which he highly appreciated. Every movement was under my view. Our troops behaved with great firmness, and deserve much applause, especially those who were first engaged, under circumstances that would have tried the firmness of veterans. Our loss in the action in the morning, and in carrying the first battery, was not great, probably about fifty killed and wounded; among them, were a full proportion of officers; and although the enemy had a decided advantage in point of numbers and position, at the commencement, their loss was greater than ours, particularly in officers. It was with the greatest exertion that the small vessels of the fleet could work into the harbour against a gale of wind directly ahead; but as soon as they got in contact with the batteries, a tremendous cannonade commenced from 24 and 32 pounders, and was kept up without intermission, under a heavy fire from two batteries, until the enemy's batteries were carried or blown up by the explosion, which undoubtedly had a powerful effect on the enemy. I am under the greatest obligations to commodore Chauncey for his able and indefatigable exertions in every possible manner that could give facility and effect to the expedition. He is equally estimable for deliberate sound judgment, bravery and industry. The government could not have made a more fortunate selection for the important trust he holds. Unfortunately, the enemy's armed ship, the "Prince Regent," left this place for Kingston, four days before we arrived. A large ship on the stocks, nearly planked up, with a large store of naval stores, were set on fire by the enemy, soon after the explosion of the magazine. There are no vessels fit for use in the harbour. A considerable quantity of military stores and provisions remained. We shall not possess the means of transporting the prisoners from this place, and must, of course, leave them on parole. I hope we shall so far complete the necessary measures at this place, in the course of this day, as to be able to sail to-morrow for Niagara, by which route I shall send this by a small vessel, with notice to general Lewis of our approach. Hon. John Armstrong, I am sir, your obedient servant, SIR, HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP MEIGS, May 5th, 1813. I am sorry to inform you of another disaster to the Kentucky troops, not indeed bearing any comparison to that of the river Raisin in point of killed and wounded, but exceeding it as to the number of prisoners. I had the honour to inform you in my letter of the 28th instant, that the British troops destined to be siege this place were then in view. On the succeeding night they broke ground upon the heights opposite, and on the following morning our batteries opened upon them and continued a partial firing throughout that and the following day. On the first of May the enemy returned it from a two gun and one mortar battery, and on the second from a third gun battery. On the night of the third they passed a part of their troops to this side of the river, and opened another gun and mortar battery within two hundred and fifty yards of our lines. They were soon however driven from that position, and obliged to take one at a more respectful distance. On the first, second, and third instant, the fire was most incessant and tremendous. Five and a half and eight and a half inch shells, with twenty-four pound ball, fell in showers in our camp, and would have produced the most unfortunate effect, but from the great pains and labour which had been bestowed in the erection of traverses, which in a great degree shielded our camp from the former. For the latter there was no preventative but that of taking the batteries. About twelve o'clock last night an officer arrived in a boat from general Clay, to inform me of his approach, and that he would reach this place in about two hours. Timmediately determined upon a general sally, and sent an officer to general Clay directing him to land eight hundred men some short distance above, to attack and carry the batteries, spike the cannon and destroy the artillery. The general was unfortunately delayed longer than he expected in passing the Rapids, and the detachment destined to make the attack did not reach the landing until near nine o'clock. This however did not prevent them from making the attempt, and never was any thing more completely successful. The four batteries were immediately taken possession of, and their defenders driven off, and the cannon spiked. Here the work of our men was done. But that confidence which always attends militia when successful, proved their ruin, although there was time sufficient to return to the boats before a reinforcement arrived to the enemy. They remained upon the grounds in spite of the repeated calls which we made across the river to bring them back, suffered themselves to be amused and drawn into the woods by some faint skirmishing, whilst the British troops and an immense body of Indians, were soon brought up. A severe action then took place. The British immediately interrupted the retreat of our men to the plain over the river, where they would have been under cover of our cannon; but about one hundred and fifty only, out of nearly eight hundred effectives, made their escape to the boats. Where the balance of general Clay's force made its appearance and attempted to land above the garrison, their flauk was attacked by a large body of Indians. I immediately ordered out a detachment consisting of part of the 19th United States' regiment, about one hundred twelve months' volunteers, and some militia. They however succeeded in driving the enemy entirely off. Pursuant to the plan which I had formed, an attack was then made upon the batteries on this side of the river, conducted by colonel Miller, of the 19th regiment, with part of his regiment, the aforesaid volunteers, and a few militia. This attack was also completely successful. The enemy were driven from their works, a number killed, and two British officers and forty-one privates brought into camp. This attack was intended to be simultaneous with that on the other side, and it was nearly so. Notwithstanding the severe loss we have sustained in the Kentucky militia, the events of the day have been honourable to the American arms. The detachment under colonel Miller suffered very little, and had the militia been contented with executing what they were ordered to do, every object which I had contemplated would have been accomplished. I have only time to add that I am confident of my ability to defend this place until the expected large reinforcements arrive ; and that I am, with great respect, &c. