BATTLE-FIELDS 
 
 NAVAL EXPLOITS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES, 
 
 FROM LEXINGTON TO THE CITY OF MEXICO. 
 
 HENRY W. HARRISON. 
 
 Jltestratofc toitjj nt Jittitofr an!tr /iftj 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS 
 1858. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by 
 II. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern 
 District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSOX & CO. 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 PRLNTED BY C. SHERMAN & SOW. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THIS work is designed to present a coup-d'ceil 
 of American military history by means of lively 
 sketches of the most important battles fought 
 since the commencement of the Kevolutionary 
 War, by troops and naval forces, in the service 
 of the United States. It has been by no means 
 an easy task to condense so much history within 
 so small a space. The writer hopes and trusts, 
 however, that what is contained in this volume 
 will be found sufficient for the information of the 
 general reader, and that it will dwell in the memory 
 more permanently, than if the record of the same 
 events had been spread out so as to occupy many 
 volumes. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 BATTLE OF LEXINGTON 8 
 
 Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point 12 
 
 Battle of Bunker Hill 14 
 
 Siege of Boston 20 
 
 Expedition against Canada 27 
 
 Defence of Fort Moultrie 36 
 
 Descent upon Long Island 40 
 
 Battle of Trenton 43 
 
 Battle of Princeton 50 
 
 Battle of Brandjwine 54 
 
 Battle of Germantown 58 
 
 Battles of Red Bank and Fort Mifflin 61 
 
 Battle of Bennington 65 
 
 Battle of Behmus's Heights 71 
 
 Battle of Stillwater 75 
 
 Attack on Forts Clinton and Montgomery..... 79 
 
 Battle of Monmouth 84 
 
 Massacre of Wyoming 88 
 
 Siege of Savannah 95 
 
 Storming of Stony Point 98 
 
 Capture of the Serapis 102 
 
 Capture of Charleston 106 
 
 Battle of Waxhaws 109 
 
 Battle of Camden Ill 
 
 Battle of King's Mountain 116 
 
 Battle of the Cowpens 121 
 
 Battle of Guilford Court-House 126 
 
 Battle of Hobkirk's Hill 131 
 
 Battle of Eutaw Springs 134 
 
 Siege of Yorktown 139 
 
 Capture of the General Monk 150 
 
 Close of the Revolutionary War 153 
 
 General Wayne's Victory over the Indians 158 
 
 Capture of L'Insurgente. 161 
 
 Burning of the Philadelphia 165 
 
 Bombardment of Tripoli IjjJ 
 
 Capture of Derne I" 3 
 
 5 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Battle of Tippecanoe 178 
 
 Commencement of the War of 1812 Defence of Fort Harrison 183 
 
 Battles of Ogdensburg, Fort Niagara, and Queenstown 187 
 
 Constitution and Guerriere 194 
 
 United States and Macedonian Wasp and Frolic Constitution 
 
 and Java * 197 
 
 Battle of Frenchtown , 207 
 
 Siege of Fort Meigs 209 
 
 Defence of Fort Stephenson 215 
 
 Battle of Lake Erie 218 
 
 Battle of the Thames ; 223 
 
 Hornet and Peacock 225 
 
 Chesapeake and Shannon 229 
 
 Enterprise and Boxer 233 
 
 Massacre at Fort Mimms 237 
 
 Battles of Tallushatches and Talladega 240 
 
 Expedition to the Hillibee Towns and the Tsillapoosa River 246 
 
 Final Treaty of the Creeks 251 
 
 Battle of Chippewa 258 
 
 Battles of Bridgewater and Niagara 262 
 
 Siege of Fort Erie 267 
 
 Battles of Plattsburg and Lake Champlain 275 
 
 Battle of Bladensburg and Capture of the Capital 282 
 
 Attempt of the British on Baltimore 289 
 
 Attackof Fort Bowyer and Capture of Pensacola 291 
 
 Battle of New Orleans 296 
 
 President and Endymion 306 
 
 Constitution, Cyane and Levant 310 
 
 Hornet and Penguin 315 
 
 Porter's Cruise in the Pacific 320 
 
 Seminole War. 325 
 
 Black Hawk's War 335 
 
 Second Seminole War 342 
 
 Commencement of the Mexican War, and Battles of Palo Alto 
 
 and Resaca de la Palma 348 
 
 Storming of Montgomery 359 
 
 Battle of Buena Vista 363 
 
 Siege of Vera Cruz 371 
 
 Battle of Cerro Gordo 379 
 
 Battles of Contreras and Churubusco 387 
 
 Storming of Molino Del Rey 405 
 
 Storming of Chapultepec and Capture of Mexico 418 
 
 Siege of Puebla 436 
 
 Battles of Huamantla and Atlixco 443 
 
 Occupation of California and New Mexico 451 
 
THE 
 
 anft afml 
 
 THE object of most of the wars undertaken by 
 Great Britain has been to force her commercial 
 system upon other nations. This system had been 
 submitted to by her North American colonies with 
 a very ill grace for many years before the Kevo- 
 lution; and when in addition to it a system of 
 direct taxation was resorted to, the Americans, 
 foreseeing the ultimate result of further submission, 
 resolved upon resistance. Their object at first was 
 what they called redress of grievances; but a single 
 year of hostilities drove them into a declaration of 
 independence, which it cost seven years more of 
 war to maintain and perfect. 
 
BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 THE MINUTE-MAN. 
 
 BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. 
 
 THE first blow struck for the freedom of the 
 American people was at Lexington. The people, 
 long oppressed by the tyranny of the mother-coun 
 try, had begun to make preparations for a struggle 
 to free themselves from the taxation and oppression 
 of a despot whose only aim seemed to be the drain 
 ing of the coffers of Americans. The stores of 
 arms and provisions at Concord first attracted the 
 attention of General Gage, commander-in-chief of 
 the British forces in America. 
 
 At eleven o'clock at night, on the 18th of April, 
 1775, in pursuance of his determination to seize the 
 stores at Concord, General Gage embarked 800 
 grenadiers and light infantry, the flower of his 
 army, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 9 
 
 Smith and Major Pitcairn, on Charles River, at 
 Boston Neck. 
 
 Sailing up to Phipp's Farm, they landed there, 
 and advanced towards Concord. Some of the 
 friends of liberty got notice of this movement; and, 
 in spite of the secrecy of their movements, the 
 British troops soon found, by the firing of guns and 
 ringing of bells, that the alarm was spreading over 
 the country. Between four and five o'clock on the 
 morning of the 19th of April, the troops reached 
 Lexington, thirteen miles from Boston. About 
 seventy of the American militia were standing near 
 the road; but, on account of the deficiency of their 
 force, they had no idea of attacking the military. 
 Major Pitcairn, who had gone forward with the 
 light infantry, rode towards them, calling put, 
 " Disperse, you rebels ! throw down your arms and 
 disperse !" The order not being obeyed, the troops 
 fired on them. Several Americans dispersed; but, 
 finding that the British still fired, they returned the 
 fire. Eight Americans were left dead on the field. 
 
 The rest of the detachment, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Smith, coming up, the soldiers proceeded to 
 Concord without any further resistance. The small 
 body of militia stationed there retreated across the 
 bridge before the British light infantry. The main 
 body of the troops entered the town, and destroyed 
 all the stores of ammunition, arms, and provisions 
 which they could lay their hands on. 
 
 American reinforcements arriving, Major Buttrick, 
 of Concord, assumed the command, and advanced to 
 take the bridge, until then in possession of the 
 British light infantry. The light infantry retired, 
 
10 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 and commenced pulling up the bridge. The militia 
 advancing still, the regulars fired on them. The 
 provincials returned the fire, and a sharp contest 
 ensued, the Americans finally forcing the British 
 to commence their retreat to Boston. But the 
 country was now alarmed, and the retreating troops 
 were exposed to an irregular but destructive fire 
 
 PROVINCIALS HARASSING* THE BRITISH IN THEIR RETREAT. 
 
 from the militia, who, sheltering themselves behind 
 trees, fences, and stone walls, and availing them 
 selves of their superior knowledge of the country, 
 kept up an incessant, galling storm of bullets on the 
 British. 
 
 The regulars, exhausted with their rapid retreat, 
 at last reached Lexington, where Lord Percy joined 
 them with 900 men and two pieces of cannon. 
 
 The regulars, now amounting to 1800 men, con* 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. H 
 
 tinued their retreat after a moment's rest at Concord. 
 Lord Percy, by means of his cannon, kept the militia 
 at their distance ; but the galling fire still continued. 
 In the evening the regulars arrived at Bunker's Hill, 
 where, exhausted by fatigue, they remained until 
 morning, and then went into Boston. In this ex 
 pedition the British lost 65 men killed, 180 wounded, 
 and 28 made prisoners: total loss, 273. The 
 American loss was 50 killed, 34 wounded, and four 
 missing : total loss 88. From the moment the 
 British had arrived in Boston, after this action, that 
 place was in a state of siege, which lasted till 
 March, 1776. 
 
12 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 RUINS OF FORT TICOIf DERO G A. 
 
 CAPTUKE OF TICONDEROGA AND 
 CROWN POINT. 
 
 THE fortress of Ticonderoga was thought by the 
 British to command all our passes to Canada. 
 Though in a somewhat dilapidated condition, it 
 was a post of importance. A bold scheme was at 
 once formed by a few men in Connecticut to get 
 possession of this fortress, and also of Crown Point. 
 About forty volunteers, by the authority of Gover 
 nor Trumbull, marched to Castleton, where they 
 were joined by Colonel Ethan Allen, with his "Green 
 Mountain Boys," which increased the number to 
 two hundred and seventy. Colonel Benedict Ar- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 13 
 
 nold, who had meditated the same enterprise, now 
 joined the volunteers, and the command was given 
 to Colonel Allen. On the 9th of May, they arrived 
 on the shore of Lake Champlain, opposite Ticon- 
 deroga. Allen and Arnold crossed with eighty- 
 three men and surprised the garrison, who were yet 
 asleep. Three loud cheers roused them to a sense 
 of their danger, and as light skirmish ensued. De 
 la Place, the commander, was required to surrender 
 the place. "By what authority?" he asked. "I 
 demand it," replied Allen, "in the name of the great 
 Jehovah and the Continental Congress." The for 
 tress surrendered immediately. Colonel Seth War 
 ner, with a small party of men, surprised and cap 
 tured Crown Point. The pass of Skeensborough was 
 seized at the same time by some Connecticut volun 
 teers. At this time a sloop-of-war was lying at 
 St. John's, a town at the northern extremity of 
 Lake Champlain. Colonel Arnold surprised and 
 seized it. 
 
 Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and the pass of Skeens 
 borough, were all seized without any bloodshed; and, 
 the seizure of the vessel being also effected without 
 the loss of a man, two important posts, a very large 
 quantity of military stores, a sloop-of-war, and, above 
 all, the command of Lakes George and Champlain, 
 were acquired by the daring of a few provincial 
 soldiers. 
 
14 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL WARREN. 
 
 BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL. 
 
 ON the 12th of June, 1775, General Gage issued 
 a proclamation offering pardon to all persons " who 
 shall forthwith lay down their arms and return to 
 the duties of peaceable subjects, excepting only from 
 the benefit of such pardon Samuel Adams and 
 John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a 
 nature to admit of any other consideration than 
 that of condign punishment." This proclamation, 
 so far from intimidating the colonists, only served 
 to strengthen and unite them. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 15 
 
 An apprehension having been excited, by the 
 movements of the British army, that General Gage 
 intended invading the interior, movements were 
 made in Congress to take measures for the defence 
 of Dorchester Neck, and to occupy Bunker's Hill. 
 
 Colonel Prescott was sent with the fragments of 
 three regiments, on the night of the 16th of June, 
 to occupy Bunker's Hill. Finding, however, that 
 Breed's Hill was a much better spot for a battle 
 ground, and considering that they would not be 
 disobeying orders by occupying that place, the en 
 gineers at once commenced a redoubt on the right 
 of Breed's Hill. It was about one hundred and 
 forty feet square, with two passages for ingress and 
 egress. A breastwork of sods was constructed on 
 the left of the redoubt; and a screen, made with two 
 post-and-rail fences, four feet apart, with grass 
 trodden between, extended to Mystic River. 
 
 General Ward, commander of the American forces, 
 saw that the British would make an attempt to 
 capture the works, and sent reinforcements to Colonel 
 Prescott from his camp in Cambridge. Early in 
 the morning, one of the men was shot from the 
 battery at Copp's Hill, and was buried where he 
 fell. No further damage was done, however, though 
 the cannonade was incessant. 
 
 General Gage wished to drive the provincials from 
 the hill, and for this purpose sent Major-General 
 Howe and Brigadier-General Pigot, with ten com 
 panies of grenadiers and ten of light infantry, 
 with 'some artillery, to perform this service. These 
 generals waited until three o'clock P.M. for rein 
 forcements from Boston, and then the British began 
 
16 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 to march slowly up the hill. The Americans were 
 ordered to put four buck-shot to a bullet, and to 
 reserve their fire until the British were within 
 point-blank range. At this moment they poured 
 in upon the British a terrible and destructive fire. 
 The regulars, who only expected an irregular and 
 scattering militia volley, were astounded at the 
 deadly fire which made such havoc among their 
 ranks. They fell back in confusion. The officers 
 had the greatest difficulty in making them form for 
 the second time; and, indeed, had it not been for the 
 determined bravery of the British commanders and 
 the encouraging daring of the officers of lower rank, 
 the troops would have met a signal defeat. 
 
 For the second time the British advanced, and a 
 second volley was poured into them, making the 
 confusion worse than before. Clinton saw this from 
 Boston, and hastened over to assist Howe. Both 
 generals addressed the troops, called to mind the 
 victories gained by British soldiers over all 
 European powers, and the everlasting disgrace of 
 being beaten by raw militia. Charlestown had 
 been set fire to, in order to intimidate the Americans; 
 and the whole town, consisting of four hundred 
 houses, was in a blaze. The British commanders, 
 not daring to trust a third time to bravery, tried 
 stratagem. Pigot, taking the command of a con 
 siderable force, went around to the southwestern 
 angle of the redoubt and scaled the slight works. 
 Che Americans were now attacked east and west. 
 Their ammunition was exhausted; and, having no 
 bayonets, they were forced to retreat, after a short 
 fight with the butts of their guns. Those at the 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 17 
 
 breastwork and in the redoubt retreated, and those 
 at the rail fence followed, over Charlestown Neck, 
 northward. 
 
 It was during the retreat that the Americans 
 suffered the most part of their loss. 
 
 Captain Knowlton, having a large company near 
 Mystic Kiver, moved up in good order and covered 
 the retreat of the provincials. 
 
 The British acknowledged 1054 killed and wound 
 ed, with a large proportion of officers; but their 
 loss was undoubtedly greater. 
 
 The Americans had 1500 to 1600 men engaged 
 in battle, of whom one hundred and thirty-nine were 
 killed and three hundred and fourteen wounded 
 and missing. The officers killed on the American 
 side were Majors Moore and McCleary, Colonel 
 Gardiner, and Lieutenant-Colonel Parker. Major- 
 General Joseph Warren was also among the killed. 
 This gallant and brave officer was appointed major- 
 general four days previous to the battle, and on his 
 entering the redoubt Colonel Prescott offered him 
 the command, which he refused, saying, "I came to 
 learn war under an experienced soldier; not to take 
 any dmmand" He was at the time ot his death 
 president of the Provincial Congress and chairman 
 of the Committee of Safety. His death caused the 
 Americans to determine never to give up their cause. 
 His blood cried from the ground for vengeance. The 
 effect of this battle was to inspire the Americans to 
 greater deeds of daring. It showed to those who 
 were in a state of incertitude in regard to which 
 side was the best, that the provincials could and 
 would fight. They had done enough for honor, 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 enough to show the British that they were deter 
 mined. They had given themselves confidence in 
 their own ability, and they seemed more and more 
 likely to make the throne of England totter to its 
 base. The loss was severely felt ; the wound they 
 had received was deep ; but the British forces the 
 pride of their nation, the troops who were thought 
 invincible, were twice repulsed and nearly defeated 
 by raw militia fighting for their homes and firesides. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 19 
 
 SIEGE OF BOSTON. 
 
 SIEGE OF BOSTON. 
 
 ON the 10th of May, Congress voted an army of 
 20,000 men, chose George Washington to be com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies, 
 and emitted three million dollars' worth of bills of 
 credit. Washington accepted his high trust, though 
 with great diffidence. On the request of Congress 
 that he would accept the command, he addressed 
 the president of that august body in the following 
 words : " Though I am truly sensible of the high 
 honor done me by this appointment, yet I feel 
 great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities 
 and military experience are not equal to the arduous 
 
20 . BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 trust. But, as the Congress desire it, I will enter 
 on the momentous duty, and exert every power I 
 possess in their service and for the support of the 
 glorious cause. I beg they will accept my cordial 
 thanks for this high testimony of their approbation." 
 Every favorable position was fortified and vigi 
 lantly guarded, so that the British could find no 
 point of egress from Boston. Washington and the 
 other generals exerted themselves to equip and 
 discipline the army. There was no lack of courage 
 and zeal among the officers and men ; but they were 
 generally unaccustomed to the subordination and 
 discipline of the camp, and destitute of the requisite 
 arms and ammunition. In the beginning of September 
 the army received a supply of seven thousand pounds 
 of powder from Rhode Island, and powder-mills were 
 erected at various places to supply the demand. 
 Washington boldly grappled with the many difficul 
 ties of his situation. He perceived that the expense 
 of maintaining an army far exceeded the estimates 
 of Congress, and that the short term for which the 
 men were enlisted threatened serious consequences. 
 The new enlistments were made to serve until the 
 1st of December, 1776. 
 
 The British troops in Boston, amounting to about 
 
 men, were reduced to a very uncomfortable 
 
 ition. The country-people generally refused to 
 
 them any provisions, and their naval supplies 
 
 were intercepted by the armed vessels which the 
 
 Massachusetts Assembly had fitted out for the de- 
 
 f Ce f ' he 'T fc ' , 0n th * 10th of October, General 
 Gage left Boston for England, and the command 
 devolved on General Howe. Several vessels, con- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 21 
 
 taining a large quantity of stores for the British 
 army, were captured by the Massachusetts privateers, 
 and afforded a seasonable supply to the Americans. 
 
 On the 13th of December, Congress resolved to 
 .fit out thirteen ships-of-war, which formed the germ 
 of the American navy. It had been also resolved 
 to raise a large army, and each of the colonies had 
 agreed to furnish a considerable number of men; 
 but recruiting went on slowly. No bounty was 
 offered until February ; and on the last day of De 
 cember, when the old army was disbanded, Wash 
 ington learned that but 9650 men had been enlisted 
 for the campaign of 1776. Compelled to submit to 
 inactivity, his means of acting on the offensive were 
 magnified, and doubts of his ability and integrity 
 rewarded his constant anxiety. Congress desired 
 that the town should be attacked ; but a council of 
 war decided against the measure. 
 
 It was now deemed expedient to get possession 
 of Dorchester Heights; and the night of the 4th of 
 March was fixed upon for the attempt. A covering 
 party of 800 men led the way. These were followed 
 by the carts, with the entrenching tools, and 1200 
 of a working party, commanded by General Thomas. 
 In the rear there were more than two hundred carts, 
 loaded with fascines and hay in bundles. While the 
 cannon were playing in other parts, the greatest 
 silence was kept by this working party. The active 
 zeal of the industrious provincials completed lines of 
 defence by morning which astonished the garrison. 
 The difference between Dorchester Heights on the 
 evening of the 4th and the morning of the 5th 
 seemed to realize the tales of romance. The ad- 
 
22 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 miral informed General Howe that if the Americans 
 kept possession of these heights he would not be 
 able to keep one of his majesty's ships in the harbor. 
 It was therefore determined, in a council of war, to 
 attempt to dislodge them. An engagement was 
 hourly expected. It was intended by General Wash 
 ington, in that case, to force his way into Boston 
 with 4000 men, who were to have embarked at the 
 mouth of Cambridge River. The militia had come 
 forward with great alertness, each bringing three 
 days' provision, in expectation of an immediate 
 assault. The men were in high spirits and impa 
 tiently waiting for the appeal. 
 
 They were reminded that it was the 5th of March 
 and were called upon to avenge the death of their 
 countrymen killed on that day. The many emi 
 nences in and near Boston which overlooked the 
 >und on which it was expected that the contend^ 
 rties would engage were crowded with numerous 
 spectators; but General Howe did not intend to 
 ' until the next day. In the night a most 
 violent storm, and towards morning a heavy flood 
 i, came on. A carnage was thus providentially 
 evented that would probably have equalled, if 
 ^o exceeded, the fatal 17th of June at Bunker's 
 Will. In this situation it was agreed by the British 
 .-council of w , to evacuated t 
 
 an a ' ' 
 
 on an 
 
 to 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 23 
 
 the town, unless the troops under his command were 
 molested during their embarkation, or at their de 
 parture, by the armed force without." When this 
 paper was presented to General Washington, he 
 replied " that as it was an unauthenticated paper, 
 and without an address, and not obligatory on 
 General Howe, he could take no notice of it ;" but 
 at the same time intimated his good wishes for the 
 security of the town. 
 
 A proclamation was issued by General Howe, 
 ordering all woollen and linen goods to be delivered 
 to Crean Brush, Esq. Shops were opened and 
 stripped of their goods. A licentious plundering 
 took place. Much was carried off, and more was 
 wantonly destroyed. These irregularities were for 
 bidden in orders, and the guilty threatened with 
 death ; but, nevertheless, great mischief was com 
 mitted. 
 
 The British, amounting to more than 7000 men, 
 evacuated Boston, March 17th, 1776, leaving their 
 barracks standing, a number of pieces of cannon 
 spiked, four large iron sea-mortars, and stores to 
 the value of 30,000. They demolished the castle 
 and knocked off the trunnions of the cannon. 
 Various incidents caused a delay of nine days after 
 the evacuation, before they left Nantasket Road. 
 
 This embarkation was attended with many cir 
 cumstances of distress and embarrassment. On the 
 departure of the royal army from Boston, a great 
 number of the inhabitants, attached to the royal 
 cause, and afraid of public resentment, chose to 
 abandon -their country. From the great multitude 
 about to depart, there was no possibility of procur- 
 
24 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ing purchasers for their furniture ; neither was there 
 a sufficiency of vessels for its convenient trans 
 portation. Mutual jealousy subsisted between the 
 army and navy, each charging the other as the cause 
 of their common distress. The army was full of 
 discontent. Keinforcements, though long promised, 
 had not arrived. Both officers and soldiers thought 
 themselves neglected. Five months had elapsed 
 since they had received any advice of their destina 
 tion. Wants and inconveniences increased their ill- 
 humor. Their intended voyage to Halifax sub 
 jected them to great dangers. The coast, at all 
 times hazardous, was eminently so at that tempest 
 uous equinoctial season. They had reason to fear 
 that they would be blown off to the West Indies 
 and without a sufficient stock of provisions. They 
 were also going to a barren country. To add to 
 their difficulties, this dangerous voyage, when com 
 pleted was directly so much out of their way 
 ' business lay to the southward, and they were 
 going northward Under all these difficulties, and 
 
 or Ha fn P g ^ F SpeCts ' the fleet steered 
 Max. Contrary to appearances, the voyage 
 
 thither was both short and prosperous. They re 
 mained there for some time, wilting for reinforce 
 mente and instructions from England 
 
 V len the royal fleet and army departed from 
 on several ships were left behind, for the pi 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 25 
 
 were also taken. These had run into the harbor, 
 not knowing that the place was evacuated. The 
 boats employed in the embarkation of the British 
 troops had scarcely completed their business, when 
 General Washington with his army marched into 
 Boston. He was received with marks of approba 
 tion more flattering than the pomps of a triumph. 
 The inhabitants, released from the severities of a 
 garrison life, and from the various indignities to 
 which they were subjected, hailed him as their de 
 liverer. The evacuation of Boston had been pre 
 viously determined upon by the British ministry, 
 from principles of political expediency. Being re 
 solved to carry on the war for purposes affecting all 
 the colonies, they conceived a central position to be 
 preferable to Boston. Policy of this kind had in 
 duced the adoption of the measure; but the Ameri 
 can works on Eoxbury expedited its execution. 
 
 For his services in expelling the British from 
 Boston, Congress passed a vote of thanks to General 
 Washington and the army, and presented the general 
 with a gold medal commemorating the event. 
 
26 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 MONTGOMERY'S MONUMENT, AT BT.PA.UL'S CHURCH, NEW YORK. 
 
 EXPEDITION AGAINST CANADA. 
 
 DURING these transactions in New England, events 
 of some importance took place in other parts of 
 America. Congress had early directed its attention 
 towards Canada, and endeavored either to gain the 
 co-operation or secure the neutrality of the inhabit 
 ants in its dispute with Britain. Addresses had 
 been repeatedly sent to them in the French as well 
 as the English language, representing the tendency 
 of the new measures of Parliament ; and these had 
 not been without some effect. The Canadians 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 27 
 
 generally were willing to remain neutral in the 
 contest. 
 
 Congress believed them to be partial to their cause, 
 and resolved to anticipate the British by striking a 
 decided blow in that quarter. In this purpose they 
 were encouraged by the success of the expedition 
 against Crown Point and Ticonderoga, as well as by 
 the small number of troops then in Canada. They 
 appointed General Schuyler commander of the ex 
 pedition, with General Montgomery to act as second 
 in command. Early in September, 1775, these 
 officers, with about 1000 men, made an ineffectual 
 attack on Fort St. John, situated on the river Sorel, 
 but found it expedient to retire to Isle-aux-Noix, at 
 the entrance of the lake, about twelve miles above 
 the fort, and wait for an increase of their effective 
 force. 
 
 Meanwhile, General Schuyler being taken ill and 
 returning to Albany, the command devolved upon 
 General Montgomery, who was instructed to prose 
 cute the enterprise on receiving reinforcements. 
 These reinforcements soon arrived; the attack on 
 Fort St. John was renewed ; and after a vigorous 
 defence it surrendered, about the middle of Novem 
 ber. The Americans found in the fort a consider 
 able number of brass and iron cannon, howitzers, 
 and mortars, a quantity of shot and small shells, 
 about eight hundred stand of small arms, and 
 some naval stores ; but the powder and provisions 
 were nearly exhausted. 
 
 During the seige of Fort St. John, Fort Cham- 
 blee had been taken, which furnished General Mont 
 gomery with a plentiful supply of provisions, of 
 
28 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 which his army stood much in need. General Carle- 
 ton, on his way from Montreal, had been defeated 
 and repulsed ; and Colonel Ethan Allen, who had 
 made an unauthorized and rash attack on Montreal, 
 had been overcome, made prisoner, and sent in irons 
 to England. 
 
 On the fall of Fort St. John, General Montgomery 
 advanced against Montreal, which was not in a con 
 dition to resist him. Governor Carleton, fully sensi 
 ble of his inability to defend the town, quitted it. 
 Next day General Montgomery entered Montreal. 
 He treated the inhabitants with great lenity, re 
 specting their religion, property, and rights, and 
 gained their good-will by the affability of his man 
 ners and the nobleness and generosity of his dis 
 position. 
 
 A body of provincials, under Colonel Easton, had 
 been despatched by Montgomery, and took post at 
 the mouth of the Sorel ; and, by means of an armed 
 vessel and floating batteries, commanded the navi 
 gation of the St. Lawrence. The British force which 
 had retreated down the river from Montreal, con 
 sisting of 120 soldiers under General Prescott, and 
 accompanied by Governor Carleton, seeing it im 
 practicable to force a passage, surrendered by capitu 
 lation. About midnight the day before the capitu 
 lation Governor Carleton escaped down the river, 
 passing through the American squadron in a boat 
 with muffled oars, and reached Quebec in safety. 
 
 It was now the 19th of November, and the sea 
 son was very unfavorable to military operations. 
 General Montgomery, a young officer of superior 
 talent and high spirits, found himself placed in ex- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 29 
 
 tremely unpleasant circumstances. He was at the 
 head of a body of armed men by no means de 
 ficient in courage and patriotism, but totally un 
 accustomed to military subordination. The term of 
 service for which many of them had enlisted was 
 near an end ; and, heartily weary of the hardships 
 of the campaign, they were loudly demanding their 
 discharge. Nothing but devotion to the cause could 
 have made the general continue the pommand. 
 Hitherto his career had been marked with success ; 
 and he was ambitious of closing the campaign with 
 some brilliant achievement, which should elevate 
 the spirit of the Americans and humble the pride 
 of the British ministry. With these views, not 
 withstanding the advanced season of the year, he 
 hastened towards Quebec, although he had found it 
 necessary to weaken his army, which had never ex 
 ceeded 2000 men, by discharging many of them 
 whose terms of service had expired. 
 
 About the middle of September, a detachment of 
 1100 men, under Colonel Arnold, had been sent 
 from the vicinity of Boston, with orders to march 
 across the country against Quebec, by a route which 
 had never been explored and was but little known. 
 The party embarked at Newbury, steered for the 
 Kennebec, and ascended that river, in order to 
 reach Canada by penetrating the forests in the in 
 terior of Maine, a most difficult and hazardous at 
 tempt. Their progress was impeded by rapids and 
 by an almost impassable wilderness ; and they suf 
 fered incredible hardships through the severity of 
 the weather and the want of provisions. They 
 separated into several divisions ; and the last, undei 
 
30 BATTLE-FIELDS A N 1> 
 
 Colonel Enos, finding itself unable to proceed, re 
 turned to the camp at Koxbury. But the other 
 divisions, under Arnold, pressed forward, and tri 
 umphed over every obstacle. For a month they 
 toiled through a rough and barren wilderness, with 
 out seeing a human habitation, or the face of an 
 individual except of their own party; and their 
 provisions were exhausted ; so that Arnold was 
 obliged to push forward before the rest, with a few 
 followers, and obtain a supply from the nearest 
 Canadian settlement. At length, on the 9th of 
 November, the party, with its force much diminished, 
 arrived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec. 
 
 His appearance, says an English writer, was not 
 unexpected ; for the lieutenant-governor had been 
 for some time apprised of his march. In the early 
 part of his progress Arnold had met an Indian, to 
 whom, although a stranger, he had imprudently 
 trusted a letter to General Schuyler, under cover, to 
 a friend in Quebec. The Indian, instead of faith 
 fully delivering the letter according to the direc 
 tions which he had received, carried it to the lieu 
 tenant-governor, who, in order to prevent the 
 Americans from passing the river, immediately re 
 moved all the canoes from Point Levi, and began to 
 put the city in a posture of defence, which, but 
 for this folly and rashness of Arnold, might have 
 been easily surprised. 
 
 On discovering the arrival of Arnold at Point 
 Levi, the British commander stationed two vessels- 
 of-war in the river, to guard the passage ; and at 
 that interesting crisis Colonel McLean, who had re 
 treated before Montgomery, arrived from the Sorel, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 31 
 
 with about one hundred and seventy newly-raised 
 troops to assist in defence of the place. 
 
 In spite of the vigilance of the British, Arnold 
 succeeded, on the night of the 14th of November, 
 in crossing the river with five hundred men in ca 
 noes, and landed near the place where the brave 
 and enterprising Wolfe had landed sixteen years 
 before, called, from this circumstance, Wolfe's Cove. 
 Not being able to convey his scaling-ladders over 
 the river with his troops, he could not immediately 
 attack the town. Instead of concealing himself till 
 his scaling ladders could be brought forward, and 
 then making a sudden and unexpected attack by 
 night, he marched part of his troops in military 
 parade in sight of the garrison, and so put the 
 British fully on their guard. He wished to summon 
 them to surrender. But they fired upon his flag of 
 truce, and refused to hold any communication with 
 him. He therefore, on the 19th of the month, re 
 tired from Quebec to Point aux Trembles, about 
 twenty miles above the city, where General Mont 
 gomery, with the force under his command, joined 
 him on the 1st of December. From him the sol 
 diers of Arnold received a supply of winter clothing 
 which their previous condition rendered particularly 
 acceptable. 
 
 Soon after Arnold's retreat, Governor Carleton 
 arrived in Quebec, and exerted himself to put the 
 place in a state of defence. 
 
 General Montgomery, having brought the scaling- 
 ladders across the river, appeared with his whole 
 force before Quebec on the 5th of December. The 
 garrison was then more numerous than its assailants. 
 
II 
 
 i; \ r M i n r i i> \ \ P 
 
 Tli' \m,Mt, in. aiihMintod to l>ul niuo hmuhvil 
 ifliH?tivo men, while GOYftNMM t'arlrlou had about 
 lill.vn lnm.li>-,!. soKh.M-M. nnhh.i. KOtUUon, and \olim 
 .i.lor IHM riMmnau.l 
 
 1 M,MJ(;'..MI1M \ -vn! .1 ll.l" of h'lU'O {() MMU 
 
 nn U irroiuloi . IMII it \\Jis tiivd UJMMI. 
 
 UM that i>f AruoKI had U>on . atul. allh.n : -h it \\ 
 
 tho vlrpth v>f a raumlian uiuliM- ami in tho most 
 
 l>i\viwKHl to tho vlidivMili 
 
 lit to 
 unithotovtitivation- He ihotv- 
 
 fct* determined tlo few i t ho MK 
 
 D tho morninsr of tho :U ? t of IV 
 v in tho moruin ; v. in the 
 
 * v, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS, 
 
 attacks were *ir..uii:,nr.ouftly made, The real attack* 
 were conduct^! by Montgomerj tad Arnold, Mont- 
 gomery, advancing at the head of about tun hundred 
 men, fell by.,the first df* i-.-rge of grape-shot from 
 the works, Seven >i of i.U best officer! being I ,.n. -.1, 
 liii division retreated, ArnoM ( HID head of about 
 three hundred men, in a diflferenl quartet m.-.mh.ined 
 a fierce and obstinate conflict for *.n,.- time, but 
 was at last wounded and r^MiU'd leaving m.-.i.vof 
 his men in tho hands of ti.- enemy, The ! atb t 
 Montgomery was the subject .i much i<w<*i t MM in- 
 I'.-i'l been universally loved and esteemed. On ns- 
 sembling after the assault, so large a number In-i 
 been killed or taken prisoners, that the provincials 
 could not muster many more than four hundred 
 effective men, who chose Arnold for their com* 
 mander, and, in the hope of receiving reinforcements, 
 resolved to remain in tho vicinity of Quebec. 
 
 Sir Guy Carleton acquired much honor, no! only 
 by his gallant defence of the city, but also by the 
 hun.;nni with ul.i<li he treated. all his prison* 
 The sick and wounded he caused to be taken care 
 of, and permitted iln-m, \vln-n recovered, to return 
 to their homes unmolested, The AnnTic'ium were 
 not ignorant of their own Inferiority in point of 
 
 immlifTH lo ||,- ,";.rii:-.m, mi'l \v-iv nol, \\illioiil. ii|i- 
 
 prehensions of being attack^l ; but, .ililiugh the 
 garrison was three times more numerous than the 
 besieging army, it was of such a mixed and pre 
 carious character thm Carjeton ii.i not deem ii. 
 prudent to march out against his en 
 
 A small reinforcement from Massachusetts reached 
 the American camp, and all the troops that couM 
 
34 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 be spared from Montreal marched to join their 
 countrymen before Quebec; but the month of 
 February was far advanced before the army 
 amounted to 960 men. Arnold, however, resumed 
 the siege ; but his artillery was inadequate to the 
 undertaking, and made no impression on the works. 
 Although unsuccessful against the town, he defeated 
 a body of Canadians who advanced to relieve it, 
 and succeeded so well in cutting off supplies from 
 the country that the garrison was reduced to great 
 distress for want of provisions. 
 
KAYAL EXPLOITS 
 
 35 
 
 DEFENCE OF FORT MOULTRIE. 
 
 THE triumphant issue of the campaign of 1775, in 
 the neighborhood of Boston, was a source of grati 
 fication to the colonists. Washington was cordially 
 hailed as the deliverer of Massachusetts, and re 
 ceived a vote of thanks and a gold medal from Con 
 gress. But the power of Britain was yet to be felt. 
 During the last session of Parliament, the plan for 
 the reduction of the colonies was fixed. The Ameri 
 cans were declared out of the royal protection, and, 
 by treaties concluded between Great Britain and 
 three states of Germany, 17,000 mercenaries were 
 hired to aid in effecting their reduction. 
 
 The intelligence of these .measures decided the 
 question of independence. Protection and allegiance 
 being considered reciprocal, the refusal of the one 
 justified the withholding of the other. Reason and 
 the passions were successfully appealed to by the 
 leading patriots ; and a pamphlet, entitled " Common 
 
36 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Sense," written by Thomas Paine, arguing in plain 
 language the advantages and necessity of indepen 
 dence, effected a complete revolution in the feelings 
 and sentiments of the great mass of the people. 
 
 The plan of the campaign formed by the British 
 generals included three objects: the relief of Quebec 
 and the recovery of Canada ; the possession of New 
 York as the centre of operations ; and the reduction 
 of the Southern colonies. The chief command of the 
 forces was given to Sir William Howe, a prudent 
 rather than an enterprising general. We have seen 
 that Sir Guy Carleton effected the complete recovery 
 of Canada. Before the main expedition could be got 
 ready, it was determined to send an armament to 
 reduce the Southern colonies. 
 
 A squadron under command of Sir Peter Parker, 
 conveying 2800 troops, under Sir Henry Clinton, 
 arrived at Cape Fear in May, and it was then deter 
 mined to attack Charleston, South Carolina, by sea 
 and land. Meanwhile, the inhabitants had received 
 intelligence of the approach of the armament, and 
 made every exertion to put the capital in a state for 
 defence. A fort was erected on Sullivan's Island, 
 which is situated so near the channel leading up to 
 the town as to be a convenient post for annoying 
 vessels approaching it. The garrison, consisting of 
 375 regulars and a few militia, was placed under the 
 command of Colonel Moultrie. 
 
 On the 28th of June, 1776, Sir Peter Parker, with 
 his formidable squadron, appeared before the fort, 
 and between ten and eleven o'clock on that day 
 commenced the attack. The garrison made a gal 
 lant and resolute defence. Their fire was well aimed 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 37 
 
 and rapid. The ships were very much cut up, and 
 the killed and wounded on board exceeded 200 men. 
 The fort, being built of soft palmetto-wood, was 
 little damaged, and the loss of the garrison only ten 
 men killed and twenty-two wounded. 
 
 SIR PETER PARKER. 
 
 Some time before the attack on the fort, General 
 Clinton, with a body of troops, landed on Long 
 Island, with the intention of crossing the narrow 
 passage which divides the two islands and attacking 
 the fort in the rear. But General Charles Lee, who 
 had been sent to take command of the forces at 
 Charleston, stationed Colonel Thompson, with 700 
 or 800 men, at the east end of Sullivan's Island, to 
 oppose the crossing, and the project was abandoned. 
 The inhabitants were fully prepared to meet the 
 
38 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 enemy if they should attempt to land, and dispute 
 every inch of ground with noble resolution. In the 
 evening the firing ceased, the ships slipped their 
 cables, and before morning they had retired about 
 two miles from the island. Within a few days, the 
 whole armament sailed for New York, having sig 
 nally failed to accomplish its object. Congress 
 passed a vote of thanks to General Lee, and Colonels 
 Moultrie and Thompson, for their gallant conduct 
 during the attack; and the fort was from that time 
 called Fort Moultrie. The unsuccessful attack upon 
 a slightly-built fort by a powerful British armament 
 could not but give the colonists a higher opinion of 
 their own capability and tend to lower their estima 
 tion of their adversaries. The event relieved the 
 Southern States from the apprehension of invasion 
 for more than two years, while the Northern States 
 were suffering the calamities of war. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 39 
 
 RETREAT FROM LONd ISLAND. 
 
 DESCENT UPON LONG ISLAND. 
 
 IN the month of August, 1776, the English made 
 a descent upon Long Island, with forty pieces of can 
 non, and under cover of their ships. On a peninsula 
 formed by the East Kiver and Gowanus Cove, and 
 constituting a part of the same island, was General 
 Putnam, strongly fortified, and awaiting w r ith his 
 detachment the approach of the king's troops. Be 
 tween the armies was a range of hills, the principal 
 pass through which was near a place called Flatbush. 
 At this place the Hessians, forming the centre of the 
 royalists, took their station. The left wing, under 
 the orders of General Grant, was close upon the 
 shore ; and the right, commanded by General Clin 
 ton, Earl Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, and compre- 
 
40 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Lending the chief strength of the British forces, ap 
 proached the opposite coast of Flat Land. General 
 Putnam had directed that all the passes should be 
 secured by strong detachments of the provincial troops. 
 The orders to this purpose, though not disobeyed, 
 were not complied with to the extent that the 
 general required ; and one road through the hills, of 
 the utmost importance, was entirely neglected, an 
 oversight which was speedily communicated to the 
 British, and which they were too wise not to im 
 prove to their advantage. 
 
 On the evening of the 26th, Generals Hrwe and 
 Clinton drew off the right wing of the English army, 
 in order to gain the heights. Nearly about day 
 break, he reached the pass undiscovered by the 
 Americans, and immediately took possession of it. 
 The detachment under Lord Percy followed; and 
 when the day appeared, the royalists advanced into 
 the level country between the hills and Brooklyn, 
 a village situated on the peninsula where the 
 Americans were encamped. 
 
 Without loss of time, Howe and Clinton fell upon 
 the rear of the provincials; and, the Hessians attack 
 ing them in front at the same instant, neither valor 
 nor skill could save them from a defeat. Inspirited, 
 however, by their generals, and by the presence of 
 Washington, they continued the engagement for a 
 while, and fought with the bravery of men whom 
 the love of freedom animates to deeds of heroism ; 
 but, pressed by superior numbers, and thrown into 
 confusion, they gave way on every side and fled 
 precipitately to the woods. 
 
 Nor was this the only part of the army which 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 41 
 
 suffered; the right wing, which opposed General 
 Grant, experienced a similar fate. They fought 
 bravely, and maintained their ground till informed 
 of th * defeat of the left wing, when they retreated 
 in con/ision ; and, in order to avoid the enemy, who 
 were fai advanced on their rear, the greater part of 
 them attempted to escape along the dike of a mill- 
 dam, and through a marsh, where many of them 
 perished ; but a remnant regained the camp. Of a 
 regiment consisting of young gentlemen from Mary 
 land, the greater part was cut in pieces, and not one 
 of those who survived escaped without a wound. 
 
 The British soldiers behaved with their usual 
 courage, and it was with difficulty that they were 
 restrained from attacking the American camp; but 
 General Howe checked their impetuosity, believing 
 that he could compel the Americans to surrender or 
 to evacuate their camp. On that day the Ameri 
 cans lost 2000 men in killed, wounded, and priso 
 ners; among the latter were Generals Sullivan, 
 Woodhull, and Lord Stirling. They also lost six 
 pieces of artillery. The acknowledged British loss 
 was 21 officers, and 346 privates, killed, wounded, 
 and taken. 
 
 A retreat from Long Island now become abso 
 lutely necessary ; and it was effected on the 30th 
 of August, without the loss of a man. 
 
 After the retreat from Long Island a number of 
 indecisive actions were fought, the most remarkable 
 of which were those of Kingsbridge and White 
 Plains. Washington ultimately withdrew the main 
 force from the colony of New York, and retreated 
 across New Jersey to Philadelphia. 
 
42 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL HOWE. 
 
 BATTLE OF TEENTON. 
 
 WHEN General Washington crossed the Delaware, 
 (1776,) winter was fast setting in; and it was no 
 part of General Howe's plan to carry on military 
 operations during that inclement season of the year. 
 Fearless of a feeble enemy, whom he had easily 
 driven before him, and whom he confidently ex 
 pected soon to annihilate, he cantoned his troops 
 rather with a view to the convenient resumption of 
 their march than with any regard to security against 
 a fugitive foe. As he entertained not the slightest 
 apprehension of an attack, he paid little attention to 
 the arrangement of his several posts for the purpose 
 of mutual support. He stationed a detachment of 
 about 1500 Hessians at Trenton, under Colonel 
 Rhalle, and about 2000 at Bordentown, farther 
 down the river, under Count Donop; the rest of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 43 
 
 his army was quartered over the country, between 
 the Hackensack and the Delaware. 
 
 General Howe certainly had little apparent cause 
 of apprehension ; for his antagonist had fled beyond 
 the Delaware at the head of only about 2000 men, 
 while he had an army of nearly 30,000 fine troops 
 under his command. The Congress had withdrawn 
 from Philadelphia, and, by their retreat, had thrown 
 that city into much confusion. Their presence had 
 overawed the disaffected and maintained the tran 
 quillity of the place; but, on their removal, the 
 friends of the British claims, to whom belonged the 
 great body of the Quakers, a timid sect, began to 
 bestir themselves ; and General Putnam, who com 
 manded there, needed a considerable force to pre 
 serve the peace of the city. The country was de 
 jected ; the friends of Congress were filled with the 
 most gloomy apprehensions ; and many of the in 
 habitants repaired to the British posts, expressed 
 their allegiance to the British crown, and claimed 
 protection : so that in those circumstances General 
 Howe seemed perfectly secure. 
 
 But in that alarming state of affairs the Ameri 
 can leaders still maintained an erect posture, and 
 their brave and persevering commander-in-chief did 
 not despair. Congress actively employed all the 
 means in their power for supporting their indepen 
 dence, and General Washington applied in every 
 quarter for reinforcements. He perceived the secu 
 rity of the British commander-in-chief, and the ad 
 vantages which the scattered cantonment of his 
 troops presented to the American arms. "Now," 
 exclaimed he, on being informed of the widely-dis- 
 
44 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 persed state of the British troops, "is the time to 
 clip their wings, when they are so spread ;" and, ac 
 cordingly, he resolved to make a bold effort to check 
 the progress of the enemy. For that purpose he 
 planned an attack on the Hessians at Trenton. 
 General Putnam, who was stationed in Philadelphia, 
 might have been useful in creating a diversion on 
 that side ; but in that city the disaffection to Con 
 gress was so great, and the friends of Britain so 
 strong, that it was deemed inexpedient to withdraw, 
 even for a short time, the troops posted there. But 
 a small party of militia, under Colonel Griffin, 
 passed the Delaware near Philadelphia, and ad 
 vanced to Mount Holly. Count Donop marched 
 against them, but, on their retreat, he returned to 
 Bordentown. 
 
 General Washington formed his troops into three 
 divisions, which were almost simultaneously to pass 
 the Delaware, at three different places, on the even 
 ing of the 25th of December, hoping to surprise the 
 enemy after the festivities of Christmas. One divi 
 sion, under General Cadwallader, was to pass the 
 river in the vicinity of Bristol, but failed through 
 inattention to the state of the tide and of the river, 
 as they could not land on account of the heaps of 
 ice accumulated on the Jersey bank. The second 
 division, under General Irving, was to pass at Tren 
 ton ferry, but was unable to make its way through 
 the ioe. The third and main division, under the com 
 mand of General Washington in person, assisted by 
 Generals Sullivan and Greene, and Colonel Knox of 
 the artillery, accomplished the passage, with great 
 difficulty, at McKonkey's Ferry, about nine miles 
 
'fflisp 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 45 
 
 above Trenton. The general had expected to have 
 his troops on the Jersey side about midnight, and to 
 reach Trenton about five in the morning. But the 
 difficulties arising from the accumulation of ice in 
 the river were so great, that it was three o'clock in 
 the morning before the troops got across, and nearly 
 four before they began to move forward. They 
 were formed in two divisions, one of which proceeded 
 towards Trenton by the lower or river road, and the 
 other by the upper or Pennington road. 
 
 Colonel Rhalle had received some intimation that 
 an attack on his post was meditated, and probably 
 would be made on the evening of the twenty-fifth. 
 Captain Washington, afterwards much distinguished 
 as an officer of cavalry, had for some days been on 
 a scouting-party in the Jerseys with about fifty foot- 
 soldiers; and, ignorant of the meditated attack on 
 the evening of the twenty-fifth, had approached 
 Trenton, exchanged a few shots with the advanced 
 sentinels, and then retreated. The Hessians con 
 cluded that this was the threatened attack, and 
 became quite secure. Captain Washington, in his 
 retreat, met the general advancing against Trenton 
 by the upper road, and joined him. Although some 
 apprehensions were entertained that the alarm ex 
 cited by Captain Washington's appearance might 
 have put the Hessians on their guard, yet, as there 
 was now no room either for hesitation or delay, the 
 Americans steadily continued their march. The 
 night was severe : it sleeted, snowed, and was in 
 tensely cold, and the road slippery. But General 
 Washington advanced firmly, and at eight o'clock 
 in the morning reached the Hessian advanced posts. 
 
46 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 which he instantly drove in ; and, so equal had been 
 the progress of the columns, that in three minutes 
 afterwards the firing on the river road announced 
 the arrival of the other division. 
 
 Colonel Khalle, who was a courageous officer, soon 
 had his men under arms, and prepared for a brave 
 defence; but early in the engagement he received 
 a mortal wound, and his men being severely galled 
 by the American artillery, about one thousand of 
 them threw down their arms and surrendered them 
 selves prisoners of war ; but a considerable body of 
 them, chiefly light horse, retreated towards Borden- 
 town and made their escape. 
 
 In this attack not many Hessians were killed, and 
 the Americans lost only four or five men, some of 
 whom were frozen to death by the intense cold of 
 the night. Some of General Washington's officers 
 wished him to follow up his success, and he was 
 much inclined to pursue that course ; but a coun 
 cil of war was averse to the measure, and he did 
 not think it advisable to act contrary to the pre 
 vailing opinion. On the evening of the twenty-sixth 
 he repassed the Delaware, carrying his prisoners 
 along with him, and their arms, colors, and ar 
 tillery. 
 
 This enterprise, although it failed in several of its 
 parts, was completely successful in so far as it was 
 under the immediate direction of the commander-in- 
 chief ; and it had a happy effect on the affairs of 
 America. It was the first wave of the returning 
 tide. It filled the British with astonishment ; and 
 the Hessians, whose name had before inspired the 
 people with fear, ceased to be terrible. The pri- 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 47 
 
 soners were paraded through the streets of Philadel 
 phia to prove the reality of the victory, which the 
 friends of the British government had denied. The 
 hopes of the Americans were revived, and their 
 spirits elevated ; they had a clear proof that their 
 enemies were not invincible, and that union, cou 
 rage, and perseverance, would insure success. 
 
 BATTLE-GROUND OP TREKTOH. 
 
48 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GSNERAL MERCER'S MONUMENT AT LAUREL HILL CEMETERY, PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 
 
 THE alarm was now spread throughout the British 
 army. A strong detachment under General Grant 
 marched to Princeton ; and Earl Cornwallis, who 
 was on the point of sailing for England, was ordered 
 to leave New York and resume his command in the 
 Jerseys. 
 
 On joining General Grant, Lord Cornwallis imme 
 diately marched against Trenton. On his approach, 
 General Washington crossed a rivulet- named the 
 Asumpinck, and took post on some high ground, 
 with the rivulet in his front. On the advance of 
 the British army on the afternoon of the 2d of Janu- 
 

NAVAL EXPLOITS, 49 
 
 ary, 1777, a smart cannonade ensued, and continued 
 till night, Lord Cornwallis intending to renew the 
 attack next morning ; but soon after midnight Gene 
 ral Washington silently decamped, leaving his fires 
 burning, his sentinels advanced, and small parties 
 to guard the fords of the rivulet, and, by a circuit 
 ous route through Allentown, proceeded towards 
 Princeton. 
 
 It was the most inclement season of the year; but 
 the weather favored his movement. For two days 
 before it had been warm, soft, and foggy, and great 
 apprehensions were entertained lest, by the depth 
 of the roads, it should be found impossible to trans 
 port the baggage and artillery with the requisite 
 celerity; but about the time the troops began to 
 move, one of those sudden changes of weather which 
 are not unfrequent in America happened. The 
 wind shifted to the northwest while the council of 
 war which was to decide on their ulterior operations 
 was sitting. An intense frost set in ; and, instead 
 of being obliged to struggle through a miry road, 
 the army marched as on solid pavement. The 
 American soldiers considered the change of weather 
 as an interposition of heaven in their behalf, and 
 proceeded on their way with alacrity. 
 
 Earl Cornwallis, in his rapid march towards Tren 
 ton, had left three regiments, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Mawhood, at Princeton, with orders to 
 advance on the third of the month to Maidenhead, 
 a village about half-way between Princeton and 
 Trenton. General Washington approached Prince 
 ton towards daybreak, and shortly before that time 
 Colonel Mawhood's detachment had begun to ad- 
 
50 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 vance towards Maidenhead, by a road at a little 
 distance from that on which the Americans were 
 marching. The two armies unexpectedly met, and 
 a smart engagement instantly ensued. At first the 
 Americans were thrown into some confusion; but 
 General Washington, by great personal exertions, 
 restored order, and renewed the battle. Colonel 
 Mawhood, with a part of his force, broke through 
 the American army, and continued his route to 
 Maidenhead ; the remainder of his detachment, be 
 ing unable to advance, retreated by different roads 
 to Brunswick. 
 
 In this rencounter a considerable number of men 
 fell on each side. The Americans lost General 
 Mercer, whose death was much lamented by his 
 countrymen. Captain Leslie, son of the Earl of 
 Leven, was among the slain on the side of the 
 British ; and he was buried with military honours 
 by the Americans, in testimony of respect not to 
 himself merely, but to his family also. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 51 
 
 Oft 
 
 WASHINGTON'S HEAD-QUARTERS AT BRANDYWINB. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE BRANDYWINE. 
 
 AT the opening of the campaign of 1777, the 
 movements of General Howe greatly perplexed the 
 American commander-in-chief, who dreaded a junc 
 tion of the forces under Generals Howe and Bur- 
 goyne; and who could scarcely believe that the 
 former would sail to the southward and abandon 
 the latter, who was advancing from Quebec, by way 
 of the Lakes Champlain and George, towards Albany. 
 He also received contradictory accounts of the course 
 which General Howe had steered ; sometimes it was 
 said that he was returning to the North River, and 
 sometimes that the Delaware was the place of his 
 destination, which last was the true account. But at 
 that season of the year southerly winds prevail on the 
 coast; and it was the 30th of July before the British 
 commander reached the capes of the Delaware. 
 
52 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 His original intention was to sail up the river to 
 Philadelphia; but, being informed that the Ameri 
 cans had obstructed the navigation, he altered his 
 plan, arid, still steering southward, entered Chesa 
 peake Bay. On the appearance of the British arm 
 ament off the Delaware, General Washington moved 
 towards Philadelphia; but, being told that the fleet 
 had again put to sea, his perplexity returned, and 
 he held himself in readiness to march with the 
 utmost rapidity towards the North River, if needful. 
 But, on the 24th of August, he was relieved from 
 his painful suspense by certain information that the 
 British fleet had sailed up the Chesapeake Bay, and 
 that the army was landing at the head of the Elk 
 River. 
 
 At the place of debarkation the British army was 
 within a few days' march of Philadelphia ; no great 
 rivers were in its way; and there was no very 
 strong position of which the enemy could take pos 
 session. On landing, General Howe issued a pro 
 clamation, promising pardon and protection to all 
 who should submit to him ; but, as the American 
 army was at hand, the proclamation produced little 
 effect. 
 
 General Washington distinctly understood the 
 nature of the contest in which he was engaged; 
 and, sensible of the inferiority of his raw and dis 
 orderly army to the veteran troops under Sir Wil 
 liam Howe, he wished to avoid a general engage 
 ment; but, aware of the effect which the fall of 
 Philadelphia would produce on the minds of the 
 people, he determined to make every effort in order 
 to retard the progress and defeat the aim of the royal 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 53 
 
 army. Accordingly, he inarched to meet General 
 Howe, who, from want of horses, many of which 
 had perished in the voyage, and from other causes, 
 was unable to proceed from the head of the Elk 
 before the 3d of September. On the advance of the 
 royal army, General Washington retreated across the 
 Brandy wine, a rivulet or creek which falls into the 
 Delaware at Wilmington. He took post, with his 
 main body, opposite Chad's Ford, where it was ex 
 pected the British would attempt the passage ; and 
 ordered General Sullivan, with a detachment, to 
 watch the fords above. He sent General Maxwell, 
 with about 1000 light troops, to occupy the high 
 ground on the other side of the Brandywine, to 
 skirmish with the British, and retard them in their 
 progress. 
 
 On the morning of the llth of September, the 
 British army advanced in two columns ; the right, 
 under General Knyphausen, marched straight to 
 Chad's Ford; the left, under Lord Cornwallis, ac 
 companied by the commander-in-chief and Generals 
 Grey, Grant, and Agnew, proceeded, by a circuitous 
 route, towards a point named the Forks, where the 
 two branches of the Brandywine unite, with a view 
 to turn the right of the Americans and gain their 
 rear. General Knyphausen's van soon found itself 
 opposed to the light troops under General Maxwell. 
 A smart conflict ensued. General Knyphausen re 
 inforced his advanced guard and drove the Ameri 
 cans across the rivulet, to shelter themselves under 
 their batteries on the north bank. General Knyp 
 hausen ordered some artillery to be placed on the 
 most advantageous points, and a cannonade was 
 
54 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 carried on with the American batteries on the 
 heights beyond the ford. 
 
 Meanwhile, the left wing of the British crossed 
 the fords above the Forks. Of this movement 
 General Washington had early notice. After pass 
 ing the fords, Lord Cornwallis took the' road to Dil- 
 worth, which led him on the American right. 
 General Sullivan occupied the heights above Bir 
 mingham church, his left extending to the Brandy- 
 wine, his artillery judiciously placed, and his right 
 flank covered by woods. About four in the after 
 noon Lord Cornwallis formed the line of battle and 
 began the attack ; for some time the Americans sus 
 tained it with intrepidity, but at length gave way. 
 When General Washington heard the firing in that 
 direction, he ordered General Greene with a brigade to 
 support General Sullivan. General Greene marched 
 four miles in forty-two minutes, but, on reaching the 
 scene of action, he found General Sullivan's division 
 defeated and fleeing in confusion. He covered the 
 retreat; and, after some time, finding an advanta 
 geous position, he renewed the battle, and arrested 
 the progress of the pursuing enemy. 
 
 General Knyphausen, as soon as he heard the 
 firing of Lord Cornwallis's division, forced the pas 
 sage of Chad's Ford, attacked the troops opposed 
 to him, and compelled them to make a precipitate 
 and disorderly retreat. General Washington, with 
 the part of his army which he was able to keep 
 together, retired, with his artillery and baggage, 
 to Chester, where he halted, within eight miles 
 of the British army, till next morning, when he 
 retreated to Philadelphia. 
 
NAVAL EZPLOITS. 
 
 55 
 
 ADMIRAL LORD HOWE. 
 
 BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN. 
 
 ON receiving information of the success of the 
 royal army under his brother at Brandywine, 
 Admiral Lord Howe left the Chesapeake and steered 
 for the Delaware, where he arrived on the 8th of 
 October. As soon as General Howe had gained pos 
 session of Philadelphia, he began to clear the course 
 of the river, in order to open a free communication 
 with the fleet. 
 
 The Americans had laboured assiduously to ob 
 struct the navigation of the Delaware ; and, for that 
 purpose, had sunk three rows of chevaux-de-frise, 
 formed of large beams of timber bolted together, 
 with strong projecting iron spikes, across the channel, 
 a little below the place where the Schuylkill falls into 
 the Delaware. The upper and lower rows were 
 commanded by fortifications on the banks and islands 
 of the river, and by floating batteries. 
 While the detachments employed in assisting to 
 clear the course of the river weakened the royal 
 
56 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 army at Germantown, General Washington, who 
 lay encamped at Skippach Creek, on the north side 
 of the Schuylkill, about seventeen miles from Ger 
 mantown, meditated an attack upon it. German- 
 town consisted of one street about two miles long; 
 the line of the British encampment bisected the 
 village almost at right angles, and had its left 
 covered by the Schuylkill. General Washington, 
 
 ATTACK ON ME. CHEW'S HOUSE. 
 
 having been reinforced by 1500 troops from Peeks- 
 kill, and 1000 Virginia militia, marched from Skip 
 pach Creek on the evening of the 3d of October, and 
 at dawn of day next morning attacked the royal 
 army. After a smart conflict, he drove in the 
 advanced guard, which was stationed at the head 
 of the village, and, with his army divided into five 
 columns, prosecuted the attack; but Lieutenant- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 57 
 
 Colonel Musgrave, of the 40th regiment, which had 
 been driven in, and who had been able to keep five 
 companies of the regiment together, threw himself 
 into Mr. Chew's large stone house in the village, 
 which stood in front of the main column of the 
 Americans; arid there almost a half of General 
 Washington's army was detained for a considerable 
 time. Instead of masking the house with a sufficient 
 force and advancing rapidly with their main body, 
 the Americans attacked the house, which was ob 
 stinately defended. This saved the British army ; 
 for the critical moment was lost in fruitless attempts 
 on the house ; the royal troops had time to get under 
 arms and be in readiness to resist or attack as cir 
 cumstances required. General Grey came to the 
 assistance of Colonel Musgrave. The engagement for 
 some time was general and warm; at length the 
 Americans began to give way, and effected a retreat 
 with all their artillery. The morning was very 
 foggy, a circumstance which had prevented the 
 Americans from combining and conducting their 
 operations as they otherwise might have done, but 
 which now favored their retreat by concealing their 
 movements. 
 
 In this engagement the British had 600 men killed 
 or wounded ; among the slain were Brigadier-Gene 
 ral Agnew and Colonel Bird, officers of distin 
 guished reputation. The Americans lost an equal 
 number in killed and wounded, besides 400 who 
 were taken prisoners. General Nash, of North 
 Carolina, was among those who were killed. After 
 the battle, General Washington returned to his en 
 campment at Skippach Creek. 
 
58 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 FORT MIFFLIN. 
 
 BATTLES OF KED BANK AND FOKT 
 MIFFLIN. 
 
 ALTHOUGH the British army had been success 
 ful in repulsing the Americans, yet their situation 
 was not comfortable ; nor could they easily main 
 tain themselves in Pennsylvania unless the naviga 
 tion of the Delaware were opened and a free com 
 munication established between the fleet and army. 
 The upper line of chevaux-de-frise was protected 
 by a work named Fort Mifflin, erected on a marshy 
 island in the Delaware called Mud Island, formed 
 by an accumulation of sand and vegetable mould 
 near the Pennsylvania bank of the river, and by 
 a redoubt, called Red Bank, on the Jersey side. At 
 a small distance below Mud Island, and nearly in a 
 line with it, are two others, named Province and 
 Hog's Islands ; between these and the Pennsylvania 
 bank of the river was a narrow channel, of sufficient 
 depth to admit ships of moderate draught of water. 
 The reduction of Forts Mifflin and Red Bank, and the 
 opening of the Delaware, were of essential importance 
 to the British army in the occupation of Philadelphia. 
 In order, therefore, that he might be able more con- 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 59 
 
 veniently to assist in those operations, General Howe, 
 on the 19th of October, withdrew his army from 
 Germantown, and encamped in the vicinity of 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 He despatched Colonel Count Donop, a German 
 officer, with three battalions of Hessian grenadiers, 
 the regiment of Mirbach, and some light infantry, 
 to reduce Red Bank. This detachment crossed the 
 Delaware at Philadelphia on the evening of the 21st 
 of October, and next afternoon reached the place of 
 its destination. Count Donop summoned the fort to 
 surrender ; but Colonel Christopher Greene, of Rhode 
 Island, who commanded in the redoubt, answered 
 that he would defend his post to the last extremity. 
 Count Donop immediately led his troops to the as 
 sault, advancing under a close fire from the fort 
 and from the American vessels-of-war and floating 
 batteries on the river; he forced an extensive and 
 unfinished outwork, but could make no impression 
 on the redoubt. The count was mortally wounded ; 
 the second in command also was disabled; and, 
 after a desperate conflict and severe loss, the assail 
 ants were compelled to retreat under a fire similar 
 to that which had met them in their advance. 
 Colonel Donop was made prisoner, and soon died of 
 his wounds. 
 
 The disaster did not terminate here. That part 
 of the fleet which co-operated in the attack was 
 equally unfortunate. The Augusta, Roebuck, Liver 
 pool, Pearl, and Merlin, vessels-of-war, had passed 
 through an opening in the lower line of chevaux-de- 
 frise, and, on the commencement of Count Donop's 
 attack, moved up the river with the flowing tide. 
 
60 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 But the artificial obstructions had altered the course 
 of the channel and raised sand-banks where none 
 existed before. Hence the Augusta and Merlin 
 grounded a little below the second row of chevaux- 
 de-frise. At the return of the tide every exertion 
 was made to get them off, but in vain. In the 
 morning the Americans, perceiving their condition, 
 began to fire upon them, and sent fire-ships against 
 them. The Augusta caught fire ; and, the flames 
 spreading rapidly, it was with the utmost difficulty 
 that the crew were got out of her. The second 
 lieutenant, chaplain, gunner, and some seamen, 
 perished in the flames ; but the greater part of the 
 crew was saved. The Merlin was abandoned and 
 destroyed. 
 
 Notwithstanding these misfortunes, the operations 
 requisite for reducing the forts on the river were 
 carried on with great activity. Batteries were 
 erected on the Pennsylvania bank opposite Mud 
 Island; but, from the difficulty of constructing 
 works on marshy ground, and of transporting heavy 
 artillery through swamps, much time was consumed 
 before they could be got ready to act with effect. 
 The British also took possession of Province Island, 
 and, although it was almost wholly overflowed, 
 erected works upon it. 
 
 On the 15th of November, every thing was ready 
 for a grand attack on Fort Mifflin. The Vigilant 
 armed ship and a hulk, both mounted with heavy 
 cannon, passed up the strait between Hog and Pro 
 vince Islands and the Pennsylvania bank, in order 
 to take their station opposite the weakest part of 
 the fort. The Isis, Somerset, Koebuck, and several 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 61 
 
 frigates, sailed up the main channel as far as the 
 second line of chevaux-de-frise would permit them, 
 and placed themselves in front of the work. 
 
 The little garrison of Fort Mifflin, not exceeding 
 300 men, had greatly exerted themselves in oppos 
 ing and retarding the operations of the British fleet 
 and army against them ; and in this desperate crisis 
 their courage did not forsake them. A terrible can 
 nonade against Fort Mifflin was begun and carried 
 on by the British batteries and shipping, and was 
 answered by the fort, by the American galleys and 
 floating batteries on the river, and by their works 
 on the Jersey bank. In the course of the day, the 
 fort was in a great measure demolished and many 
 of the guns dismounted. The garrison, finding 
 their post no longer tenable, retired, by means of 
 their shipping, during the night. Two days after 
 wards, the post at Ked Bank was evacuated also. 
 Lord Cornwallis marched against it; but the gar 
 rison retreated before his arrival. 
 
62 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL SCHUYLEB. 
 
 BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 
 
 THE object of the invasion of Burgoyne, under 
 taken in 1777, was to possess himself of all the 
 defences from Canada to New York, cut off New 
 England from the Middle and Southern provinces, 
 and then conquer it. At first he was successful. 
 In the course of a few days after the commencement 
 of active operations, he captured Ticonderoga and 
 Mount Independence, drove the Americans from 
 Lakes Cham plain and George, and compelled them 
 to seek shelter behind the Hudson. General Schuy- 
 ler resisted his advance by blocking up the roads, 
 and retreated from Fort Edward to Saratoga. 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 63 
 
 The invading general now found himself in want 
 of supplies. In these circumstances, General Bur- 
 goyne conceived the plan of procuring a supply for 
 his army from a different quarter. It was well 
 known that the American army received live cattle 
 from New England, which were collected at Ben- 
 nington, twenty-four miles east from the Hudson, 
 where a large deposit of carriages, corn, flour, and 
 other necessaries, had been made. For this purpose 
 he moved down the east side of the Hudson, and 
 encamped nearly opposite Saratoga, which place the 
 American army left on the loth of August, and 
 retreated to the confluence of the Mohawk and 
 Hudson Rivers. He sent his van across the river 
 by a bridge of boats ; ' and at the same time de 
 spatched Colonel Baum, a German officer, with 500 
 men, partly cavalry, two pieces of artillery, and 100 
 Indians, to surprise Bennington. 
 
 General Stark, with the New Hampshire militia, 
 400 'strong, happened to be in that vicinity, on his 
 way to join General Schuyler. He heard first of 
 the approach of the Indians, and soon afterwards 
 was informed that they were supported by a regular 
 force. He collected his brigade, sent expresses to 
 the neighboring militia to join him, and also to 
 Colonel Warner's regiment at Manchester. On the 
 morning of the 14th of August he marched against 
 the enemy at the head of 700 men, and sent Colonel 
 Gregg, with 200 men, to skirmish in their front and 
 retard their progress. He drew up his men in order 
 of battle ; but, on coming in sight of him, Baume 
 halted on advantageous ground, sent an express 
 to General Burgoyne, informing him of his situa- 
 
64 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 tion, and fortified himself as well as circumstances 
 would permit. 
 
 Some small skirmishing-parties of the Americans 
 killed several Germans and two Indian chiefs, with 
 out sustaining any loss ; and this slight success not 
 a little elated them. In a council of war, it was 
 
 BATTtB OP BENNINGTON. 
 
 resolved to attack Baum next day; but next day it 
 rained incessantly, and the attack could not be made, 
 although there was some skirmishing. 
 
 On the morning of the 16th, Stark, having re- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 65 
 
 ceived some reinforcements, sent detachments by 
 the right and left of the enemy, with orders to unite 
 in their rear and begin the attack in that quarter. 
 But, before they met, the Indians retreated between 
 the columns, and, receiving a fire as they passed, sus 
 tained some loss. The detachments, according to 
 orders, began to attack on the rear of the enemy, 
 and were assisted by Stark, who instantly advanced 
 to the charge in front. Baurn made a brave de 
 fence. The battle lasted two hours, during which he 
 was furiously assailed on every side by an incessant 
 discharge of musketry. He was mortally wounded; 
 his troops were overpowered; a few of them escaped 
 into the woods and fled, pursued by the Americans; 
 the rest were killed or taken prisoners. Thus, with 
 out artillery, with old rusty firelocks, and with 
 scarcely a bayonet, these militia entirely defeated 
 500 veterans, well armed, provided with two pieces 
 of artillery, and defended by breastworks. 
 
 After the Victory the greater, part of the militia 
 dispersed in quest of booty, and their avidity for 
 spoil nearly proved fatal to them; for, on receiving 
 Baum's express, General Burgoyne ordered Colonel 
 Brehman, who had before been sent forward to Bat 
 ten Hill for the purpose, to march to the assistance 
 of his countrymen with the Brunswick grenadiers, 
 light infantry, and chasseurs, amounting to 500 men. 
 Colonel Brehman set out at eight in the morning 
 of the 15th; but the roads were rendered almost 
 impassable by incessant rains; and, although he 
 marched with the utmost diligence, yet it was four 
 the next afternoon before he reached the vicinity 
 of the place where his countrymen had been de- 
 
66 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 feated. The first notice which he received of 
 Baum's disaster was from the fugitives whom he 
 met. He easily repulsed the few militia who were 
 in pursuit of them ; and from the scattered state of 
 Stark's troops, had the prospect of being able to 
 make himself master of the stores, which were the 
 great object of the expedition. But, at that critical 
 moment, Colonel Warner's regiment of continentals 
 arrived, and instantly engaged Brehman. The firing 
 reassembled the scattered militia, who joined in the 
 battle as they came up. Colonel Brehman main 
 tained the contlict till dark ; when, abandoning his 
 artillery and baggage, he retreated, and, escaping 
 under cover of night, with the shattered remnant of 
 his detachment, regained the camp. 
 
 In these engagements the* Americans took four 
 brass field-pieces, about one thousand muskets, (a 
 most seasonable supply to the ill-armed militia,) 
 nine hundred swords, and four baggage-wagons. 
 Exclusive o Canadians and other loyalists, the loss 
 of the royal army could not be less than 700 men in 
 killed, wounded, .and prisoners, although General 
 Burgoyne stated it at only about 400. The Ameri 
 cans admitted the loss of about 100 in killed and 
 wounded ; but this was certainly under the truth. 
 
 This was the first check which General Bur- 
 goyne's army had met with, and it was a severe 
 one, and had a fatal influence on the campaign. 
 The loss of a few hundred men was nothing, com 
 pared with the effects which it produced upon the 
 minds of the people; it greatly elated them, and 
 gave the militia, who. had been much dispirited by 
 the late defeats, confidence in themselves, and en- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 67 
 
 couraged them to hasten to the army in great num 
 bers, in order to consummate the work which they 
 had begun. Before the events in the vicinity of 
 Bennington, dejection and alarm pervaded the North 
 ern provinces ; but those events dispelled the gloom, 
 infused spirit and vigor into the militia, and gave a 
 new aspect to affairs on the Hudson. 
 
 GENERAl BCHUYLER'S RES IDEN CE, 8 C H UTLER VILLE. 
 
68 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ARNOLD AT BEHMUS'S HEIGHTS. 
 
 BATTLE OF BEHMUS'S HEIGHTS. 
 
 ON the 19th of August, 1777, General Schuyler 
 was superseded, and the command of the Northern 
 army was assumed by General Gates. 
 
 General Gates, who was now joined by all the 
 Continental troops destined for the Northern depart 
 ment, and reinforced by considerable bodies of mili 
 tia, left the strong position which Schuyler had 
 taken at the confluence of the Mohawk with the 
 Hudson, eight miles above Albany, proceeded sixteen 
 miles up the river towards the enemy, and formed 
 a strong camp near Stillwater. The two armies 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 69 
 
 were only about twelve miles distant from each 
 other ; but the bridges between them were broken 
 down, the roads were bad, and the country was 
 covered with woods ; consequently, the progress of 
 the British army, encumbered by its fine train of 
 artillery and numerous wagons was slow, and it 
 was attended with some skirmishing. 
 
 On the evening of the 17th, General Burgoyne 
 encamped within four miles of the American army, 
 and spent the next day in repairing the bridges be 
 tween the two 'camps, which he accomplished with 
 some loss. About mid-day on the 19th of Septem 
 ber he put himself at the head of the right wing of 
 his army, and advanced through the woods towards 
 the left of the American camp : General Frazer and 
 Colonel Brehman, with the grenadiers and light in 
 fantry, covered his right flank, and the Indians, 
 loyalists, and Canadians, proceeded in front. The 
 left wing and artillery, commanded by Generals 
 Philips and Reidesel, proceeded along the great road 
 near the river. 
 
 The nature of the ground prevented the contend 
 ing armies from observing the movements of each 
 other; but General Gates, whose scouts were in con 
 stant activity, was soon informed of the advance of 
 the British army. He detached Colonel Morgan, a 
 bold and active partisan, with his riflemen, to ob 
 serve the motions and impede the progress of the 
 enemy. Morgan soon met the advanced parties in 
 front of the British right wing, and drove them 
 back. General Burgoyne supported them by a strong 
 detachment; and, after a severe conflict, Morgan in 
 his turn was compelled to give way. But General 
 
70 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Gates reinforced him, and the engagement became 
 more general. The Americans attempted to turn 
 the right flank of the British army, with the view 
 of attacking it in the rear ; but, being opposed by 
 Frazer and Brehman, they made a rapid movement, 
 and commenced a furious attack on the left of the 
 British right wing. The combatants were rein 
 forced ; and, between three and four in the afternoon, 
 General Arnold, with nine Continental regiments 
 and Morgan's riflemen, was closely engaged with the 
 whole right wing of the British army. Both parties 
 fought with the utmost determined courage; and 
 the battle ended only with the day. When it be 
 came dark, the Americans withdrew to their camp; 
 and the royal troops lay all night on their arms on 
 the field of battle. On hearing the firing at the 
 beginning of the engagement, General Philips, with 
 some artillery, forced his way through the woods 
 and rendered essential service. During the battle, 
 General Burgoyne behaved with the utmost intre 
 pidity and exposed himself to every danger. In 
 the evening, it was believed in the American camp 
 that he was among the wounded ; for numbers of 
 Americans climbed trees in the rear of their coun 
 trymen, and, whenever the smoke cleared away for 
 a moment, took aim at the British officers. One of 
 these marksmen, seeing an aide-de-camp delivering a 
 message to General Burgoyne, being deceived by the 
 rich furniture of his horse, fired at the aide-de-camp 
 and wounded him, mistaking him for the general. 
 
 In this battle, in which each party had nearly 
 3000 men actually engaged, the British lost upwards 
 of 500 in killed and wounded, and the Americans 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 71 
 
 about 400 men. Night separated the combatants : 
 each side claimed the victory, and each believed 
 that with a part only of its own force it had beaten 
 the whole of the hostile army. But, although 
 neither army was defeated, it was evident who had 
 gained the advantage : General Burgoyne had failed 
 in the attempt to dislodge the enemy, and his pro 
 gress was arrested. His communication with the 
 lakes was cut off, and his resources were daily fail 
 ing; while the Americans had the same opportunities 
 of gaining supplies as before, and their strength was 
 still increasing by the arrival of fresh troops. In 
 such circumstances, to fight without a decisive vic 
 tory was to the British nearly equivalent to a de 
 feat ; and to light without being beaten was to the 
 Americans productive of many of the consequences 
 of victory. 
 
 Accordingly, the news of the battle were received 
 with joy and exultation throughout the United 
 States, and the ruin of the invading army was con 
 fidently anticipated. The militia were encouraged 
 to take the field and assist in consummating the 
 work so auspiciously begun. At that time the army 
 under the command of General Gates did not much 
 exceed 7000 men ; but it was soon considerably in 
 creased. 
 
72 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 BUEGOTNE'S CAMP ON THE HUDSON. 
 
 BATTLE OF STILLWATEE. 
 
 AFTER the battle of Behmus's Heights, the safety 
 of the British army lay only in retreat. It was un 
 able to advance : to fall back on the lakes and return 
 to Canada, although difficult, was not then impossible. 
 But every hour* lessened the probability of victory 
 and rendered retreat more impracticable. General 
 Burgoyne, however, could not at once dismiss all 
 the splendid visions of conquest and glory which 
 had so long dazzled his imagination ; and he flat 
 tered himself with the hope of a powerful co-opera 
 tion on the side of New York, which had not been 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 73 ^ 
 
 concerted, and was not to happen. Under those 
 delusions he lingered in his strong camp from the 
 20th of September till the 7th of October. During 
 that interval daily skirmishes happened, which ac 
 customed the raw troops of America to the face of 
 an enemy. General Gates, sensible that delay was 
 in his favor, meditated no immediate attack on the 
 hostile camp, but diligently took measures to pre 
 vent the escape of the royal army from the toils in 
 which it was entangled. 
 
 General Burgoyne's difficulties were great and 
 daily increasing. His army was reduced to 5000 
 regular troops ; his provisions were almost exhausted 
 and his men put on short allowance ; his horses 
 were perishing for want of forage; he was so en 
 vironed by the enemy that he could procure no 
 fresh supplies, and he had received no recent intelli 
 gence from Sir Henry Clinton. He could not long 
 remain in the position which he then occupied, and 
 he was not ignorant of the difficulty and danger of 
 a retreat. In these circumstances he resolved to 
 try the fortune of another battle, as a victory 
 would enable him either to advance, or to retreat 
 with safety. 
 
 Accordingly, on the 7th of October he led out 
 1500 men, well provided with artillery, and, accom 
 panied by Generals Philips, Keidesel, and Frazer, 
 inarched against the enemy, leaving his camp on 
 the high grounds under the care of Generals Hamil 
 ton and Specht, and the redoubts and posts adja 
 cent to the river under General Gell. General 
 Burgoyne's detachment had scarcely formed within 
 a.bout half a mile of the enemy's entrenchments. 
 
74 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 when its left, where the grenadiers were posted, was 
 furiouly assailed. The Germans, who were on the 
 right of the grenadiers, were also soon engaged. 
 Three regiments, under General Arnold, proceeded 
 to attack the right of the British detachment in 
 front, while another division endeavored to turn its 
 flank and gain its rear. In order to frustrate this 
 intention, General Frazer, with the light infantry 
 and part of the 24th regiment, was ordered to cover 
 the right; but, while he was making a movement 
 for that purpose, the left was overpowered and gave 
 way. To save it from destruction, Frazer hastened 
 to its assistance, but met with an American corps of 
 riflemen, which briskly attacked him ; and he was 
 mortally wounded in the conflict. The whole royal 
 detachment now gave way, and, with the loss of 
 most of its artillery, retreated to the camp. The 
 Americans closely pursued, and, under a tremendous 
 fire of grape-shot and musketry, fiercely assaulted 
 the works throughout their whole extent. Arnold, 
 who conducted the assault, urged on his men, but 
 was ultimately repulsed by the British under the 
 immediate orders of General Burgoyne, after having 
 had his horse shot under him and being wounded in 
 the same leg which had been injured at Quebec. 
 The left of the American detachment, under Colonel 
 Brooks, was more successful. It turned the right 
 of the royal encampment, stormed the works of the 
 German reserve, under Colonel Brehman, who was 
 killed^ and his troops retreated, with the loss of all 
 their artillery and camp-equipage; while Brooks 
 maintained the ground which he had gained. 
 
 Darkness, as on the 19th of September, put an 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 75 
 
 end to the bloody conflict ; and the Americans lay 
 all night on their arms, about half a mile from the 
 lines, with the intention of renewing the assault 
 in the morning. The advantage which they had 
 gained was great. "Without any considerable loss, 
 they had killed many of the enemy, made upwards 
 of 200 prisoners, among whom were several officers 
 of distinction, taken nine pieces of brass artillery, 
 all the baggage and camp-equipage of a German 
 brigade, obtained a large supply of ammunition, of 
 which they stood much in need, and had entered 
 the royal lines and gained a position which threat 
 ened their rear. About midnight, General Lincoln 
 with his division marched from the American camp 
 to relieve the troops who had been engaged, and to 
 occupy the ground which they had won. 
 
 This was Burgoyne's last great battle. On the 
 16th of October he capitulated, and his whole army 
 became prisoners. 
 
 v 
 
76 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ATTACK ON FOKTS CLINTON AND 
 MONTGOMEEY. 
 
 THE attack on Forts Clinton and Montgomery, 
 which had been delayed till the arrival of reinforce 
 ments from Europe, had been successfully made. 
 The voyage of these reinforcements was tedious; 
 but they arrived at New York in the end of Sep 
 tember, and Sir Henry Clinton, without delay, em 
 barked 3000 men in vessels of different descriptions, 
 and, convoyed by some ships-of-war under Commo 
 dore Hotham, sailed up the Hudson. 
 
 Forts Clinton and Montgomery, against which 
 the expedition was directed, were situated on high 
 ground of difficult access, on the western bank of 
 the river, about fifty miles above New York. They 
 were separated by a rivulet, which, flowing from the 
 hills, empties itself into the Hudson. Under cover 
 of the guns, a boom was stretched across the river 
 from bank to bank, and strengthened by an im 
 mense iron chain in front, as well as supported by 
 chevaux-de-frise sunk behind it. Above this strong 
 barrier a frigate and galleys were moored, so as to 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 77 
 
 be able to direct a heavy fire against any vessels 
 that might attempt to force a passage. This seemed 
 to present an insuperable obstacle in the way of the 
 British shipping towards Albany. Fort Indepen 
 dence stood four or five miles below, on a high point 
 of land, on the opposite side of the river. Fort 
 Constitution was six miles above the boom, on an 
 island near the eastern bank. Peekskill, the head- 
 
 DEFENCE OF FORT MONTGOMERY. 
 
 quarters of the officer who commanded on the Hud 
 son from Kingsbridge to Albany, was just below 
 Fort Independence, on the same side. General 
 Putnam then held that command, and had about 
 2000 men under him. 
 
 On the 5th of October, Sir Henry Clinton landed 
 at Verplank's Point, a little below Peekskill, on the 
 same side of the river. General Putnam, appre 
 hending that the enemy intended to attack Fort 
 
78 BATTLE-FIELDS 4ND 
 
 Independence and to march through the highlands 
 on the east of the river towards Albany, retired to 
 the heights in his rear; and, entertaining no sus 
 picion of the real point of attack, neglected to 
 strengthen the garrisons of the forts .on the western 
 bank. 
 
 The British fleet moved higher up the river, in 
 order to conceal what was passing at the place 
 where the troops had landed ; and, on the evening 
 of the day on which he had arrived at Yerplank's 
 Point, Sir Henry Clinton embarked upwards of 
 2000 of his men, leaving the rest to guard that post. 
 Early next morning he landed at Stony Point, on 
 the west side of the river, and immediately began 
 his inarch over the mountains towards the forts. 
 The roads were difficult and the enterprise perilous; 
 for a small body of men, properly posted, might not 
 only have arrested his progress, but repulsed him 
 with much loss. Pie, however, reached the vicinity 
 of the forts before he was discovered ; there he fell 
 in with a patrol, who immediately retreated and 
 gave warning of the approaching danger. 
 
 Between four and five on the afternoon of the 6th 
 of October, the British appeared before the forts, 
 which they summoned to surrender, and, on re 
 ceiving a refusal, instantly advanced under a heavy 
 fire to the assault. Both forts, garrisoned by about 
 600 men, were attacked at the same time : Fort 
 Montgomery by Colonel Campbell at the head of 
 900 men; and Fort Clinton, the stronger of the two 
 posts, by Sir Henry Clinton with 1200. Fort Mont 
 gomery was soon taken ; but Colonel Campbell fell 
 in the attack. Most of the garrison, favored by 
 
.NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 79 
 
 the darkness and by their knowledge of the passes, 
 made their escape. At Fort Clinton the resistance 
 was more obstinate ; but that fort also was stormed, 
 and a considerable number of the garrison killed or 
 made prisoners. 
 
 General Putnam had no suspicion of the real 
 point of attack till he heard the firing, when he 
 despatched 500 men to the assistance of the garri 
 sons 5 but the forts were taken before they arrived, 
 
 DEFENCE OP FOEJ CLINTON. 
 
 and consequently they returned to camp. In storm 
 ing the forts, the British had about 150 men killed 
 or wounded. Besides Colonel Campbell, Captain 
 Stewart, Major Sill, and Count Grabousky, a Polish 
 nobleman who served as a volunteer in the royal 
 army, were among the slain. The Americans lost 
 300 men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. 
 
 The American vessels-of-war in the river, being 
 
80 BATTLE-FIELDS A^D 
 
 unable to escape, were burnt by their crews, in order 
 to prevent them from falling into the hands of the 
 British, who removed the boom and chain, and 
 opened the navigation of the river. Fort Inde 
 pendence was evacuated; and Fort Constitution, 
 where the navigation was obstructed b}^ a boom and 
 chain, was also abandoned, without airy attempt to 
 defend it. The British proceeded up the river, de 
 stroying every thing in their power. They advanced 
 to Esopus, which they laid in ashes, but proceeded 
 no farther. In this expedition they took or destroyed 
 a large quantity of American stores. 
 
 General Putnam retreated up the river ; informed 
 General Gates that he was unable to arrest the pro 
 gress of the enemy, and advised him to prepare for 
 the worst. But, although his rear was threatened, 
 General Gates was eager in improving the advan 
 tages he had gained over the British army, which 
 was now reduced to the most distressing circum 
 stances, these events having transpired just before 
 the surrender of Burgoyne. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 81 
 
 GENERAL LEE. 
 
 BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 
 
 FEARFUL for the safety of their army, the British 
 ministers had sent orders to Howe to evacuate the 
 city of Philadelphia and the river Delaware with 
 out delay, lest the French fleet, which it was pre 
 sumed would sail for America in the spring, might 
 entrap him, and cause the loss of both fleet and 
 army. 
 
 Accordingly, the royal army crossed the Delaware 
 into New Jersey, on the 18th of June. Washington 
 had previously detached Maxwell's brigade to aid 
 the Jersey militia in checking their march, whilst 
 he should fall on their rear himself with the main 
 body. The Americans crossed the Delaware in 
 pursuit of the British, while six hundred men were 
 
 6 
 
82 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 detached under Morgan, to reinforce Maxwell. The 
 British marched to Allentown, and there chose the 
 road to Sandy Hook, to avoid crossing the Karitan, 
 which they must have done if they had marched 
 direct to Amboy. They encamped, on the 27th of 
 June, near Freehold Court-House, in Monmouth 
 county. Washington sent General Wayne, with 
 one thousand men, to reinforce the troops already 
 on their lines. La Fayette was sent to command 
 this division, which amounted to four thousand men, 
 
 COUXCIL OF OFFICERS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 
 
 and Lee soon after joined them, with two addi 
 tional brigades, and took charge of the whole. Mor 
 gan hovered on the right flank of the British, with 
 his corps, and Dickinson was on the left, with eight 
 hundred Jersey militia. Washington was three 
 miles in the rear, with the main body. He deter 
 mined to make an attack upon the British before 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 83 
 
 they should reach the strong grounds about Middle- 
 town. Lee was ordered to maintain his dispositions 
 for an attack, and to keep his troops constantly on 
 their arms, so as to take advantage of the first 
 movement of the enemy. Knyphausen led the van, 
 with the baggage, and the best troops were placed 
 in the rear, under Cornwallis. 
 
 At break of day, on the 28th of June, the royal 
 army began their march ; but the rear waited until 
 eight o'clock in the morning. Lee followed them 
 into the plains ; Clinton turned, with his whole rear- 
 division, to attack the Americans, and Lee began 
 the engagement. Owing to some misunderstanding, 
 part of the American forces began to retreat, and 
 the rest soon followed in great disorder. Washing 
 ton now came up with the main body, and, to his 
 great astonishment and mortification, met the ad 
 vanced division in full retreat, Lee intending to re 
 new the battle on higher ground. Washington rode 
 forward and addressed General Lee in warm terms 
 of disapprobation. Yet his indignation could not get 
 the better of his self-command ; and he immediately 
 set himself to repair the error which had been com 
 mitted. He ordered Lee to arrest the progress of 
 the flying soldiers, while he brought up the main 
 body to their assistance. Lee executed his orders 
 with his characteristic courage and skill. A sharp 
 conflict ensued : the Americans were compelled 
 retreat, and were this time brought off by Lee in 
 good order. The British advanced, and attackec 
 the second line of the Americans, which was strongly 
 posted, and made such a vigorous resistance that 
 the enemy were compelled to give way; and 
 
84 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 night Clinton withdrew his troops to a good position, 
 where he remained till midnight, when he resumed 
 his march, carrying most of his wounded along 
 with him. 
 
 The Americans lost in this battle 69 killed and 
 140 wounded; while the British, after burying some 
 of their dead in the night, left on the field of battle 
 247 killed, who were buried by the Americans. 
 They left 44 wounded, and took many others with 
 them. Clinton continued his retreat unmolested, 
 owing to the bad state of the roads; but, on his 
 march through Jersey, a large number of his men, 
 who had married in Philadelphia, deserted, and re 
 turned to that city. The British lost Lieutenant-Colo 
 nel Monckton, and the Americans Lieutenant-Colo 
 nel Bonner and Major Dickenson, all able officers. 
 "Washington moved towards the Hudson, and 
 D'Estaing sailed up the Delaware, with twelve ships- 
 of-the-line and three frigates, not ten days after 
 Howe had quitted it ; when, finding his enemy gone, 
 he sailed for New York, and blockaded the British 
 fleet in the harbor. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 85 
 
 COLONEL Z. BtJTLEK. 
 
 MASSACKE OF WYOMING. 
 
 In the spring of 1778, the settlers, fearing an 
 attack, sent an express to the Board of War, to re 
 present the danger in which the settlement at 
 Wyoming was of being destroyed by the Indians 
 and tories, and to request that the men who had 
 gone from the valley and joined the Continental 
 army might be ordered to return and assist in the 
 defence of their homes. Their request was granted ; 
 and a company, commanded by Captain Spalding, 
 composed of what remained of the two companies 
 before mentioned as having been enlisted at Wyo 
 ming, set out for the valley, and were within two days' 
 march of it on the day of the fatal battle. About 
 the 1st of June, the same year, a scouting-party 
 from Captain Hewitt's company discovered a num 
 ber of canoes, with Indians, on the river at some 
 
86 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 distance above the settlement ; and a few days after, 
 a party of Indians attacked, and killed or made pri 
 soners, nine or ten men, while at work on the bank 
 of the river, about ten miles above the fort. Many 
 circumstances indicated the approach of a large body 
 of the enemy. Such was the situation of the settle 
 ment when Colonel Butler arrived. This was the 
 latter part of June, and but a few days before, the 
 battle. On the 1st of July, the militia under the 
 command of Colonel Denison, with all others who 
 were capable and willing to bear arms, assembled at 
 the fort in Wilkesbarre, being the principal fort. 
 They made an excursion against the enemy, killed 
 two Indians, and found the bodies of the men who 
 had been murdered by them. When they returned, 
 each man was obliged to go to his own house and 
 furnish himself with provisions, as there were none 
 collected at the fort. In consequence of this disper 
 sion, they were not able to assemble again until the 
 3d of July, when their whole strength amounted to 
 about 350 men. 
 
 It probably would have been greater, but many 
 of the settlers chose rather to remain in the other 
 forts, for the purpose of defending their families and 
 propert}^, in which they naturally felt a greater in 
 terest than in the general welfare. Of the whole 
 force, consisting of the militia, Captain Hewitt's 
 company of rangers, and a few volunteers, including 
 several officers and soldiers of the regular army who 
 happened to be in the valley, Colonel Butler was re 
 quested to take the command. The whole, as before 
 stated, amounted to about 350 men, indifferently 
 furnished with arms and ammunition. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 87 
 
 As the enemy had entered the valley at the upper 
 end, and had advanced directly towards the fort in 
 which the settlers were assembled, the object of the 
 savages was supposed to be to attack them in the 
 fort. The enemy had taken Fort Wintermote an.d 
 one other small fort and burned them, and were 
 burning and laying waste the whole country in their 
 progress. Colonel Butler held a consultation with 
 
 MASSACRE AT WYOMING. 
 
 the officers; and it was decided to be best to go out 
 and intercept the progress of the enemy, if possible, 
 and put an end to the scene of devastation which 
 they witnessed. Being perfectly acquainted witt 
 the country, they marched out some distance from 
 the fort, and formed on the bank of a creek, in a 
 very advantageous situation. Here they lay con 
 cealed, expecting that the enemy would advance 
 
88 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 attack the fort, and knowing that if they did so they 
 would pass the place where the Americans were in 
 ambush. In this situation they remained near half 
 the day; but, no enemy appearing, a council was 
 called, in which there was a difference of opinion as 
 to the expediency of advancing and attacking the 
 enemy, or of returning to the fort, there to de 
 fend themselves until the arrival of Captain Spald- 
 ing's company, which was daily expected. On the 
 one hand, the hope of succor and their uncertainty 
 as to the strength of the enemy were urged as 
 reasons for returning; and on the other, the de 
 struction of the whole country, which would in 
 evitably follow such a step, together with the insuffi 
 ciency of the fort and the want of provisions to 
 enable them to stand a siege, were powerful reasons 
 in favor of risking an immediate battle. Captain 
 Lazarus Stewart, a brave man, famous in the country 
 for his exploits among the Indians, and whose opi 
 nion had much weight,, urged an immediate attack ; 
 declaring that if they did not march forward that 
 day and attack the enemy he would withdraw with 
 his whole company. This left them no alternative, 
 and they advanced accordingly. 
 
 They had not gone above a mile before the ad 
 vance-guard fired upon some Indians who were in 
 the act of plundering and burning a house. These 
 fled to their camp and gave the alarm that the 
 Americans were approaching. Fort Wintermote 
 was at this time the head-quarters of the enemy. 
 Their whole force, consisting of Indians, British, and 
 tories, was, as near as could afterwards be ascer 
 tained, about 1000 men, and was commanded by 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 89 
 
 Colonel John Butler, an officer of the British army, 
 and an Indian chief called Brandt. They were ap 
 parently unapprised of the movements of the Ameri 
 cans until the return to the main body of those 
 Indians who had been fired on. They immediately 
 extended themselves in a line from the fort across 
 a plain covered with pine-trees and underbrush. 
 When formed, the right of the enemy rested on a 
 swamp, and their left on Fort Wintermote. The 
 Americans marched to the. attack also in a line, 
 Colonel Zebulon Butler leading on the right wing, 
 opposed by Colonel John Butler, at the head of the 
 British troops, painted to resemble Indians ; Colonel 
 Denison was on the left, and opposed by Brandt and 
 the Indians. In this position the parties engaged, 
 and each supported its ground for some time with 
 much firmness. At length the Americans on the 
 right hand had the advantage of the fight, having 
 forced the enemy's left wing to retire some distance. 
 But on the left the battle soon wore a different as 
 pect. The Indians, having penetrated the swamp, 
 were discovered attempting to get into their rear. 
 Colonel Denison immediately gave orders for the left 
 to fall back and meet them as they came out of the 
 swamp. This order was misunderstood, and some 
 of the men or officers cried out, "The colonel orders 
 a retreat!" The left immediately gave way; and, 
 before they could be undeceived as to the object of 
 the order, the line broke, and the Indians rushed on 
 with hideous yells. Colonel Zebulon Butler, who 
 had continued on horseback throughout the day, 
 finding that the right wing was doing well, rode to 
 wards the left. When he got a little more than 
 
90 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 half-way down the line he discovered that his men 
 were retreating, and that he was between the two 
 fires, and near the advancing line of the enemy. 
 The right had no notice of the retreat until the 
 firing on the left had ceased and the yelling of the 
 savages indicated their success. This" wing, no 
 longer able to maintain its ground, was forced to 
 retreat, and the route soon became general. The 
 officers were principally killed in their ineffectual 
 attempts to rally the men. The defeat was total, and 
 the loss in killed was variously estimated at from 
 two to three hundred of the settlers. Of Captain 
 Hewitt's company but fifteen escaped. The loss of 
 the enemy was also considerable. Colonels Butler 
 and Denison, although much exposed to the enemy's 
 fire, escaped. Colonel Butler collected four or five 
 men together in their flight, directed them to retain 
 their arms, and when any of the Indians, who were 
 scattered over the plain hunting for their victims, 
 approached the little party, they fired upon them, 
 and by this means they secured their retreat to 
 Forty Fort. Many of the settlers, at the commence 
 ment of their flight, had thrown away their arms, 
 that they might be better able to escape. But this 
 was of no avail, for the Indians overtook and killed 
 them with their tomahawks. The few that escaped 
 assembled at Forty Fort ; but the inhabitants were 
 so much disheartened by their defeat that they were 
 ready to submit upon any terms that might be 
 offered. The enemy refused to treat with Colonel 
 Butler, or to give quarter to any Continental officer 
 or soldier. Indeed, it had been determined, if 
 they were taken, to deliver them into the hands of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 91 
 
 the Indians. Colonel Butler then left the valley 
 and proceeded to a place on the Lehigh, called 
 Gnadenhutten. On the 4th of July, Colonel Deni- 
 son and Colonel John Butler entered into articles of 
 capitulation for the surrender of the settlement. By 
 these articles it was stipulated, among other things, 
 that " the lives of the inhabitants should be pre 
 served," and that they should " occupy their farms 
 peaceably;" that "the Continental stores should be 
 given up;" and that "the private property of the in 
 habitants should be preserved entire and unhurt." 
 The enemy then marched into the fort ; but the con 
 ditions of the capitulation were entirely disregarded 
 on their part. The Indians plundered the inhabitants 
 indiscriminately, and stripped them even of such of 
 their wearing-apparel as they chose to take. Com 
 plaint was made to Colonel John Butler, who turned 
 his back upon them, saying he could not control the 
 Indians, and walked out of the fort. The people, 
 finding that they were left to the mercy of the tories 
 and savages, fled from the valley, and made the best 
 of their way, about fifty miles, through the wilder 
 ness, to the nearest settlement of their friends, 
 leaving their property a prey to the enemy. All 
 the houses on the northwest side of the Susquehanna 
 were plundered and burned. They afterwards plun 
 dered and burned the town of Wilkesbarre. Having 
 accomplished their hellish purpose of destruction and 
 desolation, the main body of the enemy returned to 
 Niagara, taking with them all the horses, cattle, and 
 other property which they did not think proper to 
 destroy. 
 
92 
 
 BATTLE- FIELDS AND 
 
 DEATH OF PCLASKI. 
 
 SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. 
 
 THE summer of 1779 was occupied by the 
 British in strengthening themselves in Georgia and 
 endeavoring to extend their conquests to the Caro- 
 linas. General Lincoln attacked them unsuccessfully 
 at Stono Ferry, and then retired to Sheldon, near 
 Beaufort, while Prevost retreated to Savannah, (June, 
 1779.) 
 
 The military aspect of things remained unal 
 tered here until September, when Count D'Estaing, 
 'who had been prevailed on by General Lincoln, and 
 President Lowndes, of South Carolina, to aid in the 
 Southern campaign, appeared off the coast and 
 roused the whole country to action. 
 
 After having victualled and repaired his fleet at 
 Boston, he had sailed to the West Indies, where he 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 93 
 
 had taken St. Vincent and Grenada. About the 
 beginning of the year he had retired to Cape Fran- 
 gais, and he afterwards sailed for the American con 
 tinent. His fleet consisted of twenty sail-of-the- 
 line, two fifty-gun ships, and eleven frigates. As 
 soon as his arrival was known, Lincoln marched for 
 Savannah. The British, to prepare for their defence, 
 had nearly their whole army employed, day and 
 night, in strengthening and extending their lines; 
 while the American militia, sanguine in the hope 
 of expelling the enemy from their Southern pos 
 sessions, joined the army with unusual alacrity. 
 D'Estaing had demanded a surrender, and allowed a 
 suspension of hostilities for twenty-four hours, during 
 which interval Colonel Maitland, with about 800 
 men, from Beaufort, succeeded in joining the gar 
 rison. Prevost at length answered that he would 
 defend the place to the last extremity. On the 
 4th of October, the batteries of the besiegers were 
 opened, with nine mortars and fifty-two cannon. 
 Finding that a long time would be required to take 
 the place by regular approaches, it was determined 
 to assault the town. In pursuance of this design, 
 on the 9th of October, while two feints were made 
 with the militia, a real attack was made on Spring 
 Hill battery, just as daylight appeared, with two 
 columns, consisting of 3500 French troops, 600 Con 
 tinentals, and 350 of the inhabitants of Charleston. 
 The allies marched boldly to the assault; but a 
 very heavy and well-directed fire from the battery 
 threw their front columns into confusion. They 
 still pressed forward to a redoubt, where the conflict 
 became fierce and desperate. A French and an 
 
94 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 % 
 
 American standard were for a time on the parapet ; 
 but the assailants, after sustaining the enemy's fire 
 fifty-five minutes, were ordered to retreat. Of the 
 French 537, and of the Continentals and militia 241, 
 were killed or wounded. Among those who fell, 
 none was more deeply lamented than the gallant 
 Count Pulaski, a Polish officer in the American 
 service. Immediately after this unsuccessful assault 
 the militia almost universally went to their homes, 
 and Count D'Estaing, re-embarking his troops and 
 artillery, left the continent. 
 
 While the siege of Savannah was pending, a 
 remarkable enterprise was effected by Colonel John 
 White, of Georgia. Previous to D'Esfeaing's arrival, 
 about 100 tory regulars had taken post near the 
 Ogeechee River, twenty-five miles from Savannah. 
 There were at the same place five British vessels, 
 four of which were manned with forty sailors and 
 armed with eighteen guns. Colonel White, with six 
 volunteers, captured all this force. On the 30th of 
 September, at eleven o'clock at night, he kindled a 
 number of fires in different places, adopted the 
 parade of a large encampment, practised a variety 
 of other stratagems, and finally concluded his demon 
 strations by summoning the captain of the tories to 
 surrender. The latter was so fully impressed with 
 the opinion that nothing but instant compliance could 
 save his men from being cut to pieces by a superior 
 force that he made no defence. White managed 
 his bold enterprise with such address that all the 
 prisoners, amounting to 141, were secured, and 
 conducted by their captors to the town of Sunbury, 
 twenty-five miles distant. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 95 
 
 GENEBAL WAYNE. 
 
 STORMING OP STONY POINT. 
 
 MEANTIME, Washington was posted at West Point; 
 and while the British were sending parties of plun 
 derers into Connecticut and Virginia, under General 
 Matthews and the infamous Governor Tryon, Wayne 
 performed one of his most brilliant feats. 
 
 Stony Point and Fort La Fayette, on opposite 
 sides of the Hudson, some miles below the Ameri 
 can camp, afforded two posts which might prac 
 ticably be attacked. They had been taken from 
 the Americans in the spring, when the works were 
 incomplete, and Clinton had garrisoned them and 
 put the fortifications in the best state of repair. 
 After reconnoitring the works in person, Washing 
 ton determined to surprise them. The attempt was 
 hazardous; for Stony Point is a commanding hill, 
 
96 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 projecting far into the Hudson, which washes three- 
 fourths of its base. The remaining fourth is in a 
 great measure covered by a deep marsh, commenc 
 ing near the river, on the upper side, and continuing 
 till it joins it below the fort. The marsh was pas 
 sable only at one place ; but at its junction with the 
 river there is a sandy beach, which may be crossed 
 at ebb-tide. The fort stood on the summit of the 
 hill, and was well provided with artillery. Several 
 breastworks and strong batteries were raised in front 
 of the principal fortification, and there were two 
 rows of abattis half-way down the hill. The fort 
 was garrisoned by about 600 men, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Johnson ; and several ships-of-war were 
 stationed in the river, so as to command the foot of 
 the hill. 
 
 On the 15th of July, 1779, General Wayne 
 marched from Sandy Beach, fourteen miles distant 
 from Stony Point, at the head of the detachment of 
 troops, which were chiefly New Englanders. The 
 road was mountainous, rugged, and difficult; the 
 heat was intense, and it was eight in the evening 
 before the van of the party reached Spring Heels, 
 a mile and a half from the fort, where the detach 
 ment halted and formed, while General Wayne and 
 some of his officers proceeded to take a view of the 
 works. At half-past eleven, the party, in two co 
 lumns, advanced towards the garrison. One hundred 
 and fifty volunteers, under Colonel Fleury, formed 
 the van of the right, and 100 volunteers, under 
 Major Stewart, composed the van of the left. Both 
 advanced with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets, 
 and each was preceded by a forlorn hope of 20 men, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 97 
 
 led by Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, to remove 
 the obstructions and abattis, and to open a passage 
 for the columns, which followed close in the rear. 
 Having taken care to secure every person on the 
 route who could give information of their approach, 
 the columns reached the marsh undiscovered. In 
 crossing it, unexpected difficulties occurred, and it 
 was twenty minutes past twelve when the attack 
 
 WEST POINT. 
 
 commenced. A tremendous discharge of musketry 
 and grape-shot opened on the assailants; but both 
 columns rushed forward with fixed bayonets, and 
 soon gained possession of the fort, 
 
 This was a brilliant exploit, and the assailants 
 gained more noble and permanent honors by their 
 humanity than by their bravery; for, although t 
 
98 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 place was taken by storm, and the American troops 
 were greatly exasperated by the merciless ravages 
 and devastations committed by the enemy on the 
 coast of Connecticut, yet not one individual of the 
 garrison suffered after resistance ceased. The garri 
 son lost 20 men killed in the conflict, and 74 wound 
 ed, including six officers. The Americans had 63 
 killed, two of whom were officers ; but the wounded 
 did not exceed 40. Seventeen out of 20 of Lieu 
 tenant Gibbon's forlorn hope were either killed or 
 wounded. The prisoners amounted to 543, includ 
 ing officers; and the military stores, ordnance, and 
 standards, which fell into the hands of the victors, 
 were considerable. 
 
 Owing to the defenceless state of the works on 
 the river-side, which would now be exposed to 
 attacks from the British shipping in the river, it 
 was estimated that it would require a garrison of 
 1500 men to defend the place; and General Wash 
 ington could not spare that number from his little 
 army, which amounted in all to scarcely 9000 men. 
 He therefore deemed it expedient to evacuate the 
 place, after having, to a certain extent, demolished 
 the works. 
 
 Clinton soon after again took possession of Stony 
 Point, ordered the fortifications to be repaired, and 
 stationed a strong garrison in the fort ; but, failing 
 in his attempts to draw Washington from his strong 
 position in the Highlands, he again sailed down the 
 river to New York. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 99 
 
 PAUL JONES. 
 
 CAPTURE OF THE SERAPIS. 
 
 THE French ministry, to testify their good-will to 
 the United States, had promised to furnish Paul 
 Jones with a ship, in which, however, he was to 
 display the American flag ; but, after various written 
 memorials, no progress seemed to have been made 
 towards the fulfilment of this engagement. At 
 length he determined to apply in person, and, hav 
 ing gone to Paris, he soon obtained the command of 
 the Due de Duras, of forty guns. The name, how 
 ever, he changed to Le Bon-Homme Richard, in com 
 pliment to the wise saying of Poor Richard : " If 
 you would have your business done, come yourself; 
 if not, send." In this vessel, badly manned and not 
 much better furnished, Paul Jones sailed as commo 
 dore of a little squadron, consisting, besides his own 
 ship, of the Alliance, of thirty-six guns, the Pallas, of 
 thirty-two, the Serf, of eighteen, the Vengeance, of 
 twelve, and two privateers, which requested leave 
 to share the commodore's fortunes. After taking 
 several prizes, the Serf, the privateers, and at length 
 
100 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 the Alliance, deserted the squadron. The commo 
 dore's good fortune, however, did not desert him. 
 On the 15th of September, he was, with his own 
 ship, the Pallas, the Vengeance, and several prizes, 
 at the entrance into the Firth of Forth, where they 
 made every necessary disposition to seize the guard- 
 ship and two cutters that rode at anchor in the 
 roads, and to lay Leith, and perhaps Edinburgh, 
 under contribution. The wind, which was fair in 
 the night, opposed them in the morning. However, 
 on the 16th, the little squadron continued all day to 
 work up the Firth. At this time a member of the 
 British Parliament, observing them from the coast 
 of Fife, and mistaking them for the king's ships, 
 sent off a boat to inform the commodore that he 
 was greatly afraid of Paul Jones, and to beg some 
 powder and shot. Our hero, much amused with the 
 message, sent him a barrel of gunpowder, with a 
 civil answer to quiet his fears and an apology for 
 not including shot in the present. 
 
 Next morning, at daybreak, every thing was in 
 perfect readiness to commence the engagement, and 
 two tacks more would have brought the strangers 
 alongside their enemies, when, at that critical mo 
 ment, a sudden gale of wind swept down the Firth, 
 raging with such violence as completely to over 
 power them, to sink one of the prizes and drive all 
 the rest of the squadron fairly out to sea. By this 
 failure the captains of the Pallas and Vengeance 
 were so much disheartened that they could not be 
 prevailed on to renew the attempt. 
 
 Continuing their cruise, after various adventures, 
 the squadron suddenly discovered the homeward- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 101 
 
 bound British Baltic fleet, off Scarborough Castle, 
 escorted by the frigate Serapis and the Countess of 
 Scarborough. After a long engagement, in which 
 Paul Jones displayed the most astonishing skill, in 
 trepidity, and presence of mind, the Countess of Scar 
 borough struck to the Pallas, and the Serapis to the 
 Bon-Homme Bichard, which latter ship was reduced 
 to so shattered a state that next morning, after all 
 hands had left her, she went to the bottom. The 
 Serapis was not in much better condition, the com 
 modore having, with his own hands, lashed the two 
 ships together, to prevent the enemy from availing 
 himself of his superiority in weight of metal. 
 
102 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 COUNT D'ESTAING. 
 
 CAPTUEE OF CHARLESTON. 
 
 DUEING the year 1780, the con-test between Great 
 Britain and her ancient colonies was carried on 
 chiefly in the Southern States. As soon as Sir 
 Henry Clinton ascertained that Count D'Estaing 
 had left the American coast, he hastened to de 
 spatch an expedition against South Carolina, leav 
 ing the garrison at New York under the command of 
 General Knyphausen. Early in February the troops 
 landed within thirty miles of the capital. Go 
 vernor Rutledge, to whom the Assembly of South 
 Carolina had recently given extraordinary powers, 
 ordered the militia to rendezvous; but the repulse at 
 Savannah at the close of the preceding campaign 
 had produced such a dispiriting effect that but few 
 complied. The defences of Charleston consisted of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 103 
 
 a chain of redoubts, lines, and batteries, extending 
 from Ashley to Cooper River, on which were mounted 
 upwards of eighty pieces of artillery ; and on all sides 
 of the town, where a landing was practicable, bat 
 teries were erected and covered with artillery. 
 General Lincoln, trusting to these defences, and 
 expecting large reinforcements, remained in Charles 
 ton at the earnest request of the inhabitants, and, 
 with the force under his command, resolved to do- 
 fend the place. On the 21st of March the British 
 fleet crossed the bar, and anchored in Five Fathom 
 Hole Commodore Whipple, who commanded the 
 American vessels, finding it impracticable to prevent 
 the enemy from passing over the bar, fell back to 
 Fort Moultrie, and afterwards to Charleston. 
 a few days the town was invested by sea and id 
 and the British commanders summoned bene 
 Lincoln to surrender: the demand was however 
 met by a firm refusal. The batteries of the fiist 
 parallel were, now opened upon the town and soon 
 Lde a visible impression ; and to prevent he recep 
 tion of the reinforcements which General Lmco 
 expected Sir Henry Clinton detached Lieutenant 
 Colotl Webster, with 1400 men by the advanced 
 ,uard of which detachment the American cavahy, 
 S the militia attached *^"^ 
 
 time Si, Hen,, Clin.cn r 
 of 3000 men from N 
 
104 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 but the proposed conditions were rejected by the 
 British commanders. The besiegers in the mean time 
 were daily advancing their works, and had now com 
 pleted their third parallel. The garrison of Fort 
 Moultrie surrendered; and the broken remains of 
 the American cavalry under Colonel White were 
 again surprised by Colonel Tarleton, and the whole 
 either killed, taken, or dispersed. Sir Henry Clin 
 ton, thus successful in every operation, renewed his 
 former offers to the garrison in case of their sur 
 render; but, the terms so far as they respected the 
 citizens not being satisfactory, hostilities recom 
 menced. The batteries of the third parallel now 
 opened on the town, and did great execution. 
 Several houses were burned, numbers of the besieged 
 were killed at their guns, and the British prepared 
 to make a general assault by land and water. At 
 length a great number of citizens of Charleston ad 
 dressed General Lincoln in a petition, requesting his 
 acceptance of the terms which had been previously 
 offered. A capitulation was consequently signed on 
 the 12th of May, and the next day Major-General 
 Leslie took possession of the town. 
 
 The capital having surrendered, measures were 
 adopted to overawe the inhabitants of the country 
 and induce them to return to their allegiance to the 
 king. Garrisons were placed in different parts of the 
 state ; and 2000 men were despatched towards North 
 Carolina, to repel several parties of militia who 
 were hastening to the relief of Charleston. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 105 
 
 BATTLE OF WAXHAWS. 
 
 THE fall of Charleston was a matter of much exul 
 tation to the British, and spread a deep gloom over 
 the aspect of American affairs. The whole Southern 
 army was lost, which, although small, could not soon 
 be replaced. The number of tories had always been 
 considerable in the South; and, though they had 
 been previously deterred from entering the field by 
 the superior force of their opponents, yet the recent 
 British successes roused all their lurking partialities, 
 decided the wavering, and encouraged the timid. 
 
 Clinton was well aware of the advantage he had 
 gained, and immediately adopted measures to over 
 awe the inhabitants and induce them to return to 
 their former allegiance, by the rapidity of his move 
 ments and the sudden appearance of his troops in 
 different parts of the country. For this purpose he 
 despatched a body of 2000 men towards North Caro- 
 
106 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 linai, to repel the small parties of militia who were 
 hastening to the relief of Charleston. Tarleton, 
 with 700 horse and foot, by marching one hundred 
 and five miles in fifty-four hours, met and defeated 
 Colonel Buford, at the Waxhaws. .Buford was ad 
 vancing towards Charleston at the head of a body 
 of 400 Continental infantry and a few horsemen. 
 Tarleton easily defeated them by his superior forces, 
 and the Americans were compelled to throw down 
 their arms and implore quarter; but, by Tarleton's 
 orders, the work of butchery was continued and 
 nearly all of the regiment were killed, or so badly 
 wounded that they could not be removed from the 
 field. This sanguinary proceeding spread dismay 
 and indignation, throughout the State, and the re 
 membrance of " Tarleton's quarters" imparted a 
 similar character to future conflicts. 
 
 TARLETON'S QUARTEB. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 107 
 
 GENEKA& GATES. 
 
 BATTLE OF CAMDEN. 
 
 IN the hope of relieving Charleston, Congress had 
 ordered the Maryland and Delaware troops to march 
 to South Carolina ; but they were delayed so much 
 that they did not reach the Head of Elk until 
 April 16, when they marched directly towards 
 South Carolina. The Baron De Kalb commanded 
 this detachment ; but, as he was a foreigner, unac 
 quainted with the country and not accustomed to 
 undisciplined troops, Congress thought *it advisable 
 to give the command of the Southern army to 
 General Gates. It was hoped that his fame and his 
 
108 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 presence as commander of the Southern army 
 would animate the friends of independence. 
 
 A council of war had advised De Kalb to file off 
 from the direct road to Camden, through the well- 
 cultivated settlements in the district of the Wax- 
 haws; but \\flien, on the 27th of July, Gates joined 
 the army and took the command, he determined to 
 go by the shortest road to the British encampments. 
 This roufe led through a country of pine-barrens, 
 sand-hills, and swamps, infested by a host of fugitive 
 tories, whose poverty afforded no subsistence to the 
 army and whose politics prevented any secret en 
 terprises. Soon after they began their march, they 
 were joined by Colonel Porterfield, with 100 
 Virginia militia. The army soon felt the want 
 of provisions ; and fatigue, fasting, and disappoint 
 ments as to supplies, exasperated them to a high 
 degree. Starvation became a cant term among both 
 officers and soldiers ; and the whole army subsisted 
 on a few lean cattle found in the woods, and green 
 corn and peaches, which unwholesome diet naturally 
 produced dysenteries. 
 
 The army at length reached Clermont, thirteen 
 miles from Camdeh, on the 13th of August. On 
 the next day General Stephens joined them with a 
 large body of the Virginia militia, making the whole 
 number of the army 3663, of which 900 were regu 
 lars and 70 cavalry. Cornwallis had now joined his 
 army, which was concentrated at Camden. It had 
 been somewhat reduced by sickness, and the whole 
 number at Camden amounted to no more than 2000 
 men. 
 
 Gates had issued a proclamation on entering the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS, 109 
 
 State, inviting the patriotic citizens to join in at 
 tempting to rescue their State from its conquerors. 
 Although this proclamation brought many into the 
 field, the number did not equal Gates's expecta 
 tions. The whole country, however, appeared to be 
 rising, and Corawallis found that he must either re 
 treat to Charleston or risk a battle. He chose the 
 latter ; and, as his position in Camden was unfavor 
 able for repelling an attack, he moved out on the 
 night of the 15th, intending to assault the Ame 
 rican camp at Clermont. Gates had sent his sick, 
 wounded, and baggage, to the Waxhaws, and was 
 advancing to a more eligible situation about eight 
 miles from Camden. The advance of both armies 
 met in the night, and an engagement ensued. Some 
 of Armand's cavalry, who led the American van, 
 being wounded, fell back on others, who suddenly 
 recoiled; by which movement the first Maryland 
 regiment was broken and the whole line of the 
 army thrown into confusion. This first impression 
 struck deep, and dispirited the militia; but the 
 Americans soon recovered their order, and both 
 armies retained their positions during the night. 
 
 In the morning a severe and general engagement 
 took place. At the first onset General Stevens led 
 forward his men within fifty paces of the enemy, 
 who were also advancing, under Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Webster. Stevens then cried out, " Now, my brave 
 fellows, we have bayonets as well as they: we 
 will charge them I" Cornwallis, who had mistaken 
 Stevens's movement for a change of position, gave 
 orders to Webster to begin the attack, and the 
 British advanced with a loud shout. The courage 
 
110 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 of the Virginia militia failed, and they immediately 
 threw down their arms and fled with precipitation, 
 communicating their panic to the greater part of 
 the North Carolina militia. The Continentals, who 
 formed the right wing of the army, stood their 
 ground, and, notwithstanding the inequality of num 
 bers, behaved with great resolution. For some time 
 
 BATTLE OF CAMDEN, AND DEATH OF BARON DE KALB. 
 
 they had the advantage of the enemy, and were 
 in possession of a number of prisoners ; but. owing 
 to their want of cavalry and to the cowardly deser 
 tion of the militia, they were surrounded and over 
 powered by numbers. Tarleton charged them as 
 they broke, and pursued them as far as Hanging 
 Rock, twenty-two miles from the scene of action. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 11] 
 
 Two hundred and ninety American prisoners were 
 carried into Camden, of which number 206 were 
 Continentals, 82 North Carolina militia, and two 
 Virginians. The Americans lost the whole of their 
 artillery, eight field-pieces, and nearly all their bag 
 gage. Their loss in killed and wounded in the 
 battle could not well be ascertained. That of the 
 British was stated at 69 killed, 245 wounded, and 
 11 missing. 
 
 The Baron De Kalb, while making a vigorous 
 charge at the head of the regiment of infantry, fell 
 under eleven wounds. His aide-de-camp, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Du Buysson, received him in his arms, and 
 endeavored to save him from the fury of the foe by 
 announcing his name and nation. He was wounded 
 while attempting to shield his friend ; but a British 
 officer, coming up, ordered every attention to be paid 
 to the unfortunate De Kalb. He was a German by 
 birth, and had formerly been long in the French 
 service. He was second in command in this action, 
 and gave new proofs of his bravery and experience. 
 When he made his last charge, he was still ignorant 
 of the flight of the left wing and centre, as the 
 fogginess of the morning prevented him from seeing 
 what was passing ; and, when wounded and taken, 
 he would scarcely believe that Gates was defeated. 
 He expired in a few hours, spending his last breath 
 in dictating a letter expressing the warmest affection 
 for the officers and men of his division and the most 
 exalted admiration of their courage and good conduct. 
 
112 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 COLONEL SHELBY. 
 
 BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. 
 
 A SPIRIT of enterprise beginning to revive among 
 the American militia about this time, (Oct. 7, 1780,) 
 prompted Colonel Clark to make an attempt on the 
 British post at Augusta, in Georgia ; but in this" he 
 failed, and was obliged to retreat. Major Ferguson, 
 with the hope of intercepting his party, kept near 
 the mountains, and at a considerable distance from 
 support. These circumstances, together with the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 113 
 
 depredations of the loyalists, induced those hardy 
 republicans who reside on the west side of the Alle- 
 ghany Mountains to form an enterprise for reducing 
 that distinguished partisan. This was done of their 
 own motion, without any direction from the govern 
 ment of America or from the officers of the Con 
 tinental army. 
 
 There was, without any apparent design, a power 
 ful combination of several detached commanders of 
 the adjacent States, with their respective commands 
 of militia. Colonel Campbell, of Virginia, Colonels 
 Cleveland, Shelby, Sevier, and McDowel, of North 
 Carolina, together with Colonels Lacey, Hawthorn, 
 and Hill, of South Carolina, all rendezvoused to 
 gether, with a number of men amounting to 1600 ; 
 though -they were under no general command, and 
 though they were not called upon to embody by any 
 common authority, or indeed by any authority at 
 all, but that of a general impulse of their own minds. 
 They had so little of the mechanism of a regular 
 army, that the colonels, by common consent, com 
 manded each day alternately. The hardships these 
 volunteers underwent were very great. Some of 
 them subsisted, for weeks together, without tasting 
 bread or salt or spirituous liquors, and slept in 
 the woods without blankets. The running stream 
 quenched their thirst. At night the earth afforded 
 them a bed, and the heavens, or, at most, the limbs 
 of trees, were their only covering. Ears of corn or 
 pumpkins thrown into the fire, with occasional sup 
 plies of beef or venison, killed and roasted in the 
 woods, were the chief articles of their provisions. 
 They had neither commissaries, quarter-masters, nor 
 
 8 
 
114 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 stores of any kind. They selected about 1000 of 
 their best men and mounted them on their fleetest 
 horses. These attacked Major Ferguson (7th Octo 
 ber) on the top of King's Mountain, near the con 
 fines of North and South Carolina. The Americans 
 formed three parties. Colonel Lacey, of South Ctiro- 
 lina, led one, which attacked on the west. The two 
 others were commanded by Colonels Campbell and 
 Cleveland, one of which attacked on the east, and 
 the other in the centre. 
 
 On this occasion, Colonel Cleveland addressed his 
 party in the following plain, unvarnished language : 
 "My brave fellows! We have beat the tories, and 
 we can beat them. They are all cowards. If they 
 had the spirit of men, they would join with their 
 fellow-citizens in supporting the independence of ' 
 their country. When engaged, you are not to wait 
 for the word of command from me. I will show 
 you by my example how to fight. I can undertake 
 no more. Every man must consider himself as an 
 officer, and act from his own judgment. Fire as 
 quick as you can, and stand as long as you can. 
 When you can do no better, get behind trees, or 
 retreat ; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If 
 we be repulsed, let us make a point to return and 
 renew the fight. Perhaps we may have better luck 
 in the second attempt than in the first. If any 
 of you be afraid, such have leave to retire; and 
 they are requested immediately to take them 
 selves off." 
 
 Ferguson, with great boldness, attacked the assail 
 ants with fixed bayonets, and compelled them suc 
 cessively to retire ; but they only fell back a little 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. H5 
 
 way, and, getting behind trees and rocks, renewed 
 their fire in almost every direction. The British, 
 being uncovered, were aimed at by the American 
 marksmen, and many of them were slain. An un 
 usual number of the killed were found shot in the 
 head. Riflemen took off riflemen with such exact 
 ness that they killed each other when taking sight, 
 so effectually that their eyes remained, after they 
 were dead, one shut and the other open, in the 
 usual manner of marksmen when levelling at their 
 object. Major Ferguson displayed as much bravery 
 as was possible in his situation; but his encamp 
 ment on the top of the mountain was not well 
 chosen, as it gave the Americans an opportunity 
 of covering themselves in their approaches. Had 
 he pursued his march, on charging and driving the 
 first part of the militia which gave way, he might 
 have got off with the most of his men ; but his un 
 conquerable spirit disdained either to flee or to sur 
 render. After a severe conflict, he received a mortal 
 wound. No chance of escape being left, and all 
 prospect of successful resistance being at an end, 
 the contest was ended by the submission of the 
 survivors. Upwards of 800 became prisoners, and 
 225 were killed and wounded. Very few of the 
 assailants fell; but in their number was Colonel 
 Williams, a distinguished militia officer in Ninety- 
 Six district, who had been very active in opposing 
 the re-establishment of British government. Ten of 
 the royal militia who had surrendered were hanged 
 by their conquerors, in retaliation for similar acts 
 of the tories. 
 
116 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL PICKENS. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE COWPENS. 
 
 IN January, 1781, Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton 
 was sent by Cornwallis in pursuit of General Mor 
 gan, who desired rather to avoid an engagement for 
 the moment, but at last determined to await his 
 approach and give him battle. On the morning of the 
 17th he was apprised of the proximity of Tarleton, 
 and made preparations to receive him. Morgan 
 was posted at the Cowpens, near the boundary-line 
 of the Carolinas. He threw out an advanced guard 
 under Colonel Cunningham and Major McDowell, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 117 
 
 who were directed, upon the approach of the enemy, 
 to skirmish, and fall back upon the first line, which 
 was formed of militia under command of Gene 
 ral Pickens. The second line, stationed at a distance 
 of two hundred yards in the rear of the first, con 
 sisted of the Continentals and Captains Triplet's and 
 Taite's companies of Virginia militia, together with 
 Captain Beattie's Georgians, the whole under Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel Howard. The cavalry, under Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel Washington, formed the reserve. 
 
 Previous to the engagement, Morgan addressed his 
 men, and, in order that no confusion might be oc 
 casioned by the breaking of the militia should they 
 be overcome by the superior force and discipline of 
 the enemy, he directed their officers, in case they 
 were compelled to retire, immediately to form upon 
 the flank of the second line. Tarleton's advanced 
 guard consisted of a legion of infantry, together with 
 three companies of light infantry; the centre of the 
 first battalion of the 71st, the entire 7th regiment, 
 and the field-pieces ; and the rear of infantry and 
 cavalry. After passing Thickell Creek, he ordered 
 a portion of his cavalry to the advance, when, com 
 ing up with the American light troops, the latter 
 skirmished and gave way. 
 
 Tarleton formed his line of battle of three bodies 
 of infantry, separated by the field-pieces, each flank 
 supported by cavalry. One hundred and fifty yards 
 in the rear of the left flank was placed the reserve 
 of one battalion of infantry and 200 dragoons. 
 His force advanced until they came up with Pickens's 
 line, which delivered its fire with deadly effect when 
 they were within fifty yards. This held them in 
 
118 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 check for a short time ; but they began again to ad 
 vance, and forced the militia to give way. The 
 latter, however, were rallied, and formed on the right 
 and left of Howard's position. The enemy still con 
 tinued to push up, and were received in a most gal 
 lant manner by Howard, who stood perfectly firm, 
 
 BATTLE OP THE COWPEN8. 
 
 and a terrible contest ensued. Tarleton was here 
 obliged to bring up his reserve, the presence of 
 which gave new spirits to his troops. 
 
 Howard, in giving an order for the protection of 
 his right flank, was misunderstood ; and confusion 
 was thus caused, when the line commenced breaking. 
 Washington, on the left, after the giving way of the 
 first line, gallantly charged the enemy's cavalry, who 
 were coming down upon them, and was of the great- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. H9 
 
 est assistance in protecting Pickens while his com 
 mand was rallied. As Howard's line was falling 
 back, that officer received a message from Washing 
 ton, desiring him to fire and he would at the same 
 moment charge. Morgan now gave the word of 
 command, when the troops faced about, fired, 
 charged, and the enemy was overcome in front. 
 Washington was still engaged on the left with the 
 artillery and a portion of the cavalry opposed to him. 
 Howard's right was now menaced by the 71st, and 
 a portion of the cavalry advanced to the support of 
 that regiment. Morgan sent one company to the 
 support of Washington, and ordered the right bat 
 talion to fall upon the 71st, while three companies 
 held secure the prisoners who had already been, 
 taken. 
 
 These dispositions had the desired effect, and, after 
 severe fighting, the entire British army was over 
 come, and Tarleton left the field, carrying with him 
 a few dragoons, and was for some distance pursued 
 by Washington. Towards the close of the engage 
 ment, Washington, while charging, wellnigh lost 
 his life. Being far in advance of his command, and 
 before he was aware of his dangerous position, he 
 was surrounded by a number of the enemy, and, but 
 for the timely intervention of some of his men, 
 must have been killed. The loss of the British in 
 this battle may be stated as follows : killed, 60 ; 
 wounded, 124; prisoners, 600: besides which, there 
 fell into the hands of Morgan one hundred dragoon- 
 horses, two four-pounder field-pieces, eight hundred 
 muskets, thirty-five baggage- wagons, and two stand 
 of colors. On the other hand, our army lost 11 
 
120 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 killed and 61 wounded. Thus, in fifty minutes, did 
 800 soldiers, many of them raw, overcome 1000 
 thoroughly-disciplined British troops, permitting but 
 a handful to escape. 
 
 It may be readily supposed that so complete a vic 
 tory had a great effect on the spirits of the army. 
 Congress passed resolutions highly complimentary to 
 the officers engaged, and voted medals to Morgan, 
 Howard, and Washington, with swords to Pickens 
 and Triplet. General Washington issued an " order" 
 to the army in which he accorded great praise to the 
 victors. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 121 
 
 COLONEL LEE. 
 
 BATTLE OF GUILFOED COURT-HOUSE. 
 
 ALMOST immediately after the battle of the Cow- 
 pens, General Morgan effected a junction with Gene 
 ral Greene, then in command of the Southern De 
 partment, and who deemed it necessary for the time 
 to avoid an action with Cornwallis. Requiring a 
 corps of light troops to act as a covering-party during 
 his retreat and to hang about and harass the enemy 
 in his movements, General Greene selected for 
 this purpose the troops under Lieutenant-Colonels 
 Howard, "Washington, and Lee, and the* command 
 of this body was given to Colonel 0. H. Williams, 
 of Maryland. 
 
 Its duties, which were of the most arduous nature, 
 were performed in a gallant manner; and on the 
 15th of February the army had posted itself upon 
 
122 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 the .opposite side of the river Dan. Here General 
 Greene remained until he received reinforcements 
 and completed his arrangements, when he recrossed 
 the Dan and took up the line of march for Guilford 
 Court-House, South Carolina, where he arrived on 
 the 15th of March. 
 
 The enemy being now close at hand, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Lee was thrown forward to feel his move 
 ments, when he engaged a detachment and secured 
 a few prisoners; but upon advancing farther he 
 found them in too great numbers, and was obliged 
 to retire. 
 
 Greene made disposition of his troops in the fol 
 lowing order. The first line was composed of North 
 Carolina militia, the right under General Eaton and 
 the left under General Butler, with two pieces of 
 artillery under Captain Singleton. The right flank 
 was supported by Kirkwood's Delawareans, Lynch's 
 riflemen, and the cavalry, all under Lieutenant-Colo 
 nel Washington ; the left, in like manner, by Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel Campbell's riflemen and the infantry 
 of the legion, all under Lieutenant-Colonel Lee. 
 The second line, which was formed three hundred 
 yards in the rear of the first, consisted of two brigades 
 of Virginia militia, the right under General Lawson 
 and the left under General Stevens. The third, 
 four hundred yards in reserve, was formed upon the 
 brow of the hill near the court-house. The right 
 of this line was composed of Hawes's and Green's 
 Virginia regiments, under General Huger, the left 
 of the 1st and 2d Maryland regiments, the former 
 under Gunby, the latter under Ford; the whole 
 commanded by Colonel Williams. In the centre 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 123 
 
 of the last line was placed the remainder of the 
 artillery. 
 
