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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Battle of Fort George
+       A paper read on March 14th, 1896
+
+Author: Ernest Cruikshank
+
+Release Date: September 3, 2010 [EBook #33621]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ "Ducit Amor Patriae"
+
+ TRANSACTION NO. 1
+
+ Niagara Historical Society.
+
+
+
+
+ BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE
+
+
+
+
+ A PAPER READ ON MARCH 14TH, 1896, BY
+
+ ERNEST CRUIKSHANK
+
+ CAPT. 44TH BATTALION.
+
+
+
+
+ NIAGARA:
+ PICKWELL BROS., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.
+ 1896.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The reproach has frequently been cast upon us that Canada has no
+history; it might be said of us with far more justice that we do not
+know our own history. The various historical societies are, by their
+efforts, trying to wipe away this reproach, and we feel proud of
+following in the wake of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society in
+publishing a paper written by Capt. Cruikshank, who has well earned the
+title of the historian of the Niagara peninsula.
+
+Of the towns of Ontario not one we are sure possesses a history so
+eventful, so ancient, so interesting as Niagara, having been at
+different times a legislative, an educational, a military and a
+commercial centre, at one time occupied by the enemy and again a heap of
+smoking ruins, now a quiet summer resort with many points of historical
+interest, with wide streets shaded by old elms and having unrivalled
+lake and river scenery. The members of the youngest of these Historical
+Societies feel that they may congratulate themselves on being able to
+place in the hands of the public the story which so far has not yet been
+told of the Taking of Fort George, told too in a style so clear, so
+dispassionate, and shewing such deep research, a story of troublesome
+times, which so told can not but be helpful to old and young of every
+nationality.
+
+Asking for our first venture a kind reception we send it out to the
+public, hoping that it may do its part in proving that we have a not
+ignoble history which should inspire us to yet nobler deeds.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE.
+
+27TH MAY, 1813.
+
+
+For about a quarter of a century Niagara was the principal town and
+commercial capital of Western Canada, and for a brief period was
+actually the seat of government for the Upper Province. The removal of
+the provincial officers to York in 1796 struck the first blow at its
+supremacy, but its material prosperity continued until the beginning of
+the war with the United States when its exposed situation subjected it
+to a series of calamities which culminated in its total destruction on
+the 10th of December, 1813.
+
+During that time many travellers of more or less note visited the place
+at short intervals on their way to or from the Falls, and a considerable
+number of them have recorded their observations. Patrick Campbell in
+1791, D'Arcy Bolton in 1794, the Duke de Rochefoucauld Liancourt in
+1795, Isaac Weld and J. C. Ogden in 1796, John Maude in 1800, George
+Heriot in 1806, Christian Schultz in 1807, John Melish in 1810 and
+Michael Smith in 1812 have described the town and adjacent country at
+considerable length from various points of view. Other accounts are to
+be found in the _National Intelligencer_ newspaper published at
+Washington, D. C., in 1812, and in Smith's Gazetteer of Upper Canada for
+1813. From these numerous sources it would seem an easy task to form a
+fairly correct estimate of the appearance of the town, its commercial
+importance and the character of the inhabitants.
+
+[Illustration: THE TAKING OF FORT GEORGE.]
+
+It is described as being nearly a mile square, sparsely built, with many
+pasture fields, gardens, orchards and open spaces interspersed among the
+houses. Smith, an American resident of the province now was expelled in
+1812 for having declined to take oath of allegiance, states that there
+were "several squares of ground in the village adorned with almost every
+kind of precious fruit." According to the same authority it contained
+two churches--one of them built of stone, a court house and jail, an
+Indian council house, an academy in which Latin and Greek were taught by
+the Rev. John Burns a Presbyterian minister, a printing house, six
+taverns, twenty stores and about a hundred dwelling houses, many of them
+described as "handsome buildings of brick or stone, the rest being of
+wood, neatly painted." From the lake the town is said to have made an
+"imposing appearance" as most of the buildings fronted the water. Smith
+concludes his account with the remark that it was "a beautiful and
+prospective place, inhabited by civil and industrious people." Dr. John
+Mann, a surgeon in the United States army who accompanied the
+invading forces and afterwards wrote the "Medical History of the War,"
+styles it "a delightful village." The population was probably
+underestimated at five hundred exclusive of the regular garrison of Fort
+George, usually numbering about two hundred men. The names of John
+Symington, Andrew Heron, Joseph Edwards, John Grier, John Baldwin and
+James Muirhead have been recorded as some of the principal merchants.
+
+An open plain or common of nearly a mile in width separated the town
+from Fort George. This post was described by the Governor General in the
+early summer of 1812, in official report on the defences of Upper Canada
+as an irregular fieldwork consisting of six small bastions faced with
+framed timber and plank, connected by a line of palisades twelve feet
+high, and surrounded by a shallow dry ditch. Its situation and
+construction were alike condemned as extremely defective. Although it
+partially commanded Fort Niagara it was in turn overlooked and commanded
+by the high ground on the opposite side of the river near Youngstown.
+The troops were lodged in blockhouses inside affording quarters for 220
+men, besides which there was a spacious building for the officers. The
+magazine was built of stone with an arched roof but was not considered
+bombproof. All the works were very much out of repair and reported as
+scarcely capable of the least defence.
+
+On the margin of the river immediately in front of the fort stood a
+large log building known as Navy Hall, which had been constructed during
+the American Revolution, to serve as winter-quarters for the officers
+and seamen of the Provincial vessels on Lake Ontario. Near this was a
+spacious wharf with good-sized store houses, both public and private.
+The Ranger's Barracks, also built of logs and an Indian Council House
+were situated on the further edge of the common, just south of the town.
+A small stone light house had been built upon Mississauga Point, in
+1805-6.
+
+The road leading along the river to Queenston, was thickly studded with
+farm buildings, and the latter village is said to have contained nearly
+a hundred houses, many of them being large and well built structures of
+stone or brick, with a population estimated at 300. Vessels of fifty
+tons and upwards, loaded with goods for the upper country, sailed up the
+river to this place, where they discharged their cargoes, and took in
+furs and grain in return. Ever since its establishment, the "Carrying
+Place" on the Canadian side of the river, had furnished much profitable
+employment to the neighboring farmers, who were paid at the rate of
+twenty pence, New York currency, a hundred weight for hauling goods
+between Queenston and Chippawa; Maude relates that during his visit in
+1800, he passed many carts and wagons on this road, taking up boxes and
+bales of merchandise, or bringing down furs, each drawn by two horses or
+two yoke of oxen. Three schooners were then moored at the wharf at
+Queenston, and fourteen teams stood waiting to be loaded. Others had
+noticed as many as fifty or sixty teams passing each other in a day. At
+this time the old portage on the American bank was entirely dis-used,
+but in 1806 the exclusive rights to the carrying place on that side were
+granted to Porter, Barton & Co., and much of the traffic was
+consequently diverted.
+
+Christian Schultz, tells us that in 1807, the Canadian side of the river
+was "one settled street, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie," while the
+other was still almost wholly "waste and uninhabited," which he
+attributes chiefly to the fact, that the land on the American bank was
+entirely held by speculators. The villages of Chippawa and Fort Erie
+contained about twenty houses each. For upwards of twenty miles back, he
+states that the country was pretty well settled from lake to lake. A
+stage coach made three round trips weekly between Niagara and Fort Erie.
+A considerable sum from the Provincial Treasury was annually spent in
+opening and improving roads. Frenchman's, Miller's and Black creeks were
+bridged only on the river road, but there was a bridge across Lyon's
+creek, at Cook's Mills, and the Chippawa was bridged at its mouth, and
+at Brown's sixteen miles higher up. From the Portage Road near the
+Falls, a continuation of Lundy's Lane led westerly through the
+Beechwoods and Beaver Dam settlements, crossed the Twelve Mile creek at
+DeCew's, and following the crest of the mountain to the Twenty, ascended
+that stream as far as a small hamlet, known as "Asswago" and finally
+united with the main road from Niagara to York near Stoney Creek.
+Another well travelled road from Queenston passed through St. Davids,
+and joined the Lake Road from Niagara at Shipman's tavern, where they
+crossed the Twelve Mile Creek on the present site of the city of St.
+Catharines. A third leading from Niagara through the dreaded "Black
+Swamp," of which all trace has long since disappeared, united with the
+road from St. Davids before crossing the Four Mile creek. Still another
+beginning near the mouth of the Two Mile creek, ran nearly parallel with
+the river, till it intersected Lundy's Lane. Besides these there were
+the main travelled roads along the river from Queenston to Niagara, and
+along the lake from Niagara to Burlington.
+
+In 1794, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe styled the Niagara settlement, "the
+bulwark of Upper Canada," and affirmed that the militia were loyal to a
+man, and "very well calculated for offensive warfare." Since then the
+character and feelings of the population had been essentially altered.
+Many of the first settlers had died or removed with their families to
+other parts of the Province, and their places had been taken by later
+immigrants from the United States. The twenty townships extending from
+Ancaster to Wainfleet, which then composed the County of Lincoln, were
+supposed to contain 12,000 inhabitants in the spring of 1812. In the
+entire province of Upper Canada, one-sixth of the population were
+believed to be natives of the British Isles and their children; the
+original loyalist settlers and their descendants were estimated to
+number as many more, while the remainder, or about two-thirds of the
+whole, were recent arrivals from the United States, chiefly attracted by
+the fertility of the soil and freedom from taxation. Michael Smith
+states (1813), that within twelve years, the population "had increased
+beyond conjecture, as the terms of obtaining land have been extremely
+easy." The proportion of loyalists in the County of Lincoln was perhaps
+greater than elsewhere, but it is probably a safe estimate to say that
+one-third of the inhabitants were recent settlers from the United
+States, who had removed to escape taxation or avoid militia service.
+John Maude met several families in 1800 on their way to Canada from
+those counties in Pennsylvania, where the 'Whiskey Insurrection' had
+just been suppressed who informed him that "they had fought seven years
+against taxation, and were then being taxed more than ever. Hundreds of
+them" he remarked "have removed, are removing, and will remove into
+Upper Canada, where they will form a nest of vipers in the bosom that
+fosters them."
+
+In 1811, the Governor General estimated the number of militiamen in
+Upper Canada fit for service at 11,000, of whom he significantly stated
+that it would probably not be prudent to arm more than 4000. This was
+virtually an admission, that more than half the population were
+suspected of disaffection. The Lincoln Militia were organized in five
+regiments, numbering about 1,500 men, of whom perhaps two-thirds were
+determined loyalists.
+
+In many quarters before the war, the disaffection of the people was open
+and undisguised, Schultz states that while at Presqu'ile, on Lake
+Ontario, in 1807, he strolled along the main road, and found six or
+seven farmers assembled in a country tavern, who had just heard of the
+Chesapeake affair. "They seemed disappointed," he observed "that I did
+not think it would lead to war, when they expected to become part of the
+United States." He also relates that he was subsequently in a public
+house in Niagara, where eight or ten persons were gathered about a
+billiard table. The attack upon the Chesapeake again became the topic of
+conversation, and one man said, "If Congress will only send us a flag
+and a proclamation declaring that whoever is found in arms against the
+United States, shall forfeit his lands, we will fight ourselves free
+without any expense to them."
+
+John Melish declared his conviction from enquiries made during his visit
+in 1810, "that if 5000 men were sent into Upper Canada with a
+proclamation of independence, the great mass of the people would join
+the American Government." Barnabas Bidwell, formerly Attorney General of
+Massachusetts, who had become a defaulter and fled to the Newcastle
+District, near the Bay of Quinte, where he was engaged in teaching a
+private school, wrote secretly to his political friends in a similar
+strain.
+
+These statements were eagerly quoted, and no doubt believed by the
+leaders of the war party in Congress. Henry Clay assured the people
+that "the conquest of Canada is in your power. I trust I shall not be
+deemed presumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the Militia
+of Kentucky are alone competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at
+your feet."
+
+On the 6th of March, 1812, Calhoun expressed equal confidence. "So far
+from being unprepared, Sir," he exclaimed. "I believe that four weeks
+from the time the declaration of war is heard on our frontier, the whole
+of Upper Canada and a part of Lower Canada will be in our possession."
+
+Jefferson wrote about the same time that "The acquisition of Canada this
+year as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, would be a mere matter of
+marching, and would give us experience for the attack of Halifax, the
+next and the final expulsion of England from the American continent."
+
+Mr. Eustis, the Secretary of War, was if possible, still more
+optimistic, "We can take Canada without soldiers," he declared, "we have
+only to send officers into the Province and the people disaffected to
+their own Government will rally round our standard." Gen. Widgery, a
+representative in Congress, gained momentary notoriety by his statement.
+"I will engage to take Canada by contract. I will raise a company and
+take it in six weeks." Another speaker declared that "Niagara Falls
+could be resisted with as much success as the American people when
+roused into action" After the declaration of war had been promulgated,
+Clay, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the real leader
+of the war party solemnly declared that he would never consent to any
+treaty of peace which did not provide for the cession of Canada.
+
+The correspondence of General Brock with the Governor General, shows
+that in many respects these expectations were well founded, and that he
+was far from being hopeful of offering a successful defence without
+strong reinforcements.
+
+"The late increase of ammunition and every species of stores," he wrote
+on the 2nd December, 1811, "the substitution of a strong regiment and
+the appointment of a military person to the government, have tended to
+infuse other sentiments among the most reflecting part of the community,
+and during my visit to Niagara last week I received most satisfactory
+professions of a determination on the part of the principal inhabitants
+to exert every means in their power for the defence of their property
+and to support the government. They look with confidence to you for aid.
+Although perfectly aware of the number of improper characters who have
+obtained possessions and whose principles diffuse a spirit of
+insubordination very adverse to all military institutions, I believe the
+majority will prove faithful. It is best to act with the utmost
+liberality and as if no mistrust existed. Unless the inhabitants give a
+faithful aid it will be utterly impossible to preserve the province,
+with the limited number of military."
+
+On the 24th of February, 1812, a proclamation was published announcing
+that divers persons had recently come into the province with a
+seditious intent and to endeavor to alienate the minds of His Majesty's
+subjects, and directing the officers appointed to enforce the act lately
+passed by the Legislature for the better security of the province
+against all seditious attempts to be vigilant in the discharge of their
+duties. Joseph Edwards of Niagara, Samuel Street of Willoughby, Thomas
+Dickson of Queenston, William Crooks of Grimsby and Samuel Hutt of
+Ancaster were among the persons commissioned to execute this law.
+
+On the 17th of April, a boy at Queenston fired a shot across the river
+which happily did no injury. He was promptly arrested and committed for
+trial, and two resident magistrates, James Kirby and Robert Grant,
+tendered an apology to the inhabitants of Lewiston for his offence. Five
+days later General Brock reported that a body of three hundred men in
+plain clothes had been seen patrolling the American side of the river.
+On the 25th, it was announced that 170 citizens of Buffalo, had
+volunteered for military service. A proclamation by President Madison
+calling out one hundred thousand was published about the same time, and
+the Governor of New York was required to send 500 men to the Niagara
+which he hastened to do, being a warm advocate of the war.
+
+Meanwhile the flank companies of militia regiments of the counties of
+Lincoln, Norfolk and York were embodied by General Brock, and drilled
+six times a month. They numbered about 700 young men belonging to "the
+best class of settlers." By the recent Militia Act, they were required
+to arm and clothe themselves, and as many of them had far to travel,
+Brock begged that they should at least receive an allowance for rations.
+
+The Governor General suggested that the Government of the United States
+entertained hopes that something might happen to provoke a quarrel
+between its soldiers and the British troops on that frontier, and
+desired him to take every precaution to prevent any such pretext for
+hostilities.
+
+Early in May, Brock made a rapid tour of inspection along the Niagara,
+thence to the Mohawk village on the Grand river, returning to York by
+way of Ancaster. He reported that the people generally seemed well
+disposed and that the flank companies had mustered in full strength.
+
+By the 17th of June six hundred American militia were stationed along
+the river, and a complaint was made by three reputable inhabitants of
+Fort Erie that their sentries were in the habit of wantonly firing
+across the stream. On the 25th of the same month this period of suspense
+was terminated by the arrival of a special messenger employed by Mr.
+Astor and other American citizens interested in the Northwest fur trade,
+to convey the earliest possible information of war to Colonel Thomas
+Clark, of Queenston, who immediately reported his intelligence to the
+commandant of Fort Erie. The messenger, one Vosburg, of Albany, had
+travelled with relays of horses at such speed that he outrode the
+official courier bearing despatches to Fort Niagara by fully
+twenty-four hours. On his return he was arrested at Canandaigua, and
+held to bail together with some of his employers, but it does not appear
+that they were ever brought to trial.
+
+Lieut. Gansevoort and a sergeant in the United States Artillery, who
+happened to be on the Canadian side were made prisoners, and the ferry
+boats plying across the river at Queenston and Fort Erie, were seized by
+the British troops at those places. The people of Buffalo received their
+first intimation of the declaration of war by witnessing the capture of
+a merchant schooner off the harbor by boats from Fort Erie.
+
+The flank companies of militia marched immediately to the frontier, and
+were distributed along the river in taverns and farm houses. On the
+second day, General Brock arrived from York, with the intention of
+making an attack on Fort Niagara. He had then at his disposal, 400 of
+the 41st Regiment, and nearly 800 militia. Success was all but certain,
+as the garrison was weak and inefficient. His instructions however, were
+to act strictly on the defensive, and he abandoned this project in the
+conviction that the garrison might be driven out at any time by a
+vigorous cannonade. Rumors of his design seem to have reached General P.
+B. Porter, who commanded the militia force on the other side, and he
+made an urgent demand for reinforcements.
+
+"The British on the opposite side are making the most active
+preparations for defence," Benjamin Barton wrote from Lewiston on the
+24th of June, "New troops are arriving from the Lower Province
+constantly, and the quantity of military stores etc. that have arrived
+within these few weeks is astonishing. Vast quantities of arms and
+ammunition are passing up the country, no doubt to arm the Indians
+around the Upper Lakes, (for they have not white men enough to make use
+of such quantities as are passing). One-third of the militia of the
+Upper Province are formed into companies called flankers, and are well
+armed and equipped out of the King's stores, and are regularly trained
+one day in a week by an officer of the standing troops. A volunteer
+troop of horse has lately been raised and have drawn their sabres and
+pistols. A company of militia artillery has been raised this spring, and
+exercise two or three days in the week on the plains near Fort George,
+and practice firing and have become very expert. The noted Isaac Sweazy,
+has within a few days received a captain's commission for the flying
+artillery, of which they have a number of pieces. We were yesterday
+informed by a respectable gentleman from that side of the river, that he
+was actually purchasing horses for the purpose of exercising his men.
+They are repairing Fort George, and building a new fort at York. A
+number of boats are daily employed, manned by their soldiers, plying
+between Fort George and Queenston, carrying stores, lime and pickets,
+for necessary repairs, and to cap the whole, they are making and using
+every argument and persuasion to induce the Indians to join them, and we
+are informed the Mohawks have volunteered their service. In fact,
+nothing appears to be left undone by their people that is necessary for
+their defence."
+
+However, the Governor General seized the first opportunity of again
+advising his enterprising lieutenant to refrain from any offensive
+movements. "In the present state of politics in the United States" he
+said, "I consider it prudent to avoid any means which can have the least
+tendency to unite their people. While dissension prevails among them,
+their attempts on the Province will be feeble. It is therefore my wish
+to avoid committing any act which may even from a strained construction
+tend to unite the Eastern and Southern States, unless from its
+perpetration, we are to derive an immediate, considerable and important
+advantage."
+
+Brock felt so confident at that moment of his ability to maintain his
+ground on the Niagara, that he actually stripped Fort George of its
+heaviest guns for the defence of Amherstburg, which he anticipated would
+be the first point of attack. But the militia who had turned out so
+cheerfully on the first alarm, after the lapse of a couple of uneventful
+weeks, became impatient to return to their homes and families. They had
+been employed as much as possible in the construction of batteries at
+the most exposed points, and as they were without tents, blankets,
+hammocks, kettles, or camp equipage of any kind, they had suffered
+serious discomfort even at that season of the year. As their prolonged
+absence from their homes, in some cases threatened the total destruction
+of their crops, many were allowed to return on the 12th of July, and it
+was feared that the remainder would disband in defiance of the law which
+only imposed a fine of £20 for desertion. Nearly all of them were
+wretchedly clothed, and a considerable number were without shoes, which
+could not be obtained in the Province at any price. Many of the
+inhabitants Brock indignantly declared, were "indifferent or American in
+feeling."
+
+However, the month of July passed away without developing any symptom of
+an offensive movement on this frontier. On the 22nd, the session of the
+Legislature began at York, with the knowledge that General Hull had
+invaded the Province at Sandwich with a strong force, and in hourly
+expectation of tidings that the garrison of Amherstburg had surrendered
+to superior numbers. Yet amid these depressing circumstances, Brock
+concluded his "speech from the throne" with these hopeful and inspiring
+words. "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity
+and despatch in our councils, and by vigor in our operations, we may
+teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by freemen who are
+enthusiastically devoted to their King and Constitution can never be
+conquered."
+
+During the following week the most discouraging reports from Amherstburg
+continued to arrive almost daily. It seemed as if the invading army
+would be able to over run the whole of the Western District, with
+scarcely a show of resistance on the part of the inhabitants. A
+majority of the members of the Legislature were apathetic or despondent.
+They passed a new militia act, and an act to provide for the defence of
+the Province, but amended both in a highly unsatisfactory manner, after
+which the House was hastily prorogued by the General who was eager to
+proceed to the seat of war.
+
+"The House of Assembly," he wrote on the 4th of August, "have refused to
+do anything they are required. Everybody considers the fate of the
+country as settled, and is afraid to appear in the least conspicuous in
+the promotion of measures to retard it. I have this instant been
+informed that a motion was made in the House and only lost by two votes,
+that the militia should be at liberty to return home, if they did not
+receive their pay on a fixed day every month."
+
+On the succeeding day he began his march to the relief of Amherstburg.
+Most of the regulars and some of the militia which had been hitherto
+stationed along the Niagara, preceded or accompanied him on this
+expedition, which they were fortunately enabled to do by the inactivity
+of the enemy on the opposite bank, who actually do not seem to have
+become aware of their absence until they had returned victorious. Lieut.
+Col. Myers, the Assistant Quartermaster General, was left in command.
+The men belonging to the flank companies who had been allowed to return
+to their homes to assist in the harvest were summoned to rejoin, and 500
+more held in readiness to support them.
+
+On the 20th of August, the inhabitants were thrown into a frenzy of
+delight by the almost incredible intelligence that Detroit had been
+taken with the entire American army. A few hours later, General Van
+Rensselaer who was still in ignorance of this event, signed an armistice
+which put an end to any further apprehension of an attack for several
+weeks.
+
+The Americans did not remain idle during the interval. A body of five or
+six thousand men was assembled and five detached batteries were
+completed on the bank of the river, between Fort Niagara and Youngstown,
+two of which were armed with very heavy guns, and two with mortars.
+
+Upon the termination of the armistice, the militia generally returned to
+their posts with alacrity, accompanied by a number of old loyalists
+unfit for service in the field, but capable of performing garrison duty.
+
+The Garrison Order-book of Fort George still exists to bear witness to
+the ceaseless vigilance with which the movements of the enemy were
+watched. On the 2nd of October an order was issued directing one-third
+of the troopers to "sleep in their clothes, fully accoutred and ready to
+turn out at a moment's notice." This was followed on the 6th by another,
+requiring the whole of the regular troops and militia to be under arms
+by the first break of day, and not to be dismissed until full daylight,
+and on the 12th all communication with the enemy by flag of truce was
+forbidden, unless expressly authorized by the commanding general.
+
+On the morning of the 13th of October, as soon as General Brock was
+convinced that the Americans were actually crossing the river at
+Queenston, he directed Brigade Major Evans who remained in command at
+Fort George, to open fire with every available gun upon Fort Niagara and
+the adjacent batteries, and continue it until they were absolutely
+silenced. This attack was forestalled by the enemy, who, as soon as they
+perceived the columns of troops marching out on the road to Queenston,
+turned the whole of their artillery upon Fort George and the neighboring
+village, with such a disastrous effect, that in a few minutes the Jail
+and Court House and fifteen or sixteen other buildings were set in a
+blaze by their red hot shot. Major Evans had at his command not more
+than twenty regular soldiers who composed the main guard for the day.
+The whole of the small detachment of Royal Artillery usually stationed
+in the Fort, had accompanied the field guns to repel the attack upon
+Queenston. Colonel Claus, with a few men of the 1st Lincoln Regiment,
+and Capt. Powell and Cameron with a small detachment of militia
+artillery, alone remained to man the guns of the fort and batteries. The
+gravity of the situation was greatly increased by the fact, that upwards
+of three hundred prisoners were confined in the jail and guardhouse
+which was now menaced with destruction. However, while the guards and
+the greater part of the militia were vigorously engaged in fighting the
+flames, amid an incessant cannonade, under the personal direction of
+Major Evans and Captain Vigoreux of the Royal Engineers, the batteries
+were served by the militia artillery men, assisted by two
+non-commissioned officers of the 41st Regiment, with such energy and
+success that in the course of an hour the American guns were totally
+silenced. By that time the Court House and some other buildings had been
+totally consumed, and the disheartening news arrived that Gen. Brock and
+Colonel McDonell had been killed, and their men repulsed by the enemy
+who were landing in great force at Queenston, and had obtained
+possession of the heights. Evans rode off at once to send forward every
+man that could be spared from the stations along the river. He had just
+marched off a small party from Young's battery, when the American
+batteries resumed firing, and obliged him to return at full speed to his
+post. As he reached the main gate at Fort George, he encountered a party
+of panic-stricken soldiers flying from the place, who informed him that
+the roof of the magazine which was known to contain eight hundred
+barrels of powder was on fire. Captain Vigoreux climbed upon the burning
+building without an instant's hesitation, and his gallant example being
+quickly followed by several others, the metal covering was soon torn
+away and the flames extinguished in the wood beneath. The storehouses at
+Navy Hall were, however, next set in a blaze which could not be overcome
+owing to their exposed situation, and they were totally destroyed. The
+artillery combat was resumed, and continued till not only Fort Niagara,
+but all the other batteries on that side of the river were absolutely
+silenced and deserted. One of the largest guns in that fort had burst,
+completely wrecking the platform, disabling several men and dismaying
+the remainder to such an extent that they deserted the place in a body,
+and could not be induced to return until the firing had ceased. For
+several hours the works were entirely abandoned, and could have been
+taken without the least resistance, had Evans been able to spare men for
+the purpose.
