Title

Chapter 3

Identifier

http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/show.asp?b=1&ref=oo&id=298021

page

162-231

Bibliographic Citation

History of the late war between Great Britain and the United States of America / David Thompson.

10168089

History of the late war between Great Britain and the United States of America / David Thompson.

Type

Text

extracted text

162

HISTORY

THE LATE WAR.

163

charged with this service, every thing that could be
done might be expected ; and that the progress made
this season would doubtless secure for the next their naval
ascendancy, where, as Mr. Madison remarks, it was
essential to a permanent peace and control over the
savages.

of our frigates under the command of Commodore Rogers." Here the American president indulges himself
in the most extravagant eulogiums on the skill and
bravery of the American navy, seemingly, in his view,
transcending any thing that had hitherto appeared on
the face of the ocean.

"Among the incidents," says Mr. Madison in his message, "to the measures of the war, I am constrained to
advert to the refusal of the governors of Massachusetts
and Connecticut, to furnish the required detachments of
militia towards the defence of the maritime frontier.
The refusal was founded on a novel and unfortunate
exposition of the provisions of the constitution relating
to the ,militia It is obvious," says he, "that if the
authority of the United States to call into service and
command the militia, for the public defence, can be
thus frustrated, even in a state of declared war, and of
course under apprehensions of invasion preceding war,
they are not one nation for the purpose most of all requiring it ; and that the public may have no other resource
than in those large and permanent military establishments which are forbidden by the principles of a free
government, and against the necessity of which the militia were intended as a contitutional bulwark."

He next refers to the correspondence between Lord
Castlereah and Mr. Russel, for arresting the progress
of the war ; and, after briefly recapitulating the topics
discussed by those two functionaries, recommends it as
unwise to relax the measures adopted for the prosecution
of the war, on the mere presumption of Great Britain
giving a favorable reception to the terms of conciliation
which they had last submitted for the consideration of
that government.

The president next adverts to the affairs on the ocean,.
which he represents to have been as favorable to the
arms of the United States as circumstances inseparable
from its early stages could well permit them to expect.
" Our public ships," says he, " and private cruisers by
their activity and, where there was occasion, by their
intrepidity, have made the enemy sensible of the difference between a reciprocity of captures and the long
confinement of them to their side.
" Our trade," continues Mr. Madison, " with little
exception, has safely reached our ports; having been
much favored in it by the comrse pursued by a squadron

Mr. Madison next takes a cursory review of the relations subsisting between America and the other European
powers and the Barbary States ; and represents them,
notwithstanding the rupture with Great Britain, as
nothing impaired, with the exception of Algiers, the
regency of which had suddenly banished their consul
general ; but whether from the transitory effect of capricious despotism or the first act of predetermined hostility,
had not been ascertained ; but precautions had been
taken by the consul on the latter supposition.
With a view to a vigorous prosecution of the war, he
called for the particular attention of congress to the insufficiency of the present provisions for filling up the
regular army. " Such, " says Mr. Madison, " is the
happy condition of our country, arising from the facility
for subsistence and the high wages for every species of
occupation, that, notwithstanding the augmented inducements provided at the last session, a partial success only
has attended the recruiting service—the deficiency has
been supplied, during the campaign, by other than regular troops, with all the inconveniencies and expenses
-

•

HISTORY OV

THE LATE WAR.

incident to them. The remedy," says Mr. Madison,
" lies in establishing, more favorably for the private
soldier, the proportion between his recompense and the
term of enlistment." The president, therefore, recommended this as a subject highly deserving of their
earliest and most serious consideration.

they were now at war. The spirit and strength of the
nation were, nevertheless, equal to the support of all its
rights, and to carry it through all its trials.

164

Mr. Madison next recommends, as a subject demanding the earliest attention of Congress, an increase of the
number of general officers of the United States army,
and the importance of rendering more distinct and definite the different relations and responsibilities of the
various departments of the staff establishments, and a
revision of the militia laws of the Union. Of the additional ships authorised to be fitted for service, two would
be shortly ready to sail ; and no delay possible of being
avoided, would be allowed in fitting out the residue.
As regarded the financial affairs of the nation, Mr.
Madison announced that the receipts into the public
treasury for the year ending on the 30th September last,
had exceeded sixteen and a half millions of dollars;
which had been sufficient to defray all the demands of
the treasury to that day, including a necessary reimbursement of nearly three millions of the principal of
the public debt ; a part of the receipts, however, was a
sum of nearly five millions, eight hundred and fifty
thousand dollars received into the treasury on account of
loans which had been contracted for, under the authority
of acts of the last session.
To deny that the country had its difficulties to contend
with, although it richly abounded in the most animating
considerations, were folly, as every day's experience
taught a different lesson. With more than one nation
they had serious and unsettled controversies ; and with
one nation, powerful in the means and habits of war,

165

Above all, they had the consolation of knowing that
the war in which they were then engaged was not a
war either of ambition or vain glory ; that it was waged,
not in violation of the rights of others, but in the maintainance of their own ; that it was preceded (says the
president,) by a patience without example, under wrongs
accumulating without end ; and that it was, finally, not
declared until every hope of averting it was extinguished by the transfer of the British sceptre into new hands
clinging to former councils ; and until declarations were
reiterated to the last hour, through the British envoy
here, that the hostile edicts against the commercial
rights of the nation, and against its maritime independence, would not be revoked—nay, that they
could not be revoked, without violating the obligations
of Great Britain to other powers as well as to her
own interests.
" To have shrunk, under such circumstances, from
manly resistance, would have been a degradation
blasting the best and proudest hopes of the nation ;
and would have struck it from the high rank where
the virtuous struggles of the heroes of the Revolution
had placed it ; and would have been, on our part,
a base betrayal of the magnificent legacy which we
held in trust for future generations. It would have
acknowledged, that on the element which forms three
fourths of the globe we inhabit, and where all independent nations have equal and common rights, the
American people were not an independent people,
but colonists and vassals.

166

IIISTORY OF

" It was at this moment, and with such an alter
native, that war was chosen. The nation felt the
necessity of it, and called for it. The appeal was
accordingly made in a just cause, to the just and all
powerful Being who holds in his hand the chair. of
events and the destiny of nations."

THE LATE WAR.

167

CHAPTER XXI.
Extract from the Speech of the Prince Regent of Great
Britain, to both Houses of Parliament—Review of that
Speech by the Margris Wellesley, in the House of
Lords—Speech from the Throne reviewed in the House
of Commons, by Mr. Canning—Remarks
THE foregoing is the view of the war taken by Mr
Madison, at the close of the first year's campaign ; and,
on the last day of the same month in which the message was delivered, of which the preceding is a recapitulation as far as relates to this subject, the parliament
of Great Britain was convened, to whom the Prince
Regent delivered an address from which the following
is extracted :
.

"The declaration of war by the government of the
United States of America, was made under circumstances which might have offered a reasonable expectation
that the amicable relations between the two nations
would not be long interrupted. It is with sincere regret
that I am obliged to acquaint you, that the conduct and
pretensions of that government have hitherto prevented
the conclusion of any pacific arrangement. Their measures of hostility have been directed against the adjoining
provinces, and every effort has been made to seduce
the inhabitants of them from their allegiance to His
Majesty.
"The proofs, however, which I have received of
loyalty and attachment, from His Majesty's subjects in
North America, are highly satisfactory. The attempts
of the enemy, to invade Upper Canada, have not only
proved abortive, but, by the judicious arrangements of
the governor-general, and by the skill and decision with
which the military operations have been conducted, the

16R

tuscortv

OF

rar

LATE WAR.

165

forces of the enemy assembled for that purpose in one
quarter have been compelled to capitulate, and in another have been completely defeated.

by making the effort while it was still in our power,
and by turning upon that war some part of the grand
and superabundant strength of our country."

" My best efforts are not wanting for the restoration
of peace and amity between the two countries ; but
until this object can be obtained without sacrificing the
maritime rights of Great Britain, I shall rely upon your
cordial support in a vigorous prosecution of the war."

In the House of Commons, Mr. Canning, in reviewing
the Prince Regent's address as far as related to the war,
said that " it was his sincere and anxious wish, that two
nations so related to each other by consanguinity, by one
common language and by mutual interests, as Great
Britain and America, should not only be in alliance, but,
when disputes ran to so great an extent, when once the
die was cast and hostilities had commenced, it became
this country to be more prompt, by every exertion in
our power, to bring the struggle of war to a speedy conclusion. He would go to the extremest verge of forbearance
to keep peace ; but he would not dilute his war measures into a weak and sickly regimen, unfit for the vigor
of the occasion. He would not convert the acute distemper of war into a chronic distemper, and incorporate
it with the system.

In the House of Lords, the Marquis Wellesley took
an able view of the speech from the throne ; and, in
adverting to the war with America, he said, that " no
attack could be more unjustifiable than that made by
America, and that no cause could be more righteous
than that of Great Britain."
He denied that the Orders in Council was the cause
of this war. " No," said he, " it was upon far different
things—it was upon high and mighty interests of the
British empire—interests which we could not move
without throwing the trident of the ocean into the hands
of America. America," said he, " was not to be soothed
and fondled into peace—the heads of the government
had long been influenced by a deadly hatred to this
country, and (unusual as the epithet was,) by a deadly
love to France.
"Our policy was plain : our wisest, nay, our most
pacific measures would be, to show ourselves ready for
the emergency—to present in front of America a force
which would make her feel her danger, and feel the
i mportance of purchasing her safety by peace. What
had we done ? Nothing to intimidate—nothing to punish—nothing to interest her weakness or her wisdom.
If there were any hope of putting a speedy end to the
war, it was to be accomplished by boldness and decision,

" The present dispute had grown up with petty profits
and small gains, till at last actual war was fixed upon us.
Two years ago to have prophesied that, after six months,
open war between England and America—America
should boast the only naval trophy, and that we could
only say that we had not been conquered !—an Englishman would have resented such a prophecy as an insult.
He could not consider our military success in America
as matter of great triumph. He never supposed we
should be conquered by America. He never could
have thought the mighty navy of Great Britain would
have slept while her commerce was swept from the
seas ; and that, at the end of six months, we should be
found proclaiming a speech from the throne, that the
time had, at length, come to be active and energetic,
and to show England and the world that England is
what England was—never, that we should send our
ambassador, with our own ships, to our own North

HISTORY OF

American towns, and attack the American ports with
our flags of truce. There, however, might remain circumstances, yet to be disclosed, to account for this ; but
he would say, that on the first appearance and on the
declaration of war, there was evidently a studied determination to postpone the period of accommodation.
"As for the desire of America to get possession of
Canada, it was a project which he thought not likely to
be frowned upon severely, even by those parties in
America which were considered friendly to us. When
urged upon the subject, I know that ministers will reply,
that their motives for clinging, to the last, to conciliation
were two-fold. First, that they had friends in the United States ; second, that before we venture on hostilities
we ought to take care that we are indisputably in the
right. In both these points I concur; for I have ever
thought that the most splendid victories which ever
glittered on the page of history were tarnished and obscured if justice did not hallow the cause in which they
were achieved. I admit that it is also right to temper
your conduct by a consideration of the party that favors
your cause in the hostile state. In regard to the United
States, this rule ought to be observed ; and we ought to
pay attention to those who were called good Englishnien—not meaning to deny that they are good Aniericans,
but who held the opinion that an alliance with England
is preferable to a treaty with France. Bnt are we quite
sure that, by this system of mitigated hostility, we are
not playing the game of the party opposed to us, and
defeating the efforts of our friends ? I cannot help thinking that we injure our own cause by this dubious
pusillanimity."

