Title

Chapter 4

Identifier

http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/show.asp?b=1&ref=oo&id=297942

page

132-176

Bibliographic Citation

Richardson's War of 1812.

10168041

Richardson's War of 1812.

Type

Text

extracted text

MAJOR REYNOLDS REPULSED

VII
THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

Towards the close of the autumn, General Winchester,
having established himself at that point of the Miami,
whither General Tupper had, on the occasion of Major
Muir's retreat from Fort Wayne, been ordered to dislodge us ; and thrown up on the right bank of the river a
strong fortification to which, in compliment to the Governor of the State of Ohio, the name of Fort Meigs had
been given, a detachment, consisting of about 5o men under the command of Major Reynolds of the Essex Militia,
with a three-pounder, and 200 Indians were sent to
Frenchtown' on the River Raisin, distant eighteen miles
from Amherstburg, to watch his movements. Here this
little party continued unmolested until the afternoon of
the 18th of January, 1813, when Colonel Lewis, who had
been detached from General Winchester's division, with
an advanced guard of nearly 80o men suddenly fell upon
them, and notwithstanding a very gallant resistance, in
the course of which, efficient service was rendered by the
three-pounder under Bombardier Kitson of the Royal
Artillery, aided simply by a few militia acting as gunners, compelled them to retire across some intermediate
open ground to a wood, distant nearly a mile from their
original position. Here the enemy were kept in check
not only by the fire from the three-pounder, but by a
IFrenchtown, now the city of Monroe, was so called because a
number of French families settled upon the banks of the river,
and built their houses near together, as was usual with this nationality. The stream was called Sturgeon river by the Indians,
because that fish was found there in large numbers, but Riviere
aux Raisins by the French, because, it is said, grapes grew in
abundance on its banks.
132

133

running fusillade from the Militia, and Indians, chiefly of
the Pottawattomi tribe. After the conflict had continued at this point upwards of half an hour, Major
Reynolds,' finding himself closely pressed by very superior
numbers, gave up the contest, the Americans suffering
him to effect his retreat without further interruption.
In this little affair the British loss was I Militia man and
3 Indians killed. That of the enemy was much more
severe, they themselves admitting 12 killed and 55
wounded. Colonel Lewis having established himself in
the position, sent immediate notice of his success to
General Winchester, who quitting Fort Meigs with the
main body of his army, pushed forward with all expedition, and effected a junction with Colonel Lewis on the
loth.
The account of the repulse of Major Reynolds having
reached Amherstburg in the course of the night of the
i8th, Colonel Procter, with a promptness and decision '
which it is to be regretted had not marked his subsequent operations, resolved on an instant advance upon
the captured position, before the enemy could have time
to fortify it. Accordingly the whole disposable force of
the garrison was ordered upon this service, and early on
the Igth, leaving a handful of men to occupy the fort,
he crossed the Detroit river opposite Amherstburg, with
' Major Ebenezer Reynolds, the commander of the Essex
Militia, was the son of a Commissary officer to the British troops
at Fort Detroit when it was a British possession. In the
autumn of 1812 he occupied Frenchtown with two companies of
militia, but on the advance of Col. Lewis with a superior force was
obliged to retire. He took part in all the engagements of the
Right Division.
From Sept. 10th, 1833, till the 7th of August, 1837, Major
Reynolds was Sheriff of the Western District.
His brother, Robert Reynolds, Deputy Assistant-Commissary-General, followed the fortunes of the army of the Right
Division, and escaped when that army was defeated at Moraviantown on Oct. 5th, 1813. He was born in Detroit in 1781, and
lived to an advanced age on his farm on the banks of the Detroit
near Amherstburg. His narrative of the events of the war is given
by Coffin in " 1812 ; The War and its Moral," p. 195.

134

THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

a body of 500 troops and militia, 800 Indians under the
Chief Roundhead, (Tecumseh being absent collecting reinforcements) and 3 three-pounders. The different vessels being laid up for the season, parts of their crews
were ordered to serve with the artillery, and the two
companies of the Newfoundland Fencibles attached to
the brigade. No sight could be more beautiful than the
departure of this little army from Amherstburg. It was
the depth of winter ; and the river at the point we crossed
being four miles in breadth, the deep rumbling noise of
the guns prolonging their reverberations like the roar of
distant thunder, as they moved along the ice, mingled
with the wild cries of the Indians, seemed to threaten
some convulsion of nature ; while the appearance of the
troops winding along the road, now lost behind some cliff
of rugged ice, now emerging into view, their polished
arms glittering in the sunbeams, gave an air of romantic
grandeur to the scene.
On the night of the 2 1st, we halted and bivouacked in
the open air, about five miles from the enemy's position,
with no other protection from the cold than our great
coats, and the fires which were kindled at our feet. Two
hours before dawn, and we were again upon the advance
to the River Raisin, and on the 22nd, before daybreak,
came within sight of the enemy, occupying the position
lately held by Major Reynolds. Such was their security
and negligence that they had not thrown out a single
picket, and our line was actually half formed within
musket shot of their defences, before they were aware
even of our presence.
The conduct of Colonel Procter on this occasion has
ever been a matter of astonishment to me, and on no one
principle that I am aware of, can it be satisfactorily
accounted for. The Americans were lying in their beds

undressed and unarmed, and a prompt and forward
movement of the line, either would have enabled us to
have taken them with the bayonet at advantage, or to

GENERAL WINCHESTER TAKEN PRISONER 135

have seized the intermediate close fence, forming a parapet from which they shortly afterwards so severely
annoyed us. Instead of this, he commenced firing his
three-pounders in answer to the alarm of the sentinels
who, at length perceiving us, had rapidly discharged
their muskets—thus affording them time and facility for
arming and occupying the only position from which they
could seriously check our advance. Resting their rifles
on the breastwork by which they were covered, the
Americans fought under every advantage, the dark line
of troops before them serving as a point of direction,
which could not fail to be perceived along the field of
snow by which they were surrounded. Much execution
was done among the artillery and seamen. Placed in
front of the line, and singled out by their marksmen, the
officers and men of those departments were particularly
exposed, and many of the guns were abandoned from
want of hands to work them. The fire of the enemy was
not less galling to the troops, yet although falling at
every step, they continued to advance with the utmost
resolution and gallantry. The action had continued
about an hour, when the American right, being entirely
broken by the Militia and Indians, a movement was made
to occupy the ground they had abandoned, and to take
them in flank. This manoeuvre succeeding, a corps of
Americans, to the number of four hundred, threw themselves into the strong block-houses they had already constructed since their arrival, where they continued to make
an obstinate defence. Meanwhile their right, and part
of the centre, closely followed across the ice by the
Indians, fell almost unresisting victims to the wrath of
their pursuers : and for nearly two miles along the road
by which they passed, the snow was covered with the
blood and bodies of the slain. Among the fugitives was
General Winchester himself, who, falling into the hands
of the Wyandot Chief Roundhead, was conducted, together with his son—a handsome youth of sixteen—to
our rear.

136 THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

Here, being informed of the state of the action, he
immediately wrote an order in pencil to the officer commanding the block-houses desiring him to surrender what
troops were under him as prisoners of war. This being
conveyed to Colonel Procter who was then in advance
with the left wing, which was fast establishing itself on
the flank of the enemy's position, the fire from our line
was discontinued, and an officer despatched with a flag
and the document in question. The result of this was
the surrender of a considerable body of men, who dreading to fall into the hands of the Indians had resolved to
sell their lives at the dearest possible rate, and who could
not, without great difficulty, have been expelled from
their formidable position. In this manner was the whole
of the American force annihilated-15o men only of
those who had been routed early in the day, contriving
to effect their escape into Fort Meigs, the post so recently
established on the banks of the Miami. So complete was
the surprise of the enemy, that General Winchester,
when brought in, had no other covering than the dress
in which he slept.
In this affair which, if properly conducted, would have
been attended by little loss to the assailants, we had 24
rank and file killed and i i officers and 158 rank and file
wounded, exclusive of sergeants whose number is not
recorded. Colonel St. George, particularly distinguished
by his valor and exertions, received five wounds (the
despatch states four) several of them severe—and had a
horse shot under him No officer was killed ; but among
the wounded were Ensign Kerr of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, who was shot through the lungs, and
died a fe w days afterwards, Captain Tallon and Lieut.
Clemow of the 4rst, Lieut. Troughton of the Artillery,
and Lieuts. Rolette and Irvine of the Navy. The conduct of this latter officer, whose gallantry at the capture
of the Caledonia has already been described, was marked
.

GENERAL JAMES WINCHESTER.

LIEUT. IRVINE'S DARING FEAT

1 37

on this occasion by the same coolness and resolution. In
a forward movement made upon the enemy in the heat of
the action, but in which we had been checked by the
desperate fire of their riflemen, one of the three-pounders
had been abandoned not twenty yards from the fence.
The Americans 'eagerly sought to obtain' possession of
this, and leaped the breastwork for the purpose of dragging it immediately under cover of their own fire. Their
object, however, was seen and frustrated by the British
line, which had not retired many yards before it again
halted and renewed the contest, compelling the Americans to retire behind their breastwork. Lieutenant
Irvine saw the peril of the gun, and, under cover of a
heavy fire which was thrown into the enemy at that
moment, he advanced, seized the drag rope, and bore it
off. This daring feat, performed in presence of, and between, the two armies, was not without its penalty. Mr.
Irvine received a wound immediately in the centre of his
heel, the ball entering and saturating his boot, which
was with some difficulty removed, with blood ; and from
the effect of this he suffered for some time. The ball
was never found.
Another individual who deserves honorable mention
here was a young midshipman, a brother' of the writer of
this narrative, and the son of a medical officer who had
long served in the country. This youth, then only
fourteen years of age, had ever been anxious to find himself engaged in an affair with the enemy, but no opportunity having presented itself on the lake, he had resolved
to seize the first favorable occasion on land. Disobeying
the positive order given him to remain behind, he joined
the division during the bivouac of the night preceding
=This was Robert Richardson, the next and favorite brother of
the author, born at Queenston, Sept. 10th, 1798, died June 7th,
1819.
For a description of this battle see the letter of the author,
written to his uncle after the return of the army to Amherstburg.