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. Honourable John Armstrong, Extract of a letter from Stephen H. Moore, captain of the Baltimore volunteers, to his brother, dated NIAGARA, May 5th, 1813. "I last wrote you from the harbor, stating that I was then about to embark with my company, together with general Pike's brigade, for the purpose of making a descent on the Canada shore. I have to inform you now of the result, which has been victorious and glorious to the American arms, although peculiarly unfortunate to me. We arrived at the head of lake Ontario on Tuesday morning the 27th ultimo, and debarked the forces about a mile above York, the capital of Upper Canada. Here we were met on the beach by about five hundred British regulars and two hundred and fifty Indians. We contended with them warmly for about an hour, when we succeeded in driving them before us, and made good our landing, with a loss of some brave officers, and about forty men killed and wounded. We then formed immediately, moved up to York, and when arrived just at the opening of the main street, the enemy sprung a mine upon us, which destroyed about eighty of his own men, and killed and wounded about one hundred and thirty of our men. This horrible explosion has deprived me of my leg, and otherwise grievously wounded me. I was taken from the field, and carried on board the commodore's ship, where my leg was amputated, and I am now likely to recover. Two of my company were killed at the same time, and four or five more of my brave fellows were severely wounded, now out of danger. We have taken the capital of the enemy, and about a million and a half worth of public stores and other property. We have killed and wounded about three hundred British and their savage allies, and have taken prisoners about seven hundred men. We have taken from them also several vessels of war which were found in the harbor, and destroyed a 32 gun frigate, then on the stocks. "This is the severest blow the British have felt since the war, and is to them irremediable. It will teach them a lesson of American bravery, which they cannot soon forget. The conquest of Upper Canada is now no longer doubtful, as almost all the guns, munitions of war, and provisions, necessary to carry on the present campaign, were deposited at York, and have been taken by us. General Pike, however, the brave and gallant projector of this enterprize, fell in the very moment of complete victory, at thre head of his column. We have suffered severely in loss of officers; two captains and fourteen lieutenants have been killed, and five captains and seven lieutenants wounded. My wound, they say, is a very good one, but it has maimed me for life. Lieutenant Irvine received a bayonet through his right shoulder, at the moment of stepping out of the boat, but is doing very well. Gill and Warner escaped unhurt. My company distinguished themselves gloriously, and were noticed for their determined spirit." SIR, HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP MEIGS, May 9th, 1813. I have the honour to inform you that the enemy having been several days making preparations for raising the siege of this post, accomplished this day the removal of their artillery from the opposite bank, and about 12 o'clock, left their encampment below, were soon embarked and out of sight. I have the honour to enclose you an agreement entered into between general Proctor and myself, for the discharge of the prisoners of the Kentucky militia in his possession, and for the exchange of the officers and men of the regular troops which were respectively possessed by us. My anxiety to get the Kentucky troops released as early as possible, induced me to agree to the dismission of all the prisoners I had, although there was not as many of ours in general Proctor's possession. The surplusage is to be accounted for, and an equal number of ours released from their parole, whenever the government may think proper to direct it. The two actions on this side the river on the 5th, were infinitely more important and more honourable to our arms, than I had at first conceived. In the sortie made upon the left flank, captain Waring's company of the 19th regiment, a detachment of twelve month's volunteers under major Alexander, and three companies of Kentucky militia under colonel Boswell, defeated at least double the number of Indians and British militia. The sortie on the right was still more glorious; the British batteries in that direction were defeated by the grenadier and light infantry companies of the 41st regiment, amounting to two hundred effectives, and two companies of militia, flanked by a host of Indians. The detachment sent to attack those, consisted of all the men of duty belonging to the companies of Croghan and Bradford, of the 17th regiment; Langham's, Elliott's (late Graham's) and Waring's, of the 19th; about eighty of major Alexander's volunteers, and a single company of Kentucky militia under captain Sebree; amounting in the whole to not more than three hundred and forty. Yet the event of the action was not a moment doubtful, and had not the British troops been covered in their retreat by their allies, the whole of them would have been taken. It is not possible for troops to behave better than ours did throughout; all the officers exerted themselves to execute my orders, and the enemy, who had a full view of our operations from the opposite shore, declared that they had never seen so much work performed in so short a time. To all the commandants of corps I feel particular obligations. These were colonel Miller of the 19th infantry, colonel Mills of the Ohio militia, major Stoddard of the artillery, major Ball of the dragoons, and major Johnson of the Kentucky militia. Captain Gratiot of the engineers, having been for a long time much indisposed, the task of fortifying this post devolved on captain Wood. It could not have been placed in better hands. Permit me to recommend him to the President, and to assure you that any mark of his approbation bestowed on captain Wood, would be highly gratifying to the whole of the troops who witnessed his arduous exertions. From major Hukill, acting inspector general, my aid-de-camp, major Graham, lieutenant O'Fallon, who has done the duty of assistant adjutant general in the absence of major Adams, and my volunteer aid-de-camp John Johnson, esq. I received the most useful assistance. I have the honour to enclose you a list of the killed and wounded during the siege, and in the two sorties; those of the latter were much greater than I had at first expected. Want of sleep and exposure to the continued rains which have fallen almost every day for some time past, render me incapable of mentioning many interesting particulars; amongst others a most extraordinary proposition of general Proctor's, on the subject of the Indians within our boundary: this shall form the subject of a communication to be made to-morrow or next day, and for which I will provide a safer conveyance than that which carries this. All the prisoners and deserters agree in saying, that the information given to major Stoddard, by Ryland, of the British having launched a sloop of war this spring, is incorrect, and the |