TI1E LATE WAR,

1'71

responsible for its continuance ; but it will be left to an
impartial posterity, when the rancorous feelings which
have been excited shall be no longer recollected, to say
to which of the nations the blame was imputable.
America As a neutral nation, before the commencement of the war, certainly exercised a great deal o f
partiality towards France, while her conduct towards
Great Britain was extremely hostile. It was permitted
to public armed vessels of France to capture British
vessels at the mouths of American harbors, (where they
had just taken in valuable cargoes and paid all the requisite duties,) and return them into the same port and sell
them as legal prizes ; while British vessels had not the
common protection of a neutral harbor in any part of the
United States.
With respect to the British Orders in Council, of
which America had so long and so grievously complained, it has been clearly shown in a former part of this
work, that the government of Great Britain, in passing
those edicts, was guided by a strict sense of honor
towards America, as a neutral nation•.
But, in order to conciliate America, as it was evident a
malignant spirit had long existed in that country towards
the British government, though the whole Union was by
no means infected, the Orders in Council were repealedt,

.

From the foregoing extracts from the two state papers
of Groat Britain and America, and the review taken in
parliament of the Prince Regent's Address, it would
appear that both the belligerents accused the adverse
party of the original causes Qf the war, and held it

*See page 27 on this subject.

tWhereas the president, in his message to congress, has made
known to the people of the United States, that the British Orders
in Council have been repealed, " in such maaner as to be capable

HISTORY or

but without the slightest effect in allaying the hostile
spirit already manifested.

of explanations meeting the views of the government" of the
United States ; and therefore none of the alleged causes of war
with Great Britain now remain, except the claim of the right to
take British subjects from the merchant ships of the United
States—

THE LATE WAR.

:1 73

The law of nations has determined the boundari es of
the right of blockade : that is therefore a question
which of course admitted of no doubt ; and on the
question of Great Britain reclaiming her own subjects,
her right had never been doubted, and any further silt;
never yetclaimed; but even made oveitures to suspend
hostilities, in order to negotiate on the point: in dispute.

And whereas, during the Administration of President Washing
ton and President Adams, this claim of Great Britain was not
considered as a reasonable'cause of war ; and under the administration of President Jefferson, the government of Great Britain
did offer to make an arrangement with the United States, which,
in the opinion of Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney, their ministers
placed this subject on a ground that was both honorable and ael.
vantageous to the United States, and highly favorable to their
interests ; and was, at the same time, a concession which had
never before been made ; and it is highly probable that the gov•rnment of Great Britain would still be willing to make an
arrangement on this subject, which should be alike honorable.
and advantageoue to the United States—
And whereas, under the administration of President Madison,
when the arrangement of the matters in controversy between
the United States and Great Britain was made with His Britanic
Majesty's minister, David Montague Erskine, Esquire, the im
pressment of seamen was not considered of sufficient importance
to make a conditios of that arrangement—
And whereas all the European powers, as well as the United
States, recognize the principle that their subjects have no right to
expatriate themselves, and that the nation has a right to the servie( a of all its citizens, especially in time of war; and none of
those powers respect the neutralization laws of others so far us
to admit their operation in contravention of that principle—and
it is manifestly unjust for a neutral power to make war upon one
nation, in order to compel it to relinquish a principle which is
maintained by the others—&c.

Extract of a Preamble and Order adopted bg
the Legislature of Massachusetts, 5th Februuary, 1813-

r2

174

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

CHAPTER XXII.

Army of the 'West, consisting of " eight thosand effective
men*," commanded by Generals Harrison and Winchester, whose limits extended along the south shore of
Lake Erie, from Buffalo westwardly as far as the British
frontier extended.

A large American Force marched to the Frontiers of
Upper and Lower Canada,---Movement of the Western
Division of the American Army—General Winchester
advances to the River Raisin—Colonel Proctor attacks
Genernl Winchester in the Village of French Town—
Surrender of General Winchester with his whole Force—
Affair at Ogdensburgh—Lieutenant Colonel Mc. Donald, of the Glengary Light Infantry, attacks that
Post—The garrison completely routed—Review of tke
Conques t—Remarks
I3EronE the close of the year 1812, it was manifest
from the movements of the American army to the frontiers of Upper and Lower Canada, that on the opening_
of the campaign of 1813, a descent upon those colonies
was menaced in earnest. Measures were therefore
immediately adopted by Sir George Prevost, the governor
general, for their defence ; but the small British force
then occupying the Canadas, and the wide extent of
frontier the British commander in chief had to defend,
rendered it impossible, at any one spot, to cope with the
enemy in point of numbers.
The American army, to whom was committed at this
time the honor of conquering Canada, was divided into
three divisions denominated, from the positions they
had taken, the Army of the- North, commanded by
General Hampton, and stationed along the southern
shore of Lake Champlain, on the south precincts of
Lower Canada ; the second, the Army of the Centre,
consisting of seven thousand effective men, which was
again subdivided into two, commanded by Generals
Dearoorn and Wilkinson, were posted from Buffalo, at
the Lower extremity of Lake Erie, to Sackett's Harbor
at the Lower end of Lake Ontario; and the third, the

175

The shameful and unlooked for surrender by General
Hull of the whole Michigan Territory with all the regular and militia forces under his command, had so
completely astounded the American government, that
no effort had been made, up to this period, to recover
their lost possessions by that surrender. The army
under Generals Harrison and Winchester was therefore
directed to that enterprise, after which it was to con.
operate with the other two armies in the invasion of
Canada.

-

General Winchester, certainly unadvisedly, advanced to
the village of French Town on the River Raisin, about
eighteen miles from Detroit, and about thirty-four miles
from the rapids of the Miami, with the advance of the army
consisting of "one thousand effective merit," chieflar
composed of the Kentucky volunteers. With this force
General Winchester meditated an attack upon Detroit,
with a view to force a capitulation, as a preliminary to
the descent upon Upper Canada.

*American Account:

tGeneral Harrison's Letter to Governor Meigs, dated, Head
Quarters, North Western Army, Rapids of the Miami, 13th
June, 1813.
It may not be improper to remark that the number which.
General Winchester had under his command, at the River Raisin,
is stated in British accounts to be eleven hundred.

176

HISTORY OF

TIM LATE WAIL

" Too confident in the fears of the enemy/," for his own
good, General Winchester very incautiously advanced
too far. Colonel Proctor, to whom was committed the
command of the British forces on that part of the lines,
moved out with a body of regulars and militia consisting
of five hundred and forty-seven, including officers and
men, and about two hundred Indians, in order to dislodge General Winchester from his position. On the
evening of the 21st of January, the enemy was first
discovered, with his right wing lodged in the houses in
the village, each of which was strongly defended by
stockade work, and formed, as it were of itself, a little
fort : his left wing had fortified themselves in the rear of
a picket fence.

'survived the fury of the battle were surrendered prisoners of war, amounting to upwards of six hundred*. In
this sanguinary engagement, the loss of the Americans,
in killed and wounded, was nearly five hundredt ;
while that of the British was only twenty-four killed
and one hundred and sixty-one wounded.

About daylight, on the morning of the 22d, the attack
was commenced on the right wing of the American army,
and such was the ardor and impetuosity displayed by
the British forces employed in the attack, that, in fifteen
or twenty minutes from the commencement, that wing
was completely dislodged and driven across the river in
disorder ; but a body of Indians, that had been purposely
posted in their rear, intercepted their retreat, and the
whole was either killed or taken prisoners. Colonel
Proctor followed up the attack upon the left wing ; but,
as their position was yet more strongly fortified and thou'
strength more easily united, they were enabled to sustain
an action of nearly an hour and a half, in which they
received three or four successive charges ; but finding
themselves outflanked, and by their position which, in
consequence of the nature of the ground, it was impossible to change, they were in danger of being enfiladed
Terms of capitulation were agreed unon, by which
the whole of General Winchester's command that had

:American Account.

177

The next affair in succession occurred at Ogdensburgh,
a post on the American side of the River St. Lawrence,
on the morning of the 22d February, 1813. The

expedition, was undertaken, in pursuance cf an
order from Sir George Prevost, who had arrived at
Prescot the day previous, with a view effectually to
stop certain predal inroads of the enemy/.
About sunrise on the morning of the 22d, Lieutenant
Colonel Mc. Donald, of the Glengary Fencible Light
Infantry, with most of the Garrison of Prescot under
his command, consisting of about five hundred men,
composed of regulars, fencibles and militia, crossed the
St. Lawrence, on the ice, which at this place is about a
mile and a gnartes in width. The British forces, under
Lieutenant Colonel Mc. Donald, were divided into two
wings, the right of which was commanded by Captain
Jenkins of the Glengary Fencibles, and was ordered
to attack the enemy's left, and, if necessary, to cut off
his retreat. Capt. Jenkins moved on with his detachment

*Letter from General Harrison to Governor Wig..., dated at
Portage River, 29th January, 1813.
}Colonel Proctor's Despatches, dated 25th January, 1813.
:A horde of marauders, who for a length of time had made the
village of Ogdensburgh their chief place of resort, were in the
continual habit, by their nocturnal predatory incursions, of infesting the peaceable and defenceless inhabitants within their
reach, residing along the Canadian side of the River St. Lawre,uce,

nmoteiy situated from a military post.

178

179

HISTORY OP

THE LATE WAR.

to execute the orders he had received ; while Lieutenant Colonel Mc. Donald marched forward toward the
enemy's batteries in the town. Both wings, but especially that under Captain Jenkins, while crossing the
river, were exposed to a galling oblique fire from the
American batteries ; and the snow being uncommonly
deep on the ice, very materially obstructed their passage.
The columns. however, advanced in the face of every
opposition ; and that under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Mc. Donald, first gaining the American shore,
proceeded to drive the enemy from his strong-holds.

nothing abated, he continued to lead on his gallant followers to the assault, when he received a severe wound
in his right arm ; yet with the most enthusiastic gallantry did he continue to advance at the head of his
little band of Spartans, cheering them forward, until by
the loss of blood and the increasing pain of his wounds,
he fell in the snow completely exhausted. The command of the right wing then, devolved on Lieutenant
Mc. Auley, of the same corps, who continued the charge
upon the enemy's works ; but, for want of discipline, the
militia were unable to maintain their order through
the snow, and keep up with the more disciplined troops ;
that division was, therefore, forced for a time to retire
without effecting its purpose.

The American troops, who were stationed on the
banks to oppose the columns in their approach to the
land, fled towards the works in confusion. The left
wing then ascended the he.ght, and under a heavy fire
of artillery from the fort, drove a column of the enemy's
infantry to the woods for shelter. Colonel Mc. Donald
then proceeded to the first battery, which he carried at
the point of the bayonet. Captain Eustace then, with
a detachment of the same wing, made his way into the
main fort, in order to follow up the success ; when. he
drove the enemy from the works, who left the fort in
the utmost confusion, by an opposite sallyport, in pursuit
of their companions, who had previously taken refuge in
the woods.
About the same moment that Colonel Mc. Donald's
division drove the enemy's infantry towards the fort,
Captain Jenkins had made the shore, and with his division was charging a seven gun battery, covered by a
body of infantry, two hundred strong, who maintained
a galling fire upon him with musketry, while the battery
continued to pour upon him the most tremendous showers of grape and canister.
At the very commencement of this charge, the brave
Jenkins raceived a wound with a grape shot in his left
arm, which literally shivered it in pieces ; still his courage

SirGeorge Prevost, in hisdespatches to Earl Bathurst,
when detailing this affair, dwells emphatically on the
gallantry and self devotion to the service of his king
and country, of the brave Captain Jenkins, and earnestly
recommends him to the peculiar favor and protection of
His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent.
In this brilliant enterprise there was captured from
the enemy a vast quantity of military and marine stores,
together with eleven pieces of ordnance. Two schooners and two or three gun boats which were laid up in
the harbor, with the military barracks, were all committed to the flames. About eighty prisoners, four or five
of whom were officers, were also taken and marched to
Prescot for further disposal.
Much has been said by American writers regarding the conduct of the combined forces at the affair of
Frenchtown. They have not even stopped to charge
British officers and soldiers with the most enormous cruelties, committed in conjunction with the Indians, when
it was in their power to have prevented them. Such
have been the contemptible misrepresentations to which
many publications, otherwise deserving merit, have de-

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

scended, as well of this as many other affairs during the
war ; and even amongst a few British subjects they have
gained credence.

here is an awful Indian tale, manufactured as many
others have been of the like description, which turns
out to be a mere fabrication ; for when General Winchester found himself pursued in his attempt to escape,
lie with a few others surrendered themselves to a chief
of the Wyandot nation, and not a hair of their heads
were hurt, except the injury received from the fright.