138

THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

the action, and attaching himself to his department, was
among the number of those singled out by the enemy's
marksmen. While in the act of applying a match to one
of the guns, he was struck by a ball, which shattered his
right leg and felled him to the earth. Doctor Richardson
had been called on, in his medical capacity, to attend the
expedition, and was then with the staff in the rear. The
first care of this gallant and excellent boy was to conceal
his wound from his father ; and he begged those who
bore him from the field to convey him to a position remote from that occupied by the staff, and to request the
surgeon of the 41st to attend him, which was accordingly
done. After having suffered intensely, but with manly
and enduring courage, for six months, he was at length
enabled to remove to Quebec, where, his conduct being
generally known, he was taken into favor by the Commander-in-Chief, who gave him the commission of a lieutenant in one of the provincial corps. Sir John Harvey
and Sir George Murray, then Colonels in the service, and
filling the important offices of Adjutant-General and
Quarter-Master-General to the army in Canada, were
also forward in affording the most flattering testimony of
their esteem ; and this spirited youth had the cheering
consolation to know that, although afflicted with a wound
which eventually cost him his life, the noble ardor developed at so early a stage of his existence was not without
its reward, in the approval of men whose high military
rank and character invested their individual regard with
a ten-fold value.
The following extract from a letter from the first-named
gallant Officer, dated November, 1839, contains so flattering a reminiscence of the devoted boy that it would be
an injustice to his memory to withhold it. " I am
favored with your very interesting communication of the
22nd inst. by which I learn that you are the brother of
two youths, whose gallantry and merits—and with regard

INGRATITUDE OF A PRISONER

139

to one of them, his sufferings—during the late war,
excited my warmest admiration and sympathies ; and
(continues Sir John, under an erroneous impression that
his young protegi had been subsequently married) I will
add, that the desire I felt to serve the father will be found
to extend itself to the son, if your nephew should ever
find himself under circumstances to require from me any
service which it may be within my limited power to
render him."
In the same engagement Mr. William Caldwell' of
Amherstburg, who was attached to the Indians, had a
very narrow escape. Among the number of those of the
enemy who first broke and fled across the ice, was an
officer who, overtaken by an Indian, and in the act of
being tomahawked, was saved by the interposition of this
gentleman. As he was conducting him toward the
principal scene of action, the American officer drew his
knife, at a moment when Mr. Caldwell was off his guard,
and springing upon his deliverer, made an incision along
his throat, nearly from ear to ear. The wound fortunately
was not deep, and Mr. Caldwell, who was an extremely
powerful and active person, with great presence of mind,
'Col. William Caldwell, of Amherstburg, was a native of Ireland,
and immigrated to the southern colonies of America before the
Revolutionary War. When the colonies rebelled he took the
Loyalist side, and was appointed an officer in one of the colonial
regiments, but was transferred to that celebrated corps, Butler's
Rangers, in which he held the rank of Captain. He took part in
all the battles, raids and forays of this corps, and after the war
settled in the township of Malden. On the breaking out of the
War of 1812 he was appointed Quarter-Master-General of the
militia on the western frontier. His influence with the Wyandots
was such as to secure their aid for the British in the war. He and
his four sons took part in all the engagements of the Right Division.
William, Jr., was a Captain in the 1st Essex Militia, and Thomas
and Francis, Lieutenants, in the same regiment. The latter was
wounded seven times during the war. Another son, James,
served through the war.
Francis Caldwell was elected a member of the Legislative
Assembly, for the County of Essex in 1835, and re-elected in 1840.
Edwin Caldwell was Collector of Customs at Amherstburg from
1831 till 1857.

140 THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

caught the arm which had attempted his destruction, and
drawing forth a dagger, with which he was provided,
thrust it repeatedly into the body of his assailant until
death had freed him from all further apprehension—Mr.
Caldwell's wound was soon healed.
The appearance of the American prisoners captured at
Frenchtown was miserable to the last degree. They had
the air of men to whom cleanliness was a virtue unknown,
and their squalid bodies were covered by habiliments that
had evidently undergone every change of season, and
were arrived at the last stage of repair. It has already
been remarked that it was the depth of winter ; but
scarcely an individual was in possession of a great coat or
cloak, and few of them wore garments of wool of any
description. They still retained their summer dress,
consisting of cotton stuff of various colors, shaped into
frocks, and descending to the knee : their trowsers were
of the same material. They were covered with slouched
hats, worn bare by constant use, beneath which their long
hair fell matted and uncombed over their cheeks ; and
these, together with the dirty blankets wrapped around
their loins to protect them against the inclemency of the
season, and fastened by broad leathern belts, into which
were thrust axes and knives of an enormous length, gave
them an air of wildness and savageness, which in Italy
would have caused them to pass for brigands of the
Apennines. The only distinction between the garb of
the officer and that of the soldier was, that the one, in
addition to his sword, carried a short rifle instead of a
long one, while a dagger, often curiously worked and of
some value, supplied the place of the knife This description may be considered as applicable to the various
hordes of irregular troops sent forth throughout the war
from the States of Ohio and Kentucky. The equipment
was ever the same, and differing only inasmuch as their
opportunities of preserving or renewing it were more or
less frequent.

PROCTER'S OFFICIAL REPORT
During the short period the American prisoners
remained in Amherstburg, I had an opportunity of
rendering a slight service to General Winchester, for
which he appeared particularly grateful. This was
replied to, moreover, by a request that I would accept a
very handsomely-mounted pair of pistols which were
with his baggage. The Indians however had forestalled
me in the possession, and I believe the General never
recovered a single article even of wearing apparel.
The following is the British Official Report of the
battle of the River Raisin. Those of General Winchester
and of General Harrison will be found succeeding it.
From Colonel Procter to Major-General Sheaffe,
Sandwich, January 25, 1813.
MY DEAR GENERAL, In my last despatch I acquainted
you, that the enemy was in the Michigan territory, marching upon Detroit. I therefore deemed it requisite that he
should be attacked without delay, and with all and every
description of force within my reach. Early in the morning,
on the igth, I was informed of his being in possession of
Frenchtown, on the River Raisin, 26 miles from Detroit,
after experiencing every resistance that Major Reynolds,
of the Essex militia, had it in his power to make, with a
3-pounder, well served and directed by bombardier Kitson
of the Royal Artillery, and the militiamen, whom he
had well trained to the use of it. The retreat of the gun
was covered by a brave band of Indians, who made the
enemy pay dearly for what he obtained. The Indians
fell back, 18 miles to Brown's Town, the settlement of the
brave Wyandots, where I directed my force to assemble.
On the 21st instant, I advanced 12 miles to Swan Creek,
whence we marched to the enemy, and attacked him at
break of day, on the 22nd instant, and after experiencing,
for our numbers, a considerable loss, about half of the
enemy's force, posted in houses and enclosures, and
which, in dread of falling into the hands of the Indians,
they most obstinately defended, at last surrendered at discretion ; the other part of their force, in attempting to
return whence they came, were, I believe, all, or perhaps
excepting a very few, killed by the Indians. BrigadierGeneral Winchester was taken in the pursuit by the
—

,

142

THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

Wyandot Chief Roundhead. He was cut off from those
who were posted, and whom he afterwards surrendered.
I had much difficulty in bringing the Indians to consent to the sparing of their lives.
You will perceive that I have lost no time ; indeed,there
was none to spare, as they would have been joined by
Mr. Harrison in a few days, and the people of Detroit had
already begun to show themselves. The troops, the
marine, and the militia displayed great bravery ; all
behaved well. Where so much zeal and spirit were displayed by all it would be unjust to attempt to particularize:
I shall only venture to mention some of the wounded.
Lieut.-Col. St. George, who received four wounds in a
gallant attempt to occupy a building favorably situated
for the enemy's annoyance ; Ensign Kerr, of the Royal
Newfoundland Regiment, who, I fear, is very dangerously wounded. The zeal and courage of the Indian
Department were never more conspicuous than on this
occasion. The Indian warriors displayed their usual
courage. I am much indebted to the different departments, the troops having been well and timely supplied
with every requisite the district can afford.
We feel the insufficiency of surgical assistance. If the
Indians had not appeared quite so soon in the enemy's
rear, which deterred them from quitting their fastness,
scarcely a man could have escaped death. I send my
A.D.C., Lieutenant McLean,' with this despatch. He
will be able to answer any question respecting the affair
of Frenchtown that you may be desirous of asking, or
concerning our situation here generally. I have decided
to the best of my judgment respecting the prisoners,
which is to send them by the River Thames, to be passed
=Lieut. A. H. McLean, of the 41st Regiment, who was A.D.C. to
Colonel Procter, was the son of Donald McLean, Clerk of the
Legislative Assembly, who was killed while bravely opposing the
landing of the Americans at York on April 27th, 1813. He was a
zealous and painstaking officer, and was in every engagement in
the west, and also the battle of Moraviantown. After the close of
the war he went to England with his regiment, and thence to
India, where he took part in the severe fighting of the first Burmese
war. When he retired from the army he came to Canada, and
lived on a farm in the town,ellip of Scarborough, a few miles east
of Toronto. Here he still kept a connection with military affairs,
and was appointed Colonel, and was in command during the
troubles of 1837. His narrative of the battle of Moraviantown was
used by Coffin in that writer's description of the event.