+
+On the next day, a cessation of hostilities was again agreed upon which
+continued until the evening of the 20th of November. During this
+interval the six battalion companies of the First Lincoln Regiment were
+consolidated into three, under the command of Captains John Jones,
+Martin McClellan, and George Ball, each containing about eighty rank and
+file.
+
+At six o'clock on the morning of the 21st November, the guns of Fort
+George and five detached batteries began a second bombardment of the
+American works chiefly with the object of diverting the attention of the
+enemy to that part of the line, as general Smyth who had succeeded Van
+Rensselaer was massing his troops in the vicinity of Buffalo, with the
+apparent intention of forcing the passage of the river between Fort Erie
+and Chippawa. The fire from the American batteries, which appear to have
+been weakly manned, was ill-directed and occasionally ceased altogether
+for long intervals, while flames could be seen rising from their works,
+apparently caused by the explosion of shells. One of these missiles fell
+within the north blockhouse in Fort Niagara, and dismounted the only gun
+there. Another shot from a twenty-four pounder on the right of Fort
+George dismounted a heavy gun near Youngstown, while a third silenced
+the piece on the roof of the messhouse at Fort Niagara for nearly an
+hour. One of the guns in that place also burst with disastrous results,
+killing two men and disabling others. A large building under the walls
+which covered the landing of troops was entirely destroyed. By five
+o'clock in the afternoon Fort Niagara was absolutely silenced, and only
+the Youngstown "Salt" Battery continued to fire an occasional gun. At
+dark the British guns ceased firing. But a single private of the 49th
+Regiment, and a gallant old half-pay officer, Capt. Barent Frey, late of
+Butler's Rangers, had been killed on the Canadian side of the river
+during the cannonade. The latter had voluntarily occupied himself in
+gathering the enemy's shot as they fell, for the purpose as he declared
+of having them sent back to them as soon as possible. He is said to have
+been killed by the wind of a cannon ball as it ricocheted along the
+ground. The messhouse at Navy Hall was destroyed, and seventeen
+buildings in the town itself were set on fire by heated shot, besides
+many others considerably damaged by the cannonade. A small merchant
+schooner lying at the wharf was sunk.
+
+The American commandant at Fort Niagara, Colonel McFeely of the United
+States' Artillery, admitted the loss of only eleven men killed and
+wounded, though he estimated that not less than 2000 round shot and 180
+shells had been discharged against his works from the British batteries.
+He reported an instance of remarkable courage displayed by a woman.
+Among the prisoners taken at Queenston on the 13th October, was a
+private in the United States Artillery, named Andrew Doyle, who was
+recognised as a British subject, born in the village of St. Davids. He
+was accordingly included among those who were sent to England to be
+brought to trial for treason. His wife remained in Fort Niagara
+throughout the bombardment, and actually took part in working one of the
+guns. "During the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen" said
+Colonel McFeely in his official letter, "she attended the six-pounder on
+the old messhouse with the red hot shot and showed fortitude equal to
+the Maid of Orleans."
+
+Cannon balls were much too scarce and valuable to be wasted, and Col.
+Myers took pains to state in his report that the number of round shot
+picked up on the field exceeded the number fired from his guns on this
+occasion.
+
+This artillery duel put an end to actual hostilities in the vicinity of
+Niagara for the remainder of the year. But the privations and sufferings
+of the militia were not yet terminated. They were retained in service
+until the middle of December, when winter set in with unusual severity,
+and all danger of an invasion seemed at an end.
+
+As early as the middle of November, Sir Roger Sheaffe had reported that
+many of them were "in a very destitute state with respect to clothing,
+and all that regards bedding and barrack comforts in general, these
+wants cause discontent and desertion, but the conduct of a great
+majority is highly honorable to them, and I have not failed to encourage
+it by noticing it in public orders." In the order to which reference is
+made he had said; "Major General Sheaffe has witnessed with the highest
+satisfaction, the manly and cheerful spirit with which the militia on
+this frontier have borne the privations which peculiar circumstances
+have imposed upon them. He cannot but feel that their conduct entitles
+them to every attention he can bestow upon them. It has furnished
+examples of those best characteristics of a soldier, manly constancy
+under fatigue and privation and determined bravery in the face of the
+enemy."
+
+On the 23rd of the same month he observed that the number of the militia
+in service had constantly increased since the termination of the
+armistice and that they seemed very alert and well disposed. Their duty
+during the next three weeks was of the most wearisome and harassing kind
+as none of them were permitted to take off their clothes by night, and
+in the day they were kept fully accoutred with arms in their hands.
+Strong patrols constantly moved along the river, keeping up the
+communication between the posts, and owing to the smallness of the force
+assembled to watch such an extensive line, the same men were frequently
+placed on guard for several nights in succession. Their clothing was
+insufficient to protect them from the cold, and numbers were actually
+confined to barracks from want of shoes. Disease carried off Lieut. Col.
+Butler, Captain John Lottridge, Lieut. John May, Sergeant Jacob Balmer,
+and twenty privates of the Lincoln Regiments during the month of
+December, and there was much sickness among those who survived. Many,
+distressed beyond all endurance by the miserable condition of their
+families in their absence, returned home without leave.
+
+Late in November the Governor General issued a proclamation directing
+all citizens of the United States residing in Upper Canada who still
+declined to take an oath of allegiance, to leave the Province before the
+first day of January, 1813. Among those who were banished at this time,
+was Michael Smith, already mentioned, who published a few months later a
+small volume, entitled "A Geographical view of the Province of Upper
+Canada." This book met with such a favorable reception that five other
+editions appeared at short intervals during the next three years,
+several of them being materially revised and enlarged. His description
+of the wretched state of this part of the Province was the result of
+personal observation, and is certainly not overdrawn.
+
+"In the course of the summer on the line between Fort George and Fort
+Erie, there was not more than 1000 Indians in arms at any one time.
+These Indians went to and fro as they pleased to their country and back,
+and were very troublesome to the women when their husbands were gone, as
+they plundered and took what they pleased, and often beat them to force
+them to give them whiskey, even when they were not in possession of any,
+and when they saw any man that had not gone to the lines, they called
+him a Yankee, and threatened to kill him for not going to fight, and
+indeed in some instances these threats have been put into execution.
+They acted with great authority and rage when they had stained their
+hands with human blood.
+
+"The inhabitants at large would have been extremely glad to have got out
+of their miserable situation at almost any rate, but they dared not
+venture a rebellion without being sure of protection.
+
+"From the commencement of the war there had been no collection of debts
+by law in the upper part of the Province and towards the fall in no
+part, nor would anyone pay another. No person could get credit from
+anyone to the amount of one dollar, nor could anyone sell any of their
+property for any price except provisions or clothing, for those who had
+money were determined to keep it for the last resort. No business was
+carried on by any person except what was necessary for the times.
+
+"In the upper part of the Province all the schools were broken up and no
+preaching was heard in all the land. All was gloom, war and misery.
+
+"Upon the declaration of war the Governor laid an embargo on all the
+flour destined for market, which was at a time when very little had
+left the Province. The next harvest was truly bountiful as also the
+crops of corn, buckwheat, and peas, the most of which were gathered
+except the buckwheat which was on the ground when all the people were
+called away after the battle of Queenston. Being detained on duty in the
+fall not one half of the farmers sowed any winter grain."
+
+All supplies from Montreal were cut off by the American fleet being in
+possession of Lake Ontario from the 8th November until the close of
+navigation. Flour and salt were scarcely to be purchased at any price
+and the condition of many families soon became almost too wretched to be
+endured. It is not surprising then that numbers of those who had no very
+strong ties to retain them, seized the first opportunity of escape.
+
+Lake Erie was frozen over as early as the 12th of January. A few days
+later two deserters and three civilians made their way from Point Abino
+to Buffalo upon the ice. They stated that the British forces were
+greatly reduced by sickness and desertion and that they did not believe
+there were more than thirty regulars stationed along the river between
+Fort Erie and Niagara. In fact several companies of the 41st had been
+recently despatched to strengthen the garrison of Amherstburg which was
+again threatened with an attack, and a show of force was kept up by
+ostentatiously sending out parties along the river in sleighs by day and
+bringing them back to quarters after dark.
+
+Stimulated by the information derived from these men the commandant at
+Buffalo projected the surprise of Fort Erie by crossing on the ice, but
+the desertion of a non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Major Macfarlane,
+disconcerted his plans.
+
+Late in March the arrival of three families of refugees at Buffalo by
+the same route is recorded. They confirmed former accounts of want and
+distress and the weakness of the British garrisons on the Niagara. The
+American officers were enabled, by information obtained from these and
+other sources, to estimate with precision the actual force which might
+be assembled to resist an invasion. But as they failed to make their
+attacks simultaneously it happened in several instances that they
+encountered the same troops successively at different places many miles
+apart. Soldiers of the 41st, who had been present with Brock at the
+taking of Detroit fought at Queenston on the 13th of October and
+returned in time to share in the victory at the River Raisin on the 22nd
+January, 1813. Two companies of the 8th that took part in the assault
+upon Ogdensburg on the 22nd February, faced the invaders at York on the
+27th April and again at Fort George a month later. Finding themselves
+repeatedly confronted with considerably larger forces than they had been
+led to expect, the American generals soon ceased to put much confidence
+in the reports of their spies.
+
+The cabinet had at first designated Kingston, York, and Fort George
+points of attack in the order named. The attempt upon Kingston was
+quickly abandoned owing to a false report that the garrison had been
+largely increased and it was determined to limit the operations of the
+"Army of the Centre" in the first instance to the reduction of the two
+latter places.
+
+On the 17th of March, Major General Morgan Lewis, who had been appointed
+to the command of the division on the Niagara, arrived at Buffalo
+attended by a numerous staff. At noon of the same day, the batteries at
+Black Rock began firing across the river and continued the cannonade
+with little intermission until the evening of the 18th. A few houses
+were destroyed and seven soldiers killed or wounded near Fort Erie.
+Three of the American guns were dismounted by the British batteries. A
+week later the bombardment was resumed with even less result.
+
+York was taken without much difficulty on the 27th April, but it cost
+the assailants their most promising general and between three and four
+hundred of their best troops. They ascertained on that occasion that
+they still had many warm sympathizers in that part of the Province. A
+letter from an officer who accompanied this expedition, published in the
+_Baltimore Whig_ at the time, states that "our adherents and friends in
+Upper Canada suffer greatly in apprehension or active misery. Eighteen
+or twenty of them who refused to take the oath of allegiance lived last
+winter in a cave or subterraneous hut near Lake Simcoe. Twenty-five
+Indians and whites were sent to take them but they killed eighteen of
+the party and enjoyed their liberty until lately when being worn out
+with cold and fatigue, they were taken and put in York jail whence we
+liberated them." Michael Smith corroborates this account in some
+respects. He relates that twelve days after the battle of Queenston
+Colonel Graham, on Yonge Street, ordered his battalion to assemble that
+a number might be drafted to go to Fort George. Forty of them did not
+come but went out to Whitchurch township which was nearly a wilderness
+and joined thirty more fugitives that were already there. Some men who
+were home for a few days from Fort George offered to go and bring them
+in but as they were not permitted to take arms they failed and the
+number of fugitives increased by the first of December to 300. When on
+my way to Kingston to obtain a passport, I saw about fifty of these
+people near Smith's Creek in the Newcastle District on the main road
+with fife and drum beating for recruits and huzzaing for Madison. Some
+of them remained in the woods all winter, but the Indians went out in
+the spring of 1813 and drove them into their caves where they were
+taken.
+
+So pronounced was the disaffection among the inhabitants in the vicinity
+of York, that Chief Justice Powell warned the Governor General that "in
+the event of any serious disaster to His Majesty's arms little reliance
+is to be had on the power of the well disposed to depress and keep down
+the turbulence of the disaffected who are very numerous."
+
+On the 29th of April, the capture of York became known at Fort George
+and the boats and stores deposited at Burlington were removed to a place
+of safety. On the 8th of May the American fleet came over to Fort
+Niagara and landed the brigade of troops that had been employed in
+reduction of York. Although victorious they were described by General
+Dearborn as being sickly and low spirited. Next day some of these troops
+were sent in two schooners to Burlington Beach where they destroyed the
+King's Head tavern, built by Lieut.-Governor Simcoe, which had served as
+quarters for soldiers on their march to and from Niagara. These vessels
+continued to cruise about the head of the lake, while the remainder of
+their fleet sailed away, as it proved to bring forward another division
+of troops.
+
+Brigadier General John Vincent, had lately assumed command of the
+British forces on the line of the Niagara, consisting of the 49th
+Regiment, five companies of the 8th, three of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and a captain's
+command of Royal Artillery with five held guns, numbering in all 1925
+officers and men, of whom 1841 were effectiver. Besides these, Merritt's
+troops of Provincial cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, a company of
+militia artillery and an uncertain and fluctuating number of militiamen
+belonging to the five Lincoln Regiments were in service.
+
+By a general order in March, about 1700 militia had been summoned to the
+protection of the frontier, but when the alarm had subsided, most of
+them had been allowed to return to their homes as it was felt that they
+would be more usefully employed in cultivating their farms than in idly
+waiting for an attack which the enemy appeared to be in no hurry to
+make.
+
+The regular troops were in high spirits and confident of victory, but
+the militia appeared gloomy and depressed. Vincent complained ruefully,
+"it is with regret that I can neither report favorably of their numbers
+nor of their willing co-operation. Every exertion has been used and
+every expedient resorted to, to bring them forward and unite their
+efforts to those of His Majesty's troops with but little effect, and
+desertion beyond all conception continues to mark their indifference to
+the important cause in which we are now engaged. In considering it my
+duty to offer a fresh exposition of my sentiments to Your Excellency
+respecting the militia of this Province, I must at the same time express
+a belief that when the reinforcements reach this frontier, many of the
+inhabitants who have been for some time wavering and appalled by the
+specious show of the enemy's resources will instantly rally round the
+standard of their King and country."
+
+Lieut.-Colonel John Harvey, a very able and enterprising young officer,
+who had lately joined General Vincent's division as Deputy Adjutant
+General, earnestly advised that accurate information of the enemy's
+numbers and designs should be secured at any cost, and then "by a series
+of both active and offensive movements, they should be thrown on the
+defensive no matter how superior their numbers might be." Had the whole
+of the 8th Regiment arrived in time this might have been accomplished,
+but two of its companies had been nearly annihilated at York, and the
+march of the remainder very much delayed by the attack on that place.
+
+As late however, as the 20th of May, we find Colonel Myers writing to
+the Adjutant General in these terms. "It is not wise to hold an enemy
+too cheap, but I cannot divest myself of the idea that the foe opposite
+is despicable and that it would be no hard task to dislodge him from the
+entire of his lines on the Niagara River. With some subordinate attacks
+upon his flanks, I am of opinion that it would be an enterprise of
+little hazard for us to get an establishment on the heights above
+Lewiston, opposite Queenston. This once affected, I cannot but feel the
+strongest confidence that we would in a short time effect the object so
+much to be desired. It would be giving such a turn to the war that I
+conceive it would strike terror to the enemy, which would produce the
+happiest effects."
+
+The return of the American fleet with a numerous body of regular troops
+on board put an end to these rather fantastic schemes of conquest. At
+daybreak on the 21st, no less than seventeen armed vessels, and upwards
+of one hundred Durham boats and batteaux were seen assembled near the
+mouth of the Four Mile Creek in rear of Fort Niagara, from which several
+thousand men were speedily disembarked.
+
+For several days these troops paraded ostentatiously in plain view
+probably in the hope of overawing their opponents by the display of
+numbers. Many workmen were seen at the same time busily occupied in
+constructing new batteries along the river and building boats.
+Reinforcements continued to arrive daily until it was supposed that
+about 7000 soldiers were encamped between Lewiston and Fort Niagara.
+This force was composed almost wholly of regular troops that had been in
+service for some time and included nine of the best regiments of
+infantry in the United States army. They were accompanied by a strong
+regiment of heavy artillery, a well appointed field-train and a
+battalion of dragoons.
+
+Major-General Henry Dearborn who was in command had distinguished
+himself in the Revolutionary war during which he had commanded a
+regiment in Arnold's expedition against Quebec and in Sullivan's
+campaign against the Six Nations. But he was now past sixty years of age
+and in ill health.
+
+The Secretary of War had warned him to be careful to employ a sufficient
+force to ensure success. Seven thousand men was the number deemed
+requisite. "If the first step in the campaign fails," he wrote
+plaintively, "our disgrace will be complete. The public will lose
+confidence in us. The party who first opens a campaign has many
+advantages over his antagonist, all of which, however, are the results
+of his being able to carry his whole force against part of the enemy's.
+We are now in that state of prostration Washington was in after he
+crossed the Delaware, but like him we may soon get on our legs if we are
+able to give some hard blows at the opening of the campaign. In this we
+cannot fail provided the force we employ against his western posts be
+sufficiently heavy. They must stand or fall by their own strength. They
+are perfectly isolated, send, then, a force that shall overwhelm them.
+When the fleet and army are gone we have nothing at Sackett's Harbor to
+guard. How would it read if we had another brigade at Sackett's Harbor
+when we failed at Niagara?"
+
+The undisturbed control of Lake Ontario by his fleet gave the American
+general a still greater advantage than his numerical superiority. It was
+understood that the British squadron would not be able to leave Kingston
+for at least a week, but two small vessels were detached to watch that
+port while the remainder assembled at Niagara to cover the landing.
+
+Vincent was accordingly thrown entirely upon the defensive. Had he only
+had Dearborn's army to contend with, superior as it was, he might have
+entertained a reasonable hope of being able to maintain his position but
+the presence of the fleet would enable his antagonist to select the
+point of attack at will and even to land a force in his rear.
+
+Nor were the fortifications along the river in a satisfactory state. The
+chief engineer had examined them during the winter and reported that
+Fort George was still in a "ruinous and unfinished condition," although
+the parapet facing the river had been somewhat strengthened. He had
+recommended that it should be completed as a field work and that a
+splinter-proof barracks capable of sheltering 400 men should be built
+within, and the upper story of the blockhouses taken down to place them
+on a level with the _terre pleine_. But these suggested improvements
+could not be carried out for lack of materials and workmen. At this time
+the fort mounted five guns; one twelve, two twenty four pounders, and
+two mortars. On the left fronting Fort Niagara were no less than five
+detached batteries armed with eleven guns, five of which were mortars.
+All of these works were open in the rear, and could be enfiladed and
+some of them taken in reverse by an enemy approaching on the lake. Six
+other batteries had been constructed along the river between Fort George
+and Queenston, two at Chippawa and three opposite Black Rock about two
+miles below Fort Erie. All of these posts required men to occupy them
+and there were besides thirty odd miles of frontier to be constantly
+patrolled and guarded. About one-third of his regular troops and
+two-thirds of the militia were unavoidably stationed along the upper
+part of this line extending from Queenston to Point Abino, under the
+command of Lieut.-Colonel Cecil Bishop. Vincent retained for the defence
+of the eleven miles of front between Queenston and the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek, thirty gunners of the Royal Artillery with five field
+pieces, under Major Holcroft, 1050 regular infantry, 350 militia, and
+about fifty Indians. This force was subdivided into three diminutive
+brigades of nearly equal numbers, the right under Lieut.-Colonel Harvey
+being detailed to guard the river, and the left under Lieut.-Colonel
+Myers, the lake front of this position, while the third under his own
+command remained in readiness to support either of these when attacked.
+Fort George was garrisoned by Ormond's company of the 49th, and a
+detachment of militia artillery amounting in the whole to about 130 men.
+The gunners serving with the field artillery being not more than half
+the usual complement, additional men were attached from the infantry.
+The batteries were entirely manned by volunteers from the regulars and
+militia. The whole force was turned out every morning at two o'clock,
+and remained under arms until daylight. The staff officers set a
+conspicuous example of activity and watchfulness. Colonels Harvey and
+Myers, accompanied by their aides patrolled the lines the whole night
+through and slept only by day. As the enemy continued their preparations
+for nearly a week after the return of their fleet, the effects of the
+prolonged strain soon became apparent in the exhausted condition of both
+the officers and men. At first, General Dearborn's movements seemed to
+indicate that an attack would be made by crossing the river above Fort
+George, and on the 24th of May the whole of the British troops were kept
+under arms all night. About three o'clock in the morning the enemy was
+distinctly heard launching boats at the Five Mile meadows nearly
+opposite a station occupied by Lieut. (afterwards Major General) R. S.
+Armstrong, R. A., who by command of the vigilant Harvey, immediately
+began to fire in that direction with a six pounder field gun and the
+nine-pounder mounted in a battery at Brown's Point. The Americans
+replied briskly with two six-pounders and continued their efforts until
+they had put ten boats in the river. But if they had intended to cross
+at this place, they soon abandoned the attempt, and when day dawned all
+of these boats were seen on their way down the river with a few men in
+each. As they came within range the guns of Fort George began firing,
+which instantly drew upon that work the fire of no less than sixteen
+heavy guns and mortars mounted in Fort Niagara and the adjacent
+batteries. The twelve pounder in Fort George was soon dismounted by a
+shot which shattered its carriage, and every building inside was set on
+fire by the shower of shells and red-hot shot which rained upon it. The
+gunners were driven by the flames from the twenty-four pounder beside
+the flagstaff, but the unequal contest was still gallantly maintained by
+a similar gun in the cavalier and a smaller piece in the north-western
+bastion until Major Holcroft perceiving that the barracks were totally
+consumed and shells bursting in every corner of the place sent orders to
+this handful of undaunted men to cease firing and retire under cover.
+The gun at Mississauga Point remained silent by order of Colonel Myers
+who hoped by this means to deprive the enemy of any excuse for turning
+their artillery upon the village, and the other detached batteries seem
+to have taken little part in the contest. Having destroyed all the
+buildings in Fort George and effectually silenced its fire, the
+Americans discontinued the bombardment about two o'clock in the
+afternoon.
+
+The lake front of the British position was then closely reconnoitred by
+boats from the fleet, sounding the shore in every direction and
+occasionally venturing within musket shot of some of the batteries which
+remained silent, partly from scarcity of ammunition and partly through
+fear of provoking a renewal of the cannonade. Buoys were placed to mark
+the stations the ships were to occupy next day when they engaged the
+batteries on the left of Fort George and covered the landing.
+
+On the part of the British some ineffectual efforts were made to repair
+the damages of the morning. The tackle and carriage of the gun at the
+flagstaff in Fort George had been totally destroyed by the flames, and
+could not be replaced, while the ring-bolts of another gun at the light
+house had been drawn by the recoil, and little service could be expected
+from it. Only a small picquet was stationed in the fort during the
+night, and the remainder of the garrison lay upon their arms on the
+common about half a mile in the rear in hourly expectation of an alarm,
+with the other brigades on either flank.
+
+Shortly after reveille had sounded next morning, a rocket was seen to
+rise into the air from Fort Niagara and a single gun was fired at Fort
+George. This was the signal for all the American batteries to begin a
+cannonade which was not returned and ceased at the end of half an hour.
+Long after the sun had risen a dense fog hung over the river and lake,
+effectually concealing all objects on the opposite side except the dim
+outline of Fort Niagara. Nothing could be seen of their troops, most of
+whom had been embarked soon after midnight, at the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek. At daybreak Generals Dearborn and Lewis went on board
+Commodore Chauncey's flagship which immediately got under way, followed
+by the remainder of the fleet and the immense flotilla of batteaux and
+other boats filled with soldiers. Hours passed away and the entire
+armada remained almost motionless waiting for the rising of the fog.
+Finally when the fog banks rolled away 16 vessels of different sizes
+were descried standing across the mouth of the river at a distance of
+about two miles from land, followed by no less than 134 boats and scows,
+each containing from thirty to fifty men, formed in three compact
+divisions one behind the other. At a signal from the flagship the entire
+fleet tacked and stood towards the Canadian shore, the small boats
+wheeling by brigades and carefully preserving their alignment. Their
+approach was gradual and deliberate, being favored by a gentle breeze,
+which, however, scarcely raised a ripple on the glassy surface of the
+lake. The schooners _Julia_ and _Growler_ each armed with a long
+32-pounder and a long 12-pounder mounted on pivots, by making use of
+their sweeps entered the mouth of the river and opened fire on the
+crippled battery near the lighthouse while the schooner _Ontario_ of
+similar force took up a position near the shore to the northward so as
+to enfilade the same work and cross the fire of the two first-named
+vessels. Two guns and a mortar in Fort Niagara also concentrated their
+fire upon this battery, which was occupied by a few men of the Lincoln
+artillery under Capt. John Powell. Only a single shot was fired from the
+gun mounted there when it again became unmanageable and the gunners were
+soon afterwards driven out by the incessant fire directed against them
+from different quarters. At the same time the _Governor Tompkins_ of six
+guns engaged the one-gun battery near the mouth of Two Mile Creek in
+flank while _Conquest_ of three guns anchored in such a position as to
+fire directly into it from the rear, which was entirely open and
+unprotected. Resistance in this case was obviously out of the question
+and it was immediately abandoned. The _Hamilton_, _Scourge_ and _Asp_
+anchored within short musket shot of the shore, a few hundred yards
+further west, nearly opposite a group of farm houses called Crookston,
+which was the place selected for landing the troops. The three largest
+vessels, the _Madison_, _Oneida_ and _Lady of the Lake_ drew more water
+and were in consequence obliged to remain at a greater distance, though
+still well within effective range of every part of the level plain
+beyond the landing place. The united broadside of the fleet amounted to
+fifty-one guns, many of them being heavy long-range pieces mounted upon
+pivots which could fire in any direction, and the weather was so calm
+that they were afterwards able to increase the number by shifting guns
+from the other side. The whole of the artillery in Fort Niagara and the
+batteries on that bank of the river had also opened fire. Two sides of
+the British position were thus simultaneously assailed by the fire of
+more than seventy guns and mortars which swept the roads and fields in
+every direction with scarcely a shot in reply. A picquet of the
+Glengarry Light Infantry which had been stationed with about 50 Indians
+of the Six Nations under Captain John Norton among the thickets near the
+mouth of the Two Mile Creek hastily retired to avoid utter destruction
+by the storm of missiles hurled against their covert. Two Indians were
+killed and several wounded before they could escape.
