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Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be ffilmed at different redaction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are ffilmed beginning lit the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre ffiimfe A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul clich6. 11 est ffilmd A partir de Tangle sup6rleur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en baa. en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes sulvants illustrent la mithode. 1 t * 3 i 1 t . -M -^ : • 6 \ lU HISTORY OV THI War of the United States WITH great BRITAIN IN 1812. s AND or ZHV WAR WITH MEXICO JOHN LEWIS THOMSON. Wiiii atitiitfonjs anti Otouectfonis. ILLX7STBATED WITH NTJMEBOUS ENGBAVmGSk FBOM DESIGNS BT W. GBOOME AND OTHER ABTISTS. PHILADBLPHIl.: J. B. LIPPINCX)TT COMPANY. 1887. 71226 i K 1 1. "■// OH "'■•■• ■?■- ^' ^ 1 n 1- ^'. ft * t * \ SECOND WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. ■ ■ I < ■ ■■ I CHAPTER I. COMHINOBMERT OF TUB WAS, 18 II. NATAI. OAHPAIOir OF 1812, 42 III. H0STILITIC8 or THC ORIEK INDIANS, 61 IV. OPERATIONS or TA7L0R AND WINCHI8TBR ON THE NORTH-WESTERN rRONTIER, 66 V. OPERATIONS or OENERALS HARRISON AND HOPKINS, 77 VI. OPERATIONS ON THE NORTHERN PRONTIER IN 1812, 82 VII. NATAL CAMPAIGN Or 1812, CONTINUED, 112 VIII. OPERATIONS or WINCHESTER AND HARRISON IN THE NORTB-WEST, . 125 IX. OOHMENOEHENT Or THE CAMPAIGN OV 1813, . .'. 146 X. OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA PRONTIER, o 188 XI. OPERATIONS or THE NORTH-WESTERN ARMT. — BATTLE Or LAKE ERIE.— BATTLE Or THE THAMES, 202 XII. OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA PRONTIER, 225 XIII. COMMENCEMENT Or THE NATAL CAMPAIGN or 1813, 247 XIV. OPERATIONS ON THE DELAWARE ANQ CRE8APEAKB BATS, 263 XV. OPERATIONS or THE BRITISH ON LONG ISLAND SOCND» 288 XVI. NATAL OPERATIONS IN 1813, 300 n CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. coMMKMoiMiNT or tbk oAUPAiaw or 1814, 838 XVIII. OPCRATIOm ON TBI RIAOARA rKONTIBB, 349 XIX. runniiB opbiutiom« on thi nuoara rioNTH*, 384 XX. IMTAaiON or rillMONT.^rUBTHBK OPCIUTIONS ON TBI NIAOARA moRTUB, 400 XXI. THB OBBIK WAB, 421 XXII. CAPTUBB or WASHINOTON.-'DKrBNra Or NBW OBUAHS, 484 XXIII. OMWB or THB NATAL OAMPAION or 1814, 486 THE FIRST SEMINOLE WAR, 400 BLACK HAWK'S WAR 607 THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR, 6L> WAR WITH MEXICO. CHAPTER I. COMMINCBMBNT Or THB MBZIOAN WAB, 600 II. BATTLB8 Or THE BIO OBANDB, 624 III. CAPTURB or BARITA AND MATAMOBAI, 660 IV. STORHINO or MOMTBRBT, 676 V. batub or bvina tibta, 604 VI. OOCnPATION or OALirOBNU AND NBW MBZIOO, 600 VII. OAPTORB or TBBA ORCB, 616 VIII. MARCH TO THB CAPITAI., QSQ IX. CAPTURB or MBXICO, 689 •BVAMiiTTAi UAnriiei* . ■ATTU or TimcAiroB, . eOLOVlIi CAM, . • BATTKI or MASVACA, • BITBOIT, . • • OBBAMBBTAIi BBAIiriBOB, . BIOATB or TBI COBSnTOTIOV . COKVODOBB aOUi, . VVITBB STATBt ABB MAOBBOBIAB* OBBAXXXTA& HBAOHXCB,. OBBAXBBTAI. TAILHBCB, . ■BBBBAI. BABBIMB, . . BlIBBIB or rOBT BABBISOB, OBBAIHBTA& TAILHBOB, . OBVAXXBTAIi BXABHIOB, . OBBAMIBTAL BXADriBOB, . BirBBSX or OeDXBtBVBB, . BATTLB or (tVXBBITOWB, . rOBT BIAOABA, . IBBIOBATIOB Or TBI TBOOft, OBBAXBBTAL BIABHXOX, . COXMODOBB BAIBBBIBOB* . OOBSTITDTIOB ABO JATA« . H AtBAGBB AT TBX BITIB BAIUB* . rAox 18 1« SS M U 48 4S 47 A8 61 65 66 69 76 77 8« 84 88 M 107 113 118 180 181 (vU) ▼iu ILLUSTRATIONS. ■Il«l or rOBT MMft, . • . •UAMBVTAl »ABr»ei, , ' , , eOXMODOBI GBAVVCBT, - , . . ' OAFTVBB or rOBT AbOBOB, 4 • • HriiriB or iaosbsv'* babbovb, . ■OUTH-BAIT TIBW or ■AOKBTT'b lABBOVBt • •BTBBAT or TBB BBITIM VBOIC tAOBBTT'B lABBaVat OBBAXBBTAK BBAWIBaB, . . ^ . TOCira OOBBriABTBB, , • • • ATTACK OB BtAOS •OlSBi . • • a TBOCXBBB, . . . • • BATTLB or lABB BBIB, , , , , . COMNODOBB riCBBT, . « • OOTBBBOB SHBLBT, • • « • • BBIBAL BABBISOir OBOUIBO TBB TBAXBB, . OBBAMBNTAL BBASPIBOB, . • • • •BBBBAL XACOMB, . * r • •BBBBAL BIPIBT, . . . • • •BBBBAl WILKIBBOB, . . . , •QBBIirB or ^BWISTOWB, « • • •BBAMBBTAL TAILBIBOB, • • • OBBAXBBTAL BBASFIBOB, .... ■OBBBT ABO rBAOOOX, .... •AllABT AOTIOB OB TBB SBBBBA& ABXBTBOBO, . BBTBBPBItB ABO BOZBB, * . • OBBAMBBTAL BBADVIBOB, .... ATTACK OB BATBB OB SBACB, . . . aVBBIBO or rBBDBBICKTOWir, ... •BBAXBBTAL TAILPIBCB, ... OBBAMBBTAL BBAOriBCB, .... ABBAXBBTAL TAILFIBCB, • • • «BBAXBBTAL BBAOriBCB,. . • • OBCIIB or TBI ABOUI, • • . eAPTAIB ALLIB, ..... OAFTAIB |>0BTBb'b CBUIIB IX TBB VACme, , eOXXODOBB |OBTBB, .... .VBACOCKABD XrBBTIBB, • . . COXXODOBX WABBIBSTOWX, , . , VASr AXB ATOB, . . . OArrAiir bla^ikt, .... •BXAXVXTAL TAItrXBOB, . . , rAoi 141 . U6 141 . les m . Ill IM . 181 IN . 19S tot . tu tu . Sl« S34 . sts tso . t88 t85 . tit M8 . t47 t49 . t8p t8t ; t88 t71 . t76 t87 . 888 888 . 800 80.1 . 808 808 . 91t 817 . 8^0 . m 8S7 ILLUSTRATIONS. FAOI 141 . U6 148 . 16S 177 . 181 184 . 188 194 . m . an 814 . 816 884 833 836 ti* •M 847 869 ' t6S 871 . «W 887 . 888 899 . 800 801 . 806 808 . S12 817 . 880 824 . 381 887 •BSAMIVTAl ■lABIIlOlt . . AfTAOB Oir OtWICO, , ., •vairiws or sotib, . • OBIIAIIIKTAI. TAIUIMIi . OBWAMI>TAIi ■lABFIIOIt . . ■ATTU or cairrawA, eOKOVIL KILLBB AT LVHVV'o hAMM, •inBAL MIUIBi . .• •BWAXBirTAL TAIiriBOBt . .. OBBAHBBTAL BBABriBOBi •BBBBAL BAIBBt, . .. . . BarBBBB or bobt bbib, . •BBAMBHTAL BBASriBOB, . ' • BOBUVOTOB BAT, . . BATTLB or LAKB GIAMrK^IlT, OOKXODOBB X*DOBOU«B, , •BirBBAL BBOWir, •BBBBAl JAGBBOll, . , TBB rBOFBBT, . . •BITAXBXTAL TAIKBIBOB, . « BIASBHIBCBO, . . OOMXOBOBB BABBBT, . TOBT XVBHBT, . • BOXBABSXBirT OT TOBT «*BB«BT, roBTirnvo or bbw oblbabi^ BATTtB or BBW OBIBABI, OBVAXBBTAL BBAOriBOB, - • BOBBBT ABB rBBOUIB. . BWATB or TBB BOBXBT, , rBABCia BIILIBBAOO, . OBBAXBBTAI. TAILFIBCB, . BLACK BAWK, . . OBBBBAK BCOTT, . , OIOBOLA, . . . KAMACBB nr BABB'b BBTAOI HIOABOrB, . . BATTLB or 0KBBH3H0>BBB, BATTLB or FALAKLAKLABAi OBBAKBHTAL TAILrilOX, COBPOa CBBISTI, . . FAOI 888 838 848 849 366, 870 874 888 881 890 S98 400 400 410 418 417 421 426 438 488 434 489 443 460 480 483 487 493 496 499 604 607 611 616 619 621 629 636 638 641 ILLUSTRATIONS. MIVI IIABIt, eirrvsi or oArrAin rmomwnM, WMT ■■oir», • BATTIB m r«M AITO, . •■ATI or »iir««oiB, . a •BVAMBBTAI. TAIIBIBOB, . •■VAMBBTAt BBABriBVB, ■BZIOAB BBllT&BliBB, OBjrAKBBTAK BBABPIBOB, , TIB AHBBIOAM ABMf BBTBBIBB II •TOBHIBB OP rOBT TBBBBIA. . PAOB AM «M MT AA9 ITS HABea TO HBBTBBBri TBB BIIBOP ■ BAIACB, •TBBBT tlOBT OB OBBBBAt WOBTB ■ BIBB,- 669 . 675 ATI . A78 AM . AAt AM . A91 . A9S . A04 AAA . Ml 609 . M9 • 616 •BVBBAl WOBTB, ..t****«« 616 619 WOBTB AT aOBTBBBT. ■AITTA ABBA, BATTIB OF BVBBA TIITA. OBBBBAl TATIOB AT BUBBA TISTA, ■BAB KVUTBBB ABB BBBTABTi •BBBBAIi KBABBT, OAFTVBB OB BABVOO. •IBOB or TBBA OBCB, AKBBIOAB riBXT lALUTIBO TBB OABT&B ArTBB I*i BBBBBBBBBy ■BZIOABt KBATIBO TBBA OBVB, eOHMIBCBMBBT Or TBB OVIBILKA WABrABB, •BBBBAl TWIOOI, fALABA, BATTIiB or CBBBO BOBBO, OAVTCBB or TCSPAB, BATTI.B or OBUBOBVBOO, KBZIOAB OrtlOBB,. oirr or mbzico, . TAOOBATA, . OBABVLTBrBO, . . rVBBtA BB LOB ABBBMB, OBBAHBBTAB TAIUIBCB,. 6S8 695 6M 618 6M Ml 689 684 688 689 645 647 Ml 6M 1SS . MT . ftTft •It . Ml Mt . »•* •M . «0l 6M . 609 •IS . •!• •It m . CM 6M . 630 6S1 . 6ai 6S4 . 688 689 . 646 647 . 651 666 ^%^^^^^ OFTHI L Jl i £ 62 i ®ommrnc(ment of tftt Wi»t» About the close of the year 1911 tlie Indian affairs on the southern and north- western frontiers of the United States assumed ; n aspect of a much more alarm- ing nature than that which hafl been marked by any of the previous depreda- tions of the neighbouring tribes. Inces- sant incursions were followed by the extinction of whole families, and the seve- ral nations seemed emulous of excelling each other in acts of the greatest horror. An unextinguishable hostility was mani- fested by the most powerful chiefs and warriors, whose enmity towards the fron- tier inhabitants was excited, and kept alive by an industrious circulation of as) 14 EXPEDITION TO PROPHET 8 TOWN. :f inflammatory addresses, and alluring gifts. The conduct of the British traders was far from being consistent with the pacific disposition which their government had been professing; and the faciUty with which the Indians became possessed of every de- scription of offensive weapons, known to be beyond their means, either to manufacture or to purchase, led to suspicions of their having been supplied by its appointed agencs. The result of investigations which were made by the governors of Ohio, and of the Michigan and Illinois territories, gave strong confirmation to these suspicions, and it was ascertained that great quantities of missiles, arms, and ammunition, had been delivered to the dif- ferent nations, contiguous to the British posts. The influence of a Shawanese, who styled himself " the Pro- phet," and who neglected no means to excite the most violent animosities against the people of the United States, had produced among the Indians on the borders of the Wabash, a disposition to massacre and plunder, to so enormous an extent, that the vigorous interference of the government was no longer to be delayed. Mea- sures were therefore immediately adopted, in conjunction with Governor William H. Harrison, to repel by force, any further out- rages which could not be prevented by amicable treaty. Tue militia of Indiana, and a regiment of United States infantry, commanded by Colonel John P. Boyd, were accordingly ordered to march, under Governor Harrison, to the Prophet's town, to demand restoration of the plunder which the Indians had com- mitted, and to reduce them to terms, which would secure the future peace of that territory. In the month of November, 1811, this body of troops were within four miles of the Prophet's town (having already marched thirty-four days) before the Indians had any expectation of seeing them ; when one of the chiefs came out, and proposed that Governor Harrison should encamp near them until morning, at which time the Prophet would willingly enter into a treaty of peace. This proposal was agreed to, and the army were encamped in line of battle, with orders to keep on their accoutre- ments, and to lie upon their arms, so that they might be ready for action without one moment's delay. At four o'clock on the morning of the seventh, the camp was attained with great fury by the savages at one point, where the bayonet, however, soon BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE. 15 Battle of Tippecanritf. dispersed them, and where three Indians were found within the line of sentinels seeking the commander. The morning was excessively dark, and the men could only be distinguished by the watchword, or the flashes of the musketry. By the aid of this momentary light, the Indians were seen crowding into the camp ; but they were entirely routed by several vigorous and intrepid charges. The conduct of Colonel Boyd and the 4th regiment, after the action had become more general, intimidated and put the Indians to flight ; at the dawn of day they were closely pursued, and numbers of them killed. The cavalry were now first brought into action, but the savages fled from them in great confusion, abandoned their town, into which they had been driven, and escaped across the river. Fifty-three Indians were lying dead about the encampment, and their loss, in killed and wounded, was estimated at one hundred and fifty. Of the 4t.h regiment, seventy-seven were killed and wounded. The loss of the whole force amounted, from the most accurate account, to one hundred and eighty-seven. Most of the militia under Governor Harrison, behaved ^vith great courage and bravery: but to Colonel Boyd, whose experience in the Mahrattah (India) service, well qualified \\\m for a combat wi^h the Prophet's warriors, is much of the J6 THE president's MESSAGE- success of this battle to be attributed. Tranquillity being now restored to the territory of Indiana, the troops returned to Fort Harrison — distance one hundred miles — and the militia to their homes. Many months had not elapsed, however, before the Pro- phet, in connexion with Tecumseh, a chief of great valour, and of equal ambition, threatened a renewal of hostilities, not only against the inhabitants of Indiana, but of the adjacent territories.* To guard against future encroachments from the savages, and to protect such of the inhabitants as had yet escaped their fury, it was necessary that the peace establishment should be aug- mented, and new regiments raised, of a nature to cope with the Indian warfare. Indications of hostility to the interests of the United States were about this time evinced in the conduct, as weU of the British ministry, as of their public ships of war on the American coast, in neutral ports, and on the ocean. In the event of a more decided character being given to this state of relations between the United States, Great Britain, and the Indians, the necessity of a larger army would become still more urgent. In providing against these threatening evils, the second session of the twelfth Congress had been protracted to an unusual length, and on finding remonstrances to be unavailing, the president, on the first of June, 1812, laid before the two houses a detail of the various enormities committed against this nation by the British government and the officers representing it. Their immediate attention was required to this subject, as it was thought necessary, by the greatest proportion of the people, that such encroaching injuries should at last be resisted by the most effectual means. Documents being in possession of the executive which placed the insulting practices of the British, against the commerce and national honour of the United States, beyond all doubt, the communication set forth, " that the cruisers of that nation had been in the continued practice of violating the Ameri- «' • Although the affair on the Wabash, which has been distinguished by the name of •The Battle of Tippecanoe," was previous to the declaration of war, it is indispensable to the introduction to its history that it should be at least briefly referred to— the limits of this work do not admit of as full a description of a victory which has reflected so moch lustre on the American character, as the author is desirous to give, or the reader periiapt to receive. ;('t THE president's MESSAGE. 17 tive the all that can flag on the great highway of nations, and of seizing and carrying off persons sailing under it; not in the exercise of a bel- ligerent right, founded m. the law of nations — against an enemy, but of a municipal prerogative over British subjects; "That they had been in the practice also of violating the peace and the rights of our coasts by hovering over and harassing our entering and departing commerce; and that to the most insulting pretensions they had added the most lawless proceedings in oui very harbours, and wantonly spilt American blood within the sanctuary of our territorial jurisdiction; "That they were aiming to sacriloe our commercial interests, and were laying waste our neutral trade, not because we supplied their enemy, but by carrying on a war against our friendly com- merce that they might themselves pursue an intercourse with their enemy; "That they were plundering our vessels on the high seas under pretended blockades, without the necessary presence of an adequate force to maintain them, and that to these transcendent acts of injustice the cabinet of Great Britain added at length the sweeping system of blockade under the name of orders in council, which had been moulded to suit its political views, its commer- cial jealousies, or the avidity of British cruisers; "That, at the very moment when their pubHc minister was holding the language of friendship and inspiring confidence in the sincerity of the negotiations with which he was charged, a secret agent of his government was employed in intrigues, ha\ing for their object a subversion of our government and a dismember- ment of our Union; "That the warfare which was just renewed by the savages on our frontiers, which spared neither age nor sex, and was distin- guished by features peculiarly shocking to humanity, could not be referred to without connecting their hostility with the influence of British traders and garrisons, nor without recollecting the authenticated examples of the interpositions of the officers and agents of that government. And, "That in fine, on the side of Great Britain, there was a staie of war against the United States; and on the side of the United States a state of peace towards Great Britain." )8 GENERAL HULL*S EXPEDITION. I The committee of foreign relations, to whom this message wa* referred, leported a manifesto to the House, in which, after recapi tulating these grievances, they recommended, as the only mear sure to prevent future aggression, an immediate appeal to arms; and on the 18th of June, an act was passed declaring war against the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof; which received the executive sanction. A small army, consisting of the 4th regiment of infantry, and three regiments of Ohio volunteers, was ordered, under the com- mand of Brigadier-General Hull, to protect the frontiers against the incursions of the savages. After the declaration of war, this force being nearest to the most convenient point of invasion, was directed to repair to the town of Detroit, on the river of that name, and opposite Sandwich, a beautiful and extensive village in Upper Canada. On the 5th of July, after a tedious and fatiguing march of thirty-five days, during which he was obliged to fortify his camp, at every position which he occupied at night, to prevent a sur- prise from a party of Indians, who, aided by the British, had closely and constantly reconnoitered him, and who had planned an attack upon Detroit, which the approach of his army frustrated, he arrived at that post with two thousand five hundred men. He had no sooner garrisoned the American shore of the Detroit, than the British began to throw up breastworks and to erect batr teries on the opposite side. The first of these was destroyed by a well-directed fire firom the fort, and the persons employed at it were obliged precipitately to retire ; a second, which was situated about three miles below, was destroyed in like manner, by a few pieces of cannon despatched for that purpose, and worked with so much skill that the enemy was compelled to abandon his de- sign of fortifying at that point. Active preparations were now making for an immediate inva- sion of Canada ; boats were constructed capable of containing a regiment, and the passage of the whole army was to be effected at the same instant — the width of the river being favourable to the crossing of the troops, either above or below the point selected to oppose their landing, the enemy was allowed, on his third attempt, to erect, without annoyance, a battery of seven «maU GENERAL HULL's EXPEDITION. 19 cannon and two mortars. Every preparation having been com pleted, the embarkation took place on the 12th. The army landed on the Canadian shore, above the fort, and entered Sandwich without opposition. Those of the inhabitants who had not been compelled to repair to the defence of Maiden, were without arms, and therefore made no show of resistance to the Americans, by whom they were honourably respected in their property and per- sons. Possession was had, in a few days, of the whole country from the river Thames, or la Tranche, so called from the even- ness and beauty of its bank, to a nvulet within five miles of Maiden, whither the British regulars and Canadian militia, with several hundred Indians, had retired. Prior to the occupation of Sandwich, however, the enemy had removed his most valuable stores, and whilst he was throwing up breastworks, and apparently fortifying that place for defence, the largest division of his troops was employed in transporting them to Amherstburg. ' / If General Hull's instructions admitted of his striking a blow immediately on his arrival at Detroit, a favourable opportunity was culpably neglected. But, on hearing a proposition from his officers to cross the river below, to cut off the communication be- tween the two divisions at Sandwich and Amherstburg, and suddenly to rush upon and carry Fort Maiden by storm, he alleged the necessity of waiting for positive orders for the invasion of Canada before he could embark his troops for that purpose. Whilst the force at Maiden was weakened by the employment of the men at Sandwich, this project might have been carried into effect, and his army, besides prisoners, would have obtained a large accession of stores and ammunition. Wlien he arrived at Sandwich, the British army, with these and other stores, and an augmented Indian force, had collected at, and were placing Maiden in a state to sustain a siege. To attempt the reduction of that garrison by storm, after the enemy had effected this con- centration of his forces, it was necessary to proceed against it with a train of battering cannon, and ladders of a sufficient height and number to scale the walls at various points. The American army had neither of these at that time in readiness, and its operations were delayed for one month in preparing two twenty-four pounders 20 LOSS OF MICHILIMACKINAC. h' ^■ and three hov/itzers. In this interval such advantages were gained as result from subsisting on the resources of the enemy's country, and the capture of some camp articles, and a small supply of arms, by reconnoitering parties. Meanwhile, the British and Indians at St. Josephs, had been making preparations for an attack on Fort Michilimackinac,* (a position on an island of that name and in General Hull's com- mand,) and on the 16th, foucdays after the occupation of Sand- wich by the troops of the United States, the British embarked at St. Josephs, and reached the island early on the following morn- ing. Their force, consisting of three hundred and six white troops, and seven hundred and fifteen Indians, was commanded by Captain Roberts, of the British regulars, who sent in a pri- soner to inform the commandant that if any resistance was made the garrison and inhabitants would be indiscriminately put to the sword. The inhabitants knovnng that the fort had but fifty- seven men for its defence, escaped from the island, or fled for refuge to the enemy, in great numbers; but many of them had no opportunity to do either, and were obliged to remain and abide the issue of the day. The commandant of the garrison. Lieute- nant Porter Hanks, of the artillery, determined to give as gallant a resistance to the assailants as his small force would allow him. The island of Michilimackinac is about nine miles in circum- ference, of irregular form and broken surface. It is separated from the main land by a strait of about seven miles broad, its greatest breadth is three miles, and its elevation above the lake, on its highest ground, about one hundred and sixty-eight feet. A proposal was made to government, in 1797, to erect a citadel on this elevation, which would be impregnable. Two square stx)ne houses, united by a stockade, stand in the rear of the fort, which is situated on a bluff rock rising from the water, but is entirely overlooked by the high ground at a distance of six hundred yards. I'he island itself is of a circular form, highest in the centre, and resembling a t\irtle's back ; from which circumstance it is said to have taken its name — (Michilimackinac, or the Turtle.) The enemy had landed on the back part of the island, and urged * Pronounced— Mackinaw. LOSS OF MICHILIMACKINAC. 91 his approach within cannon shot of the fort, where he gained the ominence commanding it, and from which he directed a piece of heavy cannon against its most defenceless side. The Indiami were arranged on the edge of an adjoining wood. The British commandant now sent a flag, with a demand for the surrender of the fort and island, and communicated the first intelhgence which the garrison received of the declaration of war. The movement of the British and Indians had been until this moment considered as one, among the many outrages, to which the frontier of that neighbourhood had been exposed, and the American commandant had resolved to shut himself up and defend the fortress to the \rery last extremity, though it should result in the total annihila- tion of his force. But, on being informed of the actual state ot hostilities, he was aware that if he held out, the enemy, whose present number could not be effectually opposed, might be largely reinforced, and that the fall of the garrison would be followed by the threatened indiscriminate slaughter, as well of the soldiers composing it, as of the non-combatant inhabitants of the island. The only measure which could save them from the brutal mas- sacre of the savages, was a surrender of the fort to the British, and Lieutenant Hanks very prudently entered into terms of capitulation, in which he secured a promised protection to all private property, though he put the enemy in pc; ...jsion of a for- tress susceptible of being rendered the strongest in America. It will be observed that the loss of Michilimackinac took place on the 17th of July, and that General Hull, alrf.ady apprized of the war. arrived at Detroit on the 6th — and the reader will judge whether this intelligence could not have been transmitted to Michilimackinac, a distance of two hundred and fifty-four miles, and whether that post ought not to have been immediately rein- forced. The enemy had knowledge of the existence of hostilities, through the activity of persons concerned in the North-west Fur Company, nine days preceding the arrival of the American dis- posables, whilst the American garrison was suffered to remain in Ignorance for twelve days after — and to the vigilance of one side, and the tardiness or negligence of the other, is this disaster to b«3 ascribed. Preparations were still going on at Sandwich for an attempt n HULL AT SANDWICH. ki II IJI 4i i on Maiden, when the army were informed of the affair at Michi limackinac by the capture of two vessels, in which the prisoners taken there had been embarked. Unless the contemplated attack on Maiden should result in the success of the American arms, the situation of the troops would become critical in the extreme ; the poss'^ssion of Michilimackinac gave the enemy many decided ad- vantages, and if the capture of that post should be followed up by an a:«sault on Fort Chicago, all the fortified stations west of Detroit would be in his hands, and the whole of his Indian forces might be thrown upon that frontier. Detroit would be an easy conquest, and the American army might be so encompassed that its retreat would be impossible. The Indians from the shores of the north- western lakes were already released from constraint, and the British commander was collecting large bodies of them to move down upon Detroit and the intermediate garrisons. Depending on the arrival of reinforcements, however, for which, in anticipa- tion of these events General Hull had despatched numerous expresses; and being assured of the importance of the occupation of Amherstburg, he remained at Sandwich, carrying on an ex- cursive war by small parties, and reconnoitering the enemy's outposts with incessant vigilance. Skirmishes were frequent. In one of them Colonel M'Arthur made capture of a quantity of arms, ammunition, flour, and other provisions, and upwards of one thousand blankets. Colonel Cass, of the 3d regiment of Ohio volunteers, was or- dered with a detachment of two hundred and eighty men, to reconnoiter an advanced post of the enemy upon a long bridge, crossing Riviere Aux Canards, or the River of the Ducks, about four miles from Fort Maiden. A company of riflemen, com manded by Captain Robinson, was concealed near the bridge, with directions to fire upon and divert the attention of the guard stationed upon it, as soon as the remaining part of the detachment should bie seen on the opposite bank of the river, which was in- tended to be forded about five miles below. An unlocked for difficulty at the ford caused so much delay in the movement of the detachment, that it did not appear at the appointea ground until sunset, when, having marched, without a guide, too near the bank of the river, its progress was obstructed by a tributary COLONEL Colonel Can. creek; to pass this, a march of another mile was necessary, and time was consequently allowed for the enemy to prepare for his defence. On coming down the creek. Colonel Cass found the British already formed, and received from them a distant fire of musketry. The detachment moved on, however, in good order and with great spirit and alacrity. The British, who had been reinforced at intervals during the whole afternoon, and whose number was made up of the 41st regiment and some Indians, made several other attempts to fire, but were as often compelled to retreat, the detachment continuing to move up, regardless of their opposition. They were driven more than half a mile, when the darkness of the night made further pursuit hazardous, and Colonel Cass was content to possess the bridge and some adjoin- ing houses until morning, when, after reconnoitering the neigh- bourhood and not finding the enemy, he commenced his return to the camp at Sandwich. No accurate information could be obtained of the force opposed to the detachment, but the loss of the enemy was reported by deserters at eleven killed and wounded. The detachment lost not a single man. The bridge was aftei t'!:i I In, 84 RECONNOI88ANCE BY m'aRTHUR. ^vard8 fortified by the British with six pieces of artillery, but 1hi« ' being deemed insufficient for its defence, they removed both bridge and battery and planted their cannon behind a breastwork constructed from the timber. Three days after (19th July) Colonel M' Arthur with one hun- dred and fifty men from his own regiment, (Ohio volunteers,) on relieving a detachment which was out, proceeded to the reconnoitering ground of Colonel Cass, whence he discovered the enemy— eighty-five regulars, forty Indians, and one hundred and fifty militia protected by this battery. The Queen Charlotte of twenty guns being at the same time anchored in Detroit river, at the mouth of Aux Canards, with a gunboat cruising about her. The firing was kept up for nearly an hour between the battery and a few riflemen in advance of the troops, but at too great a distance to have effect, whilst M'Arthur was examining the Queen Charlotte. On finding thie enemy so well protected by the battery, the riflemen were ordered to retire to the detachment, but M' Arthur's desire to ascertain the true situation of the enemy, induced him to go near the broken bridge with a glass. He discovered that the Indians had principally left the battery, and was almost at the same instant informed by a messenger from the detachment that a number of them were seen passing to a road in its rear. He was now attended by Dr. M'Anaw and Captain PuthufF, who, on turning their horses to ride with him to the detachment, were fired upon by about thirty Indians, from their concealment in a brush, at the distance of only one hundred yards. They escaped, however, without being hurt, a ball intended for M'Arthur having struck his horse's head below the browband, and glancing to the ground. His men were led to the pursuit of the Indians, and drove them across Aux Canards to the battery, between the detachment and which the fire was kept up at long shot for three hours, vrithout other injury to the Americans than the wounding of two men, though several broadsides had been discharged from the Queen Charlotte. The chief, Tecumseh, celebrated for his dexterity with the tomahawk and rifle, not less than for his relentless cr-^elty in the use of them against the inhabitants of the frontier, was at the DISPOSITION OF THE TROOPS. 2ft head of the Indians. The escape, therefore, of M' Arthur and hii companions fret) a troop of savages, trained and commanded by such a warrior as Tecumseh, was almost miraculous. It was no less fortunate thnt the detachment bravely moved up at the report of the fire of the Indians, and put them to immediate flight. M' Arthur encamped Ibr the night within two miles of Aux Canards, and on the following morning returned to the army, with Colonel Cass and one hundred men, by whom he wa& then joined. Between this time and the beginning of August, no event took place which could afford the American troops an opportunity of displaying their true character. The inclemency of the weather was very unfavourable to the operations of an army. Sudden transitions from extreme heat to intense cold, followed by violent storms of rain and hail, rendered them both sickly and discon- tented. They had been all enamoured of an expedition which promised them so much honour and renown, and when they landed on the Canadian shore they were filled with such assur- ances of conquest as made their impatience for achievement almost ungovernable. The tardiness, which now seemed inseparable firom the conduct of their commander, dispirited them, and de- stroyed whatever of confidence they might have reposed in him before. The result of a council of war, however, which it was found necessary to convoke, revived all their desires, and a spirit, no less active than that with which they Had set out, pervadea the whole encampment. In two days more, by proper exertions, every arrangement would be completed for the investment of Fort Maiden. At the end of that time the heavy cannon might be ready ; if they should not;, the council recommended an attempt with the bayonet. The British garrison had been constantly deserted by the embodied Canadian militia, and a vigorous attack upon it, however gallant the defence, could not but be attended with ultimate success. The deliberatidns of the council corres- ponded with the opinions of the general, and the day was ap- pointed on which the assault was to take place. The cannon were well mounted, and embarked on floating batteries; the ammunition was already placed in wagons provided for its conveyance; the troops were animated by the prospect of a 96 vanhorne's expedition. lilii combat, and not at all doubtful of a certain and brilliant victory. A company of volunteers from Ohio, under command of Cap- tain Brush, had arrived at the river Raisin, with a quantity of provisions for the army. Although the troops were already sup- plied for many days, these provisions might be necessary in the event of conquest. The distance froui Detroit to the point at which they had arrived was thirty-six miles, and their march was liable to be intercepted by scouting partie- from the enemy. Major Vanhorrjft was therefore despatched, with one hundred and fifty men, to meet and escort them to their destination. He had nearly reached Brownstown, on his second day's march, when he was attacked in front, and on both flanks, by a very superior force, regulars and Indians. A warm engagement followed. To the Americans the odds were fearful, but their resistance was obstinate. A retreat became indispensable, but to succeed in it, the exercise of great judgment was necessary. The volunteers had confidence in that of their commander, and he brought them off, with the loss of nineteen killed and missing, and nine wounded. Among the former were Captains M'Culloch, Bostler, and Gilcrease, who fought with that gallantry which has never failed to distinguish the citizens of the state to which they be- longed ; among the latter was Captain Ulry, since dead, whose conduct was no less noble than that of his companions. Major Vanhorne had scarcely been sent firom Sandwich, when a change of measures was adopted by the general in opposition to the wishes and entreaties of all his officers. The enterprise against Maiden was abandoned, and he announced his intention of evacuating Canada and posting himself at Fort Detroit. The promulgation of his intentions was attended by an order to break up the encampment and to recross the river in the night. Conster- nation and dismay were visible in the countenance of every, the meanest soldier ; their confidence was destroyed, and they con- sidered their commander as timid and irresolute. The presence ot their own officers, on whose capabilities they implicitly relied, alone prevented one universal burst of indignation. Reluctantly, and with much murmuring, they obeyed the order; and at day- break of the morning of the eighth they found themselves garri BATTLE OF MA.GUAGA. soned at Detroit Here the intelligence of the late skirmisl; wa» received. The communication, which had been opened by the army between Raisin and their present post, was shut up by the savages. It was indispensably necessary that it should be again opened, or the provisions at that river could never reach the garrison, which, in a few weeks, would be in want of rations. To Lieutenant-Colonel James Miller the command of a strong detachment was for this purpose assigned. He immediately took up his line of march with three hundred regulars and two hun- dred militia. The regulars were of the 4th regiment, which had acquired imperishable renown, under the gallant Colonel Boyd, at Tippecanoe. The British and Indians anticipated the return of the detachment which they had driven back, and calculated that it would be largely reinforced. Their own body was therefore in- creased to a number, competent as they supposed, to drive off, or perhaps to capture them. They were seven hundred and fifty strong,* and mip^^it be reinforced during an engagement from Maiden, opposite to which was the village of Brownstown, which they had taken possession of a few days before. They fortified the ground at a place called Maguaga, nearly four miles from Brownstown, by felling trees and erecting breastworks. Behind these they intended to conceal themselves until the Americans should attain the point at which they might deal out to them what measure of destruction they pleased. The Indians were commanded by their great leader, Tecumseh ; the united force by M&jor Muir cf the British army. On the 9th, the American troops, though they proceeded with great caution, reached the ground on which the enemy desired to see them before they discovered their ambuscade. Captain Snel- ling, commanding the advance, was attacked from it, and sus- tained a combat until the main body came up, when the British and Indians sprang suddenly from behind the works, formed a line of battle with great celerity, and commenced a brisk fire, accompanied with all the demonstrations of savage war. Sudden and unexpected as was the attack, the intrepid commander of the American force was not the least dismayed ; his troops received the shock without shrinking, and with a coolness and sagacity 64 28 BATTLE OF MAGUAGA. \» hich are commonly looked for in soldiers of long experience, he as suddenly drew up his men, and after a rapid fire, charged upon the enemy with such unlocked for firmness, as to throw them into complete disorder. The obstinacy of the Indians, however, would not admit of flight; they might not act in concert with the British, and resorting to their own kind of combat, they were resolved not to abandon the contest. But the British had now recovered from their confusion, and a scene of indescribable horror ensued. Five hundred Indians, led on and encouraged by the regulars, (many of whom were like themselves, almost naked,) frightfully painted, and sending forth such dreadful whooping and yelling, as might have appalled almost any other troops, were fighting on every side of the American detachment; but on every side they were gallantly repulsed. No such means could induce these brave men to forsake their standard, or to disgrace their nation. They saw danger strengthening around them, they knew what kind of destiny awaited their defeat, and they were resolutely determined to repel the foe, or to yield only with their lives. Colonel Miller found himself contending against a force more than one-third superior to his own, but he was animated by the same spirit which was exhibited by his men. Over such men, headed by such a commander, the enemy could not hope to be victorious. The firmness of the Americans had that effect upon the British and Indians, which it was intended by their savage noises should be produced on them. They found that they had no terrors to resort to which could attain their end, and they began from necessity to give ground. The obstinacy of the detachment was equal to the determined character of the Indians, and the latter became first intimidated. The united forces were driven, inch by inch, into Browns- town, and would have been beaten into submission, had not a squadron of boats been ready to receive them at that place. They made as rapid a retreat across the river as their oarsmen knew how, and returned to Maiden with an inferior force to that with which they had left it. Their loss was, in regulars, seven killed and wounded ; of Indians they left nearly one hundred on the field. In the stout contest, which the detachment kept up for more I a e (V i^i.' t «i i |1 t_* (' m 'A it' :w 1 f 1 V than tw thirty a themsel and Eni times di latter w< townun to returr an enga further. same ex] was that order. Captai • escort, w of Angus cation be sufficient with safe in conju] own, proi The detj severe ari script to on consul to proceei on detern Detroit. evening o in the tra On the achieved, since call diately wi the 15th, to his insi sions as c( and ammi m FORT CHICAGO ABANDONED. 31 than two hours, there were killed fifteen, and wounded between thirty and forty. The officers who principally distinguished themselves were Captain Baker, Lieutenants Larabee and Peters, and Ensign Whistler. The first of them was shot three different times during the battle; the second lost his left arm, and the two latter were also wounded. Colonel Miller remained at Browns- town until the meridian of the next day, when he received orders to return to Detroit. The troops were exhausted by so vigorous an engagement, and they would have been unable to proceed further. A fresh detachment would probably be sent upon the same expedition; and Colonel Miller, knowing how necessary it was that his men should be refreshed, was not averse from this order. Captain Brush was still waiting at the river Raisin for an escort, when he received a letter from General Hull, of the llth of August, in the following words: "The state of the communi- cation between this [Detroit] and the river Raisin is such, that a sufficient detachment cannot be sent to bring on the provisions with safety. You will therefore remain at the river Raisin, and in conjunction with the regiment, Le Croix's corps, and your own, protect the provisions and yourselves until further orders. The detachment sent for the purpose are so fatigued, after a severe and victorious battle, that it will return here." In a post- script to this letter, it was left to the discretion of Captain Brush, on consulting with Colonel Anderson, and the bearer of the letter, to proceed by a route on an upper road, crossing the river Huron; on determining on which, immediate notice was to be given at Detroit. Colonels Cass and M'Arthur were despatched, on the evening of the 14th, with three himdred and fifty men, to assist in the transportation of the provisions through that channel. On the same day on which the victory at Maguaga was achieved. Captain Heald, the commandant at Fort Chicago, since called Fort Dearborn, received orders to proceed imme- diately with his command to Detroit, by land. Accordingly ci the 16th, after delivering to the friendly Indians, in confonnit} to his instructions, all the goods in the factory, and such provi sions as could not be taken away, and destroying the surplus arm» and ammunition, he commenced his march vidth fifty- foui r&gu 32 SURRENDER OP HEALD's PARTY. ii M pi' :. il'f hi lifl m lib lars and twelve militia, the whole amount of his force, and was escorted by Captain Wells, of Fort Wayne, and a few friendly Indians of the Miami tribe, sent thither for that purpose. As the place would now be defenseless, the inhabitants, principally women and children, were directed to accompany the troops. The little party had not proceeded" more than one mile and a half, between a high sand-bank and the lake, when it was dis- covered that a number of hostile Indians were preparing to attack them from behind the bank. Captain Heald immediately ordered his company to ascend it; and they had scarcely done so, when an action commenced, in which, after firing one round and charging with great velocity upon the Indians, the latter were obliged to give way in front, but joining the party on the American flanks, they kept up their fire, and got possession of all the horses, provisions, and baggage of every description. The friendly Indians standing aloof, refus- ing to take part in the contest, and apparently awaiting the issue, that they might determine on which side to belong, made it necessary for Captain Heald to draw off his few men, and take possession of a small elevation in an open prairie, out of shot of the bank or any other cover. Here he received an offer of pro- tection from an Indian chief on condition of his surrender, which, without much reliance on its faith, he accepted, because of the great disparity of force, the Indian warriors amounting to nearly five hundred. Their loss was about fifteen. Of the Americans, twenty-six regulars and all the militia were killed : among them, Captain Wells and Ensign George Roman, both officers of great gallantry. Two women and twelve children were also killed. The Indians had it now in their power to move to any part of the country through which the communication had been formed between the river Raisin and Detroit, and numbers of them were accordingly posted at several points on that road, whilst a stronger party proceeded against Fort Wayne. Their absence was taken advantage of by Captain Heald, whom they Loi - taken to the mouth of St. Josephs, and who now, with his lady, procured a convey- ance to Michilimackinac, Avhere he was received politely by the commandant, Captain Roberts. Mrs. Heald was wounded by six nhot — the captain by two. GENERAL BROCK S SUMMONS. 33 Any attempt to accelerate the transportation of the provisions would now be useless, for on the 13th the British had taken a position opposite Detroit. Thev were occupied in throwing up breastworks during that and the two following days, at the end of which time they had completed a battery of two eighteen pounders and an eight inch howitzer, without any interruption from the American fort. Major Denny, of the volunteers, who had been left in garrison at Sandwich with two hundred and fifty infantry, and a corps of artillerists, was obliged on their approach to make his retreat across the river. This he effected in good order. On the 15th a flag of truce was received from the British, with the following summons: " Sir — The force at my disposal author- izes me to require of you the surrender of Fort Detroit. It is far from my inclination to join in a war of extermination, but you must be aware that the numerous body of Indians, who have attached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest commences. You will nnd me disposed to enter into such conditions as will satisfy the most scrupulous sense of honour. Lieutenant-Colonel M'Donnell and Major Glegg are fully authorized to conclude any arrangement that may lead to prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood. I have the honour to be, &o. ISAAC BROCK, Maj. Gen. " His Ex. Brig. Gen. Hull, com'g at Fort Detroit." To this summons it was returned for answer, that the "town and fort would be defended to the last extremity." The British then opened their batteries upon the town, and continued to throw their shells into the ijrt from four o'clock until midnight. The fire was returned until dark with little effect. At daylight the next morning the firing again commenced, v/hilst the British, under the protection of their ships, were landing their forces at Spring Wells. At about ten o'clock they proceeded in a close column, twelve in front, along the bank of the river towards the fort. From Fort Detroit the enemy could not have been prevented from landing, had he attempted it, even in its more immediate vicinity. Its situation had been originally chosen without skill ; the town actually standing between it and the river, and the fool 34 SURRENDER OF FORT DETROIT. i of the scarp being more than two hundred rods from it. On the evening of the 15th it was, therefore, suggested to General Hull that the British should be opposed on the margin of the river, that there was a position at that point whence they could be de- stroyed, with the utmost certainty, as fast as they could land ; and that a strong battery, well manned there, would be a better secu- rity than the Fort of Detroit. The suggestions of General Hull's officers were too often dis- regarded. The enemy had now landed, and no obstruction could prevent his approach until he should be either in the rear of thd town or of the tort, when all the strength of ihe latter might be successfully brought against him. The 4th regiment was stationed within the fort; the Ohio volunteers, and part of the Michigan militia, behind pickets, from which the enemy's whole flank could be annoyed ; the residue of the militia were in the town to resist the Indians, and two twenty- four pounders, loaded with grape shot, were posted on an emi- nence from which they could sweep the advancing column. The superiority of position was apparent on the side of the Americans, and their force at least equal to that of the enemy. They had four hundred rounds of twenty-four pound shot, already fixed, and about one hundred thousand cartridges made. Their provi- sions were sufficient for fifteen days, and every man of them awaited the approach of the enemy with a full and eager expecta- tion of victory. The head of the column had advanced within five hundred yards of the American line, when General Huil ordered the troops to retreat to the fort, and not by any means to open the twenty-four pounders upon the enemy. The feelings of the soldiers were not now to be restrained, as they had been a few days before at Sandwich. Indignation at the conduct, and contempt for the capacity of the commanding general, could not longer be disguised, and they loudly uttered their discontent. They entered the fort, however, which, though crowded so that any movement was impracticable, was scarcely capable of con- taining them. Here they were directed to stack their arms, and they had the mortificaiion to see the flag of tjieir country struck to the invaders, and the fort surrendered, without the discharge of a single gun. A white flag was suspended froni its walls, and ::| such wa British ( instance of a mil; and thei brave tn same en and lay other th themseb Note absent i Raisin, i and gari gan, we general i sand fiv< of twent part of -^ tionary which h received within 8 tioned, i nearer aj the best which c< ing, or hi attacked troops hi not imag rupted si ing dista the last i son was i it. The to the fol for the si li SURRENDER OF FORT I) TROIT. t7 such was the astonishment, even of the enemy's troops, t' ft British officer rode up to ascertain its meaning. It waH ih< rst instance, perhaps, which they had ever known, of the suri ler of a mihtary post without a previous arrangement of the terms and they had little expectation of so tame a submission. Those brave troops, who had but eight days before beaten and put this same enemy to flight, were now obliged to march out in review, and lay down their arms to an inferior force, who had done no other thing towards the capture of the garrison than showing themselves before it. Not only the heroes of Brownstown, but the detachments then absent from the fort, the volunteers and all the provisions at Raisin, and those of no inconsiderable amount, the fortified posts and garrisons, and the whole territory and inhabitants of Michi- gan, were delivered over by capitulation to the commanding general of the British forces. Forty barrels of powder, two thou- sand five hundred stand of arras, and an armament, (consisting of twenty-five iron, and eight brass pieces of ordnance,) the greater part of which had been captured from the British in the revolu- tionary war, were surrendered with them. The detachment which had been sent out under Colonels Cass and M' Arthur, had received orders the night before to return ; but when they arrived within sight of Detroit, before which the enemy was already star tioned, it became necessary to use excessive caution in their nearer approach. They were accidentally thrown into a situation, the best for annoying and cutting off the retreat of the enemy, which could possibly be selected ; and if they had heard any fir- ing, or had seen any indication of an engagement, they might have attacked the rear of the column, and placed the enemy's raw troops between their own fire and that of the fort. They could not imagine what measures were in operation, when an uninter- rupted silence prevailed between two hostile armies within fight- ing distance of each other; the arrangement for a surrender was the last among their surmises, because they knew that the garri- son was superior to any force which could then be brought against it. Their doubts were relieved by a message firom General Hull to the following effect : " I have signed articles of capitulation for the surrender of this garrison, in which you and your detach J :':i 88 REMARKS ON THE SURRENDER. IJ :' '! ment are prisoners of war. Such part of the Ohio militia as have not joined the army, will he permitted to return to tbeii homes on condition that they will not serve during the war. Their arms, however, will be given up, if belonging to the public." This despatch was forwarded by Colonel M'Arthur to Captain Brush. The volunteers and militia returned to their respective homes, but General Hull and the 4th regiment, and part of the 1st, were taken to Montreal, whence they were destined for Qu^ bee. General Brock issued his proclamation announcing to the inhabitants of Michigan the cession of that territory to the arms of his Britannic majesty, and establishing regulations for its civil government. The capitulation of an immense territory, and the surrender of the whole north-western army, which was composed of men feelingly alive to the honour of their country, ambitious of distinguishing themselves in arms, and most of whom had left their families and their friends to encounter the fatigues and dan- gers of a long campaign, excited a sensation among the people from one extremity of the country to tae other, not less indignant than that which was felt by the troops themselves. When General Brock said that' the force at his disposal authorized him to require the surrender, he must have had a very exalted opinion of the prowess of his own soldiers, or a very mistaken one of the ability of those which were coihmanded by the American gene- ral. The force at his disposal was inferior to the garrison of Detroit, even in the absence of the detachments. In a letter to Sir George Prevost, he states the American force at two thousand five hundred — which, however, could not be correct, as it had met with losses in the different skirmishes — and his own at six hundred white troops, and six hundred Indians. By the return of his quartermaster-general, it consisted of — British regulars, infantry and artillery, . . . 382 Indians, principally Chippewas, Hurons and Pottawatamies, 650 Militia, in regular uniforms, 362 Total, 1394 Of these, few of the Indians were visible, as they generally skulked in the woods, and did not advance upon the fort with the British column. The force of General Hull's army, by the morn- GENERAL HULL S DESPATCH. 89 ing report, was one thousand and sixty, exclusive of the detach ment of three hundred and fifty men, and three hundred Michi gan militia, then out on duty, which would have made seventeeu hundred and ten ; superior to the enemy by three hundred and sixteen. On the arrival of Captain Brush from Raisin, his total force would have amounted to more than eighteen hundred and sixty. Had the troops remained at Sandwich till the provisions were brought on, the surrender of this force to a body of troops inferior in quality as well as number, would have been prevented. The British did not appear at that place until they had heard of its evacuation, they were induced to follow up the American army, because of its abrupt departure from the Canadian shore, and it has been matter of conjecture whether General Hull's conduct was the result of cowardice, mental imbecility and moral depra- vity, or corrupt perfidy. In his official despatches to the govern- ment he accounted for it by saying, " the surrender of Michili- mackinac opened the northern hive of Indians, and they were swarming down in every direction. Reinforcements from Niagara had arrived at Amherstburg under the command of Colonel Proctor. The desertion of the militia ceased. Besides the rein- forcements that came by water, I received information of a very con- siderable force under the command of Major Chambers, on the river Le Tranche, with four field-pieces, and collecting the militia on his route, evidently destined for Amherstburg, and in addition to this combination and increase of force, contrary to all expectations the Wyandots, Chippewas and other tribes with whom I had the most friendly intercourse, at once passed over to Amherstburg and accepted the tomahawk and scalping knife. There being now a vast number of Indians at the British post, they were sent to the river Huron, Brownstown, and Maguaga, to intercept my communication. " Under this sudden and unexpected change of things, and having received an express from General Hall commanding op- posite the British shore on the Niagara river, by which it appeared that there was no prospect of any co-operation from that quarter, and the two senior officers of the artillery having stated to me an opinion that it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to 40 oenehal hull's despatch. iiW,, hum 1-^ IJ.i! pass the Turkey river and the river Aux Canards with twenty, four-pounders, and that they could not be transported by water, as the Queen Charlotte, which carries eighteen twenty-four- pounders, lay in the river Detroit above the mouth of the river Aux Canards, and as it appeared indispensably necessary to open the communication to the river Raisin and the Miami, I found myself compelled to suspend the operations against Amherstburg and concentrate the main force of the army at Detroit, fully in- tending at that time, after the communication was opened, to recross the river and pursue the object at Amherstburg, and strongly desirous of continuing protection to a very large number of the inhabitants of Upper Canada who had voluntarily accepted it under my proclamation ; I established a fortress on the banks of the river a little below Detroit, calculated for a garrison of three hundred men. On the evening of the 7th and morning of the 8th instant, the army, excepting the garrison of two hundred and fifty infantry and a corps of artillerists, all under the command of Major Denny of the Ohio volunteers, rscrossed the river and encamped at Detroit." But the greater part of the statement contained in his de- spatches was contradicted by his officers of the highest grades, and particularly that in which, after describing the approach of the enemy, he continued — " It now became necessary eitlier to fight the enemy in the field, collect the whole force in the fort, or propose terms of capitu- lation. I could not have carried into the field more than six hundred men, and left any adequate force in the fort. There were landed at that time of the enemy a regular force of much more than that number, and twice the number of Indians. Con- sidering this great inequality of force, I did not think it expedient to adopt the first measure. The second must have been attended with a great sacrifice of blood, and no possible advantage, because the contest could not have been sustained for more than a day for the want of powder, and but a very few days for the want of provisions. In addition to this. Colonels M' Arthur and Cass would have been in a most hazardous situation. I feared nothing Imt the last alternative. I have dared to adopt it. I well know GENERAL HULL PUNISHED. 41 the high responsibility of the measure, and I take the whole of it on myself" With this account the government were not satisfied ; nor was the court-martial before whom, on being exchanged for thirty British prisoners, he was tried. After an investigation of all the facts, that court declined mak- ing a decision on the charge of treason, which was alleged against him, but said that they did not believe, from any thing which had come before them, t^at he had been guilty of that act. On the second charge, for cowardice — and the third, for neglect of duty and unofficerlike conduct, they condemned him. A sen- tence of death was passed upon him; but in consideration of his revolutionary services and his advanced age, he was earnestly recommended to the mercy of the president, who remitted the sentence, but directed a general order to be issued, by which his name was struck from the rolls of the army. Could that genius and enterprise, which distinguished the other ofiicers of the north-western army, have been imparted to its commander, a more glorious issue to the American arms must have been the necessary result. The conduct of the several de- tachments, and the ample success of each excursion, gave an almost incontestible proof that a vigorous prosecution of the war- fare would have obtained complete victory. Had the effect of these successes been followed up by a rapid movement of the army itself, and proper advantages been taken of the desertions from the enemy's garrison, the whole country would have been subjugated, or laid open to future expeditions, and the object of the present would doubtless have been achieved. Weakness and imbecility, however, supplied the place of military talent, and the result was different from that which was looked to by the army and the nation. 42 NAVAL CAMPAIGN OF 1812. CHAPTER II. l^abal Campaign of OSia. i ip P S Contemporaneous with the disaster at Detroit was a succession of brilliant achieve- ments on the ocean, paralleled perhaps, but never yet surpassed; the intelligence of ; which entirely dispelled the temporary gloom which pervaded the minds, and filled with grief the hearts of the American people. At the commence- ment of hostilities, such of the United States vessels of war whose equipments were entire, had orders to proceed immediately to sea, A squadron of three frigates, one brig, and one sloop of war, sailed on the 21st of June from New York, in quest of several of the enemy's frigates, known to be at that time cruising off the en- trance to that harbour. On the 3d of July, the frigate Essex, Captain Porter, went to sea from the same port; and the Consti- tution, Captain Hull, sailed from the Chesapeake bay on the 12th. The brigs Nautilus, Viper, and Vixen, were at the same time cruising off the coast, and the sloop of war Wasp was at sea, on her return from France. On the morning of the 17th, an English squadron, consisting ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION. 48 Eicape of the ConitUutlon. ■)£ the Africa, a ship of the line, the frigates Shannon, Guerriere, Belvidere, and iEolus, and a brig and schooner, the nearest of the frigates being within gun-shot, gave chase to the Constitution. A calm prevailing during the whole day, towing and warping were unremittingly resorted to ; but the enemy, by attaching all the boats of the squadron to two of the frigates, were gaining so much upon the Constitution, as to bring their bow guns to bear upon her, though they received several discharges from her stem chasers. The chase continued all night. On the following morning (18th) at daylight, the Constitution, taking advantage of a fresh breeze which just then sprang up, spread all her can- vass, outsailed, and escaped from her pursuers, and arrived at Boston on the evening of the 26th — whence she sailed upon a cruise on the 2d of August. The chase continued for sixty hours ; the ship's crew were all that time at their stations, and the escape of the frigate from seven sail, two of which were warped up by more than six times the number of men and boats employed by the Constitution, has been considered as an incontestible proof of the superior skill and seamanship of her commander. Thrt 66 44 ESSEX AND ALERT. ' . i officers of the pursuing ships, one of whom was afterwards cap- tured by Captain Hull, have spoken of it in terms of the highest admiration. Congress having authorized the president to issue letters of marque and reprisals, the ocean vras very soon covered with pri- vate armed ships from almost every port in the United States. One of the first which sailed was the schooner Atlas, commanded by Captain David Moffat; who, on the 3d of August, fell in with two armed ships of the enemy, and at 11 a. m. engaged them both. The action commenced by a broadside of musketry from the Atlas, and was continued without intermission until noon, when one of the enemy's ships struck her colours. The whole fire of the Atlas was then brought iagainst the largest ship, when that which had already struck again opened her broadside. A few shot firom the Atlas, however, drove every man from her decks, and compelled her a second time to yield. At twenty minutes, p. m., the largest ship struck also, and on taking pos- session of them, Captain Moffat found them to be the ship Pur- suit, of four hundred and fifty tons, sixteen guns, eighteens and nines, and thirty-five men; and the ship Planter, of twelve guns, twelve-pounders, and fifteen men. During the action the Atlas was very much disabled in her rigging, and had two men killed and five wounded. Among the latter, a seaman of the name of William Curl, who behaved with great coolness, and refused to quit his quarters, though he had received a wound which after- wards proved to be mortal. The three vessels were making a port, when a British frigate hove in sight and recaptured the Planter ; but the Atlas, and her largest prize, arrived safely in the Delaware. On the 13th of August the frigate Essex, which had now been cruising forty days, fell in with the British sloop of war Alert, Captain T. L. P. Langhome, of twenty guns, and one hundred and thirty men ; who immediately ran down upon the frigate's weather quarter, gave three cheers, commenced an action, and after eight minutes firing, struck her colours, with seven feet water in her hold, her hull cut to pieces, and three of her men wounded. The officers and crew of the Essex, which received aol the slightest injury, were highly amused at the boldness of CRiriSE OF THE ESSEX. 43 the enemy, who must have calculated on an easy conquest over the American frigate. A few broadsides, however, deliberately fired into the sloop of war, brought down her colours ; and aftei concluding an arrangement with Captain L?nghorne to thai effect, Captain Porter dismantled her of her armament, and put- ting all his prisoners, being about five hundred, on board, sent her under the command of one of his officers, Lieutenant J. P. Wilmer, as a cartel to St. Johns, in Newfoundland ; whence she was instructed to sail for New York with whatever American prisoners might be given in exchange. About seventeen days after, late in the afternoon of the 30th, Captain Porter discovered, and stood under easy sail, for one of the enemy's frigates, which was at the same time standing for him. The Essex was cleared, and the crew anxious for an en- gagement. Being apprehensive that the enemy might not find him in the night, Captain Porter hoisted a light at the masthead, and at nine o'clock discovered a signal of two flashes and a blue- light, at about four miles distance. The Essex stood on for the point at which this signal was given until midnight, but not get- ting a sight of the enemy he hove to, under an expectation that the hostile ship would do the same, until morning. To the great surprise of Captain Porter, and the mortification of his crew, at daylight the enemy was not to be seen. On the 4th of September, in attempting to get into New York, the Essex was intercepted and chased by two large ships of war, who gained her wake and came up with great fleetness ; but she escaped from them by manoeuvering in the night, having first hoisted American colours and fired a gun to windward. One of the ships being considerably to windward of the other, and sbov:. five miles astern of the Essex, it was determined to heave about as soon as it became dark, and in the event of not being able to pass, to fire a broadside into her and lay her on board. The wind heading the Essex off, however, at thirty minutes after eight she bore away, and being cut off from New York, effected her escape into the bay of Delaware, where she arrived on the 7th without the loss of a man — ^having made nine captures in addi- tion to the Alert. The Alert returned from St. Johns, and arrived 46 CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. T at New Vork on the 16th of September, with two hundred and seventy American prisoners. On the 28th of August the Constitution returned to Boston from a cruise commenced upon the second of that month, and signalized by a brilliant and victorious contest with a British ship of war, the commander of which had repeatedly threatened the capture of any one of the American frigates which it might be his fortune to encounter. The frigate Guerriere had been sailing off the coast for several months previous to the declaration of war, and had frequently shown herself at the entrances of the different ports, with her name written in large characters upor a flag at one of her mastheads, and at another the words "not the Little BeW — ^in allusion to an affair which had taken place between a sloop of war of that name and the United States frigate President, in which the latter ship retorted an assault committed on her, in time of peace, by discharging two broadsides at, and nearly sink- ing, the sloop of war.* Captain Hull had been informed of the r: i * On the 16th of May, the Little Belt, commanded by Captain Bingham, and mount- ing eighteen guns, was hailed by the President, to know what ship she was. The captain of the Little Belt repeated the question, without answering it, and Commodore Rodgers again asked, " What ship is thati" This demand was followed by a shot from the Little Belt. The President returned it, and received a broadside from her. Com- modore Rodgers then gave a general order to fire, and having silenced the other, again inquired what ship she was. He now received an answer which informed him of the character of the vessel, and he lay to, in order to assist her in repairing hei damages. "This occurrence," says Mr. Cooper, in his Naval History, «• gave rise to much dis- cussion in America, and widened the breach which already existed between the American and English nations. The account given by Captain Bingham differed essen' tially from that of Commodore Rodgers, and official investigations were made on both ■ides. On that of the Americans, a formal court of inquiry was held, and every sea offi- cer in the ship was examined, as well as a great many of the petty officers. The testi- mony was very clear, and it was in a great measure free from the discrepancies that usually distinguish the accounts of battles, whether by sea or land. The fact that the Little Belt fired the first gun, was established by the oath of the officer who ordered the gun fired in return. This gentleman distinctly testified that he gave the command, under a standing order of the ship, and in consequence of having seen the flash and heard the report of the Little Belt's gun. He not only testified that he heard the report of the gun, but that he also heard the noise made by the shot which had entered the mast. Other officers and men corroborated this account, and in a way to render their evidence not only consistent with itself, but with probability. As the President was Tery fully officered, the number and respectability of the witnesses put at rest all cavil, ling about the facts." i>: >i. CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. 47 ./ X Coiiiiiiodore Hull, appearance of a single ship of war, to the eastward of the coast, and immediately stood in that direction. Between the 2d and the 19th of August, he made several captures of merchantmen, and recaptured an American brig which had been taken by the Avenger. On that day, in lat. 41 deg. 42 min. N., and long. 55 deg. 83 min. W., he discovered a large frigate of the enemy, set all sail in chase, and came up with and captured her after a spirited engagement of forty-five minutes. She proved to be the frigate Guerriere, of thirty-eight guns, but carrying forty-nine, and commanded by Captain James R. Dacres. She was dis- covered at about two, p. m. and at four, the Constitution was closing fast upon her. At ten minutes past four the enemy hoisted English colours, and commenced the action by firing several guns. ITie Constitution's fire was reserved until she could be put in suuh a position that every shot should take effect; and the sailing-master, Aylwin, brought her so skilfully into action, that Captain Hull's views were completely accomplished. But the enemy not comprehending them, suspected the Americans of It ill iff i 1 ■ " t 1 ir- 4 ^ f ; V, . ■ • i F' ::j. f! ■ ;l. !;•• 1 If ■■- -v. ','h l" iff ^ii 1 L. 4S CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. timidity, or of ignorance i» the art of gunnery, and discharged his broadsides with an assurance of crippUng his antagonist before he might open his battery. The crew of the Constitution anxiously awaiting the orders of their commander to fire on the foe, were themselves filled with surprise at his receiving so many rounds without yet returning them. Captain Hull, at his station how- ever, was with great judgment reconnoitering the enemy with his glass; until finding that the ability and excellent seamanship of his sailmg-master, brought up the ship to the exact station upon the enemy's beam from which he knew he could effectually annoy him, he issued his orders to fire broadside after broadside with the greatest possible rapidity. His crew, now perfectly entering into a plan which none but an. able seaman could have conceived, executed his commands with as much alacrity as was required, and after fifteen minutes close and constant cannonading, the enemy's mizzen-mast having gone over his starboard quarter, the Constitution was placed upon his larboard bow, in a raking posi- tion, from which slie swept the decks of the Guerriere with grape and musketry. The enemy's ship became now unmanageable, and the Constitution prepared to lay her on board. Lieutenant Bush attempted to throw his marines on her deck, when he was killed by a musket-ball, and the Guerriere, at the same moment, getting clear of the Constitution, shot ahead; but it being impos sible to get her before the wind, she was exposed to every raking fire of her opponent. Her fore and mainmasts went over the side; her hull was cut almost to pieces, and at twenty minutes past five she surrendered. The execution of the Constitution's fire was dreadfully severe, and the management of the vessel reflected great credit on her officer. Her loss was but seven killed, and seven wounded. The Guerriere's loss was about one hundred and two— in wounded sixty-two, in killed and missing upwards of forty. The Constitution had some spars and much of her rigging shot away ; after repairing which, and getting out the prisoners, she set fire to and blew up the Guerriere, which was in so sinking a <5ondition that she could not be brought into port. Captain Hull spoke m high terms of the crew, from the smallest boy in the stiip to the oldest seaman. The officers behaved with great gal- CONSriTUTION AND GUERRIERE. 49 lantry. The brave and amiable Lieutenant William Bush, th(» first naval officer who fell in this war, distinguished himself by intrepidly leading on the boarders, when he received the ball which deprived b^ country of his services. Mr. Aylwin, who manoeuvered the ship so well throughout the battle, was severely wounded, and on his return to port was promoted to the rank of a lieutenant. The first officer. Lieutenant Morris, was danger- ously wounded ; his conduct procured for him the applause of the government, and a promotion to the rank of a post-captain. Captain Hull was received, with a degree of joy bordering on enthusiasm, by the citizens of every town through which he passed on his way to the navy department. Many of the state legislatures voted him their thanks and a sword ; the freedom of several cities was presented to him, each in a gold box; and the people of Charlestown and Philadelphia subscribed for the pur- chase of two elegant pieces of plate. The Congress of the United States voted him, and his officers and crew, their thanks — ^and the sum of fifty thousand dollars. The Guerriere was one of the finest and largest class of frigates in the British navy ; a fact which is certified in a letter to Lord Keith from a British officer. Captain Thomas Lavie, of the frigate Blanche — in which ship, on the 19th of July, 1806, off the Faro Islands, after a contest of the same length, (forty-five minutes,) he captured the French frigate Le Guerriere, commanded by Mon- sieur Hubert of the legion of honour. His letter states, "ic Guerreire is of the largest class of frigates, mounting fifty guns, with a complement of three hundred an^ seventeen men.'* The squadron which had sailed on the 21st of June, under the command of Commodore Rodgers, and which consisted of the President, of forty-four guns, (flag ship;) United States, forty- four, Captain Decatur; Congress, thirty-six. Captain John Smith; Hoinet, sixteen, Lieutenant-Commandant Lawrence; and Argus, sixteen, LieutenantrCommandant Sinclair, returned from the cruise, and arrived in Boston harbour on the 31st of August, with alwut one hundred and twenty English prisoners on board, hav ing been out seventy-two days. These vessels had been off the English channel, along the coast of France, Spain, and Portugal, within thirty miles of the Rock of Lisbon ; thence to Madeira PRESIDENT AND BELVIDERE. Commodore Decatur. Island, thence off Coro and Flores, and thence back to the Banks, and by Nova Scotia to Boston. They were, most of this time, in search of the Jamaica fleet; though on the third day out their attention was diverted by the appearance of a large sail, which was afterwards known to be the British frigate Belvidere, Captain B. Byron, and to which they gave chase. The President being a superior sailer to the rest of the squadron, was brought within gun-shot of the enemy. The breeze inclining to the westward and becoming lighter, however, the Belvidere had the advantage; at one p. M. she hoisted English colours. At four, the wind having changed, so that the two vessels sailed nearly alike. Commodore Rodgers determined to fire his bow chase guns at the rigging and spars, in the expectation of crippling the enemy, so that her escape would be prevented, or at least that the President might be enabled to come up. The fire was returned from the enemy's stem guns, and was kept up on both sides until thirty minutes past four, when one of the President's chase guns bursted, and killed and wounded sixteen men — among the latter the commo- dore ; and by the explosion of the passing-box, from which the gun was served with powder, l)oth the main and forecastle decks m its neighbourhood were much shattered. The helm was then ACTION ON LAKE ONTARIO. 01 put to starboard, and the discharge of the President's broadside wounded, and considerably injured, though it did not destroy, the spars and rigging of the Belvidere. The President began now to lose ground, no hope was left of bringing the enemy to close action, except that derived from being to windward, and the pro bability that the breeze might favour the President first, and the commodore ordered her to be steered close after him, and the bow chase guns to be kept playing on his spars, rigging and stern At five, the enemy's stern guns annoyed the President so much, that the commodore determined on another broadside, which being discharged, was found to have wounded the fore-topsail yard of the Belvidere : after this, the pursuit was kept up until eleven p. m. The President gave two more broadsides, but the Belvidere having stove and threw overboard her boats, and every thing which could be possibly spared ; and having cut away her anchors, and started about fourteen tons of water, outsailed the squadron and effected her escape. Six men were killed and wounded by the Belvidere's fire, and sixteen by the accident on board the President, making in all twenty-two, among whom, beside the commodore, were five midshipmen, one lieutenant of marines, and one lieutenant of the ship. While these events were transpiring on the ocean, several naval affairs took place upon the lakes, more inferior in their magnitude than in the heroism of the persons concerned in them. On the 30th of July, the brig Julia of one thirty-two-pounder, and two sixes, was fitted out at Sackett's Harbour, with orders to proceed to Ogdensburg. On the 31st, upon entering the St. Lawrence, within sight of Brockville, ten miles from her destination, she discovered the Earl Moira of eighteen guns, and the Duke of Gloucester of ten, lying to. The Julia bore down within three- quarters of a mile of them, and came to action. At half-past four p. M. the enemy opened their fire, and the engagement continued three hours and a half, during which time, numerous attempts were made to board the Julia by the boats of the Duke, but the thirty-two-pounder being well fought, the enemy were obliged to relinquish that plan. Both vessels hauled up under the land battery, and kept up a heavy fire. At eight o'clock, the Julia pro- ceeded to Ogdensburg, without the loss of a man. The enemy's i i -■■* liS Hi 62 LIEUTENANT ELLIOT's EXPEDITION. loss has never been ascertained. In all the engagement three shot only struck the hull ; one went through the jib, and another pierced the gun carriage of the Julia. Her crew were all volun- teers; Lieutenant H. Wells having the command, Samuel Dixon being sailing-master, and Captain Benedict being on board with a small company of riflemen, acting as marines. Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliot, of the United States navy, had been ordered to the Niagara river, to superintend the building of the vessels at Black Rock for the service on Lake Erie. The British brig Detroit, of six-pound long guns, formerly the United States brig Adams, which had been taken at the surrender of Detroit, and the brig Caledonia, of two small guns, both well appointed and supplied with blunderbusses, pistols, muskets, cutlasses, boarding-pikes, and battle-axes, came down the lake and anchored under the protection of Fort Erie, on the morning of the eighth of October. Lieutenant Elliot planned an expedition against them, which, because there were but few seamen at the station, was to be executed by volunteers from the army. This plan was com- municated to General Smyth, who immediately agreed to supply the regular^' to man two boats to attack and cut out the enemy's vessels. Several companies of artillery and infantry, who arrived at the rock only a few days before, on hearing the proposal for volunteers, stepped forward to a man, and such was the eagerness of all the troops, that it became necessary to resort to lot. Fifty men only were wanted : Lieutenant Elliot having heard that the same number of seamen were at a short distance from him, on their route to the naval station, and who arrived at twelve o'clock on the morning of that day, and whom, though they came off a march of five hundred miles, he determined should be also of the expedition. At four o'clock in the afternoon the selection was com- pleted, and the men stationed in two boats, (fifty in each,) com- mandetl ^y Lieutenant Elliot and Sailing-Master Watts. In the same boat with the former, was Lieutenant Isaac Roach, and with the latter. Captain N. Towson, both of the artillery, and officers of great merit, who had been fortunate enough to draw the suc- cessful lots. About three hours before daylight of the following morning, the boats put off from the mouth of Buffalo creek, and in two hours were alongside the vessels. CAPTURE OF THE DETROIT AND CALEDONIA. 03 In ten minutes the crews of each were secured, the topsails sheeted home, and the vessels under way. The wind not l)eing sufhciently strong to get them up against a rapid current into the lake, thoy were obliged to run down the Niagara, by the forts, under a strong fire of round, grape, and canister, from a numbei of pieces of heavy ordnance and flying artillery. They anchored within four hundred yards of the enemy's battery. The oflicer commanding these was hailed, and informed that if another gun was fired, the prisoners should be brought on deck and share the fate which might attend the American crew. This threat was disregarded, but the humanity of the American officers prevented them from executing it, though a constant and destructive fire was kept up from the enemy. The Caledonia succeeded in get- ting under the batteries at Black Rock ; but the Detroit could not be got across. All her guns were therefore placed upon the side next the enemy, and a fire directed against the batteries as long as the ammunition lasted. During the contest several attempts to warp her over to the American shore were unsuccessfully made. The fire from the batteries was so destructive," that Lieu- tenant Elliot, expecting that she would soon be sunk if she remained in that situation, determined to drift down the river out of their reach, and prefer making a stand against the flying artil- lery. The cable was accordingly cut, and the Detroit made sail with light airs, but the pilot having abandoned her, she brought up on the American shore, on Squaw Island. The boarding-boat was immediately got ready and sent with the prisoners to the American side of the river, with directions to return for Lieute- nant Elliot and whatever property could be got out of the brig ; the boat, however, could not get back to her. Lieutenant Elliot was, therefore, obliged with Lieutenant Roach and four prisoners to make the shore in a skiff" which they discovered under the counter. Protection was then asked for the brig fi-om Lieutenant- Colonel Scott, of the second regiment of artillery, who imme- diately despatched a company of that corps, under Captain J. N. Barker, with a few pieces, to be stationed opposite the island. A boat from the British shore approached the brig with forty men, who succeeded in getting on board, but the fire of four pieces of artillery soon compelled them to abandon her, and she was left in 54 WASP AND FROLIC. luch a condition that it would be impossible to float her. Captain Chambers, and part of the 5th United States regiment, afterwards crossed to Squaw Island and burnt her with her valuable cargo of furs The Caledonia's cargo was estimated at two hundred thousand dollars. In all these proceedings the American loss was three killed, three severely, and four or five slightly wounded. Major Cuyler, an officer of great bravery, was killed by the first shot from the enemy's batteries, as he stood on the beach ; and Midshipman John C. Cummings was wounded in the leg by a bayonet as he was boarding the Detroit. The regulars were un- used to this species of service, but they had entered into it with zeal and alacrity, and their conduct was such as entitled them to the approbation which they received firom their officers. Captain Towson and Lieutenant Roach were actively engaged during the whole enterprise, and contributed to its success as much by their counsel as by their intrepidity. Captain Talbot Chambers (now major) it was who destroyed the brig on the island. The artil- lery which was stationed on the shore, when the Detroit was abandoned by the crew, was served with skill and dexterity. The loss of the enemy, by the deserters' report, was about seventy. The United States sloop of war Wasp, having returned from France and refitted, put to sea again from the Delaware, on the 13th of October, on a cruise. On the 17th she discovered five sail steering eastward, and as several of them had the appearance of ships of war, she was placed in such a situation that she might escape from, or assail them, as circumstances might require. Keeping in the course she had descried them, on the following morning at daylight, they were seen ahead, and on being made out to be a convoy of six sail, under convoy of a sloop of war, the Wasp gave them immediate chase. The convoy, under a heavy press of sail, all made their escape and left the sloop of war to contend with the Wasp, though four of them were heavy ships, and mounted sixteen and eighteen guns. The weather was ex- tremely boisterous, and the sea so rough, that the Wasp's guns had been already several times under water, she nevertheless, pre- pared for action, and at thirty-two minutes past eleven came down to windward in handsome style, on the larboard side of the sloop of war, and hailed her within about sixty yards. She was thp < ■■! WASP AND FROLIC. M the British sloop of war Frolic, Captain Whinyeates, of twenty- two guns, and at this moment showed Spanish colours, but upoi. being hailed, she immediately hauled them down, hoisted the English ensign, and commenced a fire of cannon and musketry.* The action becoming close, the Wasp received a shot which took away her main-topmast, threw it over the fore and fore-mainsail braces, and made her head yards unmanageable during the re mainder of the action. She was soon after wounded in her craff and mizzen-topgallant-sail, but kept up, notwithstanding, a close and galling fire as her side was going down with the swell of the sea, and every shot consequently struck the Frolic's hull. The English, as they almost invariably do, fired as their ship was rising, and therefore, either missed their aim, or struck only the rigging of the Wasp. The Wasp shot ahead, gave a well-directed broadside, took station on the larboard bow of the Frolic, and gradually neared her, until she lay her on board, although while loading another, and the last broadside, the rammers of the guns struck the side of the enemy's vessel. The Frolic had long before slackened her fire, and her jibboom having now entered between the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, two of the latter's guns were brought through her bow ports and swept her whole deck. The borders were immediately called, and such • The following is an extract from Captain Jones's official account of the battle : " The courage and exertions of the officers and crew fully answered my oxpoctationi and wishes. Lieutenant Biddle's active conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid to every department during the engagement, and the animating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity. Lieutenants Rodgers, Booth, and Mr. Rapp, showed, by the incessant fire from their divisions, that they were not to bo sur- passed in resolution or skill. Mr. Knight and every other officer acted with a courage and promptitude h.^^hly honournble, and I trust have given assurance that they may be relied on whenever their services may be required. "I could not ascertain the exact loss of the enemy, as many of the doad lay buried under the mnsts and spars that had fallen upon deck, which two hours' exertion had not sufficiently removed. Mr. Diddle, who had charge of the Frolic, states that from what he saw and from information from the officers, the number of killed must have boon about thirty, and that of the wounded about forty or fifty — of the killed is her first lieutenant and sailingmaster ; of the wounded, Captain Whinyeates and the second lieutenant. "We had five killed and five wounded as per list; the wounded aro recovering;. Lieutenant Clnxton, who was confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to the engagement, and though too weak to be at his division, remained on deck and showed by his composed manner of noting incidents, that we had lost, by his illneSB, the loivicei of a brave officer." 60 WASP AND FROLIC. r ■ 1 was the anxiety of every man to be the first upon her deck, tha* several of them were pulled down upon their own ship from the bowsprit of the FroUc. Lieutenant Biddle, who was a supemu- meiary officer of the Wasp, had mounted the hammock cloth to board, but his feet getting entangled in the rigging of the Frolic's bowsprit, Midshipman J. C. Baker, in his enthusiastic ardour, caught the lieutenant by the coat, drew him back upon the Wasp's leek, and was liimself the first officer on that of the enemy. Lieutenant Biddle, however, immediately sprang up, ascended the Frolic's bowsprit, and upon getting on her deck found not a single man alive, except a seaman at the wheel and three officers, who threw down their swords and yielded. The Frolic's colours were still flying, and Lieutenant Biddle jumping into the rigging, pulled down the English ensign himself Her birth-deck was crowded with dead and wounded, and her main-deck slippery with blood ; her loss could not be accurately ascertained, as many of the dead had been swept into the sea by the falling of her rig- ging, and others were buried under the spars which had fallen on the deck; but by the declaration of her own officers it could not be less than thirty killed and about fifty wounded. The Wasp lost five killed and five wounded. Lieutenant Biddle was put on board the Frolic with a prize crew, with orders to make a southern port, but the appro?* ''h of a British ship of the line, the Poictiers, Sir J. P. Beresford, of seventy-four guns, made it necessary for both ships to make sail for the most convenient port. The Frolic was so much damaged, and the Wasp so disabled in her rigging, that the enemy closed upon them fast, fired a shot over and passed the Frolic, pursued the Wasp, and made capture of both, and ordered them to Bermuda. Thus terminated a spirited and brilliant contest of forty-three minutes, in the capture of an enemy's vessel, four guns superior at least to her antagonist. The conduct of the American officers and seamen showed that they were not to be surpassed in prompti- tude or courage ; to that of Lieutenant Biddle, and Lieutenant Rodgers, first of the ship, and every other commissioned and warrant officer on board. Captain Jones has given official tes- timony. A seaman, of the name of Jack Lang, gave a very extraordinary it UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 57 instance of bravery and eccentricity, by mounting the enemy's bowsprit before any of his brother sailors had attempted to do so, though called back by his commander, and by the jocose manner in which he descended from it to the deck of the Frolic, with many humorous expressions peculiar to his profession. Lieu- tenants Booth and Mr. Rapp, and Midshipmen Gaunt and Baker, the latter of whom died in Bermuda, behaved with great personal bravery. Lieutenant Claxton, who was confined by sickness, left his bed, went upon deck, and noted tho incidents of the engage- ment with great composure. When Captain Jones returned from Bermuda he received from his countrymen as many flattering testimonials of their approba- tion as they had previously given to Captain Hull. The legisla- tures of Massachusetts, New York, and Delaware, of which latter state he was a native, presented him with their thanks, and several elegant swords and pieces of plate. The order of Cincinnati admit- ted him into the society as an honorary member, as they had Captain Hull ; and the Congress of the United States voted him, his oiR- cers, and crew, twenty-five thousand dollars, in consideration of the loss they met with by not being able to bring in the Frolic. The next naval action took place on the 25th of Octo- ber, and terminated in the victory of the United States frigate United States, over the British frigate Macedonian, the command of which, upon her being brought into port, refitted and taken into the service, was given to Lieutenant-Commandant Jones, who, as a further testimony of the high opinion which the execu- tive entertained of his gallant conduct in the capture of the Fi«>lic, was now promoted to the rank of post-captain. The events of that engagement, in the order of succession, should have been recorded in the present chapter. They will be found, however, in another naval section of the work. Though the enemy gained no advantages over our forces on the ocean which could counter-balance the disasters he sustained by these successive triumphs of the American arms, his superior class of ships made capture of several of our smaller vessels of war. The squadron which had pursued the Constitution on the 18th of July, captured a day or two after, the United States ichooner Nautilus, of twelve guns, commanded by Lieutenant- 6S LOSS OF THE VIXEN. 8k s ]l^ Commandant Crane; and on the 22d November, the United States schooner Vixen, Lieutenant^Commandant George Wash ington Reed, of the same number of guns, was captured, after a chase of nine hours and a half, by the British frigate Southamp- ton, Sir James Lucas Yeo. Though the Vixen was commanded by a skilful and scientific seaman, and manned by as gallant a crew as any other American vessel, every effort to escape was found to be fruitless, and she was at length surrendered to a ship as much her superior in sailing as in force. She had not long been captive to the enemy before both vessels ran ashore and were immediately wrecked. The frigates' crew became mutinous from intoxication, and the property which was saved from both wrecks was retrieved by the generous and indefatigable exertions of the American sailors. Captain Reed, himself, was as actually engaged in the direction and encouragement of the men, as any of the British officers, and he received the public acknowledg- ments of Sir James, accompanied by an offer of his parole to return home. But such were the noble sentiments by which he was ever actuated, that he would not leave his officers and men, and preferring to remain with them in an unhealthy climate, to which they were taken, he became a victim to an obstinate fever, brought on by the anxieties and fatigues to which, by his unpleasant situa- tion, and his unremitting attention to the comforts of his men, he was necessarily exposed. His interment was attended by the British officers, and a detachment from the garrison, and his fune- ral obsequies were accompanied by those honours due to his rank which are seldom withheld from a brave enemy. A splendid triumph seldom fails to excite the general joy, and to call forth the universal admiration of the people. The rapid succession in which the naval conquests followed each other — the superiority of seamanship and gunnery which was exhibited in each, and the fact being now well ascertained that the inexperienced crews of the American navy could not only sustain a conflict with, but might actually capture the veteran seamen of the enemy, whenever chance should bring them together, upon equal terms; the attention of Congress was turned to the marine establishment, »nd the majority of the nation were desirous that measures shcild )e immediately adopted for its enlargement. PRIVATEERS. 69 In the naval part of the war, the national ships were actively assisted by privateers. Twenty-six of these vessels, carrying two hundred and twelve guns, and two thousand two hundred and thirty-nine men, were fitted out from New York, and seven- teen, vessels, carrying one hundred and forty-three guns, and one thousand five hundred and thirty-eight men, from Ballimore. in 1812. The other seaports contributed proportionally to this force, by which the commerce of the enemy suffered very severely. Our space will permit but a slight notice of their operations. The Nonsuch privateer of Baltimore, Captain Levely, carry- ing twelve twelve-pound carronades, and (at that time) between eighty and ninety men, on the 28th of September, 1812, fell in with a ship and schooner under British colours, the ship carry- ing sixteen eighteen and twenty-four-pound carronades, and two hundred men, including soldiers; and the schooner six four- pounders, and sixty men. " When within reach of the ship," says the logbook of the Nonsuch, " she gave us a broadside. Bore down upon her, and hoisted American colours, and re* turned ten broadsides, accompanied each time with a heavy vol- ley of musketry ; the ship and schooner keeping up a heavy fire upon us with their great guns and musketry. The engagement lasted three hours and twenty minutes, when the bolts and breachings of our guns, fore and aft, were carried away, on both sides. We could then only fire our musketry, or should have certainly captured them both. Dismounted several of the ship's guns, and damaged her very much in her hull and rigging. From the confusion which appeared on board, we judge that we must have killed a number of men. She bore away for Mar- tinico. We being much crippled in our rigging, could not pursue her. Our crew all fought like true Americans." The only other action which we shall notice, is thus described by a resident at Laguira, who saw it. " On the 9th of December, the private armed schooner Sara- toga, commanded by Captain Charles W. Wooster, made heT appearance off Laguira. The same day the first lieutenant went on shore, and reported that they were twenty-four days from New York, and had seen nothing. On the 10th, Captain 68 m ijlji %ll 60 PRIVATEERS. ■'fi; ^ iii. £?-:.i' Ir' I- ' ! Wooster ran down and anchored in the Foads, but in a few minutes was advised in a note from the American consul, to weigh and keep out of the reach of the batteries, as the com- mandant had said he would sink her if she came to. He immedi- ately complied with this advice, and stood off. He soon disco- vered a schooner standing down the coast, and some miles to wind- ward of Laguira. He boarded and captured her. She was laden with dry goods to the amount of twenty thousand dollars. The next day, at nine a. m., after the fog cleared off, the Saratoga was some miles to leeward of Laguira, in shore of a brig, but neither near enough to fetch in. At eleven a. m., the brig tacked off shore, and soon after the schooner did the same. It was known on shore that the brig was well armed and manned, and it was generally believed she would take the Saratoga, or at all events beat her off. The inhabitants all left off their business, from the commandant to the beggar, to see the engagement. The brig being so far from the schooner, it was some time before she came up with her. They being so far off, the spectators on shore could but just discover them from the house-tops ; and just as they had given up all hope of seeing the battle, they discovered them both tacking to shore again. They continued standing in until within two leagues of the town, when the Saratoga commenced the action from her starboard bow guns, which was returned from the brig's larboard quarter. The action now be- came furious, so that both vessels were hid in columns of fire and smoke ; but in a few minutes the firing ceased. When the smoke cleared off, no other colours were flying except the American, on board the Saratoga, which was victorious. On the 1 3th, the second mate and twenty-five seamen arrived at Laguira, in the brig's long-boat, which Captain Wooster had given them, to- gether with every article belonging to them. The second mate was the only officer that was alive after the action, there being great slaughter on board the brig. On board the Saratoga they had but one man slightly wounded. The brig was the Rachel, from Greenock, mounting twelve long nine-pounders, and carry- ing sixty men. She had on board a cargo of dry goods, &c., invoiced at fifteen thousand pounds sterling." ^a. HOSTILITIES OF THE CREEK INDIANS. 61 CHAPTER III. NTELLIGENCE of the recent mis- fortun3 of the north-western array, of the assault upon the troops from Fort Chicago, and of the advantages which were consequently expected to follow those events having been communica* 3d by early despatches from the tribes on the northern to those of the Creek nation on the southern frontiers ; fears were entertained tliat the result of a council of the chiefs of that nation, which was to be held on the 22d of October, would be unfavourable to the interests of that department of the Union, and that a coalition would be formed between the Indians of the two extremities, which might require all the energies of the government to suppress. To this council !• i :: ( i. ■! 62 HOSTILITIES OP THE CREEKS I'ii I :\i I! ihi: m" 'J \r of the Creeks, their neighbours, the Choctaws, the Chickasaws, and the Cherokees were invited, and if the deUberations of such a convention should be influenced by the elation evidently pro- duced by the late successes of their northern red brethren, the whole frontier from Tennessee to the bay of Mobile, and all the settlements between Georgia and the Mississippi, and Tennessee and Florida, would be subject to their depredations. The Semi- noles, a tribe attached to the Creek nation, were already at war with the white people on the borders of East Florida, and had murdered several citizens on the Georgia side of the St. Mary's. The same hatchet which is raised by one of a chain of tribes, linked together by common or confederated interests, is generally grasped by all. The Creeks were not dilatory in following an example which they at first pretended to restrain, and their out- rages surpassed those of any of the northern nations. The British, availing themselves of one of the best harbours in the Gulf of Mexico, sent several of their vessels loaded with the implements of war to Pensacola. The commandant at St. Marks, a small Spanish settlement between East and West Florida, informed the chiefs that the English would soon be there with guns, knives, hatchets, and ammunition for the red people, whom they considered to be their friends. These were put into the hands of the Indians, and they commenced their hostilities against all the defenseless inhabitants of Tennessee and Georgia. The presence of an army became now necessary in the south, and the states there were authorized to call forth as many of the militia, as, in conjunction with the regulars, might be thought competent to quell the associated tribes. The Indians of the Creek nation are not subject to any kind of restraint in war, they will neither give nor receive quarters, and pursue no other mode but that which leads to entire extermination. The force necessary tc combat such an enemy must, therefore be extensive, and the executives of the different states made every exertion to arm and equip the whole quota of the militia. The Seminoles had been committing depredations of the most ddfing nature, before they had any intelligence from their northern friends ; and uniting to their forces a number of negroes whom they had captured at Florida, they made frequent incursions into BATTLE OF LOTCHWAY TOWN. 63 the state of Georgia, murdered many inhabitants, and carried off much valuable plunder. On the night of the 11th of September, about twenty American troops, principally marines, under com- mand of Captain Williams of that corps, were marching with two wagons towards Davis' creek. When within ten miles of their destination they were attacked by a party of Indians and negroes of about fifty in number, with whom they contended until every cartridge was expended. Captain Williams, in the course of that time, received eight wounds, and was carried off by two of his men, leaving Captain Fort, of the volunteers, to command his troops, and to keep up the contest; but he being also wounded, and finding the strength of the party to be diminishing, retired in the best manner he could, and left the Indians in possession of the wagons and teams. The night was excessively dark, and several of the men, who were wounded, had concealed themselves in the bushes. On the following morning a detachment was sent from a blbck-house a few miles off, to which some of the men had escaped, to examine the ground. They found Captain Williams, with his right leg and left arm broken, his left leg shot through with one, and his right arm with three balls, and a wound through the lower part of his body. One man was killed and scalped, and the whole number of wounded was six. The Indians destroyed one wagon, but took the other to carry off their dead and wounded — of whom the number was much greater than that of the marines. Captain Williams languished for three or four days, and expired at Davis' creek. He was a brave young man, and noted for his sedulous attention to the duties of* his station. On the 24th of the same month, Colonel Newnan, of the Georgia volunteers, left PicoUata with about one hundred and seventeen men for the Lotchway towns. On his third day's march, when within seven miles of the first of those towns, he was met by a body of about one hundred and fifty Indians, all of whom were mounted. This meeting was very unexpected to the Indians, but they immediately dismounted, formed a line of batr tie, and marched a few paces in advance. This movement was intended to intimidate the Georgians, but Colonel Newnan gave orders for the charge, and determined to put an end to the encoun ter by entirely subduing the Indians or putting them to flight ^.''^ iRj; (64 BATTLE OF LOTCHWAY TOWN. The battle-ground was situated midst a number of swamps, which bounded three of its sides. The Indians remained firm until the Georgians had advanced within fifty paces of their line, when they fled to these swamps for safety. The whole of the musketry being fired at them with precision, made great execution, and among others, killed their leader, King Paine. His tribe, on hearing of his fall, were resolved on rescuing his body from the enemy, and returned to the action for that purpose. Several charges were now made, and the Indians were constantly driven back, until at length they determined on one desperate effort, and recovering all their strength and spirits, they made a push against the Geor- gians, which, though it was received with firmness, could not be resisted with much vigour. The Indians obtained the body of King Paine, gave up the conflict, which had now lasted upwards of four hours, and carried off" their killed and wounded, supposed to be between twenty and thirty. Before night of the same day, the Indians were reinforced from their towns by other Indians and negroes, and renewed and kept up the action, with the greatest obstinacy, until they began to think the volunteers invincible, and again fled. Their force in the second attack was upwards of two hundred, but they were repulsed with nearly the same loss as in the first ; whilst the volunteers loss in both, was one killed and nine wounded. Colonel Newnan's situation was becoming extremely hazard- ous; the enemy's numbers were hourly increasing, and they began to surround him on all sides : he therefore threw up a small breast- work, from which he was determined to defend himself until his troops should be reinforced also. He had already despatched expresses to procure additional numbers. His wounded men ren- dered him unable to retreat or to advance ; and he repelled every assault Nvhich was made upon this little work until the 4th day of October. The Indians were continually harassing him, day and night ; and finding they could make no impression on his fortification, they glutted their insatiable vengeance by shooting all his horses. On the 4th, a perfect silence prevailed in Colonel Newnan's camp, and the Indians suspected from that, and the circumstance that their fire had not been returned the day pre- ceding, that he had deserted it in the night. Under this assur- BATTLE OF LOTCHWAY TOWN. 65 ance they approached the works, without any thought of opposition until they were within forty paces of them, when the Georgian troops suddenly showed themselves, compelled the Indians to retreat with precipitation, and after several rapid discharges of musketry, killed and wounded about thirty warriors more. They then decamped, without being molested, and were stationed about ten miles off, on the Picolatta road, where they were obliged to await the arrival of fresh horses and provisions. Colonel New- nan's account of this affair bestows a high degree of credit upon every volunteer of his detachment ; and their intrepid conduct, as well as his judicious arrangements, served to give a check to the combined red and black warriors, which promised security to the neighbourhood, at least, until larger forces should be organized. Besides the loss of King Paine, the Indians had three of the prin- cipal chiefs and their young governor slain ; and Bow-legs, theii second in command, severely wounded. 'in I if , i m m4 m i w f >J, 66 ORGANIZATION OF THE NORTH-WESTERN ARMY. General Harrleon. CHAPTER IV. 4B^ation# tt tTsfilot anH WK-M^tt(xx on tfie 'No«tf)*i9i'#tnn ;jFroiitirr. MMEDIATELY after the surrender of the garrisons at Michilimackinac, Chicago, and Detroit, measures were adopted for the orgaMzation and equip- ment of a new army. An offer ha»i been made to receive volunteers into the service from the states and territo- ries in the neighbourhood of Michigan, and they came forward with an alacrity which made it unnecessary to hold out allurements. The recovery of the surrendered territory, and the re-establishment of its former civil government, were the strong motives which induced all the brave and patriotic men in its vicinity to take up arms and march against the invaders. The inhabitants of that territory were now governed by an authority too rigorous to be compatible with those notions of liberty inspired by the genius of their own con- stitution, and they were awaiting the expected succour from their friends with the deepest anxiety. The new army was in readiness almost instantly, the different corps concentrated with unprecedented celerity, and by the early part of September their disposition was completed. Two thou- II •'ii DEFENSE OF FORT HARRISON. 67 sand Pennsylvania volunteers, under Brigadier-General Crooks, left Pittsburg for the shores of Lake Erie; General Tupper's brigade of Ohio volunteers was to retrace the road which had been formed by the first army, from Urbanna to the Rapids ; and a brigade of Virginians, when they should arrive, under General Leftwhich, was to pursue the same route. General Payne's bri- gade of Kentucky volunteers, the first of the present army which was in readiness, and the 17th United States regiment, under Colonel Wells, were to proceed to Fort Wayne, and descend to the Rapids of the Miami of the lakes, which place was assigned for the general rendezvous. The command of the second norl i-western army was given, by the unanimous wishes of the troops compos mg it, to General William H. Harrison ; the immediate couimai'd of the Kentucky troops under General Payne, devolved on h\a, by V ^ being br©- vetted a major-general by the governor of that state Forts Harrison and Wayne were at this time garrisonerl only by a few regulars and volunteers ; numerc Uf British and -idian forces had already marched from Maiden o lay waste the Ohio frontier, and the latter post would naturally be their leading point. General Harrison, therefore, immediately marched to its relief with Payne's brigade and the regulars. The former post (Fort Harrison) was invested on the 3d of September by the Prophet's party from the Wabash. On the night of the 4th they set fire to one of the block-houses, contain- ing the contractor's property, and followed up that act by a reso- lute attack upon the fort. The garrison was commanded by Captain Zachary Taylor, of thi 7 rh United States infantry, and consisted of only eighteen effective men. The flames were rag- ing — the Indians, about three hundred in number, were howling in their usual horrid manner, and the women and children of the oarracks were crying ibr protection which they did not expect to receive. When the block-house should be entirely consumed, a large entrance would be open to the enemy ; no efforts had yet succeeded to extinguish the fire; its ascendency baffled every attempt — and the men themselves began to despond. Two of the stoutest jumped over the pickets, with a hope of escaping in the dark ; but one of them was cut to pieces and scalped, dod the 6S DEFENSE OF FORT HARRISON. li;.f II ' • 'I ,'v ' Other returned with his arm broken, and implored to be re-admit- ted into the fort. Under these discouraging circumstances, Cap- tain Taylor never suffered his presence of mind to forsake him and applying the only resource now left him, he ordered a smal party to dislodge the roof of the house, so that it might fall in the space, whilst a few men in another house were to keep up a con- tinual fire upon the Indians. His plan succeeded — ^the men became confident in their exertions, and a breastwork was formed under a heavy shower of bullets, along the cavity which the de- struction of the block-house produced. A desperate defense was now made, and a constant and rapid fire kept up until six o'clock in the morning of the 6th. Several furious assaults had been repulsed, and the Indians, at the approach of day, judging the number of the garrison to be greater than it actually was, retired with a quantity of captured cattle, after having shot all the horses belonging to the fort. Doctor Clarke was the most indefatigable man in the engagement, and Captain Taylor's good conduct was so highly applauded, that the president soon after promoted him to a majority. Two men only were killed, with the exception of the deserter, and one wounded. The Indians always carry off their dead, unless their numbers are too small, and their loss is seldom without great difficulty ascertained. All the provisions were consumed by the fire, and the garrison compelled to subsist on green corn until reinforcements should come on with supplies The little band, which was now reduced to fourteen men, repaired the damages sustained by the fort, and constructed a strong forti- fication across the space. The bastions were all put in the best state of defense, and every precaution adopted to sustain a second assault. To the great joy of the garrison, however. Colonel Wil- liam Russell arrived about the 16th, from Illinois, with six hun- dred mounted rangers and five hundred infantry, and Fort Harrison became sufficiently manned to resist the attack of a much J arger body of the Prophet's warriors. The situation of Fort Wayne was now more critical than that of any other fortress in the west. The Indians, who had pro- ceeded from the battleground of Chicago, were afterwards rein- forced by those from Maiden, and they laid siege to this fortress In very large numbers. The troops in garrison amounted to seventy. commeiK but did I the sout] seventy j of their c tect them attack w{ they appi would sci pelled thi by force 1 ail kinds < pieces, wl suade the tering pie one of the troops wc following other wari but the tro by the an until ever; attempts a was comn doing an} war-whoo a man wai they inflic On the e^ the garris( The de were as in neighbour and every The India treated wi no act indi DEFENSE OF FORT WAYNE. 71 seventy. On the night of the 6th of September the Indians commenced an attack, they fired principally upon the sentinels, but did no injury. On the 6th, several of the men went out of the south gate of the fort, but had not proceeded more than seventy paces when two of them were killed, and by the exertions of their companions their bodies were carried into the fort, to pro- tect them against savage indignities. During the night another attack was made by the whole force of the Indians, and when they approached the fort, it was confidently expected that they would scale the works, but the incessant fire of the garrison com pelled them to abandon their designs. What they could not do by force they then attempted by stratagem. Resort was had to all kinds of artifice, and they at length brought up two wooden pieces, which they had contrived in imitation of cannon, to per- suade the garrison that the British had supplied them with bat- tering pieces to reduce the place. These were brought up, and one of their chiefs threatened to batter down the walls unless the troops would immediately capitulate, or to storm them on the following day, when they would be reinforced by seven hundred other warriors. In three days they menaced an entire massacre, but the troops in Fort Wayne, still hoping that it would be relieved by the arrival of the expected volunteers, resolved to hold out until every article of provision should be exhausted. No other attempts were made upon the fort until the 9th, when a firing was commenced and continued at intervals all day, but without doing any damage. On the succeeding day they began their war-whoop, renewed their fire, and were again unsuccessful. Not a man was killed in any of their attacks, the only wounds which they inflicted being upon those who ventured without the fort. On the evening of the 12th, General Harrison's forces reached the garrison, and the whole Indian body precipitately fled. The depredations which they had committed about the fort were as inhuman as they were extensive. All the stock upon the neighbouring farms was destroyed ; the corn, all the small grain, and every house burned; and all the horses and cattle killed The Indian agent, Stephen Johnson, was murdered, and his bodjr treated with shocking indecency : and, indeed, the commission ot no act indicative of savage vengeance was omitted. The approach T« MIAMI TOWNS DESTROYED. »f Ai ;,rf of the regulars and volunteers, prevented perhaps, the destruction of the fields at a greater distance, and secured a supply of Indian corn for the garrison. But the great augmentation of the troops made it necessary to obtain supplies of other provisions, from the towns of those tribes which had been so active in destro3ring what the farms might have afforded. It was now high time, too, to make the Indians feel those effects of the war which their repeated cruelties had provoked, and to convince them that the American troops were not quite fo contemptible and degraded as the Indians implied them to be from the surrender of the l^te commander-in- chief on the same station. General Harrison, therefore, divided his forces into scouting parties, under the command of his most active officers. Several expeditions were forwarded against the Indian settlements, and some expectations entertained that they might be drawn into battle. But they did not betray the same willingness to combat these corps which they had heretofore shown to encounter others. The Kentuckians were held in great dread by most of the Indian warriors, and the expression of ^^ Kentucky too muchy'' has not unfrequently accompanied their orders to •etreat, in the form of justification. On the 14th, General Harri- son despatched Colonel Wells, with his own and Colonel Scott's regiments, and two hundred mounted riflemen, with instructions to proceed up the river St. Joseph, which, with the St. Mary's, forms the Miami of the lakes, and to destroy the Pottawatomie towns at Elk Hart. Another detachment, consisting of Colonels Allen's and Lewis' regiments, and Captain Garrard's troop, under command of General Payne, but which the commander-in-chief accompanied, proceeded, on the same day, to the destruction of the Miami towns on the forks of the Wabash. The object of each expedition was accomplished without opposition, the Indians of those tribes having abandoned their villages, and the different detachments returned to the fort on the 18th. Several Indian tribes, who constantly resisted the solicitations of the enemy to join their standard, had before this time expressed their desires of being taken into the service of the United Sttjt««s, arrangements having been made between General Harrison anu the executive government, which authorized him to employ them, he had accepted the services of Logan, a chief of repuLition as a HARRISON SUPERSEDED. 78 warrior, and wa« accompanied by him on his march towards Fort Wayne. On the arrival of the troops at that place, Logan went forward with about seven hundred men, raised an Indian yell, and pursued the retreating tribes. This signal was answered by them, at the distance of only one hundred and fifty yards; but the intervention of the river and several other obstacles, prevented the pursuit being attended with effect. General Winchester, of the United States army, arrived at Fort Wayne immediately after the expedition against the Indian villages, and the command of the detachments under General Payne and Colonel Wells, was resigned to him in obedience to the orders of the war department. The volunteers, who had centred all their affections in the person of the commander of their choice, were not satisfied with this change until General Harri- son reminded them of the revolutionary services of his successor, and communicated to them the instructions from the department confirming him in the command of all the troops but those which were assigned to General Winchester. The strength of this army was continually augmenting. Vo- lunteer associations to a greater number than it was politic to receive into the service, were formed, equipped, and ready to march against the enemy in the same day, and a selection was made from among them of such a force as was at that time re- quired, in conjunction with the troops which had already marched, to make the army complete. But such was the patriotic impetuo- sity of the western people, that many of the corps who were not fortunate enough to be received, immediately provided themselves at their own expense, and insisted upon accompanying their fel- low-citizens to the field. The siege of Fort Wayne having been raised by the Indians, it now entered into the views of the two generals to march forces to the relief of the intermediate garrisons between that place and Detroit, against which an ultimate movement was to be made ; the leading object of the expedition being to regain the ground which had been lost, and to retrieve the late disaster, not only by repossessing that fortress, but by the capture of Maiden and all the great rallying points of the northern Indians. Through tho 74 LOSS OF LIGETT's PARTY. r? " l!*; I exertions of the indefatigable governor of Ohio,* every necessary supply was forwarded with the greatest possible despatch, and General Winchester therefore advanced to Fort Defiance, whilst General Harrison fixed his head-quarters at St. Mary's; distance from each other sixty miles. The troops destined for Defiance amounted to about two thousand. On the 22d of September, they marched cautiously in three divisions, the baggage being in the centre, and a company of spies, under Captain Ballard, pro- tected by Garrard's troop of dragoons, about one or two miles in front. As it was necessary to guard against surprise from a watch- ful enemy, whose principle it is to assault his foe while sleeping, they encamped each day at three o'clock, and threw up breast- works around the tents, at ihe distance of about twenty paces. On the fourth day's march, Ensign Ligett of the regulars, and four of the volunteers, proposed, and were permitted to go forward and discover the strength and situation of the enemy at Defiance, which was then distant about twenty-five miles. But their enter- prise, which was too hazardous for any but experienced men, en- tirely failed. These adventurous young men were assailed on the night of trie '-iuch, and though they defended themselves until their strength "was exhausted, were overpowered, killed, tomahawked, and scalped in the usual barbarous manner of the Indians. On the 27th, Captain Ballard, who was reputed in that army for his courage and prudence, was ordered to go out with his company of spies, supported by forty of Garrard's dragoons, and bury the bodies of the young men, whose death was now known of in the camp. When within about two miles of the spot where they had been killed, Ballard discovered an Indian ambuscade, but as he had marched his men in two divisions, placing one on • His excellency, Return J. Meigs, afterwards postmaster-veneral of the Urited States, whose active zeal in the service of his country was manifested by his administration of the civil affairs of the state over which he presided, before and after the commencement of hostilitieH. When the invasion of Ohio was threatened by General Brock after he took possession of Michigan, Governor Meigs, with incessant diligence, highly honour- able to his patriotism, equipped, provided, and organized one army after another, until the safety of the state was secured, and the mass of the inhabitants of that devoted ter- ntory fled to him for protection. Several members of his own family were among the Toluntecrs, and one of hia brothers was one of the three men killed at the siege of Fort Wayne. ' GENERAL WINCHESTER LEAVES FORT WAYNE. 75 each side of an Indian trace, through which the enemy supposed the volunteers would advance, the ambuscade became useless, and the Indians succeeded in gaining an eminence; whilst they were forming. Captain Ballard gave them a galling fire, which they immediately returned, accompanied by a loud and terrific yell. Ballard ordered up the horse and charged upon, and put them to the route. Pursuit was given, but the enemy knew the country better than the dragoons, and escaped into the swamps and thickets with the loss of four or five wounded. No injury of consequence enough to name was sustained by the volunteers. On the '" 3th, Ballard's spies were again sent forward, and dis- covered a fresh trail of Indians. On communicating which to the general, he ordered twenty troopers to cross the river to as- certain whether the wagons could pass, and on finding a tolerable ford, the whole army crossed about five miles above Fort De- fiance, and encamped on its bank. At one hundred yards from the edge of the river, another trail was discovered, when Captain Garrard was despatched, with twenty of his troops, to proceed and ascertain by whom it was made. Three miles below Genera] Winchester's encampment, and two miles above Defiance, the enemy were observed to be encamped in large numbers, with war poles erected and the bloody flag flying. When the army commenced its march from Fort Wayne, the troops were provided with six days rations only, but Colonel Jenning's regiment was to meet them with provisions at Fort Defiance. At a certain point on the Aux Glaize, the colonel was directed to halt and erect a block-house, which having done, he ascertained by his spies, that the British and Indians were encamped near the fort, and with- out reinforcements it would have been imprudent to have pro- ceeded further. Late on the night of the 29th, he therefore for- warded an express to General Winchester, to make known his situation, forty miles above Fort Defiance ; and as the troops were now nearly starving, Captain Garrard proceeded with great de- spatch to Colonel Jenning's regiment, to escort with his dragoons, a brigade of pack-horses with provisions for their relief, and effected a hazardous tour in thirty-six hours, though all the time drenched with incessant rain. General Winchester, seeing that his force was far inferior to 60 '■S[: ■III ''.f f' " tfjh h' 76 WINCHESTER S EXPRESSES TO HARRISON. that of the newly discovered enemy, and finding himself in their immediate vicinity, despatched expresses to General Harrison at the St. Mary's, to obtain reinforcements, and to apprize him of the situation of the left wing. Expecting the required relief in a few days, he put his encampment in a stat« of defense, by fortifying himself on the front and sides, and kept out reconnoi- tering parties, who were to communicate with him the moment the enemy should come out to attack him. On the other hand, the enemy had possession of Fort Defiance, and were repairing and enlarging its armament. ® .ii is m THE BRITISH EVACUATE FORT DEFIANCE. 77 CHAPTER V. ^jftthtxkni of Ceneraljs |i?arrijton anil ^opiinn. ENERAL HARRISON, on receiving Ge- neral Winchester's despatch, immediately took up his march with General Tupper's mounted men, and arrived at the encamp- ment near Defiance, when he moved forward with the whole force to attack that fort. But (he British and Indians had evacuated it, as soon as they heard of his approach, and taking away the cannon with which they had increased the armament, proceeded down the Miami to thp npids. The mounted men were ordered to pursue the retreating enemy, and to destroy their encampment at that place; and General Harrison left Fort Defiance on the 6th, to join the right wing of the army, and to concentrate the whole at the appointed rendezvous, at the Miami of the Lakes. After his departure, General Winchester countermanded the order to General Tupper, and the expedition against the Indians at the rapids, was conse- quently frustrated. Until the contemplated concentration could be effected, no movement could be made which would promote the ultimate object of the campaign, and the troops at Fort Defiance, which 78 DEATH 0? LOGAN. iji !l^ K V .'! ;i^ H:' now assumed the name of Fort Winchester, remained in that garrison until the 14tli of December. In this interval, Logan, with alwut thirty friendly Indians, at- tempted to examine the movements and situation of the enemy on the Miami, where his party was discovered and dispersed. Logan and six of them returned, the remainder escaped in another direction. On the 22d of November, he was again ordered by General Winchester, to take two Indians and go forward to make dis- coveries. Early in the day they were met and captured by the celebrated hostile chief, Wynemack, and a party of five Indians. Logan resorted to a stratagem, by which he persuaded Wyne- mack that he had come to join him, and he and his two men were therefore allowed to carry their arms and march in front. Logan having communicated to his comrades his determination to rescue himself or perish in the effort, they suddenly turned upon their enemy on the first opportunity, and each brought his man to the ground ; Wynemack being among them. The re- maining three fired in return, shot Logan and one of his Indians and retired. Logan exchanged the shot, notwithstanding his wound was mortal, and springing with his wounded companion upon the horses of two of those whom they had just killed, whilst his third man protected him in his retreat, he returned to Fort Winchester. On the 28th he died, with the firmness of a brave warrior, sincerely regretted by the whole garrison, who knew him to be a distinguished, and considered him a useful leader. At Franklinton, General Harrison was actively employed in forward- ing ammunition, pieces of ordnance, ordnance stores, provisions, &c., and arranging depots for their reception on the road, which was designated for the right wing of the army. On the 18th of November, he sent Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Campbell with a detachment of six hundred men on an expedition against the Indians of the Miami tribes, residing in the Missis- sinewa towns. On the morning of the 17th December the ,de- tachment charged on the first of those towns, drove the Indians across the Mississinewa river, killed seven warriors, and took Ihirty-seven prisoners. During this contest a part of the detach- ment was seiu to the other towns, which were immediatelv TECUMSEH. 