PROCTER'S OFFICIAL REPORT

143

over on your frontier. The reasons for not sending them
back the route by which they came are so obvious that I
shall not, except required, obtrude them on you ; indeed,
I see no option or arrangement that could be made but
the one directed.
I, fortunately, have not been deprived of the services
of Lieutenant Troughton of the Royal Artillery, and
acting in the Quarter-Master-General's Department, although he was wounded. I am indebted much to his
zeal and unwearied exertions. I could wish his continuance in the Quarter-Master-General's Department. Were
it not unjust to particularize any corps, where all did
their utmost, I would mention the zeal and courage of
the Royal Artillery. Each officer is deserving of being
named, could I do it within the compass of a despatch.
I enclose a list of the killed and wounded. I lament
there having been so many of both ; but of the latter a large
proportion will return to duty, and most of them before
long. Before this reduction of my force, I had too few
for the defence of this frontier. May I not hope that you
will send me a company of the 41st Regiment ? You are
aware of the insufficiency of my means. I also send a
return of the arms, ammunition, etc., taken on the 22nd
inst., likewise of the prisoners, who you will perceive to
be equal to my utmost force, exclusive of the Indians,
who, though a powerful aid, are an uncertain one,being
dependent on success, and which would have strongly
appeared had I failed on the 22nd instant, nor could I
have been sure of the militia in the event of any disaster.
I have not heard it officially, but I believe that a party of
the enemy, one hundred, bringing 500 hogs for General
Winchester's force, has been completely cut off. I shall
defer until the next opportunity, which shall be in a few
days, saying anything more, having already detained
Lieut. McLean too long, of whose courage and exertions
displayed on the 22nd inst. I would speak, did I think it
just to attempt particularizing anyone, especially when I
may be supposed partial.
I remain, my dear General, faithfully yours,
Henry Procter, Colonel Commanding.
Major-General Sheaffe,
Fort George.

144

THE BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN

To Major-General Sheaffe, &c., &c., &c.
Fort George.
Return of prisoners taken after the action at Riviere au
Raisin, on the 22nd day of January, 1813.
Brigadier-general ; 1 colonel ; f major ; 9 captains ;
6 lieutenants ; fo ensigns ; f brigade-major ; I adjutant ; f quartermaster ; 2 surgeons ; 27 sergeants ; 435
rank and file.—total, 495.
N.B.—The Indians have brought in and delivered up
several prisoners since the above return was taken ; they
continue to do so this morning, so that this return is not
perfectly correct, nor can a correct one be procured until
they arrive at Sandwich.
Felix Troughton, R.A.
Act. Dep. Assist. Quarter-Master-Gen.
Return of the killed and wounded in the action at
Riviere au Raisin, 22nd January, f 813.
Royal Artillery ;—f sergeant, 1 gunner, killed ;
lieutenant, f corporal, I bombardier, 5 gunners,wounded.
loth Royal Veteran Battalion ; -2 privates wounded.
41st Foot ;-15 privates, killed ; 1 captain, f lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 1 corporal, 91 privates, wounded,
private killed ; r
Royal Newfoundland Regiment
ensign, 1 sergeant, 3 corporals, 13 privates, wounded.
Marine Department ;—f seaman, killed ; 2 lieutenants,
f midshipman, f gunner, 12 seamen wounded.
1st Essex Militia ;-2 privates, killed ; f captain, 2
lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 7 privates, wounded.
2nd Essex Militia ;-3 privates, killed ; f ensign, 3
privates, wounded.
Staff ;—f lieutenant-colonel, woutided.
Total ;---t sergeant, f gunner, 21 privates, I seaman,
killed ; i lieutenant-colonel, 2 captains, 6 lieutenants, 2
ensigns, f midshipman, 6 sergeants, 5 corporals, f bombardier, 6 gunners, 116 privates, 12 seamen, wounded.
General total :-24 killed ; 158 wounded.
Names of the Officers wounded.
Royal Artillery ;—Lieutenant Troughton.
41st foot ;—Captain Tallon and Lieutenant Clemow.
Royal Newfoundland Regiment ;—Ensign Kerr (since
dead).
Marine Department ;—Lieutenants Rolette and Irvine,
and Midshipman Richardson.

GENERAL WINCHESTER'S OFFICIAL REPORT 145

1st Essex Militia ;—Captain Mills, and Lieutenants
McCormick and Gordon.
2nd ditto ;—Ensign Claude Garvin.
Staff ;—Lieut.-Colonel Thomas B. St. George, I.F.O.
Militia.
Felix Troughton, Lt. R. A.
Act. Dep. Assist. Quarter-Master-Gen.
From Brigadier-General Winchester to the American
Secretary of War.
Malden, January 23rd, 1813.
SIR , — A detachment from the left wing of the NorthWestern Army under my command at Frenchtown, on
the river Raisin, was attacked on the 22nd instant by a
force greatly superior in number, aided by several pieces
of artillery. The action commenced at the dawn of day ;
the picquet guards were driven in, and a heavy fire
opened on the whole line, by which a part thereof was
thrown into disorder ; and being ordered to retire a small
distance in order to form on more advantageous ground,
I found the enemy doubling our flank with force and
rapidity.
A destructive fire was sustained for some time ; at
length borne down by numbers, the few of us that remained with the party that retired from the lines,
submitted. The remainder of our force, in number about
400, continued to defend themselves with great gallantry,
in an unequal contest against small arms and artillery,
until I was brought in as a prisoner to that part of the
field occupied by the enemy.
At this latter place, I understood that our troops were
defending themselves in a state of desperation ; and was
informed by the commanding officer of the enemy, that
he would afford them an opportunity of surrendering
themselves prisoners of war ; to which I acceded. I was
the more ready to make the surrender from being assured,
that unless done quickly, the buildings adjacent would
be immediately set on fire, and that no responsibility
would be taken for the conduct of the savages, who were
then assembled in great numbers.
In this critical situation, being desirous to preserve the
lives of a number of our brave fellows who still held out,
I sent a flag to them, and agreed with the commanding
officer of the enemy, that they should be surrendered

VIII

Brit ' C. .3 11;1
::PN,7112412
;

THE BATTI,E Or THE MIAMI

Far from being discouraged by the discomfiture of their
armies under Generals Hull and Winchester, the Americans despatched a third and more formidable, under one
of their most experienced commanders, General Harrison,
who reaching Fort Meigs shortly subsequent to the affair
at Frenchtown, directed his attention to the construction
of works which rendered his position in some measure
impregnable. Determined if possible to thwart the views of
the enemy, and give a finishing stroke to his movements
in that quarter, General Procter (lately promoted) ordered
an expedition to be in readiness to move for the Miami.
Accordingly, towards the close of April, a detachment of
the 41st, some militia, and 1,500 Indians, accompanied by
a train of battering artillery, and attended by two gunboats, proceeded up that river, and established themselves on the left bank, at the distance of a mile from the
site selected for our batteries. The season was unusually
wet, yet, in defiance of every obstacle, they were erected
the same night in front of the American fortress, and the
guns transported along a road in which the axle-trees of
the carriages were frequently buried in mud. Among
other battering pieces, were two 24-pounders—splendid
guns which we had captured at Detroit—in the transportation of which 200 men with several oxen, were employed from nine o'clock at night until daybreak in the
morning. At length every preparation having been
made, a shot from one of the gun-boats, was the signal for
their opening, and early on the morning of the 1st of
May, a heavy fire was commenced, and continued for four
days without intermission, during which period every one
148

//hY/Iltf
l illiiiIll

III'

-..'

F

BL'ilt91.17749 i
i 1 ft

/I11
/I/,
/1ii
-r N,
i I 4 ...,. ■1/14)

,.1

i I /
i

I

i 1 1
2

v

--,

/
\ \,

i
i

li
I

- 7„e s, 1 1„,e
N c'
0 4 i el \V
i

en 0"
o
,, 0,-rs42*
,,, 0\
.5.'
'4'
11`
.6'
1 Z.)I
/°
\,s4
4`` is

Defeat ana

coprare of i i 1\5°

Americo la niS

)

::, -=-•• p

A-A.
,
Av

111

1 li '''
11 11\
ok,
?..,
'
;

r-

• c..d

i,9 :.?..6 s' ili 4' ((
6

€

Fort

/

d

q

5.,

1I
I Lk

,.!

e,
, si 411, k:rzt
e, - 1)

1,.:,-.), o,

/,
PT (
1..!4.(‘-- )if
-C
, ; ,i
/ ' , .J17
I ,;,/,,k--'
A )/
fir
,
1
/
t:''
11
i i

Bt:ze

5 §); 0

1

,

a,:Block house
rirMagazine
c: Battery
----Traverse
r =:B r it 1 s li
in:Indian 3
airA mericans
PLAN OF

OPERATIONS
ON THE

MIAMI
MAY

1-5,181U

BRITISH BATTERIES CAPTURED

lir

149

of the enemy's batteries, within our range, was silenced
and dismantled. The fire of the 24-pounder battery was
principally directed against the powder magazine, which
the besieged were busily occupied in covering and protecting from our hot shot. It was impossible to have
artillery better served ; every ball that was fired sank into
the roof of the magazine, scattering the earth to a considerable distance, and burying many of the workmen in its
bed, from whence we could distinctly perceive the survivors dragging forth the bodies of their slaughtered
comrades. The officers, whom duty or curiosity drew to
the ground—often pointed the guns—a favor on the part
of the artillerymen, which was generally repaid by a glass
of rum or whiskey, both which liquors were extremely
scarce with us and were prized accordingly. Meanwhile
the flank companies of the 41st, with a few Indians, had
been detached to the opposite shore, within a few hundred yards of the enemy's works, and had constructed a
battery, from which a galling cross-fire was maintained.
Dismayed at the success of our operations, General Harrison, already apprized before our arrival of the approach
of a reinforcement of 1,500 men, then descending the
Miami under General Clay, contrived to despatch a
courier on the evening of the 4th, with an order for that
officer to land immediately, and possess himself of our
batteries on the left bank, while he (General Harrison)
sallied forth to carry those on the right. Accordingly, at
eight o'clock on the morning of the 5th, General Clay
pushed forward the whole of his force, and meeting with
no opposition at the batteries, which were entirely unsupported, proceeded to spike the guns in conformity
with his instructions ; but elated with his success, and
disobeying the positive order of his chief, which was to
retire the instant his object was effected, he continued to
occupy the position. In the meantime the flying artillerymen had given the alarm, and three companies of the

