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head-quarters, soon after the capture of FortGeorge; and at a time when colonel Murray's prompt and decisive measures had given a new aspect to affairs.

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This officer contemplated a retaliatory attack upon the opposite lines; to which plan general Drummond yielded, not only his approbation, but, rightly judging that the delay of waiting for permission from the commander-in-chief, then at Quebec, might recover the enemy from his panic, and thus defeat the object,―his immediate sanction. No more than two batteaux were on the Niagara shore, the remainder were in Burlington Bay. Captain Kerby, an active militia-officer, under the orders of captain Elliott, the deputy assistant-quarter-master-general, contrived, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, and the badness of the roads, to effect the carriage, by land, of a sufficiency of batteaux for the enterprise.

Every thing being prepared by the evening of the 18th, the troops destined for the assault, consisting of a small detachment of royal artillery, the grenadiers of the royal Scots, the flank companies of the 41st†, and the effective men of the 100th regiment, amounting, altogether, to fewer than 550 rank and file, and commanded by colonel Murray, crossed the river on that night, and landed at the Five-mile Meadows, about

* Distant 530 miles.

+ 2d Battalion which had recently arrived from Europe.

three miles above Fort-Niagara. At about four o'clock the troops commenced their march ; and the advance, consisting of the grenadiers of the 100th regiment, and a small party of the royal artillery, succeeded in cutting off two of the enemy's piquets; as well as in surprising the sentries on the glacis, and at the gate, by which means the watch word was obtained, and the entrance into the fort greatly facilitated. While three companies of the 100th, under captain Martin, stormed the eastern demi-bastion, five companies of the same regiment, under colonel Murray in person, assisted by lieutenant-colonel. Hamilton of the 100th, entered the fort by the main gate, which had been left open for the return of the guard from relieving sentries. The American main guard now rushed out of the south-east block-house, and fired a volley or two; and some musketry was fired from another stone building within the fort; but the bayonet overpowered all resistance, and the British union, in a few seconds more, waived triumphantly upon the stone-tower of Fort-Niagara.

The number of prisoners taken, including two officers and 12 rank and file wounded, amounted to one captain, nine lieutenants, two ensigns, one surgeon, one commissary, 12 serjeants, and 318 rank and file. Add to this number 65 in killed,* and "about 20 that effected their escape, " and we have 429 for the * Appendix, No. 3.

garrison of Fort-Niagara. Upon the different defences were mounted no fewer than 27 pieces of ordnance; and, among them, some 32-pound carronades. The arsenal contained upwards of 3000 stands of arms, and many rifles. The ordnance and commissariat stores were im

mense; and so was the quantity of armyclothing and camp-equipage. A portion of the articles consisted, no doubt, of such as general McClure, in his flight, had brought across from Fort-George. Had the garrison afforded an opportunity for a greater display of gallantry on the part of the assailants, the capture of Fort-Niagara, a post by far the strongest of any on the inland frontiers, would have been a still more brilliant achievement: it was no slight consolation, however, that we managed the business with the trifling loss of six men killed, and five wounded; including the gallant projector and commander of the enterprize, colonel Murray, severely in the wrist. Nor is it without feelings of exultation, that we compare the number of British sent against Fort-Niagara, with the number of Americans, covered too by the fire from a fleet of ships, and from that same fort,-sent against Fort-George,* so much its inferior in point of strength and armament.

The deputy incendiary M'Clure, with wellgrounded apprehension of British vengeance, had, since the very day of his crossing from Fort* See Vol. I. p. 153.

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George, ordered the commandant of Fort-Niagara to prepare to defend the post, and be ready with "a proportion of hand-grenades in the different block-houses."* He did not consider the disaster as "attributable to any want of troops, but to gross neglect in the commanding officer of the fort, captain Leonard, in not preparing, being ready, and looking out for, the expected attack." + General M'Clure describes the British that captured Fort-Niagara, as of "great force," and as consisting of regulars and “Indians;" although not an Indian was at the attack; for even the "Indian chief," Norton, who was present, is a Scotchman. The official letter then states that, on entering the fort, we "commenced a most horrid slaughter." This is utterly false, as respects the implication intended. The piquets and sentries, as in all cases of assault or surprise, were bayonetted; and so were those within the fort who made any resistance. The fort was entered in darkness, and a formidable opposition expected; particularly as general M'Clure had himself been boasting, that the block-houses and defences within-side, aided by the 32-pounder and other carronades, which were so mounted as, if necessary, to be fired inwards, would enable a small garrison to drive out or destroy 1500 British. No musket whatever was discharged by the latter; nor, from the moment that the soldiers could be * App. No. 5.. +. Ibid, No. 4.

certain of all resistance having ceased, was a single bayonet employed.

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Mr. O'Connor describes the assaulting party as" regulars, militia, and Indians, to the number, by the most probable account, of 1500 men," who, he says, entered the fort while the men were nearly all asleep "killing, without mercy or discrimination, those who came in their way.' Doctor Smith: considers the capture of FortNiagara to be a sore subject; therefore merely states that, in the month of January, it "was surprised and captured." Mr. Thomson begins his account by stating, that the fort was garrisoned by 324 sick and effective men"; although we took, as prisoners, 20 more than that number, exclusive of those that had escaped and been killed. He proceeds: "At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, the enemy, 400 in number, crossed the Niagara, under colonel Murray, and approached the principal gate which was then open."-We find no “ Errata” referred to in Mr. Thomson's book, but must consider that the printer has made “400” of what was intended for " 1400."-This editor, caught by the word "Indians" in the official letter, then says: "Accompanied by his Indian warriors, he rushed furiously in upon the garrison." "On entering the garrison, " continues Mr. Thomson, "colonel Murray * History of the War, p. 159..

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