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CAMPAIGNS
. I'
OF THE
WAR OF 1812-15,
AGAINST
GREAT BlUTAIN,
SKETCHED AND CRITICISED;
WITH
Irtaf ^iojnijiIibH
OF THE
AMERICAN ENGINEERS,
BY
BVT. MAJOf^-GENERAL GEOp W. CULLUM,
COLONEL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY-RETIRED.
t -^
NP:VV YORK:
JAMKS MILLER, PUBLISHER
779 BROADWAY.
1879.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
QF.ORGE W. CULLUM,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress. Washington, D. C.
A. <!. SHKliwooD A Co., PrlnlerB, 7« Nlath St., N. Y.
PREFACE.
This w<U{K does not profess to ijjive a minute
History of the War of 1812-15, by the United States
ai,'ainst Great Bi'itain ; but the sketches of the Cam-
paigns are sutticiently detailed for an intelligent
understanding of their military features, and to indi-
cate their tactical and strategical errors. Each Cam-
paign is illustrated with a good skeleton Map of its
Theatre of Operations and with outline Plans of its
principal Battles, Sieges, etc. ; for most of whicli I
am deeply indel^ted to the Messrs Hai-pers Brothers,
who courteously y -"litted me to copy them from
the "Pictorial Field -jk of the War of 1812, by
Benjamin J. Lossing " — the distinguished author of
so many valuable histories.
The Biographical Sketches of our American
Engineers, interwoven with the narrations of the
cam[)aigns of this war, are of men who, in character,
intelligence and love of country, were the worthy
successors of oui' patriot soldiers of the Revolution.
For most of the materials with which to write the
sketch, in Chapter I., of General Jonathan
Williams, I am greatly indebted to his son, lately de-
ceased, under whose hospitable roof, at Chestnut Hill,
PUEr'ACE.
near Pliiludelpliia, I lia<l jtlaccd at my disposal all of
his fatliei''s well preserved public and private papers.
For tlie ])rej)ai'atioii of the sketch, in ('ha|>ter II., I
had great advantages, having, after l)eing graduated
at the Militai'v Academy, served my ])i"ofeHsional
ajiprenticeship under (rKXiiiiAL 'J'ottkn, and con-
tiinied sul)ject to liis orders, as ('liief Kngineer of the
Army, till his death in ISfU. After vexatious
delays and much tedious correspon<lence in search
of data for writing the sketch, in ('ha[>ter III., of
LiEUT.-CoLONKL Wooi», I fortunately discovered, at
last, the residence of the survivors of his brothers'
families, who have been untiring in hunting up a
few precious })a])ers from which I have piepared an
account of this knightlv soldiei-. For sketching
General Swiff's biograjdiy, in Chaj)ter IV., I had
every desirable facility, his brother, formerly a
prominent ofiicei' of Toj)ograi)hical Engineers, having
given me free access to the General's diary and his
many valuable papers. The preparation (►f the
sketch, in Chapter V., of Colonel McUee, was a
very difficult task, as he wrote little, and I had,
therefore, mainly to rely uj)on my recollection of
conversations with otiicers who had served with him
on the Niagara and else^vhere. Major Douclass,
the subject of Chapter VI., I })ers()nally knew and
had all his professional papers placed at my disposal
through the courtesy of his worthy son — Rev. Mai-
PUKFACVE.
O
eoliii Doui^Iuss, D.l). F(tr flu* sliort sketch of Gkn-
KUAL Akmisti;ai>, in Cliaptcr \'II. my iiiat«M'iaIs were
very iiieanre. Of Ma.hui IwAToik, wliose l)i<>gra])liy
is briefly sketelietl in Cluipter N'lII., I extremely
rei^i'et I could learn l>ut little, tliougli eveiy avenue
of information was thorouglily explored, in which 1
had the most etticient assistance of my friend, (Nil-
(Hiel Kdwai-d A. I'alfrey, of New Orleans. The
sketches, in Chajiter IX., are of Kn(;ixkkks, with
some of whom 1 enjoyed years of [)ersonal intimacy.
As a fitting appendix to my work, I have given
in Chapter X., the giaphic Jochxal of Likct.-
CoLoxKL AVooD, while Chief Kngineer of Major-Gen-
eral Harrison, in his Northwestern Campaigns of
1812-18. This Journal, often quoted from by his-
torians of the War of 1812-15, never before has
been published. Through the great kindness of the
ColoneFs niece, Mrs. I). G. Dodge of House's Point,
N. Y., I ])rocured the original niannscript, with the
excei)tion of a few missing [)ages, and to prevent fur-
ther loss of any part of this valual)le document, I
obtained her consent to its appearance in this work.
These ten chaptei's make up a volume, which I
trust will pi'ove woi'thy of the })erusal of historical
students.
G. W. C.
315 Fifth Avenue,
New Yobk City, June 17, 1879.
CONTENTS.
CMAl'TKU FIlfST.
PA<»E
MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAUSES OF THE WAK ; WITH
A BIOGUAPIIICAL SKETCH OF HUIOADIEU-CENEIIAL
WILLIAMS, 9
CHAPTER SECOND.
CAMPAIGN OF 1812 ; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH G. TOTTEN. ... 65
C^IIAPTER THIRD.
WESTERN CAMPAIGN OF 1813; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL ELEAZER D. WOOD, . 91
CHAPTER FOURTH.
EASTERN CAMPAIGN OF 1813; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCH OF BRIG. -GENERAL JOSEPH G. SWIFT, . HI
CHAPTER FIFTH.
CAMPAIGN OF 1814 ; WITH A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
COLONEL WILLIAM McREE, 199
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER SIXTH.
PAGE
SIEGE AND DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE, IN 1814 ; WITH A
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR DAVID BATES
DOUGLASS 234
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAIGN OF 1813-14 ; WITH A BIOGRAPH-
ICAL SKETCH OF BRIG.-GENERAL WALKER K.
ARMISTEAD 269
CHAPTER EIGHTH.
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF ISU-lo ; WITH A BIOGRAPH-
ICAL SKETCH OF MAJOR A. LACARRIERE LATOUR, 305
CHAPIER NINTH.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ENGINEERS ENG
THE WAR OF 18)2-15,
BRIG.-GENERAL CHARLES GRATIOT,
(CAPTAIN WILLIAM PARTRIDGE,
BRIG.-GENERAL SYLVANUS THAYER.
BRIG.-GENERAL RENI^ E. DE RUSSY,
LIEUT. GEORGE TRESCOT, .
LIEUT. HORACE C. STORY, .
\GED IN
342
342
;i53
354
355
360
361
CHAPTER TENTH.
JOURNAL OF THE NORTHWESTERN CAMPAIGN OF 1812 13,
UNDER MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM H. HARRISON.
BY BVT. LIEUT-COLONEL ELEAZER D. WOOD, CAPT.
CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, . . . .362
CHAPTER FIRST.
MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAUSES OP THE WAR;
WITH A BIOCJRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
BRIG.-GENERAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
•ExpERiEXCE in the first eainpaigiis of tlie War of
the Revolution strongly impressed on the mind of
Washington the absolute necessity of a systematic
anny organization. His chief difficulty in carrying
out such a plan was to obtain properly instructed
engineei's which, except the few wlio had seen service
at Louisburg, Crown Point, Ticonderoga and QueV)ec,
were not to be found in the country ; hence common
surveyoi's, men with a modicum of scientific knowl-
edge, and adventurers professing to have been edu-
cated in foreiiiii military schools, were often com-
missioned with liigh rank in the C\mtinental Amiy.
Washington's correspondence is filled with com-
plaints of the impei-fect qualifications and the paucity
of engineers in the army. To Congi'ess, July 10,
1775, he writes of his lack of engineers to direct the
defenses of Boston, "the skill of those we have being
very impeiTect " ; to (xovernor Trumbull, Nov. 2, 1775,
he says: "I sincerely wish this camp could furnish a
good engineer"; and to the Committee of Safety of
Pennsylvania, June 17, 1776, which had applied to
10 MILITARY EDUCATIOX AND CAUSES OF THE WAR.
him for an engineer to erect a redoubt at Billiiigspoi*t,
he rej)lies : " I liave but one cm whose judgment I
should wish to depend in hiying out any work of tlie
least consequence. Congress well know my wants in
this instance aii<l several of my late letters to them
have pressed the api)ointment of gentlemen (jualified
for the business," Congress authorized a Corps of
Engineers, Dec. 27, 177H, but most of tliose emj)loyed
proving to be incompetent charlatans. Congress at
last, through our Commissioners at Paris — Dr.
Franklin and Silas Deane — was compelled to ask
Louis XVI. for engineers; for, said the sarcastic
General Charles Lee, " we had not an officer who knew
the difference between a chevan.v-dr-fri.sH and a cab-
bage garden." From this time till the end of the
Revolution we probal^ly had in service some thirty
engineer officers, mostly foreigners, exclusive of those
attached to the three com])anies of engineer troops —
all of whom, on tlie conclusion of peace, were dis-
banded.
From the termination of the War of Indepen-
dence, in 1783, to the end of his life, AVasliington
urged upon his country the importance of military
instruction. Before the Continental Army was dis-
banded, he called ui)on his general officers, April 14,
1788, to present their \'iews with reference to a peace
establishment, to enable him to prepare his elaborate
report to Congress, in which military education was
strongly recommended. No such j)rovision having
been made, AVashington, in his speecli to Congress,
December 8, 1793, asks whether, in the act more
effectually to provide for the national defense, "a
BRIG.-GENEltAL .JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
11
iHJiterial feature in our ini])r<)veinent of it ought not
to he to afford an opportunity for tlie study <^f those
branches of the military art which can scarcely ever
be attained by practice alone." On this reconinien-
dation, Congress in 1794 created the subaltei'u grade
of Cadet, tlie cadets being attached to their regi-
ments and "furnished at the jniblic ex])ense with tlie
necessary books, instruments and ap]>ai'atus '' foi' their
instruction ; but this plan of educating ycumg oiticers
at their posts was f(MUi<l inii)racticable ; hence Wash-
ington, in liis last animal message, December 7, 17.Hi,
again ui'ged in the most cogent language the estal)-
lishment of a Military Academy, where a ivgular
course of instruction in the science of war could
be given, "Whatever argument," says he, "may
be drawn from particular examples, supei'iicially
viewed, a thorough examination of the sul)ject will
evince that the art of war is at once com])rehensive
and conn)licated ; that it demands much ])revious
study ; and the possession of it, in its most imi)roved
and pei-fect state, is always of great moment to tlie
security of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a
serious care of everv wvernment." After leavinir
the executive chaii-, he writes, December 18, 1798, to
the Secretary of War upon the importance of having
good engineers and artillerists, and the impossibility
of forming them suddenly, when " much i)revioiis
study and experience are essential." Again, May l'^,
1799, he writes to liim earnestly upon the necessity
of having instructed engineers; and finally, two days
before his death, Decem})er 12, 1799, in his last pub-
lic letter, he says to (General Alexander Hamilton :
^^mm
12 MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAUSES OF THE WAR.
"The establishment of a Military Academy upon a
respectable and extensive basis has ever been con-
sidered by me as an object of primary importance to
this country ; and Avhile I was in the chair of govern-
ment, I omitted no proper op])oi'tunity of recom-
mending it in my public speeches, and otherwise to
the attention of the legislature."
At last his earnest efforts and those of the patriot
statesmen and generals of the Revolution, secui'ed
the establishment, March 16, 1802, of the Military
Academy at West Point, then a school for ten Cadets
of Engineers and forty of Artillery ; and now a
world renowned institution, educating over three
hundred pupils for all branches of service in the
Anny.
General Jonathan Willia:\is, the first Superin-
tendent of the Military Academy, is so identified
with its early struggles, and by his noble character
so fashioned the future of his pupils, particularly
those of his own cor))s — our American Engineers,
who participated in the War of 1812-15, against
Great Britain — that we must enter somewliat into
the details of liis biography, though, for reasons
which will appear, he took no active part in our
second struggle for Independence.
Jonathan Williams was boi'n. May 2(), 1750, in
Boston, Mass. Ilis father, of the same name, was a
much respected merchant largely engaged in the
West India trade ; was a staunch Whig and aiiKmg
the foremost [)at riots who took part in the struggle
of the Colonists against the mother country; was
moderator, in 1773, of the memorable meetings at
RUIG.-dK.VKKAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
13
Faiieiiil Hall to f(»rl)i<l the landing of tlie tea, sub-
8e(|uently thrown into the harbor; and in 1775,
became a fugitive from B(^8ton, tlien occujned by
Britisli troo[)s who burned liis store and seized all liis
property. His mother, Grace Williams (^nee Harris),
a lady of good abilities and cultivated tastes, was the
niece of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
Young Williams received a good English edu-
cation, but before it was completed lie was placed
in his father's counting house to be brought up as a
merchant. He was an intelligent and studious boy,
devoting all his leisure to the ac(piirement of knowl-
edge, thus obtaining a considerable proficiency in the
classics and a ready and familiar acquaintance with
the French language without even a master, his father
refusing him one because of his dislike to French
principles. Williams' letters from the West Indies
and many parts of Europe where he traveled, dis-
play his maturity of Judgment, excellent business
faculties, and clear conceptions of men and things.
He went to England in 1770, taking up his resi-
dence with his grand-uncle, Dr. Franklin, to whom
he made himself very useful by putting his accounts
in complete order — a labor so liighly appreciated by
Franklin that he presented to Williams a handsome
gold watch, ui)on receiving which he remarked that
he would nuich prefer the Doctor's old one, which
was given to him and is now a family heirloom.
Ever after he was a great favorite of his grand-uncle.
He returned to Boston, in 1771, where lie was
engaged for three years in mercantile pursuits. Just
after the famous Boston "tea-party" of Dee. 16,
^
14 MILITARY EDFCATION AXT) CATTSES OF THE WAR.
1773, lie again went to England, and pi'ol)a])ly car-
ried abroad the first account of this bold proceeding,
as will appear from the following letter to liis fatlier :
"After seeing my merchants, I went to see tlie Doc-
tor (Franklin) whom I found in exceeding good
health and spirits, and was welcomed by him with a
degree of joy and affection which surpassed even
the expectations I had formed from the former
proofs I received of extensive goodness and friend-
ship. I waited again on my uncle, ]>ut he was not
at home; went then to Lord Dartmouth's (Colonial
Secretary) at whose levee I met my uncle. After
sending my name and business, I was inunediately
admitted to his lordship, who received me with great
l)oliteness. AVhen he had read the letters he asked
me many questions, which I answered as well as I
was able. I told him of the opinion of tlie people,
their firmness, their determination, and their inten-
tion of a junction of the colonies, which I delivered
perhaps not in polite, but in American language. I
left out nothing which I thought would give his lord-
slii}) a true idea of the importance and virtue of the
Americans, and having the strictest truth for my
guide, I was not in the least confused nor abashed,
but spoke as I would to any other man. He heard
me with great politeness and although I frecpiently
discovered a sense of the impropriety of the admin-
istration, he seemed ]ileased. He then asked me my
private opinion. 'Mr. Williams,' said he, 'I wish to
come at truth, and as a man alone, shall be glad of
your sentiments with regard to the disposition of the
Americans. I ask it as a private gentleman; this
.^r
BRIO.-OHNEItAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
15
convei'Hation is confidential, and you may depend I
shall make no public use of what you tell me.' I
made some little apology for my inferiority in point of
abilities, but said, that as he had assured me we wei-e
private gentlemen, 1 would relate to him all I knew ;
but being unused to elegant addresses, I should pre-
sume on his indulgence, and deliver my sentiments
in mv own unadorned way, and endeavor to utter
sim[)le truths, without confounding the matter by
seeking to establish the manner. I then told him
that the Americans never would submit; that they
would not be surprised when the <>ther acts should
arrive; that they ex})ected the worst, and were
accordingly prepared ; tliat I believed the junction
would take place ; and that they thought now or
never was the time ; that they supposed by submis-
sion they would make themselves the most abject
slaves on eai'th ; and that by opposition they could
not be worse ; that Parliament had no right to tax
them ; and that they would die by this opinion ; and
that a universal non-exportation would l)e attended
with salutary effects. His lordship, after some time,
asked me if I knew ' Mr. Williams who appeared as
moderator of that assembly (the meeting at Faneuil
Hall).' He is my father, my lord. 'And is your
father a principal in these disturbances ? Mr. AVil-
liams, how comes that, sir^ My father, my h)rd, is
an honest man, and one who seeks not fame. He
was in that meeting as any other man might be,
and when chosen was much suqu'Ised ; he expressed
himself as being unacquainted with the oiRce ; and
on the motion being put, and passed in the negative,
16 MILITAUV KUrCATION AND CAl SKri OF TIIH WAU.
f
he tlierefore officiated. ]V[y fjitlier, my lord, lias
been so little, heretofore, engaged in political dis-
putes, that I was as much surprised as I should he
had your lordshij) been in the desk. But, my lord,
I am only relating facts ; it is not for me to disj)ute
on the merit or demerit of my fathers conduct, but
I am sure he acted according to the dictates of his
conscience and upon horiest princi})les ; and thus
acting I hope your lordship will not think him
wrong, though you may not agree in sentiment. He
smiled, and after })aying me a compliment for my
plainness antl freedom, said laughingly, so, then,
your father may say with Falstaft* : ' Some men are in
pursuit of honor, but others have honors in pursuit
of them.' "
He writes again, in September, 1774, that he antici-
pated warm work in Parliament, and that greater
opposition than is expected would be encountered in
the ministry ; but that our unanimity and firmness
nuist eventually gain the point.
After a shoi*t visit to France, he writes, May 15,
1775, from London almost prophetically. He says:
" I have passed two months in the most agreeable
manner possible, except with regard to my reflections
relative to my unhaj)py coimtry, which ahvays at-
tend me wherever I go * * * The French are
all in oiir favor. They suj)po8e England to have
arrived at its pinnacle of glory, and that the Empire
of America will ris;^ on the ruins of this Kingdom ;
and I really believe that when we shall be involved
in civil war, they will gladly embrace the first op])or-
t unity of renewing their attacks on an old enemy,
BRia.-GEXERAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
17
wlio tliey imau^ine will be so wealceued by its interiijil
broils, as to become an easy c;on([uest. Altlu)ii<T^li I
profess myself an American, I am still an Enj^lisli-
man ; I only wish the titles to be synonymous;* and
therefore do not liope for the destruction of this
country; I only wish the jn-osperity of my own; and
that its rij^hts and i)rivileo:es may ever I'emain in-
violate, to secure which no sacrifice should be thouii'lit
too dear; so I do not ffive the French so much
credit for their ]>artiality, for I believe it to jn'oceed
in general more from a hatred to England, than ah)ve
to us ; though in some particulars, I believe the natural
rights of humanity are the basis of their opinions."
Full of youthful hope that our differences with
the mother country Avould yet be reconciled, he had
nearly completed a mercantile cimnection Avith a
large Ensrlish house extensivelv eiiijaged in the West
India trade, when the inevitable sej)aration of the
two ct)untries decided liim to quit England and
reside in France. Writitrg from Nantes, Feb. 11,
1777, he says : " When I wrote to you from England
I was in the ex])ectation of taking up my residence
in that country. The scene is now changed ; and
since it becomes a question which of the Uvo coun-
tries I Avould prefer in a separate state, I did not
hesitate to (piit all my lucrative views, and to come
hither, to do all the service I can, without expecta-
tion of further emolument than a subsistence. It is
n(^t improbable that I shall engage in the American
• See " Sabine's Loyalists in America " for the sentiments at thl? time
of Adams, and other distinguished Americans with regard to England.
18 MrLiTAUY KorrATroN axd cafsks of the war.
trade ill some ])ai't of Fruncc, or ivturii to some ])art
of America, diarized witli tlie maiiai^ement of com-
mercial matters. Wliatever I do in this way will T)e
upon a large scale, and whilst I am doinu!; essential
service to my country, I may advance my (►wn for-
tune. In this, however, I make a distinction ; what-
ever I am ca])al)le of doin<( for the benefit of the
cause, I will undertake, with pleasure, gratis; hut
otherwise, in all commercial enu:a<i:ements with indi-
vidiials of another nation."
These letters, of which there are many others,
be it remembered, were the effusions of a young
man of twenty-six, yet how simply and forcibly ex-
pressed ; what an exhil)ition of self-reliance and
conscious rectitude; how full of patriotic fire and
indignation against wrong ; what perception of the
springs of ^ human action and knowledge of their
effects ; and, gras[)ing the significance of ])assing
events, liow pr()])hetic of the future ! His letters to
Dr. Franklin, then in America, and to Rol)ert
Morris, one of his cherished corres])ondeiits, breathe
a like love of country, and display a large insight
into men and nations.
As a commercial assent of the United States at
Nantes, thougli separated from the land he loved,
and deeply interested in her struggle for indepen-
dence, he performed, with honorable fidelity, his
l)romise of gratuitously doing all in his power for
the freedom of America.
He married, Sept. 12, 1779, Marianine Alexander,
dauijhter of William Alexander of Edinburi::, in
Scotland, a connection of Lord Stirling. The cere-
BRIO.-fJENKKAL JONATHAN AVILTJAMS.
19
numy took \Aiive in Paris, in tlie cliaiu'l of the Dutcli
Aiiihassador, Dr. Franklin Itcin*; ))reMent.
lie was aj)i»ointe<l, in 178.'i, l)y tlie Fanners-Gen-
eral of France, as their auent to sn))]»ly tlieni witli
tohacro, tlien and now a <i;ovei'nnient monopoly, which
took him to St. (Termain-en-La\e. iVftei* two years
he returned to Amei'ica with Di-. Franklin, takinir
U]) his residence in Philadelj)hia.
Diiriiii^ the next three years lie remained in the
United States, enii'aijfed in settlinij and ari-ani:;in_i2: his
aifairs which had become involved in conse(|Uence
of the wai', the de])reciation of the currency, and
the ditHculty of collecting debts. Duiingthis period
of comparative leisure he devoted himself to scien-
tific ])ursuits, for which he had a givat fondness;
attended several courses of Medical lectures; pub-
lished numerous [diilosojdiical papers; received,
July 18, 17s7, from Harvard Univei'sity the degree
of A. M. ; and, July 20, 1788, became Mend)er and
Secretary of the Amei'ican Phil()so])hical Society, to
whose transactions he contril)ute(l numerous ))apers.
He went to England, Nov. 80, 178i), for the last
time to bring back his family to Philadeljihia, which
he selected as his future Inmie to enalde him to l)e
near his earliest, kindest and dearest friend — Dr.
Franklin; but (ni his return in August, 1790, he
received the melancholy tidings that the great phi-
h)sopher and eminent statesman was no more.
At "Mount Pleasant," his beautiful country seat
on the banks of the Schuylkill, near Philadeljdna
(now within the Fairmount Park), suri'oinided by
his interesting family and enjoying the respect of a
20 MILITAUV KDIJCATION ANU C'AITSKS OF TIIK WAK.
1jii'i(<^ Mocial circle, lie devoted Iiim time to the duties
of Ji useful citizeu aud tlie pursuit of conireuial
studies — Matlieinatics, Pliilosopliy, Medicine, Botany
aud even Law; ac([uirin«2; enouti:li of the hitter to
Hul)se([ueutly become a Judjj^e of the C'ourt of ('om-
mon Ph^as in Phihideljdiia.
In his various voya_a^es lie had noticed that the
thermometer fell when the vessel approached sound-
ini^s, either over a Lank or on the coast. It occuri'ed
to him that this would be a certain protection at the
trifling expense of a nautical thermometer. After
repeating his exi)eriments many times, he was sat-
isfied that the temperature of the sea over banks was
colder than the main ocean in the inv^erse ratio to
the depth. The importance of this discovery he set
forth before the American Philosophical Society,
Nov. 19, 1790, subsequently publishing his paper in a
small volume, entitled " Thermometrical Navigation."
He accompanied, in 1794, the forces to quell the
western insurrection in Pennsylvania ; and, under the
act of Feb. 23, 1795, he held provisionally, from
April 28 to May 28, 1800, the position of Purveyor
of Public Supplies, "vvhose duty, under the direction
and supervision of the Secretary of the Treasiir}',
was " to conduct the procuring and providing of all
arms, military and naval stores, provisions, clothing,
Indian goods, and, generally, all articles of supply
requisite for the service of the United States."
President Adams appointed Williams, Feb, 16,
1801, a Major in the Second Regiment of Artillerists
and Engineers, and on Dec. 14th following. President
Jefferson, under the act of March 3, 1799, commis-
iuir<).-(jKM;ijAr. .ionatii.w wii,i,iams.
21
sioned liini Inspector of Fortifications. In tlie sum-
nier of 1801, Willijiins made a tour of insjtcction
along tlie Oliio River from Pittsljui'g to Cantonment
Massac (eleven miles helou' the mouth of the Ten-
nessee); and, as ordered while making this tour of
inspection, went to West Point and assumed com-
man<l, Dec. 15, 1801, of the embryo Military School
which jM'eceded the present Military Academy.
Mr. Jefferson (with John Adams and Henjamin
Fi'anklin) one of the U. S. Conunissioners to ne<»:o-
giate commercial treaties with Eui'o|)ean nations, was
introduced at Paris, in 1784, to Williams, then an agent
of the ?\irmers-(Teneral of France at St. Germain-en-
Laye. This ac([uaintance ripened into nuitual a])pre-
ciation and esteem, and a consefpience was, tliat
when Jefferson became President of the United States,
he transferred, A])ril 1, 1802, Major AVilliams to the
head of the (^u'ps of Fjigineers created by the
recent law of March 1(5, 1802, in which it was pro-
vided that the Principal Engineer should have the
Superintendence of the Militaiy Academy. On the
8th July, following, he was promoted to be Lieut.-
Colonel.
It was truly fortunate iov the Military Academy
that its first Su[)erintendeut was such a man as Major
Williams, with the ripe experience of fifty-two years
of an eventful life; with the patriot instincts of
his Revolutionary sire ; with a mind liberally edu-
cated and stored with much scientific and general
information ; with the pen of a ready writer which
had done good service in our struggle for independ-
ence ; with a judgment matured by a mercantile
22 MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAUSES OF THE WAR.
iiitercoui'se abroad and liigli social position at liome ;
with great decision of character and nntii-ing zeal in
the public service ; and withal a most kind and ])()]-
ished gentleman and a l^rave and chivalric soldier.
To* such pledges for success in his impoi-tant com-
mand, he added industry, exactness, patience and be-
nevolence ; hence under his eminent example the
Academy quickly received tone and character, stead-
ily advanced in discij^line and usefulness, and brought
forth golden fruit in its distinguished graduates.
Major AVilliams assumed his new command,
May 13, 1802, but did not take up his residence at
West Point till July 3d following. Mean^vhile, in
various connnunications to the Secretary (►f AVar and
others, he presented his views of the object and \\ants
of tlie projected Academy. He reconunended tlie pur-
chase of the best military and scientific books; the
procuring of })hilos()phical and other apparatus; the
enn)loyment of artificers to make models; the detnil
of soldiers for general ^vork ; and pro[)osed brief
regulations for conducting studies, for occupancy of
existing ])uildings, and for the command of the insti-
tution and post of West Point — the headtpiarters of
the Corps of Engineers which, luuler the law of
March 16, 1802, constituted the "Military Academy."
Under Majo)' Williams, as Su]Hrintendent, the
Military Academy was formally ojiened for insti-uc-
tion July 4, 1802, with nine Cadets* — Joseph G.
■/>
''fi
■m
* Cadet literally means a younger l)rother ; in France a young volunteer
without pay and not enrolled, to whom a discharge cannot be refused ;
In Spain, a junior volunteer oincor ; m England and the United States a
student in a military school preparing to be fitted for a commissioned officer
4
It
i
-S
'f
3
BRI(K-(tENEUAL JOXATIIAN WILLIAMS.
28
Swift, Joseph Proveaux, Simon M. Levy, Ileiirv B.
Jackson, Samuel Gates, William (rates, A\'alker K.
Armistead, John Lillie and John Livingston — all of
whf)m, exoe[)t the h>st, had been a})j)ointed prioi- to
the law of March lO, 1802, which authorized ten
Cadets of enijineers and forty of artillery. The
Superintendent was without any military staff, and
there w^ere only two teachers — Ca])tains AMlliam x\m-
herst Barron and Jared Mansfield of the Cor])s of
Engineers — l)oth giving instruction in Mathematics,
the former in the line of geometrical, the latter in
that of algebraic demonstration.
Witli these slight a])])liances, instruction was
necessarily much circumscribed ; but AVilliams aspired
to something higher than those feeble beginnings, as
a})i>ears from one of his letters to an Engineer ofticei",
in AVashington, in which lie says : " Li your conver-
sations with the Secretary of ^Yar pi*ay impress upon
liis mind the importance of making any candidate
for a commission serve some time as a Cadet, and
then give proof of his merit before lie is promoted.
* * * Young men who care for nothing ])ut the
extei'ior of an officer, have no ])usiness among us.
In all your conversations with the Secretary never
lose sight of our leading xtdr, which is not a little
mathematical school, but a gi'eat National Establish-
i»ient to turn out characters which in the course of
time shall e([ual any in Europe. * * * We must
always have it in mind that our officers are to be
men of science, and such as will by theii' ac<piire-
ments be entitled to the ii(>tice of learned societies.
Could we arrive at such a state before the present
24 MILITAUY P:DUCATI0N and causes of the WAll.
peace is disturbed, we may defy foreign invaders of
all nations."
AVitli a few Cadets and the addition by law of a
Teacher of French and Drawing, the institution
struggled on in its end)ryonic condition till the
beginning of the academical session in April, 1808.
Up to this time a Company of Artillery had been
stationed at AVest Point to guard public property
stored there after the Revolution. Between the
Captain commanding this Company and the Super-
intendent of the Military Academy (piestions of
authority had ai'isen which continued till May 21,
1808, when Captain Izard ^vas ordered to Norfolk,
Va., leaving, however, a detachment of his Company
luider Lieut. Osborne, thereby lessening but not
removing the cause of irritation between the com-
mander of the troops and that of the Academy.
Lieut.-Colonel AVilliams, whose duties as Chief
Engineer had taken him to North Carolina to inspect
the Coast Defences, on his return through A\ ashing-
ton, in an interview with the Secretary of AVar to
whom he had submitted the question of the rights
of his command at AA^est Point, found liis authority
over the troops would not be sustained by General
Dearborn, then at the head of the AVar Department,
whereupon, ^vitllout a moment's hesitation, he threw
uj) his connnission, by which the Cori)s of Engineers
lost its efficient Chief, his officers their adored father,
and the Military Academy its devoted and distin-
guished Superintendent.
In his letter of resignation of June 20, 1803, he
says :
^ll
BKIG.-GENEUAL JOXATHAX WILLIAMS.
25
3, he
"Notliinu: is more orratifvinii: to my mind than tlie
])nrsuit of scientific o])jects, and tlie station I was
placed in, by tlie partiality of the President of the
United States, gave me the pleasing hope that my
future life would he so employed as at once to pro-
duce the best effect to my country that I am cajiable
of, in the manner the most pleasing to my taste and
disposition.
" The answer you liave just been pleased to make
to cei-tain points, which I had the honor of submit-
ting to you })revious to my going to North Carolina,
gives me the painful certainty that I can no longer
hold my commission without a sense of humiliation
which would not only render me contemptible in my
own eyes, but totally destroy every shade of respect-
ability with the ofiicers of the Corps I conunand.
"I hope, sir, that notwithstanding this difference
of oj)inion, you will represent me to the President
in the most res])ectful terms, and believe that I am
not infiuenced by any other motive than what I have
stated."
The next day the Secretary urged Lieut.-Colonel
Williams not to resign, but as there was no chance
in the Secretary's views, he adhered to his resolution
and soon after took up his residence at Perth Am-
boy, N. J.
The ])oints alluded to in Lieut.-Colonel Williams'
letter of resignati<m, were in substance : That engi-
neer officers have the same military authority, accord-
ing to rank, as officers < >f any other corps ; that two
independent military commands cannot exist at the
same post, and West Point being by law declared to
■^
26 MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAUSP:s OF TIIK WAR.
be the station of the Encfiiieers, the cliief of that
Corps, when of highei" grade, nmst command eveiy-
thing at that post ; tliat the aiitliority to arrest
officers and confine sokliers bekjiigs to
Engineers
in like circumstances as to other officei's ; tliat a
senior Engineer could not be refpiired to accept the
l)arole or countersign from an inferior officer of any
other Corps; and that the proceedings of a Court
Martial ought not to be submitted to the revision of
any officer inferior in rank to the highest engineer
sitting on that court. On these issues the Secretary's
opinion was, in eifect, that, notwithstanding the
General-in-Chief had just i)laced Major Wadsworth
of the Engineers in command of the post and gar-
rison of Ft)rt Adams in the Mississijipi Teri'itory, no
military command should be attached to any officer
of Engineers, asserting tliat this principle was in
accordance with general usage and the practice
during our llevolutionary war.
The Secretary's principle is certainly not to be
found in the law of March 16, 1802, organizing a
Corps of Engineers to consist of officers of various
grades with fixed ranh, pay and emoluments, and
with commissions from the President stj'ictly charging
all officers and soldiers under their command to be
obedient to their orders. Certainly it was never
denied that the officers of the Corps of Aiiillerists
and Engineers, under the old peace establishment,
were entitled to command according to seniority of
rank, equally with the officers of infantry or cavalry,
and why, by the separation of the Corps into two
distinct coi'ps — one of engineers and another of
•3
an<
f(.i
on
Ai-i
the
BRIO.-GENERAL JOXATHAX WTLLIA.AIS.
27
be
mg a
to be
never
erists
iment,
tyof
vaby,
o two
ler of
1
.>s
rJS
artillery — all the aiitliority should be transferred to
<^ne set of offieers and none to tlie other, cannot be
conceived, for the new organization was but a
separation of artillerists from engineers.
Tlie President was not empowered to /'(t/.sc but
to oir/inuze a Corps of Engineers, as was ^vell under-
stood, by the transfer of suitalde officers to it from
the old Cor])s of Artillerists and Engineers. In fact
all were transfei'red witli theii* orii^-inal dates of com-
mission, proving tlie new Cor]is of Artillerists and
the new Coi'ps of Engineei's to be <mly a v<)iiti)iK-
at Ion, in separate branches, of the old Coips of
Artillerists and Engineers. Certaiidy officers trans-
ferred to the Engineers felt at the time elevated, not
(leg faded in rank and authoi-ity, or they would have
lemained in their former Cor])s.
That engineers have and can successfully com-
mand troops is attested by the practice of foreign
nations as well as our own. In our day we have
seen in connnand of corps and armies sucli well
known engineers as Cavaignac, LaMoriciere, Niel
and Valliant in Fi'ance; Gordon in China; Omer
Pasha in the Crimean War; Napier in Al)yssinia ;
and Todleben, recently at the head of the Russian
foi'ces in Turkey. During the late Civil A\'ar, out of
our small ])odv of Euijfineei's eleven commanded
Army Coi'[)s, five each an Army during a portion of
the war, and many commanded Divisions, Briirades
and Uegiments ; wliile on tlie Confederate side three
engineers, Lee, Johnston and Beauregard, com-
manded iijreat Armies.
Without a proper head the Military Academy
28 MILITARY EDUCATIOX AND CAUSES OF THE WAR.
was fast going to destruction, and the only hope of
restoring it was to induce Williams to return to his
old position. An engineer officer writing to him, Oct. 9,
1804, says : " Never was West Point so much in want
of you as at this moment. Everything is going to
ruin. Morals and knowledo-e thrive little and courts
martial and flc)gging prev iil. Tlie Military Academy,
instead of being the seat of knowledge and the place
of application, is fast turning into that of ignorance
and idleness. However, I shall drop the subject, as
I know it must be ])ainful to you." Other officers
of Engineers saw this same deplorable condition of
things and earnestly, by interviews and letters,
entreated Williams to return to service. Headed by
Major Wadsworth, the senior officer, they went so
far, N<^v. 5, 1804, as to pro[)ose a direct appeal to the
President in relation to the points in controversy
which had occasioned Lieut.-Colonel Williams' resiu-
nation. There is no doubt the Secretary of War had
discovered his error ; but pride forbade his confessing
it. Soon after, however, January, 1805, by placing
Lieut. Swift, of the Engineers, in command of the
post and artillery garrison at Fort Johnston, N. C, he
yielded the point at issue to a Subaltern which he had
denied to the Chief, for whose return to service both
he and the President in many ways clearly mani-
fested their sincere desire. General Wilkinson, the
General-in-Chief, who had been most zealous in the
good work, wrote to Lieut.-Colonel Williams : " I can
report nothing more than that I know both the
President and Secretary wish you to resume your
commission ; but there are delicacies on both sides
I
■n
til
IV
BRrG.-(JKNEKAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
29
in the
" I can
til the
e vour
sides
^t
I
which I shuU hi])()i' to accommodate." The folhnving
manly letter from Lieut.-Colonel Williams to General
Wilkinson, dated Jan. 5, 1 805, best expresses his views.
* * * a J l^iiQy^y yonr sentiments with respect to
the rights of the engineers, and were yonr power
e([nal to ycmr disposition to do them justice, I would
have no hesitation in su})mitling everything respect-
ing myself to you ; but there is a consistency of
character which I can by no means consent to forfeit,
and therefore, if I enter the army again, it nuist be
with the full a]^])robatioii of the government, and
with a certainty tliat my situation will be rendered
e(|ually honorable and pei'inanent. * * * How
has it happened that the Corps of Engineers sliould
be degraded below the other j)arts of the armv ? If
it ^vas worth organizing, it was surely worth \vhile
to have more of some sentiment of honor to com-
pose it ; but how can this ever be the case where they
are exposed to be pointed at by the slow-moving
finger of scorn ^vhic]l must inevitably follow the
])resent humiliating system ? A slight, but candid
revision of the situation of the Corps, since this
unfortunate question was first agitated, must evince
the impossibility of its ever being reputably filled
unless its rights are restored to it. Major Wads-
worth avowedlv remains only because he has not at
present other resources, and is taking measures to
enable him to resign.* Captain Mansfield has ob-
tained a more lucrative oflice, and Captain Barron
has assured me that the same reason induces liim to
* Resigned February, 1805,
30 MILITARY EDUCATION AM) CAl'SES OK TlIK U AU.
remain, and is looking out for some other means of
support, and there are no ap[)licants for engineer
commissions. How can /eal be ex})ected from men
who, Hke tlie apothecary in Romeo and Juliet confess
tlieir ' j)overty, not their will consents ' i This thing
is so unaccountahle and so extraordinary that it
seems to me like a dream, althousj^h it is eiLditeen
months since the reality foi'ced me out of the Corps.
Were I to judge from tlie i)ersonal de])ortment and
verbal expressions of the Secretary of AVar, before
the last and decisive interview, I sliouhl Inxve suj).
posed the Cor[)s of Engineers to have been in his
estimation the most important part of the army,
which he was disposed to cherish to the utmost in
his po\\'er. The President expressed himself in rela-
tion to tlie Corps in terms not merely })olite, ])ut of
the most friendly description. Where then is the
cause of this change i I cannot charge it to any
conduct of mine, because that, especially in the last
piece of duty, appeared to be fully approved. Can
it be owing to any jealousy in the other pai'ts of the
army i I think not, for all the officers I know are
completely of my opinion, and cmi' friend. Adjutant
General Gushing, seemed to be of the opinion that a
line might be ado))ted pei-fectly agreeable to the Sec-
retary of AV ar and me. What that line is he per-
liajjs may toll you, but 1 know it not unless it l)e
what I have stated."
To this letter Gen. Wilkinson replied, jNIarch 29,
1805 : "I am authorized by the Secretary of War to
inform yoii, that if agreeable to you, tlie President
will reappoint you to the command of the Cor2)s of
:.i\
.'■i
""^
BRKi.-OKNintAL JOXATIIAN WILLIAMS.
31
1 '^M
ill" to
(lent
ps of
En<niieers on tlie express condition tliat you are not
to intei-fere with tlie (lis{'i])line, ])oli('e or command
of the troops of the line ])ut by his oniers, to which
alone you are to he subject, and that in all other
respects you are to enjoy the honors due to your
rank.
"Sh(mld this proposition be acceptable to you,
you will be pleased to signify your disposition to the
Secretary of \\\ar without delay, and in such explicit
terms as may preclude misapprehension.
"The President is now at Monticello, Liit will be
here abo\it the 8th of next month, at which time,
should it be agreeable to you, you may make a visit
to the city in order to pay your respects to our
superior.
" Permit me, sir, to add my earnest hopes that you
may not pause for a determination in this case,
V)ecause I am convinced you will stand acquitted by
every professional man of intelligence and honor,
should, you embrace the j)roposition. It is unques-
tionable that the elevated pursuits of the Corps du
Genie do not allow time for the necessary attention
to the details, police, and discipline of the lin^, and
it follows, as in other services, that the officers of
that Corps should not be burthened with the respon-
sibility attached to duties in their nature incompati-
ble. But admitting the practice of other nations to
be at variance with our own, if the United States
are ackno\v'ledged to be sovereign and independent,
we cannot deny to the regular authority powers and
capacities to ordain such subordinate arrangements as
DLiy be deemed conducive to the public weal, and it
[\2 MILITAIIY KDITATION AND CAISKS Ot TUK WAR.
is the duty of every good citizen to conform, wlien
Hucli conformity does not aifect his lionoi'. In tlie
case before us, the suspension of ex-official command
is deemed essential to tlie interests of a ])articidar
corps, but no subversion of inhci-ent jn'inciples or
fundamental right takes effect, because f/on are held
liahJe to general command upoti the orders of the
President.
" I beg to hear from you soon, and I liope to my
satisfaction. You owe much to the partiality of the
President, more to tlie claims of your country."
Major Macond^ of the Engineers, subsecpiently
General-in-Chief, in a private letter of April 2, 1805,
ex[)resses the desires of the Corps of Engineers:
* * * " It is the wish, I ani ])ersuade(l, of the
officers of the Corps. You have had assurances
enouiih of their attachment and I feel confident that
you are interested in their welfare, and I believe it
no ilattery when I tell you that their resj)ectability
as a corps and their future prosperity depend almost
entirely on your return. Feeling satisfied that you
cannot resist the call of your country and the solici-
tations, of yoiu' own Corps to take your former
station, I am, etc."
This correspondence led to the General-in-Chief s
official order of A])ril 17, 1805, as follows :
"As the scientific ^<ursuits of the Corps of En-
gineers do not allow time for attention to details,
police, and discipline of the troops of the line, it
follows, as in other services, that the officers of that
coi-ps should not be burthened with the responsi-
bility attached to duties in their nature incom})atible.
■I
BUIO.-OENERAL JONATHAN WILT,IAMS.
88
^'
"The President lias tlioui^lit ])r<»])er to decide
that the ofticeis of the KiiijineerH shall not intei'fere
with the disci[)line, ])oliee, or command of the troo])H
of the line unless by his sj^ecial order, to whicli alone
they ai'e subject.
" But this sus])ension of official command, though
deemed essential to the interests of a ])articular
cor])s, does not subvert any iidierent principle, or
fundamental rijj^ht, ])ecause the supei'ior officers of
Enjjfineers are held liable to be called into general
command whenever the ]nddic service may require,
and the will of the President direct.
" In all cases not aft'ected by this regulation, the
officers of the Corps of Engineers are invariably to
enjoy the respect due to their commissions ; and they
are to receive the same honors ^vhich are i)aid to
officers of similai- grade in the line of the Army."
Lieut.-Colonel Williams accepted, Ajnil It), 1805,
the re-a])pointment of Chief Engineer, and writes to
the Secretary of War: "In answer to the obliging
information vou have given me in the connnand of
the Cor])s of Engineers, I beg leave to assure you
that this honorable mark of favoi- has made a deep
imju'ession on me, and it is with heart-felt gratitude
that I again offer to devote my life to the service of
my country. I hope and trust that the President
will permit me to resume my old commission in the
same manner as if it had never been resigned. It
must be evident to him that I never had a wish to
(piit the service, and that the circimistances by which
I was influenced, although arising out of misapju'e-
hension, ai)})eared to me paramount to my own will.
34 MILITAKY KDrCATlOiV AM) CAISKS OF IIIK WAR.
The explanation wliicli lia-^ taken ]»la('(» lias put the
subject on u correct t'ootini;, whicli will not in future
tuhnit of mistake, and it is my wish so to come into
service au^ain that the whole mi^dit l)e hnried in
oblivion."
I )urin_i]^ the twenty-two months that Lieut.-Colonel
Williams had been out of service neither the Mili-
tary Academy nor the Coi'])s of Enifineers proo;ressed
one step. In that interval but two cadets had been
graduated ; " not a cadet's ^varrant was applied for "
says the best authority ; and, of the dozen who
entered the Academy, half the appointments had
probably been previously promised, and the other
half were from the newly acfjuired Territory of
Louisiana, perliaps more ostensibly to mark Pi-esi-
dent Jefferson's important purchase, April 13, 1803,
of that magnificent domain.
Immediately upon Lieut.-Colonel Williams being
notified, Ajml 22, 1805, of his re-appointment, he
repaired to West Point and assumed command of the
Military Academy. At (mce he vigorously applied
himself to much needed reforms, the details of Avhich
more properly belong to tlie liistory of the Military
Academy.
Notwithstanding: his o-reat industry and zealous
devotion to the wants of that institution, AVilliams,
as the head of the Corps of Engineers, was necessa-
rily much of his time attending to professional
duties, pai-ticularly the construction of the defenses
of New York harbor, of which he took jjersonal
charge. During his absence from West Point the
temporary command of the Academy devolved upon
I'M
%
m
IMtlfi.-fJK.VKKAr. .TOXATIIAX WILLIAMS.
.^r>
tile senior eiii^ineer |)reseiit, \vli(» did not prove com-
jK'tt'iit f'oi" that responsil)!*^ diiiy.
Our f(H('iii;ii relations were sucli, in ISOT, that tlie
State of New York was unwiliinL;; to trust tlie safety
of liei- ij^reat eonnnercial capital to the snndl aj)])ro-
pi'iations <i;ranted by Coui^ress. Fortitieations conse-
(jueiitly \vere autliori/ed to be eivcted on Stateii
Island for tlie defense of "the Narrows." The
authorities haviiii:; i^reat conHdenee in Lieut.-(\)lonel
W illianis, (tlieii superintend inii,' the inner defenses of
the harl)or of New York,) as a man of solid learninic,
sound Judgment, and possessini,^ a practical knowl-
edufe of the military ai*t, selected him to ])lan and
conduct their works (Foi'ts Richmond and Toni])-
kins). So devoted was he to those duties, which
consumed most of liis time, that the Freedom of the
City of New York was bestowed ujx^n him by the
Coi"j)oration, Aug. 1, 1807, "in consideration of his
important services in protectiuiz; and fortifyinii; said
city." Subse(]uently, Governor Daniel 1). Tompkins
of New Y<>rk sent a larii:e check to Lieut.-Colonel AVil-
Hams in a very complimentary letter, saying : " Your
services to the State are not only viewed by me, but
also by the Legislature,, in the most thankful man-
ner." Perhaps it is uimecessary to add that the
check was politeh^ returned by the noble-minoid
recipient.
AVilliams \\ith great vigor pressed forward these
defenses of New York harbor, for to his mind war
was inevitable, and not a moment was to be lost in
providing for the protection of our great commercial
capital.
36 MILITARY EDUCATION AND CAT'Sp:s OF TIIK W'AK.
The Treaty of Pai'is, of 1788, ])\ wliicli our inde-
pendence was acknowled<]:;ed by tlie niothei" ooiintry,
wa8 virhially a truce, not a peace. The Revolution
had effected our political emancipation and proved
our capacity for self-defense ; but our moral, physical
and mental independence were yet to be achieved,
and the strength of republican and confederate
nationality demonstrated. Wearied Avith war, ^ve
had continued, from the termiiiation of our se\'en
years' struggle, to practice patient forbearance under
the pressure of accumulated wrongs. Great Britain,
still our bitter enemy, had violated lier plighted
faith by retaining the American posts upon the
northern frontier ; her voice was loud along the
border continually inciting the Indian savages to
war upon us ; our commerce was the prey of her
cruisers and privateers ; our merchant vessels were
searched and our native sailors impressed upon the
high seas ; our trade and navigation became tlie
sport of her cupidity and assumption ; and tlie
enormity of her paper blockades was exceeding all
bounds. The British order in council of May 16,
1806, declared the whole French coast in a state of
l)lockade ; an order which Napoleon retaliated by his
l^erlin decree of Nov. 21, 1806, declaring the block-
ade of the British Islands ; and this latter was
answered by another oi'der of the former, January 7,
1807, prohibiting all coast-trade with France. Great
numbers of our vessels, under these op})re8sive
orders and decrees, were seized by the cruisers of
both belligerents and (Uir lucrative neutral commerce
was nearly destroyed. British ships of war hov-
■Tsr
BRIG.-GEXERAL JONATHAN WILLIAMS.
37
lited
the
tlie
3S to
her
were
1 tlie
the
the
'■4
ered, in warlike disphiy, n})oii our coasts; blockaded
our ports ; penetrated our bays and rivers ; anchored
in our liarbors ; tlireatened our cities and towns witli
conflagration ; and even tired upon the unprotected
inliabitants of our shores. The ])ul)lic mind was
liiglily incensed by these gross violations of our
neuti'ality; but the climax of insolence was readied,
June 22, 1807, in the ever memorable attack of the
ship Leopard of iifty guns, under countenance of
the British scpiadron anchored witliin American
waters, upon the United States frigate Chesapeake,
by which twenty-one men Avere killed or wounded.
The President, by proclamation, interdicted our
harbors and waters to all British armed vessels,
forbade intercourse with them, and demanded imme-
diate rei)aration for this lasc high-handed outrage ;
but not till fom- years after did the tardy atonement
C(^me. Anotlier order in council was issued, Nov. 11,
1807, forbidding neuti'al vessels to enter French
harbors \intil they had previously stopped at a
British port and paid duties on their cargoes. Na-
]>oleon, not to be outdone, answered, Dec. 17, 1807,
]>v his famous Mijan decree, confiscatini? any vessel
wliich shoidd submit to British search or pay any
duties to his gn^at enemy.
The United States could no longer, with honoi",
permit its flag to be insulted, its citizens to ])e
enslaved, and its ])ropei*ty to be ]>lundered on the
highway of nations; but placed between the upi)er
and nether millstones of two colossal powers and
unprepared to contend with either, Congress, upon
the reconmiendation of the President, temporized
M8 MILITAKY l^DI'CATTOX AND CAUSES OF THE WAK.
by luyiiisT^ an eni])arg<), Dec. 22, 18 u])(>n all vessels
in American ])()i'ts, and ordered the immediate return
of all our shipping afloat.
This gloomy condition of things rendered it
manifestly proper for the Chief Engineer to ask for
an increase of his Corps, then composed of a few
officers superintending an extended line of coast
defenses; and to subnut, 8e})t. 19, 1807, a ])roject to
remodel the Military Academy on a scale connnen-
surate with the needs of the nation, placing its
direction, external and internal, entirely in the hands
of the President.
The rapid progress of ev^ents was fast culmina-
ting to a crisis. The dangers to our country arising
from the c<mtests of other nations ; the ruin of our
conunerce in the Mediterranean ; the (■a])ture of our
vessels bound to the Baltic, France and Spain ; the
violation of our territory ; the insults to our people,
and the deixradino; of our character in the eyes of the
whole world, roused the President to ask Congress,
Feb. 25, 1808, for an augmentaticui of our militaiy
force to (>,000 regulars and 24,000 volunteers.
Ra}>idly our situation grew more critical, and the
great belligerents seemed determined to tramj)le
under foot the law of nations and annihilate every
vestige of our neutrality.
President Jefferson, no loiiijer doubtini; the con-
stitutionality of a Military Academy, sent to Con-
gress, March 18, 1808, the i'ollowing s])ecial message.
"The scale on which the Military Academy at
West Point was originally established has become
too limited to furnish the number of well-instiiicted
^w
BRia-OKXEUAL JOXATIIAN WILLIAMS.
81)
•iicted
au])jects ill tlie dift'erent bi'aiK'lies of Artillery and
Eii<i:;ineeriii^ wliieli tlie servi-je calls for. Tlie want
of sucli cliaracters is already sensibly felt, and will
be increased with the enlar<»;enient of onr plans of
military o})eration. The Chief Eni2:ineer havino: been
instructed to consider the subject, and to propose an
ausi^nientation which niig'ht render the establishment
commensurate with the present ciivumstances of our
country, lias made the report which I now transmit
for the consideration of Coiiirress."
The report of Colonel Williams (promoted
P'eb. !23, 1808) referred to by the President was a
loiiij^ document narratinii; the struo-<2;les of the Military
Academy since its establishment, concluding with
wise suggesti<ms for its reorganization and inij)rove-
meiit to which he had given the l)est efforts of his
life.
With the new administrati<>n of President Mad-
ison, William Eustis became, March 9, 1809, the
Secretary of War. Hardly had he been inducted
into office before he began to show his hostility to
the Military Academy, as his sul)se(pient acts fully
proved. He meant to crush it, notwithstanding our
increasing dangers made it apparent that to his hands
were entrusted the successful or disastrous issues of
the nation's arms.
France had infringed her treaty, burned our \'es-
sels on the iiigli seas, and subjected to ca])ture our
commerce with her maritime foe. (rreat Kritain
continued to violate, our territory, depredate on our
conunerce, impress our seamen, exclude our exports
from market, and subject to tribute the staples of
40 Mn.ITAIiY EDUCATION AND CAUSES OF THE WAIJ.
our country. Eacli po\ver, under pi'etext of retalia-
ting on us for oiu* alleged submission to the otlier,
had carried their injustice and violence beyond all
bounds of endurance, and every possible foi'ui of
negotiation having failed ^sith both belligerents,
nothing seemed left but war to preserve our liberty
and honor.
Secretary Eustis began his administration of the
War Department by an effort to dlspei'se the few
cadets at the Military Academy, degrade them to
coiamon laborers, and deprive them of all educational
advantages. By mid-sunuuer of 1810, he, by his
failui'e to make new a[)pointments and by his con-
stant detail of cadets for clerks and company duties,
had left so few at West Point that the Military
Academy, except in name, had virtiudly ceased to
exist ; and disci[)line was so palsied by his constant
intermeddling that only by the most summary meas-
ures could AMlliams preserve even its semblance.
Worn out by the apathy of Congress and Secre-
tary Eustis' criminal perverseness and A'iolation of
all olRcial com-tesy and consideration, Williams began
to despair. In a letter to Mr. Jefferson, of Sept. 15,
1810, he pours out his heart in lamentation over the
noble institution founded by the ex-President : " I
wish I could make use of your voice to excite our
general Legislature to some attention to the Military
Academy. We want military more than any other
description of talent * * * and yet, strange to
tell ! we are cold, chilling cold, u])on every subject
relative to Military Instruction. Nine-tenths of Con-
gress seem to me not only ^cold, but blind, stone
I
hi
off
ail
|{i;i<;.-(M'.ni:kai- Jonathan wiij.ia.ms.
41
[iilia-
tliev,
il all
111 of
i-ents,
bei-ty
•f the
e few
3111 to
,tional
)y his
Ls con-
tluties,
ilitary
Lsed to
nistant
T meas-
ice.
Secre-
ion of
began
pt. 15,
ver the
"I
ite our
^lilitaiy
V other
inge to
subject
of Con-
1, stone
l)lin(l, to the true interests of our nation on the seoiv
of its defense. I have l)een eiiiraged eiglit years in
the eniV)rvo of a military seniinary and have at last
barely brought it into existenee. It lives indeed, but,
in coni])aiison to what It ought to be, it is i\ puni/,
rivhefij chihl.
"I am tired, my dear sir, heartily tired; and
although r never wished to terminate my labors but
with my life, I must in future ])e excused from med-
dlinir with the Military Academv unless, by some
means or other, I ean see a ])rospect of jiroducing
some benefit to my country, and, pardon my vanity,
some hoiioi' to mvself."
President Madison, in an able state pa})er com-
municated to Congress, Dec. 5, l.Sl(>, set foith the
usefulness and necessity of a ])ro])erly organized
^[ilitary ^V(;ademy to teach the art of war with little
expense to the nation, and vrithout danger to the
liberties of the peo[)le. Tliough Congress failed, in
its short session, to carry out tlie President's earnest
reconunendations, it was hardly to be expected that
his own chosen Cabinet Minister could, on the very
verge of hostilities with one of the most ])owei"ful
nations of the earth, have totally neglected his duty
in carrying out the clearly ex]>ressed views of his
cliief, as he certainly did.
The hostility of Secretary Eustis to tiie Military
Academy, tlie Corps of Kngineers, and the ade(|uate
defense of our coast, had tilled Wilbanis' cu]) of
bitterness to oversowing. To a proud, ambitious
officer this condition of things was most liumiliating,
and bound hand ;uid foot by the or<lei-s of a petty
42 MILITAUY KDICATIOX AM) ( Al SKS Ol" TIIK WAU.
tyrant wlio luid some small spite to avenge, Colonel
AVilliams felt there was no release but by resij^nini;"
liis commission. A warm friend wi-itin*;' to liim, at
this time, says: "I know all your difficulties and
with what you have had to contend, but I think the
])ros|)ect may brighten, and a few more months of
anxiety perhaps will compensate for all, if the Nation
is not determined on giving u]) everything that is, or
has been military. * * "^" I would, if I were you,
with such a Cc^rps looking Uj) to you, and I may say
to //(>/(, alone, saci'ifice a little more })efore (putting it."
A few (hiys later an officer of Engineers writes
to him privately: "lam sorry to see you are in
such bad spirits. If your exertions to j)romote the
interests of the Institution conunitted to your ehariiv
have been unavailing, you ought not on that account
to desj)ond, for you can always console youi'self with
the conviction of having done yonr duty, and your
Cor])s and country will ever bear testimony to your
useful hd^ors. If a man witli your })hilosophy can.
not bear up with the apathy of govermnent and
that total disregai-d of everything but po]»ulai'ity,
who can i ^^>u are the last man in the world I
should susj)ect of being touched with any thing-
coming from such men as have liad, for these ten
years j)ast, the control of affairs (in the Wai'De])art-
ment). * * * \\ e must with patience wait for
a change for the better (for it cannot be worse), but
always pei'severing in doing the best. If they neg-
lect their duty it is no reason we sliouhl be disheart-
ened, however great the o))stacles may be whicli sucli
neglect may throw in the way of your zeal. * * ^*
HUI(i.-(iI-;NKUAL .(ONAIIIAN WILI.IAMS.
r.\
loiiel
>;irnig
111, at
\ niid
k tlie
lis of
Nation
IS, or
e j^oii,
ay say
n,«: it."
writes
are in
>te tlie
t'liai'ijje
tCCOllllt
If with
(1 your
) your
y can.
it and
ularitv,
>rl« 1 ' 1
ytliiuu'
se ten
)e]»art-
ait for
sc), but
ey ueji;-
slieart-
oil SlK'll
V(
4
Vou hint a deteniiination to resign, if certain cir-
cumstances more favorable to youi* views do not
follow. * "■ '■■ T hope it will be the last thinii'
you will think of."
The Secretary of Wai', with the same imbecile
spirit and policy which had characterized many <»f his
acts since entering upon office, pro])osed to the C'haii--
man of the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations,
1,00U I'egulai's and 1, <>()() militia for manning (f// the
defenses of our great commeivial capital against the
whole power of Britain's fleets; and hardly a resj)cct-
able scarecrow of an arjiiy of 10,000 men to invade
Canada and jnotect our extended coasts and frontiers.
The President's annual message le<l to animated
debates in Congress upon the relative advantages of
volunteer militia and regular trooj)s. The advocates
of volunteers contended that the raising of the
foi'iiier was in accoi'dance with the spirit of the Con-
stitution, and the latter dangerous to civil liberty, as
})roved by the overthi'ow of other nations. The
sujiporters of regulars answered that the term vol-
unteer was not to be found in the Constitution, and
the visions, sci'U])les, a[)preheiisions and imaginary
spectres of <lemagogiies weiv not to be substituted
for //.s' provisions; that "the i)ower to raise and su|>-
])ort ai'mies " was limited only by the national exigen-
cies to be judged of )»y C^)ngress ; that Washington
— wise in council and action, and experienced as
soldier and statesman — had iie\ er recommended noI-
unteers, had em|)hatically condemned militia as the
soui'ce of all our disasters, and never had expresse<l
apprehensions of a standing army; that since his
^
44 MILITAltY KDICATIUN AM) « Al SKS <)1' TIIK WAIJ.
PreHideiicy volunteer niilitiu luul been advocated
mainly on the ground that if they did no good tliey
could do no liarni ; tliat tliere was no (huiger to tlie
nation from any species of force maintained hy
yearly a|)])ro[)i'iations and composed of our own cit-
izens, sons and brothers; that the Ku)>icon was now
passed, and it was not the time to try doubtful
exj)edients in sustaining our foreign relations with
energy and firnuiess; that war was an art not to be
learned in a day, luit a science \vhose })rinci})les nuist
be long studied in schools or on the field ; that all
who had ])ai'tici[)ate(l in our .struggles knew the
necessity of discij)lined troojts without which we
could not meet Euro])eaii veterans landed on our
shores; that the Democratic dogma of onr chief
reliance ])eing u])on militia was a fallacy, for, as
Pickering said, it had "nevei' done any good to the
country, exce})t in the single affair of Bnnker Hill ;"
that the cry for a patriot not a mercenary army \vas
mere claptraj), instancing the Continental soldiers as
paid trooj)s whose compensation did not lessen their
patriotism nor diminish their gallantly; that even
the New])r.rg letters of an artful incendiary could
not inflame the impoverished Revolntionary army
to deeds of violence or tlie saci'ifice of our dear
bought liberties; and that corru])tion, not militaiy
force, was the ])regnant cause of the downfall of
nations.
A
s Ave s
hall
see in the following pages o
f tl
us
red
work, the volunteer militia, witli< >ut experience, i)ro\
almost worthless till two disastrous cam})aigns had
taught the necessity of <lrill and discipline, which
' ''-(f
K.
nKr(;.-<ii:NKi!.\i. .(onatiian willia.ms.
45
I they
to tlie
h\ ])y
vii c'it-
LS now
iil)tful
^ with
t to be
s must
hat all
■w the
ich we
on oiii"
r chief
for, as
to the
Hill;"
ly was
iers as
n their
it even
couhl
y army
11' dear
lilitary
mfall of
of this
) roved
irns had
\vhich
I
caused our arms to so n'loriously triumpli in tlie
tliird camj)aiixn at Cliip}iewa, Nian;ara, Plattsburg
and Foi-t Erie ; provini?, as did our hite civil contest,
that no troops in the world ever surjmssed our Vol-
unteers when imu-ed to war by constant traininj? and
battle, thus becominu", except in name, the bravest,
best and most intelli!;i:ent of Re2;ulara.
In this connection we cannot forbear ([uotino-
from a brilliant speech delivered since the alcove
was written. Addressinij: the Society of the Army
of the Pi^tomac, the elo(|uent orator of the occasi<m,
the Rev. D)'. Ilenrx Ward Beeclier, said :
" Those who quake with dread at the mention of a
standino; army ni\ imder the influence of old prej-
tidices, based upon European exjiei'ience. Standino-
armies in the hands of ambitious monarchs, in the
midst of a multitude of contliyuous and iealous
nations, are not to be the types of American armies.
In the whole history of our ijovernment there has
never been a <listurbance or even a threat or sus-
picion of dan^^er from the jirofessic^n of ai-ms in the
regular army. Our most eminent oihcers have been
profound lovers of peace. There has nevei' been an
accusation of plot or plan to augment their power
or to usurp any function of government. We luive
had a boiling and bulibling caldi'on often, and our
private citizens have brought fuel to it ; our dema-
gogues have roared, our politicians have plotted, our
statesmen have plunged the country into blunders
and whelmed it in war; but the armv and the great
generals whose names are our glory have never
bi'ouii-ht on a disturbance; have alwavs counseled
u\
MIM'IAUV KDICAI'IoN A Nh ( A ISKS (»I' Til K \VAl{.
foi' ])ea('('; linve pxti'icated tlie coiiiiti'v fr<»iii its
eiiil)arrassiiuMitM and daiiuvrs ; and liave, In tlu^ir
iinifonii and univei-sal |)i'nd(M»c't', ivspect for law and
^ood f(dl()wslii|), proved tlieniselves to he safer i»;uides
tliaii Iiave been oiir civil leaders. Since the fouiui-
inn" of tills ij^oveninient, I challeiiijje the pro<luction
of a single niischief-inakiiiii; military man. Ff any
names ai'e recalled of i^enerals who hav<- ot'eii rasli
and daiii^vrons, in every instance they will l)e found
to he extemporized ij;eiiei'als, made out of ))rofessional
politicians. Otficei's and soldiers ai'e the very men
who ai'e ahove all others the friends of peace. Caucus
and C'onji;ress are ))ellicose: the Army it is that is a
National Peace Society.
«
"And yet no class of men of eipial attainments
and character and i:;enera] ahility are as severely
criticised, as intentionally underrated, as uncei-enio-
niously crippled and ahused, as our sohliers.
"Tliis nation is indehted to tlie West Point Mili-
tary Academy for as iiohle a hand of L;;raduates as
the workl can ])ro(luce. The standard of honoi- is
nowhere liiijlier. Resj)ect and reverence for law and
lil)erty are nowhere more ])rofound. Scru]»ulous
fidelity to <luty is nowliere more nearly a relio:ion,
and the honor of honesty, fhe honor (>f lioiK^sttf^ 'nil-;
HONOR OF HoxESTV, is uowliere so siojnally illustrated
as in the (graduates of the West Point Military
Academy. What university, what college, what
theoloo;ical seminary can point to its two tliousand
i^rad nates and say: 'There has never been an in-
stance of dishonesty in the administi-ation of ])ul)lic
monevsT The onlv institution in this coiintrv that
HKKi.-iJKXKIlAL .(OXATHAN WII-MA.MS.
iM its
their
V au<l
guides
'oiuui-
iK'tioii
f niiy
II I'iisll
folllKl
■^sioiiiil
y u\en
Jaiu'us
at is a
nnu'iits
Bverely
•erenio-
it Mili-
ites as
mor is
i\v and
unions
eliu'ioH,
///, THK
strated
dilitaiy
, wliat
ousand
\ an iii-
] ml die
trv that
can say tiiis is tlnit Academy. And yet this nohlc
cradle of iinldc men has never been pain|)ered and
dandled. Fnnds have l»een ifrndu'inu'iy voted for its
hare snhsistence ; inipiox'ements ha\'e hecn ivsisted ;
it has hcen treafe(l witli snspicion and jnvjndice;
and it has wroiiu'lit out its nnexampled ivsnlts, not
hy ahnndance of means, hut hy the devotion of its
cor[)s of piud'essoi's and teachers under the rii^or of a
financial system which lias carried economy to
stiiiii'iness.
"What, then, is the attitude of the United States
Army to-day^ The smallest in proportion to the
[)()[»ulation and the teri'itory which it i:;uiM'ds of jiny
army on the <>;lol)e ! It has l»een in the field almost
without rest for tweutv vears. It is scattei'ed alonii'
a vast frontier, in small companies, wateliinu' nii>ht
and day Mexican thieves, or ti^htinL-' savai«;es; march-
ini:: thronn'h trackless wastes, in severest wintei'
stoi'ins, or seorehed hy summer oir arid [dains; yield-
ing- U]) itsCanhysaud itsCusters. It has been made
the seapei,^oat of l)ad men. And all this while it is
assailed in the I'earhv hound ino- jxditicians, whooare
nothinu' foi- its honor, who would retrench its uum-
l)ers, dinunish its revenues, and make hard and hitter
tiie lives of men who have served their country at
]»ains and jiei'ils whieh would have aj)palled the
stoutest heart of the self-denyiui:: hei-oes of Caucus
and Conii:ress! "
To the same purport we further (|Uote from a
historical sketch by a forcible writer, H. C. C, on
the "Lahor Strikes' of 1877." He says:
"Whisky riots, Orange riots, Anti-vSlaveiy tumults,
4S MILITARY KDI'CATroX AM) (AISKS oF TIIK WAIf.
Kiiow-Notliiuii riots, Draft riots, Feniaii (listiirhances,
and Hiially the Kailioad Strikes and I^al>(>r Troubles
the Slimmer of 1877, Iiave each, in tuiii, demon-
stratetl tlie inability of the local c(tnstal»ulaiT to
deal with them, and the stern, unavoidable necessity
of calliuii' to the ivscue the traine<l, impartial sol-
diei', who is 'a useless hireliuij:' when the dear
j)eo|>le do not shake with feai', and 'apati'lot hero'
when tliey do.
"Tlie most jealous and exactinu' 'i-e^'ular/ how-
ever, could ask no ijfi'eater tril)ute to his business
(lualifications than was accorded him by the i-ed-
haiK'ed and blood-stained mo])s of 1877. In e\ erv
listurbed conununity whei-e the customaiy i;uar-
ians of the peace were jxtwerless, and the ii;or-
ojeously-attired militia failed to sustain themselves,
even hy tlie free use of bayonets and ))all-caitridues,
the measured tread of the national soldier was a
suiiicient signal for |)roni))t retreat. Ilis presence,
with 'ten days' rations aiul two hundred rounds of
«
ammunition,' intimated consecpieiices and forbade
affiliation, and the i>;amiiis of enraired ]*ittsbur<i' were
(piick to see and say, 'Them fellars aiiTt ^ot no
bokays in f/teir fjuns.''
"Not a Federal musket had to be tired at any
j)oint, and an insurrection which had spi-ead with
the celerity of a jn'airie fire over a dozen of the
richest and most tliickly-[)o])ulated States of the
Union, sns])en<led trans] )ortation, ])aralyzed trade,
destroyed life and pro])erty, awed ca])ital, threat-
ened to sack the Treasuiy at WashiuLCtoii and burn
the beautiful Ca))itol liuildinir, and by Its vast
th
(h
ti<-
ac
i
Ml{I(J.-(iKNi:it M, .roXATHAN WnJ-FAMS.
4t>
'vvteiit Mini insolent fciocitv Ii.-nl convulsed tlic civil-
ized \soi'l(l, was quickly (jiiclled l»y a handful of
soldiers, the ureater jtart of whom, to theii* eternal
uloi'iticati(»n he it i'ecorde<l, were at that very mo-
ment, hy a straniife coincidence, serving without ])ay
oi' ))rosj)ect of pay foi" months to come, and with the
hitter j'ec('llecti<»n of a CN)nii;ressional motion t(» dis.
hand them hy default fresh in their minds. No tri-
um|)li of arms oi* chai'acter could have heen ui'ander
than this silent exhihition of unconditional fidelity."
Both of the ahove quotations are only modifica-
tions of the sentiments of the truth-tellinij; and wise
Wk \Vashin<,^ton, who, after more than thii'ty years of
^ civil and military exj)ei'ience ( not in seek ini,'' office
i hy deuounciiiii; Reo:dars and Standinii; Armies as
• menacino- lihertv and entailini"- C'a'sai'ism), sav;^:
"The jealousy of a standinu: army and the evils
:,^ to he a])prehen(led from one aiv remote and, in my
judii-ment, situated and circumstanced as we are, not
;, at all to be dreaded ; hut the conse(|uence of wantinu;
}| one, accord iniLi; to my ideas formed from the pivsent
view of things, is certain and inevitahle i-uin. For
if I was called upon to declare upon oath whethei*
the militia have heen most serviceable or hurtful
upon the whole, I should subsci'ibe to the lattei-, I
do not mean by this, liowe\ er, to ari'aisj^n the con-
duct of Conii'ress; in so doino; I should equally con-
demn my own measures. Hut ex])ei'ience, which is
the best criterion to work bv, so fullv, clearlv, and
decisively reprobates the practice of trusting to mili-
tia tliat no man wlio regards his own honor (►r char-
acter will risk them upon this issue."
50 iAlII.ITAIJV KDICATIOX AND (AISKS (»r TIIK WAK.
Sec'i'etury Eiistis' liostility to Colonel Williams
became at leiiLi'tli so marked that he felt there was
iio alternative but to resio-n liis |)osition of Chief
Enu:ineei-. Few traces of liis feeliiiifs are to he
^'ound in his official correspondence; but the ])rivate
lettei's of his devoted wife tell the story. " ILive
you heard," says she, " anythinii; un[)leasant from the
Secretai'v, that you talk of resio-ninu: immediatelv i
Make up your mind, and rest assured that I shall
be perfectly ha])})V in s])endini;" the rest of my life
at Mount Pleasant if you can be content to relin-
quish tlie bustle of the world." Again she writes:
''If you are sure you liave not suffered ])ersonal
resentment to influence you in the least, or to carry
you one Jot beyond the true line (»f moderation and
proj)riety, I think you ])erfectly riuht to ])ursue
your way regardless of consequences, and to sup-
port, whilst you belong to it, the interest and honor
belonsr :
1(1 ol
)S TO
'Ol
only prepare yourself so as not to be fretted l)y any-
thing they can do. ILiving already almost made u]>
your mind to resio;n it is as well to do all the good
yon can to those you leave behind vou.
she says
that
Later
1 am (piite grieved to see by every letter
I think it
you are in j)urgatory
unfortunate that you did not make U|) your mind to
I'esign sooner. Now I })resume that you must wait
till the (piestion of ])eace or war is decided. ''' * *
We liave sufficient witli i)rudence to live U])on;
banish therefore all concern of that kind from your
mind, and make a determination to give uj) y(
)U1'
conunission whenever the situation of the countr\
will admit it."
*%
\\l.
iuji(;.-<;i:m:kal .i<»natiia:s wim.iams.
51
Ulaiiis
V wtis
Chief
to l)e
)i'ivute
' Iljive
1)111 the
lately i
I shiiU
my life
1) rcliii-
wi'ites :
)ei'soii'cil
to carry
ion and
pursue
to SU|)-
tl honor
l)elon«2; ;
l)y any-
iiade u])
lu' !j;o(h1
Later
ry letter
tiiink it
mind to
lUst wait
-:;■ -K- •X-
e u]>on ;
i(»iii your
u)) your
' countrv
;«
The othcers of Ills ('ori)s, who, to the liighest
otheial res])eet, joined the most affectionate regard,
entreated him not to I'esion. One speaks of tlie
"almost ])ateriial care of its ])eloved chief;"' and
another writes: " I am sorry to liear you talkiiiu' of
private life. * * * I believe your remaining: at
l_ », » .
the head of the Corps, at this time, is more essential
to its respectability and its hajtpiness than it has
been ever before. For now we have a Father who
has tlie affection of his sons, and, without his ])rotec-
tion an<l unceasing labors for their honor and wel-
fare, they stand at present but a pool- chance of
arrivino; at that elevation in which you would wish
to leave them."
Colonel Williams, nevertheless, July in, 1.S12,
tendered his resignation as Cliief Engineer of the
United States Army and ex-othcio Superintendent of
the jSIilitarv Academy, which was accepted Aug. '?5>,
to date July .'U, 1<S1:2. The history of tills trans-
action, inv< iving military princi])les, will be given
somewhat at lengtli.
Colonel AN'illiams, it will be recollecte<l, had once
before, June '2(\ 180.S, resigned <m a ([iiestloii of his
i-ights of command. After twenty months, March 1,
1.S05, Lieut. Macomb wrote to him: "I rejoice
to let you know that it has l»een hinted bv the
President that your return to the service would be
very pleasing to him"; and, on the 2Uth, (renera.l
Wilkinson from A\'asliingtoii, says: "The partiality
which the I^esident cherishes for you, and tlie ser-
\lce of your country, will not only justify but
deman<l some concessions of opinion on doctrines
52 MILITARY KDrc ATroX AM) ( ACSKS OF THE WAR.
which depend much (Hi feeling' ;" and, he continues,
"■ t/our I'ii/Jit of comman'l U li'hl in, trui<.t by the
President, and will he eonfi-rreil wlien it may lie
deemed convenient to the [)ul)lic service, in the mean-
time ifcm are suhject to his order.^ onh/y
A general order, first approved by the Secretary of
War, was then issued recoi2:nizin<>' the j)rinciples al)ove
stated, ai d in two or three (hiys afterward, A])i"il It),
1805, Colonel \yilliams accepted his connnission of
Chief Engineer whicli he had resigned June 20, 1 808.
The Act establishing the Rules and Regula-
tions for the government of the Army, was passed
April 10, 1806; and, by the 08(1 of these Articles of
War, the power of the President to grant the com-
mand, by sj)ecial engagement held iti trai^t by him, is
formally recognized and made law.
Till May 27, 1812, Colonel Williams continued
to receive his orders from the War Department only ;
but on that day the Secretary of War, through the
Acting Adjutant General, thought proper to turn
him over to Brig.-General Bloomfield, to whom the
command of the city and harbor of New York had
been confided.
On the 21at of June, 1812, by the return of
that post whicli brought to New York the Declara-
tion of War against Great Britain, Colonel Wil-
liams claimed the command "■ held in trust by the
President of the United States^' and legally desig-
nated by the 63d Article of ^\'ar. He sa}'s in a
respectful letter: " By the 27th Section of the Act
of March 16, 1802, it is declared that ' the Engineers
shall be sul)ject at all times t« do duty in such
u.
iimes,
y the
ay be
iiiean-
aiT of
above
n-ilU),
uoii of
, iso;^.
legula-
passed
cles of
le c'lMii-
liiin, is
itiiuied
it only ;
igli tlie
to turn
koni the
)rk had
turn of
Dechira-
el. Wil-
by the
Iv (lesig-
lys hi a
the Act
ngineers
hi such
BUIG.-(ij:NKHAL JOXATHAX WILLIAMS.
58
phices and on sucli service as tlie Piesich^ut of the
United States shall direct,' and by the (5;^! Article
of AVar that ' the Euii-ineers are not to assume nor are
they subject to be ordered on any duty beyond the
line of their immediate profession, e,vcepf hi/ tlw
special order of the President of the United States.^
" AVhile the peace estaldishmeiit existed," says
Colonel Williams, "I had but three suj)erior officers —
General Wilkinson and Colonels Hurbeck and Cush-
ing. I have now fourteen superiors, and, while I
caiuiot assume the command of a subaltern, I am ex-
posed to perform professional duty where a sul)al-
tern conunands.
"AVW beinu: now declared, my situation in this
harbor becomes humiliating in the last degree. Tlie
\vorks that have been constructed by me became
inhabited and conunanded by my inferi(^rs, for in
military command I liave not the authorit}- of a
sergeant.
"I pray you, Sir, to relieve me from this unpleas-
ant situation, and by a special order, wliich you
alone can give, to })lace me in that \vlii('h my nom-
inal rank naturally points out and wliich my honor
re(|uires. I indulge in hope that this reasonable
ie(|iiest will be complied with immediately and that
by return of j)ost I shall be placed in a command
consistent with my character, and such as T lio])e,
also, is not unmerited by the public services I have
rendeivd."
On the '2'M of June the President directed the
required command to be given, which the Secretaiy
of Wai- conmunicated to (leiieral Hloomtiehl in the
r)4 MIMTAKY KDICA I'loX AND CAI'SKS OK I H K WAI!.
followiiiii: tei'iiis: " It is the pleasure of tlie President
that, wlienever tlie exii^encieft of tlie service may
re(juii'e tlie talents and kiiowled,<i;e of tlie otficers of
the Corps of Eiii^ineers beyond the line of their
immediate ])rofession, you may assign to those under
y(mr eommand sueli duties in the line of tlie army
as may comport with tlieir rank." On the 27tli,
General Bloomtield assured Colonel Williams that
arrangements should Ije made to accord with his
wishes.
The order was verbally communicated to Colonel
Williams, Castle Williams designated as his post,
and he gave on the '2d of July his estimate of the
force and organization of its garrison. On the 7th
he put the Engineers un<ler the direction of Major
Armistead, reported himself i-eady for duty, and was
al)out to take (|uai'ters on Governors Island to exer-
cise the command due to his rank and in conformity to
the President's order, comnuinicated on the 28d of
June 1)V the vSecretarv of A\ mi-.
X ^Memorial signed by eighteen c(>mj)any officers,
principally subalterns, was diivcted to Colonel Bui"-
beck, in command of the Artillerv in the liarboi' of
New York, and left on the table of General Bloom-
field's (juarters. This memorial indulged in nuich
(kJ (•<i)>f(iii(hiiii declamation, ex])ressed givat personal
resj»ect foi'the Kngineers, and acknowledged the "lati-
tu<le given to the IVesident by the Act of March 1<),
1K0*2, justifyinghiminassumingthe [)owertocall them
to comnnnid troo])s ; " but affirmed that "the officers
of the Corps of Kngineers aiv A// l((ii\ universal
custom and the importance of theii' |)i'(d'essional
AK.
i?ki<;.-<ji:ni;uai. .ioxatman wii.i.iams.
,).)
esideiit
e may
Lcei'M of
f their
3 under
3 army
B 27tl"i,
us tliat
ith liis
Colonel
is post,
of the
the 7th
I-' Majer
ind was
to exer-
rniity t<>
2 ad of
( )iheers,
lel Bur-
arhor of
Hloom-
n much
personal
he " lati-
arch 1 <>,
all them
\^ officers
fessional
t
duties separated from the line of the army," for«ji:et-
tiiiijj tliat the law makes no such declaration and that
there can he no " universal custom " in a country where
tliei-e never had heen a regular Corps of Enuineers
fully organized till the existing enactment of 1)S()2,
the foreign engineers, dui'ing the devolution and
suhsefpiently, having been sj)eciHcally employed as
se])ai'ate individuals connected hy no defined cor])s
organization whatever.
On the rumor of this opposition General Bloom-
field had, on the <)th of July, written to the Secretary
of War for fresli instructions, and on the 11 th tlie
Secretary answered, "leaving the employment of
the Engineers altogether subject to liis judgment and
decision." AVhile awaiting the Secretary's reply,
(it'ueral Hloomtield had, on the lOtli, comnumicated
to Colonel Williams a copy of liis suspended order,
which was to have been pronudgated on the 3th.
