us.

of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a mo ment it ascended to the roof and baffled all our efforts te extinguish it. As that block house adjoined the barracks that make part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately gave themselves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting any of my orders executed--and, sir, what from the raging of the fire-the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians-the cries of nine women and children (a part soldiers' and a part citizens wives, who had taken shelter in the fort)—and the desponding of so many of the men, which was worse than all, I can assure you that my feelings were very unpleasant; and indeed there were not more than 10 or 15 men able to do a great deal, the others being either sick or convalescent-and to add to our other misfortunes, two of the stoutest men in the fort, and that I had every confidence in, jumped the picket and left But my presence of mind did not for a moment forsake me. I saw, by throwing off part of the roof that join-ed the block house that was on fire, and keeping the end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might be saved, and leave only an entrance of 18 or 20 feet for the Indians to enter after the house was consumed; and that a temporary breast-work might be erected to prevent their even entering there. I convinced the men that this could be accomplished, and it appeared to inspire them with new life, and never did men act with more firmness and desperation. Those that were able (while the others kept up a constant fire from the other block house, and the two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses with Dr. Clark at their head, who acted with the greatest firmness and presence of mind, the whole time the attack lasted, which was 7 hours, under a shower of bullets, and in a moment threw off as much of the roof as was necessary. This was done only with the loss of one man, and two wounded, and I am in hopes neither of them dangerous.-The man that was killed was a little deranged, and did not get off the house as soon as directed, or he would not have been hurt; and although the barracks were several times in a blaze, and an immense quantity of fire against them, the men used such exertions that they kept it under, and before day raised a temporary breast-work as high as a man's head; although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of

;

ball, and an innumerable quantity of arrows, during the whole time the attack lasted. I had but one other man killed inside the fort, and he lost his life by being too anxious he got into one of the gallies of the bastions, and fired over the pickets, and called out to his comrades that he had killed an Indian, and neglecting to stoop down, in an instant he was shot dead. One of the men that jumped the pickets, returned an hour before day, and running up towards the gate, begged for God's sake for it to be opened. I suspected it to be a stratagem of the Indians to get in, as I did not recollect the voice-I directed the men in the bastion, where I happened to be, to shoot him let him be who he would, and one of them fired at him, but fortunately he run up to the other bastion, where they knew his voice, and Dr. Clark directed him to lie down close to the pickets behind and empty barrel that happened to be there, and at day light I had him let in. His arm was broken in a most shocking manner, which he says was done by the Indians-which I suppose was the cause of his returning-I think it probable that he will not recover. The other, they caught about 120 yards from the garrison, and cut him all to pieces. After keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock the next morning, which we returned with some effect; after day light, they removed out of the reach of our guns. A party of them drove up the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and as they could not catch them very readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, as well as a number of their hogs. They drove off the whole of the cattle, which amounted to sixty-five head, as well as the public oxen. I had the vacancy filled up before night, which was made by the burning of the block house) with a strong row of pickets, which I got by pulling down the guard house. We lost the whole of our provisions, but must make out to live upon green corn until we can get a supply, which I am in hopes will not be long. I believe the whole of the Miamies, or Weas, were among the Prophet's party, as one chief gave his orders in that language, which resembled Stone Eater's voice, and I believe Negro Legs was there likewise. The Indians suffered smartly, but were so numerous as to take off all that were shot.

Z. TAYLOR.

Copy of a letter from Major Thomas S. Jessup and James Taylor Q. M. Gen. N. W. Army to a gentleman in Washington City, dated

Chilicothe, (Ohio) Oct. 7, 1812. Sir-Your letter has been received, requesting from us a corroboration of Col. Cass's statement to the Secretary of War, of the surrender of the north-western army. We have read the Colonel's statement with attention, and find it a pretty correct history of our situation, although we have observed that some important facts have been omitted. We have also read and examined the official report of Gen. Hull, and have found it abounding with inaccuracies and misstatements; the General has not only underrated his own force, but has, in our opinion, magnified infinitely that of the enemy, and enumerated dangers and difficulties that existed only in imagination.

That the means within our power were not properly applied is a melancholy fact; and that the army was unde cessarily sacrificed, and the American arms disgraced none but the base and cowardly will atempt to deny.

You are authorised to make what use you may think proper of this letter.

We are with much respect, &c.

THOMAS S. JESSUP, Brigade Major N. W. Army.

