and numbers. performed by lieutenant-colonel Pearson, at the head of the flank companies of the 100th regiment, and a few militia and Indians; and the Americans were seen posted on an eminence, near the ferry at Bertie.* Major-general Riall would have commenced the attack on that evening, had he been joined by the 8th regiment, then hourly expected from York.

This service was gallantly

On the morning of the 4th, general Scott's brigade, with a company of artillery, advanced, by the main road along the margin of the river, towards Chippeway; and was soon afterwards followed by general Ripley's brigade, and the field and park artillery, under major Hindman; also by general Porter and his volunteers.† On its approach to Street's creek, the first brigade encountered the British advance, now consisting of the light companies of the royal Scots and 100th regiments, and a subaltern's detachment of the 19th light dragoons. General Scott immediately detached in front captain Towson's company of artillery, (100 strong,) with three 18-pounders; and, at the same time, directed a flank company of the 9th regiment of infantry to march out to the left of the brigade, and cross the creek above the bridge; so as to assail the right of the British advance. The heavy firing of the enemy's 18-pounders, and * See Vol. I. P. 50. + Sketches of the War, p. 274.

the close approach of his main body, compelled colonel Pearson and his small party, to retreat; but "not until they had intrepidly destroyed the bridge over which the advancing column would be obliged to pass. "* Captain Crooker's company of the 9th regiment came suddenly upon the detachment of dragoons, under lieutenant Horton, while the latter was covering colonel Pearson's retreat. A skirmish ensued, and the American detachment, which had retreated to a house, would have certainly been captured, but for the arrival of a strong reinforcement, under captains Hull and Harrison, and lieutenant Randolph, Out of this skirmish, in which four of the dragoons, and eight of their horses, were wounded, Mr, Thomson has woven a fine story; concluding it with the declaration of one of the of the American generals, that, “ in partizan war, he had witnessed nothing more gal lant than the conduct of captain Crooker and his company" The American pioneers having repaired the bridge, the army crossed; and, at about 11 o'clock on that night, encamped on the right bank of Street's creek; the first brigade facing the creek and the bridge; the second brigade forming the second line; and the volunteers, the third. The park of artillery was stationed on the right of the encampment, resting on some buildings and an orchard, close to the

*Sketches of the War, p. 274.

river Niagara; and the light troops, or riflemen, together with the Indians, were posted within the same space, on the left, resting on the woods.

The American army, thus encamped, will only differ in numbers from that which crossed the strait,* in the absence of the small garrison, say 50 men, left at Fort-Erie, under lieutenant Macdonough. Consequently, major-general Brown had, under his immediate command at Street's creek, 3000 regulars, (including 70 dragoons,) 900 New York, Pennsylvania, and Canadian volunteers, and 150 Indians; total, 4050 men; along with nine field pieces and howitzers, including some 12, and three 18-pounders.

Major-general Riall had stationed himself on the left bank of the Chippeway, distant about 14 miles from the American encampment; and, having been joined, on the morning of the 5th, by 480 rank and file of the 8th regiment, determined to attack the Americans on that afternoon. His force now consisted of 1530 regulars, (including about 70 dragoons,) 300 sedentary militia,† and about the same number of Indians; total, 2130 men; along with two 24-pounders, and a 5 inch howitzer.

At the appointed hour the British crossed the Chippeway, and marched to the attack; "the Indians, and a part of the militia, advancing * See p. 116. + Only partially armed,

through the woods on the right, which were skirted by the remainder of the militia, and by the light companies of the royal Scots and 100th regiments, under lieutenant-colonel Pearson. The approach of the Indians being discovered by the Americans, general Porter, with the whole of his volunteers and Indians, supported by a detachment of 80 men from the second brigade, under captain W. Macdonald, was ordered to advance from the rear, and drive them back. About 220 of our Indians, led by Norton, had kept too much to the right, and were wholly out of the action. The remaining 80, consisting chiefly of Wyandots, led by captain Kerr, on being encountered by general Porter's brigade, fell back, first, upon the militia, and then, along with the latter, upon colonel Pearson's detachment of regulars. A spirited action now ensued; but a few well-directed volleys from the British presently reversed the order of things; and general Porter's brigade of volunteers and Indians gave way, and "fled in every direction." So said general Brown.* But general Porter himself says:"The action of Chippeway, in which the volunteers took so conspicuous a part, will ever be remembered, to the honor of the American arms. It was commenced by 800 Pennsylvania volunteers and Indian warriors, who met about the same number of British

Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 658.

militia and Indians, overthrew and drove them behind the main line of the British army; destroying, at least, 150, and annihilating, it is believed, this description of the enemy's force."*

The reader may well conceive, what a paragraph can be made out of this modest eulogium, by an American editor; and who so able as Mr. Thomson ?Thus, then, says the latter:-"General Porter met, attacked, and, after a short but severe contest, drove, the enemy's right before him. His route to Chippeway was intercepted by the whole British column, arrayed in order of battle; and against this powerful force the volunteers desperately maintained their ground; until they were overpowered by the superiority of discipline and numbers." Not only does major-general Riall's despatch shew, clearly, that Mr. Thomson's "whole British column" consisted of "the light troops," under colonel Pearson; but general Wilkinson himself is compelled to admit, that his friend, general Porter, "surprised a body of Indians, who appeared to be in consultation, and immediately gave way; but, keeping up a brisk skirmish, retreated to where they were strongly reinforced by the enemy's troops," (called "irregulars" in the very next paragraph,) "who, in Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 658.

+ Sketches of the War, p. 277. + App, No. 26.