gave way as they advanced, until they met our right column, which gave them a general fire, and then charged; this changed the direction of the charge completely; the enemy retreated firing, until they got around, and in their buildings, where they made all the resistance that an overpowered soldier could do; they fought as long as one existed, but their destruction was very soon completed; our men rushed up to the doors of the houses, and in a few minutes killed the last warrior of them; the enemy fought with savage fury, and met death with all its horrors, without shrinking or complaining: not one asked to be spared, but fought as long as they could stand or sit. In consequence of their flying to their houses and mixing with the families, our men, in killing the males, without intention killed and wounded a few of the squaws and children, which was regretted by every officer and soldier of the detachment, but which could not be avoided. The number of the enemy killed, was 186 that were counted, and a number of others that were killed in the weeds not found. I think the calculation a reasonable one, to say 200 of them were killed, and 84 prisoners, of women and children, were taken; not one of the warriors escaped to carry the news, a circumstance unknown heretofore. We lost five men killed, and 41 wounded, none mortally, the greater part slightly, a number with arrows: this appears to form a very principal part of the enemy's arms for warfare, every man having a bow with a bundle of arrows, which is used after the first fire with the gun, until a leisure time for loading offers. It is with pleasure I say, that our men acted with deliberation and firmness; notwithstanding our numbers were superior to that of the enemy, it was a circumstance to us unknown, and from the parade of the enemy, we had every reason to suppose them our equals in number: but there appeared no visible traces of alarm in any, but on the contrary, all appeared cool and determined, and no doubt when they face a foe of their own, or superior number, they will show the same courage as on this occasion. I have the honour to be, &c. Major general Andrew Jackson, JOHN COFFEE, SIR, SACKETT'S HARBOR, November 6th, 1813. As I have reason to believe that the Royal George, Prince Regent, and Duke of Gloucester, have gone up the lake, with troops to reinforce Fort George; and as I have to believe that other troops are waiting at Kingston for their return, destined for the same port, I have determined to proceed with the force I have ready, in quest of the enemy. My present intention is, to take a position on the Canada shore, near some small islands, called the "False Ducks," where the enemy are obliged to pass, and where I will wait their return to Kingston. If I should succeed in my enterprise (which I have but little doubt of) I shall make an attack upon Kingston, for the purpose of destroying the guns and public stores at that station. I shall proceed for my station this evening, or to-morrow morning, with the following vessels, to wit: brig Oneida, and schooners Hamilton, Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Growler, Julia and Pert; mounting altogether 40 guns, of different calibres, and 430 men, including marines. With this force I hope to give a good account of the enemy, although he is more than double our force in guns and men. His consists of the following vessels, as nearly as I can ascertain, to wit: the ship Royal George, 26 guns, 260 men; ship Earl Moira, 18 guns, 200 men; Schooners Prince Regent, 18 150 men; guns, Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns, 80 men; Governor Simcoe, 12 guns, 70 men; Seneca, 4 guns, 40 men; making a grand total of 108 guns, and 890 men. The officers and men, under my command, are all extremely anxious to meet the enemy. We cannot command success, but we will endeavour to deserve it. The Hon. Paul Hamilton, &c. I have the honour to be, &c. PROCLAMATION. The following proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada, was issued by general Wilkinson, on his passage down the St. Lawrence. JAMES WILKINSON, Major general, and commander in chief of an expedition against the Canadas, to the inhabitants thereof: The army of the United States, which I have the honour to command, invades these provinces to conquer, not to destroy; to subdue the forces of his Britannic majesty, not to war against his unoffending subjects; those, therefore, among you, who remain quiet at home, should victory incline to the American standard, shall be protected in their persons and property. But those who are found in arms, must necessarily be treated as avowed enemies. To menace is unjust-to seduce dishonourable-yet it is just and humane to place these alternatives before you. Done at the head quarters of the army of the United States, this 6th day of November, 1813, near Ogdensburg, on the river St. Lawrence. By the general's command, JAMES WILKINSON. N. PINKNEY, Major and aid-de-camp. HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, 7 MILES ABOVE OGDENSBURG, November 6th, 1813, (in the evening.) SIR, I address you at the special instance of the Secretary of war, who, by bad roads, worse weather, and ill health, was diverted from meeting me near this place, and determined to tread back his steps to Washington from Antwerp on the 29th ultimo. I am destined to, and determined on, the attack of Montreal, if not prevented by some act of God; and to give security to the enterprise, the division under your command must co-operate with the corps under my immediate orders. The point of rendezvous is the circumstance of greatest interest to the issue of this operation, and the distance which separates us, and my ignorance of the practicability of the direct or devious roads or routes by which you must march, makes it necessary that your own judgment should determine the point. To assist you in forming the soundest determination, and to take the most prompt and effectual measures, I can only inform you of my intentions and situation in one or two respects of first importance. I shall pass Prescott to night, because the stage of the season will not allow me three days to take it; shall cross the cavalry at Hamilton, which will not require a day; I shall then press forward and break down every obstruction to the confluence of this river with Grand river, there to cross to the Isle Perrot, and with my scows to