JAMES TAYLOR,

Q. M. Gen. N. W. Army.

Skirmishing-Capt. Williams, on the 30th of August, with 21 men, and two waggons, while proceeding from St. Mary's to St. John's river, was attacked by an ambuscading party of Indians, who killed one man and wounded six, including Capt. Williams, who received seven wounds; three through one hand, and four in one leg.-He effected a retreat about 200 yards to a swamp, where he made a stand, and fought until all the ammunition was expended on both sides, when the Indians made an attempt with their tomahawks, which this little band soon put a stop to, by charging bayonet, and rushing on them. The Indians destroyed one waggon and took the other to carry off their killed and wounded. Capt. Williams then proceeded to St. John's with his well and wounded, excepting one man,

who was not able to travel. The next day a party of Indians returned to the spot, when the wounded man rose up as well as he could, and called upon his party to rush upon the Indians, which startled them in such a manner that one of them sprung from his horse, which the wounded man caught and arrived safe at St. John's.

Capt. Forsyth, with 70 of his rifle company, and 34 militia volunteers, on the night of the 20th September, 1812, went over to a small village called Gananoque in the town of Leeds, from Cape Vincent, for the purpose of destroying the kings store house at that place. They landed unobserved, but were soon discovered by a party of regulars of about 125, and fired upon.-Capt. Forsyth returned the fire with such spirit, that the enemy were obliged to retreat to the village, where they were reinforced by a uumber of militia, and again rallied but finding the contest too sanguine, retreated the second time in disorder, leaving 10 killed and 8 regulars and a number of militia prisoners: Captain Forsyth had only one man killed and one slightly wounded. After destroying the store house, with a quantity of flour and pork, our little band of heroes, returned to Cape Vincent, taking with them the prisoners, 60 stand of arms, two barrels of fixed ammunition, one barrel of powder, one barrel of flints, and a quantity of other public property taken from the store-house.

On the 4th of October, about forty British boats escorted by two gun boats, attempted to pass from Johnstown to Prescott, by Ogdensburg-On their leaving Johnstown, the batteries at Prescott opened on Ogdensburg, and kept up a brisk fire, which was returned in a spirited manner, and continued two hours. The next morning the enemy commenced a heavy cannonade on us from Prescott, which was continued with little intermission, through the day without any return from us; General Brown considered it useless to fire such a distance. The enemy was very busy during the day in preparing for an attack on Ogdensburgthe next morning about 10 o'clock, 25 boats, aided by two gun boats moved up the river three quarters of a mile, when they tacked and stood over for our shore. As soon as the boats changed their course, the batteries from Prescott opened their fire upon us, which was not answered till

the boats had advanced to about the middle of the river, when our batteries commenced a tremendous fire upon them, which destroyed three, and caused the remainder to seek shelter under the batteries of Prescott. Cols. Lethridge and Breckenridge, led the British. There was not one man either killed or wounded on our side, whilst the enemy lost twelve killed and twenty wounded.

Affair at St. Regis.-Major Young, of the Troy, N. Y. militia, stationed at French Mills, on the St. Regis river, having received intelligence that a party of the enemy had arrived at, and taken possession of St. Regis village, marched a detachment, on the night of the 21st October, which crossed the river about 3 o'clock, and arrived within half a mile, of the village by 5 in the morning, unobserved by the enemy. Here the Major made such a judicious disposition of his force, that the enemy were entirely surrounded, when a few discharges caused them to surrender, after having 5 killed, and several wounded.-The result of this affair was forty prisoners, with their arms, equipments, &c. one stand of colors, and two batteaux, without having one man hurt, on our side.

Major Young had the honor of taking the first standard from the enemy in the present war.

Captain Elliot to the Secretary of the Navy.

BLACK ROCK, Oct. 9, 1812. SIR-I have the honor to inform you that on the morning of the 8to inst. two British vessels, which I was informed were his Britannic majesty's brig Detroit, late the U. States brig Adams, and the brig. Hunter, mounting 14 guns, but which afterwards proved to be the brig Caledonia, both said to be well armed and manned, came down the Lake and anchored under the protection of Fort Erie. Having been on the lines for some time and in a measure inactively employed, I determined to make an attack, and if possible to get possession of them. A strong inducement to this attempt arose from a conviction that with these two vessels added to those which I have purchased and am fitting out, I should be able to meet the remainder of the British force on the Upper Lakes, and save an incalculable expense and labor to the government. On the morning of their arrival I heard that our seamen were but a short dis