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Between one and two o'clock on the morning of the 28th of November, the advance of general Smyth's army, composed of detachments of picked men from the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th, United States' regiments of infantry, under the command of colonel Winder of the 14th, accompanied by a party of naval officers and seamen lately arrived from one of the Atlantic ports, embarked at Buffaloe in ten boats, to carry the British batteries on the opposite shore, and, by that means, facilitate the passage of the main body of the army.

At Fort-Erie the British force consisted of a detachment of 80 men of the 49th, under major Ormsby, and about 50 of the Newfoundland regiment, under captain Whelan. The ferry, opposite Black Rock, was occupied by two companies of militia, under captain Bostwick. At a house on the Chippeway-road, called the Red House, distant about two miles and a half from Fort-Erie, was stationed lieutenant Lamont, of the 49th, having under his orders two serjeants and 35 rank and file; also, lieutenant King, of the royal artillery, with two field-pieces, a three and 6-pounder, worked by a few militia-artillerymen. In the vicinity of the Red House were two batteries, one mounting a 24, the other an 18-pounder; and which were also under the charge of lieutenant Lamont. At the distance of about a mile further along the road, lieutenant Bartley, of the 49th, with two serjeants and 35

rank and file, occupied a post; and so did lieutenant M'Intyre, with the 41st light infantry, about 70 strong, upon the road-side, not far from Frenchman's creek; which is distant about four miles and a half from Fort-Erie. The head. quarters of lieutenant-colonel Bisshopp, the commanding officer on that line, were at Chippeway. He had under his immediate command, a battalion-company of the 41st regiment, a company of militia, and a small detachment of militia-artillery, with a light 6-pounder; also, at no great distance, a detachment of militia under major Hatt.

The ten American boats had scarcely proceeded half the way across the river, when a smart fire from captain Bostwick's men compelled them to drop down opposite to the Red House. Here they met with a similar reception from lieutenant Lamont's party. Owing, how, ever, to the extreme darkness, it was deemed useless to fire more than one or two rounds from the guns; but, as alarm-guns, they produced an unexpected effect, that of scaring away five of the boats, including the boat in which was colonel Winder.*

The division that effected a landing consisted of about 190 regular troops, under the command of lieuteuant-colonel Boerstler, of the 14th, and captain King of the 15th, United States' regiment; and of about 60 seamen, under the orders Sketches of the War, p. 83.

of lieutenant-commandant Angus ; assisted by sailing-master Watts, lieutenant Dudley, and nine other naval officers.* Captain King, taking with him 60 regulars, also 40 seamen, armed with boarding-pikes and cutlasses, and headed by lieutenant Angus, proceeded to the Red House, about 50 yards from the beach, and whither lieutenant Lamont and his little detachment had just retired. The Americans charged, and received a volley from the British, succeeded by a charge, which drove the Americans towards their boats. Here they rallied, and re-advanced to the charge; but were received and repulsed as before. A third attempt to subdue this little band was equally unsuccessful; and the Ameri cans retired to their boats, apparently to await a fresh reinforcement. Ashamed, however, to be thus beaten by a handful of men; captain King, at the head of his regulars, again advanced, by a circuitous route, upon the left of lieutenant Lamont's position. In momentary expectation of reinforcements from Chippeway, lieutenant Lamont, in the dark, mistook Captain King's party for Canadian militia; until a most destructive volley, which killed seven, and wounded eight of his men, as well as lieutenant King, of the artillery, dangerously, and himself in five places, convinced him, too late, of his error. Being now without a commander, the few gallant fellows Sketches of the War, p. 83.

who had not been wounded, except. three who were taken prisoners, dispersed, and effected their escape. On getting possession of the Red House, the Americans set fire to it; and spiked the two field-pieces. They then proceeded to the batteries, and dismounted the 24 and 18pounder, the former of which had been previously spiked by one of the British officers. Having performed this "brilliant service," the Americans carried to their boats the three unwounded, along with several of the wounded prisoners, including lieutenant King of the artillery; whose death, a week or two afterwards, was no doubt occasioned by this inhuman act. Lieutenant Lamont was dragged a short distance; but, fortunately for him, the enemy considered that a dead prisoner would be a poor trophy, and therefore left him on the ground; where, already lay, 12 of their own killed, and the same number of their wounded. The sailors had, in the mean time, been amusing themselves with pillaging, and setting fire to the few private dwellings scattered along the beach.

It is now time to attend to the exploits of the remaining sub-division of the American force, and which had landed a mile or two below the Red House. This party consisted of about 130 regulars, under lieutenant-colonel Bærstler, and 20 seamen, led by sailing-master Watts. These * History of the United States, Vol. III, p. 205.

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were attacked, at the moment of landing, by the subaltern's detachment of the 49th under lieutenant Bartley; and kept greatly in check, till a very severe loss in killed, wounded, or missing, and the near approach of another part of the enemy's force, which, owing to the darkness, had been mistaken for militia, compelled lieutenant Bartley to retreat. Soon afterwards, the Americans again encountered captain Bostwick with his detachment of militia; and, after a few rounds, in which the latter lost three killed, 15 wounded, and six prisoners, compelled him also to retreat.

The whole of this warfare was conducted amidst darkness; and the fears of the American commanding-officer induced him to adopt a stratagem, that caused additional perplexity to the trebly inferior force opposed to him. "Lieu tenant-colonel Bærstler," says the American editor, exerting a Stentorian voice, roared in various directions, as though he commanded thousands, and created such a panic in the enemy, that they fled before him wherever he moved."*

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It was still dark when major Ormsby, with his 80 men, arrived at the mill on Frenchman's creek. A few shots were there exchanged; and the major, after proceeding a short distance fur, ther, very properly halted; intending to remain till day-light, which was then fast approaching,

* Hist. of the United States, Vol. III. p. 204.

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