79 evacuated by the inhabitants, and soon after destroyed by the de- tachment, which then returned to the ground first occupied. On the morning of the 18th, at dayhght, the camp was attacked by a number of Indians, of the Miami and Delaware tribes, amounting to about three hundred. The attack commenced on the right of the Une, which was occupied by Major Ball's squadron of horse, who gallantly contended against them for one hour, and sustained almost the whole conflict. The Indians then fell back, and were courageously charged by Captain Trotter at the head of his com- pany of Kentucky dragoons. In this charge Captain Trotter was wounded in the hand : the Indians fled with great velocity, and were pursued as far as was thought prudent. Captain Pierce, of the Zanesville troop was killed, whilst he was charging the foe. Lieutenant "Waltz was shot through the arm, but being resolved on losing no share of honour, he remounted his horse, and in that act was killed by a shot through the head. He was of the Pennsylvania volunteers. Captains Markle and M'Clelland of the same corps, and Captains Garrard and Hopkins were complimented by the commanding general. Lieutenant-Colonel Simmerall, Major M'Dowell, and Captains Hite and Smith, ; said to have distinguished them- selves with persevering bravery; and the whole detachment exhibiting throughout a great degree of patience, fortitude, and coolness, rendered the victory more honourable to the American arms, by respecting the high and inestimable principles of hu- manity, and rendering them, as th'3y ever ought to be, inseparable from bravery. The general's orders, on their departure, were to that effect, and the most rigid obedience was paid to them. The battle being ended, and the object of the expedition com- pletely accomplished. Colonel Campbell took up his march for Greeneville on his return, having first forwarded an express for reinforcements, Tecumseh being reported to be in the neighbour- ho(xl with five hundred warriors, and the name of Tecumseh had now become terrible. If the detachment should be intercepted an obstinate engagement must follow, and by the morning report of the 24th, three hundred and three of the men were rendered unfit for duty by being frost bitten ; an attack from a superioi body of Indians could not therefore be sustained with any pros- f i Ik '! ■ \ I* 80 PREPARATIONS OF OENEP/i. li/iRRlSON. pect of success. The detachment reached re^neville, however, without being once molested, and the citizens received the troops with marks of admiration for their gallantry, and for the lustre which they had thrown upon the north-western arfny. In the destruction of the first town the American loss was one killed and one wounded. In the action of the following morning, eight killed and twenty-five wounded ; the Indian loss in killed was known to be forty, the number of wounded could not bo ascer- tained. The prisoners were brought away by the detachment. It has been thought to be unaccountable that the Indians did not attack the detachment '»n its retrograde movement, but this cir- cumstance may be attributed to the loss of their prophet, who it is supposed by many, was killed in the second engagement Notwithstanding the season was already so far advanced, and the difficulties in marching against the enemy were every day increasing, General Harrison was too steadily determined on the recovery of Michigan, and the subjugation of Maiden and the country surrounding it, to be put aside from his views by any such obstacles. Every implement was provided which might possibly be necessary, the military stores and trains of artillery were already at the different depots, and the troops from Penn- sylvania being at Mansfield, those from Virginia at Delaware, and those from Ohio at Fort M'Arthur, the purposed concentration could be almost immediately effected. General Winchester with the left wing, moved from Fort Winchester to the Rapids, in con- formity to the previous order of General Harrison, who was now commissioned a major-general in the army of the United States, and appointed to the command of the north-western army. A line of posts was to be established, and strong fortifications erected as intermediate places of rendezvous, at equal distances between Defiance and Detroit ; and that he might with more convenience superintend the building of these, the commander-in-chief fixed his head-quarters at Upper Sandusky. A ])rigade of Kentuckians had been sent into the Indiana ter- ritory, under General Samuel Hopkins, with instructions to attack every settlement on the Wabash, and then to fall upon the Illi- nois. On the 1 1th of November they marched from Fort Harri- son with a view to the destruction of the Prophet's tovm Seven commam 5 GENERAL HOPKINS' EXPEDITION. Bl boats, with provisions, forage, and military stores, commanded by Colonel Barbour, accompanied the expedition, and the troop« marched on the east side of the Wabash to protect them, until the 19th, when they reached the town, and were engaged three days in the destruction of it and a large Kickapoo village adjoining, while General Butler, with three hundred men, surrounded and destroyed the Winnebago town on the Ponce-passu creek : each of these towns had been abandoned by the Indian warriors, and a small party was sent out to reconnoiter the surrounding woods and to seek out their hiding-places. Several Indians showed themselves, fired on the party, killed one man and compelled the others to retire. This occurrence was no sooner made known to the troops than sixty horsemen offered to proceed to the ground to bury their companion and to encounter tl.e enemy. When they attained the point, near the Indian encampment, they were fired upon from an ambuscade and eighteen of the party were killed and wounded, among them several promising young offi- cers. The enemy had taken possession of a strong defensive position, in which there was no hope of effectually assailing him, having a deep rapid creek in its rear in the form of a semicircle, and being fronted by a high and almost perpendicular bluff of one hundred feet, which could only be penetrated by three steep ravines. The death of these gallant young men excited a spirit of revenge among the troops, and they moved forward under a heavy fall of snow, determined to attack the enemy in his strong- hold at every risk. But on arriving at the place they found that the Indians had evacuated it and crossed over Ponce-passu on their retreat. There being now no certain point to which the operations of the troops could be directed. General Hopkins gave orders for their return to Fort Harrison, where they arrived after an absence of sixteen days, having in that time traversed one hundred miles of a country of which, to use the words of their commander, they had no cognizance. f ■ 1' V' 82 OPERATIONS ON THE NORTHERN FRONTIER. I! ;■, 'ri A- CHAPTER VI. 'HILST these events were transpiring in the western department of the Union, dispositions had been made and troops collected at the different stations along the Niagara river, from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario; and beyond the latter along the shore of the St. Lawrence. Excursions from the American to the British shores of the rivers liad been frequently made, and on some oc- casions were followed by smart skirmishes. The chief command of these forces was given to Major-General Dearborn. The im- mediate command of the troops on the Niagara to Major-General Van Renssellaer of the mili^ ia of the state of New York. Briga- dier-General Smyth was stationed at Black Rock. The troops on the St. Lawrence were principally garrisoned at Ogdensburg, and commanded by Brigadier-General Brown, also of the New York militia. On the 15th of September twenty-five British boats passed Madrid up the St. Lawrence, laden with military stores and mu- nitions of war. About one hundred and forty of the militia from Ogdensburg and Hamilton, with one gun-boat, posted themselves on an island to obstruct their passage. The enemy, approaching f' CAPTURE 01^ GANANOQUE. b» the head of the river, brought himself immediately in front of this island, when a rapid and well-directed fire made him ply for the opposite shore, where he took shelter in the woods. I'iie militia had no small boats to pursue the flying squadron, and the British had time to rally, to procure assistance, and to return to a con- test. This they did with little delay, and after an action of three hours, they were reinforced by two gun-boats and a largo body of men from Prescott. The militia being then outnumbered, their ammunition nearly exhausted, and their loss one man kilUid and two wounded, abandoned the enterprise and retreated to their respective quarters. The injury sustained by the enemy has never been known. Captain Forsyth of the rifle regiment being at the garrison of Ogdensburg, projected an expedition against a small villnge in the town of Leeds, in Canada, cah^d Gananoque. In this village was the king's storehouse, containing immense quantities of arms and ammunition, and Captain Forsyth was resolved on ita destruction. In the night of the 20th instant, therefore, a num- ber of boats being provided, he embarked with seventy of his own men, and thirty-four militia men. Before daylight of the 21st they reached the Canadian shore, and landed unobserved at a little distance from the village. The enemy soon after discovered them, and they were fired on by a party of one huiidrod and twenty-five regulars and militia. Forsyth drew up his men and returned their fire with such effect, that the British retreated in disorder and were pursued to the village, where they rallied and resolved on making a stand, and disputing the passage of a bridge. An action took place here which resulted in the same manner as the former. The enemy again fled, making his escape over the bridge and lea\ing ten of his number killed, eight regulars and several militia men prisoners, and the village and storehouse in possession of the American party. Captain Forsyth lost one in killed and one wounded. After releasing the militia prisoners on their parole, and taking out a quantity of arms, fixed ammunition, powder, flints, and other articles of public property, and setting fire to the storehouse, he returned to Cape Vincent with these and the eight regulars prisoners. In retaliation for this daring exploit the enemy determiriod on >-y S4 if mil' I t 4 i I !■;■ ^ :y I ATTACK ON OGDENSBURG. DcTeiise ofUgdensliurg. attacking and destroying the town of Ogdensburg. Opposite to this is situated the Canadian village of Prescott, before which the British had a strong line of breastworks. On the 2d of October they opened a heavy cannonading on the town from their bat- teries, and continued to bombard it with little intermission until the night of the 3d ; one or two buildings only were injured. On Sunday the 4th, having prepared forty boats, with from ten to fifteen armed men in each, they advanced with six pieces of artil- lery to storm the town. General Brown commanded at Ogdens- burg in person, and when the enemy had advanced within a short distance, he ordered his troops to open a warm fire upon them. The British, nevertheless, steadily approached the shore, and kept up their fire for two hours, during which they sustained tlio galling fire of the Americans, until one of their boats was taken, and two others so shattered when they retreated. The success of the detachment which had proceeded against the brigs Detroit and Caledonia, on the 9th of October, excited a If EXPEDITION AGAINST QUEENSTOWN. 85 strong spirit of enterprise among the troops at the different star tions along the Niagara. The whole number under the command of General Van Renssellaer, amounted, as it is said, to five thou sand eight hundred, and were disposed of in the following manner. Two thousand and nine hundred, with which he v/as himself stationed at and near Lewistown. Thirteen, hundred regulars, under General Smyth, near Black Rock, distance from Lewis- town twenty-eight miles. Five hundred militia and volunteers at Black Rock and Schlosser. Six companies of field and light artillery, (three hundred,) and about five hundred of the 0th and 13th regiments, and three hundred of the 23d, under Major Mul- lany, at Fort Niagara. The general was pressed from all quarters to give the troops an opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and his own opinion was that the crisis of the campaign was rapidly advancing, and, as ho informed the commander-in-chief, " That the blorv must he soon struck or the toil and expense of the campaign go for nothing, fw the whole will be tinged with dishonour" NDER these circumstances, and in- fluenced by these impressions, he or- dered the regulars, under Lieutenant- Colonel Fenwick and Major Mullany, to leave Fort Niagara and proceed to hit:- L* ad-quarters at Lewistown. I he same orders were issued to General Smy^ 'I's brigade. — When the British General Brock had made arrangements for the civil ':^'"'vernment ?f Michigan, and had appointed such officers as i^e thought necessary to its admin- istration, he transferred the command of Detroit to Colonel Proctor, and moved his own quarters to Fort George that he might facilitate the preparations on the Niagara frontier. But General Van Renssellaer received intelligence which was thought to warrant a movement into Canada, and was at the same time informed that General Brock had returned to Detroit, upon hear- ing of the preparations in the west for the recovery of that post, and had taken with him such troops as could with safety be spared from Fort Erie and Fort George. He therefore promised mm mm ' ml I . ' !, I if' ')'!^ I -'ii: ElB EXPEDITION AGAINST QUEENSTOWN. his army that they should cross over and act against Queens- town, and it was for this purpose that the regulars were ordered from Fort Niagara and the Rock. The possession of Queens- town was important to the success of the American arms in Canada, in this or m any future campaign. It is a handsome town, below the Falls of Niagara, at the head of the naviga- ble waters of that strait, and immediately opposite Lewistown, a place of depot for the merchandise for all the country above, and for the public stores for the line of posts along the Niagara and Detroit rivers. It has an excellent harbour and good anchorage ; the banks on both sides are elevated, and the landscape is among the most splendid and sublime. It was intended that the attack upon Queenstown should be made on the morning of the llth at three o'clock, and the em- barkation was to take place from the old ferry opposite the heights, to which situation experienced boatmen were employed to navicjate the boats from the landing below. The river here is one sheet of violent eddies, and an officer who was considered to be the most skilful for such a service was sent ahead, but in the ex- treme darkness of the night, passed the intended point of embarka- tion far up the river, and very unaccountably fastened his boat, containing nearly all the oars of the other boats, to the shore and abandoned the detachment. The ardour of the officers and men was not the least abated through the night, though they were exposed to a tremendous north-east storm which prevailed for twenty-eight hours and in that time deluged the whole camp. But they were mortified by this distressing dilemma, and tli(5 appearance of daylight having extinguished every prospect of success the detachments returned to camp, and an express M^as sent to Black Rock to countermand the orders to General Smvth. The miscarriage of the plan had no other effect than to increase the ardour of the troops, and they impatiently awaited for the arrival of orders which would bring them into personal opposition with their'enemy. Arrangements were therefore made to that effect, and the night of the 12th was designated for the operation. Two columns, one of three hundred militia, under Colonel Van Renssellaer, and another of three hundred regulars, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Christie, were to pass over together. Thirteen M SCOTT S ARRIVAL. 87 boats were provided for their conveyance, and when the heights should be carried, Lieutenant^Colonel Fenwick's flying artillerj' were to cross over, then Major Mullany's detachment of regulars, and the other troops to follow in order. Early in the night Colonel Christie marched his detachment by the rear road from Niagara to camp. At seven in the evening Lieutenant-Colonel Stranahan's regiment moved from Niagara Falls ; at three o'clock Mead's regiment, and at nine, Lieutenant-Colonel Blan's regi- ment. Each corps was in camp in proper time. At the dawTi of day the boats were in readiness, and the troops embarked early in the morning of the 13th, under cover of a commanding battery mounting two eighteen-pounders and two sixes. Whilst these preparations were going forward, the British at Queenstown were surreptitiously apprized of the contemplated movement of the American troops, and they despatched expresses to give intelligence to General Brock, who was at that moment quartered at Fort George. The heights were lined with troops, and measures were instantly adopted to repel the debarkation. The boats had scarcely put oif from the American, before they received a brisk fire of musketry from the whole line on the Canadian shore. The American batteries were immediately opened to sweep the opposite shore, and three British batteries played with great severity upon the boats. Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, of tlie artillery, who had marched with uncommon expedition from Niagara Falls, arrived in time to reply to the enemy's fire with two six-pounders. The eddies . . the river were violent, the shot from the enemy fell in heavy showers on the boats, and the difficulty of combating the former, and avoiding the latter, not only embarrassed the officers, but put many of the oarsmen into confusion. A grape-shot from a bat- tery below Queenstown, which enfiladed the place of crossing, struck the boat in which was Lieutenant-Colonel Christie, wounded him in the hand, and alarmed the pilot and boatmen so, that the boat fell below the intended place of landing and was obliged to return. The boats in which Major Mullany followed the two columns fell also below the point, two of them into the hands of the enemy, and the Major returned. But Colonel Van Renssollaer, who commanded the whole detachment, and whose ;i Villi 86 DETERMINATION OF THE TROOPS. mam liattle ut' U'loi'ii^tiiwii. boats formed the van, moved to the enemy's shore, succeeded in touching it at the designated place, and effected the landing of the van, consisting of one hundred men, under a tremendous fire directed upon him from every point. In ascending the banks the colonel received four balls. Captain Armstrong, Captain Malcolm, and Captain Wool, were wounded, and Ensign Morris was killed. Lieutenant Valance was killed in crossing. A party of the British then issued from an old fort below Queenstown, but on being fired on by the Americans immediately retreated. A strong battery which fired incessantly upon the van, obliged it to retire under the banks, where lay Colonel Van Renssellaer, who, tho^igh ID excruciating pain, with great difficulty stood up and ordesod his officers to proceed with rapidity and storm the fort, ami i*^ possible, lo i'.cend and carry the heights. The men were instantly rallied. Al)out sixty of the most determined, com- manded by Captain Ogilvie, seconded by Captain Wool, though v/ounded, and Lieutenants Kearny, Carr, Hugginan and Sam- moiis, and Ensign Reeve, of the 13th ; and Lieutenants Ganse- voort and Randolph, cautiously mounted the rocks on the right of the fort, gave three cheers, assailed and reduced it a**ter three GALLANT CONDUCT OF CAPTAIN WOOL. 89 desperate cliarges in which they were met with firmness ; they then carried the heights, and thus gallantly executed the whole order of the colonel, driving the enemy down the hill in every direction. A party of them retreated behind a stone guard-house, where a piece of ordnance was briskly starved, but a fire from the battery at Lewistown was so effectually directed upon it, that it was in a few minutes silenced. HE British then retreated behind a large stone -house. The American artillery-men were ordered to turn the guns of the fort upon them, but Lieutenant Gansevoort had has- tily spiked the cannon and they were there- fore now useless. The enemy's fire was silenced, however, with the exception of one gun, which was out of reach of the American cannon, and the boats were crossing unannoyed but by this battery. Reinforcements ar- rived afver this brilliant success, under Captain Gibson of the light artillery, Captain M'Chesney of the 6th, and Captain Lawrence of tbe 13th infantry, and Colonels Mead, Stranahan, Allen, and other militia officers. At about ten o'clock the British line was reformed, and flanking parties sent out. Lieutenant-Colonel Christie suc- ceeded in getting across the river with five hundred men and took command. General Brock having received the expresses which were for- warded to him, arrived at this moment at the head of a reinforce- ment of regulars from Fort George. He had led them around the heights to the rear of the battery, when Captain Wool de- tached one hundred and sixty men to meet them. The detach- ment was driven back, bi ' being immediately reinforced pressed forward again, and was again driven back to the brink of the precipice forming the Niagara river above Queenstown. Seeing that nothing short of a miracle could save the detachment from being beaten ; finding that the party were nearly without ammu- nition, and supposing it useless to sacrifice the lives of brave men, one of the officers was in the act of hoisting a white flag on a bayonet when Captain Wool, knowing that if the men held out a .short while longer they would be relieved by reinforcements, Mi' * iiii 'I •'> if i ■' ;!';'■■• IJ 90 DEATH OF GENERAL BROCK. tore down the flag, and ordered his officers instantly to rally the men and bring them to a charge. At this moment Colonel Christie arrived with such a reinforce- ment as made the detachment amount to three hundred and twenty men, to whom he immediately repeated the orders of Captain Wool, (whom he directed to leave the ground to get his wound dressed,) led them on to the charge himself, and making a forcible appeal to the bayonet, entirely routed the British 49th regiment of six hundred men, and pursued them up the height until he regained the ground which the detachment had just before lost. Part of the 41st were acting with the 49th, both of which regiments distinguished themselves under the same com- mander in Europe, and the latter had obtained the title of the Egyptian Invincibles, because they haa never on any occasion before, been known to give ground. General Brock, indignant almost to exasperation at the flight of this regiment, was attempting to rally them, when he received three balls at the same instant, which immediately terminated his brave career. His aid. Captain M'Donald, fell at his side mor- tally wounded. At about two o'clock in the afternoon, Brigadier- General Wadsworth of the militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Scott of the artillery, and Major MuUany crossed the river, and took the several commands which haxl been assigned to them. Captain Wool obeyed the order of Colonel Christie, crossed over to Lewis- town, had his wounds dressed, and returned to the scene of action. General Van Renssellaer had crossed over to Queenstown, and considering the victory complete after the repulse of the 49th, and the death of General Brock, he commenced preparations for encamping in the enemy's country. But in ex[>ectation of fur- ther attacks by other reinforcements, he directed that the camp should be immediately fortified, and committed this service to Lieutenant Totten, a skilful oflicer of the engineers. The enemy was reinforced at three o'clock by several hun- dred Indians from Chippewa, who, under the direction of the British in the town, commenced a furious attack upon the American troops, whose whole number did not exceed nine hundred and twenty. As they approached through the woods and an orchard, the troops not knowing their number, at first SHAMEFUL CONDUCT OF THE MILITIA. 01 faltered. Lieutenant-Colonel Christie and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott behaved with great coolness, and making every possi- ble exertion,' led the men promptly on, and in a short time the Indians being routed, fled before the bayonet and rifle, leav- ing several dead and one of their chiefs a prisoner. General Van Renssellaer observing that the troops were embarking very slowly, and fearing the necessity of a strong accession of numbers, crossed over to Lewistown during the assault of the Indians, to facilitate the movements of the militia. Twelve hundred and upwards o them were standing on the American shore inactive and, appar rently, unconcerned spectators of the battle. At the very moment when victory was perching on the ban- ners of their country, the ardour of the unengaged troops entirely subsided, and no effort could induce them to cross the line and share in the glory of the day's triumph. Thrice already had the battle been won ; three assaults of the enemy had been vigorously repulsed, and the conquest of the town and heights must neces- sarily follow. One third part of the disengaged men would secure it, but they had witnessed at a distance the furious attack of the Indians, they had seen the bodies of their wounded fellow soldiers brought back to the garrison, and they refused to go fur- ther than the laws of their country authorized the general to com- mand them. They claimed the privileges allowed them by the laws of their country, whose honour and renown they refused to assist in promoting ; they beheld as gallant exploits as the world perhaps ever knew, but still they were not animated by the same spirit of enthusiasm , nor the same degree of valour. Peremp- tory orders were disobeyed, solicitations disregarded, and all argu- ment exhausted to bring them to a sense of that duty which the general vainly hoped had urged them in the first instance to press for an opportunity to act. Lieutenant-Colonel Bloom, who had been wounded in one ot the three engagements, mounted a horse and rode among them with the general, but his example had no more eflfect than the general's persuasions. Meanwhile, another reinforcement was seen coming up the river from Fort George. The battery on the hill was considered as an important check to their ascending the heights, and measures were immediately taken to send them a 62 ■ Pi I l! -si! ? S'^!i m ^ 9-2 RETREAT OF THE AMERICANS. fresh supply of arms and ammunition. The reinforcementR. however, obliqued from the road to the rig] t, and formed a junc tion with the Indians in th'3 rear of the heights. 'The American troops being scattered in pursuit of the Indians, lost an opportu- nity of raking the reinforcing column as it approached the heights, and were taken a little by surprise. Knowing that the troops at the heights must be nearly ex* hausted, and their ammunition as nearly expended ; overwhelmed w ith mortification and disappointment ; the refusal of the militia to cross, and seeing that another severe conflict which the reduced detachment could i t long sustain without great loss would very .soon take place. General Van Renssellaer despatched a note to General Wadsworth, acquainting him with the conduct of the militia " Leaving the course to be pursued much to his own judgment, with an assurance that if he thought best to retreat, he (General Van Renssellaer) would send over as many boats as he could collect, and cover his retreat by every fire which he could possibly make with safety." The last British reinforcement amounted to eight hundred men, and when drawn up in line with their light artillery, and flanked by their Indians, at about four o'clorl*. an obstinate contest ensued, and was kept up for half an horif, with a tremendous discharge of flying artillery, musketry, and cannon, until the American detachment finding that they were not to be reinforced, their strength being nearly exhausted, and those of the militia who had already distinguished themselves, being unable to fight longer, received orders to retreat upon the reception of General Van Renssellaer's note, which they did in good order, down the hill to the point at which the}'' had landed. Many of the boats had been destroyed, others had beeii taken, and there remained but four or five to take the whole of the de- tachment to Lewistown. These were crossing when the last affair took place, and the boatmen becoming panic struck, had fled from their duty, and the boats were consequently dispersed, so that few of the Americans escaped from the Canada shore. In this distressing dilemma, they were obliged to surrender them- selves prisoners of war, to the number of three hundred and eighty-six regulars, and three hundred and seventy-eight militia; sixty-two of the regulars and twenty of the militia being wounded REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. 93 The estimate of killed in the detachment wa« at ninety. When the last detachment arrived from Fort George the whole Ameri- can force was formed into line, in three divisions, and amounted to only two hundred and forty men, the militia refusing to act longer, and many of the regulars being then already wounded. The victorious enemy treated their prisoners, while on the fron- tier, with the most generous tenderness, but for want of will or power, they put no restraint upon their Indian allies, who were stripping and scalping not only the slain, but the dying that re- mained on the field of battle. T' o lifeless body of Ensign Morris, who was brother to the amiahi- and distinguished naval officer of that name, was stripped t* '^l t, and indignities too savage to be recorded were conimi' n his person. The body of General Brock was committed to the grave with the usual mili- tary honours, and the guns at Fort Niagara were fired during the ceremony as a tribute of respect for a gallant enemy. There was no officer crossed the line, upon this memorable day, who did not do honour to his country. Colonel Scott was in full aress, which with his tall stature rendered him a conspi- cuous mark for the enemy — it has been said that several Indiany told him of their having shot at him, but he received no wound A. company of volunteer riflemen under Lieutenant Smith, who took the Indian chief, behaved with the courage of veterans. — Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick was wounded three diffi^.rent times, and each time severely ; he nevertheless continued fighting, and was particularly distinguished through the whole day's engage- ment. — Captains Gibson, Wool, and M'Chesney, have been spoken of as having done the same. The British forces in the different battles, with the exception of the first, was at no time less than eleven hundred ; in the last and fourth engagement it was much greater. Their loss is not known. With regard to close and courageous fighting, the vic- tory on this occasion belonged to the Americans ; but with regard to the loss which was sustained, it was exclusively yielded to the British. An arrangement was entered into on the 14th by which a few prisoners were paroled, the remainder were taken to Montreal. Whilst the troops were embarking at Lewistown in the mom .^vv^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 4 A.^ f/. % 1.0 I.I u 114 !!: US, 11.25 i 1.4 |25 Ik 2.0 1^ "> ^ -^ /a ^A\^ '■^J^^ ^j" ^ Photographic Sdences Cbrporation 4^^^.^. <^.^ :^"- '•<*J^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. U5S0 (716)872-4503 %0 94 ATTACK ON BLACK ROCK. i^i' I n III' ':'i *'! ing, the batteries at Fort George opened a cannonade upon Fort Niagara, which was returned and kept up with hot shot on both sides for several hours. From the south block-house of the American fort the shot was principally directed against the vil- lage of Newark, and several houses were set on fire, one or twtf of whiph were entirely consumed. This battery was commanded by Captain M'Keon, and the guns were worked with great abili- ty. The enemy comnlenced throwing shells, as there were no ' defenses against these. Captain N. Leonard, the commandant at Fort Niagara, preferred ordering a retreat from the garrison rather than expose a handful of men to their danger. The bursting of a twelve-pounder, by which two men were killed, deprived the fort of its best battery. The retreat had scarcely been ordered, when a number of boats loaded with troops, were observed to put off from the enemy's shore, upon which Captain M'Keon returned to the fort with a guard of twenty men, remained in it during the night, and was joined next morning by the rjest. of the garrison. Very few were wounded, and none killed except the two men by the bursting of the gun. Early in the following week the British batteries below Fort Erie opened a very heavy fire upon the village and fortifications of Black Rock, and kept it up at intervals during the day. There being no larger pieces than sixes at the breastworks, very few shot were returned. Several cannon-shot struck the battery, and two or three passed through the upper loft of the west barracks. The east barracks were destroyed by a bomb thrown from a twenty-four-pounder, which blew up the magazine, and burnt a quantity of the skins taken in the Caledonia. General Porter, of the New York militia, was sitting at dinner in his quarters, when one twenty-four-pound ball struck the upper loft of his house, and another entered it through the roof. On the 22d the enemy landed at St. Regis, a village without a garrison of any kind, and from which he could move imme- diately upon the camp at French Mills. The tribe of Indians inhabiting the village were friendly to the United States, and as it entered into the views of the enemy to pursuade them from the ser- vice of the American government into which they might probably outer, and to flatter them into their own, Sir George Prevost, under BATTLE OF ST. REGIS. w the autnority with which he was clothed, had forwarded to this trihe, in the form of a present, a quantity of baggage, consisting ot blankets, guns, specie, &o., under an escort of soldiers, and ac- companied by despatches, in which he solicited their alliance. The force was variously stated from one to three hundred, and Major Young, commanding the American militia from Troy, at the Mills, determined on immediately attacking them, as it was understood they were halting there for an increase of numbers. He detached Captain Tilden to the St. Lawrence, with a view of gaining a circuitous route to one of two houses in which the British were said to be quartered, and to secure the enemy's boats which were stationed there, to prevent his retreat. Captain Lyon was detached with orders to take the road running along the bank of the river St. Regis, with directions to gain the rear of the other house, and Major Young with the remainder of the forces moved on in front. When within fifty yards of either house, he heard a firing which convinced him that Captain Lyon was engaged. One round was sufficient. The enemy surrendered, but not to the number reported to have landed, and the Americans made forty prisoners, and took one stand of colours, thirty-eight mus- kets, the despatches, and all the baggage. Two batteaux were taken by Captain Tilden, and the troops returned to their encamp- ment at about eleven o'clock. The British lost four killed and one mortally wounded. At one o'clock in the morning of the 17th November, four British barges approached the American shore, about a mile above Ogdensburg, and on being hailed by a sentinel and refusing to answer, were immediately fired upon. The report of his piece brought several riflemen to his assistance, when the barges opened a smart fire of grape-shot, without effect, and soon alter retired to Prescott harbour. On their way thither they fired several shot into the town, which were returned by a six-pounder. This affair was followed on the night of the 19th by an incur- sion seven miles into the British territory by Colonel Pike and a part of the 15th regiment. He assaulted and carried a post which was defended by a large body of British and Indians, burned a block house, and put the garrison to flight, and returned with the loss of five men wounded. 96 BOMBARDMENT OF FORT NIAGARA. WM If: C-iMiS •'"♦if. At six o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the British having prepared mortars, and planted a long train of battering cannon behind breastworks erected on the margin of the river, com* menced a bombardment of Fort Niagara, and opened a cannonade from the batteries at and in the neighbourhood of Fort George, which was kept up without a moment's cessation until sundown. They employed five detached batteries in this affair. Two of them mounting twenty-four-pounders, and one mounting a nine- pounder. The remainder were mortar batteries, from five and a half to ten and a half inches, from which were thrown great quantities of shells. These fortresses are situated nearly opposite each other, at the mouth of the Niagara river, and command the entrance from Lake Ontario. The guns of Fort Niagara may be brought to bear alternately upon Fort George and the town of Newark, whilst a salt-battery, being a dependency of Fort Nia- gara and mounting one eighteen and a four-pounder, is directly in a range with and calculated to do much damage to the enemy's garrison. The American fort had received an augmentation of force im- mediately after the cannonade of the 13th, several corps who had marched to Lewistown, having been ordered after the battle of Queenstown, to relieve the garrison, but it was not yet supplied with a sufficient quantity of artillery and ammunition. It was now commanded by Colonel George M'Feeley. In the course of the day the enemy threw two thousand red-hot balls, and one hundred and eighty shells. The shells proved to be harmless, but the hot shot set fire to several buildings which were within and about the fort, but through the incessant vigilance of all the officers and men, but particularly of that gallant officer. Major Armistead, of the United States corps of engineers, who has on many other occasions distir squished himself, the fires were got under and extinguished, v- ut being discovered by the enemy. Notwithstanding the vaot shower of shells and cannon balls which was falling into the fort, the garrison performed their duty with unremitting alacrity, and served their pieces with coolness and composure. Captain M'Keon commanded a twelve-pounder in the south-east block-house; Captain Jacks, of the 7th militia artillery, commanded in the north block-house, a situation most piPi r- exposed t( leiy, had battery, ft the piece twenty-foi had comxL tery; Dr. pounder c Harris, of 1 disposed t effect. T] ark, and n Fort Georj was silenc his left she for him to that mome Hees's bati The con of the men. the cannon son in verj Armistead, bardment : others wert and four m was very there sunk was the sp: tory, that -w had fired waistcoats their guns An insta son in the and courag of Orleans, United Sta BOMBARDMENT OF FORT NIAGARA. 99 exposed to the enemy's fire. Lieutenant Rees, of the 3d artU- lery, had command of an eighteen-pounder on the south-east battery, from which several well-directed shot were made whilst the piece was pointed at the battery en barbette, mounting a twenty-four-pounder. Lieutenant Wendal, of the same regiment, had command of an eighteen and four-pounder on the west bat- tery ; Dr. Hooper, of the miUtia artillery, had command of a six- pounder on the mess-house, and Lieutenants Gansevoort and Harris, of the 1st artillery, had command of the salt-battery. Thus disposed they returned the fire of the enemy with vigpur and effect. They directed several of the pieces at the town of New- ark, and repeatedly fired it with hot shot. The buildings within Fort George were also fired, and at one time one of the batteries was silenced. A part of the parapet billing on Lieutenant Rees, his lefl shoulder was so severely bruised that it became necessary for him to quit his station, and Captain Leonard, happening at that moment to arrive at the fort, took command of Lieutenant Rees's battery for the remainder of the day. The continuation of the bombardment increased the animation of the men, and they fought with undiminished cheerfulness until the cannonading ceased. Colonel MTeely spoke of all the garri- son in very strong terms, and of Lieutenant-Colonel Gray, Major Armistead, and Captain MuUigan particularly. During the bom- bardment a twelve-pounder bursted and kiUed two men. Two others were killed by the enemy's fire, and Lieutenant Thomas and four men were wounded. From the salt-battery the enemy was very much annoyed. A few shot from the four-pounder there sunk a schooner which lay at the opposite wharf, and such was the spirited earnestness of both officers and men at this bat- tery, that when in the most tremendous of the bombardment they had fired away all their cartridges, they cut up their flannel waistcoats and shirts, and the soldiers their trousers to supply their guns. An instance of extraordinary bravery took place in the garri- son in the hottest of the cannonade, and for deliberate coolness and courageous fortitude, was surpassed neither by Joan, maid of Orleans, nor the heroine of Saragosa. — ^Doyle, a private m the United States artillery, who had been stationed in the fort, was '■W 100 OPERATIONS OF GENERAL SMYTH. msule prisoner in the battle of Queenstown. His wife remained in the garrison, and being there on the 2l8t, she determined to resent the refusal of the British to parole her husband, bj proffer- ing her services, and doing his duty against the enemy whenever the works should be assailed ; and she, accordingly, attended the six-pounder on the mess-house with hot shot, (regardless of the sho.ls which were falUng around her,) and never quitted her star tion until the last gun had been discharged. General Van Renssellaer having resigned his command on tne Niagara, General Smyth now contemplated a more effectual inva- sion of Canada than that which had so recently failed. From a description of the river below the falls, the view of the shore below Fort Erie, and from information which he had received of the enemy's preparations. General Smyth was of opinion that the landing should be effected between Fort Erie and Chippewa. This opinion he had delivered to General Van Renssellaer before the battle of Queenstown, and being in command, he was resolved that it should now be acted upon. The troops stationed at Black Rock and Buffalo were equally desirous of engaging the enemy, and the general promised them conquest and renown. In order that he might visit the Canadian shore with a force competent to retain the posts which might be captured, he desired to increase his numbers by such an accession of volunteers, as would be vril- ling to perform one month's service in the army, to submit to the rigid discipline of a camp, and to encounter the enemy on his own soil. He immediately communicated his intentions by a procla- mation, issued on the 10th of November, circulated in the coun- ties of Seneca and Ontario, and inviting persons thus disposed to place themselves under his authonty. This proclamation produced the intended effect. It held forth great allurements, and appealed to the patriotism of the American citizens. Under this proclamation numbers of volunteers came forward with the expected alacrity, and on the 27th of November the force collected at the station amounted to four thousand and five hundred men, including the regular troops, and the Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and New York volunteers, the latter being placed under the command of General Peter B. Porter, of the militia. On the following morning at reveille, the whole fcce was to em- PREPARATIONS OF GENERAL SMYTH. 101 General Porter. bark from the navy-yard at Black Rock and to proceed on the contemplated expedition. No possible preparation was omitted. At the navy-yard there were lying for the purpose of transporting the troops across the river, seventy public boats calculated to carry forty mon each, five large private boats, which were taken into the publV* ?i3rvice cal- culated to carry one hundred men each, and ten sec vs for the artillery to carry twenty-five each, which, together with a num- ber of small boats which were also provided, were to transport the whole of this army. After informing the citizens that for many years they had seen their country oppressed with numerous wrongs ; their government, though above all others devoted to peace, had been forced to draw the sword and rely for redress of injuries on the valour of the American people, and that that valour had in every instance been conspicuous ; his proclamation continued in the following words : " But the nation has been un- fortunate in the election of some of those who have directed it lOS OENBRAL Smyth's proclamation. t SI m One army has been disgracefully surrendered and lost. Another has been sacrificed by a precipitate attempt to pass over at the strongest point of the enemy* s lines rvith most incompetent means. The cause of these miscarriages is apparent. The commanders- were popular men, ' destitute alike of theory and experience' in the art of war. In a few days the troops under my command will plant the American standard in Canada. They are men accus tomed to obedience, silence, and steadiness. They will conquer, or they will die. Will you stand with your arms folded and look on this interesting struggle? Are you not related to the men who fought at Bennington and Saratoga? Has the race degene- rated? Or have you, under the baneful influence of contending passions, forgot your country? Must I turn from you and ask the men of the Six Nations to support the government of the United States? Shall I imitate the officers of the British king, and suffer our ungathered laurels to be tarnished by ruthless deeds?* Shame, where is thy blush? No. Where I command, the vanquished and the peaceful man, the maid and the matron, shall be secure from wrong If we conqueri 'we will conquer but to save' " Men of New Yorkf " The present is the hour of renown. Have you not a wish lor feme? Would you not choose in future times to be named as one, who, imitating the heroes whom Montgomery led, have, in spite of the season, visited the tomb of the chief, and conquered the country where he lies? Yes, you desire your share of fame. Then seize the present moment. If you do not, you will regret it: and say, 'the valiant bled in vain — the friends of my country fell^-and I was not there !' advance then to our aid. I will wait for you a few days. I cannot give you the day of my departure. But come on. Come in companies, half companies, or singly. I will organize you for a short tour. Ride to this place if the dis- tance is far, and send back your horses. But remember, that every man who accompanies us places himself under my com- mand, and shall submit to the salutary restraints of discipline." * It wai aboat thia time underatood that a number of friendly Indiana propoaed to be tdi«D into General Smyth's army, but that he explicitly refused to let them accompany Urn into Canada. PREPARATIONS TOR INVADING CANADA. 103 CCOMPANYING a second proclamatiou of General Smyth, of the 17th of November, in which was recapitulated most of the appeal of the former, and in which he set forth that " disloyal and traitorous men had endeavoured to persuade the people from doing their duty," was an address from General Porter to the people of Ontario and Genessee, in which he informed them that General Smyth had a powerful army at Buffalo, under strict dis- cipline, in high spirits, and eager for the contest. That with this army he would in a few days occupy all the British fortresses on the Niagara. That as humanity suggested that this conquest should be achieved with the least possible sacrifice. General Smyth had asked their aid and co-operation for the purpose of obtaining a force that would overawe opposition and save the effusion of blood. That he intended himself to accompany the expedition ; that a vigorous campaign of one month would relieve their fellow-citizens of the frontier from their sufferings, drive off the savage knife, restore peace to the whole of that section of the country, and redeem the tarnished reputation of the nation. A large number of troops were now assembled at and near Buf- falo, where they were drilled, equipped, and organized for the intended invasion. Ten boats were appointed to precede the main body, to effect a landing, and to storm and carry the enemy's batteries. A number of sailors were engaged to navigate the boats, under command of Lieutenant-Commandant Samuel Angus of the navy, assisted by Lieutenant Dudley, Sailing-Master Watts, who had distinguished himself in cutting out the Caledo- nia, and several other naval officers. At three o'clock in the morning of the 28th, these boats put off from the American shore, but tiiey had not proceeded one-fourth of the way across when the British batteries opened a galling fire, and five of them were obliged to return. In one of these was Colonel Winder of the 14th infantry, who commanded the troops to whom this hazard- ous duty was assigned. The command of the 14th devolved therefore upon Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler, who was in one of the advance boats with several resolute infantry ofiicers. A se- 104 CAPTURE OF BRITISH BATTERIES. MM liljf'i'Vk'), ' vere fire of musketry and grapenshot from two pieces of flying artillery was poured upon this part of the squadron, but they effected their landing in good order, formed on the shore, and advanced to the accomplishment of their object. Lieutenant-Commandant Angus and his officers, assisted by Samuel Swartwout, Esq., of New York, an enterprising citizen who happened to be at the station, acted as volunteers after the landing of the troops, and joining their little band of sailors to the regulars under Captain King of the 15th, they stormed the ene- my's principal batteries and drove him to the Red-house, where he rallied with two hundred and fifty men and commenced a rapid fire of musketry upon the assailants. Sixty regulars and fifty sailors composed the whole American force. The success at the battery, the guns of which were spiked, was followed up by a desperate assault on the Red-house. The sailors charged with boarding-pikes and cutlasses, the regulars with the bayonet, and after a hard and destructive engagement they routed the enemy, fired the house in which he quartered, and made about fifty pri- soners. Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler attacked and dispersed the enemy lower down the river, and took also several prisoners. Every battery between Chippewa and Fort Erie was now car- ried, the cannon spiked or destroyed, and sixteen miles of the Canadian frontier laid waste and deserted. The boats returned with the wounded and the prisoners, leaving Captain King and twelve men, who were so anxious to complete the destruction of every breastwork and barrack of the enemy that they resolved on remaining in possession of the conquered ground until the main body of the army should cross over the strait and march to the assault of the British forts. Sailing-Master Watts fell at the head of his division of the sailors, while he was gallantly leading them on. Midshipman Graham received a severe wound, which caused the amputation of a leg. Seven out of twelve of the navy officers were wounded. Captain Morgan of the I2th, Captain Sprowl and Captain Dix of the 13th, and Lieutenant Lisson, the two latter of whom were badly wounded, took a very distinguished part in the engagement. At daybreak the batteries on the American side were opened; they were ready to cover the embarkation of the main army, and PREPARATIONS FOR EMBARKING. lOA most of the troops had arrived at the designated place. Three hundred and forty volunteers, who had rallied under General Smyth's proclamation, well armed and provided, were marched by General Porter to the navy-yard. One hundred and fifty others were drawing arms at Buffalo, and had orders to follow immediately. Colonel Winder, being under an apprehension that Lieutenant-Colonel Boerstler and his men were in danger, made an unsuccessful attempt to land two hundred and fifty men at a difficult point down the river, his own being the only boat which touched the shore. When the squadron returned from their successful enterprise, he put back and formed his regiment to join in the general embarkation. At sunrise the troops began to embark, but such was their tardiness, that at twelve o'clock the whole body, with Colonel Swift's volunteer regiment, were not yet in the boats. A considerable number of barges had been thrown upon the shores of the river and Conejockeda creek, by the high tide of the preceding day, others were filled with ice and water, and those which had been employed by Colonel Winder were lying about one mile below. To collect and put these in order for the reception of the troops required a delay of several hours more, and it was not until two o'clock that all the troops intended to be sent over at the first crossing, were collected in a group of boats at Black Rock, under cover of the batteries ; where General Porter, having brought up the five boats which were below, joined and took his station among them. The number now embarked, according to the estimate of General Porter, were about two thousand, w^ho were anxiously awaiting the order to proceed. General Tannehill's volunteers. Colonel F. M'Clure's regiment, and some rifiemen and cavalry, in all about two thou- sand more, were still paraded on the shore, and were to constitute the second embarkation. In the mean time. Captain King and his twelve men, who were yet in the enemy's territory dismount- ing his pieces, were made prisoners, and about five hundred British troops had been drawn up in line, about half a mile from the river, sounding their trumpets and bugles, and indicating their readiness to receive the Americans. Late in the afternoon Gene- ral Smyth ordered the troops to disembark, and silenced theii murmurs by an assurance that the expedition was only postponed (06 TROOPS DISEMBARKED. i ' until the bbats should be put in a state of better preparation, and that they (the troops) should immediately after be put in motion. The different regiments retired to their respective quarters: General Porter marched his volunteers to Buffalo, but the enemy was actively employed in remounting his guns upon the batte- ries. On Sunday, the 29th, an order was issued from the head- quarters of the commanding-general for the march of the troops to the navy-yard, to embark on the following morning at nine o'clock. The time and manner proposed in this order were dis- approved of by all the officers; and those of the highest rank addressed the general and stated their objections to the plan. The repaired state of the enemy's batteries rendered it inexpe- dient to cross at the point dbooe the island, which covers the navy-yard ; behru that point he lay much augmented, in conse- quence of the gallant affair of the 28th, and occupied a line of shore of nearly a mile, from which he would have a full view of the American movement, if made by daylight. To avoid the fire of the British flying artillery and infantry, it was proposed to General Smyth that the troops should be landed five miles below the navy-yard, at an hour and a half before day on the morning of Tuesday, so that this dangerous shore might be passed in the dark ; when, if the boats were discovered, the troops would suffer less from the enemy's fire. The place which was thus recom- mended was, of all others, peculiarly favourable to a safe and orderly landing, and the proposal was accordingly adopted, and the army were to embark at three o'clock and to land at half-past four, in the order of battle prescribed on the 28th. On Monday evening seven boats for Colonel Swift's regiment, and eight for the new volunteers, were brought up the river and placed at different points, so that the noise and confusion of em barking the whole at one place might be avoided. At half an hour after three, these boats were occupied and took their station opposite the navy-yard. The regulars were to proceed on the right, General Tannehill's volunteers in the centre, and the New York volunteers on the left. General Porter, with a chosen set of men, was appointed to proceed in front to direct the landing, and to join the New York volunteers when on the opposite shore. On the arrival of the boats which were to compose the van, Gene- m] 11, ♦ ? ilJi [till, ral Porter with asm r^larin bead of tli Bveiy thi the troops proceed : ( flagtodes to put off. the shore, Porter rec( diatelj. I Canada ws ordered int teers could and return had taken ] came over The seer Four thous charged th commandii men, of all families, ar country un strongest c< he could le But now, t people, the obliged to 1 of the men renown. *! houses, or themselves obliged con and to doul fired at wh to him by 1 EXPEDITION ABANDONED. 109 ral Porter found that the artillery were embarking in the noo^s ^th as much haste as possible ; but one hour elapsed before the iBgularinfantrj- attempted to follow, when Colonel Winder, at the liead of the 14th, entered the boats with great order and silence, flvery thing seemed to promise a speedy and successful issue ; the troops to be embarked were now nearly ail in readiness to proceed : General Porter dropped to the front of the line with a flag to designate the leading boat, and the word only was wanted to put off. The front of the line was one-fourth of a mile from the shore, when the rear was observed to be retarded, and General' Porter received orders from General Smyth to disembark imme- diately. He was at the same time informed that the invasion of Canada was abandoned for the season, that the regidars were ordered into winter-quarters, and that, as the services of the volun- teers could now be dispensed with, they might stack their arms and return to their homes. Previously to this order an interview had taken place between General Sm3rth and a British major, who came over with a flag. The scene of discontent which followed was without parallel. Four thousand men, without order or restraint, indignantly dis- charged their muskets in every direction. The person of the commanding general was threatened. Upwards of one thousand men, of all classes of society, had suddenly left their homes and families, and had made great sacrifices to obey the call of their country under General Smyth's invitation. He possessed their strongest confidence, and was gaining their warmest affections : he could lead to no post of danger to which they would not follow. But now, the hopes of his government, the expectations of the people, the desires of the army, were all prostrated, and he was obliged to hear the bitter reproaches and the indignant epithets of the men whom he had promised to lead to honour, to glory, to renown. The inluibitants refused to give him quarters in their houses, or to protect him from the rage of thoso who considered themselves the victims of his imbecility or his deceit. He was obliged constantly to shift his tent to avoid the general clamour, and to double the guard surrounding it ; and he was several times fired at when he ventured without it. An application was made to him by the volunteers to permit them to invade the enemy's K no GENERAL SMYTH's APOLOGY. H -■''-■ ■ ^1 terrilory under General Porter, and they pledged themselves to him to take Fort Erie if he would give them four pieces of fljdng artillery. This soUcitation was evaded, and the volunteer troops proceeded to their homes, execrating the man whom they had respected, and the general on whose talents and whose promises they had placed the most generous reliance. General Smyth, however, found those who gave their appro- bation to his measures, and who thought that he had saved his army by relinquishing the invasion of Canada. The public mind was for a long time agitated \vdth doubts about the propriety of his conduct, in not prosecuting the campaign and breaking up the enemy's strong posts along the Niagara. Few, however, have hesitated to declare his culpability in inducing men to leave their homes for a month's incursion into the British territory, un- less he intended to effect it at every hazard which they might be willing to encounter. But he has alleged that his orders from the commander-in-chief were to cross with " three thousand men at once," and that he could not ascertain the number of troops which would go over but by seeing them actually embarked, and that when they were embarked they did not amount to more than fifteen hundred and twelve men, exclusive of tlic staff, being but half the number with which only his instructions authorized him to assail the opposite shore. That many of the militia not only refused to go when ordered into the boats by his brigade major, but that more than half of General Tannehill's brigade had de- serted. In his official letter to General Dearborn, he stated that he had called tof^ether a council of his ofiicers, agreeably to his instructions in all important cases, and that they decided against the contemplated operations upon the ground of the insufficiency of force. That he then informed the officers that the attempt to invade Canada would not be made until the army should be re- inforced, and directed them to withdraw their troops and cover them with huts immediately. That the volunteers and the neigh- bouring people were dissatisfied, and that it had been in the power of the contracting agent (alluding to General Porter) to excite some clamour against the course pursued, as he found the contract a losing one, and would wish to see the army in Canada that he might not be bound to supply it. That the situation of GENERAL PORTER. Ill tlte force under his (General Smyth's) command had not been such as to make the propriety of a forward movement obvious to all : that circumstanced as he was, he the aght it his duty "to fol- low the cautious counsels of experience, and not precipitation, to add to the list of our defeats." Whether General Porter's anxiety to see the army in Canada arose from so interested a motive as General Smyth has alleged, or whether he was actuated by a desire to see the campaign of 1812 closed with some brilliant achievement /f the American arms, the reader will be better able to judge by remembering the indefatigable exertions which that gentleman made use of to en- large the forces at Buffalo, by which the supplies of the army would be increased, and of the personal share which he was dis- posed to take in the most dangerous part of the enterprise On the 2d of December the enemy again opened his batteries upon Black Rock, probably with a view to inform General Smyth that his guns were unspiked and replaced, and that he was again in a state to resist the invasion. His fire was returned from several six-pounders, one of which, under Captain J. N. Barker, was so well directed that the ball entered an embrasure, dis- mounted a heavy gun, and disabled the carriage. The troops were now all quartered ; barracks were erected at Batavia for the reception of the largest proportion, and no opera- tions took place until the close of the year. The armies were distinguished by titles derived from their situations. That which was commanded by General Smyth being the Army of the Cen- tre, and that upon the St. Lawrence and in its vicinity being the Northern Army. This latter, which consisted of an active force of five thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven men, of infantry, cavalry, field and horse artillery, and militia, had also gone into winter-quarters, and the hopes of the nation rested now only on the North-western army, which we left in the neighbourhood of the Rapids of the Miami, the heafl-quarters of its commander at Sandusky, making vigorous preparations for a push upon the British and Indians at Detroit, and resolved upon quartering for the winter in one of the enemy's garrisons. 112 NAVAL CAMPAIGN CONTINUED. CHAPTER VII. Kabal tfampaign of ILSHS tontfnucb. The American arms on the ocean were all this time continuing to be tri- umphant. One naval victory succeeded another, until the people of the United States were astonished at the ceaseless prowess of their tars, and the nations of Europe stood in admiration, and began to look upon the rising naval establish* ment of America as a future rival to the formidable enemy against whom it was already successfully contending. The United States frigate the United States, Captain Stephen Decatur, of forty-four guns, having separated from the squadron under Commodore Rodgers, with which she left Boston on the 18th of October, cruised in the track of the British frigates until the 25th, when in lat. 29 deg. N., long. 29 deg. 30 min. W., she fell in with the British frigate Macedonian, Captain John Carden, of thirty-eight guns, but carrying forty-nine, the odd one bemg a shifting gun. The Macedonian Was to windward, and entered the engagement at her own distance. For half an hour aft»r the UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 113 commencement of the action the United States had no opportu- nity of using her carronades, the enemy keeping out of their reach, and never once coming within the range of grape or mus> ketry. The action, therefore, was of greater length than usual, and continued under every advantage to the enemy until the United States neared him. The fire from her then became so vivid that the enemy's crew imagining her to be on fire, gave ipany demonstrations of their joy, and expected every instant to see her blown up. But the Macedonian's mizzen-mast was shot away by the board, her fore and topmasts by the caps, her lower masts badly wounded, her main-mast destroyed, and all her rig- ging cut up. Most of her guns were disabled, the largest part of her crew killed and wounded, and having become a perfect wreck, she surrendered after an action of an hour and a half, at the moment when the United States was about to rake her. The enthusiasm of the American crew on discovering the enemy, and during the battle, was perhaps unprecedented ; the precision of their fire was never surpassed in any other naval en- gagement. Captain Garden being brought on board, presented his sword to Captain Decatur, who, in testimony of the gallantry of his enemy, declined accepting it, saying that " he could not receive the sword of a man who had defended his ship so brave- ly." The enemy's loss amounted to one hundred and four; thirty-six in killed, and sixty-eight wounded : among the latter, his first and third lieutenants. The loss of the United States was five killed and seven wounded, making a total of twelve. Among the latter was Lieutenant John Musser Funk, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who afterwards died of his wounds, regretted for his worth, and admired for his constant coolness and courage. The United States received no damage whatever, and returned to por^ only to see her prize safe in. The superiority of gunnery was decidedly, in this action, on the side of the American sea- men, who fired seventy broadsides, whilst the enemy discharged but thirty-six. The Macedonian was an entire new ship, and had been out of dock but four months. She was brought into the port of New London, and thence through the Sound to New York, where she was fitted out as a thirty-eight gun frigate, and as such bought ks is 114 OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO. trml into the service of the United States at the value of two hundred thousand dollars. Captain Decatur every where received the congratulations of the citizens. The legislatures of Pennsylvania and Virginia voted him an elegant sword ; the Congress of the United States a ^old medal. The corporation of New York voted him the free- dom of the city in a gold box, and had his portrait set up in their gallery ; and the select and common councils of Philadelphia, (in which city he was born,) voted him a superb sword, and ap- pointed a committee, of which Captain John Mullowney, formerly of the United States navy was one ; who in conjunction with Major-General John Barker, then mayor of the city, were to pro- cure it to be made of American materials. This sword was pre- sented to Captain Decatur by the mayor, accompanied by a concise and appropriate address, to which he made a pertinent and manly reply. Lieutenant Allen, first of the ship, and Lieutenant Nicholson, received the same honours from the legislature of Virginia. On Lake Ontario the naval operations were becoming every day of more consequence. Arrangements had been made for the augmentation of the fleets and a large ship was already on the stocks, nearly completed, and to be called the Madison. About the 6th of November, Commodore Chauncey, who commanded the fleet on this station, had some suspicion that three of the ene- my's squadron had proceeded from Kingston, up the lake, with troops to reinforce Fort George. The vessels supposed to have sailed in this direction, were the Royal George of six, the Duke of Gloucester of ten, and the Prince Regent of fourteen guns. Commodore Chauncey immediately sailed with the brig Oneida of fourteen guns ; the Governor Tompkins, Lieutenant Brown, of six guns ; the Growler, Lieutenant Mix, of five guns ; the Con quest. Lieutenant Elliot, of two guns; the General Hamilton, Lieutenant M'Pherson, of six guns ; the Pert, Arundle, of two guns ; and the Julia, Frant, of one long thirty-two-pounder — making in all thirty-six guns. As the enemy's vessels were ex- pected to return to Kingston for more troops, it was intended to intercept them at the False Ducks, a collection of islands which I hey would be obliged to pass. OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO. 116 On the 8th the squadron fell in with the Royal George, and chased her into the bay of Quinti, where she was lost sight of in the night. On the morning of the 9th she was discovered in Kingston channel. Signal was immediately made for a general chase, but by the alternate prevalence of squalls and calms, the squadron was led in close pursuit into the harbour of the enemy at Kingston. The commodore being determined on boarding her, though she was anchored under the enemy's batteries, with spiings on her cables, that she might get all her guns to bear, gave his signal to that effect. At three o'clock the batteries opened their fire on the fleet, and sent forth a tremendous shower of shot and grape. Lieutenant Elliot, of the Conquest, pushed forward, and went in in the handsomest style. He was followed by the Julia, the Pert, and the Growler, in succession ; then came up the brig, with the commodore, then the General Hamilton, and the Governor Tompkins. At twelve minutes after three Lieutenant Elliot opened his fire ; at fifteen minutes after three the Pert, Julia, and Growler, opened theirs. At twenty minutes after three the whole of the batteries fired on the brig, and she sustained most of the fire during the remainder of the action. A little while after, the commodore gave the signal " en- gage closer," which was instantly obeyed. The Pert's gun about this time bursted and wounded her commander, who refusing to leave the deck, was knocked overboard by the boom and drowned. At forty minutes past three the brig opened her fire on the Royal George, and the Royal George on the Hamilton. The firinp- became now very hot, and was kept up with the greatest alacrity until four o'clock, when the Royal George cut her cables and ran away further up the bay. The squadron became exposed to the cross fire of five batteries of flying artillery, in all about forty guns, and the guns of the ship the Royal George, which having taken a more advantage- ous position, set new springs and recommenced her fire. Round and grape were now falling around the squadron in heavy showers. At half an hour after four the whole hauled by the wind and beat out of the bay ;, two miles from which they an- chored, in full sight, until the 10th, and after remaining there nearly all that day, they returned to Sackett's Harbour, with the 116 OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO. m i .088 of one man killed and three wounded on board the Oneida. Whilst at the mouth of Kingston harbour, the commodore cap> tared a schooner, and as she could not beat out with the squad ron, he ordered the Growler to take her under convoy, to run down past Kingston, and anchor on the east end of Long Island, under an expectation that the Koyal George would be induced to come out to recapture her ; but her commander, fearing that the squadron might be close at hand, would not leave his moor- ings. The Royal George suffered very severely in her hul^ as a number of thirty-two-pound shot pierced her through and through. The Growler having in vain tried to induce the enemy to come out, sailed with the prize schooner for Sackett's Harbour. On her way she discovered the Prince Regent and the Earl Moira, of eighteen guns, convoying a sloop to Kingston. She immediately ran in and placed herself behind a point with her prize, until the armed vessels had passed her, when she ran out again, pressed down upon the sloop, captured and brought her into Sackett's Harbour, having on board about twelve thousand dollars in specie, and Captain Brock, cousin and private secretary to General Brock, together with that general's private property and baggage. The commodore immediately put off in a snow storm, vnth a hope of cutting off the Earl Moira at the False Ducks. Captain Brock expressed great surprise on learning that the Americans had been in the British harbour, and that they had got out again with so little loss, the place being so strongly defended. Commodore Chauncey not having succeeded in in- tercepting the Earl Moira, returned again to the harbour, and made preparations for completing the new ship Madison, which, being finished on the 26th of November, was launched into her destined element without accident. About this time the American privateers were floating in every direction on the ocean. They cruised before the entrances of most of the British colonial ports, and relying on the swiftness of their sailing, many of them had ventured into the chops of the British Channel. The alarm which was in consequence excited among the merchants of Great Britain, and the vast number of captures which were making by these vessels, induced the Eng- bsh government to fit out several sloops of war for the protection it! ^44 W !'t 4' THE PRIVATEERS. 117 of their coast. The brig Charybdis, of eighteen thirty-two-pound ers, and the Opossum sloop of war, were ordered to cruise for several privateers which were then known to be in the neigh- bourhood of the coast, and which it was confidently expected would be brought in by one or the other of these armed vessels. The Charybdis fell in with the privateer Blockade of New York, of eight guns ; and after an obstinate engagement of one hour and twenty minutes, in which the Charybdis lost twenty-eight of her officers and men killed and wounded, and the Blockade eight men only, the latter was carried and taken into port. The Opos- sum encountered the •' Orders in Council," a small privateer, who fought her until they had exchanged seven broadsides, when, finding the enemy's force to be too powerful, she abandoned the contest and effected her escape. The privateer Tom, Captain Wilson, of Baltimcw, on the 23d of November descried a sail, gave chase, overhauled and brought her to an action, which terminated in the surrender of the enemy with the loss of her captain and four men killed, and eeveral wounded. She proved to be the British packet Townsend, M'Coy, from Falmouth for Barbadoes. Her mail had been thrown overboard, but was picked up by the Tom's boats, and after being ransomed she was suffered to proceed. The Bona privateer, of Baltimore, having discovered a British ship of eight hundred tons, and twenty-two guns, then on a voy- age from Madeira, ran up and engaged her, when the great gun bursted, and Captain Dameron put twenty-nine officers and men into his boats, and despatched them to board her. After a severe fight upon her decks, they carried her with little loss. Two strange sail at this moment coming up in chase, the Bona left the prize in possession of those on board, and bore away to draw the chasing vessels after her. The privateer Dolphin, Captain W. S. Stafford, of ten guns and sixty men, also of Baltimore, being off Cape St. Vincent, engaged a ship of sixteen guns and fi^rty men, and a brig of ten guns and twenty-five men, at the same instant, and after a long and gallant action made prizes of both. The Dolphin had four men wounded ; the enemy nineteen killed and forty wounded, among them the captain of one of the vessels. Instances of the 118 EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH SEAS. rV'!''' Cnminodor* Balnbridge. bold and daring intrepidity of the crews of the private armed vessels of the United States are so numerous, that the recital of them would swell this work very far beyond the limits which have been assigned to it. The enemy's commerce was every where assailed by them, and the British government was obliged to protect their merchant ships by large convoys of vessels of war. A plan had been matured at the navy department for a cruise in the South Seas, and the frigate Constitution, now commanded by Commodore William Bainbridge, the Essex, Captain Porter, and the Hornet, Captain Lawrence, were selected to prosecute the voyage in company. On the 27th of October the Essex sailed from the Delaware, and on the 30th the Constitution and Hornet from Boston ; several places of rendezvous having been assigned, at either of which this force was to be united to proceed upon the cruize. On the 29th of December the union of these ves- sels had not yet been effected, and on that day the Const jtution \ I' V. mhr% m> descried a ten league a British ] for her. ^ an intenti wearing, object of t] being rake two p. M. tl to windwa jack, whic ahead of h answered 1 hoisted, an at so great him nearei thirty mini distance, v minutes pa Bainbridge for that pi got foul minutes minutes p cap. Thi and soon minutes colours at dered. which beii still flying got close a when his that furth ageable a taken posi jesty's shi command a CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 121 descried a sail at meridian, in lat. 13 deg. 6 min. S., long 38 W., ten leagues from St. Salvador, which she soon discovered to be a British frigate. Commodore Bainbridge tacked sail and stood for her. At fifty minutes past one p. m. the enemy bore down with an intention of raking the Constitution, which she avoided by wearing. Much manceuvering took place on both sides, tlie object of the enemy being to rake, and of the Constitution to avoid being raked, and to draw the enemy from the neutral coast. At two p. M. the enemy was within half a mile of the Constitution, and to windward, having hauled down his colours, except the union jack, which was at the mizzen-masthead. A gun was then fired ahead of him to make him show his colours ; but this gun was answered by a whole broadside. The enemy's colours were then hoisted, and the action began with round and grape ; but he kept at so great a distance that the grape had little effect, and to bring him nearer would expose the Constitution to severe raking. At thirty minutes past two, both ships were within good canister distance, when the Constitution's wheel was shot away. At forty minutes past two, the fore and mainsail were set, and Commodore Bainbridge being now determined to close with him, luffed up for that purpose, and in ten minutes after the enemy's jibboom got foul of the Constitution's mizzen rigging, and in another ten minutes his bowsprit and jibboom were shot away. At five minutes past three his main-topmast was shot away just above the cap. This was followed by the loss of his gaff and spanker boom, and soon after his mainmast went nearly by the board. At five minutes past four the enemy was completely silenced, and his colours at the main being down, it was thought he had surren- dered. The Constitution therefore shot ahead to repair damages, which being done, and the enemy's flag being discovered to be still flying, she wore, stood for the enemy in handsome style, and got close athwart his bows in an effectual position for raking, when his mainmast having also gone by the board, and seeing tliat further resistance would be useless whilst he lay so unman- ageable a wreck, he struck his colours, and was immediately taken possession of Lieutenant Parker, and found to be his ma jesty's ship Java, of thirty-eight guns, but mounting foity-nine, commanded by a distinguished officer. Captain Lambert, who way h 16 122 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. Bf ii mortally wounded, and having on board at the commencement of the engagement upwards of four hundred men, and one hun- dred supernumerary seamen which she was carrying out to the East Indies for different ships there. The Constitution had nine men killed and twenty-five wounded. The Java sixty killed and one hundred and seventy wounded. She had on board despatches for St. Helena, Cape of Good Hope, and the different establish- ments in the East Indies and China, and copper for a seventy- four, building at Bombay. She had on board also, a number of passengers, among whom were Lieutenant-General Hislop, governor of Bombay, Major Walker, and one staff major. Captain Marshall, a master and commander in the royal navy, and several officers appointed to ships in the East Indies. The conduct of both officers and crew in this engagement, was not less conspicuous for gallantry than in that of the Guerriere, and the same principles of humanity influenced their deportment to the prisoners. Among the wounded were the commodore and Lieutenant Aylwin, the latter of whom received a ball imme- diately under the collar bone, (within an inch of his former w^ound,) of which he died at sea, on the 28th January. Upon the call for boarders, he had mounted the quarter-deck hammock cloth, and was in the act of firing his pistols at the enemy when the ball passed through his shoulder-blade and threw him upon the deck. Midshipman Delany, who had been at his side in both the actions of the Constitution, bore him to the side of the mast, and ordered two men from his own division to carry him below, but such was his zeal for the success of the ship, that he would not suffer a single man to be taken from his station, nor would he consent to leave the deck until he saw the issue of the battle. Among the officers who distinguished themselves, were Lieute- nant Parker, the first officer of the ship, and Midshipmen James Delany, of Pennsylvania, and John Packet, of Jefferson county, Virginia ; the latter of whom was intrusted with the despatches from Commodore Bainbridge to the navy department, and has since been promoted to a lieutenancy. Many of the seamen ex- hibited a most uncommon degree of heroism ; one of them, John Cheves, after being mortally wounded, remained on deck appa- rently dying, until the termination of the engagement, when the CONSTITUTION AND JAVA, 133 word being passed that the enemy had struck, he raised himself up with one hand, gave three cheers, and fell back and expired. His brother was also severely wounded. On the 1st of January, (nautical time,) Commodore Bainbridge, upon being informed by Lieutenant Parker that the prize was in such a condition that many repairs would be required to render her at all manageable, and knowing the immense distance at which he then was from any port in the United States, and how much he would be obliged to weaken his crew to man the prize properly, determined on blowing her up, which he accordingly did at 3 P. M., with every valuable article on board of her, except the prisoners' baggage. To these he administered every comfort which his means could afford, and at St. Salvador, at which place lie landed the remaining crew of the Java, he received the public acknowledgments of Lieutenant-General Hislop to that effect, accompanied by the presentation of an elegant sword. Captain Lambert had received a mortal wound in the early part of the engagement, and was in so languishing a situation that he could not be removed from the Java until her destruction was resolved on, after which the commodore directed his course to St. Salvador to land and parole him. On arriving in that port, he landed the private passengers without considering them prisoners of war, and released the public passengers and the ofUcers and crew, amounting to three hundred and fifty-one men, on their parole, on condition of their returning to England and remaining there, without serving in any of their professional capacities until they should be regularly exchanged. At St. i^alvador the Constitution met the sloop of war the Hor- net, with whom she had parted a few days before the engagement, and leaving that vessel to blockade the British sloop of war the Bonne Citoyenne, Commodore Bainbridge broke up the ititended cruise in the South Seas and returned to the United States. Here he was greeted with the applauses of his countrymen, and received the freedom of the city of New York in a gold box; a piece of plate from the citizens of Philadelphia, the thanks of many of the state legislatures, and a medal from Congn^ss, with fifly thousand dollars for himself, officers, and crew. The legis- 66 124 CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. ^I^il m J: I'; lature of Virginia voted a handsome sword to Midshipman Packet of their state, and their approbation to the officers generally. The comparative force of the two vessels has been a subject of much prevarication, as well as of the number of men in each. Captain Lambert having expired at St. Salvador, it became the duty of Lieutenant Chads, first officer of the Java, to make an official communication of the affair to his government. Thpt officer, unmindful of the generous magnanimity with which he had been treated, endeavoured to take away from the credit of the American commodore by underrating the number of the British crew and the actual force of the British ship, and by very largely overrating the force and crew of the Constitution. He reported her force to be thirty-two long twenty-four-pounders, sixteen carronades, (thirty-two pounders,) and one carronade eighteen-pounder, being in all fifty-eight guns. The actual force of the Constitution was thirty twenty-four-pounders on her gun- deck, sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades on her quarter-deck, and eight guns on her forecastle, making in all fifty four guns. The Java carried twenty-eight twenty-four-pounders on her gun- deck, fourteen thirty-two-pounders, carronades, six guns on the forecastle, and one shifting gun, making in all forty-nine guns, which the lieutenant stated at forty-six. Assurances were given to Commodore Bainbridge by the officers of the Java, that the ship left England with a crew which did not exceed three hundred and twenty men ; but the prisoners received on board the Constitution very far exceeded that num- ber, and when the muster-book of the Java was found and ex- amined, it called for four hundred and nine officers, petty officers, seamen, and marines, so that their loss in killed must have been greater than they reported. OPERATIONS OF WINCHESTER AND HARRISON. 126 i CHAPTER VIII (tatioiiK of 2^incf)e0tft anli g^aTtUon in t'^t T^ottt'totnu Exasperated at the successes of the American volunteer troops, in their ^repeated assaults upon the Indian ^ posts along the north-western frontier, the enemy resolved upoi an imme- diate movement of his combined forces, to the village of Frenchtown, with a >^ view to intercept the American expe- dition, in its further approaches to- wards Detroit. In the event of this movement, which was now (January) every day looked for, the inhabitants of Frenchtown were apprehensive of being massacred, and they therefore implored General Winchester to march to their protection, though the troops at that time under his com- mand, were far inferior in numbers to the collected force, by which in all probability they would be assailed. "Without any previous concert with General Harrison as to the plan of opera- tions, and without his knowledge or authority, General Win- chester, yielding to the solicitation of the inhabitants, determined upon marching with his small force, then reduced to eight hun dred by the discharge of those regiments whose term of service 126 BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN. In? i i 1 lit" >4 M It had expired, to prevent, if possible, the destruction of the village and the threatened murder of its inhabitants. On the 17th, Lieutenant-Colonel William Lewis was ordered to proceed with a detachment to Presque isle, where he was to wait the arrival of a reinforcement of another detachment, under Lieutenant- Colonel Allen, which would soon after be followed by the main body of the troops. On the morning of the 18th, the two de- tachments concentrated at Presque isle; when Colonel Lewis, having been informed that an advance party of the British and Indians, amounting to about five hundred, were already encamped at Frenchtown, immediately determined on attacking them. A rapid march brought him within their view at about three o'clock. At three miles distance he w^as apprized of their being prepared to receive him, and, lest they should sally out and suddenly encoun- ter him, he arranged his men in the order of battle, and approached with caution to the margin of the river. The command of the right wing, composed of the companies of Captains M'Cracken, Bledsoe, and Matson, was assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Allen. The command of the left, composed of the companies of Captaiiis Hamilton, Williams, and Kelly, to Major Graves. Major Madison was placed in the centre, with the companies of Captain Hightower, of the I7th United States infantry, and Captains Collier and Sabrie. Captain Ballard, acting as major, was sent in advance with two companies, com maiided by Captains Hickman and Glaves. Thus organized, the whole body came within a quarter of a mile of the enemy. The river only separated them. The line was then displayed, and the passage of the river was attempted, under a fire from a howitzer which the enemy directed against the volunteers with little effect. The line remained firm, and marched across the ice to the opposite shore, at the very moment when the signal was given for a general charge. Majors Graves and Madison were instantly ordered to assail the houses and picketing, in and about which, the enemy had collected and arrayed his cannon, before this char^'e -.ould be made. The two battalions advanced with great velocity, under an incessant shower of bullets, carried the picketing with ease, dislodged the British and Indians, and drove them into the woods *ff 1 II DEFEAT OP THE BRITISH AND INDIANS. 127 Lieutenant-Colonel Allen made a simultaneous movement upon the enemy's left, then at a considerable distance from the re- mainder of his troops, and after one or two spirited charges, com- pelled him to break, and drove him more than a mile; alter which he took shelter in the same wood, to which the right had retired. Here the two wings concentrated, and, being covered by the fences of several inclosed lots and a group of houses, with a thick and brushy wood, and a quantity of fallen timber in the rear, they made a stand with their howitzer and small arms. Colonel Allen was still advancing with the right wing of the American detachment, and was exposed to the fire of the whole body of the enemy. Majors Graves and Madison were then directed to move up with the left and the centre, to make a di- version in favour of the right. Their fire had just commenced when the right wing advanced upon the enemy's front. A sanguinary fight immediately followed; the houses were desperately assailed, the British, who were stationed behind the fences, were vigorously charged, and the enemy a third time fled. Rapid pursuit was instantly given to him. The British and Indians drew the Americans into the wood in their rear, and again rallying their forces, several times intrepidly attempted, under the direction of Major Reynolds, to break the American Une. The fight became close and extremely hot upon the right wing, but the whole line maintained its ground, repulsed every attempt, followed up the enemy each time as he fell back, and kept him two miles on the retreat, under a continual charge. At length, after having obstinately contended against the American arms upwards of three hours, the British and Indians were en- tirely dispersed, and carrying off all their wounded and as many of their dead as they could collect, they retired from the field, leaving fifteen of their warriors behind. The American loss amounted to twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. The gallantry of the officers of the detachments left no chance of discrimination to the commandant. Most of them have been already mentioned in reference to their conduct on other occasions. The coolness of the men was such, that whilst they were assaulting and driving the enemy from the houses, not a woman oi child inhabiting them was hurt. Colonel Lewis 128 SECOND BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN 1^' 81 I) I' II ! \ r I* 41 In-law to Mr. Henry Clay, one of the American commis' ■ioners at Ghent. 134 CONDUCT OF JUDGE WOODWARD. When the surviving prisoners, officers and men, arrived at Maiden, the savages were allowed to sell them, and many of the American citizens who had been permitted to remain in the town of Detroit for temporary purposes, stepped forward to ransom them, but when Colonel Proctor discovered that by this means they obtained their release, he issued an order forbidding any future exchanges of prisoners for money. Most of the officers, and many of the men among the volunteers, were of the first respectability, holding offices of high trust, members of the Con- gress of the United States, and accustomed to those refinements which result from wealth and education. They had left the ease and affluence with which their homes abounded, to obey the voice of their invaded country, and had encountered all kinds of hardships in their diflferent marches. These men, while prison- ers at Maiden, were treated with that haughty superciliousness, which belongs not to the noble soldier, nor to the enlightened man. Judge Woodward, of the Supreme Court of the Michigan ter- ritory, rendered every assistance to the prisoners within the power of an individual, and by the influence which he had acquired over the British commander greatly alleviated their misfortunes. He boldly charged the enemy with the enormities which had been committed, and informed Colonel Proctor, after having sup- plied him by his own directions with affidavits which substan- tiated all the facts, that " the truth would undoubtedly eventually appear, and that that unfortunate day must meet the steady and impartial eye of history y Colonel Proctor extenuated the facts, made no denial of their occurrence, but alleged that no capitulation was entered into; that the prisoners surrendered at discretion, and that therefore it was not necessary to control the Indians. The battle was officially announced to the Canadian people from the head-quarters of the commander-in-chief, the governor-general. His communication infor-ned them that another brilliant action had been achieved by the division of the army under Colonel Proctor, and admitted that the loss of the Americans was great, because the Indian warriors had cut off all who attempted to escape. The Indian chief Round Head, he said had rendered essential services by his ])ravery and ei'^ursions, ERECTION OF FORT MEIGS. 135 (rood conduct, and Colonel Proctor had nobly displayed his gal- lantry by his humane and unwearied exertions in rescuing the vanquished from the revenge of the Indians ; for which good con duct he was promoted, until the pleasure of the Prince Regent should be known, to the rank of a brigadier-general in Upper Canada. The general order concluded by ordering " a salute of twenty-one guns to be fired on this glorious occasion." General Harrison having heard of the exposed situation of General Win- chester's troops had ordered a detach- ment from General Perkins's brigade to march under Major Cotgroves to his fi- relief; but they did not reach French- ; town before the battle, and immediately ^Jon their return to the Rapids, at whicli "place General Harrison was then sta- tioned, he fell back eighteen miles to the carrying river, in order to force a junction with the troops in the rear, and to cover the convoy of artillery and stores then coming from Upper Sandusky. From this place he despatched a flag of truce, with a surgeon, to Maiden to attend to the captured sick and wounded; his flag was not respected, however, and one of the surgeon's companions was killed, and himself wounded and taken prisoner. A strong desire now prevailed among the troops to avenge the loss of their brave brethren in arms, and Governor Meigs having promptly forwarded two regiments of Ohio militia to reinforce General Harrison, he again advanced to the Rapids and com- menced building a fort, which has since been rendered memo- rable under the name of Fort Meigs. Fortifications were at the same time constructed at Upper Sandusky, under the direction of General Crooks. Whilst these precautionary measures were adopted for the protection of the troops, and the defense of the territory, detached parties were frequently indulged in short ei'^^-ursions, none of which resulted in any material advantage. In one of these, the commander-in-chief himself, marched to Presque isle at the head of a detachment, upon hearing that a hody of Indians had collected at that place ; but the Indians fled ?1 136 SIEGE OP PORT MEIGS. I?" ll". at his approach too rapidly to be overtaken, and he returned to his encampment, after having marched sixty miles in twenty-one hours. A few days after, Captain Langham was despatched to destroy the Queen Charlotte, then lying near Maiden ; but the decayed state of the ice defeated the object of the expedition. In the com mencement of April a desperate affair took place between an equal number of Frenchmen and Indians, who fought each other in canoes, until the greater part on both sides were either killed or wounded ; but no event of any consequence occurred during the remainder of the winter, the unauthorized movement of Gene- ral Winchester was entirely subversive of General Harrison's plans, and so contrary to his arrangements, that the whole system of organization was again to be gone over. General Harrison therefore left the troops strengthening the posts of Fort Meigs, Upper Sandusky, and Fort Stephenson, whilst he returned to Ohio to consult with the governor, to accelerate the march of the reinforcements, and to expedite the transportation of additional stores. He had not been long absent from Fort Meigs, before the garrison was threatened with an attack. New levies were hastily made from Ohio and Kentucky, but as they did not arrive in time to resist the enemy, now collecting in large numbers in the neighbourhood, the Pennsylvania brigade voluntarily ex- tended its term of service, which had just then expired. General Harrison was apprized of this circumstance by de- spatch, and returned with all possible expedition to the garrison. He arrived on the 20th April, and made instant preparation for an approaching siege. Patroles and reconnoitering parties were constantly kept out, and on the 26th they reported the enemy — on that day the advance of the enemy made its appearance on the opposite shore, and were discovered viewing the works ; after reconnoitering a short time they retired. On the following day they appeared again ; but a few eighteen pound shot soon obliged them to retreat The fort was situated on a commanding eminence, and was well supplied with every necessary munition of war, but General Harrison being desirous of putting his men in the best possible state of security, was every day erecting fortifications of different SIEGE OF FORT MEIOS. 137 descriptions. The troops in the garrison were animated and zealous in the cause of their country, and their exertions were without parallel. On the 28th, Captain Hamilton wtiH sent out with a patrolling party. About three miles down the river he discovered the enemy in great force, approaching Fort Meigs, and immediately communicated his discovery to the general. An express was then sent to General Green Clay, who com- manded a brigade of twelve hundred Kentuckians, with an order for his immediate march to Fort Meigs. General Harrison ad- dressed the troops, informed them of the vital importance of every man's being vigilant and industrious at his post, and received as- surances that none of them would abandon their duty. A few British and a body of Indians commenced a very brisk fire from the opposite shore, but the distance was too great to do injury. Their fire was returned from two eighteen pounders, and they retired and concealed themselves from the view of the fort. In the evening, the enemy crossed the river in boats, and selected the best situations about the fort to throw up works for the pro- tection of their battering cannon. The garrison was completely surrounded, and preparations were active upon one side to storm the fort, and on the other to repel the most vigorous assault. Several dragoons, who had offered to reconnoiter the enemy's camp, had not proceeded far from the fort, when they were fired on, and one of them was shot through the arm. Early on the morning of the 29th, the Indians fired into the fort with their rifles, and mortally wounded a man who was talking with the general — a constant firing was kept up on both sides during the whole day. Several men in the garrison were slightly wounded, and a number of the enemy were killed. His batteries had been so far constructed during the night, that sufficient protection was afforded to him to work by daylight. Numbers of shot were thrown into the breastworks to impede their progress, but before night, he had three batteries erected, two with four embrasures each, and one bomb battery. On the morning of the 30th, the besiegers were discovered to have extended their batteries, and to be preparing them for the cannon. Their progress in doing this was retarded by a well- directed and constant fire from the besieged. They were observed Hi 18 f s. 13S SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS. to carry away men from the batteries, by which it was supposed that the fire from the fort had either killed or wounded many of them. General Harrison, having a suspicion that the enemy intended to surprise and storm the garrison in its rear, from the circum- stance of a number of boats having repeatedly crossed from the old British garrison to the side on which stood the American fort, each loaded with men, he gave orders for one-third of the troops to be constantly on guard, and the remainder to sleep with their muskets in their arms, and to be in readiness to fly to their posts at any moment. The Indians occupied all the advantageous positions around the fort, and to this and many other discourag- ing circumstances was added the want of water, which was supplied only from the river, whence a few men were each night obliged to obtain enough for the garrison for the succeeding day. This they did at an imminent risk of their lives, the Indians being always on the alert. During this day there were several killed and wounded on both sides. In the night, a gun-boat which had been towed up the river by the enemy, was placed near the fort, and kept up a fire at intervals upon it. No one ball entered it, however, and on the morning of May 1st she moved off, after having discharged thirty shot without effect. This morning the grand traverse, at which the men had been some time engaged, was nearly finished, and several inferior ones were commenced in different directions. The American garrison was now in very excellent condition, and as soon as the well should be finished, would defy the utmost power of the be- siegers. At about ten o'clock the enemy had one cannon pre- pared. With that he kept up a brisk fire. In the course of the day he opened several pieces on the fort, and before night he had in operation one twenty-four-pounder, one twelve, one six, and a howitzer, from which he fired two hundred and fifty-six shot dur- ing the day, and four at night, without doing any material injury to Fort Meigs; though one man was wounded mortally, two badly, and five slightly, and a ball struck a bench upon which General Harrison was sitting. One of their pieces was silenced several times. On the second of May the firing commenced very early with SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS. 139 bombs and balls, and continued until four hundred and fifty- seven discharges were made in the day, and four at night. Ame- rican loss this day, one killed and ten wounded, besides several slightly touched. Numbers of the enemy's warriors were carried away from their batteries in blankets. On the 3d, a fierce ai:d vigorous fire of bombs and cannon balls commenced with the day. Two batteries, one of which was a bomb-battery, were opened upon the rear right-angle of the American fort, at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards. Their fire was promptly returned, and several times silenced, but they continued it at intervals dur- ing the day. Six men were killed in the fort and three wounded, by the cannon and bombs, from which during this day and at night there were five hundred and sixty-three shot and shells dis- charged. The Indians ascended the trees in the neighbourhood of the fort and fired into it with their rifles, only one man, however, was killed by a bullet. On the 4th no firing took place until eleven o'clock. It was at first supposed that the enemy had exhausted himself, but at nine o'clock it was discovered that he was erecting an additional battery, to guard against which. General Harrison ordered a new traverse to be constructed. A heavy rain, which fell in the early part of the day, retarded the firing on both sides. The rifle was used oftener on this than on any other day. The cannon shot did not exceed two hundred and twenty-two. Seve- ral men were slightly wounded, and two killed in the course of the night. The principal part of the British were at the old bat- teries on the opposite side of the river, one of their ofldcers of rank crossed over within musket-shot of the fort, and was shot by Lieutenant Gwynne. On the 5th, the fire from the besiegers was very slow, they killed three men with bombs, and discharged their pieces one hundred and forty-three times in all. General Clay had put his troops in motion as soon as he received General Harrison's orders of the 28th ultimo, and had marched with great expedition. At two o'clock on this day, M. Oliver, who had been sent vdth the despatches, arrived at the fort with forty-seven men of General Clay's brigade, and informed General Harrison that the whole detachment was within a few hour's march. Orders were imme- 68 140 DEFEAT OF COLONEL DUDLEY. m diately sent to General Clay to land eight hundred men on the opposite shore, to storm the enemy's batteries, spike his cannon, and destroy his carriages, whilst a sortie would be circuitously made from the fort for the purpose of attacking his new works at the same instant, and compelling him to raise the siege. Colonel Dudley was charged with the execution of this order, and Colonel Miller of the 19th United States infantry was to command the sortie. Colonel Dudley landed his men from the boats in which they had descended the river, and marched them resolutely up to the mouth of the British cannon. The four batteries were in- stantly carried, eleven guns spiked, and the British regulars and Canadian militia put to flight. In pursuance of General Harrison's orders, Colonel Dudley, after having effected the object of his landing, ought to have crossed the river to Fort Meigs, but his men were so much elated at the success of their first battle, that they were desirous of pur- suing and capturing the retreating enemy. An immense body of Indians were at that time marching to the British camp, who were met by the regulars as they retired. AVith these they formed, and putting the Indians in ambush, they made a feint to draw Colonel Dudley's men into the woods, in which they teo well succeeded. The Indians came out from their ambuscade, and attacked the brave but indiscreet Kentuckians. A severe engagement took place, which terminated in the death or capture of almost the whole detachment, and which was followed by the same kind of massacre, though not to the same extent, which succeeded the surrender at Raisin. The British intercepted the retreat of Colonel Dudley to the river, where he would have been protected by the guns of Fort Meigs, and only one hundred and fifty men, out of eight hundred, effected their escape. Forty-five were tomahawked, and Colonel Dudley, their gallant leader, was among the killed. He is said to have shot one of the Indians after being himself mortally wounded. The remainder of General Clay's brigade assailed a body of Indians in the wood near the fort, and would have been also drawn into an ambush had not General Harrison ordered a party of drag(»ons to sally out and protect their retreat to the fort. The contemplated sortie was intended to have been siinulta^ m SORTIE FROM FORT MEIGS. Ul Siejs of Fort Meigs. neous with the attacl? on the opposite side of the river ; but the impetuosity of Colonel Dudley's troops defeated this project, and Colonel Miller, with part of the 19th and a body of militia, in all three hundred and fifty men, sallied forth after the Indians were apprized of the attack upon the old batteries. He assaulted the whole line of their works, which was defended, as has since been ascertained, by two hundred regulars, one hundred and fifty militia, and four or five hundred Indians, and after several bril- liant and intrepid charges, succeeded in driving the enemy from his principal batteries and in spiking the cannon. He then returned to the fort with forty-two prisoners, among whom were two lieutenants. The first charge was made on the Indians and Canadians by the battalion of Major Alexander, the second on the regulars and Indians by Colonel Miller's regulars, the officers of which were Captains Croghan, Langham, Bradford, Nearing, and Lieutenant Campbell, and a company of Kentuckians, commanded by Cap- tain Sabrie, who distinguished himself in the first affair at Frenchtown. This company maintained its ground with more firmness than could have been expected from a hasty levy of militia, and against four times its number. It was at length, W'll '.1 H'Ai^ ' I* 'M. . !a w^ W .1. li. m 142 THE SIEGE RAISED. however, sui rounded by Indians, and would have been entirely cut off, had not Lieutenant Gwynne of the 19th charged the Indians with part of Captain Elliot's company and released the Kentuckians. On the 6th, hostilities seemed to have ceased on both sides. The besieged sent down a flag by Major llukill to attend to, the comforts of the American wounded and prisoners, which returned with the British Major Chambers, between whom and the garri- son some arrangements were made about sending home the pri- soners by Cleveland. On the 7th there was a continuation of bad weather. Flags were passing to and from the two armies during the whole day, and arrangements were entered into by which the American mihtia were to be sent to Huron, to return home by that route, and the Indians were to relinquish their claim to the prisoners taken on the opposite shore, and to receive in exchange for them a number of Wyandotts, who had been captured in the sallies of the 5th. During the 8th the exchange and intercourse of flags continued, and a promise was made by the British to fur- nish General Harrison with a list of the killed, wounded, and prisoners, which, however, was not complied with. On the 9th the enemy was observed to be abandoning his works, a sloop and several gun-boats had been brought up in the night and were receiving the cannon — on being discovered a few guns from Fort Meigs obliged them to relinquish their design, and by ten o'clock the siege was raised, and the whole of the enemy's forces were on their retreat. Thus terminated a siege of thirteen days, in which the British commander. General Proctor, promised the Indian allies, that the American garrison should be reduced, and its defenders de livered over to them as prisoners of war. Eighteen hundred shells and cannon balls had been fired into the fort., and a con tinual discharge of small arms had been kept up, yet the American loss was only eighty-one killed, and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded. Seventeen only of the former during the siege, the remainder in the sortie, and the different assaults of the 5th. Of the latter, one hundred and twenty-four were wounded in the sortie, and sixty-six during the siege. The loss of the United States regulars was one hundred and fifty-six in killed and FORCE OF THE BRITISH. 143 wounded, that of the Kentucky and Ohio militia and the twelve months volunteers, one hundred and fourteen. But Kentucky, as on other orcasions, suffered the most severely, her loss in killed and vi^ounded aror-^iting to seventy-t\\(). The daring intrepidity of the citizen^ of that state, had continually, and too often with an indiscreet impetuosity, led them into the most dangerous situations. It was to this that their defeat under Colonel Dudley was to be attributed, and because of this, that they lost in that affair two hundred and upwards in killed and missing. But it was to this, also, that the gratitude of the whole nation was due, when, regardless of the blood which in the first stage of the war she had already freely and profusely shed, her citizens came forward with uriabating alacrity, and volunteered their services on every hazardous expedition. The force under General Proctor was reported by deserters to be five hundred and fifty regulars, and eight hundred militia. The number of the Indians was greater beyond comparison than had ever been brought into the field before. They were much dissatisfied at the failure of the repeated attacks upon the fort, the spoils of which had been promised to them — yet they several times during the sortie, prevented the capture of the whole of their allies, the British regulars. In one of the assaults, com- manded by Captain Croghan, upon a battery which was defended by the grenadier and light infantry companies of the 41st regi- ment, the enemy suffered severely, and, but for the immediate assistance of the Indians, could not have effected a retreat, which the vigour of the assault compelled them to make. General' Harrison caused not only the ground upon which the enemy's batteries had been erected in the neighbourhood of the fort, but that on which Colonel Dudley's battle had been fought, to be strictly examined ; on the latter, the body of that unfortu- nate officer was discovered dreadfully mangled. The bodies of several of his detachment were also found, and the whole were collected and buried with the honours and solemnities due to their rank and the occasion. Offensive preparations were now for a time suspended. The naval equipments on Lake Erie were m active forwardness, and until these were completed, the troops were to remain at Fort Meigs and Sandusky. The forces at b mm it U K ■. I! V-: 'imh'' I 144 GALLANTRY OF COLONEL BALL. either were adequate to its defense, and General Harrison left General Clay in command of the former, whilst he set out for the latter, and thence intended to repair to Franklinton to forward new reinforcements. In the month of June a general council of Indian chiefs was assembled in the neighbourhood of Seneca town, Lower Sandusky, to which place the head-quarters of General Harrison had been transferred. The result of their de- liberations was an offer to take up arms in behalf of the United States, and they proposed to accompany General Harrison into Canada. But the incursions of the hostile chiefs were now more frequent than before. Their depredations were extended along the shores of the lake, and many of the inhabitants were killed or made prisoners. But a temporary check was given to their in- roads, by a squadron of dragoons, who encountered and cut to pieces a party of the most ferocious of the savages. Colonel Ball was descending the Sandusky with twenty-two men, when he was fired upon by about twenty Indians from an ambush. He charged upon and drove them from their ambus- cade, and after an obstinate contest upon a plain, favourable to the operations of cavalry, he destroyed every chief of the party. During the warmest of the engagement, he was dismounted, and in personal fight with a warrior of great strength. They fought with desperation until the colonel was relieved by an officer who shot down the Indian. The savages then became furious, and after giving their customary signal to receive no quarter, they made a vigorous onset, and kept up the contest until their whole band was destroyed. This affair produced some terror among the Indians, and the persons and property of the inhabitants were secured for awhile from outrage and plunder. The conduct of this vigilant and able officer has been frequently spoken of in general orders. At the repulse of the besiegers of Fort Meigs, he was among the most conspicuous of those officers, who vainly strove to surpass each other in the acquittal of their duty. To Majors Ball, Todd, Sodwick, and Ritzer, and Major Johnson of the Kentucky militia, the commander-in-chief gave a public expression of his warmest approbation. Of Captain Wood, of the engineers, who has since that time so nobly dis- tinguished himself in a sortie from another garrison, the general It-.;.- PROCTOR S SUMMONS. 140 said, that in assigning to him the first palm of merit, as far as it related to the transactions within the works, he was convinced that his decision would be awarded by every individual in camp, who witnessed his indefatigable exertion, his consummate skill in providing for the safety of every point, and in foiling every attempt of the enemy ; and his undaunted bravery in the perform ance of his duty in the most exposed situation. In speaking oi the Kentuckians, he said, that it rarely happened that a general had to complain of the excessive ardour of his men, yet, that such always appeared to be the case whenever the Kentucky militia were engaged, and that they appeared to think that valour alone could accomplish any thing. The general was led to make this remark from the conduct of Captain Dudley's men, of one of the militia regiments, as he understood that that gallant officer was obliged to turn his espontoon against his own company, to oblige them to desist from a further pursuit of the enemy. This declarar tion referred to the conduct of his company in the sortie. On the sixth or seventh day of the siege, General Harrison re- ceived from General Proctor a summons to surrender, which was delivered in the usual form, by Major Chambers, who informed the general that the British commander was desirous of saving the effusion of blood. General Harrison expressed great astonish- ment at this demand. As General Proctor did not send it on his arrival, he supposed that the British officers believed he was determined to do his duty. Major Chambers then in vain at- tempted to pursuade him of the high respect which General Proctor entertained for him as a soldier, and informed him that there was now a larger body of Indians assembled than had ever been known to have been at one time organized. General Har- rison dismissed him with assurances that he had a very correct idea of General Proctor's force ; that it was not such as to create the least apprehension for the result of the contest ; that General Proctor should never have that post surrendered to him upon any terms ; and that if it should fall into his hands, it should be in a manner calculated to do him more honour, and to give him larger claims upon the gratitude of his government, than he coidd pos- sibly derive from any capitulation. vU N 19 It i46 CAMPAIGN OF 1813. CHAPTER IX. Commfncement of t\)t 'ht' W M i 150 ATTACK ON YORK. A body of British grenadiers were paraded on the shore, and the Glengary fencibles, a corps which had been disciplined with uncommon pains since the commencement of the war, were sta- tioned at another point. Bodies of Indians were observed in groups in different directions, in and about the woods below the site of the fort, and numbers of horsemen were stationed in the clear ground surrounding it. These were seen moving into the town, where strong field-works had been thrown up to oppose the assailants. The Indians were taking post at stations which were pointed out to them by the British officers with great skill, from which they could annoy the Americans at the point which the water and the weather would compel them to land. Thus posted, they were to act as tirraiUeurs. The regulars were dis- covered to be moving out of their works in open columns of platoons, and marching along the bank in that order into the woods. At eight o'clock the debarkation commenced ; at ten it was completed. Major Forsythe and his riflemen in several large batteaux, were in the advance. They pulled vigorously for the designated ground at the site, but were forced by a strong easterly wind a considerable distance above. The enemy being within a few feet of the water, and completely masked by the thickness of a copse, commenced a galling fire of musketry and rifle. To have fallen further from the clear ground at which he was first ordered to land, would have subjected, not only his own corps, but the whole body of the troops, to great disadvantages ; and by landing at a greater distance from the town, the object of the expedition might be frustrated. Major Forsythe there- fore determined upon making that part of the shore on which the enemy's principal strength was stationed, and desired his men to rest a moment on their oars, until his riflemen should loturn the shot. General Pike was at this moment hastening the debarkation of the infantry, when, as he was standing on the ship's deck, he observed the pause of the boats in advance, and springing into that which had been reserved for himself and staff, he called to them to jump into the boat with him, ordered Major King of the 15th (the same who had distinguished himself in carryinj? CAPTURE OF THE BATTERIES. 161 the enemy's batteries opposite Black Rock,) to follow him instantly ^th three companies of that regiment, and pushed for the Ca- nadian shore. Before he reached it, Forsythe had landed and was already engaged with the principal part of the British and Indian force, under the immediate command of General Sheaflfe. He contended with them nearly half an hour. The infantry under Major King, the light artillery under Major Eustis, the volunteer corps commanded by Colonel M'Clure, and about thirty men, who had been selected from the 15th at Platt^burg, trained to the rifle, and designed to act as a small corps of observation, under Lieutenant Riddle, then landed in rapid succession, and formed in platoons. General Pike took command of the first, and ordering the whole body to prepare for a charge, led them on to the summit of the bank, from which the British grenadiers were pouring down a volley of musketry and rifle shot. The advance of the American infantry was not to be withstood, and the grenadiers yieldf d i eir position and retired in disorder. The signal of victory it the same instant heard from Forsytho's bugles, and tht. ':.;.aid had no sooner penetrated the ears of the Indians, than they gave a customary yell and fled in every direction. The Glengar}'- corps then skirmished with Forsythe's, whilst a fresh body of grenadiers, supposed to have been the 8th or King's regiment, made a formidable charge upon the American column, and partially compelled it to retire. But the officers instantly rallied the troops, who returned to the ground, and impetuously charged upon, and routed the grenadiers. A reinforcement of the remainder of the 15th then arrived, with Captain Steel's pla- toon, and the standards of the regiment, and the Americans remained undisputed masters of the ground. A fresh front, however, was presented by the British at a distance, which gave way and retired to the garrison, as soon as the American troops were again formed, by Major King, for the charge. The whole body of the troops being now landed, orders were given by General Pike to form in platoons, and to march in that order to the enemy's works. The first line was composed of Forsythc's riflemen, with front and flank guards ; the regiments of the first brigade, with their pieces ; and three platoons of 152 CAPTURE OF THE BATTERIES. ' t|i I m reserve, under the orders of Major Swan; Major Eustis and hig train of artillery were formed in the rear of this reserve, to act where circumstances might require. The second line was com- posed of the 21st regiment, in six platoons, flanked by Colonel M'Clure's volunteers, divided equally as light troops, and all under the command of Colonel Ripley. Thus formed, an injunc- tion was given to each officer, to suffer no man to load ; when within a short distance of the enemy, an entire reliance would be placed on the bayonet ; and the column moved on, with as much velocity as the streams and ravines which intersected the road along the lake would permit. One field-piece, and a howit- zer, were with difficulty passed over one of these, the bridges of which had been destroyed, and placed at the head of the column, in charge of Lieutenant Fanning, of the 3d artillery. As the column emerged from the woods, and came immediately in front of the enemy's first battery, two or three twenty-four- pounders were opened upon it, but without any kind of effect. The column moved on, and the enemy retreated to his second battery. The guns of the first were immediately taken, and Lieutenant Riddle, having at this moment come up with his corps, to deliver the prisoners ^yhich he had made in the woods, v/as ordered to proceed to take possession of the second battery, about one hundred yards ahead, the guns of which. Lieutenant Fraser, aid-de-camp to the general, reported to have been spiked by the enemy, whom he discovered retreating to the gar- rison. General Pike then led the column up to the second bat- tery, where he halted to receive the captured ammunition, and to learn the strength of the garrison. But as every appearance indicated the evacuation of the barracks, he suspected the enemy of an intention to draw him within range of the shot, and then suddenly to show himself in great force. Lieutenant Riddle was sent forward with his corps of observation, to discover if there were any, and what number of troops, within the garrison. The barracks were three hundred yards distant from the second battery, and whilst this corps was engaged in reconnoitering, Ge- neral Pike, after removing a wounded prisoner from a dangerous situation, had seated himself upon a stump, and commenced an examination of a British sergeant, who had been taken ir the GENERAL PIKE WOUNDED. Ib3 vroods. Riddle having discovered that the enemy had abandoned the garrison, was about to return with this information, when the magazine, which was situated outside the barrack yard, blew up, with a tremendous and awful explosion, passed over Riddle and his party, without injuring one of his men, and killed and wounded General Pike, and two hundred and sixty of the column. The severity of General Pike's wounds disabled him from further service, and the command of the troops devolveil upon Colonel Pearce of the 16th regiment, who sent a command to the town of York for an immediate surrender. - The plan of the contemplated operations was known only to General Pike, and, as General Dearborne had not yet landed, the future movements of the troops would depend upon the will of their new commander. He ordered them immediately to form the column, and to march forward and occupy the barracks, which Major Forsythe, who had been scouring the adjoining wood, had already entered. Meanwhile the British regulars were retreat- ing across the Don, and destroying the bridges in their rear. After the explosion, which killed about fifty of the enemy who had not retired in time from the garrison. Lieutenant Riddle with his party, then reinforced by thirty regulars under Lieu- tenant Horrell of the 16th, pursued the enemy's route, and an- noyed his retreating guard from the wood. This was the only pursuit which was made. Had a more vigorous push followed the abandonment of the enemy's garrison, his whole regular force must have been captured, and the accession of military stores would have been extensively great. The majority of the officers were well aware of this, and as it was known that the stores were deposited at York, they urged the necessity of an immediate approach of the whole column, to prevent their removal. < Colonel Pearce then marched towards the town, which was distjmt three-quarters of a mile. About half way between York and the garrison, the column was intercepted by several officers of the Canadian militia, who had come out with terms of capitu- lation. Whilst these were discussing, the enemy was engaged in destroying the military storehouse, and a large vessel of war then on the stocks, which in three days might have been * 20 J 54 CAPTURE OF YORK. if iL 5 launched, and added to the American squadron on Lake Ontario. Forsythe, who was on the left in advance, being aware ^f this, despatched Lieutenant Riddle to inform Colonel Pearce. Colo. nel Ripley was at the same time urging a rapid march, and the troops again proceeded. Colonel Pearce enjoined the observ- ance of General Pike's orders, that the property of the inhabit- ants of York should be held sacred, and that any soldier who should so far neglect the honour of his profession, as to be guilty of plundering, should, on conviction, be punished with death. At? four o'clock in the afternoon, the Americans were in posses- sion of the town, and terms of capitulation were agreed upon, by which, notwithstanding the severe loss which the army and the nation had sustained by the death of the general ; the un- warrantable manner in which that loss was occasion ; and the subtlety with which the militia colonels offered to capitulate at a distance from the town, so that the column might be detained until General Sheaffe should escape, and the destruction of the public property be completed, although one of its articles stipu- lated for its delivery into the hands of the America,ns ; the mi- litia were freed from all hardship, and not only their persons and property, but their legislative hall and other public build- ings were protected. The terms of capitulation were, " that the troops, regulars and militia, and the naval officers and seamen, should be surrendered prisoners of war. That all public stores, naval and military , sJmild be immediately given up to the com- manding officers of the army and navy of the United States, and that all private property should be guarantied to the citi- zens of the town of York. That all papers belonging to the civil officers should be retained by them, and that such surgeons as might be procured to attend the wounded of the British regu- lars and Canadian militia, should not be considered prisoners of war." Under this capitulation, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, thirteen captains, nine lieutenants, eleven ensigns, one deputy adjutant-general, and four naval officers, and two hundred and fifty-one non-commissioned officers and privates, were surren- dered. The American infantry were then ordered to return to, and quarter in, the barracks, while the riflemen were stationed in tV Hwn. , , , When Ge was removec wounded aic exclamation American ha He expresst transferred f made a sign to him, to be Thus perish ofa vanquis rage; — a ge When th< ing from the lation, and militia. Tl after the reg fore, consid i DEATH OF f;ENERAL PIKE. Ifl? Qeiieral Pike. When General Pike's wound was discovered to be mortal, he was removed from the field, and carried to the shipping, with his wounded aids. As they conveyed him to the water's edge, a sudden exclamation was heard from the troops, which informed him of the American having supplanted the British standard in the garrison He expressed his satisfaction by a feeble sigh, and after being transferred from the Pert schooner to the commodore's ship, he made a sign for the British flag, which had then been brought tx) him, to be placed under his head, and expired without a groan Thus perished in the arms of victory, by the ungenerous stratagem of a vanquished foe, a soldier of tried valour and invincible cou- rage; — a general of illustrious virtues and distinguished talents. When the British general saw the American column advanc ing from the woods, he hastily drew up the articles of the capitu lation, and directed them to be delivered to a colonel of the York militia. This colonel was instructed to negotiate the terms, after the regulars should have retreated. General Sheaffe, there fore, considered the garrison to be as much surrendered, as if o 168 CAPTURE OF MUNITIONS OF WAR. h,3.. .'