It is as follows :
" It being 'the ])leasure of the IVesident,' that
' irliciu r<i' ihc <:viin-n('i(x (tf tlte aerr/cc i)/(fi/ nqiiit-ii
the talents and knowledge of the othcers of the
Cor|)s of Engineei's, beyond tlie line of their imme-
diate ])rofession,' that those under command at this
|»(»st 'be assigned such duties in tiie line of the
army as may com[)ort with their rank;' and the
(leneral conunaufling, believing that ' fJu- (.v'^jcm-if-s
of flip w^/vvVr r<(/uirp\m this occasion the talents and
abilities of .lonathan Williams, Es(|., the Colonel of
the Corps of Engineers, thei'efore, in ])ursuance of
the ordei-s of the Pivsident, directs that Colonel
\\ illianis take upon jiiniself such duties in the line
■^■^^
ill
. ! iill -
56 MILITARY KDUOATIOX AXI) ( ATSKS OF TIIK WATI.
of the 'iniiy stationed in this liarhor an<l city, as
may coin[)oi't with tlie rank of Colonel in the Army
and service of the United States, accordinsj; to sen-
lority of commission; and he is to be respected and
obeyed accordingly." (Signed,) Josepli Bloomfield.
A copy of the remonstrance of the eighteen com-
})any officers was also connnunicated to Colonel
Williams to explain the suspension of the above
order. In forwarding this remonstrance, on the 9th,
to the Secretary of War, (xeneral Hloomfiehl says:
" r liave deemed it correct t(> exercise that discretion
with which the pleasure of the President has hon-
ored me, to suspend calling Colonel Williams or any
of the Corps of Engineers to exercise the duties in
the line of the army contemplated by your commu-
nication of the 'ilJd of June last, until I shall be
favored with the further orders of the President
in this unpleasant business."
Upon receiving, on July 10th, the above connnu-
nication from Genei'al Hloomtield, C\)lonel A\'illiams
wi'ote to the President of the United States as
follows :
"Since my letter to you of the L*lst of June, (xen-
eral Bloomfield ccmimunicated to me an order from
the Secretary of War which in substance agreed
with the retjuest I had the honor to make to you,
and of which you have a cojn' enclosed. After
com])letiiig some official duties at Philadelphia I
returned to New York and reported mvself readv
to take such command an mii>'lit 'comi)ort with mv
O J- V
rank.'
'Mxeneral Bloomfield was about to issue the re(|ui-
1
r\n.
BRI(J.-<iEXKKAL .lOXATIIVX WH.LIAMS.
Ol
LMty, as
i Army
to sen-
4
ted and
onitield.
gn coni-
Colonel
c^ above
tlie 9tli,
d says :
scretion
las lion-
8 or any
uties in
coninm-
sliall be
"resident
connnu-
iVillianis
itates as
ne, (len-
ler from
; agreed
:^ to you,
Aftei-
elpliia I
If I'eady
\vitli my
lie reijul-
site order when lie received a coinmunieation of
which I enclose a cop}, being a remonstrance against
the measure signed by eighteen company otHcers.
Far be it from me, Sir, to create any division among
men whose jn'ofession, of all others, sliouhl form a
well connected and affectionate l)rotlierh<tod. But
I must be permitted to judge for myself in what
relates personally to me, therefore it only remains to
do the lasi act tliat can be <lone consistently with
my honor and a desire to pi'eserve harmony among
the officers in the army, and I hereb\' resij^n my
commission.
"The case is too impei'ions to need much ai'gu-
ment ; but it may not be impro])er to observe that
after having resigned on a former occasion, I was
called again into service upon an express stipulation
which was afterwards made law by the 68d x\rticle
of tlie Rules and Regulations for the government of
the Army. This being the c(mdition upon wliicli
alone I accepted my conmiission, I hold myself
absolved from all obligation the moment it ceases to
operate. The loss of an officer in his sixty-third
year may not be considered of great importance
when compared with that of eighteen officers in the
vigor of youth, for by the tone of the remonstrance
it is to be presumed that this consecjuence would
follow if tlie order were to be enforced."
At the same time Colonel Williams wrote to
Secretary Eustis : " For reasons offered to the Presi-
dent of the United States, I have resigned and do
hereby resign my commission as Colonel in the Cor})s
of Enu'ineers,"
58 MILII AIIY Enm'ATlOX AXI) CAUSES OK THE WAR.
Colonel Williams iiiiuounced liis resignation to
his command in a feeling and manly (jrder, conclud-
ing tluis :
"In making this comnnmication to the C\)rj)s of
Engineers, the Colonel Coniman(hint is equally influ-
enced, by motives of self justification, to those for
whom he has, from the first moment of his connection
with them, felt the affection of a parent ; and of
leaving behind him a monument of his sense of what
ia due to the honor of that Cor])s, which is by the
records of the Army |)laced at the Head of the List.
That it may never suffer the humiliation of being
deprived of those rights, which the other Corps iu-
discriminately enjoy, shall ever be his constant
prayer.
"Farewell, my deal' P'riends ! Farewell!"
General T. H. Crushing, Adjutant (xeneral of the
Army, in transmitting, Aug. 2t), 1M12, the acceptance
of Colonel Williams' resignation, "to take effect on
the 'Ust July, 1812," adds the following private
letter :
" In communicating an order which dissolves our
connection as Brothers in Arms, permit me to offer
my warmest wishes for your prosperity, happiness
and honour, and to express the regret I feel, in com-
mon with many res})ectable military and civil friends,
at the public loss sustained by the resignation of an
officer so distinguished for Intelligence, Industry and
Zeal in the public service."
Thus was lost to the Army one of its brightest
ornaments ; to the Corps of Engineers a Chief whose
devotion to its welfare and honor was unbounded ;
J
'%
AR.
tion to
Diiclud-
()r])s of
ly iiiflu-
lose for
iiiectioii
and of
of wliat
I by the
he list.
)f heing
!oi'ps in-
constant
al of the
ceptance
effect on
; private
L)lves our
I to offer
iai)piness
, in com-
1 friends,
on of an
Listry and
brightest
lef whose
bounded ;
HRI(i.-<JKNERAL JoX ATIIA X WII.I.IAAfS.
59
.111(1 to tlu* Military Acudeniy an Alma Pater, who
for years tenderly watched over its infancy and h)ng
struggled for its advancement ami eminence against
tlie continued Jipathy of Congress, the feeble su[)port
of Secretary I)earl)()rn, and the bitter liostilitv of his
narrow-niin(U'd successor.
It will be naturally asked why the administration
of l*rcsident Madison had not essayed some adju.st-
ment of difticidties in the seven Aveeks it had lield
Colonel Williams' resignation under consideraHon.
Why, if it valued his great services and eminent
abilities, it had not declined to allow him to leave
the head of his distinguished Corpse or why, to cut
the (Tordlan knot of his just rights, it had not gen-
ei'ously given one of its noblest veteran.s, fourtli i"
rank in the whole Army, a higher grade instead of
('onferi'ing such superioi' appointments U})on infei-ior
men unknown to fame ^ It was l^ecause William
Eustis was Seci'etary of War and could not, nor
would not, rise " to the heiglit of this great argument "
in a liianner befitting a (Cabinet Ministei-of tlie infant
ltej)ublic entei-ing upon a death struggle with a giant
of the earth. His hostility, somewhat political,
( Williams heing a Federalist of the Washington
school) was moi'e splenetical, he having, from his
entrance u[)on office, vowed wai' against the Military
Academy and Corps of Engineers. Boui'bondike, lie
knew nothing of military matters heyond what he
had learned in the Revolution, where oui' engineers
were .soldiers of fortune serving for [lay and titles,
with, except in name, no more rank and command
than so many wagon-mastei's. In the prejudiced
m
Tl!
iP
60 MIIJTAUY EDI^fATlON ANP CATSKS OF THE WAK.
r^m
ih.
mind of an ii^nonint Secretaiy, those Revolutionary
ideas were paramount to all our subse([ueni ex])eri-
ence, aiu' *t was not for his narrow comprehension co
ap])reciate the noble disinterestedness of one who had
created a Cor])S of Engineers from native talent ; who
had organized a Military Academy for the education
of our own officers; who had com])lete]y metamor-
phosed our coast defences; and wlio, as President
Jefferson had sai<l, coml)ined the virtues with the
love of science of his illustrious kinsman — Dr. Benja-
min Franklin.
After his resignation, C/olonel Williams retired
to his beautiful country seat, on the banks of the
Schuylkill, to enjoy that i-epose which had been
denied him for long years. In imitation of Metaa-
tasio, he could now sav :
" Tlianks dear
-, imliil{i;eiit clieut.
Kind Heaven, and your more kind deceit,
At length liave set me free.
1 feel iio rival's i)roud control,
I feel no inmate in my soul
But peace and liberty."
At Moiuit Pleasant he received constant tokens
of the attachment of his brother officers and of the
civilians who had been associated with him. In a
jn'ivate letter, DeAVitt Clinton says: "If we con-
sider your a])sence from the C\nnmissi()n for the
Defense of New York Ilarljor as so great a ])riva-
tion to us as an individual, be assured that your
resignation as an officer is a subject of general regret,
considering our exposed situation and the confidence
reposed in you by all our citizens. AVe esteem your
departure as a loss that cannot be supplied.''
llJ.
Blt[({.-(JKM:iJAI- .r(LNATlIAN WILLIAMS.
Gl
onary
•
'Xi)eri-
sioii to
lo had
; who
icatioii
taiiior-
'sideiit
th tlie
Beiija-
retired
of the
I l)eeii
Metas-
tokens
of the
111 a
ve coii-
for tlie
I pi'iva-
it your
1 regret,
liideiice
(xeiieral AEortoii of Xew York writes : " I cannot
sup[)ress a feeiingof in(lii:;nation wlieii I retlect that,
from tlie weakness and wickedness of men in office,
we have hwt the virtues and talents wliieli would
have henetitted and honored our country "
AEajor Swift echoes tlie unanimous sentiments of
his brother engineers when he says to Colonel Wil-
liams: "The Corps are never to be without your aid
so long as you remain on this world's stage; and you
can never be Avithout their grateful regard." As
they could no longer enjoy his presence at West
Point, the Corps of Engineers recpiested him to sit
for his full-leno-th likeness which was executed by
Sully and now adorns the library of the Military
Academy. A copy of tlie same v\'as ordered, Novem-
ber 1, 1813, by the City of Xew York, "in consid-
eration of the high sense the Common Council
entertain of the important services rendered to the
city by Colonel Jonathan AA'illiams in preparing and
executing plans of defense f(^r the Port, and as an
evidence of the distinguished esteem they entertain
for his character and professional talents."
Governor Tom])kins of New York, highly esti-
mating Cohmel Williams' talents and services to the
State, conferred upon him, May 17, 1814, the Brevet
of Brigadier-General of the State Militia; and,
Feb. 13, 1815, he was commissioned a full l^rigadier-
General, by a vote of the Legislature of Ne\v York.
These were no uncommon testimonials to the
talents and character of a citizen of another state
stationed amono; them only for a few years.
After the retirement of Secretar\- Eustis from
I
<)*i Mll.ri AKY KDIi A'I'KiN AND CAl'SES ol' THK WAK.
tile office lie liad so iinwoi'tliily filled, li is MUccessor —
(reiieriil Anustroiisj; — .m soldier who |)ro))ei'ly <'sti-
iiiated true merit aii<l eiiiiiieiit services, made, with
the [^resident's sanction, tlirou*::]! John Hullus, Navy
Ai^eiit at New ^'ork, a proposition for Colonel Wil-
liams' return to the head of the Corps of Kiiii^ineers,
with the lank of Major-(ienei'al, which, for some
unknown reason, was not carried into effect, tliouuli
Williams had intimated, April 2\), isia, "that such
an offer could not he declined consistently with the
sentiments he had avowed I'elative to the service,"
j)articularly as the u'overnment by its late acts had
"ac((niesced in the principles foi- which he had
contended."
Hardly had Colonel AMlliams returned to private
life before he was called from his retirement to be-
come the executive member of the C^»mmittee of
Defense of the Delaware Kivt^r and Bay for the
security of Philadelphia. At the same time lie was
fre(|uently consulted res[)ectini;- the fortifications of
New York harbor; nnuiy thino;!^ relatiuii; to the oMili-
tary Academy; and was the presidinix director of the
Lancaster and Schuylkill Bridu'e Company.
In the autumn of ]S14, General Williams' feUow
citizens of Philadelphia, relyinij; upon his superior
abilities and varied experience, elected him to Con-
gress ; but lie was not destined to add a statesman's
reputation to that of a useful citizen, a firm ])atriot,
and an accomplished soldier, death having;. May IH,
1815, removed him, at the ao-e of sixtv-five to a
higher reward than he had received on earth.
A I!.
V csti-
0, with
1, Niu-y
el Wil-
;ineevs,
r some
though
i:it such
ith the
;ei'viee,''
cts had
he had
M
» private
lit to be-
littee of
for the
e he was
itioiis of
the ^nii-
,or of the
us' feUow
superior
11 to Coii-
atesmaii's
n ■|)atriot,
:, May 16,
-five to a
th.
K Kl
CHAPTER SECOND.
CAMPAIGN OF 1812 ;
WITH A HIOORAPHirAL SKETCH OF
MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH G. TOTTEN.
AVhkx War was declared against Great Britain,
June 18, 1812, there were only thirteen P]ngineer
(xraduates of tlie ^Eilitary Academy m the Army,
(^f these, some were occnitied in foi-tifvino- the
Atlantic coast, and some employed as instructors at
West Point, leaving only seven available for service
on tlie Canada frontier, where, in the course of the
war, each of these latter gained one oi- two hrevets
for gallant and meritorious conduct. Among the
most distinguished then, and in his sulisequent
career, was the otHeer whose hiographical skettdi is
given in this cha])ter.
Josi:i>ii GiLHKRT T(rrTKX was born in New Haven,
Conn., August 28, 1788. His schoolmate — Ralph Tn-
gersoU — descril)es him as a bi-ight, noble youth, of
fine mind, fond of study, and alwaA's at the head of
his class, gentlemanly in his deportment, and greatly
l)eloved. He entered the ^lilitary Academy Nov. 4.
1802, under the auspices of his uncle, Ca))tain Jared
^[anstield, then an Acting Professor of Mathematics
at AVest Point ; was graduated from that institution
July 1, 180.-), when he "was promoted to be a Second
Lieutenant of Engineers; and resigned from the
U5
66
OAAIPAKJN OI' 1812.
Army Mai'cli 31, 180(;, to at'i'ompany, as Secretary,
his uncle, Captain Mansfield, wlio liad been appointed
by President Jefferson, Surveyor-General of Ohio and
the Northwest Territory. Yonng Totten, Feb. 28,
1808, re-entered tlie Corps of Engineers; was pro-
moted to be a First Lientenant July 28, 1810, and
Captain July 81, 1812; and served, till the outbreak
of hostilities with Great Britain, at Castles Williams
and Clinton, then under construction, for the defense
of New York. At tlie early ai>:e of tAventv-four lie
became the Cliief Engineer, in tlie Campaign of 1812,
on the Nia2:ara frontier of the " Army of the Centre "
under General Van Rensselaer,
Tn conducting this cam[)aign, the United States
attempted to invade Canada with one column (Army
of the Northwest) crossing the Detroit straits ;
another (Army of the Centre) passing the Niagara
river; and a third (Army of the North) moving
from the foot of Lake Cliamjilain to threaten Mon-
treal ; besides minor isolated o])erations of little
importance.
AmiY OF THE Northwest. — Major-General Hull,
with a force of 2,000, chiefly of western militia, in
excellent health and spirits, reached Detroit, his base
of oi)erations, seventeen days after the declaration
of war; crossed the straits into Canada, July 12,
1812, without op[)osition; found the ])opulation, if
not friendly, hardly to be called hostile; was almn-
dantly supplied from the resonrces of the country ;
and the only avow ed foe Avas at Fort Maiden, scarce
eighteen miles off ])v an miolistructed road. Not-
withstandinu' these fortuitous circumstances of time,
ma.i<>I!-(;i:m;i{ai. .ioskimi <;. 'iotikn.
67
place, and ivlativf stiviiutli, when it was of the
utmost importance (piickly to strike a l)low at this
in(lefensil)le work* witli a feeble ijfarrison, Ilnll,
(luring a month, did nothinii; hut send two or three
unsupported detachments to the Canards, a small
stream four miles short of this object ; marched back
his army to Detroit on the Ttli of Auo-ust; witli
little resistance allowed liimself, by the defeat of his
inade([uate detacliments sent to Bi'ownstown and
Maguao'o, to be cut from liis base of supplies ;
capitulated to an inferior force without a show of
o]>position ; and to crown his uns])eakable (bsgrace,
gave up a well-armed fort, his entire army and the
whole of Michigan Territoiy, thus ending liis five
weeks' campaign most disastrously to our arms.
Akmv of Till-: CEXTin:. — Early in Oct., 1812, we
had on the Niagara, stretching from liake P]rie to
Lake (Ontario, (),8()0 regulars and militia ; about half,
uu<ler the inunediate command of ^Tajor-Geueral
Stephen \'an IJensselaer, l)eing at and near Lewis-
ton, N. Y. ( )n the morning of Oct. l.Sth, a force of
'iOO, half I'egulars and half militia, was to cross the
Niagara and take ])ossession of Queenstown Heights,
when the remaining troops were to follow and
<lrive the British from the town. Owing to the in-
sufiiciency of boats, only al)out 800, mostly i'egulars,
made the first crossing ; scaled the steep ascent
* A train of heavy arUUery was not required to l)atter a l)reacii for tlie
assault ; it was not necessary to ilre a single <^u\\ ; not a cartridge need
have been expended ; the hayonet alone was adeciuate to have taken
Maiden at any hour from the moment the American army crosf^d into
Canada till its most shameful retreat. T/ie fort was not enclosed .' one
entire side was open to assault !
nil
68
CAMPAKiX ol' 1,^12.
against all opposition ; stoi-med mid carried the redan
battery half way up the slope ; and took })ossession
of the Heights after des])erate fighting with the rein-
forcements from Foi't (xeorge, under Genei'al Brock,
wlio was killed. For hours we remained masters of
the position, which Cajitain Totten of the Engineers
strengthened by every means at hand ; while Lieut.-
Colonel Winfield Scott (the future con([ueror of
Mexico), anxiously awaiting reinforcements from
Lewiston, brushed away a body of Indians which
much annoyed him ; but about 4 P, M. he was assailed
by the whole British force of a thousand trooj^s
(su2i})orted by their savage allies) under General
Sheaife. Van Bensselaer did his utmost to incbice
the militia at Lewiston, by stirring appeals to theii*
humanity and patriotism, to cross the Niagara to
support their conu'ades, but <'0)i>^fitiifion<il scn/p/fs
forbade them to leave their State, where there was
no enemy — or rather the distant smell of gunpowder
paralyzed the honor and courage of these poltro<uis,
who tremblingly, fi'om the Americjui shore, \\atched
the inevitable l)utchery or captivity of the bi'ave and
devoted band on Queenstown Heights, which, after
a heroic resistance, was compelled to ca])itulate to a
greatly superior foe. The bearers of two flags of
truce having been shot down by the Indians, Colonel
Scott himself, fixing a white cravat on the ])oint of
his sword, and accomjianied by Captains (tibson and
Totten (from whose neck the im})rovised signal of
submission was taken), marched througli a shower
of Indian bullets, and barely escaped the knives and
tt)niahawks of two savages, who leaped like tigers
MA.lOlMiEXKHAL .JOSEPH <i. nnTKX.
69
upon them from the road. Unlmrt, as by a miracle,
they tinally reached General Sheait'e, to whom was
suiTendered our whole force on the Canada side of
the river, connistinii; of 293 survivor^ of the fierce
battles, and some (300 skulkers, who had done no
more fighting than spectators in a balloon might have
claimed.
This second invasion of Canada, though more
creditable to our arms, was as unproductive of results
as Tlull's ridiculous promena«le down the river and uj)
again. General Van Uensselaei', <lisgusted witli the
conduct of the militia at Lewiston, resigned his com-
mission, and was succeeded in command by General
Smyth. Having 4,500 troops about Black Kock,
the new chief, after nnuiy braggart ordei's, and ])ro-
claiming his anxiety " to die for his country," resolved
to invade Canada on th? mornini; of Xov. 29, 1812.
Two detachments, one of regulars and seamen, the
other of volunteers, were sent across the Niagara to
secure a landing for his army, which, tliough gal-
lantly conducted, failed in the darkness, through
want of ])ro])er concert of action, to effect their ob-
ject. The General-in-Cliief, who was s])oiling for a
fight, notwithstanding this mishap, order(Ml his
troo))s to man their boats at sunrist', where for hours
they sat shivering in the cold till he concluded tliat
l»y Shrewsbury clock it was time " to discnd)ark ff/x/
<//'/!>%' and thus spare Canada fnuu the smell of
villainous saltpetre. Soon aftei', in a duel with his
subordinate, (xeneral P. B. Porter, who luul accused
him of c-owardice, he fired his only shot on the
Niagara, which fell as harndcss to his antagonist as
70
rAMPVIGN OF 1S12.
^.^'1
^^!'l!
his tei'i'ihlr tlireats of invasion to (•anuda. Tlie only
other event, during Smytli's command on tliis tVontiei',
was the bombardment of Fort Niagara, Nov. 21, 1812,
wliere Lieut.-C(jlonel W. K. iVrmistead, Cliief Engi-
neer to Major-Genera 1 Dearborn, was engaged.
AuMY OF THE North. — Major-General Dearborn,
in comnniml of about 7,000 troops, near the foot of
Ijake Cham])laiu, was ordered "not to lose a moment
in attacking tlie British posts in his front;" yet he
tarried till Nov. If), 1812, l)ef<)re moving to invade
Canada; crossed the frontier toward Odell Town,
with 3,0(»() regulars and 2,000 militia, with what ulti-
mate ol)ject no one knew ; confronted a mixed British
force under Lieut.-Colonel De Salal)erry on the La
Cole ; crossed this little tributary of the Sorel on
tlie 20th; surrounded a block-house fi'om which the
small uarrison escai)ed through our line; enjoved a
brief half-hour's contest with some New York militia,
coming from another direction, before finding out the
mistake; and when discovering tlie ival enemy in
fi'ont, both detachments beat a retreat, to return to
winter (pmrters, thus ending their fruitless expedition.
The operations against the British and theii-
Indian allies in the Xorthwest, and the abortive
winter exi)editioii in 1812-18 of Major-General Har-
rison's arm}- to recover Micliigan Territory w^ill be
described in the next chapter.
From the foregoing narrative of events, it will
be seen that the Cam])aign of 1812, from begimiing
to end, was a stupendous blunder, for which the
War Dejtartment must ])e held mainly accountable.
William Kustis, the Sccretai'v of War, was doubt-
MA.I<H:-(iKNEUAL .lOSHPIf (i, TOTTKX.
71
less a worthy gentleiiiaii in private life, and had
made a respectable member of Congress from tlie
State of Massachusetts; but lie cei'tainlv lacked
ft'
those commanding talents and enlarged views recj-
uisite to a wise administration of the AVar Depart-
ment in a u^reat crisis. AVhen he entered President
Madis(m's Cabinet in 1809, though war was im[)end-
ing, he forgot that he held a statesman's place, and
was content, with folded arms, to ])lav the role of a
party demagogue. During his three years in otHce
preceding the war, he pro])ose(l no adecpiate meas-
ures to increase our armies; he asked foi- no sufficient
apjn'opriations for the defense of our coasts; he
failed to ])rovide for the necessary munitions of war;
he strangled the Military Academy, our only school
for educating ofHcers; he sneered at all judicious
])lans for meeting the enemy ; and at last when
roused from his lethargy l)y actual hostilities, he ex-
])ected Canada to be con<[uered by 1(»,(>00 raw re-
cruits, mostly militia, led by old incompetent gener-
als exhiuued from the llevolution.
As Secretary of War he was ])riniarily account-
able for the [)lans of the camj)aign, and the means
of conducting them to a fortunate issue, which
iiiN'olved tlie selection of the po'tntx of attack, the
ihiio for makinsi: tliem, the fonu- to command success,
and the apjwintinent of skilful generals to ensure
victory.
I^oiXTs OK A'lTACK — British America, in its mil-
itary relations to the United States, may be assimi-
lated to ti tree, of which Halifax is the fajj-roof,
<v)uebec the sfxt/ijt, Montreal the truiil; Niagara river
72
CAMVAiay OK 1812.
tlie /o//\^/' linihs, aiifl the U2)per Lukes the fop
hrmwhes. To sever the tap-root Ih to aniiiliihite the
tree; curtail it to tlie stump and little is left; cut-
tiiiii; the ti'uiik aiujmtates tlie brandies ; but lopping;
ott' its linil)s simply mars its l)eaiity and inilicts only
temporary wounds. Therefore to possess ourselveH
of British America, it was necessary to aim our
blows at the lower not the higher points.
Halifax, the lowest of these points, with its large
dock-yanl, ample arsenal, and excellent jtort, was
the great rendezvous and [»i'inci|>al American sta-
tion of British naval ])ower; it was the bastion jut-
ting into the ocean from which England could |»roject
her shi])s of war, like missile wea])ons, upon the
wings of every wind, to flank our entire Atlantic
coast ; and it was the citadel of Britain's strength,
never, like the ice-bound St. Lawrence, closed to her
assistance. By seizing it the naval power of Eng-
land in America would be ])aralyzed, one of lier
great nurseries of seamen destroyed, and Canada cut
off from all su[)portof the mother country. C ertainly
Halifax in 1812, with its small ])o])ulatioii and feeble
fortifications, was not so ditficult a coiKpiest as was
Louisbiirg in 1745, when, without British troo])s,
the gallant Peperell, with his brave New Englaiid-
ers, ca])ture(l that well-armed and strongly gai'risoned
fortress, built at enormous cost, and with all the
skill of Erencli engineering art. When it was pro-
j)()sed by Major Jesiij) (subsecpiently Quartermaster-
( General of our army) to deal here a death-blow to
British |)ower in America, Secretary Eustis sneered at
it, merely remarking that 'Mt was a very pretty ])lan."
mar
fccli
(■(.111
lean
half
111 1 '
III 1
'\
l.y(i
«>iil\
till 1
f{y tl
lean
tlie e
.MAJOK-GENKRAL .(OSKI'II (i. Tn'ITEX.
73
(^iH'lx'c was tlic next vital |)<)iiit tlii'<>ui;li w liicli
to attack I)i'itisli America. W'olfVs aniiy, in 17')!),
liad A\ rciiclicd it from tlie Frencli by n sinu:le battle
ill its front; and, in 1775, it j)i'ol)ably would have
been cai'ried by assault by oui' liandful of Kevolu-
tionary heroes, had the ])oints of attack been better
selected, Arnold tlie leadei- of one stoi'miny' column
not ])('en wounded, and Mont^'omery the leader of
the other not been killed. Certainly to ivach it, in
j.sl'j, Avas a much less ditlicult enterprise than
Arnold's memorable march throu<j::h tlie wilderness
of Maine In 1 77r).
Montreal, the third most important point in
British America, had ca|>itulated to(ieneral iVmherst
ill 17<)<», and was captured by a small body of our
("oiitinental Army in 177."). The Sorel river, by
which it was directly aj)])roached, had been the
theati'e of active opei'ations in every can i])aiLin from
the heirinninu' of the old French war till Buro'oyne
marched, in 1777, to his surrender at Saratoga. The
feeble I^ritish force, on this im|)ortant strategic line,
could not have been any serious obstacle to Amer-
ican invasion in 1.S12, had it been conducted with
half the ente)-])ris(^ of A[ontgomery''s ex])edition
in 1 77.").
The Niagara (oi' rather the fort of that name built
hy the French in 1 750 at the river's mouth,) had been
only a small link in the chain of British operations
till I75i>, when the fort fell into their ])ossession.
By the Ti-eaty of Pai'is, in 17'S;i, it became an Amer-
ican ])ost, and had some importance in commanding
the enti'ance to the river from Lake Ontario ; but it,
!l '
<4 CAMl'AKJN OI' 1812.
and ])()iiitH liiu'licr up tlu* stream were of little eoiise-
(jueiu'e ill tlie attack of Canada.
Detroit and Mackinaw had no niilitary value
ex('e|)t as i^ood positions for the coniniand of the
water cojimninicatiidis to the ni>l>er Lakes.
Secretary Kustis, thonuh no soldier, must have
read enoUi;']i of the iiiilitai'v history of the wars in
C^anada to know that British America was not to \h'
destroyed hy strikinji; at the twigs and branches of
the tree to which we likened the enemyV territory
aloni:: our northern frontier ; yet, he sanctioned the
invasion of Canada fi'oni Detroit Straits, Niau'ara
River, and Lake Chani])lain, j)oints about 4(><> miles
apart, nn'asured on tlie nearest roads. As we have
seen, this resulted in TLilI's aboi'tive effort and in'iio-
minioiis surrender of Fort Detroit, his army, and
ALichio'an territory, without pulliuLC a triu'u'er; \'an
Kensselaer\s and SmytlTs disij;race'fiil failures on the
Niasjfara; and Dearborn's i»:rand strateu'ic maivli from
Lake Chainplain to ca])tiire a small block-house, and
return with his laurels to winter (piarters.
Ti.MK OK Attack. — -The principal advantairt'
accruing' to a nation, which is the first to declare
war, is that of sekH'tini>; its /////(^ as well as itsyx/////
of attack. War \vith (Ireat i^ritain had been f(»r
years an almost certainty; yet Avheii declared, iittle
])reparation had been made at once to strike a deadly
blow. On that day, June IS, 1S12, Secretary Kustis
wrote two letters to (leneral Hull, then se])arated
from the froiitiei' by one Inindred miles of wilder-
ness, instead of l)eing on it ready for action. Tn
one of these letters no mention \vas made of the
or
AIA.IolMiKNKIJAL J(VSK|«II <;. 'I'oTTKX.
<•)
(IccH.'iratioii of \v;ii*; in tlu' otlicr it was distinctly
iiiul ortifially aiin()iiiR'('(l. Tlie foi'iiicr was carefully
(l('sj)atcluMl by a s])('cial niessciiu-ci', wlillc tlic latter
was sent ])y the ofdinai'y mail. Tlie result was that
the n<itice of the declaration of war did not reach
its destination //// <i</hf dans, aftrr If iiuix rfcdrcd Inj
tin (Hciinj, niidcr tJie fr<nik((l (iirdojn- of oiii- oim
Sccrddrii of the l)-<<(sii rii. In conse([nence of this
tai'<ly and inexcusable transmittal of the most vital
information, I lull's sick and convalescents, 1 >au'ii;aij^e,
stores, intrenchini;' to(»ls, army retui'ns, and s;(>vei'n-
inent instructions, sent l)v water /// iiilraiicc of h'm
troojhs^ wt'i'e all ca])tured o|)])()site Maiden, by a
liritish subaltern with six men ; and tlie comman-
dant of St. Jose[)hs, with thirty reu'ulars and a rabble
of enu'aii"'''es and savages, was enabled to take ])os-
session of oui' fort at Mackinaw, without even a
formal refusal to surrender.
Wdien the attempted invasion of (^anada was
finally essayed, instead of beimi; made at one ])oint,
or simultaneously tVoni the several selected, the
Deti'oit was crossed July I'Jth by Hull ; the Niaji:ara
at (^ueenstowu Oct. l.'Uh by \'an Ivensselaer, and
au'ain, Nov. LMlth, by Smyth's van»i'uard ; and not till
Nov. KJtli did Dearboi'n move from l^ake Chamj)lain
u|»on that formidable l)lock-liouse on tlie La Cole.
'i'liis ne<j::lect of synchronous movements enabled
lirock to o|)]»ose Hull with his whole J^ritish force
on the Detroit, and move ])ack to the Xiairai'a in
time to defeat Van Rensselaer at (^ueensto.wn ;
Sheaife, liis successor in command, to rendei- abortive
Smyth's projected invasion from Hlack Hock; and
ill I
CAMI'AKi^' Ol" lftl2.
Dc S;ilal»('n'y's smnll Unvv to iiidiK-t' DcarlxM'ii to
yi('I<l liis (IrcniMs of coiKiiicst for ('oiiifortal)l(' ^villteI•
(HiMi'tt'is oil liakc Cliaiiiplain.
FoKCK FOI5 AriAcK. — Tlic tliii-d t'lciiiciit of tlie
('aiii|)aiii;n was i\w fo/'r< to Ix* ('iMj)Ioy«'(l. Wlicii tlie
war was declaivd, Hull had 2,0(i(» ti'ooi)s of all anus,
mostly militia and volunteers; the returns of Se]»t. 12,
1S12, sli<»\\, within Dearlxn'n's eouunand on tlie
Nia<!:ara and Lake (lianijtlain, a force of I .S,000.
Tlie Britisli reu'ulars at tlie same time were ahout
4, ;■)(>(», whieh, with a lai'Lirer numl)er of (anadiaii
militia and Indian allies, were scattered fioni (^)u<'l»cc
to Lake Sii])erior. Ljum the outbreak of war, had
an army, even (»f l.S, ()()(», been led 1)V a skilful u'en-
eral aij^aiust our weaker antau'onist on a single, instead
of three or four )>oints of the frontier, oiu' invasion
of (Canada must have been a, success, and a peace
have been cou(|Uered in a short cam])aii;n ; for the
British could oppose but few reii:ulars, the boi'der
Indians weiv neutral, the Canadiaus were disposed to
be friendly, the mother country was completely sur-
prised bv our declaratiou of hostilities, and (ireat
Britain was wholh- absorbed in herinii^dity struiiude
with the Conijueror of Europe.
Ainiv Commanders. — The last, and not the least
im])ortant element of the cam] )aii»:n was the selection
of GencndK. Instead of choosinjj^ yonno;, active and
enterprisino; leaders for onr armies, like Brown, Jack-
son, Scott, (laines, Williams, vSwift, McRee, Jesu}),
Totten, Wood, Kearny, Thayer, etc., such men were
ap]>ointed to high commands as Hull, Harrison,
Dearborn, Smyth, Chandler, Winder, Bloomfield,
MA.TOR-OENERAL .TOSKPH (i. TO'ITKX.
Winchester, etc. ; some, i^my- 1 leaded veterans, whose
faculties were l)eniini])e(l by tin* fVosts of a<i,'e ; some
who had never set a S((uadi'oM in the flehl ; some dis-
tiiiii'iiislied onlv for inactivity and l)ai"i'enness of
mind; some whose names weiv weihled to disaster;
and none who won a sinti'le hiurel in tlie campaiu'n.
CoN('Lrsn>N. — -Sucli was the inii-h)rions fiasco <»f
isl'J, for wliicli William Eustis, as Secivtary of
W ai", was mainly res|)onsi])le. Instead of conqn*'!'-
inu' a peace in a few weeks hy one viuorous l)low at
the vitals of the enemy, luirdly i-onsed to the exist-
ence of tlie war, he l)ei^an hostilities without [»re])-
aratioii or any knowledu'e of the oj)|)osiniL;' force ;
connnunicated our declaration of war to the foe
l)efore makinu; it known to our own comnuuiders;
selected senile and inert u'enerals to lea<l our armies,
composed maiidy of raw recruits; scattered our
foi'ces over a thousand miles of frontiei- without
nuitual sup])ort or concert of action ; neo'lected to
draw in the garrisons from isolated and distant posts
exposed to capture; permitted the enemy to concen-
trate with ini])unity to repulse ourtlireatened attacks;
assailed the least vital points instead of dealing
hlows at the heai-t of the adversai'y ; consumed six
months in fruitless efforts when a single battle, \>\
the mass of our force at the ti'ue objective j)oint,
\\<»uld have decided the contest ; commenced ojiera-
tioiis in a sj)irit of palti-y ])arsimony and ended with
lavish and unjustifiable i)i-()(ligality ; and, in fine,
tarnislied our arms with a succession of defeats,
made blundei's that were crimes, and inflicted deep
disgrace u[)on the nation which two years more of
78
CAMPAKiN OF 1812.
war soiU'coly cifact'd. Had a (*ai'ii<>t or Stanton beoii
Minister of War, citlicr Halifax would have Ikhmi
vii^'oroiisly uttucked, as iirojxisrd by Jcsuj) ; or (^)u(d)('('
In'eii carried as by AN'olfe's arni\ in 17.")*.); or Mon-
treat Ijeen (•a[>tured as ])y Montu'oniery in ITT.")", and
tlie c'ani])aii;n liave liad a glorious issue. But Seere-
tary Kustis, iunorant of the iirst I'udinients of tlu'
military ])rofession, projxtsed tryiiiu' to kill tlie
Hi'itisli Lion by piiieliing liis tail at Detroit, oi- pull-
iiiu' his mane on tlie Niaii;ara. Ilis stujuMidous folly
culuiinated iu the captui'e of Mackinaw; the massa-
cre at Foi't Dearborn ; tlie desti'uction of Nan Iloi-n's
deiacliment by Tecumseh ; the siirrendei' of Michi-
Territorv and an arni\ at Detroit, unparalleled
iraii
by tlie car-itulation of Ulm (»r Heylen ; the niisei'able
faibires to ci-oss the Tsiauara at Lewiston and lihudv
Hock: the ]>itiful miscarriap' of Dearborn near
Lake C'hain])lain ; aud the absurd vintei- march of
11
u'l'ison s
1'
'SS ( )
f w'estei'ii cln\ alr\' "" for the
recovery of De'troit, in violation of every military
])rinci|)le, and successful only as ji magniticeiit raid
upon the Ti'easui'y, Chaos reiu:ned supreme till the
cani})aii'"n closed in total ecli])se, without one redeem-
m<f feature to raise it above the utter contempt of
military criticism.
Such an accuuuilation of disasters was justly
visited by an in(b<i;nant and outi'au'ed public upon
the chief authoi' oF all our woes — Secretary Lustis —
^^■ho \vas waitei' ujton by a committee of (\)nii:;ress-
nieii of his own party, and compelled to teiKJer his
resiu'nation,
President.
•hicl
1 was imme(
liatel
N" acc
ept
e«l
!l\'
tl
le
MA.TOK-OF.XKnAL JOSKI'II (;. ToTTHX.
70
We liave dwelt so loiio' in narrjitiiiLi' nud c-riticis-
m^f this (•Minpain'ii, tlint we must uivnt''; ;il>i'i(lu«'
what we had to say of (^a])taiii Totteii, who was in
no way i'es|)oiisil)h' foi' the [)hin of military o}H'ra-
tions in lSli>. Upon the ivsiu-nation of (reiiend
\'an Rensselaer, he was transfViTed as Chief Enu'i-
neer to the Ai-my of tlie Xoi'th, under (xenerai Dear-
horn, who, in the sj)i'inij: ">f l''^l''*>, assend)led 4,000
ti'oo[)s at the head of Lake Ontario, with which it
was desiii-ned to land in I)Ui-lini''ton \h\\ : then to
take in rexerse all tlie British (h'fei>ses alonii' tlie
XiaL!;ara river, and eut theii" coiiiniunieations with
Kinii'ston and Montreal. In earryini^' out this ]>i'oj.
eet. Fort (ireoia'e, at the mouth of the Niagara, liad
Hrst to l>e captured, an opei'ation which was ])rill-
iantly executed ^^ay '27, isl.'i. Here Totten so
(listinn'uished himself as an enu'ineei', that the com-
mandinu" (ieneral stronu'ly conuiiended him, with
only four othei-s, to the W ar I)e])artn'.ent Un' " theii-
judicious and skilful execution in destroyiuii: tlie
enemyV hattei'ies." Ai^-ain, June (»tli, in the I'epulse
of the Hiitisli flotilla on Lake ( )utario, nuich of the
damaii'e was due to the hot shot heated in a furnace
he had improvised at rlie mouth of Foi'ty-mile ( Veek.
For his " mei'itorious serxices," in this last operation,
he was l>i"e\'ette(l a ^Ltjor, thouu'h he had won that
honor ten days l)cfore at Fort (reor^'e. When Dear-
li<»iii was recalled, July l.Vh, Totten, ha\ in;^' c»>m-
l)leted the defenses of our cam]) at Foi't (Jeoru-e,
joined Colonel Swift, Wilkinson's Chief Fni^'ineei',
at Sackett's ILirhoi', as his assistant in the St. Law-
nnice cuui[)aigu, which terniiuated November 14tli.
: «».■.'. ■..„.-^"
80
CAMI»AI(iX OK 1812.
Tliree d.'iys nftei", <»ii the departin't' <>f ('oloiicl Swift
w itli dlspatclies to ^Vasllill^•toll, Tottcii was left as t lit'
C'liicf Knu'iiieer of W ilkinsoii's army. Here, at
Freiicli Mills, on the Salmon I'iver, he built and for-
tified the winter (luai'ters of the left winu' of the
Northern Army, aiid then pixteeeded to do the same
at Chateauuay Four-eornei'S, for tlie riu'lit wini;' under
IIam|>lon.
Wilkinson after l»i'eakinu' u)) his cantoiunent at
Freneh Mills, took ])ost at Plattshui'u' Kel). ir)th, to
t)])en (lie eampaii;n of 1S14 against the British, who
threatened the same o[)eration as was attempted l>y
Iiui'go}ne in 1 777, by Lake Cliam[>lain and the Hud-
son, thus to cut off New Kngland, sujtposed to be disaf-
fected, from the I'est of the I'nion. To meet and
frustrate such efforts, countervailing measures were
adopte*!, Totteii being sent to fortify a ]>osition near
Rouse's Point, to prevent the I^ritish s(pia<lron at
St. John's from getting into Lake ("hamplain ; but,
))efore the defenses could be built, 'J, 500 Uritish trooj
were concenti'ated at La C\)le Mill, south of Ivouse's
Point. \\'ilkins()n, March .".<»th, moved with 4,(MKi
men to dislodge the enemy fiom this strong stone
structure. At first he was successful, but, having
no l>reaching artillei'y and its garrison l)eing rein-
forced, lie withdrew, terminating with this inglori(»us
affair his active military career.
iMaioi'-CJeneral (Jeoru'c Izard succeeded \\ ilkin-
son on tlie Champlain fi-ontier. Major Totten ])eing
liis Cliief Lngineer. Hy the middle(»f .[un*' 1m' had
disposed his tr(»ops for a movement into ("ana<ia,
b{.>th armed belliLTeivnts ])einu" eau'cr for the fra\.
IS
MAJOR-GENERAL .TOSEI'Tl (i. TCVrTEN.
81
Skiriiiisliiiiu- along tlie Ixtrdcr was of frcMjiU'iit occiu'-
reiicc, and 4,r)()(> of our ti'ov>|)s wtn-e at CMianiplain,
wltliin five miles of (/anada; l)ut already Naj)oleon
w 'led to Kn)a,and \\'ellinii;toirs veterans, released
fr(...i Spain, were ai'ri\ inii; at Monti'eal, and soon
after wei'e pourint:; down the Sorel in overwlielniinin'
force foi" tlie contemplated inxasion of our territory.
At this ci'itical moment, almost as if in aid of the
enemy's design, I/ard was ordered to tlie Niagara,
MORTAR BATv
DEFENSE OF PLATTSBURG
1814
,i rf \ CHURCH ruL ^c
MV\ rORT MOREA
,j"^ PLATTSBURG
F, SCOTT ^*^->^ PLATTS3URC «K.N£ M.wV.V V, ^^:\
^n, ^"S.v 'J"" "=^., -—- ; MM I ( 'BA Y) ) ! ; i))i;;J
'— V.V r. j:i 1 ::j I Ti caboim ' |N'A\\\\\-> i ■ i If'//" H
r
for which he departed with 4,<>0(i ti()oj)s, Aug. iMlth,
leaviuLi' Brig.-denei'al Macoml», his successor, with
the care of his sick, an<l scai'ce l,*iO(» (>tfecti\e men
t(» defend Piatt's Point and ('uml)ei'land Head, and
to hold Provost's 14, <»(»() veterans at hay. Macond>,
till 1S1l> a Lieutenant-Colonel <»f Kngineei's, well
knew how vital to oui' cause was tlie successful
defense of IMattshuig, f<»i' that p(>int passed, all was
^tti»
■■ r-^
82
CAMI'AKiX OF 1R12.
ojHMi to tlic Hudson; luMUH' lie sti'.'liiHMl every muscle
to iiic'i'ease Lis forc'(! witli New ^'ol'k and Vermont
\<>liniteei's, wlille Totten toiled day and nii;lit to
complete his fortiHeations. These consisted of a
strong redoubt and batteries on ('um])erland Head;*
Forts Hi'own, Moreau, and Scott, protecting tlie neck
of tlie j)eninsula between the Saranac and Lake
('haiui)lain ; and several block-houses and many
batteries along the river and shoi'es of l^latts))ui'g
l)ay. We do not ])ropose here to detail our doubles
victory which followed on the lltli of Se]»tember
when the bold ^Nlacdonough beat the supei'ior Brit-
ish Heet, and the gallant jNIacomb, behind his en-
ti'enchments, defeated and comj)elled the retreat of
I*rovost's vetei'an army of thi'ice his force.
* Tlio forlilyinij of tliLs posilioii to prevoiit the oiiomy's entranco into
Ti;ik(^ Chiiiniiliiin, was ordcrod by (leiicral Izanl ai;'aiiist tlio advici; of the
Secretary of War and tlio cariu'st protest of Major Totten, who .strongly
reconiniended the occupation of Rouse's Point, whicii, says Izard, July 12,
rs 14, to tlie War Department, "has been long an object of my attentu)n.
Jt is admirably situated for the establishment of a heavy battery, wliich
would command the passa,i;e of the lake at its narrowest part ; liut there
is not room for defensive works in its rear, and its immediate vicinity to
the enemy's principal post, at La Cole (now surrounded l)y intrenchments),
would mak(^ its occupation very hazardiuis. The (lueslion next lay between
Poinl-aux-Itoclies and Cuml)erland Head. I have decided in favor of the
hitter." After the War of isfi-l') Colonel Totten, writiiii;- to (Jeneral Arm-
stroii;;' .Vu::;usL <S, 18:iS, on this subject, says : "There was ground enough
in the rear of Rouse's Point for small works, and for such a.'^ would, with an
aiie<|iiate garrison, defend the position against great enterprises, and even
a siei^e. Having no faith in the power of any works on Cumberland Head,
capalile of impeding or materially injuring a passing srpiadron, I felt
bound in conscience to slate my views to the (ieneral, bittthomjli ini/ oppo-
sition irns eiinics/, it iras in rain. I do not now see, and never have sup-
posed, that there was anything in the vicinity of La Cole Mill, or in the
character of its garrison, to rtMider the occupation of Rouse's Point hazard-
ous to our army." The sami' views were expressed August 5, IH'iX, by (Jen-
eral Swift, formerly Chief Hngineer U. S. Army.
MA.TOi;-(iKNKRAL JOSEPTI (i. TOT'I'KX.
83
Tims ended tlie Imttle of l*l;itts])uro;, and tlio
second Invasion of the State of Xew York. In his
ottieial dispatch to tlie War I )ej)ai'tnient liivini;; an
account of this signal victoiy, tlie coinniandinu' u'en-
cral " I'ecoinniends t(» the particnhir notice of tlie
u'oN ernnu'iit " « le\en oiHcers who had "distinu'uished
themselves 1)\ their uncommon zeal and activity,
and had Leeii ureatly instrnmental in jn'odncinu' the
haj)]»y and uioi'ions results of the sieii'e."" Of these
elex'en, fliiur wci'e the otiicers of engineers — I'otteii
the chief, and Delviissy and '^Frescot his assistants — •
all of wliMiii wei'e brevetted for theii' " uallant con-
duct at the battle of Plattslairu-." After his skill
and labors had gixtMi such eminent results to his
country, B\ t. Lieut.-Colonel Totten joined (Jenei'al
Izard on the Niagara, s(»on after the successful soi'tie
from Fort Erie. This fort Ix'ing of no fui'thei' use to
us, Totten, with the saiu-tion of the general, mined it,
and Nov. ."ith laid it in ruins — one of the last acts of
this War aiiiU list (\'iiiada.
'^rotteifs military experience, with his mathemat-
ical training at West Point a<lmiral»ly 1itte(l one of
his acute intellect for \\ hat was destined to l»e the
great labor of liis life — planning and constructing
sea-coast fortifications.
During the Kevolutioii some of <nir more imi)or-
lant harbors had l)eeii fortitied with feeble earthen
works, and from that time till the v\
ose o
f tl
le secoiK
war with (ireat liritain, many sm;dl, weak and ill-de-
sio'iie(l forls and batteries were built b\- foreiufii
engineers in our service, oT clieap and ])eri
f ch
(1
diabh
materials
Tl
le on
ly
ariie casern
iited
wor
was
lit
84
ca:\ipaign of I812.
Castle AVilliaiiis, on the M(»ntal('iiil)ei-t system, built
in 1<S()7-1U, in New York liarboi'.
A peniiaiient Board of Engineers was created
Nov. 1(), 1810, (leiieral Bernard, the great constriic-
ter of tlie citadel of Antwer[) under Xa))oleon, being
at its head, with Colonel Mcliee and Lieut.-C(jlonel
Totten nienil)ers, to which was contided the labor of
woi'kingout the funihiniental principh^s and elaboi'a-
ting the projects for durable works to (h^'end oui'
entire sea-coast. The masterly re[)orts of this l)oard,
most of them written by Totten, laid down the
great principles of National Defense so forcibly and
incontestibly that they have ever since been the safe
gnides to all succeeding boards; and, though often
ably attacked, have stood firm against all assaults.
Till 1888, when Totten became Cliief Engineer of
the Army, he continued most of his time on the
Hoard of Engineers, though after 1825 he was
also the constructer of Fort Adams, Newj)oi't har.
bor, R. I., the second woi'k in area in the United
States, and the first in its c()nd)ination of the prin-
ciples and details of the art of fortification. When
this fort was conunenced, little was known of build-
ing great structures in this countiy ; hence he
had to make numerous ex))ei'iments to test the (|ual-
ities and adaptabilities of almost evei'y kind of
matei'ial.
Besides these military \voi"ks, he was often called
ui)on to devise and direct harboi' an.d river im|)rove-
ments, and other important civil constructions for
the (rovei'nment. States, Cities and (\)ri)orations;
and, as Chief Engineer, was ex-otHcio Insj)ectorof the
.^•stj**'
MA.r<)R-OEXKRAL .KtSKril (i. TO'n'EX.
S;-)
Militiiry AcjultMiiy, liaviiiii' cliai'ii'c <»f tlic fjoiiernl
direction (»f tlic institution,
Foi- twenty-six years lie e<»ntinue(1 at the liead of
the Kiiii'ineer I)e])artnient, administerinii", with nntir-
ini:: (Unotion, spotless inteu'rity, and siuiial alality,
the varie(l details, the tinancial res[»onsi])ilities, and
the pi'ofessional labors of that ai'ni of service so
essential to oui' national defense and internal devel-
o])inent.
In the War with Mexico, (renei'al Scott sum-
moned his early com])anion-in-arms, in whose judii:;-
ment he had the most unl)ound<*(l confidence, to ai<l
him with his j»i(»fessional skill in the sie<i:e of \'era
Cruz, which he directed with such si<.nial ability tliat
he was not only a]ipointed one of the (\)nunissioners
foi' arranu'inu' the terms of its ca)titulati(»n, hut also
was brevetted, March 21), 1H47, a P)riiradiei'-(ieneral,
for his "pdlant and meritorious conduct."
In addition to (Jeneral Totten's multii)lied mili-
tary avocations, he was an active an<l most useful
member of the Lio-ht House Hoard, fi'om its orijani-
zation in lsr)'2; a Keixent of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution from its establishment in 1<S4() ; a ('or])orator
of the National Academy of Sciences, created in
1S()8; one of the llai'bor Commissioners for the
cities of New ^ Ork and l^oston ; and a member of
many scientific associations, to some of which he
made valuable contributions.
He ]'ose from the lowest to the hif;;hest i^rade in
his branch of the army ; was Hve times c()m])limente(l
by advance rank for meritorious and distinguished
services ; became a Brigadier-(ieneral by a special
si;
CAMl'AKi.N OK 1S12.
act of ( 'oiin'rcss ill 1S('>;5, wIkmi the 'ro[>oura|>lii('al
('oi'j)s was nuM'u'cd into the ('oi'[)s of Eno:iiieeis ; after
iH'ar tlircc score years of "Ioiilc, faitlifiil, aii<l eiiii-
iieiit services,'' was bi'evetted a Major-(ieiieral in tlie
Army; and tlie next day, April '22, ISIU, hreatlied
his last in the City of Washington, terniinatinu' his
illustrious career, at the advanced ai^e of seventy-tive.
(ieneral Totten, ])hysically, iiientally,and morally,
was a reniarkal)le man. Com])actly l)uilt, witli a
sti'oiiLi', rohust frame, a vii^orous constitution exempt
From most ailments of life, and Avith teni])erate and
reii'ular liabits, his ])ow'ers of endurance were aston-
ishinii;. N(» elemental chaiiii'es, no hodily |)i'ivations,
iKtr any amount of laboi', seemed sensil)ly t(» affect
him ; and ]iis e(jual)le dis])osition and serenity of
thouii'lit ])revented tlie disturl)ant;e of his even bal-
ance and protected him from polemic excitation.
1 1 is intellect was thoroiiii'hly disciplined, system ])er-
vaded his daily life, and his ])erseverance nevei- tla^-
ued till the i^oal of his efforts was attained. The
constitution of his mind was remarkably sound,
miisculai', and (»f the Baconian order, followiuii' more
the iiKbictive than sylloixystic metJKxls. All his
o'reat and \arie(l powers received tlieir dii'ection from
common sense, for he ^vas eminently j>ractical — a
thoroiiii'h man of the world. 1' .oin the lii^'hest he
disdained not to descend to the lowest, and tlie luwt
moment could ])ass from the microscopic to that
which recpiired the u'lvatest ain]»litud(^ of com[>re-
hensioii. Often would he leave the elal)oration of
the minutest contrivance at his (b-awinn'-tabh', ])er-
haps to prepare a masterly report on national defense.
]\iA.ioi:-(ii:Ni:i!Ai. .ioskimi (i. 'idi'ikn.
<S<
He (l(^V(>iii'('(l 1)<)()ks — litcr.'iry, scientific mikI jiroiVs.
sioiiiil — tliouu'li lie " rcjid ii<>t t(t contradict, nor to
1)cl
i('\('
hut t
o wciu'li and consider
li
H'nce lie ^\as
accurately ini'ornie(l, an insti'uctive talker, and a
\rvsv, vin'oious and masculine writer, never saciviticinii'
strenii'tli to polish. It was Ix'cause lie du*;' deep that
he was able to pile hiiLih. ('onsei'\ati\ «' in all his
views, he was slow to adopt innovations; yet he was
e\-er foremost to end)race all n'reat |)rofessional ini-
proxcmeiits. \\ itli no coiitroNcrsial tendencies and
few j)rejudices, he could weiuh deliherately and
I'ecene
trutl
IS as iruests, not as eiiemie
II
IS i)e]
ceptive were e(piai to Ins reflective qualities, no
flecti
1'
>thini:'.
io\\('\ cr minute, escapiiin' his ea^ie eyt
Hi
IS jiid!''-
iiieiit was as sound as his reason, and his almost Dra-
conian sense of justice re(piire(l of others the meas-
ure of riii'ht ]U'actise(l Ly liimself. Ilis self-control
was amazinu', no murmur escapiiiu' him undt'r the
sevei'est trials of bereavement or injustice. TJior-
ouu'hly subjuu'atinui; liis feeliiiii's, and discij)lined to
ohedienoe, not vwn the persecutions of a corrupt
sui)erior, like Seci-etarv Flovd, shook his imnmtalde
infeii'i'ity, which no sophistry could swer\e, no po\\<'r
bend, no hlandishmeiits veer, and no influence war]»,
for it "was the pole-star of all his actions. But \vitli
all his sterner virtues, lie ])ossessed in an eminent
decree, the u'races of life. lie liad a (Udicate ap])re-
ciation of music, was a connoisseur of the fine arts,
could desiu-n and draw beautifully, was distinguished
for urbanity of manner and u'eiiial social (jualities,
had the keenest sense of w it and humor, and al)ove
all, possessed that ijfreat nun'al excellence which
s.<^
r.VMI'AKJX OF l«12.
adoi'iis tlic Clirisliaii soMici'Miid i:;(Mitl('iii!iii. in fine,
lie was a |)()lisli(Ml, true and iji'eat man ; a pati'iot iii
its hi'oadest sense; and in an ai!:e of soldiers, like
that of Louis X\y or Naj»oleon, lie would have heen
awarded tlie liiirlif^t military honors.
(reueral l^arnard, in his elaboi'ate eulouy of (ieii-
ei'al 'I'otten, delivered lu'fore tlie National Aeadeniy
of Scieiiees, sa\s of him
II
e A\as no
triri
er with
til
the realities of life, who dallied with them foi' his
pleasure, oi- who wielded them as iiistrumeiits of
amhition or stdf-inteivst. To him, as to all true men,
the meaninn' of life was concentrated In one sinu'h'
word
I)
riv,
This 'chief end of man,' which is t(
ii'lorify (rod l»v oliedieiice to His laws in the use of
the faculties lie has l)est(»wed, was his I'uliiiu- princi-
ple — the celestial cynosure to which his eyes wci'e
e\ei' directed, and from which n(» allureuient of lower
motives could dixci't it. Xor was his sense of dut\
of that friii'id, rejmlsive nature which reduces the
conduct of life to a foi'inula, and, suLstitutiiiir rules
for emotions, seems but a retined seltishne
ss.
Ht
was AN'arm and syni|)atlietic, findiiiL!: his chief hap])i-
ness in the pleasures of domestic and social inter-
course, hut sinii'ularly susce[)til)le to everythinjj; that
ministers to innocent enjoyment. * "' * *
(reutle, kind and u^ood ; mild, modest and tolerant ;
wise, sa<>:acious, shrewd ajid learned ; yet sini])le and
un])retending as a child — lie <lie(l as he had lixed,
surrounded by hearts uushiiiii; with aifectiou, and the
object of resj>ect and love of all with whom lie liad
evei- l)een associ
ated.
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CHAPTER TIIIRD.
WESTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813 ;
WITH A IlIOGRAl'llIt'Ari SKETt'II OF
LIEUT. -COLONEL ELEAZER D. WOOD.
FoiLKi) in every attem])t to iuv.-ide Canada in
IMl*, and thrown upon tlic <l('tVnsive witliin our
own ])onler, it was IiojhmI tliat in fiituic op«^iations
we would profit by past disasters. Our losses liad
])een p'eat in men, money and leputation ; hut infi-
nitely file least loss was tliat of William Kustis,
compelled l)y public iuilii-nation to ivsii,'n from tlie
head of the War J)epartnient. ]\[ajor-(ieneral John
Armstrouij:, who became the new Secretary of War,
.lanuary 13, 181.*{, was a veteran of the Revolution,
an officer «>f lartre exjterience, and a man of com-
mantliuir intellect ; vet lie bci^an his administratiou
b
>y repeating Ins predecessors eriors nt directinir
movements au:ainst the enemy by isolated columns
aimed at the least vital points of his powei-. The
('amj>aiirn of 1818, thouufh differiuLj: in its tletails
and modified in after execution, was, in principle,
essentially the same as the plan which had resulted in
the wretche<l fiasco of 1812. The Northwestern. <»r
Army of the Left, under Tlari'ison, was, as before,
t«» inva<le Canada by the Detroit Stiaits ; the Aniiy
«>f the Centi*e, under Dearboin, instead of })v the
Niai'ara as in 1812, was to attack the enemv's ter-
91
V u
t»L>
WKSTKUN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
ritory hy l)l<)\vs nt Kiiii^ston, York mul Fort Georcre
on the Nortlieni shore of Luke Ontario; wliile tlie
Nortlieasterii, oi- Army <>t' tlie Rii::lit, under TTani[)-
ton (later in tlie season) threatened a inovenieiit on
Montreal from Lake C'hamplain. Siil)se([uently, tlie
Army (►f the CVntre was (H-dered t<> descend the
St. Lawrence river to co-o[)erate in tlie cajtture of
Montreal. Thus were our forces again scattered,
over more than a th(tusand miles of frontier, witli-
out mutual support, and anew were doometl, fiom
false strateiiy, to icap few laurels.
In this chaptei' we ))ropose to limit ourselves to
the operations of the Xorthwestern Army, of which
Captain Wood was |)ractically the Chief Kiii^ineer,
his senior — Ca])tain (iratiot — luini!; most of liis
time ahsent on other duty or too sick for active
service ; and, for the hetter understandini!: of the
Western (^ami)aiu'ns of 181.'}, we must dwell a little
on [)recedini,M'vents which transpired in the territory
north of the Ohio.
Miitterin|Li;s of the comins; storm of war, had
been heard for years, amontc the Lidian tribes of
the Ni^rtliwest undei' the bold leadershij) of Tecuin-
seh and his wily lu'otlier — tlie l*rophet — who were
dissatisfied with the Treaties of (irreenville and Fort
Wayne. Instii^^ated to hostilities by British emmis-
sarit's, the latter chief had unsuccessfully attacke(l
(rovernor IIarris<m at Tippecanoe, Nov. 7, bsll,
frustratiiii;' for a time the hopes of tlie hostile tribes.
Had we promptly followed up this vi^'orous bl(»vv
all would have })een well, and the after horrors of
the tomahawk and scalping-knife been averted ; but
wai
Wll(
Ken
(ien
o\er
foi'iil
LTET'T.-rOLON^KL ELEAZKR D. WOOD.
03
Seeivtary Kiistis, {itteiii])tiiiii; to sootlir savairt*?< with
soft words, was laiiu'lied at for his rrediilitv, our
mistaken for})earaiU'e was inter] >ivte«] as weakness,
and Tec'uniseli's alliance witli the Hritisli was ensured.
Tliis bold chief auain in arms, and aided l»v the
moral influence of the capture of Mackinaw, tlie
destruction of the <rarrison at Fort Dearborn, and
the snrrendei- of Detroit, was soon enabled to array
numerous tribes against us undei- command of C'«>1-
onel I*i-octor of the British aiiny, at heai"t a more
inhuman savaye than himself. Proctor, witli liis
allies again on the war-path, determine<l immediately
to led uce Forts Wayne and Ilairisoii : ]>ut both of
these sti'ong stockades resisted all assaults till relieved
by the great uprising of the Western ])eopJe wh<),
in hordes and from all ranks of society, with pati-i-
otic anlor volunteered to avenge the past disasteis to
our arms, exterminate the brutal savages, and expel
theii" Biitish allies from the soil of tlie Republic.
Xund)ersand enthusiasm, however, were weak antag-
onists to encounter the organization and disripline
of Furopean legulai's and the wilv warfare of the
warrioi-s of the wilderness.
In a short time, ovei' 1(>,(I»M> ill-cMpiipped and in-
ex|>ei'ienced volunteers, com])ose<l of this excellent
raw material, with a few icgulars of our army, were
embodied under the command of (iovei-noi- Hanison,
who had been commissioned Hi'evet Majoi-(i«'neial of
Kentucky Militia; and, "^v^i. 17, lHli>, a*; a lirigadier-
(leneial of the United States Aiiny, was placed
over his senior — (irenei'al Winchester — because of ids
former services and gi'eat [>o[)ularity in the West,
04
WESTEUX CAMPAKiXS OF 1813.
'' I
I rjiirison's orders tVom {]w War Departiih'iit were
Ut provide for tlie seeurify of tlie Western frontier;
to retake Michigan Tenitoi'v ; and, witli a view to
the eoiKjUest of Upper Canada, to juMietrate tliat
country as far as the force under his conunaiid wouhl
justify liini to ju'oceed. lie was a(lvise<l tliat every
exertion was niakiiiijf to furnisli him witli a train of
artilI(M'v from IMttshuriih and witli all other neces-
sary sn])i>lies.
At once abandoninii; liis imjnactical)le project of
capturiiiLi^ Detroit by a <o/tjH/<-ut((iH with mounted
troops, Harrison d invested a new plan of campaijj^n.
To su[»port his army and better to ])rotect the frontier,
lie established his base of operations alonu: the edne
of the swam|)y district, extendinuj from St. Mary's,
])y Fort McArthur, to r])[)er Sandusky in Ohio,
which three places were to be the principal p(»intsof
coiiceiiti'ation of ti'oops and depots of sup[)lies pre-
j»aratory to a <i'eneral advance by columns marchini;,
from each of these localities, upon the Uaj>ids of the
Maumee (ik^v Perry sbursi;), which was to l)e the iirst
oh'/rctlre of the cani[)aiu'n. The left column, under
(reiieral AVinchestei', wascomj)osed of the Kentucky
militia and his few reujulars; that of the centre,
(reiieral Tupper command iiiii, consisted of 1,*J()() Ohio
militia and SOO mounted infantry; while the column
of the rijjjht, to l)e made up of briirades from Pennsyl-
vania, Virii:inia and Ohio, led by (leneral Harrison
in person, was to a])proach its object by way of
liOW
er SaiK
lusl
kv
A more sjjallant army than Harrison's never went
to battle ; but seldom was discomlitiire more conii)lete
LIETTT.-COLONEL ELEAZEU D. WO(»l>.
95
or fjitjil tlijiii was tlieirs. While Ilamsoii with tlie
rii^lit wiiii^ WHS \vaitin£j for supplies at Sandusky aiul
Tupper uiakini; al)sur<l inovenieuts with the centre
colunui, Winchester, eoiuniaiulinji; the left, was in-
duced to detach Colonels Lewis and Allen, of Ken-
tucky, to advance beyond the reach of ])ronipt
support, for the pr(>tection of Frenchtown (now
Monroe, Michiifan) on the River Raisin, a small
stream em[)tyini!; into the western end of Lake Erie.
Our decided victory at this place over Major Rey-
nold's combined Bi'itish an<l Indian foive, Jan. 18,
1813, pr<Kluced a degree of most unfortunate con-
Hdence, As soon as the news of our success was
known at the Rapids, all were eager to rush forward
to support and share tlie glory of their comra<les.
Wincliester, with a small re-enforcement of but 250
men, reached Frenchtown on the "JOth, but, failing
to enti'ench his position, his scattered forces were
surprised and attacked, on the 2'Jd, by the whole of
Proctor's army, his detachment defeated, himself
cai)tured, and, by a base strategem, all the heroic
survivors were induced to conditionally surrender.
The terms of the capitulation were bai']>arously
violated by tlie Britisli conunander, the pi'isoners be.
ing treated with the most brutal inhumanity; the
dead, denied sepulture, scal])e(l, and left t<> be de-
voured l)y the hogs and dogs of the village; while
the ])owei'less woiuuUnl were uban<loned to the
"surgeiy" of the savages, who, with knife, torch,
and tomahawk tortured them to death. And will it
be credited that the monster, responsilde for all this,
^vas an officer of a Christian mition and was pro-
<)«*)
WESTKIIX fAMPATONS OF 1813.
i;;
moted to the lionor}il)lp rank of lii'iiradiei'-Ciciieral foi*
his services in this Imtcheiy of a ti'iistiniz; foe!
" Wluit a contrast," says M'Afce, "Ix'tween this ])ase
jterfidy of tlie liritisli officf^rs, in ex|)osinL!; tlieir
prisoners to massacre, after stIpKhtfiiKj to jtrotect
them; and the noble luimanity <»f tlie American tars
I aftei' Pei-rv's victory on Lake Erie I in saci-iticiiiLT
their own lives, to save tlieir foes who had sur-
rendered iinc<ni<Jltl(Hi<illiiy
Witli the massacre of the River Raisin was vir-
tually terminated this tVuitless vvintei- cam|taiirn of
isl 2-1. 'i, by which we had uained no lost uround,
etfaced no disiri-ace to our ai'ms, and accomplished
nothiiii:', while time and money weic wasted and
pivcious lives and re])utation saci'ifice<l.
ILai'i'ison, witli his raw levies, doubtless labored
hard to defend the extensive froiitiei*, to conten<l
a<i:;ainst a formidable fo«', and t(» oveivome the many
V)stacles which nature interposed ; yet, all these
o
hindi
ranees do not ju
^tifv 1
lis violation of the j)rin
ciplesof sti*atei;y. Pei'ha])s he was not to blame for
the tirst plan of camj)ai<::n, suuvested by the u'(»^■•
eminent wliile that oru'aniz«'r of failure
\V
illiam
Eustis — ^was at the head of the War Department.
\V hen,on tlie .'{(►tli of Sejttember, he took command at
St. Mary's, tlie rainy season was fast ajtproachin*;,
and nothiiiLC ^vas ready f(tr an autumnal advance;
hence lie had no choice but to [)i'e|)are for operations
ill the spriiiif, or attem[)t a wintei' camitaiicn — always
ditticult ami seldom successful. Had Hari-ison been
as bold as lie was brave, he W(Mild have chosen the
former and not have adopted the latter, havini; "a
LIKUT.-COLOXKF, KLKAZKU D. WOOD.
07
complete <'(fi't(^ hJinii'lt ('"''' t<» coiiduct tlie \s\\\ as \w
saw fit. In extenuation of liis mistake, he wrote,
Jan. 4, 1S18, to the War Department : "The wishes
of the ^ovei'nment, to I'ecover tlie i^round which ha«l
Keen lost and to con(|Uei' Upper Canada, were, how-
ever, ex])ressed in such sti-onii; terms, and the fun<ls
which were ])laced at my disposal were dcclarecj to
he so ample, if n(»t unlimited, that I <li<l not consiiici'
mvself authorized to adopt tlie alteinative of dela\
fi
tl
•om anv othei- motive tiian tliat of the safetv of
le armv
But the wliole ]>rol)lem of Nortliwestern opeia-
ti<»iis had chanL!;ed since Winchester had been ordered
to support Hull, and irai'i'ison to defend Indiana and
Illinois aiiJiinst hostile Indians. Now Detroit and
Michigan Territory wei'e in possession of the enemy;
we had lost most of our western frontier posts and
sctth^ments ; the savauv ti"ib<'s, north of the Ohio,
weiv in open hostility; till Xovembei' nothing' l)ut a
few laids uj)on Indian cam]>s ha<l been etfecte<l ; the
weather was cold and the rainy season had set in ;
land transj)ortation throuii:h the swamps was alm()st
impracticable; deticient food and clothing' were
workiuiT tlieir baneful eifects ujton the health and
spii'its of the ti'oops; supplies and nnmitions of war
were far in the ivai' ; bad beef, liickory roots, elm
l>ark, and beech nuts were often the substitutes foi*
i:'oo<l rations ; an<l, withal, the troops were without
efficient oriranizatioii, jn'opei- instruction, or military
discipline. Ivnowinjj^ full well all these disadvan-
taires under wliich he laboicd, Ilari'ison persisted in
undertakinu' a wintei' cam))aiun au'ainst an activ<'
irr
98
WESTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
enemy, in front, familial- witli tlie wilderness ; with
('(>1«1, storms and all the elements opposed to him ;
an<l nnmerons months to feed withont the ])ossil)ility
of transporting sntficient snpplies except at enor-
mons cost in money, men and animals. Besides, he
conld not have forgotten that (iJeneral Wayne's army
in l7yH, after a whole sninmer's preparation, had not
been able to advance more than seventy miles from
the Ohio, and had then been ordered, by the prndent
President Washington, into winter (|uarters, at, ac-
cording to Harrison's own statement, "tlie very season
when his own arrangements were Im/iiDiiiuiy Hav-
ing, however, decided to attempt this crusade against
the enemy and the elements, as a soldier he was
bound to conduct liis ()perations accoi'ding to estab-
lislie<l military princi])les. The well-known maxims
of war reipiire the selection, if possible, of a single
and of the shortest line of operation ; that when mul-
tiplied lines are a necessity, they should ])e within
nuitual supporting distance; that isolated colunms
should have a place of concentration out of reach (►f
the enemy ; and that the objective ])oint, when
attained, should be decisive of the cain])aign. C'er-
tainly Harrison did not conform to these necessary
I'ules of warfare. Instead of following HulTs route,
which was the safest and most direct line of o])era-
tion,his army marched in three colunms, separated by
from thirty to fifty miles of impassable swamps and
trackless wilderness; the Maumee Rapids, his ])oint
of concentration, was within less than sixty miles of
the enemy's whole force ; and hence it was in Proc-
tor's power with liis entire army, rapidly and in
TJETTT.-COLONKL ELEAZKH D. WOOD.
99
Hiuressioii, to sti'ike eucli of our ooluiims Lcforc
ivucliiiiii; tlitMi' ]>oiiit of junction, tlius <U*sti'oyintr
Ilairison's urniv in detail without unv rink to hinisflf.
AV^incliesttM's advance to tlie Hiver Kaisin, tliontrli
made from tl»e best and most urL?ent motives, was a
still i^reater fanlt, Frenclitown beinij within ei«,d»teen
miles of the enemy\s hea(h|uarters at Maiden, while
it was more than double that distance to the Mauniee
Kapids, the nearest ])oint of HU])port, and about on**
hundied miles on an avera<j:;e fVom the other corjis
of the ^\merican Ai'iny ; hence the ]H)ssil)ility of
i'e-enforcin«; the left wi' g, against any speedy move-
ment of the enemy, was chimerical. Tlie tii-st news
of this advance, says C/a])tain Wood, "for a moment
paralyzed the army, or at least tlie thinkinu' part of
it, for no one couhl imagine that it was possible for
him to be guilty of such a hazardous stej). (leneral
Harrison was astonished at the impru<lence and
inconsistency of such a measure, which, if carried
into execution, could be viewed in no other light
than as attended with certain and inevitable destruc-
tion to the left wing. N(»r was it a ditftcult matter
for any one to foresee and [uvdict the terrible conse-
(|Uences M'hicli weiv sure to mark the result of a
scheme no less rash in its conception than hazardous
in its execution." He c<mtinues, after speaking of
the battle of Frenclitown and massacre of the River
Raisin: "Thus was there a cor[)s of 1,0(M) men, the
elite of the army, totally saciiticed in the most
wanton manner possible ; and that to<^, without the
slightest benefit to their country or posterity. With
onlv one-third or oue-foui'th of the force destined for
rr
100
wp:stkrx tampatoxs of 1813.
that service ; destitute of nrtiliery ; <»f eiii^ineei's; •)£
men wlio had ever seen or heard the least of an
enemy; and with hut a veiy inade(|uate supply of
anuniuiition; how lie eoidd have entertained the
most distant hope of success, oi" what riicht lie had
to presume to claim it, is to me one of the strangest
thinifs in the world. An adei)t in the art of war is
alone authorized to deviate from the ordinary and
established rules, hv which that art for a LTi'eat leiiLfth
of time has been usefully and successfully ap[)lied.
Winchester was destitute of every means of suj)-
porting his corj)s long at the River Raisin, was in
the very jaws of the enemy, and beyond tlie ivacli
of succor. lie who lights with such tlinisy preten-
sions to victorv, will always be beaten, ami eternallv
ought to be."
This is doubtless a just criticism U[)on the fatuity
of Winchestei- ; but it does not excuse Harrison, f(»r
he alone was responsible foi' the conduct of the
whole army, and should, in the most positive man-
ner, have controlled Winchester's movements, for
his plea that he always "considered him rathei- in
the light of an associate in command, than an infe-
rior" will not sutfice. As Napoleon, in 177<), told
the Frencli Directory which, jealous of his success,
had ])roposed to divide the army of Italy: "It was
better to have the whole commanded by one inferior
general, like Killerman, than b\' firo snjurlnr ones,
"like himself."
Harrison, to shirk res]»onsil)ility, as is customary
with weak men, after the disastei- of the Raisin,
called a council of war at the Rajtids. As Councils
LIKtTT.-COLONKh KLKAZKH P. WOOli.
101
|)r<)v<*rl)i;ill\ ii«*v(^r liirlit, it w.is r('s«»lvf<l to al>;m«loii
tlu' camp oil the Maiiiiict', destroy a laru;*' (|iiantity
of su|>j)lies collcctiMl tlicic at eiioiiiioiis cost and
Ial)oi-, aii«l I'ctrcat ciiilitccii miles to l*oitai;c river —
a retroLjradc movement altou'etlier unnecessarv in
the actual state of affairs, as subsequent ev«Mits
|>rove<l. Harly in Fehruarv, lHl;{, he advanced
auain tot lie Ha)>ids, the most <'liLj'ilde |>()sition toc(»ver
the fi'oiitier and threaten Detroit aixl the enemy's
hea<li|Uarters at Maiden. ( )n the Hth he sent,
throiiirh deej) snow, a <letachment airainst somejilun-
deriiii; India!is, whicdi, aftei- a fruitless <diase, soon
returned. Aufain, March lM, he sent another detach-
ment to burn the Hiitish fleet fVozen uj) near Maiden:
but the ojK'iation was fiustiated in conse(|uence of
Lake Ki'ie beiuLT Jiartially ojh'Ii and no bridire of ice
a(
ross Detroit strait^
Tl
lese unsuccess
fill
expedi
tions closed this disastrous camjtainn, which ha<l
been jtrosecuted at incalculable e\[>ense to the j^ov-
ernment, witli little > ledit to our arms, and involved
botli otficers and men, little inured to war,* in tlie
irreatest ti'ials and privations.
* Tiie waste of money was enormous. Tiie flour for Harrison's armj- was said
to have cost $100 per barrel. Tlie immense distances, without roads tlirouj^h
tangled swamps and almost traciiless wildernesses, could only be traversed
by thousands of pack-horses, eadi of wiiicli could carry but half a barrel of
l)rovisions, and mu^t be attended liy trains of other horses witii forage for
those laden with i)rovision8. Few horses survived more than one trip;
many sank under <me. Of 4,000 pack-horses to supply the Nortliwestern
Army, scarce 800 survived till the spring of IRl.!. Multiplied incidental,
iiut iiievital)le charges, w.re of frightful amount, f^arge (juantities of (lour
wvre buried in mud and snow, from inal)ility to carry it any farther, and
much was damaged when it reached its final destination. Two-thirds of
that deposited at Fort Meigs was spoiled and unfit for use. Fluctuations
and increase of prices were so great that many contractors were ruineu.
fl'
102
WKSTKltN CAM1>AI(4XS (>y 1813.
Eleazer Dkiiky Woon, ])ractically tlie Ch'wi
Eiiixiiieer of tlie Nortliwesterii Army, was born,
Deceiuber, 1788, at Luiien])iirg, Mass. lie was of
l)rave New Eiiu^laiid stock. Two of liis l)i'otliei's, in
tlie defense of Plattsimrg Se])t. 11, 1818, were
amoii*:; tlie last to retire ])efore the enemy, across
the Saranae, on the naked strinu--])iec'es, the phink-
coverini; haviiii; already heeii taken uj) to prevent
the British passiiiLr in force. While crossinji;, one of
the brothers cauirht a wounded man as he was fall-
in<i: into the stream, and carried him safelv Nvithin our
inti'enchmeiits. Another brother, while performing;
his duties as a Custom-Ibmse officei', was cai)t!ued
July 80, 1818, in his own boat on Lake Champlain,
carried to Canada, and for over six months was eon-
fined as a })risoner of war near Que])ec.
Except that younsi; Wood commenced llie study
of medicine at Alburi;, Vermont, we know little of
his early histoiy before goinix. May 17, 1805, to West
Point. While a Cadet he was noted for his soldiei'ly
(pialities, rii^id comj)liance with regulations, devo-
tion to study, and fondness for the sciences, in which
he displayed such proficiency that he was at times
detailed for enjj^ineer <luty in New York Harbor.
lie was ii;raduated from the Military Academy and
])romoted, Oct. 80, bSOfJ, to be a Second Lieutenant
of En«2;ineei's in the U. S. Army. lie was immedi-
ately placed on duty with Colonel AViliiams, the
and it became necessary to purchase, at exorbitant rates, of other persons
wiien disappoinleil of regular supplies by contractors.
The waste of life was also very great from malaria, |)rivation8. exposure,
excessive fatigue, and the want of competent surgeons, instruments and
mediciaes. Our hospitals did more for the enemy than our arms.
)!■(
cojl
iiiiC
linv
the
del"
now
r
CX'tl
noi
l(>S(
saci'(
bled
LIEUT.-COLONEL ELEAZER D. AVOOD.
103
Chief Eiiirineer, to assist in tlie construction of tlie
defenses of (lovernor's Island, New York Harbor.
In tlie winter of ISOT-?^, lie was occnjned in his pro-
fessional stndies at West Point, the head(|Uarters of
the Corj)s of Engineers, in which he became a First
Lieutenant, Feb. 23, 1808. vSoon after, he was
ordered to Noifolk, Ya., to aid in fortifyino: its har-
])or, where he remained until 1810, when he again
returned to West Point, becoming then the Military
Agent of the post till 1812. From here he was
oi'dered to the charsre (vf the defenses of New Lon-
don Harbor, Conn., and to erect a battery at Sag
Harbor, Long Island, N. Y.
In Noyember, aftei' Hull's surrender of Detroit,
AVood received his much-coyeted orders for service,
" where war is most active." He had long felt the
great wrongs suffered by our country, and dee]>ly
deprecated tlie a])athy of the naticm in not resisting
ccmtinued insults and British oppression. In writ-
ing to his sister, November 8(\ 1812, he says: "I
have spent eight years [including his cadetslii]>| in
the army for the pur])ose of pre]>aring uiyself t<» ren-
der my country a service. * * * The period has
now arrived when I am to be tested as a soldier. If
I ]irove to be one and fortunate, it will no doubt be
extremely pleasing and gratifying to you all. If I
sh(i1lf((II ill f/if' prf'Sffif cof/ffirf, you must not grieve
nor moui'ii, but rejoice that you had a bi'other to
lose for the maintenance and ])i'eservation of those
sacred rights for which our Revolntionary Patiiots
bled and fell." Noble man ! and seer of his own
glorious end !
104
WKSTKUX OA.MI'AIGNS OF 1813.
For causes ]>ei'oi'e stated, tli<)U<ji;li assi«j;iie(l as an
assistant to C-aptaiii (xratiot, he ))ecunie virtually the
Chief Kiiii'ineer of the Northwestei'u Army, IFis
J«)Ui-nal, ij^iveii eutii-e in ('liai>tei' IX., sliows tlie ini-
[)ortant services upon whifh he was constantly en-
ira<re«l, how in(lisj)ensal)le lie was to tlie C-oniinaiul-
ini:: (Tcneral, and tliat in his knowledij^e of tlie art of
w
ar he had no superior in that army. The fe
w
extracts we have given from this journal evince the
comprehensiveness of Wood's mind, his remarkably
matui'e judunient, ami his unusual familiarity with
every detail of the campaiun.
