دو "committed solely to the management" of a party of hostile Indians; to determine, by way of experiment, whether those "ruthless savages,' that "faithless and perfidious race," would listen to the "advice" of their civilized "brethren," and "impose any restraints upon their known habits of warfare;" or, whether they would scalp and otherwise torture their 16 captives as might best serve to glut "their demo niac thirst of blood." Even could the forbearance of the Indians have been religiously relied on by the American officer, what right had he thus to sport with the feelings of his prisoners? -Happily, amidst all that has been invented by the hirelings of the American government, to rouse the passions of the people, and gain over on their side the good wishes of other nations, no British officer stands charged with a crime half so heinous as that recorded to have been committed by the American major Chapin. Following up colonel Clarke's exploit, lieutenant-colonel Bisshopp, taking with him, early on the morning of the 11th July, 20 of the royal artillery, 40 of the 8th, or king's, 100 of the 41st, and 40 of the 49th regiments; also about 40 of the 2d and 3d Lincoln militia,* amount. ing, in the whole, to 240 men, crossed the Niagara, below Black Rock; and moved up with great rapidity to the attack of that post. Two * App. No. 41. hundred American militia who had been stationed there, immediately fled; and the British took possession of the batteries, upon which eight guns were mounted. Four of these, two 12, and two 6-pounders, the British spiked; and they brought away one 12, and twó 9-pounders, 177 muskets, some ammunition kegs, round and case shot, a considerable quantity of army-clothing, and other stores; also about 180 barrels of provisions, and seven large batteaux and one scow, in which the stores and provisions were contained.† The British likewise burnt a large schooner, and the blockhouse and barracks in the navy-yard, as well as those in the great battery." While the main body," says the Buffaloe Gazette of July 13, "was employed in thus disposing of the public property, a party entered many houses in the village; but we have not ascertained that they committed any outrages on private property.” None of the American historians have thought it worth their while to record this fact. Unfortunately, our troops were allowed to remain on shore longer than was prudent. A strong reinforcement of American regulars, militia, and Indians, under general Porter, arrived; and poured a destructive fire upon the British, as they were retiring to their boats. In consequence of this, we lost 15 men killed; lieu* App. No. 43. + Ibid. No. 44. Ibid. No. 41. tenant-colonel Bisshopp, captain Saunders, and a lieutenant of the 41st, also 15 other officers and men, wounded. The gallant lieutenant-colonel Bisshopp had received three wounds; and died shortly after he returned to the Canada side. He was a promising young officer; not more than 27 years of age; and of a most amiable private character. The American loss was three killed, and five wounded. All the boats got clear off; but the British were compelled to leave behind, eight of their killed, and about six of their wounded, including captain Saunders. "Our savage friends," says the Buffaloe editor; "expressed a desire to scalp the dead, but were prevented." Here, then, it required some stronger arguments than "the influence of a cultivated people," " the advice of an American officer," or "the obligation of their general treaty," to restrain the Indians from committing their usual barbarities. Doctor Smith, having, in imitation of his brother historians, omitted to notice this fact, has had no occasion to rack his brains for an explanation: The new American ship General Pike being completely equipped, and manned with a numerous crew, about 120 of whom had recently arrived from the Constitution, and the remainder from other ships lying in the Atlantic ports, commodore Chauncey, on the 26th of July, again appeared on the lake. His fleet now consisted of 14 vessels, of the united burthen of 2721 tons; mounting altogether 114 guns, and manned with 1193 seamen.* At this time, sir James Yeo, with his fleet, which was just onethird inferior to Chauncey's, was lying in Kingston, and had its movements watched by two of the American schooners, stationed off Sackett's Harbor. Commodore Chauncey's first object was the destruction of a depôt of stores and provisions at Burlington Heights. For that purpose, he took on board at Niagara "about 300 regulars," under lieutenant-colonel Scott, according to sir George Prevost, "an unexchanged prisoner of war on his parole;"§ and, on the morning of the 30th, landed the troops, along with a party of sailors and marines. But major Maule's detachment, which amounted to no more than 150 rank and file, was voted to consist of " from 6 to 800 regulars, strongly intrenched, and defended by about eight pieces of cannon;¶ and commodore Chauncey re-embarked his mep and the troops, as soon as they had made prisoners of some of the unarmed inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Commodore Chauncey was informed by the prisoners, that the whole of the regulars stationed at York had, since the preceding even+ Ibid. p 297. * James's Naval Occurrences, p. 298. † Sketches of the War, p. 150. § App. No. 45. ¶ Hist. of the War, p. 110. ing, marched to reinforce major Maule. This intelligence, coupled with his knowledge that the York militia were still bound by the parole which had been exacted of them by himself and general Dearborn, about three months previous,* determined the commodore to pay a second visit to York. The public was not supposed to know these facts; and, considering the small number of troops engaged in the enterprise, a successful attack upon the "capital of Upper Canada" would read well in the newspapers, and give additional eclat to the measures of the government. Accordingly, about four o'clock on the afternoon of the 31st, the two ships, Pike and Madison, and the brig Oneida, came to anchor off York; while the nine schooners, with the troops under colonel Scott, reinforced by the marines of the fleet, stood into the harbor, and disembarked the whole at the garrison, as was expected," without opposition."+ The Americans, then marched boldly into the town; of which, it being utterly defenceless for the reason already given, they took quiet possession. They opened the goal, liberated the prisoners, and, among them, three soldiers confined for felony. They then proceeded to the hospital, and parolled the few men that could not be removed. The store-houses of some inhabit*Sce p. 149.. + Hist. of the War, p. 111. |