-/' T a-i h- w !(■■» ■4J the articles had been actually agreed upon and signed. Yet he treacherr/jsly ordered a train to be laid, which it was so cal- culaled, that the explosion of the magazine should be caused, at the time when the Americans should arrive at the barracks. Had not General Pike halted the troops at the enemy's second battery, the British plan would have attained its consummation, and the destruction of the whole column would have been the natural consequence. The train had been skilfully laid, and the combustibles arranged in a manner to produce the most dreadful effect. Five hundred barrels of powder, several cart- loads of stone, and an immense quantity of iron, shells, and shot, were contained in the magazine. The calamity which followed the explosion, caused no discomfiture among the troops. A number of their officers of high rank, and of equal worth, were either killed or wounded, and they became actuated by a desire to revenge their fall. " Push on, my brave feUwvs, and avenge your genera!" were the last words of their expiring com- mander. They instantly gave three cheers, formed the column, and marched on rapidly. Had they been led directly to York, the issue of the expedition would have been fruitful with advan- tages. As it was, however, the enemy's me.iiis were crippled, his resources cut off, and the military stores of the captors, ex- tensively multiplied. Most of the guns, munitions of war, and provisicis, necessary to carry on the campaign by the enemy, had been deposited at York, and notwithstanding the firing of the princi})al storehouse, an immense quantity fell into the hands of the Americans. The baggage and private papers of General Slieaffe were left at York, in the precipitation of his flight, and proved to be a valuable acquisition to the American commander. These and the public stores were the only articles of capture. The conduct of the troops needed no restraint. Though their indignation was highly excited, by the circum- stances of a scalp having been found suspended near the speaker's chair, in the legislative chamber, neither the ornaments of the chamber, the building itself, nor the public library, were molested. A large quantity of flour deposited in the public wores, was distributed among the inhabitants, on condition that It should be used for their own consumption; and those whose CO-OPERATION OF THE FLEET. 159 circumstances were impoverished, were supplied with many other articles of the captured provisions. The balance was taken on ooard the fleet, with the naval stores, or destroyed upon the shore. Immediately after the fall of General Pike, the commander- in-chief landed with his staff, but he did not reach the troops until they had entered York. He there made arrangements to expedite their departure for the other objects of the expedition, and they were soon after re-embarked. The co-operation of the squadron was of the greatest import- ance to the attack upon the enemy's garrison. As soon as the debarkation was completed. Commodore Chauncey directed the schooner to take a position near the forts, in order that the attack of the army and navy, might if possible, be simultaneous. The larger vessels could not be brought up, and in consequence of the wind, the schooners were obliged to beat up to their intended position. This they did, under a very heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, and having taken their station within six hundred yards of the principal fort, opened a galling fire, and contributed very much to its destruction. The loss on board the squadron, was three killed and eleven wounded. Among the kUled were midshipmen Thompson and Hatfield, the latter of whom, in his dying moments, had no other care than to know if he had performed his duty to his country. In the action the loss of the American army was trifling ; but in consequence of the explosion, it was much greater than the enemy's loss in killed and wounded. Fourteen were killed and thirty-two wounded in battle, and thirty-eight were killed and two hundred and twenty-two wounded by the explosion, so that the total American loss amounted to three hundred and twenty men. Among those who fell by the explosion, besides General Pike, were seven captains, seven subalterns, one aid-de- camp, one acting aid, and one volunteer aid. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded amounted to - - - - 200 Militia prisoners, ------ 600 Regulars, prisoners, ------ 60 Total. - - - 750 160 CASUALTIES. .1 ;>'( ■' ' I k I 1 «■ I- >< lihf" It His wounded were left in the houses on the road leading to and in the neighbourhood of, York, and were attended to by the American army and navy surgeons. The prisoners were all paroled, and the troops withdrawn from York immediately after its capture. The officers of the 16th greatly distinguished themselves throughout the day. The death of their gallant leader, who had personally organized that regiment, and had already successMy led detachments of it to the field, inspired them with a more determined spirit to revenge the barbarous act of a defeated enemy, than could be felt by any other corps. Animated by this desire, with hearts panting for its fulfilment, they anxiously pressed forward, and had they been permitted to pursue the retreating column of the English, under the distinguished officer (Major King) who now commmanded them, General SheafFe and his regulars could not have effected their escape. Several platoon officers of this and the 16th regiment were killed. Cap- tains Nicholson and Lyon by the explosion — Captain Hoppock, as his company were landing. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell of the 3d regiment of artillery, acted as a volunteer on the expedi- tion, fif.d by his indefatigable exertions, at every post ot danger, gavf. Htrong presages of that gallantry, by which he has since idcLdfied himself with the bravest officers of the army. Major Euf^tis, Captains Scott, Young, Walworth, and M'Glassin, and Stephen H. Moore of the Baltimore volunteers, who lost a leg by the explosion, and Lieutenants Fanning and Riddle, were among the most conspicuous officers of the day. The latter had been expressly selected by General Pike, from his own regiment, to command the corps of observation, and was always appointed to the most hazardous enterprises. Lieutenant Bloomfield of the 15th, and nephew to Brigadier- General Bloomfield, was also killed. The army sustained another loss in the death of this brave young officer. The 21 st regiment, under Colonel Ripley, though it formed part of the reserve, and did not participate in the action at the place of landing, was in a state of strict discipline, and manoeuvered with great skill. On the 1st day of May the Canadian territory in the neigh bourhood of York, was entirely evacuated. The troops were all J OPERATIONS OF COMMODORE CHAUNCEY. 161 placed in the vessels to which they had been respectively assigned, and a small schooner was despatched to Niagara to apprize Gene- ral Morgan Lewis, then in command at that place, of the result of the expedition against York, and of the intended approach of the troops toward Fort Niagara. But the fleet, which consisted of about seventeen sail, did not leave the harbour of York until the 8th, in consequence of the prevalence of contrary winds. Late on that day they arrived at Four Mile Creek, which empties into the lake at that distance below Fort Niagara, and thence takes its name. Here the troops vtrere landed. On the 9th, two schooners, under command of Lieutenant, Pettigrew of the navy, were ordered to proceed to the hep/l of Lake Ontario, with one hundred regulars, commanded by Captain Willoughby Morgan, of the 12th regiment, to destroy or capture the public stores, which were then known to be deposited there. On their arrival, the enemy's guard, of about eighty men, retired, the public buildings were destroyed by the detachment, th ? stores brought away, and the expedition returned on the 11th without loss. *'■' '-■-'■''""' " '' '^'''' . ^ ■'" :■• * .. ■ ■/ On the 10th Commodore Chauncey sailed with the remainder of the fleet, to convey the wounded officers and men to Sackett's Harbour, and to obtain reinforcements there for the army. Be- tween the time of his arrival at the harbour and the 22d of May, detachments of the squadron sailed on different days for Niagara, with such reinforcements as could be spared. Having directed the ijchooners Fair American and Pert, commanded by Lieutenants Chauncey and Adams, to remain near the hp-bour, and to watch the enemy's movements from Kingston, the coir' '.T! .dore sailed on the 22d with three hundred and fifty of Colonel Macomb's regiment of artillery, and a number of additional gun", and arrived at the Ni- agara on the 25th. Arrangements were i n^ mediately made between Commodore Chauncey and General Dearborn, for an attack upon Fort George and its dependerxcies. On the 26th the commodore reconnoitered the position at which the troops were to be landed, and at night sounded the shore, and placed buoys at stations for the small vessels. The weather, which had been for several days extremely boisterous, now moderated, o2 21 102 ATTACK OF FORT GEORGE. and it was agreed that a conjoint attack, by the army and navy, should be made on the following morning. A sufficient quantity of boats, to land the troops in the order of attack, had been by this time provided, and a considerable number which had been for several days building at the Five Mile Meadows, above the fort, were now in readiness to be launched into the Niagara river. On the afternoon of the 26th, the enemy, having observed the preparations for launching the boats, opened a small battery, which had been erected immediately opposite the Meadows, for the purpose of annoying the workmen and of destroying the boats. The fire from this battery produced a premature cannonade be- tween Forts George and Niagara, which was followed by a bom- bardment between all the batteries in the neighbourhood of the two forts. The battery which stood directly opposite Fort George, did great injury to that garrison, and its guns were directed with such precision that the halyards of the enemy's flag staff were shot away. No block house or wooden building of any descrip- tion, in or near that fort, escaped injury ; whilst on the American side, not the most trifling loss was sustained.. The boats, in the mean time, succeeded in passing Fort George, and proceeded to the encampment at Four Mile creek. On the same night all the artillery, and as many troops as could possibly be accommodated, were put on board the Madison, the Oneida, and the Lady of the Lake. The remainder were to embark in the boats, and to follow the fleet. At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, signal was made for the fleet to weigh anchor. In consequence of the calmness of the weather, the schooners were obliged to resort to sweeps to attain their posi- tions ; which they did in the following order — Sailing-masters Trant, in the Julia, and Mix, in the Growler, took their stations at the mouth of the river, and silenced a battery, which, from its situation, commanded the shore where the troops were to land, about one-fourth of a mile below the town of Newark. Mr. Stevens in the Ontario, took a position to the north of the light- house, near which this battery was erected, and so close to the shore as to enfilade the battery, and cross the fire of the Julia and Growler. Lieutenant Brown in the Governor Tompkins, stationed himself near the Two Mile creek, on the enemy's side, where a ATTACK ON FORT GEORGE. 163 battery had been erected of one heavy gun. Lieutenant Pettigrew ill the conquest, anchored to the south-east of the same battery, opened on it in the rear, and crossed the fire of the Governor Tompkins. Lieutenant M'Pherson in the Hamilton, Lieutenant Smith in the Asp, and Sailing-Miister Osgood in the Scourge, took stations near the above, to cover the landing and to scour the woods and the plain. This disposition was skilfully effected, and each vessel was within mjiisket-shot of the shore. At four o'clock. Generals Dearborn and Lewis, with their suites, went on board the Madison, and by that hour the troops were all embarked. The whole number amounted to more than four thousand. The batteries were now playing upon each other from the opposite sides of the river, and the troops advanced at int'^rvals in three brigades. The advance was led by Colonel Scoti. It was composed of the artillery acting as infantry ; of For- sythe's riflemen ; and of detachments from infantry regiments ; .md landed near the fort, which had been silenced by the Governor Tompkins. General Boyd, to whom the late General Pike's brigade had been assigned, commanded the first line, which was flanked by Colonel M'Clure's Baltimore and Albany volunteers. This bri- gade struck the enemy's shore immediately after the advance had landed. The second brigade under General Winder, followed next, and then the third under General Chandler. While the troops were crossing the lake in this order, the wind suddenly sprang up very fresh from the eastward, and caused a heavy sea directly on the shore ; the boats could not therefoie be got off to land the troops from the Madison and Oneida before the first and second brigades had advanced, and Macomb's regiment, and the marines under Captain Smith, did not reach the shore until the debarkation of these brigades had been completed. When the advance, which consisted of about five hundred men, was approaching the point of landing, successive volleys of musketry were poured upon it by twelve hundred regulars, who were stationed in a ravine. A brisk exchange of shot was kept up for fifteen minutes ; the advance, nevertheless, continu- ing to approach the enemy without faltering. Such, indeed, was the eagerness of the troops, that officers and men jumped 'n. $1 164 CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE. into the lake and waded to the shore. Captain Hindman of the 2d artillery, was the first man upon the enemy's territory. The troops were now formed with celerity, and led to the charge. They drove the enemy from their strong hold, and dispersed them in every direction ; some of their forces taking to the wood for shelter, and others retreating to the fort. The former were vigorously pursued by Forsythe's riflement, and the latter by thc advance corps, and the first brigade. Few shot were fired from the fort, the panic being instantly communicated to the garrison. Fort Niagara and its dependent batteries were still throwing in their shot, and Fort George having become untena- ble, the enemy hastily laid a train to the magazines, abandoned all their works, and moved off with the utmost precipitation in different routes. Colonel Scott with his light troops continued the pursuit, until he was recalled by an order from General Boyd. Lieutenant Riddle had been sent by Colonel Scott with his detached party, to annoy the rear of the enemy, but not being ordered back, at the time when the light troops were recalled, he followed his route to Queenstown, and took up several of his straggling parties. The dragoons under Colonel Burn, crossed the Niagam river above Fort George, at the moment the pur- suit was stopped. The light troops now took possession of Fort George ; Colonel Scott, and Captains Hindman and Stockton, with their companies, entering first and extinguishing the fires, which were intended to explode the magazine : one had, how- ever, already been blown up. General Boyd and Colonel Scott mounted the parapet, and cut away the staff, whilst Captain Hindman succeeding in taking the flag which the enemy IkkI left flying, and which he forwarded to General Dearborn. The American ensign was then hoisted in the toAvn and fort, and all the tr6ops were called in and quartered. At twelve o'clock Newark, and all its surrounding batteries, were in quiet possession of the American army — and such was the speed with which the enemy retreated, that very few of his troops were overtaken. General Dearborn's forces had been under arms eleven hours, and were too much exhausted to pursue him with as much ra- pidity as he moved off. At the time the enemy abandoned his works, the wind had I ■x MM. I increased s shores that diiferent ve extreme, whole fleet anchored h the action •< the advanc the loss of hundred ai one hundr€ of his worn So that the of his reg\ The militi hundred a nf eight h thirty-nine Among th Ught artilL Captain Ai tain Roach Queenstov for his goo sythe's rifl tion, and ( taken pris( In spea General I behaved tc dation. departmen covered tl determina the animal deserved chief, was aitillery; LOSS OF THE ENEMY. 167 increased so much and the sea had become so violent toward the shores that the situation of the fleet at the stations which the different vessels had taken, was thought to be dangerous in the extreme. Commodore Chauncey therefore made signal for the whole fleet to weigh, and to proceed into the river, where they anchored between the Forts George and Niagara. Although the action was fought by inferior numbers on the American side, the advance, and part of Boyd's brigade only being engaged, the loss of the enemy was excessive. He had in killed one hundred and eight, in wounded one hundred and sixty-three, one hundred and fifteen regulars were taken prisoners, exclusive of his wounded, all of whom fell into the hands of the Americans. So that the loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, and prisoners, of his regular force, amounted to three hundred and eighty-six. The militia prisoners who were paroled to the number of five hundred and seven, being added to their loss, makes a total of eight hundred and ninety-three. The American army lost thirty-nine in killed, and one hundred and eleven in wounded. Among the former only one officer. Lieutenant Hobart of the light artillery. Among the latter were Major King of the 15th, Captain Arrowsmith of the 6th, Captain Steele of the 16th, Cap- tain Roach of the 23d, (who had been wounded at the battle of Queenstown heights, and was promoted to the rank of captain for his good conduct there,) and Lieutenant Swearingen of For- sythe's riflemen. The British 49th (Invincibles) was in this ac- tion, and Colonel Myers, who commanded it, was wounded and taken prisoner. In speaking of the conduct of the soldiers and seamen, both General Dearborn and Commodore Chauncey alleged that all behaved too well to suffer the election of any one for commen- dation. The former, however, in a second despatch to the war department, stated that the whole of the officers and men dis- covered that readiness and ardour for action, which evinced a determination to do honour to themselves and their country — that the animating 'examples set by General Boyd and Colonel Scott, deserved particular mention, and that he, the commander-in- chief, was greatly indebted to Colonel M. Porter, of the light aitillery; to Major Armistead, of the 3d regiment of artillery; m Iff- %\l^ ^x 168 CHAUNCEY AND PERRY. and to Captain Totten, of the engineers, for their skilful execu- tion, in demolishing the enemy's forts and batteries. Lieute- nant-commandant Oliver H. Perry had joined the squadron on the night of the 26th, volunteered his services in the contem- plated attack, and rendered great assistance in arranging and superintending the debarkation of the troops. On board the squadron, the loss was one killed and two wounded. Commo- dore Chauncey was indefatigable in his co-operations with the army, in all its important movements. In this affair many of the advantages which were obtained, were to be attributed to his judicious plan of silencing the enemy's batteries. General Dearborn had been confined for several days by a violent indis- position ; but he refused to yield the command of the expedition, and issued his orders regularly froni his bed. Captain Perry was despatched to Black Rock the day after the battle, with fifty seamen to take five vessels to Lake Erie as soon as possible, and to prepare the whole squadron for the ser- vice by the 15th of June. Two brigs had been launched at Erie, and two or three small schooners, had been purchased into the service. The squadron was daily expected to be in readi- ness to proceed to Presque isle, to co-operate with the norths western army. On the 28th, General Dearborn having received information that the enemy had made a stand on the mountain, at a place called Beaver Dam, where he had a deposit of provisions and stores ; and that he had been joined by three hundred regulars from Kingston, landed from small vessels, at the head of the lake, immediately ordered General Lewis to march to that place, with Chandler's and Winder's brigades, the light artillery, dra- goons, and riflemen, to cut off his retreat. Although the ene- my's troops from Fort Erie and Chippewa, had joined his main body at Beaver Dam, he precipitately broke up his encampment on the approach of the Americans, and fled along the mountains to the head of the lake. General Lewis's army moved on, and took possession of the different posts between Fort George and Fort Erie, the latter of which was entered by Lieutenant^Colo- nel Preston, of the 15th, in the evening of that day; the post liaving been prenously abandoned, and the magazines blown up SURPRISED BY THE ENEMY. 169 by the enemy. Two days before, the Queen Charlotte, and three others, of the enemy's vessels, came down to that fort, but on hearing of the capture of Fort George, they proceeded up the lake to Maiden. The enemy, having abandoned all his positions along the Nia- gara, General Lewis returned with his division to Fort George ; but as it was rumoured that General Proctor intended to march from the north-western frontier, to join General Vincent, who had already marched from that place ; and to retrieve the mis- fortunes of the British arms, it became necessary to press forward with a force competent to prevent the union of the British gene- rals, or at least to intercept them in their contemplated route. General Winder was, therefore, despatched on the 1st day of June, with his own brigade and one regiment of General phan- , dler's. He was followed on the 3d, by the remainder of Chandler's brigade, the dragoons and artillery, under the orders of that general, to whom the chief command was assigned. They pro- ceeded to the Forty Mile Creek, where they gained intelligence of General Vincent's having taken a stand Burlington Heights, near Stony Creek, being about forty-eight miles distant from the Fort George. In the vicinity of Stony Creek the Americans encamped; but in so careless a manner that they were surprised by the enemy at midnight, and several of their principal officers made prisoners. General Vincent, it has been supposed, became pos- sessed of the American countersign — and having discovered that the weakest part of the camp was its centre, he made an attack upon it, at that point, at two o'clock on the morning of the 6th. Profiting by the example of the Americans at York, he ordered that no musket should be loaded, lest a precipitate fire might apprize his unsuspecting enemy of his advance, and led up the 8th or King's regiment, and the 49th, with fixed bayonets, to charge upon the sentinels. The American advanced guard, under command of Captain Van Vechton, were first alarmed by the groan of a dying senti- nel, and were surprised and made prisoners. Five pieces of light artillery, near the front were captured, and turned upon the encampment, before the alarm became general. The tv^o P 22 i m m m. 1 170 CAPTURE OF CHANDLER AND WINDER. ;"ii iii h brigadiers, Chandler and Winder, who had but an hour before separated from a council, were instantly mounted, and the men formed with as much facility as the extreme darkness of the morning would permit. General Chandler took post in the rear of the left flank of the right wing — General Winder commanded the left wing. Such was the momentary confusion which pre- vailed, that the contending parties could not distinguish each other. When the five pieces of artillery were fired into the encampment, Generals Chandler and Winder both rode up to the battery, to prevent another discharge, under an impression that the American troops had mistaken the enemy. They were both consequently captured. The other officers were ignorant of the loss of their generals, and each chose his own plan of resisting the assailing party. The advanced corps, the 5th, 25th, and part of the 23d, were engaged ; those in the rear did not get to the assistance of the front. The 16th, which because of the illness of its colonel, and the absence of its lieutenant-colonel, and other field-officers, was commanded by Captain Steel, was forming on its standards, when the cavalry, under Colonel Burn, having cut their way through the British 49th, with such impetuosity, that they could not stop, pierced through the centre of that regiment. The con- fusion increased. The different companies of the 16th, were firing on each other; the artillery were engaging the infantry; and the cavalry the artillery; each ,rps being under an im- pression, that it was contending with the enemy. This state of things contiuuerl, until Captain Towson opened his artillery, which, being stationed more in the rear than any of the other pieces, he brought against the enemy with such effect, that the confusion and disorder, which had taken place in the American lines, prevailed also within the British. The companies of the 2d artillery, which were then acting as light corps, under Captains Hindman, Nicholas, Biddle, and Archer, kept up an incessant fire, until the dawn of the day enabled the troops to distinguish each other. An attempt was then made to form the line. Colonel Burn now commanding. The 5th regiment, which had been annoying the enemy from the commencement of the action until daybreak, did not lose m HWi Um 72 4^1 ^^^i one man, an on its left The firing 1 The enemy cliarged upi direction, ai His horse a was discov( day, almost of action. Several ( fled, to taki recovered o tenant M'D and recover men, as we Steele, and in general Burn and < and were s£ The Amf wounded, ii and ninety fifty-four, enemy — wl officers. tured, and t regiment, ^ from a prin^ of his not An engagei against the his health. In the CO to obtain p wounded, bouring ho the army h RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 173 one man, and was found at that time formed in line, and sustained on its left flank by part of the "3d, under Major Armstrong. The firing from the encampment became brisk, and irresistible. The enemy gave way, rallied, and broke again. The dragams charged upon, and completely routed them. They fled in every direction, and their commanding officer was missing before day. His horse and accoutrements were found upon the ground He was discovered by his own people, in the course of the same day, almost famished, at a distance of four miles from the scene of action. Several desperate efforts had been made, before the enemy fled, to take the artillery. Lieutenant Machesney's gallantry recovered one piece, and prevented the capture of others. Lieu- tenant M'Donough of the 2d artillery, pursued a retreating party, and recovered another. The good conduct of these brave young men, as well as that of Captains Hindman, Nicholas, Archer, Steele, and Leonard, of the light artillery, has been spoken of in general orders, in terms of strong commendation. Colonel Burn and Colonel Milton, gallantly distinguished themselves, and were said to have saved the army. The American loss in this affair was sixteen killed, thirty-eight wounded, i»nd two brigadier-generals, one ir or, three captains, and ninety four men missing ; making in all, one hundred and fifty-four. The whole of the missing fell into the hands of the enemy — wl ose loss was excessively severe, but particularly in officers. Oae hundred prisoners, mostly of the 49th, were cap- tured, and transported to Fort George. Captain Manners, of that regiment, was taken in his bed, by Lieutenant Riddle, who, from a principle of humanity, put him on his parole, on condition of his not serving the enemy, until he should be exchanged. An engagement which that officer violated by appearing in arms against the American troops, immediately after the recovery of his health. In the course of the morning, the British sent a flag of truce, to obtain permission to bury their dead, and to remove their wounded. The latter, however, had been placed in the neigh bouring houses, under the care of the American surgeons, and the army having given up the pursuit of the enemy, had fallen rS 174 BATTLE OF FORTY MILE CREE". §ih' I;' ll,"'' . 'i' .' 176 ATTACK ON SACKETT S HARBOUR. of the American forces at Little York and Fort George, in suffer. ing a beaten enemy to escape from each of those places. At the former General Sheaffe and his regulars effected a retreat through the palpable tardiness of the victorious army. At the latter, the same troops which attacked the encampment at Stony Creek, were so closely pressed that they must inevitably have been cap- tured, had not the light troops, under Adjutant-General Scott and Colonel Miller, been called in from the pursuit. The result of these errors was fruitful with the most evil consequences. The recapture of all the important posts on the British Niagara, which had been taken at the expense of so much blood, and the destruc- tion of the garrisons on the American side of that river, which happened not many months after, were among the least pernicious of a long train of disasters. A development which can only be produced by the gradual lapse of time may enable a future his- torian to throw the censure on the proper objects. No discovery has yet been made which will allow the present recorder of these events to form any other idea than that which is founded on un- certainty and conjecture, which do not go to the constitution of such an authentic history of the war, as it has been his utmost endeavour to compile. Whilst the troops were preparing to embark at York for the expedition against Fort George, the British at Kingston havintr gained intelligence of their absence from Sackett's Harbour, of the batteries at that place having been principally dismantled, and of the smallness of the force which had been left for its pro- tection, hastily collected all their disposables and embarked on board their fleet under the command of Sir George Prevost. The fleet was commanded by Sir James Yeo. On the night of the 27th of May, five hours after the capture of Fort George, the British appeared off the entrance to the harbour. The American force consisted of two hundred invalids, and two hundred and fifty dragoons, then newly arrived from a long and fatiguing march. Two small vessels, under Lieutenant Chauncey, were stationed at its mouth and gave instant signals of alarm at tlie approach of the British squadron. Expresses were immediately forwarded to General Brown, then at his seat eight miles from ATTACK ON SACKETT'S HARBOUR. 177 1!' m W- • Defense of Saekett's Harbour. ^ tk V the harbour, and he immediately repaired thither to take the command. The tour of duty of the militia of his brigade had expired many weeks before, but he had been requested by General Dearborn to take command of the harbour at any time when the enemy should approach it, and to provide for its defense. Immediately on his arrival dispositions were made to that effect. The move- ments of the enemy indicated his intention to land on the penin- sula called Horse island. General Brown, therefore, determined on resisting him at the water's edge with the Albany volunteers, under Colonel Mills, and such militia as could be instantly col lected. Alarm guns were therefore fired, and expresses sent out for that purpose. Lieutenant-Colonel Backus, of the 1st regi S3 m "■*! ?.' ) m m( i^lii-: ■»£• ;' •< •; i: »■ r:i )K: 178 ATTACK ON SACKETT's HARBOUR. ment United States dragoons, who commanded at Sackett'g Harbour in the absence of the officers who had proceeded to Fort George, was to form a second line with the regulars. The regular artillerists were stationed in Fort Tompkins, and the defense of Navy Point was committed to Lieutenant Chauncey. On the 28th, the Wolfe, the Royal George, the Prince Regent, the Earl of Moira, and one brig, two schooners, and two gun boats, with thirty-three flat bottomed boats and barges, containino; in all twelve hundred troops, appeared in the offing, at five miles distance. They were standing their course for the harbour, when, having discovered a fleet of American barges, coming round Stony Point, with troops from Oswego, the whole of their boats were immediately despatched to cut them off. They succeeded in taking twelve of them, after they had been run on shore and abandoned by their crews, who arrived at the harbour in the night. The remainder, seven in number, escaped from their pursuers, and got safely in. The British commanders, being then under an impression that other barges would be sailing from Oswego, stood into South Ba}--, and despatched their armed boats to waylay them. In this they were disappointed ; and during the delay which was caused by this interruption of their intended operations, the militia from the neighbouring counties collected at the harbour, and betrayed great eagerness to engage in the contest with the invading enemy, They were ordered to be stationed on the water side, near the island on which Colonel Mills was posted with his volunteers. The strength at that })oint was nearly five hundred men. But the whole force, including the regulars, effectives, and invalids, did not exceed one thousand. The plan of defense had been conceived with great skill, and if the conduct of the militia had proved to be consistent with their promises, it would have been executed with equal ability. Disposed of as the forces were, in the event of General Brown's being driven from his position at Horse Island, Colonel Backus was to advance with his reserve of regulars, and meet the head of the enemy's column, whilst the general woul4 rally his corps, and fall upon the British flanks. If resistance to the attack of the enemy should still fail, Lieutenant Chauncey was to destroy ATTACK ON SACKETT'S HARBOUIl. 179 the stores at Navy Point, and to retire with his two schooners, and the prize schooner, the Duke of Gloucester, which had been a few weeks before captured from the enemy, to the south shore of the bay, and east of Fort. Volunteer. In this fort tlie regulars and militia were to shut themselves up, and make a vigorous stand, as their only remaining resort. Every thing being thus ordered, General Brown directed his defensive army to lay upon their arms, whilst he continued personally to reconnoiter the shores of the harbour, during the whole night of the 28th. At the only favourable point of landing, he had caused a breastwork to be thrown up, and a battery en barbette, to be erected. Behind this most of the militia were stationed. At the dawn of the 29th, the enemy was discovered with his vessels drawn up in line, between Horse Island and Stony Point ; and in a few minutes all his boats and barges approached the shore under cover of his gun-boats, those being the heaviest of his vessels, which, in consequence of the lightness of the v/ind could be brought up. The troops with which' the boats were filled, were commanded by Sir George P revest in person. Com- modore Yeo directed the movements of the barges. General Brown instantly issued his orders, that the troops should lie close, and reserve their fire until the enemy should have ap- proached so near that every shot might take (idbct. This order was executed, and the fire was so destructive, that the enemy's advance Ijoats were obliged to make a teivponiry pause, and numbers of their officers and men were seen i / lAl Encouraged by the desired effect of the fist fire, the militia loaded their pieces with the utmost quickii("HH, mu\ the artillery was ordered to be opened at the moniP' t of their soir-id. But, before the second round had been c^^ruplotely (liMchargod, the whole body of the militia, none of whom htul of (!r scon an (?nemy until now, and who were entirely unaccustomed to subordination, though they were well protected by the breastwork, rose from behind it, and abandoning those honourable promises of noble daring which they had made but a little while before, ♦hey fled with equal precipitation and disorder, A strange and unaccount- able panic seized the whole line, and with tlie exc»M*iion of a very few, terror and dismay were depicted in every couTitenance 'n '\h lii ''^'w ' 180 ATTACK ON SACKjITTS HARBOUR. Colonel Mills, vainly endeavouring to rally his men, was killed as he was reminding them of the solemn pledges which they had given ; but the fall of this brave officer served rather to increase their confusion than to acia?te them to revenge it. General Brown seeing that his plan was already frustrated, and fearing his inability to execute any other, without the vigorous co-operation of the militia, hastened to intercept their retreat, and finding one company of about one hundred men, who had been rallied by the active and zealous conduct of Captain M'Nitt of that corps, he brought them up and ordered them to form in line with the regulars and volunteers who htid continued to keep their ground. In the interval which had thus elapsed, the enemy had effected his debarkation with little opposition, and drawing up his whole force on Horse island, he commenced his march for the villaore ; on the road to which he was met by a small party of infantry, under Major Aspinwall, and a few dismounted dragoons under Major Laval, who opposed him with much gallantry. Two of the gun-boats ranged up the shore and covered the field with grape. This handful of troops then gradually retired in good order from an immense superiority of numbers, and occupied the intervals between the barracks. lEUTENANT-COLONEL BACKUS,with his reserve of regulars, first engaged the enemy, when the militia company of Captain M'Nitt was formed on his flank, and in the vigorous fight wliich then followed, this com- pany behaved with as much gallantry as the bravest of the regulars. The whole force was compelled to fall back, however, by the superior strength of the enemy's column, and resorting to the barracks for what sh :!lter they could afford, they posted themselves in the unprotected log-houses and kepi up an incessant and effective fire. From these, the most violent assaults, and the repeated and varying efforts of the British were incom.petent to dislodge them. Colonel Gray, the quartermaster- general of the enemy's forces, advanced to the weakest part of i •V Retreat of the British rrom Sackett's Harbour. forces against which he was contending. Silently passing through a distant wood which led toward the place at which the enemy had landed, General Brown persuaded the British general of his intention to gain the rear of his forces, to take possession of the boats and effectually to cut off their retreat. This was done with such effect, at the moment when the fire of Lieutenant Fanning's piece had caused the destruction in the British line, that General Sir George Prevost was well convinced of the vast superiority of the American force to his own. He gave up all thoughts of the capture of the place, and hurrying to his boats, put off immediately to the British squadron. He was not pursued, because if the real number of the American troops had been exposed to his view, he would have returned to the contest, LOSSES AT SACKETTS HARBOVR. 185 might easily have outflanked, and in all human probability would still have captured the army and the village. But the precipitation of his flight was such, that he left not only the wounded bodies of his ordinary men upon the field, but those of the dead and wounded of his most distinguished officers. Among these were Quartermaster-General Gray, Majors Moodie and Evans, and three captains. The return of his loss, as accu- rately as it has been ascertained, amounted to three field officers, one captain, and twenty-five rank and file found dead on the field; two captains and twenty rank and file found wounded ; and two captains, one ensign, and thirty-two rank and file made prisoners. In addition to which, many were killed in the boats, and num- bers had been carried away previously to the retreat. The loss of the Americans was greater in proportion, as the number of their men engaged were less. One colonel of volunteers, twenty regulars, privates, and one volunteer private were killed ; one lieutenant-colonel, three lieutenants, and one ensign of the regu- lars, and seventy-nine non-commissioned officers and privates were wounded; and twenty-six non-commissioned officers and privates were missing. Their aggregate loss was one hundred and ten regulars, twenty-one volunteers, and twenty-five militia ; making a total of one hundred and fifty-six. It was severe, because of the worth, more than of the number of those who fell. The injury in public stores sustained at Sackett's Harbour, though not by any act of the invading enemy, was extensive ; but the gallantry of several individuals prevented its being more so. Lieutenant Chauncey was no sooner apprized of the error of the report which had been brought to him, than he made every exertion to save as much of the public property as it was possible to rescue from the increasing conflagration, and to that effect he ran the Fair Ame- rican and the Pert up the river. The new frigate, the General Pike, which was then on the stocks, was saved ; and Lieutenant Talman, of the army, at the imminent risk of his life, boarded the prize schooner the Duke of Gloucester, which was then on fire with a considerable quantity of powder in her hold, extin- guished the fire and brought her from under the flames of the storehouses. ' N'^t withstanding this signal repulse, the British commanding H.2 24 180 GENERAL PREVOST'S REPOltT. ill oflRcers attempted to play off the stratagem which Sir Jl,me8 Yeo afterwards adopted at the Forty Mile Creek. They sent in a flag with a peremptory demand for the formal surrender >f the post, which was as peremptorily refused. After a forced march of forty miles in one day, Lieutenant-Colonel Tuttle hoil arrived witli his command of about six hundred meujnst an the British were retnniting to their boats, and was therefore too late to par- ticipate in the action. Other reinforcements were continually expected, and the harbour would be in a situ.'tion to make- a more vigorous, though not perliaps, a more brilliant defense. The return of the enemy, even under the advantagCH of more favour- able winds, was, therefore, nut looked for with any apprehension. A second ilag was received ])y General Brown, accompanied by a request that the killed and wounded of the British might be treated with respect. In answer to which, the most satisfactory assurances of compliance were given. After being compelled fo relinquish the further prosecution of an expedition, having for its primary object the capture and de- struction of a post, the permanent possession of which only could give to the Americans any hope of a superiority on Lake Ontario ; after having su'.ceeded in his enterprise in a degree which scarcely ueHervjs to bo termed partial ; and after being obliged, by the prt'^lonununc»3 of his apprehension over his bravery and foresight, to retire from the assault and precipitately to leave his dead and wounded to the mercy of his enemy, General Sir George Pre- vost issued an official account to the people of Canada, and for- warded despatches to his government, in each of which he laid claim to a brilliant and unparalleled victory, and alleged that lie had reluctantly ord<^'red his troops to leave a beaten enemy whom he had driven before him for three hours, because the co-opera- tion of the fleet and army could not be eftected. General Brown's stratagem had so far succeeded in deceiving him, that he reported the woods to have been filled with infantry and field-pieces, from which an incessant, heavy and destructive fire had been kept up, by a numerous and almost invisible foe, more than quadruple in numbers to the detachments which had been taken from the garrison at Kingston ; and that his loss was, nevertheless, very far inferior to that of his antagonist. Private I REFLECTIONS. 187 letters, however, which were, about the same time, written from officers of these detachments, after relating that Colonel Gray and two other officers had been killed, and that Majors Evans, Drummond, and Moodie, and several captains and subalterns had been wounded, admitted that their total loss amounted to upwards of one hundred and fifty. Had the result of the expedition against Sackett's Harbour assimilated itself to that character of unparalleled brilliancy, which would have entitled it to the enc'omiums of its commander, and to the warmest admiration of the British nation, its effects would have been long and deplorably felt by tlie A i rican government. Immense quantities of naval and military tbs which had been from time to time collected at that depo uames and tim- bers which had been prepared for the cono>, aciion of vessels of war, and the rigging and armaments which had been forwarded thither for their final equipment, as well as all the army clothing, camp equipage, provisions, ammunitions, and implements of war, which had been previously captured from the enemy, would have again fallen irto his hands. The destruction of the bat- teries, the ship then on the stocks, the extensive cantonments, and the public arsenal, would have retarded the building of another naval force, and that which was already on the lake in separate detachments, could have been intercepted, in its attempt to return, and might have been captured in detail. The prize vessel which was then lying in the harbour, and which had been taken by the Americans, and the two United States' schooners, would have been certainly recaptured, and the whole energies of the American government, added to their most vigorous and unwearied struggles, might never again have attained any prospect of an ascendency on the lake. As it proved, however, all these impending evils were repelled, and the wisdom of the commanding officer, and the invincible firm- ness of those of his troops, who withstood the brunt of the action, converted that event into a splendid victory, which would other- have been an irretrievable disaster. 74. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. •^ 1.0 I.I m 1^ 12.2 Hf U£ 12.0 1.8 1.25 III u |i.6 ^ 6" ► <^ ^k iC Hiotographii Sciences Corporation 23 WfST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 "V- 188 CAPTURE OF THE LADY MURRAY. / . CHAPTER X. l^petRtiantf on tit 'Niagara iFronticn I HE increasing indisposition of Genera] Dearborn having rendered him unfit foi active duty, he resigned the command of the northern army, and retired to his resi- dence. General Lewis had repaired to Sackett's Harbour, to act in concert -vvith Commodore Chauncey, who had returned to that place, and was making active pre- parations to restore the batteries and buildings to their former condition. The command of Fort George and the dependencies of that place and Fort Niagara, devolved on General Boyd. On the 14th of June, Lieutenant Chauncey was ordered to proceed in the Lady of the Lake, to cruise off Presque isle, and to intercept the enemy's transport vessels. On the 16th he fell in with, and captured the British schooner the Lady Murray, then bound from Kingston to York, with an English ensign, and fifteen non-commissioned oflficers and privates. She was loaded with provisions, powder, shot, and fixed ammunition, and was brought into Sackett's Harbour on the 18th. Her crew consisted of six men. On the same day the British fleet appeared before the town of Sodus, on the bay of that name, which is formed on the American side of Lake Ontario, between Gennessee and Oswesjo THE BURNING OF SODUS. 189 rivers. General Burnet, of the New York militia, suspecting that they intended to land their troops, and cjapture a quantity of provisions, ordered out a regiment from the county of Ontario The militia collected in great haste, and arrived at Sodus on the following morning. But the enemy, well knowing that his ap- pearance would excite the alarm of the inhabitants, drew off his forces until their apprehensions should be subsided, and reap- peared in the evening of the 19th, a few hours after the militia had been discharged. . In contemplation of his return, the inhabitants had removed all the public stores from the buildings on the water's edge, to a small distance in the woods, and on the reappearance of the hostile squadron, a second alarm was immediately given, and expresses sent after the discharged militia, which overtook and brought them back, with a large reinforcement. Before their return, the enemy had landed, and finding that the provisions had been removed, they set fire to all the valuable buildings in the town, and destroyed most of the private property of every description. They then agreed to stipulate with the inhabitants, to desist from destroying the remaining houses, on condition of their surrendering the flour and provisions, which they knew had been deposited at that place. These articles were then not more than two hundred yards from the village, yet the enemy did not choose to attempt their capture, lest he might be drawn into an ambuscade ; but he threatened the entire destruction of every house in the town, if they were not immediately delivered over to him. The appearance of the militia prevented the execution of this threat, and the enemy immediately returned to his ship- ping, and moved up the lake on the following morning. On the 20th of June the whole fleet approached Oswego, and made several attempts to land their troops, but they returned each time to their shipping, upon seeing that the troops at that place were prepared to meet them. The American force at that time consisted of eight hundred militia and a small party of regulars, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Carr, by whose skilful management the enemy were persuaded that the port was garrisoned by a numerous body of troops, and they became extremely cautious in their operations. Fearful of being over i i I 190 COLONEL BOERSTLER's EXPEDITION. powered, they relinquished their intention of landing, and with drew from before the place. Lieutenant Wolsey, of the Oneida and other naval officers and seamen, were at Oswego, and haa previously removed the stores from that place to Sackett's Har- hour. The fleet then proceeded to the neighbourhood of Fort George, were it lay for several days. / t'9^!A^f\-Jtf'm>^ FEW days previous to the departure ot General Dearborn from that posi, a body of the enemy had collected on a high ground about eight miles from Queenstown, for the purpose of procuring supplies and of harassing those inhabitants who were considered to be friendly to the United States. On the 28th, a party of troops, consisting of five hun- dred infantry, a squadron of dragoons, a company of New York mounted volunteers, and Captain M'DowcU's corps of light artil- lery, being in all about six hundred men, under command of Colonel Boerstler, were detached from the American encampment at Fort George for the purpose of cutting off the supplies of the enemy, and of breaking up their encampment at the Beaver Dams. The British force which was stationed there was com- posed of one company of the 104th regiment, about two hundred militia, and sixty Indians, amounting to three hundred and forty men. At about eight o'clock on the mommg of the 24th, nine miles west of Queenstown, the American detachment was attacked from an ambuscade. The action commenced with the dragoons, who were placed in the rear. The infantry was instantly brought into a position to return the enemy's fire to advantage, and very soon after drove them a considerable distan'^ into the woods. The Indians then made a circuitous route speared in front, ana opened a fire upon the mounted riflemen who were stationed there. They were immediately repulsed and again retired to the woods. Every attempt was then made to draw them into the open ground, but without effect. A few of the boldest of them ventured from their lurking-places, but were immediately com- pelled to fly to them again for shelter. The enemy's force was SURRENDER OF BOERSTLER. 191 now continually augmenting, and he was every instant gaining a superiority. A retreat was then ordered for a short distance, which was effected with trifling loss. Colonel Bcerstler, suspect ing that he was surrounded by a very superior and numerous force, despatched an express to General Dearborn for reinforce- ments, and informed him of his intention to maintain his position until they should arrive. Colonel Christie was ordered to proceed immediately with the 15th regiment and a company of artillery to the support of Colonel Bcerstler, but he had not proceeded farther than Queenstown when he was informed that the latter had surrendered his detachment. The express had scarcely been forwarded when Lieutenant Fitzgibbon, who commanded the British militia and Indians, rode up to Colonel Bcerstler with a flag, and informed him on the honour of a British soldier, that the regular force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop was double that of the American, and vhat the Indians were at least seven hundred in number. Colonel Bcerstler, trusting to the veracity of the officer, fearing the im- practicability of escaping, and being unwilling to abandon his wounded, agreed to terms of capitulation, by vs^hich the wounded were to be treated with the utmost tenderness, the officers to be permitted to wear their side-arms, private property to be respected, and the volunteers to be paroled and permitted to return to their homes. ' ' Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop was not on the ground at the time when this capitulation was effected, as the British lieutenant had asserted on his honour, but arrived there in time to confirm the articles of surrender. These were no sooner agreed upon than they were violated. The officers being deprived of their side- arms for the gratification of the Indians, who robbed them also of their coats, and whatever ornaments of dress they coveted. No possible account of the number of killed or wounded, on either side, could be obtained. Colonel Bcerstler was slightly wounded, and Captain Machesney of the 6th, severely, in repelling the attack of the Indians. Colonel Christie returned to Fort George with information of this disaster, and the British forces moved down upon Queens- town, occupied that place and its neighbourhood, and in a few .A 192 ATTACK UPON OUTPOSTS. r^^^kSip li'ii II ^iii . n\ : ,, ■ ■ ■ days afterwards invested the American camp, having been pre. viously joined by all the British forces from the head of the lake General Vincent was stationed at Burlington Heights with a small force, and General De Rottenburg lay encamped at the Ten Mile creek. The New York mounted volunteers were detained at the head of the lake, in violation of the article which pro- vided for their parole. On the 12th they were ordered to Kingston, to be kept there as prisoners of war. They were for this purpose embarked in two boats, under a guard of men, and a lieutenant. When within twelve miles of York, they rose upon the guard, and after a struggle of a few minutes, carried both boats, and shaped their course for Fort Niagara. After rowing nearly all night, and escaping from an enemy's schooner, with great difficulty, they arrived safely with their prisoners. In effecting this daring escape, Major Chapin, who commanded the volunteers, gave the signal to his men, by knocking down the British lieutenant, and personally encoun- tering two of his soldiers, whom he fortunately subdued, and kept in restraint until the second boat lay along side of him. Succeeding this event, several affairs of outposts took place, which, though not quite so important in their consequences, were equally as brilliant as any of the occurrences which had previously transpired on the Niagara frontier. Among them was a severe skirmish, brought on by an attack which had been made upon two of the outposts, of the American encampment at Fort George, on the 8th of July, by the combined force of the British and Indians. It had no sooner commenced, than adjutant Lieutenant Eldridge, of the 13th, was ordered to the support of the outposts, with a small detachment of thirty-nine men ; whilst a larger body was preparing to follow him, under the command of Major Malcom. The impetuosity of Lieutenant Eldridge led him into a thick wood, where a superior force of the British and Indians lay in .?^i m -A MASSACRE OF ELDRIDGES PARTY. 193 ambush, and after an obstinate, but fruitless struggle, his part}i were entirely defeated, five only out of the whole number es- caping. Thirteen were killed or wounded, and the remainder taken prisoners. At the first onset, the enemy was repulsed ; but at the second, he pressed upon, and surrounded the little party, with the whole of his numerous force. All the prisoners, includ- ing the wounded, were then inhumanly murdered, and their persons treated m so barbarous a manner, that the most temperate recital of the enemy's conduct may, perhaps, scarcely obtain belief. The feelings of the most obdurate reader, of a much more distant period, cannot but be excited to the highest degree of indignation, and those of the writer are not at all to be envied, when necessity obliges him to describe the sufferings of his countrymen, by the relation of facts which stand too well authenticated before him. The same enemv who had not long ago implored the mercy of the American officer, to be extended to his British prisoners, now fell upon the defenseless captives of this party, and scalped their heads whilst they were yet alive, spht open their skulls with their tomahawks, tore the hearts out of their bodies, and stabbed, and otherwise mutilated them. Lieutenant Eldridge was supposed to have experienced the same treatment. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood having informed the garrison that he had been led, wounded, into the woods, between two Indians, a flag was sent out on the next day to ascertain his fate, which soon after returned with an answer, that Lieutenant Eldridge having killed one of the Indian chieftains, the warriors of his tribe had retaliated this supposed act of treachery, by putting him to instant death. But this reply was ascertained to have been a subterfuge of the enemy, to evade the necessity of accounting for a prisoner who was known to have been taken alive. The commission of this, and other outrages of the same nature by the enemy, at length induced the American commander. General Boyd, to receive a party of the Seneca and Tuscorora tribes into the service of the United States, by way of intimi- dating the British and Indians, and of preventing a recurrence of their barbarities. Shortly after they had rendezvoused at Fort George, and had covenanted not to scalp or murder anv of R 26 f' hi BabWai J 94 INDIAN ALLIANCE. I 111 If 1 £ • I '1, '' : , It ' I i ( ^ ••M. Young Cornplantar. the enemy's prisoners, who might fall into their hands, they were joined to a party of volunteers, and sent to cut off one of the outposts of the enemy, whose principal encampment was upwards of two miles from the fort. The American Indians were commanded by Major Henry O'Ball, or Young Corn- planter, who succeeded in capturing and bringing in twelve of the British Indians, and four of their white troops, with a loss of only two Indians killed. The army at Fort George was at this time in a state of inac- tivity — a war of outposts only being carried on, which, though resulting in various success, was of use to the undisciplined divisions of the encampment. On the morning of the 11th of July, a British regular force crossed the Niagara, below Black Rock, and moved up, with great rapidity, to the attack of that post. The militia who were stationed there immediately fled in considerable numbers, a few of them, however, stood their ground, and emerging from a wood, at seventy yards distance from the enemy, annoyed him very severely. But this annoyance was not regarded by the British, who entered the place, set fire to the barracks, the block hruse, and other buildings, spiked several pieces of cannon, and 1 took off a to their b< and a few fire. The .^nine of upon the was precii boats, and killed and Bishop, n On the soldiers, 1 the head < one twent and four c On the attacked 1 Scott was an open fi of one ho I strong, Ci Birdsall, tively eng as many "^ Besidef tured at soners at of the re boat anis nadian m lars and f them to of Colon( New Yoi ment whi ral Boyd to that pi On the SXPEUITION TO THE ST. LAWRENCE. 197 took off a quantity of provisions. Whilst carrying the property to their boats, they were attacked by a force of regulars, militia and a few Indians who poured upon them a very destructive fire. The enemy's force amounted to two hundred and fifty men ^nine of whom, and a captain (Sanders) of the 41st, were left upon the shore. The force which was brought against them was precisely equal to their own. They retired partially to their boats, and in putting off from the shore, lost upwards of fifty, in killed and wounded. Among the latter was Lieutenant^Colonel Bishop, mortally. On the 17th, a small expedition of volunteers, and about forty soldiers, left Fort George in two small row-boats, proceeded to tho head of the St. Lawrence, and captured a gun-boat mounting one twenty-four-pounder, fourteen batteaux loaded with property, and four officers and sixty-one men. On the same day an outwork of the American garrison, was attacked by two hundred British and some Indians. Colonel Scott was sent out to oppose them. He took one field-piece into an open field, and assisted by Lieutenant Smith, after a contest of one hoar, succeeded in driving off the enemy. Majors Arm- strong, Cummings, Captains Towson, Madison, Vandalsem, and Birdsall, the former of whom was wounded, were also ac- tively engaged. The American loss amounted to four killed, and as many wounded. Besides the militia, under Major Chapin, who had been cap- tured at the Beaver Dams, several parties of regulars made pri- soners at the same place, also effected their escape, in consequence of the refusal of the enemy to parole them. On the 27th, a large boat arrived at Fort George, with one lieutenant and eight Ca- nadian militia, who had been taken by three United States regu- lars and five New York militiamen, as the former were conducting them to Kingston. About the same time, a boat with fourteen of Colonel Bcerstler's men and two of the enemy, arrived from New York. They communicated intelligence of the severe treat- ment which the American prisoners experienced there, and Gene- ral Boyd and Commodore Chauncey determined on an expedition to that place. On the 23th, Commodore Chauncey sailed with Colonel Scott b3 198 CAPr*TRE OF THE GROWLER AND EAGLE. 1' and about three hundred men. They landed at York, capturet or destroyed the public property and stores of the enemy, and after burning the barracks, which had been spared at the capture of that place in April, under an impression that their liberality would be appreciated by the enemy, they re-embarked, and re- turned unmolested to Fort George, bringing with them all tlie sick and wounded of Colonel Boerstler's men, whom they could find. A few weeks preceding this affair, the United States armed vessels, the Growler and Eagle, were captured after a desperate engagement of three hours and a half, with a number of British gun-boats, and detachments from the garrison at Isle aux Noix. The action took place near Ash Island, on the river Sorelle, or Richelieu, or that part of Lake Champlain which empties into the St Lawrence. The schooners were commanded by Lieutenant Sidney Smith, and were the only armed vessels, excepting a few gun-boats, and small barges, which constituted the American naval force on Lake Champlain. Their capture, therefore, gave the enemy the entire ascendency on that lake. The British stated their loss at three men wounded. The loss on board the schooners was one killed and eight wounded. Availing themselves of the advantages thus gained, the British equipped and refitted the captured vessels, and cruised along the shores of Lake Champlain, committing every species of depre- dation upon the property of the inhabitants. On the 30tli of July, they crossed the line at Champlain with two sloops of war, three gun-boats, and forty batteaux, having on board a force of fourteen hundred men. On the 31st, they arrived, and landed at Plattsburg. The militia were immediately called out, but not more than three hundred collected, and there is no account of their having shown any kind of resistance to the invaders. The British troops, who were commanded by Colonel Murray, assured the inhabitants of Plattsburg that their private property should be respected. But after destroying the block-house, the arsenal, the armory, the public hospital, and the military cantonment, they wantonly burned several private storehouses, and carried oif immense quantities of the stock of individuals. On the 1st r>f August they embarked, and stood out of the bay. Thence MANOEUVERINO OF THE FLEETS. 199 they proceeded to the town of Swanton, in Vermont, landed a part of their force, and committed several outrages of the same character. The American and British fleets, now well appointed and equipped, were both on Lake Ontario. Commo- dore Chauncey being within sight of Fort George, and Sir James Yeo sail- ing in that direction, on the 7th of August they came within sight of each other. The British fleet consisted of six sail, the American of twelve, the majority of them being very small. Commodore Chauncey immediately weighed anchor, and manoeuvered to gain the wind. Having passed the leeward of the enemy's line, and being abreast of his van ship, the Wolfe, he fired a few guns to ascertain whether he could reach the hostile fleet. The shot fall- ing short, the commodore wore, and hauled upon a wind on tho starboard tack ; the rear of his schooners being then about six miles astern. The British commodore wore also, and hauled upon a wind, on the same tack, but observing that the American fleet would be able to weather him on the next, he tacked again and made all sail to the northward. Commodore Chauncey pur- sued him. The chase continued until night ; the schooners could not get up, and a signal was given to give up the pursuit and to form in close order. At midnight two of the schooners were missing, which were afterwards found to be the Hamilton and the Scourge, both of which had overset and sunk in a heavy squall. Sixteen men only escaped drowning. The fleet lost by this un- fortunate accident two excellent officers, Lieutenant Winter and Sailingmaster Osgood, a number of fine seamen, and nineteen guns. Tho enemy then gained a great superiority. On the morning of the 8th he was discovered bearing up with an inten- tion of bringing the Americans to action. Commodore Chauncey then directed the schooners to sweep up and engage him. When the van of the schooners was within one mile and a half of the enemy, he bore up for the schooners in order to cut them off", but in .his he did not succeed. He then hauled his wind and hove too 8^)0 ACriON ON LAKE ONTARIO. t ! f\r"i.' A squall coming on, and Commodore Chauncey being appix) hensive of separating from the heavy sailing schooners he ran the squadron in towards Niagara, and anchored outside the bar. Here he received on board from Fort George, one hundred and Uily soldiers, and distributed them through the fleet to act as marines. Before twelve o'clock on the morning of the 9th, dis- covered the enemy's fleet, and stood for him, and after manoeuver« ing until eleven o'clock, at times pursuing him, and being pursued by him, the rear of the line opened its fire on him. In fifteen minutes the fire became general on both sides. At half-past eleven the weather line bore up and passed to the leeward, except the Growler and Julia, which soon after tacked to the southward, and brought the British between them and the remainder of the American fleet, which then edged away to engage the enemy to more advantage, and to lead hmi from the Growler and Julia. Sir James Yeo having separated the two vessels from the squadron, exchanged a few shot, in passing, with the General Pike," (Commodore Chauncey 's ship,) without injur- ing her, and pursued the schooners. A firing commenced be- tween them, and was continuea until one o'clock on the morning of the 10th, when the schooners surrendered, and the fleets lose sight of each other. Soon after daylight they again became visi- ble ; but no disposition being shown by the enemy to come down on Commodore Chauncey, he shortly after ran towards Sackett's Harbour to provision the squadron, and arrived there on the 13th. About this time Sir George Prevost joined the army, which was then inventing Fort George, and meditated an attack upon the American forces. Captain Fitzgerald of the 49th, assailed an outpost on the Niagara, and after gaining the rear of the guard, was fired on and charged by Captain Davenport, of the 16th United States infantry, who cut his way through Fitzgerald's party, rallied his own and made prisoners of ten men. At this moment Captain Delano, of the 23d, came up and cap- tured Fitzgerald, who was then wounded. The whole line of outposts was at this instant attacked and driven in. Captain Vandalsem, of the 15th, who commanded the outposts upon But- ler's road, was cut oflf by the enemy ; but hastily forming his small party, he desperately forced his way through a superior 1/ .! ^ AFFAIRS OF OUTPOSTS. 201 body, and brought his guard safely into the garrison. The British forces gained possession of the town of Newark, and skirted the woods opposite Fort George, within gun-shot of the American camp. Brigadier-General Williams, who had a few days before arrived at that post, advanced from the works with his brigade, but after a trifling skirmish, he was ordered back by General Boyd, and the troops were directed to act only on the defensive. The British soon after retired to their intrenchments, which were then about two miles distant. The loss of the gar- rison, on this occasion, amounted to thirty, in killed, wounded, and missing. The capture of Captain Fitzgerald and his men, was ths only loss which the enemy is known to have sustained. Affairs of outposts, in which the character of the American arms was not in the least diminished, were now occurring daily. Colonel Brearly, and other officers of the different regiments, distinguished themselves; and a spirit of emulation pervaded 4ie whole American line. Orders had been issued to the senti- nels, to permit n^o one to pass within their chain, without the knowledge of the commanding officer. But a British officer, in passing from the left to the right of his encampment, having by mistake approached the American line, induced a sentinel to violate these orders. Thomas Gray, a private of the 15th, w^ho at this time happened to be on guard, seeing the error into which the enemy's officer was likely to fall, permitted him to enter the line of sentinels before he challenged him. When the officer immediately surrendered, proved to be Captain Gordon, of the Royal Scots, and was conducted to General Boyd, who after- wards presented the sentinel with a silver cup, engraved with inscriptions commemorative of the event by which he had won it. The American army sustained about this time, a serious loss in the death of Colonel Christie, at Fort George, and of Lieutenant-Colonel Tuttle, at Sackett's Harbour — both of whom died of severe illness. Hi, 1 ' *'. 1 >!i (|.| S6 S02 TECUMSEH. Teenmieb, CHAPTER XI (fi^mtlPtti* of ti>e Wortife-fcfjstfTO Slrmj. 5©8ttll? of Jlak lEri*. Heatlle of t|}f tuamrj. HE combination of the British forces on the Niagara, the augmentation which they were daily receiving by rein- forcements from the interior of Upper Canada, and the rumours which wens thence sent forth of an intended coali tion between these and the army of General Proctor, from Detroit, all con- tributed to persuade the American com- manders that the enemy had become regardless of the defenses of the garrisons of Detroit and Maiden; and that their leading object, for the accomplishment of which thoy had determined to draw together every species of troops within the province, was the expulsion of the American forces from the Canadian territory. But the vigilance of the com mander-in-chief of the north-western army, enabled him not only JO discover the enemy's real design, but that their regulars, and \ M TECUMSEH. 203 a great body of the Indians, were at that time concealed in the neighbourhood of Fort Meigs and Stephenson, and feeling con- fident of their expectations that the regulars of his army would be ordered forward to the aid and co-operation of the army of the north ; or, that the militia would be called from a tour of duty ; which would thence be deemed unnecessary to perform ; General Harrison extended his defensive arrangements, and enlarged his forces by new requisitions upon the governors of the contiguous state and territory. He was still engaged at his head-quarters, at Seneca, in fixing the destination of the new troops, as they arrived, and in distributing them among the different posts. t' Fort Meigs was placed in an excellent state for vigorous de- fense, and active exertions were making to fortify Fort Stephen- son. To the entire equipment of the latter, many difficulties presented themselves, and its situation was considered to be so defenseless, that General Harrison directed the commandant to destroy the public property, and immediately to abandon the fort, if the enemy should at any time appear before it. During the m^nth of July, the assembled tribes of Indian warriors, under Tecumseh, (who was reported to have then re- ceived the commission and emoluments of a brigadier-general,) and a considerable force of regulars, under General Proctor, had been well trained for an expedition, the object of which was to reduce Fort Stephenson, and thence to proceed to a second investment of Fort Meigs. Tecumseh was despatched with two thousand warriors and a few regulars, to make a diversion favour- able to the attack of Proctor and Dixon, upon Fort Stephenson. He approached Fort Meigs, and kept up a heavy firing at a dis- tance, in order to persuade the garrison that an engagement had taken place between the Indian forces and a part of General Harrison's division. By the arrival at Fort Meigs, of an officer from the head-quarters, this scheme was fortunately frustrated ; and Tecumseh then approached the garrison, and surrounded it with his whole force. From Seneca Town scouting parties had been sent out in every direction along the shores of Sandusky bay, with instruc- tions to keep up a continual communication with the commander 76 204 ATTACK ON FORT STEPHENSON. BM 1-1* m • 5 Si k It'- .■■''■ I ; « : I;?;* 3 in-chief. On the morning of the 1st of August, he was informed of the approach of the enemy to the mouth of the bay ; Fort Stephenson, which was situated twenty miles above, evidently being their object. Early in the evening, the combined forces consisting of S3ven hundred Indians, under Dixon, and five hundred regulars, under General Proctor, who commanded in chief, app ared before the fort. The gun-boats, from which they had landed, were at the same time drawn up, to bear upon one of its angles. General Proctor immediately disposed his troops so as to sur- round the garrison, and entirely cut off its retreat. His immense superiority of numbers, enabled him to invest it so perfectly, that the American troops, whose whole effective force did not amount to one hundred and sixty men, had no probable prospect of cut- ting their way through, and Major Croghan, who had been pro- moted to the command of this post, for his gallant conduct at the siege of Fort Meigs, having already disobeyed the orders of the commander-in-chief, by not destroying and abandoning the fort, had made arrangements to repel an assault, by cutting a deep ditch, and hastily constructing a stockade work around it ; and, being ably supported by his officers and men, he determined on defending the garrison, though he should sell the life of every soldier. The British general, having completed the disposition of his army, attempted to obtain possession of Fort Stephenson by ar- tifice. He sent forward a flag by Colonel Elliot, whose character is yet in the memory of every reader, accompanied by the same Major Chambers who had before demanded the surrender of Fort Meigs, and an Indian chief, whose enmity to the Americans was violent. This flag was met at a few paces from the garri- son, by Ensign Shipp, of the 17th, to whom General Proctor's demand of an immediate and unconditional surrender was de- livered, and from whom the enemy received Major Croghan's answer, of a determination not to yield, but with the loss of all his men. Colonel Elliot then attempted to seduce the ensign from his duty., by various artifices, which were followed by a threatened slaughter of the garrison, on further refusal to sur- render. The young American turned from his apostate country- r't DEFENSE OF FORT STEPHENSON. 20£ man, Elliot, with disgust, and was immediately seized upon by the Indian chief, who attempted to disarm him. The resistance of the ensign, and the interference of Elliot and Chambers, pre- .ented this outrage, and Major Croghan being apprehensive fibout the safety of his officer, instantly ordered him to be called ,oto the garrison. The enemy then opened his fire from tht gun-boats and a five and a half inch howitzer, and continued the cannonade throughout the night. On the moaning of the 2d, three six-pounders were discovered to have been planted at a distance of two hundred and fifty yard? from the stockade, and in a few minutes after, an unsuccessful fire was opened upon the fort. The British general feeling his inability to annoy the garrison, from the situation in which his artillery was then placed, and being convinced that he could neither make an impression upon the works, nor ever hope to carry them by storm, unless a breach could be made in the north-west angle of the fort, ordered all his guns to be directed at that point. A rapid fire was kept up against it for several hours ; but Major Croghan being aware of his design, detached as many men as could be usefully employed, to strengthen that angle ; by means of bags of sand, of flour, and other articles, it was effectually secured. Under a supposition that his fire hac" shattered the stockade work, which was not at all injured. Ge- neral Proctor ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Short to lead up p close column of three hundred and fifty regulars, of the 41st regiment, to storm the fort at that point, w hilst a second column should make a feint upon that part of the American line, which was commanded by Captain Hunter, of the 17th. This attempt to draw the attention of the garrison from the north-west anglij did not succeed. The troops posted there were ordered to re- main firm ; and when the column, which was advancing against ihem had approached within twenty paces of the lines, befoie which time it was so completely enveloped in smoke as not tc be observed, they opened a heavy and galling fire, which threw the advancing party into confusion, and intimidated that which was reserved for the attack on the other angle of the fort. The British battery, which was then enlarged by two other six pounders, was again opened, and sustained the advance of the ii: 206 DEFENSE OF FORT STEPHENSON. ' 'J, t Derense of Fort Stephenioii. two columns, by an incessant, though equally unsuccessful fire as the tormer. Colonel Short rallying his men with great alac- rity, again led them up, advanced to the stockade, and springing over the pickets, into the ditch, commanded the whole column to follow and assault the works with the utmost vigour, but to give no quarter to any of the American soldiers. T the north-western angle stood a block-house, in which a six-pounder had been heretofore judi- ciously concealed. It was at this instant opened, and having previously been pointed so as to rake in that situation, a double charge of leaden slugs, was fired into the ditch, and sweeping the whole column, the front of which was only thirty feet distant from the piece, killed Colonel Short, and almost every man who had ventured to obey his order. A volley of musketry was fired at the same time, and great num- bers of the enemy, who had not yet entered the dixh, were severely wounded. • The officer who succeeded Colonel Short in the command of the broken column, immediately rallied and formed it anew, and led it on to the same fatal point. A second fire from the de Structive six-pourvier, was poured upon it, with as much success PROMOTION OF MAJOR CROGHAN. 207 as the first ; and the small arms were discharged so briskly, that the enemy's troops were again thrown into confusion, and not all the exertions of the British officers could bring them up to another assault. They fled precipitately to an adjoining wood, and were very soon followed by the Indians. In a few minutes the firing entirely ceased ; and an army much more than ten times supe rior to a small jjarrison, was compelled to relinquish an attack the successful issue of which was not at all doubted by any one of its officers. A strong degree of terror prevailed among the collected forces. The Indians were enraged and mortified at this unparalleled defeat ; and carrying their dead and wounded from the field, they indignantly followed the British regulars to the shipping. General Proctor abandoned his wounded, and left the dead bodies of his most distinguished officers, among whom was Colonel Short, in the ditch. During the night of the 2d, Major Croghan received as many of the wounded enemy through the port-hole as were able to approach it, and to those who could not, he threw out provisions and water. On the morning of the 3d, the gun-boats and transports sailec!. down the bay, and guards of soldiers were immediately after- wards sent out to collect and bring into the fort all the wounded, and to bury the enemy's dead with all the honours to which, by their rank, they were entitled. Seventy stand of arms, several braces of pistols, and a boat containing much clothing and mili- tary stores, which haxl been left in the hurry of the enemy's flight, were then taken. The loss of the assailants was reported to have been not less than one hundred and fifty ; that of the garrison was one killed, and seven slightly wounded. The brilliancy of this affair procured for the officers and men fhe thanks of the government, and the unfeigned applause of all parties in the Union. Major Croghan was soon after promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was presented with a sword by the ladies of Chillicothe. His precaution and activity pre- vented a very important, though weak post, from falling into the hands of the enemy ; and gave a powerful check to their plan of operations for the remaining part of the campaign. The com- mander-in-chief, whose positive orders he had ventured fo dis 1 • ? ill !H1 208 OFFICERS AT FORT STEPHENSON. !■■ ^ Oolontl OrofhaB. obey, yielded him his warmest approbation, and recommended to the early notice of the department of war, a young soldier of twenty-one years who had baffled the most ingenious efforts of the British general, and had sustained his various assaults for ihiity six hours. Besides Major Croghan the garrison contained seven officers, all of whom distinguished themselves. Captain Hunter was second in command, ancl resisted the attacks of the second British column, as well as of the Indians. Lieutenants Johnson, Bayler, and Meeks, of the 17th, and Anthony, of the 24th, and Ensigns Shippand Duncan, of the 17th, were stationed at different places in the garrison, and acquitted themselves with great credit. General Harrison had no sooner been apprized of the approach of the enemy towards Fort Stephenson, than he sent orders for the immediate march of two hundred and fifty volunteers from Uppjr Sandusky, and put in readiness all the infantry at Seneca under Generals M' Arthur and Cass. Scouts were instantly forwarded to reconnoiter the position of the enemy, but in consequence of fii '■ TH FLEET ON LAKE ERIE. 209 tho strong disposition of the Indian forces they were unahle to approach the garrison, and were met by General Harrison and his dragoons between Seneca Town and Fort Stephenson. Here the retreat of the enemy under Proctor, and the investment of Fort Meigs by Tecumseh, were first heard of; and the general directed M' Arthur and Cass to fall back to Seneca Town for the protection of the sick and the provisions. But two days atler, Tecumseh and his Indians followed the steps of Proctor and Dixon, and all apprehensions about the safety of the military hos- pitals were therefore removed. The American fleet on Lake Erie having been completed, and with great difficulty passed over the bar, a principal part of the crew of each vessel being made up of the Pennsylvania militia, who had volunteered to go on an expedition, sailed on a short cruise for the purpose of training the guns and of exercising the sailors. In the latter part of August, Commodore Perry pro- ceeded to the mouth of Sandusky river, to co-operate with G ene- ral Harrison. At this place about seventy volunteer marines ' were received on board, and the fleet sailed in quest of the British squadron. Tlie latter was, at that time, near Maiden, before which place Commodore Perry appeared, and after reconnoitering the enemy, he retired to Put-in-Bay, a distance of thirty miles, in hopes of drawing out his antagonist. On the morning of the 10th of September, the enemy was dis- covered bearing down upon the American squadron, which im- mediately got under way and stood out to meet him. The superiority of force was greaily in favour 6f the British, though they had not an equal number of vessels. Their crews were larger, and the length and number of their guns greater than those of the American squadron. The latter consisted of the brig Lawrence, (flag vessel,) of twenty guns; the Niagara, Captain Elliot, of twenty ; tho Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner, of three ; the schooner Ariel, of four ; the Scorpion, of two ; the Somers, of two, and two swivels ; the sloop Trippe, and schooners Tigress and Porcupine, of one gun each ; making a fleet of nine vessels, of fifty-four guns and two swivels. The British squadron con- sisted of the ships Detroit,. Commodore Barclay, of nineteen guns and two howitzers; the Queen Charlotte, Captain Finnis, of b-J M 27 / 210 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. r-i : HI J: if,' seventeen and one howitzer ; the schooner Lady Prevost, Lieute nant Buchan, of thirteen and one howitzer; the brig Hunter, of ten ; the sloop Little Boh, of three ; and the schooner Chippewa, of one and two swivels; making a fleet of six vessels and sixty- three guns, four howitzers, and two swivels. When the American fleet stood out, the British fleet had the weallior-gage, but at ten o'clock, a. m., the wind shifted am] brought the American to windward. The line of battle was formed at eleven, and at fifteen minutes before twelve the euoiny's flag shij) and the Queen Charlotte opened upon the Lawrence a heavy and effectual fire, which she was obliged to sustain up- wards of ten minutes, without a possibility of returnmg it in coii- seqiien<-e of hor battery being of carronades. She nevertheless continued to bear up, and having given a signal to the other ves- sels to support her, at a few minutes before twelve opened her fire upon the enemy. The wind being too light to assist the remainder of the squad- ron in coming up, the Lawrence was compelled to fight the enemy's heaviest vessels upwards of two hours. The crew were not at all depressed ; their animation increased as the desperation of the fight became greater, and the guns were worked with as much coolness and precision as if they had been in the act of training only. The slaughter on board the brig was almost un- paralleled, the rigging very much injured, and the braces entirely shot away ; and at length, after every gun had been rendered useless she became quite unmanageable. The first lieutenant, Yarnall, was thrice wounded ; the second lieutenant. Forrest, struck in the breast; the gallant Lieutenant Brookes, of the ma- rines, and Midshipman Laub were killed, and Sailingmastcr Taylor, Purser Hamilton, and Midshipmen Claxton and Swart- wout, wounded. Her loss already amounted to twenty-two killed, and sixty-one wounded : when the commodore, seeing that she must very soon strike, if the other vessels were not brought up, gave up the command of the Lawrence to Lieutenant Yarnall. and jumping into a boat, ordered it to be steered for the Niagara, to which vessel he had determined to shift his flag. In passing from the Lawrence to the Niagara. Jie stood up, waving his sword, and gallantly cheering his men, under a shower of balls II m . V. '. .»'.(!t ■I and bulle flag of th instant ii minutes } All the the enem commodo He theref Queen C structive Chippewj within ha mander c guished 1; in the fac diately rai to get cl( Turner, o interfered chance of from attei the office The Bu broadside the confl Lawreno had thei aspect, h lost her ( some mis vessels b was imn pelled to and othe modore's Charlotte came dc rendered CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH FLEET. C!3 and bullets. He gained the Niagara uulinrt, at the moment the flag of the Lawrence came down ; and the wind having at that instant increased, he brought her into action, and at forty-five minutes past two, gave signal for the whole ileet to close. All the vessels were now engaged, but as the buperiority of the enemy had been increased by the loss of the Lawrence, the commodore determined on piercing his line with the Niagara. He therefore resolutely bore up, and passing ahead of the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, poured a galling and de- structive fire into each, from his starboard side, and into the Chippewa and Little Belt, from his larboard. He was then within half pistol-shot, and as he cut through the line, the com- mander of the Lady Prevost, a brave officer, who had distin- guished himself at the battle of the Nile, received a musket-ball in the face, and the crew being unable to stand the fire, imme- diately ran below. At this moment the Caledonia was struggling to get closer into the action, and her commander, Lieutenant Turner, ordered her guns to be fired through the foresail, which interfered between him and the enemy, rather than lose the chance of a full share in the combat, and was only prevented from attempting to board the Detroit, by the prudent refusal of the officer of another small vessel, to assist him. The action was now raging with its utmost violence ; every broadside fired with the most exact precision, and the result of the conflict altogether uncertain. In addition to the loss of the Lawrence's guns, one of the Ariel's had bursted, and the enemy had then the superiority of thirty-four guns. This doubtful aspect, however, soon after changed. The Queen Charlotte had lost her captain, and all her principal officers ; and having, by some mischance, run foul of the Detroit, most of the guns of both vessels became useless. In this situation, advantage of which was immediately taken by Commodore Perry, they were com- pelled to sustain, in turn, an incessant fire from the Niagara, and other vessels of the American squadron. The British com- modore's flag was soon after struck, and those of the Queen Charlotte and Lady Prevost, the Hunter and the Chippewa, came down in immediate succession. The whole fleet sui- rendered to the inferior squadron, with the exception of tht. [ m'f' r I' 214 RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. I I I : I't 1 ri:'! if Commodore Perry. Little Belt, which attempted to escape, but was pursued by twc of the gun-boats, and captured at a distance of three miles from the squadron. Thus, after an action of three hours, in which the individual gallantry of either fleet, had never been surpassed by any naval event now to be found on the record of history, was the entire command of this important lake, yielded to the American arms. To the future operations of the north-western army, every pros- pect of success was thrown open, and the recovery of the lost territory became no longer doubtful. Commodore Perry informed his government, that it had ^^ pleased the Almighty to crown their arms 7vith success,^* and attributed the issue to the gallant conduct of his officers, his men, and the volunteers on board. Among them, are to be found the names of Captain Elliott, Lieutenants Turner, Edwards, and Midshipmen Laud, Claxton, Swartwout, Clark, and Cummings — of the conduct of Lieutenants Yarnall and Brookes, and Purser Hamilton ; the latter of whom worked as a ;tJ:i INVASION OF CANADA. 2V5 common sailor, at a gun, the best evidence has been given — the admiration of the whole squadron, as well as that of the enemy The number of killed and wounded in both fleets was exces- sively great. Commodore Barclay was wounded in the hip, and lost the use of his right arm. The other had been shot off in a former action. The loss on board his squadron exceeded two hundred. The American loss amounted to twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six wounded. The captured vessels were convoyed to the bay of Sandusky; and the prisoners, six hundred in number, conducted to Chillicothe. Among these were a few companies of the British 41st regiment, who had been taken on board to act as marines. The result of this brilliant conflict was immediately followed by active and extensive preparations for the expulsion of the enemy from Detroit, the entire subjugation of Maiden, and tho overthrow of General Proctor's army. These objects achieved, the operations on the Niagara and St. T awrence would be rapidly facilitated, and the most plausible prospects held out to an expedition against Montreal. Governor Meigs had made a call upon the militia of Ohio, as soon as he was informed of the attack upon Fort Stephenson, and upwards of fifteen thousand volunteers were very soon under arms. Many of these were not yet discharged, and General Harrison now required a pro- portion of them. At the mouth of Portage river, he intended that his whole army should be concentrated ; and between that point and Sandusky bay he caused fences of logs to be con- structed for the protection of the horses and baggage. The governor of Kentucky, Isaac Shelby, arrived at the new head-quarters of the army on the 17th of September, with four thousand well mounted volunteers. The works at Fort Meigs being reduced, and garrisoned by a few men, General M'Arthur marched from that post with his brigade, and joined the main body also. Thus strengthened. General Harrison determined on invading the enemy's shores ; and, at the dawn of the 21st, he ordered his forces to embark at the mouth of the river, and to rendezvous at the different islands, wliich lay in clusters between Maiden and the point of embarkation. To Colonel Johnson, who commanded a Kentucky mounted regiment at Fort Meigs, ,ii 1;! i!- I 1*1 f. si' t|:1;::: If ll. , P '')':. 816 INVASION OF CANADA. Guvurnor Shelby. ho gave orders to proceed to Detroit by land; arrangements having been first made, by which that officer and the com- mander-in-chief were to be informed of each other's progress by daily expresses. On the 27th the troops were received on board the fleet, now enlarged by the captured vessels. They were embarked at a small island, about twenty miles from Maiden, called the Eastern Sister, and one of two islands to which the name of the Sisters had been given. In the afternoon of the same day, the fleet which was composed of sixteen vessels of war, and upwards of one hundred boats arrived at a point three miles below Maiden. Here the troops were landed in good order, and with perfect silence, and proceeded thence to Amherstburg by eschellon movements. The British general well aware that the American commander would early avail himself of the advantages lately gained by the capture of the fleet, had made preparations to retire into the interior of Canada, to a place of better security than Maiden. He was apprized by his videttes, of the approach of General Harrison, and having first set fire to the fort, and destroyed every article of public property, he ordered his forces, which were still composed of British regulars, and Tecumseh's and Dixon's Indians, to retreat along the Thames, and thence toward its course 'o the Moravian towns. The fort, the barracks, a ud Dther public CAPTURE OF AMHERSTBURG. 217 buildings were still smoking, when the American army entered Amherstburg, and a number of females came out to implore protection from its commander. They received it. The guns of the batteries had been previously sunk, one only remained on an island opposite Maiden, and that had been left in the con fusion of the enemy's retreat to the Thames. Amherstburg had heretofore been the repository of Indian spoil, and the principal depot of Indian presents. The tribes had been continually provided with munitions of war from the (rarrison there ; and rewarded at that post, for the outrages com- mitted by them, at various times, upon the people of the adjoin- ino- American territories. The previous sufferings of the citizens of the frontier, had all been derived from the activity of British traders who were proprietors of the property and soil; yet, though almost every volunteer of the American army had been affected, either in his possessions, in his own person, or that of his relatives, by the incursions and outrages of the enemy, the inhabitants of Amherstburg were protected from violence, and their individual property honourably respected. Highly, and frequently, as the indignation of these troops had been excited, they were still determined to contrast their conduct here with that of the British ^nd Indians, at the river Raisin; and the house and grounds, therefore, of the most active officer at that scene, Colonel Elliott, suffered not the least molestation. On the 28th the army crossed. ia Riviere aux Cannurds, the bridge over which the enemy had not stopped to destroy, and arrived at Sandwicu on the following day, the fleet moving at the same time, through the river Detroit, to that place. Go- vernor Shelby's command then occupied the point at which the first invasion of Canada had been attempted, whilst the remain- der of the army crossed over to the delivery of the town of De- troit out of the possession of the British Indians, who immedi- atOiy abandoned the garrison, and retreated in different directions. General Harrison, knowing that large numbers of warriors, under Split-Log, were collecting in the woods near Huron of Lake St. Clair, directed General M'Arthnr to remain with most jf the regulars, in the occupation of Detroit, whilst he would pursue the army of General Proctor up the Thames. T 38 I X i pf" ?''■ I'^m 218 SKIRMISH WITH THE INDIANS. Colonel R. M. Johnson's regiment had arrived at Detroit on the day after its occupation by the American army ; and having concentrated this force, with a part of Colonel Ball's regiment of dragoons, and the whole of Governor Shelby's volunteers, the commander-in-chief, on the 2d of October, pursued the enemy's route. Such was the rapidity of his movement, that he encamped in the evening of the same day at the river Riscum, a distance of twenty-six miles from Sandwich. Early on the morning of the 3d, he resumed his march, and being accompanied by Gene- ral Cass and Commodore Perry, as acting aids, he proceeded in the advance with Johnson's regiment, in order to secure the bridges on the rivers tributary to Lake St. Clair. By the cap- ture of a lieutenant of dragoons and eleven privates, who had been left in General Proctor's rear, with orders to take up every bridge by w^hich the approach of Harrison's army could possibly be facilitated, one bridge was saved, and the American general learned, that the enemy had " no certain information of his ad. vance up the Thames." Within eight miles of this river, at Drake's farm, the army encamped for the night, and its baggage followed thus far, in the transports of the squadron. On the morning of the 4th, the army again proceeded on its route, and having reached Chatham, seventeen miles from Lake St. Clair, found its progress obstructed by a deep and unfordable creek, the bridge of which had been partially destroyed by a body of Indians, who now made their appearance, and fired on the front guard. They had taken position on the opposite side of the creek, and flanked the American army on the right bank of the river. General Harrison made immediate arrangements to disperse or capture them. Colonel Johnson was already sta- tioned on the right of the line, and had seized the ruins of another bridge, under a smart fire from the Indians on that flank. Major Wood was directed to bring up his artillery, and cover the pio- neers who were repairing the first bridge. This he did with unexpected success. The Indians could not withstand the heavy discharges of artillery, and they therefore retired without much regard to the order of their retreat. The bridge was quickly repaired, and the army having first extinguished the flames of a farmhouse, which had been fired by the Indians, DISPOSITION FOR THE BATTLE. 319 and captured from it two thousand stand of arms and a quantity of clothing, crossed over the creek, pursued the enemy four miles up the river, annoyed his rearguard, and took from him several pieces of cannon. This skirmish continued one hour, in which time two men of the army were killed, and six wounded ; whilst thirteen were killed on the side of the enemy. Besides muskets, cannon, and clothing, he lost three vessels, loaded with ordnance stores and arms, which the approach of the Americans obliged him to destroy. Oh the 5th, the pursuit was eagerly renewed, and attended by the capture of two gun-boats and several barges, loaded with provisions and ammunition. Having attained the ground on which the enemy had encamped the night before, the commander- in-chief directed Colonel Johnson to hasten the march of his ad- vance guard, and \o send forward an officer to reconnoiter the situation of the combined British and Indian forces. This officer very soon after returned with intelligence that the enemy were prepared for action, in an open ground, within four miles of the American main body. The road upon which General Harrison was then marching, entered a thick and extensive forest on the beach. A short dis- tance from the bank of the Thames was a miry swamp, which extended to the Moravian town ; and between this swamp and the river was a level plain, through which, because of the thick underwood in the forest, the army would be obliged to make its approaches. Across this plain the British line was drawn up, with its left resting on the river, supported by the greatest pro- portion of their artillery ; its centre being protected by two heavy picucs, and its strength, in regulars, amounting to six hundred. Twelve hundred Indians were formed along the margin of the swamp. When General Harrison had come up with the main body, and was advised of the advantageous situation of the enemy, he ordered Colonel Paul, with one hundred and fifty regulars, to occupy a space between the road and the river ; to advance upon, and divert the enemy, and on an opportunity, to seize the cannon which defended his left flank. Lieutenant-Colonel James John- son was directed .to form Major Payne's battalion of the mounted 78 220 BATTLE OF THE THAMES. regiment, and Major Suggett's three spy companies, into six charging columns, immediately in front of the British line of regulars and an Indian flank ; whilst General Kenny's division of infantry should be stationed for his support in his rear. Colo, nel R. M. Johnson was charged with the formation of another battalion, in front of the Indians, who were arrayed oi) the mar- gin of Ihe swamp. He accordingly dismounted one company, under command of Captain Stucker, with which he stretched a line in the face of the Indians, and ordered Major Thompson to form the remaining four companies, on horseback, into two charw- ing columns of double files, immediately in the rear of the line on foot. The left of this battalion was supported by the infantry of General Desha. Thus disposed, with the main army in their rear, these di- visions moved forward to the attack. The British gave the first fire, upon which the charge was quickly ordered, and in a few moments the enemy's line was pierced by upwards of one thou- sand horsemen, who, dasliing through the British regulars with irresistible speed, either trampled under foot, or cut down every soldier who opposed them ; and havmg killed and wounded up wards of fifty at one charge, instantly formed in their rear, and repeated the attack. Such was the panic which pervaded the whole line of the enemy, that an order which had been issued to fix bayonet, was not attempted to be executed ; and, in a little while. Colonels Evans, Warburton, and Baubee, and Majors Muir and Chambers, surrendered with four hundred and seventy-two prisoners. The charge had no sooner been made, than General Proctor, fearing the consequences of his conduct in Michigan, if he should be taken in this battle, abandoned his command, and made his escape in a carriage, under a strong escort of dragoons. Whilst this brilliant charge was making on the right, the action was raging with great violence on the left. Between the Indians there, and the mounted men and infantry drawn up against them, it was longer and more obstinately contended. The Indiiar^ were commanded by Tecumseh, who fought with more than his accustomed skill, and having posted his warriors in the best pos- sible situations to repulse an attack, he indicated his willingness to receive the assault of the American cavalry ._ Colonel John- DEATH OF TECUMSEH. 221 son, who saw that the Indians would dispute the ground with more bravery than the British regulars, placed himself at the head of his battalion, and led it up to a vigorous charge u^mn Tecumseh's flank. That chief at the same moment dealt out a tremendous fire, which though severe in its effect, did not retard the movement of the advancing columns. But the difficulty of penetrating the thicket and swamp threw an impediment in the way of a successful result to an onset with dragoons, and the at tempt to break the Indian line in consequence failed. An en- gagement immediately took place, however, in which, after exchanging several rounds with Tecumseh's band. Colonel John son ordered both his columns to dismount, and leading them up a second time, he made a desperate, bat successful effort to break through the Indians. Having gained the rear of their line, his next order directed his men to fight them in their own mode. The contest became now more obstinate. Notwithstanding their line had been thus pierced, and their warriors were falling in considerable numbers, the Indians did not think themselves yet discomfited, and quickly collecting their principal strength upon the right, they made an attempt to penetrate the line of infantry under General Desha. In this they had partially succeeded, a part of that line having faltered, when Governor Shelby brought up three companies of his volunteers to its support, and in turn threw back the Indians. Meanwhile Colonel R. M. Johnson had been five times wounded, and in that state, covered with blood, and exhausted by pain and fatigue, he personally encountered Tecumseh. The colonel was mounted on a white charger, at wliich, being a con- spicuous object the Indians had continually levelled their fire. A shower of bullets had fallen round him; his holsters, his clothes, and most of his accoutrements, were pierced in several places ; and at the instant when he discovered Tecumseh his horse received a second wound. Tecumseh, having discharged his rifle, sprang forward with his tomahawk, and had it already raised to throw, when Colonel Johnson's horse staggered back, and immediately the colonel drew forth a pistol, shot the Indian through the head, and both fell to the ground together. The wounded colonel being then removed from the field, the t2 li 222 THE RESULT OF THE VICTORY. Ih'.' ¥m 111 command of that battalion devolved on Major Thompson, who continued to fight the whole body of the Indians, (then upwards of one thousand,) more than an hour, and eventually put them to flight. In their attempt to gain the village, through the level plain, they were pursued and numbers of them cut down by the cavalry. The Americans being now masters of the field, their gallant commander, who had been in every part of the action, directed the wounded officers and men of both armies to be taken care of, and the trophies of the victory to be collected and conveyed to the squadron. Among these were several pieces of brass cannon, which had been taken from Burgoyne at Saratoga, in the strug- gle for the independence of the states, and surrendered again by General Hull, thirty-five years afterwards, at Detroit. In the battle of the Thames the number of Americans engaged did not exceed fourteen hundred. The nature of the ground rendered an operation by the whole force impracticable, and the main body, therefore, formed a corps of reserve. They sustained a loss of fifty men in killed and wounded. The number of the former, among whom was a brave old soldier of the revolution, Colonel Whitley, who now served as a volunteer private in a Kentucky regiment, amounted to seventeen. The enemy lost in regulars alone, upwards of ninety killed, and about the same number wounded, and surrendered in all six hundred prisoners. Among the Indians one hundred and twenty were killed, includ- ing their brave, but ambitious and inveterate leader. A squadron of horse, which had been ordered in pursuit of Proctor immediately after his flight, returned to General Harri- son with the baggage and private papers of the British com- mander, which they had ^aken within one hundred yards of his escort. By the speed of his horses, and his knowledge of the country, he successfully eluded his pursuers. The result of this victory was highly advantageous, not only to the operations of ^he army below, but to all the north-western territories, some of whose inhabitants were released from the re- straint of a conquered people, and had now a favourable prospect of future tranquillity. By this event the whole British force in that part of Canada was destroyed ; the association with each DESTRUCTION OF THE MORAVIAN TOWN. 223 other of the different hostile tribes to the United States prevented, and their reunion with the enemy entirely cut off. By the fall of the Shawanese chief the Americans were disencumbered of their most powerful, inveterate and experienced Indian enemy, and a sudden check was given to that spirit of barbarian enter- prise to which that frontier had hitherto been subject. Tecumseh was a bold, intrepid, and active leader, whose undeviating prac- tice it was never to make a prisoner. He was ever ready to conceive a daring and inhuman design, and would execute it with unprecedented and remorseless perseverance. His ruling passion was the plunder and annihilation of the people, whom he be- lieved had encroached upon, and gradually deprived his ancestry ^f their soil. But, when he undertook an expedition accompanied by his tribe, he would relinquish to them the spoil, though he would never yield the privilege of destroying the victim. To the Indians of all other tribes, as well as to that among whom he was born, the loss of a leader like Tecumseh, on whose capacity and conduct as a warrior they could always rely, and who would en- courage and assist in their cruelties, was, therefore, irreparable. Such indeed, was the effect of his death, upon the tribes gene- rally, that many of the chiefs of most of the nations, having no confidence in any other leader, gave themselves up to the con- quering general, and negotiated with him terms of peace, which released his government from the necessity of subsisting their warriors. On the day following that on which the battle of the Thames was fought. General Harrison destroyed the Moravian town, and commenced his march for Detroit, where he negotiated terms of peace with other tribes, and received a flag from General Proc- tor, accompanied by a request, that himiane treatment might be extended to the British prisoners. This request had been antici- pated by the American general, who had already given up the simple comforts of his own tent, to the wounded British colonels ; and had instructed his troops before the battle, that the person even of General Proctor should be respected, if, by the fortune of the day, it should be thrown into their hands. At Detroit, Governor Shelby's volunteers, and the twelve months' men, were all honourably discharged. The fort was ^ i ! Hi 224 JUNCTION WITH THE NORTHERN ARMY. garrisoned by one thousand men, under General Cass, who wai appointed provisional governor of the Michigan territory; and the civil la\i was restored to the condition in which it was at the time when General Proctor instituted other ordinances for the government of the inhabitants. In the event of his success against Procior, the commander- in-chief had been directed by the war department, to join the northern army on the Niagara; and accordingly, having, besides these arrangements, stationed a respectable force at Maiden and Sandwich, on the 23d of October he embarked in the squadron of Lake Erie, with all his disposables, and sailed for the village of Buffalo, were he arrived before the beginning of November. Genertt HarrUon croMiD( Um Tbamet. ■,.;■' I ■ "tf- > rt PLAN OF OPERATIONS. 225 m \ CHAPTER XII. ®{irt«tionii on t^e Xiagara :JFrontirt. ORRESPONDENT with these move- ments of the north-western army, a plan of operations on the St. Lawrence had been concerted by the united talents of the war department, which had been trans- ferred to the frontier, and General Wilkinson, who, having succeeded to the command of the ^ army of the north, had established his head- quarters at Fort George. By this plan, the cap- ture and occupation of Montreal and Kingston, the grand rendez- vous of the British land forces, and the only secure harbour for tlieir naval armaments, was contemplated ; and the result of its successful execution could not fail of being fruitful with advan- tages to the future movements of the army, and the contem- plated conquest of the province of Lower Canada. The late overthrow of General Proctor, in the upper province, Increased the expectations of the department and the army, and held out to each, the most certain prospects of eventual success. Two obstacles, however, presented themselves to the entire fulfilment of these expectations. The lateness of the season ; which, in a ! Mi 13 11 .1 29 226 FORCES ON GRENADIER ISLAND. , country where the winter commences with great severity, would raise up insurmountable obstructions to the movements of the troops ; and the difference of opinion between the commanding general and the secretary at war, as to which post should bo the first object of assault. Each being tenacious of his own opinion, and both anxious for the consummation of the concerted schenK;, it became necessary to hasten the impending operations, by the adoption of one or the other. The deliberation of a council of war was propo ed. To obviat '■ the first difficulty, tho removal of the second was indispensable, and the necessity of an imme- diate decision, upon a question involving the interests of the ex- pedition, became more obvious. A council was therefore organ- ized, and conceiving that the success of the design depended on an early movement of the designated force, they decided without hesitation on a descent upon Montreal. Arrangements were then adopted to collect and concentrate the different regiments on Grenadier island, a point between Kingston and Sackett's Harbour, which had been assigned as the best ren- dezvous, because of its contiguity to the liead of the St. Lawrence. Orders were forwarded to Fort George, to Colonel Scott of the artillery, who had been left by General Wilkinson in command of that post, to embark his artillery and Colonel Randolph's regi- ment of infantry, on board a vessel of the squadron, and to proceed to the island. The general had left the garrison of Fort George on the 2d of October, with the largest portion of the troops, who were now awaiting the remainder at the rendezvous, and had been actively employed in providing clothing and other equip ments necessary to the soldiers in the course of their movement down the river. Between Grenadier island and Sackett's Har- bour, he had made frequent voyages, to see that the troops were well bestowed at the former, and that the different detachments which almost daily arrived at the latter, were immediately de- spatched thence. He had caused a sufficient number of boats to be prepared to convey the artillery through the St. Lawrence; nnd having assigned the command of Sackett's Harbour to Lieu- lenant-Colonel Dennis, he thence proceeded to put the troops m motion at the island. By this time, the 23d, the force at that place amounted to t, ";'■-■ RETREAT OF THE BRITISH TO KINGSTON. 227 nearly eight thousand men, and was composed of Colonel Moses Porter 8 light artillery ; a few companies of Colonel Scott's (2d) regiment of artillery; Colonel Macomb's (3d) regiment of artil- rery ; the 5th regiment of infantry ; the 6th, commanded by Cap- tain Humphreys ; the lltli; the 12th, Colonel Coles; the 13th, commanded by Colonel Prestm ot the 23d ; the 14th, Lieutenant- Colonel Dix; the 15th, Colonel Brearly ; the 16th, Colonel Pearce; the 2l8t, Colonel Ripley; the 22d, Colonel Brady ; the 25th ; and Major Forsythe's rille corps. Having issued the necessary orders. General Wilkinson re- solved on moving on the 25th ; and although the gales which had prevailed for several days continued with unabated violence, and were now attended with heavy rains, his anxiety to promote the i.ssue of the expedition induced him to order the embarkation of the troops; and, buffeting with a disorder which had rendered his health extremely precarious, he remained on the island until the embarkation was nearly completed, directing the boats to take advantage of the momentary pauses of the storm to slide into the St. Lawrence. A few days before, intelligence had been forwarded by Colonel Scott, of the enemy's having evacuated the intrenchments in the neighbourhood of Fort George, and of their having burnt and otherwise destroyed all their camp equipage and many stand of arms, in order to facilitate the march of their troops to Kingston ; to which place they had been ordered as soon as General Wil- kinson's contemplated movement was discovered. They had been apprized of the intentions of the American general previous to the 9th, and on that day they abandoned the whole peninsula on the Niagara, and directed their attention to the defense of Kingston, against which they supposed the Americans would move. To keep that impression alive, and to confine their plans to the protection of Kingston only, General Wilkinson fixed on French creek, which lies immediately opposite the point at which the British suspected he would land, as the general rendezvous of the troops after their entrance into the St. Lawrence. Briga- dier-General Brown (now of the United States regulars) was ordered forward to command the advance of the army at that place, and the rear was soon after strengthened by the arrivj*] li'. ■im "lilfHi !(i<": \u:\' 'i' P-] h 228 DESCENT OF THE ST. LAWRENC2. at Grenadier island of the 20th regiment, under Colonel Ran- dolph. On the 1st of November the enemy appeared at French creek with a squadron of four large vessels, and a number of boats filled with infantry, and attacked the detachment at that place in the evening. General Brown hastily made arrangements to defend his position, and after a short cannonade the enemy's vessels were compelled to retire, by a battery of three eighteen-pounders, which had been erected and managed with great spirit by Cap. tains McPherson and Fanning of the artillery The enemy fell down to a convenient harbour, and renewed his attack on the following morning. By the same judicious arrangements he was again repulsed, and a few hours afterwards the American squad- ron entered the St. Lawrence, and took a position near French creek, to command the north and south channels. On the 3d and 4th the rear of the army arrived at the general rendezvous. On the 5th the flotilla of transports got under way, and arrived without accident below Morrisville. On the 6th the commander-in-chief ordered the flotilla to de- scend with the whole army, to a point within three miles of Pres- cott, and directed the powder and fixed ammunition to be de- barked, and transported by land, under cover of the night, below the enemy's batteries. Before either of these orders was put in execution, he proceeded in his gig to reconnoiter the place, and having concluded that the safest passage of the troops would be effected on shore, he ordered the debarkation of every man, ex- cept the number necessary to navigate the boats, and the army marched by night, two miles below Prescott. Arrangements were also made for the passage of the flotilla, to the same point ; and General Brown being the general oflftcer of the day, wets charged with the superintendence. Availing himself of a heavy fog whioh came on at eight o'clock in the evening, the commander-in-chief, believing he could pass the enemy's fort unobserved, put the flo- tilla and the mt»,rching columns in motion at the same instant, and proceeded in his gig, followed by his passage boat and staff, ahead of the former. An unexpected change of the atmosphere enabled the enemy's garrison to discover the boats, and the «'olumns upon land, whose movements had been simultaneous. DESCENT OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 22S Nearly fifty twenty-four-pound shot were fired at the general's passage boat, and the columns were assailed with great numbers of shot and shells. Neither of these attacks were successful, nor did the Americans sustain the slightest degree of injury. The flotilla had been halted by General Brown as soon as the firing was heard, and it did not resume its course until the setting of the moon ; when, in attempting to pass, at the same place, it was attacked also. It nevertheless pursued its passage to the place of destination, under a heavy, though ineffectual fire of three hours. During all this time, of three hundred boats of which the flotilla was comprised, not one was touched by a ball ; and before ten o'clock of the 7th, they all safely arrived at the designated ren- dezvous. From this place the commander-in-chief forwarded an order to General Hampton, commanding the left division of the northern army to form a junction with the division then descend- ing the St. Lawrence. On the 7th the difficulties in this descent increased. The in- disposition of the general became alarming. The passage of the troops was delayed half a day in extricating two schooners from the river near Ogdensburg, which were loaded with provisions, and had been driven to that place by the enemy's fire. In the course of the morning, the commander-in-chief had been informed that the coast below was lined with posts of artillery and mus- ketry, at every narrow pass of the river. He therefore detached Colonel Macomb, with the elite corps of about twelve hundred men, to remove these obstructions. At three in the afternoon the army followed. Immediately after passing the first rapid of the St. Lawrence, the passage boat of the general was again attacked by two pieces of light artillery, which Colonel Macomb had not observed in his march. No other injury was done, however, than the cutting of the rigging, the attention of these pieces being di- verted from that object by Lieutenant-Colonel Eustis and a few light gun-barges, between whom and the enemy a cannonade was kept up, without effect on either side. But Major Forsythe, who was in vvlacomb's rear, having landed his riflemen, and ad- vanced upon the enemy, three pieces were precipitately carried away. About six miles below the town of Hamilton, the flotilla came to, and the general received intelligence of Colonel Ma u I „■,{ i! f , i:¥l f |i 1 I- ' '■ ■■- 1 !;': r'l 1- ■■J;. 230 DESCENT OF THE ST, LAWRENCE. GnnerBl Mncomb. comb's having routed the enemy at a block-house, two miles lower. The dragoons, which were attached to the first division of the army, had by this time assembled at a place called the White House, situated at a contraction of the river. On. the morning of the 8th the flotilla proceeded to this point, and aftei having ordered General Brown to go forward with his brigade, to reinforce Colonel Macomb, and to take command of the advance of the army, General Wilkinson directed the tiansportation of the dragoons across the St. Lawrence. This business was com- pleted in the course of the night. Not long after the descent of this river was commenced by the American army, the British troops, who had been concen- trated in the vicinity of Kingston, having discovered that that post was not the object of the expedition, immediately proceeded to Prescott. The day following that on which the AmericaLS had passed this village, the British commandant sent a flag over to Ogdensburg, with a demand for the delivery of all the public property there, under the penalty of the immediate destruction of the town. Without waiting, however, for a compliance with this demand, the enemy embarked about fifteen hundred troops, end followed General Wilkinson's descent, with an intention of annoying his rear. On the 9th they had so far gained apon it, DESCENT OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 231 as to bring on a skirmish between the American riflemen and a party of British militia and Indians. After having killed one man, the enemy were completely repulsed. N the course of this day, the cavalry, with four pieces of artillery, under Captain McPherson, were attached to the command of General Brown, who was ordered to clear the coast below, as far as the head of the "Longue Saut." After being obliged to halt several hours, by the rapidity of the current, to enable General Brown to make good his march, in time to cover the movements of the flotilla, General Wilkinson arrived at a point called the Yellow House, which stands near the saut. On the morning of the 10th he ordered General Brown to prosecute his march with all the troops under his command, except two pieces of artillery and the 2d dragoons. A regard for the safety of the men, induced the commanding general to march as many of them as possible, as the passage of the Longue Saut would be long and dangerous. This regiment, therefore, as well as all the men of the other brigades, with the reservation of a proper number to navigate the boats, were assigned to General Boyd, who was ordered to take necessary precautions to prevent the enemy, hanging on the rear, from making an advantageous attack ; and if attacked, to turn upon, and if pos- sible to beat them. General Brown, in obedience to these orders, marched with the advance, then consisting of about eighteen hundred men, and composed principally of Colonel Macomb's artillery, some com- panies of Colonel Scott's regiment, part of the light artillery, the riflemen, and the 6th, 15th, and 22d regiments. At a block- house near the saut, which had been erected to harass the flotilla in its descent, he was engaged by a strong party of the enemy, with whom he contended for a few minutes, and at length com- pelled them to retire. This repulse was effected entirely by Major Forsythe, who was severely wounded in the engagement. General Brown then took a position near the foot of the i>uut k ili! "s n 232 BATTLE OF CHRYSTLER's FIELD. '■?■ . At the same time a number of British galleys and gun-boats approached the flotilla, now at the shore, and commenced a cannonade. The galley mounted a long twenty-four-pounder which materially injured the American barges and it became necessary to run two eighteen-pounders on shore, and form a battery to resist the enemy's attack. One shot from this battery obliged the British to retire up the river; and it being then too late to trust the flotilla to the saut, the current in which allows no chance to land, or to pursue any other than its own course, the barges lay too until the morning of the 11th. At ten o'clock on that day the flotilla was prepared to sail; and the division under General Boyd, consisting of his own and Generals Covington and Swartwout's brigades, was already formed in marching order, when an alarm was heard from the gun-boats, and the commanding general was apprized that the enemy were advancing in column. The increasing indisposition of General Wilkinson rendered him incapable of taking the field; General Lewis having declined the command in conse quence of being ill also, General Boyd was ordered to turn upon and attack the British force. The enemy's gun-boats were advancing at the same time, with a view to attack the fear of the flotilla as soon as it should move ofl; The officers having it in charge were therefore directed not to leave the shore. General Boyd advanced upon the enemy, with his detachment formed in three columns, and forwarded a body of General Swartwout's brigade, consisting of the 21st regiment, to meet and bring the enemy to action. Colonel Ripley, with this regiment, ranged through the woods, which in a semicircle skirted Chrystler's fields, and drove in several parties of the skirmishers. Upon entering the open field, he discovered the British advance, consisting of the 49th and Glengary regiments, With these he immediately commenced an action, in which he tMice charged these united regiments, either of which being more than equal to the 21st, and drove them over the ravines and fences by which Chrystler's field was intersected, when they fell upon their main body. Meanwhile General Covington had advanced upon the enemy's nght, where his artillery had been planted, and at the moment BATTLE OF CHRYSTLER's FIELD. 233 ' , General Ripley. when the 21st assailed the British left flank, this brigade forced the right by a vigorous onset, and the result of the action was now looked to with great certainty. The gallant conduct of General Covington attracted the attention of a party of sharp shooters stationed in Chrystler's house, one of whom levelled his piece, and shot him from his horse. The wound proved to be mortal, and in two days after the general died. The fall of their com- mander threw that brigade into confusion, and it very soon broke before the enemy's artillery, and, together with the 16th, took shelter behind the 21st, which was still engaged with the British left and centre. Four pieces of artillery had been planted to en filade the enemy's right, but out of reach of support ; and when Covington's brigade fell back, the British commander wheeled part of his line into column to attack and capture them. A body of dragoons, under the Adjutant-General Walbach, attempted, in a very gallant manner, to charge the British column, but the nature of the ground prevented its being checked, and the intervention of the 21st between the cannon and the enemy alone retarded his advance. The British then fell back with much precipitation. The 25th, which had been disordered, was at this lime in a ravine ; and rn. all parts of the field skirmishes and de tached battles were kept up with various success. The 21st 173 80 I 234 RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. being out of ammunition, was withdrawn from the exposed posi- tions of the ground, and a second attempt was soon after made upon the cannon. The death of Lieutenant William W. Smith of the light artillery, who commanded one piece, enabled the enemy to capture the only trophy they obtained. The coolness and bravery of Captain Armstrong Irvine, saved the remaining pieces, which he brought off the field. The action immediately after ceased. It had been fought with distinguished gallantry by about seventeen hundred undisciplined men, against the same number of British veterans, and its duration was upwards of two hours. The enemy's force consisted of detachments from the 49th, 84th, 104th, the voltigeurs, and the Glengary regiment. These retired to their encampment, and the Americans to their boats. The American loss on this occasion amounted to three hundred and thirty nine. One hundred and two of whom were killed. Among tbes3 were Lieutenants Smith, Hunter, and Olmstead. The loss ixi wounded was swelled by the rank and worth of 'he officers OP that list. General Covington, Colonel Preston, Majors Chambers, Noon, and Cummings ; Captains Foster and Town- send, of the 9th; Myers and Campbell, of the 13th; Murdoch, of the 25tb ; and Lieutenants Heaton, of the 11th; Williams, of the 13th ; Lynch, of the 14th ; Pelham, of the 21st; and Brown and Crary, of the 25th, were the officers composing it. In Miis battle the victory was claimed on both sides. An im- partial examination of the result, however, will either lead to the conclusion that it was a drawn battle, or that if any advantages occurred to either party, they were decidedly gained by the Americans. The front of the enemy had been forced back more than a mile in the early part of the action, and it never regained the ground thus lost. To use the words of the American gene- ral, his views and those of the British commander " were precisely opposed. The first being bound by the instructions of his govern- ment, and the most solemn obligations of duty, to precipitate his descent of the St. Lawrence by every practicable means ; and the last, by equally imperative duties, to retard, and if possible, to pre- vent such descent. If then, he (the British commander) found himself victorious on this day, it was certainly in his power to :i ■ COUNCIL OF WAR. 235 Oenaral WttkiaaoB. \ have effected the one or the other object, and as he made no at- tempt to effect either, it follows incontestibly, that he had no fair ground on which to claim a victory." So far from obstructing the further descent of the river, the enemy never again assailed the column upon land, or the barges of the flotilla. Early on the morning of the 11th the army proceeded on its route, and reached Bamhart, near Cornwall, where it rejoined the advance. At this place General Wilkinson received a letter from General Hamp- ton, in which he declined a meeting at St. Regis, the place named in the orders which had been sent to him on the 6th, and in- formed the commander-in-chief that he intended to march to Lake Champlain, and thence to co-operate in the attack upon Montreal. General Wilkinson immediately concluded that it would be dseless to prosecute his route to Montreal any further, and that every prospect of a desirable termination to the campaign was destroyed. He therefore summoned together the principal 80 , V 11 DVd'JlJ'oi'!!! '.