150 THE BATTLE OP THE MIAMI

41st, several of militia, and a body of Indians, the latter
under Tecumseh, were ordered to move on the instant,
and repossess themselves of the works. The rain, which
had commenced early in the morning, continued to fall
with violence, and the road, as has already been described,
was knee-deep with mud, yet the men advanced to the
assault with the utmost alacrity and determination. The
main body of our small detachment, under Major Muir, advanced against the American left and centre which had de-

ployed into the woods, while Major Chambers, an officer
whose gallantry in the field was ever remarkable, boldly
attacked their right then occupying the principal battery.
On approaching the position he threw away his sword,
and seizing the accoutrements and musket of a soldier of
his own company who had been shot dead a moment before, called out in a voice and manner which was characteristic of the man, and which rather denoted indignation
that the enemy should have had the presumption to carry
the position than anything else, " Who'll follow me and
retake that battery?" I was immediately behind him at
the time, and as enthusiastically replied (excited no doubt
by the example before me) that I would. Lieutenant
Bullock, who had been wounded over the left eye
a day or two before, on the opposite side of the river,
yet who, when apprized of the capture of the batteries,
had left his tent for the purpose of aiding in their recovery, together with Lieutenant Clements (of the 41st also)
were a few paces in the rear, and these officers, followed
by not more than a dozen men who happened to be near at
the time, pressed eagerly forward in compliance with the
invitation of our dashing leader. It is a matter of perfect
surprise to me, even at this hour, that our little force,
which I have rather overrated, had not been annihilated to
a man ; for the Americans were in strength, and of
course perfectly under shelter, and the easy conquest we
obtained (for they fled as we drew near to the battery)
can only be attributed to the fact that their centre and

CLAY'S DIVISION DEFEATED

151

left were being sorely pressed by the detachment under
Major Muir, and the Indians under Tecumseh. In an
account of this action, recently published by Captain Le
Breton, residing near Bytown,= and then a Lieut. in the
Newfoundland Regiment, that officer states himself to
have been one of those who entered the battery with
Major Chambers. Of course this is the fact, although
my recollection does not embrace any other officers than
those I have named, as being present on the occasion.

Driven from the batteries, the enemy in vain sought
for safety in the woods. The murderous fire of the
Indians, which had already dispersed their main body,
drove them back upon their pursuers, until in the end
there was no possibility of escape, and their army was
wholly destroyed. A vast number were killed, and inde-

pendently of the prisoners taken by the Indians, 45o,
with their second in command, fell into our hands. A
somewhat curious and characteristic anecdote may be
related of a soldier (an Irishman) of the 41st, who being
in a position in the woods, isolated from ILis own party,
contrived to disarm and make prisoners of three Americans who were opposed to him On joining his company
towards the close of the affair, preceded by his prizes,
and sweating beneath the weight of arms, he declared
with great naivete and indifference that he had with great
difficulty surrounded, and made them his prisoners.
Of the whole of the division under General Clay,not more
than 150 men effected their escape, and among the fugitives was that officer himself. The sortie made, by order
of General Harrison, on the right bank of the river had
zBytown was the name by which the present city of Ottawa was
known before it was selected as the permanent seat of the govern-

ment of Canada. Bytown took its name from Lieut.-Col. By of
the Royal Engineers, who constructed the Rideau canal from the
present site of the city of Ottawa to Kingston. This canal was
projected for the purpose of providing a safer route for the for' warding of troops and supplies to the Upper Lakes, than that
offered by the St. Lawrence, in the event of another war with the
United States.

MASSACRE OF PRISONERS

152 THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

a different result. The detachment supporting the battery already described were driven from their position
and two officers (Lieutenants McIntyre and Hailes), and
thirty men were made prisoners. Meanwhile, it having
been discovered that the guns on the left bank, owing to
some error on the part of the enemy, had been spiked
' with the ramrods of their muskets, instead of the usual
instruments, they were speedily rendered serviceable, and
the fire from the batteries was renewed. At this moment
a white flag was observed waving on the ramparts of the
fort, and the courage and perseverance of the troops appeared at length as if about to be crowned by the surrender of a fortress, the siege of which had cost them so much
trouble and privation. Such, however, was far from being the intention of General Harrison. Availing himself of the cessation of hostilities which necessarily ensued, he caused the officers and men just captured to be
sent across the river for the purpose of being exchanged;'
but this was only a feint for the accomplishment of a
=An agreement for the exchange of prisoners, made between
Brig.-Genl. Procter, Commanding His Britannic Majesty's Forces
in the Miamis, and Maj.-Gent. Harrison, Commanding the North
Western Army of the United States.
The prisoners of the Kentucky Militia, now in possession of
General Procter, to be sent to the River Huron , upon the condition
of not serving against Great Britain or her all
ies during the war
between that power and the United States. Captain Price, of the
First Regiment, United States Light Artillery, and twenty regulars
of the United States Army, now in possession of General Procter,
will be considered as exchanged, and permitted to serve after the
termination of one month.
Lieuts. McIntyre and Hailes, of the 41st Regiment, and thirtynine privates, are also to be exchanged, but are not to serve,
except in garrison duty, until the expiration of one month.
A return of prisoners, released on each side, to be furnished to
the respective commissaries of each nation, and the surplusage to
be accounted for in a future settlement of the account of prisoners,
agreeably to the tariff of exchange, heretofore established.
Headquarters Camp, Miamis, 9th May, 1813.
HENRY PROCTER,

Col., Commanding His Britannic
Majesty's Forces on the Miamis.
WM. HY. HARRISON, Maj.-Genl., Commanding
the North Western Army of the United States.

153

more important object. Drawing up his whole force,
both of cavalry and infantry, on the plain beneath the
fortress, he caused such of the boats of General Clay's
division as were laden with ammunition, of which the
garrison stood much in need, to be dropped under the
works, and the stores to be immediately disembarked.
All this took place during the period occupied in the exchange of prisoners. The remaining boats, containing
the baggage and private stores of the division, fell into
the hands of the Indians, still engaged in the pursuit of
the fugitives, and the plunder they acquired was immense.
General Harrison having secured his stores, and received
the officers and men exchanged for his captives, withdrew into the garrison, and the bombardment was re-commenced.
The victory obtained at the Miami' was such as to reflect credit on every branch of the service ; but the satisfaction arising from the conviction was deeply embittered
by an act of cruelty, which, as the writer of an impartial
memoir, it becomes my painful duty to record. In the
heat of the action a strong corps of the enemy, who had
thrown down their arms, and surrendered themselves
prisoners of war, were immediately despatched, under
an escort of fifty men, for the purpose of being embarked
in the gun-boats, where it was presumed they would be
safe from the attacks of the Indians. This measure,
however, although dictated by the purest humanity, and
apparently offering the most probable means of security,
proved one of fatal import to several of the prisoners.
On gaining our encampment, then entirely deserted by
the troops, they were assailed by a few cowardly and
treacherous Indians, who had borne no share in the action,
yet who now, guided by the savage instinct of their nature,
forced the British guard, and, selecting their victims,
commenced the work of blood. In vain did the harassed
'For this victory the 41st Regiment bears on its colors the word,
Miami.

154 THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

and indignant escort attempt to save them from the fury
of their destroyers ; the frenzy of these wretches knew
no bounds, and an old and excellent soldier of the name
of Russell, of the 41st, was shot through the heart while
endeavoring to wrest a victim from the grasp of his assailant. Forty of these unhappy men had already fallen
beneath the steel of the infuriated party, when Tecumseh, apprized of what was doing, rode up at full speed,
and raising his tomahawk, threatened to destroy the first
man who resisted his injunction to desist. Even on those
lawless people, to whom the language of coercion had
hitherto been unknown, the threats and tone of the exasperated chieftain produced an instantaneous effect, and
they retired at once humiliated and confounded. Never
did Tecumseh shine more truly himself than on this occasion ; and nought of the savage could be distinguished
save the color and the garb. Ever merciful and magnani mous as he was ardent and courageous, the voice of the
supplicant seldom reached him in vain ; and although
war was his idol, the element in which he lived, his heart
was formed to glow with all the nobler and more generous impulses of the warrior ; nor was his high character
less esteemed by ourselves than reverenced by the various tribes over which, in his quality of brother to the
Prophet, he invariably presided. In any other country,
and governing any other men, Tecumseh would have
been a hero ; at the head of this uncivilized and untractable people he was a savage ; but a savage such as civilization herself might not blush to acknowl&Ige for her child.
Constantly opposed to the encroachments of the Americans
for a series of years previous to their rupture with England, he had combatted their armies on the banks of the
Wabash with success, and given their leaders proofs of
a skill and judgment in defence of his native soil, which
would not have disgraced the earlier stages of military
science in Europe. General Harrison himself, a commander with whom he had often disputed the palm of

JAMES CORRECTED

155

victory, with the generous candor of the soldier, subsequently ascribed to him virtues as a man, and abilities as
a warrior, commanding at once the attention and admiration of his enemies.
The survivors of this melancholy catastrophe were immediately conveyed on board the gun-boats moored in the
river ; and every precaution having been taken to prevent a
renewal of the scene, the escorting party proceeded to the
interment of the victims, to whom the rites of sepulture
were afforded even before those of our own men who had
fallen in the action. Colonel Dudley, second in command
of General Clay's division, was among the number of the
slain.
In alluding to the painful occurrence above detailed
James states that " Tecumseh buried his tomahawk in
the head of a Chippeway Chief whom he found actively
engaged in massacring some of Colonel Dudley's men."
He furthermore shows, that Colonel Dudley fell in an
ambuscade prepared by a body of Indians, stationed in
the woods. Neither of these statements is correct—
Colonel Dudley was taken prisoner and subsequently
massacred in the manner just detailed, while Tecumseh
was spared the necessity of inflicting the punishment attributed to him by an instant compliance with his will,
on the part of the insubordinate and guilty, but excited
Indians.
In bright relief to this piece of treachery and atrocity
on the part of the Chippeways, (well known to be the
most degenerate of the Indian race) let me hasten to
record the noble conduct of a warrior of a very different
tribe.
Metoss, the head chief of the Sacs, was a tall, handsome
man about six feet in height, and with features (as is
peculiar indeed with the whole of this nation) essentially
classic and Roman. When dressed, or rather undressed
for battle, his body and limbs fantastically painted, and
his head ornamented with a handsome circlet of feathers,

