# ^<",^> -L^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I *-!liM ilM '- IM IIIII2.2 m m 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 4 6" ► "/F <^^ C%.. 0>. w /a ^"3^ V y >^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y MS80 (716) 872-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Inatituta for Hiatorical Microraproductions Institut Canadian de microraproductions hiatorlquas 1980 Technical and Bibliographic 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. y □ D D D n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^e Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul6e □ Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes g6ographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Rdlid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II fe peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es lcr& J'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, m.< s. lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 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 methods normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ y n Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul6es I I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ □ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachet^es ou piqu^es Pages detached/ Pages d6tach6es I I Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary materif Comprend du materiel supplementaire I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ 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 totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es d nouveau de fa^on d obterJr la meilleure image possible. Tl tc Tl P" 01 fi O bi tt si 01 fi si 01 Tl si Tl w di ei b( ri' r( □ This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmd au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X « > ■y' 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exempleire film6 fut reproduit grfice d la g6n6rosit6 de: Bibliothdque nationale du Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont 6x6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de I'exemplaire fiimd, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or tht. back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sont film^s en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s d des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, il est film6 6 partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche 6 droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '• / "\ <^A.^ J^ •'^'■iv. f^iif^i.i.ii . . .„ ... . i , J iHH^I, Ml \ '* DUGit f\n\ot Patriae '' TRANSACTION NO. |. Niagara Historical Society. a mm OF Fin mm '■' A ^'^ ■. A I'APER READ ON MAKCH I jTH, l8(;6, HV ERNEST CRUIKSHANK^.lU^^ I- CAPT. 4JTH IJATTALIOK. , / •«,;.- .-. .(- \ NIAGARA ! ] MCKWRLL BKOS., BOOK AMJ JOH PKlNlER>», / . *•> > . ^ PRERACE. The reproach has frequently been cast upon us that Canada has no his- tory; it mipht be said of us with far more justice that we do not know our own history. The various histoiical societies are, by their efforts, trying to wipe away this reproach, and we feel proud of following in the wake of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society in publishing a paper written by Capt, Cruikshank, who has well earned the title of the historian of the Niagara peninsula. Of the towns of Ontario not one we are sure possesses a history so event- ful, so ancient, so interesting as Niagara, having been at dififerent times a legislative, an educational, a military and a commercial centre, atone time occupied by the enemy and again a heap of smoking ruins, now a quiet summer resort with many points of historical interest, with wide streets shad, ed by old elms and having unrivalled lake and river scenery. The members of the youngest of these Historical Societies f jel that they may congratulate themselves on being able to place in the hands of the public the story which so far has not yet been told of the Taking of Fort George, told too in a style so clear, so dispas<;ionate, and shewing such deep research, a story of troublesome times, which so tela can not but be helpful to old and young of every nationality. Asking for our first venture a kind reception we send it out to the pub- lic, hoping that it may do its part in proving that we have a not ignoble history which should inspire us to yet nobler deeds. A BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE, 27TH MAY, I8I3. For about a quarter of a century Niagara was the principal town and commercial capital of Western Onada, and for a brief period was actually the seat of government for the Upper Province. The removal of the provincial officers to York in 1796 struck the fust blow at its supremacy, but its material prosperity continued until the beginning of the war with the United States when its exposed situation subjected it to a series of cala- mities which culminated in its total destruction on the loth of December, 1813. During that time many travellers of more or less note visited the place at short intervals on their way to or from the Falls, and a considerable number of them have recorded their observations. Patrick Campbell in 1791, D'Arcy Bolton in 1794, the Duke de Rochefoucauld Liancourt in 1795, Isaac Weld and J. C. Ogden in 1796. John Maude in 1800, George Heriot in 1806, Christian Schultz in 1807, John Melish in 1810 and Michael Smith in 1812 have described the town and adjacent country at considerable length from various points of view. Other accounts are to be found in the Nat- ional Intelligeiwer newspaper published at Washington, D. C, in 1812, and in Smith's Gazetteer of Upper Canada for 1813. From these numerous sources it would seem an easy task to form a fairly correct estimate of the appear- ance of the town, its commercial importance and the character of the in- habitants. It is described as being nearly a mile square, sparsely built, with many pasture fields, gardens, orchards and open spaces intersper.'ed among the houses. Smith, an American resident of the province now was expelled in 1812 for having declined to take oath of allegiance, states that there were 'several squares of ground in the village adorned w»th almost every kind of precious fruit." According to the same authority it contained two churches— one of them built of stone, a court house and jaii, .in Indian council house, an academy in which Latin and Greek were taught by the Rev. John Burns a Presbyterian minister, a printing house, six taverns, twenty stores and about a hundred dwelling houses, many of them describ- ed as "handsome buildings of brick or stone, the rest being of wood, neatly painted." From the lake the town is said to have made an "imposing ap- pearance" as most of the buildings fronted the water. Smith concludes his account with the remark that it was "a beautiful and prospective place, in- habited by civil and in lui'trious people." Dr. John Mann, a surgeon in the I ■V United States army who accompanied the invading forces and afterwards wrote the "Medical History of the War," styles it "a delightful village." -ruf, r.r,t,nlntion was orobably underestimated at five hundred exclusive of • 1 i> mmm THE TAKING OF f Ai MG OF FORT GEORGE, I H I i , United States army who accompanied the invading forces and afterwards wrote the "Medical History of the War," styles it "a delightful village." The population was probably underestimated at live hundred exclusive of the regular garrison of Fort George, usually numbering about two hundred men. The names of John Symington, Andrew Heron, Joseph Edwards, Jo!in Grier, John Baldwin and James Muirhead have been recorded as some of the principal merchants. An open plain or common of nearly a mile in width separated the town from Fort George. This post was described by the Governor General in the early summer of 1812, in ofificial report on the defences of Upper Canada as an irregular fieldwork consisting of six small bastions faced with framed