180

General Harrison, however, in writing his despatches
to Governor Meigs, as well as several officers of his
army who avail themselves of the General's express to
write to their friends in Chilicothe, in most of their letters give the details of the battle, but seem to be ignorant as regards the greatest part of that "massacre" as it
has been gravely termed. It is gathered from these
despatches and letters by a Chilicothe Journal of the
2d February, 1813, that " those who surrendered themselves on the field of battle were taken prisoners by the
British, while those who attempted to escape were pursued, tomahawked and scalped." Now, even this
account, in part, is incorrect ; for the Indians, by whom
they were assailed in the rear, were posted there for the
express purpose of cutting off their retreat ; and those
who surrendered to the Indians were safely conducted
to the British camp; but such was the panic with which
these unfortunate fugitives were seized, that no persuasion on the part of the Indian chiefs, who were fully
disposed to comply with the orders of General Proctor,
could prevail on them to surrender until they were either
wounded and taken, or overtaken in the chase by their
pursuers, when no efforts of the chiefs could save them
from their fury.
In a letter containing copies of despatches from General Harrison, dated 24th January, 1813, it is stated,
"that when the attack commenced, General Winchester ordered a retreat, but, from the utter confusion which
prevailed, this could not be effected; and he then told
them to take care every man for himself, and attempted
to make his own escape on horseback, but was overtaken
before he had gone a mile, by the Indians, and killed
and scalped. His body was cut up and mangled in a
Mocking manner, and one of his hands cut off." Now,

181

It is also stated in the same letter, that Colonels Allen
and Lewis were among the slain ; in contradiction of
which, in General Harrison's letter to Governor Meigs,
dated 29th January, it is stated that General Winchester,
Colonel Lewis and Brigade Major Gerrard are among
the prisoners. The conclusion is plain, that had those
deluded people not have been overcome by fear, and
surrendered themselves at once, they might have enjoyed the same safety as did General Winchester and
tali companions.

182

HISTORY OF

CHAPTER XXIII.
Inpavioa of York, Upper Canada—Fall of the Redoubts
defending the Harbor and Citadel—Explosion of a
Magazine within the Citadel—General Pike dangerously wounded by the Fall of the Timbers,
Retreat of General Sheaffe and the Surrender of the
Town—Loss of the two Armies—Invasion of the Niagara Frontier—A vigorous Defence made by the Regulars and Militia employed in the Defence of that Post—
The British compelled to retreat—The American Army
moves on Burlington Heights—The American Army
attacked, under Night, in their Camp at Stony Creek1)t feat of the American Army—American Force retreats to Fort George—British Forces, under General
Vincent, follow the Enemy—Affair at the Beaver
Dams.
IN the month of April, 1813, the ice having completely
broken up in the port of Sackett's Harbor, where the
American squadron under Commodore Chauncey had
wintered, General Dearborn, commanding the right division of the Army of the Centre, consisting of four
thousand men stationed in that vicinity, selected two
thousand of the most efficient of his division*, and on
the 22d of the month embarked them on board the fleet
with which he ascended the lake, and with this force
appeared off the harbor of York, the capital of Upper
Canada, on the morning of the 27th.
The enemy appearing to threaten an attack upon the
town, General Sheaffe collected his forces which consisted of about seven hundred men, including regulars and

*American History of the War, published in New.York.

THE LATE WAR.

183

militia, with about one hundred Indians ; and with these
he made a most determined resistance to the landing of
the enemy ; but at length, overcome by numbers, he
was compelled to retire; by which means the enemy
was enabled to effect his landing a short distance above
the fort, which was situated about two miles to the westward of the town, at the entrance of the harbor.
So soon as the American troops, who were led on by
General Pike, had made good their landing, they formed
into two lines, (the front of which was commanded
personally by General Pike, and the rear or reserve
line by Colonel Pearce,) and in this order advanced
upon the first battery and carried it by assault ; they
then advanced towards the citadel in the same order,
and by the same means captured an intervening battery.
Here the columns halted, in order to dress the lines
for an attack upon the main works. At this moment a
large magazine accidentally exploded, by which a
quantity of stones and timbers were thrown into the air,
and in their fall killed and wounded a number on both
sides, amongst whom was the American General Pike.
The British regulars and militia, highly appreciating
the charge committed to them by their king and country,
in the defence of the capital, performed prodigies of
valor ; but being overpowered by a force nearly three
ti mes their number and in a high state of disciplineli,
they were compelled to retreat towards the town.
General Sheaffe then held a council with his principal
officers and the civil authorities of the town, by whom
it was advised that he should retreat towards Kingston

11 The American troops had been preparing for this expedition
the whole winter, and no pains had been spared in their discipline.

184

HISTORY OF

with the remainder of His Majesty's troops ; and that
the commandant of militia should treat with the American commander for terms for the surrender of York.

At the capture of York, the British lost not Less than
four hundred, three hundred of whom were made prisoners of war, and about forty killed and wounded by
the explosion. The Americans lost three hundred and
seventy-eight, thirty-eight of whom were killed and
two hundred and twenty-two wounded ►y the explosion
of the magazine. General Pike died of his contusions
a few minutes after being carried on board one of the
vessels.
On the 8th of May, the American army under General Dearborn once more evacuated York, from whence
they proceeded again to Sackett's Harbor, where preparations were immediately made for invading the Niagara
frontier. The necessary preparations being completed,
the American fleet, on the 23d of the same month,
again ascended Lake Ontario, and on the morning of
the 27th, appeared off the harbor of Newark.
The morning proved very favorable to the invaders,
as a dense fog had settled on the river and the margin
of the lake for nearly half a mile out ; and consequently
they were not perceived until the flotilla of boats bearing the troops of the enemy were within a few rods of
the shore. The boats employed in the transportation of
the enemy from the right bank of the river, fell down
the river under cover of the fog, until they joined those
disembarking from the fleet, where the whole landed
on the beach, on the right side of the entrance of the
harbor.
So soon as the enemy's fleet made its appearance before the harbor, the garrison was placed in the best
possible posture of defence ; and a vigorous stand was
made by General Vincent to the landing of their troops ;

THE LATE WAR.

185

but being overpowered by the numerical strength of the
assailants, it was found necessary to spike the guns,
destroy the magazines, and retire as well from the main
fort as from the outworks, though not until a loss had
been sustained on the part of the British of nearly three
hundred and fifty including regulars and militia.
It was evident from the conduct of the Canadian militia at the captures of York and Fort George, that they
were fast attaining to a high state of military discipline.
The marked coolness and fearless intrepidity with which
the York and Lincoln militia resisted the approach of
the enemy towards their shores, would have reflected
honor on a band of veterans long accustomed to " the
din of arms."
The Americans moved forward in three strong brigades,
under Generals Chandler, Winder, and Boyd, with an
advance of light troops and riflemen, under Colonels
Scott and Forsyth, the whole commanded by General
Lewis the next in command to General Dearborn, whose
low state of health at this time compelled him to keep
his bed, from whence he issued all his orders. The
loss of the Americans, according to their own account,
at the action before Fort George, was not less than two•
hundred.
General Vincent continued his retreat as far as Burlington Heights, near the head waters of Lake Ontario ;
and, on the 1st day of June, was followed by an American army of three thousand five hundred infantry and
about three hundred cavalry, commanded by Generals
Chandler and Winder, for the purpose, as was vainly
boasted, of making prisoners of the whole British army,
and thus terminate the contest of the north-western
ftontier.
On the evening of the 5th, the enemy's forces encamped near the village of Stony Creek, about nine miles

Q2

186

187

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

from the British cantonments, with full purpose to close
up with the British next day and attack their position.
But General Vincent, who had taken every pains to
ascertain the strength of the force with which he was
menaced, despatched Colonel Harvey with two companies of light infantry, to reconnoitre their camp ; and
from the report of that officer, General Vincent was resolved to attack them that very night.

As soon as General Vincent had completed the defeat
of the enemy, he again fell back upon Burlington
Heights, taking as trophies of his victory three field
pieces and a brass field howitzer, captured from the
enemy, besides both their generals and about one hundred and fifty officers, sergeants and rank and file.

All the troops, both regulars and militia, that could
possibly be spared from the garrison at Burlington
:Heights, together with those who had retreated from
George, amounting in all to about seven hundred,
were ordered to be in readiness for a movement. Immediately after dark, they commenced an advance
towards Stony Creek, where, after several halts, in order
to reconnoitre the country through which they were
marching, they arrived between one and two o'clock of
the morning of the 6th of Juue. Immediately the
quarter guard of the enemy was surprised and taken,
and the assailants rushed into the camp where all WilS in
apparent security. But such a scene of carnage eommenced—the huzzas of the beseigers, the yells of the
Indians led on by Captain Brant, the clashing of bayonets and above all the thunder of the cannon and
musketry, rendered it truly appalling. A column of the
enemy was at length formed into some kind of order,
but to no purpose ; they were by this time completely
unnerved and dispirited, which, together with the darkness of the night and the clouds of smoke, threw them
into the greatest confusion and disorder. Not so, however, with the British troops, their plans had been so
well concerted that every man knew the rallying signal ;
they were, therefore, at all times beyond surprise.
The American army, being completely discomfited,
:etreated fromtheir bivouac in the greatest confusion.

After the defeat at Stony Creek, the American army,
in the most indiscribable terror, retreated towards
Fort George, without the least military order or subordination : in fact, such officers as could avail themselves
of horses on the road, regardless of the means employed
for that purpose, took them and made their way to the
lines with all possible speed, and left the rest of the army
to shift for themselves; they therefore retreated in
small detached parties, some of whom had exonerated
themselves of their arms and equipments. Thus did
they travel towards their head quarters in parties of
from two or three to a dozen ; and were, in compassion
for their sufferings, succored by those very people whose
houses, a day or two previous, they had ransacked and
plundered
A short time afterwards, General Vincent, receiving
some reinforcements, marched towards Fort George with
e view to invest that post. He formed his line on the
Four Mile Creek, with his left resting on the lake.
General Lewis, who now had the full command of the
American army, (General Dearborn having resigned,)
finding his advanced posts and foraging parties continually harrassed and frequently made prisoners by small
detachments of British troops stationed at different posts
through the country in order to maintain a communication that supplies might he received in the camp,
despatched Colonel Boerstler with about six or seven
hundred men to dispe se these small camps so annoying to
his army The American Colonel was however attacked
by a body of Indian warriors headed by Captain Brant,
-

188

HISTORY OF

supported by a piquet of nearly one hundred men, near
the village of Beaver Dams ; and such was the terror of
Colonel Boerstler and those under his command, that he
surrendered himself and his whole force to Colonel
Bishop.