bridge the narrow inner channel, and thus obtain foothold on Montreal Island, at about 20 miles from the city: after which our artillery, bayonets, and swords, must secure our triumph, or provide us honourable graves. Inclosed you have a memorandum of field and battering train pretty well found in mixed ammunition, which may enable you to dismiss your own; but we are deficient in loose powder and musket cartridges, and therefore hope you may be abundantly found. On the subject of provisions I wish I could give as favourable information; our whole stock of bread may be computed at about fifteen days, and our meat at twenty. In speaking on this subject to the Secretary of War, he informed me ample magazines were laid up on Lake Champlain, and therefore I must request of you to order forward two or three months' supply by the safest route in a direction to the proposed scene of action. I have submitted the state of our provisions to my general officers, who unanimously agree that it should not prevent the progress of the expedition; and they also agree in opinion, that if you are not in force to face the enemy, you should meet us at St. Regis or its vicinity. I shall expect to hear from, if not see you, at that place on the 9th or 10 instant. Major General Hampton. I have the honour to be, &c. SIR, NEW YORK, November 7th, 1813. I have the honour to inform you of the re-capture of the American schooner Sparrow, of Baltimore, from New-Orleans bound to this port, laden with sugar and lead. On the 3d the enemy's ship Plantagenet, chased the said vessel on shore near Long Branch, six miles distant from where the flotilla is stationed, and took possession of her with about 100 men. A detachment from the flotilla marched against them, attacked them, drove them from on board the vessel, and took possession under the fire of the enemy's ship and barges. In the affair we lost one man; the enemy's loss must have been considerable, as many have been seen to fall. The whole cargo, together with sails, rigging, &c. have been saved, vessel bilged. Secretary of the Navy. SIR, I have honour to be, &c. HEAD QUARTERS, FOUR CORNERS, November 8th 1813. I had the honour to receive, at a late hour last evening, by colonel King, your communication of the 6th, and was deeply impressed with the sense of responsibility it imposed, of deciding upon the means of our co-operation. The idea suggested as the opinion of your officers, of effecting the junction at St. Regis, was most pleasing, as being the most immediate, until. I came to the disclosure of the amount of your supplies of provision. Colonel Atkinson will explain the reasons that would have rendered it impossible for me to have brought more than each man could have carried on his back; and when I reflected that in throwing myself upon your scanty means, I should be weakening you in your most vulnerable point, I did not hesitate to adopt the opinion, after consulting the general and principal officers, that by throwing myself back on my main depot, when all the means of transportation had gone, and falling upon the enemy's flank, and straining every effort to open a communication from Plattsburg to Coghnawaga, or any point you may indicate on the St. Lawrence, I should more effectually contribute to your success, than by the junction at St. Regis. The way is in many places blockaded and abatted, and the road impracticable for wheel carriages during winter, but by the employment of pack horses, if I am not overpowered, I hope to be able to prevent your starving. I have ascertained and witnessed the plan of the enemy is to burn and consume every thing in our advance. My troops and other means will be described to you by colonel Atkinson. Besides the rawness and sickliness, they have endured fatigues equal to a winter campaign, in the late snows and bad weather, and are sadly dispirited and fallen off; but upon this subject, I must refer you to colonel Atkinson. With these means, what can be accomplished by human exertion, I will attempt. With a mind devoted to the general objects of the campaign, I have the honour to be, &c. His excellency maj. gen. James Wilkinson. SIR, W. HAMPTON. HEAD QUARTERS, BURLINGTON HEIGHT, Lieutenant Le Breton having delivered your letter of the 3d instant, I have directed captain Merritt, of the Provincial dragoons, to proceed with a flag to fort George, as the bearer of this acknowledgment of your obliging communication. The account given of the British officers, whom the fortune of war has lately placed at the disposal of the United States, is such as cannot fail affording very consoling reflections to this army and their anxious friends. Though you must be sensible there are several points in your letter, respecting which it is wholly beyond my power to afford you the satisfaction of an "explicit declaration," yet, be assured, sir, I shall never feel the smallest degree of hesitation in joining you in any pledge, that it will ever be my anxious wish and endea vour to alleviate as much as possible the fate of those who into my power by the chances of war. may fall Believe me, sir, I deprecate as strongly as yourself, the perpetration of acts of cruelty committed under any pretext; and shall lament equally with yourself that any state of things should produce them. No efforts of mine will be ever wanting to diminish the evils of a state of warfare, as far as may be consistent with the duties which are due to my king and country. The Indians, when acting in conjunction with the troops under my command, have been invariably exhorted to mercy, and have never been deaf to my anxious entreaties on this interesting subject. I shall not fail to transmit the original of your letter to the Lower Province, for the consideration of his excellency the commander of the forces. I feel particularly anxious to be made acquainted with your instructions relative to the disposal of the gallant and truly unfortunate captain Barclay, whose wounds, I lament to hear, are such as to preclude all hope of his being ever again able to resume the honourable duties of his station. Under these circumstances I am induced to rely on your liberality and generous interference to obtain a release or parole, that he may be allowed the indulgence of immediately proceeding to the Lower Province. I have the honour to be, &c. JOHN VINCENT, Major general, British army. His excellency maj. general Harrison |