half of the 'main-yard remaining aloft, the main tack was got forward in the hope of getting the ship before the wind, our helm being still perfect: the effort unfortunately proved ineffectual, from the main-mast falling over the side, from the heavy rolling of the ship, which nearly covered the whole of our star-board guns. We still waited the attack of the enemy, he now standing towards us for that purpose; on his coming nearly within hail of us, and from his manoeuvre perceiving he intended a position a-head, where he could rake us without a possibility of our returning a shot. I then consulted the officers, who agreed with myself, that our having a great part of our crew killed and wounded, our bowsprit and three masts gone, several guns useless, we should not be justified in wasting the lives of more of those remaining, who, I hope their lordships and the country will think have bravely defended his majesty's ship. Under these circumstances, however reluctantly, at fifty minutes past five, our colours were lowered from the stump of the mizen-mast, and we were taken possession of, a little after six, by the American frigate Constitution, commanded by Commodore Bainbridge, who, immediately after ascertaining the state of the ship, resolved on burning her, which we had the satisfaction of seeing done as soon as the wounded were removed. Annexed I send you a return of the killed and wounded, and it is with pain I perceive it so numerous; also a statement of the comparative force of the two ships, when I hope their lordships will not think the British flag tarnished, although success has not attended us. It would be presumptuous in me to speak of Captain Lambert's merits, who, though still in danger from his wound, we entertain the greatest hopes of his being restored to the service and his country.

To

"It is most gratifying to my feelings to notice the gallantry of every officer, seaman, and marine, onboard: in justice to the officers, I beg leave to mention them individually. I can never speak too highly of the able exertions of Lieutenants Hevringham and Buchanan, and also of Mr. Robinson, master, who was severely wounded, and Lieutenants Mercer and Davis, of the royal marines, the latter of whom also was severely wounded. To Captain John Marshal, R. N. who was a passenger, I am particularly obliged for his exertions and advice throughout the action. Lieutenant Aplin, who was on the main-deck, and Lieutenant Saunders, who commanded on the forecastle, I also return my thanks. I cannot but notice the good conduct of the mates and midshipmen, many of whom are killed, and the greater part wounded. To Mr. T. C. Jones, surgeon, and his assistants, every praise is due, for their unwearied assiduity in the care of the wounded. Lieutenant-general Hislop, Major Walker, and Captain Wood, of his staff, the latter

of whom was severely wounded, were solicitous to BOOK XI. assist and remain on the quarter-deck. I cannot conclude this letter, without expressing my grate- CH. VIII. ful acknowledgments, thus publicly, for the generous treatment Captain Lambert and his officers have experienced from our gallant enemy, Commodore Bainbridge and his officers. "I have the honor to be, &c.

"H. D. CHADS, first lieutenant of his majesty's late ship Java. "P. S. The Constitution has also suffered severely both in her rigging and men, having her fore and mizen-masts, main top-mast, both maintop sail-yards, spanker-boom, gaff, and trysailmast badly shot, and the greatest part of the standing rigging very much damaged, with ten men killed, the commodore, fifth lieutenant, and forty-six men wounded, four of whom are since dead." Force of the two Ships.

The gallant Captain Lambert died, in consequence of his wounds, a few days after the action, and was interred, with all military honors, in Fort St. Pedro.

The following extract of a letter from New York will shew in what manner these successes operated upon the minds of the Americans.

"The unexpected success of the navy has much roused the spirit of the nation, and produced a disposition in all parties to foster and increase it. The fashionable doctrine now is, that an American ship of war is more than a match for a British one of equal force. The idea of protecting British seamen against the allegiance they owe to their country, is getting exploded by all parties; and the only difficulty is to hit upon an expedient that will be satisfactory to the British government, in securing to them the services of those people, in place of the very obnoxious mode of impressment."

The success of the Americans, by sea, seems to have inspired them with so much confidence, that they determined to try the issue of another

1812.

1813.

