IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 |i^ ill M 1^ «£ 1111^ 1.8 U 1 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation W£BSTER,N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4 i\^ ^^ i\ \ '^"'Tx^ ^\ ^K^ ^^•» ^1 ^0- A. ^ MP. C/a CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute fo. .:istorical IVIicroreproductions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques m ^. Technical and Bibliogiaphic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. Coloured covers/ Couverture da coulaur □ Covers damaged/ Couveiture endommag^e □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculde □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque □ Coloured maps/ Cartes gdographiques en coulaur □ Coloured ink (i.e. ether than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou iilustrations en couleur D D D D Bound with other material/ Relii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Lareliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsio^ le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texts, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas iti filmies. Additionai ccmments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; L'Institut a microfllme le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a ete possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage sont indiquds ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagees □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es |~7^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ II Pages ddcolor^es, tachet6es ou piquees □ Pages detached/ Pages detachees r~/] Showthrough/ I 1 Transparence I I Quality of prin» varies/ Quality indgale de ('impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totaiement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelurs, etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X X 30X y 12X 16X aox 24X 28X M}^ The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Archives of Ontario Toronto The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibilit^f of the original copy and in l signifie "A SUIVRE". le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartas, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent dtre filmto d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir da Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche ^ droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 fi W } 32. l^ilE ^5LTTIiE ■OF — Stoney Creek CONIPTLKD BY Lieut-Col. C- S. Jones, Commanding the Dufferin Rifles of Canada, Offigers of the Regiment — AND THEIR FRIENDS, DKCEIvIBER 2nd, 1880. Brantford : 1889. ^:A Tl^E BRITTLE — OF — Stoney Creek COIVIF^ILRD BY Lieut-Col. C. S. Jones, Commanding *he Dufferin Rifles of Canada, RKAD BEKOjRK OTHE OfFSERS of the REGfMENT — AND - THEIR FRIENDS, DECEMBER 2kd, 1880 Brantford : 1889. p-^. The Battle of Stoney Creek. i In preparing a paper describing events which transpired over 75 jears ago it is alnnost a necessity to use much informs/. lion given us by different writers and to take advantage of fa^ts and descriptions gath- ered from various sources, and while doing so in a paper somewhat curtailed bv a time limit, very m.any incidents and inter- esting details must, of necessity, be omitted. How many of us know much about the battle of Stoney Creek, fought at mid- night on the 6th June, 1813.? How much have our school histories taught us, and how much are they now teaching the youth of our land concerning this famous battle and the mighty consequence of that victory to us as a nation? very little, and §till the result of that oattle' determined whether we should remain under the benign influence of the flag we love so well, or whether our fair land should re- present another stripe in the escutcheon of the American Republic. The battle ground of Stoney Creek has peculiar interest to thp wrif**r"nf fViic t^ar^^.. as he has, when a boy, many a time gam- boled over the battlefield, and plucked the wild flowers growing on the graves of the heroes buried there, a part of the battle hela at the present time being owned by the writer's family who would gladly do- nate a site for a national monument to commemorate the battle should one ever be erected bj^ a tardy public. And now let us have a short description of this famous place, so that we may the better understand the reUtive position and surroundings of the two armies. The battle field is some six miles east of Ham ilton, and two miles south of Lake On- tario, on the road leading from Hamilton to the Falls, btoney Creek is a stream which takes its rise some miles beyond that ridge of land known as the **moun- tain,*' the same ridge over which the mighty Niagara thunders. This creek is not perennial, but in the spring a most beautiful falls is formed at the escarpment where the water pours over this lofty ridge in one unbroken descent of 80 or ido feet. The great symmetrical oval wall of grev rocks from whose summit the water pours into a rocky basin beneath, the majestic evergreen crown of pines and hemlocks encircling and overlooking its brow with conscious imperiousness, the undergrowth that overhangs and fringes like a valance the rugged edge of rocks; and further on the shrubbery wh^'ch carpets the steep banks ot the canyon, looking out on the rich valley beneath and the ^rand oictiir.