THE LATE WAR.

189

CHAPTER XXIV.
An Expedition formed at Kingston against Sackett's
Harbor—Failure of that Expedition—Affairs in the
Neighborhood of Detroit—General Proctor marches a
Force against Fort Meigs—Arrival of General Clay
with a Reinforcement for the Army under General
Harrison—An Attack upon the British Batteries—The
British, in turn, attack the American Position—The
Americans suffer a total Defeat—Loss sustained on
both Sides—General Proctor returns to Detroit.
DURING the operations on the Niagara frontier, an
expedition was fitted out at Yingston for a descent upon
Sackett's Harbor, Tinder a mutual arrangement between
Sir George Prevost the commander in chief and Sir
James Lucas Yeo the British commodore.
On the 28th of May, the expedition was ready for
sailing. It consisted of thirty-three gun boats, each
carrying a proportion of troops, accompanied by the
commodore's flag-ship About ten o'clock that night,
they weighed anchor and stood for the American side of
the lake. On their appearance before Sackett's Harbor,
the alarm was instantly given ; and the regulars and
militia, posted in the neighborhood, hurried to the relief
of the troops left by General Dearborn for the defence of
the place.
Colonel Baynes, who commanded the British troops
on this expedition, lost no time in effecting a landing,
though in the face of a large body of American militia
under Colonel Mills, posted on the beach for the purpose
of opposing their debarkation. No sooner had the British troops formed on the beach and thrown in a volley
upon the enemy, than they fled in confusion. The

190

HISTORY OP

grenadiers of the 100th Regiment formed the British
advance-guard, who gallantly drove the enemy from
every post of which they had taken possession.
General Brown, of the United States militia, having
collected a large force, hurried to Sackett's Harbor where
he assumed the command of the whole ; and, advancing,
attacked the rear of the British, while they were
assailed in front by the batteries, which completely disconcerted the movements of the troops for a moment.
Colonel Baynes perceiving from the immense force
which was now opposed to him, that it would be impossible to attain the primary object of the expedition, it
was therefore deemed advisable to abandon the enterprise ; the troops were accordingly re-embarked, after
having sustained a loss of two hundred and fifty-nine in
killed, wounded and missing, while that of the enemy
must have been double that number.
Had the object for which this expedition was planned
succeeded, namely, the capture of the town and arsenal,
the American loss would have been immense, as this
was the grand depot for the whole naval and military
stores for the service of the lakes and the Army of the
Centre as well as the militia in that vicinity. Already
had the enemy burnt a quantity of the stores, with an
intention no doubt of evacuating the place, when General Brown arrived with a large reinforcement which
i mmediately arrested the current of victory.
The movements in the neighborhood of Amherstburg
and the Michigan and Ohio frontiers, are next in succession for consideration. After the signal defeat of
General Winchester at the River Raisin, General Harrison took up a position with the whole remaining force,
consisting of two thousand, five hundred men, at Fort
Meigs, a post on the left bank of Maumee river, there
to await the arrival of reinforcements to enable him,

THE LATE WAR.

191

with effect, to attack forts Detroit and Ainherstburg.
The American commander had employed every means
which art could suggest, in order to strengthen Fort
Meigs : he had so completely entrenched himself as to
bid defiance to an assault by any British force which
could in that quarter be brought against him.
About the 20th of April, 1813, General Proctor collected a force of about nine hundred and thirty men
including four hundred and sixty of the militia, besides
twelve hundred Indians, at Detroit, and embarked them
on board a flotilla of gun boats and batteaux, whence
they proceeded across the lake to the mouth of Maumee
River which they ascended about twelve miles, and
landed at Fort Meigs, the position of General Harrison.
Here the construction of batteries was immediately
commenced ; but owing to the torrents of rain which
continued to fall during the whole period the batteries
were being erected, rendered it impossible to complete
them before the first of May ; on the morning of which
a regular siege was commenced upon the enemy's fort,
but without making the least apparent impression.
A detachment consisting of the flank companies with
a field-piece was then selected to cross the river with a
view to enfilade the enemy's position, while an incessant fire was maintained by the artillery upon both sides
until the morning of the 5th, when an officer arrived
at Fort Meigs with a small detachment from General
Clay's division, bearing intelligence that that general
was now only a few miles distant, on his way to reinforce the garrison of Fort Meigs with his whole division
consisting of thirteen hundred men. On this information, General Harrison immediately despatched an
express to General Clay, with orders that he should
land the troops under his command on the right bank of
the river, with a view to penetrate and destroy the British batteries and spike the guns. At the time General
Clay was met by the courier from General Harrison, he

HISTORY OP

THE LATE WAR.

was only a short distance from Fort Meigs : he immediately passed to the opposite side of the river, and
after examining the banks for some distance downwards,
found a convenient place to disembark. After landing,
the troops were formed into two columns, the command
of the front of which was confided to Colonel Dudley,
which was intended for the attack. In this order they
advanced so rapidly on the British batteries, and had so
completely eluded the view of the sentinels, that within
a few minutes, and without the loss of a single man on
their part, they had executed General Harrison's orders,
and taken a few prisoners.

equipped himself with the arms and accoutrements of
an unfortunate soldier of his own regiment, who had
already fallen in the field, exclaimed, " This will not
do—we must charge them."

192

At the moment that Colonel Dudley commenced the
assault upon the British batteries, ,General Harrison
made a sortie with his whole force upon the flank companies; but their defence was so determined, that he
was completely foiled in every assault. The British
reserve troops were immediately rallied, amounting to
about two hundred including regulars and militia, the
most of the latter being employed by the commissariat,
collecting supplies for the troops. This small detachment, under the gallant Captain Muir of the 41st
Regiment, advanced upon the enemy who was strongly
posted in.line in rear of the British batteries, with his
right resting on the river, his centre extending through
a clear space, while his left was lost to view in the adjoining woods.
So soon as Captain Muir advanced within view of the
enemy's line; he formed line within the verge of the
woods, with files a little extended, and in this position
threw in a well directed volley upon the enemy's right.
The enemy immediately returned the fire ; after which,
for some time, an incessant fire was maintained upon
both sides with great effect. It was evident, however,
that the British, whose number was originally small, was
fast decreasing, when the brave and intrepid Captain
Chambers of the 41st Regiment, who had previously

193

The order to charge was instantly communicated along
the line, when immediately the little band, chiefly
composed of the 41st Regiment supported by a few militiamen, emerged from the woods, with the gallant and
fearless Muir at their head, and his brave coadjutor
Chambers on the left, (at once performing the duty of a
soldier in the double capacity of an officer and private,)
and rushed upon the right of the enemy's column.
This movement was as gallant as it was prompt and
decisive, and entirely confirmed the fortunate issue of
that brilliant achievement : the enemy hesitated, wavered, and at length gave way ; the panic was immediately
imparted throughout their whole line, when they turned in confusion and retreated towards their boats,
spreading terror in their flight ; but the Indians,
who all this time had remained silent spectators
of this sanguinary struggle, watching for a favorable moment to commence the work of death, intercepted their
retreat ; and, before they could reach their boats, upwards of six hundred and fifty of them were killed.
The enemy's loss, in this affair, in killed, wounded
and prisoners, was no less than eleven hundred and
forty-five. Among the killed was the American Colonel
Dudley, a brave, intrepid and magnanimous officer.
The British lost, in the action of the 5th, fourteen killed
and forty-seven wounded. Of this loss the 41st Regiment alone had eleven killed and thirty-nine wounded.
After the action, General Proctor was informed by the
Indian chiefs, that it was impossible to restrain their
warriors from their ancient and established custom of
returning home to their villages, after a battle of any
consequence, k as was the action just fought,) to erri

HISTORY

194

or

themselves in a revelry in the plunder they had acquired ;
he was, therefore, on the 9th of the month, compelled
to embark his guns and stores, under the fire of the
enemy's batteries, and henceforth abandon the enterprise.

THE LATE WAR.

195

CHAPTER XXV.

,

Action between the Peacock and Hornet—The Peacock
surrenders and Hoists a Signal of Distress—Loss of
the two contending Vessels—Reception of Captain
Lawrence in the United Stales—Captain Lawrence
appointed to the Command of the Chesapeake,—Affair
between that Frigate and the Shannon before Boston
Harbor--Surrender of the Chesapeake—Loss of both
Frigates—Remarks—Action between the British Sloop
of War Pelican and the United States Sloop of War
Argus—Surrender of the Argus—Loss sustained—
Engagement between the Brig Boxer and the Brig
Enterprise.
Jr is proper, in this period of the narrative, to take a
retrospect of the naval operations of the year, bcth as
respects the seaboard and the lakes of Upper Canada ;
as much of the movements of the land forces on the
Canadian frontiers to the westward, depended on having
the command of Lake Erie. Hitherto the arms of Great
Britain, by land, (a few unavoidable reverses excepted,)
have been covered with victory, notwithstanding the
great superiority of numbers with which they had at all
times to contend. The national skill, and the heroic
courage of the navies of the belligerents appear to be
more on an equal f,oting. There are causes, however,
to which this equality in naval gallantry and skill is
to be ascribed, and to which, in a former part of this
work has already been alluded.
The naval actions of any consequence, during the
year 1813, were commenced by the British armed brig
Peacock, Captain William Peake, and the American
armed brig Hornet, Captain Lawrence, off the coast of
Demarara, in latitu:le nearly six degrees north, longitude
50 degrees west.

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

On the 24th of March, Captain Peake discovered the
Hornet beating against the wind, for the purpose, as
would appear, of coming up with an English brig lying
at anchor near the Carabona banks, on that coast. The
Peacock immediately stood for her under a crowd of
canvass, which Captain Lawrence, perceiving, put about
and laid his course to meet his adversary.

On the arrival of Captain Lawrence in the United
States, he was every where greeted with the enthusiastic plaudits of his grateful country ; and was, by the
government, as a mark of its approbation for his consummate skill and courage, appointed to the command of the
Chesapeake frigate, then repairing in the harbor of
Boston.

About half past five o'clock, P. M., the vessels arrived
within range of shot, and almost at the same moment
of time each fired a broadside. The action was maintained, for about fifteen minutes, with the utmost
vigor upon both sides; the Hornet was then laid
upon the starboard quarter of her antagonist, for
the purpose of raking her, while the Peacock was
crippled in such a manner that it became impossible
to fetch her round. In this position the battery
of the Hornet was so ably directed in raking her,
that she was found to be sinking, and was therefore, in
a few minutes, compelled to strike her flag and hoist a
signal of distress at the same moment. Captain Lawrence, perceiving a signal of distress on board of his
vanquished enemy, immediately despatched his boats in
order to save the crew ; but in spite of every effort, the
Peacock went down, carrying with her nine of her own
crew and three of the Hornet's, who were with a huMane and laudable zeal exerting themselves for the
safety of the wounded.

When Captain Lawrence arrived at Boston to assume
the command of the Chesapeake, the Shannon and the
Tenedos, two British frigates, were cruising without the
harbor. With a view to afford Captain Lawrence and
his country a full opportunity of testing the relative
skill and prowess of the British and American navy,
Captain Broke, of the Shannon frigate, ordered the
Tenedos to lay her course to the ocean, and at the end
of a month to join him at the same place.

196

The loss of the British, in killed and wounded, in
this action, w as thirty-eight, five of whom were killed,
amongst which number was the gallant Captain Peake.
The American loss was trifling, being only one killed
and four wounded*.

*Captain Lawrence's Report to the Secretary of the Navy.