timber and plank, connected by a line of palisades twelve feet high, and surrounded by a shallow dry ditch. Its situation and construction were alike condemned as extremely defective. Although it partially com- manded Fort Niagara it was in turn overlooked and commanded by the high ground on the opposite side of the river near Youngstown. The troops were lodged in blockhouses inside affording quarters for 220 men, besides which there was a spacious building for the officers. The magazine was built of stone with an arched roof but was not considered bombproof. All the works were very much out of repair and reported as scarcely capa- ble of the least defence. On the margin of the river immediately in front of the fort stood a large log building known as Navy Hall, which had been constructed during the American Revolution, to serve as winter-quarters for the ofificers and sea- men of the Provincial vessels on Lake Ontaiio. Near this was a spacious wharf with good-sized store houses, both public and private. The Ran- ger's Barracks, also built of logs.and an Indian Council House were situated on the further edge of the common, just south of the town. A small stone light house had been built upon Mississauga I'oint, in 1805-6. The road leading along the river to Queenston, was thickly studded with farm buildings, and the latter village is said to have contained nearly a hundred houses, many of them being large and well built structures of stone or brick, with a population estimated at 300. Vessels of fifty tons and upwards, loaded with goods for the upper country, sailed up the river to this place, where they discharged their cargoes, and took in furs and grain in return. Ever since its establishment, the '"Carrying Place'* on the Cana- dian side of the river, had furnished much profitable employment to th-* neighboring farmers, who were paid at the rate of twenty pence, New York currency, a hundred weight for hauling goods between Queenston and Chippawa ; Maude relates that during his visit in 1800, he passed many carts and wagons on this road, taking up boxes and bales of merchandise, or bringing down furs, each drawn by two horses or two yoke of oxen. Three schooners were then moored at the wharf at (2ueenston, and fourteen teams stood waiting to be loaded. Others had noticed as many as fifty or sixty teams passing each other in a day. At this time the old portage on the American bank was entirely dis-used, but in 1806 the ex- clusive rights to the carrying place on th:it side were granted to I'orter, Barton & Co., and much of the traF.c was conseciuently diverted. Christian .Schultz, tells us that -n 1807, the Canadian side of the river was "one settled street, from Lake Ontario to La'ce Erie," while the other was still almost wholly "waste and 'minhabitated," which he attributes chiefly to the fact, that the land on the Amei n bank was entirely held l>y spec- ulators. The villages of Chippawa auu Fort Erie contained about twenty houses each. For upwards of twenty miles back, he states that the country was pretty well settled from lake to lake. A stage coach made three round trips weekly between Niagara and F^ort Erie A consi(leral)ie sum from the I'rovincial Treasury was annually spent in opening and improving roads. Fren' hman's, Miller's and Black creeks were bridged only on the river road, but there was a bridge across Lyon's creek, at Cook's Mills, and the Chippawa was bridged at its mouth, and at Brown's sixteen milc^ higher up. From the Portage Road near the Falls, a continuation of Lundy's Lane led westerly through the Bcechwo'ds and Ikaver Dam settlements, crossed the Twelve Mile creek at Ue Cew's, and following the crest of the mountain .0 the Twenty, ascended that stream as far as a small hamlet, known as "Asswago'' and finally united with the main road from Niagara to York near Stoney Creek. Another well travelled road from Queenston passed through St. Davids, and joined the Lake Road from Niagara at .Shipman's tavern, where they crossed the Twelve Mile Creek on the present site of the city of St Catharines. A third leading from Ni- agara through the dreaded "Black Swamp," of which all trace has long since disappeared, united with the road from St. Davids before crossing the Four Mile creek. Still another beginning near the mouth of the Two Mile creek, ran nearly parallel with the river, till it intersected Lundy's Lane. Besides these there were the main travelled roads along the river from Queenston to Niagara, and along the lake from Niagara to Burlington. In 1794, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe styled the Niagara settlement* "the bulwark of Upper Canada," and aflinned that the militia wcte loyal to a man, and "very well calculated for offensive warfare," Since then the rharac cr and feelings of the population had been essentially altered* Many of the tirst settlers had died or removed with their families to other parts of the Trovincc, and their places had been taken by later immigrants from the United States. The twenty townships extending from Ancaster to W'ainflcet. which then composed the County of Lincoln, were supp ised to contain 12.000 inhabitants in the spring of 1H12. In the entire province of Upper Canada, one-sixth of the population were believed to be nat v-es of tlie British Isles and their children; the original lovalist settlers and ^ Ui • their descendants were estimated to number as many more, while the remainder, or about two-thirds of the whole, were recent arrivals from the United States, chiefly attracted by the fertility of the soil and freedom from taxation. Michael Smith states (1B13), that within twelve years, the popu- lation "had increased beyond conjecture, as the terms of obtaining land have been extremely easy." The proportion of loyalists in the County of Lincoln was perhaps greater than elsewhere, but it is probably a safe estimate to say that one-third of th;; inhabitants were recent settlers from the United States, who had removed to escape taxation or avoid militia service. John Maude met several families in iSoo on their way to Canada from those counties in Pennsylvania, where the 'Whiskey Insurrection' had just been suppressed who informed him that "they had fought seven years against taxation, and were then being t.ixed more than ever. Hundreds of them "he remarked" have removed, are removing, and will remove into Upper Canada, where they will form a nest of vipers in the bosom that fosters them. In 181 r, the Governor General estimated the number of militiamen m Upper Canada fit for service at 11,000, of whom he significantly stated that it would probably not be prudent to arm more than 4000. This was virt- ually an admission, that more than half the population were suspected of disaffection. The Lincoln Militia were organized in tivi- ic^iiucnts, nuui" bering aboiTt 1,500 men, of whom perhaps two-thirds were determined loyalists. In many quarters before the war, the disaffection of the people was open and undisguised. Schultz states that while at I'reFtpi'le, on Lake Ontario, in 1807, he strolled along the main road, and found six or seven farmers assembled in a country tavern, who had just heard of the Chesapeake affair. "They seemed disappointed," he observed "that I did not think it would lead to war, when they expected to become part of the United States." He also relates that he wa subsequently in a public house in Niag- ara, where eight or ten persons were gathered about a billiard table. The attack upon the Chesapeake again became the topic of conversation, and one man said, "If Congress will only send us a flag and a proclamation de- claring that whoever is found in arms against the United States, shall forfeit his lands, we will fight ourselves free without any expense to them." John Melish declared his conviction from encjuiries matle during his visit in 1810, "that if 5000 men were sent into Upper Can;ida with a procla- rr.aiion of independence, the great mass