- i esque rocks piled confusedly toscettier make up a picture whicVi the traveller might look upon hundreds of times with- ouriosing any of its variety or enchantinsc picturesqueness. After leavin«: the foot of the falls the waters da.h gailv down over rocky ledges to the level plain be- low and then course over a complete bed of small, loose stones to its outlet in Lake Ontauo. From this it derives its name of «* Stoney Creek." It may not be gener- ally knoWn that the writer of the familiar I li^^^ b-Uad, "When you and 1 were Y Maggie," took his inspiration from t :^'v scene, and the old mill on the bi, \e stream is the one referred to wht.. ays: f "I wandered to-day to the hill, Map-gie, I To watch the scene below. The creek and the creak. ng^ old mill, Maggie, As we used to lone: ago. And now let us turn for a m©ment from the scene of beauty and poetic inspiration and ask why should this quiet and peaceful landscape be trampled upon by armed men, and the grassy slopes dyed with heroes' blood. "^ The animosities engendered during the revoluliortarv war vTere still felt by the American6,(we call them "Americans" for convenience sake, though why the people of the United States should usurp that title when the greater part Of North Am- erica belongs to Canada, we are at B. loss to apprehend), and a feeling of intense hatred of the mother country existed amongst a considerable number of the people of the United States. Great Bri- tarn was then engaged in a terrible struggle with France, at that time the most dangerous of all despotic powers. We are all familiar with .^he events which led U) ihe declaration of war by the Unite \ States, and with the famous decree ot J^ ranee, which pronou:jced the whole of the harbors of Great Britain in a state of blockade. It was no wonder then that Great Britain should bv way of retalia- tion proclaim the ports of France to be in a state of blockade. These British or^ ders in council were laid hold upon by the American Republic as a reason for a grievance against Great Britain, though that country was entirely opposed to hav- ing trouble with the States. The United States assigned one reason and then an- other trivial in their nature, but undoubt- edly the real motive which actuated them was their desire to add another state to their Union. General Hull, of the United Sta.es army, with 3,000 troops, crossed he river at Detroit, and on anding issued a proclan ation to he inhabitants in which he said: You w^.il be emancipated from tyranny and oppression and restored to the digni- fied station of freemen. Had I any doubt of success I might ask your assistance, but 1 have not. I come prepared for every contingency. I have a force which w!ll break down all opposition and that force is but the vanguard of a mnr-h 'Wl • of the eat Bri- terrible he most •8. We lich led Unite ; cree ot hole of state of ?n that retalia- 5 to be ish or- i by the i for a though to hav- United en an- doubt- i them tate to United rossed on n to said: ranny digni- doubt itance, ed for which d that miir»h greater. If, contrary to your own interests and the just expectations of my country, you should take part in the approaching combat, you will be considered and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk before vou." It is need- less to say that within a week General Hull was on bis own side of the river pre- paring to su -wilder Detroit and it was sur- rended accordingly. It is of course unnecessary, in this paper, to refer at length to the landing of the American forces at Newark (now Niagara-or-the- Lake), and to the plucky stand made at Fort George and Fort Mas* sassauga near this village, by a small but brave force against tremendous odds, nor to the sanguinary conflict, later on, at Limdy's Lane, where the British and Canadian forces made such havoc in the ranks of the invading foes, where bravery has never been excelled and true courage never surpassed, nor to the heroic ser- vices rendered by Laura Secord the hero- ine of the war of 18x3, who after a peril ous and wearis me Iramp of many miles through the wilds of the forest brought information to General Vincent, the British officer in command, which was the means of sur- prising and capturing Col. Boerstler's dli vision of 500 troops,50 cavalry and 2 guns, Suffice it to say that in the 'face of out- humbering foes, our forces under Vincent were obliged to evacuate the whole west- ern neninQilla nnri rf^fire^A fr\ Tlnrlinorfrtri npninQiila £ ' -i/- ^ i T ^_- -_T ! -^- JBL^- vfl B- a e z s i 8 f Heights, the present site of Dundurn castle. Toronto or York as it was then known, also being at this time in the pos- session of the enemv. The clattering of the advancing hoofs of the American cavalry, the clanking of swords, the heavy rattle of the artillery and the long and strange arrav of invad- ing soldiers, as they filed along the nar- row road leading to the heights, struck the few inhabitants with wonder and as- tonishment. The American forces con- sisted of two brigades, one under General Winder, composed of the 5th, 13th and J4th regiments of infantry, the other under General Chandler, comprising the i6th, 22nd and 23rd regiments, containing some 14CK) men each, together with 400 artillery and 250 cavalry, in all 3550 men, and towards evening on the 5th of June, this large force arrived tired, hungry and rhir^ty, at a place which was soon to be the scene of disaster and defeat to them- selves, but a most brilliant and glorious success for the British— Stoney Creek. The American camp was pitched on a high bluff of ground extending north and south of the road for a few hundred yards and on this bluff Chandler ordered his cannon to be planted, so that they might sweep the road