197

-

The Tenedos having separated, Captain Broke wore
the Shannon down into the mouth of Boston harbor,
corning close by the light house, having the British
colors flying at the mast head. This was a naval challenge of which Captain Lawrence did not affect the
least ignorance, but with as little delay as possible got
ready for sea.
On the 1st day of June, between twelve and one
o'clock, the Chesapeake weighed anchor and stood out
to meet her adversary. Much naval skill was displayed
upon both sides in manoeuvring the ships for the action ;
and about half past five o'clock, P. M., the ships arrived
within range of each other's cannon. The beach was
literally covered with spectators as far as vision extended, to witness these two naval champions contend for
the honor and glory of their country—nay, Captain
Broke had yet something more to achieve : the trident
had been partly, in the eyes of the world, wrested from
the hand of Britania by the very nation, the champion
of which he was now about to encounter, and that too
R2

199

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR•

on his own shores. A more than common interest seemed to pervade all classes of the spectators, when these
naval gladiators, as it were, entered the arena. The
Chesapeake had, in imitation of the Shannon, a national
color at each mast head, on one of which was the inscription, " free trade and sailor's rights." These two ships
proudly tossed before them the white surf of the ocean,
in nautical manoeuvring, as if in defiance of each other.
At length, about half past five o'clock in the evening,
they came to close quarters, and the battle commenced.
No sooner had they exchanged a few broadsides than
the Chesapeake dropped her quarter on the anchor of
the Shannon, and thus they became foul in each other's
rigging. The fire from both ships at this time was truly
tremendous ; but such was the coolness and intrepidity
displayed by the British, and such the effect and precision of their fire, that the enemy was completely driven
from his Varters. The boarders of the Shannon were
immediately summoned ; and with Captain Broke at
their head, they rushed on the enemy's decks.

heroic command—" Dont give up the ship," which mandate has since become proverbial amongst American
seamen.

198

At this crisis of the engagement, for a few moments,
a most confused and disorderly struggle ensued ; but the
enemy was forced, by the boarders, from every post of
which he had taken possession, and ultimately called for
quarters. The American flag was struck and the British flag hoisted in its stead—the whole of which was
accomplished in fifteen minutes from the commencement
of the action.
The brave Captain Lawrence, of the Chesapeake,
was severely wounded at the commencement of the
action, but refused to leave the deck ; he still, leaning
on the companion-way for support, continued to issue his
orders with the same degree of coolness ; but while calling up the boarders, he was wounded through the body
by a musket ball which brought him to the deck, and
while carrying below by his companions, gave his last

The loss of the Shannon, in this short but sanguinary
affair, was twenty-three killed and fifty-six wounded :
amongst the latter was the brave Captain Broke, who
was wounded in the head with a cutlass in the affray
on the deck of the Chesapeake, while attempting to
save some of the Americans from the fury of his boarders, at the moment when he conceived himself to be in
the arms of victory. The loss on board of the Chesapeake was forty-seven killed and ninety-three wounded.
The gallant Captain Lawrence died of his wounds, in
four days after the action ; so also did the first lieutenant
Ludlow : they were both carried into Halifax, and there
interred with the honors of war. The pall was borne at
the funeral by six of the 'oldest captains on the Halifax.
station, then in port.
It has been asserted by American writers, with a view
no doubt to eclipse the glory of this achievement, that
much depended on the relative strength of the two
frigates in deciding the victory. It is true the Shannon
mounted fifty-three guns while the Chesapeake mounted
only forty-nine, a difference of four guns in favor of the
British. But while this is admitted, (which of itself is
not sufficient to warrant a victory in so short a period,
between two ships of such great force,) it should also be
known, that on board the Chesapeake there was a complement of 440 men, all stout, young and in good
health ; while on board of the Shannon there were but
three hundred and thirty men, making no allowance for
sick, which that there were such on board, was more
than probable, as she had not been in port for some
months previous. This leaves a difference of one hundred and ten men in favor of the Chesapeake. Captain
Lawrence was fully aware of the force to which he was

200

HISTORY or

about to be opposed ; there can therefore be no question
but he put out to sea prepared in the best possible manner
for the contest.
The capture of the Chesapeake was the precursor to
another naval triumph. It seemed only to evince that
British seamen were in that day what they had ever
been, and what they would continue to be until the end
of time, when opposed to any thing like an equal force,
always invincible on their native element to their enemies
to whateirer nation under the sun those enemies belonged.
' ing of the 14th of August, His Majesty's
On the morn
sloop of war Pelican, commanded by Captain Maples,
while cruising the British channel, perceived a strange
sail at some distance, which on closer examination was
found to carry American colors and crowding all canvass.
As the Pelican bore up to her, she hauled in and cleared away for action.
The British commenced the engagement with three
cheers ; and for forty-five minutes both vessels maintained a most desperate and sanguinary conflict, after which
the Pelican was laid on board the enemy and the boarders summoned ; but at the very moment when the
boarders were about to assail the enemy on his own
decks, he hauled down his colors.
The enemy proved to be the United States sloop of
war Argus, commanded by Captain Allen. In tte 1,:st
of the engagement, Captain Allen was wounded in the
left leg about the knee, for which he had to suffer amputation in the thigh, and of which he died next day.
The loss on board the Pelican was two killed and six
wounded : on board the Argus, the killed and woun,led
amounted to forty. Amongst the wounded of the Argus

THE LATE WAR.

201

was the lieutenant, who was also with the the captain
wounded early in the action.
The next engagement to be recorded, was fought
at some distance from the entrance of Portsmouth harbor, on the coast of New Hampshire, in the United
States, between His Majesty's armed brig Boxer, Captain Blythe, and the United States armed brig Enterprise,
Lieutenant Burrows.
On the 5th of September, these two vessels met ;
and while yet at some distance from each other, the
Boxer fired a gun by way of challenge and hoisted the
British colors at each mast head and an ensign at the
mizen peake. The enemy continued her course until
having wore round and made the weather gage of his
adversary, fired a shot in his turn and hoisted three national colors in imitation of the Boxer.
About two o'clock, P. M., when the two brigs were
within a few rods of each other, the crew of the Boxer
gave three cheers and threw in a broadside upon the
enemy, which was immediately returned by the enterprise. This conflict now began to rage with all the fury
which a seafight was capable of assuming.
About half past three o'clock, the Boxer becoming
considerably crippled and consequently unmanageable,
the Enterprise wore round to lay in a posture for raking,
in which position she continued for ten minutes, raking
the Boxer at each fire with a whole broadside of grape
and canister, until the situation of the Boxer rendered
it advisable to surrender, being incapable of further
resistance.
In consequence of the crippled state of the Boxer so
early in the action, her loss was much greater than that
of the enterprise. In this engagement the commanders
of both vessels fell ; and the hull and rigging of the

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HISTORY Or

Boxer was nearly rendered useless before it terminated.
Lieutenant Mc. Call, on whom devolved the comtdand
of the. Enterprise after the death of Lieutenant Burrows,
took his prize into Portland harbor, where the bodies of
the two hostile chiefs were interred beside each other
with military honors

THE LATE WAR

203

CHAPTER XXVI.
Engagement between the hostile Squadrons on Lake Erie,
commanded by Commodores Barclay and Perry—Commodore Perry transfers his Flag, in the Heat of Action,
in an open Boat—British Squadron surrenders—Remarks—Retreat of the British Forces from Detroit and
Amherstburg—Action at Moravian Village—General
Proctor continues his Retreat to Ancaster—Remarks.
DURING these operations on the ocean, the American
armies intended for the invasion of Canada, had been
for the most part quietly resting on their arms, waiting
for the fitting out of a fleet which was then in a forward
state, to contest the dominion of Lake Erie, with Commodore Barclay. In the latter part of August ihis fleet
was ready to sail, consisting of nine vessels of various
sizes carrying in all fifty-nine guns, the command of
which was confided to Commodore Perry:
The British fleet, under Commodore Barclay, consisting of six vessels of various sizes, and carrying an
aggregate of sixty-nine guns, on the morning of the
10th of September, descried the American squadron at
anchor in Put-in-bay, near the head of Lake Erie.
The British commodore immediately crowded sail and
bore down upon the enemy, which Commodore Perry
discovering, weighed anchor and got under way to meet
him.
The hostile squadrons formed lines of battle about ten
o'clock, A. M.—but in consequence of the calm which
that morning prevailed on the lake, it was forty-five
siinutes past eleven before the ships could approach
within range of shot. On the enemy's flag ship, the
Lawrence, (which was ahead of the squadron,) nearing,
the Detroit, the flag ship of Commodore Barclay, opened

2-To

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

a heavy fire, in opposition to which, the distance being
so great, the Lawrence could not bring her carronades to
bear. Commodore Perry, however, continued to approach
his antagonist, notwithstanding the disadvantages under
which he labored. The Queen Charlotte, by this time,
had come up and opened her fire upon the American
commodore ; yet Perry, undismayed by his hazardous
situation, steadily maintained his course, not even waiting for his smaller vessels to come up—until within
pistol shot of his adversaries, he commenced a fire in
turn. He still continued to advance as if he intended
to board the Detroit, until the sides of the Lawrence
were in a number of places perforated with shot, his
decks literally swept of his crew, and almost every gun
rendered useless.

This victory was certainly signal and decisive on the
part of the Americans. The intrepid conduct of Captain Perry through the whole day, called forth the
admiration of Captain Barclay with the whole officers
and crews of his fleet ; but his conduct after the engagement was no less conspicious for kindness and humanity
towards the prisoners. To this the brave and generous
Barclay sets his seal in the following declaration--that,
" the conduct of Perry towards the captive officers and
seamen was sufficient to immortalize him."

204

In this crisis of the engagement, the other American
vessels, which had been delayed by the calm, began to
to approach ; and Captain Perry, discovering that the
Lawrence was becoming completely untenable, embarked with the greatest coolness into an open boat, in the
midst of a tremendous cannonade, and transferred his
flag to the Niagara, after which the Lawrence drifted
into the British line and surrendered.
So soon as Perry raised his flag in the Niagara, he
ordered his smaller vessels to close with the British
squadron ; he then broke through the line and laid himself alongside the Detroit, where he poured in such
tremendous broadsides, that, together with the injury
she had already sustained, compelled her to surrender.
The other vessels had all ere this closed into action;
and having maintained such an incessant tire upn the
Queen Charlotte as obliged her to follow the example
of the Detroit, to which destiny the whole fleet was in a
few moments compelled to submit.