of the people would join the American Government." Barnabas Bidwell, formerly Attorney General of Massachusetts, who had become a defaulter and fled to the Newcastle District, near the Bay of Ouinte, where he was engaged in teaching a pri« vate school, wrote secretly to his political friends in a similar strain. These statements were eagerly quoted, and no doubt believed by the leaders of the war party in Congress. Henry Clay assured the people that "the conquest ot Canada is in your power. I trust I shall not be deemed pre- sumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the Militia of Kentucky are alone competent to place Montreal and Upper ('anada at your feet." On the 6th of March, 1812, Calhoun expressed equal confidence. "So far from being unprepared, Sir,'' he exclaimed. "I believe that four weeks from the time the declaration of war is heard on our frontier, the whole of Upper Canada and a part of Lower Canada will be in our possession. Jefferson wrote about the same time that 'The acfuiisition of Canada this year as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, would be a mere matter of marching, and would give us experience for the attack of Halifax, the next and the final expul ion of England from the American continent." Mr. Eustis, the Secretary of War, was if possible, still more optimistic, "We can take Canada without soldiers,'' he declared, ''we have only to send officers into the Province and the people disaffected to their own Govern- ment will rally round our standard." Gen. Widgery, a representative in Congre 1, gained momentary notoriety by his statement. "1 will engage to take Canada by contract. I will raise a company and take it in six weeks." Another speaker declared that "Niagara Falls could be resisted with as much success as the American people when roused into action " After the declaration of war had been promulgated, Clay, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the real leader of the war party solemnly declared that he would never consent to any treaty of peace which did not provide for the cession of Canada. The correspondence of General Hrock with the Governor General, shows that in many respects these expectations were well founded, and that he was far from being hopeful of offering a successful defence without strong reinforcements. "The late increase of ammunition and every species of stores,'' he wrote on the 2nd December, 181 1, "the substitution of a strong regiment and the appointment of a military person to the government, have tended to infuse other sentiments among the most reflecting part of the community, and during my visit to Niagara last week I received most satisfactory profes- sions of a determination on the part of the principal inhabitants to exert every means in their power for the defence of their property and to support the government. They look with confidence to you for aid. Although per- fectly aware of the number of improper characters who have obtained pos- sessions and whose principles diffuse a spirit of insubordination very ad- verse to all military institutions, 1 believe the majority will prove faithful. It is best to iict with the utmost liberality and as if no mistrust existed. Un- less the inhabitants give a failliful aid it will be utterly impossible to pre- serve the province, with the limited luimbor of military." On the 2\<\\ of February, 1812, a proclamation was published announcing that divers persons had recently come into the province with a seditious intent and to endeavor to alienate the minds of His Majesty's subjects,*' and directing the officers appointed to enforce the act lately passed by the Legislature for the better security of the province against all sed- lous at- tempts" to be vigilant in the discharge of their duties. Joseph Kdvvards of Niagara, Samuel Street of VVilloughby, Thomas Dickson of (Ju'^ensto"., William Crooks of Grimsby and Samuel llutt of Ancaster were among the persons commissioned to execute this law. On the 17th of April, a boy at Qutcnston fired a shot across the river which happily did no injury. He was [)romptly arrested and committed for trial, and two resident magistrates, James Kirby and Robert Grant, ten- dered an apology to the inhabitants of Lewiston for his offence. P'ive days later General Brock reported that a body of three hundred men in plain clothes had been seen patroling the American side of the river. On the 25th, it was announced that 170 citizens of Buffalo, had volunteered for military service. A proclamation by President Madison calling out one hundred thousand was published about the same time, and the Governor of New York was required to send 500 men to the Niagara which he hastened to do, being a warm advocate of the war. Meanwhile the flank companies of militia regiments of the counties of Lincoln, Norfolk and York were embodied by General Brock, and drilled six times a month. They numbered about 700 young men belonging to "the best class of settlers." By the recent Militia Act, they were reciuired to arm and clothe tlicmselves, and as many of them had far to travel, Brock begged that they should at least receive an allowance for rations. The Governor General suggested that the Government of the United States entertained hopes that something mighthappen to provoke a quarrel between its soldiers and the British troops on thnt frontier, and desired ,hiin to take every precaution to prevent any such pretext for hostilities. Early in May, Brock made a rapid tour of inspection along the Niagara, thence to the Mohawk village on the Grand river, returning to York by wav of Ancaster. He reported that the people generally seemed well disposed and that the flank companies had mustered in full strength. By the 17th of June six hundred American militia were stationed along the river, and a complaint was made by three reputable inhabitants of I'^ort Kric that their sentries were in the habit of wantonly firing across the stream. On the 25th of the same month this period of suspense was terminated by the arrival of a special messenger employed by Mr. Astor and other Amer- ican citizens interested in the Northwest furtrade, to convey the earliest possible information of war to Colonel Thomas Clark, of (^ucenston, who immediately reported his intelligence to the commandant of Fort Erie. The messenger, one N'osburg, of Albany, had travelled with relays of horses at such speed that he outrode the official courier bearing despatches to Fort 10 Niagara by fully twenty-four hours. On his return he was arrested at Canandaigua, and held to bail together with some of his employers, but it does not appear that they were ever brought to trial. Lieut. Gansevoort and a sergeant in the United States Artillery, who happened to be on the Canadian side were uiade prisoners, and the ferry boats plying across the river at Qucenston and Fort Erie, were seized by the British troops at thos« places. The people of Buffalo received their fin t in'jmation of the declaration of war by witnessing the capture of a merchant schooner off the harbor by boats from Fort Erie, The flank companies of militia marched immediately to the frontier, and were distributed along the river in taverns and farm houses. On the sec- ond day. General Brock arrived from York, with the intention of making an attack on Fort Niajjara. He had then at his disposal, 400 of the 41st Regiment, and nearly 800 militia. Success was all but certain, as the gar- rison was weak and inefficient. His instructions however, were to act str'iCtly on the defensive, and he abandoned this project in the conviction that the garrison might be driven out at any time by a vigorous cannonade. Rumors of his design seem to have reached General P. B. I'orter, who commanded the militia force on the other side, and he made an urgent de- mand for reinforcements. "The British on the opposite side are making the most active prepara- tions for defence," Benjamin Barton wrote from Lewiston on the 24th of June, "New troops are arriving from the Lower Province constantly, and the quantity of military stores etc. that have arrived within these few weeks is astonishing. Vast quantities of arms and ammunition are pass- ing up the country, no doubt to arm the Indians around the Upper I^akes, (for they have not white men enough to make use of such quantities as are passing). One-third of the mihtia of the Upper Province are formed into companies called flankers, and are well armed and equipped out of the Kings stores, and are regularly trained one day in a week l)y an otiicer of the standing troops. A volunteer troop of horse has lately been raided and have drawn their sabres and pistols. A company of militia artillery has been raised this spring, and exercise two or three days in the week on the plains near F'ort George, and practice firing and have become very expert. The noted Isaac Sweazy, has within a few days received a captain's com- mission for the flying artillery, of which they have a number of pieces. We were yesterday informed by a respectable gentleman from that side of the river, that he was actually purchasing horses for the purpose of exercising his men. They are repairing Fort George, and building a new fort at York. A number of boats are daily employed, manned by their soldiers, plying between Fort George and (.)ueenston, carrying stores, lime and pickets, for necessary repairs, and to cap the whole, they are making and using every argument and persuasion to induce the Indians to join them, and wo are ,- \ II ' « ' informed the Mohawks have vohintceied their service. In fact, nothing appears to be left undone by their people that is necessary for their defence." However, the Governor General seized the first opportunity of again ad- vising his enterprising lieutenant to refrain from any offensive movements. "In the present state of politics in the United States" he said, "I consider it prudent to avoid any means which can have the least tendency to unite their people. While dissension prevails among them, their attempts on the Province will be feeble. It is therefore my wish to avoid committing any act which may even from a strained construction tend to unite the Eastern and Southern States, unless from its perpetration, we aie to derive an immediate, considerable and important advantage." Brock felt so confident at that moment of his ability to maintain his ground on the Niagara, that he actually stripped Fort George of its heav- iest guns for the defence of Amhcrstburg, which he anticipated would be the first point of attack. But the militia who had turned out so cheerfully on the first alarm, alter the lapse of a couple of uneventful weeks, became impatient to return to their homes and families. They had been employed as much as possible in the consiruclion of batteries at the most exposed points, and as ihey were without tents, blankets, hammocks, kettles, or camp equipage of any kind, ihey had suffered serious discomfort even at that season of the year. \s their prolonged absence from their homes, in some cases threatened the total destruction of their crops, many were al- lowed to return on the I2th of July, and it was feared that the remainder would disband in defiance of the law which only imposed a fine of ^20 for desertion. Nearly all of them were wretchedly clothed, and a consider- able number were without shoes, which could not be obtained in the Prov- ince at any price. Many of the inhabitants Brock indignantly declared, were "indifferent or American in feeling.'' However, the month of July passed away without developing any symp- tom of an offensive movement on this frontier. On the 22nd, the session of the Legislature beran at "\'ork, with the knowledge that General Hull had invaded the Province at Sandwich with a strong force, and in hourly expectation of tidings that the garrison of Amhcrstburg had surrendered 10 superior numbers. Yet amid these depressing circumstances, Brock con- cluded his "speech fi&m the throne" with these hopeful and inspiring words. "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity and despatch in our councils, and by vigor in our operations, we may teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by freemen who are enthus- iastically devoted to their Kmg and Constitution can never be conquered." During the following week the most discouraging reports from Amhcrst- burg continued to arrive almost daily. It seemed as if the invading army would be nble to over run ihe whole of the Western District, with scarcely a mm : 12 show of resistance on the part of the inhabitants. A majority of the mem- bers of the Legislature were apathetic or despondent, They passed a new militia act, and an act to provide for the defence of the Province, but amend- ed both in a highly unsatisfactory manner, af.cr which the House was hastily prorogued by the General who was eager to proceed to the seat of war. "The House of Assembly," he wrote on the 4th of August, "have refused to do anything they are required. Everybody considers the fate of the country as settled, and is afraid to appear m the least conspicuous in the promotion of measures to retard it. I have this instant been info med that a motion was made in the House and only lost by two votes, that tlie mili- tia should be at liberty to return home, if they did not receive their pay on a fixed day every month.'' On the succeeding day he began his march to the re ief of Amherstburg. Most of the regulars and some of the militia which had been hitherto stationed along the N'iagara, preceded or accompanied him on this expe- dition, which they were fortunately enabled to do by the inactivity of the enemy on the opposite bank, who actually do not seem to have become aware of their absence until they had returned victorious. Lieut. Col. Myers, the Assistant Quartermaster General, was left in command. The men belonging to the flank companies who had been allowed to return to their homes to assist in the harvest were summoned to rejoin, and 500 more held in readiness to support them. On the 20th of August, the inhabitants were thrown into a frenzy of de- light by the almost incredible intelligence that Detroit had been taken with the entire American army. A few hours later, General Van Rensselaer who was still in ignorance of this event, signed an armisfice which put an end to any further apprehension of an attack for several weeks. The Americans did not remain idle during the interval. A body of five or six thousand men was assembled and five detached batteries were com- pleted on the bank of the river, between Fort Niagara and Youngstown, two of which were armed with very heavy guns, and two with mortars. Upon the termination of the armistice, the militia generally returned to their posts with alacrity, accompanied by a number of old loyalists unfit for service in the field, but capable of performing garrison duty. The Garrison Order-book of Fort George still exists to bear witness to the ceaseless vigilance with which the movements of the enemy were watched. On the 2nd of October an order was issued directing one-third of the troop- ers to "sleep in their clothes, fully accoutred and ready to turn out at a moment's notice,'' This was followed on the 6th by another, requiring the whole of th^' regular troops and militia to be under arms by the first break of day, and not to be dismissed until full daylight, and on the 12th all com- munication with the enemy by flag of truce was forbi den, unless expressly authorized by the commanding general. i r 13 On the morning of the 13th of October, as soon as General Brock was convinced that the Americans were actually crossing the river at Queen- ston, he directed Brigade Major Evans who remained in command at P'ort George, to open fire with every available gun upon Fort Niaejara and the adjacent batteries, and continue it until they were absolutely silenced- This attack was forestalled by the