■ill'? ■ ■ ' ' ■■^t:' ' ''"'IHHI^I^^'' '■'&'- ■^SP^w??'^'^- ■'il-'-', i.:,..|iS^.:i...: . , ; rgst: 1- ■ .^:(; ^; Jij ^ :;\';:;^!.-._ ^•' . ;i ■9^'' -,■■.■ ■ - 1 !"'|i :.$ ^ "W' ■ i:l. ;M||.g 236 Wilkinson's order. officers of that division of the army with which he was aclino, who determined that the receipt of this despatch rendered it ex. pedient that the army should quit the Canadian side of the St, Lawrence and go into winter quarters at French Mills, on Salmon river, which it accordingly did on the 13th instant. After having surmounted many perilous difficulties in the descent of a river crowded with various obstructions, the further prosecution of its passage was entirely abandoned by the united determination of the commander-in-chief and his council of war. Whether the refusal, on the side of General Hampton, to form a junction with General Wilkinson at the St. Regis, instead of adopting his own plan of marching by Champlain and Cogna- wago, should have prevented the prosecution of the campaign to Its original object, does not come within the province of these sketches to discuss. It is the business of the wnter of them to be studiously impartial ; and he does not hesitate to acknowledge his belief, that many circumstances are yet to transpire before the public opinion can be regulated. The order of the command- er-in-chief, and the answer to that order, are the only papers which can, at this early day, be procured ; and the reader has an opportunity of making up his own. judgment from them.* * Head-Quahters op thr Army, Dirtriot No. 9, seven miler above OonENSBURo, N(/v. 6th, 1813, in the evening. Sir : — I address you m thft spocial instance of tlie secretary of war, who, by l>ad roads, worse weather, and ill h«aUn, was diverted from meeting me at this place, and deter- mined to tread hack his steps to Washington from Antwerp, on the 29th ultimo. I am destined to, and neifrminod on, the attack of Montreal, if not prevented by some act of God ; and to give security to the enterprise, the division under your command must co-operate with the corps under my immediate orders. The point of rendezvous is the circumstance of greatest interest to the issue of this operation, and tlie distance which separates us, and my ignorance of the practicability of the direct or devious roadd or routes on which you must march, make it necessary that your own judgment shciM determine that point. To assist you in forming the soundest determination, and to take the most prompt ami eflT'n'tual moisures, I can only inform you of my intentions and situation in one or two respects of first importance. I shall pass Prescott to night, be- cause the stage of tiie season will not allow me three days to take it; shall cross the cavalry at Hamilton, which will not require a day, and shall then press forward, and break down every obstruction to the confluence of this river, with Grand river, there to cross to the isle Perrot, and with my scows, to bridge the narrow inner channel, and thus obtain foothold on Montreal island, at about twenty miles from the city ; aftei which our artillnry, bayonets, and swords, must secure our triumph, or provide us ho nourable graves. Inclosed you have a memorandum of my field and battering tram GENERAL HAMPTON's ANSWER. 237 Whilst General Wilkinson was engaged in concentrating the le'> division of the army at Grenadier island, preparatory to the pretty well found in fixed ammunition, which may enable you to dismiss your own; bu «e are deficient in loose powder and musket cartridges, an'' .creforo hope you may be abundantly found. On the subject of provisions, I wish I could give as favourable in- formation ; our whole stock of bread may be computed at about fifteen days, our meat at twenty. In speaking on this subject to the secretary of war, he informed me that ample magazines were laid up on Lake Champlain; and therefore I must request you to order forward two or three months supplies, by the safest route, in a direction to the proposed scene of action. I have submitted the state of our provisions to my general officvn, who unanimously agree, that it should not prevent the progress of the expedition ; and they also agree in opinion, that if you are not in force to face the enemy, you shoi Id meet us at St. Regis, or its vicinity. I shall expect to hear from, if not to see you, at that place on the 0th or 10th inst. I am, &c. JAS. WILKINSON. Major-Geheral W. Hampton. P, S. I was preparing an express, which I should have despatched to-morrow, bu# for the fortunate call of Colonel King. Heap-Quarters, Four CoRNKRS, ) Nuv. 8, 1813. ] Sir: — I had the honour to receive, at a late hour last evening, by Colonel King, yout communication of the 6th, and was deeply impressed* with the sense of responsibility it imposed, of deciding upon the means of our co-operation. The idea suggested as the opinion of your ofiicers, of eifecting the junction at St. Regis, was most pleasing, as being the most immediate, until I came to the disclosure of the amount of your supplies of provisions. Colonel Atkinson will explain the reasons that would have rendered it impossible for me to have brought more than each man could have carried on his back ; and when I reflected, 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 upon my main depot, where all the means of transportation had (rone, and falling upon the enemy's flanks^ and straining every effort to open a commu- nication between Plattsburg and Cognewago, or any other point you may indicate, on the St. Lawrence, 1 should more effectually contribute to your success, than by a junc- tion on the St. Regis. The way is in many places blockaded and abatised, and the road impracticable for v:heels during winter; but by tlie employment of pack-horses, if I am not overpowered, 1 hope to be able to prevent you from starving. I have ascertained, and witnessed, ^le plan of the enemy is, to burn and consume •>very thing in our advance. My troops, and other means will be described to you by Colonel Atkinson. Besides their rawness and sickness, they have endured fatigues equal to a winter campaign, in the late snows and bad weather, and are sadly disprited and fallen off: but upon this subject I must refer you to Colonel Atkinson. With these means what can be accomplished by human exertion, I will attempt, witli i mind devoted to the general objects of the campaign. W. HAMPTON To Major-General Wilkinson. m m ■I i :1 i 238 OPERATIONS OF GENERAL HAMPTON. V ! - . ■■ ;; ■ i* .r iiii: III.' ■.-t' .:' desce)it of the St. Lawrence, General Hampton had determined on moving the right division from Champlain down the Chateau- gay, for the purpose of obtaining a situation from which it could with more facility co-operate in the contemplated movements against Montreal. On the 21st of October he put his troops in motion, having first arranged a line of communication as far up the St. Lawrence as Ogdensburg. An extensive wood, filled with hewn timber, and covered with Indians and the enemy's light troops, threw an impediment in the way of the engineers who were to cut a road for the passage of the artillery and stores. General Izard had been detached with the light troops and one regiment from the line, to turn them in flank, and to seize on the open country below. In this he succeeded, and the main army advancing on a circuitous road, reached the advanced position on the evening of the 22d. At a distance of seven miles from the ground on which the army encamped, was a wood which had been formed into an abatis, and was filled with a succession of breastworks, the rear- most of which was well supplied with ordnance. Behind these the disposable force of the enemy was placed, in front of them the light troops and Indians. Sir George Prevost was supposed to be the commander-in-chief of the forces and breastworks thus arranged. It was resolved to attack and dislodge him. Colonel Purdy, who commanded the first brigade, was ordered on the 25th to ford the river, and march down on its opposite side until he should reach the enemy's rear, where he was to recross the river and attack him in his breastworks ; whilst the second bri- gade, under General Izard, was to assail him in front. The fire from one was to be the signal of attack for the other. Colonel Purdy accordingly marched down on the opposite bank, but had not proceeded far when he received a countermanding order fror.i General Hampton, issued in consequence of a communication from the quartermaster-general's department, which the general deemed unfavourable to the prosecution of his plan. In attempting to return to the place at which he had previously crossed the river. Colonel Purdy was attacked by the enemy's infantry and Indians, who were repulsed after a short contest, though they had thrown the American column into piirtial con- RETREAT OF GENERAL HAMPTON. 239 fusion. The British at the same time came out of their works to attack the second brigade on the opposite side. They were re pulsed at this point also, and General Izard drove them rapidlj behind their defenses. The first brigade attempted the construe tion of a bridge of logs, and though it was assailed by a consider- able force of the British regulars, and received a sharp fire across the river, the bridge was completed and Colonel Purdy recrossed his men. He was again attacked, and several times resisted the charges of the enemy. The army commenced a retreat after losing about fifty men ; and as General Hampton received an ac- count of the enemy's being continually reinforced, he resolved, on the advice of a council, to retreat to the Four Corners. The army accordingly, on the 31st, returned to a position which it held many days before. In these various skirmishes, Majors Snelling and Wool were particularly distinguished. A petite guerre was kept up on the lines by Colonel Clark, who coTPmanded a regiment of infantry acting as riflemen, which had already, on several important occasions, been of great annoyance to the enemy. But this incursive warfare was stopped soon after the return of General Hampton's division, and all the troops under his command were put into winter quarters in the course of the month of November, and the command resigned to Gene- ral Izard. Not long after the departure of General Wilkinson from Fort George, that post fell successively to the command of Colonel Scott, General Harrison, and General M'Clure of the New York militia ; under each of whom ft-equent skirmishes took place. In one of these, Colonel Wilcocks, with the Canadian volunteer mounted regiment, behaved with personal bravery, and gave an augury of the services which the American government might expect from this new species of troops. On the 10th of December it was ascertained that the enemy had collected a force of fifteen hundred regulars, and at least seven hundred Indians, and were proceeding on their marcn to Fort George, to expel the Americans from the garrison and the shores. The remnant of an army, of which the garrison was at that time composed, rendered the post altogether untenable, and General M'Clure determined on destroying the town of Newark and the HI Ml 'i 'l i f •240 CAPTURE OF FORT NIAGARA. mi i'l i 'i ■ batteries by which it was protected, and evacuating Fort George, with a view to posting himself at Fort Niagara. Accordingly, having first given the inhabitants fiill notice of his intentions, he put them into execution, and crossed his force over to the Ameri- can shore. Newark was left in flames, and the guns of Fort George were rendered useless. The British forces arrived only in time to find themselves without shelter, and were obliged to fall back to Queenstown. From this place General M'Clure at- tempted to dislodge them by the batteries at Lewistown, but without effect. The British commander became highly incensed at the destruc- tion of the town of Newark, and secretly resolved on the confla- gration of Buffalo, Schlosser, and Lewistown, and the capture of Fort Niagara ; the garrison of which they destined to be put to the sword. A surmise of these intentions of the enemy induced the American commander to transfer his head-quarters to Buffalo; to which place he immediately set out to provide for the protec- tion of its citizens, and called forth the neighbouring militia en masse. Fort Niagara was at this time garrisoned by three huridred and twenty-four sick and effective men, and was commanded by Captain Leonard, of the artillery, who, notwithstanding the noto- rious fact of the enemy's being within two hour's march of the fort, neglected to provide against an assault by night ; and on the evening of the 18th took up his quarters at a farm two miles dis- tant from his command. At four o'clock on the morning of the x9th, the enemy, four hundred in number, crossed the Niagara under Colonel Murray, and approached the principal gate, which was then open. Accompanied by his Indian warriors, he rushed furiously in upon the garrison, and in a few minutes put an end to all opposition. The only resistance which* was made he re- ceived froM) the guard in the south-east block-house, and the sick who crawled out from their beds. What officers were within the fort, exhausted every means of defense of which the suddenness of the attack had not deprived them. On entering the garrison Colonel Murray received a wound in the arm ; soon after ^^'hich he yielded the command to Colonel Hamilton — ^under whose •superintendence the women of the garrison were stript of their I ;■ in clothing, officers t] tain Leoi nuihber escape. ' enemy b In the ( made an detachme sailants i cut his w retreat, and the Whilst tl Malloryb guard at '. foot of th ever, and retreated upon, and of which Major Ms eight mer Genera militia at and repai miles fro: from For to that p the whol( arrival at Le ordere example, On the Black R( Before th by Colon ciphned BURNING OF LEWISTOWN. 243 clothing, and many of them killed, and the persons of the dead officers treated with shocking indignity. In the mean time Cap- tain Leonard arrived and was made prisoner, and out of the whole number of troops in the garrison, twenty only effected their escape. The British flag was immediately after unfurled, and the enemy had the entire command of the entrance to the Niagara. In the course of the same morning about seven hundred Indians made an attack upon Lewistown, which was defended by a small detachment of militia under Major Bennett, who resisted the as- sailants until he was entirely surrounded, and then desperately cut his way through with the loss of eight men, and effected his retreat. This village, and those of Young's town, Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora, were speedily reduced to ashes. — Whilst the Indians were engaged in firing Lewistown, Major Mallory boldly advanced from Schlosser, and attacked their outer guard at Lewistown heights, and compelled it to fall back to the foot of the mountain. The Indians were soon reinforced how- ever, and the gallant Mallory was in turn obliged to retire. He retreated gradually to Tantawanty creek, occasionally turning upon, and fighting their advance guard, for two days, at the end of which time the Indians gave up the pursuit. In these affairs Major Mallory lost Lieutenant Lowe, of the 23d infantry, and eight men. General M'Clure having collected nearly three thousand militia at Buffalo, left them under command of General Hall, and repaired himself to the village of Batavia, about twenty-eight miles from Buffalo, to provide for its protection against a sally from Fort Niagara. He had previously sent Lieutenant Riddle to that place, with all the regulars in the vicinity, amounting in the whole to eighty men, to secure the public arsenal. On his arrival at Batavia, after having organized a body of militia there, he ordered the regtilars back to Buffalo, to encourage, by their example, the undisciplined troops of his division. On the 30th the British landed six hundred and fifty men at Black Rock, and immediately proceeded to the village of Buffalo. Before they reached it, however, they were obstinately opposed by Colonel Bleeksly and two or three hundred raw and undis- ciplined militia. General Hall had fallen back about three miles ! :! if *rii 244 BURNING OF LEWIS TOWN. ri:' i from Buffalo, when his force was met by Lieutenant Riddle and his regulars. The British had already entered the village, and the militia fled with the greatest precipitation. Riddle offered to march with his regulars in front, and thus to excite the timid militia to repulse the enemy, and drive him from the village. But the general, yielding to the unwillingness of his men, declined the proposal of the regular officer, who thereupon rode towards the village, to reconnoiter. He advanced within half a mile of its suburbs, and seeing that with a handful of spirited men, he could himself save the place from destruction, he returned to General Hall, and entreated him to place two hundred men under his command, with whom he promised at least to rescue the women and children, who would otherwise be sacrificed by the Indians, if not to drive out the enemy. General Hall was of opinion that this plan was impracticable. Lieutenant Riddle, therefore, was prevented from attempting it. By the exertion of Major Staunton and Major Norton, each of whom belonged to the village, about two hundred men were collected, and expressed their willingness to combat the British and Indians. These were advised that it was in vain to attack their enemy, and this advice was sanctioned by the general. At length, having become quite indignant at the* timidity of the militia. Lieutenant Riddle took upon hiruself tliC responsibility of going forward with his own men, and of rescuing as much public property as they could bear away. He entered the upper part of the village, where he was informed by a citizen, that Colonel Chapin, who had, long before the flight of the militia, been ordered to take post at Conejockeda creek, had surrendered the place to the enemy, under the condition that they were to plunder, but not to burn it. The Indians were at that moment firing the houses. Lieutenant Riddle, with thirty men, th^u took from the arsenal, which had not been discovered by the enemy, about three hundred stand of arms, and some other public property, and having made two Indian prisoners, returned to the position occupied by General Hall. On the following day, January 1st, (1814,) a small party of dragoons v/cre ordered in advance of the whole militia, which General Hall marched to the vicinity of the village, in order to ADVENTURE OF RIDDLE AND TOTMAN. 246 make a show of force. Captain Stone, who commanded the advancn, accompanied by Lieutenant Riddle, Lieutenant Tot- man, of the Canadian volunteers, and Lieutenant Frazer, of the loth regiment, infantry, made several prisoners on the margin of the village, and having delivered them to the general, the latter immediately ordered his whole force to retire, and called in the advance for that purpose. Riddle and Totman, not knowing that the dragoons had fallen back, were left in the near neighbourhood of the enemy, and upon being discovered by a squadron of the British horse, they immediately put s})urs to their own, and attempted to escape toward the rendezvous of (reneral Hall's brigade. They very soon outstripped their pur- suers, and were congratulating themselves upon their supposed escape, when another squadron of the enemy were perceived coming out of the road leading from Black Rock, and directing their course for Buffalo, between which and that road Riddle and Totman ther. vere. Thus hemmed in on a narrow high- wa}', with a sui > enemy in front and in the rear, they saw no probable ^ .\.cjpect of escaping, and would have given themselves up, but for the treatment which other prisoners on tlie Niagara had recently received, and the practice, which had about this time commenced, of making hostages. No alternative seemed to present itself, but that of cutting their way through the party in their front ; and on this they mutually resolved. On their attempting to dash through, with violent impetuosity, the whole party discharged their pistols at them, one only of which took effect, and the unfortunate Totman fell from his horse. Riddle cut through with his sword, and having gained their rear, pushed his horse through a narrow lane on the left, and rode into a thick swamp, terminated by a forest. Through this the enemy did not choose to follow him, and he arrived at the head-quarters of the general on the same day, without having met v;ith other obstacles. In a few days after, the British evacuated all the positions they had captured except Fort Niagara. This they put in a better state of defense, and from it they made frequent incur- sions, which were ever attended by acts of violence upon th»i neighbouring inhabitants. xa f>l 'fl' \)'r I lf ''•■ ii'.- ^ fl , i , 1' ■^i- ^'x ■%\' 3 ■ * ■-*' . r f. 'i ■ . u 246 RESULTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. The campaign of 1813, in the north, was now drawn to its final close ; and though a high degree of fulgency was thrown around the American arms, no one advantage was obtained to atone for the blood and treasure which had already been ex- hausted. The capital of Upper Canada had been taken. It was scarcely captured before it was abandoned. The bulwark of the province, Fort George, had been gallantly carried ; but an infe- rior foe was suffered to escape, after being beaten, and the con- querors were soon after confined to the works of the garrison, and closely invested upwards of six months. The long contem- plated attack upon Montreal was frustrated ; Kingston still re- mained a safe and advantageous harbour in the hands of the enemy ; and a fortress, which might have been long and obsti- nately, and effectually defended, was yielded with scarcely a struggle, and under circumstances mysterious in the extreme, to the retaliating invaders of the American Niagara frontier. In the course of the summer of 1813, the American army po.ssessed every position between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, on both sides of the Niagara. In the winter of the same year, after hav- ing gradually lost their possessions on the British side of the stream, they were deprived of their possessions on their own. Another day may bring forward a developement of the causes which led to such unfavourable results ; and posterity will be much better enabled to throw the censure on the proper officers than those who are their contemporaries. HOANET CHAILENGES THE BONNE CITO YE NNE. 84" CHAPTER XIII. (Somnitiieemettt of tfpc 17at?al ^^ampaign of -^ HE United States sloop of war Hornet, having challenged to a combat the sloop of war Bmne Citoyenne, Captain Green, who declined an acceptance of the in- J vitation, she was left before the port of St. Salvador, by Commo- dore Bainbridge, with orders to blockade the enemy's vessel of war, containing upwards of half a million of dollars, and two armed British merchantmen, then lying in that harbour. This blockade was vigilantly kept up until the 24th of January, 1813, on which day the Montague seven- ty-four, hove in sight, and chased the Hornet into the harbour, whence, however, she escaped in the night. Captain Lawrence, who still commanded her, then shifted his cruising ground ; and after having captured a vessel of ten guns, laden with specie, m bu'- '' If' .1 '> P 1 i 1 1 i i!>'^ i H^'^ 1 1 |j| Vi Iili If..: 1^ m 248 HORNET AND PEACOCK. and having run down the coast for Maranham, thence off Sur- rinam, and thence for Demarara, outside of the bar of the river leading to which place, and with the fort bearing south-west, about two and a half leagues distant from him, he discovered a man-of-war brig, which he immediately attempted to near, by beating round the Carabana bank. In making this effort, a focond sail, of equal size to the other, was also discovered, at about half past three, p. m. At twenty minutes past four, the strange sail, the British sloop of war Peac>ock, Captain Peake, of eighteen guns, and one twelve-pounder carronade, a shifting gun, showed the English flag, and the Hornet wis immediately cleared for action, and Captain Lawrence made every attempt to get the weather-gage. The Peacock was edging down fast. All the efforts of the Hornet to weather her proved fruitless, and at twenty-five minutes past five, the American ensign being then up, in passing each other the two vessels exchanged broadsides, within half pistol-shot The effect of this fire on board the enemy's vessel was extremely severe ; on board the Hornet no loss whatever was sustained. The Peacock, being then disco- vered in the act of wearing, Captain Lawrence bore up, received her starboard broadside, run her close on board on the starboard quarter, and poured into her so heavy, constant, and well-di- rected a fire, that in fifteen minutes she surrendered, with her hull and rigging totally cut to pieces. At the moment of her surrender, she hoisted a signal of distress, and in the next mo- ment her mainmast went by the board. Lieutenant Shubrick, whose gallantry on this occasion was not less conspicuous than in the actions with the Guerriere and Java, in each of which he gave unequivocal proofs as well of his humanity as of his bravery, was despatched to bring her officers on board the Hornet. He soon returned with her first office;, and a report that the Captain had been killed in the latter part of the action, that a great number of her crew were either killed or wounded, and that she was sinking fast, having already six feet water in her hold. Both vessels were brought to anchor, and all the boats immediately despatched to bring off the wounded, and as much of their baggage as could be found. All *he shot-holes which could be got at were then plugged, the m 1 f ml !J«"f Hu 4 99 ipi 'f'':d ! jvii- m( being HORNET AND PEACOCK. 251 (runs thrown overboard, and every possible exertion used to keep her afloat, by pumping and bailing, until the prisoners could be removed. All efforts appearing to be entirely unavailing, the body of Captain Peake was inclosed in his own flag, and the ship sunk in five and a half fathom water, carrying down thir- teen of her own, and three of the Hornet's crew. With the ut- most difficulty, Acting-Lieutenant Conner and Midshipman Cooper, who were superintending the removal of the prisoners, effected their escape, by jumping into a boat which was lying on her booms, at the moment when the Peacock sunk. The loss of the enemy amounted to thirty-three in wounded, three of whom afterwards died. The number of killed could not be ascertained, but four men, besides the captain were found dead on the Peacock's deck ; and four men, in addition to the thirteen who sunk, were drowned. The loss on board the Hornet was one man killed, two slightly wounded in the action, and two se- verely, by the bursting of a cartridge. Her hull was scarcely injured, though the rigging and sails were cut, her foremast pierced through, and her bowsprit slightly injured. The officers and crew of the Hornet were not behind those of any other ship, in emulating the example of Captain Hull and nis brave companions ; and the course and consequence of this engagement bore a striking similitude to that with the Guerriere Acting Lieutenants Conner and Newton, and Midshipmen Cooper, Mayo, Gets, Smoot, Tippet, Boerum, and Titus, behaved with that bravery which had now become almost inseparable from the American name. Lieutenant Stewart, the first officer of the ship, was unfortunately too ill to keep the deck, and Cap- tain Lawrence was therefore deprived of the services of a meri- torious and valuable officer. 'I'his engagement took place in view of the ship of war which lay in Demarara rivei*, the Espeigle ; and Captain Lawrence, being apprehensive that she would beat out to the assistance of her consort, the Peacock, the greatest activity prevailed on board the Hornet, to repair damages, as soon as they were sustained, and by nine o'clock all the boats were stowed, new sails bent, and the ship completely prepared for another action. The Espeigle, of equal force with the Peacock, did not come out. 82 ^f 252 CRUISE OF THE CHESAPEAKE. m m^r Captain Lawrence's crew had been on two-thirtls allowancooi provisions for seveial days ; and the number of souls now or; board ^mounting to two hundred and seventy, including those ol the merchant prize, it became necessary that she should return to the United States. She shaped her course for New York. where she arrived about the twentieth of March. On the passage, her officers divided their clothing with the prisoners, who hud lost their baggage ; the crew of the ship gave up each a portion of theirs to the crew of the Peacock ; and the private wardroljo of the captain, whose attentions to the wants of those wlioui the fortune of war had placed in his hands, and whose exertions to ameliorate their condition were unceasing, was given up to her officers. At New York, Captain Lawrence was received with universal joy ; and his reception in other cities was similar to that which had been given to other naval commanders. Many days had not elapsed after the arrival of the Hornet a) New York, when the United States frigate Chesapeake, Captain Evans, of thirty-six guns, returned to the harbour of Boston, from a cruise of one hundred and fifteen days. During that time she had run down by the Madeiras, Canaries, and Cape de Verds, and thence down on the equator, where she cruised six wc(;ks. Hence she proceeded down the coast of South America, and passed within fifteen leagues of Surrinam. On the 25th of Fe- bruary, the day after the conquest of the Peacock, she passed over the place at which that vessel had been sunk, and thence proceeded down by Barbadoes, Antigua, and most of the wind- ward islands, thence on the coast of the United States, between Bermuda and the capes of Virginia, by the capes of the Delaware within twelve leagues, by New York within twenty, and thence by the east channel to Boston, where she terminated a cruise, on the 10th of April, marked by the capture of four valuable mer- chantmen, the chai5e of a British sloop of war, and an escape fronfi two line of battle ships. The command of this ship was then given to Captain Law- rence, her late commander, Captain Evans, having accepted the command of the New York station, and directions were imme- diately given to repair and re-equip her for another cruise. Com- modore Rodgers had returned to that port also, from a cruise, in CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 253 which, though he did not capture any armed ship of the enemy, he drew irom the coast such of his public vessels as were destined to blockade the different ports, and saved to the mercantile inte- rest of the country many millions of dollars. The President and Congress were at that time the only vessels of his squadron. To keep these in port, the British frigates Shannon and Tenedos, each being of the largest class, appeared off" the entrance to the liarbour of Boston, and sent in frequent reports of their size, strength, and armament. Early in the month of May, however. Commodore Rodgers put to sea ; but the British frigates avoided him by sailing from the coast. In the course of that month the Shannon returned to the mouth of the harbour, and her commander. Commodore Brooke, sent in a challenge to the commander of the frigate Chesapeake. This challenge was not received by Captain Lawrence, but his ship being then in readiness, he understood the menacing manoe-uvers of the Shannon to be an invitation, and on the 1st of June, with a crew almost in a state of mutiny, and unacquainted with their new captain, and without his full complement of officers, his first lieutenant, Page, being sick on shore, he sailed out to meet, and give battle to the hostile ship. The Shannon sailed from the bay and put to sea, the Chesapeake following in chase, seven miles astern. At half-past four the Shannon hove to, with her head to the southward and eastward ; and at half-past five, the Chesapeake hauled up her courses and was closing fast with the enemy. At fifteen minutes before six he commenced the action by firing his after guns on the starboard side, when the Chesa- peake gave him a broadside ; this was succeeded by a broadside from the Shannon, which killed the sailingmaster, Mr. "White, and many of the crew, and wounded Captain Lawrence; he re- fused to quit the deck, however, and ordered a second broadside, the return to which wounded the captain a second time, and killed the fourth lieutenant, Ballard, and Lieutenant Broom of the marines. The Chesapeake then ranged ahead of the Shannon, when her jib sheet, the slings of the foretop-sail yard, her spanker brails, and her bowlines and braces being cut, she luffed into the wind and took aback, and fell with her quarter foul of the Shan- non's starboard anchor. This accident gave a decided advantage 1 254 CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. mi . to the enemy, and enabled him to rake the Chesapeake. Can tain Lawrence was all this while on deck, still persisting in his refusal to go below, when, having called for the boarders, he re ceived a musket-ball through the body, and in a languishing stat*- was carried down. At this moment the ship was deprived of all her principal officers ; the first lieutenant, Augustus C. Ludlow, had been mortally wounded; several of the midshipmen and petty officers, besides the fourth lieutenant and the commanding officer of marines, were either killed or wounded, and the com- mand of the ship devolved on her third lieutenant, Budd. The bravery anil seamanship of this officer being already known to the crew, some hope remained of saving the ship, and of captur- ing the superior enemy. But, as Lieutenant Budd ascended the spar-deck, an arm-chest on the quarter was blown up by a hand grenade thrown from the Shannon's tops. The boarders very soon followed Lieutenant Budd, but before they reached the deck, Captain Brooke had determined that the Chesapeake could only be carried by boarding, and having already so many shot between wind and water in his own ship, that he became apprehensive of her sinking, he threw his marines on the Chesapeake's quarter- deck, and headed them himself. Lieutenant Budd immediately gave orders to haul on board the fore-tack, for the purpose of shooting the ship clear of the Shannon, and of attempting the capture of Captain Brooke, who had then two hundred of his crew on board the Chesapeake. On this effort the fate of the ship depended, and most of the American crew, mindful of the dying words of their gallant commander, whose injunction on 4hem was " Don^t give up the ship" several times attempted to succeed in it; but the boatswain having mutinied, and persuaded many of the men, who were dissatisfied at not having received their prize money of the last cruise, to join him below ; the few who remained firm to their duty were soon overpowered ; ctnd Lieutenant Budd being wounded and thrown down to the gun- deck in attempting to gain the quarter, the scheme entirely failed, and the enemy gained complete possession of the upper deck. A great proportion of the crew, who had escaped a wound, never- theless continued fighting ; and Captain Brooke, as he was cross- ing the ship, was shot through the neck by the Chesapeake's CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 255 chaplain, Livermore, whom he instantly cut down ; but he, almost as soon, received a wound in the head, and was then transferred to his own ship. The enemy's crew were now commanded by Lieutenant Watt, who stabbed and cut down the wounded and vanquished without regard to their cries of surrender. He was killed on the Chesapeake's deck, according to one account, by one of the Shannon's sailors, as he was placing, by mistake, the Ame- rican over the English ensign; according to another, by an American sailor in the main-top, when in the act of killing a wounded marine. The enemy had now the entire possession of the Chesapeake ; the English flag was flying at the different mast-beads, yet they continued to shoot at, and otherwise to wound her sailors. A volley of musketry was fired by them down upon the wounded, and one of the American midshipmen was assailed by a British marine with great violence after his submission to the Shannon's commander. N this engagement, the re- sult of which is attributed to many fortuitous events, the superiority of the American gunnery was clearly evinced. The Chesapeake fired two guns to one of the enemy, and pierced the Shannon's side in so many places, that she was kept afloat \idth very great difficulty; whilst on the other side, the SbPfiiKn's* broadsides scarcely injured • the hull of the Chesapeake. At long shot, the engage- ment might have terminated differently ; though the captain and crew were strangers to each other, the ship just out of port, and not in a fighting condition, and many of the sailors quite raw. Her rate was thirty-six guns, her force forty-eight. The rate of the Shannon was thirty-eight, her force forty-nine; and, in addition to her own crew, she had on board sixteen chosen men fi:om the Bella Poule, and part of the crew of the Tenedos. She " I 266 CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. lost in the engagement, besides her first lieutenant, the captain's clerk, the purser, and twenty-three seamen, killed; and, besides her captain, one midshipman and fifty-six seamen, wounded. On board the Chesapeake, the captain, the first and fourth lieu- tenants, the lieutenant of marines, the master, midshipmen Hopewell, Livingston, Evans, and about seventy men were killed ; and the second and third lieutenants, the chaplain, Mid- shipmen Weaver, Abbott, NichoUs, Berry, and nearly eighty men wounded. The greater proportion of this loss was sus- tained, after the enemy had gained the deck of the Chesapeake. Soon after the termination of the action, the two ships were steered for Halifax, where the bodies of Captain Lawrence and his gallant ofiicers slain in the battle, were committed to the grave vdth the usual honours, attended by all the civil, naval, and military officers of the two nations, who happened to be in that port. Not long after these honourable funeral obsequies had been performed by the enemy. Captain George Crowninshield, bro- ther to the secretary of the navy, actuated by the laudable desire of restoring the body of the lamented Lawrence to his country and his friends, requested, and obtained, permission of the president to proceed in a flag vessel to Halifax, at his indi- vidual expense, for that purpose. The cx)mmanding officer of the British squadron, at that time blockading the eastern ports, Sir Thomas Hardy, readily assented to the free passage of Cap- tain Crowninshield's brig, and he accordingly proceeded to effect his object, accompanied by twelve masters of vessels, who volunteered to compose the crew. The body was brought to the port of Salem, and entombed with the remains of its ancestors in New York, where the highest funeral honours were paid by the citizens, as a tribute of their respect and admiration, to their late gallant countryman. « The private armed vessels of the United States, the number of -which had greatly increased since the account is given of them in a foregoing chapter of these sketches, were still cruising over the Atlantic, continually capturing, and otherwise annoying the commerce of the enemy, and occasionally engaging some of his public ships, in such gallant combats as are entitled, and CRUISE OP THE COMET. 257 ought to DO registered among the accounts of the meat brilliant naval exploits. The Comet, Captain Boyle, of fourteen guns, and one hun- dred and twenty men, being off Pemambuco, on the 14th of January, discovered four sail standing out of that place. This squadron consisted of three English merchantmen, the ship George, Captain Wilson, of fourteen guns, and the brigs Gambier, Captain Smith, and Bov^es, Captain , often guns each, who were bound to Europe, under the protection of the fourth vessel, a Portuguese national ship of thirty-two guns, and one hundred and sixty-five men. The latter having exhibited the colours of her nation. Captain Boyle, stood for her, and received a com- munication of her character and object, accompanied by an injunction not to molest the merchantmen. Considering that the Portuguese uad no right to afford protection to a British vessel, in the nature of a convoy, Captain Boyle informed her commander of his determination to capture them if he possibly could, and immediately sailed in pursuit. As they kept close together, the Comet opened her fire upon the three merchant- men, who relumed it with alacrity. The man-of-war delivered a heavy fire of round and grape, and received in turn a broad- side. The English occasionally separated from each other, to give the Portuguese a chance of crippling the Comet, whose captain, however, kept as near as possible to the merchantmen. Frequent broadsides were discharged, as opportunities varied, at the whole squadron, whose collected force amounted to fifty four guns, and in a few minutes the ship George struck her colours in a sinking condition. Soon after the brig Bowes struck also ; but a broadside from the man-of-war prevented the Comet's boat from taking possession. Captain Boyle then repeated his attack upon the Portuguese, and obliged her to sheer off, with the loss of her first lieutenant and five men killed, and her captain and several men wounded. The third merchant- man, the Gambier, then also surrendered, and the brig B wes, was immediately taken possession of. So much were the others injur'id, that Captain Boyle deemed it improper to board them, and determined to lie to until morning, it being by this time excessively dark. Between the Portuguese and the Comet ' m ri 33 268 THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG. If rim. it :M: several broadsides were exchanged in the course of the night, without any material effect. On the following morning, he man-of-war gave signal to the other ships to make the first port, and stood off herself with that view. The Comet brought her prize into the United States, making her way through a squad- ron which was blockading the southern ports. Before she arrived, however, she captured the Alexis, and Dominica packet, each of ten guns, and the Aberdeen of eight, in the presence of a British sloop of war, who was at the same time in full chase of the privateer. On the 1st of February, the schooner Hazard, Captain Le Chartier, of three guns and thirty-eight men, captured the ship Albion, of twelve guns and fifteen men, being one of a convoy for Europe. On the 23d she was recaptured by the cutter Cale- donia, of eight guns and thirty-eight men, from New Providence. Three days after, the Hazard fell in with both, engaged, ami after an action of several minutes, compelled both to strike, but took possession of the prize only and carried her into St. Mary's. The Caledonia was very much injured, and most of her crew either killed or wounded. On board the Hazard, the first Lieu- tenant and six men were slightly wounded, but the hull and rigging were severely shattered by the grape from the two vessels. The private armed schooner General Armstrong, Captain Champlin of eighteen guns, being within five leagues of the mouth of Surrinam river, on the 11 th of March, discovered a large sail to be at anchor under the land. The crew of the Ge- neral Armstrong supposed her to be an English letter of marque, and, consequently, Captain Champlin bore down with the inten- tion of giving her a starboard and a larboard broadside, and then to board her. The strangtjr in the mean time had got sail on her, and was standing out for the American. Both vessels thus approaching each other, had come within gun-shot, (the English- man firing the guns on his main deck,) when the General Armstrong discharged both the contemplated broadsides, and discovered too late that her antagonist was a heavy frigate. She nevertheless kept up her fire, though attempting to get away, but in ten minutes she was silenced by the enemy. The i. f 1' ji ► THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG. 261 last shot of the General Armstrong brought down the enemy's colours, by cutting away her mizzen gaff, halyards, and her mizzen and main stay ; and Captain Champlin, presuming that she had struck, made preparations to possess her ; but the frigate opened another heavy fire upon the schooner, killed six, ana wounded the captain and sixteen of her men; shot away the fore and main shrouds, pierced the mainmast and bowsprit, and struck her several times between wind and water. In this condition she laid upv/ards of forty-five minutes, ^vithin pistol- shot of the frigate ; but, by the extraordinary exertions of the crew and the aid of sweeps, she got out of the enemy's reach, and arrived at Charleston on the 4th of April. On the 3d of that month, the privateer Dolphin, of ten guns, still commanded by Captain Stafford, who had engaged and cap- tured two of the enemy's vessels, mounting twenty-six guns, was attacked at the mouth of the Rappahannock river, by seven- teen barges from a British squadron. The barges carried up- wards of forty men each ; the Dolphin was manned by sixty. Two letters of marque lying there also, soon yielded, but Cap- tain Stafford resolved on defending his vessel. The battle con- tinued two hours, when the enemy succeeded in boarding. The Dolphin's crew fought with great desperation on her deck, and the engagement was kept up many minutes longer before the vessel was captured. The enemy took down her colours, and lost in killed and wounded nearly fifty men. On board the Dol- phin four men were wounded. In the course of the summer the United States sloop of war the Enterprise, Lieutenant-Commanding Burrows, of sixteen guns, met, engaged, and captured, after a severe and obstinate fight, the British sloop of war Boxer, Captain Blythe, of eighteen guns, and brought her into port. The captains of both vessels were killed in the engagement. Lieutenant-Commandant Bur- rows expired at the moment the enemy's vessel struck her colours, and she was then taken possession of by Lieutenant M'CalL* At a harbour near Gwinn's island. Lieutenant St. Clair ot * A more particular account of this action in the next naval chapter. 2262 DECATUR AND DOMINICA. EnlcrpriM imA Boxtr. I I ( • ( 'f ri 51 J*' • J5 * the navy, who had previously distinguished himself as an able seaman in the sloop of war Argus, anchored a small schooner mounting two or three guns, and filled with armed men, to repel the depredations which the enemy were about that time commit- ting along the shores of the Chesapeake. He encountered a schooner, who hailed and ordered him to come on board with his boat, which being refused, an engagement followed and terminated in silencing the strange vessel. She, however, renewed it a second and a third time, and was as often silenced. The night was excessively dark, and when Lieutenant St. Clair sent his boat to take possession, he discovered that she had made her es- cape, leaving him with one man wounded on board the schooner, This succession of sea engagements was closed by a brilliant attack made by a privateer upon a large sloop of war. The schooner Commodore Decatur, of ten guns, commanded by Cap tain Dominique, eng'^ged the sloop of war Dominica, Lieutenant Commandant Barret, of fourteen guns, and after a well contested action carried her by boarding, and brought her into the United States. No event, probably, in the naval annals, furniches evi dence of a more brilliant and decisive victory gained by a vessel so inferior ia size, strength, and armament, to her antagonist. MEASURES OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 262 CHAPTER XIV. HE declaration of war against Great Britain was no sooner made known at that court than its ministers determined on sending into their pro- vinces of Canada the veteran regiments of their army, and adopted effectual measures to forward to the coast of the American states a naval force competent to blockade its 5 principal bays and rivers. Incensed at the successes of the American naval arms over the frigates and sloops of war of their nation, they hastened the departure of their different fleets, and in retaliation for the inva- sion of their provinces by the American troops, instructed their commanders to burn and otherwise to destroy, not only the coast- ing and river craft, but the towns and villages on the navigable inlets ; and more particularly in the southern department of the Union. Early in the spring of 1813 detachments of t!iese fleets arrived at the mouth of the Delaware, and at the entrance to the '■*ff ^ iyy^'y~ _ W ' '' 264 ATTACK ON LEWISTOWN. Chesapeake bay. Others were to rendezvous at Bermuda, and thence to proceed to the reinforcement of the blockading squadrons. In the month of March, the Poictiers seventy-four, Commodore Beresford ; the frigate Belvidere, and several smaller vessels of war entered the bay of Delaware, and destroyed great numbers of small trading vessels. In the course of that month, they were repeatedly repulsed in their attempts to capture others' which lay near the shore, by the militia of Delaware ; and several in- stances occur of sharp fighting, which tended to improve the discipline of the volunteers of that state. MONG other expedients for obtaining sup> plies, a demand was made upon the peo- ple of Lewistown for a supply of provi sions for the blockading squadron, which being spiritedly refiised, on the 6th of April, Sir John P. Beresford directed Captain Byron to move as near the town, with the Belvidere, as the waters would permit him, and, having first notified its inhabitants, to bombard it until his demands were complied with. On the night of the 6th, the bombardment accordingly took place ; the enemy's gun- boats approached near enough to throw their thirty-two pound balls into the town, but their bombs fell far short of their object. Colonel Davis, who commanded at that time, had already re- moved the women and children, and returned th nemy's fire from an eighteen-pounder battery, with which, in a few minutes, he effectually silenced one of the gun-boats. The cannonade continued nearly twenty hours; at the end of which time, the enemy drew off his vessels and descended the bay, having dis- charged upwards of six hundred shot, shells, and congreve rockets. The shells did not reach the town ; the rockets passed over it; but the thirty-two pounders injured several of the houses. On the 10th of May, the same squadron proceeded from their anchorage to a place seven miles distant from Lewistown, and sent out their barges to procure water from the shore. Colonel Davis immediately despatched Major George Hunter, with one hundred and fifty men, to oppose their landing, which ihe major NAVAL ACTION. 265 did with much gallantry, and compelled them to return to their shipping' The Poictiers and the Belvidere then sailed out of the bay for Bermuda ; and the militia took up the buoys, which had previously been set in the river by the enemy. The Spartan frigate having entered the Delaware soon after the departure of this squadron, attempted, on the 31st of the same month, to land about sixty of her men near Morris's river, on the Jersey side, with a view to obtain provisions. A small party of the militia of that state, however, hastily collected and drove them off before they had an opportunity of visiting the farmers' houses. In the month of June, the frigate Statira and the sloop of war Martin, reinforced the enemy, and had captured many large merchant vessels bound up the Delaware. The whole trade be- tween the capes and Philadelphia, and many of the intermediate places, was liable to be intercepted ; and, unless they were pro- tected by a convoy, the small vessels usually employed on the river, did not attempt to sail. On the 23d, a squadron of nine gun-boats and two armed sloops, under Lieutenant-Commandant Angus, of the navy, convoyed three sloops laden with timber for a forty-four, then building at Philadelphia, under the eye of the enemy. The gun-boats engaged the two frigates, whilst the sloops effected their passage, and the Statira and Spartan moved from their anchorage to a situation out of reach of annoyance. A merchant sloop having entered the bay on the 22d of July, on her return from sea, was cut off by the Martin sloop of war, which had just reappeared in the Delaware. The sloop ran aground to avoid capture ; and although she was afterwards at- tacked by a tender and four barges well manned and armed, a hasty collection of militia with one field-piece, under Lieutenant Townsend, drove off her assailants, and saved the sloop. A detachment of the gun-boat flotilla, being at this time but a few miles off, were apprized of the attack made by the sloop of war, and Captain Angus immediately proceeded down the bay, with eight gun-boats and two block sloops. On the 29th he dis- covered the Martin, grounded slightly on the outer ridge of Crow's shoals, and determining to attack her in that situation, ae anchored his squadron within three-quarters of a mile of th« Z 34 •266 01 N-BOAT ACTION ON THE DELAWARE. ■■■'ilh *■" ■ ■ - ■ J r '* ill' i'*.' ' r ' 1! If ev^emy, and opened a fire from the whole line. The i unon fri. gate came up to the assistance of the sloop of war, and anchored within half a mile below her. Between both of the enemy's ves- sels, mounting in all sixty-nine guns, and the gun-boat squadron a cannonatle followed, mid continued about one hour and forty. five minutes ; in all which time scarcely a shot struck either of the gun-boats, whilst at almost every fire the latter told upon the hulls of the sloop and frigate. This difference of effect in the firing being discovered by the British, they manned their launches, barges, and cutters, ten in number, and despatched them to cut off the boats on the extremity of the line. No. 121, a boat commanded by Sailingmaster Shead, which, by some accident, had fallen a very great distance out of the line, and was prevented from recovering its situation by a strong ebb, and the wind dying away, became the object of attack from the enemy's barges. Eight of them, mounting among them three twelve-pound carronades, and carrying one hundred and fifty men, assailed the gun-boat at one time. Mr. Shead continued, nevertheless, to sweep her toward the squadron, and to discharge his twenty-four pounder alternately at one or the other of the pursuing barges, until they gained so fast upon him, that he re- solved to anchor his boat and receive them as warmly as the disparity of numbers would permit him. He then gave them a discharge of his great gun with much effect, though to the injury of the piece, which being fired a second time, and the carriage breaking down, it became necessary to oppose the enemy; who were closing fast, by the boarders. With these Mr. Shead re- sisted them, until his deck was covered with men, and the vessel entirely surrounded by the barges. Such was the impetuous fury of the English sailors, that the Americans were driven below, and the authority of the enemy's officers could scarcely protect then from violence. The flag was struck, and the boat carried off in triumph to the men-of-war. In this assault the British lost seven killed and twelve wounded, On board the boat, seven men were wounded, but none killed. The squadron was all this time firing at the enemy's ships, who letired after capturing Mr. Shead, the Martin having been ex- tricated from her situation on the shoal. On board the flotilla not DEPREDATIUNS ON CHESAPEAKE BAY. 267 a man was injured, and but one of the boat's rigging cut ; thi» was No. 125, commanded by Sailingmaster Moliere. The en- gagijmont continued nearly two hours, and was the last affair of any consequence which occurred in the Delaware during this year. In and along the shores of the bay of Chesapeake, where the blockading squadron consisted of four seventy-fours, several frigates and large sloops of war, and a number of tenders and barges kept for the purpose of navigating the smallest inlets, de- predations of every kind, and to a very extensive degree' were carried on with unreihitted avidity. The various farms, bounded by the different creeks and rivers, tributary to the bay, became the scenes of indiscriminate and unjustifiable plunder. The stocks of many of them were completely destroyed ; the slaves of the planters, allured from their service, armed against their masters' defenseless families, and encouraged to the commission of every kind of pillage. Along a coast of such an extent it was almost impossible to station troops to resist every incursion, or to draw out, and transfer from one point to another with sufficient celerity, even the neighbouring militia. But many instances occurred, notwitlistanding, in which the invaders were opposed, and some- times severely repulsed, by a handful of militia, collected v ithoiit authority, and frequently without a leader. On the shores of the Rappahannock, one of two divisions of the enemy was beaten and routed with loss, by a small party of Virginia militia. In the neighbourhood of Easton (Maryland) they took possession of several islands. From Sharp's, Tilgh- man's, and Poplar island, they obtained provisions for the fleet, and attempted many incursions to the opposite shores, thei"" suc- cess in which was prevented by bodies of cavalry and infantrj', which the spirited citizens of Maryland had arranged at different rendezvous along the shores of the bay, in anticipation of a visit from the blockading fleet. , <: The commanding officer of the fleet. Sir John B. Warren, was at this time in Bermuda, making preparations for its augmenta- tion ; and the vessels then, in the bay were commanded by Rear Admiral George Cockbum. About the latter part of April, this officer (letermined on attacking and destroying the towns most m m\'l If*'''' ') .1 m- .;' I') i: It. ^' M m- 268 ATTACK ON HAVKE DE GRACE. contiguous to the head of the bay ; and for this purpose, on the 29th, he led a few hundred of his marines, in the barges of his ship, the Marlborough, to the attack of Frenchtown, a place containing about six houses, two storehouses, and several stables, and important only because of being a place of intermediate depot, between Baltimore and Philadelphia. A party of militia from Elkton, too inferior to the invaders to justify an attempt at resistance, retired on their approach, and Admiral Cockburu landed his marines and destroyed the storehouses, in which were deposited a (quantity of goods belonging to merchants of those cities, of immense value, and a splendid architectural drop cur- tain and other paintings, belonging to the Philadelphia and Bal- timore theatres. The marines being no professed admirers of tlie arts, these were destroyed without much hesitation. The private houses were saved by the interference of some respectable citi- zens ; and after plundering the others, and setting fire to two vessels lying in the harbour, the British returned to their ship. ping. HE town of Havre de Grace, situated on the west side of the Susqueliaii- na, about two miles from the iicad of the bay, and through which tlie great post-road passes, was the next object in the plan of the admiral's operations. On the morning of the 3d of May he proceeded to its assault with nineteen barges, and wlieii within a short distance of tlie town commenced a tremendous bombardment, accompanied by the firing of cannon and the discharge of numerous rockets. In ex- pectation of an attack from the enemy, the people of Havre le Grace had made preparations for the defense of the place, and a b?»ttery had been erected of two six-pounders and one nine. At the time of the assault the inhabitants were in their beds, and there being no sentinels, the first notice they had of the ap- proach of the enemy was from the discharge of one of his pieces. The battery had been assigned as a place of rendezvous in the event of an attack ; but such was the surprise which the presence 'V'U ill U? ih i mt ' i« m I'l ■ '■ ■■ : 1 t' t soner purpos admin least occasii stroy( ATTACK ON HAVRE DE GRACE. 271 of the enemy excited, and so incessant his discharges of sliells and rockets, tt'iat five or six men only were fearless enough to repair to their breastwork and resist the approaches of the British barges. This small party kept up a fire firom the battery until the enemy's advance commenced its debarkation; when all, except O'Neill, an old citizen of Havre de Grace, abandoned their posts, and fol- lowing the militia, who had fled with shameful precipitation, left the women and children of the place to the mercy of the invaders. 0'N<^ill continued, with great difficulty, to discharge one of the s'x-pounders, until in recoiling it ran over his thigh and rendered him incapable of further resistance in tiiat way. But collecting all his strength, he armed himself with two muskets, and retreat- ing from the battery to the rear of the town, vainly endeavoured to retard the flight of the militia. In the mean time the whole body of the enemy had landed, and were actively engaged in destroying the houses. They set fire to those which had not been injured by their shells, broke the furniture, and cut open the bedding of the citizens to augment the flames ; destroyed the public stages, maimed the horses, cut to pieces the private baggage of the passengers, tore the clothing of some of the inhabitants from their Imcks, and left to others those only which tlicy wore. Women and children, flying in every direction to avoid a relentless foe, and to seek protection from their own countrymen, were insulted by the morose seamen and marines ; and the only house which yet remained entirely unin- jured, was sought by one and ail as an asylum. In this, which was a spacious and elegant private mansion, several ladies of the first distinction had taken refuge, and among them the wife of Commodore Rodgers. An officer, who had just before made pri- soner of O'Neill, was entreated to suffer this house, at least, to escape the general conflagration : but as he was obeying the orders of Admiral Cockburn, the most he could do was to suspend his purpose until those unprotected women could prevail upon the admiral to countermand them. The only act i)artaking of the least degree of humanity which the admiral could boast of on this occasion, was his compliance with these earnest entreaties. Having spreod desolation through the whole town, and de- stroyed the doors and windows of a handsome church contiguoua ^mm iMii 'iHl E : V I 'r. 272 DESTRUCTION OF CECIL FURNACE. to it, the admiral divided his party into three sections, one of which remained in the town to give notice of the approach ol danger ; the second proceeded on the road leading toward Baltimore, plundering the houses and farms between Havre de Grace and Patterson's Mills, and robbing private travellers on the highway of their money and apparel ; and the third went six miles up the river to a place called Cresswell's Ferry, whenc j, after commit- ting many acts of outrage, they returned to concentrate their force at the place of landing. Here the admiral ordered them to re-embark, and having crossed the Susquehanna, the whole squadron of his barges made round the point which is form.ed at its entrance, and shaped their course three miles further up the bay, where .the party relanded, repaired to those important and valuable works, Cecil furnace, where lay upwards of fifty pieces of elegant cannon, the only legitimate object of destruction which the invaders had yet met with. These they spiked, stuffed the muzzles with clay and broken pieces of iron, and knocked off the trunii'ons. Not content, however, with demolishing them and destroying other implements of war, they battered down the fur- nace, which was private property, sot fire to the stables belonging to it, and as the last act of atrocity with which this expedition was destined to be marked, they tore up a small bridge con- structed over a deep, though narrow creek, and over which tra- vellers of every description were obliged to pass, or venture through a wider channel at the imminent hazard of their lives. H:i' ing attained all the objects of this enterprise, the British sailors and marines returned to their shipping in the bay; and on tlni Cch they sailed from the neighbourhood of Havre de Gr-j-.», to the great joy of its distressed and ruined inhabitants, O'Neill, who had dared to resist them in the early stage of their proceedings, was taken on board the blockading fleet, and de- tsiined there several days. Such of the inhabitants as were not left entirely destitute, were deprived of those articles of property which could relieve others ; and it became necessary to apply for assistance to the principal and most opulent town of Mary- land. The citizens of 13altimore relieved the sufferers, and pre- parations were soon after made to rebuild the houses. In tlie relation of such scenes as those which occurred at ATTACK ON PRE DE RICKTO WN. 273 Havre de Grace, it seldom happens that an account is to be given of the killed and wounded in an action. In the slight resist- ance which was made by O'Neill and his companions, however, the enemy had three men killed and two wounded. Of the inhabitants, one man was killed by the explosion of a rocket. Fraught with the immense booty that he had brought away from Havre de Grace, and finding his sailors and marines to be elated at the facility which the prospect of an attack on other equally defenseless towns held out of enriching themselves, the rear admiral contemplated an early assault upon such as he should discover to contain the most valuable spoil. The treachery of some citizens of the republic, and the easy intercourse which he kept up with his appointed agents, such as are employed by officers on all stations, enabled him to discover the fjituation of those towns and villages along the bay shore with as much readiness, as he could be wafted by his ships from one point of assault to another. On the river Sassafras, emptying itself into the bay, at a short sailing distance from the admiral's anchorage, and separating the counties of Kent and Cecil, stood nearly opposite each other, the villages of Georgetown and Frederick- town, containing, either of them, about twenty houses. These had attracted the attention of Admiral Cockburn, and he deter- mined on the possession of the property of the inhabitants. On the 6th, he therefore entered that river, with eighteen barges, each carrying one great gun, and manned altogether bv six hundred men. Fredericktown was his first object. At this place on ^ j.vnaU cannon had been mounted, and about eighty militia collected, under Colonel Veazy, on the approach of the b .:jes. The latter commenced a heavy fire, and having disci. arged an im- mense number of langrage rockets, grape shot, and musket balls within a very few minutes, more than one-half of the militia fled. Thirty-five only, under the colonel, stood their ground, and worked the cannon with such skill, that the boats, whose fire was principally directed at the battery, suffered very severely. The invaders were gallantly resisted for more than half an hour, when they effected a landing, and marching towards the town, compelled the militia to reiire. Colonel Veazy effected hi.s S5 in 1 '^ f all li: mi' u- dir: !il|i m ! I lij'!-, I J74 DEPREDATIONS ON THE CHESAPEAKE. retreat in excellent order. Admiral Coclcburn then marched u\ trie head of his men to the village ; where, after having pluutlered the houses of their most valuable movables, he set fire to every building in the town. The entreaties of the distressed women and children availed not with the admiral ; and he would not quit the place until he had entirely deprived them of everj' refuge. Whilst the flames were raging in every part of Fiv dericktown, the admiral moved over Sassafras river to George- town, and demolished all the stone, and burned the wooden buildings. Tlie wretched inhabitants of the opposite towns were left to console each other, and the enemy's scjuudrou of barges, glutted with fresh spoil, retired to their shipping. Succeeding this affair were several repulses of small parti<'s of the enemy from the shores of the bay. Many attempts were made to land at the different farms, and the barge crews fre- quently assailed the planters' houses and took off provisions, clothing, money, and plate. About this time, too. Admiral Warren issued a proclamiition from Bermuda, declaring, besides the Chesapeake and l)eL'n\arc, the ports of New York, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannali, and the whole of the river Mississippi to be in a state of rii'oroiis blockade. From all these ports, however, notwithstandinn- tlie efficiency of Admiral Warren's force, the public shi})s of war of the United States, the private armed vessels, and numorons merchantmen were daily putting to sea. Prizes to these, which had been captured at immense distances from the coast, were continually sent into the harbours declared to be blockaded ; and neutral vessels did not hesitate to enter and depart at the plea- sure of those concerned in them. Admiral Warren shortlv after arrived in the Chesapeake with an additional fleet, and a large number of soldiers and marines under General Sir Sidney Bcck- with. Between these officers and Admiral Cockburn various plans were designed for the attack of the more important assail able towns. By the capture of the bay craft they were well supplied with tenders to the different vessels of the fleet ; and the stren;.rth of their armament enabled them to equip the craft in a warlike manner. Tlie revenue cutter Surveyor, Captain Travis, was .'! (■• t. Ik r-i>. '■.re 'M^ assailed the 10th vras capl cutter w ployed i] shore. T however. which hj the bay. FORCE OF THE NORFOLK MILITIA. 277 assailed by the barges and tender of the Narcissus frigate, on the lOth of June, near York river ; and, after a gallant resistance. was captured by a force nine times superior to her own. Thii cutter was transferred to the British service, and frequently em- ployed in penetrating the narrow passes and rivulets along the shore. The depredations of the enemy, received about this time, however, a salutary check from several private armed vessels, which had been hired into the American service to cruise along the bay. i^ N thai quarter the enemy's force §■ consisted of seven seventy-fours, twelve frigates, and many smallei vessels; and from their suspi- cious movements and menacing attitudes, the citizens of all the surrounding towns became ap- prehensive of an attack. Hamp- ton and Norfolk were thought to be their more immediate objects ; and preparations were made at the latter to man all the works which had been pre- viously constructed. At Norfolk, the militia force very soon, consisted of ten thousand men. At Hampton, a force of not more than four hundred and fifty men had yet been organ- ized. On the 18th three of the frigates entered Hampton roads, and despatched several barges to destroy the small vessels coming down James river. Two or three gun-boats being in the vicinity of that river, obliged the barges to retire, and communicated to the naval commander of the station, Coi imodore Cassin, intelli- gence of the approach of the frigates. The flotilla of gun-boats ill Elizabeth river, on which Norfolk is situated, was then com- manded by Lieutenant-Commandant Tarbell. The frigate Con- stellation was moored at the navy-yard opposite Norfolk, and it was determined by Commodore Cassin to man fifteen of the gun-boats from the crew cf the Constellation, and to despatch them against that frigate of the enemy, which was reported to be three miles ahead of the others, s A V. Lf'f* ■1, 278 NAVAL ACTIONS NEAR NORFOLK. !■ U" ' r?5 On the 1 9th, Captain Tarbell proceeded with his boats in two divisions; Lieutenant Gardner having command of the first and Lieutenant R. Ilonly of the second. The prevalence of adverse winds prevented his coming within reach of the enemy until four p. m. of the 20th, at which hour he stationed his divi sions, and commenced a rapid fire at the distance of three-quar ters of a mile. The frigate opened on the boats, and the can- nonade continued half an hour, to the great injury of the frigate, (the Junon,) when the other frigates were enabled, by a fresh breeze, to get under way to the assistance of their companions. Captain Tarbell was then obliged to haul off to a greater dis- tance, still, however, keeping up a well-directed and incessant fire upon the enemy's whole squadron. The first frigate was hy this time so much injured that her fire was only occasionally d - livered ; and, between the others and the gun-boats, the cannon- ade was prolonged one hour longer; in which time several heavy broadsides were discharged at the flotilla. Captain Tar- bell then withdrew from the engagement, with the loss of one killed, Mr. Allison, a master's mate, and three of the boats slightly injured. The enemy were supposed to have suffered severely. The frigate first engaged was so much shattered, that the vessels which came to her assistance, were obliged to employ all their hands to repair her. In this affair the Americans had fifteen guns; the British one hundred and fifty and upwards. Captain Tarbfill's conduct, as well as Lieutenants Gardner, Henly, and others, received the fullest approbation of the sur- rounding garrisons, and of the citizens of Norfolk. The firing during this action being distinctly heard by the enemy's fleet in the bay, and fears being entertained by the ad- miral about the safety of the three frigates, thirteen sail of the line of battle ships and frigates were ordered to proceed toHan.p- ton roads. In the course of the 20th, they dropped to the mouth of James river, wlu^ro they learned the cause of the recent cannon- ade, and dcitermirKul on forthwith reducing the forts and garrisons, on which the dciO^nse of Norfolk depended. An immcnise number of barges were apparently preparing for an attack or\ Cnmy island, the nearest obstruction to the enemy's advances. Cuptain Tarbell directed Lieutenants Neale, Shu- brick, a dredsei anddisf Atth their ba of aboui time to 1 ceived i] to land -N approacl Lieutent a galling a momei hundred his man was fired through crew, bu the squac tofore faij fifty feet places, tl whose s€ ing to hi his retre Whih the wate who hac the westi teers. eight hi above n| low watj mandec dicious I ner, ofj pound el this bal DEFENSE OF CRANY ISLAND. 279 brick, and Saunders, each of the Constellation, to land one hun- dred seamen on that island, to man a battery on its north-west side, and disposed the gun-boats so as to annoy the enemy from the other At the dawn of the 22d, the British approached the island with their barges, round the point of Nansemond river, to the number of about four thousand men, many of whom were French, from time to time made prisoners by the English, and occasionally re- ceived into their service. The place at which they had chosen to land was out of the reach of the gun-boats, and when they had approached within a few hundred yards of the shore, the gallant Lieutenant Neale, assisted by Shubrick and Saunders, opened a galling fire from his battery, and compelled the enemy to make a momentary pause. The battery was manned altogether by one hundred and fifty men, including Lieutenant Breckenridge and his marines. An eighteen-pounder which was stationed at it, was fired with such precision, that many of the barges were cut through the middle, and would inevitably have carried down the crew, but for the immediate assistance rendered by the others of the squadron. Every attempt to approach the shore having here- tofore failed, and the admiral's boat, the Centipede, upwards of fifty feet in length, and filled with men, being pierced in so many places, that she sunk as soon as she was abandoned, the enemy, whose seamen were falling in every barge, determined on return- ing to his shipping with as little delay as possible. But, even in his retreat, he suffered severely from the small battery. Whilst this gallant resistance was made to his approaches from the water, by the naval division on the island, the enemy's troops, who had landed on the main shore, and crossed a narrow inlet to the west side, were warmly engaged with the Virginia volun- teers. Previously to the movement of the barges, upwards of eight hundred soldiers had been landed by the enemy at the place above mentioned, and were already crossing the inlet, which, at low water, is passable by infantry. Colonel Beatty, who com- manded the military division on the island, made instant and ju dicious preparations to receive the enemy. Under Major Faulk ner, of the artillery, two twenty-four-pounders and four six- pounders, had been drawn up to resist them. One division of this battery was commanded by Captain Emmerson, and two h in: 280 DEFENSE OF CRANY ISLAND. others by Lieutenants Howl and Godwin. The enemy's troops had v^t all landed when this cannon was opened upon them with great a> 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREiT WiBSTER.N.Y. USSO (716) S72-4S03 V ^^ \ V \ ^. \ d82 ATTACK ON HAMPTON. Plantation, which was divided from the town by a narrow creek, over which a slight bridge had been previously constructed. The enemy's barges were approaching this creek and keeping up a fire of round shot, until they gained Blackboard Point, when the four twelve-pounders were opened upon them with so much ef- fect, that Admiral Cockbum thought it advisable to draw back and shelter himself behind the point. Thence he continued to throw his rockets, and twelves and eighteens, nearly an hour, without doing the smallest injury to the encampment ; his shot either falling short of his object or going over it. Meantime Sir Sidney had landed and was coming down the great road on the rear of the Americans, when Major Crutchfield being apprized of his march, had despatched a rifle company under Captain Servant, to conceal themselves in a wood near which the invaders would be obliged to pass. Captain Servant executed his orders with the utmost precision, and annoyed the advancing British column with great severity. But his force was too inefficient to sustain a contest of any length of time, and Major Crutchfield seeing that the barges would not approach until they knew of the arrival of Sir Sidney within the camp, drew out the infantry forces to the aid of the riflemen, and to prevent the ene- my's cutting off his retreat. As this portion of the Americans were marchii^ in column near a defile which led to Celey's road, they were fired upon by the enemy's musketeers from a thick- wood at two hundred yards distance. Major Crutchfield imme diately wheeled his column into line and marched towards the thicket to return the fire and rout the enemy. He had not ad- vanced fifty yards before the British delivered him a fire from two six-pounders, accompanied by an unexpected discharge of rockets. Being now apprized of the danger of proceeding m that direction against ordnance with so small a force, he wheeled again into column and attempted to gain a passage througli the defile in the woods, at the extremity of which Captain Servant with his riflemen had heretofore kept the British in continual check. His column, under the fire from the two sixes, was not formed with as much celerity as it had been displayed, but he Hucceeded at length in putting it in marching order, and pro- ceeded to the defile. Captain Cooper, with the cavalry, was at ATTACK ON HAMPTON. 283 this moment engaged with the enemy's left flank, and notwith- standing the fatigue which his troops had already experienced in patroUing, he annoyed them so successfully, that the British general, augmenting the strength of that flank, issued a direction to cut him off. In this the enemy did not succeed, and Captain Cooper, drawing up his troops in a charging column, effected his retreat with great skill and intrepidity. The column under Major Crutchfield had now gained, and were passing through the defile, under a constant fire from the enemy's six-})ounders. It had just attained the wood, on the left of the riflemen, when a third six-pounder opened upon it, and in conjunction with the others, threw into confusion the different companies of which the column was composed. Several platoons immediately took up their retreat; but those which were nearer the head of the column, led on by Major Crutchfield and Major Corbin, wheeled with great judgment into the wood, and forming on the rifle corps, under their separate captains. Shield and Hemdon, kept up the action with an unflagging spirit, until it was deemed necessary for the whole body to retreat. Captain Pryor, who had been left in the encampment with the artillery, to continue the fire upon the enemy's barges, resisted their approaches until the sailors had landed in front of the town, and the British troops were in his rear. They had already advanced within sixty yards of his battery ; his corps were ready to yield themselves up as prisoners of war, and the royal marines were preparing to take them. They saw no possibility of escap- ing, UQtil their gallant commander gave an order to spike the gun's, and break through the enemy's rear. Intrepid as himself, they executed his commands ; and pressing furiously through the British marines, whom they threw into a temporary derange- ment, found their further escape obstructed by the creek. Cap- tain Pryor still determined on retiring beyond the enemy's reach, threw himself into the creek, and commanding his men to follow, with their carbines, effected the retreat of his corps in good order, and without an individual loss. Such was the disparity of force, when the barge crews and the troops of the enemy had effected a union, that the retreat of the whole American detach- ment became indispensable, and Major Crutchfield gave an order 86 !| 3mm WH^mfi , ip'^^ l^np^ ^ ■mnf l^^^^^M i^ffi I HS^ "M m^^i Hpilsi ^Hii' ^^^^^^^K^l '' H^p'', WB^K ^p,L^ H| ^K'' ^Kii H»/| BSh^ I Ifl ^sm WH^i^ ?' ' 284 SACKING OF HAMPTON. to that effect. The British general pursued the retreating column about two miles, without effecting any purpose, though the latter frequently halted, formed behind fences, and delivered a smart fire. The American loss in this action amounted to seven killed twelve wounded, eleven missing, and one prisoner — total, thirty one. The British loss, by the acknowledgment of many of theii officers, amounted to ninety killed, and one hundred and twenty wounded — ^total, two hundred and ten. Among these were one colonel and one captain of marines, killed ; and three lieutenants, wounded. Admiral Warren's official letter, however, allows but five killed, thirty-three wounded, and ten missing — total, forty eight. If the account of the affair at Hampton could be closed, by no further reference than to the gallantry of Captains Ashly, Gary, Miller, and Brown, of th'^ militia; Captain Goodall, of the United States artillery, and Lieutenants Anderson, Armistead, and Jones, who were all conspicuously engaged in it, a painful recital would have been spared of occurrences disgraceful to the arms of the enemy, unjustified by the principles of civilized warfare, and unparalleled even by the enormities committed on the north-western frontier. The troops under Sir Sidney, and the sailors under Admiral Cockbum, no sooner found themselves in possession of the town of Hampton, than they indulged in a system of pillage, not less indiscriminate than that which had attended the visit of most of the same men to Havre de Grace. To these acts of cruelty and oppression upon the unresisting and innocent inhabitants, they added others of the most atrocious and lawless nature, the occurrence of which has been i)roved by the solemn affirmation of th most respectable people of that country. Age, innocence, nt x, could protect the inhabitants, whose inability to escape obliged them to throw themselves upon the mercy of the conquerors. The persons of the women were indiscriminately violated. The brutal desire of an abandoned and ])rofligate soldiery were gratified, within the view of those who alone possessed the power and authority to restrain them; and many of the unfortunate females, who had extricated themselves from one party, were pursued, overtaken, and possessed by RETREAT OF THE BRITISH. 295 another. Wives were torn from the sides of their wounded hus- bands; mothers and daughters stripped of their clothing in the presence of each other ; and those who had fled to the river side, and as a last refuge had plunged into the water, with their infant children in their arms, were driven again, at the point ' f the bayonet, upon the shore, where neither their own entreaties and exertions, nor the cries of their offspring, could restrain the remorseless cruelty of the insatiable enemy, who paraded the victim of his lust through the public streets of the town. An old man, whose infirmities had drawn him to the very brink of the grave, v/as murdered in the arms of his wife, almost as infirm as himself, and her remonstrance was followed by the discharge of a pistol into her breast The wounded militia who had crawled from the field of battli to the military hospital, were treated with no kind of tenderness, even by the enemy's officers, and the common wants of nature were rigorously denied to them. To these transcendant enormities, were added the wanton and pro- fligate destruction not only of the medical stores, but of the physician's drug-rooms and laboratories ; from which only, those who had been wounded in battle, and those upon whose persons these outrages had been committed, could obtain that assistance, Avithout which, they must inevitably suffer the severest pri vations. WO days and nights were thus consumed by the British soldiers, sailors, and marines, and their separate commanders were all that time quartered in the only house, the furniture and interior decorations of which escaped destruction. On the morning of the 27th, at sunrise, apprehensions being entertained of an attack from the neighbouring militia, whom, it was reasonably conjectured, the recital of these transactions would rouse into immediate action, the British forces were ordered to embark ; and, in the course of that morning, they departed from the devoted town, which will immemorially testify to the V'aprovoked and unrelenting cruelty of the British troops. They had previously carried off" the ordnance which had been employed in the defense of the town, as trophies of their victory ; but, wher 1-!' '286 ATROCIOUS CONDUCT OF BRITISH OFFICERS. they determined on withdrawing from the place, they moved away with such precipitation, that several hundred weight of provisions, a quantity of muskets and ammunition, and some of their men were left behind, and captured on the following day by Captain Cooper's cavalry. Having abandoned their intentions of proceeding to another attempt on the defenses of Norfolk, the whole fleet stood down to a position at New Point Comfort, where they proposed watering, previously to their departure from the bay, on an expedition against a town in one of the eastern states. Such was the agitation of the public mind throughout Vir- ginia, which succeeded the circulation of the account of the as- sault on Hampton, that representations were made to General Robert R. Taylor, the commandant of the district, of the neces- sity of learning from the commanders of the British fleet and army, whether the outrages which had been committed, would be avowed, or the perpetrators punished. That able officer im- mediately despatched his aid to Admiral Warren with a cartel for the exchange of prisoners, and a protest against the proceed- ings of the British troops, in which he stated, that " the world would suppose those acts to have been approved, if not ex.cited, which should be passed over with impunity ;" that he " thought it no less due to his own personal honour, than to that of his country, to repress and punish every excess ;" that " it would de- pend on him (Warren) whether the evils inseparable from a state of war, should, in future operations, be tempered by the mildness of civilized life, or under the admiral's authority, be aggravated by all the fiend-like passions which could be instilled into them." To this protest Admiral Warren replied, that he would refer it to Sir Sidney Beckwith, to whose discretion he submitted the ne- cessity of an answer. Sir Sidney not only freely avowed, but justified the commission of the excesses complained of; and in- duced the American commander to believe the report of deserters, that a promise had been made to the fleet of individual bounty, of the plunder of the town, and of permission to commit the same acts, if they succeeded in the capture of Norfolk. Sir Sidney stated that " th£ excesses at Hampton^ of which General Taylor complained, were occasioned hy a proceeding at C'^any island. That on the recent attack on that place the ATROCIOUS CONDUCT OP BRITISH OFFICERS. '287 troops in a barge which had been sunk by the fire of the Ameri can guns, had been fired on by a party of Americans, who waded out and shot these poor fellows while clinging to the wreck of the boat, and that with a feeling natural to such a proceeding the men of that corps landed at Hampton." The British general expressed also a wish that such scenes should not occur again, and that the subject might be entirely at rest The American general, how- ever, alive to the reputation of the arms of his country, refused to let it rest, and immediately instituted a court of inquiry, composed of old and unprejudiced officers. The result of a long and care- ful investigation which was forwarded to Sir Sidney Bockwith, was that none of the enemy had been fired on after the wreck of the barge, except a soldier who had attempted to escape to that division of the British troops which had landed, that he was not killed, and that so far from shooting either of those unfortunate men, the American troops had waded out to their assistance. To this report Sir Sidney never deemed it necessary to reply, and the outrages at Hampton are still unatoned. Many of the un- happy victims died of wounds and bruises inflicted on them in their struggles to escape, which baffled the medical skill of the surrounding country. 388 EXPEDITION AGAINST PORTSMOUTH. Sf**^' CHAPTER XV. Oycc«ticn« o( tftt ^tUiti in Song StflinD jlovnt. ELINQUISHING the contemplated attack upon one of the eastern ports, and adopting a plan of operations against the towns and harhours to the southward of those which had already been assailed, Admiral Warren de- tached the largest proportion of his fleet, under Rear-Admiral Cockbum, to proceed on an expedition against Ocracoke and Portsmouth, two flourishing harbours in the state of North Carolina. Early in July, a force of eleven sail appeared off the first of those places, and on the 13th of that month, the rear-admiral crossed the bar with a great number of barges, attacked two letters of marque, the Anaconda of New York, and the Atlas of Philadelphia, and after being gallantly resisted by the small crews of those vessels, carried them by boarding. The revenue cutter, which was then in the harbour, effected her escape, conveyed intelligence to Newbern of the ap- proach of the enemy, and thus frustrated the remainder of the admiral's plans. About three thousand men were then landed at Portsmouth, where they destroyed the private property of the inhabitants, and treated the place witii no more forbearance than they had shown at Georgetown and Fredericktown, The col- lector of the customs was seized and taken on board the fleet, and CAPTURE OF THE ASP. 889 the building destroyed in which his office was contained. After remaining two days in possession of these places, the enemy re- turned to his shipping, and not feeling himself competent to the attack on Newborn, now that its citizens were preparing to receive him, he departed with his squadron from Ocracoke, and sailed again for Chesapeake bay. The fleet, which had been keeping up the blockade in those waters, had been divided by Admiral Warren, and the different vessels distributed along the coast, from New London to Cape Henry, to watch the entrances to the harbours of Connecticut, New York, and the Delaware. In the, Chesapeake, no further assaults were made upon the villages; but the farmhouses, the neighbouring country seats, and the stock upon the lands, and the numerous islands which could be approached by the smallest barges, were indiscriminately plundered. Such islands wero taken possession of as afforded quarters for the troops, and fre- quent excursions made from them against the defenseless land* holders, in their vicinity. N the 14th, the United States schooners Scorpion and Asp, being under way from the mouth of Yeocomico river, were pursued by two of the enemy's sloops of war, and, finding it impossible for both vessels to escape through the bay, the Scorpion continued her course, while the Asp, a dull sailing vessel, returned to the river, and was run into Kinsale creek by her commander, Sailingmaster Sppoumey. The enemy's vessels anchored near the bar, and despatciK d three barges, filled with armed men, to assault and carry her. As these were approaching, Mr. Segourney opened a well-directed fire, and compelled them, in a little time, to return. Reinforced, how- ever, by two other barges, manned in like manner, they again approached the schooner, and carried her by boarding, though obstinately resisted by her little crew, to whom they refused to show quarter. Her commander had been shot through the body by a musket ball, and was sitting on the deck against the mast, when they carried her, and brought down her colours. In this attitude, and suffering under the severity of his wound, he was, at that moment, animating his men to repel the boarders, when 2B 37 •290 THE YANKEE AND EAGLE. I one of the B/.tish marines stepped up and shot him through the head. He expired instantly, and the next officer, Mr. M'Clintock, seeing what would be the probable fate of the whole crew, ordered his men to save themselves by flight. Those who had not pre- viously been wounded, reached the shore in safety; and the enemy having set fire to the schooner, returned to the squadron, though not before they had been fired upon by a collection of militia, who retook the vessel, and extinguished the flames. The Poicticrs, seventy-four, still commanded by Sir John P. Beresford, had been stationed for several weeks at Sandy Hook, for the purpose of blockading the harbour of New York. Numbers of small vessels had been daily captured by her, and one of them, the sloop Eagle, was converted into a tender to the line of battle ship, manned with two officers and eleven marines, and equipped with a thirty-two brass howitzer. She was constantly employed in the pursuit and capture of the coasters, and had already com- mitted various depredations. Commodore Jacob Lewis, who com- manded a flotilla of thirty sail of gun-boats, determined on pro- tecting the fishing boats and river craft, by the capture of this tender. He accordingly hired a fishing smack called the Yankee, and placing about thirty men on board, under one of his sailing- masters, (Percival,) and, supplying him with several articles of live stock, gave him instructions to proceed from the hook in the direction of the banks, with his armed men concealed in the cabin and fore peak. The sloop Eagle, upon discovering her at the hook, immediately gave chase; and, on seeing the live stock, ordered the man at the helm, Mr. Percival, who, with two men only on deck, was dressed in the apparel of a fisherman, to steer for the seventy-four, then lying at a distance of five miles. The fishing smack had her helm immediately put up for that appa- rent purpose, and, being by this means brought along side, and within three yards of the Eagle, her commander gave the signal, •' Lawrence,^' and her men rushed up with such rapidity, and discharged so brisk and unexpected a fire, that the crew of the Eagle became panic-struck, and many of them ran below. Her commander Sailingmaster Morris, and one marine were killed, and Midshipman Price, and another mortally wounded. Per- civaVs men were prepared for a second discharge, when a sailor BLOCKADE OF i.EW LONDON. 301 on the enemy's deck was seen creeping to the howitzer with a lighted match, one of the crew of the Yankee levelled his mus- ket and shot him in the breast, and in a second after, the flag of the Eagle came down. The sloop and the prisoners were then taken into the hook, and delivered to the commodore, who pro ceoded with them to New York, where Morris and Price, who died immediately after landing, were buried by the naval and military authorities. Mr. Percival was promoted to the new sloop of war Peacock, and the brass howitzer was transferred to the quarter deck of the commodore's flag-boat. In consequence of Commodore Decatur's having proceeded with the frigates United States and Macedonian, and the sloop of war Hornet, through the sound to get to sea from the eastward, and of his having been driven with his squadron into New London by a superior detachment of the enemy's ships, that port was rigorously blockaded by the Ramilies seventy-four, two frigates, and several smaller vessels, under Commodore Sir Thomas M. Hardy. Every effort to get to sea under the auspices of dark nights and favourable winds, having proved unavailing in conse quence of the enemy's being continually apprized of the designs of the American commodore, he was blockaded for many months without a prospect of escaping, either by the ordinary channel or by the sound. Between detached parties from each squadron several aflFairs of minor importance took place during the block- ade, and in one of them Midshipman Ten Eyck, of the United States frigate, made prisoners of two lieutenants, two warrant officers, and five seamen, in a house on Gardner's island. In- cursions into the neighbouring states were frequent from the British forces ; but though extensive numbers of shipping were destroyed, the conduct of the sailors and marines under Sir Thomas Hardy was not marked by the indiscriminate commis- sion of unrestrained and wanton outrage, of which there were too many incidents on the coast to the southward, and the houses of the different villages, as well as individual property, were there- fore, almost invariably respected. The general deportment of Commodore Hardy was that of a brave, humane, and gallant enemy, and had his conduct been emulated by other command srs. the horrors, and distressed conditions of a state of war would 209 EXPEDITION TO 8AYBR00K. have been ameliorated on both sides, and the necessity of many instances of retaliatory measures might never have existed. During the winter months of 1813-14, scarcely an event of consequence took place on any part of the coast, or at any of the shores of the bay and rivers in which the enemy's vessels were anchored. The town of Killingworth, alone, had an opportunity of repelling three or four distinct attempts to land, and of beating off superior numbers in British barges. Early in the spring of 1814, however, the enemy made several movements indicative of his intentions to pursue an active course of warfare. On the 7th of April about two hundred sailors and marines entered Connecticut river in a number of barges and landed at the town of Saybrook, where they spiked the guns at a small battery and destroyed many trading vessels. Thence they ascended the river to Brockway's ferry, destroyed all the shipping there, and amused themselves, without any apprehen- sions of an attack, upwards of twenty-four hours. In the mean time a body of militia had assembled, under command of a briga- dier-general of Connecticut; one hundred men and several field- pieces were stationed on the opposite shore, and two pieces and a party of men on the ferry side below ; Captain Jones, and Lieu- tenant-Commandant Biddle, of the Hornet, arrived witii a detach- ment of sailors from the squadron ; and every thing was arranged for the capture of the whole party of the enemy. The success of the plan was inevitable ; the word only of the general com- manding was waited for, and as he was making other arrange- ments than those adopted by these experienced officers, the enemy drifted down the river, with muffled oars, under cover of a dark night, cheered loudly when they had passed the town of Say- brook, and escaped to the squadron after destroying two hundred thousand dollars worth of shipping. Several shot were fired after them, but without effect. About this time the Liverpool Packet privateer was cruising, with great success, against the American commerce in the sound, and had already annoyed the coasting trade to an enormous ex- tent. Unless this cruiser was driven from the sound no coaster could sail from one port to another, with any assurance of safety. Commodore Lewis determined on an expedition against her. He COMMODORE LEWIS'S EXPEDITION. 293 sailed with a detachment, consisting of thirteen of his gun-boats, drove the privateer from the mouth of the harbours in the sound, and proceeded to Black Rock, New Haven, and Saybrook. At the latter place he anchored on the 23d of May, and found upwards of forty sail of coasting vessels lying there, bound eastward, but the masters of which were fearful of the privateer and the enemy's barges. The commodore was applied to for convoy ; and, though he knew not whether he could yield any kind of protection against a frigate, a corvette, and an armed sloop, at that moment in the passage before New London, he took the coasters under convoy, and agreed to throw himself be- tween them and the enemy. On the 25th he accordingly sailed with the convoy bound for New London, and at 5 p. m. came to action with a frigate, a sloop of war, and a tender, and continued the engagement until all the coasters had safely passed the ene- my and arrived at New London. This being done, although the whole object of his attack was achieved. Commodore Lewis determined upon trying the further effect of his hot shot. Tho hoats were each supplied with a furnace; and, whilst they were pouring hot balls into the enemy's sides, and frequently setting him on fire, they received in return, scarcely a shot from either of his vessels. Gun-boat No. 6 was alone injured ; and, being struck between wind and water, was immediately grounded, to prevent her sinking. The sloop of war had by this time withdrawn from tho engage- ment; and the fire of the gun-boats was principally directed against the frigate. She was observed several times to be on fire; one shot passed through her very near the magazine, seven- teen of her men were already killed, and a lieutenant and a great number of men wounded ; and the captain was on the point of surrendering, when he discovered that the gun-boats had ceased firing. The night closed in immediately, was excessively dark, and the commodore found himself obliged to anchor his boats, and reconnoiter the enemy until next morning. He intended to board the sloop, but she wto stationed between the two ships, and that project was therefore useless. At daylight, observing the enemy towing away their vessels and retreating, he instantly made signal for pursuit ; but the report of the cannonade had 3b2 ml m M la;* ; If.' I I 294 UTILITV 07 GUN-BOATS. brought the whole British force, consisting of seven large sail, to their assistance, and the commodore abandoned his intention of renewing the action, and proceeded up the sound to New York, with the enemy in his rear, as far as Faulkner's island. The loss on board the flotilla was one man, by the recoiling of a gun. The frigate was supposed to be the Maidstone of thirty- eight, and mounting forty-nine guns ; but several sailors who deserted from her and were in this action, reported her to be the Hotspur of the same force. The consequences of this engage- ment, and that which took place below Crany island, have oc- casioned much speculation about the utility of gun-boats. In each instance it was undoubtedly proved, that, under such cir- cumstances as attended them, the gun-boats are capable of great annoyance to the largest ships of war. Commodore Lewis, whose activity and enterprise rendered him of all other men capable of mancEuvering them to advantage, saved an immense amount of property to the mercantile interest of the country, by his re- peated cruises with them in and near the sound. But the operations of the immense naval armaments, which were maintained by the enemy before the ports of New York, Boston, New London, and the entrance to the sound, were not to be checked by a flotilla of boats, however well appointed, consisting in all of but thirty sail ; and the whole eastern coast was therefore exposed to the ravages of the invaders. The towns and villages there were as exposed and defenseless as those to the south ; but a degree of forbearance was manifested by the commander on this station, which prevented the commission of such extensive depredations. Yet an insatiable thirst for plun- der, induced many of the British cruisers to seek the destruction of every species of public property, of the most flourishing manu- facturing establishments, and of vessels carrying on a trade be- tween the eastern and other ports; and the cupidity of the sailors and marines frequently led to the sequestration of private pro- perty. At the towns of Wareham and Scituate, they burned all the vessels at their moorings ; and at the former, which they ap- proached under a flag of truce, they set fire to an extensive cot- ton manufactory. But at a place called Booth bay, they met with a spirited opposition ; and in several desperate attacks, re- CAPTURE OF MOOSE ISLAND. 295 peated on different days, and with various numbers, they were repulsed with considerable loss, by the militia of the neighbour- hood. About the month of July the blockading squadron, under Sir Thomas Hardy, received instructions to assail and take posscsr sion, in his Britannic majesty's name, of Moose island, near the mouth of the Kobbeskook river, opposite to the province of New Brunswick, and on the western side of Passamaquoddy bay. This bay was adjudged, by the British ministers, to be within the boundary of their possessions in North America , and after the capture of Moose island, their forces were directed to occupy all the towns and islands within its limits. On the 11th of that month. Sir Thomas proceeded with the Ramilies, seventy-four, one sixty-gun ship, three sloops-of-war, and three transports, con- taining between fifteen hundred and two thousand troops, with an intention of surprising the town of Eastport, containing about one thousand inhabitants, and situated upon Moose island. Against this force, no kind of opposition could be made by a small garrison, containing but fifty-nine men, forty-eight of whom only were effectives; and Major Putnam did not attempt to molest the troops, who had already landed. Formal possession was then taken of the whole island ; the officers in the garrison paroled, the privates conveyed to the squadron, the fort, which then mounted but six small cannon, enlarged, refitted, and the battery extended to sixty pieces; and a proclamation issued by Sir Thomas Hardy and Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Pilkington, in which they declared all the islands to have been surrendered by the capture of Eastport; allowed seven days residence to such inhabitants as should refuse to swear allegiance to his Britannic majesty ; and appointed a day on which they were to assemble for that purpose. About two-thirds of the people sub- mitted to these terms, under an expectation of retaining their privileges ; but, in the month of August, the province of New Brunswick, in coancil, ordered that the inhabitants of Moose island should not be entitled to the rights of their other subjects, notwithstanding their oath of allegiance ; but that they should he treated as a conquered people, and placed under the control of the military authority. Eastport was soon after well fortified. *296 DEFENSE OF STONINGTON. T* •'!" and remained in possession of the British until the conclusion of the war ; before which period, howevfer, their garrison was frequently weakened by desertions of large bodies of their troops ; the officers were often compelled to perform the duties of senti- nels; and the difficulties of subsisting the army and the people daily increasing by the extreme scarcity of provisions. Having thus secured the possession of Moose island, and pro- vided for its defense against any attempt to recover it by the Americans, Sir Thomas sailed to his old station, before New London. On the 9th of August he made signal for the Pactolus frigate, forty-four, the Terror bomb ship, and the Despatch brig of twenty guns, to weigh anchor, and sail with the Ramilies to the attack of the town of Stonington, which the commodore had been ordered to reduce to ashes. The appearance of this for midable force before a town, which possessed but weak and inadequate means of defense, excited an alarm among the inhabitants, which the message of Commodore Hardy, to move off the unoffending people of the place, was not calculated to subdue. But, having complied with the terms of the commo- dore's note, and disposed of the women and children, they re- paired to a small battery, which had been erected, a few weeks before, and in which were mounted two eighteen-pounders and one six. Those who had been drilled as artillerists were sta/. tioned at these pieces; the flag was nailed to a staff, and a small breastwork, which had been hastily thrown up, was lined with musketry. ' Thus arranged, the handful of militia belonging to Stonington awaited the approach of the enemy with painful anxiety. Ex- presses were forwarded to General Gushing, of the United States army, commanding 2,t New London, for a supply of men and ammunition ; and, to the neighbouring districts, for a hasty levy of militia. At eight in the evening, five barges and a large launch, filled with men, and armed \nth nine-pounder carronades, approached the shore, under cover of a heavy fire of round, canister, and grape shot, and a discharge of shells, carcasses, and rockets. The Americans, reserving their fire until the barges were within short grape distance, opened their two eighteen-pounders upon, DEFENSE OF STONINGTON. 29? and compelled them to retire out of reach of the battery. The enemy then attempted to land at the east end of the town, at a point which they supposed to be the most defenseless. This being discovered by the militia artillerists, the six-pounder was immediately transported to that side of the town, and the barges were a second time compelled to retire. They returned to their shipping, with a determination to renew their attack with more vigour at the da^vn of the following morning. The bombardment, nevertheless, continued until midnight. Before morning the enemy's squadron was augmented by the arrival of the Nimrod, eigh teen-gun brig, and at the dawn of day the different vessels were stationed nearer to the town, the Despatch being within pistol-shot of the battery. The barges approached the shore in larger numbers and met with as signal a repulse as on the preceding night. One of them was shattered to pieces by the four-pounder on the east side of the town, whilst a cannonade was kept up between the eighteen-pounder battery and the gun-brig, which resulted in her expulsion from her an- chorage She had received several shot between wind and water, and was obliged to haul off and repair ; the barges again returned to the shipping, and the five vessels drifted out of reach of the battery, made new anchorage, and continued to bombard the town daring that and the following day. On the l'2th Com- modore Hardy, relinquishing any further attempt to reduce the town to ashes, and having already lost twenty-one men killed, and upwards of fifty wounded, ordered his squadron to weigh anchor and proceed up Fisher's island sound. The inhabitants of Stonington were released from their apprehensions about the safety of their dwellings, and the women .and children, some time after, restored to their homes. Notwithstanding the bombardment had been protracted to three successive days, and upwards of sixty tons of metal hud been thrown upon the shore, not a man of the militia was killed, and the number of wounded did not exceed six. Among them was Lieutenant Hough, who, as well as Colonel Randal and Lieutenant Lathrop, greatly contributed, by their activity and skill, to the repulse of the enemy. Stonington contained, at the time of the attack, about one hundred houses; forty of these were injured by S8 298 VILLAGES OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH. r' • I i ml: ,4 «J, > the shot— but ten only materially — and but two or threp entire]? destroyed. , OT content with possessing Moose island, and other islands of the bay, the British claimed, as a colony, all that part of the difstrict of Maine lying to the west of, and between Pe- nobscot river and Passamaquoddy bay, and instructions were also forwarded to Sir John C. Sherbrooke, the governor of Nova Scotia, and Rear- Admiral Griffith, commanding the naval forces within that province, to take possession of all that territory. These commanders entered the Penobscot river on the 1st of September; appeared before Castine, from which the garrison fled, after blow- ing up the fort, and which the British immediately occupied. A proclamation was then issued by the governor and the admiral, in which, they claimed as the territory of his Britannic majesty, that part of the province of Maine east of the Penobscot, in which there were more than forty villages, and upwards of thirty thou- sand inhabitants. After possessing Castine many of these villages were gradually occupied, and ordinances were established for the civil and military government of the people. Castine, also, remained in the hands of the enemy until the conclusion of hos- tilities. The United States frigate Adams, Captain Morris, had arrived in the Penobscot from a successful cruise, a few days before the occupation of Castine, and having run upon the rocks near that port, was obliged to be hove down at Hampden, thirty-five miles up the river, to have her damages repaired. On the 3d of Sep- tember the British sloop of war Sylph of twenty-two guns, the Peruvian of eighteen, and one transport and ten barges, ascended the river, manned in all with about one thousand men from Castine, under command of Commodore Barrie, with a determination to capture the frigate. Captain Morris erected several batteries on eminences near his vessel, supplied the militia, who were with- out arms, with the ship's muskets, and made every preparation to repulse the enemy. Notwithstanding these judicious arrange- ments, and the readiness of the ship's crew to resist the enemy's attempts, the militia could not be brought to oppose an inferior ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN MORRIS. 299 number of British regulars ; and, flying precipitately from the ground, left no other alternative to Captain Morris than to sur- render his crew, or destroy the Adams and retreat to Bangor or Kennebeck. Under the direction of Lieutenant Wadsworth of the ship, the sailors and marines retired in good order over a bridge which crossed a deep creek ; but Captain Morris and a few men who remained to set fire to the vessel, having succeeded in blowing her up, was cut off from this retreat, and compelled to plunge into the river and effect his escape by swimming. Dis- appointed in the object of their expedition, the British returned to Castine, and conducted an incursive warfare against the towns in the vicinity of that port. \> 88 in 300 CRUISE OF THE ARGUS. hi . . f I CHAPTER XVI. I HE government of the United States having deemed it expedient, in the spring of 1813, to send an ambassador to France, at wliich court they were not then represented ; the American gun-brig Argus, Lieutenant-Com mandant William H. Allen, of eighteen guns, was despatched to L' Orient with Mr. Crawford, the minister-plenipotentiary ap- pointed to negotiate a treaty of commerce with that, power. After having landed the minister she was ordered to cruise in the vicinity of the British channel, where she arrived about the middle of June, and continued to cruise until the same time in August. During this period she captured in St. George's channel upwards of twenty vessels, coasters and others, and excited a great degree of alarm among the towns upon the English coast. In consequence of her activity in making captures, and the danger to British vessels in passing through the channel, the insurance upon coasters could no longer be obtained in England, but at an amount very far exceeding the double pre- mium ; and though numerous vessels of war, of all rates and de- scriptions were floating at the docks, the Argus was allowed to maintain her cruise in this neighbourhood for two full months. The attention of the admiralty was at length, however, awakened; and, on the 12th of August, the sloop of war, the Pelican, Cap- tain J. F. Maples, of twenty-one carriage guns, was ordered to cruise in search of the hostile stranger. On the 14th, at four a. m CRUISE OF THE ARGUS. 301 \ Cruise of the Argui. uy the light of a schooner then on fire, the two vessels were brought in sight of each other. The Argus immediately close hauled on the starboard tack, and made preparations to receive the enemy. Failing in every attempt to obtain the weathei gage, Captain Allen, at half-past five, shortened sail, and waited for the Pelican to close. A few minutes afterwards, the Pelican displayed her colours ; the Argus hoisted the American flag, wore round, and within grape distance, gave her a larboard broadside; which being returned, the action commenced within the range of musketry. At the first fire from the Pelican, Captain Allen fell. He was wounded severely in the leg, but remained on deck until several broadsides were exchanged ; when, being quite ex- hausted by the excessive loss of blood, he yielded the command of the An vus to Lieutenant Watson, and was taken below. Mean- time the Pelican shot away the main braces, the spring stay, gaff, and trysail-mast, of the Argus. At. twelve minutes past six, her spritsail-yard, and most of the standing rigging on the larboard side of the foremast, were lost ; and Lieutenant Watson received a wound in the head, which made it necessary that he also should be carried below. The command of the Argus now devolved on Lieutenant William H. Allen Jr., whose unremitted exertions frequently defeated the enemy's attempts to get into a raking position. At sixteen minutes past six, the Pelican edged 30% SURRENDER OF THE ARGUS. m m.' off, with an intention of getting under the stern of the Argus, but Lieutenant Allen, by luffing close to, with his main topsail aback and giving her a raking broadside, completely frustrated this at- tempt. But, in two minutes after, she shot away the preventer main braces and main topsail of the Argus, deprived her of the use of her after sail, and thus causing her to fall off before the wind, succeeded in passing her stem, and ranged up on her star- board side. At twenty-five minutes past six, the Argus having lost her wheel ropes and running rigging of every description became entirely unmanageable ; and the Pelican, not being ma- terially damaged, had an opportunity of choosing her position. She continued her fire on the starboard quarter of the Argus, until half-past six, when Lieutenant Watson returned to the deck, and made preparations to board the enemy. The shattered condition of the brig rendered that effort impossible ; and the Pelican took a position on her stern, and gave her a raking fire for eight minutes, when she passed up, and placing herself on the starboard bow, continued a raking fire there until forty. seven minutes past six. All this while the commander of the Argus was endeavouring, without effect, to bring her guns to bear ; and, having nothing but musketry to oppose to the galling and effective fire of the enemy, he determined on surrenderinff the brig : a measure, which, in consequence of the loss of several officers and many of the men, of the shattered state of the hull and rigging, and of the impossibility, under these disadvantages, of getting otherwise out of the combat, he would have been warranted in adopting much sooner. At the moment her flaff came down, the Pelican was pressing to board her ; and, being close along side, immediately took possession. Her loss amounted to six killed, and seventeen wounded ; five of the latter died soon after the engagement. The loss of the Pelican was three men killed, and five only wounded. Captain Allen submitted to an amputation of his leg, but every means of restoration to his health proved ineffectual ; and, on the 18th, three days after the action, he expired in Mill Prison hospital, whence he and Midshipmen Delphy, who had both his legs shot from his body, at the same instant, and Edwards were buried with the usual honours of war. ENTERPRISE AND BOXER. 303 Several United States sloops of war were, about this period, upon the stocks ; and, it being necessary that their building and equipment should be superintended by experienced naval officers, commanders were assigned to them, previously to their being launched into their destined element. To restore to the American naval list the name of a vessel which had been captured by a superior force, after the moment of victory over another vessel, one of these was ordered to be called the Wasp, and the com- mand given to Lieutenant-Commandant Blakely, at that time of the gun-brig Enterprise.* By this transfer the command of the latter vessel devolved on Lieutenant-Commandant Burrows, to whom instructions had been given for a cruise from Portsmouth. On the 1st of Sep- tember he sailed from that place, steered to the eastward, and on the 3d discovered and chased a schooner into Portland, where he gained intelligence of several privateers being off Manhagan, and immediately stood for that place. The British gun-brig the Boxer, of fourteen guns and nearly one hundred men, had been fitted up at St. Johns, (New Brunswick,) for the purpose of a combat with the Enterprise, mounting the same number of guns, and very nearly the same number of men. To the crew of the Boxer, however, a detachment was added from the Rattler, upon her arrival on the United States coast. On the morning of the 5th, the Enterprise, in the bay near Pen- guin Point, discovered the Boxer getting under way, and gave chase to her. The Boxer fired several guns, stood for the En- terprise, and hoisted four ensigns. Captain Burrows having ascertained her character, stood out of the bay to obtain sea- room ; and, followed by the Boxer, he hauled upon a wind until three p. m. At that hour he shortened sail, and in twenty mi- nutes the action commenced within half pistol-shot. At the first broadside, Captain Blythe was killed by a cannon shot through his body ; and in a moment afterwards Captain Burrows fell by * The Enterprise is the same vessel which, in 1801, was a schooner, in the Mediter- ranean, commanded by Lieutenant Sterrett. Under that officer, she engaged and cap- tured in August of that year, during the Tripolitan war, the ship of war Tripoli, of four- teen guns and eighty-five men. In this engagement, she lost not a single man ; whilst ler antagonist had fifty of her crew killed nnd wounded. ht; :i 304 ENTERPRISE AND BOXER. a musket ball. The command of the two vessels during the whole engagement was therefore maintained by the lieutenants. Captain Burrows refused to quit the deck, and at four p. m. re- ceived the sword of Captain Blythe, from the hands of Lieute- nant M'Call; expressed his satisfaction at the manner of his death, and expired about eight hours afterwards. The colours of the Boxer had been nailed to the mast, and her first officer was therefore obliged to hail Lieutenant M'Call, to inform him of her surrender before it was known that she was vanquished. She was immediately taken possession of and carried into Port land, with her masts, sails, and spars cut to pieces ; and with twenty eighteen-pound shot in her hull. The number of her killed and wounded could not be ascertained, no papers being on board by which the strength of her crew could be known. Her officers admitted the loss of twenty-five killed, and fourteen wounded. The rigging of the Enterprise was much cut with grape shot, but her hull was not materially damaged. Her loss was one killed and thirteen wounded; among the latter, the captain and carpenter's mate, mortally. Lieutenant Tilling- hast and Midshipman Waters, the latter of whom was severely wounded, behaved with coolness and determination ; and Lieu- tenant M'Call who succeeded his gallant captain, sustained the reputation of the navy by his conduct throughout the action. On their arrival at Portland, the bodies of the deceased com- manders were deposited with the usual military ceremonies ; and the prisoners were soon after removed to the interior. Both vessels were' repaired with the utmost despatch ; and the Boxer being considered the superior vessel, was ordered by the Presi- dent of the United States to be delivered up for the benefit of the captors, and bought from them into the service. By the fall of these young officers. Captains Allen and Bur- rows, the naval service experienced a heavy and almost irretriev- able loss. Captain Allen had distinguished himself in a gallant manner, in the action with the Macedonian, at which time he was first officer to Commodore Decatur ; and, not long after, re- ceived the approbation of his government by a promotion to the rank of a master-commandant, and to the command of the Argus He sustained the reputation of a brave and courteous man, an COMMODORE RODGER S. 300 Captain Allen* accomplished seaman, and a friend of unswerving integrity. Captain Burrows, whose intrepidity and fortitude instigated him to remain on the deck of his vessel, in the agonies of death, until he knew of the surrender of the enemy, possessed these inesti- mable qualities in no less a degree. The loss of such men was a fruitful source of sorrow to those who had been their com- panions in arms, and to those who looked up to them for exam* pies of usefulness and heroism. Between this period and the commencement of the year 1814, the cruises of the ships of war of the United States were not attended by any of those brilliant achievements by which they had previously, and have since that time, been marked. In the month of February of that year, the frigate President returned from a cruise of about seventy days. At the entrance to Sandy Hook, after having passed the lighthouse, Commodore Rodgers found himself in the neighbourhood of three large men-of-war, the nearest being the Plantagenet, seventy-four, Captain Lloyd 2a3 39 306 CAPTAIN STEWART S CRUISE. I 1: HI 1 ^ ' 1 1 1 1 \ i 32' - Being well assured of an attack from one or all of the enemy's vessels, he cleared ship for action; and, though his capture was inevitable, he determined not to lose the President, until I.e could no longer light her. In consequence* of the wind and tide being both unfavourable, he was compelled to remain in his situation seven hours, before either of them enabled him to cross the bur ; and, in all that time, to his great astouishnieul, uiid tu the surprise and mortification of the prisoners on board, uo dis- position was manifested to attack the President, though her character was known, and she fired a gun to windward, to signify her willingness to fight, since there was no apparent possibility of escaping. The tide having changed, Commodore Rod"-ers proceeded to New York ; and Captain Lloyd, after returning to England, accounted for his conduct by alleging a mutiny in liis ship, and had several of his sailors tried and executed upon that charge. In the succeeding month of April, the Constitution frigate, commanded by Captain Charles Stewart, was also returning from a cruise commenced on the first of January. On her arrival on the coast, she was pursued by two British frigates and a brig, and chased into Marblehead. The excellent seamanship of her commander enabled her, with difficulty, to escape; and she reached Salem without injury. During her cruise, she cajv tured the British public schooner Pictou ; and fell in with the frigate La Pique, Captain Maitland, who fled on the approach of the Constitution. No effort was left untried by Captain Stewart to overtake and bring her to action, but she escaped in the night, after a long chase; and Captain Maitland, on his arrival in England, was complimented by the admiralty, for his strict observance of his instructions, in flying from an American frigate. Repeated opportunities were about this time given to the enemy's squadron off Sandy Hook, to engage the gun-boat flotilla. A schooner had been driven ashore ; and numbers of barges, well manned and armed, were despatched to take pos- session of her; but Commodore Lewis ordered a detachment of his sailors to land and protect her. With a small field-piece, and their small arms, they beat off the enemy, launched the CAPTAIN porter's CRUISE. 307 Hchooner, and carried her to her destined port, New York. A month afterwards, the Belvidere ctiiwed the brig Regent, laden with an immensely valuable cargo, closo into the hook ; when the commodore, whose station was constantly at that point, immediately gave signal for a del ichment (;f his flotilla to follow him ; and placing himself, with eleven sail, between the frigate and the chase, prevented her capture ; and fired upwards of fifty shot at the frigate, which stood off, without returning the fire. In a preceding chapter of this work, an account is given of a plan of a cruise in the South Seas, by a squadron composed of the Constitution, the Essex, and the Hornet, under Commo- dore Bainbridge. This cruise was broken up by the engage- ments of the Constitution and the Hornet ; and as neither of those vessels was found by the Essex, at either of the appointed ren- dezvous. Captain Porter obtained such additional provisions as were necessary for a long cruise. He had received intelligence of the victory over the Java, and had been informed that the Montague had captured the Hornet. He therefore determined on prosecuting the original cruise with the Essex alone. Previously to his departure from the rendezvous on the coast of Brazil, he captured the British packet Nocton, took out of her eleven thousand pounds sterling in specie, and ordered her with liieutenant Finch to the United States. He then shaped his course for the Pacific, arrived at Valparaiso on the 14th of March, 1813, provisioned himself there, and running down the coast of Chili and Peru, fell in with a Peruvian corsair, on bosird of which were twenty-four Americans, detained as prisoners. Captain Porter immediately threw the guns of the corsair o"er- board, deprived her of all her warlike implements, released the Americans, and recaptured, near Lima, one of the vessels in which they had been taken. From Lima he proceeded to the Galli- pagos islands, where he cruised from April until October ; and in that time captured twelve armed British whale ships. The Montezuma, of two guns and twenty -one men ; the Policy of ten guns and twenty-six men; the Georgiana, of six guns and twenty- five men ; the Greenwich, of ten guns and twenty-five men ; the Atlantic, of eight guns and twenty-four men ; the Rose, of eight guns and twenty-one men; the Hector, of eleven guns and twenty- 308 CAPTAIN PORTER S CRUISE. i 1 lis ¥'u Captain Porter's cruise in tht Paelflo. five men ; the Catherine, of eight guns and twenty-nine men; the Seringapatam, of fourteen guns and thirty-one men; the Charlton, of ten guns and twenty-one men ; the New Zealander, of eight guns and twenty-three men ; and the Sir Andrew Ham- mond, of twelve guns and thirty-one men ; making in all one hundred and seven guns and three hundred and two men, and the total amount of tonnage, three thousand four hundred and fifty-six. Many of these vessels were pierced for eighteen, twenty, and twenty-six guns, and Captain Porter equipped several of them, and commissioned them a« United States cruisers and store ships. The Atlantic he called the Essex Junior, equipped her with twenty guns, and assigned his first officer, Lieutenant Downes, as her commander. This officer conveyed such of the prizes as were to be laid up to Valparaiso. Here he learned that a British squadron, consisting of one frigate, two sloops of war, and a store ship of twenty guns had sailed for the Pacific, in quest of the Essex, and he immediately returned to Captain Porter with this intelligence. The Essex had now been one year at sea, and, as she required many repairs. Captain Porter proceeded to the island of Nooa- heevah, or Madison's island, lying in the Washington groups ; where he completely repaired the Essex ; and, having secured three of his prizes under the guns of a battery which he had previously erected, and manned with twenty-one marines, under Lieutenant Gamble of that corps, sailed for the coast of Chili BLOCKADE OF THE ESSEX. 