+
+A heavy column of troops was then discovered marching from the American
+camp in rear of Fort Niagara near Youngstown. This consisted principally
+of dismounted dragoons and heavy artillery commanded by Colonel Burn who
+had been instructed to cross the river there and intercept the retreat
+of the British garrison towards Queenston. Their appearance had the
+effect of detaining a large part of Harvey's brigade on that flank to
+watch their movements.
+
+It was about nine o'clock when the landing began at Crookston in the
+following order. The advanced guard in twenty boats was composed of
+four hundred picked light infantry selected from several regiments,
+Forsyth's battalion of riflemen, and the flank companies of the 15th
+United States Infantry, amounting in the whole to about 800 rank and
+file, with a detachment of artillery in charge of a three-pounder field
+piece, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Winfield Scott, an able and
+energetic young officer who had been taken prisoner at Queenston the
+year before, and was destined to be the future conqueror of Mexico. This
+force was strictly enjoined not to advance more than three hundred paces
+from the water's edge before it was supported by General Boyd's brigade
+of infantry, with Eustis's battalion of artillery and McClure's rifle
+volunteers on its flanks. This was succeeded by Winder's brigade with
+Towson's artillery, and Chandler's brigade with Macomb's artillery,
+which were instructed to form upon Boyd's right and left respectively.
+Each of these brigades must certainly have numbered not less than 1500
+officers and men. The reserve was composed of the marines of the fleet
+and a picked body of 400 seamen which were landed but not brought into
+action.
+
+The entire fleet continued to fire over the heads of the men in the
+boats and effectually screened their advance until they reached the
+shore and formed on the beach under shelter of the steep clay bank.
+Captain Hindman of the United States Artillery, a very gallant young
+officer who was in command of the detachment with the gun attached to
+the advance guard, is mentioned as the first man to reach the shore. So
+far they had not met with the slightest opposition, but when they began
+to ascend the bank, the artillery fire from the ships slackened and they
+were briskly attacked by three companies of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two companies of Lincoln militia, and the Grenadiers of the
+Royal Newfoundland Regiment who had been partially sheltered during the
+cannonade in a ravine two or three hundred yards distant. The effect of
+their musketry was sufficient to cause the American advance guard to
+retire under cover of the bank once more and the fleet recommenced its
+fire. Lieut.-Colonel Myers then succeeded in bringing forward the
+remainder of his brigade, increasing the force assembled in the ravine
+to forty men of the Newfoundland Regiment, ninety of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, twenty-seven of Captain Runchey's negro company, one hundred
+Lincoln militia and 310 of the 8th or King's regiment. Several American
+authorities agree in the statement that they twice attempted to ascend
+the bank and were twice driven back by this determined handful of men.
+After they had succeeded in forming upon the plain, General Boyd
+declared that for "fifteen minutes the two lines exchanged a rapid and
+destructive fire, at a distance of only six or ten yards." The official
+returns of casualties establish the fact the whole of his brigade
+consisting of the 6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry was brought
+forward to the support of Colonel Scott's advance-guard, making a force
+of about 2,300 men opposed to 567. Whenever practicable the ships
+continued to fire with destructive effect on the attenuated British
+line. Colonel Myers fell desperately wounded in three plans when leading
+the first charge. Every field officer and most of the company of
+officers were soon killed or disabled, and at the end of twenty minutes
+close fighting the survivors gave way, leaving nearly three hundred dead
+and wounded on the field. They were rallied at a second ravine some
+distance in the rear by Lieut.-Colonel Harvey, who brought up with him
+several companies of the 49th, and a six-pounder field gun under Lieut.
+Charlton, which had been stationed near Fort George.
+
+Lieut. Armstrong with two other guns, had also been directed to proceed
+to the support of Lieut.-Colonel Myers, but upon advancing along the
+road parallel with the lake near Secord's house, he was suddenly
+assailed from both flanks by a body of riflemen, whose fire wounded his
+horse and one of his men, and a belt of thick woods prevented him from
+joining the remnant of that brigade, which was then in full retreat.
+While engaged in examining the road in front, Armstrong came
+unexpectedly upon one of the enemy's riflemen whom he made prisoner, and
+discovering that he was in danger of being surrounded, retired hurriedly
+to the Presbyterian church where the remainder of the field guns had
+been posted. From this position they covered the retirement of
+Lieut.-Colonel Harvey's force, which took place about ten o'clock. By
+that time the Americans had succeeded in landing the greater part of
+their field artillery, and began to advance slowly in three dense
+columns, Scott's light troops skirting the woods on the right, with the
+6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry and four guns in the centre
+and the 18th United States Infantry and four guns moving along the
+margin of the lake. As they had brought no horses, they were obliged to
+drag their guns by hand, and their advance was necessarily very slow.
+While observing their movements, Colonel Harvey was almost cut off by a
+party of riflemen who had stealthily made their way through the woods
+with that object. He galloped off unhurt amid a shower of bullets, and
+formed his brigade in a fresh position behind a third ravine. Major
+Holcroft opened fire from a six-pounder and a howitzer, but on
+perceiving the advance of the enemy's light troops on the right, he
+placed these guns in charge of Lieut. Armstrong, and moved in that
+direction with the two other pieces. For nearly half an hour the
+artillery kept up a brisk fire and succeeded in checking the enemy's
+infantry. Harvey then noticed that their riflemen were again stealing
+forward through the woods, with the intention of turning his left flank,
+and ordered a general retreat to the Common beyond the Council House.
+During the cannonade Holcroft had lost but one gunner wounded and a
+single horse killed but the limber of his largest gun, a twelve-pounder,
+was so badly damaged that it went to pieces on the road.
+
+An hour later when the Americans emerged from the village, an eighteen
+pounder, in the battery next to Fort George was traversed, and fired
+upon them until they made a vigorous charge and captured it with several
+of the men engaged in working it.
+
+Vincent joined Harvey with the reserve, and the whole force remained in
+position on the Common for nearly half an hour. Commodore Chauncey's
+flagship entered the river and anchored abreast of Fort George. The
+troops at Youngstown began to enter their boats while the enemy in front
+were steadily prolonging their lines to the right with the evident
+purpose of occupying the only possible avenue of retreat, and
+surrounding the British forces.
+
+At noon, General Vincent despatched an order to Lieut.-Colonel Claus, to
+evacuate Fort George and join him upon the Queenston road. He
+immediately began his retreat upon St. Davids, the infantry retiring
+through the woods, and the artillery and baggage by the road. This
+movement was so quietly accomplished that it seems to have almost
+escaped the attention of the enemy who were busily engaged in reforming
+their line.
+
+General Dearborn had become so much enfeebled by his exertions, and the
+effects of his previous illness, that he had to be lifted from his horse
+and supported to a boat which conveyed him on board the flagship, from
+which he viewed the landing of his troops, although unable to keep his
+feet for more than a few minutes at a time. The command accordingly
+devolved upon Major General Morgan Lewis, an officer of little
+experience and less military knowledge, but an active and influential
+politician, who had been in turn Chief Justice and Governor of the State
+of New York and was a brother-in-law of the Secretary of War. He was
+absurdly fond of military pomp, parade and display, and his opponents
+delighted to ridicule a speech he had made to the militia when Governor
+in which he had remarked that "the drum was all important in the day of
+battle." Having the fate of Van Rensselaer and Winchester fresh in his
+memory, his movements were cautious to the verge of timidity. An hour
+and a half elapsed after Harvey retreated before he ventured to advance
+beyond the village. He had then not less than 4,000 men in order of
+battle besides the reserve of marines and seamen. His line extended
+without a break from the lighthouse on Mississauga Point to the river
+above Fort George. That work was approached with excessive caution as
+the sound of repeated explosions within, caused them to dread a
+recurrence of their disastrous experience at York, and even the
+lighthouse was avoided lest it should be hurled in fragments on their
+heads. Colonel Scott was in fact unhorsed by a large splinter which
+broke his collar bone, but there were no other casualties. When the fort
+was entered, it was found that the garrison had disappeared with the
+exception of a few soldiers of the 49th Regiment, who were still engaged
+in dismantling the works. Some of the men were surprised in the act of
+cutting down the flagstaff to obtain the garrison flag from which the
+halliards had been shot away, and others were taken prisoners as they
+attempted to escape through the main gate. More than a hundred sick and
+wounded were found in the hospital. The village of Niagara was entirely
+deserted, and many of the houses had been much damaged by cannon shot.
+
+During the afternoon the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons was
+brought over from Youngstown, but scarcely any pursuit was attempted as
+the American army was described as much exhausted from being under arms
+for eleven hours. No one seemed to know positively which way the British
+had retreated. Colonel Scott with some of the riflemen seems to have
+advanced a few miles along the Queenston road, but was peremptorily
+recalled by General Lewis who feared an ambush. Meanwhile Vincent's
+column had retired in almost perfect order, leaving scarcely a straggler
+behind and marched with such speed that the rear guard arrived that
+night at DeCew's house, where a small magazine of provisions had been
+formed a few days before in anticipation of a reverse.
+
+About four o'clock in the afternoon a dragoon reached Fort Erie with
+information of the loss of Fort George, and Lieut.-Colonel Bishop
+immediately began his retreat with the regular troops and field guns
+stationed there, leaving Major John Warren with a few men of the Third
+Lincoln Regiment of militia to occupy the works and engage the attention
+of the enemy on the opposite bank. Soon after his departure, Warren
+opened fire on Black Rock from all the batteries, and continued the
+cannonade all night. At daybreak the destruction of the stores and
+fortifications began. The barracks and public buildings were burnt, the
+magazines blown up, the guns burst or otherwise rendered unserviceable
+along the whole line from Point Abino to Chippawa. When this had been
+thoroughly accomplished, Warren disbanded his men, and an American force
+crossed from Black Rock and took possession of the dismantled works. A
+quantity of stores which had been abandoned at Queenston, was destroyed
+on the same day, by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Clark, at the head of a small
+party of the Third Lincoln Regiment, who had returned from Beaver Dams
+for the purpose.
+
+Scarcely had this been done, when a strong brigade of American troops
+advanced from Fort George and occupied that village.
+
+During these operations General Vincent had lost the whole of his
+garrison ordnance and a considerable quantity of spare arms and military
+stores. His regular force had been diminished by 350 officers and men,
+nearly all of whom were killed or wounded, but he was joined during the
+night of the 27th by two strong companies of the 8th Regiment which had
+advanced that day as far as the mouth of the Twelve Mile Creek on their
+way to Fort George. The loss of the regulars in the battle was
+officially stated at fifty-two killed, forty-four wounded, and 262
+missing, nearly all of those reported missing being either killed or
+left wounded on the field. The small detachment of Lincoln militia
+engaged is stated to have lost five officers and eighty men, killed or
+wounded, but no official return seems to have been preserved. The names
+only of Captain Martin McClellan and Privates Charles Wright and William
+Cameron, who were killed, have been recorded. Two Mohawk Indians, Joseph
+Claus and Tsigotea, were also among the slain. General Boyd stated that
+his men found 107 dead and 175 wounded of the British troops upon the
+field. The losses of some of the detachments actually engaged were truly
+appalling. The five companies of the 8th Regiment lost, Lieut. Drummie
+killed, Major Cotton, Lieuts. Nicholson, McMahon, and Lloyd, and Ensign
+Nicholson wounded, and 196 non-commissioned officers and privates
+killed, wounded, or missing out of 310 of all ranks who went into
+action. The Glengarry Light Infantry lost Captain Liddle and Ensign
+McLean killed, Captain Roxborough and Lieut. Kerr wounded, and 73
+non-commissioned officers and men out of an aggregate of 108. The
+grenadier company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost Capt. Winter,
+Lieut. Stewart, and fourteen others out of forty.
+
+The total loss of the American army was officially stated at 150, of
+whom thirty-nine were killed. The only officer killed was Lieut. Henry
+Hobart, a grandson of General Dearborn. Covered as their landing was by
+the fire of so many cannon, it is, perhaps, remarkable that their loss
+was so great. As a proof, however, of the severity of the short struggle
+on the plain. Dr. Mann, the American army surgeon, who was present,
+remarked that he found 27 dead and 87 severely wounded on the field when
+he landed and that nearly 400 of both armies lay stretched on a plot of
+ground not more than 200 yards in length and fifteen in breadth.
+
+On the 28th, the whole of the militia except Merritt's troop of
+Provincial Cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, and about sixty picked
+men of other corps who were determined to follow the fortunes of the
+army, were disbanded, and Vincent continued his retreat to Grimsby and
+finally to Burlington Heights where he arrived on the 2nd June with
+eleven field guns and 1800 seasoned soldiers, who, in spite of their
+recent reverse were in high spirits and eager to meet the enemy again on
+more equal terms. The brilliant result of the action at Stoney Creek
+three days later amply atoned for a defeat by which they had lost no
+credit.
+
+The Americans were justly disappointed by the incompleteness of their
+success. For nearly two days they appear to have absolutely lost all
+track of their enemy. "When we marched for Queenston on the 28th," wrote
+an officer in the United States army whose letter was published at the
+time in the _Baltimore Whig_, "we found the British far advanced on
+their retreat by the back road toward the lower part of the Province.
+They collected their force very actively. Our friends hereabouts are
+greatly relieved by our visit. They had been terribly persecuted by the
+Scotch myrmidons of England. Their present joy is equal to their past
+misery. This is a charming country but its uncertain destiny together
+with the vexations the farmers endured by being dragged out in the
+militia left the fields in a great degree uncultivated. The British
+Indians are not of much use to them. They run as soon as the battle
+grows hot. I saw but one Indian and one Negro with the Glengarry uniform
+on, dead on the field. Their Eighth fought very resolutely and suffered
+severely."
+
+Many American historians have condemned General Dearborn for not having
+accomplished more with the means at his disposal but they have made
+little or no allowance for the physical weakness which actually rendered
+him unfit to command at all. General Armstrong, who, as Secretary of
+War, was eager to justify his own conduct, declared that "if instead of
+concentrating his whole force, naval and military, on the water side of
+the enemy's defences he had divided the attack and crossed the Niagara
+below Lewiston and advanced on Fort George by the Queenston road, the
+investment of that place would have been complete and a retreat of the
+garrison rendered impracticable." This, however, was actually the
+movement which Dearborn had planned but failed to execute in time.
+Ingersol, a member of Congress and a leader of the war party, bitterly
+observed that "the British General effected his retreat (probably
+without Dearborn knowing it for he stayed on shipboard) to the mountain
+passes where he employed his troops in attacking, defeating, and
+capturing ours during all the rest of that year of discomfitures."
+
+THE END.
+
+      N. B.--For the engraving, "The Taking of Fort George," we
+      are indebted to the kindness and courtesy of the Hon. P. A.
+      Porter, Niagara Falls. It is from the portfolio published in
+      Philadelphia, 1817, and is particularly interesting to us as
+      giving the appearance of the churches St. Mark's and St.
+      Andrew's before the town was burnt down, as also the
+      Lighthouse situated nearly where the Queen's Royal Hotel
+      stands now.
+
+
+
+
+    +-----------------------------------------------+
+    |             Transcriber's Note:               |
+    |                                               |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the  |
+    | original document have been preserved.        |
+    |                                               |
+    | Typographical errors corrected in the text:   |
+    |                                               |
+    | Page  5  huudred changed to hundred           |
+    | Page  6  uninhabitated changed to uninhabited |
+    | Page  7  Presqu'le changed to  Presqu'ile     |
+    | Page  9  patroling changed to patrolling      |
+    | Page 12  armisfice changed to armistice       |
+    | Page 14  Rensslaer changed to Rensselaer      |
+    | Page 15  permited changed to permitted        |
+    | Page 19  resourses changed to resources       |
+    | Page 21  Deleware changed to Delaware         |
+    | Page 21  patroled changed to patrolled        |
+    | Page 21  Bisshop changed to Bishop            |
+    | Page 22  detatchment changed to detachment    |
+    | Page 24  missles changed to missiles          |
+    +-----------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
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+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank.
+    </title>
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+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Battle of Fort George
+       A paper read on March 14th, 1896
+
+Author: Ernest Cruikshank
+
+Release Date: September 3, 2010 [EBook #33621]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h3> "Ducit Amor Patriae"</h3>
+
+<h4> TRANSACTION NO. 1</h4>
+
+<h3> Niagara Historical Society.</h3>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h1> BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE</h1>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h4> A PAPER READ ON MARCH 14TH, 1896, BY</h4>
+
+<h2> ERNEST CRUIKSHANK</h2>
+
+<h3> CAPT. 44TH BATTALION.</h3>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<hr style="width: 20%;" />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h4> NIAGARA:<br />
+ PICKWELL BROS., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.<br />
+ 1896.</h4>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<h2>PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The reproach has frequently been cast upon us that Canada has no
+history; it might be said of us with far more justice that we do not
+know our own history. The various historical societies are, by their
+efforts, trying to wipe away this reproach, and we feel proud of
+following in the wake of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society in
+publishing a paper written by Capt. Cruikshank, who has well earned the
+title of the historian of the Niagara peninsula.</p>
+
+<p>Of the towns of Ontario not one we are sure possesses a history so
+eventful, so ancient, so interesting as Niagara, having been at
+different times a legislative, an educational, a military and a
+commercial centre, at one time occupied by the enemy and again a heap of
+smoking ruins, now a quiet summer resort with many points of historical
+interest, with wide streets shaded by old elms and having unrivalled
+lake and river scenery. The members of the youngest of these Historical
+Societies feel that they may congratulate themselves on being able to
+place in the hands of the public the story which so far has not yet been
+told of the Taking of Fort George, told too in a style so clear, so
+dispassionate, and shewing such deep research, a story of troublesome
+times, which so told can not but be helpful to old and young of every
+nationality.</p>
+
+<p>Asking for our first venture a kind reception we send it out to the
+public, hoping that it may do its part in proving that we have a not
+ignoble history which should inspire us to yet nobler deeds.</p>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>
+
+<h2>BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE.</h2>
+
+<p class="cen"><b>27TH MAY, 1813.</b></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 10%;" />
+<br />
+
+<p>For about a quarter of a century Niagara was the principal town and
+commercial capital of Western Canada, and for a brief period was
+actually the seat of government for the Upper Province. The removal of
+the provincial officers to York in 1796 struck the first blow at its
+supremacy, but its material prosperity continued until the beginning of
+the war with the United States when its exposed situation subjected it
+to a series of calamities which culminated in its total destruction on
+the 10th of December, 1813.</p>
+
+<p>During that time many travellers of more or less note visited the place
+at short intervals on their way to or from the Falls, and a considerable
+number of them have recorded their observations. Patrick Campbell in
+1791, D'Arcy Bolton in 1794, the Duke de Rochefoucauld Liancourt in
+1795, Isaac Weld and J. C. Ogden in 1796, John Maude in 1800, George
+Heriot in 1806, Christian Schultz in 1807, John Melish in 1810 and
+Michael Smith in 1812 have described the town and adjacent country at
+considerable length from various points of view. Other accounts are to
+be found in the <i>National Intelligencer</i> newspaper published at
+Washington, D. C., in 1812, and in Smith's Gazetteer of Upper Canada for
+1813. From these numerous sources it would seem an easy task to form a
+fairly correct estimate of the appearance of the town, its commercial
+importance and the character of the inhabitants.</p>
+
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>
+<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>
+<a href="images/frontis.jpg">
+<img border="0" src="images/frontisth.jpg" width="75%" alt="The taking of Fort George." /></a><br />
+<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">THE TAKING OF FORT GEORGE.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>It is described as being nearly a mile square, sparsely built, with many
+pasture fields, gardens, orchards and open spaces interspersed among the
+houses. Smith, an American resident of the province now was expelled in
+1812 for having declined to take oath of allegiance, states that there
+were "several squares of ground in the village adorned with almost every
+kind of precious fruit." According to the same authority it contained
+two churches&mdash;one of them built of stone, a court house and jail, an
+Indian council house, an academy in which Latin and Greek were taught by
+the Rev. John Burns a Presbyterian minister, a printing house, six
+taverns, twenty stores and about a hundred dwelling houses, many of them
+described as "handsome buildings of brick or stone, the rest being of
+wood, neatly painted." From the lake the town is said to have made an
+"imposing appearance" as most of the buildings fronted the water. Smith
+concludes his account with the remark that it was "a beautiful and
+prospective place, inhabited by civil and industrious people." Dr. John
+Mann, a surgeon in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>United States army who accompanied the
+invading forces and afterwards wrote the "Medical History of the War,"
+styles it "a delightful village." The population was probably
+underestimated at five hundred exclusive of the regular garrison of Fort
+George, usually numbering about two hundred men. The names of John
+Symington, Andrew Heron, Joseph Edwards, John Grier, John Baldwin and
+James Muirhead have been recorded as some of the principal merchants.</p>
+
+<p>An open plain or common of nearly a mile in width separated the town
+from Fort George. This post was described by the Governor General in the
+early summer of 1812, in official report on the defences of Upper Canada
+as an irregular fieldwork consisting of six small bastions faced with
+framed timber and plank, connected by a line of palisades twelve feet
+high, and surrounded by a shallow dry ditch. Its situation and
+construction were alike condemned as extremely defective. Although it
+partially commanded Fort Niagara it was in turn overlooked and commanded
+by the high ground on the opposite side of the river near Youngstown.
+The troops were lodged in blockhouses inside affording quarters for 220
+men, besides which there was a spacious building for the officers. The
+magazine was built of stone with an arched roof but was not considered
+bombproof. All the works were very much out of repair and reported as
+scarcely capable of the least defence.</p>
+
+<p>On the margin of the river immediately in front of the fort stood a
+large log building known as Navy Hall, which had been constructed during
+the American Revolution, to serve as winter-quarters for the officers
+and seamen of the Provincial vessels on Lake Ontario. Near this was a
+spacious wharf with good-sized store houses, both public and private.
+The Ranger's Barracks, also built of logs and an Indian Council House
+were situated on the further edge of the common, just south of the town.
+A small stone light house had been built upon Mississauga Point, in
+1805-6.</p>
+
+<p>The road leading along the river to Queenston, was thickly studded with
+farm buildings, and the latter village is said to have contained nearly
+a hundred houses, many of them being large and well built structures of
+stone or brick, with a population estimated at 300. Vessels of fifty
+tons and upwards, loaded with goods for the upper country, sailed up the
+river to this place, where they discharged their cargoes, and took in
+furs and grain in return. Ever since its establishment, the "Carrying
+Place" on the Canadian side of the river, had furnished much profitable
+employment to the neighboring farmers, who were paid at the rate of
+twenty pence, New York currency, a hundred weight for hauling goods
+between Queenston and Chippawa; Maude relates that during his visit in
+1800, he passed many carts and wagons on this road, taking up boxes and
+bales of merchandise, or bringing down furs, each drawn by two horses or
+two yoke of oxen. Three schooners were then moored at the wharf at
+Queenston, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>and fourteen teams stood waiting to be loaded. Others had
+noticed as many as fifty or sixty teams passing each other in a day. At
+this time the old portage on the American bank was entirely dis-used,
+but in 1806 the exclusive rights to the carrying place on that side were
+granted to Porter, Barton &amp; Co., and much of the traffic was
+consequently diverted.</p>
+
+<p>Christian Schultz, tells us that in 1807, the Canadian side of the river
+was "one settled street, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie," while the
+other was still almost wholly "waste and uninhabited," which he
+attributes chiefly to the fact, that the land on the American bank was
+entirely held by speculators. The villages of Chippawa and Fort Erie
+contained about twenty houses each. For upwards of twenty miles back, he
+states that the country was pretty well settled from lake to lake. A
+stage coach made three round trips weekly between Niagara and Fort Erie.
+A considerable sum from the Provincial Treasury was annually spent in
+opening and improving roads. Frenchman's, Miller's and Black creeks were
+bridged only on the river road, but there was a bridge across Lyon's
+creek, at Cook's Mills, and the Chippawa was bridged at its mouth, and
+at Brown's sixteen miles higher up. From the Portage Road near the
+Falls, a continuation of Lundy's Lane led westerly through the
+Beechwoods and Beaver Dam settlements, crossed the Twelve Mile creek at
+DeCew's, and following the crest of the mountain to the Twenty, ascended
+that stream as far as a small hamlet, known as "Asswago" and finally
+united with the main road from Niagara to York near Stoney Creek.
+Another well travelled road from Queenston passed through St. Davids,
+and joined the Lake Road from Niagara at Shipman's tavern, where they
+crossed the Twelve Mile Creek on the present site of the city of St.
+Catharines. A third leading from Niagara through the dreaded "Black
+Swamp," of which all trace has long since disappeared, united with the
+road from St. Davids before crossing the Four Mile creek. Still another
+beginning near the mouth of the Two Mile creek, ran nearly parallel with
+the river, till it intersected Lundy's Lane. Besides these there were
+the main travelled roads along the river from Queenston to Niagara, and
+along the lake from Niagara to Burlington.</p>
+
+<p>In 1794, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe styled the Niagara settlement, "the
+bulwark of Upper Canada," and affirmed that the militia were loyal to a
+man, and "very well calculated for offensive warfare." Since then the
+character and feelings of the population had been essentially altered.