156

NOBLE ACT OF METOSS

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

his tall and commanding figure presented the very beau
ideal of an Indian warrior. He was a resolute man, and
although by no means gifted with the eloquence or intellect of Tecumseh, was a sagacious and active leader—firm
in his attachment to British interests, and a most determined foe of the Americans, for whom he had conceived
a hatred almost as powerful as that which actuated the
noble being who has just been named The injuries inflicted upon his red brethren rankled at his heart, and
appeared to be ever present to his recollection. Still he
could forgive an individual wrong, even when perpetrated
by those whom he had so much reason to abhor—in proof
of which, and to redeem the grossly maligned Indian
character, the following touching circumstances may be
related.
During the early part of the siege, Metoss with his
warriors frequently passed over from the left to the right
bank of the river, (where the 41st flank companies were
stationed, in support of the small battery which had been
constructed there) with a view of picking off such of the
enemy as showed themselves above or without the ramparts of the fort. In these excursions the Sacs were
generally successful, and the enemy seldom went to the
river for water, for themselves or horses, without a shot
from a lurking Indian. Metoss himself killed several in
this way. One he contrived to make his prisoner, whom
he kept in his wigwam, well secured. On the day following this capture, a favorite son of the chief—a fine lad
of about thirteen—insisted on accompanying his father,
notwithstanding all entreaty to the contrary. By this
time the enemy had become so annoyed by the temerity
of the Indians who, under cover of the night, used to
creep close under the fort, that upon the appearance of
any of them on the skirt of the surrounding forest, a
shower of grape was instantly poured forth. Unhappily,
on this occasion, the American telescopes discovered Metoss and his son in ambuscade, when a discharge of grape.

Nor

157

followed, and the poor boy was struck dead, dreadfully
mangled in his bowels. Almost frantic with grief, the
chief raised up the dead body, conveyed it to his canoe,
and recrossing the river, hastened to his wigwam, with
the stern determination of sacrificing his prisoner to the
manes of the deceased. Fortunately Mr. Robert Dickson,
who had brought the Sacs with him from the Mississippi,
and whose influence over the Indians has already been
shown to have been great, heard of the circumstance in
time to intercept Metoss on his way to his wigwam, and
to entreat that he would not destroy his prisoner, assuring
him, at the same time, that if he did so, instead of surrendering him to himself as he proposed he should, His
Great Father, the King, would hear of his refusal with
unfeigned sorrow. Metoss, who had torn off the gay
head-dress with which he ever went into battle, at length
yielded, and going to his wigwam, whither his son's body
had already been conveyed, he went up to the American,
and severing with his knife the thongs by which he was
fastened, took him by the hand, and led him to Mr.
Dickson, saying in a mournful voice, " You tell me that
my Great Father wishes it—take him," and this noblehearted Indian, no longer able to suppress the feelings of
his bereaved heart, wept like a child. The gaudy colors
with which he was painted were soon replaced with black,
and many months passed away before he was again seen
to smile.
The body of the young Indian was buried the next
day, and, out of respect to the father, with all military
honors. The funeral party, which was commanded by
Lieut. Bullock, proceeded to the wigwam of Metoss, where
the body of the young Chief was laid out—his little rifle,
with some powder and ball, and a supply of provisions,
according to Indian usage, being placed at his side.
About a dozen of the Sac tribe, all painted black, were
dancing what seemed to be a solemn war-dance around
the body, when suddenly Metoss rushed frantically into

158 THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

the midst of the group, and exhibited every painful evidence of the most violent and ungovernable grief. With
difficulty he was removed from the body of his child,
when the corpse was taken up, and the party proceeded
towards the grave which had been dug in the midst of
our encampment, on the left bank of the Miami. The
black-painted Indians slowly followed, and after the
British party had fired the customary three rounds, they
discharged their rifles several times as fast as they could
load. The fierce wild air of the warriors, whose countenances evinced the strong desire they entertained of avenging the untimely death of the fallen youth, the originality of their costume, markedly contrasting as it did
with that of the officers and soldiers present at the ceremony, and the sombre silence which prevailed, heightened
in effect by the deep gloom of the forest in which they
were assembled, composed a wild and romantic picture,
in which melancholy grandeur shone principally conspicuous.
When the expedition subsequently returned to Amherstburg, Metoss, who had embarked in General Procter's boat, was frequently observed to be in tears. He
later conceived a strong attachment for Lieut. Bullock,
principally by reason of that officer having commanded
the funeral party of his son. He made him a chief of his
tribe, and requested, as a great favor, that he would
assent to an exchange of names. This was of course
cheerfully complied with, for it was impossible not to
esteem and like the untutored warrior who had so nobly,
and in so affecting a manner, departed from the fierce
Indian law which, not only authorizes, but enjoins the
sacrifice of life for life.
On the evening of the second day after this event, I
accompanied Major Muir of the 41st, in a ramble
throughout the encampment of the Indians, distant a few
hundred yards from our own. The spectacle there offered
to our view was at once of the most ludicrous and re,

THE BOMBARDMENT INEFFECTUAL

159

volting nature. In various directions were lying the
trunks and boxes taken in the boats of Gen. Clay's division, and the plunderers were busily occupied in displaying their riches, carefully examining each article, and
attempting to divine its use. Several were decked out in
the uniforms of the officers ; and although embarrassed
to the last degree in their movements, and dragging with
difficulty the heavy military boots with which their legs
were for the first time covered, strutted forth much to the
admiration of their less fortunate comrades. Some were
habited in plain clothes ; others had their bodies clad in
clean white shirts, contrasting in no ordinary manner
with the swarthiness of their skins ; all wore some article
of decoration, and their tents were ornamented with saddles, bridles, rifles, daggers, swords, and pistols, many
of which were handsomely mounted and of curious workmanship. • Such was the ridiculous part of the picture ;
but mingled with these, and in various directions, were
to be seen the scalps of the slain drying in the sun, stained
on the fleshy side with vermilion dyes, and dangling in the
air, as they hung suspended from the poles to which they
were attached ; together with hoops of various sizes, on
which were stretched portions of human skin taken from
various parts of the body, principally the hand and foot,
and yet covered with the nails of those parts ; while, scattered along the ground, were visible the members from
which they had been separated, and serving as nutriment
to the wolf-dogs by which the Indians were accompanied.
Since the action of the 5th the enemy continued to keep
themselves shut up within their works, and the bombardment, although followed up with vigor, had effected no
practicable breach. From the report made by the officers
captured during the sortie from the fort, it appeared that,
with a toil and perseverance peculiar to themselves, the
Americans had constructed subterranean passages to protect them from the annoyance of our shells, which sinking into beds of clay, softened by the incessant rains that

160

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

had fallen, instead of exploding, were immediately extinguished. Impatient of longer privation, and anxious to
return to their families and occupations, the militia=
gradually withdrew themselves in small bodies, while the
Indians, enriched by plunder, and languishing under the
tediousness of a mode of warfare so different from their
own, with less ceremony and caution, left us to prosecute
the siege alone. Tecumseh at the head of his own tribe
(the Shawnees) and a few others, in all not exceeding four
hundred warriors, continued to remain. The troops also
were worn down by constant fatigue, for here, as in every
other expedition undertaken against the enemy, few even
of the officers had tents to shield them from the weather.
A few slips of bark torn from the surrounding trees, and
covering the skeleton of a hut, was their only habitation, and they were merely separated from the damp
earth by a few scattered leaves, over which was generally
=The following is the statement of the Militia Captains to Lieut.Col. Warburton, Inspecting Field Officer of Militia :Camp Miamis, 6th May, 1813.
Sir, --We, the undersigned officers of the first and second
Regiments of Essex and Kent Militia, beg leave to state to you, as
head of the Militia, our opinion on the present circumstances of
the Militia-men, and of the District in general.
From the situation of our district last fall but very short crops
of grain were put in the ground, and these, small as they were,
will be rendered still less by the unfavorableness of last winter.
Under these unfavorable appearances the farmer had only the
resource left of putting in crops of spring wheat, and should they
be kept here any longer, that of corn will also be out of their
power, and the consequence must be a famine next winter.
Indeed, the men are now detained with the greatest reluctance,
some 'have already gone, and we are apprehensive that it will not
be in our power to detain them much longer.
We have the honor to be
Your obedient humble servants,
Wm. Shaw, Captain, Kent Militia.
Wm. Caldwell, Captain, 1st Regt., Essex.
Geo. Jacob, Captain, Kent Militia.
Wm. Buchanan, Captain, 1st Essex Militia.
John Dolson, Captain, Kent Riflemen.
Wm. Elliott, Captain, Essex Militia.
Wm. Sterling, Captain, Kent Militia.
Jas. Akin, Captain, 2nd Essex Militia.

