CHAPTER XIV.

Serious preparations for the fifth invasion of the Canadas-American force on the Niagara frontier-British force in the same neighbourhood— Disembarkation of major-general Brown's army -Capture of Fort-Erie, together with its small garrison-British force at Chippeway Advance of the American army-Battle of Chippeway, or Street's creek-Retreat of majorgeneral Riall-Return of the Americans to their camp-Fresh movement against the British at Chippeway-Further retreat of the latter to Fort-George-Advance of the Americans to Queenstown-Spirited behaviour of a British patrolling party-General Brown's plans developed-General Riall's departure from FortGeorge to the Twenty, and Fifteen-mile, creeksAmerican reconnoissance before Fort-George -Wanton conflagration of the village of St. David-Investment of Fort-George-Retreat of the Americans to Queenstown-Destruction of their baggage, and further retreat to Chippeway-Corresponding advance of majorgeneral Riall's light troops-Re-advance of the Americans towards Queenstown - Skirmishing between the adverse piquets-Arrival of lieutenant-general Drummond with a reinforcementDetachment sent across to Lewistown-General VOL. II.

Drummond's junction with general RialiBattle of Niagara, or Lundy's lane-Retreat of the Americans to Chippeway and Street's creek

Their destruction of Street's mills, and of their own baggage, camp-equipage and stores-Their further retreat to Fort-Erie-Various American accounts of these operations-Their gruss misstatements corrected.

EARLY in April major-general Brown, with a strong force in regulars, marched, a second time, from Sackett's Harbor to Batavia; and thence to Buffaloe, where he fixed his head-quarters. Here he remained drilling his troops, and receiving occasional reinforcements, till the middle of June; when he received orders," to carry Fort-Erie, and beat up the enemy's quarters at Chippeway; but," adds the American secretary "in case his fleet gets the control of Lake Ontario, you are immediately to re-cross the strait." This late commencement of the campaign arose, no doubt, from the backwardness of commodore Chauncey to decide the ascendancy upon Lake Ontario; without which the objects of the American government could be only partially fulfilled.

at war,

It took major-general Brown from the 15th of June to the 2d of July, to prepare himself for crossing the Niagara; which, according to the "General Order"† issued upon the occasion, he * Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 644. † App. No. 25.

was then about to do, with two brigades of infantry, a corps of artillery, and a body of volunteers. As far as we can gather from the American accounts, one brigade consisted of the 9th, 11th, 22d, and 25th regiments, under brigadier-general Scott; the other, of the 17th, 19th, 21st, and 23d regiments, under brigadier-general Ripley; the two united brigades numbering 2580 rank and file. The corps of artillery consisted of upwards of 400 men, having in charge eight field-pieces, and one or two howitzers; including, among the former, several 18 and 12pounders. There was, also, a squadron of dragoons, under captain Harris; which we may estimate at 70 men. To this regular force of 3050 rank and file, were added from 8 to 1100 (say 900) New York, Pennsylvania, and "Canadian" (or traitor) volunteers; and about 150 Indians making a total force of 4100 rank and file. Besides this force, there were, at different posts between Erie and Lewistown, the 1st regiment of infantry, a regular rifle corps, and from 2 to 300 volunteers, under a colonel Swift; making an aggregate of, at least, 5000 men. But even this number does not include the militia of the district, who, in case of invasion, could assemble to the amount of 2 or 3000; nor 3 or 4000 regulars, whom commodore Chauncey, if disposed to be bold, might bring down from Sackett's harbor. So that the command of Lake 1 2

Ontario could very speedily augment the American force upon the Niagara to 10000 men.

The British force upon the same frontier was, at this time, under the command of major-gene-ral Riall, and consisted of the royal Scots, (1st bat.) 100th, and 103d regiments, a troop of the 19th light dragoons, and a detachment of artil lery; numbering, altogether, about 1780 rank and file. But out of this force were garrisoned the forts Erie, George, Mississaga, and Niagara; (the latter on the American side of the strait;) also the post upon Burlington Heights; comprehending an extent of frontier of full 70 miles.

On the morning of the 3d of July, general Brown's army crossed the strait, in two divisions; one division landing about a mile and a half below, the other about the same distance above, Fort-Erie; against which the American troops immediately marched. Having planted a battery of 18-pounders in a good position in front of the fort, and fired, and received in return, a few shots; by which a loss was sustained, on our part, of one man killed, and, on the part of the Americans, of four men of the 25th regiment wounded, major-general Brown summoned the fort to surrender. Fort-Erie was, at this time, garrisoned by two companies of the 8th and 100th regiments, and a small detachment, of artillery, under major Buck, of the 8th; and,

in respect to armament or means of resistance, was, as an American general says, "in a defenceless condition."* The fort, consequently, surrendered. The prisoners, 170, including officers of all ranks, were taken across the river, to be marched into the interior of New York; and a small detachment of American artillery, under lieutenant Macdonough, placed as a garrison within the captured fort: in front of which, on the lake, were stationed, as a further security, three armed schooners, under the orders of lieu tenant-commandant Kennedy, of the United States' navy.

The British force at Chippeway was under the immediate command of lieutenant-colonel Pearson; and consisted of 230 of the royal Scots, 450 of the 100th regiment, a troop of light dragoons, and a small detachment of artillery, amounting, in all, to 760 rank and file; exclusive of 300 sedentary militia, just assembled at the rendezvous, and about the same number of Indians. The first intelligence of the landing of the invading army reached major-general Riall at Chippeway, at about eight o'clock on the same morning; and he immediately ordered that post to be reinforced by five companies of the royal Scots; but even then, his inferiority of force forbad any other movement, than for the purpose of reconnoitring the enemy's position * Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 647.