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by an American settler, named Hopkins; afterwards hung, for this and other traitorous acts, or, as his countryman goodnaturedly says, "for his attachment to the United States."* This reminds us of the memorial presented to congress, at the conclusion of the war, by gene> ral Porter, on behalf of Abraham Markle, Gideon Frisbie, and their associates, survivors of the corps of Canadian volunteers," praying for a tract of land, in size proportionate to their several losses, &c. An American writer from Washington has taken great pains to enforce the claims of this " generous, brave, and enterprising corps of men, raised," says he, "by the gallant, and ever-to-be-lamented colonel Willcocks, whose every impulse was in unison with the noblest feelings of humanity." This" everto-be-lamented” traitor was a native of Ireland, and had been a member of the provincial assembly.

Mr. Secretary Armstrong's account of the British sick before Fort-George was not at all over-rated; although his account of the British force evidently was. The latter, fit for duty, amounted, towards the end of September, to about 2290 rank and file. On the other hand, we find the American force at Fort-George and Niagara, on the 19th of the same month,

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stated at 4587 officers and men, including 1165 sick.* Deducting the latter, also the odd hundreds to allow for the garrison at FortNiagara, there were at Fort-George 3000 effective American regulars. At the time of the alarm created by Mr. Hopkins's billet, and which occurred ten days subsequent to the date of the above returns, (since which, the health of the men had been gradually amending,*) two columns of troops, one commanded by majorgeneral Wilkinson, the other by major-general Boyd, actually marched out of the camp, and formed in its front and rear. What an opportunity was here for deciding the fate of Upper Canada! Fortunately for the upper, and haps for the lower, province too, there existed, on an island about 200 miles down the St. Lawrence, a will o' th' wisp, that captivated the senses of these tyro-warriors; and, after dragging them, against wind, rain, and snow,t through the whole length of an angry lake, down foaming rapids, and amidst showers of "teazing" bullets, cast them on shore, jaded in body and broken in spirit, the reproach of their country, and the laughing-stock of those whose soil they were hastening to invade.

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The commencing particulars of this "illfated" expedition we shall now proceed to detail. It should first be mentioned, that the *Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. III. p. 281. + Ibid, p. 289.

original plan had been altered to the actual capture of Kingston and Prescott, previous to the main attack upon Montreal. The knapsacks of the troops filled with winter-clothing,” transports at the beach waiting to receive, and a powerful fleet in sight on the lake ready to protect them; also, the long-expected 1500 New York militia arrived in the fort to assist the 23d regiment, about 600 strong, in repelling an attack, the first embarkation took place on the 28th of September; but, scarcely had the expe dition proceeded ten miles beyond Niagarapoint, when that "vapouring dog" sir James shewed himself, and led the commodore a sad dance. Without waiting till the two fleets (as presently happened) "went out of sight," the troops hurried back as fast as oars and sails could drive them. It was upon their return, that the two generals made the demonstration which we have already noticed.

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On the 1st of October the commodore returned to Niagara; and, having promised general Wilkinson, by letter, that he would do his best "to keep the enemy in check in this part of thẻ lake, or effect his destruction," the troops were allowed to re-embark. Bad weather drove many of the boats into Twelve-mile Creek. The expeedition again moved forward; and, after buffeting with a severe storm, in which several of the boats

James's Naval Occurrences, p. 301.

were wrecked, arrived, about noon, on the 7th, at Oswego. Here the gale detained the expedition till the 13th; when it again appeared on the lake, and, after suffering from cold, wind, and rain, reached Henderson's Bay, in the neighbourhood of Sackett's Harbor. Leaving the American soldiers to dry their cloaths, and ponder upon the perils they are doomed to encounter, we hasten back to see what effect this sudden movement of the enemy produced upon the British army stationed before Fort-George.

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At no loss to divine that some point on the St. Lawrence was to be the devoted spot, majorgeneral De Rottenburg, on the 2d of October, commenced his march for Kingston, with the 104th and 49th regiments; the latter of which, as a proof how the whole division, was still suffering from sickness, could muster, fit for duty, no more than 16, out of about 50, commissioned officers. Unfortunately, the two flank companies of De Watteville's regiment, proceeding from York on the same destination, by water-carriage, fell into the hands of commodore Chauncey. Major-general Vincent now resumed the command of the British troops upon the Niagara; where we will leave him, for the present, to attend to major-general Proctor and his little army, in their proceedings along the northwestern frontier. ⠀⠀

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CHAPTER IX.

Advance of major-general Proctor-Augmentation of the American north-western army-Description of Fort-Stephenson-Gallant assault upon it-American masked battery-Defeat of the British-Major-general Proctor's return to Sandwich-Arrival of the remainder of the 1st battalion 41st regiment—Accumulated number of Indians-Scarcity of provisions on the Detroit frontier-Wretched state of captain Barclay's fleet-Effects of its capture upon the right division-Hardships endured by the troops-General Harrison's newly-raised army-Its entry into Amherstburg, and pursuit of major-general Proctor up the Thames-Losses of the British on the retreat-Their defeat near the Moravian village-Remarks on sir George Prevost's general order-Escape of major-general Proctor-Loss of territory arising from the defeat of the British -American rejoicings-Death and character of Tecumseh Anecdotes respecting him-Description of the scalping-operation-Barbarities committed upon Tecumseh's body-American disrespect to a flag of truce-Imprisonment of British officers along with convicts.

MAJOR-GENERAL Proctor, having been reinforced with nearly the whole of the remaining

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