THE SIEGE RAISED

161

spread a great coat or blanket by the men, and a cloak by
the officers. Hence frequently arose dysentery, ague,
and the various other ills to which an army, encamped in
a wet and unhealthy position is invariably subject ; and
fortunate was he who possessed the :skin of the bear or
the buffalo, whereon to repose his weary limbs, after
many consecutive hours of toil and privation which those
only, who have acquired practical experience in the wild
warfare peculiar to the country at that period, can fully
understand.
Such was the position of the contending armies towards
the middle of May, when General Procter (very naturally) despairing to effect the reduction of Fort Meigs,
caused preparations to be made for raising the siege.
Accordingly the gun-boats ascended the river, and
anchored as near to the batteries as the lowness of the
water would permit. Here the battering ordnance was
embarked under a feeble fire from the enemy, and the
whole having been secured, the expedition returned to
Amherstburg, the Americans remaining tranquil spectators of our departure, nor offering further molestation.
It is a circumstance perhaps not unworthy of remark
here that in 1840, after a lapse of twenty-seven years
(during three and twenty of which I had been absent
from the country), I alone of the force engaged at the
siege of Fort Meigs, should have met with General
Harrison on the very spot which he so vigorously defended against us in 1813 ; and, yet more remarkable,
that the occasion of such meeting should have been the
commemoration of the events of that important period.
It was during the great delegation, or convention, which
preceded the gallant old General's elevation to the Presidential chair, and when introduced to him by the Governor of Michigan, as one who had borne arms against
him during that siege, and had later become his prisoner,
I was received in that spirit of true and generous courtesy
which is ever characteristic of the soldier. It is but an

A..

162

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

act of justice to the memory of General Harrison to
record here that, although the great object of the meeting—at which were present from fifty to sixty thousand
persons—deputed from almost every state in the Union
—was to honor him by celebrating his asserted triumph
over the British arms, there was, in his address to the
hushed multitude, when referring to his past services,
less of allusion to those of the War of 1812, than to those
of the revolution.
The following is General Procter's official account of
the action.

Upper Canada, Sandwich, May 14th, 1813.
SIR, —The usual communication being interrupted by
the capital of the Province being in the possession of the
enemy, I have judged it expedient to make a direct report
to your Excellency of our operations and present state in
this district.
In the expectation of being able to reach the enemy,
who had taken post near the foot of the Rapids of the
Miami, before the reinforcement and supplies could
arrive, for which only he waited to commence active
operations against us, I determined to attack him without delay, and with every means in my power ; but from
the necessary preparations and some untoward circumstances, it was not in my power to reach him within three
weeks of the period I had proposed, and at which he
might have been captured or destroyed.
From the incessant and heavy rains we experienced,
and during which our batteries were constructed, it was
not until the morning of the ist inst., the fifth day after
our arrival at the mouth of the river, twelve miles from
the enemy, that our batteries could be opened. Illness
from successive fatigue deprived me of the services early
of the only Artillery officer, on an occasion when three
would have found ample employment.
The enemy who occupied several acres of commanding
ground, strongly defended by block-houses, and batteries
well furnished with ordnance, had, during our approach,
so completely entrenched and covered himself, as to render unavailing every effort of our artillery, though well
served, and in batteries most judiciously placed and constructed under the able direction of Captain Dixon, of

GENERAL PROCTER'S OFFICIAL ACCOUNT

163

the Royal Engineers, of whose ability and unwearied
zeal, shown particularly on this occasion, I cannot speak
highly.
our attack had not answered fully the purpose
guhglhy
ed , I have the satisfaction to inform your Exceldi
en
of the fortunate result of an attack of the enemy,
c yhilo
litenoito/T
aided by a sally of most of their garrison, made on the
morning of the 5th inst., by a reinforcement which descended the river a considerable distance in a very short
time ; consisting of two corps of Kentucky Militia, Dudley's and Boswell's, amounting to 1,300 men, under the
command of Brigadier-General Green Clay. The attack
was very sudden, and on both sides of the river. The
enemy were for a few minutes in possession of our batteries, and took some prisoners. After a severe contest,
though not of long continuance, the enemy gave way, and
excepting the body of those who sallied from the fort,
must have been mostly killed or taken.
In this decisive affair, the officers and men of the 41st
Regt., who charged and routed the enemy near the batteries, well maintained the long-established reputation of
the corps. Where all deserve praise it is difficult to distinguish. Captain Muir, an old officer, who has seen
much service, had the good fortune to be in the immediate command of these branches. Besides my obligations
to Captain Chambers, for his unwearied exertions preparatory to, and on the expedition, as Deputy-AssistantQuarter-Master-General, I have to notice his gallant conduct in the attack of the enemy near the batteries at
the point of the bayonet ; a service in which he was well
supported by Lieut. Bullock of the 41st Regt. and Lieut.
Le Breton of the Royal Newfoundland Regt. The courage
and activity displayed through the whole scene of action
by the Indian chiefs and warriors contributed largely to
our success. I have not been able to ascertain the
amount of the prisoners in possession of the Indians. I
have sent off agreeable to the agreement, near 50o prisoners
to the river Huron, near Sandusky.
I have proposed an exchange, which is referred to the
American Government.
I could not ascertain the amount of the enemy's loss
in
from
thextent of the scene of action, and
me
mostly
in
the
woods.
I conceive his loss to have been
bet
ween 1 , 000 and 1, 20o men in killed and prisoners.
These unfortunate people were not volunteers and com-

164

GENERAL PROCTER'S OFFICIAL ACCOUNT

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

plete Kentucky's quota. If the enemy had been permitted to receive his reinforcements and supplies undisturbed,
I should have had at this critical juncture to contend
with him for Detroit, or perhaps on this shore.
I had not the option of retaining my situation on the
Miami if it had appeared to me a judicious measure. The
mode in which the militia turned out raised hopes and
expectations that were very far from being realized in the
sequel. The day after the enclosed letter was received
half of the militia had left us and the remainder declared
their determination not to remain longer. I also received
a deputation from the Indian chiefs, counselling me to
return, as they could not prevent their people, as was
their custom after any battle of consequence, returning to
their villages With their wounded, their prisoners, and
plunder, of which they had taken a considerable quantity
in the boats of the enemy.
Before the ordnance could be withdrawn from the batteries, I was left with Tecumseh, and less than twenty
chiefs and warriors, (?) a circumstance which strongly
proves that, under present circumstances at least, our
Indian force is not a disposable one, or permanent, though
occasionally a most powerful aid. I have, however,
brought off all the ordnance ; and, indeed, have not left
anything behind ; part of the ordnance was embarked
under the fire of the enemy.
The service on which we have been employed has been,
though short, a very severe one ; and too much praise
cannot be given to the officers and men, for the cheerfulness with which, on every occasion, they met the service.
To Lieut.-Colonel Warburton I feel many obligations for
the aid he zealously afforded me on every occasion. From
my Brigade-Major, Lieut. McLean, I received the same
zealous assistance as on former occasions. To Captain
Mockler, Royal Newfoundland Regt., who acted as my
Aide-de-Camp, I am much indebted for the assistance
afforded me.
Lieut. Le Breton, of the Royal Newfoundland Regt.,
assistant engineer, by his unwearied exertions, rendered
essential service, as did also Lieut. Gardiner, of the 41st
Regt., from his science in artillery. The Royal Artillery,
in the laborious duties they performed, displayed their
usual unwearied zeal, and were well assisted by the Royal
Newfoundland, (under Lieut. Garden) as additional gun-

165

ners. The laborious duties which the marine, under the
command of Commodore Hall, have performed, have
been most cheerfully met, and the most essential service
rendered.
I have the honor to send an embarkation return of the
force that served under my command at the Miami, exclusive of the Indians, who may be stated at 1,20o.
I also enclose a return of our killed, wounded, and
prisoners, who have, however, been exchanged.
I had taken upon me to give the rank of major to the
six captains of the line, as militia were employed on the
same service with them ; some of them are old officers ;
all of them deserving ; any mark of your Excellency's
approbation of them would be extremely grateful to me.
I beg leave to mention the four volunteers of the 41st
Regt., Wilkinson, Richardson, Laing, and Procter, as deserving of promotion.
Your Excellency will perceive that the reinforcement
you intended I should have long since received has not
been sent ; nor do I expect to receive any whilst any circumstance may seem to justify their detention. I had
only half the 41st Regt. before the late action. Daily experience more strongly proves that a regular force is absolutely requisite to ensure the safety of this district, and
which may be endangered by the detention of the intended reinforcement. My Brigade Major, Lieut. McLean,
who is the bearer of my reports, will be able to give your
Excellency any further information relative to this district
or our late movements that may be required. I hope by
sending him, and by the only service route at present,
will meet with your Excellency's approbation.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
(Signed) Henry Procter,
Brigadier-General, Comg.
I beg to acknowledge the indefatigable exertions of the
Commissariat.
Henry Procter.
(Signed)
To His Excellency Lieut.-General
Sir G. Prevost, Bart., &c.
Embarkation return of the Western Army commanded
by Brigadier-General Procter, on an expedition to the
Miami.
Amherstburg, April 23, 1813.
General Staff,-1 general, 1 lieut.-colonel, 1 dep. asst-.
qr. mr.-general, 1 brigade major, 1 staff adjutant.
-

166

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

Royal Artillery,—I lieut., i serjeant; I surgeon,
drummer, 27 rank and file.
Royal Engineers,—I captain.
loth Royal Veteran Battalion,-5.
41st Regiment,-3 captains, 7 lieutenants, I assistant
surgeon, 22 serjeants, 6 drummers and buglers, 374 rank
and file.
Royal Newfoundland Regt.—I captain, 2 lieutenants,
3 serjeants, 2 drummers, 55 rank and file.
Commissariat,—I dep. asst.-commissary-general, I assistant to do., 1 issuer.
Field Train,—I clerk of stores, I conductor.
Militia,—I major, 12 captains, I I lieutenants, 8 ensigns,
adjt., I quarter-master, 22 serjeants, 406 rank and file.
(Signed)
Peter L. Chambers, Major.
Capt. 41st Regt., Dep. Asst.-Qr.-Mr.-General.
Return of killed;wounded, missing and prisoners, of the
Army under the command of Brig.-Gen. Procter, at the
battle fought at the Miami, May 5th, 1813.
Royal Artillery,—I serjeant, 1 rank and file wounded,
2 rank and file prisoners.
41st Regiment,----r r rank and file killed, r lieutenant, 3
serjeants, 35 rank and file wounded, 2 lieutenants, 1 serjeant, r drummer, 33 rank and file prisoners.
Royal Newfoundland Regt.—r drummer, 2 rank and
file killed, 1 rank and file wounded, I rank and file
prisoner.
Militia,—I captain, 4 rank and file wounded, I rank and
file prisoner.

