on the main land was directed to cotpe^^^^^^^^ 
 he whole force on the island at the time of the attack wis 48? 
 
 oity -three of whom were on the sick list—With this handful 
 
 * The burning and iilundering of Havre -de ^ Grace u fierhaha 
 ladTl "^r' °/^«^^^-«'^ e./^ioits. Tke houses helng^X 
 
 juring the church mmt have been very considerable, every hane 
 ^la.. ^n the building having been broken by etonlsZdtZ. 
 
!>2 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 rV:*1? 
 
 m 
 
 of men was the landing of the enemy successfully opposed, and 
 they were forced to retreat to their ships, with the loss of sev- 
 era] boats by the fire of the artillery. 
 
 Foiled in their meditated attack on Norfolk by this repulse 
 at the mouth of the harbour, the British again turned their at- 
 tention to the easier task of laying waste unprotected villages, 
 and that of Hampton, which lay nearly opposite, naturally pre- 
 9«nted itself. -Here they landed a body of 2500 men, with but 
 little opposition, there being only a small detachment of mili- 
 tia encamped near the town, who were soon forced to retreat 
 under a heavy fire of artillery, musketry, and Congreve rockets, 
 The British now took possession of the village; and here a 
 horrid scene of barbarity ensued, which was characterised by i 
 plunder, devastation, murder, and rape. The British troops 1 
 shortly after retreated to their ships, when a correspondence I 
 took place by means of flags between general Taylor, the com- 
 mandant at Norfolk, and sir Sidney Beckwith, quarter-master- 
 general of the British forces, on the subject of these excesses. 
 Sir Sidney attempted to justify them on the ground of inhu- 
 manity in some of the American troops on Craney island, 
 whom he charged with having waded into the river, and shot 
 at their unresisting and yielding foe, who clung to the wreck of 
 a boat which had been sunk by the fire of their guns. This I 
 imputation was promptly repelled, and a board of officers was I 
 immediately appointed to investigate the charge. From the I 
 evidence adduced it appeared, that in the action at Craney I 
 island, two of the enemy's boats in front of their line were I 
 sunk by the fire of the batteries; the soldiers and sailors who I 
 were in those beats were consequently afloat, and in danger of I 
 drowning, and being in front of the boats that were uninjured, I 
 guns were necessarily fired in the direction of the men m the I 
 water, but with no intention whatever to do them further harm; I 
 but, on the contrary, orders were given to prevent this, by I 
 ceasing to fire grape, and only to fire round shot; it also was I 
 substantiated, that one of the enemy, who had apparently sur- I 
 rendered, advanced towards the shore, about one hundred I 
 yards, when he suddenly turned to his right and endeavoured 
 to make Ms escape to a body of the enemy who had landed 
 above the island, and who were then in view; then, and not till 
 then, was he fired upon to bring him back, which had the de- 
 sired eff'ect, and he was taken unhurt to the island. It further 
 appeared, that the American troops exerted themselves in acts 
 of hospitality and kindness to the unresisting and yielding foe. 
 But even if this charge had been founded on- fact, it could 
 not have justified the measures adopted by the British. The 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. . 93 
 
 dres's de^Jjl;lH*Ti^^^'' ^''" ^''' "^""^*y ascertained and re- 
 dress demanded, before any retaliation was resorted to; espe- 
 cial y a retaliation so extravagant in its measure, applying not 
 
 rades, but to the unresistmg, mnocent, and helpless. 
 we?e";ri. h/r'^p"-^^^^'**^ summer hostile demonstrations 
 Waters nffh^Vh' ^"''f^ ''^"*^"*" ^^ ^^"°"» P«i"ts on the 
 IT °Vn^^•^^'*P^*^^' particularly at Washington, Anna- 
 
 me elvt^harasTT' ^" "^"^'^ '^ ^^^ ^^"^ ^^ the^enemy Tas 
 rnartoftherh; ^''''' "!''""^*y eminently successful. 
 A part 01 the Chesapeake squadron, under admiral Cockburn, 
 hkewise appeared oflF Ocracock bar, North Carolia, whe^' 
 their barges destroyed two privateers, and landed a numberTf 
 
 TwalX-dtio^! ""^''''-'^ ^'^ ^^"^'"^"^^ ^ -^-^ 
 
 The British squadron off New York confined themselves lo 
 
 keepmg up a strict blockade. The American frigates United 
 
 W New^T^^"^""' ^^ '^-^^oopof warnLet, salleS 
 irom New York on a cruize in the beginning of May. Find- 
 
 lit nuTf^'^l' 'f ^ T""^ '"P^"«^ *'°^*^« ^^y ««■ the Hook, 
 h^in^t^nr^ V^""* "*." ^''^ ^'^^' Pa^^^d through Hell-gate, with 
 the intention of puttuig to sea through the sound. This inten- 
 tion was frustrated by the superior force of the enemy in that 
 quarter, by which they were several times driven back, and on 
 the first of June they were chased into New London by two 
 ^4 s and a frigate, which immediately anchored off that place. 
 and m a few days were joined by the force that had been block- 
 ading off the Hook. As the movements of the British mdicat- 
 ed an intention of attacking New London, prompt measures 
 were taken for its defence. Six hundred militia were called 
 out, and to msure the safety of his squadron, commodore De- 
 catur landed a number of his guns, which were mounted In a 
 Uattery, and the vessels, thus lightened, proceeded up the riv- 
 Xf UiVen?m7" ^^^"''^ ^^^"^ '^"^ '^"^"^P^ ^^ the larger ves- 
 
 New London is situated on the river Thames, about 7 miles 
 uom j^ong Island sound, and can be approached by ships of 
 any draught of water. The channel, however, is narrowf and 
 completely commanded by the surrounding heights, which 
 wei^ so strongly fortified, as to deter the squadron ilom any 
 liostue attempt. They contented themselves, therefore, with 
 keepmg up a blockade, and making a few predatory excur- 
 sions on Long Island and the neighbouring continent. 
 
 An act was passed by congress in the winter of 1812—13, to 
 ehcourage the destruction of the enemy's blockading vessels, 
 
 1 
 
91 
 
 HISTORY OF THE M AR. 
 
 II. . . 
 
 by a bounty of half the value of the vessel destroyed, if effect- 
 ed by any other means than by the ai-med or commissioned 
 vessels of the United States, in conseciucnce of which several 
 abortive attemps were made. The two most remarkable were 
 those against the Ramilies, off New London, and against the 
 Plantagenet, off Cape Henry, at the mouth of the Chesapeake 
 bay. 
 
 The attempt on the Ramilies was made on the 25th of June. 
 The schooner Eagle was loaded at New- York with a number 
 of flour barrels filled with gunpowder, in one of which was 
 fixed a gun-lock, with a string to the trigger made fast to the 
 bottom of the vessel. Over these were placed a few barrels 
 of damaged flour. Thus prepared, she threw herself in the 
 way of the boats of the blockading squadron off New London, 
 and on their coming up to take possession of her, the crew 
 took to their boats, and made their escape. It was expected 
 that the schooner would be taken along-side of the Ramilies to 
 unload; but the wind and tide being against them, and night 
 coming on, it was determined to unload as much of the flour 
 m the boats as could Conveniently be done. When they came 
 lo the barrel of powder in which the gun-lock was placed, and 
 hooked the tackle to hoist it on deck^ it sprung the trigger, 
 and blew up the schooner and all on board and around her, and 
 in a few seconds not a vestige of them was to be seen. 
 
 The attempt on the Plantagenet was made in the month of 
 Uily, by means of a torpedo, On the night of the 18th, Mr. 
 Mix, of the United States navy, accompanied by two persons 
 who volunteered for the purpose, proceeded from Norfolk 
 <iown to the Plantagenet, in a large ojien boat, and from pre- 
 vious observations found no difficulty in ascertaining her po%i- 
 lion. When Mix had got to within ,40 fathom of her, he drop- 
 ped the torpedo over, in the veiy instant of doing which he 
 was hailed by one of the enemy's guard boats. The machine 
 was speedily taken into the boat again, and he made his way 
 off in safety. On the night of the 19th he made another at- 
 tempt, and was again discovered ere he could accomplish his 
 purpose. On the night of the 20th he .acceeded in getting 
 within 15 yards of the ship's bow, and directly under her jib- 
 boom. There he continued making his preparations for 15 
 minutes, when a centinelfrom the forecastle hailed « boat ahoy!" 
 and he had once more to decamp. The centincl not being an- 
 swered, fired his musket, which was followed by a rapid dis- 
 charge of small arms. Blue lights were made to find out the 
 boat, but failed; they then threw rockets in different directions, 
 which illuminated the water for a considerable width as far as 
 
•yed, if effect- 
 commissioned 
 which several 
 larkabie were 
 d against the 
 5 Chesapeake 
 
 25th of June, 
 '^ith a number 
 »f which was 
 de fast to the 
 a few barrels 
 lerself in the 
 New London, 
 er, the crew 
 was expected 
 e Ramilies to 
 tn, and night 
 h of the flour 
 len they came 
 IS placed, and 
 : the trigger, 
 ound her, and 
 seen. 
 
 the month of 
 he 18th, Mr. 
 J two persons 
 "rom Norfolk 
 nd from pre- 
 ling her po%i- 
 her, he drop- 
 ng which he 
 The machine 
 nade his way 
 le another at- 
 complish his 
 ed in getting 
 mder her jil>- 
 •ations for 15 
 "boat ahoy!" 
 not being an- 
 ^ a rapid dis- 
 ) find out the 
 nt directions, 
 idth as far as 
 
 \ 
 
 "NVt^tpa 
 
H 
 
 '. % 
 
 a, 
 
 1, ;! 
 
 , , -''"f *■ 
 
 !< 
 
 Pi 
 
 'HI 
 
 
niSTORY OF THE WAR. 95 
 
 ihey were thrown, M succeedet. .a discovering the position 
 of the nocturnal visitor; when the ship commenced a rapid fire 
 ot heavy guns, shppcd her cables, and made some sail, while 
 her boats were despatched in pursuit.— The daring intruders 
 however, escaped unhurt.-The visit was repeated on the 
 nights oi the 21 St, 22d, and 23d, withoijt success, as the ship, 
 having taken the alarm, changed her position every niRht. On 
 the night ot the 24th, however, Mr. Mixsucceeded in findinjj her 
 out, and havmg taken his position within 100 yards distance, in 
 a direction with her larboard bow, he dropped the iUtal ^a- 
 chine mto the water just as the centinel was c*ing ail's well 
 It was swept along with the tide, and would hive completely 
 effected its errand, it is said, had it not exploded a few seconds 
 
 ronr.w' r "^^"^^^^ '^^^""y «^blimc. It was like the 
 concussion of an earthquake, attended with a sound louder and 
 more terrific than the heaviest peal of thunder. A pyramid of 
 ^n"^'' ^n ^'""^^ '^ circumference was thrown up to the height of 
 30or40teet; its appearance was a vivid red, tinged at the 
 sides with a beautiful purple. On ascending to its greatest 
 height, It burst at the top with a tremendou? explosion, and 
 fell in torrems on the deck of the ship, which rolled into the 
 yawnmg chasm below, and had nearly upset.-Impervious 
 darkness again prevailed. The light occasioned by the ex- 
 plosion, though fleeting, enabled Mr. Mix and his companions 
 1 hnf.'°r'K^' '^ forechannel of the ship was blown Sf^and 
 a boat which lay alongside with several men in her, was thJowii 
 up m the dreadful convulsion of the waters. Terrible, indTd 
 must have been the panic of the ship's crew, from the noise 
 ana confusion which appeared to our adventurers to prcvaTon 
 board; and they are certain that nearly the whole shipl crew 
 hastily betook themselves to the boats ^ 
 
 coImJTiltV''-'''''^ ^"'^ interesting account of the naval 
 conflict on lake Erie; was written by an eye-witness.—'* Com. 
 
 from Black' 1." T"'^f ^"^ ^ '^""^' '''''' ^^ '^-'^ vesseh 
 trom Black Rock.— fhe Queen Charlotte and Lady Pi-evost 
 
 were cruismg off Long Point to intercept him-he pa^ssed them 
 n the night unperceived. The Lawrence and Niagara were 
 then on the stocks-every exertion was made to expe^dite their 
 buildmg and equipment, and early in August theyVere ready 
 If the h.rh. , '''''' necessary to pass the bar at the emrance , 
 ot the narbour, over which there was but six feet wat^r, and 
 the brigs drew mne. The British fleet appeared off the ha r- 
 nour, tor the purpose of preventing our's from going to lake!— 
 Abe means employed by our officers to take tlie brigs over the 
 i>ar, were ingenious and deserve mention. Two large scows, 
 

 96 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 4-' 
 
 
 fifty feet long, ten feet wide, and eight fe^t deep, were prepar- 
 ed — they were first filled with water and then floated along side 
 one of the vessels in a parallel direction; they were then se- 
 cured by means of large piecef 6f hewn timber placed athwart 
 ship, wi*;h both ends projecting from the port holes across the 
 scows; the space between the timbers and the boat, being se- 
 ciired'by otlier pieces properly arranged; 4.he water was then 
 bailed from the scows, thereby giving them an astonishing 
 lifting power. It was thtis that the bar was passed, befoi^e 
 the enemy had taken the proper steps to oppose it. One ob- 
 stacle was surmounted, but the fleet v/as not in a condition to 
 seek the enemy at Maiden. There was not at this time more 
 than half sailors enough to man the fleet. However, a num- 
 ber of Pennsylvania miliiia having volunteered their services, 
 the commodore made a short cj-uize off* Long Point, more 
 perhaps, for the purpose cf exercising his men than seeking 
 un oinemy. 
 
 "About the last of August commodore Perry left Erie, to co- 
 operate with general Harrison in the reduction of Maiden. He 
 anchored off the mouth of Sandusky river, and had an inter- 
 view with general I arrison, who furnished him with about se- 
 venty volurrteers, principally Kentuckians, to serve as marines 
 on board the fleet. Captain Dobbin, in the Ohio, was ordered 
 to return to Erie for provisions. The Amelia had been left 
 there for want of men to man her. Exclusive of these he hud 
 niae sail, mounting in all fifty-four guns. The British 3eet at 
 Maiden, consisted of six sail, and mounted sixty-six guns. 
 
 « Commodore Perry appeared before Maiden, ofiercd battle, 
 reconnoitered the enemy and retired to Put-in-Bay, thirty -five 
 miles distant from his antagonist. Both parties remained a 
 few days inactive; but their repose was that of the lion. 
 
 .« On the morning of the 10th of September, at sunrises, tlie 
 enemy were discovered bearing down from Maiden for the 
 evident purpose of attacking our squadron, then At anchor in 
 Put-ln-Bay. Not a moment was tol^e lost. Perry's squadron 
 immediately got under way, and stood out to meet the British 
 fleet, which r.t this time had the weather gage. At 10 A. M. 
 the -wind shifted from S. W. to S. E. which brought our squad- 
 ron to windward. The wind was light, the day beautiful — not 
 a. cloud obscured the horizon. The line was formed at 1 1, 
 and eoir.modore Perry caused an elegant flag, which he had 
 privately prepared, to be hoisted at the mast head of the Law- 
 rence; on this flag was painted, in characters legible to the 
 whole fleet, the dying words of the immortal Lawrence:— 
 "Don't give ui* the ship." Its elTfct is* not to be describ- 
 
<« 
 
 ^p 
 
 § 4% 
 
 m 
 
 X, OF THE WAR. 
 
 ctl--evcry heart w^el|||J|r*rhe Screws cheered— the ex- 
 hilarating can was f^^l^qpioth fleets appeared eager for tiio 
 conflict, on the result of which; so much depended. At 15 min- 
 utes before 12, the Detroit, the heal'rmost ship of the enemy, 
 opened upon the Lawi-6nce, which iqlF ten minutes, was oblic- 
 ed to sustain a well directed and'i^avy fire irom the cnemy\ 
 two large sliips, without bein^ able^ to' return it with carron- 
 ades, at five minutes before tv<^elve the Lawren^ opened upon 
 the enemy—th^ other vessels were ordered to support her 
 but the wind was at this time too light to enable them to come 
 up. Every bnice and bowline of ^he Lawrence being soon 
 saot away, she became unmanageablerand in this situatiSi sus- 
 tained the action upwards of two hoiirs, Nathin canister dis- 
 tance, upl every gun was rendered useless, and but a small 
 part of her crew left uahurt upon deck. - .< 
 
 « At half past two tl.e wind increased and enabled the Nia- 
 gara to come into close action— the gun-boats took a nearer L. ' 
 sition. Commodore Perry left his ship hi charge of Lt. Yar- 
 
 v'Cr fF^'T ^"^.^''V^' ^'^^^'^ J"=*^ ^' h«%eached that 
 H v!!i ' r . ^ J-^^ Lawrence came down;4iie cdsis had ar- 
 lived. Captain Eiliot at this moment anticipated the wilhes 
 oi the commodore, by volunteering his services to brine the 
 schooners into close action. ^V ^ 
 
 r\l^^ forty.fiy^ minutes past two the signal was made for 
 close action. The Niagara being very little iniured, and her 
 crew tresh, the commodore determined to pass through the 
 eiiemy s hne; he accordingly bore up and passed ab-^^ad of the 
 Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, pouring a teiTi- 
 ble raking fire into them from the starboard guns, and on the 
 Chippeway and Little Beit, from the larboard side, at half ois^ 
 tol shot distance. The small vessels at this time having got 
 within grape and canister distance, kept up a well directed 
 and destructive fire. The action now raged with the greatest 
 ury-the Queen Charlotte, having lost^er commanderti^' 
 several of her principal officers, in a moment of confusion g^ 
 foul of the Dctroit-in this situation the enemy in their turn 
 had o sustam a tremendous fire without the power of return- 
 ing U with much effect; the carnage was horrible— the flLs of 
 the Detroit, Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, were st?uck 
 m rapid succession. The brig Hunter, and schooner CWdd-. 
 way, were soon compelled to follow the example. The Little 
 Belt attempted to escape to Maiden, but she was pursued by 
 two ot the gun-boats and surrpnrlp,t'e'^ oK«.,* 4^k-^J^_:i^^ j^/ 
 
 tant from the scene of action. " *"'"" '^"" 
 
 « The ^iter of this account, in company with five others* 
 - ' 12 ^ ' 
 
,("#.. 
 
 ■ f ^ . . 
 
 In 
 
 98- 
 
 HI6TOR\ OF TH 
 
 % 
 
 ■■^ 
 
 arrived at the head of Put-iri^B a^lan d, ^the evening of tho 
 9th, and had a view of the acti^lpSr th^ distance of only ten 
 niiles. The spectacle was truly grand Slid awful, i'he firinij 
 was incessant, for the s^acc of three hours, and continued at 
 short intervals forty -fi^e minutes longer. In less ^than one 
 hour after the battle beg^i, most of the vessels of both fleets 
 were enveloped in a cIoikI of smoak, which rendered thfe issue 
 of the action uncertain, till the next morning, when we visited 
 the fleet in the harbour on the opposite side of the island. The 
 reader will easily judge of our solicitude to learn the result. 
 There is no sentiment more painful than suspense, when it is 
 excited by the uncertain issue of an event like this. 
 
 " If the wind had continued at S. W. it was the intention of 
 admiral Barclay to have boarded our squadron; for this pur- 
 pose he had taken on board his fleet about 200 of the famous 
 41st regiment; they acted as marines and fought bravely, but 
 iiearly two thirds of them were either killed or wounded. 
 
 "The carnage on board the prizes was prodigious — they 
 must have lost 200 in killed besides wounded. The sides of the 
 Detroit and Queen Charlotte were shattered from bow to steri ; 
 there were searcely room to place one's hand on their larboard 
 sides without touching the impression of a bhot — a great ma- 
 ny balls, canister and grape, were found lodged in their bul- 
 warks, which were too thick to be penetrated by our carronades 
 unless within pistol shot distance. Their masts were so much 
 shattered that they fell overboard soon after they got into the 
 bay. 
 
 " The loss of the Americans was severe, particularly on 
 board the Lawrence. When her flag was struck she haci b\it 
 nine men fit for duty remaining on deck. Her sides were 
 completely riddled by the shot from the long guns of the Brit- 
 ish ships. Her deck, the morning after the conflict, when I 
 first went on board, exhibited a scene that defies description — 
 for it was literally covered with blood, which still adhered to 
 the planh in clots — brains, hair and fragments of bones were 
 jitill sticking to the rigging and sides. The surgeons were 
 
 still busy with the wounded enough! horror appalled my 
 
 senses. 
 
 "Among the wounded were several brave fellows, each of 
 whdm had lost a leg or an arm — they appeared cheerful and 
 expressed a hope that they had done their duty. Rome and 
 Sparta would have been proud of these heroes. 
 
 " It would be invidious io particularize instances of indivi- 
 dual merit, where everv one so nobly performed his nart Of 
 tlic nine seamen rcwmining unhurt at the time the Lawrence 
 
 I 
 
 ^ ..^Aip^lf 
 

 HIS-yORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 99 
 
 struck her flag, five were immediately promo* or their un- 
 shaken firmness in such a trying situation. Th ost of these 
 had been in the actions with the Guerriere and ava. 
 
 « Every officer of the Lawrence, except the commodore and 
 his little brother, a promising youth, 13 years old, were either 
 killed or wounded. 
 
 « The efficacy of the gun boats was fully proved in this ac- 
 tion, and the stems of all the prizes bear ample testimony of 
 the fact. They took raking positions and galled the enemy 
 severely. The Lady Prevost lost twelve men before either of 
 the brigs fired on her. Their fire was quick and precise. Let 
 us hear the enem.y. The general order of Adjutant General 
 Baynes, contains the following words: « His [Perry's] numer- 
 ous gun boats, [four] which had proved the greatest annoyance 
 dur;ng the action, were all uninjured." 
 
 « The undaunted bravery of admiral Barclay entitled him to 
 a better fate; to the loss of the day was superadded grievous, 
 and dangerous wounds: he had before lost an arm; it was now 
 his hard fortune to lose the use of the other, by a shot which 
 carried away the blade of the right shoulder; a canister shot 
 made a violent contusion in his hip: his wounds were for some 
 days considered mortal. Every possible attention was paid to 
 his situation. When commodore Perry sailed for Buffaloe, he 
 was so far recovered that he took passage on board our fleet 
 The fleet touclied at Erie. The citizens saw tiie aff'ectin^ 
 spectacle of Harrison and Pen^ leading the wounded British 
 Hero, still unable to walk without help, from the beach to their 
 lodgings. 
 
 « On board the Detroit, twenty-four hours after her surren- 
 der, were found snugly stowed away in the hold, two Indian 
 Chiefs, who had the courage to go on board at Maiden, for the 
 purpose of acting as sharp shooters to kill our officers. One 
 had the courage to ascend into the round top and discharged 
 his piece, but the whizzing of shot, splinters, and bits of riRff- 
 ing, soon made the place too warm for him—he descended 
 faster than he went up; at the moment he reached the deck 
 the fragments of a seaman's head struck his comrade's face' 
 and covered it with blood and brains. He vociferated the sav- 
 age interjection « guohr and both sought safety below. 
 
 « The British officers had domesticated a bear at Maiden 
 Bruin accompanied his comradea to battle— was on the deck 
 of the Detroit during the engagement, and escaped unhurt. 
 
 n.'u^% i^^^^c °^ ^?^^ ^^^^^ ^^^® thrown overboard as fast 
 - • viivy iSii. i-jcverai vferc wasnea ashore upoii the island and 
 the mau) during the gales that succeeded the action. 
 
100 
 
 HISTORY OF TH^WAR. 
 
 « Commodore Perry treated the prisoners with humanit) 
 and indulgence; several Canadians, having wives at Maiden 
 were permitted to visit their families on parole. ' 
 
 « The British were guperior in the length and number of 
 their guns, as well as in the number of men. The American 
 fleet was manned with a motly set of beings, Europeans, Afii- 
 cans, Americans from every part of the United States. Full 
 one fourth were blacks. I saw one Russian^ who could not 
 speak a word of English. They were brave— and who could 
 be otherwise under the command of Perry? 
 _ « The day after the battle, the funeral obsequies of the Amc 
 rican aixl British officers, who had fallen in the action, were 
 performed, in an appropriate and affecting manner. An open- 
 ing on the margin of the bay, was selected for tlic interment of 
 the bodies. The ere v-s of both fleets attended. The weather 
 >yas fine — the elements seemed to participate in the solemni- 
 ties of the day, for every breeze was hushed and not a wave 
 ruffled the surface of the water. The procession of boats— 
 the neat appearance of the officers and men— the music— the 
 slow and regular mbtion of the oars, striking in exact time 
 with the notes of the solemn dirge — the mournful waving of 
 the flags — ^the sound of the minute guns from the diff"erent 
 ships in the harbour — ^the wild and solitary aspect of the place 
 — ^the stilness of nature, gave to the scene an air of melancholy 
 grandeur, better felt than described— all acknowledged its in- 
 fluence — all were sensibly aff'ected. What a contrast did it 
 exhibit to the terrible conflict of the preceding day! Then the 
 people of the two squadrons were engaged in the deadly strife 
 of arms. Now they associated like brothers, to pay tiie last 
 sad tribute of respect to the dead of boih nations. 
 
 « Fit^e officers were interred, two American and three British. 
 Lt. Brooks and midshipman Laub of the Lawrence; captain 
 Finnis and lieutenant Stokoe of the Queen Charlotte, and lieu- 
 tenant Garland of the Detroit. The graves are but a few paces 
 from the beach, and the future traveller of either nation, will 
 find no memento whereby he may distinguish the American 
 from the British hero. 
 
 " The marines of our fleet were highly complimented by the 
 commodore, for their good conduct; although it was the first 
 time the most of them had seen a square rigged vessel, being 
 fresh from Harrison's army. The Kentuckians proved, on this 
 occasion, as has the commodore since, that they can fight on 
 both elements.^* 
 
 jkm.>j owuji Mdi 
 
 iuv piiscncraauu wouiiucu were laiiUeu, iiiciieel 
 was employed iii concentrating general Harrison's army, by 
 
HISTORY OF TUB ^VAK. 
 
 101 
 
 ttansporting them from Portage River and Fort Meigs to Put- 
 in-bay. This duty was completed about the 20th of September, 
 and on the 22d about 1200 of the troops were landed by Perry 
 on a small island about four leagues from Maiden. On the fol- 
 lowing day they were again embarked, and landed in the after- 
 noon a small distance below Maiden, and m an hour after Har- 
 rison took possession of the town of Amherstberg, without op- 
 position, general Proctor having previously burnt Fort Mai- 
 den, the navy-yard, barracks, and public store-houses, and then 
 retreated to Sandwich. Being followed by Harrison, he re- 
 tired to a strong position on the right bank of tiie river Thames; 
 near Moravian Town, about 80 miles from Detroit, leaving the 
 Mi-chigan territory in the possession of the Americans. 
 
 On the 2d of October general Harrison left Sandwich in pur- 
 suit of Proctor, with about 140 regulars, colonel Johnson's 
 mounted regiment, and the Kentucky volunteers under the 
 veneraDle governor Shelby, amounting, in the whole, to near 
 3500 men. Harrison was accompanied by commodore Perry, 
 who volunteered as his aid-de-camp. 
 
 The army reached the river Thames, which falls into lake 
 St. Clair, twenty-five miles above Detroit, the same evening, 
 and next morning crossed by a bridge, which ^'roctor had ne- 
 glected to destroy. Harrison put himself at the head of the 
 mounted regiment, and pushed forward, in order, if possible, 
 to save the bridges over three branches of the Thames, which 
 ran between him and the British army. At he first of these 
 they captured a lieutenant of dragoons and eleven privates, 
 who had been despatched by Proctor to destroy it; and the se- 
 cond having been but imperfectly destroyed, was soon repaired, 
 and the army passed over and encamped, on the evenine of the 
 3d of October. 
 
 The baggage had thus far been brought in boats accompanied 
 by gun-boats, to protect it, and if necessary to cover the pas- 
 sage of the army across the rivers : but the river above being 
 narrow, with high woody banks, it became necessary to leave 
 the baggage under a guard, and to trust to the bravery of the 
 troops to effect s^(|assage across the remaining stream. Next 
 morning, about eight miles above their encampment, the army 
 arrived at the third unfordable branch of the Thames, where 
 they found that the bridge over its mouth, as well as one a mile 
 above, had been taken up by the Indians. :^fire several hun- 
 dred of the Indians attempted to dispute the passage of the 
 troops, but ^he fire from two six -pounders soon drove them off, 
 and iii about two hours the bridge was repaired and the troops 
 crossed, just in time to extinguish a house that had been set on 
 
)02 
 
 History of the wjtn. 
 
 fire containing a considerable number of wisketa, which were 
 lortunately saved. At the first farm above the bridge was found 
 one of the enemy's vessels on fire, and here intelligence was rt- 
 ceivcG that they were but a few miles ahead. 
 
 The arrny halted for the night about four miles above the 
 bridge, where they found two other vessels and a large distil- 
 iery tilled with ordnance and other valuable stores to an im- 
 mense amount, in flames. It was impossible to extin- 
 guishthe hre, but two mounted twc.ty.four pounders were 
 - taken, and a large quantity of ball and shells of various sizes. 
 i^arly on the morning of the 5th the troops were again put in 
 motion, and m the afternoon the officer commanding the ad- 
 vance sent to inform general Harrison that his progress was 
 stopped by the enemy, who were formed across the line of 
 march. 
 
 Between the two armies, the road passed through an unclear- 
 ed beech forest, pretty clear of underwood, near the banks of 
 the river, parallel to which, at the distance of two of three hun- 
 clred yards, extended a swamp several miles in length. Across 
 this strip of landthfe British were drawn up; their left resting 
 on the river, supported by artillery, their right on the swamp, 
 covered by the Indians. ^' 
 
 The American troops were now formed in order of battle. 
 General Trotter's brigade formed the front Hne, his right upon 
 the road, and his left upon the swamp, with general Desha's 
 division, consisting of two brigades, formed en fiotence*, upon 
 nis left. General King's brigade formed a second line; 150 
 yards in the rear of Trotter's; and Chiles' brigade a corns of re- 
 serve in the rear. Trotter'-, King's and Chiles' brigades form- 
 ed the command of major-general Henry. Each brigade aver- 
 aged nearly 500 men. The crotchet formed by Desha's divi- 
 sion was occupied by Shelby, the governor of Kentucky, a ve- ' 
 teran of sixty-six years of age, who had distinguished himself 
 ^n the revolutionary war at King's Mountain. The regular 
 troops, who now amounted only to 1 20 men, occupied in columns 
 of sections of four, the small space between the road and the 
 river, forths purpose of seizing the enemy#artillery, and ten 
 or twelve friendly Indians were directed to move under the 
 bank. Harrison had directed Johnson's mounted infantry to 
 
 * Troo/is are ranged en potence by breaking a straight line^ 
 and throwing a certain /iro/iortion of it either forward or back- 
 =ivardj from th^ right or icft^ according to circumstances^ for the 
 ftiirposg of securing that ^me.— Duanc's Military Dictionary. 
 
HtSTORY OP THE WAR. 
 
 lo; 
 
 form in two lines opposite to the enemy, and, when the infantry 
 advanced, to take ground to the left, and, forming upon that 
 flunk, to endeavour to turn the right of the Indians. It was 
 perceived, however, that it would be impracticable for them to 
 do any thing on horseback in that quarter, owing to the thick- 
 ness of the woods and swampiness of the ground. A measure 
 altogether novel was therefore determined on, which was 
 crowned with the most signal success.—The American back- 
 woodsmen ride better in the woods than any other people. A 
 musket or rifle is no impediment to them, being accustomed to 
 ( arry them on horseback from their earliest youth. A chart^e 
 was determmed on, and accordingly the regiment was drawn up 
 m close column, with its right at the distance of fifty yards from 
 tiie road, that it might in some measure be protected by the 
 ii-ees from the artillery, and the left upon the ^amp. 
 
 Tlie army moved on in this order but a short distance, when 
 the mounted men received the fire of the British line, and were 
 instantly ordered to charge. The horses in the front of the co- 
 himn recoiled from the fire; but, on receiving a second fire, the 
 cx)lumn got into motion, and immediately, at full speed, broke 
 through the enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the 
 ( ontest was over in front. The British officers seeing no hope 
 nt reducing their disordered ranks to order, the mounted infan- 
 try wiieelmg upon them, and pouring in a destructive fire, im- 
 mediately surrendered. Only three of the Americans were 
 wounded in this charge. 
 
 Upon the American left, however, the contest with the In- 
 dians was more severe. Colonel Johnson, who commanded on 
 irtat Hank ot his regiment, received a most, galling fire from 
 them, winch was returned with great effect. The Indians still 
 turther to the left advanced, and fell in with the front line of in- 
 J^ntry, near its junction with the division en /lotence^and for a 
 moment made an impression upon it. Governor Shelby, how- 
 ever, who, as already stated, was stationed near this point, 
 i^rought up a regiment to its support. The enemy now receiv- 
 ca a severe fire in front, and a part of the mounted men having 
 gained their rear, they immediately retreated with precipitation. 
 
 ihe moment had now arrived which was to prove whether 
 ^iie stigma winch had been thrown on our Kentucky bfethren 
 M'iis tounrled on truth or falsehood; when it was to be seen 
 further they were « a. ferocious and mortal foe, using the 
 same mode of warfare".* with the allies of Britain. The troops 
 
 General Brock's /iroclamaiion. 
 
104 
 
 HWTORY O? THE WAR. 
 
 ir 
 
 who had now completely in their power the army under whose 
 eyes had been acted the tragedy of the river Raisin, and that 
 which wasf acted on the Miami after the defeat of colonel 
 Dudley, were almost exclusively composed of Kentuckians, 
 of men who had lost their brothers or friends in those shock- 
 ing scenes. Nor were even the instruments of vengeance 
 wanting. They were accompanied by the savages, that had 
 perpetrated those deeds, who had just been suing for mercy, 
 and would gladly have shown their claims to it, by re-acting 
 upon the Thames the bloody scenes of the river Raisin. But 
 how did they avail themselves of the opportunity which now 
 presented? Did they turn the tide of horrible warfare which 
 had deluged their borders in the blood of wounded prisoners, 
 and of helpless ag'=! and infancy, upon the heads of its abettors? 
 No: to their honour and to the honour of their country be it 
 spoken, they did not. The n)bment they were in their power 
 all injuries were magnanimously forgotten, and the prisoners 
 received the most honourable and delicate treatment from the 
 hands of those whom they had stigmatised as savages, the 
 employment of whom justified the use of the Indians. 
 
 Of the British troops, 12 were killed and 22 wounded in this 
 action, and six hundred and one regulars were taken prisoners. 
 General Proctor escaped by the fleetness of his horses, es- 
 corted by 40 dragoons and a number of mounted Indians. The 
 Indians suffered the greatest loss. Thirty-three were found 
 dead on the ground, besides numbers who were killed in the 
 retreat. On the day of the action six pieces of brass artillery 
 were taken, and two twenty-f' ur pounders the day before. 
 Several others were discovered in the river, which were ex- 
 pected to b(B saved. Of the brass pieces, three were trophies 
 of the revolutionary war, that were taken at Saratoga and York, 
 and surrendered by general Hull. The number of small anus 
 captured by the Americans, or destroyed by the enemy, must 
 have exceeded 5000; most of them had been taken by the 
 British at Detroit, the river Raisin, and the Miami. The loss 
 of the Americans were seven killed-and twenty-two wounded, 
 five of whom have since died. 
 
 The American troops certainly deserved great praise for 
 their conduct in this action; for, although they considerably 
 outnumbered the British, it must be recollected that they were 
 only militia, and that the British had chosen a position that 
 effectually secured their flanks, and which it was impossible 
 for the Americans to turn, or to present a line more extended 
 than that of the enemy. 
 
 As soon as Harrison took possession of Amherslburg aiid 
 
HISTORY aP THE WAH. 
 
 105 
 
 Sandwich, and re-occupied the territory of Michigan, sevci«al 
 of the Indian tribes submitted and brought in hostages for 
 their good behaviour, and while he was in pursuit of the 
 British, five more tribes followed their e:;ample, and brought 
 hostages to Detroit. They were received by general M'Ar- 
 thur, whom Harrison had left in the command of that place, 
 and it was agreed that hostilities should cease for the present, 
 on condition that they should « take hold of the same toma- 
 hawk with the Americans, and strike all who are; or may be, 
 enemies to the United States, whether British or Indians." 
 
 The army returned to Detroit shortly after the battle, where 
 they embarked on board the fleet for Buffaloe, in order to join 
 the army under general Wilkinson. 
 
 About the middle of September an expedition was s^nt 
 from St. Louis, on the Mississippi, against the Indian settle- 
 ments on the Peoria lake, on the river Illinois. It consisted 
 of about ?.00 regulars of the 1st regiment of United States 
 infantry, with a considerable body of rangers and mounted 
 militia, under the command of brigadier-general Howard. 
 The regulars ascended the Illinois in boa'ts; the mounted 
 troops proceeded up the Mississippi in two divisions, one on 
 each side of the river, for a considerable distance, and then 
 crossed the country to the Peoria lake. The different detach- 
 ments had not proceeded far before it was discovered (hat the 
 enemy were descending the Illinois to ravage the frontier; 
 and a skirmish took place between a party of Indians and the 
 detachment on the east side of the Mississippi, who, however, 
 soon drove them before them. On the evening of the 28th of 
 September, the two detachments that had marched up the 
 Mississippi, and chence across to the Illinois, arrived within a 
 tew miles of the old village, and three men were sent forward 
 to discover whether the regulars had arrived. During the 
 night lieutenant-colonel Nicholson, who commanded the regu- 
 lars, descended the Illinois to the encampment, and reported 
 their arrival at Peoria, where they had commenced building a 
 tort. He had been attacked by the Indians the day previous;^ 
 but the enemy were soon dispersed by a well-directed dis- 
 charge of musquetry, with the aid of a six-pounder from two 
 unfinished block-houses. In this attack none of the men were 
 killed, and only one wounded.— It was evident that the assail- 
 ants suffered considerably, but to what extent could not be 
 ascertained. % 
 
 On the 29th the mounted troops arrived at Peoria, and as 
 joon as provisions could be drawn, were marched up the 
 Ilhnois to the villages at the head of Uie lake, which was the 
 
 K ♦ 
 
 ! 
 
106 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 direction in which the enemy appeared to have retired from 
 Peona. The villajrcs, being found deserted, were destroyed, 
 nnd the troops returned to Peona, where they remained till 
 the garrison was put in a state of defence. Two detachments 
 were then sent in pursuit of the enemy, one of which ascended 
 the Illinois above the mouth of t^e Vermillion river to the 
 Rapids, and within 17 miles of Chicago, on lake Michigan. 
 The other penetrated the country northwardly to within about 
 45 miles of Rock river. The latter discovered several encamp- 
 ments, which appeared to have been deserted about the time 
 of the army's arrival at Peoria, but neither of them were able 
 to come up with the enemy. 
 
 The mounted troops remained at Peoria from the 2d to the 
 15th of October, during which time they were actively 
 engaged, together with the United States infantry, in erecting 
 Fort Clarke, which stands at th.e lower end of the Peoria lake, 
 completely commanding the Illinois river. This fort is one 
 of the strongest in the western country, and highly important 
 to the safety of the Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri territories. 
 
 The mounted troops moved from Peoria for the settlements 
 on the 15th, leaving the regulars to garrison the fort. .They 
 pursued generally a south course till the 21st, when they ar- 
 rived at Camp Russell, where the mounted militia were dis- 
 charged, and the rangers sent across the country to Vincennes 
 on the Wabash, where they safely arrived shortly after. 
 
 After the capture of Boerstler's detachment, the army at 
 Fort George remained inactive, with the exception of a few 
 trifling skirmishes and attacks on out-posts, for the remainder 
 of the summer. Two circumstances are supposed to have 
 caused this inactivity. The first was the constant indisposi- 
 tion of general Dearborn, which prevented him from taking 
 any active part, and which continued till the I5th of July, when 
 he received orders to retire from the command of the anny, 
 until his health should be re-established, and until further or- 
 ders, the command devolving on brigadier-general Boyd. But 
 the principal cause of the inactivity of this army is presumed 
 to have been, the danger and indeed impracticability of under- 
 taking great military movements before Chaunccy had ob- 
 tained the complete command of Lake Ontario. Before this 
 was achieved the army would always be liable to be surround- 
 ed, and to have its Supplies cut off, and could not expect to be 
 successful even with a force considerably superior to that of 
 the enemy. The disaster at Detroit had taught a salutary les- 
 son on this svibiect. 
 
 Every exertion was accordingly made by commodore Chaun- 
 
HISTORY OF THE VVAll. 
 
 107 
 
 « cy for the attainment of this important object. After the 
 raptiu-e of Fort George, however, commodore sir James Yeo, 
 u ho commanded the British squadron,' having added consi- 
 derably to his force both of vessels and sailors, obliged Chaun- 
 ccy to remain in port until the new vessel the General Pike 
 < mild be got ready, which was not completed until the middle 
 of July. Before we enter upon the trial of ckill which now 
 ensued between Chauncey and Yeo, it may not be improper 
 to take a view of his previous operations. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey arrived at Sackett's Harbour on 
 tlie 6th of October, 1812, as commander of the United States 
 forces on the lakes, at which time the only American vessel 
 on these waters was the brig Oneida; of 18 guns. He imme- 
 diately purchased six merchant vessels, schooners, which jvcre 
 fitted out as gun-boats. His whole squadron mounted 40 guns 
 of different calibres, with 450 men, including marines. The 
 British force on Lake Ontario consisted at this time of the 
 ship Royal George, of 26 guns and 260 men, ship Eail Moira, 
 18 guns and 200 men, and the schooners Prince Regent, 18 
 guns and 250 men, Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns and 80 men, 
 Torento, 1 4 guns and 80 men. Governor Simcoe, 1 2 guns and 
 70 men, and Seneca, 4 guns and 40 men, making a grand total of 
 108 guns and 890 men. Chauncey's squadron, especially the 
 schooners, were poor vessels and dull sailers, but his men were 
 much superior, a great part of the enemy's sailors at this time 
 being Canadians. 
 
 On the 8th of November Chauncey sailed in the Onfida 
 with his six schooners, in pursuit of the enemy, and on the 
 same day fell in with the Royal George, which he chased into 
 the bay of Quanti, where he lost sight of her in the night. 
 Next morning he again discovered her in Kingston channel, 
 and immediately gave chase, and followed her into the harbour 
 of Kingston, where he engaged her and the batteries for an 
 hour and three quarters. Chauncey had made up his mind to 
 board her notwithstanding sh* was protected by the batteries; 
 but the wind blowing directly in, the pilots refused to take 
 charge of the vessels, and it w^^^ therefore deemed imprudent 
 to m.\ke the attempt at this time. He accordingly hauled off 
 and beat up under a heavy fire from the enemy, to Four-mile 
 point, where the squadron anchored. Duringthe night it blew 
 heavy, with squalls from the westward, and thei-e being every 
 appearance of a gale of wind, the pilot became alarmed, and 
 Chauncey thought it most prudent to get into a pkce of more 
 safety, and therefore reluctantly deferred renewing the attack 
 vmtil a more favourable opportunity. 
 
J08 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 The signal was made to weigh at 7 next moniing, and the 
 squadron beat out of a very narrow channel, under a heavy 
 press of sail, to the open lake. At 10 they fell in with the 
 Governor Simcoc, which escaped into Khigston harbour by 
 running over a reef of rocks, under o heavy fire from three of 
 the schooners, during which all her people ran below. It now 
 coming on to blow very heavy, Chauncey bore up for Sackcti's 
 Harbour, and on his way thither captured two sci.ooners, one 
 of which was burnt, after taking out her sails and rigging. 
 
 The Oneida, in this affair, had one man killed, and three 
 slightly wounded, and a few shot through her sails. The 
 schooners lost no men by the enemy's fire and receiv<'d but 
 little injury in their hulls and sails. 'One of their guns, how- 
 ever burst early in the action, which wounded her commander 
 badly, and a midshipman and three men slightly. The Royal 
 George received considerable injury in her hull and in men, 
 as the gun vessels, with their long thirty-two pounders, were 
 seen to strike her almost every shot, and it was observed that 
 .she was reinforced with men three different times during the 
 action. 
 
 On the 13th Chauncey learnt that the Earl Moira was off 
 the False Ducks, and immediately put off m a snow storm, in 
 the hope of cutting her off from Kingston. In this he was 
 disappointed, as she escaped into the harbour. A vessel un- 
 der her convoy, however, was captured, in which was captain 
 Brock, brother to the general. Chauncey now blockaded 
 Kingston until the 7th of December, when he returned to Sack- 
 ett's Harbour, being no longer able to keep the lake on ac- 
 count of the ice. During the winter the ship Madison, of 24 
 guns, was launched and fitted out. 
 
 The capture of York and Fort George have already been 
 noticed in pages 78 and 80 of this volume. After these events 
 nothing of importance occurred until the end of July, Chavr ■ 
 cey being unable to keep the lake, owing to several new ves 
 sels being fitted out by the British, and the arrival of sir Jaar. s 
 Yeo, with a large body of seamen^ to take command of the 
 British squadron on Lake Ontario. It may be proper to men- 
 tion, however, that the brig Dukc of Gloucester was captured 
 at York, and on the 13th of June lieutenant Chauncey, in the 
 new schooner Ladv t.^ ihe Lake, captured, the schooner Lady 
 Murray, laden w? i'i ';"ovisLjns and ammunition, and sixteen 
 officers and priva* 3, r-iskics the seamen. 
 
 — -— .-•. — — .. v»x ..\i,yy ^».». ^'■- iii^i cii i irvv- uvitJi; i«_tiuy iw 
 
 sail, which brought the two squadrons nearly to a state of 
 equality, Chauncey sailed from Sackett's Harbour, and, stretch- 
 
 k' 
 
 
mSTORT OF THE WAR. 
 
 109 
 
 ing over for the enemy's shore, thence stood up the like. He 
 arrived oft' Niaj^uru on llie 27th. Here he was informed b\ 
 general Boyd, that the enemy had a considerable deposit of 
 provisions and stores at Burlington Bay, which he determined 
 to attempt to destroy, and for that purpose embarked a small 
 number of regulars. At six o'clock on the morning of the 
 28th, the licet proceeded for the head of the lake, but owing 
 to light winds and calms, did not arrive there before the even- 
 ing of the 29th. Two parties were immediately sent on shore, 
 who surprised awd took some of the inhabitants, from whom 
 it was lestrned, that the enemy had received considerable rein- 
 forcements, and that his force in regulars was from six to eight 
 hundred men. The troops, marines, and a fcAv sailors were, 
 howc -I, landed next morning, but on reconnoitering the 
 enemy's position, he was found posted on a peninsula of very 
 high ground, strongly entrenched, and his camp defended by 
 about eight pieces of cannon. In this situation it was not 
 thought advisable to attack him with a force scarcely half his 
 numbers, and without artillery; more especially as they were 
 deficient in boats, not having a sufficient number to cross the 
 bay with all the troops at the same time. They accordingly 
 re-embarked in the course of the afternoon, and in the evening 
 weighed and stood for York, where they arrived on the after- 
 noon of the 31st. The schooners ran into the inner harbour, 
 where the marines and troops were landed without opposition. 
 Several hundred barrels of flour and pi ovisions were found ia 
 the public storehouse, together with five piects of cannon, 
 eleven boats, and a (juantity of shot, shells, and other stores, 
 all of which were either destroyed or brought away. Neyt 
 morning, after burning the barracks and public storehouses,, 
 the men were re-embarked, and the fleet sailed for Niagara,^ 
 where it arrived on the 3d of August. 
 
 At day light of the 7th, the enemy's fleet being discovered 
 to windward, distant about five or six miles, Chauncey weighed 
 ami i>tood towards them. The whole of this and the next day 
 was spent by the two squadrons in manoeuvering to gain a 
 favourable position, in which Chauncey was much baflled by 
 the dull sailing of his schooners, two of which were lost in a 
 squall in the night, and every soui oa board perished except 
 sixteen. In the eveninj^ of the ath, it being very squally, 
 with the appearance of its continuing so during the night, 
 Chauncey ran in towards Niagara, and anchored outside of the 
 bar. *• * 
 
 The following morning (August 9th), Chauncey agaia 
 ^Yeighed aiid stood towards the enemy, wheiVJi trial of uautical 
 
 1l2 
 
 I 
 
no 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 skill once more commenced between the two commanders, 
 t-ach entertaining too respectful an opinion of the other's force 
 to come to an engagement without having the advantage of the 
 wuid. In the course of the day the wind frequently veered 
 which instantly changed the characters of the pursuers and 
 the pursued. At length, towards midnight, Yeo, whose ves- 
 sels sailed much better in squadron than those of Chauncev, 
 succeeded in cutting off two of the American heavy-sailinLr 
 schooners, which, added to Chauncey's loss in the squall, gave 
 Yeo a considerable superiority of force over his opponent.— 
 Chauncey, therefore, ordered two of his dullest sailing vessels 
 to run into Niagara, and stood with the rest of his squadron to- 
 wards Sackett's Harbour, where he arrived on the 13th. 
 
 Having victualled his squadron, which was reinforced with 
 a new schooner, Chauncey shortlv after sailed on a cruise, and 
 on the 7th of September, at day-light, while lying in Niagara 
 river, discovered the enemy's fleet close in with the shore.— 
 The signal was instantly made to weigh, and the fleet stood 
 out of the river after him. Yeo immediately made all sail to 
 the northward, and Chauncev pursued for four days, but was 
 prevented from closing with him by the heavy sailing of liis 
 schooners. On the fourth day, while off Genesee river, Chaun- 
 cey was favoured with a breeze, while Yeo lay becalmed utuU 
 his opponent got within about three quarters of a mile of hin , 
 when he took the breeze. The squadrons now had a runnimv 
 fight for three hours and a half, when the British vu out of 
 gun-shot by their superior sailing. The next moniine Yeo 
 rap into Amherst bay, having been chased for five davs'^with- 
 out intermission. Amherst bay was so little known to the 
 American pilots, and said to be so full of slioals, that tliey 
 were not willing to take in the fleet; Chauncey, therefore, ;;ia- 
 tioned his vessels off Duck island, wiih the intention of blocl - 
 ading the enemy, and preventing them, hum L'cttiuu out uuon 
 the lake. '-' . ^ i 
 
 In the running fight which took place on the 1 Ith, the Brit- 
 ish sustained considerable injury both hi men and vessels. On 
 board the American fleet not a inan was hurt, and the vessels 
 suffered no injury of any importance. 
 
 Chauncey continued his blockade until the 17th of Septem- 
 ber, when, the wind blowing heavy from the westward, and ttie 
 enemy having run into Kingston, he left his station for Sack- 
 ett's Harbour, where he arrived the same night. Next morn- 
 ing at day-light he again sailed, and on the 19th saw the ene- 
 my's neei near the False Ducks, but took no notice of him, as 
 he wished him to follow up the lake. The squadron arrived 
 in Niagara river ou the 24th. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 Ill 
 
 On the 26th, u was reported to Chauncey that the enemy's 
 nf-ti '?'/'' . ''^' ''^'^''^'^ immediately despatched the Lady 
 u ;.h tK • f ^"^ ^^^:^^^^;» the fact. She returned in the evemn:^ 
 ^Mth the information that the enemy was in York bay. The 
 squadron immediately weighed anchor, but, owing to a strong 
 
 ot tht 27th. Owing to the extreme darkness of the nifrht a 
 part of the squadron got separated, and did not join till next 
 morning at eight, when the General Pike, Madison, and Sylnl 
 each took a schooner in tow, and made all sail for York, a 
 soon after discovering the enemy's fleet under way in York 
 bay, the squadron shaped their course for them, and prepared 
 lor action. ^ ^l^an.u 
 
 Yeo, perceiving that Chauncey intended to engage him in 
 his position, tacked arid stood out of the bay, with tlv^ win a 
 east. Chauncey foru.ed the line and ran down for Ms cm re 
 and when he approached within about three miles of him, Yeo 
 made all sail to the southward. Chauncey 's squadron then 
 )vore in succession, and stood on tlK. same tick with him, X. 
 ing down gradually in order to close; and about twelve o'clock 
 U-o, hnding he must either risk an action, or suffer h.is two 
 ear vessels to be cut oft", tacked his .quadron in succc s on 
 begmnmg at the van, hoisted his colours, and commenced ; 
 el -directed fire at the Pike, for the purpose' of coverin'lus 
 car, and attacking the rear of his opponent as he pas ^d to 
 onn ;k ^^'TT^ ?<^rcc\v.d his intention, and therefore 's 
 oon as the Wolfe, the enemy's leading ship, passed the c'cn 
 ^'•e, and got abeam of the American squadi-on he borc\,n '' 
 Micc,;ssion, preserving the line, for the centre of the B mish 
 s'luadron This manoeuvre of Chauncey's not only c^ e d 
 ' 's rear, but threw the enemy hito confusion, and cause^d him 
 •nnnediately to bear away. Cliauncey had nov^, howc've' e o 
 '1 so near as to make his guns to bear with eff-ect, and l/twen' 
 y minutes the main and iSizen topmast and mai^ ya d of tT; 
 \ olfe were shot away. Yeo immediately put before he wi d 
 jind set all sail upon his fore-mast; ChaunJey made the sk nff 
 tor the fleet to make all sail; but the enemy; by keep n 'S 
 b fore the wind, which brought all the sail upon one TiS Ih 
 
 v^'en' 11 ^i' ^''^'''^ '''' ^«^' «f ^''' ^^^ -"^1 mizen topmast 
 was enabled to outsail most of Chauncey's squj-on ^n'' 
 
 shot nfkrJll' l^J '" Asp HI tow was within point-blank 
 7-nn n' --'-/— /"^» '^i^" suscamca tne whole ot his fire Cnn 
 
 <t'i, used every exertion to close with the enemy; but the Ma- 
 
112 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 dison having a heavy schooner m tow, and the Oneida sailing 
 very dull before the wind, prevented those officers from clos- 
 ing near enough to do any execution with their carronades. — ♦ 
 The Governor Tompkins kept in her station, until her fore- 
 mast was so badly wounded as to oblige her to shorten sail. 
 
 Commodore Chauncey now reluctantly relinquished the pur- 
 suit. The reasons which induced this determination are thus 
 stated in his letter to the secretary of the navy: " At the time 
 I gave up the chase, this ship was making so much water, thai 
 it required all our pumps to keep her free (owing to our re- 
 ceiving several shot so much below the water edge, that we 
 could not plug the holes from the outside); the Governor 
 Tompkins with her fore-mast gone; and the squadron within 
 about six miles of the head of the lake, it blowing a gale of 
 Avindfrom cast, and increasing, with a heavy sea on, and every 
 appearance of the equinox. I considered that if I chased the 
 enemy to his anchorage at the head of the lake, I should be 
 obliged to anchor also; and although we might succeed in driv- 
 ing him on shore, the probability was, that we should go on 
 shore also — he amongst his friends, we amongst our enemies; 
 and after the gale abated, if he could succeed in getting off 
 one or two vessels out of the two fleets, it would give him as 
 completely the command of the lake as if he had twenty ves- 
 sels. Moreover he was covered at his anchorage by a part 
 of his army, and several small batteries thrown up for the pur- 
 pose. Therefore, if we could have rode out the gale, we 
 should have been cut up by their shot from the shore: under all 
 these circumstances, and taking into view the consequences 
 resulting from the loss of our superiority on the lakes at this 
 time, I without hesitation relinquished the oppartunity then 
 presenting itself of acquiring individual reputation at the ex- 
 pense of my country." 
 