Harrison at the Maumee Ilai)ids, in the Sprini::
of l<Sl;}, was less than sixty miles from Proctor at
Maiden ; hiit the latter, for every offensive move-
ment, had, when the ice disapi)eared, the great ad-
vantage of possessing naval means for crossing Lake
Erie or ascending the Maumee Kiver. Harrison, in
making any advance, must march hy land, which
involved taking ])retty much the same I'oute as
Hull followed in 1812, which, besides being very
circuitous, exposed his communications, with his
base at the Ra])ids, to be cut at any moment by the
enemy (piickly throw inghis whole force from Maiden
across
the Detroit Straits. Under these cire
um-
stances nothing seemed feasible but to intrench his
army till Captain Pei'iy's Fleet, about to be built at
Pres(pie Isle (Erie Harbor, Penn.\ should be com-
pleted, and the naval control of the lake be secured.
While Harrison occu])ied his time in accumulating
provisions, and providing gairisons for isolated posts,
AVood, with the 1,800 remaining troops, set to work
LIErT.-COLONEL ELP^AZER D. WOOO.
105
foi'tifviniT a stromj; 2)<)siti(>ii on the ritrlit bauk of the
Mauniee (nearly o]»})osite Wayne's l)attle-irr<>un«l of
Auiifust 20, 17i>4) which was alM)ut one hnndred
feet above the river and (•omj)letely eoninnunled it.
This excellent jtosition, says Wood, "was judiciously
chosen by General Harrison and Ca])tain Gratiot, on
the 8d and 4th of February, IHbS." This camj),
subse«juently called Foi-t ]\Ieiijs, after the Govenioi"
of Ohio, h.ad a perimeter of 2,500 yards, an<l enclosed
about eiirht acres. FiXce])t at intervals, left for ]>at-
teries and blockdiouses, the whole was to be pali-
saded with twelve inch timber sunk three feet in tlie
irround and risinji; abo\e to theheiijjht of twelve feet.
Each workiuii: ])arty was assigned its allotted task,
and all labored with laudable zeal to complete their
portion i»f the defenses as (piickly as possible. To
cut and plant nearly a mile a)id a half «»f ])alisades;
build all the store-houses and ma<»;azines for the army
su])plies; to put U])eiLrht l)lock-houses of double tim-
ber; and erect four lari:;e elevated batteries — was no
ordinary undertaking:, to say nothiuffof other harass-
iuiT fatiijue duties and the daily anxieties and priva-
tions of cavip life. "Besides," says Ca])tain Wood,
" an immense deal of labor was likewise retpiired inex-
cavatinu: ditches, makini»; abatis, and cleariuir a wi«ltli
of 800 vards of oak and beech forest all around the
camp; and the whole was t<> be done at a time when
the weather was inclement, and the srrountl so hard
that it could scarcely be opened with the mattock and
pickaxe. But in the use of the axe, mattock ami
sjiade consisted the chief military knowledsr^" «>f <»ur
aiiny ; and even that knowledge, however trifling it
106
VVKSTiiKN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
may be siip]>()se<l by some, is of tlie utmost impor-
tanee in many situations, and in ours was the salva-
tion of the army. So we fell to worlv, heard notliing
of tlie enem\', and endeavored to bury ourselves as
soon as [)ossil)le."
Soon after this auspicious commencement of Fort
Meiij^s, (ireneral Harrison was called to Cincinnati,
by sickness in his family, and to push forward re-
cruits for his army ; w Idle, at the same time, Captain
Wood was reipiired at Sandusky to su])ervise de-
fensive works for tliat post, where considerable sup-
plies had been accumulated for ulterior o])erations
Avithin easy reach of Lake Erie. Colonel Leftwich,
who temporarily succeeded to the command of
Fort Mela's, thinking only of how soon he and his
Virginia militia would ivturn liome, sto])]H'd all
work (m the stockade, regardless of the exposure of
the stores and safety of the troo])s, and actually
})urned the ])icketing for fuel, though a dense forest
was close at hand. When Caj)tain Wood returned,
he found his fortifications nearly destroyed, the 2:ar-
ris<m ex])osed to the most inclement weather, and
all the costly stores an easy jH'ey to the enemy.
Well might he call Leftwich, "an old phlegmatic
Dutchman, who was not even fit for a pack-horse
master, much less to l)e entrusted with such an im-
portant ccmimand."
Wood anew hurried forward, with unabated ac-
tivity, his Sisy[)hus task of ie[)lacing his destroyed
intrenchinents, at that time an almost Herculean
labor, the gari'ison being greatly reduced by expira;
tions of enlistments. But not a moment was to be
\vei'i
arri'
catii
Wo.|
are
comi
\vhi<|
l»ac
(n-ed
file
Hot ,'|
Miiti
'>ankl
LIEUT.-COLOiNKL ELP:AZKK D. W«MH»,
107
lost now tlijit tlie iijivi<j:ati(>ii of the lake ami river
was ()])eii for any meditated attack fioni the British
and their savage allies under Proetor, wlio, elated by
his ])ast sanii'uinary siuvess at Frenchtown, saw, in
the future, visions of victory, j)ers«»nal glory, and
othcial ])roniotion, A report, at this time, was jnit in
circulation that the whole of the Northwestern Army
had been ca])ture<l and were on their way to Montreal
as prisoners of war. In wiitini:". A]>ril In, isl.S,
from Fort Meigs of this re|)oi't, Ca])tain Wood says
to his l)i'other: "So far as resj»ects our being on our
way to Montreal, is coriect ; but we take our time
and choose our route. NO, brother, the Knglish have
not yet got the Northwestern Army, and, what is
more, they will never get it until at least l,n<M» oj-
1,;")0() of them sh(»uld be willing t<t lie down con-
tented in the Bed of Honour, which I don't think
they will be solicitous of doing."
General Harrison, with about .*?(»<» men, which
were all that could be s|)ared from the other posts,
airived, Ai)ril 1 l\ at the Kapi<ls, everything indi-
cating a s])eedy attack on Fort Meigs. Caj»tain
Wood had toiled day and night, until, says he, "we
are intrenched uj) to our teeth," to prej»arp for the
coming siege of the weakly garrisoned work from
which the bad roa<ls and swollen streams Inid kejit
back the expected re-inforcements under General
(ireen CUay. 'J'he latterV advance fortunatelv readied
the fort before the arrival of the enemy, wh<» did
not a])])ear in force till the 28th of April, when the
British beijan to land with their artillerv on the left
bank of the Mauniee, their Indian allies going to the
;fk"V
108
WESTERN CAMPATONS OF 1813.
ri<!;ht bank, tlius (•()iu]>letely investing tlie fort.
Proctor estal»lislie(l liis main camp two miles l)elow
tlie Rapids, jind constructed one mortar and two
ufuii batteries, nearly op])osite to the foi-t, on the
high l)ank of the river about i\0() yards from its
north shore, which were completed, and opened their
tii'e on tiie 1st of AFay. In the meantime, Harrison
had issued a stiri'ing order to the garrison ; our
guns greatly im])eded the enemy's operations, Cajitain
(iratiot rising from a sick bed to take charge of a
])attery ; while the indefatigable AVood, with the
whole army under his control, with incredible rapid-
ity, ])ushe(l foi'ward the defenses, mid dai'k nights,
pouring rains, and incessant annoyance from Indian
l)ullets and Hi'itisli gra[)e and shells. As the enemy's
batteries commanded the fort, Wood constructed on
the high ground, through its middle, a traverse of
earth, nearly a thousand feet long, twenty in wi<lth
at base, and twelve feet high. What was the as-
tonishment of the British engineer when he saw this
vast sliield of earth, exposed to view by the removal
of our tents to the other side of the traverse ! Instea<l
of a doomed camj), from wdiich Proctor liad boasted
he would soon " smoke out the Yankees," he found
h(nv futile were all the efforts of his gi-eatly superior
force in men, ordnance and gun-boats — all of which
had kept up an incessant fire U])on Fort Meigs.
For five days their cannonading and bombarding
continued, though producing slight injury to our
defenses and garrison, wh*" ^ the American bat-
teries rej)lied with great effect. However, tlie scar-
city of ammunition and the uncertainty of the pos-
LIKUT.-COLONEL KLEAZK!? I). WOOD.
109
sible duration of the siege, compelled ilie ecoiioniiz-
iiig of our artillery discharijces, and often obliged us
to return the enemy's shot from our own guns. Said
Wood, "with plenty of ammunition we should have
blown John Bull from the Miami." Proctor, now
seeing that his direct tire could not effect his purpose,
(HI the 2d, under cover of his gun boats, sent a
force of British and In<lians to establish a battery of
twelve pounders on the right bank of the Maumee,
to take the fort in Hank and reverse ; all of which
the divining Wood had anticipated, and provided
against by the erection of cross-traverses.
At last General Green Clay's expected 1,200
Kentucky militia were, on the morning of the 5th,
Hearing the Rapids in eighteen boats. Instead of
l)eing allowed to form an innnediate junction with
the garrison, these troops were ordered to debark
above the foi't, two-thirds on the left bank, "to turn
and take the British batteries there, s[)ike the can-
non, cut down the gun-carriages, .'ind regain their
boats as speedily as possible ; " while, simultaneously
with this movement, "the remainder of the brigade
sliould land on the opposite shore, fight its way
through the Indians into the camp, and thus favor
a .s(}rfi(^ to be made by the garrison upon the l^iitish
))attery on the right bank."
This plan had decided merits ; but its execution
was (le[)en(
dent
u
pon
)rave
but
undiscip
lined mili-
tia, untrained com[)any officers, and all without mili-
tary experience or knowledge of the ground to be
traversed. Colonel Dudley, in command on the
north bank, after safely landing, formed his detach-
no
WKSTKKX CAMl'AKJXS OK 181:5.
ment in tliree columns, with skinnisliers covcmmul;
liis Icftilaiik; iiuirclied a mile jiiid a half unohservtMl
thi'(>Ui:;]i the wtxMls; valiantly fell upon the liritish
batteries; captured their heavy guns then [)layin<;'
ujton Foi-t Mei<i;s; spiked eleven, without losim;" a
man ; and jMilled (U)wn tlie British flai,'' amid wihl
shouts fi'om the lteleai;'uered foi't. Had Dudley
oheved his orders and returned to his hoats, the
main object of the expedition would have been
DKKENSE OF KORT MKIOS.
ha])]>ily acc»>mplished ; but, unfortunateiy, the ex-
cessive ardor of the victors, wlio had announced
their presence neai' the batteries bv loud Iventucky
yells, involved them, while indiscreetly i^oini*; to the
rescue of some of their comrades, in a bush ti^'ht
with a few straii'i^dinjj;' Indiai^s. These savai2;es con-
trived to amuse them until Proctor had time to com-
pletely cut off theii' retreat, and destroy more than
three-fourths of the whole command in its precipitate
and disorderly rout.
Foi
so
the
tlie
seri
iiiv(
and
Vor
now
Mal(
Ilea
till a
vi
If
LIKUT.-COLONKL lOLKAZKIl D. Wool).
Ill
iij
While these trui^ic scenes wei'e tniiispiriiio; on tlie
left Imnk of the Miiuniee, the reinainder of (Ireen's
Iventuekhins succeeded, after various niisliai)s, in
Hi,ditinu: their way to tlie f(U't witli ti'iiling K)ss
au'ainst Britisli artillery and Indian rifles. Here they
were met 1)V a sortie of v<)lunteers and n few reifu-
lars, the united force falliui^ u])on and utterly I'oiit-
\n^^ theii' dusky foes.
C'olonel Miller, with a detaclinient of .'^oO, com-
))ose(l of the 1 Ttli and lUtli regulai's with a few vol-
unteers and militia, now sallied from Fort Meigs;
furiously attacked tlie motley enemy SHO strong;
di'ove tliem from the riglit bank battery at the j)oint
of tlie bayonet; spiked all their guns; and dis[)ersed
them in confusion to the woods and a ravine in rear.
Though Miller lost some brave men, he accomplished
his object and brought in 4.'5 pi'isoners as trophies of
his hard won victory.
Proctor now virtuallv aban(h)ned the sieiji'e of
Fort Meigs. Though he had defeated Dudley and
regained his l)atteries on the left l)ank, he had been
so roughly handled that eventual success was out of
the (juestion. His Indian allies were desei'ting him ;
the Canadian militia were turning hc^meward ; no
serious impression had been made on the fort ; his
investment had failed to keej) out re-enforcements
and supplies; the news of (renei'al Pike's ca])ture of
York luid reached the British camp ; and notliing
now I'emained to save liis army but a retreat to
Maiden. To cover this movement and save his
heavy guns, wliich he could not embark on the boats
till a change of whid, he, with his usual effrontery.
if:
lit
112
WEtJl'KUN (.AMFAIGNS OF 1813.
Ill'
rt^sorted to tlie same device employed uii'uiiist Ilidl
and Winchester — att'ecte<l Inmuiiiity, ridiculous uie-
iiaces, and insolent demands. Accoi'dini:;ly lie sent
Majoi" Chambers, on the evening of the oth, to
demand the immediate surrender of the foi't aiul
army as " the only means left for saving the latter
from the tomahawks and scaljjing-kuives of the sav-
ages." Harrison, seeing through the enemy's finesse,
and knowing Proctor's practice in humanity at the
River Raisin, admonished the Hi'itish general that,
if he rei)eated his folly, he should regard it as a
desisi:ned insult. ('liaiiij:iniir his tactics. Proctor, to
gain time to embark his artillery, now made a pro-
j)osal for an exchange of prisoners by which he
delayed matters till the morning of the 9tli, when,
the wind having shifted, the British moved oif with
neai'ly everything except a few cannon-balls.
Tlu whole foive of the enemy at the siege, or
rather investment, was about GOO regulars, 800 Can-
adia.i militia, and 1,800 Indians; while ours did
iioi. exceed 1,200 for the defense of a work designed
for a garrison of more than double that numbei'.
Proctor, in his retreat, left on the banks of the
Maumee a record of infamy only paralleled by the
atrocities in the massacre of the Raisin. Captain
Wood and others have testified that on the surren-
der of Dudley's command the [)risoners were niarclie<l
down to Fort Miami and then, under the eye of
Proctor and his ofUcers, the Indians, who had already
plundered them and murdered many on the \vay,
were allowed to shoot, tomaliawk, and seal}) more
than twenty of these defenseless prisoners, all of
hb
Wii
to
to
th
use
the
ant
tain
Hi'st
tioi
dec
LIKlT.-rCLONKL ELKAZKU I). WOOD.
113
wlioiii would have been despntcliwl in tlie same
manner had not tlie hnttdiery JK'en stopped l)y
Tec'umseli, a less brutal hiped-hloodhound than the
comniandiui^ <i;enei'al of the army of a civilized
Christian nation.
General Harrison, in his oiiieial despatch of
May 9, 181 ;i, to the War Department, after com-
mendini^ the conduct of commandants of corps in
the o|)erationsat Fort Meigs, says : " Captain (Jratiot
of the Engineei's, having; ])een for a long time much
indisposed, the task of fortifying the post devolved
on Captain Wood. It could not have been placed in
better hands. Permit me to recommend him to the
President, and to assure you that any mai'k of his ap-
[)robation bestowed on Captain Wood, would be highly
gratifying to the whole of the troo[)s who witnessed
his arduous exertions." On this recomniendati(>n of
his connnanding general. Wood was brevetted, May <>,
1818, a Major "for distinguished services in the
Defense of Fort Meigs." In his order of the day to
his command, Harrison further says : " Where merit
was so general, indeed almost universal, it is diHicult
to discriminate. The Ceneral cannot, however, omit
to mention the names of those whose situation gave
them an (Opportunity of being more particularly
useful. From the long illness of Ca]>tain (Iratiot, of
the Corps of Engineers, the arduous and imj)ort-
ant duties of fortifying the camp devolved on Cap-
tain Wood, of that corps. In assigning to him the
first palm of merit, as far as relates to the transac-
tions within the works, the General is convinced his
decision will be awarded by every individual in the
i' ■ i\
I'.
1
,«i:
i'.
'I
ri'i
m
114
WKSTKKN (JAMI'AKiNS OF 1813.
oanip \vli<» witiieMsed l»is iu(lefatii::nl>le exei'tioiiH, Iuh
(•(Hisuminatc skill in pi'ovidiiig for tlie safety of every
point, an«l in foiling any attempt of the enemy, and
his iindannted bravery in tlx' perforniance of his
dnty in the most exposed situations. An unfortu-
nate WiHiiid in the commencement of tlie siege
<le[)i'ived the General, after tliat time, of tlie able
services of Majoi' istoddard of the artillery, wliose
zeal and talents had been eminently useful. Cap-
tain (iratiot, in the remission of severe illness, took
charge of a battery, and managed it with ability
and eit'ect."
The retreat of Pi'octor relieving Harrison of all
inmiediate apprehension for the safety of Fort Meigs,
he left General Clay in command of the work and
stai-ted for Lower Sandusky to provide for its better
protection, and then j»roceeded to the interior to se-
cui'e tlie Erie frontier against British and Indian
laids.
While Harrison was thus engaged, Proctor was
not idle, for he knew Perry's jH'ogress in building
and e(jui))ping his fleet at Prescpie Isle, and that inac-
tion was fatal to his control over his Indian allies.
Hence he meditated a new demonstration against
Fort ^[eigs, which he hoped to carry by assault. On
leaving Maiden, for this [)urpose, his immense body
of Indians were divided into three commands, re-
spectively under Tecumseh, Dixon, and Round Head.
Pr(>ct<^)r, on reaching Fort Meigs, on the 2r)th of July,
and seeing the formidable j)re[)aratioiis to receive
him, abandoned the idea of storming the work. His
substituted design was, with his British troops, to
I
LIKI'T.-COLONKI, KLKAZKll D. Wool).
115
nuMiJU'c tlie work in front ; luid to send tlu* Indians to
the wood in tli<* ivjir of tlie fort, there l>y tirini; and
yells to deceive (leneral (May into tlie })elief of a )>attle
being waited with tlie expected re-enforeenients and
thus decoy him into sallyinij; with his I'aw militia to
their rescue; or else Harrison, hurryin^'to the relief of
the j^arrison, on his march would fall into an ambus-
cade j»re[)aredl)y the savai^es for his destruction. Tlie
Indians, failing; to deceive either Harrison or Clay,
in a few days became impatient, and their rations
fallinu; short, Proctor, on the !?Sth, raised his camj),
sent back part of his Indian allies, and with the re-
mainder and his British resi^ulars, hastened to attack
Lower Sandusky, defended by a garrison not exceed-
ing l(iO men, in a weak stockade re(h)ubt, armed
with a single worn out six-pounder iron gun. For-
tunately tlie work was commanded by the very young
but brave Major Croghan, who had disregarded Har-
rison's order to abandon the redoubt, "should the
enemy ap))roacli in force and with cannon/' well
knowing that the remoi'seless savages were in his
rear, and that he had less to fear from the fortune of
war than from a British attack in front. While
landing his ai'tillery and an-anging his gun-boats,
Proctor demanded the surrendei- of Fort Stephen-
son (mnv Fremont, Ohio), acconi[)aiiie(l with the
usual menaces of Indian massacre in case of refusal.
Croii-han was not to be intimidated into a betrayal
of his trust, whereon the enemy's tire was opened
u])on him, and continued without interruption during
the whole night of August 1, 1813. At dawn the
next morning, a battery was ])lanted within l>5()
inm
ti.: ,
i' V.I
i
. X i.
116
AVESTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
yards of the Fort upon the northwest angle of wliich
the wliole tire was concentrated till 4 i'. m., when
the meditated real attack was fully devekiped ; at tlje
same time tw^o feints were made towards the south-
ern anu;le. Major Croghan promptly hastened to
.*treiigthen tha menaced angle with bags of sand and
sacks of flour. Hardly had he completed this work
when the enemy, under cover of the smoke of their
guns, rushed to within twenty paces of the i)ickets,
where a well-directed volley from tlie gari'ison stag-
gered tlie assailants. The storming i>arty, (piickly
rallying, descended into the ditch, when the head of
tlie column, only thirty feet distant, was completely
crushed by the heavy discharge of slugs and grape
from Ch'oghan's only gun, till then masked from
view. Few in the ditch escaped tlie carnage, while
a well-aimed dischai'ge of rifles coni[)leted the work
LrETTT.-COLONEL ELKAZER r>. WOOD.
117
of destriu'tion of tlie sn]>]>ortini»; t-olninn. Tlie few
survivors beat ti prec*i])i<"jite retreat, and t]ius was
the contest ended between our 1()0 heroes, and tlie
allied enemy of 500 British re<':ulai's and 800 savages.
Proctor's loss beinc; about ir)0, and having no ho])es
of ca])turing the fort, he ininiediately returned to
Maiden, with all lie could collect of his fugitive
forces.
It was now more than a year since the declara-
tion of war, yet we were on the defensive far in the
interior of the Northwest, We had lost much ter-
ritory, and few gleams of victory by land lightened
up the general gloom caused by our many discomfit-
ures and the wretched mismanagement of the war.
AVithin the same time, the gallant navy had won
unfading laurels, and to its crown of glory was soon
to be added Perrv's brilliant victorv over the British
tleet, giving us, Se])t. 10, 1813 the naval sujiremacy
on Lake Erie. This was not only a grand trium])h
for that sister arm of service, but it enabled the
Northwestern army at once to invade Canada and
put to flight the enemy which so long had baffled
the efforts of Hull and Harrison.
A new invasion of Canada was now meditated
foi" which a force of more than 7,0<M) regulars and
militia had, by the loth of Septenil)ei', assend)led on
the southern shore of Lake Krie ; and Perry's suc-
cess had already removed all obstacles to a move-
ment (m Maiden. Accord imflv, the end>ai'kation of
the army, \i])on Perry's fleet and the l)oats prepai'ed
by Major Jesu[) at ('leveland, was commenced on the
20th ; and its landing. Major Wootl having charge
■ 5 '
I
r JS
t;M-l
/
118
WESTERN CAMPAIOTS^S OF 1813.
of tlie {ii'tillery, was safely eifected in ])attle order
on the 27tli, at Hartley^ Point on the C^anada shore,
tliree or fonr miles below Maiden.* The cowardly
Proctor, feariiiii: Kentucky reti-ibntion for his bar-
barity, with the energy of despair had already pre-
cipitately tied northward with all the booty he could
carry, after burniii<>; the j)iiblic stores, niairazines,
1)arracks, navy yard, and the fertile fields about
^[al(len, In vain did the more nol)le Tecumseh
remonstrate against this uunnmly flight from over-
rated danger. On the morning after taking posses-
sion of iMalden, Harrison eagerly commenced the
pursuit of the enemy; the baggage, provisions and
annnunitioii folhmed in boats and vessels bv the
l)etr<>it rivei'; Colonel Johnsoirs cavalry I'eached
Detroit on the MOth ; and, October 4th, the united
force of 3,000 men reached Chatham on the Thames
river. Here a skirmish took ]ilace for the ])ossession
of a bridge, Wood, still in command of the artillery,
having fortunately driven off the savages by a few
well-directed shots before any sei'ious damage was
done to the structure.
Proctoi', finding escajJC impossible, goaded to
fight by Tecumseirs re]n'oaches, and strong in every-
thing but courage, at last, on the ."ith, stood at bay
near Moravian Town. lie drew u]) his army in bat.
tie order at a well-chosen position in av. open wood,
his left resting on the high, precipittms bank of
the Thames, and his right on an impassible swamp
* The roHsli ilraft of tl)e order for landing and marching up Detroit river
is among Wood's papers, but whetlier prepared by him is uncertain tliough
it is in hid handwriting.
l.IEUT.-rOLOXEL EI.EAZER I). WOOD.
119
nearly ])arallel to and about 500 yards from the
riyer, wliile a narrow niarsli diyided his l)attle-iield
into nearly e(|iial parts. The British retridai-s, about
800, in two lines, with the ai-tillery eonunandinir the
riyer road, occupied the space between the Tlianies
and the little marsh ; Avhile the Indians, 1,2<M> strong,
were posted between the small and large swamps
and along the margin of the latter, to sweep the
BATTLE OK THE THAMES.
ground oyer which Harrison must pass to attack
Proctors front. The American f)rder of battle was
in two lines, with a third in I'eserye, parallel t<» the
enemy's front; while Desha's diyision, thr«>wn back,
rti jiofe/we, nearly at right angles t<» our front, coy-
ered the left Hank from any attack of the Indians
jtosted im the edge of the great swamp. AVhen
ryeiT preparation for attack was completed. Major
II , I ■■■ 11^
120
wp:stern campaigns of I813.
AVfKxl, wlio liad just returned from a close ivcon-
iioissance of tlie enemy's position, informed (ireneral
Harrison tliat the British lines were drawn u]i with
intervals between the files, which led to the hi-illiant
conception of ordering; Johnson's mounted reijiment
forward to the attack, the first battalion moving
aujainst the Hritish reo;ulars while the second, under
the Colonel, encountered the Indians between the
two swamps. Moving slowly through the woods,
after receiving two British volleys, and the latter
one from the Indians, almost in theii* faces, both
boldly charged. The British first line, and then the
second, was broken and scattei'e<l in all directions,
and a destructive fire being poured u])on the rear of
the shattered lines, they, cravenly crying for quarter,
thi'ew down their ai'ms, and in less than five minutes,
all, except Proctor and a few fugitives, wei'e made
pi'isoners. Against Tecumseh the fight i-aged longer
and more furiously, the Kentuckians dismounting in
the tliick woods and eufjaLcinjj: the Indians in a hand
to hand encounter with the battle ci'y of " Beniem-
ber the Kiver Raisin." A'ictory on our left seemed
for a moment doubtful, when a regiment of infantry
with their deadly rifles, turned the scale, the sava-
ges being j)ut to flight, but fighting as they fled.
The nund)er of killed and wounde<l in this shoit,
shaij) and decisive battle was comparatively small ;
but the trophies of victory were great — six cannon,
r),00O small arms, (WIO ])risoners, valuable spoils,
recovery of Michigan Teiritory, ])eace and indus-
try restored to our ex])osed frontier, the utter rout
of the Britisli army, and the dissolution of the In-
lip:ut.-('()Loni:i. klkazkk d. wood.
1L>1
(liaii alliaiu-e, Tecuiiiseli, tlieir l)ia\e and ilistiii-
i^uislied leader, being slain.
Tec'uniseli was al)<)Ut forty-tive wlien lie fell in
tlie flight, lie was a Sliawncjese savaire of lieroic
nionld, as uracefully i)r(>])()rti()ned as a (ireek statne.
and liis [tenetratinsi; eyes illumined his sad, stern
countenance. He was a horn leader of the chil-
dren of the wilderness ovei' whom he was omni}>o.
tent; and was alike the liiiht of the canij>-fire and
wisdom of the council. Insidious in jnejtarini:; as
undaunted in executinu' enter])rises, in liis despeiate
forays he wielded foi" their success the influence of
an hundred wari'iois. Thouu'h a <lemon «»f niiscliief
and rapacious of plundei-, he was uvnerous t<> foes
and lavish of his liains. In the control of his
people he was cuunlni^ and ))lausil>le, and fired their
passions l>y his nei'xous, lilowinu and impressive
ehxjuence ; in niilitaiy jicnius and manhood he
eclipsed his British chief, who to him owed nearly all
he had won, e.\ce))t his heritage of iid'amy; and in
line, Tecujuseh was a j)otentate unitinir the prowess
of Achilles and the authority of Airaniemnon.
In Ilai'rison's official des])atch <)f the liattle of
the Thames, aftei' complimentinu' those of hiirhei-
raidv, he says: "Major Wood of the Kngineers,
alivady distini;iiislu'd l>y his conduct at f'oit Meiirs,
attended the army with tw(> six-[)ounders. IlaviuLr
no use for them in the action, he joined the [)Ui'suit of
the enemy, and with Majoi- Payne of the mounted
ren'inient, two of my aids-de-cam[> — Todd an«] Cham-
hers — and three privates, continued it f<u- several
miles aftei' tlie rest of the troops had halted," The
"ji
I '
122
WIOSTEUN^ CAMPAKINS OF ISliJ.
j)m'suiii<^ foi'cc secured iilxnit fifty [»ris(nu*rs, and,
tli()iiu;li mial)l«' to overtake I^roctor, Wood sueeeeded
ill eaptiu'iiiu' his sword, liat, i)aj)ers, trunk and car-
riaii^e. Wood ami Todd heinu; far in advance of thv
otluTs, a mounted I^ritish otHeer, who was among
tlie ea])ture(l, endeavoui'ed ti'eaclierously to slioot
Todd. This attemj)t was instantly discovered ])y
Major Wood who struck tlie assassin down \vith liis
sword, and thus saved the life of his com[>anion-in-
arms, who, sui)se(juently, after filling many imj)ortant
civil offices in Kentucky, ))ecame in 1841-45 United
(States Minister to Russia.
This battle, the last whicli llari-ison evei- fought,
gave him extraordinary rejuitation, and his laui'els,
thei'e won, [)rol)al)Iy [)i"omot(Ml him in 1(S41 to the
Presidency of the United States. Doubtless this
last was the best of his three cam[)aigns, for the
conduct of which he had more experience, a Letter
knowledge of the enemy, a pre])onderance of regu-
lai' ti'oo])s, his staff composed of skilled officers, and
an unmolested control of water trans])ortation for
liis brave troops and his ani])le supj)lies. But much
of his good fortune was due to the pusillanimity,
inefficiency and blundei's of Proctoi' ; and, as Chat-
liani said, "the degrading of an army of soldiers
into a 1)and of maraudei-s and assassins." The chief
omissions of Proctor were:
Mrsf : After the ice liad disap[)eared fVom the
Lakes in l.Sl.H, ha<l the Pritish general, instea<l of
wasting his strength against the fortified positions
at the Maumee Ra|)ids and Lower Sandusky, sent a
strong force with Baivlay's fleet against Cleveland
LrKin'.-roLoxEr. !:ij:.\/i;i; d. wood.
1 'j;?
jukI Kric, \\v rould liiivc cMptiircfl all <»ur Itoats at
tlie foi'iMcr place and !)uni('(l Pci'i'v's fleet in the l)ay
()
f I
i'es(iue
lsl(
StcoixJ : By igiumiiiiiously ruiuiiiiii" away and <le-
sti'oyiiin" his defenses, Ilai'risonV landing in Canada
was un<)])])osed, and the sniokiiiLj I'nins of Mahlen
checked liini not a moment. Tin' British retreat
from Sandwich ]>e<j^an Se])tend)er L^Sth, and tlie
Amei'ican pursnit not till October 2d, conseipiently
we reached the Thames in less than half the time
the enemy consn?ned to make this maich to that
hattle-field. Onr ])ath thronu;h tlie foi'est was unol)-
strncted by the fellinL!; of a ti'ee, scarce a boat was de-
stroyed, and tlie bridi^es wei-e left nearly intact Hj)on
our ap])roacli. What a conti'ast to the impediments
inter[)osed by Schuyler to Burii'oyiK^'s adxance on
Sai'atoi^a in 1777! Here Harrison mai*clie(l in a
country, covereil with foiests and intersected with
mai'shes and streams, /// ////V7 (Uid a Ji<(lf<I<n/s, double
the distanc*' that Huro'oyne, with his utmost eifoi'ts,
moved over in tlu' Hudson valley, from Scanesbo-
I'ouuh (Whitehall) to I^emus Heights in t'i<jlif
ircf
h
Third : Though choosing a vei-y advantageous
battle-field on the Thames, Proctoi' neglected to
cover the front of his deni(»i-ali/e(l army with the
simplest intrencliinent oi- even a strong abatis; and
then foi'ined his forces in open oi-<ler of battle,
through the files (»f which oui' mounted rifiemen
])asse(l without difficulty, winning their victory in ten
minutes, and caj»turing almost evei'ything except the
cowardly commander of the Hi'itish an<l allied trooj)s.
124
WESTERN OAMPArONS OF 1813.
35ai|jjj
Tlie Ainericaii unuy had now made i'oiii' cam-
paiii'iis ill tln' Nortliwest ai^aiiist the treacherous
eU'iiients and tlie iiKH'e treacherous foe ; yet, with all
our saeritiees, we were, territorially, after sixteen
months of sore trial, just whei'e we began in this
ill-directed war.
After the Thames cam])aign, Major Wood accom-
])anied Harrison to the Niagara frontier; but the
General, in November, having gone on leave of al)-
seuce to see liis family, and the season foi- active
oj)erations lieing over. Wood returned to the head-
(|uarters of the Corps of Engineei's at AVest IN)int,
where, during the winter, he was deeply absorbed
in study and [>rej)aration for coming events.
Major-General -Jacob Brown, who had so bravely
defended Sackett's Harbor, May L>tl, 1 SI 8, and had
commanded the elite of the army in Wilkinson's
descent of the St. Lawrence in 1S18, had, as early
as February 1814, been designated by the Secretary
of War as the General-in-Chief of the force whicli
subseijuently became the Army of the Niagara, of
which Major ^[cKee was to l)e the Chief Engineer,
assisted by Brevet Major A\\K)d with laurels freshly
won in the Northwest. On the iJUh of P^'ebriiary,
the latter, under orders received the 10th, left West
Point, and repaired, tirst to Albany and then to
C'anandaigua, N. Y., to take part in the pi-eparatory
ai'rangemeiits for the coining campaign. In a letter
to a brother engineer, dated Feb. 21, 1814, after
detailing some of these ])re[)arations, Wood says:
" I hope we shall be able to do something for the
honor of the service in the spring.'" Soon after he
f
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Vo
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Sc(
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<lai
fin
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TT
LTEUT.-OOLONEL EI.ICAZEI! I>, WOfiD.
1 2'y
was tt'iM[)()i'iirily ('iii!:.'ii;e(l, from A|»i'il i^"), to Mmv "iC),
1S14, ill streiii:;tluMiiiig the defenses of Sac-kett's
Ihirhor.
Eui'lv ill June tlie openiiiii' of tlie caiii])ni^'n was
e.\))eete(l ; l)iit the first stej> did ii<)t take |)hiee till
eliilv .'?d, wlieii the Xiai^ara was crossed by Brown
and Fort Erie ea])tiired. Under Meliee, tlie C'liief
Enn'ineer, Wood was actively employed in crossini^
the ordnance over the river, recoiinoitriiiii' the fort,
and selectiiiiLi' sites, on the left l)ank, for batteries,
only one of which, for 1<S j)oiinders, was established
before the work sui'rendered. The snbseijiient
events which transj>ire(l in this campaiuii will be
detailed in this chaptci-, only so far as Major Wood
was directly connected with them.
Wood, on the ."itli, accomj)anied (leneral Porter's
small force of Pennsylvania V<»liiiiteers and Indians
which endeavored to interpose between a British
skirmishing party and their main bo<ly at C-liip-
])ewa. Porter was successful in ])uttinu; an outj)ost
of the enemy's light trooi)s to Hight; but soon after,
encountering the whole Hi'itish force advancing in
battle order, lie was comjtelled to retreat t() the j)ro-
tection of the left of General Scott's Brigade, wiiicli
was advancing to the attack and defeat of the enemy.
Towson's Battery, (me of the guns of which Wood
volunteered to serve, <lid admirable execution on
Scott's right. At the close of this gallant tight, when
Scott drove Uiall to th ^ ])r()tectioii of his intrench-
meiits beyond (vhippewa Creek, Wood made a most
daring recoiinoissance nearly up to its right bank,
finding the bridge across it covere<l by a tete-<Je-pont
;|l
TT
120)
WKSTKKX r.VAIPAKJXS OK 1813.
ItjitttM'v, and its planking- torn iij), wliicli j>i('\ »'iit(Ml
the t'uitln'r puisiilt of tlie eneiuy. " Wood's repoit
of this r«'foiinoissanct', and the lateness of the hour/'
says (ieii. I^rown, induced him "to older the forces
to retii'e to eanij)."
After tlie l»urial of the dead, and ivnioval of tlie
wounded, tlie engineers were eiieriietieally oc('Uj)ied
in reeoiiiioiteriiig the adjaeeiit eoiintry to ascertain
the |)ractical)ility of attackinii' the front or turnini:;
the right Hank ot UialTs strong jtositioii covered in
front by Chippewa Creek and on the left hy the Niag-
a River. The result of this recoiiiioissance was the
ai
discovery of an old disused road leading to tlie junc-
tion of Lyon's Creek witli tlie Chippewa, which, in
the o|)inion of both McKee and Wood, could be and
was made practicable during the day for wagons and
artillery, Karly on the 8th, the British (leneral,
alarmed at the raj)id progress of our flanking opera-
tions and the menacing attitude of Scott in his front,
which threatened his capture or destruction, wisely
decided to al»andon his cani]>, disable his artillery,
and retreat ra[)idly. Throwing i)art of his force into
Forts (leorge and Mississaiiga, liiall fell back twelve
miles further U[) the Lake to Twenty-Mile Creek,
desiii'iiiiii'- to i>roceed to Burliiijj'ton ITeiidits, and
there await re-enforcements.
Brown, on the 0th, followed the enemy and on
the next day established his camp on the [)laiiis of
Queenstown. At a council of \\ai', held on the
14th, McHee, Wood, and a majority of the officers,
urged an immediate attack on Riall before he could
be re-enforced : but Brown and the minority advised
Th
nia
at
Bi
LIKUT.-COLONKL KLKAZKIl D. \V<«>|).
127
I
jui investment of Fort dreori^e, tlioiii^li the arni\ IijkI
no Hieo;e artillery.
Major Wood, on the ir)th, acconijianied (Jenei'al
Porter's liriuade <»f \01unteers, with two pieees of
artillery to within a mile, in full view of Fort
(teorge, and tluMi with a stroni^ eseort advanced elose
enoui2:h to make a i)erfect reconnoissanee of the woi'k.
Brown was pre])ared to invest Fort (leori^e. On
tlie 2(>th, tlie advance took phice to witliin a mile of
the work, and on the next day Wood and I)ontii:lass
of the eniiineers, made u dashing reconnoissanee un-
dej' an incessant tire of the enemy, to within 7<>(>
yards of tlie fort, enal)linL!: them to ascertain rlie
niind)er, location and character ()f all the lefenses,
new and old.
The American Coinman<ler, on the 22(1, being
a])|)rised that Kiall had been re-enfoived, withdrew
t(> Qneenstown Heights, and the day after, learning
there was no ho[)e of C/ommodore Chauncey's co-op-
eration, or of any re-enforcements reachinu" his own
army, he continued his retreat to the strong position
of Chi])pewa, there to be governed by circumstances.
The British followed, their advance, after u f(>rce<l
march, encam])ing on the 25tli on a small eminence
at Lundy's Lane.
On the afternoon of the 25th, Major Wood, with
a countenance of unusual animation, riding up to
Lieutenant Douglass, of the Engineers, said : "The
British are understood to be ciossing the Niagara
at Queenstown, and threatening a dash up the river
on that side. They are also in movement on this
side. We wish to Mud out what their dispositions
m
inr
128
WKSTKUX f!AMI»AI(i.\S OF 1813.
an*; and tli<' (Ictacliiiiciit l>('f(>r<' us, uiidrr the <'(>in-
iiiand of (ieiKMVil Scott, is oidcrcd to make a iccoii-
iioissaiict* and create a di\ ('rsi<»ii, should circum-
stances i-eijiiirc ; and, if we meet tlie enemy, we shall
j)r(»l»al>ly feel his jjulse."" Both olhcers iuinuMliately
rode forward to the front of the vanuiiaid, and aftei-
ju'oceedinu' three-fourths of a luile, i-eached the resi-
dence of Mrs. Wilson near the 'i'alde-rock, at Niauara
Falls. Had they arrived ten luinutes earlier, they
would have ca|)tui'ed (ieiu'ial Iliall, with his
whole staff, who had just h'ft tht^ house to join his
command, which was innnediateiy aftei- eiiLrau'cd
witli Scott's Hri^ade. Thus he^an the l»rilliant Hattle
of Xiai^aia, where the Ameiican Army won unfadiiii::
laurels in its terrible coutlict with tlie greatly supe-
rior Hritisli force, lar«i:;ely composed of veterans
fresh from victories o\er the ureat Marshals of the
Coiujuenu- of Kurope. In hisotlicial account of this
l»attle, (leneral Brown sav
T
lie enu'ineer
M
ijor
McKee and \\ Ood, were ^-reatly distinii'uished on
thi » day, and theii' hiuh military talents exerted
with great effect ; they were much under my eye,
and near my |)erson, and to their assistance a ureat
deal is to he fairly asci'ihed. I most earnestly
recommend them as worthy of the highest trust and
Accord iiiLclv, I )oth were l>i-evetted liieu-
coi
ifi<l
ence.
tenant-Cohmels " f«u- gallant conduct in the I^attle of
Niagara." These two Enu:ineers andTirigadier-(ien-
eral Scott were tlie only officers w ho, foi' their meri-
torious services in that fiei'ce contest were, at that
time, siimled out for honora])le distinction l>y brevets
to a higlier gratle.
f n
LIEUT.-(."OLONP:ri ELKAZKU I). WOOD.
129
Fi'oin tills point it was tin* iiit«'ntioii of (MMicral
I{i|)l«'V, wlio succeeded to the cinimiaiid (»f the aiMiiy
on lii'own's and Sc(>tt's disability from woun<ls, to
retreat acioss the Niai^ara into our own territory;
a disastei- which was only ]>revented hy the advice
of Mclvee and Wood. When the |>i<)|Ktsition was
aL''ain submitted, these aide euLrineers were consulted
hy (leneial Hr(»wn, who administeied a severe re-
l)uke to his subordinate, Hipley, and soon after su-
]>ei'seded him liy the appointment of (Jeneral E. I*.
(laines to the c(»mmand.
Brown, on the "iTth, ordered Kipley to take u])
a jjood p<>sition just above Fort Eiie, and personally
directed the enuineei's to strengthen and extend the
woi'ks to sustain a siege. Day and niirht they
labored at their heavy task to tiansfoiin a feeble
f<)rt into a strong fortification. Lieutenant-! Jeneral
Drunmiond, the Biitish commandei', invested the
American intrenchments August 'U\, and continued
the siege (d* the camp till Sei)tembei' 17th, when
Ri'own's successful sortie destroyed the enemy's
laboi's of forty-five days, comjtelled his reti'eat, an<l
vii-tually terminated the Niagara Campaign.
In the defense of our intrenchments, Wood not
only ]»ei-formed his duty as an engineer, but took
conunand, for the j)rotection of the ex])osed left <>f
our line, of the gallant Twenty-first Infantry, with
which the brave Miller ha<l carried the British bat.
tery on the hill at Lundy's Lane, lie and McKee,
constantly on the alert, on the evening of the 14th
of August made careful inspection of the works
and ])i'e])ared everything to meet an anticipated
' I
l:i
1' I
1' I
w,
130
WESTERN CAMPAICtNS OF 1813,
Til
attack befoi'e (Lnvii of tlie next moniiii^". lliey
were not mistaken in tlieir jn'edictions, wliicli were
I'ealized before dayli^-lit of the lotli, by siniulta-
net)Us assaults of British columns on oui- right,
centre and left. The latter, 1,4(M) strong, under
Lieut.-Colonel Fisher, was to escalade Towson's ])at-
tery, and storm AVood's defenses between it and the
lake. What was liis astonishment wlien, instead of
finding tlie garrison asleep, his advancing ranks
were lit up by a volley of flame from AN^xxVs in-
fantry, while the batteiy, twenty feet higher, [touivd
forth a conthmous blaze of artillery tire, giving it
from that night the appellation of "Towson's Light-
house!'' Failins; to carry the battery or penetrate
the abatis, the British, wading in the lake, attempted
to turn our left, but after a des])erate sti'uggle were
i-epulsed. Five times with fixed bayonets they
moved to the assault of AVood's defenses and as
often were foiled, till, finding their closed ranks
mowed down with musketry, gra])e and canister, tlie
l)eaten Bi'itish abandoned the fruitless contest. In
this defense, says (xeneral Ki])ley in his official
re[)oi-t : " AVood has tlie merit, with the Spai'tan
band, in connection with (^ii)tain Towson's artillery,
of defeatinir a vaunted foe of six times his force.''
The attacks of the other column were ecpially unsuc-
cessful.
Colonel AVood's official dis])atch, dated Aug. 1(>,
1H14, of the oj)ei'ations of his command in the
Assault of Fort Erie on the night of the 14th,
we give entire, never having seen it in ])rint. lie
says: '"In obedience to your instructions, 1 have
LTETTT.-COLONEL ELEAZEll D. WOOD.
181
tlie lienor to report tlie gallant conduct of my com-
mand during the attack wliicli took place on the
night of the fourteenth instant :
"I cannot do greater justice to the troo])s, which
1 had the honor to command on that occasion, than
to state that the Twenty-tirst infantry, together with
a small detachment of the Seventeenth un<ler Ca])-
tain Chunn, in all about three hundred men, aided
by the skill and activity of that distinguished olticer,
Ca])tain Towson of the Artillery, who conunandcd
the battery on Snake Hill, met and rejtulsed five
im]>etuous charges given by Colonel Fisher at the
head of fourteen hundred British I'eii'ulars. These
troops were formed in columns of attack and storiued
without Hints in their nuiskets. Our lines were
completely manned and every thing ready to receive
the enemy when he a})i)roached. And, ])erhaps, a
more signal examjde of tii-mness and steady valour
was seldom, if ever, given by the veterans of Europe.
Finding himself ivpulsed at all j)oints with great
slaughter, Colonel Fishei' saw lit to retire with his
shattered colunuis at dawn of day.
"For the happy result, which crowned oui' arms
at this particular ])oint, I am under great obliga-
tions t(> Ca])tains Marston and Ro]»es, the former
of whom conmianded on the left and the latter com-
manded the Cor])s of Reserves which i'e|»ulsed the
enemy at the i'd^Xi' of the water after he had turned
the left of the abatis and completely gaine<l mv
I'ear. Capt. Chunn, who commanch^d on my right,
had not the good fortune to come in contact wit!)
the enemy until he A\as sent to re-enforce the gar-
132
WESTKRX OAAtl'MONS OF 1813.
I'ison at Fort Ei-i<' wlu'ie lie had a fair opj^ortunity
and Leliaved Avitli ureal skill and bravery in exjiel-
ling the enemy from that j>laee. The small re-en-
forcements of riilemen, A\hich airived before the
enemy made his last'chari2;e, under that brave ot!icer
Capt. Birdsall, rendered me eonsidei'able service.
" Lieutenants Bowman, llid<lle, Hall, Larned nnd
Ensigns Bean, Neely, (liven, Jones, CUimmings and
Thomas were all extremely active and perfc.rmed
their duty with alacrity. I have to regret that the
army is deprived of the services of Lieutenant
Bushnell and Ensign Cissney, both of whom are
severely if not mortally wounded. Our tro])hies in
the morning were about one hundred and twenty
])risoiiers and a considerable num])er of scaling
ladders, ])icks, axes, etc."
Both belligerents no\v prepared for another strug-
gle. Brown, seeing his impending danger from the
greatly superior numbers of his antagonist, deter-
mined to attempt the bold design of destroying the
enemy's siege- works by a sortie from our intrench-
meiits, to which the engineers gave a hearty concur-
rence. Towards noon of September ITtli, (leneral
Porter on the left, aiwl (leneral Miller in the centre
sallied fortli witli their res})ective divisions. Wood,
leading the former as engineer, and, at tlie same time
commanding a column com]>osed of 400 regidars
from the 21st and 25111 infantry, followed by 500
volunteers and militia. The enemy was sur[)rised,
his batteries captured, cannon and carriages destroye<l,
maga/ines blown U[), numerous prisoners taken, and
the objects of the sortie fully accomplished. Porter's
lieitt.-colonp:l ELj:AZf:R d. wood.
133
victor 'vas complete; but it was won at a feai-fiil
cost, ; > tliree pi'iiicij)al leaders being moi-tally
wounded. " Anions; our losses," says Lieut. Douglass
of the engineers, ''I liave the sorrow to name our
ever to be lamented and gallant friend, Colonel
AVood. He went out with the volunteer division,
and, amidst the confusion which necessarily attends
a fight in the woods, was, somehow, separate<l from
them. When they retiu'ned after the battle, he was
missing. En(|uiiy was made, next day, by a fl.ig ;
an<l we received the unwelcome intelligence that he
was mortally wounded in the action, and <lied in the
Hi'itish cainji, the night after, })rofessing, it is said,
the most ardent attachment to his country, and a
jealous solicitude for the honor (►f her arms, com-
mending her, with his last breath, to the favor and
protection of the Almighty."
"Oil (leatli resistless! how tliy sovereign sway,
Sweeps from our earth its fairest sons away.
Columbia mourns ; thy favorite Wood's no more,
Ho bravely fell on Erie's hostile shore ;
Could angels weep to view a mortal's doom,
Celestial pity would bedew his tomb.
***** He was by all admired,
By age respected and by youth revered,
His friends with pleasure viewed his rir-ing fame.
And dwelt with transport on his honored name ;
When lo ! a cloud ascending from the North,
Blackening still deeper as it rolled forth ;
Death rode upon the whirlwind as it came,
Mid l)lood and slaughter and devourinir tlame ;
Arm'd with his dart — commissioned from on high.
Wood felt the wound ; and knew that he must die.
Oil no soft down his l)l('eiling form was laid,
No mother dear sustained his sinking heail ;
No sister kind whom soft afl'ections move.
Stood round his couch to pour the balm of love,
tai
7'-
Mm
;:,JviK
Mil
-li
■mfji
AS
mt
m
134
WKSTKUN ("AHI'AIOXS (»K IHlli.
Rut Goil was lln'n>— liis spirit inovM aroiiml
III Holomii .silfiio* ; wliili! a licav'iil.v sound,
111 blissful acconts, such as angels brnatlic,
WIkmi siMit iiiiiiiorlal lilossiiij^s to hciiucatlic,
Uoso in his car ; ami in thai awful paiiso,
Wood iIIcmI, a inarty.' in a i^donoiis cause."
Tims (Midcd tlic )>ri(vf' mikI bfilliuut cnreer <>f tliis
iiobU^ soldit'i', wlio had few <MHials;md was surpassed
1)
f(
oiniLT Jii aiii'
)y none ot Ins [M'oTcssion and peers,
lie was a veteran in the art of war. His eioht years
of army life " luid imiforndy been jm exhibition of
military skill, aeute jndi!;ment and heroic \alor;''
and, in the lanii;naiie of his commandiiij; general,
"no oiiieer of his ii:;rade eoiild have contributed more
to tlie sjifety and honor of the ai'my." lie wastndy
tlie scml and ti^enius of every enterj)rise in which he
was eniraired ; one o
.f " tl
le nmnoi
■tal
names
that
were
not born to die," His dtiily companions loved him,
for he was social and i!;enial, the most honorable and
i^enerons of men, and as affectionate and ii;entle as a
maiden. His otficial snperiors vied in their ti'ibiites
to his worth, for he was the intellectii;d lii^dit of the
council and the lion of the battle-tieM. 'I'hotin'h
e.vtremely retiring!; and modest in manner, his foi'm,
features, military air and bearing; disclosed the beau-
ideal soldier, the \\"a\ fn-riir clK-rdlirr^ wlio, wherever
dan_i»;er ai»i)eared, was there as calm, fearless and
self-[)ossessed as u|)on a (piiet ])ai'ad(\ 0\\ the field
of Niai>;ara, meetinu' Brown almost faintinu; fVom his
wound, Wood exclaimed, with u^reat emotion : "Never
mind, my dear (ieneral, you arenaininii;theL!:reatestvic-
torv which has ever been won f'oi- \<>ur coinitrv." He
thought not of physical pain, but, amid the carnage
iiiei
an
di?(
rtyii
('hi
ol
fan
the
he
|>i-ai
Hro
whe
grea
LIKf'T.-COLONKI. VAAl.V/AAl I>. Wooll.
LS;")
of battle, liis heroic soul i;1o\v«m1 witli lofty eiitlm-
siasiii for his comiti'v's i:;Iory. His iiohility of nature
iiii|)resse(l every one. Says the IJev. Dr. Doui^lass,
speakiiin' of his father's lectuivs on the ('ani|taiirii "
of 1SI4: "His mention of ('ol«»nel Wood was
luaiked with un(lis<i;uise(l waiintli an<l affectionate
feeliui:;. It seiMued impossible for liiin to look ))ack
to th
le >'oun<j:; davs or an ardent ajid i^enerous jimln-
1
di
tion, wi
thout
►f
I paui;' or soi'i'ow, at rne reeo
t th
)llect
ion
of the hiufh-minded and chivalious man, wlio was
liisfrien<l and l)rother-in-arms ; his compainon, amidst
scenes of the most soul-stii'riuLT interest ; liis tutor in
militaiy science ; his Mentor in the [>erple.\ities of an
early and impoi'tant res|)onsil)ility ; Ids iruide and
exainjde, in all that was hi<^h, no))h' and <lisinter-
ested, in tlu^ walk and j)rofession of a s«>]<lier."
It was Wood's [)ecuHai' i^ood foi'tune to be j>rom-
inent in every brancli of Ins jirofession ; wliether as
an eni^ineer, making; the dariui^ reconnoissance, oi*
directinij defenses; as an artillerist, pursnini; tlie
flyini:; fo(i to the Thames, or sej'vini; in tlie l>atterv at
Chipi)ewa; us a Paladin cavalier, in the final rout
of Proctor's Inst fugitives; oi the accomplished in-
fantry connnander leading; the colnnm ami char<jfini;
the besieu^ei's at Fort Krie. While Hrst in battle,
he was also first in the estimation of those lie so
faithfully served. Harrison assiirns to him "the
first [)alm of merit" at Foit Mei^^s, ami hiu^hly
|)raises his eftieiency in the invasion of (*anada ;
Hrown reports his marked distinction at Xiairara,
where his"hiuh military talents were exei'ted with
ii'ieat effect," and to wdiose "asai.stance a jrreat deal
■ ri
III
.•i!|.
Iffilij
186
WESTERN (iAMPAIGNS OK 1813.
11 .
is fairly to be nsci'ibed " ; Gaines says, " in the com-
maiul of a regiment of infantry lie lias often proved
liiniself well (jiialiried, but never so cons])ioiiously
as in tlie repulse of the British assault on Fort Erie'';
Ri[)ley, on the same occasion, acknowledji;es his in-
debtedness to ''this officer's merits, so wtII known
that ap])rol)ation can scarcely add to his reputation";
Porter, under whom he led a column in the sortie
from Fort Erie, reports to Brown, "yni know how
exalted an o])inioii I have always entertained of
him" ; and his Command in<»; General, when this pillar
of his power lay prostrate in death, pronounced this
truthful eulo_2;y to his worth : "Wood, ])rave, gener-
ous and enterprising, died as he had lived, Avithout a
feeliiiii: but for the honor of his country and the
glory of her arms. His name and exam])le will live
to guide the soldier in the path of duty so long as
true heroism is held in estimation."
All authority warrants us in saying that, during
the whole o])erations on the Niagara, no terms of
praise could do justice to Wood's gallantry, zeal,
skill and perseverance, whether in reconnoitring the
enemy, ascertaining and rej»orting his j)osition, en-
couraging the troo])s, conducting columns to their
destination, ])lainiing judicious movements, pi'oviding
against emergencies, devising defenses, seeing the
key-])oint of the battle-field, or gras[)ing the whole
problem of the campaign.
After the termination of the war, 8e])t. 12, 181 <>,
Major-(ieneral Jacob Brown, then (ienei'al-in-Chief,
addressed the following letter to Brigadier-Creneral
Joseph G. Swift, Chief Engineer of the Army.
Ill'
WV'
LTKIIT.-COLOXEL ELEAZER D. WOOD.
137
" I tliiiik it [)i'oper to express to you, as Cliief of
the Corps <>f En^iiieei-s, tlie liigli sense I entertain
of the services of Coh)nel McRee, Lieutenant-Coh)nel
Wood, (\a]itain Doiiij^lass luu] Lieutenant Story, who
served with my division upon tlie Niagara in 1814.
They \vere all greatly distinguished, Init Colonel
MeKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Wood have ])articu-
lar claims uj)on me for the cheeifulness and ardor
with wdiich they entered upon the execution of every
enterprise, luiving in view the honor of my com-
mand, and for the zeal and talent they uniformly
dis])layed.
" Lieutenant-C\)lonel Wood fell! The occasion
and the manner of his death secure to him the
patriot soldier's best reward — ])ure and imperishable
fame. To this I can add nothing; but, as a tribute
of my respect foi' the hero and the man, I request
you to cause a moiuinient to be erected, at my ex-
j)ense, to his memoi-y. Let it stand near the Mili-
tary Academy, at West Point, and, tliough it cannot
elevate his name, it may stinudate the soldiers of his
school to die, like liini, without a feeling but for the
honor of their countrv and the u'lorv of hei' arms."
In compliance w^ith this re(piest, so honoralde to
(xeneral Brown, the C*hief Engineer had executed
the white marble obelisk now gracing the little
knoll, north of the West Point Plain, looking up
the Hudson upon the most beautiful river view in
the world. Lr])on the occasiim of the erection of
this monument, (xeneral Swift, August 17, 1818,
directs Major Thayer, Superintendent of the Mili-
tary Academy, to conduct the ceremony with all
t.-ii
r'
i =
188
WKSTEUN CAMPAKINS OF IRl.J.
due iiiilitarv honors, and to issue nn a|)proi)]'iate
or<l(M- to lils coiiimaiid, "to j)ortray tlie cliaracter of
oiii' dt'ccased l)rotluM' oftictM'.''
Tliis siiii|)l«' nionuiiient )>ears tlie followiuii; in-
sciiptioiis : Xo.fli Si<I(' — "To the Memory of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Vj. I). Wood, of the ('Orps of Enu;i-
iieers, who fell while leading a eharge at the Soi'tie
of Fort Ej'ie, L'[)j)er Canada, 17th Sejtteniher, 1S14,
in the 81st year of his age." H^W Si(h : "He was
exemplary as a Christian, and distinguished as a
Soldier." Sotrf/f Sl<7(^ : "A Pupil of this Institution,
lie died an honour to his coiuitry." I'jd^f Side : " TJiis
Memorial was erected by his friend and commander —
Major-General Jacob Brown."
After this monument to C\»lonel Wood was
erected, the following lines were composed by the
late General I. Moiton:
" Wliat thonji;]! on foenian's land lie fell,
No stone tlie sacred spot to tell,
Yet where tlie noble Hudson's waves,
Its shores of lofty fi;ranite laves,
The loved associates of his youth,
Who knew his worth — his spotless truth.
Have bade the niariile column rise,
To bid the world that youth to prize ;
T(j teach the youth lii^e him t' aspire,
And never-fading fame ac<iuiro ;
Like iiim on (Jlory's wings to rise,
To reach, to pierce the azure skies,
And oft the Patriot then shall sigh.
And sorrow oft cloud Beauty's eye,
When'er foml ineinory brings again
The Youth who sleeps on Erie's plain."
•>f!Il.
m
wi
li
w
()
t]
C(
A
CHAPTER FOURTH.
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813 ;
WITH A mOGRAPHIOAL SKETCH OP
BRIG.-GENERAL JOSEPH G. SWIFT.
In tlie Second projected Invasion of Canada,
Quebec was deemed too strong' to 1)e assailed with
success; and Montreal, Avliose loss would involve
tliat of Upj)er Canada, ])roniised an easier conquest.
For this ultimate i)urpose as stated in the previous
chapter, three columns were i)ut in motion in 1818;
one desiii;ned to penetrate the enemy's territory by
the Detroit Straits ; another somewhere on the On-
tario border; and the third by the outlet of Lake
Champlain. This was repeatinir, essentially, the
plan which had resulted in the miserable failure of
1812. We have already ij^iven the operations of the
Northwestern Armv, or Left Column, terminatiniii; in
Harrison's victory of the Thames. In this chapter
we will sketch the chief movements of the Armies
of the Centre and Right, the former o])eratin<i" on
the Ontario frontier, and the later movinjj: from Lake
Champlain.
General Dearliorn, in command of all the forces
destined to take part in the Eastern Campaii2:n of 1813,
was directed by the War Department to reduce
Kingston and York (now Toronto) on Lake Ontario
and Forts George and Erie on the Niaojara. The
Commanding General, however, for reasons totally
141
SI
■.. ' n
I
142
KASTKU?'. CAMI'AKJNS OT IM!!.
insufficient, dccidtMl to leservr tlic uttack
(>i
Kill!::-
ston for tlie ^^s7, tliouuli it was the p'/sf in iiiipor-
taiice, beiiiiz: the naval I'imhIczvous the IJritisli
< >ntai'io fleet, and the liead-cjiiai'tei-s i the Knulisli
hmd fVuves.
Ill |)rosirnti(»n of tliis inverted plan of eanipaiiz'n,
l)ear])orn, witli 1,700 men crowded on Chauncey's
fleet, sai U'd from Saekett's llarhor, A|)rii !>.'), Is];',,
an<l, after a IxM.^terons passau'e ot* two (hiys, arrixed
off ^'ork, W'liieh was feel)ly jn'oteeted l»y a few
l)h»ek-hoiises and eartlien ])attei'ies <;an*lsone(l with
al»oiit .S0(> i-eij:ulars, militia and Indians. (Jeneral
Dej
irhorn, l)eini;' m ill-nealtii, remained on siiij*
1th
di
Ixmrd, w hile our troops, led hy (n*'' 1 Pike, landed
under a brisk tire, foun'ht their
tiu-ounh tiie
thick woods, carried tlie fiist l)uttery, took ])ossession
of tlie " llalf-moon,'' and were ])reparini<' to assault
th
le mam uitrenchnients when the u'reat mauazim
]d(
d
ew up with a tremeiKloiis e\j>|osion, scattering-
i-uiu on every su
le, k
killiui'" and maimiiiLi" over two
humlivd of our men and many of their own, and
mortally woiindinu; the intrepid Pike who died soon
aftei- like a true hero, 'riiou;-h we ha<l captured
tlie ]>lace and a larii'e amount of stores, (Jeneral
Slieaffe, the British commander, with liis reu'ulars
was allowed to escape, and a vessel on the stocks to
be destroyed.
The first object of the expedition beinu" accom-
])lished, the troo) )s were immed lately re-end)arked, 1 )ut,
on account of adverse winds, did not leave York liar-
bortill May<Sth,and not until the 27th was the attack
ui)on Foi't George essayed. An entire month of the
ea
Fi
M"
fol
aiH
of
tli<
S(|
v<
mi.
a fl
HI{Ui.-(ii:M;KAI- .losKlMI (i. SUIIT.
un
licst
(•.•mipMiuiiiiiii' sea.son was
lost
111 luiiiuiiiii- r«MMi-
t'orceiiKMits from Sju-kett's Ifarlxn', and iiM»tlit*r tlila-
torv iH'Ofeeiliiiii-s. Deaihoru'saiiiiv, iimulHM-iniriu'arlv
(5, (MM) was ivadv for tlie fi'av on tlu* UKU-ninsj: <>f tlie
'iTtli, l)ut tile ('oiiiiiiaii(liiin(n'ii(Mal iviiiaiiKMl on shi])-
hoard as at York, ruder
cover <»
r ti
le u'liiis o
(Miauiu'ey's fleet, our uallaiit soldiers rea<died tlie
shore, with intrepidity clanihered up the steej* l)aiik
exposed to the enemy's lire, an<l in twenty minutes
of se\-ei'e iiiihtiiin' j)ut the foe to tliiiht. (xenei-al
\'incent, the Biitisli commander, satisfied that after
our success he could no loiiy-cr hold Fort (ieorge,
onh^'ed its <;'Uiis to be spiked, the work to l>e aban-
<loned, and the garrison to ilee to Heavei' Dams, a
strong' ]»ositiou amoni>" the hills. Colonel \\ infield
Scott, in rapid ])ursuit of the enemy, learniniLC I'i-**
<lesigns, detached two coiii[)anies who saved the foii:
after one of its three mauazines had been blown \i\\
Scott viii'orously pursued, and could easily have
ca[)tured Vincent, but was reluctantly compelled
by re])eated orders to give U]) the chase, return to
Fort (ieorge, an<l abandon the almost attained cou-
(|Uest of the Niagai'a Peninsula.
Two davs aftei' these events, while most (»f
our
forces were afai' <»ff at the head of Lake Ontario,
and Sackett's Harbor at its foot was nearly strij)pe(l
of its garrison, Governor-General Provost, with a
thousand men from Xingstoii assisted by the British
s(|uadron, decided to retaliate for oui- attacks on
York and Fort George ])y ca})turing our naval and
military stoies at Sackett's lIar])or, and bv tlestroviuij:
a tine sliip {the General Pike) tliere on the stocks.
III.
144
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
vm \
FortiiiiJitely, a few reguhirs, under the hold Colonel
Backus, had been left to guard this property, and
the ifallant General Jacob Brown ^^•as at hand to
assume command. Though the militia iled U])on tlie
enemy''s ap[)roach, Brown tlnvarted his design, com-
pelled liis precipitate retreat, and gained ,. complete
victory — the last success of our inglorious campaign
of 1818. Unfortunately in the confusion of the
attack, throuixh some misunderstandiiii'" of aifairs,
the naval otKcer, in charge of ihe stores and ship on
the stocks, set them on tire.
After the ca[)ture of Fort George, General Dear-
born, when too late, ordered ihe })ursuit of Vincent,
who, in tlie meantime, having (h'a^^ n in all his scat-
tered forces, posted himself, <^n the LM)th of May, at
Burlington Heights, a j)osition vital to the safety of
the Britisli, without which they could neither retain
the Peninsula, nor make a safe exit from it. On the
1st of June, («eiieral Winder was sent to dislodge
the enemy with a small brigade, which was iiiade-
<juate t(» the task. I 'j)oii asking for re-enforcements,
General Ghandler, on the oth, brought u[) an(»ther
brigade, giving a total force of 1,.S00. Instea<l (»f
|)rom]»tly marching to attack Vincent, only a few
miles off. Chandler, the senior geneivd, halted at
Stony Creek and carelessly encampt-d for the night,
which Vincent discovered Iw a bold rec(>nnoissance
in the evening. Knowing that not a moment was
to be lost, if with his inferior forces he was to main-
tain his position, he wisely decided to attack at once
rather than be attacked the next day with every
chance of discomtiture. Having decided to surprise
P
BRKi.-GENERAL JOSEPH G. SWII'T.
145
Cliaiidler, the Britisli cohniin of TOO, silently inov-
inar at midnioi-lit, seized everv man of the American
picket, and made two false attacks, while the real one
on our centre was eminently successful in capturing-
some artillery and a hundred prisoners, including
both of the American generals. Vincent, the British
commander, in the confusion of the night-attack, lost
his way ; Itut fortunately for the enemy, he was suc-
ceeded bv the able Lieut.-Colonel liarv^ev (su])se-
(juently (xovernoi" of New Bi'unswick), while our
forces fell under the conn land of Colonel Burns, a
brave but inexperienced officer, who at once called a
council of war, which of course did not advise fight-
ing, prefei'i'ing to fall back before half their niunbers
and await furtlier orders. Had a resolute and ener-
getic officer then have directed oui' f(n'ces, Vincent
would have been ])ut to flight or captured, the
Peninsula been ours, our march on Kingston l)een
unim[)eded, and the after disasters on the St. Lawivnce
been avoided.
Another fortnight of inaction followed, dui'ing
which General Vincent and Colonel Bisho])]) were
indefatigable in strongly occupying the mountain
losses from Queenstown to York. At last, ihe tinal
mishap of our campaign that sunnner on the Penin-
sula occui-red. Colonel Hoestler, with <iOn men,
was sent to Beaver Dams to attack a fortified store-
house where considerable supplies were stored. The
detachment, June 24th, fell into an Indian ambus-
cade, and, after a three hours' contest, when about
to retire, were deluded by a small British force of
regulars, by threats of savage slaughter, into a ca])it-
146
EASTEItX CAMPAIGNS OF 181:5.
ul.'itioii. Except some mids nloiii;' tlie Niau'ara,
destroying iiuicli pi'o]»ert\, iiotliiiiii' more was done
in tliis (juai'tei' during this campaign. The l^ritisli
now ])oldly ndvanced U])on (^)neensto\vn, hehl Hui*-
lini!;toii Heiijchts, and invested Fort (ieoro'e witli for-
mi<L'il)le forces.
Dearborn, discj^ualified l)y age and ill-liealth foi'
active command, was superseded on the ()th of .June,
and took leave of tlie army July 15th, (icnei'al
Hoyd temporarily succeeding to tlie command till the
arrival of (-'eneral Wilkinson. The latter, with the
l)ulk of our forces did not leave Fort (ieorge, till
( )cto])er iid, until which tiim our army was coo]»ed u])
ill that work under orders of the Secretary of \Vt\v
to hold the eneniv at l>av. Thu^, from May to Octo-
her, while the enemy was most active, we, during
these four most favorable months foi cani])aigning,
did nothing.
(xenei'al James Wilkinson, who succeeded Deai'-
born in the command of the Northern Arm\, had
lieeii an active oihcer of the Revolution, [)articulai'ly
on the stalf of Gates wlien BiU'goyne suri'endered at
Saratoga. Now, too old for his position, he soon
fell ill with a fevei', divaded responsibility, and was
weighed down with nioj'bid anxiety. \\ liilc on his
way to Sackett's Harbor, to assume his new duties, he
had issued, August K), his tii-st order to (reneral
\V ade Hampton, who had been assigned to the com-
mand of the forces on Lake C'ham]>lain. Hamj)ton
Inid also been an otliccr of the llevolution, as a [>ar-
tisan ranger in South C'a -olina, in connection with
Marion. This order of Wilkinson's aroused tlie ire
BUIG.-GENKIJAI. .lOSKPII (J, SWirP.
147
of tli«^ old sljive-lioldinii' aristocrat, and intensified
his former liatred of tlie new General-in-Chief, lie
innnediatelv wrote to <"he Secretarv of War tliat liis
was a se|)arate eoniniand. Armstrong tried to ree«»n-
eile him to a distinction between separate an«] inde-
pendent eommand ; but the implacable enmity wliieh
liad been enu'endered continued to rankle, and, as
the secjuel \\I11 show, defeated the success of the
eamjtaiu'u.
After nearly half a year's fruitless effort to make
a permanent lodiiiuent on the Ontario sIkuv. the
Secretary of W'ai's original j)r()ject of eam[»aiun was
again revived. 'J\> this \\ ilkinson oljjected, while
Armstrong insisted ; the former in tlie mean time,
without any detinite plan of operations to be pursued,
having departed for Sackett's Ilarboi-. lie liad a
nominal army of about 12,000 men, one third at Bur-
lington, Vt., under Hampton; another third at Sac-k-
ett's Harbor, and the remaining third at Fort (leorge.
At a council of otiicers it Avasres<dved to aband<»n and
destroy Fort (leorge, and ti-ansfer the troops to Saek-
ett's Harbor ; but the W'ai- I)ej)artment <U'dere<l <)0n
i-egulars to continue to garrison that work, the re-
mainder of thetroops there, as we have bef<>re state*],
having end)arke(l on the fleet. Most of the ivgu-
lars, left in gai'rison under Colonel Scott, soon after
joined Wilkinson's St. Lawrence Expedition, their
])laces being su])[)lied by militia, under General
McClure, who subsequently abandoned the work,
an<l burned Xewark, Avhich outrage was sununarilv
avenged by tlu^ destruction of six villages, manv
isolated ciuiutry houses, and five vessels, an<l the
148
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
l)iitclieriiig of innocent persons at Fort Niagara,
LeAviston, Sclilosser, Tuscarora \"illage, Black Hock
and Buffalo.
General Wilkinson assumed coniniand, at Sack-
ett's Harbor, August 29, 1813, having for his Chief
Engineer Colonel Joseph G. Swift, the Chief Engi-
neer of the United States Army. Soon after, the
Secretary of War arrived tit that post, ostensibly to
promote harmony between Wilkinson and Hampton,
but more probal)ly to assume the functions of Gen-
eral-in-Chief. He was a headstrono;, ambitious man
of Irish descent, his father having emigrated to
Pennsvlvania about IT-tO, where he became a Lieu-
tenant-Colonel in the old French -war, a Brigadier-
General in the Continental Army, and a Major-Gen-
eral, commanding the Pennsylvania State troops in
the defense of Philadelphia, and the Battles of
Brandywine and Germantown. Ft is said that the
son, then Secretai'v of War, wanted to play a more
distinguished role than the father, and as])ire(l to be
a Lieutenant-General to conmiand all the Armies of
the United States, but that he Avas not a favorite
with Presi<lent Madison; consefpiently, had that
office been created by Congress, (\)lonel James
Monroe, then Secretary of State, would have been
apjx tinted.
AVhile Wilkinson and Armstrong at Sackett's
Harbor were confronting the enemy at Kingston and
discussing plans for its attack, Hampton, with 4,(M)0
infantry, a squadron of horse, and a well-a|)pointed
train of artillery under Major McRce, of the Engi-
neers, set out towards Montreal foi' the [)urpose of
Hesi
()ct(
come
sepai
flueii
reiiL'i
the
Ii
miles
wlieiv
In th
had i
hlock-
witli .'
11? II
I{RI(i.-(;ENEKAL .FOSKIMI (i. ^^^VI^T.
149
l»0
denionstriitioii or attack, as ciiviiinstanees miLdit ren-
der most expedient.
Leaviiio; Clarke's ln'iu'ade of Vermont militia to
draw I*rovost's attention to an attack bv the Sorel,
Hampton, on tlie ll>tli of Septend>er, beiran liis march
from ('ui]il)ei'land Head, opposite Plattslmrir, direct
on Odell-Towii (just within the Canadian border),
which he reached on the 21st; but a pre vail ini; drought
caused liis retrograde movement to Chazy, and the
adoption of the Chateangay ronte to the St. Lawrence.
At the " Foui'-Conieis," now the village of Chateau-
gay, he encam])ed foi' twenty-six <hiys awaiting orders.
During this month of delay, Hampton, having
satisfied himsflf that Provost's scattered forces were
less than half his own in nund)ers, determined to
[)ress forward, crusli all o])[)osing troops, make him-
self master of Montreal, and without Wilkinson's
assistance, become the laureled hero of the campaign.
Resuming, therefore, his march on the 21st of
( )ctober, on the evening of the next «lay he had over-
come twentv-four of the fortv miles which had
separated him from his goal. Here, near the con-
fluence of Outard Ci'eek and Chateau^av River, he
remained till the stoi'es and artillery came u]) on
the 24th.
Immediately in tVont of Ham]>ton were seven
miles of open country along the river to Johnson's,
where an extensive and dense forest lay in the way.
In this Colonel I)e Salaberry, with a thousand men,
had intrenched himself behind a log breast- work and
block-house, protected bv a sti-ouif abatis and covered
with a i)icket line of Indians and a light corps of
1 50
EASTERX CAMPAIGNS OF 1S13.
Canada militia. On tlic 2.")t]i Traiiii)t()ii tlioiiu'lit to
iiTasp Lis coveted laurels; hut
" The best Iiiul sclioiiies o' mice and men
Gang afl ii-gioy ;
And leave us naught l)ut grief and pain
For promised joy."
llauiptou (lis])atelied Colonel Purdy and the liulit
troops of Boyd's l)rii:;ade to force the ford ei<i:ht miles
below, turn the enemy's left, and gain the British
rear by dawn of the 2()th, while (leneral Fzard with
the main body was to assail the front as soon as
Purdy's tire sliould open. But the ignorant guides
h)st their way in the thick hendock swam]) during
the darkness, so that it was not till t^\() in the after-
noon that the crack of Purdy's ritles was hear<l and
then in a wrong direction, he ha\ing fallen into an
ambuscade, whereupon his dist-oncerted detachment
^i'd on the tirst tire; the enemy, (Mpially discreet and
coui'ageous, doing the same, fn the meantime, I/ardV
column drove in two [)ickets and '^vas soon engaged
with I)e Salabei-ry, the British commandei-, who ])er-
cci\ing that he was gi-eatly outnumhei'ed, resorted to
a ruse worthy of the days of Jericho. I*osting
huglei's along his thin but covei'cd line, these windy
warriors, when some concealed militia opened tire
U])on IlamittoiTs tlank, blew loud and rej)eated
signals for the charge, which so alarmed the (ireneral
and so thorouii'hlv convinced him of the thousands
of rogues in l)uckrain before hiiu, that, aftei- a long
liour's fight by Shi'ewsbury clock, an immediate I'e-
tre.at was ordered and promjitly ol)eyed. Thus ended
the valiant advance of this coiKpiering army, to ])re-
and
1 ():5(
S\\ i
inoii
our
tc rS
" Cu
ot'th
was
li«'r s(
was 1
COlllj)
BTJIO.-OEXKRAL JOSEPH O. SWIIT.
151
serve ^vlli(•ll a solcinii coiiiu'il of wur deemed it
pi'()[)er to seek a |)lace of safety, and soon after go
into winter ([Uartei-s.
Before giving i lie nio\enients of Wilkinson's army
fi'om Sackett's Harbor, we must introduce liis (Hiief
I'vUii'lneer in this eaini)aii»:n.
JosKi'M (tahdnkh Swiit was the First (xraduate
of the Military Academy, at West Point, N. Y., and
succeeded Colonel Jonathan Williams, July 31, 181:2,
as (/liief Engineei- of the V. S. Army.
Ilis ancestors on his father's side were English
husbandmen, wlio migrated to Sijuantum, in ^Lassa-
chusetts Bay, soon after the tirst Colony landed at
Plymouth ; and on his mother's side were Huguenots
fi'om Leyden, in Holland, who also landed in Boston
Bay. Among their descendants weiv a ( 'hief Justice
of Connecticut, a Senator fnmi Vermont, a Governor of
New York, and several Kevolutionarv ofHcers of note.
He was dii'ectly descended from Thomas Swift
and Ho|)estill Foster, who were tlie tirst settlers, in
1().'50, of Dorcliester, Mass. His grandfatlier, Samuel
Swift, a graduate of (\-iinbri(lge, in 173,"), was a law-
yei' of Boston (nuMitioned in the elder Adams' me-
moirs), who fell in ITTT), one of the tirst martyrs in
our sti'uggle for inde[)endence. His father. Dr. F\)s-
ter Swift, in 178'2, was a [)risoner on board the frigate
" CuUoden," of Ilodnev's fleet, and died a Suro-eon
<>f the U. S. Army, .Vugust In, ls;U"). His niotlier
was Deborah Delano, of Nantucket, ]\[ass., wliere
liei- son was born on the last day of the year 1783, and
was named after Dr. Jose])h (Tardner, of Boston, in
compliment to his father's old school-teacher.
r' f
H
». ii
ir)2
EASTERIsr CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
Young Swift grew uj) aiiioiiii' the pi-iiiiitive j)eo-
ple of his native isle, noted for their coiifidiiiu; iiiti-
mncy, simple hospitality, and those domestic virtues
wliich cluiracterized his after life. At the age of
six he saw the "Hero" — Washington — on Boston
CVmimon, which made an indelible impression upon
the ])recocious hoy, and, [)()ssil)ly, planted the genu
from wliich grew the after soldier.
In 1792 his father removed to Taunton, Mass.,
which became the future home of the family. Here
young 8wift, under the tutelage of the Rev. Sanuiel
Daggett, acquired an academical education fitting
him to enter Harvard College.
From his father^s diary he liad read, and from
an iii':imate friend of the family — -Genei'al David
Cobb, Aid-de-Camp to Washington — he had heard
vivid descriptions of scenes of the AVar of Indej>en-
dence, and of Shay's Insurrection, which strongly
excited him. These were intensified by the stirring
events of the French Revolution then transj)iring,
and though a boy but ten years old, he, having a
remarkable musical talent, used to sing translated
French songs at the civic feasts, given in 179^^, on
Taunton Green, in honor of French li])erty. His
military enthusiam was i-ekiiidle<l in 17'.>t>, when the
Fourteenth Regiment of Knifed States Infantry en-
camped on the banks of the Taunton River.
Hy the advice and with the assistance of Genei'al
Cobb, then a member of Congress, young Swift was
appointed by President John Adams, May 12, 1800,
a Cadet of Artillerists and Engineers. On the 12th
of June following he reported for duty, in NeAvpoi't
P
inte
of th
))een
I
then
little
the
BKn4.-aENEKAL JOSKl'H (i. SWIFT.
153
llni'bor, R. I., to the veteniii Lieiiteiiniit-Coloiicl
Lewis Tons.'ii'd, wlio liad l)eeii a Captain in the Con-
tinental Ai'niv, and in 177<S had h)st an arm in tlie
eniC'iij^einent of Quaker Hill. It was Toiisard who
built the " Duniplin Tower/' on Connanieut Island,
and sliared in the construction of old Fort Adams
at Hrenton's Point. Cadet Swift was attached to
Captain Stothlard's company, at Fort Walcott, on
(xoat Island, a work rebuilt in ITUo by Colonel
Rochefontaiue. Transferred from the quiet of Taun-
ton to the charms of active life, he was ensj^ai^ed liei-e
until October 7, 1801, upon the various fortitlcations
about New])ort, and while at this, even then fash,
icmable watering- ])lace, he formed the ac<juaintance
of many distiuLCuished men : the (libbs, Champlins,
Perrys, Auchmutys, Alstons, Hunters, Malbones,
etc. Heiuii; an ardent Federalist, he, at this time,
also took an active j)art in the discussions of the
day, ])articularly the (piestion <»f peace oi- war 2:row-
inii' out of our foreig'u relations. Thouu'h war with
(xi-eat r^ritain for a time had l)een averted by Jay's
treaty of 1 7*.*4, hostilities with France actually ex-
isted, C^)nnnodore Truxton havintr ca))tured the
friii'ate Insur^-ente, and crii)pled the Vengeance.
The fierceness and acrimony of party, by the more
intelligent class as well as the masses, since the days
of the Whigs and Tories of the Revolution, had not
been sur])assed.
During the Summer of bSOl, (leneral Deai'born,
then Secretary of War, had given notice to our
little army that President Jetfei-son had ordered
the establishment of a Military School at West
154
EASTERN CAMPAIONS OF 1813.
