"In turn, forced Porter to retreat." In this way do we expose a "general Porter," as completely as, we trust, we formerly did a "commodore" or captain, of the same name,† and, it seems likely, of the same family too. Colonel Pearson, with his light troops, militia, and Indians, pursued general Porter's brigade of volunteers and Indians, and captain Macdonald's 80 regulars; till the arrival of a strong reinforcement from general Ripley's brigade, including the whole of the 25th regiment, obliged the British advance to fall back, in its turn. While this skirmishing was going his on upon the right of the British line, majorgeneral Riall had drawn before the énemy's position; placing the 8th regiment, and the two light 24-pounders and howitzer, upon the left, and the royal Scots and 100th regiments, directly in front. The enemy had posted his artillery upon the right of his line; which consisted of the 1st, or general Scott's brigade, anda portion of the 2d, or general Ripley's brigade: another portion had been detached in support of the 3d, or general Porter's brigade of volunteers. The royal Scots and 100th regiments were ordered to charge the enemy's column. The ground over which they had to pass was uneven, and covered with long grass, which greatly impeded their progress. It was not, however, *Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 651. till the enemy's musketry, and a flanking fire from four pieces of his artillery, had caused a serious loss of killed and wounded in the ranks of these brave regiments, that the attempt was given up. Any further contest with a force so superior in numbers being considered as unavailing, the British troops were directed to retire upon Chippeway. This they did in the most perfect order; bringing away, among their guns, a piece that had been disabled, and losing in prisoners none but the wounded. So gallantly was the retreat covered by the 8th regiment and colonel Pearson's light detachment, that the Americans were deterred from advancing with sufficient promptitude, to hinder the British from destroying the bridge across the Chippeway; on the left bank of which, major-general Riall again encamped. This the American general calls being "closely pressed."* The British loss in the battle of Street's creek was very severe. The killed amounted to three captains, three subalterns, seven serjeants, and 135 rank and file; the wounded, to three field-officers, (including the commanding officers of the royal Scots and 100th regiments,) five captains, 18 subalterns, 18 serjeants, and 277 rank and file; and the missing, to one subaltern, one serjeant, and 44 rank and file; total, 148 killed; 321 wounded; and 46 missing grand total, (including 433 of the two * App. No. 28. 3 before-mentioned regiments,) 515.* The royal Scots were now reduced, in effective strength, to 275, the 100th, to 245, and general Riall's whole force, of regulars, militia, and Indians, to under 1520, rank and file. The loss of the Americans, in the same battle, amounted to two serjeants, and 58 rank and file, killed; one colonel, three captains, seven subalterns, 14 serjeants, and 210 rank and file, wounded; and one lieutenant-colonel, one major, one captain, (all of militia,) two serjeants, and 22 rank file, missing; total, 60 killed; 235 wounded; and 27 missing; grand total, 322: * thus leaving general Brown a force of full 3730 men. Considering that the firing between the main bodies of the two armies did not continue beyond an hour and a half, and that the 8th regiment, from the nature of its position, participated very slightly in the engagement, the loss on both sides is a proof of the spirit with which it was contested. It is rather extraordinary, that not one of our three historians should have thought fit to state numbers on either side; yet do they all concur in declaring, that the numerical superiority was in our favor. Mr. O'Connor's account not less for its conciseness than its gross extravagance, is worthy of insertion. “The American troops," says this writer, "on no occasion behaved with more gallantry than on the present. The British * App. No. 27. + App. No. 29. - regulars suffered defeat from a number of men, principally volunteers and militia, — inferior in every thing but courage to the vanquished enemy."*This is the man whose title-page has the words: "Carefully compiled from official documents;" and yet, who pretends to be ignorant, that the "official" returns on his own side, particularize five regiments of regular infantry and a corps of artillery, as having suffered a loss in the action. Even general Wilkinson, so cautious in these matters, states the effective strength of general Scott's brigade, alone, at 1100 regular infantry,† and the force that crossed the strait under general Brown, at about 3500 men,‡ including about 2700 regulars. § We will readily admit that, in this battle, the Americans fought with more bravery and determination, than they had done since the war commenced. No opportunity, however, occurred, of employing the bayonet to any advantage; and our troops had to resort to musketry;" in which," says general Wilkinson, "the American soldier, from habits of early life, will always excel." The general adds: "Comparing small with great things, here, as at Minden, the fate of the day was settled by the artillery; and the American Towson may deservedly be ranked with the British Philips, * Hist. of the War, p. 254. + Wilkinson's Mem. Vol. I. p. 654. Il Ibid, 652 Drummond, and Foy," Poor general Wilkinson's comparisons are the most amusing part of his book. Without elevating "the American Towson" to quite so lofty a station, we may observe, that the Americans deserve great credit for the attention they pay to their artillery; which is, in general, fully as well served as our own, and, excepting the accidental circumstance of our having two 24-pounders in this action, of much heavier caliber. * The readiness of the Americans to engage, at the battle of Street's creek, appears to have originated in mis-information. From the prisoners taken at Fort-Erie general Brown learned, that major-general Riall's regular force at Chippeway consisted solely of the first battalion of the royal Scots, and the 100th regiment; and consequently, of not more than 11 or 1200 men. The American commander, therefore, with his 3000 "accomplished troops," advanced boldly to the attack. This is confirmed by Mr. Thomson; who, not only mentions no other than the above two regiments as present, but states, that lieutenantgeneral Drummond ordered up "the 8th or king's regiment from York," in consequence of "the defeat of major-general Riall."+ On the other hand, intelligence reached the British,-probably through emissaries, or Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 652. + App. No. 28. Sketches of the War, p. 280: |