The loss of the British squadron, in this engagement,

in killed and wounded, amounted to one hundred and
thirty-five, forty-one of whom were of the former,
among whom were Captain Finnis and the first Lieutenant of the Queen Charlotte. In this action, Captain
Barclay's only remaining hand was disabled, having
previously lost the other in the service of his king and
country. The loss of the Americans in killed and
wouncyl amounted to one hundred and twenty-three,
twenty-six of whom were killed.
It would be impossible to conceive in what extraordinary and extravagant language this victory was extolled
throughout the United States. The circumstance, too.,
of Captain Barclay having an advantage of ten guns
over the etterny, was a matter of too much importance
to make the story take well, to be once lost sight of.
Nothing, however, was said of the greater number of
small craft which the enemy possessed—vessels upon
which, when brought to close quarters, it is next to a
moral impossibility to bring the guns of a larger vessel
to bear, while they at the same time possess all the
power o annoying them. But the principal disadvantage
under which Commodore Barclay had to encounter the
enemy, was not in the number of ships. The American
government had, for a length of time, been engaged in
the most extensive and vigorous preparations for the
equipment of a naval force on Lake Erie, which should

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HISTORY OF

afford to that nation the ascendency on that interior ocean,
Being now fully convinced that before a conquest
could be made of Upper Canada, they must command
the lake—hence the long inactive state of the American
army destined for that service. Commodore Barclay
had not in his whole fleet fifty seamen*, and even a
number of these were only rated ordinary seamen, the
deficiency of whom was supplied by soldiers drafted
Chiefly from the Newfoundland fencible regiment, whose
very situation in life, as soldiers, precluded them from
any knowledge of the management of a ship, or even of
the technical phrases of naval officers. However good
those men might be in the field in their original capacity as soldiers, their ignorance of the duty to be
performed as sailors, in all the h urry and bustle of a
sea fight, must have had a strong and powerful tendency to reduce them, at least, to one half the strength
which their number would import. In opposition to
this, the United States government, in its preparations
for prosecuting the war on the Canadian frontier, selected crews to man the fleet on Lake Erie, of the ablest
and most skilful seamen in the United States navy. It
was determined by that government that Canada should
fall before its arms, and therefore nothing was left undone
which could be done to promote this object. The consummate diligence with which Perry's squadron had
been equipped with seamen and necessaries for the important service for which it was intended, could not fail
of securing to him the victory, even over a force of
much more potence than that under the command of
Commodore Barclay. The victory once gaiinnl, General Harrison, who was daily receiving reinforcements at
Fort Meigs, waited to give the coup de grace to the
enterprise.

*About seven to each vessel.

TIIE LATE WAR.

201

After the capture of the British squadron on Lake
Erie, Forts Antherstburg, Detroit and the adjacent
posts became untenable by the British, and were consequently abandoned. Before General Proctor had
evacuated the positions which he occupied on that part
of the frontier he destroyed the magazines and forts
together with all such public stores as he could not carry with the army.
During these transactions, General Harrison having
received reinforceinents amounting to seven or eight
thousand men, including four thousand volunteers from
the state of Kentucky under Samuel Shelby the governor of that state, made a descent upon Canada. Corn.
Perry conveyed all the troops, artillery and stores, in
his flotilla, from the mouth of the Miami to the Canadian
shore, except the dragoons who were to advance by land
and so order their march that they might arrive in the
neighborhood of Malden at the same time with the infantry.
General Harrison, on his arrival, having found the
different posts evacuated, invested General Mc. Arthur
with the chief command of those garrisons, and prepared
to pursue the retreating army up the river Thames
with a force of three thousand men, including Colonel
Johnson's corps of dragoons consisting of one thousand.
So soon as General Proctor understood that Harrison
was in pursuit of him, he formed a position on the right
bank of the River Thames, near the Moravian village,
and there awaited his approach. On the 5th of October
the enemy made his appearance in great force. General
Proctor had formed his troops into line, to the number
of five or six hundred. The Indians under Tecumseh,
to the amount of twelve hundred, occupied a swampy
thick
to the right of General Proctor's
position.

2as

209

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

The first movement which was made, after a few
volleys, the enemy's cavalry charged the British line,
which completely decided the issue of the day : the
line gave way at the charge ; and the enemy's cavalry
formed in the rear to commence with the rifle, when the
British troops surrendered. To the left of the enemy's
position, which was opposed to the Indians, the battle
raged with more obstinacy. This part of the enemy's
line had even given way until a column under Governor Shelby was brought up to its support. The Indians,
encouraged by the presence of Tecumseh, fought with
an enthusiasm bordering on desperation, until the fall of
that great aboriginal hero, when the Indians visibly
gave way until they had' entirely left the field,

The success of the American arms on Lake Jrie and
its surrounding shores, had so intoxicated and bewildered
the enemy, that, in their subsequent movements, nothing
but conquest and victory were calculated upon—no
allowance whatever was made for a failure in any one
point. " Canada must now be ours," was the exulting
and arrogant language of that deluded people.

General Proctor with his staff continued their retreat
until they arrived at the village of Ancaster, about ten
miles distant from Burlington Heights, where they remained a few days to collect the scattered remains of the
army, which amounted to nearly two hundred men.
Before the American army returned to Detroit, they
consigned to the flames the Moravian village, pretending
to justify their savage conduct by offering it as a retaliation for what they called the massacre at the River
Raisin.
During General Harrison's absence from Detroit, a
few of the Indian tribes tendered their services to General Mc. Arthur, to raise the hatchet against the enemies
of the United States by whom they were readily accepted.
In the action at Moravian village, the British lost, in
killed, wounded and missing, about three hundred and
sixty-nine, three hundred of whom were prisoners. The
loss of the enemy, in killed and wounded, was about
fifty.

General Wilkinson was called from the south to assume the command of the American forces in the north,
in the room of General Dearborn, which now with
General Hampton's division amounted to about eighteen
thousand men, to which General Harrison's division
was ordered to be added. Such were the gigantic and
formidable preparations for the capture of Montreal,
where the American soldiers were promised, as an additional incitement, good winter quarters.

210

HISTORY OF

CHAPTER XXVII.
An 4merican Army under General Wilkinson, intended
to invade Mantreal, assembles at Grenadier Island—
Movement of that. Army down the River St. Lawrence—Engagement at Crysler's Farm—The Enemy
driven of the Field—An American Army, under General Hampton, enters Lower Canada at the Chateaugay
River—General Hampton's Army driven back to the
United States Territory—The United States Forces
retire to winter Quarters—Colonel Iilurray, with a
small Force, advances on Fort George—General Mc.
Clare burns the Town of Newark and evacuates that
Post—Capture of Fort Niagara by a British Force
under Colonel Murray—Capture of Lewiston—Capture of Buffalo and Black Rock—Conflagration of the
American Frontier on the Niagara River—Overtures
of Mediation offered by the Russian Emperor—British
and American Ministers treat at Gottenburg.
IN the month of October, that portion of the American
army stationed on the Niagara frontier was ordered to
Sackett's Harbor ; at which place, a short time afterwards, General Harrison arrived with such part of his
army as was not required far the defence of the western
frontier.

The enemy endeavored, by several false movements,
to impose a belief on the British generals, that the intention of this force collecting at Sackett's Harbor, was a
descent upon Kingston. However, their movements
were so closely watched, that every information necessary was acquired in due time to ascertain the future
disposition of this truly redoubtable host.

TnE LATE WAR.

211

After General Wilkinson had collected all his forces
at Grenadier's Island, (between Kingston and Sackett's
Harbor,) they were embarked on board the flotilla to descend the River St Lawrence. On the 6th of November
they arrived at Williamsburg, where the stores and munitions of war of this invincible armada, together with
all the troops, were disembarked on the Canadian side
of the river, with a view to pass the British posts at
Prescot and its vicinity in the night, undiscovered ; but
in this particular they were egregieusly deceived. A
force, though small compared with that of the enemy,
had been held in readiness at Kingston to follow the
movements of the American army, under the command
of Colonel Morrison, consisting of the skeletons of the
49th and 89th Regiments and three companies of the
Canadian Voltigeurs with a few militia—in all, amounting to nearly eight hundred men, with a few gun boats
to hover on the rear of the enemy's flotilla.
As the enemy came up with the Fort of Prescot, fully persuaded that all within was perfectly quiet, they
were assailed upon both elements by such a fire of musketry and battery guns as at first quite disconcerted their
advance.
After the enemy had passed Prescot, they continued
their advance a few miles further down the river, where,
in the morning, as they were preparing the flotilla to
move on towards the rapids of the Long Soult, Colonel
Morrison with his detachment came up with them. The
American General Boyd was ordered to form his division
consisting of nearly four thousand men. They were
drawn up in three columns, (one of which was composed of cavalry,) under Generals Covington, Swartwout
and Coles. Colonel Morrison, on account of the superior strength of the enemy, was compelled for a length
of time to act altogether on the defensive. The enemy,
by repeatA charging with his cavalry on the left of the
British line, attempted to turn that flank; but the

e

212

HISTORY OP

THE LATE WAR.

moment Colonel Morrison perceived the manoeuvre, he
prepared the 49th in conjunction with the 89th to form
an echelon, while the Voltigeurs and militia, under
Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, were employed to flank
the enemy's infantry. The enemy, perceiving the British column performing the field movements in double
quick time, supposed the troops to be leaving the field,
and in exultation gave a cheer ; but before they arrived
on the ground occupied by the British, a crest was presented, to penetrate which they had neither courage nor
discipline sufficient to attempt ; and the heavy oblique
fire maintained by the echelon forced them to retire in
confusion at every effort they made.

been designated, from the place on which it was fought ;)
and it fairly demonstrated that in nothing bat numbers
was this American army formidable, and by which means
it became unwieldy to its undisciplined generals.

After the repeated and unsucceseful charges of the
enemy's cavalry, the infantry was then ordered to advance, who charged with as little success as the cavalry ;
and in the last of those sallies of the infantry, the 89th,
under Captain Barnes, captured a gun from the assailants. Colonel Morrison now closed his column with
the enemy, who maintained a heavy fire in order to
check his advance ; but the cool, steady and determined
front with which the British column advanced by platoons, who together with the artillery kept up such a
tremendous and destructive fire that the enemy was
driven from his position in dismay, and compelled to
seek refuge in their boats.
Lieutenant Colonel Pearson with the three companies
of Voltigeurs and militia at this moment routed the
enemy's light troops which had been formed to cover
his retreat ; after which the British troops occupied for
the night the ground upon vhich the enemy had taken
up his position.

23

The loss of the British, in this engagement, amounted
to one hundred and sixty-eight in killed and wounded,
exclusive of twelve missing : that of the enemy was
three hundred and thirty-nine in killed, wounded and
missing*.
In Sir George Prevost's despatches to Earl Bathurst,
in speaking of the different attempts by the enemy to
invade His Majesty's North American colonies, honorable mention is repeatedly made of the loyalty and great
zeal for the service of their sovereign, evinced by the
inhabitants of Canada ; and General Wilkinson, in his
despatches to his government of this affair, bears ample
testimony to the truth of this statement. Among the
killed of the enemy was one of their generals, Covington.
The enemy, under General Hampton, consisting of
from eight to ten thousand, on the morning of the 21st
October, commenced its entry into Canada, by the Chateaugay River, on its march for Montreal ; and on the
25th, having passed his whole force, magazines, and
warlike munitions into the British territory, he commenced his advance ; and coming up with the British
position which he found to be fortified by one continued
succession of fortifications formed by angles well supplied with ordnance, with a line of breastworks extending

-

Never were the cool intrepidity and superior discipline of the British troops and militia of Canada
displayed to better advantage than at the battle of rysler's farm (the name by which this engagement has

*General Wilkinson's Despatches to the Secretary of War.
According to British accounts, upwards of one hundred of this
number were prisoners of war.

214

HISTORY OF

between—the whole extending for some miles and covered by a wood*. Next morning, with a view it would
appear to avoid coming in contact with the British position, General Hampton's light troops forming his advance,
were discovered advancing on both sides of the Chateaugay ; but Lieutenant Colonel De Salaberry, of the
Canadian Voltigeurs, commanding the British advanced
post, by a well concerted disposition of the troops under
his command, consisting of the light company of the
Canadian fencibles and two companies of the Voltigeurs,
completely checked the advance of the enemy's light
troops on the left bank of the river, with the whole main
body of the American army under Generals Hampton
and Izard ; while Captain Daily's company of the third
battalion of embodied militia and Captain Bruyer's company of Chateaugay Chasseurs turned the enemy's
advance troops on the right bank of the river. The
enemy finding himself completely foiled in his exertions
to pass this post, refired for some distance ; but attempted
repeatedly in the course of the day to renew his efforts,
all of which proved equally unsuccessful with his first
endeavors ; and that night they once more commenced
their retreat to the opposite side of the line of demarkation..
By the reports of prisoners who were taken in this affair with the enemy at Chateaugay, General Hampton's
army actually engaged must have amounted to at least
seven thousand infantry and two hundred cavalry besides
ten pieces of field ordnance, while the British troops actually engaged did not exceed three hundred'. The

*General Hampton's Report, dated 1st November, 1813.
tSir George Prevost's Report of this Affair, dated Montreal,
30th November, 1813.