Point, for the education of cadets, under the law of
1794, and subse(|uent acts of Tongress which author-
ized the appDintment of [)i'()fessors of the arts and
sciences, and tlu' purchase of api)aratus and insti'u-
ments necessary for tlie instruction of the artillei'ists
and engineers. To this school, Swift, as directed by
the Secretary of Wai*, repaired, and i*e})orted Octobei-
14, 1801, having visited, on his way, the battle-^eld of
Long Island, and ascended the Hudson, whose banks
had scarcu ceased to echo the stirring events of our
Revolutionary history. What a contrast to the varied
scenes since enacted on the Plain of West Point was
thisstri])ling boy, standing alone, tlie solitary ])ioiieer
of thousands whose fame has filled the pages of
their Country's history ! The same gorgeous land-
scajje then as now, was lit n\) by a calm (Jctobei-
sunset, and the hills around were as eloipient with
legend and story of the })ast; but how little could
he foresee the future glories of the present renowned
institution of which he was the tirst oleve !
George Baron, who was in charge of this school,
was a North of England man, who had been a fellow
teachei' with Charles Tlutton in the British Military
Academy, at AVoolwich. lie was i-ude in manner,
but was an able instructor, and had l)een a[)])ointed
June 6, 1801, under the law of 171)8, to ])e Profes-
sor of Mathematics. By him Cadet Swift ^vas
insti'ucted in the tirst pi'oblems of Iluttcjii's Mathe-
matics, ex[)lained at the blackboard, which a])[)ears
to have been thus early in use at West Point. The
study hours were fi-om eiii-ht to twelve in the morn-
ing, the afternoon being " variously occupied in some
Pol
ing
ren
off(
trim
selli
shoo
gra\-
ord(
one
e.vch
iiitei'i
\vJion
|i
BRIO.-GENEKAL ,f()«El*lI (i. SWIIT.
155
brief iiiilitaiy exercises, l)ut umcli iiioiv in Ht'ld
Major Joiiatliaii Williams, lusjtectoi' of Fortifi-
cations, took command, Dccemhci' IT), ISOl, of this
first military school at West Point. Swift made
good |M'of»;ress in liis studies under the new superin-
tendent, who was very kind to him, loaned him
books, and received liim often at his table, t]ierel>y
estal)lis]iing those cordial relations which formed
"one of tlie briy'litest i'emend)rances of liis life."
In the new Military Academy, established )>y
tlie law of ^birch K), l!S02, Swift made excellent
progress; was transferred July '28, 1802, to be a
Cadet of Knuineern ; and was considered by Colonel
Williams "the foremost Cadet on the score of genius
and (piickncss of a] (prehension." After examina-
tion he became, October 12, 1802, tlie first grad-
uate of the present celebrated Military Academy.
Till xVpril .'i<>, 1804, he continueir at West
Point, exce})t while on leaye of absence and attend-
ing Courts Martial, in those days of fretpient occui-
rence and often for the trial of the most trivial
offences — a Colonel refusing to cut off his cue and
trim his whiskers to a prescribed line, a INbijor for
selling milk to his conunand, and a Lieutemtnt for
shooting his Captain's ducks. For the trial of such
grave delin(iuencies, officers of high rank were often
ordered from the remotest parts of the Union. To
one of Swift's social nature it was delightful to
exchange the dull routine of gari'ison life for the
intercourse of gentlemen of position and culture
whom he often met when attending these courts.
I
156
KASTKUN CAMI'AKiXS OK 181.1.
He especially enjoyed the society of j)ul>lic men,
witli wlioiii he co'.ild disfiiss national affairs, he
heiiii^ an ardent Federalist of the \\'ashin«rton school.
Diniiiij: one (hiv with the l^resident. Swift, then
only just of age, did not hesitate freely to argue
U|>oii the policy of the country with Mr. Jeft'erson,
who was reinarkal)h' f<n* his urbaiiitv to voiini; men.
Swift's diary is full of reminiscences of his intei-
coiirse with such men as Alexander Hamilton, Aaron
Burr, General Dearhoi'ii, , Luther Martin, (Jeneral
Katon (hero of Derne), Viscount Holingbroke, Clem-
ent Hiddle (Q. ]\I. (xeneral of Wasliington's Army),
Mr. ^[adison, (Tcneral St. Chiir, Judge Marshall,
(xovernor Smith, of North Carolina, and other shin-
ing lights of the day.
Swift, June 17, 1S()4, took charge, as Superin-
tending Kngineer, of the construction of the defenses
of the mouth of the Cape Fear Kiver in North Car-
<>lina; and in Januaiy ISOa, by order of the (Tciieral-
in-Chief, relieved Lieutenant Furgus of the command
of Fort Johnson, X. (\ The right of engineer officers
t(^ command troops by this order was admitted,
though, June 20, bS()8, Colonel AVilliams had been
driven out of service because the Secretary of War
had denied to him the .same claim. During this
winter of 1805, he performed the double duties of
Engineer and Post Commandei- ; was June 11, ISO."),
[H'omoted to a First Lieutenancy; and Oct. 30, 180(3,
became a Captain of Engineers.
Continuing on duty in North C/arolina till
March 20, 1807, he had formed the acrpiaintance of
many intelligent southern gentlemen and studied
hv
nil
]u
eha
em
Nf
Li(
En.
I>v
eno-i
and
But
Biii({.-(JKNi:uAi. JosEFMi (i. swirr.
i.r
11
soiitlu'i'ii institutions, [);irtic'ul.'irlysljivei'y, upon uliicli
lu^ held (leci<l(Mlly advanced opinions.
Swift, relieved from duty in North Carolina,
arrived at West Point, Apiil, <>, 1H(>7, and on the 14th,
when Major William Amhei'st Haii'on, the senior
enu'ineer oHieei* ju'esent, was arrested, took command
of the Militarv Academy in the absence of Colonel
Williams, (hen on a tour of ins]>ection. Here he re-
mained till Nov. 2?{, 1(S07, when the Academy was
closed foi- the winter vacation, and he was relieved
from duty at West Point.
At this time the arrou'ant maritime pretensions
of Enii'land ovei" our neutral commerce, as set forth
in her Oi'ders in Council, and the no less insuiferalde
mandates of Napoleon in his Berlin and Milan De-
crees, roused the United States to a true sense of the
imtion's dignity. Thouii|;h unj)re[)are(l for war with
either of these <;Teat powers, Con«^ress resolved,
in 1808, to [)lace the country iu an attitude of defense
by increasinii; the Army and makiufj large appropri-
ations for fortifications and ordnance.
Swift, promoted to be a Major of Eniyineers,
Feb. 2.'i, 1.S08, was assio-ned, March 14th, to the
charufe of the defenses of the " Eastern I)e])artment,"
end)raciniii; the coasts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts,
New llam]>shii'e and Maine, having for his assistants
Lieutenants Totten, Thayer and Willard of the
F]ngineei-s. The existini*: works in this district, built
by Rochefontaine, Rivardi and Tousard, French
engineers who had been in our service, were small
and totally inade(piate for the defense of our harbors.
But deficient as were these "nai'i-ow redoubts,'' the
Mr;
158
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
War Department, not to he outdone in ignorance of
the engineering art, undertook, at Wasliingtoii, with-
out surveys, to ])hui fortifications for all selected
sites. Notwithstanding Swift's engineering ability
was thus ignored by the War r)e])artnient, he ini-
niediately commenced making examinations and
surveys of the various harbors. lie I'econunended
the occupation by defensive works of (Teorge's Island
and Long Ishuid Head to command the main enti'ance
into Boston Harbor, and selected Naugus Head at
Salem, Black I^>int on the Merrimac, Kittery at
Portsmouth, and S])ring Point and House Islam! at
Portland, as eligible sites for new works. The wisdom
of these selections has since been am])ly confirnie<l
by numerous Boards of Engineers, which have,
from time to time, j)rojected im])ortant forts and
batteries for most of these localities. But the War
Dei)artment assmning ;i monopoly of engineering
skill, sent to Major S^vift, May 10, 180S, a score of
"plans of a s])ecies of Star Fort, too small for any
Hank defense and too complicate for a mere battery,
and unsuited to the positions for which they had l)een
devised." The only resort left Swift "was to turn
these plans on their ceiiti'es until they might suit the
sites as best they might, in Bostcui, Portland and
otlier hai'bors.'"
The "Washington Stars" were supposed to be
emanations of the brain of Colonel Heni'y Burbeck,
an honest old veteran and good artillery officer, but
whose whole knowledge of engineering was ]>ro])ably
derived from some treatise on fortificatio!i of the
Middle Ages. I)es])ite all I'enionstrance upon their
(rei
at
toS
at
llv
at
Jero
less
stall I
intei
cies
BKIG.-GENKKAL JOSEPH (i. SWIFT.
159
absunlity, they were ordered to I)e built. Some of
them remain to tliis (hiy aj^ monuments of past io-no-
riuice and the folly of the old reii'ime of the War De-
partment, which distrusted the ability ourof young
officers of engineers educated at the AEilitary Acad-
emy; and believed more in its own learning in the
art of war, which must have come like Dou:bei'r\'s
knowledge of reading and writing.
Though the engineering duties imj)osed U})on
8\vift, now but twenty-five years old, were onerous,
he found time to pre[)are the projectiles, implements
and gun carriages for the works under his charge.
At Boston, Swift became intimate with Doctor
William Eustis who was ai)])ointed by President
Madison to l)e Secretary of War, March 7, ISO!).
The unfledged Cabinet Minister invited the young
Major of Engineers to accom[)any him to Washing-
ton and induct him into the mystei'ies of his new
vocation. Touvther thev set out, March ^oth, and
arrived at the Capital, A})ril 7, 18(>l>. In the course
of this journev Swift met manv distinii'uished men :
(reneral Cobb, foi-merly Aid-de-Cam]» to Washington,
at Trenton ; Colonel David Humphreys, ex-Minister
to Spain, at New Lon(h)n ; lion. I*ierre])ont Edwards,
at New Haven ; Coh)nel Marin us Willet, of tlie
Revolution, at New V(»rk ; Colonel William Duan**,
at Piiiladel))hia ; (xeneral Samuel Smith and Mrs.
Jerome Honai)arte, at Haltimore, and many others of
less note at vai'ious j)oints. \\'ith pei'sons of this
stani]) he was upon a familiar footing, and by such
intercourse became ac<piainted with the [)ast deficien-
cies and futui'e wants of the countrv. On the dav
16U
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1813.
!'
the Secretary took cliaro^e of tlie War T)e[)artiiieiit,
lie, Sw^ift, and niaiiy other [)ersoiian'es diiieil with
Pi'esideiit Madison, whom lie found "a very instriie-
tive person in conversation and foiul of story-telling,
l»articiilarly reminiscences of the progress of the
(Tovernnient after the peace of 178;}, and es[)ecially
of scenes in the Convention to form the Constitu-
tion of 1 787." xVfter Swift's return to the east,
though much occupied with his duties, he found
time to cultivate the ac(|uaintance of prominent
men, which had a large iiiHuence in giving him that
hreadth of thought and those liberal views which
made him a leading man in after years.
Swift, during his residence in Xorth C^u'olina in
1804-7, had so endeared himself to the Southern
]>eo]^le, and commanded such an intluence in the
State, that he was again ordered to his old station
at the iiKMith of the Ca])e Fear Kiver, for which he
embarked fi'om Boston on the last of Octobei', 18()i».
The ap])roi)riations for foi'tifications in 1810
being small. Swift's o]>erations were confined to
re])airs of defenses and building of barracks. Con-
gress then, as now, thought more of making pai'ty
ca]iital than ])roviding for the coimnon defense of
the nation, seriously threatened with war by both
England and France.
On the 2(»th of July, bslJ, Swift was detailed
as a member of the Court Martial for the trial of
(Teneral Wilkinson, (iieneral-in-Chief of the Army,
which convened at Fivderick, i\bl., Sept. 1, l.sll.
(teneral Wilkinson, says Swift, "came into court
with his counsel, Roger B. Paney (subsetpiently
no
la
S(»
aci
di>j
tha
<.f
tlie
Cn
seir
opii
HKIG.-GENERAL JOSEl'Jl G. SWIFI.
161
Chief-Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court), and w itli
ek)(|ueut address said to (ieiieral Gansevooi-t — ' Mr,
President, this sword/ unclasping it from his side,
' has been tlie untaiiiished companion of my thigh
for fort\' years, witli a resohition never to surrendei'
it dislionoral)lv to an eneniv. I am now by the
order of tlie iioyernment of my country ordered to
place it in your hands,' and stepping forward, handed
the sword to (reneral Ganseyoort, who, with much
simplicity and dignity, and uncommon brevity, re-
])lied : ' General, I receive your sword — these ofticers
are jissembled to try you, and will doubtless do you
justice. xVre you ready. General T 'I am/ said
Wilkinson. 'Mr. Advocate (General AValter Jones
of \'irginia), ])lease to ju'oceed with the trial.'"
The Court, after a session of four months, ad-
journed Dec. '2-1, ISII, having accpiitte*! General
Wilkinson of all the charges against him. On tlie
•i()th of Dec, says Swift, '' I j)aid my respects to tlie
Stvretary of War at Washington, and found myself
not as graciously received as was the w<»nt of that
gentleman who had favored me with his intimacy.
I also found in this place of large gossip, esj)ecially
so in the time of the session of Congress, that the
accjuittal of (leneral W ilkinson was receive<l with
disappointment by the Kxecutive, and it was rumore<l
that some charges had been made by an underling
of the War Department (Mr. Simmons) adverse to
the impartiality of some of the elder othcers on the
Court: but that President Madison would n()t con-
sent to any such mode of iminigning the rights of
opinion, and that the charges were sup])ivsse<l."
^
sr
162
EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF 1613.
The imniiiieiice of ^v^^l• at last roused the lethar-
ij:;ic Seeretarv of Wai-, ^vho directed Swift in March,
1812, to iiial:e a careful ins])ectiou of tlie condition
of our seacoast defenses in (xeoru^ia, South and
North Carolina, Viricinia and Maryland. Having
completed this duty and nuide his re[)oi't in j)erson
at Washing'ton, the President, a|)})reciating his ability
and energy, offered him, May 28, 1812, the com-
mand of a regiment, but Swift, jn-ef erring to do
duty in his own Cor[)s, was ordered to return and
report to Major-General Thomas Pinckney as Chief
Engineer of the '' Southei'ii Department," which
y)osition, as well as that of Aid-de-Camp, he held
till Sept. 28, 1812— in the meantime, July 6, 1812,
having been promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of
Engineers.
Inunediatelv upon beinu: officially notified of the
resignation of Colonel Williams as Cliief Engineer,
Swift, as next in i'aid<, assumed command of his
Corps, ])ut he did not reach Washington till Oct. 21,
1812. Tlis nominati(Mi was now before the Senate
to fill the vacant Chief Engineership, but, nuich to
his surprise, he learned " that Secretary Eustis was
ju'ivy to a plan to supercede him in that office, by
appointing, under the ])rovisions of the law to pro-
mote Vi'diout regai'd to raid-:; and that Kobei't Ful-
ton, tlie distinguished Civil Engineei', was the
candidate that he j)referred. This saciifice of the
continued intimacy ])etween Eustis and myself may
have ])een just in estimatinic the relative ability of
Mr. Fulton and myself, but it met no suj)port from
the President." Swift was unanimously contirmed
ii
BRIG.-GKNEKAL JOSEPH G. SWIFT.
163
Dec. 4, 1812, with strong expressions of connnenda-
tion MS Colonel and Chief Enirineer, to rank as snch
from July 31, 1812, the date of the acceptance of
tlie resignation of Colonel Williams.
Pending his confirmation. Swift was ordered
back to su[)erintend the defenses of North Carolina;
hut before leaA'ing AVashington he sent orders to
Cai)tain Partridge, the senior engineer officer at
West Point, to open the Military Academy (then
|)ractically defunct) in the coming spring.
Swift, when becoming Chief Engineer of the
Army, and e.v-ojficio Superintendent of the United
States Military Academy, was but thirty years of
age. Young as he was lie liad much preparation for
his responsible j)osition, for in Revolutionary times
men have to think fast and act promptly, compressing
years into days. lie was born just at tlie close of
the War of Independence; his childhood had passed
amid the excitements incident to tlie f(»rmation of
the u'overnmeut and its institutions : his l)ovish imaif-
ination was inflamed by the stirring events of the
French Revolution ; and his early manhood had l)een
occupied with active duties, in a large intercourse
with public men much his seniors, and in pre]iaring
for our second strugijfle with one of the giants of the
earth. How he acipiitted himself of tlie important
trust now c(^nfided to him the secpiel will show.
After placing the woi'ks on the Cape Fear Rivei-
in good order and organizing a [)lan of defense, by
militia and gunboats, for the entire Coast of Nortli
Carolina, Swift returned to Washington, March 2,
1813, to take upon himself the duties of his new
164
EASTERN CAMPAKiNH OF 1813.
office. With (xeneral Anustroiii;', now Secretai*}' of
War, lie consulted on military matters generally, ami
particularly upon the application of the large ap[)ro-
priations for fortifications. These arranged, he ])ro-
ceeded to New York harl)oi', where, on the Oth of
April, he re]>orted himself for duty to (xeneral
George Izard, the commandant of the I)e})artment,
from whom he received, as s[)ecially ordered ])y the
President, the command of Stateii Island, including
a brigade of infantry (82d and 41st regiments), in
addition to his duties as Chief Engineer and kSu[)er-
inteiident of the United States Military Academy.
In the latter capacity he made fi'e([uent \isits to
West Point ; arranged plans for new l)uildings (Mess
Hall, Academy, and South I^arracks), tracing their
fouiidati(ms on the ground in June ; obtained author-
ity to em[)loy an acting Chaplain to be Professor of
Ethics, History and Geography; remodeled the func-
tions of the Academic Staff ; and assumed the
Inspectorship of the institution, to bar the assuni])-
tion of authority claimed by ( -aptain Partridge as
local commander.
Having com])leted the re})airs of the New York
forts, and l)iiilt a svsteni of block-houses alonii: the
shores of the harbor to prevent a sur[)rise from the
Bi'itish Heet, then anchored off Sandy Hook, Swift
refpiested oi'ders for the field.
On the 9th of August he was assigned as Chief
Engineer of the Northern Army undei- Genei'al
Wilkinson, and on the .'Ust reported to that officei'
at Sackett's Harlioi'. Here lie found everything in
a most disgi'aceful and deplorable condition ; no
BKI<i.-(;Kj\ERAL JOSEIMI G. SWIFT.
Ifto
[)laii of cainitaiiuni studied or detiiiitely fixed; the
enemy's positions unknown, and tlie St. Lawrence
nnexi)lored ; su[)[)lies deficient tlirouii;]! neglect or
incompetency of the War Department; expense of
trans])oitation enoi-mous, tliat of a single fieUl-piece
costing over a thousand dollars*; our troo])S mostly
recruits, and sic-k froiii eating contract provisions;
the army si)lit into factions, with no one to liarmon-
ize discord; and authority a triple-headed Cerberus
— Armstrong, Wilkinson and Hampton — barking
and biting at each othei' with a venom disre])utable
to tlieir [)rofession and destructive of all success to
our arms.
After holding various councils of war, whicli
consumed j)recious moments of the fast Avanii-.g sea-
son for active operations, it was finally I'esolved to
i-endezvous jdl the troops in the vicinity of Sackett's
Harbor; in co-operation with Chauncey's s(|uadron
make a bold feint on Kingston ; then rapidly slij)
down the St. Lawrence; and in conceit with Ilani])-
ton's division, moving north from Lake Cham])lain,
capture Montreal. Swift thought that in two days,
with a thousand men, Kingston could be sui'prised
and the public stores burned, hut was o))pose(l to
its attack should it delay the army's descent of tlie
river. Up to the lilth he lieard no more of an assault
on Kingston, and as he had completed his reconnois-
sauce of the head of the St. Lawrence, he proceeded
• The sum exptMuled in Ijuildinj:; vessels for Lake Ontario was |1.8f)!t,077 ;
that expenih'il on Lake Erie $10().(iO:i; and that spent on Lake Champhiin
|2!)(i,a2l): ainiosl | :. 500,000 for mere siiip-buildinf?. The expenditures for
Mie coiK|uest of the lower lakes would have paid for the transportation of
a large army from New England to Halifax.
16fi
EASTERN OAMPAirrNS OF 1813.
to examine tlie vicinity of Prescott and to ])repare a
plan of attaL'k on that post, wliicli was completed
bv the ;nst.
After criminal delays and various misliaps, Wil-
kinson, with all the pomp and circumstance of glo-
rious war, embarked, November ()tli, from French
Creek for tlie descent of tlie St. Lawrence, the
flotilla of the foe ra[)idly pursuinsi;. The next day
our armv landed to march throui^-h Ou'densburu',
while Swift at uii^-ht conducted Wilkinson's boat
and the bau'ij-aue past Prescott, under a lieavv but
ineffectual fire of the batteries. Though this ])eril
was ended, new danger thickened. Before them
were fearful rapids, the enemy's gunboats hung upon
their rear, and British troops harassed them on
every side and at every turn. So pressed was Wil-
kinson that, on the morning of the 11th, he sent
Swift, who was his Aid-de-Cam[> as well as Chief
Engineer, with an order t(^ (xeneral Boyd to land,
drive back the enemy, and ca[)ture his artillery.
The bold Boyd, who had had a peculiar military
career in India and had been distinguished for gal-
lantry in the Battle of Ti[)pecanoe, prom])tly obeyed.
The British troo])s were well ]X)sted on Chrysler's
Field, being drawn up in «''chelon order [»erpendicu-
lai* to the St, Lawi'ence, the line resting its right on
the river, the left u[)on a dense black-ash swamjt,
and covered by skii'inishers and several rugged
ravines, while seven or eight gunboats swept with
their tires the whole plain in front. It w.as obvious
that our main attack must be made upon the enemy's
left flank. Accordingly, General Swartwout was
m
RT^in.-OEXERAL JOSEPTT O. SWIFT.
lr>7
detached, with the fourth hriL-ade, to dislodc^e the
eneniv's liLflit troops in tlie ()])eii field; while Gen-
eral Covinu'ton, with the thir<l l)ri.ii:ade, was ordered
t<» ])e witliiii sii]»j)ortini2: distance. Swartwout, dasli-
ini:: ,<i;allantly tlirouuch a second-.^-rowth wood, was
followed by Colonel Kii>leyV 21st Infantry, which
soon drove tlie British liu'ht troo])s back uj)on their
main line. Here the victorious leader was joined,
on his left, by General Covington, when the com-
bined forces beat l}ack the enemy more tlum a mile.
Durinii; tliis time the detachment of the first brigade,
under Colonel Coles, delayed by dee[) mud of plowed
ground and greater distance frcnn the scene of
strife, rapidly came into action against the enemy's
left ajnid show«'rs of sehi-apnel-shells and bullets.
The H<>-ht now became more stationary until the
I
TlV
168
EASTKTIIV CAMI'AION'S OF 1813.
hi'iirade fii'Ht eiiij^UL^ied, liuviui; «'\li;uiste(l its jiiiiimi-
iiitioii, was directed to fall back to a more def<'iisil)lc
|)ositi<ni to wait for a re-supply. Tliis retroij^radc
iiioveineiit so disconnected tlie line, tliut tlie first
l»rii2:ade also retired. Unfortunately the artillery,
from the broken character of the ground nnd conse-
([uent circuitous route it had to take, did not reach
the scene of action till the infantry had fullen back;
but now, placed in good position In' (V)lonel Swift,
the fire of our guns was steady and destructive.
The enemy, (piickly discovering our disorder and
slackened fire, ])ushed vigorously forward and en-
deavored by a fiank movement to ca])ture our cannon,
when Adjutaiit-dreiieral Walbach, n (xerman veteran
in our army who liad seen riuch foreign sci'vice,
gave the order "to charge mit de Di'agoons" and
thus saved the |)ieces. The effort was renewed, and
when, finallv, the batterv was ordered to retire, hav-
ing to ])ass a deep ravine, one ])iece was unfortu-
nately lost. Its gallant commander. Lieutenant Wil-
liam W. Smith, one of the early graduates of the
Military Academy, was serving it with his own
hai;ds, most of his gunners being killed, when he
too was mortally wounded and taken prisoner.
The whole of our line was now re-formed on tlie
margin of the woods, when, night and storm coming
on, Boyd retired, in good order and without moles-
tation from the enemy, to the vicinity of our flotilla.
In this spirited action (xeneral C(n'ington was mortally
wounded, and one-fifth of our force put liors de romhai^
and, though our troo])s were safely re-embarked, oui'
dead were left on the field in possession of the British.
IJUKJ.-OENERAL -lOSKlMl (J. SWIIT.
169
In li'iH (les^patcli to the War Department Wilkin-
son says: " Colonel Swift took the boldest and most
active part in the action of the 11th, of any indi-
vidual enjj^aged, except Adjutant-Cienei'al Walbach."
The next day a letter was received from IIam])toii,
declininii; a junction of his army at St. Regis, which
ended the St. Lawrence campaign — Wilkinson on the
14th, going into winter (piarters at French Mills, on
the Salmon River, he having spent more days than
it now takes liours in the descent of the rivei*.
The genius of mismanagement seemed to lead
our armies in every attempt to concpUM* (\anada, for
Wilkinson's campaign was, in execution, as abortive
and discreditable as Hull's, and in design only paral-
leled by Andierst's absurd flank movement, in 1760,
of four hundred miles to reach Montreal by way of
Oswego and the St. Lawrence, wdien from the foot of
Lake Champlain he was within an eighth of the dis-
tance, and on the true strategic line to reach liis
objective point.
Leaving Brevet Major Totten as Chief Engineer
of the Northern Army, Swift, on the ITtli of Nov.,
departed from Salmon River witli confidential des-
patches from the General-in-Chief to Hampton and
the War De[)artnient. After conferring with the
former, he wrote to Wilkinson the exact condition of
things, and gave him some admirable advice upon
the manner of conducting a winter or spring cam-
paign against Montreal, suggesting that the Sorel
was the true strategic line of o])eration, as followed,
in 1775, by Montgomery. On his way to Washing-
ton he met at Albany the Secretary of War, and
17(»
KASTKKN' CAMI'AKi.NS (»!■ IMi;!.
aocoiiij»;nu('(l liim to the (•a|)it,'il, wliciv lie fivcly u^jivc
his views oii the coiKliict of tlic \\;ii* hoth (o the
Secretary and tlie Picsiih'iit, whidi prohaMy irri-
tated tile toniier mihI lost to Swift the just reward
for his ijallaiitrv at C'lii'vsler''s Field. Instend of
Noveiid)ei- 11, lSl;5, the (hite of the hattle, he was
not, till Fel). 1*.», 1 <Sl 4, bre vetted a Hriuadier-Cieiieral,
and then only for "meritorious services." Arm-
stron^-'s dislike to \\'ilkinsou, the frien<l of Swift,
may also have Iiad its inllucnce, to say notliini^ of
his unwilliniji;ness to become i'esj)onsil)le in any way
for the shortcoiuinii's of the St. Lawrence campaign.
This Canipaii;-n of isl.S, as befoi'e stated, was in
principle the same as that which had so sio-nally
failed in 1812. The chief defects we will now point
out, but will not considei' many minor faults.
Points of Aitack. — The Invasion of Canada was
nndertaken at three points, on a thousand miles of
frontier extending from Lake ^Michigan to Lake
Champlain, by columns too distant for any mutual
suj)[)ort. That of the L(d't, aftei' long and costly
ti'ial, did recover ^Michigan Territoiy, but ^vhh useless
as an attack on (Canada in which it made no ])erma-
nent lodgement ; that of the (Ventre struck at sev-
eral unimpc^rtant i)oints, wasted a whole season in
useless ex})eriments, and accomj)lished nothing for
the invasion of Canada; and that of the Right not
only made a ridiculous promenade, but actually dis-
graced our arms.
Time ov Aitack. — As in LSI 2, there were no
synchronous movements of our columns invadina:
Canada. The Left entered the enemA^'s territorv
e
Si
t'u
1>I
ni!ni,-(ii:xKitAL joskimt a. swiit.
171
U t
ho
iu\'ir ^[Jll(^'ll, S»'|)t(Mn])ei' *2!)tli ; the CVntre cajiturtMl
Vork Ai)ril 27rli, mid Fort Cleorife May I'Ttli, jind
linally iM'uaii the (lese<Mit of tlie St. Lawrence
Noveiuher ."itli ; aiul the Ivlnlit eroj^sed tlie ])order
Se[)teiiil)er 2(ttli, and a moiitli after, Octol)er 21st,
moved forward to its tield of t^loi'V at Chateaiiijav.
Tliis want of concert of action [XMinitted the enemy,
of which lie avaih'd liiniself in some instances, to
concentrate his forces upon our isolated columns.
FoiicK FOR Attack. — Though our forces were
(generally superior to those of the enemy at tlie
points attacked, there is no doul)t that, had HaiTison
heen left to recover Michisj^an Territorv and small
<j!;arrisons been ])laced to guard exposed points of our
frontier, we might have massed our remaining troops
at the outlet of Lake Champlain and, under a com-
petent general, have marched to Montreal in May
when the season was the most favorable, and thus
have saved the disgi'ace of our movements six months
later in stormv November.
AiiMY Commanders. — The ex])ei'ience of the for-
mer campaign had not iin])ressed upon the War
De]\artment the importance of vigorous and able
leaders to our forces who were still the Dearborns,
ILarrisous, ^^'ilkinsons, Hamptons, Chandlers, Wind-
ers, etc., while we had in our armies a Brown, Pike,
Swift, Scott, Miller, McRee, Totten, Wood, etc., in
positions where they could accomplish but little.
Conduct of the Campaign. — DefecHve as was
its plan, had it been conducted with spirit, resolu-
tion and prom[)titude, much might have l)eeii accom-
plished. Had the instructions of the War Depart-
1
72
EASTERN CAMI'AKiNS OF 1813.
merit been eairied out by General Dearborn early in
April of strikiiii^ first at Kingston wlieii its garrison
was weak and the Britisli Heet fast moored there
in ice, the place could easily have been captured ;
the fleet burned ; the military and naval stores
destroyed or removed ; an end have been put to
Indian hostilities in die West ; Upper Canada been
severed from the Lower Province ; and Montreal
soon after have fallen into our possession. Instead,
however, of accomplishing all this, our forces were
removed to the head of Lake Ontario as soon as the
navigation (>])ened, therel)y ex])()sing our principal
depot of supplies and ship-yard at Sackett's Harbor
to a capture by the eiiemy's army and navy, from
which, as by a miracle, it liarely escaped.
The attack on York had no military importance
as proved by our swift al)andonment of it as soon
as captured; and, though brilliantk' carried, the
results were a heavy loss of troops including their
gallant leader, the escape of the British garrison and
its commanding general, and the possession of some
stores which were removed to Sackett's lIar])or,
and s\d)se(piently burned there through mistake of
the naval officer in charge.
After a month more of uni)ardonable delays
Fort (xeorge Avas captured, but, as at York, its gar-
rison and commanding general were allowed to
escape. Had Colonel Winfleld Scott not l)een or-
dered to desist from his hot [)ursuit, he could easily
have captuicd the British forces. This error.eons
order .mabled Vincent and Sheaffe sid)sequently to
shake hands in the mountain passes, retain the Niag-
th
Fa
sa
iiio
ii|)(
Ilea
f ( )( )
aiK
foe,
at a
eiiti
aiKJ
HIJKi.-GKNEKAL .lOSKPII O. SWII-T.
i7;i
' ''11!!
'"■
jini Peninsula, and save an ai'niy wliich inflicted
upon us another year of humiliation and disaster.
Four niontlis of the most criminal niismanao:ement
foHowed, wlien we finally withdrew from tlie Penin-
suha for whose con([uest we had Avasted more tlian a
wliole summer, lost many ])reci(ms lives, incurred
very heavy expenses, and tai'uished the re[)utation
of our arms. We retained notliing except Fort
(reorge, which soon after fell into the hands of the
enemy, who now being unopposed desohited our
whole border from Erie to Ontari(^.
Tlie failure, however, of the campaign on the
Ontario frontier after tlie loss of so much time, men,
money and reputation did not yet open the eyes of
the government to the secret of our recurring disas-
ters — the employment of effete conunanders. It
still persisted in its blindness in retaining, for the
direction of the autumn expedition to Montreal, two
Old veterans who had seen much service and had
thereby become as learned in strategy as I'rince
Eugene's jackass after making twenty cani])aigiis.
Wilkinson and nann)ton, instead of securing a
safe iunction within our own territory and then
moving with their united forces by the shortest line
ui)on Montreal, decided to dei>art, one from the
head of the St, La^yrence and the other from the
foot of Lake Champlain, each making a diflicult
and dangerous flank march in })reseiice of oui' active
foe, in the hope of uniting within the enemy's territory
at a point and time not specified, thereby giving the
♦'iitire British army the opportunity of falling up(m
and ci'usliiim-, in succession, both of our isolated col-
174
KASTKIIN CAMI'AKiXS (»F lsi:5.
f?:?!:
umns before L!;('ttiii!ji: witlilii i'c.mcIi of iiiutiial sup-
port. Tlic success of eitlicr colinuu uiust li;t\«' hceu
iuii:;.'itorv, witliout tlie same i;'o(mI foiiuue atlcndiuu'
tlieni l)otli.
I'lius iuii'loriouslx' eiidefl ilie second \-eai- of the
war. 111 wliicli our ai'iuies
had I
»e(^ii uuenii)
h>\('d
ol'
iniseiin>loyed ah)Uu: an extensive fVontlei- at urcat
loss of labor and chaiacter, thus exliaustinu' tlie
nation's patience, when h'ss force and treasure, well
directed, would have con(piered (^anacha.
We forbear furtliei- ei'iticisni on tliis campaiun,
for we have much to say of (ieneral Swift, whose
l)iou'raphy is tlie subject of tliis cliaptei'.
Karly in the spriiiii; of 1814, and in accoinhmce
with the wislies of (xeneral Hi'own, he aj>|)lied foi*
rders to take the field as Chief Knuineei- on liie
Niagara frontier ; but tlie Secretai'y of War refused
his application, on the ground that the ( *oast De-
fenses, which he then was insjH'ctinu", I'eipiired his
attention; but ])ossibly a secret grudgt' against the
friend of Wilkinson mii^ht haxc had somethinu' to
o
do wi
thl
lis I'(
fusal.
Swift, early in flune, in conjunction with the
Committee of Safety of the citv of New York,
ft- I'
made a reconnoissanceof the appi'oaches to its harbor,
and decided iij)on the necessity for lines of works t<»
covei' New York and lirooklyn from any descent
upon our shores from the Hritish scpiadron then
cruising off the coast. 'I4ie Manhattan line was
begun July 15, 1<S14, at llallett's J*oint (since so
famous from (lenei-al Newton's great blasting opera-
tions
) by th
le construction ofc a work, jormimj: the
''>\
''■■' im:
ii
170
eastp:kn campaigns of isis.
riglit of tlie line, named Fort Stevens, after the Kev-
olutionaiy patriot — General Stevens — a prominent
ofHcer of artillery at Saratoga in 1777. Two days
later, gronnd ^vas broken on the left at Mount Alto
on the Hudson, the line passing thence, by McGowan's
pass and the elevated ground that overlooks Harlem
Flats, to Hell Gate. The trenches were opened by a
detachment of citizen volunteers from the city,
under Major Vau Horn, a Kevolutionary worthy.
This short inner line was adopted because uien and
money were not at command to build a longer outei'
line. Operations were connnenced, August (>, 1814,
on the Long Island line, at Fort Greene (now within
Brooklyn city limits), by a detachment of a thousand
citizens. Soon there were from 1,200 to 2,000 work-
ing regularly upon the two lines, and 20,800 at call
habitually under arms and sufficiently drilled to man
the works, though not more than 12,000 of them
were encamped within the intrenchments. Swift
was appointed Inspector General of the whole force,
and was virtually in command, he having to suj^er-
vise everything, not only the construction of the
defenses and their armament, but the providing of
commissary and medical supplies. In a few weeks
nuich was accomplished, gentlemen Avith pick and
shovel working as day-laborers in the trenches.
The enthusiasm of ])t)tli youth and as^e was con-
stantl}^ stinudated by elo(pient speeches, [)atriotic
songs, thrilling stories, valorous deeds of our navy,
heroic feats of the Niagara army, and last, not least,
the news of the vandal destruction of the Cai)itol.
By the close of Novend^er New York and Brooklyn
(\
niUO.-fJENKHAL JOSEPH (i. swiri'.
177
Avere safe, and tlie well-maimed lines, Ijristling with
artillery, bade defiance to the foe.
Swift's services were so hiiihly esteemed that the
corporation of New York voted that he was a " Ben-
efactor to the City," placed his porti'ait by Jarvis in
the City Hall, presented j\[rs. Swift with a magnifi-
cent service of plate of foiiy-three pieces, and him-
self with a Leautifnl case of silver drawing-instin-
ments and a large pleasnre l)arge.
No sooner had Swift completed the defensive
lines to cover New York and Brooklyn, than his
talents and experience were called into re(piisiti()n
upon the board to form a new system of Infantry
Tactics ; soon after, upon the commission to reduce
the army to a Peace Establishment; and later, with
Colonel George Bomford, to decide upon the rebuild-
ing of the Ca])itol at A\'ashington, destroyed by the
barbarious conflaijration ordered by Admiral Cock-
burn of the British Navy.
The War with England being terminated by the
Treaty of Ghent, Swift, in his new headcpiarters at
Washington, devoted himself afresh to his duties of
Chief Engineer, nearly a million of dollars having
been aj^propriated for fortifications. He Avas also a
meml)er of the joint Army and Navy Board to select
a northern site for a defensible naval depot between
Ne\v York and Casco Bay.
Early in 181(), a disturbing element came sadly
to mar Swift's future careei-. Notwithstanding the
experience in our service of intriguing Conways
and other imported chai'latans of the Bevolution,
Congi'ess, infatuated witli an exalted idea of the
w^m^
17.S
EASTERN" rAMI'AHiNS OF 1813.
superiority of l'or('i<j:ii military talent, autlioi'ized,
April iMItli, the President to «Miij)loy a skillful i\ssis-
tant, to lie attached to the (\»i'|>s of Kiio-iiieers, with
the ])ay of its Chief, Upon the reeoniniendation of
A11)ert Gallatin and the Mar(|uis Lafayette, the selec-
tion fell upon BriL^adier-(ieneral Simon Bernard of
the French Army, a ilistinuniished enn'ineei- undei'
Napoleon, particularly as the constructer of the
great forti'ess of Antwer]), where he so won the con-
fidence of his sovereio-n that he annuallv called hiin
to preside over the " Conseil su[)erieur du Genie "
wliich projected the entire defenses of the Empire ;
took him as Aide-de-Canip to Saxony in 1818; and
made him Director of his Toju^graphical Bureau in
the Waterloo campaign of LSI 5. Lpon Bernard's
arrival in the United States, the Secretary of War,
November IG, 181G, placed him at the head of tlie
Board of Engineers, at the same time General Swift
being oi'dered to assume the personal superintendency
of the ^Lilitarv Academv. >\'hatever miujlit have
been tlu^ merits of General Bernard, this cei'taiidy
was a cruel blow to a ])rou<l otHcei", who, for fourteen
years in peace and war, had been so zealous and
able in the ]>erformance of every duty entrusted to
his charge. Swift, of course, ])rotested against this
<>:ross insult to himself, and humiliatinu' dei-radation
of the Corps of Engineers, formed of native talent,
expressly to avoid recourse to foi*eign aid ; scientifi-
cally educated at our INLlitarv Academ\ established
for that special pur)K)se ; just crowned with vic^^o-
rious laurels won in the cam])aign of 1814; and
wliose pride and emulation had built up a body of
JUJIU.-CiKNKKAL .lOSKlMl (J. SWIIT.
1 7'.»
ortict'i's of wliicli ;uiy iintioii iiiiulit well he proiul.
He oiiIUmI to iiiiiid liow iiiiicli the i:'ov<'i'iiinent had
alreudv suffered from the futile essjivs au<l serious
])lundei's of iiiilitary adventurers and iui])oi'te(l cugi-
ueei's, and ai'gued witli great force Uj»on the iin))oli('y
of entrusting our defens«'s to any foreigner, wliat-
ever liis ability, whose interest was tliat of Ids own
country, not ours, and who, in the ('vcnt of war,
iui<i;lit become our most daiio'ei'ous (Mieniv. IIow-
ever, liaving a courteous regard for (ieneral Bernard,
and recognizing liis eminent services in Kui'ope,
Swift sugu'ested that his abilities and ac(piirements
could be most ju-otitably employed in teaching the
art of war at tlie Militaiy Aca<lemy. rnder tlie
law it was tliouglit this could not be done, hence lie
continued, until 18^)1, upon the Board of Engineers.
His talents and exj)erience were doubtless of con-
siderable vabie to our country; but it is questionable
whether his magniticent ideas (ff fortifications, re-
(piiring millions foi' their construction were suited
to the wants of this counti'y, scjjarated by a <lee])
wet moat (8,000 miles broad ) from any European
besieger. Certainly the (iidf works, Forts Caswell,
Hamilton and Monroe, designed by Bernai'd, are
less adapted to their sites than most of the (h fenses
pi'ojected by our (twn engineers.
Swift's duties in the field dui'ing the war with
(ireat l^ritain had much interfered with his direc-
tion of the jVIilitary Academy, but hai'dly had i>eace
been ])roclaimed l)efore lie gave his attention to an
extended organization of that institution. The first
want beinu' an efficient head, he recommended the
I
IHO
EASTERN CAMI'AKINS OF lftl3.
sending to Eiir<)[)e of two of our ablest engineer
otHcei's — M«'Re<' and Tlia\er — ostensibly to examine
the Freneli and Netlierland fortitications, an<l pur-
cliase l)ooks to form a library at West Point ; but,
tliougli not mentioned in tlieir instructions, it was
d()u])tless intended that by the study of tlie mili-
tary schools of northern Europe they were to tit
themselves to become, one or the other, the Super-
intendent of the Military Academy, there being
much dissatisfaction Avith the otticer in local com-
mand at West Point. The next want was funds to
cai'ry on the Academy, no ap])ropriation for that object
l)eing then available. PViling to secure a loan for
the purj)ose from the New York banks, Swift, with
the sanction of the War De[)artment, concluded an
arrangement Avith Jacob Barker, a rich Quaker mer-
chant, by which he was to advance $();'), 000 at seven
})er cent., thereby preventing the dislmndment of
the institution. Considering the condition of the
" Public Credit," this was a highly patriotic act on
Bai'ker's part. This difficulty arranged, tlie old one
recurred — an efficient head for the Academy at
West Point. Ca])tain Partridge, then in command,
was a good mathematical teacher and a mai'tinet
drill-master, but a poor administrator, and unfitte<l
from temperament and mannei' to conti'ol students
and professors. Both the President and Secretary
of AVar were nmcli displeased with the conduct of
affairs at West Point, and urged the removal of
Partridge from command ; but yielded to the solici-
tation of the Chief Engineer to delay action. Soon
after, it was s!ipposed the (Joi'dian knot ha<l ])een
W'{t
IJHKJ.-CJKNKIIAL .lOSKlMI (i. SWII'I'.
181
cut l)y tlie resolution of Con2:i'esH jiutlioriziui' tlie
(Miiploynieut of a skilful foivit;"n otticer, to l)e virtu-
ally at the liead of the Corps of Kui^ineei's, thoujjjh
ostensibly under the orders of its Chief. Ai.'tin<^ at
AVashington on that hypothesis, Swift was ordered
to West Point, the legal head* quarters of the Corps
of Engineers, with dii*eetious to assume the personal
su])erintendeney of the Military Aea<leniy. This he
did Novendjer 25, 181(), without making any fac-
tious opposition to wliat he felt was a gross ])ersonal
indignity, and an illegal attem[)t to de[)rive him of
his just rights as (/hief Englneei'. lie made a dig-
nified remonstrance against this procedure, detei'-
mining in his own mind to resign his commission
rather than submit to dishonor. For the seven
weeks of his enforced banishment at West Point he
went on in the even tenor of his way, atteriding
strictly to his duties, and in no manner attem])ted to
imj)e(le the public service; but, Jan. 18, 1817, he
left Captain Partridge again in local connnand of the
Military Academy, and proceeded to Washington to
lay his grievances before President Madison, whose
Acting Secretary of War — George (ii-aham — had
usurped SwiiVs functions in giving direct orders to
(xemeral Bernai'd, without any notice to the Chief
Engineer. This residted in Swift's resuming his
proj)er position in Washington at the head of tlu^
Cor])s of Fhigineers, and leaving (xeneral l^ei'uard
without any military control whatever, not even tlie
Presidency of the Board of Engineers, which Swift
had assumed Novend)er 19, ISK).
Mr. Monroe, with whom Swift had always had
IS -2
KASTKUX CAMI'AKi.VS ()F 18i:S.
the most cordial relations, Ix^caiius March 4, ISIT,
the I*r»*si(l('iit ot* tlie ljiiit«'(l States, and John C.
Calhoun his Secretary of War. 'I'he hittei- had un-
fortunately ini))il)ed tlie common idea of General
Bernard's ti'anseendent i^enius, and conse(|uently
often thwarted the views of Swift when in conflict
with those of the French en<;'inee)'. Thouo'h at
times o'l-eatly annoyed, Swift continued conscien-
tiously to ])erf()rm his duties, which were now niucli
with the l>oard of FnL;"ineers.
Upon the invitation of Presi(hMit Monroe, Swift,
as Chief of his military staif, accompanied him from
June 1 to July 17, ISIT, on his triumi»hal tour
through the Nortliern States. During this gala
campaign of seven weeks. Swift was not entirely
ahsoi'bed with fetes, processions and illuminations ;
but saw much of distinguished public men ; visited the
battle-fields c^f the Kevolution and AVar of 1812-15 ;
inspected arsenals, navy yards and fortifieatiims;
attended military reviews, and studied the ca])acity
of the counti'y for defense; and examined institu-
tions of learniui'", naiticularly tlie Military Academy,
in whicli the President was much interested.
On the occasion of this latter visit to AVest
I*oint, it was decided to su[)ersede Captain Partridge
])V Brevet ALijor Svlvanus Thaver, who beii:an his dis-
tinguished su])erintendency of the Academy July liS,
1817. The subse(pient return of Partridge to West
Point, his violation of orders in usurping command,
and his trial and sentence of dismissal ludong to the
history of the Militaiy Academy. Suffice it to say,
in this connection, tliat Swift's kind heart interposed
¥
in;i(!.-<ii:Ni:K \i, .iosimmi <;. swiri'.
^s'^
to save tlie t'utal full of his fornuT favorite, \\li(» was
at liis iii'u'eiit iv(jiiest allo\V('(l to I'csiLiii liis (•(Himiis-
sioii ill the (Joi'])s of Kiioiiiccrs. We I'eii'i'ol to a(hl
tliat Swift's noi)h^ eonsideratioii was soon alter re-
cruited with the basest iiiuratitiide. Partridu'e ae-
tually |)referred eharu'es of inaladiiiiiiisti'atioii au'ainst
liis benefactor, who had saved him from tlie evei'-
lastiiii;- disu^race of beini;' "Cashiered,''' as was his
sentenee ; but tlie President and Secretai'v of \\ ai-
were so well satisfied that these aemsations were
malicious and false that all proceediny's in refei'-
erence to them wei-e instantly denied, while Swift's
accounts were promptly examined by the aiiditinu'
officers of the Treasury and pronounced to be just
and accurate.
The Presidential tour extended eastward to Port-
L'UkI, Maine, where Swift ]>arted from ]\Ii-. ]\b)nroe,
who ex})ressed i^reat satisfaction with the services
of the ('liief Eno;ineer. He then, with the Joint
Board of Army and Xavy otlicers, made examina-
tions, fi'oui the Penobscot to the Thames, of all suit-
al)le sites for naval depots. Soon after, he accom-
])anied the Board of Kn<i;ineers to the Chesapeake
and its tributaries, to select sites foi- fortifications,
and, with the otHcers of the navy, to locate a navy
yard near Norfolk, Va. The winter |)uttinii: u ^top
to further ex])loratious, Swift axailed himself of the
op])ortuiiity to revisit Noi'th ('arolina, where he was
received with open arms and was much feted by old
friends.
On the 1st of A])ril, isbs, he was again at
AVashington, and on the 20th of May resumed his
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184
EASTKRPf CAMPAIONS OF 1813.
labors witli the Board of Engineers on tlie Chesa-
])eake. Being joined by the President and tlie
Secretaries of War and Navy, they togetlier visited
Ilainpton Roads and adjacent waters; examined the
scene of Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown ; and
])artook of the. usual junketings incident upon a
Presidential tour. After further examinations of the
northern tributaries of the Chesapeake, Swift pro-
ceeded to AVashington, and from thence in September
made his last inspection of the Militaiy Academy,
he beinir already enijaijed with (Touverneur Kemble
and four others in establishing a foundry at Cold
Spring on the Hudson. For more than two years
he had contemplated entering civil life, and accord-
ingly tendered his resignation, Nov^ 12, 1818, of his
commission of Chief Engineer; but expressly reserved
all liis ri2:hts as a Brevet Briijadier-General in the
Army, to be called into service in the event of war.
Till his death, he maintained that his brevet rank
Avas liehl in, trusit by the President, to be restored on
the occurrence of hostilities with a foreign foe.
Thus was a second Chief Engineer of the Army
forced out of service by the injustice of our govern-
ment. From the moment Cfeneral Bernard was in-
vited to be the head projector of the defenses of our
coasts, the iron entered into the soul of the high-
spirited Swift, who keenly appreciated the humili-
ation <>f his position, and, after wrestling over two
years with his pride, at last felt compelled to sacri-
fice all his life-lonjj: anticipations of a soldier's (jjlorious
O I. O
career. Soon after, the "hivah-ous Mcllee, who had
won two brevets and the admiration of the whole
1{UI(j.-(ji:n'kkai. .foskimi a. swift.
185
,'inny in the c';mii)aiu'ii of 1814, inortififd tliat ]iis
talents and services were deemed iiifericn' t<) those of
a foreign engineer, also resigned liis eonimission.
Major Totten, subsecjuently acknowledged to liave
had few rivals in his ])rofession, would havef(>llowed
suite had he possessed the means of living in civil
life. Other officers of engineers were ready to do
likewise, foi- their esprit <le corps was gone. Was
it then generous in our government so cruelly to
wound the self-resj)ect of these able and <listinguished
native engineei's, either of whom, in character an<l
talents, was the proud peer of the iniporte<l foreigner,
as their past and succeeding reciu'ds amply testitiedi
Resides, was it go(Ml j)olicy to take fr«»m the Bourbon
armv one permittecl by his sovereiirn to enter our
service, not from love to us, but rather that he might
l)lan defenses against England, then deemed the
common foe of both America and France; an<l was it
statesmanship to introduce a Grecian horse within
our Ti'ojan walls, ])erha[)s in time to be turned against
us^ It is a well-known historical fact that this same
Assistant Engineer carried abroad the secrets of our
coast defense, and became, in 18.*U, after the fall of
the Bourbons, the Aide-de-Cam[) of King Louis
Phillipe, and five years later his Minister of War.
Can any one doubt, had we unfortunately, at this
time, been engaged in hostilities with France, what
would have been the course (»f action of lier diief of
the I)e])aitment of War {
Bernard was doubtless an officer of much scientific
ability, high military attainments, varied professional
experience, and having been a favorit*^ engineer ol:*
m
I'li
1S()
KASTKIJN « AMI'AKiNs oK isl:{.
Lis
the ufreatest soldier of the sige, ii^ave imu-Ii wciniit to
the (U^liberatioiis of tlie l^oanl of KiiiLiineei's, and
matei'ially aidiul in the ('stal)lisliinent of oui" national
policy of coast (U'fense, ])y j)ennan<*nt foititications.
lit
e was also pi'oniinent in inauuiiratin!;: sudi wor
as the Delawaie Breakwater, Chesajieake and Ohio
(^anal, and othei' of our important intei-nal improve-
ments. Rut, with all his acc<>mplishments as an
eiiirineer and iivntleman. Hernar«l, in tlie opinion of
Mclvee, the bright particulai- star of our \\'ar of
1812-15, was "colddiearted, n»»t a man of genius,
Imt s]»ecially suited for administrative duties."
Swift, the day after his re>iii-nation, accepted the
Surveyorship of the l*oit of Xew York, not fioni
cUoice
Init
as a means of livin<j,'
N
ecess
itv k
new
no law; ])ut how ualling it must liave been to his
proud spirit thus to ti-ansfei* his honored name from
the Ainiv Henister to the head of a Molasses C'ask.
However, he continued his connection with the Hoard
<>f Kngineers till near the end of Februai-y following.
As a civil engineer, he was soon after «'ngage(l on
various imjxn'tant projects, being, in l.sl«.>, consulted
upon the feasibility of banking and draining the
Newark Flats; in 1820, appointed by the Legislatuic
of New Jersey to su]»erintend the plan to o[>en the
Morris Canal im[»i()vement, in which he held a lai'ge
interest foi' many years; in 1h22, as one of three
Connuissioners to regulate the streets and diainage
of the eastern ])ai't of the City of X»*\\ York; the
same yeai* to ex])lore a j)racticable route for a canal
and inclined [tlanes ])etween Kaston, Pa., and
N
ewai
k, N. J.; and, in 1Sl>.~),
as a Commissioner
m{i(j.-({KNKi!.M. .losKi'ii <;. swirr.
ih;
to cxuiiiiiie' tin' Hnuix and C'rotoii Rivers, to test
tli^'ir (•aj)acity to suj)j)ly New York City with an
abundance (►!' pniv water.
Besides these various i»i-ofessionaI eniratrt^nients.
b"r>'
lie found time to make ehil)orate reports u[)on the
duties of liis office ; in 1820, to be President of tlie
Ilanihd and llay(bi, niero^ed, lH2'.i, into tlie Pliil-
liarmonic Society, of wliicli he was elected Vice-
President; in iHiT), besides belnji; a Director of the
Pulton Hank, to su[)erinten(l the manaijrt'ment of the
"National Advocate" news[)aper ; and, in 1X25-6,
to become an Aldeiinan of the City of Brooklyn.
Unfortunately his otiice <luties and numeious
outside avocations did n(>t so entirely absorb him as
to ju'event his venturinn' ujton the (piicksands
of Wall Street, where, with Henry Pckford, Mat-
thew L. Davis, and others, he ])ecame connected
with a Life and Trust Insurance (\)mi»any, of which
he was electe<l \'ice-President in IS^T). Ilavinjir
iin]>li<-it faith in the intei^rity of Kckfoi'd, who se-
cretly used the bonds of the ('om|tany for hia own
M
)eculations, what was Swift's astonishment, in Julv
182(5, upon i-eceivinijr a lettei' from the fam<ms ship
buihlei', announcinu that the Life aiui Trust Com-
|)any c(»ul<l not meet its oblii^ations, and the next
day to be served with a notice fVom the District
Attorney that the whole Company was indicted for
defraud th
tate.
tl
le oi
a consi)iracv to defraud
ti'ial the first (piestion was whether a company,
issuinjj^ l)onds, and failinn* to redeem tliem on de-
mand, could be deemed i^uiity of conspiracy or fraud,
uj»on which the jury <1isagreed, eiglit to four. Tlie
;^
188
KASTKKN CAMI'AKiNS OF lSi:t.
Court tlieii decided that tlic trial of Swift, Vice-
Pi'esident of the Coinj^any, should !«' scjuirjitc froui
tluit of the otliei'H. Tlie testiniouy iu Swift's ease
was l)rief and siui|)le, liis defense heiuu^ in tliese few
words of conscious innocence : " I know myself not
to have been guilty of any fi'aud or of any desio;n
to defraud, and if tliis jury can find me guilty on
tlie evidence, I shall silently submit as a juuiish-
ment for my credulity." Tlie jury in a few minutes
returned with a verdict of "• JVot gxiltif, hut iK'i'xe-
cntedy The latter addition the Judge''^' refused to
receive, when the verdict of ^^ 2\^of ffi/i/f//'" was alone
rendered; whcreu])on a cry of a))|)robation I'ang
through the crowded audience, and IVtei' A. Jay
the adverse counsel, with tears in his eyes, went up
to Swift, exclaiming: "This is a righteous verdict,
and I am thankful for youi' acquittal." Subseijueutly
the indictment came before the Su[)reme Court,
which pi'onounced the whole ])roceedings illegal.
I*ending these trials, Pivsident John (^)uincy
Adams assunvl Swift's fViends that, if he should be
acquitted, he would I'enominate him for the Survey-
orshi[), but when the time came, the [U'omise was not
fulfilled. Mr. Adams, pei'haj)s, remenil)ei'ed that
Swift had written a pamphlet advocating the elec-
tion of John C. Calhoun — his rival candidate for
President; besides, Swift, inadvertently, had failed,
when [)residing at a public dimu'i-, to propose the
health of the President — two unj)ai'donable offenses
* Judge Ogden FIdwards. March 20, I81'.», declared in tlio presence of
C. H. Hall and Henry Weston, that Ids conviction was that Swift's iionor
was not inipuj^ned by tlio testimony given at tiiat trial.
HUIO.-{iK.NKUAL JOSKI'II C5. SWII<T.
1SJ>
ill tlie eves (»f Mr. Adams, not ivpiited to liave iiiiicli
of tile (/liristiuii virtue of forui-iveness, us iiiav l)e
seen bv wlioever reads )ds "Diarv," in wliieli, of tlie
])roiidest iiaiiie of his own Massaeliusetts, lie says:
"Such is human nature in the gi^-aiitic intellect, the
envious teni[)er, the I'ancorous ambition, and the
rotten heart of Daniel Webster."
Giving up all his property in l^rooklyn and New
York (now worth millions), to li(piidate obligations
of the Life and Trust Coiiij)aiiy, Swift, at the be-
ginning of 1827, found himself without the means
to support his large family. In the great City
of New York, whose archives recorded him "its
Benefactor," he could tiiid no occupation, for his
misfortunes had the usual effect of depriving him of
influence as well as of property. Under these un-
toward circumstances he decided to move to a small
farm belonu:iii<ii: to his wife, in Haywood Countv in
Tennessee, where he bt'gaii cotton })laiitiiig, ami
built himself a log cabin, with only one room, which
had to serve for parlor, library, chamber, and dining
apartment. Finding the title to this plantation de-
fective, and his children suffering from the climate.
Swift, in November, returne<l to New ^'ork, and
the following year engaged in civil engineering,
taking charge of the Baltimore and Susquehanna
Railroad in Maryland.
()ntlie4tli of March, lS2t), he visited AVashington
to witness the inauguration of the new Bresident,
when he so connneiided himself to (leneral Jackson
that he was a[)pointed to superintend the Harbor Iiii-
[H'ovements on Lake Ontario, a position he held for
1:1
ill
' M
•Ifl
ItU)
KASTKUV ("AMI'Af<;NS ol' ISl.'l.
m
sixteen years, durinti; wliicli time Lis skill, /ejil, inteir-
ritv mikI wntclifuliiess fully jiistitied the President's
sjiij^neity and judunient in seleetini; liini to jterforni
these inipoi-tant duties, under the same depaitnient,
<>ver whieli, for yeais, he had so al)ly |)resi<U^d as
CMiief KuLrineei-.
With the authoi'ity of the Secretary of War,
while the Lake works were sus|)en<led, in the winter
of 1H29, Swift took e]iaru:e of the ('(»nstruetion of a
railroad from New Orleans to Lake Pontehartrain,
five miles Ion*;, throui^h u dense swamj) eonsidered
im])assal)le, and whieh coidd be neithei* drained nor
|)iled. This was one of the pioneer railroads of the
Soutli, and it is believed tlie fii'st in Anieriea U]>on
which iron edij^e-rails were use<l. Its cross-ties and
strinijers were of red ce(h*ir cut in the swamp, and it
was l)allasted with "fossil shells of tlie mounds,"
since so successfully a]>plied to form the famous
"Shell Koad " to the Lake. It was on this struct-
ure, befoi'e the iron rails were ])ut down, that the
Hon. Heiu'v Clay, the ujreat cham[)ion of intei-nal
imjtrovements, took his first railroad ride ui)on an
11
impi'ovised ]>latform car, ju-opelled by six men usini;;
iron-shod setting-poles.
Swift, in IS<V2, succeeded Benjamin Wright as
Chief Engineer of the New York and Harlem Rail-
road ; but, finding his admiiiistration of its concerns
interfered with by tin- Board of Directors, he re-
siirned the next yeai'.
Hobart College, at Geneva, N. Y., which was
now Swift's ])lace of residence, elected him Professoi*
of Engineeriuij and Statistics. Th(Miu:h he «leclined
'r>
IMMii.-CiKNKIJAF. .loSKIMI (i. SWIIT.
11)1
tliiM honor, he accepted the nieiiil)ershi|), tendered to
liini, of the Society <>t" Statistics, Paris, France. In
statistical and educational matters, lie took nuicli
interest. In lS;i.'5 he was requested hy Bishop W'ain-
wriuht and otliers to i)resent liis views of liow far
tlie West Point syst<'ni ()f discij)line and instruction
could l)e adai)ted to a University to ])e estal)lishe(l
in the CUty of New York ; in IN.'U lie ])i'oposed a
plan to (irovernor Marcy, for Normal Schools in each
Senatorial district of tlie State of New ^'ork ; and
it was throu^di his advice that tlie Hon. Townsend
Ilai'i'is secured the sei'vices (►f Professor Horace
\\ ebster as Su[>erintendent of the Free Academy
(now College of the City of New York).
In 18.'};") occurred the " (treat Fire "in and near
AN'all Street, New York, when, by request of the
Mayoi', Swift, at great pei'sonal risk, took charge of
the blowing U[) of buildings, to ai'rest the progress
of the Hames; thus saving millions of property
w ithout doing any damage to neighboring houses.
For a like service at (Quebec, two years later, a young
otticer of British Engineers was knighted.
Though the su])ervision of the lake harbors con-
tinued to occuju' much of Swift's time, he found
o|)portunities, during the suspension of these works
foi- want of ai»i)ropriations, to serve as projecting,
directing or consulting engineer of numerous pri-
vate, company, city, state and national im])rovements,
jM'ominent among which were the Hudson River
Railroad ; the Sodus Canal, to connect the Sus(pie-
hanna River with Lake Ontario ; the establishing of
the Watei- Front of Brooklvn City; and his pi-oiect
'
m
m%m
\\)'2
KASTKIIN « AMI'AICXS OJ' ISKl.
;'
for M Naval Depot at the ln-ad of the Harlem Hiver,
wliich should he ojten at all times, )x)th to tlie Souinl
and tlie Sandy Hook exits.
DuriiiL? this same jieriod he dei'liiied tlie (»t!'er of
Pi'esident Houston, in 1S;U, to become a meml)er of
liis Texas ( ahinet ; in 1<S4(>, he ret'nscd the DtMiio.
eratic nomination For Mayor of tlie City of New
York ; and 1841, during our northern border dis-
turl)ances, was sent by President Harrison on an
embassy of peace to tlie (lovernors of Canada, Xova
Scotia, and New liiunswick, <»f which lie ac(|uitted
himself to the ureat satisfaction of the ijovernment.
When his services on Lake Ontario terminated,
lie was ottered the iMiief Clerkship of the War De-
partment ; an<l, in 1<S4'.>, the j)osition »)f Commis-
sioner of I^atents was tendered to him. Owing to
the ex[)ense of living in Washington, he declined
l)oth places.
Swift alwaAs interested himself in the passinor
• I- O
events and movements of the day — hence we see him
in 1824, presiding over a meeting in behalf of the
o[)[)ressed (Ireeks; in IS.'}."), the \'ice-President of a
ConveiitiiHi to promote Internal Im[)ro\enients and
Domestic ^lanufactures ; and during the slavei'v
agitation of 1850, he pi'esided over a meeting to
sii[)port Clay''s Conii)romise Resolutions; yet, when
Southern aij^icression so stronu'lv manifested itself
ten years later, he threw the whole weight of his
influence against Secession.
As a (xraduate of the Militarv Academy, lie felt
that his services were always due to his country in
lier 1
lour ot i)eri
f
P
il— 1
lence, in
18.S-J, he ottered, with
intn;.-<ii:NKiJAr< .rosKPir a. swiiT.
103
acomnumd of 1,"J(M> youiii^ \<*\\ Voi'kcrs, to aid in tlw
su|tj)r(*ssi(>ii of South ('arolinji's thrcatciu'd nulliti-
catioii ; ill l.s.'W;, with a Itrinadc of Sea FtMu-iMcs,
was ivady to i;uard our harbors ai^aiiist tlie antic-
ipated hostilities of (ireat liritain ; in 184(5, was
anxious to take tlie tieUl in tlie Mexican War;
aiul, in 18('»1, tlioiiicli veri^iiiii" on four score years,
lie would, if permitted, have drawn Ids sword in
defense of the Inion.
ThoUixh alwavs readv for war a<;ainst liis coun-
try's foes, lie was also a Soldier of the (^ross, being
a stauncli sup[)orter of tlie i';;j)iscopal C'hurcli, in
wliich he held several lay otlices, and was prominent
as a delci^ate to several (xeiieral Conventions.
Swift, thouiih not what miuht l>e called a stu-
dent, was well read, and a careful ol)server; could
speak tiueiitly, l)ut laid no claims to oratory ; and
wrote tersely and with much force. Besides his
" Diary," .niving the prominent events of his life,
from boyhood till lie had reached over four score
«
vears, he wrote an account of President Monroe's
•
Northern Tour in l-SlT, and of liis own journey
to Euro})e ill 1851 ; pre[)ared several brief biogra-
[)liies of deceased friends ; and sometimes indulged
in essays and lectures on literary, military and scieii-
title subjects. His last recorded utterance \vas for
the safe delivery and future prosperity of his coun-.
tr> , just emerging from the horrors of four years of
civil war.
Swift, in 180."), married Louisa, the daughter of
(/a))taiii James Walker, of AVilmington, X. C,
with whom he passed over iifty years of wedded
104
KASTKKN CAMI'AKiNS OK lK|;i.
I)liss ill liis own clieerful mikI Imjn^' lioine,
encircled witli n lai'ire r.'iniilx of intclliu'ciit sons ainl
accomplished <1auLi;Uters. Smiounded u itli liis Pen-
ates Jit liis fireside, lie was the most charmini; and
interestini:; of conij)anions, for tluM-e, in conversation,
he Monred out the hoarded stores of lonij real's of
silent tlioiiijht, close observation and clear analyses
of strikinii; events, his memory Ix'ini; marvellous,
and he haviiiLf seen the staire of life with all its
shiftiiiuf scenes. Ilis winniiiin' ways, courtly ])olite-
ness and lively sympathies always insured him a
cordial i^reetiiii"" and a warm lodLiement in the hearts
of the yomiii;, for whom he ha<l a paternal attacli-
nu'iit, and to whom he was ever a wise coiinsellnr
and faithful friend.
t
'•Of manners gentle, of affection mild;
In wit a man, simplicity a child."
Soon after Swift left the army, the Corps of En-
o;ineers, to show their respect and affection for their
late Chief, retpiested him to sit to Sully for liis like-
ness, now huuir in the library of the Militai'v Acad-
emy at West Point— the fit depository of the ])or-
trait of its first (rraduate, second Siipei'intendent,
and sul)se(iuent rnspector. Whoever looks upon
that am]>le luow can I'ead of the vii::or(ms brain
within; whoever peers into those benii^niant eyes
feels there was a u'cnerous heart below; and who-
ever watches those expi'essive lips, sees lioverin^'
there only utterances of [)atriotisiii, honor, and manly
pride. When the writer first knew him, a<i;e had
silvered oVr his flowing locks, and his almost apos-
lUMfS.-CKNKK \I, .loSKI'II (J. SWlir.
\K)
nii;
\
Mil
;)S-
tollc <'(>iint<Mi}in('<' wore n saintly air, iiiiiiii'liiiu' ten-
derness, charity, and all the sweet offices of hive
and dnty.
" A man li(> scoiiiM of cliccifiil yt'slonln.vs,
Anil coiillilcnl to-niorrows; with ii fact'
Not worlilly-niindi'd, for it l)oi<' too niucli
Of nature's impress — ^^aicty and health,
Freedom and hope; l)ut keen withal, and shrewd,
Ills ^xraeefiil ijestmes, and his tones of voice
Were all vivaeions as his mi«'n and looks."
At tlie uTeen (»ld auc <»f (i^/ffftf-firo. Swift, snr-
ronndiMl with liis fond family and .-.ttached friends,
died .Itdy lM, isC,.'), at (iciieva, X. V.— fnll of
years; fnll <»f honors; faculties Itiiuht and affec-
tions warn) to the last; nincdi lani<'nt<'<l ])y tiie pub-
lic; and sincerely mourned l>v a wide circle of
bereaved relatives.
(ieneral ('ullinn,the Superintendent of theUnited
States Militaiy Academy, in directiniT, .Inly .'{<>,
iSliT), hoiiois to be jtaid to Swift's memory, after
briefly recoiintini>; his varied sei'vices, conclnch's Ins
order as follows ;
"Born at the ch)se of the American IJevolntion,
and dyinu" at the termination of the American Re-
bellion, (ieneral Swift lived throu«;h the most
momentous period of histor\-, and was Itimself a
])rominent actor in tlie gi-and drama of our national
existence. His military career beuan Avitli that of
the Military Aca<lemy, which he fostered in its
feeble infancy ; and he lived to see, in its developed
maturity, the sons of his cliei'ished Alma Mater
directiuiT tlie liijjfh destinies of his country on victo-
rious fields in Canachi, Florida, Mexico, an<l witliin
196
KASTKRN OAMPAIGXS OF \H\:\
tlie wide (lonuiiu of our Soutlieni border. He now
cjdiMly sleeps, utter a loiii!" jind useful life of more
tli.'Mi four-seore years, leavin<j: this woi'ld in the bliss-
ful couseiousness that he and his brother u^raduates
of this Institution have ably perfoiiued their allotted
part in su])duin<>; the savage foe, in con(|uering for-
eign enemies, and crushing treason in our midst,
and tliat he has left beliind a rescenerated fatherland
of (file 2)eople, with l)ut (>>if end)lem of nationality,
sacred to liberty, and the trium])h of the best gov-
ermnent on earth.
"Tlie pei'sonal excellence of General Swift can
be only ap|»reciated by those who knew and loved
him, and they were (t// whom lie met on his long
journey of life, for he had no enemies l>ut his
country's. Amiable and sincere, spotless in integ-
rity, staunch in friendshiji, liberal in charity, Gen-
eral Swift was a model gentleman, a true patriot,
and a Christian soldier, Avorthy of the imitation of
all who, like him, v»ould live honored and revered,
and die universally regi'etted.
" As an ap[)ropriate tribute of respect from the
Military Academy to his memory, there will be
fii'ed, under the direction of the Connnandant of
(\'idets, eleven minute guns, commencing at meridian,
to-morrow, and the national flag will be displayed at
half-statf from the same lioui' until sunset."
ji
(Ml
iu\
fi(|
till
mi
tn
<-iii|
si(i
X
CHAPTER FIFTH.
CAMPAIGN OF 18U ;
WITH A lUOGRAPIIUAL SKET<II OF
COLONEL WILLIAM McREE.
.11^-
" PEHSKVERAXrE,"says Sli;iks])eaiv, "keeps IIonok
l>i'iLi:lit ;" l)ut our i^oveninient's lioiior, certaiiily, was
not iimcli l)riLi'liteiie(l l)y its perse veiaiu-e in false
stratei!;y after two years of aimless efforts without
tanij^ihle results. Our military policy, instead of
Ix'ing- active and aggressive within the enemy's ter-
ritory, became eminently defensive in repelling jwtty
J (artisan attacks, making the record of the past, to
continue our (piotation, "hang, (piite out of fashion,
like a rusty nail in monumental mockery." The
en<'my, it was true, was superior in the organizati<Mi
and discipline of liis forces; had more of the prac-
tice, prestige and paraphernalia of war; understood
the value of time in making assaults by prom]»t
movements; and, above all, had the great advan-
tage of occu])ying the concave side of the frontier
and lienee, generally, ha<l shoi-ter lines of operation
to reacli any i)oint u))on it than we on the convex
side of its circumference. These disadvantages some-
what palliate, but certainly do n<)t justify our persist-
ence in error.
lay
200
CAMPAIGX OF 1814.
n
The (lis.'istroiis Cuiiipaii^iis of 1812 ami 181. S,
unfortnii.'itely, had not convinced na tliat our gladi-
atorial trident, of three isolated columns on a thou-
sand miles of frontier, scarcely wounded the enemy ;
for, again in 1814, we renewed our triple assaults
upon Canada. Three corps wei'e anew to be lannclied
au:ainst the enemy ; the Kii^ht, under ^lajor-General
Izard, commanding on Lake C'hamplain, was to cut
the connection on the St. Lawrence between Mont-
real and Kingston; the Centre, commanded by
Major-General Brown, ^vas to assemble on the Niag-
ara fi'ontier and seize the Canada IVninsula between
Lakes Ontario and Erie; while the Left, under Col-
onel Croghan assisted by the navy, should proceed
against the British on the Upj)er I^akes to attem[)t
the recovery of Mackinaw and St. Josephs, and the
destruction of Matchadach, a newly-established fur
trading post supposed to be near the northeast cor-
ner of Lake Huron.
Li our secoud chapter we have sufficiently de-
tailed the operations of the Right column to render
unnecessary any further remark upon it. The Left
colunni, of about 1,000 men, July 12th, moved from
Fort Gratiot; on the 20th, reached St. Joseph's,
which was burned after having been abandoned by
the enemy ; on the 21st, Holmes' detachment de-
stroyed a Biitish factory at St. Mary's; on the 2Gth,
Croii'han arrived before Mackinaw, findiiii'- the work
too formidable to be stormed and too high to be
damaged by the navy's guns ; on the 4th of August,
our land force attem[)te(l an attack from a height in
rear of the fort, which resulted in a sharp conflict,
u
(KLONKL WILLIAM Mc|{i:i-:
201
cliiefly with riidi.ius, in ;i tliick wood and tlie retreat
of our troops; oii Sept. 1 .'Uli, a (letaclinieiit, under
Captain Gratiot of tlie engineers, destr<»yed tlie
enemy's sup[)lies, for six niontlis, on the Xatewasaga
river; and, finally, ('r<»uhaii returned to Detroit, late
in August, aftei- a six weeks' disastrous ex})edition,
of no consecpience even had it heen successful.
Having disposed of the Eight and Left columns,
we will now confine ourselves to that of the Centre,
which was soon destined to confront an ai'iiiy of
British veterans, inured to wai-, which tlie jmcifica-
tion of Kurope upon Xapoleon's exile to Klha ha<l
released. Early in May the advance of these re-en-
forcements hegaii to arrive in (^niada, and, by tlie
oj>eiiing of tlie cam])aign on the Niagai'a, several of
them and other reginuMits relieved from duty in the
lower pr<>vinces, wei'e ia])idly moving towards the
threatened frontier.
Major-dreneral .lacoh Brown, in February, ha<l
marched a division of Wilkinson's army from its
winter (|uarters at French Mills to Sackett's Harbor.
Mistaking the object of the government's oi'deis,
received here, which conteiii] dated a movement on
Kingston as the nnilii ohjrct, and that towards the
Niagara a f< tnf, he, in doubt, oscillated east and
west till the end of .luiie, finally making his liead-
(piai'ters at Hutfalo, where his subordinate — Brig.-
(ieneral ^^'inHeld Scott — ha<l established a camp of
instruction. In the tliii-ty yeai's, since the days of
the llevolutioii, «»ur tr(»ops had never undei-goiie a
more thorough and ethcient drill than was here [)iac-
ticed to <leveloj> their full Hghting powers, and dis-
m
•20 -J
CAMI'.\I<;\ (»!•• ISll.
(•il>liii(' tliciii to rival sturdy i-cu'iilars. Hy the tii'st
of July, Hrowii found liiuisclf at the head oi a suf-
ticient force to invade Canadji and earry out the
government^ new instructions, which were- — "to
cross the river, caj)ture Fort Ki'ie, march on Chi])-
pewa, risk a cond)at, menace Fort (ieorue, and, il'
assured of tlie ascendency and co-o])eration of the
Meet, to sieze and foi'tify Burlin<;'ton llei<»hts," thus
con([uerin<i; tlie Peninsuhi and cuttiiiLi" the enemy's
conununication between l'j)j)er and Lower Canada.
The force assiirned to Brown foi' this diiticult task
ccnisisted of Scott's and Kiplcy's infantry-bi'iuades
of regulars (to each of which was attaclied an eth-
cient train of artillery and a small 8(|uadron of cav-
alry), and Porter's In-igade, made up of ."iOO IVnn-
svlvania and (UKi New York volunteers, w ith from
five to six lunidred Indians. The aggi'egate foi'ce
was about .S,r)<)(>. Of this uallant armv tlu' Chief
E
'^niiineer was jViai<»i
Mj
Will
lam
Mel
iee
assis
ted 1
>\'
tlie brilliant Brevet Major AV()o<l, the subject of our
third chapter.
\\'iLLiAM ^bKKK was born, December 1 .'i, ITS', in
Wilmington, N. ('. His father — ]\lajoi' and Bievet
Colonel (xi'ithth .John AlcRee — was an active cavalry
officer of the Noi'th Carolina line, in the Ke\-olu-
tionarv ^^
;ir
an(
1 li
us mother was a dan
o-ht
er <»
f
Doctor Joliu Fei'gus, a distinguished physician of
Wilmington who was of Scottisli descent, had ])een
e(bicated in Fdinburgh, and subsecpiently wus a
Surgeon in Braddock's army.
ColcMiel Jonathan \\ illiams. Chief i^ngineei' of
tlie Army, while (»u a tour of inspection of the
COLOXKL WILLIAM .M< i{KK.
208
(It'fcnscs <tf Ca|)e Fear Rivei", became ae(|uaiiite(l
witli youiiii; MeUee, wliose l)rii;'lit intellect, decision
of character, and tenacity of juirjiose so interested
liiin tliat lie secnred his appointment as a Cadet,
April 14, 180,'i, to the Military Academy. Here the
youth of fifteen displayed an ardent and iiKpiisitive
mind, a fondness for science, and a devotion to tlie
study of the militar\ art. He was irraduated from
the institution, July 1, LSO.'), and became a Second
Lieutenant in the CV)rps of En^nneei's, subseipiently
beinsj: ])ronioted a First Lieutenant, Oct. 150, 1S0(),
Cajttain, Feb. 28, 1 SOS, and Major, July 81, 1812.
I'ntil the beuinnini;' of this campaii^'U, lie was em-
ployed upon the defenses of the Carolina coast, par-
ticularly at Charleston; from Se]»t. 8(», 1S12 to
May 2."), 1 si 8 was Chief Fn^-ineei' to Generjd Thomas
Pinckney, conuiiandinu' the Department of Georu^ia
and the Carolinas ; in 1S18, was Chief of Artillery
(conimandinLi" four conij»anies and the seiii:;e-train ),
under Major-(Teneral IIamj)ton, whose failure at
Chateauii'ay was rendered nuich less disastrous by
the ])rompt and energetic acti<ni of the younui; engi-
neer; in the tirst part of 1S14, superintended the
defenses of Sackett's Harboi-; and, at the early age
of twenty-six, became the Chief Kngineer of Major-
(xeneral Hi'own's army on the Niagara.
Fort Frie (nearly opposite Buffalo), garrisoned
with 170 lii-itisii regulars, was the first point to be
attacknl to ensure a safe f(»oting for our ai'my on
the (\*inada shoiv. Hividing his scanty trans])orta-
tion between his two regnlar bi-igades, Brown,
July 2d, issued his orders that Scott's should pass the
204
(AMIVVHiV <>l" ISll.
m
I' '
Xiaii'MiM tliioiiirli the Black Rock l{a])i(ls, aiwl
U i pi ey's cross fVom BiitValo; the foi'iiier to land a
mile ])elo\v, and the latter a nnle above the fort.
Scott, proinj)tly <d)eyin<T;, reached his destination
hefore dawn <»t' the .'id, and was immediately fol-
lowed by Brown, with his staff, the eniiineei-s
directing the debarkation of the trooj)s. lvi]>leyV
movement was reluctantly and tardily made, with
remonstrance extendinji; to the tenderinij; of his
resignation ; conse([iiently, it was broad daylight
before his bi'igade was embarked. Scott, imme-
<liately upon landing, ])ushed forward Major Jesup's
battalion of light troops and a few Indians, which
drove in the enemy's [)ickets, and, under the guid-
ance of the engineers who had l)een I'econnoitring,
invested the fort withimt waiting for Ri)»ley. McHee
and AVood now lost no time in crossing the ord-
nance, selecting ])ositions for batteries, and mount-
ing an 18-jwunder on Snake Hill, when Brown de-
manded and received the surrender of the fort from
its commander, Major Burns. The celebration of the
anniversary of our Inde])endence, the next day, was
graced with its entire gai'rison as jtrisoners of war.
Elated with his good foitune and knowing the
value of time, Brown, eai'ly on the morning of July 4th,
despite Uii)ley's desire for delay, [»ushed Scott's
bi'iu:ade and Towson's artillerv d<>wn the Niajxara.
For sixteen miles his march was a continuous skir-
mish with the enemy, till, iinding the British
strongly intrenched behind the Chippewa, Scott
called in his light troops, and encamped for the
night behind Street's Creek, wheiv, about 11 v. m.,
(OJ.ONKl. WILLIAM MrUKK.
205
1m' was jiMiied 1>\ tlu' Geiieral-in-CMiiefiind all of his
rciiiilai's. It was an anxious iiio'lit, fcn' few there
had everbeeii eno-uu^ed with a <leadlv foe. All, how-
cNcr, had couHdeiice in their comniander, and in
their ow'ii prowess, for constant drill and discipline
had Vanished feai" from theii' thonu'hts.
The ii'loi'ious and aus|)icious morn of .Tuly 5th,
saw the hostile ai'niies confronting; each other, the
British strongly posted behind the Chi])pewa, and
the Americans covered by Street's Creek, while, be-
tween, was a full mile of level ])lain, Hanked on the
»'ast by the Xiagjira, and a dense forest on the west.