 Captain Singleton commenced his fire, which was 
 returned by the enemy, who had formed their line 
 of battle, the right wing under General Leslie and 
 the left under Lieutenant-Colonel Webster, with .the 
 artillery in the centre under Lieutenant McLeod. 
 The first battalion of the guards, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Norton, served as a support for the right; and 
 the second, with one company of grenadiers, under 
 General O'Hara, for the left wing. Tarleton's dra 
 goons were held in reserve. The British commander, 
 having niade all his dispositions, advanced, fired one 
 round, arid charged bayonets. Our militia, having 
 given a few shots while the enemy was at a distance, 
 were seized by a panic when they saw him coming 
 down upon them. Many of them threw away their 
 muskets; and the entreaties of Butler, Eaton, and 
 Davie, with the threats of Lee, were of no avail. 
 Almost the entire body fled. The artillery now 
 retired to the left of the Marylanders. At this 
 crisis the enemy considered victory as already 
 within his grasp, and continued to push on, when he 
 was attacked on his right and left by Lee and Wash 
 ington. Cornwallis, perceiving this, threw one regi 
 ment out to engage Lee, and one regiment, together 
 with his light infantry and yagers, to resist Washing 
 ton, filling up the breach thus created by advancing 
 the grenadiers with two battalions of the guards, 
 which had formed the supports to the flanks. Lee and 
 Washington fell back in good order, delivering their 
 fire until they came up with the second line, which 
 gave battle in good earnest. The right flank was 
 
124 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 supported by Washington, who ordered Lynch's 
 riflemen to fall upon the left of Webster, who had to 
 be supported by O'Hara. Here Webster ordered the 
 33d regiment to attack Lynch, and was thereby in 
 a measure relieved. O'Hara charged the Virginia 
 right wing, which was obliged to yield ground. 
 
 Lee, on the left, nobly did his duty, and firmly held 
 his position. When the militia on the right gave 
 way, those on the left fell back, and were not rallied 
 until they came up on the left of the third line. 
 Campbell's riflemen and Lee's legion stood perfectly 
 firm, and continued the contest against one regiment, 
 one battalion, and a body of infantry and riflemen. 
 The American reserve, with the artillery, posted in a 
 most favorable position, was fresh and ready for the 
 word of command. Webster, having overcome the 
 Americans of the second line in his front, advanced 
 upon the third, and was received by Gunby's Maryland 
 regiment with a most galling fire, which made his 
 troops falter. Gunby advanced, charging bayonets, 
 when the enemy was completely routed. 
 
 Leslie, after the left of the Virginia militia gave 
 way, advanced to the support of O'Hara, who had 
 forced the American right wing ; and the combined 
 commands of these generals charged the 2d Maryland 
 regiment of the third line. This regiment, panic- 
 stricken, fled. Gunby, coming up at the time, held 
 the enemy in check, and a deadly, conflict ensued. 
 Gunby having his horse shot under him, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Howard assumed the command. Washing 
 ton, seeing how hot was the battle at this point, 
 pushed forward and charged the enemy; and, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 125 
 
 Howard advancing with his bayonets levelled, the 
 British were completely routed. 
 
 The pursuit was continued for some distance, 
 when Cornwallis came up and determined to gain 
 the victory at any cost. He opened the fire of his 
 artillery alike on friend and foe, causing an indis 
 criminate slaughter of British and Americans. 
 
 The British were rallied at all points ; and Greene, 
 considering it better to preserve the advantages he 
 had gained, withdrew his forces. This was done in 
 good order, and Cornwallis continued the pursuit 
 but a short distance. The loss of the Americans 
 was about 400 in killed and wounded ; that of the 
 British, about 800. The enemy retained the field, 
 but his victory was both empty and disastrous. 
 
 In our own day the same measures as those taken 
 by Cornwallis for the recovery of the lost field of 
 Guilford have been pursued by the Russians in the 
 defence of Sebastopol. The following extract from a 
 description of the battle of Balaklava, October 25, 
 1854, will illustrate our remark: "When there 
 took place an act of atrocity, without parallel in the 
 
 modern warfare of civilized nations They [the 
 
 Bussians] saw their own cavalry mingled with the 
 troopers who had just ridden over them; and, to the 
 eternal disgrace of the Russian name, the miscreants 
 poured a murderous volley of grape and canister on 
 the mass of struggling men and horses, mingling 
 friend and foe in one common ruin."* 
 
 * "The War, from the Landing at Gallipoli to the Death of 
 Lord Raglan." By W. H. Russell, London, 1855. (P. 232.) 
 
126 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL GREENE. 
 
 BATTLE OF HOBKIRK'S HILL. 
 
 ON the morning of the 25th of April, 1781, Gene 
 ral Greene, being then in the neighborhood of Cam- 
 den, South Carolina, received information that the 
 British of the command of Lord Rawdon were ad 
 vancing. His line of battle was soon formed on 
 Hobkirk's Hill, in the following manner. The right, 
 under General Huger, was composed of Hawes's and 
 Campbell's Virginians ; the left, under Colonel Wil 
 liams, consisted of Gunby's and Ford's Marylanders, 
 with two pieces of artillery, under Colonel Harrison, 
 in the centre. The reserve was formed of 250 North 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 127 
 
 Carolina militia, under Colonel Reid, together with 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Washington's cavalry. Kirk- 
 wood's gallant Delawareans, who had been stationed 
 in front, together with Captain Smith's company, 
 skirmished with the enemy for some time, and then 
 fell back in good order as they approached. Raw- 
 don advanced in one narrow line, formed in the fol 
 lowing manner. On the right was placed the 63d 
 regiment, in the centre a body of volunteers, and 
 on the left a corps called the King's American regi 
 ment. The Irish volunteers supported the right 
 and Colonel Robinson the left flank. The British 
 line was scarcely more than one-half the width of 
 the American, and at once General Greene made 
 dispositions to outflank it. For this purpose he 
 ordered Campbell to advance on the right, while 
 Ford made a similar movement on the left, Hawes 
 and Gunby to charge bayonets in the centre, and 
 Washington to fall upon the rear. All seemed to 
 promise well; when Ford, gallantly pushing forward, 
 received a mortal wound, by which some disorder 
 was created ; but on they pressed. But, almost im 
 mediately after, Gunby's regiment recoiled and fell 
 back ; whereby Ford's men were unsupported, and 
 gave way in like manner. Campbell's regiment, 
 engaged on the right, stood firm for some time, and 
 at last began to falter, was rallied, but again re 
 treated. Hawes's Virginia regiment was now the 
 only one to stand; and this body Greene headed in 
 person. But all his efforts to regain the battle were 
 useless : the enemy passed on, and nothing could hold 
 him in check. 
 
 During all of this time Washington had been 
 
128 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 actively employed. After receiving orders to ad 
 vance, he charged and turned the enemy's left 
 flank, and then pushed on, that he might fall upon 
 his rear. He had now secured many prisoners, 
 when he found that the main body of the army 
 was in confusion, and, coming up in time, he saved 
 the artillery by charging the enemy, who were just 
 about capturing it, and brought it off the field. He 
 also served as a protection to the retreating army 
 while Greene drew off his forces. The Americans 
 were halted at a distance of two miles from the 
 field of battle, where Washington retraced his steps 
 in order to gain information relative to the position 
 of the enemy. He succeeded in drawing Major 
 Coffin, the commander of the British cavalry, into 
 ambush, and, charging upon his squadron, it fled 
 before him, losing very heavily in killed, wounded, 
 and prisoners. The day following, the American 
 general fell back to Bigley's Mills, five miles. 
 
 General Greene's loss in the battle of Hobkirk's 
 Hill amounted to 268, and that of the enemy to 
 258. Lord Kawdon, finding that his position had 
 become somewhat critical by the commands of 
 Marion and Sumter being comparatively disen 
 gaged, from the fact of the garrisons of Orangeburg, 
 Fort Motte, and Fort Watson, having given way, 
 determined to evacuate Camden, which he did on 
 the 10th day of May, after destroying a considerable 
 amount of baggage and setting fire to many of the 
 buildings of the town. 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS 
 
 129 
 
 BATTLE OP EUTAW SPRINGS. 
 
 BATTLE OF EUTAW SPKINGS. 
 
 AT an early hour in the morning of the 8th of 
 September, 1781, General Greene advanced upon 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, who was posted in a 
 strong position on the left bank of Eutaw Creek, 
 near the springs of that name, in South Carolina, 
 with a British force amounting to 2300 men. Pre 
 paratory to moving, Greene drew up his men in two 
 lines, in the following manner : The first was formed 
 of North Carolina militia, under Colonel Malmedy, 
 in the centre, with the 4th Carolina militia on the 
 right and left. Of this line the right was com 
 manded by General Marion and the left by General 
 Pickens. The second was composed of Continentals ; 
 the Virginia line, under Colonel Campbell, in the 
 centre, with that of North Carolina, under Lieuten- 
 
 9 
 
130 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ant-Colonel Ashe, on the right, and of Maryland, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard and Major Hard- 
 man, on the left. General Sumner was placed in 
 command of the right wing, and Colonel Williams of 
 the left. With each of these were placed two field- 
 pieces, those of the first under Captain-Lieutenant 
 Gaines, and those of the second under Captain 
 Browne. Lieutenant-Colonel Washington's cavalry 
 and Kirkwood's Delawareans were held in reserve. 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, who was detailed for the 
 support of the right flank, and Colonel Henderson, 
 for a similar duty on the left, constituted, at the same 
 time, the van. By eight o'clock this advance came 
 up with Major Coffin's cavalry, which, after a spirited 
 engagement, was repulsed with a severe loss. 
 
 Upon Stewart's. seeing the first intimation of the 
 approach of the Americans, he formed his army in 
 one line, as follows. On the right was placed the 
 3d regiment; the centre was held by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Cruger, with a miscellaneous command ; and 
 the left was composed of the 63d and 64th regi 
 ments. The right wing was supported by Major 
 Majoribanks's light infantry, while Major Coffin, with 
 his dragoons, supported the left. At intervals in 
 the line were placed the pieces of artillery. The 
 reserve of infantry was posted at the rear of the left 
 flank. Lee, upon coming up with the main body of 
 the enemy, who were provided with artillery, sent 
 to Greene for support, when Colonel Williams ar 
 rived, with Gaines's field-pieces, and the British van 
 soon gave way. The American line came on, and 
 Lee and Henderson took their proper positions, the 
 former as a support to the right and the latter to 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 131 
 
 the left flank. The battle now became general. The 
 63d regiment was opposed by the infantry of the 
 legion on the right, and Majoribanks's light infantry 
 was handsomely engaged by Henderson on the left. 
 Our militia in the centre held up admirably against 
 the combined attacks of a portion of Cruger's com. 
 mand, together with the entire 64th, in all, twice 
 their number. It was not until they had fired seven 
 teen rounds that they retired from the battle, having 
 covered themselves with glory. The invincible spirit 
 shown by these men was in a measure owing to 
 the confidence in their leaders, Marion and Pickens. 
 It has already been seen how the militia were ral 
 lied by General Pickens a few months before, ^at 
 the battle of the Cowpens. That was the first in 
 stance on record during the war of this description 
 of force being brought to bear after having once 
 given way. Sumner, with a portion of the Conti 
 nentals, was immediately ordered up to take the 
 place of the militia between Lee and Henderson, 
 who had continued to hold their positions on the 
 ri^ht and left. Colonel Stewart, upon seeing the 
 advance of Sumner, at once ordered his reserve to 
 take post on the left of the position. Henderson 
 was now exposed to a most galling fire; but his troops 
 stood it manfully. Here Henderson was himself 
 wounded, which circumstance created some contu 
 sion in the ranks; but Colonel Wade Hampton, as 
 suming command, restored confidence. Sum 
 maintained his ground for some time, ^*&* 
 ins; but, the enemy having reinforced their line by 
 camng up their reserve, he was obliged to give way 
 before them, when they came on pellmell. Greene 
 
132 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 instantly ordered up the Marylanders, under Wil 
 liams, and the Virginians, under Campbell, to charge 
 upon this mass of confusion ; Lee at the same time 
 directed Major Kudolph to turn the enemy's left 
 flank, which order was handsomely, and promptly 
 executed, and the different regiments of the British 
 in front fell back before the bayonets of Virginia 
 and Maryland. There was one alone that stood 
 firm and undismayed. This was the 3d. But resist 
 ance was vain : it began to falter and then to retreat. 
 A vigorous pursuit was now kept up on the part of 
 the conquering Americans. 
 
 By making a charge upon the right, as these 
 movements were going forward, Washington had 
 materially contributed to this happy result; but 
 Majoribanks had continued to hold his strong posi 
 tion, when Washington was directed, with the aid 
 of Hampton and Kirkwood, to dislodge him. The 
 thicket of black-jack through which it was necessary 
 to pass before reaching Majoribanks, in the direction 
 Washington was now taking, was found entirely im 
 penetrable. Majoribanks lay with his right almost 
 resting upon the creek ; and Washington, finding an 
 open space between the enemy's flank and the 
 stream, gave the order, "by sections wheel to the 
 left," that he might get into position to pass through 
 this space and come at his enemy. This necessarily 
 placed his officers between their own troops and 
 those of the British; and Majoribanks now poured 
 in a terrible fire, which mowed down both officers 
 and men. Washington was at this instant unhorsed, 
 and, while disengaging himself, was taken prisoner. 
 Hampton headed the cavalry, and attempted to 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 133 
 
 charge, but was repulsed, although the Delawareans 
 stood firm. 
 
 Notwithstanding his success, it was necessary for 
 Majoribanks to fall back with the line of the army, 
 a portion of whom had taken up their position in a 
 brick house in the rear. Greene now attempted to 
 dislodge these soldiers; but it was found impossible, 
 with his light field-pieces, to make an impression 
 upon the walls. 
 
 The American ranks at this point became dis 
 ordered by many of the soldiers entering the enemy's 
 camp and seizing upon whatever they could find to 
 eat or drink. Major Coffin charged them, but was 
 repulsed by Hampton, who in turn was obliged to 
 yield to Majoribanks. 
 
 Greene now determined upon withdrawing his 
 forces to the nearest point where water was to be 
 had, and set to work making arrangements for a 
 renewal of the attack in the course of a day or two. 
 The American loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, 
 was 550, and that of the enemy 1100, including 500 
 prisoners in the hands of General Greene. 
 
 On the following night the enemy retreated, after 
 destroying a very considerable portion of their stores 
 and leaving their wounded on the field. In that re 
 treat they were harassed by Marion and Lee, who 
 took a number of prisoners. 
 
134 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 LORD CORRWALLI9. 
 
 SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 
 
 THE result of the masterly operations of General 
 Greene, aided by the partisan warfare of Marion, 
 Sumter, and Pickens, in the South, was to drive 
 Cornwallis into Virginia; and his whole force was 
 concentrated at York town, where, with the design 
 of establishing a strong place of arms, he was 
 engaged in erecting fortifications tenable against any 
 force which was likely to be brought against them. - 
 
 His situation there, the arrival of a reinforcement 
 of 3000 Germans from Europe at New York, the 
 superior strength, of that garrison, the failure of the 
 States in filling up their battalions and embodying 
 their militia, and especially recent intelligence from 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 135 
 
 Count De Grasse that his destination was fixed for 
 the Chesapeake, concurred, about the middle of August, 
 to make a total change in the plan of the campaign. 
 
 The appearance of an intention to attack New 
 York was nevertheless kept up. While 'this decep 
 tion was played off, the allied army crossed the 
 North Kiver, August 24, and passed on, by the 
 way of Philadelphia, through the intermediate coun 
 try, to Yorktown. An attempt to reduce the Bri 
 tish force in Virginia promised success with more 
 expedition, and to secure an object of nearly equal 
 importance to the reduction of New York. 
 
 While the attack of New York was in serious con 
 templation, a letter from General Washington, de 
 tailing the particulars of the intended operations of 
 the campaign, being intercepted, fell into the hands 
 of Sir Henry Clinton. After the plan was changed, 
 the royal commander was so much influenced by the 
 intelligence contained in the intercepted letter that 
 he believed every movement towards Virginia to be 
 a feint calculated to draw off his attention from the 
 defence of New York. Under the influence of this 
 opinion, he bent his whole force to strengthen that 
 post, and suffered the French and American armies 
 to pass him without any molestation. When the 
 best opportunity of striking at them had elapsed, 
 then, for the first time, he was brought to believe 
 that the allies had fixed on Virginia for the theatre 
 of their combined operations. As truth may be 
 made to answer the purposes of deception, so no 
 feint of attacking New York could have been more 
 successful than the real intention. 
 
 In the latter end of August, 1781, the American 
 
136 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 army began their march to Virginia from the neigh 
 borhood of New York. Washington had advanced 
 as far as Chester before he received information of 
 the arrival of De Grasse. The French troops marched 
 at the same time and for the same place. In the 
 course of this summer they passed through all the 
 extensive settlements which lie between Newport 
 
 BIB HEIfEY CLINTON. 
 
 and Yorktown. It seldom, if ever, happened be 
 fore, that an army led through a foreign country 
 at so great a distance from their own, among a 
 people of different principles, customs, language, and 
 religion, behaved with so much regularity. In their 
 march to Yorktown they had to pass through five 
 hundred miles of a country abounding in fruit, and 
 at a time when the most delicious productions of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 137 
 
 nature, growing on and near the public highways, 
 presented both opportunity and temptation to gratify 
 their appetites. Yet, so complete was their disci 
 pline, that, in this long march, scarce an instance 
 could be produced of a peach or an apple being 
 taken without the consent of the inhabitants, 
 Washington and Rochambeau reached Williamsburg 
 on the 14th of September. They, with Generals 
 Chastellux, Du Portail, and Knox, visited Count De 
 Grasse on board his ship, the Ville de Paris, and 
 agreed on a plan of operations. 
 
 The count afterwards wrote to Washington that, 
 in case a British fleet appeared, "he conceived he 
 ought to go out and meet them at sea, instead of 
 risking an engagement in a confined situation." 
 This 'alarmed Washington. He sent the Marquis 
 de la Fayette, with a letter, to dissuade him from 
 the dangerous measure. This letter and the per 
 suasions of the marquis had the desired effect. 
 
 The combined forces proceeded on their way to 
 Yorktown, partly by land and partly down the 
 Chesapeake. The whole, together with a body of 
 Virginia militia under the command of 
 Nelson, amounting in the aggregate to 12 000 men, 
 rendezvoused at Williamsburg on the 25th of Sep 
 tember, and, in five days afterwards, moved down 
 to the investiture of Yorktown. The French fleet 
 at the same time moved to the mouth of York River 
 and took a position calculated to prevent Lor< 
 Cornwall* either from retreating or receiving sue 
 by water. Previously to the march from Williams 
 burg to Yorktown, Washington I^^ 
 orders, as follows :- If the enemy should be 
 
138 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 to meet the army on its march, the general particu 
 larly enjoins the troops to place their principal re 
 liance on the bayonet, that they may prove the 
 vanity of the boast which the British make of their 
 peculiar prowess in deciding battles with that 
 weapon." 
 
 The combined army halted in the evening, about 
 two miles from Yorktown, and lay on their arms all 
 night. On the next day, Colonel Scammell, an 
 officer of uncommon merit and of the most amiable 
 manners, in approaching the outer works of the 
 British was mortally wounded and taken prisoner. 
 About this time Cornwallis received a letter from 
 Sir Henry Clinton, announcing the arrival of Admiral 
 Digby, with three ships-of-the-line from Europe, and 
 the determination of the general and flag-officers 
 in New York to embark 5000 men in a fleet, which 
 would probably sail on the 5th of October ; that this 
 fleet consisted of twenty-three sail-of-the-line ; and 
 that joint exertions of the navy and army would be 
 made for his relief. On the night after the receipt 
 of this intelligence, Cornwallis quitted his outward 
 position and retired to one more inward. 
 
 The works erected for the security of Yorktown 
 on the right were redoubts and batteries, with a line 
 of stockade in the rear. A marshy ravine lay in 
 front of the right, over which was placed a large re 
 doubt. The morass extended along the centre, 
 which was defended by a line of stockade and by 
 batteries. On the left of the centre was a horn- 
 work, with a ditch, a row of fraise, and an abatis. 
 Two redoubts were advanced before the left. The 
 combined forces advanced and took possession of the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 139 
 
 
 
 ground from which the British had retired. About 
 this time the legion cavalry and mounted infantry 
 passed over the river to Gloucester. General De 
 Choisy invested the British post on that side so fully 
 as to cut off all communication between it and the 
 country. In the mean time the royal army was 
 straining every nerve to strengthen their works; 
 and their artillery was constantly employed in im 
 peding the operations of the combined army. On 
 the 9th and 10th of October the French and Ame 
 ricans opened their batteries. They kept up a brisk 
 and well-directed fire from heavy cannon, mortars, 
 and howitzers. The shells of the besiegers reached 
 the ships in the harbor. The Charon, of forty-four 
 guns, and a transport-ship, were burned. On the 
 10th, a messenger arrived with a despatch from Sir 
 Henry Clinton to Cornwallis, dated on the 30th of 
 September, which stated various circumstances 
 tending to lessen the probability of relief being 
 afforded by a direct movement from New York. 
 
 The besiegers commenced their second parallel, 
 October 11, two hundred yards from the works of 
 the besieged. Two redoubts advanced on the left 
 of the British greatly impeded the progress of the 
 combined armies. It was therefore proposed to 
 carry them by storm. To excite a spirit of emula 
 tion, the reduction of the one was committed to the 
 French, of the other to the Americans. The latter, 
 led by Colonels Hamilton and Laurens, marched to 
 the assault with unloaded muskets. Having passed 
 the abatis and palisades, they attacked on all sides 
 and carried the redoubt, in a few minutes, with the 
 loss of 9 killed and 33 wounded. " Incapable of 
 
140 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 imitating examples of barbarity, and forgetting re 
 cent provocations, they spared every man who ceased 
 to resist." Eight of the British were killed, 120 
 captured, and a few escaped. The French were 
 equally successful on their part. They carried the 
 redoubt assigned to them with rapidity ; but, being 
 opposed by a greater number of men, their loss 
 amounted to nearly 100 men. These two redoubts 
 were included in the second parallel, and facilitated 
 the subsequent operations of the besiegers. 
 
 The British could not with propriety risk repeated 
 sallies. One was projected at this time, October 16, 
 with 400 men, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Abercrombie. He proceeded so far as to force two 
 redoubts and to spike eleven pieces of cannon. 
 Though the officers and soldiers displayed great 
 bravery in this enterprise, yet their success pro 
 duced no essential advantage. The cannon were 
 soon unspiked and rendered fit for service. 
 
 By this time the batteries of the besiegers were 
 covered with nearly a hundred pieces of heavy ord 
 nance, and the works of the besieged were so 
 damaged that they could scarcely show a single 
 gun. Lord Cornwallis had now no hope left but in 
 offering terms of capitulation or attempting an 
 escape. He determined on the latter. Boats were 
 prepared to receive the troops in the night, and to 
 transport them to Gloucester Point. After one 
 whole embarkation had crossed, a violent storm of 
 wind and rain dispersed the boats and frustrated 
 the whole scheme. The royal army, thus weakened 
 by division, was exposed to increased danger. 
 
 Orders were sent to those who had passed to re- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 141 
 
 cross the river to Yorktown. With the failure of 
 this scheme the last hope of the British army ex- 
 pired. Longer resistance could answer no good 
 purpose, and might occasion the loss of many 
 valuable lives. Lord Cornwallis, therefore, wrote 
 
 a 
 
 SURRENDER OF COR N WAt-LIS. 
 
 letter to Washington, requesting a cessation of arms 
 for twenty-four hours and that commissioners might 
 be appointed to digest articles of capitulation. While 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, the officer employed by 
 Washington on this occasion, was discussing these 
 articles, his father was closely confined in the Tower 
 of London, of which Cornwallis was constable. By 
 
142 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 this singular combination of circumstances, his lord 
 ship became a prisoner through the agency of the 
 son of his own prisoner. 
 
 The posts of York and Gloucester were surren 
 dered on the 19th of October by a capitulation the 
 principal articles of which were as follows : The 
 troops to be prisoners of war to Congress and the 
 naval force to France ; the officers to retain their side- 
 arms and private property of every kind ; but all 
 property, obviously belonging to inhabitants of the 
 United States, to be subject to be reclaimed; the 
 soldiers to be kept in Virginia, Maryland, and Penn 
 sylvania, and to be supplied with the same rations 
 as were allowed to soldiers in the service of Con 
 gress ; a proportion of the officers to march into the 
 country with the prisoners ; the rest to be allowed to 
 proceed on parole to Europe, to New York, or to 
 any other American maritime post in possession of 
 the British. The honor of marching out with colors 
 flying, which had been refused to General Lincoln 
 on his giving up Charleston, was now refused to 
 Cornwallis ; and General Lincoln was appointed to 
 receive the. submission of the royal army at York- 
 town precisely in the same way in which his own had 
 been conducted about eighteen months before. Corn 
 wallis endeavored to obtain permission for the British 
 and German troops to return to their respective 
 countries, under no other restrictions than an en 
 gagement not to serve against France or America. 
 He also tried to obtain an indemnity for those of 
 the inhabitants who had joined him; but he was 
 obliged to recede from the former, and also to con 
 sent that the loyalists in his camp should be given 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 143 
 
 up to the unconditional mercy of their countrymen. 
 His lordship, nevertheless, obtained permission for 
 the Bonetta sloop-of-war to pass unexamined to 
 New York. This gave an opportunity of screening 
 such of them as were most obnoxious to the Ame 
 ricans. 
 
 The regular troops of France and America em 
 ployed in this siege consisted of about 7000 of the 
 former and 5500 of the latter ; and they were as 
 sisted by about 4000 militia. On the part of the 
 combined arrny about 300 were killed or wounded ; 
 on the part of the British about 500 ; and 70 were 
 taken in the two redoubts, which had been carried 
 by assault. The troops of every kind that surren 
 dered prisoners of war exceeded 7000 men ; but so 
 great was the number of sick and wounded that 
 there were only 3800 capable of bearing arms. ^ 
 
 The French and American engineers and artillery 
 merited and received the highest applause. Briga 
 diers-General Du Portail and Knox were both pro 
 moted to the rank of major-generals, on account of 
 their meritorious services. Lieutenant-Colpnel Gou- 
 vion and Captain Kochefontaine, of the corps of en 
 gineers, respectively received brevets, the former to 
 the rank of colonel and the latter to the rank o 
 
 major. -P. 
 
 Congress honored Washington, Rochambeau, 1 
 Grasse, and the officers of the different corps and 
 the men under them, with thanks for their services 
 in the capture of Cornwall*. The whole project 
 was conceived with profound wisdom, and the 
 dents of it had been combined with singular pro 
 priety It is not, therefore, wonderful that from the 
 
144 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 remarkable coincidence in all its parts it was crowned 
 with unvaried success. 
 
 A British fleet and an army of 7000 men, destined 
 for the relief of Cornwallis, arrived off the Chesa 
 peake on the 24th of October ; but, on receiving 
 advice of his lordship's surrender, they returned to 
 Sandy Hook and New York. 
 
 Such was the fate of that general from whose 
 gallantry and previous successes the speedy con 
 quest of the Southern States had been so confidently 
 expected. No event during the war bade fairer for 
 oversetting the independence of at least a part of 
 the confederacy than his complete victory near Cain- 
 den ; but, by the consequences of that action, his 
 lordship became the occasion of rendering that a 
 revolution which, from his previous success, was in 
 danger of terminating as a rebellion. The loss of 
 his army may be considered as the closing scene of 
 the Continental war in North America. 
 
KAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 145 
 
 CAPTUKE OF THE GENERAL MONK. 
 
 THE Hyder Ally, of sixteen guns, was fitted out 
 by the State authorities of Pennsylvania, to repress 
 the enemy's privateers, with which Delaware River 
 abounded. She was commanded by Lieutenant 
 Joshua Barney. 
 
 On the 8th of April, 1782, he entered upon his 
 destined service, which was to convoy a fleet of mer 
 chantmen to the capes, and protect them from the 
 "refugee boats" with which the river abounded. 
 While waiting at the capes, he was assailed by two 
 ships and a brig belonging to the enemy, who, find 
 ing him unsupported, commenced a furious attack, 
 
 10 
 
146 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 which he sustained with great coolness while his 
 convoy were safely retiring up the river. The brig 
 came up first, and gave him a broadside as she was 
 passing, but kept her course up the bay after the 
 convoy, while Barney waited for the ship, which 
 was coming up rapidly. Having approached within 
 pistol-shot, the Hyder Ally poured a broadside into 
 her, which somewhat staggered the enemy, who 
 thought Barney would "strike his colors." The 
 enemy seemed disposed to board, and was ranging 
 alongside of him, when he ordered the quarter 
 master, in a loud voice, to "port the helm!" hav 
 ing previously given him secret instructions to put 
 the helrn hard a-starboard, which latter order was 
 obeyed. By this manoeuvre the enemy's jib-boom 
 caught in the forerigging of the Hyder Ally, thus 
 giving her a raking position, which Captain Barney 
 knew how to improve. The firing on both sides 
 was tremendous : an idea of it may be obtained from 
 the fact that more than twenty broadsides were 
 fired in twenty-six minutes ! In the mizzenstaysail 
 of the General Monk there were afterwards counted 
 three hundred and sixty-five shot-holes. During 
 the whole of this short but glorious battle, Captain 
 Barney was stationed upon the quarter-deck, ex 
 posed to the fire of the enemy's musketry, which 
 was excessively annoying and began to be felt by 
 the men, insomuch that Captain Barney ordered a 
 body of riflemen whom he had on board to direct 
 their fire into the enemy's top, which immediately 
 had the desired effect. 
 
 The capture of the General Monk was one of the 
 most brilliant achievements recorded in naval his- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 147 
 
 tory. The General Monk mounted eighteen guns 
 and had 136 men, and lost 20 men killed and 33 
 wounded. The Hyder Ally had sixteen guns and 
 110 men and lost 4 men killed, and 11 wounded. 
 
 All the officers of the General Monk were wound 
 ed except one. The captain himself was severely 
 wounded. The brig which accompanied the enemy 
 ran ashore to avoid capture. Captain Barney now 
 followed his convoy up to Philadelphia. After a 
 short visit to his family, he returned to his com 
 mand, where he soon captured the "Hook-'em- 
 snivy," a refugee schooner which had done a great 
 deal of mischief on the Delaware. 
 
 These captures struck such terror among the pri 
 vateers that they began to disperse to more pro 
 fitable grounds. In consequence of these glorious 
 actions, Captain Barney was presented with a gold- 
 hilted sword, in the name of the State. 
 
148 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 SIGNING OP THE TREATY OP PAKIS. 
 
 CLOSE OF THE KEVOLUTIONAKY WAB. 
 
 TOWARDS the close of the year 1782, the South 
 Carolina a frigate hired, by the State whose name 
 she bore, of the Duke of Luxembourg was captured 
 by a force of three large armed ships, purposely sent 
 to watch her motions. This vessel, during the years 
 1781 and '82, had been unusually fortunate in her 
 cruises in the narrow seas and the West Indies. 
 The American privateers were also very successful ; 
 and the English actually fitted out privateers at the 
 close of the war for the express purpose of recap 
 turing American prizes. 
 
 The English Admiral Kodney also succeeded in 
 capturing the French fleet under the Count de 
 Grasse, who desperately defended his vessel, the 
 Ville de Paris, until himself and two others were 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 149 
 
 the only men left standing on the upper deck, when 
 he consented to strike. This vessel had been pre 
 sented to the King of France, at the time of the 
 Old French War, by the citizens of Paris, and had 
 cost four millions of livres. It was the pride of the 
 French navy. The English also captured thirty- 
 six chests of money and a large train of artillery, 
 which was to have been used in an attack on Ja 
 maica. All the settlements on the shores of Hud 
 son's Bay were destroyed by the French Admiral 
 La Pe rouse, who took and destroyed property to the 
 amount of five hundred thousand pounds. 
 
 In December, 1782, soon after going into winter 
 quarters, the officers of the army sent a deputation 
 to Congress, with a petition and memorial upon the 
 subject of their arrearages of pay. In October, 1780, 
 Congress had passed an act, granting the officers 
 half-pay for life, after the close of the war ; but nine 
 States had omitted to ratify this grant, and it was 
 in danger of becoming a dead letter. The officers, 
 many of whom had exhausted their private fortunes 
 in the service of the country, petitioned that the 
 half-pay for life should be changed to full pay for 
 five years, and that the arrearages should be paid. 
 This reasonable request was not immediately com- 
 plied with by Congress, and indications were appa 
 rent, in the camp at Newburg, of an approaching 
 appeal to the fears of Congress. 
 
 Fortunately, Washington was present; and, 
 though he knew the justice of their claims, he 
 was aware that duty to the country required the 
 prevention of rash and disorderly measures for re 
 dress. He assembled them together, and calmly 
 
150 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 addressed them in his usual dispassionate and sen 
 sible manner ; and they were induced to wait still 
 longer for the compliance of Congress with their 
 demands. Washington then addressed a letter to 
 Congress, in which he so strongly enforced the 
 claims of the officers that their request was granted. 
 
 Soon after, a letter from La Fayette announced a 
 general peace ; and early in April, an authentic copy 
 of the declaration of the exchange of the preliminary 
 articles between France and England being received, 
 peace was proclaimed to the army, by the commander- 
 in-chief, on the 19th of that month. 
 
 This, the reader will recollect, was precisely eight 
 years from the shedding of the first blood in the 
 Revolution at Lexington. Large arrears were due 
 to the army, and many apprehended that an attempt 
 to disband them without pay would occasion a re 
 volt. The treasury was not only empty, but the 
 Superintendent of Finances had already expended 
 more than his receipts justified; and, before he could 
 issue his notes for the payment of three months' 
 wages, Congress had granted unlimited furloughs to 
 the officers and privates engaged for the war. Much 
 distress was felt by the officers at the prospect of 
 being turned penniless on the world ; but Washing 
 ton succeeded in pacifying them. In October, a 
 proclamation was issued by Congress, declaring that 
 all soldiers who had been engaged during the war 
 were to be discharged on the 3d of December. Whilst 
 the old troops endeavored to submit patiently to 
 the will of Congress, several of the new levies pro 
 ceeded to express, in an open and decided manner, 
 their discontent. About eighty of this class, sta- 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 151 
 
 tioned at Lancaster, marched in a body to Philadel 
 phia, and, after being joined by several others, they 
 took up their march to the State-House, where Con- 
 t gress and the Executive Council were assembled, and, 
 ' having posted sentinels with fixed bayonets at the 
 doors, they sent in a message, threatening vengeance 
 if their requisitions were not complied with in twenty 
 minutes. 
 
 After being confined three hours, the members of 
 Congress separated, to reassemble at Princeton, and 
 Washington immediately sent a strong detachment 
 to Philadelphia ; but the tumult had subsided before 
 it reached the city. New York was soon after eva 
 cuated, and the Americans took possession of it No 
 vember 25. Washington entered it on horseback, 
 attended by Governor Clinton and a large procession 
 of civil and military officers and citizens. On the 
 4th of December he took leave of the officers at 
 Francis's Tavern, after which they escorted him to 
 White Hall, where a barge carried him to Powles 
 Hook. He proceeded to Annapolis, where Congress 
 was in session, where, in public audience, he re 
 signed his commission as commander-in-chief of the 
 American armies on the 23d of December, after which 
 he retired to his private seat at Mount Vernon. 
 
 Meanwhile, the different courts of Europe had ac 
 knowledged the independence of the United States, 
 Sweden and Denmark in February, Spain in March, 
 and Russia in July. The final treaty of peace had 
 been signed at Paris on the 3d day of September, 
 1783, by David Hartley, on the part of George III., 
 and by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John 
 Jay, on the part of the United States. 
 
152 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 By the first article of this treaty his Britannic 
 majesty acknowledges the United States to be free, 
 sovereign, and independent states, that he treats 
 with them as such, and relinquishes, for himself and 
 his heirs, all claims to the government, propriety, 
 and territorial rights of the same. The second 
 article defines the boundaries of the States ; and the 
 third secures to them the right of fishing on the 
 Grand Bank and other banks of Newfoundland, and 
 other places in the possession of the British, formerly 
 used by the Americans for fishing-grounds. The 
 fourth article secures the payment to creditors the 
 debts heretofore contracted; whilst the fifth recom 
 mends to Congress the restitution of estates formerly 
 belonging to British subjects, which had been con 
 fiscated. The sixth article prohibits any future 
 confiscation. The seventh provides for firm and 
 perpetual peace ; the eighth secures the navigation 
 of the Mississippi to both Englishmen and Ameri 
 cans. The ninth orders all conquests made after 
 the treaty of peace to be restored ; the tenth pro 
 vides for the ratification of the treaty within six 
 months from the signing thereof. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 WAYNE'S VICTORY. 
 
 GENERAL WAYNE'S VICTORY OVER THE 
 INDIANS. 
 
 DURING Washington's administration the Indians 
 on the northwestern border were hostile. In Octo 
 ber, 1790, General Hornier, being sent against them 
 with a small force, was defeated. In 1791, General 
 St. Clair, with a force of 2000 men, suffered the same 
 disaster. 
 
 General St. Clair having resigned his office of 
 Governor of the Northwestern Territory, he was 
 succeeded by General Wayne. In August, 1794, 
 he marched, at the head of 3000 men, to attack the 
 Indians on the Miami, and on the 18th of that 
 month arrived at the rapids and made an inef 
 fectual effort to negotiate a peace with the Indians ; 
 but they, to the number of 2000. being advantage- 
 
154 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ously posted behind a thick wood and near a British 
 fort, treated the proposition with contempt, and 
 formed their line, stretching from the river towards 
 the west for about two miles. On the morning of 
 the 20th the American army advanced in two co 
 lumns, the first with orders from General Wayne 
 to move forward with trailed arms and rouse the 
 enemy from his covert; and then, and not till then, 
 fire, and press the fugitives so closely that they 
 would find it impossible to reload their guns after 
 the first discharge. On discovering the immense 
 length of the enemy's front, and perceiving their 
 design of turning his left flank, the general ordered 
 the second line to support the first, and the cavalry, 
 under Captain Campbell, to force their way between 
 the Indians and the river and attack them on their 
 left flank; while General Scott, at the head of the 
 mounted volunteers, made a considerable circuit, 
 and attacked them on the right. These orders were 
 executed with such promptitude, and so completely 
 was the enemy's line broken by the first charge of 
 the infantry, that the whole body was soon put to 
 flight; and in less than one hour from the com 
 mencement of the action they were driven more 
 than two miles, through thick woods, and within 
 half a mile of the British fort, where the pursuit 
 terminated. 
 
 The ensuing three days were spent by General 
 Wayne in burning and destroying the houses and 
 the cornfields on the Miami and around the fort, 
 the commandant of which did not interfere in any 
 way with the operations of either army. On the 
 28th he returned to the fort on the Au Glaize; but, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 155 
 
 the hostility of the Indians still continuing, he pro 
 ceeded to lay waste their whole territory, and the 
 next year concluded a treaty with them, by which 
 peace was established on terms as satisfactory and 
 beneficial to the Indians as to the whites, and which, 
 by giving security to the northwestern frontier, soon 
 occasioned an increase in the population of that 
 delightful region. 
 
156 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CAPTURE OF L'INSURGENTE. 
 
 CAPTURE OF 'LTNSURGENTE. 
 
 THE quasi war, as it is called, between this coun 
 try and France, under the Directory, having com 
 menced. Commodore Truxtun, with a squadron 
 under his command, was ordered to protect the 
 commerce of the United States in the West Indies. 
 It was while on this service that his brightest laurels 
 were won, by the capture of two French frigates, 
 each of superior force to his own ship. 
 
 On the 9th of February, the Constellation, being 
 alone cruising on her prescribed ground, the island 
 of Nevis bearing W. S. W. and distant five leagues, 
 made a large ship on the southern board. The 
 stranger, being approached by the Constellation, 
 showed the American colors, when the private sig 
 nals were shown. The chase being unable to an- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 157 
 
 swer, further disguise was abandoned, and, hoisting 
 the French ensign, he fired a gun to windward by 
 way of challenge, and gallantly awaited the contest. 
 This being the first time since the Revolutionary war 
 that an American ship had encountered an enemy 
 in any manner which promised a contest, the officers 
 and men were eager for the engagement; and the 
 enemy were not inclined to avoid it. The ships near- 
 ed, until the Constellation, after having been thrice 
 hailed, opened a fire upon her antagonist. A fierce 
 cannonade ensued, while the American was drawing 
 ahead. She suffered much in her sails and rigging, 
 and the fore-topmast was nearly cut off by a shot. 
 This was, in some degree, remedied by Mr. David 
 Porter, a midshipman, who being unable to com 
 municate the circumstance to others, himself cut 
 the stoppers and lowered the yard, and thus pre 
 vented the fall of the mast with its rigging. In the 
 mean time, their superior gunnery gave the action a 
 turn in favor of the Americans, who were at last 
 enabled to decide the contest by two or three raking 
 broadsides, after a combat of an hour, when the 
 American wore round and would again have raked 
 her with all their guns, had she not prudently 
 struck. 
 
 The prize was the French frigate L'Insurgente, 
 one of the fastest vessels in the world. She was 
 greatly damaged, and had lost in all 70 men. The 
 Constellation also was much damaged in her rigging, 
 but lost only three men, wounded, one of whom, 
 Mr. James McDonough, had his foot shot off. 
 
 The Insurgente carried forty guns and 409 men; 
 the American vessel thirty-eight guns and 309 men. 
 
158 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 It was half-past three in the afternoon when the 
 Insurgente struck, and Mr. Rodgers, the first lieu 
 tenant of the Constellation, was sent, together with 
 Mr. Porter and eleven men, to take possession and 
 have the prisoners removed ; but, ere this could be 
 effected, the darkness and a rise of wind separated 
 the ships. 
 
 The situation of Rodgers at this period was un 
 pleasant in the extreme. No handcuffs were to be 
 found, and the prisoners seemed disposed to rebel. 
 Fortunately, Eodgers was well calculated to act 
 with decision in such circumstances, and Porter and 
 the men equally prompt in executing his orders'. 
 The prisoners were sent into the lower hold, and 
 a sentinel stationed at each hatchway, with orders 
 to shoot any one who should attempt to come upon 
 deck without orders. Thus he was obliged to spend 
 three days, at the end of which time he arrived 
 at St. Kitts, where the Constellation had already 
 arrived. 
 
 On the 1st of February, 1800, the Constellation 
 came in sight of a strange sail off the coast of Gau- 
 daloupe. Thinking her to be an English merchant 
 man, Truxtun hoisted the English flag, in order 
 to be hailed by her. This was disregarded, and 
 sail made in pursuit, when the stranger was dis 
 covered to be a French man-of-war. The English 
 flag was lowered and all made ready for a desperate 
 struggle. The enemy's ship was ascertained to 
 carry fifty-two guns; but, the vessel being very 
 deep, Truxtun was not discouraged by her superior 
 force, but still gave chase. The wind being light 
 during the afternoon, it was not until evening, at 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 159 
 
 eight o'clock, that they came within speaking-dis 
 tance. The ship then opened a fire upon them, 
 which was returned, and kept up till near one in 
 the morning, when the French ship made all sail 
 to escape. Truxtun ordered to give chase, but was 
 informed that the mainmast had been nearly shot 
 away; and, as it was found impossible to remedy it, 
 the chase was given up. Truxtun bore up for Ja 
 maica, where he arrived in safety. His antagonist, 
 it was ascertained afterwards, arrived at Curacoa 
 in a very disabled condition, and reported a loss 
 of 50 killed and 110 wounded. The loss of the 
 Constellation was 14 killed and 23 wounded, of 
 whom 11 died. 
 
 The Constellation, at this time, carried twenty 
 eighteens on her main-deck, and the quarter-deck 
 was supplied with ten twenty-four-pound carronades. 
 She numbered 310 men. The Vengeance, the 
 French vessel, carried twenty-eight eighteens, six 
 teen twelves, and eight forty-two-pound carronades. 
 There are various statements of her crew, all be 
 tween 400 and 500 men. 
 
 It is certain that but for the loss of her mast 
 the Constellation would have brought the prize 
 into port ; indeed, it is reported that the Vengeance 
 struck three times, but, the Americans continuing 
 their fire, the colors were hoisted again. 
 
 Commodore Truxtun was rewarded for this ex 
 ploit by a promotion to the command of the Presi 
 dent, forty-four guns, and was also presented by 
 Congress with a gold medal. 
 
160 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CAPTAIN DECATUE. 
 
 BURNING OF THE PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 AFTER the declaration of war with Tripoli, whilst 
 cruising off that port, in 1803, the Philadelphia, Cap 
 tain Bainbridge, saw a ship in-shore, sailing westward. 
 The Philadelphia made sail in chase, when the stran 
 ger hoisted Tripolitan colors and stood in-shore. In 
 following her the frigate unfortunately ran on the 
 rocks. Every effort was immediately made to get 
 her off, either by driving her over them or by back 
 ing her off; but all was ineffectual. The bow- 
 anchors were cast away, the water started in the 
 hold, most of the guns thrown overboard, and 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 161 
 
 foremast cut away. TJie ship still remained im 
 movable, and the Tripolitan gunboats now came out 
 to attack her. An unequal combat ensued for five 
 hours, when Bainbridge, finding that he could 
 neither get the vessel off nor defend her from the 
 gunboats, was compelled to haul down his flag. 
 The vessel was soon after boarded by the Tripoli- 
 tans, who commenced a deliberate system of plunder 
 and robbery, which the Americans could not resist. 
 The captain and crew were taken on shore, and the 
 officers were lodged under parole in the house for 
 merly occupied by Mr. Cathcart. Notwithstanding 
 this unfortunate occurrence, Captain Bainbridge 
 rendered his country nearly as efficient service 
 during his captivity, by his valuable suggestions to 
 Commodore Preble, as if he had been in his former 
 command. 
 
 After concluding the treaty with the Emperor of 
 Morocco, Commodore Preble sailed to Gibraltar, and 
 thence sent the New York and John Adams to the 
 United States. On the 12th of November he de 
 clared Tripoli to be in a state of blockade, and on 
 the 24th he received news of the loss of the Phila 
 delphia. This news was confirmed at Malta, on the 
 27th, by a letter from Bainbridge. On the 23d of 
 December, cruising off Tripoli in company with the 
 Enterprise, he captured the Turkish ketch Mastico, 
 which was afterwards called the Intrepid and taken 
 into the service. On the 26th a severe gale of 
 wind caused him to sail to Syracuse, and on the 3d 
 of February, 1804, the Siren and the Intrepid 
 sailed for Tripoli, with orders to burn the Philadel 
 phia. The Intrepid carried four guns and 75 men. 
 
 11 
 
162 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Owing to the heavy gales usual about this season of 
 the year, the 16th had arrived before Decatur was 
 justified in making the attempt. The Siren having 
 taken the best position to cover the retreat of the 
 Intrepid, Decatur entered the harbor at 7 o'clock, 
 P.M., and boarded and took possession of the Phila 
 delphia. At this time all the guns -of the frigate 
 were mounted and charged, and she lay within half- 
 gunshot of the bashaw's castle and his principal 
 battery. Two Tripoli tan cruisers were lying within 
 two cables'-length, on the starboard quarter, and 
 several gunboats within half-gunshot on the star 
 board bow, and all the batteries on shore were 
 opened on the assailants. About 20 of the Tripoli- 
 tans on board of the Philadelphia were killed; a 
 large boatful escaped, many leaped into the water, 
 and one man was wounded and made prisoner. 
 After gaining possession of the frigate, Decatur set 
 fire to the storerooms, gunroom, cockpit, and berth- 
 deck, and he, with his officers and men, remained 
 on board until the flames had issued from the ports 
 of the gundeck, and the hatchways of the spar- 
 deck ; and they did not shove off the Intrepid until 
 the fire had spread to her rigging and tops. This 
 gallant achievement was effected without the loss of 
 a man killed, and but one slightly wounded. 
 
 For his conduct on this occasion, Decatur received 
 from Congress a sword ; he was also promoted to a 
 captaincy ; and the officers and crew of the Intrepid 
 received two months' pay for their gallantry. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 163 
 
 > , BOMBARDMENT OP TRIPOLI. 
 
 BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI. 
 
 ON the 21st of July, 1804, the American squadron 
 was collected off Tripoli. It consisted of the Con 
 stitution, forty-four twenty-four-pounders ; Argus, 
 eighteen twenty-four-pounders; Siren, eighteen 
 eighteen-pounders ; Yixen, v sixteen six-pounders ; 
 Enterprise, fourteen six-pounders ; six-gunboats, 
 carrying each one brass twenty-six-pounder; two 
 bomb-ketches, each carrying a thirteen-inch mortar; 
 and the Scourge, a captured polacre, taken into the 
 service. The whole number of men in the fleet 
 was 1060. The batteries on shore were judiciously 
 constructed, mounted one hundred and fifteen pieces 
 of heavy cannon, and were defended by 25,000 Arabs 
 and Turks; the harbor was protected by nineteen 
 
164 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 gunboats, two galleys, two schooners of eight guns 
 each, and a brig of ten guns. 
 
 The unfavorable weather prevented an attack 
 until the 3d of August, when, says Commodore Preble, 
 in his despatches, "At noon we were between two 
 and three miles from the batteries, which were all 
 manned. At half-past twelve I wore off-shore, and 
 made the signal to come within hail, when I com 
 municated to each of the commanders my intention 
 of attacking the enemy's shipping and batteries. 
 The boats were immediately manned, and prepared 
 to cast oif in two divisions of three each, Captain 
 Somers, Lieutenant James Decatur, and Lieutenant 
 Blake, commanding the three first respectively. 
 Captain Stephen Decatur, Lieutenants Bainbridge 
 and Trippe, the second division." 
 
 The two bombards were commanded by Lieu 
 tenant-Commandant Dent and Lieutenant Eobinson. 
 At half-past one o'clock the squadron stood for the 
 batteries; at two the gunboats were cast off. At 
 half-past two signal for battle, at fifteen minutes 
 before three signal for general action. It was com 
 menced by throwing shells from the bombs into the 
 town. A tremendous fire was immediately opened 
 from the whole of the enemy's guns, and returned 
 by the squadron, while Captain Decatur, in the 
 second division of gunboats, advanced to board the 
 eastern division of the enemy, consisting of nine 
 gunboats. As they advanced, grape and musket- 
 balls were fired, which were soon succeeded by the 
 free use of the pistol, sabre, pike, and tomahawk. 
 Captain Somers was in such a dull sailer that he 
 was unable to second Decatur's attack ; but, bearing 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 165 
 
 down upon the western division of five gunboats, he 
 defeated and drove them on the rocks in a shattered 
 condition. 
 
 Lieutenant Blake was kept to windward during 
 the whole of the action, and on that account many 
 of the enemy's gunboats escaped which might by 
 his aid have been taken. Lieutenant James De- 
 catur, in the remaining vessel of the first division, 
 engaged one of the largest of the enemy's boats, 
 and compelled her to strike her colors ; but, as he 
 was boarding her to take possession, the cowardly 
 captain of the surrendered boat drew a pistol and 
 shot him through the head, by which baseness he 
 was enabled to escape under cover of the other 
 boats. 
 
 Captain Decatur, after having boarded and car 
 ried one of the enemy of superior force, took his 
 prize in tow, bore down and engaged a second, 
 which was also obliged to surrender. The gallant 
 officer narrowly escaped death twice during this 
 action ; once by his own presence of mind, and 
 again by the devotion of one of his crew, who, 
 being wounded in^both hands, received a blow upon 
 his own head which was intended for that of De 
 catur. These two prizes had 33 officers and men 
 killed, 19 badly wounded, and 27 taken prisoners. 
 
 Lieutenant Trippe, in the last of Decatur's divi 
 sion, ran alongside of one of the enemy's large boats, 
 which he attempted to board ; but, his boat falling 
 off too rapidly, himself, Midshipman John D. Hen 
 ley, and nine men only, were enabled to reach the 
 Tripolitan deck. They had before them victory or 
 death, with the fearful odds of 11 to 36. The 
 
166 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Turkish commander defended his vessel with the 
 utmost bravery, and before he was mortally woun 
 ded, by the aid of Henley, Lieutenant Trippe had 
 received eleven wounds from him. The American 
 seamen swept the deck of their enemies, and in a 
 few minutes the colors were hauled down. Four 
 teen of the enemy were killed and 22 made pri 
 soners, seven of which were badly wounded. 
 
 Lieutenant Bainbridge had his lateen-yard shot 
 away before he was enabled to close with the 
 enemy ; but he galled them by a steady and well- 
 directed fire, within musket-shot; indeed, he pursued 
 the enemy until his boat grounded under the bat 
 teries. She was fortunately soon got off. The bomb- 
 vessels kept their station, though covered with the 
 spray of the sea occasioned by the enemy's shot; 
 they were well conducted by Lieutenants Dent and 
 Robinson, who kept up a constant fire from the 
 mortars and threw a great number of shells into 
 the town. 
 
 The gunboats made two ineffectual attempts to 
 recover the prizes; but the American gunboats 
 were too well supported by the shipping, and they 
 were obliged to desist. The fire of the Constitution 
 produced a great effect, both on shore and on the 
 water. Wherever the guns were turned, the 
 enemy's batteries were silenced and the flotilla 
 thrown into disorder. Her grape-shot made great 
 havoc among the men. At half-past four the signal 
 was given for the flotilla to retire from the action, 
 * and in fifteen minutes the light vessels, gunboats, 
 and prizes, were all out of reach of the enemy's shot, 
 and they were taken in tow. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 167 
 
 GENERAL EATOX 
 
 CAPTURE OF DERNE. 
 
 WHILE these operations were in progress on the 
 sea, General Eaton had made a successful campaign 
 on the land, and, at the time the treaty was signed, 
 actually threatened to drive the reigning bashaw 
 from the throne. ' Upon his return to the Mediter 
 ranean he learned that Hamet Bashaw, the exile, 
 was at Alexandria, protected by an Egyptian bey. 
 After spending some time in the Mediterranean, he 
 sailed in the United States brig Argus, Captain Hull, 
 for Alexandria, where he arrived on the 25th of 
 
168 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 November, 1804. On the last day of November he 
 sailed for Kosetta, from Alexandria, where he arrived 
 on the following day. On the 7th of December he 
 reached Cairo, and, in several conferences with the 
 viceroy, that functionary was prevailed upon to 
 grant a letter of amnesty, and permission to pass 
 the Turkish army, which was besieging the Mame 
 lukes, whom the exiled bashaw had joined in the 
 village of Minuet, in Upper Egypt. Despatches 
 were sent to Hamet Bashaw, and Eaton busied him 
 self in the mean time with looking for exiles from 
 Tripoli who would be inclined to join the expedition. 
 From one of them he learned that Joseph Bashaw 
 had circulated the report that his brother had been 
 assassinated. 
 
 After much difficulty in meeting the bashaw, 
 General Eaton prepared to march from Alexandria 
 to Derne, across the Libyan Desert, with 500 men, 
 100 of whom were Christians, recruited in Egypt. 
 
 Leaving Alexandria on the 3d of March, this 
 little army travelled through the desert to Bomba, 
 where it arrived on the 15th of April. During the 
 march, the Arab chiefs who had sided with Hamet 
 Bashaw, and who were but little better than bands 
 of robbers, frequently deserted from the main body 
 on account of the refusal of General Eaton to satisfy 
 their exorbitant demands for money over their stipu 
 lated reward. They generally, however, returned 
 to the encampment within a day or two, hoping 
 perhaps to make up the loss they sustained from 
 General Eaton's firmness by the spoils they expected 
 from their enemies. For fifteen days previously to 
 their arrival at Bomba, they had been destitute of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 169 
 
 bread, subsisting upon rice collected in the line of 
 march. ^ On the 22d the Argus and Hornet ap 
 peared in sight, saw and answered the signals of 
 Eaton, and supplied his army with bread and other 
 provisions. Upon receipt of these, the Arab sheiks 
 found no difficulty in moving forward ; and on the 
 25th of March the army took post on an eminence 
 in the rear of Derne. Several chiefs came out of 
 the town to Hamet Bashaw to convince him of their 
 fealty; and from them they learned that of three 
 factions in the town, one, well armed and in poses- 
 sion of a strong fortification, was in the interest of 
 Hamet. On the 26th, terms of amity were offered 
 the Governor of Derne, by a letter from Eaton, 
 which he simply answered by the words, " My head, 
 or yours." 
 
 On the morning of the 27th the battle was com 
 menced by the Tripolitans firing upon the Argus, 
 Hornet, and Nautilus, which had stood in to second 
 the attack. The Hornet and Nautilus stationed 
 themselves so as to fire upon the batteries, while 
 the Argus advanced until she was able to throw her 
 twenty-four-pound shot into the town. In a little 
 while the batteries were silenced, the Tripolitan 
 cannoneers leaving their guns to join their country 
 men in the attack upon the American part of 
 Hamet's troops. One field-piece only was here 
 worked by the Christians against a battery of the 
 barbarians. This was disabled by the rammer be 
 ing shot away ; and the enemy were manifestly gain 
 ing the advantage, when Eaton resolved to charge 
 with the 50 men under his command. Though the 
 Tripolitans numbered seven to one of their oppo- 
 
170 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 nents, they fled, and their battery was soon sur 
 mounted by the American flag and turned against 
 its late possessors. In this charge Eaton was 
 wounded in the wrist, but Lieutenant O'Bannon 
 gallantly led on the troops. 
 
 This success was soon followed by the capture of 
 the bey's palace, and the town was in possession 
 of the Americans. The bey took refuge in a Mo 
 hammedan sanctuary; he, however, managed to 
 escape to the Turkish force which had marched 
 from Tripoli to the relief of Derne, and which was 
 but fourteen hours' march from that town when the 
 Americans fortunately gained possession of it. This 
 army numbered about 1000 men, exclusive of the 
 fugitives from Derne, and a battle took place be 
 tween it and Harriet's army on the loth of May. 
 They commenced the action by an attack on about 
 100 of Hamet's cavalry, who warmly disputed the 
 ground but were compelled to give way to superior 
 numbers. The enemy succeeded in forcing their 
 way to the bey's palace, when a fire was opened 
 upon them from the batteries, and they retreated. 
 Hamet's forces now came forward and annoyed them, 
 and they also suffered much from the fire of the 
 shipping, to which they became exposed. The 
 enemy lost about 85 in killed and wounded, and 
 the bashaw 12. Several of the Arab chiefs in the 
 enemy's camp were much dissatisfied, and two of 
 them deserted to the army of Hamet Bashaw. From 
 this time until the 10th of June the enemy lay en 
 camped within sight of Derne, frequently making 
 feints of attack and skirmishing with the bashaw's 
 troops. On that day the enemy attempted to drive 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 171 
 
 a party of Hamet's cavalry from a pass they occu 
 pied in the heights near Derne, and^ upon resistance, 
 reinforcements were successively added to both sides. 
 In the end the exiled sovereign gained a decisive 
 victory without any other aid than his own troops 
 afforded. The battle was fought in the Barbary 
 fashion, the Americans and Europeans being but 
 little more than spectators of the fight. The enemy 
 lost about 50 killed and 70 wounded. Hamet had 
 about 60 killed and wounded in all; and, had his 
 men been provided with bayonets, the cavalry of his 
 brother's army would have been severely handled. 
 
 
172 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 !.j!H]:iji!|' 
 
 GEN. W. H. HARRISON. 
 
 BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE. 
 
 IN the autumn of 1811, the murders and other 
 outrages committed by the savages determined the 
 government to adopt measures for the protection of 
 the exposed citizens against further molestation. A 
 gmall force of regulars and militia was assembled 
 at Vincennes, and placed under the command of 
 William Henry Harrison, Esq., Governor of the In 
 diana Territory, with instructions to march to the 
 Prophet's town and demand a restoration of the pro 
 perty carried off by his partisans. He was author 
 ized also to obtain redress by coercive measures, if 
 necessary. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 173 
 
 On the 6th of November Governor Harrison ar 
 rived before the town. Messengers from the Pro 
 phet were sent out to meet him ; and, after an in 
 terview, in which it was mutually agreed that no 
 hostilities should take place before the next morning, 
 when amicable conferences were to be held, the 
 army proceeded to a creek northwest of the village 
 and bivouacked on a bank of dry oak land, consider 
 ably elevated, and situated between two prairies. 
 The infantry, in two columns, occupied the front 
 and rear, separated on the left one hundred and 
 eighty yards, and on the right about half that dis 
 tance. The left flank was covered by two companies 
 of mounted riflemen, containing 150 rank-and-file, 
 commanded by Major-General Wells, of Kentucky, 
 and the right flank by Spencer's troop of mounted 
 riflemen, to the number of 80. The front line was 
 composed of one battalion of the 4th regiment of the 
 United States infantry, under the command of Ma 
 jor Floyd, flanked on the right by two companies of 
 militia and on the left by one. The rear line was 
 formed of another battalion of the 4th United States 
 infantry, under Captain Baen, acting major, flanked 
 by four companies of militia, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Decker. Two troops of dragoons, 60 strong, 
 took post in the rear of the left flank, and another, 
 somewhat stronger, in the rear of the front line. To 
 guard against a night attack, the order of encamp 
 ment was appointed the order of battle ; and each 
 man rested upon his arms. 
 
 One flank was protected by two captain s guards, 
 each of 4 non-commissioned officers and 42 privates; 
 and the other by two subaltern's guards, each of 20 
 
174 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 non-commissioned officers and privates. Just before 
 reveille on the morning of the 7th of November, 
 1811, an attack commenced on the left flank, and 
 the pickets were driven in. The first notice of the 
 approach of the enemy was the usual yells of the 
 savages, within a short distance of the line. They 
 had violated the armistice agreed upon to subsist 
 until the ensuing day; which, it would seem, they 
 had proposed with a view to gain an opportunity of 
 surprising their adversaries in their usual manner. 
 Nothing but the precaution of encamping in order 
 of battle, and the deliberate firmness of the officers 
 in counteracting the effects of a surprise, saved the 
 army from total defeat. The storm first fell upon 
 Captain Barton's regulars and Captain Geiger's 
 mounted riflemen, forming the left angle on the 
 rear line. Some Indians forced themselves through 
 the line and penetrated into the encampment, where 
 they were killed. The companies thus suddenly 
 and severely attacked were reinforced with all pos 
 sible speed. A heavy fire then opened to the left 
 of the front, immediately on the regular companies 
 of Captains Baen, Snelling, and Prescot. A gallant 
 charge by the cavalry, from the rear of the front 
 line, under Major Davies, was ordered for the pur 
 pose of breaking the Indians, who appeared in great 
 force among some trees a few yards distant in front. 
 The major received a mortal wound, and his men 
 were driven back by superior numbers of the enemy. 
 Captain Snelling's company then charged with fixed 
 bayonets, and the enemy were dislodged. The 
 enemy's fire now extended along the left flank, the 
 whole of the front, the right flank, and part of the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 175 
 
 rear line. Upon Spencer's mounted riflemen and 
 the right of Warwick's company it was excessively 
 heavy. Captain Spencer and his first and second 
 lieutenants were killed ; and Captain Warwick fell, 
 mortally wounded. The troops, notwithstanding 
 the fall of their officers, bravely maintained their 
 posts until reinforced. Day approached ; when Ma 
 jor Wells, reconnoitring the position of the enemy 
 
 BATTLE OP TIPPECANOE. 
 
 on the left, charged and broke them. At this favor 
 ing moment, a small detachment from the cavalry 
 dashed furiously upon the retreating Indians and 
 precipitated them into the marsh. Simultaneously 
 with these successful efforts on the left, the enemy 
 were charged on the right by the companies of < 
 tain Cook and Lieutenant Larabie, supported by t 
 
176 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 mounted riflemen, who pursued and killed a num 
 ber of Indians in their flight. Driven now at all 
 points, and pursued as far as the ground would per 
 mit, the Indians dispersed in every direction. They 
 were handled so severely in the end that they were 
 compelled to abandon many of their killed and 
 wounded on the field, which is, with them, evidence 
 of positive defeat. Forty Indians were found dead 
 on the field. Numbers were carried off, some of 
 whom were found the next day in holes contain 
 ing two, three, and four bodies, covered to conceal 
 them from the victorious army. The general esti 
 mated their loss, in killed and wounded, at 150. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 177 
 
 ZACHART TAYLOR. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR OF 1812 
 DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON. 
 
 MANY causes of mutual ' hostility between the 
 United States and Great Britain had existed since 
 the Revolution ; but these did not lead to actual 
 hostilities until the 18th of June, 1812, when war 
 was declared by the United States. 
 
 The chief reasons of war with Britain, as stated 
 in the President's message, were: Impressment 
 of American seamen, British cruisers violating the 
 peace of our coasts, pretended blockades of the 
 enemy's coast without an adequate force, and the 
 orders in council whereby our commerce with her 
 enemies was entirely prohibited and a vast amount 
 of property captured while on its way to their ports. 
 
 12 
 
178 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 The war on land was at first disadvantageous to 
 the United States. Michilimakinac, with the ter 
 ritory of Michigan, fell into the hands of the Bri 
 tish. General Hull, who invaded Canada, August 
 1, 1812, was captured, with his whole army; and the 
 territory on our northwestern frontier was thus 
 laid open to the attacks of the enemy, aided by 
 hostile Indians. Previous to Hull's surrender, which 
 took place on the 16th of August, 1812, there had 
 been an action at Brownstown, twenty-six miles below 
 Detroit, between Major Van home with 200 Ohio 
 volunteers, and an ambuscade of Indians, in which 
 our loss was 17 killed and 8 wounded, (August 4.) 
 Another action took place, August 9, at Maguago, 
 fourteen miles below Detroit, in which Colonel 
 Miller, with 600 militia, defeated 700 British and 
 Indians, under Major Muir and Tecumseh. Our 
 loss was 18 killed and 64 wounded; their loss was 
 15 regulars killed and 40 Indians found dead on the 
 field. Near Chicago, August 15, Captain Heald, with 
 54 regulars and 12 militia, encountered between 
 400 and 500 Indians, and, after a severe contest, was 
 defeated with the loss of 39 men, with two women 
 and 12 children who were with the party. 
 
 Captain Taylor in defending Fort Harrison met 
 with better success. This post, which was situated 
 on the river Wabash, in the Indian Territory, was 
 garrisoned by about 50 men, one-third of whom were 
 sick, under Captain Zachary Taylor, of the regular 
 army. On the evening of the 3d of September, 1812, 
 two young men were shot and scalped in the vicinity 
 of the fort ; arid on the succeeding night the attack 
 was commenced by the conflagration of a block- 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 179 
 
 house, in which the provisions were contained; 
 and, at the same time, a brisk fire was opened by 
 a large body of the Indians who had lain in am 
 bush. The fire was returned with great spirit by 
 the garrison ; and, as the destruction of the block 
 house had caused an opening in his line of defence 
 Captain Taylor, with great presence of mind, pulled 
 down a cabin, and with its materials constructed 
 
 DEFENCE OP FOET HARRISON. 
 
 a breastwork across the aperture. The situation 
 of this small but gallant party became, however, 
 very critical, as the attempts of the enemy to enter 
 by the breach produced by the fire were of a most 
 desperate nature. Two of the garrison, preferring 
 the risk of capture by the enemy to the prospect 
 of massacre in the fort, endeavored to make their 
 escape. One of them was immediately killed ; the 
 
180 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 other returned to the walls, and remained concealed 
 until morning. The enemy, finding their attempts 
 to gain possession ineffectual, retreated about day 
 light, but remained in the vicinity of the fort for 
 several days. Their loss was supposed to have 
 been considerable; that of the garrison was only 
 three killed and three wounded; but the destruc 
 tion of the block-house was a serious disadvantage, 
 as it contained the whole of the provisions. For 
 his gallant conduct on this occasion Captain Taylor 
 was shortly after brevetted a major. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 181 
 
 FORT NIAGARA. 
 