+Many of the first settlers had died or removed with their families to
+other parts of the Province, and their places had been taken by later
+immigrants from the United States. The twenty townships extending from
+Ancaster to Wainfleet, which then composed the County of Lincoln, were
+supposed to contain 12,000 inhabitants in the spring of 1812. In the
+entire province of Upper Canada, one-sixth of the population were
+believed to be natives of the British Isles and their children; the
+original loyalist settlers and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>their descendants were estimated to
+number as many more, while the remainder, or about two-thirds of the
+whole, were recent arrivals from the United States, chiefly attracted by
+the fertility of the soil and freedom from taxation. Michael Smith
+states (1813), that within twelve years, the population "had increased
+beyond conjecture, as the terms of obtaining land have been extremely
+easy." The proportion of loyalists in the County of Lincoln was perhaps
+greater than elsewhere, but it is probably a safe estimate to say that
+one-third of the inhabitants were recent settlers from the United
+States, who had removed to escape taxation or avoid militia service.
+John Maude met several families in 1800 on their way to Canada from
+those counties in Pennsylvania, where the 'Whiskey Insurrection' had
+just been suppressed who informed him that "they had fought seven years
+against taxation, and were then being taxed more than ever. Hundreds of
+them" he remarked "have removed, are removing, and will remove into
+Upper Canada, where they will form a nest of vipers in the bosom that
+fosters them."</p>
+
+<p>In 1811, the Governor General estimated the number of militiamen in
+Upper Canada fit for service at 11,000, of whom he significantly stated
+that it would probably not be prudent to arm more than 4000. This was
+virtually an admission, that more than half the population were
+suspected of disaffection. The Lincoln Militia were organized in five
+regiments, numbering about 1,500 men, of whom perhaps two-thirds were
+determined loyalists.</p>
+
+<p>In many quarters before the war, the disaffection of the people was open
+and undisguised, Schultz states that while at Presqu'ile, on Lake
+Ontario, in 1807, he strolled along the main road, and found six or
+seven farmers assembled in a country tavern, who had just heard of the
+Chesapeake affair. "They seemed disappointed," he observed "that I did
+not think it would lead to war, when they expected to become part of the
+United States." He also relates that he was subsequently in a public
+house in Niagara, where eight or ten persons were gathered about a
+billiard table. The attack upon the Chesapeake again became the topic of
+conversation, and one man said, "If Congress will only send us a flag
+and a proclamation declaring that whoever is found in arms against the
+United States, shall forfeit his lands, we will fight ourselves free
+without any expense to them."</p>
+
+<p>John Melish declared his conviction from enquiries made during his visit
+in 1810, "that if 5000 men were sent into Upper Canada with a
+proclamation of independence, the great mass of the people would join
+the American Government." Barnabas Bidwell, formerly Attorney General of
+Massachusetts, who had become a defaulter and fled to the Newcastle
+District, near the Bay of Quinte, where he was engaged in teaching a
+private school, wrote secretly to his political friends in a similar
+strain.</p>
+
+<p>These statements were eagerly quoted, and no doubt believed by the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>leaders of the war party in Congress. Henry Clay assured the people
+that "the conquest of Canada is in your power. I trust I shall not be
+deemed presumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the Militia
+of Kentucky are alone competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at
+your feet."</p>
+
+<p>On the 6th of March, 1812, Calhoun expressed equal confidence. "So far
+from being unprepared, Sir," he exclaimed. "I believe that four weeks
+from the time the declaration of war is heard on our frontier, the whole
+of Upper Canada and a part of Lower Canada will be in our possession."</p>
+
+<p>Jefferson wrote about the same time that "The acquisition of Canada this
+year as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, would be a mere matter of
+marching, and would give us experience for the attack of Halifax, the
+next and the final expulsion of England from the American continent."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Eustis, the Secretary of War, was if possible, still more
+optimistic, "We can take Canada without soldiers," he declared, "we have
+only to send officers into the Province and the people disaffected to
+their own Government will rally round our standard." Gen. Widgery, a
+representative in Congress, gained momentary notoriety by his statement.
+"I will engage to take Canada by contract. I will raise a company and
+take it in six weeks." Another speaker declared that "Niagara Falls
+could be resisted with as much success as the American people when
+roused into action" After the declaration of war had been promulgated,
+Clay, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the real leader
+of the war party solemnly declared that he would never consent to any
+treaty of peace which did not provide for the cession of Canada.</p>
+
+<p>The correspondence of General Brock with the Governor General, shows
+that in many respects these expectations were well founded, and that he
+was far from being hopeful of offering a successful defence without
+strong reinforcements.</p>
+
+<p>"The late increase of ammunition and every species of stores," he wrote
+on the 2nd December, 1811, "the substitution of a strong regiment and
+the appointment of a military person to the government, have tended to
+infuse other sentiments among the most reflecting part of the community,
+and during my visit to Niagara last week I received most satisfactory
+professions of a determination on the part of the principal inhabitants
+to exert every means in their power for the defence of their property
+and to support the government. They look with confidence to you for aid.
+Although perfectly aware of the number of improper characters who have
+obtained possessions and whose principles diffuse a spirit of
+insubordination very adverse to all military institutions, I believe the
+majority will prove faithful. It is best to act with the utmost
+liberality and as if no mistrust existed. Unless the inhabitants give a
+faithful aid it will be utterly impossible to preserve the province,
+with the limited number of military."</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th of February, 1812, a proclamation was published announcing
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>that divers persons had recently come into the province with a
+seditious intent and to endeavor to alienate the minds of His Majesty's
+subjects, and directing the officers appointed to enforce the act lately
+passed by the Legislature for the better security of the province
+against all seditious attempts to be vigilant in the discharge of their
+duties. Joseph Edwards of Niagara, Samuel Street of Willoughby, Thomas
+Dickson of Queenston, William Crooks of Grimsby and Samuel Hutt of
+Ancaster were among the persons commissioned to execute this law.</p>
+
+<p>On the 17th of April, a boy at Queenston fired a shot across the river
+which happily did no injury. He was promptly arrested and committed for
+trial, and two resident magistrates, James Kirby and Robert Grant,
+tendered an apology to the inhabitants of Lewiston for his offence. Five
+days later General Brock reported that a body of three hundred men in
+plain clothes had been seen patrolling the American side of the river.
+On the 25th, it was announced that 170 citizens of Buffalo, had
+volunteered for military service. A proclamation by President Madison
+calling out one hundred thousand was published about the same time, and
+the Governor of New York was required to send 500 men to the Niagara
+which he hastened to do, being a warm advocate of the war.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the flank companies of militia regiments of the counties of
+Lincoln, Norfolk and York were embodied by General Brock, and drilled
+six times a month. They numbered about 700 young men belonging to "the
+best class of settlers." By the recent Militia Act, they were required
+to arm and clothe themselves, and as many of them had far to travel,
+Brock begged that they should at least receive an allowance for rations.</p>
+
+<p>The Governor General suggested that the Government of the United States
+entertained hopes that something might happen to provoke a quarrel
+between its soldiers and the British troops on that frontier, and
+desired him to take every precaution to prevent any such pretext for
+hostilities.</p>
+
+<p>Early in May, Brock made a rapid tour of inspection along the Niagara,
+thence to the Mohawk village on the Grand river, returning to York by
+way of Ancaster. He reported that the people generally seemed well
+disposed and that the flank companies had mustered in full strength.</p>
+
+<p>By the 17th of June six hundred American militia were stationed along
+the river, and a complaint was made by three reputable inhabitants of
+Fort Erie that their sentries were in the habit of wantonly firing
+across the stream. On the 25th of the same month this period of suspense
+was terminated by the arrival of a special messenger employed by Mr.
+Astor and other American citizens interested in the Northwest fur trade,
+to convey the earliest possible information of war to Colonel Thomas
+Clark, of Queenston, who immediately reported his intelligence to the
+commandant of Fort Erie. The messenger, one Vosburg, of Albany, had
+travelled with relays of horses at such speed that he outrode the
+official courier bearing despatches to Fort <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>Niagara by fully
+twenty-four hours. On his return he was arrested at Canandaigua, and
+held to bail together with some of his employers, but it does not appear
+that they were ever brought to trial.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. Gansevoort and a sergeant in the United States Artillery, who
+happened to be on the Canadian side were made prisoners, and the ferry
+boats plying across the river at Queenston and Fort Erie, were seized by
+the British troops at those places. The people of Buffalo received their
+first intimation of the declaration of war by witnessing the capture of
+a merchant schooner off the harbor by boats from Fort Erie.</p>
+
+<p>The flank companies of militia marched immediately to the frontier, and
+were distributed along the river in taverns and farm houses. On the
+second day, General Brock arrived from York, with the intention of
+making an attack on Fort Niagara. He had then at his disposal, 400 of
+the 41st Regiment, and nearly 800 militia. Success was all but certain,
+as the garrison was weak and inefficient. His instructions however, were
+to act strictly on the defensive, and he abandoned this project in the
+conviction that the garrison might be driven out at any time by a
+vigorous cannonade. Rumors of his design seem to have reached General P.
+B. Porter, who commanded the militia force on the other side, and he
+made an urgent demand for reinforcements.</p>
+
+<p>"The British on the opposite side are making the most active
+preparations for defence," Benjamin Barton wrote from Lewiston on the
+24th of June, "New troops are arriving from the Lower Province
+constantly, and the quantity of military stores etc. that have arrived
+within these few weeks is astonishing. Vast quantities of arms and
+ammunition are passing up the country, no doubt to arm the Indians
+around the Upper Lakes, (for they have not white men enough to make use
+of such quantities as are passing). One-third of the militia of the
+Upper Province are formed into companies called flankers, and are well
+armed and equipped out of the King's stores, and are regularly trained
+one day in a week by an officer of the standing troops. A volunteer
+troop of horse has lately been raised and have drawn their sabres and
+pistols. A company of militia artillery has been raised this spring, and
+exercise two or three days in the week on the plains near Fort George,
+and practice firing and have become very expert. The noted Isaac Sweazy,
+has within a few days received a captain's commission for the flying
+artillery, of which they have a number of pieces. We were yesterday
+informed by a respectable gentleman from that side of the river, that he
+was actually purchasing horses for the purpose of exercising his men.
+They are repairing Fort George, and building a new fort at York. A
+number of boats are daily employed, manned by their soldiers, plying
+between Fort George and Queenston, carrying stores, lime and pickets,
+for necessary repairs, and to cap the whole, they are making and using
+every argument and persuasion to induce the Indians to join them, and we
+are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>informed the Mohawks have volunteered their service. In fact,
+nothing appears to be left undone by their people that is necessary for
+their defence."</p>
+
+<p>However, the Governor General seized the first opportunity of again
+advising his enterprising lieutenant to refrain from any offensive
+movements. "In the present state of politics in the United States" he
+said, "I consider it prudent to avoid any means which can have the least
+tendency to unite their people. While dissension prevails among them,
+their attempts on the Province will be feeble. It is therefore my wish
+to avoid committing any act which may even from a strained construction
+tend to unite the Eastern and Southern States, unless from its
+perpetration, we are to derive an immediate, considerable and important
+advantage."</p>
+
+<p>Brock felt so confident at that moment of his ability to maintain his
+ground on the Niagara, that he actually stripped Fort George of its
+heaviest guns for the defence of Amherstburg, which he anticipated would
+be the first point of attack. But the militia who had turned out so
+cheerfully on the first alarm, after the lapse of a couple of uneventful
+weeks, became impatient to return to their homes and families. They had
+been employed as much as possible in the construction of batteries at
+the most exposed points, and as they were without tents, blankets,
+hammocks, kettles, or camp equipage of any kind, they had suffered
+serious discomfort even at that season of the year. As their prolonged
+absence from their homes, in some cases threatened the total destruction
+of their crops, many were allowed to return on the 12th of July, and it
+was feared that the remainder would disband in defiance of the law which
+only imposed a fine of &pound;20 for desertion. Nearly all of them were
+wretchedly clothed, and a considerable number were without shoes, which
+could not be obtained in the Province at any price. Many of the
+inhabitants Brock indignantly declared, were "indifferent or American in
+feeling."</p>
+
+<p>However, the month of July passed away without developing any symptom of
+an offensive movement on this frontier. On the 22nd, the session of the
+Legislature began at York, with the knowledge that General Hull had
+invaded the Province at Sandwich with a strong force, and in hourly
+expectation of tidings that the garrison of Amherstburg had surrendered
+to superior numbers. Yet amid these depressing circumstances, Brock
+concluded his "speech from the throne" with these hopeful and inspiring
+words. "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity
+and despatch in our councils, and by vigor in our operations, we may
+teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by freemen who are
+enthusiastically devoted to their King and Constitution can never be
+conquered."</p>
+
+<p>During the following week the most discouraging reports from Amherstburg
+continued to arrive almost daily. It seemed as if the invading army
+would be able to over run the whole of the Western District, with
+scarcely a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>show of resistance on the part of the inhabitants. A
+majority of the members of the Legislature were apathetic or despondent.
+They passed a new militia act, and an act to provide for the defence of
+the Province, but amended both in a highly unsatisfactory manner, after
+which the House was hastily prorogued by the General who was eager to
+proceed to the seat of war.</p>
+
+<p>"The House of Assembly," he wrote on the 4th of August, "have refused to
+do anything they are required. Everybody considers the fate of the
+country as settled, and is afraid to appear in the least conspicuous in
+the promotion of measures to retard it. I have this instant been
+informed that a motion was made in the House and only lost by two votes,
+that the militia should be at liberty to return home, if they did not
+receive their pay on a fixed day every month."</p>
+
+<p>On the succeeding day he began his march to the relief of Amherstburg.
+Most of the regulars and some of the militia which had been hitherto
+stationed along the Niagara, preceded or accompanied him on this
+expedition, which they were fortunately enabled to do by the inactivity
+of the enemy on the opposite bank, who actually do not seem to have
+become aware of their absence until they had returned victorious. Lieut.
+Col. Myers, the Assistant Quartermaster General, was left in command.
+The men belonging to the flank companies who had been allowed to return
+to their homes to assist in the harvest were summoned to rejoin, and 500
+more held in readiness to support them.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th of August, the inhabitants were thrown into a frenzy of
+delight by the almost incredible intelligence that Detroit had been
+taken with the entire American army. A few hours later, General Van
+Rensselaer who was still in ignorance of this event, signed an armistice
+which put an end to any further apprehension of an attack for several
+weeks.</p>
+
+<p>The Americans did not remain idle during the interval. A body of five or
+six thousand men was assembled and five detached batteries were
+completed on the bank of the river, between Fort Niagara and Youngstown,
+two of which were armed with very heavy guns, and two with mortars.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the termination of the armistice, the militia generally returned to
+their posts with alacrity, accompanied by a number of old loyalists
+unfit for service in the field, but capable of performing garrison duty.</p>
+
+<p>The Garrison Order-book of Fort George still exists to bear witness to
+the ceaseless vigilance with which the movements of the enemy were
+watched. On the 2nd of October an order was issued directing one-third
+of the troopers to "sleep in their clothes, fully accoutred and ready to
+turn out at a moment's notice." This was followed on the 6th by another,
+requiring the whole of the regular troops and militia to be under arms
+by the first break of day, and not to be dismissed until full daylight,
+and on the 12th all communication with the enemy by flag of truce was
+forbidden, unless expressly authorized by the commanding general.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>On the morning of the 13th of October, as soon as General Brock was
+convinced that the Americans were actually crossing the river at
+Queenston, he directed Brigade Major Evans who remained in command at
+Fort George, to open fire with every available gun upon Fort Niagara and
+the adjacent batteries, and continue it until they were absolutely
+silenced. This attack was forestalled by the enemy, who, as soon as they
+perceived the columns of troops marching out on the road to Queenston,
+turned the whole of their artillery upon Fort George and the neighboring
+village, with such a disastrous effect, that in a few minutes the Jail
+and Court House and fifteen or sixteen other buildings were set in a
+blaze by their red hot shot. Major Evans had at his command not more
+than twenty regular soldiers who composed the main guard for the day.
+The whole of the small detachment of Royal Artillery usually stationed
+in the Fort, had accompanied the field guns to repel the attack upon
+Queenston. Colonel Claus, with a few men of the 1st Lincoln Regiment,
+and Capt. Powell and Cameron with a small detachment of militia
+artillery, alone remained to man the guns of the fort and batteries. The
+gravity of the situation was greatly increased by the fact, that upwards
+of three hundred prisoners were confined in the jail and guardhouse
+which was now menaced with destruction. However, while the guards and
+the greater part of the militia were vigorously engaged in fighting the
+flames, amid an incessant cannonade, under the personal direction of
+Major Evans and Captain Vigoreux of the Royal Engineers, the batteries
+were served by the militia artillery men, assisted by two
+non-commissioned officers of the 41st Regiment, with such energy and
+success that in the course of an hour the American guns were totally
+silenced. By that time the Court House and some other buildings had been
+totally consumed, and the disheartening news arrived that Gen. Brock and
+Colonel McDonell had been killed, and their men repulsed by the enemy
+who were landing in great force at Queenston, and had obtained
+possession of the heights. Evans rode off at once to send forward every
+man that could be spared from the stations along the river. He had just
+marched off a small party from Young's battery, when the American
+batteries resumed firing, and obliged him to return at full speed to his
+post. As he reached the main gate at Fort George, he encountered a party
+of panic-stricken soldiers flying from the place, who informed him that
+the roof of the magazine which was known to contain eight hundred
+barrels of powder was on fire. Captain Vigoreux climbed upon the burning
+building without an instant's hesitation, and his gallant example being
+quickly followed by several others, the metal covering was soon torn
+away and the flames extinguished in the wood beneath. The storehouses at
+Navy Hall were, however, next set in a blaze which could not be overcome
+owing to their exposed situation, and they were totally destroyed. The
+artillery combat was resumed, and continued till not only Fort Niagara,
+but all the other <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>batteries on that side of the river were absolutely
+silenced and deserted. One of the largest guns in that fort had burst,
+completely wrecking the platform, disabling several men and dismaying
+the remainder to such an extent that they deserted the place in a body,
+and could not be induced to return until the firing had ceased. For
+several hours the works were entirely abandoned, and could have been
+taken without the least resistance, had Evans been able to spare men for
+the purpose.</p>
+
+<p>On the next day, a cessation of hostilities was again agreed upon which
+continued until the evening of the 20th of November. During this
+interval the six battalion companies of the First Lincoln Regiment were
+consolidated into three, under the command of Captains John Jones,
+Martin McClellan, and George Ball, each containing about eighty rank and
+file.</p>
+
+<p>At six o'clock on the morning of the 21st November, the guns of Fort
+George and five detached batteries began a second bombardment of the
+American works chiefly with the object of diverting the attention of the
+enemy to that part of the line, as general Smyth who had succeeded Van
+Rensselaer was massing his troops in the vicinity of Buffalo, with the
+apparent intention of forcing the passage of the river between Fort Erie
+and Chippawa. The fire from the American batteries, which appear to have
+been weakly manned, was ill-directed and occasionally ceased altogether
+for long intervals, while flames could be seen rising from their works,
+apparently caused by the explosion of shells. One of these missiles fell
+within the north blockhouse in Fort Niagara, and dismounted the only gun
+there. Another shot from a twenty-four pounder on the right of Fort
+George dismounted a heavy gun near Youngstown, while a third silenced
+the piece on the roof of the messhouse at Fort Niagara for nearly an
+hour. One of the guns in that place also burst with disastrous results,
+killing two men and disabling others. A large building under the walls
+which covered the landing of troops was entirely destroyed. By five
+o'clock in the afternoon Fort Niagara was absolutely silenced, and only
+the Youngstown "Salt" Battery continued to fire an occasional gun. At
+dark the British guns ceased firing. But a single private of the 49th
+Regiment, and a gallant old half-pay officer, Capt. Barent Frey, late of
+Butler's Rangers, had been killed on the Canadian side of the river
+during the cannonade. The latter had voluntarily occupied himself in
+gathering the enemy's shot as they fell, for the purpose as he declared
+of having them sent back to them as soon as possible. He is said to have
+been killed by the wind of a cannon ball as it ricocheted along the
+ground. The messhouse at Navy Hall was destroyed, and seventeen
+buildings in the town itself were set on fire by heated shot, besides
+many others considerably damaged by the cannonade. A small merchant
+schooner lying at the wharf was sunk.</p>
+
+<p>The American commandant at Fort Niagara, Colonel McFeely of the United
+States' Artillery, admitted the loss of only eleven men killed and
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>wounded, though he estimated that not less than 2000 round shot and 180
+shells had been discharged against his works from the British batteries.
+He reported an instance of remarkable courage displayed by a woman.
+Among the prisoners taken at Queenston on the 13th October, was a
+private in the United States Artillery, named Andrew Doyle, who was
+recognised as a British subject, born in the village of St. Davids. He
+was accordingly included among those who were sent to England to be
+brought to trial for treason. His wife remained in Fort Niagara
+throughout the bombardment, and actually took part in working one of the
+guns. "During the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen" said
+Colonel McFeely in his official letter, "she attended the six-pounder on
+the old messhouse with the red hot shot and showed fortitude equal to
+the Maid of Orleans."</p>
+
+<p>Cannon balls were much too scarce and valuable to be wasted, and Col.
+Myers took pains to state in his report that the number of round shot
+picked up on the field exceeded the number fired from his guns on this
+occasion.</p>
+
+<p>This artillery duel put an end to actual hostilities in the vicinity of
+Niagara for the remainder of the year. But the privations and sufferings
+of the militia were not yet terminated. They were retained in service
+until the middle of December, when winter set in with unusual severity,
+and all danger of an invasion seemed at an end.</p>
+
+<p>As early as the middle of November, Sir Roger Sheaffe had reported that
+many of them were "in a very destitute state with respect to clothing,
+and all that regards bedding and barrack comforts in general, these
+wants cause discontent and desertion, but the conduct of a great
+majority is highly honorable to them, and I have not failed to encourage
+it by noticing it in public orders." In the order to which reference is
+made he had said; "Major General Sheaffe has witnessed with the highest
+satisfaction, the manly and cheerful spirit with which the militia on
+this frontier have borne the privations which peculiar circumstances
+have imposed upon them. He cannot but feel that their conduct entitles
+them to every attention he can bestow upon them. It has furnished
+examples of those best characteristics of a soldier, manly constancy
+under fatigue and privation and determined bravery in the face of the
+enemy."</p>
+
+<p>On the 23rd of the same month he observed that the number of the militia
+in service had constantly increased since the termination of the
+armistice and that they seemed very alert and well disposed. Their duty
+during the next three weeks was of the most wearisome and harassing kind
+as none of them were permitted to take off their clothes by night, and
+in the day they were kept fully accoutred with arms in their hands.
+Strong patrols constantly moved along the river, keeping up the
+communication between the posts, and owing to the smallness of the force
+assembled to watch such an extensive line, the same men were frequently
+placed on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>guard for several nights in succession. Their clothing was
+insufficient to protect them from the cold, and numbers were actually
+confined to barracks from want of shoes. Disease carried off Lieut. Col.
+Butler, Captain John Lottridge, Lieut. John May, Sergeant Jacob Balmer,
+and twenty privates of the Lincoln Regiments during the month of
+December, and there was much sickness among those who survived. Many,
+distressed beyond all endurance by the miserable condition of their
+families in their absence, returned home without leave.</p>
+
+<p>Late in November the Governor General issued a proclamation directing
+all citizens of the United States residing in Upper Canada who still
+declined to take an oath of allegiance, to leave the Province before the
+first day of January, 1813. Among those who were banished at this time,
+was Michael Smith, already mentioned, who published a few months later a
+small volume, entitled "A Geographical view of the Province of Upper
+Canada." This book met with such a favorable reception that five other
+editions appeared at short intervals during the next three years,
+several of them being materially revised and enlarged. His description
+of the wretched state of this part of the Province was the result of
+personal observation, and is certainly not overdrawn.</p>
+
+<p>"In the course of the summer on the line between Fort George and Fort
+Erie, there was not more than 1000 Indians in arms at any one time.
+These Indians went to and fro as they pleased to their country and back,
+and were very troublesome to the women when their husbands were gone, as
+they plundered and took what they pleased, and often beat them to force
+them to give them whiskey, even when they were not in possession of any,
+and when they saw any man that had not gone to the lines, they called
+him a Yankee, and threatened to kill him for not going to fight, and
+indeed in some instances these threats have been put into execution.