From early daw n desultory firinu' had been kept up
between the opposing pickets, which, becoming very
annoying to our left, oui' skii-niishers fell back to
di'aw on those of the enemy; while (ieneral Poi-ter,
with 'M)0 rennsylvania volunteers and about 400
Indians, was ordered, in the afternoon, under cover
of tlie woods, to turn the light troops in advance of
the enemy's right, fall u[)on tluiv rear and cut tliem
from theii' main l)ody massed beyond the Chip[)ewa.
In executing this order, Poi'ter fell in with a Hritish
outpost, which he soon routed, and was actively
pui'suing, when, in debouching fV(»m the woods, lie
encountered the entire British urmy advancing in
order of battle which convei'ted his forward move-
ment into a disorderly rout.
Brown, ever on the alert, (piickly divined, from
the rising dust, that the whole of liiall's forces were
in motion to crush him. Immediately he ordered
Scott, then under ai'ms for his daily drill, to lead
his l»rii:ade, with TowsoiTs ai'tillei'v, across Street's
i'^'^J
•J(m;
■Si I
CHIKPtWA
pzn [C3 BSB puff-ittk
i :i i' i! iA
■ B'fl I t:i sM. ■'^
• 'Lj' '■ •
ixzM Kzca Daaa ia9au*H>
I U ti ! i ''"
i:i:i
-^OWy
pohterVJ (\ ?iB
^AMERICANS t*.
<TREETi'HOr®^.
•♦/^T-rcHlrtOflTy
-BioDi:c.«6ATr.
WITH
REGULARS
^
^P^ © iV CAP, TREATiii
Rattle yy\ \
I
ms\
^
^laKaiiBBBHilMaiiiifiiriiTTTiiT'
( 'i«'«'k to iiu'ot
tlu'cnciiiN ;;m(l
Kiplcv t<» |H(»-
<•('('<! cautions-
ly tliioiigli the
woods to
tlnvjiten tlu'
Uritisli lio-lit,
mimI thus pro-
duce a divci--
sioii ill Scott's
favor.
Uiall ad\ aiic-
«'(! ill tlircc col-
imiiisjiis front
and flanks be-
inu" sn|ti>(ti'te(l
1»\ I iii'lit troops,
Indians, and
nine ]»ieces of
artillery. Af-
tei' an lionr's
furious tiiilit-
ini!; along the
entire front of
l)(>tli armies,
they confront-
ed each other
within eiuhty
jiaces. The
British line
was ]»r<>l<en in
•IS
I • •'
r
r
H
COl.oNKI, WILLIAM MiIJKK.
207
<«'\('i;il places, tliiis «'.\|>(»siiiM' Hjiiiks, (tf wliii'li a<lvaii-
t:i^"(' Nt'ittt (|iiU'kly avail«M| liims*
led li
•If. M<-N
fill s am
I
L»*av«Mi\V(>i'tirs iviriiiuMits, takiiiLj; positions <>hli([uely
to the left and riulit cxtrciiiiti^'s of the ciieiiiy's front,
delivered tlieir deadly firew itii fatal ett'ect, while Tow-
son, on our extreme riu'ht, poiired in his murderous
canister and shells \\|ii(di l>le\\ up one of the enemy's
caissons. Dniinii' these oju'ratioiis aloiiiz; the front,
Major .lesnp, on our extreme hd't, h<»tly pressed by
the I^ritish li^ht screeneil 1>\ a lo^- fence. a«lvance(l
upon its flank in face of a dea<lly tire, coolly marcdi-
inLi: witli arms at a sii|)port, an<l then, cliari;in<i; with
the Itayonet, routed everytliiiiii; before him. The
enemy, ])ressed <»n e\ery side and cut down by our
unerrini^ marksmen, l)roke and fled in uncontrollable
disor«ler to tiie slielter of their C']ii[)pewa intrench-
ments.
Thus ende(l this u-lorious victory, fairly won, in
which tlie American reiiulars, most of them on tlieir
first field of battle, with a f(H'ce not over two-thirds
that of tlie enemy, overcame tlie picked veterans of
liritain ; for the actual combat was essentially be-
tween Scott's sino;le briij-ade and Hiall's wliole army.
Our "o'ray-jackets"" were at first sup[)osed by tlie
enemy, who was soon undeceived, to be Buffalo
militia. The British officers sul)se(|uently remarked :
" We beo'an to doubt, when we found you stood
tirmly, three or four rounds; and when, at length,
in the midst of our hottest blaze, we saw you 'port
arms,' and advance Uj)on us, we Avere utterly amazed.
It was clear enough we had something besides
militiamen to deal with." (reneral Riall, thouti'h he
20S
CAMI'AKiV OK ISll.
liroiiglit Up the Kiiii;'s lieijiiiM'iil, tin* Uoyal Scots,
ami his best troops, in his otlicijil (Icspiitcii iuliiiits
that, iiotwitlistaiuliiiu; their iTMllMUtiy, " thry sutV'ci'tMl
MO Hevercly tliat he was ol)liii(Ml to w itlidi'jiw tljeiii."
Chippewa was a crucial test of i)luv*k In'twccii
Anglo-Saxons aiul Anglo-Americans, (teneial \\ il-
kinson, not likely to ])e partial to a junioi- who had
superseded him, justly desci'ilx'd this ])attle as lieing
an "obstinate contest, fought on a plain an<l in direct
order, whose simjdicity presented few occasions foi-
<lis[»lay of tactical skill ; litei'ally a trial of strengtii
and courage, breast to breast, in which the American
arms ti'iuiu[
ihed.
Again tlu' brave, pi-oud Hi'it(tn
had found the same soldiers on American soil as
tlieir ancestors who had cai)tured whole armies at
Saratoga and ^'oi'ktowii.
After liiall had I'etreate* I across the Chip[)ewa,
Coh>nel Wood of the engineers made a most daring
reconnoissance U[) to its right )»ank. Finding sti'ong
intrencliments on the oj>[)osite side and the bridge
over the i-iver with its [)lauking toi'u u])an(l c(»vered
by a i('ti'-(li'-i>i)nf battery, Hi'own, upon this infoi'nia-
ti<>n, encamped behind Street's ('reek. TIk' Sixtli
was employed in removing the woun(h^d, burying
the <lea<l, and reconnoitring the adjacent country to
determine the pi-acticability of turning Riall's forti-
fied position, which was too sti'ong to he assailed in
front. The result of tl
le enirineers exi)
>lorat
ion was
the discovery of an old, disused I'oad leading to tlie
mouth of Lyon's creek, a tributary of the Chippewa,
which McRee and Wood made practicable, foi- artil-
lei-y and the trains, in the course of tlie day. Karly
COLONKI- WILLIAM MoUKK.
L>(M.»
oil tlic ni(»riiiiii: <>f the Stli, lJI])l('y's l»r'nr.'i<l(' Jiiid
porter's volunteers, witli two ('oiiij)ani('s of jirtillciy,
were directed to tile oH^" from tlie rear of tlie eaiiip,
iiiaicli to tlie nioiitli of Lyon's creek, and cross the
( "liippewa to turn IJiall's rii^dit ; while Scott's lnii;-
ade, with the remainder of the artillery, should
threaten his front. IJipIey, as usual, inter|»osed de-
so
lays when lirown in person took the command,
that it was three <M'lock in the afternoon when the
column arrived at the stream, whicli «:;uve tlie enemy
time to destroy the Lridii'e across it. Our artillery
was inime<liately piaced in two Latteries to com.
maiid the o|>))osite ]>aiik (occupied by a small picket
and two jj;uiis) and, at tlie same time, to jn'otect «>ur
workmen wliile constructing a new bridge. Tlie
<'neniy, ([uickly di\ ining our ilank movement which
menaced the safety of his camp and communications,
promptly destroyed liis lieuvy artillery, abandoned
his intrencliments at the mouth of tlie ('hij)])ewa,
ra])idly retreated on (^)ueensrowii, threw garrisons
into Forts (feorge and Mississauga, and with the
remainder of his forces fell back to Twenty-mile
Creek, designing to [U'oceed to l^urlington Heights,
there to await expected re-enforcements.
Leaving I*orter's command to guard the stores
and repair the bridge at the mouth of the Chi[)})ewa
abandoned by the enemy, Brown, on the 0th, |»ur-
sued the Hying foe, who, u]Hm liis a])])roach, left his
works on (.,)ueenstow'n Heights which oiu- army im-
mediately occu])ied. Witli the British forces either
coo])ed up in Fort George or esca])ing to the head
of Lake Ontario, Brown was now master of the
lM<»
CA.MI'AKiN OF ISl
|«^;'
m-
( )
PciiiiisulM of Nvliicli lie colli I lijivc k('[)t control Imd
he Mot «lct'iiic(l tile ('\|)('ctc<l ii;t\ nl co-o]>ei'Jitioii essen-
tial t<» liis safety. riifoi-tiiiiately, Cliauiicey was
sick, the fleet hlockaded in Sackett's Ilai"I»oi-, and
tliere was no friendly ship sallyinir forth to hrinii'
trooj)s (.)• snjtplies from Sodus or the ('cnesee i'i\'ei',
W liile Bi'ow n, on his <^)neensto\\ n percli, was
swee|)in<i: the lioi'izon foi- friendly sails \\ hicli came
ii(»t, the engineers wt-re explorinLC the country ai'ound
and their escorts daily skirniishlnir witli tlie enemy.
On tile -Jiith, Brown moved to within alxmt a mile
of Fort (jreorne, whicdi was deeme<l t(»o stroni:; t(» he
carried l)y assaidt and oui- artillei'y too liuht t
])reac]i its walls. I'nder these circumstances, and
learninj.:; tliat Kiall had been stronizly re-enfor<'ed
witli some veteran reuinients, I)r<»\\n, on the L^L^I,fell
Lack to liis inti'encliments on <^)u(M'nsto\\ n JIeii;lits.
Here, a letter received fVom (ieneral (raines, at Sa(d<-
ett's lIarl)or, dispelled tlie hist hope of Chauncey's
co-oj)eration ; but Brown resolving' not to lose the
fruits of liis \ alor, decided to <lisencund)er himself of
heavy baij:;iL^ain:;e, and at all liazards to ]»ush forward
to liui'lington Heights. To make this movement
an<l r<'|)lenish liis st(»res from Schlosser, he, <tn the
24th, retii'ed across the ('hipjtewa, leaving a battal-
ion on the noi'th side t(» hold the enemy's (tid works,
still entire and (piite formidable. On passing Niag-
ai'a Falls tlie enemy's light troops hung upon our
rear, showing, as wus coiudiisively proved the next
dav, his near aj)[)ro.'i(di in force.
The obstinate, sanguinary and extraordinary niglil
battle of .Iiilv 'Jatli, variously called Niauara, Lun-
n'^
(<»i<)\i:i, wiMjAM M(I:i:k
211
(ly's \/,\]u' .'111(1 I^iidiicw.'itcr, was niicxiH'cted l>y botli
contestants, and not till noon of tliat day was Blown
apjtrist'd of RialPs forwai'd iiio\ ciiu'iit and of Druni-
iiiond's landiiiL!' with r«MMif(»r<'('iii('nts of some of W el-
linu'toii's \«'t('raii rcuinicnts.
At
>(> 1'. M., IM'Wi
caiiH' that a tlionsand BritisJi, witli four jticccs of
artillery, liad arrived at (^)neenstowii ; werealtout to
attack oiir militia near Lewistoii *m the (»|tj>osite
liaiik ; aii<l push iip the river to destroy oiir jninci-
pal depot of supplies at Schlosser, I'o divert their
attention fiom the j)roseciition of this enterprise,
Scott, then at afternoon drill, was oi'dered witli his
briii'ade, '^ro\\soirs artillery, Harris" cavalry, ami
Wood and Doiii^lass of the eiinineers — about a tli<ms-
iiid m all — to move down towart
(Is (Ji
leenstown am
show liimself before the Ileiiihts, liut was not ex-
])ecte(l to Hi:"lit, \\'it]i this small force, Scott at tlie
Falls met tlie advance of the British forces, consist-
inii' of a s(|uadr(»ii of drau'ooiis and a few Indians,
disreiifardinLC wliicli he j>roceeded to ^Irs. \\ ilson's
tavern, near Ta])le Itock, from whicli (Jeneral Iliall
and his staff, eiiij^aujed all day in recoiinoitriiii:-, iiad
scarce esca|)ed. While Lieutenant Douinlass, and
then Major Jones, wer<' <lesj»atched to aj>prise dren-
eral Brown of tlie jtreseiice of the enemy, Scott's
column, prec"<led by the draudoiis, <»n its forward
march was soon tired upon from a copj)ice on the
riuht of the road. 'I'lu' column 1<ept on throuirh the
W'ooo, under a verv
hea\ \ fire of art ill
er\ , mu;
<ket
rv
and riK'kets, in a manner worthy of the best disci-
|)rme<l troops. Passing tiiis forest defile, Scott
emerged into an open field to the left of the roatl
m
2] '2
rAMI'AICN (»F \>^\\.
and at once fonned in line of l)attle at Lnndy's Lane
facing the enemy, •2,500 stronu', snpported by nine
])ieceH of artillery ((> to •J4-]K>iin(lei's) on a eoniniand-
in<>; lieiu'lit.
Scott's position was full of danger: to stand
still would be fntal ; to retreat very hazardous; and
to attack a force, (h>uble his own, and well })osted
on a field of its choice, was perilous in the extreme.
Thirsting, howevei', for glory, and witli the laurels
of CMiippewa yet fresh u])on liis l)n)W, Scott hes-
itated not a moment to attack, trusting that the
remainder of the army would soon arrive to his sujv
])ort. Quickly surveying the field witli his glass, he
discovered an unoccupied s[)ace of two hundi'ed
yards, covered by bi'ushwood, lietween the liver and
the British left, through which he directed Jesu]»to
force his way, gain possession of the (^ueenstown
road and thus cut oft' the enemy's re-enforcements
now a])proaching the field of battle under Lieut.-
(reneral Drununond. The ^Majors task was l)rill-
iantly executed, and among the ti'opliies of his suc-
cess wei'e the capture of General lliall, several (»tliei'
officers, and 160 men — ^the number of prisoners of
war a])Out e(pialling his whole eft'ective strength. In
the mean time, the enemy attem])ted to turn vScott's
left by a furious assault which was re[)ulsed with
heavy loss, and, aftei- an hour's bloody contest, <"he
British artillery alone stopd firm. Drunnnond's offi-
cial despatch confessed that when he arrived <^n the
field, he found Kiall's ''advance in full retreat; and
when his own for^iation wms completed, the whole
front was warndy and closely engnged, the principal
("<»L<»NKL W IF J.I AM MiRKK.
21-S
Aiiicricjm ctforts dii-t'ctcd against tlic Hritisli left
and centre; aftei- re])eated attacks, those on tlie left
forced back, and the Americans irainin*:; tenij)orar3^
possession of tlie road."
BRlT/s;^'% 1
^
0m.
BRITISH RESERVESc
A OVA NCI NO
%°^
m
•'■'^'VWv^V
© tJ I
^ ^ ©■■• .^ ^ o
«9® #
^•AMERICANS
JNiaA^MAFALLS
While Scott's little ])and of heroes, now reduced
to onedialf by death and wounds, was still keejmiu-
the enemy at bav, Brown, informed of tlie situation
i..
M
■ li
I
I
lM4
CAMI'AKiX <»l' 1814.
and lieai'iiiii; tlic continuous rattle of niusk«Hi'y an<l
roar of ai'tilh'i'v, |)usln'<l ra[)i(lly forward, tlie brii^;-
ades of Kipley and Porter, from Cliippewa, Al)out
dai-k, in advance of tlieir arrival, Mcllee, tlie Cliief
Knuineer, hurried at speed to reacli the field. (^)ui('klY
reconnoitring the position, lie stop[>ed at the foot of
the height u\Hm which the British hatterv was posted.
After contemplating it for a few m(»ments, he turned
to Li(Mitenant Douglass, of the engineers, and with
his peculiar emphasis said: "That hill is the key of
the ])osition and mnst he taken." To General
I^row n, ^vho soon came nj) accompanied by Major
AVood, he made the same statement and more fully
explained his reasons. So soon after as the engi-
neers could select and lead the troops to the l)est
positions to interpose those just arrived to cover the
wreck of Scott's brigade, lirown ordered the gal-
lant 21st Regiment to storm and cany the British
battery. " IM try, Sir," promptly i-esponded the vet-
eran driller, its (^oloiiel.'"' Oft and bravely, since
the days of 'i'ippccanoe, had he faced the foe, but
never before had such a tei'rible task been given to
him to perfoiiii. However, with his characteristic
alacrity, he led forwai'd his three hundi'ed Spartans
* Gt!iuM';iI Uiplev'.s claini lo llic iliscovcry of llie iiiiijoitiuict' of curryiiii;
llio Hritisli l)aUery iiiitl 8u;:;i;ostinL;; its captiiro to General JJrown, is com-
pleloly set asiile by Milli'i" l;iiii,st'lf, who wrolo to his wife three (hiys after
tiie Itattle : " Miijor Mcliee, tlu> Chief En.Ljiiieer, told General Brown he
eoiiUl do no ;^ooil until that hei:;ht was carriefl, and those cannon taken or
driven from their position. It was then niijiit, but moonlight. General
IJrown turned lo me and said 'Colonel Miller, take yoni' reji;iment and
storm that work and lake it.'" General lii'own in his manuscript memo-
randum of the Campaign, says : "The Commanding General rode to Colo-
nel Miller, and ordered him to charge und curry the enemy's artillery with
CULOXKL WIUJAM M. KKK.
21;")
to afliirve .'i iH'NV Tlu'nuojtN lu'. Stealthily, uikUm'
slioflit cover, he a])i)i'oiit'lie(l witliiii two rods of the
eiieiiiyV o-uiiiiers, {)rej)ai'e(l with inatelies liii;]ite(l to
(leal <leatli and destruetion ; delivered, over a slio-lit
I'ail fence, one witheriuL!: volley; rusiied instantly to
the midst of tlie l)attery; bayoneted tlie artillei'ists
at tlieir unns; di'ove back tlie infantiy snpports in
a liand-todiand strnu"ui;le; and triuni])liantly remained
mastei- of the nine pieces and of everythini;" on the
heii^lits, until Uij)ley l)ronii'ht two reu'inients to
In's assistance. " In the dai'kness of tlie nio-lit," says
the Hritish comnian<ler s otiicial despatcli, "in so
<letermined a manner was the American attack
directed aj^ainst our i;uns, that our artillerymen were
bayoneted ])y them in the veiy act of loadinu", and
tlie muzzles of the American sj;uns were advanced
within a few yai'ds of ours."
The Bi-itisli drixtMi down the liill, leavinu' their
i:;uns and their killed and wounded in the hands of
tlie victors, rallied at its foot for a new etfort to
ren'ain the heiii'ht. Meanwhile, Scott's torn brii;ade,
reduced t(» less than half its streiiu'th by tlu'ee hours
of bloody battle, was consolidated into a battalion
under I^eavenworth, at Lundys Lane. When infor-
mation came that the re-enforced armv was advan-
^J
M
I' If:
tilt! bayonet. lie ivplicil in a torn; of j;(t()il Immor lliat he woiiM /?•// to
oxecuio the oriler." LioiiUMiaiit I)ouii;lass, wlio was co;:Ciiizant of llio whole
Iraiisaction, iu ii public lecture said : " 1 am correct in statiiii; tiiat ii w:..s
first siii;jj;esle<l to the niind of tiic ConiiiiaiKlcr-iii-Ciiicf by Colonel McUi f.
The .storniiii,:^ of the heij^hl had been fully di-;('UHsed and arran;;('il before
(Jeneral Ripley arrived. It was i)rol)ably ten uiiiiuterf after all this, before
the head of the second l)rij;ade (Ripley's) arrived, lhrou;j;li the openin;^- of
the woods, on the sceiK! of action; and the order beini^ iriven, the Twenty -
lirst innnediately took up its position for storiinnji the heights.''
iv m-
L'Ki
("AMl'AKi.N (»F 1814.
ciiiui; to ivtjilvc tile ])atterv, Scott led his h.-ittulion-
briij^adein an iiiij)etii()iiscliar<j:;e which j)iit the British
left to iliglit. Miller's New Ilaiupshire heroes, firm
as their own granite hills and supported by .Ri]>ley's
closed ranks, reserved their tire till tlie iiasli of the
storiners' trims indicated, in the darkness, the posi-
tion of the victims to their unerrin<; aim. Again
and again the British re-formed and renewed the
attack, at such close (piarters that bayonets were
crossed and the Haslies of o[)posing muskets mingled.
Ilistoi'v no where furnishes an example of more
des])erate determination t(» do oi- die.
Drummond, now re-enforced with 1,500 fresh
troops, led a fourth assault to I'egain his battery ; but
this foi'lorn hope was as unsuccessful as those wliich
preceded it, though the British stoi'iners far outnum-
bered the American defenders rooted to that ])lood-
drenched height.
Thus ended this terri])le night, whose wild tu-
mult was only rivaled by the roar of the near Niag-
ara's downward [)lunge : — a contest unecpialled in
this war, and in heroic valor, (logged tenacity, and
dreadful carnage, rarely sur[>assed in the annals of
our country. In this Titan struggle, we certainly
can cl.-iim the higher ci'own of glory ; for here the
enenn's [)osition ^^as strong, well chosen and thoi'-
oiighly reconnoitred ; his arms of the best, ammu-
nition abundant, and his [)owerful artillery admira))ly
posted ; his troops inured to wai', many being fresh
from Wellington's veteran army ; and certainly he
possessed every advantage of time, place and circum-
stance. Vet, in a ])rolonged battle of tive hours.
COLONKL WILLIAM M( REE
21
niDstly in darlviiess and on a field unknown to lis,
the British were beaten by half their niiinl)ers of
Americans, few of whom, except at Chippewa twt^nty
days before, had ever heard a hostile shot. Cer-
tainly there could be no more glorious and decisive
victory; no more thorough dissolving of the charm
of British invincibility.
After Drummond's last assault, the enemy ex-
hil)it^d, l)y liis desultory firing in the woods,
evidences of great confusion ; while our troops, form-
ing three sides of a hollow scpiare covering our own
and the enemy's artillery, remained drawn up in
good order for more than an hour in undisjnited
possession of the field of our triumph. ITiifortunately
all, except one of our general officers and most of
the other seniors of our ai-my, wei-e disabled, which
devolved tlie command on (reneral Ripley, ^vho rarely
in this campaign was found at the I'ight time in the
right place. " The enemy," says General Brown,
*' seemed to be effectually routed ; his forces dis-
appeared. In a conversation which occurred a few
minutes after between the Major-General, Majors
Wood and McRee, and two or tliree other officers, it
was the unanimous belief that we had nothing more
to apprehend from the foe with whom we had been
contending ; Init it appeared to be admitted by the
whole that it would l)e })roper to return to camp.
The idea did not occur to any one present, that it
would be necessary to leave behind a man or a
cannon. It was ol)served by Major McRee, expressl}^,
that there would ])e no difficulty in removing the
cannon by hand."
218
(AMPAKiX (H" 1811.
Tlie bjittle tliUM being ended, .'ind Genernl Brown
Heverely suffering from liis wound, tlie witlidniwnl
of llie nrniy to eanij) was left to General Ripley,
wliicli was executed in good order and without
molestation from the enemy ; but he had not lu'ought
off the enemy's artillery. "An hour after the battle,"
says General Hrown in his official despatch, " I sent
for him, and after giving him my reas(ms for the
measures I was about to adopt, ordered him to put
the troo[)s in the best possible condition; to give
them the necessary refreshment, to take with him
the pickets and camp-guards, and every other
description of force ; to put himself on the tield of
battle as the day dawned, and there to meet and
beat the enemy if he again appeared. To this order
he made no ol)jection, and I relied upon its execution.
It )imf< not e.vcrnted.'''' Uipley, with his usual dila-
toriness and perverseness, failed to cross the Chippewa
till it was sunrise ; halted his colunm at Bridgewater
Mills, a mile from Lundy's Line ; and protesting
against proceeding further, fell back to head-([uarters.
General Hrown thoroughly dissatistie<l with the
conduct of General Rij>ley on tlie night of the 25th
and morning of the 2(>th, and his and General Scott's
condition not permitting their taking the field, it
was resolved to temporarily devolve the command of
the remnant of the heroic Army of the Niagara
u[)on General Gaines, who was at once ordered, for
this pur])ose, from Sackett's Harbor.
While the wounded were being removed l)y
water to Butt'alo on the 2<>tli, Kipley abandoned his
strong position behind the Chippewa, which he could
1 r
i*U: '
n\
COLONKI- UTLLIAM XcIlKK.
2 1 i »
ur
he
it
Ol
lira
t'< >r
Ibis
.1(1
cusily have \\v\d till I'e-eufoived ; and fell hack to
J^lack R<K'k Ferry, where lie would liave crossed to
the American shore, bnt for the firm opposition made
by General Porter and Majoi's Mcliee, Wood and
Towson. Still persistinti^ in liis disregard of liis
conntry's lionoi', Ri})ley left the army <m the 27th to
obtain Brown's permission to abandon C'anada, in
which he signally failed; was indignantly I'ebnked ;
ordered to occupy Fort Erie; and turn over liis
command to General (mines immediately upon his
reporting for duty.
The army was now encamped on the lakeshore
just above Fort Erie, while that work and its ex-
tensive exterior intrenchments were, day and night,
rai)idlv made ready ])ythe enii-ineers to resist a sieire.
Drummond's losses in the battle of Niagai'a were so
heavy and his ai'nry so demoralized by defeat, that
he remained (piiet at Lundy's Lane to rest his ti'oops
and receive re-enforcements ; hence he did not reach
Fort Ei'ie in force till a week after, of which respite
we diligently availed ourselves in preparing for
coming events.
The details of the Siege of Fort Erie Ave will
reserve for our next chapter. Now we will only
I'emark that McRee, as Chief Engineer, was untiring
in pushing forwar<l the defenses of the great in-
trenched camp of which Fort Erie proper formed an
im[)ortant part. lie was jtresent everywhere, day
and night, su])ervising the construction of trench and
battery, carefully reconnoitring all the surroundings,
and with an eagle's eye watching the slightest indi-
cations of the enemy's movements. After Drum-
■J'-.
220
CAMPAIGN OF 1S14.
nunKTs fierce })oinb{ir(lment of Aug. 18-H, in certain
e.\[>ec'tjiti()n of an aswault, McRee made every })rej»-
aration in his [)ower to meet it. Late in the nii^ht,
to malve assuiance (loul)ly sure, lie went the rounds
of tlie entire camp and i^ave such directicms and
counsel to the different commanders as the occasion
seemed to i'e(|uire. "Be pronn)t and enerij^etic,"
was his lan<i^uai»;e to Douglass on the extreme right,
"for you may be assured, that whatever else
they may do, f//i.s will be one of their points of attack."
Accordingly, while trusting the gallant Wood of
the engineers vigilantly to watch the left, IVfcKee
posted himself on the right extremity of our lines
(personally managing a six-])ounder) to guard it from
being turned by an assaulting cohunn. As he had
anticipated, the enemy made persistent attempts in
the darkness, before the dawn of the latli, to effect
liis object, and not till daylight and the terrific ex-
plosion in the bastion of Fort Erie had taken })lace,
did Drummond cease his efforts to carry the place by
coujMle-mahi.
General (xaines, then in command, in his official
report of this bi-illiant I'ejndse of the enemy, says:
"To Major McRee, Chief Engineer, the greatest credit
is due for the excellent arramxements and skilful
execution of his plans for fortifying and defending
the right, and for his correct and seasonable sug-
gestions to regain the bastion." Again, on the 26th,
he reported to the AVar Department: "Our p<^sition
is growing stronger every day by the exertions of
Majors McRee and Wood." During the remainder
of August and half of September, l^oth armies were
rOLONKL WriJ.IAM M(;UEK.
001
nil
tii,
loll
OT
Her
M'e
receiving re-eiiforcemeiits und pivpuriug for an ulti-
mate trial for siijtremacy. The sliarji rattle of pick
and slK)vel, directed by our engineers, continually
varied the l)ooniing hass of the enemy's artillery till
the 17th of September, when Brown, who on the 2d
had I'esumed command, seeing the impending danger
of })eing overwhelmed by the su[)erior numbers and
ordnance of Drummond, ivsolved to sortie from his
camp; if possible demolish the enemy's siege works;
and destroy the fruits of his month and a half of
unremitting laboi-. This brilliant final trium])h of
our arms, greatly "due to the counsels of Colonel
McRee and Major Wood," terminated the C'ampaign
of 1814, and compelled the retreat of the British
army.
In his official report of Sept. 211, 1814, General
Brown says: " Lieut.-Colonel McKee and Lieut.-
Colonel Wood, of the Corps of Engineers, having
I'endered to this army services the most im[)oi'tant,
I must seize the opportunity of again menticming
them j)articularly. On every trying occasion, I have
reaped much benefit from their counsel and excellent
advice. No two officers of tlieir grade could ha\e
contributed more to the safety and honor of tliis
army. Wood, brave, generous and enterprising, died
as he had lived, without a feeling but for the honor
of his country and glory of her arms. Plis name
and example will live to guide the soldier in the path
of duty as long as true heroism is held in estimation.
McKee lives to enjoy the appr()l)ation of every
virtuous and generous mind, and to receive the re-
ward due to his services and hiuli militai'\' talents."
I
!H
000
m^ m m
(A.MI'AION (U- 18U.
Tliis ln'ilHaiit three nioiitlis' ('aiMi>ainii of LSI 4, in
wliic'li our {iriiis liad so o;loiiously triiiiiiplu'(l over
siipei'ior imiiibers of Hiitisli picked vetenins in two
san<::ulnai'v battles and a deadly defense afcainst a
stnbhoni sie<;e, was in strikinLf eontrast to the sad
fiascos of IHl'J anci 181. S; yet, stratei2;ically con-
Hidered, we conrpiei-ed notliinu; exeejtt victory and a
pro'ud name for the s|)ii'it, (liscij)iine, endurance, and
skill of tlie American arms. As we began, so we
ended the campaign, without ac(|uiring an inch of
Canada; for the useless fort in our j)ossession, when
we retired to our own soil, was blown uj) and
abandoned.
Tlie prominent defect in the Cam|)aign of 1<S14
was the scattering of our forces along an extended
frontier, and making our greatest effort on the Niag-
ara remote from the true objective point in any con-
quest of Canada. In conducting this, its most
important featu]'e, many grave faidts were committed.
FivHi : AVe should liave invaded Canada by
crossing the Niau-ara near its mouth rather than at its
liead, the fovmer being nearer to our true objective
j)oint. Here a single successful battle woidd have
cut oil' the enemy from re-enforcements ; probably
have destroyed his ai-niy ; and certainly, at once,
liave secured the whole Peninsula.
Sec<»i<l : Placing our principal depot of supplies
in the defenseless position of Schlosser, between us
and the enemy where it Avas difRcult to guard, open
to attack, and in gross viohition of military princi-
ples, for which we would have severely suffei'ed at
the hands of a nK>re enterprising antagonist.
lies
us
hen
lu'i-
at
COLONKI, WILFJAM McUKK.
W M •>
Third : Aftei" tlic cjqttiire «»f Fort Krie we were
ii<;lit in promptly nioviiii^ forwai'd to meet tlie enemy,
hut (leeidedly wronu; in oui- mode of attack; fortius
l)attle of (Miip])ewa was essentially fou^'lit l)y SeottV
sinL!;le l)rigade, instead of l)y the whole army. Had
Brown thi'owii lialf his foree, under eovei* of tlie
woods, to aetuall\ tuin RialTs ri^lit, when tlie hitter
was advaneiui:; to the su[>j>ort of his skirmishers,
and, at the same time, have opjjosed liis front and
tlireatened his left witli tlie other half, the J^ritish
army would have been utterly routed, the Chippewa
crossed, and the enemv's stront"' intrenchments have
fallen that nin'ht into our possessicm. An assured
victory here wcmld have been decisive of the Penin-
sula campaign.
Fourth : After the battle, when the engineers
rej)orted the practical )ility of turning the I'ight of
the C^hippewa intrenchments, Brown shoidd instantly
have thrown the mass of his forces upon the
enemy's communications to cut him from his Ijase
and re-enforcements, thus to compel lliall to fight
for his existence in a position of our own choice.
Our delay, till the 8th, in crossing the Clii})pewa,
saved the British army, enabled lliall to garrison
Fort George, and remain niastei* of the Peninsula.
Fifth : Brown, after crossing the Chippewa,
should not have halted at Queenstown. With a single
brigade he had beaten Uiall, who, now weakened
by the force thrown into Fort (reorge, could
easily have been defeated or driven from the Penin-
sula, leaving us free to occupy and intrench Burling-
ton Heights. Thus we would have accom])lislied
224
CAM PA K J N OF 1811.
tile irijiin object of {\w. caiiipjiiL;'!! in this (jiiui'ter ;
been ready to meet DruiiiinoiKrs udvaiuMH^- re-eii-
forcenieiits ; linve moved, witliout serious opposititm,
down Luke Ontario; cajttiiiH^d Kini::ston witli the
assistance of tlie ijjarrison of Sackett's Ilarljor and
Cliauncey's fleet; and, Hnally, have tiinnij)liantly
readied Montreal, tlie ii;oal <xf our eiuh^avors.
Sh'th : Brown, feariui/; for tlie safety of liis ill-
[tlaced depot nt Sclilosser on the 2r)tlj of July, wisely
resolved to save his menaced mai!;aziiies by thi'eat-
ning the (Mieiny in front; but, unwisely, he sent for-
ward an inade<|uate force, and, as at (/]ii[)pewa,
fou<i;ht his bloodiest battle by detachments, in viola-
tion of all sound military axioms. With his united
army he must have erushed Kiall tirst and Druni-
niond afterwards, ami thus have ii;ained, with half
his actual losses, a decisive and crowning victory at
Niagara.
SeiU'iifh : After th<* des])erate night-batth^ at
Lundy's Lane, when our army i-(^turned to camp for
refreshment, thei'c was no excuse for (ieiieral Ivij>I(^y's
leaving the cajttured British artillery on the Held,
if his foi'ee of men and horses was insuHicient to
drag it away, he could, nt least, have spiked and dis-
mounted the guns; have bi'oken off their trunnions
and burne<l the carriages; or, othei'wise, have ren-
dered useless this battery, the after possession of
which thinly veiled the eiunny^s (lefeat,and was of in-
estimable value in his subs('(|uent siege of Fort Krie.
AVy///// ; When our army ha<l returned to the
(Jhi|)j»ewa intrenchments, Ripley had no excuse for
abandoning them ; f<>r we had, with inferiiu' forces,
("OLONKL WILLIAAl McUKK.
M « «'
just Ijcutt'ii (lie ciicniy in ji stroiii;; position of his
own (rlioicci, who (M'l't.'iinly, in his crippIcMl mikI dcnioi-
jilizcd (•on(liti()n, coiihl not Ii.inc dislodi^^cil us tVoui Ji
foi'tilicd (';un|) with wliich we wcr*' now fiiiniliar.
Ninth: llij)h'y's conduct In cn<h';i\ <n-in<j^ to rc-
ti'tNit to oni" own tci-i'itory, ()cfoi-c :i l)c;itcn foe, was
wholly unj»;irdon;d)lc, and justly ('.\j)os('<i him to the
chai;i:;(' of moral, if not of j)hysical <'owar<iicc.
Vr///'// ; Al'tci- the vic.toiy of ChipjK'wa, and
Brown had reached the vicinity of Fort (ieoi<r(.^ the
failure of (lianncey to co-opei'ate with the army
was the excuse, rather than the necessity, for not
prom]>tly followini:; up and Ix^atini^ Kiall hefoi'e he
could l)e re-enforced by Di'ununond.
Khrciifh : (JencM'al I/ard's dilatory and aind<
MS
movements, from Aui(Ust2iMh t(»()ct, loth, deprive<l
us of ji laru;e force in the cam|)aii:,"n. Had he remained
on Lake ( 'hamplain, IMosost miL','ht have sliared the
same fatt^ at IMattshui'i;', in 1814, us had !iuri:;oyne
lit Saratoga, in 1777, wIumi on the suuie line of op<'r-
utions he teiininate<l Ids march hy the capitulation
of liis whole army. Oi', ha<l he not jM'oceeded to
the Niau'ara at the slow rate, 1>\ land and water, of
l)()Ut ei!
d.t
miles a <
tune
to 1
lave |oine(
J'
lay
d \\
he won
Id I
lave ai'rived m
I'own s arm
)■
an(
w I
th th
united foi-ce of S,()()0 comhatants, w<' coidd liav
1)
driven l^rummom
1 to I
iOWCI'
(
anada
!.•
McI
vee, w
hen he became the Chief iMiuineel" of
(Jenei
al H
tl
I'own s ai'iuN', was on
ly
M
ijor
])
hut
dnriuL!,' tlu^ campaiL^n, lu^ nobly won two ])ievets —
that of i.ient.-Coh.nel, July 2;"), ISII, "for gallant
conduct in the Hattle of NiatrJii'u," and of Colonel,
220
CAMPAKJX OF 1814.
; i I
August IT), 1814, '' for (listiiiguislied services iu tlie
Defense of Fort Erie." Tlirougliout tlie campaign
Mcliee enjoyed, in tlie liigliest degree, the confidence
of tlie whole army ; was foremost in the councils of
every movement and plan; and, be it said, to the
lasting honor of the General-in-Chief, he was, at all
times and on all occasions, then and after, prompt
and explicit in acknowledging liis official oljligations
to his able, energetic, and brilliant Cliief Engineer.
McRee and Wood, sa> s Brown in his report of the
Battle of Niagara, "were greatly distinguished on tliat
day, and their high military talents exerted witli great
effect ; they Avere much under my e}'e and near my
person, and to their assistance a great deal is fairly
to be ascribed. I most earnestly recommend them
as wortliy of the highest trust and confidence." His
estimate of Mcliee's services in the defense of Fort
Erie we have already quoted. He freely stated tliat
"Mcliee's iiuhistry and talents were the admiration
of the whole army," in which he would doubtless
have been made a Brigadier-General liad the war
continued. On the death of General Brown, Feb-
ruary 24, 1828, a distinguished member of Congress,
who enjoyed the confidence of tlie President, says in
a private letter to a deceased officer of the army,
now Ixifore us : " Mcliee is spoken of as a prominent
candidate for General-in-Chief." Another hero, of
another field of glory iu the Campaign of 1814, won
the })rize ; but few will deny that it would have been
most \vortliiIy bestoAved, with honor and profit to
the nation, upon the Chief Engineer of the Niagara,
who, to the highest science, militai'V talents, culti-
COLONEL WILLIAM .MoKEE.
227
vated liiiiid, and eiuiueiit fitness, added a sjnrit,
energy, kn- ledge of details, ])<)wer<)f C()nd)ination,
and a genl.. ior connnand ecpial to direct the largest
army ever upon an American field,
Genei'al Winfield Scott, no ordinary judge of
soldiers, said of McKee in a letter of May 81, 1843:
"In my o])inion, and, perliaps, in that of all the
army, he condnned more jjjeniusand military science,
\yitli high courage, than any other officer who par-
ticipated in the AVar of 1812. I know that this
\yas at least a very general opinion. If the Treaty
of Peace had not preveiite<l, lie could, as I also
know, have l)een made a general oflieer in 1815, and
I am confident that he would in the field, have illus-
trated ihe highest grade."
Scarcely had the war with Great Britain termi-
nated, when Colonel McKee and Major Thayer (sub-
secpiently the eminent Superintendent of the INIilitary
Academy) were selected Marcli 20, 1815, by the
government, to accompany Commodore Decatur's
expedition to chastise the Algerine pirates who had
been preying upon our commerce in the Mediter-
ranean waters. Suddenly, April 12, 1815, their des-
tination was changed from Africa to Europe, with
instructions to visit the fortifications and militai'v
establishments of France and the Netherlands; and to
])urchase maps, books, etc., to form a suitable library
for the Military Academy at AVest Point.
Provided w ith otficial and private letters to dis-
tinguished [)ersonages abroad, they sailed, June 10,
1815, fi'om Boston in the U. S. Frigate Ccmgress.
( )n the passage they spoke the cartel "John Adams,"
228
CAMPAIGN OF 18U.
■Ji
i
m
from wliic'li they lejinied tlint N;i])()leoii liad escaped
from Elba, giviiiu; tlieni liiu:li liopes of reaching
France in time to [)artic'ii)ate in the roming struggle
for its em])ii'e. On arriving in the Straits of Dover
these cherished anticipations were Idasted by the
fatal tidings of Waterloo and the disastrons termi-
nation of the " Hundred Days." Without stoi)ping,
they passed on to the Island of Walcheren and,
after examining the foi-titications, landed near Bruges.
When they reached Paris, after its fall, tlie English
were encamped about St. Denis, the Prussians occu-
pied the Bois de Boulogne, and the Russians had
only readied Vertus, Avhere, with General AVintield
Scott of our army, in the staff of the Duke of Wel-
lington, they were present at a great review, by his
(Irace, of all tlie troops of the Emperor Alexander.
At Paris, they daily saw the Allied Sovereigns,
tlieir well-disciplined armies, and the great evolu-
tions and fetes given in their honor — all of which
produced a profound impression on these young
and enthusiastic American soldiers. After these
stirring scenes, they visited Metz and other military
schools, examined the Netherland fortifications, and
those of Lille, Cherbourg and Brest in France, and
made important purchases for the West Point library.
Having performed his European mission with
much credit to himself and advantage to the govern-
ment, ]\[cRee returned to the United States in May,
1817, when he found he had been detailed, Nov. 1(),
1810, as a mendjer of the Board of Engineers to
project the system of defense for our Atlantic and
Gulf coasts. Tpon this most important duty, which
COIOMOL WILLIAM McUKK.
00»)
called into action all his untiring industry, extensive
acquirements, and deep study of the practice and
theory of war at home and abroad, he \\'as diligent-
ly engaged for two years ; when, having similar
views to those of the late Chief Engineer (which we
have detailed at leno-th in our sketch of Bi'io-adier-
General Joseph G. Swift) respecting the impolicy
and injustice t)f introducing General Simon Bernard,
a foi-eign engineer, into the United States military
service, Mcllee, with ci'ushed pride and wounded
heart, resigned, March 81, 1810, from the army, in
which he had so faithfully and honorably served
from boyliood till he had attained the full rank of
Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineei's, and Brevet Colonel,
U. S. Ai-my, Subse([uently, strange to say, one of the
works, projected by this same (leneral Bei-nard foi'
the defense of Pensacola Harbor, was named Fort
McKee, after his junior in rank, but his c(pial in
knowledge and talent.
In this connection, we give at length tlie opinion
of the very sagacious and eminent acbninistratoi', then
at the head of the AVar Department. In a letter of
July 12, 1848, John C. Calhoun, says : " I have great
regard for Cokmel William McKee. I lis talents
and character were of the highest order, lie only
lacked opportunity to distinguish himself as a great
military chief.
"When General Swift, who was at the head of
the Corps of Engineers, received a civil .•i])point-
ment, I was anxious to place Colonel JMcKee in liis
place, in order to retain him in the military service.
I knew he contem[)lated retiring. Colonel Armistead,
I
2;^o
CAMPAIGN OK 1814.
u nijiu t)f grent worth, jind for whom I liad mucli
respect, was his senior. Tlie step could not he.
tjilven with propriety without his assent. I spoke
to him witliout apprising; Colonel McHee of my
intention. He had tlie highest admiration for him,
and felt the same solicitude he should continue in
the service that I di(h lie gave his consent without
hesitation, accompanied by declarations alike lionor-
aljle to Colonel McRee and himself. I communi-
cated ^^•hat had occurred, with my wish to have
Colonel McKee placed at the head of the Corps, to
President Monroe, who readily agreed to it. lie
had also a very high opinion of Colonel McRee. I
made known to him the facts, but so delicate were
his feelings, and such his esteem for Colonel Ar-
mistead, that it was impossible for me to overcome
liis oljjections to be placed over him, even with his
assent. I know that Mr. Monroe participated in
my desire to continue his services in the Corps, and
when he had made up his mind to retire, felt every
disposition to give him some eligible civil appoint-
ment. * ^ ^- * * * * *
" He was a member of the Board of Ensz-ineers
to take into consideration the defense of the country
and report on a system of fortiiications, with (xen-
eral Bernard. The lattei' was not strictly an officer
of the army, but he had the pay and emoluments of
a Hrigadier-(Teneral. Mis position was anomalous,
and excited a good deal of discontent in the army,
and in the C-ori>s of Engineers j)ai'ticularly ; and it
w^as tlu^ught by many it was felt by Colcmel MclTee.
But he was not the man to make complaints; if lie
COI.ONKL WII.I.IAM MrUKi:.
L>M1
!hI
■»
felt, he never expressed any discoiiteiit tome; but
always spoke liiglily of tl»e talents and character of
General Bernard, as lie did, invariably, of Colonel
McRee to nie. They were both eminently talented
and skilful engineers. I regarded Coh>nel McRee
fully e(pial to the General, and his reports to the
Department, when they made sej^arate, will, I think,
fully hold me out in this opinion."
After McRee's resignation from the military
service, seeking the quiet pleasures of private life,
he resided in the Western States, holding, for a
short period, the position of United States Conunis-
sioner for locatins: the "National Road" 'west of the
Ohi(>; and, again, under the Act of March 8, 1825,
temporaril}', that of the Chief Conuuissioner, to
survey the western waters, and locate and plan the
"Western Armory." His letters from the West,
many of which we have carefully read, give gra])hic
accounts of his explorations in the Mississippi Val-
ley ; his sharp struggles with poverty, for he had no
money-saving talent ; his sale of almost everything,
even his much loved books, to defray the moderate
expenses of his frugal living ; his declining tenders
of lucrative positions to which he modestly thought
himself une(pial ; his n()])le disinterestedness to pro-
mote other's fortunes by the selection of lands; his
devotion to his few warm, and steadfast friends ; his
stern integrity amid the most alluring temptations;
and his continuous cheerfulness under the severest
trials.
At last, necessity knowing no law and his last
resources becoming insufficient for his stinted exist-
P^ -
'2:\'2
tAMJ'AKiN ()!■' 1814.
?!
eiice, lie was compelled to listen to the persuasions
of his friends and to ac'c'e2)t, Fel). 22, 1825, the office
of Snrv^eyor General of the United States for the
District of Illinois and Missouri. In the discharge
of the duties of that troublesome and thankless
office he continued till -Tuly 25, 18;}2, having been re-
appointed in January, 1829. At the time of leaving
this office liis name had l)eeii sent to the Senate as a
proper person to survey the l)()undary line between
the United States and Mexico, but he never entered
upon the <luty. J^rokeu in health, he retired to his
congenial seclusion till May 15, 1838, when the
Asiatic cholera at St. Louis, Mo., terminated his
mortal career in his forty-sixth year.
Colonel JNIcKee was a bachelor; small in stature;
chaste and tem})erate in habit ; and grave, reserved
and almost austere in manner. AVhen, however, he
Avas interested in conversation his steel-ldue eye light-
ed up his pale, melancholy face,he becoiuing eloquent,
instructive, and earnest, even to being sarcastic ; yet
he was ever kind, considerate, and deferential to those
whose opinions were worthy of respect. Winning
the mai'ked reu'ard, and excitinix the warm admiration
of all within the sphere of his acciuaintauce, he
seemed to withdraw with morlnd sensibility from
general notoriety. He despised syco[)haiits and
scorned demagogues. He possessed a highly culti-
vated mind, strong '"easoning faculties, (piick per-
ceptions, firm convictions, and I'esolute will, making
him a leader more than a follower of men. He was
an omnivorous reader and studied the classical as
well as modern models of men, Brutus and Cassius
^^\
COLOXKr, WILLIAM McItKK.
288
lo-
Pll
lie
ti-
ng
las
las
lis
being his heroes among tlie ancients, while Frederic
and Napoleon were his modern [)aragons. Though
military in his tastes, he did not confine liimself to
[)rofessional thoughts, for he revelled in history and
literature, preferring the times and types of i-evo-
lution, such as the daring Luther, the sturdy Crom-
well, the fiery Mirabeau and the passionate Byron.
He wrote but little, for notoriety was distasteful to
him; yet the public archives contain many forcible
memoirs from his pen, showing strong intellect,
wealth of knowledge, marked originality, and close
observation. His report on the establishment of the
Pittsl)iirg armory evinces not only a sohlier's, but a
statesman's views ; and his remarks, in the New York
Scientific and Literary Magazine upon the present
resources and magnificent future of the "Great West,"
are pregnant with original and far-seeing predictions.
McRee was a modest, wortliy and eminently dis-
tino-uished son of his cherished Alma Mater, which
had educated him for the service of the nation, for
whose glory he gave liis highest endeavors and the
best years of an active life. The General-in-Chief of
the Niagara Army, with just magnanimity, ascribed
to McRee much of the eminent success of his com-
mand, and well he might, for his Chief Engineer in
that memorable campaign of 1814, though only
ffoenff/sLv years of age, was old in wisdom, the
Mentor of the Council and the Palinurus of the
Battle-field.
I
CIIAPTEll SIXTH.
SIEGE AND DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE IN 1814 ;
WITH A mOORAI'IIICAL SKETCH OK
MAJOR DAVID BATES DOUGLASS.
Spades are Trumps in tlie Attack and Defense
of Fortified Places ; and tlie j^i'oininent playeis of
these winning cards are Engineer Troops, technically
termed Sappers and jNIiners.
It was to reward the whole French "Corps dn
Genie," in the jxM'son of its real chief, both by rank
and merit, that the Grande Monar( pie gave the baton
of Marshal to the illustrious Vauban, who fought
140 battles, conducted 58 sieges, and l)uilt and
repaired 300 fortifications. Prior to the wars of
Louis XIV, infanti'}' troops were detailed for sap-
pers and instructed in their duties by engineers. So
impei'fect, however, was the system, that Vauban, in
1670, urged the propriety of a separate organization
of 1,200 Sappers and Miners. In 1(55)0, the first
company ^vas organized under the command of
Vauban himself, who says: "To such a degree have
I felt the necessity of Sappers, that I have always
had reason to re])eiit of not having more urgently
solicited the creation of this company.""
So valuable were engineer troops considered, that
234
MA.JOK UAVII) MATKS l)()[(iLAS6.
235
tliey continued to be increased in nnnd)ei- till the
outbreak of the French Revolution. In the wars of
Napoleon, which followed, tliere are innumerable
instauces in illustration of the delays and disasters
attendinj^ the operations of armies notsupjilied with
sufficient euL^dneer troops; and, on the other hand,
the advanta<!;es resultinuj from their services when
ample in numbers and j)r()perly organized and in-
structed.
From the first to the second emj)ire, tlie influence
of engineers continued to be more and more appre-
ciated. To the French military establishment there
are now attached 8,000 of this arm of service.
Frederic the (Ireat organized two companies of
Miners in 1742; but previous to 1810, Prussia had
no regular 8api)ers, foi* which neglect and that of her
fortifications this country paid the forfeit in the disas-
trous cam})aign of Jena in 1806. Since then, Prus-
sia lias become a nation of soldiers, Northern Ger-
many now having in her vast army nearly 11,000
encfineer officers and men.
When AVellington went to the Spanish Penin-
sula, he wrote to the Secretary of State : " It is in-
conceivable with what disadvantages we undertake
anything like a siege for the want of engineer
troops ;" and Colonel Napier says: ''When the first
serious siege was undertaken by the British army,
to the discredit of the English government, no army
was ever so ill-provided with the means of promo-
ting such an enterprise. The engineer officers were
exceedingly zealous ; and many of them were well
versed in the theory of their business. But the
'2'M\
SIVMK AM) DKl'KXSK OK FOUT KUIK IN 18U.
ablest trembled when retleetiiiix on their utter desti-
tution of all tluit belouii;ed to rejd service. Without
a eorj)s of sappei's and miners to carry on an aj)-
proacli nndei- tire, they were ('omj)elled to attack for-
tresses defended by the most warlike, practi md
scientlHc troo])s of the as^e, The best oHIce.s and
[U'ivaie soldiers were obliii^ed to saci'itice themselves,
in a lamentabh* manner, to compensate for the negli-
gence and inca[)acity of a government always ready
to plunge the nation into war, without the slightest
care of what was necessary to obtain success. Tlie
sieges carried on by the Hi'itish in Spain were a suc-
cession of butcheries; because the commonest mate-
rials, and the means necessary to their art, were
denied the engineers." (\)lonel John T. Jones writes
in nearly the same tei'uis of the early sieije the
Peninsnhi, and with respect to the siege of ^. jos,
adds in express terms, that "a body of sappers and
miners, and the necessary fascines and gabions would
have rendered the reduction of the work certain."
Soon after this siege, a body of the Corps of Royal
Sappers and Miners, ci-eated in 1812, arrived from
England ; but their luimber proved insutlicient, and,
for yeai's, the British army struiryled on with a most
impei'fect army organization. The engineer arm
was gradually increased, so that, in the last year of
the war, it numbered 1,730 officers and men. Exclu-
sive of officers, the present force is 4,500,
E^ery military student acknowledges the import-
ance to the British army of the vast Lines of Torres
Vedras ; the iield works of Ronda ; the intrenched
camps of the Pyrenees, Bayonue, Toulouse, etc.;
MA.IOU DAVID UATKS DOFCJLASS.
2.S7
and Wellin^'toii's pivpamtioii foi- liis HjiuI struggle
nt Waterloo, just het'ore wliicli battle he employed
18,000 peasants and 2,ooo hui-ses under the direetion
of the engineer otticers and men.
It is unnecessary here to exhibit the importance
attached by other Kuro])ean |)(>\vers to having well
oi'ganized and insti'ueted engineer troops.
In our first chapter, we have shown how Wash-
ington sutt'ered in the early days of the Revolution
for the want (►f instructed engineers; but it was not
till May 27, 177N, that Congress authorized tlii'ee
companies of Sa[)pers and Miners, which served till
tlie end of the Revolution with efficiencv and dis-
«
tinction, and were mustered out of service in
Noveml)er, 1788. To the [)resent C\)rpsof Kngineers,
se])arated tVom the Artillery March 1(5, 1802, there
were added, Fel). 28, 1808, nineteen enlisted men, and,
April 2t), 1812, a company of " B(^mbai'<liers, Sa|)pers
and Miners," making a total of 118 engineer soldiers.
This company did admiialde servdce in the campaign
of 1814 on the Niagai'a frontiei', as we shall ])resently
show, and was disbanded U[)on the reduction of the
army in 1S21. Sul)se([uently, the necessity of re-
cruiting such a l)ody of men was strongly urged by
the Chief Eno'ineer in elaborate reimrts showinfj;
their usefulness ; but not till May If), 184(), was a
company of one hundred " Sappei's, Miners and
Pontoniers " authorized, which so soon as enlisted,
organized and drilled, was ordered to Mexico. It
took ])art in the siege of Vera Cruz; attack of Cerro
Gordo; the battles of Contreras, Churubusco and
Molino-del-Rev ; constructed butteries aijainst Cha-
;
288
SIEGE AND DEFENSE OF FORT ERIE IN 1814.
pultepec ; and did excellent service at the garita San
Cosme on tlie ca])ture of the City of Mexico. Since,
detachments have been detailed on various expe-
ditions, and the wliole company efficiently served in
the Utah campaign of 1858. In August, 1861,
Congress authorized four additional companies, and
the whole five, forming a battalion, were attach d
to the Army of the Potomac. Tlieir services, through-
out the Civil War, were of incalculable value in
throwing up intreiicliments, bridging streams, pre-
paring battle-fields, making reconnoissances, and in-
structing volunteer engineer soldiers, of which many
regiments Avere called into service, soon becoming by
means of tlieir skilled lal)or and high intelligence,
the most valuable adjuncts. In no Avar have more
wonderful and dai'ini>: feats of eiisji'ilieeriiii'" been so
expeditiously pei-formed, than by our armies aided
])y the reijular and volunteer enixiiieers : such as the
field intrenchments everywhere; the Defenses of
Washiugioii, with their 68 enclosed forts and
batteries, numerous gun emplacements, and 20 miles
of I'itie-trenches ; the sieges of Fort Wagner, Island
Ten, Vicksburg and Knoxville ; the formidable
works before ^'orktown, Corinth, Mobile, Cold
Harbor, and Petersburg; the almost continuous
lines and l)atteries from Chattanooga to Atlanta ;
and the remarkable lu'idge structures across the
James, Cniickahomiiiy, Potomac Creek, Etowah, Chat-
tahoochie, etc., the former the longest ever built
by engineers in the field, and some of the latter re-
constructed almost before the originals they replaced
ceased to Inirn.
JfAJOU DAVID HATKS DOUGLASS.
239
The five re<i;ul;ii' eiiuineer eoiiipanies are still
I'etaiiied in service, tliou<]i:li tlie strenijth of the bat-
talioii is only 2<)<>, or about 1 to 60 of our infantry
troops, while the propoi'tion eonsi<lere(l necessary in
the Prussian army is 1 to 3(3, in the English 1 to 34,
and in the Frencii 1 to 33.
David I^atks I)(>i(;i.ass, son of Xathaniel and
Sarah Bates Douglass, was l)orn ^Nfaivh 21, 179U, at
I'onipton, N. J. llis mother, a woman of superior
mind and high princi]>les, carefully directed his
studies till he entered Vale College, in 1809, from
which he was graduated, with high honors, Sept. 18,
1813.
liike all young men of true spirit, " he desired
to serve his country," then at war with (rreat Bri-
tain, "and, if possible, in the highest branch of the
service." Acc(M'dingly he traveled, alone and al-
most unaided, to Sackett's lIarl)oi', to make a[)[)lica-
tion to the Chief Engineer of the Army, for a com-
mission in the cor[)s he commanded, (ieneral Swift,
seeing that he was a young man of high charactei'
and abilities, at once gave him a letter to the Secre-
tary of War, then at Sackett's irar])or, which
resulted in Douglass being appointed, Oct. 1, 1S13,
a Second Lieutenant in the Coi'ps of Engineei's. He
was inunediately ordered to West Point, and Nov. 3,
1813, placed in command of the com])any of
bond)ardiei's, sap|)ers and miners. Here he spent
seven months diligently studying his new profession
and drilling his conunand, with which he was or-
dered, June H), 1S14, to proceed foi-thwith "and
join the army under Major-( ieneral lii'own."
11
'i
240 SIEGE AjSD DKFEXSE of KOHT EIUE in 1814.
Though the meinbei'.s of the eoiiipuiiy were taken
by surprise, as they had l^eeii enlisted for duty at
West Point, the whole, with hearty good will, set to
work making their pre})arations for departure ; on
the evenino; of the 19th were on board of a
slow sailing sloop for Albany ; thence in thirteen
marching days traveled 360 miles ; reached Buffalo
July 9th, and at once, without refreshment, em-
barked on the Niagara in a leak}' launch ; by mid-
night, with much difficulty, reached Chippewa; there
joined Porter's volunteer brigade, forming tlie rear
guard of our forces ; iwid on the next morning reached
the main army at Queenstown, where half of the
siege train was assigned to the Bombardiers and
fought l)y them, subsequently, to the end of the
campaign. It is unnecessary again to recount the
stirring events recorded in our last chapter. Suffice it
to say that Douglass and his command were, in all
emergencies, prompt, active and efficient in the per-
formance of every duty entrusted to them as engi-
neers, artillerists, or infantry. A more brilliant
career, however, was reserved for them in the De-
fense of Fort Erie, before which (reneral Drum-
moiid, after resting a week at Lundy's Lane and
waitinsj; to be re-enforced by DeWatteville's strons:
brigade, made his a[)[)eai'aiice with more than dou])le
our numbers, August 2, 1814, establishing his camp
in the woods at a most resj)ectful distance beyond
cannon-shot. On the next morning began the invest-
ment of the work, Douglass himself tiring the first
gun at the enemy when he approached to recon-
noitre our position.
.MA.IOIJ DAVID KATES DOUGLASS.
241
Fort Erie was now a small aiul feeble ([uadraii-
giilar bastioned work, tlioiigli soinetliiiig had been
done by us to strenirtlien it after its ca[)tnre, July 8d,
and much more since the battle of Niagara. It
formed the right of a large Inti-enched Camp, en-
closinii: about fifteen acres aloni2: the bank, twelve to
fifteen feet high, of the eastern end of Lake Erie,
which was traced and l»egun after our return to the
fort. On the extreme right of this camp, near the
shore, was a stone structure made from the ruins of
a lime-kiln, named the " Douu'lass Batterv," after the
youuo: eni>:ineer by whom it was built. This was
connected wifh the gorge of the fort by a seven feet
high [)arapet having an exterior ditch. From the
left of the fort, extending some 800 yards in a nearly
parallel dii'ection ^vith the lake shore, was a parapet
of strong profile with a double ditch in front. At
the southern extremity of this line of intrenchment,
on a sand mound, called Snake hill, was " Towson's
Battery," twenty-five feet high, for five guns. A
heavy abatis covered the front of the intrenchments
and enveloped both extremities of the camp to pre-
vent theii- being turned at the water's edue where
the lake was shallow. Three armed schooners also
su|)ported our left and guarded our conunnnications
with the American shore.
Colonel McRee being the Chief Engineer of the
army of the Niagara, most of his time was absorbed
in directinu', insi)ectini'', and takinir ireneral charge
of the defensive arrangements of the camp. Lieut.-
Colonel AVood, the engineer next in rank, in conse-
(pience of the loss of officers in tlie preceding bat-
if i
I^B
1 '.
'^H
■1^
'ii
ll
'1
-'Jl
E
242 SIKOE AXD DEFEXSK OK FORT ERIE IN I81t.
ties of Chippewa and Niafjarn, had been assigned to
the command of the 21st Infantry, which recpiired
mncli of liis attention. Lieutenant Story, tliough
belonging to the engineer company, was most of his
time on detachment duty at Buffalo and Black Hock.
Thus on Lieutenant Douglass, the only other officer
of engineers, almost exclusively devolv^ed the con-
struction and repairs of the works at Foi't Erie.
His excessive labors are best to be inferred from his
own words: "On the 2d of August, at evening, my
own little battery, though not quite finished, was
platformed and the guns mounted. 1 made my bed
on the platform, that night; and, for many weeks
afterwards, took no rest, except on the trailed
liand-spikes of one of the guns, with an old tent
spread upon them, and wrapped in a horseman's
cloak."
Before entering upc^n the Siege of Fort Erie,
Drummond saw the importance of capturing our
batteries at Bhick Rock, covering onr su]>[)lies and
magazines i-emoved from Schlosser to Buffalo; and
the three armed schooners in the lake protecting the
water a[)})roaclies to Fort Erie from our depots on
the American shore. Though, on August 3d, he
failed to accomplish the first ; he succeeded, on the
12tli, in capturing two of our negligently guarded
vessels.
That Drunnnond, with his great sujieriority of
force, limited himself on the 3d to an attempt to
take our batteries at Black Rock, and not attack our
scarcely outlined camp, is only to be accounted for
by assiui-niiii'- to the battle of Nia<::ara its true char-
MAJOR DAVID BATP:R DOFGLASS.
243
of
to
our
for
lliar-
acter — a signal, im])ressive and decided victory on
our part.
(xeneral Gaines arrived at Fort Erie on the 4tli,
and assumed connnand the next day to the great
joy of the army, wliich, witli reason, had little con-
tidence in General Ripley. The enemy's tire ^vas
inconsiderable till the 7tli, when his iirst completed
battery of tive pieces opened u])on us from a dis-
tance of 900 yards. From this time, the cannonade
became severe and unremitting on both sides ; and,
as the enemy's ricochet tire passed lengthwise through
our camp, the engineers erected massive traverses at
right angles to the line of intrenchments, wliich
saved many lives. Despite the enemy's efforts, our
works were carried on with vigor and steadiness,
Towson's battery being completed on the 10th ; tlie
intrenchments between it and the fort, incbiding two
batteries on the line, had been much advanced ; and
the other defenses were in sufWciently good condi-
tion to protect the camp.
In the meantime, both parties had been re-en-
forced and every preparation made for the desperate
attack impending. Drununond's arrangements being
completed, his trenches opened, his batteries estab-
lished, and his covering camp made defensible, he,
on the morning of the 13th, opened a furious can-
nonade and bond)ardment upon our works, which
was ke[)t up till 7 r. m. of the 14th. Gaines and
his engineers, thus apprised of the coming assault on
the dark niglit before them, inspected every part of
the works, gave explicit orders to meet all emergen-
cies, kept one-third of the garrison in turn under
L>44
sie(;e and dkkexse of foiit ehie in ism.
• I
LRiiKNr). — A, old Foit F.rie ; ((, a, denii-hastinns ; /;, ;i ravtlin, ami (, i . lildLk-liniisL's.
Tliese were all tniilt by til-: llrilisli prcvicnis to its capture at the liegimiinn of July. (/, d,
ba-tioiis Imilt by the Americans diiriiiK tlie seiKC ; V, e, a redoubt built for the security of the
deml bastious, ((, a.
H, the American camp, secured on the right by the line fl, the Douglass Hattcry, I, and Fort
Krie ; on the left, ami in fniut, by the lines,/,/,/, and l)atleries on the extreme right and
left of tiiem. 'I'hat on tlic right, immedialely under the letter i in the words i.i:\ i-i. ii.mn, is
'I'ottson's; h, h, etc., camp traverses; n, main traverse; (>, magazine traverse, covering also
the heail-iiuarlers of (ieneial ( '.aincs ; /), hospit.d traverse ; q, grand parade and ijrovost-guard
traverse ; r, lieneral Urown's bead-cpuirters ; .s', a ilrain ; t, road from (.'bipiiewa up the lake.
C, the encampment of Volunteers outside of the intrencbments, who joined the army a few
d.ij's before the sortie.
D, 1), the liritisb works. 1,^, H, tbcir first, second, and third battery; I', the route of
Porter, with the left column, to attack the Uritish right flank on the ITth ; X, the ravine, and
route of Miller's conimand.
:ma.i<)i; kavid p.atks doicjlass.
2.45
■1U1U-.CS.
of the
ml Fort
^lit .iiul
IAIN, is
ng also
it-giuiiJ
lake.
y a few
oiite of
lie, and
jii'ins, and made cvei'v i)r('i>aiati()ii t(» guard again.st
the expected hlow. At tliis time, Lieutenant Doug-
lass conunanded his own l)atteiy on tlie riglit ; Caj)-
tain Williams, Fort Krie ])ropei'; Ca])tain Towson,
his l)attei'v on Snake hill ; Caj)tains Bi<ldle and
Fanning, the two l)atteries well situated on tlie front
intrenehments ; and Lieut.-Cohmel Wood, with the
21st infantry, tlie extreme left; while the remainder
of
brio-ad
rA'i
ider Colonel A?
all.
Scott s veter
was posted, in su])))ort, on the right ; Ripley's brigade,
on the left; and Porter's ^•olunteers occu[)ied the
centre.
jMidnight came undistui'hed and calm ; but it
was the lull before the tem])est. Already three
Britisli assaulting colunms were pre])aring for their
deadly errand. One, 1,4<>() strong, under Licut.-Col-
onel F^ishei", was to assail our left; the second, of about
700, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Drummond, was
to attack Fort Krie; and the third, nund)ering 750,
led by Colonel Scott, was to turn our right. At
half-past two, on the morning of the 15th, tlie storm
first l)urst upon our left; but, no sooner were our
pickets driven in, tlian a sheet of flame from Tow-
soifs artillery and \\'oo(rs infantry disclosed the
enemy's advance to within ten feet of our lines, and
soon after, making an effort to turn tlie abatis by
wading breast-deej> through the lake. After a des-
perate struggle, the enemy was re]Milsed ; but, ral-
Ivino-, aa'ain and auain, the attack was renewed, till
fiv^e times failing to gain any advantage and being
terribly cut up by our murderous fire, Fisher finally
abandoned the enterprise.
IM^
•24(1
) SIEGE AXD DEFENSE OF FOKT EHIE IN 181t.
Near to three o'clock our pickets on tlie right re-
treated and soon was heard the measured tread of
Scott's column of attack, moving to penetrate the
camp by the intervals between the fort and the ex-
treme rij^lit. Soon the tlash of Douo-lass' and McRee's
guns, loaded heavily with grajie, canister and mus-
ket-balls, made darkness visible, ])lowed furrows
through the moving mass, and finally repulsed the
brave Britons who, failing to scale or l)reak through
our works, retire discomfited, at day-break, to join
their reserve near the ^v<^ods.
Colonel Drunnnond, simultaneously with the
assault of Scott on our right, with daring courage
approached every assailal)le point of Fort Erie
proper, endeavoring to carry it by escalade. Thrice
he led liis sanguinary folloAvers up the parapet, but
was thrice repulsed with great carnage. Desperate
to gain the fort, which six weeks before the British
had lost, some hundred of the boldest of the Royal
Artillery, under cover of the low hano-infr smoke,
stole silently around the ditch, with great celerity
mounted the parapet, and gained a sure footing in
the l)astion before they could be <lislodge(l. Goaded
to madness by his losses, Drummond gave orders to
show no mercy to the " damned Yankees." Many
of our men were inhumanly slauo-htered. The
gallant Lieutenant Macdonough, severely wounded
while defending himself with a handspike and
pleading for his life, was murdered by Drummond's
own land, but the wretch soon paid the forfeit of
his b.',\rbarity, being shot by one of our soldiers
through the heart, while the cry of " no quarter " was
MA.IOi; I).\V11> r.ATKS DOUGLASS.
im:
still on his lij)s. The iiohle conunaiuler of the fort,
Captain AVillianis,""' was also mortally wounded,
dying in an hour.
Re-enforcements were now brought up on our
side, and rej^eated attempts having failed, a more
furious charge was to be made to dislodge the enemy
from the l)astion of Fort Ei'ie. ''To this enterprise,
then," says Douglass, "the only thing now remain-
ing to com])lete the rej)ulse of the enemy, the atten-
tion of every beholder was most anxiously bent.
Captain Alexander John Williams was the oldest son of Colonel Jona-
than Williams, the first Chief o[ the present Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army,
lie w;is born Oclol)er 10, 1790, in Phihulelphia, Pa.; entered the Military
Academy, as a Cadet, Jnly 0, ISOG; and was gradnatod from that institn-
tion, and promoted Marcii 1, ISll, to he a Second Lieutenant of Ensxineers.
He continued on duty at West Point till 1812, when he was ordered to
superintend the construction of Fort Milllin, Pa., and while there was pro-
moted, July 1, 1812, to a First Lieutenancy. Heliovin;; that he would see
more active service, and be more rapidly ads-anced in the Artillery, during
the War now declared a;;;ainst Great Britain, lie asked for a transfer to that
corps, in which he was commissioned a Captain, Marcli 17, 1813. Ills resi-
dence of over a year on the low lands of the Delaware River, at this time
had brought on a dangerous fever, yet, so anxious was he to share the
honors and perils of the campaign of 1811, that, before he was convalescent,
ho applied to be ordered to the Niagara army, which he joined in time
to take part in the Defense of Fort Erie. Here his aliilities were so con-
si>icuous that lie was selected for the important command of the old work
liefore the assault was made upon it. Tiirice, on the morning of Au<rust 15,
1814, had he repulsed the enemy, laid, when a fourth desperate assault
was being made upon the bastion of the fort, he perceived a lighted port
fire in front of the enemy, enabling them to direct their (ire with great
precision. Instantly lu! sprang forward, cut it otV with his sword, and
in the act fell mortally wounded— thus noliiy sacrillcing himself to save his
men. So perished tliis gallant and acconiiilished olllcer, not twenty-four
years old, sincerely lamented by his friends for his private worth, and
deeply n>grelted by the whole army, with which he was a favorite.
Though ambitious of distinction, he was perfectly unassuming; with laud-
able spirit, he was indefatigable in the discharge of every duty; and, by
his intelligence, zeal and exemplary deportment, won the esteem and ap-
plause, not only of his subordinates, but of every superior in command.
V I
248 sik<;k a\I) i)Kri:\si: oi- kokt kimk in 18U.
The flrinii; wltliiii tlie fort liad already begun to
shu'ken, as if to give place to the cliarging party ;
the next moment was to give us the clang of weap-
ons ill (h'adly sti'ife. But, suddenly, every sound
was jiuslied hy the sense of an uiuiatural tremor
beneath our feet, like the first heave of an earth-
quake ; and, ahnost at the same instant, the centre
of the l)astion buist uj), with a territic ex[)losion ;
and a jet of flame, mingling with fragments of tim-
ber, earth, stone, and bodies of i len, rose to the
heii2:ht of one oi" two hun(b'ed feet in the air, and
fell in showers of ruin, to a great distance, all
around. One of my men was killed by the falling
timber."
This destruction and appalling explosion of our
anuinuiition chest (not a magazine or mine as has
been often stated) struck such panic among the
enemy that the surviving British offtcers could not
rally their men. Biddle, though wounded, now,
Avith his guns, enfiladed the glacis and esplanade
in front of Fort Ei'ie, while Fannino-'s l)attery dealt
terrible execution upon the enemy flying, in com-
plete disorder and dismay, with the loss of nearly a
thousand in killed, wounded, and prisoners, or
twelve times that of ours, which was but eighty-four.
It was now broad daylight, and the contest was
over ; but what a scene of carnage presented itself !
" At every point," says Douglass, "where the battle
had raged, were strewed the melancholy vestiges of
the recent terrilile conflict. There is the ruined
bastion, the scene of such desperate strife, smoking
with the recent explosion, and, all around it, the
r :»
AfA.JOU DAVID HATES DOUGLASS.
249
[e\i !
ittle
PS of
[ned
Ung
the
ground covered with the bodies of the dead and
wounded — the former in every stage and state of
mutilation. Near the bastion lay the dead body of
a noble-looking man, Colonel Drunimond, the leader
of the British charge at that point; his counte-
nance was stern, fixed and commanding in death.
In front of our tii'es, between the bastion and tlie
\vater, the ground was literally piled with dead."
(leneral (iraines, in his othcial (les[)atch to the
War Department, says of this " handsome victory":
" The Ninth, under the command of Cai)tain Ed-
mund Fisher, was actively engaged against the left
of the enemy, and, with the aid of I.ieutenant
Douglass' corps of bombardiers, commanding the
water battery, and of that of the volunteers, under
Captains Broughton and Harding, elfected their re-
pulse." Again, writing in IHlf), he says: "Anu>ng
the many brilliant scenes, which combined to dispel
the clouds and light up the darkness of that memor-
able morninu:, the defense of the Doui-'lass batterv
stands rivalled by few, and, according to the number
of guns, surpassed by none. The youthful com-
mander of that battei'v excited niv admiration. His
constancy and courage during a brisk cannonade and
bombardment of several weeks, often in the night as
well as in the day; his gallantry and good conduct
in the defense against a vigorous assault by a vast
superiority of numbers, are incidents which cannot
cease to be cherished in my memory, as among the
most heroic and pleasing I have ever Avitnessed."
While Ave were much elated A\ith victory, the
enemy Avas correspondingly depressed by his defeat
Ml
I \ »! "
il ii i!
I „
250 SIi:«iK AM> Dill KN'Si; OK r<)|!|' KIMi: l\ IHII.
hikI severe losses of mI'oiiI one roiirlli of liis whole
force. Tliis t^jivc us ;i few (1,'iys I'espile frotii liis
HI
(ill
er\' life, (»l wliieli we tii,i(le nl
li'^eiil
use III I'jin-
idly repMilill'j' I lie (|;mi;ii^'e(l l);istioil, eo||i|(|e(iiij;
the lllilililshed iiil reilellliielils, st I'eiiLl't lieiiiim' weak
points, elosiiii; opening's, reiiewiiiLi' the }i)).Mlis, jMhl-
iiiij^ new defenses around Kort Krie, inakini^ fraises
of j)ikes to the parapets, and iinprovini:; oiw condi-
tion i^^eliel'ally.
In the nieaiiliine theeiieiiiy was not idle, tlioin/h
their lire was siispeiide*!. 'riM'V extended (heir
intrenehineiits and const riicte<l a new l>attiM'v, which,
with the oiK' already erected, opened a leri'ihh! lire,
<»n the 2lHt, of from 2<»() to ■)()() shots per day. Ten
(lays later, thi-ir inlreiMdiinents had Im-cii pushed far
to their ri^hf ami a third battery, constructed at r)00
yai'ds, i^reatly i-etar<le(l, l»y its lire, our woi'k on I^'ort
Krie, necressitatin-j,' much ((> We don<' in (Ik^ nii^ld ;
hut;, notwithstandiii'^, our defenses were (pii((* com-
pN^te and all tlie ^uns nionn(e(l hefoi-e the middle of
Se|)t»!ml>ei'.
I
1
n conse(|uence (»f (Jaines' i-ecent wound and
tilth
vipiey s un|Ktpularily w illi tiie amiy, iieiieral lir<»wn,
tlioULch still feeble, resumed command Septemher 2d.
S(H'ini^' the pertinacity of the enemy, the raj)id pi'o.i"'-
I'ess ol Ins woi
ks, I
IIS accessions ol new reu'imeiits.
and despairing; of IxMnji; liinis<'lf re-enforced hy
I/ard, tin* CommandinLi* (Jenei'al hci
oicalU' rcHo
Ived
(o save his army, or jterish in (he a(tempt. After
careful iiKpiiry Brown found that the I^ritisli camp
WHS two miles distant and (Micij-cled hy thi(d< woods;
that tlie British ai'iny was diNided into tlire(! l)ri-
;ilU
\
rown,
(■!• 2<l.
incuts,
|1 ))>'
t()l\«'(l
|cuii»l>
|()(»(ls ;
MA.IOU U.WIK MAIKS iMMKil.ASS.
iiiM
i^'udcs, nicli of l,'_Mio (<• I, ."»(»<» Inraiilr)' Im's'kIcs llicir
!irtill<'|-y ; IIimI one of (Iirsc, in I urn, I'ttrnicil llicd.iily
sM|>|«»it l(» lln' si«'i^«' woI'Ins, iIkmi }hI\ Miicrd tu williin
|(»(» Id r»(IO VJii'ds of l^'oit I'lii*' ; llijit the li('a\ v ('<|iii-
noctinl slorms luid Hooded llic coiinh-y, |»rodu('ini;"
nincli lyplioid rc\riin I )niinniond'M coinninnd ; ;iiid
that idl iiidicutioiis foretold a new assanll upon his
int r<'nclint(Mits inoie forinidaMc lliaii llie last wliicli
had IxM'ii so siL!;nally defeated, ("aiefully wcin'hinn'
all thing's, and consnltini;' his nutst li-'.isled axUiscM's,
he deeifled I hat his Itest def(Mise was in (dVense,
though he was far inferior in fore*- to the t'neniy.
He resolved to make a hold soi'lie upon the foe,
"storm the hat lei'ies, dest I'oy the cannon, and roughly
handle the l)i'iL!;ade on duty before those in reserves
could he hron^ht into action" fi'om Iheii' distant
camp, Makini^" liis prej)arations with ^icat secr<'cy,
fati^Mie-part/u's uii(h'r ahh^ olHcei's wei't^ sent, on the
l()th, to mai'k a I'oad throuL:;h the swampy and
wooih'd ground heforc oui' cam|>, \\hi(di, undis-
co\t'i'e(l, succeeded in liiiniiiL;,' the ri^ht and i^ctlinL;"
in I'ear of the enemy's hatteries; while a small
ivixiue, running from alxtut the middle (»f our in-
trenchments to IIm' edn(. of t|i(> forest, was e.\|>loi('d.
Kverythin^' heini;" favoi-ahle, the sky cloudy, and
tlu^ atmosphere thi<'k with driz/liiiiLi; I'aiii, oui- troops,
on the mornini^ of the 17th, werc^ pai"ade<| ['m the
dai'ini!,' attack. The left column, in three divisions
headed res|>ectively hy (»ihs(»n, Wood and I)avis,
tlic wdiole undei' (Jeneral l*(»i-ter, Ljalue*!, hy the cir-
cuitous route mai'ked out the day hefore, the lii-itisli
rigiit Hank ; while Miller's column, passing' in small
it
Hi
252 SIEGE AND DKFEXSE OF FOIJT KKIE iN IRU.
cletacliineiits tliroui;!! the nivine at rii^lit ans^les to
tlie middle of our front, reached tlie edije of tlie
woods, under cover of wliich it inarched to the liead
of another ravine, passing down which it took up
its position nearly opposite the enemy's centre. Rip-
ley's column was in reserve under Ft)rt Erie ; and
the artillery was ready to coxer the return of our
troo})8.
Before three o'clock of the afternoon of the 17th,
Porter assaileil the right of the enemy's works ;
while Miller, charging from the ravine, pierced the
enemy's intrenchments. In a few minutes, they had
taken possession of the block-houses; captured the
second and third batteries; disabled their guns;
blown up a magazine ; cleared the siege works of de-
fenders ; and, after a short struggle, the first battery
was also cari'ied. T\w British reserves were inune-
diately j)ut in motion, at their camp, to march to the
rescue ; but already our sallying cohnnns had done,
mostly with the bayonet, their allotte 1 task, and
were safelv retirinii; in ijood order to the fort.
In this glorious achievement, the losses in killed
and wounded were about 500* on either side ; but
we took 385 prisoners. Among the mortally
wounded, we had to mourn the three gallant
leaders of Porter's divisions — Davis, Gibson and
AVood. " Thus,'' said Brown, in his official des-
patch, " one thousand regulai's and an equal portion
of militia, in one hour of close action, blasted the
* Miijor-Goneral Sir Jiiiiiea Cannicliael-Sniytli in liis Precis of tlio Wars
of Cuniida, says : "Tlie nritish iiad GOD oIHclts ami men killed and
wounded ; the Americans 510,"
JIA.TOli DAVID BATES DOUGLASS.
253
^ to
the,
lead
: up
Uip-
and
our
1 7 til,
)rks ;
I the
y had
d the
o;uns ;
of de-
attery
iuune-
to the
U)ue,
and
killed
; l)ut
)rtally
• allaiit
[1 and
|l des-
jortioii
led the
Ihe Wars
lilletl anil
hopes of tlie enemy, destrt)}'ed the fruits of fifty
days' labor, and diminished his effective force one
thousand men at least." Jesu]>, subsequently the
Quartermaster-General of our Army, says: "Tlie
st)rtie from Foi't Erie was l)y far the most splendid
acliievement of the cam])aiLi:n, whether we consider
the boldness of the conception, the excellence of the
plan, or the a])ility with which it was executed."