 BATTLES OF OGDENSBURG, FORT 
 NIAGARA, AND QUEENSTOWN. 
 
 IN the beginning of October, 1812, there were as 
 sembled at Black Rock and Buffalo 1300 newly- 
 enlisted recruits, under General Smyth, 500 militia 
 at the same place, 2900 militia near Lewistown, 
 six companies of field and light artillery, amounting 
 to 300 men, and 800 infantry, at Fort Niagara, mak 
 ing an aggregate of 5800, and composing what Gene 
 ral Smyth in his proclamations denominates the 
 army of the centre, extending the length of the 
 Niagara frontier. The whole of this force was un 
 der the command of Major-General Yan Rensselaer, 
 of the Albany militia. On the opposite side of the 
 river was General Brock, with a force at Fort 
 George, and other posts extending to and including 
 
182 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Fort Erie, of 2400 men, consisting of the veterans 
 of the 41st and 49th regiments and Canadian flank- 
 companies, and 400 Indians. 
 
 On the 8th of October, two British armed brigs, 
 the Detroit and Caledonia, came down the lake from 
 Maiden and anchored under the guns of Fort Erie. 
 Lieutenant Elliott, of the navy, had then just ar 
 rived at Black Rock, with 50 seamen, to superin 
 tend the naval operations in that quarter. On the 
 evening of the 9th, with his seamen and a detach 
 ment of 50 volunteers from General Smyth's brigade, 
 he passed over from Black Rock, boarded and took 
 the brigs. But, the wind not favoring, they drifted 
 down the current and grounded. The Detroit, which 
 was formerly the American brig Adams and sur 
 rendered by Hull at Detroit, after being divested 
 of most of her military stores, was abandoned and 
 burned. The Caledonia, being near enough to be 
 protected by the guns at Black Rock, was saved; 
 she was laden with furs to the value of $150,000. 
 This brilliant achievement was effected with the loss 
 of only two killed and four wounded. 
 
 The general tenor of the Congressional debates 
 and the publications and the conversation of the 
 day had induced a settled belief that the Canadas 
 would be a certain, easy, and almost a bloodless, 
 conquest ; that, upon the appearance of a respectable 
 force at any point on the frontier, the Canadians in 
 great numbers would flock to the American standard 
 and assist in the object. Impressed with these ideas, 
 the militia and volunteers, who had come out but for 
 a short period, were impatient to make a descent on 
 Canada. They insisted on being permitted to attack 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 183 
 
 and drive the British from the Niagara peninsula and 
 then to return to their homes ; and many threatened 
 to leave the camp unless led to immediate action. 
 The success of Lieutenant Elliott had induced them 
 to believe that the conquest was an easy one, and 
 that they had only to show themselves to the enemy 
 in order to conquer them. In compliance with their 
 wishes, General Van Rensselaer decided on making 
 the attempt. The principal British force was at 
 Eort George ; but they had made an establishment 
 and erected batteries on the heights above Queens- 
 town : against these batteries the efforts of the 
 American troops were to be first directed. Batteries 
 were erected on the American shore to protect the 
 passage and landing of the troops. The regular forces, 
 under Colonel Fenwick and Major Mallary, were 
 ordered up to Lewistown ; and thirteen boats, being 
 all that could be procured at the time, were provided 
 for crossing. The van of the troops destined for the 
 attack consisted of militia, under the command of 
 Colonel Solomon Yan Rensselaer, aid to the general, 
 a part of the 13th infantry, under Colonel Christie, 
 a detachment of the 6th and 9th, under Major Mal 
 lary, the whole amounting to 400 men. At three 
 o'clock on the morning of the 13th they proceeded 
 from the camp at Lewistown to the place of embark 
 ation. Colonel Van Rensselaer, to whom the chief 
 command of the expedition was intrusted, with 100 
 men, crossed over and effected a landing. A grape- 
 shot, from a battery below Queenstown which en 
 filaded the passage, wounded Colonel Christie in 
 the hand ; his pilot became confused, his boatmen 
 frightened, and he was obliged to return. The boats 
 
184 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 with Major Mallary were carried by the violence of 
 the current below the landing-place; two of them 
 were taken, and the others returned. In ascending 
 the bank, Colonel Van Rensselaer received four 
 wounds. Captains Armstrong, Wool, and Malcolm, 
 were also wounded; and Lieutenant Yalleau and 
 Ensign Morris killed. A party of British troops, 
 
 BATTLE OF QDEENSTOAVX. 
 
 having issued from an old fort below. Queen stown, 
 were fired upon by the Americans and compelled to 
 retreat. The firing from the batteries on the heights 
 soon obliged the Americans to take shelter under the 
 bank. To Colonel Van Kensselaer, who lay on the 
 bank severely wounded, application was made for 
 orders. He directed the batteries to be immediately 
 
EXPLOITS. 185 
 
 stormed. The men were rallied, and 160, under the 
 command of Captain Wool, mounted the rocks on 
 the right of the batteries and took them. The guns 
 were ordered to be turned upon the enemy, but were 
 found to be spiked. The remainder of the detach 
 ment now joined Captain Wool. Both parties were 
 considerably reinforced, and the conflict grew severe 
 at various points. Many of the British took shelter 
 behind a guard-house, from whence a piece of ord 
 nance was briskly served; but the fire from the bat 
 teries on the American side soon silenced it. The 
 British then retired behind a large stone house, but 
 were soon routed and driven from the hill in every 
 direction. General Brock rallied the troops at 
 Queenstown, and, with reinforcements, led them 
 round the hill in rear of the batteries. Captain 
 Wool, discerning this, detached 160 men to meet 
 them; these were driven back. Being reinforced, 
 they returned to the attack, and were again driven 
 by the British to the precipice which forms the bank 
 of the Niagara above Queenstown. Here, the British 
 pressing upon them with double their numbers, and 
 no opportunity of retreating, an officer placed a white 
 handkerchief upon the point of a bayonet, and raised 
 it as a flag, with intention to surrender; Captain 
 Wool immediately tore it off, rallied his men, and 
 returned to the charge. The British troops were in 
 turn routed. 
 
 General Brock, in endeavoring to rally them, was 
 struck by three balls and instantly killed. His aid, 
 Colonel McDonald, the attorney-general of Upper 
 Canada, was mortally wounded by his side. By ten 
 o'clock the British were completely driven from the 
 
186 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 heights. The American line reformed, and flank- 
 ing-parties were sent out. The victory now ap 
 peared complete, and General Van Eensselaer pro 
 ceeded to take measures to secure the conquest. At 
 two o'clock, General Wadsworth, of the militia, with 
 Colonels Scott, Christie, and Major Mallary, crossed 
 over and took the command. Captain Wool was 
 directed to retire and have his wounds dressed. He 
 crossed the river for that purpose, and soon returned 
 to the field. About three o'clock a large party of 
 Indians appeared, pouring out of Chippewa, and, with 
 their savage, yells, commenced a furious attack. The 
 Americans at first gave way, but were soon rallied, 
 and charged the savages, who directly fled to the 
 woods, leaving one of their chiefs a prisoner and 
 several dead on the ground. Scarcely had this 
 battle ended, when a large reinforcement with artil 
 lery arrived from Fort George, and the* battle was 
 renewed with increased severity. 
 
 Most of the events of the day were in view of 
 Lewistown. The militia who had not crossed over 
 had now seen enough of war. Their zeal for the 
 Canadian conquest had abated. They had dis 
 covered that the Constitution did not require them 
 to go beyond the limits of the United States. Seve 
 ral boatloads which had embarked returned, and 
 no more could be induced to go. General Van Rens- 
 selaer returned to the American side, and, by every 
 means of persuasion and authority, promising and 
 threatening, endeavored to bring them over to 
 secure the victory; but to no effect. Twelve hun 
 dred, whose presence only on the opposite bank 
 would have decided the fortune of the day, stood 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 187 
 
 on the American shore, inactive spectators of the 
 slaughter and capture of their brethren. The regu 
 lar troops, under General Smyth, who had been 
 ordered down from Black Rock, had not arrived; 
 and the Americans on the heights were left to pro 
 tect themselves. At this time General Van Rens- 
 selaer addressed a note to General Wadsworth, in 
 forming him that it was out of his power to send 
 him succors, and advising him to retreat to the river, 
 where boats should be provided to take them over. 
 The gallant band fought their way to the river 
 against thrice their numbers, but on arriving there 
 no boats were to be found. The same panic had 
 struck the boatmen : not a boat could be manned 
 to bring them, off, and the whole were obliged to 
 surrender. 
 
 Three hundred and eighty-six regulars, and 368 
 militia, were made prisoners : the number killed was 
 not exactly ascertained, but supposed to be about 90. 
 The whole loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and 
 missing, was estimated at 1000. General Brock was 
 conveyed to Fort George, and interred on the 15th 
 with military honors, the guns of Fort Niagara, as 
 well as those of Fort George, firing during the 
 ceremony. 
 
188 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE. 
 
 ON the 2d of August, 1812, the Constitution, of 
 forty-four guns, Captain Hull, sailed from Boston on 
 a cruise which will long be memorable in the Re 
 public as the first of a series of exploits which ele 
 vated the character of the nation and strongly 
 illustrated the importance of her navy. 
 
 On the 19th of August he fell in with His Bri 
 tannic Majesty's ship Guerriere, rated at thirty-eight 
 guns but carrying fifty, commanded by Captain 
 Dacres, who, some time before, had politely en 
 dorsed on the register of an American ship an invi 
 tation to Captain Hull to give him a meeting of this 
 kind. 
 
 At half-past three P.M., Captain Hull made out 
 his antagonist to be a frigate, and continued the 
 chase till he was within about three miles, when he 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 189 
 
 cleared for action ; the chase backed her maintopsail 
 and waited for him to come down. As soon as the 
 Constitution was ready, Hull bore down to bring 
 the enemy to close action immediately; but, on his 
 coming within gunshot, the Guerriere gave a broad 
 side and filled away and wore, giving a broadside on 
 the other tack, but without effect, her shot falling 
 short. She then continued wearing and manoeuv 
 ring for about three-quarters of an hour to get a 
 raking position ; but, finding she could not, she bore 
 up and ran under her topsails and jib, with the wind 
 on the quarter. During this time, the Constitution 
 not having fired a single broadside, the impatience 
 of the officers and men to engage was excessive. 
 Nothing but the most rigid discipline could have re 
 strained them. Hull, however, was preparing to 
 decide the contest in a summary method of his own. 
 He now made sail to bring the Constitution up with 
 her antagonist, and, at five minutes before six, p. M., 
 being alongside within half pistol-shot, he commenced 
 a heavy fire from all his guns, double-sliotted with 
 round and grape; and so well directed and so well 
 kept up was the fire that in sixteen minutes the 
 mizzenmast of the Guerriere went by the board, and 
 her rnainyard in the slings, and the hull, rigging, and 
 sails were completely torn to pieces. The fire was 
 kept up for fifteen minutes longer, when the main 
 and foremast went, taking with them every spar ex 
 cept the bowsprit, and leaving the Guerriere a com- * 
 plete wreck. On seeing this, Hull ordered the firing 
 to cease, having brought his enemy in thirty minutes 
 after he was fairly alongside to such a condition that 
 a few more broadsides must have carried her down. 
 
190 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 The prize being so shattered that she was not 
 worth bringing into port, after removing the pri 
 soners to the Constitution she was set on fire and 
 blown up. In the action the Constitution lost 7 
 killed and 7 wounded; 'the Guerriere, 15 killed, 62 
 wounded, including the captain and several officers, 
 i and 24 missing. 
 
 The news of this victory was received in the 
 United States with the greatest joy and exultation. 
 All parties united in celebrating it, and the citizens 
 and public authorities vied with each other in be 
 stowing marks of approbation upon Captain Hull 
 and his gallant officers and crew. 
 
 BUBRENDER 07 THE QDEREIEKZ. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 191 
 
 UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN- 
 WASP AND FKOLIC CONSTITUTION 
 AND JAVA. 
 
 ON the 8th of October, 1812, the squadron under 
 the command of Commodore Eodgers, consisting of 
 the President, United States, and Congress frigates, 
 and the Argus sloop-of-war, sailed from Boston on a 
 cruise. On the 13th, in a gale of wind, they parted 
 from the United States and Argus. On the 15th, 
 the President and Congress captured a British packet, 
 with specie amounting to nearly two hundred thou 
 sand dollars. On the 30th of December the two 
 frigates arrived at Boston, without having had the 
 
192 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 good fortune to bring an armed vessel of the enemy 
 to action. The Argus arrived soon afterwards at 
 New York, from a very successful cruise of ninety- 
 six days, during which she made captures of British 
 merchant-men to the value of two hundred thousand 
 dollars, and displayed the swiftness of her sailing, 
 as well as the skill of her officers, by an escape 
 from a squadron of the enemy, consisting of six sail, 
 by which she was chased for three days. 
 
 But the cruise of the United States was by far 
 the most fortunate, as it gave her distinguished com 
 mander an opportunity of adding another leaf to the 
 laurels he had already acquired, and of shedding 
 additional glory on the Republic. On the 25th of 
 October, being off the Western Islands, she fell in 
 with the British frigate Macedonian, of forty-nine 
 guns and 300 men, a vessel newly built and of 
 superior equipment. Being to windward, the latter 
 had the advantage of choosing her distance, which, 
 as the United States was in great part armed with 
 carronades, prevented her from availing herself of 
 them. In consequence of this the action occupied 
 an hour and a half. As soon, however, as the 
 United States was able to bring her enemy to close 
 action, the superiority of the Americans in gunnery 
 was manifestly displayed. The enemy's mizzenmast 
 and most of his spars and rigging being shot away, 
 he deemed it expedient to surrender, with^the loss 
 of 36 killed and 68 wounded. 'That of the Ame 
 ricans was only four killed and seven wounded : 
 among the former was Lieutenant John Musser 
 Funk. This great disproportion in the loss of lives, 
 which was remarkably displayed in all the naval 
 

NAVAL EXPLOITS. 193 
 
 actions during the war, white it afforded a striking 
 proof of the precision of the Americans in the art 
 of firing, rendered their victories doubly grateful, by 
 depriving them in a great measure of the alloy of 
 individual grief with which such events are too 
 often intermixed. 
 
 The damage sustained by the United States was 
 not so great as to render necessary her return to 
 port. It was deemed proper, however, to accom 
 pany the prize in ; and both frigates arrived in 
 safety at New York on the 4th of December, where 
 Captain Decatur was received with a similar degree 
 of rejoicing aiid gratitude to that the Republic had 
 heretofore so liberally bestowed upon Captain Hull. 
 
 The victories, however, of the Constitution and 
 United States, brilliant as they were, were obtained 
 over antagonists somewhat inferior in the number 
 of their guns as well as of their men. We have 
 now to record one in which"" the enemy was un 
 doubtedly superior in the number of his cannon and 
 not inferior in the amount of his seamen. The 
 United States sloop-of-war Wasp, Captain Jacob 
 Jones, sailed from the Delaware on the 13th of 
 October. On the 16th she experienced a heavy 
 gale, in which two men were lost, together with her 
 jib-boom. At midnight on the succeeding day 
 several sail were descried, to which chase was 
 given. On the 18th, at daylight, they were dis 
 covered to be a convoy of six merchant-men, under 
 the protection of a sloop-of-war, four of them being 
 armed vessels. At half-past eleven in the morning 
 the action commenced between the two national 
 vessels, at the distance of about fifty yards. So 
 
 13 
 
194 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 near, indeed, did they arrive, that the rammers of 
 the Wasp's cannon were, in one instance, struck 
 against the side of her enemy. The fire of the 
 English vessel soon slackened; and after a most 
 sanguinary action of forty-three minutes it was 
 determined to board her. This was immediately 
 effected, Lieutenant Biddle, of the Wasp, particularly 
 distinguishing himself among the boarders. When 
 they reached the deck of the enemy, they found no 
 person upon it, except three officers and the seaman 
 at the wheel. The colors were hauled down by 
 Lieutenant Biddle, there being no one of the enemy's 
 seamen left to perform that office. 
 
 The vessel thus gallantly captured proved to be 
 his Britannic majesty's brig-of-war, the Frolic, of 
 twenty-two guns, commanded by Captain Whin- 
 yates. The Wasp mounting but eighteen guns, the 
 enemy was thus superior by four cannon. The 
 annals of naval warfare have, perhaps, seldom con 
 tained the narration of a more sanguinary conflict 
 than this. The decks of the Frolic were crowded 
 with the dead and wounded, many of whom were 
 crushed by the falling of her spars. Not less than 
 30 are said to have been killed, and about 50 
 wounded: both of her masts were shot away; and 
 she lay on the water, an unmanageable wreck. The 
 Wasp also suffered severely in her spars and rigging 
 from the enemy's fire : her loss of men, however, 
 was trivial, compared with that of her opponent, 
 four only being killed and four wounded. The 
 brave officers and crew of the Wasp were unfor 
 tunately deprived, shortly afterwards, of their hard- 
 earned prize. No sooner had the engagement ceased 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 195 
 
 than a sail was seen, which soon approached near 
 enough for them to discover that she was an enemy's 
 seventy-four-gun-ship. From the disabled state of 
 both vessels, an escape was impracticable : they 
 were therefore obliged to surrender to the British 
 ship Poictiers, by which they were carried into 
 Bermuda. 
 
 The honors conferred upon Captain Jones, his 
 officers and crew, on their return to the United 
 States, were not less flattering than those received 
 on the former occasions. Many of the State legis 
 latures voted them their thanks; and the substan 
 tial recompense of twenty-five thousand dollars was 
 appropriated by Congress as a compensation for the 
 loss of the vessel they had so gallantly acquired. 
 Captain Jones was soon afterwards appointed to 
 the command of the Macedonian frigate, which had 
 been purchased by the government from the cap 
 tors and added to the navy of the United States. 
 
 Nor was this the last of those gallant achieve 
 ments which raised so high the character of the 
 American navy. The frigate Constitution was des 
 tined to receive a brilliant addition to the fame she 
 had acquired in her combat with the Guerriere, and 
 to render the name of the Kepublic celebrated in 
 remote seas. After his capture of the British frigate, 
 Captain Hull resigned the command of the Constitu 
 tion, for the purpose of attending to his private 
 affairs, and was succeeded by Captain William 
 Bainbridge. 
 
 Accompanied by the Hornet sloop-of-war, the 
 Constitution sailed from Boston, on a cruise to the 
 Pacific Ocean, towards the end of October. In run- 
 
196 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ning down the coast of Brazil, they discovered the 
 Bonne Citoyenne, a British vessel-of-war, of greater 
 force than the Hornet, lying in the port of St. Sal 
 vador. Captain Lawrence, of the Hornet, sent a 
 challenge, however, to the commander of the enemy's 
 vessel, pledging himself that Captain Bainbridge 
 should not interfere. The British captain did not 
 think proper to accept the offer, although the Con 
 stitution had sailed on another cruise, and the Hor 
 net was left to blockade the enemy's vessel. 
 
 After leaving St. Salvador, Captain Bainbridge 
 steered along the coast of Brazil until the 29th of 
 December, when two sail were discovered, one of 
 which stood in for the land and the other towards 
 the Constitution. The latter was soon perceived to 
 be a British frigate, when Captain Bainbridge tacked 
 ship and stood for her. At two P.M., the enemy 
 being to windward and having hauled down all her 
 colors except the union. Captain Bainbridge ordered 
 a gun to be fired ahead of her, upon which she 
 hoisted her colors and returned the fire. The 
 action now commenced with great vigor on both 
 sides ; the British frigate keeping at long shot, and 
 the Constitution not being able to close with her 
 without exposing herself to the danger of being 
 raked. The wheel of the latter, however, being 
 shot away, Captain Bainbridge now determined to 
 bring his antagonist to close action. He accordingly 
 luffed up and took a position near to her. Soon 
 after four o'clock, the fire of the enemy being com 
 pletely silenced, the Constitution passed ahead for 
 the purpose of repairing her rigging. Finding, how 
 ever, that the British flag was still flying, Captain 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 197 
 
 Bainbridge took a raking position on her bows, and 
 was at the moment about to commence a destruc 
 tive fire, when the enemy hauled down his colors 
 and surrendered his ship. Possession was soon after 
 taken of her, when she proved to be the British 
 frigate Java, carrying forty-nine guns and manned 
 with upwards of 400 men. She was commanded by 
 Captain Lambert, a very distinguished officer, who 
 was mortally wounded, and was on her way to the 
 East Indies, with a number of British land and 
 naval officers. Among them was Lieu ten ant-General 
 Hislop and his staff. One hundred supernumerary 
 seamen were also on board. Her loss was exceed 
 ingly severe, 60 having been killed and considerably 
 more than 100 wounded. The Americans, as usual, 
 suffered much less, only 9 being killed and 25 
 wounded. 
 
 Finding that the Java was so much injured by 
 the fire of the Constitution as to forbid the hope of 
 getting her safe into the United States, she was set 
 on fire on the 31st, the crew and passengers and 
 their baggage having been previously removed. The 
 prisoners, to the number of 361, including officers, 
 were landed at St. Salvador, on their parole. The 
 damage the Constitution received in t{ie action, and 
 her decayed state, made it necessary to return to 
 the United States for repairs. She left St. Salvador 
 on the 6th of January, and arrived at Boston on 
 the 8th of the succeeding month. 
 
 In all the victories of the American navy the 
 skill and valor of the officers and crews were not 
 less conspicuous than their humanity and generosity 
 to their vanquished enemy. The truth of the old 
 
198 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 observation, that the brave are peculiarly susceptible 
 of the kindly and gentler feelings of our nature, 
 was never more strongly manifested than on these 
 occasions. Every thing that the most active 
 humanity as well as the most refined delicacy could 
 suggest was displayed towards the officers and 
 crews of the Guerriere, the Macedonian, the Frolic, 
 and the Java. Private property was scrupulously 
 respected ; and the acknowledgments of the enemy 
 evinced their high sense of the liberality with 
 which the conduct of the Americans had been 
 marked. 
 
 It was not to be expected, however, that the con 
 flict on the ocean, covered as it was by the ships of 
 the enemy, could be carried on without some loss to 
 the American navy. It was boldly anticipated by 
 the British orators at the commencement of the war 
 that the infant marine of the Kepublic would be 
 swept from the ocean, while the commerce of the 
 British isles would be carried on as usual, without 
 interruption. Even the best friends of America 
 feared that, after a sanguinary opposition and per 
 haps useless victories, the national vessels would 
 be hunted from the ocean or be compelled to sur 
 render to an overpowering superiority. The con 
 trast between these anticipations, however, and the 
 actual result, was of the most striking nature, and 
 must have afforded occasion to many mortifying 
 reflections on the part of the British cabinet. Six 
 months had now elapsed from the commencement 
 of hostilities, during which time the national ves 
 sels of the Kepublic had carried its flag into almost 
 every ocean. Three of them only had fallen into 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 199 
 
 the hands of the enemy, and those under such cir 
 cumstances of relative force as to reflect no discredit 
 on the captured. The Wasp sloop-of-war was taken, 
 as we have seen, by a seventy-four-gun ship; the 
 schooner Nautilus, of twelve guns, commanded by 
 Lieutenant Crane, surrendered, after a long chase, 
 to a squadron of the enemy's frigates; and the 
 Yixen gun-brig was captured on the 22d of Novem 
 ber by the frigate Southampton, and carried into 
 the West Indies, where her commander, Captain 
 Kead, subsequently died. 
 
 On the other hand, the havoc made upon the 
 commerce of the enemy was beyond all previous 
 calculation. It has been stated, upon good authority, 
 that, previous to the meeting of Congress in Novem 
 ber, nearly two hundred and fifty vessels had been 
 captured by the American cruisers, and more than 
 3000 prisoners taken, while of the American mer 
 chant-men comparatively few had fallen into the 
 power of the enemy. The injury thus inflicted on 
 the British commerce was produced only in a partial 
 degree by the public vessels. The American priva 
 teers swarmed in every sea, and the enterprise so 
 conspicuous in the character of the nation rendered 
 them most formidable opponents. Being mostly 
 built with a view to expeditious sailing, they were 
 in general able to overtake the merchant vessels 
 and to escape from the fastest frigates of the enemy. 
 These advantages were never sullied by inhumanity; 
 and the generosity with which they, in many in 
 stances, acted in opposition to the love of profit, 
 reflects credit on the national character. 
 
200 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 MASSACRE ON THE RIVER RAISIN. 
 
 BATTLE OF FKENCHTOWN. 
 
 IN the West and Northwest the American arms 
 were unfortunate. The left wing of the North 
 western army was commanded by General James 
 Winchester. Receiving intelligence that the British 
 and Indians were posted at Frenchtown, on the 
 river Kaisin, Harrison ordered this detachment to 
 proceed against them, if its commander thought it 
 practicable. Winchester immediately detached an 
 efficient force, under Colonel Lewis, which made a 
 rapid inarch and reached the vicinity of Frenchtown 
 on the 18th of January. The enemy were prepared 
 to receive them ; but the Americans advanced with 
 such impetuosity that the enemy were dislodged 
 from their works and driven to the distance of two 
 miles. The battle lasted from three o'clock in the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 201 
 
 afternoon until dark. The American detachment 
 then encamped on the spot from which it had driven 
 the enemy. The loss of the British and Indians was 
 very severe. That of the Americans was 12 killed 
 and 55 wounded. General Winchester, with about 
 300, arrived at Frenchtown on the 20th. 
 
 On the morning of the 22d the Americans were 
 surprised and attacked by a greatly superior force of 
 British and Indians, commanded by Colonel Proctor. 
 The action was warmly contested for about a half 
 hour, when, the enemy's fire becoming too galling, 
 Winchester ordered his men to form on the north 
 bank of the river; but they gave way, and could 
 not be rallied. The Indians gained their rear, and, 
 thus borne down by numbers, General Winchester, 
 35 officers, and 487 non-commissioned officers and 
 privates, surrendered themselves prisoners of war. 
 Before the troops surrendered, the British com 
 mander promised them protection from the ferocity 
 of the Indians; but the promise was made to be 
 broken. At break of day the next morning the 
 savages were suffered to commit every depredation 
 they pleased. An indiscriminate slaughter of all 
 who were unable to walk ensued ; many were toma 
 hawked, and many were burned alive in their houses. 
 Every species of private property remaining in the 
 tents was appropriated by the Indians. The whole 
 detachment was captured or destroyed. The loss of 
 the British and Indians was not ascertained, but 
 , must have been severe, since, for a time, the Ameri 
 cans fought with the fury of desperation. There is 
 no doubt that this disaster was owing to Winchester's 
 want of caution. 
 
202 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 SIEGE OF FOKT MEIGS. 
 
 AFTER the defeat and capture of General Win 
 chester and his army at the river Kaisin, General 
 Harrison established his advanced post at the foot 
 of the Miami Kapids, enclosing about eight acres 
 with strong pickets, and establishing batteries at 
 the most commanding points. This position was 
 selected as being convenient for keeping open a 
 communication and receiving reinforcements and 
 supplies from Kentucky and the settled parts of the 
 State of Ohio, and, at the same time, affording the 
 best station for protecting the borders of Lake Erie, 
 recapturing Detroit, and carrying the war into the 
 British territories. It was denominated Fort Meigs, 
 in honor of the zeal and talents of the Governor of 
 Ohio, The Miami of the Lake is formed by the St. 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 203 
 
 Mary's, which comes from the South, and the St. 
 Joseph's, which rises in the Indiana Territory. 
 These rivers unite at Fort Wayne, near the west 
 line of the State of Ohio ; from this point the river 
 assumes the name of Miami, and runs a northeast 
 erly direction, about fifty miles to Fort Winchester, 
 formerly Fort Defiance, where it receives the waters 
 of the Auglaize from the South. Thence it con 
 tinues the same course forty miles farther to the 
 rapids, and, after passing a short distance below 
 Fort Meigs on the left, and the ruins of a small 
 village on the right, and embracing a large island, 
 falls into the Miami Bay, opposite the site of an 
 old British fort, eighteen miles from Lake Erie. 
 The rapids terminate at Fort Meigs, three miles 
 above the head of the bay. On the breaking up 
 of the ice in Lake Erie, General Proctor, with 
 all his disposable force, consisting of regulars and 
 Canadian militia from Maiden, arid a large body 
 of Indians under their celebrated chief, Tecumseh, 
 amounting in the whole to 2000 men, laid siege to 
 Fort Meigs. To encourage the Indians, he had pro 
 mised them an easy conquest, and assured them 
 that General Harrison should be delivered up to 
 Tecumseh. On the 26th of April the British co 
 lumns appeared on the opposite bank of the river 
 and established their principal batteries on a com 
 manding eminence opposite the fort. On the 27th 
 the Indians crossed the river and established them 
 selves in the rear of the American lines. The gar 
 rison, not having completed their wells, had no 
 water except what they obtained from the river 
 under a constant firing of the enemy. On the 1st, 2d, 
 
204 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 and 3d of May their batteries kept up an incessant 
 shower of balls and shells upon the fort. On the 
 night of the 3d the British erected a gun-and-mor- 
 tar battery on the left bank of the river, within two 
 hundred and fifty yards of the American lines. The 
 Indians climbed the trees in the neighborhood of the 
 fort, and poured in a galling fire upon the garrison. 
 In this situation General Harrison received a sum 
 mons from Proctor for a surrender of 'the garrison, 
 greatly magnifying the means of annoyance; this 
 was answered by a prompt refusal, assuring the 
 British general that if he obtained possession of the 
 fort it would not be by capitulation. Apprehensive 
 of such an attack, General Harrison had made the 
 governors of Kentucky and Ohio minutely acquaint 
 ed with his situation, and stated to them the neces 
 sity of reinforcements for the relief of Fort Meigs. 
 His requisitions had been zealously anticipated, and 
 General Clay was at this moment descending the 
 Miami with 1200 Kentuckians for his relief. 
 
 At twelve o'clock in the night of the 4th an offi 
 cer arrived from General Clay with the welcome 
 intelligence of his approach, stating that he was just 
 above the rapids, and could reach him in two hours, 
 and requesting his orders. Harrison determined on 
 a general sally, and directed Clay to land 800 men 
 on the right bank, take possession of the British 
 batteries, spike their cannon, immediately return to 
 their boats, and cross over to the American fort. 
 The remainder of Clay's force was ordered to land 
 on the left bank and fight their way to the fort, 
 while sorties were to be made from the garrison in 
 aid of these operations. Captain Hamilton was 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 205 
 
 directed to proceed up the river in a periauger, land 
 a subaltern on the left bank, who should be a pilot 
 to conduct General Clay to the fort, and then cross 
 over and station his periauger at the place designated 
 for the other division to land. General Clay, having 
 received these orders, descended the river in order 
 of battle in solid columns, each officer taking posi 
 tion according to his rank. Colonel Dudley, being 
 the eldest in command, led the van, and was ordered 
 to take the men in the twelve front boats and exe 
 cute General Harrison's orders on the right bank. 
 He effected his landing at the place designated, 
 without difficulty. General Clay kept close along 
 the left bank until he came opposite the place of 
 Colonel Dudley's landing; but, not finding the subal 
 tern there, he attempted to cross over and join 
 Colonel Dudley; this was prevented by the violence 
 of the current on the rapids, and he again attempted 
 to land on the left bank, and effected it with only 
 fifty men amid a brisk fire from the enemy on shore, 
 and made his way to the fort, receiving their fire 
 until within the protection of its guns. The other 
 boats, under the command of Colonel Boswell, were 
 driven farther down the current, and landed on 
 the right to join Colonel Dudley. Here they were 
 ordered to re-embark, land on the left bank, and 
 proceed to the fort. In the mean time two sorties 
 were made from the garrison, one on the left, in aid 
 of Colonel Boswell, by which the Canadian militia 
 and Indians were defeated and he enabled to reach 
 the fort in safety, and one on the right, against the 
 British batteries, which was also successful. 
 
 Colonel Dudley, with his detachment of 800 Ken- 
 
206 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 tncky militia, completely succeeded in driving the 
 British from their batteries and spiking the cannon. 
 Having accomplished this object, his orders were 
 peremptory to return immediately to his boats and 
 cross over to the fort; but the blind confidence 
 which generally attends militia when successful 
 proved their ruin. Although repeatedly ordered by 
 Colonel Dudley, and warned of their danger, and 
 called upon from the fort to leave the ground, and 
 although there was abundant time for that purpose 
 before the British reinforcements arrived, yet they 
 commenced a pursuit of the Indians, and suffered 
 themselves to be drawn into an ambuscade by some 
 feint skirmishing, while the British troops and large 
 bodies of Indians were brought up and intercepted 
 their return to the river. Elated with their first 
 success, they considered the victory as already gain 
 ed, and pursued the enemy nearly two miles into 
 the woods and swamps, where they were suddenly 
 caught in a defile and surrounded by double their 
 numbers. Finding themselves in this situation, con 
 sternation prevailed ; their line became broken and 
 disordered; and, huddled together in unresisting 
 crowds, they were obliged to surrender to the mercy 
 of the savages. Fortunately for these unhappy vic 
 tims of their own rashness, General Tecumseh com 
 manded at this ambuscade, and had imbibed, since 
 his appointment, more humane feelings than his 
 brother Proctor. After the surrender, and all re 
 sistance had ceased, the Indians, finding 500 pri 
 soners at their mercy, began the work of massacre 
 with the most savage delight. Tecumseh sternly 
 forbade it, and buried his tomahawk in the head of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 207 
 
 one of his chiefs who refused obedience. This order, 
 accompanied with this decisive manner of enforcing 
 it, put an end to the massacre. Of 800 men only 
 150 escaped. The residue were slain or made pri 
 soners. Colonel Dudley was severely wounded in 
 the action, and afterwards tomahawked and scalped. 
 Proctor, seeing no prospect of taking the fort, and 
 finding his Indians fast leaving him, raised the siege 
 on the 9th of May, and returned with precipitation 
 to Maiden. Tecumseh and a considerable portion 
 of the Indians remained in service ; but large num 
 bers left it in disgust, and were ready to join the 
 Americans. On the left bank, in the several sorties 
 of the 5th of May and during the siege, the Ameri 
 can loss was 81 killed and 189 wounded. General 
 Harrison, having repaired the fort and committed its 
 defence to General Clay, repaired to Franklin ton to 
 organize the new levies and systematize a plan of 
 defence for the Erie frontier. At Lower Sandusky 
 he met Governor Meigs, at the head of a large body 
 of Ohio volunteers, pressing on to his relief, and gave 
 him the pleasing intelligence that the siege was 
 raised. The volunteers were there discharged, with 
 the warmest acknowledgments of the governor and 
 general for their promptness and zeal in marching to 
 the relief of Fort Meigs. 
 
208 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 DEFENCE OF FORT STEPHENSON. 
 
 DEFENCE OF FORT STEPHENSON. 
 
 ON the 28th of July, 1813, the followers of Proc 
 tor again approached Fort Meigs, around which they 
 remained for a week, effecting nothing, though very 
 numerous. The purpose of this second investment 
 seems, indeed, rather to have been the diversion of 
 Harrison's attention from Erie, and the employment 
 of the immense bands of Indians which the English 
 had gathered at Maiden, than any serious blow; and, 
 finding no progress made, Proctor next moved to 
 Sandusky, into the neighborhood of the commander- 
 in-chief. The principal stores of Harrison were at 
 Sandusky, while he was himself at Seneca and 
 Major Croghan at Fort Stephenson or Lower San 
 dusky. This latter post being deemed indefensible 
 against heavy cannon, and it being supposed that 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 209 
 
 Proctor would of course bring heavy cannon if he 
 attacked it, the general and a council of war called 
 by him thought it wisest to abandon it ; but, before 
 this could be done after the final determination of the 
 matter, the appearance of the enemy upon the 31st 
 of July made it impossible. The garrison of the little 
 fort was composed of 150 men, under a commander 
 just past his twenty-first year, and w r ith a single 
 piece of cannon, while the investing force, including 
 Tecumseh's Indians, was, it is said, 3300 strong, 
 and with six pieces of artillery, all of them, for 
 tunately, light ones. Proctor demanded a surrender, 
 and told the unvarying story of the danger of pro 
 voking a general massacre by the savages unless 
 the fort was yielded : to all which the representative 
 of young Croghan replied by saying that the Indians 
 would have none left to massacre if the British con 
 quered, for every man of the garrison would have 
 died at his post. Proctor upon this opened his fire, 
 which, being concentrated upon the northwest angle 
 of the fort, led the commander to think that it was 
 meant to make a breach there and carry the works 
 by assault: he therefore proceeded to strengthen 
 that point by bags of sand and flour, while under 
 cover of night he placed his single six-pounder in a 
 position to rake the angle threatened, and then, 
 having charged his infant battery with slugs and 
 hidden it from the enemy, he waited the event. 
 During the night of the 1st of August, and till late 
 in the evening of the 2d, the firing continued upon 
 the devoted northwest corner; then, imder cover 
 of the smoke and gathering darkness, a column of 
 
 350 men approached unseen to within twenty paces 
 
 14 
 
210 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 of the walls. The musketry opened upon them, but 
 with little effect ; the ditch was gained, and in a 
 moment filled with men. At that instant the masked 
 cannon, only thirty feet distant, and so directed as to 
 sweep the ditch, was unmasked and fired, killing 
 at once 27 of the assailants. The effect was decisive; 
 the column recoiled, and the little fort was saved, 
 with the loss of one man. On the next morning 
 the British and their allies, having .the fear of Har 
 rison before their eyes, were gone, leaving behind 
 them, in their haste, guns, stores, and clothing. 
 
 COLONEL CROGUAN. 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 211 
 
 BUILDING OF THE FLEET ON LAKE ERIE. 
 
 BATTLE ON LAKE ERIE. 
 
 THE American fleet on Lake Erie having been 
 completed, and with great difficulty passed over the 
 bar, a principal part of the crew of each vessel being 
 made up of the Pennsylvania militia who had volun 
 teered to go on an expedition, sailed on a short cruise 
 for the purpose of training the guns and of exercising 
 the sailors. In the latter part of August, Commo 
 dore Perry proceeded to the mouth of Sandusky 
 River to co-operate with General Harrison. At this 
 place about 70 volunteer marines were received on 
 board, and the fleet sailed in quest of the British 
 squadron. The latter was at that time near Maiden, 
 before which place Commodore Perry appeared, and, 
 after reconnoitring the enemy, he retired to Put-in 
 Bay, a distance of thirty miles, in hopes of drawing 
 out his antagonist. 
 
212 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 On the morning of the 10th of September, 1813, 
 the enemy was discovered bearing down upon the 
 American squadron, which immediately got under 
 way and stood out to meet him. The superiority of 
 force was greatly in favor of the British, though 
 they had not an equal number of vessels. Their 
 crews were larger and the length and number of 
 their guns greater than those of the American 
 squadron. 
 
 When the American fleet stood out, the British 
 fleet had the weather-gauge ; but at ten o'clock A. M. 
 the wind shifted and brought the American to wind 
 ward. The line of battle was formed at eleven, and 
 at fifteen minutes before twelve the enemy's flag 
 ship and the Queen Charlotte opened upon the Law 
 rence a heavy and effectual fire, which she was 
 obliged to sustain upwards of ten minutes without a 
 possibility of returning it, in consequence of her bat 
 tery being of carronades. She nevertheless con 
 tinued to bear up, and, having given a signal to the 
 other vessels to support her, at a few minutes before 
 twelve opened her fire upon the enemy. 
 
 The wind being too light to assist the remainder 
 of the squadron in coming up, the Lawrence was 
 compelled to fight the enemy's heaviest vessels up 
 wards of two hours. The crew were not at all 
 depressed ; their animation increased as the despera 
 tion of the fight became greater, and the guns were 
 worked with as much coolness and precision as if 
 they had been in the act of training only. The 
 slaughter on board the brig was almost unparalleled, 
 the rigging very much injured, and the braces en 
 tirely shot away; and at length, after every gun 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 213 
 
 had been rendered useless, she became quite un 
 manageable. The first lieutenant, Yarnall, was 
 thrice wounded; the second lieutenant, Forrest, 
 struck in the breast ; the gallant Lieutenant Brookes, 
 of the marines, and Midshipman Laub, were killed, 
 and Sailing-master Taylor, Purser Hamilton, and 
 Midshipmen Claxton and Swartwout, wounded. Her 
 loss already amounted to 22 killed and 61 wounded, 
 when the commodore, seeing that she must very soon 
 strike if the other vessels were not brought up, gave 
 up the command of the Lawrence to Lieutenant 
 Yarnall, and, jumping into a boat, ordered it to be 
 steered .for the Niagara, to which vessel he had 
 determined to shift his flag. In passing from the 
 Lawrence to the Niagara he stood up, waving his 
 sword and gallantly cheering his men, under a 
 shower of balls and bullets. He gained the Niagara 
 unhurt at the moment the flag of the Lawrence 
 came down; and, the wind having at that instant 
 increased, he brought her into action, and at forty- 
 five minutes past two gave signal for the whole fleet 
 to close. 
 
 All the vessels were now engaged; but, as the 
 superiority of the enemy had been increased by the 
 loss of the Lawrence, the commodore determined on 
 piercing his line with the Niagara. He therefore reso 
 lutely bore up, and, passing ahead of the Detroit, 
 Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost, poured a galling 
 and destructive fire into each from his starboard side, 
 and into the Chippewa and Little Belt from his lar 
 board. He was then within half pistol-shot, and, as 
 he cut through the line, the commander of the Lady 
 Prevost, a brave officer, who had distinguished him- 
 
214 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 self at the battle of the Nile, received a musket-ball 
 in the face, and the crew, being unable to stand the 
 fire, immediately ran below. At this moment the 
 Caledonia was struggling to get closer into the ac 
 tion, and her commander, Lieutenant Turner, ordered 
 her guns to be fired through the foresail, which in 
 terfered between him and the enemy, rather than 
 
 BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 
 
 lose the chance of a full share in the combat, and 
 was only prevented from attempting to board the 
 Detroit by the prudent refusal of the officer of 
 another small vessel to assist him. 
 
 The action was now raging with its utmost vio 
 lence, every broadside fired with the most exact 
 precis-ion, and the result of the conflict altogether 
 uncertain. In addition to the loss of the Lawrence's 
 
 * 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 215 
 
 guns, one of the Ariel's had bursted, and the enemy 
 had then the superiority of thirty-four guns. This 
 doubtful aspect, however, soon after changed. The 
 Queen Charlotte had lost her captain and all her 
 principal officers ; and having, by some mischance, 
 run foul of the Detroit, most of the guns of both 
 vessels became useless. In this situation, advantage 
 of which was immediately taken by Commodore 
 Perry, they were compelled to sustain, in turn, an in 
 cessant fire from the Niagara and other vessels of the 
 American squadron. The British commodore's flag was 
 soon after struck, and those of the Queen Charlotte 
 and Lady Pre.vost, the Hunter, and the Chippewa, 
 came down in immediate succession. The whole 
 fleet surrendered to the inferior squadron, with the 
 exception of the Little Belt, which attempted to 
 escape, but was pursued by two of the gun-boats 
 and captured at a distance of three miles from the 
 squadron. 
 
 Thus, after an action of three hours, in which the 
 individual gallantry of either fleet had never been 
 surpassed by any naval event now to be found on 
 the record of history, was the entire command of 
 this important lake yielded to the American arms. 
 
216 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 COLONEL JOHNSON. 
 
 BATTLE OF THE THAMES. 
 
 THE victory gained by Commodore Perry on Lake 
 Erie gave many advantages to the army of General 
 Harrison. The pursuit of the enemy was instantly 
 resolved upon. On the 27th of September the army 
 crossed the lake. Maiden was found wasted and 
 deserted by Proctor, who had retreated by the valley 
 of the Thames towards the heart of Canada. On 
 the 2d of October Harrison started in pursuit of the 
 enemy, and, on the 5th, overtook them. Proctor's 
 position was strong. The Indians, under Tecumseh, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 217 
 
 were upon the left, between the river and a small 
 marsh; the British regulars, between two marshes 
 on the right. Harrison's order of battle had been 
 determined when he became aware that the British 
 regulars were drawn up in open order, which made 
 them liable to a fatal attack by cavalry. He in 
 stantly resolved upon a novel manoeuvre. 
 
 Colonel James Johnson, with one battalion of 
 mounted men, was ordered to charge and break the 
 line of regulars and then form in their rear. This 
 was executed with precision. The British were 
 broken, and the whole body, panic-stricken by the 
 unexpected character of the attack, surrendered at 
 once. Tecumseh and his Indians fought more ob 
 stinately. The Kentuckians, commanded by Colonel 
 Richard M. Johnson, were forced to dismount in the 
 contest. But the fall of the valiant Tecumseh, the 
 soul of his people, led to the complete overthrow of 
 the Indians. Within half an hour the battle was 
 won, and a detachment was in pursuit of General 
 Proctor, who had fled at the onset. Though 5000 
 men were engaged in this battle, only about 40 
 were killed, most of whom were Indians. This was 
 a splendid and decisive victory. The British army 
 was nearly all captured, and the Indians never re 
 covered from the blow. 
 
218 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. 
 
 HOENET AND PEACOCK 
 
 ON the 23d of February, 1813, the sloop-of-war 
 Hornet, commanded by Captain James Lawrence, 
 while cruising near Demarara, discovered a brig to 
 the leeward, and chased her so near the shore that 
 he was obliged to haul off for want of a pilot. Dur 
 ing the chase, however, he had discovered a vessel at 
 anchor outside of the bar of Demarara River, with 
 English colors flying, and now began beating round 
 the Corobano bank to get at her; when, between 
 three and four o'clock in the afternoon, another sail 
 was seen on his weather-quarter, edging down for him. 
 As she approached she hoisted English colors, and 
 proved to be the British brig Peacock, Captain Peake. 
 The Hornet was immediately cleared for action, and 
 kept close to the wind in order to get the weather- 
 gauge of the approaching vessel. At ten minutes 
 past five, finding that he could weather the enemy, 
 Captain Lawrence hoisted American colors, tacked, 
 and, in about a quarter of an hour, passed the British 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 219 
 
 ship within half pistol-shot, and exchanged broad 
 sides. The enemy was now in the act of wearing, 
 when Captain Lawrence bore up ; received his star 
 board broadside, and ran him close on board on the 
 starboard-quarter; from which position he kept up 
 so close and bloody a fire that in less than fifteen 
 minutes from the commencement of the action the 
 British struck their colors and hoisted a signal of 
 distress. Lieutenant Shubrick instantly went on 
 board, and found that she was cut to pieces, her 
 captain killed, many of the crew killed and wounded, 
 her mainmast gone by the board, six feet water in 
 the hold, and sinking very fast. The two ships were 
 immediately brought to anchor and the Hornet's 
 boats despatched to bring off the wounded; but, 
 although her guns were thrown overboard, the shot- 
 holes which could be got at plugged, and every ex 
 ertion made by pumping and baling to -keep her 
 afloat, so completely had she been shattered that 
 she sunk before the prisoners could be removed, 
 carrying down thirteen of her crew, as well as three 
 men belonging to the Hornet. Lieutenant Connor 
 and the other officers and men employed in remov 
 ing the prisoners narrowly escaped by jumping into 
 a boat as the Peacock went down ; and four seamen 
 of the Hornet ran up into the foretop at the same 
 time, and were taken off by the boats. 
 
 The Peacock was deemed one of the finest ships 
 of her class in the British navy. In size she was 
 about equal to the Hornet ; but in guns and men 
 the Hornet was somewhat, though very little, her 
 superior, and by no means so much so as to give 
 her any decided advantage. The loss on board the 
 
 
220 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Peacock could not be precisely ascertained. Captain 
 Peake was twice wounded, the second time mortally. 
 Four men were found dead on board. The master 
 and thirty-two others were wounded, three of whom 
 afterwards died. The Hornet had only one man 
 killed and two slightly wounded. Her rigging and 
 sails were much cut, but her hull received very 
 little injury. 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 221 
 
 CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 
 
 AFTER the action with the Peacock, Captain Law 
 rence was promoted to the command of the frigate 
 Chesapeake, then lying in Boston Harbor. She 
 sailed on the 1st of June, 1813. 
 
 As soon as she got under way, Captain Law 
 rence called the crew together, and, having hoisted 
 the white flag, with the motto of " Free Trade and 
 Sailors' Eights," made a short address. His speech, 
 however, was received with no enthusiasm ; on the 
 contrary, signs of dissatisfaction were evident, par 
 ticularly from a boatswain's mate, a Portuguese, who 
 seemed to be at the head of the malecontents ; and 
 complaints were muttered that they had not yet 
 received their prize-money. Such expressions, at 
 the eve of an action, were but ill-bodings of the re 
 sult of it; but Captain Lawrence, ignorant as he 
 was of the character of his sailors, and unwilling at 
 
222 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 such a moment to damp their spirits by harshness, 
 preserved his accustomed calmness, and had prize- 
 checks at once given by the purser to those who 
 had not received them. While this scene was pass 
 ing, the Shannon, observing the Chesapeake coming 
 out, bore away. The Chesapeake followed her till 
 four o'clock in the afternoon, when she hauled up 
 and fired a gun, on which the Shannon hove to. 
 They manoeuvred for some time, till, at about a 
 quarter before six, they approached within pistol- 
 shot and exchanged broadsides. 
 
 These broadsides were both bloody ; but the fire 
 of the Shannon was most fortunate in the destruc 
 tion of officers. The fourth lieutenant, Mr. Ballard, 
 was mortally wounded ; the sailing-master was 
 killed, and Captain Lawrence received a musket-ball 
 in his leg, which caused great pain and profuse 
 bleeding ; but he leaned on the companion-way and 
 continued to order and to animate his crew. A 
 second and a third broadside was exchanged, with 
 evident advantage on the part of the Chesapeake ; 
 but, unfortunately, among those now wounded on 
 board of her was the first lieutenant, Mr. Ludlow, 
 who was carried below ; three men were successively 
 shot from the helm in about twelve minutes from 
 the commencement of the action ; and, as the hands 
 were shifting, a shot disabled her foresail, so that 
 she would no longer answer her helm, and her 
 anchor caught in one of the after-ports of the Shan 
 non, which enabled the latter to rake her upper- 
 deck. As soon as Lawrence perceived that she was 
 falling to leeward, and that by the Shannon's filling 
 she would fall on board, he called his boarders, and 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 223 
 
 was giving orders about the foresail when he re 
 ceived a imisket-ball in his body. The btigleman 
 who should have called the boarders did not do his 
 duty; and, at this moment, Commodore Broke, 
 whose ship had suffered so much that he was pre 
 paring to repel boarding, perceiving from this acci 
 dent how the deck of the Chesapeake was swept, 
 jumped on board with about 20 men. They would 
 have been instantly repelled ; but the captain, the 
 first lieutenant, the sailing-master, boatswain, lieu 
 tenant of marines, the only acting lieutenant on the 
 spar-deck, were all killed or disabled. At the call 
 of the boarders Lieutenant Cox ran on deck, but 
 just in time to receive his falling commander and 
 bear him below. Lieutenant Budd the second 
 lieutenant led up the boarders; but only 15 or 20 
 would follow him, and with these he defended the 
 ship till he was wounded and disabled. Lieutenant 
 Ludlow, wounded as he was, hurried upon deck, 
 where he soon received a mortal cut from a sabre. 
 The marines who were engaged fought with des 
 perate courage ; but they were few in numbers, too 
 many of them having followed the Portuguese 
 boatswain's mate, who exclaimed, it is said, as he 
 skulked below, " So much for not paying men their 
 prize-money!" Meanwhile the Shannon threw on 
 board 60 additional men, who soon succeeded in 
 overpowering the seamen of the Chesapeake, who 
 had now no officers to lead or rally them, and took 
 possession of the ship, which was not, however, sur 
 rendered by any signal of submission, but became 
 the enemy's only because they were able to over 
 whelm all who were in a condition to resist. 
 
224 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 As Captain Lawrence was carried below, he per 
 ceived the melancholy condition of the Chesapeake, 
 but cried out, " Don't surrender the ship." He was 
 taken down in the wardroom, and, as he lay in ex 
 cruciating pain, perceiving that the noise above had 
 ceased, he ordered the surgeon to go on deck and 
 tell the officers to fight on to the last and never 
 strike the colors. " They shall wave," said he, 
 " while I live." But it was too late to resist or to 
 struggle longer; the enemy had already possession 
 of the ship. As Captain Lawrence's wounds would 
 not allow of his removal, he continued in the ward 
 room, surrounded by his wounded officers, and, after 
 lingering in great pain for four days, during which 
 his sufferings were too acute to permit him to speak, 
 or perhaps to think of the sad events he had just 
 witnessed, or do more than ask for what his situa 
 tion required, he died on the 5th of June. His 
 body was wrapped in the colors of the Chesapeake, 
 and laid on the quarter-deck until they arrived at 
 Halifax, where he was buried with the highest 
 military and naval honors, the British officers 
 forgetting for a moment, in their admiration of his 
 character, that he had been but lately their enemy. 
 His pall was supported by the oldest captains in 
 the navy then at Halifax, and no demonstration of 
 respectful attention was omitted to honor the re 
 mains of a brave but unfortunate stranger. 
 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 225 
 
 ENTEEPRISE AND BOXER.' 
 
 ON the 1st of September, 1813, the brig Enter 
 prise sailed from Portsmouth on a cruise, and on the 
 3d discovered and chased a schooner into Portland, 
 where he gained intelligence of several privateers 
 being off Manhagan, and immediately stood for that 
 place. 
 
 The British gun-brig the Boxer, of fourteen guns 
 and nearly 100 men, had been fitted up at St. John's, 
 New Brunswick, for the purpose of a combat with the 
 Enterprise, mounting the same number of guns and 
 very nearly the same number of men. To the crew 
 of the Boxer, however, a detachment was added from 
 the Rattler upon her arrival on the United States 
 coast. On the morning of the 5th the Enterprise, in 
 the bay near Penguin Point, discovered the Boxer get 
 ting under way, and gave chase to her. The Boxer 
 fired several guns, stood for the Enterprise, and 
 hoisted four ensigns. Captain Burrows, having as 
 certained her character, stood out of the bay to 
 
 obtain sea-room; and, followed by the Boxer, he 
 
 15 
 
226 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 hauled upon a wind until three P. M. At that hour 
 he shortened sail, and in twenty minutes the action 
 commenced, within half pistol-shot. At the first 
 broadside Captain Blythe was killed by a cannon- 
 shot through his body, and in a moment after 
 wards Captain Burrows fell by a musket-ball. The 
 command of the two vessels during the whole en 
 gagement* was therefore maintained by the lieute 
 nants. Captain Burrows refused to quit the deck, 
 and at four P.M. received the sword of Captain 
 Blythe from the hands of Lieutenant McCall, ex 
 pressed his satisfaction at the manner of his death, 
 and expired about eight hours afterwards. The 
 colors of the Boxer had been nailed to the mast, 
 and her first officer was therefore obliged to hail 
 Lieutenant McCall to inform him of her surrender 
 before it was known that she was vanquished. She 
 was immediately taken possession of and carried 
 into Portland, with her masts, sails, and spars cut 
 to pieces, and with twenty eighteen-pound shot in 
 her hull. The number of her killed and wounded 
 could not be ascertained, no papers being on board 
 by which the strength of her crew could be known. 
 Her officers admitted the loss of 25 killed and 14 
 wounded. The rigging of the Enterprise was much 
 cut with grape-shot, but her hull was not materially 
 damaged. Her loss was one killed and thirteen 
 wounded : among the latter, the captain and car 
 penter's mate, mortally. Lieutenant Tillinghast 
 and Midshipman Waters, the latter of whom was 
 severely wounded, behaved with coolness and deter 
 mination 5 and Lieutenant McCall, who succeeded 
 
.ft 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 227 
 
 his gallant captain, sustained the reputation of the 
 navy by his conduct throughout the action. 
 
 On their arrival at Portland the bodies of the 
 deceased commanders were deposited with the usual 
 military ceremonies, and the prisoners were soon 
 after removed to the interior. -Both vessels were 
 repaired with the utmost despatch ; and the Boxer, 
 being considered the superior vessel, was ordered by 
 the President of the United States to be delivered 
 up for the benefit of the captors and bought from 
 them into the service. 
 
228 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS A >7 D 
 
 MASSACRE AT FORT MIMMS. 
 
 EARLY in 1812, Tecumseh, the great Shawnee 
 warrior and statesman, appeared among the Indians 
 of the South, attended their councils, and used all 
 his knowledge of their character and his eloquence 
 to induce them to join the Indian confederacy of the 
 North and its British allies. It appears that his 
 efforts were at first unsuccessful. But the successes 
 of the British in the North, and the awful aid of 
 superstition, effected Tecumseh's purpose. Through 
 the channel of Florida the British supplied the 
 Indians with implements of war and presents of 
 goods highly valued by the red men. 
 
 A large majority of the Creeks by far the most 
 powerful of the Southern tribes were induced to 
 begin hostilities against the United States. Murders 
 and robberies were committed, and the criminals 
 were not delivered up on demand. The inhabitants 
 of the frontier were filled with alarm and consterna 
 tion. The people of the Tensaw district, on the 
 Alabama, fled for safety to Fort Mimms. This post 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 229 
 
 was garrisoned by 150 volunteers, under command 
 of Major Beasly. In the forenoon of the 30th of 
 August, 1812, Weatherford, a Creek chief of great 
 talents, with about 600 warriors, surprised the fort, 
 set fire to the buildings it contained, and massacred 
 all within it except 17 persons, who contrived to 
 escape. Nearly 400 men, women, and children 
 were put to death, with circumstances of the utmost 
 horror. 
 
 This terrible event spread consternation through 
 the neighboring settlements. The inhabitants fled 
 towards the other forts, leaving their dwellings and 
 fields to be destroyed or wasted by the savages. 
 The spirit of the people of Tennessee and Georgia 
 was aroused, and prompt exertions were made to 
 punish the perpetrators of the massacre. 
 
230 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL JACKSON. 
 
 BATTLES OF TALLUSHATCHES AND 
 TALLADEGA. 
 
 ON the 2d of . November, 1813, Major-General 
 Jackson despatched Brigadier-General Coffee from 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 231 
 
 the camp at Ten-Islands with 900 men, consisting 
 of cavalry and mounted riflemen, on an expedition 
 against the Tallushatches towns, where a consider 
 able force of the Creeks was concentrated. Coffee 
 arrived within a mile and a half of the town on the 
 morning of the 3d, where he divided his force into 
 two divisions, and directed them to march so as 
 completely to encircle the town, which was effected 
 in a masterly manner. When they arrived within 
 about half a mile of the town the enemy began to 
 prepare for action, which was announced by the 
 beating of their drums, mingled with savage yells. 
 About an hour after sunrise the action was brought 
 on by two companies who had gone within the circle 
 of alignment for the purpose of drawing the enemy 
 out from their buildings. As soon as the two com 
 panies exhibited their front in view of the town and 
 gave a few scattering shot, the enemy formed and 
 made a violent charge upon them, on which they 
 gave way, and were followed by the Indians until 
 they reached the main body, who immediately 
 opened a general fire, and then charged. The In 
 dians now, in their turn, retreated, firing, until they 
 got around and in their buildings, when they made 
 a most determined resistance, fighting to the very 
 last moment, as long as they could stand or sit, not 
 one shrinking or complaining, not one asking for 
 quarter. Every warrior in the town was killed, and 
 all the women and children were taken prisoners, 
 except a few who were unintentionally slain in con 
 sequence of the men flying to the houses and mix 
 ing with their families, and at the same time refus 
 ing quarter. 
 
232 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 The number found killed of the enemy was 186, 
 and a number of others were killed in the woods 
 who were not found. The number of women and 
 children taken was 84. Of the Americans five were 
 killed arid 41 wounded, the greater part slightly, 
 none mortally ; two of the killed were with arrows, 
 which appeared to form a principal part of the arms 
 of the Indians on this occasion, every man having a 
 bow, with a bundle of arrows, which he used after 
 the first fire with his gun, until a leisure time for 
 loading offered. 
 
 Coffee bestows much praise on his men for their 
 deliberation and firmness. "Notwithstanding our 
 numbers," says he, "were far superior to that of the 
 enemy, it was a circumstance to us unknown, and 
 from the parade of the enemy we had every reason 
 to suppose them our equals in number; but there 
 appeared no visible traces of alarm in any. On the 
 contrary, all appeared cool and determined; and, 
 no doubt, when they face a foe of their own or of 
 superior number, they will show the same courage 
 as on this occasion." 
 
 The following day General Coffee returned with 
 his detachment to the camp. 
 
 Late on the evening of the 7th a friendly Indian 
 arrived at the camp, who brought intelligence that 
 the enemy had arrived in great numbers at Talla- 
 dega, about thirty miles below the camp, where 160 
 men of the friendly Creeks had erected a fort, the 
 more effectually to resist the efforts of the hostile 
 party, and where they were now stationed with 
 their wives and children. The messenger repre 
 sented that, unless speedy relief could be obtained 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 233 
 
 from the army, the fort would certainly be taken. 
 General Jackson immediately gave orders for taking 
 up the line of march, with 1200 infantry and 800 
 cavalry and mounted riflemen, leaving behind the 
 sick, the wounded, and the baggage, with a suffi 
 cient force for their protection. By twelve o'clock 
 that night the army was in motion, and commenced 
 crossing the river opposite the encampment, which 
 was effected in a few hours, and on the night of 
 the 8th the army was encamped within six miles 
 of the enemy. At eleven that night a soldier and 
 two Indians, who had been sent forward to recon 
 noitre, returned with the intelligence that the enemy 
 were encamped within a quarter of a mile of the 
 fort; but they had not been able to approach near 
 enough to ascertain either their number or precise 
 situation. At midnight the adjutant-general was 
 ordered to prepare the line of march, and by four 
 o'clock the army was in motion. 
 
 The infantry marched in three columns; the 
 cavalry and mounted riflemen were in the rear, 
 with flankers on each wing. The advance con 
 sisted of a company of artillery with muskets, and 
 two companies of riflemen. A company of spies 
 marched four hundred yards in front of the whole, 
 to bring on the engagement. Having arrived with 
 in a mite of the enemy at seven o'clock, 250 of the 
 cavalry and mounted riflemen were placed in the 
 rear of the centre as a corps de reserve, and the re 
 mainder were ordered to advance on the right and 
 left of the infantry, and, 'after having encircled the 
 enemy by uniting the fronts of their columns and 
 keeping their rear connected with the infantry, to 
 
r 
 
 234 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 face and press inwards towards the centre, so as to 
 leave the enemy no possibility of escape. The in 
 fantry were ordered to advance by heads of com 
 panies, General Hall's brigade occupying the right 
 and General Roberts's the left. 
 
 About eight o'clock, the advance having arrived 
 within eighty yards of the enemy, who were con 
 cealed in a thick shrubbery which covered the 
 margin of a rivulet, received from them a heavy 
 fire, which they immediately returned and then 
 charged and dislodged them from their position. 
 The advance now fell back, as they had been pre 
 viously ordered, to the centre. On the approach 
 of the enemy, three of the militia-companies, having 
 given one fire, commenced a retreat, notwithstand 
 ing the utmost exertions of their officers. To fill 
 the vacancy occasioned by this retreat, Jackson im 
 mediately ordered up a regiment of volunteers ; but, 
 finding the advance of the enemy too rapid to admit 
 of their arrival in time, the reserve was ordered to 
 dismount and meet them. This order was executed 
 with great promptitude and gallantry; and the re 
 treating militia, seeing the spirited stand made by 
 the reserve, immediately rallied, and, recovering 
 their position, poured in upon the enemy a most 
 destructive fire. The engagement now became 
 general ; and in fifteen minutes the Indians were 
 seen flying in every direction. On the left they 
 were met and repulsed by the mounted riflemen; 
 but on the right it unfortunately happened that too 
 great a space had been left between the cavalry and 
 infantry, by which numbers escaped. They were 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 235 
 
 pursued, however, for three miles, to the mountains, 
 with great slaughter. 
 
 The force of the enemy was represented by them 
 selves at 1080, of whom 299 were left dead on the 
 ground, and a great many were killed in their 
 flight. It is believed that very few escaped without 
 a wound. The American loss was 15 killed and 
 80 wounded. 
 
236 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 EXPEDITION TO THE HILLIBEE TOWNS 
 AND THE TALLAPOOSA RIVER. 
 
 ON the llth of November, General Cocke, who 
 commanded the other division of the Tennessee 
 militia, ordered Brigadier-General White, with a de 
 tachment of mounted infantry and cavalry, to pro 
 ceed from Fort Armstrong, where this division was 
 stationed, on an expedition against the Hillibee 
 towns of the hostile Creeks, on t he Tallapoosa River. 
 This expedition was completely successful. They 
 penetrated one hundred miles into the enemy's 
 country and burned four of their villages, three of 
 which they found deserted. Previous to their ar 
 rival at the fourth, they learned that a party of 
 the hostile Creeks were assembled there. Having 
 inarched the whole of the night of the 17th, they 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 237 
 
 surrounded and completely surprised the town at 
 daylight of the morning of the 18th; and of the 
 whole party, which consisted of 31 6, not one escaped, 
 60 being killed and the remainder made prisoners. 
 The detachment now returned to camp, where they 
 arrived on the 23d, having lost not one drop of 
 blood in this enterprise. The country through 
 which they marched was exceedingly rough and 
 hilly, and they had to pass several narrow defiles, 
 where it was necessary to use the utmost precau 
 tion. The troops and horses, likewise, had to be 
 subsisted, in a great degree, on such supplies as 
 could be procured in the enemy's country, which 
 rendered their march more tardy than -it would 
 otherwise have been. 
 
 The Georgia militia, though embodied before those 
 of Tennessee, were not able, from the want of mili 
 tary supplies, to proceed to active operations till the 
 end of November. Brigadier-General Stewart had 
 been originally destined for the command, as the 
 senior brigadier ; but, family considerations inducing 
 him to decline its acceptance, Brigadier-General 
 Floyd was appointed in his room. 
 
 Towards the end of November, Floyd received in 
 formation that numbers of the hostile Indians were 
 assembled at Autossee, a town on the southern bank 
 of the Tallapoosa Eiver, about twenty miles above 
 its junction with the Coosa. He immediately left 
 his camp, which was situated on the west side of 
 the Chattahoochee Kiver, and proceeded against the 
 enemy with 950 militia and between 300 and 400 
 of the friendly Creeks. On the evening of the 28th 
 the detachment encamped within nine or ten miles 
 
238 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 of the place of destination, and, having resumed their 
 march about one next morning, at half-past six they 
 were formed for action in front of the town. The 
 detachment was formed in two columns, with a rifle- 
 company on each flank and a company of artillery 
 in front of the right column. 
 