THE LATE WAR.

215

loss sustained by the British in this action, in killed,
wounded and missing, amounted to twenty-five : that
of the enemy to fifty.
About the time the enemy made his appearance in
front of thd British position, Sir George Prevost arrived
on the ground from Montreal, and was happily a witness
to the heroic conduct of the troops engaged in that
glorious achievement ; and in his report to Earl Bathurst,
in the most exulting language, expressed his high approbation of their conduct.
General 'Wilkinson had, at an early stage of the expedition, transmitted an order to General Hampton to join
him at St. Regis ; but that officer having learned the
the low state of General Wilkinson's supplies of provisions, and considering the state of the roads which
was at this season of the year very indifferent, conceived
it the most prudent method to disobey the order, and
not place himself at too great a distance from his own
magazines ; he therefore availed himself of the nearest
route to Montreal, the unsuccessful result of which manoeuvre has just been detailed.
The American army was again ordered to cross the
lines and take up their winter quarters in their own territory, after repeatedly suffering themselves to be
defeated under the most mortifying and humiliating
circumstances ; with the blame of which the commander in chief charged General Hampton, in consequence
of his disobedience of orders, but with which the
American Secretary of War more prop. rty charged both ;
however, it had the effect of checking the military zeal
which appeared to manifest itself in the American ranks
at a distance from the theatre of hostile operations, and
completely to extinguish the ardor of the troops on
the lines.

2t6

21/

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

The country along the St. Lawrence being entirely
exonerated from the incursions of the enemy, Colonel
Murray, of the 100th Regiment, was ordered to advance from Burlington Heights, with a small force,
towards Fort George, with a view at that time merely to
prevent the predatory incursions of the enemy under
General Mc. Clure (then in possession of that post )
the defenceless inhabitants of the surrounding country.
But General Mc. Clure, having heard of the disasters
which had befallen the army destined for Montreal, and
conscious that a like fate might probably await him and
his army, with that dastardly cowardice peculiar to himself and a few of his compatriots and traitors who joined
themselves to his train, and against the very spirit of the
law of nations and of civilized warfare, immersed the
flourishing town of Newark in one continued sheet of
flame, and ignobly fled with his followers into his own
territory. The historian laments that it is not in his
power to record one magnanimous act of that recreant
general, to rescue his name from that gulf of infamy to
which his nefarious conduct has for ever doomed it.

The loss on the part of the British, in this affair, was
only six killed and five wounded : that of the enemy
amounted to sixty-five killed and fourteen wounded, and
the whole of the garrison made prisoners consisting of
nearly three hundred and fifty. There were in the fort,
at the time of its capture, twenty-seven pieces of ordnance of weighty calibre, three thousand muskets with
the apparatus, besides large magazines of camp equipage
and military clothing, which of course fell into the hands
of the victors.

;

On the advance of Major General Riall towards the
Niagara frontier, the American army, abandoned Lewiston, leaving the command of Fort Niagara to Captain
Leonard of the artillery. On the evening of the 18th
December, preparations were made for taking Fort
Niagara from the enemy, for which service Colonel
Murray of the 100th Regiment was selected to take the
command ; and early on the next morning this gallant
officer at the the head of the grenadier company of the
Royal Scots, the grenadier and light companies of the
41st Regiment and a detachment of his own corps,
crossed the river about two miles above the fort upon
which they immediately advanced. On approaching the
fortress, the centries planted on the outer works were
surprised and taken, the countersign obtained, and in a
few minutes the fort was carried at the point of the
bayonet.

Major Leonard, the commandant of the garrison, who
owned a farm on the margin of the river about five
miles above the fort, conceiving every thing on the lines
to be reduced to a state of tranquility, ventured to leave
the fort the preceding evening for his farm, in order to
attend to some domestic affairs, only received his first
apprisal by hearing a royal salute fired from the garrison
at daybreak in honor of the glorious achievement.
On the same day in which Fort Niagara was captured,
the village of Lewiston, about eight miles above Fort
Niagara, was taken possession of by a British force tinder Major General Riall, without opposition, in which
place the public magazines were well filled with provisions and other military stores.
Towards the latter part of the same month, Genera 1
Riall crossed the Niagara River at Black Rock, at the
head of a force consisting of about six hundred men,
detachments from the 8th or King's Regiment, 41st,
89th and 100th regiments, with a few militia volunteers,
exclusive of six or seven companies of the Royal Scots
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, who
were directed to land between the villages of Buffalo
and Black Rock, about two miles distant from each
other, with a view to divert the garrison of Black Rock
while the other troops were landing in front of that post ;
but in consequence of the severity of the weather, it

218

HISTORY or

number of the boats were stranded, by which means
the troops were unable to land in time to effect the object for which they were previously intended ; however,
the enemy was driven from both positions in a short
time. The American loss in this affair was upwards of
five hundred, one hundred and thirty of whom were
prisoners of war : the loss of the British was inconsiderable compared with that of the enemy.
The state of exasperation to which the mind of every
British subject had been wrought by the conduct of Mc.
Clure, in burning the town of Newark, and exposing to
all the inclemency of a Canadian winter both the helpless
infant and infirm old age, that nothing but a similar retaliation could assuage ; the whole line of frontier, from
Buffalo to Fort Niagara, was therefore burnt to ashes.
During this year, the Russian Emperor, Alexander,
had tendered his services as mediator between Great
Britain and the United States ; but Great Britain declined submitting the question to a monarch who was
already known to entertain a great share of jealousy at
the extent of the maritime power Great Britain possessed;
but offered to treat with America by plenipotentiaries
i mmediately named by the two governments, in any
neutral dominion. To this the United States acceded,
and Gottenburg was determined an the place of negotiation.

THE LATE WAR

219

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Review of the Effect the foregoing military Operations
had on the Government and People of the United
Stales—A British military Command despatched for
the Protection of the London and Western Districts—
Engagement at Long Woods—Unsuccessful Attack
upon Odeltown by a Part of General Wilkinson's Army—Invasion of Upper Canada by an American Army
under General Brown—Surrender of Fort Erie—Advance of the American Army down the Niagara River—
A Detachment of British Troops moves out to check
the Advance of the Enemy.
THE total failure of the expeditions which had been
at so much expense fitted out for the invasion of Canada,
had considerably subdued that ardor for military renown,
which, at the commencement of the war, considering
the defenceless state of Canada, promised so rich a harvest of laurels to the United States—add to this the
tardy manner in which all diplomatic intercourse between
the hostile nations was carried on, owing no doubt to
the momentous interest which Great Britain took in the
war on the Peninsula for the independence of Europe.
Nothing, therefore, of very great consequence occurred till the month of March—if we except the predal
incursions of the enemy stationed at Malden, aided by a
few traitors, on the inhabitants of the Western and
London districts ; in consequence of which a general
order was issued for the Royal Scots and 89th light
companies and a company of Kent militia under Captain
Mc. Grigor, the whole detachment under the command
of Captain Stewart ,of the Royal Scots, amounting to
about one hundred and seventy, to take up a position
at Delaware Town, on the River Thames. Here, for
a few weeks, the detachment remained unmolested;

221

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

and from the tranquil appearance which the whole
country presented, it was conceived unnecessary longer
to detain the militia on duty, they were therefore ordered
home.

terrific grandeur to the scene, the sun shot forth a few
partial rays, through a dense forest, on the conflicting
parties, many of whom were not permitted to see his
last ray that evening.

The militia had proceeded but a short distance on
their route homeward, before they discovered a large
column of the enemy fortifying a commanding position
on the road leading through the Long Woods. The
two light companies at Delaware Town, together with
Captain Mc. Grigor's militia who formed the advance
guard, on the morning of the 4th of March. commenced
a zre reli through a trackless desert towards the enemy*.
During the day, the advance had several desultory
skirmishes with the enemy's reconnoitering parties,
which together with the great depth of snow tended very
much to retard the progress of the troops ; it was therefore nearly sunset before they came up with the main
body of the enemy, who had strongly fortified themselves
on the summit of a very steep hill, by a stockade work
raised breast high, about twenty-two miles from Delaware Town.

The night was now fast approaching ; it was therefore
determined to charge the enemy in his works, for which
service the Royal Scots Light company was ordered;
and for the purpose of which, the road being exceedingly
narrow, it was formed into an open column of sections
right in front, in which order it proceeded down the hill
in double quick time: but in attempting to ascend the
hill on which the enemy was posted, it was discovered
to have been rendered one solid sheet of ice by previously throwing on it a quantity of water, and again
covering the deception with snow ; every effort, therefore, to ascend the hill became completely ineffectual ;
and, what rendered the circumstance particularly mortifying, Captain Mc. Grigor perceiving the company
advancing to the charge in the most fearless and undaunted manner, with a view to co-operate, led his
company up to the left of the enemy's works, and was
on the point of effecting an escalade, but unfortunately for want of timely assistance, was once more
repulsed.

220

Captain Mc. Grigor's militia was ordered to move
round and engage the enemy on his left, while the two
companies of regulars engaged him in front : a line was
formed under a most destructive fire from the enemy's
breastworks. The hill upon which the enemy had
taken up his position actually at this moment presented
the appearance of a volcano belching forth cataracts of
streaming fire and columns of smoke ; the air was filled
with one continued roar of musketry, resembling the
rolling of a thousand drums ; and as if to add a more

*A more efficient advance for that service could scarcely have
been selected from the whole force in Upper Canada, than this
handful of militia, led by that gallant veteran Mc. Grigor.

In this short but sanguinary engagement, every officer, except one, and nearly every noncommissioned
officer, with an immense number of rank and file or
the British forces, were either killed or wounded ;
and all who could not escape out of the ravine were
made prisoners of war, though the enemy retreated
that same night about nine o'clock, taking with him
only a few prisoners that were able to ride on horseback, behind his mounted riflemen. The American
strength was between four and five hundred. most of
whom were Kentucky volunteers.
T2

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

Nothing particular transpired on the frontiers after
this, until the beginning of July, if we except a descent which was made upon Odeltown in the month
of March, by a division of General Wilkinson's army
stationed at Plattsburgh ; but who were, by the determined barver of the troops composing the garrison
at that post, under the command of Major Hancock,
driven back, and with a considerable loss, to the besiegers.

Regiment, and the 2d Lincoln militia, amounting in
all to about fifteen hundred men*.

222

Early on the morning of the 3d of July, an American army under the command of Major General
Brown, consisting of about seven thousand men, invaded Canada, crossing the lines opposite to Black
Rock, on the Niagara frontier, whence they immediately advanced on Fort Erie, the garrison of which
consisted of one hundred and thirty-seven of the 8th
or King's Regiment, commanded by Major Buck of
the same corps. General Brown, commander in chief
of the invading army, immediately summoned the
garrison to surrender, with which summons the commandant complied without resistance.

.