 The loss sustained by the Pike, the commodore's ship, was 
 considerable, owing to her being so long exposed to the fire 
 of the whole of the enemy's fleet; but her most serious loss 
 was occasioned by the bursting of one of her guns, which kill- 
 ed and wounded twenty-tAvo men, and tore up the top-gallant 
 fore-castle, which rendered the gun upon that deck useless.— 
 Four other guns were cracked in the muzzle, which rendered 
 their use extremely doubtful. Her main-top-gallant mast was 
 shot away in the early part of the action, and the bow-sprit, 
 fore and main-mast wounded, rigging and sails much cut up? 
 and a number of shot in her hull, several of which were be- 
 tween wind and water, and twenty-seven men killed and 
 ^vovmded, including those by the bursting of the gun. The 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 113 
 
 Madison received a few shot, but no person was hurt on toard. 
 1 he Governor Tompkins lost her fore-mast, and tiic Oneida 
 had her mam-top-mast badly wounded. 
 
 During the chase, one or two of the enemy's small vesseln 
 were completely within Chaunccy's power, but in the eager- 
 ness of nis pursuit of the larger, he passed them unnoticed bv 
 which means they finally escaped. 
 
 Meanwliile general Wilkinson had arrived at ^ort George 
 in order to take the command of the army. About the same 
 time the secretary of war arrived at SacketL's Harbour, in or- 
 oer to be more conveniently situated for superintending milita- 
 ry operations. ° 
 
 The wind still continumg unfavourable for an attack on the 
 liritish squadron at the head of the lake, Chauncey ran off Nia- 
 gara lor the purpose of communicating with Wilkinson, to as- 
 certain when he meant to move with the army to Sackett's Har- 
 ,j J^^^^^^^^ general's opinion, that the public service 
 would be best promoted by his watching the enemy's squad- 
 ron, or, if possible, preventing its return to Kingston, while he 
 inoyed with the army down the lake. Chauncey, therefore, 
 having taken part of the troops on board his squadron, the re- 
 mainder proceeding in boats to Sackett's Harbour, immediate- 
 ly proceeded m quest of the enemy. The following morning, 
 Uctober 2d, he discovered the British squadron standing: to- 
 wards him, and made all sail in chase; but as soon as the ffeets 
 approached so near as plainly to discern each other, Yeo put 
 ubout, and stood towards the head of the lake. The chase con- 
 tinued until the 4th, little progress being made against the 
 current, from the lightness or variableness of the wind, the 
 iiritish, however, evidently gaining ground of the American 
 squadron. The morning of the 4th proving hazy, nothing could 
 De seen ct the enemy, and about noon it fell calm, when Chaun- 
 cey ordered the Lady of the Lake to sweep up to Burlington 
 m\ which was not far distant, to ascertain whether or not the 
 squadron was there. In the evening she returned with infor- 
 mation that the fleet was gone, there being nothing in the bay 
 but two gun-boats. o b } 
 
 It was now evident that Yeo, availing himselt of the dark- 
 ess ot the preceding night, had either run for Kingston, or 
 lown the lake for the purpose of intercepting the flotilla with 
 I ^"^^^l- ^-^^auncey, therefore, immediately made all sail, and 
 snaped his course for the Ducks, with a view of intPrrfinthio- 
 mni, or his prizes, if he should have made any. The wind 
 mowing a strong gale from the northward and westward, the 
 "cet made a great run, and at three in tlie afternoon of the 5th, 
 
 M 
 
lU 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ii 
 
 if 
 
 lS;itfl<. 
 
 I 
 
 discovered seven sail near the False Ducks, to which, presum- 
 ing they were the enemy's fleet, they instantly t^ave chase. In 
 about an hour, however, they were discovered to be sloops and 
 schooners, and were perceived to be separatinj^; on diirereiu 
 tacks, on which the Sylph and the Lady of the Lake were dis- 
 patched after one part, and Chauncey in the Pike pursued the 
 others. About five o'clock the enemy, finding that the Pike 
 was fast gaining on him, took the people out of one jof his gun 
 vessels which sailed worse than the rest, and set lier on fire. 
 This, however, availed them but little, for, at sun-down, three 
 of their vessels were forced to strike to ihe Pike, and soon af- 
 ter the Sylph captured another. A fifth ran into the Ducks, bm 
 the Sylph, which vas left to watch her, took possession oi" her 
 early next morning. A small schooner was the only vessel 
 that escapee', owing to the darkness of the night. 
 
 The captured vessels were found to be gun-vessels, wii!i 
 troops from the head of the lake, but last from York, bound to 
 Kingston. Two of them were the Julia and Growler, which 
 Chauncey had lost in the action of the 9th of August. The 
 prisoners taken amounted to nearly 300, principally belonging 
 to the De Watteville, a German regiment. From them it was 
 learnt that the British fleet, in the action of the 28th of Sep- 
 tember, at the head of the lake, was very much cut up in their 
 hulls and spars, and had a great many killed and wounded, par- 
 ticularly on board of the Wolfe and Royal George. 
 
 In addition to the army in Ohio, and that on the Niagara fron- 
 tier, a considerable body of troops was collected in the sum- 
 mer of 1812, upon lake Champlain; a number of vessels also 
 were built to gain the command of those waters. In the cam- 
 paign of that year, however, no important movement was made 
 in this quarter. Towards the end of May, 1813, several of the 
 British gun-boats having crossed the lines, for the purpose of 
 capturing the craft upon the lake, two of the American armed 
 sloops, the Eagle and Growler, sailed from Plattsburg on the 
 2d of June for their protection. They arrived within about a 
 mile of the lines about dark, where they cast anchor for the 
 night. Next morning, about day-break, they discovered three 
 British gun-boats, to which they gave chase, but the wind be- 
 ing south, they unfortunately ran so far into the narrow channel 
 that they found it difficult to return, and the Eagle, not being 
 sufficiently strong for her weight of metal, became unmanagea- 
 ble, and at last went down; the water, however, being shoal, 
 the cre'v were saved. The Growler, unwilling to abandon hei 
 companion, continued to fight until after the Eagle sunk, when 
 she was compelled to strike to superior force. The enemy 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 115 
 
 l.ad five gun-))oats m the action, besides a considerable force 
 in nnisquctiy on both sides of the channel, which was so nar^ 
 nny as to place the sloops within their reaih from both shores 
 An official account of this affair has not been published but h 
 .s stated on the authority of the enemv, that tLy had two k 1 
 
 i, the Americans only one, but a considerable numLr of the 
 nilin^t.:: Ea7e'^^- ^''^ ""'''''' ^^^-^'^^ — ^edt 
 
 thJl^ke°on'tVe''ot^?'T^r'^"^ the British the superiority on 
 the lake, on the oOth of July a considerable force crossed the 
 lines m forty-four barj,.cs, protected by the Growl^i and FaJrP 
 
 n I Mrar"¥Kn ^ ^-r\""^' ^^'^^ co^mtn^oFtot: 
 n 1 Tfl ^; followmg day they appeared off Plattsburcr 
 
 and a flag ot truce was sent into the town to demand its surren' 
 dcr, with the assurance, that if no resistance wTs madeVp" vate 
 property should be respected. There being no Toops^n the 
 p.ace, of course there was no resistance, and the enemv landed 
 
 '"U'arseti't" '1"''T^'^' -"-^^ing of a blocSse, bar 
 .aeks, aisenai, &c. when they again embarked. 
 
 On the 2d of August the enemy appeared off Burlineton on 
 he o her side of the lake, where the American am y was sta 
 uoncd under general Hampton, and opened their SeVom two 
 >loops and a galley, which was returned from abattervTn froT.? 
 ol the town, the fire from which soon compelled them^o^^X 
 off. Several gun-boats and sloops lay under the batterv h,it 
 
 In the month of October, Hampton's army crossed the htP 
 
 .! rove n th. 2} }}}\^^^\^^''m nver,and on two diff^e rent days 
 
 mm. c r ' ''^ P^'^"'.'' ^"" °^ '^^'^^ '^^'y succeeded in 
 captuung Every precaution had been taken by the enemv In 
 
 - except the progress of the army. The roads were filled with 
 
 c -s, which they had previously felled .n every direction the 
 
 • otMihstandmg these impediments, however, they continued 
 
 'nSo? ''r^r '^! ''V''^ ^^^^^" ^^- advance7gu"7was 
 attacked on bo h ddes of the river by a body of rcLnilars iol 
 
 k^'urs and Indians, posted in strong positions in a woorflrkl 
 ^ by the river and impassable swamps. The attack w;ssev 
 
 ^l^'ortllelrnr' ^^-, ---y.^!-ys ^nven behind thdr 
 M>. Un the 27th nno of the divisions forded the ' 
 
 ^iioie army returned within the A 
 
 '••->, niiu 
 
 merican lines to Four 
 
 Ihe IJritisIi claimed great merit from the splendid 
 
116 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 victory, as they call it, which they assert was achieved by a, 
 force of only 300 men, against Hampton's whole army, which 
 consisted of 3000 or 3500. From their own statement, however, 
 it would appear that their force was much larger than they re- 
 present it. They state it to have consisted of: — 
 
 " Captains Lcvesque and Debartzcii, with their flank compa- 
 nies of the 5th battalion incorporated militia, together with 
 about 200 of the Beauharnois division." 
 
 " Lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry, with his voltigeurs, and 
 captain Ferguson's light company of the Canadian regiment." 
 
 Besides these, are mentioned, in the course of the action:— 
 
 « A large body of Indians under captain Lamothe." 
 
 « Lieutenant-colonel M'Donnell, of the Glengary light infan- 
 try, with a part of his light brigade." 
 
 These forces do not include the reinforcements which are 
 stated to have arrived the following day. And yet we are grave- 
 ly told, that, " though it may appear incredible, the whole force 
 engaged on our side did not exceed 300 men."* 
 
 JBut even allowing their forces to be as small as here repre- 
 sented, it by no means follows, either that a victory was gained, 
 or that Hampton's measures were baflled. It does not appear 
 that it was the intention of tne American general to push on by 
 this route to Montreal, for the reduction of which his small 
 for<ie was utterly incompetent, independent of the natural im- 
 pediments which this part of the country presented to an in- 
 vading army. There is no reason to doubt, indeed, that this 
 movement was merely intended as a demonstration, to divert 
 and distract the attention of the enemy from the movements on 
 the St. Lawrence, and this end being completely attained, it 
 was not the general's intention to risk the loss of any part, 
 however small, of his army, by an attempt to force a position so 
 strong as the British represent this to have been. 
 
 General Wilkinson having transported his army in safety 
 from Fort George to Sackett's Harbour, in the beginning ot 
 October, in a few days they were again moved to Grenadier 
 Island, with the intention of immediately proceeding down the 
 St. Lawrence against Montreal. Considerable delay, however, 
 took place; owing to the uncommon severity of the weather,! 
 and it was not until the 3d of November that he was enabled t'^ 
 On the evening of the 6th he reached Ogdensburrj 
 
 move. 
 
 -.'A 
 
 * The statement here alluded to is not the official accounif^^ 
 is a detailed account^ afifiarently written by an officer who^"^' 
 f&eseut at the affair. 
 
achieved by v, 
 e army, which 
 [lent, however, 
 r than they re- 
 
 r flank compa- 
 together with 
 
 i^oltigeurs, and 
 
 lan regiment." 
 
 f the action:— 
 
 )the." 
 
 iry light infan- 
 
 ;nts which are 
 t we are grave- 
 he whole force 
 
 as here repre- 
 )ry was gained, 
 oes not appear 
 il to push on by 
 hich his small 
 he natural im- 
 ented to an in- 
 deed, that this 
 ition, to divert 
 movements on 
 ely attained, it 
 ,s of any part, 
 ce a position so 
 n. 
 
 irmy in safety 
 je beginning oi 
 I to Grenadier 
 eding down the 
 ielay, however, 
 of the weather,j 
 was enabled iu 
 d Ogdensbur/1 
 
 cial account^ " 
 officer w/io^"'" 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 UT 
 
 whence he wrote to general Hampton at Four Corners Twher^ 
 he had established his head-quarters after his reU m frimCa' 
 nada), ordering him to form a junction with him on thl St 
 Lawrence, and recommenaing St. Regis as the mos suitable 
 place, where he expected to be on the cjth. « On the subject 
 of provisions, 'continues Wilkinson, « I wish I couJd'^rvea 
 favourable intormation; our whole stock of bread may be com 
 puted at about fifteen days, and our meat at twentrOn speak-' 
 mg on this subject t« the secretary of war, he informed me am 
 pie magazmes were laid up on lake Champlain, and hTrefoTe 
 I must request of you to order forward two or three month's 
 
 o ac Ln' Xxf"'' T'' 'j ^ '""^^^^" ^° '''' P-poseTsce„e 
 o action. 1 have submitted the state of provisions to my gen- 
 
 eral officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent 
 he progress of the expedition; and they also agree in oS 
 ifyou are not m force to face the enemy, you should mee^t us a 
 !5t. Regis or its vicinity." 
 
 thp\f7'^ distance above Ogdensburg, on the opposite side of 
 the St. Lawijnce, stands Prcscot, a fortified post commanding 
 w'li'^^'^' T^^ lateness of the season not admitting of delay, 
 Wilkmson determined to pass It in the night, in place of stopp- 
 ing to reduce It. This was eftected on ^he night of the Jih, 
 without other loss than two privates killed and three wounded 
 In the course of the 8th the cavalry was crossed from the 
 American to the Canada shore, and a detachment of the infan- 
 ly was landed, to prevent the enemy, who had previously lin- 
 cd the shore with musquetry, from harassing the boats in their 
 
 f-Z^f- "T" ^^'f "^*^'- -^ considerable body of the enemy 
 Horn Kmgston also, m concert with a heavy galley and a few 
 
 br^e^n^H'!;?.^-"" '^^ ''"' ^^''^^ Americans, and considera- 
 bly retarded their progress. 
 
 On the morning of the 10th, general Brown adva^nced down 
 mLr. '' purpose of clearing its banks, as a rapid, eight 
 
 mi es long, was expected to be passed in the course of the day, 
 
 wr. IH f '^l ""^ ""^^^Z'' '^"^°"' '^''^ precaution, the army 
 would be much exposed. About noon, the army wL apprized 
 
 Zt, '?'''' «f ^^tMie^T> that Brown was engaged some dis- 
 eHnH •'''''' and about the same time the enemy were observ- 
 ed H ^fl^V-.f ^'' 7^^'"* §^^"^y ^"^ gun-boats having approach- 
 ed the flotilla, and opened their fire, Wilkinson ordered a bat- 
 tery ot eighteen pounders to be planted, the shot from which 
 
 boon compelled the vessels of the enemv tn t>^f\^^ ♦^^^^u :.u 
 
 their troops, after some firing between the advanced^Vrties!""' 
 
 enw^K ^ "^-I """^Z*! ^^^ 'P^''^' ^^^^ ^^^e pilots did not dare to 
 enter the rapid, and therefore the flotilla fell down about two 
 
 
118 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 
 miles, and came to for the night. Early next morning every 
 thing was ready to move, but it was still deemed imprudent to 
 conimit the flotilla to the rapid until the result of gen. Brown's 
 affair should be ascertained. At half past 10, an officer arrived 
 with information that Brown had forced the enemy to retire 
 and that he would reach the foot of the rapid early in the day! 
 Orders were now given for the flotilla to sail; but at this mo- 
 ment the enemy's gun-boats appeared and began to fire, and hi- 
 formation was received from general Boyd, that the enemy's 
 troops were advancing in column, on which Wilkinson sent him 
 orders tc attack them. This report was soon contradicted; but 
 their gun-boats continued to annoy the flotilla, and such a va- 
 riety of reports of the movements and counter-movements of 
 the troops on shore was brought to Wilkinson, as convinced him 
 of their determination to hazard an attack, when it could be done 
 to advantage. He therefore resolved to anticipate them ; and 
 directions were accordingly sent to general Boyd to throw the 
 detachments under his command into three columns, to march 
 ^pon the enemy, outflank them if possible, and take their artil- 
 lery. The force under Boyd consisted of detachments from 
 the first, third, and fourth brigades, which were formed agree- 
 ably to orders, and placed respectively under colonel Coles, 
 general Covington, and gener;|l Swartwout. A report was now 
 brought to Boyd fi'om the rear guard, that a body of about 200 
 British and Indians had advanced into the woods that skirted his 
 rear. General Swartwout, with the fourth brigade, was imme- 
 diately ordered to dislodge them; general Covington, with the 
 third brigade, being at the same time directed to be within sup- 
 porting distance. General Swartwout dashed into the woods, 
 and with the 21st infantry (a part of his brigade), after a short 
 skirmish, drove them back to the position of their main body. 
 Here he was joined by general Covington. The enemy had ju- 
 diciously chosen his ground among the deep ravines which 
 every where intersected the extensiye plain, and discharged a 
 heavy and galling fire upon the advanced columns of the Ame- 
 ricans. No opposition or obstacle, however, checked their ar- 
 dour. The enemy retired for more than a mile before their re- 
 solute and repeated charges. During this time, the detach- 
 ment ot the first brigade under colonel Coles, whose greater 
 distance from the scene of action retarded its arrival, rapidly en- 
 tered the field. Being directed to attack the enemy's left flank, 
 this movement was promptly and bravely executed, amid a 
 shower of musquetry and sharpnel shells. The fight now be- 
 came more stationary, until the brigade first engaged, having 
 expended all their ammunition, were directed to retire to a 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 U« 
 
 ung every 
 prudent to 
 n. Brown's 
 :er arrived 
 r to retire, 
 n the day. 
 It this mo- 
 ire, and in- 
 e enemy's 
 >n sent him 
 dieted; but 
 such a va- 
 /ements of 
 winced him 
 lid be done 
 :hem; and 
 throw the 
 i, to march 
 their artil- 
 ents from 
 led agree- 
 nel Coles, 
 t was now 
 about 200 
 skirted his 
 vas imme- 
 I, with the 
 i'ithin sup- 
 he woods, 
 ter a short 
 nain body, 
 ny had Ju- 
 nes which 
 charged a 
 the Ame- 
 d their ar- 
 e their re- 
 le detach- 
 je greater 
 •apidly en- 
 left flank, 
 d, amid a 
 : now be- 
 d, having 
 ■etire to a 
 
 more defensible position to wait for a re-supply. This move- 
 ment so disconnected the line, as to reader it expedient f^rthe 
 ijrst brigade likewise to retire. 
 
 The artillery, excepting two pieces attached to the rear divi- 
 sion (which from the nature of the ground, and the circuitous 
 route they had to take, were likewise much retarded in thdr ar' 
 nval),did not reach the ground until the line, for want of ai- 
 muniuon had already begun to fall back. When the^were ;?. 
 ranged, their fire was sure and destructive. When the artillery 
 was filially directed to retire, having to cross a deep, ^d ex- 
 cepting in one place, to artillery, impassable ravine, one piece 
 yas unfortunately lost, by the fall of its gallant cimmaSder 
 lieutenant Smith, and most of his men. ""imanaer, 
 
 The whole line was now re-formed on the borders of those 
 Moods from which the enemy had first been driven; when nie-ht 
 coming on, and the storm returning, Boyd, conce vTng he^b 
 jec in view, which was to beat back \he enemy thirwould rl 
 tard the junction with the main body below, to have been ac 
 
 fl3' wK- ' u'^""'^^ '^^ ^'°°P' ^° •"^^"^" t° '^^ g^o'^nd near the 
 MotilJa, which movement was executed in good order, and with- 
 out molestation from the enemy. ' ^ 
 
 thp'V^-^tK^"'^'''^" ^'"'^ "' ^^'^ ^^^»^"' whi<^h took place in 
 the neighbourhood of Williamsburgh, consisted of indefiniJc 
 detachments taken from the boats, it is impossible to say with 
 
 ed toT/ K^"'. T^' '^^ '^""^^"^ ^^ '^^ ^'^^> ^"t it was sup^s- 
 ed to be about 1600 or 1700 men. The force of the enemv 
 
 BHtkf ""^If -' ^'°"' * ^?? '^ ^°^^' exclusive of militia. The 
 British say their force did not exceed 800 rank and file, in 
 
 tded'^'lT^A '^^•'"^•^^^^ and Indians are probabfy not in- 
 cluded. The Americans had 102 killed, and 237 wounded 
 ^mong the latter general Covington mortally. The British 
 
 Bohnl?; '"1 •' 'l'^^"^^' 147 wounded, and 12 missing!! 
 iloth parties claim the victory in this battle: the British, be- 
 cause they aptured a piece of cannon, and because the Ame- 
 ncans retired from the battle ground; the Americans, be- 
 cause their object was fully attained, that of beating back the 
 
 riTp^^^'T^ R^'v u^'^''^''^' tl^^"^ i» their progress down the 
 loor;,.; ^^''^^"t.^s^.^^icount states that they took upwards of 
 100 pr soners, of which no mention is made by the Americans. 
 At the time ol this action general Wilkhison was confined to 
 whVh k' emaciated almost to a skeleton, a disease with 
 
 o Fo^t r ""'^^ ^T^^'^ ^" '^^ H ^^ September, on his journey 
 lo fort Ueorere. havinji-. ivith n f^xx, cK«„f ;,,*„,.,., i_ „r •• , ^ 
 
 Cv.pce, preyed on him ever since. 
 The Americans having resumed theii- position on the banks 
 
120 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 L_, 
 
 of ;he St. Lawrence, the infantry, being much fatigued, were 
 ic-enibarked, and proceeded down the river, without further 
 annoyance from the enemy or their gun-boats, while the dra- 
 goons, with five pieces of light artillery, marched down the 
 Canada shore without molestation. The next morning the 
 flotilla passed safely down the rapids, and joined general 
 Brown, at Barnhart's near Cornwall^ wl^ere he had been in- 
 structed to take post and wait their arrival 
 
 At Bai-nhart's Wilkinson confidently ex^-^cted to have heard 
 of Hampton's arrival on the opposite shore, but, immediately 
 on his halting, colonel Atkinson waited on him with a letter 
 from that officer, in which, to the surprise and mortification of 
 Wilkinson, Hampton declined the junction, and informed him 
 ^jj that he was marching towards lake Ciiumplain, by way of co- 
 operating in the proposed attack on Montreal. The reason as- 
 signed by Hampton for this measure, was the smailncss of 
 Wilkinson's stock of provisions, and the impossibility, from 
 the difficulty of transportation at this season, of his bringing 
 more than each man could have carried on his back. "When 
 I reflected," says Hampton, « that in throwing myself upon 
 your scanty means, I should be weakening you in your most 
 vulnerable point, I did not hesitate to adopt the opinion, after 
 consulting the general and principal officers, that by throwing' 
 myself back on my main depot, when all the means of trans- 
 portation had gone, and falling upon the enemy's flank, and 
 straining every effort to open a communication from Platts- 
 burg to Coghnawaga, or any other point you may indicate on 
 the St. Lawrence, I should more effectually contribute to your 
 success, than by the junctioft at St. Regis. The way is in ma- 
 liy places blockaded and abated, and the road impracticable 
 for wheel carriages during winter — but by the employment of 
 pack horses, if I am not overpowered, I hope to be able to pre- 
 vent your starving. I have ascertained and witnessed that the 
 plan of the enemy is to burn and consume every thing ui our 
 advance. My troops and other means will be described to you 
 by colonel Atkinson. Besides the rawness and sickness, they 
 have endured fatigues equal to a winter campaign, in the late 
 snows and bad weather, and are sadly dispirited and fallen oft"; 
 but upon this subject I must refer you to colonel Atkinson. 
 With these means — what can be accomplished by human ex- 
 ertion,.! will attempt — with, a mind devoted to the general ob- 
 jects of the campaign." 
 
 Hampton's letter was immediately submitted to a council of 
 war, composed of the general officers and the colonel com- 
 manding the elite, the chief engineer, and the adjutant-gene- 
 
ucd, were 
 ut further 
 e the dra- 
 down the 
 rning the 
 i general 
 I been in- 
 
 lavc heard 
 mediately 
 ih a letter 
 fication of 
 rmed him 
 (-ay of co- 
 reason as- 
 ailncss of 
 lity, from 
 bringing 
 " When 
 self upon 
 >^our most 
 lion, after 
 throwing* 
 of trans- 
 Bank, and 
 m Platts- 
 idicate on 
 ite to your 
 ' is in ma- 
 racticable 
 oyment of 
 ale to pre- 
 ;d that the 
 ing in our 
 3ed to you 
 ness, they 
 ii the late 
 fallen off; 
 Atkinson, 
 uman ex- 
 jneral ob- 
 
 council of 
 :)nel coni- 
 ;ant-|jenc- 
 
 mSTOUY OF THE M'Att. \->i 
 
 ral, who unanimously gave it as their opinion, that « the attack 
 on Montreal should be abandoned for the present season »nH 
 the arn,y near Cornwall should be i.nmediLely crossed ^ the 
 
 & wa 'acnu esS Tn C^vuj"' '""■ "?"'"" ™' 
 tic wanfnf«n„..: • . 5^ Wilknison, not, he states, from 
 
 y, hive Uved o^ t'h^' "'"f "''=>' ™"'''' '" "»<= of cxtrerai- 
 sio, fmH.l tl"; enemy, but because the loss of the divi- 
 
 t^ justifyU.rremp""'"'"''" ^'=^'''-<' '- '•-- '- --^% 
 
 witi'out\Tein'^?h'i""' "" 'h^Canada shore until the next day, 
 t„ »^ „ ^ '""""y' ^""l ^'""> crossed over and went in- 
 
 "en'^^Lor Sa"-™*^- ""'^' ''"^^ ^'^ ^^^'^' °" ^ -="- 
 
 -itl.'two?lfi:",^''" "T""^ ''""S embarked at Detroit. 
 Id „, ?. I ""P^ "'''°'*= '''™ °f service had not exnir- 
 
 !e cou t "vhe^'haS'" »"-'-'" "-essary for the deSof 
 end of October .„,. "!,"' T"™'' ^' »««'''l™ «««""-ds the 
 (General Wilkfi^rn"'''''"^'?' P-'o'^'^eded to Fort George.- 
 tie flee no hi ' ''".'"S P^viously gone down the lakeland 
 t Mnsanl^'""'?''"'"'' '^'' ""= "•'insportation of Harrison's 
 
 ^:r:l^XSS:Z^'^^ aeTdTnake OntX: ' 
 
 ?ormorre cVaunrr "'■ "'^ '''''■'"'™ "fSackett's Harbour^ 
 vessels was very ZteronlTfh- navigation with small 
 
 General the-fn.r' "'^^^'' ^" ^"^^«»^'y endangered. The 
 
 George", unit ^ eS mII"^ ' "^■"""IJ'' ,*""= ^•"•^ =" ^ort 
 of militia Jd foTuntee?s who'; 't^rm of '""• " "^'"'"ely 
 point of exDirinir Tvl'L,. ■ i^ "^ ^""'"'^ ™s on the 
 lin,.ton H^?~K.- '^™'""''"P'^-"='' expedition against Bur. 
 
 i 
 

 HISTORY or THE WAR. 
 
 I: 
 
 The abandonment of this expedition excited much dissati^> 
 faction at Fort George, especially among the volunteers, many 
 of whom had made considerable sacrifices to join the army, in 
 ^le hope of being usefully and actively employed. Their term 
 of service now expiring, M'Clure used every eflbrt to engage 
 them to remain for one or two months longer, but in vain. He 
 was left on the 10th of December with not more than sixty ef- 
 fective regulars to garrison Fort George. A council of officers 
 was then held, who were unanimously of opinion tliat the fort 
 should be immediately evacuated, the advance of the enemy, 
 who by some means had obtained information of the state of the 
 place, being within eight miles. Orders were accordingly ^iven 
 to transport all the arms, ammunition, and public stores of eve- 
 ry description across the river, which was principally effected 
 though the enemy approached so rapidly that ten of the soldiers 
 were made prisoners. The fort was blown up, and the town of 
 Newark, a handsome little place of about 200 houses, situated 
 a mile below the fort, was laid in ashes. " This act," general 
 M'Clure declares, « as distressing to the inhabitants as to my 
 feelings, was by an order of the secretary at war." " The in- 
 habitants had twelve hours notice to remove their effects, and 
 such as chose to come across the river were provided with all 
 the necessaries of life." The only reason that we have i,cen 
 assigned for this outrage is by no means satisfactory: « that the 
 enemy might not have it in their power to quarter with their 
 Indian allies in the village, snd maraud and murder our citi- 
 zens," and we are much pleased to see that the act is almost 
 universally disapproved of. 
 
 On the 19th of December about 4 in th*" morning, the British 
 crossed the river a few miles above X^ort Niagara, and succeed- 
 ed in taking the place by storm about an hour before daybreak. 
 The fort appears to have been completely surprised. The men 
 were nearly all asleep in their tents, when the enemy rushed in 
 and commenced a dreadful slaughter. Such as escaped the 
 fury of the first onset, retired to the old mess-house, where they 
 kept up a fire on the enemy, until a want of ammunition com- 
 pelled them to surrender. The disaster is attributed and with 
 too much appearance of probability, to gross neglect or trea- 
 sonable connivance on the part of the commanding officer of the 
 fort, who is stated to have been absent at the time it took place, 
 notwithstanding the attack was expected, as appears from the 
 general orders issued by M'Clure a few days previous. 
 
 After the capture of the fort, the British with a large body 
 of Indians, proceeded up the river as far as Lewistown, and, 
 having driven off a detachment of militia stationed at Lewis- 
 
HiSTpRT OF THE WAR. 
 
 123 
 
 :h dissatis- 
 eers, many 
 le army, in 
 rheir lenn 
 to engage 
 
 vain. He 
 n sixty cf- 
 
 of officers 
 lat the fort 
 he enemy, 
 state of the 
 ingly given 
 res of eve- 
 ly effected 
 he soldiers 
 ;he town of 
 IS, situated 
 ," general 
 s as to my 
 
 « The in- 
 ffects, and 
 id with all 
 
 have occn 
 : « that the 
 with their 
 r our citi- 
 t is almost 
 
 the British 
 d succeed- 
 
 daybreak. 
 . The men 
 J nished in 
 scaped the 
 vhere they 
 ition com- 
 d and with 
 ct or trca- 
 ficerof the 
 took place, 
 s from the 
 js. 
 
 large body 
 town, and, 
 
 at Lewis- 
 
 town Heights, burnt that village and those of Youngstown and 
 Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora village. A number of 
 the inoffensive inhabitants are said to have been butchered by the 
 savages. On the 30th another detacHnnent of the British and In- 
 dians crossed the Niagara, near Black Rock. They were met 
 by the militia under general Hall; but, overpowered by num- 
 bers, and the discipline of the enemy, the militia soon gave way 
 and fled on every side, and every attempt to rally them was 
 meflectual. The enemy then set fire to Black Rock, when they 
 proceeded to Buffaloe, which they likewise laid in ashes, thus 
 completing the desolation of the whole of the Niagara fron- 
 tier, as a retaliation for the burning of Newark 
 
 Serious apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the 
 fleet at Erie; the enemy, however, did not attempt to penetrate 
 turther at the moment, and a sufficient force was soon collect- 
 ed for its defence, which remained durhig the winter. 
 
 While active operations were thus carried on, on the north 
 and northwestern frontier of the United States, the calamities 
 of war began to extend to the southern portion. In the sum- 
 mer of 1813 the Creek nation commenced hostilities by an at- 
 tack on Fort Mims, a post upon the Tensaw river. Before we 
 enter on a narrative of the events of this war, however, it will 
 be proper to notice another important event which took place 
 in this quarter, in the month of April; namely, the surrender ol*" 
 Mobile to the arms of the United States. 
 
 By the treaty of St. Ildefonso, concluded on the 1st of Octo- 
 ber, 1800, between France and Spain, the latter, in consi- 
 deration of certain stipulations in favour of the duke of Par- 
 ma, ceded to the French republic « the colony or province 
 of Louisiana, with the same extent that it now has in the 
 hands of Spain, and that it had when France possessed it- 
 and such as it should be after the treaties subsequently enter' 
 cd into between Spain and other states." By a treaty con- 
 cluded at Paris, on the 30th of April, 1803, France ceded 
 to the United States the territory she had acquired by the 
 treaty of St. Ildefonso, « as fully and in the same manney 
 as they have been acquired by the French republic." In 
 virtue of the above-mentioned treaties, the United States 
 claimed as the southern portion of Louisiana, all -the country 
 lying between, the Sabine and Perdido rivers. The Spanish 
 government, however, resisted this claim, and contended that 
 Its eastern boundary was the river Mississippi, and the lakes 
 iviaurepas and Pontchartrain. This country" has. accordingly 
 been the subject of negociation for several years, between the 
 American and Spanish governments, the latter still holding 
 
124 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 possession of the country. This negociation was put an end 
 to by the troubles which tQok place in old Spain, hi 1807; and 
 a revolution breaking out in Florida, the United States, on the 
 ground that Spain could no longer hold possession of the coun- 
 try, and that her rights would be jeopardized or lost by sufler- 
 mg it to pass into the hands of a third party (the revolution- 
 ists), on whom they could have no claim, took possession of 
 the whole disputed country, in 1812, except the post of Mobile, 
 a small fortified town of about 400 inhabitants, situated on the 
 west side of Mobile bay, which continued to be held by a 
 Spanish garrison until the 15th of April, 1813, when it was 
 summoned to surrender to the arms of the United States, un- 
 der general Wilkinson, which was immediately done without 
 the slightest opposition. 
 
 ^ The countiy of the Creek Indians, with whom the United 
 
 States was at war, is situated in the western part of the state 
 
 of Georgia, and the eastern part of the Mississippi territory, 
 
 between the Oakmulgee and Tombigbee rivers; and extends 
 
 from the Cherokee country, which borders on Tennesse, to 
 
 Florida. In the course of the last summer, several families 
 
 were murdered, near the mouth of the Ohio river, by a party 
 
 of Indians passing from the great lakes to the Upper Creeks. 
 
 The principal chiefs of the nation, on the application of the 
 
 United States, agent, determined to punish the murderers by 
 
 putting them to death, and a party of warriors was appointed 
 
 to execute their determination. This was no sooner done, 
 
 than the resentment of the friends of the murderers broke out 
 
 in acts of open violence against all who had been in .any way 
 
 concerned in causing the murderers to be put to death, and a 
 
 civil war was the consequence. It appears, however, that 
 
 this circumstance only produced a premature disclosure of 
 
 their object, as it has since been ascertained that most of the 
 
 Upper Creeks had previously determined to take part with the 
 
 jiorthern Indians in their war Niith the United States. 
 
 About the middle of July, the secretary at war wrote to 
 the governor of Georgia; and at the sam.e time transmitted a 
 copy of his letter to the governor of Tennessee; stating, that 
 information through various channels had reached the general 
 government, of the hostility of a portion of the Creek nation, 
 and of the necessity of breaking it down by some prompt and 
 vigorous nieasures; and suggested the propriety of embody- 
 
 — o - r -• -"• "'^-iQio. iiuiiiiu, WHO snouiu eimer act 
 
 separately against the enemy, or in concert witli another corps 
 of mihtia, drawn from Tennessee. This letter was recei'^ed 
 by governor Mitchell in the end of July, when he immediately 
 
• put an end 
 in 1807; and 
 tates, on the 
 of the coun- 
 )stby sufler- 
 revolution- 
 jossession of 
 it of Mobile, 
 Liated on the 
 3 held by a 
 »vhen it was 
 I States, un- 
 one without 
 
 the United ■ 
 of the state , 
 pi territory, 
 and extends 
 ennesse, to 
 5ral families 
 ', by a party 
 per Creeks, 
 ation of the 
 urderers by 
 3 appointed 
 3oner done, 
 s broke out 
 in .any way 
 eath, and a 
 ivever, that 
 sclosure of 
 Host of the 
 irt with the 
 
 !S. 
 
 ir wrote to 
 insmitted a 
 tating, that 
 the general 
 sek nation, 
 jrompt and 
 •f embody- 
 either act 
 )ther corps 
 L8 recei'ied 
 amediately 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 125 
 
 took measures for calling out fifteen hundred of the Georgia 
 militia, who were soon after marched to the Oakmulgee 
 river. Their number was subsequently enlarged to a full 
 brigade. 
 
 Meanwhile appearances became every day more threatening. 
 The friendly Indians were forced to leave their towns and 
 retreat towards the white settlements, and fortify themselves 
 against the attacks of the war party. The latter proceeded in 
 great numbers to the south, where it is ass^^-rted they were 
 supplied by the Spanish governor of Pensacola with arms 
 and ammunition. At last, upon the 30th of August, 1813 they 
 commenced hostilities against the United States, by an attack 
 upon Mim's fort, on the Ten&aw, a branch of the Mobile 
 river, in the Mississippi territory, commanded by major Beas- 
 ley. 
 
 Information had been received about a week previous, that 
 a large number of Indians were approaching with hostile in- 
 tentions, but the attack was wholly unexpected at the moment 
 it occurred, which Was about eleven in the forenoon. The 
 whole garrison, however, was immediately under arms. The 
 front gate l^eing open, the enemy ran in great numbers to pos- 
 sess themselves of it, and in the contest for it many fell on 
 both sides. Soon however, the action became general, the 
 enemy fighting on all sides in the open field, and as near the 
 stockade as they could get. The port-holes were taken and 
 retaken several times. A block-house was contended for by 
 captain Jack, at the head of his riflemen, for the space of an 
 hour after the enemy were in possession of part of it; when 
 thej finally succeeded in driving his company into a house in 
 the fort, and, having stopped many of the port-holes with the 
 ends of rails, possessed themselves of the walls. The troops 
 made a most gallant defence from the houses, but. the enemy 
 having set fire to the roofs, and the attempt to extinguish it 
 proving unsuccessful, the few who now remained alive at- 
 tempted a retreat, having previously thrown into the flames 
 many of the guns of the dead. Few, however, succeeded in 
 escaping. Major Beasley fell gallantly fighting at the head of 
 his command, near the gate, at the commencement of the ac- 
 tion. The other officers fell nobly doing their duty; the non- 
 commissioned officers and soldiers behaved equally well. 
 
 The loss of the Americans was great: sixty-five, including 
 officers and men, of the Mississippi territory volunteers, and 
 !.^»..!.ij.-^^\^ji v^jiutiteei iiiiuau,, were Kiiica. iviany respect- 
 able citizens, with numerous families, who had abandoned 
 their farms, and fled to the fort for security, were alsc killed. 
 
126 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 
 > 4 
 
 ' ■ 'SI 
 t ■ 
 
 'A 
 
 or burnt in the houses into which they fled A detachment 
 which was sent from caiitonement Mount Vernon, on the 21st 
 of September, to collect the bones of their countrymen, col- 
 lecte(\ and consigned to the earth, 247 persons, including men, 
 women, and children. The detachment likewise searched the 
 woods for bodies, where they found at least 100 dead Indians, 
 who were covered with rails, brush, &c. These Indians had 
 been interred with their war-dresses and implements, by which 
 they were recognized. 
 
 On the receipt of the disastrous intelligence of the destruc- 
 tion of major Beasley's garrison, preparations were immediate- 
 ly made for collecting a large force of Tennessee militia, and 
 providing supplies for those of Georgia, which had already 
 assembled. The Tennessee militia were marched in two di- 
 visions, under the orders of major-generals Jackson and Cocke. 
 On the 2d of November, major-general Jackson dispatched 
 brigadier-general Coffee from the camp at Ten-Islands, with 
 900 men, consisting of cavalry and mounted riflemen, on an 
 expedition against Tallushatches towns, where a considerable 
 force of the Creeks was concentrated. Coffee arrived within 
 a mile and a half of the town on the morning of the 3d, where 
 he divided his force into two divisions, and directed them to 
 march so as completely i^ encircle the town, which was effect- 
 ed in a masterly manner. When they arrived within about 
 half a mile of the towns, the enemy began to prepare for action, 
 which was announced by the beating of their drums, mingled 
 with savage yells. About an hour after sun-rise the action 
 was brought on by two companies, who had gone within the 
 circle of alignment, for the purpose of drawing the enemy out 
 from their buildings. As soon as the two companies exhibted 
 their front in view of the town, and gave a few scattering sliot, 
 the enemy formed and made a violent charge upon them, on 
 which they gave way, and were followed by the Indians, until 
 they reached the main body, who immediately opened a gene- 
 ral fire, and then charged. The Indians now, in their turn, 
 retreated firing, until they got around and in their buildings, 
 when they made a most determined resistance, fighting to the 
 very last moment, as long as they could stand or sit, not one 
 shrinking or complaining; not one asking for quarter. Every 
 warrior in the town was killed, and all the women and children 
 were taken prisoners, except a few who were unintentionally 
 slain, in consequence of the men flying to the houses and 
 mixing with their families, and at the same time refusing 
 quarter. 
 
 The number found killed of the eincmy was M6, &nd a num- 
 
HISTOHY OF THE WAR. 
 
 127 
 
 detachment 
 , on the 2 1 st 
 trymen, col- 
 ;luding men, 
 searched the 
 lead Indians, 
 
 Indians had 
 Its, by which 
 
 the destruc- 
 ; immediate- 
 ; militia, and 
 had ah'eady 
 d in two di- 
 1 and Cocke. ' 
 
 • 
 
 1 dispatched 
 Islands, with 
 smen, on an 
 considerable 
 rived within 
 le 3d, where 
 ted them to 
 1 was effect- 
 vithin about 
 •e for action, 
 tis, mingled 
 e the action 
 5 within the 
 ! enemy out 
 ics exhibted 
 ttering siiot, 
 )n them, on 
 ndians, until 
 ned a genc- 
 their turn, 
 r buildings, 
 hting to the 
 sit, not one 
 ter. Every 
 md children 
 ntentionally 
 houses and 
 no rciusiiig 
 
 &nd a num- 
 
 ber of others were killed in the woods, who were not found 
 J he number of women and children taken was eighty- 
 iour Of the Americans, five were killed, and forty-one wound- 
 ed, the greater part slightly, none mortally; two of the killed 
 were with arrows, which appeared to form a principal part of 
 the arms of the Indians on this occasion, every man having a 
 bow, with a bundle of arrows, which he used after the first fire 
 with his gun, until a leisure time for loading offered. 
 
 Coffee bestows much praise on his men, for their delibera- 
 tion and firmness. « Notwithstanding our numbers," says he, 
 " were far superior to that of the enemy, it was a circumstance 
 to us unknown, and from the parade of the enemy we had 
 every reason to suppose them our equals in number; but there 
 appeared no visible traces of alarm in any; on the contrary, 
 I all appeared cool and determined; and, no doubt, when they 
 tace a foe of their own, or superior number, they will show 
 the same courage as on this occasion." 
 
 The following day general Coffee returned with his detach- 
 ment to the camp. 
 
 Late on the evening of the 7th a friendly Indian arrived at 
 the camp, who brought intelligence that the enemy had ar- 
 lived m great numbers at Talledega, about thirty miles below 
 the camp, where one hundred and sixty men of the friendly 
 Creeks had erected a fort, the more effectually to resist the 
 ettorts of the hostile party, and where they were now stationed 
 with their wives and children. The messenger represented 
 that, unless speedy relief could be obtained from the arm , 
 the fort would certainly be taken. General Jackson imme- 
 diately gave orders for taking up the line of march, with twelve 
 hundred infantry and eight hundred cavalry and mounted rifle- 
 men, leaving behind the sick, the wounded, and the baggage, 
 with a sufficient force for their protection. By twelve o'clock 
 that night the army was in motion, and commenced crossing 
 the river opposite the encampment, which was affected in a 
 tew hours, and on the night of the 8th the army was encamped 
 within SIX miles of the enemy. At eleven that night a Soldier 
 and two Indians, who had been sent forward to reconnoitre, 
 returned with the intelligence that the enemy were encamped 
 within a quarter of a mile of the fort; but they had not been 
 able to approach near enough to ascertain either their nnmber 
 or precise situation. At midnight the adjutant- general was 
 ordered to prepare the line of march, and by four o'clock the 
 
 — -"J Triis ill iiiwuuil. 
 
 The infantry marched in three columns; the cavalry and 
 mounted riflenjen were in the rear, with flankers on each 
 
128 
 
 HISTORY OF THK WAR 
 
 r 
 
 wing. The advance consisted of a company of artillery with 
 muskets, and two companies of riflemen. A company of spies 
 marched four hundred yards in front of the whole, to bring on 
 the engagement. Having arrived within a mile of the enemy 
 at seven o'clock, two hundred and fifty of the cavalry and 
 mounted riflemen were placed in the rear of the centre, as a 
 corps de reserve, and the remainder were ordered to advance 
 on the right and left of the infantry, and, after having encircled 
 the enemy, by unithig the fronts of their columns, and keeping 
 their rear connected with the infantry, to face and press in- 
 wards towards the centre, so as to leave the enemy no possi- 
 bility of escape. The infantry were ordered to advance by 
 heads of companies, general Hall's brigade occupying the right, 
 and general Roberts' the left. 
 
 About eight o'clock the advance, having arrived within 
 eig4ity yards of the enemy, who were concea'ed in a thick 
 shrubbery which covered the margin of a rivulet, received 
 from tliem a heavy fire, which they immediately returned, and 
 then charii;cd and disloged them from their position. The 
 advance now fell back, as th y had been previously ordered, 
 to the centre. On the approach of the enemy, three of the 
 militia companies, having given one fire, commenced a retreat, 
 notwithstanding the utmost exertions of their officers. To 
 fill up the vacancy occasioned by this retreat, Jackson imme- 
 diately ordered up a regiment of volunteers; bu\ finding the 
 advance of the enemy too rapid to admit of their arrival in 
 time, the reserve was ordered to dismount and meet them. 
 This order was executed with great promptitude and gallan- 
 try, and the retreating militia, seeing the spirited stand made 
 by the reserve, immediately rallied, and recovered their posi- 
 tion, pouring in upon the enemy a most destructive fire. The 
 engagement now became general; and in fifteen minutes the 
 Indians were seen flying in every direction. On the left they 
 were met and repulsed by the mounted riflemen; but on the 
 right it unfortunately happened that too great a space had been 
 left between the cavalry and infantry, by which numbers es- 
 caped. They were pursued, however, for three miles to the 
 mountains with great slaughter. 
 
 The force of the enemy was represented by themselves at 
 a thousand and eighty, two hundred and ninety-nine of whom 
 were left dead on the ground, and a great many were killed 
 in their flight. It is believed that very few escaped without a 
 wound. The American loss was fifteen killed and eighty 
 wounded. 
 
 On the 1 1th of November, gcliera.1 Cocke, who commanded 
 
JIISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 129 
 
 commanded 
 
 the otlicr division of the Tennessee militia, ordered brisadier^ 
 general White, with a detachment of mounted infant^ry and 
 was sZalioneT''^ ^""^"^ Fort Armstrong, where this di^vison 
 nf tho t ?M V°'' f" ^^P«di^»on against the Hillibee towns 
 of the hostile Creeks on the Tallapoosie rirer. Thi's expedi^ 
 Zs fntoX^ "'"'^ successful. They penetrated one hundred 
 Jl! ti f ^l^.^y'\ countiy, and burned four of their villa- 
 
 ges, three of which they found deserted. Previous to their 
 arrival at the fourth, they learned that a party of the hostile 
 Creeks were assembled there. Having marched the whole 
 of the night of the 1 7th, they surrounded and completely sur! 
 prised the town at day.light of the morning of the 18th, and of 
 
 not nt P'''^^ '' • '"^ l"''}'''''^ °f '^''^^ J^"»^^^«^l and sixteen 
 nlZ ^^^P""^; ''^'/ ^^'""^ ^^"^^ ^"'l the remainder made 
 prisoners. The detachment now returned to camp, where thev 
 arrived on the 23d, hating lost not one drop of ^biood Tn this 
 enterprise The country through which they marched was 
 exceedingly rough and hilly, and they had to pass several nar! 
 
 Z '^%^Z':"^"'' '' Jf ""'"'''^'y '^ "«^ the utmost precau. 
 t ion. The troops and horses, likewise, had to be subsisted, 
 a great degree, on such supplies as could be procured in 
 le enemy's country, which rendered their march more tardy 
 than It would otherwise have been. ^ 
 
 The Georgia militia, though embodied before those of Ten- 
 nessee, were not able, from the want of military suppls, to 
 proceed to active operations till the end of November. bZ ' 
 gadier-general Stewart had been oiiginally lestined for the 
 
 iXS'him'^r 1""^ '"^"'^"' '"^f^"'^^>' -nsideration: 
 
 iKHicing him to de< ine its acceptance, brigadier-general 
 
 i loyd was appointed in his room. ^ ^^i j^enerai 
 
 Towai'ds the end of N<ovember Floyd received information 
 
 that numbers of the hostile Indians weL assembled at Auos- 
 
 see, a town on the southern bank of the Tallapoosie riverfabout 
 
 wen y miles above its junction with the doosa. He mme 
 
 le cl^l ''k'-'^'-P' ^'^^^^ ^"^ ^""^ted on the west sS^of 
 !iA 5 /""^'f 17^'' and proceeded against the enemy with 
 1 me hundred and fifty militia, and between three and four hun 
 dred of the friendly Creeks. On the evening of the 28th he 
 detachment encamped within nine or ten miles of the place o) 
 destination, and having resximed their march abou one nex 
 
 Tthe't^clwn ^"%ri '^^^"^ "^^ ^^"-^^ f-' -tion in on 
 ot the town. The <letachment was formed in two columns 
 
 •;?l!:i1^^^"^P-y -^ --h flank, and a comnan; of artiUei^' 
 « itvjjM. ui iiiv iigni coiuiiiij. 
 
 It was Floyd's intention to have completely surrounded the 
 
 M 
 
130 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 <ii« 
 
 4 
 
 ii^ 
 
 fP 
 
 ■ \ 
 
 enemy, by resting the right wing of his force on Canleebec 
 creek, at the mouth of which he was informed their town 
 stood, and resting his left on the river bank below the town; 
 but to his surprise, as the day dawned, he perceived a second 
 town about 500 yards below that which he was preparing to 
 attack. The plan, therefore, was instantly changed; three 
 companies of infantry on the left were wheeled to the left e?i 
 rcAelon,* and advanced to the lower town, accompanied by a 
 rifle company and two troops of light dragoons. The remain- 
 der of the force approached the i':^ - - tovvii, und the battle 
 son became general. The Indian- r , *'iited themselves at 
 every point, and fought with despera ,vravery; but the well- 
 directed fire of the artillery and the bayonets of the infantry 
 soon forced them to take refuge in the out-houses, thickets, and 
 copses in the rear of the town. Many, it was supposed, se- 
 cured themselves in caves, previously formed for this purpose 
 in the high bluff of the river, which was thickly covered with 
 reeds and brush-wood. It was intended that the friendly In- 
 dians should have crossed the river above the town, and been 
 posted on the opposite shore during the action, to fire on such 
 of the enemy as should attempt to escape, or to keep in check 
 any reinforcements which might be attempted to be thrown in 
 from the neighbouring towns. Owing to the difficullj of the 
 ford, however, and the coldness of the weather and lateness of 
 the hour, this arrangement failed, and their leaders were di- 
 rected to cross Canleebee creek, and occupy that flank, to pre- 
 vent escapes from the Tallisee town. Some time after the 
 action commenced, the friendly Indians thronged in disorder 
 in the rear of the militia, Avhen the hostile tribes fell on the 
 flanks of the detachment and fought uith great intrepidity. 
 By nine o'clock, however, the enemy »vas completely driven 
 from the plains, and the houses of both towns were wrapped 
 In flames. 
 
 It was impossible to determine the strength of the enemy, 
 hut from the information of some of the chiefs, which it is 
 said could be relied on, there were assembled at Autossee, 
 warriors from eight towns for its defence, it being their be- 
 loved ground, on which they proclaimed no white man could 
 
 * ji position 171 which each division foliows the preceding one, 
 
 like the steps of a ladder (echelle), from which the word is 
 
 derived. A position en enchelon is convenient in removing 
 
 from a direct to an oblique or diagonal /???ۥ .=DuaRe's Military 
 
 Dictionary. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 Canleebee 
 their town 
 
 the town; 
 d a second 
 re paring to 
 igcd; three 
 
 the left «?7i 
 anied by a 
 he remain- 
 
 the battle 
 mselves at 
 It the well- 
 le infantry 
 ickets, and 
 iposcd, sc- 
 lis purpose 
 vered with 
 riendly Irv- 
 I, and been 
 ire on such 
 p in check 
 ! thrown in 
 ullj of the 
 lateness of 
 s were di- 
 nk, to pre- 
 3 after the 
 n disorder 
 •ell on the 
 ntrepidity. 
 ely driven 
 B wrapped 
 
 le enemy, 
 'hich it is 
 Autossce, 
 their be- 
 nan could 
 
 'ding 071 e, 
 e word is 
 removing 
 
 approach without inevitable destruction. Neither was it pos- 
 hible to ascertain their loss; but from the number which were 
 lying scattered over the field, together with those destroyed 
 jn the towns, and those slain on the bank of the river, whom 
 respectable officers affirmed they saw lying in heaps at the 
 water's edge, where they had been precipitated by their sur- 
 viving friends, their loss, in killed alone, must have been at 
 least 200, among whom were the Autosseeand Tallisee kings. 
 The number of buildings burnt is supposed to be 400; some 
 of them were of a superior order for the dwellings of savages, 
 and filled with valuable articles. The Americans had eleven 
 killed and fifty-four wounded, among the latter was general 
 Floyd. 
 
 The detachment being now sixty miles from any depot of 
 provisions, and their rations pretty nearly consumed, as soon 
 as the dead and wounded were properly disposed of, the place 
 was abandoned, and the troops commenced their march back 
 lo the camp on the Chatahouchie, a measure the more neces- 
 sary as they were in the heart of an enemy's country, which 
 in a few days could have poured from its numerous towns 
 hosts of warriors. They arrived at the camp in safety, having 
 marched 120 miles in seven days. 
 
 On the 9th of December another detachment of the Geor- 
 gia militia, consisting of about 530 meh, under the command 
 ot general Adams, marched on an expedition against the Creek 
 towns on the Tallapoosie river. Notwithstanding the precau- 
 tions which they used to prevent the Indians from hearing of 
 their approach, they found the villages deserted, and were 
 unable to bring the enemy to action, though their yells were 
 repeatedly heard on both sides of the river. Having burnt 
 two of tl.viir villages, therefore, the detachment retui-ned to 
 camp. 
 
 TAventy-three of the American soldiers who were made 
 prisoners at the battle of Queenstown, in the autumn of 1812, 
 were sent to England, where they were detained in rigorous 
 confinement a-^ British subjects. On this being made \nown 
 to the government of the United States .by the American com- 
 missary of prisoners at London, orders were issued to general 
 Dearborn to place in close confinement a like number of Brit- 
 ish soldiers, to be kept aj> hostages for the safety and exchange 
 the American prisoners. I'his order was carried into execu- 
 tion by the imprisonment of twenty-three of the prisoners 
 captured at Fort Geoa-ge, in May, 1813, of which general 
 x^caroorn apprised im governor of Qanada in a letter dated 
 the; 3 1 st of that mout,h., 
 
132 
 
 HrSTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 'r'l 
 
 General Dearborn's letter was transmitted to the British 
 government, who immediately instructed governor Prevost to 
 state to the commander of the American forces, for the infor- 
 mation of his government, tliat he was cpmrnand^d « forth- 
 with to put m close confinement forty-six American officers 
 and non-commissioned officers, to be held as hostages for the 
 safe keeping of the twenty-three British soldiers stated to 
 have been put in close confinement by order of the American 
 government. 
 