 It was Floyd's intention to have completely sur 
 rounded the enemy by resting the right wing of his 
 force on Canleebee Creek, at the mouth of which he 
 was informed their town stood, and resting his left 
 on the river-bank below the town ; but, to his sur 
 prise, as the day dawned, he perceived a second 
 town about five hundred yards below that which he 
 was preparing to attack. The plan, therefore, was 
 instantly changed: three companies of infantry on 
 the left were wheeled to the left en echelon, and ad 
 vanced to the lower town, accompanied by a rifle- 
 company and two troops of light dragoons. The 
 remainder of the force approached the upper town, 
 and the battle soon became general. The Indians 
 presented themselves at every point, and fought 
 with desperate bravery; but the well-directed fire 
 of the artillery and the bayonets of the infantry soon 
 forced them to take refuge in the outhouses, thickets, 
 and copses in the rear of the town. Many, it was 
 supposed, secured themselves in caves previously 
 formed for this purpose in the high bluff of the river, 
 which was thickly covered with reeds and brush 
 wood. It was intended that the friendly Indians 
 should have crossed the river above the town and 
 been posted on the opposite shore during the action, 
 to fire on such of the enemy as should attempt to 
 escape, or to keep in check any reinforcements which 
 
NATAL "EXPLOITS. 239 
 
 might be attempted to be thrown in from the neigh 
 boring towns. Owing to the difficulty of the ford, 
 however, and the coldness of the weather and late 
 ness of the hour, this arrangement failed, and their 
 leaders were directed to cross Canleebee Creek and 
 occupy that flank, to prevent escapes from the 
 Tallissee town. Some time after the action com 
 menced, the friendly Indians thronged in disorder 
 in the rear of the militia, when the hostile tribes fell 
 on the flanks of the detachment and fought with 
 great intrepidity. By nine o'clock, however, the 
 enemy was completely driven from the plains and 
 the houses of both towns wrapped in flames. 
 
 It was impossible to determine the strength of the 
 enemy; but from the information of some of the 
 chiefs, which it is said could be relied on, there were 
 assembled at Autossee warriors from eight towns for 
 its defence, it being their beloved ground, on which 
 they proclaimed no white man could approach with 
 out inevitable destruction. Neither was it possible 
 to ascertain their loss ; but from the number which 
 were lying scattered over the field, together with 
 those destroyed in the towns and those slain on the 
 bank of the river, whom respectable officers affirmed 
 they saw lying in heaps at the water's edge, where 
 they had been precipitated by their surviving friends, 
 their loss in killed alone must have been at least 
 200, among whom were the Autossee and Tallissee 
 kings. The number of buildings burned is supposed 
 to have been 400 ; some of them were of a superior 
 order for the dwellings of savages, and filled with 
 valuable articles. The Americans had 11 killed and 
 54 wounded : among the latter was General Floyd. 
 
240 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 The detachment being now sixty miles from any 
 depot of provisions, and their rations pretty nearly 
 consumed, as soon .as the dead and wounded were 
 properly disposed of the place was abandoned, and 
 the troops commenced their march back to the camp 
 on the Chattahoochee : a measure the more necessary 
 as they were in the heart of an enemy's country, 
 which in a few days could have poured from its 
 numerous towns hosts of warriors. They arrived at 
 the camp in safety, having marched 120 miles in 
 seven days. 
 
 On the 9th of December another detachment of 
 the Georgia militia, consisting of about 530 men, 
 under the command of General Adams, marched on 
 an expedition against the Creek towns on the Talla- 
 poosa Eiver. Notwithstanding the precautions which 
 they used to prevent the Indians from hearing of 
 their approach, they found the villages deserted, and 
 were unable to bring the enemy to action, though 
 their yells were repeatedly heard on both sides of 
 the river. Having burned two of their villages, 
 therefore, the detachment returned to camp. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 241 
 
 TREATY OF THE HICKORY GROUND. 
 
 FINAL TREATY OF THE CREEKS. 
 
 ON the 17th of January, 1814, General Jackson, 
 finding himself in a condition to commence active 
 offensive operations, marched from his encampment 
 at Fort Strother with 900 volunteers, who were soon 
 afterwards joined by 300 friendly Indians, against an 
 assemblage of Creeks at the Great Bend of the 
 Tallapoosa. On the evening of the 21st he fell 
 upon a large trail which indicated the neighborhood 
 of a strong force. At eleven o'clock at night his 
 spies came in and informed him that there was a 
 large encampment of Indians at about three miles 
 distance, who, from their warwhoops and dances, 
 appeared to be apprized of his approach, and would 
 
 either commence a night-attack upon him or make 
 
 16 
 
242 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 their escape. Having received this intelligence, 
 General Jackson put himself in readiness to meet 
 an attack or pursue them as soon as daylight ap 
 peared. 
 
 At six o'clock in the morning a vigorous attack 
 was made upon his left flank, which sustained it 
 with bravery : the action continuing to rage at that 
 point and on the left of the rear for half an hour. 
 As soon as it became light enough -to pursue, the 
 left wing was reinforced by Captain Ferril's com 
 pany of infantry and led on to the charge by Gene 
 ral Coffee. The enemy was completely routed at 
 every point ; and, the friendly Indians joining in the 
 pursuit, they were chased about two miles with 
 great slaughter. The chase being over, General 
 Coffee was detached to burn their encampment ; but, 
 finding it fortified, he returned to the main body for 
 artillery. Half an hour after his return a large 
 force appeared and commenced an attack upon the 
 right flank. General Coffee was permitted, at his 
 own request, to take 200 men and turn the enemy's 
 left; but, by some mistake, only 54 followed him. 
 With these he commenced an attack on their left : 
 200 of the friendly Indians were ordered to fall 
 upon the enemy's right and co-operate with the 
 general. The Creeks intended this attack on Jack 
 son's right as a feint, and, expecting to find his left 
 weakened, directed their main force against that 
 quarter; but General Jackson, perceiving the object 
 of the enemy, had directed that flank to remain 
 firm in its position, and at the first moment of attack 
 they were supported by the reserve under Captain 
 Ferril. The whole line met the approach of the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 243 
 
 enemy with vigor, and, after a few fires, made a bold 
 and decisive charge. The Creeks fled with precipita 
 tion, and were pursued a considerable distance with 
 a destructive fire. In the mean time General Coffee 
 was contending on the right with a superior force ; 
 the friendly Indians who had been ordered to his 
 support, seeing the enemy routed on the left, quit 
 their post and joined in the chase. That being 
 over, Jim Fife, with the friendly Indians, was again 
 ordered to support General Coffee. As soon as he 
 reached him they made a decisive charge, routed 
 the enemy, and pursued him three miles. Forty- 
 five of the enemy's slain were found. General Coffee 
 was wounded in the body, and his aid, Colonel 
 Donaldson, and three others, slain. The next day 
 General Jackson commenced his return-march to 
 Fort Strother. His men and horses were exhausted, 
 and he was not furnished with either provisions or 
 forage for a longer stay. The enemy, supposing 
 they had defeated the general, hung on his rear; 
 and on the morning of the 24th, as he was on the 
 point of crossing Enotachopeo Creek, the front-guard 
 having crossed, with part of the flank-columns and 
 the wounded, and the artillery just entering the 
 water, an attack commenced on the rear. The 
 main part of the rear-guard precipitately gave way, 
 leaving only 25 men, under Colonel Carrol, who 
 maintained their ground as long as possible. There 
 then remained on the left of the creek, to meet the 
 enemy, the remnant of the rear-guard, the artillery- 
 company, and Captain Russell's company of spies. 
 Lieutenant Armstrong, of the artillery, immediately 
 ordered them to form and advance to the top of the 
 
244 . BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 hill, while he and a few of his men dragged up a 
 six-pounder amid a most galling fire from more than 
 ten times their numbers. Arrived at the top, they 
 formed and poured in upon their assailants a fire of 
 grape, and at length made a charge and repelled them. 
 Lieutenant Armstrong, Captains Hamilton, Bradford, 
 and McGovock, fell in this rencontre. By this time 
 a considerable number had recrossed the creek and 
 joined the chase; Captain Gordon, of the spies, 
 rushed from the front and partially succeeded in 
 turning the enemy's left flank. The Creeks now 
 fled in the greatest consternation, throwing off their 
 packs and every thing that retarded their flight, and 
 were pursued for more than two miles. Twenty-six 
 of their warriors were left dead on the field. Gene 
 ral Jackson's loss, in the several engagements of the 
 22d and 24th, was 24 killed and 70 wounded. After 
 the battle of the 24th, General Jackson was enabled 
 to return to Fort Strother without further molesta 
 tion. 
 
 The Creeks, encouraged by what they considered 
 a victory over General Jackson's forces in the battles 
 of the 22d and 24th of January, continued to con 
 centrate their forces and fortify themselves at the 
 Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. This river forms 
 the northeastern branch of the Alabama. Several 
 miles above its junction with the Coosa, is a curve 
 in the river in the form of a horseshoe, called by 
 the whites the Great Bend, and by the Indians 
 Emucsau. The peninsula formed by the bend con 
 tains about one hundred acres, and the isthmus 
 leading to it is about forty rods across; at the bottom 
 of the peninsula is the village of Tohopisca, con- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 245 
 
 taining about two hundred houses. On this peninsula 
 the Indians from the adjoining districts had concen 
 trated their forces to the amount of 1000 warriors, 
 with ample stores of provisions and ammunition, 
 and had fortified themselves with great skill, having 
 thrown up a breastwork consisting of eight tiers of 
 logs with double portholes across the isthmus, so 
 that an assailing enemy might be opposed by a 
 double and cross-fire by the garrison, who could lie 
 in perfect safety behind their works. 
 
 Considerable reinforcements of volunteers from 
 Tennessee, and friendly Indians, having reached 
 General Jackson on the 16th of March, he left Fort 
 Strother with his whole disposable force, amounting 
 to about 3000 of every description, on an expedition 
 against this assemblage of Indians. He proceeded 
 down the Coosa, about sixty miles, to the mouth of 
 Cedar Creek, where he established a post called Fort 
 Williams, and proceeded, on the 24th, across the 
 ridge of land dividing the waters of the Coosa from 
 the Tallapoosa, and arrived at the Great Bend on 
 the morning of the 27th, having the three preceding 
 days opened a passage through the wilderness of 
 fifty- two miles. On the 26th he passed the battle 
 ground of the 22d of January, and left it three 
 miles in his rear. General Coffee was detached, with 
 700 cavalry and mounted gun-men and 600 friendly 
 Indians, to cross the river below the bend, secure 
 the opposite banks, and prevent escape. Having 
 crossed at the Little Island Ford, three miles below 
 the bend, his Indians were ordered silently to ap 
 proach and line the bank of the river, while the 
 mounted men occupied the adjoining heights, to 
 
246 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 guard against reinforcements, which might be ex 
 pected from the Oakfusky towns, eight miles below: 
 Lieutenant Bean at the same time was ordered to 
 occupy Little Island at the fording-place, to secure 
 any that might attempt to escape in that direction. 
 In the mean time General Jackson, with the artillery 
 and infantry, moved on in slow and regular order to 
 the isthmus, and planted his guns on an eminence 
 one hundred and fifty yards in front of the breast 
 work. On perceiving that General Coffee had com 
 pleted his arrangements below, he opened a fire 
 upon the fortification, but found he could make no 
 other impression with his artillery than boring shot- 
 holes through the logs. General Coffee's Indians on 
 the bank, hearing the roaring of the cannon in front 
 and observing considerable confusion on the peninsula, 
 supposing the battle to be nearly won, crossed over 
 and set fire to the village and attacked the Creeks 
 in the rear. At this moment General Jackson 
 ordered an assault upon the works in front. The 
 regular troops, led by Colonel Williams, accompanied 
 by a part of the militia of General Dougherty's 
 brigade, led on by Colonel Kussell, presently got 
 possession of a part of the works, amid a tremendous 
 fire from behind them. The advance-guard was led 
 by Colonel Sisler, and the left extremity of the line 
 by Captain Gordon, of the spies, and Captain McMarry, 
 of General Johnson's brigade of West Tennessee 
 militia. The battle for a short time was obstinate, 
 and fought musket-to-musket through the port 
 holes, when the assailants succeeded in getting pos 
 session of the opposite side of the works, and the 
 contest ended. The Creeks were entirely routed, 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 247 
 
 and the whole margin of the river strewed with the 
 slain. The troops under General Jackson, and 
 General Coffee's Indians, continued the work of 
 destruction as long as there was a Creek to be 
 found. General Coffee, on seeing his Indians cross 
 ing over, had ordered their places to be supplied on 
 the bank by his riflemen; and every Indian that 
 attempted to escape by swimming the river or 
 crossing the Little Island below was met and slain 
 by General Coffee's troops. The battle, as long as 
 any appearance of resistance remained, lasted five 
 hours ; the slaughter continued until dark, and was 
 renewed the next morning, when 16 more of the 
 unfortunate savages were hunted out of their hiding- 
 places and slain. Five hundred and fifty-seven 
 warriors were found dead on the peninsula, among 
 whom was their famous prophet Manahell, and two 
 others, the principal instigators of the war; 250 
 more were estimated to have been killed in crossing 
 the river, and at other places, which were not found. 
 General Jackson's loss was 26 white men and 23 
 Indians killed, and 107 white men and 47 Indians 
 wounded. 
 
 This was a decisive stroke. The power of the 
 Creeks was crushed forever, and the miserable 
 remnant of the hostile party, under their bold, 
 eloquent, and indomitable chief, Weatherford, wan 
 dered about the country, hunted like wild beasts. 
 Soon after the victory, General Jackson retired to 
 the Hickory Ground, at which place terms of peace 
 were settled, Weatherford, by his dignified conduct, 
 securing an unexpected degree of favor for his 
 people. 
 
248 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA. 
 
 FROM this period until the commencement of July, 
 1814, the hostile armies lay comparatively inactive. 
 Soon after his arrival at Sackett's Harbor from 
 French Mills, General Brown put his troops in 
 motion for the Niagara frontier ; but, after proceed 
 ing some distance, he returned to the former post. 
 At this place he remained, assiduously employed in 
 disciplining and organizing his troops, until he re 
 ceived orders from the government to assemble a 
 division of the army at Black Rock and Buffalo, 
 with a view to the recovery of Fort Niagara, which 
 still remained in the hands of the enemy, and to the 
 capture of the British posts in the peninsula. His 
 force, which consisted of between 3000 and 4000 
 men, was composed of two brigades of regulars, with 
 artillery, the first brigade commanded by Brigadier- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 249 
 
 General Scott, and the second by Brigadier-General 
 Ripley, together with a body of volunteers from 
 New York and Pennsylvania, under General Porter. 
 The commander-in-chief, General Brown, had re 
 cently been promoted to the rank of major-general. 
 With this army, therefore, the best-appointed, per 
 haps, and most efficient of any that had been yet 
 assembled, was the last campaign of the war on this 
 frontier commenced. 
 
 The first attack made by this force was on the 
 British fort of Erie, opposite to Black Rock. On 
 the 2d of July, at midnight, the whole army em 
 barked in boats from the latter place, and the next 
 morning landed on the enemy's shore. Prepara 
 tions were immediately made for the assault of the 
 fort; but it surrendered before the artillery could 
 be planted against it. The garrison, to the num 
 ber of t 137, were made prisoners of war. 
 
 The British troops in the vicinity were at this 
 period encamped in a strong position at Chippewa, 
 and were supposed to amount to about 3000 men, 
 who were commanded by Major-General Riall. To 
 the attack of this place General Brown moved his 
 army on the succeeding day, leaving behind him a 
 small garrison in Fort Erie, and encamped in the 
 evening in a favorable position, within two miles of 
 the enemy's works. On the morning of the 5th 
 the American pickets were repeatedly attacked by 
 parties of the enemy; and General Porfer was de 
 spatched in the afternoon to gain the rear of these 
 skirmishers, and, by cutting them off, bring on an 
 engagement of the main body. General Riall, about 
 the same time, moved out of his works with his 
 
250 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 whole force, and soon fell in with General Porter's 
 command. Perceiving this movement, General 
 Brown ordered the first brigade and Towson's artil 
 lery to advance and engage the enemy on the plains 
 of Chippewa : and in a few minutes a warm action 
 commenced. 
 
 The left of the American position was occupied 
 by General Porter's brigade of volunteers, who, un 
 able to withstand the fire of the British regulars, 
 gave way, and exposed that flank of General Scott's 
 brigade. To prevent the enemy from assailing it, 
 General Brown now ordered up the brigade of Gene 
 ral Ripley, with directions to skirt the wood on the 
 left and endeavor to gain the rear of the British 
 right. After a most severe and arduous conflict, 
 Major Jessup, who commanded a battalion on the 
 left flank, succeeded in gaining a position, from 
 whence he opened so galling a fire as to cause the 
 enemy's right to fall back. In the mean time the 
 brigade of General Scott had continued to advance 
 against the powerful resistance of the enemy, who 
 now, finding his efforts repulsed at every point, gra 
 dually retired, until he reached the sloping ground 
 in the vicinity of Chippewa, where, being hard 
 pressed by the victors, his retreat was changed into 
 a rapid and disorderly flight. The advance of the 
 Americans was, however, checked by the batteries 
 at Chippewa, behind which the British troops had 
 rallied. General Brown now ordered up the artil 
 lery, with a view of forcing the works ; but, finding 
 the day to be nearly spent and the batteries of the 
 enemy strongly fortified, he drew off his forces and 
 retired to the camp. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 251 
 
 In proportion to the numbers engaged, the loss of 
 men in this action was unusually great. The official 
 report of General Brown stated the killed, wounded, 
 and missing of the American army to amount to 
 328. That of the British troops appears, from the 
 statement of General Drummond, to have amounted 
 to 133 killed, 320 wounded, and 46 prisoners, among 
 whom were many officers of rank. Few of the 
 American officers were wounded, and not one killed, 
 although their conduct was such as to call forth the 
 highest encomiums of their commander. Generals 
 Scott and Kipley, and Majors Jessup, Leavenworth, 
 and McNeill, and many others, were specially noticed, 
 in the official report, in terms of high, praise. 
 
252 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 BATTLES OF BRIDGEWATER AND 
 NIAGARA. 
 
 ON the 25th of July, 1814, General Brown was 
 informed that the British army had moved to 
 Queenstown in considerable force, and was landing 
 a party at Lewistown for the purpose of attacking 
 the town of Schlosser and capturing the stores of 
 his army. With the expectation of drawing him 
 off from this attempt, General Scott was despatched 
 on the road to Queenstown, with his own brigade, 
 Towson's artillery, and the dragoons. At four in 
 the afternoon this detachment moved from the 
 camp, and, having proceeded about two miles, dis 
 covered the enemy posted on an eminence of con 
 siderable strength at a place called Bridgewater, 
 having the Queenstown Road in their front, the 
 position being defended by a formidable battery of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 253 
 
 nine pieces of artillery. Between this post and 
 General Scott's advance was a narrow strip of wood. 
 He immediately determined to attack the enemy, 
 and, after despatching an express to camp for a 
 reinforcement, formed his small party in a plain in 
 front of the British position. The artillery, under 
 Captain Towson, opened a cannonade, which was 
 returned by the enemy's batteries with great effect ; 
 and an action commenced and was supported more 
 than an hour, by the first brigade, against greatly- 
 superior numbers. The llth and 22d regiments, 
 having expended their ammunition, fell back, both 
 of their commanding and most of the inferior 
 officers being wounded. The brunt of the engage 
 ment then fell on the 9th,' commanded by Colonel 
 Leavenworth, which suffered severely from the 
 enemy's fire. In the mean time the 25th regiment, 
 under Major Jessup, which had been placed on the 
 right of the American line, finding the road which 
 led to the rear of the enemy's left unoccupied, 
 moved along it, and threw itself on the rear with 
 such signal success as to capture General Kiall and 
 many other officers and to cause the flight of a great 
 part of their line. The enemy's batteries, however, 
 still continued a heavy fire, before which the ranks 
 of General Scott's brigade were rapidly thinning; 
 and, reduced as it was in numbers, it was evident 
 that it could not withstand the assault of a fresh 
 body of troops which the British commander, 
 ignorant of the small amount of troops opposed to 
 him, had ordered up. In this critical situation of 
 affairs, day being now spent and its light partially 
 supplied by the moon, the second brigade, under 
 
254 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 General Ripley, arrived in time to retrieve the 
 fortune of the day. Hearing, while at the camp, 
 the fire of musketry and cannon, it was immediately 
 put in motion, and received orders from General 
 Brown to advance to the support of the first 
 brigade, to which it immediately hastened. The 
 order was rapidly complied with; and, when the 
 troops arrived on the field, General Ripley was 
 directed by General Brown to form on the right of 
 the first brigade. Perceiving the exhausted state 
 of that body and the nature of the enemy's position, 
 General Ripley determined to depart from his 
 orders, a literal compliance with which would, in 
 all probability, have placed his brigade in the same 
 dangerous situation with that of General Scott. He 
 saw that the position of the enemy's artillery on 
 the eminence was the great source of annoyance to 
 the American army, and unless that should be 
 carried their defeat might be considered as certain. 
 He determined, therefore, to place his own brigade 
 between that of General Scott and the enemy's 
 battery and endeavor to get possession of the latter. 
 Forming, therefore, the two regiments of w r hich his 
 brigade was composed in the intended situation, he 
 directed Colonel Miller to lead the 21st regiment 
 immediately up to the cannon, while he himself, at 
 the head of the 23d, moved to the attack of the 
 infantry on the left. This order was executed by 
 the 21st with a degree of gallantry never exceeded 
 in any previous combat, and which shed the highest 
 glory upon that regiment and its gallant commander. 
 In a few moments the enemy's cannon were in his 
 possession; and such was the valor of the assail- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 255 
 
 ants and the resolution of the enemy that the 
 artillery-men were bayoneted while in the act of 
 firing their pieces. Exactly at the same moment 
 General Ripley, with the 23d regiment, which had 
 at first faltered before the destructive fire of the 
 enemy, attacked the infantry and drove them from 
 the crest of the eminence. The enemy's position 
 was thus gained, after a most sanguinary contest ; 
 and the line of the second brigade formed in front 
 of the captured cannon, with the 1st regiment and 
 General Porter's volunteers on the left and the 25th 
 regiment on the right, the American artillery being 
 between that regiment and the 23d. 
 
 Mortified by his expulsion from the eminence, and 
 having received an accession of fresh troops, the 
 enemy now brought up his whole force and made a 
 resolute and determined attempt to recover his posi 
 tion. He was received with equal gallantry by the 
 second brigade, and, after a close contest of bayonets, 
 was driven down the hill. The attack was renewed 
 a second time with no better success ; and at last, 
 about midnight, a third and final attempt was made, 
 which was not defeated until after great loss on both 
 sides. The firing then ceased in every direction, 
 the British troops having been withdrawn, leaving 
 their opponents in possession of the field. The 
 brigade of General Scott had, while this contest 
 was continued, been reformed, and, passing through 
 an opening of General Ripley's line, made an un 
 successful charge upon the enemy's right flank ; and 
 afterwards, participating in the conflict, it took post 
 on the left. 
 
 In this severe engagement Generals Brown and 
 
256 BATTLE-FIELDS A X D 
 
 Scott were both wounded and compelled to leave 
 the field. The command therefore devolved upon 
 General Bipley, who, with this information, received 
 directions from General Brown to collect the wounded 
 and return to camp. Unfortunately, no means were 
 at hand for the removal of the captured artillery. 
 Most of the horses had been killed, and the troops 
 were so much exhausted as to render the removal 
 of the cannon by hand impracticable. They were, 
 therefore, reluctantly left on the ground, having 
 been previously spiked and otherwise injured. The 
 wounded being collected and the shattered remains 
 of the army consolidated, the line of march was 
 taken up in good order for the camp. The loss of 
 men was remarkably equal in number on both 
 sides ; but, from the inferior numerical force of the 
 Americans, it fell more severely on them. 
 
 Of the British 84 were killed, of whom 5 were 
 officers, 559 wounded, including Generals Drum- 
 mond and Kiall and 39 other officers, and 234 
 missing and prisoners : in all, 878. Of the Ame 
 ricans 860 were killed, wounded, or missing. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 SIEGE OF FORT ERIE. 
 
 THE capture of Major-General Riall and many 
 other of the enemy's officers was owing to the enter 
 prise and skill of Major Jessup, one of the most 
 gallant and accomplished of soldiers, whose humanity 
 was as strongly displayed on this occasion as his 
 valor. To the judgment of General Ripley and the 
 unsurpassed steadiness of his brigade, particularly 
 of the 21st regiment, under Colonel Miller, the final 
 success of the day seems to have been greatly owing; 
 and the storming of the heights of Bridgewater will 
 long be remembered among the most gallant achieve 
 ments in the American annals. 
 
 The remains of the army having been marched 
 back to the camp, General Ripley received directions 
 from General Brown to refresh the troops and return 
 to the field of battle in the morning, there to be 
 
258 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 governed by circumstances. Accordingly, at dawn 
 on the succeeding day the troops were put in motion 
 for that purpose ; but General Ripley, having ascer 
 tained that the enemy was strongly posted in front 
 and his line nearly double that of the Americans, 
 his own force being reduced to 1600 men, resolved 
 to disobey his instructions and avoid a contest with 
 an enemy of such superior force. He therefore 
 broke up his camp at Chippewa, and, destroying the 
 bridges in his rear, retreated to Fort Erie, and 
 immediately proceeded to strengthen and extend its 
 defences. 
 
 This wise and judicious retreat, which was severely 
 censured at the time., probably saved the remains 
 of this gallant army from entire destruction. The 
 enemy, to the number of about 5000 men, soon 
 afterwards followed his footsteps and appeared before 
 Fort Erie, to which they began to lay a regular 
 siege. In the mean time, by the indefatigable ex 
 ertions of the American troops, the fort was put in 
 a better state of defence, although still imperfect. 
 The main camp of the enemy was distant about two 
 miles from the American fortifications, around which 
 they now commenced a double line of intrench- 
 ments, supported by block-houses. 
 
 On the 5th of August the day after the com 
 mencement of the siege General Gaines arrived 
 from Sackett's Harbor, and, being the senior officer, 
 took the command. From this day to the 14th 
 nothing material occurred, the enemy being em 
 ployed in cannonading the American batteries and 
 drawing closer their lines of circumvallation. At 
 length, on the evening of that day, an unusual 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 259 
 
 GENERAL TOWSOK. 
 
260 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 degree of activity being observed in the British 
 camp, it was conjectured that an assault would be 
 attempted; and preparations were therefore made 
 to receive it. At two in the morning of the 15th 
 the British troops moved from their intrenchments 
 in three columns, the right under Colonel Fischer, 
 the centre and left under Colonels Drummond and 
 Scott. The approach of the right column was soon 
 perceived on the American left, which \vas defended 
 by the 21st regiment and Towson's artillery, be 
 tween whom and the enemy only a line of loose 
 brush intervened. The column was permitted to 
 approach within a short distance, when so destruc 
 tive a fire was opened upon it that it fell back in 
 confusion. The attempt was four times renewed, 
 with no greater success ; and the enemy at last 
 broke and fled to the encampment. 
 
 In the mean time the left and centre columns 
 had advanced at the same moment to the assault. 
 The former were received by the 9th regiment, the 
 artillery of Captain Douglass, and two companies of 
 volunteers, of New York arid Pennsylvania, and 
 retreated after the first fire. The efforts of the 
 centre column, however, were more steady and suc 
 cessful. Being covered in a great measure by a 
 ravine, they suddenly emerged, and, placing scaling- 
 ladders to the wall, ascended the parapet, and, after 
 a sanguinary struggle, in which they were twice 
 repulsed, succeeded for a short time in establishing 
 themselves in the bastion. At this moment an 
 explosion took place under the platform which de 
 stroyed great numbers of both armies and caused 
 the sudden and confused flight of the enemy, whose 
 
XAVAL EXPLOITS. 261 
 
 numbers were thinned in their retreat by the Ame 
 rican artillery. 
 
 In this sanguinary and protracted contest, which 
 continued until after daylight, the British troops 
 suffered very severely. According to the official 
 report of their commander, 57 were killed, including 
 Colonels Scott and Drummond, the leaders of the 
 left and centre columns, 319 wounded, and 539 
 missing, of whom about 200 were taken prisoners. 
 The American loss amounted to but 84 in killed, 
 wounded, and missing. Among the killed, however, 
 were Captain Williams and Lieutenant McDonough 
 of the artillery, both officers of great promise. 
 
 After this repulse the British troops lay com 
 paratively inactive for a considerable period. A 
 cannonading was, indeed, kept up on both sides, 
 without material consequences. By the bursting 
 of a shell General Gaines received a wound that 
 obliged him to retire from the command, which then 
 devolved on General Ripley, and was retained by 
 him until the 2d of September, when General Brown, 
 having recovered from his wounds, resumed it. 
 
 The batteries of the enemy began now to appear 
 every day more formidable ; fresh troops were con 
 stantly arriving; and every thing indicated an 
 unfavorable destiny for the garrison of Fort Erie. 
 Considerable anxiety was consequently excited in 
 the public mind for the fate of these brave men. 
 Reinforcements were, however, on the march from 
 Plattsburg, which was itself menaced by Sir George 
 Prevost. The fire from the batteries continuing to 
 be very severe, General Brown resolved upon a 
 sortie for the purpose of effecting their destruction. 
 
262 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL PORTER. 
 
 The British force consisted of three brigades of 
 about 1500 men each, one of which was alternately 
 stationed at the batteries, while the other two 
 remained at the camp, two miles distant. The 
 object proposed in the sortie was the destruction of 
 the cannon and the defeat or capture of the brigade 
 on duty before the arrival of the reserve. The 
 17th of September was fixed upon for this enter 
 prise. At noon of that day the troops moved out 
 of the fort, in two divisions. The left, commanded 
 by General Porter, and consisting of the riflemen 
 and Indians under Colonel Gibson, and two columns, 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 263 
 
 one under General Davis, the other under Colonel 
 Wood, proceeded, by a road nearly opened through 
 the forest, to the enemy's right. The right division, 
 under General Miller, was stationed in the ravine, 
 between the fort and the hostile lines, with direc 
 tions not to advance until General Porter should 
 have reached the enemy's flank. 
 
 The left division advanced with so much celerity 
 that the enemy were completely surprised. A 
 severe conflict, however, ensued, which in thirty 
 minutes ended in the capture of the batteries and 
 garrison, with the loss of Colonels Gibson and Wood, 
 both of whom fell, gallantly fighting, at the head of 
 their columns. The noise of the firing reaching 
 the division of General Miller, he immediately 
 moved forward, and succeeded, after a close and 
 desperate contest, in carrying the batteries opposed 
 to him, and took possession of their block-houses. 
 He was now joined by General Ripley, who took 
 the command; and, the remaining battery having 
 been captured, the troops were employed in destroy 
 ing the enemy's works and spiking his cannon. 
 At this moment General Ripley received a severe 
 wound, and the command devolved upon General 
 Miller. The object of the sortie being accomplished, 
 the whole body returned to the fort, bringing with 
 them 380 prisoners, and having destroyed the fruits 
 of forty-seven days' labor. 
 
 From the spirited resistance of the enemy, the 
 loss sustained by the assailants was, as may be sup 
 posed, severe. Of killed the number amounted to 
 79, among whom was General Davis, of the New 
 York militia; 232 were wounded, and 216 missing. 
 
264 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 The official report of the British commander acknow 
 ledged a loss of 609 men, 115 of whom were killed, 
 178 wounded, and 316 prisoners. The enemy 
 claimed a victory ; but their retreat, which took 
 place a few days afterwards, palpably contradicted 
 this pretension. 
 
 The reinforcements from Plattsburg, amounting 
 to nearly 5000 men, which had taken a circuitous 
 route and were delayed a considerable -time, arrived 
 on the 9th of October at Fort Erie, and the com 
 mand of the whole force then devolved upon Major- 
 General Izard. The enemy having fallen back 
 behind the Chippewa, that officer moved from Fort 
 Erie on the 14th, with the design of bringing him 
 to action. On the 18th General Bissell was de 
 spatched with about 900 men to destroy the enemy's 
 stores at Lyon's Creek, which service he executed 
 after a sharp contest with a detachment from the 
 enemy's army of about 1200 men under the Mar 
 quis of Tweedale, which he succeeded in repulsing. 
 The army of General Izard had, in the mean time, 
 advanced towards Chippewa, where it found the 
 enemy strongly posted in an intrenched camp, from 
 which various attempts were made to entice him, 
 without success. The season being now far ad 
 vanced, it was determined to withdraw the army to 
 the American shore. Fort Erie being therefore 
 destroyed, General Izard evacuated the Canadian 
 territory,, and distributed his troops at the posts of 
 Buffalo, Black Rock, and Batavia : and thus termi 
 nated the third and last invasion of the peninsula 
 by the American forces. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 265 
 
 COMMODORE MCDONOUCtH. 
 
 BATTLES OF PLATTSBURG AND LAKE 
 CHAMPLAIN. 
 
 IN the mean time, events occurred in other quar 
 ters of the Union no less honorable to the Ameri 
 can arms. Sir George Prevost, Governor-General of 
 Canada, having collected all his disposable force for 
 an invasion of the Union as far as Crown Point, 
 entered the country on the 1st of the month and 
 occupied the village of Champlain. There he issued 
 proclamations tending to dissuade the people from 
 their allegiance, and inviting them to furnish the 
 army with provisions for their further progress. 
 General Macomb was then at Plattsburg, with 
 about 2000 American troops, many of whom were 
 militia. He made able dispositions of his small force, 
 and prepared for a determined resistance to the pro 
 gress of Prevost. Simultaneously with their opera 
 tions on land, the enemy prepared their fleet for 
 action on Lake Champlain. 
 
 The American fleet, under Commodore McDo- 
 
266 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 nough, lay at anchor in Burlington Bay, on the 
 right flank of the American lines, and two miles 
 distant. Great exertions had been made by both 
 parties to produce a superior naval force on this 
 lake, the Americans at Otter Creek, and the British 
 at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing their relative 
 strength on the llth of September, the American 
 fleet consisted of the Saratoga, flag-ship, mounting 
 26 guns; Eagle, 20 guns; Ticonderoga, 17 guns; 
 
 BDKLINQTON BAT. 
 
 Preble, 7 guns; six galleys of two guns each, 12 
 guns ; four of one, 4 guns : making in the whole 86 
 guns and 820 men. The British fleet consisted of 
 the frigate Confiance, flag-ship, mounting 39 guns; 
 Linnet, 16 guns; Cherub, 11 guns; Finch, 11 guns; 
 five galleys of two guns each, 10 guns; eight of one, 
 8 guns : making in the whole 95 guns and 1020 men. 
 
NAVAL EXPL-OITS. 267 
 
 The British-land forces employed themselves from 
 the 7th to the llth in bringing up their heavy artil 
 lery and strengthening their works on the north bank 
 of the Saranac. Their fortified encampment was on 
 a ridge a little to the west of the town, their right 
 near the river, and their left resting on the lake, one 
 mile in the rear of the village. Having determined 
 on a simultaneous attack by land and water, they 
 lay in this position on the morning of the llth, 
 waiting the approach of their fleet. At eight o'clock 
 the wished-for ships appeared under easy sail, mov 
 ing round Cumberland Head, and were hailed with 
 joyous acclamations. At nine o'clock they anchored 
 within three hundred yards of the American squa 
 dron, in line of battle, the Confiance opposed to the 
 Saratoga, the Linnet to the Eagle, thirteen British 
 galleys to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and a division of 
 the American galleys, the Cherub assisting the Con- 
 fiance and Linnet and the Finch aiding the galleys. 
 In this position, the weather being perfectly clear 
 and calm and the bay smooth, the whole force on 
 both sides became at once engaged. About an hour 
 and a half after the commencement of the action the 
 starboard guns of the Saratoga were nearly all dis 
 mantled. The commandant ordered a stern-anchor 
 to be dropped and the lower cable cut, by means of 
 which the ship rounded to and presented a fresh 
 broadside to her enemy. The Confiance attempted 
 the same operation and failed. This was attended 
 with such powerful effects that she was obliged to 
 surrender in a few minutes. The whole broadside 
 of the Saratoga was then brought to bear on the 
 Linnet, and in fifteen minutes she followed the ex- 
 
268 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ample of her flag-ship. One of the British sloops 
 struck to the Eagle ; three galleys were sunk, and 
 the rest made off. No ship in the fleet being able to 
 follow them, they escaped down the lake. There 
 was no mast standing in either squadron at the close 
 of the action to which a sail could be attached. The 
 Saratoga received fifty-five round-shot in her hull 
 and the Confiance one hundred and five. The action 
 lasted without any cessation, on a smooth sea, at 
 close quarters, two hours and twenty minutes. In 
 the American squadron 52 were killed and 58 
 wounded. In the British, 84 were killed and 110 
 wounded. Among the slain was the British com 
 mandant, Commodore Downie. This engagement 
 was in full view of both armies and of numerous 
 spectators collected on the heights bordering on the 
 bay to witness the scene. It was viewed by the in 
 habitants with trembling anxiety, as success on the 
 part of the British would have opened to them an 
 easy passage into the heart of the country and ex 
 posed a numerous population on the borders of !he 
 lake to British ravages. When the flag of the Con- 
 fiance was struck, the shores resounded with the 
 acclamations of the American troops and citizens. 
 The British, when they saw their fleet completely 
 conquered, were dispirited and confounded. 
 
 At the moment of the commencement of the naval 
 action, the British, from their works on shore, opened 
 a heavy fire of shot, shells, and rockets, upon the 
 American lines. This was continued with little in 
 terruption until sunset, and returned with spirit and 
 effect. At six o'clock the firing on the part of the 
 British ceased, every battery having been silenced 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 269 
 
 GENERAL MACOMB. 
 
 by. the American artillery. At the commencement 
 of the bombardment, and while the ships were en 
 gaged, three desperate efforts were made by the 
 British to pass the Saranac, for the purpose of carry 
 ing the American lines by assault. With this view, 
 scaling-ladders, fascines, and every implement neces 
 sary for the purpose, were prepared. One attempt 
 was made to cross at the village-bridge, one at the 
 upper bridge, and one at the ford-way, three miles 
 above the works. At each point they were met at 
 the bank by the American troops and repulsed. At 
 the bridges the American regulars immediately drove 
 them back. The ford was guarded by the volun- 
 
270 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 teers and militia. Here a considerable body of 
 British effected a passage, and the militia retired 
 into the neighboring woods, where their operations 
 would be more effectual. A whole company of the 
 76th regiment was here destroyed, three lieutenants 
 and 27 men taken, and the captain and the rest of 
 the company killed. The residue of the British were 
 obliged to recross the river with precipitation and 
 oonsiderable loss. 
 
 At dusk the British withdrew their cannon from 
 the batteries ; at nine o'clock sent off all the artillery 
 and baggage for which they could procure transports ; 
 and at two the following morning the whole army 
 precipitately retreated, leaving their sick and wound 
 ed behind. Great quantities of provisions, tents, 
 intrenching-tools, and ammunition, were also left. 
 Much was found concealed in the ponds and creeks 
 and buried in the ground. Their retreat was so 
 sudden, rapid, and unexpected, that they arrived at 
 Chazy, a distance of eight miles, before their de 
 parture was known to the American general. The 
 light troops and militia were immediately ordered 
 out in pursuit, but were unable to make many pri 
 soners. Upwards of 300 deserters came in within 
 two or three days after the action, who confirmed 
 the account of Prevost's precipitate flight, and as 
 sisted in discovering the property they had con 
 cealed and left behind. The American loss on land 
 during the day was 37 killed and 82 wounded and 
 missing. General Macomb's official report estimates 
 the British loss in land and naval forces since their 
 leaving Montreal, in killed, wounded, prisoners, de 
 serters, and missing, at 2500. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 271 
 
 The British army engaged in this expedition con 
 sisted of 14,000 men. The precipitate retreat of so 
 numerous and well-appointed an army from before a 
 force of 1500 regulars and 3000 militia, suddenly 
 called together, was unaccountable and wholly un 
 expected. General Prevost endeavored to justify 
 himself to his government by imputing it to the loss 
 of the fleet. But no active co-operation was or could 
 be expected from their respective fleets by either 
 army. The real ground was that the valor of the 
 American troops in defence of their soil hacl con 
 vinced the British general that an attempt to pene 
 trate the country and carry his original plans into 
 effect would be attended with defeat and disgrace. 
 
272 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 BLADENSBURG. 
 
 BATTLE OF BLADENSBURG AND CAP- 
 TUEE OF THE CAPITAL. 
 
 IN the Chesapeake great devastation was com 
 mitted, in revenge, as was stated, for outrages upon 
 the Canadians. Early in the year the General Go 
 vernment had received information that a powerful 
 armament was preparing to make a descent upon 
 the country in the vicinity of the Chesapeake; and 
 measures for defence were taken. General Winder 
 was placed in command of the land-forces called 
 into the field for the defence of Washington, and 
 Commodore Barney in command of a flotilla of gun 
 boats in the bay. 
 
 In August the British fleet, under Admiral Coch- 
 rane, conveying a large army, under Major-General 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 273 
 
 Ross, arrived at the mouth of the Potomac. By 
 great exertions General Winder was enabled to 
 collect at Bladensburg about 5000 men, 350 of 
 whom were regulars, and several hundred marines 
 and seamen from Commodore Barney's flotilla. The 
 British troops were landed, and about noon on the 
 29th of August reached Bladensburg. An obstinate 
 contest ensued, in which the British suffered a severe 
 loss but compelled the Americans to give way. 
 
 As the militia retired, the British regulars ad 
 vanced upon the main road, and, coming immediately 
 in front of Commodore Barney's flotilla, he opened 
 an eighteen-pounder upon them, which cleared the 
 road, and for a time disordered their column and re 
 tarded their approach. Two other attempts made 
 by the enemy to pass the battery were also repulsed, 
 and General Ross marched a division of his troops 
 into an open field with a determination to flank the 
 commodore's right. This attempt also was frustrated 
 by Captain Miller, of the marines, with three twelve- 
 pounders, and the men of the flotilla acting as in- 
 fantry. After being thus kept in check about half 
 an hour, General Ross began to outflank the right 
 of the battery in large numbers, and pushed about 
 300 men upon General Smith's brigade, which, after 
 exchanging a shot or two, fled as precipitately as the 
 brigade of General Stansbury. In the panic pro 
 duced by this disorderly retreat the drivers of the 
 ammunition-wagons fled also, and Commodore Bar 
 ney's small command was left to contend against the 
 whole force of the enemy with less than one com 
 plete round of cartridge. To add to the general mis 
 fortune and to increase the difficulties even of retir- 
 
 18 
 
274 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ing with credit, he had received a severe wound in his 
 thigh, and his horse had been killed under him ; two 
 of his principal officers were killed and Captain Miller 
 and Sailing-master Martin wounded. The places of 
 
 GENERAL SMITH. 
 
 these could be promptly supplied from the men act 
 ing as infantry; but the means of repulsing the 
 enemy were expended, and the British infantry and 
 marines were by this time completely in the rear of 
 the battery. Thus situated, the commodore gave 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 275 
 
 
 
 orders for a retreat, and, after being carried a short dis 
 tance from the scene of his gallantry, he fell exhausted 
 by the loss of blood, and was soon after made prisoner 
 by General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, who put 
 him on his parole, and, having first removed him to 
 their hospital at Bladensburg, ordered the immediate 
 attendance of their surgeons to dress his wound. 
 
 Having thus obtained possession of the pass of the 
 bridge over the eastern branch of the Potomac, the 
 enemy marched directly upon the capital, and im 
 mediately proceeded to the destruction of all the 
 spacious and splendid edifices by which it was 
 adorned. The Senate-house, the Representative- 
 hall, the Supreme Court room, the President's house, 
 with all its exterior and interior decorations, and 
 the buildings containing the public Departments, 
 were very soon demolished, and several private 
 houses burned to the ground. The plunder of in 
 dividual property was prohibited, however, and 
 soldiers transgressing the order were severely pu 
 nished. The principal vengeance of Admiral Cock- 
 burn on whom, if the safety of the citizens' dwell 
 ings had alone depended, if he is to be judged by 
 his former conduct, they would have rested on a 
 slender guarantee was directed against the printing- 
 office of the editor of a newspaper, from whose press 
 had been issued frequent accounts of the admiral's 
 depredations along the coast. 
 
 The navy-yard, as well as a new first-rate frigate 
 and a sloop-of-war, were destroyed by order of Go 
 vernment upon the approach of the enemy, to pre 
 vent the immense public stores, munitions, and 
 armaments deposited there from falling into his 
 
276 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 hands. The Patent-office alone, in which were col 
 lected the rarest specimens of the arts of the country, 
 escaped the insatiate vengeance of a foe whose de 
 stroying arm was directed against the most superb 
 monuments of architectural skill and public munifi 
 cence. The public documents and official records, 
 the flags and various other trophies of the repeated 
 triumphs of the American arms, and the specie from 
 all the banks in the district, had- previously been 
 placed beyond the reach of the invaders, and they 
 returned from an irruption which excited the in 
 dignation of all parties in the Union and drew 
 forth the deprecations of the principal nations in 
 Europe. 
 
 The President and the heads of Departments, all 
 of whom had visited the rendezvous of the troops at 
 Bladensburg the day before the battle, finding that 
 the force which had been hastily assembled did not 
 amount to the number called for by the requisitions 
 upon the adjacent States, returned to the metropolis 
 to make arrangements for the augmentation of Gene 
 ral Winder's army. This duty, which in times of less 
 danger required the exercise of great energy, could 
 not be performed before the enemy had encountered 
 and defeated the corps already collected. The cap 
 ture of these officers would have caused at least a 
 temporary derangement of the Government, and, in 
 order that its functions might be resumed imme 
 diately after the departure of the enemy, they retired 
 from the metropolis upon his approach. General 
 Winder had also withdrawn with the remnant of his 
 force to Montgomery Court-house ; the citizens were 
 incapable of opposing the hostile operations of the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 277 
 
 British commanders ; and the capital was therefore 
 entirely at their mercy. 
 
 That division of the enemy's fleet which ascended 
 the Potomac, consisting of eight sail, upon which were 
 mounted 173 guns, and commanded by Captain Gor 
 don, was directed to attack the city of Alexandria. 
 As they approached up the river, the commander of 
 Fort Warburton, Captain Dyson, destroyed that post 
 and retired with his artillerists, and the British squad 
 ron passed up to the city without annoyance or im 
 pediment. The people of Alexandria surrendered 
 their town and obtained a stipulation, on the 29th 
 of August, from the British commander that their 
 dwellings should not be entered or destroyed. The 
 condition upon which this stipulation was made re 
 quired the immediate delivery to the enemy of all 
 public and private naval and ordnance stores ; of all 
 the shipping and the furniture necessary to their 
 equipment then in port; of all the merchandise of 
 every description, whether in the town or removed 
 from it since the 19th of the month ; that such mer 
 chandise should be put on board the shipping at the 
 expense of the owners ; and that all vessels which 
 might have been sunk upon the approach of the 
 enemy should be raised by the merchants and de 
 livered up, with all their apparatus. These hard and 
 ungenerous conditions were complied with ; and, on 
 the 6th of September, Captain Gordon moved off with 
 a fleet of prize-vessels, which, as well as his frigates 
 and other vessels of war, contained cargoes of booty. 
 In descending the river he was warmly opposed, and 
 received considerable damage from two batteries, at 
 the White House and at Indian Head, under the 
 
278 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 respective commands of Captains Porter and Perry, 
 of the navy, the former assisted by General Hunger- 
 ford's brigade of Virginia militia infantry and Cap 
 tain Humphrey's company of riflemen, from Jeffer 
 son county, and the latter by the brigade of General 
 Stewart and the volunteer companies of Major Peter 
 and Captain Birch. The batteries, however, not 
 being completed, and mounting but a few light 
 pieces, could not prevent the departure of the enemy 
 with his immense booty, though they kept up an 
 incessant fire from the 3d until the 6th of the month 
 upon the vessels passing down on each of those days. 
 Commodore Kodgers, too, aided by Lieutenant New- 
 combe and Sailing-master Kamage, made frequent 
 attempts to destroy the enemy's shipping by ap 
 proaching him within range of musket-shot with 
 several small fire-vessels. After the communication 
 of the fire a change of wind prevented these vessels 
 from getting in between the British frigates, though 
 they excited much alarm among the fleet, whose 
 men were actively employed in extinguishing the 
 flames. These respective forces were afterwards 
 concentrated, and Commodore Kodgers took posses 
 sion of Alexandria, with a determination to defend 
 it, notwithstanding its surrender, against another 
 attempt of the enemy, whose fleet was not yet out 
 of sight of the nearest battery. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 279 
 
 BOMBARDMENT OF FORT MCHENRY. 
 
 ATTEMPT OF THE BRITISH ON 
 BALTIMORE. 
 
 AFTER the embarkation of the troops under Gene 
 ral Ross, whose loss at Bladensburg amounted to 
 nearly 1000 men in killed, wounded, prisoners, 
 deserters, and those who died of fatigue, Admiral 
 Cochrane concentrated the various detachments of 
 his fleet, and made preparations for an attack upon 
 the city of Baltimore. 
 
 As the powerful armament approached, the alarm 
 spread quickly through the adjacent country, and a 
 large volunteer force collected, under Major-General 
 Smith. The troops intended for the land-attack 
 were debarked upon North Point, fourteen miles 
 below the city, and, on the morning of the 12th of 
 
280 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 September, nearly 8000 soldiers, sailors, and marines, 
 had effected a landing, while sixteen bomb-vessels 
 and frigates proceeded up the river and anchored 
 within two miles and a half of Fort McHenry. 
 
 General Smith detached General Strieker, with 
 part of his brigade, on the North Point Eoad, and 
 Major Kandal, with riflemen and musketry, to the 
 mouth of Bear Creek, to check the progress of the 
 enemy. The light parties of the Americans were 
 driven in, and the force, under General Strieker, 
 was soon engaged with greatly-superior numbers. 
 After an hour and twenty minutes' fighting, the 
 Americans were compelled to retire to the high 
 grounds in their rear. The enemy did not pursue. 
 General Strieker was reinforced, and the Americans 
 prepared their whole line of intrenchments and 
 batteries for their reception. On the loth the 
 British army came in sight of the main body of 
 the Americans and manoeuvred in their front, driv 
 ing in the vedettes. But, seeing the strength of the 
 defences and the skilful dispositions of General 
 Smith, they did not attack: In the mean time the 
 British vessels bombarded Fort McHenry, which 
 was bravely defended by its garrison, commanded 
 by Major Armistead. The vessels suffered con 
 siderably from the fire of the American batteries. 
 About midnight on the 13th the British army re 
 treated to the point at which it landed, and re-em 
 barked. The next day the fleet dropped down the 
 river. The British lost 700 men and their general, 
 Boss; the Americans, 175. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 281 
 
 ATTACK ON FORT BOWYER AND CAPTURE 
 OF PENSACOLA. 
 
 IN the mean time an attack was made on the 
 remote Southern coast, which was the prelude to an 
 invasion of a more important nature. After the 
 conclusion of the contest with the Creeks, the head 
 quarters of General Jackson were removed to Mobile, 
 where, about the end of August, he received in 
 formation that a body of 300 British troops, with an 
 immense quantity of the munitions of war, had 
 arrived at Pensacola, in three armed vessels, and 
 had marched into the fort at that place, then in the 
 possession of the Spanish ; and that an additional 
 force of thirteen sail-of-the-line, and 10,000 troops, 
 was daily expected. From Pensacola Colonel 
 Nicholls, the commander of the British forces, soon 
 after issued a proclamation, addressed to the inhabit 
 ants of Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, recom 
 mending to them to "throw off the yoke under 
 
282 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 which they had been so long groaning and put an 
 end to the unnatural war by which they were op 
 pressed." 
 
 About the same period, also, an attempt was made 
 by the same officer to engage in his service a band 
 of lawless pirates who had formed an establish 
 ment on the island of Barrataria, within the limits 
 of Louisiana. The efforts of the American govern 
 ment had' been hitherto unavailing, to destroy this 
 nest of outlaws. Mixing with the sanguinary 
 audacity of the buccaneer the address and caution 
 of the smuggler, they had contrived, for a long time, 
 under the government of a chief named Lafitte, to 
 overawe or elude the expeditions sent against them. 
 To these marauders the British officer made a pro 
 posal of union and alliance, communicating at the 
 same time important information with respect to 
 his designs; but, although proscribed by the Ame 
 rican government, which had set a price upon his 
 head, Lafitte would not consent to act the part of a 
 traitor. Instead of accepting the British offers, he 
 immediately made the whole known jto Governor 
 Claiborne, of Louisiana. Struck with this proof of 
 magnanimity, that officer promised a general pardon 
 to the whole band, on condition of their engaging 
 in defence of the country, at that time menaced by 
 invasion, an offer which was joyfully accepted by 
 the Barratarians, who from that time rendered 
 eminent services to the Kepublic, distinguishing 
 themselves particularly at the defence of New 
 Orleans. 
 
 The three vessels which had arrived at Pensacola, 
 joined by another, soon after sailed from that port 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 283 
 
 for Mobile, and on the loth of September appeared 
 off Fort Bowyer. Mobile Bay is about thirty miles 
 long, and of considerable breadth ; but its entrance 
 is only five miles broad, and is completely com 
 manded by Fort Bowyer, which is situated at the 
 extreme point on the east side of the bay. The 
 fort was occupied by a small garrison, commanded 
 by Major Lawrence. 
 
 The British squadron, consisting of two ships and 
 two brigs, appeared in sight about noon of the 15th, 
 standing directly for the fort. About four o'clock 
 in the afternoon the battery was opened upon them. 
 The fire was immediately returned from all the ves 
 sels. A force of 110 marines, commanded by 
 Colonel Nicholls, 200 Creek Indians, headed by 
 Captain Woodbine, of the British navy, and about 
 20 artillerists, which had been previously landed in 
 the rear of the fort, opened a fire upon it from a 
 twelve-pounder and a howitzer; but they did no 
 execution and were soon silenced by a few shot. 
 The action continued without intermission on either 
 side for nearly three hours, when three of the ves 
 sels were compelled to retire. The commodore's 
 ship, which mounted twenty-two thirty-two-pound 
 carronades, having anchored nearest the fort, had 
 her cable cut by the shot, and was so much disabled 
 that she drifted on shore, within six hundred yards 
 of the battery ; when, the other vessels being out of 
 reach, such a tremendous fire was opened upon her 
 that she was set on fire and abandoned by such of 
 her crew as survived. Of a crew of 170 men the 
 commander and 20 men only escaped. On board 
 of the other ship 85 were killed and wounded ; one 
 
284 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 of the brigs also was very considerably damaged, 
 but her loss was not ascertained. The effective 
 force in the fort was about 120 men; their loss was 
 only 4 killed and 5 wounded. During the hottest 
 part of the action 1 the flagstaff was shot away, but 
 the flag was immediately regained, under a heavy 
 fire of grape and canister, hoisted on a sponge-staff, 
 and planted on the parapet. The land-forces re 
 treated by land to Pensacola. 
 
 The unprecedented conduct of the Governor of 
 Pensacola, in harboring and aiding the British and 
 their Indian allies and in allowing them to fit out 
 expeditions against the United States from that port, 
 had been forcibly remonstrated against by General 
 Jackson, but hitherto without effect. Having been 
 reinforced by about 2000 Tennessee militia, who 
 had marched to Mobile through the Indian country, 
 Jackson advanced to demand of the Spanish autho 
 rities in Pensacola redress for thus violating the 
 rules of neutrality. He reached the vicinity of that 
 post on the afternoon of the 6th of November, and 
 immediately sent a flag to the governor to com 
 municate the object of his visit. The flag was fired 
 on and forced to return. Nothing remained now 
 but to take possession of that post, which had been 
 so long a source of annoyance to the United States. 
 General Jackson accordingly commenced the attack 
 early on the 7th. The encampment of the Ame 
 rican army being to the west of the town, it was 
 natural for the enemy to suppose that the attack 
 would be made in that quarter ; a detachment of 500 
 men, however, was ordered to move in that direction, 
 while, with the main body, he gained an opposite 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 285 
 
 and unexpected point, and, by hastening rapidly on, 
 entered the town before the garrison was aware of 
 his approach. They were unexpectedly saluted, 
 however, by a battery formed in the street, which, 
 after a few volleys, was carried at the point of the 
 bayonet; and the Spanish and British troops were 
 soon driven from all their positions. The governor 
 then surrendered the town and forts unconditionally, 
 and soon after signed a capitulation by which Pen- 
 sacola and its dependencies were delivered up to the 
 United States. The British, in evacuating the bay, 
 destroyed the fortress of the Barrancas ; and General 
 Jackson returned with his troops to Mobile. 
 
286 
 
 BATTLE -FIELDS AND 
 
 FORTIFYING OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 THE projected attack upon New Orleans, which 
 it was now certain the British would attempt, in 
 duced General Jackson to proceed to that city with 
 his troops. He accordingly left Mobile on the 22d 
 of November, and arrived at New Orleans on the 
 2d of the succeeding month. In the situation in 
 which he found that city, abundant occasion existed 
 for the display of those warlike talents and that 
 mental energy with which he was eminently gifted. 
 The population was composed of a mixture of various 
 nations, among whom there was little bond of union; 
 and, the country having been but recently trans 
 ferred to the Republic, there was perhaps less 
 national attachment -than in any other quarter. 
 Discontent and apprehension pervaded a great por- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 287 
 
 tion of tbe community; the city corps refused to 
 turn out on the requisition of General Flournoy ; 
 and even the legislature of the State, then in ses 
 sion, encouraged them in their disobedience. Added 
 to this, the important post to be defended was ap 
 proachable in various quarters, and the troops 
 stationed at each of these points were insufficient to 
 defend them. But the intrepid spirit of General 
 Jackson was un appalled in the midst of the difficul 
 ties with which he was surrounded. He immedi 
 ately adopted the most decided and efficient measures 
 for the defence of the place. He visited in person 
 every point at which an invading enemy might be 
 opposed, and left no point unfortified that could at 
 all conduce to the great object of defence. The 
 grand approach by the Mississippi was secured by 
 batteries, and the inlets and bayous were obstructed 
 by all possible means. The active and energetic 
 measures and the confident tone of the commanding 
 general revived the spirits of the inhabitants of 
 Louisiana, which had fallen at the prospect of inva 
 sion by so numerous an army as that which it was 
 ascertained was on their coast; and all the true 
 lovers of their country in the State flocked to his 
 banner, and declared their intention of standing by 
 him till the British were expelled from their shores 
 or they had died ibr their country. Upon the lakes 
 to the east of the town a small force of five gun 
 boats, under Lieutenant Jones, had been collected, 
 which, in the narrow passes, would, it was supposed, 
 be competent to repel any force that could be con 
 veniently brought against them. . 
 
 Information having been rece/ved early in Decem- 
 
288 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ber of the arrival of sixty sail of vessels off Ship 
 Island, Lieutenant Jones made sail for the passes 
 leading into Lake Pontchartrain, where they might 
 be opposed to advantage. On the 14th the enemy 
 were discovered, moving, in forty-three gun-boats, 
 with 1200 men, to the attack of Lieutenant Jones's 
 small force, which, consisting of five gun-boats, as 
 mentioned above, and 180 men, lay becalmed in an 
 unfavorable position. After a gallant resistance of 
 an hour against such an overpowering superiority 
 of force, the American flotilla was compelled to sur 
 render, with the loss of about 40 killed and wounded. 
 That of the assailants was, from concurrent circum 
 stances, believed not to have been less than 300. 
 This gave the British the command of Lakes Pont- 
 chartrain and Borgne. 
 
 The capture of the gun-boats, upon which General 
 Jackson had depended greatly as a means of defence 
 as well as of the transmission of intelligence, made 
 it necessary to use greater exertions than before on 
 the land. The militia of New Orleans was called 
 out en masse ; and measures which nothing but the 
 urgent necessity of the case could 'justify were 
 adopted. An embargo was laid on all vessels in the 
 harbor; the negroes were impressed and compelled 
 to work on the fortifications; and, on the 16th, 
 martial law, of the most rigid nature, was proclaimed 
 by General Jackson. The rigid police which this 
 last measure enabled him to exert soon freed the 
 city from the disaffected, the spies, and the traitors, 
 with which it had abounded ; and the citizens arose 
 as one man and labored day and night at the fortifi 
 cations. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 289 
 
 By his command of Lake Borgne the enemy had 
 it in his power to approach New Orleans by any of 
 the numerous bayous and canals leading to the Mis 
 sissippi. Most of these had been obstructed with 
 great care. Unfortunately, however, a pass, called 
 the Bayou Bienvenue, which was little known and 
 used only by fishermen, was left open, and unde 
 fended except by a picket-guard. Guided by some 
 traitors, the enemy, on the 23d, came suddenly on 
 the American guard through that secret passage, 
 and, having made them prisoners, pushed rapidly 
 on, and, by two o'clock in the afternoon, reached the 
 bank of the river. This intelligence being conveyed 
 to General Jackson, he resolved immediately to 
 attack them. Having therefore collected about 
 2000 men, he marched at five in the afternoon to 
 meet the enemy, and at seven came in sight of them, 
 encamped on the bank of the river, and engaged in 
 preparing their evening repast. The enemy's force 
 on shore amounted to about 3000 men, and extended 
 half a mile on the river, and in the rear to a wood. 
 Their position being thus exposed to an attack from 
 the water, it was determined that a fire should be 
 opened upon it from Commodore Patterson's schooner, 
 the Caroline, at the same time that General Coffee, 
 with his brigade, assailed their right, and General 
 Jackson, with the remainder of the force, attacked 
 the strongest part of the position, near the river. 
 The darkness of the night preventing a discovery, 
 the Caroline gained her position, and opened a heavy 
 and galling cannonade, the seamen being lighted to 
 the slaughter by the enemy's own camp-fires. This 
 
 was the first intimation that the British had of the 
 
 19 
 
290 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 approach of an enemy. At the same moment the 
 brigade of General Coffee rushed impetuously on 
 their right and entered their camp, while the force 
 of General Jackson assailed their front and left with 
 equal ardor. Though taken by surprise and several 
 hundred killed or wounded, the enemy were not yet 
 defeated. Extinguishing their fires, they came boldly 
 forward into action. A thick fog arising shortly 
 after the commencement of the engagement, General 
 Jackson deemed it most prudent to call off his 
 troops; and, having lain on the field all night, he 
 retired in the morning to a stronger position,, about 
 two miles nearer the city. His loss was 24 killed, 
 115 wounded, and 74 missing; that of the British 
 was 46 killed, 162 wounded, and 64 missing. 
 
 The position now taken by General Jackson occu 
 pied both banks of the river. On the eastern bank, 
 a ditch containing five feet water, which had been 
 dug for agricultural purposes, reaching from the 
 river to the swamp, was now made use of for an im- 
 portant military purpose. On its northern bank in- 
 trenchments were thrown up, and large quantities of 
 cotton-bales were so arranged as to protect the troops 
 effectually from the enemy's fire. These works were 
 well mounted with artillery. On the western bank 
 of the river a heavy battery of fifteen cannon 
 enfiladed the whole front of the position on the 
 eastern bank. This battery was manned by Com 
 modore Patterson, with the crews of part of his 
 squadron, and near him General Morgan was sta 
 tioned with a body of militia. 
 
 In the mean time the enemy, who had suffered 
 severely from the fire of the Caroline, took advantage 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 291 
 
 of her running aground on the 27th, set her on fire 
 and destroyed her by means of hot shot. On the 
 28th, the British commander-in-chief, Sir Edward 
 Packenham, having landed with the main body of 
 his army and a large train of artillery, advanced 
 within half a mile of the American works and com 
 menced a furious attack with rockets, bombs, and a 
 heavy cannonade. The fire, however, from the 
 batteries and an American vessel, the Louisiana, 
 caused so much destruction that, after a severe con 
 test, the British general drew off his troops with con 
 siderable loss. On the 1st of January, 1815, the 
 invaders made another attempt to force General 
 Jackson's fortifications. They had in the night 
 erected a battery, and early in the morning opened 
 a brisk cannonade, making, at the same time, two 
 bold efforts to turn his left wing; but they were 
 again repulsed, with the loss of about 70 men. 
 Shortly after this event both armies were reinforced, 
 that of General Jackson by the arrival of 2500 
 Kentuckians, under General Adair, and that of the 
 invaders by General Lambert, with 4000 men. The 
 American force now consisted of about 7000 men, 
 most of them indifferently armed; that of the 
 British of about 12,000, all of whom were veterans, 
 well appointed, and commanded by able and expe 
 rienced officers. With great labor, the British gene 
 ral completed, on the 7th of January, a canal from 
 the bayou to the Mississippi, by which he was 
 enabled to transport the necessary number of boats 
 and troops to the attack of the works on the 
 western side of that river. The American com 
 mander had, in the mean time, not been deficient in 
 
292 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 preparation. His works had now been completed. 
 The defences on the eastern bank were manned with 
 the Tennessee and part of the Kentucky militia, 
 under the personal command of General Jackson. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 8th of January a 
 day which will ever be memorable in the annals of 
 the Republic the British commander, having de 
 tached Colonel Thornton with a strong body to the 
 west bank, moved to the assault with the remainder 
 of his force, in two columns, under Generals Gibbs 
 and Keane, the reserve being commanded by Gene 
 ral Lambert. They approached with determined 
 countenances, slowly but firmly, accompanied by 
 detachments carrying fascines and scaling-ladders. 
 The former were designed to fill up the ditch, and 
 with the latter they intended to mount the ramparts. 
 When they arrived within nine hundred yards, the 
 Americans commenced a heavy and incessant can 
 nonade, which mowed them down with terrible 
 slaughter. But they still moved on with a firm 
 step, invariably supplying the place of the fallen 
 with fresh troops. At length they came within 
 reach of the American small-arms. Then com 
 menced a stream of such well-directed and destruc 
 tive fire that, after losing hundreds in the vain 
 attempt to advance, they broke, and retreated in 
 confusion. In the endeavor to rally them their 
 commander-in-chief, Sir Edward Packenham, was 
 killed. A second time did the British columns 
 advance to within a short distance of the ditch, 
 with the same ill success. The cannon thundered 
 from every battery, the Tennessee rifles were 
 levelled with deadly aim, and grape-shot and shells 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 293 
 
 were scattered as thick as hailstones over the plain. 
 The British again faltered, and again were pressed 
 forward by their officers. But all their efforts suc 
 ceeded only in leading their veteran soldiers to 
 destruction : the men shrunk from a contest in 
 which they saw nothing but immediate slaughter. 
 The columns broke and retreated in confusion. A 
 
 BATTLE OP NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 third but. equally unavailing attempt was made by 
 the British officers to bring them up to the charge. 
 The loss of the commander-in-chief, the disability 
 of Generals Gibbs and Keane, who were severely 
 wounded, and the sight of the plain, covered as it 
 was with the bodies of near 2000 dead and wounded, 
 operated in checking any further advance. General 
 Lambert, on whom the command now devolved, 
 
294 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 finding that no hope remained of a successful result, 
 collected together the broken remnants of this once- 
 formidable army and retired to the encampment. 
 
 In the mean time the detachment under Colonel 
 Thornton, after landing on the west bank, imme 
 diately attacked the American works. The Ken 
 tucky militia, believing themselves to be outflanked, 
 retreated, leaving the enemy in possession of their 
 works. This post completely commanding that on 
 the opposite bank, its occupation by the enemy 
 would have proved of the most serious detriment to 
 General Jackson, had he not, by a dexterous strata 
 gem, induced him to abandon it. General Lambert 
 having proposed an armistice, to continue till twelve 
 o'clock, in order to enable him to remove his dead 
 from the field of battle, the proposition was agreed 
 to by the American commander, with a condition, 
 however, that it should not extend to the west bank, 
 to which no reinforcements were to be sent by either 
 party. Deceived by this reservation, and supposing 
 that a large American force was already on that 
 bank, General Lambert ordered Colonel Thornton to 
 withdraw his troops, and it was immediately re- 
 occupied by General Jackson. 
 
