Title

An Account of the Battle of Lundy's Lane

Identifier

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1-13

Bibliographic Citation

An account of the battle of Lundy's Lane, fought in 1814, between the British and American armies; from the best and most authorized sources.

10167805

An account of the battle of Lundy's Lane, fought in 1814, between the British and American armies; from the best and most authorized sources.

Type

Text

extracted text

An Account
of the
BATTLE
OF LUNDY'S LANE

971,034
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FOUGHT IN 1874

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SKETCH OF BATTLEFIELD

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ENCLOSED IN SIR GEORGE PREVOST'S
DESPATCH TO LORD BATHURST

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DATED AT MONTREAL, 5th AUGUST, 1814.

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EXPLANATION OF SKETCH OF ACTION
OF THE 25th JULY, 1814
Enclosed in Sir George Prevost's despatch, No. 183, to Lord Bathurst, dated at
Montreal, 5th August, 1814:
FIRST POSITION
a—Incorporated militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Robinson.
b —Detachment of the King's commanded by Capt. Campbell.
c—Two troops of the 19th Dragoons, which retired to
d—on a and b being ordered to retire.
e-89th, which arrived on the ground as the action commenced, with its left
thrown back.
f—A detachment of the Royal Scots, commanded by Capt. Brereton, which moved
in the first instance to
h—and afterwards to
n.—
g—Glengarry regiment, which, after skirmishing with the enemy's advance, took
its station on the right of the line, and finding the enemy were advancing directly in front, were ordered to
k—from whence, in junction with the embodied Militia and a few Indians, when
the enemy were driven back, the Glengarry regiment advanced to
li—from which It retired to its final position at
0.—
j—Embodied militia under Lieut. Col. Parry, who advanced to
m—after assisting to drive the enemy (who had advanced through the wood)
directly in front of our position. They then retired to
kk.
SECOND POSITION
as—Light company of the 41st, which arrived early in the action.
bb-89th regiment, which has changed its position on the Incorporated Militia
and detachment of the King's regiment being ordered to retire from
a, b, k, n.
cc—Incorporated Militia and detachment of the King's regiment, which had
retired from a, b, and i, to a.
dd—Left wing of the 103rd regiment, which, with the troops under Col. Scott,
arrived as the troops were changing from the 1st to 2nd position.
ee—Right wing of 103rd regiment.
ff—Royal Scots regiment.
gg—Grenadiers of the 103rd regiment, and flank companies of the 104th, which
afterwards advanced to
hh.—
ii—King's regiment.
kk—Indians and embodied Militia, who had retired from m.
A—American artillery.
AA—American columns advancing to the attack.
B—British field pieces.
C—The church.

Battlefield sketch from (Battle of Lundy's Lane)
by Ernest Cruikshank

BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE
25th JULY, 1814
Upon this hill we come to celebrate
That fateful day a century ago,
How saved our heritage with forceful blow
We meet to tell the tale, but not in hate.
We meet their loyal names to consecrate
Who fought and fell, shall we forget? Oh no,
But high emblaze their names and proudly show
How nobly stood our sires in ganger great,
To tell the inspiring tale that so we too
May meet out hill of difficulties well,
For we have problems hard to solve today

An Account
of the L.H.C.
971.034
A172
BATTLE
OF LUNDY'S LANE
FOUGHT IN 1814,
Between the British and American Armies
From the Best and Most Authorized Sources

And enemies of greed and gold not few.
Heaven grant us grace their forces to repel
And at the call of duty straight obey.

JANET CARNOCHAN.
Niagara, 25th July, 1914.
ORIGINAL BOOKLET PRINTED I N 1 853 BY THE
WELLAND REPORTER

NIAGARA PUBLISHERS
Niagara Falls, Canada
1 947

PART I

EXTRACTS FROM THE DESPATCH OF
GENERAL DRUMMOND
From Smith's: "Canada, Past, Present, and Future."

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I embarked on board His Majesty's schooner, NETLY, at York, on
Sunday evening, the 24th, instant, and reached Niagara at daybreak the
following morning. Finding from Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker that MajorGeneral Riall was understood to be moving towards the Falls of Niagara, to
support the advance of his division, which he had pushed on to that place,
on the preceding evening ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, with the Eightyninth Regiment, and a detachment of the Royal's, and King's, drawn from
Forts George and Mississauga, to proceed to the same point, in order that with
the united force I might act against the enemy on my arrival, if it should be
found expedient. I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker at the same time to
proceed to the right bank of the river, with three hundred of the Forty-First,
and about two hundred of the Royal Scots, and a body of Indian warriors,
supported on the river by a party of armed seamen, under Captain Dobbs, R.N.
The object of this movement was to disperse or capture a body of the enemy,
which was encamped at Lewiston. Some unavoidable delay having occurred in
the march of the troops up the right bank, the enemy had moved off previous
to Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker's arrival.

Having refreshed the troops at Queenstown, and having brought across the
6.
Forty-First, Royals and Indians, I sent back the Forty-First and Hundredth
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Regiments to form a garrison of the forts, and moved with the Eighty-Ninth,
w ...c, and detachments of the Royals and King's, and light company of the Forty-First,
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and about eight hundred men to join Major General Riall's division at the
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When arrived within a few miles of that position, I met a report from
Major-General Riall that the enemy was advancing in great force. I immediately
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pushed on, and joined the head of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison's column, just
as it reached the road leading toward the Beaverdams, over the summit of the
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hill at Lundy's Lane. Instead of the whole of Major-General Riall's division,
which I expected to find occupying this position, I found it almost all in the
occupation of the enemy, whose columns were within six hundred yards of the
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top of the hill, and the surrounding woods filled with his fight troops. The
advance of Major-General Riall's division, consisting of the Glengarry Light
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Infantry and incorporated militia, having commenced their retreat upon Fort
George, I countermanded these corps, and formed the Eighty-Ninth and Royal
Scots and Forty-First light companies in the rear of the hill, their left resting
on the great road; my two twenty-four-pounder brass field guns a little advanced
in front of the centre to the summit of the hill; the Glengarry Light Infantry on
the right, the battalion of incorporated militia and the detachment of the
King's regiment on the left of the great road; the squadron of Nineteenth Light
Dragoons in the rear of the left, on the road. I had scarcely completed the
formation when the whole front was warmly and closely engaged. The enemy's
principal efforts were directed against our left and centre. After repeated attacks,