 " I have been directed at the same time to apprise you," 
 continues Prevost, in a letter to general Wilkinson, "that if 
 any ot the said British soldiers shall suffer death by reason 
 that any of the said soldiers of the United States now under 
 confinement m EiM^land have been found guiltv, and that the 
 known law, not only of Great Britain, but of every independent 
 state under similar circumstances, has been in consequence 
 executed, that I have been further instructed to select out of 
 T u ,I"u "^^" officers and non-commissioned officers, whom 
 I shall have put into confinement, as many as may double the 
 number ot the British soldiers who shall have been so unwar- 
 rantably put to death, and to cause such officers and non-com- 
 missioned officers to suffer death immediately. I have been 
 lurther instructed by his majesty's government to notify you^ 
 for the information of the government of the United States, 
 that the commanders of his majesty's armies and fleets on the 
 coasts of America, have received instructions to prosecute 
 the war with unmitigated severity against all cities, towns, and 
 villages belonging to the United States, and against the inha- 
 bitants thereof, if, after this communication shall have been 
 made to you, and a reasonable time given for its being trans- 
 mitted to the American government, that governntent shall 
 unhappily not be deterred from putting to death any of the 
 soldiers who now are, or who may hereafter be kept as hostages 
 for the purposes stated in the letter from major-eeneral 
 Dearborn." •" ^ 
 
 General Wilkinson, in his answer to general Prevosts's 
 letter, states, that he should immediately transmit a copy of 
 it to the executive of the United States. « I forbear," con- 
 tinued Wilkinson, « to animadvert on the acts of our supe- 
 riors, whatever may be their tendency; but you must pardon 
 me for taking exception to an expression in your letter. The 
 government of the United States cannot be * deterred,* by 
 any considerations of life or death, of depredation or conflra- 
 eration, from the faithful dirrharo-p nf ifc Ai^txr +i^ *k. 
 can nation." 
 
 
the Britisli 
 Prevost to 
 • r the infor- 
 l^d « forth- 
 an officers 
 ges for the 
 s stated to 
 5 American 
 
 )rise you," 
 )n, " that lit 
 by reason 
 now under 
 nd that the 
 idependent 
 )nsequence 
 lect out ot* 
 ers, whom 
 double the 
 L so unwar- 
 1 non-com- 
 have been 
 notify you^ 
 ted States, 
 eets on the 
 prosecute 
 towns, and 
 t the inha- 
 have been 
 eing trans- 
 rtent shall 
 any of the 
 IS hostages 
 or-general 
 
 Prevosts's 
 a copy of 
 3ar," con- 
 our supe- 
 jst pardon 
 ter. The 
 erred,* by 
 T conflra- 
 
 HISTORY OF T»e WAR- 
 
 13: 
 
 In a su.)! equent communication, general Wilkinson stated, 
 that « the government of the United States, adhering unalte- 
 rably to tl^ principle and purpose declared in the communica- 
 tion of general Dekrborn, on the subject of the twenty- three 
 American -oldiers, prisoners of war, sent to England to be tried 
 as criminals ; and the confinement of a like number of British 
 soldiers, prisoners of war, selected to abide the fate of the for- 
 mer ; m consequence of the step taken by the British govern- 
 ment, as now communicated; ordered forty-six British officers 
 in close confinement, and that they will not be discharged from 
 then- confinement, until it shall be known that the forty-six Ame- 
 rican officers and non-commissioned officers in question are no 
 longer confined. 
 
 General Prevost, on the receipt of this letter, ordered all A- 
 rnerican officers, prisoners of .war, without exception of rank, 
 to be immediately placed in close confinement, as hostages for 
 the forty-six British officers so confined, imtil the number of 
 torty-six be completed, over and above those now in confine- 
 luent. 
 
 A very interesting correspondence, upon a somewhat simi- 
 lar subject, between general Harrison and the British general 
 \ mcent, was published about this period. After the capture 
 ot the British army, in the battle on the Thames, general Proc- 
 lor sent a flag with a letter to general Harrison^ requesting 
 humane treatment for the prisoners in his possession, and the 
 restoration of private property and papers. Harrison addres- 
 sed his answer oji the subject to general Vincent,- as. the se- 
 nior officer. ^ * 
 
 « With respect to the subject of general Pl-octor^s letter 
 says Harrison, « those which I have the honour to enclose you 
 trom the British officers, who wore taken on the fifth ultimo, 
 to their friends, and the report of Mr. Le Briton, will satisfy 
 you that no indulgence which humanity could claim in their 
 iavour, or the usages, of war sanction, has been withheld. The 
 disposition of the property taken on the field of action or near 
 It, was left to the commanding office; at Detroit. The instruc- 
 tions given to that gentleman, and the well known generosity 
 of his character, will ensure to the claimants- the utmost jus- 
 tice and liberality in his decisions. In making this statement, 
 I wish it however to be distinctly understood, that my conduct 
 with regard to the prisoners and property taken, has been dictated 
 solely by motives of humajiity, and not by a belief that it could be 
 
 ' : 1 "---.,. .^, . - .^ij^^i ^^^i^.;^ \}i itcaiiiiciii. iu\vuru'»xnc £k- 
 
 merican prisoners who have fallen into the hands of general. 
 Proctoi', The unhappy description of persons who have es • 
 
 .»»- 
 
i.i-l. 
 
 iiiSTony OF riiK waij. 
 
 1*1 
 
 caped the tomahawk of the savapjes in the employment ot" the 
 British government, who fought under the immediate orders 
 of t}i3» officer, have suffered all the indignities and depriva- 
 tions which human natu'"j is capable of supporting. There is 
 no single instance that have heard of, in which the property 
 of the officers has been respected. But I am far from believing 
 that the conduct of general Proctor has been thought an exam- 
 ple worthy of imitation by the greater part of the British offi- 
 cers ; and in the character of general Vincent, I have a pledge 
 that he will unite his exertions with mine to soften as much as 
 possible the fate of those whom the fortune of war may reci- 
 procally place in our power. 
 
 " But, sir, there is another subject upon which I wish an 
 explicit declaration. Will the Indians who still adhere to the 
 'cause of his Britannic Majesty, be suffered to continue that 
 horrible species of warfare which they have heretofore prac- 
 tised against our troops, and those still more horrible depreda- 
 tions upon the peaceable inhabitants of our frontiers ? 1 have 
 sufficient evidence to show that even the latter have not al- 
 ways been perpetrated by small parties of vagrant Indians, 
 acting at a distance from the British army. Some of the most 
 atrocious instances have occurred under the eyes of the British 
 ,^ commander and the head of the Indian department. I shall pass 
 by the tragedy of the river Raisin, and that equally well known 
 which was acted on the Miami river after the defeat of colonel 
 Dudley — and select three other instances of savage barbarity 
 committed under the auspices of general Proctor. — In the be- 
 ginning of June a small party of Indians, conducted by an Ot- 
 tbway chief, who I believe is now with the British army under 
 your command, left Maiden In bark canoes, in which they coast- 
 ed Lake Erie to the mouth of Portag©, river; the canoes were 
 taken across the Portage to the Sandusky bay, over which the 
 party proceeded to the mouth of Cold creek, and from thence 
 by land to the settlements uponth?^ river, where they captured 
 thre^ families, consisting of one man and twelve women and 
 children. After taking The prisoners some distance, one of 
 the women was discovered to be unable to keep up with thera, 
 in consequence of her advanced state of pregnancy. She was 
 immediately tomahawked, stripped naked; her womb ripped 
 open, and the child taken out. Three or four of the children 
 were successively butchered as they disc overed their inabi- 
 lity to keep up with the party. Upon the arrival of the In- 
 
 ed by colonel Elliott, and the others by the citizens of Detroit, 
 where they remained until they were taken off by their frienck 
 
HISTORY OF THE W\R. 
 
 13^ 
 
 lent ot' the 
 ate orders 
 i depriva- 
 Therc is 
 c property 
 I believinjr 
 t an exam- 
 ritish offi- 
 e a pledge 
 3 much as 
 may rcci- 
 
 I wish an 
 tie re to the 
 ntinue that 
 (fore prac- 
 e depreda- 
 s ? I have 
 ve not al- 
 it Indians, 
 jf the most 
 the British 
 
 shall pass 
 veil known 
 t of colonel 
 e barbarity 
 -In the be- 
 1 by an Ot- 
 rmy under 
 they coast- 
 jioes were 
 
 which the 
 om thence 
 y captured 
 komen and 
 ce, one of 
 with thcra, 
 She was 
 mb ripped 
 le children 
 their inabi- 
 of the In- 
 
 of Detroit, 
 icir friends 
 
 upon the recovery of that place by our army. I have bedn in- 
 formed that the savage chief received from colonel Elliott a re- 
 firimand foB his cruelty. 
 
 '* On the 139th or 30th of the same month, a large party of 
 Indians were sent from Maiden on a war expedition to Lower 
 Sandusky. At a farm horse near that place, they murdered 
 the whole family, consisting of a man, his wife, son, and daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 " During the l»'»i attack upon Fort Meigs by general Proc- 
 tor, a party headed by a Seneca, an intimate friend of Tecum- 
 seh's, was sent to endeavour to detach from our interest the 
 Shawanese of Wapockanata. In their way thither they mur- 
 dered several men, and one woman who was working in her 
 cornfield. 
 
 " I have selected, sir, the above from a long list of similar 
 instances of barbarity, which the history of the last fifteen 
 months could not furnish ; because they were perpetrated* if 
 not in the view of the British commander, by parties who canie 
 immediately from his camp and returned to it — who even l-f!* 
 ceived their daily support from the king's stores, who in fact 
 (as the documents in my possession will show) form part of his 
 urmy. 
 
 " To retaliate then upon the subjects of the king would 
 have been justifiable by the laws of war and the usages of the 
 most civilized nations. To do so lias been amply in my power. 
 The tide of fortune has changed in our favour, and an exten- 
 sive and flourishing province opened to our arms. The fu- 
 ture conduct of the British officers will determine the correct- 
 ness of mine in withholding it. If the savages should be again 
 let loose upon our settlements, I shall with justice be accused 
 of having sacrificed the interests and honour of my country, 
 and the lives of our fellow citizens, to feelings of false and 
 mistaken humanity. You are a soldier, sir, and, as I sincerely 
 believe, possess all the honourable sentiments which ought 
 always to be found in men who^follow the profession of arms. 
 Use then, I pray you, your authority and influence to stop the 
 dreadful effusion of innocent blood which pi ^ eeds from the 
 employment of those savage mor^ersy mj^^^ aid (as must 
 now be discovered) is so little to be depended upon when it is 
 most wanted, and which can have so trifling an eff'ect upon the 
 issue of the war. The effect of their barbarizes will not be 
 confined to the present generation. Ages yet to come will 
 iSCi tiic uccp rootcu iiatrcu uiid eaiTiity whicli they must pro- 
 duce between the two nations. 
 
 " I deprecate most sincerely the dreadful alternative which 
 
136 
 
 IlISTORV OF THE WAFi 
 
 r^i 
 
 V- , 
 
 ■} .. 
 
 1*1 
 
 Will be offered to me should they be continued, hut I solcmniy 
 dcclare, that if the Indians that remain under the influence of 
 the British jvovcrnment are suffered to commit any depi-edu 
 tion8 upon the citizens within the district that is committed to 
 my protection, I will remove the restrictions which have hith- 
 erto been imposed upon those who have offered their serviccH 
 to the United States; and direct them to carry on the war iii 
 their own way. I have never heard, a single excuse for the 
 employment of the savajijes by your (government, unless we can 
 credit the story of some British officer having dared to assert, 
 that, ' as we employed the Kentuckians, you had a right to 
 make use of the Indians." If such injurious sentiments have 
 really prevailed, to the prejudice of abrave, well-informedTand 
 virtuous people, it will be removed by the representations of 
 your officers who were lately taken on the river Thames. Thc> 
 will inform you, sir, that so far from offering any violence to 
 the persons of their prisoners, these ^flfa^'**'* would not permit 
 a word to escape them which was calculated to wound or in- 
 sult their feelings, and this too with the sufferings of their 
 friends and relatives at the river Uaisin and Miami, fresh upon 
 their recollection. 
 
 " P. S. I pledge myself for the truth of the above statemeia 
 in relation to the murders committed by the Iddians." 
 
 General Vincent, in reply, stated, that " the account givCn 
 of the British officers, whom the fortune of war has lately pla- 
 ced at the disposal of the United States, is such, as cannot fail 
 affording very consoling reflections to this army and thei; 
 anxious friends 
 
 "Though you must be sensible," continues he, " that there 
 are several points in your letter respecting vrhich it is wholly 
 beyond my power to afford you the satisfaction of an ' explicit 
 declaration,* yet be assured, sir, I shall never feel the smallest 
 dei;! ee of hesitation in joining you in any pledge, that it will 
 ever be my anxious wish and endeavour to alleviate as much as 
 possible the fate of those who may fall into my power by the 
 chnnces of war. 
 
 '■■ Believe me, sir, I deprecate as strongly as yourself the 
 per;:.etration of acts of cruelty committed under any pretext; 
 and shall lament equally with yourself that any state of things 
 should produce them. No efforts of mine will be ever want- 
 ing to diminish the evils of a state of warfare, as far as may 
 be consistent with the duties which are due to. ray king and 
 country. 
 
 « The Indians when acting in conjunction with the troops 
 \mder my command, have been invariably exhorted to mercy, 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 J 37 
 
 hanies. Thc\ 
 
 >ve statement 
 
 jiiul have never been deaf to my anxious entreaties on this in- 
 teresting subject. 
 
 " I shall not fail to transmit the original of your letter to the 
 lower province, for the consideraticn of his excellency the 
 f;ommander of the forces." 
 
 The war with Great Britain, during the two first campaigns 
 was productive of no events which materially altered the situ- 
 ation of the two countries. With sufficient occupation for her 
 troops in the European peninsula, and with every nerve strain- 
 ed- in bringing forth her pecuniary resources, for the support 
 of her allies in Russia and Germany, Great Britain was. unable 
 to make any eflTectual impression on the United States, and 
 could not even have preserved her North American provinces, 
 I)iit for the raw and undiciplined state of the American forces, 
 and the want of knowledge and experience in their comman- 
 ders. But, amidst all the reverses that attended the first ef- 
 forts of the army of America, the native bravery of her sons 
 was sufficiently apparent. The events even of the first two cam- 
 paigns sufficiently proved, that nothing but hp.bita of discipline 
 and able Icailers were wanting to convert this rude mass into a 
 body of warriors, not unworthy to defend the soil of freedom, 
 and to carry vengeance against the most powerful aggressors 
 upon the rights of their country. 
 
 While the army was thus acquiring discipline in the fields 
 of Upper Canada, and in the pathless desarts of Ohio, the re- 
 publican navy had an apparently still more difficult task to per- 
 ioini. Having annihilated the navies of Europe, in the course 
 of a twenty years war, Britain was enabled fearlessly to cover 
 our coasts with her thousand ships of war. The navy of Ame- 
 rica was an object of ridicule with the British nation, aid it was 
 confidently predicted in her legislative assembly, that m a few 
 short months the « half dozen fir-built frigates, with a piece of 
 striped bunting at the mast-head" would be swept from the 
 ocean. Nay, even the forebodings of our friends were but lit, 
 tie more favourable. What could a few frigates and sloops of 
 vvar effect against a fleet, which had succeeded in breaking 
 down every naval power in the world, and who could exclaim, 
 almost without an hyperbole: 
 
 " The winds and seas are Britain's -wide domain, 
 " ^nd not a sail but by permission sfireads."* 
 
 * British Naval Re^iste^ 
 
i^\. 
 
 138 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 -J^'r'J.. , 
 
 But this arduous task was undertaken with undaunted firm- 
 ness, and the result was as brilliant as unexpected. Frigate 
 met with frigate, and fleet with fleet, and tae flag of the con- 
 querors of the world was repeatedly struck to the infant navy 
 of the rude republicans. To hide the disgrace, the enemy was 
 lam to claim kindred with those they had affected to call a de- 
 generate and outcast race, or to resort to the more unfair and 
 mean subterfuge of designating as « seventy-fours in disguise," 
 the same frigates which they had had numerous opportunities 
 ot examining, both in our ports and their own, and which but a 
 lew months before they had laughed to scorn. The British 
 vessels were also made to undergo a metamorphosis, but in an 
 inverse ratio to that of the Americans. Their ships, brigs, 
 schooners, and sloops were converted into gun-boats, in the fu- 
 tile hope of tearing the wreath from the brows of the noble 
 Perry, whose modest demeanour and humane conduct was 
 such as to extort the reluctant applause even of those who sub- 
 mitted to liis prowess. 
 
 Instead, therefoi-e, of being confined to our ports, or swept 
 from the ocean, the little navy of America visited every sea 
 and every where unfurled her stripes and stars. Nor did the 
 coasts of the mistress of the ocean escape. Vessels were even 
 captured in her own narrow seas. 
 
 Meanwhile the British navy was employed in the vain at- 
 tempt of « hermetrically sealing the American ports," or in ha- 
 rassing the coasts of the Chesapeake by petty marauding ex- 
 cursions, whose prime object seems to have been the burning 
 of farm-houses and oyster-boats, or the plundering stock and 
 tobacco, on this extensive and defenceless frontier. 
 
 But by the occurrence of one of the most wonderful events 
 in this most Wonderful era, the war was now to assume a veiy 
 different aspect. Our republican institutions were destined to 
 undergo a fiery trial, and the hitherto problematical question to 
 be resolved, whether a free government, which derived its 
 chief strength from public opinion, was capable of sustaining 
 Itself single-handed during a conflict with a power possejised 
 of apparently boundless resources, and whose armies had just 
 returned from ".conquering the conquerors of Europe," a*id 
 dictating an ignominious peace in their capital. Nor were 
 other unfavourable circumstances wanting to darken the cloud 
 which hung over America at this eventful period. The treasu- 
 ry, one of the principal sinews of war, was nearly beggared by the 
 temporising policy and ruinous expedients which^had been re- 
 sorted to, and the policy of the enemy had succeeded in draining 
 the country of its circulating medium to such an extent, as to 
 
sis were even 
 
 uiSToay OF tHE war. 139 
 
 induce a general stoppage of specie payments by the banks in 
 
 almost every section of the country. Perhaps a more interest- 
 
 '"esented *'^"'^"*'^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ occurred than this crisis 
 
 The main body of the American army on the Canadian fron- 
 
 fFVrnTJ;^u'"'T^^^'°Vgh the winter in their cantonments 
 at t rench Mills. Preparations, however, were early made for 
 the opening of the ensuing campaign ; and towards the middle 
 ot February, after havmg destroyed their temporary barracks, 
 and the major part of their boats, the army maVchedintwo co- 
 lumns, the one under general Brown for Sackett's Harbour, the 
 other towards lake Champlain, under general Macomb. Gen- 
 eial Wilkinson remained one day behind for the protection of 
 the rear, and then followed Macomb to Plattsburg. The march 
 Gt both columns was unmolested by the enemy. 
 
 No further movements were made until the end of March 
 when general Wilkinson, learning that general Brown had 
 inarched from Sackett's Harbour against Fort NiagaraTdeter. 
 mined upon attempting a diversion in his favour. He accord- 
 nigly put his army in motion on the Odelltown road, and, enter- 
 uig Canada on tne 30th of March, advanced againsJ a position 
 occupied by the enemy on the river La Cole, where the British 
 
 iTher defences. '^^ ''°"^ ""'"' ^""^ "'""'^^ "^ blockhouse and 
 An eighteen pounder had been ordered forward to effect the 
 destruction of the mill, but it broke down, and after bein^ i-e- 
 paired, the only road of approach, through a deep forestfwas 
 reported to be impracticable to a gun of such weight. An ooi- 
 mon prevailed with the chief engineer, and several of the best 
 intormed officers, that an iron twelve would suffice to make a 
 
 of n'nlv U "' f''/ ^r ""1^ '^^^^"^ experiment, at a distance 
 ot only three hundred yards, it was discovered that the battery 
 could make no impression. ^ 
 
 During this cannonade, which was returned by a s^ood and 
 some gun-boats from Isle aux Noix, several sorties and despe- 
 rate charges were made from the m$l upon the American bat- 
 tery ; these were repulsed with great coolness by the covering: 
 corps, and the who e body engaged displayed the utmost gallan- 
 try and bravery, during the affair. The conduct of clpahi 
 M'Pherson, who commanded the battery, is partVuhrV no 
 iced by general Wilkinson, who also states that h^ was adml 
 Tably seconded by lieutenants Larrabee and Sheldon. M'Pher- 
 son and Larrabee were both severelv wmmdeH 
 \™fn"^ ail attempts to make a breach unsuccessful, general 
 \\ rlkinson withdrew the battery, called in his detachments, and 
 
 .t«»r. ;"^WEi,* 
 
uo 
 
 lUSTORV OF THE WAK*. 
 
 
 after removing the dead and wounded, and every thing else, fell 
 back, unmolested, the same evening, about three miles, to 
 Odelltown, a small tovrn just within the Canada lines. 
 
 The force of the British at the position of La Cole, was re- 
 ported, from a source on which reliance might be placed, at 
 5500 men. That of the Americans is unofficially stated at be- 
 tween three and four thousand. A small part of this force 
 however was actually engaged. The loss of the Americans 
 in killed and wounded on this occasion was between 80 and 
 90. That of the British was 10 killed, 46 wounded, and 4 
 missing. 
 
 This inauspicious opening of the campaign, joined to the fail- 
 ure of the expedition against Montreal the preceding au- 
 tumn, threw a great deal of odium on general Wilkinson, and 
 he was shortly after superceded in the command by general 
 Izai'd.* 
 
 Meantime general Brown, after remaining for a short period 
 at Sackett's Harbour, put his troops in motion towards the 
 Niagara frontier. Expectations were entertained that he 
 would immediately drive the enemy from his position in the 
 American territory, but these expectations were disappointed. 
 During the spring months, tranquility reigned uninterrupted 
 along the whole line of the Upper Canada frontier, save by a 
 few partial encounters, which shall be noticed in the order in 
 which they occurred. 
 
 • A small force, cosnsisting of about 180 rangers and mounted 
 infantry, under captain Holmes, was dispatched by lieutenant- 
 colonel Butler, the commander at Detroit, against Delaware, a 
 British post on the river Thames. This detachment had set 
 out with artillery, but the state of the country presenting invin- 
 cible obstacles to its transportation, it was left behind. By 
 these means, and by sending back the sick to Detroit, Holmes 
 little force was diminished to about 160 men. 
 
 On the 3d of March, intelligence was received, that a body 
 of the enemy, nearly double his force, was descending the 
 Thames, one half of whom were regulars, and the remainder 
 militia and Indians. Holmes immediately retreated a few 
 miles, and took an excellent position on the we stem bank of a 
 creek, which ran through a deep and wide ravine. Captain 
 
 * General Wilkinson was tried by a court martial held at 
 Troy^ in the state o/ JVew Yo7'k^on various accusations exhibit- 
 
 was honourably acquitted of all the charges exhibite4 against 
 htm. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 .14.1 
 
 'hibit€4 against \ 
 
 Gill was left with a few rangers to cover the rear, and watch 
 the mo ions of the enemy ; but hardly had the main body en- 
 camped, before they were joined by the rangers, who had been 
 driven in, after exchanging a few shots with the British ad- 
 vanced corps, in a vain attempt to reconnoitre their force 
 
 During the night of the 3d, the British encamped upon the 
 eastern heights, and next morning succeeded in drawing cap- 
 lain Holmes from his position by a weli contrived stratagem 
 which, had It been skilfully followed up, could hardly haveS 
 ed to even ua e in the destruction of the American detachment 
 Fortunately however, this was not the case. At sun-risT the 
 enemy exhibited a small and scattered force on the opposUe 
 heights, who retreated, after ineffectually firing at the Amer\! 
 ran camp, and the reconnoitering party reported that the retreat 
 
 ^nnuV? ' ,' ^*^^^ J^^dgmg from their trail and fires, they 
 could not exceed seventy men. Mortified at the ideaofhavins 
 ZZf^t^ ^'""^ '^^' diminutive force, Holmes instantly com? 
 menced the pursuit, and resumed the idea of attacking the ene- 
 -my s post. He had not, however, proceeded beyond five miles, 
 when his advance discovered the enemy, in considerable force 
 arranging themselves for battle. ' 
 
 The stratagem of the enemy being now apparent, captain 
 
 lolmes instantly took advantage of the blunder which they 
 had committed, in not throwing themselves in his rear, and 
 thus placing his detachment between a fortified position and a 
 superior foyce; and happily he soon regained his former posi- 
 lion. Here, placing the horses and baggage in the centre, he 
 lonned his troops a-tootin a hollow square, to prevent the ne- 
 .cssity of evolution, which such raw troops were incompetent 
 
 o perform m action Holmes thus calmly waited the approach 
 ot the enenriy, in defiance of the murmurs of his men, who were 
 unammously m favour of a retreat, thinking it madness to en- 
 i!:age with so superior a fwce. 
 
 The attack was commenced simultaneously on every front, 
 he militia and ndians attacking from the north, west and south 
 
 .i^,n ^?^^^'"K """"f ^"^^"'^ sounding, and the regulars charg-' 
 
 "g up the heights fiom the ravine on the east The latter 
 
 bravely approached to within 20 paces of the American line 
 
 sgainst the most destructive fire. .But the front section beSg 
 
 s hot to pieces, those who fo lowed much thinned and wounded. 
 
 tte cTl^^ .^i".^!^""''^ ^"^ ^^^^"' ^'^«>' ''^'^ ^^^'^^^ to abandon 
 I. r.n... ^., ^.cl taKc cover ill tne woods in difiused order, with- 
 
 Brhk^ 'V ^f '"' ''^'^''' ^"^-g«»i«ts. The cnarge'of the 
 Bnush regulars thus repulsed, they had recourse to their am- 
 
 N 
 
 n 
 
142 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 Mi 
 
 munition, and the firing encreased on both sides with great vi- 
 vacity. The American regulars, being uncovered, were or- 
 dered to kneel, that the brow of the heights might assist in- 
 screening them from the view of the enemy. But the enemy's 
 cover also proved insufficient, a common sized tree being una- 
 ble to protect even one man from the extended line of Ame- 
 ricans; much less the squads hat often stood and breathed their 
 last together. 
 
 On the other three sides the firing was sustained with much 
 coolness, and with considerable loss to the foe. The troops on 
 those sides being protected by logs hastily thrown together, 
 and the enemy not charging, both the rifle and musket were 
 aimed at leisure, with that deadly certainty which distinguish- 
 es the American backwoodsman. Unable to sustain so une- 
 qual contest, therefore, and favoured by the shades of twilight, 
 the British commenced a general retreat, after an hour's close 
 and gallant conflict. 
 
 CaptJrtn Holmes declined a pursuit, as the enemy were still 
 superior bot|i in numbers and discipline, and as the night would 
 have insured success to an ambuscade. Besides, as the creek 
 would have to be passed and the heights ascended, the attempt 
 to pursuQ would have given the enemy the same advantage 
 which produced their defeat, as it could be passed on horse- 
 back at no other point ; and the troops being fatigued and frost, 
 bitten, and their shoes cut to pieces by the frozen ground, it 
 was not possible to pursue on foot. Captain Holmes accord- 
 ini4,ly returned to Detroit. 
 
 The American loss, in killed and wounded, on this occasion, 
 amounted only to a non-commissioned officer and six privates ; 
 T-he British official account states their loss at 1 4 killed, 5 1 
 wounded, 1 missing,- and 1 officer wounded and taken. Two 
 of the officers were killed, and the same number wounded. 
 This statement does not include the loss of the Indians. The 
 whole American fc/ce in action consited of 150 rank and file, 
 of whom includin.i,^ the rangers, 70 were militia. The British 
 regulars aloi.e were from 150 to 180 strong, and the militia and 
 Indians fought upon three sides of the square. 
 
 On lake Ontiirio, the British still preserved the superiority 
 which the addition to their squadron had conferred on th<^m 
 the preceding autumn. Measures, however, were in rapid pro- 
 gress at Sackett's Harbour, towards placing the hostile fleets 
 on a more equal footing. A handsome ship, rated 44 guns, and 
 
 t^ari'vino" «ift. •wn>i Inimrlifrl on the fir«t »^f TVTotr "W/K;!^ +U\i- 
 
 vessel was on the stocks, an unsuccessful attempt was made 
 by the enemy to blow her up. The boats employed in this eoter- 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 US 
 
 s occasion. 
 
 prize were discovered by the American guard boats in the bay 
 and were forced to fly, after throwing their kegs of powder 
 overboard. 
 
 Commodore Yeo pursued a similar policy to that which gov- 
 erned him the preceding summer. As long as he was mani- 
 festly superior in force to Chauncey, his fleet ruled the lake ; 
 but nothing could induce him to hazard an engagement, when 
 the force of his rival was nearly equal to his. During that part 
 of the summer, when this was the case, he lay snug in King- 
 ston harbour. This is by no means said in disparagement of 
 tiie British commander ; for every circumstance shows that 
 this was the wisest policy ; and perhaps the only one which 
 could have saved Upper Canada. 
 
 On the 5th of May the British naval force under Sir James 
 Lucas Yeo, consisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a 
 number of gun and other boats, appeared off* the village of Os- 
 wego, having on board seven companies of infantry, a detach- 
 ment of artillery, and a battalion of marines, under the com- 
 mand of lieutenant-general Drummond. This post being but 
 occasionally, and not recently occupied by regular troops, was 
 in a bad state of defence. It was garrisoned by about 300 re- 
 gulars, under lieutenant-colonel Mitchell, who had only arriv- 
 ed a few days before. Lieutenant Woolsey of the nivy, with 
 a small body of seamen, was also at the village, and as soon as 
 the fleet appeared, the neighbouring militia were called in. — 
 About 1 o'clock the fleet approached, and 15 boats, large and 
 crowded with troops, at a given signal moved slowly to the 
 shore. These were preceded by gun-boats, aent to rake the 
 woods and cover the landing, while tJhe larger vessels opened i 
 fire upon the fort. As soon as the debarking boats got within 
 range of the shot from the shore batteries, a very successful 
 fire opened upon them, which twice compelled them to retire. 
 They at length returned to the ships, and thq whole stood off 
 from the shore for better anchorage. Several boats which had 
 been deserted by the enemy were taken up in the evening, one 
 of which was 60 feet long, carried thirty-six oars and three 
 sails, and could accommodate 1 50 men. She ha^ received a 
 ball through her bow, and was nearly Allied with wsater. 
 
 At day-break next moming the fleet appeared bearing up 
 under easy sail, and about noon the frigates took a position di- 
 rectly against the fort and batteries, and opened a heavy fire, 
 which was kept up for three hours, while the brigs, schooners, 
 aaui gun-boats covered by their fire the debarkation of the troops. 
 The Americans were now forced to retreat into the rear of the 
 fort, where two companies met the advancing columns of tlie 
 
144 
 
 MWTOllY OF THE WAR. 
 
 enemy, while the others engaged their flanks. Lieutenant 
 Pcarce of the navy and some seamen, joined in the attack, and' 
 {ought with their characteristic bravery. After a short action, 
 Mitchell again commenced a retreat, which was effected in 
 good order, destroying the bridges in his rear. Indeed a retreat 
 had become necessary for the protection of the stores at the 
 falls 13 miles in the rear of the fort, which were supposed to 
 form the principal object of the expedition. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 7th, the British evacuated the 
 place, and retired to their shipping, after destroying the fort 
 and those public stores which they could not carry away. These 
 stores were not important, the most valuable having been dc- 
 posited at the falls. 
 
 The American official account states their loss at 6 killed, 
 -38 wounded, and 25 missing; that of the British states theirs 
 at 19 killed and 75 wounded. Among them were several of- 
 ficers. Mitchell states the force landed at 1550 men, while 
 the Americans engaged did not exceed 300, being 4 compa- 
 nies of the 3d artillery under captains Boyle, Romaync M*In- 
 tyre, and Pierce, a company of light artillery under captain 
 Melvin, and a small detachment of sailors under lieutenant 
 Pearce of the navy. 
 
 A short time after this event, the British fleet appeared neap 
 the mouth of the Gennesee river, where about 1 60 volunteers 
 were stationed, with one piece of artillery. Captain Stone, the 
 commanding officer, dispatched expresses for assistance to 
 different quarters. The following day the commodo!-e's new 
 ship came to anchor off the mouth of the river, and sent an 
 officer on shore with a flag, demanding the sin-render of the 
 place, and promising tb respect private property in case no re- 
 sistance should be made, and all public property faithfully dis- 
 closed and given up. General Porter arrived while the flag 
 was on shore, and returned for answer that the place would 
 be defended to the last extremity. On the return of the flag, 
 two gun-boats, with from 200 to 300 men on board, advanced 
 to the river, which is about a mile from the town and battery, 
 and commenced a heavy cannonade, directed partly to the 
 town, and partly to bt»dies of troops who had been placed in 
 ravines near the mouth of the river, to intercept the retreat of 
 the gun-boats, in case they should enter. 
 
 At the expiration of an hour and a half, during which time 
 they threw a great number of rockets, sheels, and shot of dif- 
 
 .-'5-.iK •a^..^^.iipli■^J^lo, xiuiii giapC lU OoluS., U SCCOHa Hrtg WES 
 
 sent from the commodore's ship, requiring, in the name of the 
 comn\ander of the forces, m immediate surrender, and threats 
 
nnfoart of the war. 
 
 145 
 
 lln?A9nn *^;^^^"™a"d ^as not complied with, he would 
 land 1200 regular troops and 4D0 Indians; that if he should 
 lose a single man, he would raze the town and destroy everv 
 JnH .f M P'^I^^^Y* f"d that it was his request that the women 
 and children might be immediately removed, as he eould no 
 be accountable for the conduct of the Indians. , He Xttold 
 that the answer to his demand had already been e^Ucit ' 
 given; that they were prepared to meet hin[, the womenTnd 
 children havmg been disposed of; and fthat if aiToXr fla^ 
 
 tTected "The'V'" '^""'^'V- 1— ^er, it would not bf 
 protected. 1 he flag returned with the gun-boats to the fleet 
 the whole of which came to anchor about a mile from the shore 
 
 left [he pla'ci!' ""'' ' °''^''' ^" ^^^"^'^^ "^«"-^' -d^hS ' 
 
 On _the evening of the following day, the British souadron 
 was discovered making towards Pulteneyville, anotl ei sma 
 village on the margin of lake Ontario, and informa ion w' 
 
 ,XL '^^n'r^n^l^'' ''^^ ^-P-ired thither in the course ofThe 
 "ight, with 130 volunteers and militia. Next mornine- a fli^ 
 was sent on shore demanding a peaceable suTendeLf alf 
 public property, and threatening an immediate destruith,n of 
 the village m case of refusal. General Swift returned foi 
 answer, that he .hould oppose any attempt to land, Tall the 
 means m his power. Soon after the return of the flap- Ll 
 ever, general Swift was induced, by the presirsoUcUa^on^ 
 and entreaties of the inhabitaiits of\he town, t^^rn U ^^^^^^^ 
 Its citizens to go to the enemy with a flag, and offe^r the surren 
 der of the property contained in a store-house at tl e water^s 
 edge, consistmg of about 100 barrels of flour coisiderablv 
 damaged, on condition that the commanding o^e would 
 stipulate not to take any otiicr, nor molest fhe hihabiTams^ 
 But before its return, the enemy sent their gun-boats with se 
 vera hundred men on shoi-e, who took posslssion of th^flou; 
 in the store, and weire proceeding to further depredation, 
 when general Swift commenced a fire upon them f?om an i^I ' 
 jacent wood, which wounded several, and became so E-assint 
 as to induce them to re-embark. They theT commenced I 
 cannonade from the fleet upon the townf whic^i waTTontinued 
 
 tacnment of 120 riflemen and a fow Oneida warriors under 
 
 N 2 
 
14G 
 
 HISTORV OF THE WAM. 
 
 the command of major Appling, of the first United State s rifle 
 legimcnt. 
 
 Major Appling had been detached to protect the cannon and 
 naval stores at Oswego, destined for commodore Chauncey's 
 fleet. They were embarked on board a flotilla of boats, in 
 charge of captain Woolsey of the navy, and had arrived safely 
 in Sandy Creek. Here they were pursued by the enemy who 
 was gallantly met by the riflemen, and after an action of a few 
 minutes, beaten and taken, without the loss of a man ; an In- 
 dian and one rifleman only being wounded. 
 
 The riflemen were most judiciously posted along the bank, 
 a short distance below captain Woolsey's boats, where the 
 creek is narrow and shoal. Most of the men having with- 
 drawn from the boats, the enemy gave three cheers at the 
 prospect of the rich prize before him. His joy, however, was 
 of short duration, for at this moment the riflemen poured forth 
 their deadly fire, which in about ten minutes terminated in his 
 total defeat, leaving an officer and 1 3 men killed, two officers 
 and 28 me A wounded (the officers and many of the men dan- 
 gerously); the residue, consisting of 10 officers and 133 men, 
 taken prisoners. 
 
 Major Appling speaks in the highest t°rms of the courage 
 and good conduct of his officers and inen. Captain Harris 
 with his troop of dragoons, and captain Melvin with his two 
 ilcld-pieces, had made a rapid march, and would in a few mi- 
 nutes have been ready to participate in the action, had the ene- 
 my been able to make a stand. 
 
 The captured officers and men spoke in the highest terms 
 of commendation of major Appling and his rifle corps, to 
 whose humane and spirited conduct they are probably indebt- 
 ed for the preservation of their lives. The Indians were the 
 first to reach the enemy after they submitted, and had com- 
 menced executing the savage rule of warfare, sanctioned by 
 Anglo-Indian example at the river Raisin, Lcwistown, Tusca- 
 rora, &c. of murdering their prisoners, when the major and 
 his men happily arrived, and succeeded, by a prompt and de- 
 termined course, though not without violence, in terminating 
 the tragic scene.* 
 
 * A71 Indian chief is said to have given vent to his feelingi 
 on this occasion in language similar to the folloiving:-^^^ When 
 Sritip.h come to Buffalo^ theu kill ivhite man^ tkev kill Indian^ 
 they kill ivoman^ they burn all houses — ivhen British come herc^ 
 you no k( Indian kill him — you give him eut'—this no good." 
 
HXfiTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ur 
 
 d State s rifle 
 
 ,e cannon and 
 Chauncey's 
 of boats, in 
 irrived safely 
 ) enemy who 
 tion of a few 
 man ; an lu- 
 ng the bank, 
 I, where the 
 having with- 
 heers at the 
 [lowever, was 
 poured forth 
 linated in his 
 , two officers 
 the men dan- 
 and 133 men, 
 
 ' the courage 
 iptain Harris 
 with his two 
 i in a few mi- 
 , had the ene- 
 
 ighest terms 
 .fie corps, to 
 ibably indebt- 
 ans were the 
 ind had com- 
 lanctioned by 
 itown, Tusca- 
 he major and 
 ompt and de- 
 n terminating 
 
 his feelingi 
 Ing: — « When 
 V kill Indian, 
 ish come hefe^ 
 '.s no ,go<}d'* 
 
 No further events took place on this lake during the war 
 worth recording, excepting the capture and destruction of a 
 gun-boat at the head of the St. Lawrence, and the burning of 
 a vessel of war on the stocks at Presque Isle. Both these ex- 
 ploits were performed by lieutenant Gregory. 
 
 Nothing of importance took place on lake Erie. The only- 
 hostile event that c ccurred was the destruction of some mills 
 employed in manufacturing flour for the British army, at Long 
 Pomt, by colonel 'Campbell, with a detachment of 500 or 600 
 men from Erie. T he mills and some houses occupied as stores 
 were burned. About 50 dragoons stationed there as a guard 
 made their escape, when the party returned without losing ^ 
 man. This even ., which was certainly not strictly justified by 
 the laws of war, tiiough sanctioned by the practice of the ene- 
 my, was an unau horised act on the part of colonel Campbell 
 A court of enqi iry was held on his conduct, whose opinion 
 was unanimously pronounced as follows: 
 
 "That, consid:; ring the important supplies of bread-stuff's, 
 which from the evidence it appears the enemy's forces derived 
 from the flour-ir anufacturing mills at and near to Dover, colo- 
 nel Campbell was warranted in destroying those mills, accord- 
 ing to the laws ; .nd usages of war, and, for a like reason, the 
 court think him justified in burning the distilleries under the 
 said laws and u ,ages. The saw-mills and carding machine 
 from their contiguity to the other mills, were, as the court 
 conceives, nece isarily involved in one and the same burning 
 
 " In respect i.o ihe burning of the dwelling and other houses 
 in the village ol, Dover, the court are fully of opinion that colo- 
 nel Campbell las erred; that he can derive no justification 
 from the fact, hat the owners of these houses were actively 
 opposed to the American interests in the present war,orfr(Jm 
 the other facts, that some of them Avere at the conflagration of 
 Bui.alo. In their partizan services it does not appear to the 
 court, that the inhabitants of Dover have done more than their 
 proper allegiance required of them; and the destruction of 
 Buffalo, by a 1 .eutenant-general of the enemy's regular forces 
 was emphaticf.lly the wrong of the British government itself! 
 rendered such by its subsequent adoption of the measure, and 
 ought not to be ascribed to a few Canadians who were present 
 at the time. 
 
 « Acts of retaliation, on the part of a nation proud of its 
 rights, and conscious of the power of enforcing hem, should, 
 1 u""' ~* — ,,,.v, .^v t'^iu^-vaiiLxy icsuitcu icj, ana on- 
 ly by instructions from the highest in authority. That no such 
 instructions were given in the case under consideration, is not 
 
1: 
 
 1-48 
 
 HISTORY or THE WAR. 
 
 increly inferred from the absence of evidence to that cffcci 
 but 18 candidly admitted by colonel Campbell in his official re- 
 port (which IS in evidence), wherein he expressly states— 
 
 i his expedition was undertaken by me without orders, and 
 upon my own responsibility.' 
 
 « The court, in delivering the above opinion unfavourable to 
 colonel Campbell, are fully aware of the strong incentives to a 
 just indignation which must have been present to his mind at 
 the time of this visit to Dover— the massacres of the Raisin 
 and the Miami were not yet forgotten, and the more recciu 
 devastation of the entire Niagara frontier, accompanied by 
 many acts of savage barbarity, m^s fresh in remembrance 
 Ihat these recollections should have aroused his feelintjs and 
 have swayed his judgment, does not excite wonder but reerot, 
 and there is still left for admiration his kind and amiable treat- 
 ment ot the women and children of Dover, abandoned by their 
 natural protectors." J '' 
 
 Meanwhile general Brovvn was accupied in colleetinir and 
 disciplmmg his forces, and preparing for the invasion of Canada. 
 On the evening of the 2d of July, general orders were issued 
 ior the emba-kation ot the troops by day-light next moniino:, 
 when the army, consisting of two brigades, and a body of New- 
 York and Pennsylvania volunteers and Indians, under general 
 F. B. Porter, were landed on the opposite shore, without op- 
 position. 1 he first brigade, under general Scott, and the ar- 
 tilleiy corps, uiidcr major Hindman, landed nearly a mile be- 
 low Fort Jirie, while general Ripley, uith the second britjade, 
 made the shore about die same distance above. The fort was 
 soon completely invested, and a battery of long eighteens beine 
 planted in a position which commanded it, the garrison, con- 
 sistmg of 137 men, including officers, surrendered prisoners 
 ot war. Several pieces of ordnance were found in the fort 
 and some military stores. ' 
 
 Having placed a small garrison in For.t Erie to secure his 
 rear. Brown moved forward the following day to Chippewa 
 plains, where he encamped for the night, after some skirmish- 
 mg with the enemy. 
 
 The American pickets were several times attacked on the 
 mormng of the 5th, by small parties of the British. About 
 tour in the afternoon, general Porter, with the volunteers and 
 Indians, was ordered to advance from the rear of the Ameri- 
 can camp, and take a circuit through the woods to the left, in 
 hopes of e-ettino- hi^vnnH fVi*» ci-;t<im;.K;^~ ^„..4.:„„ ^r ^i 
 
 and cutting oti their retreat, and to favour this purpose the 
 advance wer& ordered to fall back gr .dually under the enemy's 
 
HISXORT OF THE WAIl. 
 
 U9 
 
 fire. In about half an hour, however, Porter's advance met 
 the light parties in the woods, and drove them until the whole 
 column oi the British was met in order of battle. From the 
 clouds of dust and the heavy firing, general Brown concluded 
 that the entire force of the Britishr was in motion, and instant- 
 ly gave orders for general Scott io advance with his brigade 
 and Towson's artillery, and meet them on the plain in front of 
 the American camp. In a few minutes Scott was in close ac- 
 tion with a superior force of British regulars. 
 
 By this time Porter's volunteers having given way and fled, 
 the left flank of Scott's brigade became much exposed. Gen- 
 eral Ripley was accordingly ordered to advance with a part 
 ot the reserve, and skirting the woods on the left, in order to 
 keep out oi view, endeavour to gain the rear of the enemy's 
 right flank. The greatest exertions were made to gain this 
 position but in vain. Such was the galantry and impetuosity of 
 the brigade of general Scott, that its advance upon the enemy 
 was not to be checked. Major Jessup, commanding the bat- 
 talion on'the left flank, finding himself pressed both in front 
 and m flan»v, and his men falling fast around him, ordered his 
 battalion io « support arms and advance." Amidst the most 
 destructive fire this oider was pmmptly obeyed, and he soon 
 gained a more secure position, and returned upon the enemy so 
 galling a discharge, as caused them to retire. 
 
 The whole line of the British now fell back, and the Ameri- 
 can troops closely pressed upon them. As soon as the former 
 gained the sloping ground descending towards Chippewa, 
 they broke and ran to their works, distant about a quarter of a 
 jnile, and the batteries opening on the American line, consider- 
 ably checked the pursuit. Brown now ordered the ordnance 
 to be brought up, with the intention of forcing the works. But 
 on heir bemg examined, he was induced, by the luteness of 
 tlie hour, and the advice of his officers, to order the forces to 
 retire to camp. 
 
 The American official account states their loss at 60 killed, 
 
 t^. o'!'',"'!?^?' ^^ ^^ missing. The British officially state theirs 
 at 133 killed, 320 wounded, and 46 missing. 
 
 Dispirited as was the public mind at this period, the intelli- 
 gence of this brilliant and unexpected opening of the campaign 
 on the Niagara could not fail of bemg most joyftilly received. 
 1 he total overthrow of the French power had a few months be- 
 tore liberated the whole of the British forces in Europe. A 
 consiucrabie pot tioii of iord Wellington's army, flushed with 
 tneirlate successes in Spain, had arrived in Canada, and were 
 actually opposed to Brown at Chippewa, while all our maritime 
 
l50 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 r.l. 
 
 mi 
 
 towns were threatened by Britain's victorious armies, w^jfise 
 urrival was momentarily expected on the coast. When the in- 
 telligence of the stupendous events in Europe was first receiv- 
 cd, many consoled themselves with the idea, that the magnan- 
 imity of Great Britain would, freely grant in her prosperity, 
 what they had insisted we liever could force from her in her 
 adversity. Sincerely taking for realities the pretexts on which 
 our neutral rights had been infringed, they thought the ques- 
 tion of impressment now the almost single subject of dispute, 
 could easily be amicably arranged, when the affairs of the world 
 were so altered as to render it nearly impossible that Great 
 Britain could ever again be reduced to the necessity of'* fight- 
 mg for her existence; or, at all events, as the peace in Europe 
 had effectually removed the cause, and as the American gov- 
 ernment declined insisting on a formal relinquishme;it of the'' 
 practice, no difficulty would be thrown in the way of a general 
 and coniplete pacification of the world. 
 
 This illusion was soon dissipated. By the next advices from 
 Europe it was learned, that the cry for vengeance upon the 
 Americans was almost unanimous throughout the British em- 
 pire. The president was threatened with^the fate of Bonaparte, 
 and it was said that the American peace ought to be dictated 
 in Washington, as that of Europe had been at Paris. Even 
 in parliament* the idea was held out that peace ought not to 
 be thought of till America had received a signal punishment, 
 for having dared to declare war upon them while their forces 
 were engaged in "delivering Europe" from, its oppressorf. 
 The commencement of the negociations for peace, which had 
 been proposed by the British court, was suspended, and stren- 
 uous efforts were made to send to America as commanding a 
 force as possible. 
 
 Under these circumstances, a victory gained by the raw 
 
 Sir Joae/ih Yorke, one of the lords of the admirality, said 
 in fiarliament, « we have Mr. Madison to depose before we can 
 lay down our arms." 
 
 \ M a dinner given to lord Hill^ who was on the eve of sail- 
 ing at the head of an expedition against New-Orleans., he stated 
 the period when he should embark for America^ and added, that 
 " Ae had no doubt, with the means already there, together with 
 those on the way, and what were promised by his prince, he 
 
 should humble the YanlcPPa. and hrintr thf rn-ntcst fn n ahcpdu 
 
 - ' *-» A J 
 
 and u ccessful termination." Happy for his lordship he was- 
 soon after superseded in the command by general Peckenham^ 
 
 ser. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 151 
 
 troops of America over the veterans of Wellington, superior 
 HI numbers to the victors,* upon an open plain, and upon a 
 spot chosen by the British gn/eral, ha/a mJst b;neficiren- 
 dency, by dispelling the dread which the prowess of the Bri- 
 ish troops m Spain could not have failed to have produced Tiv 
 d?.. th "^^ ^[ their opponents. This battle was to the aJmy 
 what the victory of captain Hull had been to the navy S 
 the confidence which it thus inspired was surely most iust^v 
 fi^unded, for every man felt that\he victory had been VCed 
 by superior skill and discipline : it was not the fruit of ^y ac- 
 cidental mistake or confusion in the army of the enemy?or of 
 cxdt'em'eiu onT:'".?^^ of temporary p'anic on one s'lde, or 
 f^Z ? ^"^ ^^^ ''^^'^''' ^^^^^ sometimes give a victory to 
 in egular courage over veteran and disciplined valour 
 
 ■hazar7.nn.hr^^ "" ^^^^^'' '^^ ^"'*^'* could not be induced to 
 C MniL S l"e^e^"^^n'- They abandoned their works at 
 and^orr ^^^"»"g their barracks, retired to fort Niagara 
 Tected to ,3'' P^«^^»>:-^«»°^^d by Brown. Here he^ex- 
 Sacketf! wf ^ T^ ^^^:!y S""' ^"^ reinforcements from 
 bv cxnrA. r "' ' ^""^ ?"r.^^.^ ^^^ °^ ^"'y ^^ ^^^^i^^d a letter 
 was Work JT, ^'"^'^^ ^^'"''' ^^^^^^"^ ^i"* that that port 
 aoi e Chauncey was confined to his bed with a fever. Thus dis- 
 for^ts'al.'" ^"^f ^P/^tations of being enabled to reduce the 
 
 ^icumbe th?'' °* r\' ^''^''"' ^^^'" determined to dis- 
 lin^f^ H the army of baggage, and march directly for Bur- 
 hng on Heights To mask this intention, and to draw from 
 Schbsser a small supply of provisions, he fdl back upon CM^- 
 
 Pv^,!i''"V"°°"T°'' ^^^ ^^t^' B:eneral Brown was advised by an 
 expiess from Lewistown, that the British were following him, 
 
 hlZ"" tZT^'^'T'^'' ^°''^^"^ Queenstown and L hs 
 nugius , that four of the enemy's fleet had arrived with re- 
 
 tumb'r^^tf^ the preceding night, and that 
 
 y attei, intelligence was brought that the enemy were land- 
 
 S ^,\.7^^'t,^^"' ^»d that the baggage and stores at Schlos- 
 
 ^ei,.aiid on their w ay thither, were in danger of immediate 
 
 ^ * The British official accounts state the American forces to 
 -^^'^ been suficrior in number. This afifiarent contradiction 
 ■nay be reconciled by observing, that a single brigade of the 
 fl ^ A f ' "'''"' "^"-'^-c" '^"c -uiciory i me votunieers having 
 fJL .J '''^''''' commenced, 'while the brigade of general 
 ^i/iley had arrived on the ground, nvhen the British took sheU 
 '^r behind their %vorks 
 
U2 
 
 HISTORY or TIIK WAH. 
 
 !i^ 
 
 capture. In order to recal the British frotn this objeci, 
 Brown determined to put the arnly in motion towards Queens- 
 town, and accordingly general Scott was directed to advance 
 with the first brigade, Towson's artillery, and all the dragoons 
 and mounted men, with orders to report if the enemy appear- 
 ed, and if necessary to call for assistance. On his arrival near 
 the falls, Scott learned that the enemy was in force directly 
 in his front, a narrow piece of woods alone intercepting his 
 view of them. He immediately advanced upon them, after 
 dispatching a messenger to general Brown with this intelli- 
 gence. 
 
 The report of the connon and small arms reached general 
 Brown before the messenger, and orders were instantly issued 
 for general Ripley to march to the support of general Scott, 
 with the second brigade and all the artillery, and Brown him- 
 self repaired within speed to the scene of action, whence he 
 sent orders for general Porter to advance with his volunteers. 
 On reaching the field of battle, general Brown found that 
 Scott had, passed the wood, and engaged the enemy on the 
 Queenstown road and on the ground to the left of it, with the 
 9th, 11th, and 22d regiments, and Towson's artillery, the 
 25th having been thrown on the right to be governed by cir- 
 cumstances. The contest was close and desparate, and the 
 American troops, far inferior in numbers, suffered severely. 
 