 In this battle the British loss was 293 killed, 
 1267 wounded, and 484 missing or prisoners, in 
 cluding almost all the commanding officers ; while 
 of the Americans only 13 were killed, 39 wounded, 
 and 19 missing. This splendid and most important 
 victory was thus rendered doubly gratifying, from 
 the reflection that it was clouded by the loss of so 
 few of those by whose exertions it was achieved. 
 
 From New Orleans the whole British fleet pro- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 295 
 
 ceeded to Mobile Bay, where they took possession 
 of Fort Bowyer, which was garrisoned by 375 men, 
 a number so small when compared with that of the 
 force sent against them as to render resistance un 
 availing. The further prosecution of their schemes 
 of conquest was arrested about this time by the news 
 of peace, which being soon after confirmed officially, 
 the territory of the United States was evacuated by 
 the British. 
 
296 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 PRESIDENT AND ENDYMION. 
 
 EVERY attempt to escape from the blockade of the 
 frigates United States and Macedonian and the sloop- 
 of-war Hornet, at New London, having failed, until 
 the only season at which they could possibly escape 
 had elapsed, the Hornet was ordered to remain at 
 her station as a guard-ship, while the frigates were 
 to be moved up New London River to the head of 
 navigation for heavy vessels, and there to be dis 
 mantled. Commodore Decatur and the crew of the 
 United States were transferred to the frigate Presi 
 dent, then moored at New York. In the course of 
 the winter a cruise to the East Indies was deter 
 mined on at the Navy Department, to be performed 
 by a squadron consisting of that frigate, the sloop- 
 of-war Peacock, then also at New York, the sloop-of- 
 war Hornet, and the Tom Bowline, a merchant ves 
 sel bought into the service as a store-ship. The 
 Hornet was, therefore, directed to proceed to the 
 same harbor. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 297 
 
 On the night of the 18th of November, 1814, Cap 
 tain Biddle passed the blockading squadron without 
 being discovered, and joined Commodore Decatur at 
 New York. That port had been also constantly 
 blockaded, and several frigates, sloops-of-war, and a 
 razee, were at that time cruising off the Hook. 
 
 On the 14th of January, Commodore Decatur, 
 thinking it more likely to get to sea with the Presi 
 dent singly, directed Captain Warrington to follow 
 him with the Peacock and Hornet as soon as the 
 Tom Bowline was in readiness, and, having assigned 
 the island of Tristun d'Acunha as the first place of 
 rendezvous, proceeded to the bay with a view of 
 escaping from Sandy Hook in the night. In conse 
 quence of the negligence of the pilot, the President 
 struck upon the bar, and remained there thumping 
 upwards of two hours. This accident caused her 
 ballast to shift ; and, when extricated from this situa 
 tion by the rise of the tide, it was discovered that 
 she had entirely lost her trim. The course of the 
 wind forbidding her return to port, the commodore 
 determined, nevertheless, upon running out to sea, 
 and did not doubt but she would soon recover that 
 ease in sailing for which she had been long celebrated. 
 At daylight he fell in with the British squadron, 
 composed of the Majestic, (razee,) the frigates Endy- 
 mion, Tenedos, and Pomone, and the despatch-brig, 
 which immediately gave chase. The President was 
 lightened as much as possible ; but the superior sail 
 ing of the enemy's ships enabled them to gain rapidly 
 upon her, and the leading frigate, the Endymion, of 
 forty-nine guns and mounting twenty-four-pounders 
 
298 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 on her gundec' got close under her quarters and 
 commenced firi g. 
 
 Commodore Decatur, finding that the Endymion 
 was cutting up his rigging without his being able 
 to annoy her, determined to bear up and engage, and 
 if possible to run her on board, and, in the event of 
 Carrying her, to sail off and abandon the President. 
 But the enemy manoeuvred to avoid this plan, and 
 the conflict continued two hours, and ended in silenc 
 ing and beating off the Endymion with her hull and 
 rigging much cut up, her masts and spars badly in 
 jured, and a great proportion of her crew killed and 
 wounded. The President was also considerably 
 damaged, and lost 25 men killed and 60 wounded, 
 among the former, Lieutenants Babbit and Hamilton 
 and Acting-Lieutenant Howel ; among the latter, the 
 commodore, and Midshipman Dale, who lost a leg, 
 and died of his wounds at Bermuda. 
 
 By this time the rest of the squadron* came within 
 two miles of the President. The Endymion had 
 hauled off to repair, and Commodore Decatur made 
 another effort to escape. But in three hours the 
 Pomone and Tenedos lay alongside, and the Majes 
 tic and Endymion were within a short distance of 
 him. The gallant commodore, not choosing to sacri 
 fice the lives of his crew in a useless contest with a 
 squadron of ships mounting not less than one hun 
 dred and ten guns, received the fire of the nearest 
 frigate, and surrendered. He was taken on board 
 the Endymion, to whose commander he refused to 
 deliver his sword when required, alleging that if 
 they had been singly engaged that officer would in 
 evitably have been captured, and that he had struck 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 299 
 
 to the whole squadron. The *nemy, however, 
 asserted that the President had I ^en conquered by 
 the Endymion alone, that the damage was sustained 
 in a storm which rose up after the battle, and, hav 
 ing repaired both vessels, sent the prize from Ber 
 muda to England under her convoy. There she 
 was lightened and laid in dock alongside an old 
 seventy-four, which was deeply laden to give her 
 a smaller appearance in the water than the Pre 
 sident. 
 
300 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CONSTITUTION, CYANE AND LEVANT. 
 
 THE United States frigate Constitution, which 
 had been some time repairing at Boston for a cruise, 
 sailed from that port on the 17th of December, 1814, 
 still under the command of Captain Stewart. After 
 cruising in various parts of the ocean and in the 
 track for outward and homeward bound convoys 
 until the 20th of February, she fell in with two 
 strange men-of-war-sail at ten minutes past one P.M. 
 on that day. One of these, being to windward, was 
 bearing up for the Constitution, and at half-past two 
 displayed signals and squared away to the westward 
 to join her consort. The Constitution set every rag 
 in chase, and a few minutes before three commenced 
 firing from her forward guns on the gundeck. At 
 a quarter-past three the main-royal-mast of the Con 
 stitution was carried away, and enabled the enemy's 
 vessels to distance her fire. Before five a new royal- 
 mast was completed, and a little while after the 
 breeze freshened, and the ship to leeward tacked to 
 the southward under all sail. At six the two ships 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 301 
 
 hauled to on the larboard tack, in line, and in 
 ten minutes the Constitution ranged ahead of the 
 sternmost, brought her on the quarter, her consort 
 on the bow, at two hundred yards' distance, and 
 opened a broadside, which was immediately re 
 turned. 
 
 An exchange of broadsides continued until the 
 three ships were completely enveloped in smoke, 
 upon the clearing away of which the Constitution 
 found herself abreast of the headmost ship, and Cap 
 tain Stewart ordered both sides to be manned, backed 
 topsails, and dropped into his first position. The 
 ship on the bow backed sails also. The Constitu 
 tion's broadsides were then fired from the larboard 
 battery, and in a few minutes the ship on the bow, 
 perceiving her error in getting sternboard, filled 
 away with an intention of tacking athwart the bows 
 of the Constitution, and the ship on the stern fell 
 off, perfectly unmanageable. The Constitution then 
 filled away in full pursuit of the former, came within 
 one hundred yards of her, and gave her several raking 
 broadsides. She made all sail before the wind with 
 a view to escape ; and Captain Stewart, knowing her 
 crippled situation would enable him to overhaul her 
 at any time after securing her consort, wore round 
 and ranged alongside the latter ship, from which a 
 gun was fired to leeward to signify that she had sur 
 rendered. Possession was then taken, by Lieutenant 
 Hoffman, of his Britannic Majesty's frigate Cyane, 
 Captain Gordon Falcon, of thirty-four guns, thirty- 
 two-pound carronades. Her commander and offi 
 cers being brought on board, Captain Stewart 
 sailed in chase of the other vessel, and in a short 
 
302 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 time discovered her standing for him on the weather- 
 bow. 
 
 In a few minutes the enemy fired a broadside, which 
 being instantly returned, he tacked ship, made all sail, 
 and at that moment received a rake from the star 
 board broadside of the Constitution. Upon gaining 
 his wake, Captain Stewart opened a fire from his 
 gundeck chase-guns with such effect that the enemy 
 hove to and surrendered, with five feet water in 
 his hold, his masts tottering, and nothing but the 
 smoothness of the sea preventing them from going 
 overboard. Lieutenant Ballard was sent on board, 
 and took possession of his Britannic Majesty's ship 
 Levant, Captain Douglass, of eighteen thirty-two- 
 pound carronades and two large twelve-pounders. 
 
 The loss on board the Cyane and Levant amount 
 ed to 40 men killed and nearly double that number 
 wounded ; on board the Constitution, where no 
 other spar was lost than the foretop-gallant-yard, 
 four men were killed and eleven wounded. On the 
 10th of March Captain Stewart entered the harbor 
 of Port Praya with his prizes, and on the llth a 
 British squadron, consisting of the Leander, Sir 
 George Collier, the Newcastle, Lord George Stewart, 
 neither of them carrying less than sixty guns, and 
 the frigate Acasta, Captain Kerr, of forty-four guns, 
 which had sailed from the 4 eastern coast of the 
 United States in quest of the Constitution, appeared 
 off its entrance. Captain Stewart immediately made 
 sail, escaped from the harbor with his squadron, 
 and was closely pursued by the enemy's three 
 ships. After a long and perilous chase the Con 
 stitution and Cyane escaped their pursuers and 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 303 
 
 arrived safely in the United States; but the Levant, 
 after whom all sail was made by the enemy's ships, 
 ran into Port Praya, with a heavy fire of broadsides 
 from the Leander and Newcastle, to put herself under 
 the protection of the neutral port. The neutrality 
 of the Portuguese was not regarded by the British 
 squadron, however, and they recaptured the Levant 
 and carried her into Barbadoes. 
 
304 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ESCAPE OF THE HORNET. 
 
 HOENET AND PENGUIN. 
 
 A FEW days after the departure of the President 
 from New York, the Peacock, Hornet, and Tom 
 Bowline left that harbor without knowing of her 
 capture. On the third day after sailing from Sandy 
 Hook, (the 23d of January,) the Hornet parted 
 company with the Peacock and Tom Bowline and 
 directed her course towards the island of Tristan 
 d'Acunha, the first-designated rendezvous for the 
 squadron. On the 23d of March she descried the 
 British brig Penguin, Captain Dickenson, of eighteen 
 guns and a twelve-pound carronade, to the south 
 ward and eastward of the island. This vessel had 
 been fitted out and 12 supernumerary marines put 
 on board, with whom her crew amounted to 132 
 men, to cruise for the American privateer Young 
 Wasp. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 305 
 
 Captain Biddle immediately made sail, cleared 
 the island, and hove to, until the Penguin, at the 
 same time coming down, should be within striking- 
 distance. At forty minutes past one P. M. the Pen 
 guin hauled her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted 
 English colors, and fired a gun at musket-shot dis 
 tance. The Hornet immediately luffed to, sent up 
 an ensign, and gave the enemy a broadside. A con 
 stant fire was kept up for fifteen minutes, the Pen 
 guin all that time gradually nearing upon the Hornet, 
 when Captain Dickenson gave orders to run her on 
 board, and was killed by a grape-shot before he saw 
 them executed. Lieutenant McDonald, upon whom 
 the command of the Penguin then devolved, bore 
 her up, and, running her bowsprit in between the 
 main and mizzen-rigging of the Hornet, ordered 
 his crew to board. His men, however, seeing the 
 Hornet's boarders not only ready to repel them, but 
 waiting for orders to jump upon the Penguin's deck, 
 refused to follow him. At that moment the heavy 
 swell of the sea lifted the Hornet ahead, and the 
 enemy's bowsprit carried away her mizzen-shrouds 
 and spanker-boom, and the Penguin hung upon the 
 Hornet's quarter-deck with the loss of her foremast 
 and bowsprit. Her commander then called out that 
 he had surrendered. Though he was not distinctly 
 understood, Captain Biddle ordered his marines to 
 cease firing, and demanded of the Penguin whether 
 she had struck. An officer of the Hornet discovered 
 a man taking aim at Captain Biddle after the sur 
 render, and called to him to avoid the fire. He had 
 scarcely done so when a musket-ball struck the cap 
 tain in the neck, severely wounding him, and pass- 
 
 20 
 
306 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 ing through his coat-collar. Two marines, to whom 
 the man was pointed out who had discharged his 
 piece at their commander, immediately fired at and 
 killed him before he brought it from his shoulder. 
 The Penguin just then got clear of the Hornet, and 
 the latter wore round to give the enemy a fresh 
 broadside, when her commander called out a second 
 time that he had surrendered. The- severest exer 
 cise of authority became necessary to prevent the 
 Hornet's crew, who were incensed at the enemy's 
 firing after he had struck, from discharging the 
 broadside. Twenty-two minutes after the com 
 mencement of the action she was taken possession 
 of by Mr. Mayo, of the Hornet. The Penguin was 
 so much injured that Captain Biddle determined 
 upon taking out her crew and scuttling her ; after 
 doing which he sent his prisoners to St. Salvador in 
 the Tom Bowline, by which vessel and the Peacock 
 he was joined on the 25th of the month. In 
 this action the Penguin lost 14 men killed and 28 
 wounded; the Hornet, one killed and 11 wounded; 
 among the latter, her first lieutenant, Connor, dan 
 gerously. 
 
 Having bent a new suit of sails and repaired his 
 rigging, Captain Biddle was in a perfect condition to 
 prosecute the cruise, and, together with the Peacock, 
 after waiting the. full time for Commodore Decatur 
 at the island of Tristan d'Acunha, sailed on the 12th 
 of April for the Cape of Good Hope. On the 27th 
 they discovered a British ship-of-the-line with an 
 admiral's flag. The Peacock and Hornet imme 
 diately separated and made all sail in different 
 directions from the stranger, who came up in pur- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 307 
 
 suit of the latter. The chase commenced at about 
 two o'clock of the 27th and continued until ten in the 
 morning of the 30th, during which time the enemy's 
 bow-guns were continually fired, his vessel fre 
 quently gained upon and was as often dropped by 
 the Hornet; and Captain Biddle, after throwing 
 overboard every heavy article at hand, and all his 
 guns but one, at length effected his escape, and went 
 to St. Salvador for the purpose of refitting. On his 
 arrival there he gained intelligence of the conclusion 
 of hostilities between the two nations, and, soon after 
 sailing thence, returned to the United States about 
 the latter end of July and was promoted to the 
 rank of post-captain. 
 
308 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 CAPTAIN WABRINGTON. 
 
 PORTER'S CRUISE IN THE PACIFIC. 
 
 THE intelligence of Captain Porter's exploits had 
 at length occasioned a force of the enemy to be sent 
 in pursuit of him. Soon after his arrival at Val 
 paraiso, the Phoebe, a British frigate of thirty-eight 
 guns, and a sloop-of-war, appeared off the port, 
 having been fitted out expressly to meet the Essex. 
 They entered the harbor to obtain provisions, and, 
 having effected this, again stood out and cruised off 
 the port for about six weeks. Their united force 
 was much greater than that of Captain Porter, the 
 Essex Junior being of but little utility in action. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 309 
 
 At length, on the 28th of March, the Essex made 
 an attempt to get to sea with a favorable wind. 
 The enemy's vessels were close to the shore, and 
 Captain Porter expected to be able to pass to wind 
 ward of them. Unfortunately, however, in round 
 ing the point, the American vessel was struck by a 
 squall, which carried away her main-topmast. Thus 
 crippled, escape to sea was impossible ; and, as it 
 was equally difficult to reach the harbor, Captain 
 Porter ran into a small bay and anchored within 
 pistol-shot of the shore. In this situation it was to 
 have been expected that the ordinary rules of war 
 fare, which forbid an attack upon an enemy lying 
 within a neutral territory, would have been observed. 
 It was, nevertheless, soon perceived that Captain 
 Hillyar, the English commander, was determined to 
 avail himself of the opportunity offered, without 
 regard to the rights of sovereignty of the local 
 government. The Essex was prepared for action 
 with all possible despatch ; but, before a spring could 
 be put upon her cable to enable her to bring her 
 broadside to bear, the attack was commenced. The 
 British commander, desirous of capturing the Essex 
 with as little loss to himself as possible, placed his 
 frigate, the Phoebe, under her stern, while the Cherub 
 took a position on her bows. The latter, soon find 
 ing the fire of the Essex too warm, bore up and ran 
 also under her stern, where both ships kept up a 
 heavy and raking fire. Captain Porter continued 
 the action for a considerable time with three long 
 twelve-pounders, being all the guns which he found 
 it possible to bring to bear on the enemy, when, 
 finding his crew falling fast around him, he cut his 
 
310 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 cable and ran down on the enemy with the intention 
 of laying the Phoebe on board. For a short time a 
 close and sanguinary action ensued ; but, the superior 
 equipment of the British frigate enabling her to 
 choose her distance, she edged off and continued so 
 heavy a fire from her long guns that Captain Porter 
 determined to run his ship ashore. He was, how 
 ever, disappointed in this hope by the wind setting 
 off the land, and, after an unequal and hopeless 
 contest of three hours, was compelled to give the 
 painful order to strike the colors. 
 
 The loss of the Essex in this engagement was 58 
 killed, 66 wounded, and 31 missing, most of the 
 latter escaping to the shore by swimming ; that of 
 the British was said to be only 5 killed and 10 
 wounded. Both of the enemy's vessels, as well as 
 the Essex, were so much crippled that it was with 
 difficulty they were enabled to reach the port of 
 Valparaiso. Captain Porter and his crew were 
 paroled and permitted to return to the United States 
 in the Essex Junior, her armament being previously 
 taken out. On arriving off the port of New York 
 they were overhauled and detained by the Saturn 
 razee. Being thus treated, Captain Porter told the 
 boarding-officer that he gave up his parole and con 
 sidered himself a prisoner of war, and as such should 
 use all means of escape. In consequence of this 
 threat the Essex Junior was ordered to remain all 
 night under the lee of the Saturn; but the next 
 morning Captain Porter put off in his boat, though 
 thirty miles from shore, and, notwithstanding he 
 was pursued by the Saturn, effected his escape and 
 landed safely on Long Island. His reception in the 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 311 
 
 United States was such as liis great services and dis 
 tinguished valor deserved. 
 
 On the 29th of April the sloop-of-war Peacock, 
 of eighteen guns, commanded by Captain Warring- 
 ton, fell in with and, after an action of forty-two 
 minutes, captured the British brig-of-war Epervier, 
 of a like number of guns and 128 men, of whom 8 
 were killed and 15 wounded. The Peacock was 
 deprived of the use of her foresail and foretopsail in 
 the early part of the action, but received no other 
 injury, 2 men only being slightly wounded. The 
 prize had on board one hundred and twenty thousand 
 dollars in specie, which was transferred to the Pea 
 cock, and both vessels arrived in safety in the United 
 States. 
 
 About this period the sloop-of-war "Wasp, of 
 eighteen guns, commanded by Captain Blakely, 
 sailed from Portsmouth on her first cruise. After 
 capturing seven merchant-men, she encountered, on 
 the 28th of June, the British brig-of-war Keindeer, 
 of nineteen guns and 118 men. After a series of 
 manoeuvres on the part of the latter, by which a 
 close action was for a long time prevented, a warm 
 engagement commenced, which was continued with 
 great spirit on both sides for upwards of two hours, 
 during which the enemy several times attempted to 
 board, but was as often repulsed. The crew of the 
 Wasp now boarded with great ardor, and in a few 
 minutes resistance ceased and the British flag was 
 hauled down. Owing to the proximity of the two 
 vessels and the smoothness of the sea, the loss on 
 both sides was severe. That of the Americans was 
 5 killed and 21 wounded; while the British lost 25 
 
312 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 killed, including Captain Manners, and 42 wounded. 
 The Reindeer was so much injured that it was 
 found necessary to set her on fire. 
 
 Captain Blakely, continuing his cruise, about the 
 1st of September discovered a fleet of merchant-men 
 under convoy of a seventy-four-gun ship. One of 
 them was taken, and,- after removing her cargo, was 
 set on fire. On the same evening he fell in with 
 and captured the British sloop-of-war Avon, of 
 twenty guns. The appearance of a British squadron 
 compelled him to abandon his prize, which sunk 
 soon after the removal of her crew. 
 
 The damage sustained in this action being soon 
 repaired, Captain Blakely continued his cruise, and, 
 on the 23d of September, captured the British brig 
 Atalanta, which he sent into the United States. 
 From this period no tidings ever reached the Republic 
 of this gallant ship. Whether she foundered in 
 darkness and tempest, or perished in a conflict with 
 an enemy, has never been ascertained. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 313 
 
 SEMINOLE WAR. 
 
 JUST after the close of the last war with Great 
 Britain, when the British withdrew their military 
 force from the Floridas, Edward Nicholls, formerly 
 a colonel, and James Woodbine, a captain, in the 
 British service, who had both been instrumental in 
 exciting the Indians and negroes of the South to hos 
 tilities, remained in the territory for the purpose of 
 forming combinations against the Southwestern fron 
 tier of the United States. To the Creeks, who had 
 ceded their lands to our Government by General 
 Jackson's treaty of August, 1814, Nicholls repre 
 sented that they had been defrauded, that the 
 treaty of Ghent had provided for the restoration of 
 their lands, and that the British government was 
 ready to enforce their claims. He even went so far 
 as to assume the character of a British agent, with 
 powers from the commencement for supporting their 
 pretensions. 
 
 To effect their purposes, Nicholls and Woodbine 
 established a fort on the Appalachicola River, be 
 tween East and West Florida, as a rendezvous for 
 
314 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 runaway negroes and hostile Indians. In July, 
 1816, about 400 negroes and Indians were collected 
 at this place, which was strong by its position, forti 
 fied with twelve pieces of artillery, and well provided 
 with ammunition and provisions. 
 
 To dislodge this horde of outlaws, Colonel Clinch, 
 with a detachment of United States troops and 500 
 friendly Indians, under the command of Mclntosh, 
 proceeded from the head-waters of the Appalachi- 
 cola and laid siege to the fort on the land side. 
 Nicholls and Woodbine first exacted an oath from 
 their followers not to suffer an American to ap 
 proach the fort alive, and then, giving it up to them, 
 went off. 
 
 To supply Colonel Clinch's forces with munitions 
 and provisions for the siege, two schooners from 
 New Orleans, by permission of the Spanish autho 
 rities at Pensacola, proceeded up the Appalachicola, 
 under convoy of two gun-boats, on the 10th of July. 
 When near the fort, a watering-party of seven men 
 from the schooners was surprised by an ambuscade 
 of negroes : five were killed, one escaped, and one 
 was captured, tortured, and put to death. The gun 
 boats, having but a twelve-pounder and 25 men each, 
 were deemed insufficient by Colonel Clinch to attack 
 the fort, and their commander was cautioned against 
 attempting any offensive operations. Not deterred 
 by this, he warped up sufficiently near to reach it, 
 and, on commencing the firing of hot shot, one of 
 them entered the principal magazine and blew up 
 the fort. 
 
 The destruction was complete : 270 of the enemy 
 were killed, most of the remainder were badly 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 315 
 
 wounded, and only three of the whole number 
 escaped unhurt. An immense quantity of arms and 
 munitions of war, designed for supplying the Indians 
 and negroes with the means of annoying the frontier- 
 settlers, fell into the hands of the conquerors ; and 
 two chiefs, who had directed the torture of Ameri 
 can prisoners., were given over to the tender mercies 
 of Macintosh's Indians. The savage horde of West 
 Florida was thus broken up. 
 
 In East Florida an enemy of the same description 
 was engaged in a similar system of operations. This 
 province of Spain had become the receptacle of a 
 population of the vilest character. The Spanish 
 authorities had no control over them beyond the 
 limits of their fortified posts. The most numerous 
 occupants of the interior were the Seminole Indians, 
 outcast runaways, as their name indicates, from the 
 Creeks. Their allies were the Red-Sticks and other 
 fugitives from the Northern tribes. The Red-Sticks 
 were Creeks who had been expelled from their lands 
 in 1813. They had erected a high pole at their 
 principal village of Mickasuky and painted it red, to 
 denote their thirst for the blood of the whites. Their 
 flag was composed of scalps of Americans whom they 
 had murdered. Hence their name Red-Sticks. To 
 this Indian population were added some hundreds 
 of runaway negroes from Georgia. The frontier-in 
 habitants had much to dread from such a popula 
 tion. Their warriors amounted to some 1500 or 
 more. Francis Hillishago, a Creek chief, had been 
 on an unsuccessful visit to England for the purpose 
 of recovering his lands by the aid of the govern 
 ment. The Spanish authorities of Florida and 
 
316 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 
 
 numerous adventurers from New Providence gave 
 them encouragement and supplied them with arms, 
 and represented the Americans as enemies bent 
 upon the extermination of the Indian race. Thus 
 supported, these outcasts carried on a system of 
 murder and plunder on the frontiers of Georgia and 
 Alabama, taking refuge in the Mickasuky and Sawa- 
 ney villages, situated on the borders of Georgia. 
 
 The region which had thus become the seat of a 
 sanguinary border-warfare was situated in the mili 
 tary department of General Jackson, and was under 
 the immediate command of General Gaines. The 
 latter, in pursuance of his orders to protect the 
 frontier, concentrated his forces in that quarter, and 
 built Fort Scott, on the Flint River, near its junc 
 tion with the Chattahoochee, Fort Gaines, on the 
 latter river, on the line between Georgia and Missis 
 sippi, arid Fort Crawford, in Mississippi, on the 
 Canacho branch of the Escambia. 
 
 General Gaines's instructions on the subject of the 
 Seminole War were contained in four orders from the 
 War Department. The first, of the 30th of Octo 
 ber, 1816, after directing a detachment of Georgia 
 militia to be called into service, states "that the 
 assurance of an additional force, the President flat 
 ters himself, will at least have the effect of restrain 
 ing the Seminoles from committing further depreda 
 tions, and perhaps of inducing them to make repara 
 tion for the murders which they have committed. 
 Should they, however, persevere in their refusal to 
 make such reparation, it is the wish of the President 
 that you should not, on that account, pass the line 
 and make an attack upon them within the limits of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 317 
 
 Florida, until you shall have received further in 
 structions from this Department. You are author 
 ized to remove the Indians still remaining on the 
 lands ceded by the treaty made by General Jackson 
 with the Creeks." 
 
 The second, bearing date the 2d of December, re 
 marks, " The state of our negotiations with Spain,, 
 and the temper manifested by the principal European 
 powers, make it impolitic, in the opinion of the Pre 
 sident, to move a force at this time into the Spanish 
 possessions for the mere purpose of chastising the 
 Seminoles for depredations which have heretofore 
 been committed by them." By the third, dated the 
 9th of December, General Gaines was instructed 
 that, should the Indians appear in force on the 
 Spanish side of the line and persevere in committing 
 hostilities within the limits of the United States, to 
 exercise a sound discretion as to the propriety of 
 crossing the line for the purpose of attacking them 
 and breaking up their towns. The fourth, bearing 
 date the 16th of December, further instructed him 
 that, should the Seminole Indians still refuse to 
 make reparation for their outrages and depredations 
 on the citizens of the United States, to consider him 
 self at liberty to march across the Florida line and 
 attack them within its limits, unless they should 
 shelter themselves under a Spanish fort, and, in that 
 event, immediately notify the War Department. 
 
 On the 19th of November, 1816, General Gaines, 
 being at Fort Scott, and having been instructed to 
 remove the remaining Creeks from the territory ceded 
 to the United States by Jackson's treaty, sent an offi 
 cer to Fowltown, one of their settlements near him, 
 
318 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 to require the removal of certain Indians still remain 
 ing. The chief returned a haughty refusal. Major 
 Twiggs, being despatched on the next day with 250 
 men to bring the chiefs and warriors to Fort Scott, was 
 attacked by the Indians ; but he repulsed and put 
 them to flight after killing and wounding a small num 
 ber. Four days after he marched to the town, which 
 he found deserted. Three vessels, under the direction 
 of Major Muhlenburg, with military stores for the 
 supply of Fort Scott, were ascending the Appalachi- 
 cola, on the 30th of November, when a party of 40 
 men, under Lieutenant Scott, was sent down the 
 river to their assistance by General Gaines. Muhlen 
 burg took out 20 of the men, and, supplying their 
 places with his sick, invalids, and seven women, 
 sent the boat back towards the fort. At the mouth 
 of Flint River the boat was attacked by an ambus 
 cade of Indians, and all were killed except six sol 
 diers, who escaped to the opposite shore by swim 
 ming, and one woman, who was captured. The scalps 
 of the killed were taken to the Mickasuky village 
 and added to the trophies on the red pole of the 
 Indians. The vessels, retarded by the current and 
 constantly assailed by the savage enemies who lined 
 the banks of the river, received the aid of another 
 detachment from the fort, which a favorable wind at 
 last enabled them to reach. 
 
 The news of these disasters induced the Govern 
 ment to take more decisive measures; and on the 
 26th of December General Jackson was ordered to 
 take the field, with instructions to raise troops at 
 his discretion and conform to the orders previously 
 given to General Gaines as to the method of prose- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 319 
 
 cuting the war. An appeal from the general to the 
 patriotism of the volunteers of West Tennessee sooli 
 brought a thousand soldiers into the service. They 
 were ordered to rendezvous at Fayetteville and pro 
 ceed to Fort Scott. 
 
 The general now left his residence at Nashville, 
 and on the 9th of March arrived at Fort Scott, with 
 900 Georgia militia. He crossed the Flint River on 
 the 10th, and arrived on the 16th at Prospect Bluff, 
 where he erected a fort, to which he gave the name 
 of Fort Gadsden, in honor of the engineer engaged 
 in its erection. General Gaines had joined him on 
 the march. 
 
 Being nearly destitute of provisions, General 
 Jackson determined to sustain the army by causing 
 supplies to be transported up the Escambia, passing 
 Pensacola and the fortress of Barrancas. He ac 
 cordingly wrote to the Spanish governor of West 
 Florida that he should consider any interruption to 
 this proceeding, on his part, as an act of hostility 
 against the United States. The governor demanded 
 duties on the stores, but did not venture to enforce 
 his demand. 
 
 Mclntosh, the Creek chief, with 1500 warriors, 
 having entered the service of the United States in 
 this expedition, the whole force of General Jackson 
 now amounted to 4300 men. The enemy consisted 
 of runaway Indians and negroes to the amount of 
 one-quarter or one-third of that number. No serious 
 contest could be anticipated; and, accordingly, the 
 subsequent operations constituted, as Jackson after 
 wards aptly denominated it, u a war of movements." 
 
 On the 1st of April the Tennessee volunteers 
 
320 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 joined the main body, which had then nearly 
 Cached the Mickasuky villages. As they ap 
 proached them the outposts had a trifling skirmish 
 with some Indians, who soon fled ; and the villages, 
 on the arrival of the army, were found deserted by 
 their inhabitants. The wigwams were burned ; the 
 old red stick, with the scalps of Lieutenant Scott's 
 party attached to it, was found still standing. 
 
 Mclntosh and his warriors were ordered to scour 
 the neighboring country in pursuit of the fugitives ; 
 and General Jackson now marched to the Spanish 
 fort of St. Mark's, took possession of it, hoisted the 
 American flag, and shipped the Spanish garrison to 
 Pensacola. 
 
 In the neighborhood of this place was found a 
 Scotch trader, named Alexander Arbuthnot, who 
 had been carrying on an extensive intercourse with 
 the hostile Indians and negroes. The general put 
 him in close confinement. Francis Hillishago, the 
 Creek chief, and Hoonotlemied, a Red-Stick chief, 
 who had led the murderers of Lieutenant Scott's 
 party, and had been decoyed on board a vessel in 
 Appalachee Bay by Captain McKeever, were now 
 hung by the general's order. 
 
 The general then left a small garrison at St. 
 Mark's, and on the 9th of April marched for the 
 Sawaney villages, distant one hundred and seven 
 miles. He arrived there on the 16th, killed eleven 
 Indians and took two prisoners. The next day the 
 villages w r ere destroyed and parties were sent out 
 in pursuit of the fugitives. Arbuthnot's schooner 
 was captured at the mouth of the Sawaney Eiver, 
 and employed in transporting the sick and baggage 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 321 
 
 of the army to St. Mark's. On the 18th, Robert C. 
 Ambrister, late a lieutenant of marines in the British 
 service, under Nicholls, was captured in the neigh 
 borhood of the villages. 
 
 The war was now considered as having termi 
 nated. The Georgia militia and Mclntosh's Indians 
 were discharged; and on the llth of April the main 
 body set out for St. Mark's, and after a rapid march 
 of five days arrived at that place. 
 
 It is foreign to our purpose to go into a history of 
 what was denominated, at that time, the Arbuthnot 
 and Ambrister affair. The proceedings in relation 
 to their trial were certainly of a very summary 
 character, and they were put to death ; but whether 
 as outlaws, spies, or pirates, we must leave to Gene 
 ral Jackson to decide. It is worthy of remark, how 
 ever, that the proceedings of the general in relation 
 to these men were justified by the Congress of the 
 United States and the Parliament of Great Britain. 
 The Spanish government complained, but were 
 silenced by the answer of Mr. Adams. 
 
 At St. Mark's General Jackson received intelli 
 gence that some of the fugitive Seminoles had 
 escaped to West Florida. He, therefore, after leav 
 ing a garrison in the fort, marched into the imme 
 diate neighborhood of Pensacola. The Spanish go 
 vernor remonstrated ; the general occupied the town, 
 and the governor and garrison were obliged to take 
 refuge in the fortress of Barrancas. (24th of May.) 
 The fort was now invested and bombarded till the 
 27th of May, when it was surrendered to the United 
 States. St. Augustine, the only remaining Spanish 
 
 fortress, being subsequently captured by General 
 
 21 
 
322 RATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Gaines, in obedience to Jackson's orders, the whole 
 province was in the military possession of the United 
 States; and the Seminole War had ended in the 
 conquest of Florida. 
 
 The diplomatic proceedings which followed this 
 event, the temporary restoration of the province and 
 its final cession, are matters which belong to the 
 civil history of the United States. 
 
 Subsequent events have made it pretty apparent 
 that in this war the Seminoles were not all killed. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 323 
 
 BLACK HAWK'S WAR 
 
 BLACK HAWK, the Indian chief whose fame has 
 been recently so widely extended among us, was 
 born on Rock River, in Illinois, about the year 1767. 
 His greatgrandfather was a chief by the name of 
 Nanamakee, or Thunder. Having, at the early age 
 of fifteen, taken the scalp of an enemy, he was 
 admitted to the rank of a brave. A short time 
 afterwards he joined in a war-party against the 
 Osages, and was greatly distinguished for his valor. 
 On his return he was allowed to join in the scalp- 
 dance of the nation. His reputation being thus 
 
324 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 established, he frequently led war-parties against 
 the enemies of his tribe, and was in almost every 
 case successful. 
 
 The treaty which had been made in 1804, by 
 Governor Harrison, with the Sacs and Foxes, by 
 which they ceded their lands east of the Mississippi, 
 was executed by a few chiefs without the knowledge 
 or consent of the nation. Therefore, when Fort 
 Madison was erected by the Americans upon the 
 Mississippi, these tribes expressed their dissatisfac 
 tion in an open manner, and even made an unsuc 
 cessful attempt to cut off the garrison. 
 
 In the mean while the territory of Illinois had 
 been admitted into the Union and now formed a 
 State. Emigrants poured in from all parts, and in 
 a short time the territory occupied by the Sacs and 
 Foxes was completely surrounded by the settlements 
 of the white men. These soon began to commit 
 outrages upon their red neighbors, in order to hasten 
 their departure from the ceded territory. In 1827, 
 when these tribes were absent from their homes, en 
 gaged in hunting, some of the whites set fire to their 
 village, by which forty houses were consumed. The 
 Indians said nothing concerning this disgraceful act, 
 but, on their return, quietly rebuilt their dwellings. 
 The whites also turned their cattle into the fields 
 of the Indians, by which means the corn was all 
 trodden under foot and destroyed. 
 
 The American government now determined to 
 sell the lands occupied by these tribes of Indians, 
 and they were accordingly advised to remove. 
 Keokuk, the chief, with a majority of the nation, 
 determined to do so; but Black Hawk, with a party 
 
, NAVAL EXPLOITS. 325 
 
 which he gained over to himself, resolved to remain, 
 at all hazards. 
 
 Meanwhile the whites committed greater acts of 
 violence upon the Indians than before. The latter 
 at last took up arms, and a war would certainly 
 have taken place had not General Gaines, com 
 mander of the western division of the United States 
 army, hastened to the scene of action. He held a 
 council with the principal chiefs, in which it was 
 agreed that the nation should instantly remove. 
 They accordingly crossed the river and settled on its 
 western bank. 
 
 The majority of the Indians were on peaceable 
 terms with the United States. But Black Hawk 
 and his band determined to return to Illinois, alleg 
 ing that they had been invited by the Pottawatomies, 
 residing on Kock River, to spend the summer with 
 them and plant corn on their lands. 
 
 Accordingly, they crossed the Mississippi and pro 
 ceeded towards the country of the Pottawatomies. 
 They did not attempt to harm any one upon the 
 road. The traveller passed by them without receiv 
 ing any injury, and the inmates of the lowly hut 
 experienced no outrage. Thus they continued, and, 
 without doubt, no violence would have been com 
 mitted by them had not the whites been the first 
 to shed blood. Five or six Indians who were in 
 advance of the party were all captured and put to 
 death by a battalion of mounted militia, except one 
 who made his escape. The one who escaped brought 
 the news to Black Hawk, who immediately deter 
 mined to be revenged. He therefore planned an 
 ambuscade, into which the militia were enticed. On 
 
326 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 receiving the fire of the Indians they became 
 panic-struck, and fled in disorder, with the loss of 
 14 men. 
 
 The Indians, now that the war was begun, deter 
 mined to do all the mischief in their power. They 
 accordingly divided into small parties, proceeded in 
 different directions, and fell upon the settlements 
 which were at that time thinly scattered over a 
 greater portion of Illinois. Here they committed 
 such outrages that the whole State was in the 
 greatest excitement. Governor Reynolds ordered 
 out 2000 additional militia, who, on the 10th of 
 June, assembled at Hennepin, on the Illinois Eiver, 
 and were soon engaged in pursuit of the Indians. 
 
 On the 20th of May, 1832, the Indians attacked 
 a small settlement on Indian Creek, and killed 15 
 persons, besides taking considerable plunder. On 
 the 14th of June 5 persons were killed near Galena. 
 General Dodge, being in the neighborhood, marched 
 with 30 of his mounted men immediately in search 
 of them. When he had gone about three miles, he 
 discovered 12 Indians, whom he supposed to be the 
 party that had committed the murders, and he en 
 tered into the pursuit with great spirit. The Indians 
 made for a swamp, in which they immediately took 
 shelter. The whites rushed in after them, and soon 
 met them. No resistance was made ; every Indian 
 was killed, and their scalps were taken off and borne 
 away in triumph. 
 
 Meanwhile General Atkinson was pursuing Black 
 Hawk, whose camp was near the Four Lakes. In 
 stead of crossing the country, to retreat beyond the 
 Mississippi, as was expected, he descended the Wis- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 327 
 
 consin, to escape in that direction ; by which means 
 General Dodge came upon his trail and commenced 
 a vigorous pursuit. 
 
 On the 21st of July, Dodge, with about 200 men, 
 besides Indians, came up with Black Hawk, on the 
 Wisconsin, forty miles from Fort Winnebago. The 
 whites came upon the Indians just as they were 
 about to cross the river. After a short engagement 
 the Indians retreated ; and, it being dark, the whites 
 could not pursue them without disadvantage to 
 themselves. Black Hawk's party, it is supposed, 
 lost about 40 men in this encounter. 
 
 The Indians were now in a truly deplorable con 
 dition ; several of them were greatly emaciated for 
 want of food, and some even starved to death. In 
 their pursuit of, them before the battle the whites 
 found several of their number lying dead on the 
 road. Yet were they not altogether dispirited, and 
 they resolved to continue hostilities as long as they 
 were able. 
 
 In the affair which we have just related, a 
 squaw, the wife of a warrior called Big Lake, was 
 taken prisoner. From her the whites learned that 
 Black Hawk intended to proceed to the west side of 
 the Mississippi, above Prairie-du-Chien ; those having 
 horses were to strike across the country, while the 
 others were to proceed by the Wisconsin. A great 
 many of these latter were taken prisoners on the 
 road by the whites. 
 
 Several circumstances now transpired to prevent 
 the escape pf the main body under Black Hawk. 
 The first was his falling in with the " Warrior" 
 steamboat, (August 1,) just as he was about to 
 
328 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 cross the Mississippi. On this occasion the chief did 
 not wish to fight, but to escape. He displayed two 
 white flags, and about 150 of his men came to the 
 river without arms, making signs of submission. 
 But J. Throckmorton, the commander of the boat, 
 either could not or would not understand their sig 
 nals : he gave orders for his men to fire upon them, 
 which they did ; the fire was returned^ but without 
 doing any damage. The engagement lasted for 
 about an hour, when the wood of the steamboat 
 began to fail, and it proceeded to the Prairie. In 
 this battle the Indians had 23 men killed, besides a 
 great many wounded; while the whites had none 
 killed and only one wounded. 
 
 On the next day Atkinson's army came up with 
 Black Hawk, after having encountered many incon 
 veniences and dangers in the march. He imme 
 diately formed his troops in order of battle and 
 attacked the Indians. However, lest some should 
 escape up or down the river, Atkinson had ordered 
 Generals Alexander and Posey to form the right 
 wing of the army and march down to the river 
 above the Indian encampment on the bank, and 
 then move down. The battle now commenced, and 
 lasted for about three hours. The Indians fought 
 with desperation, and disputed the ground with the 
 greatest valor. They were, however, finally obliged 
 to retreat. Their loss in killed and wounded 
 amounted to about 200, while that of the Americans 
 was but 27. 
 
 This action may be considered as the finishing- 
 stroke of the war, although Black Hawk made his 
 escape. From this time Black Hawk's men con- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 329 
 
 tinually deserted him and went over to the whites. 
 Finally, the warrior himself came in and surrendered 
 to the agent at Prairie-du-Chien. On this occasion 
 he made a speech, in which he said that he regretted 
 his being obliged to close the war so soon without 
 having given the whites much more trouble ; that 
 he had done nothing of which he had any reason to 
 be ashamed ; that an Indian who was as bad as the 
 white men would not be allowed to live in their 
 communities ; and ended with the following words : 
 " Farewell, my nation ! Black Hawk tried to save 
 you and revenge your wrongs. He drank the blood 
 of some of the whites. He has been taken prisoner, 
 and his plans are stopped. He can do no more. He 
 is near his end. His sun is setting, and he will rise 
 no more c Farewell to Black Hawk." 
 
 Black Hawk was now taken to Washington, where 
 he had an interview with the President. He was 
 then conducted through the principal Atlantic cities 
 and received everywhere with the most marked 
 attention and hospitality. He was then set at 
 liberty and returned to his nation. He died on the 
 3d of October, 1838 ? at his village on the Des Moines 
 Kiver. 
 
ISO 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 SECOND SEMINOLE WAR. 
 
 THIS war broke out in the summer of 1835, and, 
 to the disgrace of the Government, lasted eight 
 years. General Clinch, with 250 regulars and 650 
 Florida militia, had the chief command at first; and 
 in December, 1835, Major Dade's detachment was 
 entirely destroyed by the Indians. 
 
 Generals Gaines, Scott, and Jessup, were in turn 
 intrusted with the conduct of the war ; but none of 
 them succeeded in bringing the enemy to a decisive 
 engagement. The last-named commander resorted 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 331 
 
 to a stratagem to gain possession of the master-spirit 
 among the Seminoles. 
 
 Osceola was known to be a brave and sagacious 
 warrior, and was at this time the principal chief. 
 He was viewed as the great director of all the hostile 
 bands of Seminole warriors. It was deemed, there 
 fore, a great achievement by the American general 
 to get him into his power. General Jessup found 
 means to communicate to the Indians that it was 
 his wish to have the chiefs come in and hold a talk, 
 in order to come to some agreement. White flags 
 were displayed on the fort. On the 20th of October, 
 1837, Osceola, accompanied by other chiefs and a 
 few warriors, came in, agreeably to the invitation. 
 He, carrying a white flag in his hand and relying on 
 the honor of the commanding general, put himself 
 in his power; but, instead of being received as was 
 expected, they were immediately surrounded by 
 bayonets, made prisoners, and confined in the fort. 
 Whether General Jessup was alone accountable for 
 this act of treachery, or whether he acted under 
 orders from the President, is not known ; but, the 
 Government having afterwards approved of the mea 
 sure, it became a national act. 
 
 Osceola was kept there a prisoner for some time, 
 when he was, by order of the Government, conveyed 
 under a strong guard to Sullivan Island, in the 
 harbor of Charleston, S.C., and confined in the fort. 
 His proud and independent spirit could not bear the 
 confinement, and he gradually pined away and died 
 in prison. Thus fell another brave Indian chieftain, 
 not in fair fight, but in a manner that will ever be a 
 stigma upon our national honor. 
 
332 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Other chiefs were kidnapped in the same treache 
 rous manner ; but, severe as the loss must have been 
 to the, Indians, it did not appear to discourage them. 
 The war was still carried on, by those who were left, 
 in a desultory manner. The ranks of the Indians 
 are said to have been filled up by runaway slaves 
 and some of the Creek Indians who had not yet 
 quitted Georgia. 
 
 BATTLE OP OKEECIIOBEE. 
 
 On the 24th of December, 1837, Colonel Taylor 
 succeeded in bringing the Indians to a general en 
 gagement at Okeechobee. The action was a severe 
 one, and continued from half-past twelve until after 
 three P. M., a part of the time very close and severe. 
 The troops suffered much, having 26 killed and 112 
 wounded, among whom were some of the most 
 valuable officers. The enemy probably suffered 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 333 
 
 equally, they having left 10 dead on the ground, 
 besides, doubtless, carrying off many more, as is 
 customary with them when practicable. 
 
 Taylor's column, in six w r eeks, penetrated one 
 hundred and fifty miles into the enemy's country, 
 opened roads, and constructed bridges and causeways 
 when necessary, on the greater portion of the route, 
 established two depots and the necessary defences 
 for the same, and finally overtook and beat the 
 enemy in his strongest position ; the results of 
 which movement and battle were the capture of 30 
 of the enemy, the coming-in and surrendering of 
 more than 150 Indians and negroes, mostly the 
 former, including the chiefs Ou-la-too-chee, Tus-ta- 
 nug-gee, and other principal men, the capturing and 
 driving out of the country six hundred head of 
 cattle, upwards of one hundred head of horses, be 
 sides obtaining a thorough knowledge of the country 
 through which the troops operated, a greater portion 
 of which was entirely unknown except to the enemy. 
 
 Colonel Taylor's conduct in the battle of Okee- 
 chobee was duly appreciated by the Government. 
 The Secretary of War, Mr. Poinsett, gave him the 
 warmest commendation in his report to Congress ; 
 and he was immediately promoted to the brevet 
 rank of brigadier-general, with the chief command 
 in Florida. His head-quarters were in the neigh 
 borhood of Tampa Bay. From this point he 
 directed the " war of movements," so difficult and 
 discouraging to an ardent officer, until 1840, when 
 he was relieved by General Armistead, who was 
 ordered to take the command in Florida. 
 
 The Seminoles had eluded pursuit for a long time 
 
334 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 i 
 
 previous to May, 1841, when the conduct of the war 
 was intrusted to Colonel Worth. Sickness among 
 the men impeded his operations, but he was soon 
 able to compel the surrender of several considerable 
 detachments of hostile Indians ; and, on the 19th 
 of April, 1842, he succeeded in compelling a large 
 body of Indians to fight at a place called Palaklak- 
 laha. The result, as might have been anticipated, 
 was a complete defeat of the enemy, which was soon 
 after followed by the surrender of one of the leading 
 chiefs of the Indians with his band. 
 
 The Florida War was not yet ended. Even before 
 Worth left the territory hostilities had recom 
 menced at San Pedro. The exasperation and 
 chagrin of the inhabitants broke forth into loud 
 murmurs against the Government and the army. 
 Colonel Yose was ordered to take the field imme 
 diately, and another series of negotiations, skir 
 mishes, butcheries, and hollow truces, ensued. The 
 details might well fatigue, but could not please or 
 instruct, the reader. It may be sufficient to know 
 that, in November, Colonel Worth, lately breveted 
 brigadier-general, resumed the command ; that a 
 few more chiefs were captured, a few driven into 
 the everglades, and a few decided and afterwards 
 retained ; that several hundred Indians, desolate, 
 friendless, and heart-broken, were despatched to the 
 West ; that the military force was now reduced and 
 now augmented, according as the war-temperament 
 dictated the thermometer-like policy; and that No 
 vember, 1843, has generally been regarded as the 
 time when this whole affair, dignified by the ap 
 pellation of a national contest, may be supposed to 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 335 
 
 have been concluded. That fact was duly announced 
 by General Worth in a despatch to the adjutant- 
 general. 
 
 Since that time peace has, with few interruptions, 
 been maintained. The Indian warriors now in 
 Florida number perhaps 150. Recently some out 
 rages were committed which caused some anxiety 
 lest the war was about to be renewed; but it is 
 believed that no plot for that purpose exists among 
 the Indians. 
 
 
336 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 COKPDS CHRISTI. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF THE MEXICAN WAR, 
 AND BATTLES OF PALO ALTO AND RE- 
 SACA DE LA PALMA. 
 
 IN 1844 General Taylor was appointed to the 
 command of the army of observation in Texas. His 
 inarch from Corpus Christ! to the Rio Grande is a 
 narration of wonderful and romantic events. The 
 great American desert was to be crossed, where all 
 vegetation is stunted and every river and lake 
 filled with salt water. Here and there dense prickly 
 pears, green and beautiful in the distance, mocked 
 the eye with the appearance of cultivation and 
 plenty. Then streams, cold and clear, caused the 
 blood to thrill through the veins of the exhausted 
 soldiers; but the waters were salt and loathsome, 
 and on tasting them the troops looked upon each 
 other with fearful foreboding. Drooping with thirst 
 
KAVAL EXPLOITS. 337 
 
 and weariness, the army moved over the burning 
 sand, their feet parched and blistered with the heat 
 and their cattle dropping at every step. Men who 
 subsequently faced death with alacrity now grew 
 still and melancholy; and their unechoing tread 
 seemed like the muffled march to a funeral. 
 
 But at length their sufferings terminated. They 
 emerged from the desert, and far in the distance a 
 white line was observed glittering in the sun. "Fresh 
 water" was spoken with startling energy, and, as 
 though accelerated by a superhuman impulse, every 
 man sprung onward. Nearer and nearer they drew, 
 until the waves could be distinctly recognised spark 
 ling in the distance. Now their eagerness became 
 uncontrollable. Sweeping along in rapid marches, 
 the troops reached the brink, dashed down their 
 arms and equipments, and rushed in headlong. It- 
 was a moment when discipline yields to necessity ; 
 and General Taylor exulted and revelled with his 
 troops as the commonest soldier. 
 
 On the 28th of March the American flag was 
 waving on the banks of the Eio Grande. Kound 
 their national banner the weary troops sat down to 
 enjoy once more the luxury of rest. They had 
 crossed streams and deserts, forded rivers, endured 
 hardships of hunger, thirst, fatigue, and heat, had 
 captured Point Isabel and established there a mili 
 tary depot. The limit of their authority was reached, 
 and they now sat down on the great river to await 
 the commencement of hostilities or an order to re 
 turn home. 
 
 The death of Colonel Cross, and subsequently of 
 Lieutenant Porter, roused the army from its security. 
 
 22 
 
338 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Then Captain Thornton with his command was cap 
 tured, and immediately after the Mexicans, grown 
 bold by success, crossed the Rio Grande and spread 
 themselves along the neighboring plains. Spies 
 were sent out from the American fort; but one by 
 one they returned, with the information that crowds 
 were still crossing and that all communication with 
 
 CAPTURE OF CAPTAIK THORNTON. 
 
 Point Isabel was cut off. A period dark and try 
 ing was settling over the army. They were de 
 prived of all communication with the government or 
 their main depot, and surrounded by a hostile army 
 many times superior to themselves. Yet not for one 
 moment did they despond. Confident that the motto 
 of their leader was " Victory or Death," they leaned 
 upon him as a strong pillar, and felt that there was 
 
NAYAL EXPLOITS. 339 
 
 that in his genius and firmness which must finally 
 insure success. Nor was this confidence diminished 
 when Captain Walker, of the Rangers, arrived at the 
 'fort, after escaping innumerable dangers, and re 
 ported the critical condition of Point Isabel. * 
 Aware of the importance of reopening his com 
 munication, the general left his fort on the 1st of 
 May for the purpose of cutting his way to Point 
 Isabel. Strange to say, he reached it in safety, re 
 plenished his stores, recruited his army, and set out 
 (May 7) on his return. That night the troops slept 
 on the open plain, and early on the following morn 
 ing recommenced their solitary march. At noon 
 they reached a wide prairie, flanked by pools of 
 fresh water and bounded in the distance by long 
 rows of chapparal. In front of the latter were drawn 
 up in battle-array 6000 Mexicans, in one unbroken 
 line a mile in length. It was a thrilling sight. Long 
 rows of bayonets glittering in the sunbeams, together 
 with the lances of the horsemen and hundreds of 
 pennants and national flags, formed a spectacle 
 brilliant and exciting. Undaunted by the over 
 whelming numbers of their adversaries, each soldier 
 forgot the fatigues of the journey and pressed for 
 ward with the highest enthusiasm. Nearer and 
 nearer the armies approached, until but six hundred 
 yards intervened between them. Then suddenly a 
 roar like thunder shook the ground, and volumes of 
 smoke burst from the batteries to the Mexican left 
 and rolled away in the distance. Battery after bat 
 tery followed in rapid succession, till the ground 
 rocked and trembled, the whole field was dense with 
 smoke, and the balls tore up the earth and grass in 
 
340 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 whirling fragments. For a few minutes there was 
 a pause, and the Americans placed their guns in bat 
 tery. This done, the action commenced in earnest, 
 Einggold, Duncan, and Churchill sustaining the 
 whole force of the enemy's fire. At every discharge 
 of these gallant cannoneers the Mexican cavalry 
 reeled to and fro, while scores sunk down in mangled 
 masses beneath the tread of their companions. The 
 rattling of artillery-wagons as they swept to different 
 stations, the galloping of horses and rushing of armed 
 men, the shouts of command and moans of the 
 dying, mingled fearfully over that solitary plain. 
 Dismayed by the havoc of his cavalry, the Mexican 
 general collected their scattered fragments and pre 
 pared for a charge. At this movement the third 
 and fifth infantry regiments, who had hitherto taken 
 no part in the battle, were ordered forward to meet 
 the enemy. But the huge masses bore on amid a 
 tremendous fire from the third regiment, assisted by 
 Kidgely's guns, until they arrived at the fifth. This 
 was formed into a square to support Lieutenant 
 Ridgely. That brave officer planted his guns in the 
 very front of the lancers, and rode from rank to rank 
 amid showers of balls and bullets. His horse fell 
 dead ; and four others, maddened with the smoke and 
 uproar, plunged headlong before the muzzles of the 
 cannon and directly between the two armies. There 
 was a moment of sickening dread, for without horses 
 the artillery would be unmanageable. In the next 
 Eidgely sprang forward and drew the animals to 
 their stations. A pealing shout followed this daring 
 action, echoed by roars of artillery and the hurry- 
 ings of the enemy's retreat. At this uncertain 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 341 
 
 moment Colonel Twiggs came down on them with 
 the third infantry, supported by Major Ringgold. 
 Heavy balls crushed through their crowded columns, 
 mowing down whole regiments and piling man and 
 steed in one long black line of death. 
 
 While the cavalry were breaking before our artil 
 lery, the prairie grass became ignited, and in a few 
 
 BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. 
 
 moments the stirring spectacle of a prairie on fire 
 was added to the more terrible one of a battle. 
 Thick masses of smoke rose between the two armies, 
 hiding them from each other and from the light of 
 the sun. Gradually the work of death slackened, 
 until at last silence brooded once more over the 
 plain, interrupted only by the crackling of flames 
 or an occasional command. 
 
 But the cessation was only temporary. Under 
 
342 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 cover of the darkness, each army formed a new line 
 of battle, and after an hour's intermission the action 
 recommenced. The appetite for blood, the darker 
 passions of human nature, had been aroused ; and 
 now man saw his brother and companion fall by his 
 side, or heard from every quarter the shrieks of suf 
 fering wretches, with scarcely one feeling of com 
 punction. The artillery led the battle ; and both 
 armies fought with a heroism rarely surpassed in the 
 history of American warfare. In the very midst of 
 it, one man rode along the van of our troops on a 
 white horse and exhorted them to duty. At sight 
 of him wild shouts of exultation rose above the 
 shock of contending armies, and each soldier forgot 
 that he was rioting in blood and danger. 
 
 No man sustained the honor of his country better 
 on that day than did Major Ringgold. The very 
 soul of the artillery-force, he watched with thrilling 
 interest the effect of every gun, and saw with the 
 pride of a soldier the terrible havoc in the enemy's 
 ranks. His calm, collected bearing and chivalric 
 bravery were the admiration of every beholder. 
 Yet he was to shine but for a moment. Death had 
 marked him as its victim and fixed the dear price 
 of his glory. While superintending the eighteen- 
 pounders, a cannon-ball struck his right thigh, passed 
 completely through the shoulders of his horse and 
 out through his left thigh, tearing away all the 
 muscles that opposed its course. 
 
 The last charge of the cavalry was met by Captain 
 Duncan's battery, assisted by the 8th infantry and 
 Ker's dragoons. Before the fire of these companies 
 the horsemen fell back in confused masses, and the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 343 
 
 day was won. Night brought repose to the weary 
 soldiers, who sank upon the field in their equip 
 ments, while the artillerists lay down beside their 
 pieces. 
 
 Thus one battle was won ; but another, more dark 
 and dreadful, and which was to drive the Mexican 
 from Texas forever, was in reserve for the following 
 day. At four o'clock in the afternoon (May 9) the 
 Americans arrived in front of a deep gorge known 
 as the Resaca de la Palma, flanking the road on each 
 side and covered with impenetrable chapparal of 
 prickly pear, Spanish needle, and other thorny plants. 
 Here the legions of Mexico had concealed their 
 forces and were awaiting the arrival of their op 
 ponents. Heavy batteries were posted in the gorge 
 so as to rake the road from both sides, while the 
 infantry should, at the same time, employ their 
 musketry from the chapparal. The cavalry were 
 stationed so as to support the rest of the army and 
 act according to emergencies. 
 
 About four o'clock quick discharges of musketry 
 were heard in the direction of the chapparal. The 
 battle had begun. A party of skirmishers had en 
 gaged some Mexican cavalry, and, after retreating a 
 short distance, rallied, and in turn drove back their 
 opponents. Meanwhile the main army moved 
 towards the gorge at a rapid march, eager to finish 
 the work commenced at Palo Alto. Riding through 
 their columns, the commander exhorted each man to 
 prepare for the approaching struggle and complete 
 the measure of their worth and glory. Shouts of 
 gratitude and exultation gave assurance that his 
 words were not idly spoken. Every eye flashed, 
 
344 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 every bosom heaved, with the intensity of excite 
 ment; and the hurrying tread announced that very 
 soon the two armies would again face each other in 
 mortal strife. 
 
 At length, when near the Resaca, the Mexican 
 artillery broke forth in discharges which echoed and 
 re-echoed along the gorge and ploughed up the 
 ground and rocks in every direction. - The troops 
 immediately halted. Then one regiment after 
 another moved towards the ravine, regardless of the 
 iron shower that hailed around and above them. In 
 advance of all was Lieutenant Ridgely, whose bat 
 teries poured forth uninterrupted discharges of shot 
 and canister. Closely following were the heavy 
 columns of the 8th infantry, succeeded by the re 
 mainder of the army. For thirty minutes the 
 artillerists stood between the opposing forces, while 
 the balls dashed and bounded and whistled around 
 them and the wailings of mangled companions rung 
 in their ears. The cavalry dashed upon them until 
 the horses almost leaped upon the cannon ; yet they 
 faltered not. Throwing aside all superfluous clothing, 
 grim with smoke and powder, and sweltering in the 
 burning sun, these heroes stood hand to hand with 
 death, and, amid blood and uproar and thunder, 
 wrenched victory from the enemy. Their leader 
 managed a gun with his own hand, like the com 
 monest soldier, and refused to mount his horse until 
 the cavalry were broken. 
 
 A shout, terrible to the Mexicans, rang from the 
 American troops on beholding this retreat, and a 
 pursuit immediately commenced. Batteries groaning 
 with heavy cannon were wheeled into action, and 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 345 
 
 opened upon the Americans. Clamor and misery 
 followed their course; but still our troops pressed 
 forward. Then the flash of thousands of muskets 
 burst forth from the chapparal, which seemed as a 
 wall of living fire. Whole companies sunk down 
 beneath the feet of their companions, and the artil 
 lery was almost dismantled. Still the soldiers 
 advanced. The bursts of artillery, the roar of mus 
 ketry, and shouts of command, formed a scene 
 incapable of description. But. dashing through 
 death and horror, our troops reached the thicket 
 and sprang forward to the fierce trial of the bayonet. 
 Suddenly all noise was hushed save that sickening 
 one whose short, quick sound chills the blood, the 
 grating of bayonet with bayonet as they leap sternly 
 at opposing bosoms. Then there was another shout : 
 the chapparal was gained. 
 
 Sure of victory, the troops now attempted to drive 
 the Mexicans from their batteries. But here their 
 progress was arrested. Manned by the Tampico 
 veterans, and commanded by the brave La Vega, 
 these guns swept down every thing before them and 
 covered the retreat of the infantry. At the same 
 time the cavalry prepared for another charge. 
 
 Perceiving that nothing decisive could be accom 
 plished while the Mexicans retained these guns, 
 General Taylor ordered Captain May to charge them 
 with his dragoons. That order was welcome. As 
 the captain rode back to his command, each eye was 
 bent upon him with an almost agonizing expression. 
 "Men," he exclaimed, "follow!" and instantly that 
 troop were plunging towards the rocks of the Resaca. 
 On they swept, like some living thunderbolt, until 
 
346 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 they reached Colonel Kidgely, by whom they were 
 halted till he had drawn the enemy's fire. Then 
 those fiery horsemen, with their arms bared to the 
 shoulder and their sabres glittering in the sun, 
 swept on towards the opposing batteries. Grim and 
 silent, the enemy awaited their approach, with the 
 ignited matches close to the cannon. Nearer and 
 nearer the dragoons approached ; ' it seemed like 
 mocking death, one of those terrible moments when 
 the mind dares not think. A roar like thunder 
 broke the suspense, and eighteen horses, with seven 
 men, reared and screamed and fell dead. Lieu 
 tenant Sackett was thrown into the midst of the 
 enemy ; Lieutenant Inge was shot through the 
 throat. But naught could stop the survivors. Leap 
 ing on the breaches of the cannon, they overthrew 
 the cannoneers and drove back the Tampico regi 
 ment with their sabres. These were repulsed but a 
 moment ; they rushed back to their stations, seized 
 the horses' bridles, and fought hand to hand with 
 the riders. Again they were rolled back, and again 
 returned, climbing over heaps of their fallen com 
 panions and planting their standard by the principal 
 battery. La Yega, their general, black with the 
 filth of battle, stood among his fallen heroes and 
 called the survivors to their posts. Nobly did they 
 second his call, and closed about him like a wall of 
 iron. But, concentrating his force, May again rushed 
 on them, breaking their ranks and capturing La 
 Yega himself. Slowly and sullenly that shattered 
 band left their guns. Tearing the flag from its 
 staff, one of them wrapped it around his body and 
 attempted to escape, but, weary and wounded, fell 
 down through loss of blood and was captured. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 347 
 
 STOKMING OF MONTEREY. 
 
 AFTER refreshing his troops and receiving rein 
 forcements, General Taylor marched for Monterey, 
 in the neighborhood of which he arrived on the 19th 
 of September. 
 
 On the 21st this strong city was attacked at two 
 stations by the main army, while General Worth 
 led a division against the forts on a neighboring 
 hill. The details of this fearful struggle are a 
 series of rapid movements, brilliant assaults, and 
 chivalric combats. Generals Twiggs and Butler, 
 Colonel May's dragoons, and the Texas volunteers, 
 became involved between three fires directed against 
 them from strongly-built forts. Here, hour after 
 hour, they stood in the jaws of death, while the old 
 town rocked with the thunder of artillery, com 
 panions dropping on every side and the balls ringing 
 and whistling in showers around them. High over 
 the scene of slaughter May and Twiggs were heard 
 exhorting their heroes to the charge ; while Butler's 
 troops, sweeping on with the bayonet, overthrew the 
 opposing cavalry and rushed almost to the guns of 
 the fort. But Mexico saw her danger, and, calling 
 all her troops around, prepared to meet it. At each 
 burst of lurid flame the balls broke and crushed the 
 living masses, until our companies were completely 
 riddled. In gloomy rage the troops were torn from 
 
348 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 the bloody scene, while the shouts of exulting Mexi 
 cans rent the air. 
 
 But the triumph of the latter was short. Captain 
 Backus, having climbed upon a tannery near the 
 fort, poured into it a deadly fire of musketry. Be 
 fore the astonishment attending this unexpected 
 attack had subsided, General Quitman descended 
 upon it like a torrent, leaped the embrasures, wheeled 
 round the cannon, and drove off the Mexicans with 
 the bayonet. 
 
 Now the battle recommenced with renewed fury. 
 Exasperated by their loss, the Mexicans launched 
 from thirty heavy cannon an avalanche of liquid 
 fire that tore up massive stones and bulwarks and 
 scattered them into the air like leaves in autumn. 
 Whole sections melted under this appalling shower, 
 and General Butler was wounded and retired from 
 the field. The rapid charges of Colonel Garland 
 against the second fort were unsuccessful, and the 
 command was withdrawn to the captured station. 
 
 About this time a body of lancers wound slowly 
 round the wall of the city, towards the battery op 
 posite the citadel. At seeing them Captain Bragg 
 galloped forward, and, by a few well-directed charges, 
 drove them back with loss. 
 
 On the 23d a grand attack was made upon all the 
 Mexican stations. Maddened by heavy losses, the 
 American Rangers burst into the houses, tore the 
 skirmishers from the windows, and bored through 
 the side walls towards the central plaza. The dull 
 sound of the pickaxe contrasted strangely with 
 those terrible reports which were shaking earth and 
 air and crushing the haughtiest buildings. Streets 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 349 
 
 and squares were thus passed until the troops were 
 in the vicinity of the principal plaza. Here they 
 halted, issued from the houses, and commenced a 
 cannonade. This renewed the general action. Soon 
 the walls of the great cathedral were observed to 
 totter, and at length, with an awful crash, a portion 
 fell inwards. A wild shout arose from the assail 
 ants, the cannon ceased for one moment, and then, 
 dimly borne over the tumult, came the wail of suf 
 fering anguish. A roar of artillery succeeded, as 
 though death were ashamed that its work should be 
 known. Until near sunset our troops toiled and 
 fought and wrestled for the victory, although op 
 posing a securely-intrenched foe of three times their 
 number. They were then withdrawn to await the 
 arrival of General Worth's division. 
 