309 on the 12th of December, and arrived there on the 12th of Janu* ary, 1814. He then looked into Conception and Valparaiso, where he learned that the squadron of which he had been in- formed by Lieutenant Downes, was conjectured to have been lost in doubling Cape Horn. He nevertheless continued in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso, and was anchored in that port with the Essex Junior, when Commodore Hilly ar, of the frigate Phoebe of thirty-six guns, mounting (thirty long eighteens, six- teen thirty-two-pound carronades, and one howitzer, on her decks, and six three-pounders in her tops) fifty-three guns, and having a complement of three hundred and twenty men ; accompanied by the Cherub sloop of war, Captain Tucker, of (eighteen thirty- two-pound carronades, eight twenty-fours, and two long nines) twenty-eight guns, and one hundred and eighty men, arrived at Valparaiso. The Essex, which mounted (forty thirty-tv»o pound carronades, and six long twelves) forty-six guns, and had her crew reduced by prizes to two hundred and fifty-five men; and the Essex Junior, which was not competent to resist a sloop of war, mounting twenty guns, and having on board sixty men, were thus blockaded by a force of eighty-one guns, and five hundred men. After cruising at the entrance to the harbour for six weeks, the Phoebe hove too, fired a gun to windward, and hoisted a motto flag, with the words " God and Country; British Sailors' best rights , Traitors offend both ;" in answer, as it was thought, to Captain Porter's motto of " Free Trade and Sailors' Rights." On the mizzen of the Essex, a flag was immediately hoisted, with the words, "God, our Country, and Liberty; Tyrants offend them ;" and she got under way, and commenced a fire on the Phoebe. Captain Porter conceived the movements of the Phoebe to be intended as a challenge to engage him ship to ship ; but, on discovering that the Phoebe ran down to her con- sort, he felt convinced that Commodore Hillyar would not engage the Essex alone. This conclusion was confirmed by the con duct of the two vessels, in keeping constantly within hail of each other. Captain Porter having now learned that the Tagus and two other frigates had also sailed for the Pacific, in pursuit of him, I JJIO ATTACK ON THE ESSEX. 6. Iff- 1 t ir p P^? : i4t|.rv ri If >ni not knowing what time they might gain the squadron already blockading him, and seeing no advantages which his country could obtain by his remaining longer in port, determined on putting to sea ; and expected, by drawing off the Phcebe and Cherub in pursuit of him, to afford an opportunity to the Essex Junior, to which he had appointed a rendezvous of escaping. On the 28th of March, the day after this determination was formed, the wind came on to blow fresh from the southward, and the Essex parted her larboard cable, and dragged her starboard anchor directly out to sea; the occurrences which followed are thus described in Captain Porter's official letter :* " Not a moment was to be lost in getting sail on the ship. The enemy were close in with the point forming the west side of the bay ; but on opening them I saw a prospect of passing to windward, when I took in my topgallant sails, which were set over single reefed topsails, and braced up for this purpose : but on rounding the point, a heavy squall struck the ship, and car- ried away her main topmast, j)recipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, who were drowned. Both ships now gave chase to me : and I endeavoured in my disabled state to regain the port ; but finding I could not recover the common anchorage, I ran close into a small bay, about three-quarters of a mile to lee- ward of the battery, on the east side of the harbour, and let go my anchor, within pistol-shot of the shore, where I intended to repair my damages as soon as possible. The enemy continued to approach, and showed an evident intention of attacking us, regardless of the neutrality of the place where I was anchored. The caution observed in their approach to the attack of the crippled Essex was truly ridicii- ♦ This letter, together with an account of the entire cruise of the Essex — of the pos- session of the island of Nooaheevah, by Captain Porter, in the name of the United States — of the intercourse established with the natives in behalf of his governmpnt— of the destruction of the enemy's commerce in those seas — of the immense expense which it cost the British government to pursue and capture the Essex — and of the transactions which took place between the different tribes of natives in the Washington groupe, and the fleet with which he appeared there, are to be found in a " Journal," pub- lished by Captain Porter, and accompanied by several engraved plans of those places, of the harbour of Valparaiso, and a view of the battle betweert the Phoebe and Cherub, •nd the Essex. ' Cf- ATTACK ON THE ESSEX. 311 lous ; as was their display of their motto flags, and the number of jacks at their mast heads. I, with as much expedition as cii- cumstances would admit of, got my ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get a spring on my cable, but had not succeeded, when the enemy, at fifty-four minutes after three p. m. made his attack; the Phoebe placing herself under my stern, and the Cherub on my starboard bow : but the Cherub soon finding her situation a hot one, bore up and ran under my stem also, where both ships kept up a hot raking fire. I had got three long twelve-pounders out at the stern ports, which were worked with so much bravery and skill, that in half an hour we so disabled both, as to compel them to haul off to repair damages. In the course of this firing, I had by the great exertions of Mr. Edward Barnewall, the acting sailingmaster, assisted by Mr. Linscott, the boatswain, succeeded in getting springs on our cables three different times ; but the fire of the enemy was so excessive that, before we could get our broadside to bear, they were shot away, and thus rendered useless to us. My ship had received many injuries, and several had been killed and wounded ; but my brave officers and men, notwithstanding the unfavourable cir- cumstances under which we were brought to action, and the powerful force opposed to us, were noways discouraged; all appeared determined to defend their ship to the last extremity, and to die in preference to a shameful surrender. Our gaff, with the ensign and motto flag at the mizzen, had been shot away ; but FREE TRADE AND SAILORS* RIGHTS Continued to fly at the fore. Our ensign was replaced by another : and to guard against a similar event, an ensign was made fast in the mizzen rigging, and several jacks were hoisted in different parts of the ship. The enemy soon repaired his damages for a fresh attaclt ; he now placed himself with both his ships, on my starboard quarter, out of the reach of my carronades, and where my stern guns could not be brought to bear ; he there kept up a most galling fire, which it was out of my power to return, when I saw no prospect of injuring him, without getting under way and be- coming the assailant. My topsail sheets and halyards were all shot away, as well as the jib and fore-top-mast-stay-sail halyards. The only rope not cut was the flying-jib halyards ; and that being 312 ATTACK ON THE ESSEX. ru rj*. M: t' .J Commodore Porter. the only sail I could set, I caused it to be hoisted, my cable to be cut, and ran down on both ships, with an intention of laying the Phoebe on board. The firing on both sides was now tremen- dous; I had let fall my fore-topsail and foresail, but the want of tacks and sheets had rendered them almost useless to us ; yet we were enabled for a short time to close with the enemy ; and although our decks were now strewed with dead, and our cock- pit filled with wounded ; although our ship had been several times on fire, and was rendered a perfect wreck, we were still encouraged to hope to save her, from the circumstance of the Cherub, from her crippled state, being compelled to liaul off, She did not return to close action again, although she apparently had it in her power to do so, but kept up a distant firing with long guns. The Phoebe, from our disabled state was enabled, however, by edging off, to choose the distance which best suited her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire on us, which mowed down my brave companions by the dozen. Manv of my ATTACK ON THE ESSEX. 313 gwns had been rendered useless by the enemy's shot, and many of them had their whole crews destroyed. We manned them again, from those which were disabled, and one gun in particu- lar was three times manned ; fifteen wer^ slain at it in the course of the action ! But, strange as it may appear, the captain of it escaped with only a slight wound. Finding Ihat the enemy had it in his power to choose his dis- tance, I now^ gave up all hopes of closing with him ; and as the wind for the moment seemed to favour the design, I determined to endeavour to run her on shore, land my men, and destroy her. Every thing seemed to favour my wishes. We had approached the shore within musket-shot, and I had no doubt of succeeding, when in an instant the wind shifted from the land, (as is very common in this port in the latter part of the day,) and payed our head down on the Phoebe, where we were again exposed to a dreadful raking fire. My ship was now totally unmanageable ; yet as her head was towards the enemy, and he to leeward of me, I still hoped to be* able to board him. At this moment, Lieutenant-Commandant Downes came on board to receive my orders, under the impression that I should soon be a prisoner. He could be of no use to me in the then wretched state of the Essex, and finding (from the enemy's putting his helm up) that my last attempt at boarding would not succeed, I directed him, after he had been about ten minutes on board, to return to his own ship, to be prepared for defending and destroying her in case of attack. He took with him several of my wounded, leaving three of his boat's crew on board to make room for them. The slaughter on board my ship had now become horrible ; the enemy continuing to rake us, and we unable to bring a gun to bear. I therefore directed a hawser to be bent to the sheet anchor, and the anchor to be cut from the bows to bring her head round; this succeeded. We again got our broadside to bear, and as the enemy was much crippled, and \inable to hold his own, I have no doubt he would soon have drifted out of gun-shot, before he discovered we had anchored, had not the hawser un- fortunately parted. My ship had taken fire several times during the action, but alarmingly so forward and aft at this moment, the flames were 2D 40 314 ATTACK ON THE ESSEX. \U P'^'f^H bursting up each hatchway, and no hopes were entertained of saving her ; our distance from the shore did not exceed three- quarters of a mile, and I hoped many of my brave crew would be able to save themselves, should the ship blow up, as I was informed the fire was near the magazine, and the explosion of a large quantity of powder below, served to increase the horrors of our situation. Our boats were destroyed by the enemy's shot- I therefore directed those who could swim, to jump overboard and endeavour to gain the shore. Some reached it ; some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the attempt; but most preferred sharing with me the fate of the ship. We, who remained, now turned our attention wholly to extinguish the flames; and, when we had succeeded, went again to our guns, where the firing was kept up for some minutes ; but the crew had by this time become so weakened, that they all declared to me the impossibility of making further resistance, and entreated me to surrender my ship, to save the wounded, as all further attempt at opposition must prove ineffectual, almost every gun being disabled by the destruction of their crews." Captain Porter then summoned his oflicers of division to a consultation, but, to his surprise, his summons was attended by one only remaining officer, Acting-Lieutenant McKnight, who made the same report concerning the condition of the guns. Lieutenant Wilmer had been knocked overboard by a splinter, and was drowned ; Acting-Lieutenant Cowell had lost a leg, of which loss he afterwards died; Mr. Barnewall, the acting- master, had been twice severely wounded; Acting-Lieutenant Odenheimer had been knocked overboard about the same time, and did not regain the ship until she had surrendered ; many of the wounded were killed, while in the hands of the surgeons; the cockpit, the steerage, the wardroom, and the birth-deck could contain no more ; and such was the quantity of shot holes in the bottom of the Essex, that, unless she was very soon re- paired, the carpenter reported, she must inevitably 5,ink, The smoothness of the water, and the impossibility of reaching the enemy with the carronades, enabled him to fire with the most deliberate aim at the Essex; and, seeing no hope of saving his little frigate. Captain Porter, at twenty minutes past six, p. m., !' ti CAPTURE OF THE ESSEX. 315 orders to strike the colours. At this moment, seventy-fiye men only, including officers, were all that remained of the crew, fit for duty, and several of these severely wounded. The Essex had now yielded to the superior force of the enemy, who, never- theless, still fired, and continued to do so, ten minutes after her surrender. Many of the crew were, in this time, killed ; an opposite gun had been fired, to show that she intended no further resistance, yet Commodore Hillyar still assailed her, and four men fell at the side of her commander. Conceiving from this conduct, that the enemy intended to show no quarter, Captain Porter determined to die with his flag flying, and was on the point of rehoisting it, when the firing ceased. In addition to the officers already mentioned. Captain Portei speaks of Messrs. Johnson and Bostwick, acting officers, of Mid- shipmen Isaacs, Farragut, and Ogden ; and of acting Midship- men Terry, Lyman, and Duzenbury, having behaved with much bravery, enterprise, and skill. Such was the condition of both the Phoebe and the Essex, that it was with extreme difficulty they could be kept afloat until they anchored in Valparaiso. All the masts and yards of the two British vessels were crippled, and their hulls cut up. The Phcebe had eighteen twelve-pound shot below her water line, though the Essex never reached the enemy, but with her six twelve-pounders. All the vessels were obliged to be repaired, to double Cape Horn ; and at Rio de Janeiro, they put in, to fit up and repair, to enable them to reach England. In an engagement of two hours and t .venty minutes duration, between one ship of forty-six guns, six only of which could be used, and two vessels of eighty-one guns, the loss on the inferior side must necessarily have been excessively severe. On board the Essex, fifty-eight men were killed, thirty-nine severely, and twenty-six slightly wounded, and thirty-one missing ; making a total loss of one hundred and fifty-four. On board the PhcBbe and Cherub, the loss was not small. The first lieutenant of the former was killed, and Captain Tucker of the latter, severely wounded. Commodore Hillyar made arrangements with Captain Porter, in consideration of his conduct to the crew of the Alert; by 90 tefl rt *!f tim '. r;;\ If! ^ ' J f 316 RETURN OF COMMODORE PORTER. which the Essex Junior was to be dismantled of her armament and given up to the prisoners, who were to proceed in her to the United States. Accordingly, on the 27th of April, Captain Porter and his crew left Valparaiso in that ship, which, under Lieutenant Dov/nes, was furnished with a passport, to secure her admission into any of the blockaded ports of the United States. On the 5th July, they fell in with the Saturn razee. Captain Mash, who suffered the Essex Junior to proceed, after anexami- nation of her papers. Two hours after, being on the same tack with the Saturn, she was again brought to, the papers re-examined, and the hold overhauled, by the boat's crew and an officer. Captain Porter was informed that Commodore Hillyar had no authority to make any arrangement, by which this ship should be given up, and that she must therefore be detained. Captain Porter immediately ordered out a boat, manned it with a sufficient crew, and pulled off from the Essex Junior. The Saturn did not discover him until he was out of gun-shot, when she chased the boat, without success ; and Captain Porter landed at Lonff Island, upwards of thirty miles from the place at which he left the Essex, and immediately proceeded to New York, where- he arrived, after an absence from his country of nineteen months, and to which port he was followed a few days after by the Essex Junior. The United States sloop of war Peacock, Captain L. Warring- ton, of twenty guns, and one hundred and sixty men, was launched in the month of October, 1813, performed a cruise during that winter, escaped the pursuit of the enemy into the St. Mary's, put to sea again, and on the 29th of April discovered the British brig of war Epervier, Captain Wales, of eighteen guns and one hundred and twenty-eight men, having under con- voy an English brig, and a Russian and a Spanish ship, all ot whom made sail on the approach of the Peacock. An engage- ment followed soon after, between the two vessels of war, and at the first broadside from the Epervier, the foreyard of the Peacock was totally disabled by two round shot in the starboard quarter. By this circumstance she was deprived of the use of her fore and fore topsails, and Captain Warrington was compelled to keep his ship large throughout the action, which continued forty two ::U;;p,;'' rmament, ler to the i Captain ch, under ecure her 3d States. , Captain an exami- same tack examined, icer. 'ar had no lip should Captain I sufficient Saturn did she chased d at Long lich he left . where- he jn months, iter by the 1. Warring- men, was jd a cruise (ly into the discovered of eighteen under con- ship, all ot A.n engage- war, and at he Peacock ard quarter. ler fore and to keep his d foriyt\vo m m 1 ' i i'M '4 2> 2 THB PEACOCK AND EPERVIER. 4» minutes. In this time she received many shot through her saiU and rigging, lost several topmast and top gallant back-stays, and had two men wounded. Her hull not at all injured, and none of the crew killed. The Epervier struck with five feet water in hei hold, her main topmast over the side, her main boom shot away, her foremast cut nearly in two and tottering, her fore rigging and stays shot away, her bowsprit much injured, her hull pierced by forty-five shot, twenty of which were within a foot of her water line, and eleven of her crew killed, and her first lieutenant and fourteen men wounded. She was immediately taken pos- session of by Lieutenant Nicholson, •. rst officer of the Peacock, who, with Lieutenant Yoorhees of the same ship, had been dis- tinguished in another naval combat. One hundred and eighteen thousand dollars in specie were found on board the Epervier, and transferred to the Peacock; and Captain Warrington, having received on board the officers of the enemy's vessel, pursued his course to one of the southern ports, in company with his prize, after repairing her with the utmost diligence. At half-past five, p. m., on the following day, being almost off the centre of Amelia island. Captain Warrington discovered two large sail in chase, which he ascertained to be frigates. At the suggestion of Lieutenant Nicholson, he took all the prisoners out of the Epervier, and leaving a crew of only sixteen men on board, directed her to make the best of her way for St. Mary's, whilst we stood on a wind along the shore, to the southward. The frigates then separated, one being in chase of the Peacock, and the other of the Epervier. At nine that night the Peacock lost sight of the chaser, but continued all night to the south- ward. At daylight of the 1st of May she shortened sail, and stood to the northward, discovered the frigate again, and was a second time chased until two, p. m., when the frigate gave up. In the evening she resumed her cruise, fell in with the frigate a third time, on the morning of the 2d, and was again chased until she lost sight. On the morning of the 4th, she made Tybee lighthouse, at the entrance to Savannah, and arrived at that port in the course of the day. Here Captain Warrington found his prize, the Epervier, which had escaped with great difficulty, after beating off a launch well manned and armed, which had m 820 Vh r t'- HM9a Is ''':ii i I*: El I "^^. -. CRUISE OF THE WASP Commodor* Warrington, been despatched from the frigate to overtake her. Lieutenant Nicholson, by his judgment and decision, which had never been known to desert him in times of peril and difficulty, prevented her recapture. The Epervier was repaired, refitted, bought into the service at Savannah, and the command given to Captain Downes, of the Essex Junior. The conduct of Lieutenant Henley, of Midshipmen Greeves and Rodgers, of Mr. Townsend, captain's clerk, and Mr. Myers, master's mate, is represented by Captain Warrington to have been cool, determined, and active. The sailingma«ter, Percival, the same who captured the tender Eagle, off Sandy Hook, handled the ship in a very superior style, and placed her in such situations as were most advantageous, with much ease and pro- fessional skill. The new sloop of war the Wasp, Captain Blakely, mounting twenty guns, having been completely equipped for a long cruise, sailed from Portsmouth on the 1st of May, 1814, between which time and the 6th of the following July, she captured seven WASP AND REINDEER. 321 merchantmen, and a brig of war, the Reindeer, Captain Manners, of eighteen guns, and one shifting gun, and one hundred and eighteen men. This capture was made after an action of nine- teen minutes, in latitude 48° 36' N. and longitude 11° 46' W On that day, at fifteen minutes after four a. m., the Wasp being in pursuit of two sail before the lee beam, discovered the Rein- deer on the weather beam, and immediately altered her course, and hauled by in chase of her. The pursuit continued until half-past meridian, when the Reindeer, having previously hoisted an English ensign and pendant, showed a blue and white flag at the fore, and fired a gun. At fifteen minutes past one. Captain Blakely called all hands to quarters, and prepared for action. At twenty-two minutes past one, he tacked ship, and stood for the Reindeer, with an expectation of being able to weather her. At fifty minutes past one, the Reindeer tacked and stood from the Wasp. Fifty-six minutes past one, the Wasp hoisted her colours, and fired a gun to windward, which was answered. The chase was kept up until thirty-two minutes past two, when the Reindeer tacked for the Wasp, and the latter took in her stay sails, and furled the royals. Captain Blakely ha^dng now discovered that the Reindeer would weather him, immediately tacked ship, and at fifteen minutes past three, the Reindeer being on his weather quarter, at sixty yards distance, fired her shifting gun, a twelve-pound carronade, loaded with round and grape shot. At seventeen minutes past three, the same gun was fired again ; at nineteen minutes past three it was fired a third time ; at twenty-one minutes past three a fourth time ; and at twenty-four minutes past three a fifth time. The Reindeer not getting suffi- ciently on the beam of the Wasp, the latter was compelled to receive these repeated discharges without being able to bring a gun to bear. Her helm was therefore put a-lee, and at twenty- six minutes aft«r three Captain Blakely commenced the action with his after carronade, on the starboard side, and fired in suc- cession. The mainsail was then hauled up, and at forty minutes after three, the Reindeer's larboard bow being in contact with the larboard quarter of the Wasp, Captain Manners directed his crew to board her. The attempt was gallantly repulsed by the 41 322 WASP AND REINDEER. ! ,' crew of the Wasp, who several times beat off the enemy ; and at forty-four minutes past three were ordered to board in turn Throwing themselves with great promptitude upon the deck oi the Reindeer, they succeeded in the execution of their orders, and her flag came down at forty-five minutes after three. In a line with her ports she was cut almost to pieces ; her upper works, boats, and spare spars entirely destroyed, and on the fol- lowing day her foremost went by the board. Twenty-five of her crew were killed, and forty-two wounded, making a loss ot sixty-seven men. On board the Wasp the injury sustained was not so material Her rigging was destroyed however in several places, her fore- mast was pierced through by a twenty-four pound ball, and her hull struck by six round shot and many grape, though not with sufficient force to penetrate far. Her loss amounted to five killed, and twenty-one wounded, principally in boarding. Among the latter Midshipmen Langdon and Toscan, both of whom expired some days after. Having received the prisoners and their bag- gage on board the Wasp, Captain Blakely blew up the Reindeer on the evening of the 29th, and sailed for L' Orient to provide for the disabled part of each crew, whose wounds had become offensive in consequence of the intense heat of the weather. He arrived at that port on the 8th of July, and found that their damage could be repaired by the carpenters of the ship in a few days. In this action Lieutenants Bury and Reily, who had been in the engagements vnth the Guerriere and Java, and of Lieute- nant Tillinghast, (2d) who was instrumental to the capture of the Boxer, maintained the high credit which they acquired on those previous occasions. And Captain Blakely, whose reputa- tion as a skilful seaman and an expert navigator is not surpassed by any naval olficer, had his crew so well drilled upon the prin- ciples of manne discipline, that they never despaired of van- quishing an equal force of their enemy. In the port of L'Orient, the Wasp was detained by head winds until the 27th of August, having been anchored there fifty-two days. During this time every attention was given to her officers ai^ crew by the inhabitants, and their situation in a foreign port WASP AND AVON. 325 rendered particularly agreeable by the assiduities of the Ame- rican minister. After leaving that place and capturing two valuable British merchantmen, Captain Blakely fell in with a convoy of ten sail, on the 1st of September, under the protection of the Armada, seventy-four, and a bomb ship. He stood for them, and suc- ceeded in cutting out of the squadron a brig laden with brass and iron cannon, and military stores from Gibraltar; and after taking out the prisoners and setting her on fire, he endeavoured to cut out another vessel, but was driven off by the seventy-four. In the evening at half past six, he discovered two vessels on his starboard, and two on the larboard bow, and hauled for that which was farthest to windward. At seven she was made out to be a brig of war, making signals- with flags which could not be distinguished, owing to the darkneiss of the night ; and at twenty-nine minutes past nine, she was under the lee-bow of the Wasp. Captain Blakely ordered the twelve-poimd carronade to be fired into her, and received a return from the stranger. The Wasp then ran under the lee-bow of the enemy to prevent her escape, and immediately commenced an action, which continued until ten o'clock, when Captain Blakely, supposing his antago- nist to be silenced, ceased firing, and hailed to know if she had surrendered. No answer being given to this demand, ho re- commenced firing, and the enemy returned him broadside for broadside. At twelve minutes past ten, the enemy having made no return to the two last broadsides, was again hailed to know if he had surrendered. Captain Blakely was informed that the vessel being in a sinking condition, her commander had struck his colours. The Wasp's boats were immediately lowered, when a second brig of war was discovered a little distance astern, stand- ing for her. The crew were instantly sent to their quarters, and preparations made for another engagement. The Wasp was lying to for the approach of the second stranger, when at thirty- six minutes past ten, two other brigs were discovered standing also for her. . . ,, » Under these circumstances, Captain Blakely was prevented from taking possession of his prize, and keeping off the wind, SB .in LifiiS:;- 826 SINKING OF THE AVON. . Captain Blakely. ,- ;»= ^ with an expectation of drawing the brig first discovered, after him, he ordered new braces to bo rove, to replace those which had been shot away. His expectations were not, however, an- swered, the brig of war continuing in pursuit only until she was near enough under his stern to give him a broadside, and return to her companions. This she did, and cut the rigging and sails, and shot away a lower main cross tree of the Wasp. The name and force of the prize has since been ascertained. She was the brig of war Avon, Captain Arbuthnot, of the same number of guns as the Reindeer, and sunk immediately after the Castillion ^the vessel which chased the Wasp) had taken out her last man. According to the enemy's account, her captain was wounded in both legs, the first lieutenant and eight men killed, and the second lieutenant, one midshipman, and thirty-one men wounded. The Wasp received in her hull four thirty-two-pound shot, and in her mainmast a number of grape shot. Her sails and rigging were much damaged, but her loss in men amounted to two killed LOSS OF THE WASP. 837 and one only wounded. She repaired her damages on the suc- ceeding day, and continued to cruise, in conformity with her in- structions from the navy department. On the 2 1st of September, she captured off the Madeiras, her thirteenth prize, the British briff Atalanta, of eight guns, and the only one which she sent into port. This vessel arrived at Savannah in the beginning of November, under the command of Mr. Geisinger, one of the officers of the Wasp, with despatches from Captain Blakely. The Atalanta left the Wasp, at sea, on the 23d of September, without knowing the destination to which her further cruise would convey her ; and, since that time, no ofdcial accounts have been received from her. Her cruise was theretofore most brilliant and unparalleled, her sailors all young, athletic, brave, and en- thusiastic, and her officers among the most skilful in the service. She was never heard from after being hailed by the Atalanta, and her loss was deeply deplored by the whole republic. SB 328 CAMPAIGN OF 1814. iiii* * ' I . r ' I- ,* i -.1 A - i t J.. ^sr ■Bi m^, HH HK 4i .<^' ■■1 i! ^. T i'|;l CHAPTER XVII. tfommfncemeiit of t|b« ttampaisn of tUSlA* N the winter of 1813, we left the northern army under General Wil- kinson, in quarters, the right division being at Champlain, and the left and largest at French MiUs. Between that time and the spring of 1814, several plans of attack upon the posts of St. Philip, L'Acadie and St. Johns, by the route of Hammerford, La Tor tue, and St. Piere, and for a simultaneous movement against Cornwall, with a view to cut off the communication between the Upper and Lower Provinces, were submitted to the war depart- ment by the commander-in-chief. Before the propositions were received at the department, orders had been forwarded to Salmon river, directing the general to withdraw his forces from French Mills ; to forward two thousand men, with a proportion of field and battering cannon, under General Brovni, to Sackett's Harbour ; and to fall back with the residue of the troops, stores, and baggage to Plattsburg. In conformity to these orders, the flotilla in which the army had descended the St. Lawrence was destroyed on the night of the 12th of February; the barracks were fired on the succeeding day, and the troops abandoned their quarters and marched to- ward the several places of their destination. EXPEDITION AGAINST FRENCH MILLS. 329 General Wilkinson had scarcely reached Plattsburg before he was apprized of a movement of the enemy, with a view to the capture of a few sick men whose extreme illness rendered it indispensable they should bo left in the hospital at Malone, a short distance from the Mills. He therefore determined on their expulsion from the territory, in time to prevent the achievement of their object, and having made proper arrangements for the convenience and comfort of the sick at their new quarters, he marched with all possible expedition to meet and repulse the enemy Colonel Scott of the 103d British regiment, commanded the expedition against French Millp and Malone, composed of two thousand regulars, Glengarians, and militia, and accompanied by nearly three hundred guides and followers. He crossed over to the Mills on the 21st, burned the arsenal at Malone, pillaged the property of individuals, and carried off several barrels of public provisions. But hearing of the approach of the Ameri- can troops, he retreated in great confusion, though not without destroying the bridges in his rear. The whole party suffered severely by a tremendous storm of snow and hail, which pre- vailed at the close of the day, and lost upwards of two hundred deserters, who surrendered themselves to the American army. During the following month, (March,) the troops were not otherwise engaged than in breaking up a system of smuggling, which had been carried on for several previous months, and which at this period was extended to an alarming and dangerous degree. Towards the close of March, General Wilkinson determined on establishing a battery at Rouse's Point, where he had pre- viously discovered a position well adapted for a work to keep in check the contemplated movements of the British fleet destined to operate upon the Lake Champlain, and which had been laid up during the winter at St. Johns, about twenty-one miles below the mouth of the La Colle, and twenty-six from Rouse's Point. After this position had been reconnoitered by his engineer. Ma- jor Totten, he made an attempt to carry this object into execu- tion, but the sudden and unseasonable breaking up of the ice defeated the plan ; and being informed that the enemy had taken 2k2 4i 330 AFFAIR OF LA COLLG MILL. I:: 1: the alarm, and was condensing a force of two thousand five hundred men at La CoUe Mill, four miles from Rouse's Point, he determined on the opinion of his leading officers, and a report that the walls could be effectually battered with a six-pounder to attack it. On the 30th he accordingly entered Canada, and was met by a party of the enemy at Odelltown, whom he forced back more than three miles, on the route to Montreal, in the course of which much skirmishing took place. He then resumed his march to La CoUe Mill, a large and lofty fortified stone house, measuring sixty feet by forty, and at that time in command of Major Hancock, and a strong corps of British regulars. To drive the enemy from this post, and to effect its destruo- tion. General Wilkinson ordered forward an eighteen-pounder, and disposed his troops so as to intercept him in an attempt to retreat. The only road of approach being through a deep forest, almost inundated, and covered with insurmountable obstruc- tions to the passage of a heavy piece of cannon, the eighteen- pounder could not be brought up, and the general determined upon attempting a breach with a twelve, and a five and a half inch howitzer. He took post with those pieces, under command of Captain McPherson and his seconds. Lieutenants Larrabee and Sheldon, at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards^ from the fortified house, and covered them with the second brigade composed of the 33d, 34th, 4tht and 10th regiments, and part of Colonel Clark's command, under Brigadier-General Smith, on the right; and the 3d brigade, composed of the 14th and 20th, under Brigadier-General Bissel, on the left. Colonel Miller was detached with the 6th, and 12th, and part of the 13th, to cross the La CoUe, and form a line across the several roads leading from the stone house on the opposite side of the river, to cut off the retreat of the British regulars. Brigadier-General Macomb, with a select corps of the first brigade, formed the re- serve. All these regiments were mere skeletons consolidated. This disposition being completed, the battery was immediately opened upon the enemy, who promptly returned the fire, and * It is said Major, now Colonel, Totten, unoe ascertained that the Americans wen within one hundred and fifty yards of the house, and that a breach could not have been effected with an eighteen-pounder. seems: tenmcel cock, d^ storm tl for a sul were aj repulsej to retiri then si ability AFFAIR OF LA COLLE MILL. 331 threw numbers of Congreve roqjtets upon the right wing of the Americ'in line. From these manifestations of deliberate and circumspect preparation, the commander of the American forces \m induced to believe the report tha* .o number of the enemy amounted to twenty-five hundred ; his strength was inferior to that, however, though competent under the cover of strong walls, to repel an attack from a much larger number of assailants. The stone house stood upon that side of the river on which General Wilkinson had drawn up his line; a block-house of wood stood on the other; and both were encompassed by an open piece of ground, on the edge of a wood bordering upon which the Americans had taken post; every officer, therefore, from the lowest subaltern up to the commander-in-chief was exposed to the enemy's fire. Here the general made proper arrangements to keep his corps in order, to receive a combined ittack, and continued to cannonade the house, but without being able to effect a breach, although the guns were managed with uncommon skill, by officers accustomed to their use. Captain McPherson had been already wounded under the chin; this wound he immediately bound up, and continued to direct the fire from his piece until a second shot broke his thigh, and ren- dered him unfit for further duty. His next officer. Lieutenant Larrabee, was shot through the lungs, and Lieutenant Sheldon kept up the fire with great vivacity, until the close of the engage- ment. Tho conduct of these gentlenien was represented by their commander to be "so conspicuously gallant as to attract the admiration of their brothers in arms." Relying on the firmness and intrepidity of his troops, and seeing that the Americans were resolved on the longer main- ten iFiCe of the cannonade, the British commander, Major Han- cock, determined on sending a strong party from the house, to storm the battery, and put the assailants to flight. He gave ord(?rs for a sudden and immediate sortie, and several desperate charges were attempted upon the cannon. These were successively repulsed by the covering troops, and the enemy's regulars obliged to retire to the fortified building with considerable loss. They then shut themselves up in the house, and, convinced of their ability to retain their position, put at defiance the utmost effiDits 332 OPERATIONS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. of the Americans; and General Wilkinson being now persuadea of the impracticability of making an impression with such light pieces upon a solid stone wall found upon experiment to be of unusual thickness, called in his detachments, withdrew his bat tery, and having previously removed his dead and wounded, fell back to Odelltown, at about six o'clock of the same day. Thence he moved to Champlain and Plattsburg, at which latter place he established his quarters. The American loss in this affair amounted to one hundred and forty in killed and wounded, among the latter Lieutenants Green and Parker, of the infantiy. The enemy's loss was known to be considerable in the sortie, but the amount has never been accurately ascertained. Immediately after the incursion to La Colle, the whole regular force of Lower Canada, and a battalion of Glengarians from Coteau de Lao, were concentrated at Isle aux Noix, and a large number of batteaux collected at St. Johns. The former awaiting the movement of the British fleet, whose boats were employed iu the daily examination of the ice on the lake, on the breaking up of which such movement depended. This event took place in the beginning of the month of April, and early in May the British flotilla entered Lake Champlain. PREVIOUSLY to their apppearance on the lake. General Wilkinson had been recalled from that district, by an order from the department of the 24th of March. But being apprized of the equipment of the enemy's flotilla, and of their intention to blockade the mouth of Otter creek leading to the town of Vergennes, where the American fleet lay waiting for their armament, he, notwithstand- ing this order, visited the capes at its entrance, conferred with Commodore McDonough at Vergennes, and made arrangements to erect a battery and fortify that point. This precaution proved to be of incalculable service, and amply provided against an attempt to obstruct the passage of the American squadron into the lake. On the 13th of May, not long after the battery had been con- structed on the cape, a bomb vessel and eight large row galleys were stationed, by the enemy, across the entrance of the creek, with a view to its blockade, and to cut off" supplies for a new ship OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO. 339 I hst then completing, and intended to be added to the American squadron. Captain Thornton, of the light artillery, was de- spatched to defend the battery, and Commodore McDonough placed a number of sailors, under Lieutenant Cassin, of the navy, toco-operate with the artillery. A new large gun biig, and several other galleys, being at the same time, about two wiles in the rear oi" the bomb vessels, suspicions were entertained of the enemy's intention to land a detachment of troops, either to captiire the provisions in the neighbourhood, or to assail thrt battery from the rear. General Davis, of the Vermont militia, immediately called out a detachment of his brigade, and made dispositions to resist an invasion. At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, the bomb ship opened her battery upon the hew works, und continued the attack upwards of two hours, without doing any other injury than the dismounting of one gun. Captain Thornton, with his artil- lorymen, a>id Lieutenant Cassin, with his sailors, returned the fire with constant animation, compelled the enemy to withdraw from his position, and captured two galleys which the British seamen were obl\ji^ed to abandon. The bomb ship, and the re- mainder of the galleys, stood off to the other vessels, and the whole squadron proceeded down the lake, passed Burlington, and had some skirmishing with a small body of militia under General Wright, who manoeuvered so well as to persuade the enemy that his force was much stronger. During the attack. Commodore McDonough attempted to bring the American vessels down the creek, but did not succeed in reaching the mouth, until the enemy had departed. The enemy were not less active in their operations along the shores of the Lake Ontario; and the commanders of the rival armaments there, lost no time in preparing and equipping their vessels, to take the lake early in the spring. At the close of the preceding autumn, they had mancEvered with uncommon skill, though not with equal success, the one to draw his enemy into an engagement, the other to avoid fighting, for the supremacy of the water, until his fleet should be augmented by an additional force. At Kingston, an immense vessel was building for that purpose ; and, at Sackett's Harbour, a new ship was ordered of a sufficient size to maintain the existing equality. Whilst thoso 1 334 OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO. 1 1 '■•' .' ; I ^? I' I .fit: ' vessels were constructing, various plans were continually adopted to destroy them, and all the caution of one party became neces sary to guard against the vigilance of the other. On one occasion the 25th of April, three of the enemy's boats succeeded in getting close in with the harbour, when Lieutenant Dudley, of the navy being the officer of the guard, detected and fired upon them. Each boat was provided with two barrels of powder, attached to each other by means of ropes, and intended to be placed under the stocks of the vessels. Upon being fired at, they immediately threw the powder into the lake, to prevent an explosion of their own boats, and pulled off without returning a shot. AILING in all his attempts to destroy the hull of the new ship, the British commander determined upon intercepting her rigging, naval stores, and guns. These had been de- posited at Oswego, about sixty miles from the harbour, and thither Sir James Yeo and Lieutenant-General Drummond resolved to sail with the whole fleet, and a competent number of troops to land and storm the fort, and capture this valuable booty. Ac-, cordingly, on the 6th of May, Sir James appeared before the fort, with four large ships, three brigs, and a number of gun- boats, barges, and transports. The transports principally con- tained the troops of Lieutenant-General Drummond. The suc- cessful issue of this expedition would have given to the British forces, for a time at least, a decided superiority on the lake, and without knowing that the stores had been previously removed from Oswego, they commenced an attack, which was kept up for nearly two days, the brilliant and unusual resistance to which did not, however, avail the American garrison. The fort mounted but five old guns, three of which were almost useless, and had a shore battery of five more of smaller weight. It had been garrisoned but a few days by Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell of the artillery, and two hundred and ninety men. The schooner Growler, having on board , Captain Woolsey and Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, was at that time in Oswego creek, receiving the cannon which had not yet been removed. The enemy were no sooner discovered than the Growler was sunk to prevent the DEFENSE OF OSWEGO. 335 capture of the cannon, and all the tents in store were imme- diately pitched on the village side of the creek, to persuade the enemy that the Americans were numerous. Under Lieutenant Pearce the few sailors of the Growler were added to the gar- rison ; the shore battery was commanded by Captain Boyle» wh<» wa» seconded by Lieutenant Legate. At about one o'clock fifteen large boats, crowded with troops, moved at a given signal to the shore, preceded by several gun boats which were sent forward to cover the landing ; whilst all the larger vessels opened a heavy fire upon the little fort. The contest was kept up with great vigour and equal vivacity ; the fort itself returned a very animated fire ; and Captain Boyle succeeded twice in repulsing the debarking boats, near the shore battery, and at length compelled them to retire to the shipping. The whole squadron then stood off, and anchored at a distance t-om the shore ; one of their bop*s, being sixty feet in length, and carrying thirty-six oars and three sails, was so much shat- tered that her crew abandoned her, and she fell into the hands of the American artillery. • ' Though the British were thus compelled to retire from tho assault of the fort, it was by no means to be supposed that they had relinquished their intention of storming and possessing it. The immense superiority of their force and means would not justify such a supposition, and Colonel Mitchell was therefore particularly vigilant. He stationed picket guards at the differ- ent points of debarkation, kept his men iipon their arms during the night, and neglected no measure of precaution. Mortified at so successful a resistance, by a force known to be so much inferior, and protected by weak batteries, the enemy determined to effect a landing under cover, as well of their large vessels, as of their gun-boats, and at daybreak of the 6th they approached the shore again. They were early discovered coming up under easy sail, and soon after the principal ship, the Wolf, and the other frigates resumed their position before the fort and battery, whilst the brigs, schooners, and gun-boats, proceeded higher up to cover by their fire the landing of the troops. The Wolf, and the frigates, kept up the cannonade for three hours, whilst the land forces, to the number of seventeen hundred, composed of ■ k '^- 'Til Hi' ts^i d36 CAPTURE OF OSWEGO. ^ #» AUMk on Oiwego. one column of the De Watteville regiment, led by Lieutenant- Colonel Fischer, on the left ; a second column of a battalion of marines, under Lieutenant-Colonel Malcorn, 8upi)orted by a de- tachment of two hundred seamen under Captain Mulcaster, the second officer of the fleet, on the right, succeeded under a tre- mendous fire from the brigs and schooners, in gaining the shore, where their advance was resisted by Lieutenant Pearce of the navy, and a small party of seamen. The landing being effected, Colonel Mitchell withdrew to the rear of the fort, united with the sailors, two companies of artillerymen, under Captains Ro- mayne and Melvin, and assailed the invading columns whilst the companies of Captains Mclntire and Pierce of the heavy ar- tillery engaged the enemy's flanks. Thus formed, he sustained a vigorous and desperate conflict upwards of thirty minutes, in which great slaughter was made among the enemy, and a severe loss experienced by thi troops of the garrison. Against a force, however, which amounted to ten times their own number, it was found useless for the Americans longer to contend, and Colonel Mitchell accordingly fell back about four hundred yards from the eneray, where he formed his troops, and took up his march for the falls, thirteen miles in the rear of the fort, upon Oswego river, to which place the stores had been previously removed. He retired in such good order as to be able to destroy the ATTACK ON CHARLOTTE. 337 bridges in his rear, notwithstanding he was pressed by a nume- rous foe. The enemy then took possession of the fort and barracks, but for the little booty which he obtained, consisting of a few barrels of provisions and whisky, he paid much more than an equivalent. His loss in killed amounted to seventy, in wounded, drowned, and missing, one hundred and sixty-five, in all two hundred and thirty-five. Among these were Captain Haltaway killed, and Captains Mulcaster, Popham, and Ledergrew, and two lieute- nants and one master wounded. In the noble and obstinate resist- ance which they made, the Americans lost Lieutenant Blaney, an officer of high promise, and five men killed, thirty-eight wounded, and twenty-five missing, in all sixty-nine men. On the morning of the 7th, the enemy, finding that the object of the expedition, though prosecuted with a force, including the ships' crews, of three thousand men, had not been achieved, evacuated the place after firing the barracks, spiking some, and carrying off others of the guns. On the 9th, they returned to Oswego, and sent a flag iri? the village, informing the inhabitants of their intention of landing a large force, to proceed to the falls for the execution of their origi- nal plan ; but on being assured by the people that the stores had been removed from that place, and that the communication was cut off by the destruction of the bridges, they quitted Oswego and stood for Kingston. On the evening of the 12th, four ships, two brigs, and five gun-boats, of this squadron, were discovered shaping their course for Charlotte, a town near the mouth of the Gennessee river. At this town, a corps of volunteers, amounting to one hundred and sixty men, and having one field-piece, had been stationed for its defense ; and the commanding officer, on the appearance of the fleet, immediately despatched expresses to General Peter B. Porter, who arrived there early on the morning of the 13th. In answer to a flag which had been sent ashore with a demand for the surrender of the place, General Porter returned a positive re- fusal. Two gun-boats, carrying between two and three hundred men, then entered the river, and opened a fire upon the town and battery, which they continued, with little effect, for an hour and 2P 43 {, I'i 338 FLIGHT OF THE BRITISH. #"#•» a half. The commodore sent in a second flag, with a repetition of his demand, accompanied by a threat to land twelve hundred regulars to destroy the town. By this time the women and chil- dren were all removed, about three hundred and fifty militia col- lected, and dispositions made to cut off the gun-boats, if they should approach further up the river. Being well assured of the determination of his men to resist the landing of the enemy, Gene- ral Porter repeated his reply to the commodore's demand. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 16th, the gun-boats retired to their shipping, after having thrown a great quantity of rockets, shells, and round shot, without doing any material injury, and the fleet took its departure from the vicinity of Charlotte. In the evening of the same day, this force proceeded to Poult- neyville, a village on the border of the lake, and demanded the peaceable surrender of the public stores. The inhabitants were incompetent to repel the invaders, and the British commodore landed a party of sailors and marines, who captured a quantity of damaged flour, and were committing depredations upon indi- vidual property, when the arrival of Brigadier-General John Swift, of the New York militia, with one hundred and thirty volunteers, put them to a precipitate flight. Their boats hastily pulled off to the fleet, when a vigorous cannonade commenced, and several old houses were pierced through by the eighteen and twenty-four-pound shot. The enemy did not attempt to reland, but soon weighed anchor, and being joined by other vessels of the squadron, steered for Sackeit's Harbour. Nine miles distant from the harbour the fleet cast anchor, in different positions, on the 19th, to enable them to cut off all commu- nication between it and other places on the lake. The new ship, the Superior, a frigate of uncommon beauty and dimensions, had been launched there on the 1st of the month. Her equipments, for the capture of which the enemy had so vigorously assaulted Fort Oswego, had mostly arrived by land conveyances, and Sir James Yeo being ignorant of this circumstance, and supposing the Americans dependent entirely on their free and ready access to the lake, for the possession of these supplies, commenced the blockade of the harbour, with the sole view of intercepting them. Upon learning, as he afterwards did, that the new ship was re THE MOHAWK. 339 ceiving her armament, and equipping with great expedition, ho broke up the blockade, and proceeded with his fleet to Kingston. Some cannon and ordnance stores, intended for the vessels of the American fleet, had, in the mean time, arrived at Oswego, from the interior. Another new vessel, intended to be called the Mohawk, was then on the stocks, and to prepare her for the lake in the early part of June, these stores, as well as those which had been removed to Oswego falls, were indispensably necessary. To transport them by land would be attended with difliculties and delays, which recent experience had taught the American commanders to avoid ; and Commodore Chauncey, finding now an unobstructed passage to the lake, directed Captain Woolsey to convey them, in a flotilla of barges, in which he could ascend the small creeks, if pursued by the enemy, to their point of desti- nation To give security to the passage of the barges, Brigadier- Greneral Gaines, who commanded the land forces of the harbour, despatched M ":^r Appling, of the rifle regiment, with one hun- dred and tv . V officers and men, to co-operate with Captain Woolsey, in escorting the flotilla. The barges, nineteen in num- ber, were then at the falls of Oswego, and previously to their move- ment to the lake. Captain Woolsey had caused a report to be circulated, that the naval stores were to be forwarded to the Oneida lake. The watchful enemy had several gun-boats at that time hovering about the numerous creeks, which discharge them- selves into the Lake Ontario, and examining every cove, by the aid of which, small barges might elude their vigilance. On the 28th of May, Captain Woolsey, having previously reconnoitered the mouth of the Oswego creek, and finding a clear coast, brought his flotilla over the rapids, and reached the village of Oswego at sunset. Availing himself of the darkness of the night, he put into the lake, with Major Appling and his men distributed in the several batteaux. A small party of Oneida Indians were de- spatched to Big Salmon river, to meet the flotilla there, and to proceed along the shore to Sandy creek, in which Captain Wool- sey's orders obliged him to make a harbour. At the dawn of the 29th, after having rowed twelve hours, in extreme darkness, and under a heavy fall of rain, the barges arrived at Big Salmon, and were met by the Indians, commanded 340 CAPTURE OP A BRITISH FLOTILLA. u ■1} iiy Lieutenant Hill of the rifle corps. The flotilla then proceeded on its passage, and arrived, in the course of the day, at a point two miles up Sandy creek. Thence a look-out boat, under Lieu- tenant Pearce, was despatched on the 30th, to reconnoiter betv/een its mouth and Stony Point. This boat was discovered by three gun-boats, three cutters, and a gig, under Captain Popham, and chased into the creek. No doubt being entertained that the enemy would pursue Lieutenant Pearce up the creek, dispositions were immediately made by Major Appling and Captain Woolsey to draw him into an ambuscade. He very soon appeared, and at eight o'clock a. m. commenced a cannonade at long shot. At ten he landed a party, and pushed his gun-boats and cutters up the creek, occasionally firing into the woods as he ascended. Major Appling, who had posted his m^n in a judicious manner along the bank, below the point at which the American barges were moored, then suddenly rose from his concealment, poured upon the enemy a rapid and destructive fire, and in ten minutes killed one midshipman and thirteen sailors and marines, wounded two lieutenants, and twenty-eight sailors and marines, and took pri- soners the remainder of the party, consisting of two post captains, ■ and four lieutenants of the nary, two lieutenants of marines, and one hundred and thirty-three men. The whole party amounted to one hundred and eighty-five. The gun-boats and cutters neces- sarily fell into the hands of the Americans, who had but one man slightly wounded. A squadron of dragoons, under Captain Harris, and a company of light artillery, under Captain Melvin, with two field-pieces, arrived in the neighbourhood, at the commencement of the action, but did not participate in it. Major Appling was soon after brevetted a lieutenant-colonel, and his officers. Lieutenants Mcin- tosh, Calhoun, Macfarland, Armstrong, and Smith, and Ensign Austin were publicly thanked by the commanding general officer at Sackett's Harbour. Captain Woolsey and his officers, Lieu- tenant Pearce, SailingmasterVaughan,and Midshipmen Mackey, Hart, and Caton, who had been ordered to Oswego to superin- ^nd the transportation of the cannon and stores, acquitted them- selves in a masterly and courageous manner. The cannon were soon after transported to Uie harbour, and roceeded t a point ler Lieu- betv/een by three lam, and that the spositions Woolsey id, and at t. At ten jrs up the 3. Major ner along Tges were ired upon ites killed Mided two I took pri- it captains, • irines, and Tiounted to ters neces- it one man a company ield-pieces, the action, soon after ants Mcln- nd Ensign leral officer cers, Lieu- jn Mackey, to superin- itted thera- urbour, and I BURNING OF DOVER. 343 the new frigate Mohawk, was launched on the 11th of June, and very speedUy armed and equipped to join the squadron, which then consisted of nine vessels, carrying in all about two hundred and fifty-one guns. The result of this affair was sensibly felt throughout the British fleet; it deprived them of a number of experienced seamen, and several valuable and intrepid officers, and they were compelled to remain in Kingston harbour, until their places were supplied, and the squadron enlarged by an immense new ship, then building there, and intended to carry i . h, "ed and twelve gu '^cm- modore Chauncey sailed round thu lake in the courstj of the month, and frequently stationed himself before Kingston, to draw out the enemy's squadron. Until their new ship was completed, they determined, hew ever, to remain in port, and in that interval no hostile event took place upon Lake Ontario. Nor, indeed, was any warlike attitude assumed in its neighbouring Lake Erie, or the Lake Champlain, before the commencement of the summer. From the borders of the latter, Lieutenant-Colonel Forsythe, of the rifle corps, on the 28th of June, made an incursion into Canada, as far as Odell- town, where an affair took place with a detachment of the enemy, from the post of La Colle. The colonel made an attack, retreated, and attempted to draw the enemy into an ambuscade, but in his zeal, discovered himself and his party too soon, and an engagement took place before the British were ensnared. Seventeen of their number were killed ; among them the cele- brated partisan commander, Captain Mayhue, who was shot by Lieutanant Riley. Colonel Forsythe, who had heretofore been a terror to the enemy, was wounded in the neck, of which wound he died a few days after, and was buried with military honours at Champlain. The command of this corps was then transferred to Lieutenant-Colonel Appling. From Lake Erie, Colonel Campbell, of the 19th regiment, crossed over the lake with five hundred men, to Long Point, where he landed, and proceeding to the village of Dover, destroyed the flour mills, distilleries, and all the houses occupied by the soldiers, as well as many others belonging to the peaceable in- habitants of the village. A squadron of British dragoons., sta- ) Ill's- IN- 24 i CAMPBELL COURT-MARTIALLED. tioned \t that place, fled at the approach of Colonel Campbell's detachment, and abandoned the women and children, who experienced humane treatment from the Americans. Colonel Campbell undertook this expedition without orders, and as his conduct was generally reprobated, a court of inquiry was insti- tuted to examine into his proceedings, of which General Scott was president. This court declared that the destruction of the mills and distilleries was according to the usages of war, but that in burning the houses of the inhabitants. Colonel Campbell had greatly erred. This error they attributed to the recollection of the scenes of the Raisin and the Miami, in the western terri- tories, to the army of which, Colonel Campbell was at that time attached, and of the recent devastation of the Niagara frontier. During these events of the winter and spring of 1814, the British had collected, in the neighbourhood of the river Thames, and at the Delaware town, situated upon that river, a very respectable force of regulars, militia, and Indians ; and severaj expeditions were planned and set on foot against them, by Colonel Anthony Butler, who commanded the American forces in the Michigan territory. In the month of February, Captain Lee, who had been formerly a cornet in the Michigan dragoons, was sent into the vicinity of the enemy, with about fourteen mounted men. Many miles in the rear of the British forces, he made prisoners of several officers, and among them the famous Colonel Baubee, who commanded a party of Indians, and assisted in the depredations committed on the New York frontier. Captain Lee contrived, by his judicious management, to bring them over to Detroit without detection. Upon their arrival there, Colonel Butler projected an enter- prise, under Captain A. H. Holmes, of the 24th regiment, to whom he assigned the command of one hundred and sixty rangers and mounted infantry, and despatched him, on the 21sl of February, against several of the enemy's posts. On the 3d of March, at the distance of fifteen miles from Delaware, Cap- tain Holmes received intelligence that the enemy, whose force consisted of a company of one hundred men, of the Royal Scotts, under Captain Johnson ; forty-five of the 89th regiment, AFFAIR OF TWENTY MILE CREEK. 340 under Captain Caldwell; fifty of McGregor's militia, and the same number of Indians, being in all two hundred and tbrty-six men, had left the village with an intention of descending the river. Captain Holmes's party had already suffered and been reduced by hunger and fatigue, and sixteen of his men, who were unable to march further, sent back to Detroit; with the remainder he did not deem it prudent to give battle to the ene- my, without the advantage of the ground, and, therefore, fell back five miles, to a position on Twenty Mile creek, leaving Captain Gill with a rear guard of twenty rangers to follow. This guard was overtaken by the enemy, and after exchang- ing a few shots, effected a retreat to the position which Captain Holmes then occupied. At Twenty Mile creek, there was a deep and wide ravine, bounded on each side by a lofty height. On the western height. Captain Holmes had established an encampment in the form of a hollow square, the detachment from Detroit being on the north front of the square, the rangers on the west, and the militia on the south, and all protected by logs hastily thrown together. The regulars of the 24th and 28th regiments were stationed on the brow of the height, uncovered. In this situation the Americans awaited the attack, and Captain Holmes, by the skilful and judicious manner in which he posted himself, compelled his superior enemy to commence it. Early on the morning of the 4th, the British appearing in few numbers, on the eastern height, immediately opposite to the American camp, gave a loose fire and retired. Some time having elapsed without their reappearance, Captain Holmes despatched Lieutenant Knox, of the rangers, to reconnoiter them, who per- formed that duty with alacrity, and returned with an account that the enemy, whose number he judged to be not more than seventy, had retreated with such precipitation as to leave his bag- gage scattered on the road. This retreat was made for the pur- pose of drawing the Americans from the height, on which the British officer saw they were so advantageously posted. The attempt was attended by a partial success, for the American commander not being well assured of the strength of his adver- sary, descended from the camp, and followed him in his retreat. Captain Lee, who commanded the advance in this march, which 44 346 AFFAIR OF TWENTY MILE CREEK. 'r. ■ I' w- continued five miles, waa fortunate enough to discover the enemy in full force, preparing for a resolute attack. The policy which had induced the British officer to draw the American from his strong ground, judging of it by its result, was founded in ex- treme weakness. Having succeeded in seducing him to a dis- tance of five miles, he supposed that Captain Holmes, with an inferior detachment, almost worn out with the hardships of a fourteen days' march, and the severity of the weather, would pause and give battle to a body of fresh troops, superior in num hers and in discipline. He therefore never attempted to improve the advantage he had gained, by detaching a strong party to cross the ravine, above the road on which the Americans had marched, and to occupy the position which they just aban- doned. By this act he would have cut off all communication in the rear, and compelled Captain Holmes to disperse his party in the wdldemess, or to yield at discretion. In either of these cases the American detachment would have been destroyed. APTAIN HOLMES fearing, however, that the enemy had attempted thus to cut him off, immediately retreated to the heights, re- established himself in his encampment, and a second time compelled the British regu- lars and their Indian allies to attack him on his own ground. The rangers and many of the infantry, not knowing the \ns- dom nor the necessity of the measure, exhibited great marks of discontent at the retreat, and many of them refused to fight the enemy. But on his reappearance upon the opposite height, one impulse animated the whole detachment, which resolved on repulsing the assailants. The British commander then made a disposition to dislodge them, and throwing his militia and In- dians across the ravine, above the road, he ordered them to com- mence the attack upon the north, south, and west sides of the encampment ; whilst he charged down the road from the oppo- site height, crossed the bridge, and rushed furiously up the height occupied by the Americans, on their east or exposed side, with an intention of charging the regulars. This he did under d galling fire, which did not check his advances, until within REPULSE OF THE BRITISH. 347 twenty i)aces of his object. There his front section being shot to pieces, and many of those who followed being wounded, his principal officers cut down, and the fire of the Americans increas- ing in vivacity, he abandoned the assault altogether, and took shelter in the neighbouring wood, at distances of fifteen, twenty, and thirty paces. Having arrayed his forces, he commenced a rapid fire from his cover, which was warmly returned, and in- creased on both sides. From those parts of the encampment protected by the logs, the rangers and militia fired with great coolness and precision. The regulars on the uncovered side, were directed to kneel, that they might be partially concealed by the brow of the height, and by these means were enabled to fire with more deliberation than their assailants, After one hour's conflict, the British gave up all hopes of dis- lodging the detachment, and at twilight commenced their retreat. Captain Holmes did not pursue them, because they were still superior in numbers, and might draw him at night into an am- buscade, in a country much better known to them than to him ; and, because he had already gained a sufficient triumph in re- pulsing and defeating the object of an experienced foe. The American loss amounted to six men killed and wounded. By their own official report, the enemy lost Captain Johnson, Lieu- tenant Grame, and twelve men killed, and Captain Besded, (Barden,) Lieutenant McDonald, and forty-nine men wounded, making a total of sixty-seven. The whole American force in action was one hundred and fifty rank and file, many of whom fought and marched in their stocking feet, and though the weather is extremely cold in that climate, in the month of February, they were not permitted, nor did they express a wish, to take a shoe even from the dead. Captain Holmes soon after returned with his detachment to the Michigan territory, and re- ceived the thanks of the commandant, and the brevet rank of ma,jor from his government. He spoke of all his officers in very flattering terms, but particularly of Lieutenants Kouns and Henry, and Ensign Heard of the 2Sth, and Lieutenants Jack son and Potter of the 24th, because their good fortune placed them in opposition to the main strength of the enemy. After this event detachments were frequently sent out to re 1^ & I'll Pal \ s 348 SECURITY OP THE TROOPS. connoiter the enemy's country, but for several weeks returneil without being able to encounter any of his troops. Those on the American side of Detroit river, remained, therefore, in a state of perfect security ; and the commanders of the land and naval forces employed the time in projecting various plans, by which to establish fortifications on the Lake St. Clair ; to cut off the communications between Michilimackinac and the Indians ; and to secure the inhabitants of the territory from their incursions. Ik OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. 349 CHAPTER XVIII. ®pecationf on tfft l^iagata JFvontitr. O retrieve the disastrous consequences of the last northern campaign ; to regain the posses- sion of the posts in Canada, which had been obtained by conquest, and lost by the inefficacy of the means provided to retain them ; to drive the enemy from the occupancy of the American garrison at the mouth of the Niagara ; and to command the frontiers on both sides of that stream; various plans had been projected, numerous dispositions i ade, and measures were finally adopted for their achievement. To this end, General Brown, now elevated to the rank of major-general, was ordered to assemble and organize a division of the army at and in the neighbourhood of Black Rock thiCi Buffalo. This division consisted of two brigades of regulars, the first com- manded by Brigadier-General Scott, formerly of the 2d artillery, and the second by Brigadier-General Ripley, formerly of the 21st infantry. To these were added a brigade of New York volunteers, and a few Indians, under Brigadier-Generals Porter and Swift. During the months of April, May, and June, (1^14,) 2G 350 CAPTURE OF FORT ERIE. t If 1- . ; hh the concentration of this force was effected, and the principal part of that time employed in its discipline. The first step towards the accomplishment of the objects ot tlie present campaign, was the assault and capture of Fort Erie at that time in command of Major Buck, and garrisoned by one hundred and seventy officers and men of the 8th and 1 00th regiments. On the morning of the 3d of July, therefore, in obedience to General Brown's orders, the two brigades of regu- lars embarked for that purpose. General Scott with the first, and a detachment of artillery, under Major Hindman, crossed to the Canada shore, about one mile below Fort Erie, and General Ripley with the second, about the same distance above. The landing of the second brigade was attended with much difficulty, in consequence of the impossibility of approaching the shore, with the gun-boats, in which it had embarked. The debarka- tion was, therefore, effected in two small boats, capable of con- taining at one time not more than fifty men. The first brigade was on the shore before a gun was fired by the enemy, who had a picket stationed near the place of landing. From these two points, on the right and left, the fort was rapidly approached by the regulars, whilst a party of Indians who had been crossed over, skirted the wood in its rear. The garrison, entirely unap- prized of these movements, was completely surrounded, and General Brown demanded the quiet surrender of the post. A few guns only were fired, which wounded four men of the 25th regiment, under Major Jessup, of the first brigade, when Major Buck surrendered the fort to the invading army. Immedi?te possession was taken of the garrison, and the prisoners were marched to the interior of New York. The passage of the troops across the channel, and the conveyance of the prisoners to the American shore, was superintended by Lieutenant-Commandant Kennedy, of the navy. Major-General Rial, with a division of the British army, con- stituted of the best disciplined, and more experienced European regulars, was at this time intrenched at Chii)pewa, and thither it was determined the Americans should proceed to attack and rout him. Arrangements were therefore made for the security of the fort, and the protection of the American rear, by the MARCH TO CHIPPEWA. 351 establishment of a small garrison, tinder Lieutenant ivIcDonough, of the artillery, and the disposition of the marine force, near and in fi-ont of the fort. On the morning of the 4th General Scott received orders to advance with his brigade and Towson's company of artillery upon Chippewa. In the course of the same day he was followed by General Ripley, and the field and park artillery, under Major Hindman, and by General Porter and his volunteers. On the right bank of Street's creek, two miles distant from the British works, the army was drawn up in three lines, the first brigade facing Street's creek and the bridge, the second brigade forming the second line, and the volunteers the third. The park of artil- lery was stationed on the right of the encampment, between the first and second line, and the light troops were posted within the same space on ihe left. In its approaches from Fort Erie, along the Niagara to this position, the first brigade encountered the advanced corps of the enemy, strongly posted behind this creek. General Scott imme- diately ordered Captain Towson to go forward with his artillery and dislodge them. That gallant officer, in a few minutes com- pelled them to fall back, though not till they had intrepidly de- stroyed the bridge, over which the advancing column would be obliged to pass. About the time at which Captain Towson opened his battery upon th3 enemy. Captain Crocker, of the 9th infantry, had been directed to flank out to the left of the brigade, to cross the st: )am above the bridge, and to assail the right of the enemy's guard. This movement was made with so much celerity, that Captain Crocker reached the enemy's position, and was in full pursuit of him when the brigade column arrived at the bridge. After retreating a short distance, the British commander being aware of the impossibility of Captain Crocker receiving a reinforce- ment of sufficient strength to combat the impetuosity of well appointed cavalry, until the bridge should be replaced, ordered his dragoons to turn upon, and cut up the detachment. Under the eye of the general commanding the brigade, and before the pioneers had rendered the bridge passable, Captain Crocker was surrounded and charged upon by a numerous troop t f the Bntisii 352 CAPTAIN CROOKER's OALLANTRy. [.<■!' it 19th. His brave detachment determmed to cut through this superior force, fought their way to a house not far from the place of attack, and having gained it, turned, at the order of theh commander, upon the pursuing horsemen, and having first struck terror into their ranks, put them to a flight precipitate as their attack had been impetuous. At this moment, Captain Crocker, whose men might well be exhausted after so vigorous an engagement, was relieved from ail apprehension of another assault from a fresh body of troops, by the arrival of Captains Hull and Harrison, and Lieutenant Randolph, with a small party of men who had been hastily thrown across the stream to his support. " In partisan war," the general of brigade observed, " he had witnessed nothing more gallant than the conduct of Captain Crocker and his company." At eleven o'clock in the evening of that day, the encampment was formed in the manner already described ; and early on the morning of the 5th, the enemy commenced an attack in various detached parties, upon the picket guards surrounding it. One of these was commanded by Captain Treat, of the 21st infantry, and on its return to the camp, through a meadow of high grass, was assailed by a brisk discharge of musketry. One man fell, severely wounded, and the rear of the guard broke and retreated. Captain Treat's attempts to prevent the flight of the left of his detachment were mistaken for an intention to avoid the enemy; and though he was ordered to a neighbouring wood, his guard being first collected in pursuit of the party that had attacked him, he was immediately after stripped of his command, upon the ground of cowardice, in retreating before the enemy, and of misconduct in abandoning the wounded man to their mercy. This man had, however, been brought in by Captain Treat's orders, previously to his march in quest of the enemy's party. Being resolved on a participation in some way or other in the approaching battle, the captain entered as a volunteer, in the same company which he had just before commanded ; and the senior officer of the 21st regiment directed him to lead a platoon into action. This act was considered as a manifestation of his courage and patriotism, and the court-martial before which he was tried dismissed him with an honourable acquittal wti BATTLE OP CHIPPEWA. S53 HE vivacity of these assaults upon the pickets gradually diminished until midday, after which they were revived with unabating vigour. General Riall, well acquainted with the position of the American forces, and aware of their intention to attack him, determined upon issuing from his intrenchments, and by striking the first blow to intimidate, and probably throw into disorder the whole line of the invading army. With this view he crossed the Chippewa with every species of his force, threw his right flank, his Indians, and a large detachment of his light troops, into the wood, on the left of the American encampn\ent, and approached gradually with his main body upon the left bank of Street's creek. The move- ment in the wood was discovered early enough to frustrate the design of the British commander, and General Brown ordered General Porter to advance with the volunteers and Indians, from the rear of the camp, to conceal himself from the enemy's view, by entering the wood, to drive back his light troops and Indians, and, if possible, to gain the rear of his scouting parties, and place them between his line and the division of regulars. As General Porter moved from the encampment, the American outposts and advanced parties fell back, under the fire of the enemy, in order to draw him upon the centre of the front line. General Porter met, attacked, and, after a short but severe contest, drove the enemy's right before him. His route to Chip- pewa was intercepted by the whole British column, arrayed in order of battle, and against this powerful force the volunteers dcjsperately maintained their ground, until they were over- powered by the superiority of discipline and numbers. As soon as the firing became regular and heavy between the volunteers and the enemy. General Brown rightly conjecturing that all the British regulars were engaged, immediately ordered General Scott's brigade, and Towson's artillery, to advance and draw them into action on the plains of Chippewa. General Scott had no sooner crossed the bridge over Street's creek, than he 383 49 ff ■if f ^^^m m I ,vl J li'':^ W'-' i. I if, . 354 BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA. ['>:• r encountered and gave battle to the enemy. Captain Towsoc commenced his fire before the infantry battalions were in battle array, and upon their being formed, took post on the river, with three pieces, in front of the extreme right, and thence played upon the British right. The 9th regiment, and part of the 22d, forming the first bat- tab on, under Major Leavenworth, took position on the right; the second battalion (11th regiment) was led to its station by Colonel Campbell, who, being soon wounded, was succeeded in the command of that regiment by Major McNeill. I'he third battalion, 25th regiment, was formed by Major Jessup on the left, resting in a wood. From this position that officer was ordered to turn the enemy's right wing, then steadily advancing upon the American line. Whilst this order was in execution, and Jessup's battalion engaged in an animated contest with the British infantry, he detached Captain Ketchum with his com- pany, to attack a superior detachment, at that moment coming up to the reinforcement of the body agaiAst which the 25th was engaged. Captain Ketchum flanked out, encountered the Iresh detachment, and sustained a vigorous and desperate engagement, until the battalion cleared its own front, and marched to the support of his company. This fortunate consummation of his plan, the major did not effect without a violent struggle. The British gave liim an animated and destructive fire, his men were falling around him in numbers too great to leave him any hopes of victory ; and he became at length, closely pressed, both in flank and front. His regiment, nevertheless, betrayed not the least disposition to falter, and promptly obeyed his order to " support arms and advance," under this tremendous fire, until a position of more security was gained. From this he returned the enemy's fire with such order and rapidity, that the British right flank fell back, and the bat^ talion was enabled to come up in time to co-operate with Captain Ketchum's detachment. The whole line of the enemy began about this time to recoil. On the American right, the battalion of Major Leavenworth was not only engaged with the British infantry, but frequently ex- Dosed to the fire of the batteries. One of his .ifii'ters. Captain I 1 Towsoij e in battle iver, with ce played e first bat- the right; station by cceeded in I'he third up on the officer was advancint^ execution, St with the 1 his cora- 3nt coming e 25th was d the firesh igagement, ihed to the LJor did not ve liim an iround him ry; and he front. His oA to falter, i advance" jcurity was such order nd the bat- ith Captain le to recoil. 1 worth was luently ex- rs, Captain •n.4t^ ii^H ■p. HI B' IM ^^^^B BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA. 367 Harrison, had his leg carried off by a cannon ball ; but so doubt- ful, at that moment, did he consider the issue of the battle, that he would not suffer a man to be taken from his duty, to bear him torn the field, and supported the torture of his wound with ex- treme fortitude, until the action ceased. Major McNeill's battalion was also engaged, from the- com- mencement until the close of the action, and, together with Major Leavenworth's, received the enemy on the open plain ; of these the 9th and 22d were parallel to the attack, but the 11th had its left thrown forward so as to assail in front and flank, at the same time. Thus posted, Ma,iors Leavenworth and McNeill, resisted the attacks of the enemy with great gallantry and zeal. On this end of the line, the fire was quite as incessant as on the left, and its effect not less destructive ; but the troops displayed an equal degree of animation. After the lapse of an hour from the commencement of the battle, Captain Towson, who had maintained his position on the river, notwithstanding one of his pieces, had been thrown out of action, having completely silenced the enemy's most powerful battery, turned his remaining pieces on the infantry, at that moment advancing to a charge. This accumulation of fire, the effective discharges of McNeill's musketry, peculiarly effective from their oblique position, the steadiness of the two battalions, and the apparent issue of the engagement between Jessup's and the British right wing, compelled General Riall to retire, until he reached a sloping ground, descending to Chippewa. From the point formed by this ground, his troops fled in confusion to their intrenchments behind the creek, and having regained their works, retarded the approaches of the conquerors, by means of their heavy batteries, on which alone they relied for safety in the event of their being obliged to retire. About the time they commenced their charge. Major Hind- man had ordered forward Captain Ritchie's company of artillery, and one piece, a twelve-pounder, under Lieutenant Hall. They arrived in time only to participate in the close of the action, but joined Captain Towson in pursuing the enemy, under the fire of his batteries, until he threw himself into the intrenchments. Whilst tlie first brigade was thus gallantly engaged with this U: iji i« I I' 3i m 860 DEATH OP GENERAL SWIFT. 1^ i^\li pw, ■ ft M mi by his outpost of these operations, and hastily foi warded a d©. tachment of the royal artillery to check them. A cannonade ensued ; but such was the effect produced by General Riplev'g artillery, that the British pieces were withdrawn, the bridge was soon after complete'^, and General Riall apprehending an attack on his right flank and in front, from the formidable arrange- ments which he saw in preparation, abandoned his line of de- fenses, and retreated by the road to Queenstown. General Bro\vn occupied the enemy's works that evening, and on the following morning, (the 9th,) pursued the route to Queenstown. Rial! had, however, retired to the Ten Mile creek. At Queenstown the American army was then encamped, and the commanding general held a council of war, for the purpose of maturing a plan of future and decisive operations. On the 12th, Brigadier- General John Swift, second in command to General Porter, and the same who had put the British marines to flight at Poultney ville, having offered to reconnoiter the enemy's position at Fort George, was detached with one hundred and twenty volunteers, to obtain a view of those works. On his arrival within its neighbourhood, he surprised and captured an outpost, con- sisting of a corporal and five men ; one of these, after having surrendered to the detachment and requested quarters, availed himself of an advantageous moment, treacherously fired at and shot the general, who, notwithstanding the suddenness of the attack, and the severity of his wound, instantly levelled his piece and killed the assassin. The alarm produced by this fire brought up a British patrolling pany of sixty men, against whom Gene- ral Swift, regardless of tne persuasion of his oflicers to attend to his wound, marched at the head of his detachment, and com- menced an attack which resulted in the retreat of the enemy's party. The general, however, whose wound was mortal, fell, exhausted by the loss of blood, before the termination of the skir- mish. His next officer beat the patrolling party into the fort, and returned to the encampment at Queenstown, with the body of his expiring commander. General Swift, whose loss was sin cerely deplored by the whole army, and who had served \vith dis,iinguished reputation, during the war of the revolution, was interred with the usual ceremonies and honours of a soldier. ADVANCE TO FORT OEOROE. 861 The whole volunteer brigade to which the general was attached, golicited an opportunity to avenge the fall of their brave officer, and an opportunity was not long wanted. At the consultation which v/ns held by General Brown and his principal officers, a plan of attack upon Fort George was pro- posed ; and, to the prejudice of a proposition, submitted by Ge- neral Ripley, of following up General Riall ; of driving him from the peninsula ; or of striking as severe a blow as that which he had received at Chippewa, and thus totally annihilating his force— v^as adopted by a majority of the council. In order to ascertain the possibility of capturing that fort by a coup de main, the second brigade and the volunteers were directed to reconnoitor in the most secret manner. Whilst General Ripley approached alon^p the Niagara, General Porter, to whose brigade was attached two field-pieces, under Captain Ritchie, of the regular artillery, ad- vanced by the way of St. David's and the Cross Roads, to Lake Ontario, whence he could obtain a full view of Fort Niagara, and enable the principal engineer, Major Wood, to examine the works on that side of Fort George. After viewing the northern face of Fort Niagara, General Porter moved in upon Fort George, drove in all the enemy's pickets, and formed his brigade in the open plain, within a mile of the fort. To enable the engineer to examine the works with more cer tainty, he ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Wilcox to advance with his command, under cover of a small wood, within musket-shot of the garrison. These positions were maintained upwards of an hour and a half, during which time the British batteries opened upon the troops on the plain. Several detached parties sent out to attack the volunteer light troops, were successively repulsed, and the object of the expedition being accomplished. General Porter moved round the south side of the fort, and joined Gene- ral Ripley's brigade on the Niagara. As he retired, the enemy sent out several pieces of field artillery, and commenced a rapid fire upon his rear. The brigade, however, moved off in good order, with two men wounded ; Lieutenant Fontaine, of the ar- tillery, and an officer of the volunteers, had their horses killed under them by a cannon ball. In his approaches to the lake. General Porter deemed it necessary to station videttes upon the 8H 46 3b2 ADVANCE TO FORT OEOROE. J4 Mm several roads leading to the fort. Five of these were capt ■ i by a party of twenty Canadian militia, residing in the neigh- bourhood, and some of whom had been in the American en- campment, professing to avail themselves of the terms of General Brown's proclamation, issued upon entering Canada, "that all persons demeaning themselves peaceably, and pursuing their private business, should be treated as friends." To give more certainty and effect to the assault of Forts George and Niagara, and to the occupation of Queenstown, St. Davids, and Newark, General Brown, previously to his passage of the Niagara strait, had adopted measures in conjunction with Commodore Chauncey, for the co-operation of the American squadron. On the 20th of July, he therefore moved with his whole force upon Fort George, and took a position with a portion of his troops on Lake Ontario, as well with a view to attempt that garrison, as to obtain some intelligence of the fleet. Com- modore Chauncey 's extreme illness prevented the sailing of the fleet from the harbour, and General Brown, apprehensive of an attack upon the rear of his army, and of his communication with the encampment being cutoff* by the militia then rising en masse, fell back to Queenstown on the 22d, to protect his baggage. Having there received intelligence of the detention of the fleet, he determined to disencumber the army of its heavy baggage, and to march against Burlington Heights, on the peninsula be- tween which and Erie, the enemy had, in the mean time, con- centrated his principal forces. To draw from Schlosser a supply of provisions necessary to this expedition, he retired on the 24th to the junction of the Chippewa and Niagara : with the exception of the 9th regiment, the army encamped on the right bank of the Chippewa. That regiment was posted on the north side of the stream, in and near a block-house in the advance. •> Lieutenant-General Drummond, anxious to redeem the tar- nished reputation of the British arms, and having now aug- mented his force, so as to feel capable of offering battle, without any doubt of its successful result, forwarded a division under General Riall, to Queenstown, who occupied the heights there, immediately after their abandonment by the Americans. Frorc Queenstown, General Riall threw a large detachment of his ?• • .3 GENERAL SCOTT AT NIAOARA. 363 iroops across the Niagara, to Levvistown, with a view to the capture of the American sick and wounded, at that time in the liospital at Schlosser, and the destruction of the baggage, am munition, and provisions, deposited at that place. By expresses from Colonel Swift, commanding at Lewistown, General Brown vt-as informed of this movement, and almost at the same moment, a picket stationed beyond the 9th regiment, reported an advanced party of the enemy on the Niagara road. To draw him from his purposed pillage of Schlosser, General Brown, having no immediate means of bringing off his sick and stores, nor of transporting troops to their defense, ordered General Scott to move with his brigade, then consisting of about seven hundred men, and Towson's artillery, still attached to it, in the direction of Queenstown. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 25th, (July,) the first brigade moved from the encampment in light marching order, the 9th regiment being in front of the column, and Captain Harris, with a troop of regular and volunteer dragoons, and a company of infantry, under Captain Pentland, of the 22d, con- stituting an advanced corps. About two miles and a half from the Chippewa, and within a short distance of the Falls of Nia gara, the American and British advanced parties came within view of each other, and General Scott halted his column to reconnoiter the ground, and made arrangements for the reception or attack of the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth, with the 9th, consisting then of only one hundred and fifty men, was immediately ordered to take the left of the road, within support- ing distance of the column, which, on the execution of this order, again moved forward, the enemy retiring before it. On an eminence, near Lundy's lane, at a point chosen by Major-General Riall, because of the decided advantage of the ground, the enemy was posted in great strength, with a for midable battery of nine pieces of artillery, two of which were brass twenty-four-pounders, and an extensive and heavy line of infantry. This position was extremely favourable to the opera- tions of the battery, and there the British general had long wished to engage the troops, who had compelled him to retire from every other, at which battle had been previously given them 96 t-il :<\K 304 BATTLE OF NIAGARA. M^il ' On the arrival of General Scott's column at a narrow strip o| woods, by which only the British line was obscured from his view, Captains Harris and Pentland were first fired on, and gallantly engaged the enemy's advance, which had gradually retreated, to draw the American column to the situation at Lundy's lane. The brigade column was again immediately halted, Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth ordered to his situation and Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup, with the 25th, detached to attack the left of the British line. The 9th, 11th, and 22d passed the advanced corps, and moving to the north of the wood, entered a smooth field, in full view of the enemy, and within cannister distance of his battery. The rear of the column having cleared the wood. General Scott ordered the line to be instantly formed. This order was not executed before the British opened a tre- mendous fire from their battery, and the whole line of tlieir infantry drawn up on its right, and obliquely in its front. Tow- son, with his artillery, was stationed on the right of the 9tli, and though they could not be brought to bear upon the eminence he animated the American line, by an incessant discharge from all his pieces. Thus drawn up on both sides, the action continued with unceasing animation upwards of an hour, ngainst a force then almost thrice superior to the American brigade. In the course of that time, the 11th and 22d regiments, having expended their ammunition, Colonel Brady and Lieutenant-Colonel McNeil] being both severely wounded, and all the captains of the former, and most of the officers of the latter, either killed or wounded, both regiments were withdrawn from action, and many of the officers, but principally subalterns, attached themselves to the 9th, and fought under its gallant chief, in various capacities, and with unusual courage ana perseverence. Among these were Lieutenant Crawford and Lieutenant and Afljutfint Sawyer. Against the chief part of the British line, Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth, with the remains of the 9th alone, continued the engagement with unshaken firmness and braver ry; and was at length directed to advance and charge up the height, and with the 11th and 22d, to break the enemy's line. Reduced as these three regiments already were, by the excessive loss of officer; BATTLE OP NIAGARA. 365 and men, they nevertheless steadily advanced, with supported arms, until General Scott, learning the shattered condition of the nth and 22d, countermanded the order. HE enemy was at this moment pressing upon the left of the line ; the right of the 9ih was, therefore, thrown forward to meet and repulse him, and the whole rf>giment commenced a fire more ani- mating, if possible, but certainly more destructive than the first. It is scarcely possible to do justice to the conduct of this gallant regiment, or of its intrepid commander. It had already given such signal instances of individual valour, as were never surpassed upon an open field. But valour alone is not competent to resist the repeated assaults of a numerous and increasing foe ; and against a prodigious inequality of numbers, it is sometimes little less than madness to contend. The 9th regiment was at length reduced to nearly half the number with which it had entered the field, and being still pressed by the enemy, who frequently charged with a fresh line, Lieutenant- Colonel Leavenworth despatched an officer to General Scott, to communicate its condition. The general having been just informed of the approach of reinforcements from the Chippewa, rode immediately to the position of that regiment and directed it to maintain its ground. That indefatigable and excellent reconnoitering officer. Lieu- tenant Riddle, of the 15th infantry, had been sent out in the morning, with a party of one hundred men, to scour the sur- rounding country. He had not proceeded more than three miles from the encampment, when, in attempting to gain the rear of a scout of the enemy, he was informed by several of the inhabitants, of his being close upon a division of three thousand of the British rroops. At the time of his leaving the camp. General Brown had not been apprized of the contiguity of the enemy, and Lieu- tenant Riddle, therefore, hastened back with all possible speed to communicate the intelligence. The nature of the ground over which he had to retrace his steps, and the extreme caution with 3h2 iM I ^11 t ; h ' ',i BpTifJ' . . ':' '. * ''m ^' \ 1 ^ \ 1 ■ -**! it i 1 ? * ? ,W !■ ^ l^s' ii ' - ■■''^j^ I '^Mh 1 iT*? '^g^^^MBW Ill.^'S 366 LIEUTENANT RIDDLE's REINFORCEMENT. i' |i |! r 1; 1 J) k ^ »y » 1 i %*- »• s ^ i! 1 ^ 41 which it was necessary to proceed, to avoid reconnoitering de- tachments of the enemy, lengthened his distance from the head- quarters upwards of five miles. He had not arrived at the posi- tion of the Americans at Chippewa, when he was apprized of the meeting of the hostile armies, by the repeated and heavy discharges of artiliery. Naturally concluding that General Brown's whole force had proceeded to the field of battle, and not hesitating a moment as to the course he should pursue, he wheeled his detachment upon the Niagara road, and immediately marched to a participation in the engagement. This detach- ment was the first reinforcing party which arrived to the relief of the first brigade, and General Scott stationed it on his extreme left, with directions to Lieutenant Riddle to watch the motions of the British riflemen and Indians. By the same circumstance, the report of the artillery. General Brown was also first informed of the commencement of the ac- tion, and of its scene, and having directed General Ripley to follow with the second brigade, was already on his way to the falls, when he met the assistant adjutant-general. Major Jones, returning to the encampment at full speed for reinforcements. The intelligence communicated by Major Jones, induced the commander-in-chief to despatch him to order up General Por- ter's volunteers, in addition to the second brigade, and the park of artillery. . General Brown then rode hastily, with his aids, accompanied by Major McRee, of the engineers, towards the field of battle, and on his further advance was met by a second messenger. Major Wood, also of the engineers, and who had marched with General Scott's brigade. From this gallant and accomplished officer, he received a report of the close and san- guinary character of the action, and directed him to return with him to the field. Exhausted and reduced as the 9th, 11th, and 22d regiments already were, another vigorous onset from the enemy, suffi- ciently numerous to interpose occasionally a fresh line, might probably decide the fate of the day, before the arrival of the ap- proaching reinforcements. The determined and obstinate man- ner, however, in which they had already received and repulsed the gallant and repeated charges of the British infantry, induced tdi BfV f. w ADVANCE OF GENERAL BROWN. 367 Major-General Riall to overate their force. But to whatever measure of strength these intrepid regiments amounted, he knew also, thai the number of his combatants would be augmented from the camp at Chippewa, and being assured of the necessity, in that event, of enlarging his own force, he despatched messen- (rers to Lieutenant-General Drummond, at Fort George, to in- form him of the desperate nature of the conflict. Until this period of the engagement, his force, including the incorporated militia and some Indians, amounted to sixteen hundred and thirty-seven men, being more than double the strength by which he was opposed. Major-General Brown arrived at the scene of this obstinate struggle, about the time at which General Scott ordered the 9th regiment to maintain its ground, and seeing the exhausted state of the troops, and the shattered condition of the brigade, deter- mined on holding it in reserve, whilst the reinforcing troops should continue the engagement. The 9th, 11th, and 22d regi- ments were, therefore, consolidated into one battalion, under Colonel Brady, who, though wounded, refused to quit the field until the result of the engagement should be known. General Ripley's brigade, Major Hindman's artillery, and General Por- ter's volunteers, all of whom had marched with unusual rapidity over a difficult road, were now within a short distance of Lundy's lane. General Riplsy being in the advance, and within half a mile of the field, immediately despatched his aid-de-cai^ ; , Lieu- tenant McDonald, of the 19th infantry, to inform Geuer il Brown of his approach, and to receive instructions as to the? rituatiou. of the enemy, and orders, as to the disposition of hifa ►brigade. Immediately before the arrival of General Ripity, iv tenipoT*ary pause prevailed between the two armies ; an awful and (but for the groans of the wounded soldiers) an unbroken silence was preserved among the troops on either side : the impetuous descent of the stupendous cataract of the Niagara, alone interrupted the pervading stillness, and contributed to the solemnity and gran- deur of the scene ; and the leaders of both forces having fallen back to their original positions, seemed mutually disposed to a momentary cessation of the sanguinary and fatiguing strife. The arrival of these reinforcements, under General Ripley, and 368 CAPTURE OF GENERAL RIALL. l-v' of others, umJer Lieutenant-General Drummond put an end to this suspension of hostilities, and the engagement was renewed with augmented vigour. Major Hindman's artillery being brought up, the companies of Captains Biddle and Ritchie, in addition to Towson's detach- ment, soon came into action, and General Porter's volunteers were displayed upon the left of General Scott's brigade. Lieutenant McDonald, who had been despatched for orders having met Captain Spencer, one of the aids of the commander- in-chief, bearing orders for the second brigade to form on the skirts of the wood, to the right of the first, immediately returned to General Ripley with these directions. Meanwhile the 25th regiment, under I.ieutenant-Colonel Jes- sup, which had been ordered, in the early part of the action, to take ix)st on the right, had gallantly contended against, and succeeded in turning the enemy's left flank. Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup, availing himself of the extreme darkness of the night, and of the incaution of the British general, in not placing a proper guard across a road upon his left, threw his regiment in the rear of the enemy's reserve, and surprising one detachment after another, made prisoners of so many of their officers and men, that the opera- tions of his firearms was constantly impeded. General Drummond, who was now commanding in person the front line of the enemy, having determined on concentrating his whole force, and leading it to the attack of General Scott's brigade, in front, and on each flank, had despatched his aid-de-camp, Captain Loring, to brin^ up General Riall with the reserve. It was the good fortune, however, of Captain Ketchum, of this regiment, whose eminent services greatly contributed to the victorious issue of the battle at Chippewa, to make prisoners of Major-General Riall, who was wounded in the arm, and the aid of Lieut enant-General Drummond, before the reserve was put in motion. Had this concentration of General Riall's line, with that of General Drummond been effected, the reduced brigade, com- posed now only of the consolidated battalion, could not at this moment, and without the support of the second brigade, have withstood the assault of so overwhelming a force ; and the nnovement of Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup, therefore, unquestion- GALLANTRY OF COLONEL JESSUP. 369 ably saved that battalion. Having hastily adopted proper ar- rangements for the disposal of his prisoners, Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup felt his way to the spot where the warmest fire was kept up upon the brigade to which he belonged. Eastwardly of Lundy's lane, and on the south of the Queenstown road, he drew up his regiment behind a fence, from which he could effectually annoy the enemy. A party of the British infantry- were at that time drawn up in front of a fence, on the opposite side of the sam^ road. Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup's approach to his present position, had been made with so much secrecy, that they did not know he was there, until they received a deadly and destructive fire, which compelled them to break and fly along tlie Queenstown road. By the blaze of this fire, Lieutenant- Colonel Jessup was discovered to Major-General Brown, who rode up, applauded his conduct, and directed him to move by Lundy's lane, and form upon the right of the second brigade. The operations of that brigade were all this time carried on with the utmost brilliancy and success. When his aid-de-camp communicated the order of the commander-in-chief. General Rip- ley saw the impracticability of operating upon the enemy, from the position at which he was directed to display his column ; or of advancing from it, in line, upon an emergency, through a close wood. At the same moment, too, General Drummond's in- fantry and all his artillery had commenced h galling fire upon General Scott's brigade, which could only be supported by a direct movement of the second brigade, upon the centre of the enemy's line. The i . ipenetrable darkness of the night rendered it difticult for the generals of brigade at all times to find the commander-in-chief, or each other, and General Ripley, there- fore determined to assume a responsibility, by adopting in time, the only movement which could save the first brigade from in evitable destruction, and ultimately achieve the victory. He therefore proposed to Colonel Miller, the same who had distinguished himself in the earliest stage of the war at Maguaga, and who now commanded the 21st, or Ripley's old regi- ment, to storm the enemy's battery with that, whilst he would support him by leading up the 2,Sd, a younger and less ex- ])erienced regiment, to a charge upon the British flank. Colonel " ■■ - 47 ■ • ■ ■'■■ ■■ ■■ '' ■ In ^1 im 11' MV'^ ■'t*^? iiii' 370 DISPOSITION OF THE REGIMENTS. Colonel MUI«r al Luiidy'i Lano. MilK^i . well knowing the perilous nature of this duty, replied to his g.^aeral, "iVZ/^y, sir,''* and immediately put his regiment in readiness by forming it in line, on the left of the road, directly in front of his object. The 23d was at the same time formed in close column by its commander, Major McFarland, and the first which had arrived that day under Lieutenant-Colo- nel Nicholas, from a long and fatiguing march, was directed to menace the enemy's infantry. Whilst these dispositions were making. General Ripley despatched his aid to apprize General Brown of the impossibility of forming on the skirt of the wood, and of the measures which he had in consequence adopted. The commander-in-chief highly commended the design of the briija- dier-generaJ, and instantly authorized its execution. With hearts panting for the accomplifamerif of this enterprise, these regi- ments moved forward uiider a rapid and destructive fire, directed against them, at rl.' ir very onset, oy the enemy's whole line of musketry and- every piece of his cannon. The 21st nevertheless, promptly pressed forward; the 23d faltered. It was, however instantly rallied by the personal exertions of General Ripley, who led it up to the contemplated charge. At a distance of little more than one hundrtnl yards from the to; * Words afterwards worn on the buttons of the 2Ist regiment. CAPTtfRE OF THE BRITISH BATTERY. 371 of the eminence, on wliich the British cannon were posted, and which these regiments were necessarily obliged to ascend, they received another, and equally as severe a discharge from the musketry and heavy pieces. The 21st was now, however, too much enamoured of its object, and the 23d too obstinately determined on retrieving its fame, to betray the smallest disposition to recoil from the near consummation of their bold and hazardous enterprise. By this fire. Major McFarland, of the 23d, was killed, and the commrnd of that regiment devolved upon Major Brooke, an officer of no less intrepidity" and valour. The description of a more brilliant and decisive movement may never have been registered on the page of history. To the amazement of the whole British line, Colonel Miller steadily and silently advancing up the eminence, until within a few paces of the enemy's cannon, impetuously charged upon the artillerists, and after a short but desperate contest, carried the whole battery, and instantly formed his lint :*n its rear, upon the same ground on which the British infantry had been previously posted. In carrying the heaviest pieces, the 21st regiment expe- rienced severe losses, several officers of distinguished bravery and merit, being either killed or wounded. Lieutenant Cilley, who commanded an advanced company of Ihat regiment, by a resolute and unexampled effort, carried one of the guns, and fell wounded by its side immediately after. Ke had advanced upon it mth such rapidity, as to bayonet the men stationed at it before they had time to escape, and cut dowi with his own hand, an artillerist who was apphdng a match to the piece. In the same charire Lieutenant Bigelow was killed, and Captain Burbank, md Ensigns Jones and Thomas, and Lieutenant Fisk, of the 1 9th, md Ensign Camp, of the 2d rifle, both attached to the 21st were wounded. The advance of the 23d upon the British infantry supporting the cannon, being as prompt as that of the 21st, both regiments pierced the enemy's line at the same instant. Major Brooke, in obedience to the order of General "Ripley, led his battalion, under the eye of his commander, into the very ranks of the enomy, and putting them to a hasty and disorderly retreat, f 1 i| iii r 7 ■i i ] V 372 ADVANCE OF GENERAL DRUMMOND. r i.h M marched up to the relief of Colonel Miller, who, though he had formed his line in the rear of the captured battery, had not yet driven the enemy below the eminence, and was at this moment closely pressed, almost at its summit. By the junction of these two regiments, however, and the bringing into line of the first, the fate of this assault was determined, the British infantry and artillerists retired beyond the reach of musketry, and their own cannon were turned against them. The features of the action now began to assume a new cha- racter. The heights from which the enemy had been thus gal- lantly dislodged, being a very commanding position, the main- tenance of them would alone determine the issue of the conflict, and General Ripley immediately formed his line for the protection of the newly acquired battery, and prepared to receive the a saults which he rightly conjectured would be made for its recovery. When the capture of General Riall was announced, before the dislodgment of the British from the eminence, the elation of the first brigade was manifested by three loud huzzas, which brought a shell from the enemy, that fell in Major Hindman's corps and exploded a casson of ammunition belonging to the company of the brave and lamented Captain Ritchie, who, being mortally wounded in the course of the engagement, fell into the hands of the British. Major Hindman was now directed to bring up his corps, including Towson's detachment, and post himself, with his own and the captured cannon, on the right of General Rip- ley's brigade, and between it and the 25th ; on the left of the second brigade, General Porter's volunteers were then ranged. The line being thus formed, at the expiration of a short inter- val, Lieutenant-General Drummond, incensed beyond measure at the capture of his artillery, resolved on regaining it, and being strongly reinforced, advanced upon General Ripley, with a heavy and extended line, outflanking him on both extremes. In anticipation of his approach, which could only be discovered by the sound attending it. General Ripley had directed his troops to reserve their fire, until they had received that of the asailants, and, if necessary, to feel the bayonets, before they should dis- charge their pieces, with the double view of drawing the advanc- ing line v/ithin close striking distance, and of making his own REPULSE OF THE BRITISH. 373 fire more deadly and effective, by giving it a direction by th« flashes of the enemy's musketry. On the other hand, Lieutenant-General Drummond, thus reso- lutely determined on the recovery of his cannon, gave a peremp- tory order to all his platoon officers, to advance steadily, and without regard to the fire of the American line ; and after attain- ing a given distance, to make a prompt and vigorous charge, and if possible, to fall directly upon the cannon. His whole division therefore, marched at a quick step, until it came within twenty paces of the summit of the height, when the several regiments received orders to pour in a rapid fire upon the American line, and to follow it with an immediate appeal to the bayonet. This fire was no sooner delivered, than the second brigade, the volun- teers, and Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup's regiment, instantaneously returned it, and threw the enemy's line into a momentary con- fusion. But, being immediately rallied, it returned to a conflict more tremendous than any which had been witnessed in that day's battle. Upwards of twenty minutes, one blaze of fire suc- ceeded another, in each line ; sections, companies, and regiments, mutually fell back, and were successively rallied, and again brought into action ; but at length the British line was forced back, and the doubtful contest terminated in their retiring to the lower extremity of the hill. It was not to be supposed, however, that the enemy, the great- est proportion of whose troops had been accustomed to desperate feats of valour, and had encountered the most experienced bat- talions of the European armies, had yet consented to yield to an army but lately made up of the rawest materials, what in that event would be considered the trophies of a victory. Measures were accordingly instantly adopted by General Rip- ley to remove his wounded, and restore his line to proper order. Whilst this splendid repulse was given to the assault of the enemy, General Scott's consolidated battalion, which had been until this time held in reserve, was drawn up in the rear of the second brigade, under Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth, Colonel Brady's wounds having rendered him unfit for active duty General Scott's brigade major, Lieutenant Smith, and his aid, ^^ptain Worth, being at this time both severely wounded, he SI i 6 ^. i '?? s ',r* 874 SE<;OND ADVANCE OF DRUMMOND. ^rmi lllil iiti fm r'fii S-LS^iJ, General Miller. selected an aid from the 9th regiment, and forming the battalior. mto colimm, marched it across the field, and displayed it on a narrow lane, parallel with and to the south of Lundy's lane. From this positic n he despatched Lieutenant^Colonel Leaven- worth to seek the commander-in-chief, and to receive his orders as to tin; di-^position of the battalion. General Brown being conducted to 'Is positi('n by the colonel, a short Qonversatiori followed between the two generals, the result of which was the immediate movement of General Scott's command into Lundy's lane, where it was o be formed, with its right towards the Nia gara road, and its left in the rear of the captured battery. Having given a new arrangement to his troops. General Drum* mond, after a lapse of half an hour, was discovered to be ad- vancing to a second charge. He was received with undiminished firmness, and General Ripley's order to retain the fire being re- peated, the whole British line discharged its musketry from the same point at which it had previously paused. The light which \vas thence emitted, enabled the Americans to fire with the ut- most precision, and to check the enemy's nearer advance. The repeated discharges of Major Hindman's artillery, which was served with uncommon skill and regularity, were severely felt by the advancing line, and the officers attached to it behaved with coolness and gallantry. GENERAL SCOTT's CHARGE. 37ft The situation on the top of the eminence gave many and de- cided advantages to General Ripley's command ; scarcely a shot was lired, which failed of hitting its object, whilst the fire of the British, being more elevated, generally went over the heads ol the Americans. General Ripley being of a tall stature, ana mounted within eight paces of the rear of his line, was by this circmnstance constantly exposed to the enemy's balls. His horse •A-as wounded under him, and his hat twice perforated in the coarse of the second attack. After the first discharge, in this effort to regain his battery, the British general dnt( nining to break the centre of the American line, composed •! the 21st re^^iment, and detachments of the 17th and 19th ellrd his fire at that point. With the exception of a few p' as, the 21st, however, remained unshaken. These being iamied lately rallied by General Ripley, the contest continued with great vi- vacity, until the enemy finding he could not make another impression on the American, and feeling his own line recoiling, atrain fell back to the bottom of the eminence. Immediately after the commencement of this second contest, tlie remains of the first brigade were also brought into action. At the time of the second discharge, the two lines being nearly parallel, and enveloped in a blaze of fire. General Scott, who liad approached the top of the eminence to ascertain their situa- tion, now rode hastily back to his brigade, demanded, in an ani- mated voice, of Colonel Leavenworth, ''are these troops prepared fvr the charge?'^ and, without waiting for a reply, ordered them into close columns, their left in front, and to move forward and charge. This order being executed almost as soon as it was ^ven, the general led up the column, and passing between the pieces of artillery, advanced upon the enemy's left. The gallantry of General Scott's troops, however, could not prevail against a double line of infantry, by which the British flank was supported, and this charge being met with unexpected firmness, the consolidated battalion fell back, and passed to the extreme left of General Porter's volunteers, who were all this time warmly engaged with the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth was then ordered to reform the column, and ♦€ change its front, which, being done. General Scott led it to a ii. ■j. .:;f::|r '^^J^ 0^-*^^°^' IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A.^ ^ 1.0 I.I ■^ 1^ 12.2 2? 144 ■■■ 2.0 I HE 1 1.25 III 1.4 1 1.6 ^ 6" ^ ► Ss Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STRfET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716)«72-4S03 m i\ iV <^ A o^ '<^ 376 GENERAL SCOTT WOUNDED. second charge, and made a resolute attempt to turn the enemy's right. This flank being also protected by a double line, the attempt Avas not more successful than the former ; and the bat- talion again falling back, was ordered to form on the left of the line, whilst the general passed to the right, and joining Lieute nant-Colonel Jessup's regiment, had his shoulder fractured by a musket ball, and almost at the same instant, received a severe wound in the side, which compelled him to leave the field ; not, however, without having first returned to Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth, whom he ordered to move to the right of the line and consolidate his battalion with the 26tli regiment, the commander of which was also severely wounded. General Scott had hitherto escaped the fire of the enemy with singular good fortune : he had been constantly, and, probably, too often, in the most exposed situations : he led his troops in person to the sepa- rate charges, and never shrunk from any part of the engagement, however desperate or dangerous. He was now conveyed to the encampment at Chippewa, whence he was soon after removed to the American side of the Niagara. AVING thus failed in two vigorous and determined efforts for the recovery of his pieces, the British general began to despair of any better success from a third ; but the fortunate arrival of another reinforcing party from Fort George, now protected by four of the British fleet, reanimating his troops, he put them in readiness for another charge, by forming a fresh line with the new detachment. Upwards of half an hour having elapsed since his second repulse, it was considered very doubtful by the Americans, whether their ability to maintain their ground would be put to another trial. Excessively fatigued by the violence of the last struggle, their canteens being exhausted, and no water (an article now almost as indispensable as ammuni- tion) at hand to replenish them, it would be wondered at if they had either courted or desired a renewal of the contest. But they were determined to lose no part of the reputation which they had that night acquired, and if the cannon were again to be tiefended, they would be defended with equal vigour and ani- THIRD CONTEST FOR THE CANNON. 377 mation. Their doubts were very soon removed by the approach, in a more extended line, of the whole body of the British troops, who, independently of their reinforcements, had the advantage of being amply refreshed from the plentiful resources of Queens- town and St. David's. The advance of the enemy was no sooner made known to General Ripley's line, than the ardour of all his men instantly revived, and remembering the order of their gallant commander, to refuse their fire, thev prepared to receive that of the approach- ing line. The British delivered their fire nearly within the same dis- tance as before, but they did not fall back from the fire of the Americans with the same precipitation. Their fresh line steadily advanced, and repeated its discharge ; the Americans remained firm, and returned it ; and an obstinate and tremendous conflict followed. The 21st again manifested its determined character, and, under the direction of Colonel Miller, dealt out a destructive fire upon its assailants. The right and left repeatedly fell back, but were as often rallied, and brought into the line, to preserve which, the exertions of the general and Colonels Miller, Nicholas, and Jessup, and all the other officers were constantly required. On the other hand, the fresh troops of the British, were as unshaken as their antagonists, the 21 s^ ; but the regiments and sections which had been before repulsed, recoiled again, and were repeatedly urged forward by their officers. At length the two hnes were on the very summit of the hill, each at the point of the bayonets of the other, and both appealing to that weapon with unusual force and rapidity. Such was the obstinacy of the contending parties, that many battalions on both sides were forced back by the vigour of the combat, and the British and American lines became mingled with each other. At that part of the height on which the cannon were stationed, the battle was most desperate. The enemy having forced himself into the very midst of Major Hindman's artillery, two pieces of which I'^e officers of that corps were compelled to spike, he was warml}* ongaged across the carriages and guns; and the slaughter which took place upon the eminence, sufficiently evinced his determi nation to recapture, and the resolution of the American artil- 8iS 48 378 FINAL DEFEAT OF THE BRITISH. lerists to retain the trophies which the gallantry of the infantry had won. The close and personal col tests now prevailing from one end of the line to the other, produced a degree of confusion, which the coolness and energy of the general could scarcely suppress. The broken sections were at length, however, restored to the line, and having regained their several positions, compelled the enemy's right and left wings to fall back. The centre of his line, imitating the example of the flanks, also gave way, and the assault upon the artillery, after a dreadful conflict, being at this moment repulsed, the whole British line fled precipitately a third time. The personal and most active exertions of their principal ofiicers could not retard the flight of the troops, and they retreated beyond the reach either of musketry or cannon. General Drum- mond, seeing that the repulse of this last and most determined effort had wearied and depressed his line, and feeling assured that it would be difficult to lead them on to another attempt, which, too, in all probability, would be followed by a more dis- astrous discomfiture, consented to relinquish his cannon, and retired beyond the borders of the field, over which were strewed the dead and wounded of both armies. At the commencement of the last charge, Major-General Brown, while attending to the formation of Lieutenant-Colonel Leaven- worth's battalion, was severely wounded by a musket ball, in the right thigh. A little while after, he received a second wound on the left side, and being compelled to quit the field, retired also to the Chippewa, and devolved the command on General Ripley. Though the British had been forced to withdraw from the action, that officer, not knowing whether they had yet yielded the victory, or whether they contemplated the adoption of measures, by which still to retrieve the honour of their arms, reformed his line, and held it in readinesf» *eceive an attack, in whatever manner it should be made. Convinced of the necessity of the removal of the captured can- non, and of the immense loss which would thence be prevented. General Ripley had frequently despatched his aid to General Brown, for the means of transporting them from the field. No means were, however, at hand, most of the horses being already MENDACITY OF THE BRITISH. 379 Ijilled, and the remainder necessary to draw off the American pieces. General Ripley, therefore, at the close of the engage- ment, ordered General Porter to detach a party of his volunteers to assist in their removal. But the British guns being unUm- bered, and in a dismantled condition, it was found to be imprac- ticable to draw them away, but by means of dragropes ; none of which were at that time on the ground. Reluctant as were all the troops of the line to abandon the trophies which had been oxdned by the resistless valour of the second brigade, to difficulties now found to be insurmountable, they were obliged to yield. It was at this moment, while in conversation with Lieutenant- Colonel Leavenworth, whose battalion was then condensed with the 25th regiment, and commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Jessup, and who had been sent by that officer, for directions as to the dispositions of the first brigade, that General Ripley received an order from General Brown to collect the dead and wounded, and to return with the army to its encampment on the Chippewa. In obedience to the wishes of the commander-in-chief, this order was put into immediate execution. Major Hindman, with the artillery, was already on his march, and the remnants of the regular and volunteer brigades, having first rolled the smaller pieces of the enemy's cannon down the precipice, returned to the camp in good order, and without molestation, about one o'clock on the morning of the 26th. In this instance, as at the defense of Sackett's Harbour, where it has been seen, the British troops were opposed and repulsed by the same commander, the enemy claimed another decisive and more brilliant victory. The governor-general. Sir George Prevost, and the commanding-general, Drummond, complimented the regulars and militia engaged in it, "/or their exemplary tteadiness, gaUantry, and discipline^ in repulsing all the efforts of a numerous and determined enemy, to carry the position of Lundy^s hne" and announced, "that their exertions had been crowned mih success, by the complete defeat of the enemy." If, upon ground of their own selection, and with a body of sixteen hundred and thirty-seven men, to assail an advance party of an enemy of only seven hundred and fifty, and after an hour's obstinate conflict, to repose on their arms, imtil they could be 98 S8C REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. relieved by reinforcements ; — if, after a mutual reinforcement their enemy's numbers should amount to two brigades of four teen hundred and fifty infantry, a detachment of three hundred and sixty-seven artillery, and a corps of six hundred volunteers making in all two thousand four hundred and seventeen man and their own force should consist, according with a report of one of their officers, of three thousand four hundred and fifty regulars, twelve hundred incorporated militia, and foui hundred and eighty Indians, making in all, five thousand one hundred and thirty men, and, with this disparity of strength, they should be driven from the eminence on which they had advantageously posted themselves, with the loss, too, of all their cannon ; — ^if, after three desperate assaults, any one of them up- wards of twenty minutes in duration, for the recovery of their battery, and with the ability to interpose Iresh lines, to be suc- cessfully repulsed, with imniense losses, and after a contest of six hours (from half past five in the evening, until twelve at night) between some of the best disciplined troops of Europe, and the newly raised recruits, the former eventually to withdraw from the field, and leave their enemy in possession, not only of their cannon, but of one of their generals, the second in command, the first having narrowly escaped capture. If this be to eflfect the complete defeat and overthrow of their adversary, the British troops certainly achieved a brilliant and decisive victory ; the governor-general of the Canadas was in the performance of his duty when he complimented them for their steadiness; and the prince regent of England betrayed no precipitation, when he an- nounced it to the world, and permitted " Niagara" to be worn upon the caps of one of the regiments. The captured artillery, it is true, was reobtained by its original owners, but its return to their possession was neither the result of any desperate effort to regain it, nor the evidence of a victory. They had entered into the engagement under circumstances highly advantageous. Their force could be "ontinually augmented either by requisitions for militia, or by the concentration of their regulars from the neighbouring posts, and was already double the strength of the Americans. They vvere surrounded by deposits of ammunition, and being in the Silt '.J RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 381 vicinity of the garrisons, could at any time administer to the \vants of their army. Not so the Americans. They wore at a distance from any resources, whence they might derive either supplies or reinforcements. Their numbers had been lessened by repeated skirmishes with the enemy, and by the casualties commonly incident to armies. With the odds against them, they had been drawn into this tremendous struggle, the long duration of which so much exhausted their troops, and reduced their numbers, that after becoming the entire master^i of the field, and keeping possession of it nearly an hour, they retired, with a force not amounting to the complement of t\i o regiments. In this reduced state, and without the means of removing the captured property, they left the enemy's cannon at the foot of the eminence, on which they had proudly and gallantly wrested it from him. Had theii means been less limited, they might have embellished the conquest not only with these, but other splendid trophies, put all disputation for ever at rest, and left no alternativ 5 to the enemy, but an acknowledgment of his defeat and disgrace. In a battle, desperate and tremendous as this is represented to have been, the losses on each side must necessarily have been immense. In killed, wounded, prisoners, and niissing, the total of both armies amounted to one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine, the proportion being nearly equal, and the killed and wounded alone one thousand three hundred and eighty-four. On the side of the enemy, one assist- ant adjutant-general, one captain, three subalterns, and seventy- nine non-commissioned officers and privates were killed ; Lieu- tenant-General Drummond, Major-General Riall, and three Heutenant-colonels, two majors, eight captains, twenty-two sub- alterns, and five hundred and twenty-two non-commissioned officers and privates were wounded; and the prisoners and missing amounted to one aid-de-camp, (Captain Loring,) five captains, nine other subalterns, and two hundred and twenty non-commissioned officers and privates, making in all eight hundred and seventy-eight men. Many officers of distinction fell also on the other side, and the total loss was little less than that of the British. It consisted of one major, five captains, five subalterns, and one h\ ndred and 382 REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. fifly-nine non-commissioned officers and privates, killed; Majo^ General Brown, Brigadier-Generals Scott and Porter, two aids de-camp, one brigade major, one colonel, four lieutenant-colonels one major, seven captains, thirty-seven subalterns, and fivt- hundred and fifteen non-commissioned officers and privates, wounded; and one brigade major, one captain, six subalterns, and one hundred and two non-commissioned officers and privates, missing ; making a grand total of eight hundred and fifty-one, and a diiference of twenty-seven only, between the contending parties. Of the individual gallantry of the officers, from the highest in rank down to the youngest subaltern, the most positive evidence is furnished, by the long list of killed and wounded. Every man upon the field being engaged in the battle, the bravery of no one officer was distinguishable ft'om another, except in those instances when, by the change of the enemy's movements, detachments were thrown into situations, from which they could be extricated only by the most daring intrepidity. When the American forces returned to their encampment at the Chippewa, Major-General Brown directed General Ripley to refresh the troops, and proceed with them, early in the morn- ing, to the battle ground — ^with a view, no doubt, to reconnoiter the enemy, and if he loitered near the field, in a position from which he might be advantageously driven, to engage him ; but certainly not to assail a superior force, under circumstances, to the last degree unfavourable, and which would inevitably result in the total destruction of the American army. The troops, now amounting to about fifteen hundred and sixty, being put in motion, in obedience to this order General Ripley despatched reconnoitering parties in advance of his main body. From these he learned that the enemy was posted on the field in advance of his former position on the eminence, reinforced as had been reported by the prisoners, his line drawn up between the river and a thick wood, his fianks resting on each, and his cannon stationed so as to enfilade the road. Under such circumstances, it would have been highly injudicious to have attacked him, and where no advantages are to be gained, the useless effusion of human blood is a stain upon the ability and valour as well as RIPLEY RETIRES TO FORT ERIE. 383 upon the judgment and humanity of the soldier. General Ripley, seeing th6 impossibility of regaining the field of battle, and the probability of his own flanks being compelled to fall back, by the immense superiority of the enemy's numbers, turned his army towards the Chippewa; whence, having first destroyed the bridges over that stream, as well as the platforms, which he had previously constructed at the enemy's old works there, he pur- sued his retreat towards the Fort Erie, and reached it in good order on the following day. There he determined upon making a decided stand against the British troops, whose regular and gradual approaches he anticipated. 384 OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. U^'v !*•: CHAPTER XIX. iFttvtIirc tptiationf on tl>e liTtagara ipconticr. HIS retrograde movement of the Ame- rican army was no sooner effected, and the situations of the differeut regiments allotted in the encamp- ments, than the commanding general (Ripley) immediately directed the lines of defense to be extended, the fort enlarged, and new batteries erected. With the aid of the engineers, Lieutenant-Colonels Wood and McRee, defenses of abatis, traverses, intrenchments, and redoubts were instantly commenced, and from the 27th of July until the 2d or 3d of August, the troops were employed night and day, in placing the V orks in a state to sustain the expected and almost certain attack. Had Lieutenant-General Drummond followed up the victorv which he claimed, he would have found the shattered American brigades scarcely in any kind of condition to resist him. But the cautious enemy did not choose to pursue a retreating army, whose troops had given him such signal proofs Mi* BRITISH APPROACH FORT ERIE. 385 of their intrepidity, until his own numbers were again enlarged. On the 29th of July, being reinforced by the right and lef\ wings of De Watteville's troops, eleven hundred strong, he pushed forward -to the investment of the fort. This rein- forcement extended his numbers to five thousand three hundred and fifty-two men, and with this formidable superiority of strength, he appeared on the 3d day of August, before a fort, which but a few days before was declared by the enemy to be a wretched stockade, altogether incapable of defense. Having driven in the American pickets, and formed his en- campment two miles distant from the garrison, he gradually ap- proached within four or six hundred yards of the fort, properly so called, commenced a double line of intrenchments, erected batteries in front of them at points from which he could throw in an effectual lire, and planted his cannon so as to enfilade the works. Seeing by these indications that the British commander was preparing for a regular siege, General Ripley availed him- self of the time thus lost by the enemy in opening his trenches, and carried on his defensive arrangements with unceasing alacrity. The approach of the British army, on the 2d of August, being discovered by Major Morgan of the 1st riflemen, to whom, with a detachment of two hundred and forty men, the defense of the village of Buffalo, which had regained its former flourishing condition, was intrusted, he suspected the enemy of making a feint upon Fort Erie, with a view to an actual attack upon Buf- falo. To defeat any such object, he immediately took a position on the upper side of Conejockeda creek, cut away the bridge crossing it, and threw up a breastwork of logs in the course of the night. Though the British general had no intention of making a feint. Major Morgan's precautions, in anticipation of an attack, were not uselessly adopted ; for, early in the morning of the 3d, a detachment of the enemy's 41st regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, crossed the Niagara, in nine boats, and landed about half a mile below the creek. At the approach of day, the British colonel commenced an attack upon the de- tachment, and sent forward a party to repair the bridge unaer cover of his fire. Major Morgan did not attempt to regard the BK 4» 3SB DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE. enemy's advances until he was within rifle distance, when he opened a fire which proved so destructive, that Lieutenant. Colonel Tucker fell back to the skirt of a neighbouring wood, and kept up the contest at long shot. In the mean time Generaj Drummond threw over reinforcements, and the British detach ment now amounted to nearly twelve hundred men. With tbih force Colonel Tucker attempted to flank his antagonist, by de. spatching his left wing to ford the creek above, and press down upon the opposite side ; this movement being observed, Major Morgan sent forward Lieutenants Ryan, Smith, and Armstrong, to oppose the fording party. Between these detachments an engagement took place a short distance above the breastwork, and after several heavy discharges, the enemy fell back to his main Ixxiy, with considerable loss. Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, finding that the object of his expedition against Buffalo, the re- capture of General Riall, and the destruction of the public stores there, could not be achieved without an immense loss, and knowing the desire of Lieutenant^General Drummond, to aug- ment, rather than decrease the force destined for the siege of the fort, on the opposite shore, he determined on abandoning the enterprise, and drawing of his troops to Squaw island, returned thence to the Canadian shore. With so small a force Major Morgan could not attempt to annoy him in his retreat. He is supposed to have lost a considerable number of men, many dead bodies being found in the creek, and upon the field, and six pri- soners being taken by the detachment. In this gallant little affair. Captain Hamilton, and Lieutenants Wadsworth and Mcintosh of the riflemen, and five privates were wounded, and two privates killed. >»;r ; By the 7th of August, most of the batteries and traverses about Fort Erie were completed. Upon a battery upwards of twenty feet high, and situated at Snake Hill, the southern extremity of the works, five guns were mounted, and the command given to Major Towson, of the artillery. Two other batteries between Towson's and the main works, one mounting three guns, under Captain Biddle, and the other two guns, under Lieutenant Fon- taine, were also completed. The northern point of the fort had been extended to the water, and the Douglass battery, of two ft.'--* DEFEASE OF FORT ERIE. 387 ouAS, erected on the bank. The dragoons, infantry, riflemen, and volunteers, were encamped between the western ramparts and the water, and the artillery, under Major Hindman, stationed ^thiii the main works. Whilst these preparations were making, several partial can- nonades took place, without any known effect on either side. Before any regular firing was commenced, Brigadier-General Gaines arrived at the fort, and assumed the command of the army. General Ripley then returned to the command of hir brigade. The British army was now strongly posted behind their works, and General Gaines determined to ascertain their strength, and endeavour, if possible, to draw them out. On the 6th, he sent the rifle corps, with Major Morgan, who had been previously transferred from the American shore, to pass through the woods, intervening between the British lines and the fort, and with orders to amuse the enemy's light troops, until his columns should indicate an intention to move ; in that event. Major Morgan was to retire gradually, until his corps should have fallen back upon a strong line posted in the plain before the fort, to receive the pursuing British troops. HE object of this movement failed — Major Morgan having encountered and forced the enemy's light troops into the lines, with the loss of eleven killed, and three wounded, and made prisoners ; and not- withstanding he maintained his position upwards of two hours, he could not suc- ceed in drawing forth the main body of the British troops. He therefore returned to the fort, after losing five men killed, and four wounded. By the 10th, the enemy's line was protected by several block- houses, and a long wooden breastwork. To examine these works, Captain Birdsall, of the 4th rifle regiment, was sent out with a detachment of the 1st, and his own company, amounting in all to one hundred and sixty men. After some skirmishing, he succeeded in beating in two of their picket guards, with a loss on their side of ten men killed, and one killed an J three wounded of the riflemen. § Tf,' 388 DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE. On the 12th, a working party of the enemy, supported by a guard of his light troops, was discovered to be opening an ivenue for the construction of an additional battery, from which to annoy the rear of the fort. Agreeably to the orders of General Gaines, Major Morgan detached about one hundred men, undei Captain Birdsall, to cut them off; that officer immediately issailed the guard, and after a smart contest, drove in both it and the working party. In the event of the enemy's guard being reinforced from their lines, Major Morgan had been also ordered to hold his corps in readiness to support Captain Birdsall ; and as a large body of the enemy was observed to be approaching upon the detachment, the major promptly moved forward and engaged it. A warm and spirited conflict fol- lowed, in which several men were killed on both sides. At length, however, an additional party of the enemy coming up to the aid of that engaged, Major Morgan ordered his corps to retire, and had scarcely given a signal to that effect, when he received a musket ball in the head, which for ever deprived the garrison and the country of his valuable services. The corps was conducted to the fort by Captain Birdsall, and the body of its brave and lamented commander interred at Buffalo, with the proper honours and solemnities. During these repeated skirmishes, and in the intervals, be- tween the sorties of detachments, the besiegers and the besieged were diligently engaged in strengthening their respective works; and from the 7th until the 14th of the month, an almost unceas- ing fire was kept up between them, with various effect. On the night of the 14th, the emotion and tumult in the British encampment gave certain indications of an intended attack upon the fort. General Ripley, always on the alert, was among the first to discover these indications, and having. first ordered his brigade, stationed to the left, to be formed within the line of defense, he despatched his aid, Lieutenant Kirby, to inform General Gaines of his conviction of the enemy's contemplation. General Gaines was himself already persuaded that an attempt would very soon be made to storm the garrison; and Lieutenant Kirby had no sooner delivered his message at head-quarters, than the firing of a picket, commanded by Lieutenant Belknaj), DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE. 389 of the infantry, assured him that the moment had arrived. Dis* positions were immediately made to receive the assault, and the troops of the garrison anticipated its result with pride and enthusiasm. Lieutenant-General Drummond having appointed the morn- ing of the 15th for a vigorous and sudden assault upon the fort, had previously arranged the order of attack in three col- umns, to be made at three distinct points, with a view to harass and distract the garrison. His right column, under Lieute- nant-Colonel Fischer, of the 8th, and composed of parts of the 89th and 100th regiments, De Watte ville's, detachments from the royal artiQery with rockateers, and a picket of cavalry, was to make a detour of three miles through the woods, and to assault the southern extremity of the works. His centre column, under Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, of the 104th, and com- posed of detachments from that and the 41st regiment of infantry, of the royal artillery-; seamen and marines, was to be conducted by Captain Barney, of the 89th, to the attack of the fort. The left column under Colonel Scott, of the 103d, and composed of that regiment, was to be led by Captain Elliot, to penetrate the openings in the works between the fort and the lake, and to scale the battery upon the bank. In advance of Lieutenant Fischer's column, the British pickets on Buck's road, together with the Indians of the encampment, were to be pushed on by Lieutenant-Colonel Nichols, to drive in the American outposts. The royals, another part of De Watteville's regiment, the Glengarians, and the incorporated militia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, were to be held in reserve; and the 19th light dragoons, stationed in the ravine in the rear of the fort, to receive and convey the prisoners to the encampment, a duty which it did not fall to their lot to perform. General Gaines, not knowing at wliat points the assault would be made, prepared to receive it at all those which he suspected the enemy might judge to be assailable. The command o< the fort and bastions was given to Captain Alexander Williams, of the artillery, which, with the battery on the margin of the lake, under Lieutenant Douglass, of the engineers, and thence called the Douglass battery, formed the north-east and south-east 2k3 390 EXPLOSION OF THE MAGAZINE. ':i ki angle of the works. In a block-house, near the salient bastion a detachment of the 19th infantry was stationed under Majoi Trimble. The batteries in front, under Captains Biddle and Panning, were supported by General Porter's volunteers, and the corps of riflemen. The whole body of artillery, distributed throughout the garrison was commanded by Major Hindman. The first brigade of infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Aspin- wall, was posted on the right ; and General Ripley's brigade supported Towson's battery, and the line upon the left. On the evening of the 14th, a few hours before the commencement of the assault, and whilst these dispositions were making to repel it, one of the enemy's shells fell into a small magazine within the American works, and produced an awful explosion. From one end of the British line to the other, a loud shout was in consequence uttered, but as no bad effect followed the explosion, the shout was repeated in the fort, and in the midst of the enemy's exultation, Captain Williams immediately discharged all his heavy pieces At half an hour after two, on the morning of the 15th, though ♦he darkness was excessive, the approach of Lieutenant-Colonel Fischer, with the right column, tliirteen hundred strong, was distinctly heard on the left of the garrison. The 2d brigade, f,' * ASSAULT ON FORT ERIE. 391 the command of the 21st regiment having been given to Lieute* nanVColonel Wood, of the engineers, and the artillery of Tow- son's battery were prepared to receive him. Marching promptly forward, Lieutenant-Colonel Fischer assailed the battery with scaling ladders, and the line toward the lake with the bayonet. He was permitted to come close up to the works, when the 21st and 23d regiments, and the artillery upon the battery opened a sudden and tremendous fire, which threw his whole column into confusion, rendered him utterly unable to sustain the contest, and prevented his making an impression upon the works. Having retired some distance to reorganize his column, he immediately made new arrangements for, and varied the shape of, his next attack, so as to avoid those points, from which the greatest measure of destruction had been dealt out to him. According to the general plan, however, which it was incumbent on him to pursue, it was necessary that the battery should be carried ; but, with the means to effect this object he was badly provided. With scaling ladders of no more than sixteen feet in length, he could not possibly throw his troops upon a battery of about twenty-five feet high, and his second attempt, equally furious as the first, met with no greater success. He was again repulsed, and with considerable loss. Convinced of his inability to get possession of the battery, and feeling the deadly effects of the incessant showers of grape which were thrown upon him, he determined in his next effort to pass the point of the abatis, by wading breast deep into the lake, to which the works were open. In this attempt also he was unsuccessful, nearly two hundred of his men being either killed or drowned, and the remainder precipitately falling back. Without waiting to know the result of the attack, upon the right of the works, which had been al- ready made by the second and third column, he ordered a retreat to the British encampment, which he did not effect, without the loss of many of his rear guard, taken prisoners, in a sally made from the works by the order of General Ripley. The attack from the centre and left column, the first of seven hundred, and the second of eight hundred men, was reserved until the contest became very animated between Lieutenant- Colonel Fischer's column and the troops upon the left. From the 'I M 392 ASSAULT ON FORT ERIE. M H '^■^ line of defenses, between the Douglass battery and the fort, and from those in front of the garrison, Lieutenant-General Drum- mond supposed reinforcements would be drawn to the aid of the southern extremity of the works, and with this view he had given greater strength to his right, than to his other columns, and in- tended to avail himself of the consequent weakened state of the north and south-east angles of the American post. The pickets being driven in, the approach of Lieutenant- Colonel Drummond was heard from the ravine, and Colonel Scott's column at the same time advanced along the margin of the water. From the salient bastion of the fort. Captain Wil- liams immediately opened his fire upon the centre column, whilst the approach of Colonel Scott was attempted to be checked by the Douglass battery, and Captains Boughton's and Harding's New York and Pennsylvania volunteers on its right ; the 9th infantry under Captain Foster, on its left ; and a six-pounder, planted at that point, under the management of Colonel McRee. At fifty yards distance from the line, the enemy's left column made a momentary pause, and instantly recoiled from the fire of the cannon and musketry. But the centre column, having advanced upon every assailable point of the fort, in defiance of the rapid and heavy discharges of the artillery, and having ascended the parapet by means of a large number of scaling ladders, its officers called out to the line, extending to the lake, to desist firing— an artifice which succeeded so well, that the Douglass battery, and the infantry, supposing the order to proceed from the gar- rison, suspended their fire, until the deception was discovered. The left column in the mean time, recovered from its confusion, and was led up to a second charge, from which it was again re- pulsed before it had an opportunity of planting the scaling lad- ders, and with the loss of its commander, and upwards of one- third of its men. Whilst the second attempt was in operation, the centre column was, with great difficulty, thrown back from the salient bastion; and the troops within the fort, were quickly reinforced from General Ripley's brigade, and General Porter's volunteers. But Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, actuated by a determination '«nt to be overcome by a single repulse) to force an entrance into <-^ the fort, and neral Drum- tie aid of the le had given inns, and in- state of the Lieutenant, and Colonel e margin of )aptain Wil- lumn, whilst ecked hy the rding's New 9th infantry T, planted at ee. At fifty umn made a e fire of the ng advanced of the rapid ascended the rs, its officers isist firing— jlass battery, rom the gar- s discovered, ts confusion, vas again re- 3 scaling lad- i^ards of one- Bntre column lent bastion ; iforced from unteers. But [etermination entrance into so Ik t I f. ii 1 1 •; '51 t ■ 5 '-"i i '' "I'm ASSAULT ON FORT ERIE. 395 the garrison, and momentarily expecting the reserve to be ordered up by the lieutenanlrgeneral, returned to the assault a second and a third time. By the gallant eiTorts, however, of Major Hindman, and his artillery, and the infantry detachment of Major Trimble, he was, each time, more signally repulsed than before; and Colonel Scott's column having withdrawn from the action, upon the fall of its leader. Lieutenant Douglass was busily en- gaged in giving such direction to the guns of his battery, as to cut off the communication between Drummond's column and the reserve of LieutenantrColond Tucker. HE new bastions which had been com- menced for the enlargement of the old Fort Erie, not being yet com- pleted, the only opposition which could be given to the enemy's ap- proaches upon those points, was by means of small arms. The batteries of Captain Biddle and Captain Fan- ning (formerly Fontaine's) in the works intervening between Towson's battery and the fort, were, therefore, opened upon the enemy with great vivacity, and his advances from the plain, frequently checked by those gallant and meritorious officers. After this third repulse, Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, taking advantage of the darkness of the morning, and of the heavy columns of smoke, which concealed all objects from the view of the garrison, moved his troops silently round the ditch, repeated his charge, and reascend m1 his ladders with such velocity, as to gain footing on the parapet, before any effectual opposition could be made. Being in the very midst of his men, he directed them to charge vigorously with their pikes and bayonets, and to show no quarter to any jdelding soldier of the garrison.* This order * General Gainei, in hit official letter, tpeaklny of Lieutenant-Colonel Drammond, obMTTet, "The order of * Oivt tha FanJbMi no fuarttrt* was often reiterated by thii of cer, whose brarery, if it had been Masoned with Tirtue, would hare entitled him to th« admiration of every soldier.*' 100 396 ASSAULT ON FORT ERIE. .1 W' ■ was executed with the utmost rapidity, and the most obstinate previous parts of the engagement formed no kind of parallel to the violence and desperation of the present conflict. Captain Williams, and Lieutenants McDonough and Wat- mough, of the artillery, being in the most conspicuous situations were personally engaged with the assailants, and were all g; verely wounded ; the first, Captain Williams, mortally.* Not all the efforts of Major Hindman and his command, nor Major Trimble's infentry, nor a detachment of rifiemen under Capta' Birdsall, who had posted himself in the ravelin, opposite th. gateway of the fort, could dislodge the determined and intrepid enemy from the bastion ; though the deadly effects of their fire prevented his approaches beyond it. He had now complete pos- session of the bastion. About this time, Lieutenant McDonough's wounds rendered him almost incapable of further resistance, and he demanded quarter from the enemy, but Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond personally refused it, and repeated his instructions to his troops to deny it in all instances. The shocking inhu- manity of this order roused the exhausted spirit of the lieutenant, and, seizing a handspike, he defended himself against a numerous party of the assailants, until he received a pistol shot discharged at him by the hand of their commander. Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond survived this act but a few moments, the fall of McDonough being avenged by a person standing near him, who immediately shot the colonel through the breast. The loss of their leader did not check the impetuosity of the enemy's troops, and they continued in the use of their pikes and small arms until the day broke, and repulsed several furious charges made upon them by detachments of the garrison. The \i: ■ * This amiable joun^ officer wns the son of Colonel Jonathan Williams, who had long been at the head of the United States engineer department, to whom the nation it greatly indebted for the construction of many of the principal fortifications ; and who was a member elect of the fourteenth congfress, from the city of Philadf^lphia. The captain was also formerly of the engineer corps, but having been transferred to thear* tillery, and being anxious to share in the honours and the perils of the campaign of 1814, he solicited to be sent to the Niagara frontier, and received an order to repair thither from Fort Mifflin, a garrison which, for several months, he had commanded with reputation. Early in the spring of that year, though in a state of convalescence from a ddngerous fever, he proceeded to the lines, and joined the army of General Brown, in which no officer was more universally esteemed. ASSkJJ^ V ON FORT ERIE. 307 ipproach of daylight enabled both parties to give a more certain directiou to their fire. The artillerists had already severely suffered ; but, with those that remained, and a reinforcing de tftchment of infantry. Major Hindman renewed his attempts to (Irive the British 41st and 1 04th from the bastion. Captain Bird- saJl, at the same moment, drawing out his riflemen from the ravelin, rushed through the gateway into the fort, and joining in the charge, received an accidental wound from one of his own men, just as the attack failed. Detachments from the 1st brigade, under Captain Foster, were then introduced over the interior bastion, to the assistance of Major Hindman ; these detachments were to charge at a different point of the salient or exterior bastion, and were handsomely led on by Captain Foster and the assistant inspector-general. Major Hall. This ch?irge also failed ; the passage up the bastion not being wide enough to admit more than three men abreast. It was frequently however repeated, and though it sometimes occasioned much slaughter among the enemy's infantry, was invariably repulsed. By the operations of the artillery from a demi-bastion in the fort, and the continual blaze of fire from the small arms, added to the effects of the re- peated charges, the enemy's column, being considerably cut up, and many of its principal officers wounded, began to recoil; which, being observed by the besieged party, and the contest having entirely subsided on the left fiank of the works, reinforce- ments were brought up from that point, and many of the enemy's troops, in a few moments, thrown from the bastion. The British reserve was now expected to come up ; the guns at the Douglass battery had by this time been turned so as to en- filade that column in its approach ; Captain Fanning was already playing upon the enemy with great effect ; and Captain Biddle was ordered to post a piece of artillery so as to enfilade the salient glacis. This piece was served with uncommon vivacity, not- withstanding Captain Biddle had been severely wounded in the shoulder. All these preparations being made for an effectual operation upon the enemy's remaining column, and from the dreadful carnage which had already taken place, it was scawely supposed that he would continue the assault much longer. But three or four hundred men of the reserve, were about to rush SL 398 RESULT OF THE ASSAULT. r '>UU I I I • f},i Ik.' upm *Jie parapet to the assistance of those recoiling, when a tre< mendcus and dreadful explosion took place, under the platform which carried away the bastion, and all who happened to be upon it.* The enemy's reserve immediately fell back, and in a short time the contest terminated in the entire defeat of the assailants, who returned with the shattered columns, to their encampment. On retiring from the assault, according to the report of General Gaines, the British army left upon the field two hun* dred and twenty-two killed, among whom were fourteen officers of distinction, one hundred and seventy-four wounded, and one hundred and eighty-six prisoners, making a total of five hun' dred and eighty-two. Others who were slightly wounded had been carried to their works. The official account of Lieutenant-General Drummond does not acknowledge so large a number in killed, but makes the aggregate loss much greater. His adjutant-general reported fiffcy-seven killed, three hundred and nine wounded, and five hundred and thirty-nine missing — ^in all nine hundred and five. The American loss amounted to seventeen killed, fifly-six wounded, and one lieutenant, (Fontaine,) who was thrown over the parapet while defending the bastion, and ten privates pri* soners — ^in all eighty-four men ; making a diflference in their favour of eight hundred and twenty-one. During the cannonade and bombardment which commenced on the 13th, and continued * This explosion, to which alone the enemy attribnted the failure of his arms, not^ withstandingr the signal repulses of his right and left columns, has been variooslj accounted for. It was occasioned by the communication of a spark to an ammnnitioD chest, placed under the platform of the bastion, but by what means the narrator of thii event has not been able, after an investigation of many papers written to him upon the subject, to ascertain. It is to be regretted, that a fact constituting so important a featnn in thi« ipemorable defense, should never have been satisfactorily developed. Seven! letters from officers, engaged at the right flank of the American works, state it to ban been the result of entire accident; whilst others relate, that Lieutenant McDonougfa, not having been immediately removed firom the foot of the bastion, on which he had been twice wounded, and being highly exasperated at the determination which he saw in the conduct of the enemy's troops to show no mercy to the vanquished soldier, resolred upon devoting himself to stop the progress of their inhuman career, and to this end threw a lighted match into a chest of ammunition, and by iti Immediate explosion, produced those tremendous effects, which restored the basdon to the Americans, and terminated the conflicti GENERAL OAINES WOUNDED. 399 until an hour before the assault on the morning of the 16th, fortj ■> five men of the American garrison were killed and wouD(Jod. Captain Biddle, Lieutenant Zantzinger, and Adjutant-Lieutc- nant Watmough, of the artillery, and Lieutenant Patterson, of the 19th infanty, among the latter. A night or two before the attack upon Fort Erie, the Britiuh general furnished Captain Dobbs, of the royal navy, with a sufficient number of troops to man nine boats, which were coin- pletely fitted, to attack the three schooners, the Somers, Porcu- pine, and Ohio, then Ipug at anchor off the fort. The Porcupine succeeded in beating them off, but the Somers and Ohio were carried, after a gallant resistance, in which the enemy lost two seamen killed, and four wounded ; and the schooners, one seaman killed, and three officers and four seamen wounded. The cap- tured schooners were taken down the Niagara, and anchored near Frenchman's creek ; the Porcupine immediately after sailed for the town of Erie. In consequence of his immense losses in the assault, the enemy's force was reduced almost to the number of the troops within the garrison ; and until he was again reinforced, he did not think proper to carry on his operations. A few days brought him a reinforcement of two full regiments, and having enlarged his batteries, and made arrangements to force the Americans to the evacuation of Fort Erie, he opened a fire from his whole line, and threw in hot shot, shells, and every destructive imple- ment within his reach, without intermission, during the re- mainder of the month of August. On the 28th General Gaines ms severely wounded in several parts of his body, by a shell which fell through the roof of his quarters, and exploded at his feet He was fortunate enough to escape suffocation, by gaining the door of the apartment, but being entirely disabled, he retired to Buffalo, and left the command again in the hands of General Ripley, who neglected no means to facilitate the completion of the works, which, mth the assistance of the engineers, he had originally planned. 400 0PKRATI0N8 ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER. CHAPTER XX. 2nta0ion of tTrrmont.— JFutttift ovnaHoM on tj^t tKiigit* iTmiHn. HE operations against the enemy's positions along the Niagara had scarcely been entered upon, when the governor-general, Sir George Prevost matured the plan of an ex- pedition, having for its object, the invasion of the American territory from Lower Canada ; the defeat and destruction of the right division of the United States army, then lying in the neighbourhood of Plattsburg, under Major-General Izard; and the subjugation of the country to Crown Point and Ticonderoga. No krffensive measures, against any part of Lower Canada, by this army, being in contemplation, and the apprehensions of the war department having been strongly excised about the safety of the left division, after its investment at Fort Erie, General Izard received orders to march for that post, with a reinforcement of prevost'8 expedition. 401 the largest proportion of his troops, and to asetime the command of the garrison. Accordingly, after detaching abuut fifteen hun- dred men, under Brigadier-General Macomb, most of whom were either sick or convalescent, and requiring of General Mooers, of the New York militia, the aid of a few volunteer compn/jies, for the defense of Plattsburg, he marched for Sackett's Harbour, with upwards of three thousand men. Being thus left in com- mand of a position, open to the attacks of the enemy's naval, as well as his land forces, General Macomb neglected no precaution to prevent surprise, and to put his small army in the best state of discipline, though on the Ist of September, in consequence of the best brigades having been broken up, to form General Izard's division, b w> had but one battalion properly organized. The works erecting were on that day unfinished, and the troops, therefore, divided into detachments to complete them. Transports, with troops, had been continually arriving at Que- bec, from England, and such was the secrecy and address with which Sir George Prevost made preparations for his intended expedition, that, before the 1st of September, he had organized a powerful army of fourteen thousand men, opposite Montreal, constituted of the most experienced generals, and distinguished officers of the British army. This comparatively immense force consisted of three brigades, and a corps of reserve, the brigades being divided into twenty-four divisions, and having a staff com- posed of two lieutenant-generals, five major-generals, and a pro- portionate number of assistants and deputies. The respective brigades were commanded by major-generals Robertson, Powers, Brisbane, and Baynes, (adjutant-general.) Major-General Kempt commanded the reserve. Sir Sidney Beckwith was quarter- master-general to this army, and Lieutenant-General De Rotten- burg, the second in command ; Sir George Prevost commanding in person. About the 1st of the month, he occupied with these troops the village of Champlain, and issued addresses and proclamations, inviting the citizens to his standard, and promising them the protection of his majesty's government. From Champlain he continued to make gradual approaches towards Plattsburg, until the 6th. Early on the morning of that day, he made a rapid 3l3 61 402 DEFENSE OF PLATTSBURO. ji 1 «t advance, in two columns, one coming down the Beckmantown road, and the other along the Lake road. At a bridge crossing Dead creek, intersecting the latter, General Macomb had sta- tioned a detachment of two hundred men, under Captain Sproul of the 13th, to abatis the woods, and to place obstructions in the road ; after which, he was to fortify himself with two field- pieces, sent with him for that purpose, and to receive orders from Lieutenant-Colonel Appling, who, with one hundred rifle- men, was reconnoitering the enemy's movements some distance in advance of this position. The brigade of General Brisbane, which approached through the Beckmantovm road with more rapidity than the other, was met by about seven hundred militia, under General Mooers, who, after a slight skirmish with the enemy's light parties, with the exception of one or two compa- nies fled in the greatest disorder. Those who were intrepid enough to remain, were immediately formed with a corps of two hundred and fifty regulars, under Major Wool, of the 29th, and disputed the passage of the road for some time. But their fears also getting at length the better of their judgment, notwith- standing the enemy fired only from his flankers and patrolling parties, they followed the example of their comrades, and pre- cipitately retired to the village. Major Wool's regulars remained firm, however, and being joined by Captain Leonard's park of flying artillery, and the 6th, and a detachment of the 34th regi- ments, continued to annoy the advanced parties of the British column, and killed Lieutenant-Colonel Welliugton, of the 3d, or buffs, who was at its head. General Macomb, at this moment personally directing the movements in the town, soon saw that the enemy's object in making so much more rapid a march on its west, than on the north, was to cut off Lieutenant-Colonel Appling's and Captain Sproul's detachments, despatched his aid. Lieutenant Root, with orders to those ofl[icers to withdraw their forces from Dead creek, to join the detachment of Major Wool, and to fall upon the enemy's right flank. Whilst Lieutenant-Colonel Appling was proceeding in obedience to this order, he was encountered on the north side of the town by the light divisions of the enemy's 1st brigade, sent for the purpose of cutting him oflf, and which DEFENSE OF PLATTSBURO. 403 had that moment emerged from the woods. Their numbers were superior, and had he been delayed an instant longer on the Lake road, he must inevitably have yielded. Here he engaged, but after a short contest, retired before them. In the centre of the town he re-engaged them, and being joined by Major Wool, was ordered to retire to the American works on the south of the Saranac. HE retreat was effected in good order, and covered by a guard of one hundred and twenty men, under Captain McGlassin, of the 15th infantry; the detachments alternately retiring and keeping up a brisk and effectual fire upon the British columns. Having reached the works with a trifling loss, General Macomb ordered Lieutenant Harriso , of the 13th, under the direction of Major Wool, and protected by Captain Leonard's artillery, to destroy the bridge over the Saranac. This order was not executed without some dijSiculty, the Bri- tish having occupied the houses near the bridge, with their light troops, kept up a constant fire from the windows, and wounded Lieutenants Harrison and Turner, of the 13th and Taylor, of the 34th. These troops were, however, soon after dislodged by a discharge of hot shot from the American works, and in conjunc- tion with the right column, were engaged the remainder of the day in various attempts to drive the guards from the several bridges. But the planks had all been taken up, and being placed in the form of breastworks, served to cover the American light parties stationed for the defense of the passages. The obstructions which had been thrown in the way of the column advancing by the Lake road, and the destruction of the bridge over Dead creek, greatly impeded its approaches, and, in attempting to ford the creek, it received a severe and destructive fire from the gun-boats and galleys anchored in front of the town. But not all the galleys, aided by the armament of the -f" ■mi i i w.] 404 DEFENSE OF PLATTSBURO. Hi " iVigii'n'i, ^'\ If' ' whole flotilla, which then lay opposite Plattsburg, under Com« modore McDonough, could have prevented the capture of Ma- comb's army, after its passage of the Saranac, had Sir George Prevost pushed his whole force upon the margin of that stream. Like General Drummond at Erie, he made a pause, in full view of the unfinished works of the Americans, and consumed five days in erecting batteries, and throwing up breastworks, for the protection of his approaches. Of this interval the American general did not fail to avail himself, and kept his troops con- stantly employed in finishing his line of redoubts. Whilst both parties were thus engaged in providing for the protection of their forces, the main body of the British army came up with the advance ; and General Macomb was also re- inforced by the militia of New York, and the volunteers from the mountains of Vermont. Skirmishes between light detach- ments, sallies from the different works, and frequisnt attempts to restore the bridges, served to amuse the besiegers and the be- sieged, while the former were getting up a train of batterinne thousand ain Downie, i the Ameri- sn moored in iga, the brig ble, and ten (the largest h eight hun- for a general his batteries ;. A tremen- rockets were day, and fre- river. At a ow over a di« sed by a de- tassage of the party of rifle- 3al slaughter There the J of the 76th )dy of volun- ened a heavy a one of these jd, and three s, those who L approaching jding and ad- 3eing closely irown into a not recover he dead and :i I f> BATTLE ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 411 ^v'ounded being swept along by the force of the current, sunk into one common grave. T was the result of the engagement between the two naval armaments, which continued upwards of two hours, in presence of the contend- ing armies, which determined the action upon land. Its eifects were sensibly felt by the British general, whose plans were completely frus- trated by its issue. After gettingr round Cumberland Head, Captain Downie anchored his fleet within three hundred yards of the line formed by Commodore McDonough, and placing the Confiance frigate in opposition to the Saratoga, the Linnet to the Eagle, Captain Henley, one of his sloops, and all his galleys, to the schooner Ticonderoga, Lieutenant-Commandant Cassin, and the sloop Preble, his other sloop 'alternately assisting the Saratoga and Eagle. The latter vessel was so situated, shortly after the commencement of the action, that the guns could not be brought to bear, and Captain Henley cut her cable, and placed iier between the commodore's ship and the Ticonderoga, from which situation, though she exposed the Saratoga to a galling fire, she annoyed the enemy's squadron with much effect. Some minutes after ten o'clock, nearly all the guns on the starboard side of the Saratoga being either dismounted or entirely un- manageable, Commodore McDonough was obliged to put out a stern anchor, and to cut the bower cable, by which means the Saratoga winded on the enemy's frigate with a fresh broadside, which being promptly delivered, the Confiance immediately after surrendered, with one hundred and five round shot in her hull, and her captain and forty-nine men killed, and sixty wounded. The Saratoga had fifty-five round shot in her hull, and had been twice set on fire by hot shot from the Confiance, but she sustained a loss of only twenty-eight in killed, and twenty-nine wounded, notwith- standing she mounted thirteen guns less than her antagonist. The Confiance had no sooner surrendered, than the Saratoga's broadside was sprung to bear on the brig, whose flag struck 102 412 BRITISH FLEET CAPTURED. fifteen minutes after. Captain Henley, in the Eagle, had already captured one of the enemy's sloops, and the Ticondcroga, after having sustained a galling fire, caused the surrender of the re- maining vessel. The principal vessels of the British fleet beincr now all captured, and three of their row galleys sunk, the re^ maining ten escaped from the bay in a shattered condition. Among the officers killed on board the Saratoga, was the first lieutenant, Gamble, and on board the Ticonderoga, Lieutenant John Stansbury, son of General Tobias Stansbury, of Maryland, who was shot upon mounting the netting, to discover in what manner the guns of his division might be brought to bear more effectually upon one of the enemy's vessels. Among the wounded were Lieutenant Smith, acting Lieutenant Spencer, and Mid- shipman Baldwin. The total loss of Commodore McDonough's squadron amounted to fifty-two men killed, and fifty-eight wounded. The enemy's loss was eighty-four men killed, one hundred and ten wounded, and eight hundred and fifty-six pri- soners, who alone amounted to a greater number than those by whom they were taken. The capture of his fleet being announced to Sir George Pre- vost, he immediately withdrew his forces from the assarit of the American works. From his batteries, however, he kept up a constant fire until the dusk of the evening, when, being silenced by the guns of Fort Moreau, under Colonel M. Smith, and of Forts Brown and Scott, he retired within the town, and at nine at night sent off his artillery, and all the baggage for which he could obtain transport. About midnight he made a disgraceful and precipitate retreat, leaving behind him all his sick and wounded, with a request that they might be generously treated by General Macomb. At daybreak of the 12th, this movement being discovered by that officer, he immediately despatched his light troops, and the volunteers and militia, in pursuit. The enemy, however, had retired with such celerity, as to reach Chazy before the pursuit was commenced, and a violent storm prevented its continuance. Immense quantities of provisions, bomb shells, cannon balls, grape shot, ammunition, flints, in- trenching tools, tents, and marquees were taken, and upwards of tour hundred deserters surrendered themselves in the course of RESULT OF THE BATTLES. 413 Commodore MeDonough. the day. Besides these Sir George lost seventy-five prisoners, and as nearly as could be ascertained, about fifteen hundred killed and wounded, among them several officers of rank. The loss of the American army, which, with the accession of the volunteers and militia, did not exceed twenty-five hundred men, amounted to thirty-seven killed, sixty-two wounded, and twenty missing. For the gallantry which they displayed in this splendid en- gagement, General Macomb, Lieutenant-Colonel Appling, Ma- jors Wool, of the 29th, and Totten, of the engineers, whose ser- vices were eminently conspicuous in the construction of the works, and Captain Brooks of the artillery, received the brevet rank of the grades next above those which they held on the day of the action. Captain Youngs, of the 15th, had been put on lioard the squadron, with a detachment of infantry to act as marines ; and for his coolness and intrepidity, in a species of service distinct from that to which he was attached, was also breveted. Captain Grosvenor, of the infantry, and the brigade maior, Lieutenant Duncan, of the artillery, were conspicuous 2x3 414 SORTIE FROM FORT ERIE. !'. if n for their zeal and activity throughout the engagement ; the latter was charged with the delivery of the despatches to the war dn partment. Promotions took place also in the navy, and Commodore McDonough was immediately elevated to the rank of post-captain. The investment of Fort Erie was all this time continued the troops of the garrison were actively engaged in the coraple- tion of the bastions and of the abatis on the right flank ; and the beseigers employed in the erection of additional batteries intended to enfilade the western ramparts of the American works. General Brown had returned to the post, and resumed the Gom. mand of the army, which had been in the mean time reinforced by new levies of militia. About the middle of September, after these arrangements were completed, an attempt to dislodge the enemy from his intrenched works, and to deprive him of the means of annoying the garrison, was determined on. A sortie was planned, and the morning of the 17th appointed for its exe- cution. Lieutenants Riddle and Frazer, of the 16th infantry, had already opened a road from the southern angle of the Har- rison to a point within pistol-shot of the enemy's right wing, and with such secrecy, that it was not discovered until the actual assault was commenced. About noon the regulars, infantry, and riflemen, and the volunteers and militia, were in readiness to march ; and before two o'clock the sortie was made. The divi sion issuing from the left, was commanded by General Porter, and composed of two hundred riflemen and a few Indians, under | Colonel Gibson, and two columns, the rigiit commanded by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Wood, and the left by Brigadier-General Davis, I of the New York militia. These columns were conducted through the woods by Lieutenants Riddle and Frazer, and ap- proached upon the enemy's new battery, on his right, witli such rapidity, as to surprise the brigade stationed at his line. His batteries, Nos. 3 and 4, were gallantly stormed, and after thirty minutes close action, both carried. Colonel Gibson and Lieute- nant-Colonel Wood, fell at the head of their columns, almost at | the onset, and the respective commands devolved upon Lieute- nant-Colonel McDonald and Major Brooks. A block-house in the rear of battery No. 3 was also carried, and its garrison made prisoners. Three twenty-four-pounders I SORTIE FROM FORT ERIE. 415 and their carriages were destroyed, and after the prisoners were jecured, and the American coluini\R moved beyond its influence, Lieutenant Riddle descended into the magazine, and, first taking out a quantity of fixed ammunition, set fire to a train leading to several barrels of powder. The explosion took place much sooner than the lieutenant expected, md not being able to escape in time, he was covered with the combustibles and fragments of the magazine, from which he was extricated with the utmost difficulty. At the moment of this explosion, the right division of the troops which had been stationed in the ravine between the fort and the enemy's works, under General Miller, with orders not to attack until General Porter had engaged the ene- my's right flank, first came up to the assault, and in co-operation with Colonel Gibson's column, pierced the British intrenchments between their batteries Nos. 2 and 3, and after a severe contest, I carried the former. In this assault, Brigadier-General Davis, of I'the New York militia, fell at the head of his corps. The enemy's second block-house, his batteries 2 and 3, and his unfinished battery No. 4, with the intervening breastworks and intrenchments, being now all in the possession of the Ame- ricans, General Miller's division inclined towards the river with a view to assail his battery No. 1, erected at the extremity of his left flank. At this point the enemy made a much bolder and more obstinate resistance. There his defenses were constructed with the most studied intricacy ; breastworks had been thrown up connecting his first and second battery ; successive lines of intrenchments intersected each other for nearly a hundred yards in their rear ; and rows of abatis and timber planted in multi- plied involutions, formed impediments to the approach of the assailants, produced some confusion in the column, and made constant appeals to the bayonet necessary. . Before General Miller attempted this movement upon the bat- tery near the water. General Brown had ordered up General Ripley with the reserve, comprised of the 21st regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Upham, and desired him, as the senior officer in advance, to ascertain the general situation of the troops, and to withdraw them from the enemy's works, as soon as the object of the sortie, the destruction of his batteries, was effected. The 416 GENERAL RIPLEY WOUNDED. reserve, in obedience to this order, promptly advanced to the Bupport of Miller's column, and came into the engagement as the enemy's force was strengthened from his encampment. This column was composed of the 9th, the 11th, and part of the 19th infantry; the first being commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel A spin wall, who lost his left arm in the assault; and the last, by Major Trimble, who was dangerously shot through the body. Under the immediate direction of the same gallant leader, who j had carried the cannon upon the eminence at Lundy's lane, and aided by Lieutenant-Colonel Upham, with the 21st and part of the 17th, it made a rapid charge upon, and stormed the remain- ing battery, which was instantly abandoned by the British in- fantry and artillery. General Ripley then ordered a line to be formed in front, for I the protection of the detachments engaged in spiking the ene- my's guns, and demolishing the captured works. This line he determined also to strengthen, in order to annoy the rear of | General Drummond's retreating forces, and was in the act of j forwarding these arrangements, when he received a dangerous wound in the neck, and fell by the side of Major Brook, of the 23d, whose command was at that moment engaged with a de- 1 tachment on the enemy's right. His aid. Lieutenant Kirby, caused him to be removed to the garrison, and G eneral Miller I having ordered the right wing to fall back, the troops upon the left were shortly after recalled, and the operations ceased with] the accomplishment of all the objects of the sortie. The troops then returned to the garrison with their prisoners, and many trophies of their valour ; and, on the third day after, Lieutenant-General Drummond, who had been joined before the I sortie by Major-Generals De Watteville and Stovin, broke up his encampment, raised the siege, and hastily retired upon Fort George! In addition to the loss of nearly all his cannon, his [ force was again reduced at least one thousand men ; and, not- withstanding th^ results of forty-seven days incessant labour I were destroyed, and eleven of his officers, and three hundred and seventy-four of his non-commissioned ofl[icers and privates made prisoners, and transferred to the American shore, he called [ the event a repulse of an American army of five thousand men, GENERAL" BROWN SUPERSEDED. 417 ,t im General Brown. by an inconsiderable number of British troops. Including the names already mentioned, General Brown's army lost ten officers and seventy men killed ; twenty-four officers and one hundred and ninety men wounded ; and ten officers and two hundred and six men missing — in all five hundred and ten. Not long after the enemy had been thus compelled to raise the siege of Fort Erie, the garrison was enlarged by the arrival of the right division, under Major-General Izard, who superseded General Brown in the command of the army. The accession of this division, and the strength of the defenses, which were all by this time entire, and some of them garnished with heavy cannon, rendered Fort Erie impregnable to the attacks of any other than a vastly superior force ; and the month intervening between the 17tb of September and the 18th of October, was constantly employed in drilling, and harmonizing the discipline of the two wings of the army. In the neighbourhood of Cook's Mills at Lyon's creek, a branch of the Chippewa, it was under* 63 41^ EXPEDITION TO COO'k's MILLS. ml »m stood that quantities of provision were desposited for the use of the British troops, and General Izard directed General Bissell commanding the 2d brigade of the 1st division, to march thither and seize them. On the 18th he proceeded on the expedition and after driving in a picket guard, and capturing its command- ing officer, he threw two light companies, under Captain Dor- man, of the 5th, and Lieutenant Horrell, of the 16th infantry, and a company of riflemen, under Captain Irvine, across Lyon's creek, and encamped for the night, with picket guards stationed at proper distances. One of these commanded by Lieutenant Gassaway, and stationed on the Chippewa road, was attacked by two companies of the Glengary light infantry, which were beaten off with loss. On the following morning the brigade was attacked by a force of twelve hundred men, under Colonel the Marquis of Tweedale. Captain Dorman's infantry, and Irvine's riflemen, received the first fire of the enemy, and sustained it with the greatest gal- lantry, whilst General Bissell was forming and bringing up the other troops to their support. Colonel Pinckney, with the 5th regiment, was ordered to turn the enemy's right flank, and to cut off a piece of artillery which he had just then brought into action, whilst Major Barnard, with the 14th, was to charge them in front. These movements were instantly effected. The ene- my's left flank and his centre sunk under the fire of cor2)s d* elite, and the riflemen, and the charge of the 14th ; and his right flank was turned immediately after by the rapid and forcible move- ment of the 5th. The recoil of his line, and the approach of the American reserve, composed of the 15th, under Major Grindage, and the 16th, under Colonel Pearce, to enforce the success of the main body, was no sooner perceived by the marquis, than he ordered his troops to retire from the ground on which they had engaged General Bissell ; and, expecting to draw that officer after him, fell back to his fortifications at the mouth of the river, As his retreat was made without much regard to order, all his killed, and most of his wounded, were left behind. He was pur- sued b'-.t a small distance, when General Bissell, in conformity to his instructions, destroyed the provisions at the mills, and returned to his position at Black creek, having eifected the DESTRUCTION OF FORT EI IE. 419 object of his expedition, with the loss of sixty-seven killed, wounded, and missing. The whole airay, with the exception of Lieutenant-Colonel Hindman's artillery, to whom the command of Fort Erie, and the works was intrusted, was now operating in the vicinity of Black creek and Chippewa. Its staff had been reduced by the removal of General Ripley to the American shore after being wounded, and the transfer of General Brown to Sackett's Har- bour, and of General Miller to Boston. Immediately after the repulse of the Marquis of Tweedale, General Izard directed its return to the garrison, whence, as the weather was about this time setting in extremely cold, and the season having arrived when hostilities usually ceased, it was determined to transport it to the American shore, to supply the troops with more comfort- able winter quarters. The fort was accordingly destroyed, and all the batteries demolished, and after a vigorous and brilliant campaign of four months, the Canadian territory was evacuated, and the army distributed in quarters at Buffalo, Black Rock, and Batavia. The volunteers and militia were discharged with the thanks of the government, and General Porter received various testimonies of approbation and applause from the state to which he belonged, for his constant display of bravery, and the high degree of discipline which he maintained in his command. HILST these events were transpiring between the Ame- rican army, and the armies of Lieutenant-General Drum- mond and Sir George Pre- vost, an expedition had been fitted out in the north-western country, under the united command of Commodore Sinclair, with the fleet upon Lake Erie, and Lieutenant-Colonel Croghan, with a detachment of ar- tillery and infantry, to act against the fort and island of Michili- mackinac. But the expedition failed, notwithstanding the skill and gallantry of the officers engaged in it ; and the troops retired from the island, after having effected a landing, with the loss of the second officer, Major Holmes of the 32d infantry. The .... ''!:Jr 'I «: im ■1 i-n , ' r 4- I 420 EXPEDITION IN THE NORTH-WEST. 14:' J, enemy, apprized of the movement, appeared in large numbers to resist it, and being protected by breastworks, and aided by a body of Indians, exceeding the strength of Colonel Croghan's de- tachment, that intrepid young officer was compelled to withdraw his forces, and return to the shipping. On his way to the island however, he destroyed the Fort St. Joseph's, and the enemy's establishment at Sault St. Mary's. The loss of the detachment in the expedition amounted to sixty-six killed, wounded, and missing. After leaving the island. Commodore Sinclair stationed two of his schooners, the Tigress and Scorpion, near St. Joseph's to cut off all supplies for the British garrison at Michilimackinac. Lieutenant-Colonel McDowell, the commandant of that garrison supplied Lieutenant Worsley, of the navy, with two hundred and fifty Indians, and a detachment of the Newfoundland re- giment, with whom, and one hundred and fifty sailors, he at- tacked the schooners on the 9th of September. After a severe struggle, in which he lost a very disproportionate number of killed and wounded, he carried the vessels, and proceeded with them to Michilimackinac. On the 22d of the following month, Brigadier-General McArthur, having collected seven hundred and twenty effective regulars and militia, proceeded on a secret expedition along the western shore of Lake St. Clair, and passed into the Canadian territory, at the mouth of that water. He penetrated two hun- dred miles in the enemy's country, destroyed more than that number of muskets, attacked a large body of militia and Indians, encamped on favourable ground, made about one hundred and fifty prisoners, and dispersed all the detachments to be found at the Thames, Oxford, or Grand river. During the march he principally subsisted on the enemy, and fired several of the mills, from which the British troops in Upper Canada were supplied with food. Having gained intelligence of the evacuation of F(»rt Erie, he abandoned his intention of proceeding to Bur- lington Heights, and returned to Detroit on the 17th of Novemher. By this rapid expedition, the enemy's hostile intentions were diverted from another quarter, and his means of attacking De- troit entirely crippled ; the destruction of his suplies rendering such an attempt altogether impracticable. THE CREEK WAR. m \ 'I General Jackion. CHAPTER XXI. N the long period which elapsed be- tween the Revolution and the war of 1812, British agents were actively engaged in fomenting disturbances between the southern and western Indians, and the United States. Their most indefatigable ally was Tecumseh. He passed from station to station, harangued all the tribes on our borders, enumerated the wrongs they had sustained from the whites, and painted, in glowing colours, the advantages to be derived from an alliance with Great Britain. Most of the north-western Indians entered into his views and purposes, but in the south his intrigues were attended with but very partial success. The Choctaws, Cherokees, and Chickasaws, remained friendly to our country • 1 1^ » ^■1 4] U ' ' V'ii \.i lU St, „ 422 EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SEMINOLES. IV. ii' throughout the war ; and only a few of the most abandoned and vicious of the Creeks could be induced, at an early period, to take up the tomahawk against us. In the Spring of 1812, a party of five Creeks massacred two families on the frontier settlements of the Tennessee river, and made their escape. Some other enormities were committed about the same time, and the hostility of the Indians soon became so decided, that the legislature of Tennessee passed an act for the organization of a large body of volunteers and militia. Hos- tilities, however, did not at that time ensue. The Creeks held a convention, in which they resolved to punish those who had committed aggressions, and declared their desire to remain friendly to the United States. Several of the murderers were executed, and addresses of the most pacific kind tendered to Colonel Hawkins, United States ambassador to their nation. About this time .Ji expedition was commenced by Colonel Newman of Georgia, against the Seminole Indians, who were not considered by the, Creeks as part of their nation. The enter- prise was successful, the enemy being defeated in several skir- mishes, with the loss of nearly fifty warriors. The smallness of the party engaged in this expedition, unfitted it for doing any thing decisive; and in autumn another was fitted out, consisting of fifteen hundred militia infantry, and six hundred mounted volunteers. They marched from West Ten- nessee, for the defense of the lower country, the foot troops de- scending the river in boats, under the command of Major-Gene- ral Andrew Jackson, whilst the mounted men, under Colonel Coffee, marched by land to Natchez, where both parties arrived and formed a junction in February, 1813. In the following month they were ordered home, and the whole expedition proved a failure- u t Meanwhile another detachment of Tennessee volunteers, under Colonel Williams, marched towards the frontiers of Georgia. After reaching the St. Mary's river, and receiving a reinforcement under Colonel Smith, they commenced an expe- .lition against the Seminoles. Three battles were fought, in which the Indians were defeated with the loss of thirty-eight warriors killed, and a still larger number in wounded and pri* INFLUENCE OF TEGUMSEH. 428 ■■iri soners. Their houses were burnt, all their corn detroyed, and about four hundred horses, with an equal quantity of cattle, carried away. The detachment remained in the country, nntU they had destroyed all property, and utterly exterminated the Indians. The intrigues of Tecumseh and his brother, the prophet, still continued among the Creeks, and had a powerful effect with their younger warriors. But those chiefs who had been the most active in procuring the punishment of the renegadoes in 1812, were at the head of the party which was for peace in the nation, and friendship with the United States. In conjunction with these chiefs, Colonel Hawkins made strenuous but vain efforts to pre- serve peace. The greater part of their tribes had accepted the offers of Great Britain, their passions were roused against the Americans, and nothing but war could now satiate them. Dis- sensions ensued among the Creeks themselves, until the friendly party, which was much the weakest, implored the Americans to protect them, and subdue their opponents. - Before the Americans had time to respond to these calls, the storm burst upon the southern settlements. About the 20th of August, 1813, some Choctaw Indians reported that three parties of Creeks were about making an attack on Fort Mimms, in the Tensaw settlement, on the east side of the Alabama, opposite Fort Stoddart, on the forts situated on the forks between the Tom- bigbee and Alabama, and on those situated more immediately on the Tombigbee. Fort Mimms, the principal object of attack, contained about four hundred people, including one hundred and thirty militia, together with a large amount of supplies and property. Unfortunately the hostilities of the Creeks had been so long anticipated, that the intelligence brought by the friendly Indians was disregarded, and by some disbelieved. With a negligence and culpability rarely equalled in the annals of border difficulties, the commandant remained entirely indifferent to repeated warnings, and subsequently brought destruction upon himself and the garrison. On the morning of the attack, a large party of the enemy had approached through an open field, to within thirty paces of the gate, before they were discovered. A sentinel then gare the 424 MASSACRE AT FORT MIMM8. Mi. W' m UN' I . ijj. rt' w alarm, but before the gate, which was wide open, could be closed, the Indians raised the war-whoop, and rushed through. Major Bearsley was immediately shot through the body. The fort was defended by a double breastwork, so that, although the Indians had entered the gate, they still found another wall before them. This protracted the conflict for several hours. The savages fired from their positions upon the inner fort, whilst the garrison kept the port^-holes, and maintained a fierce conflict with the Indians. At last the enemy succeeded in firing a block-house, which stood near the pickets, and from that the flames were communicated to the other buildings. Despair now seized the stoutest hearts ; destruction by fire or the tomahawk was inevitable ; and the screams of women, the agonizing cry of men, the crackling and tossing of flames, and the yells of In- dians, were terrible. As their only chance of life, the garrison banded together, and rushed through the ranks of the enemy. Man after man fell beneath the tomahawk until but about twenty escaped. Then the savages, like an army of demons, poured over the walls upon the weak and helpless. Children were dashed against the ground, and women scalped and mur- dered. The remainder took refdge in the principal dwelling- house. This was fired, and the dying wail of the mother and infant, the friend and relation, rose up with the roarings of the conflagration. Little by little, that awful sound grew weaker, then all was still. Three hundred and fifty persons had been hurried into eternity in a few hours, while their mangled bodies were strewed around, still throbbing with the remnants of life, or blackened and crusted by fire. Meanwhile preparations for marching into the Creek country were actively proceeding in Georgia and Tennessee. About the middle of September, more than three thousand militia, under General Floyd, entered the Creek country from the former stat« ; and soon after a still larger army arrived from Tennessee, in two divisions, one commanded by Major-General John Cocke, the other by General Jackson. The legislature of Tennessee also passed a law authorizing the governor to detach a corps of thirty-five hundred men to the scene of action ; and under the authority of the Mississippi territory, fifteen hundred men uatler JACKSON ENCAMPS AT TEN ISLANDS. 426 i , ■ . The Prophet, (Brother of Tecumseh.) ^ BrigadicT-General Flourney were collected at Fort Stoddart. The Choctaw Indians also declared war against the Creeks, and tendered their services to co-operate with the Americans in the ensuing campaign. Early in November, General Jackson had arrived, and en- camped with his army at a place called the Ten Islands, on the Coosa river. From this place he despatched General Coflfee mth nine hundred men to destroy the Tallushatchee towns, about eight miles distant, where he had been informed that there was a body of hostile Creeks. On the 3d, the general arrived within two miles of the principal town, where he divided his command into two columns, the cavalry on the right, under Colonel All- corn, and Colonel Cannon with his mounted riflemen on the left. The former were ordered to cross a creek in their front, and marching upon the right of the town, encircle it on that side ; while the latter were to perform a similar movement on the left, until the two columns joined from opposite sides of the town, which would thus be completely inclosed. This plan was cor- rectly executed, and the troops succeeded in gaining their posi- tions without suifering any loss. Captain Hammond was then sent toward the town to draw the Indians if possible from their Sirs M ftM W'v I: 136 JACKSON MARCHES TO TALLADEGA. shelter. This stratagem had the desired effect. As soon as the captain had shown his detachment, and given the savages a dis- tant fire, they rushed out against him in a furious manner. He then gradually retreated, drawing the enemy after him until they came within range of the right column, when they were charged and driven back. For the first time, the Indians now perceived the trap wliich had been laid for them, — that they were com- pletely surrounded with overpowering numbers, and cut off from all possibility of retreat. " They made all the resistance," says General Coffee, " that an overpowered soldier could do, — they fought as long as one existed — but their destruction was very soon completed. Our men rushed up to the doors of their houses and in a few minutes killed the last warrior. The Indians met death with all its horrors, Avithout shrinking — not one asked to be spared, but fought as long as they could stand or sit. In consequence of their flying to their houses, and mixing with their families, our men in killing the males, without intention killed and wounded a few of the squaws and children, which was regretted by every officer and soldier of the detachment, but which could not be avoided." The Indian force in this battle, amounting to about two hun- dred, were utterly annihilated — not one escaping to report the news of so signal a defeat. About eighty-four squaws and children were taken prisoners, many of them wounded. The Americans lost five killed, and forty-one wounded. On the 7th of November, a friendly Indian informed Genera] Jackson, that a large number of hostile Creeks were encamped near Talladega, which was hourly waiting an attack. This place was thirty miles from the general's position, and yet he set out that night, and arrived before the following morning within six miles of the fort. At sunrise he was within half a mile of the enemy's encampment, and proceeded to form the order of battle. The infantry were disposed in three lines, hav- ing the militia on the lefl and the volunteers on the right. The cavalr}^ forming the extreme wings, were thrown forward in a curve, with instructions to keep the rear of tlieir columns con- nected with the flanks of their infantry, so as to encircle and destroy the whole tbrce of the enemy. BATTLE OF TALLADEGA. 42? 3 soon as the N this order the main body advanced slowly to- ward the Indians, while the advance pushed for- ward and engaged them. Believing the attack- ing force to be the entire army, the savages charged them with fury, and continued a pursuit, until they were drawn within range of the ad- vancing force. At this time, a few companies of militia were struck with fear, and commenced a disorderly retreat. The action then com- menced along the whole line, and for some time was maintained with great spirit. But the disproportion of force was too great, and the fire of the Americans too heavy, to afford the Indians anv chance of success. They were compelled to retreat, and were chased with great animation for more than three miles. After the action, two hundred and ninety dead Indians were found upon the ground, and many more had been carried away by the survivors. Jaclcson's loss was fifteen killed, and about the oame number wounded. ' Three days after this affair, November 11th, General Cocke despatched Brigadier-General White with a considerable force, affainst the Hillabee settlements. He was obliged to march one hundred miles through a very rough country, part of which had till recently been in full possession of the enemy. On the route he burned two of their towns, and captured a third. Having arrived within six miles of the Hillabee towns, November 17th, where the Indians were stationed, he halted, arranged his order of battle, and despatched a body of troops with instructions to surround the town before day, and attack it at early dawn. The darkness of the night prevented their arrival before daylight, yet so completely were the Creeks surprised, that every warrior was killed or captured, without having time to offer the least resist- ance. About sixty were killed, and two hundred and fifty men, women, and children captured. General White arrived with the mounted reserve in time to have decided or improved the vic- tory, had the resistance or flight of the enemy rendered his co- operation necessary. About ten days after this battle a fourth victory was obtained over the Creeks by the Georgia troops, under General Flovd. 104 ^mi i h J I m W lL3i H ; I i 428 BATTLE OF AUTOSSEE. I I i»3 il. This officer marched against the town of Autosseo, on the Tallu- poosa, with about nine hundred and fifty militia, and four hun. dred friendly Indians. His plan was completely to surround the town, cut off all retreat from the river, and thus com))el the gar. rison to surrender. The difficulty of crossing the Tallapoosa disconcerted part of this plan, and it was soon ascertained that beside the fort, which formed the original object of attack, the Indians possessed another, about five hundred yards down the river. Part of the troops were detached against this lower town, while the friendly Indians were sent over the creek to preveni a retreat up the river. A vigorous attack then commenced against the upper town, and a contest ensued which was cha- racterized by that fierce obstinacy ever shown by the red man when fighting an enemy from a sheltered position. By nine o'clock, however, both forts were carried, the enemy driven from them in all directions, and the buildings set on fire. I HE loss of the enemy in this action, though never correctly ascertained, was believed to have reached two hundred The Americans had eleven killed, and fifty-four wounded, amcnf the latter General Floyd severely, and his adjutant-general, Newman, slightly. As there were many other populous towns in this vicinity, which could send into the field a large number of warriors. General Floyd considered it inexjiedient to pursue his victory, and accordingly retired to his former posi- tion on the Chatahoochee. In December, General Claiborne, with a force of regulars, militia, volunteers, and Choctaw Indians, marched up the Ala^ bama river, to a new fort constructed by Weatherford, who had led the massacre at Fort Mimms. Apprized of his approach, the enemy secreted their squaws and children on the opposite side of the river, and prepared for battle. As the Americans advanced, they were attacked on the left column, composed of volunteers, but after a spirited struggle, succeeded in driving off their assailants, who fled through thick swamps toward the rive'' I *■ BATTLE OF EMUCKFAU. 429 The army then entered the town, stripped it of every thing valuable, and set the houses on fire. Thirty dead Indians were found on the field; the Americans lost one killed and six wounded. About a month after this battle, January 27th, 1814, a large party of warriors attacked General Floyd at his encampment, near the Chatahoochee. The Indians assaulted the camp with go much fury, that in a few minutes they were within thirty paces of the artillery. But after the battle had become general, their efforts grew desultory and ineffectual. The artillery and rifle companies played upon them with great effect, and at day- Hght a charge with the bayonet drove them back in utter con- fusion. General Floyd lost seventeen killed, and one hundred and thirty two wounded ; the Indians left thirty-seven bodies upon the field, and a large number of their wounded escaped. On the 17th of January, General Jackson broke up his camp near Ten Islands, and, with a force of nearly twelve hundred men, marched toward the Creek country. Next day he received a reinforcement of three hundred Indians, and on the 21st, was near the junction of the Tallapoosa and Emuckfau creek, where about nine hundred of the enemy were concentrated. Here he formed his army into a hollow square, and spent the night in re- connoitering the Indian position. UST at six o'clock on the following morning, the savages commenc d a vigorous attack on the American left flank, and maintained the assault un- til daylight. They were charged by General Coffee and Colonels Carroll and Higgins, completely routed at every point, and chased about two miles, with great slaughter. General Coffee was then detached to destroy their encampment; but while preparing to do so, the right and left of the army were again assaulted, and the battle recommenced. A vigorous charge, conducted by Colonels Carroll and Higgins, repulsed the Indians with loss, and confirmed the victory. Instead of pursuing his victory by continuing his march into :} i1 Vi . A 430 JACKSON REINFORCED. h the Indian country, General Jackson set out on the foUowino day for his former camp. In crossing the Enotichopco creek an alarm gun gave notice of danger, and soon after an attack began from a party of concealed Indians. Colonel Carroll was at the head of the centre column of the rear guard, its right column was commanded by Colonel Perkins, and its left by Colonel Stump. Having selected tho ground on which he was attacked, Jackson determined to cross the creek above and below with his flank columns, fall upon the side and rear of the enemy, and cut them to pieces. This plan was disconcerted bv the American rear guard, who, when fired upon, fled precipi- tately into the centre of the army, carrying consternation and confusion into the flank columns, and leaving but twenty-five men with Colonel Carroll, to arrest the progress of the pursuers. Although this ill-timed retreat threw the main army into con- fusion, yet Colonel Carroll with his handful of men, maintained his post as long as it was possible to resist overwhelminci numbers ; and being then joined by Lieutenant Armstrong vn.\i the artillery, and Captain Russell, he still continued the contest with success. The artillery was then opened upon the enemy, followed by a vigorous charge, which broke their line, and drove them from the field in confusion. The general then pursued his way without further molestation. The loss of the Americans during the whole expedition was twenty-four killed and seventy- one wounded. Soon after this battle, General Jackson received a reinforce- ment of two militia brigades, under Generals Dougherty and Johnson, a regiment of regulars, under Colonel Williams, and several smaller corps. This accession to his force enabled General Jackson to recommence effective operations, and ac- cordingly on the 27th of March, we find him at the Horseshoe bend of the Tallapoosa. Here the Indians were intrenched in large numbers. The situation is remarkably strong by nature, and the Creeks had fortified it with a degree of skill and effi- ciency rarely evinced by the untutored red man. Across the neck of the bend, where it opens toward the north, they had erected a breastwork of logs from five to eight feet high, possess- ing great compactness and strength, and extending on both \ 5 BATTLE AT HORSESHOE BEND. 431 to the river. Through this were cut two ranges of port- holes, suitable for the exercise of small arms. The direction of the wall was such that an army could not approach it without teing exposed to a cross fire from the enemy lying in safety hehind it. The inclosure contained about eighty acres of (Tound, and in the furthest extremity of the bend was a village of moderate size. From the breastwork on the neck a ridge of hinrh land extended about half way to the village, the summit of which was comparatively open ground ; but on its sides, and on the flat ground along the margin of the river, there had been a heavy forest, the large trees of which were now filled in such a manner, that every one formed a breastwork from which the Indians could in safety assail our troops while crossing the river. Within this fortification, the enemy had collected all their warriors from six towns on the Tallapoosa, numbering in all about one thousand. Among them were several of the greatest ' prophets and chiefs in the nation, and the principal instigators of the war. E LYING on the strength of their posi- tion, their large force, and the prophetic assurance of success which their fanatic leaders had given them, they entertained no doubt of repulsing our army with the utmost ease. On the other hand, the strength of General Jackson's army, and the spirit which animated his men, in- spired him with confidence, that he would be able to give them a signal defeat. The attack upon the breastwork commenced about ten o'clock, A. M., by General Coffee, while at the same time a party were detached against the village within the bend. The battle raged for two hours, without much execution on either side, when General Jackson determined to storm the fortification. Led on by Colonel Williams and Major Montgomery, the regular troops were soon in possession of the outside of the breastwork, when they were joined by the militia. For a few minutes an obstinate struggle was maintained at the port-lioles, after which our troops mounted over the breastwork and took \\\m ^ ml ■ K >1 422 SUBMISSION OF THE CREEKS. „ t fr Woatberford. possession of the opposite works. This decided the contest. A dreadful slaughter of the enemy ensued in every direction. Each warrior defended himself with that bravery which despera- tion inspires ; but overpowered by numbers, and surrounded on every side, they sunk down rapidly beneath the superior dis- cipline of their opponents. Of those who attempted to cross the river, " not one escaped ; very few ever reached the bank, and those few were killed the instant they landed." On that disastrous day, less than one hundred ot the enemy were able to effect their escape. Five hundred and fifty-seven dead bodies were counted, and at least two hundred and fifty were thrown into the river during the action. Three hundred women and children, with a few warriors were taken prisoners, The total loss of the Americans was forty-nine killed, and one hundred and fifty-four wounded. Among the former was Major Montgomery, an able and gallant officer, whose death was much lamented. This battle effectually subdued the hostile Creeks, and con- vinced them of the utter futility of a further continuation of the war. Weatherford, and several other chiefs, delivered them- selves to General Jackson, supplicating peace on any terms which the United States might please to grant. The general retired to the Coosa river, and was soon after permitted to TREATY OF PEACE WITH THE CREEKS. 433 return home with his troops, leaving small garrisons on the river forts. During the time while these operations were going on, some companies of Carolina militia, under General Pinckney, had entered the Creek country, to support the United States envoy, Mr. Hawkins, while negotiating for peace. The terms offered to the Indians were, that our government should retain as much of the conquered territory as would be a just indemnity for the expenses of the war, and for the injuries and losses sustained by our citizens and the friendly Creeks ; that it would reserve the right of establishing such military posts, trading-houses, and roads in their country, as might be deemed necessary, together with the right of navigating all their waters; and that on their part they must surrender their prophets and other instigators of the war, and submit to such restrictions on their trade with foreign nations as our government might dictate. Thus within seven months after the massacre at Fort Mimms, which may be conside; ^ r»s the commencement of the Creek war, the Indians wer )i apletely subdued, and their power broken lor ever. i m to 66 V', 'i Ov;/ I 1 i 434 COMMODORE BARNEY. Bladentburg. ' CHAPTER XXII. 0«]»tucf of SMa^I)ington."-Def(nisr of KefD ^cleans. HE movements of the British blockading squadrons, on the eastern coast, during the summer of 1814, have al- ready been traced to the oc- cupation of Eastport and Castine, in the beginning of September. In their opera- tions along the shores of the Chesapeake bay, and the southern coast, they have not been follov^^ed beyond their attack upon Hampton and Ocracock, in the month of June. At that period, a flotilla, consisting of a cutter, two gun-boats, a galley, and nine large barges, sailed from Baltimore, under Commodore Barney, for the protection of the inlets and harbours in the several parts of the bay. On the 1st of June, being at the mouth of the Patuxent, the commodore discovered two schooners, one of which carried eighteen guns, and immediately gave chase The EXPLOITS OF BARNEY. 435 schooners were joined, however, by a large ship, which despatched numbers of barges to their assistance, and the commodore in danger of being cut off 'from the Potomac, signaled his flotilla to sail up the Patuxent. In that river, he engaged the schconers and the barges, and after beating them off w ith hot shot, he an- chored within three miles of a seventy-four, stationed at its mouth. In the course of a few days the enemy was reinforced by a razee and a sloop of war, and joining the barges of these vessels to those with which they had already engaged Commo- dore Barney, they followed his flotilla into St. Leonard's creek, two miles above the mouth of which his gun-boats and barges were formed in line of battle, across the channel. From this ])oint the commodore engaged them, and seeing a disposition to fall back, he immediately bore down, put them to flight, and pursued them to within a short distance of their shipping, which consisted of a ship, a brig, and two schooners. In the afternoon of the 10th, the enemy made another attempt upon the flotilla, with twenty barges, and the two schooners. The commodore immediately moved upon them, and after a smart fire, drove the barges down to the eighteen gun vessel, which in attempting to beat out, was so severely handled that her crew ran hei aground and abandoned her. These attempts upon the flotilla were constantly repeated, and its blockade in St. Leonard's continued until the 26th, on the morning of which day, a combined attack of a corps of artil- lery, which had been despatched from Washington to its assist- ance, a detachment of the marine corps, and the flotilla itself, was made upon the whole squadron, among which were two frigates. The action continued upwards of two hours, and ter- minated in driving the enemy from his anchorage. His ships stood down the river, and Commodore Barney finding the block- ade raised, sailed out of St. Leonard's, and proceeded up the Patuxent. The British squadron at the different stations in the Chesa- peake, were now every day augmented, by arrivals of transports and ships of the line from England. The cessation of hostili- ties, which had taken place in Europe, enabled the British government to send out powerful reinforcements to their fleets 1 1 k 136 BARNEY DESTROYS HIS FLOTILLA. :\\ Ifs- and armies already on the coast, and Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane had been despatched with upwards of thirty sail having on board an army of several thousand men, under Major- General Ross. This force entered the Chesapeake in the course of the summer, and between the land and naval commanders, a plan of attack upon Washington, Alexandria, and Baltimore, was soon after adopted. A few weeks before the repulse of Sir George Prevost at Plattsburg, Admiral Cochrane notified the secretary of state, of his having been called upon by the gover- nor-general, to lay waste and destroy all such to^\'^ls and districts upon the coast as might be found assailable, and that he had in consequence issued his orders to that effect to all the naval com- manders upon the station. F this despatch was forwarded with the honourable intent of ap- prizing the American government of the contemplated attack upon the capital, the object was either wilfully, or through negligence, defeated. For previously to the receipt of this notice at the de- partment of state, the enemy was already ascending, in two divisions of his fleet, the Patuxent and the Potomac. In the first of these rivers, his force amounted to twenty-seven square rigged vessels, all of which proceeded to Benedict, the head of frigate navigation, and landed about six thousand regulars, sea- men, and marines. Commodore Barney, in obedience to the orders which he had received to that effect, blew up and abandoned his flotilla upon the approach of so powerful a force, and retreated to Notting- ham, on the 22d of August, where, with his seamen and marines, he joined the United States army, under Brigadier-General Winder. The enemy approached the Wood Yard, a position twelve miles only from the city, and at which General Winder's forces were drawn up. These consisted of about five thousand men, two thousand five hundred of whom were from Baltimore, and offered battle to the British troops. But General Ross, upon BATTLE OF BLADENSBURO. 437 reaching the neighbourhood of Nottingham, turned to his right and took the road to Marlborough, upon which General Winder fell back to Battalion Old Fields, about eight miles from the city. The positions now occupied by the two armies were distant from each other about seven miles ; and General Winder desir- ing to know in what manner they had encamped, rode with a small escort to Marlborough, and learned, from several prisoners who were taken, tliat the Briti'-^i general intended to remain there until the following C . "'ut noon of the Sf >u, General Ross put his troops in motion, having been previously joined by Admiral Cockburu, and was met by the American advanced corps, under Lieutenant-Colonel Scott and Major Peter, who, after exchanging several rounds, fell back upon the main army. Early on the 24th, the enemy's column resumed its march, and reached Bladensburg, about six miles from Wash- ington, without loss. At Bladensburg, General Stansbury had taken an advantageous position, and by the greatest exertion General Winder was enabled to interpose his whole force before the enemy, including Commodore Barney's flotilla men and marines. At one, p. M., the action commenced. The Baltimore artil- lery, under Captain Myers and Macgruder, supported by Major Pinkney's riflemen, were stationed in advance, to command the pass of the bridge, and dealt out a very destructive fire. But the British column advanced upon them in such superior force, that they were obliged to retire. Upon seeing this, the right and centre of General Stansbury's brigade, immediately gave way, and in a few minutes he was deserted by his whole com- mand, except about forty men of Colonel Ragan's regiment, and Captain Shower's company. The 6th Baltimore regiment, under Colonel Sterret, stationed on the left of General Stansbury's brigade, maintained its ground, until, lest it should be outflanked, an order was given for its retreat. The reserve, under Brigadier- General Smith, of the District of Columbia, with Commodore Barney and Lieutenant-Colonel Beall on their right, still re- mained upon the hill, and continued the contest after the flight of the Maryland brigade. 2ot gdy M/m i 1 ^ i tww^^^^^BIR , - i|'.i 438 BATTLE OF BLADENSBURG. As the militia retired, the British regulars advanced upon the main road, and coming immediately in front of Commodore Barney's flotilla, he opened an eighteen-pounder upon them, which cleared the road, and for a time disordered their column, and retarded their approach. Two other attempts made by the enemy to pass the battery were also repulsed, and General Ross marched a division of his troops into an open field, with a deter mination to flank the commodore's right. This attempt also was frustrated by Captain Miller, of the marines, with three twelve-pounders, and the men of the flotilla acting as infantry. After being thus kept in check about half an hour. General Ross began to outflank the right of the battery, in large numbers ; and pushed about three hundred men upon General Smith's brigade, which, after exchanging a shot or two, fled as precipitately as the brigade of General Stansbury. In the panic produced by this disorderly retreat, the drivers of the ammunition wagons fled also, and Commodore Barney's small command was left to contend against the whole force of the enemy, with less than one complete round of cartridge. To add to the general misfor- tune, and to increase the difficulties even of retiring with credit, he had received a severe wound in his thigh, and his horse had been killed under him — two of his principal officers were killed, and Captain Miller and Sailingmaster Martin wounded. The places of these could be promptly supplied from the men acting as infantry, but the means of repulsing the enemy were expended, and the British infantry and marines by this time completely in the rear of the battery. Thus situated, the commodore gave orders for a retreat, and after being carried a short distance from the scene of his gallantry, he fell exhausted by the loss of blood, and was soon after made prisoner by General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, who put him on his parole, and having first removed him to their hospital in Bladensburg, ordered the immediate attendance of their surgeons to dress his wound. Having thus obtained possession of the pass of the bridge, over the eastern branch of the Potomac, the enemy marched directly upon the capital, and immediately proceeded to the de- Btruction of all the spacious and splendid edifices by which it was adorned. The senate house, the representative hall, the BURNING OF WASHINGTON. 439 Coiiiniodore Uarney. supreme court room, the president's house, with all its exterior and interior decorations, and the buildings containing the public departments, were very soon demolished, and several private houses burned to the ground. The plunder of individual pro- perty was prohibited, however, and soldiers transgressing the order were severely punished. The principal vengeance of Admiral Cockburn, on whom, if the safety of the citizens' dwell- ings had alone depended, if he is to be judged by his former conduct, they would have rested on a slender guarantee, was directed against the printing-office of the editor of a newspaper, from whose press had been issued frequent accounts of the admiral's depredations along the coast. ^7 440 TROPHIES AND PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SAVED. The navy-yard, as well as a new first rate frigate, and a sloop of war, were destroyed by order of government, upon the ap. proach of *" _ enemy, to prevent the immense public stores, muni- tions, and armaments deposited there, from falling into his hands. The patent office alone, in which were collected the rarest specimens of the arts of the country, escaped the insatiable vengeance of a foe, whose destroying arm was directed against the most superb monuments of architectural skill and public munificence. The public documents and official records, the flags and various other trophies of the repeated triumphs of the American arms, and the specie from all the banks in the district, had previously been placed beyond the reach of the cupidity of the invaders, and they returned from an irruption which excited the indignation of all parties in the Union, and drew forth the deprecations of the principal nations in Europe. The president and the heads of departments, all of whom had visited the rendezvous of the troops at Bladensburg the day before the battle, finding that the force which had been hastily assembled, did not amount to the number called for by the requisitions upon the adjacent states, returned to the metropolis to make arrangements for the augmentation of General Winder's army. This duty, which, in times of less danger, required the exercise of great energy, could not be performed before the enemy had encountered and defeated the corps already collected. The capture of these officers would have caused at least a tem- porary derangement of the government, and in order that its functions might be resumed immediately after the departure of the enemy, they retired from the metropolis upon his approach General Winder had also withdrawn with the remnant of his force to Montgomery courthouse ; the citizens were incapable of opposing the hostile operations of the British commanders ; and the capital was therefore entirely at their mercy. That division of the enemy's fleet which ascended the Poto- mac, consisting of eight sail, upon which were mounted one hundred and seventy-three guns, and commanded by Captain Gordon, was directed to attack the city of Alexandria. As they approached up the river, the commander of Fort Warhnrton, Captain Dyson, destroyed that garrison, and retired with his :i' PLUNDER OF ALEXANDRIA. 441 artillerists, and the British squadron passed up to the city with out annoyance or impediment. The people of Alexandria sur rendered their town, and obtained a stipulation on the 29th of Au gust, from the British commander, that their dwellings should noT be entered or destroyed. The condition upon which this stipula- tion was made, required the immediate delivery to the enemy, of all public and private naval and ordnance stores ; of all the shipping, and the furniture necessary to their equipment, then in port ; of all the merchandise of every description, whether in the town, or removed from it since the 19th of the month ; that such merchandise should be put on board the shipping at the expense of the owners ; and that all vessels which might have been sunk upon the approach of the enemy, should be raised by the merchants and delivered up, with all their apparatus. These hard and ungenerous conditions were complied with, and on the 6th of September, Captain Gordon moved off with a fleet of prize vessels, which, as well as his frigates and other vessels of war, contained cargoes of booty. In descending the river he was warmly opposed, and received considerable damage from two batteries, at the White House, and at Indian Head, under the respective commands of Captains Porter and Perry, of the navy —the former assisted by General Hungerford's brigade of Vir- ginia militia infantry, and Captain Humphrey's company of riflemen, from Jefferson county ; and the latter by the brigade of General Stewart, and the volunteer companies of Major Peter and Captain Birch. The batteries, however, not being com- pleted, and mounting but a few light pieces, could not prevent the departure of the enemy with his immense booty, though they kept up an incessant fire, from the 3d until the 6th of the month, upon the vessels passing down on each of those days. Commodore Rodgers, too, aided by Lieutenant Newcombe and Sailingmaster Ramage, made frequent attempts to destroy the enemy's shipping, by approaching him within the range of musket shot, with several small fire vessels. After the commu- nication of the fire, a change of wind prevented these vessels from getting in between the British frigates, though they excited much alarm among the fleet, whose men were actively employed in extinguishing the flames. These respective forces were 66 i i .. i • i 1:1: I' %i' m Jm^ :f, 440 DEFENSE OF BALTIMORE. afterwards concentrated, nnd Commodore Ilodgers took posses- sion of Alexandria, with a determination to defend it, not with, standint^ its surrender, against another attempt of tlie enemy, whose licet was not yet out of sight from the nearest buttery. After the embarkation of the troops under General Knss, whose loss at Bladensburg nearly amounted to one thousand men, in killed, wounded, prisoners, deserters, and those who died of fatigiio, Admiral Cochrane concentrated the various detachments of his fleet, and made preparations for an attack upon the city of Baltimore. Despatch vessels were forwarded to all parts of the bay, to call together the frigates stationed near the different shores, and among others the Menelaus, commanded by Sir Peter Parker, and then lying in the neighbourhood of Moor's fields. That officer determined on an expedition against a detachment of Maryland volunteers, encamped, under Colonel Read, at those fields, before he obeyed the call of the admiral ; and for that pur- pose landed with two hundred and thirty men, and made a de- tour to surprise and cut it off. The detachment consisted of one hundred and seventy men ; and its commander being apprized of the enemy's motions, was fully prepared to receive him. Sir Peter advanced to a charge, and being repulsed, opened a fire Mithin pistol-shot, which continued nearly an hour. At the end of that time his force was driven back, with a loss of seventeen carried off, and thirteen killed and three v^'ounded left upon the ground. Among the wounded was Sir Peter, who died immediately after being put on board the Menelaus. Colonel Read had three men slightly wounded. The Menelaus joined the fleet upon the fol- lowing day, and sailed with it to the mouth of the Pdapsco on the 10th of September. The fleet consisted of nearly forty sail, and the heaviest ves- sels, ships of the line, anchored across the channel, and com- menced the debarkation of the troops, intended for the land attack upon North Point, twelve miles distant from the city. By the morning of the 12th, about eight thousand soldiers, sailors, and marines were in readiness to march upon the town, and six- teen bomb vessels and frigates proceeded up the river, and an- chored within two miles and a half of Fort McHenry. took pos(ses. [1 it, not with- f tho oncmy, !st buttery, reiicral Knss, r>ne thousaiul id those Avlio 1 the various for an attack lie hny, to call t shores, and Peter Parker, fields. That letachmcnt of lead, at those d for that pur- id made a de- nsisted of one ig apprized of im. Sir Peter . a fire within le end of that nteen carried n the ground, lediately after lad three men upon the fol- Pdapsco on heaviest ves- iiel, and com- for the land I the city. By Idiers, sailors, own, and six- river, and an- iry. *;ii:'»' n« ■ ' - '"^ Bal I and fore des and Rai On thoi the teei Cai foll( tenj Lor The roac Th( tion DEFENSE OF BALTIMORE. 445 HIS garrison, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel G. Armistead, of the United Ptntcs artillery; a battery at the lazaretto, f o - manded by Lieutenant Rutter, of the llo- tilla ; a small work called Fort Covingtoni by Lieutenant Newcome, of the Guerriere ; a six gun battery, erected near it, by Lieu- tenant Webster, of the flotilla ; and linos ^i intrenchments and breastworks hastily thrown up by the people of Baltimore, were relied on for the defense and protec- tion of the city. At the forts and batteries, one thousand nen were stationed; along the breast- works, about four times that number — and all under command of Major-General Samuel Smith, assisted by Brigadier-Ge- neral Winder, of the United States army, and Brigadier-General Strieker, of the Baltimore brigade. In anticipation of the enemy's intention to land at North Point, and to meet and repulse his light parties, or to engage his whole force at a distance from the main works. General Strieker was despatched with part of his brigade, and a light corps of riflemen and infantry, from General Stansbury's brigade, under Major Randal, and several companies of the Pennsylvania volunteers. On the evening of the 11th, this detachment, amounting to three thousand one hundred and eighty-five effective men, reached the meeting-house, near the head of Bear creek, when the volun- teer cavalry, under Colonel Biays, were sent three miles, and Captain Dyer's riflemen cwo miles, in advance. Early on the following morning, Captain Montgomery, with the artillery, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Sterret, with the 6th, and Lieutenant-Colonel Long, with the 27th regiments, were sent some distance forward. The artillery was planted in the middle of the North Point road, and supported on each flank by the two infantry regiments The 51st regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Amey, was sta- tioned a few hundred yards in the rear of the 6th ; the 3^th SP il i m Lf+J _ I 446 DEATH OF GENERAL ROSS. \ 1 under Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler, in the rear of the 27th ; and the 6th under Lieutenant-Colonel McDonald, drawn up as a re serve, half a mile in the rear of the .whole. The riflemen were ordered to skirt a low wood, with a large sedge field in its front, under cover of which, as the cavalry felj back, to apprize General Strieker of the approach of the enemy, they were to annoy the British advance, and retire in good order upon the main body of the troops. Soon after these dispositions had been made, the cavalry came in with the intelligence that the enemy's light corps were rapidly advancing along the road, and at the moment when it was expected they would be engaged by the riflemen, that body was seen falling back without havinw opposed them, under a presumption that the enemy had landed at Back river, in order to cut off" their retreat. The general im- mer'iately pushed forward two companies from the 6th infantry, one hundred and fifty in number, under Captains Levering and Howard, and commanded by Major Heath of that regiment; about seventy riflemen, under Captain Aisquith ; the cavalry, and ten artillerists, with a four-pounder, commanded by Lieute- nant Stiles. This detachment having proceeded half a mile, was met by and instantly engaged the enemy's main body. The situation of the ground, would not admit of the co-opera- tion of the artillery and cavalry ; and the infantry and riflemen sustained the whole action with great gallantry, pouring in a rapid and effective fire upon the British column, killing Major- General Ross, and several other officers, and impeding the ad- vance of the British army. Having performed the duty required of them by General Strieker, the whole detachment, with a trifling loss, fell back in excellent order upon the American line. The enemy then moved forward, under Colonel Brooke, upon whom the command had devolved, and at half past two began to throw his rockets upon the left flank of the militia brigade. Captain Montgomery immediately opened his artillery upon him, and the British played upon the left and centre with their lix-pounders and a howitzer. The cannonade continued with great vivacity, until General Strieker ordered the firing to cease, so as to draw the enemy within the range of grape and canister. Colonel Brooke then BATTLE OF NORTH POINT. 447 Covered his whole front with the British light brigade, directed the 4th regiment, by a detour, to gain a lodgment close upon the American left ; and formed a line along General Strieker's front, with the 41st regiment, the marines of the fleet, and a detachment of seamen ; and placed the 21st regiment, the 2d battalion of marines, and another detachment of seamen, in columns on the main road, with orders to press on the American riorht, on the first opportunity. General Strieker, seeing that his left flank would be the main object of attack, ordered up the 39th into line on the 27th, and detached two pieces of artillery to the extreme left of Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler's command. Lieutenant-Colonel Amey was also directed to form the 61st at right angles, with his right resting near the left of the 39th. The whole force of the enemy at that moment pressed for- ward, his right column advancing upon the 27th and 39th, and attacked those regiments with great impetuosity. The 51st, which was ordered to open upon the enemy in his attempt to turn the rest of the line, delivered a loose Are, immediately broke, (led precipitately from its ground, and in such confusion, that every eflbrt to rally it proved ineffectual. The 2d battalion of the 39th, was thrown into disorder, by the flight of the 51st, and some of its companies also gave way. The remainder and the 1st battalion stood firm. Thus abandoned by the retreat of the 51st, General Strieker made new arrangements for the reception of the enemy, and opened a general fire upon him, from the right, left, and centre. The artillery sent forth a destructive torrent of canister against the British left column, then attempting to gain the cover of a small log-house, in front of the 5th regiment. Captain Sadtler, with his yagers from that regiment, who were posted in the house, when the British 4th regiment was advancing, had, however, taken the precaution to set fire to it, and the in- tention of the enemy was therefore defeated. The 6th regiment then opened its fire, and the whole line entered into an animated contest, which continued, with a severe loss to the enemy, until fifteen minutes before four o'clock. At that hour, General Strieker, having inflicted as much injury upon the invaders as could possibly be expected, from a line now but fourteen hun- I 11 4: M V H . iit.9 mi' rrT-s..-.: 448 BATTLE OF NORTH POINT. dred strong, against a force amounting, notwithstanding its losses, to at least seven thousand men, ordered his brigade to retire upon the reserve regiment ; an order well executed by the whole line, which in a few minutes rallied upon Lieutenant-Colonel McDonald. From the point occupied by this regiment, General Strieker, in order to refresh his troops, and prepare them for a second movement of the enemy, retired to a position half a mile in advance of the left of Major-General Smith's intrenchments, Here he was joined by General AVinder, who, with General Douglass' Virginia brigade, and the United States dragoons, under Captain Bird, took post upon his left. Whilst all these movements were in operation, General Smith was actively engaged in manning the trenches and batteries with Generals Stansbury's and Foreman's brigades, a detachment of seamen and marines, under Commodore Rodgers, Colonels Co- bean and Finly's Pennsylvania volunteers. Colonel Harris's Baltimore artillery, and the marine artillery, under Captain Stiles. Colonel Brooke did not advance with his columns fur- ther than the grounu on which General Strieker had been pre- viously formed, where he remained during the night of the 12th. Early on the following morning, he received a communication from Admiral Cochrane, that the frigates, bomb ships, and flo- tilla of barges, would take their stations, to bombard the town and fort, in the course of the morning. At daybreak of the 13th, the land forces, therefore, again moved forward and occupied a position two miles eastward of the intrenchments. The day was cliiefly employed in manoeuvering by both par- ties. Colonel Brooke frequently attempting to make a detour through the country, to the Harford and York roads ; and Ge- nerals Winder and Strieker adapting their movements to those of the enemy, the better to frustrate his designs. At noon the British columns were concentrated directly in front of the Ame- rican line, and Colonel Brooke advanced to within a mile of the works, drove in the outposts, and made arrangements for an attack at night Generals Winder and Strieker were then or- dered to station themselves an the enemy's right, and in the event of an attack upon the breastworks, to fall upon that flank or (^n his rear ling its losses, to retire upon tie whole line, enant-Colonel nent, General ire them for a on half a mile itrenchments, with General tes dragoons, General Smith batteries with letachment of , Colonels Co- lonel Harris's nder Captain 5 columns fur- had been pre- ht of the 12th. ommunication ships, and flo- 3ard the town ak of the 13th, ad occupied a y by both par- make a detour 3ads ; and Ce- ments to those At noon the nt of the Ame- 1 a mile of the ements for an ■ were then or- ht, and in the ipon that flank I' ! il 1 <, BOMBARDMENT OF FORT MOHENRY. 451 The assault was not made, however, and the enemy, probably, thinking he would be outflanked, and having discovered the strength of the defenses, withdrew from his position in the course of the night, and re-embarked his troops in the evening of the 14th. His retreat was not discovered until break of that day, in consequence of the darkness of the night ; and though a heavy fall of rain continued throughout the morning. General Winder, with his dragoons, and the Virginia militia. Major Randal, with his light corps, and the whole militia and cavalry were sent in pursuit. The excessive fatigue of the troops, all of whom had been three days and nights under arms, in the most inclement weather, prevented the.* annoying the enemy's rear with much effect, and they made prisoners of none but stragglers from his army. At the moment when Colonel Brooke advanced along the Philadelphia road, the frigates and bomb ships of the fleet, ap- proached within striking distance of the fort. Colonel Armistead had already disposed his force to maintain the cannonade with vigour; a company of regular artillery, under Captain Evans, and another of volunteer artillery, under Captain Nicholson, manned the bastions in the Star fort ; Captains Bunbury and Addison's sea fencibles, and Captain Berry's, and Lieutenant Pennington's artillery were stationed at the water batteries ; and about six hundred infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, and Major Lane, were placed in the outer ditch, to repulse an attempt to land. The bombardment commenced. Ail the batteries were immediately opened upon the enemy, but the shot falling very far short of his vessels, the firing ceased from the fort, or was maintained only at intervals, to show that the garrison had not sunk under the tremendous showers of rockets and shells, incessantly thrown into the batteries. Thus si'iiated, without the power of retaliating the attack of the ene- my, Colonel Armistead and his brave men endured their mortifi- cation with an unyielding spirit, during the whole bombardment, which continued until seven o'clock on the morning of the 14tli. Under cover of the night, the British commanders despatched a fleet of barges to attack and storm Fort Covington. Tho at- tempt was repulsed, however, and the assailants retired, with Hwi: H^^U mm 4(/i OPERATIONS OF THE BRITISH. an immense loss to their bomb vessels, and on the morning of Wednesday, the whole stood down the river, and rejoined Ad- miral Cochrane's fleet. The loss in the fort amounted to four killed, and twenty-four wounded : among the killed were two gallant young volunteer officers, Lieutenants Clagget and Clem. The entire loss of the enemy has not yet been ascertained. That of the Americans on the field of battle did not fall short of one hundred and fifty, which, being added to the killed and wounded in the fort, makes a total of one hundred and seventy-eight. The invaders having thus retired from what they called a demonstra- tion upon Baltimore, the safety of the citizens was secured, and the different corps were relieved from further duty. The plan of operations, however, which had been adopt^ed hy the British cabinet, to destroy and lay waste the principal towns and commercial cities, assailable either by their land or naval forces, was not to be abandoned because of this repulse, gallant and effective as it was. The cities of Charleston, Savannah, Bal- tihiore, and Washington, were destined to be burnt and plun- dered ; and New Orleans, the great emporium of all the wealth and treasure of the western states, was to be seized, and held as a colony of Great Britain. The failure of her arms, in an assuult upon either of these places, was not to prevent an attack upon another, no matter what the slaughter ; and the separate com- manders were directed to concentrate their forces, or draw from the Bermudas such an augmentation as should be ne" "sary, and in the event of successive repulses upon other objects, to bend all their strength against the city of New Orleans, and its defenses on the Mississippi. At the Bermudas, a powerful and well ap- pointed fleet and army was for this purpose collected, and their arrival upon the southern coast daily anticipated. Admiral Cochrane had in the mean time directed a smaller squadron of vessels, then fitting out at Pensacola, in the territory of a neighbouring nation with whom the United States were at the same moment at peace, for an expedition against some of the defenses by which the entrance to New Orleans was protected, to make the earliest preparation for an assault upon Fort Bowyer, \ garrison situated at a point called Mobile. In the early part of September, this- squadron, consisting of LAFITTE. 463 two sloops of war and two gun brigs, mounting in all ninety guns, and commanded by Captain Percy, was already on its waj to the intended attack. During the summer, the British brig Orpheus had landed a number of officers in Appalachicola bay, who entered into arrange merits with the disaffected Creeks of the southern states, by which they agreed to assist the enemy in their designs against Louis- iana. About the same time Colonel Nicholls sailed from the Ber- mudas to Havana, in order to solicit the co-operation of the Spanish authorities at that place ; but failing in this, he proceeded to Pensacola, and landed, contrary to the wishes of the captain-gene- ral. After establishing his head-quarters, he enlisted and publicly drilled bands of Indians, clothing them in the British uniform. Early in September, Nicholls addressed a package of letters to the noted Lafitte, at that time leader of a numerous band of lawless privateers, whose principal station was at Barataria. The bearer, Mr. Lockyer, enlarged on the subject of them, urging Ladtte to enter into the service of his Britannic majesty, with all those who were under his command, or over whom he had sufficient influence ; and likewise to loan the British army all the armed vessels at Barataria, to aid in the intended attack on the fort of Mobile. The captain insisted much on the great ad- vantages which would thence result to Lafitte and his crews ; offered him the rank of captain in the British service, and the sum of thirty thousand dollars, payable at his option, in Pensacola or New Orleans ; urging him not to let slip an opportunity so favourable for acquiring fortune and consideration. On Lafitte's requiring a few days for reflection. Captain Lockyer observed that no reflection could be necessary, respecting proposals which obviously precluded hesitation, as he was a Frenchman, and of course now a friend to Great Britain, proscribed by the American government, exposed to infamy, and had a brother at that very time loaded with irons in the jail at New Orleans. Every other argument likely to work on the ambition or avarice of the priva- teer was used with artful address by this minion of British authority. Lafitte, however, refused to give a decisiv3 answer ; but with a promptness that does honour tp his patriotism, he hastened to forward a report of his interview, together with the 404 DESCRIPTION OP FORT BOWYER. despatches, to the American authorities at New Orleans. He alsc- requested permission to enter the American service, and establish a military post at Barataria. This was not granted. Disappointed in this affair, the British began to concentrate their preparations at Pensacole and Appalachicola. In the latter place besides troops, they landed twenty thousand stand of arms, with ammunition, blankets, and clothing, to be distributed among the Indians. They also used every means to detach the southern slaves from their masters. Meanwhile the Americans had been organizing bands of militia, reinforcing the small regulars in New Orleans and other stations, and adopting other measures of defense. One feeling pervaded the south — hatred to the ruthless invaders who had burned cities and towns, devastated districts, and committed deeds of public wrong, fit only for ages of the darkest barbarism. As the movements of the enemy left no ground to doubt that Fort Bowyer was soon to be attacked, Major Lawrence, the com- mandant, made the utmost exertions to place it in a condition for a vigorous resistance, while the brave garrison ardently longed for an opportunity of evincing their zeal and devotedness for the honour and interest of their coTjntry. Fort Bowyer was a redoubt formed on the sea-side, by a semi- circular battery of four hundred feet in development, flanked with two curtains sixty feet in length, and joined to a bastion whose capital line passes through the centre of the circular bat- tery. The bastion is capable of containing but two pieces of artillery. Inside, the fort is one hundred and eighty feet in length, from the summit of the bastion to the parapet of the circular battery, and two hundred feet for the length of the chord of the arc described. The interior front of the parapet was formed of pine wood, which a single shell could have set on fire, The fort was destitute of casements, even for the sick, the^ am- munition or provisions. Beside these inconveniences, the whole work was badly situated, being overlooked by several mounds of sand at the distance of from two to three hundred yards. On the summit of these it would have been easy for an enemy io mount pieces of artillery, so that their plunging fire would command the inside of the fort. ATTACK ON FORT BOWYER. 455 On the 12th of September, four large vessels appeared neai Mobile Point, and Major Lawrence ordered the whole garrison to enter the fort, and keep themselves in readiness for action. From that time each man passed the night at his post, and under arms. The whole garrison numbered but one hundred and thirty men including officers, with twenty pieces of cannon, several of which were useless. On the morning of September 12th, six hundred Indians and Spaniards, and one hundred and thirty British marines, landed some distance from the fort ; and on the evening of the same viay two sloops of war, and two brigs anchored within six miles. Parties reconnoitered the works next morning, and a few^ shots were fired upon them in the afternoon. Similar demonstrations were made on the 14th. At two o'clock, on the 15th, the ships formed in line of battle near the fort. Major Lawrence then convened a council of officers, who unanimously resolved, " That in case of being, by imperious necessity, compelled to surrender, (which could only happen in the last extremity, on the ramparts being entirely battered down, and the garrison almost wholly destroyed, so that any further resistance would be evidently useless,) no capitulation should be agreed on, unless it had " its fundamental article, that the officers and privates should retain their arms and their private property, and that on no pretext should the Indians be suffered to commit any outrage on their persons and property; and, unless full assurance were given them, that they would be treated as prisoners of war, according to the custom established among civilized nations." At half past four, the enemy's four ships commenced the at- tack, which soon became general. The British had erected a land battery, which also opened upon the fort, which was soon wrapped in clouds of smoke. The flag of the Hermes, the ^ rin- cipal vessel, was shot away, and for a few minutes, the firing on both sides ceased. It was soon renewed, and the Hermes, losing her anchor, was drifted within full range of the fort, where she re- mained more than fifteen minutes, exposed to a fire that swept almost every thing on deck. Abont this time the American flag was shot away, and the enemy's troops on shore believing tha* the fort had surrendered, marched toward it. A volley of grape- 456 JACKSON MARCHES INTO PENSACOLA. shot soon undeceived them, and they hastily retired beyond the mounds of sand. The Hermes had now run aground, and being utterly unmanageable, she was set on fire. The three remainincr ships, with much difficulty got to sea. The garrison continued their fire upon the Hermes until night, when she appeared in fiames, burning until eleven, at which time the powder became ignited, and she blew up with a tremendous explosion. In this assault the enemy numbered thirteen hundred ond thirty men, with ninety-two i)iece8 of artillery ; while the garri- son consisted of but one hundred and thirty men, with twenty cannon, several of them unfit for use. The American loss was four killed and four wounded ; that of the enemy two hundred and thirty-two, of whom but seventy were killed. This noble defense spread a thrill of exultation throughout the south, and inspired, in no little degree, that spirit of determined patriotism, which was soon to produce such glorious results. On the 21st, General Jackson issued a proclamation to the in- habitants of Louisiana, in which, after setting forth the perfidious conduct of the British on the coast, and their intrigues with Lafitte, he implored their zealous assistance in repelling the invaders. A similar address was published to the free coloured population. As the expedition against Fort Bowyer had sailed from Pen- sacola. General Jackson determined to reduce that place, not- withstanding its belonging to a neutral nation. Accordingly on the 6th of November, 1814, he arrived before the town with four thousand men, and summoned it to surrender. His flag was fired upon ; and on its return, reported to the general that both Spanish and English colours were flying from the walls. Be- lieving that so wanton an outrage originated entirely from the British, Jackson sent a letter to the governor, by a prisoner, de- manding a satisfactory explanation of the affront. The governor immediately despatched an officer vnth assurances of his having had no participation in the insult, adding, that if the general was pleased to renew the communication, he would guaranty the messenger a proper reception. This was done, and the fol- lowing conditions were offered : — To receive an American garri- wn in the forts St. Michael and Barrancas, until the Sp.inish 4 ;'?« CAPTURE OF SPANISH GARRISONS. 467 V ;'?