 Meanwhile major Jessup, who commanded the 25th regi- 
 ment, taking advantage of a fault committed by the British 
 commander, by leaving a road unguarded on his left, threw 
 himself promptly into the rear of the enemy, where he was 
 enabled to operate with the happiest effect. The slaughter 
 was dreadful ; the enemy's line fled down the road at the third 
 or fourth fire. The capture of general Riall, with a large es- 
 cort of officers of rank, was part of the trophies of Jessup's 
 intrepidity and skill ; and, but for the impression of an un- 
 founded report^ under which he unfortunately remained for a 
 few minutes, lieutenant general Drummond, the commander 
 of the British forces, would inevitably have fallen into his 
 hands, an event which would, in all probability, have comple- 
 ted the disaster of the British army. Drummond was com- 
 pletely in Jessup's iK)wer; but being confidently informed that 
 the first brigade was cut in pieces, and finding himself with 
 less than 200 men, and without any prospect of support, in 
 the midst of an overwhelming hostile force, he thought of no- 
 thing, for the moment, but to make good his retreat, and save 
 his command. Of this temporary suspense of the advance 
 of the American column, general Drummond availed himself 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 15; 
 
 this objeti, 
 irds Queens- 
 1 to advance 
 :he dragoons 
 emy appear- 
 arrival near 
 •rce directly 
 rcepting his 
 them, after 
 this intelli* 
 
 ;hed general 
 tantly issued 
 meral Scott, 
 Brown him- 
 , whence he 
 i volunteers. 
 I found that 
 emy on the 
 it, with the 
 rtillery, the 
 rned by cir- 
 ite, and the 
 ;d severely, 
 e 25th regi- 
 the British 
 i left, threw 
 here he was 
 le slaughter 
 [ at the third 
 1 a large es- 
 of Jessup's 
 n of an un- 
 nained for a 
 commander 
 len into his 
 ave comple- 
 id was com- 
 iformed that 
 limself with 
 support, in 
 3Ught of no- 
 iat, and save 
 the advance 
 liled himself 
 
 to make us escape. Among the officers captured, was one 
 of general Drummond's aids-de-camp, who had been dispatch- 
 ed trom the front line to order up the reserve, with a view to 
 lall on Scott with the concentrated force of the whole armv 
 and overwhelm him at a single effort. Nor would it have 
 been possible to prevent this catastrophe, had the reserve ar- 
 rived m time ; the force with which general Scott would then 
 have been obliged to contend being nearly quadruple that of 
 Ins own. By the fortunate capture, however, of the British 
 aid-de-camp, before the completion of the service on which he 
 had been ordered, the enemy's reserve was not brout^ht into 
 action, until the arrival of general Ripley's brigade, which 
 prevented the disaster which must otherwise have ensued* 
 
 1 hough the second brigade pressed forward with the ercat- 
 est ardour, the battle had raged for an hour before it could ar- 
 rive on the field, by which time it was nearly dark. The en 
 emy fell back on its approach. In order to disengat?e the e'x- 
 hausted troops of the first brigade, the fre.a troops were or- 
 dered to pass Scott's line, and display in front, a movement 
 which was immediately executed by Ripley. Meanwhile the 
 enemy, being reconnoitered, was found to have taken a new 
 position, and occupied a height with his artillery, supported bv 
 a line of infantry, which gave Hm great advantages, it being 
 
 « Strait in his conduct highly honorable to colonel Jes.uh 
 i>, that his humanity as a man trium/ihed over his technical 
 duty as an officer. Such nvas, for a time, his situation in the 
 Jidd, that every prisoner he took, by impeding his operations 
 against the enemy, not only injured the cause in which he was 
 engaged, but endangered the safety of his osvn cor/is. Ac- 
 cordmg to the canons of,,ar, therefore, his duty, as we believe, 
 
 To';. Z"'"^"'r^'''''°"'''*' *"' '°^^"^ '^ ^'^'f' ^^'^y ^nan who 
 might opfiose him in arms. Regardless, however, of these san- 
 guinary statutes, and listening only to the voice of merry, he 
 gave quarter to all that surrendered to him, although conscious 
 they would diminish his effective force, and that he must necessa- 
 
 nrn'^n T "£''''' '° '''''^''' ^^''' '"""duct was noticed by some 
 q/ the British officers, and commended as highly honorable to 
 the young American. HadJessufi beenless humane as a man, and 
 more technically rigid as an officer, he might have acted, as the 
 rf W/ 'T^' -^ ^'"'''"^ ^^"-^""'^^^'d acknowledged, with more 
 tf,^ %T l^'"''' '^'' ^"^'"y- ^"^ ^^^ i^new the road to glory 
 -■ ,... lacjaircst wreath in the hero's chafilet is that which 
 r^ entwined by the hand of mercy."— Fort Folio 
 
 O 
 
164 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 the key to the whole position. To secure the victory, it was 
 necessary to carry his artillciy and seize the height. For this 
 purpose the second brigade advanced upon the Queenstown 
 road, and tho first regiment of infantry, which had arrived 
 that day, and was attached to neither of the brigades, was 
 formed in a line facing the enemy's on the height, with a view 
 of drawing his fire and attractinp- his attention, as the second 
 brigade advanced on his left flank to carry his artillery. 
 
 As soon as the first regiment approached its position, colo- 
 nel Miller was ordered to advance with the 21st regiment, and 
 carry the artillery on the height by the bayonet. The first 
 regiment gave way under the fire of the enemy ; but Miller, 
 undaunted by this occurrence, advanced steadily and gallantly 
 to his object, and carried the heights and cannon in a masterly 
 style. General Ripley followed on the right with the 23d re- 
 giment. It had some desperate fighting, which caused it to 
 faulter, but it was promptly rallied, and brought up. 
 
 The enemy being now driven from their commanding 
 ground, the whole brigade, with the volunteers and artillery, 
 and the first regiment, which had been rallied, were formed in 
 line, with the captured cannon, nine pieces, in the rear. Here 
 they were soon joined by major Jessup, with the 25th, the re- 
 giment that had acted with such effect in the rear of the ene- 
 my's left. In this situation the American troops withstood 
 three distinct desperate attacks of the enemy, who had rallied 
 his broken corps, and received reinforcements. In each of 
 them he was repulsed with great slaughter, so near being his 
 approach, that the buttons of the men were distinctly seen 
 through the darkness by the flash of the muskets, and many 
 prisoners were taken at the point of the bayonet, principally 
 by Porter's volunteers." During the second attack general 
 Scott was ordered up, who had been held in reserve with three 
 of his battalions, from the moment of Ripley's arrival on the 
 field. During the third efl"ort of the enemy, the direction of 
 Scott's column would have enabled him, in a few minutes, to 
 have formed line in the rear of the enemy's right, and thus 
 have brought him between two fires. But a flank fire from a 
 concealed part of the enemy failing upon the centre of Scott's 
 command, completely frustrated this intention. His column 
 was severed in two; one part passing to the rear, the other by 
 the right flank of platoons towards Ripley's main line. 
 
 This was the last effort of the British to regain his position 
 .^.nd artillery, the Amt/ican troops being left in quiet posses- 
 tsion of the held. It was now nearly midnight, and generals 
 Brown and Scott being both severely wounded, and alt tho 
 
)ry, it was 
 For this 
 leenstown 
 Lcl arrived 
 ades, was 
 ith a view 
 he second 
 ary. 
 
 tion, colo- 
 iment, and 
 The first 
 ut Miller, 
 1 gallantly 
 I masterly 
 le 23d re- 
 used it to 
 
 nmanding 
 artillery, 
 formed in 
 jar. Here 
 th, the re- 
 f the ene- 
 withstood 
 lad rallied 
 1 each of 
 being his 
 ictly seen 
 and many 
 (rincipally 
 Ic general 
 vith three 
 al on the 
 rection of 
 dnutes, to 
 and thus 
 ire from a 
 of Scott's 
 s column 
 ; other by 
 
 a 
 
 s position 
 it posses- 
 . generals 
 d alt the 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 155 
 
 iroops, much exhausted, the command was given to general 
 Ripley, and he was instructed to return to camp, bringing with 
 him the wounded and the artillery. The pieces, however, 
 were found in so dismantled a state, and such had been the 
 slaughter of the horses, that to remove them at that late hour 
 was found to be impracticable. 
 
 On the return of the troops to camp, general Brown sent 
 lor general Ripley, and after giving him his reasons for the 
 measure, ordered him to put the troops into the best possible 
 condition ; to give to them the necessary refreshment; to take 
 with him the picquets and camp guards, and every other de- 
 scription of force; to put himself on the field of battle as the 
 day dawned, and there meet and beat the enemy if he again 
 appeared. 
 
 Genei-aJ Ripley has been much blamed for the non-execu- 
 l-ion of this order, by which the captured cannon again fell into 
 the hands of the British. General Brown, in his official report, 
 says, " To this order he [Ripley] made no objection, and I re- 
 lied upon its execution. It was not executed." On the part 
 of general Ripley it is stated, that his orders were, in case the 
 enemy appeared in force, " to be governed entirely by circum- 
 stances." His orders, therefore, were executed. At day- 
 break the army was arranged, and the march commenced, 
 when circumstances of the most positive nature were made ap- 
 parent, such as must have been in view in the discretionary 
 part of the order, and in the full effect of which general Ripley 
 commenced and effected the retreat which afterwards led him 
 to Fort Erie. The troops reduced to less than 1 600 men, were 
 marched on the 26th by general Ripley toward the field of 
 battle. Motion was commenced at day-break, but difficulties 
 incidental to the late losses prevented the advance before some 
 time had been spent in re-organization and arrangement. The 
 line of march being assumed, and the Chippewa crossed, gen- 
 eral Ripley sent forward lieutenants Tappan of the 23d, and 
 Riddle of the 1 5th, with their respective commands, to recon- 
 noitre the enemy's position, strength, and movements. On 
 examination, he was found in advance of his former position 
 on an eminence, strongly reinforced, as had been asserted by 
 prisoners taken the preceding evening; his flanks, resting on 
 a wood on one side, and on the river on the other, defied b'eine- 
 turned or driven in; his artillery was planted so as to sweep 
 the road; besides these advaiita-ffes^ he extended a line nf ^rlv 
 double in length to that which co"uld be displayed by our troops 
 To attack with two-thirds the force of the preceding evening 
 an enemy thus increased, was an«ct of madness that the first 
 
1^6 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 thought rejected. The army was kept in the field and in mo- 
 tion long enough to be assured of the strength and position of 
 the enemy; that information being confirmed, there remained 
 but one course to prevent that enemy from impeding a retreat, 
 which, had he been vigilant, he would previously have pre- 
 vented. The army, therefore, immediately retrograded, and 
 the retreat received the sanction of general Brown, previous 
 to his crossing the Niagara.* 
 
 The American official account states their loss in this battle 
 at iri killed, 572 wounded, and 117 missing; the return of 
 British prisoners presents an aggregate of 179, including ma- 
 jor-general Riall, and a number of other officers.— The British 
 state their loss to be 84 killed, 559 wounded, 193 missing: 
 their loss in prisoners they stated only at 41. Major-general 
 Brown and brigadier-general Scott were among the wounded 
 of the Americans, and lieutenant-general Drummond and ma- 
 jor-general Riall among those of the British. 
 
 In conscfjuence of the wounds of generals Brown and Scott, 
 the command devolved on general Ripley, who pursued his 
 retreat acxoss the Chippewa, destroying the bidges in his rear, 
 and throwing every possible impediment in the way of the ene- 
 my; in order to obstruct his advance. On the 27th of July, the 
 army reached Fort Erie. Here it was determined to make a 
 .stand, and accordingly the lines of defence and fortification 
 were immediately marked out, and by the unremitted exertions 
 of the army, were completed on the 3d of August, the very day 
 of the arrival of the enemy before them. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 3d, an attempt was made to 
 surprise Buffalo, with the intention, it is supposed, of re-cap- 
 turing general Riall, and other British prisoners there, and de- 
 stroying the public stores. About 2 in the morning, nine 
 boat-loads of troops were landed on the American side, half a 
 mile below Conjocta creek, on the upper bank of which, sus- 
 pect! ig their intention, major Morgan had taken a position 
 with a battalion of the first rifle regiment, consisting of 240 
 men. Here, during the preceding night, he had thrown up a 
 battery of a few logs, and torn away the bridge. About four 
 o'clock the British commenced the attack, sending a party b*^* 
 fore to repair the bridge, under cover of their fire. So heavy 
 and deadly, however, was the fire opened by the riflemen, that 
 they were compelled to retire. They then formed in the skirt 
 of the wood, and kept up the fight at long shot, continually re- 
 
 Port Folioy Memoir of Major General Ripleij, 
 
and in mo- 
 position of 
 e remained 
 g a retreat, 
 have prc- 
 raded, and 
 I, previous 
 
 this battle 
 ! return of 
 luding ma- 
 "he British 
 3 missing: 
 jor-general 
 e wounded 
 id and ma- 
 
 and Scott, 
 ursued his 
 in his rear, 
 of the ene- 
 )f July, the 
 
 to make a 
 ortification 
 i exertions 
 e very day 
 
 s made to 
 of re-cap- 
 re, and de- 
 iiing, nine 
 iide, half a 
 hich, sus- 
 a position 
 ng of 240 
 rown up a 
 ^bout four 
 I party b*^* 
 So heavy 
 imen, that 
 1 the skirt 
 nuallv rc- 
 
 'V' 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 157 
 
 inforcing^ from the Canada shore, until they had 23 boat-loads, 
 when they attempted to outflank, by sending a large body up 
 the creek to ford it. But a detachment of about 60 men being 
 sent to dispute the passage, they were repulsed with consider- 
 able loss. The object now appearing unattainable, the enemy 
 commenced their retreat, having previously thrown some 
 troops on Squaw island, which enfiladed the creek, thus pre- 
 f venting their retreat from being harrassed. Their superior 
 numbers enabled them to take their wounded and most of their 
 killed off the field; though some of the latter were afterwards 
 found. A number cf muskets and accoutrements were also 
 collected, and some clothing that appeared to have been torn 
 for the purpose of binding their wounds. Six British priso- 
 ners were taken, who stated their force to have consisted of from 
 12 to 1500 men. Although the action continued for two hours 
 and a half, the loss of the Americans was but trifling — two 
 killed and eight wounded. The loss of the British was never 
 ascertained,, but it must have been quite disproportioned to- 
 that of the Americans. 
 
 On the arrival of the British before Fort Erie, they per- 
 ceived that the opportunity was lost of carrying the American 
 works by a coup-de-main. Driving in the pickets, therefore, 
 they made a regular investment of the place. The following 
 day general Gaines arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and being 
 senior in rank assumed the command. On the 6th, the rifle 
 corps was sent to endeavour to draw out the enemy, in order 
 to try h!s strength. Their orders, were to pass through the 
 intervening woods, to amuse the British light troops until their 
 strong columns should get in motion, when they should retire 
 slowly to the plain, where a strong line was posted in readiness, 
 to receive the enemy. The riflemen accordingly met and 
 drove the light troops into their Unes, but although they kept 
 the wood near two hours, they were not able to draw any part 
 of the enemy's force after them. The British left eleven dead 
 and three prisoners in the hands of the riflemen; but their loss- 
 was supposed to be much more considerable. The loss of the 
 riflemen were five killed and three or four wounded. 
 
 The main c:imp of the British was planted about two miles 
 distant. In front of it they threw up a line of partial circum- 
 vallation, extending around the American fortifications. This 
 consisted of two lines of entrenchment, supported by block- 
 houses; in front of rilese, at favourable points, batteries were 
 erected, one of which enfiladed the American works= 
 
 The American position was on the margin of lake Erie, at 
 ihe entrance of the Niagara river, on neai-ly a horizontal plain , 
 
 Q 2 
 
f68 
 
 lUSTOKY OF THE WAK 
 
 twelve or fifteen feet above the surface of the water, possess- 
 ing few natural advantages. It had been strengthened in front 
 by temporary parapet breast-works, entrenchment, and abbatis, 
 with two batteries and six field-pieces. The small unfinished 
 tort, hrie, with a 24, 18, and 12 pounder, formed the north- 
 east, and the Douglas battery, with an 18 and 6 pounder near 
 the edge of the lake, the south-east angle on the right. The 
 left was defended by a redoubt battery with six field-pieces, 
 just thrown up on a small ridge. The rear was left open 
 to the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. The 
 battery on the left was defended by captain Towson; Fort Eric 
 by captain Williams, with major Trimble's command of the 
 1 9th mfantryj the batteries on the front by captains Diddle and 
 J'annmg; the whole of the artillery commanded by major 
 Hmdman. Parts of the II th, 9th, and 22d infantry, were 
 posted on the right under the command of lieutenant-colonel 
 Aspmwall. General Ripley's brigade, consisting of the 21st 
 and 23d, defended the left. General Porter's brigade of New 
 York and Pennsylvania volunteers, with the riflemen, occupied 
 the centre! *^ 
 
 During the 1 3th and 14, the enemy kept up a brisk cannon- 
 ade, which was sharply returned from the American batteries, 
 without any considerable loss. One of their shells lodged in 
 a small magazme, in Fort Erie, which was almost empty. 
 It blew up with an explosion more awful in appearance than 
 injurious in its effects, as it did not disable a man or derange 
 a gun. A momentary cessation of the thunders of the artillery 
 tooic place on both sides. This was followed by a loud and 
 joyous shout by the British Army, which was instantly return- 
 ed on the part of the Americans, who, amidst the smoke of 
 the explosion, renewed the contest by an animated roar of the 
 heavy cannon. 
 
 From the supposed loss of ammunition, aiid the consequent 
 depression such an event was likely to produce, general Gaines 
 felt pei^suaded that this explosion would lead the enemy to as- 
 sault, and made his arrangements accordingly. These suspi- 
 t:ions were fully verified, by an attack that was made in the 
 night between the 14th and 15th of August. 
 
 The night was dark, and the early part of it raining, but ne- 
 vertheless one third of the troops were kept at their posts. 
 At half past two o'clock, the right column of ine enemy ap- 
 proached, and though enveloped in darkness, was distinctly 
 heard on the American left, and promptly marked by the mus- 
 4ueiry under major VVood and captain Towson, Being mount- 
 ed at ijie mdment, Gaines repaired to the point of attack. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 139 
 
 where the sheet of fire rolling from Towson's battery, and 
 the niusquetry of the left wing, enabled him to see the enemy's 
 column of about 1500 men approaching on that point; his ad- 
 vance was not checked until it had approached within ten feet 
 of the mfantry. A line of loose brush, representing an abattis, 
 only mtervened; a column of the enemy attempted to pass 
 round the abattis, through the water, where it was nearly 
 breast-deep. Apprehending that this point would be carried, 
 dames ordered a detachment of riflemen and infantry to its 
 support; but at this moment the enemy were repulsed. They 
 instantly renewed the charge, and were again driven back. 
 
 On the right, the fire of cannon and musquetry announced 
 the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy, un- 
 der colonel Drummond and Scott. The latter was received 
 and repulsed by the 9th. under the command of captain Foster 
 and captains Boughtonaiid Harding's companies of New York 
 and Pennsylvania volunteers, aided by a six-pounder, judi- 
 ciously posted by major M'Kec, chief engineer. 
 
 But the centre, led by colonel Drummond, was not long kept 
 in check; it approached at once every assailable point of the 
 ort, and with scaling-ladders ascended the parapet, where 
 however, it was repulsed with dreadful carnage. The assault 
 was twi.;c repeated, and as often checked; but the enemy hav- 
 ing moved round in the ditch, covered by darkness, encreased 
 by the heavy cloud of smoke which had rolled from the can- 
 non and musquetry, repeated the charge, re- ascended the lad- 
 rters, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears fell upon the 
 American artillerists, and succeeded in capturing the bastion 
 J.ieutenant M'Donough, being severely wounded, demanded 
 fiuarter. It was refused by colonel Drummond. The lieuten- 
 ant then seized a handspike, and nobly defended himself un- 
 til he was shot down witn a pistol by the monster who had re- 
 lused him quarter, who often reiterated the order—" give the 
 damned -yankees no quarter." This officer, whose bravery, if 
 It had been seasoned with virtue, would have entitled him to 
 /he admiration of every soldier— this hardened murderer soon 
 met his fate. He was shot through the breast, while repeat- 
 ing the order " to give no quarter." 
 
 Several gallant attempts were made to recover the right 
 bastion, but all proved unsuccessful. At this moment every 
 operation was arrested by the explosion of some cartridges 
 deposited m the end of the stone building adjoining the con- 
 
 tested bastion. Thf. Pvr»lr»«sinr. iirno *».^.^^.«J J j-_? • ._ 
 
 tue bastion was restored by the flight of the British. At this 
 moment captain Biddle was ordered to cause a field-piece to 
 
160 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 be posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis 
 Though not recovered from a severe contusion in the shoulder, 
 received from one of the enemy's shells, Biddle promptly 
 took his position, and served his field-piece wfth vivacity and 
 effect. Captain Fanning's battery likewise played upon them 
 at this time with great effect. The enemy were in a few mo- 
 ments entirely defeated, taken, or put to flight, leaving on the 
 field 221 killed, 174 wounded, and 186 prisoners, including 
 14 officers killed and 7 wounded and prisoners. A large por- 
 tion were severely wounded; the slightly wounded, it is pre- 
 sumed, were carried off. 
 
 , The loss of the Americans during t e assault was seventeen 
 killed, fifty-six wounded, and eleveii missing. The British 
 acknowledge only SI killed, 309 wounded, and 539 misshig. 
 During the preceding bombardment, the loss of the Ameri- 
 cans was 7 killed, 19 severely and 17 slightlv wounded. The 
 loss of the British is not mentioned in their official account. 
 This bombardment commenced at sun-rise on the morning of 
 the 13th, and continued without intermission till 8 o'clock, 
 P. M.; recommenced on the 14th, at day-light, with increased 
 warmth; and did not end until an hour before the commence- 
 ment of the assault on the morning of the I5th. 
 
 During the night preceding the commencemect of the bom- 
 bardment of Fort Erie, an unfortunate affair for the American 
 arms took place on the lake, just behind the fort, in the sur- 
 prise and capture of two schooners, by a number of boats full 
 of British soldiers. On the boats being hailed, they answered 
 " provision boats," a manoeuvre which deceived the American 
 officers, as boats from the fort had been in the habit of passing 
 and repassing through the night. The force being overwhelm- 
 mg, and the surprise complete, but little effectual resistance 
 was inade, and the enterprise was completely successful. The 
 Americans had one killed and nine wounded. The loss of the 
 assailants was more considerable. 
 
 A short time after the assault on Fort Erie, general Gaines 
 received a serious wound from the bursting of a shell, by 
 which means the command once more devolved on general 
 Ripley, till the 2d of September, when the' state of his health 
 allowed general Brown again to place himself at the head of 
 his army. 
 
 The troops in Fort Erie began now to be generally consi- 
 dered as in a critical -situation, and much solicitude to be ex- 
 pressed for the fate of the army that had thrown so much glory 
 on the American name, menaced as it was in front by an enemy 
 af superior force, whose numbers ^yere constantly receiving 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 161 
 
 additions, and whose batteries were every day becomin'i- more 
 formidable, while a river of difficult passage lay on then- rear. 
 Reinforcements were ordered on from Champlain, but they 
 were yet far distant. But the genius of Brown was fully equal 
 to the contmgency, and the difficulties with which he was en- 
 vn-oned served only to add to the number of his laurels. 
 
 Though frequent skirmishes occured about this period, in 
 which individual gallantry was amply displayed, yet no event 
 oi material consequence took place till the 17th of September, 
 when having suffered much from the fire of the enemy's bat- 
 teries, and aware that a new one was about to be opened, gene- 
 ral Brown resolved on a sortie in order to effect their destruc- 
 tion. The British infantry at this time consisted of three 
 brigades, of 12 or 1500 men each, one of which was stationed 
 at the ^rks in front of Fort Erie, the other two occupied their 
 camp behind. Brown's intention therefore was, to storm the 
 batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade 
 upon duty, before those in reserve could be broueht into 
 action. ° 
 
 On the morning of the 17th, the infantry and riflemen, regu- 
 lars and militia, were ordered to be paraded and put in readi- 
 ness to march precisely at 12 o'clock. General Porter with 
 the volunteers, colonel Gibson with the riflemen, and m-ior 
 Brooks with the 23d and 1st infantry, and a few dragoons act- 
 ing as infantry, were ordered to move from the extreme left 
 upon the enemy's right, by a passage opened through the woods 
 tor the occassion. General Miller was directed to station his 
 command in the ravine between Fort Erie and the enemy's 
 batteries, by passing them by detachment through the skirts 
 of tiie wood— and the 2 1st infantry under general Ripley was 
 posted as a corps of reserve between the new bastions of Fort 
 trie— all under cover, and out of the view of the enemy. 
 
 The left column, under the command of general Porter, 
 which was destined to turn the enemy's right, having arrived 
 near the British entrenchments, were ordered to advance and 
 commence the action. Passing down the ravine. Brown judg- 
 ed from the report of the musqetry that the action had com- 
 menced. Hastening, therefore, to general Miller, he directed 
 him to seize the moment, and pierce the enemy's entrench- 
 ments between the batteries No. 2 and 3 These orders were 
 promptly and abiy executed. Within 30 minutes after the 
 
 nrst Crun was firpH. hQttf>iM«:»B Mo O nnrl 'X frV»f> ^^ '- ii-- -r 
 
 .J .- .. ...__, ^ ;.,., j^,^j, ^ tXHKX kj, tilt. CliCIUy D IliiC ui 
 
 entrenchments, and his two block-houses, were in possession 
 ot the Americans. 
 Soon after, battery No. 1 was abandoned by the British. The 
 
r^^ " -,-:=- 
 
 >(}2 
 
 iiisTrnY OF THE war. 
 
 guns in each were then spiked or otherwise destroyed, and the 
 nurjazme of No. 3 was blown uj). 
 
 A few nanutes before the explosion, the reserve liad been 
 
 ordered up undt j i.;au i il Ripley, and as soon as he arrived on 
 
 the ground, h<- wa: ..'lered to strengthen the front line, which 
 
 was tnen engaged with the enemy, in order to protect the de- 
 
 wu-?^?^^ employed in demolishing the captured works. 
 
 While torming arrangements for acting on the enemy's camp 
 
 during the moment of panic, Ripley received a severe wound. 
 
 r u 1 ^l"^^' however, the r.v,'- i of the sortie being accom- 
 
 plished beyond the most sanguine expectations,' gencrar 
 
 Miller had ordered the troops on the right to fall back ; and, 
 
 observing this movement, Brown sent his staif along the line 
 
 to call m the other corps. Witliin a few minutes they retired 
 
 trom the ravine, and thence to the camp. 
 
 Thus, says general Brown, in his dispatch, 1000 regular.s 
 and an equal portion o^ militia, in one hour of close action, 
 blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed the fruits of fifty 
 clays labor, and diminished his effective force 1000 men at 
 least. 
 
 In their official account of this sortie, the British published 
 no returns of their loss, but from their vigorous lesistance it 
 must no doubt have been very great. Their loss in prisoners 
 was 385. On the part of the Americans the killed amounted 
 to 83, the wounded to 216, and the missing to a like number. 
 
 A few days after this battle the British raised the siec-e, and 
 retreated behind the Chippewa. Meanwhile the reinforce- 
 ments from Plattsburg arrived at Sackett'b Harbour, and after 
 a lew days rest proceeded to tht Niagara. They crossed thnt 
 river on the mnth of October, when general Izard, being the 
 senior oflicer, superceded general Brown in the cominand. 
 On the 14th the army moved from fort Eric, with the desip-n 
 ot bringmg the enemy to action. An attempt was made to 
 dispute the passage of a creek at Chippewa plains, but the 
 American artillery soon compelled the enemy to retire to their 
 tortified camp, when attempts were repeatedly made to draw 
 them out the following day, but without effect. A partial er- 
 gagement took place on the 19th, which closed the campaicn 
 on this peninsula. 
 
 General Bissell marched from Black Creek on the morning 
 ot the 18th, with a body of about 900 men, for the purpose 
 ol seizing some provisions intended for the British troop-. 
 Aite. driving before them a picket, of which they made the 
 commanding officer prisoner, they encamped for the i,i.t?ht, in 
 the course of which the advanced picket was attacked by two 
 
HISTOKY OF THE WAH. 
 
 163 
 
 companies of the Glenj^ary lieht infantry, who were repulsed 
 with h)ss. Next morning Bis'sel! was attacked by a corps of 
 about 1200 men, commanded by the marquis of Tweedale. 
 The light corps and riflemen sustained the whole fire for about 
 fifteen minutes, with the greatest gallantry, until the othei- 
 troops were formed, and brought to their support. 
 
 The 5th regiment, imder colonel Phickney, was ordered to 
 skirt tl c woods and turn the right flank of the enemy; the 
 Uth, under major Bernard, to form in front, and advance to 
 the support of the light troops; the 15th and 16th regiments 
 were ordered to act as circumstances migiit require. The 
 well-directed fire of the light corps, and the churge of the Uth, 
 soon compelled the enemy to give ground; and on discovering 
 tiiat his right flank was turned by the 5th, he retreated in the 
 utmost confusion, leaving some killed, wounded, and prison- 
 ers behind. Bissell pursued them to a ravine some distance 
 from the scene where the action commenced. Not knowing 
 the ground, he did not think proper to push them further, but 
 soon after, the country being reconnoitered, it was discovered 
 ihat they had retreated to their strong holds. A large quanti- 
 ty of i^rain was found and destroyed; and, after burying the 
 few soldiers who fell, and the enemy's dead who were left on 
 the ground, the detachment returned to camp. The killed, 
 uounded, and missing in this aff"air amounted to 67, of whom 
 12 were killed. 
 
 Before leaving the affairs on this frontier, it will be proper 
 10 mention the expedition of mounted men under general 
 M'Arthur, , -hicL proceeded from Detroit towards Burlington 
 Heights, for the purpose of destroying the resources of gen- 
 eral Drummond's army, and paralising any efforts which might 
 be made against Detroit during the winter 
 
 The detachment, consisting of about 72c Olu and Kentuc- 
 ky volunteers, and a few Indians, left Detroit about the end 
 of October. To mask the object of the expedition, a move- 
 nient round lake St. Clair was rendered absolutely necessary. 
 This circuit ' used the troops to be exposed to many difficul- 
 ties and hardships 'n wading frequently along the shores of 
 the lakr; in the pa-^sage of several deep and rapid rivers, 
 sometimes without boats, and on all occasions encounteriii 
 swamps; yet, notwithstanding these obstn ies, such was th( 
 secrecy and rapidity of the expedition, that the detachment 
 was enabled to enter the town of Oxford, 140 miles in the en- 
 emy's country, before the inhabitants were apprised that a force 
 vas approaching. 
 
 On the succeeding day, the detachment proceeded to Bur- 
 
164 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ford, where the militia had been embodied in expectation ot 
 this expedition; but it was found that they iiad retreated, a few 
 hours before, to Malcolm's n)ills, where they were joined by 
 the militia from Long Point. 
 
 It was M'Arthur's intention to cross Grand River, as soon 
 as posiblc, without regarding the militia collected at Malcolm's 
 mills, and attack Burlington. But to his great mortification, 
 the river was found high and rapid from the late excessive 
 rains. Here also the news reached him that the American 
 troops had re-crossed the Niagara, leaving only a strong garri- 
 son in Fort Erie. These and other considerations presented 
 serious objections to any attempt to pass the river; it was 
 therefore determined to attack and defeat or disperse the mili- 
 tia at Malcolm's mills, move down the Long Point road through 
 the Grand River settlement, destroy the valuable mills in that 
 quarter, and then return to the American territory, either by a 
 movement across Grand River at the mouth to fort Erie, or 
 along Talbot-street to the Thames. 
 
 To that effect, a detachment was directed to remain and en- 
 gage the attention of the enemy, whilst the principal force 
 should be withdrawn and marched to Malcolm's mJHs. The 
 enemy, consisting of four or five hundred militia and a few In- 
 dians, was found fortified on commanding ground beyond a 
 creek, deep and difficult of passage, except at a bridge imme- 
 diately in front of their works, which iiad been destroyed. Ar- 
 rangements were made for a joint attack on the fort and rear. 
 The Ohio troops, with the advance guard and Indiaus, were ac- 
 cordingly thrown across the creek under coverof a thick wood, 
 to approach the enemy in rear, whilst the Kentucky troops 
 were to attack in front, as soon as the Attention of the enemy 
 was engaged by the attack in the reaf. The enemy would 
 have been completely surprised and captured, had not an un- 
 fortunate yell by the Indians announced the approach of the 
 detachment destined to attack their rear; they were, however, 
 defeated and dispersed, with the loss, in the skirmishes on that 
 day, of one captain and seventeen privates killed, nine privates 
 wounded, and three captains, five subalterns, and one hundred A 
 ^d three privates made prisoners; whilst the loss of the Amc- ' 
 ricans was only one killed and six wounded. Early next morn- 
 ing the enemy were pursued on the road to Do\ er, many made 
 prisoners, and five valuable mills destroyed. 
 
 Apprehensive that the troops could not be supplied on the 
 route to fort Erie, and that difficulties would occur in the pas- 
 sage of Grand River, totrciher widi tlif^ inirprfaMitv x,i-.:ri. ^v. 
 isted as to the position of general Izard's army, M' Arthur was 
 
HISTORY OF THK WAR. ^g^ 
 
 induced to return to Detroit bv the w»v f^F t«iu . 
 
 of the effect Zduced hf H 1 ' ^°'" ™Sl>t we lo lose sight 
 actively e„;?g:d'rtatt:;r;:?,?,\VL""Sen''^^ 
 
 .he United State "^^e^acquledrvZTf;''' '^'^ ,'"* "'""' "'' 
 ~e or the powe..fu.T™^4li: tt^'^^ SXTa^ 
 
 On the ?« ,^fT "* '^l' T""'"" '"'« of frontier. ^ 
 
 .wo of tireS;,th«n"' f dTn't feC*^?' 'T'''" 
 
 wi..<. Shifted, ^^^^^'Z^a^^XI&ZX.^ 
 
itid 
 
 ii'ii 
 
 I 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 was thus forced to put back into th.- "^Huxent, whither he 
 was followed by a seventy-four, three schooners, and seven 
 l)arges with a fresh wind. But the gun-boats being in the 
 rear, particularly one which was laden with provisions, Barney 
 soon found it necessary to hazard an engagement to prevent 
 their capture. Accordingly, bringing his sloop and one of the 
 gun-boats to an anchor, he sent men on board of the provision 
 boat, to assist in bringing her in, and made signals for his 
 barges to return and join him. At this moment his sloop and 
 gun-boat opened a fire on a schooner of the enemy, which was 
 leading in with a number of barges. She immediately bore 
 up, and got her boats ahead to tow her off, seeing which the 
 American barges rowed down upon her and the otiier schoon- 
 ers; and gave them a number of shot at long distance. But 
 the chase was soon given up, and the flotilla returned to port. 
 During the firing a British barge threw a number of rockets, 
 which did no excution. 
 
 On the 8th, the enemy being reinforced with a razee and a 
 i-loop war brig, the flotilla moved up the Patuxent to the mouth 
 of St. Leonard's creek, and on being followed by the British 
 squadron, they luoved up the creek about two miles, and 
 moored in line, abreast, across the channel, where they pre- 
 pared for action. The creek not being accessable to ships; the 
 barges of the enemy, fifteen in number, were dispatched against 
 the flotilla. As they approached, they advanced a rocket 
 barge, at which several shot were fired by the.flotilla, but they 
 fell short, as rockets can be throAvn a greater distance than 
 shot. Barney, therefore, got his barges, thirteen in number, 
 under weigh, and leaving the sloop ar^d gun-boats at anchor, 
 they rowed down upon the enemy, who precipitately fled from 
 their position. The pursuit was continued till the flotilla came 
 near the enemy's shipping, when, after firing a few shot, the 
 American barges returned to their moorings. In the after- 
 noon, the British barges again came up, again threw rockets, 
 and were again pursued out of the creek. 
 
 During these encounters, the British are said to have suf- 
 fered considerably. The large schooner was nearly destroyed, 
 having seveial shot through her at the water's edge; her deck 
 torn up, gun dismounted, and mainmast nearly cut ofl' about 
 half way up, and otherwise much cut. They ran her ashore 
 to prevent her sinking. The commodore's boat was cut in 
 two; a shot went through the rocket boat; one of the srnall 
 schooners, carrying two thirty-two pounders, had a shot which 
 raked her from att forward. The boats generally sutiered, 
 but their loss was not ascertauied. 
 
 H 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 167 
 
 whither lie 
 >, and seven 
 bciniir in the 
 iions, Barney 
 It to prevent 
 nd one of the 
 the provision 
 gnals for his 
 his sloop and 
 y, which was 
 ediately bore 
 Iff which the 
 )tiier schoon- 
 stance. But 
 rned to port, 
 ir of rockets, 
 
 1 razee and a 
 to the mouth 
 ^ the British 
 o miles, and 
 re they pre- 
 lo ships; the 
 tched against 
 :ed a rocket 
 .ilia, but they 
 listance than 
 n in number, 
 .ts at anchor, 
 :ely fled from 
 flotilla came 
 few shot, the 
 In the after- 
 irew rockets, 
 
 to have suf- 
 ■ly destroyed, 
 ige; her deck 
 cut ofl' about 
 .n her ashore 
 t was cut in 
 
 of the small 
 a shot which 
 ally sutiered, 
 
 On the 15th, the enemy having received further reinforce- 
 ments, sent a detachment of boats up the river, which took 
 possession of Benedict and Marlborough, the latter only 18 
 miles from Washington. After plundering a quantity of stock, 
 and burning the tobacco warehouses, which, according to the 
 Jiritish statemeni, contained 2500 hogsheads of tobacco, they 
 14 returned to their ships. 
 
 Shortly after this attair, in order to extricate the flotilla from 
 Its confined situation, a battery was hastily thrown up on a 
 ])omt ot land at the junction of St. Leonard's creek and the 
 Piuuxent, and a coml)ined attack being made by the flotilla and 
 a saiall body of infantry and artillery, the British squadron was 
 forced to drop down the Patuxent, which enabled commodore 
 Barney to pass his flotilla up that river 
 
 At this time no apprehension was entertained of any serious 
 attack being made on any important point by the enemy's for- 
 ces in the Chesapeake. But towards the end of June, certain 
 intelligence was received of the complete success of the allies 
 in the subjugation of F' ranee, and government were led to be-- 
 lieve, as well from communications received from our minis- 
 ters abroad, as from the tone of the British prints, that a pow- 
 erful force was about to be sent to the United States. A va- 
 riety of considerations pointed to Washington City and Balti- 
 more as prominent objects of attack. 
 
 Immediate measures of defence had therefo-e become ne- 
 cessary; and accordingly a new military district was created, 
 embracing the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia, 
 and that part of Virginia lying between the Rappahannock and 
 Potomack, the command of which was given to general Win- 
 der. A requisition was made on certain states for a corps ot 
 93,500 militia, and the executive of each state was requested 
 to detach and hold in readiness for immediate service their re- 
 spective quotas. Of that requisition, 2000 effectives from the 
 quota of Virginia; .5000 from that of Pennsylvania; 6000, the 
 whole quota of Maryland; and 2000, the estimated numbei of 
 the militia of the District of Columbia, were put at the dispo- 
 sition of general Winder, making an aggregate of 15,000, ex- 
 clusive of about 1000 regulars. But tins force, which had it 
 been well organized, and ready to meet the foe at any threat- 
 ened point, would have been amply sufficient for defence, to- 
 tally failed in the hour of need. From the tardiness incident 
 to the present imperfect militia system of the United States, 
 the Virginia and Pennsylvania troops could not be organized 
 m time to m.eet the enemy, although the battle v.'hich sealed 
 the fate of Waslungton did not take place till a month ufter 
 
168 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ii.^.'i 
 
 they, were called out. And even of the Maryland militia, nearly 
 one hah joined the army but half an hour before the action. 
 A considerable part of this delay was occasioned by general 
 Winder s not receiving the authority to call out the slate troops 
 tor some time after it was issued, owing to his being constarlt- 
 ly m motion at this period, in order to acquire a comulete 
 knowledge of the topography of the district. 
 
 During the month of July, the enemy's fleet ascended both 
 the Potomack and Patuxent, and committed great dcpreda- 
 lions, particularly on the former river. Admiral Cochrane 
 arrived in the Chesapeake in the beginning of August, and on 
 the 17th, the fleet, then in great force, was joined by admiral 
 Malcolm, with the expedition from Bermuda, destined againsi 
 ioaltimore and Washington. 
 
 The circumstance of Barney's flotilla having taken shelter 
 at the head of the Patuxent proved extremely favourable to an 
 attack on Washington, as it masked the intention of the enemy. 
 This attack, therefore, being determined on, Cochrane moved 
 his squadron up the river. Previously to his entering the 
 Patuxent, however, he detached captam Gordon, with a num- 
 ber of ships and bombs to the Potamack, to bombard fort 
 Warburton, with a view of destroying that fort, and opening a 
 free communication above, as well as to cover the retreat of 
 the army, should its return by the Bladensburg road be found 
 too hazardous. Sir Peter Parker, with the Menelaus and 
 some small vessels, was sent up the Chesapeake to make a 
 diversion in tha*. quarter. The remainder of the naval force, 
 and the troops, moved up the Patuxent to Benedict, where 
 the army was landed upon the 19th and 20th. 
 
 -So soon as the necessary provisions and s^res could be as- 
 sembled and arranged, major-general Ross, with his army, 
 moved towards Nottingham while the British flotilla, consist- 
 ing of the armed launches, pinnaces, barges, and other boats 
 of the fleet, under admiral Cockburn, passed up the river, 
 keeping on the right flank of the army, for the double purpose 
 cf supplying it with provisions, and, if necessary, of passing it 
 over to the left bank of the river, which secured a safe retreat 
 to the ships, should it be judged necessary. The army reach- 
 ed Nottingham on the 21st, and the following day arrived at 
 Marlborough. The flotilla, keeping pace with the army, ar- 
 rived within sight of Barney's flotilla on the 22d. It was in- 
 stantly set on fire by a small party of sailors who had been 
 left for that purpose, the commodore having previously joined 
 general Winder with the greater part of his force. The flo- 
 tilla soon blevv up, excepting one vessel, which fell into the 
 hands of the cnemv. 
 
HXStORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 169 
 
 Wliile a large regular army, well disciplined and accoutred, 
 accompanied with a strong naval force, was thus within 1 6 
 miles of the American capital, the principal part of the force 
 destined to defend it had not arrived, and a considerable por- 
 tion still remained at their homes. The actual force under 
 general Winder only amounted to about 3000 men, of whom 
 1400 were regulars, including the marines and sea-fencibles 
 under commodore Barney; the remainder were volunteers and 
 militia, principally from the District of Columbia. The force 
 of the enemy at this time was variously estimated. The best 
 opinion made them from 5000 to 7000. They were without 
 cavalry, and had only two small field-pieces and one howitzer, 
 drawn by men. Four hundred of the American troops were 
 cavalry, and they had 17 pieces of artillery. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 23d the British army again set out, 
 and after some skirmishing with the American advance, in 
 which the latter were comj^Ued to retreat, bivouacked for the 
 night five miles in advance of Marlborough. Towards sun- 
 set, general Winder ordered his troops to retreat to Washing- 
 ton, that he might effect a union of his whole forces. To this 
 he was also induced by the fear of a night attack, from the su- 
 periority of the enemy, and want of discipline in his troops, 
 and knowing that in such an attack his superiority in artillery 
 could not be used. 
 
 Meanwhile general Stansbury arrived at Bladcnsburg on the 
 22d with about 1300 Baltimore militia, arid on the evening of 
 the 23d he was joined by colonel Sterrett with another militia 
 regiment from Baltimore, about 500 strong, a rifle battalion of 
 about 150 men, and two companies of volunteer artillery, also 
 about 150 strong; making Stansbury's whole force about 2100, 
 Most of these troops were extremely fatigued by their march 
 from Baltimore. 
 
 General Stansbury encamped during the night of the 23d 
 on a hill near Bladensburg, with the intention of attacking the 
 enemy at reveille next morning, in com.pliance with previous 
 orders from general Winder. Near midnight, a firing from 
 the advanced pickets on the road by which the enemy w*s ex 
 pected, caused the troops to be prepared for action, and they 
 were kept under arms till after two the following morning; and 
 hardly had they again retired to their tents, when information 
 was received from general Winder that he had retreated to the 
 city by the Eastern branch bridge. As this movement of 
 Wnider exposed both the rear and right flank of Stansbury's 
 troops, and his officers, whom he immediately consulted, were 
 unanimous in opinion that his situation on the hill could not 
 
 V 2 
 
170 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAfl. 
 
 1^ 
 
 l\ 
 
 '% I 
 
 be defended with the force then under his commaiKl, worn 
 clown with hunger and fatigue as they were, it was considereJ' 
 indispensably necessary that the troops should immediately re- 
 tire across the bridge at Bladensburg, and take a position 
 which they could defend on the road between that place and 
 the city. Orders were therefore instantly given to strike tents 
 and prepare to march. In about thirty minutes, without noise 
 or contusion, the whole were in motion, and about half past 
 three in the morning passed the bridge at Bladensburg, which 
 leads to the city of V^y ashington. Securing the rear from sur- 
 prise, the troops halted in the road till the approach of dav, 
 w^ith a view of finding some place where water could be had, 
 that the men might partake of some refreshment. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 24th, the troons were again put 
 4n motion towards the city, with a view of taking a stand on 
 some more favourable ground for defence, when orders were 
 received from general Winder to give tiic enemy battle at 
 iJIadcnsburg, should he move tliat wav, and that he would 
 jom, if necessary. Stansbury immediately ordered his troops 
 to retrace their steps to Bladensburg, and took a position to 
 the west of that place, in an orchard on the left of the Wash- 
 ington road. Here his artillery, consisting of six six-pound- 
 ers, posted themselves belund a small breastwork of earth, 
 which had been lately thrown up, and the riflemen and infan- 
 try were posted in the rear and to the left, so as to protect the 
 position. This battery commanded Jie pass into Bladensburg, 
 and the bridge leading to Washington. 
 
 Meanwhile general Winder's troops, including commodore 
 Barney]s command, made a rapid march from' Washington, 
 and arrived upon the ground just as the enemy made their ap- 
 pearance behind Bladensburg. Colonel Beall, with about 800 
 militia from Annapolis, had crossed the bridge about half an 
 hour before, and posted himself on the right of ihe Washing- 
 ton road. The force which had arrived from the city was form- 
 ed in a second line on the right and left of the road in the rear 
 of Stansbury's and Beall's command, the heavy artillery under 
 comndbdore Barney being posted on or near the road. 
 
 About half after 12, while the second Hue was forming, the 
 enemy approached, and the battle commenced. The 'Balti- 
 more artillery opened their fire, and dispersed the enemy's 
 light troops now advancing along the street of the village, . ho 
 took a temporary cover behind the houses and trees, iii loose 
 order, and presented <4)jects only occasionally for the fire of 
 the cannon. The enemy then ummenced th 'owing his rock- 
 f^ts, and his light troops began to concentrate near the bridge, 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 171 • 
 
 and to press across it and the river, which was fordable above. 
 The Baltimore riflemen now united with the fire of the batte- 
 ry ; and for some time with considerable effect. The enemy's 
 column was not only dispersed while in the street, but while 
 approaching the bridge they were thrown into some confusion, 
 and the British officers were seen exerting themselves to press 
 the soldiers on. Having now gained the bridge, the enemy 
 passed it rapidly, and immediately flanked, formed the line, 
 and advanced steadily on, which compelled the artillery and 
 riflemen to give way. But they were soon rallied, and united 
 with the other Baltimore troops at a small distance in the rear 
 ot their first r^osition. One of the pieces of artillery was aban- 
 doned and spiked. 
 
 A company of volunteer artillery from the citv, under the 
 command of captain Burch, and a small detachment near it, 
 now opened a cross fire on the enemy, who were partiallv shel- 
 tered by the trees of an orcliard, and kept up a galling fire on 
 part of the American line. Colonel Sterret, with one of the 
 Baltimore regiments. Was ordered to advance, and made a 
 prompt movement until ordered to halt; for at this moment 
 the other two Baltimore regiments were thrown into confusion 
 by the rockets of the enemy, and began to giv- wav. In a 
 few minutes they took to flight, in defiance of all the exertions 
 of generals Winder and Stansbury and other oflicei-C Burch's 
 artillery and Sterret's regiment remained firm, until, being 
 out-flanked, they were ordered to retreat, with a view of re- 
 fonnmg at a small distance in the r,>ar. But instead of retir- 
 ing m order, the militia regiment retreated in disorder and 
 contusion. Thus was the first line, which consisted almost 
 exclusively of Bdtimore militia, totally routed and put to 
 night. 
 
 On the right colonels Beall and Hood, commanding the An- 
 napohs militi|i, had thrown forward a small detachment, under 
 colonel Kramer. After maintaining their ground for some 
 time with considerable injury to the enemv, this advance was 
 driven back on the main body. Their retreat exposed the 
 enemy's column in the road to the city artillery, under major 
 leter, which continued an animated discharge on them till 
 they cume in cc: t - ; with commodore Barney's command. 
 Here the enemy mei tr ', greatest resistance, and sustained the 
 greatest loss, wnile advancing upon the retreating line. Wiien 
 the British came in full view, and in a heavy column in the 
 mam road; Barney ordered an -eighteen pounder to be op f-d 
 upon them, which completely cleared the road, and repulsed 
 tiiem. In several attempts to rally and advance, the enemv 
 
i72 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 were again repulsed, which induced them to flank to the rit?ht 
 of the American line in an open field. Here three twelve - 
 pounders opened upon them, and the flotilla men acted as in- 
 fantry with considerable effect. The enemy continued flank- 
 ing to the right, and pressed upon the Annapolis militia, which 
 gave way after three or four rounds of ineffectual fire, while 
 colonel Beall and other officers attempted to rallv the men up- 
 on their high position. Commodore Barney's command now 
 had the whole force of the enemy to contend with. The Brit- 
 ish never again, however, attempted to appear in force in front, 
 but contmumi^ to outflank, pushed forward a few scattering 
 sharp-shooters, by whom Barney was wounded, and several of 
 his officers killed or wounded. Being now completely out^ 
 flanked on both sides, the ammunition-waggons having gone off 
 in disorder, and that which the marines and flotilla men had, 
 being exhaustecU Barney ordered a retreat; in consequence of 
 his wound, he hmjself was made prisoner. His pieces fell into 
 the Hands of the enemy. 
 , The Georgetown and city militia, and the few regulars which 
 were ok the field, still remained firm; but being now also out- 
 flanked, th* y were ordered by general Winder to retreat, which 
 was effected with as much order as the nature of the ground 
 would permit. After retiring five or six hundred paces, they 
 were halted and formed, but were again ordered to retreat, and 
 to collect and form on the height near the capitol. Here they 
 were joined by a regiment of Virginia militia, who had arrived 
 m the city the preceding evening, but had been detained there 
 by some difficulties which had arisen in furnishing them with 
 arms and ammunition. 
 
 General Winder had endeavoured to direct the retreat of 
 the Baltimore troops towards the city, but from the confusion 
 m which they fled, was not able to eftect it, and they directed 
 their course nortwardly towards Montgomery court-house.— 
 This wrong direction to their course was principally caused 
 by their ignorance of there being a second line of troops be- 
 hind them, general Winder's forces having arrived just as the 
 action commenced. 
 
 Th British estimated their loss in this battle at 64 killed, 
 and 185 wounded The loss of the Americans was estimated 
 by the superintending surgeon at 10 or 12 killed, and about 30 
 Avounded, some of whom afterwards died. The most probable 
 estimate of the British force made it about 4500; of the Ameri- 
 can 6000; but it must be recollected that the enemy's troops 
 were all regulars, who had seen service, and were led by able 
 officers of great experience, while the American troops were 
 
 { 
 
ik to the right 
 three twelve - 
 ti acted as in- 
 ntinued flank- 
 militia, which 
 al fire, while 
 J the men up- 
 ommand now 
 1. The Brit- 
 force in front, 
 ew scattering 
 ind several of 
 mpletely out- 
 iving gone off 
 11a men had, 
 nsequence of 
 ieces fell into 
 
 gulars which 
 low also out- 
 etreat, which 
 )f the ground 
 :1 paces, they 
 ) retreat, and 
 Here they 
 3 had arrived 
 stained there 
 g them with 
 
 le retreat of 
 he confusion 
 hey directed 
 urt-house. — 
 pally caused 
 )f troops be- 
 d just as the 
 
 at 64 killed, 
 as estimated 
 and about 30 
 ost probable 
 fthe Ameri- 
 !my's troops 
 led by able 
 troops were 
 
 HlSTOllY OF THE WAR. 
 
 173 
 
 ;dl militia, with the exception of a few hundred seamen and re- 
 gulars; that one half of them were not collected together till 
 ihe day before the engagement, and about 800 did not arrive till 
 a few minutes before its commencement} that from the uncer- 
 tainty whether Baltimore, the city of Washington, or Fort 
 Washington, would be selected as the point of attack, it was 
 necessary that the troops should frequently change their posi- 
 tions, owing to which, and to alarms causlessly excited on the 
 night of the 23d, they were all much fatigued, and many of 
 them nearly exhausted^ at the time when the hostile army was 
 cressing the bridge; and finally, that the officers commanding 
 the trot ps were generally unknown to general Winder, and but 
 a very small number of them had enjoyed the benefit of milita- 
 ry instruction or experience. When these circumstances are 
 taken into consideration, we think we shall not hazard much in 
 asserting, now that the violent feelings of the moment have sub- 
 sided, that the American militia rather gained than lost honour 
 on the field of Bladensburg. The Baltimore troops fought gal- 
 lantly, until forced to retreat by their flanks being turned. — 
 While retreating, by order of their commander, they were 
 thix)wn into confusion by a new mode of warfare, of which the 
 effects were to them totally unknown*. The bravery of Bar- 
 ney's command needs no comment, and the orderly retreat of 
 the Annapolis and District of Columbia militia, in the face of a 
 regular army of superior numbers, (now that the Baltimore 
 troops had dispersed) is above all praise. 
 
 A remarkable circumstance attendant on this battle was the 
 presence of the American president and heads of departments. 
 They retreated with the second line of troops to Washington, 
 svhere a consultation was held with :be commanding general as 
 to the propriety of making a stand on the heights near the ca- 
 pitol, or in the capitol itself. General Winder stated, that the 
 diminution of his force was such as to render it imJ)ossible to 
 place his troops in a position which would prevent the enemy 
 from taking him on the flanks as well as in front; and that no 
 reasonable hope could be entertained, that any of the troops 
 could be relied on to make a resistance as desperate as neces- 
 sary, in an isolated building, which could not be supported by a 
 sufficiency of troops without: indeed it would have taken nearly 
 the whole of the troops, he said, to have sufficiently filled the 
 
 * ^ome of the finest troofis of France were thrown info con'- 
 jUiion by the rocket brigade nt the but lie of Leifuic 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 two wingst, which would have left the enemy masters of cveiv 
 other part of the city, and given him the opportunity, without 
 risk, in 24 houis to have starved them into a surrender. I'hc 
 objection equally applied to the occupation of any particular 
 part ot the city. It was accordingly determined to retire throut-h 
 Cxeorgetown, and take post on the heights in the rear of that 
 forces ^ ^^^^ ^^ collecting together the whole of the 
 
 It is impossible, says the commander of the militia of the 
 district, in his dispatch; to do justice to the anguish evinced by 
 the troops of \Vashington and Georgetown, on the receipt of 
 
 !^'? ?u I ''^ '"^^ ""^^ ^^^''^"S their families, their houses, 
 and their homes, at the mercy of an enraged enemy, was insup- 
 poi table. To preserve that order which was maintained dur- 
 ing he retreat, was now no longer practicable. As they re- 
 tiled through Washmgton and Georgetown, numbers were ob- 
 taming and takmg leave to visit their homes, and again rejoin- 
 
 12\ fl TV^''u^ ^^'"' ^'^^^" ^"^ scattered, «h?y halted at 
 night on the heights near Tenly Town, and on the ensuing day 
 assembled at Montgomery court-house 
 
 Meanwhile general Ross, after halting his army a short time 
 for refreshment, pushed on towards Washington, where he ar- 
 rived unmolested about eight in the evening.' Having stationed 
 his mam body on the heights about a mile and a half east of 
 tne capitol, he led his advance, consisting of about 700 men, 
 into the deserted city. ' 
 
 Washington, though denominated a citv, and though the 
 seat of the federal government, possesses but an inconsidera- 
 ble population, which is sparely scattered over an extensive 
 scite. ^ 1 he capitol stands near the centre of the city; the prd- 
 sident s palace and navy yard are each distant about a mile 
 irom that building, in opposite directions. Around each of these 
 situations, stands what would elsewhere be denominated a vil- 
 lage, and a few scattering rows of buildings have been erected 
 on the avenue leading from the capitol to the president's house, 
 and thence tt) Georgetown, each about a mile in h'iigth. The 
 number G. houses in the city does not exceed nine hundred; 
 Its II habitants amount to about eight thousand. The capitol 
 and the president's house are built of a beautiful white free- 
 
 le cen- 
 
 t The (wo ivings constituted the whole ofthecafiitol.tht .... 
 tralfiart of the building never having been erected. The wings 
 were connected by a slight wooden gallery. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 175 
 
 stone, and have been deservedly esteemed the finest specimens 
 of architecture in the United States, if not upon the coxuinent. 
 The capitol was in an unfinished state, the two wings only hav- 
 ing been erected; the upper part of, the north wing contained 
 the senate-chamber, with the committee rooms, and office con- 
 tainhig their archieves, and the congressional library, a valua- 
 ble collection of books; in the lower part was the hall of the 
 Supreme Court of the United States. The southern wing was 
 exclusively devoted to the hall of the house of representatives 
 and their necessary offices, the whole of the upper part being 
 occupied by the hall and its galleries. 
 