enemy, who, as soon as they perceived the columns of troops marching out on the road to Queenston, turned the whole of their artillery upon Fort George and the neighboring village, with such a disastrous effect, that in a few minutes the Jail and Court House and fifteen or sixteen other buildings were set in a blaze by their red hot shot. Major Evans had at his command not more than twenty regular soldiers who composec the main guard for the day. The whole of the small detachment of Royal Artillery usually stationed in, the Fort, had ac- companied the field guns to repel the attack upon Queenston. Colonel Glaus, with a few men of the ist Lincoln Regiment, and Capt. Powell and Cameron with a small detachment of militia artillery, alone remained to man the guns of the fort and batteries. The gravity of the situation was greatly increa ed by the fact, that upwards of three hundred prisoners were confined in the jail and guardhouse which was now menaced with destruction. However, while the guards and the greater part of the militia were vigorously engaged in fighting the flames, amid an incessant cannon- ade, under the personal direction of Major Evans and Captain Vigoreux of the Royal Engineers, the batteries were served by the militia artillery men, assisted by two non-commissioned officers of the 41st Regiment, with such energy and success that in the course of an hour the American guns were totally silenced. By that time the Court House and some other buildings had been totally consumed, and the disheartening news arrived that Gen. Brock and Colonel McDonell had been killed, and their men repulsed by the enemy who were landing in great force at Queenston, and had obtained possession of the heights. Evans rode off at once to send forward every man that could be spared from the stations along the river. He had just marched ofif a small party from Young's battery, when the American bat- teries resumed firing, and obliged him to return at full speed to his post. As he reached the main gate at Fort George, he encountered a party of panic- stricken soldiers flying from the place, who informed him that the roof of the magazine which was known to contain eight hundred barrels of powder was on fire. Captain Vigoreux climbed up m the burning building without an instant's hesitation, and his gallant example being quickly followed by several others, the metal covering was soon torn away and the flames ex- tinguished in the wood beneath. The storehouses at Navy Hall were, how- ever, next set in a blaze which could not be overcome owing to their ex- posed situation, and they were totally destroyed. The artillery combat was resumed, and continued till not only Fort Niagara, but all the other ) Ljja!:*ii_ij.v_X .a'-jy ;'^ \t'.'~ %v7l^ff.* '4 batteries on that side of the river were absolutely silenced and deserted. One of the largest guns in that fort had burst, completely wrecking the plat- form, disabling several men and dismaying the remainder to such an extent that they deserted the place in a body, and could not be induced to return until the firing had ceased. For several hours the works were entirely abandoned, and could have been taken without the least resistance, had Evans been able to spare men for the purpose. On the next day, a cessation of hostilities was again agreed upon which continued until the evening of the 20th (f November. During this interval the six battalion companies of the First Lincoln Regiment were consoli- dated into ihiee, under ihe command of Captains John Jones, Martin Mc- Clellan, and (George Ball, each containing about eighty rank and file. At six o'clock on the morning of the 21st November, the guns of Fort George and five detached batteries began a second bombardment of the American works chiefly with the obj "■ of diverting the attention of the enemy to that part of the line, as general Smyth who had succeeded Van Rensslaer was masking his troops in the vicinity of Buffalo, with the appar- ent mtenlion of forcing the passage of the river between Fort Erie and Chippawa. The tire from the American batteries, which appear to have been weakly manned, was ill-directed and occasionally ceased altogether for long intervals, while flames could be seen rising from their works, ap- parently caused by the explosion of shells. One of these missiles fell with- in the north blockhouse in Fort Niagara, and dismounted the only gun there. Another shot from a twenty-four pounder on the right of Fort George dismounted a heavy gun near Youngstown, while a third silenced the piece on the roof of the messhouse at Fort Niagara for nearly an hour. One of the guns in that place also burst with disastrous results, killing two men and disabling others. A large building under the walls which covered the landing of troops was entirely destroyed. By five o'clock in the afternoon Fort Niagara was absolutely silenced, and only the Youngstown "Salt'' Battery continued to fire an occasional gun. At dark the British guns ceased firing. But a single private of the 4gth Regiment, and a gallant old half- pay officer, Capt. Barent Frey, late of Butler's Rangers, had been killed on the Canadian side of the river during the cannonade. The latter had voluntarily occupied himself in gathering the enemy's shot as they fell, for the purpose as he declared of having them sent back to them as soon as possible. lie is said to have been killed by the wind of a cannon ball as it ricocheted along the ground. The messhouse at Navy Hall was destroyed, and seventeen buildings in the town itself were set on fire by heated shot, besides many others considerably damaged by the cannonade. A small merchant schooner lying at the wharf was sunk. The American commandant at Fort Niagara, Colonel McFeely of the United States' Artillery, admitted the loss of only eleven men killed and '5 1 wounded, ihongh he estimated that not less than 2000 round shot and 180 shells had been discharged agninst his works from the British batteries. He reported an instance of remarkable courage displayed by a woman. A- mong the prisoners taken at Queens'on on the 13th October, was a priyate in the United States A.rtillery, named Andre v Doyle, who was recognised as a British subject, born in the village of St. Davids. He was accordingly included among those who were sent to England to be brought to trial for treason. His wife remained in Fort Niagara throughout the bombard- ment, and actually took part in working one of the guns. "During the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen'' said Colonel McFeely in his official letter, "she attended the six-pounder on the old messhouse with the red hot shot and showed fortitude equal to the Maid of Orleans." Cannon balls were much too scarce and valuable to be wasted, and Col. Myers took pains to state in his report that the number of round shot pick- ed up on the field exceeded the number hred from his guns on this occasion. This artillery duel put an end to actual hostilities in the vicinity of Niag- ara for the remainder of the year. But the privations and sufferings of the militia were not yet terminated. They were retained in service until the middle of December, when winter set in with unusual severity, and all danger of an invasion seemed at an end. As early as the middle of November, Sir Roger SheafTe had reported that many of them were "in a very destitute state with respect to clothing, and all that regards bedding and barrack comforts in general, these wants cause discontent and desertion, but the conduct of a great majoriiy is highly honorable to them, and I have not failed to encourage it by noticing it m public orders." In the order to which reference is made he had said ; "Major General Sheaffe has witnessed with the highest satibfaction, the manly and cheerful spirit with which the militia on this frontier have borne the privations which peculiar circumstances hav« imposed upon them. He cannot but feel that their conduct entitles them to every