The American general, flushed with a success so
unusual lately to the arms of the United States, advanced his array down the Niagara River, towards
the British post at the mouth of the Chippawa or
Welland River, at which place, General Riall,
commanding the British army on the Niagara frontier
at that period, determined td give him a check until
farther assistance should arrive; for which purpose
he concentrated his little force at that place, consisting of five companies of the Royal Scots, a part of
the Sth or King's Regiment, a part of the 100th

223

On the approach of the American army next day
towards Chippawa, a detachment composed of one
troop of the 19th Light Dragoons commanded by Major Lisle, the Light Infantry company of the Royal
Scots and a small detachment of the King's Regiment, with two brass field pieces, twenty-four pounders,
was directed to move out in the direction of the enemy in order to reconnoitre his force and ascertain its
strength.
The enemy's advance was discovered about two
miles above the mouth of the Chippawa River ; a
few shots were exchanged, after which a strong column of the enemy issued from the woods (where
they had previously taken shelter,) with a view to
charge and capture the guns ; but a charge from the
cavalry drove them to their former retreat, in precipitation and dismay.
After the purposes of the reconnoitering party were
as far accomplished as existing circumstances 'would
admit, it retired in rear of the works at Chippawa,
at the same time cutting away the bridge separating
the two armies.
Thus lay the contending forces during that night,
within pistol shot of each other—the outposts occasionally skirmishing, which increased at daybreak, when
Major General Riall ordered that the bridge across the

*five companies of the Royal Scots were left to garrison
Fort George and Mississagua, and part of the 100th to garrison Fort Niagara ; part of the 8th or King's were captured in
Fort Erie.

HISTORY

224

or

Chippawa should again be repaired, (resolving, notwithstanding the great disparity of force, to meet his
antagonist in the field,) which was so far completed as
to render it passable for the army by three o'clock in
the afternoon.
The British army now prepared to move out to meet
the enemy, who had strongly posted his line on the
plain, about a mile and a quarter above Chippawa—the
right of which, commanded by General Scott, rested
on the Niagara River, supported by a park of artillery
under Captain Towson ; the left, composed of the New
York and Pennsylvania volunteers under General
Porter, rested on the woods, supported in front by a
large body of riflemen and Indians ; and a strong brigade

in rear, under General Ripley, as a reserve.

TILE LATE WAR.

225

CHAPTER XXIX.
Engagement on the Plains of Chippawa—The Advance
of the British, under Colonel Pearson, moves out and
engages the Enemy's Out-posts—Main Bodies of the
two Armies advance to Battle—The British retire in Rear
of their Works at Chippawa—Attempts of the American
Army to cross the River Welland—Retreat of the British Army to Fort George—General Brown moves
down and invests that Fort—General Riall moves out
of Fort George with Part of his Force—Both Armies
reinforced—General Brown retreats on Chippawa.
THE advance guard of the British, composed of the
light companies of the Royal Scots, the 8th or King's
Regiment, the 100th Regiment and the Lincoln Militia
accompanied by a few Indian warriors, the whole commanded by Colonel Pearson,) advanced towards the
plains with a view to draw the enemy into action, the
militia and Indians occupying the woods ; when, about
half past three o'clock, they were sharply engaged with
the enemy's riflemen and Indians, who at first checked
their advance, and even, for a time, compelled them to
retiret, until the light troops of the regulars were brought
up to their support, at which the enemy fled in all
directions.
By this time, the main body of the British army was
formed in line, which, when compared with that of the
enemy, presented more the appearance of the wing of a
regiment than an opposing army. The line was composed

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't At this crisis of the action, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas
Dickson, of the 2d Lincoln Militia, was wounded, after which

the command of that corps devolved on Major David Secord.

226

HISTORY OF

TILE LATE WAR

of four companies of the Royal Scots, on the right,
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, (the light
company of which was acting in the advance,) the 8th
or King's Regiment on the left, and the 100th or Prince
Regent's Regiment in the centre, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel the Marquis of Tweedale ; the left of
the line, supported by two pieces of field ordnance,
twenty-four pounders, planted on the margin of the
river.

end heroism, stimulated by the example of their gallant
leader, which are seldom surpassed even by the most
experienced veterans. Their loss was proportionate
with that of the regular army.

The armies, being thus arranged, commenced the
conflict ; a steady fire from both sides was for some
time maintained ; when the King's Regiment was ordered to the right of the line, and the Royal Scots and
100th Regiment were directed to charge the enemy's
crest, which was gallantly received by two regiments
of General Scot's brigade which moved forward for that
purpose ; after which the fire re-commenced with redoubled fury, while the artillery was literally making
lanes through the columns; but the explosion of a British
ammunition wagon so materially injured one of the
guns as completely to silence it ; and the increasing fire
which the enemy was enabled to maintain, in consequence of his line continually filling up from the reserve,
was making such a visible impression on the British
ranks, that General Riall found himself no longer able
to sustain the fight against a force so unequal in numerical strength, and gave orders to abandon the field ; the
troops, therefore, retired in rear of the works at Chippawa, destroying the bridge they had previously repaired
across that river.
The loss on both sides might be said to be nearly
equal, amounting to four or five hundred. Lieutenant
Colonel the Marquis of Tweedale and Lieutenant Colonel Gordon were amongst the wounded. The 2d
Lincoln Militia, under Major David Secord, distinguished themselves in this action by feats of genuine bravery

227

Three or four days subsequent to the sanguinary conflict on the plains at Chippewa, were mostly employed
by the enemy in burying their own dead and burning
those of the British ; after which, several ineffectual efforts were made by General Brown to cross the Welland
River, contemplating an advance on Fort George ; but,
at each of his attempts, he was promptly met by piquet
guards of the British posted along the margin of the
river for that purpose.
General Riall, however, in a few days, gave orders
that the remnant of his army should retire under the
shelter of Fort George and Mississagua, until reinforcements could be collected to place him on more equal
ground with the enemy ; after which, General Brown
moved his army towards those posts within a mile and
a half of the British—his army forming a crescent, his
right resting on the Niagara River, his left on Lake
Ontario.
The American army had no sooner taken up a position
in front of Fort George, than their foraging parties, or
rather marauders, commenced a systematic course of
plunder upon the defenceless inhabitants within the vicinity of their camp, most of whom, at the time,
consisted of women and children : even amongst the
general officers were acts of pillage perpetrated, that,
had such occurred with private soldiers in the British
army, would have stamped a stigma on the character of
the British, in the eyes of America, for which no course

HISTORY OF

THE LATE WAR.

of conduct which they could ever after have pursued
would have sufficiently atonedil.

after which he made a few ineffectual assaults on Fort
George ; but, finding all his efforts to carry that fort
fruitless, and the British army receiving fresh acquisitions of strength, all seemed to conspire to render the
case of General Brown entirely hopeless.

228

The most unwearied vigilance had been exercised by
the American General to watch every avenue by which
any part of the British might possibly escape from the
position within the works ; yet, notwithstanding all the
care and vigilance practised by General Brown and the
forces under his command, General Riall contrived to
march a part of his little army, a few ammunition wagons and two six pounders, field pieces, under night
and unperceived, through his lines to a rendezvous for
reinforcements at the 12 and 20 mile creeks.
During the interval in which General Riall was receiving reinforcements from York and other military posts
on that side of Lake Ontario, General Brown also
received a strong reinforcement under General Izard,

fl General S. of the New-York militia, who had joined the army
in Canada, under General Brown, appeared, under night, with
about two hundred mounted men, before a small farm house in
the vicinity of Fort George, where awealthy farmer, whose residence was on the bank of the Niagara River, had sent the female
part of his family with the most valuable part of his goods, as a
place of safety, the house being surrounded with woods. The
General took possession of the goods and divided with his followers, reserving for himself a set of silver spoons, a great coat
sufficiently large to fit over his own, with as much of a chest of
tea as he could conveniently carry in a flannel shirt sewed up at
one end for that purpose. With these the gallant general marched off in quest of other " deeds of martial glory." He next mec
a young man of the name of Thompson, whom he made a prisoner, and from whom he took a silver watch; but approaching
too near the British piquets, in an encounter, he was mortally
wounded. The young man from whom he had taken the watch
was then commanded to pilot them to a place of safety, where
the general's wound could be attended to : he very naturally conducted them to his father's house, where the general died, and
the next officer in command restored the watch to the young num

from whom it was taken.

229

General Brown now perceiving the situation in which
he was placed—the forts in his front to him completely
i mpregnable, and an army in his rear in full flow of
spirits and every day gathering new strength, (though
by no means equal to his as regarded numbers,) a Canadian militia, unexpectedly to him, fervent beyond a
parallel in the cause of their king and country—began
now to think of a safe retreat, in pursuance of which,
on the morning of the 25th July, he commenced his
retrograde.
General Brown's movements, however, were too
closely watched to permit him to escape unnoticed.
Scarcely had the conception of a retreat matured itself
into a purpose in the mind of the American General, ere
it had unfolded itself to the penetrating eye of Genera!
Sir Gordon Drummond, who had that day arrived on
the Niagara frontier, and preparations were immediately made to intercept him.

TSISTORT OF

CHAPTER XXX.
General Brown meditates a Retreat—Ire is intercepted
by a Part ff the British 4rtny at Lundy's Lane—&rere CanteA for the Advantage of that Position—
British Reinforcements arrive—The Armies close to a
general 2.ction—The Engagement assumes a sonavinary Aspect—Loss sustained an both Sides—Remarks.
Tun British army, at the time General Brown commenced his retreat, was scattered in small eantonments
over twenty or thirty miles of country ; but, like a well
ordered and sysi.ematie machine, every part was in a
moment simultaneously in motion, to concentrate their
united strength at a point where they would be likely to
intercept the enemy.
Detachments of the Royal Scots and 41st regiments
and a small body of Indians, amounting in all to about
five hundred men, under the command of Colonel
Tucker, (supported on the river by a party of seamen
and marines, under the direction of Captain Dobbs of
the Royal Navy,) passed over to the American side of
the River Niagara, with a view to disperse or capture a
body of the enemy stationed at Lewiston. The object
of this movement being accomplished, the troops were
again withdrawn , 4 Queenston. The 41st and 100th
regiments, under Colonel Tucker, were sent back to
garrison Fort George, Mississag ua and Niagara : General
Drummond moving on towards the Falls, with a force of
about eight hundred strong consisting of detachments of
the Royal Scots, 89th and King's, with the light company of the 1st Regiment, to join General Riall's division of the army as soon as it should arrive from the
aeveral bivouacs at which it had been stationed.
.

-

THE LATE WAR.

231

As soon as the column of the British army under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Morrison had arrived
at the rising ground near the end of Lundy's Lane, on
the main road leading from Queenston to Chippawa, the
enemy was just taking possession of that position.
Without a moment's delay, the troops which had arrived
on the ground were formed in line on the north-east
side of the height, their left resting on the Queenston
road, and the conflict commenced.
The troops from the Twelve and Twenty Mile creeks
together with a detachment of the King's Regiment, as
they arrived, were formed on each side of Lundy's
Lane. This line was supported in front by two twentyfour pounders, [field guns,] which were covered by a
small squadron of the 19th Light Dragoons and a detachment of infantry.
.

The British line being thus disposed, notwithstanding
the superior strength of the enemy, in about ten minutes
dislodged him from the position he had first taken at
the point of the bayonet. The sun was now fast descending towards the western horizon ; and detachments
of the 1st and 2d Lincoln militia continued to arrive from
the different out-posts they had been occupying, who
joined in maintaining the summit of the hill until the
whole of General Riall's division should come up.
General Drummond, after dislodging the enemy from
the partial possession he had gained on the hill, again
formed his line with as much despatch as existing circumstances would admit, placing his artillery which
consisted of two twenty-four pounders,. two six pounders [brass field pieces,] and a rocket party, in front of
the centre of his position, near the right side of Lundy's
lane leading down the hill to the Queenston road, supperted by the second battalion of the 89th Regiment
under Colonel Morrison. Scarcely had this arrangement
of the British forces been completed, before the position