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the troops on the left were practically forced back, and the enemy gained a
momentary possession of the road. This gave him, however, no material
advantage, as the troops which had been forced back formed in the rear of the
Eighty-Ninth Regiment, fronting on the road, and securing the flank. It was
during this short interval that Major-General Riall, having received a severe
wound, was intercepted as he was passing to the rear by a party of the enemy's
cavalry and made prisoner. In the centre, the repeated and determined attacks
of the enemy were met by the Eighty-Ninth Regiment, the detachments of the
Royals and King's, and the light company of the Forty-First Regiment, with
the most perfect steadiness and intrepid gallantry, and the enemy was constantly
repulsed with very heavy loss. In so determined a manner were these attacks
directed against our guns, that our artillerymen were bayoneted in the act of
loading, and the muzzles of the enemy's guns were advanced within a few yards
of ours. The darkness of the night, during the extraordinary conflict, occasioned
several uncommon incidents, our troops having for a moment pushed back,
some of our guns remained in the enemy's hands; they were, however, not only
quickly recovered, but the two pieces, a six-pounder and a five and a half-inch
howitzer, which the enemy had brought up, were captured by us, together with
several tumbrils; and in limbering up our guns, at one period, one of the enemy's
six-pounders was put by mistake upon a limber of ours, and one of our
six-pounders limbered on one of his; by which means the pieces were exchanged;
and thus, though we captured two of his guns, yet as he obtained one of ours,
we have gained only one gun.
About nine o'clock, the action having commenced at six, there was a short
intermission of firing, during which it appears the enemy was employed in
bringing up the whole of his remaining force, and he shortly afterwards renewed
his attack, with fresh troops, but was everywhere repulsed, with equal gallantry
and success. About this period the remainder of Major-General Riall's division,
which had been ordered to retire on the advance of the enemy, consisting of the
Hundred and Third Regiment, under Colonel Scott; the head-quarters division
of the Royal Scots, the head-quarters division of the Eighth, flank companies of
the Hundred and Fourth, some detachments of militia under Lieutenant-Colonel
Hamilton, Inspecting Field Officer, joined the troops engaged. The enemy's
effort to carry the hill were continued until aboUt midnight, when he had
suffered so severely from the superior steadiness and discipline of His Majesty's
troops, that he gave up the contest, and retreated with great precipitation to his
camp beyond Chippawa. On the following day he abandoned his camp, threw
the greatest part of his baggage, camp-equipage and provisions into the rapids,
and, having set fire to Street's mills and destroyed the bridge at Chippawa,
continued in retreat in great disorder towards Fort Erie. My light troops,
cavalry and Indians are detached in pursuit, and to harass his retreat.

END OF PART I

PART II
INCIDENTS

FROM MANSFIELD'S "LIFE OF GENERAL SCOTT"
Published by A. S. Barnes and Co., New York
The army of the north had scarcely rested from its labours at Chippawa,
when it was called to the still more sanguinary field of Niagara. The second day
after the battle of the 5th, the American troops forced their way over Chippawa
River. In this, Scott's brigade led, and the enemy retreated before him.
In the afternoon of the 25th of July, amidst general relaxation, General
Brown received a note from colonel of militia, whose regiments occupied two or
three posts on the American side of the Niagara, stating in the most precise
terms, that the enemy had thrown a thousand men across from Queenstown to
Lewistown, nine miles below Chippawa, for some object not exactly understood.
Brown conjectured that there was an intention to capture our magazine at
Schlosser, and to intercept supplies coming from Buffalo. In order to recall him
from this object, Brown immediately determined to threaten the forts at the
mouth of Niagara. In less than twenty minutes Scott's command was put in
motion for that purpose. His force consisted of four small battalions, under
Colonel Brady, and Majors Jesup, Leavenworth and McNeil; Captain Towson's
artillery, and Captain Harris' detachment of regular and volunteer cavalry; in all
amounting to thirteen hundred men. There was not time to call in the guards
which belonged to those corps.
About two miles from the camp, and just above the Falls, Scott discovered
a few British officers, mounted, who, as it turned out, were in advance to
reconnoitre. He soon learned that the enemy was in some little force below,
and only intercepted from the view by a narrow wood.
In this situation, Scott for a moment reflected on what course should be
pursued. He was instructed to march rapidly on the forts, under positive information (given as we have narrated to General Brown ) that Riall had, three hours
before, thrown half his force across the Niagara. Reflecting that the whole had
been beaten on the 5th, inst., he lost no time in reconnoitring, but dashed
forward to disperse what he thought was the remnant of the British army
opposed to him.
After dispatching Assistant Adjutant-General Jones to General Brown with
the information that the enemy was in front, he proceeded to pass the wood,
just below Forsythe's House. There he was greatly astonished to find, directly
in front, drawn up in order of battle, on Lundy's Lane, a larger force than even
that he had encountered at Chippawa twenty days before! The position he was
in was extremely critical. To stand fast was out of the question, being already
under a heavy fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry. To retreat was equally
hazardous; for there is always, in such a case, the probability of confusion, and,
at this time, the danger of creating a panic in the reserve, then supposed to be
coming up, and which had not been in the previous battle.
Scott saw that no measure but one of boldness would succeed. He therefore
determined to maintain the battle against superior numbers and position till