to the west in the direc lion of the Heights ; on each side of the road, near the guns, slept the artillery- men. Immediately in rear of the artillery Col. Burns and his cavalry camped, the infantry being camped on the flanks of I )undurn vas then the pos- ng hoofs )king of artillery f invad- the nar- struck • and as- ces con- General Jth and e other iing the ntaining ^ith 400 50 men. of June, grj and 3n to be i them- 'lorious ^eek. ed on a ►rth and id yards red his Y might le direc ; of the rtillery- irtillery ped, the anks of I and in rear ot the guns. General Chand- ler and Winder, with their staff took pos session of James Gage's farm house (the family being put down cellar), and finally some 400 yaros in advance of the rest 'a party of about 50 took possession of the old Methodist church on the road side. A 11 the settlers in the vicinity were taken and held as prisoners lest thev should carry information to Vincent. The troops were ordered to sleep on their arms that night, the cannon stood in readiness to sweep the road and full directions were given by Chandler when and how to form in line of battle should any attack be made. The men took their much needed supper and lay down upon their arm?, weary and exhausted from their long and tiresome day's march. Soon the men were asleep and the only sounds to be heard were the sullen tread of the sentin- els, the distant wail of some bird or animal and the dying crackle of the camp fires which revealed Indistinctly the forms of the outlying soldiers. Let us now leave the Americans to their slumber and follow the motions of the British and Canadian troops, who are now entrenched at Burlington Heights \i'ith the whole of the western country in the hands of the enemy,— York occupied by the Americans, and the active and powerful fleet of the enemy on the lake near at hand. Their position is indeed an unenviable one, and any other than Brit- ish soldiers would have abandoned their lO 4)ost and fled in di?may. But rot so with Vincent and his noble band. During the day we have just referred to, runners brought news of the leisurely approach of the enemy, and a detachment of the 49th Irish Royals, under command of Lieut. Crowther, was sent to reconnoitre and, if possible, check the advance. With grim looks and determined tread the heroes left the Heights, crossed the prairie like plain, now covered by the Ambitious Citv, on which all the fences had been levelled in anticipation of the morrow's fight,down through the deserted farms (whose owners were in the patriot ranks, and their wives and little ones in the fort at the Heights), still keeping a sharp look out for the enemy, through the woods where Bartonville now nestles at the foot ot the cliff as far as the Red Hill (about halfway between Hamilton and Stoney Creek); at this point a scout brought word that the advance guard of the Americans was just on the other side of a creek called the "Big Creek," and a bright idea struck the Lieutenant. He would ambush and cap- ture the whole of the advance guard. Concealing his men in the brush he gave strict orders that not a man must move until he gave the word Lying in the .brush on that sunny hill side they soon heard sounds of the coming foe, and with every nerve strained to the utmost they waited. Soon the glitter of bayonets showed through the brush, then an oc- 50 with ng the unners proach of the md of inoitre With id the !d the :>y the fences of the jserted patriot )nes in ;ping a irough nestles s far alfway ek); at at the as just led the ck the d cap. guard. t gave move n the ^ soon d with t they vonets an oc- * II casional glimpse of a cockaded hat. Then round the bend of the hill on the opposite side of the creek came sweeping the veterans of the advance guard. No sooner had thej come into full view, than one of our men, with true Irish impetuosity, blazed away at them, utterly forgetful of his officer's orders. The enemy halted, when a volley from the whole detach- ment was poured into their ranks. That hint was enough, and they broke for shelter, our m*in getting in another volley to hurry Ihem up. But the Lieutenant's plan was spoiled, and his rage knew no bounds. He is said to have belabored that ur.fortunate soldier all the way home, and declared he should be hung, drawn and quartered for mutiny. Having ascertain- ed that the main body were preparing to camp at Stonej- Creek, he returned to the Heights and reported to General Vincent. Knowing the importance of having full and reliable information as to their num- ber and position Lieut. James Fitzgibbons, of the 49th, volunteered to visit the enemy's camp, and disguising himself as a settler he took a basket of butter and marched boldly into the* American lines, went freely about and noticed their dis- position of troops and guards and the evi dent lack of discipline ana want of caie- fulness among them, sold the butter (and the Americans) and came away satisfied. On receipt of Lieut. Fitzgibbon's report an anxious council of war was held, and CoL Inc. Harvev D,A,G WRR sent out t^ Mi 12 wards evening for the purpose of recon- noitering the enemy. Taking Ensigns McKenney and George, two officers of Capt. W. H. Merritt's company of militia, he went forward with the light companies of the 49th. The reconnoitering party went cautiously forward to a position frow which they could view the enemy. Here they saw that the extended line of encampment was scantily guarded, was scattered and disconnected, the artillery poorly supported and the cavalry placed awkwkrdly