 This officer, after capturing the Bishop's Palace 
 and other redoubts, had entered the city and pene 
 trated towards the square on the side opposite General 
 Taylor. Night, however, closed the scene of carnage, 
 and both armies prepared for a final struggle on the 
 ensuing day. 
 
 On the 24th proposals for a capitulation were re 
 ceived from the Mexican General Ampudia, and 
 negotiations ensued which resulted in a surrender 
 of the city and public stores to the army of General 
 Taylor. The enemy marched into the interior on 
 parole, the officers and soldiers retaining most of 
 their arms, together with a battery of artillery. 
 
350 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL TAYLOR AT BUENA VISTA. 
 
 BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA. 
 
 BUENA VISTA is a small village about seven miles 
 south of Saltillo. At some distance from it is the 
 deep gorge of Angostura, surrounded by rocks, hills, 
 and ravines, and holding the key of a position which, 
 for defensive warfare, is perhaps not surpassed by 
 any other on the continent. Here, with his little 
 army of 5000 men, General Taylor waited for 21,000 
 under the best general in Mexico. It was a brilliant 
 sight to behold that host stretching over the distant 
 hills in hurried march to the scene of slaughter. 
 Far as the eye could reach, infantry, cavalry, and 
 artillery flashed in the morning sun and shaded all 
 the plain. Then they scattered in every direction, 
 arranging their artillery, moving into line, and 
 choosing stations for the attack. In the afternoon 
 
3STAYAL EXPLOITS. 351 
 
 a party of lancers wound round the heights to the 
 left of the American position, with the intention of 
 making a charge. They were followed by some 
 infantry companies and one of artillery, who com 
 menced an attack in that quarter. The noise of 
 cannon sounded strangely along those solitary cliffs, 
 and the echoes bounded from one to the other as 
 though in playful mockery. Considerable skirmish 
 ing took place, and the troops of both armies 
 manoeuvred till night. 
 
 Scarcely had daylight appeared in the east on the 
 23d of September, 1846, than the trampling of men, 
 fEegallop of horses, and the roar of cannon, told 
 that the fearful drama was opening. Keinforced 
 during the night, the enemy now poured upon our 
 left a living mass that seemed clad in fire and steel. 
 All along that moving, shouting mass, thousands of 
 muskets united their startling volleys, while a pall 
 of smoke rolled along the rocky heights and hid 
 the combatants from view. Yet, in that terrible 
 moment, ere the excitement of contest had strung 
 the nerves to indifference, Colonel Marshall beheld 
 unmoved the rushings of an army, and, calling his 
 little band around him, prepared for their charge. 
 Gallantly did they wrestle for victory for three 
 dreadful hours, till many a gallant form sank low 
 and the sharp rocks ran red with human blood. 
 When the sun arose the armies were rushing and 
 rolling over the bloody plain, while high over all 
 the din of war soared above the scene and rolled in 
 broken echoes in the distance. 
 
 Yet this was but the beginning of the fray. At 
 eight o'clock one dense, deep column came on in 
 
352 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 steady movement against the American centre. The 
 eye of Washington and his artillerists watched their 
 movement as he waited in stern silence their ap 
 proach. On they came, over rocks and ledges 
 and ravines, rising and lowering as if the whole 
 mass were gifted with one soul. They passed 
 artillery-range, and a wild shout arose, the fond 
 anticipation of victory. Ere its tones had ebbed 
 away another noise was heard, the sound of death. 
 From side to side of that living column the heavy 
 balls ploughed their maddening way, sweeping down 
 the young, the brave, the ambitious, in weltering 
 heaps. Then the thrilling cries of command, the 
 closing of the severed ranks, and the onward tread, 
 succeeded. But a second and a third time that 
 dread battery poured forth, tearing and scattering 
 the column like the sweep of a hurricane. Panic- 
 struck, the lines rolled back ; and, when another roar 
 came forth, thousands sent up a yell of horror, and 
 rushed back over groaning piles and flying masses, 
 leaving behind them their bleeding, dying comrades. 
 
 With grief and dismay the Mexican general 
 beheld the rout of this column, and prepared to 
 redeem it. Under cover of the rocks, his cavalry 
 and a large infantry force united in one body and 
 issued forth to assault the left wing. This had been 
 the first point of attack, and was now reinforced by 
 the Illinois and Indiana regiments and the artillery 
 of Captain O'Brien. 
 
 Riding along his lines, General Lane pointed to 
 the coming hosts and called on each man to re 
 member that he was an American. Throwing the 
 artillery rapidly forward, he ordered the second 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 353 
 
 Indiana regiment to support it, and, placing himself 
 by the soldiers of Illinois, watched the progress of 
 his foe. They came in massive column, certain of 
 victory, shouting as though in pursuit. Then the 
 battle opened. Every eye was fixed upon this 
 quarter, and many a brave heart, who all that morn 
 ing had toiled amid blood and death, now grew sick 
 at the anticipated result. Sweeping through the 
 heavy Mexican phalanx, the shot mowed down 
 whole columns and levelled the cavalry like an 
 Alpine storm ; yet sternly the lines closed, and, with 
 out giving a glance at the wounded, pressed on. 
 Then another road opened ; swords and mangled 
 masses flew in the air, and scores of horses rolled 
 over each other in death. Yet now the blood of 
 Mexico was aroused. With pale, compressed lips, 
 and eyes that flashed fire, they spurned the dead 
 beneath their feet and pressed forward. The Ame 
 rican force began to melt at their approach, and the 
 artillery was surrounded with the dead. But, sweep 
 ing over the field through death and smoke, General 
 Lane urged his troops to be firm; while O'Brien, 
 leaping from his horse, seized a gun, and, though the 
 balls leaped and whistled around him, kept the 
 artillerists to their guns. Now a horse would plunge 
 and fall dead; then a ball would tear a comrade from 
 his side and sweep amid the supporting infantry. 
 Still the battle went on, rocking and thundering in 
 the mountains and flaming along the plain like the 
 eruption of a volcano. 
 
 But there was a page dark and unfortunate in this 
 tale of glory. At this moment, when the energies of 
 every man were required to insure victory, the In- 
 
 23 
 
354 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 diana regiment moved rapidly from their station 
 and commenced an inglorious retreat. Appalled at 
 the sight, the staff-officers galloped across their path, 
 and, seizing the regimental colors, called on the troops 
 to remember their country. But the appeal was 
 vain. A few brave spirits disengaged themselves 
 from the mass; but the rest left the field and its 
 glory to be won by worthier hands. 
 
 Inspired by this success, the Mexicans poured on 
 in exulting shouts which drowned the hurry of battle. 
 Sure of victory, each lancer rose in his stirrup and 
 dashed down on the artillery in the fiercest haste. 
 Yet those gallant few were undismayed. Exhausted 
 with incessant labor, and deserted by their infantry, 
 they bore up through danger and uproar until every 
 horse was killed or wounded, and but a few men, 
 standing here and there, told where the company 
 had been. Yet the stern captain refused to yield, 
 until his soldiers, less in number than the cannon, 
 fell into confusion. Then, remounting his wounded 
 horse, he sullenly ordered a retreat : the next moment 
 the opposing cavalry dashed on the battery and his 
 guns were lost. 
 
 But at that moment the shrill voice of General 
 Wool came ringing over the field : Illinois, Illinois 
 to the rescue !" and then the fiery sons of the West, 
 panting for conflict and revenge, opened their volleys 
 of musketry. But that living avalanche was not to 
 be stopped. Then the Mississippians planted them 
 selves in the fatal path and awaited the struggle. 
 All around, farther than sight could reach, horse 
 men, artillery, and infantry, were concentrating upon 
 these devoted regiments. The wild blood danced 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 355 
 
 through every form, and hope and fear were in 
 tensely bent upon one point. Still the tall form of 
 Wool was seen gliding from company to company, 
 shouting that stirring appeal and filling every heart 
 with fire. 
 
 But before the charge another voice was heard, 
 more thrilling, more potent, than that of Wool. 
 Sweeping along on his white horse, General Taylor 
 rode between the armies, while his name went up 
 from three thousand voices, and each soul was wound 
 to enthusiasm at the mighty shout. Before that wild 
 battle-cry was over the Mexicans were towering 
 upon our troops for the final struggle. Then Captain 
 Bragg galloped into battery,, and the next moment 
 thousands of rifles, muskets, and heavy ordnance, 
 were scattering death amid opposing multitudes. 
 The armies reeled to and fro under the dreadful dis 
 charges, while whole ranks sank down beneath their 
 comrades' feet. The reputation of each nation, each 
 general, each soldier, was at stake. Again and again 
 the enemy were poured upon our ranks, and as often 
 rolled back before the showers of iron hail that 
 crushed and overwhelmed their columns. Sometimes 
 there was a pause, and the moans of the dying and 
 shrieks of the wounded rose on the air. Then the 
 battling, the trampling and shouting, mingled in one 
 horrible din and mounted up to heaven. Nobly did 
 our troops do their duty. Every advance of the 
 Mexicans was met with unshaken fortitude, and 
 each soldier fought as though victory rested with 
 him. Broken and repulsed, the enemy commenced 
 their disastrous retreat. Strewn over the ledges 
 and gullies, or piled in black masses, their dead and 
 
356 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 disabled marked the whole line of their march. Yet 
 over these the terrified lancers rode, grinding them 
 into the earth and completing what the artillery 
 had begun. Kanks were trodden down by their 
 comrades or whirled over the slippery rocks. Then 
 they burst among the infantry, overthrowing column 
 after column and scattering the flower of the army 
 like chaff. On the shouting Americans poured, 
 blighting those splendid companies with their terrible 
 discharges and sweeping the entire field. Still the 
 war-cry of "Wool, the shout for Taylor, went up and 
 urged the troops to pursuit. Far in advance of their 
 companions, the Kentucky regiment, under Clay and 
 McKee, pushed after the fugitives until they became 
 entangled among the ravines and passes on the left. 
 Seizing this favorable moment, the cavalry wheeled 
 around and attacked these troops with their whole 
 force, and the fearful work once more commenced. 
 All day those gallant sons of Kentucky had toiled 
 and fought ; and now, pent up among rocky gorges 
 and facing an entire army, they struggled on till 
 night. Their colonels fell dead; but round their 
 bodies the soldiers gathered and fought hand to hand 
 with their cruel foe. But the contest was too un 
 equal. Back through the ravines where they had 
 lately passed in triumphant pursuit they were now 
 driven, and the day once more seemed lost. But 
 the artillery again met the enemy, drove them 
 back, and secured the victory. General Taylor had 
 triumphed. 
 
 Overcome by exhaustion, the Americans sank 
 upon the field in their equipments, and night closed 
 upon the scene of slaughter. Two thousand, friends 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 357 
 
 and foes, were already on the field, dead, dying, and 
 wounded. Groans of agony, shrieks of pain, had 
 succeeded to the thrilling shouts of the day, and 
 were making night hideous. In the morning those 
 mangled heaps were bounding and elastic with life ; 
 now they were maimed forever. 
 
 This great battle, by far the most remarkable of 
 the war, was the last military achievement of Gene 
 ral Taylor. 
 
358 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 VESA CRUZ. 
 
 SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ. 
 
 SOON after the commencement of actual hostilities 
 between the United States and Mexico, Scott re 
 quested permission of Government to join General 
 Taylor with a large army and push forward for the 
 enemy's capital. This was denied him, and he 
 remained at Washington until November. Receiving 
 orders to proceed to the seat of war, he embarked 
 from New York, and reached the mouth of the Rio 
 Grande, January 1, 1847. After mustering an 
 army of nearly 12,000 men, part of them from 
 General Taylor's force, he proceeded against the city 
 and castle of Vera Cruz, the first object of his cam 
 paign. The following graphic description of the 
 landing of the troops and siege of the city is from 
 the pen of an eye-witness : 
 
 " On the 5th day of March, 1847, while the Ame- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 359 
 
 rican squadron was lying at Anton Lizardo, a norther 
 sprang up and commenced blowing with great vio 
 lence. The ships rolled and pitched, and tugged at 
 their anchors as if striving to tear them from their 
 hold, while the sea was white with foam. About^ 
 noon, General Scott's fleet of transports, destined for 
 the reduction of Yera Cruz, came like a great white 
 cloud bearing down before the storm. The whole 
 eastern horizon looked like a wall of canvas. Vessel 
 after vessel came flying in under reduced sail, until 
 the usually quiet harbor was crowded with them. A 
 perfect wilderness of spars and rigging met the eye 
 at every turn ; and for five days all was bustle, 
 activity, and excitement. Officers of the two ser 
 vices were visiting about from ship to ship ; drums 
 were beating, bands of music playing, and every 
 thing told of an approaching conflict. 
 
 " On the 10th the army were conveyed in huge 
 surf-boats from the transports to the different ships- 
 of-war, which immediately got under way for Vera 
 Cruz. During the passage down to the city I was 
 in the foretop of the United States sloop-of-war 
 Albany, from which place I had a good view of all 
 that occurred. It was a ' sight to see !' The tall 
 ships-of-war sailing leisurely along under their top 
 sails, their decks thronged in every part with dense 
 masses of troops, whose bright muskets and bayonets 
 were flashing in the sunbeams, the jingling of spurs 
 and sabres, the bands of music playing, the hum of 
 the multitude rising up like the murmur of the dis 
 tant ocean, the small steamers plying about, their 
 decks crowded with anxious spectators, the long 
 lines of surf-boats towing astern of the ships, ready 
 
360 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 to disembark the troops, all these tended to render 
 the scene one of the deepest interest. 
 
 "About three o'clock P.M. the armada arrived 
 abreast of the little desert island of Sacrificia, where 
 the time-worn walls and battlements of Vera Cruz 
 and the old grim castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, with 
 their ponderous cannon, tier upon tier, basking in 
 the yellow rays of the sun, burst upon our view. It 
 was a most beautiful nay, a sublime sight, that 
 embarkation. I still retained my position in the fore- 
 top, and was watching every movement with the 
 most anxious interest ; for it was thought by many 
 that the enemy would oppose the landing of our 
 troops. About four o'clock the huge surf-boats, 
 each capable of conveying 100 men, were hauled 
 to the gangways of the different men-of-war, and 
 quickly laden with their 'warlike fraughtage/ 
 formed in a single line, nearly a mile in length, 
 and, at a given signal, commenced slowly moving 
 towards the Mexican shore. It was a grand spec 
 tacle ! On, on went the long range of boats, loaded 
 down to the gunwales with brave men, the rays of 
 the slowly-departing sun resting upon their uniforms 
 and bristling bayonets and wrapping the far-inland 
 and fantastic mountains of Mexico in robes of gold. 
 On they went, the measured stroke of the countless 
 oars mingling with the hoarse dull roar of the 
 trampling surf upon the sandy beach and the 
 shriek of the myriads of sea-birds soaring high in 
 air, until the boats struck the shore, and, quick as 
 thought, our army began to land. At this instant 
 the American flag was planted, and, unrolling its 
 folds, floated proudly out upon the evening breeze; 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 361 
 
 the crews of the men-of-war made the welkin ring 
 with their fierce cheering; and a dozen bands of 
 music, at the same time, and as if actuated by one 
 impulse, struck up 
 
 " ' 'Tis the star-spangled banner ! Oh, long may it wave 
 O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave !' 
 
 " Early the next morning the old grim castle of 
 San Juan d'Ulloa commenced trying the range of its 
 heavy guns, throwing Paixhan shells at the enemy, 
 and continued it at intervals for a week ; but, with 
 the exception of an occasional skirmish with a party 
 of the enemy's lancers, they had all the fun to them 
 selves. In the mean time our forces went quietly 
 on with their preparations, stationing their pickets, 
 planting their heavy mortars, landing their horses, 
 provisions, and munitions of war, constantly annoyed 
 with a ceaseless fire from the Mexican batteries, 
 which our troops were as yet too busy to return. 
 
 " On the 24th Lieutenant Oliver Hazard Perry, 
 with a zeal worthy of his illustrious father, 'the 
 hero of Lake Erie/ dismounted one of the waist- 
 guns of the Albany, a sixty-eight-pounder, procured 
 a number of volunteers who would willingly have 
 charged up to the muzzles of the Mexican cannon 
 with such a leader, and, taking about forty rounds 
 of Paixhan shells, proceeded on shore, where, after 
 dragging his gun through the sand for three miles, 
 he arrived at a small fortification which the engineers 
 had constructed of sand-bags for him, and there 
 planted his engine of destruction in a situation 
 which commanded the whole city of Yera Cruz. 
 Eoused by such a gallant example, guns from each 
 
362 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 of the other ships of the squadron were disembarked 
 and conveyed to the breastwork, which was as yet 
 concealed from the eyes of the Mexicans by being 
 in the rear of an almost impervious chapparal, and 
 irf a short time a most formidable fortress was com 
 pleted, which was styled the Naval Battery. 
 
 "At this period General Scott, having quietly 
 made all his arrangements while a 'constant shower 
 of shot and shell were thrown at his army by the 
 enemy, sent a flag of truce, with a summons for the 
 immediate surrender of the city of Yera Cruz and 
 the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, and with a full un 
 derstanding that unless his demand was immediately 
 complied with an attack would follow. As a mat 
 ter of course, the Mexicans, expecting an assault, 
 for which they were well prepared, and not a bom 
 bardment, returned an indignant refusal, and were 
 told that at four o'clock P.M. they should hear 
 further from us. In the mean time the chapparal 
 had been cut away, disclosing the Naval Battery to 
 the gaze of the astonished Mexicans, and the mortars 
 and heavy artillery which had been planted upon 
 the hills overlooking the city and were ready to 
 vomit forth their fires of death. Every person was 
 now waiting with trembling anxiety the commence 
 ment of the fray. 
 
 " About four o'clock P.M., while the crews of the 
 squadron were all at supper, a sudden and tre 
 mendous roar of artillery on shore proclaimed that 
 the battle had begun. The tea-things were left to 
 ' take care of themselves/ and pellmell tumbled sick 
 and well up the ladders to the spar-deck. I followed 
 with the human tide, and soon found myself in the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 363 
 
 foretop of the Albany, and, looking aroun^ me, a 
 sublime but terrific sight my elevated perch pre 
 sented to the view. Some two hundred sail of 
 vessels were lying immediately around us, their 
 tops, cross-trees, yards, shrouds, every thing where 
 a foothold could be obtained, crowded with human 
 beings, clustered like swarming bees in midsummer 
 on the trees, all intently watching the battle. I 
 turned my eyes on shore. JONATHAN had at last 
 awakened from his slumber and had set to work in 
 earnest. Bomb-shells were flying like hailstones 
 into Yera Cruz from every quarter; sulphureous 
 flashes, clouds of smoke, and the dull boom of the 
 heavy guns, arose from the walls of the city in re 
 turn, while ever and anon a red sheet of 'flame 
 would leap from the great brass mortars on the 
 ramparts of the grim castle, followed by a report 
 which fairly made the earth tremble. The large 
 ships of the squadron could not approach 'near 
 enough to the shore to participate in the attack 
 upon the city without exposing them to the fire of 
 the castle ; but all the gun-boats, small steamers, 
 and every thing that could be brought to bear upon 
 the enemy, were sent in and commenced blazing 
 away : a steady stream of fire, like the red glare of 
 a volcano ! This state of things continued until 
 sunset, when the small vessels were called off; but 
 the mortars kept throwing shells into the devoted 
 town the livelong night. I was watching them 
 until after midnight, and it was one of the most 
 striking displays that I ever beheld. 
 
 " A huge black cloud of smoke hung like a pall 
 over the American army, completely concealing it 
 
364 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 from view ; the Mexicans had ceased firing, in order 
 to prevent our troops from directing their guns by 
 the flashes from the walls ; but the bombardiers had 
 obtained the exact range before dark, and kept 
 thundering away, every shell falling directly into 
 the doomed city. Suddenly a vivid, lightning-like 
 flash would gleam for an instant upon the black pall 
 of smoke hanging over our lines, and then, as the 
 roar of the great mortar came borne to our ears, the 
 ponderous shell would be seen to dart upwards like a 
 meteor, and, after describing a semicircle in the air, 
 descend with a loud crash upon the housetops or 
 into the resounding streets of the fated city. Then, 
 after a brief but awful moment of suspense, a lurid 
 glare, illuminating for an instant the white domes 
 and grim fortresses of Vera Cruz, falling into ruins 
 with the shock, and the echoing crash that came 
 borne to our ears, told that the shell had exploded 
 and executed its terrible mission ! 
 
 "Throughout the whole night these fearful missiles 
 were travelling into the city in one continued stream; 
 but the enemy did not return the fire. At daylight, 
 however, the Mexicans again opened their batteries 
 upon our army with the most determined bravery. 
 
 "About eight o'clock A.M. the gallant Perry and 
 his brave associates, having finished the mounting 
 of their guns and completed all their arrangements, 
 opened with a tremendous roar the Naval Battery 
 upon the west side of the city, and were imme 
 diately answered from four distinct batteries of the 
 enemy. The firm earth trembled beneath the dis 
 charge of these ponderous guns, and the shot flew 
 like hail into the town, and were returned with 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 365 
 
 interest by the Mexicans. Their heavy guns were 
 served with wonderful precision ; and almost every 
 shot struck the little fort, burst open the sand-bags 
 of which it was constructed, and covered our brave 
 officers and men with a cloud of dust. Many shot 
 and shell were thrown directly through the embra 
 sures ; and, to use the expression of one of our old tars 
 who had been in several engagements, c The red-skins 
 handled their long thirty-twos as if they had been 
 rifles!' Several of our men and one officer had 
 fallen; but the remainder of the brave fellows kept 
 blazing away, while the forts and ramparts of the 
 city began to crumble to the earth. This state of 
 things continued until the 27th, the army throwing 
 a constant shower of bombs into the city, and the 
 Naval Battery (manned daily by fresh officers and 
 men) beating down the fortifications and destroy 
 ing every thing within its range, when a flag of 
 truce was sent out with an offer, which was imme 
 diately accepted, of an unconditional surrender of 
 the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan 
 d'Ulloa." 
 
3G6 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 GENERAL SHIELDS WOUNDED. 
 
 BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO. 
 
 GENERAL SCOTT remained about two weeks at Yera 
 Cruz and then set out for the capital. On the 17th 
 of April he arrived at the pass of Cerro Gordo, where 
 General Santa Anna was intrenched with 11,000 
 men. On the same day Scott issued the following 
 celebrated order : 
 
 " The enemy's whole line of intrenchments arid 
 batteries will be attacked in front, and at the same 
 time turned, early in the day to-morrow, probably 
 before ten o'clock A.M. 
 
 "The second (Twiggs's) division of regulars is 
 already advanced within easy turning-distance to 
 wards the enemy's left. That division has orders to 
 move forward before daylight to-morrow and take 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 367 
 
 up position across the National Koad to the enemy's 
 rear, so as to cut off a retreat towards Jalapa. It 
 may be reinforced to-day, if unexpectedly attacked 
 in force, by regiments one or two, taken from 
 Shields's brigade of volunteers. If not, the two 
 volunteer regiments will march for that purpose at 
 daylight to-morrow morning, under Brigadier-Gene 
 ral Shields, who will report to Brigadier-General 
 Twiggs on getting up with him, or the general-in- 
 chief, if he be in advance. 
 
 " The remaining regiment of that volunteer bri 
 gade will receive instructions in the course of this day. 
 
 " The first division of regulars (Worth's) will fol 
 low the movement against the enemy's left at sun 
 rise to-morrow morning. 
 
 "As already arranged, Brigadier-General Pillow's 
 brigade will march at six o'clock to-morrow morning 
 along the route he has carefully reconnoitred, and 
 stand ready as soon as he hears the report of arms 
 on our right sooner, if circumstances should favor 
 him to pierce the enemy's line of batteries at such 
 point the nearer the river the better as he may 
 select. Once in the rear of that line, he will turn to 
 the right or left, or both, and attack the batteries in 
 reverse, or, if abandoned, he will pursue the enemy 
 with vigor until further orders. 
 
 " Wall's field-battery and the cavelry will be held 
 in reserve on the National Eoad, a little out of view 
 and range of the enemy's batteries. They will take 
 up that position at nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 " The enemy's batteries being carried or aban 
 doned, all our divisions and corps will pursue with 
 vigor. 
 
368 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 " This pursuit may be continued many miles, un 
 til stopped by darkness or fortified positions towards 
 Jalapa. Consequently the body of the army will 
 not return to this encampment, but be followed to 
 morrow afternoon, or early the next morning, by 
 the baggage-trains for the several corps. For this 
 purpose the feebler officers and men of each corps 
 will be left to guard his camp and effects and to load 
 up the latter in the wagons of the corps. 
 
 "As soon as it shall be known that the enemy's 
 works have been carried, or that the general pursuit 
 has been commenced, one wagon for each regiment 
 and one for the cavalry will follow the movement, 
 to receive, under the directions of medical officers, 
 the wounded, who will be brought back to this place 
 for treatment in the general hospital. 
 
 " The surgeon-general will organize this important 
 service and designate that hospital, as well as the 
 medical officers to be left at that place. 
 
 " Every man who marches out to attack or pursue 
 the enemy will take the usual allowance of ammuni 
 tion, and subsistence for at least two days." 
 
 This document is famous for its exact delineation 
 of every movement of the battle, with one single ex 
 ception, the day before the action really took place. 
 This is shown by the annexed report, written after 
 the engagement : 
 
 " The plan of attack sketched in General Orders 
 No. Ill, herewith, was finely executed by this gal 
 lant army before two o'clock P.M. yesterday. We 
 are quite embarrassed with the results of victory, 
 prisoners of war, heavy ordnance, field-batteries, 
 small arms, and accoutrements. About 3000 men 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 369 
 
 laid down their arms, with the usual proportion of 
 field and company officers, besides five generals, 
 several of them of great distinction, Pinson, Jarre ro, 
 La Vega, Noriega, and Obando. A sixth general, 
 Yasquez, was killed in defending the battery (tower) 
 in the rear of the whole Mexican army, the capture 
 of which gave us those glorious results. 
 
 " Our loss, though comparatively small in num 
 bers, has been serious. Brigadier-General Shields, 
 a commander of activity, zeal, and talent, is, I fear, 
 if not dead, mortally wounded. He is some five 
 miles from me at this moment. The field of opera 
 tions covered many miles, broken by mountains and 
 deep chasms, and I have not a report, as yet, from 
 any division or brigade. Twiggs's division, followed 
 by Shields's (now Colonel Baker's) brigade, are now 
 at or near Jalapa, and Worth's division is en route 
 thither, all pursuing, with good results, as I learn, 
 that part of the Mexican army perhaps 6000 or 
 7000 men who fled before our right had carried the 
 tower and gained the Jalapa road. Pillow's bri 
 gade alone is near me at this depot of wounded, 
 sick, and prisoners; and I have time only to give 
 from him the names of First Lieutenant F. B. Nelson 
 and Second Lieutenant C. G. Gill, both of the 2d 
 Tennessee foot, (Haskell's regiment,) among the 
 killed, and in the brigade 106, of all ranks, killed 
 or wounded. Among the latter the gallant brigadier- 
 general himself has a smart wound in the arm, but 
 not disabled, and Major K. Farqueson, 2d Tennessee 
 foot, Captain H. F. Murray, Second Lieutenant G. 
 T. Sutherland, First Lieutenant W. P. Hale, (adju 
 tant,) all of the same regiment, severely; and First 
 
 24 
 
370 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Lieutenant W. Year-wood, mortally wounded. And 
 I know, from personal observation on the ground, 
 that First Lieutenant Ewell, of the Rifles, if not now 
 dead, was mortally wounded, in entering, sword in 
 hand, the intrenchments around the captured tower. 
 Second Lieutenant Derby, topographical engineers, I 
 also saw, at the same place, severely wounded ; and 
 Captain Patten, 2d United States infantry, lost his 
 right hand. 
 
 " Major Sumner, 2d United States dragoons, was 
 slightly wounded the day before, and Captain Johns 
 ton, topographical engineers, now lieutenant-colo 
 nel of infantry, was severely wounded some days 
 earlier, while reconnoitring. 
 
 " I must not omit to add that Captain Mason and 
 Second Lieutenant Davis, both of the Rifles, were 
 among the very severely wounded in storming the 
 same tower. I estimate our total loss in killed and 
 wounded may be about 250, and that of the enemy 
 350. In the pursuit towards Jalapa (twenty-five miles 
 hence) I learn we have added much to the enemy's 
 loss in prisoners, killed, and wounded. In fact, I 
 suppose his retreating army to be nearly disorgan 
 ized, and hence my haste to follow in an hour or 
 two to profit by events. 
 
 " In this hurried and imperfect report I must not 
 omit to say that Brigadier-General Twiggs, in pass 
 ing the mountain-range beyond Cerro Gordo, crowned 
 with the tower, detached from his division, as I sug 
 gested before, a strong force to carry that height, 
 which commanded the Jalapa road at the foot, and 
 could not fail, if carried, to cut off the whole or any 
 part of the enemy's forces from a retreat in any 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 371 
 
 direction. A portion of the 1st artillery, under the 
 often-distinguished Brevet-Colonel Childs, the 3d in 
 fantry, under Captain Alexander, the 7th infantry, 
 "under Lieutenant-Colonel Plymton, and the Rifles, un 
 der Major Loring, all under the temporary command 
 of Colonel Harney, 2d dragoons, during the confine 
 ment to his bed of Brevet Brigadier-General P. F. 
 Smith, composed that detachment. The style of 
 execution, which I had the pleasure to witness, was 
 most brilliant and decisive. The brigade ascended 
 the long and difficult slope of Cerro Gordo, without 
 shelter and under the tremendous fire of artillery 
 and musketry, with the utmost steadiness, reached 
 the breastworks, drove the enemy from them, planted 
 the colors of the 1st artillery, 3d and 7th infantry, 
 the enemy's flag still flying, and, after some 
 minutes of sharp firing, finished the conquest with 
 the bayonet. 
 
 "It is a most pleasing duty to say that the highest 
 praise is due to Harney, Childs, Plymton, Loring, 
 Alexander, their gallant officers and men, for this 
 brilliant service, independent of the great results 
 which soon followed. 
 
 "Worth's division of regulars coming up at this 
 time, he detached Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. 
 Smith, with his light battalion, to support the assault, 
 but not in time. The general, reaching the tower 
 a few minutes before me, and observing a white flag 
 displayed from the nearest portion of the enemy to 
 wards the batteries below, sent out Colonels Harney 
 and Childs to hold a parley. The surrender followed 
 in an hour or two. 
 
 " Major-General Patterson left a sick bed to share 
 
372 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 in the dangers and fatigues of the day, and, after the 
 surrender, went forward to command the advanced 
 forces towards Jalapa. 
 
 "Brigadier-General Pillow and his brigade twice" 
 assaulted with great daring the enemy's line of bat 
 teries on our left; and, though without success, they 
 contributed much to distract and dismay their im 
 mediate opponents. 
 
 "President Santa Anna, with Generals Canalizo 
 and Almonte, and some 6000 or 8000 men, escaped 
 towards Jalapa just before Cerro Gordo was carried 
 and before Twiggs's division reached the National 
 Boad above. 
 
 "I have determined to parole the prisoners, offi 
 cers and men, as I have not the means of feeding 
 them here beyond to-day, and cannot afford to detach 
 a heavy body of horse and foot, with wagons, to ac 
 company them to Vera Cruz. Our baggage-train, 
 though increasing, is not yet half large enough to 
 give an assured progress to this army. Besides, a 
 greater number of prisoners would probably escape 
 from the escort in the long and deep sandy road, 
 without subsistence, ten to one, that we shall find 
 again, out of the same body of men, in the ranks op 
 posed to us. Not one of the Vera Cruz prisoners is 
 believed to have been in the lines of Cerro Gordo. 
 Some six of the officers highest in rank refuse to 
 give their paroles, except to go to Vera Croz, and 
 thence, perhaps, to the United States. 
 
 " The small arms and their accoutrements being 
 of no value to our army here or at home, I have 
 ordered them to be destroyed ; for we have not the 
 means of transporting them. I am also somewhat 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 373 
 
 embarrassed with the pieces of artillery all 
 
 bronze which we have captured. It will take- a 
 brigade and half the mules of this army to transport 
 them fifty miles. A field-battery I shall take for 
 service with the army ; but the heavy metal must 
 be collected and left here for the present. We have 
 our own siege-train and the proper carriages with us. 
 
 " Being much occupied with the prisoners and all 
 the details of a forward movement, besides looking 
 to the supplies which are to follow from Yera Cruz, 
 I have time to add no more, intending to be at 
 Jalapa early to-morrow. We shall not, probably, 
 again meet with serious opposition this side of Perote ; 
 certainly not, unless delayed by the want of means 
 of transportation. 
 
 " I invite attention to the accompanying letter to 
 President Santa Anna, taken in his carriage yester 
 day; also to his proclamation, issued on hearing that 
 we had captured Vera Cruz, &c., in which he says, 
 'If the enemy advance one step more the national 
 independence will be buried in the abyss of the past/ 
 We have taken that step. 
 
 "One of the principal motives for paroling the 
 prisoners of war is to diminish the resistances of 
 other garrisons in our march." 
 
374 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 BATTLE Of CONTREBAS. 
 
 BATTLES OF CONTKEKAS AND CHURU- 
 BUSCO. 
 
 AFTER the capture of Puebla by General Worth, 
 (May 15,) the army remained there until the 7th 
 of August, when it commenced its march for the 
 Mexican capital. An excellent description of this 
 march and of the great battles consequent upon it 
 is given by a participator : 
 
 " We left Puebla on the morning of the 7th, and 
 entered upon a beautiful rolling country of great 
 fertility, supplying with its gardens the inhabitants 
 of Puebla with food, and surrounded by lofty moun 
 tains, some of which were covered with snow. Our 
 road was gradually ascending, and so good that on 
 looking back from the head of the column our train 
 could be seen for miles in the rear, dotting with its 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 375 
 
 snow-white tops the maguey-covered plain. On our 
 left was Popocatapetl and Iscatafetl, the snow on 
 their not-distant tops rendering the air quite chilly. 
 General Scott did not leave with us, but came on 
 the next day with Captain Kearney's dragoons. 
 
 " The second day's march was, like the first, 
 gradually ascending, passing through defiles, narrow 
 passes, and over deep chasms, where a more deter 
 mined enemy might have seriously annoyed us by 
 merely making use of the obstacles nature every 
 where presented. Thick woods of the finest forest- 
 trees were abundant, and the rugged nature of the 
 country would readily carry one back to the northern 
 parts of New England or the passes of the ' Notch/ 
 Here and there beautiful little lakes were inter 
 spersed in the deep valleys, and the clearness and 
 coldness of their waters were almost incredible. 
 
 " The third day we were to encounter the much- 
 vaunted pass of Rio Frio, and also the passage of 
 the mountain which was to lead -us to the El Dorado 
 of our hopes, the great plain of Mexico. Our march 
 was to be long and difficult, and three o'clock saw us 
 under way, with heart and hopes full of the prospect 
 before us. The dreaded defile is reached and passed. 
 The mountains which skirt the road on the left here 
 close upon it for about a mile, overhanging and 
 enfilading it completely and affording with their 
 crests most excellent coverings for an enemy's 
 marksmen. The newly-cut trees and long range of 
 breastworks thrown up on the crest showed us that 
 preparations had been made ; while numerous para 
 pets, with embrasures in the logs, taught us what 
 might have been done. But no men were there ; 
 
376 BATTLE-FIELDS ANP 
 
 the muskets and cannon were gone. Valencia, with. 
 6000 Mexicans, was full a day's march ahead, making 
 for Mexico with a speed which betrayed home-sick 
 ness. Rio Frio was found to be a little stream 
 pouring down from the Snow Mountain, of icy cold 
 ness and crystal purity. After a slight pause for 
 refreshment we commenced our ascent of the ridge 
 which separates the plains of Puebla and Mexico, 
 the former of which it had hitherto skirted. For 
 several long miles we toiled up the hill, only recom 
 pensed for our labor by what we hoped to attain at 
 last. When all were pretty nearly worn out, a sud 
 den turn in the road brought to our view a sight 
 which none can ever forget. The whole vast plain 
 of Mexico was before us. The coldness of the air, 
 which was most sensibly felt at this great height, 
 our fatigue and danger were forgotten, and our eyes 
 were the only sense that thought of enjoyment. 
 Mexico, with its lofty steeples and its checkered 
 domes, its bright reality and its former fame, its 
 modern splendor and its ancient magnificence, was 
 before us ; while around on every side its thousand 
 lakes seemed like silver stars on a velvet mantle. 
 
 "We encamped that night at the base of the 
 mountain, with the enemy's scouts on every side of 
 us. The next day we reached Ayotla, only fifteen 
 miles from Mexico by the National Road, which we 
 had hitherto been following. Here we halted until 
 Generals Quitman, Pillow, and Worth, with their 
 divisions, should come up. We were separated from 
 the city by the marshes which surround Lake 
 Tezcuco and by the lake itself. The road is a 
 causeway running through the marsh, and is com- 
 
, NJtVAL EXPLOITS. 377 
 
 manded by a steep and lofty hill called El Pinnol. 
 This hill completely enfilades and commands the 
 National Road, and had been fortified and repaired 
 with the greatest care by Santa Anna. One side 
 was inaccessible by nature ; the rest had been made 
 so by art. Batteries, in all mounting fifty guns of 
 different calibres, had been placed on its sides, and a 
 deep ditch, twenty-four feet wide and ten deep, filled 
 with water, had been cut, connecting the, parts 
 already surrounded by marshes. On this side Santa 
 Anna had 25,000 men against our force of a little 
 over 9000 all told. 
 
 U 0n the 22d we made a reconnoissance of the 
 work, which was pronounced impracticable, as the 
 lives of 5000 men would be lost before the ditch 
 could be crossed. We continued our search, and 
 found another road which went round on the left, 
 but when within five miles of the city were halted 
 by coming suddenly upon five strong batteries on the 
 hill which commanded this road, at a place called 
 Mexicalcingo. We soon countermarched, and then 
 saw our danger. With one regiment and three com 
 panies of cavalry, in all about 400 men, we saw that 
 El Pinnol lay directly between us and our camp, 
 distant full fifteen miles. Every eye was fixed on 
 the hill, with the expectation of an approaching 
 column which should drive us back into a Mexican 
 prison, while we stepped off" with the speed and 
 endurance of four hundred Captain Barclays ! At 
 about midnight we arrived safely at camp, and Gene 
 ral Scott did us the honor of calling it ' the boldest 
 reconnoissance of the war.' General Worth was en 
 camped about five miles off, that is, in a straight 
 
378 BATTLE-FIELDS AN D 
 
 line, across the Lake Chalco, at a place of the same 
 name, but about ten miles by the road. The Mexi 
 cans had a foundry in the mountains, at which we 
 were getting some shells made, and on returning 
 from which Lieutenant Schuyler Hamilton was 
 badly wounded. 
 
 "By means of his scouts, General Worth had 
 found a path round the left of Lake Chalco, which 
 led us to the western gate of the city, and which, 
 up to that time, had not been fortified. On the 14th 
 the other divisions commenced their march, while we 
 brought up the train and the rear. In the morning 
 the train was sent in advance, while Smith's brigade 
 acted as rear-guard. It was composed of the Rifles, 
 1st artillery, and the 3d infantry, with Taylor's 
 battery. As the rear-guard, marching slowly along, 
 reached with the train, word came to General Twiggs 
 that a force of about 5000 men were trying to cross 
 the road between them and the train in order to cut 
 it off. We were then passing through a small village 
 which, by a curious coincidence, was called Buena 
 Yista. On our left were large fields of half-grown 
 barley, through which was seen advancing, in splendid 
 order, the enemy's column. It was the most splendid 
 sight I had ever seen. The yellow cloaks, red caps 
 and jackets of the lancers, and the bright blue and 
 white uniforms of the infantry, were most beautifully 
 contrasted with the green of the barleyfield. Our 
 line of battle was soon formed, and we deployed 
 through the grain to turn their left and cut them 
 off from the mountains. A few shots, however, 
 from the battery, soon showed them that they were 
 observed ; and, countermarching in haste, they left 
 
'NAVAL EXPLOITS. 379 
 
 their dead on the field. Thus ended our fight of 
 Buena Vista. That night we stayed at Chalco. The 
 next day we made a long and toilsome march over a 
 horrible road, through which, with the utmost diffi 
 culty, we dragged our wagons by the assistance of 
 both men and mules. The next was nearly the 
 same, except that the road was, if possible, worse 
 than before, as the Mexicans had blocked it up with 
 large stones rolled down from the neighboring hills. 
 This night we encamped at a most beautiful olive- 
 grove, of immense size and accommodating at once 
 both divisions. In the town, as well as in Chalco, 
 there are still standing the churches of the Indians 
 where the fire-worshippers assembled before Cortez 
 had introduced a new religion. They are large and 
 sombre edifices, differing but little from the churches 
 of this country, and, being near the city, are said 
 to have been formerly resorted to by the ancient 
 kings. 
 
 " The next day we arrived in sight of the rest of 
 the army and heard the guns with which Worth 
 was breaching the walls of San Antonio. That 
 night the news of the death of Captain Thornton, 
 of the 2d dragoons, reached us. He was a brave 
 officer and a thorough gentleman, but was alw r ays 
 unfortunate in his military career. 
 
 "On the morning of the 19th we left the little 
 village where we had heard this sad news, and took 
 the road to San Juan, about seven miles to the west 
 and only about ten miles from the city. When we 
 arrived here we heard the sound of General Worth's 
 guns, who was said to have attacked San Augustine, 
 a village three miles nearer the capital, where Santa 
 
380 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Anna was said to be with 20,000 men. When we 
 arrived at San Juan the men were told to sling 
 their blankets across their shoulders, put their knap 
 sacks into their wagons, and to put two days' bread 
 and beef in their haversacks. When this order 
 came all knew that the time had come. The 
 officers arranged their effects, put on their old coats, 
 and filled their haversacks and flasks. Soon we 
 were ready for any thing but a thrashing. We here 
 heard the position of the enemy, which was nearly 
 as follows : Santa Anna, with 20,000 men, was at 
 San Augustine ; Valencia, with 10,000, was at a hill 
 called Contreras, which commanded another road 
 parallel to the San Augustine road, but which led 
 into it between the city and Santa Anna. Now, by 
 cutting a road across, if we could whip Valencia, we 
 could follow the road up and thus get in between 
 Santa Anna and Mexico and whip him too. General 
 Worth (supported by General Quitman) was to keep 
 Santa Anna in check, while Twiggs (backed by Pil 
 low) was to try and astonish Valencia, which you 
 will see he did very effectually. Pillow, with some 
 of the ten regiments, was to cut the road. 
 
 "We left San Juan about one o'clock, not par 
 ticularly desiring a fight so late in the day, but still 
 not shunning it in case we could have a respectable 
 chance. About two P.M., as we had crawled to the 
 top of a hill, whither we had been ourselves pulling 
 Magruder's battery and the mountain-howitzers, we 
 suddenly espied Valencia fortified on a hill about 
 twelve hundred yards off and strongly reinforced by 
 a column which had just come out of the city. We 
 lay down close to avoid drawing their fire, while 
 
NATAL EXPLOITS. 381 
 
 the battery moved past at a full gallop. Just then 
 General Smith's manly voice rung out, ' Forward the 
 Kifles, to support the battery!' On they went till 
 they got about eight hundred yards from the work, 
 when the enemy opened upon them with his long 
 guns, which were afterwards found to be sixteen and 
 eight-inch howitzers. The ground was the worst 
 possible for artillery, covered with rocks large and 
 small, prickly pear and cactus, intersected by ditches 
 filled with water and lined with maguey-plant, itself 
 imperviable to cavalry, and with patches of corn 
 which concealed the enemy's skirmishers while it 
 impeded our own passage. The artillery advanced 
 but. slowly, under a most tremendous fire, which 
 greatly injured it before it could be got in range, and 
 the thickness of the undergrowth caused the skir 
 mishers thrown forward to lose their relative posi 
 tion as well as the column. About four the battery 
 got in position, under a most murderous fire of grape, 
 canister, and round-shot. Here the superiority of 
 the enemy's pieces rendered our fire nugatory. We 
 could get but three pieces in battery, while they had 
 twenty- seven, all of them three times the calibre of 
 ours. For two hours our troops stood the storm of 
 iron and lead they hailed upon them unmoved. At 
 every discharge they lay flat down to avoid the 
 storm, and then sprung up to serve the guns. At 
 the end of that time two of the guns were dis 
 mounted and we badly hurt : thirteen of the horses 
 were killed and disabled and fifteen of the cannoneers 
 killed and wounded. The regiment was then re 
 called. The lancers had been repelled in three suc 
 cessive charges. The 3d infantry and 1st artillery 
 
382 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 had also engaged and successfully repelled the 
 enemy's skirmishers without losing either officers or 
 men. The greatest loss had been at the batteries. 
 Officers looked gloomy for the first day's fight ; but 
 the brigade was formed, and General Smith in person 
 took command. All felt revived, and followed him 
 with a yell, as, creeping low to avoid the grape, 
 (which was coming very fast,) we made a circuit in 
 Tear of the batteries ; and, passing off to the right, 
 we were soon lost to view in the chapparal and 
 cactus. 
 
 "Passing over the path that we scrambled 
 through, behold us at almost six o'clock in the 
 evening, tired, hungry, and sorrowful, emerging 
 from the chapparal and crossing the road between it 
 and Valencia. Here we found Cadwalader and his 
 brigade already formed, and discovered Biley's 
 brigade skirmishing in rear of the enemy's works. 
 Valencia was ignorant of our approach, and we were 
 as yet safe. In front of us was Valencia, strongly 
 intrenched on a hill-side and surrounded by a regu 
 lar field-work, concealed from us by an orchard in 
 our rear. Mendoza, with a column of 6000, was in 
 the road, but thinking us to be friends. On our 
 right was a large range of hills whose continued 
 crest was parallel to the road and in w T hich were 
 formed in line of battle 5000 of the best Mexican 
 cavalry. On our left we were separated from our 
 own forces by an almost impassable wilderness, and 
 it was now twilight. Even Smith looked round for 
 help. Suddenly a thousand vivas came across the 
 hill-side, like the yells of prairie-wolves in the dead 
 of night, and the squadrons on our right formed for 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 383 
 
 charging. Smith is himself again ! ' Face to the 
 rear !' ' Wait till you see their red caps, and then 
 give it to them !' Furiously they came on a few 
 yards, then changed their minds, and, disgusted at 
 our cool reception, retired to their couches. 
 
 " On the edge of the road, between us and Va 
 lencia, a Mexican hamlet spread out, with its mud 
 huts, large orchards, deep-cut roads, and a strong 
 church ; and through the centre of this hamlet ran 
 a path parallel to the main road but concealed from 
 it : it is nearly a mile long. In this road Smith's 
 and Riley's brigade bivouacked. Shields, who came 
 up in the night, lay in the orchard, while Cadwalader 
 was nearest the enemy's works. As we were within 
 range of their batteries, which could enfilade the 
 road in which we lay, we built a stone breastwork 
 at either end to conceal ourselves from their view 
 and grape. There we were, completely surrounded 
 by the enemy, cut off from our communications, 
 ignorant of the ground, without artillery, weary, 
 dispirited, and dejected. We were a disheartened 
 set. With Santa Anna and Salas's promise of c no 
 quarter,' a force of four to one against us, and one- 
 half defeated already, no succor from Puebla and 
 no news from General Scott, all seemed dark. Sud 
 denly the words came whispered along, c We storm 
 at midnight.' Now we are ourselves again ! But 
 what a horrible night ! There we lay, too tired to 
 eat, too wet to sleep, in the middle of that muddy 
 road, officers and men side by side, with a heavy 
 rain pouring down upon us, the officers without 
 blankets or overcoats (they had lost them in coming 
 across) and the men worn out with fatigue. About 
 
384 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 midnight the rain was so heavy that the streams in 
 the road flooded us, and there we stood crowded to 
 gether, drenched and benumbed, waiting till daylight. 
 "At half-past three the welcome word ( fall in' was 
 passed down, and we commenced our march. The 
 enemy's works were on a hill-side, behind which rose 
 other and slightly-higher hills, separated by deep 
 ravines and gullies and intersected by streams. The 
 whole face of the country was of stiff clay, which 
 rendered it almost impossible to advance. We 
 formed our line about a quarter of a mile from the 
 enemy's works, Eiley's brigade on our right. At 
 about four we started, winding through a thick 
 orchard which effectually concealed us, even had it 
 not been dark, debouching into a deep ravine which 
 ran within about five hundred yards of the work 
 and which carried us directly in rear and out of 
 sight of their batteries. At dawn of day we reached 
 our place, after incredible exertions, and got ready for 
 our charge. The men threw off their wet blankets 
 and looked to their pieces, while the officers got 
 ready for a rush, and the first smile that lit up our 
 faces for twelve hours boded but little good for the 
 Mexicans. On the right, and opposite the right of 
 their work, was Eiley's brigade of the 2d and 1st 
 infantry and 4th artillery, next the Rifles, then the 
 1st artillery and 3d infantry. In the rear of our left 
 was Cadwalader's brigade, as a support, with Shields's 
 brigade in rear as a reserve, the whole division un 
 der command of General Smith, in the absence of 
 General Twiggs. They had a smooth place to rush 
 down on the enemy's work, with the brow of the 
 hill to keep under until the word was givea. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 385 
 
 "At last, just at daylight, General Smith, slowly 
 walking up, asked if all was ready. A look an 
 swered him. 'Men, forward !' And we did 'for 
 ward/ Springing up at once, Riley's brigade opened, 
 when the crack of a hundred rifles startled the Mexi 
 cans from their astonishment, and they opened their 
 fire. Useless fire ! for we were so close that they 
 overshot us, and, before they could turn their pieces 
 on us, we were on them. Then such cheers arose as 
 you never heard. The men rushed forward like de 
 mons, yelling and firing the while. The carnage was 
 frightful, and, though they fired sharply, it was of 
 no use. The earthen parapet was cleared in an in 
 stant, and the blows of the stocks could be plainly 
 heard mingled with the yells and groans around. 
 Just before the charge was made, a large body of 
 lancers came winding up the road, looking most 
 splendidly in their brilliant uniforms. They never 
 got to the work, but turned and fled. In an instant 
 all was one mass of confusion, each trying to be fore 
 most in the flight. The road was literally blocked 
 up ; and, while many perished by their own guns, it 
 was almost impossible to fire on the mass, from the 
 danger of killing our own men. Some fled up the 
 ravine on the left or on the right, and many of these 
 were slain by turning their own guns on them. To 
 wards the city the Rifles and 2d infantry led off the 
 pursuit. Seeing that a large crowd of the fugitives 
 were jammed up in a pass in the road, some of our 
 men ran through the cornfield, and, by thus head 
 ing them off and firing down upon them, about 30 
 men took over 500 prisoners, nearly 100 of them 
 officers. After disarming the prisoners, as the pur- 
 
 25 
 
386 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 suit had ceased, we went back to the fort, where 
 we found our troops in full possession and the rout 
 complete. 
 
 " We found that the enemy's position was much 
 stronger than we had supposed and their artillery 
 much larger and more abundant. Our own loss was 
 small, which may be accounted for by their perfect 
 surprise at our charge, as to them we appeared as 
 if rising out of the earth, so unperceived was our ap 
 proach. Our loss was one officer killed, Captain 
 Hanson, of the 7th infantry, Lieutenant Van Bu- 
 ren, of the Eifles, shot through the leg, and about 50 
 men killed and wounded. Their force consisted of 
 8000 men, under Valencia, with a reserve, which 
 had not yet arrived, under Santa Anna. Their loss, 
 as since ascertained, was as follows : Killed and 
 buried since the fight, 750 ; wounded, 1000 ; and 
 1500 prisoners, exclusive of officers, including four 
 generals, Salas, Mendoza, Garcia, and Guadalupe, 
 in addition to dozens of colonels, majors, captains, 
 &c. We captured in all on the hill twenty-two 
 pieces of cannon, including five eight-inch howitzers, 
 two long eigh teens, three long sixteen s, and several 
 of twelve and eight inches, and also the two identical 
 six-pounders captured by the Mexicans at Buena 
 Vista, taken from Captain Washington's battery of 
 the 4th artillery. The first officer who saw them 
 happened to be the officer of the 4th selected by 
 General Scott to command the new battery of that 
 regiment, Captain Drum. In addition were taken 
 immense quantities of ammunition and muskets ; in 
 fact, the way was strewed with muskets, escopets, 
 lances, and flags, for miles. Large quantities of 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 387 
 
 horses and mules were also captured, though large 
 numbers were killed. 
 
 " Thus ended the glorious battle of Contreras, in 
 which 2000 men, under General P. F. Smith, com 
 pletely routed and destroyed an army of 8000 men, 
 under General Valencia, with Santa Anna and a force 
 of 20,000 men within five miles. Their army was so 
 completely routed that not 1500 men rejoined Santa 
 Anna and participated in the second battle. Most 
 people would have thought that a pretty good day's 
 work. Not so. We had only saved ourselves, not 
 conquered Mexico ; and men's work was before us 
 yet. 
 
 "At eight o'clock A.M. we formed again, and, 
 General Twiggs having taken command, we started 
 on the road to Mexico. We had hardly marched a 
 mile before we were sharply fired upon from both 
 sides of the road, and our right was deployed to 
 drive the enemy in. We soon found that we had 
 caught up with the retreating party, from the very 
 brisk firing in front, arid we drove them through the 
 little town of San Angelo, where they had been halt 
 ing in force. About half a mile from this town we 
 entered the suburbs of another called San Katherina, 
 when a large party in the churchyard fired on the 
 head of the column and the balls came right among 
 us. Our men kept rushing on their rear and cutting 
 them down, until a discharge of grape-shot from a 
 large piece in front drove them back to the column. 
 In this short space of time five men were killed, ten 
 taken prisoners, and a small color captured, which 
 was carried the rest of the day. 
 
 " Meanwhile General Worth had made a demon- 
 
388 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 stration on San Antonio, where the enemy was forti 
 fied in a strong hacienda ; but they retired on his 
 approach to Churubusco, where the works were 
 deemed impregnable. They consisted of a fortified 
 hacienda, which was surrounded by a high and 
 thick wall on all sides. Inside the wall was a stone 
 building, the roof of which was flat and higher than 
 the walls. Above all this was a stone church, still 
 higher than the rest, and having a large steeple. 
 The wall was pierced with loopholes and so arranged 
 that there were two tiers of men firing at the same 
 time. They thus had four different ranges of men 
 firing at once, and four ranks were formed on each 
 range, and placed at such a height that they could 
 not only overlook all the surrounding country, but 
 at the same time they had a plunging fire upon us. 
 Outside the hacienda, and completely commanding 
 the avenues of approach, was a field-work extending 
 around two sides of the fort, and protected by a deep 
 wet ditch and armed with seven large pieces. This 
 hacienda is at the commencement of the causeway 
 leading to the western gate of the city, and had to 
 be passed before getting on the road. About three 
 hundred yards in rear of this work another field- 
 work had been built where a cross-road meets the 
 causeway, at a point where it crosses a river, thus 
 forming a bridge-head, or tete de pont. This was 
 also very strong and armed with three large pieces 
 of cannon. The works were surrounded on every 
 side by large cornfields, which were filled with the. 
 enemy's skirmishers, so that it was difficult to make 
 a reconnoissance. It was therefore decided to make 
 the attack immediately, as they were full of men and 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 389 
 
 extended for nearly a mile on the road to the city, 
 completely covering the causeway. The attack com 
 menced about one P.M. General Twiggs's division 
 attacked on the side towards which they approached 
 the fort, that is, opposite the city. General Worth's 
 attacked the bridge-head, which he took in about an 
 hour and a half, while Generals Pillow and Quit- 
 man were on the extreme left, between the cause 
 way and Twiggs's division. The Rifles were on the 
 left and in rear of the work, intrusted by General 
 Scott with the task of charging it in case General 
 Pierce gave way. The firing was most tremendous, 
 in fact, one continued roll while the combat lasted. 
 The enemy, from their elevated station, could readily 
 see our men, who were unable to get a clear view 
 from their position. Three of the pieces were 
 manned by ' The Deserters,' a body of about 100, 
 who had deserted from the ranks of our army during 
 the war. They were enrolled in two companies, 
 commanded by a deserter, and were better uni 
 formed and disciplined than the rest of the army. 
 These men fought most desperately, and are said 
 not only to have shot down several of our officers 
 whom they knew, but to have pulled down the white 
 flag of surrender no less than three times. 
 
 " The battle raged most furiously for about three 
 hours, when, both sides having lost a great many, 
 the enemy began to give w r ay. As soon as they 
 commenced retreating, Kearney's squadron passed 
 through the tete de pont, and, charging through the 
 retreating column, pursued them to the very gate 
 of the city. When our men got within about five 
 hundred yards of the gate they were opened upon 
 
390 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 with grape and canister and several officers wounded. 
 Among the number was Captain Kearney, 1st dra 
 goons, who lost his left arm above the elbow. Lieu 
 tenant Graham, of New York, received a severe 
 flesh-wound in his left arm; Captain McReynolds, 
 ditto. Our loss in this second battle was large. 
 We lost in killed seven officers : Captains Capron, 
 Burke, 1st artillery; Lieutenants Irons, Johnston, 
 Hoffman, Captain Anderson, Lieutenant Easely, 2d 
 infantry; Captain Hanson, 7th infantry. Lieute 
 nant Irons died on the 28th. Colonel Butler, of 
 South Carolina, and about 30 officers wounded, ex 
 clusive of the volunteers. The official returns give 
 our loss in killed and wounded at 1150, besides offi 
 cers. The Mexican loss is 500 killed in the second 
 battle, 1000 wounded, and 1100 prisoners, exclusive 
 of officers. Three more generals were taken, 
 among them General Eincon and Anaya, the pro 
 visional President; also, ten pieces of cannon and 
 an immense amount of ammunition and stores. 
 Santa Anna, in his report, states his loss in killed, 
 wounded, and missing, at 12,000. He has only 
 18,000 left out of 30,000, which he gives as his force 
 on the 20th in both actions. 
 
 " Thus ended the battle of Churubusco, one of the 
 most furious and deadly, for its length, of any of the 
 war. For reasons which he deemed conclusive, 
 General Scott did not enter the city that night, but 
 encamped on the battle-field, about four miles from 
 the western gate of the city. The next day a flag 
 of truce came out, and propositions were made which 
 resulted in an armistice." 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS 
 
 391 
 
 MOLINO DEL RET. 
 
 STORMING OF MOLINO DEL KEY. 
 
 ON the 5th of September, 1847, one day previous 
 to the termination of the armistice, the American 
 general learned that many church-bells had been 
 sent from the city to a foundry called Casa Mata, to 
 be cast into guns, and that immense quantities of 
 powder, balls, and other military stores, were arriving 
 at the same place. As soon as the truce terminated, 
 General Scott determined on an immediate attack 
 upon this place, hoping to deprive the enemy of 
 their cannon and ammunition, both of which were 
 at this time of the greatest importance to them. 
 This determination was further strengthened by the 
 
392 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 consideration that recent events had deprived the 
 enemy of more than three-fourths of the guns neces 
 sary to defend the strong works at the eight prin 
 cipal gates of the city, which rendered a free com 
 munication with the cannon-foundry highly essential 
 to Santa Anna's operations. This communication 
 could be cut off only by taking the formidable castle 
 upon the Heights of Chapultepec, situated between 
 the city and Casa Mata and overlooking both. 
 For this dangerous operation the army was not al 
 together ready ; and the earnest desire of General 
 Scott was to avoid altogether, if possible, an attack 
 upon this place, and approach the city by the dis 
 tant southern approaches, should they be found less 
 formidable. Preparatory to attempting this he de 
 termined upon destroying the foundry and stores at 
 Molino del Eey. The execution of this plan was 
 intrusted to Brevet Major-General Worth. 
 
 On the morning of the 7th, Captain Mason, of the 
 engineers, made a close and daring reconnoissance 
 of the lines collateral to Chapultepec, ascertaining 
 the enemy's position to be as follows : the left 
 resting upon and occupying the strong stone build 
 ings of Molino del Rey, near a grove at the foot of 
 Chapultepec Hill and directly under the guns of its 
 castle ; the right resting upon Casa Mata, at the 
 base of a ridge sloping gradually from the heights 
 above the village of Tacubaya to the plain below. 
 Midway between these buildings- was the enemy's 
 field-battery, supported on both sides by infantry. 
 
 This reconnoissance was repeated and verified by 
 Captain Mason and Colonel Duncan on the after 
 noon of the same day, the result indicating that the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 393 
 
 centre was the enemy's weak point, and that of his 
 flanks the left, bordering on Molino del Key, was 
 the stronger. Generals Scott and Worth accom 
 panied the engineers during the afternoon. The 
 examination, however, was far from being satisfac 
 tory, since, although it afforded a fair observation 
 of the configuration of the ground and the extent 
 of the enemy's forces, yet, on account of the de 
 fences being skilfully masked, only an imperfect 
 idea was obtained of their actual strength. 
 
 On the same afternoon a large body of the enemy 
 was seen hovering about Molino del Rey, within a 
 mile and a third of Tacubaya, where General Scott 
 was stationed with his staff and Worth's division. 
 They did not venture an attack, and the American 
 commander would not derange his plans by offering 
 battle. 
 
 General Worth's division was reinforced by 270 
 dragoons and mounted riflemen, under Major Sum- 
 ner, Cadwalader's infantry and voltigeur regiments, 
 784 strong, three pieces of field-artillery, under 
 Captain Drum, and two twenty-four-pound batter 
 ing-guns, under Captain Huger. The whole com 
 mand, thus reinforced, numbered 3200 men. 
 
 The orders of General Scott were that the division 
 should attack and destroy the lines and defences 
 between the Casa Mata and Moiino del Rey, cap 
 ture the enemy's artillery, destroy the machinery 
 and material supposed to be in the foundry, but 
 under no circumstances to make an attack upon 
 Chapultepec. After carrying the works the troops 
 were to be withdrawn immediately to Tacubaya. 
 The object of attack being connected with Cha- 
 
394 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 pultepec, it became necessary to isolate it from the 
 defences of the castle. To effect this object, Colonel 
 Garland's brigade, strengthened by two pieces of 
 Captain Drum's battery, was posted on the right so 
 as to intercept any reinforcements from Chapultepec 
 and be within sustaining-distance of the assaulting 
 party and Huger's battering-guns. The latter were 
 placed on the ridge, five or six hundred yards from 
 Molino del Rey, so as to play upon and detach it 
 from Chapultepec. The assaulting party designed 
 to act against the enemy's centre, consisting of 500 
 picked men and officers, commanded by Brevet 
 Major Wright, was stationed on the ridge to the 
 left of the battering-guns. Colonel Clarke's brigade, 
 under Colonel Mclntosh, was placed farther up the 
 ridge, near Duncan's battery, so as either to protect 
 the American left flank, to sustain the assaulting 
 column, or to discomfit the enemy, as circumstances 
 would require. Cadwalader's brigade was held in 
 reserve, in a position on the ridge between the bat 
 tering-guns and Mclntosh's brigade, at easy support 
 ing-distance from both. Major Sumner, with his 
 cavalry, was ordered to the extreme flank, to act as 
 his own judgment might dictate; and the general 
 disposition of the artillery was confined to Colonel 
 Duncan. 
 
 These preparations were designed and executed 
 in the most desirable manner, exhibiting, in the 
 subsequent result, the military abilities of the general 
 who planned the whole attack and of those who 
 carried it into effect. The artillery was placed in 
 the best possible position for preventing the arrival 
 of any support from the castle, by breaking the con- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 395 
 
 tinuous line of defences leading to that place and 
 distracting the garrison curing the charge of Wright's 
 party. This was posted so as to experience the least 
 difficulty from the nature of the ground and the 
 presence of the enemy's cavalry. The latter were 
 watched by the intrepid Sumner, and at a well- 
 chosen position Mclntosh's troops were placed in 
 general superintendence of the whole. But so 
 strong were the Mexican defences, and throughout 
 the whole line so skilfully masked, that, but for a 
 strong supporting reserve, Wright's charge the soul 
 of the entire assault would probably have failed. 
 Such support was afforded by Cadwalader's brigade, 
 which during the action was called into active 
 service and contributed in no slight degree to 
 victory. 
 
 At three o'clock A.M. of the 8th the division 
 commenced its march by columns, each taking a dif 
 ferent route. So accurately had every thing been 
 arranged that, notwithstanding the darkness of the 
 night and the irregularity of the ground, the troops 
 at daylight were found posted in the different posi 
 tions with as much precision as though on parade. 
 Very soon after the dawn of day the report of 
 Huger's guns, opening upon Molino del Rey, gave 
 the signal for attack. So heavy were the discharges 
 that in a short time masses of masonry fell with 
 tremendous noise and the whole line of intrench- 
 ments began to shake. This, uniting with the roar 
 of cannon and cheering of soldiers, produced a scene 
 of confusion peculiarly distressing. The enemy an 
 swered each discharge in rapid succession, unfolding 
 at intervals to the sight of their antagonists bat- 
 
396 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 teries and systems of defence of the strongest cha 
 racter, but hitherto masked. 
 
 In the interim, while the cannonade was going on, 
 Major Wright was preparing his troops for the attack. 
 Stationed on an eminence, he had a full view of the 
 artillery operations, and could determine with great 
 ease upon the exact direction in which to lead his 
 men. All things being in readiness, he dashed down 
 the slope, guided by Captain Mason and Lieutenant 
 Foster and followed by his whole command. At 
 this stirring spectacle the remainder of the division 
 sent up a shout which momentarily drowned the 
 roar of artillery ; while at the same moment, as 
 though in desperate defiance, the central batteries 
 of the enemy opened their fearful discharges., sweep 
 ing down man and officer in terrible and indiscri 
 minate slaughter. The cheering died away at such 
 a spectacle, and, with unuttered forebodings at the 
 unexpected sight, the reserve and support leaned 
 forward to await the result. Yet, in the midst of 
 the unexpected showers of fire which were launched 
 upon them, Wright and his gallant men rushed on, 
 gained the lines, and, sweeping through a storm of 
 musketry and canister-shot, drove infantry and 
 artillerymen before them at the baj^onet's point, 
 seized the large field-battery, drove off the can 
 noneers, and trailed its guns upon the retreating 
 masses. 
 
 But the battle was not yet decided. After retreat 
 ing to a short distance the enemy suddenly halted, 
 rallied, and, on observing the smallness of the force 
 by which they had been attacked, returned with 
 renewed energy to the conflict. Suddenly a flash 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. . 397 
 
 like lightning ran along their whole line, pouring 
 forth a discharge which struck down 11 officers out 
 of the 14 composing the command, with non-com 
 missioned officers and men in proportion. Brevet 
 Major Wright, Captain Mason, and Lieutenant 
 Foster, were among the severely wounded. At the 
 same time the windows and roofs of buildings were 
 lined with infantry, who united their fire with that 
 of the main body. At so overwhelming a loss the 
 party was thrown into confusion, and the eagle eye 
 of General Worth foresaw that another such dis 
 charge would snatch victory from its grasp. Ac 
 cordingly the right wing of Cadwalader's brigade 
 and the light battalion held to cover Captain Huger's 
 battery were immediately ordered forward to its 
 support. Coming rapidly into action, these troops 
 reached the shattered remnant of Major Wright's 
 party at a most seasonable moment. The struggle 
 with the enemy was close but short. They were 
 again routed and their central positions fully carried 
 and occupied. 
 
