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received a wound in the arm; after which he yielded the command to colonel Hamilton,under whose superintendance, the women of the garrison were stripped of their clothing, and many of them killed, and the persons of the dead officers treated with shocking indignity."* -Never was so base a falsehood! But who, out of the United States, will believe this pettifogging scribbler's story? and as to those in the United States who may do so, they are too insignificant, we are sure, to give the gallant colonel the slightest uneasiness.

Among the valuables found in Fort-Niagara, were eight respectable Canadian inhabitants; who, in direct violation of civilized warfare, had been taken from their peaceful dwellings to be immured within the walls of a prison. That no doubt may remain of the fact, we here present the reader with the names of six out of the eight individuals, who were thus so happily released from bondage. The names are: Thomas Dickon, Samuel Street, and J. M. Cawdle, esquires ; Messrs. John Tompson, John Macfarlane, and Peter M Micking; the latter 80 years of age.

On the same morning on which Fort-Niagara was carried, major-general Rial, taking with him detachments from the royal Scots and 41st regiments, amounting to about 500 rank and file, crossed over to Lewistown. About 500

* Sketches of the War, p. 189; and third edition!

Indian warriors had preceded this force, and had a skirmish with, and completely routed, a detachment of American militia, under a major Bennett; in which affair the latter lost eight men killed. No sooner had the Americans abandoned Lewistown, than the Indians commenced setting fire to it. Major-general Rial, who found no enemy to contend with, took possession of a 12 and 6-pounder gun, with travelling carriages, and every thing complete; also a considerable quantity of small arms, some ammunition, nine barrels of powder, and about 200 barrels of flour. The small villages of Youngstown, Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora, as soon as the inhabitants had deserted them, shared the fate of Lewistown.

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There is no doubt that the Indians committed many enormities; but who could have told Mr. McClure,―himself the origin of all that happened, that the savages were "headed by British officers painted."? Mr. O'Connor is the only one of our three editors who has repeated this story. Major-general Rial and his troops passed on to Fort-Schlosser;* which place they destroyed they then proceeded as far as Tonewanto Creek, which is within 10 miles of Buffaloe; but, finding the bridge broken,' returned, and crossed over to Queenstown.

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The exposed state of the American Niagara* See Plate I.

frontier began to excite serious alarm; and general M'Clure, too dastardly to meet in the field the avengers of the conflagration of Newark, had requested major-general Hall to take the command of the regulars and militia, then assembling from all parts, to repel any further encroachments. On the morning of the 23d the major-general fixed his head-quarters at Batavia, a village about 40 miles from Buffaloe. On the morning of the 29th we find him at Buffaloe, reviewing his troops; which then amounted to 2011 men, but were afterwards, it appears, considerably reduced by desertion. *

On the 28th lieutenant-general Drummond took up his head-quarters at Chippeway; and, on the next day, within two miles of FortErie. Having reconnoitred the enemy's position at Black Rock, the lieutenant-general determined to attack him. Accordingly, on the night of the 30th, major-general Rial, having under his command four companies of the 8th, 250 men of the 41st, the light company of the 89th, and the grenadiers of the 100th, regiments, numbering, with 50 volunteer-militia, about 590 rank and file, also a body of Indian warriors, not exceeding 120, crossed the Niagara, and landed, without opposition, about two miles below Black Rock. The light-company of the 89th advanced along the road, and secured an *Hist. of the War, p. 161.

American piquet, as well as the bridge over the Conjuichity, or Schojeoquady,† the boards of which had already been loosened, preparatory to their removal. The 250 men of the 41st, and the grenadiers of the 100th, were joined to the light-company of the 89th; and the whole, amounting to about 400 rank and file, in order to secure the passage of the bridge, took up a position, a short distance beyond it, at a place called the Sailor's battery. In the course of the night several attempts were made by general' Hall's militia to dislodge the British from their position; but," owing to the darkness of the night, and the confusion into which the militia were thrown by the enemy's fire," every attempt failed.

At day-dawn on the 31st, the royal Scots, about 800 strong, along with a detachment of the 19th dragoons, the whole commanded by lieutenant-colonel Gordon, of the royals, crossed over to land above Black Rock, for the purpose of turning the enemy's position, while majorgeneral Rial's force should attack him from below. Unfortunately, owing to some error in the pilots, several of the boats grounded; and became, in consequence, exposed to a heavy and destructive fire from one 6, one 24, and two' 12-pounders, at the Black Rock battery, and from about 600 men‡ drawn up on the beach, * App. No. 6. + See Plate I. Ilist. of the War, p. 161.

flanked by a number of Indians. The gallant royals, thus sitting in their grounded boats, to be shot at like targets, lost 13 rank and file, killed, and three serjeants, and 29 rank and file wounded. Fortunately, a few well-directed shots from five field-pieces stationed on the opposite shore, and the near approach of majorgeneral Rial's force upon the enemy's right, caused a favorable diversion.

By this time a considerable force of militia, certainly not fewer than 1500, had assembled in the town; but, after a short resistance, the · Americans abandoned Black Rock and its batteries, and fled towards Buffaloe, about 2 miles distant. To this town they were followed, in close pursuit; and, although protected by a field-piece posted on a height that commanded the road, made but a slight resistance, ere they fled in all directions to the neighbouring woods.

The British captured at these two posts eight pieces of ordnance, including a 24 and 18-pounder. For want of adequate means of conveyance the public stores, consisting of considerable quantities of clothing, spirits, and flour, were obliged to be destroyed. All the inhabitants having left Black Rock and Buffaloe, the two villages shared the fate of Newark. The United States' vessels Chippeway, Little Belt, and Trippe, were found aground near Buffaloe Creek; and, along with their stores, were also committed to the flames,

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