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Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, and Lieutenant- could not have been very sanguine of ultimate Colonel the Marquis of Tweeddale, and Major success. The General distinctly states that,

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One of the strongest proofs that can be to enable him to go in pursuit of an enemy, Movements of the American adduced of the Ameri- not mustering more than half his number. cans not having gained The mingled promises and intreaties are a victory at Chippewa, is that General Brown very amusing; in one paragraph Chauncey romained from the 4th to the 8th before he is assured of his (General Brown's) "ability could summon up resolution to make another to meet the enemy in the field," and in the attempt against General Riall, who still very next sentence he is entreated "for God's maintained his position at Chippewa. On sake" to come to assist in threatening Fort the 8th the American General resolved on a George, a fortification which was abanforward movement, and after a slight skir-doned by General MacClure, with a garrison mish with some of General Riall's artillery of two thousand men, on account of its un(a small body of men with two guns), the tenability, This, too, at a time when the Chippewa creek was crossed, and the Ameri- garrison did not number five hundred men, cans advanced as far as Queenston, General and the force that could be brought against Riall retreating to Fort George.

and timidity.

it reached four thousand. Another very From the 8th of July to the 23rd of the ridiculous feature in this letter is the proGeneral Brown's inaction month, General Brown, mise to Chauncey that, if he will only come with his enormous force, and help, after the upper peninsula is cleared, was content to remain without striking a the army will proceed to Kingston and carry blow, unless an occasional demonstration the place, this, too, from a man who remainbefore Forts George and Mississaga, or the ed with a force quadruple the strength of wanton conflagration of the village of St. that opposing him for thirteen days, withDavid's, be considered as such. During this out mustering up sufficient courage to attime, the American General wrote the most tempt more brilliant enterprises than the moving letters to Commodore Chauncey, burning of an unprotected village, and the almost imploring his co-operation.

"All accounts agree," writes Gen. Brown,

plundering of a few scattered farm houses. We have, however, occupied too much space already with the proceedings of such a commander as General Brown, and we very willingly accompany him back to Chippewa,

his four thousand men being surrounded or while under a violent fit of apprehension of intercepted. We gladly turn from such an exhibition of American generalship to General Riall, who, after throwing re-inforcements into Forts George and Mississaga retired towards Burlington heights, where

"that the force of the enemy at Kingston is very light. Meet me on the Lake shore, north of Fort George, with your fleet, and we will be able, I have no doubt, to settle a to which place he retreated on the 24th, plan of operations that will break the power of the enemy in Upper Canada, and that in the course of a short time. At all events, let me hear from you. I have looked for your fleet with the greatest anxiety since the 10th. I do not doubt my ability to meet the enemy in the field, and to march in any direction over his country, your fleet carrying for me the necessary supplies. We can threaten Forts George and Niagara, and carry Burlington Heights and York; and proceed direct to Kingston, and carry that place. For God's sake, let me see you." This letter is remarkable for many reasons, not the least curious of We will leave the two armies thus posted, Brown's letter to Chauncey. which is the pathetic while we notice the atrocities perpetrated and almost touching appeal of a general, with by the Americans during their three weeks four thousand men at his back, to a naval campaign in the Niagara district. In doing commander to bring him four thousand more, this we will take no one sided British account, but a letter from an American officer, a major McFarland; we may also refer to

*Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I., page 666.

he expected to be joined by the 103rd regiment, and the flank companies of the 104th. This meeting taking place, however, at the twenty mile creek, General Riall, instantly retraced his steps, and took up a position about thirteen miles from the American army.

the fact, that an American officer, Colonel against the enemy, with special orders to Stone, was dismissed the service by the "report if the enemy appeared," and to apply sentence of a Court Martial, for the wanton for assistance if necessary. General Scott, destruction of St. David's. Major McFar- having learned that the force occupying land writes:Lundy's Lane was more than a mere patrol"The militia and Indians plundered and ling party, reported it to General Brown, burnt everything. The whole population is who immediately pressed forward to support against us, not a foraging party, but is him. General Riall, on the advance of this fired on, and not unfrequently returns with superior force, very prudentially gave orders missing numbers. This state was to be to retire on Queenston. Assistance was, anticipated. The militia have burnt several however, nearer at hand than General Riall private dwelling houses, and, on the 19th could have hoped or anticipated. instant, burnt the village of St. David, con- No sooner had General Drummond heard of sisting of about thirty or forty houses. This the landing of a large American force, and was done within three miles of camp; and the result of the battle at Chippewa, than he my battalion was sent to cover the retreat, hastened from Kingston to York, which place as they (the militia) had been sent to scour he left on the evening of the 24th, arriving the country, and it was presumed they at Fort Niagara on the next morning. The might be pursued. My G-d! what a service. greatest energy seems to have characterized I never witnessed such a scene; and had General Drummond's motions, and we find not the commanding officer of the party, him first dispersing Colonel Swift and his lieutenant colonel Stone, been disgraced, party of volunteers, and then rapidly advancand sent out of the army, I should have ing with about eight hundred rank and file resigned my commission." to the support of General Riall.

Lest our readers should imagine that When within a short distance of Lundy's Major McFarland was one of the parties Lane, General Drummond learned that the disaffected to the war, and, whose report force under General Riall was in retreat, would consequently not be trustworthy, we and his first act was to change the retreat give a few more extracts from his letter:- into an advance upon the position so lately

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He declares that he desires no better fun abandoned, and the position was again occuthan to fight the British troops whom, ac- pied when the American troops were within cording to James, this same Major politely half a mile of it. For the particulars of this calls cut-throats."-he also glories in being action we will, however, refer our readers to a "staunch American." "What then" General Drummond's despatch :asks James, "must have been the scenes From Lieutenant-general Drummond to Sir G. and sufferings that could excite compassion in such a breast."

Provost.

Head Quarters, near Niagara Falls,
July 27, 1814.

To return, however, to the two generals. SIR, On learning that General Brown had retreat- I embarked on board his majesty's ed, General Riall advanced with his aug- schooner Netley, at York, on Sunday evenmented force, now nearly one thousand ing the 24th inst., and reached Niagara at strong, and took up a position near Lundy's day-break the following morning. Finding, Lane (about a mile from the Falls), and from lieutenant-colonel Tucker, that majorabout two and a half miles from the Ameri- general Riall was understood to be moving can position. The American commander, towards the Falls of Niagara to support the having been instructed that General Riall advance of his division, which he had pushed had crossed over from Queenston to Lewis-on to that place on the preceding evening, ton, to effect a diversion, and that a small I ordered lieutenant-colonel Morrison, with party occupied Lundy's Lane, determined the 89th regiment and a detachment of the by a counter diversion to advance on that royals and king's, drawn from Fort George post. He accordingly despatched General and Mississaga to proceed to the same point Scott with eleven hundred rank and file in order that, with the united force I might

act against the enemy (posted at Street's the right; the battalion of incorporated miliCreek, with his advance at Chippewa) on tia, and the detachment of the king's regi

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the fact, that an American officer, Colonel against the enemy, with special orders to Stone, was dismissed the service by the "report if the enemy appeared," and to apply sentence of a Count Martial for the wanton for assistanco if nocossary.

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