 Washington, thus abandoned to the British arms, presented 
 now a most deplorable scene. Though surrendered without 
 the slightest opposition, and though totally without fortifica- 
 tions, the British naval and military commanders (admiral 
 Cockbiirn and general Ross) immediately issued orders for, 
 and personally superintended the conflagration c" the public 
 buildings, with all the testimonials of taste and literature which 
 they contained. The capitol and the president's house, to- 
 gether with the costly and extensive buildings erected for the 
 accommodation of tlie principal officers of government in the 
 transaction of public business, were, on the memorable night 
 of the 24th of August, consigned to the flames. The large ho- 
 tel on the capitol hill, the great bridge across the Potomac, 
 and the private rope-walks, shared the same fate. 
 
 A consultation had been held by the president and the heads 
 ofdepartnieiitsonthe subject of the navy yard, on the morn- 
 ing preceding the battle of Bladensburg. The secretary of 
 the navy described the situation of the public vessels, and the 
 liature of the public property, at that establishment; the vast 
 importance of the supplies, and of the shipping, to the enemy, 
 particularly as there appeared to be no doubt of hii squadron 
 forming a junction with his army, should it succeed in the eon- 
 quest of the capitol (general Winder having distinctly stated 
 on the same morning, that Fort Washington could not be de- 
 fcjiued); and as, in this event nothing could be more clear than 
 that he would first plunder, and then destroy the buildings and 
 improvements; or if unable to carry oft' tne plunder and the 
 shipping, he would' destroy the whole. And if the junction 
 should be formed, it would be a strong inducement to the 
 enemy to remain, in order to launch the new frigate, which 
 the force at his command would accomplish in four or five 
 days. He would then carry off" the whole of the public stores 
 and shipping, and destroy the establishment; and, in the mean 
 
 time. PTpaf Iv PvfpnH thn. fipM r\f 1-iio «!iir»<^o«» onH rJ<».-r,£.«-o«-;^«. 
 
m 
 
 (.'.■.•iC- 
 
 m 
 
 
 176 
 
 IJlSrOAV OF IHE WAR. 
 
 Thus, in either case, whether the junction w. , fo, nied. or 
 whether the army alone entered tiiC city, the loss or destruclion 
 of the whole of the public property at'^the navy vardla t ' 
 tain. It was, therefore, determined, as the rcsuii of this con 
 sultation, that the public shipping, and naval and military store , 
 and provisions at the navy yard, should be destroyed, in the 
 even of the enemy 's obtaining possession of the cUy. Agree' 
 ably to this determination, the trains, which had been previous- 
 
 luS\ r'^ ^?'^ ^"'^^ ^PP'°^"^ "^^'^^ ^"^>«y' ^nd the pub- 
 he buildmgs, stores, and vessels were soon wrapped in flames, 
 
 whirr'' '".^'''''°^'^' "^^/P^"^^ '^' '-^ sXoncr L^nx 
 which escaped in an extraordinary manner The issuing storJ 
 
 of the yard, and its contents, which had escaped the original 
 
 conflagration, were soon after totally destroyed by the enlmy. 
 
 The only loss which the enemy sustained in the city was at 
 
 h'anfin hr"-. .VT^^^^^-^^ --sent down t?dItroy 
 It, and m the midst of their devastations, a firebrand having 
 been thrown into a dry well in which a quantity of powder had 
 been previously hidden, it exploded with great violence, by 
 which a number of lives were lost. 
 
 Nearly the whole of the male population having joined the 
 army, a great number of houses vere broken open and plun- 
 dered by the blacks and a few disorderly inhabitants. The 
 conduct of the British in genei-al was orderly * 
 
 fhe utmost eff-orts of general Winder were now devoted to 
 collect his troops, and to prepare them to move down toward 
 the city, and hang upon and strike at the enemy whenever an 
 opportumty occurred. The next morning, however, intelli- 
 gence was received that the enemy had moved from Washing. 
 ton the preceding night, and was in full march for Baltimore. 
 ^M^flT7 f^ advanced as rapidly as was pracUcable to 
 Uiat city; but on his arrival at Snell's bridge, on the Patuxent 
 Winder learned that the enemy was proceeding to Marlbo- 
 rough, and not toward Baltimore. ^ iviarioo 
 
 . Having completed the destruction of the public buildings 
 in the -course of the 25th, the British left the city TniS 
 
 r.,J^/ T ^''' ''"'l^''' i^^f^rnous) Cockburn mu,t be ex. 
 
 Bruish adrmral as n-anly to revenge himself on the iiroJrtu 
 o/a /.n...r, W.0, /.. said, had been giving him some hirdrubl 
 ^ file of soldiers nx^ere employed to ransack his office and des- 
 
 Thlra T'f «''''^^''— ^^^«^ - magnarmrofssM^cJ^^^ 
 -ii'hat a chivalrous sfiirit was here dlsfilayed! 
 

 KISTOHV OF THE WAA. 
 
 17 f 
 
 tlut night, and by a rapid march reach. 
 
 On the evening of the 9th they 
 
 cot ''se of the next day. 
 
 led 
 
 Marlborough m the 
 Bcned 
 ivicanvvnile captain Gordon proceeded up the Potomac with 
 
 wo Zw°"k'- '""'^f 'S °^ ^^^ frigates, two bomb-vesres 
 two rocket^ships, and schooner. Owing to the shoais, an 
 
 about7ftZ ' -t'^ ^r "^' "^^" ^« '•^^'^^ ^«*^ Washington, 
 27th r^n? : u"' '^^^ ^^^y^ ""^i^ t^« ^ve ing of the 
 thet;retLt'^Vh" k'^^'v ^r."-^ ""^er Ross had cotSmcnced 
 K T.[ f u^*"*" bomb.ships immediately began .o bom- 
 bard the for' but on the bursting of the first shell, the garrhon 
 
 Z^rT:^ ^y^"''^'^ -^^^^ - - «hort time, to the gS r 
 ,mse of the British commander, the fort was blown up. 
 
 t5n!^ ,!.^^ British army first h ''t the Patuxent, their destina- 
 Iw w t"°' ^' ^T'^^i ^y e^"^"*^* Winder Baltimore, 
 enei ^Fon"^"""; ^"'^ '^^ ^t^T^ ""^^ ^^^"^^^ equally threlt^ 
 conil J.H 1 *^''' '^ ""tf ^ ' ommands the Potomac, was 
 considered almost impre^^mable to anj attack by water, thoueh 
 AJ^n'^ be defended against ai large force bHand 
 case the B^?";h''' ^^T'^1"''' ^eret.re,\as instmLd, in 
 thefnlf H ^^"^y «^,^^W approach his rear, to blowup 
 
 the fort, and proceed with hh romnund across the Potomack 
 
 than^^ t^H^- "'' ^'"*^'^' ^''^"^ '^'' ^"^^"^i«" °f general wTnder 
 L.b J^f '' important post should be deserted, on being at- 
 tacked by a naval force,* ' ^ 
 
 Nothing was now left to oppose the progress of the Brit- 
 ish squadron, and they proceeded slowly^ up the river to 
 Alexandria, with their barges employed in sounding Tn ad! 
 
 On the day preceding 'he battle of Bladensbu^, a commit- 
 ee of vigilance, which i.ad been appointed by t^ kihabTtrnts 
 to watch over, the safety of Alexandria, In this time of pe?H 
 despairmg, they allege, of receiving a^y assistance from^ the 
 general government, and having infoi-mation of the rapkl Zl 
 proach of the enemy towards the capital by land, and that thX 
 squadron was approaching Alexandria by wat^r, deemed 
 
 thattT TZ f''*"'^' ^"^ J^^mcation, that he had learnt 
 
 and tL T""'^ "^ *'? reinforced at Benedict, 2000 stronff, 
 tnaJ^t ? '"T" r '^"'' '"'"''^' '' co^ofierate nvith the fleet, 
 
 martialy and dis7mssed the service. 
 
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17^8 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 their duty to recommend to the common council the passage 
 of a resolution, that m case the British vessels should pa!s 
 lnu?AC ^^^^L, f?^^^«/PP«>ach the town by land, and there 
 should be no sufficient force to oppose them, with aiiy reason- 
 able prospect of success, they should appoint a committee to 
 f^ZV ?^?u ! ""^""Z commanding the enemy's force about 
 
 r?nwf.^f I'u T"» ^c^ ^° P'°^"'^ ^^^ b^«t terms in their 
 power for the safety of .persons, houses, and property. This 
 resolution was unammously adopted by the common council, 
 and on the arrival of the British at Washington, a flag was 
 WhtV ^"t^f 5°JP"^ander there, to know what treatment 
 might be expected from him, in case his troops should ap- 
 I)roach Alexandixa, and should succeed in obtaining posses- 
 Tn^tK i*''''"' . ^^^ deputation were assured by admiral 
 rp^r.^ . "2' l^ . P"""^^^ property of all descriptions should be 
 5n!Pr^^ ^ K^^ '^ was probable that fresh provisions and some 
 be aid for' "^^"^ ' ^^^^ whatever they did take should 
 After the blowing up of Fort Washington a similar deputa- 
 tion was dispatched to the naval commander. But Gordon had 
 other intentions than those avowed by Cockburn. He would 
 give no reply until he had placed his shipping in such a posi- 
 K°1^! T .*i^^^°^"' a/ wouW ensure assent to the hard terms 
 he had decided to enforce. These were, the surrender ot all 
 navai and ordnance stores, public and private, and all the ship- 
 ping and merchandise of the town. Gordon having arranged 
 his vessels along the town, the defenceless inhabitants were 
 forced to submit; and the plunderers took possession of three 
 
 fl3' tnnn^^^u ' ^r^?^ \^^ ^"^ "^^^ ^^^f^> ' 6'000 barrels of 
 flour, 1000 h|K8heads of tobacco, 150 bales of cotton, and wine, 
 sugar, and other articles to the value of about 5000 dollars. 
 
 But though Gordon, with his buccaneering crew, had thus 
 taken possession of Alexandria, without a single gun being fir- 
 ed agamst him, he ,was not destined to carry off his booty en- 
 
 Z^X^^l^^r^'- .^^"^,':^.^Hungerford arrived near Alexan- 
 dna with the Virginia militia, and commodores Rodgers, Por- 
 ter, and Perry, with a detachment of sailors from Baltimore, 
 was not deemed proper to disturb the enemy at Alexandria, 
 as that would probably cause the destruction of the place. Com- 
 modore Porter, therefore, proceeded down the river, and threw 
 up an entrenchment on a bluff, not far from * he ruins of the fort, 
 on the opposite side of the river; and commodore Perry threw 
 up another a little below. The arrival of a small despatch ves- 
 sel, which had to light its way past Porter's battery, convinced 
 Gordon he had no time to lose, and he therefore precipitately 
 
 --^x 
 
 A 
 

 il the passage 
 B should pass 
 md, and there 
 ;h any reason- 
 cammittee to 
 *s force about 
 erms in their 
 3perty. This 
 imon council, 
 n, a "flag was 
 hat treatment 
 )s should ap- 
 Jiing posses- 
 id by admiral 
 •ns should be 
 ons and some 
 i take should 
 
 iiilar deputa- 
 t Gordon had 
 . He would 
 
 such a posi- 
 e hard terms 
 render ot all 
 
 all the ship- 
 ng arranged 
 bitants were 
 sion of three 
 00 barrels of 
 on, and wine, 
 dollars. 
 3W, had thus 
 an being fir- 
 lis booty en- 
 lear Alexan- 
 3dgers, Por- 
 t Baltimore. 
 Alexandria, 
 place. Com- 
 r, and threw 
 s of the fort, 
 Perry threw 
 Jspatch ves- 
 ■, convinced 
 recipitately 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. j^^ 
 
 a bo^bl'nrLth '^*' ^^''^^'' «°«'°>' first sent down 
 operations on Por er "Cerv TL' K "T'i? commenced their 
 ;n.^nt. ontof the r:X^'Httt't4^stS|o^^^^^^^ 
 
 private cSS acted t'/ '?™" "1^'' '"'^ militia officers and 
 Htia, *h„ were ordered t^Tl""' ?'""^ Hungerford's „S- 
 
 The firing \r ted a f dav witL?. • ^°"^^^».^hem from view, 
 fell nes.., and bur over fhrh ?. intermission; several shells 
 feet than to accusto TthV^n v f ^'u^"V^^' ^'^^ "« «ther ef- 
 noon, Porter took ^n ethSef no?, 'h ' ^f""^'"' ^" ^^^ ^^^^r- 
 point, about a mL distal? and r^^^' ^^ ^."^^"^ advanced 
 ship, which di^ o muTe^Tc^^^^^ " ^'' °" '^' '^^"^b. 
 
 of all the vessek inrSf u^ ^^ *° ^''^^ «» Wm the fire 
 
 brig wi,ic rd^dV^^peddo^^^^ »" ^" '*^'-- bZ 
 
 ship. The .atte7at'Cng\ S reaTh^'/thl 7,^ ' L"^"^^' 
 was enabled to play on her wi h J^eat ell, T'^' ^°'^" 
 her to change her Dosition An.i? j «''««' and compelled 
 night, the enemy kent in a brdfitf*^'/ ™5 ""^ succeeding 
 Within a few^oui of the d"-' °^"'?'','''""»' ^"O rockets^ 
 <lore Podgers arrtt^d at A1Pv?nT"'"f °^'''? ^?«">y' commo- 
 small fire-vessels/undei ht nroTer?-^ from ab„^e, with three 
 ters manned with^Ct 60 seame„ ar™.°f ^"'^^i ''''^Ses or cut- 
 immediately proceeded to a^LrTlT""'' "»>5kets. He 
 which lay about two miles befow t/T,'" ""^ " bomb-ship, 
 as they were within rrachof^h7;nI "'"'''= "' ""= ^""d, just 
 cial effect bein^ produced On ?h^ ''' P''«''««'*'' ""7 benefi. 
 the enemy's bol^ Xt i^^n^t^ ^^Tf J.?A^'!°'^ "f 
 
«:,■**"«; 
 
 y 
 
 18Q 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 lr:i 
 
 ^ towmg off the fire-vessels, and the remainder in pursuit of 
 Rodger's cutters. They did not, however, venture to come 
 within musket shot, though much superior both in force a^d 
 numbers but continued at a distance firing their great guns for 
 about half an hour, and then retired to their ships ^ 
 
 1 he following day another fire-vessel was prepared; but it 
 being calm, Rodgers ordered his lieutenant 'and the four cut 
 
 11 J r^'T^:!''''^- ^ "^^*^'*' ^^'-^yi^g ^" eighteen pounder, 
 to attack a bomb-ship, which, in the anxiety of the enemv to 
 get below the works which Porter and Perry had throw7un 
 had been left exposed to attack. At sun-set, Lwever just fs^ 
 he was about to give orders to attack the bomb, Rodgers^ disco! 
 
 him toTnf ''\'"r^'' ^"^^.^^^ ^'^'^^"^ ^ P«i»^' whi^ch obTged 
 him to relmqmsh this determination, and give orders to oro 
 
 fr..m"*^' Virginia shore, to haullp the boats^and 
 
 olZeneSy^^^^^ be defended against the barges 
 
 tion t''".?'''^ ''*''^^^^ f^ "^g^^' Rodgers again shifted his situa- 
 tion to the opposite shore, owing to a man being seized under 
 suspicious circumstances on the beach, near a small boat, about 
 a mils above the enemy's headmost ship. The cutters were 
 now hauled up, the lighter placed in an advantageous posidon^ 
 and the seamen on the top of a cliff overlooking the river 
 bcarcely had this arrangement been completed, when an attack 
 
 iXIJJfn ^^ "" '^" '"""^>"^ ^^''g^^' ^' ^^« "^-t ^ith great 
 intrepidity, the enemy were thrown into confusion, and driven 
 
 back with loss. The only injury which Rodgers sustained, 
 was one man wounded on board the lighter. 
 
 The work at Porter's battery continued to go on ; five liffht 
 iield-pieces, from four to six pounders, arrived and were plant- 
 ed, and hopes were entertained of soon receiving some lon^ 
 Uuity-two pounders from Washington i a furnace was built 
 or hot shot, and time only appeared necessary to make the bat- 
 tery formmable. The whole of the 4th and 5th, an incessant 
 fire was kept up by the enemy night and day. He had once at- 
 
 St .H^ "^ ^i u ^^^» '' '^ supposed with an intention of 
 spiking the guns of the battery, but was repulsed by the picket 
 guard. The plan of annoying him by advancing guns was now 
 adopted with better effect than before. The rocket-ship lyinL^ 
 close m shore, was much cut up by a twelve.pounder and two 
 sixes carried to a point; scarcely a shot missed its hull, and 
 tor one hour the fire of all the enemy's forca was drawn to this 
 point. 
 
 The want of ammunition now caused a suspension of firine 
 i^t the battery at ^ most unfortuDB^te moment, just as commo 
 
HISTOHY OF THE WAR. 
 
 IBl 
 
 enemy befn^thureffl t'XeVt";^^^ ^^e 
 
 tion towards him, Rode-ers LTf a n °^ ^^^^^ atteu- 
 ^aturely, and oVder hif ^LT . T^ '® ^''^ ^^^ ^^^sel pre- 
 taken possessionrbv th^nl'^, '"'^'k'' '"^ ^^^"^ ^h^"' ^Sng 
 
 Some thirtyro p'ounrr^ToHrr^^^^^^^ 
 carpenters were employed famJI/. • ' ^^^ baUery, and 
 a large quantity of ammunitro^ln '™8^^?- Two mortars, 
 shells were also reS two hl^" abundance of shot and 
 
 t'very thing promised that the batte/r' ""^T ^^^^PPi"'?' and 
 ^a.propers!a^for annoyh^^e el^r" n T ''"^ '^^^ ^"^i" 
 fiigates anchored above; makino-fh^^K , r '^^ evening two 
 opposed to the battery' Srer?.w''^''^f ^"'^^ °*"^^^^ «^^^^ 
 sloop of war, a brig a^sch^oner a^^H'^ '^T' ^^^^^^-ships, I 
 together 173 guns The ^nn!' *^^ ^^''Sres, carrying al- 
 
 three 18 pounders, two 12^1^""'^'^ "^ "^^ ^^"«^T were 
 
 fours. Ue two mo ^rs w^re withom c ' ^'""^''^' ^"^ ^^° 
 the thirty-two's, for noVwjTw '"^'.^^^"^ carnages, as were all 
 
 both at \Vashingt^ 7d ofX "tf T '^ '^"^^ ''^' "^^^i 
 pleted in time". ^ ^^^ 'P^'' ^^^X ^ould not be com^ 
 
 tK^'CP^ ^ enemy showing a disposl- 
 
 Hungerford, and preparations madP t5 "^l" '^"^ ^° ^^neral 
 jy with hot shot. Ablt 2 o'cTock ttTo f'^'^l'* '^'^ ^^"^• 
 way, with a fair wind and tide and .tJ^/'"'^^^^' ^^ot under , 
 sloop, bomb-vessels bri«> .lu ^^^ ^^^^"^ the rocket^ 
 
 cession, the gun!b(^ts end/. ''"^'' ^"^P^^^s followedin sue: 
 
 nght. wir"L'rdi:^i^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Hungerford, to request hiL t^ Take tht - P.^^^^r ^^ general 
 in the woods on the heieht^h.Vfn^Lrif?."^'*'''" ^^^^^ed upoa 
 and the quick apDroach%^ ?^ '^'^^^"''^ °^^is ^am^ 
 
 before th^e firinTcTmtetced Tn?^^ ^-^nm^ to ma7b 
 '^endered, impossible^ from ti • v«i ^^'^\}^^^ Period, it was 
 
 «oodthe broadsides of ^l1^i^!v^• ™« ""i"" »nd^me^ 
 But fromthe militia not makZ Z'-'' ""P""'"^'^'! firmness.. 
 Qf the enemy's.fire wis di««e3L^hf KPr*™"^«' *« "h'te 
 fore,(indineWtin a few S,es a^l^r-^- ,P?««'» tbe«- 
 be brouglit to bear on hinr.n^L.i *■"""•" * *°'"«« *o»I<l 
 venting his passing as »me,?fh^'^J"?S»o. hopes of pre- 
 and v,„\nded, hnitermZl^ .""*" u*** ^'■■"d)' been kilted. 
 When th« «,U was™ ?h1 'S.^Ji^^^.f »?«'«»; »«rifice,. 
 
 «<^*'''' 
 
18^2 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 battery, therefore, after sustaining his fire an hour and a quar- 
 ter, the commodore directed the officers and men to retire be- 
 hind a hill on the left, and be in readiness to charge the enemy 
 It he^should land to spike the guns. The two frigates anchor- 
 ea abreast, the bombs, sloops, and smaller vessels passed out- 
 side them, all pouring into the battery and neighbouring woods 
 a tremendous fire of every description of missive. In the 
 woods on the left, a company of riflemen from Jefferson coun- 
 ty, Virgmia, under captain George W. Humphreys, greatly 
 distinguished themselves by a well-directed fire on the ene- 
 my s decks, as did a company of militia under the command of 
 captain Gena, who was posted on the right. The first lost one 
 man killed, and one sergeant and four privates wounded; the 
 latter, two privates killed. After the bombs, gun-vessels, and 
 prizes had all passed, the frigates proceeded down and anchor- 
 ed abreast of commodore Perry's battery, where a constant' 
 firihg^ was kept up until after sun-set. 
 
 But the guns of Perry's battery were of too small calibre to 
 make much! impression on the enemy. A single eighteen 
 pounder, which arrived only thirty minutes before the firing 
 began, ill supplied with ammunition, was the only gun that 
 could be of much service. The ammunition of this gun, and 
 that of several of the six-pounders, being expended, and the 
 fire of the enemy being very heavy, it was thought advisable 
 to retire a short distance in the rear. This was done in good 
 order, after sustaining their fire for more than an hour. 
 
 The advantageous situation of this battery prevented the 
 enemy from doing much injury. Only one man was wounded. 
 The number of killed and wounded at commodore Porter's bat- 
 tery did not exceed thirty. Th 'oss of the enemy was seven 
 killed, and thirty-five wounded. 
 
 Sir Peter Parker, who was sent up the Chesapeake to make 
 a diversion in favour of this expedition, was the least fortunate 
 of the commanders. He met his death in a conflict with a small 
 body of militia on the eastern shore of Maryland, under the com- 
 mand of colonel Reid. 
 
 A force of about 150 men was landed at night from his ves- 
 sel, at the head of which he placed himself, with the intention 
 of surprising the militia in their camp. The movement of the 
 British barges, however, had been discovered, and every pre- 
 paration was made to give them a warm reception. The camp 
 and baggage were removed, and the troops posted on a rising 
 ground, flanked on both sides with woods, with the artillery in 
 the centre. Thj^iead of the enemy's colur^n soon appeared, 
 and received th«i?e of the American ad^p^ at ro paces dis- 
 
 V 
 
 \ 
 
 UW- 
 
•e a constant 
 
 ny wa« seven 
 
 HISTORY OF THE W^R. 193 
 
 TaI%a f^^?- P'^^^!^ by superior numbers, the advance were 
 ordered to retire, and form on the right of the 1? le. The fir^ 
 now became general, and was sustained by the mili ia with the 
 most determmed valour. The enemy pressed in f ont; b^t be- 
 
 or tne men had more than a few rounds, although each had 
 brought twenty mto the field. The artillery cartridges were 
 entirely expended. Under these circumstances the trLn! 
 were ordered to fall back to a convenS^pot;^^^^ paZf 
 
 '^^.Zll^'^t':"'^^^ P-P-^ «^ §istributing%rr:f 
 But the enemy having sustained a severe loss found it more 
 prudent to retreat than to pursue. They retired to the b^ach 
 carrying with them all the wounded they could find, amon J 
 whom was sir Peter Parker, who expired a few minutes Te? 
 being carried from the field. The loss of the British on tw' 
 occasion was U killed and 27 wounded. The AmeTa^s had 
 only three wounded. Nothing but the want of ammunkio^could 
 
 w-Tfi? '^^ r-^^!;^ P^^'y ^^ ^^e British from capture 
 _ With the multitude, success in war is generally sunnosed to 
 indicate wisdom in our rulers, while defelt is unifSv attri° 
 
 pos'es The'Jia::^^"'' '^^k^^' "^^'^"^^«' - '^ treasonTbfe pu . 
 Iw u lA. ^^J"^^^^ Which arose out of the disaster of our anns 
 which led to the capture of Washington, was particuhrinf ' 
 rectedagamst general Winder, wh6%ommand^ed the Tmer 
 can forces, and general Armstrong, the secretary of warbut 
 chiefly against the latter. So violm was the fermenrof the 
 pi^hc mmd in the District of Columbia, that the presWen was 
 Zl S.y^^^'*^^ the clamour and request the secretary toTe! 
 SryKr "" '"''^" '^"' '>' '^^^^"^^ Monroe,Ve II 
 
 ton?nH ^°?^"" V • '^^ ^^^'j'^ ^^"^ i" possession of Washing- 
 
 zed^ntinif^T Tk' " ""'"^^^^ ^ P^^"^' ^^ '^^ history of c vii 
 zed nations. In the wars of modern Europe, no exampkrof ' 
 
 an iff' 'T T^^u^ "^'^^"^ ^^« "^«*t hoffi e to each other 
 can be trac ^d. In the :ourse of the last ten or twelve years 
 mostofthe capitals xif the principal powers of EurOne have 
 
 y t "no'orinsl^cr? ^^^^^^ ^^ ''''''''^^' ^^^ victorioSCops! 
 Ton fe^^^i "'^a'".^*' "^^"'^^ ^"d unjustifiable destruc- 
 
 tion S^been seen.. And yet this is the chief whose conduct 
 
ammsmm 
 
 184 
 
 MISTOAY OF THE WAR. 
 
 Of dvS tr '""''^'^ *' '^"''^'^^ ^^ °"^-Sing all the laws 
 
 unde^p the niJl^''? attempted to justify this wanton destruction, 
 under the plea of retaliation. Admiral Cochrane, in a letter to 
 the secretaiy of state, dated the day previous tothe debarkl 
 tion of Ross's army, though not deliVe^ed till after the destru? 
 turn at Washmgton, stated, that havmg beercal ed upon by' 
 the governor.general of the Canadas tolid him in carryiC in^^ 
 
 United staTerr'th'^'^'^'^^'T ^^'^^"^^ '^' inha'.itants'ofthe 
 arnlrnnif ' ?^^^^'^^"^.''" destruction committed by their 
 3 ^P^^' ^^'J^^^' " h^^ ^^^^"'^ imperiouMy his cfmt 
 conformably with the nature of the governor-general's anDUcJ' 
 
 Td'e trov "and V'' "^^^* *'^T ""^^^ '^^ co^mmand ^^^e" 
 to destroy and lay waste such towns and districts unon thl 
 coast as might be found assailable. ^^^^ricts upon the 
 
 This general accusation was rtibdtted by Mr Monroe in k;= 
 answer to thin Sr>tt»» 'n — "ii^-vi uy lui. ^vionroe, in nis 
 
 answer to this letter. 1 he secretary declared it to have been 
 the resolution of government, from the very commencement 
 of tne war, to wage it in a manner most consonant tTtheS 
 ciples o^ humanity, and to those friendly relations which it^was 
 desirable to preserve between the twoSiations after the res' 
 
 £^^'Zff ^TT ^^^' ^^««^"'i«" h^d never'been deviated 
 from, although it was perceived, with the deepest rearer that 
 a spirit so just and humane was neither cherished nor Icted 
 uponbytheBrtish government. Without dwelllnron the 
 
 tttnd in Brhffh T "'"^/ '^ -^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ "^' ^^^ 
 ranks, and in British pay, on American prisoners at the river 
 
 ^yith'thT^^ . ^ secretary, as more immediately connected 
 
 was coiwtet^^^^ '"^'' '° '^'^ ^^"^«" ^«^«i-^i«n that 
 was committed at Havre-de-Grace, and at Georgetown, earlr 
 
 jn the sprmg of 1813. These viUages were burSd ravaged 
 
 aL'e'S illunts" ^l"""^^^ ^-^l^"' ^ the^rn ^fthTfn' 
 armed mhabitants, who. saw with astonishment that they de- 
 
 Dul^tfr^''^^" '" '''''' P^^P^^y ^'^^ the laws "Fwar.. 
 During the same season, scenes ijf invasion and pillaffe, car- 
 
 w^terToTtt/^tf "%'"^'°"^^' ^''' witnessed a^lal^^^The 
 waters ot the Chesapeake, to an extent inflicting the most se- 
 rious private distress, and under circumstances^hat Sfied 
 motivTtW ^H^^^'if;^^ ""l^ '""^^'y* '^'^'^ than kimaily 
 
 irrtL^rp:i:pt^^^^^^^^ ^'^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^- "^'^^^-^^^^ f-' 
 
 Although these acta of desolation invited, if thev did not 
 «npo»e on the government, the necessity ofaiJilSirm to 
 
ng all the laws 
 
 aiSTORV OF THE WAR, 135 
 
 nd Instance has it been authorised.* The burning of the vil 
 lage of Newark, in Upper Canada, was posteriori the eart 
 
 ^\no ordered it, on the ground that h became necessary in the 
 
 bT ttl^oTe^nm:^^^^ '""T.' k''^ ^^^' ^^^^^'^^' ^^ ^-"-^ 
 PninfJ u • . ^^^ burning which took place at Lona> 
 
 oftreX""'''K'^°"'',^^y''^"^«^^''""^'^"t, and the condTc^ 
 nil Fo^ th. h J''''^ to the investigation of a military triiu- 
 T.\I I ^^rnin^ at St. David's, committed by stra^fflers 
 out trUl'? ''^' f on^manded in that quarter was dism ed wkh! 
 out trial, for not preventing it. 
 
 tinuei^h?"""'""'^^'^ \ ^^? president distinctly to state, con- 
 T^rut l^^^'^^^'T, that it as little comports xvith any orders 
 
 of the uXd sT/''"'^-^^;'*^ "^^""^^y ^"^ "--» command : 
 humLuv of th. i * '• '' ^""'^ ""''^ '^^ established and known 
 numamty ot the American nation, to pursue a system which it 
 
 tTK" LTi^;' 'iT\ This'gov'ernment oCsTtrotself 
 ustt chTrSfeTnf '' *^'' T' '^^^^ ^^^^^^' ^° ^'^^^^^ ^^ 
 ble warfar? wh ?^^^ ^"^ ''''u '^.^"'°"' "^^^'> ^"^ unjustifia- 
 been commift.TK ''^' unauthorised irregularity m^y have 
 actiL r?i. ^^ *"y,°^ ".' ^°**P'' i* ^°"W have been ready, 
 disavow VnH ?""^^P^^.« of sacred and eternal obligation, to 
 
 bTTi;. "1 ^' ^^' ^' "?^Sht be practicable, to repair^ ' 
 this J^enP J r""'"**' '^ ^PP'^'^' was mistaken in attributing 
 CaL^r to Ih. 'J^! '^'•^"'' i^^" American troops in Vp^^ 
 secr'etjyl ,ill.^'TH'''°" ^ ?""^^^ ^""^^^ ^^ in the 
 
 the S'ill n r ^^"^ &o^«^«or of Canada, in an address to 
 lerted « hi/ P"'^^"^^"^' ?" t^« 24th of January, 1815, as- 
 ine on h«H ^ ^' ^ just retribution, the proud capitol at Wash- 
 
 Ameri^.n f ^P''''"u''* * '^"^^^^^ ^^^^ ^o that inflicted by an' 
 American force on the seat of government in Upper Canada 
 
 ;,Zr^ ^r{ ''^'^''y^ ^'''' ofofiinion, that our government wa^ 
 
 ZrZenlaLfTL ^^^^ « ^^'^'^^ ^nUeal to the British go- 
 TheZZZ '^"^'^^d, on the subject of these devastations. 
 
 bu Z fr , -^T' *"' ^y f''''''''^ '^^^'^/' ^^^^ generally led 
 cannot tZ' ^'^f «/'/'«'-^«^^!/ ^n a systematic ianr^r' We 
 '^^J^'l^J^^Soursdves to believe, that if a decided 4iand had 
 bee.i taken, this abominable system of outrage would have can 
 
 TZ: '"^'"^ ''' '''''' '^ tn'chesallaTet^^hriuT^ 
 
 
 
186 
 
 HISTORY ©F THE WAR. 
 
 and the chancellor of the exchequer, in a debate in the British 
 parliament, on an address to the prince regent, in November, 
 1814, was still more explicit. The Americans at York, he 
 asserted, "not only burnt the house of the governor, but also 
 217 *^°."f. belonging to the meanest individual, even to a 
 Shell, and left the populace in the most wretched condition." 
 
 1 hus, m the great as in the little world, one wrong inevita- 
 bly treads on the heels of another. The same cowardly spirit 
 which dictated the orders for devastating the American coast, 
 was apparent on this occasion, when, cowering under the re- 
 proaches of their compatriots for the stain they had cast on the 
 British arms, the mmistry were forced to shelter themselves 
 under the most base and malignant untruths. But the reign 
 of falsehood IS always short. These official assertions produced 
 an investigation of the subject by congress, which must cover 
 with shame the authors of this slander. 
 
 Froni this investigation it appears, that nothing was destroy- 
 ed by the American commander, excepting the barracks and 
 public storehouses. That several of the most valuable public 
 wW^?K were destroyed by the explosion of a magazine, 
 which the British set fire to as the Americans enterld the 
 place, and which proved fatal to general Pike, and to a vast 
 number of his brave followers. That notwithstanding this 
 great provocation for burning the town, nothing of the kind 
 took place; a strong guard was set, with positive orders to prevent 
 any plunder or depredation on the inhabitants; and when leav- 
 mg the place, the commander of the American troops received 
 a letter from judge Scott, chief justice of the superior court, 
 m which he expressed his thanks for the humane treatment 
 the inhabitants had experienced from his troops, and for the 
 commander's particular attention to the safety of their persons 
 and property. The destruction of public edifices for civil 
 uses was not only unauthorised, but positively forbidden by the 
 American comnrianders. It has recently however, appeared, 
 that a public buildmg, of little value, called the parliament- 
 house Cr-Jt the government house), had been burnt, in which 
 an American scalp was found, (as appears by the official letter 
 ot commodore Chauncey, to the secretary of the navy), as a 
 part of the decoration of the speaker's chair, whether it was 
 an accidental consequence of the confusion in which the ex- 
 plosion of the magazine involved the town, or the unauthorised 
 act of some exasperated individual, has not been ascertained. 
 Ihe silence of the military and civil officers of the provincial 
 government of Canada, seem to indicate that the transaction 
 was not deemed, when it occurred, a cause, either for retalia- 
 tion or reproach. 
 
HISTORT OF THE WAB. 
 
 ler 
 
 ThTm,, "^ ,'^*"'="''' »""* °f *e Indian towns on the river 
 ;.«^ .' ^"T""'*' '=*"=•' 'he Moravian towns, are also Id- 
 verted to in the report arising out of this investicrarinn Tk 
 burn„g of Newark, it is statfd. was vindlcSne Amer " 
 
 dZl tL «h ff"'''" government heard of it, instmetions! 
 dated the 6th ot January, 18U, were given by the deDartment 
 
 of The'oS'"';;^'"""*' >^">'»'""' "'° di'aviw ttCZct 
 Pr^vo . *■? '""""'"ed it. and to transmit to governor 
 
 and on the lcJ.rrT'""'^\'^^ accordingly communicated, 
 " that it hai hlf l.T'"'^' '^'^ e<>«"«"-Prevost«ns-vered 
 assuiice ?h»f ,h/"^ g>^at satisfaction he K^d „oeived the 
 assurance, that the perpetration of the bumine of the town «f 
 
 ^■d7h.^' ""^'.^'^ ""authorised by the At^rila^ gove^rnt 
 and abhorrent to every American feeling; that if £,y omraees 
 ark ;"ssinVther"3 an/ "njusUfiablf 'destrictISS o?nIw 
 Su?edt^^.h^ •„«""'■' "fj^^.'^'aliation, they were to be at- 
 
 the'^fttra': ™^:;;^?Lxnve'S"'xr ""= •'"'1 
 
 ^ -arfare, it had n^t btn\"s il f klt^et'e'rVreniU' 
 iestvt'L" ""' "' little congenhU to the displsWon of hUra.' 
 
 Ctedlw"'T;-A''' *r' ".*" of the government ofXe 
 hlTeZ. ^ ? •' •'^'*''<='?t«')' to adopt any plan of policy, which 
 Bm ,. ^°^J"' the devastation of prime prope?ty » 
 
 onfy expfa«rT^h,°^'^' ll'"^"?" govetimLls not the 
 officer CTe Bri'^^ ""'""'onsed offence committed by its 
 
 ry^rp'-'^ :x:^^^^r^S^ 
 
 of the llSof Januarv mVfi'''^' ""^/ ^.^^^ proclamation 
 the burninVof Newark « fhi ^''P^^^^Jy declared, that for 
 cccurrerf th^; o ? n ' ^^® opportunity of punishment had 
 aTthatitw' nn^^i-""-^?"^ retaliation had taken place, 
 Z.J ^^ "°^ ^^^ intenuon to pursue further a svstem of 
 
 S rCfi v'j"^'" his own feeTings, and so littK c^ge 
 the ene^^ .f "f^^ character, unless the future measures of 
 ine enemy should compel him again to resort t^ it " w^i. 
 
 rtdrZcVd" hTr^-^'"?* ^j wiSso^^rh'h • beer^. 
 
 eaay noticed, he transmitted a copy of the proclamation, «»s 
 
\n 
 
 IlIStOHY Ol' THE WAII. 
 
 expressive of the determination as to his futui'c line of con 
 duct," and added, »' that he was happy to learn, that there 
 was no probability, that any measures, on the part of the 
 American government, would oblige him to depart from it." 
 
 The places usually called the Moravian towns, were mere 
 collections of Indian huts and cabins, on the river Le Trench 
 or Thames, not probably worth, in the whole, one thousand 
 dollars. The Indians who inhabited them, among whom were 
 some notoriously hostile to the United States, had made incur- 
 sions the most cruel into their territory. When, therefore, 
 the American army under general Harrison invaded Canada 
 in 1813, the huts and cabins of the hostile Indians were des- 
 troyed. But this species of warfare has been invariably pur- 
 sued by every nation engaged in war with the Indians of the 
 ^ American continent. However it may be regretted on the 
 score of humanity, it appears to be the necessary means of 
 averting the still greater calamities ot ivage hostility; and it 
 is believed, that the occurence Would never have been made 
 the subject of a charge against the American troops, if the 
 f9ct had not been misrepresented or misunderstood. Many 
 people at home, and most neople abroad, have been led to sup- 
 pose, that the Moravian towns were the peaceable settlements 
 of a religious sect of Christians, and not the abode of a hostile 
 tribe of savageb, 
 
 But while excuses arift thus framed with a view of palliating 
 the devastation committed by the British army, not one at- 
 tejnpt is made to palliate or excuse the navy for its plunder of 
 the wealthy town of Alexandria, or for the system of pitiful 
 pilfering which was carried on for two summers in^the Chesa- 
 peake. Is the plunder and devastation of the property of pri- 
 vate individuals, then less heinous than the destruction of pub- 
 lic edifices? or is the world so accustomed to the system of 
 wholesale privateering, unauthorised ty the laws of riaval war- 
 fare, as to pass over without comment, when committed by 
 naval officers, not only the sack of a large town, but the desola- 
 tion of whole districts? 
 
 The general orders of Brown^ on crossing the Niagara, form 
 a pleasuig contrast to the devastating threat of Cochrane. 
 *' Upon entering Canada," says he, " the laws of war* 
 
 * " JVar ie at best a savage thing; and wades through a sea 
 qf violence and injustice; yet even war itself has its laws, which 
 men qf' honour will not depart from:* — Plutarch, life of Camil- 
 tue 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAH. ',99 
 
 bc^t^V^'hec. „ith death, who t,!!^uLnXl£l:^''^^':l^ 
 
 U^prtociple, ™aybe deduced f™^''Levm°"«' ??;''; 
 the possession of a capital does not decide thrfc.; J T*"" 
 or even of a camDai»n 9H Ti... • .""* '"? 'Me of a state, 
 
 ,ncn are of morSi^ce th,„ /".'fi^"""?"™ »" "' "«• 
 
 genera, should ne^r'^crow.edg^ W,f''vl""heH"tK"»' / 
 
 Hiitr^.^Kei^iio;^r2S« 
 
 lage, of about 8000 inhabitants fnd i^r countr^ thlnT" "'• 
 
 t'Se"'rlrharr "-^ " Wa=bi„7onrn?t ti^Hi, 
 
 ?r 'o^'retattrCt JJwt^ Z'^I^^Tl'. ""= P- 
 
 ^vas commenced und"r favouf of the „1^h. »■■!! '^''^" *J*"^^' 
 .etreat would have been IZl yl,: I? Cs t^X^'e" i'" 
 
 s^^ir'thTrrt-i'-Su^R— :■- 
 
 Prul^dtve^r-- rrS^S-^^^ 
 t.-om a circumstance that could not hiveTeen' fotl ee„ ^„'h 
 
 differlm'eKT '"' ^^^='""6'°'' P™d"ced in Europe a verv 
 uincrent etfcct trom what was pvnp/>f/»ri t-u ^ *^i . . • 
 
190 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 from the ministry a statement, that instructions had been sent 
 to the coast of America to desist from further inflictions of 
 vengeance. 
 
 The threats of devastation, and their piratical operations in 
 the district of Columbia, produced an electric eifect through- 
 out the union. A spirit of patriotism was kindled by the 
 flames of the capitol, before which all party considerations 
 and honest diff'erences of opinion vanished. The war, at its 
 commencement, was considered an inexpedient measure, by a 
 large and respectable portion of the community. The mode 
 of conducting it also, by the invasion of Canada, was con- 
 demned as inefficacious; as resembling more a war for foreign 
 conquest, than a resolute assertion of our naval rights, which 
 ought, it was said, to be conquered on the ocean. All aid, 
 either in men or money, was consequently as much as possi- 
 ble withheld by those who embra'ced these sentiments. Party 
 considerations had no doubt their effect in producing this re- 
 sult. It was not to be expected, that the opposition would 
 fail to ma^e use of the same popular topics which had been 
 so successfully wielded against them when in powej-, and 
 which had finally driven them from their seats. 
 
 But at this interesting crisis a new spirit pervaded the nation, 
 which aroused it almost instantaneously to arms. Party ran- 
 cour, for a moment, seemed utterly extinct ; " this is not the 
 time for speaking, but for acting," became the universal cry. 
 All classes seemed inspired with military" ardour; the young 
 and the old, the rich and the poor, rushed into the ranks, came 
 forward with their contributions, and assisted in the labour of 
 raising works of defence. Nor were even the females idle at 
 this trying moment. Their labours were united in accoutring 
 the volunteers, and in providing for their necessities. 
 
 These movements were little if at all regulated by the go- 
 vernments either of the states or of the iinion. It appeared 
 as if the people, perceiving that the powers with which they 
 had entrusted their rulers were either incompetent to the crisis, 
 or had not been sufliciently acted on, had determined sponta- 
 neously to arise in their might, and take the defence'of their 
 respective neighbourhoods upon themselves. . Committees of 
 vigilance or defence were every where appointed by the peo- 
 ple in the town meetings, who collected money, arms, and 
 ammunition, regulated the mi^tary movements of the citizens, 
 and superhitended their voluntary labour at the fortifications. 
 Nor was the public enthusiasm unavailing. From this mo- 
 ment, almost every encounter with the enemv shed nev/ lus- 
 tre on the American arms, till the war finally closed in ablaze 
 of glory at New-Orleans. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 191 
 
 cd in ablaze 
 
 be exeZnfi , ^ which prevailed at this period cannot perhaps 
 VP^ ^'^J- '^ !"°''^ strikingly than by the proclamations of go- 
 H.?r/ ^^"^e^den.-Shortly after his election to the chief ma- 
 gistracy of Vermont, in the fall of 1813, Chittenden issued a 
 proclamat^cn, ordering a brigade of Vermont militia, then at 
 1 lattsburg, m the service of the United states, to return to 
 their homes, on the pretence that it was highly improper that 
 he mihtia should be placed under the command of and at the 
 disposal of an officer of the United States, and out of the juris- 
 
 to .h^"rr''''"^T^ ""-'^^ executive of Vermont, and marched 
 to the defence (rf a sister state, fully competent to all the pur- 
 poses of self-defence. The militia refused complianfce Avith 
 this requisition, and the officers publicly addressed the govern- 
 or, stating at large their reasons for this refusal. « We are 
 not of that class," say they, « who believe that our duties as ci- 
 tizens or soldiers are circumscribed within the narrow limits 
 ot the town or state in which we reside ; but that we are under 
 a paramount obligation to our common country, to the ereat 
 confederacy of states." « We conceive it our duty," they con- 
 cl^^Jf ' ?^ ^ ^^'"''^ unequivocally to your excellency, that we 
 shall no1> obey your excellency's order for returning ; but shall 
 continue m the service of our country, until we are legally and 
 honourably discharged. An invitation or order to desert the 
 standard of our country will never be obeyed by us, although it 
 proceeds from the governor and captain-general of Vermont " 
 Adding, « We cannot perceive what other object your excel 
 lency could have in view than to embarrass the operations of 
 the arnriy, to excite mutiny and sedition among the soldiers 
 and to induce them to desert, that they might forfeit the waj/es 
 to which they are entitled for their patriotic services " "- 
 
 At this important crisis a very dififerent stand was taken bv' 
 \f.!T^^^''r'''''''\ ^" ^'^ P^'oclamation, dated Septemb-cr 19, 
 1814, he declares, that the war has assumed an entirely differ- 
 ent character, since its first commencement, and has become 
 almost exclusively defensive, and is prosecuted by the enemv 
 with a spirit, unexampled dtiring pending negociations for 
 peace, which leaves no prospect of safety but in a manly and 
 nited determination to meet invasion at every point, and expel 
 the invader. That, as the conflict has become a common and 
 not a party concern, the time has now arrived when all degrad- 
 ing party distmctions and animosities, however we mav have 
 uiftered respecting the policy of declaring, or the mode of pro- 
 
 secutimr the vi^ar omrhi tr» Uc iniri «c;,io. *u^4. r . ^ 
 
 Ko ,*• ''i . J ,-»--- -.-.•.•..'.-!•_, v^iiai. every iicart may 
 
 be stimulated, and every arm nerved, for the protection of our 
 r«mmon country, our liberty, our altars, and our fireside; in 
 
 c 
 
,1^2 
 
 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 
 
 M 
 
 I' 
 
 ^Ql 
 
 I 
 
 the (Jefence of which we may, with an humble confidence, look 
 to heaven for assistant e and protection. He therefore earnest- 
 ^ l)t exhorts all the good people of Vermont, by that love of 
 ■^j.^ouiitryj, which so signally distinguished their fathers, in their 
 ' glonoua and successful struggle for independence, to unite 
 both lie art and hand, in defence of their common interest, and 
 every thing dear to freemen. 
 
 The British army having re-embarked on board the fleet in 
 Jhe Patuxent, admiral Cochrane moved down that river, and 
 proceeded up the Chesapeake, and on the evening of the lOth 
 ^f September appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, about 
 H miles from the city of Baltimore. Anticipating the debark- 
 atioB of the troops, general Smith, who commanded at Balli- 
 HKire, had orcfbred general Strieker to march, with a portion of 
 his mihtia, toAvards North Point, near the mouth of the rivet-, 
 where it was expected the British would make a landing. His " 
 force consisted of 550 of the 5th regiment, under lieutenant- 
 colonel Sterrett; 620 of the 6th, under lietenant-colonel Don- 
 aid;' 500 of the 27th under lieutenant-colonel Long; 450 of the 
 39th, under lieutenant-colonel Fowler; 700 of the 51st, under 
 lieutenant-colonel Amey; 150 riflemen, under captain Dyer- 
 140 cavalry, under lieutenant-colonel Biays; and the Union Ar- 
 tillery of 75 men, with six four-pounders, under captain Mont- 
 gomery; making an aggregate of 3,185 effective men. Major 
 Randal, with a light corps of riflemen and musquetry, taken 
 from general Stansbury's brigade and the Pennsylvania volun- 
 teers, was detached to the mouth of Bear Creek, with orders 
 to co-operate with general Strieker, and to check any landing 
 which the enemy might attempt in that quarter. 
 
 The trqopar mo^ed towards North Point, by the main road, 
 on the 1 Ithj and at 3 o'clock, P. M. reached the meeting-house, 
 near the head of Bear Creek, seven miles from tlie city. Here 
 the brigade halted, with the exception of the cavalry, who were 
 pushed forward to Gorsuch's farm three miles in advance, and 
 the riflemen, who took post near the blacksmith's shop, two 
 mJes in advance of the encampment. At 7 -o'clock, on the 
 morning of the 12th, information was received from the advan- 
 ced videtts, that the enemy were debarking troops from and un- 
 der cover of their gun-vessels, which lay off the bluff of Not-th 
 Point, within the mouth of Patapsco river. " The bai^gage was 
 immediately ordered back under a strong guard, arid general 
 Strieker took a good position at the junction of the two roads 
 leading from Baltimore to North Point, having his right flank- 
 ed by Bear Creek, and his left bv a magh. Ha her^ v/ait--^- *^^- 
 approach of the enemy, having sent on an ady^rced corps^ un^ 
 
ifideiice, look 
 fore earnest- 
 that love of 
 hers, in their 
 lice, to unite 
 inlerest, and 
 
 I the fleet in 
 at river, and 
 5 of the loth 
 Lapsco, about 
 ; the debark - 
 ided at Balli- 
 1 a portion of 
 of the rivet*, 
 landing. His " 
 I* Ueutenant- 
 eolonel Don- 
 ;; 450 of the 
 i 51st, under 
 aptain Dyer; 
 le Union Ar- 
 aptain Mont- 
 nen. Major 
 [uetry, taken 
 Ivania volun- 
 with orders 
 any landing 
 
 e main road, 
 cting-house, 
 e city. Here 
 ry, who were 
 idvance, and 
 s shop, two 
 ock, on the 
 n the advan- 
 from and un- 
 uff of North 
 •aggage was 
 and general 
 le two roads 
 ) right flank- 
 
 d corps, un- 
 
II 
 
 t\ 
 
 
 
 
 
 C( 
 
 w 
 
 th 
 
 m 
 th 
 ne 
 
 St; 
 gg 
 
 CO 
 
 po 
 
 wl 
 
 Al 
 
 m< 
 
 sta 
 
 mj 
 
 , th( 
 
 on 
 
 bri 
 
 ma 
 
 tee 
 
 till 
 
 cap 
 
 siti 
 
 me 
 froi 
 can 
 as i 
 con 
 and 
 oft 
 exe 
 an i 
 the 
 thr( 
 
HISTORY OF TSE WAR. 
 
 19; 
 
 der the command of major Heath, of the 5th regiment, this 
 aavance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skirmish- 
 mg It returned to the line, the main body of the enemy beinjr at 
 a short distance in the rear of their advance. During this 
 skirmishing, major-general Ross received a musket-ball 
 through his arm into his breast, which proved fatal to him on 
 Ills way to the water side for re -embarkation. The command 
 ot the enemy's forces then devolved on colonel Brook. Be- 
 tween 2 and 3 o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up and 
 commenced the battle by some discharges of rockets, .which 
 were succeeded by the cannon from both sides, and soon after, 
 the action became general along the line. General Sirickei- 
 gallantly maintained his ground against a great superiority of 
 mimbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when 
 the regiment on his left (the 5 1 st) giving way he was under the 
 necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had 
 stationed one regiment as a reserve. He here formed his bri- 
 gUe; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in 
 compliance with previous arrangements, fell back and took 
 post on the left, a half mile in advance of the entrenchments, 
 which had Ijeen thrown up on the hillb surrounding Baltimore 
 About the time general Scricker had takea the ground just 
 mentioned, he was joined by general Winder, who.had been 
 stationed on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to, 
 Jhf Unirn^f r'^'j ^°"g»^«'«b"gade of Virginia militia, and 
 "' i. fhl f? ^ ' dragoons, under captain Bird,, and take post 
 on the left of general Strieker. During these movements, the 
 brigades of generals Stansbuiy and Foreman, the seamen and 
 marmes, under conrimodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volun- 
 teers, under colonels Cobean and Findley, t)ie Baltimore ar- 
 tiUery, under colonel Harris, and the marine artillery, under 
 captain Stiles, manned the trenches, and batteries, and in this 
 situation spent the night, all prepared to receive the enemy. 
 
 r^^f ?T'^^' ^^^ ^''}'^^' appeared in front of the entrench- 
 ments, at the distance of two miles, on the Philadelphia road 
 from whence he had a full view of tlie position of the Amert' 
 
 llTi .J^h .f^^^""''^^ "^T"^ ^^ '"^'^'^^^^ towards his right, 
 In^Z^ in entioa of making a circuitous march, and 
 coming down on the Harford or York roads. Generals Winder 
 and Stri. V .. were ordered to adapt their movements to those 
 ot the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. They 
 
 an aTvn'nt ""'^^^ V^^ g^eat skill and judgment, by taking 
 an advantageous position, strecchine- arrns« the ^r.,.LL „.uJi 
 
 Iw.T^rt- ^^"^^^ ^° 'PP'^^"'' t^he quarter he seemed^ to 
 tni eaten. I his movement induced the British to concentrate- 
 
 a 2 
 
194 
 
 HISTOnV OP THE WAR. 
 
 their forces ip front, pushing his advance to within a mile of 
 the entrenchments; driving in the videttes, and shewing an 
 intention of attacking the position that evening. Smith, there- 
 fore, immediately drew generals Winder and Strieker nearer 
 to the right of the enemy, with the intention of falling on his 
 right or rear should he attack the entrenchments, or, if he de- 
 clined it, of attacking him in the morning. 
 
 As soon as the British troops had debarked at North Point, 
 the fleet proceeded up the Petapsco, to bombard Fort M'Henry, 
 which commands the entrance to the harbour of Baltimore. 
 On the 13th, about sunrise, the British commenced the attack 
 from their bomb-vessels, at the distance of about two miles, 
 when, finding that the shells reached the fort, they anchored, 
 and kept up an incessant and well-directed bombardment. 
 