« g^jvjr.'iment could procure a sufficient force to enable them to maintain their neutrality against its violation by the British, who had possessed themselves of the fortresses, notwithstanding the remonstrance and protest of the Spanish governor. That the American forces should be withdrawn, when such a force should arrive. These conditions having been refused, the messenger declared, agreably to his instructions, that however painfal to the general's feelings, recourse would be had to arms. On the 7th of November, the American army marched to the attack in three columns. The centre was composed of regular infantry, with two pieces of artillery, \inder Major Woodruff. The remaining columns, with a battalion of volunteer dragoons from Mississippi, marched in the rear. When in sight of the town, the centre column was ordered to charge, which it did in the face of a S])anish battery, losing eleven men, but carrying the guns at the point oi tho bayonet. The Spaniards had four killed and six wounded. The governor now sent a flag of truce to the American general, and hostilities ceased. It was agreed that the block-houses of the town. Barrancas, and fort St. Michael should receive an American garrison. But the commandant of St. Michael refused to obey the governor's order, and held pos- session of the fort. General Jackson offered him the same pro- positions that had been made the night before, and half an hour to determine. Then having resigned the command to Major Pierce, with eight hundred men, and instructions to get posses- sion of the fort before night, either by negotiation or force, he retired to his camp with the remainder of the troops. During the afternoon the St. Rose battery, opposite Barrancas, was blown up by the Spaniards ; and at ten o'clock, p. m.. Colonel Sotto, the commandant of St. Michael, surrendered without opposition. The fort was immediately taken possession of by the Americans. Public and private property in this station, and all others of the city, was respected with a carefulness that excited the greatest astonishment and pleasure among the inhabitants. Next morning the Spanish governor refused to issue an order for the surrender of Barrancas, alleging that it would be dis- obeyed. As it commanded the entrance into Pensacola bay, and was of the utmost importance, Jackson determined on assaulting SQ M m. f ' • 1^ ■i ^* jg "■ til 'M idfr - 458 INFLUENCE OF GENERAL JACKSON. it While preparations were making for this purpose, an explosion was heard, and flames were seen proceeding from the fort. The cause was soon ascertained; the British had per- suaded the commandant to blow up the works, and retire vo Havana, with all his force, amounting to three or four hundred men. The object of the expedition being accomplished. General Jackson determined to withdraw the greater part of his army from the Spanish territory, and march back to Mobile and New Orleans. He set out on the 9th, and after stopping for some days at the former place, he reached New Orleans, December 2d. On the same day he reviewed the battalion of uniform companies of New Orleans militia, commanded by Major Daquin. Their appearance and behaviour aflForded him much satisfaction. The arrival of General Jackson gave a new complexion to affairs in the city. Hitherto all attempts to adopt measures of defense had been feeble. The legislature had appointed a joint committee of both houses, to concert with the governor. Commo- dore Patterson, and the military commandant, such measures as might be deemed most expedient. But there was no concentra- tion of power, nor even of feeling. The citizens distrusted the abilities of their civil and military authorities. Unprofitable dis- putes increased the difficulty. Credit was destroyed ; the banks had all suspended payment, and business was utterly stagnant, But General Jackson united all parties, arrested all discord, and gave instant animation to the measures of defense. On the second day after his arrival, the general visited Fort St. Philip, in order to ascertain its condition, and to examine what parts of the river below New Orleans it might be expedient to fortify. He ordered the demolition of the wooden barracks within the fort, several additional pieces of artillery to be mounted on the rampart, and a thirty-two-pounder, and a mortar in the covered way. He also ordered two batteries to be constructed, mounting twenty-four-pounders. On the 10th General Jackson wrote to the governor of the state, informing him that the river banks could be well defended, and urging the expediency of requesting the planters to loan their slaves for the purpose of throwing up embankments. He stated the dangerous position of affairs, and the necessity of 1 " f JACKSON PROCLAIMS MARTIAL LAW 4A0 immediate action. The governor and legislature coruia'Uy re- Bponded to his views, and were immediately seconded by tho inhabitants. On the afternoon of the 13th, six gun-boats, under Lieutenant Jones, who had been sent out to watch the movements of the British fleet, encountered a number of the enemy's barges. Manoeuvering took place until after midnight, when the lieutenant was forced to anchor near Malheureux island. On the same day a tender was set on fire to prevent its falling into the hands of the British. Early on the 14th, the enemy captured the tender Alligator. The whole British flotilla then attacked the gun-boats, and an action ensued, in which one hundred and eighty-two men, distributed in boats, fought three-quarters of an hour, with twelve hundred veterans, in forty-two large barges, carrying nine and twelve-pounders, and twenty-four-pound carronades, in all numbering forty-three pieces. They hdx six men killed, and thirty-five wounded. The British had several barges sunk, and lost more than two hundred men. From this time until the 21st, every precaution was taken to provide against the expected attack. General Jackson armed all his troops, reviewed them daily, wrote by express to Gonerals Coffee, Carrol, and Thomas, to join him with all speed, and de- clared the city under strict martial law. " All classes of society were animated with the most ardent zeal. The young, tlie old, women, children, all breathed defiance to the enemy. It was known that the enemy was on our coast, within a few hours' sail of the city, with a presumed force of between nine and ten thousand men ; whilst all the forces we had yet to oppose him amounted to no more than one thousand regulars, and from four to five thousand militia; yet such was the universal confidence inspired by the activity and decision of the commander-in-chief, ailded to the detestation in which the enemy was held, and the desire to punish his audacity, should he presume to land, that not a single warehouse or shop was shut, nor were any goods or valuable effects removed from the city." On the 21st, twelve men were sent in a boat to a seMlemcnt of Spanish fishermen, on the left bank of the Bayou Bionvcnu, above its entrance into Lake Borgne, in order to give notice of 108 v.. s 'l 460 REPULSE OF THE BRITISH. m^m Vf " any attempt of the enemy to penetrate that way. The fisliermen were in the British service; and, on arriving at their village, the detachment found but one there, the others, under pretence of fishing, having gone as pilots to the British barges. The men kept up an incessant watch for the enemy until midnight of the 22d, when a noise was heard, and each man seized iiis arms. Five barges filled with men, and provided with artillery, were soon perceived. Seven men entered their boat, but being per- ceived, were all captured. But four of the whole detachment escaped, and three of these, after numerous hardships, were sub sequently captured. The enemy then pushed forward to General Villery's plantation, captured his son and several others, and took possession of the estate. Of the events which followed, we have the following account from Eaton's Life of Jackson : fAYOU BIENVENU, through which the landing was made, is an arm of considerable width, stretching toward the Mississippi, from Lake Borgne, and about fifteen miles south-east of New Orleans. It had been re- ported to General Jackson, on the 23d, that, on the day before, several strange sail had been descried off Terre au Boeuf To ascertain correctly the truth of the statement. Majors Tatum and Latour, topographical engineers, had been sent off, with orders to proceed in that direction, aud learn if any thing were attempting there. It was toward noon of the 23d, when they started. Approaching General Villery's plantation, and perceiv ing at a distance, soldiers, and persons fleeing hastily away, they at once supposed the enemy had arrived. What, how- ever, was but surmise, was presently, and on nearer observation, rendered certain ; and it was now no longer a doubt, but that the British bad landed, in considerable force, and had actually gained, unobserved, the house of General Villery, on the bank of the Mississippi, where they had surprised, and made prisoners, a company of militia, there posted. "Major Tatum, hastening back, announced his discovery, Preparations to act were immediately made by General Jackson. J..- JACKSON RESOLVES TO GIVE BATTLE. 461 The signal guns were fired, and expresses sent forward, to con. centrate the forces ; resolving, that night, to meet the invaders, and try his own and their firmness. I HE hour to test the bravery of his troops had now arrived. The approach of the enemy, flushed with the hofe of easy victory, was announced to Jackson, a little after one o'clock in the afternoon. There were too many reasons, assuring him of the necessity of acting speedily, to hesitate a moment, on the course proper to be pursued. Could he assail them, and obtain even a partial advantage, it might be beneficial — it might arrest disaffection — buoy up the despondent —determine the wavering, and bring within his reach resources for to-morrow, which might wholly fail, should fear once take possession of the public mind. It M^as a moment, too, of all others, most propitious to success. He well knew the greater part of his troops were inured to marching and fatigue, while those opposed to him were just landed from a long voyage, and were as yet without activity, and unfitted for bodily exertion. Moreover, a part only might have arrived from the shipping, while the remainder would be certainly disembarked as earlj- a"? possible. These circumstances seemed to augment, in his behalf, the chances of victory, if now sought; but if deferred, they migut, in a little time, disappear. He resolved, at all events, to m^^^rch, and that night give them battle. Generals Coffee and "'anoil were ordered to proceed immediately from their encampment, and join him with all haste. Although four miles above, they arrived in the city in less than two hours after the order had been issued. These forces, with the 7th and 44th regiments, the Louisiana troops, and Colonel Hinds's dragoons, constituted the strength of his army, which could be carried into action against an enemy, whose numbers, at this time, could only be conjectured. It was thought advisable to leave Carroll and his division behind ; for notwithstanding there was no correct information of the force landed through Villery's canal, yet Jackson feared that this 2(l3 I' ' ^iflii % ' I r if'"'; ni' < ill V' li i I 1 '€4 . 1&- 462 ALARMS OF THE CITY. might be only a feint inteuded to divert his attention, while, in all probability, a much stronger and more numerous division having already gained some point higher on the lake, might, by advancing in his absence, gain his rear, and succeed in their vievj^s. Uncertain of their movements, it was essential he should be ] repared for the worst, and, by different dispositions of his troops, be ready to resist, in whatever quarter he might be assailed. Carroll, therefore, at the head of his division, and Governor Claiborne, with the state militia, were directed to take post o 1 the Gentilly road, leading from Chef Menteur to New Orleans, and to defend it to the last extremity. " Colonel Hayne, with two companies of riflemen, and the Mississippi dragoons, was sent forward to reconnoiter their camp, learn their position and their numbers ; and, in the event thev should be found advancing, to harass and oppose them at every step, until the main body should arrive. ji'J, if VERY thing being ready, General Jaclison commenced his march, to meet and fight the veteran troops of England. An inconsider- able circumstance, at this moment, evinced what unlimited confidence was reposed in his skill and bravery. As his troops were marching through the city, his ears were assailed with the screams and cries of in- numerable females, who had collected on the way, and seemed to apprehend the worst of consequences. Feeling for their distresses, and anxious to quiet them, he directed Mr. Livingston to address them in the French language. *' Say to them," said he, " not to be alarmed : the enemy shall never reach the city." It operated like an electric shock. To know that he himself was not appre- hensive of a fatal result, inspired them with altered feelmgs ; sor- row was ended, and their grief converted into hope and ccnfidence. " The general arrived in view of the enemy, a littlo before dark. Having previously ascertained from Colonel Hayne their position, and that their strength was about two thousand men,* • This opinion, as it afterwards appeared, was inconect. Their number, at the corn- mencement of the action, was three thousand, which was shortly afterwards increased kf additional forces. eneral Jaclvson MODE OF ATTACK. 4g;j he inimediatel}'" concerted the mode of attack, and hastened tu execute it. Commodore Patterson, commanding the naval forces, with Captain Henly on board the Caroline, had been directed to drop down, anchor in front of their line, and open upon them from the guns of the schooner ; which being the signal for attack, was to be waged simultaneously on all sides. The fires from their camp disclosed their position, and showsd their en- campment, formed with their left resting on the river, and ex- tending at right angles into the open field. General Coffee, with his brigade, Colonel Hinds's dragoons, and Captain Seal's company of riflemen, was ordered to oblique to the left, and, by a circuitous route, avoid their pickets, and endeavour to turn their right wing ; having succeeded in this, to form his line, and press the enemy towards the river, where they would be ex- posed more completely to the fire of the Caroline. The rest of the troops, consisting of the regulars, Plauche's city volunteers, Daquin's coloured troops, the artillery under Lieutenant Spoots, supported by a company of marines, commanded by Colonel McKee, advanced along the bank of the Mississippi, and were commanded by Jackson in person. •' General Coffee had advanced beyond their pickets, next the swamp, and nearly reached the point to which he was ordered, when a broadside from the Caroline announced the battle begun. Patterson had proceeded slowly, giving time, as he believed, for the execution of those arrangements contemplated on the shore. So sanguine had the British been in the belief that they would be kindly received, and ^ltle opposition attempted, that the Caroline floated by the sentinels, and anchored before their camp, without any kind of molestation. On passing the front picket, she was hailed in a low voice, but returning no answer, na further question was made. This, added to some other attend ant circumstances, confirmed the opinion that they believed her a vessel laden with provisions, which had been sent out from New Orleans, and vv^as intended for them. Having reached what, from their fires, appeared to be the centre of their encamp- ment, her anchors were cast, and her character and business dis- closed from her guns. So unexpected an attack produced a momentary confusion ; but, recovering, they answered her bv a I" I > - I f n w 464 BATTLE OF 23d OF DECEMBER. K1 r « , t'l>'' H • W Ij ' ■! 'I ft» . ' ' "J '. 'it- ■ discharg*^ of musketry, and flight of congreve rockets, which passed without injury, while her grape and canister were pourin« destructively on them. To take away the certainty of aim af- forded by the light of their fires, these were immediately ex. tinguished, and they retired two or three hundred yards into the open field, if not out of the reach of the cannon, at least to a distance, where, by the darkness of the night, th jy would be protected. OFFEE had dismounted his men, and turned his horses loose, at a large ditch, next the swamp, in the rear of Lorond's plantation, and gained, as he believed, the centre of the enemy's line, when the signal from the Caroline reached him. He directly wheeled his columns in, and, extending his line "^^^ parallel with the river, moved towards their camp. He had scarcely advanced more than a hundred yards, when he received a heavy fire, from a line formed in his front : this, to him, was an unexpected circumstance, as he sup- posed the enemy Ijmg principally at a distance, and that the only opposition he should meet, until he approached towards the levee,* would be from their advanced guards. The circumstance of his coming up with them so soon was owing to the severe attack of the schooner, which had compelled them to abandon their camp, and form without her reach. The moon shone, but reflected her light too feebly to discover objects at a distance. The only chance, therefore, of producing certain injury, with this kind of force, which consisted chiefly of riflemen, was not to venture at random, but only to discharge their pieces when there should be a certainty of fellii'i! the object, x'his order bein? given, the line pressed on, and, having gained a position near enough to distinguish, a general fire was given ; it was too severe and destructive to be withstood ; the enemy gave way. and retreated, — rallied, — formed, — were charged, and again re- * Embankments formed along the river, to confine it in its b^d. m-,^, BATTLE OP ^QdOT DECEMBER. 465 emy gave way, treated. These gallant men, led by their brave commander, urged fearlessly on, and drove them from every position they attempted to maintain. Their general was under no necessity to encourage and allure them to deeds of valour : his own example was sufficient to excite them. Always in the midst, he displayed a coolness and disregard of danger, calling to his troops, that they had often said they could fight, now was the time to prove it. "The enrmy, driven back by the resolute firmness and ardour of their assailants, hud now reached a grove of orange trees, with a ditch runninjT past it, protected by a fence on the margin. It was a favourable position, promising security, and was occupied with a confidence tlKit they could not be forced to yield it. Coffee's dauntless yeomanry, strengthened in their hopes of success, moved on, nor discovered the advantages against them, until a fire from the whole British line showed their defense. A momentary check was given ; but, gathering fresh ardour, they^ charged across the ditch, gave a deadly and destruc'avc fire, an(i forced them to retire. Their retreat continued, until, gain- ing a similar position, they made another stand, and were again driven from it, with considerable loss. "Thus the battle raged, on the left wing, until the British reached the bank of the river ; here a determined stand was made, and further encroachments resisted : for half an hour the conflict was extremely v'iojont on both sides. The American troops could not be driven from their purpose, nor the British made to yield their ground ; but at length, having suffered greatly, the latter were under the necessity of taking refuge behind the levee, wliich afl'orded a breastwork, and protected them from the fatal firo of oiir riflemen. Coffee, unacquainted with their position, for the darkness had greatly increased, already contemplated again to charge them ; but Major Moulton, who had discovered thoir sitiiation, assured him it was too hazardous; that they could bo driven no further, and would, from the point they occuj)ie(l, rcisist with the bayonet, and repel, with considerable loss, any attempt to dislodge them. The place of their retirement was covered in front by a strong bank, which had been extended into the field, to keep out the river, in conse- quence of the first being encroached upon, and undermined in ^-11: I ;, I? r If 468 BATTLE OF 23d OF DECEMBER. several places : the old one, however, was still entire, in many parts, and gave them security from the broadsides of the schooner which lay off at some distance. A further apprehension, lest, by moving still nearer the river, he might greatly expose himself to the fire of the Caroline, which was yet spiritedly maintaining the conflict, induced Coffee to retire until he could hear from the commanding general, and receive his further orders. URING this time, the right wintr, under Jackson, was no less prompt and active. A detachment of artillery under Lieutenant Spotts, supported by sixty marines, formed the advance, and had moved down the road, next the levee. On their left was the 7th regiment of infantry, led by Major Piere. The 44th, com- manded by Major Baker, was formed on the extreme left; while Plauche's and Daquin's battalions of city guards, were directed to be posted in the centre, between the 7th and 44th. The gene- ral had ordered Colonel Ross, who, during the night, acted in the capacity of brigadier-general, on hearing the signal from the Caroline, to move off by heads of companies, and, having reached the enemy's line, to deploy, and seek to unite the left wing with the right of General Coffee's. This order was omitted to be ex- ecuted ; and the consequence was an early introduction of con- fusion in the ranks, whereby was prevented the important design of uniting the two divisions. " Instead of marching in column from the first position, the troops were wheeled into an extended line, and moved off in this order, except the 7th regiment, next the person of the general, which advanced agreably to the instructions that had been given. Having sufficient ground to form on at first, no inconvenience was at the moment sustained : but this advantage presently fail- ing, the centre was compressed, and forced in the rear. The nv^er, from where they were, gradually inclined to the left, and diminished the space originally possessed : farther in, stood Lo- BATTLE OF 23d OP DECEMBER. 467 road's house, surrounded by a grove of clustered orange trees : this pressing the left, and the river the right wing to the centre, formed a curve, which threw the principal part of Plauche's and paquin's battalions without the line. This might have been remedied, but for the briskness of the advance, and the darkness of the night. A heavy fire fro a behind a fence immediately before tliem, had brought the enemy to view. Acting in obe- dience to their orders, not to waste their ammunition at random, our troops had pressed forward against the opposition in their front, and thereby threw those battalions in the rear. FOG rising from the river, which, added to the smoke from the guns, was covering the plain, — gradually diminishing the little light shed by the moon, and greatly increasing the darkness of the night : no clue was left, to tell how or where the g enemy were situated. There was no alternative but to move on, in the direc- tion of their fire, which subjected the as- sailants to material disadvantages. The British, driven from their first position, had retired back, and occupied another, behind a deep ditch, that ran out of the Mississippi towards the swamp, on the top of which was a high fence. Here, strengthened by increased numbers, they again opposed the approach of our troops. Having waited until they had come sufficiently near to be discovered, they discharged, from their fastnesses, a fire upon the advancing army. Instantly our battery was formed, and poured destructively upon them ; while the infantry, coming up, aided in the conflict, which was for some time spiritedly main- tained. At this moment, a brisk sally was made upon our ad- vance, when the marines, unequal to tho assault, were already giving way. The adjutant-general, and Colonels Piatt and Chotard, with a part of the 7th, hastening to their support, drove the enemy, and saved the artillery from capture. General Jackson, perceiving the advantages they derived from their position, ordered their line to be charged. It was obeyed with cheerfulness, and executed with promptness. Pressing on, our troops gained the ditch, and, pouring across it a well-aimed fire 11 !l ' ^ ' I ,t ; './ i:|i r if mi if, i 1 I 46* REPULSE OF THE BRITISH. compelled th'^m to retreat, and abandon their intreiichment. The plain, on which they were contending, was cut to pieces by races from the river, to convey the water. They were, there- fore, ry soon enabled to take another situation, equally favoiM- able with the one whence they had just been driven, where thov formed for battle, and, for some time, gallantly maintained tiieni' s» Ives; but were at length forced to yield it, and retreat. " The enemy, discovering the firm and obstinate resistance made by the right wing of the American army, and perhaps [ Burning its prnicipal strength was posted on the roorl, formed tliu intention of attacking violently the left. ■ )ijli(iuing for this pur- pose, an attempt* was made to turn it. At this moment, Daquin's and the battalion of city guards were marched up, and, beinir formed on the left of the 44th, met and repulsed thom. "The time of the contest prevented many of those benefits whicl night have been derived from the artillery. The blaze of the enemy's musketry was the only light by which they could judge of their positions, or be capable of taking their own to advantage ; yet, notwithstanding, it greatly annoyed them, when- ever it could be brougl d. to bear. Directed by Lieutenant Spotts, a vigilant and skilful officer, with men to aid him, who locked to noth.ag ba i 7ealouii di'.>rharge of their duty, it rendered the most essential and Ji?ipo.tant services. _ HE enemy had been thrice assailed ^^^ and beaten, and made to yield their ground for nearly a mile. They had now retired, and, if found, were to be again sought for through the dark. The general determined to halt, and ascertain Coffee's position and success, previously to wa^jing the battle further, for as yet no com- munication had passed between them. He entertained no doubt, from the brisk firing in that direction, but that he had been warmly engaged ; but this had now nearly subsided ; the Caroline, too, had almost ceased her operations ; it being only occasionally that the noise of her guns disclosed the little opportunity she possessed of acting efficiently DETERMINATION NOT TO PURSUE THE ENEMY. 469 " The express despatched to General Jackson, from the left wing, having reached him, he determined to prosecute the suc- cesjes ho had gained no further. The darkness of the night— the confusion into which his own division had been thrown, and a similar one on the part of Coffee, all pointed to the necessity of retiring from the field, and abandoning the contest. The bravery and firmness already displayed by his troops, had in- duced tiie belief, that by pressing on he might capture the whole British army : at any rate, he considered it but a game of venture and hazard, which, if unsuccessful, could not occ \sion -s own defeat. If, incompetent to its execution, superior v ibers or superior discipline should compel him to recede fron, < , )rt, he well knew the enemy would not have temerity ' 'i to attempt pursuit. The extreme darkness — their entire ignorai. e of the situation of the country, and an apprehension lest their forces might be greatly outnumbered, afforded him sufficient reasons, on which to ground a belief, that although beaten from his purpose, he would yet have it in his power to retire in safety : but on the arrival of the express from General Coffee, learning the strong position to which the enemy had retired, and that a part of the left wing had been detached, and were in all proba- bility captured, he determined to retire from the contest, nor attempt a further prosecution of his successes. General Coffee was accordingly directed to withdraw, and take a position at Lorond's plantation, where the line had been first formed : and thither the troops on the right were also ordered to be marched. " The last charge made by the left wing, had separated from the main body, Colonels Dyer and Gibson, with two hundred men, and Captain Beal's company of riflemen. What might be their fate — whether captured, or had effected their retreat, was at this time altogether uncertain ; be that as it might. Cof- fee's command was thereby considerably weakened. " Colonel Dyer, who commanded the extreme left, on clearing the grove, after the enemy had retired, was marching in the di- rection he expected to find General Coffee ; he very soon dis- covered a force in front, and hastened towards it. Arriving within ,\ short distance, he was hailed, ordered to stop, and to report to whom he belonged : Dyer and Gibson advanced, and stated 2R \ i - ,1 • ' ".?►-' 1 f^^- > IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I Iti|2j8 |2.5 ■^ 1^ 12.2 l.25|||,.4||,,.6 < 6" ► HiotDgraphic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. MSSO (716) S72-4S03 470 BRITISH REINFORCED. they were of Coffee's brigade; by this time they had arrived within a short distance of the line, and perceiving the name of their brigade was not understood, their apprehensions were awakened, lest it might be a detachment of the enemy ; in this opinion they were immediately confirmed, and wheeling to return, were fired upon and pursued. Gibson had scarcely started w^hen he fell ; before he could recover, a soldier, quicker than the rest, had reached him, and pinned him to the ground with his bayonet ; fortunately the stab had but slightly wounded him, and he was only held by his clothes : thus pinioned, and others briskly advancing, but a moment was left for deliberation ;— making a violent exertion, and springing on his feet, he threw his assailant to the ground, and made good his retreat. Colonel Dyer had retreated about fifty yards, when his horse dropped dead ; entangled in the fall, and slightly wounded in the thigh, there was little prospect of relief, for the enemy were briskly advancing : his men being near at hand, he ordered a fire, which checking their approach, enabled him to escape. Being now at the head of his command, — ^perceiving an enemy in the direc- tion he had not expected, and uncertain how or where he might find General Coffee, he determined to seek him to the right, and moving on with his little band, forced his way through the ene- my's lines, with a loss of sixty-three of his men, who were killed and taken. Captain Beal, with equal bravery, charged through the enemy, carrying off some prisoners, and losing several of his own company. " This reinforcement of the British had arrived from Bayou Bienvenu after night. The boats that had landed the first de- tachment, had proceeded back to the shipping, and having re- turned, were on their way up the bayou, when they heard the guns of the Caroline ; moving hastily on to the assistance of those who had debarked before them, they reached the shore, and knowing nothing of the situation of the two armies, came up in the rear of General Coffee's brigade. Coming in contact with Colonel Dyer and Captain Beal, they filed oflf to the left, and reached the British camp. " This part of Coffee's brigade, unable to unite with, or find bim, retired where they had first formed, and joined Colonel ARRIVAL OF CARROLL S DIVISION. 471 jrs, and losing i off to the left, Hinds's dragoons, which had remained on the ground where the troops had first dismounted, to cover their retreat, in the event it became necessary. " Jackson had gone into this battle with a confidence of suc- cess ; and his arrangements were such as would have insured it, even to a much greater extent, but for the intervention of circumstances that were not and could not be foreseen. The Caroline had given her signals, and commenced the battle a little too early, before Coffee had reached and taken his position, and before every thing was fully in readiness to attain the objects designed ; but it was chiefly owing to the confusion introduced at first into the ranks, which checked the rapidity of his advance, gave the enemy time for preparation, and prevented his division from uniting with the right wing of General Coffee's brigade. " Colonel Hinds, with one hundred and eighty dragoons, was not brought into action during the night. Interspersed as the plain was with innumerable ditches, cut in different directions, it was impossible that cavalry could act to any kind of advan- tage : they were now formed in advance, to watch, until morn- ing, the movements of the enemy. *' From the experiment just made, Jackson believed it would be in his power on renewing the attack to capture the enemy : he concluded, therefore, to call down General Carroll with his division, and assail him again at the dawn of day. Directing Go- vernor Claiborne to remain at his post, with the Louisiana militia, for the defense of the Gentilly road, he despatched an order to Carroll, in the event there had been no appearance of a force during the night, in the direction of Chef Menteur, to hasten and join him with his command ; which order was executed by one o'clock in the morning. Previously, however, to his arrival a diflferont conclusion was taken. From prisoners who had been brought in, and some deserters, it v/as ascertained that the strength of the enemy during the battle was four thousand, and with the reinforcements which had reached them, after its com- mencement, it was then not less than six : — at any rate, it ex- ceeded his own greatly, even after the Tennessee division should be added. Although very decided advantages had been ob- tained, yet they had been procured under circumstances that I'T* -\-. !<■; Ml t i 472 lACKSON FORMS HIS LINE. might be wholly lost in a contest waged in open day, between forces so disproportioned, and by undisciplined troops against veteran soldiers. Jackson well knew it was incumbent upon him to act a part entirely defensive : should the attempt to gain and destroy the city succeed, numerous difficulties would arise, which might be avoided, so long as he could hold the enemy in check, and halt him in his designs. Prompted by these consi- derations, — that it was important to pursue a course calculated to assure safety; and believing it attainable in no way so effect- ually as in occupying some point, and by the strength he might give it, make up for the inferiority of his numbers ; he deter- mined to forbear all further efforts, until he should more cer- tainly discover the views of the enemy, and until the Kentucky troops should reach him, which had not yet arrived. Pursuing this idea, at four o'clock, having ordered Colonel Hinds to occupy the ground he was then leaving, and to observe the enemy closely, he fell back, and formed his line behind a deep ditch that ran at right angles horn the river. There were two cir- cumstances strongly recommending the importance of this place: the swamp, which, from the high lands at Baton Rouge, skirted the river at irregular distances, and was in many places almost impervious, had approached here within four hundred yards of the Mississippi, and hence, from the narrowness of the pass, was more easily to be defended ; added to which, there was a deep canal, whence the dirt being thrown on the upper side, already formed a tolerable breastwork. Behind this his troops were formed, and proper measures adopted for increasing its strength, with a determination never to abandon it ; but there to resist to the last, and defend those rights which were sought to be outraged and destroyed. " The soldier who has stood the shoe' f battle, and knows what slight circumstances often prodi*. decided advantages, will be able, properly, to appreciate the events of this night. Although the dreadful carnage of the 8th of January, hereafter to be told, was in fact the finishing blow, that struck down the towering hopes of those invaders, and put an end to the contest; )et in the battle of the 23d, is to be found abundant cause, why success resulted to our arms, and safety was given to the country. NUMBER ENGAGED. 473 Tlie British had reached the Mississippi without the fire of a OTin, and had encamped upon its banks, as composedly as if they had been seated on their own soil, and at a distance from all danger. These were circumstances awakening a belief that they expected little opposition, were certain of success, and that the troops with whom they were to contend, would scarcely venture to resist them : resting thus confidently, they would the "^^ next day have moved forward, and succeeded in the accomplish- ment of their designs. Jackson, convinced that an early im- pression was essential to ultimate success, had resolved to assail them at the moment of their landing, and * attack them in their first position :' we have, therefore, seen him, with a force, infe- rior by one half, to that of the enemy, at an unexpected moment, break into their camp, and with his undisciplined yeomanry, drive before him the pride of Europe. It was an event that could not fail to destroy all previous theories, and establish a conclusion, our enemy had not before formed, that they were contending against valour inferior to none they had seeii ; — ^before which their own bravery had not stood, nor their skill availed them : it had the effect of satisfying them, that the quantity and kind of troops it was in his power to wield, must be different from what had been represented ; for, much as they had heard of the courage of the man, they could not suppose, that a general, having a country to defend, and a reputation to preserve, would venture to attack, on their own chosen ground, a greatly supe- rior army, and one, which, by the numerous victories achieved, had already acquired a fame in arms; they were convinced that his force must greatly surpass what they had expected, and be composed of materials different from what they had imagined. "The American troops, which were actually engaged, did not amount to two thousand men : they consisted of part of ,. Coffee's brigade and Captain Beal's company, The 7th and 44th regiments, - - - - Company of marines and artillery, Plauche's and Daquin's battalions, - - - And the Mississippi dragoons, under Colonel Hinds, not in the action, 648 763 82 488 186 2167 SbS 474 REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. which for one hour maintained a severe conflict with a force of four or five thousand, and retired in safety from the ground with the loss of but twenty-four killed, one hundred and fifteen wounded, and seventy-four made prisoners; while the killed wounded and prisoners of the enemy, were not less than four hundred. UR officers and soldiers executed every order with promptness, and nobly sustained their country's character. Lieutenant-Colonel Lauderdale, of Coffee's brigade, an officer on whom every reli- ance was placed, fell at his post, and at his duty: he had entered the service, and descended the river, with the volunteers, under General Jackson, in the winter of 1812 — passed through all the hardships and difliculties of the Creek war, and had ever manifested a readiness to act when his country needed his services. Young, brave, and skilful, he had already afforded evidences of a capacity, which might in future, have become useful ; his exemplary conduct, both in civil and military life, acquired for him a respect, that rendered his fall a subject of general regret. Lieutenant McLelland, a valuable young officer, of the 7th, was also among the number of the slain. " Coffee's brigade, during the action, imitating the example of their commander, bravely contended, and ably supported the character they had established. The unequal contest in which they were engaged, never occurred to them; nor for a moment checked the rapidity of their advance. Had the British known they were mere riflemen, without bayonets, a firm stand would have arrested their progress, and destruction or capture would have been the inevitable consequence; but this circumstance being unknown, every charge they made was crowned with success, producing discomfiture, and routing and driving supe- rior numbers before them. Officers, from the highest to inferior grades, discharged what had been expected of them. Ensign Leach, of the 7th regiment, being wounded through the body, still remained at his post, and in the performance of his duty. Colonel Reuben Kemper, enterprising and self-collected, amidst the confusion introduced on the left wing, found himself at the REMARKS. ON THE BATTLE. 475 B number of the head of a handful of men, detached from the main body, and in the midst of a party of the enemy ; never did any man better exemplify the truth of the position, that discretion is sometimes the better part of valour : to attempt resistance was idle, and could only eventuate in destruction ; with a mind unclouded by the peril that surrounded him, ho sought and procured his safety through stratagem. Calling to a group of soldiers who were near, he demanded where their regiment was ; lost themselves, they were unable to answer : but taking him for one of their own officers, they followed, as they were ordered, to his own line, where they were made prisoners. The 7th regiment, commanded by Major Piere, and the 44th, under Major Baker, aided by Major Butler, gallantly maintained the conflict — forced the enemy from every secure position he attempted to occupy, and drove him a mile from the first point of attack. Confiding in themselves, and their general, who was constantly witli them, exposed to danger, and in the thickest of the fight, inspired by his ardour, and encouraging by his ex- ample, they advanced to the conflict, nor evinced a disposition to leave it, until the prudence of their commander directed them to retire. ROM the violence of the assault already made, the fears of the British had been greatly excited ; to keep their apprehensions alive was considered important, with a view partially to destroy the overweening confi- dence with which they had arrived, and compel them to act, for a time, upon the de- fensive. To effect this. General Coffee, with his brigade, was ordered down on the 24th, to unite with Colonel Hinds, and make a show in the rear of Lacoste's plantation. The enemy, not yet recovered of the panic produced by the first assault, already believed it was in contemplation to urge another attack, and immediately formed to repel it; but Coffee having suc- ceeded in recovering some of his horses, which were wandering along the sides of the swamp ; and in regaining part of the clothing his troops had lost, returned to the line, leaving to bo conjectured the objects of his movement. 476 BRITISH ACCOUNT OF THE 23d OF DECEMBER. An English writer gives the following interesting accountof the action of the 23d of December : — " When the shades of evening fell, the fires were made to blaze more brightly; supper was despatched, and the men prepared themselves for rest; but a little before eight o'clock the attention of some was drawn to a large ves- sel, which seemed to be stealing up the river, till she came op- posite to the British station, when her anchor was dropped, and her sails leisurely furled. Various were the opinions entertained of this stranger. She was hailed, but no answer was returned. All idea of sleep, however, was now laid aside, and several musket shots were fired, of which not the slightest notice was taken. At length, all her sails being fastened, and her broadside swung toward the camp, a voice was distinctly heard exclaiming, * Give them this for the honour of America.' The flashes of her guns instantly followed, and a shower of grape shot swept down numbers of the British troops. An incessant cannonade weis then kept up, which could not be silenced, as our troops had no artillery, and the few rockets that were discharged deviated so much from their object, as to afford only amusement for the enemy. Under these circumstances, therefore, all were ordered to leave the fires, and shelter themselves under the dikes, where they lay, each as he could find room, listening in painful silence to the iron hail among the huts, and to the shrieks and groans of those that were wounded. " The night was dark as pitch ; the fires were all extinguished, and not an object was visible, except from the momentary flashes of the guns, when a straggling fire called attention toward the pickets, as if some more dreadful scene was about to open : nor was it long before suspense was cut short by a tremendous yell, and a semicircular blaze of musketry, which showed that the position was surrounded by a superior foi'ce ; and that no alterna- tive remained, but to surrender, or to drive back the assailants. The first of these plans was instantly rejected ; for the troops, rushing from their lurking places, and da.shing ^^hrough their bivouac, under heavy discharges from the vessel,, lost not a moment in attacking the foe, without the slightest attention to order, or the rules of disciplined warfare : the combat, which was left to individual valour and skill, lasted till three in the ECEMBER. 5 account of the ides of evening f) supper was est; but a little ft to a large ves- she came op- ropped, and her ; entertained of 1 returned. All several musket tice was taken, roadside swung jlaiming, ' Give les of her guns t down numbers was then kept ad no artillery, id so much from enemy. Under ) leave the fires, ley lay, each as o the iron hail those that were .1 extinguished, mentary flashes ion toward the ut to open : nor remendous yell, howed that the that no alterna- , the assailants. for the troops, • vhrough their ssel., lost not a test attention to combat, which ill three in the BRITISH ACCOUNT OP THE 23d OF DECEMBER. 177 morning ; and though the enemy was finally repulsed, no less than five hundred of our finest troops and best officers were left on the field : the rest then retired to their former lurking places, to be out of reach of their enemy on the river ; which, when daylight appeared, was discovered to be a fine schooner of eiorhteen guns, crowded with men. In the cold dikes, however,- they were compelled to remain the whole ensuing day, without fire and without food ; for whenever the smallest number began to steal away from shelter, the vessel opened her fire. " In the mean time, the remainder of the troops were disem- barking in haste to rejoin their comrades ; and as the schooner's ffuns were heard at the distance of at least twenty miles over the water, and in the silence of the night, the most strenuous exer- tions were made by the boats* crews : nor was a moment lost in returning to the island ; so that the whole army was brought into position before dark on the 24th ; but the advanced brigade was still fettered to the bank, while another large ship now cast anchor about a mile from their annoying enemy : as soon, how- ever, as darkness had set in, a change of position was effected, and the division was stationed in the village of huts : the front of the army being then covered by a strong chain of outposts, they remained quiet during the night ; and next day General Keene was relieved from further care and responsibility by the unexpected arrival of Sir Edward Packenham and General Gibbs ; the former of whom had been despatched from England, to take the chief command, as soon as the death of General Ross was known. The arrival of Packenham, adored as he was by the army, elicited the utmost enthusiasm ; and he had scarcely reached the camp, before he proceeded to examine, with a soldier's eye, every point of attack or defense. Of the American army nothing could be seen but a corps of five hundred mounted riflemen, hovering about the British front, and watching every motion ; the city was not in sight ; and no advance could be made, until the vessels on the river were disposed of: as delay was now dangerous, nine field-pieces, two howitzers, and a mortar were brought down to the bank as soon as it became dark ; a battery was quickly thrown up against the schooner ; ainl at davni, on the 26th. a heavy cannonade was opened upon 1 178 BRITISH ACCOUNT OF THE 23d OF DECEMBER. Uer with red-hot shot : nor was it long before her crew were seen hastening into their boats ; while the smoke first, and then the Aames, began to rise from her decks ; and, in about an hour, she blew up : the guns were then turned against the ship ; but net wishiiig to share the fate of her comrade, she set up every inch of canvas ; and being impelled both by sailing and towing, suc- ceeded in getting out of the range of shot. All apparent obstacles being now removed, the army advanced to a more forward posi- tion ; and arrangements were quietly made during the day till sunset : but from that period until near dawn the whole time was spent in wakefulness and alarm ; for the American riflemen harassed the pickets ; fired on the sentinels as well as the oflicers who went the rounds; and, disregarding all the usages of civil- ized warfare, thought only of diminishing the number of their enemies by picking off every individual whom they could reach. As soon as day began to break, they retired ; and our troops formed in two columns : the right, under General Gibbs, took post near the skirts of the morass, throwing out its skirmishers across the plain ; while the left, under Keene, drew up on the road near the river, and was covered by the rifle corps, which extended itself to meet the skirmishers of the right column : with this division went the artillery ; and at a given signal, the whole moved forward in high spirits, for about four or five miles, with- out the slightest check. At length they came in view of the American army, very advantageously posted behind a canal, which ran from the morass to within a short distance of the road : along its line were formidable breastworks ; while on the road, and at various other points, were powerful batteries, aided by a large flotilla of gun-boats on the river, flanking the position. As the left column passed a few houses, built at a turning of the road, and which concealed the enemy from view, it was suddenly checked by a destructive fire from the battery and the shipping : scarcely a bullet passed over, or fell short of its mark; but striking full into the midst of the British ranks, made dreadful havoc : the houses also on the left, which had been purposely filled with combustibles, were now fired with red-hot shot ; so that, while whole ranks were mowed down by the artillery, the survivors were scorched by flames, or half suffocated with DECEMBER. LOSS OF THE CAROLINE. 479 smoke : the troops, however, were not long suffered to remain in this situation ; for, being ordered to quit the path, and form in the fields, the British artillery was brought up against that of i\ie enemy ; but being inferior both in number of guns and weight of metal, it was soon obliged to retire with great loss. The infantry, having formed in line, now advanced under a heavy discharge of round and grape-shot, till they were stopped by the canal, the depth of which could not be ascertained ; they were therefore ordered to take shelter in a wet ditch, sufficiently deep to cover the knees; where, leaning forward, they concealed themselves as well as they could behind some high rushes on its brink : in the mean time, the advance of the right column had been stopped by similar impediments ; and nothing seemed left but to withdraw the troops from their perilous situation : a party of courageous seamen were employed to remove the dismounted guns, which service they effected under the whole fire of the enemy ; and then regiment after regiment stole away, amid dis- charges similar to those which saluted their approach ; retiring to a position in the plain, about two miles from the enemy's works, and in full sight of their army." The action of the 23d saved Louisiana ; for had the enemy not been attacked with such impetuosity, when they had scarcely effected their disembarkation, they would either that night or the next morning, have marched against the city, which, in its then defenseless condition, with about five thousand men, mostly militia, must inevitably have fallen. The three following days were occupied in erecting fortifica- tions, and reconnoitering the enemy's positions. Early on the 27th, a battery of twelve and eighteen-pounders opened upon the American schooner Caroline, and in about fifteen minutes set her on fire. She was abandoned by her crew, and soon after blew up. The guns were then directed against the Louisiana, but without causing any damage. In the evening the British land forces drove back the American advance guards, and toofe possession of Bienvenu's and Chalmette's plantations. All the buildings on the latter were blown up by order of General Jack- son. The British slowly continued their march, advancing in columns, preceded by several pieces of artillery, some playing '1m ISO THE BNEMY's artillery SILENCED. y totUtfi»§ of N«w OrUtM. , on the Louisiana, and others on the American intrenchments, The Louisiana suffered the columns ^o advance a considerable space, and then opened on them a tremendous and well-directed fire. The example was followed by the land troops, and the enemy's artillery silenced. So excellent was the Louisiana's position, that on one occasion a single ball from her killed fifteen men. Her fire finally broke the columns, forcing them back to the plantations, where they covered themselves by some buildings on Bienvenu's field. They also abandoned several batteries established on the river the preceding night. Their loss was between two and three hundred men ; that of the Americans, seven killed and ten wounded. < . * At this time the British regular troops numbered about ten thousand men. General Gibbs's division had landed, and Sir Edward Packenham had taken command of the army, with his head-quarters at General Villery's house. ^ Some skirmishing took place on the 31st, and a cannonade was kept up between the Louisiana and some batteries until afternoon. During the night, the enemy erected two batteries at the distance of six hundred yards from the American lines, and about half that distance from the river bank. On the morning of January 1st, 1815, a thick fog covered the ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS. 481 ground until eight o'clock. At this time the British opened a brisk fire from three batteries, mounting in all eighteen large iruns. A shower of congreve rockets accompanied the balls, continuing with unprecedented activity for fifleen minutes This was answered by a steady fire from the American lines, and in less than an hour that of the enemy slackened. The head-quarters of General Jackson were destroyed, and himself and staff narrowly escaped being shot. Two gun carriages were also destroyed, and two artillery caissons blown up. At ten o'clock, some platoons of sharp shooters penetrated into the neighbouring woods in order to reconnoiter the American left ; but they were promptly met by General Coffee's brigade and driven back. The enemy's fire continued to slacken until noon, and at one o'clock the two batteries on the right were abandoned. The other threw a few balls and rockets, until three p. m. when it also ceased. Deep silence then ensued, and the assailants retired to their camp, after a most active service of ten hours. The Americans lost during the day, thirty-four in killed and wounded. On the 4th two thousand two hundred and fifty Kentucky militia arrived in the city, under Major-General Thomas. These troops being almost entirely destitute of decent clothing, were supplied by the legislature of Louisiana and the subscription of private individuals. On the 6th, Sailing-Master Johnson burnt a British brig, loaded with rum and biscuit, capturing ten prisoners. The same day an unusual stir was observed among the enemy, who covered the banks of Villery's canal, dragging boats, inspecting arms, marching and exercising. At the same time the Americans erected a small redoubt of two six-pounders, commanding the river bank and front of the line. General Jackson had now eight distinct batteries constructed, mounting in all twelve guns, of different calibre, the largest however, being a thirty-two-pounder, under command of Lieu- tenant Crawley, late of the Caroline. The works were one mile in extent, from the river to the Cypress swamp, and termi- nated in a bend to the left of about two hundred yards. On the right of these works were stationed the 7th regiment, Majoi Plauche, Major Lacoste, and Major Daquin's battalions, and the 2 8 61 Iff tit 482 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. i.k 44th regiment, amounting in all to thirteen hundred and eighty, nine men, and commanded by Colonel Ross of the 44th ; the centie was composed of General Carroll's, and part of Gouoml Adair's division, and amounted to sixteen hundred mQii', on thfl left was stationed the command of General Coffee, whose^ bri. gade consisted of five hundred men ; so that the whole line was defended by three thousand four hundred and eighty-niuu rucii, On the opposite side, the works erected by General Morgan were defended by two hundred and seventy-six of the LoiiiNinnti contingent, one hundred and seventy-six of the 2d, or C()h)npl Cavalier's regiment, and the 1st and part of the 6th, oompriHing one hundred and ten, under Colonel Degian, the whole amount- ing to five hundred and forty-six men. To these were added on the night of the 27th, a reinforcement of five hundred muii, from General Adair's Kentucky militia, under Colonel Davis. Commodore Patterson erected further batteries on the same side of the river, to annoy the approach of the enemy, if he should attempt it, along the levee on the right bank of the river, and in the line which covered General Morgan's troops were planted one twelve-DOunder, and two brass sixes. During the whole night of the 7th, busy sounds of prepare tion were heard in the enemy's camp ; and before daylight next morning, the American outposts entered camp, and announced that the enemy were approaching in great force. At dawn the news was confirmed; rows of glittering troops, and dyep columns of infantry, stretched from the wood to th© river, covering the whole field, and presenting a scene of terrible grandeur rarely witnessed in America. A rocket disoharged from the wood toward the river was the signal for assault. The troops gave three cheers, and swept along in close column, with fascines and scaling-ladders. Clouds of rockets preceded them, and continued to fall during the whole attack. Three batloi'ies now opened a tremendous fire upon them, but they still riiHlied on, until within reach of the Tennessee and Kentucky riDen, which, joined with the fire of artillery, mowed them down by companies. The rapid discharges now resembled rattling ])mU of thunder, and, notwithstanding the utmost exertions ol' the British officers, their columns faltered. They were then maiohed J m I H' BATTLE OP NEW ORLEANS. 483 Battle of New Orleani. obliquely, but this rendered the slaughter greater ; the files be came mixed and broken, the whole column broke, and many of the troops ran to shelter themselves among the neighbouring bushes. The remainder retired to the ditch, where they had been when first perceived. At this place, the officers succeeded with much difficulty in rallying their troops, and drew them up for a second attack. In order to be less encumbered, their knap- sacks were laid at the edge of the ditch. The rear was also brought up as a reinforcement. This assault was received with the same steady fire that had repulsed the first. .The British, however, advanced much nearer than before ; but were driven back in the utmost confusion, and in defiance of all the exertions of the officers, did not stop their flight, until without the reach of danger. In the commencement of the attack, the honourable Sir Ed- ward Packenham fell a victim to his own intrepidity, while endeavouring to animate his troops. The command then de- volved on General Gibbs, who was also mortally wounded ; Ge- neral Keene was borne from the field, dangerously wounded. Many other distinguished officers fell, and the track of the column was marked with piles of the dead and dying. The :tl 484 ACTION ON THE MISSISSIPPI. I officers found it impossible to form the troops a third time, and they passed the remainder of the day near the ditch. Some of the enemy's troops had advanced into the wood, either to make a false attack or to ascertain if a real one were practicable. They were speedily driven back by General Cof. fee's rifles. During the attack on the left, a column had also ad- vanced on the right, drove in the American outposts, and entered an unfinished redoubt. The small garrison were either killed or captured, and the British remained masters of the fort. Here, however, they were attacked by Colonel Renee's riflemen, cut to pieces, and the advancing column completely foiled. The British batteries, which had kept up a continual fire during the charge, were all silenced. During the main assault upon General Jackson's position, a second attack was made on the right bank of the Mississippi, against about eight hundred Louisiana militia, under General Morgan. The enemy crossed at daybreak, attacking and driving back about one hundred men sent to oppose them. It had been their intention to assault Morgan's position simultaneously with the commencement of the main action ; but in this they were disappointed by being carried a great distance by the current. A small number of Americans, under Colonel Davis, who had just arrived from Jackson's position, and were hungry, cold, and exhausted, were sent to op])ose the British. After a spirited resistance they were driven back. The victors then pushed rapidly against the left of General Morgan's defenses ; but re- ceived so heavy a fire of artillery and musketry, as obliged them to give ground. They then attacked the right and centre, turned Colonel Davis's detachment, routed the Kentucky militia, and entered the works. They then attacked and carried the left. The defeat of the main army, under Packenham, rendered it use- less for the British to pursue this advantage, and the detachment returned to their boats. The loss of the British in the attack on General Jackson's position, was two hundred and ninety-three killed, twelve hun dred and sixty-seven wounded, and four hundred and eighty-four missing. Almost all their valuable officers were killed or wounded. General Jackson had but six men killed, and seven BOMBARDMENT OF FORT ST. PHILIP. 485 wounded ; but the action with General Morgan swelled the total loss to about five hundred. N the following day, the 9th Admiral Cochrane directed two bomb vessels, one sloop of war, a brig, and a schooner, to station themselves before Fort St. Philip, with a view to its bombardment and de- struction. On that day they commenced an attack, and continued throwing shells into the fort until the 17th in the evening, when the command- ant. Major Overton, opened a heavy mortar, (not until then in readiness,) and threw the line of ships into such disorder, that on the morning of the 18th, they retired to the anchorage of the fleet. The expedition which had been thus extensively planned in England, and for the fitting out of which an immense treasure had been exhausted, was thus resisted, and entirely destroyed, by the valour and perseverance of a small army, principally made up of volunteers and militia, and commanded by a general, whose military career, though brilliant and almost unparalleled, was commenced but two years before. The slaughter which attended repulse of the invading army was on their side never sur- Qt any other battle. Besides their generals and other officers of high rank, the British lost in killed, wounded, and missing, about four thousand men. The American, killed, wounded, and missing, did not exceed five himdred. The British fleet, however, continued in the neighbourhood, and on the 10th of February, General Lambert having landed nesr Fort Bowyer, with a large body of his troops, demanded of Lieutenant^Colonel Lawrence the surrender of the garrison In its rear an extensive and heavy battery had been planted, and the powerful force by which it was surrounded, made it expe- dient that the fort should capitulate on honourable terms, or that • 8 (1 w. 1 1 y /i a i n if J,' '. id i ' iM 486 CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES. the garrison should submit to the sword. Colonel Lawrence chose that line of conduct which propriety and humanity die- tated, and the enemy took possession of the fort. On the same day the British sloop of war Brazen arrived off the station, with intelligence that a treaty of peace had been con- cluded upon between the American and British ambassadors at Ghent, which had met the approbation of the prince regent of England. Not long after General Jackson was apprized, by the secretary of war, of the ratification of the treaty by the president and senate, and all hostilities immediately ceased. A regular and mutual exchange of prisoners was entered upon, and the volunteers and militia were honourably discharged, and sent to their homes, with the gratitude and applause of their country. NAVAL CAMPAIGN. 487 /; CHAPTER XXIII. do0( of tl^e IsTabal ^ilPamp&ign of I1©1f post eapttiin. Penguin, took ' the Sd article ', and tlie only taken into the ^ht monthH, in 5r6 fifteen, and t; and during oops, and five ) frigates, nine, by a land but' 8 cut out from hundred mer- rhe operations ont of the war, saster, in ninny stnigglo was 3nt8, which re- ne, and ranked arth. S.tS 68 Jol 80C m m Km n tin Francii liilliihago. THE FIRST SEMINOLE WAR. T the commencement of the war of 1812, numbers of Indians in the southern states, diRsatisfied with the American government, retired into Florida, where, being counte- nanced by the Spanish authorities, they formed themselves into small bands for the purposes of plunder and aggression. In September, 1812, a settlement on the St. Johns river was attacked, and eight persons murdered : and soon after an escort, consisting of a captain and twenty men, was surprised by a considerable party, the captain and another man killed, six wounded, and all their wagons carried into St. Augustine. Similar outrages were committed during the whole war, to an extent that kept several of the southern states in con- tinual alarm. When Colonel NichoUs was expelled from Pensacola by Ge- (499) :^! ! I : LI 111 m i J, ■ '■I i 1^ 600 EXPLOSION OF THE ENEMY'S FORT. neral Jackson, he went to Florida, and immediately commenced a regular organization of the negroes and Indians. In order to strengthen this, he visited England, accompanied by the dis- tinguished Seminole chief, Francis Hillishago, and concluded a treaty of friendship with that nation. Some time after leaving, he was succeeded in the government by Ambrister and Arbuthnot. Things remained in this unpropitious condition until 1817, when a small tract, called Amelia Island, was attacked by some adventurers, and the Spanish garrison expelled. It was then employed as a depot for smuggling goods. This lawless trade was carried on until December 22d, when by order of President Monroe, Captain Henley seized the island and drove away the outlaws. Previous to this, Colonel Clinch, with five hundred Indians and a number of United States troops, was sent against a fort erected by the savages on the Appal achicoli. On the 10th of July, 1816, the army moved up the river in schooners and gun- boats. When near the fort, a watering party of seven men were attacked by Indians and negroes, five were killed, one escaped, and one captured, tortured, and put to death. The garrison numbered four hundred savages and negroes, who had twelve pieces of artillery. The colonel's gun-boats con- tained but a twelve-pounder, and twenty-five men each ; but although admonished of the enemy's force, he determined on an attack. He had scarcely commenced firing, when a hot shot struck the principal magazine, and the fort was blown lip with a fearful explosion, carrying with it the shattered re- mains of two hundred and seventy-three of the garrison. Only three of the remainder escaped unhurt. This event broke up a large horde of desperadoes, and terminated the war ir that district. In the fall of 1817, the family of Mr. Garrett, in East Florida, was attacked during his absence from home, and his wife and two children butchered. Soon after a man named McKrimnon was captured, and tied to the stake preparatory to being burned He was rescued only through the intercession of one Milly, Uaughter of the principal chief, Hillishago, who, like Poca- JACKSON ORDERED TO FORT SCOTT. 501 hontas rushed toward her father, and implored him to spare the prisoner. Being subsequently ransomed, he married hia deliverer. In November, General Gaines, commander in Florida, re- ceived orders from Washington, to open negotiations with the Creeks, in order to transport them to the country ceded by the United States government. This the Indians refused to do; and when their chief, Hornetlimed, was summoned by the ge- neral to appear at the fort, he answered by a haughty defiance. Next -^ay Major David E.Twiggs was sent against the fort with two hundred and fifty men. After repelling an attack on the road and killing several of the assailants, he reached the town and found it deserted. After this affair, Gaines despatched Major Muhlenburg, from the head-qaarters at Fort Scott, to Mobile, with three vessels, for the purpose of obtaining provisions. Beside the crew, he had on board a number of volunteers with their wives and children. Sickness obliged him to halt on the Appalachicola,; where he was soon reinforced by forty men, under Lieutenant Scott. The major detached half of the crew, for his own use, and placing seven women, four children, and his sick on board the lieutenant's boat, he sent him back to Fort Scott. When near Flint river, the party were attacked by some savages under Hornetlimed, and all were killed except six soldiers, who escaped, and one woman made prisoner. The scalps were :aken to the red pole at Mickasuky village and added to the number already there. On receiving intelligence of this outrage, the secretary of war wrote to General Jackson, ordering him to repair immediately to Fort Scott and take charge of the war. Eight hundred men were given him, with authority to draw volunteers from the neighbouring states, should that number be insuflicient for the campaign. This communication reached General Jackson January 12th, 1918. He then issued a proclamation to the Tennessee volun- teers, to join him in the coming campaign. This was effectual, and a number were soon on their way to Fort Scott. On thf. 9th of March, the general himself arrived there, having mus* ' P iff ' H ^ ■ ' % ^ t ; ■ 'i.:;. 1*11 II ( H '';3 M ''iuix-i !''i,i Mi i ' '. 'm 502 EXECUTION OF ARBUTHNOT AND AMBRISTER. U. fiPff m 'til 1'%i^'':-: tered on the road more than one thousand militia, mostly from Georgia. Finding the garrison very destitute of provisions, he determined to win supplies from the enemy, and on the 10th, pushed toward the Appalachicola. On the march he was joined by General Gaines, and built Fort Gadsden where the Indian fort had stood that was blown up by Colonel Clinch. Continu- ing his march, he was joined on the 1st of April by the Ten- nessee men. The same day he drove back a party of Indians, and took possession of their village. Numerous scalps were found strung upon the red war pole, and others in different wigwams. About this time, a party numbering five hundred Indians and negroes surrounded the Spanish fort, St. Marks, and de- manded its surrender. This place was one of great importance, being strongly built, and having served formerly as the main depot of the Indians, and scene of all their councils. As the Spanish garrison was very weak, Jackson determined to an- ticipate the enemy, and accordingly marched to the fort and took possession without opposition, sending the garrison and authorities to Pensacola. Here he captured the chiefs Hornet- limed and Hillishago, both of whom were hung. Arbuthnot was also captured. After garrisoning the captured station. General Jackson pro- ceeded against the Suwanee towns, where he arrived April 16th. After a slighc resistance in which two Indians were taken and eleven killed, the settlement was taken, the huts destroyed, and some provisions secured. Two days after, Ambrister was cap- tured. On the 22d a court of inquiry convened for the trial of this man and Arbuthnot, and, after six days' session, found them guilty of inciting the Indians to aggression, and gave as their opinion that they were worthy of death. General Jackson sen- tenced Arbuthnot to be hung, and Ambrister to be shot. The sentence was executed on the 29th. On the same day the general returned to Fort Gadsden. Intelligence now arrived that the defeated Seminoles weu mustering near Pensacola. It was also rumoured that they were assisted and encouraged by the Spanish garrison at that place. Although Spain was then at peace with the United States, Ge MBRISTER. BOMBARDMENT OF FORT BARRANCAS. 503 aeral Jackson resolved on marching into the territory, and cap- turing the garrrison at Pensacola. Accordingly he left Fort Gadsden on the 1 0th of May, at the head of twelve hundred men, and on the 22d arrived near Pensacola. On notifying the Spanish governor, he was ordered to quit the country. Disre- garding this, he entered the city on the 24th, and immediately commenced operations for assaulting Fort Barrancas, whither the governor with his small force had retired. A bombardment of this was kept up until the 27th, when it surrendered, and the Spanish authorities were sent to Havana. Soon after Ge- neral Jackson took possession of the whole territory, garrisoned different stations, and broke up all the Indian villages. He then retired to the Hermitage, in Tennessee, leaving the command with General Gaines, who, under his orders, speedily took pos- session of St. Augustine. President Monroe, in his message of November, 1818, thus speaks of the condition of affairs in Spanish Florida : " A state of things has existed in the Floridas, the tendency of which has been obvious to all who have paid the slightest attention to the progress of affairs in that quarter. Throughout the whole of those provinces to which the Spanish title extends, the government of Spain has scarcely been felt. Its authority has been confined almost exclusively to the walls of Pensacola and St. Augustine, within which only small garrisons have been maintained. Adventurers from every country, fugitives from justice, and absconding slaves, have found an asylum there. Several tribes of Indians, strong in the number rf their warriors, remarkable for their ferocity, and whose settlements extend to our Umits, inhabit those provinces. These different hordes of people, connected together, disregarding, on the one side, the authority of Spain, and protected by an imaginary line which separates Florida from the United States, have violated our laws prohibiting the introduction of slaves, have practised various frauds on our revenue, and committed every kind of outrage on our peaceable citizens, which their proximity to us enabled them to perpetrate. The invasion of Amelia Island last year by a small band of adventurers not exceeding one hundred and fifty in number, who wrested it from the inconsiderable Spanish ] ll;: ■< J iMJ! '•!!';(■ K^'*'»-( i' :':;^fl "lit .V 1 H' ■" « 604 FLORIDA CEDED TO THE UNITED STATES. force stationed there, and held it several months, during which a single effort only was made to recover it, which failed, clearly proves how completely extinct the Spanish authority had be- come; as the conduct of those adventurers while in possession of the island as distinctly shows the pernicious purposes for which their combination had been formed." The forcible occupation of a neutral territory, elicited much attention in the United States, and subjected General Jackson to much censure. The government promptly surrendered the captured posts to the Spanish crown, but did not think proper to call the general to account for his actions. The Seminole war was, however, ended for that time ; and the cession of Flo* rida to the United States in 1819, put an end to all dif&culties with Spain. 1 1 iPI H HK' 'iikiA 1 toPkI'' STATES. IS, during which 5h failed, clearly ithority had be- lle in poasesision us purposes for jr, elicited much General Jackson surrendered the Lot think proper The Seminole e cession of Flo« to all difficulties su 64 1* I i >1 h < k ■1 r • ' HIMJP R- ^3 1^ ffl 1 J ' Liiil 'I Blaek Hawk. !^' ' 5 %~ k 1ft 11 .|,.| Ji V M 'ji ; 1'^ . 1 U ' ■ ' ,.( ' 1 ■ ■ li ■1 m S 1', W \ .J £ .Ji ■ i s ' , ■•ll' 1 11 1:' ; I'lliW;! r rf. 9'! ^ if ' BLACK HAWK'S WAR. ■;■; I » 1 ■ ■ [ ■ ' ' . 'l ■ • ' ; '• hi i |EW Indian chiefs have elicited more respect for their admirable qualities, or more sympathy for their misfor- tunes and patriotic sufferings, than Black Hawk. This chief was the very personification of an Indian brave, and his capability of planning a great enterprise, executing it, and rallying around him the united efforts of his people was fully displayed during the war to which he has given a name. Black Hawk was born about the year 1767, on the Rock river, Illinois. At the age of fifteen he took a scalp from an enemy, and was in consequence promoted by his tribe to the rank of a brave. Engaging soon afterwards in an expedition against the Osages, he fought several battles, highly distinguished 114 (507) k ' s ; 608 FORBEARANCE OF THE INDIANS. H. m m m himself, and brought back a number of trophies. As a reward he was permitted to participate in a great scalp dance, held by his nation in commemoration of victory. His reputation being thus established, he frequently led war parties against the enemies of his tribe, and was in almost every case successful. The influence and military knowledge which he thus acquired, were fitting him for a contest in which, though unfortunate, he was to ac- quire undying reputation. The treaty concluded in 1804, by Governor Harrison, with the Sacs and Foxes, by which the latter ceded their lands east of the Mississippi, was executed by a few chiefs, without the knowledge or consent of the nation. Although this gave rise to much dissatisfaction among the Indians, no act of serious op. position took place, until the United States government erected Fort Madison upon the Mississippi. This at once revived their jealousies and an attempt was made to cut off the garrison. From that time the whites regarded the Indians as enemies, and were by no means scrupulous in their dealing or intercourse with them. A short time previous to this, the admission of Illinois into the Union as a state had given a new cause for dispute. At- tracted by the fertile soil of that rich territory, emigrants from all parts poured into it, and in a short time the land occupied by the Sacs and Foxes was completely surrounded by white settlers. These soon began to commit outrages upon their red neighbours, in order to hasten their departure from the ceded territory. In 1827, when the tribes were absent from home on a hunting excursion, some of the whites set fire to their village, by which forty houses were consumed. With commendable forbearance the Indians paid no apparent attention to this dis- honourable act, but quietly rebuilt their dwellings. They raised the fences which had been broken down, and saved as much of their corn as was possible. The American government now determined to sell the land occupied by these tribes, and they were accordingly advised to remove. Keokuk, the chief, with a majority of the nation de- termined to do so ; but Black Hawk, and a party which he had gained over to himself, resolved to remain at all hazards. COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. 609 aved as miich of Meanwhile the whites committed greater acts of violence upon the Indians than before. The latter at last took up arms, and a war would certainly have taken place, had not General Gaines, commander of the western division of the army, hastened to the scene of action. This able and prudent officer immediately convened a council of the principal chiefs, in which it was agreed that the Indians should instantly remove. They accord- ingly crossed the river and settled on its western bank. Not- withstanding this measure, a majority of the Indians were on peaceful terms with the United States. But Black Hawk and his band determined on returning to Illinois, alleging that they had been invited by the Potawatamies, residing on Rock river, to spend the summer with them and plant corn on their lands. They recrossed the river, and marched toward the above named Indians, but without attempting to harm any one upon the road. The traveller passed by them without receiving any injury, and the inmates of the lowly hut experienced no outrage. There is little doubt but this amicable disposition would have continued had not the whites been the first to shed blood. Five or six Indians, in advance of the main party, were captured, and ex- cepting one who escaped, pat to death by a battalion of mounted militia. That one brought the news to Black Hawk, who im- mediately determined on revenge. He accordingly planned an ambuscade into which the militia were enticed, fired upon, and fourteen of their number killed. The remainder fled in disoi'der. As war had now begun, the Indians seemed resolved to do all the mischief in their power. Accordingly they divided into small parties, proceeded in different directions, and fell upon the set- tlements which were at that time thinly scattered over the greater part of Illinois. By this means they committed such outrages that the whole state was in the greatest excitement. Governor Reynolds ordered out two thousand additional militia, who, on the 10th of June, assembled at Hennepin, on the Illinois river, and were soon engaged in pursuit of the Indians. On the 20th of May, 1832, a party attacked v. ^iinall settlement on Indian Creek, killed fifteen persons, and took considerable plunder. On the 14th of June, five persons were killed near Galena. General Dodge being in the neighbourhood, imme- 2P2 ill itel i '!.'■' I mh. p^:l' 610 THE CHOLERA AMONG THE TROOPS. diately marched with his mounted men in pursuit of the enemy. After advancing about three miles, he discovered twelve Indians, whom he supposed to be part of those who committed the murders. He commenced an active pursuit, and drove the Indians into a swamp. The mounted men rushed in and Boon met them. No resistance was made ; every Indian was killed their scalps taken off and borne away in triumph. Meanwhile General Atkinson was pursuing the main party, under Black Hawk, who was encamped near the Four Lakes, Instead of crossing the country to retreat beyond the Mississippi as was expected, he descended the Wisconsin, to escape in that direction, by which means General Dodge came upon his track and commenced a vigorous pursuit. On the 31st of July, the general, with about two hundred men, besides Indians, overtook him on the Wisconsin, forty miles from Fort Winnebago. The Indians were in the act of crossing the river. After a short en- gagement they retreated, and it being dark the whites eoiild not pursue them, without disadvantage to themselves. In tliis en- counter Black Hawk's party lost, as is supposed, about forty men, The Indians were now in a truly deplorable condition ; several of them were greatly emaciated for want of food, and some even starved to death. In the pursuit previous to the battle, the soldiers found several lying dead on the road. Yet so far from being subdued they resolved to continue hostilities as long as they were able. Meanwhile an army under General Scott, destined for the subjugation of Black Hawk, and the removal of all the mirth- western Indians to lands beyond the Mississippi, had been attacked by an enemy fer more fatal than the Indians. With about one thousand regular troops, Scott sailed from Dtifftdo in a fleet of steamboats, across Lake Erie for Chicago. This was early in July. On the 8th of that month, the Asiatic cholera appeared on board the vessel in which were General BmiU his staif, and two hundred and twenty soldiers. In six days fifty- two men died, and soon after eighty were put on shore sick nt Chicago. In the summer Scott left Chicago with but four Inmdred effective men, and hurrying on to the Mississippi, joined General BLACK HAWK CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI Ml «■! ; //■ General Scott. Atkinson at Prairie du Chien, immediately after the battle, near the Badare river, which resulted in the defeat of Black Hawk. Previous to this affair, a captured squaw had informed the whites that Black Hawk intended to proceed to the west side of the Mississippi, above Prairie du Chien — ^the horsemen striking across the country, whilst the others proceeded by the Wiscon- sin. A number of the latter were made prisoners on the road. Meanwhile, several circumstances transpired to prevent the escape of the main body under Black Hawk. The first was his falling in with the Warrior steamboat, (August 1st,) when in the act of crossing the Mississippi. Wishing to escape, he displayed two white flags, and about one hundred and fifty of his men came to the river without arms and made signs of submission. The commander of the boat ordered his men to fire, which they did, and the fire was returned. The engagement lasted an hour, when the wood of the steamboat failing, it proceeded to the Prairie. The Indians lost twenty-three killed, and a number wounded; the whites had one wounded. ■ 4 ;J^ • t. t, ■ II r ifes m 512 PEACE WITH THE SACS AND FOXES. Next day, after a toilsome and dangerous march, General Atkinson overtook Black Hawk, and immediately gave battle. Generals Posey and Alexander marched down the river with the right wing, and stationed themselves near the Indian encamp- ment, in order to prevent a retreat. The battle lasted about three hours, the Indians disputing the ground with the greatest obstinacy. Their loss in killed and wounded was about two hundred ; that of the Americans twenty-seven. This action terminated the war, for although Black Hawk escaped, yet his men continually deserted him and came over to the whites. Finally the warrior himself surrendered to the American agent at Prairie du Chien. In his speech on this occasion, he regretted his being obliged to close the war so soon, without having given the whites much more trouble. He as- serted that he had done nothing of which he had any reason to be ashamed, but that an Indian who was as bad as the white men would not be allowed to live in his community. He con- eluded as follows : *' Farewell, my nation ! Black Hawk tried to save you, and revenge your wrongs. He drank the blood of some of the whites. He has been taKen prisoner, and his plans are stopped. He can do no more. He is near his end. His sun is setting, and he will rise no more. Farewell to Black Hawk." Immediately after this battle. General Scott, as we have men- tioned, joined Atkinson, but their contemplated operations were for some weeks hindered by the dreadful scourge, which had already fearfully thinned the army. It was late in September, before the disease was driven from camp. Negotiations then commenced with the Sacs and Foxes, and were admirably con- ducted by General Scott, who obtained a region of five million acres from the Indians on terms satisfactory to both parties. At the return of peace. Black Hawk was taken to Washing- ton, where he had an interview with President Jackson. He was then conducted through the principal Atlantic cities, and every where received with the most marked attention and hos- pitality. He was then set at liberty and returned to his own nation. He died on the 3d of October, 1838, at his village on the Des Moines river. L E 8« arch, General ly gave battle. the river with ndian encamp- B lasted about th the greatest vas about two Black Hawk and came over endered to the speech on this he war so soon, ouble. He as- I any reason to d as the white inity. He con- I save you, and le of the whites, opped. He can setting, and he s we have men- operations were rge, which had in September, gotiations then admirably con- of five million oth parties, en to Washing- it Jackson. He antic cities, and ention and hos- aed to his own it his village on 66 ■■•»"' l^t'i .: J- J.;- n' Oicaolt. THE FLOUIBA WAR. HILE Florida was a Spanish province, it was a refuge for disaffected savages, whence a system of aggression was carried on against the United States. That, however, which is denominated by way of pre-eminence the Florida war, began in 1835. A treaty had been concluded, with the Seminole warriors, by which they agreed to relin- quish all the land for a certain sum, and to retire beyond the Mississippi. It was further stipulated that a party of Indians should visit the territory in question, and give their opinion con- cerning it They accordingly proceeded thither, and on their return^ reported very favourably of the country. 615 W' J s'-X'M 510 OUTRAGES COMMITTED. f ,i J 1l mini ' '1 Every thing now promised a speedy conformity to the wishes of the American government. But at this important moment, John Hext, one of the chief men of the tribe, who exerted over it a very great influence, died. This opportunity for self-ag- grandizement was seized by the celebrated Osoeola, or Powell, who quickly rose to the same importance as Hext himself But he wielded it for far different purposes. He was utterly opposed to emigration, and by every art in his power, inflamed the minds of the people against that measure, and against the whites them- selves. His conduct became at length so violent that he was arrested by the Indian agent, and put in irons"; but on subse- quently professing to renounce his opposition he was released. On the 19th of July, 1836, five Indians, who, for the purpose of hunting, had met by appointment, near Hogstown settlement, were attacked by a party of white men, and flogged with cow- hide whips. "While this was going on, two other Indians arrived, who raised the war-whoop and fired upon the whites. The firing was returntd, one of the Indians killed and the other wounded. Three of the whites were also wounded. On the evening of August 6th, Dalton, the mail carrier from Camp King to Tampa Bay, was murdered by a party of red men. When news of this outrage reached Genei-al Thompson, the Indian agent, he convened the principal chiefs, who promised to bring the offenders to justice. This was not done ; and it soon became evident that a formidable opposition would in a little while burst forth against the settlers of Florida. The savages retired into the wilds and forests, collected arms, and avoided as much as possible all intercourse with the whites. In September, Charley Amathla, a friendly chief of great in- fluence, while journeying with his daughter was shot by some M:!ckasukies, led by Osceola. Similar outrages increased so fast, that the interior settlements were abandoned, families de- serted the products of many years' labour and fled to other states, and the commandant of the region. General Clinch, was obliged to call on the government for larger forces to resist the Indians. The general's force numbered but two hundred and fifty men; and receiving no assistance from President Jackson, he obtained six Hundred and fifty militia from the executive of Florida. DESTRUCTION OF DADE*S DETACHMENT. 617 With this reinforcement he marched against the station on the Ouithlacoochee river. . V On the 23d of December, the companies of Captains Gardinei and Frazer, of the United States army, marched, under the com- mand of Major Dade, from Tampa Bay for Camp King. On the road, Dade wrote to Major Belton, urging him to forward a six-pounder, which had been left four miles behind, in conse- quence of the failure of the team which was to have been used in transporting it. Three horses were purchased with the ne- cessary harness, and it joined the column that night. From this time no more was heard of the detachment until the 29th of De- cember, when John Thomas, one of the soldiers, returned, and on the 31st, Rawson Clarke. The melancholy fate of his com- panions was related by the latter as follows : " It was eight o'clock. Suddenly I heard a rifle shot in the direction of the advanced guard, and this was immediately fol- lowed by a musket shot from that quarter. Captain Frazer had ridden by me a moment before, in that direction. I never saw him afterwards. I had not time to think of the meaning of these shots before a volley, as if from a thousand rifles, was poured in upon us from the front, and all along our left flank. I looked around me, and it seemed as if I was the only one left standing in the right wing. Neither could I, until several other volleys had been fired at us, see an enemy — and when I did I could only see their heads and arms peering out from the long grass, far and near, and from behind the pine trees. The ground seemed to me an open pine barren, entirely destitute of any hammock. On our right and a little to our rear was a large pond of water some distance off. All around us were heavy pine trees, very open, particularly towards the left, and abounding with long high grass. The first fire of the Indians was the most destructive, seemingly killing or disabling one half of our men. " We promptly threw ourselves behind trees, and opened a sharp fire of musketry. I for one, never fired without seeing my man, that is, his head and shoulders. The Indians chiefly fired lying or squatting in the grass. Lieutenant Bassinger fired five or six pounds of canister from the cannon. This appeared to frighten the Indians, and they retreated over a little hill to our 9x 1 ■ 1 M r ii ^>-ii-;.^ <| I^V' "'m.' lif;, i 518 DESTRUCTION OF DADE S DETACHMENT. left, one-half or three-quarters of a mile off, after having fireC not more than twelve or fifteen rounds. We immediately began to fell trees, and erect a little triangular breastwork. Some of us went forward to gather the cartridge boxes from the dead, and to assist the wounded. I had seen Major Dade fall to the ground by the first volley, and his horse dashed into the midst of the enemy. Whilst gathering the cartridges, I saw Lieute- nant Mudge, sitting with his back reclining against a tree, and evidently dying. I spoke to him, but he did not answer. The interpreter, Louis, it is said, fell by the first fire.* " We had barely raised our breastwork knee-high, when we again saw the Indians advancing, in great numbers, over the hill to our left. They came on boldly till within long musket-shot, when they spread themselves from tree to tree to surround us. We immediately extended as light infantry, covering ourselves by the trees, and opening a brisk fire from cannon and musketry. I do not think that the former could have done much mischief, the Indians were so scattered. " Captain Gardiner, Lieutenant Bassinger, and Dr. Gatlen were the only officers left unhurt by the volley which killed Major Dade. Lieutenant Henderson had his left arm broken, but he continued to load and fire his musket, resting on the stump until he was finally shot down. Toward the close of the second attack, and during the day he kept up his spirits and cheered the men. Lieutenant Keyes had both his arms broken in the first attack ; they were bound up and slung in a handkerchief, and he sat for the remainder of the day, until he was killed, re- clining against the breastwork, his head often reposing upon it, regardless of every thing that was passing around him. " Our men were by degrees all cut down. We had maintained a steady fire from eight until two p. m., and allowing three- quarters of an hour interval between the first and second attack, had been pretty busily engaged for more than five hours. Lieu- tenant Bassinger was the only officer left alive, and he severely wounded. He told me, as the Indians approached, to lie do^vn *Thi8 individual merely feigned death, and on being found by the Indians, vu •pared, and read to them all the despatches and letters found about the dead. [ M E N T. er having fireil mediately began vork. Some of from the dead, Dade fall to the I into the midst s, I saw Lieute- ainst a tree, and 3id not answer. ;t fire.* }-high, when we rs, over the hill to asket-shot, when rround us. We ing ourselves hy I and musketry. i much mischief, IDr. Gatlenwere Lch killed Major n broken, but he I the stump until e of the second its and cheered LS broken in the I a handkerchief, le was killed, re- reposing upon it, nd him. had maintained allowing three- id second attack, ive hours. Lieu- and he severely bed, to lie dovm \ by the Indians, wm ut the dead. k-: v;:r ■-.K;? I ^'11 DESTRUCTION OP DADE's DETACHMENT. 621 f I n MIcanop*. and feign myself dead. I looked through the logs and saw the savages approaching in great numbers. A hea^y made Indian of middle stature, painted down to the waist, and whom I sup- posed to have been Micanope, seemed to be the chief. He made them a speech, frequently pointing to the breastwork. At length they charged into the work. There was none to oflfer resistance, and they did not seem to suspect the wounded being alive — offering no indignity, but stepping about carefully, quietly stripping off our accoutrements, and carrying away our arms. They then retired in a body, in the direction from whence they came. "Immediately after their retreat, forty or fifty negroes and In- dians on horseback, galloped up, alighted, and having tied their beasts, commenced, with horrid shouts and yells, the butchering of the wounded, together with an indiscriminate plunder, strip- ping the dead of clothing, watches, and money, and splitting open the heads of all who showed the least signs of life with their axes and knives. This bloody work was accompanied with obscene and taunting derision, and oft repeated shouts. ^I't' %^ ', ||;H*» :f:^ 2zS 66 #F*' 523 DESTRUCTION OF DADE'S DETACHMENT. lEUTENANT BASSINGER, hearing tne negroes and Indians butchering the wounded, at length sprang up, and asked them to spare his life. They met him \vit]j the blows of their axes and their fiendish laughter. Having been wounded in five different places myself, I was pretty well cover- ed with blood ; and two scratches that I had re- ceived on the head gave me the appearance of having been shot through the brain : for the negroes, after catching me up by the heels, threw me down, exclaiming that I was dead enough. Then, stripping me of my clothes, shoes, and hat, they left me. After serving all the dead in this manner they trundled off the cannon in the direction the Indians had gone, and went away. I saw them shoot down the oxen in their gear and bum the wagon. " One of the other soldiers who escaped, says they threw the cannon in a pond, and burned its carriage also. Shortly after the negroes went away, one Wilson, of Captain Gardiner's com- pany, crept from under some of the dead bodies, and seemed to be hardly hurt at all. He asked me to go with him back to the fort, and I was going to follow him, when, as he jumped over the breastwork, an Indian sprang from behind a tree and shot him down. I then lay quiet until nine o'clock that night, when D. Long, the only living soul beside myself, and I started upon our journey. We knew it was nearest to go to Fort King, but we did not know the way, and had seen the enemy retreat in that direction. As I came out I saw Dr. Gatlen lying stripped amongst the dead. The last I saw of him whilst living, was kneeling behind the breastwork, with two double-barrel guns by him, and he said, ' Well, I have got four barrels for them !' Captain Gardiner, after being severely wounded, cried out, * I can give you no more orders, my lads, do your best !' I last MURDER OF MRS. COOLY AND CHILDREN. 523 Fort Kin2, but saw a negro spurn his body, saying with an oath, * that's one of their officers.' " My comrade and myself got along quite well until the next (lay, when we met an Indian on horseback, armed with a rifle, coming up the road. Our only chance was to separate — v^e did so. I took the right and he the left of the road. The Indian pursued him. Shortly afterwards I heard a rifle shot, and a little after another. I concealed myself among some scnib, and saw palmetto, and after awhile saw the Indian pass looking for me. Suddenly, however, he put spurs to his horse, and went off at a gallop towards the road. " I made something of a circuit before I struck the beaten track again. That night I was a good deal annoyed by the wolves, who had scented my blood, and came very close to me The next day, the 30th, I reached the fort." Thus perished one hundred and six men, under circumstances of ho])elessness and misery, rarely equalled in modern warfare. Intelligence of this tragic event spread a degree of horror through- out the country, lasting and powerful ; and even at the present (lay, the name of the gallant, ill-fated Dade, is a spell-word to conjure up feelings of sorrow. Three of the whole command escaped. Soon after this affair, (January 6th, 1836,) thirty Indians attacked the family of Mr. Cooly, on New river, while he was absent from home. They murdered Mrs. Cooly, three children, and Mr. Flinton their teacher. During this transaction, the neighbouring families made their escape into the more thickly settled territory. The fact that Cooly had long resided among the Indians, learned their language, and always treated them with kindness, renders this massacre more atrocious. Previous to this, (December 31st,) General Clinch had had a severe engagement with the savages, near the Ouithlacoochee river. On the 29th, he had marched from Fort King with a considerable force. At four o'clock in the morning, (31st,) after leaving all his baggage, provisions, &c., protected by a guard, under Lieutenant Dancy, he pushed toward the ford, intending to surprise the main body of the Indians who were supposed to be concentrated on the west bank. On reaching it about day- llti ^ ii til'' ||: Ii ' , ■■ |--''r '1 ' 1 ^ ! ■ ■1' '' "' ' ' ■|i W m 1 if" Iti 4 I I -., fits, frV th ■ >l W i 524 INDIAN CRUELTIES. idm light, he found instead of a good ford, a deep and rapid stream and no means of crossing except in an old and damaged canoe. Undismayed by these difficulties, the troops eutorud the boat with alacrity, the dragoons swimming their horsei. When about one half had succeeded in gaining the opposite bank, the battalion of regulars, consisting of about two hundred men, were attacked by the enemy, led by Osceola, and strongly posted in the swamp and scrub, which extended from the river. This little band, aided by Colonel Warren, Major Cooper, and Lieu- tenant Yeoman, with twenty-seven volunteers, met the attack of the savage enemy, nearly three times their number, with Spartan valour. The action lasted nearly an hour, during which time the troops made three brilliant charges into the swamp and scrub, driving the enemy in every direotion ; and although after the last charge nearly one-third of their number had been cut down, they were found sufficiently firm and steady to form a new line of battle, which gave entire protection to the flanks and position of crossing. No inducement could prevail on the remainder of the army to cross the river, and assist their companions. E AN WHILE the eastern lettlements in the neighbourhood of San Augustin were ravaged by the enemy, many of the inha- bitants slain, and the negroes carried away. So disastrous were these ravages, that in East Florida, five hundred families were driven from their homes, and their entire possessions destroyed by the Indians. During these transactions. General Gaines, commander of the southern division of the United States army, wos actively en- gaged in raising a body of troops sufficient to supprosH all oppo- sition. He reached Fort King on the 22d of Fol)ruary, and whence moved down the Ouithlacoochee. On the S7th, lie had a slight skirmish with the enemy at General Clinch's crossing- place, where he lost one killed and eight wounded. Next day the army was again attacked. Lieutenant Izard mortally wounded, one man killed and two others wounded. Skirmisliing was re- newed on the 29th, one man killed and thirty-three wounded GENERAL SCOTT COURT-M ARTI ALLE D. 525 The general himself received a shot in his lower lip. This par- tisan warfare was continued until the 5th of March, three men were wounded on the 2d of that month, and on the 4th, one killed and two wounded. On the 5th, a number of Indians, headed by Osceola, appeared before General Gaines's camp, and expressed their willingness to terminate hostilities. They were told that on condition of re- tiring south of the Ouithlacoochee, and attending a council when called on by the United States commissioners, they should not be molested. To this they agreed ; but at this moment General Clinch, who had been summoned by express from Fort Drane, encountered their main body ; and supposing themselves sur- rounded by deliberate stratagem, they fied with precipitation. This unfortunate accident put an end to negotiations for that time. Soon after, ascertaining that he had been superseded. General Gaines transferred the command to General Clinch, who retired with his whole force to Fort Drane. General Scott now received the chief command in Florida, and commenced a new plan of operations, which, as is believed, would have speedily terminated the war ; but unexpectedly he was superseded, and summoned to Washington on court-martial. His trial eventuated in full, honourable acquittal from all blame, but meanwhile he had been superseded by General Jessup. The measures of this officer were unimportant. The summer and fall of 1837 passed away without any pros- pect of a reconciliation with the Indians ; but in December, Colonel Z. Taylor, who commanded a regiment of Jessup's troops, came upon the trail of the Indians, and commenced a vigorous pursuit. On the 25th, at the head of about five hundred men, he came up with about seven hundred Indians, on the banks of the Okee-cho-bee lake, under the celebrated chiefs. Alligator, Sam Jones, and Coacoochee. This battle was sought by both parties. On the day previous to the engagement, the colonel had received a challenge from Alligator, informing him of his position, and courting an attack. The Indians were posted in a thick swamp, covered in front by a small stream, whose quick- sands rendered it almost impassable. Through this the Ameri- cans waded, sometimes sinking to the waist in mud and water, W:'M ;3!(I iMrV.^j: ■ MM- s.'e BATTLE OF OK E E-C H 0-B E E. fji! if. and totally unable to employ their horses. On reaching the borders of the hammock, the advance received a heavy fire, which killed their leader, (Colonel Gentry,) and drove them back in confusion. The main body then rushed into action, at- tacking the enemy under a galling fire, and fought from half, past twelve until three p. m., although exposed to the full range of the enemy's fire. With one exception, every officer in the fjth infantry was shot down, and one of the companies had b\it tV>ur members untouched. The Indians were forced from their position, and driven a considerable distance toward the extremity of Okee-cho-bee lake. Colonel Taylor thus describes the appearance of the battle- field, together with his operations immediately subsequent to the action : " Here I trust I may be permitted to say that I experienced one of the most trying scenes of my life, and he who could have looked on it with indifference, his nerves must have been diflfer- ently organized from my own. Besides the killed, (twenty-six in number,) there lay one hundred and twelve wounded officers and soldiers, who had accompanied me one hundred and forty- five rniles, most of the way through an unexplored wilderness, v.ithout guides, who had so gallantly beaten the enemy under my orders, in his strongest position, and who had to be conveyed back through swamps and hammockr,, from whence v,e set out ^•ithout any apparent means of doing so. This service, however, v.si.s encountered and overcome, and they have been conveyed thws for, (Fort Gardiner,) and proceeded on to Tampa Bay, on rude litters, c( nstructcd with the axe and knife alone, with poles and dry hidrsi — the latter ])eing found in great abundance at the encampment of the hostiles. The litters were carried on tlie backs of our wc;J* and tottering horses, aided by the residue of the command, with more ease and comfort to the sufferers than I could have supposed possible, and with as much as they conld have been in ambulances of the most improved and modern con- struct ion. ***** *** '• We left our encampment on the morning of the 27th for the Kissamee, whore I had left my heavy baggage, which ploce we reached about noon on the 28th. After leaving two companies :i !' 1 reaching th« i a heavy fire, id drove them into action, at- ight from half. ) the full range ' officer in the ipanies had but reed from their d the extremity ;e of the battle- ibsequent to the t I experienced who could have lave been differ- led, (twenty-six vounded officers dred and forty- 3red wilderness, le enemy under to be conveyed ence we set out ervice, however, been conveyed Tampa Bay, on done, with poles 3undance at the ried on tlie backs ! residue of the sufferers than I h as they could md modern con- ' the 27th for the which ploce w« two companies '■%■ I ;ll COLONEL TAYLOR PROMOTED. 529 and a few Indians to garrison the stockade, which I found nearly completed on my return, by that active and vigilant officer, Cap- tain Monroe, 4th artillery. I left the next morning for this place, where I arrived on the 31st, and sent forward the wounded next c ay to Tampa Bay, with the 4th and 6th infantry, the former to halt at Fort Frazer, remaining here myself with the 1st, in order to make preparations to take the field again as soon as my horses can be recruited, most of which have been sent to Tampa, and my supplies in a sufficient state of forwardness to justify the measure." "N consequence of this battle. Colonel Tay- lor was enabled to advance further into the Indian country than any previous commander had done. So difficult, how- ever, was the transportation of supplies, that the Seminoles were still able to main- tain their old fastnesses among swamps and forests, thus rendering their complete removal, and the consequent termination of the war, impracticable. Soon after the battle the rank of brevet brigadier-general was conferred upon Taylor, and in April, 1838, he was appointed to the chief command in Florida. He had several small skirmishes with the Indians, but could never again force them to a general battle. Bloodhounds were finally employed by the army in order to trace the enemy's hiding-places ; but after a full trial they were found totally in- competent, and consequently abandoned. The most heart-rending barbarities were committed about this time by the savages. A Mr. Gray, with one of his children was shot while sitting in the house with his family. A second child shared the same fate, and a third was bayoneted. On another occasion a little boy was shot, and his father wounded. Soon after a whole family wore killed, and afterwards burned with their dwelling. About the same time a widow and five children were butchered. The foUo^ving extracts, from the journals of that period, describe further atrocities : " On Saturday night between nine and ten o'clock, the family of Mr. Green Chairs, about ten miles from town, (Tallahassee,) ay 97 'v;;- 1 (, 530 ATTACK ON COLONEL HARNEY. J' i; was attacked by the Indians. Mrs. Chairs was sitting by the table sewing, surrounded by her interesting family, consisting of her husband and six children. An Indian rifle was fired and Mrs. Chairs fell dead. Mr. Chairs instantly sprang up, and seizing his rifle, closed the doors and windows, and determined to defend his dwellinp^. He directed the four elder children to make their escape by the back door. One of them, a young lady of seventeen, was seen and pursued by the savages, but wearing a black cloak, she was enabled to conceal herself in some bushes. Mr. Chairs at the same time discovered that the house had been fired ; and so rapid was the progress of the flames, that this new danger and the consternation produced by the death of his wife, caused him to forget his two youngest children. He fled, leaving them — and both helpless infants were burned to cinders with his dwelling and all it contained." "Two wagons," says the Tallahassee Star "left Fort Frank Brook, on Monday, (July, 1839,) and after proceeding a short distance, they were fired upon by Indians, from a hammock, and two men killed. The body of one was afterwards found horri- bly mutilated, with the eyes dug out, the throat cut, and other- wise disfigured. The body of the other could not be found." About the same time a small command under Colonel Harney were attacked by a large body of Indians. The particulars of this aflair are thus given in a cotemporary journal, dated Carey's Ferry, East Florida, August, 1839 : " On the 28th of July, four dragoons, two wounded, arrived here, and reported the massacre of a large body of Colonel Har- ney's command, who were sent to the Caloosahatchee to esta- blish a trading-house in conformity with Macomb's treaty. The Indians had for some time manifested the most friendly disposi- tions, daily visiting the camp, and trading with the sutler. So completely had they lulled the troops into security, that no de- fense was erected and no guard maintained. The camp was on the margin of the river. At dawn on the 23d of July, the ene- my made a simultaneous attack on the camp and the trading- house. Those who escaped the first discharge fled naked to the river, and effected their escape in some fishing smacks. Colonel Harney was among them. The sergeant and four others, INDIAN CRUELTIES. 531 while descending the river, were called to the shore by a well known Indian, who spoke English well, with the assurance that they would not be harmed. They complied, and were in- stantly butchered. Altogether eighteen were killed. Colonel Harney afterwards cautiously approached the spot, and found eleven bodies shockingly mutilated, and two hundred and fifty Indians in the neighbourhood, dancing and whooping in savage triumph." The particulars of another "^ ss perpetrated in IfV "M^. thus given by a St. Augustine paper . " It becomes again our mournful duty to record the success- ful effusion of blood in this ill-fated territory, and the triumphant accomplishment on the part of the Indians of an adventure bor- dering on romance. Indian Key, a small spot of not over seven acres in extent, about thirty miles from our main land, on our southern Atlantic coast, was invested by seventeen boats, con- taining Indians, seven of its inhabitants murdered, the island plundered, and its buildings burned. " About two o'clock on the morning of the 7th instant, a Mr. Glass, in the employ of Mr. Houseman, happening to be up, saw boats approaching, and informed a person in the same employ, when they passed into Mr. Houseman's garden and were satisfied that the boats contained Indians. The Indians now commenced firing upon the house of Mr. Houseman, and Dr. Perrine, the former of whom with his family, and Mr. Charles Howe and his family succeeded in escaping to boats and crossed over to Tea-table Key. The family of Dr. Perrine passed through a trap door into their bathing-room, from whence they got into the turtle crawl, and by great efforts removed the logs and escaped to the front of Houseman's store. They then went to a boat at the wharf which six Indians had partly filled, and were in the store after a further supply. They then pushed off" and pulled with an oar, a paddle, and poles toward the schooner Medium. When they had rowed a mile, they were met by a boat and taken to the schooner. " Mr. Motte and wife, and Mrs. Johnson, a lady of seventy years of age, fled into an out-house, from whence Mrs. Motte was dragged by an Indian, and while in the act of calling on her 632 INDIAN CRUELTIES. K'',V--r husband, ' John, save me !' she was killed. Mr. Motte shared the same fate, and was scalped ; but the old lady, as she was dragged forth, suddenly jerking from the Indian, broke his hold and escaped under a house. Her grandchild, a daughter of Mrs. Motte, aged four years, was then killed with a club, and the in- fant strangled and thrown into the water. This was seen by Mrs. Johnson from her hiding-place ; but the Indians tiring the building, she was again forced to flee, and after secreting her- self under Malony's wharf, was finally rescued. James Sturdy, a boy about eleven years of age, hid himself in the cistern under Mr. Houseman's house, and was scalded to death by the burning building heating the water. The remains of an adult skeleton were found among the ruins of Dr. Perrine's house, supposed to be the doctor, as well as that of a child, thought to have been a slave of Mr. Houseman. " The Indians were what is known as Spanish Indians, and were headed by Chekekia, the same chief who led the party that massacred the men at Caloosahatchee. They obtained a great amount of plunder from the houses and stores; and whilst engaged in obtaining these articles, Mrs. Perrine, with her two daughters and a little son, reached a boat partially loaded, and put off to the schooner Medium, lying at some distance. They were promptly rescued by a boat coming to their assistance, and were taken to the schooner. N Mr. Houseman reaching Tea-table Bay, Midshipman Murray, United States Navy, started with his only available force of fifteen men and two swivels. Ten of the men were in hospital, so sick as to be certainly unfit for duty ; but on urging their claim were permitted to accompany the others, hoping to cut off the boats, and thus prevent the escape of the Indians. On the second fire of his guns, they recoiled overboard, and the Indians then com- menced a fire upon his boat, from a six-pounder belonging tc Mr. Houseman, charged with musket-balls, and drove back ttiis active ofiicer. COLONEL WORTH ASSUMES THE COMMAND. 533 " Communication was immediately despatched to Lieutenant McLaughlin, who was at Key Biscayne, with the United States schooners Flirt and Ostego and they proceeded down. The In- dians, however, had escaped, after maintaining possession of the island twelve hours, carrying off large quantities of powder and other articles, and laying the little settlement in ashes. All escaped save the unfortunates named above. " Among all the bold and lawless feats which have charac- terized the enemy during the war, there is nothing that will bear comparison with this. We have seen the murdered remains of the citizen and soldier almost within sight of the gar- rison, when the white flag of overture was waving to these in- human rascals in acts of kindness. We have seen the armed rider stricken by the bullet from the covert of the hammock, and the carriage of the traveller made to receive the last life- blood of its occupant. We have seen the faithlessness of the tribe, even when the humanity of the white man was devising every means for its comfort, planning their accursed schemes of murder, and Caloosahatchee, the ground of confidence and good will, red with the blood of our troops and citizens. But an island we had thought safe. As little would we have looked for an avalanche amid the sands of Arabia, or the glowing warmth of the equator amid Greenland's icy mountains, as an attack from Indians upon an island. A force, too, of seventeen canoes, averaging five men each, make a voyage of at least thirty miles from the main land, ransack, pillage, and destroy, and return in safety!" - In 1840, General Taylor requested permission to retire from Florida, which was granted, and in April, General Armistead was appointed to succeed him. The operations of this officer were necessarily of the same tedious and unsatisfactory charac- ter as most of his predecessors had been, and in May, 1841, he was succeeded by Colonel Worth. This officer commenced the campaign under very unfavour- able circumstances, having no less than twelve hundred men sick and unfit for duty. On assuming command he is said to have named the 1st of January, 1842, as the time when he hoped to bring the war to a close. nl ii' ■■ I '■■■ i 534 BATTLE OF P A L A K L A K L A H A. kill . - In August the famous chief, Wild Cat, surrendered his whole band, including Caicoochee and his family, at Tampa. On the l^ui the example was followed by a considerable number of Hospitaki's party, and next month by many of the Tallahassee tribe. Subsequently, various chiefs and their bands were regu- larly brought in. Nothing, however, of a decisive nature took place until the 19th of April, 1842, when Colonel Worth found the enemy in considerable force, strongly fortified, near Okoehumphee swamp. An immediate attack was made and the Indians totally defeated. Every trail made in their flight was taken and pursued until dark, and renewed on the following morning, the detachments marching each day, some twenty and some thirty miles. The scene of this battle was the big hammock of Palaklaklaha. As a reward for his services in this affair, Worth was brevetted by government, brigadier-general. Soon after, (May 4th,) Hallush- Tustemuggee, wdth eighty of his band, came to Palatka and sub- mitted, and on the 12th of August, Colonel Worth announced in general orders, that the Florida war was ended. This asser- tion, however, was premature, for hostilities again recommenced, and Worth received the surrender of a largo body of Creeks at Tampa. The battle of Palaklaklaha was the last important incident of the Florida war. Its close was thus announced by President Tyler, in his message of December 7th, 1^12. "The vexatious, harassing, and expensive war which so long prevailed with the Indian tribes inhnl)itin ^ '' 548 TAYLOR *S DESCRIPTION OP MIS POSHION. t 4 ii: ' In his answer to the above, General Taylor replied, " The in- structions under which I am acting, will not permit nie to retro- grade from the position I now occupy. In view of the relations between our respective governments, and the individual suffer- ing which may resuir, I regret the altonmtive which you ofler; but at the same time wish it uncJerstood, that I shall by no means avoid such alternative, leaving the responsibility with those who rashly commence hostilities." Ampudia did not attempt the enforcement of his threat, and General Taylor continued the strengthening of his fortifications. "We have a field-work under way," ho observes in a letter, " besides having erected a strong battery and a number of build- ings for the security of our supplies, in atldition to some respect- able works for vheir protection. Wo have mounted a respectable battery, two pieces of which are long eighteen-poimders, with which we could batter or burn down the city of Matamoras, should it become necessary to do so. When our field-work is completed and mounted with its proper armament, five hundred men could hold it against as many thousand Mexicans. * * " Fronting each other, and for an extent of more than two miles, and within musket range are batteries shotted, and the officers ' and men, in many instances, waiting impatiently for orders to apply the matches ; yet nothing has ])een done to pro- voke the firing of a gun, or any act of violence." The death of Lieutenant Porter, who was killed (April 17th) by some Mexicans while searching for the body of Colonel Cross, tended to exasperate the Americans still further against the ene- my. The occurrence is thus described by an officer of the ge- neral's camp. Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry, and Lieutenant Porter, of the 4th, left camp on the 17th instant, each with a detachment of two non-commissioned officers and ten privates, to reconnoiter the surrounding country, from ten to twenty miles, in search of a band of robbers known to have been in that vicinity, and who were supposed to have murdered Colonel Cross, and also to learn, if pc -ssible something of his fate. The two parties took different directions. It rained hard during the night. On the second day Lieutenant Porter met a party of Mexicans, one of whom snapped DEATH OF LIEUTENANT PORTER. 549 his piece at him. In return he discharged both barrels of his gun at the Mexican, who disappeared in the thorny thicket. The Americans captured the camp of the marauders, ten horses, saddles, &c. "This was at noon of the 19th, about eighteen miles above General Taylor's camp, and six from the Rio del Norte. The lieutenant continued his search, and about four p. m. of the same day, fell in with another party of Mexicans, which, probably, had been joined by those whom he had already left. It vas now raining heavily. The Americans were fired on and one of their privates killed. They made an attempt to return the fire, but their powder had been wetted, and they were exposed to the full range of the enemy without the ability to defend themselves. The lieutenant, as was reported by his sergeant, made a sign with his hand for his men to extend to the right. The party thus became separated in the thickets. The sergeant and four privates returned to camp on the 20th, and gave the above account " A detachment of thirty dragoons was despatched early the next morning to reconnoiter the position, and search for Lieute- nant Porter and those of his party who were missinc^. They returned the same night, without having learned an^ ihing of them, the thickets being so dense that it was impossible for horses to move through them. They, however, fell in with Lieutenant Dobbins, who said that he would continue to look for Lieutenant Porter a day or two longer. The next day, about noon, the corporal and three men of the lieutenant's party re- turned, saying that they feared he had been killed. One of them stated that he had seen him fall from his horse ; and another that he dismounted and staggered towards a thicket while vol- leys of musketry were pouring around him." A letter, dated the 24th, gives the following additional par- ticulars: " The whole of Lieutenant Porter's party have returned to camp, except himself and the soldier who was killed by the first fire of the Mexicans, in the rencounter of the 19th. Private Arns, who came in last of the company, states that he was within five or six feet of Lieutenant Porter when he fell. He receivisd a ball which penetrated his thigh, and no doubt parted the jrtery 7 1 n i lit 1 i i ; f-:1c; 550 BLOCKADE OF THE RIO GRANDE. it '> I Lf.' He immediately laid down, and expired very soon afterwarc;; The soldier previously killed lay within five yards of him. " Private Arns remained near the bodies of the lieutenant and the soldier for some time, concealed in the dense thicket, and hoping that relief would come to bear the bodies away. lie was at last obliged to make his own way to camp." On the same day, (April 17th,) two American schooners bound for Matamoras were warned off the coast by General Taylor, and the mouth of the Rio Grande declared to be in a state of blockade. This proceeding drew forth an angry letter from Ampudia, who threatened serious results m case of its being persisted in. The reply of the general was firm but temperate. He entered at length into all the circumstances of mutual im- portance which had transpired since his march from Corpus Christi, asserting the blockade to be but a necessary consequence of the state of war, declared to exist by Ampudia himself; and that inasmuch as the measure had been reported to govern- ment, he could not remove it unless under orders therefrom. He concluded as follows : " In conclusion I take leave to state that I consider the tone of your communication highly exceptionable, where you stigma- tize the movement of the army under my orders as ' marked with the seal of universal reprobation.' You must be aware that such language is not respectful in itself, either to me or my govern- ment; and while I observe in my own correspondence the courtesy due to your high position, and to the magnitude of the interests with which we are respectively charged, I shall expect the same in return." About this time papers were circulated through the American camp, addressed almost exclusively to the foreigners of Taylor's army, urging them to desert the cause in which they were engaged. These appeals were most artfully worded, and calcu- lated to arouse every motive likely to act to the prejudice of the American cause. Arista's despatch (dated April 20th) concludes us follows : " It is to no purpose if they tell you, that the law for the an- nexation of Texas justifies your occupation of the Rio Bravo del Norte ; for by this act they rob us of a great part of Tamaulipas, 1 • arista's circular inviting deserters. 561 Coahuila, Chihuahua, and New Mexico ; and it is barbarous to send a handful of men on such an errand against a powerful and warlike nation. Besides, the most of you are Europeans, and we are the declared friends of a majority of the nations of Europe. The North Americans are ambitious, overbearing, and insolent as a nation, and they will only make use of you as vile tools to carry out their abominable plans of pillage and rapine. " I warn you in the name of justice, honour, and your own interests and self-interest, to abandon their desperate and unholy cause, and become peaceful Mexican citizens. I guaranty you, in such case, a half-section of land, or three hundred and twenty acres, to settle upon, gratis. Be wise, then, and just, and honourable, and take no part in murdering us who have no un- kind feelings for you. Lands shall be given to officers, sergeants, and corporals, according to rank, privates receiving three hun- dred and twenty-acres, O'^ stated. " If in time of action j ou wish to espouse our cause, throw away your arms and run to us, and we will embrace you as true friends and Christians. It is not decent nor prudent to say more. But should any of you render important service to Mexico, you shall be accordingly considered and preferred." Immediately after the blockade of the Rio Grande, parties of Mexicans commenced crossing the river, spreading themselves so as to occupy various positions along its eastern bank. These crossings took place both above and below General Taylor's camp ; and apprehensive of being surrounded by an overwhelm- ing force, he despatched a reconnoitering party in each direction. The fate of one of these, conducted by Captain Thornton is thus vividly described by a journal of that period. " On the evening of the 23d, General Taylor's spies brought in intelligence to the effect that about two thousand five hundred Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande to the Texas side, above the American fort, and about fifteen hundred of the same had crossed below. The general immediately despatched a squad- ron of dragoons to each place of crossing, for the purpose of re- connoitering them and ascertaining their position. The squadron ordered below was in command of Captain Ker ; the one above was commanded by Captain Thornton, and composed of Captain li W liffi If ! !lf ^iil I '! I 1 I OSS CAPTAIN Thornton's command surprised. l^ Hardee, Lieutenants Kane and Mason, with sixty-one privateH and non-commissioned officers. " The former commander, Captain Ker, on arriving at the point where it was supposed they had crossed, found that the report was false, but that they had crossed above. "Thornton's command had proceeded up the Rio Ornnde about twenty-four miles, and, as was supposed, to witliin about three miles of the Mexican camp, when the guide refuisod to go further, stating for his reason that the whole country whh in- fested with Mexicans. The captain, however, prnctH'ucd on with his command about two miles, when he cnma to ii furm- house, which was entirely inclosed by a chaparral ffnee, with the exception of that portion of it which bordered on the river, and this was so boggy as to be impassable. " Captain Thornton entered this inclosure through a pair of bars, and approached the house for the purpose of making some inquiry, his command following him. When the wliolo party had entered the inclosure, the enemy, having been coneettled in the chaparral, about two thousand five hundred in ntimbor, com- pletely surrounded him and commenced firing upon his com- mand. He then wheeled his command, thinking he could charge through the enemy, and pass out where he had entertid, even though it should be attended with considerable loss. This he attempted, but on account of the strength of the enoniy, did not succeed. " At this moment Captain Hardee approached him for tlie pur- pose of suggesting the means to extricate themselves, the fire of the enemy still continuing. Thornton's horse, having rticcived a shot, ran with him toward the chaparral fence, which he lonpcd and plunged into a precipice, where he fell with the Cfiptuin un- derneath, who remained insensible for five or six hourw. This casualty placed Captain Hardee in command, who nt tempted with the residue to make his escape by the river, intending, on arriving at its margin, to swim it. In this he failed, finding tlie ground so boggy that he could not reach the river. H(3 then returned, taking the precaution to keep out of muNkcstry rnnge, dismounted and examined the arms of his men, determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 1 J «i TAYLOR*S COMMUNICATION INTERCEPTED. 553 " Before he had succeeded in the inspection of the arms, a Mexican officer rode up and asked him to surrender. The captain replied that if the Mexican general would receive them as prisoners of war and treat them as the most civilized nations do, they would give themselves up, but on no other condition. The officer bore this message to the commanding general, and returned with the assurance that the request should be complied with. Cap- tain Hardee then surrendered. Captains Thornton and Hardee, with Lieutenant Kane and the residue of the non-commissioned officers and privates, were made prisoners of war, but were re- markably well treated by the enemy." This affair was the virtual commencement of the war. It was reported to the commanding general as a victory of the greatest importance, and the Mexican army confidently anticipated the destruction of their invaders. From this time the ener pr threw oflF the reserve which had hitherto characterized their movements, and crossing the river in large numbers, spread themselves be- tween Fort Brown and Point Isabel. To the American army, this was the most gloomy period of the war ; and when intelli- gence of its position reached the United States it created a sen- sation, and deep anxiety which showed how intimately the feelings of the people were twined around that distant band. But still General Taylor maintained his position, employing his whole army in the strengthening of his works ; and at Point Isabel not only did Major Munroe employ all the means which had been left with him, but also landed the crews of the vessels in the harbour, and armed them as soldiers. At this juncture the lamented Captain Walker reached Point Isabel, with some Texas rangers. As his merit was well known to the major, he was ordered to advance some distance beyond the works, and, if possible, open a communication with Fort Brown. With seventy-five men he rode to a position about fourteen miles distant; and soon after, (28th,) on learning that General Taylor was surrounded, he determined to open a com- munication. After riding some miles, he came suddenly upon a large Mexican force, which he estimated at fifteen hundred, drawn ap across the road. They were nearly all mounted. The captain ordered his men into some neighbouring chaparral, 3A 70 ' "•%! "4 l wl till I I H, ir;-. 