BOOK XI. attack on Canada. Accordingly, Brigadier-geral Winchester, with a division of the American CH. VIII. forces, consisting of more than 1,000 men, being the right-wing of Major-general Harrison's army, advanced, in January, 1813, to the attack of Detroit, and obtained possession of French-town, twenty-six miles from that place. But on the 22d, however, he was completely defeated by Colonel Proctor, who commanded in the Michigan territory, with a force which he had hastily collected upon the approach of the enemy, consisting of a small detachment of the 10th royal veteran battalion, three companies of the 41st regiment, a party of the royal Newfoundland fencibles, the sailors belonging to the Queen Charlotte, and 150 of the Essex militia, and about 600 Indians; the result of the action was the surrender of Brigadiergeneral Winchester, with 500 officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the American army, and with a loss on their part of nearly the like number in killed and wounded. For the details of this affair, which reflects the highest credit upon Colonel Proctor, for the promptitude, gallantry, and decision which he manifested upon this occasion, we must refer to the following letter, which he transmitted to Major-general Sheaffe, dated Sandwich, January 25:

"Sir,-In my last dispatch I acquainted you that the enemy was in the Michigan territory, marching upon Detroit, and that I therefore deemed it necessary that he should be attacked without delay, with all and every description of force within my reach. Early in the morning of the 19th, I was informed of his being in possession of Frenchtown, on the river Raisin, 26 miles from Detroit, after experiencing every resistance that Major Reynolds, of the Essex militia, had it in his power to make, with a three-pounder well served and directed by Bombardier Kitson, of the royal artillery, and the militia, three of whom he had well trained to the use of it. The retreat of the gun was covered by a brave band of Indians, who made the enemy pay dear for what he obtained. This party, composed of militia and Indians, with the gun, fell back eighteen miles to Brown's town, the settlement of the brave Wyandots, where I directed my force to assemble. On the 21st instant, I advanced twelve miles to Swancreek, from whence we marched to the enemy, and attacked him at break of day on the 22d instant; and after suffering, for our numbers, a considerable loss, the enemy's force posted in houses and enclosures, and which, from dread of falling into the hands of the Indians, they most obstinately defended, at length surrendered at discretion; the other part of their force, in attempting to retreat by the way they came, were, I believe, all, or with very few exceptions, killed by the Indians. Brigadier-general Winchester was taken in the

pursuit by the Wyandot chief, Roundhead, who afterwards surrendered him to me. You will perceive that I have lost no time; indeed, it was necessary to be prompt in my movements, as the enemy would have been joined by Major-general Harrison in a few days. The troops, the marine, and the militia, displayed great bravery, and behaved uncommonly well. Where so much zeal and spirit were manifested, it would be unjust to attempt to particularize any; I cannot, however, refrain from mentioning Lieutenant-colonel St. George, who received four wounds in a gallant attempt to occupy a building which was favorably situated for annoying the enemy; together with Ensign Kerr, of the Newfoundland regiment, who, I fear, is very dangerously wounded. The zeal and courage of the Indian department were never more conspicuous than on this occasion, and the Indian warriors fought with their usual bravery. I am much indebted to the different departments, the troops having been well and timely supplied with every requisite the district could afford. I have fortunately not been deprived of the services of Lieutenant Troughton, of the royal artillery, and acting in the quarter-master-general's department, although he was wounded, to whose zealous and unwearied exertions I am greatly indebted, as well as to the whole of the royal artillery, for their conduct in this affair. I enclose a list of the killed and wounded, and cannot but lament that there are so many of both; but of the latter I am happy to say a large proportion will return to their duty, and most of them in a short time. I also enclose a return of the arms and ammunition which have been taken, as well as of the prisoners, whom you will perceive to be equal to my utmost force, exclusive of the Indians. It is reported that a party, consisting of 100 men, bringing 500 hogs for General Winchester's force, has been completely cut off by the Indians, and the convoy taken. Lieutenant M Lean, my acting brigademajor, whose gallantry and exertions were conspicuous on the 22d instant, is the bearer of this dispatch, and will be able to afford you every information respecting our situation.

I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed) " HENRY PROCTOR." The loss of the British, in this action, was twenty-four killed, and.158 wounded.