And Napier, rcfei'ring to it in his " Peninsula AV^ar,"
speaks of it as " tlie only instance in liistory where
a besieii;ini;' army was entirely broken u[) and routed
by a sino'le sortie."
Drnnunond broke up his encamjmient duriuijc
the ni<2;lit of the 21st, and retired to his intrench-
ments behind the Chi})])ewa; and so ])recipitate was
his retreat that he altandoned some of his stores
in front of Fort Ki'ie, and <lestroyed <»tlu'i's at Fi'ench-
man's Creek.
C'hi])pewa, Niauara, lMattsl)nri;', and Fort Erie
will ever remain j)roud names to conunemoi'ate the
Campaign of 1814, and make us almost ftu'get tlie
sad disasters of lSli> and \S\:\.
Douglass' ex[)osures, privations, fatigues, and
anxieties in this eventful campaign, proved too great
for him. After making a survey of our works at
Fort Erie, Colonel McRee, towards the end of Octo-
ber, ordered him from the field while ]>rostrated by
a bilious fever, from which, thanks to liis tem[)erate
habits and a vigorous constitution, he gradually
i-ecovered, though nevei- |)ei'manently.
For his " distinguished and meritorious services
in the Defense of Fort Erie, U. C," Lieutenant
ff
if:
ml
i;
\ ^
254
SIKGE AND DKFEXS?: OF FOltT KlUE IN 1814.
Douglass was brevetted a C^aptain to date from
Sept. 17, 1814. Late in 1814, lie was detailed for
duty with tlie army then organizing against Castine,
when the proclamation of peace changed his destina-
tion toAVest Point, where he became, January 1, 181;"),
the Principal Assistant Professor of Natural and Ex-
perimental Philosophy in the Military Academy.
For his new career he was admirably suited, both
in his love for science and a})titude for its teaching.
At this time the ^Military Academy, under connnand
of Captain Partridge the senior engineer oflicer
present, was in a ratliei- chaotic condition. Doug-
lass, fresh from Yale (College, where ordei' and sys-
tem existed, determined, with the aid of the other
members of the Academic Staff, having like views,
to use every effort to effect a radical change. The
opportunity soon presented itself, he, as senior
engineer in the absence of Captain Partridge, ])ei'-
suaded himself that it was proj)er to do wrong, in
usurj)ing power not belonging to a temjun'ary com-
mander, to accomplish a great good to the Military
Academy. Accordingly, so soon as Partridge had
left West Point for Washington, Douglass, Oct. 30,
1815, issued a circular re(|Uesting "the Professors, the
Assistant Professors and Teachei's of the Military
Academy, as a body, to deliberate on the propriety
of arraiii^iiiii: a course of study for the Academv,
and of casting the cadets into grades, according to
their progress in that course ; also on the i)ro[)i'iety
of di'aw'lng up a code of regulations for the govei'ii-
nient of the Academic Start' in their ])rofessional
duties, and on such other subjects connected with
MAJOR DAVID IJATKS DOUGLASS.
255
ao,
lie.
Iiry
iiy,
to
irn-
ml
ItU
the interests of the Staff as they might tliiiik proper/'
The Academic Staff met that evening, agreed upon
a general outline c^f a course of study, and recom-
mended a chissitication of cadets by means of an
examination which Douglass, tlie next day, ordered
to be held at once. After a continuance of this
examination, for nine days, more than eighty of the
cadets were reported as "not (pialified agreeably to
law to enter U[)on the Academic course,'' though its
re(iuirements were very small. Douglass' reign as
Acting Superintendent was shoi't ; but it produced
good fruit. Though Partridge, on liis return, disaj)-
proved of all his suboi'dinate's ju-oceedings, he, in
December following, ordered an examination to take
place before an invited Board of Visitors, which
practically ado|)ted Douglass' views. Accordingly,
an order was issued by the Chief Engineer to the
Acting Superinten<lent and Academic Staff* to i)re-
])are and reconniiend a coui'se of instruction. The
after wrangles between Partridge and the Academic
Staff* it is not [tertineiit to exhibit in this ])lace.
Sufhce it to sav, that Brevet Major Svlvanus Thaver
superseded Captain Partridge, becoming Sujteriu-
tendent of the Militarv Academv Julv 28, 1H17,
from which day (hites the beginning of the glorious
career of the Institution.
l'j)on the death of .Vndrew KUicott, August 21),
1820, his son-in-law Douglass succeeded him, as
Professor (^f ]\[atliematics in the Military Academy
and vacated his conunissioii of ('a[)tain of En-
gineers, to which grade he had been promoted
March .'U, 181 i>. Tlie text books in Mathematics,
III
smam
'* t
,,
<; 1
1
1
■ :
1
[!
j 1
• '
(:"
256 SIEGE AND PEFEXSE OF FORT EKTE IN 1814.
whicli had been used in the Academy, were derived
from English sources and constructed on the synthetic
plan. Even Algebra was not taught analytically ;
the Dift'erential and Integral Calculus had not been
introduced ; and a moderate modicum of Mathemat-
ics sufficed, till young, living energy had been infused
into the institution by Major Thayer's superinten-
dency and Douglass' promotion. The former, while
abroad examining educational estaldishments, ha<l
become enamored of the analytical method of in-
struction, and the latter fully appreciated its value.
Hence, at once, were adopted for the lowei" classes,
tlie elementary text books which had recently been
translated from the French into English l)y Professor
Farrar of IIal'^■ar(l ; the higher branches being studied
lu the original language by the more advanced
cadets. This was a great step in the })rogress of
scientific education at West Point, by wliidi the
Military Academy greatly profits to this day.
ll]>(>n the resignation of Professor Chuide Crozet,
educated at the celebrated Polytechnic School of
Paris, and who had served under the great Napoleon
as an artillery officer, Douglass was ti'ansferred.
May 1, 1828, to the chair of Civil and Military En-
gineering. This change was much to his taste, for,
though fond of mathematical instruction, the bent
of his genius led to the science of construction, for
which he had lull scope in his new professorship.
Crozet liad done nuich, particularly in Descriptive
Geometi'y as elementarv to Em^ineerino: ; but as
there wer<' no text books on the subject, almost
everything had to be taught by lectures. Few public
L
UfAJOR PAYID HATKS DOT'OLASS.
)ii)l
works then existed in tliis eonntiy, .'ind few pnbli-
cations had reached ns ofivino; the results of Euro-
pean constniction ; lience tlie new Professor liad to
supply deficiencies by unremitting labor in compi-
ling information from every available source for his
lectures, often of three hours' dnrati(>n, given at the
black-board. By great assiduity lie soon I'educed
this department of instruction to a practical system,
adapted to the wants of the service and the neces-
sities of the country. His eleves, of whom he was
justly proud, were such eminent engineers and sci-
entists as Mahan, Bache, Bowman, Brown, Bartlett,
Childe, Church, Mason, Lee, Swift, and the many
who subsecpiently profited l)y his instruction on the
l)attle-fields of Mexico.
Douglass, in his sixteen gears' service at the j\Til-
itary Academy, had ac(|uired such a scientific re})U-
tation that his professional advice was often in re(|ui-
sition. While on leave of absence from the Mili-
tary Academy, dui'ing the sunnner vacation of l<Slt),
he was the Astronomical Survey oi' of the Commis-
sioners for determininjT: the U. S. Boundary from
Niagara to Detroit, and, the following summer, he
accompanied Governor Cass, in a similar capacity, to
the Northwest ; during his [sunnner vacations from
1826 to 1880, as Consulting Engineer of the State of
Pennsylvania, he was employed upon the Conneaut
and Lake Erie Canal, French Creek feeder, Upi)er
Delaware Canal, and the terminus of the Pennsylva-
nia Railroad ; directed other state improvements,
such as the Sandy and J^eaver Canal in Ohio ; and
declined several distinguished positions, besides the
# '■
'i :'
V:
I
i(.. ;
'J
258 SIEGE AM) DKI'ENSE OF FOltT ETIIE IN 1814.
Chief Eiigiiieei'sliip of three States. It was duriiiij^
one of tliese suiiiiiier vacations tliat lie became con-
nected with tlie A[ori'is Canal C/ompany of New
Jersey, lor the purpose of ])ringing inclined planes
into effective operation in lieu of locks for canal
naviff-ation ; and not l^eino- able to ijjet an extended
leave of abseuce, he resigned liis Professorship in
the ]\[ilitary Academy, May 1, 182.S, to accept the
Chief Engineershi[) of this important work which
he successfully carried out to a practical result.
In 18-S'2, he was ap[)ointed Professor of Natural
Philosophy in the University of the City of New
York, then startino- into life with lar<i:e plans and hiixh
expectations ; but tinding his professorship to inter-
fere with his engineei'ing pursuits, he relin([uislied
this position after one year's duty, though he was
borne on the rolls, till 1840, as Professor of Civil
EuLrineeriiiii: and Architecture, durino; which time
he (lelivered eighty lectures on these su})jects. The
beautiful building of the University, on AVashing-
ton 8(piare, New York City, was erected tVom his
designs.
In 183.S, he was the Chief Engineer of the
Brooklyn and Jamaica Railroad, on Long Island, N.Y.
Eor nearly sixty years, the subject of supjdying
the City of New York with pure water had agi-
tated the public mind, and various projects had been
]»roposed to ])ring it from Manhattan Island creeks,
Bronx river, Ilye ]»onds, streams in New Jersey and
Connecticut, the upper Hudson, and, finally, in an
o[)en canal from Croton river. In 1832, the Asiatic
cholera "was very severe in New York, while Phila-
Il !
u!
MAJOR BAYID BATES DOT^GLASS.
259
delpliia, bountifully supplied witli Scliuylkill river
water, suffered little. This fact and tlie proof that
one hundred tons of excrement daily poisoned the
wells of New York, gave the crowning impulse to
the great question of ^vater supply for the city.
In February, 188.S, Water Commissioners were
appointed by the Legislature of the State, who em-
ployed Mr. Canvass White, an experienced engineer,
and Major Douglass " to make separate and distinct
examinations of the Croton, Sawmill and Bronx
rivers, in tlie counties of Westchester and Putnam,
together with their several tributaries ; to provide
the Conunissioners with a map and ])rotile of the
country; and their opinion of the (juality of the
water, the supply that might be dej)ended on in all
seasons, and the pi'acticability of conveying it to
the city at an elevation of sutHcient height to pre-
clude the use of machinery, and answer all the ])ur-
[loses contem])lated." They were also instructed to
desio-nate the best and most feasible route foi' con-
ducting the water, the most tit and proper manner
for constructing the conduits and reservoirs, the
pro])able amount of damage that would l)e sustained
by the pro[)rietors of the water to be taken, and of
the land it might be necessary to occupy in the con-
struction, toi»:ether with the total amount of cost to
the city for completing and putting in opei'ation the
whole pi'oject.
Other enoau'ements i)revented Mr. AVhite from
performing his allotted })art ; conse(piently, all the
preliminary examinations and extended surveys de-
volved upon Major Douglass. In ten weeks lie
^Tr
'' H
h
200 SIEGE AND DEFENSE OF FOP.T ERIE IN 1814.
completed them and demonstrated tlie practicability
of the ]H'oject ; and, Nov. 1, 1888, submitted his
I'eport, Avitli ])lans and estimates, to the AVater Com-
missioners, who, on the 12th, forwarded it, with
their full aj)proval, to the. Common Council. Tlie
re])ort reco^unended the use of the Croton river
and its tributaries, the water to be conveyt^d by an
enclosed masonr\' a(|iieduct, as cheaper and more
(hirabh^ than ii'on pil>es, of thirty-seven miles long-
to ^Manhattanville, and tive and a half from thence to
tlie Distributinii' Reservoir, including an aqueduct
bridge across Harlem river, 1,180 feet long, and 120
feet high above the foundations of the piers support-
ing nine semi-circular arches.
The ('ity of New York was jubilant over the
solution of tlie great problem ; the State Legislature,
May 18, 1884, authorized the work; the people, at
the sju'ing election of 1885, endorsed it; Commission-
ers were permanently organized ; and Douglass was
unanimously appointed the C^hief Engineer. With
an inadeqnate force, he began, in July, 1885, accord-
ingly, to lay out the boundary of the Croton reser-
voir and the line of the aijueduct over the nmgli
region near the Hudson ; and, early in October, the
locati(m of the Crotxm dam was completed, to which
the Commissioners objected and changed it, as also
its height, to GarretsonV Mill.
Durini"- the winter, Douijlass was en2:a2:ed in
oflice-work which brought him more frequently in
contact witli the (■omiiiissioners, who could not, or
would not appreciate the scientiHc character of this
great work; who interfered with the discipline over
MAJOR DAVID HATKS DOUGLASS.
201
siil)()i'(liii{ites ; were iinwillijig to establish an engineer
(lejuirtment nnd define Douglass' prerogatives; and,
in fine, treated tliis vast undertaking as little more
tlian an extended job of plain masonry, wliicli
miglit be carried on at triHing exi)ense.
In the spring of 188(5, Douglass, witli his small
force, was again in the field (•om])leting liis surveys
prepai'atory to adjusting tlie claims of proprietors of
lands to be used for tlie woi'ks. AVhile thus engaged
in tlie field, the Conunissioners were plotting in the
city. Suddenly, without making any charges against
the Chief Engineer, the Conunissioners passed a reso-
lution removing Douglass, Nov. 4, ls;}(i,and appointed
as his successor a gentleman with whom it appears
they had been in correspondence for some time.
The change of engineers, however, effected no
material change in the a(|ueduct, exce[)t of the
Crotoii dam, as a plausible pretext for their ai'bitrary
act, which was built after three years of lal)or, and,
before another was at an end, \vas s^vept a\\'ay by a
freshet.
Major Douglass, says the late Rev. Di-. Hale,
"had entered ii|»on the survey and plans for this
great work with (diaracteristic enthusiasm. He saw
it in idea, rivalling the most celebrated of ancient or
modern times, the glory of the city and his own.
The difficulties in the way of its construction only
stimulated his ingenuity, and furnished so many
opportunities for dis[)laying the skill which could
ov^ercome them. He saw them and saw through
them. He was master of the science of construction,
and he hoped to erect a work ^vhich would not only
2n"2 SIKOE AND DKKKXSK OF FOHT KKIK IN 18U.
last for centuries, 1)ut n))()n wliicli for a contiiry at
least tlie liamiiier of tlie rej)airer should liave no
occasion to Ix' lieai'd. Tliis concc^ption of n ])erfect
and |)erniMnent woi'k lie (Mnlenvored to connnunicate
to tlie ConunissioiuM's, nnd fully ]»ersinided that no
sucli woi'k cou
Id 1)
acconiplis
lied
on tlie conunon
system of contracts, and esju'cially wIkmi contracts
are iriven
fi
IVOl'S.
Hut riirlit vr
wi'oni;, liis concejytions \vei'<' not the conceptions of
the (
oimnissioners.
II
is Niews wei'e no
ttl
leir \i(nvs.
lie was for them an impracticable man, * * *
" lie felt deej)ly this disappointment of his hopes ;
this check in his professional career. He knew that
his reputation must be assailed for the vindication of
those who had intlicted upon him this injury; but
he bore all with ^-reat resionation, assured of the
respect of those who best knew how to a[)preciate
his merit, and conHdent too, that time which spares
no im[K'i
■feet
work, would vindicate h
us plans
1
Douijlass' next ])ubric work was the Greenwood
Cemetery on Lonii' Island, X. V., of which he oi'liri-
riated the iirst distinct idea ; was active in it from
the besTjinninii:, becominii; the tirst President of the
corporation; and, in ls;i*»-4(), laid out the grounds
with geometrical skill, showing his perfect knowl-
edtre o
f th
le relations o
f lin
es, SI
irfi
ices an(
I f
orms,
cond)ined with the highest ai'tistic beauty. His
work at Greenwood, so varied in landscape and so
retined in taste, has given ])leasure to thousands ;
has taken from death its desolation ; and has been
the prototype Necropolis of many throughout our
country and Canada.
:MA.I()n DAVID IJAI'KS J)()r«iLASS.
J 03
wood
oriL^i-
fi'oiu
r the
DUiids
inowl-
ornis,
His
11 id so
ijviids ;
l)eeii
t our
Willie I*ivsid('ii( of ( Jiccnwood Ceiiietery Asso-
c'i.'ition, Mild [tract iciiii;' liis jirofcssioii of Civil Kiii;i-
iieer, lie \v;is elected President of KeiiNoii ('»»Ileu'e,
wliicli lie ju'cep
ted.
UIK
1 ill is II, ivi
llO\(M
1 to (
l.-llll-
bier, Ohio, when lie coimiieiiced his lahoi's in the
institution with ureat eaniestiM^ss and industry, in
aiitici[>ation of a loiii^ career of usefulness in a
sjiliere for which he was so well suited l»y taste and
e.\|)erieiice. Here he flattered himself that he was
to spend the reinaiuder of his days away from the
collisions of party strife, the coiiliicts of pecuniary
interest, and the rivahMes of low ambition. Hut his
al)0(h^ ill liis new arena of actixity was of scarce
three years' duration, lie beiiiij; suddenly, Feb. l\),
1844, removed from his office, which he had declined
to resign, because no charges were jtreferred auainst
him. A committee of the Board of Trustees, wliicli
speaks of Douglass as "a most excellent man, well
worthy of universal ' respect and afb^'tion," de-
clared him inipojnihd'^ ])ut, " in regard to the justice
of this difficulty, they do not pretend to speak."
To be un[)opular with students is so universal, when
a President exercises a rigid discipline in the j)er-
formance of a very responsible duty towards the
institution of which he is the head, that few, who
have had to deal with unreasoning college-boys,
consulting their own more than the interests of
their Alma Mater, would attach the slightest im-
portance to such a charge. True or false, however, no
])ro()f was alleged, and, certainly, it was a most arbi-
trary l)roceediiig to be judge, jury and executioner of
one against whom they admitted, "nothing at all "
'v
i i:;
/I
i I'.j:
204
SIK(iK AM) l)i:i'"KNSK OF KoItT KlUK IN 1811.
mi
was imputed, wliicli consiMUHMitlvMUVcliKlcd Doui^luss
from mnkiiiij any defense. Of tlie i-eul animus for liis
removal, it is unnecessary to speak in tliis l)rief sketeli.
After tliis untoward event, Douglass surveyed
and j)rej)ared the gr()unds for several ])urial places,
for wliicli work he had shown such aptitude at Green-
wood. In 184r)-('), he laid out a beautiful neci'opo-
lis neai' Albany, N. Y. ; in 1S47, developed the land-
sea] )e feat ui-es of Staten Island; and, in 1<S48, pro-
jecte<l the Protestant Cemetery, at (Quebec, Canada.
While eni^aijred in this latter work, he was
elected Professor of Mathematics and Natural Phil-
osophy in (ieneva (\>llege, N. Y. Though tlie
salary was small, and he had more lucrative oft'ei's,
the desire, at his age, to have a fixed home for liis
family, in<biced him i)romj)tly to accept the office
U[)on which he entered, Oct. 1(>, 1848, with high
hopes of sowing, in youthful heads and liearts, tlie
seeds of ti'ue wisdom and sound principles garnered
ui> in his own treasure-house by h)nif years of close
study, deep reflection and varied experience. Here
he continued his congenial duties till towards the
close of the college year, when the effects of his Fort
Fji'ie exposure, in 1814, and a recent fall at Quebec,
produced symptoms of a malady which carried him
to his grave, Octol)er 21, 1841), in the sixtieth year
of his eventful and active life.
We cannot better conclude this sketcli of this
distinguished teacher, notable scientist, eminent en-
giiieer, and sincere Christian, than in the words of
the Rev. Dr. Hale, President of the college in
which Douglass Avas a prominent professor:
r
m
MA.F(U{ h.WII) MATKS l>ol GLASS.
265
tl
m
bt en-
Is of
te lu
" His l)i<><;;ini»li_\, fully written fi'oiii such mate-
rials as arc left in liis \ (dmriiiious pajx'rs and corres-
poiHlciice and nii<::lit be u'atlu'icil fioiii the recol-
It'ction of his conversations, joined to an exhibition
(»f his laboi's, would speak to the heai'ts of tlie
youiiii; and ijjenerous, and inspire them with an am-
bition in wliich then' would lie neither seltishness
nor hai'dness. He united, in a rcmai'kalde det^ree,
the ii'entleiiess of the cliild to the courau'c of tlie
soldier — the freshest interest in whatever was in-
tei'cstiuiji: of those around him (o the hi<jf]iest powei'
of scientific a])straction, jierfect simplicitv to the
most ])olished manners, and hin'h enjoyment of the
innocent i)leasurt's of tliis life to the elevated devo-
tion, tlie self-denyiui:: life and earnest ho])e of tlie
CliJ'istian. AVliat he was he appeared witliout any
politic disL!;uises ; what he thought he said, some-
times with an unwary frankness ; and what he
thought it his duty to do in the position in which
tlie ])rovidence of (Jod had [>laced him, he did witli
all his might, simply and earnestly. We have in
this character the key to liis life. With a tithe of
his ca])acity and attainments, many a man has ac-
complished more for himself, though not for the
public — nioi'e, that is, if we judge as men usually
judge, tVom fortunes accunudated and high places
secured." Of Douglass' stamj) of mind, and his
a])ilitv to instruct, he elsewhere savs: '' Bv the
cast of his mind and the <[ualities of his heart, no less
than by the extent of his attainments, he was fitted
to be a teacher. lie had a I'ai-e facility in acquiring
knowledge and making himself master of it in all its
m
I. !■
f
i
!
If
I
llf
266 SIEGE AND DEFENSE OF FOUT ERIE IN 1814.
broadest ])riiieiples and minutest details ; l)nt it seemed
tile <i;i'eatest pleasure and the peculiar tendency of his
mind to impart it. lie loved hooks, but if I may judge
from my ac(piaintance witli him, which was intimate,
lie \\as less a reader than a thinker. lie looked rever-
ently upon books — books which he desii-ed and
s< night — and read them, not for amusement, but a seri-
ous occupation for his mind and heai't. lie read,
therefore, not superiiciall\', but intently, as he would
have listened to the voice of a te;iclier in answer to
earnest and important iiK^uiries. lie possessed
great jKiwers of analysis, which he exercised, not in
a captious or doubting spirit, but that he might
better know and form the material whereon to
exercise that faculty of his intellect which was
more peculiarly his characteristic, the constructive
talent. Hence, whatever he knew, he knew tlor-
oughly and systematically. Hence, his views, his
opinions, his aims, were .all definite. Hence the
depth and clearness of his instruction. Htnce, in
conversation, he was still the teacher, and, without
any of the forms of argument, his discoui'se, clear
in its light, Avas full of information."
i
1
■i >!'■•
iiied
' his
1(1 ge
iiate,
3ver-
aud
seri-
I'ead,
oiild
er to
^ssed
)t ill
liglit
n to
was
ctive
tlior-
1, his
' the
'.e, ill
:hoiit
clear
ii I' i;
\'l
Noi |-. — Ill till' ^111.1 1 Icr ~r. tic HI n( I 111-. iii.i|i, the |Mi-,iiii>ii 1. 1 I .•rt.iin ||(m>|is .irc imli' .ili-il a^ follou s : .">, Sc' "ii'^
regimi-'nt nf Smitli's liii;;a(U' ; Ii, M.ijni I'l ti r\ liMtlciy ; i, M.ijnr Waniiy's luiit^linii ; S, Sc otl'-, rcj;uliir> ; H, ' "Hi-
paiiics iif Sliill ami DaviilMiii ; 1(1, Kazan's icuimciu ; 1 1, Si luil/'s ; I'.', Kifili lialliiiiuie rcj^imcnt ; PJ, Ilunh'i
artillery ; 10, (Militia and Killcmon ; 17, I!alliiinirc artillery ; ami 'Jtl, ilii- Hiiii>l,.
nor,
(^\
"ctr,
'"A
''^^Tot
"^^^y.
CUWTVAl SKVFATli.
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAIGN OF 1S1;}-14 ;
WITH A lilOGRAl'lHCAL SKKTCII OF
15RIG.-GENERAI. WALKER K. ARMISTEAI).
AQUA SCO
A
BCNEOICT
Ifollows ; 5, S.-i.a
KN<;r-ANi>, in ISI.'), liaviiiu" h<> siiiplus troops to
spurt' from licr li'reat Kiir(»|)e;ui i-oiitcst, and \\ islilug
to divert our forces fj'oiii an invasion of C^mada,
<leterniiiied to use lier navv t(» Moekade our coast,
lay waste our sea-])oard, l)urn our dock-yards, and
destroy oui" sliIpj)inL'". A tit instrument for tliis
maraudiui;' warfare slie found in Hear .Vdmiral Sir
(Jeorge Cocl<l)urii, second in conmiaml on tlie Aniei'i-
can waters, wlio, under the I^ritisli ( ))'der in Council
of I)ecend)er iMi, ISl'J, declared tlie Cliesajteake and
DelaAvare Hays in a state of rigorous l)locka<le, and,
February 4, 181,S, entered the Virginia (\'ipes with
+'our 74-gun shij>s, se\eral smaller arnu'd vessels, and
a good supply of surf-boats for landing on the
defenseless shoi'es. ( )n boai'd (»f this tleet was a land
force of about 1,S0() foicign i'enega<les, called
Chasseurs Hrittani([ue, enlisted in Sjiain tVom among
the ])risoners and vagabonds taken oi- tbund there,
who j)i'efei-red to engage in the British mai'ine service
to i-isking prolonged continement in Dartmooi' jtrison.
While some of the smaller vessels under Com-
^1
n
11
{
i
i
, ::
!■
i i^
H
i i'
H
' <v
■
:!
H
' K
1
■ t
ffi
" >'
270
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAKIN OF 181:5-14.
uuxlore Beresford, visiting tlie Delaware shore, were
utterly foiled in their predatory enterprises, Admii'al
Cockburn took position in Lynnhaven Bay, from
Avhic'h he sent forth marauding expeditions to burn
farm-houses, seize cattle, capture negroes, and carry
on every species of uncivilized warfare against a
sparse prpulatioii scattered along the shores and
having no means of defense.
Emboldened by the success of a more honorable
exj)loit in the capture of our privateer Dolphin in
the liai)pahannock, April 8, 1818, he resolved to
engage in more ambitious adventures, such as plun-
derinji: and burninij: defenseless villaiifes and hamlets
about the head of the Chesapeake. For months was
the British trident trailed in the mire, and the after
companion of the Prince Regent of Great Britain
disgraced by the destruction of market-shallops,
oyster-boats, and pleasure-l)arges, the burning of
barns, bridges, cottages and stables, and the midnight
plundering of uin)rotected dwellings.
On the tirst of June, the piratical Admiral
having received a (H)nsideral)le naval re-enforcement,
and })erhai)s sated with the contemptible warfare
which he had waged against uni»rotected tire-sides,
made the bold resolve of attacking Norfolk and our
tlotilla, consisting of the frigate Constellation and
twenty gun-boats in Hampton Roads, or, more
pi'operly speaking, tlie mouth of Eliza1)eth River, the
feeble defenses of which had been streiiLfthened and
new batteries atlded by Lieut.-Colonel Armistead,
the Chief Engineer of the Chesapeake, of whom we
will ijive a brief sketcli.
HliIG.-OJ:NEltAL WALKKU K. AKMISTEAD.
271
Walter Keith Armistead was born about 1782,
in Virginia ; descended from excellent stock; was
api)ointed, May 1, 1801, a Cadet of Ai'tillei-ists
and Engineers ; joined the Military Academy upon
its lirst organization in 1802 ; and was graduated
from that institution, March 5, 1808, when he was
})romoted to be a Second Lieutenant, Cor})S of
Engineers, U. S. Army. He served at Norfolk,
Va^, and West Point, N. Y., till October, 1812,
when he became Chief Enu:ineer to Major-General
C? ft
Henry Dearborn, having attained, July 81, 1812,
by successive promotions, the rank of Lieutenant-
Colonel.
On the morning of November 21,1812, the British
opened a heavy cannonade and bondjardment upon
Fort Niagara from five batteries, at and near Fort
George, on the opposite bank of the river. From
dawn till twilight, one incessant storm of projec-
tiles was poured upon our fort. Though the shells
did little damage, the two hundred red-hot shot,
Avhich were thrown at us, set fire to the buildings
and threatened their desti'uction ; but, says Colonel
McFeely, in command of Fort Niagara, in his official
despatch, "from the extraordinary vigilance of the
officers and men, particularly Major Armistead, of the
United States C/orps of Kngineevs, whose indefatiga-
l)le exertions were extended to all j)arts of the gari'i-
son, the fires wore got under without being observed
by the enemy." Among the extraordinaiy instances
of bravery on this occasion, Avas the conduct of the
wife of j)rivate Doyle, who, during the most furious
cannonade, served the six-pounder on the old mess-
. ill';
CirKSAl'KAKE OAMl'AUiX OF 1813-14,
m
house Avitli red-liot shot, and showed fortitude
woi'tliy of the Maid of Orhvuis.
After the tenuinatioii of oj)ei'jitioiis on tlie
Niagara frontier, in 181'2, Arniistead was sent early
in tlie fo]k)wini;- spring to tlie Cliesa})eake. He dili-
gently a])])lie<l liiniself at once to protecting Norfolk,
the most important town on the (1iesa|)eake sliores,
and wliose excellent harbor he well knew would
tempt our great naval enemy.
Noi'folk, in ISl.'i, was covered hy Fort Norfolk
on the right, and Fort Nelson on the left bank of
Elizabeth Kiver. These two feelde works and two
small redoubts, called Forts Tar and Bjii'bour, pro-
tecting the hind ajjproaches, Ijeing entii'ely insuf-
ficient for a good defense, Arniistead threw up some
additional intrenchments on Craney Island (contain-
ing about thii't\ acres), at the mouth of the river
and commandiiiii' its entrance. This Island beinci:
the key to the position, it was armed with all the
available artillery, f(,)ur (5, one 1 8, and two 24-pounders,
and had a u:ai'rison of 737 militia, resrulars and sea-
men, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Beatty. The
remainder of our forces, mostly nulitia, occupied the
othei" defenses, the whole of our land forces ])eing
under the control of Hrig.-deneral Robert B. Taylor,
a vei'v etHcient otticei'.
At daylight of June '2'2, 1813 (the aimiversary
of the captui'e of oui' luducky frigate Chesapeake
by the Leo|'ard, which in 1807 had so roused the
whole nation against the insolence and agu'ression of
Kuii'land ), the l^)ritish landed about '2,M){) infantry
and marines, at Ilotlleiu' Creek, and moved towards
ni:T(;.-(;i:M:i;.\r, avai.kki: k. aumistead.
27:i
the
belli
(!•
lor,
Je:i
jiiy
ke
tl
le
\m oi
in try
Craiicy Island, opciiiiiu' liiv with ('(miiivve rockets
and lijilit ai'tillerv; at the same time execiitiiiii; a
ilaiik moNt'ineiit to uaiii the rear of our forees on the
main land. Simnltaneonslv with the advance of
these ti'oo|»s, lifty laip' liritish harges, tilled witli
1, ;-)(>() sailors and niaiines, in donhle eolnmnjed by the
heautii'ul C'entii)ede heionuinu' to Admiral Warren,
were seen approaehinn' under cover of the shore.
iil
«d£k
i i^
t^
Ml
274
CIIKSAPKAKE CAMI'AKiN OF 1813 14.
From our battery on tlie Island, to tlie north end of
wliich all our artillery had to })e moved, was opened
a rai)id and well-directed tire of gi-ape and canister,
which soon drove off tlie land troops and }»ut the
Bi'itish barges into the greatest confusion, sinking
the Centipede and four others, and compelling the
reniaindei" to seek the protection of their shi[)s. The
enemy lost few lives, but more credit in this feeble
and illy-sustained action. Some of the gallant
officers from our own flotilla, forming a crescent line
from Craney Island to Lambert Point to cover the
Constellation and protect the main channel to Nor-
folk, secured the Centi2)ede, from wliich had escaped
the wounded ctmimander, Captain Ilachette, the
illegitimate son of (leorge III. Thus, while one
brother was disgraced by a handful of militia in an
attempt to capture a miserable island in the C^hesa-
peake, which Sancho Pan/a would have scorned to
govern, three other brothers — George IV., William
IV. and the King of Hanover — succeeded to thrones.
This ignominious defeat so exasperated Cockbnrn
that the bold buccaneer, three days after, took his
unworthy revenge by the commission of atrocities
on the defenseless village of Hampton not less brutal
and inhuman than those which, six months before,
had been j)erpetrated on the River Kaisin by his
worthy j)eer — the butcher I^roctor. A combined naval
and land force, including the Chasseui-s Hrittani([ue,
not less than 2,500, landed, and, thougli oui' small
force of about 450, mostly raw militia, fought well,
they were soon overcome by superior numbers, ^vhen
this little fishing town was immediately given up to
TmiO.-OKXEMAL WALKKlt K. AUMISTEAD. 275
pillage jiiid destnictioii. A cori'espondciice, respecting
the eiioi'iiiities there committed, took place ])et\veen
Geiiei'al Tayloi' and the British commander of these
tr()oj)s, from which it appears, after making due
deductions and allowances, that barbarities were com-
mitted almost too I'evolting to relate. "Women,"
says Ingersoll, " who coidd not esca})e, were hunted
down l)y perpetrators of eveiy indignity on their
persons. No hel]) was given to the wounded. The
dead were left unburied. The females were not only
violated by these wretches, but they encouraged the
slaves to violate their own mistresses. Tlie sick
were nuirdered in l)ed — the maimed and the decrepit
from age. Silver plundered from dwellings was
perhaps not illegitimate spoih But the pulpit and
the conmninion tal)le of the E[)iscopal Church at
Hampton (the C'hui'ch of England, as commonly
called in this country), together with all the plate,
although the donor's name was engraved on it, to-
gether with the parish to ^\'hich it belonged, were
saci'ilegious booty. Shirts and shoes stripped from
aged [)ersons, indiscriminate i-ape, one woman
ravished by many men — these, and many more such
outrages, ini(loul)tedly committed, it woidd wrong
hist(>ry not to record and ci\ili/ation not to repro-
bate." A Select Conuuittee of C\)ngress, com-
posed of very distinguished mend)ers, say in their
report : " The shrieks of the innocent victims of in-
fernal lust at IIani})ton wei'e heard by the American
prisoners, but were too weak to leach the ears or
disturb the repose of British officers, whose duty as
men re(iuired them to protect every female whom
kt W I
IH
27G
C'HKSAl'EAKK CAMI'AIGN OK 1813 14.
, ,, i>
the fortiiiu' of war liud thrown iiit(» tlicir j>o\v«'r.
Huiiuin laiiL''ua<iv affords no ttTiiis stroiuj; enoui:;!! to
express tlie einotioiis wliicli tlie examination of tlie
evidence has awakened. In tlie eonespondence l)e-
tween tlie American and British coinnianders will
l)e found what is e([uivalent to an admission of the
facts by the latter. No jtiinishmeiit has followed
conviction of the gnilty. The power of retaliation
being veste<l in the execiitixc, no measure is pro])osed
by this report. Such enormities, instead of ins[)irin<^
terror, as was ])robably intended, beinp^ calculated to
[>roduce the contrary eifect, the committee close with
a resolution that the President be reijuested to collect
and present to the House evidence of every departure
of the enemy, during the war, from the ordinary
mode of coinbicting it among civilized nations."
On the first of -Inly the Bi'itish tieet of twenty-
five vessels left Hani])ton Roads and entei'ed the
Potomac, then only defended by old Fort Warbur-
ton (now Washington), just above Mount Vernon.
Alexandria, Washington, and Georgetown were
greatly alarmed; but, as no vessel then ai)proached
nearer than seventy miles to the Capital, the panic
soon subsided. Annapolis and Baltimore were then
tlireatened, but, ])eing deemed too strong for a
successful attack, the freebooter Cockburn with<lrew
to plunder and alai'in the Carolina and ( Georgia coasts.
Tlie piratical Admiral having withdrawn from
the Chesa])eake in 1818, no further danger Avas
apprehended jit Washington. Even the abdication
of Napoleon at Foiitainbleau, April 11, 1H14, and
his banishment to Elba, leavino- Enu'land free to
HHK5.-(JKNi:i!.\L WALKKIJ K. Al{ MI STEAD.
'Ji i
traiisjxn't lici' vast vett'ian forces to Aint'i'icji, did not
disturl) tli«' ('(luaiiiiiiity of our statesmen at tlie
('a[)ital oi" rouse tlieui to a. reali/iiii;' sense of the
daiiLi'ei' to wliicli we were exposed. One ('assan<li*a,
under the tith' of " Aniei'ieanus," in tlie "National
Intelliij::eneei-," did uttei' a note of waiiiinir, )»nt tlie
|)ro|)h<'i'y was not l>elieved till the enemy was
almost within (»ur walls. No preparation was made
to oppose the foe. One company of ai'tillery at
Fort \Var))urt(»n, and another of marines at Wash-
inii;ton, wei'e the sole trustworthy jiroteetion to the
(^apltal scarcely two m(»nths before its ])ul)lic edi-
fices were laid In ashes.
Notw^ithstanding i'e[)eated warning <d' Kniilamrs
extensive [)re))aration to transpoi't many troops to
our shores, no official plan of defense was consid-
ered by our government till the Pi'esident and his
(•ablnet assembled In lugul)rIous council to deliber-
ate on the situation, 'Inly 1, 1<S14, oidy a few days
after ])ositive information had reached New York,
by a cai'tel, that in the harbor (»f l^ermuda there
was anchored " a Heet of transports, with a large
force on board, to sail in one or two days to some
[)ort in the Tnlted States — probably for the I^)to-
mac." The next day, the Tenth Military District,
end>racing \'ii-ginia between the Ka[>])ahannock and
Potomac, the State of Maryland and tlu^ District of
(_Viluml)ia, was created and put under c(»nunand of
Brig.-General Winder, who had just been released as
a prisoner of war, ca[)tured on the northern frontier,
where he had won few laurels. On the fourth of
duly the vSecretary of War made re([uIsitIons upon
n^ \a^
.0^. \t^
IMAGI: EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
y.
fA
y.
^
1.0
I.I
1.25
'-US 1^
|50 "™ MI^HI
u
12.0
1.8
lA II 1.6
V]
<^
/}
om
A
V
/A
^
A^
«v
A
\
^9)
\
w.
i
h
[]
278
CHKSAPKAKE CAMPAIGN OF ISI3 14.
the States for tK{,r)0(> iiiilitiu, in wliich were iucliKled
neitlier cavalrv iior rltleiiieii, "to he lield in readi-
ness for iiuinediate service," I)iit only the District (►f
Colunil>ia and State (jf Maryland were called u[)on
to provide their reu;ular (piota, in whole or ])art, "in
case of actual or menaced invasion," while Penn-
sylvania was directed to send '),(HH) and Viri^inia
2,000 to the militia rendezvous. Connnodore Har-
ney, a dashing veteran of the Navy was put in
command of a small tlotilla of jj^unboats in the
Patuxent.
Winder's army on |)a|)ei' was a niagniticent array
of nearly 100,000 men, the largest foi'ce that had ever
been destined for the tield in America; but, through
otticial apathy or incom[)etency, defective State laws
and dilatoriness everywhere, Winder, two weeks
after the enemy had ai)peared in heavy force in the
Chesai)eake, was unable to report more than 5,000
troops, mostly raw militia, on his rolls, a large [>art
of wliich were yet to be collected. In other words,
the General was practically powerless, for he had
only the semblance of an <u'ganized force; in person
was com[)elled to attend to every detail, he being
without a staff or engineers; and, unaided by cav-
aliy, had no means of ascertaining the enemy's
movements.
While such were our feeble preparations, the
British stjuadron in the Chesapeake was re-enforced,
August IH, 1814, by twenty-cme vessels under Ad-
miral Cochrane, and was soon after joined by another
under Commodore Malcolm. (Jii board were several
thousand of Wellington's Peninsular veterans, com-
BKI(J.-(iENKHAL WALKKR K. AHMISTKAl).
27W
nianded by a hvave and enterprising Irislinian —
Maj(>r-(Teneral Ross.
After C(H-k})urn'H return to the ('hesapeake, tliis
I'apacious freel««>ter at once resiuned l»is predatory
waHare of hurnini; and rol))>inii; villages, farm
liouses, and everything on which he eoidd lay liands,
" crnisiiii'' about in everv direction," savs an otticer
of lloss's army, "threatening the whole line of coast,
from the entiance to the very bend of the bay ; and
thus ke})t tlie Americans in a constant state of
ahirm. Wlienever a favorable oj)portunity [)resented
itself, parties landed, plundered or destroyed tlie
government stores, laid towns and districts under
contribution, and brought off all the shi[)ping which
could be reached. In a w<Md, the hostilities carried
on in the Cliesapeake resembled the expedition of
tlie ancient Danes against Great Britain, rather than
a modern war ]>etween civilized nations." What the
atroci(»us character of that Danish invasion was has
been told bv Hume and other British histoiians.
In the midst of his disgraceful career, finding
liimself o[)posed by a Ixdd l)ut more humane sailor,
C^Vinnno(h)re Barney, who with liis snuill craft set at
defiance even tlie lirigs and frigates of liis Brit-
tanic Majesty, Cockburn resolved to punish such
audacity by the capture and destruction of our
flotilla. Accordingly, (m the 18th of August, the
Kuiflish Admiral ascended the Patuxent as far as
Benedict, when he landed a few snudl guns and a
force of 4,500 regulars, marines, and disciplined
negroes.
Up to this time little danger was apprehended
m
280
CirHSAPKAKK CAMIVVrciV (>V \s\:\ It.
at the Capital, the [>ress iii.i<l<' liulit of it, the ('ul)i-
net was not alarmed, tin- War ScerctaiT iclmked
all iiiisgiviiiirs, Wiiidci's i-e(|iiisitioiis \\«'i"(* still neir-
leeted, and the entii'r piihlic sccmkmI \M'a|)|»ed in
.sonino
lent
secniitv
The eertain ap|»i'o.icli of the (Mumnv and the fall-
inir l>aek (»f our flotilla to Xottinuhain, finally awoke
tlie Sceretarv of W'ai- from his dreams and induced
him to sanction Winder's cills foi* more trooj)s, with
the understandinu:, however, at this moment of ahso-
lute danirer, that he would so woi'<l his re(|uisitions
for volunteers as "to uuard auaiiist interferiiiLT with
the leiLral draft." The comtnandinL:," general, hy ijrreat
personal activity, on the LMst, was at the head of
8,L>(M> men
and seventeen ])ieces of small artilleiy. Had Winder
been untrammeled by the Presidt'ut and his Cabinet,
with this force, thouiih undiscijdim'd, aided by
Harney's flotilla and the natural (»bstacles besettini;
the enemy's path, he should have been able to defv
the invader, who l)ol<lly continued his advance.
Cockburn's raid was well planne(l. While send-
inij^ two small sipiadi-ons to make demonsti'ations, one
towards Anna])olis and Haltimoi*', and the other uj)
arms, inchulinn" a few troops of cavalry
tlie Potomac, he, with his smaller craft.
CO\ t'IV<
1 tl
le
march of Ross" army up the southern bank (»f the
Pntuxent, ostensibly in j)ursuit of Harney, but, in
reality, if the uenei-al could be persuadtMl to co-opei'-
ate, to make a dash on \\ ashin!j:tt)n — the iroal of
his avarice an<l ambition.
The entii'e distance from ("(tckburn's landini;
place at IVnedict to WashiuLTton was less than fifty
I tlu*
It, ill
juper-
ill of
iliiiiji;
lifty
BIIICJ.-OENKRAL WALKKR K. AUMISTKAD.
281
miles ; but, owiiii; t<> tlie extreme lieut of t]ie weutlier,
the (leV)ilitate(l state of tlie troops lonj^cooped-up <>ii
sliip board, and tlie diHiculty of maivliiiii:; in a coun-
try intersected with streams an«l covered witli
forests, tlie l^iitish advance was very slow. Not till
the evenini; of the 21st had the enemv reached Not-
tini^ham, from whi<'h our tlotilla had esca|)ed to
simie ten miles higher up the river above Pig's Point.
Resuming the marcli on the ni< truing of the 22d, the
gi'eat torch-bearer soon found his love of destruction
gi'atitied by (»ur own Seci'etary of the Navy, who,
in the general panic, had given ordei's to set tire to
our flotilla, which was l)uined l)efoiv the enemy
coidd reach it.
At this late date, Windei- had pushed forward
about 8<M) cavalry and rifles, with a battery of artil-
leiy, to reconnoitre aiul harass the enemy, while the
remainder of his force was to follow in support.
Findinii: the enemv urreatlv sui)erior in numbers, the
general ordered the advanced detachment to fall
back to the " \Vo<Ml-yard,'' and there await him.
Our entire force at hand, including infantry, sailors
and marines, was about one-half that of the British.
Our Secretary of the Navy having kindly per-
formed the chief service for which the great incen-
diary had undertaken his raid up the Patuxent,
Mephistopheles-like he ])oure(l into the ear of Ross —
a ready listener where laurels or l)ooty were to be
w<ui — the following insidi(>us argument, according
to Dr. Thompson, substantially as follows: " (^ur
antagonist, from deficiency of force, or want of c(»n-
fidence in what lie has, having hitherto shown no
I
€W
W^
Jl' il
ii
282
("IIKSAI'KAKK ("AMPAIOX OV 18i:»-14.
disposition to ohstnict our views, and liaviiiir at last
blown up his flotilla, wliicli, if w«'ll fouij^lit, nii£j:lit
liave cost us nianv lives — may we not conelude, that
his defense of Washinufton will not ])e more vi<:;(U-ous^
And if so, has not the condition on which we are
permitted to attack that town arisen *. It is ti'ue
that Washington presents no object strictly military
— a navy-yard c<un[)aratively em})ty, and a sma'l and
poor po])ulation — hut we must not for<;et that incon-
sidei'al)le in this view as it maybe, it is the metroj»o-
lis of the nation, and that names, as well in war as
in peace, do much. I^y capturing it, we shall give
no small edat to our arms abi'oa<l : and to our-
selves, a more solid gratification, if the government,
to save the city, be disposed to make a liberal dona-
tion of their money." The latter mercenary sugues-
tion, more than glory or vengance was doubtless the
moving imj)ulse which actuated this avaricious
corsai r.
The prospects of untold prize-money j)ro\ed t(»o
dazzling to l)e resisted by Ross. Leaving a naval
officer and some seamen tt> shi]) the plunder, the Irish
General and the English Admiial, with about 4,r)(Mi
combatants and thive small pieces of artilleiy, set
out on the morning of the 22d, with three days pro-
visions, direct for Washington, aftei'wards changing
their course to induce Winder to believe that their
destination might be either Annapolis or Fort \\'ash-
iuirton. Winder, in the meantime not thinkiuij: it
prudent to risk a battle, fell back to " Long Old
Fields," an admirable strategic position covering a
direct advance on Washington and both its tiank
BRrn.-OENERAL \V.\LKI':T{ K. AFniTSTKAD.
283
(1 too
naval
. Il'isll
4,r)«M)
A, set
s })ro-
11 lining
their
Vasli-
iiiii; it
iT "( )ia
•iu<i; a
rtaiik
a))j)roat'lies — on tlie left 1)V tlie hla(leiis})urg road,
and on the riijlit ])v tliat t«^ Fort Wasliini^ton.
Tlie Secretary of State —Colonel Monroe — an old
Revolutionarv soldier, who had been witli Winder
for several days, eoimiiuiiicate<l to the President his
a|»|)rehensi(>ns of the p'eat daiii^er to the Caj)ital,
and reeomniended that he "had better remove the
records," and "have the materials prepared to des-
troy the bridixes." Fortunatelv, most of the public
archives reached a place of safety, but some were lost
or so mutilated that they were never of further use.
Upon the receipt (tf Colonel ]\[onr<»eV messaife,
Washino^ton was in the wildest panic, and an exodus
of thousands of its inhabitants immediately took
place.
Events were now raj)idly culininatiniij to a crisis,
and the worn-out Command inLr-(ieneral, with only
2,500 men fit for duty — nearly all raw militia-
was s<^)rely perj)l(^\ed as to the pro[>er course to be
pursued, thoiiudi, as usual on such occasions, he was
well supplied with the advice of every one from the
President, then with him, down to the country
s(piire ; in the multitude of counsellors, however, he
found no safety.
On the mornini; oi the 2.'{d, Ross was at Upper
Abirlboroui^h, while Winder was at Old Fields,
where, instead of concentrating his scattered forces,
only a few miles separated, for battle, or to watch
the enemy's movements and threaten his communi-
cations, our (■ommanding-dreiieral abandoned this
strong and advantageous position so soon as Ross
and Cockburn moved forward in the aftermxm, thus
mil
284
CIIKSAI'KAKK < AMPATON OF 1S13 14.
I I
imikiiii; (IctVat ccilaiii In dcprt'ssinu' tlic conHdem-e
of our little ai'iiiy, which, at sunset, made a disoilei'ly
retreat aei'oss the Hasteni Hraneh l>ri<l<:;e into Wasli-
iui^t<Hi. This flight was a deathblow to our cause,
l)oth in a luilitary and moral sense. Militai y : because
our small forces were thus scatteied over a front of
fifteen miles from Hladenslxiru;, where (ieiieral Staiis-
l)ury was ordered to take j>osition, to Fort Washing-
ton, covered l>y (Teneral Yoiinu; with a small Ixxly.
Moral: for on the niiiht of the '2'.\(\ all was conster-
nation in tlie Cajutal, the President and his C'al)inet
vacillated in tlieir course of action, the troo[»s, worn
out witli aimless marches and counter-marches, were
(lis])irited, and the ( 'onunandiui^-iieneral, weak every-
where, knew not whitlwr to turn ; while tlie enemy,
oiily ten miles distant, was gii'dinjj;" up his loins to
pring upon liis [)rey and seize liis [»luii<ler.
On the morning of the lUth, [x'liding the Council
of the President, his Cabinet, and tlie leader of our
forlorn hope, Ross was moving towards liis coveted
prize, not directly where a l)i'oad river inteiposed,
but to turn our left flank wheiv the stream was ford -
able. When undeceived as to the enemy's intentions,
evervthinjjc was hurried forward to Hladensburi::,
wliere tardily were assembled about r),<K»0 weary,
undisciplined and demoralized troops, to meet a like
number of veterans trained to war, inured to fatigue,
and accustomed to victory. All 'in our army was
confusion, and though Winder was called the com-
mander of this motley mass, there was more than one
volunteer generalissimo from the President's mounted
Cabinet, one of whom (the Secretary of State), with-
s
HUI(}.-(SKXKIJAr< WALKKi: K. AinilSTKAD.
285
U'uce
(U'l'ly
Vasfi-
•ause,
»iit of
Stalls-
sliiu.u'-
l)o(ly.
mster-
al)iiift
, worn
■i, were
t'verv-
eneiiiy,
oins to
oiiiu'il
of our
(»vete<l
xtsed,
IS t'onl-
ntioiis,
islmrg,
weary,
t a like
fatii^iie,
ny was
|u' colli-
liaii one
lio
untetl
), witli-
oiit Winder's knowledge, e]ianti'e<l Ids order of ])uttle,
and anotliei- (the Secretary of War), wlio a few lioiirs
liefoi'e had been invesved hy the President witli tlie
entire coinniand, Imt fortunately Ids oi'«ler was sus-
pended before the l)attle i»eL:;an.
Hladens])nri»;, which has given its name to tlie
diso-raceful action fouuht Auirust 24, 1814, is a sniull
village on the left hank of tlie Knstern Branch of
the I*otoinac River, connected l>y a hridge (ahout 1<M>
feet long) with the right hank, upon vhiidi in hot
haste oururiny was drawn up in three nearly straight
lines, none of wliich were Hanked or ))rotected l)y a
cross-fire of our 2(5 pieces, mostly li<dit artillery.
About noon, at the turn «»f the roiid where it <lescends
the hill ])eyon(l Bladensburg, lloss discovered the;
American forces drawn up on tlie other side of tlie
river. With his Irish audacity, and estimating our
militia as no better than Spanish soldiery, at the
head of his eh'te of about l,r)(Ml Pen'"*^idar yeterans,
after a momentary check, he dashed a. the bridge
despite our heavy artillery fire, threw out sliarp-shoot-
ers and rocket-men on his flanks, (piickly dis[)erse«l
our skirmishers, threw our Hrst line into disorder,
and ca])tured two i)ieces of* aitillery left l)y our
retreating forces before they had hardly made any
resistance. F^lated by their success, the British
light brigade threw asi<le their knapsacks and haver-
sacks, and, without waiting for support, dejdoyed
in thin order to make their fi'ont e(pial to that of
our second line, which, l)eing nioie coui[)act, with-
stood the onset and in turn «lrove back the attenuated
British line to the riyer bank. Here they contested
IP; If
280
CUKSAPKAKK CAMI'AKlN OK 1«I3 U.
tluMT i^i'ound till the secoinl Hi'itisli l)ii^}ule fr()Hs<M|
t\n' hridj^c, tlic ic-riiforccd cikmiiv tluMi |>i('ssin<^ f<n'-
ward an<l tuniliiL' tli«' l«'i'( <>!' <»iir second line, while
a fliLflit of hissiniij r<K'kets put two «>f our niilitiji
regiments Into disorderly ilii^lit. The C'oininandin^-
(icneiul in vjiin triecl to rally them, and, though the
right for a short tiin(i maintained its ground, the
whole of the second line in turn gave way to dis-
gi'aceful reti'eat.
The nuite of our tii'st and second lines liaving
been acconi[>lished, the triumphant liritish pressed
forward to the attack of the Ameiican thii<l line,
hettei' |>oste(l and composed of sternei" stuff than
either the Hist or second. The )>attle here, for more
than an honi', raged furiously, tlieenemv being badly
'Ut up
li
>11
> l»v our \vell-serve(| artillery, and driven
till(
d di
back
to tlie plateau or (dd duelling-ground, several of
tlieir disabled officers falling into our hands; but
our success was short lived, for the gallant l^arney
was seveiely wounded, oui' artillery was deserted
by its infantry su|)port, BealTs militia was dispersed
by the assault of a heavy column, and ])oth our flanks
])eing turned by the l^ritish light troops. Winder
ordered a general retreat, m<»st (»f the militia moving
t<>wai'ds Montgomery Court House in Maryland.
" \N ith the (;.\ce|)tion of a party of sailors from
the gun-boats, under the command of Commander
Harney," says a Hritish otKcei- present, "no troops
could lK*hav(! worse than they did. Tlie skirmishers
were (b'iveii in as stxni as attacked, the fiist line gave
way without otf<M-ing the slightest resistance, and
the left of the main Ixxiy was broken within half an
MItI(i.-<;KNi;iJAr, WALKKI: K. AltMISTKAl).
2H7
r for-
lilitia
ulin^-
;h tlu'
I, the
(lis-
lavini^
1 line,
f tlum
r more
'l)!ullv
n hjK'k
cral «>f
^; l>iit
ianiey
I'serte*!
J|)('fS«'<l
thinks
iVinder
liioviuK
Uh
1.
tVoni
ler
iiaiu
tl'OOj
)S
hers
Ills
ic <j;ave
3e,
and
I half an
Iioiir after it was seriously ciiLCaLje*!. Of tlie saihd's,
ho\vev<'i', it would he iiijiisti«'e not to spcjik in the
terms which their ('(niduc't merits. Thev weie »Mn-
ployed as Lfunners, and not only did tln^y serve their
iruns with atiuiekness and precision which astonished
theii- assailiints, hut tliey stood till some of them
were a<'tualiy hayonettMl, with fuses in their hands;
nor wjis it till their lea<ler was W(tunde<l and taken,
and they saw themselves descrte*! on all sides by
the soldiers, that they (jiiitted the field."
'i'lius terminated the disi^raceful battle of Hla-
denshurii', oiii- laurels lost far exeeediui^ our loss of
heroic defendeis. 'I'he contest began about noon
.ind ende(l at 4 v. m., the British casualties Ixung
upwards of r)(M) killed and wounded, includini; sev-
eral (dliceis of rank and distinction, while oui' loss<'s
wei-e fai- less, beinu" variously estimated at 10 to 2G
of the former and 4(» to .")! (jf the latter.
Ross, with only two of his biigades, having
secured an easy victory, ordered his third to join
him on the battlefield, where, aft<'r a short rest and
having nothing to oj>pose him, he moved towards
Washington. Leaving the mass of his forces a
mih* and a half from the Capitol, and finding no
official with whom to negotiate a ju'cuniary ransinn
for j)rojterty at his meicy, he, and his far less scru-
pulouscompani(»n in ini(juity — Cockburn — with their
guaid of tor<'h-bearers and plunderers, lode into the
city at eight o'clock in the evening, where, says I*res-
i<lent Madison in his jn-oclamatioii of vSeptember 1,
1814; "'I'hey wantonly destroyed the public (Mlifi-
ces, having no relation in their structure to opera-
ffir
288
(•nKSAI>KAKK TAMPAMiN OK 1K13 14.
■
tions of wiw, nor used at tlic time for iiiilitarv
Jinijoyanct* ; some of these edifices heiiii^ also Mjstly
iiKiimineiits of taste an<l "f the arts, aiul others
(lepositori<'s of the public aichives, not only pre-
cious to the nation as the memorials of its origin
and its early transactions, )>ut interesting to all
nations as contributions to the genei'al stock of his-
torical instruction and ]>olitical science." Of the
[Miblic buildings only the Post Office was saved ;
tlie printing establishment of the "National Intelli-
gencer" and a few private dwellings were destroyed ;
some houses and stores were plundered, and the
Navy Yard and Potcmiac Bridge, to prevent their
falling into the enemy's hands, were burned by
ourselves.
The wild Russian Cossacks, who had sacrificed
their own saci-ed Mosc<>w, in 1812, as an act of
])ati'iotism, had s])ared Paris when their hour for
vengeance had struck, in 1814; bur it remained f<>r
civilized Hi'itons, "the paiagons of ])erfect men," iia
sung by their own Spencer, in the Nineteenth Chris-
tian Century, to conunit an act of vandalism against
the children of their own loins worthy of the bar-
barous ages of Alaric oi' Danish \'ikings.
The capture of the Capital filled the nation with
consternatioti and mortification, and, <m tlie assend)-
ling of Congress, in Se}»tend)er, an able committee
was a[)pointe(l to investigate the causes of our great
disaster; but, where so many men of shining mark
were im])licate(l and occuri'ences so disgraceful to
the government existed, it was difficult to ai'rive at
the exact truth and apportion resjumsibility. Angiy
HHKJ.-(}KNKKAL WALK Kit K. AKMISTKAO.
289
crimiiiatioiis jind n'-ciiiniiiatioiis f,>r lout; years were
ina«le; ))ut, as (lie actors of that sa«l drama have
]>asse<l tVoni tlie stajjje, the (hojM'urtain <»f <>])livi(>ii
has }ii(hhMi them from view. The cliief indignation
of the puhlic was agaijist tlie Secretary of War,
wlio was charged witli jx^ixistent pervei'sity and cul-
l)alde inefticiency. Tlie clamor of wliat his sarcas-
tic pen called "n village mob," was so strong, that
the I*resideiit would not support him, and Arm-
strong, forced to leave Washington, resigned his
position September .'i, 1.S14, at Haltimore, giving his
reasons in an acrimonious communication to the
press of that city.
Tloss and Cockbnrn having fultilled their infam-
ous mission, and fearing that the hand of retrilmtion
might cutoff their retreat, secretly stole away, after
a terrific tempest, in the (hu-kness of tlie night of
August 2r)th ; left their dead unlmried and their
wounded to our humanity; safely reached Benedict
on tlie 25)th, and embarked on ship-board with their
booty on tlie HOth — thus completing their ten days'
caini)aigii, a I)ecameroiH>f most unfragrant history.
According to Cocklmrn's well <levise(l scheme of
coiKpiest, while the modern Kiostratus was himself
firing the C^a])itol, Gordon, his lieutenant, with a
light s<|uadron of seven vessels, was j)roceeding up
the Potomac on his errand of arson and plunder;
reached Fort AVashington, August 27th, which was
evacuated by its small garrison, through the pol-
troonery of its commander, on the discharge of the
first shell of the enemy ; ^vas in hostile array before
Alexandria on the 2ytli, which, being a defenseless
290
CHKSAPEAKE (AMI'AKiX <>F 1813 14,
■V< -fS
town with not over one lumdred male (•onil)atants,
was compelled to submit to tlic British ('a])tjiiirs
hard and liuiniliatinL^ terms | commenced his retreat,
Se[)teml)er .'kl, t'earini;, with just cause, that it miglit
be cut ott' by shore-batteries, fire-ships, and other
ol;)stacles ; and, on the 5)th, by a combination of dili-
ujence, skill and i^ood fortune, reached an anchorage
of safety for his entire s([uadron and liis twenty-one
prize-vessels laden with rich booty.
Wliile C'Ockburn in j)erson was making his foray
on AVashington, and Gordon moving up the Potomac,
Sir Peter Parker was <letailed to carry out the other
])art of tlie Adniirars programme of harassing the
C'hesapeake coasts and threatening Annapolis and
Baltimore. The latter as a demonstration, for
which it was originally intended, was unnecessary
after the fall of Washington, nevertheless, the cus-
tcmiary destruction of [)rivatc as w<dl as public j.rop-
erty was continued.
Parker, on the evening of August "JOth, desiring
as he said, ''to have a frolic with the Yankees," for
which he had prepare<l himself by a carousal with
his otticers, debarked about two hundred men with
a view of sui-prising a militia camp at Moortields on
the Eastern Shore of Marvland
The movement,
though made with great caution, did not escape the
vigilance of C/olonel Read, commanding about two
hundred Marylanders, well posted, residute, and
readv to receive Parker's impetuous attack made on
the centre of the camp and then extending to botli
flanks. After a brief but severe contest, tlie British
retreated leavin<r thirteen dead and three wounded on
nKF(i.-(ii;M:i:AL walkki; k. armistead.
291
the field, linker irmiself liad the main Jirteiy of
his tliiu:li cut l>y a musket-ball and bled to death
before he reached his ship, thus trajjjieally termina-
ting his night's amusement.
\\ hen Coekburn and I^>ss had reached the
Chesa[)eake and learned that (lor(h)n's expedition u[)
the Potomac was successful, they at once began to
plot new mischief. For some time they liad had a
longing eye upon the rich city of Baltimore whicli
jtromised a more valuabU' booty than A^'ashington,
(»f which they had made such an easy con(piest.
Accordingly, with a lai"g<' and \\v\\ appointed tieet,
liaving on board an army of (»,<)( >0 vetcan soldiers,
Admii'al Cochrane, now in command, entered tlie
Patapsco, Septend)er lltli. Fortunately the Halti-
morians, fully ai)preciating their danger from a visit
from C\>ckburn, the Hi'itish buccaneer, had made
early pre[>arations to pariy the expected attack,
The local forces had lu'cn organized, intrenclunents
had been thrown U]> to protect the city by land, and
Forts Mtdlenryand Cox ington, with some additional
works, were well armed and garrisoned to guard the
water-a})j)roach.
Deeming it easier to attack Baltimore by land,
lloss, on the morning of Sej)tend)er 1 '2th, debarked
at North Point, a. foi-ce of 0,000 fighting men, of
which 2,000 were marines and 2,000 sailors. Imme-
diately ui>on learning the Hritish movements, Gen-
eral Strike!', with .'i,200 men, was sent by General
Samuel Smith, an (»ld Revolutionary officer in com-
mand at Hallimoie, to watch the enemy. lie judi-
ciously posted his forces in three lines, their right
pl^ '
■ ■■■ » ^ f
QUO
^ (./ *J
rilKSAPKAKE CAMl'AIOX OF 1813 14.
resting on a luaiidi nt Hear Ch-eek, and tlieir left
upon a niai'sli. Ross, always l)i'ave and (MHifident
of success, led liis troops as at Bladeiisburg, but,
before the battle was engaged, the British (Jeneral
was mortally wounded by one of our sharp-shooters,
which devolved the coniiiiand upon C^olonel Brooke,
of the 4:4th regiment, who Aigor<^)Usly j^i't'f^^ed fV)r-
ward to the attack. Though our army was greatly
inferior in numbers and training to the enemy's,
victory was doubtful for two hours, when some of
our militia gave way. Finally, at four in tln^ after-
mxm, Striker, finding that the siH)erior British
forces could no longer be held in check, ordered a
retreat, which was well executed, to within half a
mile of the city intrenchinents, the enemy remaining
on the battle-field, where Brooke bivouacked for the
night.
On the night of Sept. 12th, Cochrane, pioneered
by a frigate sounding the channel, moved up the
Patapsco with sixteen large ships, five of which were
bomb-ketches, coming to anchor two miles fiH)m Fort
McHenry, out of reach of its guns. This now his-
toric little fort was then much smaller and less
powei'ful than at })resent. Fortunately it had a
brave garrison, commanded by a true soldiei", who
had done good service on the Niagara frontier —
Major George Arinistead, of the Third U. S. Artillery
a brother of Brig.-(ieneral W. K. Armistead, the
Biographical subject of this Chapter.
From sunrise in the morning till two in the
afternoon of Sept. 18th, the British ])omb-vessels
poured a heavy fire upon our works, which the
f I
HRKJ.-tiKNKRAL WALKKIl K. AUMISTEAn.
293
galljiiit Aniiistesid was compelled to endure witlioiit
being able to infliet any injury u[>on the enemy, who
lay beyond the reach of his artillery. At last a shell
dismounte<l one of our 24-pounder guns, killed an
otticer and wounded several men. (\)chrane, seeing
tlie confusion produced by this lucky shot, moved up
three of his boml)-vessels into easier range, to the
manifest delight of Armistead, who instantly poured
forth from every gun a storm of shot and shell,
which com[)elled the venturesome intruders in half an
h<)ur to fall back to safer distance, from which the
bond)ardment was resumed more furiously than be-
fore, and continued with one or two short interrup-
tions until past midnight. At this time, under cover
of the darkness, the Admii'al had sent above the fort
\,2M) })icked men, in barges with scaling-ladders, to
capture Fort C-ovington and the City Battery, and
to assault Fort McIIenrv in the rear. Unfortunately
for these daring men their movement was discovered
by the \\\Ait of theii* own rockets, tired to make visible
the shores upon which they were to land. Instantly
the alarm was given, and from Fort McIIenry and
the other works a tierce tire was kept up for two
hours, till these invaders weie com[)elled to I'etreat.
The bombardment from the fleet continued till seven
o'clock on the morning of the 14th, having lasted
for twenty-tive hours, during which the enemy threw
from 1,500 to 1,K0(> shells, of which about 400 fell
within the works, inflicting on us a loss of })ut four
men killed and twenty-four wounded. It was on
this memorable occasion that Francis 8. Key, who,
while conHned on board the enemy's fleet, an un-
iif
WW
I
I
294
CHESAPEAKE rAMI'AFON OF 1K13 14.
willing spectator of the lK)ml)ai'(linent, wrote that
song, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which is destined
to live for all time in the heai't of every [)atriot "of
the land of the free and the home of the l)rave."
While the fleet was poui-ing its iron rain uponFoii
McHenry, the British land forces, early in the morn-
ing of the l^Uli l)roke cam]) and marched to within
sight of the Baltimore intrenchments, Bi'ooke ma-
menvred all day withont snccess, to discover some
weak point or to elude the vigilance of General
Smith, when upon ascertaining that the bondjardment
of the forts was producing little effect, he held a
conference in the evening with xVdmiral Cochrane,
both concluding that the capture of Baltimore was
a failure. Accordingly the l^ritish army stole oft*
to North Point to re-end)ark, while the discomtited
Cochrane weighed anchor at t> a. >[., on the 14th,
and stood down the Potapsco.
This Campaign, which l>egan with our credita-
ble success at Craney Island and ended in the bril-
liant defense of Baltimore, had an intermediate
history most humiliating to the nation, for which
the civil, far more than the military authorities were
responsible. Upon these short-comings we will otter
some criticisms.
The first and most important omission of the
government was the total neglect of any timely
defense of its Capital. War was inevitable for
many years prior to its declaration, June 18, 1812,
during which ])eriod mau}'^ of the capitals of Eu-
rope had fallen l)efore the conqueror. In December,
1812, a British squadron was known to be at Ber-
f 1
BRIG.-GENEIIAL WALKER K. AKMISTEAD.
295
(lita-
])nl-
idiate
liicli
were
offer
the
|iuely
for
.812,
Eu-
Inber,
Ber-
miulji destined for some southern port ; Februarv 4,
181.'}, ii Heet entered the Cliesapeake ; and June 22,
1818, the attempt to take Norfolk occurred. After
a maraudini;* excursion to tiie C^arolinas, Cocklnun re-
turned, March 1, 1814, to resume theplunderini^of tlie
Chesapeake shores ; in the meantime, January 20,
1814, some 4,()()(» Peninsular veterans liavins^ reached
Bermuda. These sliadows of coming events were
soon followed by the abdication of Napoleon,
Api'il 11, 1814, and the availability of Wellington's
whole veteran army for tlie invasion of the Ignited
States. It was announced, June 28, 1814, tliat a
large iieet liad left Bermuda with troo[)s on board,
wliich arrived in the Chesjqjeake, July 14, 1814.
Yet, witli all these am[»le warnings, and knowing
that the eneniv had visited almost everv river fall-
ing into tlie Cliesapeake, nothing was <lone to in-
crease our navy in these waters or make additions
to our land defenses. Not a battery was ))uilt, not
a gun was mounted, nor a regiment mustered into
service for the defense of Washington, of whose
coming danger we had had more than twelve months
m^tice, and of its impending [)eril not less than six.
Oidy six weeks before the Ca])itars destruction, was
the administration roused from its long-continued
torpor. The Cabinet, July 1, 1814, when finally
roused from its sleep of security, met in des])onding
consultation liow to save Washington, and adopted
a programme of defense, magnificent on paper,
though practically almost worthless. An army of
nearly 100,(K)o militia w^as decreed to ])e held in
readiness, of which 15,000 were to be fortliwith
I[
21)6
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAIGN OF 1813-14.
ii
m
I
1!
•I
11 jl!
i:
muHtered into service. But of tliis i^raiul array few
turned out, raont of tlie <jUotas continuing home-
soldiers. Owing to a defect in tlie state law, the
OjOOO re((uired at once from Pennsylvania could not
be drafted ; through lack of timely notice the Vir-
ginia (juota of 2,(M)() was summoned too late to be
mustered in ; and of the <),00(> Marylaiidersre(iuired,
but 2,()(H) ever appeaivd, and these ari'ived, jaded
and disorganized, only in time to be defeated at
Hladeiis])urg. Hence, Winder's army numbered not
much over 5,000, mostly raw militia which had
never drawn a trigger against an enemy. At this
time only 'MW regulars were left in the extended
limits of the Tenth Military District, oOO having
been marched from Washington to the Northern
frontier only two weeks before, notwithstanding the
alarm of an impending attack on the Capital, which
the Secretary of War e\en then rebuked as an idle
dream.
This small force, which had been assembled by
driblets, was provided with neither staff nor engi-
neers, and had hardly a handful of cavalry. Instead
of being placed in camps of instruction, where our
forces could watch the threatened points — Haiti-
more, Annapolis, Alexandria and Washington (all
within ten days' reach of the enemy), when they
finally came together they were without the organi-
zation, drill and discipline essential to an army, or,
to use the words of General Winder, " not two men
of the whole knew any thing of military science."
From the Secretary of War's dilatoriness or hos-
tility ^o General Winder, who had been selected to
BRIG.-OENERAL WALKKI^ K. ATJ^FTSTEAD.
207'
eiigi-
steiul
e our
Balti-
they
>n
1 »r lios-
!ted to
rominatul theTentli District instead (►f(n'iiejal Moses
IWter, who was Aniistron,ii;'s dioice, Wasliinuftoii was
defenseless, as tlie enemy well knew, u|> t»> the very
(lay <d' the a<'tual invasion ol" oui- soil. Winder, so
early as July Dth, a few days after his a)>|»ointnient
to eonuinuul, in an able eonunnnieation [minted out
our deticieneies and made some (wcellent sniriJfestions ;
but the Secretary of War vouchsafed no reply, con-
tentiuii; himself with objectini; to callini!; out more
troo])s, liecause lie considered militia only available
on sudden emeriji;encies, and the exj)ense of their
beinii; encam[)ed till called inti> action, would l»e a
useless charsj::e u})on our empty treasury.
This dejtloi'able condition of thinii's does not,
howevei", hold the (\)nnnan<lin<i:-CTenerjd blameless,
for he had s<>me force, the elements w<M-e all in his
favor, Jind the |)ath of the invader was beset with
nHdtij)lied difficulties. Ross' army was destitute of
cavalry; had but two small pieces of ai'tillery
dragji;ed by han<l ; was enervate<l by long confine-
ment on shi[)d^oai'd ; had to march, with hesitation
and apj)rehension, forty miles in sultiy August, men
continually falling by the way side overcome l)y
heat; and the country was covered with forests and
intersected by streams, defiles and marshes, where a
single lioTU''s stout resistanc<' would have checkec!
further advance. Vet, with all these advantages
and a local knowledge of the banks of the Patuxent,
not a bridge was burned, no i-oad obstructed even
by the felling of a tree, no shaij)-shooters hung upon
the flanks and rear of the coming foe, and not for
one moment was the passage of a stieam oi' ravine
298
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAIGN OF 1813-14.
disputed. How different was tlie course of Schuyler
wlien Bui'goyue, invading our territory, came down
the valley of tlie upper Hudson in 1777 !
The next ea:rei!:ious blunder was the order of the
Secretary of the Navy to destroy Barney''s flotilla,
thus accomplishing for the enemy the j)rinc'iple pur-
pose for which he undertook his difficult and dan-
gerous expedition. The bold Coinmodore, l)ef()re
and after, showed what he might have done Avith his
small craft and courageous sailors to harass the
enemy. By this act of inexplicable terror which
seemed to paralyze the government, all naval means
of threatening the enemy's communifations with
his ships were removed, the army rendered more
hopeless, and Cockburn invited to prosecute his raid
and achieve his daring design of plundering and
burning Washington.
After the enemy had reached Uppei' Marl-
borough, it should have been evident to Winder that
Cockburn and Ross, Avith the great prize of Wash-
ington before them, Avere threatening other points
(mly as demonstrations to deceive him, hence our
Commanding-General should have concentrated every
thing at Long Old Fields, an admiral)le and strong
position covering our Avhole base of operations fi'om
Alexandria to Bladensburg. Had he fouc;ht his
battle here where he had seventeen pieces of artillery
and 3,200 combatants, Avhicli could have l)een in-
creased in a day to 5,000, his chances of success
would have been better than at Bladensburg ; and
in the event of defeat his retreat on Washington was
quite as easy, with the advantage of a broad river
BRIG.-GENKKAL WALKER K. ARMISTEAD.
299
yier
own
I the
tilla,
pur-
dan-
efore
h his
i the
vhic'h
neaiis
with
more
is raid
ijr and
Marl-
that
IW ash-
points
e our
every
strong
( from
it his
tillery
en in-
uccess
and
)n was
river
inteiiiosed between him and Ids pursuei's. Tins
fatal 22(1 of August, of Americ.-ui ina(3tion, of Win-
der's failure t() throw the slii^htest obstacle in the
enemy's path, of almost [)aiu(' in the presence of the
foe, and dastai'dly retreat almost without firing a
shot, was the knell of our safety and signal to em-
bolden the British corsair to carry out his fiendish
purposes. It was the anniversary of Bosworth field,
so calamitous, moi-e than three centuries before, to
the House of York, and a safe deliverance from dan-
ger to that of Lancaster.
Winder, having abandoned his advantageous
position at Long Old Fields about five on the even-
ing of the 23d, retreated, or rather ran, direct to
Washington, leaving General Stansbury to occui)y
Bladensburu:, thus cfiviuijc Ross the advantage, had
lie been moi'e alei't, of falling first upon one corps
and then upon the othei', thus easily destroying
both.
Our so-called ai'my, exce[)t Barney's seamen and
Peter's rei^ulars, was a heteroi^eneous mass without
order or discipline, and had scarcely one ofHcer with
the least knowledge of actual W7irfare. The various
bodies at, and ari'ivingin hot haste near Bladensburg,
on the morning of August 24tli, nund)ered about
5,100 combatants, exclusive of Colonel Minor's force
of 600 who were detained at the armory watchiny;
the counting (►f flints by the cautious issuing oflicei".
Most of them had been under arms nearly all nifcht,
were worn down with constant marchin<i:and counter-
marching under an almost tropical sun, and thus,
weary and dispirited, w^ere hurried into action in
300
niESAPKAKE CAMI'AKJX OF 1813 It.
three lines of ])attle too far apart for mutual suppoi-t.
Ill their front the bridice acr<)ss the str«'ani was not
destroyed, n(»r the villajjje of Bladensl)ur<r, ])artly
built of brick, converted into a defensible ti'tc-dt-jHni.t;
everytliing on tin* contrary beinu^ done to invite the
easy apj)roacli of the enemy. To add to our mis-
fortunes, instea«l of one, we had at least three Com-
nian<linii:-(Tenerals — Winder, Monroe, and Armstrong
— each giving orders without any concert of action.
'^ Everything seemed done to organize defeat, every
pre2)aration made toyield, nosj)iiMt shown oi* arrange-
ments to conquer."
The battle being lost and the I'etreat oi'dered, no
rallying point was designated, hence, most of the
troops were jmictically disbanded. When the British
threw 600 brave infantry undei- C'olonel Musgrave
into Chew's house at (Termantown, they successfully
resisted a laige part of Washington's army, and turned
the tide of battle. TIow ditferent misjht have been
the fate of the Ca[)ital, had some of Winder's forces
been thrown into the strong, well built public build-
ing, which Ross had no artillery to breach I
Our troo])S being dispersed and utterly demoral-
ized, no attempt was made to im])ede the enemy's
retreat to his ships, though a few active partisan
corps might have inflicted severe punishment on the
British, or at least have compelled them to abandon
their booty.
Many minor criticisms could be made, all of which
would be to the same jmrport, showing that govern-
ment apathy, divided councils, want of preparation,
reliance upon raw levies, and ignoring military expe-
Bl{r(i.-(JE\KUAI, W.M-KFU K. AKMISTKAI).
801
moral-
irtisau
i>u the
wliic'h
i-overu-
ratiou,
ex
pe-
rieiice uiul education, do not conduee to tlie snecess-
ful eondnct of war nor to tlie honor of a nation's
arniH.
We will conclude tliis sad cliapter of our history,
with a brief ncjtice of Iirig.-(ieneral Arniistead, who,
after the successful defense of Craney Island, con-
tinued to superintend the fortifications of the Ches-
apeake and its tributary waters till N< )vend)er 12,1818,
when he hecanie Colonel and Chief Engineer, U. S.
Army, with head(|uarters at AVashington city.
On the re-oruanization of the Army, he was
transferred, June 1, 1S21, to the head of the Third
Regiment of Artillery; and, "for faithful services
ten years in one grade," was brevetted, November 12,
1828, a Brigadiei'-General. In 188(), he was ordered
to Florida, where he remained five years engaged
against the Seminole Indians, part of that time,
(May (), 1840 to Uny 81, 1841) being in conmiand
of the Floi'ida army, making his headijuarters at St.
Augustine. He ordered expeditioas in various
directions to penetrate the everglades; but the ex-
treme heat, the unknown haunts of the savages, and
sickness among the troops fi'ustrated the operations
of the Commanding-General, who, in other respects,
conducted the cami)aign with zeal and energy.
Upon his I'eturn fVom Florida, he was placed,
October 15, 1841, on a Board to select a site foi- a West-
ern Ai-mory, upon which he continued till February U,
1848, subse(|uently making the head([uarters of his
regiment at Fort Aloultrie, S. C. ; but his long ser-
vice, particularly in the swam]»s of Florida, had so
undermined his health that he died, October 18, 1845,
302
CUKSAI'KAKK CAMI'AKiX OK 1813 14.
S1
lit h'lti home in Upperville, Va., at the age of sixty-
tliree.
General Annistead was not a hrilliant iiuin ; but
a brave, eai'iiest and faitliful soldier. He ponsessed
a very kindly nature; was noted for his generous
hospitality ; and always conscientiously dischai'ged
every duty entrusted to liis performance.
lii
'S^ "
;
! ;
w
m
CHAPTER KKJn.TIl.
LOUISJANA (^AMPAKIN OF 1H1M;> ;
Wiril A HKKJUAl'lllCAI. SKiorcit OK
MAJOR A. LACAURlKin-: LATOUK
^L
vi "■.
From Simmkr (\\Mi'Ai(iNs lu the Friu'id Nortli, we
now turn to the Uriel', hrilliaiit, decisive and nieniora-
ble Winter CniMpainii of 1 S 1 4 IT) in tlie Sunny South,
wliicli added another ilhiininated ])an(' to our coun-
try's liistory, and tei'ininated in a l»Ia/e of ,ii;h)ry, a
war Ix'Liiiii in i;l(»(»!n, disaster and national dishonoi".
in obedience to Hi'itain's l>arl>arous or(h'rs "to
destroy and lay waste such towns and disti'icts u})on
tlie coast as may he accessihle to naval attack," the
(^irolina and ('hesa|teake shores had heen wantonly
ravage<l ; the puMic, and some j>rivate l)uildinii;s of
tlie nation's Capital were hurned ; and Baltimore
s.'ived from like destruction, by the hraxc defense
of Fort Mel lenry, under " the Stai'S|>anii:led Banner
which so triumphantly waxed" till the crest-fallen
foe had iuiioiuiniously lied from tin* l*atapsco.
New (Orleans was to be the next doomed city, for
the c.ipture of which an army ol' foiiiteen thousand
\ cterans, fresh IVom Feninsular victories, sui»j)orted
by a ileet of lifly ships, iiicludinu' ti'ans|)()rts, waw
destined; while an Indian war was t(» be fomented
Mi}
306
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814 15.
Uu
_i jiii i.