554 TAYLOR MARCHES FOR POINT ISABEL. i-> - but before this could be effected, the enemy charged, and as most of the Americans were but raw recruits, they fled in con- fusion. A running fight ensued ; the captain wa« pursued to within cannon-shot of Point Isabel, and his men dispersed. The loss of the Mexicans was about thirty. On arriving at camp, Captain Walker offered to renew his effort to open a communication, provided four men would ac- company him, alleging that the smaller the number on such an expedition the more chance of escape, in case of an attack. Such a proposition was regarded as desperate; but on six men volunteering, the major granted the request, and the intrepid ranger set out. By his intimate knowledge of the road, he was enabled to elude the enemy and reach Fort Brown in safety. As soon as General Taylor had received information of the condition of Point Isabel, he determined to march with his army to its relief, leaving Major Jacob Brown with six hundred men and a few cannon to defend the river fort. He marched on the 1st, and reached the main depot on the following day. The general's march was a source of unbounded exultation to the Mexicans. It was reported in their military orders as a retreat, and the ruin of the invading army began to be confidently expected. As a preliminary to this, the destruction of Fort Brown was to be accomplished. Accordingly, on the 3d, a battery stationed in Matamoras opened its fire upon the works, and continued a brisk cannonade all day. It was answered by two eighteen- pounders. At seven in the evening the firing stopped, hut was renewed at nine, and continued until midnight. One American was killed, but very little injury done on either side. Long before night Major Brown ceased firing, in consequence of the scarcity of ammunition. The cannonade had been heard at Point Isabel, and anxions to know the result. General Taylor despatched Captain May with about one hundred men, among whom was Walker and ten rangers, to Fort Brown. They set out in the evening, passed the enemy's camp under cover of the night and halted by some chaparral within seven miles of the fort. Captain Walker then proceeded with his party, arrived at the worl(8, BOMBARDMENT OF FORT BROWN. 555 .>\ und on announcing his name was admitted. He was detained 80 long that May was obUged to return without him ; but on the 5tb, to the great joy of General Taylor and the army, he arrived safely. Within some miles of the point, he had met a body of lancers, whom he charged and drove some miles ; his escape, however, from the Mexican army, whose scouts were in active watch for him, seems little less than miraculous. He reported to the general the gratifying intelligence that Major Brown vi^as still confidently maintaining his position. At daylight on the 5th, the garrison at Fort Brown observed a buttery in a field to the east, which soon opened its fire. The Americans were thus placed between two fires, which continued, with slight intermission, all day. They were renewed on the Otli, on the morning of which day Major Brown was mortally wounded by a bomb shell, and the command devolved on Cap- tiiiii Hawkins. In the evening that officer was summoned to surrender, and on refusing, the firing was commenced with grpiit(ir vigour than ever, ceasing only when on the 8th another distiiut noise assured friend and foe that Generals Taylor and Arista had met in general batJe. On the 9th it recommenced, but was finally terminated by the defeat of Arista. )i 'III 120 Capture of Captain Thornton. P56 BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. iW' ]-:iy Fort Brown. CHAPTER II. PON the 8th of May, General Taylor at the head of his small army, n umber- ing twenty -three hundred, came in sight of six thousand Mexicans, at Palo He had left Point Isabel on the even- ing of the 7th, and after marching some miles encamped in battle array. The march was resumed next morning. He thus describes the battle. "Aoout noon, when our advance of cavalry had r«mched the water-hole of ' Palo Alto,* the Mexican troops were reported in our front, and were soon discovered occupying the road in force. I ordered a halt on reaching the w^ater, with a view to rest and refresh the men and form deliberately our line of battle. The Mexican line was now plainly visible across the prairie, and ^bout three-quarters of a mile distant. Their left, which BATTLE OF PALO ALTO 557 Battle of Palo Alto. was composed of a heavy force of cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of chaparral, while masses of infantry were discovered in succession on the right, greatly outnumber- ing our own force. "Our line of battle was now formed in the following order, commencing on the extreme right : 5th infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh ; Major Ringgold's artillery ; 3d infantry, commanded by L. M. Morris ; two eighteen-pounJers, commanded by Lieutenant Churchill, 3d artillery ; 4th infantry, commanded by Major C^. W. Allen ; the 3d and 4th regiments, composed the 3d brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gnrlnnd, and all the above corps, together with two squadrons nf dragoons, under Captains Ker and May, composed the rip;ht wing, under the orders of Colonel Twiggs. The left was formed by the battalion of artillery, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Childs, Captain Duncan's light artillery, and the 8th infantry, under Captain Montgomery, all forming the L'jt brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap. The train was parked near the water, under directions of Cap- tains Grossman and Myers, and protected by Captain Ker's squadron. *' About two o'clock, we took up the march by heads of columns A > m 111 11 508 BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. ^v '^ « in the direction of the enemy, the eighteen-pounder battery fol- lowing the road. While the other columns were advancing, Lieutenant Blake, topographical engineers, volunteered a recon- noissance of the enemy's line, which was handsomely performed, and resulted in the discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in the intervals of their cavalry and infantry. These batteries were soon opened upon us, when I ordered the columns haltii and deployed into line, and the fire to be returned by all our ar- tillery. The 8th infantry, on our extreme left, was thrown back to eacure that flank. The first fires of the enemy did little exe- cution, while our eighteen-pounders and Major Ringgold's artil- lery Kooii dispersed the cavalry which foi med his left. Captain Dum a !.'s battery, thrown forward in advance of tlie line, was doing ijOod execution at this time. Captain May's squadron •-va^; mrv detached to support that battery and the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, weic no\t reported to be moving thro^igh the chapyrral to our right, to threaten that flank, or make a demonstration against the train. The 5th infantry was immediately detached to check this movement, and supported by Lieutenant Ridgely, with a section of Major Ringgold's battery, and Captain Walker's com- pany of volunteers, effectully repulsed the enemy — the 5th in- fantry repelling a charge of lancers, and the artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The 3d infantry was now detached to the right, as a still further security to that flank, yet threat- ened by the enemy. Major Ringgold, with the remaining sec- tion, kept up his fire from an advanced position, and was sup- ported by the left infantry. ** The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired by onr artillery, and the volumes of mol.*, now partially concealed the armies from each other. As rhe enemy's ief* had evidently been driven back, and left the road free, and as the cannonade had been suspended, I ordered forward the eighteen-pounders on the road nearly to the position first occupied by the Mexican cavalry, and caused the 1st brigade to take up a new position, still on the left of the eighteen-pounder battery. The 5th was advanced from its former position, and occupied a pMnt on the extreme right of the new line. The enemy made a change of position BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. 559 ier battery fol- ire advancing, teered a recon- lely performed, ries of artillery rhese batteries olumns haltii i by all our ar- is thrown back f did little exe- Linggold's artil- ; left. Captain f tlie line, was lay's squadron the left of our jes of artillery, chaparral to our stration against jtached to check [Ridgely, with a L Walker's cora- ny — the 5tb in- lery doing great s now detached ank, yet threat- remaining sec- 1, and was siip- lly fired by our y concealed the evidently been cannonade had pounders on the lexican cavalry, wsition, still on ;h was advanced on the extreme inge of position Dentil of Ringgold. corresponding to our own, and after a suspension of nearly an hour, the action was resumed. " The fire of artillery was now most destructive ; openings were constantly made through the enemy's ranks by our fire, and the constancy with which the Mexican infantry sustained this severe cannonade was a theme of universal remark and ad- miration. Captain May's squadron was detached to make a de- monstration on the left of the enemy's position, and suffered severely from the fire of artillery, to which it was for some time exposed. " The 4th infantry, which had been ordered to support the eighteen-pounder battery, was exposed to a most galling fire of artillery, by which severnl men were killed, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. The enemy's fire was directed against our eii>hteen-pounder battery, and the guns under Major Ring- gold in its vicinity. The major himself, while coolly directing the fire of his pieces, was struck by a cannon-ball and mortally wounded. "In the mean time, the battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Child's had been brought up to support the artillery on our right. A strong demonstration of cavalry was now made by the enemy against this part of our line, and the column continued *^>iP^ jLMi 560 BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. to advance under a severe fire from the eighteen-pounders. The battalion was instantly formed in square, and held ready to re- ceive the charge of cavalry, but when the advancing squadrons were within close range, a deadly fire of canister from the eighteen-pounders dispersed them. A brisk fire of small arms was now opened upon the square, by which one officer (Lieute- nant Luther, 2d artillery) was slightly wounded ; but a well-di- rected volley from the front of the square silenced all further firing from the enemy in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the action was closed on the right of our line, the enemy having been completely driven back from his position, and foiled in every attempt against it. " While the above was going forward on our right, and under our own eye, the enemy had made a serious attempt again^ the left of our line. Captain Duncan instantly perceived the move- ment, and, by the bold and brilliant manceuvering of his battery, completely repulsed several successive efforts of the enemy to advance in force upon our left flank. Supported in succession by the 8th infantry, and by Captain Ker's squadron of dragoons, he gallantly held the enemy at bay, and finally drove him, with immense loss, from the field. The action here and along the whole line continued until dark, when the enemy retired into the chaparral, in rear of his position. " Our loss this day was nine killed, forty-four wounded, and two missing. " Our own force engaged is shown to have been one hundred and seventy-seven officers, and two thousand one hundred and eleven men ; aggregate, two thousand two hundred and eighty- eight. The Mexican force, according to the statements of their own officers, taken prisoners in the affair of the 9th, was not less than six thousand regular troops, with ten pieces of artillery, and probably exceeding that number — the irregular force not known. Their loss was not less than two hundred killed, and four hundred wounded — probably greater. This estimate is very moderate, and formed upon the number actually counted on the field, and upon the reports of their own officers." Early on the following morning, the enemy were observed moving toward the Rio Grande. The battle had by no means BATTLE OF RE8ACA DE LA PALMA. 56] r wounded, and been decisive; and they were evidently seeking a more ad- vantageous position, in order to renew it. For this the American commander had carefully prepared. The wounded had been re lieved on the previous night, the troops refreshed, and every thing put in readiness for battle; in addition to which a council of officers had resolved to continue the march at all hazards. The battle of Resaca de la Palma is thus described by an American officer : " At two o'clock p. M., we found the enemy drawn up in great force, occupying a ravine which our road crossed ; with thick chaparral, or thorny bushes, on either side before it reached the ravine, and a pond of water on either side where it crossed the ravine, constituting a defile. They were seven thousand strong ; we fifty-four weaker than on the previous day. The general ordered an immediate attack by all the troops, except the first brigade, which was kept in reserve ; and soon the rattling fire of musketry, mingled with the heavy sound of artillery, announced the commencement of the action. The enemy had chosen his position, which he considered impregnable — was vastly superior to us in numbers, and had ten pieces of artillery planted in the defile, which swept the road with grape, and which it was ab- solutely necessary for us to take before they could be }\3f\ten. These pieces were flanked on either side by a regiment of brave veteran troops from Tampico, and we were obliged to stand an awful shower of grape and bullet before a charge could reach them. The battle had lasted some two hours with great fury on both sides, and many heroic deeds had been done, but no serious impression made, when General Taylor sent for Captain May of the second dragoons, and told him he must take that battery with his squadron of dragoons if he lost every man. May histantly placed himself at the head of his men, and setting off at full speed, with cheers and shouts, dashed into the defile, where he was greeted with an overwhelming discharge of grape and bullets, which nearly annihilated his first and second pla- toons , but he was seen, unhurt, darting like lightning through this murderous hailstorm, and, in a second, he and his men drove away, or cut to pieces the artillerists. " The speed of his horses was so great, however, that they n ' i ■i at I i ■ r I 1 662 BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA. ptissed through the battery, and were halted in its rear. There, tumiiiL^ , he charged back, and was just in time to rescue a Mexi- can general officer, who would not leave his guns, and mms panning the strokes of one of his men. The officer handed his sword to May, announced himself as General La Vega, and gavo his parole. May turned him ov(3r to an officer, and galloping hack to General Taylor, reported that he had captured the enemy's battery, and the gallant General La Vega, bravi ly de- fending it, whose sword he had the honour to present his om- manding officer. The general was extremely gratified, and 1, It no doubt that a blow had been given, I'l »m which it would be difficult for the enemy to recover Colonel Belknap, lead- ing his regiment into the thickest of the fight, seized a Mexican standard, and waving it over his head, dashed on in front of his men, until his horse stumbl 1 over some dead bodies, and threw him. Being a heavy man, he was helped on his horse by a sol- dier, wiio in the act received a ball through his lungs, and at the same moment a shot carried away the Mexican flag, leaving but the handle with the colonel. He dashed ahead with that, how- ever, and his regime it carried every thing before it. At this moment the Mexicans gave way entirely, and, throwing down their iinns, f^ed in every direction, leaving all their stores, muni- tions of war, arniN, f>trmdards, &c. The killed, wounded, and prisoners, including those who were drowned in the Rio Grande, do not fall short of eighteen hundred — so that the enemy's loss in two days amounts o at least two thousand men, something more than the number we had in our army." May's charge was the most brilliant event of this hard-fought battle. It was an opportunity for which the captain had l^een anxiously hoping ; and riding in front of his horsemen, he called to them to follow. The next moment they were sweeping to- ward the enemy. Before being perceived by them, May was stopped by Lieutenant Ridgely, who was about firing in order to draw the shot of the enemy. This being done. May again dashed forward, and in a few minutes was by the muzzles of the cannon. Suddenly a tremendous discharge poured forth along the ranks of the intrepid horsemen, rolling horses and men head- long on the ground. But nothing could stop the survivors i'' ■' ,-11 DEATH OF LIEUTENANT BLAKE. 063 Leaping over the cannon, they drove the artillerists from their positions at the point of the sword. The batteries were defended by the celebrated Tampico veterans, hitherto regarded as in- vincible. They threw themselves furiously between their guns, and with their swords and bayonets fought hand to hand with the cavalry. One by one they sunk beneath the wenpons of their adversaries; and even when the regiment was broken and cruslied, one of them endeavoured to sustain its honour by wrap- pi ng the flag around him in order to bear it away. On the morning of this day, Lieutenant Blake the topo- graphical engineers, was killed by the accidental 'sch irge of one of his pistols. This officer was much beloved ^ on the previous day had performed a reconnoissance of th. daring valour. One who accompanied him gives the subjoined account of this feat : "After the line of battle had been formed. General Taylor rode along it to survey his command. Every man was perfectly cool, and had they been about to take dinner, they could not have been more indifferent. At this time the general had not the slightest knowledge as to whether the enemy had any artil- lery or not. The long prairie grass prevented any one from dis- tinguishing it, when masked by men in front of the pieces. What was to be done ? It was an all-important point. Captain May was ordered to go forward with his squadron, reconnoiter the enemy, and, if possible, draw a fire from their artillery, but to no purpose ; they took no notice of him. Lieutenant Blake then proposed to go forward alone and reconnoiter. I was close to him, and volunteered to accompany him. He consented, and we d;u ^ed forward to within eighty yards of their line, the whole army looking on us with astonishment. Here we had a full view. The lieutenant alighted from his horse, and, with his glass, surveyed the whole line, and handed it to me. After making a similar observation, I returned the glass. Just then two officers rode out towards us. I mentioned it to Blake, and requested him to mount. He quietly told me to draw a pistol on them. I did so, and they halted. Had they thought proper, they could have fired a volley from their main line and riddled us both. We then galloped along their line to its other end, M'i \ 1 Ijijl 1' i j i ih 11 ; I V] /I / a '^ 7 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1^ 2.5 2.2 I.I Ui ..n llll|2 11.25 6" Photographic Sciences Corporation ^ iV 4f<^. '!: C^ -^^.-^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 873-4S03 564 EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. there examined them again, and returned Scarcely had Blake reported, when their batteries opened upon our line, and the work of destruction commenced. Our examination proved to be correct." " The strength of our marching force on this day," says General Taylor, " was one hundred and seventy-three officers, and two thousand and forty-nine men — aggregate two thousand two hun- dred and twenty-two. The actual number engaged with the enemj did not exceed seventeen hundred. Our loss was three officers killed, and twelve wounded. Thirty-six men killed, and seventy- one wounded. ***** I have no accurate data from which to estimate the enemy's force on this day. He was known to have been reinforced after the action of the 8th, both by cavalry and infantry, and no doubt to an extent equal at least to his loss on that day. It is probable that six thousand men were opposed to us, in a position chosen by themselves, and strongly defended by artillery. The enemy's loss was very great. Nearly two hundred of his dead were buried by us, on the day succeeding the battle. His loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the two affairs of the 8th and 9th, is, I think, moderately estimated at one thousand men. " Our victory has been decisive. A small force has overcome immense odds of the best troops that Mexico can furnish — veteran regiments perfectly equipped and appointed. Eight pieces of artillery, several colours and standards, a great number of prisoners, (including fourteen officers,) and a large amount of baggage, and public property fell into our hands." On the 10th prisoners were exchanged, and all the American captives, including Captain Thornton, set free. On the same day Major Brown expired. On the 11th General Taylor visited Point Isabel, in order to arrange with the commander of the Gulf squadron. Commodore Conner, a plan for the campaign. Some of the objects of this plan are given in the following extract from a letter wTitten to the war department at that time : " I avail myself of this brief time at my command to report, that the main body of the army is now occupying its former position, opposite Matamoras. The Mexican forces are almost TAYLOR S DESPATCH. 565 ," says General fficers, and two asand two hun- with the enemy as three officers id, and seventy- ta from which to known to have by cavalry and t to his loss on were opposed to gly defended by ;. Nearly two day succeeding ssing, in the two }ly estimated at ce has overcome urnish — veteran ight pieces of eat number of arge amount of 1 the American On the same ibel, in order to ron, Commodore objects of this letter vn-itten to mand to report, )ying its former Drees are almost disorganized, and I shall lose no time in investing Matamoras. and opening the navigation of the river. I am under the painful necessity of reporting, that Lieutenant Blake, topographical engineers, after rendering distinguished service in my staff, during the affair of the 8th instant, accidentally shot himself with a pistol the following day, and expired before night." 8B Hffl / ' 1 t^l m^ Am f Ml 566 TAYLOR RETURNS TO POINT ISABEL. CHAPTER III. ARITA is a small town on the Rio Grande, south of Matamoras. On returning to Fort Brown, Ge- neral Taylor was informed that the Mexicans were there concen- trating their forces, for the pur- pose of establishing a military depot, which would give them comm \ of the river. He there- fore . ^rned to Point Isabel, where a large number of volun- teers from the southern and western states had just arrived. This enabled him to draw large reinforcements for his main station, and to commence offensive operations immediately. In order to dispossess the enemy of their supposed position DESCRIPTION OF BARITA. 667 he appointed a party, under Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, to pro- ceed against that station. It consisted of two volunteer compa- nies from Louisiana, under Captains Stockton and Tobin, and one from Alabama, under General Desha. Commodore Conner was to co-operate. On the 16th Wilson crossed the river, and marched down to Barita. To his astonishment he experienced no opposition, nor was an enemy seen in arms. General Taylor had been misin- formed. An officer of Colonel Wilson's party thus describes the town, and the operations of his commanding officer : " I am here to select a site for the depot of our new base of operations, and to intrench. This village is about ten miles from the mouth of the river, and the same distance from Brazos Santiago, or Fort Polk, (Point Isabel.) The prominent features which might induce me to decide upon this, as the proper point for the depot, are, that it is the first high land you reach in ascending the river, that it is above hurricane tides, that the ground is naturally formed for a military position, commanding every thing around it, and commanded by nothing. It is equi- distant, and not very inaccessible from our other depots. The worst road is to Fort Polk ; while the direct line is only ten miles, the only road for wagons is over twenty. Colonel Wilson has four companies of his own regiment here, and four of volunteers. "This movement up the river was intended to have been a combined one with Commodore Conner. It has been delayed two days in consequence of unfavourable weather rendering the bar too rough. The commodore's limited stay here compelled him to notify the general not to count upon his co-operation in an expedition up the river. This morning at daylight I started the Neva (a river boat) out from the Brazos. She entered the Rio Bravo without difficulty about eight a. m., and some time after I rode down the beach. Colonel Wilson's command has been bivouacking for two days on our side of the mouth. We crossed them all over by twelve ; and before one p. m. the column was en route up the river. The banks of the river are but slightly higher than the surface of the water for some miles up n i ■V'i i :i :';i Mm vlr'V'Mi ( ' '*k:.^ ilif... .i ,.^i.-M mi m 568 Taylor's despatch. The whole country low, and filled with lagoons. There is a high ridge of sand hills, some twenty feet high, extending up and down the coast directly on the beach. The country back of this ridge is one vast plain of prairie and lagoon. The road up the river is tolerably good. The river is very serpentine. The road runs from bend to bend, the distance by river beino- nearly double that by road. The road up the right bank is skirted to the left and south by lagoons, until you reach Barita; so that a march of a column up this side is by no means exposed to a thick attack." Meanwhile active preparations were going forward for cross- ing the Rio Grande and attacking Matamoras. Owing to the scarcity of means for transportation this work went on but slowly ; and the arrangements necessary to meet the expected resistance, caused still further delay. On the 18th, however, the crossing was effected, though with the loss of Lieutenant Stephens, a beloved and deeply lamented officer. The particu- lars of this affair, together with the capture of Matamoras, we give in General Taylor's own words : « '■ " I have the honour to report that my very limited means of crossing rivers prevented a complete prosecution of the victories of the 9th instant. A ponton train, the necessity of which I exhibited to the department last year, would have enabled the army to have crossed on the evening of the battle, take this city, with all the artillery and stores of the enemy, and a great num- ber of prisoners. In short, to destroy entirely the Mexican army. But I was compelled to await the arrival of heavy mor- tars, with which to menace the town from the left bank, and also the accumulation of small boats. In the mean time, the enemy had somewhat recovered from the confusion of his flight, and ought still, with three thousand men left him, to have made a respectable defense. I made every preparation to cross the river above the town, while Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson made a diversion, on the side of Barita, and the order of march was given out for one o'clock yesterday, from the camp near Fort Brown, when I was waited upon by General Reguena, empow- ered by General Arista, commanding-in-chief the Mexican forces, to treat for an armistice until the government should finallv Taylor's despatch. 569 There is a extending up s country back )n. The road ;ry serpentine. by river being right bank is L reach Barita ; means exposed ward for cross- Owing to the . went on but t the expected 18th, however, 1 of Lieutenant The particu- Matamoras, we settle the question. I replied to this, that an armistice was out of the question ; that a month since I had propowed one to General Ampudia, which was declined; that circumstances were now changed ; that I was receiving large roinforoemonts, and could not now suspend operations which I had not invited nor pro- voked ; that the possession of Matamoras was a si?ie qua non; that our troops would occupy the town ; but that General Arista might withdraw his forces, leaving the public property of every description. " An answer to the above was promised in the afternoon, but none came ; and I repaired at sundown to join the army, already in position at a crossing some two miles abovo the town. Very early this morning the bank was occupied by two eighteen- pounders and three batteries of field artillery, and the crossing commenced : the light companies of all the battalions were first thrown over, followed by the volunteer and regular cavalry. No resistance vras made, and I was soon informed from various quarters th .t Arista had abandoned the town, with all his troops, the evening before, leaving only the sick and wounded. I im- mediately despatched a staff officer to the prefect to demand a surrender ; and, in the mean time, a commission was sent by the prefect to confer with me on the same point. I gave assur- ance that the civil rights of the citizens would be respected, and our troops at once dropped down opposite the town, and crossed at the " Upper Ferry," the American flag being dis- played at Fort Paredes, a Mexican redoubt near the crossing. The different corps now encamped in the outskirts of the city. To-morrow I shall make suitable arrangements for the occupa- tion of the town, and for taking possession of the public pro- perty. More than three hundred of the enemy's wounded have been left in the hospitals. Arista is in full retreat towards Mon- terey, with the fragments of his army. " I deeply regret to report that Lieutenant George Stevens, a very promising young officer, of the 2d dragoons, was accidentally drow^ned this morning while attempting to swim the river with his squadron." During the night of the 17th, General Arista, with the troops left toffether after the battle of the 9th, had evacuated the citv, 3b 2 78 li ' K U r",l 670 CAPTURE OP MEXICAN TOWNS. and commenced a rapid march for the interior. He thus ex- cused his flight to his superior officer : " All the means of subsistence of this division being consumed, its activity paralyzed, and its artillery diminished, while that of the enemy has been greatly increased in the number of pieces and the calibre of his guns, in such a manner that, were he to open his fire, the city of Matamoras would be instantly destroyed, to the utter ruin of national and foreign interests, I have decided to retire from it, with the forces under my command, before be- ing summoned, and obliged to evacuate it with dishonour, which I shall thus avoid : for the march is slow, our pieces being drawn by oxen, and our munitions in carts. My object now is to defend the soil of those departments which have been intrusted to me ; and, for that purpose, I am going to post myself at those points most convenient, and within reach of supplies, of which I will hereafter inform your highness, though your communica- tions must seek me by the road of China, or that of Linares. The step to which I have referred has saved the national honour; and I communicate it to your highness for your information, re- commending you to secure the camp equipage, placing it in a convenient point, and preserving the sixteen-pounders in that city, to which, moreover, I will order a reinforcement." Colonel Twiggs was appointed military governor of Matamo- ras, and by a just and energetic exercise of his functions, soon cleared the city of the lawless banditti that infested it, and re- stored order and confidence. The rights of the citizens were respected, and the people encouraged to look upon the Ameri- cans rather as friends than as invaders. These pacific measures were further strengthened by a proclamation of General Taylor in which he exhibited the tyranny of the Mexican authorities, and a desire of his government for a speedy and honourable ter- mination of all difficulties. \ Soon after the capture of this important station, small parties took possession of the towns of Mier, Reynos i, and Camargo ; and thus the entire region of the Rio Grande was in possession of the Americans. But Taylor's difficulties were far greater than before. When writing to the governors of several states for reinforcements, he had explicitly stated his demand for but CORRESPONDENCE. fi71 He thus ex* eight regiments. But after receiving notice of his danger, these officers with a laudable zeal, hurried on reinforcements, to such an extent, that the general found himself utterly at a loss as to the "Tianner of their disposal. His means of transportation were very limited ; and no satisfactory orders respecting his future course arrived from Washington. In a letter to the department dated June 3d, he says : " I am necessarily detained at this point for want of suitable transportation to carry on offensive operations. There is not a steamboat at my command proper for the navigation of the Rio Grande ; and without water transportation, I consider it useless to attempt any extensive movement. Measures have been taken to procure boats of suitable draught and description, and one or two may now be expected. In the mean time, I propose to push a battalion of infantry as far as Reynosa, and occupy that town. For any operations in the direction of Monterey, it will be neces- sary to establish a large depot at Camargo, which I shall lose no time in doing as soon as proper transports arrive, unless I receive counter-instructions from the department. " I trust the department will see that I could not possibly have anticipated the arrival of such heavy reinforcements from Louis- iana as are now here, and on their way hither. Without large means of transportation, this force will embarrass, rather than facilitate our operations. I cannot doubt that the department has already given instructions, based upon the change in our position since my first call for volunteers. " Our last accounts of Arista represent his force to be halted at Coma, an extensive hacienda on the Monterey road, about one hundred miles from this point. He has pickets covering the roads leading to Matamoras, with a view to cut off all commu- nication with the interior. The departmental au thorites have issued a decree denouncing as traitors all who hold intercourse mth us, or with those who do so. I am, nevertheless, disposed to believe that in some quarters, at least, our presence is not unfavourably viewed. We have no intelligence from the city of Mexico." The uncertainty experienced even by government as to the manner of conducting the war, together with their imperfect ^iliiiii ■Ii^.: '^ '■■ ft72 CORRESPONDENCE. instructions to the general, will be seen from the following ex- tracts of a letter from the secretary of war, dated June 8th. " In my letter of the 2Sth ultimo, you were left to your own discretion and judgment as to the measures to be pursued before the end of the unfavourable season shall have passed, and it is not now intended to control that discretion. You best know what amount of force you will have under your command, and what can be best accomplished with that force. " It is presumed you will hold both banks of the Rio Grande to a considerable distance from its mouth, and secure the unin- terupted use of that river for the transportation of supplies. I hope you will be able to take and hold in possession all places on it as high up as Laredo. " It is proper that I should advise you that a considerable force, which will be also under your command, will soon assemble at San Antonio de Bexar. The ultimate destination of this force is Chihuahua, if it should be determined that such an expedi- tion would have a favourable operation in the conduct of the war ; but it might be at once used to take and secure the severil places on the Rio Grande. Though we have no despatch from you since those giving an account of the battles on the 8th and 9th of May, we have such information as induces the belief that you are in possession of Matamoras, and that you are not now threatened with any considerable Mexican force. It is desirable that you should find yourself in sufficient strength to capture and hold Monterey with your present force. You are apprized that large reinforcements are preparing to join you. Besides the regular forces now under your command, and which will be speedily augmented, you will soon have nearly twenty thousand volu^iteers, (including those to rendezvous at San Antonio de Bexar,) who are to serve for one year. Your determination as to immediate movements will, therefore, be somewhat influenced by the consideration of the additional force which will soon join you. " The president is desirous of receiving, and hopes soon to be favoured with, your views and suggestions in relation to the fall campaign. His determination is to have the war prosecuted with yigour, and to embrace in the objects to be compassed in that CORRESPONDENCE. 673 campaign, such as will dispose the enemy to desire an end of the war. Shall the campaign be conducted with the view of striking at the city of Mexico, or confined, so far as regards the forces under your immediate command, to the northern provinces of Mexico? Your views on this point will, doubtless, have an im- portant influence upon the determination of the government here. Should our army penetrate far into the interior of Mexico, how are supplies to be obtained ? Can they be, to any considerable ex- tent, drawn from the enemy's country, or must they be obtained from the United States? If the latter, what are the facilities and difficulties of transportation ? These are very important questions, and the answers to them will have an essential bear- ing in settling the plan and objects of the campaign ; and it is desired that you should express your views fully in regard to them. " Again : it is important to know your opinion of the descrip- tion of troops best adapted to operations in the interior of Mexico ; what proportion should be infantry, artillery, and cavalry, &c. A peace must be conquered in the shortest space of time prac- ticable. Your views of the manner of doing it are requested. It is not doubted that you will push your advantages to the utmost extent it can be done, with the means at your command." Before receiving this letter. General Taylor defined his exact condition as follows. The letters are dated June 10th and 17th. " I beg leave earnestly to invite the attention of the depart- ment to the following points : " First. The great influx of volunteers at Point Isabel. Five regiments certainly from Louisiana, numbering, say three thou- sand six hundred men, two regiments or battalions from Louis- ville and St. Louis, numbering, say twelve hundred more ; several companies from Alabama, and I know not how many from Texas ; the latter now beginning to arrive. The volunteer troops, now under my orders, amount to nearly six thousand men. How far they may be increased without previous notifi- cation to me, it is impossible to tell. " Secondly. The entire want of the proper kind of transporta- tion to push my operations up the river. The boats on which I depended for this service were found to be nearly destroyed by 674 CORRESPONDENCE. worms, and entirely unfit for the navigation of the river. At my instance*. Major Thomas, on the 18th of May, required from Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt a boat of the proper description, and followed it up in a few days by a requisition for another. At the last dates from New Orleans no boat had been procured. Captain Sanders, of the engineers, was despatched by me to New Orleans, to assist in procuring suitable boats, but I havo yet received no report from him. " As I have previously reported, my operations are completely paralyzed by the want of suitable steamboats to navigate the Rio Grande. Since the 18th of May, the army has lain in camp near this place continually receiving heavy reinforcements of men, but no facility for water transport, without which additional numbers are but an embarrassment. " I desire to place myself right in this matter, and to let the department see that the inactivity of the army results from no neglect of mine. I must express my astonishment that such large reinforcements have been sent forward to join the army, vnthout being accompanied by the means of transportation, both by land and water, to render them efficient. As matters now stand, whatever may be the expectations of the department, I cannot move from this place ; and unless Captain Sanders shall succeed in procuring boats of the proper kind, I can give no as- surance in regard to future operations." " No steamboats have been sent out from New Orleans for the navigation of the Rio Grande, and in the absence of all infor- mation on that point, or respecting the views of the government, I am altogether in the dark as to our future operations. I must think that orders have been given, by superior authority, to sus- pend the forwarding of means of transportation from New Or- leans. I cannot otherwise account for the extraordinary delay shown by the quartermaster's department in that city. Even the mails, containing probably important despatches from the government, are not expedited. " Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson has occupied Reynosa without opposition. What remains of the Mexican army is understood to be still at Linares, and has suffered from disease. General Torrejon has died, and Colonel Carasco, at last advices, was very PROMOTION OF TAYLOR. 575 ill. I learn that Generals Arista and Ampudia have gone to Mexico, probably for the trial of the former, or both. " Volunteer regiments have arrived from Louisville and St Louis, making, vrith those from Louisiana, eight strong and orga nized battalions — mustering over five thousand men. " In addition, vre have seven companies of Alabama volun- teers, and twelve or fifteen companies from Texas. Others from Texas are continually arriving. A portion of these volunteers has been lying in camp at this place for nearly a month, com- pletely paralyzed by the want of transportation. Exposed as they are in this climate to diseases of the camp, and without any prospect, so far as I can see, of being usefully employed, I must recommend that they be allowed to return to their homes. "I have despatched Captain McCuUoch, a good partisan officer, in the direction of Linares, with his company, to gain information touching the numbers and position of the enemy, and the resources of the country." For his ability in conducting the campaign on the Rio Grande, General Taylor received the thanks of Congress and a commis- sion as brevet major-general, signed by the president. Soon after he was raised to a full major-general. The legislatures ot several states voted him swords, and various demonstrations, both of popular meetings and official bodies, exhibited the con- fidence and gratitude of the people toward him. »i1 ■^l I < I'tt'' ?■!'■ r i\it!:kicaii Uuhlltmvii. B7U ARRIVAL OF SANTA ANNA. CHAPTER IV. ^totmiiig 0f jgflonttttji, PON the 3d of August, 1846, a procla. mation was issued from the city of Mexico, declaring the constitution ot 1824 to be in force, and inviting all who had been banished from the coun- try since its abolition to return, " especially his excellency Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, well deserving of his country, ac- knowledging him as general-in-chief of all the forces pledged and determined to fight, in order that the na- tion may recover its rights, secure its liberty, and govern itself." In virtue of this proclamation. General Santa Anna sailed from Cuba, passed through the American fleet, under permission from President Polk, and reached Vera Cruz on the 16th of August. Here he was hailed as the deliverer of the nation, and commenped immediate preparations for a march to the capital. His entry into that city was a perfect triumph ; and he was im- mediately appointed president of the republic under the consti- tution of 1824, and commander-in-chief of the army. SANTA ANNA S PREPARATIONS. 577 This movement had arisen from the tyranny of Paredes. In- stead of conciliating the different factions, he had banished or imprisoned all his opponents, suppressed the disaffected journals, and conducted himself toward the people in a manner the most oppressive and despotic. Dissatisfaction and anarchy followed, opposition daily strengthened, and finally Paredes found himself embarrassed with insuperable difficulties. On the 28th of July, Vera Cruz declared for the exiled Santa Anna ; and three davs after, the proclamation in his favour was issued. Paredes saw his fall, and, after making a desperate opposition, fled from the capi- tal, but was afterwards arrested and thrown into the castle of Perot«. De Salas, his principal rival, immediately declared for Santa Anna, and held the government until his return. On assuming the reigns of government, Santa Anna adopted a system of measures as energetic as it was judicious. He re- established the federal government, united almost all opposition, pledged his private property for the general welfare, and began extensive preparations for the raising of a i'.arge army. He de- clined acting as civil governor, and placing himself at the head of the troops in the capital, marched toward the seat of war. Meanwhile General Taylor was hastening preparations for a march into the interior ; but so great were his embarrassments, that the advance divisions under Butler and Twiggs were not able to start before the commencement of September. The general followed on the 6th, leaving General Patterson in com- mand on the Rio Grande. On the 19th he reached the Walnut Springs, three miles from Monterey. The operations against Monterey were conducted by two di- visions, under Generals Taylor and Worth, each acting inde- pendent of the other. The former thus describes his own operations : "At two o'clock, p. M., on the 20th, the second division took up its march. It was soon discovered by officers who were recon noitering the town, and communicated to General Worth, that its movement had been perceived and that the enemy was throwing reinforcements towards the Bishop's Palace and the height which commands it. To divert his attention as far as ijli ml 11 IP Vlifl:, m m m iiiitilii;, :,: : ' JjJ 30 73 678 STORMING OF MONTEREY. The American Army entering Marin, on its march (o Monterey. practicable, the first division, under Brigadier-General Twiggs, and field division of volunteers, under Major-General Butler, were displayed in front of the town until dark. Arrangements were made at the same time to place in battery during the night, at a suitable distance from the enemy's main work, the citadel, two twenty-four-pounder howitzers, and a ten-inch mortar, with a view to open a fire on the following day, when I proposed to make a diversion in favour of General Worth's movement. The 4th infantry covered this battery during the night. General Worth had, in the mean time, reached and occupied for the night a defensive position just without range of a battery above the Bishop's Palace, having made a reconnoissance as far as the Saltillo road. " Early on the morning of the 21st, I received a note from General Worth, written at half-past nine o'clock the night before, suggesting what I had already intended, a strong diversion against the centre and left of the town, to favour his enterprise against the heights in rear. The infantry and artillery of the first division, and the field division of volunteers, were ordered under arms, and took the direction of the city, leaving one com- pany of each regiment as a camp guard. The 2d dragoons, Taylor's detailed report. 679 under Lieutenant-Colonel May, and Colonel Wood's regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under the immediate direction of General Henderson, were directed to the right to support Gene ral 'V\''orth, if necessary, and to make an impression, if practicable, upon the upper quarter of the city. Upon approaching the mor- tar battery, the 1st and 3d regiments of infantry and battalion of Baltimore and Washington volunteers, with Captain Bragg's field battery — the whole under the command of Lieutenant-Colo- nel Garland — ^were directed towards the lower part of the town, with orders to make a strong demonstration, and carry one of the enemy's advanced works, if it could be done without too heavy loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, and Captain Williams and Lieutenant Pope, topographical engineers, accompanied this column. Major Mansfield being charged with its direction, and the designation of points of attack. In the mean time the mortar, served by Captain Ramsay, of the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under Captain Webster, 1st artillery, had opened their fire upon the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and answered from the works. General Butler's division had now taken up a position in rear of this battery, when the discharges of artillery, mingled finally with a rapid fire of small arms, showed that Lieutenant Garland's command had become warmly engaged. I now deemed it necessary to support this attack, and accordingly ordered the 4th infantry and three regiments of General Butler's division to march at once by the left flank in the direction of the advanced work at the lower extremity of the town, leaving one regiment (1st Kentucky) to cover the mortar and howitzer battery. By some mistake two companies of the 4th infantry did not receive this order, and consequently did not join the advance companies until some time afterwards. " Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's command had approached the town in a direction to the right of the advanced work (No. 1.) at the north-eastern angle of the city, and the engineer oflficer, covered by skirmishers, had succeeded in entering the suburbs and gaining cover. The remainder of this command now ad- vanced and entered the town under a heavy fire of artillery from the citadel and the works on the left, and of musketry from the houses and small works in front. A movement to the right was i' 'til } ■ t 680 Taylor's detailed report. Storming of Port Teneria. attempted with a view to gain the rear of No. 1, and carry that worlc, but the troops were so much exposed to a fire which they could not effectually return, and had already sustained such severe loss, particularly in officers, that it was deemed best to withdraw them to a more secure position. Captain Backus, 1st infantry, however, with a portion of his own and other com- panies, had gained the roof of a tannery, which looked directly into the gorge of No. 1, and from which he poured a most destructive fire into that work and upon the strong building in its rear. This fire happily coincided in point of time with the advance of a portion of the volunteer division upon No. 1, and contributed largely to the fall of that strong and important work. " The three regiments of the volunteer division, under the immediate command of Major-General Butler, had in the moan time advanced in the direction of No. 1. The leading brigade, under Brigadier-General Quitman, continued its advance upon that work, preceded by three companies of the 4th infantry, while General Butler, with the first Ohio regiment entered the town to the right. The companies of the 4th infantry had ad- vanced within short range of the work, when they were received by a fire that almost, in one moment, struck down one-third of TAYLOR S DETAILED REPORT. 581 the officers and men, and rendered it necessary to retire and effect a conjunction with the two other companies then advancing. General Quitman's brigade, though suffering most severely, particularly in the Tennessee regiment, continued its advance, and finally carried the work in handsome style, as well as the strong building in its rear. Five pieces of artillery, a consider- able supply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, including three officers, fell into their hands. Major-General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, after entering the edge of the town, discovered that nothing was to be accomplished in his front, and at this point, yielding to the suggestion of several officers, I ordered a retrograde movement; but learning almost immediately, from one of my staff, that the battery No. 1 was in our possession, the order was countermanded ; and I determined to hold the battery and defenses already gained. General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, then entered the town at a point farther to the left, and marched in the direction of the battery No. 2. While making an examination, with a view to ascertain the possibility of carrying this second work by storm, the general was wounded, and soon after compelled to quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and the heavy musketry fire flanking the ap proach, rendered it impossible to carry it without great loss, the 1st Ohio regiment was withdrawn from the town. " Fragments of the various regiments engaged were now under cover of the captured battery, and some buildings in its front, and on the right. The field batteries of Captains Bragg and Ridgely were also partially covered by the battery. An inces- sant fire was kept up on this position from battery No. 2, and other works on its right, and from the citadel on all our ap- proaches. General Twiggs, though quite unwell, joined me at this point, and was instrumental in causing the artillery captured from the enemy to be placed in battery, and served by Captain Ridgely against No. 2, until the arrival of Captain "Webster's howitzer battery, which took its place. In the mean time, I directed such men as could be collected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments, and Baltimore battalion, to enter the town, penetrating to the right, and carry the 2d battery if possible. This com- mand, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, advanced beyond the 3c2 ■.'f ..|. if, 588 Taylor's detailed report. Storiiiiiij,' of Munterey. bridge " Purisima," when, finding it impracticable to gain the rear of the 2d battery, a portion of it sustained themselves for some time in that advanced position ; but as no permanent im- pression could be made at that point, and the main object of the general operation had been effected, the command, including a section of Captain Ridgely's battery, which had joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1. During the absence of this column, a demonstration of cavalry was reported in the direction of the citadel. Captain Bragg, who was at hand, immediately galloped with his battery to a suitable position, from which a few dis- charges effectually dispersed the enemy. Captain Miller, 1st infantry, was despatched with a mixed command to support the battery on this service. The enemy's lancers had previously charged upon the Ohio and part of the Mississippi regiment, near some fields at a distance from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed with a considerable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on the opposite side of the river was also dispersed in the course of the afternoon by Captain Ridgely's battery, and the squadrons returned to the city. At the approach of evening, all the troops that had been engaged were ordered back to camp, txcept Captain Ridgely's battery, and the regular infantry of the TAYLOR S DETAILED REPORT. 683 first division, who were detailed as a guard for the works during the night, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland One battalion of the 1st Kentucky regiment was ordered tc reinforce this command. Intrenching tools were procured, and additional strength was given to the works, and protection to the men, by working parties during the night, under the direction of Lieutenant Scarritt, engineers. " The main object proposed in the morning had been effected. A powerful diversion had been made to favour the operations of the 2d division, one of the enemy's advanced works had been carried, and we now had a strong foothold in the town. But this had not been accomplished without a heavy loss, embracing some of our gallant and promising olTicers. The number of killed and wounded incident to the operations in the lower part of the city on the 2 1st is three hundred and ninety-four. , " Early in the morning of this day, (2lHt,) the advance of the 2d division had encountered the enemy in force, and after a brief but sharp conflict, repulsed him with heavy loss. General Worth then succeeded in gaining a pusition on the Saltillo road, thus cutting the enemy's line of communication. From this position the two heights south of the Saltillo road were carried in succession, and the gun taken in one of them turned upon the Bishop's Palace. These important successes were fortunately obtained with comparatively small loss ; Captain McKavett, Stb infantry, being the only officer killed. " The 22d day of September passed without any active opera tions in the lower part of the city. The citadel and other works continued to fire at parties exposed to their range, and at the work now occupied by our troops. The guard left in it the pre- ceding night, except Captain Ridgely's company, was relieved at midday by General Quitman's brigade, Captain Bragg's battery was thrown under cover in front of the town to repel any demonstration of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day, the height above the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon after meridian, the palace itself was taken and its guns turned upon *,he fugitive garrison. The object for which tlie 2d division was detached had thus been completely accomplished, and I felt confident that with a strong force occupying the road and heights ill III .11 U ti-' »:*,: W I i ,t 684 Taylor's detailed report. teV in his rear, and a good position below the city in our possession, the enemy could not possibly maintain the town. " During the night of the 22d, the enemy evacuated nearly all 'his defenses in the lower part of the city. This was reported to me early in the morning of the 23d by General Quitman, who had already meditated an assault upon those works. I immedi- ately sent instructions to that officer, leaving it to his discretion to enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls, and advance carefully as far as he might deem prudent. After ordering the remainder of the troops as a reserve, under the orders of Brigadier-General Twiggs, I repaired to the abandoned works, and discovered that a portion of General Quitman's brigade had entered the town, and were successfully forcing their way towards the principal plaza. I then ordered up the 2d regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, who entered the city, dismounted, and, under the immediate orders of General Hen- derson, co-operated with General Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was also ordered up, supported by the 3d in- fantry ; and after firing for some time at the cathedral, a portion of it was likewise thrown into the city. Our troops advanced from house to house, and from square to square, until they reached a street but one square in rear of the principal plaza, in and near which the enemy's force was mainly concentrated. This advance was conducted vigorously, but with due caution, and although destructive to thei enemy, was attended with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in the mean time, had served a captured piece in battery No. 1, against the city, until the advance of our men rendered it imprudent to fire in the direction of the cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could operate successfully in the city, and that the enemy had retired from the lower portion of it to make a stand behind his barri- cades. As General Quitman's brigade had been on duty the previous night, I determined to withdraw the troops to the evacuated works, and concert with General Worth a combined attack upon the town. The troops accordingly fell back de- liberately, in good order, and resumed their original positions, General Quitman's brigade being relieved after nightfall by that of General Hamer. On my return to camp, I met an officer TAYLOR S DETAILED REPORT. 086 ur possession, Imet an officer with the intelligence that General Worth, induced by the firing in the lower part of the city, was about making an attack at the upper extremity, which had also been evacuated by the enemy to a considerable distance. I regretted that this information had not reached me before leaving the city, but still deemed it inex- pedient to change my orders, and accordingly returned to the camp. A note from General Worth, written at eleven o'clock, p. M., informed me that he had advanced to within a short dis- tance of the principal plaza, and that the mortar (which had been sent to his division in the morning) was doing good execution within effective range of the enemy's position. " Desiring to make no further attempt upon the city without complete concert as to the lines and mode of approach, I in- structed that officer to suspend his advance until I could have an interview with him on the following morning at his head- quarters. " Early on the morning of the 24th, I received, through Colo- nel Moreno, a communication from General Ampudia, proposing to evacuate the town ; which, with the answer, were forwarded with my first despatch. I arranged with Colonel Moreno, a cessation of fire until twelve o'clock, at which hour I would re- ceive the answer of the Mexican general at General Worth's head-quarters, to which I soon repaired. In the mean time. General Ampudia had signified to General Worth his desire for a personal interview with me, to which I acceded, and which finally resulted in a capitulation, placing the town and the materiel of war, with certain exceptions, in our possession. A copy of that capitulation was transmitted with my first despatch. " Upon occupying the city, it was discovered to be of great strength in itself, and to have its approaches carefully and strongly fortified. The town and worlts were armed with forty- two pieces of cannon, well supplied .with ammunition, and manned with a force of at least seven thousand troops of the line, and from two to three thousand irregulars. The force under my orders before Monterey, as exhibited by the accompanying re- turn, was four hundred and twenty-five officers, and six thousand two hundred and twenty men. Our artillery consisted of one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four-pounder howitzers, ana four 74 I ''H,i :■: 086 STORMINO OF MONTERLY. hw 'Ml Th« BItbop'i PaUkca. light field batteries of four guns each — the mortar being the only piece suitable to the operations of a siege. " Our loss is twelve officers and one hundred and eight men killed , thirty-one officers and three hundred and thirty-seven men wounded. That of the enemy is not known, but is be- lieved considerably to exceed our own." At noon of the 20th, General Worth marched from the camp, east of the town, in the direction of the heights west, McCul- loch's and Gillispie's companies of rangers forming the recon- noitering party. At night, the division bivouacked almost within range of the guns stationed upon the highest point of the hill on which the Bishop's Palace is situated. At daylight of the 21st, the column was again in motion, and, in a few moments, was turning the point of a ridge, which protruded out toward the enemy's guns, bringing us as near to them as their gunners could desire. They immediately opened upon the column with a howitzer and twelve-pounder, firing shell and round-shot as fast as they could discharge their pieces. The road now wound in toward a gorge, but not far enough to be out of range of their guns, which still played upon us. Another ridge lay about three-quarters of a mile beyond the STORMING OF MONTEREY. 687 first, around the termina^ion of which the road wound, bringing it under the lofty summit of a height which rises between Palace Hill and the mountains, which arise over us on the west. When the head of the column approached this ridge, a, body of Mexi- can cavalry came dashing around that point to charge upon our advance. Captain Gillespie immediately ordered his men to dismount and place themselves in ambush. The enemy evi dently did not perceive this manceuver; but the moment they came up, the Texans opened upon them a most destructive fire, uns»addling a number of them. McCuUoch's company now dashed into them. Captain C. F. Smith's camp, and Captain Scott's camp of artillery, (acting as infantry,) and Lieutenant Longstreet's company of the 8th infantry, with another company of the same regiment, likewise charged upon the enemy. The Texan iiorse- men were soon engaged with them in a sort of hand to hand skirmish, in which a number of them fell, and one Texan was killed and two wounded. Colonel Duncan now opened upon them with his battery of light artillery, pouring a few discharges of grape upon them, and scattering them like chaflf. Several men and horses fell under this destructive fire. One horse and his rider bounded some feet into the air, and both fell dead and tumbled down the steep. The foot companies above named then rushed up the steep, and fired over the ridge at the retreating enemy, a consi- derable body of whom were concealed from our view, around the point of the hill. About thirty of the enemy were killed in this sliirmish, and among them a captain, who, with two or three others, fell in the road. The captain was wounded in three places, the last shot hitting him in the forehead. He fought gallantly to the last. The light batteries, one of which was commanded by Lieute nant Mackall, were now driven upon the slope of the ridge, and the howitzers opened upon the height of Palace Hill. A few shots only were thrown, before the enemy commenced firing with a nine-pounder from the height immediately over the right of the column, aiming at Duncan's batteries. The several regi- ments took positions, and a few more shells were thrown towards Palace Hill, but did no execution. The nine-pounder continued 1 . ! i j:ii liri 5SS 8 TOR RUNG OF MONTEREY. to throw its shot witli great precision al our batteries, one ball falling directly in the midst of the pieces, but, fortunately, hit- ting neither men nor guns. Finding his batteries thus exposed, and unable to effect any thing, Colonel Duncan removed his command to a rancho about half a mile further up the Saltillo road, where General Worth took up his position, after ordering tlie foot regiments to form along tlie fence near the point of the ridge. The artillery battalion, 5th, 7th, and 8th infantry, and the Louisiana volunteers, remained in this position about tv o hours, directly under fire of the enemy's guns. At half-past ten, the column moved towards the general's position. At this time, Captain McKavett, of the 8th infantry, was shot through the heart by a nine-pound ball, and a private of the 5th infantry was severely wounded in the thigh, and he died the next morning. About fifty Mexicans now appeared upon the side hill over the moving column, and fired at our troops some hundred musket-shot, without doing any harm. The division deployed into t!ie position pointed out, and remained an hour or two, when Captain C. F. Smith, of the artillery bat- talion, with his own company, and Captain Scott's, together with four companies of Texan Rangers on foot, were ordered to storm the second height. This the gallant officer cheerfully undertook, and was followed with enthusiasm by the officers and men of his command. It was considered on all sides to be a dangerous undertaking, and his party was regarded most em- phatically as a fm'hrn hope. That the height would be taken no one doubted, but that many brave fellows would fall in the attempt seemed inevitable. The distance to be climbed, after reaching the foot of the hill, was about a quarter of a mile; a part of the way almost perpendicular, through thorn-bushes and over sharp-pointed rocks and loose sliding stones. The 7th infantry, commanded by Captain Miles, was ordered to support Captain Smith's party, and by marching directly to the foot of the height, arrived before Captain Smith, who had been ordered to take a circuitous route. Captain Miles sent up Lieutenant Gantt, with a detachment of men upon the hill-side, to divert the attention of the enemy from Captain Smith's com- mand, which could not yet be seen. The 7th had already sua- \'. STORMING or MONTEREY. 689 tained a heavy fire of grape and round-shot, as they forded the San Juan, which winds round the foot of the heij][) iorro\» morning at ten o'clock. Art. 5. To avoid collisions, and for mutual ponvenience, that the troops of the United States will not occupy the city until tlie Mexican forces have withdrawn, except for hospital and storage purposes. Art. 6. That the forces of the United Stat* » will not advance beyond the line specified in the 2d [3d] artic e, before the expi- ration of eight weeks, or until the orders or instructions of the respective governments can be received. TERMS OF CAPITULATION. 593 Art. 7. That the public property to be delivered shall be turned over and received by officers appointed by the command ing generals of the two armies. Art. 8. That all doubts as to the meaning of any of the pre- ceding articles shall be solved by an equitable construction, and on principles of liberality to the retiring army. Art. 9. That the Mexican flag, when struck at the citadel, may be saluted by its own battery. Monterey became the main depot of General Taylor. It is an excellent city for the head-quarters of an army, being pro- vided with every kind of defense, vast magazines for supplies, hospitals, stores, and good water. Soon after General Wool with the central division of the army, arrived at Monclova, from his famous march . against Chihuahua. He was ordered with twenty-four hundred men and six field-pieces to Parras; and General Worth with twenty-five hundred men and eight pieces to Saltillo. Both these places were occupied without opposition I- 1 m\ !l 1 Mil Wwth at MMtony. tat m Mi' ii: m 594 SANTA ANNAS PREPARATIONS. 3~--^*>yWj-» >• Santa Anna. CHAPTER V. lattlt of ^ntna Fitfta. WEEK before the capture of Monterey, Santa Anna had received the appointment of military dictator, and immediately proceeded to San Luis Potosi, to hasten the raising of an efficient army. In November he found himself at the head of twenty thousand men, most of them raw recruits, and poorly equipped. It was his wish to clothe and discipline this force before marching against Taylor, but such was the popular clamour for immediate action, that faction began again to show herself. Some even denounced him as a traitor. Accordingly the general was obliged to sacrifice his superior judgment to the popular will, and in the same month we find him proceeding slowly toward his opponent's camp. TAYLOR SUMMONED TO SURRENDER. 595 About this time General Taylor received a letter from the war department, announcing that the terms of capitulation at Monterey, had not met the approval of government, and di- recting him immediately to recommence hostilities. This he announced to Santa Anna, requesting at the same time the release of some prisoners detained at San Luis The Mexican commander answered in a courteous manner, acknowledging the end of the truce, and liberated the prisoners, paying the expenses of their journey. On the 15th of December, Taylor marched to meet his enemy. Information had been received that General Urrea, with a large body of cavalry, was threatening Victoria ; and that Santa Anna with the main army was rapidly approaching Saltillo. General Patterson was in command at this place ; and anxious for his safety, the commander sent General Quitman to join him with a reinforcement, and with the main army fell back to Monterey. But at this time Wool entered Saltillo with fresh troops, enabling General Taylor again to advance toward Victoria, which he reached on the 30th. At this place he received a letter from General Scott, requesting nearly all his regular troops for the campaign on the gulf coast, thus again forcing him to retire to Monterey. Here he remained until February, when the arrival of volunteers, swelling his force to five thousand men, enabled him again to press forward. On the 2d of this month. General Santa Anna left San Luis Potosi, at the head of twenty-three thousand men, and after a march in which his troops sustained difficulties of the most appal- ling nature, he approached General Taylor's position [February 20th] at Agua Nueva. On the same day the latter brolce up his camp, and retired to a strong mountain pass, called Angostura, three miles from the hacienda of Buena Vista. While remov- ing some stores a small party of Americans was defeated by the Mexicans ; and at noon on the 22d, General Taylor was sum- moned to surrender. We give his own account of the subse- quent operations : " Our troops were in position, occupying a line of remarkable strength. The road at its point becomes a narrow defile, the valley on its right being rendered quite impracticable fiar artillery iteir mi ;''1: • i 596 AMERICAN LINE OF BATTLE. by a system of deep and impassable gulleys, while on the left a succession of rugged ridges and precipitous ravines extend far back toward the mountain which bounds the valley. The features of the ground were yuch as nearly to paralyze the artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while his infantry could not derive all the advantage of its numerical superiority. In this position we prepared to receive him. Captain Washington's battery (4th artillery) was posted to command the road, while the 1st and 2d Illinois regiments^ under Colonels Hardin and Bissell, each eight companies, (to the latter of which was attached Captain Conner's company of Texas • volunteers J and the 2d Kentucky, unuer Colonel McKee, occupied the crests of the ridges on the left and in rear. The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of cavalry, commanded by Colonels Yell and H. Marshall, occupied the extreme left near the base of the moun- tain, while the Indiana brigade, under Brigadier-General Lane, (composed of the 2d and 3d regiments, under Colonels Bowles and Lane,) the Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Davis, the squadrons of the 1st and 2d dragoons, under Captain Steen and Lieutenant-Colonel May, and the light batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg, 3d artillery, were held in reserve. " At eleven o'clock I received from General Santa Anna a summons to surrender at discretion, which, with a copy of my reply, I huve already transmitted. The enemy still forbore his attack, evidently waiting for the arrival of his rear columns, which could be distinctly seen by our look-outs as they ap- proached the field. A demonstration made on his left caused me to detach the 2d Kentucky regiment and a section of artil- lery to our right, in which position they bivouacked for the night. In the mean time the Mexican light troops had engaged ours on the extreme left (composed of parts of the Kentucky ana Arkansas cavalry, dismounted, and a rifle battalion from the Indiana brigade, under Major Qorman, the whole commanded by Colonel Marshall,) and kept up a sharp fire, climbin^^ tlvj mountain side, and apparently endeavouring to gain our flank. Three pieces of Captain Washington's battery had been de- Inched to the left, and were supported by the 2d liidiana regi- rfi»nt- An occasional $hell was thrown b^ the enemy into this BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 597 part of our line, but without effect. The skirmishing of the light troops was kept up with trifling loiss on our part until daik, when I became convinced that no seriouM attack would be mado before the morning, and returned, with the Mississippi regi- ment and squadron of 2d dragoons, to Saltillo. The troops bivouacked without fires, and laid upon their arms. A body of cavalry, some fifteen hundred strong, hud been visible all day in rear of the town, having entered the valley through a narrow pass east of the city. This cavalry, commanded by General Minon, had evidently been thrown in our rear to break up and harass our retreat, and perhaps make Home attempt against the town if practicable. The city was occupied by four excellent companies of Illinois volunteers, under Major Warren of the 1st regiment. A field-work, which commanded most of the ap- proaches, was garrisoned by Captain Webster's company, 1st artillery, and armed with two twenty-four-pound howitzers, while the train and head-quarter camp wag guarded by two companies of Mississippi riflemen, under Captain Rogers, and a field-piece commanded by Captain Shover, 3d artillery. Having made these dispositions for the protection of the rear, I proceeded on the morning of the 23d to Buena Vista, ordering forward all the other available troops. The action had commenced before my arrival on the field. " During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy had thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side, with the purpose of outflanking our left; and it vv h here that the action of the 23d commenced at an early hour. Our riflemen, under Colonel Marshall, who had been reinforced by three companies under Major Trail, 2d Illinois volunteers, maintained their ground handsomely against a greatly superior force, holding themselves under cover, and using their weapons with deadly effect. About eight o'clock a strong demonstration was made against the centre of our position, a heavy column moving along the road. This force was soon dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from Captain Washington's battery. In the mean time the enemy was concentrating a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover of the ridgee, with the obvious intention of forcing our lefl, which was posted on an extensive plateau. I 'If f \ h 598 BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. The 2d Indiana, and 2d Illinois regiments formed this part of our line, the former covering three pieces of light artillery, under the orders of Captain O'Brien — Brigadier-General Lane being in the immediate command. In order to bring his men within effective range, General Lane ordered the artillery and 2d Indi- ana regiment forward. The artillery advanced within mnsket range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, and was served against it with great effect, but without being able to check its advance. The infantry ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being exposed, as well as the battery, not only to a severe fire of small arms from the front, but also to a murderous cross-fire of grape and canister from a Mexican battery on the left. Captain O'Brien found it impossible to retain his position without support, but was only able to withdraw two of his pieces, all the horses and cannoneers of the third piece being killed or disabled. The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as stated, could not be rallied, and took no further part in the action, except a handful of men, who, under its gallant colo- nel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good ser- vice, and those fugitives, who, at a later period in the day, assisted in defending the train and depot at Buena Vista. This portion of our line having given way, and the enemy appearing in overwhelming force against our left flank, the light troops which had rendered such good service on the mountain were compelled to withdraw, which they did, for the most part, in good order. Many, however, were not rallied until they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the defense of which they afterwards contributed. "Colonel Bissell's regiment, (2d Illinois,) which had been joined by a section of Captain Sherman's battery, had become completely outflanked, and was compelled to fall back, being entirely unsupported. The enemy was now pouring masses of infantry and cavalry along the base of the mountain on our left, and was gaining our rear in great force. At this moment I arrived upon the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed to the left before reaching the position, and immediately came into action against the Mexican infantry which had turned our flank. The 2d Kentucky regiment, and a section of artil- -i BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 599 i this part of rtillery, under Lane being in s men within T and 2d Indi- kvithin mnslvet d was served le to check its A fallen back , not only to a o a murderous battery on the in his position iw two of his d piece being lich had fallen urther part in ts gallant colo- did good ser- d in the day, a Vista. This my appearing le light troops nountain were most part, in ed until they of which they ich had been had become 1 back, being inff masses of in on our left, lis moment I lent had been d immediately Lch had turned ction of artil- ; 1! Battle ofBuena Viita. lery under Capt-iin Bragg, had previously been ordered from the right to reinforce our left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment, and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under Colonel Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground we had lost. The l)atteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg were in position on the plateau, and did much execution, not only in front, but particularly upon the masses which had gained our rear. Discovering that the enemy was heavier pressing upon the Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indi- ana regiment, under Colonel Lane, was despatched to strengthen that part of our line, which formed a crotchet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At the same time Lieutenant Kilbum, with a piece of Captain Bragg' s battery, was directed to support the infantry there engaged. The action was, for a long time, warmly sustained at that point — ^the enemy making several efforts, both with infantry and cavalry, against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry, and Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse, under the orders of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel May, with direc- tions to hold in check the enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain, which was done in con- junction with the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell. ''f 'H ;l ii' »'■ ' i: i- : !' i •■nM- 600 BATTLE OP BUENA VISTA- " In the mean time our left, which was still strongly threatened by a superior force, was farther strengthened by the detachment of Captain Bragg's, and a portion of Captain Sherman's batteries to that quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon the maisses of the enemy along the base of the mountain, and the determined resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them, had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squadron of the 1st dragoons, under Lieutenant Riicker, was now ordered up the deep ravine which these retreating corps were endeavouring to cross, in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accomplish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a battery established to cover the* retreat of those corps. While the squadron was detached on this service, a large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate on our extreme left, apparently with a view of making a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where pur train and baggage were deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel May was ordered to the support of that point, with two pieces of Captain Sherman's battery under Lieu- tenant Reynolds. In the mean time, the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had been, to some extent, organized under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of artillery, with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer staff, and were posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack ; having been handsomely met by the Ken- tucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and then gaining the mountain op posite, under a fire from Lieutenant Reynold's section, the re- maining portion regaining the base of the mountain on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; wc also lost Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry — a young officer of much promise. Lieu* tenant-Colonel May, who hhd been rejoined by the squadron of the 1 st dragoons, and by portions of the Arkansas and Indiana BATTLE BUENA VISTA. Geiiflral Taylor at Buena Viiia. troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, holding in check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery was doing fearful execution. " The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained our rear was now very critical, and it seemed doubtful whether it could regain the main body. At this moment I re- ceived from General Santa Anna a message by a staff officer, desiring to know what I wanted ? I immediately despatched Brigadier-General Wool to the Mexican general-in-chief, and sent orders to cease firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines General Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their fire, and accordingly returned without having an interview. The ex- treme right of the enemy continued its retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in spite of all our efforts, effected a junction with the remainder of the army. " During the day, the cavalry of General Minon had ascended the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from the 5ity to the field of battle, where they intercepted several of our .men. Approaching the town, they were fired upon by Captain Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved off towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely 3 E 76 ' <; 1, . 602 BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. towards Buena Vista. At this time, Captain Shover moved rapidly forward with his piece, supported by a miscellaneous command of mounted volunteers, and fired several shots at the cavalry with great effect. They were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was farther supported by a piece of Captain Web- ster's battery, under Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced from the redoubt, supported by Captain Wheeler's company of Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or two efforts to charge the artillery, but was finally driven back in a confused mass, and did not again appear upon the plain. " In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased upon the principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his efforts to the protection of his artillery, and I had left the plateau for a moment, when I was recalled thither by a very heavy musketry fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that our infantry (Illinois and 2d Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior force of the enemy — evidently his reserve — and that they had been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge to the last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on the field — his infantry support being entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into battery. Without any infantry to support him, and at the imminent risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapidly into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of canister caused the enemy to hesitate, the second and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, which had advanced beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Captain Washington's battery, their pur- suers became exposed to his fire, which soon checked and drove them back with loss. In the mean time, the rest of our artillery had taken position on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and 3d Indiana regiments, the former of which had reached the ground in time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and thus contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 603 we had the misfortune to sustain a very heavy loss, Colonel Hardin, Ist Illinois, and Cidonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, 2d Kentucky regiment, fell at this time while gallantly leading their commands. " No farther attempt v as made by the enemy to force our position, and the approach of night gave an opportunity to pay proper attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the soldiers, who had been exhausted by incessant watchfulness and combat. Though the night was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the most to bivouac without fires, expecting that morning would renew the conflict. During the night the wounded were removed to Saltillo, and every preparation made to receive the enemy, should he again attaclc our position. Seven fresh com- panies were drawn from the town, and Brigadier-General Mar- shall, with a reinforcement of Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under Captain Prentiss, 1st artillery, was near at hand, when it was discovend that the enemy had abandoned his position during the night. Our scouts soon ascertained that he had fallen back upon Agua Nueva. The great disparity of numbers, and the exhaustion of our troops, rendered it inexpe- dient and hazardous to attempt pursuit. A staff officer was despatched to General Santa Anna to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which was satisfactorily completed on the following day. Our own dead were collected and buried, and the Mexi- can wounded, of which a large number had been left upon the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as comfortable as circumstances would permit. " On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance was made of the enemy's position, which was found to be occupied only by a small body of cavalry, the infantry and artillery having re- treated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. On the 27th, our iroops resumed their former camp at Agua Nueva, the enemy's rear-guard evacuating the place as we approached, leaving a considerable number of wounded. It was my purpose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacion early the next morning, but upon examination, the weak condition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to attempt so long a march without wi\ter. A command was finally despatched to Encarnacion, on 126 ti : 604 BATTLE OF EUENA VISTA. ,r he 1 1 the 1st of March, under Colonel Belknap. Some two hundred wounded, and about sixty Mexican soldiers were found there, the army having passed on in the direction of Matehuala, with greatly reduced numbers, and suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were strewed upon the road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda. The American force engaged in the action of Buena Vista is shown, by the accompanying field report, to have been three hundred and forty-four officers, and four thousand four hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small command left in and near Saltillo. Of this number, two squadrons of cavalry and three batteries of light artillery, making not more than four hun- dred and fifty-three men, composed the only force of regular troops. The strength of the Mexican army is stated by General Santa Anna, in his summons, to be twenty thousand ; and that estimate is confirmed by all the information since obtained. Our loss is two hundred and sixty-seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. Of the numerous wounded, many did not require removal to the hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively small number will be permanently disabled. The Mexican loss in killed and wounded may be fairly estimated at fifteen hundred, and will probably reach two thousand. At least five hundred of their killed were left upon the field of battle. We have no means of ascertaining the num- ber of deserters and dispersed men from their ranks, but it is known to be very great. "Our loss has been especially severe in officers, twenty-eight tiaving been killed upon the field. We have to lament the death of Captain George Lincoln, assistant adjutant-general, serving in the staff of General Wool — a young officer of high bearing and approved gallantry, who fell early in the action. No loss falls more heavily upon the army in the field than that of Colonels Hardin and McKee, and Lieutenants-Colonel Clay. Possessing, in a remarkable degree, the confidence of their com- mands, and the last two having enjoyed the advantage of a mili- tary education, I had looked particularly to them for support in case we met the enemy. I need not say that their zeal in engaging the enemy, and the cool and steadfast couiage with 1 CAPTAIN OBRIEN. 606 which they maintained their positions during the day, fully realized my hopes, and caused me to feel yet more sensibly their untimely loss." The artillery was the arm which won the battle of Buena Vista ; and none distinguished themselves more in its manage- ment than Captains O'Brien and Bragg. They sustained, singly, the charge of the whole body of the enemy's lancers, a force numbering some thousands more than their own ; and although each moment expecting that the crushing avalanche would sweep over guns and horses, yet they remained firm at their post, uiitil victory was certain. The situation of O'Brien was pecu- liarly trying. A tremendous cross fire of the enemy swept across the field, whistling and rattling on the stony surface, and driving back the small body of infantry which had been ordered to sup- port him. At that moment he paused, and looking behind, the danger of his situation burst upon him. Before him were the heavy columns of lancers, their trampling horses crowding upon each other, and the long rows of lances glittering and dancing in the sunshine ; in the rear and flanks were the infantry, whose artillery had already driven away his only support. If he yielded, the day was lost; if he stood, he might be crushed to pieces. Two horses had fallen under him, and he had received a wound in the leg. Most of his cannoneers were dead or wounded, and some of the guns perfectly idle. -He resolved to stand. Riding round and round his guns, he cheered his men for the terrible encounter, and exhorted them not to fire until the cavalry were within a few yards of the muzzles. On they came, shaking the earth under the gallop of their horses. Nearer and nearer they drew, until the raised hoof almost struck the cannon, when a roar like thunder burst forth, and scores of steeds and riders reeled back upon their startled companions. Then for a moment all was confusion, and the huge mass swayed to and fro in fear- ful uncertainty. But they again formed, and prepared for a de- cisive str; ggle. This was a fearful moment; hundreds of anxious eyes were bent intensely on the few devoted men, who were thus battling in the jaws of death. At this moment, the steadiness of the young cannoneers forsook them. They were unable to maintain their stations, and their captain grew pale w w .111 III m 606 CAPTAIN BRAGG. with »!xcitenient, as he felt that victory was wrenched from his grasp. Slowl)' and sternly he left his guns, and retired to join the other artillery. But he was not unrewarded ; he had remained long enough to enable reinforcements to arrive ; and to him, as much as to any man on the field, was the final victory owing. Equally perilous was the service of Captain Bragg. All day his force was moving over the field, engaged at every point where it could be of any avail. When we remember that all his movements were across rocks and guUeys where it was almost impossible to travel, we will have a better idea of their import- ance. Charge after charge was made upon him, and often he was forced to leave his heaviest artillery in some unprotected position, in order to arrive at a threatened position in time to be of service. He thus describes his last encounter with the ene- my : " Knowing the importance of my presence, I left some of my heaviest carriages, and pushed on with such as could move most rapidly. Having gained a point from which my guns could be used, I put them in battery and loaded with canister. Now, for the first time, I felt the imminent peril in which we stood. Our infantry was routed, our advanced artillery captured, and the enemy in heavy force coming upon us at a run. Feel- ing that the day depended upon the successful stand of our artil- lery, I appealed to the commanding general, who was near, for support. None was to be had ; and, under his instructions to maintain our position at every hazard, I returned to my battery, encouraged my men, and when the enemy arrived within good range, poured forth the canister as rapidly as my guns could be loaded. At the first discharge I observed the enemy falter, and in a short time he was in full retreat. A very heavy loss must have been sustained by him, however, before he got beyond our range. My guns were now advanced several hundred yards, and opened on a position held by the enemy, with a battery of heavier calibre than our own — the same firom which our left flank had been driven in the afternoon. Under the support of the Mississippi regiment, I continued my fire until convinced that nothing could be eflfected — the enemy holding an eminence from which we could not dislodge him without a sacrifice which might compromise the success of the day. About sunset I with- RETREAT OF SANTA ANNA. 607 drew my battery into the ravine in rear of our line, and took a position for the night from which I could readily move to any assailable point. Here I remained, officers and men on the alert, and horses in harness." Had the Mexicans managed their artillery with the same bravery as did these two intrepid officers, the American army must have been cut to pieces. Captain Bragg discharged two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition from each of his guns ; and during the whole battle, the ground seemed to reel with the incessant peals of heavy cannon. As the batteries poured forth their fiery showers, whole companies sunk shrieking to the ground ; and in the morning, the masses of dead and dying, piled upon one another, told a fearful narrative of the artillery of the preceding day. The evening of the 23d found both armies in the same rela- tive position, and on the same ground they had occupied in the morning. During the night, however, Santa Anna withdrew his shattered forces toward Potosi. The Americans expected an attack before morning, and were prepared for it ; but, under cover of the darkness, Santa Anna withdrew his starving fol- lowers to Agua Nueva. Soon afterward General Taylor fell back toward Monterey. On the 2d of March an escort of two hundred men, and a train of one hundred and fifty wagons, under Major Giddings, was attacked by General Urrea, at the head of a large party of lancers. The attack was so sudden that the train and escort were divided into two parties, the smaller of which Urrea sum- moned to surrender. A desultory conflict ensued in which the Americans succeeded in reuniting, and repelling their oppo- nents with the loss of about forty. The major had two soldiers killed and fifteen teamsters. He proceeded without further molestation to Seralvo, where Colonel Curtis arrived in a few days with reinforcements, and assumed command. The whole party then commenced a pursuit of Urrea, which was continued until the 16th, when it met General Taylor with a portion of the main army, also in pursuit. The whole force consisting of May's dragoons, Bragg's artillery, and Colonel Curtis's men, led by General Taylor, pushed after the Mexicans with renewed 608 tailor's return to the united states. vigour ; but, notwithstanding every exertion, Urrea succeeded in escaping beyond the mountains. After this pursuit, General Taylor retired to Walnut Springs, where, on account of the small number of his troops, he was obliged to remain inactive during the summer and fall of 1847. In December he visited the United States, intending to remain with his family until his services should be further required bjr government. Head Muleteer ud 8erv»Dt. V ^\-'J:H'->. \ 1/ \V STATES. sa succeeded in kearny's expedition. 609 /^-v^ m Brt(Bdi«r'Oeii«nl Stephen W. Keanqr. CHAPTER VI. <0((ttp«tioii of ;'! ■ 622 SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. although, at that date, I had already refused to allow any person whatsoever to pass the line of investment either way, yet the blockade had been left open to the consuls and other neutrals tu pass out to their respective ships of war up to the 22d instant; and, fourth, I shall inclose to the memorialists a copy of my summons to the governor, to show that I had fully considered the impending hardships and distresses of the place, including those of women and children, before one gun had been fired in that direction. The intercourse between the neutral ships of war and the city was stopped at the last-mentioned date by Commodore Perry, with my concurrence, which I placed on the ground that that intercourse could not fail to give to the enemy mwal aid and comfort. " It will be seen from the memorial, that our batteries have already had a terrible effect on the city, (also known through other sources,) and hence the inference that a surrender must soon be proposed." In a subsequent letter he writes : " The flag of the United States of America floats triumphantly over the walls of this city and the castle of St. Juan de Ulloa. " Our troops have garrisoned both since ten o'clock. It is now noon. Brigadier-General Worth is in command of the two places. " Articles of capitulation were signed and exchanged at a late hour night before the last. " I have heretofore reported the principal incidents of the siege, up to the 25th instant. Nothing of striking interest occurred, until early in the morning of the next day, when I re- ceived overtures from General Landero, on whom General Morales had devolved the principal command. A terrible storm of wind and sand made it difficult to communicate with the city, and impossible to refer to Commodore Perry. I was obliged to entertain the proposition alone, or to continue the fire upon a place that had shown a disposition to surrender ; for the loss of a day, or perhaps several, could not be permitted. " Yesterday, after the norther had abated, and the commission- ers appointed by me early the morning before had again met those* appointed by General Landero, Commodore Perry sent COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED. 623 any person ay, yet the neutrals tu 12d instant; copy of my ' considered e, including jen fired in ral ships of led date by laced on the o the enemy itteries have Dwn through render must triumphantly n de UUoa. clock. It is nd of the two nged at a late dents of the dng interest '', when I re- lom General lerrible storm With the city, [as obliged to fire upon a ^r the loss of commission- Id again met Perry sent !!■ li'lll American Fleei laluting tbe Castle after its eurrnnder. ashore his second in command, Captain Aulick, as a commis- sioner on the part of the navy. Although not included in my specific arrangement made with the Mexican commander, I did not hesitate, with proper courtesy, to desire that Captain Aulick might be duly introduced and allowed to participate in the dis- cussions and acts of the commissioners who had been reciprocally accredited. The original American commissioners were. Brevet Brigadier-General Worth, Brigadier-General Pillow, and Colonel Totten. Four more able or judicious officers could not have been desired. " The remaining details of the siege ; the able co-operation of the United States squadron, successively under the command of Commodores Conner and Perry ; the admirable conduct of the whole army — regulars and volunteers — I should be happy to dwell upon as they deserve ; but the steamer Princeton, with Commodore Conner on board, is under way, and I have com- menced organizing an advance into the interior. This may be delayed a few days, waiting the arrival of additional means of transportation. In the mean time, a joint operation, by land and water, will be made upon Alvarado. No lateral exj^edition, how ever, shall interfere with the grand movement towards the capital." 'I : : i| 624 TERMS OF CAPITULATION. |HE city and castle of Vera Cruz surrendered on the fol- lowing terms, which were rigidly adhered to : "1. The whole garrison, or garrisons, to be surrendered to the arms of the United States, as prisoners of war, the 29th instant, at ten o'clock, A. M.; the garrisons to be permitted to march out with all the honours of war, and to lay down their arms to such oflficers as may be appointed by the general-in-chief of the United States armies, and at a point to be agreed upon by the commissioners. "2. Mexican officers shall preserve their arms and private effects, including horses and horse-furniture, and to be allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the rank and file, five days to retire to their respective homes, on parole, as hereinafter pre- scribed. " 3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in article 1, the Mexican flags of the various forts and stations shall be struck, saluted by their own batteries ; and immediately there- after. Forts Santiago and Conception, and the castle of San Juan de UUoa, occupied by the forces of the United States. " 4. The rank and file of the regular portion of the prisoners to be disposed of after surrender and parole, as their general-in- chief may desire, and the irregular to be permitted to return to their homes. The officers, in respect to all arms and descrip- tions of force, giving the usual parole, that the said rank and file, as well as themselves, shall not serve again until duly exchanged. " 5. All the materiel of war, and all public property of every description found in the city, the castle of San Juan de Ulloa and their dependencies, to belong to the United States ; but the armament of the same, (not injured or destroyed in the further prosecution of the actual war,) may be considered as liable to be restored to Mexico by a definite treaty of peace. " 6. The sick and wounded Mexicans. to be allowed to remain in the city with such medical officers and attendants, and officers of the army, as may be necessary to their care and treatment. V- m tie of Vera d on the fol- jehich were to: lie garrison, iered to the TERMS OP CAPITULATION. 62d "7. Absolute protection is solemnly guarantied to persons in the city, and property, and it is clearly understood that no private building or property is to be taken or used by the forces cf the United States, without previous arrangement with the owners, and for a fair equivalent. " 8. Absolute freedom of religious worship and ceremonies is solemnly oruarantierl." i / e of San Juan i lllliii Mexicsni luttvlitK VerK Viui. M so wed to remain ts, and officers i treatment. 1 1 626 ADVANCE TO THE CAPITAL. Commencement of the Guerilla Warfure. CHAPTER VIII. 0i»ttff to tf)t ®a{9ital. FTER remaining more than two weeks with his army at Vera Cruz, General Scott commenced his advance, April 8th, for the capital. On the 11th, Twiggs's division reached the Plan del Rio, where, in a few days, it was joined by those of Quitman and Worth. At this time Santa Anna was stationed at the strong mountain pass of Sierra Gordo, which he had fortified with the greatest precaution. Here he awaited the arrival of the Americans with DESCRIPTION OF SIERRA GORDO. 627 kth his army Ihis advance, Ih, Twiggs's Ire, in a few firmness, calculating, that the advantages of his position, and his superiority of force, would give him an easy victory over the army of General Scott. An actor in the battle of Sierra Gordo thus describes this position : " The road from Vera Cruz, as it passes the Plan del Rio, which is a wide, rocky bed of a once large stream, is commanded by a series of high cliffs, rising one above the other, and extend- ing several miles, and all well fortified. The road then de- bouches to the right, and, curving around the ridge, passes over a high cliff, which is completely enfiladed by forts and bat- teries. This ridge is the commencement of Ten'a Templada, the upper or mountainous country. The high and rocky ravine of the river protected the right flank of the position, and a series of most abrupt and apparently impassable mountains and ridges covered their left. Between these points, running a distance of two or threfe miles, a succession of strongly fortified forts bristled at every turn, and seemed to defy all bravery and skill. The Sierra Gordo commanded the road on a gentle declination, like a glacis, for nearly a mile — an approach in that direction was impossible. A front attack must have terminated in the almost entire annihilation of our army. But the enemy expected such an attack, confiding in the desperate valour of our men, and be- lieving that it was impossible to turn their position to the right or left. General Scott, however, with the eye of a skilful gene- ral, perceived the trap set for him, and determined to avoid it. He, therefore, had a road cut to the right, so as to escape the front fire from the Sierra, and turn his position on the left flank. This movement was made known to the enemy by a deserter from our camp, and consequently a large increase of force under General Vega was sent to the forts on their left. " General Scott, to cover his flank movements, on the 17th of April, ordered forward General Twiggs against the fort on the steep ascent, in front and a little to the left of the Sierra. Colo- nel Harney commanded this expedition, and, at the head of the rifles and some detachments of infantry and artillery, carried his position under a heavy fire of grape and musketry. Having secured this position in front and near the enemy's strongest fortification, and having bv incredible labour elevated one of our 628 BATTLE OF SIERRA GORDO. m^ Oennral Twiggi. large guns to the top of the fort, General Scott prepared to follow up his advantages. A demonstration was made from this position against another strong fort in the rear, and near the Sierra, but the enemy was considered too strong, and the undertaking was abandoned. A like demonstration was made by the enemy." Every thing being now ready for a general attack, Twiggs's division moved on the morning of the 18th, against the main fortress, Pillow's against that on the right, and Shields's and Worth's to the road in order to cut off all retreat. The troops composing the first, headed by Colonel Harney, pushed forward under a tremendous fire, and soon swept the works with the bayonet ; but La Vega succeeded in repulsing General Pillow. He finally surrendered, however on ascertaining that Santa Anna was defeated. The latter fled with precipitation, accom- panied by Generals Almonte and Canalize, and about half the army escaped by flight. He was so hotly pursued by Colonel Harney, as to leave behind his state carriage, trunks, and several thousand dollars in silver. j.bBj'.. e ired to follow this position Sierra, but ertaking was le enemy." ,ck, Twi!• iant moil reached the very slope of the parapet of tlie work that surrounded the citadel. By this time a large proportion of the command was either killed or wounded, amongst whom were the three senior officers present — Brevet Colonel Mcintosh, Bre- vet Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, of the 5th infantry, and Major Waite, 8th infantry ; the second killed, and the first and last desperately wounded. Still, the lire from the citadfl unabated. In this crisis of the attack, the command momentarily, thrown into disorder, and fell back on the left of Duncan's battery, where they rallied. S the 2d brigade moved to the assault, a very large cavalry and infantry force was discovered approaching rapidly upon our left flank, to reinforce the enemy's right. As soon as Duncan's battery was masked, , , , ^^ as before mentioned, supported by An- ^^ drew'S voltigeurs, of Cadwalader's brigade, it moved promptly to the extreme left of our hne, to check the threatened assault on this point. The enemy's cavalry came rapidly within canister range, when the whole battery opened a most etfective fire, which soon broke the squadrons, and drove them back in disorder. During this fire upon the enemy's cavalry. Major Sumner's command moved to the front, and changed direction in admirable order, under a most appalling fire from the Casa Mata. This movement enabled his com- mand to cross the ravine immediately on the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing noble service until the close of the action. At the very moment the cavalry were driven be- yond reach, our own troops drew back from before the Casa Mata, and enabled the guns of Duncan's battery to reopen upon this position; which, after a short and well-directed fire, the enemy abandoned. The guns of the battery were now turned upon his retreating columns, and continued to play upon them until beyond reach. " He was now driven from every point of the field, and his strong lines, which had certainly been defended well, were in our possession. In fulfilment of the instructions of the com- WORTH RETURNS TO TACUBAYA. 645 Tteubaya. mander-in-chief, the Casa Mata was blown up, and such of the captured ammunition as was useless to us, as well as the cannon moulds found in El Molino del Rey, were destroyed. After which my command under the reiterated orders of the General- in-chief, returned to quarters at Tacubaya, with three of the enemy's four guns, (the fourth having been spiked, was rendered unserviceable ;) as also a large quantity of small arms, with gun and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight hundred prisoners, including fifty-two commissioned officers. " By concurrent testimony of prisoners the enemy's force ex- ceeded fourteen thousand men commanded by General Santa Anna in person. His total loss, killed, including the second and third in command, (Generals Valdarez and Leon,) wounded and prisoners, amounts to three thousand, exclusive of some two thousand who deserted after the route. " My command, reinforced as before stated, only reached three thousand one hundred men of all arms. The contest continued two hours, and its severity is painfully attested by our heavy loss of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privat'js, including 'ii 646 DESCRIPTION OF DEFENSES. m m i in the first two classes some of the brightest ornaments of the service." This victory prepared the way for more important ones. The time from the 8th to the llth was spent in careful reconnoissances of the defenses around the capital. A description of these we give in General Scott's own words : " This city (Mexico) stands on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditcli in its greater extent — a navigable canal of great breadth and depth — very difficult to bridge in the presence of an enemy, and serving at once for drainage, custom-house purposes, and mili- tary defense ; having eight entrances or gates over arches, — each of which we found defended by a system of strong works, that seemed to require nothing but some men and guns to be impregnable. Outside, and within the cross-fires of those gates, we found to the south other obstacles, little less formidable. All the approaches near the city are elevated causeways, cut in many places, (to oppose us,) and flanked on both sides by ditches, also of unusual dimensions. The numerous cross-roads are flanked in like manner, having bridges at the intersections, recently broken. The meadows thus checkered are, moreover, in many spots, under water, or marshy; for, it will be remem- bered, we were in the midst of the wet season, though with less rain than usual, and we could not wait for the fall of the neigh- bouring lakes, and the consequent drainage of the wet grounds at the edge of the city." N order to save the lives of his men, by avoid- iii^r these formidable obstacles. General Scott determined on a sudden and secret movement to the south-west, where the defenses were feeble. This was admirably executed, the enemy mistaking a feint for the real march, until it was too late to retrieve themselves. The most important step in the new movement was the cap- ture of Chapultepec, a natural and isolated mound, of great ele- vation, strongly fortified at its base. Besides a numerous garrison, there was stationed at this place the military college of the republic, CMintaining a large number of sub-lieutenants and other students STORMING OF C H A. P UL TIT P R C. c-n its of the mes. The loissances these we )imd, near I ditcli in and depth lemy, and and miU- arches, — mg" works, ;uns to be hose gates, idable. All lys, cut in 1 sides by cross-roads tersections, moreover, be remem- h with less the neigh- et grounds , by avoid- neral Scott movement 3nses were cuted, the eal march, is the cap- great ele- lis garrison, lerepubhc, fer ytudents Chupullepec. The bombardment of this strong place was commenced on the morning of the 12th, and continued with great activity, under the direction of Captain linger, throughout the day. It was re- newed on the following day, and kept up until eight o'clock, when General Scott gave signal to the divisions of Pillow and Quitman for a general assault. This was promptly obeyed by both columns ; while as the troops advanced, the batteries threw shot and shell over their heads into the castle. Pillow dislodged a number of sharp slu rters from an open grove, and emerged from it in front of the works. Here he was severely wounded, and the command devolved on General Cadwalader. This officer found before him a broken acclivity, commanded by a strong redoubt, both to be surmounted before reaching the castle. His troops, however, pushed forward over rocks, chasms, and ruins, although exposed to fidl range of the enemy's fi'e. The redoubt yielded to resistless valour, and the enemy were so closely pur- sued as to 1)0 unable to fire a single mine without blowing up lend and foe. Then the ditch and wall of the main work were 648 WORTH S PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY. reached ; scaling-ladders }/lanted, and hundreds rushed o\ er among the garrison. The cannon ceased, and the dire clashing of bayonets told of mortal strife. This also ceased, and long, loud cheers announced that Chapultepec had fallen. ^SIMULTANEOUSLY with the movement on ihe west, General Quitman had approached on the east, over a causeway, with cuts and batteries, defended by troops without and within. Deep ditches flanking the causeway, made it difficult to cross on either side, into the adjoining meadows, and these again were intersected by other ditches. By skilful manuoevering, the New York, South Carolina, and 2d Pennsyl- vania volunteers, with portions of Quitman's storming parties, crossed the meadows in front, under a heavy fire, and entered the outer inclosure of Chapultepec, in time to join in the final assault from the west. In the commencement of this brilliant affair, General Worth had been stationed in rear of the castle, to act as circumstances might require. During the attack, one brigade had been with- drawn by Pillow, to assist his movements ; and on observing a large party of the enemy outside the works. General Scott ordered him to turn Chapultepec with his division, proceeding cautiously by the road at its northern base, in order, if not met by very superior numbers, to threaten and attack the rear of that force. Worth promptly obeyed these directions, although having but one brigade. In turning a forest, he came up with the troops under Colonel Trousdale, and aided in taking a breast- work. Then passing Chapultepec, he attacked the right of the enemy's line, at the time of the general retreat consequent upon the capture of the castle. After this he entered the San Cosme road, and commenced a rapid pursuit of the flying enemy. At the same time Quitman was hurrying forward by the Belin aqueduct. Deeming the continuance of this pursuit highly important. General Scott sent two brigades to assist Worth, and one for the DEPUTATION TO GENERAL SCOTT. 649 same purpose to Quitman. At a junction of the roads they found a formidable system of defenses, entirely abandoned. Into these Worth's troops entered, and commenced a street fight with the enemy, who were posted in gardens, at windows, and on house tops. Worth ordered forward the mountain howitzers of Cadwalader's brigade, preceded by skirmishers and pioneers, with bars and axes, to force doors and windows, and to burrow through walls. Soon the assailants were in an equality of position with the enemy, and by eight o'clock, p. m., had carried two batteries. This brought them in front of the San Cosme gate, the only remaining obstruction to the grand plaza fronting the cathedral and palace. Here, in obedience to instructions, Worth halted, posted guards and sentinels, and placed his troops under shelter for the night. Meanwhile, Quitman, assisted by Generals Shields and Smith, had passed rapidly along the other road, carried a battery in the face of flank and direct fires, stormed the Belen gate at two o'clock, and entered the city. Here he halted, sheltered himself as well as practicable, and waited for further instructions. T four o'clock next morning, a deputation of the city council waited on General Scott, to report that the army and federal government had fled from the city about midnight, in consequence o*" which they demanded terms of capitukiion. The general replied, that he would sign no capitulation, nor submit to any terms not self-imposed — such on] v )k the bono a r of his army, the dignity of his country, and the spirit of the age demanded. About daylight. Worth and Quitman were ordered to advance slowly and cautiously toward the heart of the city, and occupy its commanding points. The latter officer proceeded to the great square, planted guards, and hoisted the colours of iiie United States on the National Palace. At about eight o'clock, the general-in-chief, dressed in full uniform, accompanied by his staff, and escorted by bands of music, entered the city, at the head of his army. Before noon, a fire was opened upon iho 81 82 G50 SCOTT PROCLAIMS MARTIAL LAW. Americans, from the corners of streets, windows, and roofs of houses, by some two thousand convicts, liberated the night be- fore by the flying government. This cowardly war lasted more than twenty-four hours, notwithstanding all the exertions of the municipal authorities, and was not put down until the army had lost many men killed and wounded, including several officers. General Quitman was appointed military governor of the city, and Captain Naylor superintendent of the National Palace. The former returning soon after to the United States, was succeeded by General Smith. General Scott thus sums up the great achievements of his army : "This small force (eight thousand men) has beaten on the same occasions, in view of the capital, the whole Mexican army, of (at the beginning) thirty odd thousand men — posted always in chosen positions, behind intrenchments, or m.ore formidable defenses of nature and art ; killed or wounded of that number more than seven thousand officers and men ; taken three thou- sand seven hundred and thirty pi'isoners, one-seventh officers, in- cluding thirteen generals, of whom three had been presidents of this republic ; captured more than twenty colours and standards, seventy-five pieces of ordnance, besides fifty-seven wall pieces, twenty thousand small arms, an immense quantity of shot, shells, powder, &c." General Scott's loss in the battles of August, was one thou- sand and fifty-two men, of whom seventy-six were officers ; on the 8th of September, seven hundred and eighty -nine, of whom fifty- eight were officers; before the capital,. eight hundred and sixty- two men, including seventy-eight officers ; total, two thousand seven himdred and three, including three hundred and eighty- three officers. Having thus obtained complete possession of Mexico, General Scott proclaimed martial law, and levied a contribution upon the inhabitants. Business was resumed, and the city again became quiet and cheerful. Two months after, a proclamation was issued, requesting the inhabitants of other cities to lay down arms, and declaring the determination of the commander to spread his army over the country, in order to enforce obedience. REVOLT IN PUEBLA. 651 nents of his saten on tKe ?Mbla de Io« AokcIm. During these operatioiis before the capital, a revolt had taken place in Puebla, which forced the American governor, Colonel Childs, to take refuge in the fortresses of San Jose, Lo^eto, and Guadaloupe. Here he was shut up by the inhabitants, and a bombardment commenced on the 14th of September, which lasted twenty-e^ .jht days. The enemy cut off all supplies, and attempted to change the direction of a stream of water, run- ning through San Jose. The Americans were fired upon from houses, streets, forts, and mounds ; and frequently the bombard- ment continued through the entire night. On the 22d, Santa Anna arrived with large reinforcements from Mexico, and on the 25th demanded a surrender. This was refused. A combined attack then commenced, and continued until the 2d of October, when a revolt of Santa Anna's troops obliged him to withdraw. Taking advantage of this, Colonel Childs detached two parties on a sortie. Captain Wm. F. Small, wb" conducted one of them, succeeded in destroying a barricade of one hundred and fifty cotton bales, and driving back the enemy with a loss of seventeen men. The besiegers, although con 132 653 BATTLE OF HUAMANTLl. siderably disheartened, continued iheir opeiations until the 12th, when General Lane arrived at the citjr with large reinforce- ments for the American armj, and soon cleared it of the enemy. In his march to Puebla, Lane had encountered the forces of Santa Anna, at the town of Huamantia, (October 9th.) Leaving his train packed at the hacienda of Tamaris, he sent forward part of his forces, with Captain Walker's mounted men in ad- vance, with instructions to drive the enemy from the town. Vraen within about three miles. Walker olwerved parties of horseiuen galloping in the same direction, and accordingly push» d tbrward at a rapid pace toward Huamantia. At the samv 1 'm9, about two thousand lancers came over the neighbour- ing 'iuL.; imseen by Walker, and approached the town. )n ^riving near the main plaza. Captain Walker discovered jiborjt f. re hundred of the enemy drawn up there, and imme- diau ' > rdered a charge. The Mexicans were deleated, and driven through the city, until the arriyal of their reinforcements. After fighting three-quarters of an hour, the captain succeeded in taking two pieces of artillery, but was not able to use them. Immediately after this success, the gallant and chivalric Walker was mortally wounded. Perhaps no officer, sacrificed in our struggle with Mexico, was ever more sincerely lamented. The total loss of the Americans was thirteen killed, and eleven wounded ; that of the enemy more than one hundred. One brass six-pounder, a mountain howitzer, with some wagons, and a large quantity of ammunition were captured. ENERAL LANE remained in Puebla until the 18th, when, ascertaining that Gerv Tal iy' '•. ^*t•i mm 694 BATTLE OF MATAMORAS. and other public property had been collected, and also that several American soldiers were confined there, in close imprisonment, I moved from Puebla toward that place at seven o'clock, on the evening of the 22d instant, with one piece of artillery, and one hundred and sixty men. Although retarded by five hours rain, we reached Matamoras at seven o'clock on the 23d— accomplisli- ing a march of fifty four miles in twelve hours. Coming upon the advance guard of the enemy, we charged and drove them in upon the main body. In this short and sanguinary action from sixty to eighty of the enemy were killed and wounded. We did not lose a man. Twenty-one American soldiers were set free, and restored to the service, armed with muskets and mornted upon horses taken from the enemy. Three pieces of broi ':ed artillery, twelve tons of shot, twelve boxes of fixed ammunition, twenty-seven bales escopette and musket balls, seven bales slo\» and quick matches, five hundred muskets, five hundred sabres, one hundred horses, medical stores and other public property fell into our hands. Of tbese the muskets, ammunition, artillery, and sabres were distributed among the men; the remainder destroyed. ARL Y on the morning of the 24th, we moved toward Puebla. While moving with diffi- culty through a long mountainous pass (Pass de Galaxra) five miles from Matamoras, the train became considerably extended. The \\ artillery and four wagons containing captured property, and driven.by Mexicans, had fallen in the rear, and were slowly progressing under my immediate superintendence, when it was reported that the enemy had ap- peared in front. Colonel Hays was immediately ordered to repair to the head of the column, and to engage the enemy with the advance guard. He formed a small party of observation, pursued by about two hundred lancers. These he charged, broke and pursued across an extended plain, and up a long precipitous ascent, toward the mountains from which they had made the attack. Here they were reinforced by a reserve of five hundred lancers, under General Rea. As Hays's men numbered but about thirty-five, and were not only destitute of NEGOTIATIONS OF PEA.CB. 666 nbres, but had preyiously discharged their reTolvers and rifles, he ordered them to retire to their original position. This order they coolly obeyed under the full charge of all the lancers. When the colonel reached the main body, the artillery opened upon the Mexicans, and they retired to the neighbouring mountains. Oui loss was two killed and two wounded. " At about ten o'clock a. m. of the 26th, we arrived at Atlisco. After four hours' repose we moved on to Puebla, where we arrived without further molestation, at two o'clock in the after- noon, having been absent sixty hours." On the 12th of January, 1848, Colonel Hays with about one hundred rangers, and a few Illinois volunteers, was sent in pur- suit of the Padre Jarauta. On arriving pt a hacienda near Teo- tihuacan, the party halted, unsaddled their horses, and lay down in careless repose. While in this condition, they were suddenly attacked by the padre and a party of guerillas. A sharp contest ensued, which lasted several minutes. About one hundred and fifty shots were fired by the rangers, and one hundred by the Mexicans — ^the balls of the latter passing over their opponents' heads, without producing any effect. Eight Mexicans were killed, and the remainder fled in all directions. Jarauta received several wounds, and was observed to reel in his saddle as though ready to fall. The Americans escaped without injury. After this skirmish, little of interest transpired in either army until the latter end of January, when General Scott, in company with Mr. Trist, opened negotiations of peace with the Mexican commissioners, Luis G. Cuevas, Bernardo Conto, and Miguel Atristain, assuming as a basis the articles formerly proposed by Mr. Trist, and rejected by Santa Anna. The most important of these were the cession of a large portion of California and all of New Mexico to the United States, for a stipulated sum ; the adoption of the Rio Grande as far as the Gila, for a boundary between the two countries ; the surrender of all posts, cities, fort- resses, etc., captured during the war; and the full ratification of the treaty of April 5th, 1831. The new treaty also provides that twelve thousand American troops should remain in the city of Mexico, until certain obligations are complied with. The remainder of the army are to be withdrawn. 656 RATIFICATION OF THB TREATY. 'i As commander-in-ohief of the American array, General Soott accepted this treaty from the Mexican congress, and forwarded it iuitnediately to Washington. It arrived in tiiat city on the 5M)th of February, and was laid before the President, who, i the 22d, submitted it to the Senate, accompanied by a message. Considering the importance of the measure, it passed through that body with unexampled rapidity, being adopted with but slight alterations on the 10th of March — the Senate bein- out of session part of the time, in consequence of the death of ex- president Adams. The vote stood thirty-seven to fifteen, four members being absent. This decided majority evinces the weariness with which all parties had begun to regard the war, and the earnest desire for a speedy and honourable peace. Bv an article in this treaty, it was made obligatory upon the Ameiican government to withdraw its troops from the Mexican territory, within three months after t})e final ratification, unless prevented by the approach of the sickly season. Accordingly, the first care of the officers was, the organization of military parties to collect the military stores, and transmit them, under strong escorts, to Vera Cruz, the point of embarkation for the United States. ThijstJ w^ie fo?!ov,'ed by the army in detachments, led by oflicers appointed i ur the occasion. The whole was superin- tended by Major-General Butler, acting commander-in-chief, assisted by the American C/ommissioner and generals, then in Mexico. Every facility was afforded by the Mexican authori- ties, and by the inhabitants generally. By the end of June the whole American force had been withdra^wn, a service which, although of llie most arduous kind, was admirably performed by both officers and men, without any material accident. IBS KNS. jral Soot*. forwarded Xy on tho t, who, a ', message. 1 through with but bein- out ath of ex- teen, four inces the I the war, ice. upon the I Mexican >n, unless ingly, the ry parties ier strong le United nents, led 8 superin- r-in-chief, I, then in n authori- June the 30 which, performed at.