atten- t on he can bestow upon them. It has furnished examples of those best characteristics of a soldier, manly constancy under fatigue and privation and determined bravery in the face of the enemy." On the 23rd of the same month he observed that the number of the militia in service had constantly increased since the termination of the armistice and that they seemed very alert and well disposed. Their duty during the next three weeks was of the most wearisome and harassing kind as none of them were permited to take off their clothes by night, and in the day they were kept fully accoutred with arms in their hands. Strong patrols constantly moved along the river, keeping up the communication between the posts, and owing to the smallness of the force assembled to watch biy;h an extensive Ime, the same men were frequently placed on I i6 guard for several nights in succession. Their clothing was insufficient to protect them from the cold, and numbers were actually confined to bar- racks from want of shoes. Disease carried off Lieut. Col. Butler, Captain John Lottridge, Lieut. John May, Sergeant Jacob Balmer, and twenty priv- ates of the Lincoln Regiments during the month' of December, and there was much sickness among those who survived. Many, distressed beyond all endurance by the miserable condition of their families in their absence, returned home without leave. Late in November the Governor General issued a proclamation directing all citizens of the L^nited States residing in Upper Canada who still declined to take an oath of allegiance, to leave the Province before the first day of January, 1813. Among those who were banished at this time, was Michael Smith, already mentioned, who published a few months later a small vol- ume, entitled ''A Geographical view of the Province of Upper Canada." This book met with such a favorable reception that five other editions ap- peared at short intervals during the next three years, several of them being materially revised and enlarged. His description of the wretched state of this part of the Province was the result of personal observation, and is cer- tainly not overdrawn. "In the course of the summer on the line between Fort George and Fort Eiie, there was not more than 1000 Indians in arms at any one time. These Indians went to and fro as they pleased to their country and back, and were very troublesome to the women when their husbands were gone, as they plundered and took what they pleased, and often beat them to force tliem to give ihem whiskey, even when they were not in possession of any, and when they saw any man that had not gone to the lines, they called him a Yankee, and threaten.d to kill him for not going to fight, and ndeed in some instances these threats have been put into execution. They acted with great authority and rage when they had stained their hands with human blood. "The inhabitants at large would have been extremely glad to have got out of their miserable situation at almost any rate, but they dared not ven- ture a rebellion without being sure of .protection. "From the commencement of the war there had been no collection of debts by law in the upper part of the Province and towards the fall in no part, nor would anyone pay another. No persoa could get credit from any- one to the amount of one dollar, nor could anyone sell any of their property for any price except provisions or clothing, for those who had money were determined to keep it for the last resort. No business was carried on by any person except what was necessary for the times. "In the upper part of the Province all the schools were broken up and no preaching was heard in all the land. ''All was gloom, war and misery. "Upon the declaration of war the Governor laid an embargo on all the ,0 17 flour destined for market, which was at a time when very little had left the Province. The next harvest was truly bountiful as also the crops of corn, buckwheat, and peas, the most of which were gathered except the buck- wheat which was on the ground when all the people were called away after the battle of Queenston. Being detained on duty in the fall not one half of the farmers sowed any winter grain.'' All supplies from Montreal were cut off by the American fleet being in possession of Lake Ontario from the 8th November until the close of navi- gation. Flour and salt were scarcely to be purchased at any price and the condition of many families soon became almost too wretched to be endur- ed. It is not surprising then that numbers of those who had no very strong ties to retain them, seized the first opportunity of escape. Lake Erie was frozen over as early as the 1 2th of January. A lew days later two deserters and three civilians made their way from Point Abino to Buffalo upon the ice. They stated that the British forces were greatly re- duced by sickness and desertion and that they did not believe there were more than thirty regulars stationed along the river between P^ort Erie and Niagara. In fact several companies of the 41st had been recently des- patched to strengthen the garrison of Amherstburg which was again threat- ened with an attack, and a show of force was kept up by ostentatiously sending otit part es along the river in sleighs by day and bringing them back to quarters after dark. Stimulated by the information derived from these men the commandant at Buffalo projected the surprise of Fort Eric by crossing on the ice, but the desertion of a non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Major Macfarlane, disconcerted his plans. Late in March the arrival of three families of refugees at Buffalo by the same route is record' d. They confirmed former accounts of vv;int and dis- tress and the weakness of the British garrisons on the Niagara. The American officers were enabled, by information obtained from the^e and other sources, to estimate with precision the actual force which might be assembled to resist an invasion. But as they failed to make their attacks simultaneously it happened m several instances that they encountered the same troops successively at different places many miles apart. Soldiers of the 41st, who had been present with Brock at the taking of Detroit fought at Queenston on the 13th of October and returned in time to share in the victory at the River Raisin on the 22nd January, 1813. Two com- panies of the 8th that took part in the assault upon Ogdcnsburg on the 22nd February, faced the invaders at York on the 27th April and again at Fort George a month later. Finding themselves repeatedly confronted with considerably larger forces than they had been led to expect, the American generals soon ceased to put much confidence in the reports of their spies. The cabinet had at first designated Kingston, York, and Fort George i8 points of attack in the order named. The attempt upon Kingston was quickly abandoned owinjj to a false report that the garrison had been large- ly increased and it was determined to limit the operations of the "Army of the Centre" in the first instance to tlie reduction of the two latter places. On the 17th of March, Major General Morgan Lewis, who had been ap- pointed to the command of the division on the Niagara, arrived at Buffalo attended by a numerous staff. At noon of the same day, the batteries at Black Rock began firing across the river and continued the cannonade with little intermission until the evening of the i8th. A few houses were destroyed and seven soldiers killed or wounded near Fort Erie. Three of the American guns were dismounted by the British batteries. A week later the bombardment was resumed with even less result. York was taken without much difficulty on the 2''th April, but it cost the assailants their most promising general and between three and four hun- dred of their best troops. They ascertained on that occasion that they still had many warm sympathizers in that part of the Province. A letter from ac officer who accompanied this expedition, published in the