Oil our soiitliern border. No woiuler tluit tlie great
Emporium of tbe West, indejteiideutly of its lich
" booty " tempting British cupidity, sliould liave
been selected as tlie objective point of the campaign,
for, every\vhere, the Gulf coasts were ap[)roachable ;
numerous bayous, rivers and lakes freely admitted
water-craft close to the city ; forts and batteries no-
where defended its outposts ; neighboring S})anish
settlements freely har])ored British ships; Louisiana's
mixed })opulation was scarcely Americanized ; we
had l)ut a single sloop of war and six gun-boats to
oppose to the enemy's powerfid fleet ; a handful of
newly recruited regulars was our only force to meet
England's army of picked troops ; and for Ijotli bel-
ligerents the stake, to be won or lost, was immense,
for it was the precious key to the mighty Mississipj)i
cutting in twain our entire territory, and almost
connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the enemy's
vast Canadian possessions.
8o conlident was the British government of
complete success, that a full set of officers wafe em-
barked on board the s(|uadron, for the administra-
tion of civil affairs in Louisiana, which was ex-
pected [)ronn)tly, and without difficulty or danger,
to fall into their hands. But Eni»:land little knew
the character, energy, and genius of the man, who,
out of discordant and heterogeneous matei'ials, as if
by magic, could create and organize a small but
efficient army, im])iied with his own spirit and
love of country, which was destined, in a campaign of
a few weeks, to humble the arrogant pride of
haughty Albion.
kiigli of
lide of
MAJOR A. LACARRTERE LATOUR.
307
Andrew JuckHoii, " the saviour of LouiHiaiia," was
commissioned a Major-dreneral, May 1, 1814, in the
I'nited States Army, while resting at the " Hermit-
age," after his arduous (•am])aign against the Creek
Indians. From tiiis charming home, near Nash-
ville, he was called to the command of the Seventh
Military District, with head<[uarters at Mobile.
His Argus vigilance soon unmasked British intrigue
among the Southern savages ; thwarted their seduc-
tive otters to win over Lafitte's Baratarian snmg-
glei-s; counteracted their ])lots to excite hostility
among Louisiana's mixed population ; and discov-
ered S])anish violation of neutrality at Pensacola, in
whose harhoi' the British ships lay at anchor, from
whence sup[>lies were distributed, and in whose
foils anununition was stored. While promjjtly
arranging to crush this alliance of Britons, Span-
iards and Indians, he was no less active in secui-ing
volunteers in Kentucky and Tennessee to give })roofs
of his determination. The American Hercules re-
solved to destroy, by one vigorous blow, this triple-
headed Cerberus guarding the <>uter sea poi-tal to
Louisiana.
Meanwhile from their Pensacola base, the Bi'it-
ish and theii" Indian allies were pi'eparing to seize
an innei' i;ate to New ( )rleans — Fort Bowyer — a
feeble work on a headland of Mobile Bay. Jackson
threw into it 180 regulai- infantry, under the bi'ave
Major Lawrence, wh(», with twenty small pieces of
artillery behind low, thin parapets, gained Septem-
ber 15, 1814, over four slii})s and a land force, hav-
ing 92 guns and 1,880 men, a glorious victory, I'e-
!'.
m
it ■ '
l\OS
LOUISIANA CAMPAKiN OF 1814 15.
suiting in the destnu'tion of the enemy's flag-sliip
and killinii' 'Mu\ woundinii; '282 of their wliole force,
while our loss was but eight. This repulse was
fatal to British j^restige, and weakened their hold
upon the savages, who tied to their forest fastnesses
to escape the wrath of one they had much reason
to dread. It also gave a great impulse to recruiting
volunteers and harmoiiizini; all discordant elements
in New Orleans.
The defeated enemy were received as friends
and allies at Pensacola, the sii])servient S])anish
suffering the British to garrison their forts. Jack-
son, without waiting for orders, determined to carry
out his meditated plans upon his own responsibility,
"peaceably if he could, forcibly if he must," and
thus i)romptly end this gross vit)lation of the hnv
of nations in giving aid and comfort to the enemy,
Accordinj^h', so soon as he could assemble a suth-
cient force, he marched to West Flori<la ; seized Pen-
sacola, November 7, 1814 ; compelled the British fleet
to put to sea ; dispersed the remaining savages ; and
caused the fortifications, u])on which they had relied
for protection, to be destroyed.
By this vigorous execution of his l)old concej)-
tion, Jackson had secured his left flank, produced a
great moral effect upon the Indians, and [>re vented
future Spanish co-operation with the enemy. lie
now marched westward; and, after providing for the
defense of Mobile, arrived, December 2, 1814, at New
Orleans.
Though worn down by fatigue, anxiety and sick-
ness, his coming had an electrical effect on the citi-
AFAJOR A. LACARKIERE LATOl'R.
309
zens, and tlie cry of " Jackson's come '' jmssed from
moutli to moutli, fillini:: «ill with hope and banishing
despondency. Divided councils, chaotic confusion,
lack of troops and arms, o])en ])asses unguai'ded, an<l
the neai' ap})roach of the enemy had seemed to fore-
doom the city to certain destruction, and ])i-esaijed
that Louisiana could only be saved from capture by
a Providential miracle.
Jackson lost not a moment, nor s])ared any exer-
tions to establish order, maintain disci] )line and
inspii'e contidence. He devoted himself to the study
of the to]»oo;raphy of the country ; closely examined
every approach to the city ; and bent all his enei'i^ies
to check the advance of the enemy. He ordered
forts to be repaired, batteries to be built, and bayous
to ])e obstructed by his Chief Kuijineer.
Major Arsp^.xk Lacauhikre Latofr, then a Civil
Engineer of Louisiana, filled this imj)ortant ])osition.
Of this excellent officer, whose modesty eipialled
his intelligence, we regret, after the most diligent
search, that we have only the scantiest materials for a
biogi-aphical sketch. That so little should be known
of him, even at New Orleans, is most strange, for
lie must have been a man of proniinence t<> have
been selected l)y General Jackson for the responsi-
ble duties that devolved upon him at such a crisis.
Besides, we have evidence that he was an author of
note, foi- in his "Historical Memoir of the War in
West Florida and Louisiana in 1H14-15," we have
the best account of that great Southei-n cam|)aign,
whicli has been the basis of all that has since been
written upon the subject, and the careful ])erusal,
^
310
LOITI8IANA OAMPAIfiN OF ISIl 15.
which we liave <^iveii to tlic woik, satisfies lis of tlie
accuracy and conscicMitious tich^litv of the iiarnition.
Major Latour was horn during the French Revo-
hition ill Auveri^ne, France, tlie fertih' huid of <^reat
Hohliers like Turenne, DeliUe and Desaix; and,
<hni})tless, was a descendant from tlie same family
with Latour (T Aiiverj^ne, the ''First (Jrenadier of
France," who "Died on the Field of Honor," fFune 27,
1800, at Oberliausen, He received an ex<'eilent mil-
itary echication ; in 17i>.'{, left his nat ve land to
seek an asylum in St. I)omiii<ji;o, from whi(di lie was
driven by the insurrection of the blacks; and finally,
in 1S02, took u]> his residence in Louisiana, tlieii
French territory. The enujineer i:;raduates of our
own Military Academy })eini( mostly eni*;aii;e(l on the
Northern frontier and in su[>erintendini; tlu* coast
defenses, (ieneral Jackson was compelled to seek
elsewhere for a competent Chief Fnt^ineer, and was
fortunate in tindinii: Major Latour who had heeii
fitted in a French i^overnmeiit <Mi<j::ineer school for
the jM'ofession, and besides was familiar with the
wliole theatr<M>f war in Louisiana, ])articularly about
New Orleans, of which he had made surveys.
Latour, under (ieneral JacksoiTs orders, repaired
Fort St. Philip, destroyed tlie wooden barracks
within the work, and mounted additional aitillerv
upon the ram))arts and covered-way. Mcn'e effectually
to defend the passa<ii;e by the Mississippi, he erected
two batteries for 24-])oun(lers on the rii,dit bank of
the riv^er : one on the site of old i'^)rt Bourbon, and
the other half a mile above. Other batteries were
thrown up to guard the most important passes to
MAJOR A, LACAHUIEKE LATOUK.
311
I the
ition.
levo-
n-reat
aiul,
imily
er of
lie 27,
it inil-
11(1 to
e was
ill ally,
then
f our
i>n the
coast
) seek
1 was
IxMMl
ol t'oi'
\\ the
ilxmt
|)airt'<
Irraek
Killery
•tually
h'CCtcMl
k of
1
1)11
11, aiK
were
kses
to
New Oi'leaiis, particularly at the confluence of the
bayou Sauvaijje and C'hef-Menteur ; while all others,
from Attakaj>as to Manchac, leadini^ from the ocean
into the interior of the country, were obstructed to
the extent that time and means pennitted. For
executing these im])ortant works and siil)se((uently
for throwiiiii; up the intrenched lines on both banks
of the Mississi]>pi, soldiers were drafted by detach-
ments from each of the several corps, and kept hai'd
at work, sometimes ])ast midnight, without their
showing the least imj)atieiice or expressing a murmur
of discontent. Like ti'ue patriots they were actuated
by the no})lest feelings, a])))reciated that a rich eity
and a gi'eat territoiy weiv under their protection, and
exulted in the thought of defending their fellow cit-
izens and a\enging theii- countryV wrongs. Laige
gangs of plantation negroes also assisted in the good
work.
The exjH'cted <Miemy, fast a])]»roaching on his
errand of destruction, supj)osed that we were still
ignorant of his movements; but (^)mmodore Pattei'-
son, commanding th<* New Orleans naval station,
had received a letter from Pensacola, dated Dec. oth,
informing him of the arrival of a large British fleet,
with an army on board, which was destined to act
against New ( )i-l<'ans. A few days latei-, this fleet
anchored between (^at and Shij) Islaiul, and in small
boats rapidly exj)e(lited troo[»s through the shallow
waters of Lake Horgne, hoping to sur[)i'isc Jackson
and ca]>ture the city before their presence was even
susj)ected. I low little the enemy knew of the sleep-
less energy and indomitable will of their great antajjo-
I
I
.•U2
LOUISIANA ( AMI'AKiN (»I' 1«H 15.
iiist tlie s(MjUf'l soon |>ro\(Ml. Alrcjidy our i:;mil»oiits,
imdci' Licutciiaiit Jones of (lie i\ji\v, li;i<l t;ik«'n
position, nc.'ii" MalluMinMix Island in Lake lioi'ujne,
to (lisputc tlic t'nrdicr passaii;*' of the lifitisli haru^eH,
wliicli, Dec. 14th, viLCoi'ously attacked tliein. Our
tive Li;nnl)oats, fast j)lanted in tlie mud, with lSi> men
on board, wei'c atta('k<Ml l»y r<»i'ty-t wo I»ai'i2;«'s and
iaunelies haviiiij:; a (•oni[)Ieinent of l/J<Ml men. Not-
witlistandiiii:: this enormous disparity ol' f'<»ree, tlie
Americans defended tlienisel\'es i'oi- an h(»ur and a
lialf, and did not strike tlieir tlai:; until they liad
destroyed moi'e tliaii one-third of the enemy's foi'ce,
one of their launches which we" sunk carryiiii^ as
many men as manned our w hole mos(juito tieet.
I'he Britisli, lia\ imj; n(»w complete control of Lake
Horgne, cpiickly rend(^zvoused their lroo|)>< on IVji
Island, off the month of Pearl Kixci', wli<'i'<' some
thirty oi' forty Spanish lishermen ai<led tlieir <lis-
end>aikation, and, heinii; (piit<' as i-eady to sell their
country as their fish, acte(l as sj»ies to ^ixc the tMiemy
informatitm and as <^ni<les to lead them throuiih the
diHicult inlets, Jackson had ali'eady j)rocIaimed
martial law; and had occupi«'d with men, batteries
and redoulits nearly every assaila))le point of which
the enemy <'onld mak<' choice. Tliouuh the danii:er
was now so inuiiinent. the intensest enthusiasm pre-
vailed, military airs r<'soun<led in the streets, every-
where the din of pi-eparation was heard, troc^ps and
citizens were eaij^er for the fray, and the onuiipresent
leader directed every department of this n<»w \ast
camp.
By some straiiije oversif]i;lit, no special attention
MA.IOK A. I.ACAIMMHKK LATOl'U.
:\]-A
11 \)\v-
'vcrv-
aiKl
rest'
lit
ast
'iition
liad IxM'ii |»ai<l to (>l)striictiiiLi' tin- liaynii IVicnvcniK*,
('iii|»tviiiU' into (lie head (tf Lake IJoPLiiic, distant, in
a (liicci iiiM', only six miles from the Mississipjti, or
al»onl <|()Ml)le that distance followinir tlie sinuosities
<»r the water ah»nu' IJienvenue, Mazant, and th(^
X'iUerie (anal. ( >n the '2^H\\ of I )ecenil>ei', a <lis-
uiiised Hi'itisli oiricei', i^uided \>\ thr<'e of the Spanish
scoundrels IVoni the lishei-nien's \ illai;'e, e.\|iloi"ed this
route, w liicli, on his report, it was decided to a(h>pt,
not only liecause it was short and practical)le, hut h'd
to within nine miles of tlie city.
< >n the niornlnL;- oi" Decemltei- 2."»(l, about L',4(M)
British, after ca|tturinu' the few pickets u-uardinu' this
conununication, ieache<l the Mississippi Itej'oi'e noon
without ol»sei-\ alioii or o|»position. 'I'liis was a
brilliant achievement, and had the British (Jeneral's
sul)se(|uent o])erations Ihmmi conducted witli like s|)irit
and judn'ineiit, Louisiana mi^'ht have fallen, notw'ith-
standiuii' the most sti'enuous efforts of hersturdy de-
tVndei's — then less than r),(HMi men, mostly militia.
I^'roni this jioint which theVneniy had so successfully
readied, neither ti'oops nor obstacles j>re\«*nted the
l)i'itisli adxance, in a b'W hours' march, <»\'er a h'vel
road aloiiL^ the le\ ce ; but the enemy left unL^athere<l
the fruits of his own enteiprise. Stweral of the most
sai^'acioiis oflicers of this Britisli force appreciated
the ad\antaii'(^ of a c(>ii/>-f/r-/i/tf/'/i, but more cautious
counsels pi'e\ailei| and the u'olden o[)portunity was
lost, ne\'er to return.
Jackson received rei'tain intelli<j:enc«', through
Major liatt)ur who ha<l recoiiiioitereil tlu^ enemy, of
this threatening iiio\<'ment, in less than two hours
I'
ilii
314
LOnsiANA CAM PA ION OF 1814-15.
after its accomplislimeiit. His troojis wei'e tlieii
scattered to guard the \ari(>iis ai)i)roa('lies to tlie city,
and he dared not concentrate tliein all <n» the ene-
my, who might be only attempting by a feint, to open
other avenues to liis direct march, paiticularly by the
(rentilly road, wliere tlie general had reasonably
expected tlie enemy would a])proach, IIa[)[)ily for
himself and for his country, Jackson, with his char-
acteristic vigor and valor, resolved instantly to assail
the enemy. "The British are below," said he, "we
must fight them to-night." After protecting the
Gentilly road, all the force he could prudently with-
draw from exposed points was about 1,800 men, of
which less than half were new regulars, and the
remainder raw militia who had never battled with
a civilized foe. This small, inexperienced force was
now to measure swords, at the (^)uatre-Hras of
another AVaterloo, with greater numbers of the ene-
my, soon after swelled to 4,500 veteran troo])s which
had won their distinction on the bloody fields of
S})ain and Portugal.
Among the many versions of this vital action, we
much prefer the brief and spirited account given by
General Jackson in his own official despatch, of
Dec. 27, 1814, to the AVar Department, in which
he savs : " General Coft'ee was oi'dered to turn the
enemy's right, while with the residue of the force
I attacked his strongest ])osition on the left, near
the river. Commodore Patterson having drop})ed
d(nvn the river in the schooner Carolina, was directed
to open a fire upon their cam[>, which he executed
at about half after seven. This beiim- the signal
-:£*
MA.fOK A. LAOAKHIKHK LATOIfJ.
815
then
city,
», ene-
open
►V the
niibly
y ^'*>'"
I ohar-
jisssiil
', " we
\<r the
f witli-
iien, of
11(1 the
I witli
•oe was
5ras of
lie ene-
which
'Ids of
ion, we
IV en l)y
Itch, of
w
Urn
hich
the
He
force
Ift, near
llropi
»e(\
llireeted
uted
Ixec
^liiiui
of attack, (lenei-al ('otVet'''s men, with their nsiial
irnpetuosity, rnshed on tlie enemy's riiz;ht, and entered
tlieir cam|>, while our right advanced with e([ual
ardor, 'I'here can he but little douljt that we
should have succeeded on that occasion, with our
infei'ior force, in destroying or captui'ing the enemy,
had not a thick fog, which arose alH)Ut eight o'ch>ck,
occasioned some confusion among the <liiferent cor[)s.
Fearing the conse(|uences under this circumstance,
of the further prosecution of a night attack with
troops then acting together for the first time, I con-
tented myself with lying on the field that night."
In concluding this despatch, after com[)limenting
the mei'itorious commanders of troops, he says of
his Chief Kngineer • " Major Latour, having no com-
mand, volunteered his sei'vices, and was (►f gi'eat
assistance to me." Our killed, wounded and })ris.
oners in this engagement were 218; while the ene-
my lost about double that nund^er. The British
commander, General Keane, in his official report,
says: "A more extraordinary conflict has perhaps
never occni-red ; absolutely hand to hand, both offi-
cers and men."
New^ Orleans being now open to attack, at any
moment, by forces superior both in numbers and
discipline, Jackson, though he had produced a great
moral effect u])on the enemy, sensibly felt the neces-
sity of immediately intrencliing his foi'ces, and not
putting evei'ything to hazard by a field-fight with a
veteran army. Accordingly, at dawn of the 24th,
he took u]) a position, two miles above, behind Rod-
riguez Canal, where the I'iver and swamp were but
'tfTT
.Slfi
Lorrsr.wA campatox of isit ii.
a short diHtjiiice iijt.irt, whiN* soiin- c.'ivuln ;iii<i r«'L;ii-
Inr infjintry obsri'vcd tluMMiciny's moveiiuMits. Major
Latoiir cut tlie Mississij)[)i levees to t1oo<l the uji-ouikI
b(U\veeiithe l)elliLrei'ents and prevent tlie enemy's ad-
vance ; but the expedient was of litth^ vahie, as the
swell in the river hovu subsided, leaving the left
bank drv.
«
Wiiile our army, day and night, was piling u[)
eartli and bales of cotton to form the intrenchment,
exten<ling from the rivei- deep into the morass,
Latour was called to strengthen tlie j)osition at the
contluence of Hayou Sauvage and Chef Menteur,
an nnfoundc'l rumor liaving been spread that tlie
eueniv was niovinu: on our rear b\ the (Jentillv road.
Fortunately, during four precious days, the demoral-
ized British moved neither to the front noi' rear.
They did little else than rejoice, on CMiristmas, over
the arrival of General l^ickingham, the "Jh'ro of
Salamanca,'' and briug from the fleet some heavy
artillery, j)lace(l in batteiy oii the L^Tth, with \vhich
they set tire to, and blew u[) our sejiooner Cai'oline.
AVhile these things wvi-e transpiring on the left bank
of the Mississippi, Colonel Alorgan was ordered to
abandon his position at the "English Turn," leave
his artillerv and a small o'lin-ison at Fort St. Leon,
and, with the remaining forces, occupy a [)osition
on the right bank of the rivci', opposite Camp
Jackson.
Packingham, the new connnander-in-chief, with
an army of 8,000 excellent troo])s, was determined to
drive Jackson l)efore him and carry his intrench-
ments by storm. On the evening of the 2Tth, the
T
MA.IOIl A. LACAIMMKIIK LATcH'l}.
an
1:
enemy advanced, drove in <>nr pickets and oiit-jjosts,
reconnoitred otii- position, ludted l)ct'ore dark uitliin
a few liiindred yards of our line, and ]mssed tlie
niji'lit in buildinu' hattei-ies for tlie morrow under a
eontinuecl (Iroppini^ Hre of our liu'lit tro()j)s. Jack-
son, durinii; tliis loui^ winter night, was not idle.
(Heariiii:; liis front of all ohstacles to give full play t«)
liis twentv i-'uns, Ids 4, odd infantrv, and to the tiank-
ing fire of the schoonei" Louisiana in the rivei-, he was
ready, at day1)reak of the L*Stli, to give a warm wel-
come to the enemy advancing in tno colunuis.
That on the right, under (teneral (libln, moved
along the woody margin of the cy[»ress swamji ;
while that on tlie left, under (ieneral Keene, followed
tlie public road neai" tlie river's ])unk — each ])re-
ceeded by skirmishers in open order, forming nearly
a continuous line from the river ([uite into the morass
with a view of turning our left. ( )nward tliis impos-
ing array, dischai'ging showers of rockets, ])rocee( led
to witliin close view of our intrenched line, from
which poured forth a death-dealing fire of artillery
and musketi'v, crossed by more than 800 shots from
the Louisiana. From this terri])le storm, Packing-
ham recoiled, Avithdrew his assailants to wherever
they could Hud sheltei-, and, after a vain effort to
turn oui- left, resolved, on the advice of a council of
Avar, to adopt a more cautious [)()licy. Accordingly,
he brouii-ht forward heavy sieu'e-ujuns from the ships
l)efore attempting anothei' sei'ious attack upon Jack-
son, who was not to be seduced into fighting with
liis raw militia in the open field ; nin* to be terrified
into submission by showers of shells and rockets
ii
^1
ai8
LOriSIAXA CAMl'Ar':N OF 1814 15,
which (lid nodaiiiuge to liis works and little to their
defenders, sixteen killed and wounded being our
total loss in the late assault.
Paekinghani was in great per2)lexity ; to advance
on a narrow front, barred by a strong intrenched
line, was to lead his troops to almost certain slaugh-
ter, and foi" his renowned veterans to retire, before
raw militia, was degrading. As the only alternative,
he determined to treat our slio-ht field-works like
strong S[)anish fortifications. Accordingly, by the
night of the JHst, heavy guns were established in
three batteries at 600 yards from the American line,
ammunition accumulated, and, throughout the night,
Sir John Burgoyne, the British Chief Engineer, was
busy with spade and shovel. Meantime our line had
been strengthened and new artillery added : while,
on the right bank of the Mississippi, Major Latour,
to provide against contingencies, had thrown up a
strong bastioned intrenchment l)ehind Boisgervais'
Canal, and formed from a brick-kiln a heavy
redoubt, opi)osite New Orleans.
The hours of the closiiiijr vear " i2:ave dreadful
note of [)reparation " ; but Jackson, " thawing cold
fear," determined to make New Vear a like unha[t[»y
holiday as Christmas had been to the British army.
The misty dawn of January 1, 1815, concealed the
workmen coin))leting the enemy's )»atteries, and the
formation, several lines deej), of his troops for
assaiiltino: the breaches so soon as made. About
8 A. M., the fog lifted, when the cannonade, with
every advantage to the enemy, became active and
general, continuing for two hours with great vigor
MA.TOi; A, LACAUHIEUK LATOTJU.
819
the
(I the
for
Jumt
with
uiul
vigor
iiiul precision. The contlic't was now terrihle, but
tlie ascendency of our return tire was evident, dis-
mounting: the enemy's artillery, killinji: and disabling::
tlieir gunners, and almost demolishing their batteries,
which were nearly silenced at mid-(Lay. General
Coffee liad, at the same time, frusti-ated tlie enemy'."^
effort to turn our left, Before 8 i>. m, the Britisli
army, confident in the morning of entering Xe^v
Orleans before night, tied in hot haste to the ditches,
sought shelter whei'ever it was to be found, and,
under coyer of the coming darkness, crawled back to
their cainj), leaying tiye pieces of artillery a spoil for
the Americans.
Wellington's heroes, ^vho liad trod the path of
victoi'y from Lisbon to Toulouse, and liad success-
fully stormed Spain's strongest fortresses, had, by
raw troops, a second time, been " not only batlied and
disaj)p()inted, but disheartened and discontented;"
and soon were destined to learn a third appalling
lesson, not dreamt of in their })liiloso])hy of war —
that freemen, fighting for tlieir tire-sides, were not to
be subdued even by the compierors of Euro])e.
Before ))roceeding to describe the memoralde
events of the ever glorious 8th of January, 1815,
reflectiiiii; the liiuhest renown on Ainerican arms, we
must give a brief descrij)tion of the defenses which
were thrown uj), under the general direction of Major
Latoui', in the two weeks of coid, wet weather, pre-
ceediiiii; the decisive battle for the salvation of New
Orleans.
Behind the levees to prevent the Mississip})) from
overHowing its banks, were narrow strips of dry
i: i
320
LOUISIANA CAMl'AIGX OF ISU lo.
land, bordered by dense cypress swamps. Tlie river
beiiisj; ordinai'ilv liiu'lier tlian the niarslies, c;:nals, in
many ]>laees, were cut to utilize the power of *" >e
water, deseendini;' throuiifh tlieni, to turn mill-wh' I .
at their heads, 'J'he mode of defense therefore, was
obvious and sim])le, that of obstructing the sti'i]> of
dry land, on either bank of the river, with transverse
barriers behind the mill-races. Such was the famous
Jackson intrenchment on the h'ft bank, five miles
below New ( )rleans, on the north side of the old
Rodriguez canal, or mill-race, which formed itsshallow
wet ditch in front. At this narrowest part of the
di'v land, the intrenched barrier was about a mile
long, more than " half of which ran from the river
to the wood, the remainchir extending into the de])th,
where the line took a direction towards the left,
which rested on acy])ress swamp almost impassable.''
The troo])s, citizens and slaves, of all classes and con-
ditions, wei-e indefatigable at their labors, and their
works, stivnu'thened from dav to dav, soon inspired
contidence. The line, nearly straight, except a short
indentation near the woods, necessitated by some
deej) holes, was vei'v rudely formed, of \ ai'iable
height and thickness, and constructed of e\ ery
species of material at hand ; cotton bales being used
near the rivei-; fence-rails serving to revet portions
of the jtai'apet : and, within the swani]), whei'e ex-
posed only to nuisketry tii'e, it was formed of logs,
ten feet apart, laid over
th
eacii oriiei' an<
(I til
n
)ace
between tilled with eai'th. ( )n the south side(»f the
canal, close t(t the rivei', was a small redoubt servinir
th
to sweep tlie road on the I'lver bain<, and en
ifilade
MAJOII A. LA( AintlEUE LATOUR.
321
I'lver
Is, ill
I:- :.
, \vas
ij) of
verse
lUOUS
miles
e old
allow
)f tlie
I mile
river
ileptli,
e left,
•sable."
(1 eoii-
their
j)ire«l
sliort
some
riable
every
used
rtioiis
re ex-
loL!;s,
space
.f the
erviiig
nil lade
the front of the iiitreiieliiiieut. l^ehiiid the ])arapet
were eiglit batteries, judieioiisly ])laee(l, luouiitiiig
tliirteeii ])ieees of artillery, fi to H2-j)ounders. Acoss
the river was I*atterson's marine hatteiy, of nine guns,
commanding the plain of Clialmette, aided by the
fire of the sehooner Louisiana, The infantry behind
Jackson's line nnmbered 8,'2(M) men, of whom only
8(M> were newly-recrnited regulars. General Coffee's
500 men, holding the extreme left of the line, were
coni[)elled to stand knee-deep in the mud and water
of the swamp, and ))ivouac on tloatiiig logs lashed to
the trees.
Two miles highei" up the I'iver, the weaker, un-
armed men, with, their oidy weapons, picks and
shcwels, lield a second line servinjj: as a rallvins:
position ill the event of disaster; and still a third
line was established just below the city limits.
Jackson's entire force, armed and unarmed, on the
left bank of the river, was 4,204, as stated by Gen-
eral Cass, when he was Secretarv of War in Presi-
dent Jackson's cabinet.
The defenses on the right l)ank of the ]Missis-
si[)pi, where the strij) of dry land, between the river
and swamp, vai'ied in width fi'om one to two thous-
and yards, consisted of four transverse earthen lines,
two of which wei'e lower down the river than Jack-
son's main line, the third about abreast of it, and
the fourth a mile and a half still higher u[) the
stream. The lonust^ at Kaguet's old canal, extended
but 'JOO yards from the river, the remaining dis-
tance to the swamp, some 1,800 yards, presenting no
other obstacle than the ditch. The sccoikI, a convex
Iff
322
LOnSIANA CAMPAIGN OK 1814-15.
bastioiied line, lialf a mile in rear of the first, was
at tlie narrowest and strongest position on the right
bank; but, after Major Latour had marked it out
and commenced throwing it up, his orders, unfortu-
nately, were countei'inanded by superior authority.
Tlie third line — Jourdan's — important as being
abreast of Jackson's on the left bank, does not ap-
pear to have been more tinui laid out. '^\\q fourth^
beliind Boisgerv^ais' canal, three miles ])elow New
Orleans, designed to be secured with })astions and
redoubts, was incomplete. These right Ijank lines
under connnand of General Moruan, were feebly
MAJOR A. LACARRIKUK LATOT'Il.
323
was
•iglit
out
ortn-
)rity.
IUILlA rr^
)t a|>-
New
lis and
lilies
1 feebly
manned with a1)()ut 800 raw and badly armed militia,
some of whom, without food, had marched live
miles through deep mud just before going into
action.
Under cover of the night of January 7th, Packing-
ham resolved to send 1,500 infantry, with artillery,
to attack and carry Morgan's }>osition, and from bat-
teries there enfilade Jackson's intrenchment, while
the mass of his army, on the left ])ank, should storm
it in front. These assailants, instead of arriving on
the west l)ank fresh for their dithcult task had been
much exhausted In previous labor in deepening,
widening and })rolonging Villerie's canal tlirough
which to })ass their l)oats, instead of transporting
them over the narrow neck of land by means of
rollers as tliey before had moved their heavy artillery.
Packingham's plan was simple, tliougli he com-
mitted the great error of making his princi[)al attack
on the left bank, whei'e flackson was much the
strongest lu pr/:s()iui(/ iind material defenses. Before
dawn of the Sth, the assault on the I'ight bank was
to be made with vigor by Colonel Thornton then in
command, the sound of whose guns was to be the
signal for (leneral (ilbbs' column, i)rovided with
susar-cane fascines to till the ditch and scalinsj: lad-
ders to mount the })ara})et, to storm Jackson's left,
while (leneral Keane's column was to threaten the
riji-ht.
< )n the afternoon of the 7th, Jackson became
satistied that the ^^ei**;ht of the enemy would fall
upon the tr(M>ps on the left bank of the river. The
enemy's pieparations were everywhere visible, and,
I
7
324
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814-15.
i i,..
shortly after niglit-fall, the sound of pick and shovel
could be heard reconsti'uctino; their destroyed batter-
ies ; while theii- pickets were increased to screen
these and other operations. In our cam]) all was
composiu'e, half of tlie ti'oops alternating with the
other lialf on duty behind the intrenchiuents ; while
the whole anxiously awaited at dawn of the calm,
cold and lowerinc: inorninij: of the 8th, for the com-
ing of the foe just re-enforced to l(),()0() strong.
Jackson was roused from his (piiet slumber, soon
after midnight, l)y a call for more t!'ooj)s to defend
the rio-ht bank. "Hurry back," said he to the mes-
seno;er, "and tell General Mori»:an he must maintain
his })osition at all hazards, while we resist the main
attack which will be made here." However, he
ordered 500 Kentuckians to cross the river, while
he, with his staff, went to his lines to be ready to
ward oif the swift coming tempest lowering on his
front.
Thornton, who was to open the Ijattle on the
right bank of the Mississi])])i, was delayed by the
caving-in of the banks of the \'illerie canal, wliicli
impeded the ]>assage of the boats. At last, embark-
ing Avith half his force, he was swept down ])y the
current of the Mississippi a mile and a half below
the intended point of debarkation; hence before all
had left their boats, the day had (hiwned, and
" battle's magnificently-stern array " was already en-
irasred on the fatal field of Chalmette.
Packinghani, jiftei' a sleepless night, had ad-
vanced GiblW and Keane's assaulting columns to
within 450 yards of Jackson's entrenchment, Lam-
MAJOR A. LArARKIKHE LATOUR.
825
l)ei't\s(livisi()ul)eiiii^ left in reserve. In the misty dawn
lie was anxiously awaiting Tlioniton's siirnal-u^uns
to beiiin liis i)ai't in the day's dianni. Already our
retii'ing out-posts had ap[)rised Jackson of his
(h'lnger, wlien suchlenly, as tlie fog lifted, tlie red
line of Britisli was disclosed to our tro(>ps and
Lieutenant Spotts, from battery six, opened fire
iil)on it. Instantly a signal rocket went u]) on the
Bi'itisli I'iglit, and another on the left. With three
cheers and under a cloud of Congreve rockets, with
steady and measured tread, suppoi'ted by the fire of
their batteries, on came that brave British infantry,
which had so often faced death. Gib]>s' close col-
nnui, sixty files front, jn'otected by the projecting
woods, advanced to within 200 yards t)f our intrench-
ment, when it became exposed to the fury of bat-
teries six, seven and eight, and the terrible volliesof
our Kentucky and Tennessee marksmen, in four
ranks, alternating their fire. For some time the
Hritish officers stimulated the coura2:e of their
troo[>s to move obli<piely on battery seven, oj)ening
wide gaps through the colunui, which were instantly
filled with fresh troops, to share in turn a like fate.
For twenty-five minutes these British veterans en-
dured this lead and iron rain, some of the boldest
with matchless courage reaching the brink of the
canal ; but, without fascines or the ladders which had
been left behind, human power had reached its limit,
and the whole column, broken, dispersed and dis-
heartened, retreated in the utmost confusion to the
shelter of the bushes and the ditch, 400 hundred
yards in rear. Here depositing their knap-sacks,
f SI
326
LOUISIAXA CA:MPAIGX of 181t-16.
■■■I
I
V i1
they were i-allied, recruitt'd with i'lvsh troops, and
again formed foi* the eoiiHict ; but all in vain, for a
column of Sjiartans could not Avithstand that Ameri-
can rolling fire of musketry and artillery pouring
MA.TOR A. LACARRIERE LATOI'R.
82'
I
.s
[meri-
forth its inessen2;ers of deatli. Packiiii^liain had
fallen a victim to liis own intrepidity, and (iil)l)s, tlie
))rave leader of tlie eolunin, liad ])een wcninded ;
yet the surviving officers essayed to make the troops
form a third time; but notliinii: could move them
from the ditcli in rear, wliere tliey passed the remain-
der of the day.
Some of tlie enemy's troops made a false attack
throu«i:h tlie woods to ascertain the feasibility of
turniiii; our extreme left in the swamp, but General
Coffee's brisk fire soon made them letire.
Keane's colunni, ra])idly moving, soon after
(xibbs', along the river bank, followed our retreating
out-])ost8 so closely that its advance reached the
unfinished redoul)t in front of our extreme right,
and through its embrasures got possession ; but
its stay was of short (Ur'atioii under the front fire
of onv artillery and of the seventh regular infantry,
assisted ])y Patterson's flanking fire of the marine
battery on the oj)posite shore. Like the column on
the rioht, it was obliired to retire in disorder, leavinir
the road, levee and river bank strewed with its dead
and Avounded, among the latter being the gallant
leader of that forlorn lio])e. Our artillery was now
turned u])on the enemy's batteries on the river bank,
which, in two hours, became untenable.
General Laml)ert, now the senior in command,
on hearing of the British disaster, came forward
with his reserves ; but unal)le to retrieve the for-
tunes of the day, he abandoned the Aceldama of
Chalmette, literally covered with theii' dead and
dvino:, and contented himself with coverinii: the
■: •
1
I
i l
328
l.oriSI.WA ( A.MI'AKiX OI' iSlt 15.
ivtrent of the iiintihit(Ml mikI flyiiii;- wreck of that
valiant ai'iiiy, a few hoiiis het'ore so full of liope,
pi'lde and eontidenee.
"Ah soon as the wrecks of the lii-itish column
liad disa|)j)eared," says Alajoi' Latour in his Ilistoi'i-
oal Memoir of (he ('am})aiu'n, " the tire of our nuis-
ketrv ceased, and oui- artillei-y nnly lli-etl at intervals
at tlie enemy's batteries, oi' at scattered [>latoons
that were perceived in the wood. At tliis time,
men from all our dItfertMit corj)s, pi-ompted merelv
by sentiments of humanit\', went, of their own
accord, to assist the wounded liritish, to uixc them
drink, and carry them (as they did several on their
backs) within our lines. All our troops unani-
mously a])plauded the humane sentiments of these
brave men, whose dauntless hearts were urieved to
])ehold the slauu'hter of the day, and in theii-
wounded enem\' sa\v but their sufferinu,' fellow^
creature.
"But, withhoiTor I record the atrocity! while
they were in the verv act of administeriui:: consola-
tion — while they were carrying tlie wounded British
— tlie troops tliat were in the ditch (in front of our
lines) tired tm them, and killetl and wounded some
men. Yet the otiiers, regardless of tiie danger to
which they ex[)osed themselves, ])ersevered in their
huidable purpose. This instance of ])aseiiess may
have proceeded from individuals; nor can it be pre-
sumed that the men ^^•ere ordered to fire by any
ofHcer of rank. Tlie known tenor of (leneral Lam-
bei-t's honorable and soldiei'ly conduct, sets tlie com-
mander-in-chief far al)ove the suspicion of his ])eing
MA.IOK A. LACAURIKHK LATOIR.
329
'How
>f our
some
cr to
tlieir
iiiav
pie-
any
iLaui-
eom-
Ix'iiiij;
cnpablo of sucIj atrocity. Hut the otticers wlio com-
iiiaii«le<l tlie troops in the ditch, within musket-shot
of tlie men tired on, cannot alle<2:e tliat they miscon-
ceived the intention of <>ur men, most of them beini^j
unarmed, and assistin*; tlie woun<hMl. Tliey were
Ileal' <'nou<ili to see tlieir actions, and seeiuij^ these,
(liey could not possi})ly misconceive their motives.
Upon a full view of this fact then, whatever reluc-
taiKM' we may feci, in brand in^ij with infamy milit{iry
men whose actions should ever he directed by
honour — men, amonji^st whom there were perhaps sev-
eral who wore the honorable decorations of valour
and ij;ood conduct, we cannot forbear to give them
the aj)j)ellati(m of barbarians. The private soldiers
cannot be reproached with this atrocious act ; the
the guilt of it rests solely with those who com-
manded them.''
While the great battle was raging on the plain
of Chalmette, the British were not idle on the west
side of the Mississipj)i, where, nominally, we had
four lines of defense ; but, in reality, only one — that
behind the Boisgervais canal — of any real strength.
Thornton, the British commandei", as we have before
stated, instead of beginning the conflict, did not dis-
embark on the rio-ht 'bank till after da vHirht when
Packinghani was fully engaged. To oppose his
landing, (leneral Morgan sent one hundred ill-armed
Louisiana militia, under Major Arnaud, to Morin's
estate. As was to be expected, this handful of un-
disciplined men soon took to flight, followed by the
enemy's troops and flanked by their three ascending
gun-boats. Tliey did not halt till they reached
m
t-: 1
330
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814 15.
Davis' 250 wearv nnd poorly arnicd KtMitiickiuns on
Maliew's plantation, about a mile in front of Mori2:an
wlio liad taken position l)eliin(l the weak intrench-
ment at Raguet\s canal, of which only the 200 yards,
next the ri ,vas built. Arnaud's detachment soon
took to tlu .oods, and Davis, |)ressed in front and
tlnnk, after tii'inu^ a few voUies, fell back to M()r<i;.'urs
right, who, with his now total force of 000 men and
three small [)ieces of artillery, had to hold a line over
a mile long, of which only a tenth, adjoining the
river, was intrenched. Of course he could not long
resist the onset of British veterans supported l>y the
flank tire of their gun-boats. Morgan's undefended
right being turned and his centre j)ierced, he spiked
and threw into the river liis guns, and Hed in wild
confusion t lie Boisgervais intrenchment, when most
of tlie tro nere rallied behind this, the only de-
fensible line on tlie right l)ank. The Bi'itisli, no
longer opposed, pressed forward to the marine bat-
tery with the guns of which Patterson had done such
terrible execution in sweeping the ])lain in front of
Jackson's intrenchment on the left bank. The Com-
modore, virtually powerless without infantry sup-
ports, turned his fire upon tlie advancing foe, soon
after spiked his guns, and retreated to the Louisiana
which he had pushed into the stream out of the
enemy's reach.
General Jackson, learning this only disaster of
the campaign, immediately sent over (Tcneral Hum-
bert, an exi)erienced French officer, with 400 troops,
to rectify affairs on the west bank of the river.
Fortunately while the discussion of seniority in
MA.IOK A. LACAKKIKUK LATorU.
331
mnk" WMH ,u:oing on, the enemy withdrew und Tlioin-
ton I'e-enibui'ked liis troops to join liin (lefeate<l
comrades. Tliouij^h the operations on the riglit
hank were in striking contrast with tlie gh)rioiis
acliievements on the h*ft, onr h>HS was only one
killed and five wounded, while tlie casualties of tlie
enemy were liiO. On hoth sides of the river, on the
ht\\, the Americans had 13 killed, 3!» wounded and
19 missing — total 71 ; while the enemy lost, exclu-
sive ()f the 120 on the right bank, 700 killed, 1,400
Avounded, and 500 prisoners — in all 2,000 men, which
is probably an nnder estimjite.
It will naturally be asked, how an army com-
posed of the best veteran troops, accustomed to vic-
tory and to overcome all obstacles, utterly failed in
a brief conflict against a third of their number of
raw levies who never before ha i seen a battle-field,
and who, ill-armed, killed and wounded of their foe
one hundred times as many as they lost? The
difference was doubtless due to the protection of the
intrencliments, behind which were resolute marks-
men ably conuiianded, and fighting for their families
and fire-sides. The lilgh<ist authorittj^ (xeneral Jack-
son himself, has said that not one British soldier
entered his works, "except the wounded, who stag-
gered in, and those who, in the extremity of dan-
ger, sought refuge there till the storm should pass
away."
For the creation of these field-vv^orks. much is due
to the Chief Engineer, Major Latoiir, who, says
Jackson, in his general order of January 21, 1815,
noticing the conduct of the most meritorious of his
332
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814 15.
officers, was "useful to the army by his talents and
l)ravery."
According to the testimony of Latour's godchild
— -Camille Louise Boucher Douvillier, wife of
Autcuste V. Dtilche, of New Orleans — the Major re-
mained some time after 1815 in Louisiana, where he
wrote his able and interesting "Histoi-ical Memoii' of
the War in Wes' Florida and Louisiana, in 1S14-15."
He then went to the Island of Cuba, where he spent
four years in Havana, when he returned to his
native France, where, in the latter part of lS,'i9, he
died in the city of Paris. These meai2:re details of
the life of this excellent engineer we regret are all
we have been able to obtain after a very l<uig and
most diligent search, in which we have had the in-
telligent and zealous co-operation of C'olonel Edward
A. Palfrey, of New Orleans, La.
While the armies wei'e buryinjT; their dead on
the field of strife, tive hostile vessels, as a co-operating
force, were endeavoring to reach New Orleans by
the Mississip[)i. From the l>th to the 18th, the enemy
threw a thousand shells, with many round and gra]»e
shot against Fort St. Philip, which resulted in noth-
ing more than killing two and wounding seven of
the feeble gai'risoii. After nine days of fi-uitless
effort, the little British s([uadron witlidivw without
spoils or glory.
Having abandoned all hopes of coiupiering
Louisiana, the enemy, after a general exchange of
prisoners, without loss, withdrew from his perilous
position; and, on the Dth of Februaiv, })roceeded i >
besiege Fort Bowyer, wliich the gallant Major
MAJOR A. LACARRIEKE LATOT'R
333
Liiwrence was obliired to siin'eiider on tlie 12tli to a
greatly sii])erioi' force.
Tlie news of peace with Great Britain arrived
amid our exultant rejoicings over the great triumph
of New (Orleans, and while Congress and the whole
nation were pavinij; liomao:e to tlie heroic Jackson and
his brave army, which, in less than a month, had ter-
minated the Louisiana campaign, ever memorable in
the annals of America ; and, in a few hours, had
van(juished a powerful foe on the field of Chalmette,
washed by the mighty Mississippi, Monarch of
Waters, and bordered by morasses where, in wild
luxuriance, grew the laurel of the victor and the
cypress of the van(piished.
Though this brief cam])aign was so ably and ener-
getically conducted, and ended the war with (jreat
Britain in a ])laze of glory, it had its blemishes,
which military criticism must not conceal.
l^lrd: Though the defense of Fort Bowyer ended
September lath, in the complete defeat of the British
naval and land forces, it is doubtful whether the
withdrawal of its gallant coninumder and garrison
from the subsecpient Louisiana operations, was
compensated by the short retention of a feeble
fort, without any after influences on the campaign
till its final ••jij)itulation, February 12th, an event
so humiliatini>' amid our rejoicinii's and so consol-
ingto the enemy after his great catastro[)he at New
Orleans.
/Second : The seizure of Pensacola, November 7tli,
though <lis])laying great energy, indomitable will,
and reasonable retaliation for past wrongs, hardly
if
i'ii''':: 4
834
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814-15.
justified tlie loss of precious time and forces for the
capture of some worthless forts, the dispersion of
Nicholl's small body of Neg^ro and Indian allies, and
the driving away of the British ships to some other
ecpially good harbor ; while these acts violated in-
ternational law, and Jeopardized our relations with
Spain with which we could not then afford to go to
war.
Thii'd: The capture of our Gun-Boats, Decem-
ber 1 4th, by nine times their number of large, well-
appointetl and formidably armed British barges, was
inevitable; and conclusively proved the neglect of
the government in providing only such inade([uate
naval appliances for the defense of New Orleans,
open on every side to approach by water. But,
whether these few armed vessels should have been
sent on a reconnoissance of the enemy's powerful
fleet, which they could not lioj)e to successfully
oppose ; or have remained in the shallow bayous to
prevent the enemy's landing — is (piite anothei* <jues-
tion. As adjuncts to the army, they would have
been invaluable, as subse([uently demonstrated in the
distinguished part taken by the navy in the little
Carolina and Louisiana.
Fourth : Another serious deficiency was tlie lack
of fortifications ade(|uate to guard the vulneral)le
points of Louisiana, which were well known to the
government by maps and re])orts made, nearly two
years before, by Major Latour and his assistant engi-
neer. Tliat this territory was destined to l)e imaded
was well known, that its scattered and mixed po})u-
lation furnished a feeble defense, and tliat New
MA.TOK A. LACARRIEIIE LATOUR.
335
hiok
•altle
> the
tAVO
eiigi-
aded
u»pil-
New
Orleans, tlie })riceles.s einporium of the mighty Mis-
sissi])])i valley, was almost naked to the enemy.
Fifth : ( )n the arrival, December 2d, of General
Jackson at New Orleans, the personnel of defense
was as appallingly deficient as the materiel. He
had at hand onlv two skeleton rei^iments of newly
recrnited regnlars, the remainder of his force being
raw militia drawn from the invaded district. On
the IGtli, he informed the Secretary of War that
neither the Tennessee nor Kentucky troops had
arrived, though daily expected. The supply of
arms and annnunition was wholly inadetpiate to the
exigency, but was partially remedietl by General Car-
roll's foresight in transferring some of it, slowly de-
scending the Ohio, to his own swifter boats; other-
wise, the whole Kentucky re-enforcement would
have l)een weaponless on the day of trial. As it
was, 1,50(> of them, (jn the 8th of January, were
mere lookers on, having only picks and sho^'^els for
arms ; and, as stated in Jackson's despatch of Feb. 18,
1815, to the Secretary of War, "when the enemy
landed, Ite had not a flint except what was procured
from the Baratarians."
Sirth : The political obstacles, in the way of the
conunanding general's exei'cise of power, were nu-
merous ; but l)elong to civil rather than to mill-
tarv criticism.
Seventh: So confident were all that the enemy
w<>uld move upon New (Orleans by the Gentilly road,
or some other well-known pass, that the Bayou Bien-
venue, emptying into the head of Lake Horgne, was
un watched, except by a feeble guard which was cap-
336
LOUISIANA CAMI»AIGN OF 1814-15.
tiired by the enemy. It certainly sliould have been
in some way fortiiied oi' obstructed to [H'event tlie
passage of the enemy's boats ; but, whether tliis
neglect was due to the Chief Engineer, or some other
officer, we have not been able to ascertain.
Ki(jhth : (xeneral Jackson's prompt attack of the
enemy soon after his arrival upon the left bank of
the Mississippi nine miles below New Orleans,
doubtless saved that city ; but, as night assaults are
almost always attended with much confusion if not
fatal disorder, it prol)al)ly would have been more
Judicious to have accunmlated troops, made all his
dispositions under cover of the darkness of Decem-
ber 23d, and surprised the enemy at dawn of the
24th with no unreasonable hope of captui'ing the
whole, o' at least a part of this British advance.
N'tiifli : Rodriguez Canal was a well-chosen ])osi-
tion where to dam the torrent of British invasion
sweeping onward to overwhelm the rich city of New
Orleans, and was sufficiently distant from it to pro-
tect the place from the enemy's fire, and at the same
time to admit of additional interior lines upon whicli
to fall back in the event of disaster. The eneri^v
displayed in strengthening this line, and the judi-
cious a])plicatioii of materials at hand, were admir
able ; and the three successive defenses, especially
that of January 8th, were above all praise.
Tenth : The pre}>arations, on the west bank of
the Mississippi, in troops, arms and fortifications,
were so defective that a slicrht accident alone delaved
the enemy from pi'omptly pushing uj) to the Bois-
geiTais line, the only intrenchment on the right bank
MA.IOli A. LACARUIEKE LATOUR.
337
of any real strenii'tli. Arrixed liere in time the
enemy would liave taken in reverse tlie Rodriguez
line on the left bank, ])()ssil)ly turninsj^ the tide of
battle, causing its complete evacuation, Jackson's
retreat to the Dujn'e line, and the successful storm-
ing of the latter weak intrenchment by tlie large
force in front under Packingliani.
KUrentJi : After the overwhelming defeat of the
enemy on the 8th of January, two courses pre-
sented themselves to the victor: one to make a vig;-
or<uis sortie fi-om his works and crush, if possi})le,
the greatly demoralized enemy; the other to main-
tain his defensive attitude befoi'e New Orleans, a
city which it was his first duty to save. With vet-
eran disci])line(l ti'oops, familiar with tactical evo-
lutions, there is no (question, according to all the
rules of war, that Jackson should have sallied out
from behind his intrenchment, destroyed the enemy's
heavy artillery in his batteries, and have rajtidly
pursued and cut to jiieces the tlying foe; but, with
raw militia, badly ai'med, unskilled in field man-
O'uvi'es, and having no military exi)ei'ience otlier than
that just gained, it is vei'y doubtful whether it was
not better to build a bridge for the enemy's escape,
than to tight an ai'niy of old ti'oo[)s in the open' field.
However, as the best ci'itic on the war holds differ-
ent view s, we oi\ c General Armstrono:'s renuirks in
his own woi'ds :
"In General Jackson's official letter of the 9th of
January, we have a detail of the impoi-tant occurrences
of the day preceding — exhibiting, on tlie [)art of the
enemy, a total route, setting at defiance both per-
■ii
338
LOUISIANA CAMI'AKIN OF 1814 15.
suasion and autliorlty ; a fact, wliicli at once j)resents
the question — wliy, under sucli circumstances, the
victory had not been consununated, V)y a prompt and
vigorous pursuit of the fugitives. To tliis ([uestion,
tlii-ee answers, different if not discorchuit, liave been
given ; that of Jackson himself ascribes the omission
altogetlier to ' tlie defeat of Morgan on the western
side of the river'; that of Eaton, tlie (Ttaieral's bio-
gra[)her and jirotego, 'to a want of ai'ins, Avliicli tlie
government Iiad failed to supply'; while the his-
torian of Louisiana attri])utes it to 'a bonhommie,'
somewhat akin to the inspiration which, acciu'ding
to Phitarch, ])reveiited Hannibal fi'om entering and
sacking liome at the l)attle of Caniue.
"It may not be useless to see how far such
reasons will be sustained by rules, probal)ly coeval
with war as a science. According to these, 'when,
from any cause, you find your enemy weak and dis-
pirited, it l^ecoines your <luty to attack him promj)tly
and vigorously,' — ' Nothing should [)revent you from
pursuing a beaten and flying enemy, but a total
want of provisions' — 'why engage in a wai', but to
subdue an adversary^ And if so, wliy, after beat-
ing him to-day, give him time to rally and fight you
to-morrow^ The mere possession of afield of bat-
tle, is a barren victory' — 'Decisive battles shorten
wars, and thus confer a benefit on both belligerents.'
Yielding, h<>wever, to (xeneral Jackson, the right of
inter})reting military maxims, as freely as he was
wont to interjH'et constitutional ([uestions and legal
enactments— tliat is, ^ a>i Ju- inylersitood tJiein' still it
may be asked, why, if forbidden by ])ru(ience and
MAJOR A. LACAURIKllE LATOl'K.
339
liumaiiity fioiii destroying a beaten enemy, he should
not have followed the exani])le of Caesar, who,
refusing on this gi'ound to tight Africanus, was, at
the same time, careful to seize sti'ategic ]X)ints, cut
him off from his su[)[)lies, and thus, without shed-
ding a drop of l)lood, compel him to surren<ler.
"That the a(k)[)tion of this policy by Jackson,
at any time between the battle of the Sth, and tlie
retreat of the 18tli of January, would have had a
similar eifect on Lambert, will not be doubted by
those who know that, <lui-ing the j)eriod we have
mentioned, the temper of the British ai'my had l)een
much soui'ed ; their disci[)line greatly imj)aii'ed ;
theii' self-confidence entirely lost; their mairazine
nearly exhausted ; and their oidy source of su[)p]y
(the British shl[)ping) eighty miles distant ; ten of
which were (juagmire, furnishing a single, narrow,
and dano'erous ])athway, on which were stratetric
[>()ints, which, if seize<l and defended, by even small
corps, would have com[>letely severed Land)ertfrom
his base, and conn)elled him to choost between a
surrender and famine.
" If a pursuit of the enemy on the 8th, was, in
the Generars opinion, a game too hazardous to be
ado])ted, what, under any view of the subject, 2)re-
vented a seizure of the cannon, left l)ehin(l on the
Held of l)attle till midnight { A detachment of
one hundied men would have anticipated Lambert,
and depiived him of his guns, eithei" by removing
them, or by knocking off* their ti'unions. Tlie omis-
sion to do this is the more extraordinary, as the
British batteries, after their abandonment, were
im.
340
LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN OF 1814-16.
visited, and the i^nins counted, by a part of Jack-
son's army."
Twelfth : Having; freely discussed our own, let
us turn to the enemy's errors, which were even
i^reater.
Havino; a fleet and numerous liorht-drauirht harcres,
the British had free clioice of any of the Avater-
approaches to New Orleans, and after ca])turing our
few gun-boats, could have made a sudden descent
anywhere. In fact, without Jackson's knowledge,
2,400 combatants reached the junction of Villerie's
canal with the bayou Mazant at four on the morn-
ing of December 23d, and before noon took a ])()si-
tion on the left bank of the Mississippi, within nine
miles of New Orleans, to which there Avas a good
road. At this time Jackson's small undisci])line(l
force was mostly on the Gentill}' road, hence no
obstacle lay in the way of the enemy, who, by a
rapid march, could have reached the defenseless city
by 3 p. M., and have captured it before Jackson
could have marched to the rescue to save the city
from the grasp of the invaders, of whose approach
he was entirely ignorant till 1.30 p. m. Failing in
this, on the morning of the 24th, when his force had
swelled to 4,800 veteran combatants, the enemy
certainly could have beaten or have put to flight
Jackson's small force of raw troops. The British
general's fatal delay till the 28th, gave the energetic
Jackson time to throw up intrenchments, and led
Packingham then to conclude " that the works to be
assailed were not to be longer considered as fleld-
fortifications, but to be proceeded against by a regu-
MA.) »R A. LACARRIKRE LATOUR.
341
\av siege," wliieli lie undertook, Janiiaiy If^t, when,
our ai'tillery fire jn'oving superior to his, the British
general deferred further action till the 8th, hoping to
gain his object by making a diversion on the right
bank of the Mississip})i. This hitter was very badly
executed, in nf)t having sufficient traiisj)ortation for
Thornton's whole force to cross the river; want of
l»unctuality in assembling the boats ; making no
allowance for the current of the river ; having no
])reconcerted signals between the army, on the left,
and the detachment, on the right bank; and finally,
through all these delays, nullifying the entire effect
of the demonstration by letting its action folJoir
instead of i^recede the main operation. But much
the greater mistake was in not making the move-
ments on the left bank subsidiary to those on the
right, where the fortifications were weak ; their
defenders few, ill-armed and undisciplined ; and
where, from deficiency of water-craft, re-enforce-
ments could not have l)een transported across the
river in time to prevent the storming of the Bois-
gervais intrenchment, the only real obstacle l)e-
tween the enemy and New Orleans.
hv
I
Br;
CHAPTER NINTH.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ENGINEERS,
ENOAdEn IN THE
CAMPAIGNS OF THE WAR OF 1H12-15.
BRIG.-GENERAL CHARLES GRATIOT.
1 787-1 sr);').
4
Charles Gratiot was l)oni, Anij^nst 29, 1787, at
8t. Louis, Mo., then Louisiana Territory. His an-
cestors were Hugiienots, who, u])on the revocation
of the Edict of Nantes, \vere coni[)elled to einigi'ate
from France to escape I'eligious persecution. Tliey
took refuge in Switzerhmd, carrying with them their
morals and industry.
Charles Gratiot, tlie father, after whom the sub-
ject of this sketch was named, was ))orn, in 1747, at
Lausanne on Lake Geneva; was adopted by an
uncle, by whom he was educated in London, as a
protestant ; ^vhen twenty years old, became a mei--
chant in Montreal, Canada; and, being j^ossessed of
strong sense and energy, \vas placed at the head of a
trading ex})edition beyond the Great Lakes, where
;M2
BRIO.-GENERAL CHARLES CJRATIOT.
343
he founded tlie.old Hritisli pont of C^uliokia, and ob-
tained o'lvat wealth and iniluence. His sliare in huh-
tainini:; (ieneral (ieori>i;e lloi^ern (Darke's eon(|uest of
the Noitli-west Tei'i'itorv, from the British, in 177H,
is well known; and, so hii^ldy did the Colony of
Virii;inia ap]>reeiate tliese etl'orts in iicr Itehalf, tl»at
slie (h^si<»;ned to ]>resent (xi-atiot witli 3(),0(>(> aeres of
land in Kentucky, the fulfilment of whicli |)urpose
his i^enerous ifature failed to claim at the time wIkmi
the Ancient I)<^niinion acknowledged tlie del»t, and
which, unfortunately for his descendants, was not
sul)se(juently confirmed when Virginia became one
of the laiited States of America.
As a slight recognition of the fatliei-'s generous
and efficient services, President Jeiferson, a Vir-
ginian, soon after the ac(iuisition of Louisi, jia from
Fi'ance, appointed his eldest son, C^iiarles, a C'adet
of the V. S. Military Academy, which he entered
July 17, 1804. Upon his graduation therefrom,
October 30, 180(», he was prcmioted, in the Army, to
be Second Lieutenant of the Cor])S of Engineers, in
which arm of the service he remained for tliirty-tvvo
years, passirig through all its grades to the highest —
that of Chief Engineei'. While yet a Cadet, he was
detailed for duty at Grovernor's Island, New^ York
Harbor, and was then sent to Rocky Mount, S. C,
as an assistant engineer upon the works there in
progress. Upon his promotion, February 23, 1808,
to be a Ca})tain, he was ordered to Charleston, S. C,
as princi[)al assistant .ipon the fortifications in that
harbor, tlien under the supei'intendence of Major
Alexander Macomb. In the fall of this same xear
344
FlRIfJ.-OKVKHAI, CHAHLKS (JKATIOT.
lie took cii.'ii'i^c, t('iM|)oraiiIy, of tli<' cojist (N'I'ciiscs of
Nortli Carolina, and, sonic in<tntlis later, Ix'canie en-
j^ineer on the stati' of (iciici-al Wade ilanijiton,
whose liea(l(|Uai'tei"s were neai' Natchez. In the
spi-in*:: <'f l''^J" tli(^ ( aptain was ortU'icd to West
Point, N. v., wliere lie remained in coninian<l of the
Post (exclusive of the Miiitai'v Acath'iny) till isll,
during; the uhsence of ('oh)nel Williams, then Chief
Knpneer.
The day aftei' his hcariiiu' of the Declai-atioii (»f
War against (ireat Hritian, ('a]>tain (Jratiot, bein^-
then at St. Louis visitinic his parents duriiiii; his leaxe
of absence, immediately [)roceeded to W ashinii;toii
to ask for active service; and was at once ap|toiiited
Chief Engineer of the North Western Army, with
orders to stop m
mutt at Pittslmrg to aid in the
preparation of ordnance and ordmuice stores for
General Harrison's forces then in the Held. Not till
November, 1812, could Cajitain (iratiot and his
escort of 300 men move, with the heavy train of
twelve pieces of artillery and two hundred loaded
vehicles, to Lower Saiulusky through an almost
trackless wilderness where a wheel had never I'olled.
After persistently overcoming winter's cold, bad
roads, want of forage, an<l numerous other dllHcul-
ties, he delivered, January 5, 1818, his whole charge,
without even the l<>ss of a bullet, to the Commander-
in-Chief, who, soon after Winchester's defeat, directed
(Iratiot to join him without delay at Maumee I\a))i<ls,
He promptly obeyed ; crossed the l^lack Swamp; in
forty-eight hours re[)oi'ted to Harrison ; and re-
ceived his warm acknowledgments, not onl}' for his
BRIrt.-OENERAI- rilAUI-KS OIIATIOT.
345
great deMpatcli, but also for fi,(M)() cartridges he had
brought in liis own sled, without which the troops
theiv would not have been able t<» make the least
resistance, had they been attacked.
It is unnecessary to repeat what we liave so fully
given in c]ia[)ter third, res[)ec'ting Harrison's marches
and counter-marches; of tlie selection l)y Caj)tain
Gratiot, February 3-4, 1813, of the excellent de-
fensive j)osition (»n the right bank of the Maumee ;
its occupation by tlie North Western Army ; and of
the energ<.^tic construction of Fort Meigs by Captain
Wood.
During the Spring of 1813, Gratiot's labors,
anxieties and exp(>sure had brought oi» a severe
typhus fever, from which he was hardly convalescent
when the first attack was made on Fort Meigs. Not-
withstandinii:, he took char<i:e, dav and nisjht, of a
l)atterv, and manauvd it with such abilitv and effect
as to call forth special encomiums in general orders.
After the battle of the Thames, Harrison, with
the elite of his army, moved to the Niagara frontier,
leaving in Upper Canada and Michigan a broken
and disorganized foive of about 2,700 men, under
General Mc Arthur. This oiHcer, and others of rank
present at the fall of Detroit in 1812, were summoned
as witnesses before a C/ourt Martial, to be convened
at Albany, for the trial of Major-General Hull. The
withdrawal of every officer of rank and experience
embarrassed the commander not a little. To remedy
the evil, so far as practicable, it was suggested by
General Lewis Cass, Just appointed by Harrison
Military Governor of Michigan, that a commission
346
JmiG.-dKNERAL CIIARLFIS GRATIOT.
in the State militi«a could ])e issued to any one of
the sul)oi'dinates in whom confidence was re])osed,
and tlius obviate tlie difficulty. This suijijestion ))e-
ing approved, Ca})tain (xi-avii^t was brevetted, (Oc-
tober 5, 1813, Cohmel of Michii^an Militia, and
placed at the liead of a res])onsible connnand of
militia and reo-nlars, with hea(h[uai'ters at Maiden,
the country around which Proctor had devastated up-
on his recent retreat, havinii: also exhausted Michigan
of its resoui'ces. Under these circumstances, and
with a depleted (piartermaster and connnissary de-
piartment, it \vas no easy matter to subsist an army and
prevent the starvation of the iidial)itants ; yet the
new Colonel, by his excellent discipline and admirable
management, so well ])rovided for both, during the
entire winter and ensuing spring, that not a single
complaint was made, nor punishment inflicted. In
recognition of these services, one of the counties of
the State of Mic-higan has l)een named (rratiot.
After our recovery of Detroit and Michigan
Territory, (xeneral McArthiir, coimnanding the
Eighth Military Disti'ict, the l)etter to secure these
ac(piisitions against Bi'itish and Indian incui'sions,
and cover, in case of disaster, the I'etreat of an ex-
pedition he designed sending in the spi'ing to
recapture St. Josephs and Mackinaw, directed
works to be erected at the outU4 of Lake Huron, the
construction of which was connnitted to (Jratiot,
who, with a force of 300 men, fortified tlie heights
at the head of St. Claii' Straits. In six weeks the
works were coin])lete(l, and, in honor of tlie engineei",
when the fleet sul>se<[uently passed this point of
Blllft.-GENETIAL CHARLES ORATIOT.
347
seeuritv, ])otli tlu' land and soa comiuaiiders, in ex-
pression of their approval, <»\ive tlie fort tlie name of
(iratiot, wliic'li it lias since hoi'ne.
The naval expedition under Comniander St. Clair,
with the land forces commanded by the gallant
Colonel Croghan, did not leave Detroit till the be-
ginning of July, 1814, the details of which we have
given in our chapter on that cam])aign. (rratiot
accompanied this ex])edition, and ])articlpated in all
its operations, ])ai'ticularly the attack on Fort
Mackinaw, August 4, 1814, and while in conunand
of a detachment landed, Se])tember 13, 1814, near
the mouth of the Natewasaga Kiver, and succeeded
in destroying six months' supplies of provisions de-
poHited there by the enemy for ti-ansportation to
Mackinaw.
After the Pi'oclamation of Peace with (ireat
Britain, (Jratiot was promoted, February ^>, 181;"), to
be a ]\[ajor and was assigned to the supervision, in
181(i, of the fortifications of Delaware River and
Bay.
Inder the Treaty of (xhent, Mackinaw and its
dependencies were surrendered to us. (iratiot, as
Chief Engineer of De[)artment No. 3 (embracing
Michigan and the North West Territories) in 1817,
accom])aiiied the trooj)s destined to garrison these
works, which he put into a |>ai'tial state of defense,
and established the j»ost of (Jreen Hay.
Among the first works projected by the Board of
Engineers were those for the defense of the great
anchorage called " IIani]>ton Roads," at the mouth
of James River. The instruction of these works —
a
11 >i
348
BRIG.-GENERAL CHARLES GRATIOT.
llr
Fort Monroe and Fort Callionn (now Wool) — was
intrusted in 1819 to Major (Iratiot — a marked com-
pliment to him, they being among the most impor-
tant defenses on the entire Atlantic coast. Foi' ten
years he was engaged U|Hm the rip-rap foundation of
Fort Calhoun, and in buihling Fort Monroe, the
largest in area and tlie e(]ual in armament of any of
the coast defenses of the United States.
Soon after the death of Majoi'-deneral Jacob
Brown, the Chief Enij-ineer — Alexander Macoml) —
was appointed to succeed him as (Teneral-in-Cliief,
the place, left vacant, being filled, May 24, 1828, l)y
the promotion of Lieut.-Colonel (Iratiot to be Chief
Engineer with the rank of Colonel, he l)eing at the
same time brevetted a J^rigadier-(ieneral, U. S. Army,
'* for meritorious services and general good conduct."
As Ciiief Engineer of the Army, and {cv-opicio)
Inspector of the A[ilitary Academy, General Gi-atiot,
with headtpiarters at Washington CUty, continued in
the active performance of his varied and res])onsible
duties till I)ecend)er (5, 18,'^8, when, most unex-
pectedly to himself, his corps, the whole army, and
his numerous friends, he was dismissed l)y the I^'csi-
dent of the United States, for "having failed to pay
into the Treasury the l)alance of the moneys placed
in his hands, in iS.'i."), for public j)ur])oses, after sus-
pending therefrom the amount which he claims to be
due liini on settlement of accounts, according to the
President's oi'der, communicated to him by the
Secretary of War on Hie 28th November, 18.')8 ; and
having neglected to render his accounts in obedience
to the law of Januaiy .'H, 1828."
imrG.-(iEXEHAL CIIAULKS OUATIOT.
349
atiot,
(m1 ill
silile
iiiiex-
aiul
Pivsi-
(I pay
)la('«'(l
tr sus-
1 to l»e
to the
y the
; ; and
ilieiK'e
AN'^liile we think the President's siininiary dis-
missal of a meritorious officer, upon an (tlIe(j((tion of
defalcation, was, to say the least, very harsh; and
that Gratiot was entitled to a fair trial hy his mili-
tary peers — we cannot justify the General's course in
the premises, notwithstanding all its extenuating
circumstances. Tlioiiu'li he was chai'ii'ed Avith retain-
ing a much larger sum of government funds than
was subsequently ]3ro\'ed ; tlujugh, for years, he had
endeavored to secure an equitable adjustment of
his accounts with the Treasury, and was ready to
pay over any balance that might l)e due ; though liis
only supposed redress was in com[)elling suit against
him, as lie c(mld not bring an action against the gov-
ernment ; and thouirh this mode of reasonin<2; was
sound in his own mind ; vet, while believino; him
not guilty of an intentional violation of a trust', we
cannot justify him in taking the law into his own
hands, and doing wrong that good might come.
It would lead us beyond the limits of this brief
sketch to take up the various issues of this case ; we
must, therefore, limit ourselves to giving the con-
clusion of the Report of the Judiciary Committee
of the United States Senate, made August 31, 1852,
on the memorial of General Gratiot :
" The case of General Gratiot, who Avas the
Cliief of the Corps of Phigineers, in the Army of
the United States, lias been so elal)orately discussed
in every circle, and so fully rei)orted upon to Con-
gress, that the history of the whole case is familiar
to every one.
"The alleged grievance, which constitutes tlie
r4'
350
BRIG.-GENERAL CHARLES GRATIOT.
cause of his dissatisfaction, was the suinmary dis-
luissal of tlie petitioner from the army, in the year
1888, l)y the President of the linited States — first,
upon tlie plea tliat the power thus exercised was
arbitrary, and contrary to the true meaning and
intent of tlie act of Congress conveying it ; and
secondly, that a defalcation in the accounts of the
petitioner, which was the cause assigned for the
removal, did not and never did exist in truth.
"In supi)ort of his first plea, the petitioner
exhibits a mass of testimony, which is certainly
entitled to be very calmly Aveighed and measured ;
and among the same is the opinion of the General
Conunanding-in-Chief, upon a })arallel case, than
which no authority can be higher.
" In support of the second plea, he denies totally
the truth of the charw of defalcaticm, and contends
that he is not, and never was indel)ted to the United
States for moneys misused by him, and that a just
and legal adjustment of his accounts will bring the
United States in debt to him ; that the withholding
of the funds, upon the demand of the Secretary of
Wiiv, was a measure of self-defense, justified by the
circumstances of the case, and that he was then and
is now })repared for an e(piitable settlement, which
is his demand and desire.
" It seems to the committee that both of the
pleas are reasonal)le, and should receive attention,
urged as they are, with the earnestness of conscious
rectitude, by a gallant soldier, who has accjuired a
right to be heard from the blood he has spilled in
battle.
BRTO.-OEXERAL CHARLES GRATIOT.
351
hicli
•lOlll^
" Fui'tlier tlian this the coiiiiiiittee regret that
tliey cannot go, as it is not in their [)o\ver to aifonl
an a(le(|uate remedy by reconiniending tlie passage
of any hiw for tlie relief of the petitioner, and tliey
tlierefore ask to be discharged from the further con-
sideration of the subject."
From such an unex])ected reverse it was not easy
to recover, though he bore u}) under his misfortune
most wondei-fully, ho]>ing, for years, that some happy
turn of the wheel of fortune would bring liini relief.
Poverty, however, soon stared him in the face, com-
pelling him to acce])t, in 1840, the position of a com-
mon clerk in the Land Office at \Vashinij:;ton. He
who had so bravely battled for his country, and was
the son of one who liad so disinterestedly lavished
his wealth in the accpiisition of a vast territory
foi'mingso many of our ricli Northwestern States, to be
cast down from one of the most honored places in the
land to the lot of a subordinate clerkship, was truly
a sad change and a most melancholy spectacle. He
struggled on, loved by those an ho knew his worth,
respected by the whole community in which he
lived, and in conscious rectitude cheerful to the last,
was released bv death from all earthly trouble,
May 18, 1855, at St. Louis, Mo., which had grown
from a wilderness to be a great city in the sixty-
seven years he had lived.
Professor William H. C. Hartlett, one of Gen-
eral (iratiot's most intimate friends, sends to us the
followiuii; beautiful summai'y of his character: "His
mind was clear, ca[)acious and well [)oised ; and as
an administratoi", he had few superiors. His life — ■
\-
If
;■ ' '■'
352
BRIG.-GENERAL CHARLES GRATIOT.
private and public — was adorned with the finest
traits of lumianity. Genial and hospitable by dispo-
sition, his door was ever open and his well-supplied
table was accessible to all who had a right to seek
them, especially to the younger members of his
profession. He was a kind and devoted husband;
a tender and indulgent parent ; a tried and steadfast
friend ; and, as a fitting finish to his well rounded
character, nature had given him that chiefest of all
the virtues, an abundant charity.
"The writer of this willing tribute to his cherished
memory was associated with him for many years on
terms of closest official and social intimacy, and he
can recall no instance of his ever hn\'ing uttered a
disparaging judgment of the motives of others.
And even when oppressed by the wrongs that sep-
arated him from the Army and afterwards by a per-
sonal rudeness fnmi a (piarter in whose behalf he
had long exerted to its utmost his official influence,
he never forgot his self-respect, but his last words,
like those of his Divine Master in affliction, only
uttered forgiveness, and he died in the full faith of
the ultimate triumph of truth and a confident belief
that time would vindicate his good name. He was
not mistaken. General Gratiot was a pure and good
man in the largest and best meaning of these terms."
CAFPAIX WILLIAM PARTRIDGE.
353
CAPTAIN WILLIAM PARTRIDGE.
1788-1812.
William Partridge, born, 1788, in \'erniont, was
graduated October 30, 18()(), at the Military Academy
and promoted to be Second Lieutenant in the Corp.s
of Engineers ; served till 1812 at AVest Point and
on the defenses of Charleston Harbor, S. C ; and,
having' attained the rank of Ca[»tain, July 1, 1812,
became Chief P^ngineer of (ieneral Hull's army ; ill-
health, however, preventing his taking any active
part in the campaign.
Hull, j)receding his cai)itulation at Detroit, called
a council of war under the [>arapet in old Fort
Shelby, during wliich much was said against the
necessity of a surrender, not a single officer present
being in its favor. When Hull, to the astonishment
of the whole council, announced his determination
to capitulate, he ordered C^aptain Snelling of the
Fourtli Infantry "to cross the river with a flag," to
which the indignant Captain re[)lied, "I'll see you
in h — 1 first," \\\wu the General's Aide-de-Camp —
Captain Hull — was directed to perform that humili-
ating duty of capitulation. Captain Partridge, one
of the council, when Hull jtroclaimed his decision,
broke his sword across his knee and threw the pieces
at the General's feet. Of coui'se I*artridge became a
prisoner t)f war l)y the surrender of Detroit and its
garrison ; but a montii after, Se[)tember 20, 1812,
he died in the entjmy's hands at the early age of
twenty-four.
fliil!
354
imiO.-GENERAL SYLVANUS TIIAYEH.
BRIG.-GENERAL SYLVANUS THAYER.
1785-1872.
J-V:
Sylvanus Thayer was born, June 9, 1785, at
Braintree, Mass. ; received a classical education at
Dartmouth Colle<z;e, N. H. ; was i^raduated, when
twenty-three, from the Military Academy ; eiitered
the Corps of Enijineers, February 23, 1808, a Second
Lieutenant ; as Captain, was tlie Acting Chief En-
gineer to Major-General Ham])ton in 1813, his senior,
Major Mcliee, being in conunand of the artillery
train ; rose through all the successive grades to
C/oh)nel ; was, after a brilliant military career of
more than half a century, retired from active
duty; became a Brevet Brigadier-General "for dis-
tinguished and meritorious services " ; and died,
September 7, 1872, at Soutli Braintree, Mass., near
where he was born, at the advanced age of eightv-
eight.
As General Thayer's biogra})liy belongs chieliy to
the history of the Militarv Academv, of which he
was justly styled "The Father," we will only add, in
this place, that subse({uently to the Campaign of 1813,
he performed no other duty in this wai", except that
of Chief Engineer, in 181-1, to B\ t. Brig.-General
Moses Porter's forces in the defense of Norfolk, Va.,
where, "for his meritorious services," he was bre-
vetted a Major in the United States Army.
BKFG. -GENERAL KENE E. DE KUSSY.
355
BRIG.-GENERAL RENE E. DE RUSSY.
17Hl)-18(i5.
Rene E. De Rcssy, Lorn, Fe1»iiiai'y 22, 1789
iu tlie Island of Ilayti, West Indies, was of noble
ancestiT datin<j!: back to the Ci'usader, 8ii' Armolot
de Russy, who served nnder Riehard CVeur de
Lion. Ilis father, Thomas De Russy, a native of
St. Malo, France, was a Midshipman in the War of
the Revolution, subse(iueutly brevetted })y Di*.
Franklin (one of oui' Conunissioners to France) to
a Lieutenancy foi- his nieritorious conduct in the
action of the " Pallas," of Paul Jones' fleet, which
ca})tured the '' Countess of Scarborough" off Fhmi-
borough Head, September 1*8, lV7t>, the same night
on which took place the desperate ))attle of the "Bon
Homme Richard" against the Bi'itish ship " Serapis,"
aided by the traitor Lan(hus in the "Alliance." After
the Revolution, Thomas De Russy came with Paul
Jones to Amei'ica, where he had a Hattering recep-
tion. On returning to France he sold his [)atrimo-
nial estates and emigrated to St. Domingo, where he
purchased a j)lantation. The doctrines of ecpiality
and freedom for all, proclaimed by the French Na-
tional Convention, designed to l)e confined exclu-
sively to the whites, soon had theii' logical sequence
when the blacks, in 17l*l, rose in insurrection and
conunitted the most iiorrilile atrocities. Thomas
de Russy, with the sagacity of an ex})erienced
sailor, early provided a retrejit foi- his family. His
infant son Rene, was carried in the nurse's arms on
WW
3;") 6
imiO.-CiKXKUAL KENE K. DE KIJSSY,
board an American vesHel of Wai, then at anchor in
the harbor of Port an Prince, the father barely
escaping captnre wlien seeking tlie same refnge. On
the ari'ival of tlie sliip in the United States, the
former services of Thomas J)e Knssy were not for-
gotten, and, accordingly, two of his sons — Rene and
Louis — when of tlie proper age, were placed in the
Military Academy to be educated.
Rene E. De Russy was appointed a Cadet,
March 20, 1H07, and U[)on his gi-aduation from the
U. S. Military Academy, was [)i'omote(l to be Sec-
ond Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, June 10,
1812, from wliich he rose through all the successive
grades till he became Colonel, March 3, 18G3.
A week after De Russy's entrance into the Army,
war was declared by the United States against
Great Britain, he beiuii* then enij:ai''ed as an assistant
eno-ineei' on the fortifications of New York harbor.
The next year, September 6, 1818, he reported at
Sackett's Harbor, to Bi'ig.-General Joseph G. Swift,
the Chief Eiiijineer of Wilkinson's army then about
to descend the St. Lawrence, In this campaign he
was engaged in reconnoitring the ap])roaches to the
river; in the repulse of the British tlotilla, Novem-
ber 1-2, at the mouth of French Creek ; and in the
battle of Crysler's Field, November 11,1818. When
this army left its wintei* cpiarters at French Mills,
De Russy accompanied AA'ilkinson to Lake Cham-
plain, and was engaged in the attack of La Cole
Mill, March 80, 1814. After Wilkinson was super-
seded, De Russy continued with that army and took
an active part, under Major Totten, in the construe-
HKHi.-riENKlIAL IJKXK K. DK ItrsSY.
357
tioii of tilt' (lefeiise^<of CuinbcrlaiKl ITcad and Platts-
huru;. In the ])attU' of S('j)tenil)er II, 1814, at the
latter [>Ia('e, lie was ('ons])ic'Uoiis ; was liio:]ily com-
])Hnieiite(l in tlie eoininandiiiiLi:; i^eneraTs otticial des-
[)atc'li ; and was bivvetted a Ca])tain for his "gal-
lant conduct/' Aftei- (lovenior Provost's defeat,
Maj(H' Totten joined (rencral Izarcl on his niai'ch to
the Niauai-a frontier, which left Captain I)e Russy
the Chief Knu'ineei" of (reneral IMaconil/s Division.
Aft<'r the war, till 18.S;}, he '.vas pi'incipally engaged
nj)on the defenses of Rouse's ]\)int, of Xew ^'ork
harhor, and of the (iulf ()f Mexico.
Whih^ in charge of these latter woi'ks, Afajor-
(xeneral Andrew Jackson was in conmiand of the
Southern Military Division of the United States, and,
upon our acipiisition of Kloi-ida from Spain in 1821,
was made (lovernor of tlftit Territory. Jackson wish-
ing the services of his nephew — Lieutenant A. J. Don-
elson, of the Corps of Engineers — then on duty with
the Captain, re(|uested De Russy to consent to his
transfer to the (Jenerars command in order to be-
come his private Secretary. ( )f course the courteous
De Russy assented, which obliging complaisance had
doubtless no small intluence in the old hero's selection,
when President of the Iniited States, of Major De
Russy to succeed Colonel Thayer in the Su])erin-
tendency of the Military Academy, in the command
of which he continued till Se[)tember 1, 1888. Tlis
predecessor had left the institution in so Houi-isliing a
condition, that little more was to be done than to
continue its foi'ward imj)ulse. However, under De
Russy'.s administi-ation, the present fine Academic
8r)8
IJUKJ.-OKNKKAL UKNK K. DK IM SSY.
Hall was coiinnenced ; a Piofossorship of Clicmistiy,
Miiu'raloiry and (icoloi^y was {Tcatcd ; and many
minor additions were mad<^ t(» tlie public buildings.