The Americans posted at Ogdenburg, near the river St. Lawrence, having availed themselves of the frozen state of that river to make frequent predatory incursions upon the inhabitants on the Canadian border, Sir George Prevost, arriving, on the 21st of February, at Prescot, opposite the enemy, directed an attack of his position at Ogdenburgh, which took place on the following day, under the command of Major Macdonald, of the

Glengarry light-infantry fencibles, at the head of about 480 regulars and militia. The following is Major Macdonald's account of this affair :“I this morning, about seven o'clock, crossed the river St. Lawrence, upon the ice, and attacked and carried, after a little more than an hour's action, his position in and near the opposite town of Ogdensburgh, taking eleven pieces of cannon, and all his ordnance, marine, commissariat, and quarter-master-general's stores, four officers and seventy prisoners, and burning two armed schooners and two large gun-boats, and both his barracks. My force consisted of about 480 regulars and militia, and was divided into two columns: the right, commanded by Captain Jenkins, of the Glengarry light-infantry fencibles, was composed of his own flank-company, and about seventy militia; and from the state of the ice, and the enemy's position in the old French fort, was directed to check his left, and interrupt his retreat, whilst I moved on with the left column, consisting of 120 of the king's regiment, forty of the royal Newfoundland corps, and about 200 militia, towards his position in the town, where he had posted his heavy field-artillery. The depth of the snow in some degree retarded the advance of both columns, and exposed them, particularly the right, to a heavy cross-fire from the batteries of the enemy, for a longer period than I had expected; but pushing on rapidly after the batteries began to open upon us, the left column soon gained the right bank of the river, under the direct fire of his artillery and line of musketry, posted on an eminence near the shore;moving on rapidly my advance, consisting of the detachment of the royal Newfoundland and some select militia, I turned his right with the detachment of the king's regiment, and after a few discharges from his artillery, took them with the bayonet, and drove his infantry through the town, some escaping across the Black river into the fort, but the majority fled to the woods, or sought refuge in the houses, from whence they kept such a galling fire, that it was necessary to dislodge them with our field-pieces, which now came up from the bank of the river, where they had stuck on landing, in the deep snow.

"Having gained the high ground on the brink of the Black river, opposite the fort, I prepared to carry it by storm; but the men, being quite exhausted, I procured time for them to recover breath, by sending in a summons, requiring an unconditional surrender. During these transactions, Captain Jenkins had gallantly led on his column, and had been exposed to a heavy fire of seven guns, which he bravely attempted to take with the bayonet, though covered with 200 of the enemy's best troops: advancing as rapidly as the deep snow, and the exhausted state (in consequence) of his men would admit, he ordered a

his left arm was broken to pieces by a grape- BOOK XI. shot; but still undauntedly running on with his men, he almost immediately afterwards was de- CH. VIII. prived of the use of his right arm by a discharge 1813. of case-shot; still heroically disregarding all personal consideration, he nobly ran on, cheering his men, to the assault, till exhausted by pain and loss of blood, he became unable to move. His company gallantly continued the charge, under Lieutenant M'Auley; but the reserve of militia not being able to keep up with them, they were compelled, by the great superiority of the enemy, to give way, leaving a few on a commanding position, and a few of the most advanced in the enemy's possession, nearly about the time that I gained the height above-mentioned. The enemy hesitating to surrender, I instantly carried his eastern battery, and by it silenced another which now opened again, and ordering on the advance the detachment of the king's and the Highland company of militia, under Captain Eustace, of the king's regiment, he gallantly rushed into the fort; but the enemy retreating by the opposite entrance, escaped into the woods, which I should effectually have prevented, if my Indian warriors had returned sooner from a detached service on which they had, that morning, been employed. I cannot close this statement without expressing my admiration of the gallantry and self-devotion of Captain Jenkins, who has lost one arm, and is in danger of losing the other. losing the other. I must also report the intrepidity of Captain Lelievre, of the Newfoundland regiment, who had immediate charge of the militia under Colonel Fraser; of Captain Eustace, and the other officers of the king's regiment, and particularly of Lieutenant Ridge, of that corps, who very gallantly led on the advance; and of Lieutenant M'Auley and Ensign M'Donnell, of the Glengarry regiment; as also Lieutenant Gangueben, of the royal engineers; and of Ensign M'Kay, of the Glengarry light-infantry; and of Ensign Kerr, of the militia, each of whom had charge of a field-piece; and of Lieutenant Impey, of the militia, who has lost a leg. I was also well supported by Captain Fraser and the other officers and men of the militia, who emulate the conspiI encuous bravery of all the troops of the line. close a list of the killed and wounded. The enemy had 500 men under arms, and must have sustained a considerable loss.

(Signed) "G. MACDONALD."

On the other hand, the city of York, the capital of Upper Canada, was captured by the Americans in April. General Dearborn, with a force of nearly 3,000 men, states, in a letter to the secretary at war, that arriving, by water, at the place in the morning of the 27th of April, he began landing the troops under a heavy fire. The British

1813.