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the reserve came up, thus giving General Riall the idea that the whole American
army was at hand. This would prevent him from profiting by his numerical
strength to attack our flanks and rear. He would thus lose the initial, a matter
of no small importance, in military enterprises. The scheme succeeded. For a
long time the enemy was kept on the defensive, till the American reserve had
come up and entered into the action.
In the meanwhile Scott had sent back to General Brown, Lieutenant
Douglass, as well as Major Jones, to report the condition of affairs. The first
was to report that the remnant of Riall's army was manoeuvering to protect the
detachment thrown over the Niagara; the second was to inform the general, that
so far from being diminished, the British army was actually re-inforced, and thus
to hasten up the reserve.
The battle began about forty minutes before sunset, and like its predecessor
at Chippawa, was the closing drama of a long and warm summer's day. Like
that, too, it signalized among the affairs of men a spot which in the world
of nature had been rendered illustrious by one of the great and glorious works
of God. When the battle was about to begin, just as the setting sun sent his
red beams from the west, they fell upon the spray which continually goes up,
like incense, from the deep, dashing torrent of Niagara. The bright light was
divided into its primal hues, and a rainbow rose from the waters, encircling the
head of the advancing column! In a more superstitious age, such a sign would
have been regarded like the Roman auguries, as a precursor of victory. Even now,
this bow of promise furnished the inspiration of hope, with the colors of beauty.
The line which now opened its fire upon Scott, at the distance of one
hundred and fifty paces, was already eighteen hundred strong. It was well posted
in Lundy's Lane, a ridge at right angles with the Niagara River, a little below
the cataract. Its left was on the road parallel to the river, with a space covered
with brushwood, of some two hundred yards between. Scott, observing this
interval, soon ordered Major Jesup, sustained by Colonel Brady, to take
advantage of it, and, concealed by bushes and twilight, to turn the enemy's
left. The other battalion had been before promptly deployed into line, and the
action joined by it (Brady on the right) and Towson's artillery. The small
detachments of cavalry on both sides were held in reserve. The enemy, finding
after sonic time that he outflanked us on the left, threw forward a battalion to
take us in flank and rear. Scott, although with inferior numbers, caused this
movement to be promptly met and repelled by Major McNeil's battalion, but
with great loss on both sides. At the same moment, the action in front was
desperately contested by Brady, now in line, and by Leavensworth and Towson.
Major Jesup had succeeded in his movement. He had taken Major-General
Riall, and several others, prisoners, and then gallantly charged back, (cutting
off a portion of the enemy's left wing), reappearing, and resuming his position
in line.
The battle which had commenced before sunset, continued into the night.
Twilight had gone, and it was now nine o'clock. The enemy's right had been
beaten back from its flank assault with great loss. His left was turned and cut
off. His centre alone remained firm. It was posted on a ridge, and supported by
nine pieces of artillery.
Three battalions of Drummond's reinforcements had already arrived and
a fourth was only a few miles behind. Such was the state of the field when

-8-

Major-General Brown arrived, a little in advance of our reserve. He insisted
on having all the particulars, reported to him previously by the detached staffofficers mentioned, explained and confirmed to him by the lips of Scott. At this
point, General Brown, in his official report, takes up the narrative, from his
own personal observation. We select a few extracts in continuance of the
history.
After speaking of Scott's brigade, and its position in the first part of the
battle, he says, — "apprehending that these corps were much exhausted, and
knowing that they had suffered severely, I determined to interpose a new line
with the advancing troops, and thus engage General Scott, and hold his brigade
in reserve. Orders were accordingly given to Ripley. The enemy's artillery at this
moment occupied a hill, which gave him great advantages, and was the key to the
whole position. It was supported by a line of infantry. To secure the victory it
was necessary to carry this artillery and seize the height. This duty was assigned
to Colonel Miller.
"He (Colonel Miller) advanced steadily and gallantly to his object and
carried the height and the cannon. General Ripley brought up the 23rd, which
had faltered, to his support, and the enemy disappeared before them
The enemy rallying his forces, and as is believed, having received reinforcements,
now attempted to drive us from our position and regain his artillery. Our line
was unshaken and the enemy repulsed. Two other attempts, having the same
object, had the same issue. General Scott was again engaged in repelling the
former of these; and the last I saw of him on the eve of battle, he was near the
head of the column, and giving to its march a direction that would have placed
him on the enemy's right Having been for some time wounded, and
being a good deal exhausted by loss of blood, it became my wish to devolve the
command to General Scott, and retire from the field, but, on enquiry, I had the
misfortune to learn that he was disabled by wounds; I therefore kept my post,
and had the satisfaction to see the enemy's last effort repulsed."
The crisis of this engagement was the moment when the enemy's battery,
which from its position commanded the field of action, was stormed by Miller's
regiment. This charge was one of the finest achievements of the American army.
General Brown said to the gallant Miller — "Sir, can you take the battery?" "I
will try!" was the reply of the bluff soldier — a phrase now become familiar to
all American lips. Scott, who was perfectly acquainted with the ground, conducted Miller, in the darkness of the night, some distance, till he had the right
direction. He then returned to renew the attack in front, in order to favour the
movement of Miller.
The enemy's battery being taken, and the ridge previously occupied by the
enemy being gained, the American army changed position. It was now drawn
up nearly at right angles to the lane, with its back to the river. Scott was on
the right, Ripley in the centre, and Porter, with the militia, on the left. In this
new position, the American line generally acted on the defensive. The British
desired to recover the ground they had lost, and made several assaults. These
were as often repulsed, but the enemy would again rally and return to the charge.
It was in one of these contests General Brown had last seen Scott. About
that time the latter had twice formed small portions of his brigade into columns,
advanced, charged the British line, also advancing, pierced it, and compelled it
to fall back. In such a battle, with such impetuous courage, Scott was necessarily

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exposed to all the dangers of the field. Two horses were killed under him. In the
midst of the action he was wounded in the side. At eleven o'clock in the night,
he was disabled by a wound from a musket-ball through the left shoulder. His
aid, Lieutenant Worth, and his brigade-major, Smith, were also both severely
wounded.
The contest closed by the possession of the field of battle by the Americans,
and the capture of the enemy's cannon.
The world has seen mightier armies moved over more memorable fields, and
followed by louder notes of the far resounding trumpet of fame, but a bloodier
scene for those engaged, a severer trial of courage and of discipline, or one whose
action was more closely associated with the sublime and beautiful in nature, the
world has not seen. The armies were drawn out near the shores of that rapid
river whose current mingles lake with lake. Hard by, was that cataract whose
world of waters rushes over the precipice, and rushing, roars into the gulf below!
The ceaseless spray rises up, like incense, to the eternal Father! The beams of
sun, and moon, and stars, fall ceaselessly on the spray, and are sent back in manycoloured hues to the source of light! So it was when, wheeling into the field of
battle, the slant beams of the setting sun, returning from the spray, encircled the
advancing columns with rainbow colours! The sun went down, to many an eye,
no more to rise on earth!
With the darkness came the greater age of battle — charge after charge
was made. For a time the faint beams of the moon struggled with the smoke,
and gave a little light to the combatants; but it was but little. The moon itself
became obscured, and no light, save the rapid flashes of musket and cannon,
pierced the heavy clouds.
The fight raged in the darkness of the night. From the height on the ridge,
the battery of the enemy still poured its deadly fire!
It was then that the gallant Miller said: "I will try." It was then that
Scott piloted its columns through darkness to Lundy's Lane. It was then that
brave regiment charged to the cannon's mouth. The battery was taken.
It was midnight. The battle is ended. The army, faint and weary, drags
itself from the bloody plain.

PART III—BONNYCASTLE

LUNDY'S LANE
The following brief sketch of the fierce and decisive battle of Lundy's Lane
was written not long after by Sir R. H. Bonnycastle, knight, whose services in
the Royal Engineers proved eminently useful then and at other times in several
countries. He served at Flushing in 1809, in America from 1812 to 1815. He
was an officer of distinction and commanded the Royal Engineer Corps in
Canada, West, from 1837 to 1839. He received his knighthood for services in
the defense of Kingston, in Canada, in 1837.
The place of the battle is about one mile from the falls of Niagara, on
rising ground, the highest point between Lakes Erie and Ontario. A thin belt
of chestnut forest separated the British and American forces. The central area
where the contest raged had been donated as a village burial ground about the
year 1800, and in 1814 became a military cemetery of necessity.
The battle began by the Americans emerging from the skirt of the woods
to the southeast of the church schoolhouse, and General Riall, forced to retire,
fortunately was recalled in time to reinforce General Drummond at 9 p.m., who
directed the whole brigade to take post along the ridge.
General Scott's division commenced firing almost simultaneously with the
British at 5.30 p.m. The blaze of cannon and musketry, instead of being as
usual covered in American warfare by the forest, was here displayed in fair field
and in open day for an hour, until General Scott was strengthened by General
Brown, who then took command in person, and about nine o'clock a second
reinforcement to the British, under Colonel Scott, arrived on the field.
Both armies continued the conflict with unabated vigour long after darkness had set in, nor did it., cease until an hour after midnight. During the
darkness many serious mistakes on both sides occurred. The British artillery
was captured by Colonel Miller at the point of the bayonet, but soon recaptured
to its proper guardians.

The battle of Niagara has been, by mistake, or accident, commonly called
in the United States, the battle of Bridgewater. In the official report of the
British General it was called the Battle of Lundy's Lane. It has been usage,
however, to call a battle, or other important event, from the most remarkable
object near the scene of action. Fought, as this battle was, near the mighty
cataract, which makes one of the wonders of nature, on either side of the
Atlantic; fought, too, with the courage and constancy worthy of such an association, why should it not be named from those loud, sounding waters? Let it
then be called "THE BATTLE OF NIAGARA". Let the memory of the dead,
and the fame of the living, roll on with those waters to the distant future!

The number of troops engaged is stated as 1,000 British and five guns until
nine o'clock at night, when two more guns and 1,200 men joined in such utter
darkness that friend and foe were mingled, fatally in some instances. In the
fierce contest were: The Royal Scots, 320 men; Eighty-ninth regiment; Fortyfirst light the Glengarry regiment of militia; 120 men of Eighth regiment;
some light dragoons; 815 regulars and 785 militia — total, 1,600 rank and file,
with two twenty-four pounders and a five and a half inch Howitzer at the
commencement of the action. This force was joined at nine at night by the One
Hundred and Third regiment, and detachments of the Royal Scots, and of the
Eighty-seventh and One Hundred and Fourth regiments and militia with two
six-pounders, and the Nineteenth Light Dragoons, altogether 1,200 rank and
file.

END OF PART II

The Americans had 5,000 of their best troops throughout the action, and
nine gunsk
The 1,200 men (British) and two guns, had been nine hours on the
march before they had joined in the dark. This was, in fact, the most steady,

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hard fought action of the whole campaign in Upper Canada, as was proved by
the excessive slaughter, by General Riall having been wounded and taken prisoner;
by the British commander, General Drummond having been seriously wounded,
and by the two American generals, Brown and Scott, having been so disabled
that their command devolved upon General Ripley.
The Americans claim this as a victory. It was a strange sort of victory for
them, for the British recaptured their artillery with two companies of the Fortyfirst under Captain Glen, who attacked their rear guard while the British Army
remained on the field during the night and General Ripley retired to his camp
in the direction of Chippawa.e Next morning he retreated towards Fort Erie,
which he fortified for a siege, and was replaced by General Gaines. The British
disposed of all the dead, friend and foe, on the day following, July 26. Instances of individual heroism and personal combat were numerous in this
bloody action. Both armies, particularly the militia, covered themselves with
glory. I particularize the militia, adds Sir R. H. Bonnycastle, knight, because
this was the first fair and open field of war, in which, of course, they were not
so accustomed as the regulars. The British loss was 870 killed and wounded;
the American loss was 930, and 300 taken prisoners.
k

END OF PART III

LUNDY'S LANE
25th JULY, 1814
Memento of the unveiling of the Monument, 25th July, 1895.
"STAND FAST! STAND FAST! STAND FAST!" a mighty cry
Rang from the British line at Lundy's Lane.
"CLOSE UP YOUR RANKS! STAND FAST!" the foes again
Swarm up the hill where our brave colours fly.
And Drummond shouts: "To conquer or to die."
'Mid roar of guns, that rend the heavens in twain,
Our flashing bayonets back upon the plain
Hurl down their columns, heaps on heaps they lie;
And Canada, like Greece at Marathon,
Stands victor on the field of freedom won.
This Pillar fair, of sculptured stone, will show
Forever, in the light of glory, how
England and Canada stood fast that night
At Lundy's Lane, and conquered for the right.

W. KIRBY.

Original Booklet published in 1853
in Drummondville, now Niagara Falls, South, at the
office of the Welland Reporter.



An Account
of the
BATTLE
OF LUNDY'S LANE

971,034
Z
FOUGHT IN 1874

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SKETCH OF BATTLEFIELD

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DESPATCH TO LORD BATHURST

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DATED AT MONTREAL, 5th AUGUST, 1814.

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EXPLANATION OF SKETCH OF ACTION
OF THE 25th JULY, 1814
Enclosed in Sir George Prevost's despatch, No. 183, to Lord Bathurst, dated at
Montreal, 5th August, 1814:
FIRST POSITION
a—Incorporated militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Robinson.
b —Detachment of the King's commanded by Capt. Campbell.
c—Two troops of the 19th Dragoons, which retired to
d—on a and b being ordered to retire.
e-89th, which arrived on the ground as the action commenced, with its left
thrown back.
f—A detachment of the Royal Scots, commanded by Capt. Brereton, which moved
in the first instance to
h—and afterwards to
n.—
g—Glengarry regiment, which, after skirmishing with the enemy's advance, took
its station on the right of the line, and finding the enemy were advancing directly in front, were ordered to
k—from whence, in junction with the embodied Militia and a few Indians, when
the enemy were driven back, the Glengarry regiment advanced to
li—from which It retired to its final position at
0.—
j—Embodied militia under Lieut. Col. Parry, who advanced to
m—after assisting to drive the enemy (who had advanced through the wood)
directly in front of our position. They then retired to
kk.
SECOND POSITION
as—Light company of the 41st, which arrived early in the action.
bb-89th regiment, which has changed its position on the Incorporated Militia
and detachment of the King's regiment being ordered to retire from
a, b, k, n.
cc—Incorporated Militia and detachment of the King's regiment, which had
retired from a, b, and i, to a.
dd—Left wing of the 103rd regiment, which, with the troops under Col. Scott,
arrived as the troops were changing from the 1st to 2nd position.
ee—Right wing of 103rd regiment.
ff—Royal Scots regiment.
gg—Grenadiers of the 103rd regiment, and flank companies of the 104th, which
afterwards advanced to
hh.—
ii—King's regiment.
kk—Indians and embodied Militia, who had retired from m.
A—American artillery.
AA—American columns advancing to the attack.
B—British field pieces.
C—The church.

Battlefield sketch from (Battle of Lundy's Lane)
by Ernest Cruikshank

BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE
25th JULY, 1814
Upon this hill we come to celebrate
That fateful day a century ago,
How saved our heritage with forceful blow
We meet to tell the tale, but not in hate.
We meet their loyal names to consecrate
Who fought and fell, shall we forget? Oh no,
But high emblaze their names and proudly show
How nobly stood our sires in ganger great,
To tell the inspiring tale that so we too
May meet out hill of difficulties well,
For we have problems hard to solve today

An Account
of the L.H.C.
971.034
A172
BATTLE
OF LUNDY'S LANE
FOUGHT IN 1814,
Between the British and American Armies
From the Best and Most Authorized Sources

And enemies of greed and gold not few.
Heaven grant us grace their forces to repel
And at the call of duty straight obey.

JANET CARNOCHAN.
Niagara, 25th July, 1914.
ORIGINAL BOOKLET PRINTED I N 1 853 BY THE
WELLAND REPORTER

NIAGARA PUBLISHERS
Niagara Falls, Canada
1 947

PART I

EXTRACTS FROM THE DESPATCH OF
GENERAL DRUMMOND
From Smith's: "Canada, Past, Present, and Future."

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I embarked on board His Majesty's schooner, NETLY, at York, on
Sunday evening, the 24th, instant, and reached Niagara at daybreak the
following morning. Finding from Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker that MajorGeneral Riall was understood to be moving towards the Falls of Niagara, to
support the advance of his division, which he had pushed on to that place,
on the preceding evening ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, with the Eightyninth Regiment, and a detachment of the Royal's, and King's, drawn from
Forts George and Mississauga, to proceed to the same point, in order that with
the united force I might act against the enemy on my arrival, if it should be
found expedient. I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker at the same time to
proceed to the right bank of the river, with three hundred of the Forty-First,
and about two hundred of the Royal Scots, and a body of Indian warriors,
supported on the river by a party of armed seamen, under Captain Dobbs, R.N.
The object of this movement was to disperse or capture a body of the enemy,
which was encamped at Lewiston. Some unavoidable delay having occurred in
the march of the troops up the right bank, the enemy had moved off previous
to Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker's arrival.

Having refreshed the troops at Queenstown, and having brought across the
6.
Forty-First, Royals and Indians, I sent back the Forty-First and Hundredth
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Regiments to form a garrison of the forts, and moved with the Eighty-Ninth,
w ...c, and detachments of the Royals and King's, and light company of the Forty-First,
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and about eight hundred men to join Major General Riall's division at the
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When arrived within a few miles of that position, I met a report from
Major-General Riall that the enemy was advancing in great force. I immediately
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pushed on, and joined the head of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison's column, just
as it reached the road leading toward the Beaverdams, over the summit of the
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hill at Lundy's Lane. Instead of the whole of Major-General Riall's division,
which I expected to find occupying this position, I found it almost all in the
occupation of the enemy, whose columns were within six hundred yards of the
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top of the hill, and the surrounding woods filled with his fight troops. The
advance of Major-General Riall's division, consisting of the Glengarry Light
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Infantry and incorporated militia, having commenced their retreat upon Fort
George, I countermanded these corps, and formed the Eighty-Ninth and Royal
Scots and Forty-First light companies in the rear of the hill, their left resting
on the great road; my two twenty-four-pounder brass field guns a little advanced
in front of the centre to the summit of the hill; the Glengarry Light Infantry on
the right, the battalion of incorporated militia and the detachment of the
King's regiment on the left of the great road; the squadron of Nineteenth Light
Dragoons in the rear of the left, on the road. I had scarcely completed the
formation when the whole front was warmly and closely engaged. The enemy's
principal efforts were directed against our left and centre. After repeated attacks,

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the troops on the left were practically forced back, and the enemy gained a
momentary possession of the road. This gave him, however, no material
advantage, as the troops which had been forced back formed in the rear of the
Eighty-Ninth Regiment, fronting on the road, and securing the flank. It was
during this short interval that Major-General Riall, having received a severe
wound, was intercepted as he was passing to the rear by a party of the enemy's
cavalry and made prisoner. In the centre, the repeated and determined attacks
of the enemy were met by the Eighty-Ninth Regiment, the detachments of the
Royals and King's, and the light company of the Forty-First Regiment, with
the most perfect steadiness and intrepid gallantry, and the enemy was constantly
repulsed with very heavy loss. In so determined a manner were these attacks
directed against our guns, that our artillerymen were bayoneted in the act of
loading, and the muzzles of the enemy's guns were advanced within a few yards
of ours. The darkness of the night, during the extraordinary conflict, occasioned
several uncommon incidents, our troops having for a moment pushed back,
some of our guns remained in the enemy's hands; they were, however, not only
quickly recovered, but the two pieces, a six-pounder and a five and a half-inch
howitzer, which the enemy had brought up, were captured by us, together with
several tumbrils; and in limbering up our guns, at one period, one of the enemy's
six-pounders was put by mistake upon a limber of ours, and one of our
six-pounders limbered on one of his; by which means the pieces were exchanged;
and thus, though we captured two of his guns, yet as he obtained one of ours,
we have gained only one gun.
About nine o'clock, the action having commenced at six, there was a short
intermission of firing, during which it appears the enemy was employed in
bringing up the whole of his remaining force, and he shortly afterwards renewed
his attack, with fresh troops, but was everywhere repulsed, with equal gallantry
and success. About this period the remainder of Major-General Riall's division,
which had been ordered to retire on the advance of the enemy, consisting of the
Hundred and Third Regiment, under Colonel Scott; the head-quarters division
of the Royal Scots, the head-quarters division of the Eighth, flank companies of
the Hundred and Fourth, some detachments of militia under Lieutenant-Colonel
Hamilton, Inspecting Field Officer, joined the troops engaged. The enemy's
effort to carry the hill were continued until aboUt midnight, when he had
suffered so severely from the superior steadiness and discipline of His Majesty's
troops, that he gave up the contest, and retreated with great precipitation to his
camp beyond Chippawa. On the following day he abandoned his camp, threw
the greatest part of his baggage, camp-equipage and provisions into the rapids,
and, having set fire to Street's mills and destroyed the bridge at Chippawa,
continued in retreat in great disorder towards Fort Erie. My light troops,
cavalry and Indians are detached in pursuit, and to harass his retreat.

END OF PART I

PART II
INCIDENTS

FROM MANSFIELD'S "LIFE OF GENERAL SCOTT"
Published by A. S. Barnes and Co., New York
The army of the north had scarcely rested from its labours at Chippawa,
when it was called to the still more sanguinary field of Niagara. The second day
after the battle of the 5th, the American troops forced their way over Chippawa
River. In this, Scott's brigade led, and the enemy retreated before him.
In the afternoon of the 25th of July, amidst general relaxation, General
Brown received a note from colonel of militia, whose regiments occupied two or
three posts on the American side of the Niagara, stating in the most precise
terms, that the enemy had thrown a thousand men across from Queenstown to
Lewistown, nine miles below Chippawa, for some object not exactly understood.
Brown conjectured that there was an intention to capture our magazine at
Schlosser, and to intercept supplies coming from Buffalo. In order to recall him
from this object, Brown immediately determined to threaten the forts at the
mouth of Niagara. In less than twenty minutes Scott's command was put in
motion for that purpose. His force consisted of four small battalions, under
Colonel Brady, and Majors Jesup, Leavenworth and McNeil; Captain Towson's
artillery, and Captain Harris' detachment of regular and volunteer cavalry; in all
amounting to thirteen hundred men. There was not time to call in the guards
which belonged to those corps.
About two miles from the camp, and just above the Falls, Scott discovered
a few British officers, mounted, who, as it turned out, were in advance to
reconnoitre. He soon learned that the enemy was in some little force below,
and only intercepted from the view by a narrow wood.
In this situation, Scott for a moment reflected on what course should be
pursued. He was instructed to march rapidly on the forts, under positive information (given as we have narrated to General Brown ) that Riall had, three hours
before, thrown half his force across the Niagara. Reflecting that the whole had
been beaten on the 5th, inst., he lost no time in reconnoitring, but dashed
forward to disperse what he thought was the remnant of the British army
opposed to him.
After dispatching Assistant Adjutant-General Jones to General Brown with
the information that the enemy was in front, he proceeded to pass the wood,
just below Forsythe's House. There he was greatly astonished to find, directly
in front, drawn up in order of battle, on Lundy's Lane, a larger force than even
that he had encountered at Chippawa twenty days before! The position he was
in was extremely critical. To stand fast was out of the question, being already
under a heavy fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry. To retreat was equally
hazardous; for there is always, in such a case, the probability of confusion, and,
at this time, the danger of creating a panic in the reserve, then supposed to be
coming up, and which had not been in the previous battle.
Scott saw that no measure but one of boldness would succeed. He therefore
determined to maintain the battle against superior numbers and position till

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the reserve came up, thus giving General Riall the idea that the whole American
army was at hand. This would prevent him from profiting by his numerical
strength to attack our flanks and rear. He would thus lose the initial, a matter
of no small importance, in military enterprises. The scheme succeeded. For a
long time the enemy was kept on the defensive, till the American reserve had
come up and entered into the action.
In the meanwhile Scott had sent back to General Brown, Lieutenant
Douglass, as well as Major Jones, to report the condition of affairs. The first
was to report that the remnant of Riall's army was manoeuvering to protect the
detachment thrown over the Niagara; the second was to inform the general, that
so far from being diminished, the British army was actually re-inforced, and thus
to hasten up the reserve.
The battle began about forty minutes before sunset, and like its predecessor
at Chippawa, was the closing drama of a long and warm summer's day. Like
that, too, it signalized among the affairs of men a spot which in the world
of nature had been rendered illustrious by one of the great and glorious works
of God. When the battle was about to begin, just as the setting sun sent his
red beams from the west, they fell upon the spray which continually goes up,
like incense, from the deep, dashing torrent of Niagara. The bright light was
divided into its primal hues, and a rainbow rose from the waters, encircling the
head of the advancing column! In a more superstitious age, such a sign would
have been regarded like the Roman auguries, as a precursor of victory. Even now,
this bow of promise furnished the inspiration of hope, with the colors of beauty.
The line which now opened its fire upon Scott, at the distance of one
hundred and fifty paces, was already eighteen hundred strong. It was well posted
in Lundy's Lane, a ridge at right angles with the Niagara River, a little below
the cataract. Its left was on the road parallel to the river, with a space covered
with brushwood, of some two hundred yards between. Scott, observing this
interval, soon ordered Major Jesup, sustained by Colonel Brady, to take
advantage of it, and, concealed by bushes and twilight, to turn the enemy's
left. The other battalion had been before promptly deployed into line, and the
action joined by it (Brady on the right) and Towson's artillery. The small
detachments of cavalry on both sides were held in reserve. The enemy, finding
after sonic time that he outflanked us on the left, threw forward a battalion to
take us in flank and rear. Scott, although with inferior numbers, caused this
movement to be promptly met and repelled by Major McNeil's battalion, but
with great loss on both sides. At the same moment, the action in front was
desperately contested by Brady, now in line, and by Leavensworth and Towson.
Major Jesup had succeeded in his movement. He had taken Major-General
Riall, and several others, prisoners, and then gallantly charged back, (cutting
off a portion of the enemy's left wing), reappearing, and resuming his position
in line.
The battle which had commenced before sunset, continued into the night.
Twilight had gone, and it was now nine o'clock. The enemy's right had been
beaten back from its flank assault with great loss. His left was turned and cut
off. His centre alone remained firm. It was posted on a ridge, and supported by
nine pieces of artillery.
Three battalions of Drummond's reinforcements had already arrived and
a fourth was only a few miles behind. Such was the state of the field when

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Major-General Brown arrived, a little in advance of our reserve. He insisted
on having all the particulars, reported to him previously by the detached staffofficers mentioned, explained and confirmed to him by the lips of Scott. At this
point, General Brown, in his official report, takes up the narrative, from his
own personal observation. We select a few extracts in continuance of the
history.
After speaking of Scott's brigade, and its position in the first part of the
battle, he says, — "apprehending that these corps were much exhausted, and
knowing that they had suffered severely, I determined to interpose a new line
with the advancing troops, and thus engage General Scott, and hold his brigade
in reserve. Orders were accordingly given to Ripley. The enemy's artillery at this
moment occupied a hill, which gave him great advantages, and was the key to the
whole position. It was supported by a line of infantry. To secure the victory it
was necessary to carry this artillery and seize the height. This duty was assigned
to Colonel Miller.
"He (Colonel Miller) advanced steadily and gallantly to his object and
carried the height and the cannon. General Ripley brought up the 23rd, which
had faltered, to his support, and the enemy disappeared before them
The enemy rallying his forces, and as is believed, having received reinforcements,
now attempted to drive us from our position and regain his artillery. Our line
was unshaken and the enemy repulsed. Two other attempts, having the same
object, had the same issue. General Scott was again engaged in repelling the
former of these; and the last I saw of him on the eve of battle, he was near the
head of the column, and giving to its march a direction that would have placed
him on the enemy's right Having been for some time wounded, and
being a good deal exhausted by loss of blood, it became my wish to devolve the
command to General Scott, and retire from the field, but, on enquiry, I had the
misfortune to learn that he was disabled by wounds; I therefore kept my post,
and had the satisfaction to see the enemy's last effort repulsed."
The crisis of this engagement was the moment when the enemy's battery,
which from its position commanded the field of action, was stormed by Miller's
regiment. This charge was one of the finest achievements of the American army.
General Brown said to the gallant Miller — "Sir, can you take the battery?" "I
will try!" was the reply of the bluff soldier — a phrase now become familiar to
all American lips. Scott, who was perfectly acquainted with the ground, conducted Miller, in the darkness of the night, some distance, till he had the right
direction. He then returned to renew the attack in front, in order to favour the
movement of Miller.
The enemy's battery being taken, and the ridge previously occupied by the
enemy being gained, the American army changed position. It was now drawn
up nearly at right angles to the lane, with its back to the river. Scott was on
the right, Ripley in the centre, and Porter, with the militia, on the left. In this
new position, the American line generally acted on the defensive. The British
desired to recover the ground they had lost, and made several assaults. These
were as often repulsed, but the enemy would again rally and return to the charge.
It was in one of these contests General Brown had last seen Scott. About
that time the latter had twice formed small portions of his brigade into columns,
advanced, charged the British line, also advancing, pierced it, and compelled it
to fall back. In such a battle, with such impetuous courage, Scott was necessarily

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exposed to all the dangers of the field. Two horses were killed under him. In the
midst of the action he was wounded in the side. At eleven o'clock in the night,
he was disabled by a wound from a musket-ball through the left shoulder. His
aid, Lieutenant Worth, and his brigade-major, Smith, were also both severely
wounded.
The contest closed by the possession of the field of battle by the Americans,
and the capture of the enemy's cannon.
The world has seen mightier armies moved over more memorable fields, and
followed by louder notes of the far resounding trumpet of fame, but a bloodier
scene for those engaged, a severer trial of courage and of discipline, or one whose
action was more closely associated with the sublime and beautiful in nature, the
world has not seen. The armies were drawn out near the shores of that rapid
river whose current mingles lake with lake. Hard by, was that cataract whose
world of waters rushes over the precipice, and rushing, roars into the gulf below!
The ceaseless spray rises up, like incense, to the eternal Father! The beams of
sun, and moon, and stars, fall ceaselessly on the spray, and are sent back in manycoloured hues to the source of light! So it was when, wheeling into the field of
battle, the slant beams of the setting sun, returning from the spray, encircled the
advancing columns with rainbow colours! The sun went down, to many an eye,
no more to rise on earth!
With the darkness came the greater age of battle — charge after charge
was made. For a time the faint beams of the moon struggled with the smoke,
and gave a little light to the combatants; but it was but little. The moon itself
became obscured, and no light, save the rapid flashes of musket and cannon,
pierced the heavy clouds.
The fight raged in the darkness of the night. From the height on the ridge,
the battery of the enemy still poured its deadly fire!
It was then that the gallant Miller said: "I will try." It was then that
Scott piloted its columns through darkness to Lundy's Lane. It was then that
brave regiment charged to the cannon's mouth. The battery was taken.
It was midnight. The battle is ended. The army, faint and weary, drags
itself from the bloody plain.