+They acted with great authority and rage when they had stained their
+hands with human blood.</p>
+
+<p>"The inhabitants at large would have been extremely glad to have got out
+of their miserable situation at almost any rate, but they dared not
+venture a rebellion without being sure of protection.</p>
+
+<p>"From the commencement of the war there had been no collection of debts
+by law in the upper part of the Province and towards the fall in no
+part, nor would anyone pay another. No person could get credit from
+anyone to the amount of one dollar, nor could anyone sell any of their
+property for any price except provisions or clothing, for those who had
+money were determined to keep it for the last resort. No business was
+carried on by any person except what was necessary for the times.</p>
+
+<p>"In the upper part of the Province all the schools were broken up and no
+preaching was heard in all the land. All was gloom, war and misery.</p>
+
+<p>"Upon the declaration of war the Governor laid an embargo on all the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>flour destined for market, which was at a time when very little had
+left the Province. The next harvest was truly bountiful as also the
+crops of corn, buckwheat, and peas, the most of which were gathered
+except the buckwheat which was on the ground when all the people were
+called away after the battle of Queenston. Being detained on duty in the
+fall not one half of the farmers sowed any winter grain."</p>
+
+<p>All supplies from Montreal were cut off by the American fleet being in
+possession of Lake Ontario from the 8th November until the close of
+navigation. Flour and salt were scarcely to be purchased at any price
+and the condition of many families soon became almost too wretched to be
+endured. It is not surprising then that numbers of those who had no very
+strong ties to retain them, seized the first opportunity of escape.</p>
+
+<p>Lake Erie was frozen over as early as the 12th of January. A few days
+later two deserters and three civilians made their way from Point Abino
+to Buffalo upon the ice. They stated that the British forces were
+greatly reduced by sickness and desertion and that they did not believe
+there were more than thirty regulars stationed along the river between
+Fort Erie and Niagara. In fact several companies of the 41st had been
+recently despatched to strengthen the garrison of Amherstburg which was
+again threatened with an attack, and a show of force was kept up by
+ostentatiously sending out parties along the river in sleighs by day and
+bringing them back to quarters after dark.</p>
+
+<p>Stimulated by the information derived from these men the commandant at
+Buffalo projected the surprise of Fort Erie by crossing on the ice, but
+the desertion of a non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Major Macfarlane,
+disconcerted his plans.</p>
+
+<p>Late in March the arrival of three families of refugees at Buffalo by
+the same route is recorded. They confirmed former accounts of want and
+distress and the weakness of the British garrisons on the Niagara. The
+American officers were enabled, by information obtained from these and
+other sources, to estimate with precision the actual force which might
+be assembled to resist an invasion. But as they failed to make their
+attacks simultaneously it happened in several instances that they
+encountered the same troops successively at different places many miles
+apart. Soldiers of the 41st, who had been present with Brock at the
+taking of Detroit fought at Queenston on the 13th of October and
+returned in time to share in the victory at the River Raisin on the 22nd
+January, 1813. Two companies of the 8th that took part in the assault
+upon Ogdensburg on the 22nd February, faced the invaders at York on the
+27th April and again at Fort George a month later. Finding themselves
+repeatedly confronted with considerably larger forces than they had been
+led to expect, the American generals soon ceased to put much confidence
+in the reports of their spies.</p>
+
+<p>The cabinet had at first designated Kingston, York, and Fort George
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>points of attack in the order named. The attempt upon Kingston was
+quickly abandoned owing to a false report that the garrison had been
+largely increased and it was determined to limit the operations of the
+"Army of the Centre" in the first instance to the reduction of the two
+latter places.</p>
+
+<p>On the 17th of March, Major General Morgan Lewis, who had been appointed
+to the command of the division on the Niagara, arrived at Buffalo
+attended by a numerous staff. At noon of the same day, the batteries at
+Black Rock began firing across the river and continued the cannonade
+with little intermission until the evening of the 18th. A few houses
+were destroyed and seven soldiers killed or wounded near Fort Erie.
+Three of the American guns were dismounted by the British batteries. A
+week later the bombardment was resumed with even less result.</p>
+
+<p>York was taken without much difficulty on the 27th April, but it cost
+the assailants their most promising general and between three and four
+hundred of their best troops. They ascertained on that occasion that
+they still had many warm sympathizers in that part of the Province. A
+letter from an officer who accompanied this expedition, published in the
+<i>Baltimore Whig</i> at the time, states that "our adherents and friends in
+Upper Canada suffer greatly in apprehension or active misery. Eighteen
+or twenty of them who refused to take the oath of allegiance lived last
+winter in a cave or subterraneous hut near Lake Simcoe. Twenty-five
+Indians and whites were sent to take them but they killed eighteen of
+the party and enjoyed their liberty until lately when being worn out
+with cold and fatigue, they were taken and put in York jail whence we
+liberated them." Michael Smith corroborates this account in some
+respects. He relates that twelve days after the battle of Queenston
+Colonel Graham, on Yonge Street, ordered his battalion to assemble that
+a number might be drafted to go to Fort George. Forty of them did not
+come but went out to Whitchurch township which was nearly a wilderness
+and joined thirty more fugitives that were already there. Some men who
+were home for a few days from Fort George offered to go and bring them
+in but as they were not permitted to take arms they failed and the
+number of fugitives increased by the first of December to 300. When on
+my way to Kingston to obtain a passport, I saw about fifty of these
+people near Smith's Creek in the Newcastle District on the main road
+with fife and drum beating for recruits and huzzaing for Madison. Some
+of them remained in the woods all winter, but the Indians went out in
+the spring of 1813 and drove them into their caves where they were
+taken.</p>
+
+<p>So pronounced was the disaffection among the inhabitants in the vicinity
+of York, that Chief Justice Powell warned the Governor General that "in
+the event of any serious disaster to His Majesty's arms little reliance
+is to be had on the power of the well disposed to depress and keep down
+the turbulence of the disaffected who are very numerous."</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>On the 29th of April, the capture of York became known at Fort George
+and the boats and stores deposited at Burlington were removed to a place
+of safety. On the 8th of May the American fleet came over to Fort
+Niagara and landed the brigade of troops that had been employed in
+reduction of York. Although victorious they were described by General
+Dearborn as being sickly and low spirited. Next day some of these troops
+were sent in two schooners to Burlington Beach where they destroyed the
+King's Head tavern, built by Lieut.-Governor Simcoe, which had served as
+quarters for soldiers on their march to and from Niagara. These vessels
+continued to cruise about the head of the lake, while the remainder of
+their fleet sailed away, as it proved to bring forward another division
+of troops.</p>
+
+<p>Brigadier General John Vincent, had lately assumed command of the
+British forces on the line of the Niagara, consisting of the 49th
+Regiment, five companies of the 8th, three of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and a captain's
+command of Royal Artillery with five held guns, numbering in all 1925
+officers and men, of whom 1841 were effectiver. Besides these, Merritt's
+troops of Provincial cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, a company of
+militia artillery and an uncertain and fluctuating number of militiamen
+belonging to the five Lincoln Regiments were in service.</p>
+
+<p>By a general order in March, about 1700 militia had been summoned to the
+protection of the frontier, but when the alarm had subsided, most of
+them had been allowed to return to their homes as it was felt that they
+would be more usefully employed in cultivating their farms than in idly
+waiting for an attack which the enemy appeared to be in no hurry to
+make.</p>
+
+<p>The regular troops were in high spirits and confident of victory, but
+the militia appeared gloomy and depressed. Vincent complained ruefully,
+"it is with regret that I can neither report favorably of their numbers
+nor of their willing co-operation. Every exertion has been used and
+every expedient resorted to, to bring them forward and unite their
+efforts to those of His Majesty's troops with but little effect, and
+desertion beyond all conception continues to mark their indifference to
+the important cause in which we are now engaged. In considering it my
+duty to offer a fresh exposition of my sentiments to Your Excellency
+respecting the militia of this Province, I must at the same time express
+a belief that when the reinforcements reach this frontier, many of the
+inhabitants who have been for some time wavering and appalled by the
+specious show of the enemy's resources will instantly rally round the
+standard of their King and country."</p>
+
+<p>Lieut.-Colonel John Harvey, a very able and enterprising young officer,
+who had lately joined General Vincent's division as Deputy Adjutant
+General, earnestly advised that accurate information of the enemy's
+numbers and designs should be secured at any cost, and then "by a series
+of both <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>active and offensive movements, they should be thrown on the
+defensive no matter how superior their numbers might be." Had the whole
+of the 8th Regiment arrived in time this might have been accomplished,
+but two of its companies had been nearly annihilated at York, and the
+march of the remainder very much delayed by the attack on that place.</p>
+
+<p>As late however, as the 20th of May, we find Colonel Myers writing to
+the Adjutant General in these terms. "It is not wise to hold an enemy
+too cheap, but I cannot divest myself of the idea that the foe opposite
+is despicable and that it would be no hard task to dislodge him from the
+entire of his lines on the Niagara River. With some subordinate attacks
+upon his flanks, I am of opinion that it would be an enterprise of
+little hazard for us to get an establishment on the heights above
+Lewiston, opposite Queenston. This once affected, I cannot but feel the
+strongest confidence that we would in a short time effect the object so
+much to be desired. It would be giving such a turn to the war that I
+conceive it would strike terror to the enemy, which would produce the
+happiest effects."</p>
+
+<p>The return of the American fleet with a numerous body of regular troops
+on board put an end to these rather fantastic schemes of conquest. At
+daybreak on the 21st, no less than seventeen armed vessels, and upwards
+of one hundred Durham boats and batteaux were seen assembled near the
+mouth of the Four Mile Creek in rear of Fort Niagara, from which several
+thousand men were speedily disembarked.</p>
+
+<p>For several days these troops paraded ostentatiously in plain view
+probably in the hope of overawing their opponents by the display of
+numbers. Many workmen were seen at the same time busily occupied in
+constructing new batteries along the river and building boats.
+Reinforcements continued to arrive daily until it was supposed that
+about 7000 soldiers were encamped between Lewiston and Fort Niagara.
+This force was composed almost wholly of regular troops that had been in
+service for some time and included nine of the best regiments of
+infantry in the United States army. They were accompanied by a strong
+regiment of heavy artillery, a well appointed field-train and a
+battalion of dragoons.</p>
+
+<p>Major-General Henry Dearborn who was in command had distinguished
+himself in the Revolutionary war during which he had commanded a
+regiment in Arnold's expedition against Quebec and in Sullivan's
+campaign against the Six Nations. But he was now past sixty years of age
+and in ill health.</p>
+
+<p>The Secretary of War had warned him to be careful to employ a sufficient
+force to ensure success. Seven thousand men was the number deemed
+requisite. "If the first step in the campaign fails," he wrote
+plaintively, "our disgrace will be complete. The public will lose
+confidence in us. The party who first opens a campaign has many
+advantages over his antagonist, all of which, however, are the results
+of his being able to carry <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>his whole force against part of the enemy's.
+We are now in that state of prostration Washington was in after he
+crossed the Delaware, but like him we may soon get on our legs if we are
+able to give some hard blows at the opening of the campaign. In this we
+cannot fail provided the force we employ against his western posts be
+sufficiently heavy. They must stand or fall by their own strength. They
+are perfectly isolated, send, then, a force that shall overwhelm them.
+When the fleet and army are gone we have nothing at Sackett's Harbor to
+guard. How would it read if we had another brigade at Sackett's Harbor
+when we failed at Niagara?"</p>
+
+<p>The undisturbed control of Lake Ontario by his fleet gave the American
+general a still greater advantage than his numerical superiority. It was
+understood that the British squadron would not be able to leave Kingston
+for at least a week, but two small vessels were detached to watch that
+port while the remainder assembled at Niagara to cover the landing.</p>
+
+<p>Vincent was accordingly thrown entirely upon the defensive. Had he only
+had Dearborn's army to contend with, superior as it was, he might have
+entertained a reasonable hope of being able to maintain his position but
+the presence of the fleet would enable his antagonist to select the
+point of attack at will and even to land a force in his rear.</p>
+
+<p>Nor were the fortifications along the river in a satisfactory state. The
+chief engineer had examined them during the winter and reported that
+Fort George was still in a "ruinous and unfinished condition," although
+the parapet facing the river had been somewhat strengthened. He had
+recommended that it should be completed as a field work and that a
+splinter-proof barracks capable of sheltering 400 men should be built
+within, and the upper story of the blockhouses taken down to place them
+on a level with the <i>terre pleine</i>. But these suggested improvements
+could not be carried out for lack of materials and workmen. At this time
+the fort mounted five guns; one twelve, two twenty four pounders, and
+two mortars. On the left fronting Fort Niagara were no less than five
+detached batteries armed with eleven guns, five of which were mortars.
+All of these works were open in the rear, and could be enfiladed and
+some of them taken in reverse by an enemy approaching on the lake. Six
+other batteries had been constructed along the river between Fort George
+and Queenston, two at Chippawa and three opposite Black Rock about two
+miles below Fort Erie. All of these posts required men to occupy them
+and there were besides thirty odd miles of frontier to be constantly
+patrolled and guarded. About one-third of his regular troops and
+two-thirds of the militia were unavoidably stationed along the upper
+part of this line extending from Queenston to Point Abino, under the
+command of Lieut.-Colonel Cecil Bishop. Vincent retained for the defence
+of the eleven miles of front between Queenston and the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek, thirty gunners of the Royal Artillery with five field
+pieces, under Major Holcroft, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>1050 regular infantry, 350 militia, and
+about fifty Indians. This force was subdivided into three diminutive
+brigades of nearly equal numbers, the right under Lieut.-Colonel Harvey
+being detailed to guard the river, and the left under Lieut.-Colonel
+Myers, the lake front of this position, while the third under his own
+command remained in readiness to support either of these when attacked.
+Fort George was garrisoned by Ormond's company of the 49th, and a
+detachment of militia artillery amounting in the whole to about 130 men.
+The gunners serving with the field artillery being not more than half
+the usual complement, additional men were attached from the infantry.
+The batteries were entirely manned by volunteers from the regulars and
+militia. The whole force was turned out every morning at two o'clock,
+and remained under arms until daylight. The staff officers set a
+conspicuous example of activity and watchfulness. Colonels Harvey and
+Myers, accompanied by their aides patrolled the lines the whole night
+through and slept only by day. As the enemy continued their preparations
+for nearly a week after the return of their fleet, the effects of the
+prolonged strain soon became apparent in the exhausted condition of both
+the officers and men. At first, General Dearborn's movements seemed to
+indicate that an attack would be made by crossing the river above Fort
+George, and on the 24th of May the whole of the British troops were kept
+under arms all night. About three o'clock in the morning the enemy was
+distinctly heard launching boats at the Five Mile meadows nearly
+opposite a station occupied by Lieut. (afterwards Major General) R. S.
+Armstrong, R. A., who by command of the vigilant Harvey, immediately
+began to fire in that direction with a six pounder field gun and the
+nine-pounder mounted in a battery at Brown's Point. The Americans
+replied briskly with two six-pounders and continued their efforts until
+they had put ten boats in the river. But if they had intended to cross
+at this place, they soon abandoned the attempt, and when day dawned all
+of these boats were seen on their way down the river with a few men in
+each. As they came within range the guns of Fort George began firing,
+which instantly drew upon that work the fire of no less than sixteen
+heavy guns and mortars mounted in Fort Niagara and the adjacent
+batteries. The twelve pounder in Fort George was soon dismounted by a
+shot which shattered its carriage, and every building inside was set on
+fire by the shower of shells and red-hot shot which rained upon it. The
+gunners were driven by the flames from the twenty-four pounder beside
+the flagstaff, but the unequal contest was still gallantly maintained by
+a similar gun in the cavalier and a smaller piece in the north-western
+bastion until Major Holcroft perceiving that the barracks were totally
+consumed and shells bursting in every corner of the place sent orders to
+this handful of undaunted men to cease firing and retire under cover.
+The gun at Mississauga Point remained silent by order of Colonel Myers
+who hoped by this means to deprive the enemy of any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>excuse for turning
+their artillery upon the village, and the other detached batteries seem
+to have taken little part in the contest. Having destroyed all the
+buildings in Fort George and effectually silenced its fire, the
+Americans discontinued the bombardment about two o'clock in the
+afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>The lake front of the British position was then closely reconnoitred by
+boats from the fleet, sounding the shore in every direction and
+occasionally venturing within musket shot of some of the batteries which
+remained silent, partly from scarcity of ammunition and partly through
+fear of provoking a renewal of the cannonade. Buoys were placed to mark
+the stations the ships were to occupy next day when they engaged the
+batteries on the left of Fort George and covered the landing.</p>
+
+<p>On the part of the British some ineffectual efforts were made to repair
+the damages of the morning. The tackle and carriage of the gun at the
+flagstaff in Fort George had been totally destroyed by the flames, and
+could not be replaced, while the ring-bolts of another gun at the light
+house had been drawn by the recoil, and little service could be expected
+from it. Only a small picquet was stationed in the fort during the
+night, and the remainder of the garrison lay upon their arms on the
+common about half a mile in the rear in hourly expectation of an alarm,
+with the other brigades on either flank.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after reveille had sounded next morning, a rocket was seen to
+rise into the air from Fort Niagara and a single gun was fired at Fort
+George. This was the signal for all the American batteries to begin a
+cannonade which was not returned and ceased at the end of half an hour.
+Long after the sun had risen a dense fog hung over the river and lake,
+effectually concealing all objects on the opposite side except the dim
+outline of Fort Niagara. Nothing could be seen of their troops, most of
+whom had been embarked soon after midnight, at the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek. At daybreak Generals Dearborn and Lewis went on board
+Commodore Chauncey's flagship which immediately got under way, followed
+by the remainder of the fleet and the immense flotilla of batteaux and
+other boats filled with soldiers. Hours passed away and the entire
+armada remained almost motionless waiting for the rising of the fog.
+Finally when the fog banks rolled away 16 vessels of different sizes
+were descried standing across the mouth of the river at a distance of
+about two miles from land, followed by no less than 134 boats and scows,
+each containing from thirty to fifty men, formed in three compact
+divisions one behind the other. At a signal from the flagship the entire
+fleet tacked and stood towards the Canadian shore, the small boats
+wheeling by brigades and carefully preserving their alignment. Their
+approach was gradual and deliberate, being favored by a gentle breeze,
+which, however, scarcely raised a ripple on the glassy surface of the
+lake. The schooners <i>Julia</i> and <i>Growler</i> each armed with a long
+32-pounder and a long 12-pounder mounted on pivots, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>by making use of
+their sweeps entered the mouth of the river and opened fire on the
+crippled battery near the lighthouse while the schooner <i>Ontario</i> of
+similar force took up a position near the shore to the northward so as
+to enfilade the same work and cross the fire of the two first-named
+vessels. Two guns and a mortar in Fort Niagara also concentrated their
+fire upon this battery, which was occupied by a few men of the Lincoln
+artillery under Capt. John Powell. Only a single shot was fired from the
+gun mounted there when it again became unmanageable and the gunners were
+soon afterwards driven out by the incessant fire directed against them
+from different quarters. At the same time the <i>Governor Tompkins</i> of six
+guns engaged the one-gun battery near the mouth of Two Mile Creek in
+flank while <i>Conquest</i> of three guns anchored in such a position as to
+fire directly into it from the rear, which was entirely open and
+unprotected. Resistance in this case was obviously out of the question
+and it was immediately abandoned. The <i>Hamilton</i>, <i>Scourge</i> and <i>Asp</i>
+anchored within short musket shot of the shore, a few hundred yards
+further west, nearly opposite a group of farm houses called Crookston,
+which was the place selected for landing the troops. The three largest
+vessels, the <i>Madison</i>, <i>Oneida</i> and <i>Lady of the Lake</i> drew more water
+and were in consequence obliged to remain at a greater distance, though
+still well within effective range of every part of the level plain
+beyond the landing place. The united broadside of the fleet amounted to
+fifty-one guns, many of them being heavy long-range pieces mounted upon
+pivots which could fire in any direction, and the weather was so calm
+that they were afterwards able to increase the number by shifting guns
+from the other side. The whole of the artillery in Fort Niagara and the
+batteries on that bank of the river had also opened fire. Two sides of
+the British position were thus simultaneously assailed by the fire of
+more than seventy guns and mortars which swept the roads and fields in
+every direction with scarcely a shot in reply. A picquet of the
+Glengarry Light Infantry which had been stationed with about 50 Indians
+of the Six Nations under Captain John Norton among the thickets near the
+mouth of the Two Mile Creek hastily retired to avoid utter destruction
+by the storm of missiles hurled against their covert. Two Indians were
+killed and several wounded before they could escape.</p>
+
+<p>A heavy column of troops was then discovered marching from the American
+camp in rear of Fort Niagara near Youngstown. This consisted principally
+of dismounted dragoons and heavy artillery commanded by Colonel Burn who
+had been instructed to cross the river there and intercept the retreat
+of the British garrison towards Queenston. Their appearance had the
+effect of detaining a large part of Harvey's brigade on that flank to
+watch their movements.</p>
+
+<p>It was about nine o'clock when the landing began at Crookston in the
+following order. The advanced guard in twenty boats was composed of
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>four hundred picked light infantry selected from several regiments,
+Forsyth's battalion of riflemen, and the flank companies of the 15th
+United States Infantry, amounting in the whole to about 800 rank and
+file, with a detachment of artillery in charge of a three-pounder field
+piece, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Winfield Scott, an able and
+energetic young officer who had been taken prisoner at Queenston the
+year before, and was destined to be the future conqueror of Mexico. This
+force was strictly enjoined not to advance more than three hundred paces
+from the water's edge before it was supported by General Boyd's brigade
+of infantry, with Eustis's battalion of artillery and McClure's rifle
+volunteers on its flanks. This was succeeded by Winder's brigade with
+Towson's artillery, and Chandler's brigade with Macomb's artillery,
+which were instructed to form upon Boyd's right and left respectively.
+Each of these brigades must certainly have numbered not less than 1500
+officers and men. The reserve was composed of the marines of the fleet
+and a picked body of 400 seamen which were landed but not brought into
+action.</p>
+
+<p>The entire fleet continued to fire over the heads of the men in the
+boats and effectually screened their advance until they reached the
+shore and formed on the beach under shelter of the steep clay bank.
+Captain Hindman of the United States Artillery, a very gallant young
+officer who was in command of the detachment with the gun attached to
+the advance guard, is mentioned as the first man to reach the shore. So
+far they had not met with the slightest opposition, but when they began
+to ascend the bank, the artillery fire from the ships slackened and they
+were briskly attacked by three companies of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two companies of Lincoln militia, and the Grenadiers of the
+Royal Newfoundland Regiment who had been partially sheltered during the
+cannonade in a ravine two or three hundred yards distant. The effect of
+their musketry was sufficient to cause the American advance guard to
+retire under cover of the bank once more and the fleet recommenced its
+fire. Lieut.-Colonel Myers then succeeded in bringing forward the
+remainder of his brigade, increasing the force assembled in the ravine
+to forty men of the Newfoundland Regiment, ninety of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, twenty-seven of Captain Runchey's negro company, one hundred
+Lincoln militia and 310 of the 8th or King's regiment. Several American
+authorities agree in the statement that they twice attempted to ascend
+the bank and were twice driven back by this determined handful of men.
+After they had succeeded in forming upon the plain, General Boyd
+declared that for "fifteen minutes the two lines exchanged a rapid and
+destructive fire, at a distance of only six or ten yards." The official
+returns of casualties establish the fact the whole of his brigade
+consisting of the 6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry was brought
+forward to the support of Colonel Scott's advance-guard, making a force
+of about 2,300 men opposed to 567. Whenever practicable the ships
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>continued to fire with destructive effect on the attenuated British
+line. Colonel Myers fell desperately wounded in three plans when leading
+the first charge. Every field officer and most of the company of
+officers were soon killed or disabled, and at the end of twenty minutes
+close fighting the survivors gave way, leaving nearly three hundred dead
+and wounded on the field. They were rallied at a second ravine some
+distance in the rear by Lieut.-Colonel Harvey, who brought up with him
+several companies of the 49th, and a six-pounder field gun under Lieut.
+Charlton, which had been stationed near Fort George.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. Armstrong with two other guns, had also been directed to proceed
+to the support of Lieut.-Colonel Myers, but upon advancing along the
+road parallel with the lake near Secord's house, he was suddenly
+assailed from both flanks by a body of riflemen, whose fire wounded his
+horse and one of his men, and a belt of thick woods prevented him from
+joining the remnant of that brigade, which was then in full retreat.
+While engaged in examining the road in front, Armstrong came
+unexpectedly upon one of the enemy's riflemen whom he made prisoner, and
+discovering that he was in danger of being surrounded, retired hurriedly
+to the Presbyterian church where the remainder of the field guns had
+been posted. From this position they covered the retirement of
+Lieut.-Colonel Harvey's force, which took place about ten o'clock. By
+that time the Americans had succeeded in landing the greater part of
+their field artillery, and began to advance slowly in three dense
+columns, Scott's light troops skirting the woods on the right, with the
+6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry and four guns in the centre
+and the 18th United States Infantry and four guns moving along the
+margin of the lake. As they had brought no horses, they were obliged to
+drag their guns by hand, and their advance was necessarily very slow.
+While observing their movements, Colonel Harvey was almost cut off by a
+party of riflemen who had stealthily made their way through the woods
+with that object. He galloped off unhurt amid a shower of bullets, and
+formed his brigade in a fresh position behind a third ravine. Major
+Holcroft opened fire from a six-pounder and a howitzer, but on
+perceiving the advance of the enemy's light troops on the right, he
+placed these guns in charge of Lieut. Armstrong, and moved in that
+direction with the two other pieces. For nearly half an hour the
+artillery kept up a brisk fire and succeeded in checking the enemy's
+infantry. Harvey then noticed that their riflemen were again stealing
+forward through the woods, with the intention of turning his left flank,
+and ordered a general retreat to the Common beyond the Council House.