Baltimore Whig at the time, states that "our adherents and friends in Upper Canada suffer greatly in apprehension or active misery. Eighteen or twenty of them who refused to take the oath of allegiance lived last winter in a cave or subterraneous hut near Lake Simcoe. Twenty-five Indians and whites were sent to take them but they killed eighteen of the party and enjoyed their liberty until lately when being worn out with cold and fatigue, t ey were taken and put in York jail whence we liberated them." Michael Smith corroborates this account in some respects. He relates that twelve days after the battle of Queenstou Colonel Graham, on Youge Street, ordered his battalion to assemble that a number might be drafted to go to Fort George. Forty of ihem did not come but went out to Whitchurch township which was nearly a wilderness and joined thirty more fugitives that were already there. Some men who were home for a few days from Fort George offered to go and bring them in but as they were not permitted to take arms they failed and the number of fugitives increased by the first of December to 300. When on my way to Kingston to obtain a passport, I saw about fifty of these people near Smith's Creek in the Newcastle District on the main road with fife and drum beating for recruits and huzzaing for Madison. Some of them remained in the woods all winter, but the Indians went out in the spring of 1813 and drove them into their caves where they were taken." So pronounced was the disaffection among the inhabitants in the vicinity of York, that Chief Justice Powell warned the Governor General that "in the event of any serious disaster to His Majesty's arms little reliance is to be had on the power of the well disposed to depress and keep down the turbulence of the disaffected who are very numerous." -.-.L.. On the 29th of April, the capture of York became known at I-'ort George and the boats and stores depofiited at Burlington were removed to a place of safety. On the 8th of May the American fleet came over to Fort Niag ara and landed the brigade of troops that had been employed in reduction of York. AltJiough victorious they were described by General Dearborn as being sickly and low spirited. Next day some of these troops were sent in two schooners to Burlington Beach where they destroyed the King's Head tavern, built by Lieut. -Governor Simcoe, which had served as quar- ters for soldiers on their march to and from Niagara. These vessels continued to cruise about the head of the lake, while the remainder of their fleet sailed away, a-i it proved to bring forward another division of troops. Brigadier General John Vincent, had lately assumed command of the British forces on the line of the Niagara, consisting of the 49th Regiment, five companies of the 8th, three of the Glengarry Light Infantry, two of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and a captain's command of Royal Artill- ery with five held guns, numbering in zd 1925 officers anr" men, of whom 1841 were effectiver Besides these, ? where the remainder of the field guns had been posted. From this posi- tion they covered the retirement of Lieut -Colonel Harvey's force, which took place about ten o'clock. By that time the Americans had succeeded in landing the greater part of their field artillery, and began to advance slowly in three dense columns, Scott's light troops skirting the woods on the right, with the 6th, 15th and i6th United States Infantry and four guns in tha centre and the i8th United States Infantry and four guns moving a- long the margin of the lake. As they had brought no horses, they were obliged to drag their guns by hand, and their advance was necessarily very slow. While observing their movements, Colonel Harvey was almost cut off by a party of riflemen who had stealthily made their way through the woods with that object. He galloped off unhurt amid a shower of bullets and formed his brigade in a fresh position behind a third ravine. Major Holcroft opened fire from a six-pounder and a howitzer, but on perceiving the advance of the enemy's light troops on the right, he placed these guns in charge of Lieut. Armstrong, and moved in that direction with the two other pieces. For nearly half an hour the artillery kept up a brisk fire and succeeded in checking the enemy's infantry. Harvey then noticed that their riflemen were again stealing forward through the woods, with the in" tention of turning his left flank, and ordered a general retreat to the Com- mon beyond the Council House. During the cannonade Holcroft had lost but one gunner wounded and a single horse killed but the limber of his larg- est gun, a twelve-pounder, was so badly damaged that it went to pieces on the road. An hour later when the Americans emerged from the village, an eigh- ' ,'U '^ I » I .* i 1. 1 ; ■ 1 'l' ^ 27 teen pounder, in the battery next to Fort George was traversed, And fired upon them until they made a vigorous charge and captured it with several of the men engaged in working it. Vmcent joined Harvey with the reserve, and the whole force remained in position on the Common for nearly half an hour. Commodore Chaun- cey's flag-ship entered the river and anchored abreast of Fort George. The troops at Youngstown began to enter their boats while the enemy in front were steadily prolonging their lines to the right with the evident purpose of occupying the only possible avenue of retreat, and surrounding the Brit- ish forces. At noon, General Vincent despatched an order to Lieut.-Colonel Claus, to evacuate Fort George and join him upon the Queenston road. He im- mediately began his retreat upon St. Davids, the infantry retiring through the woods, ;ind the artillery and baggage by the road This movement was so quietly accomplished that it seems to have almost escaped the attention of the enemy who were busily engaged in reforming their line. General Dearborn had become so much enfeebled by his exertions, and the effects of his previous illness, that he had to be lifted from his horse and supported to a boat which conveyed him on board the flagship, from which he viewed the landing of his troops, although unable to keep his feet for more than a few minutes at a time. The command accordingly devolv- ed upon Major General Morgan Lewis, an officer of little experience and less military knowledge, but an active and influential politician, who had been in turn Chief Justice and Governor of the State of New York and was a brother-in-law of the Secretary of War. He was absurdly fond of mili- tary pomp, parade and display, and his opponents delighted to ridicule a speech he had made to the militia when Governor in which he had remark- ed that "the drum was all important in the day of battle " Having the fate of Van Rensselaer and Winchester fresh in his memory, his movements were cautious to the verge of timidity. An hour and a half elapsed after Harvey retreated before he ventured to advance beyond the village. He had then not less than 4,000 men in order of battle besides the reserve of marines and seamen. His line extended without a break from the light- house on Mississauga Point to the river above Fort George, That work was approached with excessive caution as the sound of repeated explosions within, caused them to dread a recurrence of their disastrous experience at York, and even the lighthouse was avoided lest it should be hurled in fragments on their htads. Colonel Scott was in fact unhorsed by a large splinter which broke his collar bone, but there were no other casualties. When the fort was entered, it was toundthat the garrison had disappeared with the exception of a few soldiers of the 4Qth Regiment, who were still engaged in dismantling the works. Some of the men were surprised m the act of cutting down the flagstafif to obtain the garrison tiag from which the il 28 halliards had been shot away, and others were taken prisoners as they at- tempted to escape through the main gate. More than a hundred