 This victory gave the Americans- an important 
 station inside the enemy's works, and separated the 
 Casa Mata from Molino del Key and its adjoining 
 fortifications. These, therefore, formed two isolated 
 points of attack, each of which could be attacked 
 by a separate party without danger from the other. 
 
 The assault upon the enemy's left was intrusted 
 to Garland's brigade, sustained by Drum's artillery. 
 Here the struggle was obstinate and bloody. The 
 manner in which the American guns were served 
 drew forth shouts of applause from the whole army; 
 while, on the other hand, the powerful batteries of 
 
398 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Molino del Rey were worked in a manner which 
 evinced the determination of the enemy to regain 
 the day. The loss of the assailants was heavy; but 
 they at length succeeded in forcing the position and 
 driving the garrison from their guns. The Mexicans 
 fled towards Chapultepec, suffering heavily from 
 their own guns, which were turned upon them and 
 continued to fire until they were beyond reach. 
 
 Simultaneously with this assault, Duncan's bat 
 tery opened upon the Mexican right, so as to mask 
 an assault upon it by Colonel Mclntosh. The whole 
 field was now a scene of uproar, the battle raging, 
 mostly of artillery, throughout the entire line of de 
 fences from Casa Mata to Molino del Rey. As 
 Mclntosh's troops moved to the attack they came 
 in front of Duncan's battery, which was consequently 
 obliged to suspend its fire. The command then 
 moved steadily to the assault. On approaching the 
 Casa Mata it was discovered to be not an ordinary 
 field-intrenchment, as had been supposed, but a 
 strong stone citadel, built in the Spanish style, with 
 bastioned intrenchments and impassable ditches 
 which had recently been repaired and enlarged. 
 The apparent difficulty of the undertaking was 
 thus tenfold increased ; but still the soldiers pressed 
 on without the least diminution of ardor. The 
 batteries of the enemy were for a long time silent, as 
 though their attendants were doubtful whether to 
 open or not. But this was but the deceitful allure 
 ment whose object was to get the prey completely 
 within grasp. On arriving within musket-shot the 
 Americans were greeted with a storm of grape and 
 canister, before which their front ranks melted away 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 399 
 
 and many of the best officers were killed or wounded. 
 Without intermission was this kept up until their 
 lacerated columns had reached the slope of the 
 parapet leading to the citadel. Here, amid the 
 withering showers which smote their ranks, the ex 
 hausted troops were obliged to halt. Their advance 
 had been over a long, rugged road in front of their 
 own batteries, and part of the time without their 
 support. A large proportion of their number had 
 been killed or wounded, including the three senior 
 officers, Brevet Colonel Mclntosh, Brevet Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Scott, and Major Waite, the second killed, 
 and the first and last seriously wounded. As they 
 stood for a few moments on the slope, the Casa 
 Mata continued to pour its fire upon them; and, per 
 plexed with the change of commanders consequent 
 on the fall of Colonel Mclntosh, the brigade fell 
 into confusion and withdrew to Duncan's battery. 
 
 The latter branch of service, from the time of its 
 being covered by Mclntosh's troops so as to prevent 
 a continuance of its fire on the enemy, had been 
 arduously engaged in another part of the field. A 
 large cavalry force had appeared outside the enemy's 
 works on the extreme left of the American line; 
 and against this Colonel Duncan moved, supported 
 by the voltigeurs of Cadwalader's brigade. As 
 the cavalry galloped into canister-range, the whole 
 battery opened upon them with great effect, driving 
 back their heavy squadrons in disorder. At this 
 moment Major Sumner, who had been carefully 
 watching the enemy all day, moved to the front and 
 changed direction in admirable order, under a most 
 appalling fire from Casa Mata, of which he was 
 
400 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 within pistol-range. His loss was very severe, 
 numbering 5 officers, 39 soldiers, and 104 horses. 
 The exposure was, however, unavoidable, in 
 consequence of a deep ditch which it was im 
 possible to cross until he had arrived close to 
 the Mexican intrenchments. After passing the 
 ravine he formed his command in line, facing the 
 enemy's cavalry, and prepared to 'receive their 
 charge. At seeing this they suddenly halted, and 
 shortly afterwards retired. The major continued to 
 hold his command on the left flank until the battle 
 was won, changing his position from time to time 
 with every movement of the cavalry. During the 
 whole time his men behaved with coolness and 
 bravery ; and, notwithstanding the number and 
 rapidity of their evolutions, they succeeded, chiefly 
 through the indefatigable exertions of Captain Har~ 
 dee, in avoiding all confusion. The major was 
 joined, soon after the commencement of the action, 
 by Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, who, although declining 
 the command, remained with him during the day. 
 Colonel Harney, who was unwell, also came upon 
 the field during the action, and, after observing the 
 arrangements, expressed himself satisfied, and left 
 Sumner to execute them, "for which," archly ob 
 serves the major in his report, "I am deeply obliged 
 to him." 
 
 The repulse of the second brigade enabled Colonel 
 Duncan to reopen his battery upon the Casa Mata, 
 which the enemy, after a short and well-directed 
 fire, abandoned. The Americans rushed into the 
 works with loud cheers, seized the cannon, and 
 turned them upon their former owners. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 401 
 
 The enemy was now driven from every part of 
 the field, leaving his strong lines in possession of the 
 assailants. The quantity of stores within the two 
 principal works fell far short of what had been 
 anticipated, thus proving false many of the reports 
 previously received upon that subject. In obedience 
 to the commands of General Scott, the Casa Mata 
 was blown up, and such of the captured ammuni 
 tion as could not be used, together with the cannon- 
 moulds found in Molino del Rey, were destroyed. 
 
 Thus, after several hours' incessant cannonading 
 and fighting, the Americans stormed and carried an 
 entire line of strong fortresses, defended by 14,000 
 men, securing 800 prisoners, all the guns, a large 
 quantity of small-arms, ammunition, and other stores. 
 Fifty-two commissioned officers were among the 
 taken. Generals Valdarez and Leon, the second 
 and third in command, were killed. The total loss 
 of the enemy was about 3000, exclusive of 2000 
 who deserted after the rout. 
 
 These great results were not obtained without a 
 proportionate loss on the part of the victors. Be 
 sides being numerically great, the list of killed and 
 wounded embraced the names of some of the brightest 
 ornaments of the service. Of the first were Captains 
 Merrill, E. K. Smith, Ayres, and Lieutenants Strong, 
 Farry, Burwell, and Burbank. "All of these gal 
 lant men," says General Worth, " fell as, when it 
 pleased God, they would have wished to fall, fight 
 ing bravely at the head of their troops, leaving a 
 bright example to the service and spotless names to 
 the cherished recollections of comrades." Among 
 
 the wounded were Brevet Major Wright, Captains 
 
 26 
 
402 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Mason, Walker, and Cady, and Lieutenants Shackle- 
 ford, Daniels, Clarke, Snelling, and Foster, all of 
 whom highly distinguished themselves. 
 
 The conduct of both cavalry and artillery was 
 admirable ; and the same meed of praise is due to 
 Sumner's dragoons. General Cadwalader rendered 
 most efficient service and received the encomiums 
 of General Worth. Among the other officers simi 
 larly noticed were Colonel Garland, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Duncan, Brevet Colonel Mclntosh, Captains 
 Huger and Drum, Lieutenants Kirkham, Nichols, 
 and Thorne, (the latter of whom captured a regi 
 mental standard,) and the officers of Cadwalader's 
 brigade. Worth withdrew his brigade to Tacubaya. 
 The operations of the day had thrown the enemy 
 on the defensive, and left no further obstruction to 
 an attack upon the city, save the castle of Chapul- 
 tepec. Knowing the strength of this fortress, 
 General Scott wisely refrained from an immediate 
 attack, preferring to give his troops the repose which 
 they so much needed rather than risk disabling his 
 army by over-exertion. The dead were collected 
 and buried, the wounded rendered comfortable, and 
 each division, with its officers, quartered where they 
 could be protected from the weather. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 403 
 
 COLONEL HARNET. 
 
 STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC AND 
 CAPTURE OF MEXICO. 
 
 THE taking of Molino del Rey had cut off the for 
 tress of Chapultepec from all immediate connection 
 with any of the surrounding fortifications. The 
 assault upon it was the next great event of the war, 
 and the first of that brilliant series to which General 
 Scott gives the general name " Battle of Mexico." Of 
 that momentous action, which continued for more 
 than two days, the storming of the castle is the only 
 occurrence which is capable of separate description. 
 The difficulty of conveying an adequate idea of the 
 actions of August has been formerly mentioned ; but 
 the events of Contreras and Churubusco are simple 
 
404 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 when compared to those attending the taking of the 
 capital. The plan of attack in the latter brought 
 out the abilities of every officer in the army simul 
 taneously and, with but few exceptions, in inde 
 pendent commands. 
 
 Immediately after the victory of the 8th, General 
 Scott commenced a series of strict and daring recon- 
 noissances of the ground in the vicinity of the capi 
 tal and the principal works of the enemy. These 
 were conducted by the able engineers Captain Lee 
 and Lieutenants Stephens, Tower, and Beauregard. 
 This service was, in point of danger, equal to battle, 
 stations being frequently chosen within full range of 
 the enemy's batteries and even within musketry- 
 range of the works. The observations were directed 
 principally to the southern defences, the strongly- 
 fortified gates of Piedad, San Antonio, San Angel, or 
 Nino Perdido, and Paseo de la Yega. These pre 
 sented a chain of ditches, intrenchments, gullies, 
 breastworks, towers, and mines, appalling to any 
 general save one of the first military genius and ex 
 perience. " This city," says the American com 
 mander, while speaking of these defences, " stands 
 on a slight swell of ground, near the centre of an 
 irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch in its 
 greatest extent, a navigable canal of great breadth 
 and depth, very difficult to bridge in the presence 
 of an enemy, and serving at once for drainage, cus 
 tom-house purposes, and military defence, having 
 eight entrances or gates, over arches, each of which 
 we found defended by a system of strong works that 
 seemed to require nothing but some men and guns 
 to be impregnable. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 405 
 
 " Outside and within the cross-fires of those gates 
 we found, to the south, other obstacles but little less 
 formidable. All the approaches near the city are 
 over elevated causeways, cut in many places (to op 
 pose us) and flanked on both sides by ditches, also 
 of unusual dimensions. The numerous cross-roads 
 are flanked in like manner, having bridges at the 
 intersections, recently broken. The meadows thus 
 checkered are, moreover, in many spots, under water 
 or marshy ; for, it will be remembered, we were in 
 the midst of the wet season, though with less rain 
 than usual, and we could not wait for the fall of the 
 neighboring lakes and the consequent drainage of 
 the wet grounds at the edge of the city, the lowest 
 in the whole basin." 
 
 An attack upon the city in this quarter would 
 perhaps have been successful; but it would have 
 been at a loss greater than has ever yet been expe 
 rienced by an American army. General Scott, there 
 fore, with that regard to the lives of his soldiers 
 which has ever formed a prominent feature in his 
 character, and rejecting the vain glory acquired by 
 gaining a great battle at any expense, promptly de 
 termined to avoid the network of obstacles on the 
 south and seek less unfavorable approaches by a 
 sudden inversion towards the west. 
 
 u To economize the lives of our gallant officers and 
 men," says the general, " as well as to insure success, 
 it became indispensable that this resolution should 
 be long masked from the enemy; and, again, that 
 the new movement, when discovered, should be mis 
 taken for a feint, and the old as indicating our true 
 and ultimate point of attack." This design could be 
 
406 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 executed only by means of a well-conducted strata 
 gem, whose most important part would be to pre 
 vent the enemy from removing his guns in the 
 southern defences to the new point of attack. This 
 was executed in a manner which, while securing the 
 lives of the troops, threw the balance of advantages 
 in their hands, and afforded one more instance of the 
 eminent scientific abilities of the man who, with a 
 handful of troops, had fought his way through hos 
 tile armies to the gates of the enemy's capital. We 
 give the arrangements of his plan in his own 
 words : 
 
 "Accordingly, on the spot, the llth, I ordered 
 Quitman's division from Coyoacan to join Pillow ~by 
 daylight before the southern gates, and then that the 
 two major-generals, with their divisions, should ~by 
 night proceed (two miles) to join me at Tacubaya, 
 where I was quartered with Worth's division. 
 Twiggs, with Eiley's brigade and Captains Taylor's 
 and Steptoe's field-batteries, the latter of twelve- 
 pounders, was left in front of those gates to man 
 oeuvre, to threaten, or to make false attacks, in order 
 to occupy and deceive the enemy. Twiggs's other 
 brigade (Smith's) was left at supporting-distance in 
 the rear, at San Angel, till the morning of the loth, 
 and also to support our general depot at Mixcoac. 
 The stratagem against the south was admirably exe 
 cuted throughout the 12th and down to the after 
 noon of the 13th, when it was too late for the enemy 
 to recover from the effects of his delusion. 
 
 " The first step in the new movement was to 
 carry Chapul tepee, a natural and isolated mound, 
 of great elevation, strongly fortified at its base, on 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 407 
 
 its acclivities and heights. Besides a numerous gar 
 rison, here was the military college of the republic, 
 with a large number of sub-lieutenants and other 
 students. Those works were within direct gunshot 
 of the village of Tacubaya, and, until carried, we 
 could not approach the city on the west without 
 making a circuit too wide and too hazardous. 
 
 " In the course of the same night (that of the 
 llth) heavy batteries within easy ranges were esta 
 blished. No. 1, on our right, under the command of 
 Captain Drum, 4th artillery, (relieved the next day 
 for some hours by Lieutenant Andrews, of the 3d,) 
 and No. 2, commanded by Lieutenant Hagner, ord 
 nance, both supported by Quitman's division. Nos. 
 3 and 4, on the opposite side, supported by Pillow's 
 division, were commanded, the former by Captain 
 Brooks and Lieutenant S. S. Anderson, 2d artillery, 
 alternately, and the latter by Lieutenant Stone, ord 
 nance. The batteries were traced by Captain Huger 
 and Captain Lee, engineer, and constructed by them, 
 with the able assistance of the young officers of those 
 corps and artillery. 
 
 " To prepare for an assault, it was foreseen that 
 the play of the batteries might run into the second 
 day ; but recent captures had not only trebled our 
 siege-pieces, but also our ammunition, and we knew 
 that we should greatly augment both by carrying 
 the place. I was therefore in no haste in ordering 
 an assault before the works were well crippled by 
 our missiles." 
 
 The disposition of forces thus sketched should be 
 borne in mind while taking a survey of the subse 
 quent operations. The whole army was divided into 
 
408 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 two great sections, each performing duties distinct 
 from the other yet essential to the success of the 
 final operations. One of these amused the enemy 
 and prevented him from employing to much effect 
 his strongest forces ; the other conducted the assault 
 at numerous points of the western defences. The 
 former duty was intrusted to General Twiggs, with 
 Elley's brigade and two batteries; while Smith's 
 brigade remained as a supporting reserve. At the 
 same time the divisions of Quitman and Pillow 
 marched by night from the neighborhood of the 
 southern defences and joined General Scott at Tacu- 
 baya, preparatory to the assault upon Chapultepec. 
 This hill lay between Twiggs's station and the 
 western portion of the city, whither General Scott 
 designed to make his attack. To pass between it 
 and the city-wall was impossible; and to march 
 around on the opposite side would have consumed 
 so much time as to unfold the stratagem to the 
 enemy and thus defeat one important object of it. 
 There remained therefore no alternative but to storm 
 the fortress, since, by so doing, the enemy would 
 still be in the dark as to the ultimate point of at 
 tack, and might easily be induced to believe that in 
 case of capturing it the Americans would resume 
 their station near the southern gates. Subsequent 
 disclosures proved that they labored under this de 
 lusion. 
 
 The two batteries of Captain Drum and Lieute 
 nant Hagner, supporting Quitman's division, and 
 those of Captain Brooks and Lieutenant Stone, sup 
 porting Pillow, opened on the castle early on the 
 12th. The bombardment and cannonade were super- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 409 
 
 intended by Captain Huger and continued during 
 the whole day. During the continuance of this 
 dreary work Twiggs was actively plying his guns 
 on the southern side, in order to prevent the arrival 
 of reinforcements at Chapultepec. The bombard 
 ment at length became so severe that all the garri- 
 
 CHAPULTEPEC. 
 
 son, excepting a number sufficient to manage, aban 
 doned their works and formed on a secure position 
 of the hill, where they could easily return in case 
 of an assault. As night approached, the fire of the 
 assailants necessarily ceased; but it was observed 
 that a good impression had been made upon the 
 castle and its outworks. 
 
 No changes of position were made during the 
 
410 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 night of the 12th, so that early on the following 
 morning the guns reopened upon the castle. At 
 the same moment those of Twiggs were heard bat 
 tering the gates of San Antonio and Piedad. The 
 Mexicans were again observed upon the hill, hold 
 ing themselves in readiness for an assault. 
 
 Meanwhile the general-in-chief was actively pre 
 paring to storm the work. The force designed for 
 this service consisted of two columns, acting inde 
 pendently and on different sides of the hill.. The 
 first was led by General Pillow, the second by 
 General Quitman, the commands of these officers 
 being reinforced by corps from other divisions. On 
 the previous evening Worth had received orders to 
 designate a party from his division to assist Pillow, 
 and immediately organized a command of 260 men, 
 with ten officers, under Captain McKenzie. He was 
 also advised to take position with the remainder of 
 his division and support Pillow, in case that officer 
 should request his aid. He accordingly chose a 
 favorable position and reported himself to Pillow. 
 At the same time Smith's brigade was ordered to 
 proceed towards the hill and support Quitman's 
 column. These troops arrived on the following 
 morning, after marching over an exposed road two 
 miles in length. Twiggs also supplied a reinforce 
 ment to Quitman's storming column, about equal in 
 number to that from Worth's division and com 
 manded by Captain Casey. 
 
 The signal for the march of the storming parties 
 was the momentary cessation of fire from the heavy 
 batteries. At about eight o'clock on the morning 
 of the 13th, General Scott despatched an aid to Gene- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 411 
 
 ral Pillow, and another to Quitman, to inform them 
 that this was about to be given. Immediately the 
 whole field was covered with the troops of the assail 
 ing parties moving into position. At the same mo 
 ment a number of Mexican soldiers outside the fort 
 rushed into it and prepared to resist the assault. 
 
 General Pillow, in the morning, had placed two 
 field-pieces of Magruder's field-battery inside the 
 Molino del Key, to clear a sand-bag breastwork 
 which the enemy had constructed without the main 
 wall surrounding Chapultepec, so as to annoy any 
 party assailing the principal works. Through the 
 houses and walls of the mill she had also placed a 
 howitzer-battery, to aid in driving the enemy from 
 a strong intrenchment which extended nearly across 
 the front of the forest and commanded the only ap 
 proach to Chapultepec on that side. At the same 
 time he placed in position four companies of the 
 voltigeur regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel John- 
 stone, with instructions to advance by a rapid move 
 ment on the outside and enter the enclosure after 
 it had been gained by the storming parties. Four 
 other companies of voltigeurs were placed, under 
 Colonel Andrews, at a narrow gateway opening from 
 the rear of the mills, with orders to advance in front, 
 and, uniting with Colonel Johnstone's command, to 
 deploy as skirmishers and drive a body of the enemy 
 from some large trees among which it had taken 
 shelter. 
 
 Every thing being now in readiness, the heavy 
 batteries were silenced, and immediately the storm 
 ing columns rushed forward to the attack. Know 
 ing too well the object of this movement, the Mexi- 
 
412 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 cans opened all their batteries, the fires from which 
 swept every approach and glared in front of the ad 
 vancing troops like a volcano. On they rushed, 
 driving the enemy from the woods, and, reaching 
 the hill, commenced the ascent. At this moment 
 General Pillow was struck from his horse by a grape- 
 shot, and the command devolved on Cadwalader. 
 The former general would not leave the field, but 
 employed some of his men to carry him up the hill, 
 in order that he might be a witness of the result. 
 Under command of the intrepid officer from Penn 
 sylvania, the troops entered the enemy's drizzling 
 fires and labored over the steep rocks. " The broken 
 acclivity," says the general-in-chief, while describing 
 Cadwalader's advance, "was. still to be ascended, 
 and a strong redoubt midway to be carried, before 
 reaching the castle on the heights. The advance of 
 our brave officers, though necessarily slow, was un 
 wavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and under 
 the hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The re 
 doubt now yielded to resistless valor, and the shouts 
 that followed announced to the castle the fate that 
 impended. The enemy were steadily driven from 
 shelter to shelter. The retreat allowed not time to 
 fire a single mine without the certainty of blowing 
 up friend and foe. Those who at a distance at 
 tempted to apply matches to the long trains were 
 shot down by our men. There was death below as 
 well as above ground. At length the ditch and wall 
 of the main work were reached; the scaling-ladders 
 were brought up and planted by the storming-parties. 
 Some of the daring spirits first in the assault were 
 cast down, killed or wounded ; but a lodgment was 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 413 
 
 soon made ; streams of heroes followed ; all opposi 
 tion was overcome, and several of our. regimental 
 colors were flung out from the upper walls, amid 
 long-continued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay 
 into the capital. No scene could have been more 
 animating or glorious." 
 
 Conspicuous in this charge was the gallant Colonel 
 Ransom, of the 9th infantry, who met a soldier's 
 death while leading his troops up the summit to the 
 castle. He was shot in the forehead. Major Sey 
 mour succeeded him, and, on arriving before the 
 walls, mounted the ladders, leaped upon the parapet, 
 and tore down with his own hands the Mexican 
 colors. 
 
 Simultaneously with this attack, General Quit- 
 man's troops approached the fortress on the opposite 
 side. At early dawn he had opened his batteries 
 with much effect and commenced preparations for 
 the assault. Ladders, pickaxes, and crows, were 
 placed in the hands of a pioneer storming-party of 
 120 men, selected from all corps of the division and 
 commanded by Major Twiggs. At this time Gene 
 ral Smith arrived with his brigade, and was in 
 structed to move in reserve on the right flank of 
 the assaulting column, to protect it from skirmishes 
 or more serious attacks, and, if possible, cross the 
 aqueduct leading to the city and cut off the enemy's 
 retreat. 
 
 These dispositions being completed, the whole 
 command, at the preconcerted signal, moved forward 
 with confidence and enthusiasm. At the base of 
 the hill constituting part of the defences, and directly 
 across the line of advance, were strong batteries, 
 
414 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 flanked on the right by equally strong buildings, 
 and by a heavy stone wall, about fifteen feet high, 
 which extended around the base of the hill, towards 
 the west. The troops were, however, partially 
 covered by some dilapidated buildings at about two 
 hundred yards' distance. Between these and the 
 wall extended a low meadow, whose long grass con 
 cealed a number of wet ditches, by which it was in 
 tersected ; and to this point the command, partially 
 screened, advanced by a flank movement, having the 
 storming-parties in front, who sustained a heavy 
 fire from the enemy's fortress, batteries, and breast 
 works. Here, under partial cover of the ruins, the 
 advance was halted, and, upon the appearance of 
 the New York and South Carolina regiments, Gene 
 ral Shields was directed to move them obliquely to 
 the left, across the low ground, to the wall at the 
 base of the hill. Encouraged by the presence of the 
 man who had led them to victory at Churubusco, 
 these tried regiments waded through deep ditches, 
 while the water around them was foaming with the 
 enemy's shot, and, rushing forward together, effected 
 a lodgment at the wall. Similar orders were given 
 to Lieutenant-Colonel Geary and executed by his 
 regiment with equal alacrity and success. While 
 cheering on his men, General Shields was severely 
 wounded in the arm ; but no inducement could per 
 suade him to leave his command or quit the field. 
 About the same time the esteemed Lieutenant-Colo 
 nel Baxter was mortally wounded, Lieutenant-Colo 
 nel Geary disabled, and Captain Van O'Linda killed. 
 During this advance, Brigadier-General Smith 
 was driving back skirmishing-parties of the enemy 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 415 
 
 on the left, Lieutenant Benjamin, at the first bat 
 tery, was pouring shot after shot into the fortress 
 and woods on the slope, while Lieutenant Hunt, 
 having obtained a favorable position in the rear, also 
 threw shells and shrapnell-shot into the enemy's 
 lines with good effect. At this moment General 
 Quitman ordered the storming-parties to the assault. 
 Led by their gallant officers, they rushed on in one 
 unbroken tide, while the batteries from behind con 
 tinued to pour shells and shot over their heads into 
 the enemy's fortress. The Mexican fire was tre 
 mendous; but, without pausing for a moment, the 
 Americans swept on until they reached the outer 
 breastworks. Here for a short time the contest 
 was terrible. Hand to hand the fierce antagonists 
 met each other's strokes, while, as though pausing 
 for the result, died away the loud noise of opposing 
 batteries. Swords and bayonets were crossed, rifles 
 clubbed, and friend and foe mingled in one confused 
 struggling mass. Resistance, however, to the des 
 perate valor of the assailants was vain. The bat 
 teries and strong works were swept, and the ascent 
 to Chapultepec laid open on that side. Seven pieces 
 of artillery, one thousand muskets, and 550 prisoners, 
 were the trophies of victory. Among the prisoners 
 were 100 officers, including a general and ten colonels. 
 Captain Casey, the gallant leader of the storming- 
 party of regulars, having received a severe wound 
 when directly in front of the batteries, the command 
 devolved on Captain Paul, who during the re 
 mainder of the day distinguished himself for his 
 bravery. The storming-party from the volunteer 
 division also lost its commander, the lamented Major 
 
416 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Twiggs, and was led, during the remainder of the 
 attack, by Captain James Miller. 
 
 At the same time the volunteer regiments on the 
 left, animated by a generous enthusiasm, were as 
 cending the hill on the south side. Fighting their 
 way through every obstacle, these brave men fell in 
 with their comrades of General Pillow's division; 
 and side by side, amid the storm of battle, the colors 
 of the two commands were seen struggling together 
 up the steep ascent. At this moment the American 
 batteries, which had continued their fire upon the 
 castle over the heads of the assailants, ceased ; and 
 immediately after the troops gained the summit. 
 The short but obstinate struggle has been described. 
 The veteran Mexican general Bravo, with a number 
 of other officers, was captured by Lieutenant Charles 
 Brower, of the New York regiment. In the assault 
 upon the works, Lieutenant Steele, with a portion 
 of the s tor ming-p arty, had advanced in front of the 
 batteries, towards the left, scaled the outer wall 
 through a breach near the top, ascended a hill in 
 front, and was among the first upon the battlements. 
 
 After giving the necessary directions for the safe 
 keeping of the prisoners, General Quitman ordered 
 his troops to form near the aqueduct, and hastily 
 ascended the hill for the purpose of reconnoitring 
 the enemy's position in front of the city. There he 
 met with Major-General Pillow, who, as formerly 
 stated, had been carried by his troops to the castle 
 in order to enjoy the triumph of the occasion. 
 
 In speaking of this brilliant affair, General Pillow 
 says, " We took about 800 prisoners, among whom 
 were Major-General Bravo, Brigadier-Generals Mon- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 417 
 
 terde, Monega, Doramentas, and Saldana ; also three 
 colonels, seven lieutenant-colonels, 40 captains, and 
 24 first and 27 second lieutenants. 
 
 " That the enemy was in large force I know cer 
 tainly from personal observation. I know it also 
 from the fact that there were killed and taken pri 
 soners one major-general and six brigadiers. As 
 there were six brigadier-generals, there could not 
 have been less than six brigades. One thousand 
 men to each brigade (which is a low estimate, for 
 we had previously taken so many general officers 
 prisoners that the commands of others must have 
 been considerably increased) would make 6000 
 troops. But, independent of these evidences of the 
 enemy's strength, I have General Bravo's own ac 
 count of the strength of his command, given me 
 only a few minutes after he was taken prisoner. 
 He communicated to me, through Passed Midship 
 man Eogers, that there were upwards of 6000 men 
 in the works and surrounding grounds. The killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners, agreeably to the best esti 
 mate I can form, were about 1800, and immense 
 numbers of the enemy were seen to escape over the 
 wall on the north and west sides of Chapultepec." 
 
 Many of those who distinguished themselves in 
 this assault have been given in connection with the 
 narrative ; a mere list of others mentioned with en 
 comiums by the different commanders would alone 
 fill a moderate chapter. Where all behaved as did 
 the victors of Chapultepec, it is indeed difficult to 
 discriminate in the awarding of praise. The feat 
 will remain in American history as a proud trophy 
 
 to American valor : and the fact of being one of the 
 
 27 
 
418 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 participators in it will insure to many a soldier the 
 esteem and admiration of countrymen while he lives, 
 and a grateful veneration of his memory after death. 
 
 While the assault was going on, on the west and 
 southeast of Chapultepec, and on its heights, two 
 companies of infantry, under Colonel Ironsdale and 
 Lieutenant Hebert, aided by Captain Magruder's 
 field-battery, had some spirited skirmishes with dif 
 ferent parties of the enemy. In one of these offi 
 cers and men behaved in a gallant manner: they 
 drove the gunners from a battery in the road, and 
 captured a piece. Colonel Ironsdale was twice 
 wounded, but continued on duty until the heights 
 were carried. 
 
 Immediately after the capture of Chapultepec, 
 General Scott made active preparations for following 
 up his success by an attack upon the capital. There 
 are two routes from Chapultepec to the city, one 
 leading to the Belen gate, the other to the gate of 
 San 'Cosine, both of which were strongly fortified. 
 Worth advanced along the San Cosme road, and 
 Quitman by that of Belen. Both these generals- 
 were strongly reinforced with troops and heavy siege- 
 guns. As the San Cosme gate was judged to be the 
 least difficult of entrance, Scott intended that Quit 
 man should merely manoeuvre while Worth made the 
 main attack. But Quitman pressed on, under flank 
 and direct fires, and carried the Belen gate after a 
 desperate struggle and severe loss. Worth advanced, 
 preceded by skirmishers and pioneers with axes to 
 force windows and doors, and by eight o'clock in the 
 evening had carried two batteries and driven the 
 enemy into the heart of the city. The American 
 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 419 
 
 troops in the city were sheltered during the night. 
 About four o'clock in the morning a deputation 
 from the city authorities reached General Scott, re 
 ported that the Mexican army had fled, and de 
 manded terms of capitulation. General Scott, know 
 ing his forces to be already in possession of the city, 
 would not listen to any terms dictated by the 
 
 CITT OP MEXICO. 
 
 authorities, and, about daylight, ordered General 
 Quitman to advance and take possession of the 
 Grand Plaza and government-buildings. Quitman 
 immediately executed the order, and soon the star- 
 spangled banner was floating over the National 
 Palace. As the remainder of the army entered 
 Mexico, the troops were fired upon by about 2000 
 liberated convicts, posted on the tops of houses and 
 
420 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 at the corners of streets. This unlawful warfare 
 lasted twenty-four hours, and was not suppressed 
 until many officers and men were killed or wounded. 
 The convicts were punished. General Quitman was 
 appointed military governor of the city. 
 
 Thus, in less than one month, 8000 men fought 
 eight important battles, stormed castles, towns, and 
 redoubts, garrisoned with three times the number 
 of assailants; defeated 32,000 Mexican veterans, 
 killing 7000 and capturing 3700 and 13 generals, 
 of whom three were ex-presidents; taking more 
 than twenty standards, one hundred and twenty-two 
 cannon, twenty thousand small-arms, with an im 
 mense quantity of shot, shells, &c. ; and finally en 
 tered in triumph a capital where every wall was a 
 fortification, every house a fort, and which contained 
 a population of nearly 200,000 souls. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 421 
 
 COLONEL CHILD 8. 
 
 SIEGE OF PUEBLA. 
 
 ON the march of the American army from Puebla 
 towards the capital, the command of that city was 
 intrusted to Colonel Childs. His total force was 
 about 400 men, consisting of forty-six cavalry, under 
 Captain Ford, two companies of artillery, under 
 Captains Kendrick and Miller, and six companies 
 of the 1st Pennsylvania volunteers, under Lieu 
 tenant-Colonel Black. With this small command 
 the grand depot in the city named San Jose, and 
 
I 
 
 422 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 the posts of Loreto and Guadalupe, were to be gar 
 risoned and held against the combined efforts of the 
 military and populace in Puebla. San Jose was the 
 key of the colonel's position, on the safety of which 
 that of every other depended. 
 
 In addition to the small ness of the garrison and 
 the extent of space to be covered, the Americans 
 were encumbered with 1800 sick. The hospitals 
 for these were situated in isolated positions, while 
 the surgeons were provided with but six attendants. 
 
 After the departure of the main army, no acts of 
 hostility other than the occasional murdering of a 
 straggling soldier occurred until September 13, the 
 same day in which the Mexican capital was taken. 
 During the night of that date the enemy opened a 
 fire upon the Americans from the streets of Puebla. 
 Colonel Childs had for some time been expecting 
 this, and had removed all the hospitals within the 
 protection of San Jose and placed every man of his 
 command on duty. The firing of the 13th continued 
 languidly until after daylight, when. -every thing 
 became quiet. On the night of the 14th the guns 
 were reopened with a violence which convinced the 
 colonel that the siege had commenced in earnest. A 
 storm of bombs and shot was thrown into the forti 
 fications until morning, while numerous bodies of 
 troops were heard taking up positions around the 
 American stations. On the 15th large parties of 
 cavalry were observed in the fields, gathering together 
 the sheep and cattle and endeavoring to turn the 
 stream of water which supplies San Jose. In the 
 evening Colonel Childs organized two parties to 
 secure, if possible, some of the live-stock. They 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 423 
 
 succeeded in capturing thirty oxen and four hundred 
 sheep, a most seasonable supply at the time. 
 
 During the day the fire of the enemy was un 
 abated, and large reinforcements were observed to 
 join them from the interior. Nearly every station 
 in the city from which a battery could be discharged 
 was now occupied by the Mexicans, and, under a 
 most tremendous fire, the Americans labored night 
 and day in completing their defences and preparing 
 for an assault. 
 
 On the 22d, General Santa Anna arrived with a 
 large force from Mexico. His appearance was hailed 
 by discharges of cannon, a general ringing of bells, 
 and other demonstrations of joy. A battery at 
 Loreto was opened by command of Colonel Childs, 
 which, throwing shells and round-shot into the heart 
 of the city, did considerable execution, besides 
 causing a temporary suspension of the rejoicing. 
 Santa Anna, with his customary activity, imme 
 diately began preparations for an assault. New 
 batteries were planted, storming-parties designated, 
 and a more perfect organization of the besiegers 
 enforced. 
 
 On the 25th Childs received a summons to sur 
 render, with the assurance that he would be treated 
 in a manner worthy of his valor and military rank. 
 This was declined. After despatching his answer, 
 the colonel rode to the different posts of his garrison, 
 announcing the demand, together with the reply. 
 This was received by the soldiers in a manner which 
 convinced him of their determination to endure 
 every hardship and danger rather than disgrace 
 themselves by yielding to the Mexican forces. 
 
424 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 After receiving this answer from the American 
 commander, Santa Anna opened his batteries upon 
 San Jose, which now became the principal point of 
 attack. Its garrison consisted of Ford's cavalry, 
 Miller's artillery, four companies of volunteers, and 
 a hospital, with its guard, under Captain Howe. The 
 whole was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Black. 
 " The duty required of this command," says Colonel 
 Childs, "in consequence of the various points to be 
 defended, demanded an untiring effort on the part 
 of every officer and soldier. A shower of bullets 
 was constantly poured from the streets, the bal 
 conies, the house-tops and churches, upon their 
 devoted heads. Never did troops endure more 
 fatigue, by watching night after night, nor exhibit 
 more patience, spirit, and gallantry. Not a post of 
 danger could present itself but the gallant fellows 
 were ready to fill it. Not a sentinel could be shot 
 but another was anxious and ready to take his place. 
 Officers and soldiers vied with each other to be 
 honored martyrs in their country's cause. This is 
 the general character of the troops I had the honor 
 to command; and I was confident the crown of 
 victory would perch upon their standard when the 
 last great effort should be made." 
 
 In order as far as possible to secure San Jose 
 from the enemy's shot, Childs threw up a traverse on 
 the plaza, and withdrew a twelve-pounder from 
 Loreto to answer the besieging batteries. On the 
 evening of the 30th a new battery of Santa Anna 
 ceased, and on the following morning was with 
 drawn, together with about 3000 of the supporting 
 force. The object of this movement was to meet 
 
Vv 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 425 
 
 some reinforcements daily expected at Final. Taking 
 advantage of it, Colonel Childs determined on a 
 sortie against certain barricades and buildings 
 whose fire had become very annoying. 
 
 The sortie was made on the 2d of October, by 
 two parties commanded by Captain Wm. F. Small, 
 of the 1st Pennsylvania volunteers, and Lieutenant 
 Morgan, of the 14th regiment. The captain, after 
 passing through the walls of an entire square, with 
 50 men, gained a position opposite the barricade, 
 from which he drove the enemy with great loss, and 
 burned one hundred and fifty cotton-bales, of which 
 the work was composed. Seventeen Mexicans were 
 killed upon the spot. Lieutenant Laidley, of the 
 ordnance corps, was then sent to blow up a promi 
 nent building, which he successfully accomplished. 
 The whole party were then withdrawn. In this 
 affair they had behaved with great gallantry, and 
 for twenty-four hours were unceasing in their labors 
 to accomplish their object. Their loss was but a few 
 wounded. 
 
 At the same time Lieutenants Morgan and Merry- 
 field, with detachments from the marines and Rifles, 
 attempted to gain possession of some buildings from 
 which the depot was receiving a heavy fire. The 
 latter officer succeeded in entering ; but Lieutenant 
 Morgan was not so fortunate. After several despe 
 rate efforts to force a passage through the strong 
 detachment opposed to him, he was directed by 
 Colonel Childs to fall back. These gallant feats 
 were a severe check upon the enemy and produced 
 a sensible dimunition of their fire. Other minor 
 acts of bravery were performed by officers and men 
 
426 
 
 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 at San Jose, while from Guadalupe one or two suc 
 cessful sorties were made upon the enemy while 
 engaged in their daily attacks upon San Jose. 
 
 Immediately after this disaster Santa Anna left 
 the besieging forces and hurried. to oppose the march 
 of General Lane from Yera Cruz. The bombard 
 ment and cannonade continued, however, with 
 diminished energy, until October 12, when General 
 Lane arrived with reinforcements for the wearied 
 garrison. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS 
 
 427 
 
 MAJOR ITURBIDE. 
 
 BATTLES OF HUAMANTLA AND ATLIXCO. 
 
 RUMORS of the enemy's designs upon Puebla, and 
 of large parties infesting the road leading to that 
 city, reached Yera Cruz in the latter part of Septem 
 ber. In consequence of the information, General 
 Lane left the latter place with a considerable force 
 and marched for the interior. He was not long 
 without sight of an enemy. At the hacienda of 
 Santa Anna, near the San Juan River, he came up 
 
428 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 with a party of guerillas. Captain Lewis's com 
 pany of mounted volunteers was sent in pursuit, and 
 a portion, under Lieutenant Lilly, succeeded in over 
 taking them. A short skirmish ensued, in which 
 the lieutenant behaved with great bravery and 
 finally drove the Mexicans from their position. 
 After this slight interruption the whole command 
 proceeded until it reached the Paso de Ovejas, where 
 the rear-guard was fired upon by a small guerilla 
 force, and Lieutenant Cline, an efficient young 
 officer, killed. 
 
 This march was unusually fatiguing to the troops, 
 on account of the heat of the weather and nature 
 of the road. Occasionally but a part of the gene 
 ral's force could move forward, and frequently the 
 artillery was greatly delayed amid ravines, passes, 
 and other natural obstructions. Meanwhile rumors 
 continued to multiply concerning a large Mexican 
 force concentrating between Perote and Puebla. On 
 arriving at the former place General Lane received 
 confirmation of these reports, with the additional 
 information that they numbered 4000 men, with six 
 pieces of artillery, and were commanded by Santa 
 Anna in person. At the hacienda of San Antonio 
 Tamaris he learned from his spies that the enemy 
 were then at Huamantla, a city but a few miles off. 
 He promptly determined to march there, and, if 
 possible, give their army battle. 
 
 In order to execute this as speedily as possible, 
 the general left his train packed at Tamaris's, under 
 charge of Colonel Brough's regiment of Ohio volun 
 teers, Captain Simmon's battalion, and a battery 
 under Lieutenant Pratt. With the remainder of the 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 429 
 
 command, consisting of Colonel Wynkoop's battalion, 
 Colonel Gorman's regiment of Indiana volunteers, 
 Captain Heintzelman's battalion of six companies, 
 Major Lally's mounted men, under Captain Walker, 
 and five pieces of artillery, under Captain Taylor. 
 After moving forward as rapidly as the nature of 
 the ground admitted, the column came in sight of 
 the city at one o'clock of October 9. The troops 
 being halted, the advance-guard of horsemen, under 
 Captain Walker, was ordered to move forward to the 
 entrance of the city, but not to enter, if the enemy 
 were in force, until the arrival of the infantry. 
 When within about three miles, Walker observed 
 parties of horsemen riding over the fields towards 
 the city, and, lest he might be anticipated, his men 
 were put to a gallop. His progress was anxiously 
 watched by General Lane, until, owing to a hedge 
 of thick maguey-bushes on each side of the road, his 
 movements were concealed from view. In a few 
 minutes firing was heard from the city. About the 
 same time a body of 2000 lancers were seen hurry 
 ing over the neighboring hills, and General Lane 
 ordered Colonel Gorman to advance with his regi 
 ment and enter Huamantla from the west while 
 Colonel Wynkoop moved towards the east. 
 
 Captain Walker, on arriving at the entrance of 
 the city, had discovered about 500 of the enemy 
 drawn up in the plaza. He immediately ordered a 
 charge. Dashing among the Mexicans, his handful 
 of men engaged hand to hand with three times their 
 number, and, after a close and bloody conflict, drove 
 them away and captured three guns. A vigorous 
 pursuit commenced, in which many feats of daring 
 
430 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 were performed, among which was the capture of 
 Colonel La Yega and Major Iturbide by Lieutenant 
 Anderson, of the Georgia volunteers. The former 
 was a brother of General La Yega, and the latter a 
 son of the unfortunate Emperor of Mexico. Anderson 
 narrowly escaped with his life. A Mexican lieutenant 
 was also taken. 
 
 After pursuing the enemy some distance, Walker's 
 men imprudently dispersed and returned to the 
 square in small parties. This was in consequence 
 of a belief that the enemy's entire force had been 
 routed. Suddenly a company of lancers charged 
 upon the plaza and succeeded in separating the 
 Americans into bodies. A desperate fight took place, 
 in which the Mexicans behaved with unwonted 
 courage ; but, by Skilful manoeuvring, Walker suc 
 ceeded in uniting his forces, and entered the con 
 vent-yard, where the command was dismounted. 
 Here another action took place,, in which the lancers 
 were assisted by both artillery and infantry. Here, 
 while directing the movements of his little band, 
 Captain Walker fell mortally wounded, and soon 
 afterwards expired. The enemy were driven back. 
 
 Meanwhile the main column of the American 
 forces arrived at the city and opened their fire upon 
 masses of the enemy. Gorman, with the left wing 
 of his regiment, proceeded towards the upper part 
 of the town, where the enemy still were, and suc 
 ceeded in dispersing them. At the same time 
 Colonel Wynkoop's command had assumed position; 
 but before they could open their batteries the 
 Mexicans had fled. 
 
 In this hard-fought action the loss of the Ame- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 431 
 
 ricans was 13 killed and 11 wounded. They suc 
 ceeded in capturing one six-pounder brass gun, a 
 mountain-howitzer, numerous wagons, and a large 
 quantity of ammunition. The Mexicans lost, in 
 killed and wounded, 150. 
 
 CAPTAIN WALKER. 
 
 After this battle General Lane marched to the 
 relief of Colonel Childs. He remained at Puebla 
 with his whole force until the evening of the 18th 
 of October, when information was received that the 
 Mexican general Rea was at Atlixco, thirty miles 
 
432 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 distant, in considerable force. Lane immediately 
 ordered his troops to be ready for marching on the 
 following morning at eleven o'clock. At that time 
 he left Puebla with nearly the same force that had 
 entered it, and, after a forced march of five hours' 
 duration, came in sight of the enemy's advance- 
 guard, near Santa Isabella. Here a halt was made 
 until the cavalry could come up from their examina 
 tion of a neighboring hacienda. Meanwhile small 
 parties of the enemy came to the foot of the hill 
 and opened a straggling fire, which did no execution. 
 On the arrival of the cavalry, Lane put his whole 
 force in motion ; but, as signs of confusion appeared 
 among the Mexicans, he hurried on the cavalry to 
 charge the enemy and keep them engaged until the 
 infantry could come up. As the Americans ap 
 proached the Mexicans retired, until, at a small 
 hill, about a mile and a half from their first position, 
 they halted and fought severely. The action was 
 continued until, by a forced march, the American 
 infantry arrived, when they again fled, pursued by 
 the cavalry. Another running fight of about four 
 miles took place, during which many of the fugitives 
 were cut down. When within less than two miles 
 of Atlixco, the enemy's main body was observed 
 posted on a side-hill behind rows of chapparal 
 hedges. Without stopping to ascertain their num 
 bers, the cavalry dashed among them, dealing death 
 on all sides, and forcing them within the thickest 
 part of their shelter. Then, dismounting, the as 
 sailants entered the chapparal, hand to hand with 
 their foe. Here the struggle was long and terrible, 
 scores of the enemy falling beneath the heavy blows 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 433 
 
 of their opponents. This continued until the arrival 
 of the infantry, who for the last six miles had been 
 straining themselves to the utmost to join the 
 cavalry, notwithstanding the previous fatiguing 
 march of sixteen miles. The road being intersected 
 by numerous gullies prevented the artillery from 
 advancing faster than at a walk; and so worn out 
 were the cavalry, both through exertion and the 
 heat of the weather, that they could pursue the 
 enemy no farther. The column continued, however, 
 to press forward towards the town ; but night had 
 already set in when it reached a hill overlooking it. 
 But the moon shone with a splendor which afforded 
 a fine view of all the surrounding country, a,nd 
 enabled the American general to continue his opera 
 tions with perfect certainty. 
 
 As the Americans approached, several shots were 
 fired upon them ; and, deeming it imprudent to risk 
 a street fight in an unknown town at night, General 
 Lane ordered the artillery to be posted on a hill 
 overlooking the town, and to open upon it. This 
 was speedily put in execution, so that in a very 
 short time the terrified inhabitants beheld flaming 
 balls and shells hurled into their town with a pre 
 cision and effect to which their own system of war 
 fare afforded no parallel. Every gun was served 
 with the utmost rapidity ; and, amid the stillness of 
 a Mexican night-scene, the discharges of artillery 
 pealed for miles around, while at intervals the 
 crashing of walls and roofs afforded a strange and 
 distressing contrast. This bombardment continued 
 for nearly an hour with great effect ; the gunners 
 
 28 
 
434 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 being enabled by the moonlight to direct their shot 
 to the most populous parts of the town. 
 
 The firing from the town had now ceased; and, 
 wishing to obtain, if possible, its surrender, Lane 
 ordered Major Lally and Colonel Brough to advance 
 cautiously with their commands into the town. On 
 their entering, the general was met by the ayunta- 
 miento, or city council, who desired that their town 
 might be spared. Quiet was accordingly restored, 
 and on the following morning Lane disposed of such 
 ammunition as could be found, and then commenced 
 his return to Puebla. 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 
 
 435 
 
 COLONEL FREMONT. 
 
 OCCUPATION OP CALIFORNIA AND NEW 
 MEXICO. 
 
 IN May, 1846, President Polk was authorized by 
 Congress to accept the services of 50,000 volunteers, 
 to continue the war which had commenced on the 
 
436 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Rio Grande. Of this number ten companies com 
 posed a force destined to act against Santa Fe. They 
 were formed of five companies United States dra 
 goons, two of foot, two light artillery, and one 
 volunteer horse. This army was placed under the 
 direction of Colonel Stephen W. Kearney, who, in a 
 confidential letter from Secretary Marey, dated June 
 3, 1846, received in substance the following instruc 
 tions :-WTo organize for the expedition an additional 
 force of 1000 men, in order to proceed from Santa 
 Fe against Upper California ; to establish a govern 
 ment there after taking possession; to receive as 
 volunteers a number of Mormon and other emigrants, 
 recently settled in the province ; to co-operate with 
 the naval force in the Pacific; to open trade with 
 the Indians ; and to respect the rights of the Cali- 
 fornians. The letter concludes as follows : " I am 
 directed by the President to say that the rank of 
 brevet brigadier-general will be conferred on you as 
 soon as you commence your movement towards Cali 
 fornia, and sent round to you by sea, or over the 
 country, or to the care of the commandant of our 
 squadron in the Pacific. In that way cannon, arms, 
 ammunition, and supplies for the land-forces, will be 
 sent you." 
 
 The depot of Kearney's force was Fort Leaven- 
 worth. On the 27th of June his advance commenced 
 its march ; and by the 1st of August more than 
 1600 men were concentrated at Bent's Fort, having 
 marched a distance of five hundred and sixty-four 
 miles. The march was resumed on the 3d, and, after 
 a toilsome journey over frightful prairies, they 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 437 
 
 arrived, August 12, at the mountains near the Kio 
 Grande. 
 
 Signs of hostility now began to appear; and 
 messages arrived from General Armigo, Governor 
 of Santa Fe, requesting Kearney to advance no 
 farther, or at least to consent to negotiations for 
 peace. The tone of these was dignified but earnest. 
 The American commander replied that he came to 
 take possession ; that the peaceable inhabitants 
 should be well treated, but that the vengeance of 
 both army and government would be poured upon 
 all others. On the march the colonel received a 
 despatch from Government constituting him briga 
 dier-general. 
 
 On the 18th of August General Kearney took 
 possession of Santa Fe in the name of the United 
 States. The oath of allegiance was administered 
 to the alcalde and inhabitants, and a military terri 
 torial government established. No opposition was 
 experienced, Governor Armigo and his army having 
 fled at the approach of the Americans. General 
 Kearney was proclaimed governor, erected a fort, 
 (called Fort Marcy,) and published a proclamation 
 to the inhabitants. 
 
 After seeing every thing in a state of tranquillity, 
 General Kearney commenced his march, September 
 25, for the distant region of California. 
 
 Before the general had accomplished this arduous 
 undertaking, Colonel Doniphan, with his citizen 
 volunteers, commenced one of equal magnitude, and 
 pregnant with events of paramount importance. 
 When Kearney left Santa Fe he ordered the colonel 
 to proceed as soon as practicable into Chihuahua 
 
438 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 and report to General Wool, who, with the centre 
 division, had been intrusted with the conquering of 
 that province. 
 
 On the 17th of December, Doniphan, with 924 
 men, began his expedition. On the 24th they 
 reached the Jornada Lake, into which runs the 
 Brazito River, more than twenty miles from the 
 Paso del Norte of the eastern mountain-range. 
 Here they were informed that the Mexicans, to the 
 number of 1000, were collected at the Pass, ready 
 for an attack. The Americans numbered about 
 600, the remainder being sick. On the afternoon 
 of the following day (Christmas) the enemy were 
 seen approaching, and, when within eight hundred 
 yards, extended themselves so as to cover the Ame 
 rican flank. An officer approached, carrying a black 
 flag, and, after proclaiming no quarters, rejoined his 
 column, which immediately charged at a rapid gallop. 
 The conflict was but short, the Mexicans being de 
 feated with the loss of 30 killed, and driven into 
 the mountains. Eight were captured, six of whom 
 subsequently died ; and their single piece of cannon 
 was also taken. The Americans had seven wounded. 
 On the 27th Doniphan entered the town of El Paso 
 without resistance, where he was reinforced by Major 
 Clark's artillery. 
 
 On the 8th of February, 1847, the whole com 
 mand (924 men) left the Paso del Norte and 
 marched for Chihuahua. On the 28th was fought 
 the great battle of Sacramento. This action, with 
 the position itself, is thus described by Colonel 
 Doniphan : 
 
 " The Pass of the Sacramento is formed by a 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 439 
 
 point of the mountains on our right (their left) ex 
 tending into the valley or plain, so as to narrow the 
 valley to about one and a half miles. On our left 
 was a deep, dry, sandy channel of a creek, and 
 between these points the plain rises to sixty feet 
 abruptly. This rise is in the form of a crescent, the 
 convex part being to the north of our forces. On 
 the right from the point of mountains, a narrow 
 part of the plain extends north one and a half miles 
 farther than on the left. The main road passes 
 down the centre of the valley and across the crescent 
 near the left or dry branch. The Sacramento rises 
 in the mountains on the right, and the road falls on 
 to it about one mile below the battle-field or intrench- 
 inent of the enemy. We ascertained that the enemy 
 had one battery of four guns, two nine and two six- 
 pounders, on the point of the mountain (their left) 
 at a good elevation to sweep the plain, and at a 
 point where the mountain extended farthest into 
 the plain. On our left (their right) they had another 
 battery on an elevation commanding the road, and 
 three mtrenchments of two six-pounders; and on the 
 brow of the crescent, near the centre, another of two 
 six, and two four and six culverins, or rampart- 
 pieces, mounted on carriages ; and on the crest of the 
 hill, or ascent between the batteries, and the right 
 and left, they had twenty-seven redoubts dug and 
 thrown up, extending at short intervals across the 
 whole ground. In these their infantry were placed 
 and were entirely protected. Their cavalry was 
 drawn up in front of the redoubts, four deep, and in 
 rear of the redoubts two deep, so as to mask them 
 as far as practicable. 
 
449 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 " We now commenced the action by a brisk fire 
 from our battery, and the enemy unmasked and 
 commenced also. Our fire proved effective at this 
 distance, killing 15 men, wounding and disabling 
 one of the enemy's guns. We had two men slightly 
 wounded, and several horses and mules killed. The 
 enemy then slowly retreated behind their works in 
 some confusion, and we resumed our march in our 
 former order, still diverging more to the right to 
 avoid their battery on our left, and their strongest 
 redoubts, which were orr the left near where the road 
 passes. . . . The howitzers charged at speed, and 
 were gallantly sustained by Captain Keid ; but, by 
 some misunderstanding, my order was not given to 
 the other two companies, Parsons's and Hudson's. 
 Captain Hudson, anticipating my order, charged in 
 time to give ample support to the howitzers. Cap 
 tain Parsons at the same moment came to me and 
 asked permission for his company to charge the 
 redoubts immediately to the left of Captain Wright- 
 man, which he did very gallantly. 
 
 " The remainder of the two battalions of the first 
 regiment were dismounted during the cavalry charge, 
 and, following rapidly on foot, and Major Clark ad 
 vancing as rapidly as practicable with the remainder 
 of the battery, we charged their redoubts from right 
 to left, with a brisk and deadly fire of riflemen, while 
 Major Clark opened a rapid and well-directed fire 
 on a column of cavalry attempting to pass to our 
 left so as to attack the wagons and our rear. The 
 fire was so well directed as to force them to fall back, 
 and our riflemen, with their cavalry and howitzers, 
 cleared it after an obstinate resistance. Our forces 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 441 
 
 advanced to the very brink of their redoubts, and 
 attacked them with their sabres. When the redoubts 
 were cleared and the batteries in the centre and our 
 left were silenced, the main battery on our right still 
 continued to pour in a constant and heavy fire, as it 
 had done during the heat of the engagement ; but, 
 as the whole fate of the battle depended upon carry 
 ing the redoubts and centre battery, this one on the 
 right remained un attacked, and the enemy had rallied 
 there 500 strong. 
 
 " Major Clark was directed to commence a heavy 
 fire upon it, while Lieutenant-Colonels Mitchell and 
 Jackson, commanding the first battalion, were ordered 
 to remount and charge the battery on the left, while 
 Major Gilpin was directed to pass the second bat 
 talion on foot up the rough ascent of the mountain 
 on the opposite side. The fire of our battery was 
 so effective as to completely silence theirs, and the 
 rapid advance of our column put them to flight over 
 the mountains in great confusion. 
 
 "Thus ended the battle of Sacramento. The 
 force of the enemy was 1200 cavalry from Durango 
 and Chihuahua, 300 artillerists, and 1420 rancheros, 
 badly armed with lassoes, lances, and machetes or 
 corn-knives, ten pieces of artillery, two nine, two 
 eight, four six, and two four-pounders, and six 
 culverins or rampart-pieces. . . . Our force was 924 
 effective men ; at least one hundred of whom were 
 engaged in holding horses and driving teams. The 
 loss of the enemy was his entire artillery, ten wagons, 
 masses of beans and pinola, and other Mexican pro 
 visions, about 300 killed, about the same number 
 wounded, many of whom have since died, and 40 
 
442 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 prisoners. The field was literally covered with the 
 dead and wounded, from our artillery and the un 
 erring fire of our riflemen. Night put a stop to the 
 carnage, the battle having commenced about three 
 o'clock. Our loss was 1 killed, 1 mortally wounded, 
 and 7 so wounded as to recover without any loss of 
 limbs." 
 
 On the 1st of March Colonel Doniphan took pos 
 session of Chihuahua, where he remained three 
 weeks. At the end of this time, having received 
 orders from General Wool, he marched, April 25, 
 for Saltillo. On the road, Captain Keid defeated 
 about 50 Indians near El Paso, May 13, capturing 
 one thousand horses. On the 22d of May the com 
 mand reached Wool's encampment, and, on the 27th, 
 that of General Taylor. 
 
 As the term of service of these gallant men had 
 expired, they now commenced their return. Early 
 in June they marched through Matamoras, and, on 
 the 16th, arrived at New Orleans. Their reception 
 was most enthusiastic, and they set out for their 
 homes laden with the honors and congratulations of 
 a benefited republic. 
 
 In the mean time important events had been taking 
 place in California. Before the Avar began, in 1846, 
 the territory of Upper California formed the north 
 western portion of the Kepublic of Mexico. The 
 chief portion of its inhabitants were Indians, on 
 account of whose hostility the interior of the country 
 was little known. The settlements of the descendants 
 of the Spaniards and Mexicans were situated on 
 the coast of the Pacific, or near it. These small 
 towns had grown up around the missions established 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 443 
 
 at different places by the Jesuits at an early period. 
 Portions of the country situated in the valley of 
 San Jose and in the vicinity of Los Angeles were 
 very fertile. But the greater part of the territory 
 was thought to be only fit for grazing purposes, and 
 consequently the population increased very slowly. 
 Intelligence of the commencement of the war upon 
 the Eio Grande having reached the Pacific Ocean 
 on the 2d of July, Commodore Sloat, commander of 
 the squadron on that station, arrived at Monterey, 
 and, on the 7th, the American flag was hoisted over 
 that town amid the cheers of the Americans and a 
 salute from the ships in the harbor. Commodore 
 Sloat then issued a proclamation to the people of 
 California. On the 8th the American flag was 
 hoisted at San Francisco, by Montgomery, com 
 mander of the sloop-of-war Portsmouth.8ANCR 0t n 
 
 Captain Fremont, who had arrived in California 
 by an overland journey, with a party of about 170 
 men, took possession of Sonoma, one of the most 
 northern posts in the territory, and, leaving a small 
 garrison at that place, marched for the mission of 
 San Juan, about thirty miles east of Monterey. He 
 arrived there and took possession of the mission 
 without opposition. A considerable Quantity of 
 stores was found there. 
 
 The fortification of Monterey was commenced im 
 mediately after raising the United States flag. On 
 the 23d, Commodore Sloat sailed in the Levant for 
 the United States, leaving Commodore Stockton in 
 command of the Pacific squadron. Immediately 
 after, the Cyane, Commandant Dupont, with Captain 
 Fremont and volunteers on board, sailed for San 
 
444 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Diego, and the frigate Congress, Commodore Stock 
 ton, sailed for San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles, 
 the capital of California. The frigate Savannah 
 remained at Monterey, and the sloop-of-war Ports 
 mouth at San Francisco. Thus all the ports of the 
 territory were secured. 
 
 On the 17th of August Commodore- Stockton 
 issued a proclamation, declaring California in the 
 full and peaceable possession of the United States, 
 and authorizing the election of civil officers through 
 out the country. Colonel Fremont soon afterwards 
 went north with only 40 men, intending to recruit 
 and return immediately. Early in September Com 
 modore Stockton withdrew all his forces and pro 
 ceeded with the squadron to San Francisco. Captain 
 Gillespie was left in command of Pueblo de los 
 Angeles, with about 30 riflemen; and Lieutenant 
 Talbot in command at Santa Barbara, with only 9 
 men. Scarcely had Commodore Stockton arrived at 
 San Francisco, when he received information that 
 all the country below Monterey was in arms and 
 the Mexican flag again hoisted. He immediately 
 returned, took command of the sailors, and, dragging 
 by hand six of the ship's guns, marched towards Los 
 Angeles. At the ranche Sepulinda the Californians 
 were prepared to meet him ; but in the battle which 
 ensued they were routed with great loss. By this 
 victory Commodore Stockton acquired a sufficient 
 number of horses, mounted his men, and organized 
 his force for land-operations. 
 
 On the 23d of September the City of the Angels 
 was invested by an army of Californians, whose over 
 whelming numbers caused Captain Gillespie to sur- 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 445 
 
 render that place. He returned with his 30 riflemen 
 to San Pedro, and there embarked for Monterey. 
 The Californian chief, Manuel Gaspar, then led 200 
 of his men against Santa Barbara, where they were 
 braved by Lieutenant Talbot and his insignificant 
 force for ten days. This youthful commander, who 
 had won the esteem of Colonel Fremont in his 
 former expeditions, now proved himself worthy of 
 holding the post of danger. He held the town until 
 he was completely besieged, and then, refusing to 
 surrender, forced his way through the enemy to the 
 mountains in the vicinity, where he remained eight 
 days, suffering from cold and hunger. The enemy 
 made several attempts to induce him to surrender, 
 which he rejected. One detachment of 40 men ad 
 vanced to take him, but was driven back. They 
 then offered to permit him to retire if he would pro 
 mise neutrality during the war; but he told them, 
 that he preferred to fight. At length, finding that 
 neither force nor persuasion would cause him to 
 leave his position, they set fire to the grass and 
 brush around him and burned him out. He then 
 retreated with his 9 men to Monterey, five hundred 
 miles, mostly on foot. The brave fellows were wel 
 comed as from the grave, the fears of their com 
 panions that they were slain having been confirmed 
 by a report of the Californians to that effect. Colonel 
 Fremont had made an attempt to go from San Fran 
 cisco to the relief of Captain Gillespie ; but, after 
 being at sea twenty-nine days, he was compelled to 
 put back to Monterey by bad weather. A day or 
 two after the arrival of Lieutenant Talbot, a party 
 of 27 Americans, under Captains Burrows and 
 
446 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 Thompson, were attacked by the Californians, 80 in 
 number. Captain Burrows and three Americans 
 were slain. Three of the enemy also fell, but they 
 kept the Americans shut up at the mission of St. 
 Johns until Major Fremont marched to their assist 
 ance. The whole party left St. Johns on the 26th 
 of November, and arrived at San Fernando on the 
 llth of January. 
 
 During the progress of these events in California, 
 General Kearney was on his march thither from 
 Santa Fe. On the 6th of October he met Carson 
 with 15 men coming as an express from the City of 
 the Angels, with an account of the conquest of that 
 country by Fremont and Stockton. With the devo 
 tion to the public service for which he has always 
 been characterized, he complied with the request of 
 General Kearney to allow some one else to take his 
 despatches to Washington, and, giving up his hopes 
 of seeing his family, he turned his face again towards 
 the Pacific as a guide. General Kearney then sent 
 back a part of his forces and continued his march 
 with 100 men, well equipped. On the 15th of Octo 
 ber they left the Rio Grande and commenced the 
 march across the mountains. 
 
 On the 5th of December they were met by a small 
 body of volunteers, under Captain Gillespie, who 
 had come from San Diego for the purpose of giving 
 them information concerning the state of the country. 
 Captain Gillespie informed them that there was an 
 armed party of Californians, with a number of extra 
 horses, encamped at San Pasqual, three leagues dis 
 tant. General Kearney determined to march upon 
 them, in the double hope of gaming a victory and a 
 
NAVAL EXPLOITS. 447 
 
 remount for his poor soldiers, who had completely 
 worn out their animals in the march from Santa Fe, 
 ten hundred and fifty miles. Captain Johnston led 
 the advanced guard of 12 dragoons, mounted on the 
 best horses in the company; then came 20 volunteers 
 under Captains Gibson and Gillespie, and in the 
 rear two mountain-howitzers, with dragoons to 
 manage them, mounted on sorry mules. The rest 
 of the army were ordered to follow on the trail of 
 this detachment with the baggage. At daybreak on 
 the 6th of December they encountered the enemy, 
 who was already in the saddle. Captain Johnston 
 made a furious charge upon them with the advance- 
 guard, and was well supported by the dragoons. He 
 fell almost in the very beginning of the fight; but 
 the action did not flag, and the enemy were forced 
 to retreat. Captain Moore led off rapidly in pur 
 suit, but the mules of the dragoons could not keep 
 up with his horses, and the enemy, seeing the break 
 in the line, renewed the fight and charged with the 
 lance. They fought well, and their superiority of 
 numbers had wellnigh proved fatal to the little 
 band ; but the dragoons came up, and they finally 
 fled from the field, carrying off' most of their dead 
 with them. They had kept up a constant fire in 
 the first part of the fight, and used their lances with 
 great dexterity at its close, and the American loss 
 was heavy. Captain Johnston, Captain Moore, 
 Lieutenant Hammond, two Serjeants, two corporals, 
 eleven privates, and a man attached to the topo 
 graphical department, were slain. General Kearney 
 was wounded in two places, Captain Gillespie had 
 three wounds, Lieutenant Warner, of the topogra- 
 
448 BATTLE-FIELDS AND 
 
 phical engineers, three, and Captain Gibson and 
 eleven others were also wounded, most of them 
 having from two to ten wounds from lances. The 
 howitzers were not brought into action until near 
 its close, when the mules attached to one of them 
 got alarmed, broke from their drivers, and ran away 
 with it directly into the enemy's lines. The severe 
 wounds of the soldiers caused a halt in the inarch 
 until the 10th of December, when the march was 
 resumed, and on the 12th the army reached San 
 Diego. 
 
 The arrival of General Kearney at San Diego was 
 opportune; and Commodore Stockton and he now 
 laid a plan for putting an end to the war. 
 
 In the battle of San Gabriel, (Jan. 3, 1847,) and 
 on the plains of the Mesa, they defeated the enemy 
 and entered Los Angeles, (Jan. 10,) and signed a 
 capitulation (Jan. 13) by which the country passed 
 tranquilly under the government of the United 
 States. The other incidents which transpired in 
 this quarter were unimportant. The treaty of 
 Guadalupe Hidalgo, which terminated the war, gave 
 Upper California to the United States on the pay 
 ment of fifteen millions of dollars to Mexico. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY L. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA.