three thousand men. A detachment was ordered to move forward in order to watch the enemy. On the evening of the eleventh, the troops reached their place of destination, seven miles below the city.

Early in the morning, the videttes brought information that the enemy was debarking under cover of his gun boats; on this, the general took position at the junction of the different roads leading from the city, resting his right on Bear creek, his left covered by a swamp, and in this situation awaited the enemy. Major Heath, who had been sent forward to skirmish with the enemy, now retired before the advancing columns of General Ross. This general while reconnoitring at the head of his troops, received a rifle ball in the breast, which at once put an end to his career. His fall was a severe loss to the British army, and for some time checked its progress. The command, devolving on Colonel Brooks, he moved with the whole force, little short of seven thousand men, and commenced the engagement by firing rockets; a brisk cannonade was opened from the artillery of Captain Montgomery, which was warmly returned by the enemy, and the action soon became general. The American commander maintained his ground an hour and an half against the superior numbers of the British. Unfortunately, however, the regiment stationed on the left gave way, and his flank became exposed, which compelled him sooner than if this had not happened, to retire upon his reserve, a regiment posted half a mile in the rear. This being effected, he took up his march and retired to the entrenchments thrown up on the rising ground to the east of the city, where he was joined by Generals Winder and Douglass, with a brigade of Virginia militia, under Captain Burds United States dragoons. In this well fought battle there were not more

than fourteen hundred men on the American side during the hottest of the fight, having been diminishing by the reserve, and by the unfortunate panic which seized the troops that gave. The loss on the American side was about one hundred and eighty in killed and wounded: the British loss was at least five hundred.

The brigades under Generals Stansbury and Forman, the seamen and marines under Commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volunteers, the Baltimore and marine artillery, manned the entrenchments and heavy batteries. Thus posted, they courageously awaited the approach of the enemy, who had not thought proper to push forward after the battle of North Point. The next morning the hostile army appeared within two miles in front of the American lines, inclined to the York and Hartford roads, as if to reach the town in that direction, but observing that Generals Stricker and Winder, adapted their movements so as to counteract this design, it approached within a mile as if to attack in front.

In the midst of these important land operations, a powerful attack was made on fort M'Henry, which commands the approach to the city by water. The defence of the place was entrusted to Major Armistead, together with several companies of Baltimore artillerists, supported by a body of infantry and marines. Two batteries to the right, were manned by sailors, the one under Lieutenant Newcomb, the other under Lieutenant Webster. The bombarding vessels, placing themselves out of the reach of the guns of the fort, continued to throw shells during the whole day and night, with very little interruption, while those in the fort were compelled to remain entirely inactive. Once indeed they approached sufficiently near for the guns of the fort to be brought to bear, which

soon compelled them to retire. During the night several of their barges were discovered approaching the shore, and were immediately attacked from the batteries to the right, and one of them destroyed.

By this time, on consultation between the land and naval commanders, it was mutually agreed that the capture of the city was impracticable; it was therefore resolved to make all convenient haste out of the way. The retreat of the army was commenced under cover of a dark and tempestuous night, and the next morning had entirely disappeared from before the lines, and were immediately pursued by General Winder who captured a few stragglers; col. Brooke re-embarked his troops in safety.

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Thus gloriously terminated the short but eventful siege of this noble city, preconsigned by a ferocious enemy to pillage and conflagration. The citizen soldiers who thus gallantly defended their homes and families, obtained the reward of their country's approbation. New life and spirit were awakened in all the cities exposed to the approach of hostile footsteps, and the fortunate defence of Baltimore, in some measure served to wash out the foul pollution of the seat of government. We had, however, to lament the fall of many of our gallant countrymen; to them a monument has been decreed, and distant ages will continue to read on the sculptured stone, the names of Col. Lowry, Donaldson, of Clagget, of M'Clennen, with gratitude and veneration.

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CHAPTER XVI.

GLORIOUS EVENTS OF THE WAR-BRITISH DEFEATED ÅT PLATTSBURGH-REPULSED AT NEW ORLEANS-PEACE.

THE nation was consoled by the noble defence of Baltimore, for its former disgraces, and joy was visible in every countenance, while every village and city was lighted up with such brilliant illuminations, as almost rivalled the noon day sun. The candles of these illuminations had not been burnt out, when a new cause of rejoicing was seen like the Aurora Borealis, to brighten the northern sky. It was a splendid double victory achieved at once on the water and on the land.

We have already mentioned the departure of General Izard from Plattsburgh, and that General M'Comb was left in command, with little better than fourteen hundred regulars, many of whom were invalids. Towards the latter end of August, Sir George Prevost, had collected an army of as many thousands, chiefly veteran troops, with a view, as it has been since ascertained, of penetrating to the Hudson, and cutting off the Northern from the Southern States, and thus bring about a severance of the Union. A mighty scheme, but which could only originate, in an extreme ignorance of the genius and charac-. ter of the American people. Sir George, “about the first of September, past into the American territory, while

at the same time, a squadron under Captain Downie, entered Lake Champlain.

General M'Comb, and Commodore M'Donnough, were not idle in making every preparation, to oppose the most effectual resistance, to this formidable enemy. A body. of militia, under General Moers of New York, and also another from Vermont, under General Strong, added to the strength of the place, while the militia called in from all quarters were daily arriving. The naval commandér was equally industrious; as an instance of the wonderful exertion made on this important occasion, he added a brig to his force, before greatly inferior to the enemy's, in the short period of twenty days, the timber of which was actually growing on the Lake, when the work was begun. The females and children, and every thing valuable that could be removed, were sent out of the way, and every person capable of bearing arms, were provided with muskets to aid in repelling the invaders of their altars and firesides. Even boys were armed, and forming themselves into a company, were found efficient on the day of battle. General Moers, Col. Appling, Major Wool, and Captain Sproul, were sent forward at the head of detachments, to meet the advancing foe. They contributed not a little in retarding and embarrassing the movements of the enemy, and gave proof that they would not be found wanting in the hour of severer trial. It was not until the tenth, that Sir George reached Plattsburgh, and took possession of the village, while the Americans retreated to their defences on the opposite side of the river Saranack, having taken up the planks of the bridges. Here the British remained almost inactive for several days, waiting no doubt, the arrival of their squadron, intended to capture the American ships. Numerous skirmishes, however, occurred daily.