+During the cannonade Holcroft had lost but one gunner wounded and a
+single horse killed but the limber of his largest gun, a twelve-pounder,
+was so badly damaged that it went to pieces on the road.</p>
+
+<p>An hour later when the Americans emerged from the village, an <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>eighteen
+pounder, in the battery next to Fort George was traversed, and fired
+upon them until they made a vigorous charge and captured it with several
+of the men engaged in working it.</p>
+
+<p>Vincent joined Harvey with the reserve, and the whole force remained in
+position on the Common for nearly half an hour. Commodore Chauncey's
+flagship entered the river and anchored abreast of Fort George. The
+troops at Youngstown began to enter their boats while the enemy in front
+were steadily prolonging their lines to the right with the evident
+purpose of occupying the only possible avenue of retreat, and
+surrounding the British forces.</p>
+
+<p>At noon, General Vincent despatched an order to Lieut.-Colonel Claus, to
+evacuate Fort George and join him upon the Queenston road. He
+immediately began his retreat upon St. Davids, the infantry retiring
+through the woods, and the artillery and baggage by the road. This
+movement was so quietly accomplished that it seems to have almost
+escaped the attention of the enemy who were busily engaged in reforming
+their line.</p>
+
+<p>General Dearborn had become so much enfeebled by his exertions, and the
+effects of his previous illness, that he had to be lifted from his horse
+and supported to a boat which conveyed him on board the flagship, from
+which he viewed the landing of his troops, although unable to keep his
+feet for more than a few minutes at a time. The command accordingly
+devolved upon Major General Morgan Lewis, an officer of little
+experience and less military knowledge, but an active and influential
+politician, who had been in turn Chief Justice and Governor of the State
+of New York and was a brother-in-law of the Secretary of War. He was
+absurdly fond of military pomp, parade and display, and his opponents
+delighted to ridicule a speech he had made to the militia when Governor
+in which he had remarked that "the drum was all important in the day of
+battle." Having the fate of Van Rensselaer and Winchester fresh in his
+memory, his movements were cautious to the verge of timidity. An hour
+and a half elapsed after Harvey retreated before he ventured to advance
+beyond the village. He had then not less than 4,000 men in order of
+battle besides the reserve of marines and seamen. His line extended
+without a break from the lighthouse on Mississauga Point to the river
+above Fort George. That work was approached with excessive caution as
+the sound of repeated explosions within, caused them to dread a
+recurrence of their disastrous experience at York, and even the
+lighthouse was avoided lest it should be hurled in fragments on their
+heads. Colonel Scott was in fact unhorsed by a large splinter which
+broke his collar bone, but there were no other casualties. When the fort
+was entered, it was found that the garrison had disappeared with the
+exception of a few soldiers of the 49th Regiment, who were still engaged
+in dismantling the works. Some of the men were surprised in the act of
+cutting down the flagstaff to obtain the garrison flag from which the
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>halliards had been shot away, and others were taken prisoners as they
+attempted to escape through the main gate. More than a hundred sick and
+wounded were found in the hospital. The village of Niagara was entirely
+deserted, and many of the houses had been much damaged by cannon shot.</p>
+
+<p>During the afternoon the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons was
+brought over from Youngstown, but scarcely any pursuit was attempted as
+the American army was described as much exhausted from being under arms
+for eleven hours. No one seemed to know positively which way the British
+had retreated. Colonel Scott with some of the riflemen seems to have
+advanced a few miles along the Queenston road, but was peremptorily
+recalled by General Lewis who feared an ambush. Meanwhile Vincent's
+column had retired in almost perfect order, leaving scarcely a straggler
+behind and marched with such speed that the rear guard arrived that
+night at DeCew's house, where a small magazine of provisions had been
+formed a few days before in anticipation of a reverse.</p>
+
+<p>About four o'clock in the afternoon a dragoon reached Fort Erie with
+information of the loss of Fort George, and Lieut.-Colonel Bishop
+immediately began his retreat with the regular troops and field guns
+stationed there, leaving Major John Warren with a few men of the Third
+Lincoln Regiment of militia to occupy the works and engage the attention
+of the enemy on the opposite bank. Soon after his departure, Warren
+opened fire on Black Rock from all the batteries, and continued the
+cannonade all night. At daybreak the destruction of the stores and
+fortifications began. The barracks and public buildings were burnt, the
+magazines blown up, the guns burst or otherwise rendered unserviceable
+along the whole line from Point Abino to Chippawa. When this had been
+thoroughly accomplished, Warren disbanded his men, and an American force
+crossed from Black Rock and took possession of the dismantled works. A
+quantity of stores which had been abandoned at Queenston, was destroyed
+on the same day, by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Clark, at the head of a small
+party of the Third Lincoln Regiment, who had returned from Beaver Dams
+for the purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Scarcely had this been done, when a strong brigade of American troops
+advanced from Fort George and occupied that village.</p>
+
+<p>During these operations General Vincent had lost the whole of his
+garrison ordnance and a considerable quantity of spare arms and military
+stores. His regular force had been diminished by 350 officers and men,
+nearly all of whom were killed or wounded, but he was joined during the
+night of the 27th by two strong companies of the 8th Regiment which had
+advanced that day as far as the mouth of the Twelve Mile Creek on their
+way to Fort George. The loss of the regulars in the battle was
+officially stated at fifty-two killed, forty-four wounded, and 262
+missing, nearly all of those reported missing being either killed or
+left wounded on the field. The small detachment of Lincoln militia
+engaged is stated to have lost five <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>officers and eighty men, killed or
+wounded, but no official return seems to have been preserved. The names
+only of Captain Martin McClellan and Privates Charles Wright and William
+Cameron, who were killed, have been recorded. Two Mohawk Indians, Joseph
+Claus and Tsigotea, were also among the slain. General Boyd stated that
+his men found 107 dead and 175 wounded of the British troops upon the
+field. The losses of some of the detachments actually engaged were truly
+appalling. The five companies of the 8th Regiment lost, Lieut. Drummie
+killed, Major Cotton, Lieuts. Nicholson, McMahon, and Lloyd, and Ensign
+Nicholson wounded, and 196 non-commissioned officers and privates
+killed, wounded, or missing out of 310 of all ranks who went into
+action. The Glengarry Light Infantry lost Captain Liddle and Ensign
+McLean killed, Captain Roxborough and Lieut. Kerr wounded, and 73
+non-commissioned officers and men out of an aggregate of 108. The
+grenadier company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost Capt. Winter,
+Lieut. Stewart, and fourteen others out of forty.</p>
+
+<p>The total loss of the American army was officially stated at 150, of
+whom thirty-nine were killed. The only officer killed was Lieut. Henry
+Hobart, a grandson of General Dearborn. Covered as their landing was by
+the fire of so many cannon, it is, perhaps, remarkable that their loss
+was so great. As a proof, however, of the severity of the short struggle
+on the plain. Dr. Mann, the American army surgeon, who was present,
+remarked that he found 27 dead and 87 severely wounded on the field when
+he landed and that nearly 400 of both armies lay stretched on a plot of
+ground not more than 200 yards in length and fifteen in breadth.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th, the whole of the militia except Merritt's troop of
+Provincial Cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, and about sixty picked
+men of other corps who were determined to follow the fortunes of the
+army, were disbanded, and Vincent continued his retreat to Grimsby and
+finally to Burlington Heights where he arrived on the 2nd June with
+eleven field guns and 1800 seasoned soldiers, who, in spite of their
+recent reverse were in high spirits and eager to meet the enemy again on
+more equal terms. The brilliant result of the action at Stoney Creek
+three days later amply atoned for a defeat by which they had lost no
+credit.</p>
+
+<p>The Americans were justly disappointed by the incompleteness of their
+success. For nearly two days they appear to have absolutely lost all
+track of their enemy. "When we marched for Queenston on the 28th," wrote
+an officer in the United States army whose letter was published at the
+time in the <i>Baltimore Whig</i>, "we found the British far advanced on
+their retreat by the back road toward the lower part of the Province.
+They collected their force very actively. Our friends hereabouts are
+greatly relieved by our visit. They had been terribly persecuted by the
+Scotch myrmidons of England. Their present joy is equal to their past
+misery. This is a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>charming country but its uncertain destiny together
+with the vexations the farmers endured by being dragged out in the
+militia left the fields in a great degree uncultivated. The British
+Indians are not of much use to them. They run as soon as the battle
+grows hot. I saw but one Indian and one Negro with the Glengarry uniform
+on, dead on the field. Their Eighth fought very resolutely and suffered
+severely."</p>
+
+<p>Many American historians have condemned General Dearborn for not having
+accomplished more with the means at his disposal but they have made
+little or no allowance for the physical weakness which actually rendered
+him unfit to command at all. General Armstrong, who, as Secretary of
+War, was eager to justify his own conduct, declared that "if instead of
+concentrating his whole force, naval and military, on the water side of
+the enemy's defences he had divided the attack and crossed the Niagara
+below Lewiston and advanced on Fort George by the Queenston road, the
+investment of that place would have been complete and a retreat of the
+garrison rendered impracticable." This, however, was actually the
+movement which Dearborn had planned but failed to execute in time.
+Ingersol, a member of Congress and a leader of the war party, bitterly
+observed that "the British General effected his retreat (probably
+without Dearborn knowing it for he stayed on shipboard) to the mountain
+passes where he employed his troops in attacking, defeating, and
+capturing ours during all the rest of that year of discomfitures."</p>
+<br />
+
+<p class="cen">THE END.</p>
+<br />
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>N. B.&mdash;For the engraving, "The Taking of Fort George," we
+are indebted to the kindness and courtesy of the Hon. P. A.
+Porter, Niagara Falls. It is from the portfolio published in
+Philadelphia, 1817, and is particularly interesting to us as
+giving the appearance of the churches St. Mark's and St.
+Andrew's before the town was burnt down, as also the
+Lighthouse situated nearly where the Queen's Royal Hotel
+stands now.</p></div>
+
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+
+<div class="tr">
+<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p>
+<br />
+
+Some inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in
+the original document has been preserved.<br />
+<br />
+Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br />
+<br />
+Page&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  5&nbsp;  huudred changed to hundred<br />
+Page&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  6&nbsp;  uninhabitated changed to uninhabited<br />
+Page&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  7&nbsp;  Presqu'le changed to  Presqu'ile<br />
+Page&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  9&nbsp;  patroling changed to patrolling<br />
+Page&nbsp; 12&nbsp;  armisfice changed to armistice<br />
+Page&nbsp; 14&nbsp;  Rensslaer changed to Rensselaer<br />
+Page&nbsp; 15&nbsp;  permited changed to permitted<br />
+Page&nbsp; 19&nbsp;  resourses changed to resources<br />
+Page&nbsp; 21&nbsp;  Deleware changed to Delaware<br />
+Page&nbsp; 21&nbsp;  patroled changed to patrolled<br />
+Page&nbsp; 21&nbsp;  Bisshop changed to Bishop<br />
+Page&nbsp; 22&nbsp;  detatchment changed to detachment<br />
+Page&nbsp; 24&nbsp;  missles changed to missiles<br />
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Battle of Fort George
+       A paper read on March 14th, 1896
+
+Author: Ernest Cruikshank
+
+Release Date: September 3, 2010 [EBook #33621]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Kosker and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ "Ducit Amor Patriae"
+
+ TRANSACTION NO. 1
+
+ Niagara Historical Society.
+
+
+
+
+ BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE
+
+
+
+
+ A PAPER READ ON MARCH 14TH, 1896, BY
+
+ ERNEST CRUIKSHANK
+
+ CAPT. 44TH BATTALION.
+
+
+
+
+ NIAGARA:
+ PICKWELL BROS., BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.
+ 1896.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The reproach has frequently been cast upon us that Canada has no
+history; it might be said of us with far more justice that we do not
+know our own history. The various historical societies are, by their
+efforts, trying to wipe away this reproach, and we feel proud of
+following in the wake of the Lundy's Lane Historical Society in
+publishing a paper written by Capt. Cruikshank, who has well earned the
+title of the historian of the Niagara peninsula.
+
+Of the towns of Ontario not one we are sure possesses a history so
+eventful, so ancient, so interesting as Niagara, having been at
+different times a legislative, an educational, a military and a
+commercial centre, at one time occupied by the enemy and again a heap of
+smoking ruins, now a quiet summer resort with many points of historical
+interest, with wide streets shaded by old elms and having unrivalled
+lake and river scenery. The members of the youngest of these Historical
+Societies feel that they may congratulate themselves on being able to
+place in the hands of the public the story which so far has not yet been
+told of the Taking of Fort George, told too in a style so clear, so
+dispassionate, and shewing such deep research, a story of troublesome
+times, which so told can not but be helpful to old and young of every
+nationality.
+
+Asking for our first venture a kind reception we send it out to the
+public, hoping that it may do its part in proving that we have a not
+ignoble history which should inspire us to yet nobler deeds.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE.
+
+27TH MAY, 1813.
+
+
+For about a quarter of a century Niagara was the principal town and
+commercial capital of Western Canada, and for a brief period was
+actually the seat of government for the Upper Province. The removal of
+the provincial officers to York in 1796 struck the first blow at its
+supremacy, but its material prosperity continued until the beginning of
+the war with the United States when its exposed situation subjected it
+to a series of calamities which culminated in its total destruction on
+the 10th of December, 1813.
+
+During that time many travellers of more or less note visited the place
+at short intervals on their way to or from the Falls, and a considerable
+number of them have recorded their observations. Patrick Campbell in
+1791, D'Arcy Bolton in 1794, the Duke de Rochefoucauld Liancourt in
+1795, Isaac Weld and J. C. Ogden in 1796, John Maude in 1800, George
+Heriot in 1806, Christian Schultz in 1807, John Melish in 1810 and
+Michael Smith in 1812 have described the town and adjacent country at
+considerable length from various points of view. Other accounts are to
+be found in the _National Intelligencer_ newspaper published at
+Washington, D. C., in 1812, and in Smith's Gazetteer of Upper Canada for
+1813. From these numerous sources it would seem an easy task to form a
+fairly correct estimate of the appearance of the town, its commercial
+importance and the character of the inhabitants.
+
+[Illustration: THE TAKING OF FORT GEORGE.]
+
+It is described as being nearly a mile square, sparsely built, with many
+pasture fields, gardens, orchards and open spaces interspersed among the
+houses. Smith, an American resident of the province now was expelled in
+1812 for having declined to take oath of allegiance, states that there
+were "several squares of ground in the village adorned with almost every
+kind of precious fruit." According to the same authority it contained
+two churches--one of them built of stone, a court house and jail, an
+Indian council house, an academy in which Latin and Greek were taught by
+the Rev. John Burns a Presbyterian minister, a printing house, six
+taverns, twenty stores and about a hundred dwelling houses, many of them
+described as "handsome buildings of brick or stone, the rest being of
+wood, neatly painted." From the lake the town is said to have made an
+"imposing appearance" as most of the buildings fronted the water. Smith
+concludes his account with the remark that it was "a beautiful and
+prospective place, inhabited by civil and industrious people." Dr. John
+Mann, a surgeon in the United States army who accompanied the
+invading forces and afterwards wrote the "Medical History of the War,"
+styles it "a delightful village." The population was probably
+underestimated at five hundred exclusive of the regular garrison of Fort
+George, usually numbering about two hundred men. The names of John
+Symington, Andrew Heron, Joseph Edwards, John Grier, John Baldwin and
+James Muirhead have been recorded as some of the principal merchants.
+
+An open plain or common of nearly a mile in width separated the town
+from Fort George. This post was described by the Governor General in the
+early summer of 1812, in official report on the defences of Upper Canada
+as an irregular fieldwork consisting of six small bastions faced with
+framed timber and plank, connected by a line of palisades twelve feet
+high, and surrounded by a shallow dry ditch. Its situation and
+construction were alike condemned as extremely defective. Although it
+partially commanded Fort Niagara it was in turn overlooked and commanded
+by the high ground on the opposite side of the river near Youngstown.
+The troops were lodged in blockhouses inside affording quarters for 220
+men, besides which there was a spacious building for the officers. The
+magazine was built of stone with an arched roof but was not considered
+bombproof. All the works were very much out of repair and reported as
+scarcely capable of the least defence.
+
+On the margin of the river immediately in front of the fort stood a
+large log building known as Navy Hall, which had been constructed during
+the American Revolution, to serve as winter-quarters for the officers
+and seamen of the Provincial vessels on Lake Ontario. Near this was a
+spacious wharf with good-sized store houses, both public and private.
+The Ranger's Barracks, also built of logs and an Indian Council House
+were situated on the further edge of the common, just south of the town.
+A small stone light house had been built upon Mississauga Point, in
+1805-6.
+
+The road leading along the river to Queenston, was thickly studded with
+farm buildings, and the latter village is said to have contained nearly
+a hundred houses, many of them being large and well built structures of
+stone or brick, with a population estimated at 300. Vessels of fifty
+tons and upwards, loaded with goods for the upper country, sailed up the
+river to this place, where they discharged their cargoes, and took in
+furs and grain in return. Ever since its establishment, the "Carrying
+Place" on the Canadian side of the river, had furnished much profitable
+employment to the neighboring farmers, who were paid at the rate of
+twenty pence, New York currency, a hundred weight for hauling goods
+between Queenston and Chippawa; Maude relates that during his visit in
+1800, he passed many carts and wagons on this road, taking up boxes and
+bales of merchandise, or bringing down furs, each drawn by two horses or
+two yoke of oxen. Three schooners were then moored at the wharf at
+Queenston, and fourteen teams stood waiting to be loaded. Others had
+noticed as many as fifty or sixty teams passing each other in a day. At
+this time the old portage on the American bank was entirely dis-used,
+but in 1806 the exclusive rights to the carrying place on that side were
+granted to Porter, Barton & Co., and much of the traffic was
+consequently diverted.
+
+Christian Schultz, tells us that in 1807, the Canadian side of the river
+was "one settled street, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie," while the
+other was still almost wholly "waste and uninhabited," which he
+attributes chiefly to the fact, that the land on the American bank was
+entirely held by speculators. The villages of Chippawa and Fort Erie
+contained about twenty houses each. For upwards of twenty miles back, he
+states that the country was pretty well settled from lake to lake. A
+stage coach made three round trips weekly between Niagara and Fort Erie.
+A considerable sum from the Provincial Treasury was annually spent in
+opening and improving roads. Frenchman's, Miller's and Black creeks were
+bridged only on the river road, but there was a bridge across Lyon's
+creek, at Cook's Mills, and the Chippawa was bridged at its mouth, and
+at Brown's sixteen miles higher up. From the Portage Road near the
+Falls, a continuation of Lundy's Lane led westerly through the
+Beechwoods and Beaver Dam settlements, crossed the Twelve Mile creek at
+DeCew's, and following the crest of the mountain to the Twenty, ascended
+that stream as far as a small hamlet, known as "Asswago" and finally
+united with the main road from Niagara to York near Stoney Creek.
+Another well travelled road from Queenston passed through St. Davids,
+and joined the Lake Road from Niagara at Shipman's tavern, where they
+crossed the Twelve Mile Creek on the present site of the city of St.
+Catharines. A third leading from Niagara through the dreaded "Black
+Swamp," of which all trace has long since disappeared, united with the
+road from St. Davids before crossing the Four Mile creek. Still another
+beginning near the mouth of the Two Mile creek, ran nearly parallel with
+the river, till it intersected Lundy's Lane. Besides these there were
+the main travelled roads along the river from Queenston to Niagara, and
+along the lake from Niagara to Burlington.
+
+In 1794, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe styled the Niagara settlement, "the
+bulwark of Upper Canada," and affirmed that the militia were loyal to a
+man, and "very well calculated for offensive warfare." Since then the
+character and feelings of the population had been essentially altered.
+Many of the first settlers had died or removed with their families to
+other parts of the Province, and their places had been taken by later
+immigrants from the United States. The twenty townships extending from
+Ancaster to Wainfleet, which then composed the County of Lincoln, were
+supposed to contain 12,000 inhabitants in the spring of 1812. In the
+entire province of Upper Canada, one-sixth of the population were
+believed to be natives of the British Isles and their children; the
+original loyalist settlers and their descendants were estimated to
+number as many more, while the remainder, or about two-thirds of the
+whole, were recent arrivals from the United States, chiefly attracted by
+the fertility of the soil and freedom from taxation. Michael Smith
+states (1813), that within twelve years, the population "had increased
+beyond conjecture, as the terms of obtaining land have been extremely
+easy." The proportion of loyalists in the County of Lincoln was perhaps
+greater than elsewhere, but it is probably a safe estimate to say that
+one-third of the inhabitants were recent settlers from the United
+States, who had removed to escape taxation or avoid militia service.
+John Maude met several families in 1800 on their way to Canada from
+those counties in Pennsylvania, where the 'Whiskey Insurrection' had
+just been suppressed who informed him that "they had fought seven years
+against taxation, and were then being taxed more than ever. Hundreds of
+them" he remarked "have removed, are removing, and will remove into
+Upper Canada, where they will form a nest of vipers in the bosom that
+fosters them."
+
+In 1811, the Governor General estimated the number of militiamen in
+Upper Canada fit for service at 11,000, of whom he significantly stated
+that it would probably not be prudent to arm more than 4000. This was
+virtually an admission, that more than half the population were
+suspected of disaffection. The Lincoln Militia were organized in five
+regiments, numbering about 1,500 men, of whom perhaps two-thirds were
+determined loyalists.
+
+In many quarters before the war, the disaffection of the people was open
+and undisguised, Schultz states that while at Presqu'ile, on Lake
+Ontario, in 1807, he strolled along the main road, and found six or
+seven farmers assembled in a country tavern, who had just heard of the
+Chesapeake affair. "They seemed disappointed," he observed "that I did
+not think it would lead to war, when they expected to become part of the
+United States." He also relates that he was subsequently in a public
+house in Niagara, where eight or ten persons were gathered about a
+billiard table. The attack upon the Chesapeake again became the topic of
+conversation, and one man said, "If Congress will only send us a flag
+and a proclamation declaring that whoever is found in arms against the
+United States, shall forfeit his lands, we will fight ourselves free
+without any expense to them."
+
+John Melish declared his conviction from enquiries made during his visit
+in 1810, "that if 5000 men were sent into Upper Canada with a
+proclamation of independence, the great mass of the people would join
+the American Government." Barnabas Bidwell, formerly Attorney General of
+Massachusetts, who had become a defaulter and fled to the Newcastle
+District, near the Bay of Quinte, where he was engaged in teaching a
+private school, wrote secretly to his political friends in a similar
+strain.
+
+These statements were eagerly quoted, and no doubt believed by the
+leaders of the war party in Congress. Henry Clay assured the people
+that "the conquest of Canada is in your power. I trust I shall not be
+deemed presumptuous when I state that I verily believe that the Militia
+of Kentucky are alone competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at
+your feet."
+
+On the 6th of March, 1812, Calhoun expressed equal confidence. "So far
+from being unprepared, Sir," he exclaimed. "I believe that four weeks
+from the time the declaration of war is heard on our frontier, the whole
+of Upper Canada and a part of Lower Canada will be in our possession."
+
+Jefferson wrote about the same time that "The acquisition of Canada this
+year as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, would be a mere matter of
+marching, and would give us experience for the attack of Halifax, the
+next and the final expulsion of England from the American continent."
+
+Mr. Eustis, the Secretary of War, was if possible, still more
+optimistic, "We can take Canada without soldiers," he declared, "we have
+only to send officers into the Province and the people disaffected to
+their own Government will rally round our standard." Gen. Widgery, a
+representative in Congress, gained momentary notoriety by his statement.
+"I will engage to take Canada by contract. I will raise a company and
+take it in six weeks." Another speaker declared that "Niagara Falls
+could be resisted with as much success as the American people when
+roused into action" After the declaration of war had been promulgated,
+Clay, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the real leader
+of the war party solemnly declared that he would never consent to any
+treaty of peace which did not provide for the cession of Canada.
+
+The correspondence of General Brock with the Governor General, shows
+that in many respects these expectations were well founded, and that he
+was far from being hopeful of offering a successful defence without
+strong reinforcements.
+
+"The late increase of ammunition and every species of stores," he wrote
+on the 2nd December, 1811, "the substitution of a strong regiment and
+the appointment of a military person to the government, have tended to
+infuse other sentiments among the most reflecting part of the community,
+and during my visit to Niagara last week I received most satisfactory
+professions of a determination on the part of the principal inhabitants
+to exert every means in their power for the defence of their property
+and to support the government. They look with confidence to you for aid.
+Although perfectly aware of the number of improper characters who have
+obtained possessions and whose principles diffuse a spirit of
+insubordination very adverse to all military institutions, I believe the
+majority will prove faithful. It is best to act with the utmost
+liberality and as if no mistrust existed. Unless the inhabitants give a
+faithful aid it will be utterly impossible to preserve the province,
+with the limited number of military."
+
+On the 24th of February, 1812, a proclamation was published announcing
+that divers persons had recently come into the province with a
+seditious intent and to endeavor to alienate the minds of His Majesty's
+subjects, and directing the officers appointed to enforce the act lately
+passed by the Legislature for the better security of the province
+against all seditious attempts to be vigilant in the discharge of their
+duties. Joseph Edwards of Niagara, Samuel Street of Willoughby, Thomas
+Dickson of Queenston, William Crooks of Grimsby and Samuel Hutt of
+Ancaster were among the persons commissioned to execute this law.
+
+On the 17th of April, a boy at Queenston fired a shot across the river
+which happily did no injury. He was promptly arrested and committed for
+trial, and two resident magistrates, James Kirby and Robert Grant,
+tendered an apology to the inhabitants of Lewiston for his offence. Five
+days later General Brock reported that a body of three hundred men in
+plain clothes had been seen patrolling the American side of the river.
+On the 25th, it was announced that 170 citizens of Buffalo, had
+volunteered for military service. A proclamation by President Madison
+calling out one hundred thousand was published about the same time, and
+the Governor of New York was required to send 500 men to the Niagara
+which he hastened to do, being a warm advocate of the war.
+
+Meanwhile the flank companies of militia regiments of the counties of
+Lincoln, Norfolk and York were embodied by General Brock, and drilled
+six times a month. They numbered about 700 young men belonging to "the
+best class of settlers." By the recent Militia Act, they were required
+to arm and clothe themselves, and as many of them had far to travel,
+Brock begged that they should at least receive an allowance for rations.
+
+The Governor General suggested that the Government of the United States
+entertained hopes that something might happen to provoke a quarrel
+between its soldiers and the British troops on that frontier, and
+desired him to take every precaution to prevent any such pretext for
+hostilities.
+
+Early in May, Brock made a rapid tour of inspection along the Niagara,
+thence to the Mohawk village on the Grand river, returning to York by
+way of Ancaster. He reported that the people generally seemed well
+disposed and that the flank companies had mustered in full strength.
+
+By the 17th of June six hundred American militia were stationed along
+the river, and a complaint was made by three reputable inhabitants of
+Fort Erie that their sentries were in the habit of wantonly firing
+across the stream. On the 25th of the same month this period of suspense
+was terminated by the arrival of a special messenger employed by Mr.
+Astor and other American citizens interested in the Northwest fur trade,
+to convey the earliest possible information of war to Colonel Thomas
+Clark, of Queenston, who immediately reported his intelligence to the
+commandant of Fort Erie. The messenger, one Vosburg, of Albany, had
+travelled with relays of horses at such speed that he outrode the
+official courier bearing despatches to Fort Niagara by fully
+twenty-four hours. On his return he was arrested at Canandaigua, and
+held to bail together with some of his employers, but it does not appear
+that they were ever brought to trial.
+
+Lieut. Gansevoort and a sergeant in the United States Artillery, who
+happened to be on the Canadian side were made prisoners, and the ferry
+boats plying across the river at Queenston and Fort Erie, were seized by
+the British troops at those places. The people of Buffalo received their
+first intimation of the declaration of war by witnessing the capture of
+a merchant schooner off the harbor by boats from Fort Erie.