PART III—BONNYCASTLE

LUNDY'S LANE
The following brief sketch of the fierce and decisive battle of Lundy's Lane
was written not long after by Sir R. H. Bonnycastle, knight, whose services in
the Royal Engineers proved eminently useful then and at other times in several
countries. He served at Flushing in 1809, in America from 1812 to 1815. He
was an officer of distinction and commanded the Royal Engineer Corps in
Canada, West, from 1837 to 1839. He received his knighthood for services in
the defense of Kingston, in Canada, in 1837.
The place of the battle is about one mile from the falls of Niagara, on
rising ground, the highest point between Lakes Erie and Ontario. A thin belt
of chestnut forest separated the British and American forces. The central area
where the contest raged had been donated as a village burial ground about the
year 1800, and in 1814 became a military cemetery of necessity.
The battle began by the Americans emerging from the skirt of the woods
to the southeast of the church schoolhouse, and General Riall, forced to retire,
fortunately was recalled in time to reinforce General Drummond at 9 p.m., who
directed the whole brigade to take post along the ridge.
General Scott's division commenced firing almost simultaneously with the
British at 5.30 p.m. The blaze of cannon and musketry, instead of being as
usual covered in American warfare by the forest, was here displayed in fair field
and in open day for an hour, until General Scott was strengthened by General
Brown, who then took command in person, and about nine o'clock a second
reinforcement to the British, under Colonel Scott, arrived on the field.
Both armies continued the conflict with unabated vigour long after darkness had set in, nor did it., cease until an hour after midnight. During the
darkness many serious mistakes on both sides occurred. The British artillery
was captured by Colonel Miller at the point of the bayonet, but soon recaptured
to its proper guardians.

The battle of Niagara has been, by mistake, or accident, commonly called
in the United States, the battle of Bridgewater. In the official report of the
British General it was called the Battle of Lundy's Lane. It has been usage,
however, to call a battle, or other important event, from the most remarkable
object near the scene of action. Fought, as this battle was, near the mighty
cataract, which makes one of the wonders of nature, on either side of the
Atlantic; fought, too, with the courage and constancy worthy of such an association, why should it not be named from those loud, sounding waters? Let it
then be called "THE BATTLE OF NIAGARA". Let the memory of the dead,
and the fame of the living, roll on with those waters to the distant future!

The number of troops engaged is stated as 1,000 British and five guns until
nine o'clock at night, when two more guns and 1,200 men joined in such utter
darkness that friend and foe were mingled, fatally in some instances. In the
fierce contest were: The Royal Scots, 320 men; Eighty-ninth regiment; Fortyfirst light the Glengarry regiment of militia; 120 men of Eighth regiment;
some light dragoons; 815 regulars and 785 militia — total, 1,600 rank and file,
with two twenty-four pounders and a five and a half inch Howitzer at the
commencement of the action. This force was joined at nine at night by the One
Hundred and Third regiment, and detachments of the Royal Scots, and of the
Eighty-seventh and One Hundred and Fourth regiments and militia with two
six-pounders, and the Nineteenth Light Dragoons, altogether 1,200 rank and
file.

END OF PART II

The Americans had 5,000 of their best troops throughout the action, and
nine gunsk
The 1,200 men (British) and two guns, had been nine hours on the
march before they had joined in the dark. This was, in fact, the most steady,

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hard fought action of the whole campaign in Upper Canada, as was proved by
the excessive slaughter, by General Riall having been wounded and taken prisoner;
by the British commander, General Drummond having been seriously wounded,
and by the two American generals, Brown and Scott, having been so disabled
that their command devolved upon General Ripley.
The Americans claim this as a victory. It was a strange sort of victory for
them, for the British recaptured their artillery with two companies of the Fortyfirst under Captain Glen, who attacked their rear guard while the British Army
remained on the field during the night and General Ripley retired to his camp
in the direction of Chippawa.e Next morning he retreated towards Fort Erie,
which he fortified for a siege, and was replaced by General Gaines. The British
disposed of all the dead, friend and foe, on the day following, July 26. Instances of individual heroism and personal combat were numerous in this
bloody action. Both armies, particularly the militia, covered themselves with
glory. I particularize the militia, adds Sir R. H. Bonnycastle, knight, because
this was the first fair and open field of war, in which, of course, they were not
so accustomed as the regulars. The British loss was 870 killed and wounded;
the American loss was 930, and 300 taken prisoners.
k

END OF PART III

LUNDY'S LANE
25th JULY, 1814
Memento of the unveiling of the Monument, 25th July, 1895.
"STAND FAST! STAND FAST! STAND FAST!" a mighty cry
Rang from the British line at Lundy's Lane.
"CLOSE UP YOUR RANKS! STAND FAST!" the foes again
Swarm up the hill where our brave colours fly.
And Drummond shouts: "To conquer or to die."
'Mid roar of guns, that rend the heavens in twain,
Our flashing bayonets back upon the plain
Hurl down their columns, heaps on heaps they lie;
And Canada, like Greece at Marathon,
Stands victor on the field of freedom won.
This Pillar fair, of sculptured stone, will show
Forever, in the light of glory, how
England and Canada stood fast that night
At Lundy's Lane, and conquered for the right.

W. KIRBY.

Original Booklet published in 1853
in Drummondville, now Niagara Falls, South, at the
office of the Welland Reporter.