At tlie same time lie found leisure to devise, in IH.'iy,
a Depressinu:; (iun-( Carriage for Sea-Coast Hai'bette
Batteri<'s, eontaii»in<!: the principles of the aftei- de-
vice of Colonel Moncriett" of the British Army, to
whom in Kui-oi)e the credit of the invention, due to
I)e Russy, is generally gi\en. The working model
of this carriage which was tlien deposited in the Engi-
neer Bureau at Washington, was exhibited at the
(Vntennial Kxhibition in the (lovei'iiment Building,
in the sunnnerof bSTC), and attracted much attention
among military men. It was during De Ivussy's
su[)erinten(lency that the ( )ld Library Building was
burned, Fe!)i'uary 1*.>, iS.'iS, with most of thearcliives
of the Academy, an<l the Revolutionary records of
the post of West Point.
From tlie time De Russy was relieved from the
Military Academy till the l)eginuingof the Rebellion,
he was in charge of the defenses of Hamilton
Roads, Va. ( Forts Monroe and ( 'alhoun ), except from
1854 to IS;-)" while fortifying the entrance to San
Fi'ancisco Bay, C'al. At the same time he directed
many river and harbor improvements in the States
of Delaware and \'ii'ginia, ; was a meml)er of various
boards, particularly for coast-defense and internal
improvements; and from Decendjer 22, 1858 to
January 2, 181)1 was in command, at Washington,
of the Cor])s of Engineers.
After the Rebellion he wtiH ordered to San Fran-
cisco, where he remained till he died, November 23,
BUrO.-OKNKUAL IlKXK K. DK Rl'SSY.
859
lie
i(»n,
)ti)U
San
cted
ates
■ions
null
to
;t(Hi,
ISl)*), lit the at^e of He\eiity-six, lie then heinuj the
oldest graduate of the Military Aeadeiny in aetive
service; the senior C/olonel of the Corps of Kn-
gineers; an<l a J^revet Hrigadiei'-Genei'al, W S.
Army, "for long and faithful service,"
(irenei'al I)e llussy was a preii.r chonOuv of the
old school of gentlemen ; always aifal)le, ever refined,
punctiliously jtolite, and lavish in hos|)ita!ity, as the
many distinguished persons who sat at his board,
among them th<* Prince de Joinville and iiouis
Napoleon, can testify. Tie was, besides, a devoted
husband, a tender parent, a faithful friend, and a
ujost loyal soldier. Major-Genei-al llalleck, com-
manding the Division of the Pacific, in directing
military honors to })e paid to his memory, concludes
his order by saving: "Of great kindness of heart,
and ]H)ssessing most urbane and [)olished manners,
he was endeared to a large circle of friends, and the
surviving graduates of the jVIilitary Academy who
were educated under his superintendence, will
cherish his memory as that of the kindest of fathers.
By his strict integrity in the expenditure of many
millions of public money, his faithful discharge of
every duty of office and of life, and his unsullied
honor, he has left an example most worthy of imita-
tion."
i
Iran-
23,
360
LIEI'TEXANT GEOHGE TKESCOT.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE TRESCOT.
1708-1827.
George TuEsncr was horn in Soutli Carolina,
from wliicli State lie was appointed, Mai'cli 11, 1818,
a Cadet oi tlie Military Academy, wlien, at tliat time
tliere were few pn[)ils and little instruction. Seven
months later, October 1(>, l8l.'{, lie, constitutinii^ his
entire class, was o-raduated from the institution, and
immediately ordered to join Wilkinson's army on the
St. Lawrence, reachinij: it in time to i)articipate in
the battle of Chrysler's Field, X(»vemb(»r 11, 1813.
When the army went into winter (piarters at
French Mills, he assisted in fortifvinij; the camj>s of
the Northern xVrmy, which, subseipiently, he accom-
panied to Lake Cham])laiii. As an assistant to
Major Totten, he was eni>:ai>:ed in the consti-rc^ion of
the defenses of Cumbei'land Head and I'lattsburi:;,
taking a conspicuous })art, Se])tembei' 11, 1<S14, in
the battle at the latter place, iit which for his "o:al-
lant conduct " he was bi-evetted a First Lieutenant.
After this battle, he accom[)anied Major-iJeneral
Izard to the Niagara fiontier.
He was ])romoted, February t>, ISIT), to be a
First Lieutenant of I^igineei's; in IS 1(1, was ordered
to su[)erintend the repairs of the South Carolina and
Georgia Coast Defenses; in ISlS, became an Assist-
ant Engineer in the construction of the (xulf fortifi-
LIEl TENANT HENRY C. STORY.
361
cations; and March 81, 1819, resi<»;ne(l from the
Ai'my.
Becoming now a rice planter on Cooper River,
near Charleston, S. C, he resided there till M ' 12,
1827, when he died at Pine Ridge, St. John's Parish,
S. C.
LIEUTENANT HENRY C. STORY.
18 1828.
Henry C. Story, brothei- of the late Justice
Story of the I'nited States Snpreme Court, was ap-
lK)inted in the Army from Massacliusetts, to l)e Sec-
ond Lieutenant in the Corps of Kngineers, March 11,
1814. lie was attaclied to the Company of Hom-
l)ardiers. Sappers and Miners, with wldch he served
during the Cam[)aign of 1814 on the Niagara frontier,
and, for his galhint conduct in the Sortie from Fort
Erie, Lpper Canada, was brevetted, Se))teml)er 17,
1814, a First Lieutenant. After the war he was
engaged in various engineer duties ; was promoted,
April 15, 181M, to a full First Lieutenancy ; and died,
July 28, 1828.
m
CHAPTER TENTH.
JOURNAL
OK THE
NORTHWESTERN CAMPAIGN OF 1812-13,
UNDER
MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM H. HARRISON.
BY
B\T LIEUT.-COLONEL ELEAZER D. WOOD,
Cai'tain Gobi's ok Knoinf.eub, U. S. Armv.
Ma.tor-Gexeral William H. Harrison, having
been appointed to the command of the Northwest-
ern Army, arrived at Upper Sandusky early in ,Ian-
uary, 1818, with tw^o brigades of militia, under
Brigadiers Leftwieli and Crooks, tlie former from
Virginia and the latter from Pennsylvania, tosrether
with a few regulars and volunteers, making a foive
in all of about 1,500 men. These troops princi-
pally constituted, and were denominated, the right
wing of the Ai'niy. The object in raising of which,
seemed to have been the secui'ity of the Northwest-
ern frontier; the ex})ulsion of the enemy fi'om the
Michigan Territory; and the invasion of Uppei'
C^anada, the Intter, jKtrficuhirli/ for tlie ivduction of
Maiden. These inijiortant (>l)jects, if attained at
all, weiv t(» be attaiiUMl with a foi'ce almost entirely
composed of raw inilitl<i. As the ofticei's were utterly
3G2
MA.T.-(JKN. IIATJUISOn's CAMPAIGX OF lfil2 13. 8(i.S
igiioi'ant of tlu'ir<luty, or to use the words of a wortliy
young officer in seivice, " many of them incapable
of learning it," and the men entirely unaccustomed
to obedience or subordination, it became necessary
to halt the army a few days at this ])hice to e([uip,
and, as ^s possi])le, to establish some little sys-
tem of Ki.-.ci|>line. A halt was f^qually necessary to
await the arriv^al of tlie tiehl batterino; train of artil-
lery ; the hitter, consisting of five 18-])ounders, were
re([uired for the Siege of Maiden; also the'pi'ovis-
ions, foi'age and oinlnance stores. Everything was
done by the (xenei'al that possibly couhl be acccmi-
plished towards establishing subordination and dis-
cipline among the troops; but men who, at that
inclement season of the year, had just left tlseii-
comfortable dwellings to endure the hardships and
[)rivations incident to a winter campaign in the wil-
derness, were not to be made soldiers of in fifteen,
or even twen
tv di
ivs
But
IS mucii was i'e(iun'e(
every human exertion must be made. ' A large pro-
portion of the troops were on daily duty, in buihl-
ing block-liouses and store-houses, the latter to
de[)osit the supplies in, an<l the f<»rmer for their jm-o-
tection ; in fact, the as))ect of affairs announced the
speedy ap]M'oacli of that state of pre])aration neces-
sary to the commencement of active operations.
Alxnit the I'Jth, the ai'tillery came into camp,
and large (juantities <»f every kind of supplies were
constantly arriving.
At Upper San<lusky was established the [>rinci-
j)al depot of the army. 'I'his place is situated on
the Sanduskv River, about sixtv miles from the Lake,
«56-4 lieut.-coloxp:l e. d. wood's jocunal of
forty ahove Lower Sandusky, thirty from Norton,
and seventy from the lla])i(ls of tlie Miami. Tliese
two I'ivers, tlie Miami and Sandusky, are thirty-six
miles a})art, and tlie country, which lies between
them, is almost an entire marsh, or sunken swamj) ;
which, on account of its beiniji: miry and <ji:enerallv
covered with an immense body of ^ater, can
scarcely be })assed at any otlier time than in the
summei" or middle of wintei", after its waters are
sutHcIently frozen to bear the travellei-. Throuirli
the middle of this marsh runs the Portage River,
which, like an a([ue(bict, receives, conveys and emp-
ties its waters Into Lake Erie, about two miles west
of the Sandusky Bay. The Rapids of the Miami
are about ei<ji:hteen miles from the Lake, sixtv from
Fort AVayne, and thirty-six from the lliver Raisin,
which latter place is oidy eighteen miles from the
village of Bi'ownstown, situated o})posite to Am-
herstbui'i]:, and twenty miles below Detroit.
Brig.-General Winchester, who commanded the
left wing of the Army, consisting of one thousand
Kentucky Volunteers and the Re<j:ulars, had been di-
rected to take the i-oute of Fort Wayne; as well for
the jnirpose of strengthening that [)lace, as to con-
struct blockhouses and stockades, at such other
points as he might deem best calculated for the de-
fense and security of the inhabitants along the
frontier. And as soon as the pre])arations of the
right wing should be found sutticiently matured to
enable it to connnence o]ierations against the enemy,
it was understood that lie was to descend the Miami,
and the two corj)s form a junction nt the foot of the
MA.r.-GEX. IIARUISON's campaign ok 1812 13. ^(]i)
I'ton,
'liese
y-six
ween
im]> ;
'vally
, can
1 the
■s are
rough
[liver,
enip-
\vest
Miami
T from
Raisin,
in the
msaiKl
K^n di-
•11 for
|(» con-
other
lie
)f the
Ired to
[nemy,
^riami.
()i
liapids. This was an excellent [)lan ; foi' by dividinii;
the troops and sending them ditt'erent routes, witli a
view of concentrating somewliere in the neighbor-
liood of the enemy, the operations of the army would
not only be facilitated, ])ut the frontier would be
more effectually })rotected.
Parties liad been sent on ahead to open roads,
bridge creeks, and prepare the way as much as possi-
ble for tlie army, which it was expected wouhl soon
follow. Tlie artillery liad already arrived and V)eeii
sent on towards the Rapids ; and time, patience,
perseverance and fortitude, seemed only ner-essary to
enable the army to surmount the numerous obstacles,
which nature alone had raised to its future glorv.
General Perkins, with five or six hundred Ohio
militia, was at Lower Sanduskv, where he had been
stationed some time for the immediate protection of
tlie inhal)itants alono- the maro;in of the Lake ; and
General Tupper, with about as many more militia,
was somewhere in the B'ack Swamp (such is denomi-
nated that ])art of the country lying between
Upper Sandusky anil the Rapids), west of the route
from Upper Sam lusky to the IVliami ; no one could
tell exactly where. This latter named General had
S(mietime ju'eviously been sent on an exjiedition
against the Lidians who were then lying ()p[)osite to
th3 Rapids, and by whom he was readily met and
compelled to fall ])ack. This affair was not thought
altogether honoial)le to the Geiie»'al ; however, his
conduct afterwards underwent an investigation, and
was approved by the C(Hiimanding-General.
About the luth of January intelligence was
i|W^
366 LIEUT.-COLDXEL K. I). WOOD's JOUHXAL OB^
l)rou<i;lit to camp that Oeiieral Wiiu'liester liad
already arrived at the Ra[)i(ls, aiul that he intended
advancing immediately to the lliver Raisin. This
news, for a moment, })aralyzed the army ; or at least
the rejecting part of it. (reneral Harrison was
astonished at the impi-ndence and inconsistency of
snch a step, whicli, if carried into effect, could he
viewed in no other light than as attended with inev-
italde destruction to the coi'ps. Noi' was it a diffi-
cult mattei- foi- a man entii'ely destitute of theory or
a knowledii'e in the art of war, to forsee the terri-
ble conse(piences which were certain ^o mark the
result of a .sc/ieine, no /e.y.v rd^li in it>> conception^ titan
humi'doux in its cjcecution.
But wdiat human means within the control of
the (Jeneral, could prevent the anticipated disaster
from taking place, and save the left wing of the
army, which was already looked upon as destined
for destruction i Certainly none ; because neither
orders nor troops could reach him in time. Besides,
he was already in motion, and General Harrison still
at Upi)er Sandusky, seventy miles in his rear; the
Aveather inclement, the snow dee[), and a considerable
portion of the l^lack Swamp yet open. What could
a Turenne or an Eugene have done, under such a
pressure of end)arrassing circumstances, more than
Harrison did i He directed (Jeneral Leftwich to [)ut
his brigade in motion for the Rapids ; mounted his
horse and started for Lower Sandusky, whence he
took a part of (leneral Perkins' brigade, and pushed
with all ])ossible expedition for the River Raisin.
General Proctor had posted a small party ut the
4ie^
MA.T.-GEN. IIAUHISOn's CAMPAKIX OF 1812-13. 3f)7
ol of
master
f the
tilled
itlier
ddes,
11 still
; tlie
r;i}>le
onkl
oh a
than
) put
I his
e he
shed
n.
the
River Raisin to wateli our luotious, and eo-o[)erate
witli tlie Indians in their predatory incursions upon
our frontier.
General Winchester arrived at the River Raisin
and attacked this pic(piet on the isth of January;
a few were killed, some prisoners were taken and
the rest di'iven oft'. Thus had the left wing, become
the van, fought a battle, gained a victory, covered
itself with glory ; and all at a veiy little expense too.
But the temerity of an insult, thus oft'ered in the
very teeth of the enemy, was not long to go unpun-
ished ; and the very authors of it were the ill fated
creatures who were to receive the chastisement due
to the folly and rashness of their conduct. How-
ever, elated with this flush of success, the troops
were permitted to select for themselves such (piar-
ters as pleased and suited them best in the village
on tlie west side of the river, whilst the General
posted himself on the east. Not the least regard
was paid to order or regulai'ity in the (juartering of
the men. No fortifications were erected nor any
information obtained of the enemy, or what he was
about, although .»ut twenty miles distant.
Haviiiii: obtained the necessary information oi the
strength and manner in which General Winchester's
corps was (piartered (for it was not encamped), on
the morning of the 2 2d of January, at break (^f day,
the enemy approached and commenced a most furi-
ous attack upon the right ^vitll cannon and mus-
ketry, whilst the Indians advanced upon the ice in
the rear, and separated at once the General from liis
troops, of which he was never able afterwards to
368 LIEUT.-COLONEL E. D. WOOd's JOURNAT. OF
take comnijuul, nor to join until lie met with them
ill captivity.
Tlie troops on tlie right, which were tirst at-
tacked, attempted to change their positicm, in doing
whicli tliey were thro^vn into confusion, and mostly
very soon captui-ed ; tlie left, consisting of about
500 men under Major Madison, conducted much
better; they were posted behind scmie old ])ickets,
which served them as a breastwork, and which
enabled them to maintain tlieii- position till 10 or
11 o'clock in the forenoon ; when, having entirely
exhausted theii- ammunition, they were compelled
to lay down their arms and submit to the iitdhj-
iiltiex of an KikjUxIiiikiii, and the criu-Jti(f< of a
Saiuu/e.
The enemy suffered much on this occasion; and
perhaps, may with propriety, be said to have paid
dear for the laurels of the 22(1 of January, which, by
the inhuman and barbarous treatment of his prison-
ers, were withered on his brow, ere lie could leave
the crimsoned plain on which they seemed untimely
gathered.
How many of our troops were killed and wound-
ed in this engagement, has never been correctly as-
certained ; but the loss is supposed to have been
very great, for the number in battle. The dead
were left lying as they fell, and ha\e never been
buried to this day; and such of the wounded as
were not tomahawked upon the field, were put into
houses and Indians furnished as attendants ; who,
on receiving a large (piantity of whiskey from (xen-
eral Proctor, as a sign of approbation, set fire to the
MAJ.-»iKN. IIAIMMSON's CAMI'ArfiX OF 1812-13. 369
whole of tliein, and in one volume of Hame, sent
theii' contents jill to lieiiven !
Tims were these, a corjKs of 1,000 men (the elite
of the army too) sacrificed in the most wanton, and
re|»i-ehensil)le mannei-, and that too, without the
least benefit to themselves, to their countiy, or to
tlieir ]K)sterity. With only one-thii-d of tlie army,
entirely destitute of artillei-y, of engineers, and with
l>ut a very inade(|uate supply of musket ammuni-
tion, wliat I'iii'lit had General AVincliester to believe
that lie could o])))ose, successfully, the coml)ined
British and Indian forces at and in the vicinity of
Mahlen { to say nothiuij!; about his advancing with-
out orders. Until a general has a bettei' claim to
victory than (ieneral Winchester had at the River
Raisin, lie will be eternally beaten, whether he
expects it or not ; and, what is more, etermilly ought
to be.
(xeiieral Harrison was unable to get fartlier than
the Miami Rapids, before he had the pain and mor-
tification to meet the fugitives flying from the tragi-
cal scenes of the River Raisin. General Harrison
imnie<liately fell back upon the Portage River, a
distance of fifteen miles, as well for the purpose of
covering tlie artillery, then in the swamp, as to meet
the re-enforcements, Avhich were already far advanced
from Up[)er Sandusk\', on tlieir way to the Rai)ids.
This |)ositioii was taken about the 24th of January,
and maintained till the 1st of February, when the
artillery and re-enforcements having arrived, the
army again returned to the Miami, and was en-
camped ii[)oii a beautiful ridge near the foot of the
r
1
1
i
t-
i
j
i
(
1
1
370 LIEIT.-COLONKL K. D. WOOl/s JOFUNAL OF
Ruplds, on tlic i'iii;lit hunk of the river, iiiul alxmt
150 yards distant from it. Tlie camp was situated
two and a lialf miles al)ove old Fort Miami, and
directly opposite the i^round on whicli old Anthony
Wayne gave the Indians sucli a di-id»l)inn- in 'l>4.
It was judiciously chosen l)y (leneral Harrison and
C^aptain C'. Gratiot of tlie Kngineers, and afterwards
fortitied with blockdiouses, batteries and palisadoes,
in such a manner as to stand the test of British
artillery for five days, closely a[)plied. But this
must be s[)oken of in its pi'()[)er [)lace.
Here the army lay with its rear to tlie river, be-
ing covered by a considerable ravine in front, wliich
extended round, and commuiucated with anothei-
very deep and wide one, which passed the left, and
entirely secui'ed it.
A tine train of artillery (which always gives con-
fidence to troops), consisting of five l<S-pounders, six
12-pounders, six H-pounders and tliree howitzers, to-
gether with a small supply of ammunition having
arrived in camp, the countenance of the army began
very mucli to brighten, and the late shock at the
River Kaisin seemed in some measure to be forgotten.
General Tupper, having found himself, and
arrived in camp, our number of troo])s amounted to
about 2,000 or upwards ; and General Crooks, who
had been left at U[)per Sandusky with 600 or Too
men for tlie purpose of completing a stockade, had
not yet made his a])pearance. It was now about
the 10th or 12th of Februaiy, when a rumor was
spread through camp that a great council was then
in session, and that the subject of deliberation was,
>rA.I,-(li:N. lIAKUfSOX's ("AMI»ArOX OF 1812 13. 371
Avlu'tlicr or no jirrangeiiuMits slioiild not \>e inmle im-
iiKMliately foi'tlie jiniiy to advniice jiii'ulnst the (Mieiny.
'i'liat such a council did sit is a fact, and that it was
decided tliat the ai-iiiv slioidd not, or was not in a
situation t(»ad\ance, is also a fact, for althougli the
writer was not one of tlie council, vet he received
his information fi'oin a source which could not he
doul)ted.
It was shortly afterwards directed l)y the (ienei'al
that a canip for l\(I(»o men should be laid out and
strongly fortified; and that this work might ])e in u
state of j)i'ogression, the lines of the camp were im-
mediately designated, and a large ooi'tion of labor
assigned among every corps or regiment in tlie army.
Each Brigade or Regiment commenced that par-
ticulai' portion of woi'k which was assigned it, with
great vigor and s|)irit.
The cam]) was about 'i,')!)!) yards in circumfer-
ence, winch distance, with the exception of several
small intei'vals, left for block-houses and batteries,
was every foot to be j)icketed with timber, 15 feet
long, from lU to 1 L^ inches in diameter, and set 8 feet
round. Such were the instructions of the en-
s'
giiuer. To complete this picketing, to put u]> eight
block-houses (the number recpiired) of double tim-
ber, to elevate four lai'ge batteries, to build all the
store houses and magazines reipiired for the supplies
of the armv, toiivther with the ordinarv fatiifues of
the camp, was an undertaking of no small magni-
tude. Besides, an immense deal of labor was to be
j)erformed in excavating ditches, making abatis, and
clearing away the wood about camp, and all this to
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o
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372 LIEfTT.-COLONEL E. I>. WOOD's JOURNAL OF
be (lone too, at a time when the weather was ex-
tremely Revere, and the ground ho hai'd frozen, tliat
it was ahnost impossible to open it with a spade and
})ick-axe. But in the use of the axe, mattock and
spade, consisted all the military knowledge of the
army. So we fell to work to biuy ourselves as fast
as possible, and heard nothing of the enemy. The
army was tolerably healthy, and well provided with
bread and meat ; for the woods were literally alive
with beeves, hogs, and pack horses loadetl with
flour.
Somewdiere about the loth of Februarv, intel-
ligence was brought the General that a party of
Indians were still lurkincj near the mouth »>f the
river, at a small cluster of Indian huts, called Pres«jue
Isle. A party of spies (for at this time these were
the greatest characters in the army), were imme-
diately despatched to the mouth of the river to get
all possible information relative to the strength and
position of this impudent foe, and after l>eing absent
one day and a part of a night, returned and reported
that, from what they could discover without giving
the alarm (of which they were generally very cau-
tious), they were induced to believe the enemy con-
sisted of about one or two hundred. (There might
have been perhaps five orsix.) An expedition of 1,10(»
men was ordered to be in readiness to march the
following night against those demons of the wood.
The plan and order of march was thus: — Brig.-Gen-
eral Perkins, with 600 men formed in column by
compani-^s, at entire distances, and marching by the
left, was to leave camj) at 8 o'clock in the evening
MA.r.-oEN. Harrison's campaion of I812-13. 373
and move <lown the river on the ice ; at half-past
eii^ht, General Tiipper, with 500 men formed in the
same manner as the preceding corps, was to follow;
and General Harrison to c(miinand the whole. Every
necessary arrangement having been made, the night
arrived, and the trooj)s under General Perivins were
]mt in motion, agreeably to orders ; and half an hour
after, they were followed by General Tupper who
was accompanied l)y General Harrison and staff.
On arriving within four or live miles of tlie destined
place, a halt of the front was ordered to give time to
the I'ear to come uj), and to await the return of tlie
spies who had been sent ahead to gain further infoi"-
mation of the enemy ; but as they did not return so
soon as was expected, the rear having come up, it
was determined to advance; so we moved on within
one or two miles of Pres<pie Isle, when the sjties were
met, and informed that the ejiemy had burnt a part
of the houses, taken their cattle and horses, and gone
on to the River Raisin. This was a monstrous dis-
ap})ointment indeed; however, all hopes of meeting
with the enemy were not vet tied, as the General,
after a short halt, gave directions for the troops to
be again j>ut in motion for the River Raisin, in lio[)es
of coming up with the Indians at that j)lace. The
night was light, moderately cold, and there was a
little snow ui)on the ice, which enabled us to dis-
cover and follow the ti'ail of the enemy. After [pro-
ceeding six miles further it was found that the men
were generally very much fatigued, and that many
<)f them had actually given out, and were not able
to march a step further without refreshment and
374 LIEI'T.-COLONKL K. 1). WooiVs JOITRXAL OK
iMi'
if- i
us;
rest. For thiw piir[)ose, the army was again lialted
upon a small island, and tires over the whole of it
were instantly bnilt. Here we lav till eii^ht the
next mornini'', when a j)oor Canadian citizen livin<r
near the Ki^ er Raisin, havinir heen taken a prisoner
by a party that went on ahead, and })rought in to the
General, informed him that the Indians we were in
pursuit of had already arrived at the Hivei- Haisin,
and gone to Maiden.
The expedition was therefore abandoned, and
the troops ordered back to camp, where they arrived,
very much worried and fatigued, at about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, after having performed a march of
forty-eight miles in twenty-four hours. On this
occasion "the mountain had brought forth a mouse,"
and I thought oui' spies desi rral to he well scoHnffd.
The weather being severe, and the ground in
many places, where the men had to work, extremely
wet and bad, the lines of defense naturally pro-
gressed but slowly. Xo event of any importanci^
occurred for some time. Small pai'ties which were
almost constantly passing between the different
posts, were not unfre<juently attacked by the In-
dians, though usually but little damage was done. It
was not unconunon for the enemy to be about the
camp at night, but probably his ])resence was more
frequently imagined by the sentinels, than real, ior
scarcely a night passed without one, two (^r three
alarms, and the army as often turned out under
arras. The practice of turning the troops out be-
cause a frightened sentinel happens to hear a rust-
ling in the ])ushes, or a l)ug fly over his hea<l, is one
MAJ.-(iKN. HAKKISON's (AMPAK.X OF 1812-13. 875
of tlie most nhsiinl j)mcti('es tliat ever entered into
the head of a general, and i« no less destructive to
an army tlian an ejndemie among the trooj)s. Vain
and unnecessary alarms were never known in tlie
Camps of Coiido, nor will they ever be made
within any cam]) where the general correctly under-
stands and pei-forms his duty.
About the 2(>th, (xeneral Crooks (not a man of
books), who had been left to complete the stocka<le
at lJpj)er Sandusky, having tinished that duty had
been ordered on to head<iuarters, an<l arrived at a
Hme when the sei'vices of his men were very mucli
wanted indeed.
A plan was now set afoot for the burning of tlie
Queen Charlotte, a British vessel then lying by the
wharf at Andici'stbuigh, inniudidtely vmler flu- (/uns
of Midden. Hut tlmt nntde n<i d'l^'t rence, — xhe n'Os to
he hunit. To carry this enterprise into execution,
Captain Langham, a very gallant otticer, was selected
with one hundred men; Maj<n- Stoddard of the
artillery, and Ca})tain Wood of the Kngineei"s, were
directed to prei)are suitable combustibles for the
destruction of the unfortunate Queen ; to prevent
distortion of featui'es, ami to preserve her beauty to
the hist moment, it was determined not to administer
this inflammable dose by her head but by her tail —
or stern.
Everything preparatory to the enterprise having
been rejxn'ted ready, the forlorn hoi>e (if there ever
wavS one) was paraded; the (xeneral made a few ob-
servations to them, setting forth the dauntless
courage of their C'oniniander, and the imj«)i-tant
37fi LIEUT.-COLONEL K. D. WOOD's JOrRPfAL OF
itli
national advantages which must certainly result from
the destruction of this Lady of the Lake ; when,
having finished, Captain L. put himself at the head
of his paitv and moved oif by the way of Lowei-
Sandusky for Maiden. Sleighs were got at Lower
Sandusky in which the party jtroceeded to Put-
in-Bay, where they discovered that the lake was
quite open between them and Amherst}>urgh, and
that it was utterly impossil>le for the object of tlie
exi)edition to be accom|)Iished ; so, after being absent
several days, they steered for the mouth of the Miami,
and arrived at camp on tlie oth of March. Tlius
did tlie co([uettisli Queen disappoint an drdiiit and
Huwere lover, reserving her .s7////f.v and ch^innx ft)r the
more fortunate and ijalhint Perrv.
()nthe4th, (.'aptain E. I). Wo<Klof the Kngineers
was sent, by way of tlie lake to Lower Sandusky,
with directions to assume the conunand of the
garrison and to s])end ten or fifteen days in construct-
ing such additional wcn'ks as in his opinion might be
found necessary for the security of the l\)st, and to
save it from falling an easy prey should the enemy
think its reduction an object worthv of his notice ;
then to return to tlie llapids.
As the presence of General Harrison was no
h>nger particularly re([uireil, he gave the necessaiy
instructions to (ireneral Leftwich relative to the im-
portance of a vigorous prosecution of the lines of
defense, and, on the Hth, left camp f<>r Chillicothe.
This became necessarv% as well to make arrange-
ments for su[)plying the ai-my, as to take seasonable
nieasures for getting on a re-enforcement of militia,
MA.J.-<JP:X. HAUltlSOX's ("AMI'AKiX OF 1812-13. 'M7
to fill the places of the Virginia and Pemisylvauia
militia whose tei'iiis of service would expire, the
former on the 2nd and the latter on the Gth of April,
leaving (unless re-enforced) not more than OOO or
700 men to gai'ris(Hi and defend the camj) at the
Rapid s. And as there were many sick and unable
to pei'form their duty, it was probable that not to
exceed 400 or 500 would by the first of April, be
found capable of rendering the least assistance.
General Harrison foresaw the lamentable situa-
tion in which the army was likely to be placed, and
in conse(pience of the ebbing and flowing of the
militia, endeavored to be as well prepared to meet
the event as possible. The two brigades of Ohio
militia, under Perkins and Tupper, were already
discharged and gone home, and it was generally be-
lieved in camp that not one, of either the \'ii'ginia
or Pennsylvania militia could be prevailed on to
remain a single day after the expiration of their
legal tour of duty ; but to the immortal honor of
the latter, in this belief we were hai)pily disap-
pointed. For, on the 6tli of April, finding that we
were threatened with an immediate attack, and that
the Virginians to a man, and to their eternal dis-
grace, had gone home, their (leneral the first to set
the example, and that no re-enforcements had yet
arrived, 150 of the Pennsylvania troops very hand-
somely volunteered their services to remain fifteen
days, or even longer in case that re-enforcements should
not arrive in the mean time. Finding that it would be
impossible, from the badness of the roads and the
tardiness of the militia, to get the new draft from
jjniM iTitii
m
.'^78 LIKl"r.-("(»M)NKL K. I), wood's .lOlRNAI. OF"
Pi
i;;
V.sl
1:
hi'-
VJt».
' 1 ; i
Kentucky <>n to Camp Meij^s l)y the 1st or even tin*
middle of April, General Harrison had very wiselv
written to I^rigadiers Leftwich and C^-ooks desirin*;
tliem to use every honoi'ahle means to induce a part
of their men to remain a few weeks after tlieir term
of sei'vice should have expired; and stated to those
Generals the dreadful conse«pieneesthat were likely to
attend their leavingthecamp with all their men before
other troops should arrive to till their places; and
that, in the event of the camp fallinuj into the hands
of the enemy, the disaster in a i»;reat measure would
be attributed to them. But all availed nothinir
with Leftwich — nothiuir could excite his feelings
nor anmse his patriotism, for he was as destitute of
both (except where his interest was concerned) as a
Dutchman is of i^enius and vivacity. The "Jd of
April ari'ived, and away went every Virginian be-
longing to the drafted militia, without the least con-
cern as to what became of those they left behind, or
caring whether the enemy oi' ourselves Avere in ])(»s-
session of the camp, so long as they could escape
from the defense of it.
The conduct of General Leftwich on this occa-
sion was highly rej)rehensible indeed, for notwith-
standing he had received ex])ress directions to pros-
ecute the lines of defense with all possible vigoi-,
and to place the camp in the best possible situation
to sustain a siege, which it was almost certain sooner
or later it would have to undergo, and evidences <»f
which became more apparent everyday; yet this
phlegmatic, stupid old granny, so soon as General
Harrison left camp, stopped the progress of the
MA.r.-OKN. irARKISOx's CAMPAION OF 1812 13. 379
1 the
iscly
irin'j;
])iirt
term
:h(>st'
-lyto
efor*'
; and
lands
voiild
fthin*;
eliiiiis
lite of
^ as a
•Jd of
n be-
lt eon-
n«
I, or
works entirely, assignini; as a reason tliat lie couldn't
make the militia do anything, and therefore they
mifi^ht as well ])e in their tents, as to be kept out in
the mud and water, and accordinjjcly were gratified.
So far from inijU'oving the works they were permit-
ted to burn the timber, which had been lu'ought
into camp with an immense deal of la}>or, for
pickets and block-houses; not only did they burn
this timber, but on the 20t]i of March, when Cap-
tain Wood returned from Lower Sandusky, he had
the pain and mortification to find several of the men
actually em})loyed in jtulling the pickets out of the
gnnind, and conveying them ott' for fuel. On ask-
ing tlieni who gave permission for tlie picketing to
be taken down and carried off in that manner, he
was informed that no body gave permission, but
that it was a common thing for each mess to take
wliat thev wanted and nothini; was said aV)out it.
\V as not this most per[)lexing and vexatious indeed
to an officer the least aciiuainted with our situation,
and particularly to one inti'usted with the impoi'tant
duty of planning and fortifying the canij), and on
the success of which, in the event of a siege, his honor
and rejmtation entirely depended i Ca|)tains Croghan,
Bradford and Langham of the 17th and 19th regu-
lars had remonstrated in the strongest terms against
such an alxnninable and wanton destruction of work
which had been ei'ected with so much lalior and
trouble ; and on which, they foresaw, depended in
a great measure the future salvation of the army,
but all to no pur])ose. Captain Wood found great
♦liiticulty in sto])ping the militia from destroying his
380 LIEUT.-rOLONKL E. D. WOOn's JOIIUXAL OF
works, hut niiicli greatei- in gettini; tlieni to n»[)uir
tlie breaches and depredations already made and
connnitted on tlie lines.
Alxuit this time, near the end of Maich, the
Indians were getting to be (juite troublesome I'ound
the eamp ; no pai'ty could be sent out after fuel,
tind)er, oi* anything else witliout being tired on, and
frecjuently one or two persons killed, and as many
more taken prisoners. The militia officers as well as
men were frequently in the habit of ci'ossing the
river without arms, for the purpose of examining the
remains of old Fort Miami, and prowling about to
gratify a vain and foolish curiosity, until at length a
thick-headed Pennsylvania Lieutenant with two or
three men went to see this famous ohl work, 1)ut no
sooner were they well engaged in examining it, than
a i)arty of Indians, who were lying in the bushes at-
tentive to their duty, fired and killed the Lieutenant
and wounded two or three of the men ; l>ut not so
badly but wliat they were able to effect their escaj)e.
The Lieutenant was scalped — and I thought he de-
served it. (^n this occasion a man's ivligion saved
his life — or rather a Psalm Hook which was in his
pocket, and wliicli saved his side from being pene-
trated with a ball. This was a wonderful escape
indeed — when I tii'st heard of it, the idea of a man's
havini; reliijion somewhere about him, even if it was
in his pocket, struck me very forcibly.
Scmie where al)out the 26th or 28th of March a
party consisting of three citizens came through from
Detroit and informed us that (xeneral Proctor had
issued a proclamation dire i .^ all the militia in the
MA.T.-OKN. ItAURISON's PAMPAIOX OF 1812-13, 381
vifiuity of Maiden, and u[K>n the rivt'i' Detroit to as-
senil>le ut Saiidwicli on tlie 7th of April, for tlie pur-
pose, it was well understood, of aiding \v. an expedi-
tion to be carried into effect ajj^ainst Camp ^^eil»:s.
One of the [)ei"sons, a man l>y the mime of Bucknel,
a I'espectahle inhabitant of Detroit, stated that he
liad often been in comp'^ny with Major Meui', and
tliat while in liis company had lieard him describe
the j>lan of attack that was to be pursued in case
Cieneral Proctor went to the rapids, and the success
of which enter[)"ise he obsei'ved could not l)e
(lou])ted a nKnneiit. The principal plan of attack
was as follows : — On arriving before the camp, the
Indians were to be immediately thrown into our
rear, or rather they were to invest tlie camp, and cut
off at once all communication, while the troops were
to be employed on the opposite side of the river in
pre[)aring the batteries and mounting the guns to
cannonade and bombard the camp — and tliat in a
very few hours after the batteries were opened upon
the Americans, they would be compelled to seek
safety by flying to the swamps, when the Indians
would accomplish the rest. Major Meur s opinion
was, that they should " U ahle to xmohe the Yanheex
out^'' in the course of the first day's cannonade ; but
on this occasion, that gentleman certainly reckoned
without his host.
A party of British officers had been down to the
Rapids and reconnoitred our position, and from the
situation they found it in, it is not at all surj^jrising
that such an opinion as Major Meur's should have
been formed, and the plan they had formed was per*
382 LIKUT.-('MU)XKL K. I>. Woou's JOirUXAL OF
Imps ;is i^<K)(l a oiu' as (mhiKI luive l>een fallen U[)on
for the attack in the first instance, but it sliouK' have
been abandoned and chanj^ed altoi^etlier sosoon as it
was discovered that we wei'e Ijeirinnins; to entrench
ourselves, entirely anew, within the origiind lines of
the camp.
It was now tlie Ist of April, when all became
perfectly coiivincetl of the approaching storm, and
that in the course of a very few days we might ex-
pect a ])orteiitous visit from his Excellency (ieneral
l^roctor, accompanied Ijy the great Tecumseh, and
both attended with a numerous retinue.
The \'irginians left us on tlie Hd and 4th, and
the Pennsylvanians had not yet made up their minds
how many, oi* whether any, would volunteer to re-
main a week or two, or not. From the example just
set them by the \'irginians, nothing could be ex-
pected ; however, anotlier letter in the meantime was
recei\ ed by Brig.-General Crooks, from General Har-
rison, soliciting him to exert his influence to the
utmost among the men, to get a part or the whole
of Ids brigade to volunteer their services for a few
<hiys, until he could liave time to arrive at the
Ra[)ids with a small party of regulars and militia,
both of which were already on their march. But
the woods were almost impassable, and it was not
expected they could arrive befoi'e the 10th or 15th
of the month, the very time that it was presumed
the enemy would be engaged in carrying on the
siege ; Avliich, were they permitted to commence be-
fore those re-enforcements arrived, all hopes of suc-
cor were cut otf, and these troops must fall a prey to
MAJ.-(}EN. HAKKISDN'h CAMPAION OK 1X12 IX 383
the enemy on arrival in tlie vicinity of the cttinj). As
Jilrendy .stuted, about 150 of those patriotic militia
from l*ennsylvania were, with some ditfculty, pre-
vailed on to remain tifteeii or twenty days longer.
This conduct, when contrasted with that of tlie
Virginia militia, was noble indeed.
On the 8th, Lieut.-Colonel Ball, with about 200
drago(Mis, arrived at the Kapids, and in fine time to
aff(»rd assistance, which was very much wanted, in
the com])letion of works. A short time aftei'wards
(ieneral Harrison arrived with a small cor|)s of
regulars and militia.
The enemy did not make their a[)pearance so
soon as we had expected.
About the '20th the fifteen days' volunteers were
])aid off, highly com[)limente<l in general orders, and
peiniitted to return home. The whole number of
tro(>ps in camp at this time was about 1,200 or 1,300,
of which not more than 8r)0 were rei)oi*ted fit
for duty. They were better than half regulars and
volunteers, and the rest Kentucky and Ohio militia,
who had just been drafted into service, and of
coui'se utterly imiorant of their duty. In the event
of an attack, it was on this liandful of undisciplined
and inexperienced troops that General Harrison
would liave solely to rely for tlie defense of the
camp, and the safety of the immense sup[)lies of pro-
visions and ordnance, both of wliicli had been got
to that place with great difliculty, and at an enormous
expense. And it was now all but certain that tlie
place would soon be invested, for we received infor-
mation tliat the enemy were assembling in great
i
if.;^
h^\
[i
m 1' i '
384 LIKFT.-COLONEL E. D. WOOd's .TOTKA A J, OF
force Jit Sandwicli, jiiul that a large number of
Indians liad just arrived at Detroit from St. Jo-
sepli and the neiij^hborliood of Mackinaw. Small
parties of scattering Indians were ccmstantly round
the camp, whose object it seemed to be presum-
ably to take i)ris«)ners, as we supposed, for the
purpose of obtaining information relative to oui*
strength and situation, and which, as we after wai'ds
learned, was actually the case.
Our block-houses, bntteries, magazines and con-
necting lines of defense were now generally com-
2)leted ; and the apjiearance of the camp, in every
direction, was such as to inspire confidence in the
minds of those whose duty it had become either to
defend, or with it throw themseh^es into the hands
of an Enu^lish savay-e.
Fuel for the garrison, and timber to repair
breaches and to make bombproofs should itbef(/und
necessary, were brought into cam]) in great abun-
dance ; and two or three wells were instantly com-
menced, and everything <lone that possibly could be
to place the cam}) in the best situation to sustain a
length \' sicii-e.
(.)n the 2r)th a scouting party was sent down to
Pres(|ue Isle, to see if any discoveries could be made
of the ai)pr()ach of the enemy, which paiiy returned
in the aftei'uoon of the same day, and reported that
they saw several tents pitched ujion the west side of
the river, and two or three sail boats off the mouth
of the bay. On the 26th, in the afternoon, a party
of horsemen, consisting of about fifteen or twenty
English officers and Indians, debouched from the
1 1 •
maj.-(jp:n^. ir.\HRrsox'.=5 campaion of 1812 is. 885
j:;::
woods in toll a siiuill phiiu on the opposite side of
tlie river, and iji;all(»ped over it apiuirently with a
design of exaniinini>; its h)eal jK)sitioii, and to select
suitable sites for the placing of tlieir l)atteries. Our
guns were all instantly loaded ; but liefore we
could get ready to pay due honors to these new guests
they thought i)i'oj)er to dispense with all ceremony
on that occasion and to be off. The next morning
sixty 01 eight}^ dragoons were «lespatched a sliort
distance down the river to see wliat the eneniv were
about.
They had proceeded but a slK)rt distance before
they met the Indians, who by tlieii* manoeuvering
manifested a design of getting into the rear of the
dragoons, which the intrepid Lieutenant who com-
manded the party did not altogether like so well ;
lie therefore o]iposed a counter manoeuvre by bring-
ing his men su(hlcidv to the right about, and hasten-
ing expeditiously back to camj), where he arrived
safe with only one man slightly wounded. This
was certainly the best thing he couhl have done.
It afterwards aj)peared, that on the 25tli the
combined Britisji and Indian forces consisting of
800 militia, 500 regulars, and 1,500 Indians, all
luider the command of Brig.-deneral Proctor, arrived
at the mouth, and landed on the left shore of the
Miami, and instantly threw a pjirty of Indians across
the river, to observe and ^vatcll the conduct of our
troops, should any of them be sent out to recon-
noitre, as was the constant practice. The next day
the army was [>ut in motion, keeping its left to the
river, and arriving with the gunboats and batteries,
!
386 LIEUT.-COLONEL E. D. WOOd's JOURNAL OF
II*
\^h
in which were the artillery and ordnance stores, and
advanced gradually up until it arrived on the 27th
at old Fort Miami, situated, as already described,
two and a half miles below Camp Meigs, and near
the foot of the rai)ids. The bateaux were imme-
diately unloaded and employed in conveying the
balance of the Indians to our side of the river. To-
day the camp was completely invested, an<l on the
following night the enemy br<)ke ground in four
diffei'ent places, and were very industriously em-
ployed until morning, when their works were dis-
covered to be in a tolerable state of forwardness.
No sooner were these nocturnal works discovered,
than ordei's were given for all our guns, that could
be brought to bear, to open instantly U])on them,
which orders were executed with alacrity and
promptitude ; and those works of one night's growth,
soon looked as if they had been but a moment's.
Understanding now })erfectly the enemy's }»lan
of attack, and where each of his princi[)al batteries
were going to be erected, and the particidar object
of each, and knowing that we should be greath
annoyed in our })resent state by his artillery, it
became necessary to intrench the army entirely anew,
which of course must be done within the origi-
nal lines of the camp. A plan for a kind of in-
trenched citadel had been some time before arranged
and recommended by Captain Wood of the engineers
to(ieneral Harrison as the only effectual secuiity foi'
the army in case the enemy should attack with artil-
lery, and which in a measure had been mentioned by
him. It had not only met his api)robation, but he
;«•-■
MAJ.-OKN. KARKISOn's ('A.UI'AIGN OK 1812 13. 387
had on one or two occasions ol»ser\e<l tlmt lie
tboiii^ht it luul better l)e conunenced and in a state
of progression, tluit we niiglit he tlie better prepared
for tlie reception of the enemy in case he slioidd
come smhlenly u[)on us. Ordei-s were given for
Captain Wood to commence tlie new iiitrenchments.
On the 28th in the morning the whole army was set
to work, and continued in the trenches until
"tattoo"; when, on account of darkness and rain, a
suspension of their labors until reveille was recom-
mended by the engineer to the (leneral and readily
approved of; the troo})s ^vere accor<lingly dismissed
with directions to the different commandants of par-
ties to resume their stations in the trenches again at
break of day, which orders were strictly complied
with.
Orders had been previously given in the forepart
of the day for the troops to continue at w-ork all
night in the trenches ; l)ut they had progressed most
rapidly through the day, and the night being a very
bad one, it was thought that more labor might be
accomplished the next day by letting the men rest,
than by keeping them all night at work.
Never did men l)ehave better, on any similar
occasion than did ours on this. The Indians had
now^ bec(^>me extremely troublesome ; there was not
a stum[), bush, or log, within musket shot of the
camp, but what shielded its man, and some of them
two or three. Unfortunately, we had not been able
to clear the wood away to a sulRcient distance, on
our left, of which circumstance those demons of the
forest very readily availed themselves, and, instead
388 LIEUT.-COLONKL E. D. WOOd's JOITRNAL OF
I'!;'
of remaining idle at the foot of the trees, they hoiinced
into their tops, witli as much agility and dexterity us if
they had been taught it from their infancy : and
from those elevated stations, poured dov.i: iiiio our
camp prodigious shower;; of musketry ; but the
distance being so great, out of the numerous
(piantity of balls received in camp, but very few
took eifect ; many of the men, however, weie
wounded and rendered incapable of perfoi-ming duty
for some time. This ethereal .'innoyance from the
Indians, certainly served as a source of great stimu-
lus to the militia in camp, for notwithstanding their
prompt o])edience to orders and attention to duty,
yet their movements w^ere very much accelerate* I by
it, as will always be found the case whenever nuis-
ketiy is brisk about their ears.
It is by no means astonishing that any kind of
tro'^^ps should act with energy and courage A\hen
situated as were those in Camp Meigs, one hundred
miles distant ivom. any settlement, in an im])enetrable
swamp the camji entirely surrounded with Indians,
who filled it with nuisketry as thick as hail, no hope
of relief, and the active prepai'ations across the ri\er
for cannonading and bombarding the camp, all an-
nouncing the necesxity for the most spirited and
vigorous resistance.
After the first day's labor in the trenches, one-
third of the troops only, were kept in them con-
stantly, who were relieved every three hours by
fresh ones. In this way we continued our operations,
occasionally firing at the civilized savages across the
river, as well as upon the wild ones in the woods,
MA.T.-GEN. Harrison's campaign of 1812 13. 889
whenevei' the former exposed themselves, or the latter
hecame too tnnihlrsonie.
The General was extremely active through the
(h'U', was evervwhere to he seen in the trenches,
urgin<r on the works, as well by precept asexam))le.
lie sle))t but little, and was uncommonly vigilant
and watchful thr<)Ui^h the niorlit.
The tirst thing commenced, to shield the troops
against the annoyance of cannon, was a traverse, of
about twenty feet base, laid [)arallel with the river,
upon the most elevated ground, which was near the
middle, and running the whole length of the camp;
it was fi'om ten to fifteen feet high, and completed
early on the morning of the 1st of May. An
avenue, as it ^vere, had been opened through the
tents and as manv left standing on that side next
the enemy as possible, to cover from his view our
operations, until the ti'averse should be completed,
and which seemed from his conduct to have answered
the ])urpose extremely well.
This particular piece of work was completed early
on the morning of the Ist of May, just as it was dis-
covered that the enemy had finished three of his
l)rincipal batteries, had got his guns in, was then
loading and bringing them to battery; when orders
were directlv ijriven for all the tents in front to be
instantly struck and carried into the rear of the
ti'averse. This was done in almost a moment,
and that beautiful prospect of beating up our
([uarters, which but an instant before presented
itself to the view of the eager and skilful artil-
lerists, had now entirely fled, and in its place
390 LIKl'T.-COLOXKr. K. I). \V<10I)'s JorUXAL OF
«.!■'.'.' • .
■ fiti ■ 5
IP
m- I
1
s
^i!^
suddenly Ji[>peart^tl an iniiiuMise shield of ejirth, ob-
Hcuring from liis sii^lit evei y tent, every horse (of
which thei'e were 200) and every ei'eature belonfrinc:
to the cann). How disappointe*! must have ]>een
the in(lefatiii:al)le and skilful enmneer on discoverins:
tlie futility of all his works, and wliat a jjloomv
and hopeless prospect presented itself to the ardent
and scientific artillerist !
Those canvas houses, which in a gieat measure
had covered the growth of the ti'averse, by keeping
from the view of the enemy the operations about
it, were now with their inhabitants in them, entirely
protected in their turn.
But as neither the tjeneral, enij-ineer or nrtiller-
ist were convinced of the fo/lf/ and fufiJlfti of their
works, everything being ready, the batteries must
be opened, and five days of ai'duous cannonading and
bombarding were necessary to produce a fhorotu/h
(Hinniction. At 11 o'clock a. m. their })atteries Avere
therefore opened, and a most tremendous cannon-
ading and bombardment was commenced and kejit
up, the {ormer until dark, and the latter until 11
o'clock at night, when all was again silent. As we
sustained l)ut little injury through the day, having
but one or two men killed, and five or six wounded,
(the latter })rincipally by the Indians) and our
supply of ammunition being quite inadeipiate to the
necessities of a lengthy siege, we fired very little
during the day, ccmtenting ourselves in safety and
listening to the enemy's mnsic. Some shells and a
few rounds of grape were occasionally fired at the
Indians, to drive them from their stations whenever
MAJ.-GKN. MAKKISON's ("AMI'AICJX «>K 1812 13. '^9\
they ajtproaclied too near tlie Hues, wliicli, in eoiise-
(jiience of their teasiiiii:, were kept in ahnost a eoii-
Htant ))laze with musketrv. < )ii the 2(1, at dawn of
(hiy, tlie cannonade aij^ain coninienced witli i^reat
vijj^or, and the l)atteries continued to phiy witli cou-
sidera)»le briskness through the day, and with ahout
the same effect as the preceding day. Tlie position,
however, of one of our inaga/.ines was discovered in
the course of the day, and great liopes seemed to
have been entertained by tlie enemy of effecting its
destruction^ the roof having been hit by a 24-pound
shot ; the whole of the batteries were instantlv
directed upon it, and the traverse not being of suf-
ficient height to protect the roof, that })art of it was
pretty soon battered down, or rather blown off* by
a shell, which fell and exploded directly ujxni its
loft, no damage of conse([uence, however, was done
to it. As soon as the firiiii; ceased in the eveniiiir.
Captain Bradford (a most excellent otiicer) with a
party of men, went to Avork, and before day had
the magazine entirely repaired. Its loft had been
covered with two tier of large timber, with plenty
of raw hides placed between them, so as to jirevent
the tire from falling down into the magazine in case
of shells lighting upon it ; these timbers were hewn
on two sides, and well s[>iked together. It had
been apprehended that the enemy finding he could
not effect his ])ur])ose by battering from the o])j)o-
site aide of the river, might take it into his liead to
establish ])atteries somewhere along our front, or on
<me or other of the flanks, and in order that we
might be ])repared t(k receive him at all points,
35)2 LrEFT.-rOLONEL E. 0, \V<)(»n's JOrUN'AL OF
tU' •!
p:
In'-
t .
n;--
1
1
tf
another traverse, parallel witli the first, and distant
alxnit one hnndred yards liad been eoninienced —
was soon finislied, and tlie two connected by several
short ones. Tliis was (h)ne with a view to cut the
space ii{) so mncii that i-icocliet tirini; lenii^tliways tlie
camp sliould be attended witli no injury while the
men were in tlieir tents.
Our intrenchnients now, in a manner, formed a
complete citadel, wliich could have been defended
to gi-eat advantaui^e, and would have been found ex-
tremely ditttcult to force had tlie enemy been able to
have effected a ])assage at the first lines, which he
never could have d<me without sustainiuijc an un-
mense loss.
On the 3d, at 10 o'clock a. m., our apprehensions
respectiuij: the enemy's crossinoi: the river were com-
j)letely realized, for it was now discovered by the
fire of three or foiu* pieces that he was already on
our left, with his cannon stuck in the edge of a
small ravine. From a few of the first shots some
damage was sustained, but the best position had not
yet been taken, and by setting two or three 18-})ounders
to work upon those impudent fellows in the ''bush"
we were soon able to silence them for a time. An
attack from the left having been anticipated its con-
sequences were, in a great measure, foi-eseen and
guai'ded against. The person who was employed
with the howitzer seemed a friend or possessed of
veiy little skill in his profession, for notwithstand-
ing he was but about three or four hundred yards
distant from the camp, yet not more than one out of
four or fiv^e shells thrown ever came inside the lines.
MAJ.-(<KN^. HARIUSOx's ("AMI'ArCJN (»K 1812 1:5. 393
It was tlie opinion of many of our men that he
certainly mii8t be a friend, and felt for our witnation.
Be that as it may, he badly ae(]uitte(l himself. In
course of tlie third day we had two or three dra-
goons killed, several sliifhtly touched, and a number
of horses killed ; in fact, it seemed to have been
pdi'tiruldiiij an iniforfmiate day for the cavalry.
On the 4th, the enemy neither opened his bat-
teries so early in the morning as he had been accus-
tomed to do, nor did he tire them with his usual
activity. The tire, though somewhat lively in tlie
morning, grew less so through the day, until toward
evening when it became (piite dull ; and everything
about the batteries appeared as if the enemy were
convinced that their labor was entirely lost, and
that a farther j>rosecution of the attack from that
side of the river would only be attended with an
immense' waste of powder and ball, and ultimately
prove of no avail.
From excess of fatigue and almost constant
watching in the trenches, through the night, our
troops had become somewhat broken down, however
their s})irits were yet good, and a little refreshment,
with a few hours rest, were only necessary to render
them as effective as ever. The garrison frecpiently
showed itself above the works, and occasionally
gave three cheers, especially when the tire of the
enemy was not brisk, and when it could be done
with safety. It always occasioned a most hideous
yell from the Indians. These rascals appeared to be
greatly delighted at the bursting of the shells in
our camp, and whenever great or material damage
394 LTEUT.-COLONEL K. D. WOOd's JOITRNAL OF
I:
iftp
was HUjjposed to have been (lone ])y an explosion,
they were snre to expresH their approl)ation by
At about 1 2 o'clock on the night of the 4th, Mr.
Oliver, a young man who had been dispatched to
meet General ('lay, who was supposed to be some-
where on the Miami, returned and brought informa-
tion that the General was then within about eight
miles of the camp with 1,200 militia; and that he
would be aide in all prol>al)ility, to reach Camp
Meigs before day. Mr. Oliver left camp to meet
General Clay on the 28th of Api-il. (ireneral Harri-
son immediately formed a i)lan for having the
enemy's batteries across the river stormed and the
guns spiked. Captain Dudley was furnished with
spikes, and directed to get out of camp as secretly
as possilde, to take a canoe, and make the best of his
way up the river luitil he should meet wnth General
Clay to whom he was to deliver the following in-
structions : — that he must land the whole or such
l)art of his troops on the opposite side of the river
early in the morning, as he might deem sufficient to
storm and carry the enemy's batteries and to spike
their guns ; the bearer of the orders to act as a
guide, and to conduct the storming columns to the
batteries. The magazines wei'e likewise to be de-
stroyed, and the troops instantl}- to return to theii'
boats, and recross the I'iver to Camp Meigs. Cap-
tain Dudley reached General Clay in time to delivei*
his orders. Of the 1,200 men, 800 under the direc-
tions of Colonel Dudley (a man alike ignorant and
I'ash, and who had never heard a hostile gun), were
MA.T.-UKN. HARRISOx's CAMPAIGN OF 1812-13. 395
ordered to land at dawn of day, to perform thin gal-
lant service.
The troops were formed into three columns and
moved down to the attack, but they did not reach the
batteries until al)out 5) o'clock in the morniiii;. On
coming witliin .'iOO or 400 yards of the works, liis
men set up a most tremendous yell (under an im-
pression, I suppose, that a Kentucky yell was more
to be dreaded than their arms), and pushed on with-
out order or op[>osition and took possession of all
the enemy's works, almost witliout firing a single
gun, and without tlie loss of a single man. The few
artillei'ists who were about the l)atteries, on hearing
this tremendous yell, took the alarm, snatched the
colors from their standards and flew with great
precij)itation to the main force below, which was at
old F'ort Miami — nor were they easily overtaken.
Colonel Dudley now found himself in complete
possession of the objects of his enterprise, and he
had nothing further to do l)ut to spike the guns
blow up or destroy the magazines, and return with
all possible celerity to his boats and cross the river
before the enemy should have time allowed him to
march the army up from Fort Miami, and attack
him in return.
But, great God ! neither knowing how to obey
orders nor to profit by success. Colonel Dudley re-
mained with his men upon the ground, gi-atifying
a vain curiosity, without spiking but a part of the
guns, and leaving tlie magazines entire, until the
enemy had ample time to collect his forces, and re-
turn to repossess himself of his works, and chastise
30n I.IEFT.-roLONEL K 1). WOOd's JOIUNAL OF
If:";
t:-i
i
ri'Si
in tlie seveivst niaiUMM' tlie teiiuM'ity, tolly, iLfiionnjcp
and Htupidity of tliis most unroitunate coninuunh'r.
Yew, it seemed as it' tl>ose miserahle ereatnres were
only waitino; upon the theati'e of tlsoir suceesH an<l
glory, for the enemy to l)e fully prepared to take
ample revenife.
These batteries were situated near the bank of
the river, up(Mi a .-mall plain, with a wood in the
rear, and entirely edged with thick bushes exc'e])t in
front; and the ground, on leaving the plain to go into
the woods, was consideral)lv intersected with small
ravines, whose banks were entirely covei'ed with
under-mail brush. After remaining in grou})s upon
this j)!ain, in the most disorderly manner jmssible,
for about thirty minutes, the Indians returned, and
conunenced a scattering fire from the edge of the
bushes, which instantly drew the militia from the
plain into the woods; in the meantime a colunm of
British ivgulars were marched along U[) the river
until they came upon the ground just left by Colonel
Dudley, when they halted, formed in order of bat-
tle, and advanced to the attack of his rear. Thus
situated between two fires, his troops in the great-
est disorder, skirmishing with the Indians, in every
direction, and possessing not the leist knowledge of
the local situation of the field of battle, what was to
be expected, or what could be done by Colonel
Dudley? No human means within the control of
this unfortunate ofiicer could save him, his fate was
fixed, and the desti'uction of his corps inevitable.
The contest was but short — a few minutes were
sufficient to place this gallant corps of 800 Ken-
M.\.I.-(JKN. IIAKIMSOn's CAMI'AHiN OF 1H12 l:j. .'{97
!lll|
tuckiuiiM at tlie mercy of a most crnd, s(tr(tf/f' and
Ixd'lKiroHx f<K^, wlio only knew to conqncr and
Hlani^liter. Of the S(M> in this cni^atifement, only
about 100 were able to effect tlieir retreat — 80 or IM)
of them i(ot across the river to Camp Meigs, and the
])alance escaped to Fort Wayne, (50 or To were
killed and the rest taken prisoners. Upwards of
<)0() were taken and marched under an escort of
In<lians to lu'ad([uarters and confined in Old Fort
Miami, with a strong chain of sentinels round the
works. The Indians were then permitted by (leneral
Proctor to assemble upon the surrounding lam^iart,
and there at their leisure, to amuse themselves by
loading and firing at the crowd of prisoners, until
at length, they preferred slaughtering those wretched
mortals in a manner more suitable to their savage
feelings; they therefore laid by their riiles, walked
into the slaughter-pen, seized such persons as they
pleased, and leading them to the gateway, there toma-
hawked and scalped them without mercy or restraint.
Nine bodies were found lying in one pile, near the
gate of the Fort, after General Proctor left the
Miami. Many were ft)und in other ])laces toma-
hawked and scalped, and their bodies mangled in
the most barbarous and inhuman nnmner. Colonel
Dudley was found on the field of battle, scal[>ed,
his breast cut open, and his heart taken out ! He
fell a victim to his own indiscretion and folly — and
shared the fate of many of his brave countrymen,
who were less foiiunate, in escaping death upon the
iield of battle, as a more horrid one awaited tiiem at
Fort Miami. Long will Kentucky have cause to re-
398 LIEUT.-COLOXEL E. D. WOOd's JOURNAL OF
p.
IH'
i
iiieiiil)ei' the oth <luy of May, as well as the 22d of
January, no less memorable for the massacre at
Kaisiu. Just as the unfortunate contest terminated
on the other side of the river, another of much less
importance took place upon our side and within a
few hundi-ed yards of the camp.
On attemptini^ to land the balance of his men from
tlie boats in \V'hich they had descended the Miami,
General Chiy met with considerable opposition from
the Indians, \vho poured forth from the woods in
great swarms, and seemed determined that not a
single man should i-each tlie camp. The Kentuck-
ians, wishing to see the works and tlieir friends in
camp, obstinately persisted in pushing on, and a
sharp tire soon ensued. Such guns as could be
biought to bear upon the enemy, from the camp,
were played with great briskness. Lieut.-Colonel
Ball with 200 dragoons and one battalion of Infantry
was sent to the assistance of General Clay, who by
this time had been able to repulse the enemy, and
to get within a short distance of the camp ; being
re-enforced, he drove the enemy quite into the
woods, when orders were sent for the troops all to
return to camp. In this aifair he had fifteen or
twenty killed, and one man taken priscmer; the
enemy^s loss was somewhat greater. General Clay's
men had got into camp, and that ahme was all the
advantage we could boast of. In fact, I thought it
rather unprofitable business, for the lives of fifty
savages will not, in my opinion, compensate for the
loss of one single brave soldier. Those guns which
Colonel Dudley had failed to spike were played
MAJ.-GEN. Harrison's campaign of 1812 13. 399
upon the camp, and tlie rear of our ti'oops, during
their skirniisli witli the Indians, with _ij!:reat vehe-
mence and considerable effect; this was truly l)er-
plexing and vexatious. Tnat we should exi)erience
annoyance from these ])iece8, which l)ut a few
moments before were in the possession of our troops,
and might so easily have been spiked and rendered
useless to the enemy, seemed almost insupjK>rtable.
In fact, it was but too just to say that Dudley's
conduct merited almost any fate that could possibly
befall him.
General Clay and Colonel Hall having got into
camp with their wounded, (xenei'al Harrison deter-
mined to tiy one other ex[)eriment with the enemy ;
he therefoi'e ordered Colonel J. Miller of the 19th
Regulars with 850 men to rally from two different
places, and to storm those batteries which were
erected upon our left, on the 3d of May. This
officer, always ready to distinguish himself, formed
his men and moved along the small ravine until lie
came near the enemv without beini^: discovered, but
on risinu: the bank within fiftvor one hundred vards
of the batteries he appeared in full view of twice
or thrice his force. His men, liowever, were ordered
to charge, which they did in the most gallant man-
ner, and in a moment had possession of the batteries,
and the guns were dismounted. The enemy were
pursued some distance into the woods when ordei*s
were received for these brave fellows to return to
camp, which they did, but suffered much from the
Indians while returning to the lines ; two lieutenants
and forty-one pri\'ates, were the fruit of this att'air.
400 LTETJT.-COLONEL E. I>. WOOd's JOURNAL OF
H V
Our loss was al^oiit thirty killed and three times
that number wounded. Many reasons tend to confirm
a belief that the enemy's loss in this affair was much
greater than oui's. Cjiptains Croghan (now Colonel
Croghan), Laugliam and Bradford, particularly dis-
tinguished themselves in this action (if such it may
be called) as did several subalterns, among whom
were Ensigns Shipp, Mitchell and Stockton. The
com[)any of volunteers from Petersburg (Virginia)
particularly distinguished themselves by their in-
trepid and cool conduct while approaching the bat-
teries under a heav}' fire of musketry. Colonel
Miller commanded his troops with cons[)icuous courage
and gallantry, but being the only ofiicer on horse-
back it was out of his power to see what occurred
on the fianks and in the centre at the same time, or
to get the requisite orders conveyed to those places,
in conse([uence of which the Indians came v^ery
near turnino; his rio-ht and ixettinir into his rear, which
had they gained, being at that time very numerous,
it is more than probable that the consequences
would have been terrible indeed. Lieutenant
Gwynne, then commanding a company on the right,
fought his men man to num, foi* some time, and held
the Indians in check until their manoeuvre was com-
pletely understood, and Colonel Miller had time to
counteract it.
It was now about 12 or 1 o'clock when all the
firing had ceased, and each looked as if he had
received all the injury that the other could possibly
do him. The Indians were seen passing constantly
to and from Colonel Dudley's boats, which were a
MA.T.-OEN. Harrison's campaign of I812-13. 401
short distance up tlie river, with iiiimeuse loads of
phinder. Flags were now passing between the two
armies upon the subject of an exchange of prison-
ers, whicli cei'emony the Indians soon availed tlieni-
selves of by hoisting a white sliirt or towel on
a stick, and then prowling ah^ng before us with
heavy h^ads of plunder, and in the most impudent
manner.
In tlie course of the afternoon. General Proctor
had the audacity to summon us to surrender the
camp ; he was very properly answered and told that
if ever he got possession of Camp Meigs, it would be
under such circumstances as to give him greater
claims upon the gratitude of his pountry than he
possibly coidd have by its })eing surrendered into
his hands — or words to that effect.
The day was extremely wet and cold, and having
no comfortable places for our sick and wounded,
both seemed to suffer much. But everything was
done for them that possibly could be, and no means
were spared to make them as comfortable as the
nature of their situation would admit. The wounded
had hitherto been lying in the trenches, on rails
barely sufficient to keep them up out of the ^vater,
which in many places, from the bleeding of the
wounded, had the appearance of puddles of blood.
These poor fellows were many times lying in that
state without any other cover of shelter than that
of the heavens.
It was now ])elieved that General Proctor, con-
tenting himself with the partial success he had
met witli, woidd soon raise the siege and return to
/
/
402 LIEUT.-COLONEL E. D. WOOd's JOURXAL OF
m
#1 -
Maiden ; and without troubling us any more, on the
morning of the 9th he accordingly left us. The
prisoners which he took were carried down to
Huron, and there landed.
Having many sick and wounded, as was natu-
rally to be expected after a close siege of nine days
(five days batteries open), and our force greatly
impaired besides by the sorties fiom the right and
left, on the 5th, it now became an object of the great-
est importance to make such provisions, and to take
such measures as might tend speedily to a restoration
of health and vii^^or in the arm v. The block-
houses about the lines were immediately cleared of
the guns and stores and converted into temporary
hospitals ; tents were pitched with arbors about
them, and such general arrangements were made to
soften and alleviate their distresses as their situ-
ation and the nature of circumstances would admit.
They, however, were but badly provided with the
little necessaries and comforts which belong, and
afford so much relief, to the brave soldier who has
recently lost a leg or an arm, or had his side pierced
with a bayonet while gallantly mounting the ram-
parts of his country's enemy.
There was no head to the Hos})ital Department,
which was extremely deficient in almost every respect.
Those to whom the important duties of that depart-
ment had been committed were but a young, inexperi-
enced set of men, with nothing but the title of Sur-
geon to recommend them, or to give them a claim to
employment, and the principal part of whom had
been picked up here and there among the militiii,
MA.T.-GEN. Harrison's campaign of 1812-13. 403
wherever a person could ])e fouiul with a lancet
in his pocket, or who liad bv some means or other
ohtained the title of doctor. Such were the pei-sons
wliose duty it became, to say whetlier the limb of
a gallant officer or brave young soldier should be
lopped oil:', oi" pi'eserved. There had previt>usly been
a man of skill and talents at the head of the Hospital
Department, but one alike destitute of honor and
reputation, and Avhose departure from the army was
followed with disgrace. What was to be expected
from that de])artment, thus managed and most
wretchedly supj)lied i What prospects of recovery
had the wounded ; dying for a gill of gin or a spoon-
ful of vinegar i Neither were to be had I Not a
particle of vegetables, nor a i)ound of fresh meat;
and one hundred miles from any inhabitants ; not
more than one-third of the army fit for duty, and
tliat third to })erform all the ordinary duties of the
camp ; to make many considerable repairs in the
lines (for we knew not how soon the enemy might
return) and to give the I'equired and necessary at-
tendance on the sick ; in short, so much exhausted
and so low were the s))irits of those who were re-
})orted for duty, that for a number of days it was
painful for an officer to be under the necessity of put-
ting his men upon the slightest service. The camp
exhibited a very melancholy spectacle for s<^)nie time.
The success of having defeated the enemy, and
disappointed his best expectations, was nothing
when contrasted with the sufferings and hardsliips
\vhich they had to undergo. It was by no means
astonishing that the troops should be generally
I
Lit'!
r>Ml:'
fm
404 LIEUT.-COLONEL K D. WOOd's JOURNAL OF
gloomy and low spirited, when we come to consider
that they were i)rinci[)ally men of family and who
were on a tour of duty only for a few days ; that
many were ah'eady dead, others dying constantly ;
and that the shocking disaster of Dudley's defeat
of the 5tli was still fresh upon their recollections.
*
•se-
*
*
We regret that the remainder of this most in-
teresting narrative of the Cam])aign of 1818 in the
Northwest, hy one of its distinguished participants,
is not to be found. It was doubtless loaned and
not returned ; hence, jjrobably, we shall never read
Wood's grapliic account of Proctor's sec(nid ex-
pedition up the Maumee to attack Fort Meigs, and
the inglorious defeat, by the gaHant Croglian, of the
baifled British savage, at Fort Stephenson. Tliese
events, however, we have described in our sketch of
the Western Campaign of 1813, in the third clia])ter.
Fortunately, in an old note book found in
Wood's pocket, when he was killed at Fort Erie, we
have found the following entries i-elating to Hai-ri-
son's invasion of Canada which describe the t)pera-
tions up to the battle of the Thames, an account of
wdiich action we have before fully given :
Camp on the Peninsula,
Septemher 11, 1813.
I received orders on the 9th inst., to repair to
Lower Sandusky — there to assume the immediate
command of two companies of artillery, connnauded
by Captains Price and Thomas, the latter Pennsyl-
vania drafted troops, and to embai'k them with all
MA.I.-GEN. HAUFtlSON's CAMPAIGN OF 1812-13. 405
or such part of the ordnance as I might deem most
proj)er.
In pursuance of said orders, I went to Sandusky,
made the necessary arranj^ements, and on the 12th
at 8 o'ch)ck a. m., my detachment, consisting of 130
men witli eleven i)ieces of ordnance, were .ill on board
the boats. T\w day was fine — we set sail with a
fair wind and delightful music ; and just at night
landed on the south side of the Peninsula and near
the mouth of Sandusky River.
This river is generally fi'om 60 to 80 yards wide,
and is naviijable for bateaux as hisrli ui) as San-
dusky, or Fort Ste[)henson — a place rendered mem-
orable on account of the gallant defense which
Major Croghan made, on the 2d of August, 1818,
against the coml)iiied attack of English and In-
dians.
The banks along the Sandusky River are gen-
erallv very low, and edsred with a beautiful border of
wild grass — especially tow^ards its mouth, where it
seems entirely to w'aste itself in a large prairie and
is again collected in the spacious Bay below. It
is 18 miles from Sandusky to the mouth of the river
and the same distance from thence to the mouth of
the Hay. The land along the river, from Sandusky
down, and the Peninsula, is extremely rich and
fertile. Bull Island which lies at the mouth of the
Bay, is a perfect garden, spot.
Early on the morning of the 12th, I mounted
my horse, took Captain Holmes and two spies, and
went to the mouth of Portage River, a distance of
two miles ; on arriving there, I met with Captain
406 LIET'T. -COLONEL E. D. WOOd's .rOT'RNAL OF
Stockton of the infantry juwt from the fleet, with
dispatches for General Harrison, whicli contained an
acconnt of the orlorious victory wliicli our Navy
gained over the enemy on Lake Erie on the 10th inst.,
and reijuesting assistance in hmding and securing tlie
prisoners.
. I instantly returned to camp, mounted Captain
C, and gave liim a guide and he went on to head-
quarters. I wrote the following letter, and sent it
by him to the General :
M
:
■M
■'■!
Camp on the Peninsula,
Sq)tHnher 12, 1813.
Dear Sir :
With my detachment and eleven pieces of ord-
nance I have encamped on the south side of the
Peninsula, near the mouth of Sandusky Run.
I am informed ])y CJaptain Stockton that Com-
modore Perry is in great ^vant of aid, having many
prisoners aboard the fleet, and his crews very much
exhausted. In conseipience of ^vhich information I
have tliought proper to despatch Captain Price with
a detachment of fifty men to his assistance.
I have laid out an excellent road to the mouth
of Portage River, and find at that place a delightful
situation to encamp our troops.
I am, etc.,
E. D. Wood,
Major of 3igineers, Gommamiing Detachment of ArtUiery.
MajoIi-Genebal William H. Hakiiison,
Vomnuindinij the N. IV. Army,
MA.i.-oEN. Harrison's campaign of 1812 i:j. 407
Camp on the Peninsula,
Scqytenihcr 12, 1813.
Dear Sir:
I am informed by Captain Stockton, who lias
just lefttliis for thelieadciuartersof the N. W. Army,
that you have a large niniiber of prisoners on board
the fleet ; that your crews are ([uite exhausted, and
that you are in want of aid. I thei'efore have thoui!:ht
proper to despatch Captain Price with a detachment
of fifty men to your assistance. Should you see fit
to 8en<l anv in'isoners ashore, 1 shall have it in mv
power to secure as many as Cjiptain Price's detach-
ment Avill l)e able to bring.
Permit me to congratulate you, sir, on the splen-
did victory you have achieved over the enemy on
Lake Erie.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration
and esteem, sir, your obedient servant,
E. D. Wood,
Major Commnnding Detachment of Artillery,
Commodore Perry,
Commandhiij the American Fleet on Lake Erie.
On the 13th of September I marched a detach-
ment of 100 men to the mouth of Portage River,
and in the course of the same day, got all my ord-'
nance across the Peninsula to that place, which I had
selected as the most eligible situation as well for the
encampment as for the embarkation of our whole
army. General Harrison, like a flash of lightning,
to my utter astonishment, arrived there the same
evening — as did also Colonel Paul with his regiment.
The next day we fired several signal guns for the
408 LIEnT.-COLONKL E. I). WOOn's JOruXAL OF
w
fleet to come in, that the [H'isoriers miu;ht be bi'oii<i;ht
ashore. At about oVhx'k in tlie moriiin<j^, seeing
nothing of the fleet, I climbed into tlie top of a tall
tree, from which with my glass, I ^\as able to dis-
cover four vessels just getting under way near Put-
in-Bay, and standing in for the shore. They arrived
off the mouth of Portage at 4 i'.m., and immediately
began landing their [)ris()ners. That night and the
next day about 300 and u[)\\*ards were hinded and
put under a stiong guard,
I was re(|Uested by the General to take some of
the oflRcers to my f|uarters, which I did — notwith-
standing I had a very great aversion to Knglishmen,
and wished to meet them no where ])ut on the field.
Two Lieutenants, brothers, by the name of
Garden lived with me until the morning of the iSth,
when I received ordei's from the Adjutant General
to embark my corps together with the ordnance,
and proceed to Put-in-Bay and there land on one of
the islands. 77iese rmwe very plenHhig aniens to ine
for I alwaj/s like to he alieml of the main Armi/, and
to tarry hut a very short time in any one plare.
Colonel Paul received orders at the same time. We
embarked our corps — and under the immediate
directions of General Cass, we proceeded to Put-in-
Bay and landed late in the afternoon on Edward's
Island. The wind breezing up late in the day and
some of my bateaux being loaded, it was with
some diflSculty they were able to get in. Only one,
commanded by a timid old maid, put back, and did
not arrive for one or two days afterwards.
*
*
*
i^^±:
M.U.-UKN. HAKUISON's CAMI'AION OF 1812 13. 409
Se[)tem)»ei* 'iOtli. 1,500 ti'oojw jirrivcd on
Edwjinrs Islniid from cjinij) No. 2, at the mouth of
Poi'tjiL,'*^ River, since yesterdjiy morniiiL';. The Army
in tine healtli and s[)irits ; tlie weatlier extremely
pleasant and favorable to our o|)erations.
Se[)tember 24, 1818. This morning at 9 o'clock
the troo|)s began to embai'k on board tlie vessels,
and to move on to the Westernmost Sister. Genei'al
Ilari'ison end)arked, ])ut in coiise(iuence of bad
weather and adverse winds, after going out a short
distance, returned with the transports, and landed.
4 o'clock P.M. Just received orders to hold mv
command in readiness to embark to-morrow m< ►ruing
at 8 o'clock — all ready and have been so sih-je 8 o'clock
this morning.
September 25tli. To-day the army left Put-in-
Bay and went to the Middle Sister, a small island
situated in the Lake, and a])out 18 miles from Mai-
den. That night after we arrived on the island.
General Harrison, Commodore Perry, the General
Staff and myself went on board a pilot boat, for the
purpose of going on a reconnoitring trip to Maiden.
The wind being fair, at break of day we got under
way, and run up to Maiden — or within a very short
distance of Amherstburo^h, took soundincrs and ex-
amined the coast for three or four miles below the
town. We discovered that Maiden and all the pub-
lic buildings had been burnt. Its ruins were yet
smoking. We returned to the island — spent the
night there and early the next morning the army
was embarked for the invasion of Canada. The
wind was fair and the day extremely beautiful. Our
410 LUWT.'COhO^EL K. D. WOOD's .TOntNAL OK
j;;*
i~ rl;i
)+,:!
hu'ffe vessels and from 80 to 90 hjitejiiix all started
at the same time, and exhibited one of the fj^randest
scenes, almost, that my eyes ever beheld. The day
was important and interestini^ to every one in the
army whi.Ii consisted of abont 4,500 Kentucky
militia and 2,r)00 regulars.
On this occasion, I commanded a battalion of
artillery — all Ijelonging to the N. VV. Army — and
crossed the lake with six ])ieces mounted in bateaux
— one gun in each — loaded and matches lighted
— so that I could have fought as well by sea as
land.
At three in the afternoon of the same day, we
landed three miles below Amherstburgh, without
opposition — the same night marched up to Foi-t
Maiden, and encamped, where we remained till the
next morning, when we commenced our nuircli and
proceeded about half way to kSandwich.
On the 29th, the army arrived at Sandwich
where it i-emaiiied nntil the 3d of October.
General Proctor, after burning Maiden and all
the public buildings in Andierstburgh, had retreated
to Sandwich, where he remained till our army was
in possession of the ruins of Maiden, ^vhen lie again
took up his line of march for the River Detroit.
The Indians were very numerous on our approach
to Detroit, but soon left the villas^e on seeing oui'
vessels and troops moving up the River St. Clair.
The country along both sides of this river is one
of the most interesting and beautiful that I have
ever met with in any part of the United States.
Immediately on its banks the land is fertile, and in
MA-T.-OKX. ITAUUTSOX'S CAMrATOX OF 1S12 13. 411
a liii^li stnto of ciiltivation. Tlio iiilialtitantH on
tliti Eiiujlish hIioiv Jirc piMiicipully CaiiadianM or
French.
Detroit is ji perfect ))jira(lise, l)ut many of its
beauties have been (h^faced and tarnislicd hy tlie
ruthless hand of the savai^e.
()<!tol)er 2d. — To-day the army conunences its
march in pursuit of (xeneral Proctor.
October 1«), 1813.— On the iM inst., tiie army
left Sandvvicli in puisuit of Proctor, and at niijlit
encani[)ed within six miles of the Uiv(!r Thames.
Early the next morning we commenced our iinirch,
and at about 10 oVlock a. m. we took a Lieutenant
of dragoons and sixteen ])rivates, who wei'e em-
ployed in cutting down a bridge; this indication of
our approach to Proctor stinudated the army ex-
tremely, and we marched tliat (biy nearly thirty
miles, and encami)ed at John Pike's, on the Thames.
The enemy were so hard j^ressed the next day that
they were compelled to set fire to two gun-boats
which were heavilv laden with ordnance and other
stores, and consumed the whole. At l^<iwler they
also burnt vast supplies of munitions of war, and
property of almost every description to a very con-
siderable amount. Our army arrived there suffi-
ciently early to save from the flames a considerable
(piantity of fixed ammunition and a few barrels of
pork. Every few miles we heard of the enemy,
and our spies were very freipiently in contact with
his rear guard. On the 5th, in the morning early,
we came up and took one kSergeant and fourteen
]>rivates in a boat ; shortly after the spies took a
412 MAJ.-GEN. Harrison's campaign oi^ I812 13.
m
Captain Crowther, liis family, and about forty or
fifty privates.
In crossing the riglit brancli of tlie Thames, at
the forks yesterday, we had <piite a briisli with the
Indians. The enemy liad gone over, taken up the
plank of the bridge, and left the Indians to oppose
our crossing, while the English army continued its
f<Ioio and easy retreat.
So soon as we came to the bridge the Indians
commenced firing on our men. I was immediately
directed to bring up the artillery and cannonade the
enemy, as well across the branch as over the main
stream, where was posted in a small house a party
of Indians and English for the purpose of annoying
our troops while crossing the river. I set two
6-pounders to work upon them and they soon
cleared out, and went oft' in great haste. We re-
paired the bridge as quickly as possible, and the
whole army was soon over and in pursuit of John
Bull.
WW .1
THE END.
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