+
+The flank companies of militia marched immediately to the frontier, and
+were distributed along the river in taverns and farm houses. On the
+second day, General Brock arrived from York, with the intention of
+making an attack on Fort Niagara. He had then at his disposal, 400 of
+the 41st Regiment, and nearly 800 militia. Success was all but certain,
+as the garrison was weak and inefficient. His instructions however, were
+to act strictly on the defensive, and he abandoned this project in the
+conviction that the garrison might be driven out at any time by a
+vigorous cannonade. Rumors of his design seem to have reached General P.
+B. Porter, who commanded the militia force on the other side, and he
+made an urgent demand for reinforcements.
+
+"The British on the opposite side are making the most active
+preparations for defence," Benjamin Barton wrote from Lewiston on the
+24th of June, "New troops are arriving from the Lower Province
+constantly, and the quantity of military stores etc. that have arrived
+within these few weeks is astonishing. Vast quantities of arms and
+ammunition are passing up the country, no doubt to arm the Indians
+around the Upper Lakes, (for they have not white men enough to make use
+of such quantities as are passing). One-third of the militia of the
+Upper Province are formed into companies called flankers, and are well
+armed and equipped out of the King's stores, and are regularly trained
+one day in a week by an officer of the standing troops. A volunteer
+troop of horse has lately been raised and have drawn their sabres and
+pistols. A company of militia artillery has been raised this spring, and
+exercise two or three days in the week on the plains near Fort George,
+and practice firing and have become very expert. The noted Isaac Sweazy,
+has within a few days received a captain's commission for the flying
+artillery, of which they have a number of pieces. We were yesterday
+informed by a respectable gentleman from that side of the river, that he
+was actually purchasing horses for the purpose of exercising his men.
+They are repairing Fort George, and building a new fort at York. A
+number of boats are daily employed, manned by their soldiers, plying
+between Fort George and Queenston, carrying stores, lime and pickets,
+for necessary repairs, and to cap the whole, they are making and using
+every argument and persuasion to induce the Indians to join them, and we
+are informed the Mohawks have volunteered their service. In fact,
+nothing appears to be left undone by their people that is necessary for
+their defence."
+
+However, the Governor General seized the first opportunity of again
+advising his enterprising lieutenant to refrain from any offensive
+movements. "In the present state of politics in the United States" he
+said, "I consider it prudent to avoid any means which can have the least
+tendency to unite their people. While dissension prevails among them,
+their attempts on the Province will be feeble. It is therefore my wish
+to avoid committing any act which may even from a strained construction
+tend to unite the Eastern and Southern States, unless from its
+perpetration, we are to derive an immediate, considerable and important
+advantage."
+
+Brock felt so confident at that moment of his ability to maintain his
+ground on the Niagara, that he actually stripped Fort George of its
+heaviest guns for the defence of Amherstburg, which he anticipated would
+be the first point of attack. But the militia who had turned out so
+cheerfully on the first alarm, after the lapse of a couple of uneventful
+weeks, became impatient to return to their homes and families. They had
+been employed as much as possible in the construction of batteries at
+the most exposed points, and as they were without tents, blankets,
+hammocks, kettles, or camp equipage of any kind, they had suffered
+serious discomfort even at that season of the year. As their prolonged
+absence from their homes, in some cases threatened the total destruction
+of their crops, many were allowed to return on the 12th of July, and it
+was feared that the remainder would disband in defiance of the law which
+only imposed a fine of L20 for desertion. Nearly all of them were
+wretchedly clothed, and a considerable number were without shoes, which
+could not be obtained in the Province at any price. Many of the
+inhabitants Brock indignantly declared, were "indifferent or American in
+feeling."
+
+However, the month of July passed away without developing any symptom of
+an offensive movement on this frontier. On the 22nd, the session of the
+Legislature began at York, with the knowledge that General Hull had
+invaded the Province at Sandwich with a strong force, and in hourly
+expectation of tidings that the garrison of Amherstburg had surrendered
+to superior numbers. Yet amid these depressing circumstances, Brock
+concluded his "speech from the throne" with these hopeful and inspiring
+words. "We are engaged in an awful and eventful contest. By unanimity
+and despatch in our councils, and by vigor in our operations, we may
+teach the enemy this lesson, that a country defended by freemen who are
+enthusiastically devoted to their King and Constitution can never be
+conquered."
+
+During the following week the most discouraging reports from Amherstburg
+continued to arrive almost daily. It seemed as if the invading army
+would be able to over run the whole of the Western District, with
+scarcely a show of resistance on the part of the inhabitants. A
+majority of the members of the Legislature were apathetic or despondent.
+They passed a new militia act, and an act to provide for the defence of
+the Province, but amended both in a highly unsatisfactory manner, after
+which the House was hastily prorogued by the General who was eager to
+proceed to the seat of war.
+
+"The House of Assembly," he wrote on the 4th of August, "have refused to
+do anything they are required. Everybody considers the fate of the
+country as settled, and is afraid to appear in the least conspicuous in
+the promotion of measures to retard it. I have this instant been
+informed that a motion was made in the House and only lost by two votes,
+that the militia should be at liberty to return home, if they did not
+receive their pay on a fixed day every month."
+
+On the succeeding day he began his march to the relief of Amherstburg.
+Most of the regulars and some of the militia which had been hitherto
+stationed along the Niagara, preceded or accompanied him on this
+expedition, which they were fortunately enabled to do by the inactivity
+of the enemy on the opposite bank, who actually do not seem to have
+become aware of their absence until they had returned victorious. Lieut.
+Col. Myers, the Assistant Quartermaster General, was left in command.
+The men belonging to the flank companies who had been allowed to return
+to their homes to assist in the harvest were summoned to rejoin, and 500
+more held in readiness to support them.
+
+On the 20th of August, the inhabitants were thrown into a frenzy of
+delight by the almost incredible intelligence that Detroit had been
+taken with the entire American army. A few hours later, General Van
+Rensselaer who was still in ignorance of this event, signed an armistice
+which put an end to any further apprehension of an attack for several
+weeks.
+
+The Americans did not remain idle during the interval. A body of five or
+six thousand men was assembled and five detached batteries were
+completed on the bank of the river, between Fort Niagara and Youngstown,
+two of which were armed with very heavy guns, and two with mortars.
+
+Upon the termination of the armistice, the militia generally returned to
+their posts with alacrity, accompanied by a number of old loyalists
+unfit for service in the field, but capable of performing garrison duty.
+
+The Garrison Order-book of Fort George still exists to bear witness to
+the ceaseless vigilance with which the movements of the enemy were
+watched. On the 2nd of October an order was issued directing one-third
+of the troopers to "sleep in their clothes, fully accoutred and ready to
+turn out at a moment's notice." This was followed on the 6th by another,
+requiring the whole of the regular troops and militia to be under arms
+by the first break of day, and not to be dismissed until full daylight,
+and on the 12th all communication with the enemy by flag of truce was
+forbidden, unless expressly authorized by the commanding general.
+
+On the morning of the 13th of October, as soon as General Brock was
+convinced that the Americans were actually crossing the river at
+Queenston, he directed Brigade Major Evans who remained in command at
+Fort George, to open fire with every available gun upon Fort Niagara and
+the adjacent batteries, and continue it until they were absolutely
+silenced. This attack was forestalled by the enemy, who, as soon as they
+perceived the columns of troops marching out on the road to Queenston,
+turned the whole of their artillery upon Fort George and the neighboring
+village, with such a disastrous effect, that in a few minutes the Jail
+and Court House and fifteen or sixteen other buildings were set in a
+blaze by their red hot shot. Major Evans had at his command not more
+than twenty regular soldiers who composed the main guard for the day.
+The whole of the small detachment of Royal Artillery usually stationed
+in the Fort, had accompanied the field guns to repel the attack upon
+Queenston. Colonel Claus, with a few men of the 1st Lincoln Regiment,
+and Capt. Powell and Cameron with a small detachment of militia
+artillery, alone remained to man the guns of the fort and batteries. The
+gravity of the situation was greatly increased by the fact, that upwards
+of three hundred prisoners were confined in the jail and guardhouse
+which was now menaced with destruction. However, while the guards and
+the greater part of the militia were vigorously engaged in fighting the
+flames, amid an incessant cannonade, under the personal direction of
+Major Evans and Captain Vigoreux of the Royal Engineers, the batteries
+were served by the militia artillery men, assisted by two
+non-commissioned officers of the 41st Regiment, with such energy and
+success that in the course of an hour the American guns were totally
+silenced. By that time the Court House and some other buildings had been
+totally consumed, and the disheartening news arrived that Gen. Brock and
+Colonel McDonell had been killed, and their men repulsed by the enemy
+who were landing in great force at Queenston, and had obtained
+possession of the heights. Evans rode off at once to send forward every
+man that could be spared from the stations along the river. He had just
+marched off a small party from Young's battery, when the American
+batteries resumed firing, and obliged him to return at full speed to his
+post. As he reached the main gate at Fort George, he encountered a party
+of panic-stricken soldiers flying from the place, who informed him that
+the roof of the magazine which was known to contain eight hundred
+barrels of powder was on fire. Captain Vigoreux climbed upon the burning
+building without an instant's hesitation, and his gallant example being
+quickly followed by several others, the metal covering was soon torn
+away and the flames extinguished in the wood beneath. The storehouses at
+Navy Hall were, however, next set in a blaze which could not be overcome
+owing to their exposed situation, and they were totally destroyed. The
+artillery combat was resumed, and continued till not only Fort Niagara,
+but all the other batteries on that side of the river were absolutely
+silenced and deserted. One of the largest guns in that fort had burst,
+completely wrecking the platform, disabling several men and dismaying
+the remainder to such an extent that they deserted the place in a body,
+and could not be induced to return until the firing had ceased. For
+several hours the works were entirely abandoned, and could have been
+taken without the least resistance, had Evans been able to spare men for
+the purpose.
+
+On the next day, a cessation of hostilities was again agreed upon which
+continued until the evening of the 20th of November. During this
+interval the six battalion companies of the First Lincoln Regiment were
+consolidated into three, under the command of Captains John Jones,
+Martin McClellan, and George Ball, each containing about eighty rank and
+file.
+
+At six o'clock on the morning of the 21st November, the guns of Fort
+George and five detached batteries began a second bombardment of the
+American works chiefly with the object of diverting the attention of the
+enemy to that part of the line, as general Smyth who had succeeded Van
+Rensselaer was massing his troops in the vicinity of Buffalo, with the
+apparent intention of forcing the passage of the river between Fort Erie
+and Chippawa. The fire from the American batteries, which appear to have
+been weakly manned, was ill-directed and occasionally ceased altogether
+for long intervals, while flames could be seen rising from their works,
+apparently caused by the explosion of shells. One of these missiles fell
+within the north blockhouse in Fort Niagara, and dismounted the only gun
+there. Another shot from a twenty-four pounder on the right of Fort
+George dismounted a heavy gun near Youngstown, while a third silenced
+the piece on the roof of the messhouse at Fort Niagara for nearly an
+hour. One of the guns in that place also burst with disastrous results,
+killing two men and disabling others. A large building under the walls
+which covered the landing of troops was entirely destroyed. By five
+o'clock in the afternoon Fort Niagara was absolutely silenced, and only
+the Youngstown "Salt" Battery continued to fire an occasional gun. At
+dark the British guns ceased firing. But a single private of the 49th
+Regiment, and a gallant old half-pay officer, Capt. Barent Frey, late of
+Butler's Rangers, had been killed on the Canadian side of the river
+during the cannonade. The latter had voluntarily occupied himself in
+gathering the enemy's shot as they fell, for the purpose as he declared
+of having them sent back to them as soon as possible. He is said to have
+been killed by the wind of a cannon ball as it ricocheted along the
+ground. The messhouse at Navy Hall was destroyed, and seventeen
+buildings in the town itself were set on fire by heated shot, besides
+many others considerably damaged by the cannonade. A small merchant
+schooner lying at the wharf was sunk.
+
+The American commandant at Fort Niagara, Colonel McFeely of the United
+States' Artillery, admitted the loss of only eleven men killed and
+wounded, though he estimated that not less than 2000 round shot and 180
+shells had been discharged against his works from the British batteries.
+He reported an instance of remarkable courage displayed by a woman.
+Among the prisoners taken at Queenston on the 13th October, was a
+private in the United States Artillery, named Andrew Doyle, who was
+recognised as a British subject, born in the village of St. Davids. He
+was accordingly included among those who were sent to England to be
+brought to trial for treason. His wife remained in Fort Niagara
+throughout the bombardment, and actually took part in working one of the
+guns. "During the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen" said
+Colonel McFeely in his official letter, "she attended the six-pounder on
+the old messhouse with the red hot shot and showed fortitude equal to
+the Maid of Orleans."
+
+Cannon balls were much too scarce and valuable to be wasted, and Col.
+Myers took pains to state in his report that the number of round shot
+picked up on the field exceeded the number fired from his guns on this
+occasion.
+
+This artillery duel put an end to actual hostilities in the vicinity of
+Niagara for the remainder of the year. But the privations and sufferings
+of the militia were not yet terminated. They were retained in service
+until the middle of December, when winter set in with unusual severity,
+and all danger of an invasion seemed at an end.
+
+As early as the middle of November, Sir Roger Sheaffe had reported that
+many of them were "in a very destitute state with respect to clothing,
+and all that regards bedding and barrack comforts in general, these
+wants cause discontent and desertion, but the conduct of a great
+majority is highly honorable to them, and I have not failed to encourage
+it by noticing it in public orders." In the order to which reference is
+made he had said; "Major General Sheaffe has witnessed with the highest
+satisfaction, the manly and cheerful spirit with which the militia on
+this frontier have borne the privations which peculiar circumstances
+have imposed upon them. He cannot but feel that their conduct entitles
+them to every attention he can bestow upon them. It has furnished
+examples of those best characteristics of a soldier, manly constancy
+under fatigue and privation and determined bravery in the face of the
+enemy."
+
+On the 23rd of the same month he observed that the number of the militia
+in service had constantly increased since the termination of the
+armistice and that they seemed very alert and well disposed. Their duty
+during the next three weeks was of the most wearisome and harassing kind
+as none of them were permitted to take off their clothes by night, and
+in the day they were kept fully accoutred with arms in their hands.
+Strong patrols constantly moved along the river, keeping up the
+communication between the posts, and owing to the smallness of the force
+assembled to watch such an extensive line, the same men were frequently
+placed on guard for several nights in succession. Their clothing was
+insufficient to protect them from the cold, and numbers were actually
+confined to barracks from want of shoes. Disease carried off Lieut. Col.
+Butler, Captain John Lottridge, Lieut. John May, Sergeant Jacob Balmer,
+and twenty privates of the Lincoln Regiments during the month of
+December, and there was much sickness among those who survived. Many,
+distressed beyond all endurance by the miserable condition of their
+families in their absence, returned home without leave.
+
+Late in November the Governor General issued a proclamation directing
+all citizens of the United States residing in Upper Canada who still
+declined to take an oath of allegiance, to leave the Province before the
+first day of January, 1813. Among those who were banished at this time,
+was Michael Smith, already mentioned, who published a few months later a
+small volume, entitled "A Geographical view of the Province of Upper
+Canada." This book met with such a favorable reception that five other
+editions appeared at short intervals during the next three years,
+several of them being materially revised and enlarged. His description
+of the wretched state of this part of the Province was the result of
+personal observation, and is certainly not overdrawn.
+
+"In the course of the summer on the line between Fort George and Fort
+Erie, there was not more than 1000 Indians in arms at any one time.
+These Indians went to and fro as they pleased to their country and back,
+and were very troublesome to the women when their husbands were gone, as
+they plundered and took what they pleased, and often beat them to force
+them to give them whiskey, even when they were not in possession of any,
+and when they saw any man that had not gone to the lines, they called
+him a Yankee, and threatened to kill him for not going to fight, and
+indeed in some instances these threats have been put into execution.
+They acted with great authority and rage when they had stained their
+hands with human blood.
+
+"The inhabitants at large would have been extremely glad to have got out
+of their miserable situation at almost any rate, but they dared not
+venture a rebellion without being sure of protection.
+
+"From the commencement of the war there had been no collection of debts
+by law in the upper part of the Province and towards the fall in no
+part, nor would anyone pay another. No person could get credit from
+anyone to the amount of one dollar, nor could anyone sell any of their
+property for any price except provisions or clothing, for those who had
+money were determined to keep it for the last resort. No business was
+carried on by any person except what was necessary for the times.
+
+"In the upper part of the Province all the schools were broken up and no
+preaching was heard in all the land. All was gloom, war and misery.
+
+"Upon the declaration of war the Governor laid an embargo on all the
+flour destined for market, which was at a time when very little had
+left the Province. The next harvest was truly bountiful as also the
+crops of corn, buckwheat, and peas, the most of which were gathered
+except the buckwheat which was on the ground when all the people were
+called away after the battle of Queenston. Being detained on duty in the
+fall not one half of the farmers sowed any winter grain."
+
+All supplies from Montreal were cut off by the American fleet being in
+possession of Lake Ontario from the 8th November until the close of
+navigation. Flour and salt were scarcely to be purchased at any price
+and the condition of many families soon became almost too wretched to be
+endured. It is not surprising then that numbers of those who had no very
+strong ties to retain them, seized the first opportunity of escape.
+
+Lake Erie was frozen over as early as the 12th of January. A few days
+later two deserters and three civilians made their way from Point Abino
+to Buffalo upon the ice. They stated that the British forces were
+greatly reduced by sickness and desertion and that they did not believe
+there were more than thirty regulars stationed along the river between
+Fort Erie and Niagara. In fact several companies of the 41st had been
+recently despatched to strengthen the garrison of Amherstburg which was
+again threatened with an attack, and a show of force was kept up by
+ostentatiously sending out parties along the river in sleighs by day and
+bringing them back to quarters after dark.
+
+Stimulated by the information derived from these men the commandant at
+Buffalo projected the surprise of Fort Erie by crossing on the ice, but
+the desertion of a non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Major Macfarlane,
+disconcerted his plans.
+
+Late in March the arrival of three families of refugees at Buffalo by
+the same route is recorded. They confirmed former accounts of want and
+distress and the weakness of the British garrisons on the Niagara. The
+American officers were enabled, by information obtained from these and
+other sources, to estimate with precision the actual force which might
+be assembled to resist an invasion. But as they failed to make their
+attacks simultaneously it happened in several instances that they
+encountered the same troops successively at different places many miles
+apart. Soldiers of the 41st, who had been present with Brock at the
+taking of Detroit fought at Queenston on the 13th of October and
+returned in time to share in the victory at the River Raisin on the 22nd
+January, 1813. Two companies of the 8th that took part in the assault
+upon Ogdensburg on the 22nd February, faced the invaders at York on the
+27th April and again at Fort George a month later. Finding themselves
+repeatedly confronted with considerably larger forces than they had been
+led to expect, the American generals soon ceased to put much confidence
+in the reports of their spies.
+
+The cabinet had at first designated Kingston, York, and Fort George
+points of attack in the order named. The attempt upon Kingston was
+quickly abandoned owing to a false report that the garrison had been
+largely increased and it was determined to limit the operations of the
+"Army of the Centre" in the first instance to the reduction of the two
+latter places.
+
+On the 17th of March, Major General Morgan Lewis, who had been appointed
+to the command of the division on the Niagara, arrived at Buffalo
+attended by a numerous staff. At noon of the same day, the batteries at
+Black Rock began firing across the river and continued the cannonade
+with little intermission until the evening of the 18th. A few houses
+were destroyed and seven soldiers killed or wounded near Fort Erie.
+Three of the American guns were dismounted by the British batteries. A
+week later the bombardment was resumed with even less result.
+
+York was taken without much difficulty on the 27th April, but it cost
+the assailants their most promising general and between three and four
+hundred of their best troops. They ascertained on that occasion that
+they still had many warm sympathizers in that part of the Province. A
+letter from an officer who accompanied this expedition, published in the
+_Baltimore Whig_ at the time, states that "our adherents and friends in
+Upper Canada suffer greatly in apprehension or active misery. Eighteen
+or twenty of them who refused to take the oath of allegiance lived last
+winter in a cave or subterraneous hut near Lake Simcoe. Twenty-five
+Indians and whites were sent to take them but they killed eighteen of
+the party and enjoyed their liberty until lately when being worn out
+with cold and fatigue, they were taken and put in York jail whence we
+liberated them." Michael Smith corroborates this account in some
+respects. He relates that twelve days after the battle of Queenston
+Colonel Graham, on Yonge Street, ordered his battalion to assemble that
+a number might be drafted to go to Fort George. Forty of them did not
+come but went out to Whitchurch township which was nearly a wilderness
+and joined thirty more fugitives that were already there. Some men who
+were home for a few days from Fort George offered to go and bring them
+in but as they were not permitted to take arms they failed and the
+number of fugitives increased by the first of December to 300. When on
+my way to Kingston to obtain a passport, I saw about fifty of these
+people near Smith's Creek in the Newcastle District on the main road
+with fife and drum beating for recruits and huzzaing for Madison. Some
+of them remained in the woods all winter, but the Indians went out in
+the spring of 1813 and drove them into their caves where they were
+taken.
+
+So pronounced was the disaffection among the inhabitants in the vicinity
+of York, that Chief Justice Powell warned the Governor General that "in
+the event of any serious disaster to His Majesty's arms little reliance
+is to be had on the power of the well disposed to depress and keep down
+the turbulence of the disaffected who are very numerous."
+
+On the 29th of April, the capture of York became known at Fort George
+and the boats and stores deposited at Burlington were removed to a place
+of safety. On the 8th of May the American fleet came over to Fort
+Niagara and landed the brigade of troops that had been employed in
+reduction of York. Although victorious they were described by General
+Dearborn as being sickly and low spirited. Next day some of these troops
+were sent in two schooners to Burlington Beach where they destroyed the
+King's Head tavern, built by Lieut.-Governor Simcoe, which had served as
+quarters for soldiers on their march to and from Niagara. These vessels
+continued to cruise about the head of the lake, while the remainder of
+their fleet sailed away, as it proved to bring forward another division
+of troops.
+
+Brigadier General John Vincent, had lately assumed command of the
+British forces on the line of the Niagara, consisting of the 49th
+Regiment, five companies of the 8th, three of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and a captain's
+command of Royal Artillery with five held guns, numbering in all 1925
+officers and men, of whom 1841 were effectiver. Besides these, Merritt's
+troops of Provincial cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, a company of
+militia artillery and an uncertain and fluctuating number of militiamen
+belonging to the five Lincoln Regiments were in service.
+
+By a general order in March, about 1700 militia had been summoned to the
+protection of the frontier, but when the alarm had subsided, most of
+them had been allowed to return to their homes as it was felt that they
+would be more usefully employed in cultivating their farms than in idly
+waiting for an attack which the enemy appeared to be in no hurry to
+make.
+
+The regular troops were in high spirits and confident of victory, but
+the militia appeared gloomy and depressed. Vincent complained ruefully,
+"it is with regret that I can neither report favorably of their numbers
+nor of their willing co-operation. Every exertion has been used and
+every expedient resorted to, to bring them forward and unite their
+efforts to those of His Majesty's troops with but little effect, and
+desertion beyond all conception continues to mark their indifference to
+the important cause in which we are now engaged. In considering it my
+duty to offer a fresh exposition of my sentiments to Your Excellency
+respecting the militia of this Province, I must at the same time express
+a belief that when the reinforcements reach this frontier, many of the
+inhabitants who have been for some time wavering and appalled by the
+specious show of the enemy's resources will instantly rally round the
+standard of their King and country."
+
+Lieut.-Colonel John Harvey, a very able and enterprising young officer,
+who had lately joined General Vincent's division as Deputy Adjutant
+General, earnestly advised that accurate information of the enemy's
+numbers and designs should be secured at any cost, and then "by a series
+of both active and offensive movements, they should be thrown on the
+defensive no matter how superior their numbers might be." Had the whole
+of the 8th Regiment arrived in time this might have been accomplished,
+but two of its companies had been nearly annihilated at York, and the
+march of the remainder very much delayed by the attack on that place.
+
+As late however, as the 20th of May, we find Colonel Myers writing to
+the Adjutant General in these terms. "It is not wise to hold an enemy
+too cheap, but I cannot divest myself of the idea that the foe opposite
+is despicable and that it would be no hard task to dislodge him from the
+entire of his lines on the Niagara River. With some subordinate attacks
+upon his flanks, I am of opinion that it would be an enterprise of
+little hazard for us to get an establishment on the heights above
+Lewiston, opposite Queenston. This once affected, I cannot but feel the
+strongest confidence that we would in a short time effect the object so
+much to be desired. It would be giving such a turn to the war that I
+conceive it would strike terror to the enemy, which would produce the
+happiest effects."
+
+The return of the American fleet with a numerous body of regular troops
+on board put an end to these rather fantastic schemes of conquest. At
+daybreak on the 21st, no less than seventeen armed vessels, and upwards
+of one hundred Durham boats and batteaux were seen assembled near the
+mouth of the Four Mile Creek in rear of Fort Niagara, from which several
+thousand men were speedily disembarked.
+
+For several days these troops paraded ostentatiously in plain view
+probably in the hope of overawing their opponents by the display of
+numbers. Many workmen were seen at the same time busily occupied in
+constructing new batteries along the river and building boats.
+Reinforcements continued to arrive daily until it was supposed that
+about 7000 soldiers were encamped between Lewiston and Fort Niagara.
+This force was composed almost wholly of regular troops that had been in
+service for some time and included nine of the best regiments of
+infantry in the United States army. They were accompanied by a strong
+regiment of heavy artillery, a well appointed field-train and a
+battalion of dragoons.
+
+Major-General Henry Dearborn who was in command had distinguished
+himself in the Revolutionary war during which he had commanded a
+regiment in Arnold's expedition against Quebec and in Sullivan's
+campaign against the Six Nations. But he was now past sixty years of age
+and in ill health.