Total,---I drummer, 13 rank and file killed, 1 capt.,
lieut., 4 serjeants, 41 rank and file wounded, 2 lieuts.; r
serjeant, I drummer, 37 rank and file prisoners.
Names of officers wounded and prisoners.

41st Regiment.—Lieut. Bullock wounded on the 3rd

inst. Lieuts. McIntyre and Hailes prisoners.
Militia,—Captain Bondy, since dead.
(Signed)
Peter L. Chambers,
&c, &c, &c.
Return of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and
privates taken prisoners from the enemy on the 5th May,
1813, at the battle fought at the Miami.
United States Regulars,—I captain, 21 rank and file.
roth and 13th detachment Kentucky Militia,-2 majors,

167

PROCTER' S ACCOUNT CRITICISED

1 brigade inspector, 8 captains, g lieutenants, 6 ensigns,
adjutant, i paymaster, r surgeon, I asst. surgeon, 26
serjeants, 3 drummers, 373 rank and file.
o
Prisoners since delivered up 1 I ensign,' asst. sur gen,
file.
12
rank
and
Indi
erse.
T han
byNth.Be.
Grand Total, 468.
are a number of prisoners not yet come
in, who are in the possession of the Indians, but they are
ily).
bringing theminigdnaed
(s
Peter L. Chambers,
&c, &c, &c.
May 17th,—Since the above return, 28 prisoners have
been given up by the Indians.
A. H. McLean,
(Signed)
Brigade Major.
In reference to the closing paragraph= of the despatch,
in which, as it will be perceived, the Volunteers of the
st are for the first, and only time named, I cannot
forbear a passing comment. I had the honor of being
particularly named, in Major Chambers' report to General Procter of the action of the 5th of May, as having
been the only one of the volunteers who chanced to have
been engaged in the storming of the batteries. Yet the
Official despatch includes the names of all, without any
regard to their particular service. Messrs. Laing and
Wilkinson were on the right bank of the river with the
defeated party, who of course did their duty, but of
2

whom no particular mention is made, while the General's
son never once quitted the encampment-during the day,
or was at any period, either then or heretofore, suffered
to be exposed to the enemy's fire. This remark would

not have been recorded but for the very glaring injustice
= Richardson evidently copied Procter's report as given by James,
who appears to have taken unwarranted liberties with the original. The closing paragraph of the report is omitted by James and
consequently does not appear in Richardson. The reference here
is to the next to the closing paragraph.
!Major Chambers in a letter to Noah Freer, Military Secretary,
gives a concise account of the events of each day from April 24th
to the close of the action on Max 5th. No person is particularly
mentioned in his report of the action of May 5th. I have not seen
Major Chambers' report to General Procter.
.

68

GENERAL HARRISON'S DESPATCH, NO. I

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

which, in bestowing commendation in so general and undistinguishable a manner, would aim at depriving a soldier of that distinct claim to approbation, admitted by
his immediate commanding officer to have been won from
him on the field. In the course of this narrative of military events, in which, it must be borne in mind by the
reader, I was a constant participator, I have endeavored,
as much as possible, to avoid any personal allusion to
myself ; but this is a case where the injustice is too
marked to be passed silently by. I had never seen General Procter's despatch, until this narrative was commenced, but had always understood it to have embraced
the particular report made by Major Chambers, which,
however, seems to have been suppressed.
Copy of a despatch from Gen. Harrison (No. t) to the
Secretary of War dated
Head-Quarters, Camp Meigs, 9th May, 1813.
SIR,-I have the honor to inform you, that the enemy,
having been several days making preparations for raising
the siege of this post, accomplished this day the removal
of their artillery, from the opposite bank, and about 12
o'clock left their encampment below, were soon embarked, and out of sight.—I have the honor to enclose
you an agreement entered into between Gen. Procter and
myself, for the discharge of the prisoners of the Kentucky militia, in his possession, and for the exchange of
the Officers and men of the regular troops, which were
respectively possessed by us. My anxiety to get the
Kentucky troops released as early as possible induced me
to agree to the dismission of all the prisoners I had,
although there was not as many of ours in Gen. Procter's
possession ; the surplusage is to be accounted for, and
an equal number of ours released from their parole,
whenever the government may think proper to direct it.
The two actions on this side of the river, on the 5th,
were infinitely more important and more honorable to our
arms, than I had at first conceived. In the sortie made
upon the left flank, Capt. Waring's company of the 19th
regiment, a detachment of 12 months' volunteers, under
Major Alexander, and three companies of Kentucky

1[
t41,

169

militia, under Colonel Boswell, defeated at least double •
the number of Indians and British militia. The sortie
on the right was still more glorious. The British batteries, in that direction, were defended by the grenadier
and light infantry companies, of the 41st regiment,
amounting to zoo effectives, and two companies of militia,
flanked by a host of Indians. The detachment sent to
attack these, consisted of all the men off duty, belonging
to the companies of Croghan and Bradford, of the 17th
regiment, Langham's, Elliott's, (late Graham's,) and
Waring's, of the 19th, about 8o of Major Alexander's
volunteers, and a single company of Kentucky militia,
under Captain Sebree, amounting, in the whole, to not
more than 34o. Yet the event of the action was not a
moment doubtful ; and, had not the British troops been
covered in their retreat by their allies, the whole of them
would have been taken.
It is not possible for troos
p to behave better than ours
did, throughout ; all the officers exerted themselves to
execute my orders, and the enemy, who had a full view
of our operations, from the opposite shore, declared that
they had never seen so much work performed in so short
a time.
To all the commandants of corps, I feel particular
obligations ; these were Col. Miller, of the 19th infantry,
Col. Mills, of the Ohio militia, Major Stoddart, of the
artillery, Major Ball, of the dragoons, and Major Johnson,
of the Kentucky militia.
Captain Gratiot, of the engineers, having been, for a
long time, much indisposed, the task of fortifying this
post devolved on Captain Wood ; it could not have been
placed in better hands. Permit me to recommend him to
the President, and to assure you that any mark of his
approbation, bestowed on Captain Wood, would be highly
gratifying to the whole of the troops, who witnessed his
arduous exertions.
From Major Hukill, Acting Inspector-General, my aidde-camp, Major Graham, Lieutenant 0' Fallon, who has
done the duty of Assistant Adjutant-General in the
absence of Major Adams, and my volunteer aid-de-camp,
John Johnson, Esq., I received the most useful assistance.
I have the honor to enclose you a list of the killed and
wounded, during the siege, and in the two sorties ; those
of the latter were much greater than I had at first
expected.

1

7 0THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

Want of sleep, and exposure to the continued rains
which have fallen almost every day, for some time past,
render me incapable of mentioning many interesting particulars ; amongst others, a most extraordinary proposition of General Procter's, on the subject of the Indians,
within our boundary ; this shall form the subject of a
communication, to be made to-morrow or next day, and
for which I will provide a safer conveyance than that
which carries this.
All the prisoners and deserters agree in saying, that
the information given to Major Stoddart, by Ryland, of
the British having launched a sloop of war this spring, is
incorrect; and the most of them say, that the one which is
now building will not be launched for many weeks.
I am, &c.
W. H. HARRISON.
Hon. J. Armstrong.
P.S. Captain Price, of the Regiment Light Artillery;
and the 20 Regulars, prisoners with General Procter,
were taken on the northwestern side of the river, with
the Kentucky militia. We had no prisoners taken on
this side during the siege.
In the siege, and the several sorties of the 5th instant,
there was 81 killed, and 189 wounded—total, killed and
wounded, 27o.
Copy of a Despatch, from Maj. General William H.
Harrison (No. 2) to the Secretary of War, dated
Headquarters, Lower Sandusky, May 13, 1813.
SIR,— Having ascertained that the enemy (Indians as
well as British, ) had entirely abandoned the neighborhood of the Rapids, I left the command of camp Meigs
with General Clay, and came here last night. It is with
the greatest satisfaction I inform you, Sir, that the loss
of the Kentucky troops, in killed, on the north side of
the river, does not exceed fifty. On the loth and 11th
inst. I caused the ground, which was the scene of action,
and its environs, to be carefully examined ; and, after
the most diligent search, 45 bodies only, of our men,
were discovered ; amongst them was the leader of the
detachment, Col. Dudley. No other officer of note fell
in the action. I have strong reason to believe that a
considerable number of Kentuckians effected their retreat

GENERAL HARRISON'S DESPATCH, NO. 2

171

up the river, to Fort Winchester. General Procter did
not furnish me with a return of the prisoners in his possession, although repeatedly promised.
His retreat was as precipitate as it could possibly be,
l eaving a number of cannon balls, a new elegant sling
carriage for cannon, and other valuable articles. The
night before his departure, two persons that were employed in the British gun-boats (Americans by birth),
deserted to us—the information they gave me was very
interesting ; they say that the Indians, of which there
were from I,600 to 2,00o, left the British, the day before
their departure, in a high state of dissatisfaction, from
the great loss which they had sustained in the several
engagements of the 5th, and the failure of the British, in
accomplishing their promise, of taking the post at the
Rapids. From the account given by these men, my
opinion is confirmed of the great superiority of the
enemy, which were defeated by our troops in the two
sallies made on the 5th instant. That, led by Col. Miller,
did not exceed 35o men ; and it is very certain that they
defeated /oo British regulars, 15o militia men, and 400
or 50o Indians. That American regulars, (although they
were raw recruits), and such men as compose the Pittsburg, Penn., and Petersburg, Va., volunteers, should
behave well is not to be wondered at ; but, that a company of militia should maintain its ground, against four
times its number, as did Captain Sebree's, of the Kentucky, is truly astonishing. These brave fellows were at
length, however, entirely surrounded by Indians, and
would have been cut off, but for the gallantry of Lieut.
Gwynne, of the 19th regiment, who, with a part of Captain Elliott's company, charged the enemy, and released
the Kentuckians. I enclose you a list of the killed and
wounded during the whole siege ;—it is considerably
larger than I supposed it would be, when I last wrote
you—but it is satisfactory to know that they did not
bleed uselessly, but in the course of successful exertions.
The return does not embrace those who fell on the
Northwestern side of the Miami.—You will also receive,
herewith, a monthly return of the troops, at camp Meigs,
for the last month ; the communication with the other
posts being cut off, the returns were not received. A
copy of Gen. Clay's report to me, of the manner of his