 Fort M'Henry was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Ar- 
 mistead. The garrison consisted of one company of United 
 States' artillery, under captain Evans, and two companies of 
 sea-fencibles, under captains Bunbury and Addison. Of these 
 three co;npan=es, 35 men were unfortunately on the sick list, 
 and unfit for duty. In contemplation of the attack, Armistead 
 had been furnished with two companies of volunteer artillery 
 Irom the city ©f Baltimore, under captain Berry and lieuten- 
 ant-commandant Penningfon, a company of volunteer artille- 
 i*ists, under judge Nicholson, who had proffered their services, 
 a detachment from commodore Barney's flotilla, under lieu- 
 tenant R-edman, and about six hundred infantry, under the 
 command of lieutenant-colonel Stewart and major Lane, con- 
 sisting of detachments from the 12th, Uth, 36th, and 38th 
 regknents of United States troops — the total amounting to 
 about a thousand eff'ectivc men. Two batteries to the right 
 of Fort M'Henry, upon the Patapsco, were manned, the one 
 by lieutenant Newcombe, with a detachment of sai'ol's, 
 other by lieutenant Webster, of the flotilla. The former 
 tailed Fort Covington, the latter the City Battery. 
 
 As soon as the British commenced the bombardment, 
 batteries at the fort were opened in return; but the firing soon 
 ceased on the part of the Americans, as it was found that all 
 the shot and shells fell considerably short of the British ves- 
 sels. This was a most distressing circumstance to the troops 
 in the fort, as it compelled them to remain inactive, though 
 exposed to a constant and tremendous shower of shells. But 
 though thus inactive, and without that security, which, in more 
 regular fortifications, is provided for such occasions, not a 
 
 the 
 was 
 
 the 
 
 •man c1-1»'IT|-*V 4^»»n*v» V»io T\r\e*4- 
 
 About 2 o'clock, P M. one of the twenty-four-pounders on 
 tlic south-wesl bastion, under th<? immediate command of cap- 
 
n a mile of 
 shewing an 
 mith, there- 
 cker nearer 
 lling on his 
 or, if he de- 
 
 Jorth Point, 
 :t M'Henry, 
 
 Baltimore. 
 d the attack 
 t two miles, 
 y anchored, 
 dment. 
 colonel Ar- 
 r of United 
 )mpanies of 
 i. Of these 
 tie sick list, 
 , Armistead 
 ?er artillery 
 .nd lieuten- 
 teer artille- 
 ;ir services, 
 under lieu- 
 , under the 
 
 Lane, con- 
 1, and 38th 
 lounting to 
 the right 
 ;d, the one 
 sailol's, the 
 former was 
 
 dment, the 
 firing soon 
 und that all 
 British ves- 
 ) the troops 
 ive, though 
 hells. But 
 ch, in more 
 iions, not a 
 
 )ounders on 
 land of cap- 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. jg^ 
 
 men; the bustle necessarHv n^„H ' ^ • '™""''ed several of his 
 ed and remounti"rthe ^u^n'^.rl,?,'' '" f "'".""S '"« '^"■■""l- 
 suspect that the Barrisolwarin .If'"''""'' "'1 ''""'I' '» 
 ships were immediately advanced ButT' f "'T '">""'■ 
 
 s%ht^„'!s'sirrfrrttt7ii?e hof "• ^^-r'^ "■• '- 
 
 of the 13th till 7 o'clock AM ™r''?''' '"'^- ''""^ sunrise 
 During the night, whUsE teh„l"'H ""* "^ September, 
 severe, two or three rocket vesser»nHK'"' ""' "^^ "">»' 
 pass ng Fort M'Henrv »mi „I1- , '^^""f^^'s succeeded in 
 
 were slon compelleZ'to reS " bv^h'' '?' ^'"^^'"'^ """^ «'«" 
 These forts also'destroyed one of .h^ K "■ ."'^' l"^'""- 
 
 It is supposed that thT4ssefsl ' n S^^' r"? ="' ™ ^oard. 
 picked men, with scalinJ^^nl, r P?""* "''' f""' ""tained 
 In the coirse of the fi!lt ,h' °' I'n '^^"^"' °f forming, 
 munication with the commit, fV^';'''"'''"" '"='<' » com- 
 enterprise being tn:?d^eS1::pl:f,:i?:^5•'■•'=-' »" the 
 agreed to withdraw. Accordin!?p„ ^^i ' , ^"^ mutually 
 still cominued, in orderlo d°st a? '^.I.e '.' ' ,'•'" ^°"?'«"■''ment 
 cans, the retreat was commencpH o ™ ™ °^ ""^ '^"'«"- 
 'larknessj and a continued raT,ri,w».?",? '" "''= ""■'^™« 
 light, when general Winder ro™r. "°^ discovered till day- 
 Virginia brigade and tlu^teSes-'dlt ''"'''"''' T''' "'•= 
 lime major Randal was disDatch^d f ^l "^'^Spons; at the sajne 
 suit of the enemy'Iri^h, w -1 /.K- '"l''S'>' eorps in pur- 
 cavalry was put^ motiin forThi '^ j''°''= "^ "'« ">i«tia 
 were, iowever, so worrou!^ v fh rZ' "^'r' A" '^^ "-""Ps 
 Ming under arms during three d^r"f''-T'^'""S. and wi h 
 Sreater part of the time fovorvinT *'"' '"'Shts, exposed the 
 
 found impracticable™ do anJdUntmor'e Th"""^-'^"" " ^'^ 
 Stragglers. ^ ^"^ "^^^^ than pick up a few 
 
 boLtdment tXre've" ov" ck '"-Ib^T"^"' ^k""""-" ""= 
 North Point, where the enW »ri;,- ?', "'"^ ""^^ ''"i'-ed to 
 that evening an"tar comnlei^ '''" ''^"'* '™°P* commenced 
 
 would have'^een^r^o rrbTefcven h d r A "^ °''^"'*- I' 
 heen ma condition to act off»„.: i . ^ Amencan troops 
 of. the enemy's r^ar /uar^fdrr^iu'? "!"? ^.n' off any pa^rt 
 point where it was affected was' defrnX^T"'"'''"'""' *' '*'« 
 '- of defence, extending from' Sl-i^rto^^^S^U^s^ 
 
196 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 creek, on the Patapsco, which had been thrown up previous ta 
 the arrival of the British. 
 
 The loss of the Americans, at the battle near North Point, 
 was 24 killed, 139 wounded, and 50 prisoners. The loss of 
 the British in this action Avas 39 killed, and 251 wounded. 
 The loss in the fort was only 4 killed and 24 wounded; no list 
 of killed and wounded on board the squadron has been pub- 
 lished. From the best calculations that could be made, from 
 fifteen to eighteen hundred shells were thrown by the enemy. 
 A few of these fell short. A large proportion burst over the 
 fort, throwing their fragments around, and threatening des- 
 truction. Many passed over, and about four hundred fell 
 within the works. Two of the public buildings were mate- 
 rially injured, the others butslightly. 
 
 The effect produced by the joyful intelligence of the failure 
 of the attempt upon Baltimore, may be more easily conceived 
 than expressed, when it is considered that almost every large 
 town being equally threatened with devastation, the case of 
 Baltimordcame home to every individual bosom. But one mo- 
 ment before, the public dismay seemed to have reached its 
 acme; and the most gloomy anticipations seemed about to be 
 realized. 
 
 While admiral Cochrane was threatening the coimtry along 
 the Chesapetike, by order of sir Geoige Pevost, the latter was 
 leading an army and navy into the United States, but holding 
 very different language. Though he could direct the British 
 for-es in the south to lay wast and desolate, he was too fearful 
 of the re-action of such barbarous orders to dare to utter them 
 at the head of his own troops. Here his language was of the 
 softest and most conciliatory nature. On entering the state 
 of New- York, he « makes known to its peaceable and unofiend- 
 ing inhabitants, that they have no cause for alarm from this 
 invasion of their country, for the safety of themselves and 
 families, or for the security of their property. He explicitly 
 assures them, that as long as they continue to demean them- 
 selves peaceably, they shall be protected in the quiet posses- 
 sion of their homes, and permitted freely to pursue their usual 
 occupations. It is against the government of the United 
 States, by whom this unjust and unprovoked war has been 
 declared, ' and against those who support it, eithe|- openly 
 or secretly, that the arms of his majesty are directed. The 
 quiet and unoffending inhabitants, not found in arms, or other- 
 wise not aiding in hostilities, shall meet with kind usage and 
 generous treatment; and all just complaints against any of his 
 . majesty's subjects, offering violence to them, to their families, 
 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 i9r 
 
 previous to- 
 
 forth Point, 
 rhe loss, ot" 
 I wounded, 
 ided; no list 
 
 been pub- 
 made, from 
 
 the enemy. 
 rst over the 
 tenin^ dcs- 
 undred fell 
 were mate- 
 
 f the failure 
 y conceived 
 every large 
 the case of 
 But one mo- 
 reached its 
 about to be 
 
 3\mtry along 
 le latter was 
 
 but holding 
 t the British 
 IS too fearful 
 o utter them 
 3 was of the 
 Eig the state 
 ind imoflend- 
 •m from this 
 mselves and 
 tc explicitly 
 ;mean them- 
 luiet posses- 
 ,e their usual 
 
 the United 
 ^ar has been 
 sithei" openly 
 :ected. The 
 ms, or other- 
 id usage and 
 nst any of his 
 heir families) 
 
 or to their 
 
 th. « f i'^^^^^^^°"»' s^all be immediately reUicssed." With 
 
 Pl«?f«K. ' "^u""^'' .'^'' ^^°''S^ P^^^ost led his army against 
 
 D^^fceede'rl n h"' w^ ^^^r^"? ^^ September, while the fleet 
 
 Soraneon^ Z I' ^'^'u^ l^^ ^^'^"' ^^ «^^^^ ^^ "^^^e a contem- 
 poraneous attack on the Americans by land and water. 
 
 rrevious to this invasion, no military movements took place 
 
 Arr:.l^ quarter, excepting an attack which was made on an 
 
 feu^ ^'"'"^ "r^^ ^°"^^« °» the lake. In this affair the 
 British were repulsed with loss. 
 
 But durmg the months of July and August, the army from 
 LeneTw '.V^'^^'*^ ^^^- ^° ^^^^^^5^ distinguished itself unTr 
 tlie trniny?^-"^'^"' ^'"""^ ^" '^^ St. Lawrence; and part pf 
 .Hn ? K ^'"^ '^"^ "P *° t^^ Niagara, the remainder, con- 
 sist ng of about 14,000 men, were orglniz^d by sir Georg; Pre- 
 vost, agreeably to the orders of the prince regent, for the nur- 
 pose of undertaking an expedition into the state of N^.w-Y?rk. 
 been turi^f T^'"" to suppose, that if this expedition had 
 annfh!^ ."'' ^ powerful attempt would have followed from 
 the Une K'h' H '^' '^'^ °^ New-York, in order, by seizSig 
 states """* completely to cut off the New EnglanH 
 
 Lower r^.nla^ *Tf ' T'^ concentrated on the frontiers of 
 Wp^k! ^L^l^ ^°°^ possession of Champlainon the 3d of 
 ter& • ^^f u^'^ P/"' °^ ^^^ American troops in this quar- 
 
 d tolP;/sTt-^''"^^""!? ^'^ "^^^^^^«"' ^^'^ had march, 
 ed towards the Niagara, under geheral Izard. General Ma- 
 
 tomb, as senior officer, had been left in command. But except- 
 
 and recru^t?;f tT ^^'"'°^ '^^' composed of convalescents 
 ti^ men for Hn/ n^-"^ regiments, not exceeding 1500 effec- 
 ordn^.^ /?^' ^^^ '"1 ^^^ S^^^t^^t confusion, as well as the 
 
 F^nL ^"/ ''°'l'' ^"^ 'h" ^^^'^^ i" "« state of defence, 
 pre^^smen^t oTtTe w' P^"^^^"^f «"s ^^ the enemy, and his im'. 
 n4rTn Pliuh^, ^^^°"'/'''^ '"?"'' ^" *^^^ ^i^i"ity, that an at- 
 made^on^IfiJi ^ was determined on, every exertion was 
 made to place the works m a state of defence; aiid, to create an 
 
 vide^lrr.^ T' '"^°"^ ^^^ «ffi-^^ -"d m'en,?h y were d" 
 comb i";°^^^^^^ments, and placed near the several forts; Ma- 
 omb decanng m orders, that each detachment was the garri- 
 son of its own work, and bound to defend it to the last cxtremi y. 
 
 MatXca^^oiTrfJ^--^^^ 
 
 m^se. The 1 bitants of Plattsbiwg fled with their famiUes 
 
198 
 
 HISTORY OF THS WAR. 
 
 and effects, except a few men and some boys, who formed 
 tiiemselves into a party, received rifles, and were exceedingly 
 useful. 
 
 By the 4th of the month general Mooers collected about se- 
 ven hundred militia, and advanced seven miles on the Beck- 
 man Town road, to watch the motions of the enemy, and to 
 skirmish with him as he advanced; also to obstruct the roads 
 with fallen trees, and to break up the bridges. On the lake 
 road, at Dead Creek bridge; two hundred men had been posted 
 under captain Sproul of the 13th regiment, with orders to ab- 
 batis the woods, to place obstructions in the road, and to forti- 
 fy himself; to this party were added two field-pieces. In ad- 
 vance of this position, was lieutenant-colonel Appling, with 1 10 
 riflemen, watching the movements of the enemy; and procuring 
 intelligence. 
 
 It was ascertained, that before day -light on the 6th, the ene- 
 my would advance in two columns, on the two roads before 
 mentioned, dividing at Sampson's, a little below Chazy village. 
 The coliimn on the Bcckman Town road proceeded with great 
 rapidity; the militia skirmished with his advanced parties, and, 
 except a few brave men, fell back precipitately, in the greatest 
 disorder, although the British troops did not deign to fire on 
 them, except by their flankers and advanced patroles. The 
 night previous major Wool had been ordered to advance with 
 a detachment of 250 men to support the militia, and set them 
 an example of firmness. Captain Leonard, of the light artille- 
 ry, was also directed to proceed with two pieces to be on the 
 ground before day; but he did not make his appearance until 
 8 o'clock, when the enemy had approached within two miles of 
 the village. Major Wool, with his party, disputed the road 
 with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be prevailed on 
 to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of their general and 
 staff officers; although the fields were divided by strong stone 
 walls, and they were told that the enemy could not possibly 
 cut them off*. The state dragoons of New-York wear red coats, 
 and they being on the heights to watch the enemy, gave con- 
 stant alarm to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, and 
 feared his getting in their rear. 
 
 Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated within a miie 
 of Plattsburg, general Mac'omb dispatched his aid-de-camp to 
 bring off* tlie detachment at Dead Creek, and to order lieuten- 
 ant-colonel Appling to fall on the enemy's right flank. The 
 colonel fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat, and 
 to fall in with the head of a, column debouching from the woods. 
 Here he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen, and 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 199 
 
 who formed 
 exceedingly 
 
 ted about sc- 
 »n the Beck- 
 cmy, and to 
 ict the roads 
 On the lake 
 i been posted 
 >rders to ab- 
 and to forti- 
 ces. In ad- 
 ing, with 1 10 
 nd procuring 
 
 6th, the ene- 
 roads before 
 hazy village. 
 id with great 
 
 > parties, and, 
 the greatest 
 jn to fire on 
 iroles. The 
 idvance with 
 nd set them 
 light artille- 
 to be on the 
 arance until 
 two miles of 
 ed the road 
 prevailed on 
 general and 
 strong stone 
 not possibly 
 ;ar red coats, 
 if gave con- 
 e enemy, and 
 
 vithin a mi^e 
 
 1-de-canip to 
 
 rder lieuten- 
 
 flank. The 
 
 > retreat, and 
 m the woods, 
 iflemen, and 
 
 major vvool. 1 he field-pieces did considerable execution 
 among the enemy's colunms So undaunte i however, was the 
 niemy,that he never deployed in his whole march alwlvs 
 Xn^ on in column. This' column, however, was ^uchTt^ 
 1 eded by obstructions thrown in the way, and by the removal 
 of the bridge at Dead creek j as it passed the creVk and b^ach 
 the galleys kept up on it a lively and galling fire. ^' 
 
 of The smalf liver t?'"'^ '' "^"f ^' ^" ^'^ "-'^— «t side 
 n Lin T^. A • ^^'^^^^^^ "ear where it falls into lake Cham- 
 Snhe Hver ^'"''" ^""^^^ ^''^ '^^^'-<^ «n the opposite side 
 
 .f?rlv /u?'u ^^ field-pieces were therefore ordered to 
 
 t tre across the bridge, and form a battery for its protection 
 
 loL a^the : T'Vi ^^V"f-^ry' whLh was aS n^^^^^^^ 
 t^one, and the parties of Apphng and Wool, as well as that of 
 bproul retired alternately, keeptig up a bri'sk fire unti they 
 got undercover of the works. The enemy's light troops then 
 took possession of the houses near the bridge, lid kept u^" 
 constant firing from the windows and balcoJe , but a few hot 
 shot from the American works, which put the houses in flLes 
 soon obliged these sharp-shooters to retire. The wholeTv' 
 until 1 was too late to see, the enemy's light troups endeavour-' 
 ed to drive the guards from the bridge, but they paid deaH; 
 for their perseverance. An attempt v/as also made to cross the 
 , upper bridge, where the mili^a resolutely drove them back 
 1 he troops being now all on the south side of the Saranac,the 
 p anks were takeSi off the bridges, and piled up in the form of 
 breastworks to cover the parties intended to dispute the pas 
 sage, which afterwards enabled them to hold the bridges" Jnst 
 very superior numbers. ^"Ses against 
 
 From the 7th to the 11th, the enemy was employed in get- 
 g on his battering train, and erecting his batteries and an- 
 preaches, and constantly skirmishing at the bridges and ford^s 
 By this time the m litia of New-York and the vo unteers of 
 Vermont were pouring in fropi all quarters. They were aU 
 pkced along the Saranac, to prevent the enemy's ciLshg the 
 iver, exceptmg a strong body sent in his rear to harrass him 
 ay and night, and keep him in continual alarm. The mi it"a 
 behaved with great spirit after the first day, and the voluntee;' 
 of Vermont were exceedingly serviceable. The regular troons 
 Z:^r!{!^^ the constant skirmishing, and repSted IS 
 
 on Tn^ 'Sf "^''''?"^? '^^ ^"f""^^^' ^"^ ^^i"ced a determiii 
 tion to hold out to the last extremity. 
 
*ioo 
 
 UlbrORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 Meanwhile the British were strenuously engaged in prepar- 
 ing the fleet, which was destined to co-operate with the land 
 forces. It appeared in view at Plattsburgh early in the morn- 
 ing of the 1 1th. This fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, 
 carrying 39 guns, 27 of which were twenty-four-pounders; the 
 brig Linnet, cai rying 16 guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each 
 carrying 1 1 guns, and thirteen galleys, five of which carried 
 two and the remainder one gun each. The American force 
 consisted of the Saratoga, carrying 26 guns, eight of M-hieh 
 were long twenty-four-pounders; the Eagle, 20 p ms; the Ti- 
 conderoga 17; the Preble 7; and ten galleys, six oi which car- 
 ried two, the remainder one gun each. The British were su- 
 perior, both in size and number of guns. 
 
 At 8 in the morning, the American look-out-boat announced 
 to commodore Macdonough, the commander of the squadron, 
 the approach of the enemy. He at this time lay at anchor, in 
 Plattsburg bay, ciilmly awaiting the approach of the British 
 squadron, the fleet being moored in line, abreast of the works 
 with a division of five gun-boats on each flank. At 9, the Bri- 
 tish fleet anchored in line abreast the American squadron, at 
 about 300 yards distance, the Confiance opposed to the Sara- 
 toga, the Linnet to the Eagle; the Britisli galleys and one of 
 the sloops to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and the left division of 
 the American galleys; the other sloop to the right division of 
 the American galleys. 
 
 In this situation the whole force on both sides became en- 
 gaged, the Saratoga sufi*ering much from the heavy fire of the 
 Confiance. Bwtthe fire of the Saratoga was also very destruc- 
 tive to hei . The Ticonderoga likewise gallantly sustained her 
 full share of the action. At half past 10 o'clock the Eagle, 
 not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and an- 
 chored in a more elligible position, between the Sai-atogo and the 
 Ticonderoga, where she vciy nuir'i annoyed the eneir)y,butufor- 
 tunately left the Saratog? exposed to a call-^'b ^i'^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^?'^' 
 my'sbrig. The guns ontae starboard side of the Saratoga being 
 nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern-anchor was 
 let go, the bower-cable cut, and the ship winded with a fresh 
 broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. 
 A broadside was tnen sprung to bear on the brig, which surren- 
 dered in about fifteen minutes after. 
 
 The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle, had struck some 
 time before, and drifted down the line; the sloop which was 
 ,.,UK tu^\f fvaiw^vs havinp- stmck also. Three of the enemy s 
 galleys weix sunk, the oUiers pulled off. The American flo 
 tilla were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 201 
 
 >cd in prcpai- 
 with the land 
 f in the morn- 
 ate Confiance, 
 pounders; the 
 ul Finch, each 
 which carried 
 ncrican force 
 ight of M'hieh 
 g ms; the ri- 
 ot which car- 
 itish were su- 
 
 oat announced 
 the squadron, 
 ^ at anchor, in 
 of the British 
 t of the works 
 At 9, the Bri- 
 \ squadron, at 
 I to the Sara- 
 !ys and one of 
 left division of 
 ght division of 
 
 Es became en- 
 avy fire of the 
 ) very destruc- 
 r sustained her 
 )ck the Eagle, 
 r cable and an- 
 ii-atogo and the 
 nemy,butufor- 
 efrom theenc- 
 Saratoga being 
 srn-anchor was 
 ed with a fresli 
 IV surrendered. 
 , which surren- 
 
 id struck some 
 oop which was 
 of the enemy's 
 : American flo 
 to follow them, 
 
 ^vheii all the vcisels were reported to the commodore as in 
 a sinkmg state; it then became necessary to annul the siimal 
 to the galleys, and order their men to the pumps. The enemy's 
 galleys thus got off in a shattered condition, for there was ilot 
 a masL m either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the 
 lower rigging, being nearly all shot away, hung down as though 
 It had been just placed over the mast heads. 
 
 The Saratoga had fifty-five Vound shot in her hull; the Con- 
 hance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set on 
 hre by hot shot from the Confiance. The enemy's shot must 
 Have pnncipally passed just over the heads of the sailors, as 
 there were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the 
 close of the action, which lasted without intermission two hours 
 and twenty minutes,* 
 
 This naval engagement was in fulj view of both armif s at 
 i lattsburg. The killed on board the American squadron 
 amounted to 52, the wounded to 58. The killed on board thi 
 captured vessels amounted to 84, including captain Downie, 
 the commander of the squadron; the wounded amounted to 
 1 10; the loss on board the British galleys has never been as- 
 certained. The number of men in the American squadron 
 was 820; the British were supposed to exceed 1000. 
 
 The batteries on shore were opened on the American works 
 at the same instant that the engagement commenced on the 
 lake, and continued throwing bomb-shells, sharpnells, balls, 
 and Con-reve rockets, until sun-set, when the bombardment 
 ceased, every battery of the British being sUenced. Three 
 eflorts were made to pass the river at the commencement of 
 the cannonade and liombardment, with a view of assaulting 
 the wo4-ks, and an immense number of scaling-ladders had 
 been prepared for that purpose. One of these' attempts was 
 made at the village bridge, another at the upper bridge, and a 
 third at a ford about three miles from the works. The two 
 first were repulsed by the regulars; at the ford by the volun- 
 teers and militia. Here the enemy suffered severely in killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners; a considerable body having crossed 
 the stream, all of whom were either killed, taken, or driven 
 back. A whole company of the 76th regiment was here des- 
 troyed, the three lieutenants and twenty-seven men prisoners, 
 
 * ^ cock, the « bird of wary'* was in the Saratoga, and re- 
 fieatedly cronvedfroin the shrouds during the action. J similar 
 circumstance occurred in Fort MiHpnm ^7/W«o. /a» k — a i 
 
 .. y ^_, »,„ trrt vjrr-.i/u.} u~ 
 
 ment. 
 
 ■ 
 
2C2 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 the captain and the rest killed. The woods at this place were 
 very favourable to the operations of the militia. 
 
 The ftirther prosecution of the expedition having become 
 impracticable by the capture of the fleet, an event totally un- 
 looked-for, at dusk the er.emy withdrew his artillery from the 
 batteries, and raised the siege; and at nine, under the cover of 
 the night, sent off in a great hurry all the baggage he could 
 find transport for, and also his artillery. At two, the next 
 morning, the whole army precipitately retreated, leaving be- 
 hind their sick and wounded; the commander left a^iote with 
 the surgeon, requesting for them the humane attention of gen- 
 eral Macomb. 
 
 Vast quantities of provisions were left behind and destroy- 
 ed, also an immense quantity of bomb-shells, cannon-balls, 
 grape-shot, ammunition, flints, &c. entrenching tools of all 
 sorts, and tents and marquees. A great deal was afterwards 
 found concealed in the ponds and creeks, and buried in the 
 ground, and a vast quantity was carried off by the inhabitants. 
 
 Such w^s the precipitancy of the retreat of the British, that 
 they arrived at Ch^zy, a distance of eight miles, before their 
 flight was discovered. The light troops, volunteers, and mi- 
 litia pursued immediately; and some of the mounted men 
 made prisoners of a few of the rear guard. A continual fall 
 of rain and a violent storm, prevented further pursuit. Up- 
 wards of 300 deserters came in. 
 
 The British officers of the army and navy who were killed, 
 were buried with the honours of war. The' humane treatment 
 of the Americans to the wounded, and their genero\is and 
 polite attention to the prisoners, were gratefully mentioned by 
 captain Pring (who succeeded to the command of the British 
 fleet on the fall of captain Downie) in his oflicial dispatch to 
 the admiralty.* 
 
 Thus were two formidable invasions, in which both the sea 
 
 * The humane attention to their pri&oners^ for ivhich the 
 Americans have been so remarkable^ has led to most singular 
 conclusions in Kngland. Lord Liverfiool said in parliament^ 
 that " in many places a strong disposition had been shown by 
 the American people to put themselves under our protection^ 
 and that their treatment of our officers led to any co7icluiiion 
 rather than to the beVuf that they enttrtaiti any animosity 
 agaist this country^ or that they were not fully persuaded thai 
 the war was a war of ti?>provQkcd aggression on the part of 
 their own government." 
 
place were 
 
 ig become 
 totally un- 
 v from the 
 he cover of 
 2 he could 
 0, the next 
 leaving be- 
 a^iote with 
 tion of gen- 
 
 nd destroy- 
 mnon-balls, 
 :ool9 of all 
 afterwards 
 iried in the 
 inhabitants. 
 Jritish, that 
 )efore their 
 :rs, and mi- 
 •unted men 
 jntinual fall 
 rsuit. Up- 
 
 vere killed, 
 e treatment 
 nero\is and 
 entioned by 
 the British 
 dispatch to 
 
 )oth the sea 
 
 1" nuhich the 
 isi fiingular 
 /larliatnent, 
 n t.honvn by 
 
 protection^ 
 ' co7icluiiion 
 y ariimositij 
 tiuaded that 
 
 the part of 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 
 
 203 
 
 nelr V at r. ^^ ^'''' ^"'^^" co-operated, totally frustrated, 
 w?//if 1 1 T^^ moment, while another British squadron 
 was added to the trophies of the American navy. '^^^'^'^^ 
 
 concmale tie' ^T S^'''? °^ '^^ ^"'*' '^'^ ^''"^'^ ^^^^^ed to 
 bo rs f^nnl^ 1 \ ^ ?^^5 ''^^^'» ^y exempting their har- 
 inn? T '^^?ckade, by refraining from the predatory incur- 
 
 ase^Jven Z^'^l''''' 'T'^ ^^^ '°"^^-" --ts, and' in one 
 fnul I P"oclaimmg that a system of perfect neutrality was 
 
 T^e nom n?* M 'l^^^^^'^^y^^^^ was adopted this summer, 
 ine poitsof New England were included in the sweeoino- 
 system of blockading the whole of the American coasrS 
 
 nertv rndT'i;'''i ^'"^^ ^"V ^^^<^ destruction of private^pro- 
 invlllT ?"^"^ ^ large portion of the District of Maine was 
 
 nt fit ^^Pt"r^dby a powerful force by land and wateT 
 course of tlf.""""'^ remarkable attacks, which occurred in the 
 course of the campaign, was that made by sir Thomas Hardv 
 upon Stomngton a small village in Connecdcut, aboS 2o m? I 
 
 ": dy"^ -^^ ''-^^ ^l^ ^f ^-^-t, commo'dor: 
 
 -Adray appeared oft the village with one 74, one fricate. one 
 bomb-ship, and two gun-brigs, and immediately summoned ?he 
 place to surrender. In the course of the day, a number of 
 we^^^th'tM '%'''^ ^"?*'^ P^^^^' ^^^ condftions TquTred 
 don, should be immediately sent off to the squadron; that the 
 two guns in the battery should be removed; and that noTorn > 
 does should be fitted from, or suffered to be irthe ha boun 
 I he terms being scut; over to New London to general Cushine 
 be commandmg officer of this district, he replied, thafSfe 
 reques for the removal of Mr. Stewart's family would be 
 fonvarded to Washington; with the others he wouKt com! 
 
 In the evening, the British commenced the attack with 
 rockets from one of the brigs: a great nun.ber of rockets were 
 thrown, with little or no effect: The bri.. then hauled ud 
 withm a short distance of the battery, and^ krpTup a heavv 
 and weli-directed fire from guns of a /ery lar^eS. whkh 
 was returned by the two eiglLen-poundeJs in'^het^^e J 'e"' 
 till their ammunition was expended. During this time the 
 f^l M ^""t""'!' ' A supply^f ammunidon1.a"^^^^^^^ 
 hom New London, the fire from the battery was re-com- 
 menced, and with such effect, that the brig slipped her cabTs, 
 
 ^nd towed off, out of reach of fhp r\crhtr.r...^^^,,L^ ,. . ' 
 
 ing previously swung clear of the g?ound;"''"""""" '"'' ''"''' 
 
 On the 10th, a number of flags passed; the commodore still 
 
204 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 insisting on his former terms. On the followmg morning-, 
 the last flag passed, with Hardy's ultimatum, at 1 1 o'clock, 
 \i2.: that Mrs. Stewart should be put on board by 2 o'clock 
 P. M. or he would destroy the place. He, however, did not 
 copmience till 3 oclock, at which time the bomb-ship com- 
 raenccJ from two mortars, one a 15 inch and the other 13. 
 The bombardment continued from this time till half past 8 in 
 the evening, without intermission; the place was several times 
 on fire, and as often put out by the soldiers and inhabitants. 
 
 At da)'-light on the 12tli, the attack waS re-commenced 
 from tiie'bomb-ship, seventy-four, and frigate, and continued, 
 with little intermission, till half past 9, A. M. when ^le tide 
 began to ebb, and the ships tl.ought proper to haul off'. In 
 the afternoon they set sai\, and left the sound by dark. 
 
 As commodore Hardy has never favoured the world witli 
 his official account of this valiant and famous affair, we are 
 entirely at a loss to conjecture what could have been his mo- 
 tive. One horse^ and one goose constituted the whole list of 
 killed on shore; a lieutenant and three privates, of the militia, 
 wert slightly wounded by the bursting of a shell, and two men 
 in the battery by a piece going off at half charge. The town 
 was but little damaged, considering the tremendous cannonade 
 and bombardment it sustained: one half of the houses were 
 untouched, and not one entirely demolished, although every 
 ship threw its shot completely over the point. * Nearly 300 
 shells and fire-carcasses were thrown into the village, making, 
 it was estimated, 50 tons of metal. Three or four tons of shot, 
 carcasses, and bombs were collected by the inhabitants. — After 
 ■ the bombardment, it was learnt from gOod authority, that the 
 British had a number killed, and several badly wounded, by 
 the fire from the two eighteen-pounders on shore. 
 
 A few weeks after the declaration of war, sir J. C. Sher- 
 broke, irovcrnor of Nova Scotia, &c. issued his proclamation, 
 ordering and directing alt his majesty's subjects, under his 
 government, to abstain from molesting the inhabitants livirg 
 on the shores of the United States, contiguous to Nova Scotia 
 and New Brunswick; and on no account to nrolest the goods 
 and unarmed coasting vessels, belonging to defenceless inhabi- 
 tants on the frontiers, so long as they shall abstain on their 
 part from any act of hostility and molestation towards the in- 
 habitants of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; on the ground 
 that predatory warfare carried on against defenceless inhabi- 
 tants could answer no good purpose. 
 
 Another proclamation of the same date was issued by gov- 
 ernor Sherbrokc and admiral Sawyer, purporting, that having 
 
g morning', 
 1 1 o'clock, 
 y 2 o'clock 
 vcVf did not 
 )-ship com- 
 e other 13. 
 Uf past 8 in 
 sveral times 
 habitants, 
 commenced 
 d continued, 
 len Uie tide 
 laul ofl'. In 
 ark. 
 
 world witli 
 fair, we are 
 een his mo- 
 ivhole list of 
 f the militia, 
 md two men 
 The town 
 IS cannonad^' 
 louses were 
 lOUgh every 
 • Nearly 300 
 \ge, making, 
 tons of shot, 
 ants. — After 
 •ity, that the 
 ,vounded, by 
 
 J. C. Sher- 
 iroclamation, 
 s, under his 
 litants livii g 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 St the goods 
 eless inhabi- 
 tain on their 
 vards the in- 
 n the ground 
 eless inhabi- 
 
 sued by gov- 
 , that having 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR.' 
 
 205' 
 
 understood that the inhabitants of Eastport >iad manifested a 
 disposition to avoid hostilities with the subjects of Great B"i- 
 tain. It is niadc known to them and all concerned, that from a 
 wish to discourage, as far as passible, every species of depre- 
 datory warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress pri- 
 vate individuals, they have respectively issued orders to the 
 naval and land forces, to respect the persons and property of the 
 mhabitants of Eastport, so long as they shall carry on their 
 usual and accnstomed trade ajid intercourse with any part of 
 these provinces, and reciprocally abstain Irom acts of hostility 
 Adding, that this system of perf;ict neutrality '.owaids Eastport 
 should not be departed from without due and timely notice be- 
 ing previously given to the inhabitants. 
 
 Though some expressions in these proclamations appear as 
 it they v/ere intended as a mere cover for smuggling transac- 
 tions, yet the humanity and good sense displayed in the ac- 
 knowledgment, " that no good could result from depredatory 
 warfare, which can only have a tendency to distress pi'ivate in- 
 dividuals," is worthy of high commendation, and it is sincerely 
 to be regretted that the same principle had not been univer- 
 sally acted on. It would have been worthy of two great and 
 magnanimous nations to have waged war, <^ in a manner most 
 consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those friendly 
 relations, which it was desirable to preserve between the twa 
 nations, after the restoration 6f peace." 
 
 ^Vhether « due and timely notice was previously given'* to 
 the inhabitants of Eastport of the departure from this system 
 of perfect neutrality, we have no means of ascertaining. But 
 'cibout two years after the date of this proclamation, (July U, 
 1814) thelsland on which it stands was captured by a Britisli 
 squadron, and formally taken possession of in the name of his, 
 Britannic msjesty. 
 
 Eastport is situated on Moose Ishnd, in Passamaquoddy bay 
 Although this island has been held by the Americans since the 
 revolutionary war, the right to its sovereignty has never been 
 settled, it being conside^jed both by the Americans and British 
 as withm their boundary line. As soon as it was taken posties- 
 sion of by the British, the inhabitants were ordered to appear 
 ^nd declare their intention, whether they would take the oath 
 of allegiance to his Britannic majesty; and were further noti- 
 fied, that all person* ii®t disposed to take this oath, would be 
 required tadepart from the island in the courae of seven days,, 
 lanless special permission was granted to them to remain for a 
 .-onv^ci period. But a communication was also sent to the gov- 
 ernment of Massachusetts, stating, that the obiect of the Rii- 
 
 s 2 
 
206 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAK. 
 
 tish government was to obtain possession of the islands of 
 Passamaquoddy bay, in consequence of their being considered 
 within their boundary line; that they h?.dno intention of cij^rry- 
 ing on offensive opt rations against the people residing on the 
 continent, unless their conduct should oblige them to resort to 
 the mearure; and in the event of their remaining quiet, they 
 should not be disturbed either in their property or persons. 
 
 This resolution, however, of avoiding hostile operations 
 against the inhabitants of the continent was adhered to for a 
 much shorter period than the " system of perfect neutrality," 
 promised to be observed towards the inhabitants of Eastport. 
 For the British ministry, elevated by the success of their arms 
 iii Europe, had come to the resolution to demand large and 
 important cessions of territory from the United States. One 
 of those cessions included that part of the District of Maine 
 Avhich lies eastward of Penobscot river, which they considered 
 desirable on account of its securing to them a direct commu- 
 nication between Halifax and Quebec. Instructions were ac- 
 cordingly sjsnt out to lieutenant general Sherbroke, governor 
 of Nova Scotia, &c. to effect the conquest of that part of Maine, 
 of which it was intended to demand the cession. Towards the 
 end of August an expedition sailed from Halifax to accomplish 
 the object in view. The troops were conrimanded by governor 
 Sherbroke, the naval forces by rear admiral Griffith. 
 
 It was governor Sherbroke's original intention first to have 
 taken possession of Machias, and then proceed to Castine, on 
 the Penobscot, but on the 30th of August the fleet fell in with 
 the Rifleman sloop of war, from which information was obtain- 
 ed that the United States' frigate Adams had arrived in the 
 ^.Penobscot; and that, from the apprehension of being attacked 
 ' - by British cruizers, if she remained at the entrance of the ri- 
 ver, she had run up as high as Hampden, where her guns had 
 been landed, and mounted on shore for her protection. 
 
 This information determined governor Sherbroke to proceed 
 first to the Penobscot, in order to arrive there before the Ame- 
 licans had time to strengthen themsBives. The fleet arrived 
 off Castine on the 1st of September. The small garrison in 
 the fort not being able to resist the overwhelming force of the 
 British, discharged their guns, blew up the fort, and retired. 
 The enemy then took possession without opposition. 
 
 The following day a considerable force was despatched up 
 *he river to Hampden, in order to capture or destroy the 
 Adams. Captain Morris, the commander, had received intel- 
 ligence the dav before of the arrival of the expedition oil V^as- 
 tine, which was immediately forwarded to brigadier general 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 207 
 
 3 islands of 
 f considered 
 on of c^rry- 
 iding on the 
 , to resort to 
 5 quiet, they 
 • persons. 
 3 operations 
 ;red to for a 
 
 neutrality," 
 of Eastport. 
 >f their arms 
 id large and 
 kates. One 
 ict of Maine 
 y considered 
 rect commu- 
 jrts were ac- 
 ke, governor 
 art of Maine, 
 Towards the 
 o accomplish 
 
 by governor 
 fith. 
 
 first to have 
 o Castine, on 
 it fell in with 
 n was obtain- 
 irrived in the 
 ing attacked 
 ice of the ri- 
 ber guns had 
 :tion. 
 
 ke to proceed 
 ore the Ame- 
 
 fleet arrived 
 11 garrison in 
 g force of the 
 L, and retired, 
 ion. 
 espatchcd up 
 
 destroy the 
 eceived intel- 
 lition off Cas- 
 adicr general 
 
 Blake, of the militia, with a request that he would direct such 
 force as could be collected to repair immediately to Hampden. 
 As the ship was prepared for heaving down, and in no situation 
 to receive her armament, the attention of the seamen was im- 
 mediately directed to the occui>ation of such positions on shore 
 as would best enable them to protect her. By great a«d unre- 
 mitted exertions, and the prompt assistance of all the inhabi- 
 tants in the immediate vicinity, during the 1st and 2d, nine 
 pieces were transported to a commanding eminence near the 
 ship, one to the place selected by general Blake for his Ihie 
 of battle, fourteen upon a wharf commanding the river below, 
 and one on a point covering the communication between the 
 hill and wharf batteries — temporary platforms of loose plank 
 were laid, and such other arrangements made as would ena- 
 ble them to dispute the passage of a naval force. Want of 
 lime prevented Morris from improving all the advantages of 
 his position, and he was compelled to leave his rear and flanks 
 to the defence of the militia, in case of attack by land troops. 
 
 Favoured by a fresh breeze, the British had advanced to 
 within three miles of the Adams at sun-set on the 2d, with the 
 Sylph mounting 22, and Peruvian 1 8 guns, and one transport, 
 one tender, and ten barges, manned with seamen from the 
 Bulwark and Dragon, under the cbnnnand of commodore Bar- 
 rie. Troops were landed, under the command of colonel John, 
 opposite their shipping, without any opposition, their num- 
 bers unkown, but supposed to be about 350. To oppose these 
 troops, about 370 militia were then collected, assisted by lieu- 
 tenant Lewis, of the United States artillery, who, by a forced 
 march, had arrived from |)asthie, with his detachment of 28 
 men. 
 
 Many of the militia were without arms, and most of them 
 without any ammunition, and, as the seamen were barely suffi- 
 cient to man tiie batteries, the ship's muskets were distribut- 
 ed among the militiaj the sick were sent across the ci^ek, with 
 orders br such as were able, to secure themselves in the woods, 
 in case of defeat. These arrangements were not concluded 
 until late on the evening of the 2d. 
 
 During the night, the militia were reinforced by three com- 
 panies. The British were also landed, and at five next morn- 
 ing, marched towards Hampden, in front of which the mili^ 
 were advantageously posted. But they were not able to with- 
 stand the attack of the British regulars; they soon gave way 
 and fled in^confusion. Captain Morris and his sailors had now 
 no aiterwaiive but precipitate retreat or captivity; their rear 
 and »«ifelsa being entirely exposed, while they were destitute 
 
 f 
 
20» 
 
 msrouY OF the war. 
 
 of any other defence on that side than their pikes and cutlasses- 
 Lieutenant Wadsworth was therefore ordered to skipe the 
 guns, and retire across the bridge, which was done in perfect 
 order, the marines under lieutenant Watson covering the rear. 
 The remainder of Morris's force was at the same time order- 
 ed to spii.e the guns at the lower battery, fijc the ship, and 
 then join their companions across the creek. 
 
 Before these last orders were fully executed, the enemy ap- 
 peared on the hill from which the militia had retired, and the 
 seamen were consequently exposed to their fire for a short 
 time wiule completing them. When they commenced their 
 retreat, it was fouad to be impossible to gain the bridge; but 
 they succeeded iu fording the creek, and rejoining their com- 
 panions, without receiving the slightest injury from the fire of 
 
 the enemy. 
 
 The loss of the militia was estimated by the Rritish at 30 or 
 40 killed, wounded, and mU&ing-, while their loss was only 1 
 killed, 8 wounded, and 1 missing. Captain Morris's loss was 
 only a seaman and a marine made prisoner. He estimates the 
 loss of the navai force opposed to him at 8 or 10 killed, and 
 from 40 to 50 wounded, principally by the eighteen-pounder 
 under charge of iieutEnu.;t Lewis, of the United States artil- 
 lery. 
 
 Machias being now the only post remaiinng between the 
 
 Penobscot and Passamaquoddy bay, a brigade was sent against 
 it from Castine. It was taken without resistance, and colonel 
 Pilkington, the British conmiander, was making arrangements 
 to proceed into the interior of the country, when he received 
 a letter from brigadier-general Brewer, commanding the dis- 
 trict, engaging that the militia within the county of Washing- 
 ton should not bear arms, or in any way serve against his Bri- 
 tannic majesty during the war. A similar ofter having been 
 made by the civil officers and principal citizens of the county,. 
 a cessation of arms M^as agreed upon. Thus was this large 
 district of country from the, Penobscot eastward, taken posses- 
 sion of almost without resistance. 
 
 Having now reviewed the most important transactions of 
 the campaign on our maritime frontier, we will next direct our 
 attention to the upper lakes in the north-west. After the 
 capture of the British fleet on lake Erie, in 1813., an expedi- 
 tion against the important post of Michillimackinac had been 
 contemplated; but the lateness of the season prevented its 
 being carried into effect. Preparations were therefore made 
 the ioiiowmg summer, anu an expcUmuu ^cUi^u ..-^..i j^^vi-mt: 
 against the fort on the 3d of July, 18 Hj the troops uno^r the 
 
 »- y^' 
 
id cutlasses- 
 3 skipe the 
 le in perfect 
 hig the rear, 
 time order- 
 ic ship, and 
 
 B enemy ap- 
 rcd, and the 
 ; for a short 
 tcnced their 
 bridge; but 
 g their com- 
 m the fire of 
 
 ilish at 30 or 
 IS was only 1 
 is's loss was 
 jstimates the 
 3 killed, and 
 :een-pounder 
 States artil- 
 
 between the 
 > sent against 
 , and colonel 
 rrangeraents 
 \ he received 
 ding the dis- 
 of Washing- 
 ainst his Bri- 
 ■ having been 
 )f the county,, 
 'as this large 
 :aken posses- 
 
 anaactions of 
 jxt direct our 
 t. After the 
 3., an expedi- 
 nac had been 
 prevented its 
 lerefore made 
 
 jps uri^r the 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 209 
 
 command of colonel Croglran, the naval forces under captain 
 Sinclair. The difficulties encountered on the flats of lake St. 
 Clair, where there was only eight feet water, and the rapid 
 current of the river, prevertted the squadron from reaching 
 IsUte Huron till the 12th.* Thence the squadron shaped its 
 course for Matchadash bay, and used every possible effort to 
 gain it, but without effect. Not being able to find a pilot for 
 that unfrequented part of the lake, and finding it filled with 
 islands and sunken rocks, which must inevitably have projfcd 
 the destruction of the fleet had they persisted, it being impos- 
 sible to avoid them on account of the impenetrable fog with 
 which the lake is almost continually coveredj and finding the 
 army already growing short of provisions, it was agreed be- 
 ween colonel Croghan and the commodore to push for the 
 island of St. Joseph's near the head of the lake, where the 
 British had a small establishment, and here they arrived on 
 the 20th. The fort being found deserted was destroyed. 
 
 Whilst the squadron remained wind-bound at St. Joseph's, 
 a detachment of infantry and artillery, under major Holmes, 
 was dispatched in the launches, under the command of lieuten- 
 ant Turner, to St. Mary's, to break up the establishment at 
 that place, and capture a schooner which lay there waiting for 
 a corgo of flour for the North- West company's establishments 
 on lake Superiorji^ which had fallen into the hands of the 
 American squadron by' the capture of the schooner Minx, on 
 its way from Michillimackinac to St. Mary's. The establish- 
 ment, against which this expedition was directed, is a factory 
 of the Montreal company, situated at the foot of the falls of 
 St. Mary, the stream by which lake Superior discharges its 
 waters into lake Huron. These falls are surmounted by a 
 canal, by which goods are passed in boats from the vessels 
 Avhich navigate one lake to those which traverse the. other. 
 
 The launches, under lieutenant Turner, were rowed night 
 and day; but the distance being 60 miles, against a strong cur- 
 rent, information of their approach reached the enemy about 
 two hours before their arrival, carried by Indians in their light 
 canoes. No resistance was made at the fort, but the British 
 and Indians made their escape, carrying with them all the light 
 valuable articles, such as peltry, clothes, &c. Turner, with 
 his sailors and a few of the infantry, instantly proceeded to 
 the head of the rapids, where the enemy, finding he could not 
 get off with the vessel Turner was in quest of, set fire to her 
 in several places and scuttled her. Turner, however, suc- 
 ceeded in boarding her, and by considerable exertions extin- 
 guished the flames, and secured her from sinking. But every 
 
210 
 
 HISTORY OP THE WAR. 
 
 effort failed to get her through the falls in safety. She bilged 
 on her passage, and being immediately run on shore, was 
 burnt. A part of the public property was brought away, and 
 the remainder destroyed. All private property was res- 
 pected. 
 
 On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron 
 proceeded to Michillimackinac, where they arrived on the 
 26th. This place is, by nature, a second Gibraltar, being a 
 high rock, inaccessible on every side, except the west: from 
 the landing to the heights is nearly two miles, through a very 
 thick wood. Finding that the British had strongly fortified 
 the height overlooking the old fort, Croghan. at once despaired 
 of being able, with his small force, to carry the place by storm. 
 He therefore determined to land and establish himself on 
 some favourable position, whence he would be enabled to an- 
 noy the enemy by gradual and slow approaches; under cover 
 of his artillery, of which he was superior to the enemy in point 
 of metal. He was also induced to adopt this step by the sup- 
 position, that it would either induce the enemy, to attack him 
 in his strong holds, or force the Indians and Canadians, the 
 enemy's most efficient, and only disposable force, off the island, 
 as they would be very unwilling to remain after a permanent 
 foothig should be taken. "^ 
 
 Unfavourable weather prevented the landing of the troops 
 till the 4th of August, when the whole force was disembarked 
 on the west end of the island, under cover of the guns of the 
 siilpping. The line being quickly formed, advanced towards 
 a field, which had been recommended as a suitable place for 
 a' camp, by persons who had lived several years on the island. 
 Hardly had the troops arrived at the edge of the field, before 
 intelligence wr.s conveyed to colonel Croghan that the enemy 
 was a short distance a-head, and in a few seconds a fire of shot 
 and shells opened on the Americans, from a battery of four 
 pieces. 
 
 The enemy's position was well selected; his line reached 
 along the edge of the woods, at' the farther extremity of the 
 field, and was covered by a temporary breastwork. On re- 
 connoitering the enemy, Croghan determined to change his 
 position, which was now two lines, the militia forming the 
 front. He accordingly ordered the battalion of regulars un- 
 der major Holmes, to advance to the right of the militia, thus 
 to outflank the enemy, and by a vigorous eflort gain his rear, 
 P[iif Hcfnrc tliiR TTirjvftmep.t r.oiild be executedi a fire was 
 opened by some Indians posted in a thick wood near the 
 American vight, which proved fatal to major Holmes, and 
 
 
BLISTOaT OF THE WAR. 
 
 211 
 
 She bilged 
 
 shore, was 
 
 t away, and 
 
 |r was res- 
 
 16 squadron 
 ved on the 
 ar, being a 
 
 west: from 
 3Ugh a very 
 gly fortified 
 :e despaired 
 ce by storm. 
 
 himself on 
 abled to an- 
 under cover 
 jmy in point 
 
 by the sup- 
 > attack him 
 nadians, the 
 S" the island, 
 L permanent 
 
 the troops 
 lisembarked 
 guns of the 
 ced towards 
 le place for 
 n tlie island, 
 field, before 
 t the enemy 
 1 fire of shot 
 tery of fonr 
 
 ine reached 
 emity of the 
 rk. On re- 
 change his 
 forming the 
 egulars un- 
 militia, thus 
 ain his rear, 
 i a fire was 
 od near the 
 tlohnes, and 
 
 
 severely wounded captain Desha, the next officer in rank. This 
 unlucky fire, by depriving the battalion of the services of its 
 most valuable officers, threw that part of the line into confu- 
 sion, from which the best exertions of the officers were not 
 able to recover it. «^it: not 
 
 Finding it impossible to gain the enemy's left, owine to the 
 impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge ^vas ordered to 
 be made by the regulars immediately against the front. This 
 Charge, though made in some confusion, served to drive the 
 enemy bac^ m the woods, whence an annoying fire was kept 
 up by the Indians. Lieutenant Morgan was now ordered uo 
 with a ight piece to assist the left, which, at this time, was 
 particularly galled; its fire soon forced the enemy to retire to 
 a greater distance. ^ i^mc lo 
 
 The position contemplated for the camp being now occupied, 
 
 ZtX^u^t ^° ^^ ^7 ""* ""^^"^ ^^"^^^^' f»'«"^ '^^i'^g interspersed 
 with thickets, and every way intersected by ravines. Cro^han 
 fletermined, therefore, no longer to expose his force to the fire 
 ot an enemy deriving every advantage which could be obtained 
 trom numbers and a knowledge of the position, and therefore 
 effected.^ ""^^'"^^ ^°'^^'^' ^^^ shippings which was immediately 
 The loss of the Americans in this affair was 13 killed, 51 
 wounded, and 2 missing. The loss of the British has not been 
 ascertained. 
 
 Michillimackinac being thus found impregnable by assault, 
 measures were adopted for starving it into submission, by cut ' 
 tmg off Its supplies. The whole of the troops, except three 
 companies, were therefore dispatched" in two of the vessels 
 to jom general Brown on the Niagara, and the rest of the' 
 squadron directed their course to the east side of the lake, in 
 order to break up any of the establishments of the enemy in 
 
 with TT' ^^^ °"'y practicable lines of communication 
 wih the lower country, while the Americans were masters 
 otlakeEne, was with Montreal by Outawas or Grand rivcix 
 
 wkh ifueT""-^^''^' '""u^r ?f^ Portage or carrying-place, 
 jvith lake Nipissing, which latter empties itself into lake 
 iuron by means of French river; or with York, by means of 
 lake bimcoe and Nautauwasaga river. The first of these 
 communications was learnt to be impracticable during the 
 present season, on account of the marshy state of the portLes 
 Ihe squadron, therefore, proceeded to the mouth of the Nau- 
 tauwasaga, where it arrived on the 13th of August, anrl fh. 
 bv ^h^ Z""'^ immediately disembarked on the peninsula formed 
 by the river and lake, for the purpose of fixing a camp. 
 
 
n 1 -T 
 
 HISTORY OF THB WAU. 
 
 On reconnoitcring this positiotj, a schooner, the only one 
 t.o?sessed by he British in this quarter, was discovered in 
 fhe river, a few hundred yards above, under cover of a block- 
 housT erec ed on a commanding situation on the opposite 
 shore On the following morning, a fire was opened by the 
 Jf^^jno- on the block-house for a few minutes, but with 1 ttle 
 fffeToling toat^^^^^ intervening to obscure the view 
 
 Two howitzers, h "vever, being landed, they commenced 
 2^7owinrsSs; and in a few minutes one of the shells burst 
 n the b^octhoise, which shortly after blew up his magazine 
 tiinwmo- the enemy barely time to make his escape. 1 he ex- 
 nKon^set fire t^a train which had been laid for the destriic- 
 tion of the vessel, and in an instant she was m flames. The 
 necessai^v prepara ions had been made by commodore Sinclair 
 for lettSe on board of her; but frequent and heavy explosions 
 below deck made it too great a risk to attempt savmg her. 
 She was therefore, with her cargo, entirely consumed, 
 ^'coTon;i CroghaA not thinking it ^^visab e to fomfy and gar- 
 rison Nautauwasauga, the communication from Yo.k being so 
 short and convenient, that any force left there might easily be 
 curoff^nthe winter, the Scorpion and Tigress were left to 
 tf I A^ It rloselv until the season should become too bolster- 
 ouTfofb^at^^^r^^^^^^^^^^^ and the remainder of the squadron 
 
 ous *o^ ?^^^ "^^ But this blockade, which, had it been 
 TZt nf?rcectvo.Xrobably soon have made a bloodless 
 ?Xest of Mich llimackinac, was soon put an end to by the 
 rSreof both the schooners., The Tigress was carried by 
 boSg frdm the enemy's boats^on the night of the 3d of Sei> 
 
 f:::ilV^V:tV:^^^^^^ of MichilUmackinac 
 
 ' Hffie^e^^Vr^^^^^^^ creek Indians, a 
 
 the left bank of the Tallapoostc. 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAU. 
 
 21. 
 
 Notwithstanding the decisive victories that had been obtain- 
 ed by the American troops, and the heavy losses of the Indi- 
 ans, and the destruction of their principal towns, this brave 
 people were still unsubdued. General Claiborne, therefore 
 marched a detachment from Fore Claiborne, o^ he 3th of 
 December, 1813, with a view to the further destruction of 
 
 at no great distance above where, by its junction with the Tom 
 bigbee. It forms the Mobile river. The object in view wTs 
 Tirnlari^'r^J'^' ^'''''' Eccanachaca, or^Holy GrouncH 
 bolvnf H ' ^^^^^°^"^ :^^« informed, was occupied by a largo 
 body of the enemy, under the command of Weatherfoi-d, a half- 
 
 w?r K, r ',' '° <^on^"^a»^^^^ the Indians that commenced the 
 war by the destruction of the garrison at Fort Mims. 
 