sick and wounded were found in the hospital. The village of Niagara was entirely deserted, and many of the houses had been much damaged by cannon shot. During the afternoon the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons was brought over from Youngstown, but scarcely any pursuit was attempt- ed as the American army was described as much exhausted from being under arms for eleven hours. No one seemed to know positively which way the British had retreated. Colonel Scott with some of the riflemen seems to have advanced a few miles along the Queenston road, but was perempt- orily recalled by General Lewis who feared an ambush. Meanwhile Vm- cent s column had retired in almost perfect order, leaving scarcely a strag- gler behind and marched with such speed that the rear guard arrived that night at DeCew's house, where a small magazine of provisions had been formed a few days before in anticipation of a reverse. About four o'clock in the afternoon a dragoon reached Fort Erie with in- formation of the loss of Fort George, and Lieut. -Colonel Bishop imme- diately began his retreat with the regular troops and field guns stationed there, leaving Major John Warren with a few men of the Thir 1 Lincoln Regiment of militia to occupy the works and engage the attention of the enemy on the opposite bank. Soon after his departure, Warren opened fire on Black Rock from all the batteries, and continued the cannonade a!l night. At daybreak the destruction of the stores and fortifications began. The barracks and public buildings were burnt, the magazines blown up, the guns burst or otherwise rendered unserviceable along the whole line from Point Abino to Chippawa. When this had been thoroughly accomplished, Warren disbanded his men, and an American force crossed from Black Rock and took possession of the dismantled works. A quantity of stores which had been abandoned at Queenston, was destroyed on the same day, by Lieut -Colonel Thomas Clark, at the head of a small party of the Third Lincoln Regiment, who had returned from Beaver Dams for the purpose. Scarcely had this been done, when a strong brigade of American troops adanced from Foit George and occupied that village. During these operations General Vincent had lost the whole of his gar- rison ordnance and a considerable quantity of spare arms and military stores. His regular force had been diminished by 350 officers and men, nearly all of whom were killed or wounded, but he was joined during the night of the 27th by two strong companies of the 8th Regiment which had advanced that day as tar as the mouth of the Twelve Mile Creek on their way to Fort George. The loss of the regulars in the battle was officially stated at fifty-two killed, forty-four wounded, and 262 missing, nearly all of those reported missing being either killed or left wounded on the field. The small detachment of Lincoln militia engaged is stated to have lost five ♦ —» J ♦ 'Tl T officers and eighty men, killed or wounded, but no official return seems to have been preserved. The names only of Captain Martin McClellan and Privates Charles Wright and William Cameron, who were killed, have been recorded. Two Mohawk Indians, Joseph Claus and Tsigotea, were also among the slain. General lioyd stated thai his men found 107 dead and 175 Wounded of the British troops upon the field. The losses of some of the detachments actually engaged were truly appalling. The five com- panies of the 8th Regiment lost, Lieut. Drummie killed. Major Cotton, Lieuts. Nicholson, McMahon, and Lloyd, and Ensign Niciioison wounded, and 196 non-commissioned officers and privates killed, wounded, or missing out cf 310 of all ranks who went into action. The Glengarry Light Infantry lost Captain Liddle and Ensign McLean killed. Captain Roxborough and Lieut. Kerr wounded, and 73 non-commissioned officers and men out of an aggregate of 108. The grenadier company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost Capt. Winter, Lieut. Stewart, and fourteen others out of forty. The total loss of the American army was officially stated at 150, of whom thirty-nine were killed. The only officer killed was Lieut. Henry Hobart, a gi;;^ndson of General Dearborn. Covered as their lauding was by the fire of so many cannon, it is, perhaps, remarkable that their loss was so great. As a proof, however, of the severity of the short struggle on the plain. Dr. Mann, the American army surgeon, who was present, remarked that he found 27 dead and 87 severely wounded on the field when he landed and that nearly 400 of both armies lay stretched on a plot of ground not more than 200 yards in length and fifteen in breadth. On the 28th, the whole of the militia except Merritt's troop of Provincial Cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, and about sixty picked men of other corps who were determined to follow the fortunes of the army, were disbanded, and V^incent continued his retreat to Grimsby and finally to Burlington Heights where he arrived on the 2nd June with eleven field guns and 1800 seasoned soldiers, who, in spite of their recent reverse were in high spirits and eager to meet the enemy again on more equal terms. The brilliant result of the action at Stoney Creek three days later amply atoned for a defeat by which they had lost no credit. The Americans were justly disappointed by the incompleteness of their success. For nearly two days they appear to have absolutely lost all track of their enemy. "When we marched for Queenston on the 28th," wrote ar officer in the United States army whose letter was published at the time in the Baltimore Whig, " we found the British far advanced on their retreat by the back road toward the lower part of the Province. They collected their force very actively. Our friends hereabouts are greatly relieved by our visit. They had been terribly persecuted by the Scotch myrmidons of England. Their present joy is equal to their past misery. This is a J I- ^-. 30 charming country but its uncertain destiny together with the vexations the farmers endured by being dragged out in the militia left the fields in a great degree uncultivated. The British Indians are not of much use to them. They run as soon as the battle grows hot. I saw but one Indian and one Negro with the Glengarry uniform on, dead on the field. Their Eighth fought very resolutely and suffered severely." Many American historians have condemned General Dearborn for not having accomplished more with the means at his disposal but they have made little or no allowance for the physical weakness which actually rend- ered him unfit to command at all. General Armstrong, who, as Secretary of War, was eager to justify his own conduct, declared that "if instead of concentrating his whole force, naval and military, on the water side of the enemy's defences he had divided the attack and crossed the Niagara below Lewiston and advanced on Fort George by the Queenston road, the invest- ment of that place would have been complete and a retreat of the garrison rendered impracticable." This, however, was actually the movement which Dearborn had planned but failed to execute in time. Ingersol, a member of Congress and a leader of the war party, bitterly observed that "the British General effected h;s retreat (probably without Dearborn know- ing it for he stayed on shipboprd) to the mountain passes where he employ- ed his troops in attacking, deteating, and capturing ours during all the rest of that year of discomfitures." f k THE END. N. B. — For Ihe engraving, "The Taking of Fort George," we are inrlcbted to the kindness and courtesy of the Hon. P, A. Porter, Niagara Falls. It is from the port- folio published in Philadelphia, 1817, and is particularly interesting to us as giving the appearance of the churches St. Mark's and St. Andrew's before the town was burnt down, as also the Lighthouse situated nearly where the Queen's Royal Hotel stands now. i li r i ,' •yflfW-f V I ■■ f k i . -^^ r I ■'»:"■«■ z' »•