172

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

executing my order, for the attack on the enemy's batteries, is likewise forwarded, by which it will be seen
that my intentions were perfectly understood ; and the
great facility with which they might have been executed
is apparent to every individual who witnessed the scene ;
indeed, the cannon might have been spiked and the carriages cut to pieces, the magazine destroyed, and the
retreat effected to the boats, without the loss of a man,
as none were killed in taking the batteries—so complete
was the surprise.
An extensive open plain intervenes between the river
and the hill, upon which the batteries of the enemy were
placed ; this plain was raked by 4 of our 18 pounders, a
12, and a 6 ; the enemy, even before their guns were
spiked, could not have brought one to bear upon it. So
perfectly secured was their retreat, that the 150 men, who
came off, effected it without loss, and brought off some of
the wounded, one of them upon the back of his comrade.
The Indians followed them to the woods, but dared not
enter into the plain.
I am unable to form a correct estimate of the enemy's
force. The prisoners varied much in their accounts ;
those who made them least, stated the regulars at 56o,
and the militia at 800 ; but the number of Indians were
beyond comparison greater than have ever been brought
into the field before ; numbers arrived after the siege
commenced. I have caused their camps, on the S. E.
side of the river, to be particularly examined, and the
general opinion is, that there could not have been fewer
on that side than i,000 or 1,200. They were, indeed,
the efficient force of the enemy.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
favors of the 14th, i8th, and 28th ultimo, and 5th inst.
I am sorry to inform you, that Major Stoddard died
the night before I left the Rapids, of a lock-jaw, produced by a slight wound from a fragment of a shell,
which struck him on the thigh ; several have died in this
way, from their great and unavoidable exposure to the
cold ; but, perhaps there were never so many instances of
desperate wounds likely to do well. The gallant Captain
Bradford will recover.
I shall go from here to Upper Sandusky, and shall take
my station at Delaware, or Franklinton, until the troops

GENERAL CLAY'S REPORT

173

are assembled. Gen. Clay, who commands at the Rapids,
is a man of capacity, and entirely to be relied upon.
I have the honor, &c.
WM. H. HARRISON.
n.
J.
Armstrong,
Sec.
War.
Ho
Killed, 81—wounded, 189, in the siege of Camp Meigs
and the several sorties of the 5th of May, 1813.
Copy of a letter from Gen. Clay, to Gen. Harrison.
Camp at Fort Meigs, May i3th, 1813.
SIR,-0 11 the 5th instant, about 8 o'clock, A.M., descending the Miami of the lake, about midway of the
Rapids, with 1,200 of the Kentucky troops, in the eighteen
flat-bottomed boats, I was met by Captain Hamilton and
a subaltern, who delivered me (as he said) the orders of
Major-Gen. Harrison to the following effect :
" You must detach about 800 men from your brigade,
who will land at a point I will show, about one, or one
and a half miles above the fort, and I will conduct them
to the British batteries, on the left bank of the river—
they must take possession of the enemy's cannon, spike
them, cut down the carriages, and return to their boats,"
observing that the British force at their large batteries
was inconsiderable ; but that their main force was at the
old garrison, about one and a half miles below, on the
same side of the river, that the Indian forces were
chiefly on the right bank of the river—" the balance of
the men under your command must land on the right
bank, opposite to the first landing, and will fight their way
through the Indians to the fort,"—observing that the
route thus to be taken, would be shown by a subaltern
officer there, in company with Captain Hamilton, who
would land the perogue at the point on the right bank, at
which the boats would land.
The order of descending the river in boats was the
same as the order of march, in line of battle, in solid
column, each officer taking position according to his rank.
Col. Dudley, the eldest colonel, led the van, and in this
order the river had been descended. As soon as Captain
Hamilton had delivered these orders, being in the thirteenth boat from the front, I directed him to proceed imiinnetdhie
12
atelyfrtoo
n
and order him to take the men
s, and execute Gen. Harrison's orders,
Ct boats,

1

74

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

on the left bank of the river; and to post his (Capt. Hamilton's) subaltern on the right bank, to conduct myself,
with the men in the six boats, to the fort. I ordered
the five boats in the rear to fall in a line , and follow me.
High winds, and the rapidity of the current, drove four
of the rear boats ashore, in the attempt to follow on according to order, where they remained a short time ; su fficient, however, to detain them one-half, or three-fourths
of a mile to the rear.—To land, according to order, I kept
close along the right bank, until opposite Col Dudley's
landing ; there I found no guide left to conduct me to the
fort, as Captain Hamilton promised. I then made an attempt to cross the river, and join Col. Dudley ; but, from
the rapid current on the falls, I was unable to land on
the point with him. Being nearly half way across the
river, and the waves running too high to risk the boats
then driving down the current sidewise, veered about
the boat, and rowed the best way we could, to save our
boat. My attempt to cross the river, to Col. Dudle y,
occasioned all the boats, (I presume in the rear of me),
al-.d which were then out of hailing distance, to cross
over, and land with Col. Dudley. Having been defeated
in landing on the left, we then endeavored to effect one
on the right, even without a guide ; but before a landing
could be effected, we received a brisk fire from the enemy
on shore, which was returned, and kept up on both sides ;
and I was in this unavoidable situation, compelled to
make to Fort Meigs ,with no other force than about ,,5o
men on board, (the other boats being still in the rear)
and to receive the enemy's fire, until we arrived under
the protection of the fort. Col. Boswell's command
(except the men in my boat,) having landed to join Col
Dudley, were, as I have been informed, ordered by Captain Hamilton, immediately to embark, and land on the
right hand shore, about a mile above the fort, and prepare
to fight his way through to the garrison. The Colonel
embarked, landed, as he conceived, at the proper point,
pursuant to Captain Hamilton's order, and was forming
his men in order of battle, when he was met by Captain
Shaw, and ordered to march into the garrison, at open
order, the safest route.
When my own boat landed, we were met by two men,
who took charge of the boat, as we understood, to bring
her under the protection of the fort batteries ; believing

GENERAL CLAY'S ADDRESS TO HIS TROOPS 175

1i

'1!1

.,
0,

010

our baggage to be thus made safe, we forbid our servants
to carry any portion of it ; but loaded them with cannon
balls, which they bore to the fort. Our baggage was,
however, taken by the Indians, in a very short time after
we left the boat. Upon receiving the orders of Capt. Hamilton, I asked if he had brought spikes, to spike the enemy's
cannon ? to which he replied, that he had plenty. Capt.
ng the orders of General Harrison,
Hamilton, on delivering
observed, that the object of landing, and marching a pordon of the troops on the right bank, was to draw the attension of the Indians ; and, by thus engaging them,
afford an opportunity to the garrison to make a sally ;
and, by a circuitous route, surprise and carry the batseries and cannon of the enemy, below the fort, on the
right bank.
I am, respectfully, &c.,
GREEN CLAY, Brig.-Gen.
His Ex. Maj.-Gen. Harrison.
The following General Order, issued by Brigadier Green
Clay to his troops, preparatory to their departure for the
Miami, is so amusingly in contrast with the report made
by him of his defeat, that, although suppressed by the
American historians of the war, it would be an unpardonable omission not to record it here. It will be remarked
that this corps met with precisely the same fate with their
butchered brethren of the River Raisin, they were hastening
to avenge. The words emphasized are such as they appear in the original document.
CINCINNATI, April 7, 1813.
General Orders.
SOLDIERS, You are now about to leave the shores of
Kentucky—Many of you can boast that she gave you
birth—She is indeed dear to us all.
KENTUCKIANS stand high in the estimation of our common country . Our brothers in arms, who have gone before
us to the scene of action, have acquired a fame, which
sehmouniladtionnev. er be forgotten by you—a fame wOrthy your
I feel conscious you would rather see your country no
m ore, than return to it, under the impression, that by an
act of yours, the high character of Kentucky had fallen.

176

THE BATTLE OF THE MIAMI

To support this reputation, purchased by valor and by
blood, you must with fortitude meet the hardships, and
discharge the duties of soldiers. Discipline and subordination mark the real soldier—and are indeed the soul of
an army.
In every situation, therefore, the most perfect subordination—the most rigid discharge of duty, will be expected from all. Partiality or injustice shall be shown to
none.
I have the most perfect confidence in your attachment
and support'through every difficulty we may encounter.
It is upon you—it is upon your subordination and discipline I rely, for a successful issue of the present campaign. Without this confidence and support, we shall
achieve nothing honorable or useful.
The same destiny awaits us both. That which exalts
or sinks you in the estimation of your country, will produce to me her approbation or condemnation.
Feeling this same common interest, the first wishes of
my heart are, that the present campaign should prove
honorable to all, and useful to the country.
Should we encounter the enemy—REMEMBER THE
DREADFUL FATE OF OUR BUTCHERED BROTHERS
AT THE RIVER RAISIN—that British treachery produced their
slaughter.
The justice of our cause—with the aid of an approving
Providence, will be sure guarantees to our success.
GREEN CLAY,
Brigadier-General.