in the rear of the artillery. McKenny and George both suggested a night sortie upon them. Harvey saw at once thefeasibility of it and concurred. At night they returned and proposed the night attack to Vincent, who without much deliberation moved to carry it into effect. Should he delay action until next day an outnumbering army would be on his position, when he had but ninety rounds of ammunition per man. So scarce was powder in the camp that though the day before had been the King's birthdav, (4th June), they dared not waste the small quantity required to fire the usual salute in his honor. In the meantime a runner had brought word that some ships were landing fully 1,000 men at the beach, with- in two miles of Stoney Creek, to reii^force the American army. An order to move forward startled the sleeping officers and men from the grass whereon they were reposing, and instantly the camp was alive •with nrpnflrafinniti fr» marrh • T JJ g » -^T ^ . ■**• « m ■ re con - Ensigns cers of militia, npanies r party position enemy. line of ed, was irtillery placed rtillery. ested a saw at •red. At sed the without it into itil next I be on ninety ) scarce igh the rthdav, le small [ salute runner ►s were h, with- siiJorce > move ers and y were as alive ic aVinnt" 13 half past ten at night that the last of the brave 704, who were to honor themselves and their posterity in their daring encoun- ter, disappeared from the waning li^ht of their camp fires down the lonely road east- ward. All charges had been withdrawn from their guns and the flints removed, so that no accidental discharge would alarm the enemv. As the little phalanx wound along their sinuous path towards the ener^v's encampment not a word was spoken nor a sound of any kind escaped their ranks, but on they stole like a train of noiseless ghosts. They arrived in sight of the first sentrv at nearly two o clock on Sunday morning, (6th June.) Col. Harvey who was to conduct the attack was in front of the light companies and observed a sentry reclining against a tree which leaned partially over the road about 100 yards west of the Methodist church of which mention has been made. Pre- sently the sentry challenged, when some men of the leading section rushed forward and killed bim with their bayonets; his bleeding corpse was cast aside and on they moved with breathless caution. A second challenge "Who comes there!" another rush and the poor sentinel is transfixed, but his agonized groans alarmed a third who stood near the watch fire; he chal- lenged and immediately fired and fled. Not a moment was now to be lost. Har- vev whose plans had been perfectly or- hpad of the lake, aooeared iilil i6 off this creek at daylight of the seventh. The schooners **Beres£ord'» and -Svdney bmith, commenced fire and cause'd the Americans (now re-enforced by Generals Lewis and ^ovd),to break camp and re- treat to Fort George on the Niagara Kiver, leavmg behind 500 tents, 100 stand of arms, 140 barrels of flour and about 70 wounded men who were duly taken care General Vincent's official report of the battle saj-s: " The action terminated be fore daylight, when three guns and one brass howitzer, with three tumbrels, two Brigadier Generals, Chandler and Winder, ftrst and second in command, and ud- wards of 100 officers and privptes remain- ed in our hands. General return of our killed, wounded and missing: i officer aa non-commissioned officers and men killed • 12 officers, 124 non-commissioned officers and men wounded, and 55 noncommis- sioned officers and men missing." This loss in a half hour's fight made a large gulf in 704 men. All the honor of this •harp and effectual repulse of an enemy, outnumbenng them 5 to i, is due to the decision, energy and judgment of Col. Harvev m the leader of a brave, active and faithful b»nd of British and Canadian soldiers. Think of it! 700 foot soldiers, after a long and tiresome march, with no reserve to fall back upon incase of disaster, in the dead of night with unloaded guns, char^r- Jng with fixed bayonets, an armv of i Ji^ 'he seventh, nd **Sydney caused the >v Generals mp and re- he Niagara ts, loo stand id about 70 taken care eport of the ninated be ins and one mbrels, two md Winder, id, and up- tes remain- urn of our I officer, 22 men killed; tied officers •n com mis - ing.'» This de a large )nor of this an enemy, due to the tit of Col. active and Canadian 17 men! Was the charge of the 600 at Bala- clava in broad daylight, with armies in support, more brave .^ Was the charge at Kassassin, in the early dawn of morning, with thousands of comrades behind them, more courageous.'^ And yet for 76 long years no monument or stone has been erected to perpetuate their memory, or designate their sleeping place; but the God of nature, to remind man of his duty has in the springtime of each intervening year, caused the buds to blossom into beauty and shed their snowy laurels to perfume and hallow their anniversary day. "These be thy heroes, Canada; Stern wa? the test And sorely pressed, That proved their blood best of the be -t, And when for Canada yo a pray, Implore kind Heaven That, like a leaven, The heio blood which then was given May qiicken in her veins alway; That from those worthv sires may spring, In numbers as the stars, Strong hearted sons, whose glorying Shall be in right, Though recreant might Be strong against her in the fight. Ana many be her scars; So like the sun her honored name Shall shine to latest years the same.' »» rs, after a no reserve ster, in the ms, charg- nv of rcnn ^ — Mij-"-