 When about 30 miles from the town, a stockade was erected 
 for the security of the sick and the heavy baggage, and on the 
 morning of the 22d the troops resumed I hefr fine of march' 
 
 L^Z T'^^ i^y l^'^^y ''"'""'S^ '''""^^'^ ^i^l^«"t a track to 
 fhll.. t"" ^" \^^ morning of the 23d, the disposition for 
 
 1 Ln 1 K 7^' "'•^'^^- ^^^'^ '''^"P^ advanced in three columns, 
 a small body acting as a corps de reserve. About noon the 
 
 : > ""^ , "''' ""^"^^ '" ^''''^ ^* t^^ t«^^"' and. was immediately 
 vigorously attacked by the enemy, who had been apprised of 
 Uieir approach, and had chosen their field of acdon. Beforo 
 tne centre or the left could come generally into action, the ene- 
 my were repulsed, and flying in all directions, many of them 
 ca-Sting away their arms. 
 
 . Thirty of the Creeks were killed in this rencontre, and, 
 judging trom appearances, many were wounded. The loss oii 
 the part of the Americans was one killed and six wounded 
 
 /V pursuit was immediately ordered; but from the nature of 
 the country nothing was effected. The town was nearly sur- 
 lounded by swamps and deep ravines, which rendered the an- 
 proach of the troops difficult, while it facilitated the escape of 
 the Indians. In the town was found a large quantity of provi- 
 sions, and immense property of various kinds, which the ene- 
 my, flying precipitately, were obliged to leave behind. All 
 were destroyed, together with the village, consisting of about 
 ^00 houses. The Indians had barely time to remove their wo- 
 men and children Across the Alibama, which runs near where 
 the town stood. The town had been built since the commence- 
 ment ot hostilities, and was established as a place of security 
 *or mc inhabitants of several villages. 
 
 In the house of Weatherford, the commander, was found a 
 letter trom the Spanish governor of Pensacola to the leader of 
 
 T 
 
 dn% 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 the Creeks, stating, that he had represented thea- request oj 
 arms and munitions to the captain-general m Havanna, but had 
 as yet received no answer. He was in hopes, however, he stat- 
 ed, of receiving them; and as soon as that took place, they 
 
 should be informed. . , .«^,.!„„ 
 
 The following day was occupied by the troops mdestro>ing 
 a town consisting of 60 houses, eight miles higher up the riv- 
 er, and in taking and destroying tlie boats ot the enemy. At 
 this place three Indians of some distinction were kilieU. 
 
 The term of service of the volunteers having now gencraiiy 
 expired, they maixhed to Fort Stoddart, in order to be paid 
 
 "" Soon after the battle of Talledcga, general Jackson's army 
 Imd been almost entirely broken up, by the expiration of the 
 time of the militia, but on the Uth of January, he was joined 
 at Fort Strother by about 800 new-raised volunteers trom 1 en- 
 Ticssee, making his whole force, exclusive of Indians, 930.-- 
 The term of service of tlie volunteers being short, and the 
 men full of ardour to meet the enemy, he determined immedi- 
 ately to employ tliem in active service; and to this he was par- 
 ticularly induced by the information, that the Indians were con- 
 centrating with tlie view of attacking Fort Armstrong, a po- 
 sition about 50 miles above Fort Strother, on the same river, 
 and also by his desire to make a diversion in favour of general 
 }' loyd, who was about making a movement to the Tallapooscc 
 river, near its junction with the Coosee. 
 
 The volunteers therefore were marched across the river the 
 day after their arrival, and on the next day, Jackson followed 
 with the remainder of his force, consisting of tUe artillery com- 
 pany, with one six-pounder, one company oi miantry oi 48 men, 
 two companies of spies, of about 30 men each, and a company 
 of volunteer officers, headed by general Coffee, who had been 
 abandoned by his men, under some misapprehension as to their 
 term of service, and who still remained in the field waiting the 
 orders of the government. 
 
 On the 17th, the troops took up the line of march, and on 
 the night of the 18th encamped at Talledega Fort, where they 
 were joined by between 200 and 300 friendly Indians; 65 ot 
 whom were Cherokees, the remainder Creeks, "On the 20th, 
 they encamped at Enotachopco, a small Hillibee village, about 
 ^2 miles froiT\ Emuckfau. Here Jackson began to perceive 
 Very plainly how little knowledge the spies had of the coun* 
 .^ -V-^u- -;^..-,*: — ^r+u^ «r>pt-.iTT nr nf the rlistance the army 
 was from them. The insubordination of the new troops, ancl 
 the want of skill in most of their officers, also became more 
 
IIISTOUY OF THE WAK. 
 
 21; 
 
 and more apparent. But their ardour tomccl the enemy was 
 
 R^ aids, and the company of ohl, volunteer officers, and upon 
 t'lc spies, m all about 125. ^ 
 
 On the mormng of the 21st, the troops marched from Eno- 
 
 .nH r^": o' '\'?^\ ''' P"''''*'^ ^"'^ t'^^ ^^^"^^ "f the Tallapoosee, 
 and about 2 oVIock, P. M., the spies having discovered two of 
 me enemy, endeavoured to overtake them, but failed. In the 
 nTr!'\^ "" '''^''«<^ trail was perceived, which led to a new road, 
 
 nrH V ' r''-n • """f '^^"^'X ^'-^^'^^''^^l- Knowing that he must have 
 a n.d wit Inn the neighbourhood of a strong force, and it be- 
 ig late in the day, Jackson determined to encamp, and recon- 
 oitre the country in the night. He accordingly chose the 
 •icst scite the country would admit, encamped in a hollow 
 sfiuarc, sent out spies and pickets, doubled the centinels, and 
 l^T' a\ "^^^^s'^'T arrangements before dark for a night at- 
 flt' i'u''^ ^° ''''^''''^ ^^ "^ght one of the pickets fired at 
 tines of the enemy, and killed one, but he was not found until 
 
 fUnf^f^^ ^^" ^^^^' ^^^^ ^P^^'* returned with the information, 
 of Jhnnrn'^f "" m'^' encan^pment of Indians at the distance 
 ot about three miles, who, from their whooping and dancinij, 
 seemed to be apprized of the approach of thi troops. One of 
 inese spies, an Indian in whom Jackson had great confidence, 
 f}llT ^\? ^ f ^^^y "^^'^ carrying off their women and chil- 
 n .H 1^ i'^'^^'r'''^^'''"'' ^°"^^ either make their escape 
 or attack him before day. Being prepared at all points, n^ 
 thing remained to be done but to await their approach, if th-y 
 meditated an attack, or to be ready, if they did not, to pursue 
 and attack them at day-light. , ^ pui.me 
 
 While the troops were in this state of readiness, the enemy 
 TZ 1 Vn^\ '" the morning, commenced a vigorous attack 
 on the left flank, which was as vigor6usly met; the action cor- 
 
 Ik". J?/''^'^''" ^^'""^ ^^''^' ^"'^ o" the left of the rear, fo^ 
 about half an hour. So soon as it became light enough to 
 pursue, the left wing, having sustained the heat of the action, 
 .incl being somewhat weakened, was reinforced by a company 
 "i^antry, and was ordered and led on to the charL^c by geii- 
 tral Loffee, who was well supported by all the officers and 
 pnvates who composed that line. The enemy was completely 
 louted at every point, and the friendly Indians iohiing in the 
 pursuit, they were chased about two miles with considerable 
 Slaughter. 
 
 ^Thc chase being over, general Coffee was detached with 
 wo. men and all the Indian force to burn the encampment: 
 «^ut with orders, ii it was fortified, not to attack it, until tht; 
 
 I 
 
 ■Mii 
 
 i 
 
 am 
 
 p 
 
 'if l''^| 
 
 1' |H 
 
 — - 
 
 -4: -1^1 
 
 ■■■:-■ 
 
 ~fr.^|^;^H 
 
 g^ 
 
 i^l 
 
216 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 urtillery could be sent forward to reduce it. On yciwing the 
 encampment and its strength, the general thought it most pru- 
 dent to return, and guard the artillery thither. The wisdom 
 of this step was soon discovered — in half ?n hour after his 
 return to camp, a considerable force of the enemy made its 
 appearance on Jackson's right flank, and commenced a brisk 
 fire on a party of men, who had been on picket-guard the night 
 before, and were tl?en in search of the Indians they had fired 
 upon. (General Coffee immediately requested 200 men to 
 turn their left tlank, which were accordingly ordered; but, 
 through some mistake, not more than 54 followed him, among 
 whom were tlie old volunteer officers. With these, however, 
 he immediately commenced an attack on the left flank of the 
 enemy, and Jackson ordered 200 of the friendly Indians to fall 
 in upon their right flank, and co-operate with general Coffee. 
 This order was promptly obeyed, and what was expected was 
 realized. The enemy had intended the attack on the right as 
 u fehit, and expecting to direct all Jackson's attention thither, 
 meant to attack him^again, and with their main force, on the 
 left flank, which they had hoped to find weakened and in dis- 
 order. But thev were disappointed; for Jackson had ordered 
 the left flank to 'remain firm to its place, and the moment the 
 alarm-gun was heard in that quarter, he repaired thither, and 
 ordered captain Ferrill, part ox the reserve, to support it. The 
 whole line met tlie approach of the enemy with astonishing 
 intrepidity, and having given a few fires, they forthwith charged 
 with j»-reat vigour. The effect was immediate and inevitable. 
 The encmv fled with precipitation, and were pursued to a con- 
 siderable distance, by the left flank and the friendly Indians, 
 uith a galling and destructive fire. 
 
 In the mean time general Coffee was contending with a su- 
 perior force of tlie enemy. The Indians who had been order- 
 i'd to his support, and who had set out for this purpose, hear- 
 ing the firing on the left, had returned to that quarter, and 
 when the enemy were routed there, entered into the chase. 
 That being now over, 100 of them were sent to the relief of 
 Coffee, and as soon as they reached him, the charge was made 
 and the cnemv routed: they were pursued about three miles, 
 and 45 of them slain, who were found. General Coff'ee was 
 wounded in the body, and his aid-de-camp, A. Donaldson, 
 killed, together with three others. 
 
 The camp was now fortified, in order that the troops might 
 
 
 ♦ lip hrft^v nrpnavpfl to rer 
 
 Del anv attack which might be 
 
 made the following night, and next morning the troops set 
 out on their return to Fort Strother, general Jackson w.t 
 
Bisttory of the war. 
 
 2171 
 
 i^ciwing the 
 It most pru- 
 he wisdom 
 ir after his 
 ny made its 
 ced a brisk 
 rd the night 
 ;y had fired 
 200 men to 
 •dercd; but, 
 him, among 
 le, liovvever, 
 flank of the 
 idians to fall 
 ^ral Coffee, 
 xpected was 
 the right as 
 ktion thither, 
 orce, on the 
 i and in dis- 
 had ordered 
 moment the 
 thither, and 
 (port it. The 
 astonishing 
 ivith charged 
 id inevitable, 
 ued to a con^ 
 ndly Indians, 
 
 ig with a su- 
 l been order- 
 
 Lirpose, 
 
 hear- 
 
 quarter, and 
 :o the chase. 
 
 the relief of 
 ge was made 
 
 three miles, 
 .1 Coffee Avas 
 ,. Donaldson, 
 
 troops might 
 
 ch might be 
 
 he troops set 
 
 Jackson no.t 
 
 deeming it prudent to proceed farther on account of the scar- 
 city of supplies, the number of his wounded, and the probabili- 
 ty of the Indians receiving reinforcements from below. The 
 retreat commenced at 10 o'clock on the 23d, and 'the troops 
 were fortunate enough to reach Enotachopco before night, 
 having passed a dangerous defile without interruption. The 
 camp was again fortified. Having another defile to pass in 
 the morning, across a deep creek, and between two hills, which 
 Jackson had viewed with attention, as he passed on, and where 
 he expected he might be attacked, he determined to pass it at 
 another point, and gave directions to the guide and fatigue- 
 men accordingly. The general's expectation of an attack in 
 the morning was increased by the signs of the night, and with 
 it his caution. Before the wounded were removed from the 
 interior of the camp, the front and rear-guards were formed, 
 as well as the right and left columns, and the centre moved 
 eff in regular order, leading down a ridge to Enotachopco 
 creek, at a point where it was clear of reeds, except immedi- 
 ately on its margin. A general order had been previously 
 issued, pointing out the manner in which the men should be 
 formed in the event of an attack on the front, or rear, or on 
 the flanks, and the officers had been particularly cautioned ta 
 halt and form accordingly, the instant the word should be 
 given. 
 
 The front guard had crossed with part of the flank columns, 
 the wounded were over, and the artillery in the act of entering 
 the creek when an alarm-gun was heard in the rear. Having 
 chosen the ground, Jackson expected there to have entirely 
 cut off the enemy, by wheeling the right and left columns on 
 their pivot, re-crossing the creek above and below, and falling 
 in upon their flanks and rear. But, to his astonishment and 
 mortification, when the word was given to halt and form, and 
 a few guns had been fired, the %ht and left columns of the 
 rear-guard precipitately gave way. This shameful retreat 
 was disastrous in the extreme: it drew along with it the 
 greater part of the centre column, leaving not more than 25 ^ 
 men, who; being formed by colonel Carroll maintained their * 
 ground as long as it was possible to maintain it. There wais 
 then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained of the 
 rear-guard, the artillery company, and captain Russell's com- 
 pany of spies. Their conduct, however, exceeded the highest 
 expectations. Lieutenant Armstrong, who commanded the 
 artillery company in the absence of captain Deadrickv who 
 was confined by sickness, ordered them to form, and advanced 
 to the top of the hill, whilst he and a few others dragged up 
 
 T 2. 
 
 k 
 
 Li 
 
 4 ' 
 
 1:' 
 
 H* 
 
 I«MIH 
 
 •MWMMiAl 
 
/ 
 
 218 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 the six-poimder. Never was more bravery displayed than on 
 this occasion. Amidst the most galling fire from the enemy, 
 more than ten times their number, they ascended the hill and 
 maintained their position, until their piece was hauled up, 
 when, having levelled it, they poured upon the enemy a fire 
 of grape, re-loaded and fired again, charged and repulsed 
 them.* 
 
 A number of the troops now crossed the creek, and entered 
 into the chase. Captain Gordon of the spies, who had rushed 
 from the front, endeavoured to turn ,the left flank of the ene- 
 my, in which he partially succeeded, and colonel Carroll, 
 colonel Higgins, and captains Elliot and Pipkins, pursued the 
 enemy for more than two miles, who fled in consternation,^ 
 throwing away their packs, and leaving 26 of their warriors 
 dead on the field. This last defeat was decisive, the troops 
 being no more disturbed in their retreat. 
 
 The loss sustained in these several engagements was 20 
 killed and 1^ wounded, 4 of whom afterwards died. The 
 loss of the enemy could not 1; accurately ascertained: 189 of 
 their warriors were found dead; but this must fall consider^.- 
 bly short of the number really killed. - Their wounded can 
 only be guessed at. 
 
 Meanwhile general Floyd was advancing towards the Indian 
 territory from Chatahouchie river. On the 27th of January 
 lii^ camp was attacked by a large body of Indians, at the hour 
 usually chosen for their operations, viz. about an hour before 
 day. They stole upon the centinels, fired upon them, and 
 then with great impetuosity rushed upon the line. In 20 
 
 * General Jackson^ in his official rejiort, states some instances 
 of fierliafis the jnost deliberate bravery that have ever been re- 
 corded. The individuals mentioned luere lieutenant jirmstrong; 
 Constaniine Perkivj., and Craven Jackson^ all of the artillcryy 
 the two latter acting as gunners. In the hun^y of the moment ^ 
 in separating the gun from^the limbers., the rammer and flicker 
 of the cannon were lift tied to the limber: no sooner was this 
 discovered., than Jackson., aftiidst the galling fire of the enemy, 
 Jiulled out the ramrod of his musket and used it as a flicker; 
 firimcd with a cartridge, and fired the cannon. Perkins having 
 fiulltd off his bayonet, used his musket as a rammer, and drove 
 down the cartridge; and Jacksoti, using his former filan, again 
 discharged her. Lieutenant Armstrong fell, just after the 
 first Jire of the cannon, exclaiming, as he lay, " my brave f el" 
 lows, some of you may fall, but you must save the cannon " 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 219 
 
 minutes the action became general, and the front of both flanks 
 were closely pressed, but the gallant conduct of the officers 
 and the firmness of the men, repelled them at every point Is 
 soon as It became light enough to distinguish objects, Floyd 
 strenghthened his right wing to prepare^hem for a charee 
 and the cavalry was ordered to firm in their rear, to act aJ 
 circumstances should dictate. The order for the charge was 
 
 fheTaCne't ^^Th' '"V'' '""'V ^'"^ ''"^ ^^^^'^ directionl^efor: 
 the bayonet. The order was then given for the change of the 
 cavalry, who pursued and sabred fifteen of the encmy^ 
 
 Ihirty-seven Indians were left dead on the field. From 
 the effusion of blood, and number of the war-clybs and helZ 
 dresses found in various directions, their loss must have been 
 consKlerable Floyd's loss was 17 killed, and 132 womuled 
 
 The Creeks bemg rather inspirited than cast down by their 
 last encounters with the whites, more vigorous efforts became 
 necessary. General Xackson, therefore, having received'^,! 
 forcements of m litia from Tennessee, and being oined by 
 a considerable body of Cherokee and fendly Creek Indians 
 set out on another expedition to the Tallapoosec river He 
 
 ot the 24th of March, and havmg a passage of fifty-two and 
 a half miles over the ridges which divide the waters of the 
 two rivers, reached the bend of the Tallapoosee, three miles 
 beyond where the engagement of the 22d of January took 
 place, and at the southern extremity of New Youca on the 
 morning of the 27th. ^ ' °" ^"*^ 
 
 This bend resembles in its curvature that of a horse-shoe 
 and IS thence called by that name among the whites. Na ,^' 
 furnishes f<iw situations as eligible for defence; and barbarians 
 never rendered one more secure by art, than was this by 'he 
 Creeks Across the neck of land which leads into it from the 
 north, they had erected a breastwork, of the greatest coZact 
 ness and strength, fiom five to eight feet high, and prSed 
 mth double rows of port-holes veiy artfully arranged^^he 
 ■igure of this wall manifested no less skill in the projectors of 
 It, than its construction; an army could not approach it with' 
 oiit being exposed to a doubl^and cross fire ft-om the enlmy, 
 who lay in perfect security behind it. The area of this oenin 
 sul^, thus bounded by breastworks, included about 80 or lOQ 
 
 In this bend the warriors from Oakfuskee, Oakchaya, New 
 Vouca, Hillabees.the Fish Ponrl«. «nH F.,fo.,L ...^.^y l^. 
 
 ed oUackson's appix>aGh, had collected thSr^trengSl Thdr 
 txact number was not ascertained; but it was believed to have 
 
 
 «S«"— ****~ 
 
220 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 been about 1000: and relying with the utmost confidence up- 
 on their strength, their situation, and the assurances of their 
 prophets, they calculated on repulsing Jackson with great 
 ease. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 27th, having encamped the pre- 
 ceding night at the distance of six miles from the bend, Jack- 
 son detached general Coffee with the mounted men and near- 
 ly the whole of the Indian force, to pass the river at a ford 
 about three miles below their encampment, and to surround 
 the bend in such a manner that none of them should escape by 
 attempting to cross the river. With the remainder of the 
 forces Jackson proceeded along the point of land, which led 
 to the front of their breastwork; and at half past 10 o'clock, 
 planted his artillery on a small eminence, distant from the near- 
 est point of the breastwork about 80 yards, and from its farth- 
 est about 250; from which a brisk fire v as^immediately opened 
 upon its centre. Whenever the enei.iy showed themselves 
 behind their works, or ventured to approach them, a galling 
 fire was opened upon them with m.usqetry and rifles. 
 
 Meal while general Coftec, having crossed below, turned up 
 the river, bearing away from its cliffs. When within half a 
 mile of the village, which stood at the extremity of the penin- 
 sula, the savage yell was raised by the enemy. ^ Expecting an 
 immediate attack. Coffee drew up his forces in line of battle, 
 in open hilly woodland, and noved forward in that position. 
 The friendly Indians had been previously ordered to ac'vance 
 secretly and take possession of the bank of the river, and pre- 
 vent the enemy from crossing on the approach of Jackson's 
 main body in front. Accordingly, the fire of Jackson's cannon 
 commencing when Coffee's troops were within about a quar- 
 ter of a mile from the river, his Indians immediately rushed 
 forward with great impetuosity to its banks. The militia were 
 halted, and kept in order of battle, an attack on the rear being 
 expected from the Oakfuskee villages, which lay on the river 
 about eight miles below. 
 
 The fire of the cannon and small arms beconiing now gene- 
 ral and heavy in front, animated the Indians on the bank; and 
 seeing about 100 of the warriors, and all the squaws and chil- 
 dren of the enemy running about among the huts of the vil- 
 lage on the opposite shore, they could no longer remain si- 
 lent spectators'. While some kept up a fire across the river 
 (here about 120 yards wide), to |H"event the enemy's approach 
 to the bank, others plunged into the river and swam across for 
 canoes, that lay on the other side in considerable numbers.— 
 Haying succeeded in bringing them over, numbers emharkexlt 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 221 
 
 :onfidence up- 
 •ances of their 
 m with great 
 
 mped the pre- 
 le bend, Jack- 
 men and near- 
 river at a ford 
 d to surround 
 )uld escape by 
 lainder of the 
 nd, which led 
 LSt 10 o'clock, 
 from the near- 
 from its farth- 
 diately opened 
 ;d themselves 
 lem, a galling 
 ifles. 
 
 low, turned up 
 within half a 
 J of the penin- 
 Expecting an 
 I line of battle, 
 that position, 
 i'ed to ac'vance 
 river, and pre- 
 
 of Jackson's 
 ;kson's cannon 
 
 about a quar- 
 iiately rushed 
 le militia were 
 the rear being 
 ly on the river 
 
 ing now gene- 
 the bank; and 
 uaws and chil- 
 tits of the vil- 
 ger remain si- 
 cross the river 
 my's approach 
 A^am across for 
 »le numbers.— 
 )ers emharkedt 
 
 and landing in the peninsula, advanced into the village, and 
 sv)6on drove the enemy from the huts up to the fortification, 
 where they pursued and continued to annoy them during the 
 whole action. 
 
 This movement of the friendly Indians leaving the river 
 bank unguarded, made it necessary that a part of Coffee's line 
 should take their place. A company of rangers were accord- 
 ingly posted on the bank of the upper part, and a lieutenant 
 with 40 men took possession of an island in the lower part of 
 the bend. 
 
 Finding that the friendly Indians, notwithstanding the deter- 
 mined bravery they displayed, were wholly insufBcient to dis- 
 lodge the enemy, and that general Coffee had secured the op- 
 posite banks of the river, Jackson determined upon taking pos- 
 session of the works by storm. Never were men better dis- 
 posed for such an undertaking, than those by whom it was to 
 be effected. They had entreated to be led to the charge with 
 the most pressing importunity; and received the order which 
 was now given with the strongest demonstration of joy. The 
 effect was such as this temper of mind foretold. The regu- 
 lar troops, led by "colonel Williams and major Montgomery, 
 w^re presently in possession of the nearer side of the breast- 
 work; and the militia accompanied them in the charge with 
 a vivacity and firmness which could not have been exceeded, 
 and have seldom been equalled by troops of any description. 
 
 Having maintained for a few minutes a very obstinate con- 
 test, muzzle to muzzle, th ough the port-holes, in which ma- 
 ny of the enemy's balls were welded to the American bayo- 
 nets, they succeeded in gaining possession of the opposite 
 side of the works. The event could then no longer be doubt- 
 ful; the enemy, although many of them fought to the last with 
 that kind of ba'avery which desperation inspires, were routed 
 and cut to pieces. The whole margin of the river which sur- 
 rounded the peninsula, was strewed with the slain: 557 were 
 found, besides a great number who were thrown in the river 
 by their surviving friends, and killed in attempting to pass it, 
 by general Coffee's men, stationed on the opposite banks. Not 
 more than 20 could have escaped. Among the dead was 
 found their famous prophet Manahoee, shot in the mouth by a 
 grapeshot, and two other prophets. Two or three women and 
 children were killed by accident. The number of prisoners 
 taken exceeded 3Cfo, all women and children excepting three 
 or four. . 
 
 The b^tle may be said to have continued with severity fqr 
 about fiv^hours; but the firing and the slaughter continued 
 
 % 
 
 *-mt»>mimm»tmmm» 
 

 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 until it was suspended by the darkness of the night. The 
 next moring it was resumed, and 16 of the enemy slain, who 
 had concealed themselves under the banks. 
 
 Jackson's loss was 26 white men killed, and 107 wounded; 
 18 Cherokees killed, and 36 wounded; 5 friendly Creeks kill- 
 ed, and 1 1 wounded. 
 
 This most dccisivr battle completely broke the spirit as well 
 as power of the hostile Creeks, who were never after able to 
 make head against the troops of the United States. Jackson 
 shortly after co ■ iy scoured the Coosec and Tullapoosec 
 rivers, and the i- ^ning country. A part of the enemj on 
 the latter river, jusc before his arrival, made their escape across 
 It, and fled in consternation towards Pensacola. Most of the 
 inhabitants on the Coosee and the neighbouring country came 
 in, and surrendered unconditionally. Many of the negroes 
 taken at Fort Minis were delivered up, and one white woman, 
 with her two children. 
 
 A detachment of militia from North and South Carolina, 
 under the command of colonel Pearson, scoured the country 
 below, upon the Alibama, took a number of prisoners, and re- 
 ceived the submission of a great number of Creek warriors 
 and prophets. On the return of Pearson's expedition^ he had 
 with him upwards of 600 of the late hostile Creeks, and near- 
 ly all the remaining negroes that had been captured at Fort 
 Mims. 
 
 On the 1st of August, the principal chiefs of the hostile 
 Creeks met general Jackson at the fort called by his name, for 
 the purpose of concluding articles of agreement and capitu- 
 lation, which were agreed upon the 9th of the same month. 
 By this treaty a la. ge and valuable portion of their territory 
 was ceded to the United States, as an equivalent for the ex- 
 penses incurred in prosecuting the war, and the right of the 
 United States to establish military posts and trading-houses, 
 and to open roads within their territory, was acknowledged^ 
 as also the right to the free navigation of all their waters. The 
 Creeks also engaged to make an immediate surrender of all 
 the persons and property taken from the citizens of the Uidt- 
 , ed States, the friendly part of the Creek nation, the Cherokee, 
 •Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, to the respective owners; 
 and to surrender all the prophets and instigators of the war, 
 whether foreigners or natives, who had not submitted to the 
 arms of the United States, and become parties to these arti- 
 cles, if ever they fihould be found within the territory of the 
 Creeks. It was also stipulated, that the Creeks should aban- 
 don, all communication, and cease to hold anv intcrc ursc with 
 
night. The 
 y slain, who 
 
 V 
 
 37 wounded; 
 Creeks kill- 
 spirit as well 
 alter able to 
 !s. Jackson 
 Tallapoosec 
 e enemj on 
 scape across 
 Most of the 
 ountry came 
 the negroes 
 hitc woman, 
 
 • 
 
 th Carolina, 
 the country 
 lers, and re- 
 ek warriors 
 tion^ he had 
 :s, and near- 
 ired at Fort 
 
 the hostile 
 is name, for 
 
 and capitu- 
 iame month, 
 nr territory 
 
 for the ex- 
 •ight of the 
 ling-houses, 
 inowledged, 
 ■vaters. The 
 ?nder of all 
 of the Uhit- 
 E Cherokee, 
 ive owners; 
 of the war, 
 litted to the 
 these arti- 
 
 hould aban- 
 Xourse with 
 
 IICSTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 223 
 
 ^ny British or Spanish post, garrison, or town; and that they 
 Should not admit among them any agent or trader, who should 
 not derive authority to hold commercial or other intercourse 
 with them, by license from the president or authorised agent 
 ot the United States. The United States engaged to guaran- 
 tee the remainder of their territory, and to restore all their pri- 
 soners; and, in consideration of the nation being reduced to 
 extreme want, and not having at present the means of sub- 
 sistance, the United States engaged, frommotives of human- 
 ity, to continue to furnish them gratuitously with the neces- 
 saries ot life, until the crops of com could be considered com- 
 petent to yield the nation a supply; and to establish trading- 
 houses, to enable the nation by industry and economy to nro-- 
 cure clothing. / P»" 
 
 Thus ended the Creek war, after a prodigious slanghter of 
 those brave, misguided men, and the unconditional' submis- 
 sion ot the remainder, excepting a few who took refuge in 
 ilorida. Nearly the whole of the Creek towns were de- 
 stroycd. 
 
 But hardly was the Indian war at an end, before new trou- 
 bles sprang up in this quarter, and general Jackson was forced 
 to encounter a much more formidable enemy. After conclud- 
 ing the treaty with tlie Creeks, Jackson moved his head-quar- 
 ters to Mobile, where, on the 27th of August, he received in- 
 tormation by express, from Pensacola, that three British ves- 
 sels had arrived there on the 25th, which, on the iollowing dav, 
 had disembarked an immense quantity of arms ammunition, 
 niunitions.of war, and provisions; and marched into the Span- 
 ish fort l)etween two and three hundred troops. He was like- 
 wise informed that thirteen sail of the line, with a large num- 
 ber of transports, bringing 10,000 troops, were daily expected. 
 
 On the rcccjptof this information, Jackson immediately dis- 
 patched an express to the governor of Tennessee at Nashville, 
 requesting that the wliole of the quota of the militia of that 
 state should be organized, equipped, and brought into the 
 tield, without delay, and his adjutant-general, then in Tennes- 
 see, was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for 
 immediately provisioning and bringing the troops to head- 
 quarters. 
 
 The three vessels which had arrived at Pensacola, joined by 
 another, soon after sailed from that port for Mobile, and on the 
 15th of September appeared off Fort Bowyer, The town of 
 Mobile, where general Jackson had his head-nuarters, is situ- 
 ated on the west side of the Mobile river, at fts entrance Ynt'o 
 the bay of the same name. MoUle bay is about 30 miles long,\ 
 
 1 '" 
 
 I 
 
224 
 
 HISTORY OF THt WAH. 
 
 and of considerable breadth; but its entrance is only five miles 
 broad, and is completely commanded by Fort Bowyer, which 
 is situated at the extreme point on the eust side of the bay.— 
 The fort was occupied by a small garrison, commanded by 
 major Lawrence, of the 2d infantry. 
 
 The British squadron, consisting of two ships and two brigs, 
 appeared in sight about noon of the I5th, standing directly for 
 the fort. At 4, in the afternoon, the battery was oppened upon 
 them; the firing was immediately returned from all the vessels. 
 A force of 110 marines, commanded by colonel Nicholls, 200 
 Creek Indians, headed by captain Woodbine, of the British 
 navy, and about 20 artillerists, had been previously landed in 
 the rear of the fort, and opened a fire upon it from a twelve- 
 pounder and a howitzer, but they did no execution, and were 
 soon silenced by a few shot. The action continued without in- 
 termission on either side for nearly three hours, when three of 
 the vessels were compelled to retire. The commodore's ship, 
 which mounted 22 thirty-two*pound carronades, having an- 
 chored nearest the fort, had her cable cut by the shot) and was 
 so much disabled that she drifted on shore, within 6Q0 yards of 
 the battery; when the other vessels being out of reach, such a 
 tremendous fire was opened upon her, that she was set on fire 
 and abandoned by such of her crew as survived. Out of a crew 
 of 170 men, the commander and 20 men only escaped. On 
 board of the other ship, 85 were killed and wounded; one of 
 the brigs also was very considerably damaged; but her loss 
 was not ascertained. The effective force in the fort was about 
 120 men; their loss was only four killed and five wounded.— 
 During the hottest part of the action, the flag-staff being shot 
 away, the flag was immediately regained under a heavy fire of 
 grape and cannister, hoisted on a sponge staff, and planted on 
 the parapet. The land-forces retreated by land to Pensacola, 
 after having re-embarked their pieces. 
 
 A short time previous to this attack, a proclamation was is* 
 sued by Edward Nichols, commanding his Britannic majesty's 
 forces in the Floridas, and dated head-quarters, Pensacola, ad- 
 dressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennes« 
 see. In this address the natives of Louisiana are called upon 
 to assist the British forces in liberating their paternal soil 
 from a fruitless, imbecile government; to abolish the Ameri- 
 can usurpation, and put the lawful owners of the soil in pos- 
 session. The inhabitants of Keiitucky and Tennessee are told 
 
 ♦l-»o* fliATT liovp tnn Inno" linrnft with c)riMf>vn>i« imnnsifinnsr that 
 
 the brunt of the war has fallen on their brave sons; and they 
 ai*e intreated to be imposed on no more, but either to range 
 
iribTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 225 
 
 yr five miles 
 
 yer, which 
 
 the bay. — 
 
 imanded by 
 
 I two brigs, 
 directly for 
 pened upon 
 the vessels, 
 cholls, 200 
 the British 
 y landed in 
 n a twelve- 
 1, and were 
 
 without in- 
 len three of 
 dore's ship, 
 having an- 
 lot) and was 
 )Q0 yards of 
 ach, such a 
 ) set on fire 
 it of a crew 
 caped. On 
 led; one of 
 lit her loss 
 t was about 
 wounded. — 
 
 being shot 
 eavy fire of 
 I planted on 
 
 Pensacola, 
 
 tion was is- 
 ic majesty's 
 nsacola, ad- 
 ind Tennes- 
 called upon 
 )aternal soil 
 the Ameri- 
 soil in pos- 
 see are told 
 sitions; that 
 s; and they 
 ler to range 
 
 llicmselvei under the standard of their forefathers, br observe 
 a strict neutrality. If they complied with either of these of- 
 lers, the address assured them, that whatever provisions they 
 sent down should be paid for in dollars, and the safety of the 
 persons bringing it, as well as the free navigation of the Mis- 
 sissippi, guaranteed. 
 
 The proclamation then calls to the view of the « men of Ken- 
 tucky the conduct of those factions which hurried them into 
 this cruel, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great 
 Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and 
 the liberties of the world; when she was expending millions 
 ot her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most 
 lormidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the 
 torm of man. When groaning Europe was in her last gasp, 
 when Britons alone showed an undaunted front, basely did 
 these assassins endeavour to stab her' from the rear; she has 
 turned on them renovated from the bloody but successful struff- 
 gle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly 
 to avenge the unprovoked insult. Shew th-m," continued 
 iMchols, « that you are not collectively unjust—leave that 
 contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of 
 the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but 
 let every honest, upright American spurn them with merited 
 contempt. After the experience of 21 years, can you anv 
 longer support those brawlers of liberty, who call it freedom, 
 when themselves are no more free than their impostors? Be 
 no longer their dupes, accept my offers, and all that is promised 
 you in the proclamation, I guarantee to you, on the sacred word 
 ot a British officer." 
 
 A greater degree of ignorance of the nature of the people 
 addressed, was perhaps never displayed, than was manifested 
 m this proclamation. Nichols himself was enabled to take a 
 pretty favourable view of its reception a few days after it was 
 issued, as he headed the land forces employed against Fort 
 Bowyer. * .' o 
 
 Previous to the attack upon Mobile, Nichols had held out 
 the most seducmg offers to induce a band of lawless men, who 
 had formed an establishment on the island of Bari-ataria, to 
 enter into the British service in the operations planned against 
 Lower Louisiana. But although these men were actina.- in 
 the most lawless manner, and though they were actually pro- 
 scribed by the American government, they would not consent 
 to act tae part of traitors. Instead of accepting the British 
 o.iers, they procrastiiiated their answer, and immediately dis- 
 patched the intelligence to New-Orlean?*. 
 
 . U ' 
 
 I 
 
1326 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 The Barratarians principally consisted of the officers and 
 crews of French privateers, who, on the capture of Guada* 
 loupe, the last of the French West-India islands, had repaired 
 to Caithagena, and accepted commissions from the new govern- 
 ment /hich had been established there. For the convenience 
 of disposing of their prizes, these men resorted to Barrataria, 
 and formed establishments in the island of Grand Terre, and 
 other places along the coast of Louisiana to the west of the 
 Mississippi, whence, it is said, they preyed indiscriminately 
 upon the commerce of all nations, not excepting even that of 
 the United States, in whose dominions they had thus unwar- 
 rantably settled themselves. The chief mtercourse of the Bar- 
 ratarians was with New-Orleans, almost all their prize goods 
 being smuggled into that port. 
 
 In the year 1813, this lawless colony excited the attention 
 of the government of Louisiana, and a company was ordered 
 out to break up the establishment. But this small force proved 
 quite ineffectual: the w hole party were surprised and captured 
 before they ner.'rhed the settlements of this resolute set of men. 
 The naval force however, being considerably strengthened in 
 the summer of 1814, a new expedition was fitted out. On 
 the 1 1th of September, commodore Patterson left New-Or- 
 leans, with a detachment of 70 of the 44th regiment of infan- 
 try, commanded by colonel Ross, and being joined by the 
 schooner Caroline at Placquemine, and the gun-boats at the 
 Balize, on the morning of the 1 6th made the island of Barra- 
 taria, and discovered a num.ber of vessels in the harbour, 
 some of which shewed Carthagenian colours. As soon as 
 the squadron was perceived, the Barratarians formed their 
 vessels, ten in number, into a line of battle near the entrance 
 of the harbour; end Patterson also formed his vessels into a 
 line of battle, consisting of six gun-boats, a tender, and a launch; 
 the schooner CaroHne drawing too much water to cross the 
 bar. On the approach of the squadron, however, the Barra- 
 tarians abandoned their vessels, and took to flight in all direc- 
 tions in their small boats, having previously fired two of their 
 best schooners. The launch, with two gun-barges and the 
 small boats, were immediately sent in pursuit, and all the ves- 
 sels in the harbour were taken possession of, and the establish- 
 iDcnt on chore completely destroyed. 
 
 The unprecedented conduct of the governor of Pensacola, 
 in harbouring and aiding the British and their Indian allies, 
 and in alloning them to fit out expeditions against the United 
 States from that port, had been forcibly remonstated against 
 by general .Tackson, but hitherto without effect. Having been 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 227 
 
 icers and 
 if Guacla- 
 re paired 
 ,v govern- 
 iveniencc 
 iarrataria, 
 crre, and 
 ?st of the 
 iniinately 
 m that of 
 IS unwar- 
 f ihe Bar- 
 ize goods 
 
 attention 
 i ordered 
 ce proved 
 captured 
 etof men. 
 ;thened in 
 out. On 
 New-Or- 
 ; of infan- 
 ;d by the 
 ats at the 
 of Barra- 
 ; harbour, 
 s soon as 
 ■ned their 
 i entrance 
 els into a 
 
 I a launch; 
 cross the 
 Lhe Barra- 
 
 all direc- 
 o of their 
 s and the 
 
 II the ves- 
 establish- 
 
 Pcnsacola, 
 lian allies, 
 he United 
 ;d against 
 Lving been 
 
 reinforced by about 2000 Tennessee militia, wliich had marched 
 to Mobile through the Indian country, Jackson, therefore, ad- 
 vanced towards Pensacola to demand redress. He reached 
 tlic neighi)ourhood of that post on the afternoon of the 6th of 
 >lovember, and immediately sent a flag to communicate the 
 oDject of his visit to the governor; but it was forced to return, 
 being fired on from the batteries. Jackson then reconnoitercd 
 the fort, and finding it defended by botR English and Spanish 
 troops, determined to storm the town, and accordingly made 
 CMC necessary arrangements for carrying his determination into 
 eftect the next day. 
 
 The troops were put in motion for the attack early on the 7th 
 Being encamped to the west of the town, Jackson calculated 
 that the attack would be expected from that quarter. To 
 cherish this idea, part of the mounted men were sent to show 
 themselves on the west, while the remainder of the troops 
 passed in the rear of the fort, undiscovered, to the east of the 
 town. When at the distance of a mile, the town appeared in 
 uU view. The troops, principally militia, with a few rcLni- 
 lars, and some Choctaw Indians, advanced with the most un- 
 daunted courage, although a strong fort appeared ready to as- 
 sail them on the right, seven British armed vessels on ihe left, 
 and strong block-houses and batteries of cannon in front On 
 entermg the town, a battery of two cannon was opened on the 
 centre column, composed of the regulars, with ball and grape, 
 and a shower of musquetry from the houses and gardens The 
 bat ery was immedialely stormed, and the musquetJy was 
 soon silenced by the steady and well-directed fire of the reeu- 
 lars. ^'-^b" 
 
 The governor now made his appearance with a flag, and 
 - begged for mercy, offering to surrender the town and fort un- 
 
 the /JTen^- ?^r^^ ^^^ ^^'^"^^^' ^"d P'-otection gYven to 
 W T. TV f ' 'T P'^P'^'y' ^^'^'°"i?h the officer command 
 mg the fort refused to give it ur>, and held it till near mid- 
 night, when he evacuated it^ with his troops. The Brk i 
 moved down to the Barrancas, a strong fort commanding th. 
 harbour, and, finding that Jackson had gaineclTsseS of 
 the town, next morning spiked and dism^oumedTe c^on 
 and blew up the fort, just as the American troops we' eTc 
 parmg to march and storm the place ^ ^^elc pic- 
 
 T.P^ ^t'^^ ^^^" withdre;v to their shipping, and ^eneml 
 Jackson, havmg accomplished his object, evacuated thf to'n 
 and returned to the American dominion. '^'' 
 
 cJaI ^^""FJ^ impending over New Orleans, from the threat^ 
 oned expedition of the British, now rendered the presence of 
 
 I 
 
 k 
 
 fi 
 
S28 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 general Jackson highly necessary at that city. He arrivcil 
 there with his troops on the 2tl of December, and immediate 
 measures of defence were adopted, by embodying the militia, 
 repairing the forts on the river, Sec. 
 
 A few days after Jackson's arrival, the British fleet made 
 their appearance in the Bay of St. Louis, and on the 12th, the 
 fleet appeared in such strength off* Ship island, as to induce 
 lieutenant Jones, who commanded the American flotilla of 
 gun-boats, to retire higher up the lake, to take a position to 
 defend the passes to New Orleans. On the 13th, the Ameri- 
 can schooiu r Seahorse, which had been sent by the commo- 
 dore that morning to the Bay of St. Louis, to assist in the re- 
 moval of some public stores, was attacked by three of the 
 enemy's barges. These were driven off, but being reinforced 
 by four others, tlie schooner was blown up by her crew, and 
 the store-house sent on fire. On the following day, the Ame- 
 rican Ilotilb wliile becalmed, was attacked by 42 heavy laun- 
 ches and gun-barges, manned with 1000 men and officers, and 
 after a vigorQus resistance, for upwards of an hour, against 
 this overwhelming force, the whole flotilla was captured by 
 the enemy. 
 
 The news of the arrival of the British squadron in these 
 waters reached New Orleans on the 12th of December, and 
 in a day or two after, martial law was proclaimed in the city, 
 and the militia called out en masse. Large appropriations 
 were made by the legislature of Louisiana for the erection of 
 batteries, and granting bounties to seamen to enlist in the ser- 
 vice; an embargo was laid for three days in order to stop the 
 departure of those individuals; and a requisition was made by 
 general Jackson of negroes to work on the fortifications, and 
 all those found in the streets were impressed for that purpose, 
 as well as all kinds of drays and carts. Four thousand Ten- 
 nessee militia arrived by water on the 21st, and Jackson was 
 further reinforced by the Barratarians, to whom an amnesty 
 was granted by the general and the governor of Louisiana, on 
 condition of their joining in the defence of the country. 
 
 The loss of the gun-boats having given the enemy command 
 of lake Borgne, he was enabled to choose his point of attack. 
 It became, therefore, an object of importance to obstruct the 
 numerous bayous and canals leading from that lake to the 
 highlands on the Mississippi. This important service was 
 committed to major-general Villere, commanding the district 
 between the river and the lakes, who, being a native of the 
 country, was presumed to be best acquainted with all these 
 passes. Unfortunately, however, a picket which the general 
 
HISTORV OF THE WAR. 229 
 
 nad e.tublished at the mouth of the bayou Bicnvcnu and 
 wluch, notwithstanding ^.encral Jackson's^ orders, had 'bee 
 left unobs ructcd, was completely surprised, and the enemv 
 penetrated through a canal leading to his 'farm, about two 
 eagues below the city, and succeeded in cutting off a com^ 
 pany of m.litia stationed there. This intelligence was com- 
 rnumcatcd to Jackson about 12 o'clock on the 23d His forTe 
 at this time consisted of parts of the 7th and 44th regiments 
 
 Coffee s brigade of mounted gun-men, and the detached mili 
 lia from the western division of Tennessee, under the cor 
 nand of major-general Carrol. These two last corps w r. 
 s ationed four miles above the city. Apprehending rdoul 
 attack by he way of Chef Menteur, general Cari^olVforce 
 and the mihtia of the city, were left po^tCd on the Gent 1 y roaS* 
 and at 5 o'clock, P. M. Jackson marched to meet the enemy 
 whom he was resolved to attack in his first pos don? wTh 
 major Hind's dragc^ns, general Coffee's brigade, parts of the 
 rth and 44th regiments, the uniformed commnieroTmiliUa 
 lUider the command of major Planche 200 m^n > i ' 
 rhipfl,' frr,iv. Cf i-* • ""'J"\ r-icinene, ^uo men ot colour, 
 chiefly from St. Domingo, and a detachment of artillery, un- 
 dcr the direction of colonel M^Rca, with 2 six-poundei^^ un 
 
 ?5So men""""' '' ^^^"^"""^ 'P°^«' -^ exc'eed^gl^ Tfl 
 
 Jackson arrived near the enemy's encampment about 7 and 
 
 immediately made his dispositions for the attack. The enemy's 
 
 torces, amounting at that time on land to about 3000, exSed 
 
 rli 7r fl"'^'" nver, and in the rear nearly to the wood 
 General Coffee was ordered to turn their ripht, while Zuu 
 lie residue of the force, Jackson attacked hif stro^^esj ^ 
 tion on he left near the river. Commodore Patterso^n! haWn J 
 dropped down the river in the scliooner, Caroline, was dS 
 
 halt after 7. Ihis being the signal of attack, general Coffee's 
 men with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the en^v'' 
 
 wfth^ JlllllnSr ^^^' ^^"^' ''''' '-'-^'^ ^-P« ^^vLTed 
 Unfortunately, a thick fog, which arose about eight o'clock 
 arised some confusion among the different corps ?eaS 
 the consequences, under this circumstance, of the further nrrT 
 
 for'n'^r^-"'^^; "'^^^^ ^^^'^ ''^^^ th'en acting toget^he; 
 tor the first time, Jackson contenfPrl hT^^ceir ^..wu i.?:„_^^".^' 
 
 field that night; and at four in the m"or-ni;ig 1^;;;^^ aftrong"e: 
 
 position about two miles nearer to the city s,xrongei 
 
 In this action the American loss was 24 killed, 115 wound- 
 
 u2. 
 
230 
 
 HISTORY 0¥ THE "WAR. 
 
 ed, and 74 missing; the British loss amounted to 46 killed, 
 167 vvounued, and 64 niissin'^. 
 
 The country betv. ocn New Orleans and the sea is one ex- 
 tensive swamp, excepting the immediate banks of the Missis- 
 sippi. These banks are generally about a quarter of a mile 
 wide, and being higher than the country behind, are dry, ex- 
 cept in time of inundation, when the whole, country would 
 •form one vast flood, were it not for the artificial banks or le- 
 vees which have been erected for the preservation of the 
 farms on this narrow, but fertile strip of land. The city of 
 New Orleans itself is protected from the river in the same 
 manner. At intervals there are bayous or outlets which pierce 
 these banks; the water which flows through them, however, 
 never returns to the bed of the river, but finds its way to the 
 Gulf of Mexico by other channels through the swamps. 
 
 From this description of the country, it will be perceived 
 that New Orleans is extremely susceptible of defence, and 
 that over a certain proportion, numbers are nearly unavailing. 
 The position taken up by general Jackson occupied both Banks 
 of tiie river. On the left it was simply a straight line of a 
 front of about 1000 yards, with a parapet, the right resting 
 on the river, and the left on a wood, which communicated with 
 the swamp, and the passage of which had been rendered im- 
 practicable for troops. This line was strengthened by flank- 
 works, and had a ditch with about four feet of water. On the 
 right bank was a heavy battery of 15 gvms, which enfiladed the 
 whole front of the position on the left bank. 
 
 The British having erected a battery in the night of the 26th, 
 succeeded on the following day, in blowing up the schooner 
 Caroline, which lay becalmed a short distance above in the 
 Mississippi. Her crew, however, had previously made their 
 escape. Emboldened by this event, the enemy marched his 
 whole force on the 28th up the levee, in the hope of driving 
 the Afnericans from their position, and with this view opened 
 upo^them, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and 
 rockets.. He was repulsed, however, with the loss of 1 6 kill- 
 ed, and 38 wounded. The American loss was 7 killed, and 
 
 8 /ounded. ... 
 
 Another attempt was made upon the American hnes on the 
 1 St of January. The enemy having the preceding night erect- 
 ed a battery near the works, in the morning opened a heavy 
 fire from it, and made two bold attempts to force and turn the 
 left wing, in both of which they w ere repulsed; and in the 
 course of the night tliey retreated to their lines, leaving all 
 their guns on the battery, which they had previously spiked*, 
 
6 killed, 
 
 i one ex- 
 e Missis- 
 af a mile 
 ! dry, ex- 
 ry would 
 iks or le- 
 in of the 
 ,e city of 
 the same 
 ch pierce 
 however, 
 ray to the 
 ps. 
 
 perceived 
 ence, and 
 navailing. 
 oth Banks 
 line of a 
 It resting 
 ;ated with 
 dered im- 
 by flank- 
 . On the 
 aladed the 
 
 r the 26th, 
 schooner 
 ve in the 
 lade their 
 rched his 
 of driving 
 5w opened 
 )ombs and 
 of 16 kill» 
 dlled, and 
 
 nes on the 
 ight erect- 
 d a heavy 
 id turn the 
 iUQ in the 
 leaving all 
 ^ly spiked*, 
 
f 
 
\^ 
 
 M 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 H 
 O 
 
 1^ 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 231 
 
 ajid a considerable quantity of ammunition, workino-tools, and 
 their dead unburied. Their loss on this occasion was 32 killed 
 44 wounded, and 2 missing; that of the American** 1 1 killed 
 and 23 wounded. 
 
 General Jackson was reinforced by 2500 Kentucky militia 
 on the 4th, and on the 6th the British were joined bv e-eneral 
 Lambert, at the head of the second part of the expedition 
 berious preparations were now made for storming- the Ameri- 
 can works. ° 
 
 On the night of the rth, with infinite labour, the British 
 succeeded in getting their boats into the Mississippi, by wid- 
 eiung and deepening the channel of the bayou, from which 
 they had about two weeks before effected their disembarka- 
 tion. Though these operations were not unperceived, it was 
 not m Jackson's power to impede them .by a general attack: 
 the nature of the troops under his command, mostly militia, 
 rendering it too hazardou.s to attempt extensive offei^^ive move^ 
 ments in an open country, against a numerous and well-dis- 
 ciphned army. Although his forces, as to number, had been 
 increased by the arrival of the Kentucky division, his strength 
 had received yery little addition; a small portion only of that 
 detachment being provided with arms. Cdmpelled thus to 
 wait the attack of the enemy, Jackson, however, took every 
 measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the 
 oJ)ject in view. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 8th, the enemy, after throwine 
 a heavy shower of bombs and Gongreye rockets, advanced their 
 cohim.is on the right and left to storm the entrenchments on 
 the left bank of the Mississippi; throwing over a considerable 
 torce in his boats at the same time to the right bank. The 
 entrenchments on the right bank, were occupied by general 
 Morgan, with the New Orleans contingent, theXoffisiana mi* 
 Iitia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky trJops; eeneral 
 Jackson, with the Tennessee and the remainder of the Ken- 
 Uicky mihtia, occupied the works on the left bank. 
 
 The columns of the enemy advanced in good 6rder towards • 
 Jackson s entrenchments, the men shouldering their muskets 
 and all carrying fascines, and some with ladders. TJie batte- 
 ries now opened an incessant fire on the British columns, 
 which contmued to advance in pretty good order, untU^ in a 
 ew nunutes, the musqetry of the militia joining their fire with' 
 that of tbe artillery, began to make an imnression on th*.m. 
 wTiich soon threw them into confusion. At this time the noise 
 ot the continued rolling fire resembled the concussion of tre- 
 mendous peals of thunder. For some time the British ojfii 
 
 «•,, 
 
 i 
 
 ]i!i 
 
 m 
 
 Ml 
 
232' 
 
 msToiiy of the war. 
 
 cers succeeded in animating the courage of tlieir troops, al- 
 though every discharge from the batteries openec the columns, 
 mowino; down whole files, which were almost instantaneously- 
 replaced by new troops coming up close after the first: but 
 these also shared the same fate, until at last, after 25 mmute^i 
 continued .ling, through which -a few platoons advanced to 
 the edge of the ditch, the columns broke and retreated m con- 
 fusion. . , . , n^u^ 
 A second attack w;ts received m the same manner. 1 he 
 British were forced to retreat, with an immense loss. tivX 
 vain was the attempt of the officers to bring them up a third 
 time. The soldiei-s were insensible to every thing but dan- 
 ger, and saw nothing but death, which had struck so many ot 
 
 their coinrades. , t, i i 
 
 Near the commencement of the attack, general Packenhani, 
 the British commander-in-chief, lost his life at the head of his 
 troops, and soon after generals Keane and Gibbs were carried 
 .off the field dangerously wounded. A great many other otti- 
 , cers of rank fell, and the plain bt- twcen the front hne of the 
 British and the American works, a distance of 400 yards, was 
 literally covered with the enemy's dead and wounded. At 
 this tirae general Jackson's loss was only seven killed and six 
 
 ^^The^entire destruction of the British army had now been in- 
 evitable, had not an unfortunate occurrence^ at this moment 
 taken place on the right bank of the river. 1 lie troops which 
 had landed there were hardy enough to advance agamst the 
 works, and at the very moment when their entire discomfature 
 was looked for with confidence, tli« Kentucky militia mglori- 
 ouslv fled, drawing after them, by their example, the remam- 
 der of the forces. Commodore Patterson, who commanded 
 rhe batteries, was of course forced to abandon them, after spik- 
 
 intr his guns. , , c rr • 
 
 This unfortunate rout totally changed the aspect of affairs. 
 The enemy now occupied a position from ^hich he could an- 
 noy Jackson without hazard,-and by means ot which he might 
 . have been enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects ol 
 the success of the Americans on the other side of the river. It 
 became, therefore, an object of the ^^^^ ^«^^f ^^,^"?,^/^/;„^^^ 
 lodee him as soon as possible. For this object, all the means 
 Which Jackson could with any safety use, were immediately 
 ....:_„ XI. ,4. .^ .y.r'^rii Viad hppn the lossoi'the Jbrit- 
 ish on the left bank, tnat they were not able to spare a suih- 
 cient number of troops to hold the position ;viuch they nad 
 gained on the right bank without jeopardizmg the safety pi the 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAH. 
 