BOOK XI. force is stated at 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians. These he had stationed in the CH. VIII. woods near the landing-place, and a spirited resistance was kept up, till the landing of General Pike with 7 or 800 men, and the approach to the shore of the remainder of the assailants, induced the British to retreat to their works. When the Americans had advanced within sixty rods of the main work of the town, an explosion took place from a magazine, which killed and wounded about 100 of the Americans and forty of the British. General Pike lost his life on this occasion, and was much regretted by the Americans as a brave and skilful officer.

In the mean time, Commodore Chauncey had worked into the harbour with his flotilla, and opened a fire upon the British batteries. It now became evident that the numbers of the British were inadequate to the task of defending York any longer against the vast superiority of force brought against it. General Sheaffe, therefore, soon after the explosion, marched out of the place with the regulars, and left the commander of the militia to capitulate. In consequence, all resistance immediately ceased, and the terms of surrender were agreed upon, by which all the military and naval men and officers, (about 300 in number) were made prisoners of war. Before the surrender, a large ship on the stocks and much naval stores had been set fire to, but a considerable quantity of military stores and provisions remained undamaged. The Americans, however, were forced to evacuate York in the following month.

This period was marked by an act of hostility on the part of the Americans against the Spaniards, which, at any other time, would probably have involved the two countries in a state of war. This was the capture of the fortress of Mobile, in West Florida. The Americans alleged, that this place was within the limits of the purchase of Louisiana by the United States, and which the Spaniards had hitherto retained on various pretexts. A detachment from General Harrison's army was therefore sent against it, which made a landing on the 12th of April. The commander advancing to the fort with scaling-ladders prepared for an assault, summoned the Spanish garrison to evacuate the place, with which requisition they complied, and were embarked for Pensacola. A numerous artillery and a considerable quantity of ammunition were found in the fortress.

In addition to the losses which the British navy had sustained by sea, in the commencement of the contest with the Americans, must be added, that of the destruction of the sloop of war Peacock, of eighteen guns. Captain Lawrence, of the American sloop of war Hornet, in his account of this unfortunate action, states, that in cruizing from the coast of Surinam to that of Demerara, after making the latter, on the morning of the

p. m.

24th of February, he discovered a vessel at an chor, apparently an English brig of war. On beating round a bank, in order to get to her, he descried another sail on his weather-quarter, eding down to him. This proved to be the Peacock; and after some manoeuvring to get the weather-gage, in which the American succeeded, the action commenced about half-past five, Captain Lawrence ran his antagonist close onboard on the starboard-quarter, and kept up so heavy a fire, that in less than fifteen minutes, by his own account, but by that of some English who escaped, after an action of forty-five minutes, she surrendered, by hoisting a signal of distress. On sending a lieutenant on-board the Peacock, it was found that her commander, Captain Peake, was killed, and many other officers and men killed and wounded, and that the ship was sinking fast, having six feet water in her hold. Notwithstanding every endeavour to keep her afloat till the prisoners were removed, she went down, carrying with her thirteen of her crew, and three American sailors. Four of her men had previously taken her stern-boat, and got to land. The Peacock was considered as one of the finest vessels of her class, and appears to have entered into action with confidence of success. fidence of success. The Hornet, however, was of somewhat superior force, and her fire was described as truly formidable.

In order to destroy the trade of the Americans, a public ratification was issued by the prince-regent on the 30th of March, that necessary mea sures had been taken for blockading the ports and harbours of New York, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannab, and the river Mississippi. These were additional to the blockades of the Chesapeake and Delaware.

Admiral Sir J. B. Warren, being of opinion that a flotilla of small vessels might be usefully employed in penetrating the rivers at the head of Chesapeake bay, detached in April Rear-admiral Cockburn with a light squadron for that purpose. This officer made a successful attempt by the Fantome and Mohawk on French-town, a considerable distance up the Elk river, where was a depôt of stores. A resistance was made by a sixgun battery, but it was abandoned, and the town and stores left to their fate. The latter, consisting of flour and army necessaries, together with five vessels, were burnt. In a few days afterwards, Admiral Cockburn attacked Havre-deGrace, a place at the entrance of the Susquehanna, where the Americans had erected a battery. The attack was made by two divisions of seamen and marines, who drove the enemy from the battery and town, set fire to some houses of the latter, and then proceeded to a cannon-foun dery at some distance, which they entirely destroyed, with a number of guns, and also took one hundred and thirty stand of arms. He afterwards made an attack upon George-town, and Frede

rick's-town. A body of four hundred militiamen, by whom they were defended, was soon dispersed, and the villages were destroyed, with the exception of the houses of some peaceable inhabitants who took no part in the hostilities. Some other places, in which there were no public stores or property, and no preparations made for resistance, were spared, and thus the expedition terminated. It was of no other consequence than as it might impress the minds of the people in those parts with a desire for the termination of hostilities.