+
+The Secretary of War had warned him to be careful to employ a sufficient
+force to ensure success. Seven thousand men was the number deemed
+requisite. "If the first step in the campaign fails," he wrote
+plaintively, "our disgrace will be complete. The public will lose
+confidence in us. The party who first opens a campaign has many
+advantages over his antagonist, all of which, however, are the results
+of his being able to carry his whole force against part of the enemy's.
+We are now in that state of prostration Washington was in after he
+crossed the Delaware, but like him we may soon get on our legs if we are
+able to give some hard blows at the opening of the campaign. In this we
+cannot fail provided the force we employ against his western posts be
+sufficiently heavy. They must stand or fall by their own strength. They
+are perfectly isolated, send, then, a force that shall overwhelm them.
+When the fleet and army are gone we have nothing at Sackett's Harbor to
+guard. How would it read if we had another brigade at Sackett's Harbor
+when we failed at Niagara?"
+
+The undisturbed control of Lake Ontario by his fleet gave the American
+general a still greater advantage than his numerical superiority. It was
+understood that the British squadron would not be able to leave Kingston
+for at least a week, but two small vessels were detached to watch that
+port while the remainder assembled at Niagara to cover the landing.
+
+Vincent was accordingly thrown entirely upon the defensive. Had he only
+had Dearborn's army to contend with, superior as it was, he might have
+entertained a reasonable hope of being able to maintain his position but
+the presence of the fleet would enable his antagonist to select the
+point of attack at will and even to land a force in his rear.
+
+Nor were the fortifications along the river in a satisfactory state. The
+chief engineer had examined them during the winter and reported that
+Fort George was still in a "ruinous and unfinished condition," although
+the parapet facing the river had been somewhat strengthened. He had
+recommended that it should be completed as a field work and that a
+splinter-proof barracks capable of sheltering 400 men should be built
+within, and the upper story of the blockhouses taken down to place them
+on a level with the _terre pleine_. But these suggested improvements
+could not be carried out for lack of materials and workmen. At this time
+the fort mounted five guns; one twelve, two twenty four pounders, and
+two mortars. On the left fronting Fort Niagara were no less than five
+detached batteries armed with eleven guns, five of which were mortars.
+All of these works were open in the rear, and could be enfiladed and
+some of them taken in reverse by an enemy approaching on the lake. Six
+other batteries had been constructed along the river between Fort George
+and Queenston, two at Chippawa and three opposite Black Rock about two
+miles below Fort Erie. All of these posts required men to occupy them
+and there were besides thirty odd miles of frontier to be constantly
+patrolled and guarded. About one-third of his regular troops and
+two-thirds of the militia were unavoidably stationed along the upper
+part of this line extending from Queenston to Point Abino, under the
+command of Lieut.-Colonel Cecil Bishop. Vincent retained for the defence
+of the eleven miles of front between Queenston and the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek, thirty gunners of the Royal Artillery with five field
+pieces, under Major Holcroft, 1050 regular infantry, 350 militia, and
+about fifty Indians. This force was subdivided into three diminutive
+brigades of nearly equal numbers, the right under Lieut.-Colonel Harvey
+being detailed to guard the river, and the left under Lieut.-Colonel
+Myers, the lake front of this position, while the third under his own
+command remained in readiness to support either of these when attacked.
+Fort George was garrisoned by Ormond's company of the 49th, and a
+detachment of militia artillery amounting in the whole to about 130 men.
+The gunners serving with the field artillery being not more than half
+the usual complement, additional men were attached from the infantry.
+The batteries were entirely manned by volunteers from the regulars and
+militia. The whole force was turned out every morning at two o'clock,
+and remained under arms until daylight. The staff officers set a
+conspicuous example of activity and watchfulness. Colonels Harvey and
+Myers, accompanied by their aides patrolled the lines the whole night
+through and slept only by day. As the enemy continued their preparations
+for nearly a week after the return of their fleet, the effects of the
+prolonged strain soon became apparent in the exhausted condition of both
+the officers and men. At first, General Dearborn's movements seemed to
+indicate that an attack would be made by crossing the river above Fort
+George, and on the 24th of May the whole of the British troops were kept
+under arms all night. About three o'clock in the morning the enemy was
+distinctly heard launching boats at the Five Mile meadows nearly
+opposite a station occupied by Lieut. (afterwards Major General) R. S.
+Armstrong, R. A., who by command of the vigilant Harvey, immediately
+began to fire in that direction with a six pounder field gun and the
+nine-pounder mounted in a battery at Brown's Point. The Americans
+replied briskly with two six-pounders and continued their efforts until
+they had put ten boats in the river. But if they had intended to cross
+at this place, they soon abandoned the attempt, and when day dawned all
+of these boats were seen on their way down the river with a few men in
+each. As they came within range the guns of Fort George began firing,
+which instantly drew upon that work the fire of no less than sixteen
+heavy guns and mortars mounted in Fort Niagara and the adjacent
+batteries. The twelve pounder in Fort George was soon dismounted by a
+shot which shattered its carriage, and every building inside was set on
+fire by the shower of shells and red-hot shot which rained upon it. The
+gunners were driven by the flames from the twenty-four pounder beside
+the flagstaff, but the unequal contest was still gallantly maintained by
+a similar gun in the cavalier and a smaller piece in the north-western
+bastion until Major Holcroft perceiving that the barracks were totally
+consumed and shells bursting in every corner of the place sent orders to
+this handful of undaunted men to cease firing and retire under cover.
+The gun at Mississauga Point remained silent by order of Colonel Myers
+who hoped by this means to deprive the enemy of any excuse for turning
+their artillery upon the village, and the other detached batteries seem
+to have taken little part in the contest. Having destroyed all the
+buildings in Fort George and effectually silenced its fire, the
+Americans discontinued the bombardment about two o'clock in the
+afternoon.
+
+The lake front of the British position was then closely reconnoitred by
+boats from the fleet, sounding the shore in every direction and
+occasionally venturing within musket shot of some of the batteries which
+remained silent, partly from scarcity of ammunition and partly through
+fear of provoking a renewal of the cannonade. Buoys were placed to mark
+the stations the ships were to occupy next day when they engaged the
+batteries on the left of Fort George and covered the landing.
+
+On the part of the British some ineffectual efforts were made to repair
+the damages of the morning. The tackle and carriage of the gun at the
+flagstaff in Fort George had been totally destroyed by the flames, and
+could not be replaced, while the ring-bolts of another gun at the light
+house had been drawn by the recoil, and little service could be expected
+from it. Only a small picquet was stationed in the fort during the
+night, and the remainder of the garrison lay upon their arms on the
+common about half a mile in the rear in hourly expectation of an alarm,
+with the other brigades on either flank.
+
+Shortly after reveille had sounded next morning, a rocket was seen to
+rise into the air from Fort Niagara and a single gun was fired at Fort
+George. This was the signal for all the American batteries to begin a
+cannonade which was not returned and ceased at the end of half an hour.
+Long after the sun had risen a dense fog hung over the river and lake,
+effectually concealing all objects on the opposite side except the dim
+outline of Fort Niagara. Nothing could be seen of their troops, most of
+whom had been embarked soon after midnight, at the mouth of the Four
+Mile Creek. At daybreak Generals Dearborn and Lewis went on board
+Commodore Chauncey's flagship which immediately got under way, followed
+by the remainder of the fleet and the immense flotilla of batteaux and
+other boats filled with soldiers. Hours passed away and the entire
+armada remained almost motionless waiting for the rising of the fog.
+Finally when the fog banks rolled away 16 vessels of different sizes
+were descried standing across the mouth of the river at a distance of
+about two miles from land, followed by no less than 134 boats and scows,
+each containing from thirty to fifty men, formed in three compact
+divisions one behind the other. At a signal from the flagship the entire
+fleet tacked and stood towards the Canadian shore, the small boats
+wheeling by brigades and carefully preserving their alignment. Their
+approach was gradual and deliberate, being favored by a gentle breeze,
+which, however, scarcely raised a ripple on the glassy surface of the
+lake. The schooners _Julia_ and _Growler_ each armed with a long
+32-pounder and a long 12-pounder mounted on pivots, by making use of
+their sweeps entered the mouth of the river and opened fire on the
+crippled battery near the lighthouse while the schooner _Ontario_ of
+similar force took up a position near the shore to the northward so as
+to enfilade the same work and cross the fire of the two first-named
+vessels. Two guns and a mortar in Fort Niagara also concentrated their
+fire upon this battery, which was occupied by a few men of the Lincoln
+artillery under Capt. John Powell. Only a single shot was fired from the
+gun mounted there when it again became unmanageable and the gunners were
+soon afterwards driven out by the incessant fire directed against them
+from different quarters. At the same time the _Governor Tompkins_ of six
+guns engaged the one-gun battery near the mouth of Two Mile Creek in
+flank while _Conquest_ of three guns anchored in such a position as to
+fire directly into it from the rear, which was entirely open and
+unprotected. Resistance in this case was obviously out of the question
+and it was immediately abandoned. The _Hamilton_, _Scourge_ and _Asp_
+anchored within short musket shot of the shore, a few hundred yards
+further west, nearly opposite a group of farm houses called Crookston,
+which was the place selected for landing the troops. The three largest
+vessels, the _Madison_, _Oneida_ and _Lady of the Lake_ drew more water
+and were in consequence obliged to remain at a greater distance, though
+still well within effective range of every part of the level plain
+beyond the landing place. The united broadside of the fleet amounted to
+fifty-one guns, many of them being heavy long-range pieces mounted upon
+pivots which could fire in any direction, and the weather was so calm
+that they were afterwards able to increase the number by shifting guns
+from the other side. The whole of the artillery in Fort Niagara and the
+batteries on that bank of the river had also opened fire. Two sides of
+the British position were thus simultaneously assailed by the fire of
+more than seventy guns and mortars which swept the roads and fields in
+every direction with scarcely a shot in reply. A picquet of the
+Glengarry Light Infantry which had been stationed with about 50 Indians
+of the Six Nations under Captain John Norton among the thickets near the
+mouth of the Two Mile Creek hastily retired to avoid utter destruction
+by the storm of missiles hurled against their covert. Two Indians were
+killed and several wounded before they could escape.
+
+A heavy column of troops was then discovered marching from the American
+camp in rear of Fort Niagara near Youngstown. This consisted principally
+of dismounted dragoons and heavy artillery commanded by Colonel Burn who
+had been instructed to cross the river there and intercept the retreat
+of the British garrison towards Queenston. Their appearance had the
+effect of detaining a large part of Harvey's brigade on that flank to
+watch their movements.
+
+It was about nine o'clock when the landing began at Crookston in the
+following order. The advanced guard in twenty boats was composed of
+four hundred picked light infantry selected from several regiments,
+Forsyth's battalion of riflemen, and the flank companies of the 15th
+United States Infantry, amounting in the whole to about 800 rank and
+file, with a detachment of artillery in charge of a three-pounder field
+piece, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Winfield Scott, an able and
+energetic young officer who had been taken prisoner at Queenston the
+year before, and was destined to be the future conqueror of Mexico. This
+force was strictly enjoined not to advance more than three hundred paces
+from the water's edge before it was supported by General Boyd's brigade
+of infantry, with Eustis's battalion of artillery and McClure's rifle
+volunteers on its flanks. This was succeeded by Winder's brigade with
+Towson's artillery, and Chandler's brigade with Macomb's artillery,
+which were instructed to form upon Boyd's right and left respectively.
+Each of these brigades must certainly have numbered not less than 1500
+officers and men. The reserve was composed of the marines of the fleet
+and a picked body of 400 seamen which were landed but not brought into
+action.
+
+The entire fleet continued to fire over the heads of the men in the
+boats and effectually screened their advance until they reached the
+shore and formed on the beach under shelter of the steep clay bank.
+Captain Hindman of the United States Artillery, a very gallant young
+officer who was in command of the detachment with the gun attached to
+the advance guard, is mentioned as the first man to reach the shore. So
+far they had not met with the slightest opposition, but when they began
+to ascend the bank, the artillery fire from the ships slackened and they
+were briskly attacked by three companies of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, two companies of Lincoln militia, and the Grenadiers of the
+Royal Newfoundland Regiment who had been partially sheltered during the
+cannonade in a ravine two or three hundred yards distant. The effect of
+their musketry was sufficient to cause the American advance guard to
+retire under cover of the bank once more and the fleet recommenced its
+fire. Lieut.-Colonel Myers then succeeded in bringing forward the
+remainder of his brigade, increasing the force assembled in the ravine
+to forty men of the Newfoundland Regiment, ninety of the Glengarry Light
+Infantry, twenty-seven of Captain Runchey's negro company, one hundred
+Lincoln militia and 310 of the 8th or King's regiment. Several American
+authorities agree in the statement that they twice attempted to ascend
+the bank and were twice driven back by this determined handful of men.
+After they had succeeded in forming upon the plain, General Boyd
+declared that for "fifteen minutes the two lines exchanged a rapid and
+destructive fire, at a distance of only six or ten yards." The official
+returns of casualties establish the fact the whole of his brigade
+consisting of the 6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry was brought
+forward to the support of Colonel Scott's advance-guard, making a force
+of about 2,300 men opposed to 567. Whenever practicable the ships
+continued to fire with destructive effect on the attenuated British
+line. Colonel Myers fell desperately wounded in three plans when leading
+the first charge. Every field officer and most of the company of
+officers were soon killed or disabled, and at the end of twenty minutes
+close fighting the survivors gave way, leaving nearly three hundred dead
+and wounded on the field. They were rallied at a second ravine some
+distance in the rear by Lieut.-Colonel Harvey, who brought up with him
+several companies of the 49th, and a six-pounder field gun under Lieut.
+Charlton, which had been stationed near Fort George.
+
+Lieut. Armstrong with two other guns, had also been directed to proceed
+to the support of Lieut.-Colonel Myers, but upon advancing along the
+road parallel with the lake near Secord's house, he was suddenly
+assailed from both flanks by a body of riflemen, whose fire wounded his
+horse and one of his men, and a belt of thick woods prevented him from
+joining the remnant of that brigade, which was then in full retreat.
+While engaged in examining the road in front, Armstrong came
+unexpectedly upon one of the enemy's riflemen whom he made prisoner, and
+discovering that he was in danger of being surrounded, retired hurriedly
+to the Presbyterian church where the remainder of the field guns had
+been posted. From this position they covered the retirement of
+Lieut.-Colonel Harvey's force, which took place about ten o'clock. By
+that time the Americans had succeeded in landing the greater part of
+their field artillery, and began to advance slowly in three dense
+columns, Scott's light troops skirting the woods on the right, with the
+6th, 15th and 16th United States Infantry and four guns in the centre
+and the 18th United States Infantry and four guns moving along the
+margin of the lake. As they had brought no horses, they were obliged to
+drag their guns by hand, and their advance was necessarily very slow.
+While observing their movements, Colonel Harvey was almost cut off by a
+party of riflemen who had stealthily made their way through the woods
+with that object. He galloped off unhurt amid a shower of bullets, and
+formed his brigade in a fresh position behind a third ravine. Major
+Holcroft opened fire from a six-pounder and a howitzer, but on
+perceiving the advance of the enemy's light troops on the right, he
+placed these guns in charge of Lieut. Armstrong, and moved in that
+direction with the two other pieces. For nearly half an hour the
+artillery kept up a brisk fire and succeeded in checking the enemy's
+infantry. Harvey then noticed that their riflemen were again stealing
+forward through the woods, with the intention of turning his left flank,
+and ordered a general retreat to the Common beyond the Council House.
+During the cannonade Holcroft had lost but one gunner wounded and a
+single horse killed but the limber of his largest gun, a twelve-pounder,
+was so badly damaged that it went to pieces on the road.
+
+An hour later when the Americans emerged from the village, an eighteen
+pounder, in the battery next to Fort George was traversed, and fired
+upon them until they made a vigorous charge and captured it with several
+of the men engaged in working it.
+
+Vincent joined Harvey with the reserve, and the whole force remained in
+position on the Common for nearly half an hour. Commodore Chauncey's
+flagship entered the river and anchored abreast of Fort George. The
+troops at Youngstown began to enter their boats while the enemy in front
+were steadily prolonging their lines to the right with the evident
+purpose of occupying the only possible avenue of retreat, and
+surrounding the British forces.
+
+At noon, General Vincent despatched an order to Lieut.-Colonel Claus, to
+evacuate Fort George and join him upon the Queenston road. He
+immediately began his retreat upon St. Davids, the infantry retiring
+through the woods, and the artillery and baggage by the road. This
+movement was so quietly accomplished that it seems to have almost
+escaped the attention of the enemy who were busily engaged in reforming
+their line.
+
+General Dearborn had become so much enfeebled by his exertions, and the
+effects of his previous illness, that he had to be lifted from his horse
+and supported to a boat which conveyed him on board the flagship, from
+which he viewed the landing of his troops, although unable to keep his
+feet for more than a few minutes at a time. The command accordingly
+devolved upon Major General Morgan Lewis, an officer of little
+experience and less military knowledge, but an active and influential
+politician, who had been in turn Chief Justice and Governor of the State
+of New York and was a brother-in-law of the Secretary of War. He was
+absurdly fond of military pomp, parade and display, and his opponents
+delighted to ridicule a speech he had made to the militia when Governor
+in which he had remarked that "the drum was all important in the day of
+battle." Having the fate of Van Rensselaer and Winchester fresh in his
+memory, his movements were cautious to the verge of timidity. An hour
+and a half elapsed after Harvey retreated before he ventured to advance
+beyond the village. He had then not less than 4,000 men in order of
+battle besides the reserve of marines and seamen. His line extended
+without a break from the lighthouse on Mississauga Point to the river
+above Fort George. That work was approached with excessive caution as
+the sound of repeated explosions within, caused them to dread a
+recurrence of their disastrous experience at York, and even the
+lighthouse was avoided lest it should be hurled in fragments on their
+heads. Colonel Scott was in fact unhorsed by a large splinter which
+broke his collar bone, but there were no other casualties. When the fort
+was entered, it was found that the garrison had disappeared with the
+exception of a few soldiers of the 49th Regiment, who were still engaged
+in dismantling the works. Some of the men were surprised in the act of
+cutting down the flagstaff to obtain the garrison flag from which the
+halliards had been shot away, and others were taken prisoners as they
+attempted to escape through the main gate. More than a hundred sick and
+wounded were found in the hospital. The village of Niagara was entirely
+deserted, and many of the houses had been much damaged by cannon shot.
+
+During the afternoon the Second Regiment of United States Dragoons was
+brought over from Youngstown, but scarcely any pursuit was attempted as
+the American army was described as much exhausted from being under arms
+for eleven hours. No one seemed to know positively which way the British
+had retreated. Colonel Scott with some of the riflemen seems to have
+advanced a few miles along the Queenston road, but was peremptorily
+recalled by General Lewis who feared an ambush. Meanwhile Vincent's
+column had retired in almost perfect order, leaving scarcely a straggler
+behind and marched with such speed that the rear guard arrived that
+night at DeCew's house, where a small magazine of provisions had been
+formed a few days before in anticipation of a reverse.
+
+About four o'clock in the afternoon a dragoon reached Fort Erie with
+information of the loss of Fort George, and Lieut.-Colonel Bishop
+immediately began his retreat with the regular troops and field guns
+stationed there, leaving Major John Warren with a few men of the Third
+Lincoln Regiment of militia to occupy the works and engage the attention
+of the enemy on the opposite bank. Soon after his departure, Warren
+opened fire on Black Rock from all the batteries, and continued the
+cannonade all night. At daybreak the destruction of the stores and
+fortifications began. The barracks and public buildings were burnt, the
+magazines blown up, the guns burst or otherwise rendered unserviceable
+along the whole line from Point Abino to Chippawa. When this had been
+thoroughly accomplished, Warren disbanded his men, and an American force
+crossed from Black Rock and took possession of the dismantled works. A
+quantity of stores which had been abandoned at Queenston, was destroyed
+on the same day, by Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Clark, at the head of a small
+party of the Third Lincoln Regiment, who had returned from Beaver Dams
+for the purpose.
+
+Scarcely had this been done, when a strong brigade of American troops
+advanced from Fort George and occupied that village.
+
+During these operations General Vincent had lost the whole of his
+garrison ordnance and a considerable quantity of spare arms and military
+stores. His regular force had been diminished by 350 officers and men,
+nearly all of whom were killed or wounded, but he was joined during the
+night of the 27th by two strong companies of the 8th Regiment which had
+advanced that day as far as the mouth of the Twelve Mile Creek on their
+way to Fort George. The loss of the regulars in the battle was
+officially stated at fifty-two killed, forty-four wounded, and 262
+missing, nearly all of those reported missing being either killed or
+left wounded on the field. The small detachment of Lincoln militia
+engaged is stated to have lost five officers and eighty men, killed or
+wounded, but no official return seems to have been preserved. The names
+only of Captain Martin McClellan and Privates Charles Wright and William
+Cameron, who were killed, have been recorded. Two Mohawk Indians, Joseph
+Claus and Tsigotea, were also among the slain. General Boyd stated that
+his men found 107 dead and 175 wounded of the British troops upon the
+field. The losses of some of the detachments actually engaged were truly
+appalling. The five companies of the 8th Regiment lost, Lieut. Drummie
+killed, Major Cotton, Lieuts. Nicholson, McMahon, and Lloyd, and Ensign
+Nicholson wounded, and 196 non-commissioned officers and privates
+killed, wounded, or missing out of 310 of all ranks who went into
+action. The Glengarry Light Infantry lost Captain Liddle and Ensign
+McLean killed, Captain Roxborough and Lieut. Kerr wounded, and 73
+non-commissioned officers and men out of an aggregate of 108. The
+grenadier company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost Capt. Winter,
+Lieut. Stewart, and fourteen others out of forty.
+
+The total loss of the American army was officially stated at 150, of
+whom thirty-nine were killed. The only officer killed was Lieut. Henry
+Hobart, a grandson of General Dearborn. Covered as their landing was by
+the fire of so many cannon, it is, perhaps, remarkable that their loss
+was so great. As a proof, however, of the severity of the short struggle
+on the plain. Dr. Mann, the American army surgeon, who was present,
+remarked that he found 27 dead and 87 severely wounded on the field when
+he landed and that nearly 400 of both armies lay stretched on a plot of
+ground not more than 200 yards in length and fifteen in breadth.
+
+On the 28th, the whole of the militia except Merritt's troop of
+Provincial Cavalry, Runchey's company of negroes, and about sixty picked
+men of other corps who were determined to follow the fortunes of the
+army, were disbanded, and Vincent continued his retreat to Grimsby and
+finally to Burlington Heights where he arrived on the 2nd June with
+eleven field guns and 1800 seasoned soldiers, who, in spite of their
+recent reverse were in high spirits and eager to meet the enemy again on
+more equal terms. The brilliant result of the action at Stoney Creek
+three days later amply atoned for a defeat by which they had lost no
+credit.
+
+The Americans were justly disappointed by the incompleteness of their
+success. For nearly two days they appear to have absolutely lost all
+track of their enemy. "When we marched for Queenston on the 28th," wrote
+an officer in the United States army whose letter was published at the
+time in the _Baltimore Whig_, "we found the British far advanced on
+their retreat by the back road toward the lower part of the Province.
+They collected their force very actively. Our friends hereabouts are
+greatly relieved by our visit. They had been terribly persecuted by the
+Scotch myrmidons of England. Their present joy is equal to their past
+misery. This is a charming country but its uncertain destiny together
+with the vexations the farmers endured by being dragged out in the
+militia left the fields in a great degree uncultivated. The British
+Indians are not of much use to them. They run as soon as the battle
+grows hot. I saw but one Indian and one Negro with the Glengarry uniform
+on, dead on the field. Their Eighth fought very resolutely and suffered
+severely."
+
+Many American historians have condemned General Dearborn for not having
+accomplished more with the means at his disposal but they have made
+little or no allowance for the physical weakness which actually rendered
+him unfit to command at all. General Armstrong, who, as Secretary of
+War, was eager to justify his own conduct, declared that "if instead of
+concentrating his whole force, naval and military, on the water side of
+the enemy's defences he had divided the attack and crossed the Niagara
+below Lewiston and advanced on Fort George by the Queenston road, the
+investment of that place would have been complete and a retreat of the
+garrison rendered impracticable." This, however, was actually the
+movement which Dearborn had planned but failed to execute in time.
+Ingersol, a member of Congress and a leader of the war party, bitterly
+observed that "the British General effected his retreat (probably
+without Dearborn knowing it for he stayed on shipboard) to the mountain
+passes where he employed his troops in attacking, defeating, and
+capturing ours during all the rest of that year of discomfitures."
+
+THE END.
+
+      N. B.--For the engraving, "The Taking of Fort George," we
+      are indebted to the kindness and courtesy of the Hon. P. A.
+      Porter, Niagara Falls. It is from the portfolio published in
+      Philadelphia, 1817, and is particularly interesting to us as
+      giving the appearance of the churches St. Mark's and St.
+      Andrew's before the town was burnt down, as also the
+      Lighthouse situated nearly where the Queen's Royal Hotel
+      stands now.
+
+
+
+
+    +-----------------------------------------------+
+    |             Transcriber's Note:               |
+    |                                               |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the  |
+    | original document have been preserved.        |
+    |                                               |
+    | Typographical errors corrected in the text:   |
+    |                                               |
+    | Page  5  huudred changed to hundred           |
+    | Page  6  uninhabitated changed to uninhabited |
+    | Page  7  Presqu'le changed to  Presqu'ile     |
+    | Page  9  patroling changed to patrolling      |
+    | Page 12  armisfice changed to armistice       |
+    | Page 14  Rensslaer changed to Rensselaer      |
+    | Page 15  permited changed to permitted        |
+    | Page 19  resourses changed to resources       |
+    | Page 21  Deleware changed to Delaware         |
+    | Page 21  patroled changed to patrolled        |
+    | Page 21  Bisshop changed to Bishop            |
+    | Page 22  detatchment changed to detachment    |
+    | Page 24  missles changed to missiles          |
+    +-----------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Battle of Fort George, by Ernest Cruikshank
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