 233 
 
 oops, al- 
 columns, 
 taneously 
 first: but 
 5 minute ii 
 iTanced to 
 cd in con- 
 
 ler. The 
 OSS. But 
 Lip a third 
 but dan- 
 ) many of 
 
 ickcnham, 
 ead of his 
 re carried 
 other offi- 
 ine of the 
 j-ards, was 
 nded. At 
 ed and six 
 
 w been in- 
 is moment 
 )ops which 
 gainst the 
 scomfiturc 
 tia inglori- 
 he remain 
 ommanded 
 after spik- 
 
 , of affairs, 
 e could an- 
 h he mig'ht 
 e effects of 
 tie river. It 
 ;nce to dis- 
 i the means 
 mmediately 
 of' the Brit- 
 pare a suffi- 
 ch they had 
 lafety of the 
 
 whole. The troops were therefore withdrawn, and Jackson 
 immediately regained the lost position. 
 
 The spirit of atrocity and vengeance, which marked the 
 conduct of the British during the campaign, was manifested 
 even m this battle, although they suffered so signal a defeat. 
 Alter their final repulse on the left bank, numbers of the Ame- 
 rican troops, prompted merely by sentiments of humanity, 
 went, of their own accord, in front of their lines, to assist the 
 wounded British, to give them drink, and to carry them (as 
 
 wJ-, u^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^" *^^^^ ^^'^^^) ^vi^J^in the lines.— 
 While they were thus employed, they were actually fired up- 
 on, and several killed. Yet the others, regardless of the dan- 
 ger, persevered in their laudable purpose. This instance of 
 baseness may have proceeded from individuals; nor would it in 
 common cases be presumed, that the men were ordered to 
 hre by their officers: but if the fact be, as has been repeated- 
 ly asserted without contradiction, that the watchword of the 
 day was the significant words « beauty and booty," no charge 
 would seem too atrocious for belief against the British com- 
 manders. 
 
 The total loss of the Americans in this action on both sides 
 ot the nver, was 13 killed, 39 wounded, and 19 missing. The 
 British acknowledge a loss of 293 killed, 1267 wounded, and 
 484 missing. About 1000 stand of arms of different descrip- 
 tions were taken by the Americans. 
 
 The British having retired to their old position, continued 
 to occupy it till the night of the 18th, although constantly an- 
 noyed by the American artillery on both sides of the river. At 
 midnight they precipitately decamped, and returned to their 
 boats, leaving behind, under medical attendance, 80 wounded,- 
 including two officers. Fourteen pieces of heavy artillery, and 
 a quantity of shot, were also abandoned, and a great deal of 
 powder, which, however, was previously destroyed. But, such 
 was the situation of the ground which the enemy abandoned, 
 and of that through which he retired, protected by canals, re- 
 doubts, entrenchments, and swamps on his right, and the river 
 on his left, that Jackson could not, without encountering a risk 
 which true policy did not seem to require or to authorise, at- 
 tempt to annoy him much on his retreat. He took only eie-ht 
 prisoners. "^ ° 
 
 Commodore Patterson, however, dispatched five boats and 
 iP^rl "^^"^ed and armed with 50 men, under the command of 
 
 _ .^,u,^.jvi^, i/«I3^-l uu iuc i-vcvT vyiicans aiaiiou, to 
 
 annoy the retreat of the British. On the night of the 19th, a 
 "oat lying at anchor was captured by surprise, without resist- 
 
 
 4 
 
 ^1^ 
 
 > ?' 
 
334 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 ance, containing 40 dragoons and 14 seamen. The prisoners 
 exceeding the detachment in numbers, Shields retunied, and 
 placing them in charge of the army, again set out in pursuit, 
 in the hope of intercepting some of the enemy's boats about 
 day-light, but without success. 
 
 On the morning of the 21st, Shields once more pushed off 
 among the transports of the enemy, and captured several, but 
 unfortunately, owing to a strong contrary wind, he was not 
 able to bring them off; some of them were therefore given 
 up to the parolled prisoners, and the remainder destroyed. 
 Seventy-eight prisoners were brought in by this intrepid lit- 
 tle band. 
 ^ Meantime the British fleet having proceeded up the Missis- 
 sippi, bombarded Fort St. Philip for eight or nine days; but 
 not being able to make any impression, they commenced their 
 retreat about the same time that the army above embarked in 
 their boats, viz. on the 18th of January. The bombarding ves- 
 sels were stationed most of the time out of the reach of the 
 guns of the, fort. Major Overton, th commander, lost Owly 
 two killed and seven wounded. 
 
 We have never seen any official statement of thj forces em- 
 ployed in this expedition; but the most probable calculation 
 makes the force landed below New Orleans, about 15,000, viz. 
 11,000 land-troops, and 4000 sailors and marines. So confi- 
 dent were the British of success, that collectors of the customs 
 and other civil officers attended the expedition, several of 
 whom were among the prisoners taken by Shiqjds, on the re- 
 treat of the army. 
 
 As soon as the British troops were embarked on board their 
 shipping, the squadron made for Mobile bay, and completely 
 invested Fort Bowyer both by land and water. A large force 
 was landed on the 1 8th of February, who made regular ap- 
 proaches, keeping up a constant firing, until the 11th, when, 
 the approaches being within pistol-shot of the fort, colonel 
 Lawrence was summoned to surrender. Resistance being un- 
 availing against the overwhelming force of the enemy, articles 
 of capitulation were agreed to, surrendering the fort to the 
 British, the garrison, consisting of 366 men, including officers, 
 being considered prisoners of war, On the 10th and 1 1th, ge- 
 neral Winchester, who commanded at Mobile, threw a detach- 
 ment across the bay for the relief of Fort Bowyer, but too late 
 to effect any thing, except the capture of one of the British 
 barces, with 17 men. 
 
 Wliile these operations were carried on in the Gulph of 
 Mexico, a considerable force was stationed off the coast of 
 
 South 
 
 nah. 
 
 tary st 
 
 main, 
 
 under 
 
 island, 
 
 the for 
 
 Hav 
 
 shall ni 
 
 contini 
 
 qucrul( 
 
 they ar 
 
 It wi 
 
 tion an( 
 
 memor 
 
 that of 
 
 sailed f 
 
 to join ( 
 
 Porter '. 
 
 the Cap 
 
 crossing 
 
 and the 
 
 '^ny ene 
 
 Praya ft 
 
 de Verc 
 
 packet 1 
 
 ing take 
 
 to the L 
 
 The ii 
 
 dezvous 
 
 received 
 
 him und 
 
 that he \ 
 
 port, the 
 
 de Janei: 
 
 the prise 
 
 tbcir caf 
 
 vessels, i 
 
 All sail, 
 
 effort to 
 
 telligenci 
 
 blockade 
 
 "Gt, and i 
 
 Montagu 
 the Horn 
 pursuit©! 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 235 
 
 risoners 
 
 ned, and 
 
 pursuit, 
 
 ts about 
 
 I shed off 
 eral, but 
 was not 
 •e given 
 istroyed. 
 -epid lit- 
 
 ; Missis- 
 ays; but 
 :ed their 
 arked in 
 ling ves- 
 li of the 
 lost Owly 
 
 rces em- 
 Iculation 
 
 000, viz. 
 3o confi- 
 customs 
 jveral of 
 1 the re- 
 
 ird their 
 tnpletely 
 ge force 
 ;ular ap- 
 
 1, when, 
 colonel 
 
 eing un- 
 , articles 
 rt to the 
 officers, 
 nth, ge- 
 L detach- 
 too late 
 I British 
 
 julph of 
 coast of 
 
 nah ThI r T^ ^'°'?'^' ^«naci"g Charleston and Savan- 
 nah. They took possession of Cumberland island, as a milU 
 
 ml f °"' r "' r *^^^ "f consequence was effected on the 
 xmd"; adm1faT^n\'K''P*"''t "^ ^.^^ ^^^'^» ^^^ ^ detachment 
 isS afZ th? ^^ """'i T^^ ^^^^" '"'"™^^ to Cumberland 
 
 the foit.l th^^ • ^I'^'^u^^'f P"'P^^" ^y ^^^ destruction of 
 tne torts m the neighbourhood. 
 
 sha^l^'niw^.*^''' reviewed every import^int military event, we 
 shall now turn our attention to the ocean, where our cruizeTs 
 contmued to range with unabated vigour, and where, to use the 
 querulous language of the British four;alists;«fiey fight! 
 they are sure to conquer; if they fly they are ure to escape » 
 It will be recollected, that in Octobei^ 1812, the Constitu- 
 tton and Hornet sailed from 'Boston on a cruize which proved 
 memorable by the destruction of the Java by the former Ind 
 
 iTedf^m'^tre"n\'^''^^r" ^""^ Ess Jx, captaLTo'r et 
 sailed irom the Delaware about the same time, inder orders 
 
 PoC irr^^'" Bainbridge, who commanded the squadron! 
 
 the cLfn '.z'"^"'. r '^^ '«th *^f O^t^l^^^' a"d steeredl; 
 the Cape de Verd islands, the first appointed rendezvous 
 crossmg the track of the homeward-boS^d British Indramen; 
 ^ the outward-bound West Indiamen. Without meeS 
 ^ny enemy's vessels, he reached St. Jago, and put inTo Pol 
 Praya for supplies. On the 29th of NoveLer he left the Cape 
 de Verds for the Brazil coast. A few days after, a BriSh 
 packet was captured, with about 855,000 in^spec e,Vhich be^ 
 
 To^hf^rd'ste;.^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^P^"^^^ -^' ^ P^--— 
 
 The island of Fernando de Noronha, the second nlace of ren 
 dezvous was reached on the 41th of December Sere Porter 
 received a communication from the commodore, addressed to 
 him under tJiefictiUous title of sir James Lucas Yerstatin^ 
 tha he would find him off Cape Frio. Without ente.W SI 
 por , therefore, the Essex stood to the southward Nea? Rio 
 de Janeiro a British schooner was captured, and after takfn^ 
 e prisoners out, it was discovered, that about an hourbeforf 
 
 t^ir^'Z^' "r^ ''^'' P='««'d ^"ih a small convoy o?BriUsh 
 ve sels under charge of the Juniper a three-masted schooner 
 
 ^o»t """'fT' ^"^ ""'"^diately made in pursuit, but every 
 eHort to reach then, nroved abortive. During the oursuit in 
 
 hln'f:;";T !?"'""'• f™"> different vess^e , fi^rst rf t le 
 blockade of the Bonne Citoyenne by the Constitulion and Ho ! 
 
 n^'Ct^..^'"^"" '■- "- M^^ague-'hXne^ri 
 
 m 
 
m-' 
 
 236 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 This intelligence removed all expectations of the Essex bc.> 
 ing enabled to join commodore Bainbridge; and it became 
 absolutely necessary, therefore, for Porter to depart from the 
 letter of his instructions. He acordingly determined to pur- 
 sue that course which seemed best calculated to injure the 
 enemy, and to enable the cruize to be prolonged. This 
 could only be done by going into a friendly port where sup- 
 plies could be procured, without the danger of blockade; and 
 the most suitable place for that purpose seemed to be th^ port 
 of Conception, on the coast of Chili. The season, it being now 
 the end of January, was, to be sure, far advanced for doubling 
 Cape Horn; the stock of provisions also was short, and the 
 ^ip in other respects not well supplied with stores for so 
 Ibng a cruize. But there appeai'ed to Porter no other choice 
 left, except capture, starvation, or blockade. This course 
 seemed to him the more justifiable, also, as it accorded with 
 the views of the secretary of the navy, as well as those of the 
 commodore. Before the declaration of war, Porter had laid 
 before the ^cretary a plan of annoying the enemy's commerce 
 in the Pacific, which had been approved of; and prior to this 
 cruize, commodore Bainbridge having requested his opinion 
 as to the best mode of ^noying the enemy, Porter had laid 
 the same plan before him. This had also been approved of 
 by the commodore, who signified his intention to pursue it, 
 provided supplies of provisions could be procured. Although 
 there was considerable responsibility attached to this proceed- 
 ing, and the undertaking was greater than had yet been en- 
 gaged in by any single ship in similar pursuits, yet the season 
 admitting of no delay. Porter, immediately on getting to sea, 
 stood to the southward, and the crew were put on short allow- 
 ance of provisions, in order to husband them for the long voy- 
 age on which they were now embarked. 
 
 Cape Horn was doubled about the middle of February, 
 amidst tremendous storms; and the Essex surmounted all the 
 clangers of hurricanes, fogs, and breakers, by the intrepidity 
 of her commander, and the distinguished coolness and activity 
 of her crew, to which the uncommon degree of health they 
 enjoyed, from the judicious arrangements of captain Porter, 
 not a little contributed. In the latitude of about 40° south, 
 pleasant moderate weather succeeded to the incessant storms 
 and severe cold experienced in the passage around the stormy 
 cape, and on the 6th of March, the Essex came to an anchor 
 off an uninhabited island called Mocha, in the latitude of about 
 58° 15' S. about eight leagues distant from the coast of Chili- 
 At Mocha, a considerable supply of fresh provisions was pro- 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAR. 237 
 
 feraWe food, tljal Jthe ho^t^^l /.Jl.'^h!"""'' '° -= ">>= P^" 
 
 brought proposals^or a frlndr; a rce?aid^ sl^ce"'?''' 
 
 was Porter's intention to visit that coast neit, for, frim f 11 L 
 counts, the coast of Peru, and from there to th^ r^ 
 
 ei 3. Porter accordingly ran down the coast of Chili and pi 
 ^"'cktVlr ' P'-Tf'i '° "'^ Gallapagos islands I^ this" 
 
 ™grg'l,;:sLp'^^^^^^^^ 
 £^^|t"hV=-!retrrptLrji:-^^^^^^ 
 
 ue valuable iiiitish whale-vessels in the Pacific were r-r,' 
 tured, excepting one which had been l.id ud at CormimJ,„f 
 
 ml,:7<^!-r"' '"" '"--Kbeen disarmTd y'^Z 'gove™^ ' 
 mtnt of Chill, in consequence of the active oart she h J , t 
 m favour of the Peruvians, who adheTd to'^Fe,dina„H -rh" 
 H"dtr,iPtr,l° •"%f 'T^ wartunfat^dTtto mu! 
 
 t\wTi;; nlS" '"." ^^^"^"' ^"^ 8""«' a»d 302 men.-: 
 
 scut tn v.? ^ ^r S'"^^" "P ^« ^h^ prisoners, three were 
 
 ^cut to Valparaiso, where they were laid up and three were 
 
 i. 
 
 II,. 
 
 'It 4 
 
« ' 
 
 
 HISTOKY OF THE WAll. 
 
 sent to tlie United States. Lieutenant Downes convoyed the 
 prizes sent to Valparaiso, in another prize, which had been 
 fitted up as a cruizcr, under the name of the Essex Junior. 
 He rejoined captain Porter at the Gallapagos on the, 30th of 
 September, and brought letters from Valparaiso, containing 
 information that a squadron, under the command of commo- 
 dore James Hillyar, consisting of the frigate Phoebe, of 36 
 ^uns, the Racoon and Cherub sloops of war, and a store-ship 
 of 20 guns, had sailed from England in pursuit of the Essex. 
 That the Racoon and Cherub had been seeking her for some 
 time on the coast of Brazil, and had then proceeded in quest 
 of her to the Pacific. 
 
 The Essex had now been nearly a year at sea, almost with- 
 out intermission, and, as maybe supposed, required consider- 
 able repairs to put her in a proper state to meet the enemy. 
 Captain Porter, therefore, determined to steer for the Wash- 
 ington Islands for that purpose, and, on the 2d of October, the 
 Essex, in company with the Essex Jilifior, Greenwich, Serin- 
 •gapatam, Nfew Zealunder, and the Sir Andrew Hammond, fi- 
 nally left the Gallapagos, or the Enchanted Isles, as some have 
 called them, from the difficulty of clearing them, owing to the 
 currents and baffling winds. These islands are described by 
 -captain Porter as being all of volcanic origin, and totally de- 
 void of running streams. There are some few springs, but 
 the water is quickly absorbed by the loose and thirsty lava and 
 cinders, of which these islands are principally composed.— 
 When Porter visited them, their only inhabitants were tor- 
 toises, guanas, lizards, and snakes, but as he lost a number of 
 goats which were put on shore to graze, the probaLility is that 
 they will soon be stocked by these useful animals. The turtics 
 are in such abundance as to furnish plentiful supplies of fresh 
 provision for ships stopping there. 
 
 The Marquesas, of which the Washington groupe forms a 
 part, are situated between the latitude of 6° and 11° S. and 
 ' 136° and 142° W. from London. Captain Porter, with his 
 squadron, arrived at the island called Nooaheevah by the na- 
 tives, on which Porter bestowed the name of Madison's Island, 
 in honour of the American president. Here a fine bay was 
 discovered, which appeared to offer every advantage that could 
 be desired. A friendly intercourse was soon opened with the 
 natives dwelling near the beach; but their operations on shore 
 were threatened to be disturbed by the natives of a i|||;ighbour- 
 
 had landed. On the capture of one of their strong holds, how- 
 ever, by a party of iailors, who accompanied the frieindly na- 
 
HISTORY OP THE WAH. 
 
 :39 
 
 lives, the hostile Indians gladly accepted of the peace offered 
 
 w^thM^:' The' r 1 '""" ""' -tablisf in, a fric.KS; conTme e 
 wilhhm. Ihe Indians now erected a little villaec Ibr the 
 reception of the articles taken out of the Essex h' order to 
 hcMMcpairs, and the greatest harmony prevailed between the 
 
 pluuifu supplies of provisions in exchange for nieces of iron 
 hsh-hooks, and whales' teeth. * ' 
 
 But the conduct of the Typees, one of the most numerous 
 
 dv sron' H *"^' V'; -^^^ ^'''"*'' ^^^"" threatened to putTspee- 
 I y Slop to the useful intercourse established with the natives. 
 1 hey contnvia ly insulted the friendly Indians, callinp them 
 cowards for submitting to the white r!en, to whom tiey appT 
 cd the most degrading epithets. In reply to a messenger whom 
 Poner sent to their valley, to induce them to remain^at peac^ 
 t^JyT'"^-^^ exchange of presents as a proof of^heir 
 .nofl^ flisposition, they desired to know why they should 
 
 ?,n-.? T?/"^"'^*'^'P' ^"** '''^y ^^'^y ^h°"»d b"»g l^i'n hogs and 
 T n^: if 7^s strong enough, they said, they knew he would 
 t^ome and take them: his not doing so was an acknowledgment 
 pt his weakness. I'orter was extremely averse from enffaeinc 
 ma useless warfare with these people; but he conceived that 
 necesjjity compelled him to take some steps to punish them 
 in order to secure the friendship of the other Indians, who* 
 made no secret of their belief that his backwardness to eigaee 
 in war arose solely from cowardice. A distant day was theil! 
 fore appointed for an expedition against the Typees, and in the 
 mean while Porter practiced every means to inspire them with 
 em.^r f%'''''''' by making them acqainted with the deadfy 
 effects of fire-arms. But they felt too conscious of their num^ 
 heis, and of the natural strength of their valley, surrounded bv 
 mountains impenetrable, as they believed, to white men, to 
 listen to peaceable overtures; and in this disposition thcv were 
 
 TontuT ^'Jl '^r r'"' "^ '^' ^'''' """"^P^ '^^'^^ t« enter their 
 lam 'nVn .l!i-' ^"n"'' men, with captain Porter at their head, 
 landed in their valley, but from the nature of the countiv, it 
 was found impossible to make any impression on them with 
 this small force; and alter penetrating though marshes and 
 thickets, through which they had to fight their way, the pro- 
 
 feetV\ l^ Pf^7,^l^.« fi^^-»y stopped by a strong wall seven 
 leet high, fla^iked by impenetrable thickets. 
 
 The situation of the party was at this moment peculiarly ha- 
 zardous= The cu.rounding hiiis wore covered by those Indi- 
 ans, who at present professed friendship. Great numbers al- 
 5»fi had landed VMth them, but thev had taken little or no part 
 
 ■3-- - 
 
 ii 
 
240 
 
 IIlS'JlonY OF THE WAR. 
 
 in the contest, and the appearance of a defeat, it was suppos- 
 i d, would brinjj; on an attack from the tribe that had been be- 
 fore deflated, if not by tlie whole force of the island. A re- 
 treat was therefore feigned, in order to draw the Indians from 
 their fort, and in an instant they rushed upon the party with 
 hideous yells. The first and second which advanced were 
 killed, and those who attempted to carry them otV were wound- 
 ed; on seeing which, they abandoned their dead, and precipi- 
 tately retreated to their fort. Porter was now suffered to re- 
 treat nearly unmolested. On arriving at the beach a messen- 
 ger was again dispatched to offer peace, but they only answer- 
 t d by a challenge to renew the contest. 
 
 Porter now determined to embark, as the Indians had all de- 
 scended the hills, and the defeat of the white men by the Ty- 
 pees formed the universal topic of conversation. The pun- 
 itihment of the hostile natives being deemed, however, more 
 important than ever, a large body was- next day marched to 
 their valley across the mountains, and notwithstanding the ex- 
 treme difticii'Ities of the route, penetrated into their country, 
 and completely drove them out of the valley. We regret to 
 say, that the whole of their villages were burned and laid 
 waste, as, though the practice is usual in Indian warfare, we 
 cannot perceive that the same necessity existed that can be 
 urged foV this measure in contests with the Indians in our own 
 territory. 
 
 The Typees were now glad to accept of the same terms of 
 peace which they had before scorned, and every tribe on the 
 island courted the friendship of the whites. 
 
 Previous to the Typee war, a fort had been erected in the 
 valley where Porter first landed, by permission of the inhabi- 
 tants, and the Hag of the United States was hoisted, and the 
 island formally taken possession of in the name of the Ameri- 
 can government, by the title of Madison's Island, under a sa- 
 lute of 17 guns. The object of the ceremony being explained 
 to the inhabitants, they expressed much pleasure at the idea of 
 being adopted Mcllickees^ as they called the Americans. 
 
 The Essex being now completely repaired, and provisions 
 for four months laid in, she sailed for Valparaiso on the 12th 
 of December, in company with the Essex Junior. The thfee 
 prizes were secured under the guns of the fort, and left in 
 charge, of lieutenant Gamble of the marines, and 21 men, with 
 orders to proceed to Valparaiso after a certain period. 
 
 Riir>rtlv after captain Porter reached Va.lt)araisOi coiinmodore 
 Ilillyar arrived there in the Plicebe frigate, accompanied by 
 the Cherub sloop of war. These ships, having been sent out 
 
; suppos- 
 been be- 
 I. A re- 
 ans from 
 arty with 
 :ecl were 
 e wound- 
 l p reel pi- 
 ed to re- 
 . nu'ssen- 
 y answcr- 
 
 ad all dc- 
 y the Ty- 
 rhe piin- 
 er, more 
 U'ched to 
 g the ex- 
 country, 
 regret to 
 and laid 
 rfare, we 
 lat can be 
 ti our own 
 
 ! terms of 
 be on the 
 
 ed in the 
 ne inhabi- 
 , and the 
 e Ameri- 
 idcr a sa- 
 cxplained 
 he idea of 
 ms. 
 
 [provisions 
 the 12th 
 rhe thfee 
 ind left in 
 men, with 
 d. 
 
 nnmodore 
 )anied by 
 n sent out 
 
 HISTORY OP THE WAp. 
 
 241 
 
 expressly to seek for the Essex, were in prime order and 
 equipment with picked crews, and hoisted flags bearing the 
 niotto « (iod and country, British sailors' best rights: traitors 
 ojfend doth." This was in opposition to Porter's motto of 
 tvte trade and sailors' rights," and the latter part of it sug- 
 gcsted, doubtless, by crn)r Industriously cherished, that the 
 American crews were chiefly composed of English seamen, 
 in reply to this motto, Porter hoisted at his mizen, « God, our 
 country, and liberty, tyrants oftend them." On entering the 
 harbour, the Phoebe fell foul of the Essex in such a manner as 
 to lay her at the mercy of captain Porter; out of respect to the 
 neutrality of the port, however, he did not take advantage of 
 her exposed situation. This forbearance was afterwards ac 
 knovvledged by commodore Hillyar,and he passed his word of 
 honour to observe like conduct while they remained in port. 
 1 he;r continued, therefore, while in harbour and on shore, in 
 the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind offices, that should 
 Characterize the private intercourse between civilized and 
 generoits enemies; and the crews of the respective ships often 
 mingled together, and passed nautical jokes and pleansantries 
 irom one to the other. 
 
 On getting their provisions on board, the Phcebe and Cherub 
 went off the port, where they cruized for six weeks, rigorously 
 blockading captam Porter. Their united force amounted to 
 81 guns and 500 men, in addition to which they took on board 
 the crew ot an English letter of marque lying in port. The force 
 of the Essex consisted of but 46 guns all of which, excepting 
 SIX ong twelves, were 32 pound carrbnades, only serviceabk 
 n close fighting. Her crew, having been much reduced by 
 tlie manmng of prizes, amounted to but 255 men. The Essex 
 Junior being only intended as a store-ship, mounted ten 18 
 
 onr^eo^'men" """"^ ^^" '^°'' ''''^*' "^"^^ "" complement of 
 
 This vast superiority of force on the part of the enemy pre- 
 vented aU chance of encounter, on any thing like equal terms, 
 unless by express covenat between the commaders. Captain 
 Porter, therefore, endeavoured repeatedly to provoke a chal- 
 enge (the interiority of his frigate to the Phcebe not justifying 
 him m making the challenge himself), but without effect. hI 
 tiled frequently ako_to bring the Phcebe into single action; but 
 this comniodore HUlyar warily avoided, and always kept liis 
 ships so close together as to frustrate cantain PnrtPr'« .ftJrr.,... 
 iiiiUmg It impossible to bring the enemy to equal combat'and 
 iearmg the ai^-ival of additional force, which^ he understood 
 was ou the way. Porter^ determined to put .to scathe first op^ 
 
 X 2 . . 
 
 i 
 I 
 
H2 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 portunity that should present. A rcndczvoirs was accordingly 
 t)pened for the Essex Junior, and having ascertained by re- 
 peated trials that the Essex was a superior sailer to either of 
 the blockading ships, it was agreed that she should let the 
 enemy chase her off; thereby giving the Essex Junior an op- 
 portunity of escaping. 
 
 On the next day, the 28th of March, 1814, 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. Not a moment was lost in getting sail on the ship; 
 but perceiving that the enemy was close in with the point form- 
 ing the west side of the bay, and that there Avas a possibility 
 of passing to windward, and escaping to sea by superior sail- 
 ing, captain Porter resolved to hazard the attempt. He ac- 
 cordingly took in his top-gallant sails, and braced up for the 
 purpose, but most unfortunately, on rounding the point, a heavy 
 squall struck the ship, and carried away her main top-mast, 
 precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were 
 drowned. Both ships now gave chase, and the crippled state 
 of his ship left Porter no alternative but to endeavour to regain 
 the port. Finding it imi)Ossible to get back to the common 
 anchorage, he ran close into a small bay, about three quarters 
 of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east of the harbour, 
 and let go his anchor within pistol-shot of the shore. Supposing 
 the enemy would, as formerly, respect the neutraility of the 
 place, he considered himself secure, and thought only of re- 
 pairing the damages he had sustained. The wary and mena- 
 cing approach of the hostile ships, however, displaying their 
 motto flags, and having jacks at all their masts' heads, soon 
 showed hira the veal danger of his situation. With all possi- 
 ble dispatch therefore, he got his ship ready for action, and 
 endeavoured to get a spring on his cable, but had not succeed- 
 ed, when, at 54 minutes past 3, P. M- the enemy commenced 
 iin attack. 
 
 At first the Phoebe placed herself under his stern, and the 
 Cherub on his starbord bow; but the latter soon finding herself 
 exposed to a hot fire, bore up and ran under his stem also, 
 where both ships kept up a severe and raking fire. Porter 
 iiucceeded three different times in getting springs on his ca- 
 bles, for the piu'pose of bringing his broadside to bear on the 
 cnemy^ but they were as often shot away by the excessive fire 
 to which he was exposed. He was obliged, therefore, to rely 
 for defence against this tremendous attack merely on three 
 long twelve-pounders, which he had run out of the stern-ports; 
 and which were worked with such bravery laid skilli as in half 
 
HlSTOilY OF THE WAR. 
 
 243 
 
 ;or<Ungly 
 id by re- 
 either of 
 i let the 
 3r an op- 
 
 ind came 
 X parted 
 ' directly 
 the ship; 
 >int form- 
 ossibility 
 rior sail- 
 He ac- 
 p for the 
 t, a heavy 
 fop-mast, 
 vho were 
 >led state 
 to regain 
 common 
 quarters 
 harbour, 
 upposing 
 ty of the 
 nly of re- 
 nd mena- 
 i^ing their 
 ads, soon 
 all possi- 
 :tion, and 
 succeed- 
 mmenced 
 
 I, and the 
 [ig herself 
 item also, 
 !. Porter 
 on his ca- 
 ;ar on the 
 essive fire 
 re, to rely 
 ' on three 
 ern-portsj 
 as in half 
 
 an hour to do great iifjury to both the enemy's ships, and in- 
 duce them to haul off and repair damages. It was evidently 
 the mtention of commodore Hillyar to risk nothing from the 
 darmg courage of his antagonist, but to take the Essex at as 
 cheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate 
 and wary; he saw his antagonist completely at his mercy, and 
 prepared to cut him up in the safest and surest manner. In 
 the mean time the situation of the Essex was galling and pro- 
 voking in the extreme; crippled and shattered, with many 
 killed and wounded, she lay awaiting the convenience of the 
 enemy, to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope of 
 escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in place of 
 bemg disheartened, were aroused to desperation, and by hoist- 
 ing ensigns in their rigging, and jacks in different parts of 
 the ship, evinced their defiance and determination to hold out 
 to the last. 
 
 The enemy having repmred his damages, now placed him- 
 self, with both his ships, on the starboard quarter of the Es- 
 sex, out of reach of her carronades, and where her stern-guns 
 could not be brought to bear. Here he kept up a most de- 
 structive fire, which it was not in Porter's power to return; 
 the latter, th jrefore, saw no hope of injuring him without get- 
 ting under way and becoming the assailant. From the man- 
 gled state of his rigging, he' could set no other than the flying 
 jib; this he caused to be hoisted, cut his cable, and ran down 
 on both ships, with an intention of laying the Phoebe on board. 
 
 For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemyj 
 and the firing on both sides was tremendous. The decks of 
 the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cockpit filled with 
 wounded; she had been several times on fire, and was in fact 
 a perfect wreck; still a feeble hope sprung up that she might 
 be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being compelled to 
 haul off by her crippled state; she did not return to close ac- 
 tion again, but kept up a distant firing with her long guns. 
 The disabled state of the Essex, however, did not permit her 
 to take advantage of this circumstance; for want of sail she 
 was unable to keep £^t close quarters with the Phcebe, who,, 
 edging off, chose the distance which best suited her long guns, 
 and kept up a tremendous fire, which made dreadful havoc 
 among the crew of the Essex. Many of her guns were ren- 
 dered useless, and many had their whole crews destroyed: they 
 were manned from those that were disabled, and one gun in 
 particular was three times manned; fifteen men were skin at 
 it in the course of the action, though the captain of it escaped 
 with only a slight wound. Captain Porter now gave up all 
 
 m 
 
 Its' 
 
 11 
 
 lii 
 
 lii 
 
244 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 hopes of clo ung with the enemy, but finding the wind favoura- 
 ble, determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and 
 destroy her. He had approaclierl within musket-shot of the 
 shore, and had every prospect ox succeeding, when, in an in- 
 stant, the wind shifted from the land, and drove her down upon 
 the Phoebe, exposing her again to a dreadful raking fire. The 
 ship was now totally unmanageable; yet as her head Avas to- 
 ward the enemy, and he to leeward, captain Porter again per- 
 ceived a faint hope of boarding. At this moment lieutenant 
 Downes of the Essex Junior came on board to receive orders, 
 expecting that captain Porter Avould soon be a prisoner. His 
 services could be of no avail in the deplorable state of the Es- 
 sex, and finding from the enemy's putting his helm up, that 
 the last attempt at boarding would not succeed, Downes was 
 directed to return to his own ship, to be Drepared fov defend- 
 ing and destroying her in case of attack. He took with him 
 several of the wounded, leaving three c^ his boat's crew on 
 board to make room for them. The Cherub kept up a hot 
 fire on him during his return. 
 
 The slaughter on board of the Essex now became horrible,. 
 the enemy continuing to rake her, while she was unable to 
 bring a gun to bear in return. Still her commander, with an 
 obstinacy tbat bordered on desperation, persisted ir the tine- 
 qual and almost hopeless conflict. Every expedient that a fer- 
 tile and inventive mind could suggest was resorted ta, in the 
 forlorn hope that they might yet be enabled by some lucky 
 chance to escape from the grasp of the foe. A halser was 
 bent to the sheet-anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows, to 
 bring the ship's head round. This succeeded; the broatlside 
 of the Essex was again brought to bear; and as the enemy 
 was much crippled, and unable to hold his own. Porter thought 
 she might drift out of gun-shot before she discovered that he 
 had anchored. The halser, however, unfortunately parted, 
 and with it failed the last lingering hope of the Essex. The 
 ship had taken fire several times during the action, but at this 
 moment her situation was awfuL She was on fire both forward 
 and aft; the flames were bursting up ea.ch hatchway; a large 
 quantity of powder below exploded, and word was given that 
 the fire was near the magazine. Thus surrounded by horrors, 
 without any chance of saving the ship, Porter turned his at- 
 tention to rescuing as many of his brave companions as possi- 
 ble. Finding his distance from the shore did not exceed three- 
 quarters of a mile, he hoped many would be able to save them- 
 selves should the ship blow up. His boats had been cut ta 
 pieces by the enemy's shot, but he advised stich as could swim 
 
HISTORY OF THE WAll. 
 
 245 
 
 to jump overboard and make for shore. Some reached it, some 
 were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the attempt; 
 but most of this loyal and gallant crew preferred sharing the 
 fate of their ship and their commander. 
 
 Those who remained on board now endeavoured to extin- 
 guish the flames, and having succeeded, went again to the 
 guns, and kept up a firing for a few minutes; but the crew had 
 by this time become so weakened, that all further resistance 
 was in vain. Captain Porter summoned a consultation of the 
 officers of divisions, but was surprised to find only acting lieu- 
 tenant Stephen Decatur M'Knight 'remaining; of the others, 
 some had been killed, others knocked overboard, and others 
 carried below disabled by severe wounds. The accounts froi.. 
 every part of the ship were deplorable in the extreme; re- 
 presenting her in the most shattered and crippled condition, in 
 imminent danger of sinking, and so crowded with the wound- 
 ed, that even the birth-deck could contain no more, and many- 
 were killed while under the surgeon's hands. In the mean 
 while the enemy, in consequence of the smoothness of the wa- 
 ter and his secure distance, was enabled to keep up a delibe- 
 rate and constant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty as if 
 firing at a target, and hitting the hull at every shot. At length, 
 utterly despairing of saving the ship, captain Porter was com- 
 pelled, at 20 minutes past 6, P. M. to give t'le painful order 
 to strike the colours. It is probable that the enemy did not 
 perc«ive that the ship had surrendered, tor he continued firing; 
 several men were killed and wounded in diffrrent parts of the 
 ship, and captain Porter, thinking he intended to show no 
 quarter, was about to rehoist his flag and to fight until he 
 sunk, when the enemy desisted his attack ten minutes after 
 the surrender. 
 
 The loss on board the Essex was 58 killed, 39 wounded se- 
 verely, 27 slightly, and 31 missing. The Ibss on board the 
 British vessels was 5 killed and 10 wounded. 
 
 Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were spectators 
 of the battle, covering the neighbouring heights: for it was 
 fought so near the shore, that some of the shot even struck 
 among the citizens, who, in the eagerness of iheir curiosity, 
 had ventured down upon the beach. Touched by the forlorn 
 situation of the Essex, and filled with adnm-ation at the un- 
 flagging spirit and persevering bravery of her commander and 
 crew, a generous anxiety ran throughout the multitude for 
 their fate: bursts of delight arose when, by any vicissitude of 
 
 battle, or nrnrnnt pvnprlipnf. o «^honr'^ oat^m^A t-^ ♦....« .,., :^ 
 
 their favour; and the eager spectators were seen to wrin^ their 
 
■M6 
 
 HISTORY OF THE WAR. 
 
 hands, j^nd uttered groans of sympathy, when the transient 
 liope was defeated, and the gallant little frigate once more be- 
 came an unresisting object of deliberate slaughter. 
 
 Though, from the distance and positions which the enemy 
 chose, this battle was chiefly fought on Porter's p>art by_six 
 twelve-pounders only, yet great damage was done to the as- 
 sailing ships. Their masts and yards were badly crippled, 
 their hulls much cut up; the Phoebe, especially, received 18 
 twelve pound shot below her water line, some three feet un- 
 der watQr. It was with some difficulty that the Phoebe and the 
 Essex could be kept afloat until they anchored the next morn- 
 ing in the port of Valparaiso. 
 
 Captain Porter and his crew were paroled, and permitted to 
 return to the United States in the Essex Junior, her armament 
 being previously taken out. On arriving off* the port of New 
 York, they were overhauled by the Saturn razee, the authori- 
 ty of commodore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, 
 and the Essex Junior detained. Captmn Porter then told the 
 boarding-officer that he gave up his parole, and considered 
 himself a prisoner of war, and as such should use all means of 
 escape. In consequence of this threat the Essex Junior was 
 ordered to remain all night under the lee of the Saturn, but 
 the next morning captain Porter put off* in his boat, though 
 thii-ty miles from shore; and, notwithstanding he was pursu- 
 ed by the Saturn, effected his escape, and landed safely on 
 Long Island. The Essex Junior was, however, released* and 
 arrived shortly after in New York. 
 
 The small party left with lieutenant Gamble in charge of 
 the prizes at Madison's island, met with a series of misfor- 
 tunes, which eventuated in the loss of all the vessels, and the 
 breaking up of the establishment. Hardly had tht Essex got 
 clear of the islands, before a hostile disposition was discovered 
 in the natives; and in a few days they became so insolent, that 
 Gamble conceived it to be absolutely necessary to land his men 
 to recover by force of arms the articles they had stolen from 
 his encampment, and to deter them from putting their threats 
 into execution. Fortunately this was accomplished without 
 the firing of a musket, and a perfect amity was kept up for se- 
 veral months afterwards. 
 
 On the 9th of May, while Gamble was preparing to depart 
 for Valparaiso, an attack was made on his ship by the natives. 
 His numbers had been previously reduced by desertion, and 
 by a mutiny, which ended in the escape of the mutineers in one 
 of the prizes. After suff'ering a severe loss in the scuffle with 
 Xht; native^, a breeze fortunately sprung up, which enabled tUe 
 
HISTORY OP THE WAR. 
 
 Q47 
 
 party to leave the bay. It being now reduced to eight souls, 
 not more than three of whom were effective, it was impracti- 
 cable to reach Valparaiso, which lay to windward. Gamble 
 therefore steered for the Sandwich islands, where he was cap- 
 tured by the Cherub sloop of war. 
 
 The cruize of the Essex in the Pacific ocean will ever fonn 
 ©ne of the most memorable events in the history of our coun- 
 try; and posterity will hesitate whether most to admire the 
 wisdom which devised, or the energy which carried it into 
 execution. With a single ship, ill appointed for such a cruize. 
 Porter boldly braved the terrors of the tempestuous cape, and 
 by his successful intrepidity cut off the whole of the valuable 
 commerce of the enemy in those waters, where Great Bri- 
 tain never dreamt that an American frigate .irould dare to make 
 her appearance. For twelve months Porter lorced it over the 
 Pacific, at the head of a little squadron of his own formatioh, 
 without any expense to iiis country, his ships being fitted out, 
 and furnished with provisions and stores solely from the fruits 
 of his enterprise. Numerous ships were sent io the Pacific in 
 pursuit of him, others were ordered to cruize in the China seas, 
 off New Zealand, Timor, and New Holland, and a frigate sent 
 to the river La Plata. These vessels, it is said, were ordered 
 to effect his destruction without respect to the neutrality of 
 any port in which he might have taken shelter, an oi-der which 
 %vas faithfully executed by commodore Hillyar, notwithstand- 
 ing the honourable example set him by captain Porter. The 
 The gallant defence of the Essex adds another laurel to the 
 wreath which encircles our seamen, and, as was officially ac- 
 knowledged by commodore Hillyar, « did honour to her brave 
 defenders, and most fully evinced the courage of captain Por- 
 ter, and those under his command." 
 
 Meanwhile the remainder of our little navy continued to 
 make every sea the theatre of their exploits. No more fri- 
 gates, it is true, were added to the list of our naval triumphs; 
 ior, taught by sad experience, strict orders were issued by the 
 liritish admiralty to their frigates, to avoid encounters with 
 those of the United States, and indeed they were seldom allow- 
 ed to put to sea alone. Six s»»»mjs of war, however were cap- 
 tured; the Epervier by the Peacock, the 'Reincicer and Avon 
 by the Wasp, the Penguin by the Hornet, and the Cyane aacl 
 Levant by tlie Constitution frigate. The loss of the American 
 navy at sea was two sloops of war and the President fi-iffate, 
 each of them by an overwhelming force. 
 
 ■ he blockade ot the American coast, which nominaily ex- 
 tended from Rhode Island to the Mississipj)i, was, on the 25th 
 
 I 
 
248 
 
 HISTORY or THE WAK. 
 
 of April, 1814, extended to every port of the United States.-— 
 But neither our public nor our private cruizers were to be de- 
 terred from proceeding to sea by those paper blockades. An 
 astonishing havoc was committed upon the English commerce, 
 not only in the high seas, but on the coasts of Great Britain, 
 in her channels, and even in the very mouths of her harbours. 
 Such was the uneasiness and alarm created by the numerous 
 captures by the Americans, that for a while insurance could 
 not be effected at all to distant ports, and even for from Eng- 
 land to Ireland, a few hours sail, a premium of five guineas 
 per. cent was demanded. 
 
 The admiralty were besieged with memorials from the mer- 
 cantile cities, and from the insurance offices; but they acknow- 
 ledged the remedy to be beyond their power. In answer to 
 numerous remonstances on this subject, it was officially stated 
 by Mr. Croker, that an ample force had been under the orders 
 of the admirals on the different stations, and that during the 
 time when the American depredations were stated to have 
 taken place in St. George's channel, not fewer than three fri- 
 gates and fourteen sloops of war were actually at sea for its 
 protection. 
 
 The achievements of the American privateers have in many 
 instances rivalled those of our public vessels; and we regret 
 that our limits have hitherto prevented us from paying them 
 the attention they deserve. It would be improper, howeVtr, 
 to pass over the gallant defence of the Generel Armstrong, by 
 captain Reid and his brave crew, in the port of Fayal. This ac- 
 tion forms but one out of the many instances in which the Bri- 
 tish commanders have set at nought the rights of neutrality, 
 by the capture of American vessels in friendly ports; but in 
 none has it been effected at such an expense of blood to the 
 Violators. 
 
 , On the the 26th of September, about dusk, while the Gener- 
 al Armstrong lay at anchor in Fayal harbour the British brig 
 Caraation hove in sight within gun-shot, and no sooner did she 
 understand the character of the privateer, than aiie hauled 
 close in and let go her anchor within pistol shot of her. At the 
 same time the Plantagenet 74, and the frigate Rota hove in 
 sight, arid after an interchange of signals between them and the 
 Carnation, the latter threw oui all her boats, and appeared to 
 be making unusual exertions. The moon being near its full 
 enabled captain Reid to observe these movements, which de- 
 termined him to haul in nearer to the shore. Accordingly after 
 fipQi'ji-ijv fov action- he yot '.tnder wa^» anri l-ifo-an tn cwpph ii 
 
 'J ' 
 
 'P 
 
 The moment this was percciv<;d by the Carnation, she cut her 
 
mSTOKt OF THE WAR: 
 
 249 
 
 I States.—. 
 B to be de- 
 ades. An 
 :ommerce, 
 !at Britain, 
 ' harbours, 
 numerous 
 ance could 
 from Eng- 
 ve guineas 
 
 n the m.er- 
 jy acknow- 
 
 answer to 
 ally stated 
 the orders 
 luring the 
 ;d to have 
 , three fri- 
 
 sea for its 
 
 ve in many 
 we regret 
 .ying them 
 , however, 
 istrong, by 
 I. This ac- 
 ;h the Bri- 
 neutrality, 
 rts; but in 
 lood to the 
 
 ;he Gener- 
 ritish brig 
 ler did she 
 iie hauled 
 r. At the 
 ta hove in 
 3m and the 
 Dpeared to 
 ear its full 
 which de- 
 ingly after 
 
 I «i\irf»f>i"» in 
 I 
 
 (he cut her 
 
 cable, made sail, and dipatched four boats in pursuit well man- 
 ned and armed. On approaching the Armstrong, the boats 
 were repeatedly hailed by captain Rcid, but they made no an- 
 swer, and only pulled with the greater speed. A fire was 
 therefore opened upon them, which was immediately return- 
 ed; but the boats soon cried for quarter, and hauled off. They 
 then fled to their ships, and prepared for a second and more 
 formidable attack: the prirateer, in the mean time, was anchor- 
 ed within half cable's length of the shore, and within half pis- 
 tol shot of the castle. 
 
 At 9 o'clock the Carnation was observed towing in a fleet of 
 boats from the 74 and frigate. They soon after left her, and 
 took their station in three divisions, under cover of a small reef 
 of ix)cks, within about musket shot of the General Armstrong, 
 where they continued to manoeuvre for some time, the Carna- 
 tion keeping under way to act with the boats, in case the priva- 
 teer should attempt to escape. At length, about midnight, the 
 boats were observed in motion, coming on in one direct line, 
 in close or^'r, to the number of 12 or 14, manned as was af- 
 terwards learnt, by 400 men. A severe conflict ensued, which 
 lasted near forty minutes, and terminated in the total defeat and 
 partial destruction of the boats, with an immense slaughter on 
 the part of the British. 
 
 During these attacks the shores were lined with inhabitants, 
 who, from the brightness of the moon, had a favourable view 
 of the scene. The governor, with most of the first people of 
 the place, stood by, and saw the whole aff'air. After the se- 
 cond attack a note was sent from the governor to captain Lleyd, 
 of the Plantagenct, who commanded the British squadron, beg- 
 ging him to desist from further hostilities; but Lloyd answer- 
 ed, that he was now determined to have the privateer, at the 
 risk of knocking down the whole town; and that if the govern- 
 or suffered the Americans to injure the privateer in any maii- 
 ner, he should consider the place an enemy's port, and treat it 
 accordingly. Information to this eff'ect being conveyed to cap- 
 tain Reid by the American consul, the wounded and dead were 
 carried on shore, and the crew ordered to save their effects as 
 fast as possible. 
 
 About day -light the Carnation stood close in to the Arm- 
 strong, and commenced a heavy fire; but after several broad- 
 jiides, she hauled off", having received a shot in her hull, her 
 rigging much cut, and her fore-topmast wounded. She soon 
 after came in again, however, and anchored close to the pri- 
 \'ateer- when cantain Reld_ ordered his crew to scuttle and 
 abandon the vessel, to prevent the enemy from getting her off. 
 
 Y 
 
:5a 
 
 HISroKY Ol* THE WAK. 
 
 she was soon afterwards boarded by the cneniy*s boats, and 
 set fire to. 
 
 The loss of the Americans in this affair was only two killed 
 and seven wounded; the British had 120 killed and 130 wound- 
 ed. Several houses in the town were destroyed by the ene- 
 my's shot, and some of the inhabitants wounded. Two Brit- 
 
 *ish sloops of war arrived a few days after, which were imme- 
 diately taken into requisition to carrjiithe wounded to England. 
 In this situation stood affairs when a treaty of peace was 
 agreed upon by the commissioners of the tw\ nations at Ghent. 
 After a tedious procrastination on the part of the British gov- 
 ernment, the negociation was commenced by the British com- 
 
 _|nissioners bringing forward demands which could only have 
 been acceded to by a degraded and conquered people, one of 
 which was declared to be a sine qua non; and that, after find- 
 ing that the only effect produced by these deniands was the 
 union of the whole American people to resist them, they were 
 all withdrawn, and a treaty agreed on, simply placing the po- 
 litical rights' and territories of the two nations dn the> same 
 footing as previous to the war. It was signed at Ghent on the 
 24th of December, and soon after ratified by the prince re- 
 gent. It received its final ratification by the president on the 
 1 8.th of February, 1815. 
 
 This treaty was generally satisfactory to the American peo- 
 ple, for, though it left the great questions of impressment and 
 illegal blockades unsettled, it was believed, that the, respect 
 which the victories of the navy had inspired towards the Ame- 
 rican flag, would prevent a repetition of those outrages which 
 precede^ the war. The might) changes which had taken 
 place in Europe were believed to have the same tendency, by 
 removing many of the pretexts on which these outrages were 
 founded. 
 
 But although the peace with America was also a genertvl 
 subject bf joy ax Great Britain, much dissatisfaction was ex- 
 cited on the publication of the terms. The treaty formed, in- 
 deed, a deplorable contrast with the high-sounding threats and 
 boasts of the ministry but a few months before; and after the 
 demands which had been brought forward, it was conceived 
 that it coliiiui'iiiaatca the humiliation of the British ministry*. 
 
 * The fiublic stocks ex/ierienced a considerable defiression on 
 the fiubUcation of the treaty ^ it being coyiceived, that nothing 
 
 
 
 
 }^ 
 
 
 aioned the disgraceful comjiromise, as the treaty ivas called bij 
 
HISTORY or THE WAR. 
 
 2il 
 
 reasion on 
 
 On an address being moved in the house of commons congra- 
 tulating the prince regent on the re-establishment of peace, an 
 amendment was moved, which, though it was not carried, shows 
 in a striking manner the sentiments of a great part of the na- 
 tion. The amendment proposed that the following should bu 
 substituted for the original address. 
 
 « To assure his royal highness that we contemplate with 
 great satisfaction the reslMation of a state of peace and amity 
 between his majesty and the United States of North America; 
 but we should deem ourselves highly deficient in the discharge 
 of our duty towards his majesty and his people, were we not 
 to express to his royal highness our deepest regret, that a mea- 
 sure so necessary to the welfare and prosperity of his majes- 
 ty's dominions, was not sooner accomplished: that in review- 
 ing the terms of thp-treaty which his royal highness has been 
 graciously pleased to lay before us, we are at a loss to discover 
 what were the causes which so long retarded its conclusion: 
 that, hi our opinion, the honour of his msjesty's crown, and 
 the inaerests of his people, both required that as soon as the 
 peace of Europe had been established by the treaty signed at 
 Paris, on the 8th day of May, in the last year, the speediest and 
 most eflectual measures should have been adopted for thejie- 
 gociation of a treaty of peace with the United States of North 
 America; that the complete and entire cessation of hostilities 
 in ipurope had removed or suspended the operation of the 
 causes, which had occasioned or accompanied the late war be- 
 tween his majesty and the United States; that the ejevated and 
 commanding staiion which the united kingdom then held 
 amongst the nations of the world would have rendered the nian- 
 ifestation of a sincere wish for the pstoration' of the blessings 
 of peace with the United States highly honourable to his ma- 
 jesty's counsels; and would have afforded the government and 
 people of America the most unequivocal proofs of the gene- 
 rosity and magnanimity of the British nation; of a sincere de- 
 sire to bury in lasting oblivion the recollection of that hostili- 
 ty which then unhappily subsisted, and of its anxious wish for 
 the re-estublishment of peace upon terms honourable and ad- 
 vantageous to both countries, and likely to Insure its own per- 
 manancy by the justice and liberality of its ''conditions: that we 
 are the more deeply afflicted by the long and (as we deem it) 
 unnecessary delay in the conclusion of peice, when we reflect 
 upon the great and incomparable injury his majesty and hi» 
 people have sustained, by the unnecessary and unprofitable 
 w3Hte of treasure, by the loss of so many diiitinguished and 
 heroic officer^ and of such numbers of brave, loyal, and expe- 
 
2S2 
 
 IIISTOUV OF THE WAR. 
 
 
 II 
 
 
 rienced troops; and we most deeply lament that these ciil^^_ 
 tics aheuld be aggravated by mortifying reflctioiis, thsrt the 
 fame of the British arms may appear to be diminished by the 
 *^^''' '' the latest military enterprizes of the war. That it 
 ■t\i^-d'i uj, however, consolation to finch that peace is at length 
 : tjUvijlished; and to assure his royal hi^ifhtiess, that it is the 
 earnest wish and desire of this house to cultiviite and mainta i 
 the most cordial and intimate unioiUlpith the government and 
 people of the United States. 
 
 " That we relv unon his royal highness's wisdom and good- 
 ness to cl' iah and preserve the most frieridly relations be- 
 tween them and his majesty's subjects; and we confidently 
 
 ■^rust, that a corresponding disposition in the government and 
 the pople of the United States, will enable his royal highness 
 to continue unimpaired, and undisturbed, the harmony now so- 
 
 .happily restored between ihem^ anJ that i'^^ two freest nations 
 in the world may exhibit to mairkind tbcjL; ul spectacl'- of 
 mutual confidence and lasting peace. W' 
 
 Th') txilerience oi the war has taut,'ht iwmany Useful les- 
 sons, which it is to hoped our statesmen wiB not suffer to pass 
 without profit. We have learnt that a large and efficient e- 
 venue, not vulnerable from abroad, is essential to it . success- 
 ful conduct; and that a dependence on loans for the civ-ira ex- 
 pences of war is fatal and ruinous. 
 
 We have learnt that a navy is not only the best and. cheapest, 
 but the only effeptual defence against the invasion of a coast 
 so extensive as that of the United Statvs;.that a navy is pe- 
 culiarly suited to the genius of our country; and, that, as it 
 cannot posjiibly o danger our republican institutions, its size- 
 ought to keep pai c with our means of suppoi ing it. 
 
 We have also seen the advantages and defects oi om* militia 
 system;, -and the necessity that exists for more cleai ly deter- 
 
 ♦mining the powers of the general government on this and on 
 
 •other important questions. It is tabe hoped tliat the present, 
 period qf unexampled harmony will not be suffered to pass 
 unimproved*. 
 
 I 
 
 * By the ar tidied f confederation^ the states a/i/iointed the 
 iee0mentttl officers, the general gox^emment the field and gene 
 rat oj^cers. Is there any solid objection lo this filant 
 
 m 
 
theBC caliMlR!- 
 oiis, that the 
 lished by the 
 kvar. That it 
 e is at length 
 that it 1% the 
 and mainta i 
 'crnmeut and 
 
 am and good- 
 relations be- 
 e confidently 
 '^ernment and 
 lyal highness 
 mony now so- 
 freest nations 
 1 spectacJ'- of 
 
 ly Useful Ics- 
 suffer to ,>ass 
 1 cfRcient e- 
 
 it^ success- 
 the c:>:.ira ex- 
 
 ind. cheapest, 
 oh of a coast 
 
 1 navy is pe- 
 :l, that, as it 
 ions, its size- 
 
 :it. 
 
 ot onr militia 
 ;leajiy deter- 
 n this and on 
 t the present . 
 'ered to pass 
 
 xfifiointed the 
 'Id and gene 
 '.ant