The events of this war excited a considerable degree of interest in England, and, early in the year, ministers called the attention of parliament to the subject.

On the 18th of February, Lord Castlereagh rose in the House of Commons, and made a speech on the subject of the negociations with America which had been laid before the house, concerning which, he said, that the chief point towards which their attention would be directed, was, whether it had been in the power of ministers, by any exertion, to have prevented the much-tobe-deprecated war in which we were now engaged. After expressing the great concern he himself felt at this occurrence, he said, that the question before the house was simply this, whether in this war justice was or was not on the side of Great Britain? and the proposition he meant to ground on their decision in the affirmative, was, that an address should be presented to the prince-regent, calling upon him to direct a vigorous prosecution of the war, with assurance of support from parliament. He then entered on a kind of commentary upon the regent's declaration, which will be found in our last chapter, in which all the arguments were repeated concerning the justice of the measures on the part of Great Britain that led to the hostile termination, which had been so often advanced during the negociations. One circumstance of fact produced by his lordship may deserve to be recorded. The Americans, in their complaints against this country, had assumed, that Great Britain had impressed 15 or 20,000 of her citizens. But, upon particular enquiry by the admiralty, it had appeared, that out of 145,000 seamen employed in the British service in January 1811, the whole number claiming to be American subjects was 3,500; and, as it had been found that of the individuals advancing such claim, only about one in four could make it good upon examination, the real number would be reduced to 16 or 1700. He asked, then, if the house could believe that for such a consideration as 1700 sailors his majesty's government would irritate the feelings of a neutral nation, or violate public justice. After stating the particulars of the negociations preceding the declaration of war, with a view of shewing that the British ministry had not been wanting in temper and

CH. VIII.

1813.

due forbearance, and also that they had not been BOOK X deficient in proper precautions against a possible hostile termination; his lordship concluded with moving," that an humble address be presented to his royal highness the prince-regent, to acquaint his royal highness that we have taken into our consideration the papers laid before us by his royal highness's command, relative to the late discussions with the government of the United States of America: that whilst we deeply regret、 the failure of the endeavours of his royal highness to preserve the relations of peace and amity between this country and the United States, we entirely approve of the resistance which has been opposed by his royal highness to the unjustifiable pretensions of the American government, being satisfied that those pretensions could not be admitted without surrendering some of the most ancient, undoubted, and important rights of the British empire; that, impressed as we are with these sentiments, and fully convinced of the justice of the war in which his majesty has been compelled to engage, his royal highness may rely on our most zealous and cordial support in every measure which may be necessary for prosecuting the war with vigour, and for bringing it to a safe and honourable termination."

Mr. Ponsonby, after premising that he conceived the house was bound at present to support the crown in the prosecution of the war, observed, that from the papers laid before the house, three particular stages of negociation were apparent. The first stage was, the overture made by Mr. Russell to the noble lord for an armistice, with the understanding, that during its continuance there was to be a negociation between this country and America on the subject of impressment, and that, while it was pending, the right of impressment should be waived. This overture, he allowed, could not be admitted. The second was, the proposition that though no formal recognition of a suspension of the disputed right should take place, yet a secret understanding of that kind should be preserved between the two countries, till the matter in controversy was decided. This, also, he should have concurred with the noble lord in rejecting. The third stage presented a third overture, which, as he understood it, was made by Mr. Monroe to Sir John Warren, namely, that the question of impressment being the principal subject of dispute, an agreement on which might put an end to the war, the American government was willing to negociate upon it flagrante bello, whilst this country was continuing to exercise its accustomed controul. Against this proposal he thought there could be no objection; for though, in the prince-regent's declaration, as a reason against such a negociation, it was observed that it would be commenced on the basis of receiving a legislative provision from a foreign